#namjoon collage au

[chimcess]

Dino-Mite || knj

Pairing: Namjoon x Reader (ft. Taehyung x Reader) Other tags: Archeologist!Namjoon, Paleontologist!Reader, Ph.D!Student!Reader, Ph.D. student!Namjoon, Pet Store Cashier!Reader Genre: College!AU, Ivy League!AU, Neighbors!AU, Strangers to lovers!AU, Idiots to lovers (i2l), Fuckboy!AU, Age Gap!AU, fluff, angst, awkward love story, Smut Word Count: 34.7k+ Synopsis: With the end of her college career coming to an end, Y/N is about to make her way into the adult world outside of Harvard. That’s when she finds an unlikely friendship with her sex-crazed neighbor, Namjoon, who shows her how unexpected life can be. Warnings: They’re so cute, too much dinosaur talk, slow start, Older Reader, alcohol consumption (not reader), Mentions of bad sexual experiences (not reader and Joon), talks about unsupportive parents, talks about character death (not in story), Anxiety, Reader is horny, too shy to say it, Sweet Namjoon, very supportive relationship, past bad relationships, inexperienced reader, fuck boy Joon (kinda), Tae is a creep (sorry), daddy kink, soft dom!Joon, spanking (like twice), fingering, penetration, protected sex (wrap it up), degradation, I have never written smut before (I’m trying my best lol), pretty vanilla all things considered, let me know if I missed anything A/N: This is a lot of fun for me and a nice change of pace from my usual projects. I really love this couple, and I hope you enjoying reading <3

Listen to the Playlist || Cross posted on ao3: here

I sighed and looked back into the magnifying glass. It had been damaged, the ivory tusk lightly chiseled away, but my elation was not dimmed. Even with the cracks and chips, the massive bone was in my hands. I had weighed and measured it extensively before beginning a thorough investigation of the fossil. It was about 2.6 meters long, and even my bitterness over not having an entire skull to work with was overshadowed by the beauty of the Woolly Mammoth. I quickly noted the damage and the off-white color of the bone. I looked back down. 

I had been in the fossil room for hours now. As one of the TAs, a professor of mine had emailed me to come down and check out the new shipment. Dr. Lupon and I had been together since I had started my freshman year at Harvard. 12 years later, I am now 29 and still stuck at school researching rocks and bones just as I did all those years ago. And while we could gush about rocks together any day of the week, she knew that I had been waiting for the new fossils to come in. I loved bones even more than rocks. 

My eyes began to burn, and I quickly gave them a rub before returning to my assignment. I was almost finished. I glanced at my wristwatch and groaned. It was nearing 3 in the morning, and I had a lecture in less than 5 hours. It was time to call it quits for the night. I made quick work of putting the tusk back in its proper place, taking great care with it, and cleaning up my workstation. It was 4 when I finally got out of the lab. 

Massachusetts was beautiful in the winter. I loved the snow and the way the wind nipped the tip of my nose. It was a nice change from the hot, dry climates I faced in the summer. Expeditions with Dr. Montgomery were as fun as they were horrendous. I took a huge breath of air and sighed out in relief. No sand in my nose. No mosquitoes. No sunburns. Just a winter wonderland spread across the campus.  

The walk back to my apartment was short. I only lived two blocks away from campus. As expensive as it was, I enjoyed living out of the dorms. I had stayed in them until I had finished with my undergrad and had not moved from my small, one-bedroom flat since. I was a creature of habit. My whimsical side was “strictly reserved for dead things,” as Kendall put it. While it was true, there was one thing that made me just as excited as rocks did.  

I wonder if Taehyung had stopped by tonight. 

I knew he lived in my building, and even if he hardly knew my name, I could pick him out in a crowd. My friends had been insistent I ask him out after two years of pining over him. He often came into Adrian’s, the pet store I worked at, to purchase food for his turtles. Our conversations always focused on his pets and sales, but his smile could make anyone melt. My little crush was justified as was my hesitation. 

Jungkook was just getting home as well. His school sweats and frizzy hair gave away his whereabouts. Even if he did not think I knew about it, Jungkook had been hooking up with a girl I worked with for weeks. A deep, purple mark on his neck was going to be impossible to explain away, but I decided against commenting on it. It was too late, and we were both tired. Kendall would see it anyway.

“Hey, Jeon,” I greeted with a yawn. 

“Sup.” He replied, opening his door before disappearing. 

I was not offended. I did it to him all the time. I threw my keys onto my coffee table before stumbling out of my boots. I was not showering tonight. I began stripping on my way to my room, throwing my clothes on top of other garments from this week, and flopping onto my bed. I was exhausted but my mind was alight. I could not believe that I was the first person to see the mammoth tusk in its glory. My phone chimed next to my head. 

Jungkook: My bad 

Y/N: All good 

Jungkook: Night 

Y/N: Night 

I could faintly hear music coming from my other neighbor’s room. At least it was not the usual. He was nice enough, the week I moved in he had left a small box of cookies in front of my door. However, the good feelings towards him diminished just as quickly. He was a nympho. Almost every night of the week he would have someone on the other side of my wall screaming. Sometimes it was at 9 pm and other times it would wake me up at 4 am and keep me up until my lecture at 7. I closed my eyes and sighed in relief. Tonight would be a quiet night it seemed. 

Then, just as I was on the cusp of sleep, I heard it. A loud, angry bang on the other side. A girl moaned loudly. Huffing, I squeezed my eyes tightly shut, willing for them to stop and watch anime. The sounds got louder. I grabbed my headphones out of my nightstand and quickly put on some music as they connected. I heard another loud bang. 

The music was never loud enough to drown it out, so I lay there, staring at my ceiling, listening to Billy Marten and my neighbor’s headboard slamming into the wall. 

My eyes burned when my alarm went off for the fourth time. I had been considering skipping my morning lecture since the lovebirds next door had been hell all morning. I had not been able to doze off until 6 and an hour later my alarm went off to let me know it was shower time. I kicked my legs childishly before hitting dismiss with too much aggression. Today was going to be awful. 

I forced myself out of bed and into the bathroom to brush my teeth. I glared at my reflection and mentally screamed at her for being such a good student. Never in my entire time at university did I miss a class. Not even my 6 am environmental science course during my freshman year. Giving up on looking decent at all, I haphazardly threw my hair up and rolled my eyes at the strays flying everywhere. God himself could not make me fight with my contact lenses this morning.  

Still, in my sour mood, I stomped around my apartment making a bowl of cereal and grumbling about being out of almond milk. After eating my bowl of too-dry cereal, I slipped on the baggiest gray sweatpants I owned and a Harvard sweatshirt. Jungkook and I were most likely matching. For a law student, he did not give a shit about going to his classes cleaned up like the rest of them. Angry and in the mood to punch a hole through my neighbor’s wall to give him a piece of my mind, I slid into my checkered Vans before locking up. 

Jungkook looked worse than I did. Sweatpants were one thing but to wear plaid striped pajama pants to a law class? Bold move, Jeon. While I was surprised to see him up so early in the morning, I knew he was twice as shocked to see me running late. He raised an eyebrow and eyed me apprehensively. I gave him a lazy wave before starting my descent down the rod iron stairs. 

“You look like shit,” Jungkook said, catching up to me. 

“Aren’t you charming,” I yanked a cap out of my bag and put it on to cover how bad my hair looked. 

“What happened?” 

“Neighbor. Again.” 

He laughed, his nose scrunching up as he did so. Jungkook, like everyone else I knew, was aware of my bad neighbor. We had tried to figure out who it was once, but it always ended up in disaster. The last time was a drunk escapade last year. Instead of sitting in the freezing cold waiting for the man of the hour to show up, I tripped over my own feet walking up the stairs, fell over the railing, and broke my arm. Kendall, my best friend, never let me live it down. 

“Have to hand it to him,” Jungkook giggled. “The guy is drowning in pussy.” 

I shoved him roughly, “You’re so gross. Go away.” 

Jungkook cackled loudly and clutched his stomach. Realizing I was only making myself angrier by sticking around, I walked away. My face was hot, my teeth clenched, and seconds away from crying. Last year, I reminded myself. After this I would be somewhere in the continental U.S., working at the best museums, and as far away from the asshole next door. 

“Aw, come on Y/N,” Jungkook shouted after me. “Don’t be like that.” 

“Whatever!” I yelled over my shoulder. 

Jungkook did not bother to follow me after that. I was a ticking time bomb now, and it was best that everyone stayed clear of me. Finally making it to the bike rack out front, I wasted no time putting in my lock’s combination. Once I sat in my seat I would feel better. Maybe I could stop by the lab after class and have some cool-down time? My hands shook but I managed to unwrap my lock and shoved it into my bike’s cup holder.  

“Morning, Y/N.”  

I shrieked in surprise before whipping my head around to see who was talking to me. The first thing I saw was his chest, his gray tank top sticking to his body with sweat stains soaking through. Taehyung smiled at me, his hair damp from his morning run, and I struggled to breathe at the sight of him. Dear God, why me? Why now?  

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” He said, still catching his breath. 

“Oh,” I exclaimed, “No, no, no.” I waved my hands and nervously laughed. “It’s okay. No harm done. Good morning to you too, Tae.” 

The man’s eyes danced with laughter, and I wanted nothing more than the ground to swallow me whole. It was unfair just how little he noticed me at all. It was even more unfair that he made me feel like I was running a marathon just standing next to him. Flustered, I kicked up my stand and pulled my bike off the rack. 

“I have to get to a lecture, but I’ll see you later,” I said and swung a leg over my seat. 

Jungkook always made fun of me for wearing a helmet when I rode. No one else really did and it looked lame, but I would rather look like an idiot than crack my head open on the concrete if I took a fall. Securing my helmet, I found Taehyung still standing there looking at me. 

“Did you need something?” I asked. 

“Cuff and Link,” He started, “They’ve been having a hard time eating.” 

I nodded. Those were his pet turtles. When I first started working at the pet store, he had come in looking for a low-maintenance pet that would keep him company at home. At the time, he had only been in America for a few months and was having a hard time making friends. Cuff and Link, previously Jim and Pam, were a pair of red-ear sliders that had been stuck at the store for over a year. He ended up taking them both and was in all the time for food, treats, and sometimes just to give updates. 

“I wanted to ask yesterday but you weren’t in when I got there,” He continued. 

“Yeah, we got some new stuff in the museum, and I was cataloging it,” My heart fluttered at the thought of him asking for me. 

“That sounds nice,” He smiled at me. “The other clerk didn’t know what to do about it.” 

“Come by tonight,” I said, glancing at my watch with feign indifference. “My shift starts at 9.” 

He smiled at me, “Thank you. See you later, Y/N.” 

“Bye,” I said and sped off knowing I had successfully ruined my perfect attendance streak. 

I clocked in before securing the khaki apron around my neck. The small mom-and-pop pet store was more expensive than Petco, but its location made up for the small price increase. The owner, Jill, also handcrafted a large majority of the pet outfits and collars, so many of the rich kids I went to school with would prefer to come here. She even did customs for her regulars. I liked the job and had been here since my sophomore year during undergrad. We all knew that I would be leaving the small shop after graduation, and hopefully, the state as well, but never spoke about it. It made Jill sad. 

After my coworker and I said pleasantries and they got me up to date on what needed to be done before closing, he left, and I was alone. I knew Taehyung would come by late. He always did. I was not sure what he did for a living, if he was in school or not, but I was certain I was older than him. My crush was just that- a crush. Nothing to get too hung up on. Even if Taehyung was a daydream, I knew better than to let my mind get away from me.

As I began stocking the shelves, I let my mind wander. It beat getting stuck in the monotonous task of labeling and putting away new pet furniture. I had not dated successfully ever. Most men shied away from me the moment they realized I was a paleontologist. Unless they were in a similar field or mindset, I could understand why it might freak them out. Many of the people I worked with were oddballs. I loved them dearly, but they could be off-putting. Hell, I could be, too. I found that men hated being clueless, many were unable to be in a room with people that made them feel dumb, and I had a bad habit of talking about my work. There are only so many dinosaur facts one can hear before they no longer want to have sex with you. Fragile egos and insecurities only added to that problem. 

So, while I have been on many dates and put myself out there, it still made finding someone difficult. That was why I never went after Taehyung. Sure, I think he is cute but that is the problem. I would only put my foot in my mouth and scare him off. It was much better to allow myself to imagine the possibility of a date rather than ruining it. He could be a piece of garbage and I would have to live with that information, or I could bore him to death and give my friends another reason to mention by name to every straight guy they knew. Thinking about it now, my own fears were justified. I knew next to nothing about the guy. As far as I knew, he was a man who had two pet turtles, had huge muscles, and was a fan of video games. While it was enough to get a vague idea about his likes, it was still not enough to feel like we had enough in common to click. I glanced at the clock. 

9:47 pm.  

I still had another hour at least. He could have a night job… or maybe an exam? He seemed like the type to study. I went to the back and got another large box. Shipments sucked and Cory, one of my coworkers, was normally too busy to get much done during his shift. That meant I was stuck with the grueling process of labeling, scanning, and stocking the entire store. Adrian’s was open 24/7, the only pet store in the city to do so, and I worked until 3 am most days. Except for when I gave morning lectures on Wednesdays and over the weekend. Jill closed early Saturdays and Sundays. She enjoyed spending time with her kids and liked to give us the break. I finished another large box before checking the clock again. 

10:58 pm. 

He could come in at any point now. I stopped trying to keep up with him a while ago. One thing was certain: he never came in before 10:30. Most nights, he dragged himself in around midnight looking like he had just woken from a nap. Some days he would stumble in drunk with a buddy to pick up food at 2 in the morning. If anyone else had come in right before I went home, I would have been angry, but those nights made him more human. His speech was slurred, face flushed, but he was still so perfect. His friend was grumpy and stone-faced but kept him awake long enough to purchase his food and stumble home. Nights like that made it impossible for me to forget about him.

The bell chimed and I quickly stood up. Glancing at the clock, it was half-past 11 and I was happy he was in earlier than I had expected. I began to focus on leveling out my breathing before I saw him. I needed to get together. Taehyung made it hard to breathe and after this morning I was on high alert. No need to embarrass myself even more.  

No amount of controlled breathing could have prepared me for what was waiting by the counter. There he was dressed up, his hair slicked back and styled elegantly with a brown, plaid blazer jacket on. A white turtleneck emphasized his chest and brown slacks hugged his thighs deliciously. This was uncharted territory. I was so used to a casually dressed man with black hair that was wet from the snow that the thought of him looking nice had never entered my mind. Where had he been? Or going? 

It looked like a date. 

“Welcome to Adrian’s,” I called out, my customer service voice on. 

“It’s me,” He replied, scratching the back of his head and smiling. 

Of course, he was on a date. A guy like that had to have countless women at his beck and call. I had heard girls talking about him before. It was always in passing and I had never been able to catch much, but people were interested. I could not even be upset. If I was more confident, I might have asked him out already. I thought about my neighbor and internally cringed at the thought of Taehyung being that guy. No fucking way was he was anything like the man next door. I took a deep breath before walking out onto the main floor. 

“Oh, hey,” I replied, pretending that I had not been admiring him from afar. “Sorry about that, we got a new shipment and I’m always stuck stocking.” 

“No problem,” He flashed one of those close-lipped grins at me, “So, Cuff and Link.” 

I got behind the counter and nodded. Yes, the turtles. He had mentioned they had not been eating and I took some time before my shift to research the subject. There were many problems they could be facing but I needed more information before I gave any advice. I pulled out the large pet book from behind the counter for extra measure. It came in clutch. 

“You said they’re not eating?” I clarified, opening the book and searching for the turtle section. Page 126. Got it. 

“Yeah, it’s been going on for about a week now.” He replied, leaning against the counter on his elbows. 

He was far too close. I subtly shifted away from him and hummed showing that I was listening. I found the section about turtle health. 

“And you’re up to date about their lighting and temperature needs?” 

“I’ve had them for five years now and they have never had these problems before.” 

“I know Taehyung,” I skimmed through the book some more. “Just making sure.” 

He hummed a response, but I did not care to decipher the meaning behind it. It did not sound angry, so I assumed it was not. 

“So, they’re getting 10-12 hours of UVB light a day?” I glanced up at him. 

“Day basking at 90 degrees. and off at night,” He scratched the back of his neck. “Before you ask, their water is 80 degrees.”  

I nodded. That was all perfect for red-ear sliders. I knew the breed from the numerous times he had come in for different items of theirs. I used to be sad that I knew more about the turtles than I did their owner, but I realized how much he loved the little guys and it made everything better. If I was not so busy, I would buy a pet of my own. The only problem being I was always doing something and was extremely irresponsible. There was a reason I preferred dead things. I had killed every fish I had ever owned, and plants were hopeless in my care. Even cacti. 

“Any big move? Stress could make them stop eating.” I stole a glance at him.  

He shook his head no. 

“Nothing like that either. I might just take them to the vet.” Taehyung sighed. 

“What is their normal diet?” I quickly asked. 

He looked so sad. I wanted to find a solution for him. I knew how expensive that vet visit would be, not including the trip across town to the exotic doctor. I skimmed the paragraphs while I waited for an answer. 

“They eat the commercial stuff.” 

I hummed and placed the book on the counter. From what the book said they could be getting bored with their diet. Turtles who only ate commercial food could stop eating until they got to try something new to stimulate their appetite. 

“Have you ever tried adding some variety?” I asked, leaning against the counter with my elbows. 

I ignored the way my stomach flipped at his proximity. 

“Like what?” 

“Well,” I started, “Turtles love bugs. Crickets, snails, mealworms, and earthworms are all options to try. They can even eat feeder fish in their tank if you add some in there.” 

“My roommate would kill me if I put any of that in our fridge.” 

I laughed. I could not blame them. I would hate knowing there were bugs next to my cream cheese, too. The thought of it made my stomach churn and I fought the urge to gag. Gross. 

“Well, they can also eat fresh veggies and fruits. The book recommends leafy vegetables or grapes and strawberries. You can even try soaking their food in fruit juice or canned tuna water. They love bright colored things.” 

He smiled at me again. I swooned. The way his eyes crinkled was adorable. He must have been kissed by an angel and hand crafted by God himself to look the way he does. Even in the poor, dim fluorescent lights, he looked good. Fuck good- great.

“I’ll pick some up in the morning then.” 

“Glad to hear it.” 

“Thanks, Y/N.” He looked down at the floor, scuffing his shoe. 

So cute. 

“Happy to help. Don’t want the little guys to go hungry.” I half-heartedly laughed and tapped on the glass case in front of me. 

“Hey-“ 

He was interrupted by the chime on the door. It was his friend, the grumpy drunk guy, and I noticed the way his shoulders slumped. I wonder what the problem was. Were they having problems? I wish we were close enough for me to ask. 

“Tae let’s go,” Grumpy said, not sparing me a glance. “Irene and Cleo are waiting for us.” 

Taehyung sighed and looked at me apologetically. I gave him a small smile and wave. 

“I was wondering why you were all dressed up,” I offered lamely, hoping he would snatch the bait. 

“Wingman for the night,” He replied, smiling brightly. “See you around, Y/N. I’ll let you know how they’re doing.” 

“Taehyung,” The guy groaned, tapping his foot impatiently and staring at his watch. 

“Coming, Jin,” He replied equally annoyed. 

“Have fun,” I responded, turning around, and pretending to get busy. 

I heard a small amount of bickering before another chime and the store was silent again.  

I rubbed at my eyes and let out a huge yawn. Tonight had been boring after Taehyung had left. No one else had come in and I ended up finishing all the restocking and got a small amount of my dissertation done. I was focusing on the evolutionary functions of sauropods. So far, I was having a wonderful time discussing my theories and Dr.Lupon was kind enough to give me plenty of access to the sauropods we had in the lab. Jungkook was getting home as well. 

“Hey,” I greeted, pulling my keys out of my bag. 

“Feeling any better?” He asked, looking over at me. 

Jungkook was a sweet guy. I met him during undergrad at a party. Wren and I were getting along great, and he invited me out. Jungkook and I got paired up for beer pong and the rest was history. For a long time, we were a trio. That was until Wren moved out of the dorms and got married, Jungkook was too busy slutting it up on campus after his big breakup with Fawn, and I became the workaholic in the group. Kendall, a girl I had met during spring break in my junior year of undergrad, was the one I saw on a semi-regular basis now. I noticed a new hickey next to the other two from last night. 

“All good,” I replied. “Sorry for being a dick.”

“No worries. I actually left the guy a note so hopefully he’ll shut the fuck up.” 

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. All the years we had been living here, Jungkook had never approached my neighbor about his volume control. Neither had I. I had come to terms with the lack of sleep and Jungkook hated confrontation. I knew he would never speak to 201, Jungkook had a bad speech impediment when he was anxious or upset. A note, however, was right up his alley. I could imagine what it had said and it made me smile. 

“You didn’t have to do that, Kookie,” I said.

“Yeah, well, you bust your ass to be here. Don’t want that shit to fuck up your grades.” 

Then he was locking himself in his apartment again. I, again, did not take it personally. Jungkook and I both had a bad habit of running away from sweet moments. Jungkook more so than me. I sighed and went inside to get ready for bed. 

Like Jungkook had hoped, it was a quiet night. The night after was silent as well. Then, two weeks went by without a single sound coming from my neighbor’s apartment. And while this should have made me happy, instead all I could think about was my own anxiety. Had he moved out? Was he suffering because of me? Had Jungkook been too harsh? I knew he was crazy about sex. All of these thoughts raced through my mind once I turned off the lights. 

Jungkook told me I was being stupid. The guy was quiet and that was all that mattered. And he was right. I should have been happy but I was not. Going on night sixteen, I stared at my ceiling and waited for something, anything, and nothing came.

It had been hard walking on eggshells throughout the week. I did not really know what my friend had written and how much involvement I had, and that made it even more difficult to function. I left earlier in the morning and came home later at night. I feared I would bump into him. Even though it had never happened before, the last thing I wanted was an awkward apology.

Turning over in my bed, I stared at my front door before groaning. Finally giving up on sleep, I turned on my bedside lamp and started throwing on a few layers of clothes. It had frozen over during the weekend. That was one thing I could live without- snow. Slipping on a pair of thick, fuzzy socks and my too-large snow boots, I collected my keys before locking up my place. 

Insomnia plagued me at the best of times. Stressing was a totally different ballgame. Making my way down the stairs, I reached into my hoodie pocket and pulled out my tangled headphones. Kendall and Wren always poked fun at my old electronics but I paid them no mind. I would use it until it broke and was not worth fixing. It was the same reason I never paid for Spotify or Apple Music like they did. I much rather waste my money on summer expeditions and books. Putting my playlist on shuffle, I began unlocking my bike from the rack.

It had been a hard change when I first left home. I thought, as an 18-year-old girl, that the moment I left my parent’s house and went on my own adventure that I would have things figured out in no time. I laughed at myself now. God, I was so naive. The real world was hard and going Ivy League was harder. Most of the people around me were descendants or related to somebody important. The rest were exchange students who had little interest in me. My first few years at Harvard were rough and I was surprised I had managed. But every time I spoke to my family it made all of the hard work worth it. They were proud and so was I.

Now, here I was about to get my Ph.D. and still trying to figure out what I could do with myself after I left this place. My professor had offered me an adjacent faculty position but I needed to get out from my comfort zone. I wanted to see what else the world had to offer before accepting something like that. My mom thought I was crazy but I knew grandpa would be happy with my decision. Pulling up to the lab, I reminded myself that I had a lecture in the morning and I could not stay for too long. 

It always amazed me how I was able to go from sneaking into this building during my sophomore year to owning a spare key. Back then, I mostly stuck to the rocks and occasionally would find myself looking over the bones. After a while, the rocks were just a suggestion. Now, I quickly let myself into the fossil room and began to wash my hands. Hygiene and care were extremely important when handling bones and I had planned on looking over that tusk again. A half an hour later is when I got the first phone call.

“Y/N,” Kendall slurred on the other side of the phone, loud music blasting in the background, and I could hear Wren laughing loudly just to the side of my friend. “Come to Grendall’s! It’s Throwback Thursday!”

Taking off my cotton gloves, I slowly stood up and began putting my things away. Even if I had no intentions of going out, I did need to start getting everything put away before somebody saw me. While it was not unallowed, most of the other students were not able to come and go as they please, so my professor had asked me to keep this a secret. 

“I have class in the morning,” I replied, placing her on speakerphone while I began the careful process of putting the tusk back.

“Bitch,” It was Wren now. “You better be joking.”

I laughed, “And you’ve lost your mind if you think I’m going to that shitshow. Last time I was at Grendall’s some asshole threw his drink on me.”

“But they’re playing Usher, Y/N! Usher!”

I pursed my lips fighting back a grin. I was almost mad at myself for entertaining the idea at all, but thinking about it now it had been a while since I last went out. Kendall and Wren were both having a great time, but I was not in a party mood. By the time I got there everyone would be getting ready to leave and I would have wasted my time anyway. Declining the invitation again, I hung up before the drunk whining got any worse.

Figuring I would get home, I picked up all of the equipment and locked the door behind me. Flicking the lights off one-by-one, I yawned as the double doors to the research lab slammed behind me. Locking up, I rushed down the stairs and grabbed my bike. 

The moonlight was covered by the clouds so the streets were only lit by the scattered streetlights. Securing my helmet, I contemplated grabbing some food on the way home but shook my head. I had peanut butter and bread. 

It took ten minutes to ride back home. The parking lot was full and deserted. The silence creeped me out, so I quickly locked my bike up before taking the short walk back up to my flat. The stairs banged loudly into the night and I winced with each step I took. I hoped I did not wake anybody. 

Walking past my neighbor’s door, I paused. Whoever they might have been had been very respectful of my boundaries. I almost felt bad for getting rid of their fun. Biting my lip, I looked at the door and sighed.

“Oh, to hell with it,” I mumbled, walking to my door.

It took no time to unlock the door. Leaving it wide open, I found my backpack easily and pulled out a sticky note. Grimacing, I almost second-guessed my plan when I caught sight of the pastel pink bunnies around the edges. Rolling my eyes, I fought the urge and got a pen from my front pocket.

Walking back outside, I stuck the note to the door and began to write.

Sorry about my friend. Do whatever you want. It’s your apartment. -203

After reinforcing the hold with some clear tape, I finally stalked back to my apartment for the rest of the night. It felt strange to give a grown man permission to have sex in his own home, but I had also thought it was weird that dinosaurs had feathers the first time I heard it. It had been my fault he thought he couldn’t, I rationalized. I was simply reminding him that he was free to make his own decisions. 

Crawling into bed, I checked the time and sighed in frustration. I had class in three hours. Rolling over, I let my eyes slip shut. Whatever 201 decided to do, I would be fine with. Even if it meant I would lose some sleep.

Just on the cusp of sleep, I was awoken by a loud bang from the other side of the wall. Shooting up, I grabbed my chest in surprise. Then, almost like an eerie thriller, a shout came through the wall. Scrambling up the bed, I pressed my ear against it and waited for something else to happen. 

“What are you going to do to me?” A woman said, her voice quivering.

“Whatever the fuck I want,” A man replied.

Cupping my mouth, I froze. Was this a kinky sex thing or was 201 about to murder a woman? Was that what he had been doing? Reeling, I continued to listen.

“Daddy,” The woman whined.

Immediately, I threw myself away from the wall with a disgusted exclamation. Definitely kinky sex things. Shuttering, I felt my blood run cold at the thought. I had been listening to my neighbor have sex- willingly. Not consciously, I tried to remind myself. I still felt like a pervert. 

“Oh, fuck!” She shouted. “Just like that. Fuck!”

I heard a loud slap before the man chastised her for speaking out of turn. This only seemed to please her more because she was moaning and groaning. More curses and slaps came through the wall and I curled into a ball at the edge of my bed. 

My annoyance was growing once more. He had not even gotten my note and he was violating me all over again. Gritting my teeth, I crawled out of my bed and got another sticky note. I doubted 201 would even notice if I left another right now. He was occupied.

I have class in the morning asshole, so keep the noise down. Other people live here. -203

Sticking the note on the door, I ripped the other one off and crumpled it in my hand. 201 and I were going to have some problems again it seems. Again, my brain attempted to remind me about how badly I felt for him earlier, but I ignored it. He broke the rules before I said he could! He’s a pig. He has a daddy kink.

I could not tell if I was angrier about the noise or the fact that my panties had grown ever so slightly damp at the thought.

Relax, princess. I’ll keep it down next time. Have fun in class, or whatever else you do. -201

Furious, I chuckled darkly. Ripping the piece of notebook paper from my door, I pulled out another sticky note. 

Whatever it is I do, I’m sure it’s far more fulfilling than fucking everything that walks. -203

Sticking it to the door, I marched down the stairs in a wave of anger. Nothing could calm me down right now. Who the hell does he think he is? Jesus Christ of fucking Nazareth? Scoffing, I cracked my neck. What a joke.

I had hardly slept. Between the banging against the wall and my own anger, I had closed my eyes for thirty minutes before my alarm had gone off. I would, hopefully, get some sleep in between my afternoon and evening classes. I told myself that I would not go to the lab tonight. Thinking about 201, I grit my teeth. I could not even be sure of that if the man-whore decided to bring home another banshee.

He called me princess.

Breathing through my nostrils, I unlocked my bike and put on my helmet. I heard my name being called behind me and turned around.

Taehyung waved me down, a large, square smile on his face. Forcing a smile, I waved back at him. I would have to get my temper in check before I spoke with him. Another thing 201 had ruined for me, I said to myself. 

He was dripping in sweat, his gray tank top sticking to his chest and shorts hardly moving from the amount of water on them. He was wearing a hat today, something I had rarely seen, and I swooned. He looked so nice with his hair out of his face. Coming to a stop in front of me, Taehyung looked at my face with worry.

“Didn’t sleep last night?” He asked, taking an ear bud out.

I shook my head. I decided against telling him about my neighbor's issues. We were not close enough for me to feel comfortable discussing daddy-kinks. Even if they were my neighbor’s. 

Not that I’m against it, I thought to myself. 

“I stayed out too late at the lab,” I replied. Half truths were better than whole lies. “Just lost track of time.”

“What’s your major again?” He asked, leaning against the bike rack.

Checking my watch, I was happy I still had time to chat before class. I had left earlier than I thought. Jungkook was ditching this morning. He and the girls had too much fun last night.

“Paleontology. I’m getting my Ph.D. "

He whistled jokingly and sent a little wink my way.

“Smart girl, huh?” He chuckled. “I went to Harvard for about two months before dropping out.”

Grabbing hold of this information, I grinned at him. I was glad to be learning more about the guy. He had been on my radar for a while now, so breaking some ice was always a good thing. Maybe, if I learned enough, I would feel more comfortable asking him out.

“What do you do for work?”

“Personal trainer,” He shrugged. “I was going to be a dietitian, but I wasn’t cut out for college. You’re at Harvard, right?”

I nodded, “I’ve been here since undergrad.”

Taehyung smiled, seemingly impressed. Looking around, he put his hands on his hips. An awkward silence sat between us, and I glanced at my watch again. I had five minutes left of this conversation. I would be late otherwise. 

“Hey,” He finally said, a thoughtful look on his face. “Which building do you live in?”

I pointed to the one behind him. Taehyung smiled brightly and said he lived in the same one. After a minute of talking about how long we had each stayed, another small lapse in conversation happened. It was hard to talk to him without putting my foot in my mouth. I doubted he really wanted to hear about the things that I liked, and I was clueless about what he was into.

“Do you want to get dinner with me?”

Snapping back to the conversation, I had no idea how to respond. That was very sudden. Taehyung seemed pleased by my reaction, no doubt giving away how nervous I was, and I looked down at my shoes. I hated myself for wearing slippers. 

“Uh, yeah,” I nodded, faking nonchalance. “Sure. When?”

“Next week?” He asked. “I’m pretty busy right now.”

“Yeah, totally.” I nodded, dumbly. “I’m free every day except Thursdays.”

“Next Friday? Around 6?”

I shook my head. “I have work that day. I’m off Sunday, though.”

Taehyung thought for a moment before grinning. 

“I can make Sunday work. We can get lunch.”

After agreeing, we exchanged numbers and went separate ways. Taehyung had to meet with a client in a few minutes and I needed to get to class. Riding away, I was dumbfounded by my own feelings. I had not felt as excited about the idea as I thought I would. He had not seemed very interested in me before, and even asking me out had not really been all that flattering. Chalking it up to over thinking, I pushed my negative thoughts away and focused on the fact that I had a date next week. Wren was going to flip.

Arriving home, I found another note left on my door. Rolling my eyes, I was getting fed up with the childish game of telephone we were playing. I had started it, a thought that made me feel shameful, but if he had something to say to me then he should just go for it.  I grabbed the note.

Not everything. Just the things I like. Sorry again. I will try to be quieter. -201

I found a smiling creeping up my face. I was acting like a complete spaz. Getting a sticky note, I replied.

Enjoy yourself. But not at 4 in the morning. Especially on Wednesdays. I have a class to teach. Sorry for acting like a Karen. -203

Sticking it to the door, I nodded. Hopefully this would mend the bridge. He can still have his fun and I won’t lose my mind. Taking my laptop out of my bag, I decided to get some homework done and continue writing my thesis. My workload was heavy, and I knew I would start feeling the pressure the most after winter break, but for now my thesis was smooth sailing. I was finished with my research thus far, and I only had to sit down, write, cite, and iron out the details. I knew Wren was already losing her mind over hers, but I trusted Jimin to be there for her. They were a power couple if I had ever seen one.

I gave up after four hours. My homework was finished, but I had gotten stuck on my paper again. I was getting caught up on the details when I should be writing. Putting my laptop away, I decided to go get some phone when my phone chimed.

Unknown: Hey is this Y/N?

Raising my eyebrow, I replied hesitantly.

Me: Yes. Who’s this?

Unknown: It’s Tae! Haha

Unknown: Sorry for texting so late. I just got home

Breathing a sigh of relief, I typed back a response.

Me: Oh hey

Me: No worries. I thought you were one of those telemarketers

Tae: Nope. Just Taehyung lol

Tae: Are you still good for Sunday?

Frowning, I stepped outside and shut my door. Why was he asking? We had just seen each other this morning. Standing, I replied and waited.

Me: Yeah? Why?

I heard a door open nearby but ignored it. Nibbling on my thumb nail, I grew anxious. Had he changed his mind? Stopping my thoughts in their tracks, I immediately told myself that this was not a big deal. I was not that desperate. I was lonely, but I knew my worth. Taehyung would not make me lose sight of that.

Tae: Just checking

“Uh,” Someone cleared their throat from beside me. “Excuse me?”

Looking over, I blinked. The guy was cute, insanely so, with pretty skin and wild black hair. He looked like he just woke up if the wrinkles in his shirt were anything to go by. Pushing back the thin, gold-rimmed glasses resting on his nose, the man smiled nervously.

“I’m Namjoon. 201.”

Mouth hanging open, I looked him over a bit more thoroughly this time. I had never seen my neighbor before and I could see why women liked him. He had an aura that surrounded him. Still, when I noticed he had dimples I could not get him being called ‘daddy’ out of my head. So, this was the nympho?

“Y/N, 203,” I replied, voice small.

My phone chimed again.

Tae: Where’d you go?

Nose wrinkling in discomfort, I did not know how to reply. It had been less than five minutes since he had sent the last message. My discontent from earlier returned and I wondered if I had made a good choice agreeing to the date. Remembering 201, I looked back at him.

“Sorry,” I shook my head, my face still distorted. “This guy is being weird.”

He shook his head, a lazy grin on his face.

“No worries, I get those types all the time,” He ran his fingers through his hair and looked out into the night. “Just wanted to properly apologize about the noise. And the note. I was being passive aggressive.”

Taehyung forgotten, I shook my head and hands at the same time.

“No harm, no foul,” I replied. “I kinda started it anyway. Sorry for calling you an asshole. And then a fuck boy.”

He pulled a face, “You didn’t call me a fuck boy.”

“I insinuated it.”

My phone chimed again.

“You can get that,” He nodded to my hand. 

Leaning against the iron fence, Namjoon took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Following suit, I turned my back to the fence and looked at the text chain.

Tae: Y/N???????

Me: I’m getting something to eat. Sorry for not replying sooner.

The reply was instantaneous.

Tae: No worries :)

Tae: I miss you

Thoroughly creeped out, I again found myself at a loss. Screenshotting the conversation, I sent it to Kendall with a slew of question marks. I saw the check marks beside it before the bubble popped up. Kendall had always been great about texting back fast.

KC: uhhh wtf?

KC: block him

Before I could reply to Kendall, Taehyung had already sent another text.

Tae: Can you send me a picture?

Shocked, I blurted out, “What the fuck?”

Namjoon looked at me, an amused look on his face.

“Trouble in paradise?”

Shaking my head, I found myself speaking without much thought.

“He’s a guy I’ve known for a bit. He asked me out this morning and he’s acting weird.”

Namjoon took a step closer to me, looked to see if I was okay with it, and stood right next to me. I showed him the messages easily, my own confusion making my normal walls shattered. I knew the guy was a daddy-dom for Christ’s sake. I think he could see the creepy messages Taehyung was sending me. It would level the playing field. 

“Damn,” He whispered, obviously wanting to laugh. “He’s really fucking this up.”

“What does he mean by ‘pictures?’” I asked. “I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt.”

“Don’t,” Namjoon quickly interjected. “He’s pushy and clingy. It’ll only get worse if you pay attention to it. I’d block him.”

Nodding, I decided to send a gentle let down before blocking his number.

Me: I think we should cancel Sunday. You’re making me really uncomfortable and I don’t want to see you anymore.

Pressing the block button, I sighed in defeat. That had been the first date I had been asked on in months and it went to shit before it even started. Dejected, I told Kendall that I did. I was not very hungry anymore. Putting my phone in my jacket pocket, I decided to go back inside.

“Hey,” Namjoon said, voice gentle. “Don’t let that guy ruin your night. You were about to go somewhere, right?”

Nodding, I kicked the concrete and pushed off the railing.

“I don’t think I’m all that hungry anymore,” I replied. “I’m going to go inside. Thanks for apologizing and have all the sex you want.”

Namjoon laughed despite himself and came to walk beside me.

“Order some takeout,” He argued. “By the time it gets here you’ll be hungry again.”

He was only being nice because we were rocky, I knew that. Still, I felt touched that he had even tried to make me feel better. My friends were great, but they were all living their lives. No one really had time to help me with mine most of the time. It was nice, friend or not, to have someone looking out for me. I nodded.

“I will,” I put my hand on my door knob. “Do you want anything?”

The olive branch had already been extended at this point. I had let him read my texts, and I was appreciative of his efforts to make me feel better. The least I could do was get him some fried rice. Namjoon smiled at me. 

“Sesame chicken or pepper steak. Whichever they have right now.”

I nodded and smiled back. “Gotcha.”

I went inside and closed the door. I heard Namjoon go inside and found myself smiling once again. He was sweet. A very sweet, kind, nymphomaniac with a daddy-kink. Desperate to get that idea out of my head, I called the Chinese restaurant down the street and ordered our food.

I left a tray of sesame chicken and pepper steak outside of his door with a note on it.

Not everything. Just the things you like. -203

I knocked and went back inside before he opened the door. Curling up on my bed, I turned on my tv and waited to hear his door open. When his laugh bounced through the hallway, I smiled over my plate of fried rice.

Putting another container of cat food on the shelf, I sighed into the phone. Kendall had done nothing but laugh at the entire ordeal with Taehyung. Wren, who was laughing right alongside her, struggled to catch her breath.

“I’m sorry,” She wheezed, “This is just too much.”

I rubbed my eyes, frustrated and tired. If I had known all this phone call was just going to be getting made fun of I would not have picked it up. My silence must have clued one of them in since the laughing had stopped a few seconds later.

“You are okay, though, right?” Kendall asked. 

“Yeah,” I replied, quietly. “Just… disappointed.”

“Don’t let him make you feel bad about yourself,” Wren said, her voice far away from the phone. “You deserve better than a ‘u up?” text.”

“Yeah, he’s a fucking loser,” Kendall agreed.

Hearing the bell ring, I told the girls I had to go and promised to call them back once I was done with the customer. Putting the box of cat food to the side, I stood up and adjusted my clothes. Putting on my best customer service smile, I stepped onto the main floor.

“Welcome to Adrian’s!” I called out.

My steps flattered once I saw Jungkook swaying near the register. Confused, I checked my watch and realized that it was getting very close to closing. I had not noticed the time flying. Dropping the act, I let myself look as grumpy as I felt.

He was obviously drunk. Head tilted back and a shit-eating grin on his face, Jungkook’s eyes were closed tightly. One look at him and I was already calling Kendall back. The two of them had been fooling around on-and-off since June and I was not in the mood for the walk of shame.

“That was quick,” She answered.

“Come get Jungkook,” I sighed. “He’s blasted and I have to finish putting this cat food away.”

I heard ruffling from the other side. 

“He’s at the store?”

I nodded, “Yeah. I’ll keep him company while we wait.”

“We’ll be there in five,” Wren replied, her voice much closer now. “Kendall’s getting some barf bags just in case.”

Walking closer to the drunk man, I shook my head. I remembered when Jungkook had never even touched a drink before. Now it was difficult to find a time when he was sober. I wished I could do more for him, but it was hard to tell where I stood in that regard. We had known each other for years now, but I still knew very little about who he was. We had grown apart after Fawn and never really got back on track.

“Do you think they’ll ever just be together?” I asked absentmindedly.

Kendall was good for Jungkook. She evened him out. Where he was argumentative and overly lax about everything, she was responsible and willing to listen. Kendall always took Jungkook and his moods in stride without much complaint. I knew there was love there, but I was no fool to believe it was a healthy one. Jungkook needed to get his shit together and earn Kendall.

“Maybe,” Wren replied. “If Jungkook gets a therapist and quits the bottle.”

Kendall called out in the background, but I was unable to make it out. Wren and I said our goodbyes, and I placed my hand on Jungkook’s shoulder. Cracking open an eye, Jungkook’s smile grew wide as he found me. Unimpressed, I kept my impression impassive.

“Hey,” He slurred, tripping over nothing and catching himself.

“Hello, Jungkook,” I sighed, steadying him under my hands. “Long night?”

He nodded his head like a toddler with a stupid smile on his face. He looked his age tonight. It broke my heart as much as it warmed it. It was always nice to see him carefree and having fun. The guy was born to demand crowds with a nice smile, but I also knew what he was like when he was not drunk. Shy, meek, and soft spoken- someone that he hated. I missed that kid. We got along a lot more.

“I want to hear about dinosaurs,” He said, voice way too loud and slurred for the otherwise quiet store. “I want you to tell me about dinosaurs.”

Frowning, I helped to move him closer to the counter so he could lean against it. Jungkook enjoyed my stories. He was one of the few guys I knew that seemed excited about my brain rather than taken aback. It was unfortunate we had never been interested in each other. Jungkook would have been a nice change of pace at one point in time. Looking at him now, though, I doubt we would have ever been able to make it past whatever this was. I did not take shit like this. I did not know how Kendall did, but a part of me was happy about it.

“What do you want to know?” I asked, taking a step away from him.

Leaning against the counter, Jungkook struggled to keep his eyes open. He looked so tired. Fawn had destroyed every bit of innocence Jungkook had. First love, first heartbreak, first betrayal- Fawn had done it all. From cheating, to verbal abuse, and all the way to hitting Jungkook in public. It was never hard to understand why Jungkook had sunk so low. It was just hard to understand why he never thought he could climb himself back up.

“What’s new?” He laughed.

Smiling sadly, I thought about the question for a second and tried to pick out the most exciting piece of news. The tusk was the most exciting thing in my life right now, but maybe not so cool to a layman. 

“There was a new dinosaur discovered in Utah,” I finally replied. “It’s a beaked guy that’s about 99-million-years-old. They’re calling him Iani Smithi.”

Jungkook snorted obnoxiously, “They named it Ian Smith?”

Laughing along with him, it was easy to forget about his issues. The two of us used to do this sort of thing all the time. He would come into Adrian’s with all of his books and we would shoot the shit for hours. Jungkook was a good study buddy even though we were in completely different fields. He was like the baby brother I never had.

“He’s named after a Roman God and the guy who found him,” I chuckled.

“There’s a God named Ian?”

I raised an eyebrow and waved my hand, “Technically, it’s Ianus.”

“So Ian?” He giggled.

Rolling my eyes, I smiled fondly. Glancing out of the large, glass windows I saw Kendall’s Jeep parking across the street. Knowing our conversation was about to be over, I decided to indulge him a little. He looked happy tonight.

“We can call him Ian, I guess.”

Jungkook made a happy sound. Kendall got out of her four-wheel-drive and briefly looked both ways before crossing. Her hair was up and out of her face with a dark colored headband keeping her blonde bangs out of her face. I liked the pajama shorts she was wearing and made a mental note to ask her about them later. The bell chimed when she walked through the door and she found Jungkook immediately.

Putting on a big, sly grin, Kendall sauntered up to the tall man and wrapped her arms around his neck. Jungkook melted into her with ease and sighed in content. He looked even more tired now that she was here, but I thought it was a good sign. Maybe he will sleep tonight. 

“Lets go you big baby,” She cooed, kissing his cheek.

Jungkook nodded in a daze and followed behind her. They were holding hands. Turning toward me, Kendall gave me a smile and wave before leaving. I waved her off and went back to the cat food. She had her hands full with the kid so I would not hold it against her.

Walking home, I got caught in the rain and had to run the rest of the two blocks it took me to get home. No one else had come in and I hoped it would stay that way. I was worried Taehyung would show up and I’d be alone. Maybe he was busy? Did not matter, I was just happy he was leaving me alone.

Racing up the stairs, I almost slipped but caught myself before I face-planted the concrete. Cursing, I grumbled as I walked the last set of stairs. A black eye would be the cherry on top of the already shit night.

Wren had messaged me to let me know that Jungkook was alright. It was a relief but did not make my discomfort go away. He was getting worse. I wondered if Kendall knew about the hickies I had been seeing. It was none of my business, I said to myself. They were a strange duo.

Getting to my door, I saw a small box sitting in front of it. Pulling out my phone, I turned on my flashlight so I could see better in the dark hallway. 201 was written across the top of it bringing a smile to my face. Shaking my head, I picked up the box and unlocked my door.

Stripping out of my wet clothes, I threw it into the pile in the corner I needed to take to the laundromat. After taking a hot shower and going through my nighttime routine, I finally took the box and brought it to my bed. Ripping the top open, I was confused to see another box inside of it. Lifting it, I gasped. 

It was a small, Mosasaurus fossil building kit. It was obviously made from Legos, but a different company had made it so they were simply labeled ‘building bricks.’ How did he know I liked dinosaurs in the first place? Looking inside the box again I saw a folded paper at the bottom.

Apparently one of my colleagues knows you. I said you were my neighbor and he said the two of you had gone on a dig together years ago. You are also on his fiance’s shit list, by the way. Didn’t peg you to be the homewrecking type. Closested bad girl? Anyway, I saw this at the museum souvenir shop. Take it as my thanks for the food. Let me see it when it’s done. -Joon

Laughing loudly, Dave Powell’s face came to mind along with his fiance. Jenna Marcel was a girl from our freshman biology class. During undergrad, she and I were not friends but were friendly enough to greet one another and make small talk. Cut to our junior year, Jungkook and Jimin had dragged me to a frat party to celebrate exams being over. I was sloppy drunk and dancing with Jimin until a man, who inebriated me thought was good-looking but was not when I could think straight, got in between us. I ended up making out with him and Jenna found us like that. Apparently, it had been her boyfriend. She had nothing but bad things to say about me ever since and made it her mission to run a smear campaign anytime I was mentioned.  

Mood thoroughly lifted, I tried to think if I had ever heard of Namjoon before our meeting the other night. He was a blank to me, but if he worked with Dave then we were in similar fields. I could guess anthropology like Dave, but I would ask to confirm later. Jenna and I worked closely together most of the time as we were both in paleontology, but no one really liked her very much. Too much gossiping and a lot less work getting done in her office. Jenna never really bothered me all that much.

Putting the model kit down on my nightstand, I crawled up my bed toward the wall. Pressing my ear against the wall, I listened but to no avail. It was silent in Namjoon’s apartment. Deciding to test my luck, I raised my hand and knocked on the wall.

“Yeah?” A voice called out a few seconds later.

Jumping, I covered my mouth to keep the surprised shriek in. 

“Uh,” I choked before clearing my voice. “Thanks for the Mosasaurus.” 

“What is it?” He asked, his voice much closer to the wall now, and I wondered if he looked like I did. Smiling, I leaned my forehead against the rough wall and closed my eyes. I would be able to talk freely for a second time tonight. The feeling was ecstasy.

“It was an aquatic squamate reptile from the late Cretaceous. It was my favorite dinosaur as a kid.”

“What’s that all mean?”

Turning around, I rested my back against the wall. 

“It was a really big sea lizard,” I clarified, a small smile on my face.

Namjoon laughed, “Like a dragon?”

Smile growing wider, I replied.

“Just without the fire-breathing and wings.”

“And it’s in the water,” He pointed out.

“There’s sea dragons,” I argued. “What about sea serpents?”

Namjoon laughed again, “Touche.”

A comfortable silence fell between us. It was strange to feel so comfortable with someone like Namjoon. Last week he was the nymphomaniac next door and now we were talking dinosaurs. This was new for me, but it helped ease the loneliness. Namjoon was an easy guy. I knew he liked sesame chicken, sex, and felt comfortable enough with me to buy me a model fossil kit. I wondered if he was lonely, too.

“Are you hungry?” He suddenly asked.

“I could eat,” I replied, more aware of my hunger than I had been before.

I really needed to get better about eating more often.

“There’s a 24/7 taco place around the corner if you want to go.”

“What about the rain?” I asked, not wanting to go back out into the storm.

A long stretch of silence went by.

“I have ramen,” Namjoon finally said. “You could come over if you want.”

Laughing, I decided to be a bit playful.

“Is that what you ask all of your girls?”

I could hear the smile in his voice.

“Only the ones I like.”

I laughed, “So you like me now?”

“I’ve liked you since you put that note on my door.”

Sobering up, I froze. Heart racing, I covered my face and smiled into my hand. He was very forward, but I was not interested in becoming another notch in his bedpost. No matter how cute he was.

But you could be the woman calling him daddy, my mind screamed at me. Stomach warming, I could see it now. I would be on my knees, tears streaming down my face, and Namjoon towering over me. I rubbed my thighs together.

“I’m not interested in a fling,” I said, not even convinced of it myself. It would be so easy. “I’m the monogamous type.”

I heard him hum.

“So am I,” Namjoon replied. “I’ve been hooking up recently, but I do like relationships.”

“What are you asking me, 201?” I cut to the chase, wanting to get to the point already.

“I was asking you to come over,” Namjoon’s voice started to drift away from the wall. “Now I’m asking if I can come over so we can build that sea lizard together.”

His voice was very far away from the wall now and I realized far too late that he was walking toward his door. Scrambling off my bed, I dashed to my dresser to find a pair of pants. I never wore them when I was going to sleep. Stumbling and jumping into the most unflattering pair of pajama pants I owned (why hadn’t I done laundry sooner?) just as a loud knock came to my door. Running, I smoothed down my clothes and messed with my hair a bit before opening it.

“Hey neighbor,” Namjoon greeted me as if we had not been having a conversation before. “Would you like to hang out?”

“Is this a date?” I asked, looking everywhere but his face.

“No,” Namjoon replied. “Just two people getting to know each other.”

Looking at him now, I raised an eyebrow. He had literally asked me to “eat ramen” with him less than five minutes ago. Softening, Namjoon shrugged. Scoffing at him, I crossed my arms over my chest.

“If you’re ‘courting’ me,” I made the quotations with my fingers, “I want to lay some ground rules.”

“Go for it,” Namjoon replied.

“Rule number one:-” I lifted my pointer finger, “-no hook ups. I can literally hear you and it’s weird. Rule number two: I expect this to be a mutual thing. I will only put in the amount of effort you do. And three-” I looked him in the eyes, “-I don’t like liars.”

“So,” Namjoon began counting with his fingers, “We’re not seeing other people, we’re going to do heart and flowers, and lying is punishable by death?”

“Are you okay with that?” I asked.

I thought it was only fair to be as clear as possible. I had expectations, and Namjoon had said he was hooking up right now. I was not fine with something like that, but it did not mean we could not still be friendly. Dating or not, I had figured we would get along just fine.

“I can do that,” He nodded with a smile. “But I just want to focus on being cool. I rush through this shit a lot.”

I opened my door wider.

“Join the club,” I grinned. “Come in.”

Wren tossed her hair over her shoulder, smacking my face with it. Shoving her forward, she laughed and walked up to the counter. I stood behind her and pointed at the flavor I wanted. 

“I’ll get a scoop of raspberry sorbet in a cup,” I told the young girl taking our order. “No toppings, please.”

“And I want two scoops of Cookie Monster on a waffle cone,” Wren said. “Chocolate drizzle and marshmallows.”

Scrunching my nose up, I gave Wren a look. Shrugging her shoulders at me and paid for the both of us. We walked to the pick up window and waited. 

“I thought you were on a diet?” I asked.

Wren’s mother had been complaining about her weight and it had finally gotten to her head. Jimin told her he thought she looked just fine, but family pressures always made Wren cave. She said it was just the way her family worked, but I knew how hard that sort of thing can be. My family and I were getting better at communicating even with my father’s not-so-silent disapproval of my life choices. Wren’s mom was like that but ten times more intense.

“I gave up after a week,” She shrugged. “My mom’s just going to have to deal with me putting on a few extra pounds.”

“Why is she so obsessed about it anyway?”

Wren shrugged, “It’s a big deal in China so she’s projecting it onto me. I know it’s coming from a good place, but that doesn’t mean I have to deal with her insecurities. I learned that from someone special.”

Fixing me with a pointed look, I smiled shyly. She always said I made her more confident, but I did not believe her. Kendall had done more for Wren’s self love journey than I ever did. I just told her she was her own person six years ago and she acts like I made all of her parental issues go away.

“So who’s this guy you’re seeing?” Wren suddenly switched topics.

Grabbing our order, she handed me my sorbet and the two of us sat at one of the small tables on the other side of the ice cream parlor.

“You remember 201?” I asked, taking a spoonful of sorbet and stuffing it into my mouth. “Turns out he’s much nicer than I gave him credit for.”

Wren squealed. Her mind had gone to sex, I could see the mischievous glint in her eye, and I tried to hide my growing embarrassment. Out of all my friends, Wren had the most experience with good partners and pushed me to expand my horizons, and she knew all about the fiend next door. As if I could see the wheels in her head turned, I braced myself for the conversation to come. 

“Who is he?” She asked, coming closer and dropping her voice.

This place was popular amongst students and she was overly paranoid about someone listening in. 

“Namjoon Kim,” I replied, biting my lip to stop the smile from taking over my face.

Things between us had been going well. Namjoon was kind and considerate, and like he had said, we had only been acting like friends. Between a late night run to get tacos together and staying up to talk over the phone while I was holed up in the lab, I was happy with the way things were headed. I liked him more than I thought I would.

“I didn’t realize Namjoon was a nympho!” Wren exclaimed, her voice causing a few heads to turn. 

Reaching out, I smacked Wren on the top of her head. She pouted childishly, but relented. Sending a few apologetic smiles to the unfortunate souls overhearing our conversation, I glared at Wren in between each one. All I got was a noncommittal shoulder shrug.

“Are you trying to embarrass me?” I whispered harshly. 

“You’re the one who’s dropping bombs,” She replied.

“No, I’m trying to have a conversation with you. Very different.”

Wren burst into laughter. Unable to stop myself, I joined her quiet chuckles. I could feel people looking at us, but it only made me laugh harder.

“I can’t believe I called him a nympho in public,” Wren wheezed, hiding behind her hands.

“You didn’t just say it,” I laughed, “You yelled it from the rooftops.”

Shaking her head, Wren took a few large licks of her ice cream.

“He’s a nice dude,” She changed subjects quickly. “We’ve gone on a few digs together. He’s as big of a nerd as you are. You should definitely ask him about Greece- he’s all about Classical art.”

Namjoon was a fan of the arts. The two of us had gone to the Museum of Fine Arts over the weekend, and were planning on stopping by the campus art museum sometime soon. He wanted me to take him on a tour of the Natural History museum first. According to him, he needed a “proper” dinosaur tour since he had never worked with a paleontologist on a dig. 

“I’ve heard about Egypt and Kenya already, but I’ll keep Greece in mind,” I replied, eating another spoonful. “What excavation should I bring up? I’ve had fun with all of mine.”

Wren put a finger on her chin, “You haven’t left the U.S?”

I shook my head, “I went to Manitoba during undergrad. I didn’t find much though. The group I was with weren’t as excited about digging as I was. All of my good digs have been in the States.”

“Why didn’t you go to Mongolia with Lupon?” She asked, her first scoop finished.

“You can’t keep anything you find,” I replied. “What’s the fun in that?”

Wren and I were more closely related in fields. Both she and Namjoon were archaeologists and traveled all over the world during the summer. The two of us met during an excavation in Colorado. Dr.Lupon and two other professors from the anthropology department had a large excavation planned for the undergrads. Wren was helping the team dig up some possible fossils, but they had been unsuccessful. My small group was spread out and looking around, but my eyes caught something in the dirt. I had asked her to help me get it up, and we ended up finding a Stegosaurus plate that had broken. The two of us had found the first fossils of the trip and were attached at the hip for the rest of the summer. 

“I could talk to him about Dinosaur Ridge.”

Wren nodded enthusiastically, “Don’t forget about Mesa Verde.”

We had gone to the Mesa Verde National Park for a two week tour, study, and small excavation after we were done in Dinosaur Ridge. I had a lot of fun with Wren, but I could not recall too much about Mesa Verde. The architecture was beautiful but it was the most boring excavation I had been a part of to date. I never really counted Manitoba.

“I have a good feeling about this one,” Wren said. “From what I know about him, Namjoon’s a nice guy. A little abrasive at times, but nothing you can’t handle.”

I scoffed, “Jenna already got her ‘homewrecker’ storyline in his head.”  

“She’s still not over that?” Wren laughed, voice higher in pitch. 

“She did catch her boyfriend’s tongue in my mouth,” I reasoned. 

I winced. Namjoon had never brought that up again, but it was still bothering me. Not only was it a bad light to be in- it was just not true. Dave had gotten over it pretty quickly, and Jenna had never had any mean words to say about him. She had ruined two possible relationships for me before and I was afraid it might work on Namjoon if they were together long enough.

“Didn’t they get married?”  

“Yeah,” I nodded and took the last bite of my sorbet. 

“Then why is she still complaining about it?” She wondered out loud. 

“She needs everyone to know that I’m a homewrecker,” I giggled. 

It really was petty at our age, but that never seemed to stop her before.

“But no home was wrecked?”  

“Want to hear something even worse?” I leaned in and covered the side of my mouth. 

Wren leaned in quickly, her eyes wide in excitement. She was such a gossiper. I almost felt bad for telling her, I knew it would be talked about at every function where it was acceptable. Jenna had called me every name in the book, though, so I felt little sympathy for her. Now we could call it even. 

“He proposed on both knees,” I snorted. 

“What?” Wren exclaimed. “Like begging?” 

“No, like Shane Dawson.” 

Wren and I both laughed loudly. I laughed so hard my stomach began to hurt and it was difficult to breathe. Wren, on the other hand, had a terrible habit of hurting herself when she laughed. From falling out of chairs to quite literally throwing herself on the floor, she always seemed to leave with a few bumps and bruises. This time she simply banged her knee into the table. 

“And she’s pressed?” Wren managed in between bouts of laughter. 

I howled like a hyena and felt tears coming to my eyes. I could see the picture vividly in my mind. Morgan, a girl from my department, and I were in Utah doing research when she started laughing before turning her phone so I could see the Instagram post. Dave was wearing flip flops, khakis, and an ill-fitting Baby Yoda shirt, his back perfectly straight and lifted by his knees. Jenna had her hands over her mouth and was crying. I began to laugh even harder. I needed to see if Morgan still had a screenshot.  

“Jen, sorry to tell you, babe, but no one wants to wreck that home.” Wren wheezed. 

“He was wearing a Baby Yoda shirt.” 

Wren snorted. 

“I’m done. I’ve heard it all.”  

I wiped the tears off my face and began to catch my breath. Wren and I always had a great time together, it was the main reason we got so close, and no one made me laugh the way she did. I sent a text to Morgan and continued my steady breathing. We would both be in stitches the moment we saw it.

“Hey, Y/N?” Wren was suddenly serious. 

“Yeah?” I breathed out, looking back at her face. I wiped the remaining tears from my cheeks.

“Anyone would be lucky to have you, you know that right?” 

I looked away shyly.

“Of course, Wren,” I replied. “I got over that hill.”

She nodded, “Just making sure.”

My phone chimed distracting us both. Waving Wren over, the tense moment was gone. Scooting her chair to my side of the table, I quickly pressed on Morgan’s text. Underneath a few crying-laughing emojis was the photo. Wren took my phone from my hands, her hand cupping her mouth, and another loud wave of laughter overtook the table.

Staring up at my ceiling, I could not fall asleep. I had tried everything. A warm bath, turning off all of the lights and sounds, and even a warm glass of milk. Nothing was working. Bundled under my blanket, I was happy to be safe from the frosty air nipping away at my nose.

The building’s air conditioning was broken and had done nothing but blow freezing cold air. I had pulled out my space heater but it was not very helpful. The vent was right above me and blasting on full force.

Rolling over, I finally gave in and picked up my phone from the charger. I was going crazy just laying here. Scrolling, I replied to a message from Kendall before finding Namjoon’s contact. He had gone out of town yesterday to visit his family in Maine. His parents retired there and his sister was in town from New Zealand.

Glancing at the time, I second guessed myself. He could be sleeping, but I knew his sleep schedule was even worse than mine was. He had afternoon classes and late night projects he did with his friends. They were beginning to plan their summer trip for the year, and it bothered me how much I felt jealous of him. Namjoon would have another four years after this when he came back for his doctorate. I outgrew this place in just six months. The thought bothered me far more than it should have.

Me: Hey

It was still hard to decide what I truly wanted. While this part of me wanted to go off on an adventure, another loved the security that came along with Harvard. I knew everyone, taught plenty, and would always have my once a year dig. The unknown was just that. I had such a ride these last twelve years, and it felt bittersweet to see them go by. Seeing my freshman dorm for the first time felt like yesterday.

Joon: You should be sleeping

Joon: You have a morning class to teach, Ms.Studious

I laughed quietly. 

Out of everything I would miss about this place, Namjoon was quickly making his way to the top of the list. I had already had security in my friendships. They would forever be constants in my life. I knew wherever I went that they would always be there. I could visit in the winter and they would fly out in the summer. We would always find each other.

Namjoon was a different sort. We were still navigating the waters of our relationship. I knew we were more than friends, but no moves had been made to become more than that. No kisses, or hugs, or hand holding. There was no goal or finish line in sight. Come May he could decide that he was not willing to put up with me anymore, and it still felt too unstable to talk about it with him. What would he want?

Me: It’s too cold and I can’t sleep

The reply was quick.

Joon: They still haven’t fixed that?

Me: Nope

Me: Apparently my room is the worst. Jungkook said his place barely felt any different and yours was already broken to begin with. This sucks.

Shivering again, I grumbled to myself. I hated this complex. I was the most excited about moving out and getting something nicer. I never bothered while I was enrolled since the rent was cheap and it was something affordable. I could pay rent and still stash away money- something that could not be said for anywhere else in Massachusetts. 

Joon: You could sleep at my place

I smiled. He had offered his apartment the day he left, but I refused. At the time it had not been as bad. I was also unsure why he was giving me permission in the first place. Was it as a friend? Or was it as a man who was interested in me? It was impossible to know and I was too anxious to ask. He was wearing these ripped denim jeans that were driving me crazy. 

Joon: I’d feel more comfortable if you did 

It was a rare occasion to have a sentimental comment made by the guy. Wanting to fish a bit more, I decided to bait him just a little. With a slick grin, I replied.

Me: 🤨

Joon: You have to teach a geology class at 7am

Joon: So you need to sleep

Joon: I’m doing this for your students, 203

I giggled.

Me: Whatever you say, 201

A call screen popped up before I could be happy with my reply. Namjoon never called me. Taking a few breaths, I calmed my excitement down before answering.

“Hello?”

“You calling me a liar?” Namjoon replied, his amusement evident.

Trying to relax, I snuggled deeper into my blankets.

“And if I am?” I bit back.

I always loved flirtatious and playful, and it was rare that Namjoon was neither one. He came on very strongly without ever laying a finger on me. It was a surprising turn on.

He laughed, “Oh, you’ll see.”

“Will I?” I drawled.

He was a fan of hard to get. I never pulled away too much, and it was only when we were messing around, but I could tell he liked it. I doubted anything I had done since the first note I’d left on his door excited him the same way.

“I’ll be home tomorrow, 203,” Namjoon warned. “Don’t start some shit you can’t finish.”

I scoffed, “You called me, 201.”

Namjoon chuckled. He sounded happier than usual. We talked about his family a lot, and I knew how much he loved them. His little sister was more distant than he was, but the two of them got along really well when she was home. He had to keep the peace so she and their mother would not argue. His father was a quiet man with a warm personality, while his mother was the polar opposite. He was much closer to her, but loved them both. I could imagine how glad he was to spend time with them.

“I miss you.”

Stunned, it took me a second to reply.

“I miss you, too.”

And I meant it. Things were way too quiet without him around. I had never noticed just how isolated I had really become over the last few years. Wren and I used to spend every day together until she met Jimin. Kendall took up her space for a while, but her job was very demanding of her time so that faded as well. Jungkook was too focused on school and drinking to care about anybody else. My colleagues did not really count as friends since I never saw them outside of school, and I was not someone who got out as much as I used to. The world was very quiet until he moved in.

“Sorry if that was weird,” He quickly interjected, mistaking my silence for something else.

“No, no,” I rushed, sitting up. “Just unexpected. I don’t mind it.”

The cold air hit me all at once, and I quickly plopped back down. Wrapping the blanket around me tightly, I accidently let out a rush of air. My teeth began chattering.

“I won’t tell you what to do,” Namjoon was calm again. “I have a spare key underneath the mat you’re free to use.”

“Thank you,” I replied even if I did not plan on using it.

My graduation date came back to my mind. I had applied to a few places already, but had either been turned down or lost interest in the position after the interview. The only place that was left were a few museums that I was very interested in. One in New York was the most exciting prospect, and I had heard they were going to need new staff this coming year, but no job postings had been listed yet. Dr.Lupon said she should get me the job if I really wanted it, but I was not sure how comfortable I felt about that either.

“What’s on your mind?” Namjoon spoke, breaking me away from my thoughts.

“Huh?” I replied, dumbly.

“I could hear you thinking through the phone,” He joked. “Maybe you’ll sleep if you get it off your chest.”

Humming, I thought about it for a minute. It was scary to talk about this stuff with Namjoon, I was worried about where it would hurt us, but I was also afraid of where we would go if I didn’t.

“I’m just nervous about graduation,” I finally settled on. I was not ready to dive into everything with him yet. “I’ve been here for so long, you know?”

“How long have you been at Harvard?” He asked, his voice light.

“12 years,” I replied. “I studied geology for my undergrad and masters. I have worked with the paleontology department since freshman year, though.”

“You’ll be fine,” He reasoned. “I’m sure you have plenty of options.”

I scoffed. He was not wrong, but it was never so black and white. At least, it never felt that way.

“What do you want to do?” I asked, switching subjects. “After graduation?”

If he caught on my deflection, he chose not to comment on it.

“I’d be happy to be a part of the research team here,” He replied. “I’m also a fan of a few museums.”

“But if you had it your way? What then?”

Namjoon chuckled, “Then I’d say a project manager.”

It was comforting to know that I had guessed his answer correctly. He was an adventurous guy who loved to dig. It made sense for him to want to be in charge of one. I was more of a lab rat than anything, but I enjoyed an excavation like anybody else.

“I want to be a museum director,” I admitted.

“Wow,” He said. “Didn’t expect that. Why?”

Settling further into my bed, I closed my eyes.

“My grandfather worked as a researcher at the Field Museum,” I started, a small smile on my face. I could see his face in my mind. “He was a paleoanthropologist, so closer to what you do, but he loved to take me on road trips in the summer to go fossil finding.”

I looked back on those memories fondly. We never really found much of anything except shark teeth out in Florida. I still had a huge collection of them back at my parent’s house. I was surprised they hadn’t thrown them out when I left, my dad always complained about how cluttered it all was, but I guessed they missed me more than they let on. My mom knew how much those teeth meant to me. 

During that time I thought I would grow up and be just like him, but once I turned 10 I changed my mind. My mom had been a helicopter parent that limited everything that I saw as a child. I ended up spending a weekend at grandpa’s house and he had taken me to see Ice Age in theaters. I was completely obsessed with Diego, and found myself buying books about the Ice Age. Then about dinosaurs. Our next trip was to Kelley’s Island, Ohio where I found some fossilized coral and a few crystals in the limestone. That was the summer I knew I wanted to be a paleontologist- little did I know I would spend more time looking at rocks than sabertooth tigers and mammoths.

“That sounds nice,” Namjoon replied. “All of my knowledge was from Indiana Jones.”

I laughed.

“Nothing wrong with that.”

I could picture a young Namjoon running around his house wearing a cowboy hat yelling about booby traps. It must have gone against the grain for his family. They were a lot like mine- working class and safe. His father was in business and his mother was a teacher. He and his sister were ambitious, and his rebellion rubbed off on her. Of course, they were proud of him, but it was difficult to convince them that he was making good choices. I frowned. I don’t think my family was all that proud of me outside of getting into Harvard.

“You know I think the world of you, right?” He suddenly asked, serious.

“Huh?”

“I’m just saying you don’t give yourself enough credit,” He clarified. “You really don’t have anything to worry about. Whatever you want you can get, so go for it.”

I bit my lip, “And if it doesn’t work out?”

He snorted, “Doubtful. Still, even if you don’t get something right out of school you’ll be just fine. You’ve made it this far.”

I heard him moving around and I realized that he was in bed. I wondered again if I had actually woken him up. He continued to talk.

“You should come with me this summer.”

Blinking, I didn’t know what he was talking about.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I was invited on an excavation to Africa with a group of us and a few professors. I can see if you could come along. They would probably love to have some additional eyes and ears.”

I yawned loudly. I was getting very tired. Namjoon chuckled but did not tease me about it the way he normally would. He was waiting for a response.

“You can ask,” I answered, excited by the prospect. “I’m always happy to go on a dig, and I’ve never been out of the country before.”

He laughed in disbelief.

“I’d grill you about that, but you’re exhausted. Get some sleep, 203.”

I hummed, tucking my blanket under my chin. The cold was still nipping at my body, but I was not as bothered by it as I had been. Talking had been a nice distraction. My eyes closed on their own accord, and I sighed content.

“You, too, 201,” I mumbled. “See you tomorrow?”

“I’ll be back around 6.”

“Day or night?” My voice was very quiet now.

“Night,” I could tell he was smiling. “Can I come over?”

I yawned again, “Sure. I’ll be in class until 8.”

“Night, Y/N.”

I grinned, “Night, Joon.”

I placed my phone beside my pillow and cracked open my eyes. I hung up before rolling over. I was asleep seconds later.

Checking my watch again, I smiled. I only had a few minutes left of lab work before I was free. Glancing over at Morgan, she was hunched over a microscope looking at some plants. I wondered how fun being a Paleobotanist could really be, but coming from studying rocks for eight years I guessed it was more exciting than that.

The lab was practically empty this evening. Not many of us took these night classes, but I loved them. I would just go to work right after I finished up and keep the momentum up for the next day. I was happy the shop was closed for the week due to repairs. It gave me some breathing room to focus on my thesis, and I would be able to go and see Namjoon.

Deciding to start putting my supplies away, put disposables on a metal trey and took out another to begin the process of putting away the fossil I was collecting data on. Tonight, instead of the tusk, I was asked to look at a new trilobite fossil casted in limestone. It was a smooth, easy, and quiet day of writing and sample taking. Bringing the fossil back to the museum’s storage room, I bumped into Dr.Lupon.

“Oh! Y/N,” She exclaimed, a large smile on her face. “I was just about to come looking for you.”

I nodded, “Nice to see you, Dr.Lupon. I was just putting away the trilobite from this morning.”

“Sure, sure,” She nodded, waving toward the room. “Go and do that then meet me back in my office. I have someone who wants to speak with you.”

And then she was whirling away, shouting out to some of the other students to let them know they should start cleaning up. Her long, white peacoat flared out behind her and her heels clicked loudly. I shook my head and went back to work. I could not think of a single person who would want to see me at this hour. 

After getting out of my lab gear, I messaged Namjoon to let him know I would be a little late to talk with my professor. Going to find Dr.Lupon proved easier than normal. She really was in her office. Normally, I would have to run all over the museum to find her.

“There she is,” Dr.Lupon smiled, gesturing me in. “Come on in, Y/N.”

Aside from Dr.Lupon sat two older men. One was bald, his skin tan and showing minimal signs of aging. The other had long, wavy, orange hair with thick strands of gray beginning to show. He had a full beard and wore thin, wire glasses. Both of them stood up to greet me. The bald man had a gentle, barely there handshake while the other’s was firm. I gave them both a tight-lipped smile and introduced myself.

“Dr.Christopher Jonas,” The bald man replied, a warm smile on his face.

“Dr.Alistair Moody,” The ginger said after with a thick, English accent. He did not seem as friendly, and reminded me of one of my former biology instructors. That guy was an asshole. “Pleasure to meet you, Dr.Y/L/N.”

I laughed nervously, “I’m not a doctor just yet, Dr.Moody.”

“You will be in a short few months.”

Dr.Jonas gestured to a third seat on their side of the desk. Dr.Lupon was sat comfortably in her seat. Walking over, I sat in the chair. Moody sat beside me and Jonas on the far left. Dr.Lupon gave me a cheeky wink before getting down to business.

“Well, Y/N,” She started. “One of Dr.Moody’s students asked if you would be interested in joining them on an excavation to Sudan and he arranged for a meeting.”

Looking over at Moody, I nodded politely. He was quick, no nonsense, and seemingly hopeful to have me on the team if he went to the trouble of setting up a meeting with Lupon. I knew many faculty members found her hard to work with due to how excentric she could be. I adored the bubbly blonde, and was eternally grateful for all she had done for my career. She believed in me the same way my grandfather had.

“Yes,” I nodded. “I told him that he could see if there was any more room for the trip.”

“We were surprised to hear you were interested at all,” Dr.Jonas spoke up. I guessed he would be another professor organizing everything. “You’re a very difficult woman to convince.”

I laughed. “Have you tried before?”

“Oh, yes,” He laughed, rolling his eyes playfully. “I took my wife’s last name when we got married. You knew me as Christopher Hamal at the time, and I think I emailed you so often you put me in your spam folder.”

Laughing out loud, I clutched my stomach. I remembered Mr.Hamal very well. He was still getting his doctorate and begged me to join his team for a trip to Somalia. Unfortunately, I was far too swamped with work and going through a large argument with my family. I was also not very interested in any archaeological digs since I would be stuck on rock duty. Now, however, rock duty sounded like more fun than nothing at all.

“I’m sorry about that,” I chuckled. “I didn’t mean to be rude. I admire your tenacity, but I was really busy and couldn’t find time to go for a winter trip.”

Jonas laughed, “I should have seen you in person, it might have gone over better. Besides, after reading all of your research papers from the time, I have to say I’m glad you stayed behind. They were fantastic.”

I smiled at the man. It seemed like everyone was trying to be sure I was locked in this time. I thought over the journey to Sudan and hoped he meant caves. There were so many beautiful cave paintings there, and I would love the chance to see them in person. Rock duty, or dig duty, was always fun when you got to see cool shit.

“Anyway,” Moody spared me a small grin. “We just wanted to confirm your interest. We are in desperate need of support staff for the first timers, and I believe you would be a great asset to our team.”

“Before you answer that,” Lupon interrupted me before I could speak. “I’ve volunteered both Morgan Dawson and three of my first year doctoral students to go as well. We will be taking a small tour of Africa, and I would expect for you to be there for both Sudan and the trip after.”

I nodded, “What will I be doing for the rest of the trip?”

Dr.Lupon smugly smiled, “You will be my assistant. Morgan is our data collector for this trip, and I want you to be the one making sure whatever we find is properly protected.”

I smiled brightly, “Ms.Dawson and I work well together.”

The three of them seemed pleased by my comment. Deciding to bring the meeting to a close, I looked at Dr.Moody.

“I’d love to join the team.”

Jonas clapped happily and quickly stood from his seat and leaned over the other man. I took his outstretched hand happily, the smile never leaving my face. He seemed to be more excited about my presence than I did.

“Wonderful news!” He laughed, his good mood infectious.

“Indeed,” Moody chimed in, his reactions more in line with a serious professional. Still, he offered me his hand. “I’ve heard great things about you, Dr.Y/L/N.”

I looked away bashfully. Dr.Lupon was over the moon, her brown eyes sparkling with delight. She and Jonas shared a handshake.

“Y/N’s a treat,” She gushed. Looking over at me, I could see a glint of mischief in her eye. Lupon was prone to meddling and I worried what she might say. “Christopher was the head field paleontologist at Glendive before he came to Harvard.”

Glendive was one of the largest dinosaur museums in America. Based out of Montana, I had gone twice with my grandfather during our summer trips, but it had never caught my eye outside of the fossils. Glendive had far more biblical roots than was normal for a museum, and their philosophy did not really match my own. Still, it was impressive for Jonas to be affiliated with them. It was not an easy task.

“That’s nice,” I smiled politely. 

“Where are you headed after graduation?” Dr.Moody asked.

Again, Dr.Lupon responded before I could. She was most definitely meddling, but for once it did not bother me. I was still excited about the good meeting. 

“She’s still looking.”

Dr.Moody looked at me confused. No doubt he was expecting something a bit more substantial. I knew Morgan was on her way to Berlin, many of his own students were more than likely already making their own future plans, and I was still stuck. It was strange in our line of work. If you had enough connections- anything could happen, and I had more than enough to get a job somewhere.

“What’s holding you back?” He asked, an eyebrow raised.

I shrugged, “I was hoping the Field Museum would have something, but unfortunately they’re fully staffed.”

Dr.Moody regarded me for a moment. I assumed he was sizing me up. I had a great reputation, my grades were impeccable, and my knowledge was useful. Truly, any museum I went to would be lucky to have me on staff. I was more of an asset than one might think. I was just being stubborn. I had no idea what I wanted.

“Well,” Moody said after a moment. “I doubt Glendive would scratch that itch for you. No offense, Jonas.”

“None taken,” He replied good-naturedly. “I know it’s not the place for everyone.”

“I’m a volunteer at the AMNH,” Moody continued without missing a beat. “They have a few openings for the invertebrate department. Apply.”

Blinking rapidly, I tried to calm my breathing. Field was my dream location, but the American Museum of Natural Science was almost untouchable. Their teams were huge, dedicated, and highly sought after. I hadn’t even gone on their site to see if they were hiring. I would be honored to get the job, but I was worried if my connection would make things unfair.

“Oh, Y/N!” Lupon exclaimed. “You should most definitely apply. You’d be such a great addition to their team. I remember working there back in the early 2000s and I adored it.”

I had completely forgotten about Dr.Lupon’s affiliation. I recall her saying she was in the vertebrae department in her early years. It had been before she went back to school for her doctorate here at Harvard. I smiled at her, hoping it conveyed that I knew exactly what she was doing.

“I’ll look into it,” I finally said to Moody. “I’ve always loved the AMNH.”

He nodded at me, a small smile on his face. I was hopeful by his pleased look. Maybe I could manage to score the job. 

“The museum is actually sponsoring the trip,” Jonas said. I had forgotten he was here. “I’m sure they’d be fine with you coming.”

Moody nodded, “The position I’m talking about is in the field. You’d also have to help with the research part of things, but I doubt you’d mind it all that much.”

I shook my head, “Not at all.”

We spoke for a few more minutes about some small details regarding the trip, and Jonas said he’d send me an email with all of the information attached. After giving him all of my contact information, I excused myself.

“I’ll have to thank Namjoon Kim for convincing you,” Jonas sighed.

“He’s never been afraid of putting himself out there,” Moody grinned. He was fond of my neighbor, and it warmed my heart. Namjoon had a way of doing that. “It’s his best quality.”

Dr.Lupon raised an eyebrow at me. The other two men were engrossed in their conversation. I shrugged my shoulders, but allowed a smile. Her eyes lit up in excitement. Dr.Lupon and I had grown rather close over the years, and her old age did not stop her from living like a 21-year-old model. My love life was a topic of conversation when we were alone, and I would have to talk with her about Namjoon at some point. It would not be in front of the two men.

“Well, thank you both again,” I announced. “It is late, however, and I have some plans for the evening. I’ll be taking my leave.”

The three of them bid me goodnight and safe travels. I left before I could get swallowed up in another conversation. Checking my phone, I winced when I looked at the time. I had been here for a lot longer than I realized. Pulling up Namjoon’s phone number, I pressed call.

“Hey,” He answered after a couple rings.

“I’m so sorry,” I rushed, pushing open the doors to get outside. “I got called into a meeting and couldn’t leave.”

He hummed, obviously not upset.

“What was the meeting about?”

I unlocked my bike from the bike rack and placed Namjoon on speakerphone. I secured my helmet in place before responding.

“That Sudan excavation. Dr.Moody and Jonas just wanted to iron out details, and of course, my professor weaseled her way into the project.”

He laughed, “What’s the catch, then?”

I smiled, kicking off. I had put my phone on the holder I installed on my handlebars. 

“I’ll only be in Sudan for 4 weeks instead of the three months,” I pouted. “I’ll be in Zambia and Tanzania after. Then, I think we’ll swing by the Karoo Basin. Dr.Lupon hasn’t made that official just yet.”

I cycled quickly, but not enough to hinder my ability to talk. I think he was perfectly fine with my late night, but I still felt guilty about leaving him hanging. I was so excited to see him earlier, but now it felt like I was walking into an argument. My mother hated tardiness. I bit my lip. Namjoon was nothing like her, I reasoned. In fact, my mom would never, ever approve of him if she knew him on a personal level. She’d call him a pig, dim-witted, know-it-all, and rant and rave about his baggy clothes. I relaxed. There was no way he would ever act like her.

“Why would she want to?” He asked. 

I turned onto my street.

“The Karoo Basin is one of the best spots for digging. It’s the reason we know as much about the mass extinction as we do. It’s a hard spot to pass up- even if it’s just a quick history lesson and taking pictures.”

I pulled up to the bike rack out front. I parked quickly, locked it up, and threw my helmet into the basket on the front. Taking my phone off the holder, I pressed it to my ear now.

“I just got home,” I heard Namjoon getting out of bed on the other side and his door opening. I smiled. “I’ll see you in a second.”

“I’ll be here.”

Hanging up, I stuffed my phone into my pocket. I only made it a few steps before I heard a familiar voice call my name. Stiffening, I almost made a run for it, but I didn’t know if that would only make things work. I decided to be nice, I was good at that, but firm. 

Taehyung jogged up to me, slightly winded. He looked normal, like he never made me uncomfortable, and even placed a hand on my shoulder to steady himself. He braced his knee with the other. I was uncomfortable immediately, but found myself frozen. 

“I’ve been trying to run into you,” He finally said, standing up. He did not move his hand.

“Why’d you block me?” He demanded, the friendly tone never leaving his voice.

Still, I was unsettled. Everything about his demeanor said he was far from calm and friendly. His shoulders were tense, his grip on my shoulder ever so slightly tighter than it should be, and the smile on his face almost seemed painted on. It was too wide, too joyful, and showed too many teeth for someone who had been rejected.

I shrugged my shoulders to see what he would do. His grip only got tighter. Laughing awkwardly, I then took a step away from him. His hand loosened but did not move all the way. Growing more uncomfortable, I shuffled.

“I told you,” I started, my voice gentle and unsure. “You were making me uncomfortable. You still are.”

Taehyung sighed, and I swore it sounded frustrated, but the openness in his expression said anything but. In fact, he looked heartbroken. Shifting awkwardly, I tried again to remove his hand. He let me go this time, but took a few steps closer to me. I took one back. He took another.

“I just like you so much,” He said, anguished. “I didn’t mean to come off like that. I swear! I just wanted to see your face.”

I didn’t believe him, but I thought I was being too hard on him. Maybe, if I just acted nicely he would go away and I could see Namjoon. He was probably wondering where I was. I gave Taehyung a weak smile.

“No, I understand, " I said, my voice hollow even to my own ears. “I, uh, I appreciate that.”

Taehyung seemed to pounce now. The sadness in his eyes was gone and instantly replaced with excitement. It was unnerving and I took another step back. He followed me again. I wanted him to go away.

“So, can we still go out?” He asked, the happiness in his voice clearly fake. Or was it? I didn’t know him well enough to say yes or no. I was growing angry with the back and forth my mind kept doing. “We can go right now, if you want. There’s a taco place that’s open a few blocks over.”

I wanted to vomit at the thought of going to Namjoon and I’s spot with anyone else. Especially Taehyung. My skin crawled at the thought of being alone with him. Seeing him tonight put a lot in perspective for me. How much of our friendly relationship had been for show? When he asked me out, did he think I would do whatever he asked without question? Whatever the case was, I felt my own anger bubbling. He was so see through he could have been made of glass.

“Actually-”

“Hey!”

My heart leapt. Frantically, I looked for Namjoon. He was a few feet away, his mouth set into a hard line, and coming closer. Smiling in relief, I quickly backed away from Taehyung and started walking closer to the dark-haired man. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder protectively.

Taehyung’s happy face was gone just as quickly as the happy one. He openly glared at Namjoon, his eyes dark. This only seemed to egg Namjoon on, and he simply pulled me closer to him.

“Didn’t they tell you approaching women at night is a bad idea?” Namjoon asked.

Taehyung's scowl deepend. “I’m her friend, dude. Who the fuck are you?”

I frowned. No, we were not friends. I never considered him one either. He was starting to scare me. Namjoon was unbothered.

“Her boyfriend,” He shot back. “So, I’ll have to say no to those tacos.”

Pulling me away, Namjoon was at ease as we walked away from Taehyung. I had to fight the urge to look back at him. I was worried about who I would see this time. 

He waited until we were going upstairs to ask me about the situation. I explained that it had been Taehyung, the guy who I had to block a few weeks ago, and how it had been the first time I’d seen him since. 

“He was weird tonight,” I admitted, unlocking my door. “Really weird, actually.”

Namjoon hummed but said nothing more. Wanting to brighten the mood, I immediately took my jacket off once we got inside. Throwing it on my bed, I turned and hugged Namjoon tightly. I could feel the tension leave his shoulders immediately and his arms wrapped around my waist. Placing a gentle kiss to the top of my head, he sighed happily.

“I’m happy to see you,” He said.

And with that, Taehyung was removed from my mind.

Looking over at Namjoon, I found it harder and harder to concentrate. The two of us had been at the library for two hours, and each time I looked over my books, my will to study dwindled.

He looked nice today. Nicer than I was used to seeing him. He had a job interview this morning, something that he would start once we were back from the excavation, and he did not have the time to go home and change afterwards. He said he did not want to be late to our study session. I was doubtful.

I knew he knew how his black slacks hugged his thighs, accentuating the muscles there, and highlighting how long his legs were. It was like they never stopped. Eyeing his belt, the thoughts of him taking it off ruined my concentration again. I heard him chuckle, but I still refused to acknowledge just how worked up I was.

Things were still slowly getting more heated between the two of us since the night I had run into Taehyung. Soft forehead kisses were a commonplace now, and everyone he introduced me to knew me as his girlfriend. We had not, however, gone much further than that.

It was starting to drive me insane. Namjoon had a habit of gently touching me whenever we were alone. Innocent, sweet, and caste touches that left me starved for his attention. I wondered if he thought we needed more time, but I found that hard to believe as well. Something else was going through his head, and I was trying my best to be patient.

Taking another quick look at him, I admired how tightly the deep purple button up strained against his chest. The top three buttons were open, exposing some of his tanned chest and I worked very hard to keep my breathing in check. He was so pretty it hurt.

Namjoon laughed again. I quickly looked back at my book. He found my ogling funny. I swore I saw his chest puff from my seat, and I bit my lip to suppress my growing smile. He was enjoying himself.

“Take a picture,” He said after catching me again. “It’ll last longer.”

Closing my book, I placed it on the table and grinned.

“You look nice.”

Namjoon smiled, his dimples on full display. He enjoyed compliments more than Jimin, something that I never thought I would say. I wanted to introduce them eventually. I knew they would get along, and my friends have been badgering me about meeting my “mystery man.” Wren knew him, but she went along with Kendall’s whining.

“You look better,” He shot back, wiggling his eyebrows.

I scoffed. He always did that. I made a show of looking over my old tracksuit and raised an eyebrow. He chuckled, keeping his voice down.

“Oh, yeah, definitely better.”

I rolled my eyes. 

“You’re impossible.”

I started putting my books away, Namjoon joining without asking. He always followed my lead. Startled, I realized that we were stuck because of me. Without saying a word, he had put every ball in my court to see where I would throw it. It was not until after my late night texts that he knew he could do the same to me. Hugs had also been initiated by me. Even our first conversation, even if they were through notes, had been all me. The only time he had pushed was after he thought long and hard about it. Only when I failed to push further did he see how far he could go. Looking at him now, I knew that he would do whatever I wanted.

What did I want?

“Where are we going, 201?” He asked, his eyes bright.

A wave of calm washed over me as I regarded him. He truly was the kindest man I had ever met. The echo of a woman screaming for him only made me smile harder. He was as kind as he was mean, and I was growing curious about the other side of him. Very, very curious.

“How do you feel about meeting some friends of mine?” I asked.

He nodded, “Sounds like fun. You said I already know one of them, yeah?”

We started walking downstairs. We had set up at the top floor of the library in a far off corner. I placed my finger over my mouth as we walked. There were a lot of students here studying and I did not want to get on the librarian’s bad side. He was known for kicking people out over the pettiest things. I responded once we were outside.

“Wren Wu,” I replied.

“Oh!” He exclaimed, excited. “She’s the French-Chinese girl, right?”

Laughing, I nodded.

“That’s the one.”

Wren was a minority in her field. Mostly surrounded by white men it did not surprise me that Namjoon would remember her Ethnicity more than anything else. It was rare to see a woman of color at all, but a Chinese woman who could speak Cantonese and French was even rarer.

Wren had told me the two of them tended to stick together on their excavations. There was an Egyptian man and a woman from Nigeria that she was also close with. Apparently, they felt far more comfortable with one another than anyone else. I knew Wren was chased a lot by the men she worked with and took great pleasure in saying she was married. 

“She’s always fun,” Namjoon laughed, remembering something. “I’d love to meet her outside of work.”

“You’ll also meet her husband,” I said, looking for Namjoon’s car. “You’ll like him a lot. He was a Classics major, and got his Ph.D. two years ago. He’s teaching at an all boy’s school now.”

Finding the silver Volvo was easy enough, and I pointed in its direction. Namjoon clicked his lock just to be sure. The headlights flashed. 

“Sounds stuffy,” He admitted.

I laughed, “Jimin’s the furthest thing from stuffy. He’s more reserved now, but back in the day he was an absolute terror.”

I slid into the passenger seat with ease. Namjoon quickly started the car and turned the heating on. It had started snowing a few days ago and the wind was horrible. I placed my hands in front of the vent to warm up. He shot me a glare as he pulled out. He had been upset that I forgot to wear gloves. I smiled sheepishly back.

“Who else will be there?” He asked, his interest growing.

“Kendall and Jungkook,” I said, not realizing that I made them sound like a couple before it was out of my mouth. I ignored it and kept going. “Maybe Hoseok if he’s not working. Jimin’s cousin, Yoongi, always shows up to our get-togethers.”

“Who are they?”

Namjoon hated driving in silence, and hated putting on music to fill it up even more. He always thought there was something to talk about- even if there wasn’t. I relaxed into my seat and began talking.

“Kendall’s a paramedic. I met her through Wren. Jungkook has been my best friend since freshman year and is in law school. Hoseok is a physician at Children’s Hospital, and Yoongi is a real estate agent. They were roommates for years, and always threw Christmas parties. We met after Wren invited me to one when she and Jimin started dating.”

That had been a rough year. I had been seeing this guy for a few months, and Jenna ended up getting in his head. He broke up with me over text and promptly blocked me soon after. Wren refused to let me sulk, and my dad was giving me the silent treatment so I did not go home. After dragging me out, I was surprised at how much fun I had. Hoseok and I even kissed under the mistletoe, but I chose not to tell Namjoon about that. We were tipsy off the eggnog and never spoke about it again.

“When are you supposed to see them?” He asked, turning into our apartment parking lot.

I shrugged, “I’ll call Wren once I get inside to see.”

He pulled up to the stairs. He had class in a few minutes, but insisted on dropping me off. After Taehyung he was more cautious about leaving me alone. I appreciated it but I did not think it was really necessary.

“I’ll see you in a bit,” He looked over at me and smiled.

As much as I did not want to leave the car, I knew I had to. With a wave and a kiss on his cheek, I got out and made my way upstairs. The cold nipped at my skin and I rushed to get to my door. I saw a small Amazon box sitting out front with my mother’s name on it and sighed. She had been very disappointed when I told her I would be staying on campus for Christman break. Again. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that dad was the only reason I did not want to go back.

I made the trip for Thanksgiving, but it was not long after I got there that my dad picked a fight with me. My mom and I had come to an understanding years ago already, and I could tell that she was making an effort to respect my decisions. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for my dad. When I told him that I would only move back to Chicago if I got a job at Field, he was livid and demanded to know why I treated them so badly. I ended up staying at my uncle’s house for the rest of my trip, and only called my mom to tell her “Happy Thanksgiving.” I did not want to deal with it for Christmas either.

Slipping inside, I was happy that the heating was fixed. It was still weak and practically room temperature, but it was much better than cold air blasting. I turned on my space heater and got a pair of scissors from the kitchen.

Opening the box, I smiled sadly. Inside was a small set of chisels and a brand new hammer. A pair of gloves as well as a small journal were underneath them. She never really knew what to buy me, not sure how I would react to things, but always tried. This was the first time she ever bought me excavation gear. 

Putting the box away under my bed, I knew I should call her first and then get in touch with Wren. I would need them to pick me up. Preparing myself, I pressed the call button and waited. No amount of breathing or calming exercises helped. She picked up on the third ring and I nearly cried. I loved her but it was hard to be in her life. I heard a man’s voice in the background, and nearly hung up. Why did he have to be home?

“Hello?” 

I took a deep breath and forced a smile to my face. That helped. Pretending helped.

“Hey mom,” I said, proud of how strong it sounded. 

“Oh!” I could hear her joy and it nearly brought me to my knees. I heard my dad ask who it was and she said my name. He was very quiet and I think I heard something slam. I closed my eyes and hung my head. “It’s so nice to hear your voice. Did you change your mind about Christmas?”

Sniffling, I wiped the tears from my cheeks. With great effort, I brought the smile back. I doubt she would ever be able to tell when something was wrong with me. She had never been the most aware mother despite her best efforts.

“No,” I replied. “I actually got something in the mail from you.”

“From me?” She was confused. I was confused. “I didn’t send you anything.”

Dragging the box back out, I reread the name on the package and confirmed that it was for sure her. She was very adamant that she had never sent me anything, but maybe it was her sister. They both used the same Amazon account. I agreed with her but did not believe it for a second. Aunt Halle would have given me romance books and expensive chocolates. There was only one other person who would send me something like this, and I knew I would have to talk to him.

“Hey mom?” I interrupted her story about her Bingo night.

“Yes?” She asked, oblivious to the way my voice wobbled.

“Can you put dad on the phone?”

She went very quiet. She hated out fights more than anybody, and I always felt awful for her. Forever stuck in the middle without any guidance on who to choose. I knew she agreed with me, I knew that she just wanted me to be happy, and I knew that she knew he always started the fights. But I also knew that she hated me being so far away, she hated how different we were, and she hated that I had made everything so difficult. If I had just did what they wanted me to do then we would still be a family, but I couldn’t leave things alone. I was too much like my grandfather.

“I’ll go get him,” She finally replied, voice soft as a feather.

It took a few minutes, and I heard their hushed anger through the other side. He did not want to talk to me. I looked at the box and steadied myself. No, he obviously did want to talk to me, but he was a prideful man. He was not used to me being disagreeable, and had a hard time looking at me like a grown woman. I repeated the mantra in my head until he came to the phone.

“Y/N,” He greeted me, apprehensive and hesitant. “What do you need to talk with me about?”

I knew he loved me, I knew he adored me, and I knew he truly thought he was doing the right thing. That did not make the hurt go away. A fresh set of tears ran down my cheeks at the sound of his voice. He had been talking to me like that since I turned 16. 

“I got the package,” I replied, just as closed off and cold.

We went around and around each time.

He cleared his throat. “Good.”

“Yeah.”

I took a breath and tried once again to calm myself. This should not be this hard, but it was. I wiped my face and focused on the heavy breathing on the other side of the phone. He was just as bad as I was. We were both stubborn. It almost made me laugh.

“Come home for Christmas,” He all but begged, his voice much softer now. “Your mother misses you.”

I shook my head in defeat, “I know she does.”

We both knew what I wanted him to say. 

“Think about it,” He urged, not giving in.

I always had a hard time accepting this side of my dad. When I was a girl, he was loving. He would always humor me, and he always took the time out of his day to answer whatever stupid questions I asked him. For every “why” I asked my dad would always find an answer. Even if it was “I don’t know” he would give me that. Things changed as I did, and I never really knew why. Kendall said it was normal for parents to have a difficult time with their children growing up, but she had a completely different family from mine. She was raised by a single mother who only learned to love her more with each passing year. My parents mourned the child they always wanted that I could never give them.

“Dad,” I sighed. “Why did you send me something?”

He sighed, defeated. I hoped we could get somewhere now. Heavy sighs usually meant he was tired of licking his wounds and wanted me to lick them for him.

“I miss you,” He finally admitted. “I wanted you to know that I was sorry, and I want you to visit more. I’m sorry about Thanksgiving, Y/N.”

And I cried.

“I’m sorry, too,” I sobbed. “I shouldn’t have run out like that.”

I heard quiet cries from him now, and I huffed. My dad was such a sensitive person. He was one of those people who cried during movies and donated to animal shelters. The only time his horns showed was for me, and I always made sure ours locked. Now, though, neither one of us wanted to fight.

I sniffled, “I’ll come home, dad. Okay?”

He cried harder, “Please. I already have a ticket and everything. Just please come home.”

“I’ll be there.”

We spoke for a few minutes, mostly making sure that I was actually going to go home and me reassuring him that I would. He told me he had to get back to work and hung up. It was Saturday, and even if he had paperwork to do, my father never did anything outside of work hours. He just needed to calm himself down. 

I wasted no time calling Wren. I had sucked up my mood enough to make it through the brief phone call. She was excited, more so than usual, and immediately agreed to having dinner at her house. After interrogating me about things that Namjoon would want, and me reassuring her that he would eat anything she made him, we hung up.

Me: Wren invited us to dinner at her house

Me: What time will you be finished today?

I had to wait a few minutes for a response, but it helped me catch my breath. I was upset at myself for caving so easily, but I really wanted to make up with him. I wanted things to work the best they could. Thinking about my dad now, I hoped I would get the chance to tell him about Namjoon when I got home. That would help the both of them feel better about me being far away, and my mother would be excited to tell her friends at Bingo. It was something she knew about, and other people would be able to talk with her about. I smiled at the mental image.

Joon: I’ll be finished up at 5 today. We can leave at 6 so I can shower and change

I frowned, thinking about the nice outfit from today. Why would he need to change? He looked yummy.

Me: But you look nice already

Joon: Not too dressed up?

I pursed my lips. Quickly texting Wren, I asked her what the dress code was. I was already underdressed for these things, but the thought of Namjoon in anything but that purple shirt was painful. He just looked too damn fine.

Wren: It’s always been dressy casual. You’re the only person who shows up in sweats. Why?

I laughed.

Me: Joon wanted to know

Wren: I like him more and more

Texting Namjoon back, he said he still wanted to shower and change, but he would keep that in mind. Pouting, I decided to kill time by taking a shower myself. I could figure out clothes once I was out. Putting the space heater on a higher heat, I hoped the room would be warm enough to keep my teeth from chattering when I got out.

I put on my shower speaker and started getting the water hot. I had been going through a nostalgia run recently, and had made an R&B playlist. My mom always listened to it when she cleaned the house. Keisha Cole started singing and I sang along as I got undressed. I lost track of time as I danced and sang happily, swaying my hips with my eyes closed.

“I might as well have cheated on you,” I sang loudly, finally turning the water off. “As much as you accused me of cheating.”

Taking the speaker with me, I wrapped my towel around my body and went into the main room. I went to my dresser and began digging through it to find something to wear. Knowing Namjoon would be there I wanted to put in more effort than normal. I refused to be that person in the relationship, especially if he was going to put in effort as well.

“I’m not scared of the lions, and tiger, and bears,” I sang along with Jazmine Sullivan. Fearless was my favorite album when I was in middle school. I scoffed at how naive I had been then. “I’m not scared to perform at a sold out affair, but I’m scared of loving you.”

My phone chimed.

Wren: Does he like seafood?

Me: That’s the only thing that’s iffy

Wren: Will it offend him?

I huffed.

Me: No 

Me: He just won’t eat it but everyone else will

Wren: KK

She was stressed about this way too much. I put my phone on its charger and went back to looking for something to wear. I did not own too many dressy things. I wore business casual when I was teaching, and I owned plenty of boring lecture outfits, but I knew it was not what Wren had in mind. Going to the bottom drawer, I found a pair of loose, beige, linen pants. Trying them on, I was happy with how comfortable they were. Quickly matching it with a black turtleneck, I tucked the shirt in and adjusted it so it looked more cohesive. It was too icy outside for heels, so Wren would just have to be happy with my snow boots. We would not be wearing them inside anyway. With my outfit ready, I began doing my makeup and hair.

I was ready at 5:30, music still blasting while I took my time deciding on accessories. I was not going to wear them, but since I had time I thought a pair of earrings would be nice. I sang along to Destiny’s Child and danced around while I waited. I knew Namjoon would be able to hear me, but it only seemed to spur me. I wanted him to hear me. In fact, I wanted him to come over here and shut me up himself.

Surprised by my thoughts, I giggled nervously and dived on my bed to call Kendall. The sexual tension was really starting to make me lose my mind, and I knew she would be helpful. Wren would be too busy squealing and would have made the entire night about getting me laid. She was never the subtle type, either. 

“Yo,” She answered, her voice echoing.

I was on speaker. Great.

“You alone?” I asked, listening for Namjoon.

His shower was still running.

“Yeah, what’s up?”

Sighing, I almost lost my nerve. Things were going slow, insanely slow actually, but there was nothing wrong with it. Namjoon seemed happy and content, but I knew I wasn’t. I was hoping to move things along a bit more.

“How does one seduce their neighbor?” I asked, keeping my tone lighthearted.

Kendall laughed loudly and I giggled with her. This was something she expected from me by now. We always talked sex and romance with one another. Kendall was happy that I gave good advice about matters of the heart, and I was never disappointed with her sex tips. 

“Well, yours is a freak,” She joked, “So, I think you have a bit of an advantage.”

“He’s barely touched me,” I admitted, biting my lip.

The water was still running.

“Really?” Kendall seemed surprised. “Does he think you’re a virgin?”

I choked on my own spit. I had never even considered that. Could he think that? Even if he didn’t think I was a virgin, he could think I was very inexperienced. He would not be completely wrong, I hated to admit, but it still felt embarrassing to think about. Trying not to rush to conclusions, I told Kendall we had never talked about that but I doubted he thought that.

“Does he know you want to have sex?” She asked this time.

“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “I haven’t said yes or no. We’ve never even gotten in a position for that to come up.”

Kendall huffed and I knew she was rolling her eyes at me. She always looked at me like I was an idiot when we talked about this stuff. According to her, I was too timid and uncomfortable to get what I wanted. I needed to work on that. I just had no idea where to begin.

“The guy sounds like he operates like me,” She had a hard time not coming off as a bitch, but I knew it was just the tone of her voice more than anything. She was very blunt and to the point, which could be off putting, but I appreciated it. “He’s probably just waiting for you to figure out what you want before he jumps on you. Probably doesn’t want to scare you away.”

I sighed, “He’s always waiting for me to make moves. I just don’t know how to initiate some of this shit.”

“Then tell him that.”

The water was turned off. 

“I have to go,” I said, keeping my voice down. “He’s out the shower and he’ll be able to hear me through the walls.”

Kendall chuckled, her voice much closer to the speaker now.

“See you later.”

Hanging up, I went back to the bathroom and began touching things up to kill time. The music still played but I was distracted. At 6 I turned everything off and slipped into my boots. I chose my black coat to wear for the ride over and went outside. Locking up, I leaned against the railings while I waited for Namjoon to come outside.

The snow had stopped falling, but I could make out patches of ice on the ground. I was glad I picked the practical shoes. I thought about Namjoon seeing me in heels and my stomach got warm. He seemed like the type who liked to keep them on. I shook my head and sighed. I needed to get a grip.

I thought again about what I might want tonight. We hadn’t even kissed yet, something that bothered me, and I knew Kendall’s words held some truth. I was the one holding everything back. I remembered how often Namjoon had sex before and frowned. He was insatiable. Was he just not that interested in me? Had he been more attracted to those women? Was he afraid of us getting too close? Maybe he thought I would be uncomfortable with his desires. Whatever the case, it was really starting to eat away at me.

“Have you been out here long?”

I jumped, quickly turning around. Eyes widening, I drank in Namjoon’s appearance with hungry eyes. He wore a similar pair of black trousers from earlier, but this time he was wearing a black shirt. I admired the heavy, brown plaid overcoat he wore and wondered if it was as warm as it looked. A pair of black leather gloves hugged his large hands tightly and I knew they were too tight. His eyes trained on my hands and a scowl was on his face. I had forgotten my gloves again.

“No,” I winced at how airy my voice was. “Just a couple minutes.”

Namjoon shook his head at me fondly, his hair slicked back and perfectly laid. It was new and I loved it. I could not tell if he was happy with how I looked, but I saw his eyes appraising me with fondness. Reaching into one of the pockets on his coat he handed me a black ball. I snorted. 

“You got me gloves?” I playfully mocked, slipping them on.

He smiled, “My mom would be disappointed in me if you were cold.”

We started walking together, our bodies close enough to touch, and I revealed the warmth that radiated from his body. Namjoon reached for my hand. I leaned closer to him and cursed having to let him go. The stairs were too narrow for us to stay like this.

“Your mom sounds a lot like Jimin,” I commented as we descended.

Namjoon laughed.

“He’s a stickler about the cold, too?”

I nodded, “Worse. Wren can’t leave the house without at least 6 layers at this time of the year.”

The drive was pleasant. Namjoon talked about his classes and the new job he was hoping to get. It would be a Field Director position at a company here in Boston. I had high hopes even if he was nervous. He was worried about more experienced people applying, but I tried to reassure him that a Ph.D did not replace field experience- something that he had plenty of. He was not sold, but I had a feeling he would get to the second round of interviews.

“Where do I turn?” He asked.

I pointed left, making sure to point out the dark side street their house was on. You would miss it if you did not know it was there. Wren loved their hidden away cul-de-sac, and I knew Jimin was proud of their home. He had grown up in a rough part of town in a small, one-story house that was falling apart when they bought it. Now he lived in one of the nicest homes in their neighborhood. He was even able to pay for his parent’s home to be renovated.

“It’s the big brick house at the end of the street,” I mumbled.

Namjoon whistled, “Nice place.”

I nodded, “They worked hard for this house. Wren worked two jobs and Jimin’s book about myths was flying off the shelves around the time it was on the market. It wasn’t always this nice, but the private school pays him extremely well so they’ve been fixing it up for the last three years.”

“Damn,” He whispered. “They did a really nice job.”

I giggled, “Yoongi’s got all the connections.”

Kendall and Yoongi were already here, their cars parked out front on the curb. Hoseok’s Pris was in the driveway, and I pointed it out to Namjoon. I was hopeful about the night. I knew he would get along with everyone, but I had a sneaking suspicion that Hoseok would be the highlight. Jimin could wax poetry, and Yoongi would drink him under the table, but Hoseok was personable and funny. They reminded me of one another in a way. 

Namjoon kept looking around, his eyes wide as he took in the nice houses around us. I smiled at him. He was very sweet. 

“Wren’s family was a big help,” I conceded. “They’re very well off and gave them a good bit of the money for the down payment.”

This seemed to ease him. His family had a difficult time when they first moved to America, and his father had to go back to school even though he had been an engineer for ten years in Korea. Something like this would have been far too much for his little family, and I had to agree with them. I was happy for my friends, but I was still uncomfortable when I saw it for the first time. I had even likened it to a mansion.

“Y/N!” Wren called out from the front door.

She must have been looking out of the window for us. I smiled at her and waved. Taking Namjoon’s hand, I jogged to the front door. Wren pulled me into a tight hug and I chuckled at her excitement. She was practically bouncing. It was rare for me to bring a guy home.

“You look so cute,” She gushed, happy with my outfit. 

She was on Namjoon quickly after.

“Hey Kim,” Her smile was splitting her face in half now, and I wondered if her cheeks hurt. “I’m so happy you came.”

Namjoon returned her hug. With a polite smile and reserved squeeze of her shoulder, he was trying to hide his uncomfortable shifting. He did not like being grabbed without permission- it was something we had spoken about during one of our first dates. He exhaled in relief once she walked away from him and back into the house. She had not stopped talking since she came outside. 

Taking our shoes off, I brought Namjoon over to the spare slipper rack in the small entryway. He looked for ones that were close to his size, but I could not tell if he was having any luck. Jimin had small feet, but maybe one of the others had big enough feet to make up for it. Wren had bought Kendall and I our own pairs for the housewarming party so I had no trouble finding them. Namjoon seemed to find ones that would work and put them on. 

“Jimin’s excited about having you over,” Wren was standing a few feet away still rambling. “He’s not able to talk with the other guys about his interests. You’re Heaven sent.”

I gave my friend a pointed look. She completely ignored me, flipping her ponytail in indignation, and continued to talk about how happy everyone was to see my date. Glancing at Namjoon I was happy to see he was relaxing a bit more. He was still tense, probably from the hug, and I wished to reach out to him. I was worried Wren would physically combust if I had.

“Come on,” She gestured overdramatically, already walking away. “Everyone’s in the kitchen.”

Namjoon stuck close to my side, his nervousness apparent to me. I doubted anyone else would be able to pick up on his too straight posture. Reaching out, I gently squeezed his arm and tried to reassure him with a smile. He grinned back at me, placing his hand over mine. Walking into the kitchen, I put a bit of distance between us to avoid Kendall and her side comments. Especially after the phone call from earlier. 

The kitchen was loud and in full-swing. The entire room smelled incredible and I was excited for dinner later. Sniffing, I could pick out the distinct smell of roasting meat and licked my lips. Knowing Wren, it was probably a duck. 

“Hey guys!” Jimin called out, eager. He was in an abnormally great mood this evening and quickly scooped me into a warm embrace. I hugged him back just as fiercely. Jimin was one of my good friends and I was hopeful he would get along with Namjoon. “It’s so good to see you.”

Stepping away from him, I took Namjoon’s hand in mine and pulled him closer. The two of them introduced themselves and shared a handshake. Namjoon did not pull his hand away from mine. Looking around, I waved to everyone else. They were all surrounding the large island in the middle of the room, large glasses of wine in their hands. Each of them were looking at Namjoon with intense interest and I shot them a glare.

“Come,” Jimin urged, “Make yourself comfortable. Wine?”

“That would be nice. Thank you,” Namjoon seemed to relax a bit at the warm welcome.

Kendall called me over, her patience ran out, and I looked back at Namjoon. He waved me off letting go of my hand. I nodded, completely unconvinced, and he smiled at me. As if to prove a point, he walked away from me first. 

“What are we having?” He asked Jimin.

“Wren made duck with a few side dishes,” The teacher replied easily, already starting to introduce him to Yoongi and Hoseok.

I found my place with the girls and got caught up with their conversation. As always, I was subject to their gossiping, but I couldn’t help my giggles. Kendall leaned into me, her laughter joining my own. I had always heard the strangest stories from the two of them. My favorites were Kendall’s ER tales. My favorite was the time she had to escort a man from one hospital to another due to his medical condition. When she got there he was in the ceiling and she had to help the nurses get him down. I laughed harder thinking about it.

I felt the tension I had no idea I was carrying melt. Tonight was going to be fun. Looking over my shoulder, I found Namjoon already looking at me. He looked so soft in the warm lights, and I had the urge to go to him. I stopped myself when Jimin got his attention once more. They were talking about Percy Jackson, which brought a smile to my face. Yes, tonight would be just fine.

“Thanks for inviting me,” Namjoon shook Jimin’s hand. He was at ease now, not a single bit of tension in him at all. I could smell the wine Kendall had spilled hanging in the air. It had gotten in his lap, but he seemed unbothered. “I had a wonderful time and dinner was delicious.”

Wren was flushed from the alcohol, and her eyes shined with pleasure from the compliment. She was used to our praises but after stressing all day she was glad things worked out. She was practically bouncing when Namjoon asked for her bitter melon recipe. I gave both of them hugs. Words didn’t need to be said- they knew how I felt.

“You’re welcome anytime,” Wren replied.

“Think about tennis, okay?” Jimin reminded him, shaking his hand again.

Hoseok and Jimin went to tennis once a week, but the doctor was busier than normal nowadays since the other urologist on staff retired. With the influx of new patients he had little free-time. Namjoon seemed interested in joining the pair, and Jimin jumped at the opportunity to spend more time with my boyfriend. They hit it off more than I thought they would and even exchanged numbers.

“I’ll let you know when I’m free,” He assured Jimin.

After talking for a few minutes, we finally walked back to the car. Things had gone very well tonight. After the nervous introductions, Namjoon settled into the group easily. He and Jimin talked about mythology and ancient Greece, Hoseok was happy to have a fellow baseball fan around, and Yoongi was just glad he did not have to deal with Jimin’s “nerding” alone. After the strange story about the West Virginian woman, the girls and I stuck to more mundane topics. Jungkook was busy tonight and could not make it, so I got an earful about how disappointed Kendall was. 

Blasting the heater, I could tell Namjoon was in a good mood. I was happy he had a nice time tonight. It was surprising how little I thought of him being there. Any other time I had brought a guy around I walked on pins and needles the entire night trying to hide as much of myself as possible. Smiling to myself, I let the feeling of rightness wash over me. I had finally found someone who liked me even with all of my niche interests. He actively indulged me as well, something completely foreign, and wanted to get to know the people I loved.

Glancing at him, I was blown away by how handsome he looked. Keeping my hands to myself had been the hardest part of the evening. Everytime I caught sight of him I wanted to run my fingers through his hair. Whenever we locked eyes I imagined myself pulling him somewhere quiet and taking what I wanted. Right now, I stared at his lips and wondered how they would feel.

“You looked beautiful tonight,” Namjoon suddenly said, eyes locked on the road. “I don’t remember if I told you that already.”

My smile widened, “Thank you regardless.”

He stole a look at me and grinned back. I shifted my body towards him and watched him openly now. I was going to kiss him tonight, I decided. If I was going to push my luck, I would be in his bed. The thought made me more anxious than I thought it would. Was I ready to have sex with him? Placing a large hand on my thigh, Namjoon stole another look at me and winked.

I would end up in his bed if it was the last thing I do.

The drive was quiet. My eyes were on him and his were on the road. The wine was catching up to me on the way out, but the cold air was sobering me up. Namjoon smelled of alcohol and cinnamon that made me dizzy.

The closer we got to the complex the more resolved I became. I wanted him so badly. Kendall had said he might be waiting for me, and knowing everything about him I was sure he was. He only gently guided me in the direction he wanted me to go, but never had he pushed through the invisible wall I had made. A wall I never really noticed.

Suddenly, I was upset about my choice of underwear. It was simple, white, and nothing to be excited about. I hoped he would be fine with that. I was not sure about the mystery women who stayed the night, but I could imagine they would go all out for the handsome man beside me. I on the other hand completely neglected to consider the possibilities. Filled with a sudden splash of doubt, I looked away from Namjoon.

“What’s the matter?” He asked gently.

I shook my head, “It’s dumb.”

“Nothing you ever say is dumb,” He argued, amused.

Should I talk to him about my fears? It was a hard conversation to have, but I was sure my nerves would make me back out of my plans. I wanted to have sex with him, at the very least a kiss, but I never thought about being insufficient. Would he like me? Would he still think I looked beautiful laid out on his bed with a pair of granny-panties on? Sighing in frustration, I decided to speak my mind. If Kendall was right about him waiting for me then maybe I should just tell him what I want.

“Why haven’t we moved forward with our relationship?” I asked.

Getting a gauge on his feelings might help me maneuver my own.

“I wasn’t sure how you felt,” He replied, voice even. In fact, he was talking like it was the easiest thing in the world. “I can be overwhelming and I wasn’t sure how to go about it with you. You’re very different from the women I usually meet.”

I nodded, “You were afraid of scaring me off?”

He chuckled. “You could say that. I mean, you know about that side of me more than I would like for you to.”

Face heating, I laughed in disbelief. He was so open about his feelings. It was strange to be with a man who treated me with enough respect to be honest. Namjoon and my father were polar opposites and it only made me happier. There was nothing to be ashamed about.

“And you think I don’t like that?”

Stealing a look at me, Namjoon nodded.

“I didn’t want to assume anything, but it’s hard to think about you in that setting.”

I laughed, “So sex with me is hard to think about?”

He grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. I smiled. I loved a playful Namjoon.

“Oh, no. That’s very, very easy.”

I hummed, “So, it’s the whips and chains then?”

“I think about it,” He said easily, turning down our street. “But I’m only into what you’re into.”

I laughed again. What were we talking about? We were almost to the parking lot now and I knew I would have to be very clear with him. He could think I’m joking, or maybe take this as a sign that we could do more but not tonight. No, I needed it tonight. I craved it. Thinking about him hovering over me and covering my body with his was mouth-watering.

“Well, I’m here,” I finally said, voice smaller than I would like. “If I didn’t like what you liked then I wouldn’t entertain this.”

Namjoon was quiet. Contemplative. I could tell by the quirk of his eyebrow that he was thinking of his next words carefully. I was done with the kid gloves. I wanted the cold, calculating predator from next door to make an appearance. As we parked, I changed my mind. We did not trust one another enough for that big of a leap. Maybe I could pay around with the nickname a bit? It seemed to rile him up.

“What are you asking me?” He asked, looking into my eyes.

I took a deep breath.

“I’m hungry,” I blurted out. I almost winced at how idiotic I sounded. Namjoon also seemed confused with my outburst, and I tried to fix it the best I could. “You have ramen at your place, right?”

From bewilderment to awe, it felt like a thousand different emotions crossed Namjoon’s face until it finally settled on amused. His eyes danced with laughter and I knew I had thrown him for a loop. I had never been bold like this but I wanted that to change. If he was waiting around for me then I would deliver.

“How far do you want to go?” He asked, his breathing picking up. “I need to keep myself in check.”

I giggled, opening my door. 

“Let’s figure that out together.”

With a smirk, Namjoon opened his own door. I was giddy with excitement. It felt like prom night all over again, only this time instead of the Girl’s Bathroom I’d be in a man’s apartment. Rounding the car, I met Namjoon on his side and took his hand. The two of us were laughing and sneaking looks at each other as we walked through the parking lot.

“What kind of ramen do you like?” Namjoon asked, unable to keep the smile off his face.

I pretended to think, the stupid grin on my face making my cheeks hurt.

“What would you recommend?”

I could tell he was enjoying the little game we were playing. He had yet to touch anything but my hand, but I could tell he was excited. His fingers trembled slightly and he walked much faster than normal. Trying to keep up, I nearly slipped. Namjoon quickly reached out to steady me.

Arm around my waist, he paused. The smile never left his face and we both laughed at the clumsy fall. Apologizing for his eagerness, Namjoon slowly helped me back on my feet. Of course, we were on a slick piece of ice and had to carefully walk along it to avoid any further falls. Keeping me close, Namjoon and I awkwardly shuffled across the ice.

“You okay?” He asked.

“Yeah,” I breathed, planting my feet on the concrete again. “You would think I’d be used to the snow by now.”

He chuckled, not letting me go. “Chicago or New York, the snow is still shitty.”

I just looked at him. He was so beautiful in the moonlight. His hair pushed back and gelled into place, the subtle way his eyes squinted to see me better in the shadows, and how cold his fingers felt through my clothes. All of it made me want to fall to my knees at his feet. Namjoon was so perfect and I realized that I was falling in love with him.

It only took him two months to force his way into my heart, and I no longer felt the need to stop him. Whatever insecurities or self consciousness that had unknowingly held me back felt unimportant now as I stood in his arms. Even if he ran away screaming one day, or somehow found me to be the most unattractive woman on the planet after tonight, I would not change it for a second. Because right now he looked at me like nothing was more precious to him.

He was looking at me like I was the most beautiful woman he had ever met.

Without thinking, I cupped his face and brought it down to meet my own. Our lips met in a second motion, his arms wrapping around my waist and cocooning me into his chest while mine held his cheeks like glass. His nose brushed against my cheek, cold and soft, while his chapped lips molded roughly against my own. He tasted like wine and garlic, but I had never had anything better.

It was gentle, sweet, and hardly there, but I felt the kiss all the way down to my toes. Moving my hands, I wrapped them around his neck and he hissed. Drawing back from me, Namjoon gave me a knowing look. I realized then that I had forgotten to put on my gloves. I chuckled and looked down at the concrete. My head was still floating.

My lips tingle where he had been.

Taking my hands from his neck, Namjoon took them into his large hands and rubbed on the exposed skin. I relished in the warmth. I really needed to get better at taking care of myself. Placing two soft kisses on each of them, Namjoon let them go.

“Let’s get inside,” His voice was softer, more gentle than it had been before. His eyes no longer held the same fire and his hands did not tremble. I was worried he had seen something in me that I had not. Had he not felt the same things I had? “You need to warm up.”

We walked upstairs in companionable silence. I was worrying over the kiss now. It was so nice. I loved how small I felt with him wrapped around me, the way his body enveloped mine, and how gently he touched me. He had felt so safe and warm I never wanted it to end. The way he looked at me…

There was nothing to worry about, I reminded myself. This was Namjoon. He enjoyed my company and listened when I talked. He built miniatures in my apartment and paid for my shitty street tacos. He had not brought anybody around since he made his promise. That had to count for something.

I would not let my insecurities ruin this for me.

Reaching our floor, he took my hand once again and walked us to his apartment. I did not even look at my door when we passed it. I would pretend it never existed for tonight. Hopefully, if all went well, I could come back here more often. 

Namjoon’s apartment was a mirror opposite of my own apartment. His bed was tucked into the same corner as mine, but instead of a small end table, there was a bookshelf beside his. A futon was near the front door with a few plants to decorate the living area. I admired the flatscreen on the wall and was pleased to find framed photos on either side. I would try to take a look at those another time.

The kitchen was just as boring as mine with the only exception being a toaster and a coffee pot on top of a small buffet table. I could smell a hint of the grinds in the room but other than that it was mostly art on the walls and shelves with some collectables above the futon. It looked far more lived-in than my place did. I refused to personalize anything until I bought my own house.

“I like it,” I said, taking my coat off and throwing it on the futon beside Namjoon’s. “Especially those Sailor Moon figurines.”

He laughed, “It was my sister’s favorite and I started watching it with her.”

“Are you a Sailor Jupiter or Sailor Venus, guy?” I joked.

Namjoon began taking off his watch. I admired how wide his shoulders were in his button-down. His legs looked so nice in those jeans that I found it difficult to keep my hands to myself. I was going to give him a moment to himself before completely throwing dignity out of the window. He was getting comfortable. I joined him and removed my shoes. I hadn’t gone further than the door.

“Neither,” He shrugged, throwing me a glance over his shoulder. “I’ve always had a thing for Pluto.”

Eyeing the figures, I saw Sailor Pluto, Mars, and, to my surprise, Chibi Moon also there. Her bubble gum pink hair stands out like a sore thumb in the otherwise neutrally colored house. I had never pegged him for an anime guy, let alone Sailor Moon, but I liked it. He felt comfortable enough with me to talk about it. I doubted any of the others took any notice of the small figures on the walls. I doubted he would have told them the backstory. 

“You look nervous.”

Turning toward his voice, I shook my head at Namjoon’s words. He seemed completely unconvinced, but made no other comment. His eyes watched my every move and I again noticed I was still standing at the door. Taking a deep breath, I took a few steps into the apartment. He seemed amused but worried. I tried to stomp down on my nerves but they came back with a vengeance. This was becoming a bit overwhelming and the pressure to initiate was too much weight on my shoulders. I had no idea where to begin.

I had said I wouldn’t let my insecurities ruin anything, and yet here I was.

“Talk to me, 203.”

I sighed, “I just feel…overwhelmed.”

Namjoon was at my side quickly, but made no move to touch me again. I appreciate the bit of space. It was refreshing- especially after Taehyung grabbed me. I shook my head at the thought, upset that it had even made its way into this space. This was just us right now and that loser was not going to ruin it for me.

“What’s overwhelming?”

I avoided eye contact while I spoke. It made it easier for the words to come out.

“I don’t know how to take the next step,” I admitted. “I’m feeling a lot right now, and all of it is about you, and I’m scared I’ll ruin something. I always ruin my relationships and I don’t want this to stop. I like you too much.”

Instead of laughing Namjoon asked me if we could sit and talk this out. Going to the futon, the small couch gave us little room from one another. Knees touching, I fidgeted with my hands and waited for him to say something.

“Look at me,” He said, gently bringing my face to meet his own. “Don’t think like that, okay? There’s nothing you could do right now that would ruin this.”

“But-”

“There are no ‘buts,’” He shot down my argument before it had even begun. “Whatever happened before this can’t change, but I know you. Whoever the fuck made you think you ruined something is an idiot, okay?”

I nodded, still not fully believing him. I would laugh about this tomorrow when the fears were pushed aside to see reason. All night I was reminding myself that he liked me, that he wanted me, and that all these thoughts were pointless. Still I had let them ruin the night. I wanted to punch myself in the face.

“Y/N,” Namjoon called to me. I looked up again. I hadn’t even noticed I looked away. “We don’t have to do anything. We can just sit here and watch a movie or something. Whatever you want.”

I shook my head, “It’s not about not wanting to. I’m just a bit nervous about being the person to initiate.”

He frowned, “And that’s all this is? You really look shaken up, 203.”

I smiled despite myself. My dad was right, I really was a drama queen. I nodded, placing my hands over his. 

“The last guy I slept with made me do all the work and then told his friends I was the worst lay he ever had,” I slipped my eyes closed. I did not want to see his face right now. The memory was far too embarrassing and I could hear the way they all laughed at me. “I’m just afraid of fucking up again.”

A light tap on my cheek made me open my eyes.

Namjoon looked so devastated. I wasn't sure if I hated the way people laughed when I told them about it or just how upset he was. You would have thought he had told me that had happened to him with how much his eyebrows wrinkled. Overcome with the need to minimize the experience, I opened my mouth to speak but was cut off with a kiss. 

As if a switch was flipped, he was suddenly all over me. His hands held my face to his while he got impossibly closer. Body pressed up against mine, I shuttered when his hands ran down my neck. His calluses were rough and tugged on my skin. A soft moan escaped my lips at the feeling and Namjoon pulled away.

“Tell me when you want something to stop,” He rasped.

I nodded, already going back in for more. I have no idea how long we were on that futon, it could have been minutes, hours, even days. I was drunk in his presence and feeling him on my body was like heaven. His hands traveled from my neck to my chest. He hesitated for a second before finally cupping my breasts. 

With another burst, Namjoon moved his hands to my waist and laid me down as best as he could on the tiny piece of furniture. I hoped we would move to his bed soon but was afraid of speaking. I wasn’t sure how my voice would sound and I was happy with the way things were going. 

Stradling one of my legs, Namjoon was over me again. His lips were searing against my skin and I could not stop the soft sounds that came from my mouth. With every kiss and lick on my body, my panties got wetter and wetter. His hands ran up my body and were back on my boobs and started to gently knead them. I squeezed my eyes shut and whined.

“You’re so pretty,” Namjoon whispered, nipping at my neck.

My breathing was heavy now and I raised my heads and buried them into his hair. Namjoon groaned into my throat before finally detaching himself from my neck. He smiled at me, all teeth and dimples, and I wasn’t able to stop myself from smiling back. He looked so young like this. His lips were swollen and red alongside his flushed cheeks. Sitting up, Namjoon looked towards his bed before coming back to me. I grinned and nodded.

In a flash, he was lifting me off of the sofa. I giggled, grabbing onto him and wrapping my legs around his waist. His hands held onto my thighs as he stood up with me in his arms. Walking across the room, we were both laughing. I realized my nerves were gone now.

Throwing me on the bed, I yelled in surprise but Namjoon was back over me before I even hit the mattress. With new found confidence, I ran my hand over his chest. He paused, lifted himself up slightly, and allowed my hand to explore. He was hard against my hand. I knew he liked to go biking and hiking, and even went to the gym three times a week, but I was still taken aback by how solid he felt underneath my hands. It was a crime it had taken me this long to reach out and touch him like this.

Without much thought, I unbuttoned the top button on his dress shirt. He sucked in a deep breath. Snapping my eyes up to meet his own, a thrill shot down my spine. He looked starved. Keeping my eyes on his, I unbuttoned the next one. I got five more undone before he grew tired of waiting. Ripping the shirt over his head, my mouth went dry.

He was gorgeous. Tanned skin and hard muscles flexed with his every movement. He did not have defined abs, something I had not expected, but his stomach was toned and chiseled. Soft curves and lines had me dazed and I reached out to touch them. His stomach tightened under my hands and I grinned. He was so pretty.

“Can I take your shirt off?” He asked, voice deeper than I had ever heard it before.

Not saying anything, I lifted my arms and waited. His fingers grazed my ribs as he took the turtleneck off. I shivered once the cool air hit my skin and wondered if he noticed how cold his apartment was. I hissed once my arms were free and laughed when the neck got stuck around my head. Helping him get it the rest of the way off, I instinctively covered my chest.

“Let me turn the heater on,” He mumbled, eyes glued to my exposed skin.

He acted like peeling himself from my body had physically pained him. Walking across the room, he went to a space heater I had not noticed earlier. It was tall and spun from side-to-side as it blew the warm air around the room. I sat up and smoothed my hair down. Namjoon looked at me and his eyes immediately dropped to my bra. 

In an act of boldness, I decided to peel my pants off myself. Watching the linen go down my legs, Namjoon unbuckled his belt and let it clang to the floor. I was almost disappointed knowing it would not be joining us tonight. 

I had never even been spanked in bed let alone dived into impact play. 

He crossed the room quickly and dragged me further up the bed. My head was on the mass of pillows he kept while he drank in my body. I knew my underwear was too plain and normal for something like tonight, and I apologized before I could stop myself. 

“Sorry for what?” He asked, his voice so soft and gentle. “God, you’re so hot.”

Heat pooled to my stomach and I almost groaned in embarrassment. There had to be a wet spot on my panties now and he would more than likely be able to see it. Reaching up, Namjoon laid his hand on my cheek.

“Still doing okay?”

I sighed, “Just feeling insecure.”

“Talk to me about it.”

Trailing little kisses on my chest, he waited. Somehow, I knew he was listening to me even if he was occupied with getting into my pants. I arched my back slightly and gave him more access to my skin. 

“I’m worried about my underwear,” I gasped. “And if you think I’m a virgin or something.”

He chuckled darkly. “Why would I think that?”

I placed my hands on his shoulders to ground myself. He was sucking on the spot just behind my ear and I had to bite my lip to stop the wanton sounds from coming out. I just noticed how violently my legs were shaking.

“Because I’m so nervous,” I managed.

“So am I,” He whispered in my ear. “And you look nice in white.”

He bit my ear lobe and pulled it down. I couldn’t stop the moan this time. I felt his dick twitch against my stomach. Trying to force myself to relax again, I ran my hands down his back. He was so soft and smelled heavenly. He placed a hand on my right bra strap.

“Want to keep going?”

I reminded myself once again about how vulnerable he was being with me tonight. He was being gentle for my benefit- not his. He was checking in because he wanted me to feel good, too. He had told me months ago the only things he fucked were the things he liked. I hoped he liked me more than all of the rest. Taking another deep breath, I nodded.

“Baby,” His voice was back to the seductive tone it had been before, making my pussy flutter. He had never called me that before. “You’re shaking.”

I whined openly now, his fingers hooking underneath the straps and pulling them down my shoulders. Reaching behind me, he unhooked the unflattered piece of white fabric and pulled it down my arms. Bare chested and cold, I trembled. I wanted him to touch me.

His hands were on my boobs and I bucked my hips when his thumb brushed over my nipple. He hissed, angled his hips against my own, before playing with the buds freely. I grinded against him, whining in pleasure. 

He rotated between pinching them and rolling them, but with each flick and burst of pain I moved against him. He was so hard on me and I wished he would take his pants off so I could feel him properly. 

Leaning down, he took a nipple into his mouth while playing with the other. I cursed, arching further into him and whined. My pussy gushed and my panties were sticking to my folds now. He removed one of his hands from my chest and switched sides. His right hand traveled down my stomach and into my underwear.

My legs tensed in anticipation. I was so turned on and I wanted him everywhere all at once. His fingers found my clit quickly and Namjoon groaned into my skin.

“You’re so wet,” He bit my boob. 

Sitting up, he watched his hand playing with my pussy through my underwear. I closed my eyes and got lost in the pleasure. I felt one of his fingers circling my entrance and sobbed. It slipped in with no resistance and I swore I heard Namjoon moan along with me. 

It was careful at first, prodding and exploring my walls until it found the spongy spot that made my toes curl. He whispered sweet nothings into the air around us, but I could barely hear him. He was far away now and all I could feel was the shocks of electricity that ran through my body.

My mouth hung open and I could hear the moans and groans escaping me. I was too gone to care about how desperate I sounded or the fact that our neighbors could hear. The irony almost brought me out of my paradise. No wonder those women screamed at the top of their lungs.

When he added another finger, I screamed. My face was wet but I had no idea if it was sweat or tears. I couldn’t think of anything anymore. My stomach twisted and tightened and I heard my shouts getting louder and louder. 

“That’s it baby,” Namjoon groaned, keeping up the pace. “I got you. Cum all over me.”

The dam inside of me broke then and a waterfall gushed all over his fingers. My panties were soiled and damp, my cum sticky and white. Chest heaving, I opened my eyes and looked at Namjoon.

He was already unbuttoning his pants with his free hand. I started to pull my panties down and he removed his hand. With his pants off, he made a move to put his fingers back against my sopping cunt, but I grabbed his wrist. I needed so much more.

“Please,” I cried. “Please. Want you, I want you so bad.”

His eyes dilated and I could almost see the way he held back the animal inside of him. He was trying to be soft. I hooked a leg around his waist and lifted my hips to meet him. He was big and so painfully hard I almost felt bad. I rubbed against him once, then twice, before he shoved me away.

“Daddy.”

I didn’t realize the word was out of my mouth until his eyes snapped. Whatever had been keeping him at bay, whatever he had been telling himself about me, was gone. Black eyes devoured me and I licked my lips in anticipation. 

“What?” His voice was cold and hard.

I was so embarrassed, but still did not care to stop this train. I wanted him so badly, needed to feel him all over me, and I was sure he would give me everything I could ever want and more with a single word. This time I was far more hesitant when I said it, the strange wave of desperation gone. 

“I want you,” I swallowed hard, looking him in the eye. “Daddy, please.”

“Tell me if I’m too much,” He said, his last shred of chivalry gone.

Pulling his boxers down, I sucked in a breath at the sight of him. He was swollen, his tip dark, foreskin pulled back by his hand, and fat with precum oozing from his slit. Thick and long, Namjoon’s cock was so perfect and pretty it was hard to believe it was real. 

“Hand me a condom,” He whispered, “They’re in the wooden box next to the lamp.”

Reaching over, the box was on top of the bookshelf. Taking one of the condoms, I ripped it open with my teeth and took it out myself. I barely thought about it when I reached out towards him. When I grabbed his dick, Namjoon threw his head back and cursed. It took less than a minute to slide it on and lay back down. 

“You’re a fucking slut, aren’t you?” His voice was light and airy.

The degradation caught me off guard, giving me pause, but his hands were already grabbing ahold of my legs roughly. Bending them back on my chest, Namjoon held them in place with his forearm while he reached down to line up with my entrance. I shuttered and tried to push up into him. His arm held me down and pushed into my skin even more.

“Look at you,” He mocked. “Grinding against my dick like the little whore you are.”

He pushed into me and my eyes rolled to the back of my head. He was so big and I felt the stretch instantly. The burning was mild and despite the crude way he spoke to me, he took his time and massaged my thighs. With his arm off my legs, I lifted my hips and took him in deeper. He growled.

“Fucking filthy,” He slapped my thigh, the sting making me moan, and suck in deeper. “You’re so fucking tight, princess.”

I moaned, hooking my legs around his waist and pushing him into me while I lifted my hips. I was so full and the slight curve he had brushed against my g-spot at this angle. My mind was swimming and words felt heavy on my tongue.

“Right there,” I slurred. “Fuck, right there.”

He pulled out and pushed back in. I cried out, my body shaking and trembling underneath him. He held my legs in place before fucking into me. I played with my nipples and grinded down into him to keep the pace. 

“God,” He groaned. “You feel so fucking good. Holy shit.”

Lifting one of my legs, Namjoon placed it on his shoulder and angled his hips. Now, he hit the spot anytime he moved inside of me. Screaming, I let my hand travel down to my clit and began to rub circles on the swollen bud. 

“That’s it, baby,” He cooed. “Cum around my cock. Fuck.”

Gritting my teeth, I wailed. Hot pressure built up in my stomach again and I knew it didn’t stand a chance. I removed my hand from my clit and the pressure went down. I wanted to wait for him. 

A hard slap against my thigh made me open my eyes. Namjoon was covered in sweat, his hair sticking to his forehead, and his mouth was agape. With a heated glare, he dropped my leg. I brought them both up to my chest and screamed. He felt so good, too good, and I felt the bubble building up again. 

Namjoon’s thumb found my clit and I thrashed. His other arm held my legs down against my chest. Pounding into me, I was crying now and thought I would die if I came again. Nothing had ever felt like this before. 

“I’m so close,” He rasped, staring at the way our bodies connected. 

“Fuck,” I whined, shaking.

I came again, long and hard, while my body convulsed and twitched. I was exhausted but I knew Namjoon hadn’t finished yet. Keeping my eyes open, I squeezed down on his cock and waited. The pleasure had made me dumb and words failed me. Nothing made sense anymore, and I wanted to sleep. Moaning despite the oversensitivity, I held on for dear life as Namjoon emptied into the condom.

My legs were sore and stiff, the blood rushing through them causing pins and needles to shoot down them. Namjoon rubbed them and slowly placed them on either side of his body. Slowly, he pulled out and I winced. I was going to feel this in the morning. Taking the condom off, he tied it and went to the kitchen to throw it away.

“Don’t move,” He said. “I’m going to get a towel to wipe you off.”

I was fighting to keep my eyes open so I just let him clean me up. I was far too tired to fight him about it and I thought it was pointless regardless. If he wanted to take care of me then I would let him.

He was back a few moments later and wiped my body off with care. He asked if I could get up so he could change the sheets, and I was able to force my body off the bed. There was a huge puddle where I had been, so I was grateful he was thinking of my hygiene when all I wanted to go was sleep. 

“Do you want me to go?” I asked, yawning.

“No,” He replied. “Do you want to leave?”

“No.”

He quickly changed the sheets and got a new blanket for us. I still didn’t get back into bed just yet. Awake enough to pick up my panties, I wrinkled my nose at the thought of putting them back on. I hated going commando. 

“Want to go get a new pair?” Namjoon asked, noticing my predicament.

I frowned, “It’s fine. I’ll be good with a shirt.”

He threw a plain white tee onto the bed.

“Thanks.”

I was expecting to feel more awkward than I did. The sex was good, great even, and the silence in the room wasn’t scary. I knew Namjoon was thinking and I was happy to let him. I needed a moment to get myself together.

Where did we go from here? I was already being called his girlfriend, we were obviously crazy about one another, and I knew I was getting deeply involved with him now. I could love him and that alone was enough for me to want things to work out. Knowing that I would love him one day was a comfort.

Crawling into bed, I was upset that my teeth were unbrushed, but sharing toothbrushes was far away. I would scrub them really well in the morning and be fine with that. I had never been more excited for a Saturday before. Namjoon was beside me after turning off the lights.

Darkness surrounded us as he came closer to my body. These were moments I rarely experienced. Cuddling and loving touches after sex were a rarity in the past and something I had always craved. Settling in his arms, I laid my head on his chest and closed my eyes. His heartbeat was steady and loud against my ear.

“Are you going home for Christmas?” Namjoon suddenly asked.

I knew he had been thinking hard about something.

“I am,” I sighed. “Hopefully it’ll be a good year this time.”

“What makes you say that?”

Namjoon was somewhat aware of the strained relationship I had with my parents. We had talked about my weird Thanksgiving break and the even weirder holidays before that. He always said my parents would come around, but I knew he would never understand just how wishy-washy they were. His family was a constant support in his life.

“My dad’s getting weirder and weirder,” I answered. “It used to be my mom and I bumping heads constantly, but after I moved out we got better. Dad and I got worse. I don’t know what he wants from me.”

Rubbing random patterns on my back, Namjoon got quiet again. Taking that as my cue to become a bit more open, I decided to keep talking.

“He hates what I do. He was hoping I’d be in Chicago for my entire life, become a school teacher or something simple, and get married. Harvard was a dream, and he thought I’d get into law like him when the letter came in, but after I said geology everything just got weird. He never got along with my grandpa and thought he had brain washed me or something. I don’t even know anymore it’s all so convoluted.”

“But things were already weird before then.”

I nodded, “He didn’t like me speaking my mind or having an opinion that he didn’t agree with. We’re far too alike and argue constantly.”

“And your mom?”

I sighed. That was the worst part of everything. I loved them both so much, but neither one of them loved me enough to just be happy for me. They wanted this fantasy they had to play out in their head. Mom would choose dad any day of the week if it meant she stayed comfortable. Dad would pick mom because she never pushed him too far and let him get his way.

“She just wanted me to keep the family together.”

“Why are you going home then?” He asked. “Why even let them ruin your holiday?”

“He said-”

“Everything I’ve heard about the guy tells me that’s bullshit.”

I was shocked he interrupted me. He must have been thinking long and hard about this sort of conversation. I closed my mouth and listened to what he had to say. It had been a long time since someone agreed with my feelings.

“Even if he said he wouldn’t fight with you, even if he apologized, every time you go home he just treats you poorly. You’ve missed multiple holidays with your family because of his temper tantrums and were miserable in Chicago. Why go?”

I thought about his question. Why was I going? Because he said he was sorry? He apologized every year and still managed to make everything about him. How I wrong him. How I was the one destroying our family. How I left him alone. I had said I was going, I had the ticket and flight information, but did I really want to go home? I had more fun in my apartment alone then dealing with the scream matches over nothing.

“He cried,” I replied.

“To guilt trip you. He cried to make you feel bad about him disrespecting you and degrading you. He barely even apologized.”

Namjoon was right, but what else could I do? Call home and tell them I changed my mind? Get blamed for their failing marriage again? That did not sound nice either. I could say it was work but that would add credibility to their arguments. Mom would be so disappointed.

“Why are you asking me about Christmas?”

“I want you to come home with me.”

It brought a smile to my face even if I did feel a bit uncomfortable with him saying all of that to convince me to cancel my travel plans. Was it just to make me go with him? That was something my dad would do. I took a few deep breaths and thought about Namjoon and his character. No, he would not do that. He was just talking with me about my parents and wanted to see if I would rather spend my holidays with him.

“Would your family be okay with that?” I asked.

“Most definitely,” I could hear the smile in his voice. “My parents would really like you and my sister is going to be excited for another STEM girl in the house. We will have to sleep separately, though. My parents are old school.”

I laughed. From what he tells me, their home is very small and I would be asleep on the living room floor. Still, I felt much better about this trip than visiting home. It was sad that meeting my boyfriend’s family gave me less anxiety than going home.

“I’d like to come,” I yawned. “I’ll figure out my parents later.”

He kissed the top of my head.

“Night, 203.”

I grinned, “Night, 201.”

Four Months Later

Staring at the screen, I reread the email for the fourth time.

From: TanyaLopez@AMNH.hr.org To: Y/L/N.Y/N@hks.harvard.edu Date: March 23, 2023 Subject: Next Steps

Y/N,

Thank you so much for taking the time to interview with us for the Invertebrate Researcher position here at AMNH. I have some GREAT news to share! Our team enjoyed getting to know you and we’d like to move to the next stage of our hiring process. Could you provide me with two references of yours, preferably a former manager or colleague? If you could fill out the below information as soon as possible, that would be greatly appreciated!

Reference #1: Title: Phone Number: Email:

Reference #2: Title: Phone Number: Email:

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions moving forward and I would be happy to help. Looking forward to hearing from you to continue this exciting process!

- Tanya Lopez Talent Acquisition Specialist Human Resources American Museum of Natural History C: (212) 555-5555 Pronouns (she/her) -

I picked up my phone and called Wren. Namjoon was in class right now and telling him would have to wait. She picked up on the third ring, her excitement and joy already making me smile. I had text her when I saw the email notification.

“So?” She demanded. “What did she say?”

Wren had been the most nervous for me. This position was a huge deal and would be a game changer for my resume. Namjoon and Kendall were both convinced I had the job before I even applied, and Jungkook said he’d be there for me if it didn’t work out. He was trying to ease up on the drinking after Kendall gave him a bit of an intervention. I was happy he sounded more like himself the last time we spoke.

“You’re talking to their newest researcher.”

“Ah!” She screamed, yelling to Jimin about the new job. “I’m so excited! This is huge! New York, babes!”

I laughed, “I know right? God, Joon is going to flip.”

“How are you feeling about long distance?”

In typical Wren fashion, she had been the one person who leaned into my fears when I first talked about the job. Where Jungkook said we would make it as long as we made the effort, Wren was worried that we would break up as soon as I got the job. After many conversations with Namjoon, though, I felt much better about the whole thing. Like he said, Boston was only a 4 hour drive from New York and I would be staying out of New Rochelle which would ease the drive up a bit. Not by much but he could avoid the brunt of most of the NYC traffic.

“They’ll be fine, Jagi,” I heard Jimin in the background. “Stop worrying so much.”

“I’m the best friend,” She snapped back, defensive and hurt. “It’s my job to worry, Jimin.”

“Hey now,” I scolded. “Leave my best friend-in-law alone.”

“I’m going to miss you so much,” Wren whined, completely ignoring us both.

Now we are on to phase 2: denial. I shook my head and listened as she whined about how far away I would be. I reminded her it was a four hour car ride, but she reminded me that we had never lived more than twenty minutes away from each other since we’d met.

“But think about it Wren,” I soothed, going for the only thing I had left. “Day shopping in New York City, grabbing some pizza at a jazz club late at night, and all of those fancy furniture stores.”

I would apologize to Jimin later. Wren had a horrible habit of throwing out brand new furniture and buying all new shit once a year. Sometimes twice. I was lucky to get a few new pieces for my apartment years ago, but I could just imagine her going to every Pottery Barn in the city to find something to replace. She had been talking about how boring her dining table was. 

“Oh! We could give you some things for your new place and go shopping for ours.”

I winced. I would need to make that apology sooner rather than later. My phone buzzed and I saw an incoming call from Namjoon.

“Boyfriend’s calling. Go to go.”

“Laters.”

Hanging up with Wren, I answered Namjoon’s call.

“Hello Ms.Newly Employed.”

I rolled my eyes, “You don’t even know if I got the job.”

“Did you?” I had sent him the same text as Wren.

“Yes.”

“My mom’s going to be so happy for you.”

Christmas had been very nice. Of course, my parents were as angry as I expected them to be. That phone call made me realize no matter what I did they would be upset. I had even tried to explain to them that I was seeing someone, and it had fallen on deaf ears in the face of their wants. I felt bad for a few days until Namjoon reminded me that was what my dad wanted. I stopped thinking about it after that and hadn’t heard much since. No random gifts or late night phone calls. Complete radio silence.

Namjoon’s family really was every bit as warm and inviting as I imagined them to be. His mother was so happy to meet me and his father was happy to talk about my career. I slept on a cot in the living room for the first two days until his mother decided she liked me too much and allowed us in the same room. She had made a few jokes about grandkids, but I wasn’t sure just how joking they were. 

His sister showed up the following week and it was a dream. Her mind was so bright and expressive, and I adored the young girl not even an hour after meeting her. It was the first holiday in years that I was able to relax with a cup of cocoa and not worry when I would be kicked out. I promised them to come back for Spring Break.

“I’ll be sad I can’t see you everyday.”

He laughed, “I’ll be down there every weekend and you’ll visit when you can.”

I smiled, “I know but that doesn’t change anything. At least I know your schedule already.”

The Project Manager position was a bust, but he took it in stride. He thought about joining the research team at Harvard, but I saw him looking at an adjudicate position at NYU for next fall. I hoped we would last that long, and that he thought about the decision before jumping the gun. He always did but I knew what emotions could do to someone’s judgment. Either way, I would be happy for him.

“I’m going to write this woman back,” I said, already composing my reply. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

“How about going to Harvest to celebrate.”

I laughed out loud.

“Babe, we can’t afford Harvest.”

“Now, now,” His voice went up an octave. “I am willing to take out a small loan to wine and dine you.”

“My hero,” I mocked. He snorted. “We can hit up Santouka’s if you want to eat in Harvard Square.”

“I’m always happy to get ramen.”

After finalizing our plans and hoping we could rope in a few friends to go out with, we hung up. I was happy with the way things were going and I couldn’t ask for a better boyfriend. I was sad to be so far away but I had to have faith it would all work out. Even if it meant long drives and days lost, I knew Namjoon was worth every second of it.

From: Y/L/N.Y/N@harvard.edu To: TanyaLopez@AMNH.hr.org Date: March 23, 2023 Subject: RE: Next Steps

Good afternoon Ms.Lopez,

I am so happy to hear that! Working with AMNH is a dream come true and I am so honored to have the opportunity. Below I have given you both of the references you have asked for as well as two additional. I want to be sure you get the references you need and Dr.Lupon can be tricky to get in touch with by phone. Thank you again and I appreciate all of your help during this process.

Dr. Abigail Lupon, Ph.D. (617) 444-444 Abigail.Lupon@harvard.edu

Morgan Dawson Ph.D Candidate (206) 777-7777 Morgan.Dawson@harvard.edu

Dr. Christopher Jonas, Ph.D. (406) 222-2222 ChristopherHJonas@harvard.edu

Dr. Alistair Moody, Ph.D. (617) 333-3333 Alistair.Moody@harvard.edu

Let me know if you need anything else and I look forward to working with you in the near future.

- Y/N Y/L/N Ph.D. Candidate in Paleontology Harvard University | Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Mobile: (773) 999-9999 | Email: Y/N.Y/L/N@harvard.edu Pronouns: She/Her/Hers -

It was impossible to believe I was leaving this place. These would be my last two months in my shit hole apartment, my last two months cleaning off bones in the lab, and my last two months living next door to my boyfriend. It was bittersweet but I knew I was making the right choice. Every decision I had made was leading to this moment.

I knew without a shadow of a doubt that my grandpa would be proud of me.

Two months later

This was it. Two names away from my own, I waited with bated breath for the Dean to call out my name for the third and final time. Beside me, Dr.Lupon smiled happily. She was more excited for my commencement than I was. 

“Almost,” She mouthed to me and took a few steps back.

I was sitting on an end seat and would need to exit on that side. I knew she was supposed to be further towards the front but had switched with Dr.Jonas earlier this evening for “moral support.” We had gone through this multiple times and yet she still insisted on chaperoning me everywhere. It was as endearing as it was embarrassing. Somewhere behind me a large group of my friends were waiting to scream as soon as I stood up.

Then, it happened. All twelve years I had been at Harvard were flooding through my mind as I stood. My first day, living in the dorms and loathing my roommate, and the first time I had ever stepped inside of the museum. I recalled the first time I met Dr.Lupon and the whirlwind she had become in my otherwise dull life. Late night dinner with Jungkook, the first time I saw Wren, and all of the beautiful moments that led up to seeing Jimin at a P.C. frat party. 

I remember when Kendall’s hair touched her chin and she was fresh faced. Before the ambulances and dead bodies, Kendall had been so excited to contribute to the world. Heartbreak after heartbreak and wasted tears on men who never deserved my time. Taehyung came to mind and I almost laughed. God, that guy was such a loser. 

I had found out a few weeks after we bumped into one another in the parking lot the reason he had been so weird. His friend, Seokjin, had come by to get some stuff for his dog and spilled the beans. Apparently, Taehyung had only asked me out because he thought I would be an easy fuck. Jin told him to leave me alone since I worked at the only pet store open so late, but the idiot really went for it. His pride was hurt when it didn't work, and he was convinced I was simply playing hard to get. He stopped stalking me after Namjoon cornered the two of them at the gym the next morning. It would seem that Taehyung's bark was much bigger than his bite. 

Taking my diploma from the Dean, I smiled blindingly at him and shook his head with as much force as I could. Today was perfect. Today was not the end of my story, but the beginning. Coming back to the present, I giggled as Namjoon’s loud cheers reached my ears. I swore I heard Jimin and Wren singing 'We Are The Champions,' but I would have to ask to make sure.

Harvard would forever be a part of my life, memories far too precious to forget, but I was ready to move on. Looking at the photographer across the way, I quickly posed with my diploma and went back to my seat. Stealing a look behind me, I found Namjoon and his family standing in a large group, our friends all waving and blowing kisses our way. A small ache settled in my heart that my own parents had not come, but I could not let it ruin this. I had spent 12 years at Harvard, all of them beautiful, but now it was time for me to move on. Today was only the beginning.

Taglist:  @swoozleee @jub-jub @callmenoona25 @coolchick23 @saweetspoiled​

[bts-fic-collection]

Hey!! Thank you sm for you fic recs! I was wondering if you had any fics where one or more of the members get into an accident and end up in the hospital? Any ship and pls no MCD.. Thank you in advance!

I do! :)

the orchard by 02_43am

Rating: E

Pairings: Namjoon/Yoongi

Status: Complete

Word count: 25,747

Summary: The only Yoongi that Namjoon knows is the twenty-two-year-old he left back in the dorms, sleeping with the laptop tucked somewhere in between the sheets and the pillow, and a baby face that he couldn't hide underneath all that eyeliner. Namjoon doesn't recognize the thirty-two-year-old Yoongi that cooks for them, in their house, in this life they built together but he has no memory of.

(namjoon loses ten years worth of memories. yoongi stays by his side, no matter what.)

those few words that saved me by exarite

Rating: M

Pairings: Jungkook/Yoongi

Status: Complete

Word count: 4,866

Summary: "Here," he manages to croak. He’s not sure if what he intends to say is what comes out. His voice feels rusty, out of use, and the words come hard, slipping from his grip like water. The need to comfort and assure his omega in distress is stronger. "I’m here."

A frozen moment, where the figure beside him doesn’t move, and then—

Yoongi’s jolted as Jungkook throws himself at him.

"Hyung," Jungkook sobs.

It’s the first time he’s spoken in months, he learns later. :: After an accident, Yoongi finally wakes up.

There's something about Jungkook that's different.

Prismine by blueandgasoline

Rating: T

Pairings: Jungkook/Taehyung

Status: Complete

Word count: 7,429

Summary: No one knows that Jungkook and Taeho broke up recently. When Jungkook loses his sight in an accident, everyone expects Taeho to be at the hospital by Jungkook’s side — but Taehyung, a perfect stranger, gets sent in his stead.

or

The story of Taehyung and Jungkook falling in love, seen under different angles of a prism — from pitch black darkness, to the formation of a full-fledged rainbow.

[wildestdreamsblog]

Latibule Season 2: III

Pairing: Min Yoongi x Reader (Mafia/Detective AU)

Summary: In which he lost his latibule.

Warnings: Secret Identity, Yandere behavior, Obsessiveness, Possessiveness, Manipulative behavior, Violence, Mention of death, Disability, Sexual themes, If you’re not 18+ please, PLEASE, do not interact. Be mindful of the warnings. Let me know if I miss anything.

A/N: As promised :) Leave a comment or reblog if you enjoy!

GIF by urmingirl

Masterlist, Latibule 2.II

Taehyung looked up from his cellphone to his eldest hyung that was currently cooking their dinner. He pouted when he was not given the appropriate amount of attention he should be given. Honestly, he deserved it! After a moment when he still did not get what he wanted, he finally asked the question he had been dying to know the answer to.

“Hyung, is it always like that?”

“Hmm? Like what, Tae?” he asked while chopping diligently the vegetables the renowned doctor was preparing for a certain psychologist and his brothers that insisted they were hungry as well.

“When it ends…does it always hurt like that?”

Seokjin blinked at Taehyung’s unprompted question. He paused before he finally brought his eyes to the actor. He knew that the younger man had always been eccentric. His clinical condition definitely explained his behavior, but not this. He was never curious about the emotions he couldn’t feel, nor did he ever show any interest on understanding emotions. As the years passed by, Kim Taehyung got better at masking and pretending by learning the root causes of the emotions he could see. The brothers had always thought that this was precisely why he chose to be an actor. Everytime they watched him cried, laughed, or acted furious for his movies and dramas, they thought he was a different person.

Jin thought it was just understandable why he dropped the knife he was holding.

“What brought this on?”

“He-“ he lifted his mobile phone to show Jin the picture Jimin snapped of their Yoongi hyung looking like he had lost all his will to live. Taehyung found it so ridiculous that Jimin even made a collage of him and a cat that depicted their hyung. “-looks like breathing is a chore and is only fighting to live so he can end his enemies.”

Jin would have laughed had this happened before he met his sunshine. But now, the mere thought of her leaving set him on edge, and he knew he would be similar to Yoongi if not worse. Slowly, he picked up his knife as he carefully chose his words. He was always like this with Taehyung ever since he knew that something was not quite right in his mind, well…more than any of them, to be honest. The younger man took things at face value, and all the brothers knew to talk in a straightforward manner so there wouldn’t be any confusion on Taehyung’s part.

He kidded you not, once when they were still teenagers, they asked him to go ahead and get them a table in a restaurant. He left without any qualms only to return not an hour later carrying a big ass table from a restaurant. That was a horrifying memory, Jin thought, and that was when they all decided to change the way they talked. It was Namjoon that took it too far and enrolled the man in a body language class to better cope with society. However, it was Jungkook that forced him to take psychology classes with him for fun.

“I think it’s different,” Jin started, busying himself once again with cooking. “Yoongi never has love like that, I guess. It’s understandable that he acts like a sad lonely cat.”

Seokjin could still clearly remember how Yoongi looked at you. It was like you were all he ever wanted and more, like you were his reprieve from the darkness in his life. You were, as he called you, an angel to him. And then he lost you.

“Why?”

“Well…she’s his personal slice of heaven,” he answered, his voice contemplative and understanding of what Yoongi was going through. Jin paused in his chopping, a thoughtful expression crossing his features as he carefully considered his words. “And he’s been living in hell the very moment he was born. What do you think would happen if he was given a taste of heaven and then lost it?”

“Just like Hoseok hyung,” Taehyung nodded, slightly understanding the downfall of these strong men.

“Seriously, you are all worse than the ahjummas who love to talk about other people’s lives. Be better than that, guys,” Kim Namjoon observed with his deadpanned voice as soon as he walked in the kitchen. He took in the scene of the two men conversing and the other man quietly eating the snack Jin prepared him.

Jin scoffed as he rolled his eyes at Namjoon. “As if you wouldn’t react like that when your secretary finally resigns.”

To which, Namjoon only smirked. “Who says she can leave?”

“How will you stop her and her son if the father finally shows up?”

Namjoon, with his hand in his pocket, calmly uttered words that no normal people would believe to have any other meaning. “Well, as you said, the dead don’t exactly come back to life, do they?”

 Jin chuckled at Namjoon. Of course, he did something about that man. It was apparent, he thought. He could still vividly remember the look in Namjoon’s eyes when he told him that his secretary was pregnant and that the asshole of a father even put his hands on her. Suffice to say, it was the most unhinged Namjoon ever was.

“I think Namjoon will be the worst among us if he ever loses the love of his life,” Jin noted with lightness in his voice.

“Nah,” Jungkook finally lifted his head from his bowl. “I sincerely think it’ll be Taehyung.”

The conversation never left Jeon Jungkook’s mind. Anyway, he didn’t need anyone to tell him to do this. He did this out of the bond he shared with his brothers. Had this happened to any among them, he would have done the same.

He thought that it was cruel to let them experience the same hell he had been living every single day.

And so, he worked tirelessly and utilized every available technology and connection he had just to look for Yoongi’s angel. When he said she was alive, when he said he felt in his heart that you could have not gone where he couldn’t follow, then he’d believed him. He wouldn’t lose anything by looking for you, Jungkook rationalized. But he didn’t want to unnecessarily get his brother’s hopes up until he had evidence that you were indeed alive.

One morning, it finally happened. There you were.

Jungkook’s eyes could not have gone any bigger as he watched the CCTV of a far province in his office.

That was you, he was sure.

Without a moment's hesitation, he reached for his phone and dialed the person he knew he could trust. "Hyung, can you come to my office?" he requested urgently, the excitement and disbelief evident in his voice.

“That’s her,” Kim Namjoon validated after a moment. He was standing beside Jungkook’s seated form as he leaned in the monitor. He was ever the image of calmness with his hand in his pocket, his suit immaculate and not a crease in sight.

Seokjin raised his brows as he sat in a relaxed manner on the couch. Jungkook didn’t even call him, yet he was here because he was, per his words, bored and that a certain sunshine was not where she should be. “So the dead can indeed come back to life,” he noted with a tone the two men couldn’t understand. “Pray tell, Namjoon-ah. Should we tell Yoongi?”

Jungkook blinked at the rising tension between the two men. Whereas Jin merely looked curious, Namjoon looked like he was looking at the end of the sword with the way his jaw was clenched. He stood up straight and took a second to answer Seokjin.

“Of course, hyung. This is a great news, after all.”

“Hmm,” Seokjin smirked, his legs crossed as though nothing could have fazed him. It was moment like this when Jungkook could see the mafia prince in his usually playful hyung. Everybody knew not to cross this man despite him appearing goofy and motherlike to them.

Jungkook thought that it would only take one momentous catastrophe for him to return to his dark persona. He didn’t want to see that, though.

“He’s suffered enough, right?” Jin asked the room with a light tone, yet his eyes pierced through Namjoon’s. “Right, Namjoon-ah?”

Seven Mississippis passed before he answered. Jungkook knew because he counted, and he hated the tension he didn’t know why was present.

“Jungkook, tell Yoongi hyung,” Namjoon ordered.

—-

Min Yoongi’s brows were pulled together as he walked in a bustling street of a faraway province. He had to drive almost four hours just because their maknae told him to be here at this exact hour, claiming that he desperately needed him to be there. However, Jungkook was not answering his phone despite numerous calls from him.

Where was even that little shit, Yoongi asked himself as he surveyed the whole place.  

Despite barely getting any sleep, he found himself in a situation where he might have to scold his youngest brother for the first time. He should have been in Seoul right now, but he couldn’t exactly say no to him. He had shit ton of things to do and yet he was indulging the youngest brother.

Maybe this was exactly why he was spoiled? Ah, but anyway, he was a good kid.

So where was he?!

He walked further into the thick of the plaza, his phone plastered in his ear as he listened to the annoying and incessant ringback tone of Jungkook. Seriously, at this day and age? His eyes roamed the area of happy locals, at which he rolled his eyes.

He was on the verge of deciding whether he should just go ahead and kill Jungkook when he finally answered.

“Where the fuck are you?” he growled over the other line, his patience running thin when the man just answered innocently.

“At Seoul, hyung-“

“Then why am I here?! I swear to heavens, if you made me drive here just to buy you a weird snack then I’ll really kill you!”

“Seokjin hyung will be mad!”

Right. The eldest was protective of the youngest. What a nuisance, he thought. “Then I’ll do it in secret.”

Jungkook chuckled nervously. He couldn’t place whether he was joking or not. His money was that if his hyung could get away with it, he’d be floating in the river at this very moment. “I asked you to go there because I have a surprise for you, hyung.”

“I don’t particularly enjoy surprises-” he began, but was swiftly interrupted.

“I know, I know. But this one, I’m sure you’ll like. This is the most beautiful, most precious, most amazing surprise ever. You’ll stop sulking and looking like a sad cat and Jimin hyung will finally stop taking badly captured and cropped photos of you and make it into a collage. Taehyung hyung will stop observing your miserable demeanor for his next movie. You’ll finally stop living like it’s such a chore and-“

His back was bumped by a force. Turning around, he prepared to glare at the perpetrator only to stop because there it was.

There was you.

It was as if the universe finally said that he had enough and stopped punishing him because he saw you when he was not even looking for you. Your mouth hanged agape, your hand going to your forehead as you murmured apologies to him.

He was stunted. No, he was bewildered.

Was this real? Or was this one of his cruel dreams again, a figment of his mind playing tricks on him?

But no.

He had been living in hell, yet moment he heard your voice, all the sufferings disappeared. This was really you. You were truly alive. He was frozen as his wildest dream was brought into life. His whole body went into a state of shock, something that he never thought could ever happen.

It didn’t really matter the years he spent without you because one touch, one word- these were all it took for him to forget the bitterness your separation brought him.

With a trembling voice, Yoongi dared to call for you. “Ange-”

But before he could say another word, you interrupted, your voice light and apologetic.

“I’m really sorry, mister. I didn’t see you,” you chuckled, slightly lifting your walking stick to explain the small accident. You bowed down at the man before going your way.

And he stood there, watching as the love of his life walked away from him, unseeing. He thought he could no longer hurt. He thought that nothing could have fazed him any longer. But he was wrong. Watching you walked, unseeing as you traversed the plaza with only your walking stick pained him.

How did this happen to you?

Was it because of the incident?

Was that why you couldn’t return to him? Because you weren’t able to?

Or did he miss all the glaring signs?

Slowly, he lifted the old phone you gifted him years ago to his ear. “You didn’t stop looking for her?”

Jungkook was quiet for a moment. “Well…I would never wish this hell on anyone, much less my brother,” he stated, his voice carrying a certain tone of sadness they often heard from him. “Go get her, hyung.”

The bustling city streets faded into a blur around you as you walked, your steps slow and deliberate despite the cacophony of noise that surrounded you. Your sight may have been almost gone, but your other senses seemed to have sharpened in response, each sound and scent painting a vivid picture in his mind.

You remembered that when you were younger, you read a passage from a book entitled, ‘The Song of Achilles’. You thought it was a well-written book, a love that transcended even death. There was a line your college friends always thought to be a masterpiece. But you never understood it. The line so many people loved never really touched you.

Until it did.

Until you understood each word written in that book.

“I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.”

Because right now, the words made sense. You could recognize him despite your deteriorating eyesight. You knew him. He was here. And he was following you…to what exactly? Was he here to end you? Was he here to make sure that you wouldn’t tell the world of his secret identity?

Regardless of the reason, you tried to remain calm as Hoseok always ordered you to. You had no choice but to lead him back home, otherwise you were sure that he would be suspicious. The man that you used to love was perceptive, and any suspicious movements could alert him. From the moment you opened the front door to the time you closed it, you knew you only had a couple of seconds.

You fished the phone Hoseok gave you, one with tactile buttons and controls that made it easier for you to use it. You knew you couldn’t use the speech-to-text feature, otherwise he’d hear. And so, with a tense movement, you sent a message to him.

He’s here. Don’t come home. Leave with my son.

[wintaerbaer]

ringing in the year (jjk)

summary: Your six-year relationship with Jungkook certainly hasn't been devoid of the occasional mishap. But when Seokjin accidentally winds up with a gift meant for you, Jungkook's proposal may wind up being the biggest blunder of all.

pairing: Jungkook x Reader

rating: generally sfw, sans a handful of swear words

genre: established relationship au, pure fluff, bit of a crack fic

word count: 2.2k

a/n: this was so fun to write, and a bunch of the details were inspired by real life events! thanks to @animeniacss for brainstorming this one with me and sprinting me through it. wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year! <3

MASTERLIST

Jungkook knows he’s messed up several times over the course of your six-year relationship.

There was the time in college when he wanted to cook you dinner and, upon realizing that he didn’t have a corkscrew to open the bottle of wine, tried to pry it open with a screwdriver and sprayed most of it all over the kitchen and himself.

There was the time when he ate suspiciously old-looking dumplings out of the fridge for lunch in spite of Hoseok’s warnings and spent your anniversary date that night going in and out of the bathroom.

And of course, there was the time when he'd insisted that it was fine for you to get frisky in the living room because Jimin wouldn't be back until tomorrow. Only to realize, oh wait, it's Saturday, the second the man himself walked in the door with both Yoongi and Taehyung in tow, all three getting quite the view of you and Jungkook on the area rug.

But this right here, he thinks, has got to be his biggest fuck-up of all, watching Seokjin peel back the wrapping paper on his white elephant gift to reveal a white mug that says, in large black lettering, “WORLD’S BEST WIFE.”

“Awww, Jungkookie,” he coos, raising the mug up above his head to show it off. “You’re proposing?”

He is, in fact, trying to propose, but certainly not to Seokjin. Every New Year’s Eve since sophomore year of college, your friend group has gotten together to party and do a holiday gift exchange that consists of a white elephant round and a general present swap.

Jungkook, wanting to propose amongst your friends and on what you’ve always said is your favorite day each year, had intended to give you the mug and propose later in the night. But, it would seem, he must’ve mixed up the two presents, putting your mug into the white elephant pile instead of the travel mug he had meant to contribute.

“Ah, Y/N,” Seokjin is now sighing, “I’m so sorry you had to find out this way.”

You're giggling, wrapped in a burrito blanket that was courtesy of Hoseok. “It's okay. I understand that your love can't be denied.”

“Actually, hyung,” Jungkook finally gets the courage to pipe up. Is it hot in here? It feels hot in here. He might be sweating. “Can I talk to you in the kitchen for a second?”

“You need to talk now?” Hobi asks, wearing a t-shirt that also happens to be a collage of Seokjin's face–his white elephant offering. “It’s Yoongi’s turn. Let’s finish the white elephant, and then you can talk.”

“But–”

“I want Namjoon’s,” Yoongi says, snatching up the gift and tearing away the paper to unfurl a large black Snuggie. “Oh, fuck yeah.”

“You got a Snuggie?” Jimin jeers in Namjoon’s direction. “Lame.”

“Lame? It’s funny,” Namjoon argues.

“Yeah, if it was 2008.”

“Hey, I’m not complaining.” Yoongi slides his arms into the sleeves, settling into the couch and eyeing the rest of the group warily.

Jimin rolls his eyes at him. “No one is going to steal it, hyung.”

“Nobody better fucking steal it.”

The game actually finishes with no steals. Namjoon opens up your gift (a KFC-scented fire log) and Jimin and Taehyung choose each other’s only to find out that they both bought Bob Ross Chia Pets. With the game over, your group devolves back into party mingling–Yoongi dozing off on the couch in his new Snuggie, Jimin and Taehyung heading immediately to the dining room to get started on their chia projects, and the rest of you trying to decide which party games you’re going to play as the night goes on.

But when Seokjin stands up, declaring that he’s heading to the kitchen to get a drink for his “fun new mug,” Jungkook jumps to follow him, bringing along the slab of granite with twenty dollars taped to it that he’d opened (“I’m renovating my countertops,” Yoongi had explained).

“Hyung,” Jungkook hisses as Seokjin reaches into the fridge for a beer. “I need that mug.”

Seokjin turns, sizing him up in the glow of the refrigerator. “Then you probably should’ve picked it.”

Jungkook huffs in exasperation before stepping in closer, lowering his voice to a harsh whisper. “Listen, I am trying to propose to Y/N tonight.”

“With a white elephant gift that anyone could’ve gotten?” He clicks his tongue, scolding. “That’s just terrible planning, Jungkookie. And proposing with a mug? A little boring.”

Color rises to Jungkook’s face, giving his cheeks a natural blush. “We were watching reruns of The Office when I kissed her for the first time. And it wasn’t supposed to be a white elephant–you know what? It doesn’t matter at this point. I just need the mug back.”

He reaches for the counter, intending to steal the mug away, but Seokjin gets there first, cradling it to his chest with a pout. “No, it’s mine. I opened it, and I’ve already imprinted–”

“We never should’ve let Y/N show you Twilight. Here, look.” He raises the granite sample and money in his hands, offering it up. “I’ll give you Yoongi’s gift and the gift I was supposed to be giving for the game. You’ll get two.”

Seokjin narrows his eyes in suspicion. “What was your original gift?”

“A travel mug that says, ‘Weird to be the same age as old people.’”

He gets a wrinkled nose in response. “Well I like this one better. The other one calls me old. This one says I’m the best wife ever.”

“Oh my God, hyung. You’re not a wife!”

“I’m not old either!”

Jungkook throws his arms up in frustration, practically launching his hunk of stone across the room. “Then what am I supposed to do? You’re really going to ruin my entire proposal?”

“Hmm.” Seokjin lifts a hand to his chin, the other still clutching the mug to his body. “Thirty-two-race drunk Mario Kart?”

“Hyung.”

“What? You want the mug–this is how you can get it.”

Jungkook scrubs a hand over his face, accepts the inevitable. “Okay, fine. I’ll do it.”

“Hooray!” A clap of his hands as Seokjin practically skips from the kitchen. “I’ll get us set up!”

By the time Jungkook drags his feet into the living room, Seokjin has already gathered a crowd, your friends piling onto the couches and armchairs to watch the upcoming event. Surely they’re expecting a slaughter; Seokjin is notoriously a Mario Kart ace.

“You looking to get drunk, babe?” you ask, settling into the spot next to him on the couch. “There are easier, less humiliating ways, you know.”

He pouts, eyebrows squishing together. “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” he grumbles, immediately forgiving you when you press your lips to his.

“For luck,” you say, giving him one more peck before sitting back to watch Seokjin hand him a controller, shot glass, and bottle of soju.

“Pick your character.” He plops onto Jungkook’s other side, selecting his own racer on the screen.

“Peach? Really?” Namjoon teases.

Seokjin shoots him a look. “I don’t wanna hear that from a basic-ass Mario main.”

Jungkook, meanwhile, chooses Donkey Kong, and loads up the first map, Peach and Donkey Kong lining up in their pink and yellow go-karts at the starting line.

“May the best me win,” Seokjin says, a split second before the light goes green.

He does win the race. And the next one and the next one. And Jungkook is three shots in before he even knows what hit him, fingers wrapped tightly around the controller.

“Not too late to back out, Jungkookie,” Seokjin jests, nudging him in the ribs. “At least leave with your pride intact.”

But before Jungkook can even respond, mouth already half-open in indignation, you wrap a soothing hand around his knee, massaging lightly.

“You've got this, Kook. You can do it.”

The sound of your voice puts him at ease almost instantly, and he ignores Seokjin, loading up the next track. This time, he does his best to relax, letting the feel of your palm siphon away his anxiety.

This is for you. He can do this for you.

The race is close, their cartoon avatars neck-and-neck until Jungkook manages to gain an edge at the very last second and blow through the finish line first.

“Holy shit!” Taehyung exclaims. “The Kart King lost?!”

“Calm down, it's one race,” Seokjin says. But he shifts forward on the couch as he takes his shot of soju, clearly miffed. “We have twenty-eight more to go. I like my odds.”

Seokjin wins the next one again, celebrating with a whoop, but Jungkook goes on a run after that, winning three in a row so they're tied. And once the thirty-second race has been driven, Seokjin has won sixteen, Jungkook has won sixteen, and they've each drunk two bottles of soju apiece.

“TIEBREAKER RACE,” Seokjin slurs, swaying on his feet. He's played the last dozen games standing up, claiming it “helps with the turns,” whatever that means.

“I think you two have had enough,” you say, patting Jungkook lovingly on the arm. “Just call it a tie and leave it there.”

He jerks away, stretching his arm out like he thinks you're going to try and take the controller from him. “No, Y/N! I need that mug!”

Your lips pull down into a frown. “What mug?”

“I think Y/N is right, you guys,” Namjoon chimes in. “You both need some water.”

“Everyone shut the fuck up. I'm trying to sleep,” grumbles the Snuggie blob.

“ONE MORE RACE!” Seokjin yells, insistent. “FOR IT ALL! FOR THE MUG!”

“Again, what mug?”

But you don't get an answer. Instead, Jungkook shouts, “FINE! RAINBOW ROAD, ASSHOLE!” and everyone's eyes fixate on the screen, eager to find out who will emerge victorious.

Both characters rip off the starting line, Seokjin quickly obtaining a mushroom power-up that gives him a speed boost and comfortable lead. But after Jungkook lucks out on a green shell throw, causing Seokjin to spin out of control, he takes the lead as the first lap ends.

“C’mon, babe!” you cheer, Jimin and Taehyung joining in in their desire to see the Kart King tumbled from his throne.

Jungkook holds his lead for most of the lap, but Seokjin takes it back after a couple more mushroom boosts and a red shell. The final lap is tight, the lead going back and forth and back and forth until all hope seems lost as Seokjin begins to pull away on the last leg…

Only for him to cut the final turn too closely, allowing Jungkook to bump him right over the side of the track and into space before blasting across the finish line.

The room erupts in cheers, Jungkook leaping to his feet with a shout even as Seokjin falls to the floor with a scream of anguish. You stand as well, trying to give your boyfriend a hug, but you’re shocked when he moves away from you instead, preoccupied with something on the dining table.

He crosses the room–dodging Jimin and Taehyung, who are now flossing over Seokjin’s prone body–to grab the “WORLD’S BEST WIFE” mug and triumphantly raise it in the air before stumbling back to where you stand both perplexed and amused by the scene before you.

“This,” he says, clumsily pressing the mug into your hands, “was supposed to be for you.”

“World’s Best Wife?” you ask, heart hiccuping as you begin to have a suspicion. “Like Michael Scott’s mug?”

“Yes!” The word feels heavy moving off of his tongue, and he suddenly regrets not being sober for this. “Because uhhhh…I have this for you, too. Shit, wait.”

He fumbles around his pockets, panicking until he finds the ring, slips it out of his pants, and drops to his knee with a graceless thud.

“Ow, crap. Y/N.” He takes your hand, and in spite of the absurdity of it all, in spite of the fact that part of the room is now fawning over you while the other part is either sleeping or on the floor, you feel tears pricking your eyes.

Really, you couldn’t think of a more perfect scene.

“Y/N,” he begins again–slowly, like his words need to be corralled, “I love you. So much. And I know I may sometimes be forgetful or foolish or careless–sometimes I might accidentally spray wine all over the kitchen or ruin a proposal because I gave Seokjin the wrong present by mistake–but I just…love you.” He blinks, thoughts drifting away from him as the soju continues to take its toll. “I’m sorry. I’m not sure what I’m saying is even making sense, but…I find I don’t mind having those moments as long as you’re there with me. I’m fine making a fool out of myself if it’ll make you smile or laugh so…” He hoists the ring up just a little higher, eyes hopeful. “Marry me?”

A leaping sensation takes off behind your ribs as you gasp, “Yes, Jungkook. Of course, yes.”

For someone who’s drunk, he surges back up with incredible speed to capture your mouth in a kiss, dragging your body to his and swaying you side-to-side.

“Congratulations, you two,” Yoongi says through the applause of your friends–even Seokjin managing to clap his hands like a seal from the floor. “Now can I please get some fucking sleep?”

a/n: please consider liking, reblogging, or commenting if you enjoyed :)

[jessikahathaway]

Lose Your Head - PJM (M)

Written for the BTS Fantasy and Fangs Halloween Collab for @sailoryooons

A/N: Hali!!! I hope you enjoy this fic! It has been my absolute pleasure to write it for you <3 Happy Haliween!!

The collage was made by yours truly.

Special thanks to my bestie Ryn @queenofthedamnit for betaing this fic for me so I could post in time!

Title: Lose Your Head

Pairing: Park Jimin x F!Reader

Summary: As a constable’s assistant you have several duties to him and the police force. Not only as his assistant, but as his dear friend. However, when an ominous summoning sends you and Jimin both to the town of Sleepy Hollow, you fear there might be more at play than either of you understand. And feelings that you’d hope to bury for life bubble to the surface...

Genre/AU: Movie!AU, Thriller, SleepyHollow!AU, Romance, Smut

Rating: 21+

Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Gender Inequality (Due to the time period), Mild Gore (descriptions of blood and decapitations), EDIT: Minor character deaths, Smut Warnings: Virgin!Reader, unprotected sex, creampie, oral sex (f!receiving), handjob (m!receiving), mild dirty talk.

Words: 19.4k

“Constable Park Jimin!” A page boy yelled from the street. Jimin turned his head from his work and watched as the boy came running in with a sheet of paper. “Sir! A telegram from Sergeant Kim Namjoon from New York City!”

Jimin walked over and smiled kindly at the boy. “Thank you Martin,” he handed a few coins over to him and patted his head.

“Martin!” Your voice called from the desk. “Come here,” you said. 

Jimin smiled and watched as Martin ran to your side. “Yes miss!”

You handed over a few pieces of bread that you’d made and a square of cheese as a treat. “These ones didn’t turn out as good as I was hoping, so you take them and share them with your friends, okay?” You said, waggling a finger in teasing jest. You both knew Martin wouldn’t dare take it all for himself. That’s what made him such a good leader of the small but mighty group of page boys for Buffalo and the surrounding areas. 

“Yes miss! Thank you miss,” he smiled, taking the bag and waving to you and Jimin from the door before taking off down the road to deliver his next message. 

“You spoil him,” Jimin murmured, coming up behind you. You jumped at his proximity for a moment but relaxed quickly. Jimin’s presence has always calmed you.

You two had been friends for years now. Ever since he brought you in off the streets in his youth, you’d been friends. 

Now, was friendship the only thing that had developed between the two of you in your almost twenty years together? No... Well, at least not for you. Jimin had grown to be so kind and handsome, if not a little mischievous and devilish all the same, making life incredibly joyous but difficult for you.You didn’t want to make things awkward, and your friendship was the most valuable thing you had. No monetary possession, or romantic affliction, would sway that for you. 

With a deep sigh you turned and Jimin was right behind you and his eyes widened at your quick movements. Your faces were close and you could feel the startled breath he let out fan across your face as he stepped back.

“He’s a good kid,” you said with a pointed look. 

Jimin smiled and nodded in his agreement. “I trust you,” he said, as he always did. Because you two trusted each other with everything. Jimin was a wealthy constable and came from a family of police officers and other military officials. However, he was an orphan, his father passing away shortly after his birth and his mother dying at the tender age of five. He’d been given his inheritance and a staff at his family’s home and the rest was history. The staff raised the young boy, seeing as how none of his other extended family wanted to take him in. 

So when on a walk in the winter of his tenth year in this world, he found you. Only a year or two younger than him, but orphaned as well-except there was no inheritance or family to save you. You’d been on the streets, and unfortunately, it looked like you might die there. 

You were sick and shivering outside the tailors shop Jimin frequented for his school uniforms. Jimin looked to his attendant and asked if they had enough tea to share with you. The attendant hadn’t wanted to take you along, but his young master was in charge and honestly, he couldn’t stand to walk past another sick child on the road. 

Over the years you’d asked Jimin what made him stop that day, what made him choose you. And his reply was always the same. “I didn’t know what I was doing, I just knew that I wanted to help you.”

You looked down and saw the telegram Martin had brought in. “What does it say?” you asked. 

Jimin smiled softly, “I don’t know, I haven't read it yet, nosy,” he teased. 

You pouted at his teasing and swatted away the hand that tried to pinch your puffy cheeks. “He said, Sergeant, what would a Sergeant be contacting you for all the way out here?”

It was at this time you saw Jimin’s face darken a bit. “I have a feeling they’re dealing with a similar issue we were a year ago, also, my coroner training can be rather useful in certain situations,” he stated. 

Your stomach dropped. A year ago, you were chasing a serial killer. You and Jimin both had to scour the morgues, the crime scenes themselves, anywhere and everywhere this person could’ve been. You’d been so worried because Jimin had started receiving threats. It seemed like you were working double time to stay ahead of the serial killer to prevent more murders, not only for the people but for Jimin as well. Although it would make sense. Jimin is an educated man and the chief of the local police force has deferred to Jimin’s expertise several times over. You shouldn’t be surprised that someone else is looking to speak with him as well, and you had your own skill set that would be useful in certain situations.

Jimin got out his letter opener and examined the telegram. You waited patiently, not, for him to fill you in. 

His features darkened even more as he set the telegram down for you to see as well. 

Dear Mr. Constable,

It has come to my attention that there has been a string of murders out in a small town in southern New York. It has baffled the local police enforcement as well as some of my best men. I believe you and your assistant will be better suited to help the people of Sleepy Hollow. Attached are train tickets to come to the city to get a full debriefing for you and your assistant both. 

Please don’t delay in this matter, as there is much more at work than I think anyone truly understands. 

Signed: Sgt. Kim Namjoon, NYPD.

“What do we do?” you asked, worry and unease filling your chest. 

“We're going to New York City,” Jimin said softly. “He wouldn’t issue a summons like this without being in desperate need. The NYPD already doesn’t like us, I’m sure he’s not exactly thrilled to be calling on us regardless. But if we can lend him our expertise then the very least we can do is go and hear him out.”

Your temper flared at the mention of their dislike towards Jimin and yourself. “Just because we caught their killer doesn’t give them the right to be rude or unkind to us,” you said. 

Jimin grabbed your wrist and pulled you in closely. “People don’t like to be made fools of either, Y/N, please try to behave yourself when we go? I don’t want them putting a mark on your back too,” he asked. 

You sighed deeply, knowing it wasn’t going to be good picking a fight with the NYPD, even if you thought that they were being far too negligent in their own investigations. Jimin was right when he said they wouldn’t call without being in need. You nodded, letting the anger dissolve at least for now. 

“Go pack your things sweets, I’ll shut down the shop,” he said with a squeeze to your hand, letting go and heading towards the front. Ah, that nickname. He’d started calling you sweets when you were little. Even as a young girl you’d loved sweets, candies and pastries. So the name had stuck. Even now it brought heat to your face as you walked up the steps to your living quarters and did as previously instructed. You and Jimin usually packed light for these things so you just went about your usual methods. 

When you were rummaging through Jimin’s drawers for some socks you noticed a letter from a family friend listing off potential wives. Your throat tightened. Jimin hadn’t mentioned his search for a wife starting, or one even being a thought in his mind. No doubt people were being nosy and talking about things they had no knowledge of-

“Y/N, what have I told you about snooping?” Jimin sighed, leaning against the wall of his room. Your back straightened comically and Jimin couldn’t help the laughter that peeled out of him. 

You had always been such a terrible snoop, Jimin thought it was more curiosity than anything dangerous. And oftentimes you stumbled upon things by happenstance. You turned with a guilty expression and handed the papers to Jimin. When his eyes found what you’d discovered his face hardened a bit. 

“People love sticking their noses in my business,” he said, voice tight. He looked at you then, placing his hand on your head. You stared into his eyes and there was something he wanted to say. You could tell, his eyes were screaming unspoken words to you-but there was a ring at the doorbell and you knew Jimin ordered a carriage for you both to head to the train station. The moment dissolved as he tossed the letter in the fireplace and you watched as he grabbed the rest of your luggage without a word and headed out the door. 

You bit your lip and sighed deeply. Lately, these moments with Jimin had been frequent. These-feelings... Your feelings for him. They were becoming harder and harder to control. Especially when... when other women got involved.

You knew Jimin was going to take a wife. You’ve known for years it wouldn’t be you. And yet? To be confronted with it so blatantly and for him to hide it? You and Jimin might have more secrets between you than you believed, and part of that hurt worse than the idea of another woman coming into the picture.

With quick steps you headed towards the door, grabbing your coat and hat. These thoughts would have to be put in the back of your mind right now. There was something going on and the NYPD was going to have to start explaining themselves.

With that you shut and locked the door, heading down the steps towards the carriage. Jimin was waiting for you patiently and took your coat and helped you into the buggy without a word, but his hand squeezed yours when he sat down. With a knock you were off, but Jimin kept his hand in yours for a while longer. You just let him hold your hand, because truthfully-you needed it too.

--

The next morning you rolled into New York City and as always, you are astounded by the immensity of the city. Buffalo is decently sized, but nothing on the level of the Big City itself. Jimin had gotten you and him to the NYPD building with minute difficulty, taking your arm in his as he escorted you and himself up the steps to the offices. 

The secretary there noticed Jimin’s presence immediately and called for Sergeant Namjoon. 

Jimin and you both stood in the waiting room patiently, when he appeared in the space before you.

Sergeant Namjoon has always been a formidable individual. His intensity and severe intellect had him in the higher rankings of the NYPD shortly after his transfer. He was nice enough, but wasted little words on niceties and flattery.

“Constable Park, and your assistant. Thank you for coming here on such short notice,” he said. “Please, my office is this way-I’ll brief you on the situation there.”

Just as you were about to follow Jimin and Sergeant Namjoon, the secretary stopped you. “Sorry miss, you’ll have to stay behind,” she said. “This is a conversation for the men I’m afraid.”

You were ready to argue when Jimin took your wrist. “She is my assistant, she aids me in my investigations-I would rather her come with me so I don’t have to explain everything a second time.”

You looked at the secretary with a smug gaze as she let you pass. Jimin poked your rib and made you wince. 

“Don’t look so satisfied you little sprite,” he said softly.

“Sorry,” you said, the tone of your voice revealing you were everything but apologetic. Jimin tried to bite back his smile but it was hard when you were such a shit sometimes. He loved your mischievousness almost as much as your tenderness. But unfortunately, now was not the time for your antics and he really had to focus on this summons for the both of you.

Namjoon led you into his office and shut the door, looking at you both with a deep expression that had you perplexed. What was weighing so heavily on his mind that he reached out to Jimin and you specifically? As far as your last investigation with the NYPD, ah... you thought they’d wanted you two out of their sights. 

This must be bad...

The Sergeant took a deep breath before leveling his gaze with Jimin then you. “I didn’t want to summon either of you-let me make that perfectly clear. But my superiors and I agreed that we don’t have the skill set to deal with what is happening in Sleepy Hollow.”

Jimin’s head tilted. “Sleepy Hollow?”

Namjoon nodded. “An isolated town towards Hollow’s Creek in the southern part of the state.”

Your face twisted in confusion. “How did the NYPD get involved in something that is happening way outside your area of operation?”

As much as Jimin wanted to correct your bluntness with the Sergeant of the NYPD, he couldn’t help his own curiosity. And Jimin wasn’t going to extend any extra courtesies, especially with Sergeant Namjoon.

Namjoon looked at you and sighed. “The police in the area requested more professional assistance. So I sent in a few men, and we have more questions than answers at this point.”

“What can I provide that the NYPD doesn’t have access to?” Jimin asked, raising a brow. “Forgive me for asking in such a blunt manner but I’m merely confused.”

You had a feeling you knew what this was about, Jimin no doubt did as well. But Jimin could be rather cruel at times-he wanted Namjoon to admit the weakness in his men and the NYPD. He’d been correct when he said people don’t like to be made fools of. 

Jimin is a prime example of his statement. 

He was used to being underestimated, he was used to his work being made into a mockery. But the frightening thing about Jimin was his patience. He could wait an infinite amount of time if it was something he really wanted.

Namjoon set his jaw and looked at Jimin with stormy eyes. “My men are baffled with what is happening at Sleepy Hollow. People are being hunted down and losing their heads. Quite literally.”

Your stomach turned at the sound of things. But you swallowed and continued to listen to the briefing. Jimin took notice of your upset but was quick to place his hand on your back to encourage you to sit down. The last time either of you had dealt with something on this scale it took a toll on you.

“Who are our suspects?” Jimin asked.

“We have none.”

Jimin’s brows raised. “No suspects? No one in the town has the prospects or motivations? What about alibis?”

Namjoon slammed his hands on his table, causing a few things to fall and you to jump at his outburst. Jimin, however, was unaffected. His eyes were set on the man in front of him. “I don’t know. We have no leads, no nothing other than a list of my men turning up dead or missing. Too many people have died and we have gotten nothing as a result. I need people of your... expertise.”

He meant the deck. 

Your deck.

It was known in a few places that you dabbled in the occult and macabre. Jimin didn’t like to mention it often because he felt it could discredit the genuine work you both do. But you and your tarot cards had been together since the streets, although you’d gotten a few new decks in your time with Jimin. You’d do readings, originally it started as a scam-trying to get money from people so you could eat but eventually, you learned the craft. You managed to look into the art of divination and had found your intuition and the work of the cards had yet to steer you wrong. 

When Jimin had discovered them, he was furious with you for working with the deck and the occult. But overtime, when Jimin saw your work with the cards prove its worth over and over again-he finally relented. He only asked that you not do any readings pertaining to him unless it had to do with a case. 

His past and his future weren’t for prying in. If you had any questions you could ask. This request was more than fair, so you abided by it. That didn’t mean you weren’t curious.

When you and Jimin had worked with the NYPD the last time, Namjoon had discovered your secret. Originally he wanted you and Jimin off the case, but thankfully your cards had led you and the NYPD right to the killer.

But they had made it fairly clear from then on they would want as little to do with you and Jimin as humanly possible. Whatever is happening at Sleepy Hollow, it was nothing good. 

“You made it fairly clear to us that we weren’t going to be aiding you in any investigations moving forward-” Jimin began when Namjoon cut him off. 

“Regular investigations. This-This case... She has insight into the occult that no one working for the police department does. I need you both on this case, I can’t lose anymore men blindly,” Namjoon stated. “Something evil is at work in Sleepy Hollow. Truly evil.”

Jimin’s face hardened. “Then we aren’t going, I’m not risking our lives for people that don’t appreciate what she and I can do together.”

You stood then, placing your hands on Jimin’s arm. “We should go.”

Both men looked at you in shock. “Y/N-”

“The people in Sleepy Hollow need help, and if what Sergeant Namjoon is saying is true then we need to get there sooner rather than later. The longer things like this are left unchecked the harder it is for them to return to normal.”

Jimin looked into your eyes and if you weren’t accustomed to his deep and searching gaze you would turn hot at the action. But you mirrored his expression. Eyes passionate and burning like they always were. You had a strong moral compass and Jimin knew you wanted to help these people if you could. 

You wanted to pay back what he’d done for you all those years ago. You want to help those who cannot help themselves and that is one of the several things Jimin admires about you. You easily could’ve lived your days out as his friend-he’d even planned on helping you get a husband at one point but you’d quickly told him you weren’t interested in marrying. 

“Who wants someone that can tell if our relationship is going to be happy or miserable? Someone who can ‘see the future’. Or who will know what our child is before the doctor? People don’t like the occult or those associated with it.”

Jimin remembers how sad he felt that day. How lonely your eyes looked. But you were stronger than anyone he’d ever met.

So when your passionate gaze pleaded with his now-he relented.

“Sergeant Namjoon, I would like a full debriefing file for me and Y/N. We will head to Sleepy Hollow by the week’s end?”

The Sergeant nodded. “Yes. I will have everything prepared and sent to your accommodations.”

“Very well then, come along sweets, you said you wanted to visit a bakery while we were here in the City,” Jimin said, wrapping your arm around his as he gave a polite, but stiff, nod to Namjoon before leading you out the door. 

“Yes! I want to try a New York cheesecake,” you said with joy, looking at Jimin with a smile.

One he tried to return. But it did not reach his eyes.

--

It was the night before you were to travel to Sleepy Hollow. The train left early in the morning, but you couldn’t help but want to meditate on your deck for a while before you departed. 

With the window open and the moonlight streaming into the room you sat on the floor with your deck sitting in your lap. You inhaled deeply and just let the energy and light of the moon fill you. Sitting in the still and darkness of night had always brought you a serenity you couldn’t quite understand to this day.

It just felt right to sit amongst the stars and feel the energy of the world and people around you working together. But then the energy shifted and you turned your head with a smile. “You know you can’t sneak around with me.”

“Doesn’t stop me from trying,” Jimin said with a smile, walking towards you. He handed you your dressing gown to cover your nightdress and you wrapped it around yourself. 

“What do you need?”

Jimin’s face faltered for a moment. “I can’t just come sit with you?”

You gave him a sympathetic look. “Not when you look like that, come sit and tell me what’s bothering you.”

Jimin moved with you to the bed and sat with you. You crossed your legs and set the deck back in its container until you packed them in the morning. Jimin’s eyes were locked on the cards and you raised a brow. 

Your friend sighed deeply and rested his head in your lap. You weren’t surprised by the action, Jimin was very physically affectionate, even if it could be frowned upon by others. You two were unmarried and merely friends. This level of intimacy between the two of you could be deemed inappropriate. But you and Jimin had never played by societal norms, why start now?

“I’m worried. Once we arrive the killer will very likely add us to their roster,” he said, head resting on your thigh. You ran your fingers through his hair and smiled. 

“Occupational hazard.”

He grabbed your hand and sat up quickly. You jolted at the sudden motion and Jimin’s face was very close to yours. “I can’t allow anything to happen to you.”

“What makes you think something is going to happen to us?” You asked, brushing some of his hair away from his face. Jimin put your hands together in your lap, looking at them with an unreadable expression. 

“The last time we used your cards in an investigation you almost died. They almost killed you.”

You were hoping he wouldn’t worry about that. But of course, Jimin has a tender heart and doesn’t want anything to happen to those he cares about. With a gentle squeeze to his hands you shook your head.

“I didn’t listen to the cards correctly, that’s my fault Jimin. It wasn’t intentional, accidents happen-”

“They can’t happen, Y/N, I don’t want you to use them unless specifically related to the case,” he said. 

You scoffed. “Jimin, honestly,” you took your hands away from his and you could tell he was upset. “What’s got you all worked up about the cards?”

“They’re dangerous-”

“Jimin, my cards are an extension of me,” you explained. “They are only dangerous if I am using them for improper means. Which I’m not. They are only as dangerous as I make them.”

“My words stand. I don’t want you using them unless they are being used for the case. That’s final.” He said firmly.

You gaped at him. “What the hell is the matter with you? Jimin, if I don’t use the cards then my readings could be less accurate. That’s more dangerous than me meditating with them.”

Jimin stood and walked to the door. “Those damn things have brought us nothing but trouble when you use them.”

The pain from his words ripped right through your chest. “We’ve caught killers because of that deck!”

“I’ve almost lost you because of that fucking deck!” He said, chest heaving. 

You two haven’t fought like this in years. Probably since the time Jimin found them in your room the very first time.

That’s when you finally saw it.

The fear in his eyes. The fear that was wrapping around him and surrounding his heart. He was hesitant to use the cards again after you led yourself right into a killer’s path. You’d just about been taken when Jimin and the NYPD showed up and stopped the killer in his tracks.

“Jimin...”

“I can’t lose you, Y/N, it would break me. I’d have nothing,” he said, holding your face. When he said things like this it made your heart ache. You wished he would say these things to you under different circumstances.

“You won’t lose me, Jimin. I promise. We’ll be careful. I’ll keep the cards discreet alright? We’ll pretend I don’t even have them, only you and I will know,” you said, holding his wrists. 

Jimin breathed in deeply. Resting his forehead on yours. Your heart stammered in your chest as he closed in and brought you in for a tight embrace. His one arm wrapped around your shoulders as the other pulled you in by your lower back, molding your fronts together. “Please... please be careful. This isn’t a normal case, the NYPD is even frightened of whatever we are about to embark on. I don’t know how dangerous this is. Everything in me is saying we shouldn’t tamper with this.” His words were muffled by your skin. 

His hot breath was trailing over your flesh and making your mind race. But you swallowed and answered as calmly as you could. 

“We will do this as we have done everything in our lives... together,” you promised, wrapping your arms around his neck and hugging him back. 

You two stayed like that for a while until you were too tired to remain awake any longer. Jimin departed with one final hug and went back to his room. 

After his warmth was gone the chill of the night settled in again. You found yourself wishing he’d stayed. Even as you fell asleep, you wished for his frame next to yours.

--

You stood at the ticket window with Jimin as he gathered your train passes. He tucked them in his pocket and gathered your things along with his on the cart. You headed towards the train with his arm in yours and when your luggage was taken by a member of the staff Jimin helped you up into the train.

Your cabin was private, your personal things being placed above you as the stewardess came around and asked if you’d like anything to eat or drink. 

The trip to Sleepy Hollow was a long one, making you wonder more and more why the NYPD even got involved. Normally they wouldn’t have the jurisdiction to work outside of the city let alone damn near out of the state. They claimed the townspeople asked for help, but what was so bad that they couldn’t just go to the nearest city’s police?

“Did you read the briefing packet?” Jimin asked, looking out the window.

You yawned and shook your head. “No, I was planning to read it on the way there.”

Jimin smiled then. “You were huh? You’ve always slept on trains, what made you think this was going to be different?” he nudged your foot with his. 

With a pout you pulled the paperwork out of your bag and started looking over it.

That’s when you saw it.

The photos.

The quality is never good but you clearly saw the bodies. They were grotesque and you felt your stomach turn at the sight but you knew you needed to see more if you were going to understand. 

Jimin was quiet, resting his eyes as you moved through the packet with curiosity. 

Five victims from the town thus far. All deaths have been ruled as decapitations. The heads have yet to be recovered.

Victim’s occupations and ages all vary.

23 - Butcher’s Son

61 - Town Treasurer

19 - Stable Hand

45 - Seamstress

33 - Town Crier

Along with six members of the New York Police Department - three of which have yet to be recovered at the time of this briefing.

All of this information was pertinent but somehow, it felt like there was something very big missing from all of it. 

“Jimin? Did you see any suspects? I know Namjoon mentioned they didn’t have anything solid, but I didn’t anticipate they had none whatsoever...”

A deep sigh came from your friend. “No, I didn’t. That’s one of the first things we need to assess when we arrive. Who are our possible suspects and how were they able to remain undetected for so long?”

You nodded. “Where are we staying?” you asked. 

“The local innkeep as said we are more than welcome to stay if we are helping them with the case. He’s got a room set up for us.” Jimin stated. 

“A room?” you raised a brow.

“The inn only has so many rooms Y/N, is sharing with me really so terrible?” he teased.

“I suppose not, we did it a lot when we were younger,” you smiled at the memories. 

Jimin chuckled. “Things were a lot simpler then huh?” He looked at you and you wished you could know what he was thinking at that moment. Jimin could be so expressive, but only when he wanted to be. In a flash he could hide his true emotions and thoughts behind a mask of ambiguity. Even being his friend as long as you had didn’t always help. 

“They were,” you said with a soft tone. 

The train whistle blew and you knew that you were coming up on your next stop. With a yawn you placed the packet down. If you agonized over it even more you weren’t going to have any breakthroughs. So you rested against the wall of the train and the seat, letting your head and neck grow heavy as sleep took you. 

--

You and Jimin got off the train in the nearest city and had to travel in a carriage the rest of the way. It was cramped, and your luggage hung precariously off the back of the warped wooden exterior but you kept your mouth shut.

The woods around the town made your skin prickle with nerves. Jimin seemed to sense your unease and placed his hand on your shoulder. “It’s alright, sweets...”

When you were younger you’d gotten lost in the woods. Jimin and you had been playing hide and seek in the woods near his family’s summer home. It was dark when Jimin and his nanny found you. Curled up in a tree trunk crying. Ever since then, the woods terrified you. You swallowed thickly and looked at Jimin with a weak smile. 

He brushed some of your hair away from your face and patted your cheek. “Steady, Y/N, we’re coming into town.”

You watched as you emerged from the woods into a small clearing. The town was surrounded by the woods and the houses all seemed old and decrepit. The people watched as the carriage approached. It pulled towards the stables and a group of people came around to greet you and Jimin both. 

The door opened and Jimin helped you out. 

“Welcome, Constable Park and your... wife?” A man with graying hair and soft blue eyes looked between you and Jimin.

Jimin shook his head. “No, this is Y/N, she is my assistant and helps me with my cases.”

A young woman towards the back of the group had immediately taken notice of Jimin and you fought the urge to hold him tighter. 

“Apologies, I am the mayor-Douglas Hart,” he introduced himself, shaking Jimin’s hand and giving yours a kind squeeze. “This is my daughter, Zalia Hart,” he said, bringing the young woman to the front.

She curtsied to Jimin and gave him a bright smile. “Hello Constable.”

You could see Jimin’s eyes examining her and you felt a lump form in your throat. 

“Zalia has been helping me during this entire process, since my late wife, her mother, passed away she’s been in my care, you see. I am eternally grateful for her help and she has agreed to cooperate fully with you and your investigation here,” the Mr. Hart explained. 

“I’m happy to help our people Papa, don’t worry,” she said, expression soft as she looked at her father.

Jimin nodded. “We are grateful to any and all help you can offer us. Our first priority is seeing all the evidence that has been collected and I want to see all of the bodies,” he stated. 

“Can we get settled first?” you asked, raising a brow at him. 

Jimin’s eyes locked on yours and he nodded. “Yes, let’s get our things inside and then we can start looking around a bit more.”

Mr. Hart and Zalia both nodded. “Please, get settled, Zalia will come and collect you a bit later,” the mayor said. 

You and Jimin headed towards the inn where the keeper gave you a polite nod. “Hello constable,” he greeted.

“How did you know I was the constable?” Jimin asked. 

“We don’t exactly get a lot of new faces around town. Well, except for recently. Unfortunate the thing that’s bringing people to our home is so horrific,” he said, face not matching his words. 

You took note of him immediately. 

“Well, let me introduce myself properly,” Jimin said. “I am Constable Park Jimin and this is my assistant Y/N,” he said. You gave the innkeep a smile, one he didn’t return. 

“A pleasure. I’m Jeremy Weaver, my wife is Adelaide Weaver, she’s out currently but if you need anything during your stay let her or myself know. Please, let me show you to your room,” he said, walking out from behind the counter to lead them up the steps. “Watch your feet, these steps are a little warped,” he stated.

You and Jimin climbed the steps and soon a few rooms came into view. There was another set of stairs that you assumed lead to the attic but when the innkeep started heading up them you tilted your head.

Jimin also paused at the change in direction and Jeremy took notice. “Our regular rooms are all filled up right now, but we have a bigger room in the attic that can house you both more... comfortably.”

He continued up the stairs and you and Jimin followed him. 

“I apologize for the confusion but there’s only one bed, we were under the impression your assistant was... well, we’ll get another set of linens up here and see if the old cot is still salvageable,” he stated. 

Jimin and you looked around. The room wasn’t massive, but it would be enough for you and him for the time being.

“Meals are served at eight, noon and five respectively. Your room and board has already been paid for so you are welcome to eat downstairs or you can take your meals up here. Just let Adelaide know. I’ll go down and start helping them get your luggage up here. If you need anything let me know,” he said, heading out of the room and. 

You sighed and set your bag on the bed and looked at Jimin. “He’s a little off, don’t you think?” you asked.

“I think we’ve been traveling for almost an entire day, and I am exhausted,” he said, sitting heavily on the bed and rubbing his face. You moved next to him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. Jimin has never traveled well, the whole experience has always been rather stressful for him.

“Do you want me to do the initial work?” you offered, squeezing his shoulder. 

“No, I’ll be fine, I'm just... Can we do a reading tonight? For the case?” Jimin asked. 

You raised a brow. His outburst about the cards last night made you hesitant to even mention a reading today. “What do you want the cards to reveal to you?” you asked instead, sitting down next to him.

“I want to narrow our field when it comes to our suspects. Could the cards bring it down to three?” He questioned.

“I don’t know if I have enough information on the town and the energy here yet... I could possibly get five. But three this soon isn’t likely,” you said. It was odd for him to request the cards so quickly. 

He nodded thoughtfully before standing up. A knock came to the door and Jeremy had returned with a stable hand as well as your luggage. Though there was no cot. 

“We weren’t able to find that old cot, we can put some blankets on the floor for someone,” he stated. 

Jimin sighed, his expression weary. “That’ll be fine, Mr. Weaver, my assistant and I will be departing for the time being,” he stated. “Come along, Y/N, we’ve got some preliminary investigating to do.”

You stood, heading to him as you both excused yourselves from Jeremy and the stable hand. The pair of you made it down the steps and out into the open air once more when Zalia’s kind face made an appearance. 

“Hello Constable! My father had me wait for you and your assistant to escort you both to the cemetery. We’ve already buried some of the deceased, but Mrs. Rellian and Gregor have yet to have their funerals. My father said you would want to see them,” she said. 

“Yes, thank you Miss Hart-”

“Zalia, please,” she said with a beautiful smile. 

Jimin usually didn’t get very personal during your cases. He never called people by their first names to avoid attachment-

“Zalia,” he corrected. “Please, lead the way.”

You wanted to hide the sour expression on your face, but Jimin quickly picked up on your lack of subtlety. “Y/N, what’s wrong?”

With a sniff you walked forwards. “Nothing, we’ve got work to do,” you said, hiking up your skirts a bit as you stalked after the radiant young woman. She’d done nothing wrong and yet you couldn’t help the fire that lit in your chest at the expression she wore. Eyes glimmering when she looked at Jimin. And he’d said her name. He never said anyone’s names! It was too personal!

With a deep sigh, Jimin followed after you. You were unpredictable sometimes. Jimin usually enjoyed your spontaneity, but right now it was irritating him more than anything. You were correct you both had work to do, but you never worked well if you were upset. It clouded your judgment. And Jimin didn’t have time for you to throw a fit when you’d only just arrived today.

He managed to match your pace as you followed after Zalia. 

“Y/N, are you really not going to tell me what’s wrong?” he asked, voice low.

You gave him a warning glance. “There’s nothing to discuss,” you urged. 

Jimin didn’t look convinced but you approached a small graveyard just inside the treeline. You reached back for Jimin unconsciously and he was there, even if you two would spat here and there-it didn’t matter. At the end of the day he had your back and you had his.

His hand squeezed yours and he led you towards the small hut just beside the graveyard they were no doubt using for a morgue and preparation area for the deceased. Zalia stood outside and Mr. Hart was waiting in the doorway speaking with someone who was still inside the hut.

Jimin sighed as he handed you a cloth to cover your nose and mouth with to ease the worst of the smell. Even from here the sweet and sour stench of death hung heavy in the air. As you approached a tall but skinny man stood just inside the hut with an apron and gloves on. 

“Constable, Miss Y/N,” Mr. Hart greeted. “This is Doctor Stewart, he’s been our town’s physician for years. He even delivered Zalia,” he said, eyes showing a tenderness towards the young woman who smiled at him.

She seemed chipper as ever. 

“Doctor,” Jimin greeted. “I have coroner's training, and my assistant has a keen eye for observation. Would you be able to show us these last two individuals that have yet to be buried? Zalia informed us there was a man and a woman.”

Doctor Stewart nodded. “Yes, Gregor and Lucinda. Gregor was our town crier and worked with the stable hands as well. Lucinda was a seamstress and sold her wares in markets in a few towns over... She’d just gotten back. Her daughter is devastated...”

“Lucinda was my late wife's friend...” Mr. Hart sighed deeply. “I hope they’re taking tea together somewhere better...” Zalia squeezed her father’s arm.

Jimin nodded his sympathies as he looked back at Doctor Stewart. “May we examine the bodies?”

Doctor Stewart looked at you briefly before nodding. “Of course, however I must warn you that the sight is hardly appropriate for a lady,” he warned. 

“I’m prepared to see whatever lies ahead, Doctor,” you said with an even tone. “I’ve experienced this before and I can assure you this won’t be my last.”

The doctor merely moved aside and let you and Jimin enter the small space. You were struck by the intensity of the smell first. It was horrific and even Jimin stiffened at the odor. But the worse fact was the sight of their bodies laying on the tables. He’d already done the work of covering them with sheets but there was a very clear issue.

Their heads were missing.

And not just from their bodies but from the scene entirely.

“Where are the heads?” Jimin asked and Doctor Stewart and Mr. Hart both got grim looks on their faces.

Mr. Hart spoke first. “We’ve yet to recover any of the heads that have been taken.”

“Taken?” You asked, turning to look at him with confusion on your features. 

“H-He takes them, when he kills them he takes the heads with him...”

Zalia’s quiet voice made your heart break. She was petrified of whatever she had running through her head. The vacant look in her eyes told you that much.

“Who?” Jimin asked.

“The horseman,” she whispered. “He takes the heads when he kills them and-!”

“Zalia, enough,” Mr. Hart said. “That is an old horror story told to scare kids-you are a young lady, this rambling about a horseman isn’t becoming.”

She quieted herself with a pout on her face, but you knew she believed it. She believed it was a horseman stealing these people’s heads. It was nothing but a nightmare told to frighten children but you couldn’t help but for the idea gave you pause. You’d seen things in this world you couldn’t quite explain. Just as you read cards that few understood. You wanted to speak to Zalia more about this horseman, even if it turned out to be nothing but a children’s horror story. 

“Doctor, can you reveal the bodies to us please?” Jimin asked. Doctor Stewart’s face turned into a grimace as he looked to Mr. Hart who was quick to wrap Zalia up in his arms before he did as instructed. 

You held your breath and the sheets were removed. Jimin squeezed your hand as you looked upon the deceased. “Oh God...”

Their heads were cut clean off. Bodies hardly touched other than the odd bruise and scratch. Doctor Stewart had already done their examinations and handed over the report to Jimin.

“They were healthy, Gregor had a slight cough but nothing that wasn’t manageable. Their deaths have been ruled as decapitations. My assistant, Yoongi, wrote up all of my notes and some of his own as well. He traveled to the city to work with Sergeant Namjoon with our case, but he should be back within the week.” 

Jimin nodded. You walked closer to the bodies and looked over them. You mapped their skin and noted any irregularities. Doctor Stewart seemed distressed at your lack of care being so near death, but you’d been around plenty in your lifetime. You doubt it would stop now. Jimin watched your figure walking around, he needed to be attuned to you at this moment. And he was making his own mental notes as well. No doubt to be discussed at a later time.

You went to adjust the arm when you felt a shock go through your entire frame. A dark forest surrounded in fog and mist befell your view. The sound of a horse stomping through the earthy soil... Towards you... A steed black as night with vibrant red eyes that seemed to glow in the evening air. 

It’s cold. The blade felt like ice as it ripped through-

“Y/N!” Jimin called frantically as he caught you before you hit the ground. He was stunned at the fact you’d collapsed. You’d never done that before during an investigation. Except when...

Jimin’s blood ran cold... You’d seen something again.

It was rare it happened but there were times that you’d see visions. You’d seen things about the cases. How people died. How they spent their last moments burned into your mind. 

“Y/N,” he breathed softly, brushing your hair away from your face as you lay limp in his arms.

“Here, a cool cloth for her,” the doctor offered. “On the back of her neck.”

Jimin placed it on your skin and massaged the muscles underneath gently. “Come on, Y/N,” he murmured, resting his head on yours. He hated waiting, he was worried and he needed you to open your eyes and look at him. His heart squeezed painfully, he hoped whatever you were seeing you wouldn’t be too frightened...

You started to rouse a few moments later. You could still feel the ice cold blade slicing through your flesh. Frantically you sat up, Jimin was quick to pull you back. “Easy, Y/N, rest a moment, deep breaths.”

Your heart was hammering against your ribs as you tried desperately to follow his instructions. Seeing what you did and reliving the last moments of these people’s lives was horrifying to say the least. With shaky hands you took the water from Doctor Stewart and sipped slowly. Jimin helped you up the rest of the way and led you outside so you could get some fresh air away from the bodies and death.

The sight from your vision was causing chills to run down your spine. Prickles of fear and anxiety rushed over your skin. You were far away from the small group of people as you sat down near the treeline.

“What happened, Y/N?” Jimin asked, standing beside you.

“They were being chased. Through the forest...” you began. “They were so frightened Jimin, and no one came for them.” The thought petrified you and brought slight tears to your eyes. He sighed heavily before he sat down next to you. His hand found yours and he gave you a gentle squeeze.

“Do you want to return home? Say the word and we can drop this case, Y/N... I don’t care about the NYPD-”

“No-No Jimin it isn’t that,” you said softly. “I don’t want to give up, we’ve only just arrived.”

“We need to be careful, Y/N, there’s a murderer loose in this village and we need to figure out who they are and bring them to justice before anything happens to more people,” he said.

“I’ll do the reading tonight,” you murmured. “We’ll need the information to go further, there’s not enough here to give us any definitives. The cards can guide us.”

Jimin nodded. “Of course, I’m with you...”

“And I’m with you.”

--

You were scrubbing yourself off in a bath. The warm water soothed the aches and stiffness from traveling all day. A knock came to the door. Mrs. Weaver came in with more hot water and you gave her an appreciative smile. 

“Y/N?” Jimin’s voice called from the other side of your bathing screen. 

“Yes Jimin, you can sit,” you said. Mrs. Weaver raised a brow at the two of you before heading out of the bathing room entirely, leaving you and Jimin alone.

“What’s wrong Jimin?” You asked, sitting back in the water.

“I read through some of Doctor Stewart’s assistant’s notes, Yoongi. He’s quite thorough, which is good for us. He noticed the pattern of the decapitations are either from the side or from the back, meaning your vision was correct. These people are running away from their attacker.”

You nodded. “It makes sense, I’d run if someone on a horse was chasing me as well... Did you get any more information on this horseman myth Zalia was speaking about?”

Jimin got quieter then. “I interviewed her personally,” he mentioned. “And the story is disturbing to say the least.”

Him interviewing the buxom young woman made your skin feel hot with jealousy... But you breathed in deeply and sank further into the warm water. “Tell me.”

“The headless horseman is a restless spirit. Whether he is an old soldier or mercenary not many know anymore. Zalia explained that the horseman is looking for his head. When he was buried, whoever did it-a witch in some tellings, his fellow soldiers in others, left him without his head-knowing he would rise again. And whomever has his head controls the spirit of the horseman. And she believes that is who the culprit of the murders are.”

“And what do you believe, Jimin?” You asked.

He was quiet for a bit. “I’m not sure Y/N, this entire case is a ball of different mysteries all wrapped up into one. I’m not sure who or what to believe.” 

“Trust me?” you breathed.

He was quick to respond this time. “With my life.”

“Hand me the robe over there?” You asked, standing up from the bath and wrapping yourself up in a towel. Jimin’s hand appeared from the other side of the screen, passing you your robe so you could get dressed. You took it and wrapped yourself up in the warm fabric. You walked out with wet hair and Jimin felt his breath catch in his throat. The robe was shorter, leaving your legs more exposed than usual.

Jimin knew you didn’t mind him seeing you like this, but usually he wasn’t so-affected. He’d been your friend for so many years and had noticed your beauty as you’d grown older but… but this was something else entirely.

You grabbed your nightgown and moved towards the changing area, but not before Jimin caught a glimpse of your thigh and swiftly turned his back to give you more privacy. What was the matter with him? You were his best friend, not someone to ogle when he was a little riled up... But he couldn’t help but think of your beauty. Not just your physical attractiveness, but your heart too...

“Jimin?” You asked, walking out in your nightgown and pulling your dressing gown back on. For now, these thoughts would be put to the back of his mind, there were far more important things he needed to focus on. The shapely state of your legs wasn’t one of them. Unfortunately.

“Come on, Y/N, we should probably head to bed,” he said, his voice calm and soothing to your ears. You nodded, following him out of the bathing room and up the steps. When you finally made it to the attic you found yourself more exhausted than you originally thought. Your head swam, eager for sleep. But you and Jimin both knew that you still had work to do.

When he shut the door to your room you both noticed that there was a thick assortment of blankets and pillows on the floor. No doubt Mrs. Weaver was up here to help with that. She was kind enough, if not a little quiet. 

You moved to your luggage and found your cards tucked away in the subtle compartment that you’d personally stitched into it. The box felt solid and comfortable in your hands. Opening it you pulled your deck out and moved towards the small table that sat right underneath the window next to the fireplace. Jimin moved to sit with you, collecting the notebook he wrote in during your readings. When you both were settled, you started shuffling.

“What would you like to ask first?”

Jimin thought for a moment. “What kind of evil are we dealing with?”

You shuffled the cards until you felt the need to stop. When you turned the card over your blood ran cold. 

“Upright Devil...” You murmured. 

Jimin stiffened in his seat and you looked at him with concerned features. But he wrote the card and its position down. “Usually your deck isn’t so literal.”

“Ask direct questions, get direct answers,” you warned.

“How soon before we discover the culprit behind these murders?”

You shuffled again, turning over the card and placing it on the table. “Upright Ace of Wands. Wands burn quickly-we will know the answer within days...”

“Are we in danger?” Jimin asked aloud. You shuffled the deck, laying down the next card.When you turned it over a frown curled across your features. The card was blank.

“This isn’t good... Someone is trying to tamper with my reading...” You murmured softly. You went to touch your deck when heat flared out from them. In shock you dropped them to the ground, watching as smoke and ash started curling up into the air from the deck. Your heart broke at the sight of your beloved cards burning... Instinctually you went to try and save them if you could. But, it was far too late. Whomever cursed your deck had succeeded. Your cards were gone.

Tears burned in your eyes. Jimin approached with shock written across his face. “W-What on Earth was that?” He asked.

“Someone knows Jimin. Someone knows exactly what I’m capable of, and I think that is the very person we came here to locate,” you murmured.

Jimin felt his throat tighten at the information. If someone knew that meant they were already ten steps ahead of you and Jimin both. You understood now why Namjoon had sent you and Jimin here. 

There truly was something supernatural going on, and you and Jimin very well might be the only people able to stop it.

--

The darkness of the night felt suffocating. Black surrounded the edges of your vision. The smell of sulfur and ash stung your nose as you tried not to choke on the rotten stench. A high pitched snort cut through the night and you turned to find him. Large frame, leather armor strapped down with a long burgundy cape billowing out behind him. No head sat atop his body... His horse stood tall, black as obsidian and lit by the piercing light of the moon peeking through the clouds. The horse pawed at the Earth, bright red eyes staring you down. The smell of the damp soil filled your nose and you realized you were alone... Jimin was nowhere to be seen. Your heart thudded in your chest as your palms started to sweat. The deep, ice cold fear trickled down your spine as you took notice of the large broadsword that was attached to the figure’s side. No doubt that weapon could cut your head off with ease, slicing through your neck like butter.

You couldn’t help your fight or flight-so you ran, taking off into the forest without ceremony. Your feet took off faster than your mind, but the horseman gave chase shortly thereafter. The steed carried his master quickly and effectively through the underbrush of the woods. You ducked and turned and jumped, trying desperately to get away from whomever this was. Whatever it was. Your lungs ached and the sound of the horse was only getting closer. Dread clung to your heart like a wet blanket.

You were going to die out here.

Young trees and pricking briars stung your flesh as you tried to move through the forest quickly and in a sporadic manner. If you could just get to the clearing for the village. Perhaps you could get to Jimin and-

Just as you managed to turn the corner, the horseman caught you by the scruff of your hair, yanking you back as you tumbled to the ground in a heap. The horseman hauled your head up, brandishing his blade and started bringing it down. With what you were certain to be your last breaths you screamed for the one person you could think of.

“JIMIN!”

Warm hands caressed your face. 

“Y/N! Hey, hey easy,” his sweet voice called.

Your eyes flew open, Jimin’s concerned face coming into your view. Tears welled up in your eyes, moving quickly you wrapped your arms around his neck. He brought you in close, rubbing your back as you trembled in his hold.

“Y/N… what happened?” Jimin asked-shocked by your outburst. He’d been sleeping by the fireplace before you started crying out in your slumber. “Sweets, deep breaths...” he cooed. Your body was shaking hard at the fear and how real that fucking nightmare felt. Were you reliving what happened to someone else? Or... Or were you fortelling something? Was that your future if you stayed on the current path you were on? 

“I’m scared,” you whispered. “It was so real, Minie,” you said, the simple childhood nickname you’d given him that only appeared when you wanted something or you were truly frightened. 

Jimin scooped you up and sat down with you curled up in his lap. He pet your hair and rested against you, letting your hand splay across his chest to feel the rhythmic beating of his heart. “I’m here, you’re safe with me, Y/N-I promise,” he said, voice that soothing vanilla timbre that had always been sweet and warm. 

When you finally could look him in the eyes he gave you a gentle smile. Wiping the tears from your eyes with his thumb.

Jimin was frightened for you, but panicking would only worsen this situation. When you could talk you would, and he’d help you like he always does. Something dark was here, and it was already showing him and you how powerful it was. Jimin could feel your hiccups and cries softening when you leaned back to look at him. 

Your eyes were bright with tears in the night, sparkling from the light of the stars and moon outside the window. You were so... beautiful.

Jimin hadn’t really noticed before. A sweet face with mischievous brows that would wrinkle when you were up to no good. Cheeks that he would pinch and poke when you were mad at him for whatever reason. A cute nose that would always run during the springtime. Lips that looked soft and begging for a kiss-

Jimin inhaled deeply, trying to control his thoughts. You were frightened and this was not the time to observe your beauty. “You’re alright, Y/N,” he said, bringing you back into his embrace. “Don’t be frightened...”

You wrapped around him again, arms winding across his neck and shoulders. Your head settled on his collarbone as you both watched the fire. It was small and would no doubt be out by morning, but just resting against his frame was calming your racing mind. All you could think about was him. His strong arms and lithe frame curling into you, his warm palms running over your back and hip as he held you close. 

He spoke his next words into your hair. “What happened sweets, what did you see?” he said, voice soft and breathy. Your grip on his shoulders tightened and he squeezed your hip. “I’m here, nothing will hurt you while I’m here so please Y/N,” he said. “Tell me what you saw?”

“The horseman,” you whimpered. “It chased me through the forest and when it caught me I...”

“Okay,” Jimin murmured when your voice turned teary once more. “No more, don’t think about it anymore tonight, just relax.”

You sniffled early into the morning, Jimin rocking back and forth slowly as the sun started to rise. Finally, as the fire turned to embers then to coals you fell asleep and Jimin didn’t have it in him to move. So he pulled you under the covers with him, letting you curl up against him as you shared your warmth. 

As he started to lull into slumber he swore he saw something move from underneath the door, as if... as if someone was watching the pair of you. Jimin couldn’t think much longer on it as sleep pulled him under into the black abyss of warmth.

--

The next four days passed rather uneventfully. No one had ever witnessed the horseman taking a life. So there were no witnesses to interview.

You and Jimin tried to gather as much information as you could. Speaking with the townspeople and trying to understand what had happened and why the village has been thrown into such dark times when the place seemed quite quiet and uneventful prior.

The only thing you and Jimin discovered was the death of the current Mayor’s wife had come as a shock to the small community, and Zalia had been grieving for months on end. She’d only just recently started coming outside and being herself once more.

However, the young woman had started giving you a headache. She had been following you and Jimin around like a little lovesick puppy and it was making you nauseous. You didn’t think she was a bad kid, but honestly? The whole doe eyed bit wasn’t exactly innocuous.

She’d been trying to get Jimin alone and you were rather powerless to stop her. Jimin hadn’t exactly stopped her, and he didn’t seem to find anything wrong with her following you both around for the time being.

If you didn’t know him any better you’d think he was starting to become smitten with the little minx. The rage that boiled in your belly festered over the few days, causing you to snap and be rude to Jimin at random points.

You didn’t like being mean to him, you didn’t like snapping. But the obliviousness of him and the forward attitude of the little sprite had you irritated and wanting nothing more than to scrub yourself clean. Especially after the long day you and Jimin had today. She’d watched him and you work your asses off and hadn’t offered her assistance once, just ogling Jimin while his muscles strained to finish the task.

At the end of the evening you’d gone to the bathing room. You and Jimin had exhumed the other bodies today with Doctor Stewart and Min Yoongi and it had been a shit load of digging and you just wanted to bathe.

Jimin had taken the brunt of your sour attitude today and he was exhausted. But he knew once you’d bathed you’d feel better. He sat outside the bathing room when Zalia approached, a sweet smile on her face. 

“Hello Constable!” she said, voice soft and pleasant.

“Hi Zalia,” he nodded. “How are you this evening? Did you get dinner from your father?”

Zalia’s face remained neutral as she placed her hands behind her back and leaned forward. “I’ve been looking for you...”

“Me?” Jimin asked.

She nodded, locks of chocolate brown hair falling in loose curls over her shoulders. “Yes, but Miss Y/N is always around so I can’t ever speak with you alone...”

“Well anything related to our case I have to share with Y/N anyways so-”

Zalia moved closer, her chest starting to level with Jimin’s face. “And if it doesn’t have to do with your case?”

Jimin coughed, turning his head uncomfortably. “Zalia, I’ve had a long day and I’d wish to simply bathe and go to sleep. What can I do for you?”

“Kiss me,” she whispered, leaning in to capture his lips. Jimin was so stunned he didn’t even move until the door opened and you stood there in your bathing robe. He pulled back quickly but the look on your face said it all. You’d seen. And you were furious.

“What the fuck...?” you breathed. 

Zalia got a faux look of innocence on her face. “Miss Y/N! I didn’t know you were in there.”

You scoffed aloud, disbelief and hurt crossing your features. You had no right to be hurt, because it had just been made painfully clear to you that you and Jimin will never be anything more than friends. Without a glance in his direction you shoved past Zalia and headed towards the steps with fury in your wake. 

Jimin sighed and went to follow you when Zalia grabbed his wrist. “Don’t, she’s so mean to you Constable. I’m kind and sweet and I’d make a great wife-”

“You are not kind,” he said, turning to look at her. “You are a spoiled and vindictive young child. I am not interested in taking a wife like that. Go to your father, we don’t require any more help from you.”

With that Jimin wrenched his wrist from her tight grip and headed up the steps after you. When Jimin finally made it to the top you had shut the door and locked it. He sighed heavily as he rested his head against the door. “Sweets... let me in please?” he asked, voice thick from running up the steps so fast. 

“Go away Jimin.”

“I can’t, you know I can’t until you tell me what’s wrong,” he said, sitting down and leaning against the door.

You sat on the other side of the door, big tears rolling down your cheeks as you tried not to cry like an adolescent. But you couldn’t help the well of emotions that opened up when you saw the man you’ve adored for almost twenty years at this point... kissing someone else. 

You know Jimin isn’t innocent in the way of women. He went to college and was away for some months and there was a difference when he came back. He was always your Jimin but, for a time it felt different. You assumed he’d had sex and kissed people. But you didn’t think about it often, it hurt too much. And now to have seen it? Right in front of you?

Your little heart shattered. 

“It’s nothing,” you said, sniffling and rubbing your eyes. 

“If you’re crying it’s not nothing,” he said through the door. “Let me in, Y/N...”

“No,” you said. “Go away, leave me alone.”

Jimin sighed through his nose and rubbed his temple. “Y/N, don’t act like a child, tell me now. What’s all this about?”

“You’re so stupid,” you said with an incredulous laugh. “No woman wants to see the man they love kissing someone else,” you said weakly. 

Jimin could hardly believe what you said. “Y/N... don’t play games with me.”

“I’m not,” you sniffled. “Why would I lie about it now? I thought I was fairly obvious this time.”

His brain could hardly fathom what he was hearing. You? Love him? It was no secret you adored Jimin but for it to be in this manner? His mind was reeling. He needed to see you. “Open the door,” he said firmly. 

“Just go away for the love of-”

“I love you too.”

You froze. Standing then to take hold of the handle to the door. You didn’t know if you could open it or not honestly. With the way your knees were trembling at his words you couldn’t be certain you wouldn’t fall. Call it melodramatic but to finally have the man you’ve loved for over a decade say he loves you.

With those thoughts in your head you whipped the door open to find a very stunned Jimin on the other side. “You better not be lying to me, Park Jimin.”

Jimin seemed almost insulted as you had been earlier. “I’m not lying-mm!”

You couldn’t wait any longer. You pulled him down by the collar of his shirt and brought your lips together. Jimin wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled you in closer. He melded his mouth to yours and walked you backwards into your room. He kicked the door shut with his foot and brought his hands to your face as he pulled away.

You tried to kiss him again but Jimin held you in place. “How long?”

Your brows furrowed as you looked at him. “What do you mean?”

“How long have you been in love with me?” he asked, brushing your hair back, lips heading for your neck.

“Since we were children,” you breathed, arms winding across his shoulders and upper back. 

Jimin placed gentle kisses along your neck and throat, hands wandering to your lower back. You mewled softly at his proximity and tenderness, but pulled back just a bit. 

“Tell me what happened with Zalia,” you said, pupils blown wide while you panted. 

“She said she was looking for me, I asked what I could do for her but then she kissed me and you opened the door. I swear that’s what happened, Y/N,” he said, eyes pleading.

You sighed and nodded, believing him. Zalia was a child, no doubt she was just trying to get to you by doing this. “I believe you.”

He smiled at you then, kissing you with a firmer pressure than last time. “Will you allow me some liberties tonight?”

You raised a brow at him. “Depends on what kind of liberties you’re asking for.”

Jimin rolled his eyes but you knew it was in jest. “Let me kiss you,” he said, nosing at your pulsepoint while his hands wandered a bit. “Tell me if you don’t like something?” he said, eyes now locked with yours. “You must tell me... I just want to please you.”

Your eyes widened at his blatant suggestion but you nodded anyway. “Yes, all of me is yours,” you said, turning to kiss him once more.

Jimin’s hands found your ass, squeezing it firmly, making you gasp at the rough handling. He took this opportunity to slip his tongue into your mouth deftly. His kiss was eager yet patient, cradling your head before he moved away for a brief moment. “I must wash myself... would you like to help me?” Jimin asked.

You could feel the heat in your face, desperate that Jimin wouldn’t mention your coy attitude. “Yes, I’ll help you.”

He smiled, leading you towards the vanity that the washing basin was set in. Jimin sat you down in the chair as he approached with purpose. His hands were on his waist coat quickly, undoing the fastenings as he removed his shirts. When his chest was bare you felt your heart start to race. He stood right in front of you, his sleek physique and lithe frame sending your mind into a tailspin.

Jimin took the cloth and water basin and used the cool water to start washing his chest. “Help me?” he asked, bringing your hand to the washcloth. You did as he asked, stunned at what was happening but too aroused to stop. He’d said he loved you. You believed him, because the look in his eyes as he stared at you now was so intense. He wasn’t hiding anything anymore. The care and love for you was prominent in his eyes and it made your heart squeeze as he moved closer to kiss you as you washed his chest with the cool water. Jimin moaned when you ran the chilled cloth over his nipple, the feeling going straight to his groin. 

“Jimin...” you breathed against his lips as he trailed your hand with his over his stomach and daring a swipe beneath the band of his trousers. You gasped when Jimin tossed the cloth away and brought you into his embrace once more. Your bare hand made contact with his chest and he shivered at the touch. His skin was warm and heated to the touch, and he smelled of cinnamon and vanilla. And something else that was just distinctly Jimin. “I thought you needed help bathing?”

His husky chuckled filled the room. “I’ll bathe later, right now I need to touch you... I need you to touch me... You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, capturing your earlobe in his lips as he gently wrapped around you in a way that was so familiar yet new. “Do you trust me?” he asked, looking into your eyes then. 

His were deep and dark and full of warmth and lust. You smiled at him and wrapped your arms around his neck. “Always,” you murmured as you brought your lips together again, winding your fingers into his long dark hair. He groaned when you tugged eagerly.

“Hold on to me,” he said. When you tightened your arms around his neck Jimin picked you up, his hands settling on your ass as you wrapped your legs around his waist. He laid you back on the bed, looking at you with all the stars in the night sky encased in his gaze.

“Touch me,” you whispered, reaching for him.

“You’re certain?” he said, voice soft and kind. 

“Yes, I’m positive. Please,” you said.

Jimin didn’t need any more encouragement. His hands slipped beneath your dressing gown to make contact with your bare legs. The feeling of your soft skin had Jimin swallowing thickly. To finally have you here, in bed with him and to want him there. His heart was hammering in his chest. He peeled the dressing gown open and was shocked to see your completely bare body beneath him. His eyes found yours quickly and you gave him a sheepish smile. 

“Fuck...” he groaned, leaning down to capture your lips in a brief kiss. He then moved to your jaw as he intertwined your fingers together. He sighed against your collarbone and brought one of his hands to your chest, palms warming your breasts as he trailed his lips further to join his hand.

“Minie...” you breathed softly. “Please, more...”

Your wish was his command, taking a nipple into his mouth and sucking on it gingerly. His hand massaged your other breast and you writhed beneath him with sweet whimpers falling from your puffy lips. Jimin smirked against your chest, if you were whining this much already he couldn’t wait to touch your sweet center.

It was overwhelming and passionate and everything you were hoping it was going to be. This moment with him made your heart race in your ribs as you felt his hands trailing lower. “Still okay?” Jimin asked, looking at you. 

“Yes, I’m okay-keep going,” you whispered. Jimin nodded, his hand finally making it’s way to your core while his mouth stayed on your chest for a while longer. His fingers gently cupped your sex and it sent shivers of bliss down your spine. 

“You’re so wet...” he murmured, blowing cool air on the heated skin of your breast. Jimin licked his lips before shuffling down the bed to get a better look at you. His mind was still reeling at the fact he had you like this. But the longer he looked the more shy you became, hands trying to cover yourself when he placed a tender kiss on your thigh. You squeaked in shock but otherwise watched with big eyes. He adjusted you so your knees hooked on either of his shoulders as he kneeled between your legs.

Your heart was in your throat. Was he really going to do this? Were you really going to do this? There was no doubt in your mind you wanted him, but there was also no return from this course. You knew you’d never get his lips out of your mind just from kissing. What would you do when you discovered how alluring his mouth can be?

“May I?” He asked, features pleading and earnest. “I want to please you...”

With a tentative nod you gave your consent. “Yes...”

Jimin wasted no more time, capturing your lower lips in a hot kiss. You choked out a moan, head falling back as piercing bliss flooded your veins. It was almost overwhelming to have such a sensation. The pleasure curling down your spine and pulsing through you with every rapid beat of your heart.

“A-Ahh~” You cried, voice whiny and soft as Jimin gave heady licks to your center as he gripped your thighs. Your fingers tangled in his hair as you tried to keep yourself from humping his face like a mad woman. But you’d never had pleasure such as this. Your own fingers and pillows had never been this sharp and precise with your arousal and Jimin was determined to make you cream his face. 

“Yes, fuck you taste so good,” he said, moving back for a moment to lick his lips and look into your eyes. Your vision was glassy, eyes lidded and chest heaving from pleasure. Jimin felt his arousal in his trousers, tight and uncomfortable as he tried to adjust himself. You watched with morbid curiosity as his cock inflated. 

You’d read dirty books before, listened in on other conversations from women your age about their husbands. But to experience it, to experience him was something else entirely. Jimin leaned back in for another lick to your center. The feeling was still as arousing as before, if not more so as he eagerly worked you up towards an orgasm.

“J-Jimin!” You whined, voice pitched as your center leaked more and more arousal because of him. Jimin licked it up, placing his puffy lips on your clit and sucking it into his sinful mouth as he introduced a finger into your core. You winced briefly as his fingers were bigger than yours but you quickly relaxed into the new sensation. 

“Yes sweets, that’s a good girl, cum for me,” he breathed. He gently curled his digit inside of you, touching a spot inside that had you writhing for more. His lips formed a soft smile as he pushed one more finger into your entrance. 

“Ah!” you cried, feeling the sensations tumble through you with no warning. You came harshly, Jimin’s sweet yet devilish mouth and tender touches had your body overwhelmed with pleasure. “J-Jimin...”

He licked his lips as he pulled back when your tummy twitched with sensitivity. His cock was throbbing in his pants but he wasn’t going to go any further without your permission. “I should stop... If I don’t stop I will take you before I even properly ask you to be mine...”

You looked at him with wide eyes as he caressed your face in his palm. His expression hadn’t changed. His lust was strong but the love and adoration he had for you was finally revealed and he wouldn’t hide it now. There was no point. He was wholly yours, and you were his. This is what you always knew to be true in your heart, but now? Now you were naked and in the warmth of your bed you found yourself melting against him.

“What about you?” you asked, looking down at his bulge and Jimin chuckled softly.

“I’m fine sweets, really-”

“Jimin,” you said softly, hand splaying across his chest as he looked into your eyes. “I want more of you. C-Can I have all of you?”

His face turned flushed, your bold statement disarming him for a moment. “Are you certain this is what you want? I don’t want to do something like this without you being sure-”

“Jimin,” you said again, hands cradling his face. “All of me belongs to you, my heart, my soul, every inch and every sour mood-it’s all yours, as long as you’re mine too.”

The heat in his belly was way too hot, burning him up from the inside out. Liquid fire coursed through his veins as he laid himself over you again, your naked frame curling around his partially clothed one.

Jimin couldn’t hold off, he kissed you with fervor, his lips and hands hardly able to stay in one spot of your body. “Fuck, I’m so hard baby,” he whispered hot against your skin. You wrapped your arms around his neck, kissing his jaw as you felt him running his thumb through your lower lips. 

“M-Minie,” you mewled, back arching as he dipped his thumb inside your still soaking wall. “F-Feels good, want you,” you begged. 

He smirked. “Yes baby, anything you want,” he said while thrusting his thick digit inside you a few times. You writhed underneath his ministrations, feeling the heat and dark pleasure swirling in your gut again. 

“More...” you said, reaching forward to grope his bulge gingerly.

Jimin rutted forwards a bit, licking his lips as he looked down at you. The passionate gaze in his eyes caused shocks of electricity to spark through you. He took your lips in another kiss as he dipped both of your hands beneath the band of his trousers. 

“Touch me here, gently like this,” he said, spitting in your palm before curling your fist in his palm around his cock. He moaned erotically as your skin touched his, pressure and warmth filling his stomach with butterflies. 

“Wow... you’re so hard,” you murmured, shocked by the new sensations of being with him. You’d never felt anything like this. His cock was thick and heavy in your palm, a subtle pulse going through your body as you watched Jimin’s face. His brows pinched like it hurt, but his mouth was hanging open slightly as you started to pump him. He shivered at the action, his hand doing less and less as you took over the action. 

Jimin tugged his pants down and off of his frame, only letting you relinquish him for a moment before his hand was guiding you by the wrist back to his aching dick. “M-More,” he moaned, mirroring your desperate pleas early. Unlike the demonic tease that was Park Jimin, you were merciful as you let your hand cover his length again. You brought your hand to the top of his length before swiping your thumb over his tip, making a sweet whine come from his throat. 

You smiled at him as he started thrusting into your fist, the momentum of his hips causing you to rock with the motion.

“Is it good, Minie?” you asked, biting your lip while giving him a nervous expression.

“Yes sweets,” he cooed, leaning down to kiss your cheek. “It’s very good, feels nice to have you touch me...”

“Jimin,” you said, looking into his eyes. “Will... will you put it in now?” you asked.

His eyes widened a touch before filling with lust. “Yes, spread your legs,” he said, moving back a touch. You felt the heat spreading through your cheeks as you did as instructed, spreading your legs to allow him between them. Jimin was patient, his hands rubbing along your legs as he held you by the back of your knees. His lips trailed along your shins, licking and sucking bites into your flesh as he made his way up your frame. The amount of preparation he was giving you made your mind reel. Every part of you would be kissed and mapped out by the end of this night if he kept it up.

Your heart was pounding in your chest as you waited. You didn’t know what to expect. You’d read dirty books before and had your fair share of heated nights in your bed alone but, to have someone else’s hands and lips on you... The sensations were ten fold now and you couldn’t help but tremble in anticipation.

You jumped when he rubbed his cock on your wet lower lips. “Easy, Y/N, deep breathe for me,” he said, spitting in his palm to rub on his length. You did as he said, gripping the sheets as you waited for him to finally be inside of you. 

Finally, finally he sunk in slowly. You whimpered at the foreign feeling, but Jimin leaned down to kiss you as he found your clit to ease any pain. You wrapped your arms around his shoulders as he pushed the rest inside of you.

“Jimin!” you cried, the stinging pain of his entry slowly dulling as time went on. A full feeling filling the base of your belly.

“Shhh baby, it’s okay,” he sang softly, kissing you again.

Your heart eased as the sensations became more and more familiar, the fullness turning from aching pain to an odd form of pleasure. 

It was nothing you’d ever felt before. “Okay,” you encouraged, hips wiggling in need. “It’s okay now,” you said, voice soft in the night.

Jimin nodded, giving a few tentative thrusts that took your breath away. “Fuck... so tight, so wet baby,” he breathed, his voice strained. 

“Oh... Jimin,” you said, head tilting back into the sheets as you began the sinful dance of lust and desire. 

Jimin’s hips moved fluidly against yours. Your fingers dug into his upper back, the pleasure wholly overwhelming but not in a bad way. You felt so hot, your skin was burning up as his hands caressed different parts of you. His hands on your ass as he pounded you harshly against the bed, your nails carving hot marks into his skin. But all he could do was smile as you cried out for him. 

“Yeah baby, take me,” he purred, voice sin itself in your ears, setting you aflame in the darkness of the night. His cock was relentless inside of you, hitting all the spots you didn’t know you were so desperate for him.

“P-Please, keep going,” you begged, voice pitched and breathy in his ear. Jimin felt his stomach clench in bliss at your fucked out tone. 

“Turn over,” he told you, pulling from your soaking pussy with a soft hiss.

You nodded eagerly, turning over as Jimin handed you a pillow to rest on. His hands smoothed over your ass before leading his weeping cock back to your center with ease. Once you were comfortable and his cock was nestled deep inside your sweet cunt he started his rhythm up again. 

“M-Minie!” You called, gripping the sheets between your fingers desperately as you tried to hold on to the last inch of your sanity. 

Jimin smirked at your pretty face shoved into the sheets as he pounded your eager core with his thick cock. “Feels good baby?” he asked, tone dark but sweet.

“Yes! Feels so good inside me,” you whined out. The bliss and desire swirled in your belly, an orgasm no doubt coming soon. 

“You’re getting tighter,” Jimin groaned. “Fuck, fuck are you gonna cum?” he huffed, looking down at you with a lust driven gaze. 

You nodded quickly, feeling the cord tightening within you.

“Then you better be a good girl and cum for me sweets,” Jimin purred, resting his chest on your back as he wrapped one arm around your lower stomach and brought his fingers to your aching clit.

You pushed your hips back against his and mewled loudly as Jimin felt your orgasm fall over you. Your body tensed and relaxed quickly, causing you to shudder in bliss as your cunt sucked him harder, then fluttered over his throbbing cock. 

“Give it to me baby, that’s a good girl sweets,” he cooed, kissing your jaw as he slowed his thrusts down to ease the sensitivity you’d feel in a moment. 

“M-Minie...” you hiccuped, eyes teary from the sensations.

Jimin smiled at your sweet face, kissing your head tenderly. “Too much? Need me to stop?” He asked, hips slowing to a stop.

“No-you too, want you to cum too,” you flushed, features bashful but still needy.

Jimin didn’t need more motivation, his hips picking back up into a slower but deeper rhythm, his cock brushed against that one spot. It had you seeing stars and your body jolted in slight sensitivity. But he didn’t stop, and you keened honeyed moans at him, your sweet sounds filling his ears and causing his cock to harden even further inside of you.

“Fuck you feel so good,” he growled out, resting his head in the crook of your neck. “I-I’m close, where do you want it?” he asked, breaths coming in pants as the pleasure swirled and filled his belly.

“Doesn’t matter Minie, I’m yours,” you cried, cunt clenching tight once more. 

“Yes baby, and I’m yours,” he moaned, biting down on your shoulder as he felt himself let go. You gasped at the feeling, not quite enough to bring you to the cusp again, but the whines and grunts from Jimin made you throb all the same.

Without a word Jimin pulled out to turn you over and brought his lips to your swollen and sensitive core once more. You squeaked out in shock but quickly found yourself melting against his soft and hot mouth. 

“Oh Jimin, please,” you moaned.

“One more baby, give me one more,” he said, introducing his fingers into your dripping center. His and your climaxes smeared against your thighs as they trembled from the overstimulation. 

“J-Jimin!” you cried, the pleasured cord snapping within you for the third and final time. Your heart was pounding in your ears as you tried to keep your breathing even. Jimin crawled over top of you, a smile on his glistening lips.

“You’re so beautiful Y/N,” he said, wiping his mouth before leaning down to kiss you. “Fuck I love you...”

“Jimin... I love you too,” you breathed against his lips. 

“Rest here sweets, I’ll get you something to clean up with,” he said, standing and heading towards the linen closet in the corner. You laid there and stared at the ceiling, mind racing with the night's events, your body still in the blissful afterglow of three orgasms with the man you love.

When he returned he did with a cool cloth and sweet lips laid across tender areas of skin. He insisted on cleaning you, chuckling with you as you snuggled under the sheets once you were both clean again.

Jimin wrapped you up in his arms and the warm blankets as you both stared at the night outside the window. You felt small and safe in his embrace, the night and his body coddling you as you started to lull into a slumber.

You both smiled as you fell asleep, hanging onto the other tightly-as neither of you could’ve anticipated what the morning would bring.

--

Jimin and you awoke to banging on the attic door.

“Constable! Miss Y/N! Wake up! Mayor Hart is here to speak with you both, Zalia’s gone missing,” Mrs. Weaver called through the wooden door. 

You and Jimin jolted awake as you both looked bashful at the other when you discovered your states of undress, and memories of the night before swirled in both of your heads. 

Jimin called out first. “Yes, Mrs. Weaver, Y/N and I will be down promptly.”

The pair of you got out of bed, but not before a sweet kiss from Jimin. “We will talk about us soon, yes?” he asked, holding your face in his palms. 

“Yes,” you said, accepting another kiss before getting out of bed and heading towards your changing screen. You noticed Jimin watching your frame walking away and you couldn’t help but feel the flutter in your chest.

You and Jimin dressed quickly, throwing your clothes on in record time, ensuring you both looked presentable before heading towards the steps.

When you got downstairs Mayor Hart stood there with a grim expression. “Constable, Miss Y/N,” he said. “Please help me, my Zalia has gone missing.”

You shared a worried glance with Jimin before looking at the distressed Mayor.

“Where was she last seen?” You asked.

“She ran off into the woods,” Mr. Weaver said. “Last night, she took off into the woods after speaking with the good constable here,” he said with a sneer.

Mayor Hart looked between the innkeeper and Jimin with confusion. “What do you mean? What happened? Why would she run off, Constable?”

“We had a disagreement,” you said. Mr. Weaver scoffed but you pressed on. “But I thought she would’ve gone home, not to the woods.”

“We need to find her,” Mr. Hart exclaimed. “With a mad killer on the loose anything could happen to her!”

“We’ll start a search party,” Jimin said. “Anyone able bodied will go,” he stated firmly.

“I’ll gather Yoongi and Dr. Stewart. Weaver we’ll need horses,” he added.

The innkeeper nodded, heading towards the stables without a word. Mr. Hart took off towards the doctor’s home, leaving you and Jimin alone once more.

A twisting sensation started in your stomach. Something was wrong. Very wrong…

You wrapped your hand around Jimin’s and squeezed, making him look at you with concern.

“What is it?” He asked, voice pitched with worry.

“Something is wrong, Jimin, I can feel it. Something is off,” you whispered, as if the ground beneath you could hear your troubled thoughts if you spoke them too loudly. Your heart was racing, palms turning sweaty at the fear coursing through you. Your eyes rapidly covered the village, and yet there was nothing out of place. 

But you could feel it. Almost as if it were a palpable object you could hold. The icy grip of fear coiled in your belly, causing you to grip Jimin’s hand tighter. 

“Sweets,” he said softly, turning so he was the only thing in your line of sight. “What’s going on? What’s wrong?” You were going to start panicking if you kept it up. Your breathing was accelerated like you’d been jogging, he was worried you’d work yourself into a panic attack if you kept going. 

“You can’t feel that?” you asked, dread thick and heavy like a wet blanket over your shoulders. 

“No baby, I don’t,” he said, sympathy crossing his features. 

“Here, a horse,” Mr. Weaver said, leading one steed over to you and Jimin, already saddled up and ready to go. “Shouldn’t be a problem for you to share, hm?” he asked, raising a brow. 

Jimin shifted in discomfort before taking the lead from the innkeep. With that he took the horse and helped you up before climbing up himself. You in front and him holding the reigns in the back. 

Once you and Jimin were settling on the horse you headed towards the edge of the forest where Mr. Hart and now Dr. Stewart plus Min Yoongi.

“Constable, Miss Y/N,” he greeted, raising a hand to you both. Jimin had taken a liking to Yoongi over the day spent exhuming the other victims.

Well, he had taken a liking to pestering him more accurately.

“Hello Yoongi,” Jimin said. “Are you joining the search party?”

He shook his head. “No, I have to do some more examinations for Doctor Stewart. But, if you’re still looking by the time I’m done I will join, Mr. Weaver said he had an extra horse or two.”

Jimin nodded. There were a few more of the local farmers and some villagers that had offered up their assistance. People were going to go in packs of two or three, some on foot others on their own horses. A few people even had dogs they were going to use to hopefully locate the young woman.

Mayor Hart made it to the front of the small crowd and spoke loudly. “We’ll start out by Hollow’s Creek and move our way back towards the village. She could be anywhere, and so could the killer that’s been terrorizing our home. Stick together, do not lose your partner! Make sure you’re back before sundown. Be safe everyone, thank you for helping me locate my daughter,” he said, the pain in his eyes real.

You and Jimin followed Mayor Hart first, heading in after him as the rest of the people knew the layout of the land a little better.

The further into the forest you got, the more and more uneasy you felt. There was something wrong about these woods, there was something wrong about the trees and how they shifted in the wind. You could tell when things were shifted out of balance, energies had a funny way of hiccuping in normal day to day life. How do you explain when you’re having an ‘off-day’, hm?

But here in this forest, the energy, the veil between life and death itself seemed... skewed. Things were running in the corner of your eyes, making you think you’d seen Zalia. After the third or fourth time, Jimin sighed and forced your horse to a stop.

“Y/N, do I need to take you back to the Inn?”

You shook your head. “No, I don’t want you out here alone,” you said, your hand gripping his. “Please...”

Jimin sighed, and nodded. “I’m sorry, it’s been a few hours and yet we have nothing to show for it.”

That’s when you noticed, Mayor Hart had gotten away from the two of you.

“Jimin... where...?” You asked, voice wavering with concern.

He shook his head, looking around in confusion. “But he was just... we... saw him,” he murmured.

“Constable! Miss Y/N! We need to go!”

You and Jimin both turned to see Doctor Stewart heading up towards you on his horse. He was panting and flushed, the horse clearly agitated.

“Doctor Stewart,” you breathed, relief filling you.

“Hurry before-gah!”

You both gasped in shock and fear as he fell from his horse, his head rolling off to the side. His horse bolted, taking off into the forest. However, behind Doctor Stewart’s body was the Horseman...

He was just as he appeared in your dream. His broadsword was large and glistening with fresh blood. It was dripping off the tempered steel in thick rivers of crimson, falling to the ground in heavy drops. The horse was large and dark, a sleek black coat covering it. Deep burgundy eyes gazed at you, as if they were looking directly into your soul. Even as tall as the Horseman and his steed were, you knew he should be taller still. But there was nothing above his shoulders. His neck was cauterized and dark, thick chunks of skin and muscles wrapped around to form the stump his head should sit atop of. And yet, there was nothing there. 

He moved forward, collecting Doctor Stewart’s head.

He takes the head as he searches for his...

“Jimin...” you breathed. “We have to go, we have to go right now, go!”

He didn’t wait any longer, snapping the reins and sending you and the horse hurtling forward through the forest.

You heard the Horseman’s steed paw at the ground a few times before the galloping began. You and Jimin had a head start, but the long strides of the other horse would catch you quickly. There was nothing you could do, and if that damned thing caught up to you it would kill you and Jimin just as quickly as it had Doctor Stewart.

Your horse bolted through the forest, seemingly to know the way back home. However, you were quickly overtaken. Your horse fell after a shot from the Horseman took out one of its legs. You and Jimin fell off the buckling horse, rolling into the dirt and leaves of the damp forest floor. 

The wind was knocked out of you as you fell hard on your side, Jimin was pitched to the opposite side of you, his hand on his head that was now bleeding. 

The Horseman was circling the two of you. You crawled towards him, reaching him to check his head. “Minie,” you whispered, holding his head as his eyes seemed to go in and out of focus. “Look at me, hey,” you said, voice weak and frightened.

“Run baby,” he begged, you could tell he was working on not passing out. “He’ll take me first, run.”

“I’m not leaving you, ever,” you said. “If he takes you then he’ll take me too.”

“No...”

The sound of the steed got closer. You wrapped your arms around him and waited, ready to feel the ice of the steel cut your flesh all over again when-

“Halt.”

The Horseman stopped. The steed was steady, if not disgruntled that the hunt had been, apparently, called off. You and Jimin looked at each other before looking towards the voice.

There stood Mr. Weaver, on a horse with a cloaked figure behind him. “The mistress doesn’t want to lose the Constable,” he said with a firm tone.

You and Jimin both shared worried glances before Mr. Weaver and the cloaked figure got down from the horse. 

Zalia’s head of curly brunette hair cascaded down her shoulders as the emerald green cloak fell around her body. You were stunned. 

“You...”

Zalia smirked softly. “Didn’t think I was capable of it huh? Well, I showed you,” she said with a little proud lift of her head. “This is what real magic is, nothing like those foolish cards you were tampering with.”

Your heart ached at the mention of your cards.

“So you’re the one who destroyed them...”

“Well I couldn’t have you reveal me too soon now could I? My fun was merely just beginning. But now that I’ve got your full attention,” Zalia said with a swing in her hips as she approached. “I’m going to have fun ripping you apart.”

“Your father is-”

SMACK.

Your head was turned fully to the side as Zalia’s strike stung across your cheek. “Don’t mention that fucking worthless man. He’s hardly a father to me. He merely married my mother, and then forced me to watch her die when I had the power to bring her back... I still do.”

Jimin watched in horror as the Horseman stood idly by, as if awaiting his next orders.

“You summoned this?” he asked, looking at her for confirmation.

“You’d be surprised what women can do constable, even with just a little magic,” she said, snapping her fingers and Mr. Weaver’s eyes glimmered green. 

“He’s... What?” Jimin asked. 

“And you too,” she murmured, snapping her fingers again and suddenly-Jimin was moving to stand. 

“Jimin-what are you-ack!” Jimin had stood up, hauling you to your feet as well, but instead of holding you close, his arms locked around your neck. 

“Keep her there constable, I’m going to have some fun,” she sneered. 

You tried to wiggle out of Jimin’s hold but it was no use. He was solid against you, and you had a feeling whatever Zalia did to him, it wasn’t something to be so easily broken.

“Now, Miss Y/N,” she said, stalking back towards Mr. Weaver. “I’m going to take the man you love and make him mine. I’m going to have him wring your pretty little neck and then when he realizes what he’s done, I’ll have the horseman chase him through the forest. Then his lovely head will become the final piece of my puzzle.”

You swallowed the bile that threatened to rise in your throat. “Why Zalia, for what reason are you doing this?”

“Because I can,” she whispered spitefully. “You must know it too, Miss Y/N. The looks men give us. They think we’re so fragile and pitiful. They think we must be protected, that we have no power. That useless Mayor let my mother die. But I’m going to set it right, with enough head’s the Horseman will grant me power unlike anything I’ve ever known before,” she chuckled. “And when that happens I will bring my mother back.”

“What are you talking about, what is the Horseman going to do? He’s a servant to you isn’t he?”

Zalia merely laughed. “You think that’s all he is? He is a powerful being beyond your comprehension. He has magic of his own, and once that is unleashed, we will be unstoppable.”

You couldn’t fathom how far this young woman had fallen. She was deranged. So upset and hurt over the loss of her mother she’d gone on a killing spree, summoning a demonic creature of the night to do her bidding. You did feel for her, losing a parent isn’t easy, but to turn to this?

“How did you even do this?” You found yourself asking.

“I found his head,” she said with a smirk. “Finders keepers as the saying goes.”

“You truly think there won’t be any repercussions for this?”

Zalia shook her head as she giggled. “There hasn’t been any yet.”

“Perhaps not,” you sighed. “I’m sorry baby,” you whispered, jamming your elbow into Jimin’s lower stomach quickly. He coughed in surprise and immediately let go to hold himself as he doubled over. 

Mr. Weaver was moving towards you quickly but you managed to dodge his fumbling attacks. You were gunning for Zalia when a sharp pain spread across your scalp. Someone grabbed your hair. You turned your gaze and saw the Horseman’s hand stretched out and grasping onto your head. 

Zalia laughed harder. “You’re such a pathetic whelp, thinking that old trick would be enough to fool me.”

With a firm tug the Horseman had you on your knees. You looked at Jimin who was recovering from your blow, his eyes were still that sickly color of green. If only you could get to him somehow. Snap him out of this stupor. 

“However, Miss Y/N, I find you’re more trouble than you’re worth. This has all gotten rather boring for me. I still have a mayor to find and kill... Horseman,” she said. The grip on your scalp tightened. “Her head is yours.”

You desperately tried to get away, but it was no use. The hold on you was much tighter than Jimin’s and as you looked to the side you saw him standing there, expression blank. 

“I love you,” you breathed. “I’ve always loved you and I always will.”

You couldn’t help the tears now. 

At least you’d gotten to show him how much you truly love him. Last night seemed like such a distant memory now but as you stared into his eyes you thought for a moment the green flickered. 

“Touching,” Zalia said with a monotone voice. “Horseman, hurry up.”

“Please don’t look, I don’t want you to see this,” you begged.

You saw a tear rolling down Jimin’s face as he seemed to try desperately to move. To get to you, but his body was frozen in its spot as he was forced to watch the woman he loved be beheaded. The green flickered again.

The sword was high in the air, it was about to come down and slice through your neck. You kept your eyes open, trained on Jimin until the last second when you heard the steel weapon whistling through the air. But before you could feel the sharp blade of death, you were tackled out of the way.

Mayor Hart was panting heavily on top of you. Everything seemed to move in slow motion. He stood quickly, helping you to your feet when he bellowed loudly. “Zalia Marie Hart what in God’s name have you done?!”

The shock of the moment knocked her concentration, freeing Jimin from her grasp, but not Mr. Weaver. Jimin’s eyes cleared and the tears appeared when he saw you standing there. He jogged over to you and quickly wrapped you up in his arms. 

“Fuck... Fuck Y/N,” he said, pulling you in and cradling your head.

“I’ve only shown you a fraction of what I can do, and when I bring my mother back-”

“Zalia please,” Mr. Hart begged, voice strained with anguish. “Enough of this, come home darling... I miss your mother with every breath, I don’t want to lose you too.”

The young woman scoffed. “I’m not your daughter,” she growled, face growing more and more twisted and angry.

The older man looked like he’d been stabbed. The pain was evident on his face. “I may not be your birth father, but I raised you! I took care of you, I-I treated you as my own.”

“And I hate you for it,” she sneered.

Mr. Hart was gutted. “I stand by what I did, your mother would’ve never wanted you to turn into this.”

Zalia’s face turned dark, fury and spite filled her gaze. “You will pay for what you’ve done to me and my mother.”

“I cared for you! Both of you!”

“You let her die! I could’ve saved her, I still can... Once he has enough heads, he’ll give me some of his power. I will be unstoppable, I could bring back my mother. Your wife!”

Mayor Hart shook his head. “No sweet girl, no one should come back from the dead like that. Imagine what she would say, how many have you ordered to be killed?”

“I’m adding you to the tally, Horseman,” Zalia said. “Kill Douglas Hart.”

The Horseman locked onto her father. The horse pawed at the ground. Mayor Hart jumped onto his horse and took off through the forest at breakneck speed. The Horseman gave chase shortly after.

Jimin saw his opportunity.

With the Horseman distracted, he could move. With a frightening amount of strength, Jimin tackled Mr. Weaver. He wrestled him to the ground and started swinging. If he could get him subdued to a point where he wasn’t an issue, then taking down Zalia wouldn’t be as difficult.

You weren’t one to sit idly by either, so when you saw Jimin haul the older man to the ground you decided to take a similar course of action with the bitch herself. 

“Zalia,” you growled. Her eyes widened in shock at her own shortcoming. With the speed of a viper you took her down. You had her pinned to the ground shortly after, but she wasn’t giving up without a fight. She grabbed your hair and pulled, causing you to yelp in pain but you slapped her across the face to get her to let go. You currently had the upper hand, sitting on her waist as you pummeled her. 

After a few moments of fighting you heard the Horseman’s steed come to a halt. 

Mayor Hart was dead.

You had to figure out how to get the damned thing to stop. 

His head.

She said she had his head. Did she have it on her? Or was it hidden somewhere that you’d have to find-

In the burrows of her cloak you found it, attached to a chain was a small-shrunken head. You wanted to gag at the sight of it, but you grabbed it from the chain. Zalia was livid, thrashing around like a child so much that she flung you from her body, sending the head flying through the air.

“Weaver! The head!” Zalia cried. 

Mr. Weaver struggled against Jimin for a moment longer, before finally breaking free. Jimin scrambled after him, grabbing his ankle and slowing him down for a moment. But he was crafty, kicking him in the shoulder he’d fallen on. Jimin cried out, his shoulder no doubt on fire as the man tried to kick his way free.

You stood up and tried to run for it when the sound of hooves stopped you in your tracks.

You saw the Horseman, barreling towards you with a speed you hadn’t anticipated. Jimin yelled for you to move, Zalia was scrambling to find the head when everything stopped.

With a shaky hand you held out the head to the Horseman.

He was very still, the horse hardly making any movements. 

You were panting hard, nose bleeding as you tried to stay on your feet. You wanted to go home, you missed Martin and the page boys, you missed the bakery sweets down the road from your house and most of all? You missed the quiet mornings with Jimin as you both sipped on your coffees.

You wanted more mornings like that. 

The creature reached forward, taking the head from you in its grasp. 

“What have you done!” Zalia screamed. “My mother! You bitch I’ll kill you!”

Just as you were about to ready yourself to fight again the Horseman’s steed whinnied and stood on its hind legs. Jimin grabbed your arm and tugged you close to him once more as Mr. Weaver fell to the ground in a heap. The Horseman moved quickly, collecting Mr. Weaver and throwing him on the back of the horse. 

Zalia started to run, racing through the woods as fast as her feet could carry her. But unfortunately, there was nothing that could be done now. The Horseman gained on her quickly, grabbing her by the scruff of her hair. As she started to scream, the Horseman grabbed her and put her on the front of the horse. You were worried he’d turn back around, come for you and Jimin next but it never happened. 

The Horseman took off into the woods.

And that was the last you ever saw of him or Zalia and Mr. Weaver.

You turned to Jimin, who looked a little worse for wear, but he smiled at you all the same as he brought you in for a tight hug. “Fuck... I thought we were done for, but of course you came through. You always do...”

“I couldn’t have done it without you, Jimin,” you said, eyes sparkling as the sun started to fade in the sky. He caressed your cheek and placed a sweet kiss on your head.

“Come on, if we hurry we can find that horse and head back to town before it gets too dark.”

Jimin held out his hand and you took it, intertwining your fingers as you walked into the twilight, hopeful of what the morning would bring.

--

You sipped your coffee at the dining room table with your cards laid out in front of you. When you’d returned home from Sleepy Hollow one of the first things Jimin gifted you was a new set of tarot cards. You smiled as the Empress showed herself to you as well as the High Priestess. Both significators for you, life was good.

“My love!” Jimin called from downstairs, heading towards the steps and taking them two at a time.

“Yes Minie? What is it?” You asked, heading towards the door. 

“Look at today’s headline,” he huffed, walking through the door with a paper in hand. 

“Did you give Martin the-”

“Yes darling, but look!” 

You smiled softly before doing as he asked and looking at the paper. 

Sergeant Kim Namjoon Promoted to Captain after Sleepy Hollow Debacle.

Your lips pursed at the mention of the Sergeant now turned Captain. “Why do I care if he’s promoted or not? He didn’t even thank us! We almost lost our lives and-”

“Look closer baby,” Jimin said. 

You did look closer and you couldn’t help the bubble of laughter that peeled from you at the sight. There in the font was a quote.

Without the help of Constable Park Jimin and his incredible assistant Miss Y/N, the NYPD would’ve been helpless in this case. My thanks go to them for their tireless efforts to help the people of Sleepy Hollow when the NYPD could not.

“How on Earth did you get him to say that!?” You cried, laughter and joy pouring from you.

“I wasn’t particularly happy that he sent us there either my darling, and I have a few connections to the newspapers. Jungkook owed me a favor, and got a small edit to the quote added in.”

You snorted and rolled your eyes, but smiled all the same. Jimin was just as petty as you, if not more so. “Well that certainly made my morning,” you said.

“I had a feeling it would make you laugh,” Jimin said, coming closer to place a small kiss on your lips. He noticed your cards on the table and looked back at you. “Anything good happening here?”

“Always,” you said, pulling back in for another kiss. Jimin brought you into his embrace and started walking you back towards your room. You squeaked in surprise but let him lead you regardless. “What about breakfast?”

“It can wait, I cannot,” he said with another deep kiss.

He had a small box in his pocket and a very important question he wanted to ask you more than he wanted breakfast anyways.

[lilallama]

Cc reaction to a "hoey" y/n

Only if you're comfy ofc 🥰🥰

I finally after months have another short reaction of the cc for you guys. I'm very sorry that it's so short and also that I'm not really posting currently. Still I hope this is alright. ❤❤❤

This is a collage au, since they're usually in highschool. I might add on to this but this later.

Also, don't let anyone tell you how to live your life. None of the cc members like that Y/n is sleeping with other people, but that doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Be safe ❤!

Seokjin

Seokjin can't deny, it bothers him that his Prince/Princess flirts with every commoner despite how filthy they are. They deserve better than the loveless flings they end up having. So what if Y/n's not looking for a relationship? They just haven't given him a chance yet. He'd hardly be willing to waste his time disposing of them himself. That's for the hired hitman to do, his time is much better spend with Y/n.

Yoongi

Yoongi admires their confidence. That doesn't mean he finds it pleasant that his love- no, Y/n is sleeping and flirting with everyone. It breaks his heart. He wishes they'd notice him enough to even just smile at him when they run into each other. Never would he dare kill all the people who Y/n has been intimate with, that'd be way too many people for him to get away with. I guess Yoongi will just have to continue pining in silence.

Hoseok

You think Hoseok let's anyone close enough to Y/n to even touch them? How cute. The sunshine has a way of swaying others opinions. Everyone loves him, spreading a nasty rumour about them is laughably easy. But of course, they'll never know and he will step in as the amazing friend to comfort them. Maybe help them out himself. Of course, if they don't already have a friends with benefits relationship. Hoseok would never criticise them to their face, he must remain the perfect supportive friend, but he's looking forward to when he can finally show off his Y/n.

Namjoon

As someone who was raised by a strict father with conservative ideals, Namjoon finds their behaviour... distasteful, to say the least. Of course, that's not their fault! Y/n is perfect, they're the only thing giving him a reason to live for. Yet to see them fall victim to these cheap people truly hurts his soul. No questions asked, they've got to go. Namjoon can't let his darling waste their time with flings when they could start a loving relationship with him. He'll gladly buy them clothes that are, in his words "refined, not gaudy".

Jimin

Jimin adores how similar to him Y/n is. They're both hot, fun and open minded people! They're perfect for each other. Though, he'd appreciate if they'd also stop hooking up with people like he did now that they've both found their soulmate. But he understands, old habits can be difficult to overcome. He'll help them! He will just kill their future dates before they can get to them. That way he's helping them get rid of this habbit. You can thank him with a kiss, Y/n <3.

Taehyung

Worst case scenario for Taehyung. His dearest Y/n is supposed to be a pure angel, they'd never willingly sin! I'd be surprised if Y/n could stand being around him since he basically goes all preacher around them. Constant lectures and bible quotes. Don't worry though, Y/n, he knows it's not your fault. Those demons surrounding you are the ones to blame. And he will make sure they will pay for every sinful act they've made Y/n commit.

Jungkook

Oh no! No no no no no no no! If you think that Jeon Jeongguk, Y/n's best friend since they were two, would let anyone even look at them long enough to even make eye contact, then you're sorely mistaken. He'll kick everyone to the ground the moment they get any ideas. And then he'll proceed to cry if Y/n gets mad at him for it. He's just trying to protect you, Y/n! But really, Y/n can dress how they want but as soon as they entertain the idea of having a full conversation with anyone but Jeongguk he's never leaving their side again. Good luck, Y/n.

[shyflowerbomb]

BTS DAD! Photo Collage board

Dad Namjoon! (Dad to a little girl and little boy)

“If I could give you one thing in life, it’ll be the ability to see yourself through my eyes. Only then you’ll see you’re the only star’s in daddies eyes.”

[Jungkook]

[Taehyung]

[Jimin]

[Hoseok]

[Yoongi]

[Seokjin]

[helenazbmrskai]

Y/N & Yoongi - sketch version

"Glad we met Yoongi" He smirks pulling my hand to hide it into his jacket's pocket warming up my cold fingers with his own warm ones.

Jimin & Jungkook - sketch version

"That was just unnecessary if you ask me." They look at each other while Jimin's lips stretch into a big smile.

"If you want a girl just get one. There is plenty."

Taehyung & Hoseok - sketch version

"We have pretty damn good teamwork." Hoseok strives for a high five but drops his smile as soon as he sees Tae's unamused face.

"What? You are not the only one who cheats in games."

Namjoon & Jin - sketch version

"If you break one more 1 million dollar vase again at this party Joon."

Not even bothering to continue his statement Jin drinks his entire champagne and moves to drink Namjoon's too.

[jjk-pjm-kth]

— BTS × JUNGKOOK

🥞🐇

[mokarchik]

♪Cinnamon in my teeth♪

[njn-ksj-myg-jhk]

— BTS × JIMIN cr.: @jjk-pjm-kth (it's my second blog)

[missbangtae]

𝑀𝓎 𝒟𝒶𝓇𝓀𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈

⤑ Paring: Jungkook x reader (with a little bit Namjoon x reader and Taehyung x reader)

⤑ Genre: wolf!au, soulmate!au, collage!au

⤑ Summary: y/n has been feeling a certain darkness ever since she got her period. Something was calling her and one day that ‘light’ came into vision. You’d never thought however, that it would be a werewolf.

⤑ Rating: 18+

⤑ Warnings: mentions of rape, depression, smut, oral sex, window-sex, shower-sex, knotting, marking and animalistic behaviour.

⤑ Wordcount: 9.5k

⤑ A/n: hey!! This will be my first story on this account. I used to run another tumblr account, but I felt like I needed a new start hehe. Hope you enjoyed this one!

‘why is it so dark?’, you ask yourself as you try to see, but nonetheless fail to do so. It’s too dark. You can’t understand what you feel, but it has been the darkest feeling you have had in your whole life, though you might not yet be that old. It is creeping up on you, like a tiger or some other creature. It might’ve always been there, but never this strong. Never since this very moment. A white ray stands tall in front of you, all too sudden but not unwelcome. You feel like you need to be there, like this might be the place that brings you the peace you have been seeking. You know the feeling, the dark feeling, ends with this light. It all fits too well…

You take a step forward, but when you look down to see where you are walking on, you don’t see your feet. It’s only you, like a floating conscious. Even though it got you distracted for the smallest second, you knew this wasn’t important enough. The only thing worth doing right now is taking another step towards this warm and sunny light. Another step was taken and you feel your body heating up. Even though the light is your answer, you are still reacting to it in all the negative ways. ‘Is this what I need? It’s probably better than that horrifying darkness around us. Around me and this light’.

So without another thought, you take three more steps. There it is, right in front of you. You can feel your whole body reacting in heath, but you still feel save somehow. It’s resisting and it feels unnatural, but you haven’t felt as connected in so long with such a simple thing. You want it. No, you need it. And it also needs you. Two sides, two consciousnesses needing one another. But it doesn’t feel enough. You need more. You need to be closer. You need hi-.

‘Y/n? You are burning up! Are you okay? Wake up!’.

The sudden voice wakes you up in one simple snap. Your eyes spring wide open as you look scared towards your friend, who just as well returns that look. Namjoon puts his hand on your forehead. You flinch as he retracts his hand as fast as lighting, making a gesture as if your forehead is about a 100 degrees. ‘Damn y/n, that should be illegal. It’s way too hot. Please go to the nurses office’, he exclaims.

You put your hand on your heart, feeling how fast it’s beating. It’s so fast that you can feel it in your whole body. You are trying to recall your dream, but you only seem to remember that you felt a dark feeling. It must’ve been a nightmare. You check out your surroundings as you felt quite out of place, but you soon notice you are still in the comfort of your school’s library. You let out a breath, shaking off that weird experience and you try to calm down your body. ‘I think I had some kind of nightmare’, you inform Namjoon before picking up your pencil.

You have been working all night with your classmate. You were assigned to work together on a project. Since the both of you had a hard time to find a good spot in your agendas to work together, you found that only today you could really work on it. So you both took the chance and ended up working all night. You pull out your phone and you notice it’s already 11 pm. Your eyes widen. ‘Namjoon, why didn’t you wake me up? We really need to get going. Can we still get out of the building?’. He chuckles and shrugs. ‘Thought you could use some rest, you’ve only been gone for twenty minutes, so don’t worry. But you’re right. We should go home’. You let out a small sigh before clearing out your desk. He didn’t mean it bad, so you let it go. You both pack your things and go home.

As you walk your way to your dorm, you can’t help but feel that same creeping feeling. You feel that darkness. It’s not uncommon for you anymore. It has been a few years already, the moment you had your period. You have felt it ever since that moment. You can still remember the first dream about it. It was like just now, dark and alone. As if there was something or someone missing from your life. Your mother showed her concern about it and took you to a doctor, who gave you a number of a psychologist. There we thorough experiments, but no one could really tell what it was and how to get rid of it. At some point you found yourself at a more spiritual room. That was even more traumatic, as she just looked at you in fear and told you to leave within a few seconds. It got you thinking. Are you some kind of devil? Some kind of lost soul from another world, what certainly isn’t holy? This time though, this last dream, it was different. Different from your other dreams. You did feel the darkness, but there was something else. It felt refreshing and warm, something you haven’t felt in so long. Whatever it is, you hope that same feeling will return to you. And this time you won’t be woken up. This time it will stay with you.

It’s the following day. Last night hasn’t been easy on you. The darkness has been closing in on you. This time it really seems too real and too attentive. Like it’s watching you. You feel it all over your body. It keeps you heavy and almost a depressed feeling washes over your body. The amount of strength it took you today to get out of bed, get ready and walk to your classes was just too much. You could barely keep your eyes open as your professor tries to explain the laws of physics to you. You must be really sick this time, your body just keeps on heating itself up. Your brain almost feels fried. It’s only a matter of time before you pass out. You can feel it, the life just wanting to seep out of your body. You can feel it pulling. You need it. You need that light right now. You need him.

And exact on that moment, all the lights turned off. Your body had completely given up.

His ears perk up as he felt a weird feeling passing through his body. He sits up straight, looking around his new apartment complex as he looks for some kind of clue. It’s some type of feeling he can’t describe, but it’s very strong, but still goes unnoticed if it wasn’t for his wolf-senses. Something was wrong. But with what or whom, he couldn’t figure out. He sets his eyes on his alarm, reading 10 am. His class will be starting in about an hour. He normally wakes up in 15 minutes, but he is up already. It had been a busy night with the pack. Since they had to move because of a inner-circle rivalry, Jungkook had decided the pack would split in two. It’s for the best this way and he felt like he needed a new start. But ever since he had come here, he felt like something was coming. And not only he has felt it, his closest beta friend Jimin also felt it. ‘I don’t know what it is boss, but your vibes has changed. I can’t put my finger on it’, Jimin said to him. Today, however, the feeling had dubbeled itself. It felt dangerous.

He got out of his bed, walking towards his bathroom. He takes a moment to show his desire towards his surroundings. His pack really put effort in this one. Since the pack had been living on for generations, they have a lot of old money to spend. So when he instructed Jimin to pick out a luxurious appartment for him, he had the best one in mind. He really appreciates his mates and treats them like equals. He has always believed in that. Although Jungkook did have the last word in everything, he never ignores his pack. Dreadfully, Taehyung had a different idea. He wanted to have the upper hand in the pack and run it with an iron fist. Some others within the pack felt like they needed that, to have such a leader. It took 1 month of fighting, arguing and just too much stress to figure the situation out. Which was: to go our separate ways. The whole pack found this the best way and now Jungkook is here, with his most trusted set of wolves. He finally feels happy again.

He puts off his clothing as he gets under the shower. He lets out a deep breath as he feels the warmth flower on his skin. He thinks about his following classes. He is so happy he decided to start with school again. With a new start in a new city, it’s only fitting to start a new career. He wants to learn, maybe be a bit more human-like. Of course he understands he could never be a human, but he just loves how every human has kinda their own purpose. A deeper meaning than just hunting and surviving. Their lives aren’t about surviving anymore, it’s about really living. He wants that for him and his pack. To just feel…. Normal.

His thoughts run wild before he notices something strange. His body is heating up. He shrugs it off, thinking it’s probably just the shower heat. But it doesn’t stop. He begins to breathe louder and his heart is picking up a faster pace. He starts to panic as he immediately turns off his shower. What’s going on?

He feels something suddenly so strong. Something wild, something very primitive. An instinct. He only feels this way when there is a full moon. He runs to the windows in his apartment, but it’s clear daylight. He also knows it shouldn’t be a full moon for at least 2 weeks. So what’s going on? ‘Just follow your instinct then’, he tells himself as he rushes to put on his clothing. He needs to find out and he has a feeling it has to do with that weird feeling from this morning. It must be, it’s the only thing that’s different and has been throwing him off. It could’ve be a heath, but it somehow feels like that. Only, he can still very much control what he does. Jungkook takes a breath as he closes his eyes, trying to gather his thoughts before taking any actions. ‘Okay, it’s definitely something you haven’t felt before, it’s new, but it feels very wolf-ish. So it couldn’t be wrong or bad. Just follow it then’. So he followed it.

You wake up, light piercing through the creeks of your eyelids. You noticed a black ceiling before your senses took over. There was a very manly smell hanging around the air, some type of heavy shampoo. It soothed your mind somehow. You could still remember how you blacked out because you felt very ill, but that ill feeling found it’s way out of your body.

You sit up in a fast motion as your heartbeat begin to quicken again. You can’t seem to recognize you surroundings. You are somewhere unfamiliar. The panic comes back into your body like a train, because for all you know you’ve been kidnapped. How the fuck did you end up here?

‘So you’re the one who has been giving my boss a hard time today hmm?’, someone in the corner of the room speaks out. You quickly turn your head as you lock your eyes with the stranger. You notice his features are silky, almost beautiful as you began to stare in awe. He is handsome, but he can’t be trusted. Because now you are in a strange room with an unfamiliar face, talking about some boss. Is this some kind of dream? Because this can’t be real. The stranger sighs before leaning off the wall and making his way towards a door. ‘Whatever, just don’t break his heart. And oh, welcome to the family sweetheart’, he says before leaving the room.

You frown, not understanding a single word this man just blabbered on to you. ‘Welcome to the family?’, you repeat his words, as if you could maybe make sense of it. You decide to take a moment to inspect your surroundings. You notice you are in some type of bedroom, which is beautifully decorated in all kinds of beautiful earthy-tones. The drapes of the room are closed, but you can clearly see the windows are huge and you must be in an apartment. Well, escaping through the backyard won’t be an option then. You move your legs to the side of the bed, wanting to stand up before you notice in what uniform you are in. You are pretty much only wearing a long button-up shirt with only your panties and bra under it. It shocks you, flashing bad images through your head, scared you might’ve been raped. The possibility isn’t small, as someone had undressed you.

And suddenly something pierces right through your body, making you to let out a small yelp. It was everything but what you expected to feel right now. But somehow it made you calm, it made you feel safe and you knew you aren’t somewhere dangerous. You feel your body heating up again, but this time you don’t feel the darkness, like in your dreams. This time you only feel that light which you have felt in the past few dreams you have experienced. It’s that ray of warmth that has been keeping you safe from the empty feeling.

Without skipping another heartbeat, your door swung open. There you are met with a new set of eyes. His eyes are wide, drained with concern as he looks just as sweaty as you are right now. You look one another in the eyes as you slowly realize he is the one. He is that light. Because suddenly everything finally fits. Everything seems right and he has come for you. He won’t leave this time, he is real and he will be with you for a long time. You can feel it and you can’t help to let out a small moan. Your eyelids lower, just as his does while both of your feelings mash into one. He closes the door behind him before sitting down on his knees in front of you, staring at you in awe. He adores you, the way you look, the way you make him feel. His heart burns for you and he must do anything to protect this kind of purity in his life.

You scan his appearance and he is everything that you ever wanted. His hair as black as night, his eyes shine almost yellow, like a beast looking for its pray. Only you are his pray, in all the most delicious way you can think of. His muscles shine through his button up, showing how capable he is of protecting you. Which has never been a priority in your relationships, but is somehow extremely import now. You notice his strong legs and tall figure, you can almost not hold yourself back from just feeling this man closer to you. That was, until you notice something you didn’t yet see. On top of his head there are two very fluffy ears standing out, as if he is playing some type of cosplay. You squint your eyes, trying to see it more clearly.

‘You are more than I thought you would be’, the guy suddenly sighs. Your eyes fixate back on his, making you melt all over again. You can feel your body fill with love, but you can’t shake the idea that this guy is way more than the eye meets. The first sign is the way he makes you feel, but besides that, he has a lot of animal-like features. You need to know what’s going on.

‘I- we need to talk first. I need to understand, first’, you tell him. It feels like whatever it is that’s different about him ,you will not mind. You have felt different your whole life, you know there must’ve been more than just the ordinary. He closes his eyes for a second, knowing full wel what you mean as he nods his head. He stands up, this time looking down at your figure, which he likes even more. You look so fragile and cute. He wants to have a taste, he can barely contain himself. His urges to claim you are so big. But he knows humans don’t work that way, this is all too unfamiliar. But he has to admit, this is pretty new to him too.

He sits down beside you on the bed, making himself clearer in the light. His features are so beautiful, so tender yet so sexy. You swoon over him, as if your entire body is waiting for him. Wanting him to touch you. He needs to claim you. He grunts, closing his eyes as his head falls back a little, showing his pretty neck. He can smell your body, he can smell that you are becoming aroused. He knew you would react like this, your body is hardwired to seduce him in every way possible. Such a good puppy for me.

You press your legs together, heat spreading through your core by hearing him groan. It’s now that you can see his ears more clearly. They look so cute from up close, but you got thrown off when you see them move. They move. As if, it’s a part of his body. They react with his body. His ears were going sideways in a very calm way. You can kind of guess what he must be, but your conscious still feels uneased. It’s still hard to believe this when you have been living in a world where werewolves, vampires and all those kind of creatures just didn’t exist. Your brain is going against your instinct. Can you trust such a creature? Is this all a prank or am I going to live in fear from now on?

‘Baby, I am what you suspect I am. I however am not what society thinks I am’, he exclaims while looking into your eyes. His expression has gone serious and somehow his eyes have turned black, like a normal human being. He must have sensed you felt uneasy.

‘So what can I expect from all of this? What is my purpose here and what is this… feeling I get…’, you ask, hopefully looking at him and praying for a good answer. An answer you can be happy with and feel comfortable with. Everything but that darkness.

‘Well, where to begin? As a werewolf I live in a pack of 10. We all recently gone to this area. You right now are in a combined apartment-‘, he begins to explain, but you cut him off. ‘That is not what I meant. I mean more related to us…’. It’s the only thing that matters right now. You will get to know the others, but this man in front of you… it’s like you’ve waited for him your whole life. You can’t wait to know more, to feel more. He bites his lip as if he hears your thoughts, feels your body. He probably can. You can also notice he felt a bit annoyed when you cut him off, is he that sensitive?

‘Well, as it seems, we are soulmates. Although wolves rarely find their soulmates, since the world is just too big, an alpha’s soulmate have it a bit tougher. My wolf is just stronger in every way, also my connection to you is therefore stronger. I don’t know if you can relate to that in any way. Maybe the feeling that you talked about…’, he questions and you nod. ‘Yeh, I think that might be it. I’ve felt a darkness around me the moment I became fertile…’. He nods ‘Yeh, its like nature calling you to come to me’, he tells you.

You have to process this information for a second. It all sound way too crazy and you should be freaked out because of this. But somehow you aren’t. It’s like he said, Mother Nature has prepared you for this your whole life. It’s hardwired in your head not to be scared for this man. Because he is emotionally and physically yours to have and to keep. And that also counts the other way around.

‘So, how do we proceed?’, you ask, your eyes falling on his ears again. You are beginning to love them, they are literally so cute. ‘Well, that’s kind of complicated. You have been out for two weeks. The moment I got to you, your body went through a lot of stages of sickness. You were too weak to wake up, but I stayed by your side’, he informs you. Your eyes widen by shock. You have been gone for so long. You missed a lot of school and your friends and family must be livid. You look around for your phone and notice it on the nightstand. Luckily it was charged and you could check the messages. Weirdly enough you didn’t get any, which made you a bit sad. Has really nobody missed me during these two weeks?

You get pulled out of your thoughts when you here the man chuckling. ‘Don’t worry, we took care of everything. We have some special guys in the pack who can manipulate other’s… minds? I don’t know how to describe it.’ He tries to explain, what got you nodding. Not like you understand it though, but what do you really understand of this situation.

‘For the rest of it, I was planning to mark you as soon as you woke up. But it’s full moon tonight and I don’t think you could handle that. You’re still a human and all-‘, he says, but you cut him off again. ‘Sorry, Mark? Full moon?’, you ask. This time his face changed darker as his annoyance at your disrespect kicks in. ‘Don’t cut me off when I am close to full moon, my alpha comes up way faster and will find a way to shut you up’, he says with a stern tone of voice. You gulp, but still feel aroused by the way he is bossing you around. Like this is the way it’s supposed to be. He is the alpha and he has the control over you. He is your mate.

‘But to answer your question, I have to mark you to kind of make our bond final. It’s like marriage but just way more intimate. And I don’t know how much you know about werewolves, but full moons make us full-wolf. Meaning, it’s the closest I get to being as primitive as I can be. During the transition, which takes about 1 hour, my uhm… sexual beast comes forward and I will fuck anything that comes in my way. So I have to tie myself up. And you being around, i will look for you and you will probably not survive’, his words are fast, but the information lays heavy on you. Somehow you don’t really care for the part where he might kill you. Only flashes of imaginary images of him fucking you like an animal runs through your mind and it might just be the thing you want the most.

‘So I won’t be seeing you today then?’, you ask him and he shakes his head. It got you saddened, but you understand. He wouldn’t want to hurt you, you are literally the most important thing he has in his life. So he had already bought extra chains and rented an abandoned house so he wouldn’t be able to touch a hair of you. He needed this to go perfectly. He would be leaving in an hour and his wolf senses aren’t as high yet, so him being with you in the room is just right. But it wouldn’t be smart to touch you yet, that would make him more needy for you.

‘What’s your name by the way’, you suddenly ask, remembering you didn’t have that piece of information yet. He chuckles before answering, looking as pretty as ever while doing so. ‘My name is Jeon Jungkook’.

After about 30 minutes of catching up, telling each other about your lives, Jungkook felt ready to introduce you to the pack. As they all heard the news you had woken up, they came rushing to the pack’s apartment, a place for their meetings and just random chillings. Jungkook felt it would be safest to keep you there, since there are always other wolves to protect you if something went wrong. Maybe an enemy or an imposter. He trusts his pack with his whole life, so he trusts them with you. Today only three members were there to support Jungkook during the full moon. Other wolves had to chain up themselves or had some business to attend to. He didn’t mind only three being there since you weren’t yet used to wolves in general. So to begin with three first should be the right move.

He opens the door and you immediately curiously look around. You notice that the apartment is very big, beautifully decorated. You notice three other men being there in the room with you. You can recognize one, the person who was by your side when you woke up. He is already looking at you, having a light smile on his face as he looks a bit more friendly now. The other two also looked at you in curiosity, sniffing the air to see who you are. Jimin showed Jungkook a quick smirk, knowing full well you have been on edge the whole time. Smelling your arousal got Jungkook a bit boiled up. He didn’t want other wolves to smell you and the urge to push you back into the room became immense big. But, he still knew how to contain himself, as he knew you had to get to know his pack.

‘We have already met, I am Jimin. Jungkook’s closest friend and second in rank of the pack’, he exclaims proudly while walking up to you. You can hear a very low-toned growl coming from Jungkook, warning Jimin to not get any closer. You look up to him, trying to guess what is going on right now. You figured it must be some kind of power-play. It’s something you shouldn’t pay your mind to, it’s a wolf-thing. It’s their thing and you are going to respect that. ‘Nice to meet you Jimin’, you say while looking away. You want to show Jungkook that you are going to obey him today. You want to be his good puppy.

‘The one on the right is Hoseok and the other one is jin’, he says before he already wants to leave the room, needing you for himself. The others only had the briefest moment of waving to you before you were already disappearing behind the door you came from.

‘Okay I’m going to be honest with you. I am very protective of you right now. I can’t have you too close to the others, it will drive me mad. You drive me mad’, he says in a rush as he has you pinned against the door. He is suddenly so close and it’s the only thing you can focus on. His refreshing smells fill the air and you see his eyes flashing yellow again. You can’t help but to get fluttered by him, he is just so immensely handsome. You just need a little taste, you want to feel him.

He growls at you, warning you not to touch him. But you can’t help yourself. How can he expect for you to not touch him when you have longed for him. At has taken you years to finally feel free. He is the one you want. Your hand makes his way up to his cheek, carefully watching his being while doing so. If he becomes too angry, you will stop. But you don’t see him changing, you just see him closing his eyes, enjoying the smallest touch. You glide your thump over his cheek, it’s so soft and milky. Your hand traces the features of his face before making your way to his ears. You have been wanting to touch them since the moment you saw them. They move around a lot, indicating he is a bit nervous en unsure. He looks into your eyes as you touch his ear carefully, petting it softly and you hear him growl once again. His body falters forward a little bit, coming closer to you and only leaving little space between your neck and his mouth. He wants to have a taste of you so bad, but he’s scared he will ruin it. He needs to protect you… but just a small taste… he can have a small taste right? He isn’t that far gone yet right?

He pulls your body away from the door before slowly leading you toward the bed by your hips. He lays you down before hovering his body on top of yours. Your legs open for him like some type of instinct, and he happily complies. He grunts again, loving the way you look under him. You are so pretty, so delicate. He can feel himself being as hard as a rock, knowing full well that his body is ready to claim you. He really wants to, maybe he should. Your eyes are hooded while you look into his. You wrap your legs around his hips while pulling him against your pussy. You are so wet and you want him to feel it, you want to make him feel what he does to you.

‘Hmmm baby, you’re making it so difficult for me. You are so wet for me, my pack could smell it from a mile away’, he says while nudging his nose into your neck, savoring the smell. You smell so sweet. You gasp as he roles his hips into your, making known how big his member is. You let out a small moan as you want to feel more. You want him to be inside You. ‘Please Jungkook’, you yelp out, hoping for some type of release. He groans again, his breath picking up a pace because he feels it too. He has to claim you as fast as possible. He has to fill you up.

‘I can’t, I shouldn’t. I can’t be trusted right now’, he sighed into your neck, letting his body fall on top of you in defeat. He pulls himself up on his elbows, looking into your eyes and admiring them. ‘Tomorrow I will make you mine. It’s one night. We got this’, he says with encouraging words. You show him a small smile before bringing your forehead against him. ‘Be quick, I need you’, you tell him. With that he gets off you and makes his way towards the door. ‘I don’t want you out of this room tonight. Don’t talk to my pack. You are mine and no one can claim you before I do’, he says with a firm tone of voice. ‘Okay, hurry then’, you tell him with a wink and he let out a small frustrated groan before leaving the room.

You check the clock. It must’ve been the thousandth time, because you really can’t wait to see him again. It’s 10 pm. You know by now, he has been tied up. Another hour and he will be full wolf. The others in the pack have been sliding you food through the creak of the door, which you are very grateful for.

You suddenly hear the front door opening. Curious to know who it is, you sit beside the door, waiting to hear any tea from the other side. One of the wolves walk their way up to the door and immediately the air changes around you the moment that door opens.

‘Tae, what the fuck are you doing here?’, you hear Jin asking. ‘I heard your alpha has a new toy? He surely wouldn't hide it here right?’, you hear the ‘Tae’-guy asking. You frown. Are they talking about me? ‘What is that of importance for you?’, Jin asks and you can hear the other wolves walking towards the front door. You know something is very wrong. Jungkook had told you their pack had split up because of a rebellious member. Is this that person? ‘You really can’t be here right now, you know it’s full moon. We’re all on edge and I can barely keep up with my own suppressants. You’re an alpha, are you out of your mind being outside right now?’, you hear Jimin almost yelling. He sounds very angry. You can feel the air shifting even more when Tae’s displeased growl fills the air. ‘You’re wrong Jimin. This is the perfect night to come here’.

Those were the last words before the room got filled with a lot of angry growls, punches and claws. It seems there are way more people in the appartment than before, indicating Tae brought more people than you thought. Your heart starts to race and you feel panic infiltrating your body. You need to get out of here. You quickly find your way towards your closet, hoping to hide there, but before you knew the door swung open. A tall guy stands before you, eyes orange and teeth standing Proudly. He eyes you up and down. You curse yourself for staying in that button-up from Jungkook, because you practically stand pretty much nude in front of this wolf. He smirks, slowly walking up to you after closing the door behind him.

‘We haven’t met yet, I’m Kim Taehyung, alpha male of my pack. Whatever I am going to do to you tonight will partly be because you are such a delicious meal, but also because Jungkook can’t have you. He can’t have happiness, not after abandoning me… us’, he says calmly while closing the gab between your bodies. You try to back away, but he has grabbed your sides, slinging you around to the bed. Your heart pounds like crazy, not able to control your feelings. You are feeling so scared and if anything, this man represents the darkness you have been feeling.

Taehyung doesn’t wait before he has you pinned down on the bed, his body hovering above you as he looks lushness at your body. You cringe under him, looking away. You try to yell for help, but the other wolves are still trying to find their own battles. This can’t happen. I would be save here.

‘Don’t worry kitten’, he says as he rips open all your buttons, exposing your bra to him. ‘This won’t take long. I just need to claim you’, he informs you while also breaking you bra and panties off. You yell because of the sting against your body. He is very strong, you don’t stand any chance against him. Even though you do try. You wiggle around, trying to make it harder for him, but it’s impossible. ‘Please don’t do this’, you beg, fighting your tears. You are fully naked under him. He will rape you tonight. This is it.

That’s when you hear a loud growl outside. Your body shivers as you know all to well who that might be. Taehyung ears immediately perk up and fear enters his body. He knew, if he wanted to live, he’d have to make a run for it now. Jungkook on his Heath during the full moon while you are trying to mark his soulmate? Yep, no chance. So he gets off you immediately, walks out of the door. You hear a whistle, calling his pack to retrieve. It didn’t take them long before you could hear them running outside, only to be met with Jungkook and a few other members of his pack. He wanted to look out of the window, wanting to know if Jungkook was alright. But you couldn’t move. You felt too disgusted to even do anything right now. You only felt like you wanted to shower. To get that creeping smell off your body. Jungkook is strong, he can handle it.

You slowly make your way towards the bathroom. You feel weak as you walk and you can still hear the faint noises of an immense battle going on outside. You get under the warm stream. You let the soap cover your body, cleaning and washing away that horrible person. You got lost in your tracks as you didn’t want to leave the shower. You just want to be clean.

10 minutes later, the bathroom door opened. You immediately sprung out of your trance and got met with the eyes of your soulmate. He looks broken, covered in dirt and scratches. You can see that he is still panting from the battle. He somehow looks bigger than normal, his ears are bigger, his claws too. That’s when you remembered he was still transitioning that night.

Jungkook stripped himself from his clothes, eyes firmly on your body. He gets under the shower with you and pulls his arms around you. He was so scared. The moment it went wrong in the apartment, he could feel it. He felt how scared you suddenly became. He felt that you needed him, so he came immediately. It didn’t take him any effort to break those chains. He ran as fast as he could while he called out for his pack to come join him. He didn’t know what he would find, but it couldn’t be good. He had a feeling it might’ve been because of Taehyung and he was right. Taehyung was still mad, but Jungkook would’ve never guessed Tae would go this far.

‘Sorry for leaving you y/n…’, he sighs into your ear. You slipped a smile while relaxing in his arms. You feel like you can finally breathe again. ‘No don’t say that. You were trying to protect me…’, you comfort him. He sighs into your neck as you enjoy one another’s company. There was a comfortable silence, just the water streaming down your bodies as you can finally hold each other. Before you woke up today, you didn’t know this person excited. But a life without him now seems impossible.

‘Y/n…’, he groans into your ear. You can feel his body coming even closer than it was before. His body rubs on you, slowly backing you up against the bathroom tiles. You feel an icy sting hitting your back as Jungkook breathes onto your shoulder. You know he is in Heath and you know he will not be able to stop it this time. But frankly, you don’t care anymore. You need him to claim you. You have now seen how dangerous it is for you at this point, he needs to be able to protect you fully.

‘Jungkook… I really want you… I need you to be mine’, you breathe into his air. He groans loudly at that, his eyes are now shining with yellow as he looks into yours eyes, looking to make sure. You feel his erection poking against your belly, he feels so big. You nod at him and give him a reassuring nod before your hand makes its way to his torso. You feel all his muscles tensing under your touch, fuck you have so much power over him. He plants his hands beside you on the tiles, wanting you to make him feel good. Your hand makes its way down, right towards where his member is standing tall against your stomach. As your eyes are still locked with his, you let yourself get down to your knees and now being face to face with the huge dick you’ve been wanting to feel for about the whole day.

‘Fuck y/n, I won’t be able to hold back much longer’, he says as he jerks his hips forward out of desperation. Your hand finds his member, feeling how thick and heavy it feels in your hand. You already know you haven’t had this big of a cock inside of you, hopefully you can take it. You give his dick a few bumps and you hear him groan in response. You love the way he is so vocal. You bring your mouth closer, circling your tongue around the tip a few times before taking it into your mouth. You take it slow first, wanting build up the sensation. He thrusts his hips with the movement of your mouth. His member feels so big in your mouth and he tastes delicious. It’s as if you can’t get enough, this is what you needed all along.

‘Stop, get up’, he says while pulling his dick out of your mouth. You let out a small whine, wanting to make him cum with your mouth. ‘Why…’, coo at him, standing up. You pout at him, but you were met with the most darkest of looks. He stared right into your soul with his yellow eyes, shocking a wave of heath through your body. ‘You are dripping all on the tiles, it’s a waste’, he grunted as his body closes in on you again. His hand finds it’s way down your belly, right to your core. He teases you, circling his fingers on the outside of you folds, making you shiver by the feeling.

‘I bet the whole building can smell your cunt right now. Hmmm… how they would want to have a taste… but only I can have it’, he says as his fingers now found their way between your folds. He slides it up and down, gathering all your juices before bringing it up to his mouth, licking it off and moaning while he does so. ‘I want more baby. I need to fuck you, taste you and make you my bitch’, he groans, laying his forehead onto your shoulder.

You hesitate for a second before replying: ‘then do so. Make me yours. I can handle it’.

He didn’t need any more confirmation. Maybe in a different moment, he would make more sure that you were okay with this. But his wolf could’ve resist anymore. This is his soulmate. Someone tried to take that away from him tonight, he can’t risk that again. He needs to seal the deal in the most delicious of ways.

He pulls you off of the ground, making you straddle him in the air. He turns off the shower before making his way to the bathroom. The way he did this all so easily made you swoon, making you more wet than you already were. That made him chuckle. ‘Hmm never had such a strong man taking care of you hm?’, he joked and you could only shake your head. He let you slide down a little while he made his way over to the bed, making contact between you pussy and his member. You couldn’t help but to wiggle your hips around, needing to feel some type of release. He grunts as he feels your intentions and instead throws you down on the bed.

‘Careful baby, I might really destroy you when you are being naughty like that’, he exclaims, smirking down at your small figure. You lay down comfortably for him as he makes his way on top of you. You again instictly open your legs for him, showing just how much he is turning you on. His wolf-instinct immediately kicks in as he follows his nose directly to your pussy. You sniffs a few times before licking making line on the outside of your folds. Your body sniffers in response, letting out a small moan as you do so.

Jungkook loves your smell. You are so sweet and flower-ish. It drives him crazy. Your smell is to him like catnip is to cats. He can’t help but to indulge himself in that smell. With that thought, he digs in. His tongue makes long strokes through your folds, licking up all your juices. Your body reacts immediately, your hands finding his hands that were places right beside your hips. He looks up to you in lust, loving how you look right now. You are completely and utterly submissive to him. He is in control and he will make sure you will have the best time. He also is still trying to prep you, because he knows that the moment he will be inside of you, he won’t be able to hold back. He will destroy that pussy.

His tongue glides a few more times between your folds before settling on you small nub. He knows his way around it, you notice, since he starts to lick uncontrollably. Making circles and letting your body react to it in shocky movement. Your legs are really having their own life as Jungkook keeps on hitting the right spot, not even missing it once. ‘Jungkookkk….’, you moan as you are coated with his warmth on your clit. He growls against your pussy, sending shockwaves through your body. The pleasure is almost too much to handle and like some type of cue, he start focusing on another part of your cunt.

His tongue glides down again, sucking up all your juices, before settling on your entrance. As he does so, he grabs your calves and bends your legs towards your stomach. He has better access to your entrance that way. He takes a look first, admiring how pretty you look under him like that, before going down on you again. While one hand holds you legs down, the other holding his own weight, his tongue finds its way into your pussy. You let out a loud moan, indicating that you are loving his movements on you. His tongue begins to pump inside of you, licking and sucking all the wetness out of you. You go crazy as he does so. You have never been pleasured like this before.

‘Hmmmm it’s so good Jungkook, please don’t stop’, you moan. And he doesn’t. He needs to taste more of you, you need to get more wet. Like a wild dog he starts to aggressively bump two fingers with his tongue inside you. Another finger starts to stimulate your asshole, giving you that extra edge you have been needing to start building up your height. Your body starts to warm up as that familiar feeling grows stronger. It’s almost like your body goes numb as he keeps on bumping into you, making you moan and wet. He loves the sounds you make while he makes you feel this pleasure. He will want to hear this for the rest of his life.

‘Almost…’, you moan as you feel yourself entering the final stage. With that He burrows his face closer against your pussy, putting his nose against you clit as he jerks his head side to side. This trick really got your body jerking in pleasure, head swinging back as you can help but to grab his hair tightly into your hand. It only took a short amount of time before the building heath exploded and your climax runs through your body like a burning fire. He notices that you came and slowed down his movements, making sure he doesn’t overstimulate you.

He lets go of your body before settling his hips between your legs, tight against you as he curiously looks at your worn-out state. Your eyes were closed due to the intense moment, but when you open them again, you meet a cute, but still dark face in front of you. You know it isn’t over yet and you wouldn’t want it any different. He needs to make you his first and you still crave for him to be inside of you.

‘You okay?’, he asks. You nod as your body is finally calming down. Your heart is slowly coming back to a normal pace and you let out a deep breath. You can’t help but to stare at his blump lips which you haven’t kissed yet.

‘Hmm good idea’, he says, as if he could read your thoughts. He slowly closes in on your lips, the touch finally finding yours. You can still taste yourself on him, but it only made it that much hotter. He takes it slow at first, grabbing your face into his hand, tenderly showing his affection to you. Your legs instinctively find their way around his torso, needing him closer to you. He moans a little in the kiss as his member slides between your folds and he can’t help but to jerk his hips forward a little. The kiss deepens and your tongues find their ways I’m each other’s mouths. Your are both just taking your time to feel each other and getting to know one another’s body. His member slides easily between your folds since it’s still wet from his tongue and your juices.

You can’t help but to jerk your hips up a little, letting his dick slide in your entrance just the tiniest bit. He growls into your mouth, eyes locked on yours. ‘Y/n…’, he says with a warning tone. You shake your head. ‘I don’t care Jungkook, fuck me already’, you say. That is all it took for Jungkook to let go of his human side and fully commit to his primitive wolf.

His face changes within a second to a very dark expression, teeth growing inside his mouth as his ears perk up. His whole body seems to tense up and a loud groan leaves his body. He didn’t waste any more seconds as his hips bump into you with one swift move, his member now fully in you. You let out a Yelp, flustered by the sudden sensation. You could feel it sting, but you didn’t care. The way Jungkook is looking at you is the most manly and horny thing you’ve ever seen.

He grabs your legs again, pulling them flat against your stomach before pulling his dick out and right back in again. His thrusts are hard, full of power. He immediately picks up a steady pace while he uncontrollably growls over your moans. His member fills you up in the most positive ways. Not a littlest space is left in your gut. With this position he can also go so deep, you can almost feel it in you stomach.

‘Such a good bitch for me… so pretty and small. No one can have you’, you can hear Jungkook mutter under his breath while his strokes don’t fail to send shocks through your body. You moan loudly by his words, loving how he is so dominant over you. You have never felt this way before.

Suddenly he pulls out and flips your body over on your stomach. Like you shared the same mind, you immediately lift your ass in the air as your legs are still closed. He puts his legs on both sides of your legs as he bends over your, sliding his dick right between your Ass cheeks and finding your entrance again. He did it all n such an easy movement, you could help but moan when he entered you again. In this position your walls are stretched to the max, it makes you go crazy. You can hear him growl as he makes a fast pace onto you. His dick slides in and out. His body falters onto your back, grabbing your neck as he tries to suffocate you a little. You love the pressure and moan even louder, feeling a heath building up in your core again. He fastens his pace onto your pussy, knowing damn well that you are close again. He doesn’t show any mercy and starts to nip on your neck, giving you goosebumps. He needs you to cum again for him.

His pace is becoming so fast that you are barely able to think. Everything that he does right now is just too much. It only took you a few seconds before the same burning sensation washes through your body again. Shocking motions leave your body as Jungkook sees you cumming right under him. He doesn’t stop though this time, his pace keeps on going as he now seeks his own height. He can’t control himself, he needs to claim you now. He turns you around again, detaching his member before standing up off the bed. The drags you with him before finding the big window in the room. He roughly pulls off the drapes, not caring that they are probably unrepairable now. He lifts your body up and you immediately bring your legs around his hips. You are now both bare naked pushed up against a window and you both don’t care.

He didn’t wait and immediately slides his dick back into your entrance, making a fast pace against your body. You don’t have to put any effort him holding yourself up as he seems to keep your body steadily against the window. His eyes stare into yours, both hooded and sparkling yellow. At some point he stops holding one of your legs as he puts it beside you on the wall, making it way more easy for him to thrust forcefully into you. Your moans fill the roam and he can’t hold back his growls as well.

He pulls you off the window before laying you on the floor. ‘I’m gonna make you mine now’, he growls as his member again has an ungodly pace into your cunt. He brings his head forwards, lips finding the crook of your neck. He licks in a few times and suddenly you feel something growing in your gut. It’s as if Jungkook's dick is growing. You also notice it by his movements as he slows down, indicating his is tuck in some way. Whatever is going on, it can only be good.

Suddenly he stops moving while a loud growl erupts from his body. You only hold onto him with all your strength, wanting to be as close to him as possible while this moment happens. His teeth suddenly dig into your neck, a painful sensation running through your body as you jerk your head backwards. It was at this moment Jungkook jerks his hips even further into you, cumming in you as he marks you. You feel immense pleasure out of this, his cemen coating your walls and his teeth marking you as his. The feeling of light finally fully became yours and you have never felt so much at peace as now.

You hold onto him as he jerks a few more times with his hips, riding out his own height before detaching his teeth with your body. He let himself rest on top of your body, head resting beside yours while you both close your eyes for a small second. You cans till feel his dick inside of you, being blown up and stuck inside of you.

‘Hmmmmm… that was so delicious’, he mutters into your neck. You smile and nod. ‘Yeh… it was’.

You finally feel him softening and after a minute or so he finally is able to pull out without hurting you. He gets off of you before pulling you up in his arms, bringing you to the bed. He tucks you in and grabs you a towel to clean yourself. He really is a gentleman, even though we just had such a moment.

He lays beside you while looking at you cleaning yourself. ‘You are so beautiful. I could do all of that again for pretty much the whole night’, he says as his hand can’t help but to find it’s way to your boob. He lays closer to your, circling uproar nipple and putting his tongue on your other, teasing you. You sigh by the sensation, letting your head fall back.

‘But sadly my suppressants will work out in about 30 minutes. I will turn to a wolf then. It’s a wonder I haven’t destroyed you just now. I don’t know where hobi got these pills from, but they work wonders’, he mutters to himself while still admiring your boobs. You chuckle as you are in awe of how he is kind of precious even though he really just gave you the best sex you’ve ever had. You pet his head, tracing his ears again. They are really so pretty.

‘30 minutes is pretty long you know’, you exclaim. He looks up at you with a smirk before planting his lips on your breasts again, but this timing sucking hard on it. ‘Well looks like a second round then princess’, he says before turning you around again and giving you the best night of your life.

Thank you for reading!

[haremofparkjimin]

*TYPOS WARNING * *Ok so it's the last change I swear! I finally found nice app 🌚* Just College AU 5/? Jimin(omega) and Tae(alpha) are bf since primary school. Tae is ambitious and want to go to (some VIP shit) college for alphas and betas. Chim couldn’t deal with separation so he decided to took pills which help to retard his first heat so he can pretend to be a beta. But one day things got complicated, when Tae, who is always taking care of his friend, missed a train and leaved our Mochi alone.

[kimthwariru]

Namjoon reaction—calling him a ‘friend’ when he clearly has a thing for you

❀genre: smut, a bit of fluff

❀collage au

(This was originally supposed to be a quick reaction but something happened to me and I couldn’t stop writing)

“Look, Jisoo, I’d agree with you, but then we’d both be wrong” you flash a cheeky smile at your best friend. She’s being going on and on about how this Kim Namjoon guy had a thing for you.

You can’t lie, you’ve seen him around in campus and sometimes you’d wish he would suffocate you with these thighs of his. Ugh. The perfect combo, lean yet masculine physique with a brain that actually functions for a change. You’ve seen the way these collage girls were circling him around and you can’t blame them, the guy was a catch.

But he was not your crowd of people. He was outgoing, social and had loads of what you like to call “the lad friends”. You guessed his main activities were partying and getting shitfaced every night.

You’ve talked to him a couple of times. He uses the same bench as you to read now and then. You would eventually take sneak peeks at the books he was reading, check if he had any taste or not, and the result was always better than what you expected. This guy knew books. He was not just reading what was on the best seller’s that week to look sophisticated in front of others.

When he caught you peaking he’d started having small talk with you. You swear you’ve never experienced a better conversation flow with another human being. This guy screamed comfort. He seemed genuinely curious about the things you were saying. None of that painful act of pretending to be interested just because he wanted to get laid. You had been talking with him for a month straight and aside from a few moments of some what flirty looks his actions never suggested something more.

His aura was welcoming and he always paid attention to the little things. Unlike some other shallow guys out there, he felt…different.

But how different could he really be? You’ve seen the people he hangs out with. Kim Taehyung? He had a relationship with three girls at the same time. Didn’t even apologize for being the biggest jerk in history. You’ve heard Jung Hoseok’s body count was reaching a 3 digit number AND Jeon Jungkook once fucked 4 different girls at the same night.

Just thinking about it makes you sick. It pains you to admit but there’s only one truth to this. Even if Kim Namjoon was interesting, he was definitely a person you needed to stay away from. All the data point to a big fuckboy alert!

“Come on y/n…. If he wasn’t even in the slightest interested in you then why did he tell me explicitly that he wanted you to attend the party??”

“An invitation to a party doesn’t mean anything. Besides, I’m sure I’m not his style. Have you seen the type of girls he hangs out with? Yikes.”

Jisoo smirked at you “Oh, I see you’re stalking him now?”

You shake your head “Don’t be ridiculous! We take Econ together, that’s all. What? Am I supposed to cover my eyes every time I see him?”

“Maybe you should” Jisoo came closer to you “Y/n, we’re going to that party”

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“This is a big mistake, I’ll get bored within the hour” You scream at Jisoo over the loud music.

“Don’t be a whiney ass and enjoy yourself for once” she handed you a drink.

Enjoy yourself for once. You and Jisoo’s definition of enjoying one self were clearly very different. You scan the room to look for any familiar faces you could talk to. Unfortunately, not a lot of your acquaintances attended frat parties.

Your head motion immediately pauses when you meet eyes with Namjoon across the garden. Was he looking at you this whole time? You feel your cheeks burn.

Initially, you don’t know how to react but eventually you flash him a small smile and focus back on Jisoo

“Kim Namjoon just gave me the biggest stare of all time” you say as you down your drink

“What!?” Jisoo’s eyes widened “This is the time where I say I told you so.”

You think for a second that maybe Jisoo was right all along. But that just makes the whole thing more dangerous for you. You can’t lie, Namjoon is attractive, but you knew he was trouble. Maybe he liked you today and then liked another girl tomorrow.

Suddenly, you feel a hand touch your shoulder “Hey y/n, Jisoo. Glad you guys made it” Namjoon’s low voice pierced your ears.

Jisoo gave you a look before replying to him “Hey!! We couldn’t miss such a night!” She smiled “right y/n??”

“Yeah!! Totally” you cheer kind of awkwardly.

Namjoon’s eyes fixed on you. You felt his stare eat you up. His whole presence felt angelic yet overwhelming. “Do you guys maybe want to join us? We’re sitting right by the pool”

“Oh! Sure, why not!” Jisoo answered almost immediately

You were walking towards the pool, Namjoon was pacing right next to you, he was so close to the point where you could sort of smell his cologne. You swear you could get drunk off his scent.

“I have to be honest, I didn’t think you’d actually come” He chuckled

“Are you disappointed?” You teased and raised an eyebrow.

You see a dimple smile making its appearance, how can this dude be so incredibly hot and cute at the same time? “I think pleasantly surprised would be the right way to put it”

Why do you feel like you can not breath? He hasn’t said much, yet you feel yourself burn up all of a sudden. “Good to know” you smile back.

“Joon! You have to see this” was the first thing Taehyung yelled when you arrived to the place where the guys were sitting “12 o’clock, Hobi making out with Mina from 3rd year. Can you believe it? After two years of trying to get it, he finally succeeds”

Of course the main talk is girls. No surprise there.

“Jungkook bitch, you owe me 20 bucks” Taehyung eyed Jungkook

Your expression screamed disgust. Apparently, Namjoon noticed “They are not as bad as they seem” he elbowed you.

You give him and awkward laugh “I’ll take your word for it” You lie.

“Guys, this is Jisoo and y/n. Can you stop trying to head lock each other and say hello? You’re embarrassing me” Namjoon introduced the pair of you to the boys who were still arguing about the bet. 

“Oh, hey girls.” Taehyung paused to inspect Jisoo’s face. “Hey, business and shipping? Ain’t it?”

“Oh, yeah, right!” Jisoo smiled

“Hyung aren’t you taking that class for like the third time? How many times can you fail you recon?” Jungkook teased him and Taehyung answered by giving him a slap on the shoulder.

“Hey y/n, do you want to go grab a drink? I think you’ll need it if you are to tolerate these guys” Namjoon offered.

“I trust you know best” you smile and quickly follow behind him. His shoulders wide and his muscles very visible even through his airy shirt. This guy was a whole statue.

“By the way, I’ve never seen you at parties before. I think I saw you once at the December ball but that’s about it. Not really a big fan of these kind of things, are you?” He suddenly said. You can’t really decode his words. How did Kim Namjoon know you even went to the December ball? You’re pretty sure you didn’t even talk to him that night.

“Interested in me much?” You give him a cheeky smile but he was just looking at you, a couple of seconds passed without him responding “I’m only joking! It’s true I don’t really attend these sort sort of things.”

“And what do you do for fun miss y/n?” He laughs and you swear if you could bottle the sound and get drunk on it you would.

“Oh you’ll think I’m lame”

“Try me” he said in a serious tone while starring right through your eyes. Suddenly, your body felt too heavy for your legs to bear. How can he get to you like that?

“Okay…” You start, him looking at you like that didn’t help control your train of thought, but you manage to get a hold of yourself “So you know that little corner cafe on willow street? Every Friday they have these comedy music nights. A guy-“

“Park Jihoon and the little funny guitar, yeah! I used to go there every Friday during my freshman years! Do they still do that old thing? I swear the pun with the atom never failed to make my day.” He started laughing again.

“Whoah what? You’re telling me you’ve been to the shrieking shack?” That place was a little treasure you’d found earlier this year. It was an amazingly cozy place, perfect during the cold winter time. The staff were all so kind and wore these big oversized colorful ties. But the people going there were all much older than you. You’ve never heard someone your age talk about that place. Let alone a person like Namjoon.

“Careful how you talk to a veteran y/n. I’ve basically helped to build the place” he chuckled.

“Y/n is that you?” A familiar voice greeted you.

“Jimin! Oh my god, hey! It’s been ages since I’ve seen you!” You hug him.

Jimin was a great soul, he majored in contemporary dance and ballet. He had been traveling for the past couple of years enrolling in some extra ballet classes in the magical city of Paris. You envied him for his talent and admired him for his passion.

“Girl, you have to come visit me. You’ll love Europe!”

“I would also LOVE to have some money in my wallet” you laugh “Oh Jimin, this is my friend, Namjoon. We go to collage together”

Namjoon gave you a look and soon after shook Jimin’s hand “What’s up. Nice to meet you”

“Nice to meet you too! But y/n, I’m so so sorry, I have to go. I was actually on my way out just now. I sort of uhm, have a thing-you know” he coughed “I’m leaving in two weeks, can we please meet before that?”

You knew Jimin was probably off to his ex boyfriends house. They broke up before Jimin left for Paris but every time he got back he’d have a couple of hookups with him. “Oh yeah! I bet you’ve got something very important right now, you better go quickly” you teased him “I’ll text you tomorrow, ok?”

Jimin laughed so much his eyes were barely visible “definitely! text me! I’ll be off then! Bye mister Kim Namjoon” he playfully said and was out of your sight a second later.

“You two seem…close” Namjoon suddenly commented

“Yeah! We were! But he has been studying abroad for like two years now.”

Namjoon’s facial expression was quite enigmatic “Did you guys ever… you know”

“Oh no no no.” You pause to make a small chuckle “Jimin isn’t exactly interested in, well, girls like me, or to be exact, girls in general”

Namjoon’s eyes widened and he immediately bursted into laughter “oh… I see” he made a pause “So tell me then, how come the old soul that never goes to parties finally attends one?”

You feel your cheeks burn red. Partly because the reason you went was him. You don’t know why, but the past month you and Namjoon hit it off very well and you wanted to test Jisoo’s crazy theory, you wanted to make sure for yourself if Namjoon was interested in you or not. Now the problem was, even if it turned out he did like you, you didn’t know what you’d do exactly. Namjoon was a really nice guy, but he didn’t come without his red flags.

“Just wanted to try something different, I guess”

“And how’s that 'different' treating you so far?”

What could you possibly tell him? That you have enjoyed every minute you guys have been talking? That you think that just by staring at you he could make you feel things no other guy could? You barely can admit all of that to yourself. “I think pleasantly surprised is the right way to put it” you repeat his words from before.

You see him smile at that. “You know what y/n? I’m really happy you came”

How can he make your heart beat so fast with just one sentence? “Oh really? And why is that?”

“I don’t know, I guess… I just like talking to you, you know? Whenever I’m around you I feel at ease, like I can tell you anything. I feel different when I’m with you, but in a good way”

“Wow” that sound escaped your lips without your consent

Namjoon laughed “Why? Is it too weird?”

“No! Definitely not weird, more like, I don’t know, surprising?”

“In what way?”

“Well you’re… Kim Namjoon, you’re the 2021 class president and you’re like the most popular guy in the whole campus right now.” You made a pause “And I’m just..-“

“The most interesting girl I’ve ever met” he cuts you off

The way he was looking down at you made butterflies grow in your stomach “You really think so?”

He gently grabbed your waist and pulled you closer to him “I know so” he leaned down, you swear his eyes had the whole galaxy painted inside of them. You couldn’t even breath properly at this point. Kim Namjoon was too close and the only thing you were thinking about was how well his kiss would feel “God, you’re so beautiful” he said and pulled you in for a soft, gentle kiss.

You couldn’t believe your senses. Kim Namjoon was kissing you and you really thought the earth had stopped spinning right then and there. You could feel his big palms traveling up and down your back.

His kiss was breathless, jubilant, filled with the joy of life, and you should stop him, he is no good to you, you know that, but his scent is delightful and his lips are so warm.

Unconsciously, your hands reach the inside of his shirt. His skin hot and soft at the touch.

"y/n" he practically moans your name, and just the sound makes your knees go week "Don't do that, I don't think I'll be able to stop"

"Who said anything about stopping?" You say and go back to kiss him even more passionately this time.

“There’s a lot of people here, my room is upstairs, would you perhaps want to-“

“Yes.” You immediately say. You don’t care about anything anymore, you’d let your future self deal with the consequences of today’s actions. The only thing that has been lingering in your mind is how good he’d feel inside of you.

The moment you’re finally alone in his room, he lifts you up, swinging you around and kissing you. It was like a dream. Namjoon was everything you wanted. Your reluctance about getting with him didn’t matter any more, the tingly feeling in your stomach overtook every single bit of hesitation you had. You needed him.

“God, you’re lovely” he exhaled

He looks at you as he sinks you down on the bed. Planting a soft kiss before his hands quickly begun to peel away clothes, yanking his belt loose, fumbling hurriedly at his trousers.

You look at his lips tracing your skin and the faint moisture left behind, you look at his muscly arms as he lifts you up and sinks you down again, you look at him looking at you, with eyes brighter than the sun itself. Was this all a dream?

When your dress was finally off he undoes your bra clasp on the way down. Slowly planting kisses on your collarbone, the tops of your breasts, your sternum, and you arched you back as you were needy for more.

His lips finally reach your nipples .Your boobs smooth under his hands, your nipple firm under his tongue, and there, that makes you squirm again, a little more insistently this time.

“Fuck, I’m so fucking wet right now, I feel it” You moan

You see him raise an eyebrow. A vivid smirk painted on his face “Let’s check, shall we?”

He splays his hand low across your belly, and the first brush of his thumb over your clit makes you breathe in sharply and him forget to breathe at all.

“I’m your friend?” He breaths in, his voice dangerously low

“Oh come on” You manage to say in between moans “what was I supposed to tell Jimin?”

His strokes and flicks are light and teasing, his thumb carefully circling around your clit. He gives you a slow, constant, unyielding pressure that makes your breath come up short, makes your toes curl in the effort not to move.

“I’m gonna fuck the word ‘friend’ right out of your pretty little mouth” he covers your mouth with an intense kiss before slipping two fingers of his free hand inside of you, and you makes a noise like triumph and want all wrapped up together. If his fingers felt like this, you can’t imagine how his dick felt like.

“Hmm?” He doesn’t look up, he keeps his eyes on his hands, on you, spread out beneath him “You like that baby?”

God, just the way the word 'baby' sounded coming from his mouth could make you come right this second. You look at him, his eyes look as hungry as his voice sounded. This dude was out of this world.

“Please Namjoon, I want it, I want you inside of me right now”

Namjoon lowered his underwear, and simply pressed his hard member on your slit. You could feel his balls softly caressing your clit as he made subtle movements while kissing you. “Such a needy little thing” he teases “Tell me how bad you want my cock inside of you”

“Oh..” you moan “I’d do anything, please…give it to me… fuck me like you own me” you whined as you used your pussy to caress his length up and down. He seemed to enjoy they way you touched him.

“Fuck y/n… that feels so good” he rests his forehead on yours.

“Imagine what my inside will feel then” you whisper in his ear “I’m such a tight good girl” you move your mouth in front of his, bitting his bottom lip as he growled when he felt your movement grow faster

“Fucking hell” he immobilized your body with his hands and pressed you down to the bed. He immediately shoves his dick inside you, filing you up to the brim before staying there for a couple of seconds and then pulling out completely. That movement made your vagina crave to be filled all the way up again.

“More” you whine, a dopey expression all over your face. You were so needy of him, but you didn’t care.

He lowered his left hand towards your thigh and gave it a big squeeze, kissing you aggressively while doing so. He quickly braced himself back into you, you felt your walls completely wrap around his member. It felt magical.

His strokes long and steady in the beginning. Every time he went in and out completely you felt the pit of your stomach burn in pleasure. Namjoon was doing everything right, you can’t lie to yourself, this is the best sex you’ve ever had. Normally with other guys you don’t even come close to coming, but now, you feel yourself trying not to do so.

“You like my dick being inside of you baby?” He plants a small kiss on your neck and goosebumps run down your spine.

‘Like’ was nowhere near good enough of a word to explain how much the sensation of him thrusting his hard member in and out of you made you feel. “I love it Namjoon… I just love it…”

Your words must’ve turned Namjoon even more on, because his pace immediately started becoming faster and sloppier. Every time your skin touched a loud sound could be heard. Namjoon was thrusting deeper and deeper into you, and every time he’d fill you up completely you’d cry out his name.

“Ah, I like my name so much better when you fucking moan it like that” he says and started shoving his dick inside of you like crazy. You could tell he was close to coming, and so were you.

It wasn’t long until you felt your walls clenching and your toes curling. The sensation overtook all of your body, it was mad… your heart beat uncontrollable. Namjoon made you feel a completely new range of emotions.

“Ah y/n, I can feel you cumming all over my dick” his voice cracky, You could see how turned on he was by all of this, by you. “Fuck” he shoved harder “You’re so” harder “fucking hot”

Namjoon stopped and pulled out immediately spreading his cum all over your tummy. The sight was breathtaking, you’ve never found a man so attractive while coming before, but then, Namjoon is no ordinary man.

He quickly grabs a couple of tissues and wipes you clean before laying on top of you again, placing another soft kiss this time. His hand playing with your hair. You were both naked and sweaty and a mess but it felt so magical. You wrapped your hands around his broad shoulders, pulling him even closer to you. You didn’t want even a centimeter of distance between you and him.

He suddenly stopped kissing you and simply stared at your eyes. After a minute or two, or maybe three, you're not really sure, time didn't exist right now, he tacked a string of hair behind your left ear.

“Y/n, let me take you on a date. Please. I know you don’t normally go out with guys like me, but I swear I’ll make it worth your while-“

“Park Jihoon and the little funny guitar. How does that sound? Or are you too good for the shrieking shack now?” You chuckled

“I’d love that” he smiled, making your heart melt a little.

[memphisfaith]

Hearts of Lust: Chapter 10

Pairing Kim Namjoon X Reader

Genre: Collage!AU, Smut

Word Count: 1.7K

Warning: Cursing, mentions of smut, smut, consumption of alcohol, mentions of violence, violence, crack personality disorders, Chaotic energy.

Summary: College is any young adult's prime years, at least that's what Lee (y/n) and Kim Namjoon thought. The two are infamous for two reasons, by two very different crowds. Among the professors they are picture perfect students with perfect scores, attendance, and image. However, among the student body they're the very essence of lust with amazing bodies, sex appeal, and skill. The two, although strikingly similar, butt heads quite a bit with competitions of everything from grades to who can get a person to drop their pants the fastest. With the two of them ready to conquer the school year it's all a matter of Go Big or Go Home.

Looking down at my laptop I scroll through different pictures of marine wildlife, I sigh and glance down at my sketch book. It had a few ideas of What I wanted to do for the powerpoint, but I didn't know how I wanted to design the leaflet that RM and I would pass out for the presentation, and don't even get me started on what I should do for the 3-D model. 

I thumb through a few notes RM jotted down for me to go off of but it only helps so much. I glance over at said man to see him writing down things before scrolling down on his laptop every few minutes. 

Looking through different animals and jotting down the name with a vague sketch of it before looking for something new. Looking at the clock on my laptop I see the study hall has only just started. 

I drop my pencil before running a hand over my face in frustration. I stand from my seat and stretch before sitting back down. I scroll some more before RM hands me some paper, I scan it to see a list of animals. 

I look over at him to see him close his laptop and scoot closer to me. He pulls my laptop closer to him and opens a clean tab before closing my old one. "That list is a food web of the Epipelagic Zone more commonly known as the sunlight zone." He explains.

"So like...If J-Hope was a part of the ocean." I reference, an amused smirk grew on RM's face at my comment but he nodded anyway. "This section is where Coral reefs grow and have a more diverse population of creatures." He continues. "I was thinking we could do Raja Ampat, it's diversity in species is the richest in the world with 1700 different species of reef fish. It's even home to rare marine mammals." He lists.

"Do they have sharks?" I ask looking over his small list of animals, "Whale sharks and black tipped reef sharks." Namjoon answers. I hum with a small smile, "Noona, we should go to the aquarium that should help you get better references than internet pictures," Taehyung says as he pops up behind me and takes up residence on my shoulder. 

My eyes widen at the idea, "That would be a good idea," I comment over to RM. He didn't get a chance to say anything as the five other males ran over and piled on top of us screaming at him to agree. RM groans before finally agreeing, "I guess we could go this weekend. We could go tomorrow since it's Friday." He suggests. It didn't take much force for all of us to agree.

I looked through my bag one last time making sure I had everything. I got my wallet, notebook, sketchbook, digital tablet and pen, and a few other small things like band-aids and lipgloss. I pull my hair up in a ponytail adding some last minute touch ups to my make-up while I wait for Yoongi to pick me up.

I hear a honk from outside signaling he's here. I walked outside, but I didn't see Yoongi but Namjoon waiting for me. As I get closer to the car I can see Jungkook and Taehyung sitting in the back. 

"Hi there boys," I smile at the two in the back, before looking over at Namjoon. "Jin divided us into groups of four, Since we need to work on a project we got stuck together. He then claimed that we need to take care of our children." He mutters, jabbing his thumb at the two in the back. 

The two whine at his comment, further proving his point, before sitting back with a pout. I roll my eyes, "Then what does that make the rest of them?" I scoff, Namjoon shrugged. "I didn't want to ask." He mutters, "Understandable," I muse turning my head to face the two in the back. 

I look at them for a minute, Why would Jin think they're our children. "Noona, you're scaring me," Tae spoke up, "Sorry Taetae." I muse before looking forward. "So did you have any ideas on how we should make our way around?' I question before digging out my notebook and pin. 

"Somewhat, I made a list of the animals that are from the reef that the aquarium takes care of. We can make our way around the best we can, but I promised Tae and kook an hour for lunch and break." He said and I nodded. "Makes sense we are in charge of them and we will have to drag them around for a while. It's only fair that we give them an hour to do what they want." I agree.

It took ten more minutes before we parked in the aquarium parking lot. When we made our way to the entrance we found Jin, Hoseok, Yoongi, and Jimin. "Look who decided to finally show up." Yoongi scoffs, I flipped him the finger and continued to make my way inside. We each paid for our tickets before we regrouped.

"Okay Jin and I, more like Jin, decided on groups." Namjoon spoke up, "The group you arrived with is the group you're staying with, anyone deemed a child of their respected group is to not wander too far from their group, Anyone deemed a parent or elder of their group is to watch over their respective group. Lunch hour will start at 12:00 and end at 1:00 while free hour will start at 1:00 and end at 2:00." Namjoon announced.

Jungkook raises his hand and Namjoon sighs, "Yes we will go to the gift shop before we leave." He answers, Jungkook's hand falls back down to his side as he flushes red. "Any questions?" Namjoon asks, with no more questions we break off into our groups. 

Namjoon and I looked at a map and to our luck the aquarium has an Indonesia section, which makes our job a lot easier. Jungkook and Taehyung bounced from tank to tank as we made our way to that section. Upon reaching it my eyes blew wide at all the colorful reef fish. I took out my digital pad and pen and began to sketch away.

I made a new folder with one section named Fish, thus far the section has five different pages of brightly colored fish. I made a new section and illustrated the different live coral that is said to grow in that environment.

Namjoon sat beside me as he wrote down different things from the information tablet provided in front of the large tanks. I would stop and glance around to see Taehyung and Jungkook jump from tank to tank. 

After Namjoon and I are satisfied with this subsection of the area we move on, Taehyung and Jungkook drag us down a large tube that goes through the middle of a large enclosure. My eyes widen as a whale shark swims by. I follow it up and down the tank sketching it as quickly but as detailed as I can. 

Once I finished I began a sketch of a black tipped reef shark. Luckily for me it didn't drag me up and down the tunnel like the whale shark did. When we finally moved on we crossed a large glass wall, I looked deep into it and gasped. A manatee, there were no seats so instead I sat on the floor sitting the tablet in my hand. 

I draw the lines slowly and smoothly unlike the sharks, I'm so into it I don't hear Namjoon take a seat beside me. I feel him hovering over my shoulder looking at the drawing, "Did you know when pirates and sailors would dock their ships in shallow water or sail through rivers, they would claim to have seen mermaids when in reality they just saw manatees." I whisper softly.

Namjoon shook his head, "Historians claim it's one of the origins of the mermaid myth." I add gently drawing the large tail. "When I was a kid my mom used to take me to this river and told me if I was quiet and waited long enough I would see a mermaid. But when I told kids in my class they would call me stupid because everyone knew mermaids live in the sea." I smile.

"Yoongi always came with me to the library to read about mermaids but, I'm sure he was just there to read about the pirates." I laugh quietly as I color in the manatee. "I guess that's one of the biggest reasons why I like the ocean," I hum, adding in the wrinkles of their skin with a darker gray.

When I look up from my tablet I find Taehyung and Jungkook had joined Namjoon and I on the floor. "Hey Noona I think you would make a pretty mermaid," Taehyung spoke up with a small smile. I huff but a smile that matches his slips onto my lips. I ruffle his hair before saving the picture and standing up.

My back pops from the strain of leaning over my tablet for so long. I stretch out before checking my watch, "It's almost 12:00, let's head over to the café for lunch." I sigh in bliss. Jungkook and Taehyung are quick to bounce to their feet and dash in the direction of the café. 

"AISH DON'T RUN TOO FAR WITHOUT US!" Namjoon yells after them as he gets onto his feet. I sigh and stuff my tablet under one arm before taking a hold of Namjoon with the other and dragging him along with me to catch up to the two boys. 

By the time we caught up to them they were in the main area deciding which Café they wanted to go to. "Okay," I huff out of breath, "Which one do you want to go to?" I ask. The two boys scan the different Cafes, but eventually they settle on one.

Upon entering the Café we became the center of attention, The two boys who were previously child-like and playful switched their switch and their inner succubus came out. Lustful gazes and sexy smirks in all. Not that they're the only ones, One quick glance at Namjoon and I could tell he's oozing his sexual dominance. I plant a small suggestive smirk on my lips and run a hand through my hair to make it a bit more messy and wild before I cross my arms to push up my breasts. 

As we wait in line I can see everyone scoping us out, Some look like they're going to make a move while others whisper amongst themselves about us in their corner. When it came time for us to order the cashier looked visibly flushed and baffled. 

I smile at them with a well practiced charmed smile. I lean onto the counter giving a few in the Café a good view of my ass while giving the cashier a good view of my breasts. I smirk as they visibly swallow the lump in their throat. 

"What-What can I...What can I get you?" They stutter, "breath darling, we don't bite." I smile calmly, "Not unless you want us to," Namjoon smirks. I shot Namjoon a challenging gaze and he returned it, fine game on. 

I bring my hand up to my lips and draw small subtle circles around my lips as I look up at the menu. When I figured out what I wanted I glanced at the cashier, smirking as I saw then gnawing on their lip harshly while they eye my finger and lips.

I slowly lean forward, careful not to knock them out of the trance I put them in. I hear them whine as I slowly pull their lip out from between their teeth, "Now darling if you're willing I'm ready to order." I spoke calmly in a smooth suggestive voice. 

The cashier nods their head rapidly, lip once again caught between their teeth. I lean forward and pull it out again, "Darling if you keep biting your lip like that I'll have to give you a real reason to bite onto something," I whisper darkly. I watch completely amused as I watch the poor soul catch themself with the counter to keep themselves from falling to the floor.

"I would like a number three with a lemonade." I order softly before pulling away. I take a step back and watch as the cashier visibly relaxes. "Your move RM," I whisper challengingly, taking a step to the side to watch. The Cashier stiffens as soon as RM steps up to order. This should be fun.

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[mochii0park]

metanoia; 01 | kth

Title: Metanoia

Pairing: Taehyung / Reader

Part of series: Waterlilies and Japanese Bridge

Genre: angst I collage!au

Pairing: student!reader x photographer!taeyhung

Word count: 4,7k

Summary: Vante, a household name among photographers became known for his minimalistic photography style that came along with his secret persona. Never showing his face on his own exhibitions fueled the public’s desire to learn more about him which skyrocketed his fame. While preparing for his next exhibition Vante went missing. Disappeared into thin air and even now a year later was never found.

Author’s note: I am very conscious of any grammar mistakes. Although I have read this chapter three times I am sure I’ve missed some so bare with me. 

On another note, I have switched the dates of the chapters for Saudade and Metanoia. Since this story got more attention compared to Sauade I’ve decided to write it before the date.

This is my first attempt at writing on this platform and I hope it will reach out to a wider range of readers and catch your interest. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Taglist: @ggukkieland​ @honig-und-millch​ , @deliciousdetectivestranger ,

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Metanoia masterlist

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You sink into the overaged draggled yellow chair, catching second-hand embarrassment at the sight before you. The boy walked about, his thrusts were not enough to keep the neon hula hoop from falling. He attempts to fumble his way out of the mess, but it was too late. The left ankle twists itself and before you know it, he hits headfirst against the wooden flooring. The professors rush towards him, medics following behind. The boy tries to pull himself up but fails his body slumping against the stage. To your left Mingi snorts, stuffing his face with popcorn amused by the scene playing out.

“I don’t mean to sound rude or whatever, but people need to search up the meaning of talent before their eyes skip to the word show.” Minnie ruckles her nose, her mouth loop sided.

“I find this highly entertaining,” Mingi speaks up, mouth full of food. He takes a sip of the cold beverage rested in his lap and shakes the mixture before swallowing.

To his left Yeonjun shudders at him, “Talent or not I would rather replay that scene than watch Mingi be a slob. It makes me want to bleach my eyes out.”

Mingi rolls his eyes ignoring Yeonjun as he pops more popcorn, oblivious to his own weird antics. Although the four of you are friends for years, Mingi managed to take you all by surprise with his uncanny behaviour.

The second act starts and suddenly you contemplate your university choice. Reasonably the overbearing staff of your university wanted the timid first years to feel welcomed hence this so-called show. In hindsight, you think a friendly party would’ve been just as good.

Halfway through the act, you feel a light tap on your shoulders, professor Kim Namjoon stands there like a sore thumb in the mass of students’ bodies. With his hovering height, freshly dyed purple hair and the rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose he was sure to stand out. He shifts his footing from one to the other foot anxiously waiting for you to follow him, few students commenting on the disruptions that his appearance caused.

You observe him for a second, accompanying him out of the theatre into the cold November air. He fumbles through his leather briefcase before fishing out a small, crumpled flyer. Opening it he shoves it into your hands while tweaking his glasses.

“I have a favour to ask you Y/N. There will be a course taking place here and I would love for you to attend it with your peculiar friends.” He says emphasising the word peculiar.

You knew that Mingi gave Namjoon the creeps even though the latter denied it.

“No.”

You push back the flyer spinning on the balls of your feet ready to join your friends.

“Y/L-…”, Namjoon groans, “Do it for your brother-in-law.”

Widening your eyes, you look at him shaking your head.” This isn’t the time to use our family relations to bribe me into a stupid course.”

“Did you even read what’s it about?”, you take the flyer from his hands skimming through it.

Photography course

Length: 10th November till 10th June

Time: Friday, 6pm -8pm

Attendance: Third years and above

Equipment not needed for the course

Your eyes pause at the date, laughing releasing itself from your chest. Surely Namjoon was kidding when suggesting this. You were in your last year which meant you would soon be flooded with work for your final project. In conclusion, there was barely enough time for you set foot out of your studies let alone attend another one of the university’s poor attempts to make a course for students to bond over.

“You understand I’m in my last year. I don’t have time to go out and have fun with my friends. How in the world did you think I would fit a whole-ass course?”

Namjoon releases a breath running a hand through his thick hair, desperation evident on his face.” I am sorry to have to do this, but I am cashing in my favour.”

You become stiff mouth agape, incoherent vowels coming out of you. It takes you a few seconds to gather your thoughts, “you promised to not cash it in. You gave me your word.”

“And you gave me yours.” Namjoon retored sassily, finger pointing at you, “I won’t tell Sunmi if you promise to do me a favour when the time comes.”

Pushing your tongue against the palate, you try to control the boiling anger.

The incident happened four years ago, back when you were still figuring out your college life. Namjoon and you were acquaintances, sharing one elective course called German Literature. Needless to say, both of you suffered greatly.

By the end of the year, you noticed your sister piqued Namjoon’s interest. Grossed out by the idea of your older sister engaging in any kind of relationship/activity with a twenty-three-year-old, you kept your distance until the faithful day.

Choi San was the synonym for the devil himself. With his fiery red hair and dazzling cat-like eyes, he lured you into his messy life of illegal parties and binge drinking. You still find yourself cringing at his pathetic excuses of professing his undying love to you when it was all under false pretences. His eyes bearing into your naïve soul, pulling your heart out and wrenching it until your friends came to pick up the pieces.

Sitting in the police station you counted down minutes before your older sister would burst through the door and finally decide to disown you. With your head nested between your knees you suck in the tears threatening to spill, the euphoria from the alcohol long gone. You’ve dialled Mingi’s number first, the others were a no go when it came to answering their phones. He picked up in a matter of seconds. After explaining the situation, you figured he would bring his own parents to bail you out instead Namjoon comes first, after him a stressed Minnie trying to keep up the pace with him and a Yeonjun who’s pulling his masks further over his nose in a lame attempt to be unrecognizable. Mingi idly meanders behind them in his pyjamas with not one care in the world. Namjoon pulls a small amount of money handing the police officer and not long after you were free.

At that moment you’ve truly recognized your friends as the people you wanted to keep in your life forever. Namjoon jokingly said he would someday cash in his favour. Little did you know the joke would get over your head.

“You’ve waited for four years to cash it?”

He shrugs and nods lightly. Quickly he composes himself, washing his features of playfulness and switching them up with hopelessness. “It’s really important for me that you and your clique of friends attend this course. Professor Seojoon organized it-“

At the mention of your favourite professor, your eyes light up making Namjoon shudders. The little “crush” you harboured didn’t go unnoticed by him. Putting his hands on your shoulders he gains your attention again before continuing, “his brother is the one to hold the course so you must come. I will put in a good word for you all. Maybe he will go easy on you during quizzes.”

You roll your eyes knowing fully well that you didn’t need Namjoon’s intervention although it was greatly appreciated. Putting the flyer in your back pocket you throw a thumbs up to Namjoon, “Well Minnie and I don’t need any favouritism and I am almost certain you can’t do much for Yeonjun and Mingi seeing as they are in different departments.”

“Oh?” Namjoon’s brows shot up at the revelation, totally dismissing the idea that you know each other any differently than through the classes you attend, “I thought Yeonjun was in the literature department, as for Mingi it’s far-fetched but I didn’t want to sound rude.”

“Actually, Yeonjun is in the Vocal department while Mingi is in the Physics and Astronomy department. He’s also on top of his class, both are.”

Namjoon seems stunned at the information you threw at him, but he recovers swiftly, “Bunch of nerds.” He chuckles at his own jokes before both of you bid goodbyes. You slowly make your way to the cafeteria mind set on pursuing your friends to join you and Namjoon running to the staff meeting hoping to extinguish the chaos caused by the talent show.

Pushing past the mass of people on the campus your sneakers squeak against the pavement, the chatter between the students becoming louder as you push the cafeteria doors. Making your way towards the table in the further left corner you spot Yeonjun’s eye-catching hair. The pink shade fits well against his pale skin making him noticeable from afar. The boy throws a piece of chips at Mingi, the latter catching it mid-air.

The rustling of your chair brings them out of their bubble. Minnie plops her elbows on the table, hand supporting her cheek as she lays it there, eyes staring at you amusingly. Mingi continues to catch Yeonjun’s chips, his attention now slightly focused on you. “How was the talk with professor Namjoon.”

“I need a favour to ask you.”

“Last time you asked for a favour we had to bail you from jail,” Mingi adds face void of any emotion causing Yeonjun to almost choke on the piece of chicken from his plate. Minnie reaches for his head hitting him hard on the back.

“That was four years ago for God’s sake.” You yell, a few students turning bothered by your loud voice disrupting their meal.

Slumping further into the seat, cheeks reddened from the heat of the sudden attention you gained you say quietly, “there is a course taking place this year and I would love if you could attend it.”

Mingi was the first to read the flyer once you push it in the middle of the old table. He hums a couple of times and gives you a thumbs up, unlike Minnie who scoffs.

“A whole semester? Y/N you know this is impossible to juggle this with our final project. As much as I would love to participate you know what you’re asking for is too much.”

You bite your lower lip remembering Namjoon’s words. “I know but professor Seojoon is organizing it, and don’t you think having him on our good side would mean a lot?”

Minnie shrugs and pops the strawberry into her mouth. “I understand, but it’s on Fridays. The only time I can spare for parties and clubs, and you’re asking me to spend it studying something I am not even remotely interested in?”

You turn towards Yeonjun knowing if he agrees Minnie will crumble under the pressure of your group. He scans it quickly and shakes his lightly head from left to right before agreeing to accompany you making Minnie collapse her shoulders in defeat.

“Fine but if it takes too much of my time I am signing out.”

“I love you guys so much.”

“Cut it with the sappy shit, I have piano lessons.” Yeonjun gets up telling you goodbye before he disappears in the ocean of students his pink hair no longer visible. A distant scream could be heard a few seconds after, “I love you too.”

You smile feeling the love of your friends.

“We love you too.” Mingi gets up and places a carton of freshly squeezed apple juice in front of you sending off a small smile. Just like Yeonjun, he’s gone.

                        -

Nose buried deep into the book; Taehyung tried his best to mute out his brother’s lame attempts of starting a conversation he never intended to finish. Legs resting on the polished marble table he did his very best to further fuel Seojoon’s irritation. The older one pacing back and forwards provoking Taehyung’s headache.

“If you would just listen to me.”

Kim Taehyung detested surprise, especially those he didn’t catch on early. This one though topped the cake. “There is no need to listen.”

“Quit being stubborn.”

“Oh, the irony.” Taehyung looked up catching his brother’s burning gaze,” contrary to your beliefs, I must say you are the one who’s stubborn here. When a person asks for space and time you give them that instead of forcing them, wait sorry what was the word again? Yeah, lightly pushing them into holding a course. One which they never asked for or showed the desire to hold.”

“You needed a little push in the right direction.”

“Arranging a one-year course isn’t a push you idiot,” Taehyung shouted; the book was long forgotten and tossed aside on his couch. His yell echoed in the empty room causing Seojoon’s to scowl. He found comfort in a small armchair adjacent to the marble table. “You can’t bury yourself in books and spend your days in the atelier. It’s not healthy Taehyung.”

“I don’t remember asking for advice.”

Seojoon was on the verge of giving up, letting the course get cancelled before it even happened hadn’t it been for the twelve people that signed up and Namjoon’s effort to recruit them.

“Look-“he takes a deep breath calming himself, “You can think of it as a one year course, but in reality, it’s eight months. When you count Christmas, New Year, Easter you can cut one month coming to seven months in total. I’ve gone all out for this course, please don’t make me go and explain to my higher-ups why it’s cancelled before it even started.”

Taehyung shut his eyes trying not to feed the growing frustration inside him. Seojoon takes the time to look at his brother, the embodiment of pain. The eyes that used to shine brightly at the sight of new opportunities were now dull and empty, almost as if his soul left the body. It tore him apart to see Taehyung like that, powerless and what added more to his pain was the inability to help him.  

“It’s been a year since I’ve held a class.”

“I know you Taehyung. You are a man of many talents and there is nothing that can convince me otherwise. You need to move forward and face the fear you’ve been holding onto. It’s been a year. Nobody will judge you.” Seojoon’s eyes soften as he walks up to his brother ruffling his hair, hoping that his sincerity got through to him.

“I don’t know Joon.”

Before Seojoon could even start talking Taehyung shakes his head and moves hurriedly reaching for the knob. Seojoon takes a step towards Taehyung, but he doesn’t even give him a chance to speak as he runs right out of the door leaving him alone in the atelier.

The water drips from Taehyung’s wet hair down his face creating a false comfort, the sound of water coated a perfect cover to hide his emotional baggage. It became a habit of his to seek solace in the bathtub surrounded by lavender soaps that Yuna bought. A tradition carried on from their mother to them. The scent took Taehyung back into his childhood spent in his family home in Busan. Carefree of responsibilities and the heavy burden the world carried.

He recalls the delicate touch of his mother’s fingers untangling his locks while singing Elvis’s song can’t help falling in love. Her voice heartening Taehyung as he wept over a dispute he had with his second brother Hyungsik. The vivid memory of his mother placing a kiss on the crown of his head before wiping away the tears from his cheeks.

“Siblings are there to teach you about life,” she whispers softly, “They teach you what it means to be kind, to be fair and to know you will not always be right. They teach you about teamwork, conflict resolution and most importantly Tae they teach you what it is to love and to be loved.”

Opening the door of Seojoon’s study, Taehyung is greeted with a sight to behold. Leaning against the door frame he watches Yuna and Hyungsik dancing in the middle of the muddled room, furniture pushed aside to create more room. They attempted to follow Yuna’s new choreography, Seojoon’s seated in the leather armchair grading assignments although he would glance up occasionally laughing at the duo. More like laugh at Hyungsik’s failed attempts but he didn’t need to know that. Noticing Taehyung’s presence, Yuna runs over linking their arms and pulls him forward oblivious to the slight tension between him and Seojoon.

“Idol my ass, “she scoffs at a gasping Hyungsik, “Taehyungie I need a dance partner for my new choreography. Hyungsik can’t even learn the basics.”

“Not my fault the younger generation goes overboard with their dances and outfits and singing. In my time we relied on our charms, and not how you call it? Fairy ending? What is even that?”

“It’s when idols finish the song, and the camera pans on of them giving them some more love and screen time. Right?” Taehyung looks at Yuna for approval. She places Taehyung’s hand over her shoulder, linking her arms around his waist while he kisses her temple and puts his cheek on top of her head.

“Admit it you’ve gotten old Hyungsik.” Seojoon derides.

That was enough to motivate Hyungsik to crack his fingers and reach for the tablet, “Give me the goddamn tablet. I’ll show you who’s old.” burying his nose into the gadget, he replays the video repeatedly.

By the time he made it through the first segment of the dance, Taehyung was sure he could blindly replicate the choreography himself.

“Couldn’t you ask one of your professors or other idols in training to help you?” Taehyung asks as the two observe Hyungsik’s rusty moves.

“One friend is busy finishing school projects and Jungkook-a has too many events lined up to help. I haven’t seen him since last Friday and I don’t feel comfortable asking Jimin-ssi to practice with me.”

“Isn’t he your professor?”

“Yes and no. He helps the idols which have already debuted in our entertainment company, that’s Jungkook. Jimin-ssi does occasionally step in when other professors are prevented from teaching. But his job is being a full-time professor at the EQ Royal Dance Academy.”

Taehyung nods, the information flying over his head as Hyungsik messes up a move and topples to the floor. He erupts into fits of laugher for the first time in weeks and Seojoon is suddenly reminded what’s it like to be happy. He knew bringing Yuna home for the weekend would do Taehyung some good. The sight warms his heart, his siblings bickering loudly, breathing some life into the old room. Resting the assignments on the nearby table, he sits up to join them. Catching Taehyung’s gaze he looks towards the boy, brows raised.

“I’ve thought about it and-” Taehyung stops for a second, but Seojoon’s soft gaze prompts him to continue. “I’ll take the job.”

“Well, you better get ready because it starts in two hours.”

“What?!”

                       -

There were many ways you could spend your Friday night, like partying for instance yet here you are sitting in your car listening to Minnie whining. Mingi’s soul stuck somewhere on his iPod the second he set foot in the car, his head bobbing to the music blasting from his AirPods. Yeonjon was the only one not present. Due to his idol actives, he was held back by his vocal coach, but he promised to be there for the second lecture.

Placing your analogue camera on the desk, you tug your hair into a ponytail mentally preparing yourself for two hours of dullness. Minnie sits to your right while Mingi takes the chair to your left. The three of you seating yourselves in the front of the classroom, Namjoon’s words bunch of nerds playing in your head.

Shaking the thought away you see the watch tick eight pm as the door swings open.

When Namjoon told you professor Seojoon’s brother would hold the course you had expected a man either older than him or somewhere around his age, not a handsome make you take a double look type of a man; two or three years older than you.

His features were nothing short of a Greek god. He stood head and shoulders over you even when you were seated, confidence radiating from every fibre of his being as adjusts his bag over his shoulder. Pushing his brown curls away from his face he allows you to look at it. Perhaps you were exaggerating but you never saw such a gorgeous man. Straightening himself up you take notice of his attire for tonight’s lecture. An orange blazer draped over a white shirt brought out his sun-kissed complexion paired with the same-coloured trousers. A type of anonymity laced itself with every step he took in your direction, his stare a mixture of coldness and determination.

He comes forward, eyes scanning each one of you before he sets his gaze on you. It lingers there for a second, his expression unreadable before he breaks it.

“Hello, my name is Kim Taehyung and I’ll be your lecturer for this course.”

For the first time, you see Mingi’s focus entirely on Taehyung. His presence demanded to be felt and a part of you was sure he knew it. Taking the camera in his hand he turns towards you.

“I assume you have at least once taken a photo, whether with your phones or camera. Moreover, I am positive you have attempted to make an aesthetic photo for your Instagram feed. How many of you were successful?” laughter filled the lecture hall,” The goal of this lecture isn’t to make a photographer out of you nor to help you improve your skills. The point is to make you fall in love with photography. The rest will come easy.”

He walks around the desk and opens an old leather binder. Walking towards your table he places it in front of Mingi allowing the three of you to peek at the content of it. There neatly stored in a plastic sheet were his photos. Mingi pushes the portfolio in front of you, allowing easier access to both Minnie and you. Slowly leafing through the pictures, you stop in total awe. Eyes trailing over a simple photo of a ray field, caught somewhere in later November or early December judging by the snow. The contrast was striking, the clash of the colours and the depth of field creating an imaginary line between the ray and the sky.

Taehyung observes your dumbfounded expression, intrigued by your sudden amazement he ambles to your side. He rakes over the photo, which was a thereby sheer mistake, panic rushing through him. In a reckless attempt to stop you from further prying into the photos he grasps the portfolio out of your hold knocking over your camera in the process. It hits the floor shattering the lens into pieces, the film rolling down until it stops near his feet. Cursing himself for his abrupt action, he looks at you. Your eyes drift from the broken camera to Taehyung’s face.

He hurriedly squats picking the pieces, analysing the damage. Beyond repair.

“I am so sorry. I-” he says placing the parts on your table trying to come up with more words of apology.

“It’s alright.” You shuffle awkwardly in your seat not liking the spotlight put on you.

“I’ll be sure to repay you the coasts of a new camera.”

You shake your head; the camera was already outdated, and you were sure Sunmi would let you borrow her digital one from the gallery. “It’s fine.”

Taehyung puts his lips into a thin line, the confidence he marched beginning to leave his body. Although you showed no anger or resentment towards him, he still felt the need to apologize. Swallowing the awkward moment, he paces towards the centre.

“Today we will start with simple terms such as ISO, Aperture and Shutter speed. Three things you should get familiar with.”

Fetching his Nikon camera from the case he turns it around. Swirling the button on the upper part of the camera he adjusts the mode to manual. Pushing another button towards himself the camera shows three circles in the middle of the screen.

“The first circle is shutter speed. That’s the speed at which the light of a camera sensor is exposed to light when taking a photo. Slow shutter speed captures the blur of subjects in motion. It’s valuable for night and landscape photography. On the other hand, high speed allows you to freeze a single millisecond in time.”

Pointing to the middle circle he continues. “This is an aperture, the opening through which light passes through the lens to enter the camera. Its size can be modified to control how much light reaches the sensor.”

Lastly, he shows you the third button. “ISO represents the sensor’s sensitivity to the light. The higher the number, the more information will be captured in other words the picture will be brighter.”

Taehyung fumbles with the camera for a few seconds before he focuses it on you and with a click and shutter of light, he takes your photo. With no time to recover you feel a blush creep at the thought of how the picture turned out. “As you can see this is the perfect setting for the indoor portrait. Now if we put the shutter speed high and the ISO low-“

He again takes a picture of you turning the camera screen to the students. The photo was dark, your features barely visible but still your figure could be distinguished. “This is an underexposed photo. Now if we set the shutter speed to let’s say 1/40 and places the ISO high-“

Expecting his move this time, you look up at the camera. Taehyung halts his action for a slight second before he presses the button. Looking at the photo, the brightness is overbearing. “This is an overexposed photo.”

He places the camera in front of Mingi, Minnie and you allowing you to take your time and compare the three photos he took. “Why am I showing you this? Because for your next assignment that’s what you will do. You will take three photos of the same object. The object you choose should be something that left a great impact on you. That can be your family, your friends or an inanimate object such as phones, books etc. The choice is yours.”

Pulling out stacks of paper he leaves them on the corner of his desk.” These here are today’s study notes. I don’t expect you to write down notes while in the class, but I do expect you to finish your assignments. That will be all for today.”

The students began leaving the room each taking one paper, Taehyung stood there, hands in his pocket looking through every pupil that passed by. Minnie was first in line, her flirt mode on. You see them exchange a few words, Minnie’s behaviour suddenly going from sweet to sour in seconds. You dally your way to the desk aware of his gaze burning holes in the side of your head.

“Sorry, Y/N was it?” You peek up not expecting him to spare you a second let alone address you.

“Yeah?”

Taehyung scratches the back of his neck awkwardly.” I am sorry for what happened to your camera. I know you said it’s fine, but I feel responsible for it. I would feel better if you let me repay you by buying a new camera or at least participating in the coasts.”

“No, really it’s fine.” You laugh as you say it for the fourth time today.” I will borrow my sister’s camera for the course. If I do find myself in a need to buy a new camera, I will let you know.”

Before Taeyhung could protest you nod politely and leave the room. Biting his lip, he couldn’t help to feel bad about the wreck he made knowing full well how much an analogue camera costs nowadays. Taking the Nikon one from your table he swipes through the photos deleting each one before he pauses on the last one. It was the first black and white photo he took of you.

Your eyes were focused on Taehyung, although taken aback by the light they held their composure your mouth pulled into an affiliative smile. The white light made your baby hair stand out in the black background. For an unexplained reason, Taehyung felt a small tug, one he couldn’t pinpoint the meaning of. Shutting off his camera, he exhales through his nose and throws the bag over his shoulder.

The first lecture was done, thirty-three to go.

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