#they just silently made awkward side glances at each other for the latter half of week three

[goldensunset]

i’m not the first person to say this but the neo kids being like ‘ooh neku’s a legendary player and the savior of shibuya! he’s so kind and brave and inspiring!’ and ‘beat used to be a reaper himself! he’s such a wise and seasoned veteran who knows the game like the back of his hand!’ is SO funny they have no idea what a terrible annoying selfish lazy person neku used to be and they have no idea that beat lasted one week on the job and failed to complete his singular objective in that time and just in general never really cared about carefully following rules as either a player or a reaper. and neither of these truths are ever exposed. both of them go the whole game being hailed as heroes.

therefore. i propose that neku and beat had a secret quiet contract in the background that neither of them would tell the others the truth about each other. vow of mutual silence to protect their reputations. like ‘hey man if you don’t tell them i was actually the most irritating piece of snot ever i won’t tell them you were honestly the world’s worst reaper.’ ‘deal, yo.’

[leejeongz]

to1 reaction to you asking them to cuddle for the first time

requested: yes, by @jihoonsconstellation

🔅thanks for requesting jinny (i hope u don’t mind that i changed it a little to “for the first time”🥺) :D i rewatched so much to1 content “for research purposes” so thank you for that too hehe🔅

jaeyun ･:，｡★ﾟ

“can we cuddle?”

“sure, honey, come here” he responded, his voice as sweet as ever, patting a space right beside him on his bed.

you shuffled over towards him and lay your head on his chest while his arm naturally rested over your shoulders, holding you closer to him.

“tell me why we didn’t do this sooner” he sighed out of happiness.

although you couldn’t see him, the feeling of his breath hitting your hair was enough to let you know that he was looking down at you resting on his chest. you smiled to yourself, letting out a slight accidental giggle as you did so. in response, jaeyun only squeezed you tighter to his own body and placed a kiss on the crown of your head.

“can we stay like this forever?” you asked.

“i hope so” his eyes met yours as you glanced up towards him. normally, you’d laugh in this kind of situation to make it less awkward, but something was stopping you. this was the most intimate and intense moment that the pair of you had shared and neither of you wanted it to end. his eyes flitted between yours and your lips in an almost dazed state. soon enough, his lips were gently placed onto yours, as soft as cushions yet you still couldn’t help pulling away out of embarrassment. he looked at you once again, this time panic evident in his eyes.

“it’s okay! i just didn’t expect it” you lied “can we try again?”

other members under the cut

chihoon ･:，｡★ﾟ

“can we cuddle?”

he looks over in your direction and laughs. “do you really have to ask?” he replies, still laughing.

you stood, silently, hoping it would encourage a definite answer from your boyfriend.

“well, where do you wanna cuddle? do you wanna watch a film or something?” he asks. you nod in response to the latter question as he grabs the blanket from the sofa, inviting you to sit on it before he does the same. honestly, he’s a little shy and anxious about cuddling with you. he’s not much of a touchy kinda guy, but he really wants to make you happy and if this is what it takes then he’s more than willing to put his own dislikes aside and cuddle.

sitting down cautiously, his arm immediately finds itself over your shoulders. you lean in to his side and look up at him for approval. he smiled sweetly and grabbed the remote from the cushion, not once taking his eyes off you.

“which film?” he whispers as he feels his cheeks burning up. his eyes quickly divert to the television as yours do the same. “there’s finding nemo” he points out.

you nod once again “but what if i cry?”

“well, i’m here to comfort you, so it’s fine!” he squeezes you as he talks, now becoming far more comfortable with his position.

donggeon ･:，｡★ﾟ

“can we cuddle?”

“did you really think we could share a bed and not cuddle?” he asked in a serious tone. tonight, you’d let your boyfriend stay over in your bed given that it was quite late and your house was closer to his company building anyway.

he made a valid point, you thought, but he didn’t give you long to think about your next move as he had already turned over onto his side and was pulling on your waist so that you’d face him. of course, you gave in to his tugging and turned to lie face to face with him. as you did so, he placed a gentle peck on your nose, smiling as he pulled away, his palm still resting against your side. his feet toyed with your feet until you let him tangle his legs in with yours, the warmth radiating off of each other being enough to mask your sudden flush of shyness and embarrassment.

“what did you do today?” you asked him with a cheeky grin, knowing that all he did was laze around.

“this and that” he responded, bobbing his head from one shoulder to another to further add to his sarcasm. “you?”

“this and that” you mimicked, giggling and you moved closer to him, ready to nestle yourself into his chest and call it a night.

chan ･:，｡★ﾟ

“can we cuddle?”

you asked, sniffling after you finished your summary of the saddest book you’d ever read. he wiped the last few tears from your cheeks and nodded with a genuine smile. “of course we can” he replied, following your lead towards his room. you sat on the edge of his bed, awkwardly staring down at your feet after he told you to make yourself comfortable.

“i mean it, you can lie down” he told you, tapping your side gently to make you turn to look at him. he was already lying down, propped up on his left elbow to get a better view of you. “come on, face me”. you did as he said and faced him, his hand immediately coming close enough to stroke his thumb against your ear.

“you know, you look really beautiful right now” he said, showing a toothy smile. you smiled in return, really just enjoying the view. although he has never been much of a cuddler, chan was really enjoying this time with you. being able to admire you while he stroked your hair or brushed his fingers down the length of your back, smiling as he did so in such a cheesy way. “we should do this more often” he commented quietly.

you nodded and smiled to yourself “we should”.

jisu ･:，｡★ﾟ

“can we cuddle?”

he thought for a moment, how can he tease you? “what’s the magic word?” he asked, walking closer towards you.

“please” you smiled, shivering a little due to the broken heating that had yet to be fixed.

he shook his head, tutting as if you said something wrong. his arm swept over your shoulder as he led you to your room. “is there another?” he enticed, lying on your bed in the classic “paint me like one of your french girls” pose. “maybe a “love” or “honey”?” he questioned with a smirk.

“can we cuddle, please, honey?” you finally gave in, already climbing onto your bed beside him. you both sunk into the mattress, his arm once again around your shoulder, the other rested on the small of your back while your head and hand rested on his clothed chest. as challenging as you imagined it to be for your boyfriend, you lay in silence for a while, gaining enough warmth from each other to keep you both from shivering.

“are you cold?” you broke the silence to ask him. “should i put another blanket on us?”

his eyes darted around your room, trying to find the blanket in question. he spotted it a few steps away from your bed. “no, stay” he replied. “i don’t want us to ever get up” he admitted.

minsu ･:，｡★ﾟ

“can we cuddle?”

the thunder clashed once again, this time almost as if it was perfectly timed to begin as you finished talking. instead of responding verbally, your boyfriend had already clung onto your shirt. your arms wrapped around him and pulled him in closer, to the point where he could no longer see outside.

“i thought you weren’t scared of storms?” you giggled even though you felt exactly the same way as he appeared to.

“i’m not” he pulled away from your embrace “but should we turn the tv off and sit over there?” he asked, pointing to the sofa in your living room. “just in case” he added with a tilt of his head.

you made your way over to the seat, his hands still firmly gripping the material of your shirt. you sat down and following that, he did the same. his head fell to your shoulder and your head rested on top of his. his hands had now found their way around your torso and were locked in place so that you couldn’t get up and leave him.

half an hour passed and you two had exhausted the topic of the storm outside, now talking about anything and everything, all while he still kept you in his arms and him in yours.

“oh, i think it’s stopped” you paused the conversation in order to check. “yep” you clarified.

“doesn’t mean you have to get up though, right?”

jyou ･:，｡★ﾟ

“can we cuddle?”

“what?” he asks with a laugh “but i’m in the middle of a game” he signals towards the tv with his controller.

“so? you can still play” you plead “you’re losing anyway” pouting as you speak.

“fine” he sits on the floor and waits for you to join him. “sit here” he taps the space he made between his legs. you did as he said and sat with your back against his chest. his arms came over you, hands still firmly holding onto the controller. he laughed a little, he couldn’t believe this was how you wanted to spend your afternoon.

“what's so funny?” you pouted once again, gently head butting his chin, careful not to actually hurt him.

“don’t you think this is kind of…” he trailed off realising that it was pretty sweet what you guys were doing.

“kind of what?” you insisted.

he paused a little and smiled to himself. “cute” he finished.

you turned your head to look back towards him, your hand gripping his arm as you turned which made his cheeks burn. you kissed his jawline and returned to watching him play, which, by this point, was actually just jeyou driving uncontrollably in hopes of finishing the course while in a frenzy over you being so close to him.

kyungho ･:，｡★ﾟ

“can we cuddle?”

he closed his book upon hearing your question, placing it onto the coffee table in front of him. noticing your figure by the sofa, he glanced over towards you in the hope that you couldn’t tell how desperate he was to hold you in his arms. you were standing holding a fluffy blanket, an innocent look on your face.

“sure” he answered, lying down on the sofa, settling and only just fitting on it. you lay in the space he’d left, which somehow was the most perfect and comfortable space that you’d ever lay in. his arm gently rested just above your hip, rubbing small circles with his finger against your tummy. he sighed and closed his eyes, wanting the moment to last forever yet knowing that it couldn’t. the radio was playing in the background and all the songs that played seemed to describe exactly how he felt right now, like he was in heaven. you soon felt his breath get deeper against your neck, his lips almost smooshed against it too. you shuffled back towards him to get into a position that you could sleep in too, but as you did so, you’d accidentally woke your boyfriend.

“i’m so sorry” you apologised, worrying that he’d be a little mad that you’d woken him since you knew he’d been tired these days.

“it’s okay” he rested his chin back onto your shoulder, smiling and sighing as he did so “but maybe it would be better if you held me… and we were in bed?” he suggested, cheering internally as you acted upon his request almost immediately.

jerome ･:，｡★ﾟ

“can we cuddle?”

sungmin couldn’t say no to you, ever, even if you were sick. he waited for you to shuffle over in bed before joining you. he rested his head against your shoulder as you both sat with your backs against the headboard.

“how long have you been feeling ill?” he asked, pouting as he spoke.

“since this morning” you replied with a pout to match his “it’s just a headache i know, but i feel so-” you slumped further down on the bed, taking your boyfriend with you. your actions didn’t go unnoticed by sungmin, who quickly sat back up and wrapped his arm over your shoulder, resting your head against his shoulder for you. his other arm soon did the same, now holding you closer to him. he looked down at you, burrowing your head closer to his body in an attempt to avoid the light. he pouted once again.

“should i turn off the light?” he asked. he felt you shake your head from side to side against him and so he rubbed your back to let you know that he understood.

a short while later, he spoke again “you can’t catch a headache, right?” he whispered in a pitiful attempt to make you laugh, yet you didn’t react. “y/n?” he glanced down and noticed a subtle snoring sound escaping from you. he awed silently, trying not to move and disturb you from your sleep.

woonggi ･:，｡★ﾟ

“can we cuddle?”

“huh?” he shouted a little louder than he meant to, eyes widening at your question

“oh okay” you sulked.

“no, i mean we should!” he corrected himself “i was just shocked at your question” he laughed, hoping that he didn’t hurt your feelings with his response.

throwing himself at your bed and settling for the side by the wall, he lined your stuffed teddies up behind him for extra comfort and smiled at you, ready for you to go and lie with him. you lay on your back while he clung to your side, a little awkwardly to begin with, honestly.

“what’s this? what are we doing?” he laughed after only minutes of being close to each other “can’t you spoon me?” he asked innocently, looking at you all doe eyed. you nodded, relieved to finally move from the original position. he turned over almost immediately, now the pair of you were facing the wall and your arm resting on his waist as you spooned him.

“should we put on a movie?” you asked, unsure of what to do in such a situation.

“can we just lie here?” he asked in response “how was your day, y/n, sweetie?”

[toomanyfandomssss]

His Girl - Five

Violet stood to the side as she watch Bellamy and Murphy target practicing. Murphy's knife fell to the ground after he failed to get it to stick in the tree.

"It's that damn kid always messing with my head," the dark haired boy said making the Violet roll her eyes and mutter a small "Sure" under her breath.

"He's not gonna last much longer, better start thinking of a new excuse," Bellamy slightly mocked before winding his arm back and throwing his axe hard enough for it to instill into the tree. Violet shamelessly admired how sexy the man looked. "That's how it's done" he said, voice full of arrogance.

Atom and another kid walked towards the three, "We searched a half-mile all directions. No sign of Trina or Pascal."

"Visit your special tree when you were out there?" Murphy teased making Violet tilt her head in confusion.

"Atom took his punishment. Let it go," Bellamy ordered.

"Bell what punishment? What did he do?" Violet asked, completely confused about what the hell was going on.

"Its nothing Vi, we'll talk about it later," the boy replied making her huff in annoyance. Noticing this, Bellamy walked over to her and wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her into him. "I promise baby," he whispered in her ear sending a shiver down her spine and making her skin flush. He smirked and kissed her cheek, turning his attention back to Atom who started talking again.

"Could be grounders," he suggested.

Murphy of course took a chance to continue his teasing, "Yeah, or they could be in pound town. Lot of that going on recently," he smirked.

Ignoring Murphy, Atom continued "Look, Bellamy people are scared," he gestured to the loud moaning of the boy in the drop ship, "And that dying kid he's not helping the morale around here."

"Morale will go up when I find them more food," Bellamy reassured.

The other boy spoke up, "And what do we say when they ask about Trina and Pascal?"

"For now? Nothing. Its possible they're just lost. We'll keep an eye out for them when we go hunting later."

Murphy had his eyes on the drop ship, "Lets go kill something."

Stopping him from walking any further Bellamy responded, "You're not going. I need you to stay here. If the grounders are circling we can't leave this place unprotected.

Murphy nodded, "Fine. Somebody better tell goggle boy to keep it shut." Violet watched him fail again at getting his knife in the tree before making her way to the drop ship.

✶✶✶

Violet followed Wells up the ladder hearing Monty say, "That would be a firm no." Immediately going to Jasper's side she looked down at the poor boy.

Clarke sighed, "My mother would know what to do."

"How's he doing?" Wells asked making the blonde immediately snap at him.

"How does it look like he's doing Wells?" she glared up at him.

"I'm just trying to help," he defended himself.

Violet and Finn glanced at each other noting the awkward tension between the two.

Clarke spoke up, "You wanna help? Hold him down." she motioned to Jasper.

Violet, Finn and Wells all did as told. Monty looked at Clarke worriedly, "I'm not gonna like this am I?"

✶✶✶

Violet, Monty, Finn,  and Wells, were all holding a screaming Jasper down as Clarke tried to heal his wound.

"Hold him still! I need to cut away the infected flesh," Clarke yelled.

The door opened revealing an exasperated Octavia yelling "Stop it!" "You're killing him!" the tan girl said kneeling next to the boy.

"She's trying to save his life," Finn reassured the girl.

Unfortunately Bellamy had followed his sister to the room, "She can't"

Wells stood up and faced Bellamy, "Back off"

Clarke huffed, "We didn't drag him through miles of woods just to let him die."

"Kid's a goner. If you can't see that you're deluded." Bellamy so sweetly pointed out. "He's making people crazy."

"Sorry if Jasper's an inconvenience to you, but this isn't the ark. Down here every life matters."

"Take a look at him. He's a lost cause," the curly haired boy replied making his girlfriend scoff.

The room was silent for a moment before Clarke turned to Octavia. "Octavia, I've spent my whole life watching my mother heal people, if I say there's hope there's hope." Clarke tried to reassure the girl but was interrupted by the hot headed boy once more.

"This isn't about hope. Its about guts. You don't have the guts to make the hard choices. I do. He's been like this for three days, if he's not better by tomorrow, I'll kill him myself." He went towards the latter before turning back again, "Octavia, Vi, let's go."

His sister didn't even turn to look at him, "I'm staying here." The boy turned to his girlfriend with a raised brow. All she did was give him a disgusted look before turning back to the group, refusing to acknowledge him any more than that. Bellamy's face softened for a moment before nodding in understanding and distending down the ladder.

Monty interrupted the silence, "Power hungry, self serving, jackass. He doesn't care about anyone but himself." He glanced at Octavia and Violet, "No offence" Octavia just shook her head while Violet mumbled a "You're not wrong."

Finn agreed, "Yeah Bellamy is all that, but he also happens to be right."

✶✶✶

Violet caught up to Bellamy right before he left. "You're not killing him."

"Sweetheart-"

"Kill him and you lose me," with that she turned her back and walked away from him.

Bellamy's heart felt like it stopped when she spoke those words. The last thing he ever wanted was to lose his sister or his girl.

✶✶✶

The remaining criminals including Violet all made their way to the drop ship in a hurry.

"What's going on?" Monty asked a random girl.

"The air got thick everybody's skin started burning."

Octavia looked at the boy worriedly, "Monty my brothers out there."

"He'll be fine. We'll all be fine," he reassured her.

Violet came and sat down next to Octavia. "He's right O. Bellamy will be fine. He'll find shelter," the girl also tried to reassure her friend while putting her arms around her for a brief moment. Octavia nodded gratefully and hugged her back, happy that while the safety of her brother is unknown, she does know that her best friend is safe right next to her.

✶✶✶

Bellamy had been asleep in a cave taking shelter from the fog when a scream woke him up. "No!" the 12 year old Charlotte screamed in her sleep.

"Charlotte, wake up." Bellamy shook the girl.

"I'm sorry," she whined.

He ignored the apology instead asking, "Does it happen often?" The girl sighed in reply. "What are you scared of?" Getting no response he continues, "You know what? It doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is what you do about it."

"But...I'm asleep," Charlotte says confused.

Bellamy explained, "Fears are fears. Slay your demons when you're awake, they won't be there to get you when you sleep."

Still confused she asks, "Yeah, but...how?

"You can't afford to be weak. Down here, weakness is death, fear is death." He continued, "Let me see that knife I gave you." Doing as told she held up the knife she was given.

Bellamy took it from her and held it up, "Now when you feel afraid you hold tight to that knife and say, 'Screw you. I'm not afraid.'" He handed the knife back to her.

Taking his advice, Charlotte help up the knife and quietly said, "Screw you. I'm not afraid." Bellamy gave her a look that said, you can do better than that. She said once more, this time with much more confidence, "Screw you. I'm not afraid." Bellamy smiled approvingly. "Slay your demons kid. Then you'll be able to sleep."

He had sat back against the cave wall when the girl spoke up again. "Can you tell me a story to help me fall asleep?"

He thought for a moment before replying, "Like what?"

"Tell me how you met Violet."

[alexaplaysgames]

Have Mercy on Me

Pairing: Felix Escellun x GN!MC

Fandom: Fictif (Last Legacy)

Rating: M (swearing, mild sexual content)

Words: ~ 1500

Description: Felix and his barista are a bit less than careful when it comes to concealing their midnight make out sess.

Notes: So Sage suspects that Felix and MC are a thing, but he doesn’t know that they are. Or he didn’t prior to this fic. The last of my Felix writing spree! I’m moving on to some Asra next.

Tags: @margitartist @demon-paradise @themohawkhelmet @cactus-hoodie @aomiyeon @piningmaybeanartist @another-confused-gay

When I imagined travelling with the legendary Starsworn, sitting in the parlour of a run-down inn and getting wasted wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.

Sage grabs a bottle from the table at his feet and takes a hearty swig.

“Even this is failing to entertain me now,” he says, cracking his back as he stands, “I’m going to go pass out.”

“Will you kill me if I call it a cat nap?” I singsong.

Safe glares at me in reply, ears pinned flat against his head. “Do you want to find out?”

I opt to stay quiet as he turns towards the stairs that lead to our rented rooms.

“I think I’m going to turn in for the night as well,” Anisa hums, her green eyes glittering in the firelight. “Goodnight, you two!”

Felix and I sit silently as the sound of creaking wood accompanying footsteps retreats up the stairs.

As soon as the parlour is silent, he turns to me, smirking.

“Ah, to be free of Sage’s incessant pestering.”

I too am rather glad to be alone with him. With all that’s gone on lately, I’ve barely had Felix to myself at all these last few days.

The cracking of the fire is soothing, the silence between us strangely comfortable. It’s rather odd, considering Felix isn’t one for quiet contemplation, and it’s very rare that any situation he’s involved in remains free of awkwardness.

I’m distracted from my thoughts as Felix glances down at our hands, still close together being that we have yet to seperate from our previously crowded position on the sofa.

Once again, I feel myself wishing that he would just ask for things when he wanted them, like he so obviously wants to hold my hand now. Am I doing something wrong? Is this some consequence of his relationship with Rime? I know almost nothing about that, I don’t really want to, but if that deer-man did anything to hurt Felix, I guarantee I’ll snap his antlers like Pixy Stix.

Then again, perhaps some of the hurting was consensual. He did have some choice comments about their sexual relationship that I’ve really been trying to forget. Yikes. I can’t imagine the Felix I know in a relationship anything like that.

He’s too precious... too soft. I feel like getting rough with him would break him, shattering his beauty to shards, like stained glass.

But I wouldn’t mind if he were a bit more forward with me.

“Do you want to hold my hand, Felix?”

He starts, then blushes as he meets my gaze. Felix nods, his expression turning resolute as he slowly reaches for my hand, then intertwines my fingers with his.

I reach to delicately tilt his chin up with the index finger of my free hand.

“I do like you, you know,” I tease, but the words still carry meaning. “You don’t have to be so hesitant.”

“O-okay. I know that, I do. It’s just... difficult,” he scoffs, a frustrated sound deep in his throat. His voice goes soft as he continues, “I haven’t- I haven’t done this since...”

“I know.” He doesn’t need to say Rime’s name for me to know who this is about.

I smile, sultry turning soft, then focus my attention back on the fireplace as Felix lays his head on my shoulder with a soft sigh. Progress. His hair tickles my chin, but I don’t really mind. He smells... nice. Like... well, he actually kind of smells like sage. Sage the plant, not the person. Felix would certainly take offence to the latter. I snicker under my breath just thinking of his reaction if I told him so.

I suddenly shiver as Felix turns his face into my neck, trying to stay still. He’s not a huge fan of casual physical contact, and I don’t want to scare him away. He’s kinda like a pet, a cat, in that any time he gets close I stay shock still in hopes that he won’t run off. He’s like a cat in many ways, actually. Grumpy, recluse, adorable. Another description he would despise, knowing his hatred for Stella. I purse my lips to keep from giggling. Man, if only everyone knew how hilarious I really am.

“You realize,” Felix hums, the vibrations creating goosebumps across my skin. “We are completely alone.”

My amusement fades in an instant, my features stretching into a seductive grin.

“Oh? And what, Felix, oh dignified and talented mage, are you suggesting?”

I can almost feel his face heat from where it’s pressed against the soft skin of my neck.

He sighs, then mumbles, “I beg you not to tease me so. We can’t all be as lascivious as Sage, my dear.”

“Felix,” I tease, despite his request, “are you asking for a kiss?”

He pulls away, face flushed red, biting his lip as he refuses to meet my gaze.

“No.” The answer is obviously yes, and although his pout is adorable, he sounds like a stubborn, petulant child.

I place my hands on both of his cheeks, forcing him to meet my gaze.

“Good. Because you don’t need to ask. If you want to kiss me Felix, go ahead.”

It’s a bold challenge. Never does Felix initiate such things, but I want him to. I want him to want to.

He blinks. Then, slowly, tentatively, he shifts closer to me, the sofa creaks beneath him, and I feel the cushions sink as he leans towards me. His breath fans across my face as he gets impossible closer, his eyelashes fluttering against my cheeks.

It’s in moments like these that it truly hits me: how incredibly intoxicating Felix is. I don’t think I could refuse him if I wanted to; my heart yearns to be swept up in the vortex of his stormy eyes, to drown in a sea as black as his fingernails or as red as his bitten lips.

I can just barely feel the brush of his lips against mine, leaving my breath stuttering in my throat. It’s nice- the closeness, the stillness. Intimate even, with our foreheads pressed together and our mouths just barely touching. I could stay like this with him forever.

Then our lips slide together in a familiar, passionate dance, slow and sensual and utterly delicious. I instinctively move my hands to tangle in his hair, pulling just the way I know he likes, while Felix surprises me by moving one hand to cup my face, the other to skim my thigh, and kissing me back hard, hard enough to make me feel like the breath that fills his lungs, and I struggle to refrain from smiling against the softness of his lips.

I pull away, trying not to notice his bereft, breathy little exhale, just long enough to quirk a brow before I place my hands on his chest and push him back into the sofa, chuckling at the noise of shock that he makes.

And while I love to have him near me, holding me, this is where I like Felix best. Pinned under me as I straddle his waist, wide, silvery eyes reflecting the dying firelight.

I lean over him, tantalizing, teasing, trace a path with my tongue from his collarbone to the shell of his ear, then finish by biting down on his earlobe, rolling the stud he wears in his ear with the tip of my tongue.

Felix gasps, hips involuntarily pressing upwards and against mine, a breathy whine building in his throat. I catch his wrists and pin them above his head, leaning back to admire the mess I’ve made of him.

“So pretty,” I murmur, twirling a strand of his hair with my free hand.

“You are quite,” his voice shakes with his ragged exhale, “resplendent yourself.”

I snort, hum, then lean forward to capture his mouth in a sinful, open-mouth kiss, grinding against him once more in a way that has us both panting into each other’s mouths. I’m not sure how long we stay tangled up like that, rocking together, never parting for longer than it takes to catch a breath.

His skin is surprisingly warm to the touch when my fingers flit under the fabric of his shirt, dipping over the soft give of his stomach, a gentle, exploratory touch I can feel mirrored by Felix’s hands on the bare skin of my arms.

I’m just about to suggest we take this somewhere more private when I’m interrupted by a choking noise. A sound not unlike that of a cat, yakking on a hairball.

Felix and I hastily spring apart, and my gaze is immediately drawn to a tall, white-haired figure standing at the base of the stairs.

“Holy fuck.” Sage whispers, his expression a mix of amusement, awe, and confusion. His eyes dart between the look of sheer mortification that paints my features and Felix’s disheveled appearance and half-open shirt.

Shit.

Felix flops back down, burying his burning red face in a pillow.

“Not now, Sage.”

Sage only smirks. “Interrupted something, did I? By all means, don’t stop on my accord. I’m all for watching, or joining. If you’re into that sorta thing.”

I can only manage to stare, slack-jawed. Is he really suggesting...?

“So,” Sage clears his throat, causing Felix to groan at the realization that he has not yet left. “You two really are-“

I nod.

“No,” he grimaces.

“Yes,” I deadpan.

“No,” he repeats, louder, frantic. “I cannot live in a world in which Felix has game. First Rime, now you? Are you sure you’re the one who got teleported to another dimension?”

“That’s not exactly what-“ Felix finally huffs as he raises his head, glaring.

“Whatever, man. This is some fucked up shit. Majorly fucked up, that’s what I say.” Sage crosses the room, retrieving a dagger from the nearby armchair and twirling it dangerously in his leather-clad grip (I assume this is the reason he came back into the parlour at all).

He makes to move up the stairs, but pauses, throwing me a grin over his shoulder, accompanied by a waggle of his eyebrows.

“But if you ever wanna get a taste of the wild side...”

“Sage!” Felix exclaims, eyes flashing a dangerous green, but the former only snickers.

“Goodnight, horny children. Try to keep the noise level to a minimum, if ya know what I mean.”

I have to slap my hand over Felix’s mouth to stifle his angry retort.

This is going to be a long few days.

[victorianoruben]

{Untitled yet}

Ruvik X F!Reader

Chapter 1

Warning: none, I guess?

Written by: me and @another-bryk-in-the-wall

(thanks to my best friend for beta-reading it!)

Sometimes the hours are blurring together on nightshifts. Sometimes they are extremely stressful. Emergencies where there are only two people on a shift.

Other times you have 6 hours of complete rest and boredom.

That day it was the latter.

You haven't been working here for long and already find this hospital to be “different from others".

Many employees were emotionally cold and absolutely not interested in anyone, while just some liked to make jokes with you and treated you like a normal person. Also, the whole atmosphere here seemed very private. There weren’t too many patients who were going out of their way to socialize or make friends inside of the hospital. Hell, most didn’t even leave their rooms.

You sat bored in the lounge with your mobile phone in hand until you suddenly heard footsteps. They reverberated eerily in the long hallway and you turned to face that direction, startled. It was rare that anyone was wandering the halls this late at night. You saw a man in a tight red uniform aiming to walk past you, not even acknowledging your presence.

Only when you took a closer look at him, did you notice his burn scars. They were covering half of his face. When he noticed that you were looking at him from head to toe you decided to greet him, instead of just awkwardly staring at him. A relatively meek "Good evening, Sir" came out of you. You felt very overwhelmed by his dominant presence, which intimidated you a bit. That feeling only worsened when you let your eyes wander to the top of his head... Was that his brain surrounded by glass? No, that couldn't be. You were surely imagining things. But, what if you weren’t. Oh god damn it, what had he been through?

He emanated a unique self-confidence unlike anything you had ever seen in anyone with facial scarring. Usually patients like that were unsure and shy, afraid of being judged over something they had no control over. Human beings could be downright nasty to anyone with a scarred face. Something about facial scars disgusted people and the victims could clearly feel the contempt of others and as a result, they tended to lose all confidence.

This man, however, seemed to practically ooze confidence, which you respected and you caught yourself of being fascinated by or more like interested in his presence. You felt how your heartbeat rose from 0 to 100 when you both made eye contact, though you tried all your best to keep yourself collected and professionally polite. But that didn't work that easily.

"Good evening.", the man replied, his face completely blank and his voice monotone. He was just looking at you without a friendly gesture, without a smile. The man was simply studying your appearance as well. One of the many abilities he gained over the years was that he could read people like an open book, left open for him to peak in. Someone had longer fingernails on their right hand and short on the left? Guitar player who doesn't want to destroy the neck of said guitar. Some dog owners always carried treats with them, even if the dog wasn’t coming along. All those little clues told him enough about a person before they even spoke their first sentence.

But you. He couldn't read you yet, and this peaked his interest.

You hadn't been here for a long time, because he knew all the long-term workers and their darkest secrets.

"Are you busy right now?", the man pointedly looked at the phone in your hand, currently playing a silly cat video. Truth be told, he enjoyed that kind of content, but would he ad this? Never. Absolutely never. He would rather get the other side of his brain exposed than to admit that he liked cat videos.

"I need some help with my studies. Care to join me?", that was a big lie but he was curious -

Who were you and why did you peak his interest more than the average nurse in here? He'd find out soon enough.

Only now did you wonder what he was even doing here during these late hours. He didn’t look like a doctor. Was he a lab assistant? He certainly looked like some sort of scientist.

Pressing your lips in a thin line with a weak smile you put my phone in your pocket and nodded, slightly mortified that he had caught you watching cat videos of all things. It surely didn’t look professional.

"No, I'm not really busy. I’m just having a long boring night- I mean, not that I’m complaining... I wouldn't wish for emergencies either. So, yeah… I’d be glad to help you," You fumbled a little over your words, still slightly unsettled by his presence.

You’d do nearly anything to escape the boredom of a quiet nightshift, though. And you weren’t really worried about him being some kind of serial killer. Sure, your colleagues were weird, but they weren’t really the kind of people to chop you to pieces and bury you in the closest forest. Weird didn’t equal serial killer. Besides, you were curious about the man.

You were walking next to each other in silence that was quickly going growing awkward. Nervously you were fumbling with your hands in your smock overall, thinking of starting any conversation just to get out of this uncomfortable silence.

"I've never seen you before. I'm still pretty new here. Do you work here as a laboratory or doctor assistant? Also, with many nightshifts? Is that really that common in this mental hospital? " You had narrowed your eyes questioningly when you looked up to him. By reading his facial expressions it didn't seem like he liked to answer you. His forehead was wrinkling in silent contemplation, which made you suspicious. It was unusual to have an assistant running around here so late at night.

Maybe you weren’t so far of with the serial killer suspicions. You actually contemplated hightailing out of there.

'Quick, think of an answer. She is just a pretty and naive nurse'

But even a little slip up could cost his head. He could tell by her tensing posture that she was seconds away from fleeing the scene.

‘That could end badly’

"I mostly work nights," he tried to keep his answers short and to the point. Laying on a confidence in his answer that he didn’t actually feel. He made sure to look her in the eye shortly and casually avert his gaze back to the hallway. If he didn’t look her in the eyes at all he would look like a liar and if he stared at her too much he’d look like one too. It was a delicate balance, that he had mastered over the years "That is because the nights are quieter and I can focus on the patients better this way."

You took a glance at him, still wondering about what his actual job was. His answer was too vague for your taste. But the curiosity was still grown inside of you.

You had decided to work in a mental hospital because the human psyche had always been kind of a mystery to you. Mental illnesses were both fascinating and tragic in your eyes. The mind was even more delicate than the body, in your eyes. It was so easy to break and healing it was a true challenge. It was your goal to help people with mental illnesses like depressions, dissociative disorders and PTDS.

So, you really wanted to know what this scientist - or whatever - was working on.

You both arrived at the door to his office. You signed an NDA before, but who knew what could happened once you opened mouth. He didn't trust anyone in this damn hospital.

"Do not be surprised by the sight in front of you once I open this door. All I am asking you is to check the vitals of the patients in the bathtubs. I want to make sure they are doing well but I am not entirely sure how to do that.", he lied through his teeth, ready to push you into one of the bathtubs once the chance was there.

Or could you be useful to him in the near future?

When you entered his so-called office after his warning you had expected anything - but that!

Never in your life had you seen a machine this far developed... It looked like something directly taken out of a science-fiction movie. The construction filled the whole room. There were wires everywhere, all connecting to a weird sphere in the middle of the room. Completely gob-smacked by the strange… whatever that was you took a while to take notice of the bathtubs. When you did, though you froze up immediately. There were people - no patients - in lying in the bathtubs, connected to the cables, which were attached to the back of their necks.

Like a statue you stood there for at least 20 seconds. Staring at one patient, you slowly went to him just to check his state. Curious to see if he was aware of his surroundings or if he was unconscious – maybe asleep . What was this system?

Could that reach possibilities to help several people out of mental illnesses or was this just a machine designed from a psychopath just for his own use?

And why would he need help from just a nurse like you?

You let out a sarcastic laugh, "Looking at this huge thing… I highly doubt that you don’t know how to check vital signs ", you shook your head and crossed your arms, taking several steps back, out of his direct reach. No way would you let him put you into one of these tubs!

You really wanted to run away and never go to the hospital again.

"So, tell me. What do you really want from me? Do you expect me to go into one of the bathtubs? Gotta tell you, that’s not gonna happen. I mean... not to sound judgmental. Because technically this could be something to help our patients. But I gotta tell you, this,“ You gestured towards the patient that was laying in the tub right in front of you, “looks quite suspicious and not very save. I hope the patients volunteered for this, because if they didn’t I have to report this. Don’t get me wrong, you seem to be quite intelligent and this looks interesting, but I cannot allow something like this to continue without - "

"- You are annoying. All I want you is to check the vitals of the patients and you are throwing a whole speech at me.", he shot back, not amused with your behavior.

"I am a scientist, not one of your doctors. What I am doing here could change the world forever. It is a system which helps people with heavy trauma to forge new memories and get rid of the trauma. Do you understand me?", the scientist continued to spit out. There was a look of passion in his eyes that you hadn’t seen before. They had looked quite dull and emotionless up to this point. It was clear to you that he truly cared about that project of his.

What you weren’t aware of was that the man had a plan. He'd snow you . Make you feel comfortable. And then, he'd put you in the bathtub too. The next one on his list would be Tatjana from the reception area. And then it was your turn.

What even was your name? He chanced a quick glance of your name tag, just enough to read "(Y/N)" on it.

"Listen to me, (Y/N). This is a top-secret project. If I find out you talked about it outside of this room, I will make sure you suffer great consequences. And trust me, I have my eyes and ears everywhere. Now go and check on the rest of these people before I get angry. Then, you may leave."

Author's Note:

I'm still unsure if I keep making this as a slow-burn whole Fanfiction or just cut the whole thing I'm planing into single parts like One-Shots

[tenderlyrenjun]

[4:05 P.M.]

“Na Jaemin!” you exclaim, running into your friend’s arms. 

Renjun follows slowly, walking behind you like an escort, even though he made sure to hire a few. They all assume positions around the estate - your guest bedroom, the kitchens, a few entrances, the gardens. ‘A few’ to him includes an elite, small group of trained warriors whose sense of duty got enhanced after bitten; to you, ‘a few’ should have meant taking Mark and his trusted favorites, but Renjun convinced you to let them safe guard your own manor.

You hug Jaemin over his shoulder, letting him melt into your neck. His guards take microscopic steps that your ears became accustomed to before they were even born. “Tell your newborns to back off,” you hiss in his ear, “or I’ll do it myself.” You pull away, smiling sweetly.” And you know I don’t play nicely.”

Jaemin rolls his eyes. “They’re all at least 200 years old.”

You give him a serious look, red flashing across your irises. “Still.” You do not ... react very favorably with guards standing at attention so closely to your every move, especially with Renjun in the room. “I’ve had whiskey older than them.”

Jaemin rolls his eyes again, a pacifist’s smile on his face, but complies with your request nonetheless - probably something to do with Renjun’s presence. He silently brushes his nose, telling the guards to stand down. Jaemin embraces Renjun in the same manner, hugging him tightly. “Tell your mate to quit threatening my guards every time you two stay here.”

“Can’t,” Renjun mutters in his ear. They pull away then grasp each other’s forearms, sharing a look: can’t, or won’t? Renjun breaks the silent conversation first, shaking Jaemin to break the spell. “Separate minds and all.”

“Yet in all 700 years I’ve known you two, never have I seen you separated.”

You slide into Renjun’s side, kissing his cheek as an annoying public display of affection that does not bother Jaemin in the way it would your partner had his mate been present. Even so, Renjun accepts you, draping his arm possessively over your shoulders. “And we have no intention, moving forward.”

“The infamous ‘we’ couple of the Huang Coven,” Jeno announces loudly, bouncing down the stairs, into the throne hall, dramatically. Renjun rolls his eyes; he hates that moniker. Maybe while the two of you visit the Na, he can convince Jaemin to change the title. Jeno, his antithesis, oppositely more traditional, tightens the watch under his suit. And you just know Renjun wants to poke fun at you. Wearing business casual, over streetwear, was a smart choice. Although, Jaemin’s guards wear sunglasses and leather jackets, indoors.

You speed over to Jeno faster than the others, embracing him in the same fashion as you did Jaemin. And he accepts it, all his friend congregating closely by the exit. “It’s been too long, old friend.”

“What are you doing here?” Renjun asks half-jokingly. “Doyoung actually let you outside?” The Kim Family patriarch is rather ,, protective of his members, and has been for the last millennia, even more so actually since officially turning Jeno sometime during the Second Dark Age.

Jeno hugs you in return, his friendship grip crossing diagonally over your back, unlike Jaemin’s around the neck position or Renjun’s more romantic hold. He pulls away seconds after to extend handshakes with the other two. “Doyoung is actually more relaxed than you think,” he admits, hoping that enemy ears are far (one cannot be too careful, especially as other covens accumulate members, like grains of rice - for power, he assumes). “And you would know that,” Jeno redirects to Renjun, “if you got to know him.”

“Hmm,” Renjun hums, not really considering it. You return into his arms, hugging his waist like a newlywed incapable of separating. “The air between us is always so ... tense.”

“Awkward,” you correct. Renjun glances down at you, pinching your side as you continue, “He means awkward. Speaking of -” You smack Renjun’s hand away and spin to Jaemin. “- how is Jaehyun? Ever since breaking off his -” Renjun clears his throat, asking you not to say the word coven, and you nod your head, easily persuaded. “- family, things have been tense between you two, no?”

“No,” Jaemin denies. He refuses to admit that he is awkward with anyone, although his introvert tendencies appear when in large groups, especially if he does not see those people daily. “Jaehyun just added two new members - Jungwoo and Sungchan.”

“Oh, cool,” Jeno interrupts. “That’s why I’m here too.” He passes off a calligraphed note to Jaemin, whose shoulder you nosily look over until Renjun tugs your back into his chest. “His name is Donghyuck, or Haechan when uses his special ability - luring blood with his voice.”

“He and Renjun should get along well,” you comment. “Their powers are compatible.”

“Not as much as yours and mine, love.” Renjun kisses the crown of your head, hanging his arms around your shoulders, to which Jaemin rolls his eyes. You are starting to think Renjun is just making Jaemin jealous, on purpose. Psychologists say that people start complaining about being single while near couples, and since Renjun hates all the formal meetings, getting Jaemin a long-term mate might back him off.

“You don’t have a special ability though,” Jeno points out.

“No,” Renjun disagrees, shaking his head. “Beauty.” You take your turn, for the Huang Clan, to roll your eyes. He always says that your natural looks became enhanced after you turned (however, he usually keeps the flirting private), and although you disagree, you cannot stop him from saying so. His own natural ability becomes stronger when he is happy, which is anytime around you.

As the sun settles into the sky’s middle, everyone sits around a short, long table. Renjun assumes the head across Jaemin, you at his right hand and Jeno at Jaemin’s. Your mate was granted hosting duties, despite being a nomad to this estate. Probably because he is the best at straining tea. And to begin the ceremony, he asks the first question:

“So, Jaemin, how is Jisung fairing? Adjusted to vampire yet?”

“No,” Jaemin shakes his head. He accepts a glazed cup though, with both hands, from Renjun, who hands out empty earthenware as a way to keep track of who is drinking. Jaemin has an extra servant at beck and call in case anyone wants something more or he wants coffee. This set is meant to remain empty until he starts pouring the first round (into new glasses). “I think he’ll get over it once we turn him in a few years.”

“Aish,” Jeno mutters, waving his hand across the table. “Recruitment is starting younger and younger these days.”

“Yet none of us look a day over 23,” Renjun comments. He starts a fire under the second teapot, an empty one that he will fill with blood in a few minutes. “Did you get water from the spring outside, or did you have a servant retrieve a bottle from Nunobiki again?”

“The latter,” Jaemin nods, popping a white sugar cube in his mouth. He relaxes more on the pillow cushion, stretching a legs underneath the table. “It is a special occasion after all. I haven’t seen you three in the same room in what? 80 years?”

You push his shoulder, throwing him off balance. “We’re not divorced. You can visit us any time.”

“I haven’t left the compound in -” Jaemin looks at his watch. “- God, ninety years.”

“All the more reason to. Plus you’ll never guess what Renjun got us into!”

Speaking of the devil, Renjun clears his throat, asking for attention as he places a strainer over a teapot, pouring cold blood into the wide opening. He takes the now hot water and drizzles it in as well while the conversation comes to a stop, the ceremony’s second phase. Everyone watches closely, your eyes more permanently sparkling red, almost like having being starved for weeks. Renjun pours the now warm mixture on some leaves, then removes it just as quickly, repeating the process twice more, to fully rinse the leaves. When he takes the pot of boiled blood, spilling into the decanting bowl, you hear a guzheng in the steam, transporting you to the park in 1500 where Renjun would escort you to feed the ducks. No wonder Jaemin relinquishes hosting duties to Renjun; he always emits a beautiful memory. Renjun starts an hour glass, timing five minutes for the water to cool while everyone resumes conversation.

Jeno bites into an hojicha brownie, chewing the hazelnuts extra thoroughly (it takes like bits of flesh, which make it all the more delicious. “You were saying? What did Renjun rope you into this time?”

Renjun rolls his eyes, already groaning, and you smirk, knowing that your friends will take your side.

“College,” you seethe.

“It’s not as bad as it sounds!” 

“It is,” you point at Renjun, though he knows you are at least half-joking. You look at Jaemin, who sports an amused look; he, nor Jeno, has never seriously entertained college, preferring their current roles. “We’re registered for a full year of classes. I want to come visit three weeks ago, but midterms and projects take up extra hours of our time.”

“We don’t sleep though,” Jeno points out, siding with Renjun. “It can’t be as hard as it is for mortals who need 8 hours a night.” He taps Renjun’s shoulder. “Ha, remember being 20?”

“Heavens,” Renjun sighs nostalgically, reclining on his pillows in thought, staring at the ceiling like it can show a movie of his first lifetime. “Learning how to write from pictures? Carving lines into bronze with literal ancient tools? Computers are so much better.” He gently kicks your foot. “It’s why I signed you up for that Microsoft class.”

“Microsoft?” Jaemin scoffs. “Does your school not provide Apple courses?”

“No.” You roll your eyes. “Not that it matters anyways. I have to perform calculus by hand. I didn’t even do that during the Han dynasty! I still have the original suanpan in my study.”

“Yes, but,” Renjun drawls, “you have to admit how much easier it is to type integrals into that new graphing calculator I bought you.”

You turn to Jeno, deadpanned. “Everyday, I have to do homework, but yeah, no, you two should totally try it.”

The last grain of coarse sand falling onto the pile echoes loudly for your vampiric ears, so all of you stare at it, suddenly dehydrated again. And ever so slowly, almost theatrically (ever the moongwa), Renjun takes the original pot, adding some extra warm water until the blood’s color becomes translucent enough to see the pretty leaves. He pours everything into the decanting bowl, disrupting the ration between blood and water. The ceremony’s final phase comes to an end as he serves the drinks, handing one to Jaemin first as a sign of respect. You are next, his co-leader, then Jeno, the only member without a title (ironic, considering that he was a prince in his first lifetime, higher than any of you), and himself in closing. Everyone waits for Jaemin to take the first sip, ignoring the fact that Renjun assumed a host’s role. When his reaction is satisfactory, you take the second sip. It is very sweet, the floral aroma lingering the longer you keep the small cup near your nose. Renjun’s stoic demeanor does not give away anything you recognize, possibly because he is too humble or because he additionally drinks in all the praise. When Jeno takes the last first sip, reciprocating the tastefulness, you all resume conversation and the ceremony, more laxed.

Jaemin gestures for a guard to let one of the servants enter and asks for an iced americano, ending his tea drinking.

Renjun waits for you to also ask for coffee before also ordering it, and Jeno follows suit when the last pot empties.

“It is our cycle to sleep,” Renjun announces, cleaning his hands with a wet wipe. A servant comes in to clear the table, and all of you wait for the table to be emptied before retiring to your individual rooms.

Renjun starts tossing the extraneous throw pillows on the bed foot bench, already dressed in a comfortable matching pyjama set while you still have yet to change. He runs around the bed, after he finishes preparing it, nestling his chin into the crook of your neck.

“Come to bed.”

You hear him whine, interlocking his fingers above your liver, one of his most favorite places to drink your blood, once he punctures the right spot. His fangs start growing, gently knocking your skin for an invitation. You give it to him freely, extending your head left - better access, wordlessly.

“These meetings are infinitely more tolerable with you here,” he whispers, already reliving the ambrosial tea that seems to just be steaming through your tiny pores. He takes one lick, preparing you for the deep puncture. “You should come to them more often.”

You anticipate his bite but he only nibbles your jugular, grazing his teeth ever so lightly when his lips part too wide. “If I went with you, then I wouldn’t miss you.” You spin around, still enveloped by his arms. Renjun pushes you into the wardrobe, and your hands brace his shoulders, like a prey trying to escape, except your fingers dig into his shirt, attempting to pull him impossibly close. “We wouldn’t have these moments if I always went with you.”

“But we’re having this moment now, while you’re with me.”

“You’re so clingy,” you whisper as he tugs your hair by the base of your scalp. You sigh, knees faltering. 

Renjun places a singular kiss on your neck, displaying immense restraint against drinking you dry. You feel his fangs reach maximum length despite not sinking into your skin yet, so you draw him in by his throat. And he smirks. “Who’s the clingy one now?”

“Bite me.”

“Well, if you insist.”

[kpop-zone]

Red velvet reaction to their s/o finding out that they started dating them for a bet pt.2

Warning: 2 curse words

Irene

Joohyun didn’t know how long she sat in the living room all on her own while silent tears streamed down her cheeks and her mind was being consumed by her bad conscious. Eventually, however, an endless fatigue took over her body and she knew that it must have been at least a couple of hours. It was probably already three in the morning and she would have to get up in a few hours for work.

“I should probably head to bed.”

Joohyun mumbled under her breath, trying to encourage herself to go the bedroom where you had disappeared a few hours ago. Hesitantly, she stood up and dragged her feet across the living room until she ended up in front of the closed door. She felt stupid for moving around like an intruder in her own apartment, but her bad conscious was telling her that she would indeed invade your personal space if she entered the bedroom now. Not wanting to feel completely exhausted during work though, Joohyun eventually pushed down the door handle and entered the room.

Like expected, you were already asleep, so she tried to get ready for bed as silently as possible before laying down next to you. Despite knowing that she would probably regret it afterwards, Joohyun couldn’t stop herself from taking a glance at you. You were peacefully sleeping now, but your puffy face was giving away that you must have had a hard time falling asleep too. Instant guilt washed over her again and Joohyun slowly reached out to gently stroke your cheek. She hated to make you cry.

“I’m sorry, Y/N. I wish we would have met under better circumstances, but I’m still so glad that we did. I love you so much.”

Joohyun whispered before leaning down to press a kiss on your forehead.

“I know that you do.”

Your sudden voice caused Joohyun to almost jump off the bed in surprise. Apparently, you weren’t asleep. After calming herself again, Joohyun sheepishly cleared her throat.

“Will you forgive me?”

She asked hesitantly, not knowing whether she wanted to hear the answer.

You were silent for a while, causing Joohyun’s heart to almost jump out of her chest, but she waited patiently for your reply.

“Yes...eventually.”

Your words were more than Joohyun had hoped for and she sighed relieved.

“Ok. Good night, Y/N.”

She tried to accept your decision humbly, nevertheless, Joohyun couldn’t stop a soft smile from tugging on the corners of her mouth. You could punish her for her wrongdoing as much as you wanted to as long as her forever with you wasn’t at stake.

Seulgi

“Why didn’t you just come clean earlier?”

After Seulgi’s sobs had filled the room for the longest time, she eventually managed to calm down in order to talk with her members.

“I-I don’t know. I didn’t want to scare Y/N away in the beginning and then I started to repress the memories of our first encounter at one point. I was just so ashamed of it.”

She buried her face behind her hands, thinking about every lie that she had ever told you because of the bet.

“I just don’t want to lose Y/N.”

Seulgi sniffled and Seungwan comfortingly patted her back.

“Then go and talk to Y/N. You guys are perfect for each other. I know that you can fix it.

The other members nodded in agreement, causing Seulgi to anxiously chew on her bottom lip.

Shouldn’t she give you more time to process everything? Or would that make you think that she didn’t care? Seulgi knew that she couldn’t risk the latter.

“You’re right. I need to see Y/N.”

Determined, she jumped off the bed before grabbing a random pair of shoes and a jacket to rush to your apartment. In less than half an hour, Seulgi was standing in front of your door, looking like a mess, but with your favorite snacks and flowers in her hands. Nervously, she rang your doorbell and shifted from one foot to the other while waiting for you to let her in. The sound of movements on the other side were giving away that you were home, nevertheless, the door didn’t swing open immediately. It took Seulgi several more knocks and a near heart attack caused by nervousness until you finally revealed your puffy face to hear.

“Why? Why did you accept such a horrible bet? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Just...why?”

You blurted out immediately before allowing her to greet you. The hurt in your voice was bringing tears to Seulgi’s eyes again, but she was telling herself that she needed to stay strong now.

“Because I’m stupid and a horrible person. Believe me, I know that. I’ve already regretted the bet, the moment that I started talking to you. But then we got along so well, and I didn’t want to walk away.”

Nothing brought Seulgi more happiness, yet also pain than thinking back about the day that she had met you. Nevertheless, she kept explaining herself in order to try saving her relationship.

“And I just couldn’t get myself to tell you that I only talked with you because of a bet; I knew that you would have been scared off. Which would have been absolutely understandable; I was just too selfish to accept that.”

The longer Seulgi talked, the more she realized that she didn’t deserve you. What was she even doing here?

“If you are trying to win me back, you are doing a miserable job.”

You chuckled, causing Seulgi’s inner conflict to tear her apart. Wasn’t it selfish to fight for you?

Anxiously, she chewed on her lip, contemplating her options. But no option seemed to be the right one. Only thinking about living without you made her lose her breath. Making another selfish choice, however, didn’t seem to be right either. Several seconds passed while Seulgi was stuck on making a decision until you suddenly grabbed her wrist and piped up.

“If you really regret what you’ve done, then you’re not a terrible person.”

Your words made a tear spill from Seulgi’s eye and she let her head hang in shame. How were you still so nice to her?

“Why don’t you come in and we’ll talk about everything a little more?”

Without awaiting an answer, you tugged on her arm to pull Seulgi into your apartment. Uncomplainingly, she followed you inside, ready to pour her heart out. Maybe you were willing to forgive; she’d leave the fate of your relationship in your hands.

Wendy

When Seungwan had thought about where her home was in the past, she had always come to the conclusion that it was in your arms. Funny, how that could change in only one night though. She had promised to give you time, and she was exactly planning on doing that. But it was just so hard. You were on her mind 24/7 and with every day her mind was increasingly clouded by controversial thoughts. You needed time to process, but at the same time Seungwan was contemplating whether she should show you that she cared; that she was different now and willing to fight for you. Her thoughts were simply driving her insane and guiding her to your apartment almost every day.

After arriving at your door, however, her insecurities always came rushing back and she never dared to knock. Therefore, the hallway in front of your apartment had basically become her new home by now. She spent hours there, walking up and down and preparing words that you would never get to hear.

Until that unexpectedly changed one night.

Like so often, Seungwan was prowling the hallway in front of your apartment, when a voice suddenly made her jump in surprise.

“Seungwan?”

When she turned around, she could see you standing a few steps in front of her with some grocery bags in your arms. Sheepishly, Seungwan looked to the floor in hopes that it would swallow her in order to remove her from this awkward situation.

“Oh hey, Y/N.”

Seungwan said as nonchalantly as possible as if it had been mere coincident that she met you here. Expectantly though, your gaze bored through her for a while, waiting for an explanation until you realized that she wouldn’t follow up with anything.

“What are you doing here?”

You asked; your voice making it hard for Seungwan to detect your emotions. You weren’t necessarily sounding hostile, but your crossed arms were making it clear that you were still having your guard up.

Nevertheless, Seungwan decided that it was time to show a little more initiative. You had caught her lurking anyways, so she could also use this chance to disclose her feelings.

“I...um...wanted to ask whether you were ready to talk.”

She proposed cautiously while searching for your eyes.  You seemed to be contemplating her offer for a second, but then you walked to your door wordlessly. In defeat, Seungwan slouched her shoulders, ready to leave the building in order to give you more time.

“Are you coming in? Or do you want to talk here?”

Your question almost caused Seungwan to choke on her own spit in surprise, but of course, she immediately rushed to your side in order to enter the apartment.

You headed straight to the kitchen which reminded Seungwan of all the good times that you had spent in this apartment together. Her heart stung because of the memories and she hoped that those hadn’t been the last ones that she had collected with you.

“What do you have to say to me?”

You asked while rummaging around in the cupboard to pull out two mugs.

“I came to apologize once more. I know that it was an absolute gruesome thing to accept such a bet. I wish, I could tell you why I did it, but I can’t. It was simply wrong.”

Seungwan immediately got caught up in her emotions again and became incredibly frustrated with herself. Your relationship could be so perfect if she had only had the courage to ask you out without a bet.

“It was wrong.”

You stated coldly, causing Seungwan to avoid your gaze in shame.

“But I am very grateful that you told me about it. It showed me that I can truly trust you.”

Your words completely blindsided Seungwan, but her heart immediately beat twice as fast.

“Does that mean...”

She asked carefully, waiting for you to finish her sentence.

“That I will give you another chance to make it right? Yes.”

You smiled softly, but Seungwan couldn’t process your words.

“Really?”

She blurted out in shock and you nodded while chuckling in amusement.

Pure happiness washed over Seungwan and she leaped to her feet in order to fling her arms around your neck.

She would make sure not to waste this chance.

Joy

“Damn it...how did that get here so fast?”

Sooyoung picked up her pace when she saw you getting into a taxi in front of the restaurant. But her efforts were in vain. Before she could reach the vehicle, it sped off with you inside of it.

“Goddammit!”

She yelled while hastily pulling out her phone to call her driver. As soon as her car arrived, she hopped into it and told the manager to start driving.

“Where to?”

They asked and Sooyoung fell quiet.

Right, where to?

“Think...Where would Y/N go now?”

Sooyoung mumbled under her breath while thinking concentratedly.

You could have ordered the taxi driver to bring you to your apartment, but her intuition was telling Sooyoung that you wouldn’t have done that. You wouldn’t find the comfort there that you were seeking for. No, there was another place that you always went to when you were upset.

Namsan Park.

You had told her once that it made your worries seem so little when you looked at all the city lights. This had to be the place that you had run to.

“Please bring me to Namsan Park.”

Sooyoung asked her driver who immediately started the car.

Even though the car ride didn’t even take half an hour, Sooyoung became increasingly impatient. All of this was taking much too long. She couldn’t give you the time to come to wrong conclusions. Therefore, she leaped out of the car as soon as it came to a halt and started running through the park like a maniac. There were just too many paths, but Sooyoung remembered that you liked to sit right at the edge of the park, so she made her way to the very end where the view over the city was best.

There were hundreds of people enjoying this mild summer night, but it didn’t even take Sooyoung a second to make out your figure. You were sitting on a bench with your head hanging and slumped shoulders. The sight made Sooyoung’s heart clench, but she wasted no time before rushing to you and falling to her knees.

Perplexed, your eyes widened, and you looked at her in disbelief.

“H-how did you find me?”

You stuttered, seeming to be in a state of shock.

“Because I love you and know every little detail about you!”

Sooyoung exclaimed in despair while cupping your hands and pulling them to her lips.

“I know that the city lights make you forget about your worries; I know that your favorite Ramyeon is the one in Gwangjang market next to the booth with the eels and I know that you don’t sleep well when I’m not with you. I can go on and on for days. Do you really think, I know all of those things because of a bet? No, I know them because I love you.”

You didn’t reply and Sooyoung didn’t know whether that was a good or a bad sign. Therefore, she just kept talking.

“I’m sorry for taking that bet. I’m sorry for messing up the beginning of our love story, but I swear that I’m going to make the rest of it more epic than every romcom that you’ve ever watched.”

Finally, your eyes met and Sooyoung could see that the anger from before had disappeared. Therefore, she pressed her lips on your knuckles and stroked your hands lovingly with her thumbs.

“Please forgive me. Please?”

She asked nervously, hoping that her arguments had been enough to convince you of her sincerity.

“Fine.”

You replied, causing Sooyoung to squeal happily. She was about to crash into your arms when you lifted your hand to stop her.

“But...if our love story is anything less but epic, I’m going to leave.”

Your eyes were narrowed warningly, but a smile on your lips was giving away that you were just joking. Relieved, Sooyoung nodded before finally pulling you into her arms.

There wasn’t a wish that she wouldn’t fulfill you.

Yeri

Nothing had ever hurt Yeri more than watching you cry. Your tears streamed down your cheeks for what felt like hours and when the sobs finally died down in the room, Yeri was feeling completely dried out herself. You looked at her with puffy eyes, causing her heart to clench.

“What was the bet?”

You asked and Yeri avoided your gaze. She was too ashamed to look into your eyes while telling the story.

“I went out with some friends and we were having so much fun. We were playing truth or dare, and the dares started to get more and more out of hand until Doyeon dared me to ask you out. She bet 100.000 Won that I wouldn’t manage to convince you to go out with me.”

Yeri took a break and looked at you, just to see that you were nodding as if that was everything that you needed to hear. But there was more. Did you forget how much fun you had on your first date? This stupid bet was just a little bump in the road, everything after that was proof enough that you belonged together.

“Please, Y/N, let’s just forget about the bet. I swear I fell for you right on our first date. I never even took the money, because I knew that the bet was wrong, and I didn’t care about it anymore.”

You scoffed in response, the sadness in your face slowly being replaced by anger.

“Am I supposed to be grateful now? If you had known that it was wrong, why didn’t you just tell me earlier?”

Yeri winced when you hit her weak spot; yes, why hadn’t she told you earlier? Her bad conscious had been telling her all along to come clean, but her fear had mercilessly held her back.

“I didn’t want to lose you...”

She mumbled, aware of how stupid she sounded.

“That’s a really great plan that you had there... You know, if you had told me earlier, there might have been a way to fix this.”

Your words caused Yeri’s eyes to widen and she stared at you in panic.

“Might?? What do you mean? Y/N, please don’t leave me.”

Pure horror flooded Yeri’s body, causing her voice to crack.

“Then tell me how you intend to fix this.”

You replied, crossing your arms impatiently. Yeri was running out of time, she could feel it. She had to trust her guts now, otherwise, you would walk away for good.

“Let’s take a break, so both of us can think about everything. You can process this night and I can reflect on all my wrongdoings. Then we can decide how to continue.”

Although those words hurt Yeri more than anything, she figured that this was the best solution. You were far too agitated right now to make a decision and maybe it wasn’t the worst idea if she thought about her past mistakes.

“Ok.”

Yeri had secretly hoped that you would ask her to stay, but she wouldn’t disrespect your wishes. Therefore, she lingered for a second more to admire you one last time before leaving your apartment.

The following weeks were pure torture for Yeri. Every single day, she dialed your number or drafted a text message for you, only to never reach out to you in the end. She had offered to give you time and she would keep her word. There had been times that she had cursed herself for being so obedient, but when you finally sent her a text after four long weeks, she was glad about her perseverance.

Let’s meet

It was a simple text, but Yeri still danced through her apartment in pure joy. After pulling herself together again, she sent a reply, asking to pick you up in order to grab a coffee and thankfully, you agreed. Therefore, Yeri was standing in front of your door not even an hour later.

Nervously, she fixed her hair one more time before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. This was not a date. There was still the probability that you wanted to meet in order to break up. She needed to keep a clear head and give you space. With that thought on her mind, Yeri rang your door bell. But as soon as you opened the door, all of her good intentions vanished into thin air.

You were looking gorgeous.

Yeri knew that she had missed you, but seeing you again after such a long time, made her realize just how much, because all air was knocked out of her lungs. In pure trance, she stared at you, searching for the right words.

“I’ve missed you.”

Yeri suddenly blurted out, causing her to slam her hand over her mouth. Giving you space definitely looked different. Yeri was sure that you would probably close the door on her now, but instead, you chuckled.

“I’ve missed you too.”

And Yeri hadn’t heard such beautiful words in a long while.

[niawritess]

The Lovestruck~Chapter 11

(5 December Sunday)

10:30 am

Sunday, your favorite day from the week where you sleep till noon without worrying about your college and your mom nagging you to get up early. However, here you are at the Café, standing behind the counter with Rose and Ria beside you staring at the person which you three have been longing to meet.

Song Joongki, AKA The Big Boss, your favorite actor was seated by the window table filming his advertisement as today was the D-DAY.

"O my god! He's so handsome in person!" Ria exclaimed, squealing while linking her arms around yours and you also smiled squealing silently whilst nodding at her remark.

"Thank you so much Rose for letting me be here to witness this wonderful scene." She clasped her hands staring at him with sparkling eyes and Rose chuckled at her while you rolled your eyes at her dramatic acting.

"In that case, you should thank your best friend as she was the one who requested for you." Rose smiled pointing with her chin to you and you gave your bestfriend a smug grin as she glanced at you.

"Y/n, you are the best!" She side hugged you and you cringed at her behavior before she looked at you still holding you.

"I'll always be at your service." She gave a cute smile causing you smirk as you looked at her and Ria got the message as she let go of you standing straight.

"Are you sure?"

"Okay, I take that back."

"No, you can't. You'll be at my service." You smirked folding your arms to your chest and she sighed defeated while rose giggled at you both.

Meanwhile, Baekhyun who had his back leaned against the counter watching you smiling and squealing at the man wasn't liking it a bit. He folded his arms to his chest while squinting eyes at him feeling frustrated at the sight, at the same time unknown and confused to this new sensation he was feeling.

"What so great about him?" He muttered annoyed and wondering why didn't he just skip today but couldn't as he wanted to see you, god knows why.

"I know right."

He jumped by the sudden voice beside him and tilted his head to the side to see Jack eyeing Song Joongki then to Rose making Baekhyun smirk at his jealous state not realizing he was feeling same.

"Oh! He is looking here!" Rose jolted making both males head whipped towards them.

"OMG!"

You and Ria squealed together as his eyes roamed around then stopping at the counter and he looked at Rose smilingly then to Ria who almost screamed as she squeezed your arm and lastly to you making your heart skip a beat.

You snapped out and were about to smile back but a broad back came in to your sight preventing you to do it as your tiny figure hid behind.

"What are you doing?" You tilted your head to look at Baekhyun frowning as he looked over his shoulder to see your puzzled face before he looked at Rose and Ria who were staring at him with the same expression as yours.

"Oh, Jack and I wanted to drink coffee." He answered proceeding to get the cups and you three nodded as he walked away from there with a satisfied grin on his face as if he won a mission.

***

11:32 am

It's been half an hour since the shoot ended and everybody went home except Ria and Jack. Rose and Jack had to discuss something related to contract so they were seated at the corner table whilst you and Ria were were sitting beside each other with Baekhyun across of you by the window.

"This picture came out so good!" Ria exclaimed staring at the picture which you three fangirls took with Song Joongki earlier before uploading it on her Instagram.

Ria took a sip of her coffee before glancing at Baekhyun who was staring at you without you knowing causing Ria's lips to curve into a smirk as her ship was sailing.

"Baekhyun sunbae?"

Baekhyun's head instantly jolted towards her and you also looked at her before she broke out in a shy grin.

"I wanted to ask if I can add you on my insta so I can tag you?" She asked hesitantly which you could see in her eyes causing you look at Baekhyun expectantly.

"Sure." Baekhyun immediately answered fishing out his phone and you smiled as you saw your bestfriend smiling in relief as you remembered how she awkward she got when locked eyes with him but seeing them getting along well, you felt happy.

"Y/n, tell me yours too." Baekhyun asked snapping you out of your trance and you looked at him with doe eyes.

"I will send her username to you but you won't find anything interesting since she just likes to explore." Ria told nonchalantly and you shot a glare at her.

"You know what's more interesting?" You uttered lowly gritting your teeth as she glanced at you. "My punch."

Baekhyun chuckled lowly shaking his head while Ria ignored your warning and shifted her eyes back to her phone screen.

"Woah y/n!" She exclaimed making you and Baekhyun flinch by her loud tone before she pushed her phone infront of you.

"Look at the comments." She scrolled through the comments. "So many guys are asking about you saying you are so pretty."

"The girl with the ponytail looks cute." Ria read the comment loud enough for Baekhyun to hear which she purposely wanted him to hear it.

Hearing this, Baekhyun's eyes widen as he immediately sat straight with his fingers gripping the coffee mug tightly as a sudden rage rushed inside him.

Your eyes widened hearing upon that and you don't know why, you immediately looked at Baekhyun who was already staring at you but then looked away before you glanced back at Ria with a dirty face.

"Block him." You spat before taking a sip of your orange juice and Baekhyun looked back at you before looking away as a smile crept on his lips which got unnoticed by you.

"You're just allergic to compliments." She retorted rolling her eyes before her phone buzzed and she excused herself out to answer the call leaving you and Baekhyun alone.

A silence followed between which you both found comfortable with stealing glances at eachother before Baekhyun decided to break it.

"Did you sleep well last night?"

Your head jerked up at him and you nodded giving him sheepish grin. "Yes, and I'm sorry for sleeping in the midst of talking."

He chuckled shaking his head. "No worries, at least you slept well."

You smiled. "Thanks to you, but I really don't do that though."

He hummed nodding. "But you did it to me."

"I said sorry though." You mumbled feeling guilty with your lips forming into a pout without you knowing and Baekhyun smiled at how cute you looked.

He laughed lightly. "I'm kidding, just teasing you."

You looked at him frowning. "You're always teasing me."

He just shrugged grinning cutely. "I can't help it, You're fun to tease with."

You sniffled before looking away from him wondering if he's like that to every girl and that thought somewhat made you feel weird inside.

"Are you going home alone? Should I give you a ride?"

You snapped out and looked at Baekhyun who was giving you a question look before you shook your head.

"No, it's alright. Ria and I are going to my home since we have a doctors appointment for dan."

He nodded. "Yeah, he told me."

You brows knitted. "He told you?"

"Eung, I called him to ask about his foot and he told me."

"Wait, so you have dan's number? Since when?"

"Since the day we met." He replied nonchalantly.

You leaned back on your chair amazed. "It's strange how he's took a liking to you this instant which is new to me, I don't even know why he likes you so much."

"Why don't you find out then?" He leaned forward placing his arms on the chair staring at you with a teasing smile causing your heart skip a beat before you bit your lip, letting out a out a nervous laugh.

"What's taking her so long?" You shifted your eyes outside, taking a sip from your orange juice calming your heart and Baekhyun couldn't help but smile at your flustered state as you seemed adorable yet innocent.

***

8:36 pm

"So, how is it going?" Jongdae questioned Baekhyun who's eyes were glued to the TV screen and the remote control in his hand as he was having a duel with sehun.

His brows arched. "Hm? What are you talking about?"

"Hyung, he meant your girl." Sehun intruded earning a glare from the latter and Jongdae nodded.

"She is not my girl, how many times I have told you and there's nothing going on. We're just friends." Baekhyun told them eyes still glued on the screen with his fingers taping the controller rapidly.

"Are you sure you both are just friends? Then can I talk to her? She seems cute though." Jongin wriggled his eyebrows getting a smack in return causing him wince in pain as he rubbed his arm while pouting.

"Why are you hitting him?" Junmyeon sat opposite of him drinking his water. "We're just asking what we see."

Baekhyun's brows knitted. "What do you mean? What do you see?"

"That how you're always smiling when you come back from work." Minseok remarked causing Baekhyun to tilt his head to him confused then back to the game.

"What's so surprising about that? Ain't I always like that?"

"You are but around us." Chanyeol uttered out of nowhere giving the latter scare before he plopped himself beside him staring at him.

"We have never seen you this open to any girl not even Somi, you know." He added getting Baekhyun's attention but he couldn't utter anything as he felt himself thinking about it.

"Okay, leave that. Tell me how's she like?" Yixing spoke making Baekhyun look at him perplexed.

"I mean, we have seen her but we've never really talked to her. So how's she like?" He added and Baekhyun somehow felt a little nervous for the first time talking about you.

He sighed licking his lips. "At first I thought that she's just an ordinary girl who's my co-worker, but when we started talking I got to know how innocent and pure she is."

"More than that her mind is so beautiful." He trailed off his lips forming into a smile. "She's like way different and down to earth girl."

"Oohhhh~~" Boys chorused together making the latter groan in annoyance and regretting telling them.

"Lover boy is in love!" Jongdae exclaimed loudly and baekhyun threw a glare at him before shaking his head while shifting his eyes to the game.

"Honestly, I don't know if it's really that feeling or just attraction." He rolled his tongue over his lips and the boys nodded, understanding his confusion.

"Figure it out before it's too late." Everyone turned their head to Kyungsoo who spoke the most important thing and Baekhyun sighed nodding.

"YESSS! I WON!" Sehun exclaimed making everyone startle by his outburst before Baekhyun's jaw dropped at the sight of him losing.

"NOOO!"

"Heol! Daebak! Baekhyunee hyung lost first time because of a girl!" Jongin yelled laughing getting a pillow thrown on his face by Baekhyun.

"Shut up!"

"Achoo!" You groaned sniffling before proceeding your way to the kitchen. "Who the hell is bad-mouthing me?"

_______________

@wooya1224 @buttercupbbh

[confusedhost-archive]

Red Has Always Been My Favorite Color

@kiingz made a post, and the tags said #i do be shipping carmen and roman because of the projection And so, obviously, I had to write something so I can finally make content again.  Carmen is @nachosforfree‘s oc for Nico’s sides, as seen here! (I have just learned that technically Ender and Elliot/@iridescentmolars came up with Carmen, but how he looks is in the linked post)

---

Summary: Thomas isn’t the only person that falls in love at the mall. But, as a side, dealing with love is a lot harder than it is for humans. So Roman looks for the perfect moment to talk to this crimson cutie.  Also called the 4 times Roman saw Carmen and the 1 time he did something about it

Ships: Nico’s creativity (Carmen) and Thomas’ light creativity (Roman), background Intrulogical

Warnings: Swearing, ask to tag!

Ao3

---

1.

The first time Roman saw him was across the food court at the mall.

Roman could wax poetry of a faux setting and a romantic mood as much as he liked, but his first sighting of this new special someone was no where near as exciting. The truly exhilarating experience was the one he felt in his chest when the man turned around, adjusted his gold rimmed glasses and gave him a sweet smile.

Roman was lovestruck.

He assumed so, at least, as a rhyme fell from his lips and Thomas turned to stare in confusion. It certainly made sense, he decided, as the man in the pink cardigan tilted his head delicately and whispered something into his host’s ear.

He wanted to be lovestruck, that much he knew. He wanted something like his brother’s, something more than the tug at his heartstrings that he felt every time Thomas fell for a new guy. He wanted love because it felt right.

So he locked eyes with the man in the pink sweater while Thomas tried the same. He wiggled his eyebrows and tried to get a point across as Thomas dropped his head into his hands. He grinned in satisfaction as he got his new crush to laugh, and felt a warmth in his chest grow, a feeling that was beautiful and powerful, and felt much better than the bare scraps of love Thomas’ crushes let him feel.

“Talk to him!” Roman would hum, hoping the interaction would get him closer.

“Just walk up!” He huffed as Virgil pushed Thomas away.

And perhaps it was selfish, to want Thomas to spend time with someone just because of the pretty boy that came with him, but Roman felt something so pretty bubble up in him when the side so much as glanced his way, and he thought that maybe -  maybe  - he’d let himself be selfish this one time.

Then Thomas went to the washroom and stared at himself and talked and spoke from his heart and everything Roman and Virgil has asked him to do and Roman felt something else, so unlike the feeling he’d become used to, build up in his chest that hurt so, so, so much more than it should’ve, and he wondered if he was doing something wrong.

A man came out of the washroom stall, and Thomas lied, and Roman felt the lump in his throat grow.

Virgil got upset, and Thomas was rude, and Roman felt his eyes prick with tears.

Thomas’ crush - Nico, they learned - was alone now. No handsome man in gold rimmed library glasses and a pink sweater and a sun stitched onto his breast.

Thomas and Nico sat down to talk, and Roman felt his heart sing with Thomas’ love.

It was far more dull of a song than he remembered.

2.

The second time Roman saw Pretty Pink was when Thomas and Nico went on their first proper date. It was a simple date, only a walk along a trail in the cold afternoon. It was fall now (Or “Halloween: The month,” as Virgil had dubbed it), and the leaves were slowly changing color, giving a lovely new look to the trail’s normally green and brown theme.

“It’s prettier now,” Logan said, curled up on the side of the couch, a heavy blanket tossed over him.

Roman nodded from the kitchen as Virgil made a noise of vague agreement from his spot lying face down on the other half of the sofa.

Roman brought himself over to the living room, mug of hot chocolate warming his hands, and kicked Virgil’s thigh lightly.

“Move,” he hummed, bringing the mug to his lips and taking a loud, if not impatient sounding sip (Virgil likely wasn’t paying much attention, so it likely hadn’t gotten across, but it was the thought that counted).

Virgil turned to look at him, eyebrows raised. “Sit,” he said, getting a bit more comfortable. “I really need the weight.”

Roman shrugged and plopped himself down onto Virgil’s lower back and crisscrossed his legs.

He looked at the tv screen, with it’s wonderful view of the beautiful trees and Thomas’ very focused view of Nico and his red face (Roman liked to think it was because Thomas had made him blush with a smooth line, but his whole was a terrible flirt, so it was far more likely to be from the cold).

Something danced just out of Thomas’ vision though, and Roman furrowed his brows and took a quick sip of his hot chocolate-

-and nearly spit it out when Rainbows and Sunshine stepped into frame. He looked exactly the same as he did last time Roman saw him, except this time he was closer, and as such, prettier, and making it a lot harder to choke down his drink then it could’ve been.

Roman held his mug up with one hand, hoping to keep any of it’s contents from spilling out, and pressed his other fist to his mouth, coughing heavily into it. His throat burned, and he grimaced, rubbing it carefully.

“Holy shit, Roman,” Virgil said, trying to look back at him. “Are you good?”

Roman shrugged, forcing up another cough in hopes of it clearing his airway. “It’s nothing, really, I’m just- surprised.”

Both Logan and Virgil stared at him for an awkward moment, before looking at each other and sharing a silent conversation. Roman looked very deliberately at the screen (and maybe also at the pretty guy walking with Thomas and Nico, although if his eyes happened to catch, that wasn’t on him) rather than his two fellow sides.

“Surprised,” Logan said dryly, his mouth quirking up into a smirk as he looked over at the tv and the two very similar looking men on it.

“Yeah,” Roman squeaked, sounding far less confident in himself as he saw Virgil glance at the tv, Logan, and him in slowly dawning realization.

“You have a crush,” Virgil breathed, looking extremely excited for some (hopefully not blackmail related) reason.

Roman looked at the inside of his mug rather than at his friends and hummed a noncommittal sound. All it took was one glance up at the tv screen while Pretty Pink looked Thomas in the eyes, and Roman buried his face in his free hand in hopes of covering his blush.

He wasn’t sure it was working.

Logan grinned. “Oh, I can’t wait till your brother gets back, he’s going to  love this.”

Virgil rolled himself out from under Roman, falling off the couch in the process. “Hey, I don’t mean to like, be a jerk or anything, but I think this is really cute and as your best friend-“ Roman made a quiet sound of mild disagreement. “-It’s my job to make fun of you for this.” Roman made another, far louder and offended, sound of disagreement.

Roman shook his head. “There is totally something a problem with this relationship, and I don’t know what it is, but Logan is going to tell me and it’s going to make it so that you do not get to make fun of me.”

Logan snorted. “Absolutely not, this is your crush, and as little as I want to get involved with your love life, I think you should go for it.” He grinned down at the green stone that hung from his necklace. “It’s what got your brother and I together, so I’m certainly going to give the advice I can to you.”

Roman made a whining noise and Virgil hummed sympathetically.

“It really sucks to suck man,” he said comfortingly, though the words weren’t as kind as Roman thought they could’ve been. Virgil looked over towards the front door with a grin. “I do really enjoy the thought of you just going outside and saying something real quick, but you’re very nervous right now, it’s cold outside, and I’m starting to think you’re ceasing to function.”

Virgil was right, because of course he was. Roman glancing at the tv every three seconds to look at Nico’s side was turning his brain to lovestruck mush. And with mush for brains, Roman’s supposedly carefully crafted defense was a weak, “He’s very pretty.”

Virgil snorted. “Okay, lovebird, I think that’s enough of Thomas’ date for you. Next time I see that guy, I’m shoving your ass out the front door to greet him though, got it?”

Roman sighed as the tv clicked off, but shrugged none the less. “I’m not going out there without a fight, I hope you know.”

Both Logan and Virgil laughed, the latter elbowing Roman in the side. “I know! It wouldn’t be you if you didn’t.”

3.

The third time Roman saw his crush was when he was with Patton.

Padre was trying (and failing) to make cookies, often misreading the instructions and adding too much of something.

The tv was on in the living room, showing Nico and Janus sitting on the edge of Thomas’ bed as the man himself recited his lines for the new play.

Part of Roman wanted to be out there, but he and Janus were in a bit of a fight, one that neither of them were interested in apologizing for. At some point they’d settled on a switching schedule, changing who got to be Thomas’ critic every time he practiced (Roman was quite sure they’d gotten to a point where neither him nor Janus would actually be upset with the other should they work together, but it would be awkward, and he didn’t much feel like dealing with that).

Roman grinned as Patton managed to spray batter in his face, slipping off the counter to try and help wipe a droplet off his face. “Take a break, padre, I don’t know if the kitchen can take any more of this,” Roman laughed.

Patton frowned at the flower and sugar scattered across the counter and his arms. “This is true. I  do really want cookies though.” He turned to look at Roman as he snapped his fingers to get rid of the mess. “Can you summon some? The ones you summon always taste  great .”

Roman put a hand to his chest. “How kind of you!” He brought his other hand up as a tray materialized on it and bowed down to reveal the perfectly crisped cookies to Patton.

Patton giggled and took one of the still warm snacks, taking a bite and giving Roman a thumbs up. “It’s awesome!”

Roman smiled in return. “Now, let’s eat these on the couch and see what mistakes we can catch Thomas make.” Patton nodded enthusiastically, though Roman was pretty sure it was at the prospect of eating cookies in the warmth of the couch.

“Actually,” Roman handed the tray to Patton, “Go sit on the couch, and I’ll make coffee.” As the fatherly side dropped onto the couch and began creating a nest for himself Roman called to him, “Oh! Tell me if anything interesting comes up!”

Patton only just finished touching up his area when he stared at the screen, confused, and hummed, “Roman, something interesting just popped up.”

Roman rolled the phrase through his mind, wondering if there was a pun hidden inside, and glanced at the tv screen, took a double take, and squealed.

He was there. He was  there.  He was there.

It was his nameless crush, sitting beside his whole and watching Thomas fumble over his words. Amusement shone in his eyes, and he leaned over to whisper something to Nico, making the human stand up and ask Thomas for the script.

Janus looked over at the other side, tilting his head to examine him.

Roman and Patton, on the other side of the tv screen, were in chaos. Roman was avoiding looking at anything but the coffee, blush deepening every second that passed. Patton was staring at the tv, mouth running a mile a minute.

“Is that-? Roman is that the guy Virgil was telling me about? Is that the guy you have a crush on? Am I supposed to push you out the door? Virgil told me that was what  he was going to do but I don’t really want to. Should you go out and talk to him? Wait actually, for sure, for sure, that’s your crush-?”

Roman buried his face in his hands as Nico grinned and told Thomas he would read the other character’s lines. “Patton,” the princely side groaned, “I’m this close to combusting.” He held up a hand and held his fingers so they almost touched.

Patton blinked, then covered his mouth. “Oops!” He gasped through his hands.

Roman waved him off. “It’s whatever, but I’d much rather watch Thomas’ mediocre acting skills then discuss this with you.”

“Don’t you mean watch your new  cru -“

“Patton!”

Patton giggled, leaning back into the couch and stuffing a cookie in his mouth. There was a moment of silence, just long enough to make it feel awkward, and Patton turned to Roman and opened his mouth.

Janus, on the tv, cut him off.

“Who are you?”

Both Patton and Roman snapped to attention as the other side blinked in surprise. “Oh, me? My name’s Carmen! I’m Nico’s creativity.”

Roman bounced, excitement running through his veins as Janus held his hand out. “My name is Janus. I’m Thomas’ deceit.”

Carmen smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, Janus!”

“Absolutely dreadful  to meet you too,” Janus hummed, letting Carmen sort out the sarcasm.

Carmen paused, and Roman and Patton exchanged disappointed glances. Roman couldn’t help but flap his hands when his crush spoke next. “Do you know of a side wearing all white with a red sash?”

Janus carefully didn’t react, but his lips tilted up and he leaned back. “Oh? Are you looking for Roman?”

Carmen nodded. “I want to talk to him.” A hand came up to play with the chain on his glasses. “He looks like a fun person to be around, you know?”

“He’s certainly exuberant,” Janus agreed. “Do you want me to tell him something for you?”

Carmen looked down at his hands for a moment, contemplative. “No, no I don’t think so. I just want to talk, face to face.” His eyes flickered up to where Thomas and Nico were giggling, faces close. “Thank you for the offer though, Janus.”

Janus didn’t respond, looking at Carmen carefully. After a pause, he narrowed his eyes in almost suspicion, but said nothing, only relaxing in his spot.

“Have a good day, Carmen,” Janus said, standing up swiftly. “I highly doubt Thomas will be doing any proper acting anymore.” He walked over to the door and lay a hand on the doorknob, pausing. “I’ll make sure Roman comes out next time he sees you out here.”

Carmen smiled. “I can’t wait to meet him.”

Janus tipped his hat and opened the door, shutting it quietly behind him. He turned around, freezing when he saw Patton and Roman’s eyes on him. There was a minute of awkward silence before Janus marched toward the stairs. “You better have heard that, Roman.”

Roman blinked. “Was- Did you do that for me?”

Janus snorted. “Of  course  not, Roman, I’m  definitely  the type for small talk with some random side.”

Janus made his way up the stairs and out of view, and Roman recognized his attempt at an apology. It wasn’t a sorry, but it was Janus trying to reconcile. The least Roman could do in return was meet Carmen next time he saw him.

 4.

That next time ended up being about a week later, when Roman was laughing with his brother and Logan. They were in the living room, the tv turned on for background noise and a nest of pillows strewn about the floor for Roman’s comfort.

“Remus!” Roman snorted, attempting to pull yet another pillow from the mustached menace’s hands. “Remus, give me the pillow!”

Remus gave a sharp tug, sending Roman tumbling face first into the couch. “No,” he said, grinning.

Logan pulled his boyfriend closer to him, angling in for a kiss, and stealing the pillow when Remus went soft.

Roman cackled at his brother’s pout. “You know what?” He asked, falling back into his pile of fluff. “I’m gonna let Logan have it.”

Remus gasped in mock hurt, even as his mouth twitched up into a smile. “How could you? First my brother! Then my boyfriend! And then my brother again!”

Roman rolled over onto his stomach to look at the tv. “Sucks to be you I guess,” he sang.

Remus leaned back, crossing his arms. “It  does suck to be me,” he whined.

Logan pulled his boyfriend close, cuddling into him. “The pillow was a trap to get you to cuddle me,” he hummed into Remus’s chest.

Remus grinned. “Well then! Consider me trapped!”

There was a pause as Remus and Logan curled into each other, and Roman inspected the tv. He watched Nico as he leaned over the desk, pencil scratching.

He wondered if Carmen would come out soon.

“Hey, guys,” Roman hummed, eyes still on the screen. “What did you do when you found out you liked each other?”

Logan shifted to look at him. “We talked it out. Why?”

Remus laughed. “You kissed me and then said that you’d wanted to do that for a year. My response was ‘same.’ That’s not talking it out.”

Roman turned to look back at the two. “I feel like despite the fact that you’re the only couple I can ask, you’re the exact wrong people to talk to.”

Logan sighed. “I think you might be right. We’re disasters.”

Remus nodded. “Hell yeah, but,” he turned to look at his brother. “Why do you ask?”

Logan looked Roman over for a second before shooting up with a gasp. “I didn’t tell you about Roman’s crush yet!”

The twins froze simultaneously.

Remus tackled his brother with a shout, finding himself sitting cross-legged on the other side’s back. “You didn’t tell me about your  crush? ” He huffed, flicking his brother between the eyes. “That’s illegal.”

Roman shrugged, glaring at Logan. “Be gay, do crime, right?”

Logan smiled. “Remus, come here, let me hug you, and we’re going to talk about Roman’s crush.”

Roman whined loudly as Remus settled himself in Logan’s arms. “You guys better not make fun of me,” he said, looking back at the tv.

“Don’t worry,” Remus sang, “We will!”

Logan sat his chin on his boyfriend’s shoulder, a laugh rumbling from his throat. “So first, you need to know is that it’s not any of us.”

Remus nodded, looking confused, but patting Logan’s leg. “That’s fair, the hottest side is already taken.”

Logan grinned. “Not a celebrity crush either!”

Remus tilted his head, brows furrowed. “Wait,  not a celeb crush?”

Roman narrowed his eyes. “Are you dragging this out on purpose or are you torturing me on accident?”

Logan huffed. “Come on, let me have this.” He waited a beat. “Anyway, it’s one of Nico’s sides. The creative one, I think.”

Remus blinked. “Wait, you’ve seen Nico’s sides?” He stared at the tv, eyes narrowed. “Is it him?”

Roman turned around, eyes falling onto Carmen, sitting on the counter of Thomas’ kitchen, watching whatever Thomas and Nico had put on the tv to cuddle to. A strangled noise escaped his throat and he buried his face into his knees.

“Oh-“ Remus said, surprised. “He’s, like- gay.”

Logan snorted. “He’s never even met him properly.”

Roman groaned, flipping off the boyfriends. “I don’t want to yet.” Far more muffled: “I’m scared.”

Remus frowned, reaching an arm up as if to put it on his brother’s shoulder. He stole it back after a moment of hesitation.

“Hey, Ro-bro,” Remus tried, “You wanna hear a story?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Okay, so there were these two guys who were  really fucking gay for each other but they didn’t talk too much. Why? Because they were dumb.”

Logan made a noise of disagreement.

“Because the system was rigged so they couldn’t see each other often,” Remus amended. “So at one point, when they had the chance, they decided to have a talk. Nothing bad, nothing good, just spending time with each other. It was whatever they wanted.”

Logan squeezed his boyfriend tight, nuzzling his head into the crook of his neck. “It wasn’t big, it wasn’t really special, or anything like that, but...” Logan paused. “They knew where they stood with each other. It was the first step in their relationship and it meant that they could do everything else, could escalate to more. It was because they did that one talk first.” He sighed, a hand coming up to play with a lock of Remus’ hair. “Everything we are right now, it’s because of a  talk , Roman. It’s important that you can communicate with him comfortably, because you need it.” He brought his hand down to clasp with his boyfriend’s. “You need to talk to him, Roman. Please.”

Roman looked up at them, close physically and emotionally and tried to imagine himself in their place. With Carmen wrapped around him and their clasped hands and just knowing, without a doubt, that they loved each other. That they trusted each other, that they cared.

He found, with a jolt of surprise, that he couldn’t.

He couldn’t because they were  right . He needed to take a first step, a step outside his comfort zone (and hopefully into Carmen’s arms). He needed to talk to him.

“Hey guys?” Roman looked up at his friends, eyes shining with hope. “Thank you. I’m gonna talk to him.”

Remus grinned, squeezing Logan’s hand. “Go get him Ro!” He squealed, leaning into his boyfriend.

Logan, from behind him, nodded at Roman. “Have fun,” he said, a soft smile gracing his face.

Roman walked out the front door, listening as Logan and Remus joked to each other behind him.

“Oh wow, they just- they grow up so fast-“

“Yes, your brother is certainly growing a pair.”

Roman closed the door behind him, smiling. He knew they were proud of him. Now he just wanted to do something to earn that pride.

 5.

The fifth time Roman saw Carmen, he was star struck. Seeing him through a tv screen or from across a cafeteria was so different from now, only feet apart, with nothing but empty air between them. Carmen, here, now, in the dark of the 9:00 night, glowed. His hair seemed to emit it’s own light, a soft pink casting shadows around the room.

He turned to look at Roman and the princely side’s breath caught in his throat. His eyes, a deep, beautiful, chocolate brown before, were bright, sparkling like cider, and looked like a million different colors reflecting off of each other. Rimmed with gold glasses, he made Roman think of copper - under appreciated but so, so, pretty.

Roman smiled softly, walking forward until he stood in front of Carmen. He pat the spot next to him. “May I sit here?”

Carmen nodded, lips pulling into a smile, freckles shifting, reflecting their own light. There was a moment of silence, and then Carmen spoke. “You’re glowing.” When Roman looked over, Carmen flushed, looking down at his hands. “I know it sounds weird but-“ he snuck a hand over to grasp at Roman’s in a light grip. When Roman made no move to stop him, he pulled their interlocked hands up, Roman noticing the soft trails of pink that followed Carmen’s fingertips. “You  shine.” Roman realized after a moment that Carmen seemed to think that it was  him who was glowing. Perhaps he was right.

Roman let out a quiet laugh, whispering, “Bright like a diamond!”

He took Carmen’s hand carefully, bringing it down to look at the glitter painted nails. “You’re glowing too, you know?” His eyes were drawn back to the light in his hair. “The tips of your hair, your freckles, your eyes...” he trailed off, a warmth in his chest growing.

Carmen smiled. “You’re a bit of a poet, aren’t you?”

Roman leaned forward, embarrassed. “Sometimes, if I have a sort of muse.”

Carmen sat there for a moment, processing Roman’s words before letting out a squeak. “You-!” He curled into himself, falling into a fit of giggles.

Roman smiled at Carmen’s flustered state before tilting his head with a small frown. “I just realized something, you know.” Carmen paused, looking over. “I’ve never properly introduced myself.”

Roman stood up and took one of Carmen’s hands in his own, bowing down to touch Carmen’s hand to his lips. “It’s wonderful to meet you, my good sir, and it would be my greatest wish fulfilled if you could tell me your name.”

Roman knew his name already, of course, thanks to Janus, but he wanted to hear it here, now, spoken to  him for the first time. “My name is Carmen,” he hummed, pulling his hand, interlaced with Roman’s, to his chest. “Now, my prince, would you be willing to tell me yours?”

“Roman,” the side said quietly, distracted by their sudden closeness.

There was a moment of silence, before Carmen’s face split into a grin. “Oh my gosh, that was just like out of a Disney movie-“ he giggled pulling Roman an inch closer.

Roman gasped. “You like Disney movies?” He grinned, a squeal building in his throat, and the former tension disappeared, swapping for bright eyed excitement.

Carmen clapped his hands together, laughing. “Of course! What’s your favorite? Mine is probably Finding Dory, but only because Nico has been watching it a lot lately.”

Roman flapped his hands in excitement, mouth opening and spilling out everything he knew about the four movies he thought might’ve been his favorite in that moment.

When Carmen’s eyes shone with interest rather than boredom, Roman thought he could tell him he loved him, just like that. He didn’t though, preferring this easy talk about whatever they wanted to anything that might have happened should he say something wrong like that.

They talked for hours, their excitement never dulling, conversation only stopping when Nico leaned up to kiss Thomas with a quiet, “It’s late, I should go.”

There was no kiss, no confession, not there and not then. They’d only  just properly met, after all. But it was love, and they both knew it.

It was going somewhere, because they’d taken that first step.

[worksofthedaemon]

Salt & Lime

Reno x Reader mini-fic

It was supposed to be a drabble.... and now it’s not, sorry *Shrugs* So I don’t know if I’m 100% happy, BUT I had a whole lotta fun writing this. I was chatting in a FFVII fandom group chat about the Turk’s drinks of choice, and most of us were in agreement that Reno is a fan of tequila.  And I guess thats where this came from!  Theres also a healthy dose of canon Rude crushing on Tifa ok sorry 

I hope you enjoy uwu

In the growing late Friday evening, a pleasant buzz filled the air in Seventh Heaven. Tifa was hard at work behind the bar; serving the regular punters, managing the riff-raff, brandishing gloved fists at the troublemakers, and barely a moment to polish glassware in between. 

Rude looked silently on from his seat at the end of the bar, giving him a clear view of the door, so he could monitor those coming and going, with a pleasant bonus of the dark haired girl behind the bar. The latter of which he was too proud to admit. Reno, however, saw right through his facade - and boy did he like to tease his partner. The second-in-command Turk sat adjacent to Rude, back to the door, leaning heavily on one elbow propped up on the bar. Shirt uneven and mostly unbuttoned, a stark contrast to Rude’s sharp appearance, who even after hours, maintained a straight tie and regularly checked his cuff-links.

Reno poorly hid his smirk behind his beer as he took a gulp from the bottle. He followed Rude’s gaze, masked by the shades he wore, as Tifa collected the empties on the bar and walked away with a customer service smile. Reno cleared his throat, and Rude snapped back to attention, averting his now chagrined expression away from his partner, catching a nervous cough in his gloved hand. 

Chuckling, Reno reached out to harmlessly jab his partners shoulder. “Yo, ease up. Your secret’s safe with me. Although…” Reno trailed off, glancing at Tifa, now serving the other patrons. “It won’t be much of a secret anymore if you keep being so goddamn obvious.” 

Rude refused to meet his partner’s eyes. “Don’t be absurd. I have nothi-”, 

“You gotta make a move sooner or later though. This tension is killing me, man.” Reno pretended not to hear, as he continued to lecture Rude about his crush. “Just call her over and ask her out - I’ll do it for you! Hey, Tif! Rude wants to-”

Rude immediately clapped a hand over Reno’s mouth before he could do any more damage, however, Tifa had already heard her name amidst the commotion and had turned her attention to the two of them, a perplexed look on her face.

“Did you guys need something?” She asked, hands on her hips. 

Rude dropped his hand from the other Turk’s mouth, revealing the annoying grin hidden there, and cleared his throat. “My apologies.”

Before she could turn away, Reno said, “My partner here was just going to order another round, and offer you a drink. Ain’t that right, Rude?”

Rude sighed, pulling his card from his breast pocket and placed it on the bar before Tifa. “That’s correct.”

Tifa paused, glancing between the two of them, before shrugging and collecting the card. “Why the hell not? Another single malt on the rocks and a house beer, coming right up.”, she declared, waltzing away. Basking in the awkward exchange he had caused, Reno drained the last drops of his beer and spun the bottle on the bar top. Rude looked like he was going to chide him, but instead he diverted his attention with a sidelong glance at the door. It was his turn to smirk.

“Time to practise what you preach.”

Puzzled, Reno glanced over his shoulder to see who had entered the bar. 

You strolled into Seventh Heaven, looking forward to that glass of wine that had been on your mind since you left work. Working repairs and maintenance at the weapon store wasn’t exactly a strenuous job, but it was a tedious and mentally draining one. Especially since, recently, the number of monsters spotted in the outskirts of the slums had been increasing as of late. Naturally, that meant more work for you. Not to mention the newly nested drakes in the warehouses. Business was booming, your pockets were heavy from the bonus you received, but it sure was tiring, and more than warranted a trip to your local bar after a long week of being hunched over gun grease and blow torches. 

Tifa met you with a bright smile and a wave as you approached, already reaching for the wine glasses hanging above to prepare your usual. You returned her smile, adding a two finger salute. It was then you registered the familiar shock of red hair from the corner of your eye. As usual, the same pair of Turks were seated at the far left side of the bar. They had been coming in for the past couple of months, though weren’t exactly sure why. Your best guess was that they weren’t under a watchful eye while down in the slums, no one to keep tabs on them while off duty. You were acquainted with them, occasionally chatted to them in passing when you ordered your drink. Well, chatted to the redhead at least. His partner was more akin to a chiselled statue than a man, and spoke as openly as one. Reno, on the other hand, over compensated for Rude’s lack of small talk. You had learned each of their names from Tifa, and Reno had coaxed your own from you after your third encounter at the bar. On the condition that he bought you a drink, of course. Typically, you didn’t like company, you preferred your own space, some time to clear your head after work. Nevertheless, you weren’t completely opposed to Reno’s efforts to socialise, and he was very easy on the eye.

Upon reaching the bar, you threw your phone down on top of it, shortly joined by the finger-less gloves you proceeded to tear from your hands. Tifa placed a glass of wine down in front of you, pursing her lips while she waited for you to take a sip. She never charged you for your drinks, since you did a lot of weapon repairs for them as a favour. You weren’t exactly a member of Avalanche, but you were friends with them, and did what you could to help out in a way you knew how without being directly involved. In return, Tifa waved your bar tab and hooked you up with a place at Stargazer Heights to stay. 

You picked up the glass, closing your eyes for a moment and savoured the crisp, oaky aromas that rose from the glass contents. Bringing the glass to your lips and taking a generous mouthful, you swallowed slowly, nodding your approval.

“Wow, Tifa, I’m impressed! Where did you steal this?” You accused, jokingly. 

Tifa clapped her hands together and laughed lightly. “It came from Wall Market!” She leaned forward slightly and cupped a hand over her mouth, adding with a whisper, “A crate of it fell from the Don’s cargo.”

You raised your eyebrows and gasped in exaggerated surprise. “Oh my, what a shame! Well, I suppose we’ll have to make the most of it, huh?”

From the opposite end of the bar, you caught sight of Reno, clearly listening in to your conversation. He was jabbing Rude in the ribs with an elbow and no doubt saying something cringe-worthy, as Rude’s reaction was to pinch the bridge of his nose,his lips forming a thin, disapproving frown. 

“Has Rude made a move yet?” You chided, playfully.

Tifa ‘tsked’ and rolled her eyes. “No, just the usual pleasantries. Can’t say the same for him though. He’s up to no good...” She made no gesture but it was clear that the ‘him’ implied Reno.

You smiled, knowingly. Reno loved to get under his partner’s skin, listening to them converse for a mere five minutes was enough to discern that much. You had neglected to admit that you liked Reno and hadn’t mentioned it to a soul. He was a Turk, and that was a huge problem. As far as first impressions go, you were seemingly cold towards people, so it was easy enough to shrug him off at first. However, that did not deter Reno, and he persistently flirted with you. You had picked up on it around a month ago. Not that you minded, but you knew for a fact you couldn’t get involved with a Turk. Despite this, you certainly couldn’t stop your mind from wandering to some particularly daring places.

“Well, I’ll go take my regular spot.” You stated, mentally shoving your forbidden thoughts to a vault in your mind. Sweeping up your phone and gloves from the bar top as you turned to go, you paused, twisting back towards Tifa, swilling the wine in your glass and adding, “I’ll be back for more of this, it’s amazing.”

Tifa simply nodded with acknowledgement, and went back to serving the Turks. Turning, you caught Reno’s eye, who was giving you a once over. You weren’t dressed-up in the slightest. Although, rocking your work clothes, you supposed the combat pants and cropped shirt you wore gave him a decent view of your defined shape. You couldn’t hide the half smile that twitched at the corner of your lips before walking over to your usual seat.

Reno watched as you sauntered over to a seat at the round table near the window, your back to the jukebox. Absentmindedly, he rubbed the knuckle of his thumb over his bottom lip in contemplation.

Tifa had returned with their drinks, and she hesitated when placing the bottle down in front of Reno, regarding the red haired Turk seemingly deep in thought. She tilted her head, blinking down at him, then peered over at where you had gone to take a seat. Tifa swallowed a giggle as Reno brought his attention back down to earth. 

“And just what exactly are you scheming?” Tifa examined him with a grin filled with scrutiny. 

Rude stared into his glass, tipping it this way and that so the singular ice cube knocked around the inside of the tumbler. He shook his head. “Nothing good.”

As if to reinforce his statement, Reno fished out his card, and held it out for Tifa to take. “Keep hold of this. Say, Tifa, what’s your best tequila?”

Thunk. The dart missed the triple twenty zone by a thread, resulting instead with a measly twenty. Rolling your eyes, you plucked the darts from the board and chalked your score. Just gotta beat Wedge, you thought, readying your next throw. Behind you, the clinking of glass settling on the table behind you caused you to divert your focus, the dart slipping from your fingertips sooner than anticipated. You stared begrudgingly as it struck the centre of the ‘0’ in twenty. 

Spinning on your heel, you registered the unexpected sight of Reno settling into a chair at your table, placing a bottle and two shot glasses upon it. The expression he wore was a smug one.

You met his eyes with a leer, holding his gaze for a moment. His implied offer was more appealing to you than you cared to admit. You debated just flat out refusing, but instead, tentatively returning your attention back to the dart board and raised your hand for another throw. Reno rested his chin on an upturned palm, glazing over your dismissive attitude at his unspoken proposition. 

“Come on, just a few drinks. Indulge me.” 

You sighed, heavily. “And what do I owe you if I do?” You threw a dart. Double eighteen.

The Turk innocently raised his hands. “Oh please, I’m not that kinda guy.”

You arched a brow.

Reno looked offended. “Don’t give me that look. I can be an asshole, but not that kind of asshole.” He gestured to the shot glasses with a curt head tilt. 

You shot a quick glance at the bar, where Tifa stood watching the scene play out. Rude averted his gaze, pretending to straighten his tie. You stood for a moment, curling your lip. Decidedly, you stepped up to the dart board to retrieve the two darts, along with another set from the pocket next to the scoreboard, and returned to your table. Reno’s grin widened when you took a seat nearest to his. You placed the newly acquired set of darts down in front of him, and grabbed the bottle he had placed on the table. 

“Tequila, huh.” You commented, skimming the label.

Reno lifted a dart with his index finger, balancing it on the tip. “To your liking, I hope?”

You shrug. “I’m partial to tequila.” You placed the bottle down. “Sure. I’ll drink with you. On one condition.”

The Turk raised his brow, interest piqued.

You flick the dart up from where it balanced on Reno’s finger and snatched it out of the air, brandishing the point at him. “Beat me at a game of darts, fewest throws to three-o-one. Then we’ll drink.”

Reno appeared to be calculating your offer. He poked at a shot glass. “Sure you don’t want a warm up drink?” You snorted. “And have you beat because your aim is off? Don’t shoot yourself in foot, hotshot.”

He threw his head back, “Ha! Take me for a light-weight? I can assure ya, you’ll be the one crawling to keep up once we get into this.” He shook the bottle for emphasis. 

You shook your head, a confident grin on your face. “You should not underestimate me.”

“Oh trust me, I don’t.” Reno affirmed, rising from his seat, hand pushing away from the table.

 Dart still in hand, you clasped your free hand over his and slammed the dart point first between the splayed fingers of Reno’s hand and into the weathered wood of the table. “Not so fast.” You picked up your wine glass, a few drops at the bottom, and held it out to him. “Go get me another wine first.”

Reno held your gaze as he took the wine glass from you, his hand lingering on yours for an extra breath. “Yes, ma’am.”

Waiting until the Turk left the table and got to the bar, you expelled a breath you didn’t realise you’d been holding. What am I doing?! A thought in your brain flared out as you went to reset the scores, wiping the board clean. You couldn’t deny the excitement you felt at the opportunity for a challenge, yet you also couldn’t help but wonder if you were stepping on dangerous ground. He’s a Turk! Your thoughts needle your conscience once more. You brushed your hair back from your face and inhaled a deep breath. “Let’s just have some fun for once.” You muttered under your breath.

Reno returned, full glass in hand, and a fresh bottle of beer for himself. He placed the drinks down, and collected the darts up off the table. “Ladies first.” he announced, gesturing with mock courtesy.

You stepped over to the jukebox, cranking the volume slightly as ‘Fight On’ began to play. You levelled Reno with an icy stare. “Game on, bitch.”

Six darts in and you were tied. Both your own and Reno’s scores sat at 240. His throws had followed yours to the millimetre, his unwavering concentration taking you by surprise. Two more throws could call the round, and despite the casual nature of the game, the competitive pressure had you on edge. 

“Your throw, sweet heart.” Reno leaned against the jukebox, sipping his beer.

You stepped up to the hockey, lined up your throw, and shot; One.

Reno scoffed,“Yikes, playing it safe there. I thought you were going to go hard on me.”

You reached for your wine, taking a sip and meeting Reno’s nonchalant gaze over the brim. You hated how much you loved his cocky demeanour, but kept up your cool facade. 

“All I need is that triple. You should be shaking in your boots, Turk.”

Much to your disappointment, he didn’t seemed phased as you lined up your next shot. You sucked in a sharp breath, held it. Sights on the triple twenty. In the split second you exhale and loose the dart, you glanced over in Reno’s direction to see if his poker face had faltered. Big mistake. He was staring directly at you, eyes hooded and lips slightly parted. The image of him relaxed there against the jukebox, wearing a deadly expression that caused your heart to lurch and your breath to hitch. Your eyes widened slightly at the placement of the dart in the board and you froze in disbelief. Double twenty.

Sauntering over to you with a swaggering gait, Reno leaned in close enough for you to feel the loose strands of his hair tickle your ear, whispering “Oops, my bad.” 

Standing frozen with your back to him, you failed to note his conniving smile.

“You wanna take that last shot or are you going to forfeit to me?”

Visibly grimacing, you ignored his jape and took your last shot. Double ten. You retrieved your darts without a word. Reno finished up with two shots as you looked on in disdain, a triple nineteen followed by a double two, winning by one less dart. Not once did he drop his composure or appear nervous. 

“You’re a dirty player, you know that?” You opined, though if challenged you weren’t really sure how to back up that statement. 

Reno feigned shock. “I have no idea what you’re implying, but I won fair and square. Unless… you just really wanted that drink, so you let me win.” 

“I would never let you win.” You snapped, and Reno raised a brow. You paused. “But I definitely deserve that tequila now.”

He seemed to comply with your statement. “Alright, alright, but let’s take this outside. I need a smoke, and you could probably use some air to cool off.” 

You had to bite on your tongue in order to prevent a retort.

Outside, you were in fact thankful for the cool night air on your apparently hot skin. You leaned over the railing while Reno proceeded to light up a cigarette, inhaling a few puffs before setting it down in the ashtray. The smoke wasn’t completely unpleasant, as you caught a passive taste of the menthol that laced it.

Tifa kindly brought your drinks outside, and you both settled into the seats at the small table on the veranda.The redhead reached for the bottle but you snapped it up before he could lay a finger on it, and you inwardly berated yourself for being so fickle. The wine was really hitting you differently tonight. Sure, you were sassy, but this seemed to coat you with a few extra bristles - or maybe it was the circumstances in which you found yourself in, you couldn’t say. 

You poured the shots and set the bottle down. You lifted your glass without so much as checking to see if Reno had picked up his, when suddenly he raised a finger to your lips. 

“Nah-ah, you can’t just drink it, you’ve got to go all in.” He scolded, taking your shot from you and reaching to a condiment on the table, beside which was a lime wedge resting upon a black napkin. 

You chuckled, grinning sheepishly. “Right, because I’m not salty enough?” 

The smile Reno gave you in return this time was a light hearted one. “Alright, salt, shot, lime. Got it?”

Rolling your eyes, you said “Yeah yeah, I know the drill.”

Reno scooted his chair closer, holding the salt shaker. He brought his free hand up and licked the base of his thumb before tipping the salt on the slightly glistening skin.

Your stomach felt as if it did a small flip at the sight of this gesture, meaningless as it was, but it was enough to cause you to shudder with a feeling you didn’t want to give voice to. You did the same with your own hand, vaguely noticing the mirth slipping into Reno’s smile as he poured the salt onto your hand. Placing the shaker down and picking up your shots, you raised them between the two of you, pronouncing a simultaneous ‘cheers’.

In one fluid and unanticipated motion, Reno caught your hand, bringing it boldly to his lips and lapped the salt from your skin, a deviousness in his eyes as he winked at you and drained his shot. All you could do was gawp, so stunned by his audacity that you simply watched as he dipped his thumb in the salt on his own hand, and brought the same hand to cup your face, thumb poised on your lips.

Tentatively, you darted your tongue out, allowing it to caress his thumb and taste the sharpness of the salt. Reno’s stare locked onto the movement, and you grasped the opportunity to break his composure. You gently closed your lips around the tip of his thumb, and sucked the remaining salt off with a slight pop. The raw desire that pooled in Reno’s eyes in that moment was satisfying enough for you to warrant it as revenge, his hand dropping without him registering. You knocked back your own shot, enjoying the warmth of the alcohol as it spread through your chest from within. 

You held out your hand with an upturned palm, a confident request falling from your tongue. “My lime, please.”

Reno’s piercing blue eyes seemed to penetrate your own, as his lips parted into a smile, revealing the lime wedge clenched between his teeth. Oh, fuck m- However, your intruding thoughts were thrown to the wind as you jumped from your seat, reaching for Reno’s jaw with your already outstretched hand and crashing your lips into his. The Turk tugged at the waistband of your pants to bring you closer, planting your free hand on his exposed chest to prevent you from falling into him, your tongue fighting with his as it withdrew the lime. The juice of the lime tangy and sweet, mixing with the scent of the lingering cigarette smoke, bittersweet and somehow sinful. 

You parted from the kiss abruptly, nipping his lip a little before standing back and wiping the juice from your lips. Reno reached up with the napkin to remove the lime from his mouth, his smug grin dripping with mirth. 

Now that your mind had a chance to catch up with what had just transpired, you felt an angry blush blooming on your cheeks. This gave Reno more satisfaction than you willingly wanted to give, though the growing desire in his eyes didn’t go unnoticed, and this ignited something else in you.

“Yo, no need to go shy on me now, y/n. Maybe you need another shot to take the edge off?” Reno suggested, leaning back in his seat, looking very pleased with himself.

“Oh shut the fuck up and kiss me asshole,” you asserted, roughly grabbing the colllar of his suit and forcing him up and out his chair, pressing him against the wall of Seventh Heaven. Not a single part of him resisted, his arms wrapping around you and pulling your body against his own, his left hand snaking up into your hair and the other grasping at the curve of your hip. Faster than you can comprehend, Reno had pushed off the wall and flipped you around so you were now pinned against it. The kisses were hot, angry and desperate, as you allowed the self restraint to slip away and submit to carnal desires.

Reno broke the kiss, momentarily satiated. He withdrew his hand from your hair and traced his finger along your jaw to stop under your chin, tilting your head up.

He shook his head a little in disbelief. “Well I gotta be honest, did not expect my night to turn out quite like this.”

“Likewise,” you huffed, then swiftly pushed Renos' body from yours. He stumbled a little, shooting you a questioning look.

“I want a rematch!” You demanded, shaking your fist and marching back into the bar.

[pies-writes-and-more]

счастье

Word Count: 3,532

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Fem!Reader

Warnings: you may cry from the wholesomeness, seriously.

A/N: Instalment #5 in @wxstedhexrt​​‘s and my Falling collection! Series Masterlist can be found HERE. Please read the poem first as it is the whole centrepiece of the fanfic :) If you need or would like a typed out version of the poem instead of the photo below, here’s the link to it on Destiny’s blog :) All the fluff in the world is in this fic, I’m telling you.

счастье (Russian): happiness (pronounced schast'ye according to Google Translate)

For the first time in a long time, Y/N woke up with pure silence. It was odd at first and she had to remind herself that the lack of laughter and voices drifting to her room from the kitchen wasn’t because the Avengers had all up and disappeared. Instead, this peaceful start to the morning was only alive because she wasn’t at the Avengers complex. It was a cooler sort of spring morning and Y/N could feel the slight breeze creep in through the window they had left slightly open in the evening before. The wind gently pushed and pulled at the long ceiling to floor curtains and allowed for the sun to creep in just enough to say good morning.

Y/N shifted under a heavy warm arm that encased her into a warm hug, gently prying herself from the gorgeous man who was sleeping quietly next to her. She stifled a giggle as she moved to brush some of his loose hairs away from his face, soft snores falling from his slightly ajar lips. This was his first time he hadn’t been half awake or tossing and turning all night in weeks, so Y/N decided it was best to let him rest. She pressed a small kiss to his nose, noting the slight flutter in his eyelids and smiled before sliding herself off the large bed.

She shivered slightly as the warmth from his body disappeared from her skin. She had gone to bed in only a bralette and some shorts, preferring to be warmed by cuddling but now, she was regretting not wearing something a bit warmer. Her eyes searched the room quickly before landing on a shirt on a nearby chair, pulling it to her and slipping it on. He must’ve thrown it there last night before passing out, in which case, maybe he wouldn’t notice she stole it. Although he didn’t seem much bigger than her, his shirts always felt a bit baggy on her and made her feel protected and small. She was still for a moment, feeling the softness of the fabric, breathing in the smell of his soap mixed with her laundry detergent. If she could carry this scent around with her everywhere, she would.

Maybe it was the soft calling of the birds or maybe it was the sparkling dew on the grass but as Y/N walked slowly to the kitchen, she paused in front of the nearby window. She looked out into the warm pink and orange hues of the sun and she almost wanted to just run outside and feel them on her skin. It was beautiful out here in the middle of nowhere. The two of them had spent almost all day yesterday driving up here to this little Airbnb that Wanda had found them after realizing just how exhausted the two of them were. (“I don’t want you two to come back until you forget how to be productive!” And with that, Wanda practically threw their suitcases out the door. Y/N had been thanking her every chance she got.)

It almost felt like a dream. Not just the gorgeous view from the window or the silent little cottage-like house they were staying in for the time being. But the whole last few months. Y/N’s eyes moved back to the bedroom door, thinking about all the late nights talking and laughing at movies, spilling secrets and even convincing him to do a face mask once or twice. She thought about the very beginning of this relationship, the stammered responses, the yearning she had felt for his touch, the fleeting glances.

Her mind drifted to thoughts of their first kiss, her stomach lurching forward into twists as she remembered the brush of his light lips on hers just before he disappeared for a month.

“Be safe,” she had practically begged him, tears forming at the corners of her eyes as she held his arm in her hands. “Please.”

He had given her that almost sorrowful smile, reaching up to touch her cheek and using his thumb to gently wipe away an escaping tear. “I’ll be alright, doll, don’t you worry about me.”

“What else am I going to do without you for a whole month?” She joked softly, trying to smile but it was hard. This was the first time she wouldn’t have contact with him when they weren’t on a mission together.

“Annoy the shit out of Steve for me,” he offered with a smile. Here he was, going in deep to meet with an informant, Y/N was freaking the hell out of her mind and he was standing there smiling. There was a calmness to him, even though Y/N and him had talked about his worries going out into the field for so long. So how did he look so calm looking at her now? Y/N tried to be positive but deep down, she was worried this was the last time she’d ever see him. Her eyes tried desperately to memorize the look on his face, just in case. Her mind had raced with questions when they first ordered Sam and Bucky on this mission. Why did it have to be him? Why couldn’t Steve go? Why did it have to be for a month? Why did it have to be off comms?

But all those questions were answered too easily for her to insist that Bucky stay here. The informant barely spoke any English and Russian was their first language so of course Bucky was a good candidate. Nat was away on a completely different mission with Wanda and Tony so she couldn’t go instead. They wanted to build trust with the informant but also, he could only give them parts of information at a time so a month was the bare minimum at this point. And since they were entering enemy territory, Steve thought it would be best to not have communications hacked. The two man team would have very minimal contact with the base, only to check in about their safety or to ask for immediate emergency help.

“Time to go, Tin Man!” Sam called from the other room. Y/N could tell from the shadow on the floor that he hesitated before at the door before deciding to give the two of them some space and staying outside. “I’ll wait for you in the jet.”

Bucky shouted out a response to him but present Y/N could barely remember what it was. All she could remember was the ache in her stomach as he started to pull away before he turned back and lifted her chin up so smoothly with his fingers. Y/N practically melted as she felt his lips on hers. It was a soft kiss, passion and love melded their bodies together as he held her close, leaning his forehead on hers as they took a breath, before he brushed her hair away gently.

“You’re my one and only, doll,” he whispered, taking her hand in his and squeezing it gently. “I’ll come back to you before you know it.” With a kiss on the back of her hand, he left and Y/N’s lips stayed tingling the whole month he was gone.

That had been the worst month of Y/N’s life. She had made Steve go nuts, bugging him with constant questions of is he okay, what’s the next step, has he heard from them, is everything on schedule-

Y/N smiled to herself as she remembered tackling Bucky to the floor when he got home, squeezing his tired body in a tight hug and ultimately feeling so bad when she realized how bruised his whole body was and she had definitely made it a little worse. But she couldn’t help it - the whole time she wondered would he leave her before she got the chance to tell him how she felt? Would their connection be severed before it ever really existed?

“S’alright, doll,” Bucky had laughed as he sat up from the floor and had gladly accepted her offer to take him down to the infirmary. She had thought all month about how she wanted his coming home to be, would they share another passionate kiss? Would he ask her on a proper date? Would Sam say something stupid and ruin the whole thing?

Maybe the first two would’ve been true if the latter hadn’t come first. Sam had popped his head in to see how Bucky was and loudly expressed how awkward and tense the air was in the room.

“So does this mean y’all are gonna bang? Cause like the wall between my room and Bucky’s is thin and-” Sam started, quickly ducking the blood pressure gauge that Bucky threw at his head. “Rude,” he scoffed but shot a grin at Y/N before disappearing.

It wasn’t long before Y/N felt at home and comfortable again with Bucky by her side. The two of them snuggled in front of the TV with cups of tea and some snacks, watching old cartoons as if they were an old couple.

“Y/N?” Bucky had whispered after a while. Y/N’s eyes were closed, her head leaning against his chest as she relaxed her stiff body into the warmth of his arms.

“Mm?” She hummed, peeking an eye open to see him staring at her. “What?” She giggled, both eyes opening now in embarrassment. His smile was so soft as he watched her without responding for a moment, eyes noting every inch of her face.

“I missed you,” Bucky’s voice was a little shaky and he cleared his throat whilst his eyes turned away shyly. Y/N smiled and poked his cheek playfully in response.

“I missed you too, Bucks.”

“No, I mean…” he hesitated and shifted a little so they were facing each other. “Being away from you for a month made me realize… just how hard I’m falling for you.”

Even thinking back to that moment made Y/N’s heart flutter just a little. The words that left Bucky’s lips repeated in her head over and over again as she moved to the kitchen and pulled out some food to make breakfast with. She thought about how she had kissed him after he told her all that because she wasn’t sure if she could word her feelings right. She smiled as her mind reminisced about the weeks after, the stolen kisses in the hallways between meetings, snarky responses and flirty comments during sparring, and just the comfortableness of it all.

It wasn’t long before Y/N realized that she had just cracked an egg onto the counter top instead of into the pan because she was daydreaming. She laughed at herself a little, cleaning up the mess and deciding to try and figure this old looking radio that sat nearby in a way to keep her mind present.

A slow melody crackled to life on the speakers as she started to cook properly this time, her hips swaying to the beats of the music. She hummed along to the music that she recognized, listening carefully to the lyrics of ones that she didn’t. As the bacon sizzled in the pan, she wondered what kind of music played while Bucky grew up. What kinds of sounds did he have memory with?

She daydreamed about the alternate universe where Bucky had stayed in his own timeline and maybe she had been born into it. Would they have still gotten along? Would he have still asked her out? Would they dance until the night was dark, would he come meet her family and promise not to take her out too late? Or would he be that playboy that Steve often teased about? Would she get a cheeky wink from him across the room as her only interaction with him? Would she roll her eyes in response? Because that was often her response when she kept cocky guys nowadays.

Interrupting her thoughts was the sound of an all too familiar tune starting to play on the radio. Her eyes glanced at it with a smile, as if thanking the hosts for playing such a slow song to match her slow start to the morning.

Wise men say only fools rush in But I can't help falling in love with you

Y/N found herself humming along but it quickly became soft singing as her lips traced around the lyrics she’s known for years. As each word left her lips, she thought about how many people were listening with her and were singing along, how many people knew this popular tune. She wondered if even Bucky knew it and wondered what his thoughts were when he had first heard it. Her eyes noted the now cooked eggs and bacon on her pans, reaching over to turn the oven off and looking through the cupboards to find some clean plates. She pushed the eggs and bacon onto two plates, waving them off as she started to clean.

“Shall I stay Would it be a sin If I can't help falling in love with you”

Two arms wrapped around Y/N’s waist suddenly, making her jump at the tug of her center to a warm body behind her. She looked up from the sink where water was cooling down the pans, and behind her shoulder to find Bucky’s head nuzzling into her neck. “You left me alone,” he whined into her hair, lazily pressing kisses to her skin.

“You were sleeping!” Y/N laughed as she tried to squirm out of his grip to continue cooking. “I thought you’d be exhausted. You practically drove all night up here.” Bucky’s grip around her tightened as she turned off the tap and tried to turn to face him.

The pout on his lips made her grin grow wider, “You left me,” he insisted. “And then you stole my shirt!” He huffed, tugging at the hem that was brushed up against her thigh.

Like a river flows surely to the sea Darling so it goes

Y/N smirked and couldn’t help but admire the just-woke-up look on Bucky, him standing there in grey low waisted sweatpants, “You look better without a shirt,” she laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“You were singing,” Bucky suddenly said as they swayed to the soft music playing in the background. “I like it when you sing,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Some things are meant to be Take my hand, take my whole life too

“Our breakfast is gonna get cold,” Y/N brought up, face flushing with embarrassment that he had heard her, stepping away from him and starting to move towards the food.

“Dance with me,” Bucky asked quickly, a firm grip still on her waist. “Please, doll?” His eyes were pleading like a child again, that oh so adorable look in his eyes that Y/N had a hard time saying no to. She bit down on her lip and nodded slowly as Bucky turned the volume up on the radio before pulling her into the living room which had more space.

For I can't help falling in love with you Like a river flows surely to the sea

Soft hums left Bucky’s lips as the two of them swayed to the music, his gentle but strong arms guiding her. For a moment they stood there, just holding each other and listening to the beats of the music.

Darling so it goes Some things are meant to be

Bucky smiled as their eyes met, taking her hand and lifting it up slightly, his other hand pressed into her waist. He guided her into a slow dance, breathy giggles and laughter leaving their lips as he twirled her around the room. She couldn’t help but feel like she was dancing on a cloud, Bucky’s movements so free and flowing that she almost couldn’t believe this man was behind them.

Y/N gave a little bit of a squeal as she felt Bucky tilting her back, his chuckling making her feel all the more embarrassed as he dipped her so low, she was almost positive they were going to fall over.

“Don’t you trust me?” He teased as he brought her back up and twirled her around some more, a twinkle in his eye and a wide smile on his face.

“Depends,” she shot back with a laugh, trying to catch her breath from her laughter, “We’ve fallen over before,” she pointed out, thinking about the time she jumped out of a window for him, or the times she’s knocked him over with hugs, or even when they’ve just tripped over each other’s feet. The smile on her lips was starting to burn at her cheeks and she realized in that moment that she wished the song would never end.

Bucky pulled her close again, pressing his forehead against hers once more. Y/N watched as his lips parted and she thought he was going to shoot back with another snarky remark. But instead, his low voice started to sing along,

“Take my hand, take my whole life too”

Y/N hadn’t ever heard Bucky sing before. Soft hums here and there, a melody to his words sometimes, but never fully sun. She wanted to close her eyes, focus solely on the word he was singing but his eyes held her soft gaze, looking like they were trying to say something.

“For I can't help falling in love with you For I can't help falling in love with you,”

Y/N wondered if he could feel how warm her face was getting as they slowly swayed to the music. She wondered if he could hear how fast her heart was beating, if he could tell her hands were shaking. Was this the first time the word ‘love’ had left his lips? The first time he was admitting such strong feelings for her? Sure, she knew he liked her enough to ask her out and come to this middle-of-nowhere house with her, but was he really admitting he loved her?

Bucky tilted her chin up slightly as the melody drifted away from his lips, and he kissed her as if it was the first time and the last time. He held her close as their lips sparked something magical, feeling both a passion and a hunger for each other. The song had disappeared and the radio hosts’ voices were feeling so far as they talked about current news and weather. Y/N’s lips felt Buck’s depart and her eyes fluttered open to see him staring at her, with a sort of gentle love in his eyes. Time felt like it had slowed down in that moment, like the world had been put on pause and there was no such thing as monsters who whispered little dark thoughts into their ears. Here, in his arms, in this far away house, was going to be where their happiest memory was born.

After a moment of silence, Bucky’s lips parted again and Y/N wondered if he would say it, if the three little words would leave his lips. She wondered if they were even ready for that, was it too soon? Did he really feel that way? Was this all going way too fast, especially because back in his day, romances were an awful lot slower?

“Thank you for breakfast, doll,” he whispered to her instead with a smile, stepping back from her and pressing a kiss to her hand with a playful bow, as if she was a princess to be courted.

“Where’d you learn to dance like that?” Y/N asked curiously as the two of them grabbed their plates of somewhat warm food and plopped onto the living room couches. Y/N tried to stabilize her hands, still feeling a bit wobbly after hearing those words leave Bucky’s lips. How long would it take for her heart to slow down? For her skin to stop having goosebumps in response to this tender and loving touch?

Bucky smiled to himself as he started to cut up his eggs, “Back in my day, dancing was the best date you could have. Just forget everything around you and dance, have some fun, be surrounded by smiles.”

“Mm well I kinda like just dancing here with you here,” she admitted shyly, getting up to turn on the coffee machine and find some coffee cups for them.

If she had turned back to look at him, she would’ve seen the look on his face that Steve liked to call ‘love-sick puppy dog’. He watched her as she glided around the kitchen, smile on her face, and he wished he could’ve kept dancing with her for longer.

“We can dance any time you like, doll,” Bucky told her as she turned back to smile at him. “If you’ll have me, maybe I can be your dance partner forever.” And the smile she gave him in response was all he needed.

Small dances in the little cottage-like house’s living room became dances in their bedrooms back home. Sometimes he’d twirl her out of a hug or they’d sway just a little in the hallways. The two of them were like in their own little world, dancing to both music and silence, as if the world of anxieties was a universe away.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Seriously though, I get so emotional writing these fics. I hope you guys are enjoying them! Destiny and I are always screaming our heads off and we love to hear that you guys are liking them too :D

MASTERLIST // Destiny’s Blog! <3

[queenxxxsupreme]

ESKEL AND "WORK SONG" AKSHKSHXKSBXH

A/N: BABE YES

***

“Tell us about her, Eskel.” Geralt poured his tankard full once more of liquor, only glancing over to his brother whenever the tankard was full to the brim. 

Eskel shook his head, a little smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He brought his tankard up to his mouth to take a swig of the foul concoction Lambert had created for him. 

“Why not?” Lambert burped. “And what’s with that grin? Don’t think I can’t see that, Eskel.”

“Why do you guys want to know about her so badly?”

“Cause we wanna know she’s treating you right.” Lambert shrugged his shoulders. 

“And we care about you.” Geralt added. “And this woman obviously has you wrapped around her little finger.”

“I’ll say.” Lambert chuckled. “He goes out of his way not once, not twice, but three times a year to see her! Goes clear to Kovir just to see some wench-,”

“Watch your words.” Eskel snapped, sending his little brother a sharp glare. Lambert put his hands up to show he meant no harm. 

“Didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Ignore him.” Geralt shook his head at the young wolf. “What’s she like?”

Eskel looked down at his tankard, eyeing the dark brown liquid inside. 

Boys workin on empty Is that the kind’a way to face the burning heat? I just think about my baby I’m so full of love I could barely eat

“Unlike anyone I’ve ever come across.” Eskel paused for a moment to bite his bottom lip.

He didn’t know what love felt like until he met you.

“When I’m away from her…. The pain is unlike anything I’ve ever felt.” The dark haired witcher’s voice fell to a quiet whisper. 

Lambert became somber and Geralt listened carefully, tilting his head to the side just a little. 

“It’s…. I think it’s worse than the Trials.” Eskel admitted, looking up to Geralt. “I just…. I feel empty…. My chest…. You know? And there’s this constant fear that when I get back to her, she won’t be there. I’m…. I’m afraid of losing track of time. What if-if one day, I go back and she’s….. she’s gone?”

Geralt silently nodded, knowing exactly what his brother meant. Loving a human was difficult, especially when a witcher didn’t age at the same rate as them. 

Lambert belched rather loudly, the sound echoing off of the stone walls. His serious composure faded and he chuckled. 

“Is she good…. you know?”

“Oh, Lambert.” Geralt sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

“What! I’m just curious.” Lambert leaned against the table with his elbows, eyes set on Eskel. 

The witcher cleared his throat, looking down at his tankard. 

There’s nothing sweeter than my baby, I’d never want once from the cherry tree Cause my baby’s sweet as can be, she gives me toothaches just from kissing me

“I don’t want to talk about her like that.” He muttered out, but then the drunken half of him said what he was thinking. “She gives the best kisses.”

Geralt smiled while Lambert snorted. 

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I know.” Eskel finished off the last bit of liquor in his tankard and then poured himself another. “Just…. just miss her a lot.”

“What’s her occupation?”

“She’s a healer. One of the best I’ve ever seen.” Eskel wrapped his large hands around his tankard. “I want to bring her here one winter but I…. I can’t ask that of her. For her to leave her home, her work for me.”

“But if she loves you, maybe she’d be willing to just visit.” Geralt suggested. 

Eskel fell silent. 

“Does she?” Lambert asked quietly, running his thumb over the side of his tankard. This sort of talk always made him anxious and nervous, but sometimes it was good for the brothers to have a serious moment. 

Eskel ran a hand over his face, thinking back to the first time you had admitted your feelings for him. 

My baby never fret none about what my hands and my body done If the lord don’t forgive me, I’d still have my baby and my babe would have me

It was the third summer after you’d met when you told him you loved him. There was a terrible storm that night. Lightning flashed outside and rain pounded against the roof. 

You laid in bed with him, snuggled up as close to him as possible. You chatted quietly until the conversation died off. Then you settled with tracing shapes into his chest, eyes finding the wolf pendant that rested on his tanned skin. 

“Hey…. Eskel?”

“Hmm?”

You lifted your head so you could look up at him, but you couldn’t meet his gaze. So instead, you focused on his lips. 

“I…. I love you. You know that, right?”

He seemed to freeze up for a moment like a corner animal. Then he was sitting up and getting out of bed, leaving you beneath the linens alone. 

“Eskel, wait-,”

“I-I knew I shouldn’t have stayed.” He shook his head. 

“I’m- Eskel, just hold on!” You shouted, your voice cracking when you said his name. “I’m sorry, Eskel-,”

“You have no reason to be sorry, Y/N.” He shook his head as he tugged on a pair of trousers. “It’s my fault for staying so damned long. I’m-I knew I shouldn’t have.”

“Why?” 

He didn’t answer you, lacing his trousers up and moving towards the door. But your hand clasped his wrist first. He froze again, afraid to move. 

“Eskel, tell me why.” You stepped around him, putting yourself between him and the door so he’d have nowhere to go.

His eyes diverted away from you, focusing instead on the window.

“Because…. I’m not what you…. What you deserve.”

Wordlessly, you wrapped your arms around his torso, burying your face in his chest. His first instinct was to hug you back, but he couldn’t bring himself to. He couldn’t put his hands on you, not while his skin crawled at the very thought of ruining someone as perfect as you. 

“Eskel, I love you. What’s been done to you, who you are…. It means nothing to me.”

“I’m-Y/N….” Eskel trailed off for a moment. “I’ve-I have killed people.”

“It’s okay.” You assured him, squeezing him tightly. “It won’t change that I love you. You’re a good man, Eskel.”

Slowly, his arms wrapped around you, holding you close. He buried his nose in your hair and exhaled softly. 

When I was kissing on my baby, and she put her love down soft and sweet In the lowland plot I was free, heaven and hell were words to me. 

Eskel shifted in his seat, bringing himself back to reality. He took a drink of his liquor and shook his head. 

“I’d do anything for her, and I know she’d do the same for me.”

Lambert and Geralt looked at each other for just a moment before Lambert pushed himself to his feet. 

“Next winter, maybe bring her along with you.”

Eskel nodded his head, watching his little brother leave. 

“She makes you happy.” Geralt said, yellow eyes finding Eskel. The latter nodded, a little smile coming to his lips. “Good. From the way you talk about her, I think she’d fit right in.”

Eskel was left at the table feeling warm and tingly inside. One of his biggest fears with you meeting his brothers was that they wouldn’t like you, or perhaps you wouldn’t like them. Lambert could be quite a dick and sometimes Geralt acted as if he had no sense.

But the witcher was left feeling hopeful for the future, looking forward to seeing you again.

Taglist: @pressedinthepages @mishafaye @whitewolfandthefox @wolfyland07 @belalugosisdead @persephonehemingway @keira-hulmaster @dinonuggs69 @greatestauthorofmygeneration @shadow-hunters-lover @dancingwith-thesunflowers @tedi-fach-las @thecomfortofoldstorries @raspberrydreamclouds @natkowaa @disasteren @weathervanes-my-oneandlonely @onlyhenrys @wackylurker @criminaly-supernatural @magpie343 @permanently-exhausted-witcher @hina-chans-stuff @the-space-between-heartbeats @havenoffandoms @carriebee1 @ger-bearofrivia @naominami @writingawaymylife @reaganjenelle @theawkwardpedestrian @scarlettwitcher @badassspaceprincess @just-a-sad-donut @summersong69 @an--actual--human--disaster @rubyqueen819 @omgkatinka @c-a-v-a-l-r-y @vonxcon @mazakeen @bravelittlesunflower @thereagles @awkward-turtles-world @menalliha @cotton_mo @maan24 @thefirelordm @monkeymo @krenee1drful @nympha-door-a @unadulteratedtreecrusade @Aquarius-pisces-rose @mentallyscreamingsincebirth @fl0ating @sometimesiwrite @she-wolfoftheinquisition @titaniafire

[thisbrokenmask]

Thank God For Haunted Houses

pairing: female reader x jung hoseok

genre: fluff, romance, humour, best friends au, friends to lovers

word count: 5,219

rating: PG i think? there’s kissing but that’s about it

warnings: none, really, very brief mentions of the experience of a haunted house attraction

summary: you’ve had a crush on Hobi for a while but you never expected him to return your feelings. so, when your friends make it so that the two of you have to spend some time together, you’re not quite sure where the night will lead you... 

a/n: hey look it’s me again! seems like I can’t stop writing these @btsholidaybingo​ prompts and I’m not sad about that at all. I’m quite enjoying having lots of ideas and being able to write them, too! today’s offering is a request from my best friend, who loves the idea of hobi venturing into a haunted house in order to please the girl he likes. so, here you go!

evidently, this fills my ‘Haunted House’ prompt ☆★

The rich smell of buttered popcorn and sugared doughnuts fresh from the fryer sits heavy in the air, so strong that you can taste them with every breath you take. Neon lights whizz and whirl against the dark blanket of the night sky above you while the bells, whistles and heavy beats of EDM music rings out from all of the rides around you. 

Your adrenaline levels are still soaring high as you come bounding down the steps, fresh off of the pirate ship with Jungkook and Jin’s laughter following close behind you. You spot the rest of your group and bound over to them, dodging and ducking through the crowds despite Jin’s cries to wait for him and Jungkook. You spy your bag still over the same shoulder that was offered to you ten minutes earlier, before you dragged Jin and Jungkook onto your third go on your favourite ride of the night. They were the only two still willing to ride it again, the rest of the group having their various excuses. Yoongi and Hoseok especially had eyed the swinging boat incredibly skeptically, neither of them climbing aboard for even one of your multiple goes on the ride tonight, offering to look after the bags instead. Which was exactly the reason you would give for you making a beeline straight towards the latter of your friends. 

“That was amazing!” you cheer as you fling your arms around Hoseok’s shoulders, your own bag knocking into your leg from where it hangs off of Hoseok’s shoulder. Your smaller height makes him stagger slightly as you beam over his shoulder to the rest of the group, but he quickly balances himself without letting you stumble even once. His left arm is closest to you and he reaches it across your front to curl around your waist, a toxic-looking blue slushie held in his right hand. You know it’s simply meant to help steady you but you can’t help the flutter that erupts in your chest at his touch, your still-rapid heart rate no longer anything to do with sitting at the very end of the pirate ship in order to experience the highest rise. 

“Have fun?” Hoseok chuckles as he smiles at you over his shoulder, looking at you out of the corner of his eyes rather than turning his face towards you; you’d be nose to nose if he did, and you’re both perfectly aware of that. Swallowing the slight disappointment at Hoseok once again choosing the option that doesn’t bring his lips closer to yours, you let your arms slide from his shoulder to wrap around his arm instead, holding the limb close like a favourite teddy bear. You nod eagerly, though, pushing your smile wider as you answer him. 

“Yeah! Would be much more fun with you, though, oppa.” You pout, reminding him of all of his vehement refusals to get on nearly any ride so far this evening, but he playfully rolls his eyes instead as he shakes his head. 

“I don’t know how you ride that thing, let alone come off it looking so damn happy,” Yoongi mumbles from the other side of Hoseok, his dismissive, faux-uninterested tone one that only makes you grin even wider. 

“I bet it’s not the only thing she enjoys riding so much,” Jungkook cuts off your response, teasing you in a low tone as he and Jin finally catch up, joining the circle. Jungkook puts his arm across your shoulder, his large hand gripping you and pulling you close, leading you to unintentionally let go of Hoseok’s arm. 

As you turn to push Jungkook off by pressing your hands against his chest, you miss the way Hoseok’s gaze drops to the floor and a small frown creases his brow for just a moment. If you’d asked, he would have told you he was simply speculating Yoongi’s comment, wondering how you could in fact ride something like the huge pirate ship behind him and not faint from dizziness. He wouldn’t tell you he was finding it more and more difficult to see you and Jungkook becoming so close, even though your closeness in age made it logical that you two would get along. He wouldn’t say how he felt a spike of jealousy in his heart whenever Jungkook made inappropriate jokes with you, wondering whether you two were secretly more than friends.  

Jin rolls his eyes at the youngest but fails to hide the smirk on his lips, the incredibly relaxed atmosphere of the evening so far letting him put down some of his usual walls without concern.  

“So, where next?” the eldest asks as he accepts a sip from the drink Jimin offers him, a bright red yet slightly melted match to Hoseok’s. The question prompts as many different responses as there are people, everyone talking at the same time until Jin calls a hush over all of you with another roll of his eyes. 

Jimin wrangles Jungkook into agreeing to join him on the waltzers, the two of them having quickly found out the ride operators are willing to spin their car incredibly fast and challenging each other to see who can last the longest. 

Yoongi bemoans the fact that his hyung still hasn’t taken him up on his challenge to any of the fair games so far, yet shrugs when Jin asks if he’s ready to eat his words on any game of his choice. 

Taehyung anxiously fiddles with the camera hanging from his neck, saying he wants to wander round and see if he can get any good pictures that capture the night’s atmosphere. Namjoon offers to accompany him, announcing his feeling that there are some lyrics to be found if he walks around long enough, his phone already open on a half-written notes page. 

“What about you, Hobi-hyung?” you almost scowl at the mischievous smile on Jungkook’s lips, painfully aware of the fact that you’d trusted the maknae enough to tell him of your crush on Hobi now that it’s only the two of you left. As you look around the group, in fact, you realise everyone is watching the two of you a little too closely for friends simply deciding their next steps. You don’t hold back your glare this time as you round on Jungkook, and he has the decency to blush as he realises you now know he’s let your secret slip.

“Er, I don’t know, actually,” Hobi frowns as he mulls the question over, glancing around at all the stalls surrounding you. “What do you wanna do?” he asks, turning to you with a smile, your bag bumping against his hip as he still has it slung over his shoulder. 

“Me?” you blink, surprised he’s asking you when he knows you both sit on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to rides and rollercoasters. You can’t deny the rush of joy, however, at the prospect that he’s choosing to spend the next portion of his evening with you. 

“Well, everyone else already has plans,” he jokes, but you feel your bubble burst at the realisation he’s only asking because he’s been left with you. Everyone else has paired up; why else would you two?

You try not to let your disappointment show, instead answering him with a simple shrug. “I don’t mind.” Hobi frowns, concerned about your sudden dip in enthusiasm. He knows you love fairs and theme parks, practically anything that could give you an adrenaline rush; another reason why he assumes you and Jungkook would make an annoyingly good match. He always worries that you find him boring or childish for not wanting to go on the rides, yet he comes along anyway purely to see you in your element. Seeing you deflate so suddenly makes him want to do whatever he can to cheer you up, even briefly considering going on the pirate ship for the first time in years just to see you smile again. “Why don’t we just walk around?” you suddenly suggest, a small smile on your lips instead as you reach out to take your bag back from his shoulder. “See if anything jumps out at us?” 

“Hopefully not literally,” he mumbles and you laugh, pulling your hair out of the way as you drop your bag onto your own shoulder. 

“Right, meet back up in half an hour, then?” Jimin and Jungkook barely acknowledge Namjoon’s question before running off, already teasing each other about who will feel sick first and announcing what they want from the other if they win. Taehyung is still adjusting his camera settings as he starts walking in seemingly any direction that takes his fancy, Namjoon quickly throwing an arm around his shoulder to guide him through the bustling crowds. 

“Which way are you guys headed?” Yoongi asks while Jin is already eyeing up a few of the nearby game stalls he believes he has a decent chance of winning. Yoongi’s cat-like eyes are watching you intently from where they’re nearly hidden under the black beanie he’s wearing, and you can’t help but feel like he’s almost daring you to follow him and ignore the chance to be alone with Hobi. His eyes briefly shift to glance over your shoulder towards a part of the fair you know you haven’t really explored yet, and you can’t help but smile at his subtle way of trying to help. 

“Why don’t we explore a bit that way?” you ask Hobi, pointing towards the unexplored area, and Hobi easily agrees with a smile as he takes another sip of his drink. “We’ll see you guys later, then?” Jin nods with a wave before rapidly telling Yoongi which game he wants to try first, the younger silently following his hyung without a question. 

It feels a little bit awkward at first, given that you and Hobi haven’t often spent much time together just the two of you, but the further you walk, the more at ease you begin to feel. You walk closely together, your arms brushing against each other every now and again and you silently curse Hobi for keeping his hand closest to you in his pocket. Part of you likes to think you’d be bold enough to try taking his hand as you walked, even getting ready with the excuse that it would stop you from getting parted in the crowds. But instead his hand sits snugly in his pocket and you fiddle with the strap of your bag as you walk instead. Still, you enjoy sharing Hobi’s drink, passing it between you every few sips, and even stop to watch a few people attempt to win at some of the games you come across. 

There aren’t many rides in this part of the fair, mainly stalls for games, food, and even some small independent businesses selling handmade jewellery, some of which catches your eye. You hesitate over a beautifully intricate bracelet, a small silver chain with alternating purple and black gems hanging from it, but you end up walking away with the decision that you’ll come back when it’s time to meet back up with your group. 

At one point you stand beside Hobi and watch from a distance as several overconfident guys slowly drain their pockets at a tin can shooting game, each of you taking bets at how many times each guy will slam more money on the table before he walks away. Hobi boldly assumes they must all be single and you immediately question his claims, to which he simply responds that if he’d seen something he’d wanted for his imaginary girlfriend, he’d keep going until he ran out of money. You tell him you’d be annoyed if your imaginary boyfriend did that, as you’d rather he spent his money on something you’d shown interest in rather than boosting his own ego for something you didn’t particularly care for. You eventually wander off after a large group blocks your view of the game, Hobi quietly following behind you a few seconds later. When you take a glance at him, he looks thoughtful, but you’re distracted by a group of kids running past before you can question him. 

It’s only when you find yourself in a small clearing that you realise you’re on your own. You figure you must have accidentally separated from Hobi at some point during your browsing, which would have been easy enough given how many people were wandering around between the stalls. When you can’t spot him after a minute or two, however, you start to panic, especially considering the fact he’s in a bright yellow hoodie tonight and you still can’t spot him in the crowd. 

You’re normally not too bothered about being by yourself in a crowd, especially when you know friends are nearby, but for some reason the idea of being lost from Hobi is almost enough to bring tears to your eyes. Your hand goes straight into your bag to pull out your phone and you try to ignore the slight shake in your fingers as you bring up your recent conversation with Hobi. It’s just as you’re about to press the call button that you feel a warm hand on your shoulder. 

You spin on the spot to see Hobi standing before you in all his glory, bright lights in his dark eyes and a lazy smile on his lips that transforms into a worried frown as soon as he sees your wide eyes. 

“Hey, what’s wrong?” 

“I thought I’d lost you!” you scold him with a gentle shove to his chest before letting him pull you in for a hug.

“Sorry, y/n-ie,” he chuckles with a squeeze to your waist. Your ear is pressed to his chest, his laugh a rumble in your ear, until he lets you go again. “I just went to throw that drink away, I finished it while I was waiting for you.” His hand stays on your lower back, acting as a tether between you as the crowds continue to bustle around about you. You turn your face away to hide the blush that warms your cheeks at his teasing tone, but Hobi mistakes it for you being annoyed at him for wandering off. He turns your face back towards him with a gentle hold on your chin, then tucks your hair behind your ear as he gazes at you thoughtfully. “I’m sorry if I scared you.”

The touch of his hand on your cheek makes your knees feel weak and wobbly, all words leaving you high and dry as you simply stare back at him, his dark eyes glittering in the flashing lights that surround you. All you can muster is a small “it’s okay” and a slight rise of one shoulder, barely even a shrug, but it’s still enough to make Hobi smile. Without thinking, your gaze drops to Hobi’s mouth, wondering whether he would lean in and press his lips to yours like you dream about if you asked him to. His tongue peeks out to swipe across his bottom lip and the brief flash of pink snaps you out of your stupor, drying out your mouth and hastening your heartbeat all in one go. 

You look around you rapidly, desperate for a distraction from an impulsive and potentially friendship-ruining decision, anything to take your mind off the thought of finding a dark corner big enough for two. 

“Hey, look!” you turn on the spot to point towards the sign that’s caught your eye, signposting an attraction that you haven’t seen before. “A haunted house! We should totally do it.” Hobi, however, isn’t so keen. 

“I don’t know, y/n-ie,” he scratches the back of his neck, a pout on his lips when you turn back to him. 

“But there’s no queue! We could go straight in!” 

“You know I don’t like that kind of thing,” he looks at you, expression somewhere between pleading with you to change your mind and wanting to make you happy, his eyes full of affection for you. His pout gets more pronounced with each second that passes, clearly conflicted, and you can’t bring yourself to push any further. You know Hobi doesn’t like haunted houses or anything with actors that can jump out at him from the shadows, so it would be cruel of you to force him into something only you would enjoy. You check the time on your phone and work out that you could probably make it back in time for a walk through with Jungkook and Taehyung before you leave for the night, as long as everyone is back to meet up on time. 

“Okay,” you turn to Hobi with a smile. “We won’t go in. I’ll see if JK and Tae will come back with me once we all meet up.” You put your phone back in your bag and look around you with a sigh, not because you’re disappointed but because you’re not sure what else there is around this part of the park. Hobi, however, once again misreads you and decides that if it’s the haunted house you want, it’s the haunted house you’ll get. He grabs hold of your wrist and starts walking towards the entrance, you floundering behind him. 

“Oppa? What are you-?”

“Two please,” he says to the attendant, handing over his money while still keeping a firm hand on you. 

“Hobi, you don’t have to-”

“Yes, I do,” he says as he guides you inside, still holding your wrist but his grasp has loosened slightly now.

“Why?” 

“Because you want to,” he says, your faces barely inches apart when he turns to you. You see his eyes glance down and you subconsciously wet your lips, heart hammering with the sudden proximity. He rapidly blinks a few times before turning towards the door that leads to the entryway part of the house. “You might not have time later, so, it’s not fair for you to miss out. Come on.” With that, he lets go of your arm to open the door and ushers you to follow him with a nod of his head and a smile. 

You’re pretty sure that if you weren’t already falling for your friend, you definitely would be now. His willingness to even step towards the haunted house just to make sure you wouldn’t miss out is enough to set a warmth blooming through your chest so intense it could bring you to tears. You’ve seen Hobi put aside his fears for his loved ones before, especially when it comes to his band members, but you’ve never seen him so determined to do something he knows he’ll still be scared by. 

Of course, Hobi will do anything for his friends, you’ve seen it enough times in the ways he’ll join in with Jungkook’s games so that he can have two players, or the way he’ll help Jin and Yoongi cook in whatever way he can. Even for you, he’ll set aside his work when he can to keep you company, or let you sit in his studio when he can’t ignore his deadlines. Now that you think about it, this is not the first time he’s ever put aside his fears for you. You remember the time you were terrified by a moth that had made its way into the kitchen one night when the two of you were up late, you making the drinks and Hobi by your side making late night snacks for you both. Despite his own fear of bugs and creepy crawlies, he’d ushered the little creature back out through an open window and closed it for you, a proud smile on his face when you thanked him with a hug. 

Multitudes of other similar cases flashed through your mind, including all of the little moments that didn’t require Hobi to put his own comfort on the line for you, whether it was offering you his seat during a crowded movie night or wordlessly putting your favourite foods on your plate for you during a meal. 

You follow him into the darkened room, thankful that he wouldn’t be able to see the tears threatening to fall as you came to the realisation that maybe, just maybe, your feelings weren’t one-sided after all. Your emotions were quickly becoming overwhelming to the point that you felt like you couldn’t breathe, and you were sure your ribs were aching from how hard your heart was beating inside your chest. Closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths to steady yourself, you calmed yourself down enough to take in your surroundings. 

Now that your eyes had adjusted, you could see the door on the other side of the small passageway that led into the first proper room, a few portraits hanging on the walls on either side. You eyed them carefully, assuming that at least two of them would have either moving eyes or little doors that would allow actors to pop their heads through.

“Watch out for the paintings,” you say to Hobi in warning, taking a few steps ahead of him to lead the way. You feel him follow closely behind you, a hand tentatively on your lower back, fingertips barely brushing over the small part of visible skin between your top and your jeans. You’re determined to protect him as much as you can to thank him for coming with you, so you focus on using all of your prior experience to help him out. You’ve been to haunted houses and a few horror mazes with Jungkook before, Taehyung coming along to some of the more recent ones, too, the three of you united in your love of adrenaline rushes and all things scary. 

Just as you predicted, one portrait on either side bursts open, actors leaning through to scream and yell and make awful noises in your ears. It makes you jump, but poor Hobi screams out behind you and your hand shoots out behind you to grab onto his without thinking. His large hand engulfs yours, the other shooting out to grab onto your shoulder and you try not to laugh at the brief flash of surprise on one of the actor’s faces at the volume of Hobi’s yell. 

You pull him through the next few rooms, struggling with trying not to laugh at how Hobi’s yells are louder than the actors and his refusal to let go of you even when he’s almost stumbling over you to get to the next room. You can’t even find it in you to be mad at how he uses you as a human shield when he panics, hiding behind your shoulders when the actors jump out of hidden doors or run out from behind a curtain. You barely even register the decor and props around the house, only having enough time to take in the dining table covered in cobwebs and the kitchen sink filled with lumpy fake blood before Hobi is pushing you forward, desperate to get to the other end as quickly as he can despite the rushed apologies he keeps muttering into your hair. 

It’s only when you get to the final corridor that you realise how quickly you’ve gone through the house, half-running the whole way round thanks to Hobi, but you’re not even disappointed in the slightest. The experience of doing a haunted house with Hobi at your side is one you’ll not only never get again, but it’s made all the more special by knowing he would never willingly do this for anyone other than you. You’re sure of it. 

“Oh my god, y/n, I’m so sorry,” Hobi’s holding your hand so tightly you fear it may turn purple but you can’t stop laughing at his desperate slew of apologies. 

“Hobi-oppa, it’s okay!” you manage between wheezing breaths, barely able to stand up straight as you lean on your knee with your free hand. “Are you alright?”

Hobi’s pushing his hair back from his face when you look over to him, his skin pale with a sheen of sweat on his forehead that catches in the light. His grip on your hand is still tight but it’s as if he doesn’t realise he’s still holding onto you, deep breaths pushing at his chest as he tries to steady himself. 

You straighten up and move closer to him, placing your hand on his chest and feeling his hammering heart beneath your palm.

“You didn’t have to do that, you know,” you tell him, finally gaining his attention so that he looks down at you. “I appreciate it, really I do,” you continue, smiling gently as you push some of his hair away from where it’s close to falling in his eyes. “But I could have waited. I wouldn’t have even minded if I hadn’t gotten to go in.” 

“Don’t tell me that now!” he whines dramatically and you laugh, squeezing his hand where he still holds you by his side. 

“I’m sorry,” you grin, bringing your free hand back down to his chest. “I still enjoyed it, although I’m more worried about you.” You eye him curiously as you ask your next question. “Why did you do that?”

Hobi’s gaze is steady as he looks down at you, breath finally levelling out. There’s no smile this time, just pure, unadulterated sincerity as he says, “because you wanted to.” 

You don’t even hesitate to lean up and press your lips against his, clutching the material of his shirt to pull him closer. His lips are soft and warm against yours and your mind is reeling with the realisation that you’re finally kissing him, here in the middle of a fair, both of you still high on adrenaline.

After the initial second passes and you don’t feel him kiss you back, you feel panic rising in your throat and you go to pull away, but a strong hand appears on the back of your neck and holds you close. You feel him kiss you back, a firm pressure on your lips, and a small whimper escapes your throat in relief, joy and lust for the man holding you. Feeling his fingers gently grip your hair threatens to buckle your knees and you feel him chuckle against your lips, the two of you finally pulling back to look at each other. 

The widest grin lights up Hobi’s features as he takes in your blushing face before leaning his forehead against yours. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to do that,” he confesses quietly, only loud enough for you to hear amongst the hubbub of the fair around you. 

“Really?” your voice is no more than a breathless whisper, a torrent of emotions flooding your body.

“Really,” he confirms, leaning back and bringing his hand from your hair back to your cheek. “The guys have been telling me to hurry up and make my move. I think they were getting sick of me pining over you,” he laughs, though the blush on his cheeks gives away his sudden bashfulness. “That’s why they made sure I was the last one so you’d pair up with me.”

“I thought they did that because Jungkook told them about me liking you!” you exclaim, your hand leaving Hobi’s shirt to point at yourself, your shock evident on your face. Several emotions flutter across Hobi’s features and you’re sure he wants to know more about you liking him, but right now he seems as content as you are to enjoy this moment of finally being honest with each other. 

“Well, all that matters now is that we know,” he says with a smile, brushing your hair back and tucking it behind your ear before tracing your jaw with his fingertips. 

“We do,” you confirm, returning your hand to his chest before pushing it up and over his shoulder, running your fingers through his dark hair at the nape of his neck. He leans in this time, taking your bottom lip gently between his own as his hand curls round the back of your neck, finally letting go of your hand only to hold you by the small of your back and pull your body close to his. Your now-free hand goes to his waist, bunching the material of his shirt between your fingers.

“Damn,” he breathes out as he pulls away. “This is even better than I imagined,” he grins, making you giggle and hide your face against his neck as you blush. “Does this mean I can give you this now?” he asks, keeping his hand on your back as he reaches into his back pocket and you look up, your curiosity piqued. He pulls out a small, folded paper bag with white and blue stripes, holding it out for you to take. You unfold it and tip out its contents to see the same silver bracelet you had been looking at earlier, its black and purple gems catching the lights around you. 

You look up at him in surprise, your questions clear in your eyes but not able to make it past your lips. “How did you-?”

“I saw you looking at it earlier, and then you said about wanting your boyfriend to get you something you’d actually like, so I went back when I threw that drink away,” he tries to appear nonchalant as he shrugs, but he pulls at his ear nervously and you smile, catching his choice of words.

“So, you’re my boyfriend now?” 

“Uh, I mean, I-” he’s flustered and you can’t help but laugh, wrapping your arms around his waist. “D-do you want me to be?” He looks down at you cautiously, hopeful but hesitant, and you nod.

“I do.”

“Yeah?”

“Well, considering I just kissed you twice in the middle of the fair, I’m not sure what more confirmation I can give you, Hobi.” He rolls his eyes playfully before wrapping both arms tightly around your waist and pressing numerous pecks to your face, from your nose to your cheeks to your forehead and finally your lips, although the last one is much more gentle and he takes his time with it. 

Parting for the third time, he rubs his nose against yours, a wide smile on his lips and yours. You’re not sure how long the two of you stand there wrapped up in each other, but you finally bring yourself to pull away from him. 

“Put it on me?” you ask, holding out the bracelet, and he carefully clasps the jewellery around your wrist, running his thumb tenderly over the chain. “I think we have to head back now,” he says, though you can hear the reluctance in his voice.

“Do we really have to?” you ask, pressing a gentle kiss to his neck and you feel him inhale sharply. “Can’t we just… not? Head home just the two of us?” Hobi’s chest rumbles as he laughs but his arms tighten on your waist, holding you close for a few more seconds before letting you go. He takes your hand in his, though, and gently intertwines your fingers as he starts walking you back to the spot you’d departed from just half an hour earlier. 

Half an hour, you think, that’s all it took for everything to change. 

Thank God for haunted houses. 

[charlthotte]

Breaking Through the Iron Wall - Aone Takanobu x Reader

Chapter 14

Rising on the cool Tuesday morning, I couldn't curtail a sense of joyous anticipation, as that very day I would leave for our practice match in Tokyo. However, as I scanned over the contents of my overnight bag - a tiny sliver of timorousness crept inside my mind: I simply couldn't help thinking of the worst. What if Shiro would leave us while we were away? Relentlessly, I tried to shrink those thoughts to the back of my head - but only to a slight avail, as that thought lingered, latched onto my fibres of being.

Capering down the stairs, I was greeted by the warm smile of my pyjama-clad father. Obviously, he had only recently arisen from the depths of slumber - his hair ruffled by the happenings of the night - his glasses laying skewed upon the bridge of his nose. "Hey, kiddo!" He spoke joyously, holding his arms out wide, "How are we feeling today?"

A humble meal stood on the table in front of me, a simple breakfast - nothing more. "Morning, Dad. I think I'm okay, a bit nervous at that"

"Don't be nervous! You get to spend a whole night in Tokyo of all places!" He hesitated, taking in my anxious aura, "I'm sure everything will go along just beautifully, be hopeful, kiddo." Smiling goofily, he bounded towards me - wrapping my body in an over-zealous bear hug - almost throttling me.

Sighing, I replied, "I'll try, thanks Dad"

We ate breakfast, chatting nonchalantly until I had no choice but to depart. Bidding me a heartfelt goodbye, hugging me until I was close to imploding. As I walked away, my luggage on tow - he waved and hollered feverishly, a stream of 'Goodbyes' and "I love yous' cascading from between his lips. I laughed at his antics, equalling his words but in a less incandescent manner. Even if the trip would only span one night, I'd still miss him nonetheless.

Upon arriving at the train station, little time passed before my train cruised along the tracks before me - and per usual - Takanobu was situated in his usual seat, seeming much more tranquil compared to the prior day. No longer was his face as troubled, yet it still harnessed an essence of anxiousness - but for an understandable reason. Neither of us felt the need to greet each other - simply acknowledging the other's presence as we always did. However, as we departed the carriage in tandem - a certain somebody laid his grievances bare, "(Y/N), do you think Shiro will be okay?"

"I hope he will be, but I can't really say much more."

"Can you be sure?" With saying that, his voice broke slightly - only highlighting his demeanour of worry.

Sighing, I paused, unsure of how to answer what he had asked, "Truthfully, we can't be sure. We have to hope for the best - nothing more, nothing less." Hopeless words, they were - but I couldn't offer him anything more.

"Okay..." He let out a shaky, breathless laugh, "I'll try. Thanks, (Y/N)."

"Don't mention it, it's not something worthy of thanks." And with that, he didn't care to speak afterwards - letting both of us fall into a revelling pit of gaucheness. Even during classes and breaks, that silence carried on until the coach journey to Tokyo as school ended. Somehow, even Futakuchi managed to not break a word.

The drive was to take a gruelling four hours of doing hardly anything. Occasionally, I would give directions to Coach Oiwake, the rest of my time being occupied by a book, as always. That was, until I felt a sudden jolt ricochet through the back of my seat - which of course, was gifted graciously by the grimace sat behind me. "Your Majestyyyyy, how long until we get thereeee?"` Futakuchi whined like a little kid, pursing out his bottom lip - mimicking a needy baby.

Behind me, sat Futakuchi and Takanobu - the prior jesting his usual jests and the latter; gazing out of the window, his eyes travelling along the road - occasionally latching onto a building or animal in the background. "Just under two and a half hours. That's if there aren't any mishaps."

"Well that sucks, I guess I'll just take a nap, then." He declared, reclining in his seat - letting his legs fall underneath my chair. Immediately, he kicked his head backwards, clamping his eyes shut, "So don't be too rowdy, you two." Falling silent after his sarcastic articulation. Feeling no apparent need to reply to him, I buried my senses back into my book, wishing for the ride to terminate.

Hardly any time had passed before the faint sounds of Futakuchi snoring rang out through the faint buzz of the team's chatter. However, little after that - a scheming Kamasaki crept up behind his chair - his eyes twinkling with devilish delight. The Machiavellian jumped from where he stood, severely startling the slumbering teen. That was when the environment gained an intense ambiance of chaos. Futakuchi screaming a slew of obscenities at his attacker, the latter defending himself relentlessly, explaining how the whole ordeal was simply a bit of friendly banter. Every other member of the team - in some way - was trying to make the conflict die down. However, with one single glance from Takanobu - Futakuchi immediately curtailed his fighting spirit - becoming a dog with its tail tucked between its legs.

"Now... Everyone leave me alone. Please and thank you" He declared curtly, a scorn scowl taking residence upon his face.

Not a single objection was made to that statement, everyone staying silent in trepidation of catalysing another ruckus. The situation pretty much stayed like that for the rest of the drive there - except from the odd 'Shut up' coming from Futakuchi's mouth. Yet, it was still far from peaceful - the constant murmur of voices in the background, distracting me from my novel.

As we arrived at our accommodation for the night, I could sense the team's excitement rising - even if the practice match was early in the next morning. Even the grimace's cocky exterior had shifted and let a ray of giddiness outwards. A rare sight to say the least.

Most of the team rushed into the inn, not paying attention to their rowdiness that was highly apparent to every person passing by. Their escapades were swiftly ushered away by a sighing Moniwa, commanding them to calm their turbulence.

The scene surrounding me was purely picturesque, it certainly wasn't something that you would expect from being in a mostly modern region of Tokyo. A serene, little river trickled down the side of the narrow road - endowed with numerous water lilies of various hues of white and pink. The water flowing through it was rather dark, yet somehow comforting - as you couldn't see just how deep you were falling in. Standing sturdily over the stream, was a bridge - made of many differing stones - each one a different shape, colour and consistency to the next. Adorning the river's surroundings - were flora and foliage - offering a natural touch to its metropolitan environment. I could have sat, gazing at that sight for hours on end; something about it felt weirdly nostalgic and comforting - as if it held some sort of importance to me.

However, that could never be the case, as I followed the rest of the team into our rooms. Being the manager, I had the privilege of having a room to myself, as sharing a room with any member of the team would have surely been catastrophic. 

At that time, the mid-evening sky had begun to grow a relaxing shade of scarlet - wispy clouds floating through it. There was no apparent need for food, seeing as though everyone had eaten on the drive there - so I laid on my futon, a book in hand. Dappled light shone through the window panes - casting light in peculiar patterns across the floor. Shadows swam across the walls, twirling along with the wind. Perhaps Tokyo wasn't going to be that bad after all...

A sudden knock on the door echoed through the room, "Come in." I said reflexively. The hinges creaked shrilly, as the unknown figure made its way passed the doorway. My instincts told me that Takanobu would be standing there - but alas, it was the fawn-haired Futakuchi, wearing a padded, navy jacket and a grey scarf draped around his neck.

"So, (Y/N). Aone and I were wondering if you'd like to go on a little stroll with us? And, don't worry - Coach Oiwake already said we were okay to do so." Futakuchi asked, seemingly out of his little tantrum from earlier.

Taken aback, I stood up from my futon, smoothing down my clothes, "Oh... Uh, Sure - I guess." Hurling on my coat and shoes as I exited the room. It seemed strange that Futakuchi was asking me to do such a thing - especially since he called me by my name, instead of some stupid nickname - after all, he had never expressed interest in socialising normally with me.

Briefly, I made eye contact with Takanobu, only for him to avert his gaze instantly - a nervous disposition on his face, as he looked down to the floor - his hands fiddling with something inside his pockets.

Sensing the awkward air, Futakuchi attempted to start a conversation, "Where do you guys want to go? I was thinking of following that river to see where it goes, is that fine with you two?"

Neither of us offered any opposition to his suggestion, Takanobu only nodded - while I hummed a little sound of affirmation. I didn't have anything better to do. It didn't take long before Futakuchi started talking about the most random things - trying not to be awkward himself, "Sooooooo, (Y/N), how different is Miyagi to Hokkaido?"

"Well, the different dialects were strange at first. But it is nice not seeing snow all the time, life near the Kitami mountains wasn't exactly... Perfect."

Awkwardly laughing, Futakuchi carried on with the small talk, as if he was trying to stall, "I guess so. Why did you move here though?"

"My mother had a promotion, and that meant that we had to move here." I replied, nonchalantly - perplexed by his sudden 'interest' in my life. And for the next half hour or so, he kept asking questions - some generic and some bizarre. It was slightly obvious that he didn't really care about my answers but instead, only used them as a method of delaying something. As that happened, Takanobu sauntered beside us - never uttering a word, but still fiddling with whatever object he was hiding inside of his pockets.

Abruptly, Futakuchi stopped dead in his tracks - as we had somehow arrived back at the bridge from before. The evening sky illuminated the water perfectly - as the waning sunlight hit each droplet of the river, it reflected back into my eyes. It almost sparkled. Each lily bobbed up and down in a majestic rhythm, acting as the river's heartbeat.

"Now, you two - I'll be heading back - so don't do anything stupid while I'm gone." The fawn-haired teen acquiesced, his usual aura becoming rather apparent. Smirking back to Takanobu and I while strolling back into the inn. 

As soon as Futakuchi disappeared behind the inn's doors, I felt a timid tap at my shoulder. Turning around, I was met with an equally timid Takanobu. He drew his hand out from his pocket, holding a flower - specifically a hydrangea. A flower that was used to show someone's gratitude for being understood by another. The flower's complexity would mirror that of the person giving it - and how the recipient learned to accept and understand that complexity, and maybe love them for it.

Immediately, Takanobu's face flushed over with a crimson wash - seemingly embarrassed by the gesture. But, I couldn't help but smile at the fact that he took the time to research into my interests, and use that knowledge to express the way he was feeling. To put it simply, I found it cute - adorable actually - the way that the man with the stoic and intimidating aura would appear so vulnerable in front of me. The inside of me was screaming with joy, that I tried my best to contain.

I held my right hand out to him, to indicate that I accepted his gesture - and as I took the flower from his, our hands brushed - only for an instant. His skin felt warm and clammy - as if his nervousness was running through his entire body.

 Through a bright smile, I began to speak, "Thank you, Takanobu. I'm happy that you can feel that way with me." A single tear of joy began to prick at my eye. Taking notice of that, Takanobu's arms scooped me into a comforting hug - without a single word.

Never before had I felt so unapologetically cheery. He was the first person to make me feel that way...

[dweemeister]

Yi Yi (2000, Taiwan)

At the beginning of Edward Yang’s Yi Yi (translated as “A one and a two…”), the film samples a piece adapted from the final movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. That movement, containing the “Ode to Joy” (its lyrics from a poem of the same name), was the composer’s refutation of a belief he held when he was younger – the necessity for heroic revolutionary leaders to deliver freedom to the masses. Napoleon’s declaration of himself as Emperor and the decisions made by the Congress of Vienna in 1804 and 1814-1815, respectively, obliterated political freedoms across Europe in favor of repressive police states. Beethoven was disillusioned by these developments. By the time of the Ninth Symphony’s debut, he was completely deaf and had endured decades of intense suffering. Within the lyrics in the “Ode to Joy” was Beethoven’s statement celebrating Enlightenment ideals – universal brotherhood in diversity, liberty, and an individual’s right to the pursuit of happiness. The pursuit of happiness, of course, guarantees neither happiness nor self-fulfillment, as Beethoven himself must have known. In that spirit, Edward Yang’s final film follows a middle-class Taiwanese family as each family member grasps for meaning and purpose. Films as keenly observant of the daily joys and disappointments of life such as Yi Yi are rare. It is a masterpiece of filmmaking and human drama.

Just before the turn of the twentieth to the twentieth-first century in Taipei lives the Jian family. Father NJ (Wu Nien-jen), mother Min-Min (Elaine Jin), teenage daughter Ting-Ting (Kelly Lee), and eight-year-old son Yang-Yang (Jonathan Chang) are attending the wedding reception of Min-Min’s brother A-Di (Chen His-Sheng). Shortly after the reception, Min-Min’s mother (Tang Ru-yun) falls ill and has a stroke. After emergency intervention and treatment in the hospital, she remains comatose following her discharge. But even before this development, Edward Yang has been laying the groundwork for his film’s intricate, but comprehensible, structure.

The film divides its time between the Jians, maintaining a delicate balance throughout (even if Min-Min is largely absent in the film’s second half). Downstairs from the wedding reception, NJ has a chance encounter with his ex-girlfriend Sherry (Ko Su-yun). Sherry wants to reconnect, answer lingering questions. Years removed from their relationship, NJ is busy with an unfulfilling job and an incoming visitor in Japanese businessman Mr. Ota (Issey Ogata). Min-Min – who falls into a depression upon seeing her mother’s comatose state – leaves for a Buddhist monastery well after Yi Yi settles into its rhythm. She only resurfaces just before the conclusion. At fourteen years old, Ting-Ting is witnessing others pursue romance as she develops romantic feelings of her own. As many former teenagers know, those are awkward years, guided by nothing resembling one’s present wisdom. The target of his classmates’ bullying and frequent condescending remarks from his teacher, Yang-Yang goes about his life mostly alone. Yet in his loneliness and quiet, he observes others astutely. “Daddy,” he asks, “I can’t see what you see and you can’t see what I see. How can I know what you see?… can we only know half of the truth?”

Yi Yi’s characters grapple with the unknowable, the misunderstood, and the unspoken truths that are just in front of them. Their stories interweave with each other’s, forming a current rippling gently through each of their lives. Characters are occasionally seen through windows with the camera positioned outside – at times obscured by a glare, at times seen clearly. In the former, the glare suggests the barriers of communication and temperament people develop for their own survival and sanity, or perhaps to delay something unpleasant and inevitable. When no glares are present, there is less conversational or behavioral pretense. But in those moments, the characters’ feelings of isolation – from family, friends, or society – envelop the frame. In each instance, Yang (who also wrote the film’s screenplay) and cinematographer Yang Wei-han (1985’s Taipei Story, 2008’s 1895) capture each character’s disorientation in navigating the course of their lives amid a bustling metropolis. These shots through the window also encapsulate how difficult it is for us to understand the perspectives of others. Yang-Yang could be onto something; maybe the best we can hope for is to know half of any human truth.

Those who have seen their share of Japanese cinema may already know what a pillow shot is (or at least the concept of one without knowing the term), and Yang uses something like this technique Yasujirô Ozu perfected in order to have the audience reflect on the scene that has just occurred. Instead of a silent moment intercut with shots of sides of buildings, power lines, neon signs, or tea kettles, Yang elects to have additional dialogue or music. Perhaps it comes in the form of Mr. Ota singing “Sukiyaki” (a song wracked with bitter disappointment in its lyrics) and following up by playing Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata while tipsy (Beethoven yet again!), Ting-Ting being annoyed by vocal patrons in a bagel joint, or Yang-Yang escaping his furious teacher by walking into a darkened auditorium where a different class is watching a science documentary. These moments, like Ozu’s pillow shots, have little to do with the film’s overarching storylines. They might serve as moments of characterization but they are, generally, instances of cinematic punctuation. Oftentimes, that punctuation is an ellipses, as many – not all – of the film’s most pivotal moments occur off-screen.

What does Yang unearth in these moments of reflection? The clash of Taiwanese and Western life elements is an aspect of Yi Yi – one could conceivably interpret the film of how the latter has disrupted the former to the detriment of the characters – but Yang does not seem interested in crafting a polemic. Some viewers who might not be as well-versed in modern Asian culture might be surprised by how simultaneously cosmopolitan and traditional Yi Yi may feel. A comedic trip to McDonalds, the Western cultural products, and the use of English in all conversations between NJ and Mr. Ota aside, the issues and conflicted feelings that arise are universal. Yi Yi does not challenge Confucian mores of family and traditional relationships, even if it occasionally pokes fun at tradition. Even though both of the Jian kids are largely left to their own devices (a combination of their father’s long work hours and their mother’s leave of absence to the monastery), they do not defy authority figures for the sake of defiance.

There are a handful of supporting figures in the film that are having sordid affairs. But these affairs, according to the film, are pathetic and self-debasing – no additional commentary required. Through the prisms of love or friendship, each character is lonely in some fashion. Each family member, with Yang-Yang the exception, acts upon their longing for connection, romantic or platonic, in search of their evolving (and, arguably, never fully-formed) idealizations of how their lives should be. Family life is not the sole defining foundation of modern human existence, as Yang is acutely aware of. And yet, even amid emotional strife and the flurry of activity across the film’s 173 minutes, it is the most stable, predictable, and life-affirming part of each character’s life.

At first glance, it might seem that Yang-Yang is a passive young boy, who only allows things to happen to him. It is difficult to describe this in a reasonable amount of time, but Yang-Yang goes about his life silently, undemandingly, without pursuing childhood notions of friendship or first crushes. It seems Yang-Yang is always observing with his eyes and the lens of his camera. The photos he takes capture things and facets of others that never appear in photographs – the other side of the half of the truth humans can understand. Upon the first presentation of these photos and the ideas behind them to his classmates and teacher, derision follows. But Yang-Yang’s wisdom appears in the film’s final minutes in solemn voice and an acceptance beyond his years. Maybe Yang-Yang’s motivations disappear with age and the pressing concerns of modernity, but his burden is now the viewer’s to bear.

Yi Yi cannot be as effective as it is without its ensemble cast. Though most of the cast are understated, each of their characters occupy their individual stillness and silences in their respective ways. As NJ, Wu Nien-jen portrays a middle-aged man better at internalizing a conflict of personalities than intervening in one. His presence always seems deep in thought, even if he cannot find the words to say immediately how he feels. For Kelly Lee as Ting-Ting, the character is soon to enter her early adult years to a world already so different from when she was younger. Lee’s elegant screen persona reminds me of the many silent film waifs – reticent, shy, earnest – that the likes of Mary Pickford might have played once. Jonathan Chang, the film’s anchor in Yang-Yang, portrays his character without any noticeable exaggerations in voice or physical movement. In silence, Chang makes his presence felt in translating a character exactly as written. And though just a supporting character with little screentime, Issey Ogata as Mr. Ota assumes a bilingual charm – and perhaps the closest the film ever comes to blurring the distinction between screenwriter and character.

This, Edward Yang’s final film before his untimely death in 2007, is the motion picture that cemented his reputation outside Taiwan. Premiering at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival, Yi Yi garnered widespread acclaim, a nomination for the Palme d’Or, and a Best Director win for Yang. His reputation across the world has only increased in recent years, thanks to home media releases of this film, Taipei Story (1985), and the dramatic epic A Brighter Summer Day (1991).

Viewers could mourn Yang’s passing as an auteur who never lived to become an international living legend of a director, or the sheer democratization and globalization of cinema that has taken place in the early twenty-first century that would have made such a distinction possible. Instead, in just considering Yi Yi by itself, we have a complete movie – one where every frame has purpose, and the viewer can accept the person that they have become and may still be. Yi Yi affirms a message that Yang and composer Peng Kai-li quote, musically, in the film’s opening minutes. The individual freedom to find one’s own happiness and fulfillment will result in suffering. Such is to exist. Such is to be human. In that suffering, one experiences the possibilities of empathy and the fullness of their humanity.

My rating: 10/10

^ Based on my personal imdb rating. Yi Yi is the one hundred and sixty-third feature-length or short film I have rated a ten on imdb. My interpretation of that ratings system can be found in the “Ratings system” page on my blog (as of July 1, 2020, tumblr is not permitting certain posts with links to appear on tag pages, so I cannot provide the URL).

For more of my reviews tagged “My Movie Odyssey”, check out the tag of the same name on my blog.

[ravenforce]

Manhattan 7

Word Count: 4999

Pairing: Lou Miller x Fem!Reader, Background Platonic Avengers x Fem!Reader, Platonic Oceans 8 x Fem!Reader

Warning/s: Too many time jumps. 

A/N: I’M SORRY.

Parts: 1 |  2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9

***

“I can’t believe we made it,” Tony cried out as he holds you from behind. You leaned back against him. You’re gathered at one corner of the quad with the rest of the Avengers, hugging and congratulating each other after finally finishing university. The place is packed with the graduates and their families, as well as the whole faculty and staff. You looked around and wished Lou was there with you too. 

“Congratulations, love.” 

You nearly tripped on your robe in your haste to disentangle yourself from Tony’s arms. You looked behind him with wide eyes. Standing there, smiling softly at you is your girlfriend Lou. She looked breathtaking in her baby blue suit with a dozen sunflowers in her hands. 

“You said you’re in Prague?” Thor asked, standing behind you. Loki sidled up next to him, squinting at their sister. Lou never took her eyes off of you as she shrugs. 

“I was -” She answered, her lips curling up ever so slightly. “But I couldn’t miss this day for Y/N.”

“What?” Thor and Loki gasped dramatically, prompting everyone to laugh while Lou just walks up to you. You immediately melted against her when she pulled you into a bone-crushing hug. 

“You know this isn’t my first college graduation, right?” You whispered against her ear, making her shiver and laugh. She pulled back to give you a gentle kiss on your temple. 

“I know but I still wanna be here for you.”

“We heard that,” Thor grumbled half-heartedly.

“Heard what?”

“That Lou just came home for Y/N.” The fake pout on Loki’s face was both hilarious and endearing.

You tried to stand on your tiptoes to see over your girlfriend’s shoulder when you think you heard Nine’s voice. Lou chuckled before taking pity on you and turning you around to see everyone without having to extricate yourself from her. 

“Hi,” Tammy greeted you with a loving smile. With Lou holding you by the waist, your arms were free to reach out for Tammy. She laughed before indulging you. You inhaled deeply. You always love how Tammy always smells so clean like freshly laundered linen.

“What are you guys doing here?” You whispered against her shoulders, the ends of her soft, golden hair tickling your face. 

“We were told Lou’s buying everyone lunch.” Lou cocked her eyebrow at her best friend. And after dating Lou and working closely with Debbie for a year now, you can almost hear the silent conversation between them.

“I am?” 

“You are,” you confirmed, making everyone cheer. "You told me on the phone last night how proud you are of everyone, and how it’s been too long since you’ve taken them out.” 

“She did?” Thor asked, quite surprised. You gave Lou a quick wink. She grinned when she realized what you’re doing. Not that she thinks its necessary since she’s sure her brothers aren’t really being serious.

“So, lunch. Your choice, kids.” Surprisingly, no one complained about being called kids in the prospect of free food. The team huddled closer together to discuss their options. 

“Please, for the love of all that is good and holy. Let it not be Applebees,” Daphne prayed quietly beside her girlfriend, Debbie. Yet still audible to those in close proximity, making the Heist crew chuckle at the brunette’s dramatics. 

***

Lou drove expertly around town in her 2019 Porsche Cayenne while her free hand hold yours. You ignore Nine’s complaining about how sickly sweet you two are.

“Where are we going?” Lou asks, mostly to herself, as she trails behind Thor and Nat’s car. Everyone decided to carpool, knowing how hard it is to get parking in the city. Before you can answer though, the car stopped in front of Le Coucou in Soho. You glanced outside, while Lou started laughing, and Nine sat forward.

“Wow -” Nine mused with mirth in her tone. “I didn’t think your brothers can be so vindictive.”

Nine chuckled before gently pushing Tammy to exit through her side. The blonde softly grumbled about how the woman is always so rough, making you chuckle as you exit the vehicle yourself. The rest of the Heist is already waiting for you at the side Le Coucou, carefully avoiding not to block the sidewalk. Lou caught up with you easy after making sure that the car was locked. Damn her and her long, beautiful, strong legs.

“I’ll give it to you, boys. Good choice,” Constance says after arriving at the private room reserved ahead of you. She and Nine gave everyone high-fives, making Debbie and Lou roll their eyes playfully.

Loki and Thor shared a proud look on their faces. “We’re still Odinsons, after all.” 

***

Lunch was extremely fun. For the most part, it felt like it’s been forever since you and the rest of the Avengers sat down and have a proper meal. Due to everyone’s crazy schedule leading up to graduation, everyone was cramming to get every requirement done. After dessert, Lou allowed everyone to order alcohol, except for Nat and Thor who were, unfortunately, the designated driver.

“Y/N, choose our first poison.” Tony nearly yelled in his excitement but dialled it down to an acceptable volume when Pepper pinched his arm. You giggled before sauntering away to the bar.

While you were busy scanning the wine, cocktails, and spirits list, Nat and Carol bumped into Lou when the latter was about to exit the washroom. There was a beat of awkward silence before Nat cleared her throat.

“Thanks for today, sestra.” Lou smiled upon hearing the nickname the founding kids used to call her when they’re all still cute, little angels.

“What for?”

“For today, and -” Nat paused, not sure if what she’s about to say is appropriate. Lou waited patiently, like a good big sister.

“- and for taking care of Y/N.” Carol finished for her girlfriend.

“Look at you two, finishing each other’s sentences.” Lou joked, making the two squint their eyes at her. She ruffled each of their red and blonde heads affectionately, effectively distracting the two.

“You don’t have to thank me for that. I love her.”

“We know.” Both spoke at the same time.

“Just don’t hurt her, okay?” Nat said seriously warned.

“I won’t, you have my word.”

You smiled softly on the ground, as you lean against the wall of the hallway outside the washroom. For your part, you didn’t mean to eavesdrop. You actually needed to wash your hands after Loki made you spill your drink while he and Clint were horsing around.

***

“Ugh! Finally,” you said as you plop down on Lou’s bed. Mostly it’s your shared bed now. Since, if you two are being honest, you’ve been sleeping there more than you sleep in your own bed.

“Take your clothes off, baby.” You rolled to your side to look at her while she wipes away her makeup in the adjacent bathroom.

“Wow, no foreplay?” You have a sly smile on your face when Lou looked back at you through the mirror.

“No. You’ve been wearing that dress all day, and you’re getting germs all over out sheets, silly.” You pouted adorably before sitting up and walking towards the bathroom as well.

“Well, you can’t fault a girl for trying.” You turned your back against her, and immediately she knew what you were asking. She dragged the zipper of your tight black dress down slowly. You watch her through the mirror, and something about the way she looks at you - like, you’re the most beautiful girl in the world - just makes your knees buckle.

You thanked her with a quick kiss on the cheek before stepping out of your dress. You undress while walking towards the shower. You knew that she was following your every move. So, you added a little sway to your hips before stepping into the shower. You threw her a sultry look that made her scramble to join you.

***

Nothing beats post-shower sex cuddling. Your hair was still a little wet as you lay your head on Lou’s chest. She kept scratching your scalp while staring at the ceiling. She smiled when she felt you yawning.

“Hey, don’t sleep yet. I still haven’t given you your gift.”

“I thought seven orgasms was the gift.” Lou laughed so hard, shaking you awake.

“Stop laughing. You’re disturbing my peace.” You said softly while burrowing yourself closer to her.

That only made her laugh even more. You grumbled before sitting up and rolling on top of her. Her left hand reached out to caress your cheeks, and you immediately closed your eyes and leaned on her touch. Her other hand, reached under her pillow where she’s keeping a velvet box.

“Open your eyes, love.”

You did, and she nearly shoved the box in your hands. You rolled off her and sat crossed leg next to her on the bed.

“Lou?”

“Open it.”

She watches as your eyes lit up after opening the package. It’s a simple 18k golden necklace with a thin chain, and a small infinity ornament in the middle from Tiffany and Co. You run your finger along the chain before looking up at her bright blue eyes.

“Do you like it?” You had to bite your lip at how adorable she looks when she’s unsure. You smiled before shutting the box and pulling her for a deep, passionate kiss.

“I love it. Thank you,” you said after the need for air made you pull away. You leaned your forehead against her. “I love you.”

She let out a watery chuckle. “I love you, too, Y/N Y/L/N.”

She pulled away and reached for the box. You knew what she wanted to do. So, you manoeuvred in bed to turn your back to her. You hastily pulled your hair to one side as Lou puts the jewellery around your neck.

“How does it look?”

Now, it's her turn to run her fingers across the necklace sitting comfortably against your chest. “It looks perfect.”

You chuckled at the dreamy look on her face before pushing her to lay back down. You cuddle against her chest again. Once, comfortable in your previous position, you immediately felt sleep pulling you under. Lou kissed the top of your head, once your eyes closed.

“I’m yours until every last star in the sky dies,” she whispered, thinking you were already asleep. You smiled because you heard it.

***

Promotion was the Heist’s gift to you for your graduation. You came to work early with Lou, and you had no idea until Debbie made the announcement on the mandatory Monday meeting. You sat on your seat next to Tammy and Nine, gaping at your boss turned friend as everyone smiles and claps in celebration.

“I don’t know what to say,” you whispered loud enough for everyone to still hear. Tammy - good, sweet Tammy - turned towards you and gave you a soft kiss on the cheeks.

“Say you’ll take it.”

“Thank you.” You pulled her in for a quick hug before you turned to the room and thank each and every one of them for the opportunity and the trust.

“You deserve this,” Agatha and Charlie said at the same time when you came over to thank them too “Don’t ever doubt that.”

It was not that you didn’t foresee being promoted. Every person with a job’s goal is to be promoted at some point in their career. You just didn’t think it’ll be as soon as you graduate from your second degree. Lou can almost see the internal musing going on in your face by simply watching you space out for a few seconds. Like clockwork, she was there to offer you a hand to hold when things are threatening to become overwhelming.

“Sorry! I’m late!” Daphne burst into the conference room, looking way too put together for a Monday morning. She held up two bottles of wine. “I didn’t think it’ll be too hard to find an open liquor store at ten in the morning.”

“So where’d you get these?” Nine asks as she inspects the expensive-looking bottles of wine, while Daphne sheds her overcoat.

“I broke into Lou’s apartment.”

***

Six months after becoming The Heist’s gallery manager, you’ve proven yourself a very valuable asset to the team that Debbie started bringing you along with her when she’s making art deals all over the world. Lou wasn’t too happy being separated from you for a long period of times but she knew she had to suck it up because you’re just doing your job. She surmised that the longest she can go without you was two weeks before she starts getting cranky.

It’s, all the same, all the time. No matter how many times Debbie has taken you on an overseas meeting, Lou would still feel a pang in her chest every time she drives you to the airport.

“Don’t pout, I’ll always come back to you.” You promised. Lou sighed when you wrapped your arms around hers.

Debbie asked you to follow her in London to attend a seminar sponsored by Tate Modern, as well as meet one of Tate Modern’s museum curator for an art exchange. You were ecstatic and a little bit sad at the same time. You wished Lou could come with you all the time but she can’t be away at the same time as Debbie. And in an event that they are, you’ll have to stay in the gallery to supervise.

“I know but you haven’t even left yet, and I miss you already.”

“I miss you too.” You mumbled against her chest, Lou kisses the top of your head. “But it’s only going to be a week this time.”

***

London was fantastic. Debbie knew right away that it was the right call to have you attend the seminar. If the way your eyes shine coupled with unrestrained smiles and overflowing stories of your day was to go by. It’s your fifth day in town and will be flying back in two days. Some days are lazier than usual, and in those days, Debbie either takes you out to see tourists traps or allows you to explore on your own.

“Thank you,” you say softly as Debbie scan the menu. You two will be meeting one of the Directors of Tate Modern but they wouldn’t be joining until late. So, Debbie decided that it’s better to go into battle with a full stomach and have dinner beforehand.

“What for?”

“Everything.”

Debbie looked at you curiously. You just shoot her a charming smile that she knows is one of the reasons why her blonde best friend is so enamoured by you. 

“You don’t have to thank me for anything. What you have and where you are is a product of who you are, Y/N. You deserve the world. You deserve her.”

You smile. Something settled inside of you, with the knowledge that Debbie approves of you.

“Still.” You insisted teasingly.

Debbie didn’t hide the playful roll of her eyes. “Besides, sometimes, we feel like it’s us who doesn’t deserve you.”

***

You took a minute to admire your beautiful girlfriend as she waits impatiently on the side of the airport road. She’s leaning casually against the side of her car with her arms crossed over her chest, and drumming her fingers against her arms.

“Hey.” She startled a little when you greeted her from a foot away.

“Hey,” she greeted back before tugging you against her for a much-awaited hug. You chuckled when she rubbed her face against your hair. “I missed you so much.”

“I miss you more.”

“Let’s go home.” You held in the urge to tell her that she’s your home before Lou pulled out of the airport lot.

The drive back to her apartment was filled with so many stories from both your adventure in foreign soil and the things she did to keep herself entertained and sane while you were gone.

***

For a whole week, your time in London was all the crew talks about. You were gracious enough to repeat them to whoever is asking again. By Friday, Mikhail, the museum director from Tate Modern came to town to personally manage the loans. Everyone was ecstatic until he mentioned something you honestly have forgotten already on dinner with the crew. Everything is basically ready on your end, so he’s going back to London.

“So, Y/N. Did you manage to think it through?”

You chuckled awkwardly. Everyone’s suddenly watching you, curious.

“The answer is still the same, unfortunately.”

Mikhail pouted. “Ah. If you change your mind, the offer stands. For as long as I’m the museum director that is.”

The conversation started without a hitch after that but you can see Lou looking at you with an expression you couldn’t read.

***

Aside from making some occasional non-verbal sounds to let you know, she’s listening, Lou was almost mute for the duration of your drive home. At one point, you stopped talking as well, not wanting to force a conversation out of her.

“So?” She started as she stomps around the apartment. You closed the door gently behind you.

“What are you asking, Lou?” You hang your coat on the rack before facing her. The stony expression still on her face.

“Are you gonna tell me?” She crossed her arms over her chest protectively. “About that offer.”

“If I remembered earlier, yes.”

It’s the truth. You have subconsciously boxed the offer to stay in London and be Mikhail’s new junior curator because you weren’t gonna take it. So you put it in the back of your head, thinking nothing of it until the man brought it up an hour ago.

“How can you forget an offer like that?” Honestly, you didn’t know either. So, you shrug which only infuriated Lou further.

“Does it matter? I didn’t take it, and I wasn’t gonna take it.”

“It matters!”

It’s the first time in your year-long relationship that Lou ever raised her voice at you. Only then that you knew she’s truly upset about the situation, and you really don’t know how to fix it. You tried to step closer to her, only for her to step to her side and turn her back on you. You can see the stormy expression on her face through the window. It’s a look, you immediately know you didn’t want to cause her again, ever.

“I should go. Let’s just talk when you calmed down.”

Nothing. She said nothing. So you nodded to yourself before turning on your heel and leave.

***

Lou was radio silent throughout the weekend. Saturday you cleaned your own apartment since it has started to accumulate dust from staying over at Lou’s most of the time. You finished laundry before lunch. You went to have a late lunch with Maria, Wanda, Carol and Natasha. They assured you it’s gonna be okay, that Lou will come around soon enough.

You had faith that she’ll text you good night, at least. You stayed way past midnight but there was no text. Not a single one. Sleep was rough, waking was even worst. You’ve gone accustomed to waking next to her warmth. It was a little disorienting not to have her sleepy kisses against your shoulders to wake you.

You stared at the ceiling for a minute before checking your phone on the nightstand. Your heart sunk into your stomach when you see the same thing. No message. No calls. Nothing. You sat on your bed, chewing on your bottom lip, writing and rewriting a text to her.

“Hey. Can we talk yet?” You hit send before you can second guess yourself.

It took two hours before Lou replied. “Not yet.”

That’s it. That’s all it said. You text her back an affirmative before drawing the blackout curtain and going back to bed. You’re not gonna cry because you know you two can fix this. It’s just a bump in the road, you think before closing your eyes and falling back to sleep.

***

You woke up to the sound of your phone’s alarm clock. When you checked it, you bolted upright. It says, Monday and that can’t be right because if it is, then you slept the whole Sunday away. That must be why you’re fucking hungry. You did your morning routine faster than your normal speed to be able to get breakfast at your favourite cafe near the gallery.

You were energized by the fact that you’re seeing Lou today. Unfortunately, when you arrived at the office, Agatha immediately told you to go straight to Debbie’s office. Debbie was on her laptop, typing frantically.

“Hey. You wanted to see me?” You said instead of a greeting. She smiled at you before turning back to her laptop. You walked further into her office.

“Yeah. I was gonna do it myself but something came up.” You quirked an eyebrow at her. Then she nodded towards her desk where a ticket is sitting with your name on it. When you didn’t immediately jump into the idea of leaving, she stopped typing and looked at you.

“Hey. I know what happened -” That made you look back at your friend. “Lou told me. I’m sorry but I need you to see this through.”

You sighed before taking the ticket. “She wanted me gone that bad, huh?” You smiled sadly before squaring your shoulder.

“It’s not -”

“It’s okay.” With that, you’re gone. You left Agatha and Charlie a list of things you needed their help with, which they agreed to easily. You thanked them, told them they’re the best team you could ever ask for. On your way out, Constance and Rose bumped into you. You only smiled at them before leaving to get ready for your flight.

***

Finishing the loan with Tate took another three days. Another three days away, another three days of radio silence from Lou. You couldn’t sleep on your flight back. You kept wondering if this was it for the both of you. You refuse to accept it and resolved that you’ve given her more than enough time to calm down.

You decided you two are gonna talk like adults and fixed your relationship. You refuse to give up without trying. You gave her building address to the taxi driver and stewed at the back seat anxiously. You nearly tripped on your haste to get to her floor. You can’t wait to see her, you rang her doorbell twice but no one answered.

You were about to leave when you thought, what if she’s inside and intentionally not answering the door to avoid you. So, you took out the key she gave you to get in. The apartment was quiet. You walked silently into the room, and you immediately wished you didn’t. Lou heard the creaking of the floor and she turned white as a sheet when she saw you standing on the doorway.

“Y/N -” She whispered before glancing at the woman sleeping soundly on YOUR side of the bed.

Your eyes are glassy with unshed tears. “I came home as fast as I could but apparently, there’s nothing more for me to fix here.”

You were brokenhearted along time ago when Maria didn’t choose you, or so you thought. You thought you knew what heartbreak meant. Now you know the difference. You took a step back, Lou jumped out of the bed to follow you. She caught you by the wrist at the living room. You were too slow, you felt your feet and your heart as heavy as lead.

“Y/N -” She stopped before she can even start when she saw the devastation in your face. It’s devoid of your warm smile, and your eyes - god, what has she done - looked dead. “I’m sorry.”

The tears you were willfully keeping at bay run freely down your cheeks at that. That’s all you get for your pain, an apology. “Why?”

Lou started pacing, unable to stomach the sight of you crying. “I bumped into Therese at the flea market a week ago, and we got into talking again.” You just sat on the couch you both choose for her apartment, crying silently as not to wake her sleeping guest.

So that’s why she wasn’t reaching out. While you were respecting her and giving her space, she allowed Therese to fill up the void. You wiped your face even though it was futile because your eyes just won’t stop crying. You looked at her, and even though she looked remorseful, Lou didn’t look like she intends to fix this mess with you. If anything, she looked determined, and all you could do was resign to your fate.

“I’m so sorry, Y/N.” She has tears in her eyes as well. You smiled sadly at her before standing to leave. She stayed seated, crying. You wiped the tears on her face.

“I wish you just broke up with me on a text. Anything -” You choked in the middle. “Anything is better than this, Lou.”

You leaned down to kiss the top of her head. She cried harder after the door closed behind you because she knew you’ve already forgiven her.

***

Therese walked out of the bedroom fully clothed. She leaned against the door frame, crossing her arms against her chest. She watches Lou throwback glass after glass of expensive scotch like it doesn’t burn her throat.

“I’m starting to regret agreeing to this.”

Lou didn’t even look at her. She just down two more glasses simultaneously. “This is for the best.”

Therese thought of how you sounded while crying. It was heartbreaking, even her heart constricted at the sound. She never wished to hurt you by being an accomplice to a lie but Lou was adamant that it was the only way.

“For you or for her?”

Lou looked back at the brunette with anger in her stormy blue eyes. “For her, of course.”

“Is it? Did she sound like she felt better?” Lou looked at her feet before pouring herself another glass.

“She would never go.”

“Maybe - “ Therese shrugs. She never really knew you to tell. “But maybe. It could have worked out too if you gave her a chance.”

“To what?” Lou stood and started pacing the floor. “To stretch herself thin by working in a god damn museum, and stay up late or wake up early just to speak to me? I’m just going to be a burden to her.”

“I’m sorry, Lou but that wasn’t your choice.”

***

Two days after, Debbie announced your departure to become Tate Modern’s newest junior art curator. Lou excused herself from the meeting. She got what she wanted, she knows you’re going to do great things out there without her standing in the way. She just hopes that one day you can forgive her.

Taglist:  @kaytoopio​​​​​​​ @marvelfansince08love​​​​​​​ @marvelb00kwolf​​​​​​​ @shycucumbersandwich​​​​​​​ @subject7creed​​​​​​ @inkstainedhandsofgold​​​​​