#so sorry to my mutual who I’m watching this show with. i did warn them to at the very least not read the tags so if this is how they learn

[tiredsadpeach]

Update they both hate me because I told the child one of them was harassing the acc he could block to try and stop it

[cameronspecial]

OMGGG, I woke up today and thought of smth. It's gonna take forever to make if you do make this, but..

Drew starkey and Y/N, they meet at a fancy restaurant like this GIF

And Y/N thinks he's cute and she's like there waiter or smth and Drew is out for dinner w the cast to celebrate season 4 starting and she's just like really smiley or smth, anywaysss. They get eachothers numbers and talk a bit later that night and she finds out he's a Actor and he played in OBX and what not so she starts watching it and they eventually get tg after more talking. IDK, I WANT IT TO BE LONG LOWKEY, OR CHAPTERS OF THEM MEETING AND TALKING, HE FINDS OUT SOME HOW THAT SHE STARTED WATCHING OBX OR A MOVIE HE PLAYED IN AND SHES ALL BLUSHING AND EMBARRASSED, IDK ITS SM TO ASK- PLSSSS PLSSSS PLSSSSSSSSS PLEASEEEEE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE😭🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

-Autumn

That's Him?!

Pairing: Drew Starkey x Reader

Warnings: N/A

Pronouns: She/Her

Word Count: 0.8K

Masterlist

Y/N has been texting Drew all day. She shouldn’t have slipped him her number last night, but he was too good of the match not to take the chance to get to know him better. The table he had sat at was big, filled with, who she assumed were, his co-workers. They were all polite and respectful, helping make her job easy by being patient and stacking their plates when they were done, yet he stood out to her even in the sea of faces. He was attractive, no doubt, and always caught her attention with the most charming smile. He would joke and try to make polite conversation as she served his table. So once the time for them to close their cheque came, she took the opportunity to write her number down on his receipt. It turns out, the feeling is mutual. 

I swear I didn’t know that Nair was a hair removal product. Logan didn’t believe me though. She giggles at his recounting of when he accidentally caused his brother to go bald, not noticing her sister’s arrival in the living room. 

The shift in the couch beside her causes Y/N to turn her sister. “Are you still texting that guy from last night?” Via inquires. Y/N bites her bottom lip to hide her smile, “Yeah. He’s really sweet.” “Well, hopefully, this turns into something more because you need to get laid. Anyways, I’m going to watch my show down here.” The older sister doesn’t say anything as her sibling picks up the remote and switches it to Netflix. 

Y/N continues her conversation with Drew, letting the show on the TV drown out in the background until a familiar voice sounds throughout the room. Her eyes flick up to the large screen and back down to her phone. She recognizes the buzz head and can’t believe his presence. She also doesn’t know why she never thought about asking him where he works. “That’s him?!” she yells, pointing at the screen. Via looks at her sister like she has grown two heads, “What are you talking about?”

“That’s Drew. That’s who I met yesterday and have been talking to.”

“Hold on, you are telling me that the Drew you have been talking to is Drew Starkey.”

“I guess.”

Via pauses the show and pulls out her phone. Her sister waits patiently as her sister types something in. The phone is turned in her direction and she looks at the various pictures of her new friend on the screen. “Yeah, that’s definitely him.”

———

After a few weeks of texting, Y/N and Drew finally set a date on their calendar. His hand rests on her lower back, leading her while the hostess shows them to their table. She sits across from him with a massive grin. His hand rests in the middle of the table and she reaches out to place her hand on his, almost knocking down her empty wine glass if it isn’t for his quick reflex. “I’m sorry,” she apologizes. “I guess I’m still feeling a little Kooky.” Her eyes glance towards his face to see if he reacts to her teasing. His face remains stoic as he tries to figure out if she used the word for the reason he thinks she did. She recognizes his attempt and pushes it even more by going over the menu. 

“I wonder if they have any fish. I’m in the mood for menhaden or as it is otherwise known as pogue.” 

Certain that the jig is now up, he sets his menu down to give her his full attention. “So you know?” he confirms. She nods, “Yes, I found out a few weeks ago when my sister was watching the show in the living room. How come you didn’t tell me?” He sighs, playing with the hoop in his ear. “I didn’t want you to treat me differently. Or for you to be scared of entering a relationship with me because I travel a lot for work and sometimes get followed by a crowd of fans.”

 She gives his hand a soft squeeze. “I understand why you would fear those things, but I promise you don’t have anything to worry about. You are still plain old Drew to me and I have a thick skin from being a waitress, I think I can handle a few teenage girls.” 

He gives her a thankful smile and holds his hand up to her, “Why don’t we start over? I’m Drew Starkey. I act for a living and I think you are the most beautiful girl I have seen. I would love it if you would go on a date with me. She giggles and takes his hand. “Nice to meet you, Drew. I’m Y/N. I wait tables and I would love to go on a date with you.” 

Taglist: @winterrrnight @loves0phelia @thelomlisrafecameron @wickedlovely121 @thepatriarchykeychain @drewsmusee @starkowswife @maybankslover @forstarkey @loving-and-dreaming @magicalyoura @rubixgsworld

[moremaybank]

DANGEROUS GAMES — j.m

pairing jj maybank x fem!routledge!reader

summary jj refuses to take the bait when you give him a tempting offer. you both agree on a compromise, but you're left pleasantly surprised with how things turn out.

warnings 18+, mutual masturbation, fingering, unprotected sex, oral/face-fucking (m. receiving), cum-swallowing, smidge of a daddy kink, jj and reader's filthy ass mouths, i think that's it but let me know

author's note making my comeback ??? also testing if i wanna go back to regular-sized text.

jj masterlist

“J,” you sulk, rolling your eyes as you follow him inside the chateau. “You’re being ridiculous. It’s not that deep.”

JJ scoffs. “It’s not right.”

It’s your turn to scoff. “Why not? Because of John B? JJ, you’re a grown-ass man.” 

JJ pauses, turning back around to face you with a large sigh. “I’m not the guy who fucks his best friend’s little sister behind his back. John B is my brother. I’m not gonna do that to him.”

“Really? He’s your brother?” You ask. You approach him slowly, almost chest to chest, as you look up into his captivating blue eyes. You test the waters by bracing your hands on his firm shoulders, refusing to tear your gaze from his. “So that means you think of me as your sister?”

JJ gulps, and he knows you can see through the façade he’s putting up. You’re the furthest thing from a sister to him. He’s always thought of you as forbidden fruit. Something he’s wanted for so long but knows he can never have a taste of. The thought is burned into his brain, and it taunts him daily.

Your constant teasing doesn’t seem to help matters much, either. Sauntering around in your towel after a shower with water droplets littered across your damp skin, the outline of your curves still managing to show through the thick cotton fabric. Or when you’re in the hot tub together, your head thrown back with your eyes shut as you let the water relax your muscles. The thought of your tiny little swimsuit being the only thing stopping him from seeing you bare isn’t lost on him. It never is. But JJ takes advantage of the opportunity to ogle at you in these moments, having vowed long ago that he would take whatever he could get where you were concerned. 

You’re a menace, through and through, and he damn well knows it. 

“Give in, J.” Your hands slide downward, and your palms brush against his clothed chest. Your lips near his, threatening to brush against them as you spoke. “Give in to me.”

JJ feels weak. He feels like he’s about to snap, if he’s honest. Your lips are so close that all he has to do is lean in, and he’ll feel them glide against his like silk. Your scent overtakes him, a mixture of your perfume and the salt from the ocean. Heat ignites inside his chest from your touch, and his heart rate picks up. You’re close. Really close. 

Too close.

“We can’t, Y/N. I can’t,” he whispers, gently removing your hands from him and putting some space between the two of you. “I can’t touch you. If I did…” he trails off, running a hand through his hair, “I don’t think I’d ever be able to stop.”

You inhale deeply, chewing on his words. A light bulb goes off in your head, and a devious look graces your features. You step closer to him, levelling his gaze from a safe distance. “Fine. If you won’t fuck me, then I want something else.”

JJ cocks a brow. “And what exactly do you want?”

“I wanna watch you cum,” you shrug, as if to say that your request is entirely reasonable and not one-hundred percent unorthodox (at least, between the two of you). 

“I’m sorry, what?”

“If getting to watch you cum is the closest I’ll ever get to having you for real, then I’ll take it. I wanna know exactly what it looks like when you fall apart. I wanna hear the desperation in your voice as you work for it, and I wanna know how you sound when you finally let yourself have it. Let me watch you, J. I’ll let you watch me too.” 

On the one hand, your point is strong, and it gets him thinking; this might be JJ’s only chance to feast his eyes on your body, bare for his viewing pleasure as you come undone without him having to lay a single finger on you. At least a fraction of his long-standing questions and fantasies would be put to rest if he said yes. But on the other hand, what if it was too much? What if you were more magnificent than he’d ever fathomed and was left yearning for more? What if he fucked up and gave in? He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to look John B in the eye.

“I don’t know. This is a dangerous game that we’re playing,” JJ speaks. 

“Live a little,” you whisper.  

JJ clenches his jaw, stepping closer to you. His hand creeps its way around your neck, asserting his dominance and holding you in place as he stares down at you. “If I agree to this, it’s just a one-time exception. No one finds out. You forget about me, and I forget about you. Got it?” 

You nod in response, his demanding tone sending a thrill up your spine. 

JJ’s hand squeezes your throat slightly, “I need to hear you say it.”

“I got it, J.” 

“Good,” he speaks, releasing you from his grip. “Strip and get on your ass on the couch.”

You obey his command, already beginning to pull your shirt off as you approach the couch in the living area. You unbutton your shorts, shoving them down your legs and leaving them on the floor. You sit on the couch, your back leaning against the armrest while your legs fall open. Your eyes catch JJ’s blue ones, and you notice them trail over every square inch of you. Goosebumps form on your skin under his intense stare as he walks over to you.

“Shit,” he breathes, mirroring you as he sits across from you on the couch. “Look at how fucking perfect you are.” JJ’s gaze follows the expanse of your neck and clavicle, moving downward to drink in the sight of your tits sitting pretty in front of him. Your nipples are perked up, begging for attention that JJ is dying to give them. He can almost feel your buds between his lips and on the tip of his tongue, and he wonders what your reaction would be if he nibbled at them.

He salivates as he moves on to your torso, and not long after that, he lets gaze eyes feast on your swollen clit and slick core. Your legs subconsciously widen, and the stretch opens you up to him, giving him a better view of your arousal. He leans forward and spits onto your cunt, unable to hold himself back from doing so. Your stomach flips at the action, and your heart rate picks up as you watch his saliva dribble down your folds. 

“Goddamn. Play with that pretty pussy for me, baby,” JJ says, moving to undo his shorts and remove his briefs. He finally lets his cock spring free, and your teeth sink into your bottom lip. It’s so pretty, standing tall and hard as a rock with a bead of pre-cum seeping out. You can practically taste him, and knowing that you never will stings. 

You nod in response to his command, and your middle and ring fingers spread his saliva over your entire core. Your fingertips glide over your clit, and you hum softly before slowly slipping your fingers inside. They knead against your walls every time you sink them in, and you let your head fall back in delight as you finally get a taste of the pleasure you’ve been dying for. “Shit.”

JJ joins you immediately, spitting onto his palm and gripping his cock. He’s sure to stroke himself in time with the pace you’re fucking yourself, imagining himself in your place. Things between you two have just begun, yet he’s already about to fold and pound you deep into your mattress. But he can’t give in to you so quickly, not when he knows you’ll hold it over him until the end of time. So he tries the best he can to gather his self-restraint.

Unfortunately for JJ, you don’t make it very easy. “Do you like this, J? Watching me fuck my fingers and getting off on it?”

JJ grits his teeth, “Fuck. Yeah, baby. I love it. Fuck yourself harder for me.”

“Like this?” You ask, thrusting your fingers roughly. You let out a pleasant gasp when the heel of your palm smacks against your sensitive clit. It sends electricity reeling through you, and you let out a loud cry. 

“Oh, fuck. That feels— Fuck.”

JJ fucks his hand harder, his free hand gripping the couch cushion tightly as he bucks his hips to meet his fist. Your mewls and whimpers push him further toward snapping, and stuffing you full of his cock over and over is all he can think about. “That’s it. Show me what makes you cum, princess. Show daddy what makes you scream.”

You do as you’re told, putting all your weight on the armrest behind you and spreading your legs wider for him. The fingers of your free hand find your clit, massaging it roughly enough to make your toes curl instantly. 

“Fuck, I wish your cock was inside me. Wanna make a mess all over you,” you whine, getting close.

It feels like a game, the both of you taunting each other and seeing how far you can go before the other caves because they’re so unbearably desperate. The tension in the room is thicker beyond imagination. 

“J,” you breathe, “I’m all spread out for you. Paint my pussy with your cum, baby. Wanna put my panties on and walk around covered in you all day long.”

JJ nearly chokes when he hears your goading words. He knows what you’re trying to do, and god help him, but it’s damn well working. He knows you can sense his resolve withering away the more you beg for him.

His heated gaze locks on the way you’re hooking your fingers to hit your sweet spot, and the quivers of your body send lightning bolts straight to his cock. You're panting his name and so whiny as you chase your high that JJ can’t take it anymore. He decides he needs to be responsible for your sweet cries of pleasure. He needs to be the one to make your legs shake and your cunt sore from his thick cock stretching you out. To fuck you into a babbling, sobbing mess. 

“I’m so fucking close, shit. Wish you could fucking ruin me,” you plead with a cry.

“Fucking hell,” JJ grunts. He shoots up from his seat, swiftly towering over you and yanking your hand away from your pussy.

“What the hell are you—” you begin, but you’re interrupted when JJ tears your hand away from your pussy and flips you onto your hands and knees. “JJ!”

A harsh smack lands on your ass. “Shut up. You’re gonna take this cock the way you were begging to.” His fingers circle the back of your neck, pressing you against the mattress and arching your back for him. His cock slams into you without notice, and you let out a strangled yelp. His pelvis smacks against your ass harshly as he pounds into you, and the constant collision of your flesh stings slightly, but it puts you further under JJ’s spell. His actions are deliciously rough as he punishes you for every single time you’ve ever dangled yourself in front of him like a treat.

“You’re so fucking big, J. Too big,” you sob, tears leaking down your face. You could feel him bruising your cervix and molding you to his cock — though he doesn’t need to work too hard to reach his goal because you already take him so perfectly. “S-so deep.” Your hand reaches backward, but JJ is quick to smack it away. 

“No. You wanted me to ruin you, and that’s exactly what I’ll do to you. I’m gonna wreck you to the point where you won’t be able to get off without thinking of me. And then the minute you finally cum, you’ll realize you can never have me again. And that, pretty girl, will be your downfall.” JJ’s hands move to your hips, forming a solid grip as he pulls you back to meet his thrusts.

“J, please. I can’t— Oh my god.” JJ’s balls smack against your clit with each sharp jut of his hips, and the contact against your tender bundle of nerves weakens your knees. 

“C’mon, baby. This is what you wanted, right? Wanted me to split you open with my cock and destroy your pussy from the inside out? Don’t run from me. Fucking take it like a good girl.” 

“Gonna c-cum, J. Fuck,” you hiccup, feeling the coil in you approaching the breaking point. Your body tenses, and you let out a strangled cry as your orgasm crashes through your body. You go limp, and JJ continues fucking you into oblivion as you give up the last ounce of energy you have. He smacks your ass again, letting out a string of curse words as he tries to reach his own high. You feel his cock twitch, and you know he’s close, but he pulls out of you abruptly. 

“Wanna cum down your throat,” he rasps, flipping you onto your back again. He stuffs his cock into your mouth, both of his hands cradling your face and keeping you still so he can fuck your mouth. Your tongue slathers against the vein on the underside of his cock, and you feel his hips stutter. He holds your face flesh against his pelvis as he shoves his cock to the back of your throat. “Shit. Fuckfuckfuck.” 

The hot ropes of cum shoot out from JJ’s cock, and the mouthwatering saltiness of him coats your tongue and throat. He feels you swallow around him, and his hands release your face. He lets out the tiniest whimper, sending a swarm of butterflies to your sore cunt. You lap at his dick, cleaning him up before sucking to the tip and releasing him with a pop. Your tongue darts out, licking your lips clean. 

“I always knew you’d taste good, daddy.”

His eyes darken with lust once more. “Don’t go there, princess.”

A devilish smirk spreads across your face. “Why not? I got you to fold once, didn’t I?”

And it was at that exact moment that JJ knew…he was fucked.

jj tag list (join here!): @maybankslover @kittyqrt @v-velvetykisscs @hobiibobii @rafesdior @fool4him @hemogloban @pankhoeforlife @rafesmuse @lyn07 @houseofperfecttaste @qualitybelieverflower-blog @dudenhaaa27 @princessbetsy123-blog @tori-loves1 @alexxavicry @kenzi-woycehoski @elijahssuit @skydisneylover @adoreyouusugar @obxjjpouge @conniesanchor @baby-maybank @angel037 @wotfasked @rafelover @penny4yourthoughts @nerd505 @xngelsau @maybank-archives @p4nkowrld @spideybrina @pankowperfection @demiioxox @adr1an4 @lov3r0fr0ck @ellesalazar @buckyisveryhot @hoeforstarkey24 @aliyahsomerhalder @thelastgreatamericandynasty1989

[n6ptunova]

love is (not) easy • chris sturniolo

a/n: i’m back? sorry i disappeared i had no motivation to write & life was kicking my ass, anyway there might be a pt2 to this lmk if you wanna see it or if i should burn it😭

summary: you & chris are best friends, you like him but have no idea how he feels abt you.

warnings: kinda angsty

chris and i have been friends for two years. we met through mutual friends during a party and have been inseparable ever since.

i’m good friends with his brothers too, but something’s different about chris. we immediately clicked that night. laughing at each other’s jokes even when no one else found it funny, bonding over similar interests, and playfully arguing over our differences. it was singlehandedly the best night of my life.

i was convinced i met my soulmate, though, back then i would’ve called it platonic. but anyone with a pair of eyes could see we liked each other. the problem is… we both have commitment issues, we’re scared of what could be. i’m tired of feeling like this.

i’m not good at making the first move so i’ve been trying to drop subtle hints to show my feelings for him. i let him catch me staring at him, i let our hugs linger a little longer than usual, i even started complimenting him more which wasn’t really a part of our dynamic. maybe he didn’t notice yet. or maybe the problem is that he did notice…

now i have a different fear, the fear of losing him. what if he’s weirded out by the way i’m acting, what if waiting too long will make him slip away from me? every time a girl flirts with him at a party i hold my breath hoping he’d shrug her off and come talk to me- and he usually does. until that one night.

we got invited to a party one night and each went to socialize with different friend circles. i look over at chris and spot a girl who’s all over him, giggling way too much, holding his arm and getting closer and closer to him. this is a regular occurrence, i get it, he’s an attractive man but he usually brushes them off.

except this time, he doesn’t move away like he usually does. he doesn’t excuse himself to come sit with me like i’m used to. if anything, it looks like he just deliberately said something to make her laugh more. why was he doing this?

did he actually like her? attracted maybe? but he’s not the hook-up type. i already lost interest in the conversation i was in and began eyeing chris and that girl closely. watching as she leaned close to his ear and whispered something. she was smirking, her eyes looking up at him waiting for an answer to which he looked a little hesitant. it was at that point that he glanced at me and i quickly looked away, not wanting him to see the jealousy in my eyes.

i waited a few seconds before looking back and saw them move from the spot they were in, hand in hand, as she leads him to an empty room. and he was just…following her. my heart beat faster with each step they took, skipping a beat when she pulled him in and shut the door behind them.

i couldn’t take it anymore. i had to leave.

without saying goodbye to anyone, i walked out the front door teary-eyed and headed straight for my car. as soon as i was alone i broke down crying and started replaying the image of them together, wondering what they’re doing up there. what was he doing. why was he doing this?

[spxllcxstxr]

Being Eddard Stark’s Second Wife • Headcanon

(Gif not mine)

Request: Eddard Stark second wife headcanon? ❤️❤️❤️ -m — anon

Warnings: fem!reader, heavy canon divergence, mention of dying in childbirth (not reader, no other mention of pregnancy/having children), assumed age gap? Ned stark being THE man <3

A.N: I feel like these are a little short but I actually like this one! I love Ned so much so these were also just fun to write…I hope you like them! :) also I always struggle to find more diverse gifs along these romantic lines and I’m so sorry about that, my works are always inclusive

•

You marry Ned Stark after Catelyn dies delivering Rickon, her youngest

Ned certainly did not believe that he would marry again, he was incredibly heartbroken by the death of his wife

Additionally, he now had to look after 6 children and be the Lord of Winterfell

Even though he had servants and teachers and maesters to look after his children and keep them preoccupied, he was still stretched very thin due to stress and lack of sleep

You had been a close friend to the Starks even before Robb was born; some daughter of a lesser known Northern house who had come to Winterfell for a change of scenery

Despite your lower ranking, Ned and Catelyn became close friends of yours

When Catelyn died Ned’s grief almost consumed him; but you were his light in the deep and dangerous darkness that had fallen over his life

While throughout the many years of knowing Ned you occasionally felt a spark, not love, but it certainly wasn’t platonic, you pushed it down, never rushing anything that would harm your friendship and Catelyn in particular

Becoming Ned’s second wife is a gradual process

Ned comes to you almost every day, whether it is due to his grief or to ask your opinion on something, you become even closer than you were before

It takes maybe around 2 or 3 years of mutual pining for the two of you to really acknowledge what’s going on

Robb, Jon, and Arya definitely have a hand in this, they’re old enough to see what’s going on, they certainly drop hints to the two of you

“Tell me, my Lady, why I cannot stop thinking about you…”. He takes off his gloves, just to place his rough palm gently on your cheek. “You are the first thing in my mind when I wake, and the last thing when I finally succumb to sleep.”

“Ned…”

“If you do not feel the same tell me now, before I kiss you,”

The kiss is obviously what starts it, and the wedding comes very quick after that

Ned is very protective of you

With anything

He knows how harsh the Northern wind is, so he makes sure you have the finest furs and the warmest boots

Even if you say you’re fine he will insistently add another layer onto you

He does it with a grin on his face and a kiss on the forehead

Ned loves you so much

He will also teach you how to defend yourself

He is already teaching his children so training you isn’t a problem, he doesn’t like to think about it, but he knows there might come a day where he may not be able to protect you from the evil things of Westeros (or beyond)

His kids are mostly used to you before you end up marrying him

Sansa is really the only one to have a bigger issue with her father taking a second wife but she quickly warms up to you

You know you aren’t their mother and you try not to smother them like you are, but you are protective of them as if they were your own

Ned loves watching you help them with their studies or their interests

He’s seen you sneakily teach Arya how to punch properly

And Sansa’s needlework has improved since you moved into the castle

He adores how you treat Jon no differently than the others, Catelyn always did. He doesn’t blame her, he had to lie to her, but it warms his heart to see you act so kind to him

Ned is a loving husband and he shows that to you every day

He’s always gentle towards you and respects your opinions and what you have to say

He’s truly #NotLikeOtherMen lmao

•

[iamred-iamyellow]

⋆ ˚｡⋆౨ৎ Good Luck, Babe! - [Part 1]

♥ next | ao3 link | masterlist

♥ pairing: oscar piastri/carlos sainz jr 

♥ ballet au - enemies to lovers

♥ PLEASE READ THIS AUTHORS NOTE (none of the pictures are mine)

♥ warnings: this fic has swearing and uses some ballet terminology

♥ taglist; @liamlawsonlesbian 

♥ a/n: I’m finishing the folklore series I SWEAR I just really wanted to start this as well lol

No one has ever gotten under Oscar’s skin the way that Carlos does. Since the beginning of time there’s been competitiveness in ballet, but as two of the very few men at their company, their rivalry became a little more personal. 

Carlos took his spot at the barre, a few people lunging out of his way. He practiced a few relevé’s to get his feet moving until he heard a group of girls whispering. 

“He talks so much shit about Carlos…” one of them said as he reached down and fixed the elastic on his ballet flats. 

“I guess Oscar really does hate him.” another mumbled with a shrug. 

“You can tell him it’s mutual.” Carlos pipes up, staring at them directly. 

The group quiets down, turning away from the man and pretending to stretch. 

“Who are we waiting on?” Toto, their instructor said, strutting into the room. 

A few people mumbled Oscar’s name in response. Everyone knew it was a dangerous game pissing off Toto. He never forgave tardiness.

Oscar showed up a few minutes late, sneaking through the crack in the door with his head ducked. Toto had his back turned to the class, adjusting the speaker. 

“Piastri,” he said, turning around. Oscar dropped his bag and lightly placed his hand on the barre beside him. 

“You’re late.” Toto crossed his arms. 

“I suppose I am,” Oscar smiled and a few girls around him giggled. 

“Get out of my class.” Toto nodded towards the door. 

“Sorry?” he questioned. 

“You heard me. Out. Late students do not dance.” 

“You’re joking,” Oscar grabbed the barre tightly. “I’m the leading man, you can’t practice this dance without me.” 

“Carlos will take your place today,” Toto stated. Carlos met Oscar’s eyes, smirking at him deviously. This did nothing but inflate Carlos’ ego. 

“This is a fucking joke,” Oscar mumbled, grabbing his bag. 

“Watch your mouth before I replace you completely.”

“Let that be a lesson to all of you.” Toto sighed, watching Oscar leave the class. “We’re going to start with some simple grande plié’s, tendu’s, and penché's. Then the girls will put on their pointe shoes, we'll do a few across the floor combos, and then work on the pas de deux. Carlos, thank you for filling in today.” 

Carlos nodded in response. 

“Looks like Oscar fucked around and found out.” A girl in the class whispered, eliciting a few laughs. 

-

Oscar was first in class the next day, stealing Carlos’ sacred barre spot. It was ballet etiquette to let the older and more experienced dancers take their position first. A couple of people eyed him while he warmed up. Carlos arrived just a few minutes before class started as always and immediately noticed the man in his place. He took the spot behind Oscar and whispered: 

“You’re petty.” 

“You took something of mine, now I take something of yours.” he referred to the incident yesterday. 

“Still mad that you showed up late? That was your own fault.” 

Oscar rolled his eyes. 

Toto entered the room, a group of women following behind him. The last person through the door was Susie Wolff, prima ballerina. The girls sat on the floor with their pointé shoes, hitting them on the floor to bang the noise out of them. No one wanted to have them clomping around the stage during their graceful variations. 

“Abbi and Oscar, you’re up.” Susie said, gesturing for them to come to the center of the room. Oscar snuck a few glances at Carlos as the other dancers watched from the sidelines. Everyone stood with a complete poker-face, watching intensely for a misstep that never came. At the end of their performance all the students clapped and stared blankly.

"Abbi that was truly amazing." Susie praised her. "Try to get your leg a little bit higher during your développé's and I think it will be perfect."

Oscar was too busy watching Carlos to hear Toto’s critiques. “Piastri, are you with us?”

“Huh?” he snapped out of his stare. “Yea, yes I am, sorry.”

Toto sighed, “Alright, you two go stretch while Amna practices her solo.” As they made room for her, Oscar could hear his phone buzzing in his back. This caught the attention of both him and Carlos. He snuck over to it pretending to get water, hoping his instructors were too preoccupied watching Amna to notice. He checked the notification on his phone reading:

Lando 

party tonight @ Charles’ be there at 10

Oscar 

sounds good i'll be there

“Too bored to be paying attention to your fellow dancers?” Carlos asked.

Oscar flinched, not expecting a voice to come from behind him. He quickly shut off his phone and hid it in a pocket.

“I just had to check something,” Oscar muttered.

“Well, try to stay off your phone before you get in trouble again.”

Another hour passed and class ended.

Oscar

Is there anyone at your company you just despise?

Lando

no…?

Oscar

no one, really?

Lando

should I? lol my company is contemp, jazz, and hip hop so the vibes are pretty good over here 🤷‍♂️

-

Oscar pushed himself through the crowded party, spotting Lando and Charles laughing and drinking.

“You have got to be kidding me,” he muttered, noticing another person with them. It was Carlos.

[pauli-writes]

warning: fluff, mutual pining, a little repressed feelings, ipc stuff, topaz’s real name

pairing: topaz x afab!reader

author’s note: i love topaz so much and i definitely listened to too much chappell roan recently. this oneshot might be inconsistent, because i started it one day and finished it another, sorry about that

you never particularly enjoyed working for the ipc, but what else were you going to do with the degree you got from a university from your home planet? and in fairness it wasn’t all bad, the marketing development department was not a terrible place, and you had some perks as a p25 employee, but the thing that made it enjoyable for you, was occasionally catching a glimpse of one of the ten stonehearts.

“jelena! i- i mean director topaz!” you yelled as you spotted her during one of your boring assignments on another small planet. “are you here to oversee the progress?”

topaz’s face lit up as she saw you walking up to her, and so did numby’s. despite her quick rise through the ranks, she would always remember you. the person who was by her side during her initial internship in the marketing department, her first friend, the only person she didn’t have to act formal around.

topaz watched as numby ran up to you and jumped into your arms. she liked it when you smiled, it made her happy.

“yeah, i’m here on behalf of madame jade. she got caught up in something else.” topaz explained as she walked up to meet you halfway. your face visibly paled at the mention of the older woman and you gently let down numby, before focusing on topaz again.

“i’m glad it’s you here. i’m always scared to say something wrong around her.”

topaz couldn’t help but laugh at your comment, and it made you blush a little. you liked hearing her laugh, it made you happy. you quickly composed yourself and fumbled out a tablet from your bag, showing her the progress of your assignment. “here is the progress report.”

topaz took the tablet from you and scanned over the number, while she did that you couldn’t help but admire her. “impressive numbers… you’re doing well.”

you blushed and rubbed the back of your neck, “aw, you’re just saying that.”

“i’m just being honest,” she replied with a smile, the smile you loved so much and could watch 24 hours a day. she handed the tablet back to you, and you noticed a small shift in her expression. “you know i miss working with you. we always had so much fun.”

“we did, didn’t we?” you replied, remembering all of the fun you had as interns, pouring over paperwork together, gossiping during break, until reality caught up with you and reminded you of the shift of positions between the two of you.

despite being good friends the two of you were not equals. you remembered that she aced all of the tests the ipc made you take, while you barely passed them, she came from a planet that was on the brink of poverty, while you were living comfortably. in the end the difference was quite clear, topaz was driven by ambition, the desire to change the cosmos, while you were happy once you made it through the day. she was so great in every way, you didn’t deserve to be friends with her, let alone her girlfriend, never mind that thought, like that would ever happen.

you snapped out of your thoughts and smile sadly, “but you’re a stone heart now, and that’s like ipc royalty. you work directly under diamond. and i’m barely managing my own branch. we’ll likely won’t be directly working with each other again.”

topaz noticed your change in demeanour, and so did numby as it gently nudged your leg with its head, she wondered what made you change like that all of the sudden. it wasn’t out of the ordinary for you, you tended to overthink a lot, but topaz usually brought you back to reality.

“don’t sell yourself short like that,” she said with a bright smile, while putting a hand on your shoulder, “i’m sure you’ll work your way up in no time, and when you do we can do all kinds of assignments together again.”

you blushed a little, but her words were hard to believe. you weren’t the kind of person to work themselves up, you were content with your position. you only got your current position because the previous guy died. regardless you forced a smile and put your hand on hers, you didn’t want to make her worry. “yeah…”

topaz smiled back at you and casually took back her hand, “anyway, i gotta check up on the other manager. i’ll talk to you later?”

“absolutely,” you replied, “let’s meet up for some tea.”

she gave you a thumbs up, starting to walk towards some of your coworkers with numby following her eagerly. “i’ll call you.”

you smiled and nodded, before watching her walk away. it was true that seeing her every once in a while made your job truly enjoyable, but you didn’t know how long you could go on like this. it was probably better to let her go instead of letting yourself be consumed by the feeling of hope, the hope of maybe settling down with her somewhere quiet one day without worrying or fearing the ipc.

[jazzthatonewriterchick]

Hit ‘Em Up! (18+ Fic)

Pairing: Cowboy!Gojo Satoru x Cowboy!Geto Suguru x Black!Cowgirl!Reader (Slow Burn/Enemies to Lovers)

Synopsis: You get to meet Geto & Gojo the Gunslingers, the notorious outlaws that have every town and law enforcement in a twist, when your bum-ass BF offers you as payment to avoid going to prison. Little do they know that this is only a part of your plan to get what you desire. But when you realize that the infamous gun-slinging, smooth-talking cowboys could be everything you want and more when they offer you a deal to team up with them, will you successfully be able to go through with it? 

Warnings: Smutty Smut; 18+ (MINOS GTFO); poly!SatouSugu; Reader is Black & Fem; Mention of other JJK characters; Porn with Plot; Tragic Backstories; T/W for Childhood Trauma, Parental Death, Violence, Panic Attacks & Torture; Angst/Hurt/Comfort; Hand Kink; Masturbation; Voyeurism; Gay Sex; Polyamorous; Double Deepthroat; Mutual Oral; Fingering; CMNF; Spitroast; Riding; Unprotected PiV Sex; Creampies; Outside/Public Sex; Shotgunning; Multiple Positions; Spit Kink; Facials; MDom/fsub Undertones; Aftercare

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters mentioned in this fic. However, as this is my writing, I do not give permission for my work to be reposted on any other sites that are not from my own accounts. Thank you!

Writer's Note: Heeeeey, y'all!! I'm so, so, so excited to introduce this new story to everybody! I've been having a (horny) cowboy fixation for THE LONGEST time now after seeing a fanart of cowboy!Geto by the amazingly talented @sanjisblackasswife. Please go support a fellow black woman & go check out her work! I hope y'all enjoy the first two chapters! -Jazz

Chapters: One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen. Fifteen. Sixteen. Seventeen. Eighteen PT I & II. Nineteen. Twenty. Twenty-One. Twenty-Two. Twenty-Three. Epilogue. Soundtrack.

********

ONE: BUSINESS AS USUAL.

Another day, another face.

Another dance for a man trying to lift your dress up to get to your panties at this trashy saloon in the town of Blackwater. 

You try not to turn around and smack the customer sitting behind you reeking of whiskey and tobacco as he plays with the skirts of your short, short ruffled dress that you only lift up somewhat to show off your nylon stockings and garter belt as you wind your hips to the music playing on the piano downstairs. 

The sounds of the smooth piano tune and the miscellaneous chatter from the saloon are the only things keeping you from losing your cool on the guy who just can’t keep his hands off of you. Touching the dancers is forbidden according to your boss (and boyfriend) who owns the place that so many drunkards, business folk, and locals frequent. 

You would think that he would be less flashy with his whereabouts due to his illegal “side hustles”, but that isn’t any of your concern. If anything, it makes your life a lot easier. You look at the timer beside you on the nightstand near a bottle of empty moonshine and immediately stop your lapdance when it dings.

“Time’s up, sir!” you more than happily announce. 

The man, older with meaty hands and bad teeth, makes a sour face under his low-brim hat. “Damn, already?” he whines. “Ya can’t do that thing ya did with your hips just one more time, darlin’?” He gives you a sheepish smile that nearly makes you laugh. Is this guy serious? 

You shake your head, playing the part of the sweet but professional Southern gal just trying to make a dime. “I’m sorry, but I’ve got other customers waitin’ on me.” You put out a hand to him for your coin. “That’ll be $15, please.” 

Since you danced clothed, it is much cheaper than a lingerie dance which is $25 while a naked dance is $30. Many of the high rollers who come in here are able to afford the lingerie and naked dances, mostly to jerk off to the dancers as they watch them. You’ve had a few do so to you, but your boyfriend doesn’t mind as long as there is cash flow. 

But your customer doesn’t hand it over right away which is another normal occurrence here: bums who can’t pay or want to finesse you for a free dance…if not get you to have sex with them. You can already tell this one is looking for more than just a dance judging by the lecherous look he gives you.

“That was some dance, y’know,” he dreamily says. “I bet you’ve got all kinds of moves in the bedroom, dontcha, darlin’?” 

You do your best to resist the urge to roll your eyes from under your long lashes and instead perse your red lips at him that match your short red dress with its low bodice that shows off your cleavage and the slit at the thigh. “None of which you’ll be findin’ out about,” you firmly say. “Now please, sir, just give me the–” 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” he chuckles, putting up his meaty hands in mock defense. “Ain’t no need to get defensive…but unless you’re offerin’, I could give you way more than just $50 if you show me how good of a little dancer you can be on top of me.” He gives you a wink and you damn near vomit. You need to get out of here before you let the chopper sing. 

“Have a good night, sir,” you say, appalled, and turn on your heel to leave, but his hand on your wrist stops you. “What the hell are you doin’, you creep?” you snap.

The man yanks you back by your arm, trying to get you to come onto the bed with him. “C’mon, baby, don’t be like that,” he cackles, pawing at your wais. “Just gimme what I’m askin’ for and we can–” 

“Get the fuck offa me!” you yelp, immediately snatching the bottle off of the nightstand and smacking him upside the head with it.

The man lets out an “oof” as the bottle smacks against his skull, bursting into pieces of glass that you jump away from to avoid getting cut. You watch as he falls off the bed and smacks facefirst onto the floor with a thud that will no doubt alarm the saloon. 

And it does. The door barrels open and in runs Todo, the big, buff guard that your boyfriend put in charge of keeping the saloon safe. “Get your hands off of…” His rage subsides when he looks down and finds the man at your feet. “Her,” he finishes. His eyes tick up to you worriedly. “You’re okay?” 

“Yeah, now I am,” you huff. You bend down to check the man’s pulse, finding it pumping. “He ain’t dead––just unconscious.” Todo looks like he wants to ask you what went down, but the sound of boots stomping up the wooden steps stops him. Your boyfriend and boss stand in the doorway, shoving Todo out of the way despite him looking like an ant compared to the guard. 

Kenzo, the owner of the Blackwater Saloon, is an older, lean man with cropped, black hair, a beautiful face, and a goatee that only makes him prettier…except for his anger. “What the fuck is goin’ on up here?!” he hollers. “I’m tryin’ run a business here! Why am I hearin’ all this noise?”

Todo nods at you while shuffling into the room, acting as a wall between you and Yuri. “Why don’t you ask her?” he suggests. 

Though you appreciate Todo’s protection, you know that there isn’t anything Kenzo can do to hurt you…not unless you want him to turn him in to the sheriff and his men that are for sure sniffing around for him. “What the fuck, Y/N?!” he hollers. “You killin’ my customers now?!” 

“He ain’t dead, Kenzo,” you sigh. “He’s just unconscious and drunk. He tried puttin’ your girl on the bed and usin’ this bed for more than just sleepin’.” You give a Todo a subtle nod to leave and he does though he doesn’t look happy to do so. 

Kenzo sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Babe,” he groans, frustrated, “this is the second time you got into it with a customer. The last one nearly got us sued!” You gape at him, pissed that he still blames you for that. “I didn’t even touch him,” you argue. “All I did was bump him when he kept gettin’ in my way and tried to corner me for a blowjob!” 

You narrow your eyes at him. “Or would you rather I had done it for more business?” you hiss. Kenzo looks at you with those unnaturally blue eyes, the contacts he wears allowing him to conceal with natural eye color. “Baby, come on,” he whines, moving toward you. “You know that ain’t what I meant.” 

He puts his hands on your shoulders, willing you to look at him. “You just could’ve done it in another way,” he says. “All my other dancers don’t do shit like this.” You glare up at him, even more irked. “That’s because they’re afraid of gettin’ fired,” you snap. “Kenzo, the guy tried to force himself on me. What else was I supposed to do?” 

But Kenzo doesn’t look the least bit concerned with that, as usual, only thinking of himself. “Just call me or Todo next time, alright?” he sighs. “Besides, isn’t this a nicer job than workin’ at that whorehouse I found you in?” He smiles at you but it’s sharp and has a deeper meaning to it. 

You resist the urge to sock him. He knows damn well he wouldn’t fire you is the fact that you not only give him pussy but you also bring in the most business because of your pretty face, “exotic” skin, and body. He cozies up to you, taking your chin into his hand.  “Ain’tcha my girl?” he whispers. It is what he always asks you when you fight; something he thinks gets your panties wet when all it does is make you want to barf. 

But you bite your tongue and look up at him with a smile. “Yes,” you sigh. “I’m your girl.” He smiles too, showing you all of his gold teeth, and plans a wet, tobacco-flavored kiss on your lips that makes you sick. “Good girl,” he hums. “Now back to work you go. No bein’ mean now.” 

You do as he says and leave, earning a hard smack on the ass as you walk past him. You giggle fakely as you exit, finally losing your smile when you walk down the wooden steps in your black pumps to the saloon drenched in cigar smoke, whiskey, rum, and sex. Music and laughter explode from the crowded bar as you make your way to the bar where Shoko, your bartending friend, and Yuki, one of the other dancers, sit conversing.

You sit down on the stool next to Yuki with her long, blonde hair pinned up to elongate her gorgeous face and seductive eyes. “Handsy customer?” she says from behind her fan. 

You nod, huffing. “Shoko!” you yell, slapping the bar. “Gimme a shot.”

The bob-haired woman with the cigarette dangling from her lips nods, bumping Choso, one of the cuties Yuri hired a month ago that Yuki has got her eye on, out of the way. 

Once finished, she passes a whiskey smash–a cocktail with whiskey, mint, and plenty of cherries–to you. “Here ya go, missy,” she says and giggles when you down it. “Looks like you needed that…someone else too.”

She juts her chin at Kenzo hunkering down the steps, hollering at Maki and Mai, the dancing sister duo that the men adore so much, to end their break and get to work. 

“You know, the boss has been a bit on edge lately,” Yuki says, blocking her mouth with her fan to avoid anyone eavesdropping. “I wonder if he’s havin’ money issues still. Y’know, the word is that he can’t pay for this place anymore.” 

You and Shoko share a look. ‘Yeah,’ you think. ‘That’s why he’s got all these side hustles.’ Money laundering. Prostitution. Trafficking alcohol. Kenzo does it all. Hold habits die hard, you suppose. You’re the only one who knows who your boss really is. 

You’re the only one who knows that he escaped prison a year before he met you and invited you to join his saloon he only opened five months ago after hiding out last year. 

You’re the only one who knows that he only opened this saloon as a way to lay low from law enforcement. 

You’re also the only one who knows that he pulled off one of the biggest heists ever with the help of a certain gunslinging duo that you know will show up here one of these days to collect their coin. 

“Well, he gets enough business here,” you say, playing the role of the clueless girlfriend and employee. “I can’t understand why he wouldn’t have the money.” Yuki looks like she wants to respond, but a high roller sitting down next to her, much to Choso’s dismay, stops her short and she puts on the charm. 

Shoko leans across the bar to you, pretending to wipe the surface down with a rag. “I can’t understand why you don’t just take the money you made and leave like you planned,” she whispers. “You’ve been at this for five months, Y/N. You’ve gotta be sick of it.” 

You shake your head, passing her your shot glass for another hit. The whiskey has left a warm feeling in your gut and a buzz that you need more of. “No,” you firmly say. “Not yet.” 

Shoko only thinks you want to leave this dead-end job and Blackwater for a life somewhere else. She doesn’t know your real plan or why you’ve chosen to stay for so long. ‘And it’s only a matter of time until they get here,’ you think to yourself. 

That’s the only reason you decided to wait to kill Kenzo: to get to Geto and Gojo the Gunslingers. The duo that everyone across the wild, wild West seems to know and is afraid of. And you know that it is only a matter of time until they show up looking for your boyfriend who you’ll serve on a silver platter. Anything to have Geto and Gojo finally within your grasp. 

And when the doors to the saloon suddenly open with a loud slam that emits startled gasps from the saloon’s customers and employees, including you, you know that they have arrived: your targets.

[arealphrooblem]

Mutually Assured Destruction Part 3

Part two Here

Part one Here

Tagging: @those-damn-snippets, @heroes-villains-side-blog, @anonymousewrites, @follow-me-into-the-fog @sunnyside-world

Synopsis: Villain x Civilian. Civilian can sense other people's powers through auras but hides this ability. They are terrified of the most boring person at their office job, who hides the most powerful aura Civilian has ever felt.

One week later, Civilian showed up to find a single red rose laid across their keyboard. The gaze of several coworkers makes the hair on the back of their neck stand up.

True to his word, Jonathan reported their burgeoning relationship to HR but not to anyone else. At work he had kept a professional distance from Civilian, meeting up only for lunch. The to-go boxes Civilian never had to pay for are the only hint that something unprofessional could be happening between them. A hint that did not skate pass unnoticed by their coworkers, but one Civilian could easily explain away.

There was no explaining this away. And of course the most notorious gossip hound in the office came sniffing immediately.

“Oho, what’s the occasion?” she asked, eyebrows raised.

“I — I don’t know,” Civilian mumbled, mind frustratingly blank from any excuse.

“Maybe it’s from a secret admirer?”

Jonathan chose that exact moment walk past, giving Civilian a shy smile before pressing onward to the break room. Their coworker’s eyes followed like a bloodhound.

“Or a not so secret admirer,” she amended with a wicked smile.

Despite knowing the truth, Civilian felt a blush rise to their cheeks, damning them instantly.

“I have a lot of work to do,” they said instead. “Please excuse me.”

“Of course, of course,” tittered their coworker. “We wouldn’t want to be late for lunch now would we?”

If anything, they blushed harder before turning their attention resolutely back to their computer.

At 12 PM sharp, Jonathan appeared at the edge of their cubicle.

“Hungry yet?” he asked. “I’m feeling tandoori chicken. You? My treat of course.”

Civilian could see their gossipy coworker out of the corner of their eye.

“Sure,” they said lightly. “Sounds good to me.”

Their fingers closed around the stem of the rose as they followed Jonathan out of the building. Outside a blustery autumn wind picked up, a sharp reminder that they forgot their jacket in their cubicle.

The moment they turned the street corner, Civilian brandished the rose in his face.

“What the hell is this?” they demanded.

He glanced over, looking nonplussed. “It’s a rose. For our one week anniversary?”

“Are you serious? That’s the lamest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Perhaps, but Gloria thought it quite romantic.”

He stops them with a sudden grip under the awning of the restaurant, fingertips brushing down their hand as he takes the rose. Then he tucks it behind their ear.

“You will too,” he murmured, a deceptively soft order.

Civilian jerked as the thorns poked the delicate skin behind their ear, earning them a smirk from Jonathan.

Even after a week, it unnerved Civilian to see the change between bland, affable Jonathan to sharp, dangerous Jonathan. It happened without warning, at any time they weren’t under the watchful eye of their coworkers. A shift from prey to predator, like one of those carnivorous plants that snap on an unsuspecting ant.

And that’s what Civilian felt like under his aura. An ant.

“There’s a Rothko exhibit going on at the Art Museum,” Jonathan said as they wait for their food. “We should go this weekend.”

“Who is that?” Civilian asked.

Jonathan gave them a long stare. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

“ . . .I’m not? Is he famous or something?”

That made him close his eyes, as if in pain. Civilian smirked inwardly.

“Or something. Well that certainly settles it. Be ready by ten AM Saturday. I’ll pick you up then.”

Civilian bristled at the command.

“Who said I wanted to go?” they snapped without thinking.

Jonathan went still. “I’m sorry — did you already have plans with your nonexistant friends?”

The truth stung, the pain sudden and sharp.

“They exist!” Civilian lied. (It didn’t used to be a lie).

“Really? What are their names? When was the last time you saw them? Where do they live?”

To Civilian’s horror, a lump arose in their throat and their eyes stung.

“Like I’m telling you that,” they muttered, busying themselves with stirring the ice in their drink, unable to look Jonathan in the eye.

A thick silence fell between them. Civilian’s folded their straw wrapper into a teeny tiny square as they worked to get the sudden and unwanted stab of loneliness under control. And Jonathan, to his credit, gave them that space.

After a few minutes, though, his fingers tilted their chin up to meet his impassive gaze.

“Come with me to the museum this weekend,” he said, the command softened by the gentle tone.

Civilian swallowed. “I’ll be ready by ten.”

Part Four

[hyungseos-cafe]

Pairing: P1harmony Jiung x GN!Reader Ft. Theo and Keeho

Genre: Angst and Fluff

Warning: Swearing, Jiung being an idiot lol

Word count: 1.2k +

Summary: When work climbs to the top of his priorities, everything else around him seemed to fall apart, including his relationship with you. They say to never let work get in the way, but when your boyfriend is a famous producer, things get murky.

A/N: i was inspired by rach’s jiung headcanon haha so go check it out! OH AND HI RACH!! SEE IT'S NOT ALL ANGST!! your heart can rest easily. Also shout out to Theo and Keeho for being persistent and saving the relationship. And thank you to those who showed interest in this fic!!!! I hope to write for piwon more 🥹 P.S. there's something very important written in the tags so pls be sure to read it ~

Order for: @sxfterhearts @p1ecesofate @issadumbass @stellxx @classicicarus @halaboyz @chenleluvr @astro-doll-the-star @zynz0 @orangebl0ssoms - unable to tag

(lmk if you want to be removed)

Daily click for Palestine | Learn more about Palestine

“You’ve changed” 

Jiung continued to work at his desk, it was like you were talking to the wall. 

“Jiung, did you even hear me?”

“Yeah, I get it, I’ve changed. What’s new?” 

“What do you mean what’s new? You missed all our dates this month and not to mention our 2 year anniversary” 

“I already told you, deadlines have been killer this month. What else am I supposed to do?”

“Oh I don’t know, be my boyfriend? It doesn’t feel like I’m in a relationship anymore” 

It was your last sentence that brought Jiung out of his work. Truthfully he’s been thinking over your relationship too, and you’re right, he has changed. 

“Look, if you’re wanting the reason why I’ve been missing our dates or whatever… it’s work” 

“I get that you’re busy Ji, but it doesn’t feel like I have a boyfriend”

“If you want a boyfriend then maybe you should look elsewhere because I don’t think I can give you what you deserve” 

You sat at the couch in his studio stunned, sinking deeper into the cushion below you, you were speechless.

“So that’s it? This is how we end things? Two years Ji, two fucking years just thrown away because you’ve been ‘busy with work’ you’ve got to be kidding me”

Jiung sighed, his head pressed into the palm of his hands, a headache coming on as he thought about his current predicament. 

“I’m sorry but I tried okay, and I already told you, I can’t give you what you deserve. I’m sorry if I disappointed you”

You slowly sat up, tears starting to well up as you gathered what remnants remained in his studio; your sweater, your blue blanket and a Polaroid the two of you took together at the Han River. 

“Okay, I’m leaving then. So much for two years Ji” 

“I’m sorry” 

Jiung slowly led you out of his studio, watching you turn the corner as you walked out of his life forever. He never wanted what you had to end, but his greed got the better of him and clouded his judgment. 

A few months later Jiung receives a call from a familiar voice, Taeyang

“Dude, you have to talk to Y/n”

“Why? I hurt them didn’t I? I thought they didn’t want to talk to me”

“They’ve been ignoring all of our calls the past few months. The only person who can get through to them is Keeho”

Keeho was a mutual friend, well maybe best friend. He always rooted for your relationship knowing how difficult it was dating a popular producer. Keeho was more than just your best friend, he was your voice of reason, a true confidant and wonderful listener. 

“Y/n, you can’t just ignore our calls like this. We all care about you so much. You had me worried sick”

“I know, I’m sorry Keeho”

“I don’t think you do, I was so worried you got sick or that you haven’t been eating. You know Jiung would be mad, right?”

“Jiung and I aren’t together anymore” 

It took everything out of him not to raise his voice at you. He knew how much Jiung cherished you and how hard he fumbled when it came to you. Jiung actually called Keeho a couple days ago to air out his grievances ever since he let you slip between his fingers. 

“I know, but he still cares about you Y/n” 

“How would you know? It’s not like you talk to him anymo–”

“Just shut up for a second and listen to me, okay” Keeho firmly gripped onto each side of your shoulders forcing eye contact with you 

“I’m not supposed to say anything, but I can’t watch you tear yourselves apart like this. I love the both of you so much, so listen to what I am going to say, okay? No interruptions!!!”

You nodded as your shoulders drooped and you leaned in to rest your forehead against Keeho’s chest, feeling the reverberation as he spoke. 

“Jiung is going to be pissed, but he told me last week that he still loves you. Trust me Y/n, that boy loves the shit out of you. He wouldn’t leave his studio last week because he was apparently writing you a letter. I told him you liked receiving letters, so he wrote one…”

Keeho gently held your head in his hands, brushing the stray hairs that fell out of place and smiled down at you. You smiled back and wrapped your arms around his torso, taking his every word in. 

“Thank you Keeho, I should try to go see him tonight then” 

“I’ll drop you off if you want? My apartments 3 blocks away from his studio anyways, but only if you’re okay with it” 

“O-okay, I actually really miss him” You felt almost sheepish admitting your remaining feelings. 

A little less than 10 minutes later you stood in front of Jiung’s building where his studio is. You let yourself in with Jiung’s code. Walking down the dark corridors, you felt your heart skip a beat. As you rounded the corner, you could see warm light spilling from the room in front of you. Taking a deep breath, you gently knocked on the door. 

“Theo I told you I was-” His eyes widened as you stepped through the door. 

“Y/n? You’re here… I thought you didn’t want to see me” 

Sadness was evident in his voice as he gently grabbed your hand, guiding you to the couch inside his studio. His touch tentatively lingered on your hand as he struggled to meet your eyes. 

“I’m sorry” you both started, meeting each other's eyes, Jiung let out a quiet breath, smiling as he took in your features. 

“Don’t be, I should be the one apologizing. I wasn’t the best boyfriend and I should have done more” 

“And I’m sorry for walking out on you… I heard from Keeho that you wrote me a letter” 

“Oh, I– Yeah, I have been busy writing this letter to you. I’m not sure if you want to read it though. I don’t want it to seem disingenuous” 

“Ji, you’re always genuine and I would love to read it if you’ll let me” 

He turned around to rummage his desk, searching for said letter that was hidden amongst the stack of music sheets and notebooks. 

Jiung hesitated, letter in hand, he tapped the back of your hand before scooting closer to you, leaning his head on your shoulder, gently placing the letter in your hand and interlocking your fingers. 

“I missed you, I missed this” 

You let go of his hand unraveling the letter Jiung wrote to you, tears threatening to fall as you read his letter, feeling the emotions he poured so purely into his letter. 

The night went on with hushed conversation as the two of you worked to repair your relationship. To say that Keeho was relieved was a massive understatement. As soon as Theo let him know that your relationship was reconciled, he immediately rushed to call you. 

“Hey Keeho, what’s up?” 

“Theo told me you’re back together! I’MSOHAPPYFORYOUTHATICOULDCRY” He exclaimed from the other line

“Awe, me too. Thank you for fighting for me Kee, it really mean–” 

Before you could continue Jiung erupts from the background to thank Keeho for his diligence and persistence. 

“Sounds like you’ve got your hands full, Y/n”

“Jiung’s just happy he’s back with me at my apartment, but thank you. I’ll talk to you soon! And next time we get lunch, it’s on us!” 

[wintaerbaer]

things we don’t say: part 2 (kth)

banner credit: @itaeewon​

summary: Three years after graduating college, everything seems to be falling into place for you: stable job, cozy apartment, and a long-term boyfriend with a ring box hidden in his desk drawer. But when a mutual friend makes a remark that your best friend of nearly two decades is clearly in love with you, you realize that life may not be as simple as it seems.

pairing: Taehyung x Reader (with some VERY brief Seokjin x Reader and Yoongi x Reader)

rating: 18+ (minors dni)

genres: best friends to lovers, idiots to lovers, slooooow burn, angst, fluff

word count: 11.4k

chapter warnings: IN THE SOOP TAE, swearing, alcohol consumption, feelings?, implied sexual situations (not for oc), that chicken fight game you can play in a pool (definitely not the animal cruelty kind, just want to clarify), bartender jungkook (who is also an absolute MENACE), infidelity, namjoon’s chest

a/n: we’re heading into the thick of things now! thank you to everyone who has shown this series love thus far. and even to those who may be silently reading, i appreciate each and every one of you. these characters have been in my head for years, and it’s so incredible to finally get to share them!

PREVIOUS // SERIES MASTERLIST // MASTERLIST

Read on ao3

You’re starting to think you might be a terrible friend.

It's been a week and a half since Maya's art show when Jimin slides into the chair next to you in your office building's cafeteria. You've worked at the same company since graduation but in different departments, so while you don't see each other every day, you occasionally grab lunch together or pop over to each other's desk for a quick chat.

"Hey, stranger," he chirps, setting his food on the table before peering closely at your face. "Almost forgot what you looked like."

You roll your eyes at him. After the incident at the gallery sent your brain into an emotional spiral, you had decided to put some distance between you and Taehyung until you could figure out what the hell this all meant for your friendship. As a result, you hadn't been over to the guys' apartment since then—an unusually long amount of time for you to stay away.

Jimin frowns at your lack of a response, leaning forward until you look at him. "You avoiding us?"

"No," you say simply, busying yourself by taking a bite of your lunch.

"Sorry, let me rephrase. Are you avoiding Tae?"

You chew slowly, carefully considering your words before settling on, "Why would I be?"

"I don't know, that's why I'm asking. For a friend of course." Jimin shrugs. "He mentioned that you haven't really been talking to him—asked if I knew why. Plus, you missed two Sunday meal preps."

"I've missed them before—"

"Two!"

You purse your lips, guilt creeping in at the thought of Taehyung spending two nights cooking alone as you broke your tradition. "You can tell him what I told him—I've been busy."

Jimin frowns again, watching you stare at the table as you chew another bite. "Is something going on? Did he say something to you?"

"About what?" you ask, eyes snapping up to his.

"I..." he hesitates, suddenly uneasy. "I don't know. I just know that I've never seen you two like this."

"Like what?"

"Apart."

You give a dry laugh, more out of nerves than anything. "Chim, we're not literally attached at the hip, you know? We have our own lives."

"Yah, you know that's not what I mean." He sighs. "I can just tell he's missing you, that's all.”

If getting called out on missing meal prep nights made you feel guilty, then this is the true slap to the face. Taehyung may be mild and introspective by nature—a quiet force in his own right—but he holds close those who are dear to him, and you know he can't be pleased with your recent silence.

Still, any guilt tingling through your veins inevitably winds up outweighed by the memory of the flash of heartbreak that had crossed his face at the party, reinforcing your need for space.

"Well we'll see each other in a couple days," you murmur, a tiny burst of excitement breaking into your mind at the thought of your upcoming vacation.

Property of Jungkook's family, the beach house rarely used by his parents had become a staple for your friend group over the years as the go-to site for New Year’s parties and summer holidays. When Hoseok and Sunny had lamented the astronomical cost of the wedding and how they were going to opt out of having bachelor and bachelorette parties to help save money, Jungkook had offered up the house to do a combined pre-wedding bash to celebrate their upcoming nuptials.

Jimin taps his fingers on the table, looking at you quietly before accepting the change in topic. "It should be fun. Jace coming?"

"No, he has that conference."

"Damn," Jimin huffs. "Does that guy ever get a day off?"

"Guess he had to afford the ring somehow," you say, the corners of your mouth tilting up on impulse.

Jimin smiles back. "And here I was, wishfully thinking we might get a front row seat to a proposal this weekend."

“Not his vibe.” You scrunch your nose. “He never went to the house as frequently as everyone else. And I don’t know if he’d want a bunch of other people around. At least not people who know us.”

“Aww, why not?” Jimin whines. “We could all celebrate with you! And Maya could take pictures!”

“Or Tae.”

“Or—yeah, or Tae.”

You pretend not to have noticed his hesitation or the way he startled at that, and certainly not the way it made your pulse jump. Has everyone really been seeing this except you?

“Regardless,” you say, trying to ignore the sudden nausea rolling in your stomach, “I don’t think he’ll do it in front of you guys. And if he was going to ask Maya to take pictures, I think he would’ve done so by now if he was going to propose soon.”

When you had told Maya about the ring the afternoon after the gallery opening, she’d seemed genuinely surprised, clapping her hands together and immediately calling dibs on being maid of honor.

Go figure.

“Ah, well,” Jimin sighs. “There’s always the planning to help with.” He holds up a hand and begins ticking off his fingers. “And the bridal shower, the bachelorette party, rehersal dinner, eventual baby shower—“

“Woah, Park, getting a little ahead of yourself now, no?”

“Y/N, this is an exciting time for you! I’m excited for you!” He slurps down a mouthful of his noodle bowl. “And maybe I’m living a little vicariously through you. Maybe. A little.”

“Geez, Kook’s right, you are in a drought.”

“Oh, great. You too now?”

You giggle as he dramatically presses a hand to his forehead, food puffing out his cheeks.

“But really though,” he says, leaning forward again with concern in his eyes, “you are excited, right? After you told us about the ring, you seemed a bit off.”

Shit.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

He raises an eyebrow. “I haven’t seen you get drunk that fast in a while.”

“I was happy for Maya and Tae.”

“And yourself?”

“Yeah, and myself.”

Jimin stares at you for a long few seconds, clearly not buying what you’re selling. “Fine. Don’t tell me.” He leans back in his chair in a way that says he’s letting you off the hook. “But you’d better figure out this weird thing with Tae before he corners you at the house. Good luck avoiding him then.”

Okay, maybe not entirely off the hook.

The rest of the short work week passes in a blink, and you quickly find yourself packing for your trip on Wednesday night, the plan being to leave Thursday morning and stay until Monday. Jace fiddles with his phone on the bed, occasionally glancing up to watch you flit around the room as you fill your travel bag with an excessive amount of clothes.

"Are you leaving for five days or a month?" he teases as you cram ten pairs of underwear into a side pocket.

"I like to keep my options open," you say. "Never know what could happen with the weather."

"Or your bladder, apparently."

"Hey, it's gonna be hot. I'll have to hydrate."

He laughs at that before his eyes settle on you with a warmth that has you shifting under his gaze.

“What?”

“I just love you, you know?” he hums.

Warmth blooms in your chest. “I love you, too.”

“It’s going to suck being apart.”

“I know,” you sigh. “I wish you could’ve come.”

At your words, you feel like you can literally see a light bulb turn on in his head as his expression brightens with an idea. “Do you want to take my jacket?”

He can only mean one jacket. You’d found it together a month after you started dating at a thrift shop downtown, and it’s been his signature piece of clothing ever since. Jace had pulled the bomber jacket and its bright green satin off the rack, and your first reaction had been to laugh. The thing practically glowed.

“You’ll look like a traffic light,” you’d giggled.

But Jace was already pulling the shimmering material over his shoulders. “Consider this your green light to jump my bones whenever you want,” he’d said with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

“I’d feel bad separating you from it, to be honest,” you say in the present. “I’m pretty sure a piece of your soul is tied to that jacket by now.”

He pouts. “You’ll be carrying a piece of my heart already; what’s a piece of my soul?”

“Smooth.” You poke at your bag. “I may not have any extra room in here though.”

“Fair enough, but if you change your mind, the offer still stands. What time are you leaving tomorrow?"

"Eleven. Should get us there a little before lunch."

"Us?" He pauses, setting down his phone. "You're driving with Tae?"

"No, Maya." A tinge of panic drops into your chest at the mention of Taehyung's name. Does he know? "Why?"

Jace shrugs, nonchalant. "No reason, just wondering. And you're back Monday?"

"Mhm, by dinnertime." You settle on the bed next to him, trailing your fingers along his forearm. "Do you want to maybe do a date night after work that day?"

He sighs deeply, tilting his head back against the headboard. "We have our conference debrief Monday, so who knows when I'll get home." You nod in understanding, but the disappointment must show on your face because then Jace is leaning forward to take your hand in his. "I'll tell you what, I know work has been keeping me from you lately, so let me make up for it.”

The pads of his fingers lightly dance along your jaw. "Fancy date night next Saturday? That upscale Italian place on Fifth that you love so much? I can make a reservation."

Your heart pounds as you will your eyes not to subconsciously drift to his desk, and you put on your best poker face. "It's a date."

The drive proves an easy one for you and Maya as sunny weather and a surprising lack of traffic has you at the house in under an hour. As you drive through the iron gates, a small mansion, white and pristine, spreads itself out before you, and you're once again reminded of just how wealthy a family Jungkook comes from.

You had grown up very well-off, sure, but Jungkook’s parents and their vast real estate portfolio are on an entirely different level of rich. And while your parents had immediately cut you off right after you left for college, Jungkook’s parents continue to supplement his bartending income with a monthly allowance to this day.

The word “spoiled” is a bit of an understatement when it comes to your friend.

"You sure you don't want anything more serious with Kook?" you tease Maya, who sits in the passenger seat with her dark sunglasses over her eyes. "All this could be yours."

"As if," she scoffs. "Not worth it to have to put up with his ass for the rest of eternity."

You key in the code for the front door and are greeted by a multitude of voices, the cavernous open-concept kitchen/dining room/living room only serving to amplify those inside. Hoseok and Sunny are quick to reel you in, introducing you to Sunny's three bridesmaid friends, Hoseok's brother (who you’ve met a few times before), and—

"Joonie!"

Namjoon swoops in to pull you into a bear hug while lamenting how long it's been since he last saw you. Hoseok's best friend since freshman year of college, the former pre-med major had been a core member of your group of friends, but med school combined with helping to manage his family's restaurant means that you rarely see him nowadays in spite of him sharing an apartment with Hoseok and Sunny.

"How's the roomie search going?" you ask as Namjoon pulls Maya into an equally crushing hug.

"Mmph, still no luck. Though I may have an old friend from grade school moving into the city soon, so we'll see if that pans out." He throws a quirked brow at Hoseok. "But I haven't entirely given up on convincing these two to reconsider breaking up the dream team."

"Ah, Joon, you really wanna live with two newlyweds that badly?" Hoseok whines. "Just think about it for two seconds. Really think about it."

Namjoon clicks his tongue, cheeks now tinged with a dusting of pink. "Okay, maybe you have a point."

The light mingling continues as everyone settles in, and you find yourself taking stock of the kitchen and planning a grocery run with Sunny's friends when the last three members of your party come spilling through the door. Your companions head back to the entrance for introductions, but you stay firmly put, mindlessly busying yourself with plates and silverware, nerves alight at the thought of who just entered the house.

Voices still echoing from the living room, it's only a minute or so later when you sense the quiet presence of someone stepping into the kitchen, and, ever in sync, you don't need to turn around to know who.

"Hey, can I talk to you?"

You turn on instinct, your body responding to his voice before your brain can remind you of your avoidance. Taehyung leans against the kitchen island in a long-sleeved yellow shirt, baseball cap turned backwards on his head. Chin slightly tilted towards his chest, he's gazing at you from under his lashes, and you recognize it as nerves. "I, um, I'm about to go on a grocery run."

"I can come with?" he offers. "Keep you company, carry the heavy stuff—"

"I made plans to go with Sunny's friends, actually."

"Oh, okay." His shoulders drop ever so slightly, and you glance away at the shoreline crashing in the distance, anywhere but at your best friend looking like a kicked puppy in front of you because of your own cowardice.

"Listen, Y/N—"

"Later?" You quickly interrupt, not mentally prepared to have this conversation right now, especially with Jimin casting you looks from where he stands in the living room.

Taehyung licks his lips, seeming to scan your face for something before he swallows down words on the tip of his tongue, grimacing as if they're nails. "Yeah, okay. Later."

When you said later, you truly meant it. While you and Sunny’s friends (Taehyung thinks their names were Iseul, Hana, and Yumi) run out for groceries, the rest of the group bustles around the house, splitting up rooms, settling in, and eventually migrating to the pool. Taehyung tries to catch you again when you return, but you hurry past him with a box of liquor, mumbling something about helping Jungkook set up the bar out back. Sunny’s friends dump the rest of the groceries on the kitchen island before scurrying away to the back deck with everyone else, which is how Taehyung winds up unpacking the bags.

Alone.

Nice.

He’s pushing a box of ramyeon on top of the fridge when he hears the back door click and slide open behind him.

“Need a hand?”

Namjoon walks into the kitchen, fingers poking at one of the bags.

“Yeah, sure. Thanks.”

They unload the groceries in a comfortable silence for a couple of minutes before Namjoon says, “So how have things been?”

Taehyung shrugs a shoulder. “Ah, you know, the usual. You?”

“Same.”

Quiet takes over again, and Taehyung thinks the conversation has ended before it even really started as he moves to place a bottle of orange juice into the fridge. But then—

“I heard about Y/N and Jace.”

Taehyung freezes mid-motion, the cool air from the open fridge slipping out and chilling his skin. When he looks up at Namjoon, the other man is studying him with a calm intensity that raises goosebumps along his arms. It’s not his first time being under Namjoon’s microscope, but he’ll never get used to the feeling of being simultaneously picked apart and comforted. Because while his friend may exude a quiet warmth, he always gives the sense that there’s also a million calculations going on under the surface at any given time.

It’s easy to let one’s guard down around Namjoon.

With that in mind, Taehyung opts for the simplest answer, slowly closing the refrigerator and saying, “Yeah?”

Namjoon nods, equally slow. “Are you alright?”

“I’m great,” Taehyung says, breaking the eye contact and closing the refrigerator to reach for another bag. “She’s always wanted this. And Jace is…” He finds himself rooting around his brain trying to find a descriptor for the guy. For someone who he’s known for several years, it’s bizarre how he can’t find a single word for him.

Weird.

“She’s happy with him,” is what he eventually comes out with.

“But is he right for her?” Namjoon presses.

“You think he’s not?”

Namjoon reaches up to put a few bags of snacks into a cupboard. “I don’t know. It’s like he was always around in college, but he was never truly present, you know?”

“That’s a Joon-ism if I’ve ever heard one.”

Namjoon smiles, a dimple dotting his cheek. “You don’t get what I mean?”

“No, I do. But that’s not important, is it? It doesn’t matter if we think he’s the right guy; it matters if she thinks he’s the right guy. And if she does, then I support it. It’s not my place to do anything else.”

The words settle in the room, and he means every one.

“You know, I’ve always admired the two of you,” Namjoon says after a moment. “The way you care for each other is…extraordinary, to say the very least.”

The sincerity in his voice makes Taehyung blush. “Well, we only had each other growing up, you know? She saved my life when we were kids. I truly believe that.”

“I know, you’ve said that before. She gave you a way out.”

“A way out, a purpose, a friend.” He crumples a plastic bag into his hand. “She chose me when no one else did. Not even my own family.”

And you had, when no one else seemed to want anything to do with him, there you were, hanging by his side like his own personal guardian angel.

“She’s the most incredible person I know, and I would just…do anything for her.”

“Including watch her marry him, apparently.”

“Yes,” Taehyung says. Unhesitating. “If that’s what she wants.”

“And where does that leave you?”

Taehyung has nothing to answer that with—his worst fear laid bare in front of him. It’s the thought that keeps him up at night, plagues the very marrow of his bones every time someone mentions that tiny velvet box. Your childhood friendship may have allowed you to grow together as one through the years, but just as trees grow apart as they grow upwards, it feels like only a matter of time before your branches no longer intertwine, drawn apart by jobs and relationships, life and love.

How long until you’ve outgrown him? How long until you’ve started your own family and left him behind?

He has no right to you, and he knows that. The last thing he would ever want to do is hold you back, but perhaps a part of him thought he’d have more time. Now, with you suddenly not talking to him for reasons he can’t even begin to grasp, he feels like he may have already lost you.

Namjoon puts him out of his misery. “Do you know what Plutarch said about friendship?”

“Who?”

“I don’t need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my shadow does that much better.”

Taehyung stares, stunned and confused. Because Namjoon couldn’t possibly be suggesting…

“You’re saying I should tell her to say no to him?”

“I’m saying it’s possible to be selfless to a fault.”

It doesn’t sound terribly different in Taehyung’s mind, but he tries to consider Namjoon’s words regardless. Your happiness has always been his utmost priority, but could his unconditional support really be doing more harm than good? He likes to believe that if he felt your well-being were truly at risk, he would speak up.

Then again, with the way his friend is looking at him, he also can’t help but feel like he’s missing something important.

“What are you trying to specialize in again?” he asks, deflecting.

“Psychiatry.”

“Of course.”

Namjoon chuckles. “It’ll all work out in the end.” He winks, moving to rejoin your friends outside. “Life finds a way.”

You’ve managed to evade Taehyung all day, but that doesn’t mean you haven’t felt his eyes on you.

The early hours had been easy, your supermarket run giving you an (albeit weak) excuse to put some physical distance between the two of you. But it’s becoming increasingly difficult to maintain, especially after your group gathered together to decide what to do tonight.

When you’d entered the living room, Taehyung had already been seated at the end of the couch, a free spot open on his left; with the way that his hand had been resting, it was almost as if he was saving it for you. Instead, you’d chosen an armchair diagonally across from him, squirming more and more the longer he looked at you. Throughout the entire conversation, as the group decided upon going to the beach bar down the street to kick off your first night at the house, you don’t think his eyes left you even once.

You’re being a coward, and you know it.

Now, you sit at the vanity in your room, struggling with your necklace and just about ready to give up on the damn thing so you don’t hold everyone else up. The clasp doesn't want to cooperate, your fingers can't seem to get purchase on the thin metal, and really, who are you trying to look good for anyway?

Right as you prepare to abandon the cause and stuff the offending item back in your bag, someone knocks on the door and you yell for them to come in.

Taehyung saunters into the room, now wearing a black t-shirt and shorts, his hair pushed back in such a way that you can tell he's been running his hands through it. His eyes skim your figure as he softly closes the door behind him, and you feel your pulse double in pace. "Need help?"

"It's okay—I, um—" but before you can stutter out an excuse, he's already taking the thin chain from your hands, and all you can do is try not to focus on how his fingers feel brushing the back of your neck.

"There. Easy peasy." He eyes you up and down again before clearing his throat. "Looks good on you."

"I, uh, thanks." Your voice is practically a whisper, and you busy yourself with your make-up case...which may have been an adequate distraction if not for the fact that you've already done your make-up and so your hands are only left to wander aimlessly. Glancing up, you catch Taehyung gazing at you over your shoulder in the mirror, and the intensity of his stare has you dropping the case back to the table. "What?"

"You're avoiding me." He states it as a fact, eyes unwavering, and you turn to face him.

"I'm not."

"You are." He searches your face as if to find the answer written there in big, bold letters. "Why?"

A tiny spider makes its way across the corner of the ceiling, and you find yourself staring at it as you chew on your bottom lip, not knowing what to say.

"Hey," Taehyung murmurs, pulling your attention back to him. "It's me, yeah? We don't keep secrets."

But still you hesitate. "You won't get mad?"

He reaches out to hook his pinky with yours. "Of course not."

Letting out a shaky breath, you ask, "Are you okay with Jace proposing?" The question hangs between you for a second, the air thickening with apprehension.

His eyebrows press together, confused. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know, it's just..." You pause to collect your thoughts. "When I told you about the ring at the gallery opening, there was a second where you appeared to be…bothered."

"Ahh, well..." He pushes his hands through his hair, mulling over his next words. "Do you want me to be honest?"

"Please."

"I know we're friendly, but I've just never been his biggest fan, even in college." Taehyung shrugs. "You know I want the best for you, and he seems like a good guy and all, I just—I don't know." Another run of his hand through his hair. "I just get a weird vibe from him sometimes."

You smirk at that. "A weird vibe?"

"Yeah, like," he licks his lips, still fidgeting. "I can't put my finger on anything in particular, just something about him rubs me the wrong way sometimes." You open your mouth to respond and he quickly cuts in, "But I will 100% support you! If he's who you want and he makes you happy and treats you well, then I will cheer you on the whole way. Hell, I'll even walk you down the aisle if you want me to." That draws a small laugh from you, and he smiles. "If you’re happy, then I’m happy for you. That's all I care about."

You take in his beaming figure and are reminded of how thankful you are to have this man in your life. But the voice in the back of your head is still not entirely placated and before you can stop yourself, you're blurting, "And that's really it?"

Taehyung's smile fades, lips slowly turning downward into a frown, and you silently curse yourself. After seventeen years of friendship, the man can practically read your mind and you know it. "What aren't you telling me?"

You sigh. Seems like there's no way getting around it at this point, and so you decide you may as well dive in. Tucking your hair behind your ears, you quietly ask, "You don’t…have feelings for me?”

Taehyung's eyes blow wide, and you're surprised his jaw isn't touching the floor. After several moments of stunned silence, he lets out a strangled, "What?"

"No, I just—" you stutter. "Look, someone said you did, and after you seemed upset about Jace proposing, I thought maybe..."

He's deeply scowling now, the crease back between his eyebrows, and a flare of his nostrils indicates that he's pissed. "Who?" he asks.

"Who what?"

"Who said that?"

"Tae—"

"No, Y/N, if people want to talk about me behind my back and screw with my private life, I have a right to know who."

He stares you down until you purse your lips and break. "Maya."

"Fucking hell," he says under his breath as he rubs at the lines in his forehead, and his lack of a denial has your head spinning.

"So it's true?"

"Y/N—"

"You haven't answered the question—"

"No!" He almost shouts it. "I don't."

"Because if you did have feelings for me, you could tell me. No secrets, right?"

He lets out a huff and stuffs his hands in his pockets, leveling his gaze back at you. "No," he says. Firmly. Definitively. "No, Y/N, I don’t have feelings for you."

You let out a breath you didn't know you were holding. But something in your blood continues to tingle.

"Okay."

And really? You should've known. Should've trusted to get the truth from him and not secondhand from your friends who, though they mean well, have been known to meddle and gossip (and sure, maybe that includes yourself at times).

The heightened tension has dissipated from the room, but the two of you are still left looking awkwardly at each other. After a stretch of time, Taehyung shifts on his feet and asks, "Y/N, are we good?"

There's a hint of fear in his eyes, and it has any residual worry you're feeling melting away. This is still Tae. Your Tae.

"Of course we are." You link your pinky with his. "Always."

The beach bar is relatively crowded for a Thursday night, the warm summer air and mix of bodies driving your group to disperse around the venue. Some migrate towards the live band, while others choose to mingle (and flirt) with the other patrons.

Noticing the way one guy at the bar has been eyeing you since you got here, Taehyung sticks close to your side, just in case. That is, until Namjoon finds his way back to the two of you looking harried, drawing you in so he can gently rest his hands on your elbows.

“Y/N, can I borrow you?” His light smile and the way he leans in close are clearly meant to project the image of intimacy, but his eyes are desperately screaming for help. “There’s an intoxicated woman who seems determined to motorboat me, and I don’t know where Maya is. I need a fake girlfriend.”

You pretend to swoon. “Joonie, with a chest like that, I’d be honored to be your fake girlfriend.”

Something aches behind Taehyung’s ribs as he watches you walk away on Namjoon’s arm when he just got you talking to him again. Still, a bit of breathing room is probably for the best. His conversation with you has him rattled; he doesn’t think his pulse has fully returned to normal since you suggested he has feelings for you. At the very least, he was able to smooth things out, which has noticeably eased the weight he’s been carrying the past couple of weeks.

But speaking of your conversation, you being summoned away by Namjoon gives him the opportunity to address the other elephant in the room.

He scans the crowd, determinedly ignoring the woman who’s been trying to catch his eye from a few tables over. (She pouts in his peripheral vision, shifting the neckline of her shirt to sit lower on her chest.) Finally spotting his target making her way back from the bathroom, he quickly moves to intercept her before she can join you and Namjoon at the bar.

Maya startles as he tugs lightly on her arm, leading her to a quieter spot towards the edge of the beach before abruptly spinning to face her.

"What the fuck?"

"What?" she quirks an eyebrow as if in askance but her overall countenance says that she knows exactly what this conversation is going to be about.

"You know what."

"Maybe, but I want to hear you say it."

Taehyung takes a deep breath. He loves Maya like a sister, but that sibling relationship means that she often gets under his skin like one, too. "You told Y/N that I'm in love with her?"

Her other eyebrow joins the first one in climbing her forehead. "Are you?"

"No."

Maya scoffs. "I'm going to give you another chance to say that, but try to sound like you actually believe it this time."

"You had no right—"

"So you're not denying it now?"

"I said no."

"Okay, that time was better, but it could still use some work—"

"Maya, fuck!" He scrubs a hand over his face. "Don't do this."

"She needs to know! What did you tell her?"

“That I don’t—“

“I thought you two didn’t lie to each other.”

“I didn’t!”

“You’re full of shit, and you know it.”

He’d swear he can feel his eyelid twitch. Maya always seems to know which buttons to press to get a reaction out of him. "She's getting married, for fuck's sake!"

"No, she has a boyfriend with a ring box in his drawer."

"Same difference."

"It's not."

"It is."

"She hasn't said yes yet, Tae."

He goes quiet at that. It’s painfully reminiscent of his conversation with Namjoon, and yet he’s equally at a loss. What are they honestly expecting him to do here? What could he possibly do that would accomplish anything other than drive you away, and rightfully so?

Maya’s gaze rakes over his face, scrutinizing him with a mixture of frustration and pity. "Tell me it isn't killing you."

Taehyung licks his lips, looking out across the bar until he finds where you’re standing with Namjoon. The latter says something that makes you laugh, and his stomach flips watching the way your eyes twinkle with mirth as you toss your head back, hair spilling over your shoulders.

You’re radiant. Stunning.

"She's happy," he finally croaks, but it comes out like he's physically straining to push out the words. "Leave it the fuck alone."

“Hey.”

You find Taehyung in the kitchen bright and early the next morning, already rummaging around and littering the counters with bowls and ingredients. The soft morning light drenches him in a golden glow, highlighting his honey skin, the slope of his nose, the long lines of his fingers as he works.

“Hey!” The smile he gives you is light and easy, the awkwardness between you having evaporated as easy as steam after your discussion last night. “Want to help me make breakfast?”

You jump in, immediately falling into rhythm with the way he maneuvers around the kitchen. God, you’ve missed this. It may have only been a few weeks, but cooking with Taehyung is one of your life’s greatest joys, and after missing two of your meal prep nights, it feels like a part of you has come home. There’s no doubt that you’re breathing a little easier today with the air cleared between you.

And honestly, how stupid to let a single comment from Maya drive a wedge between the two of you. You’ve known Taehyung practically your whole life. If he did have feelings for you, you would’ve figured it out by now.

Surely, he would’ve told you.

Lost in your thoughts, you don’t even notice that Taehyung is sneaking up on you until he’s already smeared a streak of waffle batter across your cheek.

“Augh, Tae!”

“What?” He quickly backpedals out of your reach, anticipating retaliation, but grinning widely. “You were clearly somewhere else. Had to bring you back to me somehow.”

A while later, as Taehyung sets out the platters of waffles, fruit, and eggs, you begin making the rounds to let everyone know that breakfast is ready. Sunny and her friends thank you from where they’re hanging out on the back deck and say that they’ll be in soon. Moving back into the hallway, you greet Hoseok and his brother, Jiho, as they pass you; Hoseok gives you an appreciative high five when you tell them about the food. Namjoon and Jimin have their door wide open, so you only need to poke your head in, Jimin immediately taking off down the hall at the mention of waffles.

When you get to Taehyung and Jungkook’s door, it’s closed, a series of muffled groans coming from inside. Unhesitating, you knock hard, and the groaning stops, followed by a curse and the sound of shuffling before Jungkook is opening the door halfway, blocking your view of the room. Clad in only a pair of gray joggers, a light sheen of sweat coats his bare chest, and you raise an eyebrow at him.

“Can I help you?”

“Tae and I made breakfast. You’re welcome to join.” You nod your chin at the area behind him. “Unless, you know, you have better things to do.”

Jungkook smirks, amused. “Alright, I’ll be out in a minute.”

He moves to close the door, but you manage to stick a foot out to block him.

“Maya, you too!”

There’s a moment of silence as you stand there, Jungkook looking as smug as ever, before a voice sounds from inside the room.

“Okay!”

It's a cloudless, sunny day so your group heads down to the beach after breakfast. Jungkook's beach house sits down the street, away from the center of town and tourist areas, which allows you a relatively private, uncrowded stretch of sand. The air is sticky with humidity, only mitigated by the breeze coming off the water. It's an oddly soothing combination of hot and cool that has you pulling in deep breaths of the salty air. You could stay out here forever.

"This is paradise," Hana says, verbalizing your own thoughts. "I wish I could live here."

You're sitting on your towel in the sand helping Maya sunscreen her back, but you don't miss the cocky grin on Jungkook's face.

"Well, pretty ladies like you are always welcome here."

Maya's shoulders tense up under your hands, and you're tempted to say something snarky in her defense before Sunny beats you there.

"Not my friends, Kook!"

Hana giggles, Jungkook feigns innocence, and you think that's that, stretching out on your towel to sunbathe. But an hour later, Taehyung is plopping down next to you in the sand.

"I need your help."

You slide your sunglasses to the top of your head so you can look at him better. "Sunny trying to set you up with someone again?"

He blushes. "No, Kook wants to have a chicken fight."

You push your glasses back down your face. "No."

Taehyung is quick, reaching over to pull the shades off your eyes entirely.

“Tae!”

“Look,” he murmurs, leaning in close. “Normally I’d blow him off, but he’s pairing up with Hana, and Maya actually seems kind of bothered.”

You peek over his shoulder to where Maya is now chatting with Jimin, throwing furtive glances at Jungkook and Hana flirting by the water’s edge.

“I know they’re not exclusive,” Taehyung continues, “but you have to admit Kook is being a bit of a dick, and I kind of want to show him up.”

You’re still hesitant, lips turning downwards, and so he presses closer, until all you can see are big brown eyes.

“Please? For me?”

The past two weeks creep into your mind, two weeks of intentionally avoiding him—hurting him—due to your own idiocy, and that’s when you cave. You owe him.

“Okay, fine.”

You follow Taehyung down to the shoreline, where Jungkook grins widely at your approach and claps his hands together.

"A challenger!"

You shake your head at his antics and move to tie your hair up and away from your face. "Do we have any stakes?"

Jungkook strikes a dramatic pose: calf-deep in water, hands on hips, six-pack abs already glistening as he pouts his lips in thought.

Then, with a snap of his fingers, he says, "Loser cooks dinner tomorrow."

Well, that's much tamer than you expected. "Just dinner? No, 'loser has to go skinny dipping' or anything like that?"

His mouth forms into a tiny "o", eyes wide with excitement. "Do you...want that?"

"No," you're quick to clarify. "It just doesn't seem like much of a punishment for us."

Jungkook shrugs his shoulders. "I like your food."

"Okay, but what if we win?" Taehyung asks, nodding from your right.

The cocky grin is back. "You won't."

Seagulls circle above like curious spectators to your game as you get into position. Taehyung squats in the surf so you can scale his back, sliding your legs over his tanned shoulders. He wraps his arms and hands tightly around your knees to secure you as he walks deeper into the ocean until the water is up to his waist. Roughly ten feet across from you, Jungkook and Hana have assumed a similar stance, and you're not sure if it's the waves rolling in or if Jungkook is actively bouncing on his heels.

"Jimin, wanna count us off?" he shouts.

From his spot on the beach, you see Jimin cup his hands around his mouth.

"On your mark...get set...GO!"

The men charge at each other through the water until you and Hana collide, grappling at each other's arms. In spite of a tiny build, she's surprisingly strong and sturdy, and you already have to adjust yourself on top of Taehyung, who likewise rearranges his grip on your legs.

"You good?" he grunts from under you, and you assure him you're fine.

You change your tactic, moving to push at her shoulders and send her backwards, but Jungkook shifts his legs to keep the two of them balanced. This gives Hana the chance to bump you with an elbow, and Taehyung likewise has to tighten his hold on you again to keep you steady.

This back-and-forth goes on for a short while, your friends now cheering from the sidelines, until Jungkook pushes forward and Hana collides with you again. This time, Taehyung adjusts to the hit by sliding his hands upwards, his long fingers skating up the soft inner flesh of your thighs and digging in.

A flash of heat rushes straight to your belly.

The sensation forcefully jolts your entire body and sends both you and Taehyung tumbling into the water. You kick around trying to find your footing before he pulls you up, sopping wet and spluttering as Jungkook and Hana celebrate their victory with raised arms and whoops.

“Are you alright? What happened?”

Hell if you know. You’d swear you can still feel the pads of his fingers on your legs, and so you merely blink at him with a shake of your head.

A biological reaction, you tell yourself, as you wade your way back to dry land. Nothing more.

You will your body to get a grip as you settle back down on your towel. You love Jace, you’re taken, and you and Taehyung have just reestablished the platonic nature of your friendship. Letting his touch have that kind of effect on you is nothing short of wildly inappropriate on two counts.

Trying to shake the shame poking at your brain, you angle yourself towards the waves and snap a quick selfie to send off to your boyfriend.

You [2:05pm]: miss you so much, wish you were here <3

It’s not long before your phone chimes with a reply, and you open the message to see a picture of Jace taken at a similar angle. He stands in a sea of businessmen and conference booths, suit crisp and hair neatly combed. The smile he wears is bright, eyes crinkling in the way you love so much and setting of a flurry of butterflies in your belly.

J <3 [2:07pm]: i’d say i wish you were here but i wouldn’t wish this place on my worst enemy let alone my favorite girl lol

J <3 [2:07pm]: i miss you too, beautiful :(

By the time the sun starts its descent, you’ve all moved to the pool on the expansive back deck, Jungkook immediately hopping behind the outdoor bar to make drinks.

“You know,” you say from your perch atop one of the stools, “I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who can match your enthusiasm for your job.”

He smiles, rattling a cocktail shaker. “It gets me booze and ladies. What more could I ask for?”

Yumi soon joins you at the bar top to ask Jungkook for a margarita, and is quick to strike up a conversation with you. Unsurprisingly for one of Sunny’s friends, she’s incredibly nice, and you learn she works as a hairdresser in the city.

“I’ll have to check out your salon!” you say. “I’ve been meaning to get a trim.”

She claps her hands together eagerly. “If you want to give me your number, I can text you the address!”

As you’re putting your contact information into her phone, she looks at you thoughtfully and adds, “Not to sound like I have an ulterior motive, but Sunny also mentioned that you’re going to be getting married soon, too?”

Heat creeps into your cheeks. “Ah, yeah, nothing official yet. But, you know, it seems like it’s coming.”

“Exciting!” she declares. “Just figured I’d let you know that I do weddings, too, in that case. And I know we’ve just met, but I’d still give you the friends discount. Sunny’s friends are my friends, as far as I’m concerned.”

“That’s so sweet of you. I’ll definitely give you a call to talk about it once we’re actually planning.”

“That sounds gre—“

“Sorry to interrupt.” Taehyung wanders up to where you sit, handing you a plate of steaming beef and cucumber salad. “Hoseok and Jimin got the first round of meats done. I knew you’d want it hot.”

The moan you let out as you take the plate from him is downright scandalous. “Ugh, you’re the best.”

You’re rewarded with a light chuckle and a signature boxy grin. “I know.”

As he heads back to the grill and you dig into your food, Yumi lets out a dreamy sigh. “It’s no wonder he’s planning to put a ring on your finger. I wish someone would look at me like that.”

A piece of food lodges itself in your throat, and you cough hard. Yumi stares at you in alarm until you regain your breath and turn to her with wide eyes. “Tae and I aren’t together.”

She looks back and forth between the two of you like she’s trying to solve a puzzle. “You’re not?”

“No.” You shake your head emphatically. “We grew up together. My boyfriend is at a work event.”

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” she exclaims. “I just noticed how close you were at the bar last night and how he’s always—“ She cuts herself off with a shake of her head. “Nevermind. That’s my fault. I shouldn’t have assumed.”

You assure her it’s fine, and she changes the subject, asking how you know the others and what college was like. Your chat carries on for a while longer before you excuse yourself to use the bathroom.

You don’t even make it halfway across the deck, though, before a tattooed arm is snaking across your waist, lifting you off your feet, and carrying you in the direction of the pool.

“Jeon Jungkook, don’t you fucking dare!” you screech, trying to wiggle yourself out of his grip to no avail.

All you hear behind you is a maniacal giggle before you’re tossed through the air and land in the water with a splash.

When you come up to the surface, pushing your wet hair out of your eyes, you find Jungkook cackling by the pool’s edge. You glare at him.

“Asshole!”

“C’mon, Y/N! It’s a tradition!” he laughs. “It’s not a beach house trip without—“ But he doesn’t get to finish that thought before Taehyung shoulders him hard in the back, propelling him into the water next to you.

You only give Jungkook a second to get his bearings before you’re hopping onto his back and trying to play wrestle him back under the water to the laughter of your friends. It’s hopeless really—Jungkook is basically a mountain of hard muscle that barely budges under your touch—but a few minutes of scrambling all over him with determination, and he eventually concedes and humors you by allowing you to dunk him below the surface.

It’s later, once you’ve clambered out of the pool and are toweling off on the deck when you hear him talking to Jiho behind you.

“He got you good. You didn’t even hear him coming, did you?” There’s a shuffle and a “Pow!” like Jiho is reenacting Taehyung’s takedown.

“Ah, it’s alright,” Jungkook laughs, no hint of a grudge in his voice. “I messed with his girl.”

Your party stretches on into the night until the sky has turned inky black, peppered with stars that shine intensely this far removed from the city. Almost ironically, your group has mellowed out as the alcohol has flowed, settling into smaller groups scattered around the deck. Namjoon sits with Hoseok and Jiho, clearly getting philosophical around the fire pit. Sunny is gathered to the side with her friends as they sloppily braid each other’s hair, the occasional burst of laughter coming from their general vicinity. Jimin lays on his back at the side of the pool, drunkenly tracing constellations with his finger. And Maya and Jungkook are nowhere to be found.

There’s a sense of peace that flows through your veins as you watch your friends smile and talk while you grab yourself a beer from the poolside bar. You’ve always loved coming here. Sure, getting a free stay at a waterfront mansion is nothing you’d ever say no to, but it’s really getting to spend quality time with your friends—away from all of your real world responsibilities—that makes this place feel almost magical.

You look out to the shoreline and spot a figure sitting alone on the beach, staring out at the waves. You’d been thinking about joining Namjoon’s group by the fire, but that plan is immediately pushed out of mind as you grab a second bottle and make your way towards the sea.

You’re not loud in your stroll, the soft sand muting your steps, but Taehyung seems to sense your approach anyway, not startling a bit as you seat yourself next to him and hand him a beer.

“Contemplating the wonders of the universe?” you ask. From this angle, he looks almost like he did in Maya’s photograph of him—the same constellations in his eyes.

Taehyung stretches his legs out with a sigh, leaning back on his palms. “Where do you think we’ll be this time next year?”

You sip at your drink. Honestly, you can’t imagine things being all that different.

“Right back here?” you say. “I don’t think I’ll ever tire of coming here. This is my ultimate happy place.”

Taehyung hums in agreement. “It could be your pre-wedding party we’ll be having next year.”

“You think?”

His brow furrows at your doubt. “I’d expect you’d at least be planning then, no? Or you could already be married by then if you guys want to move fast.”

The thought sends jitters running down your spine. “Who knows?” you challenge. “Maybe you’ll be the one married. Maybe you’ll meet your soulmate tomorrow and elope because you know it’s fate, and there’s no point in waiting.”

Taehyung barks out a laugh. “That sounds somewhat out-of-character, no?”

“Hmm, true. You’re more of a wait five years to move in and another five years to propose kind of guy. Work on your credit score and establish a detailed financial plan before even thinking about merging assets. And don’t even get me started on the background check.”

“Geez, Y/N. Does Jace know you just casually talk dirty to other guys like this?”

You playfully shove at his shoulder, and the pink of his tongue pokes through his teeth as he laughs.

“Oh, wow, look.”

Taehyung points a delicate finger as a tiny flash blazes through the sky, trailing light and stardust in its wake. He turns to you, smiling.

“Make a wish?”

The words come out on a whisper like a secret meant just for the two of you.

As you sit there, gazing out at the shadowy horizon in the distance, you feel perfectly content. What do you wish for when you feel like you already have the world? Work has been going great, and after almost a year of unpacking boxes and rearranging furniture, you feel like you and Jace are finally settled in and cozy at your apartment. You think about Jace—his smile, the soothing feel of his hands on your skin, the little black box in his desk—and contemplate all of the joy you can sense coming your way.

And then you consider the man beside you.

His eyes are closed as he meditates on his own wish, his legs now drawn up so he can rest his forearms on his knees. It flashes you back to when you were kids, lounging away the hours in your room or hanging at your favorite spots around town—the park, the library, the ice cream shop where Mrs. Kang would often take pity and treat the two of you to free cones. When you were young, Taehyung almost always sat like this, knees to his chest as if he was trying to make himself smaller. As if he could make himself invisible to the shadows that followed him every second of each day.

Taehyung’s always been a positive person, steadfastly determined to not let his demons poison his perspective of the world. Though neither of you were fond of explicitly discussing your situations, Taehyung always maintained a bright outlook on the rare occasions when your frustrations would spill over. There’s still the family we can choose, he’d tell you. We’ll find them one day.

Still, though, you could always sense a certain anxiety lingering under the mask of his smile. It showed itself in the way he’d sit with his arms around his knees, in the way his forehead would crease during the moments when you’d catch him lost in thought. This had eased up in college, the change in scenery and your newfound friends loosening his bones and laugh lines. But since graduation, you’ve seen some of that tension return to his shoulders like he’s carrying extra weight, especially in the past year.

You consider the man beside you, and you think, then, that he deserves the world, too.

I wish for Taehyung to have everything he wants. You squeeze your eyes shut, casting the thought out to the universe with everything you have. Every last desire of his heart. He deserves it all.

No one in the world would be more deserving. Of that, you’re sure.

When you open your eyes again, he’s watching you with an unreadable expression on his face.

“What did you wish for?” is all you can think to ask, blinking at him.

“Well if I tell you, then it won’t come true.”

You roll your eyes, shaking your head with a teasing scoff. He smiles.

“Happiness,” he declares. “If I had to put it simply.”

You smile back at him, hoping those stars stay in his eyes. “Yeah, me too.”

He’ll find it. You know he will.

It's Sunday morning when shit hits the fan.

After Saturday passes with ease, another lazy day by the pool punctuated with you and Taehyung collaborating on a fried chicken dinner as per your bet with Jungkook, you wake up on Sunday to the sound of Iseul's squeals over there being no hot water, a fact which is soon confirmed after the men team up to check the heater. Jungkook calls his family handyman (apparently those come standard when you have more houses than you can count on one hand), but the man is quick to inform him that he's getting ready for his granddaughter's birthday party and won't be able to come out until tomorrow.

"There's no way I'm making it through the day without a hot shower," Maya grumbles.

Jungkook wiggles his eyebrows. "I can show you a hot shower.”

She doesn't even look at him.

You're also not enthused about the prospect of having to either take a cold shower or skip one entirely. So when Maya suggests going home a day early, you're already leaning towards the idea as well.

"It won't be that bad," Taehyung says, lips turning down in a tiny pout when you tell him. "The key is to just go fast."

"I'd rather not have to do it at all." You giggle as his pout deepens. "We're going to stay until the evening. It's only like a twelve hour difference."

"But I thought we were going to do a movie night."

Okay, now you feel bad.

"Temporary reschedule?" you suggest, poking at his bottom lip. "Jace and I are going to dinner on Saturday, but my Friday night is free."

A hand rubs at his chin as he pretends to make a show out of pondering your offer. "Deal."

Later, you're sitting on a chaise lounge on the back deck, soaking up your last few hours of sun with one of Jungkook's signature cocktails in your hand when Maya sighs deeply beside you in a similar show of disappointment.

"It really is a shame though," she laments. "Tonight was supposed to be our big send-off, and now I cleared my schedule tomorrow for nothing."

"We could do a girls night?" you say. "I have this new cab sav I found the other week that we could split."

"Ooh, twist my arm."

Plans made, you pull out your phone. Jace has been texting you on and off from his conference all weekend—just brief check-ins and I miss yous—so you shoot him a quick message now.

You [4:53pm]: the water heater here is busted so i'll be home early tonight. maya is going to come too, might stay over. can't wait to see you <3

The sky is a misty orange when you pack the car and say goodbye to your friends, Taehyung giving you a particularly tight hug. Things were great between you for the rest of the weekend, but you can feel the tension of your conversation lingering in the way he holds you that extra second.

You check your phone as Maya settles into the passenger seat and buckles her seat belt. There's still been no word from Jace. It's not particularly unusual for him to forget to answer his phone—especially since you expect he's busy wrapping up the conference—but a seed of worry still plants itself in the back of your brain. You hope everything is alright.

The ride is mostly quiet, you and Maya occasionally singing along to a song on the radio as the evening gradually turns to night. But about halfway back home, you feel the need to straighten things out.

“So I talked to Tae.”

She’s quiet for a second, her face shrouded in shadow. “Uh-huh.”

“He said he doesn’t have feelings for me.”

Maya shifts in her seat, angling herself towards you ever so slightly. “And you believe him?”

“Yes. Definitely.”  There’s no doubt in your mind. “He’s never given me a reason not to.”

Silence stretches itself between you, Maya entirely unreadable as she seems to be puzzling something out in her head.

“Okay.”

It comes as a surprise, and you jerk your eyes away from the road to glance over at her. “Okay?”

Maya shrugs. “Okay.”

“That’s it?”

“Do you want there to be more?”

You work your mouth in a stunned gape. Because she’s right; why are you pushing this?

“No. We’re good.”

When you get to your apartment, you swipe you and Maya into the building and head towards the elevators. You’re a little bummed that your time at the beach house had to be cut short, but you take solace in the fact that you get some time back with Jace.

“Do you want to watch a movie?” Maya asks on the ride up.

You grin. “We could play that Twilight drinking game I sent you.”

“Pfft, I know I said I have tomorrow off, but I meant I could handle a mild hangover, not alcohol poisoning.”

You fumble for your key at your apartment door, sliding it into the lock and pushing the door open. The first thing you notice is that the lights are on, so Jace must be home.

“Babe?” you call, as you and Maya dump your bags by the couch.

“Where’s that cab sav?” You nod in the direction of the kitchen, and Maya skips over to investigate.

A moan sounds through the apartment.

You and Maya both freeze, staring at each other. Goosebumps break out over your entire body, a frightening sense of impending doom slamming itself down on your consciousness.

A second moan, and now you notice the lights on under the closed door of your bedroom. There was no sign of forced entry, but the image of a wounded and bleeding Jace pushes itself to the forefront of your mind.

You rush to the bedroom door, fearing the worse.

“Jace?”

You swing it open.

And your entire world collapses.

Taehyung can’t quite shake the feeling that you’re slipping through his fingers.

Movie night had been his idea, a way to get you in one spot (and mostly to himself, if he’s being honest) after your two weeks of silence. Now knowing the reason behind your push for space, he doesn’t blame you at all. Maya throwing that wrench into your relationship was surely unsettling, and he understands wanting time alone. But he’s missed you; he’s not going to deny that. And he’s desperate to prove that things can be okay between you. Things can be normal.

But the universe, it seems, is stacked against him.

He’s ambling through the house, wondering if Jimin might be up for a game of ping pong in the downstairs game room, when his phone blares in his pocket. It’s a jarring sound, violent in the way it disrupts the calmness of the house, and Taehyung frowns when he sees Maya’s name on the screen.

Maya never calls.

“Hello?”

“Tae, oh thank God.” Her voice is high and tight—clearly in distress. “You need to come to Y/N’s apartment as soon as physically possible. Grab Jimin and Kook if you need to drive them back—whatever. But just—as soon as possible.”

“Wait, wait, slow down,” he urges, hairs standing at attention on the back of his neck. “What’s going on? Is everyone okay? Is Y/N okay?”

“We got back to the apartment, and Jace he…”

Time seems to slow in anticipation of Maya’s next words—the kind of eerie stillness that precedes a storm, quiet and disarming in its disguise.

And then she drops the bomb.

“He was with someone else.”

Taehyung’s ears ring. There is no possible way he heard that right. “What?”

The breath that comes from the other side of the phone is heavy, like Maya can’t even believe the words coming out of her own mouth. “He was in bed with someone else.”

A chill drips down his spine, pushing its way through his veins until his entire body runs cold. This can’t be happening. Not to you. You’ve had enough pain and hardship in your twenty-five years of life—he’s seen it, weathered it with you. Things are supposed to be getting better; this is supposed to be the payout for years of heartache. Surely, the universe wouldn’t be so cruel.

But then it happens. A single, anguished sob rings out in the background of the call, sharp and pained in its grief.

His heart shatters, shards piercing the spaces between his ribs.

“Tae? Are you still there?”

“Yes.”

“She needs you. Please just get over here.”

Then line goes dead.

Taehyung is only frozen for a second longer before he’s bounding into motion, tearing down the hallway and into the living room where Jimin lays on his back on the couch. The latter shoots into a sitting position when he sees the look on Taehyung’s face.

“You okay?”

“Y/N—she—we—“ His mouth feels like it’s filled with sand, and while he stands there, working his jaw in agonizing frustration, Jimin leaps to his feet to close the distance between them, grasping Taehyung’s shoulders.

“What’s wrong? What happened to Y/N?”

His lungs burn as he finally finds the words. “Jace is cheating on her.”

Jimin goes still, the same stunned shock registering in his body.

“We need to—we need to go,” Taehyung gasps, and Jimin is quick to sit him on the couch.

“I’ll get Kook. We’ll take care of this,” he says, voice steady. Commanding. “You just wait here and breathe.”

The next several minutes are a blur as Jimin rushes to get Jungkook, and they work on packing the car, briefly explaining the situation to the others. Taehyung can’t think of anything but you, his focus reduced down to a pinpoint in his mind. You must be devastated. In spite of what he had said about his own feelings on Jace, he knows how much you love him, how you were expecting to spend the rest of your life with him. How must you be feeling to have an entire future ripped away? To have to bear witness to and suffer that kind of betrayal?

He’s not quite sure how it happens, but he winds up in the passenger seat of his own car, Jimin sliding behind the wheel and peeling away from the house and onto the highway. The air inside the cabin is thick, a stifling combination of premature summer heat and heavy silence, with even Jungkook sitting oddly quiet in the backseat. Taehyung is thankful for the absence of conversation; he doesn’t think he can handle talking about any of this until you’re in front of him and he can hold you, feel that you’re safe.

He realizes somewhere along the way that he’s shaking, your cry still ringing in his ears.

The trip from the beach house to the city only takes about forty-five minutes, but it feels like days, headlights and street lamps zipping by like tiny suns as Taehyung wills the car to go faster, faster, faster. He’s never felt further from you before, never been so determined to close the distance between you like he is now.

Whatever you need from him, he’ll give it.

Jimin finally pulls into your apartment parking lot, and the car hasn't even fully stopped before Taehyung is bolting out at a near sprint. Jungkook and Jimin catch up to him as he pulls out the duplicate access card you had given him in case of emergencies, swiping them into the entryway and down the hall where he pounds the button for the elevators.

"It'll be okay," Jimin says, staring Taehyung down where he seems to be vibrating in his shoes. "She'll be okay."

"She'd better be," Jungkook mutters, fists clenched tight.

(Jimin hopes Jace has long cleared out of the building, lest they run into him.)

The elevator ride is tense and slow, the numbers ticking upwards in time with the pounding in Taehyung's ears.

2...

The bastard was sleeping with someone else.

3...

You thought you were going to marry him.

4...

He'd spent time with Jace all through college. Even laughed with him at times.

5...

The sound you'd made on the phone, like you were physically wounded.

6...

If he ever sees that piece of shit again—

7.

The doors open with a ding that snaps the mess of Taehyung's thoughts into focus.

He's here. You need him.

It's a brisk walk to the end of the hallway, and then he's practically punching your apartment door, which swings open almost immediately as if Maya was waiting on the other side. She and Taehyung stare at each other for a brief moment, her mouth stretched into a tight line before she simply nods her head in the direction of the bathroom. Taehyung makes the final leg of the trip in five long strides before freezing in the doorway.

The fractured shards of his heart turn to dust.

You're curled up on the bathroom floor, a tangle of arms and hair covering your face as your body trembles with quiet sobs. They echo around the tile, filling the space between you until Taehyung thinks he can feel the sound burrowing itself under his skin, a morbid tattoo he doesn’t know if he’ll ever be able to erase. This image, he thinks, will surely haunt him for the rest of his life.

You. Completely and utterly broken.

He falls to his knees so he can brush your hair aside, the strands draping themselves over his fingers like a tether. Your face is red and stained with tears, and he reflexively wipes at the ones he sees rolling down your cheeks as you peer up at him, only now registering his presence.

"T-tae?"

"I'm here," he murmurs as his hands continue collect your tears, trying to carry them for you.

When you hear his voice, your cries start up again in earnest, and you reach out to clutch at his shirt. Taehyung immediately gathers you into his arms and tucks you into the haven of his chest, holding you like if he squeezes hard enough, he can press your broken pieces back together.

"T-tae...h-he..." you gasp at his collarbone, words failing you as Taehyung hugs you to him even tighter.

He runs his hands through your hair, presses kisses to the crown of your head, trails his fingers up the length of your back as you burrow into him, wails escalating.

"Shh, I've got you, baby."

He does. He'll hold you forever if he has to.

"I've got you."

NEXT

a/n: thoughts? guesses as to what taehyung used his wish on? likes, reblogs, and feedback give me life :)

taglist is open!

a/n 2: oh, fun fact. when jace caught oc going through his desk in part 1, he wasn’t even thinking about the ring box when his eyes flicked to the drawer. he was worried she was going to find the condoms, which would’ve been weird since they hadn’t used them in like two years (oof) (this isn’t plot relevant, just a detail tidbit lol)

[mixtape-racha]

it's a scream, baby! | hyunlix

chapter two: who's there?

words: 1.52k // warnings: discussions of death, cursing

“kang heejin? no fucking way - she sits next to me and seungmin in penology!” (y/n) couldn’t shake the disbelief from her features, despite the alarming truth in what jisung had told her.

“yeah, well not anymore. her parents found her on the kitchen floor last night. apparently it was a bloodbath, and there’s nothing to point towards any suspects. suho’s blaming himself because he flaked on date night - i heard he’s dropping out over it.”

suddenly the outside presence on their usually normal and quiet college campus added up.

“fuck. in woodsboro? it doesn’t make sense - the worst thing that’s ever happened here is when they closed blockbuster.”

jisung chuckled at that as the pair headed towards the quad to meet their friends. “that’s what i’m saying, man. everyone’s freaked. jeongin’s already asked if we can all crash at yours tonight so he knows we’re all safe.”

(y/n) shook her head, an small smile on her lips. jeongin was always the easiest to scare out of all their friends - heck, he refused to watch chucky anymore after their last group movie night.

“i’m just glad it wasn’t one of you guys.” she sighed, reaching their table already with 7 seated at it.

“we’re just glad it wasn’t you. we’ve all been calling you all morning and no one got an answer!” minho cried from his position on seungmin’s lap, brows furrowed in worry. scanning the table, (y/n) could tell everyone had let out a sigh of relief as soon as they saw her. shit. she really didn’t mean to make them worry.

“sorry, guys. i stayed at yeji and nari's last night for a study session, remember? phone died last night and i forgot to take my charger with me. did none of you think to call yeji and make sure i was still with her?”

jeongin scoffed at the assumption. “of course we did. you really think we wouldn’t after we find out some maniac gutted heejin in her own home last night? yeji’s the only reason everyone wasn’t hammering on our door this morning.”

chan cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention - he was kind of like the dad and the leader of the group, so everyone listened to his every wish and whim. “i heard the sheriff and deputy are going to be questioning everyone today. students, teachers, janitors, the lot.”

“they think its school related?” felix yelped, shocked at the idea that the murderer could be anywhere on campus right now. “surely, that means anyone could be a target?”

“well, they have no idea, do they? so, school and family is a good place to start, then if not they widen the search.” (y/n) claimed, finally her studies in criminology coming to use.

“but i suppose… if there’s no motive, yeah, anyone could be a target.” seungmin agreed, sharing a look with (y/n) as if to mutually agree the group should take a lot more precautions.

jisung huffed at that, making a dramatic show of rolling his eyes and crossing his arms. “oh, please. its the millennium; motives are incidental.”

everyone let out a giggle at that - jisung had a habit of taking unimportant subjects too seriously. in any respectable slasher movie, he’d be the nerd who knows too much and chastises everyone for not following the survival rules.

“s’a bit of a big word for you, huh?” minho laughed, the expression taking over his body as his shoulders shook against seungmin’s chest.

as jisung’s face reddened, he flipped everyone off. “fuck you all, i’m gonna be the only one who survives this shit.”

“nah, not a chance. (y/n)’s our final girl, not your dumbass.” hyunjin cackled, slapping jisung on the back as the bell rang. “see you all in the cafe after class?”

the group said their goodbyes, seungmin joining (y/n) as they headed to their shared class for the morning. “man, here’s to hoping its a one-off robbery gone wrong, huh?”

but being in the lecture hall that morning felt wrong - it was the class they were supposed to share with heejin, and suddenly the room felt so much more empty with only one person missing.

“i don’t know, seung. from what people are saying, it seems personal. she was stabbed to death in her own kitchen, with her own knife. its fucked up.”

one-by-one throughout the day, students were called into the principal’s office to talk to him, the police sheriff and the deputy. by lunchtime, the questions asked of each person were the talking point of everyone. it seems people were doing anything to keep the topic from discussing a potential murderer roaming around town.

“did they ask if you like to hunt?” minho asked felix across the table, the latter nodding in response.

“why would they ask if you like to hunt?” (y/n) questioned, confused. it seemed she’d be asked completely different questions than the boys.

“because they found her gutted. hunting techniques, you know?” jeongin responded, refusing to look up from his phone for longer than 5 seconds to completely join the conversation.

“well, they didn’t ask me that. they just asked if i knew her, if we were friends, if she’d shown any signs of needing to be worried about her….” 

changbin scoffed at that; “yeah, because its takes a man to do something like that. hunting, (y/n). i don’t see any girls around here being the type to go out and kill rabbits.”

swiveling in her seat to face the buff man opposite her, she frowned. “no way. the killer could easily be female. don’t be so sexist. this is exactly why female serial killers are taken less seriously, man.”

on the far side of the hyunjin laughed, the rest of the group following in its effectiveness. slapping his hand on the table in his fit of giggles, hyunjin pointed at changbin.

“do not get her started on the inequalities between male and female serial killers, bro. we’ll be here all night!”

“yeah, yeah, let’s all bully the person here most likely to be the killers next victim.” (y/n) joked, leaning her head on changbin’s shoulder. “anyways, have we decided where we’re having movie night tonight, yet?”

noticing the way that the boys all shared a similar look, (y/n) realized they must have discussed this before she had arrived to meet them at the cafe. trying to refrain from rolling her eyes, she crossed her arms.

“go on then. what’s your decision, all-mighty leader?” she huffed, addressing chan specifically and choosing to ignore the way seungmin snickered behind her.

“well…” chan began, as if he was worried about her reaction. “we just figured we’d do it at yours? since, you know, we can’t all stay the night because of classes tomorrow, and we don’t want you being out at night right now.”

“you do realize heejin was killed in her own home? me being inside or outside won’t make any difference if i’m going to be attacked. but… if we’re all at mine if means i can just wear my pajama’s so, yeah, okay.”

jisung clapped his hands, breaking the tension between (y/n) and chan as quickly as it had started.

“it’s settled, then. we all meet at (y/n), minho and jeongin’s tonight. and no scary movies!”

classes for the rest of the day sucked. how the fuck did lecturers expect people to be able to concentrate when a classmate was brutally slaughtered the night before? quite frankly, it was insanity. between the crying, gossip, and fear, no one managed to accomplish anything.

of course, there were the few people who found humor in it all - sneaking up behind girls walking across the courtyard, or “reenacting” how they thought the murder scene folded out. it was disgusting, and (y/n) couldn’t believe people were allowed to behave in such a way after the worst night the town of woodsboro had ever seen.

honestly, all she wanted was to be at home, curled up in her pajamas, watching a movie with her favorite boys. just the nine of them in her, minho and jeongin’s shitty apartment, watching a shitty movie and sharing snacks. deep down, (y/n) wanted to forget the horrors she had heard today, and hide away in her bed until it all passed over.

but this was real life, and she was expected to carry on with her studies as if nothing had happened. it was kind of insulting to heejin’s memory, really. while the two weren’t exactly close, or even friends, (y/n) had always admired how lovely heejin was. the blonde girl had always gone out of her way to be kind to everyone she met, and tried her hardest to make everyone feel welcome and included. she had many friends, yes, but never tried to be popular because she didn’t understand how people could feed into negative stereotypes like that.

truly, (y/n) would miss heejin. and she prayed inherently that it was a one-time thing, that no one else would have to go through the loss that heejin’s family did.

taglist: join taglist here @pretty-racha @chubbyanarkiss @downtherabbithole01 @amara-mars @queen-klarissa @demetrisscarf @velv3y @KarmaGolden @queenfelix @taeriffic @stqrgirl @mits-vi @myeg1993 @lemontead @peachessandhoney @chanssmiles @changbinisabigboy (red means it wouldn't let me tag you)

[agendabymooner]

colour me your colour || toto w. x ofc (3)

Summary: Tilly Marie nearly loses faith in her passion as she refuses to listen to everyone who told her to quit. Everyone but one. And it’s the man she met years ago at a racing event she didn’t want to attend. Who would have thought that her father’s partial ownership of three brands could take her to the zone of Mercedes and meet the love of her life?

Chapter Summary: Tilly finds herself flirting with Toto on the job. Unfortunately, so did Daniel and Lewis. The two drivers decided to put this information to use by making fun of their own bosses. Everyone's suddenly catching on to the dynamic of the two.

Content warning: Age gap, brief use of explicit language, discusses the 2014 austrian gp, flirtatious banter, mutual pining kind of romance, platonic relationship with Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo, fictional family and business involved (Hearth family and Hearth Automotives Group). NO PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS INVOLVED SORRY

Note: Thank you all so much for the 30 followers! I hope my insanity entertained you (affectionate) and I'll try my best to continue on with it. This is the shortest one, I think. Let me know what you think! Enjoy xx

masterlist

iii. juliet's hit list

I will make a hit list, and Christian Horner will be at the top of it. 

While he’s an amazing and competent team principal, the absolute fool decided to deter that statement when he pulled Daniel out of the last-minute interview. He tried to explain what happened, he really did, but it would have been nicer if he paused for a second instead of pulling the Australian from the scene while his mouth was saying fuck all. Now, the Red Bull seat’s empty; the only thing that’s being filled is my temper. 

Sebastian Vettel’s time for media is already over, and as much as I would like to pull him back once more, it is better to leave him resting. Or rather, it’s best to leave him on his free practice. It turns out engines can fuck up your game one way or another. Christian Horner’s outburst post-Austrian race showed it, and it’s not anything that I can blame on the team principal.

Still, Daniel is absent right now, so I want to strangle Horner with my two hands. 

Horner must have superb hearing because when the string of curse words began to slip out of my mouth, he returned with Daniel jogging behind him.

Horner acts before I can open my mouth by shooing Daniel off to his seat in front of the waiting cameras with Lewis, Kimi, Jenson and Fernando. 

Feeling slightly relieved, I turn around to express my irritation toward Christian, zeroing in on him like he’s a culprit. He looks guilty for a second and tells me, “Minor problem with his car.”

“Is it something to be solved with his… I dunno, the engineers? Before you know… you approach him before his interview?” I point out, watching as he sighs exasperatedly. Surprisingly, he does not say anything besides a mutter of apology as he walks away. I call him quietly and say, “Team principals interview in an hour, Christian.”

He waves it off and continues to walk away. If this man is the same man my father works with, I understand why he gave me this job. He’s a headache.

From what I know, I’m not the only one to suffer from him. I did not think of it until I felt a towering figure next to me. He completely diverts my attention from my newfound migraine by standing beside me. My eyes which were once glaring at Christian, softened at the sight of Toto Wolff. 

“Mr. Wolff–” my mouth shuts at the frown that quickly appears on his face as I correct myself, “Toto.”

“Tilly, it is great to see you here,” he greets me.

We can’t speak aloud as the drivers are already answering questions. But the exchanges of smiles and the question, “How are you handling the practice day?” has taken our attention away from our drivers, our conversation turning into a series of questions about… things in general. 

I can’t remember each question, but with each answer he provides, my brain takes them in.

“You’ve mentioned you live in the country,” he says as I nod in confirmation. He asks, “How far of a trip did you make just to get here?”

I’m unsure if my answer will put me on a list of “fucking idiots who does not know how to control their mouths,” but I hear myself say, “Don’t tell me you want to get on my bed that quickly.” 

The slap of my hand catches the attention of the people near us–it’s either that or the gasp that did it. Either way, I cannot believe I’m this stupid to embarrass myself in front of… Toto?

I certainly did not embarrass myself, I tell myself while I watch Toto’s face turn red and chuckle. He laughs at it like it’s funny. Like he hadn’t expected me to say such things because of how flustered I was during my last encounter with him. 

But it isn’t just his face that caught my attention. The softness of his laugh almost had me kneeling in front of god. The last time I saw him at that 24-hour race in Dubai reminded me so much of how he is now, except more mature. He aged. But I’ll be damned if I don’t admit that he aged like wine. 

But as I’m thinking of Dubai, I suddenly ask myself: Did he remember me, too? 

As always, his voice diverts my attention from my doubts and insanity back to reality. I look up to see the redness of his face fading, his smile expressing nothing but amusement as he says, “I’m more of an old-fashioned kind, Tilly.”

“Is that right?” I find myself saying. Oh great, more ways to embarrass yourself. 

“I suppose,” he teases, “I like to woo the lady first. I don’t mind how long it’ll take me to get there, but waiting would be worth it.”

Our banter (do I even call it that?) is interrupted by the realization that we’re still in the media pit and that the drivers are already thanking the journalists and photographers after their interviews.

I cannot say any more because Daniel’s already on his way to approach me with a call, “Lady Boss!”

I turn to face him, his cheeky grin infectious as he asks, “How did you like my Aussie charm?”

Shit. I didn’t even watch him fully. I was busy drooling over–

What kind of lie would I make up? Wait, no–

“I didn’t know Aussies are charming, Daniel,” I jest, laughing while I berate myself for sounding a little nervous. “Brits are lovelier, you know?”

“Austrians do it best, right, boss?” I can hear Lewis teasing his team principal. I turn around, watching as Lewis snickers at his boss’ silence. Lewis wags his brows at me before he approaches and wraps his arm around me for a quick, tight embrace. He pulls away eventually, “He’d tell you more, but we’ve the practice to do.”

“Yeah, go, stop stealing my Lady Boss from me, Hamilton,” Daniel jokes, pulling me away from my thoughts as I shake my head. I pass it off as an expression of disagreement.

“Yeah, uh huh,” Lewis nods as if letting this banter pass before he looks at Toto. The man still stares at me, and I’m not even scared. Intrigued, in fact. I’m on my way to becoming a shareholder of his rival team, but I’m here ogling at him like it’s a modern Romeo and Juliet.

Ugh.

“Third free practice, Tils,” Daniel nudges me as I nod, finally turning away from the older man as I bid my farewell to the driver and team principal of the other team one more time. 

I tell Lewis, “I’ll see you at dinner tonight?”

Toto, catching the question that escapes my mouth, turns to look at Lewis with a surprised look. Oh no, I don’t mean like that.

Lewis, however, cheekily grins and says, “If you’re done giving my team principal the heart eyes, then sure–”

“Alright, we’re heading out,” I hear Lewis burst out in laughter as I drag Daniel out of the media room, thanking and nodding at each media staff member we pass. 

Daniel seems interested in what he’s heard but chooses not to say anything until we return to the Red Bull zone. He turns to me with a smirk and says, “You know, Tils, with the amount of berating that Horner’s taken from you, we would have assumed you’d be married or something like that.”

I glare at him, only for him to say, “But Seb and I were wrong– and I’m hardly wrong at these things. Maybe you really do hate Horner because of Wolff.”

I roll my eyes at this as he continues to joke, “Horner’s a good team principal–”

I immediately interrupted him, “But nobody can be equally competent and attractive as Wolff. So, I suggest you keep it shut before Christian gives me shit for fraternizing with his enemy. I’ve barely fraternized, but his mouth would say otherwise.”

He mimics a zipper over his mouth as he promises to keep it silent (he won't talk but media outlets certainly would). But knowing him for almost a month or so of being at the headquarters, he won’t leave my obvious schoolgirl crush down. He and Lewis already found a weapon to use while I sit with them during dinner. 

And if they continue on with it, I’ll make sure that they’re written in the hit list as second and third.

[lavenderr-starrs]

I’m sorry to my mutuals who are watching me like disappear for a week or a month and then reappear reblog stuff and post stuff from fandoms you’ve probably don’t even know about (A lot shit on my plate that’s been burning me out lmao! I’m fine though just been busy dw!! It’s nothing bad I promise even though it probably sounds like smth bad XD)

but I’m gonna make this post before I literally lose my marbles

It’s about twisted wonderland and Madoka magica so strap in fellas this is gonna be hella targeted to probably me and me alone and maybe like one other person

Anyways HEAVY AND I MEAN HEAVY SPOILERS FOR BOTH FRANCHISES and A REALLY LONG RAMBLE UNDER THE CUT LMAO

So don’t click keep reading if you havent finished or started either (ESPECIALLY MADOKA MAGICA, Trust me the show and movies are so good walking into blind I’d kill a man to watch it blindly again) also warning for potentially shit grammar incoming lol

First things first-

HOW HAVE I NOT SEEN SOMEONE NOTICE THE SIMILARITY BETWEEN OVERBLOTS AND WITCHES?

The similarities is the over-use of magic and negative energy polluting the energy source they use to performing these magical abilities turning them into abominations that go on a rampage and effecting the lives of those around them.

The difference though is that for witches, it’s specifically middle school girls who become witches and them becoming witches have the chances of causing world ending atrocities- and in the world of puella magi most Natural disasters are due to the fact a witch is the cause of those disasters and only incubators and other unsuspecting naive magical girl know of

Whereas in twisted wonderland *So far* we’ve only seen Teen high school boys overblot and that didn’t(Besides chapter 6 and 7) have any world ending consequences in my opinion

Says alot huh? XD

Anyways that’s a point I wanna get to another time

You know what I’d love to see? a reader-insert or just a yuu from puella magi in the world of twisted wonderland!

Now this is when I start getting real self-indulgent with this XD but I wanna see like a Homura!Yuu! :)

basically a reader-insert who takes the role of Homura Akemi, right?

And the entirety of the first anime happens and Madoka goes from a 14 year old girl who made a wish to save a cat from dying by unknowingly trading her soul to become a magical girl as an energy source to a higher being

to end up becoming an omnipotent concept that saves magical girls when their gems over pollute and are about to become witches

But instead of the Rebellion Arc happening and Homura!Yuu becoming a witch and demon and all that pizazz! let’s say they “try” to keep going and just Bans themselves from going back in time again and trying to go forward for Madokamis sake and deals with those weird wraith things in the new universe

and maybe a little cherry on top they try to learn and expand the magic abilities Yuus other magical girl friends had.

Later on we move to let’s say, 17 Year old Homura!Yuu, and guess what? You’ve been isekaid bestie have fun!

During the prologue introduction, when Homura!Yuu wakes up into the coffin grim doesn’t get a moment to even open the coffin as you just kick it open ready to transform believing this is some form of a witches labyrinth and are ready to jump into a bunch of conclusions

Now, in comes a poor unsuspecting Grimm

And the first thing Homura!Yuu does upon notice of him? The same thing Homura did to Bebe in rebellion-

just one Quick grasp onto his neck and just instantly slamming him into the nearest wall before he could even say a word. Questions being shot left and right over this potential Witch-like being or a being that seems to be similar combination of a witches Familiar+ Kyubey. A thought you do not like the sound of.

Grim is quite fairly, terrified out of his mind (I’m sorry my son) But! Lucky for him in comes the headmaster to witness this display of aggression! And school hasn’t even begun yet! The nerve!

Now this can go from here in Multiple ways, but for now, how id see it going is Crowley using his whip to tie up Homura!Yuu and just yoinks up a scared grim similar to what Mami did in rebellion

you’re only reaction to this is “Ah shit, here we go again.”

Now I can see Crowley ends up kicking Grim away still since you’ll obviously deny any association with him and just questions Crowley like there’s no tomorrow and just like in canon those questions fall on deaf ears! Lol

Crowley believes that coming to night raven college has frazzled your young hormonal teenage mind into acting so aggressive and since he’s such a kind and generous headmaster does not hold you accountable for it, isn’t he so wonderful c:

Homura!Yuu ends up quietly playing along to whatever the hell is going on to get a better and proper assessment on the situation you’ve been put in. So everything continues on as normal while the students of NRC give you a strange look until it’s finally your turn to approach the mirror.

How I’d see the mirror react to a Homura!Yuu is once you give it your name, I feel like he’d go “their soul is..Missing?..” Because as you know your soul has been turned into your soul gem and the mirror has no knowledge of this so you’re not gonna be assigned any dorm, sorry not sorry c:

This, understandable, freaks everybody out.

This is when Canon plays out a usual in the story for the prologue with the headmaster taking you to Ramshackle and you’re Re-encounter with Grim.

When you do encounter grim again you transform again and start to chase after him to continue where you left off back in the mirror chamber. This leads to Homura!Yuu discovering grim to be innocent in your arrival here and just simply… wants to be able to grow stronger.. hmm why do you feel like you’ve heard that before

Upon Grim proving his innocence and quite frankly become official scared of Homura!Yuu in comes the ghosts to scare him some more! They watch you chase him down and wanted to join in on the fun.

Mind you, you aka Homura!Yuu are still on guard and still transformed so you obviously attack the ghost with grim ending believing you attacked them for his protection! You didn’t, but if it makes up for scaring the piss outta him sure 👍 well go with that.

Now we continue with canon from here with Crowley calling you a beast tamer and hiring you as a janitor yadda yadda, but Grim ends up referring to you as his Bodyguard instead of henchman in this one! Which if Homura!Yuu was going to be honest, Grim was 1,000 percent a bigger improvement then kyubey.

I totally wanna make a side writing blog and make more stuff like this if it gathers the attention of others lol, I already have it made I just need to edit it along with my other side account where I used to post art until I took them down due to tumblrs Ai update lol

Once I’m done fixing up those two I’ll make a master post with the users of all three of my blogs and my ao3 too lol

Anyways thanks for reading my weird ass ramble :) I have so many ideas I wanna talk about for this and so many story scenarios that probably no one’s gonna be interested in XDD

[sanjoongie]

FFF~ Day One

♡Pairing: Park Seonghwa x Reader (f) ♡Genre: Smut with no plot :) ♡Au: childhood enemies to lovers ♡Word Count: 2,248 ♡Warnings: hate fucking, alcohol consumption, degradation kink, fem dom/ male sub dynamics, face riding, male and female orgasm ♡Rated: 18+ MDNI ♡Masterlist link~ | Next Day~ Somnophilia, JYH ♡Dedication~ @downtoamagicalland the unholy trinity beta team

“Soooo, do you remember our friends from elementary school?” Your best friend since childhood brought up oh so casually while eating dinner and catching up.

“Mmm,” You hummed non committedly, chewing on a french fry.

“Well, I promised we’d all meet up later for drinks,” Your friend grinned.

“Really?” You deadpanned, “And you didn’t think to ask me if I had any plans?”

“You never have any plans!” Your friend stated, “Besides, it’s a reunion of sorts. It won’t be proper unless all of us show up.”

You sighed heavily, “Fine, I’ll go. But I’m only staying until I’m pleasantly buzzed and once my stomach is full.”

It would have been a simple obligatory night out, cheering with your best friend, making polite conversation with people you only knew as a child… except for him.

Seonghwa and you had never had a good friendship, even as little children. Seonghwa had always been crying and a pain in your ass. And to Seonghwa, you were the one person who made fun of his sensitivity and he had grown to hate you. So the feeling was mutual… but as adults, it had a sharp edge to it. 

“Wait,” Someone from the group cackled, almost spilling their beer, “Didn’t you used to make fun of Seonghwa for being a cry baby all the time?”

“She did!” Your best friend hooted, “One time he cried about being afraid of the monkey bars after she challenged him to a race and we called him Cry Baby Hwa for a month.”

Seonghwa made a pained expression. “Do we really have to talk about this?”

“It was annoying,” You commented, taking another drink of your cocktail.

“Annoying?” Seonghwa bristled like a hissy cat, “You made my life a living hell!”

“Yeah well I was always the one that the teacher made take care of you when you were crying most of the time and I missed out on all the fun!” You spit back.

Seonghwa’s eyes went wide, “What?”

“Oh yeah, didn’t you miss going on that wooden roller coaster because the teacher thought you had made him cry again so you had to hold his hand while the rest of us went on it?” Someone recalled.

Your best friend’s smile slipped. “Didn’t you cry because the roller coaster was closed down a few months later and you never got to ride it?”

You pressed your lips together. “I don’t remember that.”

“Liar!” Another laughed, “You’ve always been such a bad liar.”

The table continued to recall other memories but you and Seonghwa remained silent. Suddenly this wasn’t so much fun anymore. You stood up abruptly, “I’m gonna head out.”

Everyone protested but you waved them away. “I’ve got an early day tomorrow. It was nice seeing everyone.” You grabbed your purse and made your way out of the pub.

“Hey!” A delicate hand pressed into your shoulder and spun you around. Seonghwa’s uncertain face peered down at you, “Wait.”

You sent a scathing look up at him. “What?”

He chewed nervously on his lip. “I didn’t know that. About the roller coaster.”

“I was an asshole as a kid. I deserved it. Half of the time, you were crying because of me. It wasn’t too far-fetched that our teachers always thought it was me.”

“Did you really hold my hand the entire time we waited for the group to get off the roller coaster?” Seonghwa frowned.

You sighed, watching as your breath came out as mist from the cold. “As I recall, your damn hand was clammy and you kept using my hand to wipe your tears and snot.”

A red blush covered Seonghwa’s face. “Sorry. I was a scared kid.”

You scoffed. “No shit.”

Seonghwa took a deep breath. “Listen, do you want to help me win a bet?”

You stiffened at the statement. “A bet?”

Seonghwa began to sway. “So our friends bet that I couldn't get you to sleep with me because you hated me--”

“Still do,” You corrected him.

That made Seonghwa pause. “Wait, what?”

“Half of my childhood memories are of having to deal with your annoying ass.”

Seonghwa tilted his head in confusion and anger. “I was miserable because of you!”

“So we are in agreement then. We still hate each other’s guts,” You smiled coyly.

Seonghwa dragged his fingers through his hair in frustration. “This is stupid.”

Your phone chimed and you pulled  it out of your pocket out of habit. There was a text from your best friend saying ‘Enjoy!’ with a cheesy winky face. Wait, did she think… “Oh hell no,” You cursed under your breath. You shoved your phone screen in Seonghwa’s face. “Do you see this? Look what you’ve done!”

Seonghwa winced, “I can go back in there. Then they’ll know I’ve lost the bet.”

“Just so I can hear from my best friend that I let another handsome man escape my clutches yet again? Ugh, this is ridiculous.”

Seonghwa had a dopey smile on his face. “You think I’m handsome?”

You let out a frustrated noise and stomped your foot. “No! Those were her words not mine. God damn it all to hell and back.”

“You know, you’re kinda cute when you’re mad,” Seonghwa commented.

You breathed in sharply. Seonghwa’s eyes were twinkling at you. “No. I said no Seonghwa. I don’t know what you’re thinking but get the idea out of your head right now.”

Seonghwa took a step closer to you. “Actually, you didn’t say no.”

Your heart began to race. “Don’t, Seonghwa. Just don’t.” You were buzzed enough that the thought of sleeping with someone, anyone, was quite tantalizing. You weren’t drunk but you had drunk enough to feel your stomach spinning with excitement.

Seonghwa was close enough that his nose could brush yours if he wanted to. HIs eyes became hooded and his hot breath hit your cheek, clashing with the cool air. “Just say no then. I’m a gentleman.”

You swallowed. Your nerves were burning with anticipation. All you had to do was walk away, it was just that easy. But it was just as easy to say yes.

That’s how you found yourself in a cheap motel down the road, hand pressed palm down on Seonghwa’s stomach as you rode him. His hands clenched the sheets below in white-knuckled fists, mouth opened slightly to moan. 

“You’re fucking pathetic, you know that?” You said to him, “I used to be your bully and now you couldn't wait to to fuck me?”

Seonghwa whined below you, nose and cheeks still red from the alcohol he had consumed earlier. “But it’s so good!”

You smirked. “Of course it’s good. Because you enjoy being put down by me.”

His hands dared to move from the bed to your hips and you slapped his stomach in retaliation. “Did I say you could touch me?”

His eyebrows furrowed delicately. “Please.”

“No,” You said in a clipped tone. You took his hands in your own and leaned over so that you could pin them above his head, “You don’t get that privilege.”

Seonghwa’s hips bucked upwards, even more turned on by the notion that there were things he was not allowed to do. Your faces were closer now and your breasts brushed his chest. They swung with your movement and Seonghwa whimpered. “I need--”

“This is not about what you need, Seonghwa. This is about what I want.”

You let go of his wrists, with a stern eye to make sure his hands stayed there and then you propped yourself up on the balls of your feet so you could bounce more efficiently. Seonghwa was like a mewling, desperate thing below you, crying out at the change of pace. His teeth dug into his bottom lip. “Wanna cum!”

You scoffed at him. “I bet you can barely fill the condom with your shot, hmm, Hwa?”

His eyes shot open and for a brief, brief moment something changed. You had slipped and called him the short version of his name. You had told him once when you were children that Seonghwa sounded too dignified, so you had shortened it. In reality, your best friend had a lisp, so you were helping her out.

“I can!” He insisted. 

You rolled your eyes. “I’ll be lucky if I even get to climax from this. You gonna cum already, you big baby? Can’t handle my pussy, can you?”

Seonghwa’s face was in a pained expression again but you were starting to realize it was actually what he did when he was feeling good. He gasped arching his back and then he groaned loudly, slumping back to the bed again. 

You sighed heavily. “You’re useless.”

You lifted yourself off of him, pulling the condom off of his now-softening dick and threw it in the trash. “There. Now you can claim your prize and all our friends can assume that we have made up.”

“Wait, wait,” Seonghwa panted, “You didn’t…?”

“Please,” You belittled him, “Like I hadn't already prepared for that.”

Seonghwa’s eyes stayed glued to the ceiling as he said, “Then use me. Get off. Take your pleasure from me.”

You looked at him like he had grown another head. “Haven’t you had enough? You are a little degradation slut, aren’t you?”

Seonghwa shuddered lightly. “Si-sit on my face.”

“Really? You couldn't make me come with your pitiful cock and you think you can do better with your tongue?” You had already reached for your bra and shirt, preparing to leave.

Seonghwa found the energy to push himself up on elbows. Sweat pulled his hair down against his face and scalp. He looked like you had rode him well. “I can. I can do it.”

“Fine,” You agreed. “But you’re splitting the reward of the bet with me. I’m doing all the damn work here.”

Seonghwa gave you eager eyes as you settled your legs on either side of his head. He moved to wrap his arms around your legs but you tsked at him. “Did you not learn the first time?”

Seonghwa pouted, “But how am I--?”

“You don’t, Hwa. Cute to think that you’d get to be in charge here too.” You waited expectantly but Seonghwa looked up at you with a confused face. “Hwa, stick out your tongue, my god, are you sure you give good head?”

Seonghwa pouted, “Haven't had any complaints.” But still obeyed your orders and stuck his tongue out.

You rode Seonghwa’s face, moving your hips eagerly, searching out the high you had been denied earlier. After a bit, you focused on the pleasure that was blossoming from your lower half. You sat more firmly on Seonghwa, who let out a brief noise of worry before groaning into your cunt. Your thighs pressed against the side of his head, mound brushing his nose every once in a while as you moved your clit along his rough tongue. His groans made gorgeous vibrations against your sensitive nub and you gasped at the added pleasure. It wasn’t until Seonghwa wrapped his lips around your clit and sucked that you lost all control. Your hand descended into his hair, gripping it hard as you rode his face.

“Harder, Hwa, harder,” You encouraged him.

You tipped over the side of pleasure, crying out as your climax washed through you. And as you experienced your high, Seonghwa’s tongue moved to clean you of all your juices, careful of overstimulating you. 

You sighed, this time peacefully, appreciative that you got something from this at least. You heaved your body to the other side of the bed and smirked as Seonghwa breathed in deeply from his mouth. You casted a glance over at your bed partner, and his face was covered in your juices. He was currently using his tongue to capture it all from his face.

“Dirty boy,” You mused, “Can’t get enough of my cunt, can you?”

Seonghwa shook his head. “I can’t.”

You got up and cleaned yourself up in the bathroom. You were fully clothed by the time you came out. Seonghwa was midway putting his pants back on, hopping with one foot stuck in a leg. You rolled your eyes. He really wasn’t capable of anything. Except maybe giving head. 

“Well, I’ll just head out then,” You said a-matter-of-factly.

“Wait!” Seonghwa’s eyes were wide with worry, “Let me take you home.”

“Seonghwa, this is not that kind of thing. This was simply a transactional deal, nothing more,” You cautioned him.

“You’re still buzzed and you take public transportation. Let me take you home.” 

You pushed your mouth to the side. It was late and the sketchy folk did tend to pop out of the seams at this time. It’s not like it wasn’t a good idea. You just didn’t like the fact that Seonghwa could be trying to wiggle his way in for more; more what, of that you were unsure.

“Alright, I’ll let you escort me home,” You relented. Seonghwa’s eyes lit up as if you had just told him he could get candy at the store. “But!’ You said, raising a finger, “I’m not letting you inside.”

Seonghwa smiled happily, eyes searching for his jacket. “That’s fine, I live close anyways.”

The both of you froze, you in disbelief and Seonghwa for getting caught. “Excuse you?” You whispered faintly.

“Shit,” Seonghwa swore quietly.

“Park Seonghwa,” You said, drawing yourself up with every inch of righteous rage, “Was this a set up?”

Seonghwa smiled painfully, “No?”

“I’m going to throttle you,” You threatened.

“Please?”

♡Masterlist link~ | Next Day~ Somnophilia, JYH

[theminecraftbee]

Hey bee! I’m sure you’ve gotten this ask before, sorry, but I am leaving the dream fandom due to being very uncomfy supporting him re:the recent situation. I’m planning on focusing on the other side of Minecraft YouTube for now and was wondering if you had blog recs for third/last life and hermitcraft?

hey! welcome to the hermitcraft fandom! we're a cool place to hang out i think personally. uh, be warned that i'm often bad at recs because i have the memory of a squirrel, so if there isn't someone on here that isn't because we aren't friends/aren't cool mutuals/i don't like them, it's because i am naming the first people i think of, which is not always people in a sensible order. also i tried to stick to hermitcraft guys more than traffic or empires guys here because i did not realize you said third/last/double life when i first read this ask WHOOPS.

also i saw the other list i was tagged in by @griancraft, i am EXTREMELY flattered, that list is here, and i have tried not to put any names that are repeats from there. i am vouching in general for a lot of the people on there though.

ALSO also before we get into the names: GO FIND YOUR OWN FRIENDS! one of the ways i do this personally is that i just... browse through the hermitcraft tag occasionally and stick a bunch of stuff in my queue and if i see a person crop up a lot i follow them because clearly i like what they're doing! sometimes also when i was a smaller blog if someone showed up in my notes a lot i'd also show up! uh, just in general, find other 'smaller' guys too! i have, as i said, tried to stick to people i thought you weren't already going to be following, but let it be known that i have no sense of scale anymore so i don't know who is considered "big" or not on here the scale may be WILDLY out of proportion. FIND YOUR OWN PEOPLE it's very fun to find people yes yes.

@dmwrites and/or @simplydm (her main) does very cool writing. i am a big fan of all of her ficlets. if you are following me for the writing let me direct you that way to ALSO get a lot of good ficlets.

speaking of other cool writers in the fandom. @mawofthemagnetar writes eldritch horror keralis and a bunch of other fics that are cool. also one of the people on my dash who is an xb understander, you know?

@fluffy-papaya and @betweenlands wrote dog at the door and a bunch of other stuff i like (plus fluffy's art is very cute). also i know solar and solar is cool... albeit. mostly not a hermitcraft blog at this point. but still. deserves to go here, be wary they will get you into a minecrafter you've never heard of. i still need to watch secret rivals. soon,

also on the cool writer list is @sixteenth-days, who writes hermit archives and also a bunch of other cool things!

@redwinterroses is someone i originally followed from more of the traffic side of the fandom but i recommend following her, she's pretty chill.

someone who i like a lot as both an artist AND a writer is @silverskye13. still need to catch up with monsters splitting hairs, love the artstyle, all their hels takes are good.

another cool artist and writer is @kiwinatorwaffles, lots of good xisuma, evil x, zedaph stuff over here from what i've seen.

@quaranmine runs the absolutely necessary @mcyt-cats blog. has the watcher grian takes i tend to actually trust, haha. she's pretty cool as far as general hc/mcyt blogs go.

@luigra does REALLY cute art i love the colors she uses and her style it always makes me feel soft and happy. also, of course, a fellow joe hills enthusiast. always important, us joeguys stick together like this.

speaking of fellow joeguys. @12u3ie probably knows more about joe than me. has been around here longer. fellow joeguys represent.

one last joeguy. hi @concorp. e does cool art and has a lot of good general hermitcraft stuff going on. also, as mentioned: fellow joeguy. also they do @badlydrawnhermitcraft and have been a guest on joe's show before!

@shadeswift99 feels like a pillar of the community to me. they run the @hermitcraftheadcanons blog, if you haven't been there before. they also do writing good and tend to know a lot of people who have been around a while. cool person.

i like @closet-thing's art a lot. tends to be somewhat horror-focused if that isn't your thing but if you, like me, DO like horror stuff, then you're in for a treat.

i am also a big fan of @jestroer's art. it has a very... i don't know the word for it but the style is very distinct and i like it. fluffy? if that's a bad word for it. i am sorry. i don't know how to describe art. anyway recommend.

@bdoubleowo is a good general mcyt blog! she does very nice art as well. the sexy fish animatic is scott smajor approved, you know.

uhhhh last one for now @girltimeswithscar has such good character designs. i am in love with how they draw skizzleman. also their mumbo. also their bdubs. also just their takes about bdubs in general. bdubs takes good.

as i said before... if a name isn't on this list it's because i don't have object permanence if you are not in front of me RIGHT NOW i do not remember you are there. i have MANY OTHER COOL MUTUALS AND BLOGS I'M FOLLOWING AND BUDDIES AND STUFF, and THERE ARE MANY BLOGS THAT ARE COOL. THAT I DO NOT FOLLOW YET. this fandom is full of so many cool and creative people! go! seek them out!