#not today“ or ”I'm gonna have to sit this one out“

[papercorgiworld]

I don't need space, I need you

This is the requested Draco and Enzo version

Read the Mattheo and Theo version here.

I present you cuteness overload with needy Draco and Enzo and some sassy insults towards Matt and Theo, because I can't resist adding banter and jokes. To the person that requested this, thank you! ☺️ To the people that have sent in requests or casual small talk I'm slowly working through my inbox... I will get to it one day... just know that I love all you darlings and I'm very grateful for your messages. Now, time to get to some reading, I hope you enjoy it, sending you all lots of love! 💛

Draco

“What’s the point of having a girlfriend if I can’t find her.” Draco complains, approaching his friends relaxing by the fireplace in the Slytherin common room. “Have any of you seen here?” Enzo looks up at the impatient blond. “I think she said something about studying with Granger.” Draco is about to start whining about you not being there and instead spending time with Hermione Granger of all people, when he’s interrupted by a snorting Mattheo. “Finally a moment of peace for my fallen brother. Sit and enjoy your freedom before miss clingy returns.” Theodore and Enzo chuckle and Draco feels forced to at least smile at Mattheo’s comment. “Yeeah-, finally peace.” Draco tries his best to sound convincing, but to him peace was cuddling with you, not hanging out with mister mommy and daddy issues, the Italian manwhore and Enzo. The latter picked up on Draco’s reluctance to sit down. “If you miss her so much, maybe you should go look for her?” Theo laughed at Enzo’s suggestion thinking it was a joke and Draco feels the need to make it absolutely clear that he doesn’t miss you at all. “No! If she gets any more cuddly and clingy I’m gonna need to hide from her. And she’s always so nosy, why does she always need to know how my day was? I'll tell her if she needs to know anything.” Mattheo chuckles and offers his friend a drink, but to Draco that did not make up for missing out on time with you.

Your excitement to tell Draco about your day was replaced by a wrecking sadness that made your tears well up. Clingy. Too cuddly. Nosy. As you turn on your heels to leave the common room before anyone notices you, you almost bump into someone because your eyes are getting blurry. Worried that you had been the most annoying girlfriend ever you decided to do better. Draco had been a wonderful boyfriend so far and you really didn’t want to screw this up by being overwhelming. 

***

“He’s a guy and it’s Draco. I’m just giving him some space.” You explained to Luna and Hermione, who both frowned as you joined them in the stands of the quidditch stadium without wishing your boyfriend luck as he left the barracks. Normally you would kiss him passionately in front of everyone and he would hug you tight before he hopped on his broom, but today you wished him luck at breakfast and that was it. You thought you were giving him space as you smiled at him from the stands, but instead you were giving your boyfriend a heart attack as he spotted you so far away. “Hey, Malfoy! The game is about to start. Get on your broom.” Theodore yelled annoyed. “But- but-” Draco’s eyes moved from you to Theo and back to you. The game could not possibly start without you wishing him luck. Confused Draco eventually got on his broom, but his head was nowhere near the game. 

***

Fred and George cheerfully ran up to you and George even picked you up for a moment, making you laugh. Gryffindor had won and the boys were convinced you aided in their victory. “Never wish Draco luck anymore!” Fred yelled and George put you back down as he noticed how confused you were. “I’ve known chickens who fly better than he flew today.” You frowned at the statement. “You think it was because I didn’t wish him any luck before the game?” Both nodded and then left as they were distracted by other people cheering. 

A little worried you slowly made your way in the direction of the changing room. Most of the slytherin team had already made their way to the common room, mainly to keep a pissed off Mattheo from throwing punches, but Draco wasn’t with them so you guessed he was sulking by himself.

You gently push the door open and it reveals a defeated, sweaty and shirtless Draco sitting in an empty room. He hadn’t even made it to the showers yet, his head resting against the wall behind him like it would fall off if it didn’t have any support. His eyelids slowly open and he ssees your worried figure standing at the door. Why is she not rushing to be by my side? Why is she being so distant? Is she going to break up with me? His head was spinning and his heart was aching. “Bad game, huh.” You eventually speak up and Draco just huffs in response. “If you’re going to break up with me just do it already. I’m having a bad day, but I can handle it.” Draco’s eyes look dull and his voice sounds soulless. He gets up and takes a few steps towards you, studying you as you look absolutely shocked. Once you process his words you immediately rush towards him, your eyes pained at the idea of breaking up with the man you so love. 

“I’m not breaking up with you!”. Your voice is surprisingly loud and there is a hint of fear in your words as you worry he was going to end things with you. Your hands rest on Draco’s arms and he shakes his head, not understanding why you were so distant earlier. “Then why didn’t you wish me luck?” You're baffled at the question, it was obvious to you why and you didn’t expect him to care for it. “You said I was too cuddly and too clingy. So I thought it best to give you some space and not overwhelm you before a game. I wished you luck this morning.” 

Draco looks at you like you had just said the dumbest thing ever. “Space? I don’t want space! I want you. I need you! I love you.” Your eyebrows knit together. “But I clearly heard you say-” Draco shakes his head. “When did I ever say you were too clingy… or cuddly. It’s why I love you so much.” You take a step back from your boyfriend. “Yesterday, in the common room, you were talking with Riddle, Berkshire and Nott.” Draco opens his mouth in realisation and then clenches his jaw as he curses himself. He takes a step and closes the distance you had created between you two. “Yeah… I said that… but I didn’t mean it. I said it because I felt that the truth was a bit embarrassing.” You look at your boyfriend with questioning eyes. “Not really cool to tell your mates that you’re looking for your girlfriend because you want to snuggle and watch the stars from the astronomy tower.” You give him a soft smack on the head and he looks at you with apologetic eyes. “I felt horrible after hearing you say those things.” Draco pulls you into his chest. “Shouldn’t have listened in.” He jokes, but you don’t think it’s funny at all and you try to push free from his arms. However you are unsuccessful but Draco apologises. “I shouldn’t have said those things, because I’m just one big softy for you. Nothing tough about me when it comes down to you.” Gently his lips search yours and you’re hesitant at first to kiss your idiotic boyfriend, but when he apologises again you let his lips meet yours for a sweet kiss. 

“So next game, kisses and hugs?” You ask and Draco nods. “Yes. And I don’t think a single slytherin is going to mock us for being too clingy since the only chance we have at winning the quidditch cup is with you by my side.” Nothing tough about Draco at all. Just a needy boyfriend. You think to yourself as you kiss him. 

Enzo

“Pans!” Enzo squeals dramatically as he enters the slytherin common room. “Where is the future missus Berkshire? Can’t find her anywhere.” Before Pansy can answer Enzo’s question Mattheo puts his book down grinning at his friend. “Can’t be without her for even a second?” Enzo’s excitement drops as he notices everyone is looking up now, curious what Enzo’s answer will be. Enzo was always a bit different from his nonchalant and stoic friends. He knew the tough act didn’t suit him and he was confident enough to just be himself, but right now he was a bit worried. He felt himself get nervous and chuckled at Riddle’s question. “Told you, he’s absolutely whipped.” Draco says with an arrogant tone as he raises his eyebrows, challenging Enzo.

“She was at the Library with Luna, but I’m sure she’ll be here any minute.” Pansy finally answers, after rolling her eyes at Draco’s arrogance. “Good, that gives me a few more minutes free of her… because I am not whipped. She’s the one that always wants to be near me.” Mattheo leans back and nods along, pretending to believe Enzo. “Oh really, so why do you keep putting up with it?” Enzo sits down, lounging casually. “I like her so I put up with her clinginess, but honestly I don’t need her around all the time. The hugs and kisses… that’s all her… not me.” 

You had only taken three steps in the common room before stopping. You felt your legs get wobbly at your boyfriend’s words. You take quiet steps backwards and hurry out of the common room. Obviously you were not wanted there.

However, you missed out on Pansy’s loud snickering. “Oh please, Enzo! You liar!” Enzo is absolutely shocked at Pansy’s accusations, but no one else is as all his friends start laughing. “You couldn’t go a day with her.” Draco says, shaking his head at Enzo’ sad attempt at trying to act indifferent towards you. “Alright, alright. I can’t stand being without her! I love her. I need her.” Mattheo laughs, satisfied with Enzo’s confession. “There’s the real Berkshire I know.” Enzo lets his head fall back, bracing for days of mocking and jokes about his attachment to you. 

***

“Oh yeah! Sounds fun. I’ll be there.” Enzo overhears you agreeing to go to Hogsmeade with the golden trio and leans over his desk towards you. “Hey, hey! You can’t go to Hogsmeade with them on Saturday, we were going.” You turn in your seat towards your boyfriend and kiss him on the cheek. “You can go with your friends. We don’t have to do everything together.” Your answer hurts Enzo and his eyebrows knit together. Yes we do, what else is the purpose of a relationship. But before your boyfriend can protest out loud the professor enters the classroom.

***

“Look at her.” Enzo complains to an uncaring Theodore Nott. “The entire week she’s been distant, always better things to do than being with me and now this.” A frustrated Enzo gestures your way and Theo shrugs. “What am I supposed to do?” Enzo whines.

“Kidnap her and lock her up, then you have her all to yourself.” Mattheo suggests, making Theo frown and offer his own advice on the matter. “No, don’t listen to abandonment issues over here. Just get a new girlfriend.” Blaise just facepalms at the realisation he is the only sane one in his friend group. “Ignore both abandonment issues and attachment issues and just go talk to your girlfriend like a normal person.” Blaise emphasises the last words as he glares judgingly at Mattheo and Theo who both act offended. Enzo nods, realising that Blaise was right.

You notice your boyfriend strutting over to you and your friends from across the street and excuse yourself to meet him halfway. “Hey you.” You whisper and Enzo immediately smiles, feeling relieved that you're still your sweet self. “I miss you.” Your boyfriend blurs, even surprising himself with his honesty. “You wanna have dinner together tonight?” You offer, but Enzo shakes his head making you frown. “No. I mean yes, obviously I would like that, but it’s not just that I want to do just one thing with you. We’ve barely spent time together this week.” An uncomfortable laugh escapes you, but you repress it when you notice how sad Enzo’s eyes are. “We’ve spent plenty of time together, besides you’re a guy, you need your space. I don’t want to suffocate you with hugs and kisses all the time.” 

Enzo is baffled at your words. “I’m a guy so I need space. What’s that supposed to mean?” There was a slight tone of agitation in his voice that made you take a step back, but he was quick to close the distance by taking a step closer. “Who put all these crazy ideas in your head of needing to give me space and suffocating me with love?” Your face falls at his harsh tone, but you bite back. “It was you. You were the one that said you wanted to be free of me for a few minutes and that I was the needy one and you had to put up with my clinginess. It was you, Enzo Berkshire, you idiot. So you have no right to complain about me giving you space, since you asked for it.” Enzo’s jaw clenches at your accusation. “I did not!” You cross your arms and raise your eyebrows. “I heard you with Pansy, Matt and Draco.” 

Enzo frowns for a moment, but when he remembers his eyes widen and a laugh escapes his lips. “You believed that?” He asks and you just stare at him in confusion. “They didn’t believe any of it. I was trying to convince them I wasn’t some whipped guy that couldn’t be without his girlfriend for a second, but they saw right through me.” You unfold your arms and Enzo takes your hands in his. “I don’t need space, I need you. So please don’t force me to go days without your hugs and kisses. You don’t suffocate me, if anything I suffocate without you.” You kiss him tenderly and out of excitement Enzo picks you up, making you squeal softly. “Please spend the day with me?” You nod and kiss your boyfriend’s pouty lips. 

[tpwk-formula1]

Hi, can I get the following with Max please:

- Gluten free crust

- Red sauce

- Olives

- Peperoni

- Jalapeños

- Chicken

- Roasted peppers

- Ham

- Argula

- Pulled pork

- Beer

- Pepsi

- Root beer

- Dessert

Lee-Lee's Pizzeria Menu

gluten-free enemies to lovers red sauce rough sex olives "Swallow every last bit. NOW!" pepperoni "Be a good girl, and you'll get what you want" jalapenos "Always such a fucking brat" chicken "Awe, you thought I'd let you cum that easy?" roasted peppers "Such a good whore" ham "You're so infuriating. Walking around like you own the place and then come back to my room to get fucked properly" arugula "I love stretching this pussy out" chorizo "God, I love when I fuck the attitude out of you" beer edging pepsi oral kink root beer daddy kink served by Max Verstappen

TW mean max, face fuck, degrading terms, cum swallowing, pussy eating, unprotected set, slight size kink, multiple orgasms, edging, cummin on body

WC 2900+

Y/N POV

"Max they need you in the car now," I shout through the door trying to get Max to get out of his driver's room.

"Leave me alone little Horner," Max says walking past me and brushing shoulders with me quite aggressively. I just roll my eyes at the attitude radiating off of Max.

I just walk in the other direction not wanting to get into it with Max today. I was the daughter of Christian Horner, and Max and I have never gotten along. Even when we were both young teenagers we would still find a way to bicker back and forth. Back when we were younger it would be over stupid things like what type of coffee was better. Now, that we are older and I work for Red Bull Max has taken it upon himself to make sure to make my work life a living hell.

As the race day continues I watch as Checo is excelling on the Baku track while Max is currently fighting to not get overtaken by Lando who started in the back of the grid.

When Lando overtook Max I had to contain my laugh knowing the engineers around me were not enjoying Max's race. I think the race is pretty much a wrap when all of a sudden I watch as Checo and Carlos collide into the way making me cringe as all of Checo's hard work this weekend is down the drain in a matter of seconds.

I brace myself for the shouts that start ringing out in our garage even hearing Ferrari shouting from how loud they had gotten.

When the race finally finished under a VSC I continued watching as Max's starts overtaking Lando and George. I hear Lando start mentioning Max making me smirk a little. I knew he wasn't gonna get into any kind of trouble but it was funny listening in on him getting snitched on.

Once everything starts to calm down from the intense ending of the race I make my way back into the hospitality to pack up my stuff to head back to the hotel and get some rest before my early morning flight tomorrow.

"You're the last person I fucking want to see right now," Max shouts when I walk into one of the conference rooms to gather my laptop and the rest of my belongings I left in here during the race.

"I'm just getting my stuff," I say softly not wanting to get into a screaming match with Max.

"I'm sure you are," Max says rolling his eyes like I had told some lie.

"What are you getting at Max?" I snap at him when I make it to the corner where my bag of stuff is sitting.

"I just think it's ironic you just so happen to always be where I am. It's like you're fucking obsessed with me," Max says while standing up and approaching me, making me start to back up slightly.

When my back hits the wall Max is now standing face to face with me.

"Max, back up," I whisper starting to get a bit scared. Max and I had always gone at it but he had also never once gotten into my face before.

"Come back to my hotel with me. I'm fucking exhausted from fighting off the sexual frustration," Max says making me gasp before laughing slightly.

"you're fucking insane if you think we have sexual tension between us and you need to go to a mental hospital if you thought THAT would work on me," I say before pushing him back and attempting to try and leave.

When Max grabs my wrist I groan knowing he wasn't done with the conversation.

"One night, let me fuck you till the sunrises and then we go back to whatever this is," Max says making me step to him so we are back to being chest to chest.

"No," I simply say trying to turn around again but stop in my tracks when Max shouts again.

"One fucking night," Max shouts. I instantly turn back around pushing at his chest a little making him stumble.

"Max if I go back with you and you don't have me on the edge of cumming within 5 minutes I'm getting up and going back to my room," I tell him sternly.

"I only need 2," Max says cockily making me shake my head before leaving the room.

When I get back to my hotel room I take a quick shower and get partially ready kind of hoping the plans between Max and I weren't just a heated discussion after a bad race.

I'm not even halfway through brushing my teeth when I get a notification on my phone letting me know Max had texted me. When I finished brushing I picked up my phone to see what Max said

"Be here in 10. 342"

I quickly change before stepping out of my room to head for the elevator to head up to Max's room. I feel like I should be having doubts but to be quite frank, I have wanted Max for far longer than I want to admit. He was right there has been sexual tension between us for years but neither one of us trying to admit it.

When I get in front of his hotel room I hesitate before knocking knowing whatever happens tonight will change everything.

"On time, I'm fucking shocked," Max says when he opens the door to let me in.

"Max, what the hell are you on about?" I snap at him not even being able to last 30 seconds without us fighting.

"You're so infuriating. Walking around like you own the place and then come back to my room to get fucked properly" Max says casually making me stop in my tracks and stare at him.

"You're a fucking dick. And don't flatter yourself you have 5 minutes starting now," I say making Max instantly approach me and pull me in for one of the most intense and aggressive makeout sessions I have ever been a part of. I can feel the sparks flying almost instantly. Max picks me up and carries me into the other room where his bed is before he places me on the bed and starts pulling up my shirt making my breath hitch slightly.

When Max has my shirt off he instantly unclips my bra and flings it across the room before pushing me down softly to lie down.

As soon as my back hits the mattress I feel Max's hands making quick work at pulling my pants down leaving me completely bare in less than a minute.

"neuken," Max mumbles making me lift my head slightly. I've known Max long enough to have picked up on some of his Dutch.

"What," I snap worried that something was wrong.

"God the prettiest pussy," Max mumbles before diving right in and pulling my clit into his mouth and instantly sucking it making me arch my back and throw my head back.

"Fuck, Max," I whine when I feel his fingers teasing my entrance.

"How are you already this fucking soaked," Max groans into my pussy sending a new set of vibrations to my clit making me whine again.

"You, Max. It's always been you," I groan when I make eye contact with him. I can see the smirk written all over his face.

Max dives back making me whine. When two of his fingers slip into my tight pussy I instantly scream in pleasure feeling my orgasm approach far faster than I wanted.

"You're fucking close already," Max pulls away slightly to making sure to keep finger fucking me making me moan and nod my head.

"Yes, daddy," I moan without thinking making both Max and I stop almost instantly and stare at each other.

"Daddy?" Max questions with a smirk and before I can even say anything he's fucking me with his fingers far faster than he was previously.

"Max I'm gonna fucking cum," I moan out making Max pull his fingers out leaving me on the edge.

"What the fuck," I shout sitting up slightly so I can look Max in the eyes.

"Awe, you thought I'd let you cum that easy?" Max questions with a smirk making me wanna slap his.

"5 minutes are up. I'm leaving," I say while trying to get up but Max is instantly holding me down not letting me move.

"You said I had 5 minutes to bring you to the edge of cumming, I did," Max says with a smirk taking my words far to literal than I would have hoped.

"Max just make me fucking cum," I say getting frustrated, never being good at handling being edged even though it's one of my favorite things.

"No, not until I get my little nickname again," Max says with a smirk making me scoff and shake my head no.

"Well until then I'm gonna enjoy this pussy," Max says before putting his fingers back into my pussy making me gasp before he starts licking my clit bringing all the pleasure flooding back into my body making me moan.

"Fuck, Max so good," I whine. I knew my orgasm was approaching but instead of announcing it, I tried to hide it.

"Always such a fucking brat," Max says when he pulls his fingers out and moves his mouth from my pussy denying my orgasm again.

"Max," I say seriously.

"No, you know what you need to do, and don't be a fucking brat and try to hide it. I know this body far more than you think," Max says sternly before sending a harsh slap on my pussy making me jump slightly.

Max doesn't waste much time to start playing with my pussy again and it doesn't take me long for my orgasm to slowly start approaching again.

"Fuck," I moan feeling myself crawling to the edging and needing to cum.

"Be a good girl, and you'll get what you want," Max says making me whine.

"Please Daddy, let me cum," I finally break down and beg how Max wanted. This had Max speeding up his actions and throwing me over the edge within moments.

"Fuck, Daddy," I scream when he keeps fucking me even after helping me ride through my orgasm.

"God, you scream too good," Max says finally pulling away after torturing me with overstimulation for a few moments.

When I catch my breath I sit up softly getting out of bed before standing in front of Max pulling him in for another kiss and starting to work on undressing him.

When Max is finally undressed I pushed him to sit on the edge of the bed before getting on my knees for him.

"Such a good whore" Max mumbles when he sees me on my knees getting ready to pull him into my mouth.

When I finally get ready to pull Max into my mouth I realize just how big he was. I hesitate slightly not knowing if I would be able to take him all the way into my mouth but decide there is only one way to find out.

When I pull his tip into my mouth I can taste the salty precum he was already leaking making me suck it up getting addicted on the taste.

When I start bobbing my head I realize Max would still have another inch or so left that I wouldn't be able to take into my mouth so I bring one of my hands to jerk off the rest.

"Fuck, your mouth is finally useful," Max says making me groan around his cock and pinch his thigh with my free hand.

When I pull back from Max's cock I feel the my spit trailing from his cock to my lips making the scene all the more erotic.

I take a few deep breaths before getting back to work on Max's cock needed to make him cum.

I could tell Max was getting close faster than I thought he would which had me bobbing my head faster trying to take all of him into my mouth, before Max is pushing my head down making me gag while he starts cumming down my throat.

I can feel some of his cum leak out of my lips from how hard I was gagging around his cock but Max didn't seem to care too much as it make his hips buck trying to ride his orgasm out.

"Swallow every last bit. NOW!" Max demands when he pulls my head from his dick making me swallow instantly.

"You're a messy slut now," Max says with a smirk making me look over to the mirror that was in the room. When I see my face I have tears running down my cheeks, my freshly washed hair was all over the place, all the while my lips were swollen and pink and covered in my spit and Max's cum. He was right I was messy.

Max roughly wipes my lips rubbing my spit and his cum smearing it on my cheek before he is pulling me in for a heated makeout session again.

"I need to feel that pussy around my cock," Max mumbles against my lips making me whine. I nod my head letting him know I wanted it too.

"Fuck me please daddy," I beg.

This has Max hauling me off my knees before being roughly tossed onto the bed where Max is on me within seconds.

We spent several minutes making out and grinding on each other before Max was fully around again and I was soaked.

I feel Max's cock teasing my entrance making me arch my back in anticipation. When he slowly starts pushing in making me whine at the stretch.

"I love stretching this pussy out," Max groans once he was fully filling me up, giving me only a few moments to adjust before he starts slowly rocking his hips making me whine.

"So big," I gasp out when I feel him hit my cervix for the 3rd time in a row. The pain and burn of being stretched was starting to fade and all I could feel was the pure pleasure coursing through my body now.

"I'm not gonna last Daddy," I moan out warning him of the strong orgasm that was currently impending.

"God, I love when I fuck the attitude out of you. Your wrapped around my cock like a fucking slut being all sweet now. If I would have known this would work I would've fucked you years ago," Max groans through clenched teeth making his thrust even harder but keeping the same brutally fast pace.

"I'm gonna cum daddy," I announce just before exploding into my first squirting orgasm making my pleasure fly all over both Max and I. I can hear Max groan but I'm so lost in the pleasure I don't even feel him pull out and start unleashing his load of cum all over my stomach.

"Fuck," Max shouts which finally brings me back enough making me realize I was now covered in cum, but I was far too blissed out to care.

Max only took a couple of seconds before he got up and threw on a pair of boxers. I knew if I tried to stand right now my legs would give out on me but I didn't want to overstay my welcome so I slowly start pulling myself out of bed feeling Max's cum start sliding down my body making me cringe slightly at the thought of putting my clothes on top of it.

"What are you doing," Max says while holding a rag and watching me attempt to get up.

"I figured you wanted me to leave," I tell him softly while still pulling myself together before standing up. But before my feet can even touch the ground Max is on me.

"Lay down," Max says softly showing me a completely new side of him. He starts with wiping my face down making sure to clean all of the spit and cum off of it before wiping my tummy clean of his cum before throwing the rag somewhere in the room and crawling into bed next to me.

"I might be a dick, but I would not let you stumble back to your hotel room covered in my cum like that," Max tells me softly pulling me into his chest so I can rest my head on him.

"Where do we go from here," I ask softly.

"I think we should start with being nicer to each other and maybe admitting there's always been more," Max replies making me nod my head.

"I know we did it backward but I don't want to rush anything," I tell him softly. He just nodded in agreement before pulling me in a little tighter.

" We don't rush anything but I want to be exclusive," Max says firmly.

"I can do that," I reply making him not his head.

"Fly home with me tomorrow," Max says randomly making me laugh a little.

"What happened to not rushing," I joke but nod my head in agreement knowing I definitely do want to fly with him. Even if it means exposing ourselves to a few of his grid friends.

It didn't take long for sleep to take over my body and right before I was fully asleep I felt Max place a soft kiss on the top of my head mumbling a soft I love you.

[forgetmaenott]

Butterflies - TADC Showtime Oneshot

A/N: Because I love the idea of Pomni being in denial and Caine unintentionally making it worse (better)

It was no secret that Caine was, by far, the most oblivious entity in the entire circus. And yet, even he was aware of just how much Pomni had been avoiding him lately. If she was trying to keep it from being so obvious, she was certainly doing a poor job of it.

Emotions were still a bit of a foreign concept to Caine. He experienced them, despite the fact that he probably shouldn't. But he still had a difficult time labeling them. The best he could do was observe how the others acted and make an educated guess. Nonetheless, if his time spent with Pomni had taught him anything about emotions, he suspected he was feeling...concerned.

He had spent the past few days piecing together an adventure perfectly suited for Pomni. He made sure to add all the details she told him she liked from the real world, all the things she missed, everything he had stored in her memory. This morning, he was announcing it with every ounce of energy he had in his system, looking Pomni in the eye in the hopes to impress her. His code fluttered at the idea of her praise.

"...and, it's up to you to piece this mystic mystery together!" Caine finished his introduction of today's adventure. Pomni said one time that she was interested in the mystery genre back at home, as it gave her a challenge to think of and piece together. Like a puzzle, she had said. She liked those. He glanced at Pomni subtly, hoping he had her attention.

"Huh. Intersting. My money's on Zooble being the culprit," Jax crossed his arms, flashing his signature yellow grin.

"It's not even a murder mystery, you jack[#$%!]," Zooble grumbled in response.

"Heh. We'll see about that."

"Well, this sounds like a good one! Piecing together clues, solving puzzles, what do you think, Pomni?" Ragatha asked the woman next to her, swinging her plush arms.

Her eyes were glued to the floor. "Oh...um, think I'm gonna sit this one out..." Pomni said meekly, tightening her own grip on her arm as thought it would bring her comfort.

Caine's arms drooped, hanging sadly by his sides as his cane clinked to the stage's floor. "You...don't?"

Pomni shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, maybe next time..."

Caine flew by her side, hoping to get a glimpse of her face. "But my dear, you've been saying that for the past four adventures."

"Yeah? Well, maybe I'm uh, sick or something. I don't know. Not feeling my best," Pomni excused herself, coughing lightly in an utterly unconvincing manner.

Caine placed a finger on his lower jaw in thought. "Sick? That shouldn't happen in the digital circus. Unless you have some sort of bug or glitch. I can run some tests if you'd like--!"

"Oh! No thanks, I think I just need to rest," Pomni swung her foot awkwardly, refusing to meet his eyes. 

“Pomni? Are you sure you’ve been feeling okay lately?” Ragatha asked with a concerned frown.

Pomni blushed ever so slightly at the stares of the other circus members. “Yeah, I’m fine! Don’t worry about it. I’m just gonna head to my room now to uh, rest…”

“Oh, okay. Well uh, catch you after the adventure!” Ragatha called as Pomni hurried away.

Zooble watched her grow, crossing their arms. “Huh. What’s been her deal lately?”

“Someone’s got a secret,” Jax smiled mischievously.

“Or she’s just tired,” Gangle suggested shyly.

“Not very likely,” Ragatha replied.

“Did someone say something about a butterfly?” Kinger peeked out of his impenetrable fortress.

If Caine had a heart, it would have broken into pieces at the sight of Pomni scurrying away from him. It took all the energy he had left in his coding to remain enthusiastic for the others. “Well, that leaves the rest of you. There you go, and have fun my darling detectives!”

He ushered them off into the portal quickly before dusting off his suit and snapping himself in front of Pomni’s door…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

She couldn't escape his eyes.

And she loved and hated it.

His gaze made her shiver, formerly from being unnerved but these days, that sensation was met with a thumping heart and fluttering stomach. Sometimes, she swore the eyes in the circus's paintings would follow her ever so slightly, staring when she wasn't looking then flicking back into position when she turned to glance. The idea of him looking at her in that way made her face flush.

Conscious of the dozens of eyes in the hall, she felt herself blush to the tips of her ears. As quickly as she could escape her fluster, she shut the door of her room behind her and crashed on her bed, sighing in relief at the privacy.

What the hell was wrong with her these days? How was a pair of teeth and eyes--a computer--making her feel like this? Her captor? She grumbled nonsense into her pillow, feeling her face flush at the thought of him. The idea of his touch, the way he looked at her so curiously sometimes—it made her tingle to the tips of her toes.

Oh, God, she felt sick with anxiety. She couldn't possibly have a crush on him, right? It had to be all psychological. It was all in her head, and once she stopped thinking of it she'd certainly be back to normal.

But even so, she couldn't help but hide out in her room these past days, avoiding being seen blushing or tripping over her words around him. He was oblivious and likely wouldn't catch on, but it would still be rather awkward to explain--God forbid the others find out about it, especially Jax. She would never live it down.

Pomni held the ends of her pillow tighter against her face as though it would squeeze the confusing thoughts and feelings from her mind. He made it so much worse today. His adventure was finely tuned to her interests, something he had clearly remembered from their many conversations about her life in the real world--well, what she could remember, that is. It was endearing, it was charming, and sweet, and It had even made her heart flutter--she couldn't do it. She couldn't let herself fall apart in front of any of them.

It was just a small crush. She'd get over it in a day or so, and then things would be entirely back to normal. Pomni took a deep breath, repeating that idea in her head.

Her head was pounding from these thoughts--or, no, that was the sound of her door. She groaned, peeking up out of her pillow at the noise.

"Pomni? May I come in?"

Pomni's stomach dropped at the sound of Caine's voice behind the door. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, her heart suddenly thumping from the anxiety. "Uhh--maybe later! I kind of just need to rest right now--"

"I'm aware, dear. Just give me a moment of your time. Please?"

Pomni stopped in her tracks. He usually was energetic and boisterous but now, he was talking almost normal. He almost sounded sad. Her heart ached with guilt. "Um, okay..."

She begrudgingly climbed out of her bed, smoothing her clothes and taking a deep breath before opening the door. Sure enough, Caine stood there, fidgeting with his cane in his hands. His eyes brightened ever so slightly at the sight of her peeking from behind her open door. "Ah, there's my star! How are you, dear? Feeling any better?"

"Oh, hah. Yeah..." she couldn't think of what else to say, feeling at her hat for no reason in particular.

"Anyways, the others are off on the adventure, so I figured you and I could spend some time together! No one else, just us for the day," Caine beamed proudly at his idea.

Pomni's heart immediately started racing, a flush already traveling its way to her cheeks. God, she had it bad for him. This was humiliating. "Just...us?" she squeaked.

Caine looked at the floor sheepishly. "Well, ah, admittedly I couldn't help but notice some...behavioral changes in you these past days. So, I figured what better way to get you right back to normal than to spend some quality time with your ringmaster!" He perked up proudly at this, flying to her side and placing an arm around her.

Pomni froze at his touch, praying he couldn't feel the way her heart was beating so firmly against her chest. "O-oh, um...that's a great idea, Caine, but--"

He gripped her shoulders. "Isn't it? I just knew you'd like it!"

Pomni tried to avoid his eyes, but with him gazing so intensely at her in front of her, it was sort of hard to do. "Y-yeah, but...honestly, Caine, I think I just want to do something more, I don't know, not stressful?" she tripped up on her words, trying to get some excuse out.

"Not stressful? Why, I have the perfect idea in mind!" Caine said proudly, snapping his fingers without another word from Pomni. She tensed from the unpleasant sensation of traveling through the digital plane so unnaturally. "Here we are!"

Pomni opened her eyes and immediately flushed at the sight before her. It was a secluded area of the digital forest, dotted with colorful flowers and petals resting delicately on the grass. Everything lacked in detail, yet somehow, the way the digital sunlight was streaming in, lighting the path ahead made it feel...intimate, somehow.

Caine floated down until he touched the ground. He took a few steps experimentally, adjusting to walking rather than flying. He did walk, he just preferred not to. But this time was a special occasion. He turned back to Pomni, holding out his gloved hand.

Pomni froze. Did he want to hold her hand? Was he just inviting her to join him? Or maybe both? Hesitantly, she reached the tips of her fingers out, just barely grazing over his glove and making the contact she was so afraid of. Caine, however, wasted no time as he slid his hand beneath hers and grabbed her whole hand in his, pulling her to his side.

Pomni nearly tripped, not expecting him to pull her forward. Before she could even react to his hand holding onto hers, he let go as they began to walk. She bit her lip, not sure how to begin the conversation.

"This is, uh, a new map?" Pomni asked meekly.

"Nonsense! It's part of the digital forest. I just added a few extra details," Caine explained, reaching out and picking a flower as proof. He held it out to her. "For you, dear."

Her heart skipped a beat. Did he know what he was doing to her? Was he trying to make her flustered? Even so, she took the flower in her hands, careful not to make contact with his hand. "...thanks," was all she could say.

Caine nodded, and for a moment all was quiet as they walked down the sunlit pathway. "I...can't help but notice that you haven't been participating in the adventures lately."

Pomni held back a sigh. She knew there was no avoiding this topic, but she still resented the fact that he brought it up. "Mhm."

"...Why is that? If I may ask."

Pomni twisted the flower's stem in her hands, looking at how the flower lacked proper rendering or detail. "Just haven't been feeling up to it," she murmured.

"In what way?"

Pomni blinked. "I-I don't know, Caine. I just haven't."

She still wasn't meeting his gaze, so he tilted his head so he was in her field of vision. She blushed and looked to the side, hoping he wouldn't move to her other side.

"Hm. Perhaps the others were right," Caine said thoughtfully, holding his cane in his hands.

Pomni internally panicked. Oh, God, they weren't telling him she had feelings for him, were they? "The others were right? How?" she asked, hoping her nerves weren't showing.

If Caine could blush, he surely would have by now. He lowered his gaze to the grass as the continued walking. "Oh...well...they've been saying that you're...avoiding me," he said sheepishly, before piping up, "I-I'm sure that they were jumping to conclusions but--"

Pomni squeezed her eyes shut. "It's fine, Caine."

Caine fidgeted with his cane again. "I have to admit, darling, I've missed our lessons."

Pomni smiled half-heartedly. Their 'lessons' as he called them, were simple conversations about the real world. To him, he considered them lessons on the human mind. But to her, it gave her someone to talk to. "I have, too," she admitted.

Caine didn't say anything for a moment, likely storing her saying she had missed him to his memory. "Then, dear, why haven't we seen much of each other?" He hesitated, then, "...have you been avoiding me?"

Pomni felt sick. She couldn't possibly lie to him in good conscience. "...yes."

Caine's colors seemed to lose their saturation, shoulders sinking at her confession. "I...I see," he mustered, voice laced with heartbreak.

Pomni turned to look at him for the first time today, her heart sinking at the sight of his shoulders slumped, eyes faced downwards. From his perspective, she had been avoiding him for no reason. His first real friend, leaving him behind. Guilt hit her like a truck. "Oh, Caine, no. No, I-it's not like that, really," she tripped over her words, trying to make him feel better because the sight of him sad was so damn depressing.

"I've...often been told I'm annoying the others. If that was the case here, I don't blame you for taking space," he replied quietly.

Pomni bit her lip. Looking to her side, she saw a red flower in the same shade of his suit. She picked it before stepping in front of him, leaning down into his field of vision the same way he had done for her. He stopped walking.

"Caine...I wasn't avoiding you because of you. You didn't do anything wrong, okay? I-It was all me," Pomni reassured.

Caine glanced up. "I...didn't do anything wrong?"

Pomni shook her head. "I promise."

Caine considered her words for a moment.

"I...I really, really like our time together, Caine. You don't bother me, I like when you're around. You're my...friend," Pomni added, smiling softly at him.

His eyes met hers for the first time today, sending butterflies fluttering in Pomni's stomach. "Really?"

Pomni held out the flower further. "Really. I mean it, Caine."

Color gradually returned to his form, a smile forming across his teeth. "Oh, dear..." he looked at the flower, clearly touched by the gift. He never received gifts from the others, so this...this was something special.

He met her eyes again and reached out for the flower, but decided to take it a step further. His hand slid around hers, cupping the hand that was holding the flower out to him. Pomni's breath hitched, her pupils dilating as he gazed into her eyes lovingly.

"My dear Pomni," was all he said, for he was too touched by her words to say anything else.

The butterflies fluttered in Pomni's stomach more than ever. She shivered slightly at the sound of his voice, so laced with emotion when he said her name, calling her his, looking at her so lovingly--

Caine snapped out of his daze at the sight of her shivering. He nearly snapped his fingers to help her feel warmer, but he suddenly recalled something she had told him one night. Wearing others clothes was a sign of intimacy, whatever that meant--all he knew is this felt pretty intimate. He shrugged off his coat and wrapped it around her instead. "I can't let you get any more sick, now can I?" he winked at her, referencing her poor excuse for her absence earlier.

Pomni blushed to the tips of her ears when he winked at her. They were in the middle of a sunlit path, gazing into each others' eyes, gifting each other flowers, and now she was wearing his coat--God, it was almost like he was trying to make her blush. She suddenly felt very hot, simultaneously wanting to take off his coat to cool down but, shamefully, also never wanting to take it off.

"Heh, yeah..." was all she could say, because if she said anything else she was sure he'd notice the tremble in her voice.

He smiled at her adorable reaction. "I must say, it suits you quite well, my dear. You could almost challenge my position as ringmaster!"

If she could blush anymore, she certainly did from his compliment. It almost made her laugh, how much he was making her feel tingly and fluttery without even trying. "Maybe I will," she teased.

Caine had to resist flying in the air from happiness. She was acting back to normal with him--albeit a bit shyer than usual, but no matter--and he loved it. "Ah ah ah, careful, dear. If you're coming for my job then I have to warn you, I was coded to be this charming."

Pomni giggled at his comment. "Really? You'd be surprised, I can put on quite the show."

"I won't believe it until I see it," Caine challenged.

"Hah, you will. And when you do, you'll have to wear this hat and I'll wear yours."

Caine looked at her in thought, smiling at the way she looked in his coat. "Really? Me in a jester hat? And you in mine? I'd like to see it," he said, but he wasn't sure If he was talking about the show anymore.

Pomni grinned at the idea, the image itself quite funny yet also endearing.

"Well, if that challenge is all settled, how about we finish our walk through the grounds?" Caine offered, gesturing to the path ahead.

Pomni allowed herself to touch the collar of the jacket, tightening it around herself. "Uh-huh," she said, her confidence gradually returning.

"Fantastic!" Caine's feet nearly floated above the ground from how thrilled he was that they were on good terms again. They continued their walk through the grounds, nearing the end of the digital forest and catching a glimpse of the nearby carnival.

They stopped at the edge of the lake where Pomni glanced subtly at her reflection. In the back of her mind, she knew she was doing it to make sure she didn’t look silly in front of Caine. She was well aware of his gaze now. It could burn a hole right through her.

The sight of her wearing Caine’s coat made her blush, somehow both embarrassed and pleased. On one hand, wearing his coat seemed like a big jump when she was still adjusting to her strong feelings. On the other hand…it felt nice to be wrapped in something of his. Her stomach fluttered again at the thought, emotions so strong she almost felt sick.

Caine carefully approached her. “If I may ask, darling,” he began, fiddling with his cane again behind his back, “if I didn’t do anything to scare you off, then why were you avoiding me?”

Pomni snapped out of her thoughts. “Oh, um…I don’t know…” she rushed to think of an explanation. A half-truth, maybe. Something that wasn’t a lie or a confession. She definitely wasn’t ready for that yet—she was barely able to accept she even had feelings to begin with.

Caine blinked curiously at her, awaiting her response. “You don’t know?”

Pomni’s heart thumped in her chest. “Oh, no—I mean well, I do know, i-it’s not that I don’t, but, it’s sort of hard to explain, you know? Personal stuff. Just been uh, busy in my thoughts, heh…” she sputtered out nonsense, shrinking in embarrassment at how visibly flustered she was becoming.

Caine tilted his head curiously. “My dear, are you feeling alright? You seem a bit out of sorts.”

Oh, God. He noticed. She knew she was hiding from him for a reason. “Huh? O-oh, that? It’s nothing, really Caine, I mean I feel okay. I feel fine. I had a reason for avoiding you, and it wasn’t because you did something wrong, but…”

She met his gaze as she trailed off, blushing at the sight of his curious eyes on her, waiting patiently for a response. Her breath caught in her throat. God, did she really like him that much? That all her thoughts just froze in time like that?

“Well, I…” she sighed, taking another deep breath before continuing, “I…have been thinking. About you. N-not in a weird way, just…contemplating things.”

“You’ve been thinking about me? Pomni, I was thinking about you! Isn’t that fantastic?” Caine piped up, floating a bit in the air as he spoke up.

“Huh? Oh, yeah. But I mean…not like that. I was just worried. About things being weird. Things changing,” Pomni admitted, feeling the heat return in her face as she confessed.

Caine grabbed Pomni’s hands lightly to comfort her. “How would things change?”

Her heart sped up at his touch. “I-I…I just know we’re getting closer. And sometimes, for humans, that can be scary,” Pomni tried to explain. Her heart was beating rapidly, butterflies still fluttering around in her stomach nervously. Admittedly, she was scared—her feelings were growing stronger now that she was spending time with him, not going away like she had hoped. She was terrified, even.

Caine pulled out a comically small notebook and large pencil, allegedly writing down what she said. “I see, I see. And humans feel fear when they form bonds with others because…?”

Pomni clutched her arm, looking down at the lake again in thought. She thought about the way he had wrapped the coat around her so gently, how it looked on her shoulders knowing it was normally around his, and she sighed feeling herself heart beating again. “Because it makes you vulnerable. To getting hurt. Losing someone, embarrassing yourself…you know…”

Caine nodded as he jotted down what she said before the notebook and pencil disappeared in a poof. “Is that what you’re afraid of, Pomni?” he asked gently.

Pomni’s eyes widened at the question. “Um, yeah…I think so.”

“So, you avoided me because we’ve become friends, and that scared you because it could lead to losing me or embarrassing yourself. Do I have that correct?”

Pomni hesitated. She couldn’t exactly say the truth. Well, what it really is is that I have suddenly developed strong romantic feelings for you and I didn’t want to admit it or let it grow but now I can’t deny it and am afraid of letting it show in front of you or the others and ultimately humiliating myself.

“Pomni…?”

“What? Oh, yes.” Pomni snapped out of her thoughts.

Caine’s hold on her hands grew slightly tighter. “Dear, I could never hate you. Or leave you. Or even make fun of you, for whatever reason that may be. Every moment I spend with you is another opportunity for me to become even more advanced, and to understand you better. How could I ever judge?”

Pomni laughed half-heartedly. “Yeah…I guess it sounds a bit of a stupid fear when you put it like that.”

“It’s not stupid. It makes sense. And, well…” he placed a finger on his chin in thought, “I think with what you’ve told me, I can guess I’m feeling the same way. In fact, I think that’s why I seemed so worried about having done something to scare you off. Does that sound right? Was I experiencing fear like you?”

Pomni bit her lip. He certainly wasn’t experiencing fear like her, assuming he didn’t suddenly develop a massive crush on her. “Yes,” she said in spite of it all, “that’s a very human thing to feel, Caine.”

Caine lifted off the ground at that, swirling in the air a bit in excitement. “At this rate, I’m becoming more human every day! And it’s all thanks to you, Pomni,” he flew down to her level, pulling the flower he had given her out of his coat pocket.

“That, you are. Heh. Thanks again, Caine,” she smiled, finding his excitement cute. “And um…I’m sorry. For avoiding you these past days? I owe you a lot for all the adventures I missed.”

“All in the past, my dear!” He put an arm around her and brought her close in excitement. “Now how about we enjoy some time at the digital carnival before the others get back! You can tell me allll about your favorite human traditions!”

Pomni giggled again, holding a hand up over her mouth. “Alright, alright. But you’ll have to win some of those games to get information out of me,” she smirked.

“Gasp! Are you suggesting some sort of friendly competition?” Caine placed his hands on his chin in cartoonish shock.

Pomni crossed her arms. “Something like that. Let’s see how much you can get out of me before the others come back.”

Caine laughed. “Oh, dear, you never fail to impress me. Show me what you’ve got, because I must warn you—I am exceptionally talented at carnival games,” he said proudly.

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Pomni repeated his words from earlier.

Caine spun through the air before grabbing for her hand. “Then let’s not waste any time, dear!”

Pomni returned his grip on her hand, not quite as afraid of the butterflies anymore. “Show me what you’ve got, ringmaster.”

A/N: I wrote like half of this at the same time as taking a test, I kept switching tabs and going between showtime and sociology. the showtime grind is real

[timesomewhere]

in honour of the West End's next to normal closing today I've finally proof-read my 'things I noticed/general thoughts' post that's been sitting in my drafts since I saw it earlier this month. it's very long I'm very sorry.

Act One:

it was really fun watching this show in September given that there's two references to it in the first song

I adore the monologue about the pills that Dr. Fine gives during 'Who's Crazy'. it's rhythmic and funny yet also unnerving. It's such a quick and impactful way to summarise what Diana has been through for the past 16 years

Gabe does a 'one of your French girls' pose on the kitchen counter under the cabinets during 'My Psychopharmacologist and I'

Jamie Parker made direct eye contact with me during the last part of 'Who's Crazy' and it was one of the most intense experiences of my life

I might just be dense but I don't get the point of the neon sign that says 'Fine' which drops down during the Dr. Fine scene. Initially I thought that then one would drop down saying 'Madden' during his scenes to help people differentiate between the doctors but then it didn't so it just feels like a weird extra prop

speaking of random props, shout out to the iPad on the table in the opening scene which Gabe pretty much instantly takes away after telling Diana that she shouldn't obsess over tragic news stories and is then never seen again as far as I remember

Dan in the flashback scene being such an optimist about Diana's pregnancy and the future they're gonna have together... soul-crushing

Caissie Levy's 'I Miss The Mountains.' Holy Shit.

I love how Diana and Gabe are the only characters who sing on/stand on the table. it's as though it's this extra dimension of the house that only they have access to and it's a really neat and subtle way to show that they relate to each other in ways other characters don't

'It's Gonna Be Good' is so underrated. Jamie Parker's somewhat genuine optimism becoming optimism-through-gritted-teeth is incredibly acted

The way Jamie delivers the first line of 'He's Not Here' is devastating. the heaviness of that moment as you feel the audience around you realising what's just happened is something I'll remember forever

Gabe body-blocking Dan from Diana during 'I Am the One' is such good staging. People talk about how Jack Wolfe plays Gabe with a lot of layers and a lot of simultaneous contradiction and this song is one of the best examples of that. how Jack manages to project a character who is goading his father and protecting his mother at the same time is beyond me

also Jack has maybe half-an-inch on Jamie which obviously isn't something the actors control but it does makes Gabe seem just that bit more threatening when he's getting in Dan's face

for the first part of Superboy and the Invisible Girl when it's just Natalie singing, Gabe is actively laughing. He's totally unperturbed by her efforts to make herself seen to her mother. it's only when Diana replies, particularly when she says "you're our little pride and joy, our perfect plan" that you see his face drop and you see him trying to figure out a way to stop her from getting Diana's attention which then results in him kicking her off the melody in her own song

"I'll hurt you" being directed at Dan and "I'll heal you" being directed at Diana as Gabe gently touches her face gets me so bad. but the most painful part of 'I'm Alive' for me is when Gabe looks at Dan as he says "I'm the perfect stranger who knows you too well." that's the first time you realise that perhaps Gabe doesn't just impact Diana, and there's something much larger at play

Caissie and Jack W's voices harmonising on 'Catch Me I'm Falling' was one of my favourite parts of the whole show. Their voices are so magical together and their mother/son chemistry is incredible

The 'I Dreamed A Dance' into 'There's a World' sequence is one of the most tragically beautiful things I've ever witnessed. I went into the show knowing what Gabe was trying to achieve during 'There's A World' and yet Jack's voice is so beautifully haunting you totally forget you're supposed to root against Gabe in that moment

Jamie Parker's 'I've Been' is some of the best acting through song out there. Interestingly my friend and I had very different interpretation's of what Gabe's horrified reaction to the blood meant. I viewed it as him being upset about what he convinced Diana to do - he doesn't like seeing her hurt. Whereas my friend saw it as him being angry at himself that she didn't manage to follow through, meaning that he has failed to regain control over her life

'I'm no sociopath, I'm no Sylvia Plath. I ain't no Frances Farmer kind of find for you' is one of the best musical theatre lyrics of all time. I genuinely don't know why I Miss The Mountains is the 'big song' known from N2N over 'Didn't I See This Movie?', it's just so good

Natalie's 'She trusts you!' line is heartbreaking, I was basically watching that entire scene through my fingers because of how high the emotion was

Act Two:

'Pfizer's woman of the year' will in fact be peak comedy every time. Eleanor's delivery is *chef's kiss*

Gabe having just one line in 'Wish I Were Here', and that line being 'Wish I were here.' Yeah. I feel very normal about that.

Natalie's line of "Can I hide my stupid hunger, fake some confidence and cheer?" being pretty much exactly what Gabe has done throughout the entirety of act 1

"And you're not a scary rockstar anymore" got one of the biggest laughs at both of the shows I went to

Dan's desperation during 'Better Than Before.' He is simultaneously trying to cajole Diana into remembering and get Natalie to be more positive. This one song really highlights how he's being pulled in a million different directions while trying to hold it all together and Jamie portrays that so well

Aftershocks. Wow. The way the last word of each line echoes throughout the theatre is great sound design. I've been in exam halls louder than the audience during that song. Holding a room that captive as a silhouette is quite the feat Jack Wolfe you will always be famous

"I don't know where the fucking pieces go" as Diana pushes things off the table as if there's a real jigsaw there that she's rage quitting and choosing to give up on is such a nice detail

"Have you talked of your depression, your delusions and your son?" The gasp in the theatre both times was sickening

the response of "good' in reply to "name?" when technically that was part of his name as they are the "Goodmans". I don't really have a point here I just think it's neat

The 'It's Gonna Be Good" reprise was one of my favourite Dan/Diana moments. Caissie and Jamie are really pushing each other to their emotional limits and they handle it so well

The first "Why stay?" is so fragile as Diana sits against the kitchen island. Also interesting given that Dan and Gabe will also sit against there later when they are at their lowest point in the story. The idea of the characters crawling to the 'centre/heart' of the home when they are at their weakest

"This is one old game that I can play so well" is the line that has stuck the most with me throughout the show. Jack's delivery of it while striding across the kitchen table - seemingly totally invincible - is crazy.

how Caissie manages to deliver "you shrugged and said that no one really knows" with humour and desperation at the same time is amazing

When Gabe and Diana stand on the table and if they let go of one another they'll fall. yeahhhhh.....

Gabe's realisation that Diana isn't going to give up on getting better. Totally collapsing in on himself and beginning to cry. How you manage to feel bad for him after all the destruction he's caused is wild

Diana's "maybe I'm tired of the game" relating back to Gabe's "this is one old game that I can play so well"

the lyrics in 'Hey #3' clearly reflecting things Diana has done, Henry cutting Natalie off at "bleeding in the bathtub"

"I am the one who'll heal you" being said to Dan not Diana this time

"Why didn't you go with her?" is the most devastating line in the whole musical I said what I said. Jamie's delivery of it is heart wrenching

the drums and bass kicking in for the loud part of I Am The One as Gabe becomes desperate to be seen once again

Jack and Jamie's acting in this moment is so intense. there's a moment where it's genuinely feels as though only one of them can make it out of the interaction alive

Jack's emphasis on the word 'loved' in the line "I am the one who loved you" nearly killed me on the spot. how somebody can deliver a line so desperately while remaining pitch perfect is unfair

Natalie coming in to kiss Dan's head at the start of 'Light' like Gabe kisses Diana's in the first scene. I'm such a sucker for a gut punching

the "And are they real?" line about Diana's parent's from Henry gets such a loud reaction from the audience. Some people laugh immediately, some people clearly get shocked out of their sobs. so good

In conclusion, this is my favourite musical of all time and I'm going to be so annoying waiting for the pro-shot to come out

[estellan0vella]

Real Victors: B.C Bang Chan x fem!reader (College AU)

WC: 13.3K

CW: Mentions of previous toxic behaviour (from an ex best friend), past abusive behaviour (from an ex best friend), assault (a wrist grab) (from an ex best friend), lots of fluff, awkward, simp Chan

General Masterlist SKZ Masterlist

It's one of those perfect summer days—the kind where the sun sits just right in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over everything. You're perched on the bottom of the bleachers like usual, legs crossed beneath you as you lean against the cool metal railing. Your white summer dress flutters slightly in the breeze, barely reaching mid-thigh. It's airy, comfortable, and pairs well with the hotpants you've slipped on underneath for modesty. You've opted for a casual look today, strappy white wedges on your feet and your signature dangly butterfly earrings swaying gently as you suck on a cherry lollipop.

The cherry flavour stains your lips red as you absentmindedly flip through one of your favourite books, The Book Thief. It's your go-to read when you want to escape into a story that makes you feel a little bit of everything—sadness, hope, love, and pain. You've read it a dozen times by now, but somehow, every time you open its pages, it feels like the first time. Right now, you're lost in the words, only half aware of the distant sounds of shouting and whistles from the football field.

The Miroh Maniacs are practicing again. They always practice during this time of the day, and like clockwork, you've found yourself in your usual spot at the bottom of the bleachers, soaking up the atmosphere while the guys run their drills. It's not that you care much for football itself; honestly, you couldn't be bothered to figure out the rules. But Felix and Jisung are your closest friends, and since they're on the team, you come to watch them as much as you come to enjoy the time you spend alone with your books.

Felix and Jisung are currently stretching near the field, warming up before practice. Jisung's blonde-green hair is tousled from his constant fidgeting, while Felix's sunny smile never falters, even when he's doing something as mundane as touching his toes. You watch them from the corner of your eye, a faint smile tugging at your lips.

"You gonna sit there all day, Y/N?" Felix calls out, his Australian accent laced with mischief. He stands up from his stretch and gives you a wave, his blonde hair catching the sunlight. Jisung follows his gaze and waves too, though his expression is far more playful.

"Just keeping an eye on you two," you tease back, lowering your book slightly. "Wouldn't want you both slacking off while everyone else is running laps."

"Slacking off?" Jisung exclaims, feigning offence. "I'll have you know, I'm the most hardworking player on this field."

Felix snorts and elbows him. "Bullshit. You nap on the bench more than you run."

Jisung shrugs. "Gotta preserve my energy for when it counts."

You chuckle softly and shake your head, returning to your book as they continue their playful bickering. It's a routine by now—Felix and Jisung always find a way to chat with you before practice, and it's become one of the highlights of your day. They bring a sort of lightheartedness that makes everything feel a little less serious, a little more fun.

As you flip another page, you hear the sound of the locker room door swinging open. From your vantage point, you catch a glimpse of Chan, Minho, and Changbin walking out onto the field. They're all decked out in the Miroh Maniacs' black and red uniforms, the bold colours contrasting sharply against the green grass. Chan is at the front, as usual, his short black hair slicked back slightly, though a few strands always fall loose onto his forehead.

But there's something else about him that you can't quite put your finger on. Maybe it's the way he carries himself, or the way he looks at you sometimes when he thinks you're not paying attention. You don't dwell on it too much; it's just part of the strange dynamic between you and the guys on the team.

You lift your hand and wiggle your fingers in greeting as they walk out, your lips curving into a small, lazy smile. "Hey, boys."

Chan's eyes lock onto you the moment you gesture. His easygoing stride falters for just a second, and he sucks in a sharp breath, his cheeks flushing slightly as he tries to keep his composure. You catch it all in your peripheral vision, but you don't comment, assuming it's just Chan being his usual awkward self. That is until he starts coughing like he's choking on air.

Minho, who's walking beside him, doesn't even try to hide his amusement. He slaps Chan's back a few times, shaking his head with a sigh. "Chan, for fuck's sake, you're an embarrassment to us all."

Changbin snickers beside them, crossing his arms over his chest. "Man, get a grip. You're gonna die before practice even starts."

Chan glances at you briefly, his face turning redder by the second. You frown in concern, your body instinctively pushing off the railing as you stand and walk over to where the three of them are standing. The grass feels warm beneath your feet, and you lean slightly against the fence that separates the bleachers from the field, looking down at Chan with a furrowed brow.

"Chan, are you okay?" you ask, your voice soft but filled with genuine worry. You tilt your head, red heart-shaped sunglasses slipping down your nose a little as you peer at him.

Chan, still struggling to get his breathing under control, just stares at you. The sight of you standing there, your white dress fluttering in the breeze, your lips forming his name, has completely short-circuited his brain.

You turn to Changbin, hoping for some clarification. "Is he...?"

Changbin smirks, glancing at Chan before turning back to you. "Oh, he's fine. Just hasn't been drinking enough water, so his brain's a bit fried."

You sigh and cross your arms over your chest. "Chan, you know you should drink more water, right? It's like, basic human survival."

Chan finally manages to nod, though his gaze still lingers on you. "Yeah, um, I'll—I'll do that."

"Good." You give him a small, approving smile before turning back toward Felix and Jisung, who have been watching the whole scene unfold with barely contained laughter.

Minho raises an eyebrow as he watches Chan's stunned reaction. "I swear to God, Chan, if you swoon because the pretty lit student smiled at you, I'm going to kill you."

Chan shoots him a half-hearted glare, still struggling to shake off the embarrassment. "Shut up, Minho."

You catch the tail end of their conversation but decide not to press further. It's Minho being Minho, and he's always teasing someone. With a final glance at the trio, you settle back down at the bleachers, picking up your book where you left off.

As you start reading again, Felix and Jisung jog over during their warm-up break and flop down next to you, both of them drenched in the early sweat of exertion.

"Still reading that same damn book, huh?" Jisung asks, reaching for your lollipop without warning. You smack his hand away with a mock glare.

"Hands off my lollipop, Ji. And yes, The Book Thief is a masterpiece. Don't act like you're not impressed."

Felix leans back, resting his hands behind his head as he watches the players on the field. "I swear, Y/N, you've read that book more times than I've touched a football."

You grin, turning the page lazily. "It's that good."

"Or you just don't wanna admit you're obsessed," Felix teases, nudging your arm lightly.

"I'll admit it. I'm obsessed. But it's a healthy obsession. Unlike whatever it is you two are doing out there with all this... football stuff." You wave a hand vaguely toward the field.

Jisung snorts. "Hey, this 'football stuff' is keeping me in shape, okay? Not all of us can sit on our asses reading books all day."

You raise an eyebrow. "You call lying on the bench napping 'keeping in shape'?"

Felix bursts out laughing, and Jisung pouts, crossing his arms. "I don't nap that much."

"You literally napped for the entire second half of last week's game," Felix points out, still chuckling.

Jisung waves him off. "Whatever. I'm just preserving my energy."

"You keep telling yourself that," you say with a smirk, returning your attention to your book. But the conversation doesn't end there, and the three of you fall into an easy rhythm, bantering back and forth like always.

Meanwhile, on the field, Chan can't seem to keep his eyes off you. It's like every time he tries to focus on the drills, his gaze drifts back to where you're sitting with Felix and Jisung, your head tilted slightly as you laugh at something one of them said. He doesn't even realize how obvious he's being until Minho elbows him in the ribs during a pass.

"Dude, pay attention," Minho mutters under his breath. "You're gonna get tackled if you keep staring like that."

Chan quickly averts his eyes, pretending to be interested in whatever play they're running next. "I wasn't staring."

"Bullshit," Minho snorts, adjusting his jersey. "You've been eye-fucking her for the past ten minutes. Everyone on the field can see it."

Chan shoots him a withering look. "Can you not?"

Changbin sidles up next to them, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Oh, get in line, Chan. Half the college is after her. She's the definition of hot girl summer."

Chan tries to play it cool, shrugging as if the comment doesn't bother him. "I'm not... I mean, it's not like that."

Minho rolls his eyes, clearly unconvinced. "Right. And I'm not the best player on the team."

Changbin snickers. "You wish."

Despite his teammates' teasing, Chan can't help but steal another glance at you. The way your dress hugs your body, the way your hair catches in the wind, and the way you smile at Felix and Jisung so effortlessly makes his chest tighten. But he knows better than to entertain any fantasies. You're friends with most of the guys, and even if you were interested in someone, it probably wouldn't be him. Not when you're already so close to Felix and Jisung.

Still, he can't shake the feeling that there's something special about you. Something that makes his heart race a little faster every time you're around.

Later, during one of their short breaks, Minho makes his way over to you, dripping sweat and looking every bit as smug as he always does. You barely notice him at first, too engrossed in your book, but then you feel the familiar tug of something being pulled from your mouth.

"Hey!" you protest, looking up just in time to see Minho steal the lollipop from between your lips. He smirks at you, twirling it between his fingers before popping it into his mouth without a second thought.

You roll your eyes, completely unbothered by the gesture. "That's the closest you'll ever get to kissing me, Lee Minho."

Minho laughs and pulls the lollipop back out, licking his lips exaggeratedly. "I'll savour all of those kisses forever, my sweet Y/N."

You snort and wave him off. "Okay, loverboy, get lost. You stink of sweat."

Minho leans closer, grinning wickedly. "And you smell like cherries and flowers."

You shrug nonchalantly. "Bought myself a new perfume."

His grin widens. "That perfume is turning me on."

You meet his gaze with a deadpan expression. "Yeah, well, your smell is turning me off. Not that you've ever turned me on."

Minho clutches his chest dramatically as if you've wounded him. "Ouch. Straight to the heart."

Despite his theatrics, you smile fondly and nudge him with your foot. "Go practice, Minho. You're wasting time."

"Fine, fine." He sticks the lollipop back in your mouth before jogging off with a cheeky wave. "I'll be thinking of you."

You roll your eyes again, sucking on the now half-melted candy. It's always like this with Minho, flirty, playful, but ultimately harmless. Everyone on the team knows it's all platonic between the two of you. You'd never date Minho, and he knows it, which makes the banter even more fun.

Felix and Jisung, having witnessed the whole exchange, burst into laughter as soon as Minho is out of earshot.

"You two are so weird," Felix comments, shaking his head.

Jisung grins. "Yeah, but it's entertaining as hell."

You shrug, leaning back against the bleachers with a satisfied smile. "He's just jealous because I'm too good for him."

Felix laughs, pulling a water bottle from his bag. "If you say so."

Jisung nudges you with his elbow, a wide grin spread across his face. "You and Minho really have the weirdest relationship. I swear he flirts with you more than anyone else, and it's completely pointless."

You shrug, leaning back against the bleachers, still sucking on the lollipop Minho had placed back into your mouth. "He's just mad because he knows he doesn't stand a chance. That, and he's jealous that I'm smarter than him."

Felix raises an eyebrow, his lips curling up in a smirk. "Smarter? Or more stubborn?"

"Both," you reply with a wink before settling into your book once again.

Before the conversation can go any further, Chan's voice cuts through the air, calling the team back to the field. "Alright, break's over! Get your asses moving!"

The guys all groan in unison, but they comply, hauling themselves off the bleachers and jogging back toward the centre of the field. You watch them go, the familiar sounds of shuffling cleats and shouted encouragements filling the air. You prop your feet up on the lower seat in front of you, feeling the metal beneath your heels as you let yourself sink into the world of The Book Thief once again.

The field is loud with the sounds of practice—shouted commands, whistles, and the occasional thud of bodies colliding as they run drills. But none of it distracts you as you turn the page, eyes skimming over familiar words. Your world narrows down to the story in front of you, the heat of the summer sun on your skin, and the rhythmic thump of footballs in the background.

Still, even through the haze of the book, you can feel someone's eyes on you. You glance up from the pages every now and then, catching glimpses of Chan sneaking looks your way between plays. It's subtle, the way his eyes flicker to the bleachers when he thinks no one's watching. But it's not subtle enough to escape your notice. You don't say anything about it, though. It's just Chan being Chan—awkward but sweet, always looking out for you in his quiet way.

You shift in your seat, adjusting the heart-shaped sunglasses on your nose as you get lost in the story again, completely unaware of the tension building on the field.

Then, out of the corner of your eye, you notice someone approaching the bleachers. At first, you don't think much of it, assuming it's just another student passing by. But when the figure gets closer, you recognize him immediately, and your stomach twists.

Aaron.

The sight of him makes your blood run cold, and a wave of anger surges through you before you even realize what's happening. He doesn't have the right to be here—not after everything. Not after the way he treated you. Your ex-best friend, now a ghost from your past, a haunting presence you've been trying to shake off for months. And here he is, showing up uninvited, acting like nothing has changed.

You slam the book shut, the sound of it snapping closed louder than you intended. Aaron's eyes lock onto you as he climbs the bleachers, his lips curling into a smirk that makes your skin crawl.

"Y/N," he says, his voice dripping with fake charm. "It's been a while."

Your jaw clenches, fingers tightening around the book in your lap. "What the hell are you doing here, Aaron?"

He shrugs casually as if he has every right to be standing in front of you. "Just thought I'd stop by and say hi. You haven't been answering my messages."

"That's because I don't want to talk to you," you snap, rising to your feet, your heart pounding in your chest. "We have nothing to say to each other."

He steps closer, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Don't be like that. We used to be friends."

"Used to be," you emphasize, your voice cold. "That's the key phrase here. We're not friends anymore."

Across the field, Chan notices the tension between you and the guy on the bleachers. He's too far to hear what's being said, but he can tell from your body language that something's off. His brow furrows as he watches you stand up, arms crossed over your chest, facing the guy with obvious hostility.

"Who's that?" Minho asks, following Chan's gaze.

Chan shakes his head slightly. "I don't know... but it doesn't look good."

The rest of the team starts noticing too, their attention momentarily diverted from practice as they watch you argue with the guy on the bleachers. From their distance, they can't hear anything, but they don't need to. Your posture says it all—tense, defensive, and angry.

Then, suddenly, Aaron grabs your wrist.

The entire team freezes, watching in shock as you yank your hand away from his grasp with a furious glare. Before anyone can react, you swing your book, hitting him across the face with a loud crack. The force of it sends him stumbling back a step, and you see the anger flare in his eyes.

Changbin whistles lowly, muttering under his breath, "Who the fuck is that?"

Felix's face tightens with worry, his jaw clenched as he exchanges a glance with Jisung. "That's Aaron... her ex-best friend."

Jisung's face twists in disgust. "He's a fucking asshole. Should've been put down ages ago."

Minho turns to Felix and Jisung, his eyes narrowing. "What the hell's his deal?"

Felix exhales sharply, scratching the back of his neck. "Best friend turned stalker. He's lucky we didn't kill him."

The rest of the guys look at Felix in surprise, and Changbin raises an eyebrow. "Wait, what? You never said anything."

Felix looks at the ground, his voice quiet but firm. "It wasn't our place to say anything. She went through some serious shit, and we were just there to help."

Jisung nods, his expression dark. "One night, she called me. Locked herself in the bathroom. I could hear him threatening her, saying he was gonna kill her. When Felix and I got to her apartment, he was trying to kick down the door... with a knife in hand."

The silence that follows is heavy, and the rest of the guys exchange looks of disbelief.

Felix glances up, his face set in a grim expression. "Twelve years of Taekwondo came in pretty handy that day."

Minho's eyes darken with understanding, and he clenches his fists, looking back at you on the bleachers. "So this guy's a fucking psycho?"

Felix nods. "Pretty much."

The team watches closely as the confrontation between you and Aaron escalates. You can't hear what he's saying, but from the way his lips are moving, it's obvious he's trying to provoke you. The tension in the air is palpable as the guy steps forward again, getting in your face.

Then, in one swift motion, you punch him square in the nose.

The satisfying sound of bone crunching fills the air as Aaron stumbles back, clutching his bleeding nose in shock. The team collectively holds their breath for a second before Changbin breaks the silence with a loud whoop.

"Beat his ass, Y/N!" Changbin yells, pumping his fist in the air.

Jeongin joins in, laughing as he cups his hands around his mouth. "Hit him with the book again!"

Seungmin, usually the most reserved, can't help but shout, "Kick him in the balls!"

Hyunjin, ever the drama queen, throws his hands up. "Make his face even uglier!"

You don't need their encouragement. You're already seething with rage, your hand still stinging from the punch as you glare down at Aaron, who's now crouched slightly, blood dripping from his nose.

But then Minho narrows his eyes, his gaze fixed on Aaron's movements. He leans closer to Chan and mutters quietly, "He's not backing down."

Chan's jaw tightens, his eyes locked on you and the way Aaron seems to be moving closer again despite the blood and the pain. "You think he's gonna hurt her? Here?"

Minho nods, his expression hard. "He looks like he's about to do something stupid."

Without another word, Chan signals to the rest of the team, and they all start moving toward the bleachers. The air feels heavy with anticipation, every step bringing them closer as the situation becomes more dangerous by the second.

Aaron, oblivious to the approaching football players, raises his hand as if to strike you. But before he can make contact, a strong hand grabs his wrist mid-air, twisting it behind his back with practised ease.

Aaron yelps in pain, his face contorting as Chan steps in front of him, a grin tugging at his lips. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

You blink, surprised but also oddly relieved as Chan appears out of nowhere, his grip on Aaron's wrist firm. The football team gathers around, forming an intimidating circle around Aaron, their faces set in stone. You slide your sunglasses down your nose, making eye contact with Chan, who still has that cocky grin on his face.

"Thanks," you say, breathless but composed. "Never thought I'd need a sweaty hero in cleats and shoulder pads, but... it's not all bad."

Chan chuckles, his eyes glinting with amusement. "How about you let me take you to dinner tonight?"

You raise an eyebrow, glancing at Aaron, who's still squirming in Chan's grip. "As you can see, I have a bit of... baggage."

Chan shrugs nonchalantly, twisting Aaron's arm a little more until he yelps again. "As you can see, I can handle baggage." He releases Aaron with a swift shove, then kicks him lightly in the ass, sending him stumbling forward.

Aaron, humiliated and defeated, glares at you before storming off, blood still dripping from his nose. You watch him go, a mix of relief and adrenaline pumping through your veins.

Once he's out of sight, you turn back to Chan, a playful smirk on your lips. "In that case... dinner sounds great."

Chan grins at you, his eyes still gleaming with amusement from the adrenaline of the situation. "Practice is over in ten. I'll shower and then we can go out for dinner."

You cross your arms, a playful smile tugging at the corner of your lips. "You better not smell of sweat or this whole thing is cancelled."

He chuckles, running a hand through his sweaty hair. "I'll smell as fresh as a daisy, I swear."

You point at him, your expression dead serious despite the humour in your tone. "Your body wash better not be tea tree. That shit is fucking gross."

Chan laughs, a deep, carefree sound that makes your stomach flutter for reasons you don't want to admit to yourself just yet. "Noted. No tea tree. I'll pick something extra nice just for you."

"Good," you say, giving him a mock stern look before smiling. "I'll be waiting."

He jogs back onto the field, shouting commands to his team while you settle back into the bleachers, watching as they finish their drills. The tension of your confrontation with Aaron still lingers in your muscles, but the promise of dinner with Chan is enough to pull you out of that dark cloud. It's been a long time since you've felt excited about something like this.

True to his word, Chan wraps up practice in ten minutes, blowing the whistle to signal the end. The team groans, some stretching, others jogging in place, but they seem relieved. You spot Felix and Jisung laughing about something, both of them glancing over at you as Chan disappears into the locker room.

A few minutes later, Chan emerges, his wet hair slicked back, freshly showered and dressed in black cargo trousers and a black long-sleeved compression top that clings to his chest and arms in a way that doesn't go unnoticed. He glances around, scanning the field before his eyes land on you, sitting on the bleachers with your legs crossed, still sucking on what's left of the cherry lollipop from earlier.

Before he can say anything, Jisung shouts from the field, "Have her home by ten, Bang Chan!"

Felix jumps in, smirking as he cups his hands around his mouth. "Bring her back to the frat with you later because we're gonna gossip!"

Chan raises an eyebrow and shakes his head, walking toward you. "I will bring her back after the date," he says, loud enough for them to hear.

But Jisung, ever the loudmouth, shouts back, "Ten! Do you hear me? Ten, Bang Chan! I expect her delivered to Felix's room with a smile on her face!"

You roll your eyes and let out an exasperated laugh. "They're such children."

Chan reaches you, his lips curling into a smirk. "Ignore them. They're just jealous."

Chan wraps his arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer to his side as you both start walking toward the parking lot. His arm is warm and solid, and you lean into him, feeling a sense of comfort that you didn't expect. It's odd how natural it feels like this has been something building between the two of you for longer than either of you realized.

"So," Chan starts, his voice casual but curious, "you've been reading The Book Thief for what feels like the thousandth time. I think I've seen you with that book more than I've seen you without it."

You can't help but laugh at his observation. "It's literally my favourite book ever. And trust me, that's saying something. My apartment is basically a library. I have bookshelves in my living room that go wall to wall."

Chan's eyebrows raise in surprise, and he gives you a sideways glance. "Wall to wall bookshelves? Damn. I think the only books I've read are Harry Potter and The Hunger Games."

You gasp dramatically, pressing a hand to your chest in mock offence. "I can't believe you just confessed that to a literature major. It's like you've committed a cardinal sin."

He chuckles, shrugging as if it's no big deal, but the grin on his face shows that he's enjoying this little back-and-forth. "I mean, it's true! I've never been much of a reader, but I guess you could always try and convert me."

You roll your eyes, still smiling. "Maybe I will. But it's gonna take more than just Harry Potter and The Hunger Games to impress me."

"I'll take that as a challenge," he says with a wink, his arm squeezing your shoulder slightly as you both approach his car. Chan walks ahead a few steps and opens the passenger door for you, his grin widening when he sees the surprise on your face.

"Wow, a gentleman," you tease, sliding into the passenger seat. The car is nice—clean, with that subtle scent of vanilla air freshener lingering in the air.

Chan moves around to the driver's side, sliding into the seat next to you and starting the engine. "Well, I had to impress you somehow. Thought opening doors was a good start."

"Points for effort," you say, settling back into the seat and clicking your seatbelt into place. "So, where are we going, Captain?"

"There's this fifties-style diner about half an hour away," he explains as he pulls out of the parking lot. "They do this amazing cherry and white chocolate shake. It's kinda their speciality."

You raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "You really know how to win a girl's heart, don't you?"

He glances over at you briefly, grinning. "I try."

The drive is easy, the sky gradually shifting from a soft orange to deep shades of pink and purple as the sun starts to set. The radio hums quietly in the background, playing some old indie rock song you vaguely recognize, but most of your attention is on Chan.

The conversation flows effortlessly, as it always does with him. You talk about the team, about practice, and even about the antics of Felix and Jisung—who, of course, keep Chan on his toes both on and off the field.

After about thirty minutes, you finally arrive at the diner. It's straight out of the fifties with bright neon lights, red vinyl booths, and a giant jukebox in the corner playing classic hits. You've seen places like this in movies but never actually been to one.

"This place is perfect," you say as you slide out of the car, taking in the retro charm.

Chan walks beside you, a proud grin on his face. "I knew you'd like it. Wait until you try the food."

Once inside, the two of you decide to get your meals to go, opting to enjoy the rest of the evening somewhere a little quieter. You order a steak salad with a cherry and white chocolate milkshake and Chan orders a burger and fries, sticking with something classic.

As you wait for the food, Chan leans back against the counter, glancing at you with a mischievous smile. "So, steak salad, huh? I pegged you as more of a burger and fries girl."

You smirk, rolling your eyes. "Just because I'm friends with Felix and Jisung doesn't mean I have the same terrible eating habits as them."

"Oh, trust me, I know. Jisung's diet is 80% ramen and Red Bull."

"And Felix eats like... five different kinds of fried chicken in a single sitting," you add with a laugh. "I swear, that boy has a death wish."

The food arrives quickly, and with the bags in hand, you both head back to the car. Chan drives for another twenty minutes, taking a winding road that leads up to a hilltop just outside of town. The view is stunning, especially with the last sliver of the sunset dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of pink, orange, and deep indigo.

Chan parks the car at the top of the hill, and the two of you hop out, climbing onto the hood to sit and eat. You settle in, opening your salad container and taking a bite as the cool evening breeze brushes against your skin.

"This is perfect," you murmur, looking out at the vast expanse of sky and the twinkling city lights below.

Chan nods in agreement, sipping his milkshake before glancing over at you. "So, tell me—what's so special about The Book Thief? I mean, I've seen you read it like a hundred times, but I've never asked you why you love it so much."

Your face lights up at the question, excitement bubbling in your chest as you set your salad aside for a moment. "Oh, where do I even start?"

He smiles, clearly enjoying your enthusiasm. "I'm listening."

You take a deep breath, thinking of the best way to explain it. "Well, The Book Thief is set in Nazi Germany during World War II, and it's narrated by Death, which is already such a unique perspective, right? The main character, Liesel, she's this young girl who loses everything, but she finds comfort in words, in books. The story is about how she uses books to survive, to make sense of a world that's falling apart around her."

Chan nods, listening intently as you continue, your voice growing more passionate.

"It's not just about the war or the books, though. It's about humanity. About kindness in the face of evil, about love and loss, and the way we find hope in the darkest times. The way it's written, it just... it makes you feel everything. You can't help but get attached to the characters, even though you know from the start that things aren't going to end well."

He raises an eyebrow. "So it's one of those books that breaks your heart?"

You laugh softly, nodding. "Pretty much. But it's worth it. Every time I read it, I find something new, something that hits me differently. It's one of the few book-to-movie adaptations that I actually enjoyed, too, which is rare for me."

Chan grins, taking another sip of his shake. "I might have to check it out now. You've definitely sold me on it."

You smile, feeling a warmth spread through your chest at the thought of him reading something you love so much. "If you do, let me know. I'd love to hear what you think."

The two of you finish your food, the conversation flowing easily as the sky darkens and the stars begin to appear. It's peaceful, sitting there on the hood of Chan's car, the city below twinkling like a sea of lights. There's something intimate about it, something that makes you feel closer to him in a way you hadn't expected.

Just as you're about to say something, you feel the first drop of rain hit your arm. You glance up, surprised to see dark clouds rolling in overhead. Before you can even react, the sky opens up, and rain starts pouring down in thick, heavy sheets.

You can't help it—you laugh. The sound bubbles out of you as you tip your head back, letting the rain soak your hair and drip down your face. It's cold, and you're getting absolutely drenched, but something about it feels freeing.

Chan, however, looks at you like you've lost your mind. "Y/N, you're gonna get sick."

You shake your head, grinning as the rain continues to pour. "What would Natasha Bedingfield say?"

He blinks at you, clearly confused. "Huh?"

You gasp dramatically, your hand flying to your chest. "Unwritten! Oh my god, Chan! Jisung and Felix are going to burn you at the stake for not understanding that reference."

Chan chuckles, wiping rain from his face as he tries to shield himself from the downpour. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry! But seriously, you're soaked to the bone, and your dress is, uh... well, it's kind of see-through now."

You glance down, noticing how your white dress clings to your body, the fabric almost translucent from the rain. You shrug, completely unbothered. "I've got a bra on, and I'm wearing hot pants under the dress. I'll survive."

Chan looks at you with a mixture of amusement and concern. "Yeah, but if you get sick right now, Jisung and Felix will never let me take you on another date."

You point at him, grinning. "Nicely played, Bang Chan. Nicely played."

He laughs, shaking his head as he pulls you off the hood of the car. "Come on, let's get out of the rain before you catch a cold."

You follow him, still laughing as the rain continues to pour, but you can't help but feel a little bit of warmth spreading through you despite the cold. There's something about the way Chan looks at you, something about the way this entire evening has played out, that makes you think this won't be the last time you end up drenched and laughing with him.

Once inside the car, Chan cranks the heat up, the warmth quickly filling the small space as you both sit there, soaked to the bone but smiling like idiots. He glances over at you, his eyes soft, and for a moment, the world outside fades away.

As soon as you settle into the passenger seat, you can't help but smile at how soaked you and Chan are. Rain still drips from your hair onto the seat, but the warmth from the car's heater slowly makes everything feel cosy despite your drenched clothes. Chan glances at you, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he runs a hand through his still-wet hair, pushing it back.

"Well, that wasn't how I imagined the night ending," he says, laughing softly. His voice is warm, and the way his lips curl into a grin sends a shiver through you—not from the cold, but something else.

You shake your head, chuckling. "What, getting caught in the rain wasn't part of your master plan?"

He grins. "I mean, I had something a little less... wet in mind."

You arch an eyebrow, smirking. "Oh? What was the plan, then?"

He shrugs as he starts the car. "I don't know... something about food, a nice drive back, maybe dropping you off without you looking like you've just walked through a storm."

You laugh, shaking your head at the thought. "Eh, I think the rain was a nice touch. Unpredictable."

As Chan pulls out of the diner's parking lot, you glance over at him, your fingers idly fiddling with the radio dial. You spin it to one of your favourite stations, hoping to hear something upbeat, something to keep this good mood going. The static clears, and suddenly, Natasha Bedingfield's Unwritten fills the car.

You burst out laughing, your hand shooting up to point at the radio. "See! I told you! It's a sign!"

Chan glances over at you with an incredulous smile, shaking his head. "Seriously?"

You nod, eyes wide with mock seriousness. "Yes! This is the universe telling us to go back out there and dance in the rain. Unwritten, Chan. It's fate."

He snorts, rolling his eyes as he turns the wheel, keeping his focus on the road. "Fate or not, Jisung and Felix will actually kill me if you get sick."

You wave him off dismissively, flipping your hair dramatically as the music pumps through the speakers. "Oh, please. They'd get over it. Besides, they do stuff like this with me all the time."

Chan glances at you, eyebrow raised. "Do what?"

"When it rains, and we're at the frat house, we lie in the garden."

He nearly chokes on his laughter, glancing over at you in disbelief. "You what?!"

You nod, completely serious. "Yep. We go out there, rain pouring down, and just lie in the grass, soaking it all in."

Chan shakes his head, clearly trying to picture the three of you doing that. "You're telling me that you, Felix, and Jisung, who are literal balls of sunshine, just... lie in the rain like that?"

"Mmhmm," you hum, smiling. "People think we'd hibernate when it rains, but nah, we're out there."

"Wait," Chan says, eyes widening in realization. "That time when all three of you came down with the flu and you were sick for, like, two weeks...?"

"Yep!" You laugh, nodding enthusiastically. "That was because we were out in the rain a few days before. It was right after that hurricane warning."

Chan slaps his palm against the steering wheel, groaning. "You're insane. All three of you."

You grin, unrepentant. "Totally worth it."

He shakes his head again, his tone somewhere between disbelief and amusement. "You know Minho had to play nursemaid for you three, right?"

"Don't remind me," you groan, laughing as the memories of that miserable two weeks flood back. "Jisung's bed became our sick haven. Minho brought us soup and medicine, and Felix complained the whole time that the soup was too hot. It was a mess."

Chan laughs, shaking his head again. "I bet Minho loved every second of that."

"Minho lived for it," you admit with a grin. "He pretended to be annoyed, but you could tell he secretly loved bossing us around."

The rain has finally let up by the time you and Chan pull up to the Alpha Phi frat house, but both of you are still soaked to the bone, shivering as the cold seeps into your skin. The storm caught you both off guard, drenching you during what should've been a calm and picturesque evening on the hilltop. Even with the heater blasting in Chan's car, your teeth are still chattering, and Chan isn't doing much better.

Chan glances over at you as he pulls into a parking spot. His lips are tinted blue from the cold, his hair dripping water into his eyes. "You sure you're okay? You're shaking like a leaf."

You nod, though it's a half-hearted attempt at pretending you're not freezing. "I'm fine. I've had worse. Plus, it was kind of fun, right?"

He chuckles, his deep voice making you feel warmer than the heat blasting through the vents. "Yeah, I guess it was." He turns the key in the ignition, killing the engine. "But maybe next time, we should pick somewhere indoors for dinner."

You smirk, teasing him. "Oh, what, are you scared of a little rain?"

He grins, shrugging. "I'm not scared, but I'd rather avoid hypothermia if possible. Plus, I'm gonna catch hell from Felix and Jisung if they see you like this."

"They'll live," you say with a laugh, unbuckling your seatbelt. "Besides, I've been soaked in the rain plenty of times before."

Chan raises an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes. "Yeah, but I'm betting none of those times involved a fifties diner date with me."

You can't help the smile that spreads across your face. "Fair point."

As you both climb out of the car, the cold night air hits you again, and you shiver, crossing your arms over your chest. Chan jogs over to your side and wraps his arm around your shoulders, pulling you close to his side as you both make your way toward the frat house entrance.

"You know," he says, his voice light as you walk, "I was thinking... would you want to go out again next week? Like, for dinner, maybe somewhere less rainy."

You glance up at him, surprised at how casual and confident he sounds, despite the shiver in his voice from the cold. His dark eyes are warm, even in the dim light from the porch. "I'd love that," you say, then grin playfully. "But I don't mind the rain."

He laughs, squeezing your shoulder as you reach the front door. "Duly noted. But I'll still try to find somewhere dry next time."

When you step inside the frat house, the warmth hits you like a wave, and it's a welcome change from the cold rain outside. The sound of voices fills the air—music is playing faintly in the background, and you can hear someone laughing loudly from the living room. The house is busy, as usual, but the moment you and Chan step through the door, all eyes seem to turn to you.

Felix and Jisung, who had been lounging on the couch in front of the TV, immediately leap up when they see you both. Felix's blonde hair bounces as he rushes over, and Jisung follows close behind, both of them wearing matching expressions of horror.

"Holy shit, Y/N, what the hell happened to you?!" Felix exclaims, eyes wide as he takes in your drenched appearance.

"You look like a fucking drowned rat!" Jisung adds, though his concern is clear despite the teasing.

Before you can respond, Chan lets out a small, sheepish laugh. "Yeah, we, uh, got caught in the rain."

Felix grabs a towel from a nearby chair and drapes it over your shoulders, his hands working quickly to pat you dry. "Caught in the rain? You look like you've been swimming in the fucking ocean, mate!"

Jisung, never one to miss a beat, starts wringing out your hair, water dripping onto the floor as he works. "This is unacceptable. Upstairs. Now. Felix's room. You need to dry off before you catch something."

Felix nods in agreement, already ushering you toward the staircase. "Chan, you're staying downstairs. We need to gossip in peace."

You glance back at Chan, who's trying—and failing—to hide his amusement. He shrugs, holding his hands up in surrender. "Fine, fine. I'll stay down here."

Jisung shoots him a mock glare. "I can't believe you brought her back soaked to the bone. What kind of date is this?"

Chan laughs, running a hand through his wet hair. "Hey, it wasn't my fault. The weather turned on us."

Felix huffs, shaking his head. "Excuses, excuses. Come on, Y/N. You're coming upstairs before you freeze."

Felix is already ahead of you, grabbing another towel from somewhere and practically shoving it into your hands. "Chan can stay downstairs and think about how he fucked up," he mutters.

You glance back at Chan, who's leaning against the doorframe with a sheepish grin, clearly amused by Felix and Jisung's antics. "Sorry, Y/N," he calls out, laughing as he raises his hands in surrender. "I'll just... wait down here."

"You better!" Felix yells over his shoulder as he marches up the stairs. "No more soaking wet dates until you learn how to control the weather!"

Jisung snickers, practically dragging you up the staircase. "Honestly, you'd think he'd check the forecast."

You roll your eyes, laughing at the absurdity of it all as you're pulled into the chaos that is Felix's room. It's a cosy space, there's a large desk cluttered with gaming gear and an impressive gaming chair, which you've stolen for yourself more times than you can count during impromptu hangouts.

Jisung shoves you into the chair before throwing a towel over your head, his hands immediately going to work on drying your hair with a little too much enthusiasm. You can't even see him, but you can hear his voice as he fusses over you. "You're lucky we're here. Who knows what kind of shit Chan would've done if we hadn't intervened."

"Yeah," Felix chimes in, digging through his drawer for what looks like some socks. "You probably would've caught pneumonia or something. He's hopeless when it comes to romance."

"Hey," you protest weakly from under the towel, voice muffled by the fabric. "The rain wasn't that bad."

Felix shoots you a look, one eyebrow raised in disbelief. "You're dripping water all over my floor, Y/N. It was bad."

Before you can respond, the door opens, and Jeongin steps into the room holding a steaming mug of hot chocolate. "Chan made this for you, but these two"—he gestures toward Felix and Jisung with his thumb—"told him to stay downstairs, so he asked me to bring it up."

You pull the towel off your head just enough to peek at Jeongin and the mug, your heart doing a little flutter at the thought of Chan making hot chocolate for you. It's a simple gesture, but something about it feels sweet and personal. "Thanks, Jeongin," you say, reaching for the mug.

Jeongin grins, sliding the cup into your hands. "No problem. You're gonna need it if you're hanging out with these two lunatics."

"Hey!" Jisung protests, still aggressively towelling your hair dry. "We're being responsible friends. We're making sure she doesn't freeze to death after being out in the rain with a guy who clearly doesn't own an umbrella."

Felix rolls his eyes, but there's a smile on his lips. "Yeah, yeah. Did you guys kiss, though?"

You nearly choke on your first sip of hot chocolate, but you manage to swallow before raising an eyebrow at Felix. "Excuse me?"

Felix's grin is wide and cheeky, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Come on, spill. You went on a cute little date in the rain, and now you're back here all flustered. Did you kiss him?"

You take another sip of the hot chocolate, letting the warmth fill you as you shake your head. "No, not yet, unfortunately."

Felix and Jisung both stare at you, wide-eyed with anticipation after you reveal there was no kiss. The tension hangs in the air for a moment, and then Jisung throws his arms up in mock frustration, pacing dramatically in front of Felix's bed.

"No kiss?" he exclaims, sounding both horrified and baffled. "We sent you off into the rain with Captain fucking Bang Chan and you didn't even get a kiss? This is unacceptable. Felix, write that down."

Felix, ever the sidekick to Jisung's antics, pulls out a small notepad from the drawer of his desk and flips it open with a flourish. He grabs a pen and clicks it, poised to start scribbling. "What am I writing?"

Jisung, his eyes narrowing with exaggerated seriousness, points at you like a detective uncovering a conspiracy. "We need to make a list. A list of requirements and expectations that Chan must meet before he even thinks about asking her on another date."

You laugh, pulling the towel around you tighter. "Are you serious right now?"

Jisung snatches the comb from Felix's vanity and gives you a sharp look. "Now sit back and relax, princess," he says, his voice dripping with mock authority. "I'm about to give you the best hair care of your life."

You roll your eyes but settle into Felix's gaming chair, leaning back as you let Jisung gently work through the knots in your hair. Despite the aggressive energy he usually radiates, his hands are surprisingly gentle, carefully detangling each knot without pulling too hard. It's almost... soothing, in a weird way.

Felix, sitting cross-legged on his bed, notebook poised on his lap, taps his pen against the notepad like a man possessed. "Right, where were we?" he asks, a grin pulling at his lips. "Oh yeah, making sure Captain Bang Chan lives up to our best friend's standards."

You give them both a playful glare. "You two are way too invested in my love life."

"We're not invested," Jisung says, pausing to rake the comb through your hair again. "We're protective. There's a difference. Now, let's get back to this list of demands. You deserve only the best, so it's our job to filter out the subpar dudes."

Felix nods solemnly, clicking the pen. "Agreed. If Chan doesn't meet these standards, we'll end this for you before it even begins."

You snort, leaning back into the chair. "You're both absolutely insane."

"Insane, but right," Jisung insists, giving your hair a soft tug for emphasis. "And trust me, you'll thank us for this later."

Felix's eyes gleam with mischief as he starts writing. "Alright, first of all—Chan needs to know everything about The Book Thief. Characters, themes, hidden meanings. He better be able to have in-depth discussions with you about the book at any time. If he can't do that, then what's the point?"

You chuckle, feeling the tension in your shoulders ease as Jisung works the comb through your hair. "You two really think I need to date a literature major?"

"No," Felix replies, shaking his head. "But if he's going to date you, he better know the basics. He should at least be able to have a conversation about your favourite book without embarrassing himself."

Jisung nods in agreement, still combing. "Exactly. This is crucial. Next up—Chan must proofread your creative writing assignments for your minor if you ask him to. I know you, Y/N. You obsess over every little detail in your work. Chan's gotta step up and help with that."

You burst out laughing. "He's not even a lit major! How do you expect him to help me with my writing?"

"Doesn't matter," Felix says, scribbling furiously in his notepad. "He's smart, isn't he? He can read and give feedback. That's part of being a supportive boyfriend."

Jisung hums thoughtfully, gently untangling another knot. "And let's not forget the most important rule. Chan must always carry cherry lollipops. No exceptions. That's your thing, Y/N, and if he doesn't have at least one on him at all times, he's out."

Felix smirks, adding that to the list. "Definitely. You've got a brand, and he needs to respect that. Cherry lollipops are non-negotiable."

"You two are ridiculous," you say with a smile, shaking your head as Jisung continues combing through your now smooth hair.

"We're just getting started," Jisung replies with a grin. "Let's see... Oh! He must memorize your coffee order. If he can't order it perfectly, he's done."

Felix nods enthusiastically, jotting it down. "And he has to be able to tell when you're having a bad day just by looking at you. No asking. He should know instinctively."

Jisung leans over your shoulder, inspecting Felix's list. "Don't forget, he must also be willing to go to the bookstore with you and carry all your books. If he complains even once, he fails."

You laugh out loud at that one, swatting at Jisung's hand. "Oh come on, that's a bit much!"

"No, it's not," Felix insists, wagging his pen. "It's bare minimum boyfriend behaviour. He needs to support your reading addiction."

Jisung grins. "He should also randomly surprise you with books. No special occasion necessary just because he knows it'll make you smile."

Felix writes that one down too, adding, "And he needs to know your taste in literature inside and out. If he buys you a book you hate, that's a big red flag."

You groan, but you're still smiling. "How are you two even coming up with all of this?"

"It's easy," Jisung replies as he finishes with your hair, setting the comb down on Felix's vanity. "We just know you really well, so we know what you deserve."

Once Felix and Jisung are done crafting the list of increasingly ridiculous standards, Jisung leans back in Felix's gaming chair, admiring their handiwork with a gleam in his eye. "Alright, now we're going to make sure Chan actually agrees to this."

Felix nods, slapping the notepad with a grin. "But wait! We're missing something. Before he can even sign the list, we need to create The Felix and Jisung Best Friend Test."

You pause, mid-sip of your hot chocolate, raising an eyebrow. "The fucking what now?"

Jisung jumps out of his chair like he's struck with divine inspiration. "It's the ultimate screening test. Before Chan can officially date you, Felix and I need to make sure he's worthy of our approval."

Felix grins devilishly, clearly in full agreement. "Exactly. We'll come up with a set of questions that he has to answer. If he passes, then he's worthy of dating you. If he fails..." He lets his voice trail off dramatically.

Jisung crosses his arms and nods solemnly. "Then it's a no-go."

You stare at both of them, half-amused, half-exasperated. "You two are so full of shit."

"We're not full of shit," Felix says, his voice overly serious. "We're just looking out for you. This is important. We have to protect you from subpar boyfriends."

"Yeah," Jisung adds, already pulling out a fresh sheet of paper to write the test questions. "You don't want to end up with some guy who doesn't even know your favourite book or messes up your coffee order."

You groan though you can't help but smile. "Alright, fine. Let's hear these 'test' questions."

Jisung taps the pen against his chin thoughtfully. "First question: 'What are your intentions with our sweet Y/N?' Gotta make sure he's in it for the right reasons."

Felix scribbles it down with a smirk. "Good one. If he hesitates, it's an automatic fail."

Jisung nods. "Next question: 'Why didn't you kiss her on the first date? Is she not good enough for you? What's wrong with you?'"

You nearly choke on your laughter, shaking your head. "Oh my god, you're seriously going to ask him that?"

"Absolutely," Jisung says, grinning. "We need answers."

Felix adds, "And it's important. If there's no kiss on the first date, we need to know why."

Jisung leans over Felix's shoulder, reading the list as he adds more questions. "How about this one: 'What are you going to do if Y/N gets kidnapped? How are you helping Felix and me get her back from the heathens?'"

Felix cracks up, his pen still moving. "Yes! And we're expecting a detailed answer. None of that 'I'll call the cops' bullshit. We need action, a full-on rescue plan."

You sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose but still smiling. "You guys are fucking ridiculous."

"And yet, you love us for it," Jisung says with a cheeky grin. "Alright, next question... What's a question that'll really throw him off?"

Felix taps his pen thoughtfully. "How about... 'If Y/N wanted to adopt a pet raccoon, what would your reaction be?'"

Jisung snorts, grinning wildly. "Perfect. That'll tell us if he's capable of handling your weirdness."

You burst out laughing. "I don't want a pet raccoon!"

"Yeah, but hypothetically, what if you did?" Jisung replies, shrugging. "It's a test of his adaptability. Gotta see if he can roll with the punches."

"Okay, next one," Felix says, his voice slightly muffled as he scribbles away. "'If Y/N comes home with ten books, what's your reaction?'"

Jisung grins. "And if he says anything other than 'I'll help carry them,' he's done."

The two of them continue brainstorming ridiculous questions while you lean back in the gaming chair, amused and baffled by their dedication. After a few more minutes, they finally stop, looking at the list like they've just created a masterpiece.

"Alright," Jisung says, holding up the notebook triumphantly. "The Felix and Jisung Best Friend Test is complete. Let's go find Chan."

You roll your eyes, but there's no stopping them now. You stand up and follow them downstairs to the living room, where the rest of the guys are lounging around. Minho and Jeongin are sprawled on the couch, while Hyunjin and Seungmin are half-heartedly watching something on TV.

As you walk in, Minho raises an eyebrow, glancing at you and then at Felix and Jisung, who are clearly on a mission. "What's this all about?"

Before you can answer, Jeongin scoots over, making room for you on the couch. You sit between him and Minho, and they both immediately pull you into their warmth. Minho wraps an arm around your shoulders, pulling you close. "You're freezing," he mutters, his voice low and concerned. "Did Felix and Jisung not take care of you upstairs?"

Jeongin grabs your hands, rubbing them between his to warm them up. "Yeah, you're still cold. You need to warm up properly."

You smile at their concern, feeling the warmth from their bodies seep into your skin. "I'm fine, really. You two are just acting like overprotective brothers now."

Minho snorts. "Someone has to look out for you."

Before you can say anything else, Jisung suddenly dims the lights, casting the room into a shadowy glow. Felix stands near the light switch, his face serious. "Alright, everyone. We're about to interrogate Chan."

Chan, sitting comfortably in the armchair, looks up in surprise, his brows furrowing. "Uh... what?"

Jisung steps forward, pulling out his phone and turning on the flashlight, shining it directly into Chan's face. "You heard us, Bang Chan. You're about to take The Felix and Jisung Best Friend Test."

Chan blinks, momentarily blinded by the light. "Wait, what?"

Felix steps forward with the notepad, his voice dripping with authority. "This is a screening process. If you pass, you're allowed to date Y/N. If you fail, well... let's just say you'll have some explaining to do."

You groan, burying your face in your hands. "I can't believe this is happening."

But Chan just laughs, leaning back in the armchair and crossing his arms. "Alright, let's hear it. What's this test?"

Jisung clears his throat dramatically as if this is a matter of utmost importance. "First question: What are your intentions with our sweet Y/N?"

Chan looks amused but answers seriously. "My intentions are to take her on nice dates, make her smile, and get to know her better."

Felix narrows his eyes, scribbling something in his notepad. "Good answer. Next question: Why didn't you kiss her on the first date? Is she not good enough? What's wrong with you?"

Chan laughs, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, the timing didn't feel right. I didn't want to rush it."

Jisung leans forward, still holding the phone flashlight up. "You sure it wasn't because you don't find her attractive?"

Chan's face softens as he looks at you. "Definitely not. I just didn't want to ruin a good night by moving too fast."

Felix jots down some more notes, looking satisfied. "Okay, next question. What are you going to do if Y/N gets kidnapped? How are you helping Jisung and me get her back from the heathens?"

Chan raises an eyebrow, clearly trying not to laugh. "Uh... first, I'd call you two to let you know what's happening. Then I'd help track her down, using my connections and resources. I'll be the one to take down the kidnappers."

Jisung nods approvingly. "Good, good. We need someone who's willing to get their hands dirty."

Felix continues, his tone completely serious. "Alright, here's a tricky one. If Y/N wanted to adopt a pet raccoon, what would your reaction be?"

Chan chuckles, leaning forward slightly. "If Y/N wanted a pet raccoon, I'd probably try to talk her into getting something a little less... wild. But if she really wanted it, I'd help her take care of it."

Jisung grins. "Good. Adaptability. Nice."

Felix glances at the list, nodding to himself before moving on. "Alright, final question. If Y/N comes home with ten books, what's your reaction?"

Chan doesn't even hesitate. "I'd help her carry them, no questions asked."

Felix and Jisung exchange a glance, clearly impressed with Chan's answers. Felix gives a satisfied nod. "Alright, Chan. You passed the test."

Jisung shuts off the flashlight and steps back. "You're not out of the woods yet, though."

Felix pulls out the list of ridiculous standards they'd created earlier and clears his throat. "Now, we have a list of standards that you need to agree to if you're going to date Y/N."

Chan raises an eyebrow, leaning back in the armchair. "Standards?"

Jisung smirks, grabbing the notepad from Felix and reading aloud. "First: You must know everything about The Book Thief, characters, themes, quotes, everything. Y/N needs to be able to discuss it with you at any time."

Chan chuckles, nodding. "Alright, I can do that."

"Second," Felix continues, his tone serious. "You must proofread her creative writing assignments if she asks. No complaints."

Chan nods again. "Deal."

"Third," Jisung adds, his grin growing wider. "You must always carry cherry lollipops. No exceptions. If Y/N asks for one and you don't have it, you're done."

Chan laughs, clearly enjoying the absurdity of the situation. "Got it. I'll stock up."

Felix flips to the next page, continuing the list. "You also need to memorize her coffee order perfectly, be willing to go to the bookstore with her, and carry all her books without complaint."

Jisung adds, "Oh, and you need to surprise her with books every now and then. No special occasion necessary."

Chan grins, shaking his head. "That actually sounds fun. I'm in."

"And last but not least," Felix says, looking at the final line on the list, "you need to be able to tell when Y/N's having a bad day just by looking at her. No asking. You should know instinctively."

Chan looks thoughtful for a moment, then nods. "I think I can manage that."

Jisung hands him a pen, a triumphant grin on his face. "These are non-negotiable, Chan. You are to sign this list and commit to these standards."

Chan takes the pen, still smiling, and signs the bottom of the list with a flourish. "There. Happy?"

Felix and Jisung exchange satisfied nods, clearly pleased with themselves. "Very," Felix says, tucking the list into his back pocket. "You've officially earned our approval."

You can't help but laugh at the entire situation, shaking your head. "You guys are unbelievable."

Minho, who's been watching the entire exchange with an amused smirk, tightens his arm around your shoulders and leans in. "I'm surprised Chan actually put up with all of that."

Chan shrugs, standing up from the armchair. "It was worth it."

Jeongin, still holding your hands, grins. "Well, I think this means we can officially welcome you into the family, Chan."

Chan gives a mock salute. "Glad to be here."

It's game day, and the energy on campus is absolutely electric. The Miroh Maniacs are playing their biggest rivals—the Northridge Titans—and you're, as always, exactly where you belong: on the players' bench, close to the action.

The sun is high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the packed bleachers. Fans are screaming, faces painted red and black in support of the Maniacs, and you're sitting in the middle of the chaos, completely calm, once again flipping through your worn copy of The Book Thief.

Your red summer dress flutters lightly in the breeze, contrasting against the bright green of the football field. The black wedges on your feet sink slightly into the grass, and your signature red heart-shaped sunglasses sit perched on your nose. You cross your legs, turning another page, your focus entirely on the book. It's comforting, especially amidst the madness of game day.

The Maniacs' jerseys stand out against the green—Chan with his number 03, Minho wearing 25, Felix sporting 01, and the rest of the team spread across the field. Their black and red uniforms gleam in the sunlight, and the tension in the air is thick.

It's always like this when they play the Titans. These games are intense, brutal, even. You've seen more dirty plays and borderline illegal tackles during these matches than you care to admit.

Today is no different. From the moment the game kicks off, the Titans come at the Maniacs full force. You can hear the crack of helmets and the heavy thud of bodies slamming into each other, the crowd roaring in response to every hit. The referee's whistle cuts through the noise, but it doesn't stop the Titans from playing dirty.

You catch sight of Felix getting shoved to the ground by one of their linebackers, a dirty move that earns him nothing but a smirk from the Titans' player. Jisung's quick to step in, shoving the guy back before the referees can even intervene.

"Fucking Titans," Jisung mutters, glancing toward you as he returns to the field. You give him a supportive smile from your spot on the bench, watching as he lines up again. He's always one to defend his teammates, especially Felix.

As the game goes on, you try to stay focused on your book, but it's hard not to be distracted by the intensity of the match. You glance up every now and then, watching as Chan barrels through the Titans' defensive line, Minho weaving through the chaos with his usual precision. Changbin's a wrecking ball, slamming into players with no hesitation, while Hyunjin and Jeongin dart across the field like lightning.

You can feel the pressure building with every second that ticks by, especially as the Titans continue to play dirty. By the time halftime rolls around, the score is close, too close for comfort. The Maniacs jog off the field, sweat dripping down their faces, some of them muttering curses under their breath about the Titans' underhanded tactics.

As they head to the locker room, you settle deeper into your seat, trying to focus back on your book. You're mid-sentence when you suddenly feel a presence nearby, someone standing too close. You glance up, annoyed at the interruption, only to see a guy from the rival team standing right in front of you. He's got the Titans' logo plastered across his jersey, and the look on his face immediately sets you on edge.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" he says, his voice dripping with sleaze. His eyes rake over you, lingering in ways that make your skin crawl. "Didn't think a pretty little thing like you would be hanging around with those losers."

You ignore him, hoping he'll get the hint and leave. You flip the page in your book, acting like you haven't even noticed him. But of course, guys like him don't take hints.

"Hey, sweetheart, I'm talking to you," he presses, stepping even closer. You can smell the cheap cologne and sweat on him. "You waiting for one of those fuckers on the Maniacs? Why don't you come watch the real men play instead? I could show you a better time."

You grit your teeth, doing your best to tune him out. You've dealt with assholes like this before—guys who think they can say whatever they want because they're on some team. It's not worth engaging. But he's not done. He leans in closer, his voice lowering as he continues his vulgar comments.

"You know, a girl like you shouldn't be wasting time on a bunch of losers like them. I could make you feel good, babe. Real good. Just say the word."

Your fingers tighten around the book, every fibre of your being screaming to shove him away, but you hold back. He's not worth your energy. You stay silent, eyes glued to the page.

"Oh, come on. What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" he taunts, leaning over you now. "You're not gonna say no to a guy like me, are you?"

And then, just like that, he reaches down and snatches your book out of your hands. You feel your stomach drop as he holds it above his head, grinning like he's accomplished something.

"Reading, huh? What a waste of time. Why don't you come have some fun with me instead? I promise it'll be better than this boring shit."

You stand up, crossing your arms over your chest, glaring at him with a look that could burn a hole through steel. "Give it back."

The guy just smirks, holding the book even higher above his head. "Oh, I'll give it back when you ask nicely. Maybe throw in a little thank you while you're at it."

Before you can even respond, someone from behind shouts, "OI!"

The guy freezes, and you turn to see Chan storming over, the rest of the team flanking him like a wall of muscle and fury. His eyes are locked on the guy holding your book, his jaw clenched tight, and there's murder in his expression.

Without missing a beat, Chan wraps an arm around your waist, pulling you close and pressing a kiss to the top of your head. You lean into his side, your heart pounding, but the tension starts to melt away with him there. Felix and Jisung are already stepping up, both of them glaring at the guy.

"You've got three fucking seconds to give her the book back," Felix growls, his usually bright and playful demeanour nowhere to be seen.

Jisung steps forward, fists clenched. "Or we'll make sure you won't be able to hold anything for a long fucking time."

The guy falters, glancing nervously between them, but he tries to play it off. "Relax, I was just having a little fun. No need to get all worked up."

Changbin, looking like he's seconds away from throwing the guy into the bleachers, steps up beside Felix. "Give her the fucking book. Now."

Minho crosses his arms, his gaze icy. "Before we decide to make sure you never play another game again."

The guy's bravado cracks, and he lowers the book slightly, trying to keep what little dignity he has left. "Whatever," he mutters, tossing the book toward you. "She's fucking ugly anyway."

Before anyone can react, Jisung lunges. He tackles the guy to the ground with a force that knocks the breath out of everyone watching. The rival player barely has time to register what's happening before Jisung's fists are flying, rage clear in every strike.

You feel Chan's grip tighten on you as he pulls you back, keeping you close. "Stay with me," he murmurs into your ear, his voice low and protective. You lean into him, still trying to process everything as Jeongin and Hyunjin rush over, pulling Jisung off the guy before things get out of hand.

"Enough, Han!" Hyunjin shouts, dragging Jisung back. "He's not worth it."

Jisung struggles for a second, but eventually calms down, breathing heavily as he glares at the guy on the ground. "Don't you fucking dare talk about her like that again."

The guy scrambles to his feet, muttering curses under his breath as he stumbles away, clearly shaken.

Felix steps forward, placing a hand on Jisung's shoulder. "Let him go, man. He's not worth it."

You finally exhale, the tension in your chest easing slightly as the situation defuses. You're still leaning against Chan, his arm wrapped securely around you, and you glance up at him. He's watching the guy walk away, his jaw still tight, but when he looks down at you, his expression softens.

"You okay?" he asks, his voice gentle.

You nod, though your heart is still racing. "Yeah. Thanks for that."

He smiles, pressing another kiss to your forehead. "Always."

The second half of the game kicks off with a surge of intensity that practically crackles in the air. The crowd is louder than ever, chanting and cheering as the Maniacs and Titans line up on the field. You can feel the tension pulsing through the stadium, but all you can think about is the smirk that guy had on his face and how Jisung tackled him to the ground.

You catch Chan's eye as he gets into position, his jaw tight, eyes focused like a predator stalking prey. He's locked in now, and it's obvious who he's targeting.

The moment the whistle blows, Chan charges forward with a level of ferocity you've only seen in games against the Titans. He barrels through the opposing players like a tank, zeroing in on the guy who had the audacity to mess with you.

There's no hesitation, no mercy in his movements. Chan slams into him hard, sending the player sprawling onto the field with a heavy thud. The crowd erupts, half in awe, half in shock, but you just smirk, knowing this is personal for Chan.

From the bench, you and Jisung watch with amused satisfaction. Jisung's been benched for his earlier outburst but he's not bothered. In fact, he's enjoying every second of watching Chan wreck that guy's shit.

"Damn, Chan's out for blood," Jisung mutters, leaning back on the bench as he watches the game with a grin. "That guy's going to feel those hits tomorrow."

You chuckle, flipping through your book even though the game keeps pulling your attention. "I don't feel bad for him. He had it coming."

Jisung nods, watching as Chan lines up for the next play, eyes narrowed on his target. "Oh, for sure. That dude's lucky Chan's not actually trying to break bones."

Another whistle and the play starts again. Chan doesn't miss a beat, taking down the same guy with ruthless efficiency. It's like watching a lion pick off the weakest in the herd. Each tackle is harder than the last, and each time the guy gets up, he's a little slower, a little more shaken.

Jisung laughs, glancing at you out of the corner of his eye. "You know, Chan really likes you."

You pause, pretending to still be engrossed in The Book Thief even though the words are starting to blur from how fast your heart is beating. "Yeah, I know. He was really sweet on our date."

Jisung raises an eyebrow. "Sweet, huh? Is that why you didn't kiss?"

You roll your eyes, shifting in your seat. "I don't know. I just wish he would've kissed me. I mean, he was perfect the whole night, but..."

Jisung snorts, shaking his head. "He's waiting for the right moment, that dork. It's Chan. He overthinks everything."

"He's sweet," you say with a small smile, glancing over at the field as Chan flattens the guy again. "But yeah, he could be a little bolder."

Jisung chuckles, leaning back and crossing his arms. "He's a huge step up from the losers you usually date, though."

You give him a side-eye but can't help but laugh. "Thanks, Ji. Real subtle."

Jisung grins. "Just saying. Chan's actually a good guy. He treats you right, and he's obviously willing to tackle anyone who looks at you the wrong way."

You smirk, watching as the game progresses with Chan's relentless assault on the guy who'd tried to mess with you. The Titans are starting to look rattled, their dirty tactics failing as the Maniacs pick up momentum. Every time Chan hits the guy, you and Jisung share a glance, unable to hide your amusement.

"God, he's just laying him out over and over," Jisung laughs, shaking his head. "I almost feel bad for the guy. Almost."

You lean back, crossing your legs and finally closing your book, realizing you're too distracted to read. "He deserves it."

"Damn right he does," Jisung mutters, eyes flicking back to the field. "And Chan? He's doing it for you. You see how hard he's going?"

Your chest flutters a little, watching Chan as he commands the field, each hit more powerful than the last. Yeah, you've noticed. He's not just playing for the team right now. He's playing for you.

The final whistle blows, and the Maniacs emerge victorious with a hard-fought win. The stands erupt into wild cheers, red and black confetti raining down as fans jump to their feet. The Maniacs' players are high-fiving and clapping each other on the back, but your eyes are locked on Chan as he jogs off the field, eyes immediately searching for you.

Felix, Minho, and the rest of the team are basking in the victory, but Chan's focus is entirely on you. As he gets closer, you can see the adrenaline still pumping through his veins, his chest rising and falling with each breath. His hair is damp with sweat, his jersey streaked with dirt, but he's never looked better.

He doesn't stop when he reaches you. Instead, he hooks his arm around your waist, pulling you up from the bench in one fluid motion before pressing his lips to yours. It's not gentle, not soft like you might've imagined for a first kiss. It's fierce, fueled by the high of victory and the raw emotion from earlier. But it's perfect.

The second his lips meet yours, the world seems to blur. The roar of the crowd fades into the background, and for a moment, it's just you and Chan. You kiss him back, wrapping your arms around his neck as he lifts you slightly off the ground. You can feel the strength in his arms, the heat radiating from his body, and the way his lips move against yours is enough to make your head spin.

Around you, the entire football team erupts into cheers and whistles, but you don't care. You and Chan are locked in your own little world. His grip tightens on your waist, pulling you even closer as his lips move against yours with a kind of urgency that takes your breath away.

When you finally pull apart, both of you are breathless, and Chan presses his forehead against yours, his smile wide and genuine.

"Took you long enough," you tease, your heart racing.

He laughs, his eyes sparkling with that boyish charm that always gets to you. "Sorry, I guess I was waiting for the right moment."

You chuckle, still feeling the warmth of his lips lingering on yours. "Well, I think this qualifies."

"Damn right it does," Jisung calls from the sidelines, still sitting on the bench. He's grinning from ear to ear, and Felix is right beside him, laughing. The entire team is watching now, most of them whistling or clapping, and you roll your eyes at their over-the-top reactions.

Chan sets you back down, his arm still wrapped around your waist as he turns to face the team, his grin widening. "Alright, alright. Get your laughs in now."

Felix smirks, clapping his hands. "I knew it! I fucking knew it was gonna happen today. Took you long enough, mate."

Minho, ever the smug one, crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow. "Not bad, Bang Chan. Not bad at all. But we all knew it was coming."

You roll your eyes, leaning into Chan's side as the team continues to tease. Jeongin comes up and claps Chan on the back, grinning. "Finally, man. We were starting to think you'd never make a move."

Chan chuckles, tightening his arm around you. "Yeah, well... figured I'd save the kiss for after a win."

Jisung, still lounging on the bench, raises an eyebrow. "You're just lucky you didn't fuck it up. If you waited any longer, Y/N might've made the first move."

You smirk, looking up at Chan. "He's not wrong."

Chan laughs, leaning down to press a quick kiss to your temple. "Guess I'll have to make sure I'm quicker next time."

The rest of the team hoots and hollers, clearly enjoying the moment. Even Hyunjin, who's usually more composed, is grinning like an idiot. Seungmin shakes his head, trying to suppress a laugh. "I'm just glad we finally got that over with. It was painful watching you two dance around each other."

Felix claps his hands together, a wicked grin on his face. "Alright, next step is Chan officially joining the 'Best Friends Approved Boyfriend' club. Y/N's got some standards, and we need to make sure he's up to the task."

Chan groans, shooting Felix a look. "I already signed the damn list. What more do you want from me?"

You laugh, shaking your head as Felix continues to tease. "We'll let you off the hook for now, Captain," you say, giving him a playful nudge. "But only because you did good today."

Chan grins down at you, his eyes softening. "Thanks. That means a lot, coming from you."

As the team slowly starts to head toward the locker rooms, you and Chan linger for a moment longer, basking in the aftermath of the game and the kiss that's still fresh on your lips. The sun is beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the field, and for a moment, everything feels perfect.

Chan pulls you closer, his voice low as he leans in. "So, what do you say we go out tonight? Celebrate the win... and the kiss?"

You smile, your heart fluttering at the thought. "I'd like that."

He grins, pressing one last kiss to your forehead before leading you toward the locker rooms. The Maniacs may have won the game, but in this moment, it feels like you and Chan are the real victors.

[beauty-grace-outer-space]

Sometimes boundaries are simply not over-explaining why you can't do something.

[panstarry]

my final from last semester that i made into a zine. cooked this one up in a couple hours before the critique (the ink was still wet!), so it's very raw and kind of sloppy but the sentiment is there. i love you trans people of color. we are the backbone of this community 🌟

[jerek]

It's gonna be so weird when I have real life friends trying to explain that I used to only be able to say my life is dogshit once or twice a week without clogging the vent channel that we all used to say our life was shit because it was all unanimously shitty for all of us and it was considered rude to bring it up too often even though unanimously it was shitty in ways that we could not control and affected us daily

[bluberimufim]

Guys, I think I'm in the final 2-ish chapters of DoS and I'm actually so scared

(ig this warrants a taglist: @little-mouse-gardens @wildswrites @cheeto-flavoured-pasta @fleurtygurl @joswriting)

[waywardsalt]

Images for Linebeck pride headcanons :)

bonus under the cut

[bonestrouslingbones]

nothing like reading "please dont use as base code" after two full days of using a custom theme as a base code

[mooodyblue]

rambling in the tags ignore me

[scabbardsystem]

well. woke up. too worried to go back to sleep. too sleepy to do anything else. we'll be here i guess hgghf

[blujayonthewing]

god I wish bag of holding was real so FUCKING bad

[bunnihearted]

🐁

[imwritesometimes]

nothing like waking up and immediately having horrible migraine aura followed by a horrible fckn migraine to just completely derail all the plans you had 😖