#what im saying is that we should have a three days weekend | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

luxaofhesperides · 5 months

Text

greener on the other side.

Danny makes a habit out of hopping into portals and exploring the places he ends up. It just so happens that this time, he ends up in Gotham right as the Signal begins his patrol. Duke meets the strangest, funniest, cutest guy on the roof of the Gotham City Public Library. He knows Batman would not approve of literally anything he's doing, but sue him, he wants a meta friend and this guy seems to be up for it. -- OR: how Duke and Danny get together despite having secret identities and living in different dimensions.

chapter three: how it shines - 8.6k

read the entire fic on ao3!

the final chapter of this fic... and the end to the first fic in the series!! theres a lot i say in the end notes of ao3 so i highly recommend reading this chapter there! . . .

Signal: you ever feel like maybe the world is out to get you

Signal: [attached photo shows Signal lying in the middle of a torn up road, post-fight, his helmet lightly blackened with ash.]

Danny: buddy, the world has already taken me out

Danny: [attached photo is a selfie of Danny, frowning at the camera. Behind him, a large, flying robot is pointing a rocket launcher at him.]

Signal: okay, you win. are you alright???

Danny: lol im fine. this literally happens every week i know how to beat this guy up

Danny: tbh i think the real threat to my existence is school

Signal: so true. one day we will be free of it….

Danny: but not today

Signal: but not today

Danny: got a minute?

Signal: yeah what’s up?

Danny: u have a secret identity

Signal: …yes?

Danny: have u told other people abt ur secret identity

Signal: yes? but some of them just kinda found out on their own

Signal: why?

Danny: how did that go. did they react well? did u have to defend urself from them?

Signal: there were some problems about me throwing myself in danger, but i was always safe with them

Danny: okay. cool. got it.

Signal: everything okay?

Danny: im thinking about telling my parents a secret about me. im kinda terrified of how they’re going to react

Signal: are you coming out to them?

Danny: in a way i guess.

Danny: gonna recruit my sister into helping me talk to them. and also get rid of all their weapons beforehand so there’s a lower chance of them shooting me

Signal: shooting you?!?!? dude are you going to be okay??? don’t do anything that could get you hurt!!

Danny: gtg

Signal: dude??

Signal: danny?

Signal: let me know how it goes, okay? i can’t travel through dimensions like you can, but i can figure something out if you need a rescue

Signal: good luck danny!

Danny: ever get into a fist fight with a walmart knock off vampire in the parking lot of a burger joint?

Danny: [attached photo is Danny’s hand flipping off a man hovering in a parking lot. He’s wearing a cape and vampire-coded clothes.]

Signal: ever have a snack break in the middle of fighting a crocodile man?

Signal: [attached photo shows Signal holding up a half eaten taco, a giant crocodile man behind him with his own box of tacos. They’re sitting next to each other in an alley.]

Danny: point to u bc u actually got food

Signal: 😝

Signal: also, everything okay? with your parents?

Danny: let’s not talk about that.

Signal: okay. but if you do want to talk, i’ll be here for you

Danny: idk if dash is trying to annoy me into another fling or if he actually wants me to throw him across the field but if he doesn’t back off im going for violence

Signal: uh

Danny: THAT WAS MEANT FOR TUCKER IM SO SORRY

Signal: should i be jealous that someone is hoping for another fling with you lol

Danny: it was once and will never happen again. 1) he’s not my type 2) he’s so annoying

Danny: also why would u get jealous of anyone ure literally a hero? hello?

Signal: hey man that guy is with you in your dimension and im all the way over here

Signal: totally reasonable for me to get jealous!! this is like a more extreme version of having online friends

Danny: true… hey i can swing by for the weekend if u want!! honestly the less time i spend here the better

Signal: that bad?

Danny: i’ve known everyone here for my entire life. i need OUT

Danny: gothams cool! its a big city with things to do!!! obviously im gonna like it more than Normal Town Illinois 🤮

Signal: weather is bad all week tho…. even if you come over we wouldnt be able to go out

Signal: its been a while since we had a storm so bad

Danny: man if that was happening here i would be able to punch the storm away

Signal: im taking that as a joke

Danny: no i literally punched a storm away before. he was a dick tho he deserved it

Signal: ….this is still Normal Town Illinois right?

Danny: .

Danny: ok fine maybe u have a point

Danny: anyways!!! i just wanna hang out with you dude i would be happy just playing video games or something

Signal: we can do that!! let me know when u get here 😊

Signal: and good luck dealing w this dash guy!!

Danny: ugh dont remind me

Signal: hye u know our plana to hang out tody

Signal: maybe rain chek tht im not goos company rn

Danny: u ok? i can always come by some other weekend

Signal: got hit and everythif bad

Danny: did u hit ur head?

Signal: yes

Danny: ok im going to call u so you can stop looking at ur phone screen. just in case u have a concussion

The phone rings twice before Signal picks up. He mumbles something that might be a hello, but it’s honestly hard to tell.

“Hey, man,” Danny says, leaning back in his chair to look up at the faded glow in the dark stars he stuck up on his ceiling years ago. “Are you okay?”

Signal hums a vague response, then sighs, sending static down the line. “Just got a headache right now. Can’t even go out since it’s too bright.”

“Is it sunny in Gotham right now?”

“No, it’s super cloudy and that’s still too much. I hate concussions.” There’s a bit of a whine in his voice that reminds Danny that under the helmet, Signal is a normal guy just like anyone else. And like everyone else, powers don’t save him from the pain of brain trauma.

Danny would know; he’s gotten pretty good at taking care of injuries and the such through his high school career of getting tossed in lockers and attacked by ghosts. He’s pretty sure parts of his brain are still rattled from the amount of times he’s been thrown into and through walls.

“I hear you, man,” Danny commiserates, “Head injuries are the worst. But it should start feeling better in a few days, so you can just stay home and relax until the pain stops.”

“Ugh, I wish. I still have to go to school tomorrow.”

“Dude, that sucks. If you can stay home sick, then don’t force yourself to go. Concussions are no joke.”

Signal hums again, then mumbles, “I can’t think of an excuse. Cause the concussion is from being hit on patrol so like. I can’t say that! I have to figure out a reason for my civilian identity to have a concussion.”

“Can I suggest something?”

“Please, I’ll take anything at this point, man. My brain is done for.”

“Make up an embarrassing story. You have to make yourself look silly and people will believe you more and not ask follow up questions because you’re too embarrassed to say more.”

“...Keep talking. This sounds viable. The only advice I got was to basically fake my death or get into a car accident to get more injured.”

“I think you need to fight whoever said that,” Danny says, “That is horrible advice.”

“I know!” Signal laughs. “Oh I shouldn’t have laughed, my head is hurting more.”

Danny lets out a slow breath, tilting his head back to look up at the ceiling of his bedroom. If he strains his hearing, he can make out the rustle of fabric from Signal’s end of the call as well as the murmur of his parent’s voices downstairs. He closes his eyes and focuses on the call, pushing away the heavy weight of regret on his chest that hits him each time he thinks about his parents.

Now is not the time for that. Signal needs calm and quiet, so Danny is going to give that to him and then let him go to rest.

“Are you drinking enough water? Getting some comfort food?”

“Yeah, I’m being taken care of. Don’t worry Danny, I got a whole crew of dysfunctional caretakers.”

“Good. I’ll let you get back to resting, then.”

“I’m still so sorry I had to cancel. I was looking forward to seeing you again.”

Warmth rises to his cheeks and Danny rubs a hand against them, trying to ignore the butterflies in his stomach that came to life at those words. “We can always do a different day. Let me know when you feel better, okay?”

“Yeah, alright. Thanks, Danny.”

“I hope you feel better soon, Signal. I missed you too.”

There’s a pause where Danny’s heart pounds hard against his chest, as though trying to escape his ribcage. He bites his tongue, wondering it that was too much, if he made things weird, if Signal didn’t feel the same way.

And then Signal says with a soft voice, “I can’t wait to see you again. You’re too sweet to me.”

“Okay!” Danny squeaks, cheeks aflame, “Go sleep, Signal! I’ll talk to you once you can look at a screen again.”

“Alright. Thanks, Danny.”

“Of course, dude. Bye.”

Signal makes a soft mumble that could be ‘bye’ but it’s hard to tell with Signal’s voice going all rough and low, exhausting in every sound, and then the call is ending.

Danny drops the phone onto his desk and draws his knees up to hold them against his chest. He rests his chin on them, filled with longing for Gotham.

Not just for the Signal, though that’s a big part of it. But for the anonymity of a big city in a dimension where he doesn’t exist. A place where he can be himself, just Danny instead of being torn between his parent’s son and Phantom. Plus, Gotham has heroes! Not other ghosts, not ghost hunters, but people with superpowers who help people whenever they can.

It would be nice to be someplace like Gotham where he wouldn’t have to carry the responsibility of protecting an entire city on his shoulders. It would be nice to have friends who understand why he can’t not give his all to protect people, regardless of how they feel for him, friends who make the same choice, friends who aren’t weighed down by guilt with their part in his death.

As much as he loves Sam and Tucker, he knows that will be something that haunts them for the rest of their lives.

It’s better now that it had been in freshman year, but it’s still something that changed them all. He’ll always love them, and he knows they love him, but they need to spend some time apart.

In Amity Park, they’re the outsiders who are too weird for the rest of the school, outcasts who stick together, a tightly knit group full of secrets. They’ve been each others only friends for the longest time; sometimes, others come in and out of their lives, like Valerie, but the bond he has with Sam and Tucker can’t be replicated.

They need to be with new people to grow any more. He can see how they’re holding each other back.

They’ll always find a way to be together, but they have to be apart first.

Gotham will be good for that.

Hell, any place in that dimension would be good!

Danny just wants to be more than he is, wants to be better and he can’t do that here or with his friends.

And he certainly can’t do that with his parents.

After telling them about everything’s he’s done as Phantom, all the times he’s ruined their inventions or fought with the GIW or endangered people through his fights with other ghosts, his parents just stared at him. They were seated around the kitchen table, Jazz standing behind Danny with a comforting hand on his shoulder, as his parents just… stared.

There were no accusations of possession, no weapons drawn, no demands for an explanation. Just a haunted look in his parents eyes as they went silent, still, horrified.

“Danny,” his mom had whispered, “You mean you’re—”

“I’m Phantom, yeah. The ghost menace,” he had answered.

“You’re dead,” she finished as if he hadn’t spoken. “You died and we didn’t… we never noticed. What— How—”

The thing about being Phantom is that Danny knows he died. He knows he came back changed. But he doesn’t like thinking about it, still wakes up from nightmares of electricity racing through his body, frying him from inside out as it stops and restarts his heart in an endless painful pattern. Yes he died, but he got powers out of it! He got to meet other ghosts, explore the Infinite Realms, do so many cool things no one else is able to do…

But he still died. Half of him is still dead. He’s never going to be the kid he once was.

“It was an accident,” he had whispered, “With the portal. The on button is inside it, and when I went in for some stupid picture, I tripped and hit it.”

“And we only cared about the portal working,” his dad had said, grief coloring every line in his face. “We didn’t even look at you. We just went straight for the portal. We were so happy to be right that we didn’t stop to think about what it meant, how it could have happened…”

The tears he saw well up in his parents eyes made his heart twist uncomfortably in his chest. For several long minutes, silence settled around them as his parents closed either eyes are stared down at the table, refusing to look at him. Jazz had squeezed his shoulder, then pulled him up out of his seat.

“Danny, go upstairs. Or to Tucker’s place. I need to have my own talk with them,” she had said. There was a steel in her gaze that told Danny there was no use in arguing, so he walked out the front door and transformed so he could fly out into the woods where he could be alone, watching the sky change colors as the sun set.

It’s been two weeks since then. His parents still can’t look at him for too long. They can’t look him in the eyes at all.

He wonders if he would have preferred them trying to kill him. At least then they would acknowledge that he’s still here instead of moving around him as if he’s a memory haunting the halls of their home, one they’re too guilty to face just yet.

He misses his dad’s loud voice and enthusiasm. He misses his mom’s quick wit and quicker reflexes. He misses the chaos of each meal they would have together and how his parents would drag him and Jazz along on random, sudden trips for the sake of science.

He misses his parents.

Danny hates that the family he loves died with him in that portal.

As much as he still loves them, being in the house, and in Amity Park in general, is suffocating. The farther he can get from them the better; Danny isn’t sure he’d react well if he stayed in this universe and woke up one day with his parents decided to break into his new home because they finally feel up to having a conversation with him.

Maybe he’d talk to Signal about what living in Gotham is like. That might help him make a decision on what to do with himself once he graduates from Casper High School.

He’ll save it for the next time they meet.

Some things are better done in person, after all. And it wouldn’t hurt for Danny to use it as an excuse to make sure he’s fine.

But for now, he’ll wait until the days pass and keep daydreaming about better things.

Signal: hey man, u doing okay? i haven’t heard from u in a while

Danny: yeah im good! i was waiting for u to text first bc i didnt know how long you’d need to recover from a concussion

Signal: ive been good for a while, dude. dw abt waiting to text me, just send me something and i’ll reply once i can!!

Danny: i’ll keep that in mind for the next time u get injured 👍

Signal: but fr are u good? tell me to back off if u need but u seem kinda down

Danny: im fine!!! just dealing w the crushing weight of existence, that’s all 🫠

Signal: oh mood. anything i can do to make things better for u?

Danny: nah it’s fine, im just like this sometimes. i promise it’ll pass

Signal: want a distraction?

Danny: please

Signal: so i was just swinging thru the streets as i do and this group called me down while theyre having a huge argument

Signal: so i go bc i dont want things escalating yknow?

Signal: and idk the context of this argument AT ALL but one of them turns to me

Signal: looks me dead in the eyes

Signal: and says ‘penis enhancement pills are NOT a thing, right?’

Danny: SKDFJALSDJ NO WAY

Signal: oh man. this isnt even the best part of this story

Danny: there’s MORE?????

Signal: its gotham, danny, there’s always more lmao

Signal: so anyways……..

Danny: i hope you know that story has been haunting me all week

Danny: dash was being a dick again and i was half asleep so i told him ‘maybe u’d be less of a dick if u stop taking penis enhancing pills’

Signal: THATS GOLD

Signal: my job here is done. nothing will ever top that. i’ll see myself out ✌️

Danny: he looked so shocked lmaooo

Danny: tried to say he DOESNT take any pills but it was too late

Danny: he was too flustered by it no one believed him

Danny: top 10 things to say to ur former bully

Signal: i didnt know he bullied u. good for u! get his ass!

Danny: he’s fine now lol just annoying. we all grew out of the super cliche high school phase after freshman year when we had to work together to fend off ghosts and the government

Signal: nothing like a little anarchy to bring people together

Signal: its why im still good friends w the people who were in a gang i joined when i was younger to be like. street kid vigilantes bc gotham was going bad back then

Danny: everything u say about gotham and ur life is so fascinating literally how are u real?? ure the perfect ya novel protagonist

Signal: thats the sweetest thing anyones ever said to me ❣️

Signal: but also lol. lmao. gotham really is just like that. no one is immune

Signal: u also sound like a ya protag jsyk.

Danny: literally how im so boring??

Signal: danny. babe. im gonna have to bring out the capital letters for this bc i get the feeling that u really believe that

Danny: oh boy

Signal: Listen. You live in a small town that’s Haunted, fight ghosts, have powers, went from being bullied to being chill with your bully, and can travel the multiverse. You are a YA Protagonist.

Danny: damn i can’t argue with that :/

Danny: why’d i have to be the ghost hunter’s ghost son. i wanna be a side character. give me a refund on this life pls

Signal: do i dare ask clarification on the ghost thing?

Danny: uuuh no? its kinda personal and im dealing w it but its also kinda like ur civilian id?

Danny: its something i’ll share once we’re closer and i know u better and can trust u with it

Signal: totally fair. want me to pretend that part of the conversation never happened?

Danny: please

Signal: cool. watch this

Signal changed Danny’s name to YA protag (real)

YA protag (real): ooooh my god

YA protag (real): im not taking this lying down

YA protag (real) changed Signal’s name to YA menace

YA protag (real) changed their name to YA protag (retired)

YA menace: lmao

YA menace: does this mean… ure my senior…. my knowledgeable mentor… my senpai 🥺

YA protag (retired): i will throw us both into a black hole dont even try me 🔪

YA menace: LMAO

YA menace: fair. just saying that dealt me so much psychological damage

YA protag (retired): deserved

YA protag (retired): can we attempt Danny Visits Gotham: 2! Electric Boo-galoo?

YA menace: yeah!!!! im free this weekend if u wanna come by then!!

YA protag (retired): i can do this weekend!!

YA menace: i will do my very best not to get a head injury before then

YA protag (retired): can u maybe aim for no injuries?

YA menace: danny we need to be realistic here

YA menace: my goal is to have no bleeding wounds that need stitches. as long as i don’t bleed its not a problem 👍

YA protag (retired): …..

YA menace: no need for the judgment i have everything under control

YA protag (retired): …………

YA protag (retired): :/

YA menace: lmk when ure gonna be in gotham! i’ll make sure to be outside waiting for u

YA protag (retired): i’ll be another hour but i’ll send a msg before i head out!!

YA protag (retired): actually it might be a bit longer i gotta fight some people who are trying to cheer me up

YA menace: should i be concerned

YA protag (retired): nah its fine they’re just annoying

YA menace: if u need to reschedule

YA protag (retired): noooo!!!! i’ll be in gotham soon i swear!!!!

YA menace: ok!! ok!!!! i will keep waiting for you then 🫡

Duke waits for an hour and a half, swinging through streets and waving to people, before Danny texts him to let him know that he’s next to the botanical gardens.

One moment, Duke is perched on the roof of a Mexican restaurant in the Bowery. The next, he’s halfway across Gotham, swinging recklessly from building to building.

So what if he’s excited to see Danny again! That’s normal!

Anyone would do the same in his position.

Plus, Duke still feels so bad about having to cancel last time due to his concussion. The sooner he gets to Danny, the sooner he can start making up for it. He didn’t spend the last few patrols being extra careful for nothing; he only has a few bruise and no bleeding at all!

Danny’s star glow helps Duke find him behind the botanical gardens, hidden away from the rest of the street.

He drops down from the roof, using the shadows to soften the impact of landing.

When he looks at Danny, leaning against the building, he’s greeted with a bright smile.

“Signal!” he says, pushing off the wall to close the distance between them. “I hope I didn’t make you wait too long or anything.”

“Nah, you’re good. You alright?”

“Oh, yeah, of course! It was just some friendly fighting, and they wouldn’t be able to really hurt me even if they tried. I’m all good! So, what’s the plan for today?”

Duke looks him over just in case, but Danny does appear to be perfectly fine. Not a single bruise on him. Maybe it was just a few friends roughhousing with him? That might be it, since Sam and Tucker did try to take each other out last time they were in Gotham. So he’s just going to go with what Danny says! He’s fine, and they can move on!

He’s totally going to worry about it later, but right now is not the time for it when Danny’s waiting to spend the day with him.

“Well, I still have to finish patrol, but that’s just for another hour if you wanna join me,” he says. “And then we can head to the Hatch to just… hang out. Or we can find something else to do, totally up to you.”

“The Hatch?” Danny repeats, tilting his head to the side curiously. Duke has to take a moment and just appreciate how cute Danny is before he can compose himself enough to answer.

“Yeah, it’s like my… secret base? HQ? The place I go for superhero things that is for me, specifically, and that I don’t have to share with a bunch of other people.”

“You have a secret base?! That’s so awesome! I just have—” Danny falters, his excitement falling, and then he plasters on a pained, fake smile. “I’ve always wanted to see a superhero’s HQ. Are you sure it’s fine to show it to me, though?”

Part of him wants to ask about what he was going to say before switching gears, but the drawn expression on his face is more than enough to make Duke back off. “Yeah, man, don’t even worry about it. Besides, it’s not like there’s any other places we can go to without me revealing my identity, you know?”

“Fair enough,” Danny nods. “But maybe one day we can?”

“For sure,” Duke says. “Come on, up for a quick patrol around Gotham?”

“Oh, definitely.” The light returns to Danny’s eyes as he lifts off the ground, floating. The smile on his face is more sincere, and the sight of it makes the knot of worry in Duke’s heart pull loose. He pulls his grapple out and aims for the highest ledge of Poison Ivy’s greenhouse, tucked in the back of the botanical gardens, then takes off.

Danny is flying next to him immediately, a blur of invisibility, and they fall into a rhythm quickly as they head towards the Bowery. As Duke free runs and swings between buildings, Danny flies around him, the occasional laugh slipping past his lips as he circles around Duke.

It’s hard not to have his attention stolen by Danny, but Duke is here to protect the people of Gotham, so he focuses 90% of his attention to the streets, keeping an eye and ear out for any trouble.

There’s not much happening today, thankfully. He’s only had to stop a few burglaries, a bank robbery, and chase off a stalker before Danny arrived. Truthfully, the peace is making him nervous; there hasn’t been a big attack to the city in a while, with no word on the movement of rogues and nothing big brewing among the gangs and mobs. Peace rarely lasts so long in Gotham, and Duke is genuinely worried the next thing will be some continent destroying, apocalypse bringing disaster.

In the last hour of his patrol, he only has to stop a purse-snatcher and help someone move their broken down car off the street and into a parking lot. Danny stays in the air for both, invisible to everyone but him, and the blur of his aura floats around the areas Duke stops at curiously.

They hit up touristy places last time he was in Gotham, and food trucks before that. Maybe next time Duke can get takeout from a nice restaurant and they can have a rooftop picnic.

Not quite a date, not yet at least, but something close to it. A testing of the waters. An unspoken promise for something more.

With the hour ends, Duke comes to stop on the roof of a tattoo parlor and gestures for Danny to join him.

The blur of invisibility fades away and Danny’s features come back into focus as he lowers himself down to the roof.

“What’s up?” Danny asks, glancing around them curiously.

“It’s about time for patrol to end, so we can head to the Hatch now. But I do need to blindfold you so you don’t see where the Hatch is located.”

“Oh! Yeah, that’s fine. Will I just have to hold onto you or something? Since I won’t be able to see where we’re going.”

“I was thinking I’d just carry you. It’s easier that way.”

“Sure, that works!” Danny closes his eyes, cheeks already darkening with a blush. “I’ll just… let you blindfold me now?”

Duke desperately wants to smoosh Danny’s cheeks together in his hands, but valiantly resists the urge. He’s on a mission! To hang out with Danny! He can cry about how cute Danny is later!

He walks up to Danny on silent feet, circling around him. Then he lifts his hands, picturing the light solidifying in his palms, turning to fabric that darkens and obscures, bending the light to be darker and darker until it’s nearly black. He gently pulls it across Danny’s eyes, leaning in closer to him to make sure he’s not putting it on too tightly.

Danny gasps slightly when his back bumps into Duke’s chest, and Duke can’t help the way his eyes dart down to Danny’s mouth, his red cheeks, the long line of his neck.

Focus, he tells himself sternly, and draws the ends of his makeshift blindfold back to tie the ends together behind Danny’s head.

“There,” he says in a low voice. “All done.”

Danny doesn’t answer. He just leans back against Duke, pressing them together slightly, and Duke brings his hands down to Danny’s hips to hold his steady.

“Ready to go?”

“Ready,” Danny answers in a faint voice. “How do you want me?”

Now that’s a dangerous question to ask right then and there. Duke bites back a number of flirtatious, suggestive answers, and makes himself actually think about the best way he can carry Danny while grappling to the Hatch. He’ll need one hand free to grapple, but also needs to keep a secure grip on Danny…

He steps to the side and guides one of Danny’s arms up to wrap around his shoulders. Then he picks Danny up, leaving him to wrap his legs around his waist as he walks over to the edge of the roof and looks towards the area in Gotham where the Hatch is hidden. Duke takes a moment to adjust his arm to keep Danny secure against his chest, then takes hold of his grapple with his free hand.

“Ready?” he checks, tightening his hold on Danny’s waist.

Danny nods against his neck, tucking his face in the crook of Duke’s shoulder. “Ready!”

Duke grins and jumps off the building, shooting out his grapple as they begin to fall. Danny yelps lightly, then clings to Duke even harder, his blindfold still secure around his head. It’s become a bit fainter as Duke’s attention slipped off of it, but he focuses on it again to darken it and keep Danny from seeing where they’re going.

It occurs to him halfway to the Hatch how much trust Danny is putting in him. To put a blindfold on him. To lead him to a place he’s never been to before. To let Duke swing him across the streets of Gotham without using his own ability to fly.

Oracle’s apprehension about Danny (and his friends) is a heavy weight on his mind, but he can’t help but think it’s unnecessary. She’d understand if she ever met Danny in person. He wears his heart on his sleeve and offers it so freely; how could Duke not trust him?

The weeks they’ve been texting each other only make him sure that Danny’s a good person, someone he wants in his life for as long as he can stay, someone he wants to be honest with. They just click, somehow, like they’re each holding a puzzle piece that’s been missing in each other’s lives.

I think I’ve been waiting my whole life to meet you, he wants to say. But the street entrance to the Hatch is just a block away and Danny still doesn’t know his name, so Duke bites his tongue and forces all those feelings back into more platonic territory.

Just as the reach the building with the hidden panel to allow him entrance to the Hatch, Duke pulls at the light around them to hide them from sight as they drop down from the sky.

“Almost in,” he says, holding Danny up with one arm as he tucks his grapple away and push the fake brick cover out of the way to punch in his twelve digit access code.

A hidden door in the wall of the building, the back bricked off from the operating portion courtesy of Wayne Industries funding the restoration project for this area of the city after a major alien attack, opens up smoothly and without a sound. The ground slopes downward at a steep angle; he uses this door for when he’s riding his motorcycle out of the cave networks underneath the city that keep the Hatch connected to the Batcave, but it’s not too far from where the Hatch itself is.

He carries Danny in, then makes sure the door closes completely behind him before setting Danny down on his feet. “We’ve still got a bit of a walk to the Hatch, but you can take your blindfold off now.”

“I’ll wait until we get there,” Danny says. “I’m going to use this as an excuse to cling to you for as long as I can.”

“Fair enough!” Duke laughs, “Cling away, I’ll make sure you don’t trip.”

And cling away Danny does, wrapping his arms around Duke’s left arm, holding onto it as they make their way down the tunnel. Duke keeps an eye out for anything that might trip him and carefully steers him past them.

“Are we underground?”

“Yeah, there’s this huge cave system under the city that we use to get around,” Duke answers. “Though we’ve paved in small roads and made stable tunnels to go through, so it’s all safe.”

“Huh, that’s cool. It would be nice if I had a way to get around Amity like this.”

“Danny, you can fly.”

“That’s not relevant!”

“How is it not relevant?” Duke laughs incredulously, jostling Danny slightly. Danny turns towards him and they trip over each other slightly, clutching to each other to keep their balance.

“It just isn’t!”

They bicker lightheartedly down the tunnel until it opens up into the garage of the Hatch. Duke helps Danny up the stairs to the main area, where he keeps his suit, weapons, and the large computer Bruce installed when the Hatch was first made. Once he’s sure Danny’s comfortable, he leaves to change into his civilian clothes with only a domino mask slapped over his eyes to protect his identity.

And if Duke takes an extra minute to fix up his hair, the long locs in a disarray from being tied back and stuffed into his helmet, then that’s no one’s business but his own.

Maybe he does need to get a hair cut. He’s starting to get why Steph wants to shave her head and rock a pixie cut like Selena. But, on the other hand, he does like how he looks with longer hair, especially when it’s tied up…

Long hair for now. It makes him look good and he’s here to impress Danny.

When he heads back to where Danny is, he sees Danny sitting down patiently, his blindfold still on, though it’s become much more transparent than it was before. He can see how Danny’s eyes are closed beneath it, waiting for Duke to return, tapping out a slow rhythm on his knee with his fingers.

“You can take that off now,” he says as he walks up to Danny.

“You sure?”

“If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have brought you in here.”

Danny reaches up and gently pulls the blindfold off, slowly blinking his eyes open. He watches as the blindfold dissolves in his hand, becoming light again, then shyly turns to look at Duke.

“Oh,” he says softly, taking in Duke, who tries very hard not to fidget and reveal just how nervous he is to be out of his Signal armor before Danny. “You are so unfair?”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“You can’t be kind, a superhero, and attractive! Tell me something you’re bad at so I know you have some flaws.”

Duke grins, flattered. “You think I’m attractive?”

“Stop fishing for compliments!” Danny pushes him lightly, barely enough force to make him tilt to the side. “Give me something you’re bad at, come on.”

“Well, if you really need to know…” Duke takes a moment to think of something that won’t completely embarrass him. “I’m terrible at learning other languages. Vocab doesn’t stick in my head, grammar rules mean nothing to me, and my accent is atrocious.”

“That doesn’t count, that’s normal,” Danny argues.

“It the only thing I can think of right now! I’m just really bad at non-English languages!”

Danny rolls his eyes, shaking his head fondly. “I can’t believe you. You have powers, you’re cute, and you’re good at flirting. Stop winning at life so much, the rest of us stand no chance against you.”

“I promise I’m a disaster when I’m not trying to impress people.”

“Lies. You’re being perfect right now and there’s no one to impress.”

“I’m trying to impress you.”

Danny blinks. “Oh.” He bites his lip in an attempt to force down a smile. “Shut up. I don’t count. You don’t need to try to impress me, you’ve already done that.”

“Yeah? Well, maybe I’ll try to be more of a mess around you from now on.”

“Please do, I can’t be the only one making a fool of myself. Where’s the friendship? The solidarity? Suffer with me!”

Duke shoves him back playfully, and just like that, they fall back into a rhythm of easy conversation and light touches, skirting the lines of friendly with something more. Time slips away from him and Duke spends every second with Danny wishing he could have this always, that they didn’t have a time limit over their heads, that the universe itself wasn’t keeping them apart. He shows off the Hatch and some Bat gadgets, which Danny finds fascinating, then they spend an hour comparing their most commonly used powers.

Danny has to leave all too soon, opening up a small portal of swirling green with the help of a small pocketwatch-like device, and Duke can only hope that they can do this again soon, but without the domino on his face.

One day, he swears. One day they’ll have that.

YA menace: hey quickly rate this guys fit

YA menace: [attached photo is a goon with a black and white striped shirt with a purple question mark safety pinned onto it. They’re also wearing neon purple sweatpants and are glaring at the camera.]

YA protag (retired): ngl thats not the worst ive seen. 6/10

YA menace: 6???

YA menace: 6?????????????

YA menace: danny i say this with all the love in my heart, go get ur eyes checked

YA protag (retired): before u say anything else. look at what i regularly have to deal with

YA protag (retired): [attached photo is a floating man with blue-ish skin an d a very dramatic hairstyle. He’s wearing a long black cloak, a white suit, and a Green Bay Packer’s football jersey on top of all that.]

YA menace: damn. no wonder ur judgement of bad fits is Like That. this guys to blame

YA protag (retired): wanna know the worst part?

YA menace: this can get worse??

YA protag (retired): thats my godfather.

YA protag (retired): this is a man my parents thought were fit to be responsible for me and my sister if anything happens to us

YA protag (retired): THIS GUY

YA menace: u have my sincerest condolences

YA menace: oh shit more riddler guys are here i gtg they got guns

YA protag (retired): be safe!! please dont get shot!!!!

YA menace: i’ll do my best 🫡

YA protag (retired): came home today and all the weapons that were attached to my house disappeared

YA protag (retired): i feel like im in the twilight zone

YA protag (retired): if i start talking backwards or acting like a robot pls know it is not me but something wearing my face

YA menace: the weapons attached to ur house????

YA menace: im starting there but i want u to know that everything u said was concerning

YA protag (retired): have i not mentioned it before? my parents are kinda mad scientists and make a lot of weird but working things. mostly weapons to fight ghosts.

YA menace: cant believe ure only just dropping lore abt urself when we’ve been talking for so long

YA protag (retired): in my defense!!!! everyone here knows abt them so im used to not having to say anything!!!

YA protag (retired): people usually just Get It!!!

YA menace: moving on to my second point: having the weapons removed from ur house is whats concerning??? not the weapons being attached to ur house???

YA protag (retired): listen. i have spent p much my entire life with a house that doubles as an armed fortress. when i was a kid i was convinced it would come to life and protect me from monsters. this was also during my urban legends monster phrase and i scared myself reading abt them and needed the comfort

YA protag (retired): my POINT is that its normal for my house to have weapons. so seeing them gone is worrying!!!!!

YA menace: .

YA menace: ok fair enough. last point: is being replaced by a robot version of urself a concern in ur universe? bc it is here

YA protag (retired): no its not a legit concern here

YA protag (retired): probably. dont quote me on that. i had a cloning situation a few years ago

YA menace: a hwat

YA protag (retired): dont worry about it!!!

YA protag (retired): oh my parents are home. i need to talk to them. Bye!!

YA menace: gl!! let me know if u need rescuing from evil clone robots

RED: before I say anything else, Signal this is the price u pay for not letting me play with interdimensional tech after you let O have a turn at it.

YA protag (retired): um.

YA protag (retired): wrong chat???

RED: no this is the right chat. Hi Danny :)

YA protag (retired): hi???? who are u????

YA menace: oh my god

YA menace: this is NOT NECESSARY RED

RED: as I said. U did this to urself.

YA menace: 🙄🙄🙄

YA protag (retired): wait. did u… hack into this chat?? did u hack the phone????

RED: yeah lol.

RED: was a bit of a challenge but it was fun

RED: had to pull out the spare alien tech to make something that would connect

YA protag (retired): ok 1. tucker will want to marry u for ur brain

YA protag (retired): 2. ALIEN TECH?????

YA menace: i feel like we already talked abt aliens being real in my dimension

YA protag (retired): THATS DIFFERENT FROM HAVNG ALIEN TECH

YA protag (retired): hey red what do u accept as bribes

YA menace: u ask him while im right here????

YA protag (retired): u dont have the alien tech. red does. case closed.

RED: oh wow. Signal….. Wow.

YA menace: what? shut up. cant leave any of yall unsupervised i swear

RED: also, Danny I accept tech from different dimensions and also fun tasting sodas and energy drinks

YA protag (retired): done. i will have the goods ready next time i go to gotham, pls hook me up w alien teach

RED: do u just like new tech?

YA menace: hes a space nerd so he loves aliens

RED: do u just wanna meet an alien then?

YA protag (retired): CAN I??!!

RED: yeah I can pull something together for u

YA menace: omfg. Red can u go stop stealing danny from me

RED: up ur game Signal. We’re ALL going to try to steal Danny away

YA menace: how tf do i kick u out of the chat

RED: u cant 😇 im too good to be kicked

YA menace: put that halo away we all know what u really are

YA menace: 🤡

YA protag (retired): omg….. rip red ur cool reputation will be missed

RED: hey now. What happened to the bribes :(

YA protag (retired): ur still gonna get them but i am playing favorites

YA protag (retired): and signal is obviously my fave

YA menace: knew i could count on u to have my back danny 💛

YA menace: drop ur location red i just wanna talk

RED: lol no

RED: good luck catching me :)

YA menace: coward!!!!

YA protag (retired): there he goes…..

YA protag (retired): hey u know what i just realized?

YA menace: what?

YA protag (real) changed YA menace’s name to Light

YA protag (real) changed their name to Night

Night: rhyming buddies 😄

Light: i get the light bc of my powers but wheres the night coming from?

Night: bc i love space! the night sky!!

Light: ok thats pretty cute ngl

Light: give me some warning bc u do stuff like that its bad for my heart

Night: stop sweet talking me im busy feeling clever

Light: lmaooooo

Light: fair enough i’ll get back to it in 3-5 business days

Night: good 👍

Night: also is now a good time to ask abt red…. who was that….

Light: that was a nerd. dont worry abt him ok im cooler

Light: serious answer: hes red robin and hes another vigilante in gotham. we’re chill

Night: did u find his location for a throw down tho

Light: i can do u one better: i know where he lives

Night: oh???

Light: yeah his dad is my mentor of sorts so its not THAT impressive that i know

Light: i did steal all his zesti tho lol

Night: not sure what that is but im proud of u

Light: its just a drink that hes obsessed w. i love being a minor annoyance 😇

Night: shaking ur hand. its really the best thing to be

Light: hell yeah!!!

Light: hey got a kinda serious question for u

Night: whats up?

Light: have u thought abt ur future?

Light: like what u want to do in college, where u want to go after high school, what career u want

Night: i mean. some.

Night: not as much as my parents want me to.

Night: my sister goes to harvard and is super smart. im not that impressive so i keep disappointing them

Night: and with things recently… idk its hard. it kinda feels like they dont believe i have a future.

Night: not that they really see me in the present anyways

Night: sorry that was heavy. short answer is no! not really!

Light: that sounds rough. wanna talk abt it?

Night: not really but not talking hasnt done me much good

Night: my sister would want me to talk anyways. to someone trustworthy at least

Night: so if u dont mind listening…

Light: go for it!! im here for u danny

Light: emotionally at least. not physically but thats not by choice

Night: it can wait tho honestly. whyd u ask abt the future? something on ur mind?

Light: just feeling really lost rn is all.

Light: its like everyone around me has an idea of what to do with their lives while im still surprised that i made it as far as i have

Light: this is really the first time ive seriously thought abt my future and i have no idea what to do

Light: so i wanted to talk to u bc u help make things feel less terrifying

Night: signal…. ur going to make me cry

Night: u make me feel brave too

Night: ♥️

Night: i get what u mean 100% btw. u go so long sure that u dont have a future that u dont know what to do now that its here

Light: exactly.

Light: what am i supposed to do with my life? i dont want to be a hero full time, ive seen how that breaks people

Night: do u want to go to college? or do u just feel like u have to bc everyone else is?

Light: i do want to.

Light: my parents both went and theyve always wanted me to get a degree and be successful

Light: they may not be around anymore, not really, but i do still want to make them proud

Light: they cant see me graduate, but maybe when i tell them the next time i visit, itll reach the part of them thats still alive in their minds

Light: what about u? do u want to go to college?

Night: yeah. it was always my dream to become an astronaut. work at nasa and everything

Night: no chance its ever gonna happen now tho lol

Night: dying and the health problems that comes w that will do that to ya ✌️

Light: oh man that sucks

Night: yeah

Night: i might still study aerospace engineering tho. even if i cant be an astronaut, maybe i can help others get there

Light: thats a good alternative!! im glad u still have some idea of what u can do that can help u work at nasa and achieve part of ur dream

Night: we’ll see tho

Night: im not really feeling college atm. or life in general

Night: idk i feel…. stuck. like nothing will change even if i get out of illinois. it’ll just be the same stuff at a different place

Night: and i know itll take one visit from my parents to start ruining things for me

Night: i just… dont really wanna deal w that. ive kinda given up on life tbh i might as well just focus on the ghostly side of things. stay in the ghost zone more permanently

Light: i dont wanna judge or anything but that doesnt sound healthy??

Light: pls dont disappear into the ghost zone. i’d miss u.

Night: sweet talker

Night: i wont. dont worry. its just a feeling i get sometimes, that it’d be better if i wasnt in this world. if i could just go somewhere else

Light: hey. what if

Light: sorry if this idea is stupid or something

Light: but what if u lived here? in my dimension? u could establish a life and go to college here.

Light: a total fresh start

Night: thats. not a bad idea actually

Night: i would love that. wouldn’t it be hard to do tho? i dont exist there.

Light: we can make it work. its not like us gotham vigilantes are new to creating new identities/lives out of nothing

Light: i could ask for a few favors, do a few dubiously legal things. you could live here

Night: im planning to take a gap year to figure out if i wanna stay in the human world at all. i could spend that year in gotham before making my choice

Night: if u dont mind me asking this huge favor of u

Light: i dont mind at all!!

Light: danny i would love for u to be here are u kidding me. i’d do anything so we could be closer together

Night: thanks signal ♥️

Night: i made this all abt me im so sorry

Night: wanna talk more abt how ur feeling or ur plans for the future?

Light: maybe some other time. i wanna get to work on making sure u can live here for the year (and more! hopefully!)

Light: tell u what.

Light: we can talk more abt this the next time we see each other in person ok?

Night: deal

Night: im really glad i met u

Light: me too

Light: im here for u for as long as u want me around, honey

Light: u dont need to worry about a thing with me

Night: ure too sweet.

Night: im going to go now before u make me melt into a puddle of feelings

Night: ♥️

Light: ♥️

“Hey Babs, I have a favor to ask…”

#ghostlights #duke thomas/danny fenton #dcxdp #dpxdc #dc x dp #dp x dc #my writing #dc x dp fic #now to all my other wips! and then the next fic in the series!!#i did make the series on ao3 btw if u wanna subscribe to it #v excited to get into it. i have MUCH to say abt the fenton family and duke's indecision abt his future and duke and dannys relationship!!!

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asahicore · 2 years

Text

gorgeous - lhs

"you should take it as a compliment that i'm talking to everyone here but you / and you should think about the consequence of you touching my hand in a darkened room" - gorgeous by taylor swift

series masterlist - part one - part two - part three

prompt 45 of the 100 kisses list, "we shouldn't do this" but they do so anyway

pairing. best friend's brother!heeseung x fem!reader synopsis. Heeseung comes back from his first year of university a new man - forget nervous, fidgety, dorky Heeseung and say hello to confident, teasing, flirty Heeseung. This change of attitude doesn't help your longstanding crush on your best friend's brother, and neither does the rising tension between the two of you - a tension that is bound to explode. genre. f2l, did i mention this was a best friend's brother au?, only fluff in this part but more to come, perhaps suggestive due to tension between reader and hee and makeout session lol word count. 8.1k (yes an asahicore fic under 10k thank u very much) a/n. hi loves i'm super happy to be posting this bc its the very first fic out of the 100 kisses event and its a project im really excited about !!! i know i said like 2 days ago it'd take me a while to write this but i got super motivated over the weekend and it turned out shorter than i thought and bestie @k-ingzo zo did a super amazing job at beta reading this so i was able to post it really quickly !! anyways hope you enjoy this, pls lmk,, and hope u look forward to the rest of the series as well !! ok bye

Nine years ago

“Y/N, honey, come meet your new friends!”

You rushed down the stairs at your mom’s call - at eight, you were always excited by the idea of new friends. She’d also called Naeun down, but lately, your sister had been acting like doing anything your parents asked her would cost her her life.

There in your living room were four unfamiliar faces, but your parents were smiling warmly, so you weren’t too nervous. Instinctively, you found your mother’s side and she rested her hand on your head, bending down to talk to you.

“Y/N, these are the Lees, they’ve just moved to the neighborhood.”

“Hi,” you greeted shyly, and were met with four hi’s in return.

“Heeseung and Seeun here started going to the same school as you,” she informs, nodding her head towards the young boy and girl. Now that she said it, the boy looked really familiar. You thought you recognized him from school that day - his glasses were definitely memorable. “And Seeun is the exact same age as you!” Your face lit up at that, and her expression mirrored yours as her lips curled into a smile. “Why don’t you show her your room?”

“Sure! Come on,” you said, holding out your hand for Seeun to take. She looked back at her parents who were nodding vigorously at her to follow you. You just played for half-an-hour, and Heeseung joined you quickly, saying he was bored with the adults downstairs. He didn’t talk much, instead found some of your toys to play with in his own corner.

When the Lees left, you were thinking two things: one, you couldn’t wait to tell Chaeyeong about Seeun, and two, that boy with the big glasses was really, really cute.

Now

“Seeun, why the hell didn’t you tell us that your brother is a mega-hottie now?!”

This is what your friend Chaeyeong whisper-screams in lieu of a greeting as she barges in Seeun’s room, plopping down on her bed like it was her own. It might as well have been, considering how long the three of you had known each other.

“If you ever refer to my brother as a mega-hottie again, I’m terminating this friendship,” Seeun replies, not bothering to look up from the bead bracelet she was currently making.

“Oh please, just because you’re his sister doesn’t mean you haven’t noticed how attractive he’s gotten,” Chaeyeong insists, but it just makes Seeun scrunch her nose in disgust.

“Chaeyeong, please stop making it so obvious you’re an only child,” Seeun sighs. You let out a giggle at your friends’ conversation as you search for another color that could go well with the pink beads you’d chosen for your own bracelet.

Stealthily, Chaeyeong leaves her spot on the bed and sneaks up to you. “Y/N!” she exclaims suddenly, wrapping her arms around your shoulders in a sneak-attack hug that makes you yelp. It makes you drop your half-finished bracelet, the beads falling all over the carpeted floor around you. You look up at Chaeyeong with a pout, but she just smiles at you and starts picking up the beads, gathering the tiny pink jewels in the palm of her hand.

“Y/N, you’re with me on this one, aren’t you?”

You ignore Seeun’s side-eye and give in to Chaeyeong’s encouraging expression. “I guess he does look very…” you pause to carefully consider your word choice. “Different,” you settle on.

“Different? That’s it? Y/N, you should really consider getting some glasses, seeing how you’re so blind to hot boys.” Cue a loud groan, Seeun’s courtesy. You just giggle again, slightly shaking your head at Chaeyeong’s antics. She rolled her eyes, disappointed that you didn’t back her up, but she drops the subject and switches to Seeun’s upcoming birthday party. Something great about being generally quiet? People don’t question it when you don’t partake much in a conversation. You listen and laugh as your friends bicker, but your mind is on something else.

Or rather, it’s on someone else.

Because Chaeyeong is absolutely right - Seeun’s brother has glowed up so much during his time away at university that you had a double-take when he opened the door for you earlier.

The sentence this is so unfair plays over and over in your head.

You’d heard of the freshman fifteen, of college first-years being so stressed over grades and having so little time that their diet consisted of instant ramen, quick cafeteria lunches, and an ungodly amount of coffee. And alcohol, on Friday nights, of course. After seeing how freshman year treated your older sister, you were dreading going to college, imagining it to be the complete opposite of what TV and movies had shown you.

So how the hell had Lee Heeseung gone from high school loser to campus hearthrob in the span of a mere nine months? (After some thinking, you realized that, well, if a woman can create a whole human being in nine months, maybe a regular guy can undergo great physical and mental change in that time, too.)

In September, when you’d last seen him, he wore the same glasses he had for all of high school - those slightly crooked ones that made his eyes look even bigger than they already were. He always had to push them back up his nose but he never bothered to get them fixed, even though all they needed was for the arms to be tightened. You remember his tic-like habit of readjusting his glasses, a habit so strong that he did it even when he wasn’t wearing them. Maybe they bothered him so much that he decided to get rid of them once and for all, you guess.

Indeed, when he greeted you at his front door earlier (even after years of knowing Seeun and her family and no matter how much they reassure you that it’s okay, you’re unable to come in without knocking first, like Chaeyeong does), he wasn’t wearing his thick lenses you’d grown fond of. His eyes didn’t look unfocused like they usually would without glasses, so you assumed he’d switched to contact lenses - you knew it wasn’t Lasik surgery, because Seeun was always complaining that her parents wouldn’t pay for her or her brother to receive it.

But it wasn’t just the glasses, of course not. There was an ease and confidence about him that he didn’t have before - no awkward giggles, no darting eyes, no weirdly positioned limbs. He held the door open for you and kept his eyes on you as you walked in, saying it was nice to see you again and asking if you were happy to be done with high school. You already weren’t expecting Heeseung to open the door in Seeun’s stead, so him actually looking at you while he spoke instead of mumbling a few words in your general direction and scratching the back of his neck rendered you completely flustered, cheeks heating up embarrassingly quickly.

His hair was different: it used to sit there atop Heeseung’s head, unsure what to do with itself, but now it was purposefully cut and slightly pushed back. When he turned his head, you saw something shiny dangling from his left ear.

Heeseung had a piercing. Shy, nervous, fidgety electronics club president Heeseung had a goddamn piercing, and it looked amazing.

And then he laughed. He actually had the audacity to laugh, and then ruffle your hair. You could’ve died right then and there. “You’re still just as cute as before,” he mused, beaming down at you. Then he walked away towards the living room, saying Seeun was in her room upstairs. As if nothing happened. As if you weren’t on the verge of combusting, your saving grace being your friend’s voice calling out your name. You ran up the stairs, wanting to get as far away from Heeseung and his smile and his voice and his touch as possible. You busied yourself with the pearls and the small bracelet-making station Seeun had organized, trying not to think about the vein that ran down his forearm or about how his shoulders looked wider than before. And you’d managed to do that, until Chaeyeong brought him up.

It wasn’t unfair because he’d grown mysteriously hot - it was unfair because to you, Heeseung had always been the cutest boy around, but now other people had surely noticed too, Chaeyeong amongst them. Now, you were just one of the many girls that had a crush on Heeseung, even if yours dated back to the first time you’d met him when the Lees moved into the neighborhood.

Their parents had been delighted that two girls of their daughter’s age - eight, to be precise - lived on their street. You were delighted that the cute boy you’d seen at school that day was her big brother, just one year older. Chaeyeong and you gladly welcomed Seeun into your friendship and you had each other’s back through the awkward phases of your early teenage years and the stressful times as high school seniors getting ready for college. You shared everything - clothes, jewelry, homework answers, gossip, tears, laughter. Secrets.

You liked to think there wasn’t a thing you didn’t know about them, but you couldn’t say the opposite was true - there was a secret you had to keep from them. A secret that grew bigger and bigger as time passed, but that you needed to keep locked in.

You had the biggest crush known to mankind on your best friend’s brother. It was either keep quiet or tell both of your friends; you trusted Chaeyeong, but you didn’t want her to carry that burden. You had no idea what Seeun’s reaction would be if you admitted you liked her brother, but you didn’t want to risk it. Every best friend’s brother (or brother’s best friend) romance you’d read had told you that the former was always against and deeply disgusted by the idea of their friend dating the latter. The last thing you wanted to do was make things weird, so you said nothing and suffered in silence, as one does. And so, for years, Heeseung was your little secret.

But not anymore, apparently. And it felt unfair. You didn’t have much of a chance to begin with, but now, getting with Heeseung was inimaginable. You’d just have to continue pining from far away, just as you’d gotten used to.

Four years ago

Your heart pounded as you made your way to the bus stop, steps heavy and head full of thoughts. Even though your older sister told you there’s nothing to worry about, you couldn’t help it. You were used to walking to school, not taking the bus. After three years of seeing the same people roaming the hallways, it was nerve-wracking to arrive at a place where most faces would be completely unfamiliar. You didn’t know what your teachers would be like, you were scared your classes would be a hundred times harder than before, you heard the cafeteria food was really bad. In short, you were absolutely dreading high school. And today was your first day.

The only thing that calmed you down was knowing that in a few minutes, you’d be with Seeun and Chaeyeong, and just seeing them would make you feel instantly better. You were meeting at the bus stop.

But when you reached it, neither of your friends were there. You shouldn’t have been surprised, since you’d come ten minutes early, but you couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed. That is, until you recognized someone else.

“Heeseung?” you called out before you could stop yourself. The boy snapped his head in your direction, and his eyes widened at the sight of you. Simple things like that made your heart burst with adoration for him.

“Oh, h-hi, Y/N.” He smiled the shy smile you loved so much and looked back at his feet, holding on tightly to the straps of his backpack. You stood next to him, close enough to have a conversation if he wanted to but not so close that it’d be weird.

Heeseung was the only person you felt awkward around. Even though you were on the quieter side and strangers weren’t your favorite people per se, being around people you didn’t know well wasn’t your definition of torture like it seemed to be for Heeseung and other kids from your school. But Heeseung’s awkwardness was contagious, and your crush on him didn’t help your ease of mind - so you imitated his posture, swaying back and forth on your feet as you held onto your backpack straps just to have something to hold onto. You smiled at the ground, not wanting to make him uncomfortable by looking at him, but that meant you missed the growing blush on his cheeks.

“So,” he started, “nervous?” He glanced quickly, just once, at you. You were so surprised at his breaking the silence, used to a quiet Heeseung, that you forgot to answer, simply staring at him. His panicked expression and mumblings were what jolted you out of your daze. “I-I mean, you know, cause it’s your first day and everything, and I was really nervous last year- I am today, too, actually- so I thought maybe, you know, you’re nervous too, but maybe you’re not, I don’t-”

He said all of this so quickly, you started laughing, slightly bending over. He let out a chuckle too, but as you continued laughing, a pout started to form on his lips. “What’s so funny…” you heard him grumble as he kicked a non-existent pebble.

“Sorry,” you said, regaining your breath. “I’m sorry, Heeseung.” The sound of his name made him glance at you again. You wished you could kiss the pout off his lips. “I was nervous, actually. But I feel better now.”

A quick smile appeared on his lips, but he willed it away. “I’m glad my embarrassment made you feel better,” he sighed.

You gently kicked his shoe with yours to make him look at you. “No, it’s because you made me laugh. I needed it. Thanks,” you corrected with a smile. Heeseung may have made you feel awkward, but the easiness with which he always got flustered made you love to tease him slightly.

His smile widened as he looked away once more, the blush having spread to his whole face by then. “Whatever,” he murmured. There was no time to say anything else because Seeun called out your name, practically skipping towards you.

She gave you an excited hug as a greeting before turning towards her brother with a glare, punching him hard on the bicep, making him wince in pain and reach his hand to cover his arm where she hit him. “Thanks for waiting for me, loser.”

“You were gonna make us late!” he whined, rubbing his arm.

“Yeah, ‘cause I obviously missed the bus,” she tutted.

You watched the siblings with an amused smile, used to the exact same kind of banter at home. Your sister, who was in her last year of high school, had decided not to drive you for some reason only an older sister could make up and pretend was reasonable. Your parents had tried to convince her, but you didn’t mind taking the bus with your friends, so they didn’t push it, just glad they could somehow keep the both of you happy.

Heeseung didn’t say anything in return. Your eyes met for a moment, and his frown relaxed into a smile when he caught your expression. It lasted a second but it was enough to make your stomach twist. Seeun, oblivious, grabbed your arm and started telling you about all the things she was excited about for today. You were worried Chaeyeong wasn’t going to make it, but her footsteps were loud as she ran, reaching you just as the bus stopped in front of you. Heeseung took what you soon found out was his usual spot at the front of the bus while your friends dragged you towards the back of it. You tried not to let your thoughts drift towards the boy with the messy black hair and crooked glasses, but his shy smile replayed in your mind all day. For a year, you’d gotten used to not going to the same school as him - you didn’t know how you’d survive seeing him at least five days a week once again.

Now

You were really determined to not let Heeseung’s newfound confidence sway you, physically shaking your head every time a thought of him popped in your head (useless) and racking your brain for reasons you shouldn’t like him (not many of those). There was just one teeny, tiny problem.

He was making it impossible to pine for him at a distance.

It seemed like everywhere you went, he was there. Maybe that was due to the fact that your most frequently visited place was literally his house, but still. It was frustrating. You didn’t need to be met with his stupid smile whenever he opened the door for you, you didn’t need to catch him cutely napping - how was that even possible?! - in the living room, a random sitcom still playing on the TV, you didn’t need to hear his laughter when his friends were over, and you definitely did not need to see him half-naked as he came out of the bathroom, hair wet from the shower and sticking to his forehead, towel wrapped low around his hips and his abs fully on display. Because of course, you had to be in the hallway, heading to the kitchen to get a glass of water, at the exact same time as him.

You almost start to resent the fact that Seeun had the comfiest bedroom out of the three of you, as well as the most snack-filled house, which was why you had decided years ago to hang out there the most. Especially during school breaks, you were there almost every day, so you were bound to see Heeseung a lot. But for some reason, that didn’t seem to be enough, and over the course of June, you also ran into him while shoe-shopping with your mom, then another time as you entered the public library just when he left it, and another when your friends and his had decided to get ice cream at the same time. It was like you couldn’t escape him.

The worst part? Every time he saw you, while you simultaneously wanted to run away from him and into his arms, his damnedly handsome face broke into a stupidly beautiful smile that looked far too genuine for your heart. “Y/N! Funny seeing you here!”

No, Heeseung, not funny.

You didn’t want to be that girl whose brain cells stopped working whenever she encountered an attractive male specimen, but that was apparently who you were meant to be, because all words left you when you saw Heeseung. Although you’d been somewhat flustered around him in the past, he was always much more so than you, which reassured you and gave you enough confidence to actually talk to him. But now that he had realized how handsome he was and was clearly using that newfound knowledge against you (or so you thought), you were unable to string a coherent sentence when his shiny eyes bore into yours.

You think he might’ve sensed your awkwardness, because he never lingered, never made useless small talk, just asked about your favorite ice cream flavor or the book he’d checked out, patted your head, then was on his way.

There were so many butterflies in your stomach, you were scared it might fly away.

One afternoon in the middle of July, you and your friends come back from the city pool completely exhausted after playing around for hours in the water. All bundled up and close together, you try to nap on Seeun’s bed. Keyword try, because even though your friends’ soft snores quickly start to fill the silence of the room, you can’t seem to fall asleep, no matter how heavy your eyes feel.

Quietly, you get out of bed and head downstairs to the kitchen, hoping a cold glass of water will help sleep come to you like it usually does. You shouldn’t be surprised to see Heeseung in the dining room/kitchen area, busy with a puzzle, the pieces of which he’s spread out all over the table, but your heart still does a flip. He must be really engrossed in it, because he doesn’t notice your presence in the room until you fill a glass with ice, the sudden sound making his head snap up at you. You hate that his face breaks into a grin as soon as he sees you.

“Oh, hey, Y/N! What are you doing?”

“Just getting some water,” you explain, raising your glass with a small smile. Your whole body tells you to run away, back to Seeun’s bedroom, but something in your gut tells you to stay, to get closer to Heeseung. So you do. “What about you?” you ask, slowly making your way towards the table and peering at the puzzle in progress.

“Just whipping up some brownies,” he retorts with a devilish smirk, big eyes looking up at you.

You fight back a smile in vain. “Shut up,” you mumble, but take a seat next to him anyway. He seems slightly taken aback by the sudden proximity, and you are too, but you keep your gaze focused on the puzzle in front of you so that you can’t think too much about how close you’re sitting, and how your knees could touch if you angled them just so.

For a small while you sit in silence, watching as he puts pieces together and even finding a couple of your own. It’s a one-thousand piece jigsaw that he’s clearly only just started, but Heeseung doesn’t seem fazed by that. You like seeing how his eyebrows slightly furrow when he’s searching for a particular piece, and the pleased smirk that graces his lips when he finds it. You break the silence after a few minutes.

“So you still like puzzles, then?” you ask, voice low. You’ve always been told you speak quietly - even too quietly sometimes, but you can’t always help it. Especially in situations like this, when it’s silent around you anyways, you don’t see the point of raising your voice. When Heeseung replies, he speaks at the same volume as you, and there’s something comforting about it, about speaking quietly in such a spacious and sunlit room - the words you share are for you two, and you two only.

“Yep, ever since that day.” He glances quickly at you and smiles at the piece in his hand, and it’s like getting a glimpse of the Heeseung you had known all those years. Your heart warms at the sight.

“That day?”

This makes him look properly at you, his eyes darting back and forth between yours as if searching for something there. Your heart is now on fire. “Don’t you remember?”

You tilt your head in response and he turns his attention back to the puzzle. “It was at this table, too. I think your grandparents- your grandma, I think? Anyway, someone had gotten you a puzzle for your birthday.”

You ‘ah’ in realization. “Of course!”

Two years ago

“Y/N, I’m sorry, I don’t think I can do this, it’s so complicated,” Seeun pouted apologetically, looking at you sadly. “We’ve been here like an hour and we’ve barely gotten anywhere.”

Chaeyeong, head on the table, groaned in agreement. You followed your friend’s gaze to the puzzle in front of you - she was right, you hadn’t made much progress. But you liked it. The picture was pretty and you’d like to see it completed, but more than that, you liked finding the right piece, figuring out strategies.

You hummed, mirroring Seeun’s pout. Chaeyeong snapped her head back up to look at you. You’d think she hadn’t slept in days, but that was just bored Chaeyeong. You loved your friend and her over-dramatic antics. “Can we just take a break?” she asked, tone like you’d kidnapped and forced her to do this.

“You guys go ahead.” You smiled. “I like it, I can just continue this for a while and you guys do whatever you want.” The three of you spent so much time together that you didn’t need to be doing an activity together to be happy - being in each other’s general vicinity was enough to be considered a hang-out.

“You sure?” Seeun asked.

“Yeah, ‘course.” You chuckled at the obvious relief on your friend’s faces. “Just don’t watch the next Extraordinary You episode without me, okay?”

They both gasped and clutched their hearts like you’d accused them of murder. “How could you even think that, Y/N?!” Chaeyeong exclaimed.

“We would never!” Seeun added.

You shook your head at your friends’ antics, laughing as you waved them off. “Just go, already.”

“Yes, ma’am!” And with that, they were off, running up the stairs to Seeun’s bedroom.

You were only on your own for around ten minutes - the front door opened and closed, and the quiet shuffle of shoes being taken off and replaced with slippers let you know Heeseung had just come home. Seeun always made a show of being exhausted after school, groaning as she threw her backpack to the ground, while Mr and Mrs Lee always announced their arrival with a sometimes cheery, sometimes tired ‘I’m home!’. But Heeseung, quiet as always, simply set his backpack next to the stairs, slipped into his slippers and made his way to the kitchen, fond of a quick snack after school. Even Chaeyeong made herself more known when she entered the Lee household.

Every day except for Fridays, he came home two hours later than his sister because of either magic or electronics club (yes, magic club. It was cute, okay?!). You always looked forward to the monthly meeting of the book club you were in, partly because it meant you could take the bus back with Heeseung afterwards. Even if the ride was usually mainly silent, just sitting next to him was enough for your heart to do all sorts of tricks worthy of an Olympic gymnast.

“Oh, hey, Y/N,” he greeted softly, probably surprised at seeing you alone at the dinner table.

“Hi, Heeseung. How was the electronics club?” You wanted to make conversation, but you winced immediately at your words - was it normal for you to know what club he had on what days?

But Heeseung seemed to pay it no mind, just smiling shyly, a blush already creeping on his cheeks. “It was nice, thanks.” He opened the fridge, taking out a carton of milk. “Do you want a glass?” When you didn’t respond immediately, he was quick to add, “Of milk? O-or orange juice? Or I can make some tea, if you want-”

His hands were already busy with preparing whatever drink he thought you might want. You held back a chuckle and smiled as you answered, “Milk is fine, thanks.”

His blush spread all the way down his neck and you turned your attention back to the puzzle so he wouldn’t see your grin. “Right, milk. Milk,” he stammered, then got two glasses out of the cupboard.

You loved moments like these with Heeseung - flustered, light-hearted, slightly awkward, moments that made you want to giggle out of nerves and delight. Basically every moment with him was like this, so it’d be more accurate to say you loved every moment with him.

“I didn’t know you liked puzzles,” he said, an upward tilt to his voice, as he set your glass next to you and took a seat across from you. He peered down at the pieces spread out in front of you, fixed his glasses on his nose, and took a big gulp of milk.

“I didn’t either,” you said with a chuckle, and stammered out an explanation when he looked up at you questioningly. “My, um, my grandma gave this to me for my birthday last month. She’s got a lot of grandkids, you know, and I think she might’ve mixed up my other cousin who likes puzzles and me…” Heeseung nods slowly, the corners of his lips tugging up in amusement. “But I don’t mind it,” you add, “I’m having fun, actually. Seeun and Chaeyeong are of a different mind, though. It’s a bit hard doing it on my own but I like it anyway.”

“I can help you,” he suddenly blurted out, and he looked just as surprised at his words as you were. “If you want.”

You smiled at him, and Heeseung and you actually looked at each other, actually held eye contact for three seconds, until you felt your face burn and had to look away. “Sure, yeah, that’d be nice.”

Although it took some time to finish the puzzle - putting 500 pieces together was a lot trickier than you thought it’d be - Heeseung and you managed to do it, high fiving celebratorily after almost two hours of hard work.

Now

“I just had a lot of fun that day.” Heeseung shrugs. “Plus, I already liked things like Legos and Rubik’s cubes, so it made sense I’d like puzzles, too.”

You nod in response, watching as he twirls a puzzle piece between his thumb and middle finger. “It’s funny that my grandma’s mistake is what made you discover your love for puzzles.”

Heeseung chuckles along with you, and you’re relieved the atmosphere is somewhat lighter than before until he looks straight into your eyes, locking your gaze in his own, and a breath gets trapped in your throat. “I’m glad she did that, otherwise we wouldn’t be here right now.”

You’re still staring at him, dumbfounded, mouth agape, when he looks away with a smirk and turns his attention back to the puzzle, analyzing it seriously as if nothing happened. You come back to your senses after a few seconds, clearing your throat before imitating Heeseung and trying to focus on the puzzle once again. But that’s hard to do when your hands brush ever-so-slightly every time you fumble around the pile for a particular piece, or every time he hits your knee with his, inadvertently or to tease you, you’re not sure.

The first thing to do when starting a puzzle is looking for all the side pieces to build the frame. When Heeseung spots one in the pile next to you, he leans in to grab it, and he’s suddenly close enough for you to get a whiff of his cologne that had faded over the day. You think he’ll just take the piece and sit back in his seat, but instead, he turns his head towards you, and that’s when you realize just how close you are. Close enough that it wouldn’t be hard to close the gap and have your lips on his - just as the thought hits you, his eyes drift down to your parted lips. Is he thinking the same thing?

You take a sharp breath in, eyes fixed on Heeseung, mind racing with thoughts and assumptions of what might be going through his head right now. But your brain goes haywire when a smirk blooms on his lips, clearly enjoying your reaction. His gaze finds your eyes once more and he raises the piece between the two of you, in the small space that separates you. “Got it,” he says quietly, voice lower than usual. It makes your insides melt. He could be very well talking about you - he’s got you absolutely wrapped around his finger, and he seems to know it.

He turns back to the puzzle, smirk still on his lips, and you’re so embarrassed and confused that your flight instinct kicks in. The screech of your chair as you push it back and stand up makes Heeseung look up at you again, his smirk having dissolved in surprise and - disappointment?

No time to ponder, you need to get. out. of. here.

“Right, well, that was fun, haha,” you breathe out, actually saying the word ‘haha’ and wanting to run away even more thereafter. “I should probably head back to the girls, now.” You’re already backing up and walking away when Heeseung calls out your name, but you just turn around and rush back upstairs, yelling out a small “bye, Heeseung!” on your way.

You’re already back in Seeun’s bedroom when Heeseung shakes his head at your sudden disappearance, an amused smile playing on his lips. “Cute,” he says under his breath.

To minimize any chances of running into Heeseung, over the next two weeks, you ask Chaeyeong and Seeun if you could hang out at your house more often, using the excuse that you want to spend as much time as possible there before leaving off to college. They don’t question it too much - next year, they’ll be able to come back fairly regularly to their parent’s houses, since the college they’re going to is less than an hour-long car ride away, but you’ll be further away, too far to come back home often.

It just so happens to be the university Heeseung is studying at, but you don’t need to worry about that right now. They had one of the best English Lit programs in your area and you’d been wanting to go there for all of your high school years - you used to think of Heeseung’s going there as a pro, but right now, it felt more like a con.

You manage to only run into him twice over the course of those two weeks, and both times, just in passing. But now it’s the night of Seeun’s birthday party and it’s impossible to pretend he isn’t there even when you’re in a crowded room together. Heeseung and Seeun’s parents have lended their house for their kids to have a party there, using it as an opportunity to have a date night, and Heeseung and his friends have graciously provided a big portion of the alcohol, saying it was their birthday gift.

You aren’t the biggest fan of alcohol, so you opt for the fruitier, lighter drinks, but still, two hours after the party starts, you can already feel your head start to spin, your voice is louder, everything makes you laugh. When a friend from school tells you they’re playing seven minutes in heaven in the hallway upstairs, you think that's the funniest thing you’ve ever heard and immediately agree to join.

The sight of Heeseung sitting in the circle, already looking at you with a lopsided smile, almost sobers you up completely.

You’d tried to avoid him as best as you could, but it was like you couldn’t escape him - maybe that was due to the fact that the heart of the party was kept to the kitchen and the living room, just a few people sitting on the stairs at the entrance to get away from the noise, but still, it annoyed you to no end that you had to keep seeing him everywhere. Maybe that was also what made the alcohol easier to down.

At some point, you were in the kitchen, doing a shot of God-knows-what with girls from school. You heard his voice before you saw him, and it made you roll your eyes but also your heart skip a beat. “Didn’t know you were such a drinker, Y/N.” You could hear the smirk in his voice, and when his face came into view, you wanted to slap it away. Or kiss it away, maybe.

“I’m not, I’m just trying to have fun,” you retorted, eyebrows slightly furrowed as you poured yourself another shot. I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas started playing in the next room and the girls shrieked before rushing to the made-up dancefloor. You wanted to join them, but something kept your feet firmly planted at the kitchen counter.

Before you could bring the shot glass to your lips, however, Heeseung stole it from you and downed it himself. “Hey!” you protested, but it was done, and he was scrunching his nose at the bitter taste, shaking his head. You wished he could stop being attractive for one damn second.

“You don’t need that to have fun.”

He placed his forearms on the kitchen counter and leaned on them, forcing him to look up at you. You had no idea what the hell he meant by that, nor did you want to try and figure it out - all you knew was that you couldn’t stay there with him when he looked at you so intently, cheeks flushed from the alcohol, hair perfectly disheveled and biceps apparent even under his t-shirt sleeves.

“You’re right, I don’t,” you made yourself say, and spun on your heels to join your friends on the dancefloor.

And a few drinks later, here you are, sitting in a circle on the hallway floor, Heeseung right in front of you, leaning back on his palms and looking down at you with that same stupid smirk once again.

The game goes as such: one person spins the bottle twice, and the people it lands on have to go to a bedroom closet for seven minutes (timed carefully by Jake, Heeseung’s friend who is taking this game very seriously) to do whatever they want, while the others occupy themselves with other games. When the seven minutes are up, the doors burst open, and you have to leave the closet.

And because it wouldn’t be any fun otherwise, after a few rounds, the bottle points straight at you, then straight at Heeseung, and before you know it, everyone except for Seeun is cheering, and Heeseung is holding out his hand for you to take, and you do, and he raises you up, and together, you head to his closet, as per the rules of this stupid middle-school game you should never have agreed to play in the first place. You can barely Seeun’s voice as she shouts, “Y/N, I trust you!”, which just makes Chaeyeong burst into laughter and whoop louder for you. You’d also barely registered Heeseung’s friends clapping each other’s backs, smiling like they were in on something.

The sound of the closet door shutting is what snaps you out of your daze. You hadn’t even realized Heeseung had kept your hand in his until he released it, leaning his back against one wall of the closet, facing you. All three bedrooms in the Lees’ house had built-in walk-in closets which meant you weren’t sandwiched between Heeseung and his clothes, but still, you wished you could put more distance between your two bodies - one step closer, and you were done for.

It wasn’t just Heeseung’s presence in the narrow space - it was his scent filling your nostrils, the combined smell of the cologne he was wearing, of the fabric softener on his clothes, and an unfamiliar scent you somehow recognized as unique to Heeseung, his skin, his hair, smells you’d wanted to discover for years but never got close enough to. Well, now you did. And it was intoxicating - you wanted more, wanted to bury your face in the crook of his neck and inhale. You wanted to know what his reaction would be, if he’d let you, if he’d push you away.

All those thoughts were running wild in your head. You didn’t know what to do with yourself. Your stomach was in messy knots, your hands were sweaty and you had no idea where to place them, your eyes wouldn’t stop darting around the dark room. Everywhere but Heeseung. You could feel his eyes on you, but you were too nervous to meet them.

Your breathing must’ve gotten loud enough for him to hear, because all of a sudden, you feel his hand take yours, and he’s stood up from his position against the wall, his body too close to yours for your heart to handle. His thumb rubs what he must think are comforting semi-circles on the back of your hand, but the touch just destroys any capability of thinking straight you had left.

“Y/N,” he calls out, and the sound of his voice makes your eyes close shut. You cannot give in. You had seen Seeun’s disgusted expression when you and Heeseung were picked for the game - if just the idea of you and her brother kissing repulses her, what would she say if she knew it actually happened, or if you started dating? You may have the biggest crush ever on Heeseung, but no one was worth losing your friendship with Seeun.

“Calm down,” he says, and you wish you could be as steady as his voice. “There’s no reason to be nervous.”

This makes you scoff. “You touching me is not helping my nervousness.” The words are out before you can stop them, and in the darkness of the room, you have to concentrate to make out the tilt of Heeseung’s head. You don’t need to see it to know he’s smiling, the satisfied smirk that has been gracing his features for the past month and a half.

“Yeah? Why is that?”

You take your hand out of Heeseung’s and cross your arms over your chest. “You know why,” you say, not intending your voice to come out as weak as it does.

Heeseung takes another step closer to you, and the only ray of light that comes through the panels of the closet door hits his face, making it visible for you to see. “I do, but I want you to tell me.” Another step, making you back up until you hit the wall behind you.

You call out his name shakily. His lips are right in front of you at this point, and you can’t not look at them.

He places a hand delicately on your waist, as if not wanting to scare you off. “Yeah?” He’s so close now that you can feel his breath fanning on your lips.

“We shouldn’t do this,” you say, and finally, your voice is strong like you want it to - but Heeseung isn’t deterred by it.

“Do what?” he asks, pretending to be stupid. “We haven’t done anything. Not yet.” He adds the last part in a whisper, his eyes drifting down to your lips, and you can feel your resolve crumbling piece by piece, the opposite of completing a puzzle.

“You know what I’m talking about,” you whisper back, voice almost pleading with him. Stop this before it’s too late, you want to tell him, but for some reason, at this point, you’re more scared of nothing happening than something happening.

“I do, but I want you to tell me,” he repeats, and you can’t help but let out a chuckle. Laughing helps relieve the tension, but it’s back as quickly as it left when his hold on your waist gets tighter, bringing you closer to him. Your hands that had fallen to your side come up to grab the sides of his t-shirt, gathering the fabric in your fists. There’s no going back now, you can tell - you wait for Heeseung to make a move, both dreading it and craving the relief that will come with it.

Heeseung’s free hand comes up to your face, and he traces your jawline with a knuckle before taking your chin in two of his fingers, gently raising it so that your face is angled up towards him. His touch makes your skin burn and takes away your ability to breathe properly.

“We shouldn’t do this,” you repeat, voice barely audible, a weak and half-hearted attempt at stopping this now that you still can.

“No, we shouldn’t,” he agrees, and before you can say or do anything else, Heeseung presses his lips to yours, finally, finally.

His lips are just as soft as you’d expected them to be, and the kiss is light, slow, careful. You’re grateful for it, because you’re not a very experienced kisser - if Heeseung had plunged his tongue directly into your mouth, you wouldn’t have known what to do. It’s almost like he knows this, like he’s giving you time to figure it out, to get used to it. His hand snakes its way to the small of your back, pressing you closer to him, while the other cups your cheek with his palm. You, on the other hand, have completely forgotten about your hands, only able to focus on where your lips meet.

It’s easy to fall into Heeseung’s rhythm, to let him take control of the kiss. But maybe it’s too easy, because soon enough, you start to want more - as amazing as this is right now, a slow kiss like this is not enough to have dissolved the tension in your body. You remember your hands and inch them up to his hair, your fingers finding purchase there and slightly pulling as you open your mouth just a bit wider, hoping Heeseung will get the message.

For a second, you think you’ve got it all wrong - Heeseung pulls back an inch, peering down at you. You’re both breathing heavily, and you’re scared you might have gone too far. But then, he murmurs a small fuck under his breath, and just like that, his lips are back on yours, your back is pressed against the wall again, his body encaging your smaller one. The kiss now is nothing like it was seconds ago - it’s turned hungry, hot, messy. You love it.

You had no idea you would want to kiss Heeseung like this, but now that you were doing it, you couldn’t get enough. The intensity with which he held you, the feel of his tongue against yours, the small groans that escaped his lips every time you pulled on his hair, it was all making you more drunk than the alcohol had.

You swear you haven’t even been kissing for two minutes, but then, all of a sudden, the doors are snapped open, and light pours in the closet, and Heeseung’s lips aren’t on yours anymore. You hadn’t heard the timer go off, too engrossed in Heeseung to pay anything else any mind. When you turn your head, Chaeyeong and Jake are staring at you and Heeseung, mouths wide open and eyes darting back and forth between the two of you.

“Oh. My. God,” Chaeyeong says, while Jake starts laughing. A shy smile appears on Heeseung’s lips, even plumper and pinker than usual from your kiss. His hair is a mess, and you’re sure you don’t look too different. He scratches the back of his neck, and you can’t believe this sheepish boy is the same that was kissing you roughly not a minute ago.

“Chaeyeong,” you cry out, voice already pleading as you take a step out of the closet and take both of her hands in yours. “Seeun can’t know about this.” She raises her eyebrows in surprise but nods her head in agreement, and you’ve never been so thankful for your friend as now.

“Would she really mind?” Jake asks, looking at you, then at his friend. You turn to look at Heeseung behind you, who purses his lips.

“I’m not sure, but I have a feeling she would… She’s always told me she didn't want me hanging out with her friends,” Heeseung says, and you and Chaeyeong exchange a look; this was news to both of you.

You have no further time to discuss it, however, because Seeun’s voice calling out your name and Heeseung’s make all four of you widen your eyes. Chaeyeong fixes your clothes and hair as best as she can, then smiles at you reassuringly and nods, prompting you to imitate her. She ushers Heeseung into his bathroom and tells him to “freshen up or whatever,” and you, Jake and Chaeyeong leave the room just as Seeun reaches the door.

“Where’s Heeseung?” she asks, not a trace of suspicion in her voice, peering behind you into her brother’s dark room.

“Just needed the toilet,” Jake answers quickly, and that seems to convince her.

She turns to you, an amused expression on her face. “Hope that wasn’t too awkward.”

You’re so surprised at your friend’s quickness to assume that nothing could happen between you and her brother, as if the idea was truly unfathomable to her, but you figure it’s for the best. You all head back into the party, Heeseung appearing some five minutes later. He scans the room for you, and when you make eye contact from across the crowded living room, he smiles, his shy, genuine smile that you’d fallen in love with all those years ago.

You already miss him, you realize, his lips, his touch, his scent. That’s how you know that you’re in deep, deep shit.

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#enhypen x reader #heeseung x reader #enhypen fluff #heeseung fluff #enhypen scenarios #heeseung scenarios #enhypen fanfiction #heeseung fanfiction #enhypen imagines #heeseung imagines

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lovieku · 1 month

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Good Luck, Babe! #3 ☆ jeon jungkook

what happens when you leave everything behind, only to be faced with it again years later? eunbi is convinced she was given another shot at keeping all she ever wanted, but it’s difficult when that all is her childhood best friend who doesn’t want to do anything with her anymore. how to earn his trust back?

☾ pairing: non idol!jk x fem!oc

☾ genre: childhood friends to strangers, friends to lovers, angst, fluff, smut

☾ word count: 9k +

☾ warnings: explicit language. say hi to eunbi!!! and to the friend group!!! its a bit funny until it becomes angsty … ouch. jeongguk is a bitch lowkey. pun unintended (you’ll see). theyre dramatic as hell. like bro it cant be that serious 😭. im sawrry for this. and its not all!!! see you in fourth chapter 🫡

☾ author’s note: hi hi hi!!! this took a bit to fully convince me but in the end it did. i was frustrated because i felt like i couldnt really use my words properly to tell the whole thing but… here we are now!!! thank u!!! enjoy 🫶🏻

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three ⋆ this is me trying

Up to that point, Eunbi’s life has been a constant adjusting to new surroundings, leaving bits and pieces behind, getting attached to new ones, and hoping they wouldn’t be taken away from her. It would always end up as she feared it would, though. From as early as she can remember, Eunbi would live off her blue backpack, where she gathered a toothbrush, a change of clothes and her favourite plushie to help her sleep and adapt faster to the smaller bed at her dad’s house. When her parents had divorced, it had been a rough patch before the both of them could come to a legal agreement; that being, she would spend the weekend with her father, and then stay with her mother again until Friday rolled around.

She rarely looks back at those days now, but when she does — mostly at night, her mind seemingly incapable of putting a stop to her furious flow of thoughts and just sleep — she thinks if it hadn’t happened to her when she was still pliable and mouldable, when she was yet to be met with what ordinariness was supposed to look like for others, she wouldn’t have been ready to wholly face all that followed. Eunbi was young when she learned that love between two people could end so easily, and her innocent self accepted that as the norm.

As a result, what she found harder to accept, more than her own mother and father not even being able to stand next to one another without ending up quarrelling, was having to leave her small black poodle in Gwangju, with her grandma, after moving away to Busan. Curly (little Eunbi had given him that name for obvious reasons, and to this very day she finds it dumb, but it makes her giggle nonetheless) had been a great companion through the inevitable loneliness she had to face as an only child. She was convinced he could understand her better than no other, even when she would force the tiny creature to sit and listen to her ramble on.

Busan was the next big change that was pushed onto Eunbi, only a few years after her mother got engaged to a man that would soon replace her biological father: with time, sleeping over at his house for the weekend was no longer even a contemplated thought on his side, coming up with excuses after excuses as not to, and that slowly led to showing less and less interest in keeping up with her and meeting up. The little girl had always been numb in relation to such negligence, and because of this she could consider herself lucky in some distorted sense; it didn’t affect her as much as it should have.

Part of that was also due to her step-dad being a great father figure during the initial times of his and her mom’s relationship, making sure to adapt to Eunbi’s pace and boundaries, never overstepping while also being able to bring fun into her life by taking the family out to visit places and eat delicious meals. What he couldn’t do for her, however, was live with a dog. When he and her mother decided to finally move together following their wedding, they both agreed on wanting to restart from a brand new place. Busan was their perfect pick for a variety of reasons: her mom got offered a job at a recently established company that seemed promising, and her step-dad could fulfil his deep-rooted dream of expanding his by starting a new branch.

Every single thing about him seemed perfect to her mom’s eyes, even if he was apparently deathly allergic to dog’s fur. And, of course, she picked her husband over Curly. Eunbi couldn’t believe it, nor accept it. The girl cried over the small dog for the two weeks prior to moving, during the trip to Busan, and for the following days there. Her grandmother would keep her updated by sending pictures of Curly through email, and even after the scar had healed, those would never fail to make her tear up.

As shameful as it might be to admit it, after having dried herself from half the water that made up her body because of the constant crying, it didn’t take long for the scar to close. When she first stepped foot in the big city by the seaside, Curly showed up right in front of her. Just in human form. Big eyes, long black hair and puppy manners, her neighbour was definitely sent to her by something greater. Eunbi was obsessed. It didn’t show at first, her pride prevailing. But it was harder and harder to fight against it. Jeongguk was simply too easy to love.

They became inseparable. Wherever he was, better believe she was there too, attached at his hip. And if they showed up alone, people would naturally ask about the other. Because the moon is never seen without its stars, and sunflowers only ever turn to face the sun. Their bond could be perceived by anyone as unbreakable, a friendship to envy and wish for, and every brick that built it had resulted in the creation of their own safe haven that only had space to contain the two of them. Not anybody else could be let in, the bubble exclusively recognised their password. It wasn’t composed of words, or numbers. It was the look of understanding they would share; the white lies used to cover the mischief of the other; their own handshake, accompanied by an original friendship jingle that Eunbi came up with randomly; the assurance that they could reveal their biggest secrets to one another, and they’d be kept like an oath.

There’s many of those that Eunbi shamelessly revealed to Jeongguk, some with intent and others unleashed spontaneously during their many endless talks. But when she thinks of it, she never admitted the single one that really mattered, the one that her best friend in the whole world needed to know, and remember. At all times. In any circumstance. It wasn’t a secret, it was more a result of her pondering; it came to a full reasonable thought only years later, and by then it was too late to tell him.

Eunbi thinks, and she’s sure, Jeongguk was the reason why all that came before the two of them had to happen. If it didn’t, she would have spent her whole life looking for that missing puzzle piece: under the cushions of the couch, in between her bed sheets, accidentally thrown away in the bin. It was as if all the hardships she experienced were justified, because at the end of the tunnel Jeongguk was waiting for her. And everything finally made sense. The puzzle was complete. Jeongguk was the reason himself. He was sent to teach her an important lesson: everything happens for a reason. There’s a cause and an effect, and even if the cause was suffering, at least the effect was her favourite boy.

Then, a gust of wind had wiped the puzzle to the ground, every single piece losing its place. When her best friend was taken away from her, she stopped being so convinced with the thought she herself had harboured, because she suddenly couldn’t find the meaning behind such a cruel fate. If everything really happened for a reason, then what was it? Jeongguk helped her see colours, only to return to black and white. Leaving him behind had marked the death of a version of herself that she would never get back.

Seoul was big, and harder to adjust to, even more with the baggage she was now dragging behind. Unpacking it, she found out all she had brought with her was a shattered trust and a soon to be broken promise to never get attached again. It was hard to be faithful to such an imposition, when Eunbi was born to give out love. It was hidden in that luggage, in between fears and regrets, but surely present.

And it prevailed in the end. Even at a slower pace, love found its way up and helped a lost Eunbi navigate the big capital city, promising new beginnings and healing. She found that in the faces of people that she would then start to recognise as friends, inside warm cafes during the coldest days of winter, and in the certainty that no matter where she is, she is always looking up at the same moon.

What she has built in Seoul so far feels the closest to stability that she has experienced in years. Starting university and meeting Dahye was the last bit of convincing it took to make her consider once again that a reason could exist, and that in the end it would make sense. Maybe not totally. Maybe just partly is enough after all.

Until, seeing a pair of familiar starry eyes in the midst of dull ones was all she needed to firmly believe in what she had been finding hard to accept. It took one shared look for past and present to get blurred together, and the mixture of old with new feelings created a mess. It was nice, nonetheless. Better than the seemingly impossible to get rid of emptiness at the pit of her heart.

Behind her eyes, Eunbi could see the puzzle slowly reaching its final form again, this time with more missing pieces, but the image was at least recognisable. When Jeongguk showed up in front of her again like magic, she contemplated becoming religious. Getting to her knees and starting praying to whatever greater force was shining on her path to please keep doing that. None of that showed on the outside, her smile breaking and mirroring the expression on the boy’s face. Pure sorrow. She knew she was probably the last person on earth Jeongguk wanted to see, and the fact that he wasn’t even trying to mask it didn’t help.

The most rational response she could come up with at that moment was to act as if nothing ever happened. And then, the bricks that a long time ago held together their safe bubble were being used by the boy to raise a high wall between them, making sure accessing his space would be impossible for Eunbi. Who could blame him? Still, the happiness she shamelessly felt when Jeongguk showed up at her 20th birthday party was too consuming, she selfishly wished for the rest of her birthdays to always look like that as she blew the candles. Nonetheless, when he suddenly left sprinting on his bike she knew the gods would need time to grant her desire. Although, this time around she had faith.

She doesn’t know how long it would take for it to break, though. September getting closer and closer only means that Jeongguk’s birthday is just around the corner. As part of his friend group, she had been involved in the process that led to organising the surprise camping trip, even if she didn’t exactly participate. After all, she doesn’t get to say she knows the boy better than anyone, anymore. Jeongguk has evidently changed, and as a consequence she knows way less about him than the others.

For that exact reason, Eunbi had made various attempts to back down from the trip, fearing her presence could significantly ruin it for the celebrated boy. At first, she tried to be casual about it with Dahye, since she’s the only one she’s opened up to about the whole dilemma, “I think it’s better if I don’t come. After all, it’s a friend trip. I’m not really his friend.” To which her roommate only replied with bullshit, proceeding to type away on her keyboard. That did not help whatsoever.

Then, the night she was too tipsy to take a taxi back home and Jeongguk had offered her a ride on his bike, she came home with a smile on her face only to burst out crying in front of a just as drunk Dahye. In between sobs, she begged to be left out of the trip, “Ple- Please, Dahye. He hates me. I can’t stand it.” Her friend tried to shush her whines, pushing Eunbi’s head on her chest and consoling her, “He doesn’t, baby. I’m sure he doesn’t.”

As a result of that night, Dahye had then sat her friend down with the intent of fully convincing her to be present for Jeongguk’s birthday trip for a number of reasons, “It would be rude to not show up after he was there for your birthday. And also, what if you two end up talking about… things! And everything gets solved! That would be nice, wouldn’t it, Bibi?”

Eunbi had just nodded all the way through the motivating speech, not really understanding nor believing her words, but apparently they were enough to lead her to the present moment: awkwardly squished between Dahye and Jimin on the couch of her flat, while they animatedly converse with the others to approve on the trip schedule. She has never felt so out of place before, not only because she doesn’t feel like she has a say in the whole discussion, but also because as time went by the two friends by her side kept shifting to subtly get closer to one another, not realising they were compressing her body in the process. To the point she is forced to get up, the position she was in being too uncomfortable, and sit on the ground under the couch next to Namjoon.

She can feel her movements being followed by a pair of curious eyes, and when she looks up to meet them, she finds out they belong to the origin of all her worries. Before Jeongguk can divert his attention elsewhere, aware he was caught observing, she gives him a quick tight lipped smile. It goes dismissed, as if it hadn’t happened. Ouch. It’s okay, Eunbi can take it. She used the few days prior to this to mentally prepare. She knows she’s not exactly welcomed anywhere near him, that’s why she made a silent secret pact within herself: whatever happens during the trip, don’t be a bother to Jeongguk. Stay away from him as much as possible, and if not possible, then do anything to avoid putting that frown on his face, exactly the one he’s sporting right now. On a second thought, if just looking at her gets him to react like that, maybe it’s best to mentally wipe that off her list of things to keep in mind for Jeongguk’s birthday camping trip.

With there still being a day left before their minibreak takes off, the girl can already tell it’s going to be hard to follow the flow of that list, Jeongguk making it obvious her presence could have been avoided before the vacation has even started. Still, she remains composed and brushes off what had just happened, instead focusing on the main topic of conversation.

The group (Hoseok) has decided to meet to go over the schedule one last time because, “Everything needs to be perfect, guys. We can’t afford to slip!” It’s still Hoseok talking. Eunbi learned that he had always been the one in charge of organising events and little getaways when it came to the friend group, his obsession with keeping everything under control coming in handy in such scenarios.

Not only that, but the reddish haired guy is also amazingly quick on his feet, and in a relatively short amount of time he has managed to find the perfect excursions and experiences to go over during the trip, making sure every day spent together would be filled with fun activities that he knows the birthday boy is going to look forward to. In between what he has arranged there is cycling, canoeing, trekking, and more stuff that Eunbi can’t keep up with. Surviving this is going to be made ten times harder by the amount of energy that is going to be expected out of her. She sighs at the thought, looking down at her manicured nails. She just got them done, and now they would surely break.

It takes a few seconds for her to realise the sudden silence that fell above the room, and when she looks back up she’s met with eleven pairs of eyes staring at her. She straightens her posture, suddenly too aware of being perceived, and she deduces her previous exhale had been released with more energy than intended. Hoseok sweetly smiles at her, “Anything you don’t agree on, Eunbi?”

The panicked girl opens her mouth to justify herself, her eyes getting wider and shinier with embarrassment, but Dahye beats her to it, “Bibi, didn’t you say you, like, hate cycling? I’m sure we had a whole conversation about it.“

Eunbi is mortified. Her eyes jump from Dahye to Jeongguk, trying to get her best friend to shut up while also registering the boy’s scoff and muted roll of his eyes. Oh god. Her whole be-lowkey-and-make-yourself-unnoticed plan just shattered in a matter of seconds. She can feel Jeongguk’s eyes bore flaming holes into her skull, his arms crossed and his legs furtherly stretching out on the armchair. If she still had a small, tiny hope left that he didn’t fully hate her, she just witnessed that shattering in pieces too.

She quickly shifts to sit on her heels, her hands frantically shaking to try and save her face for what she could, “No, what? I love cycling. Seriously, I’d do it everyday if I could.” She chuckles shakily while subtly shoving Dahye’s knee next to her to signal going with the lie. At first, Dahye looks clearly confused: she was so sure of that information about her roommate. She furrows her brows, looking down at a panicky Eunbi widening her eyes. It takes only a few more seconds for her to suddenly get it, shaking herself from her doubts and catching the ball, “Oh, right! You do! I got it confused with, huh… something else.” The girl mutters that last part only to join her friend in a nervous laugh, and an apologetic smile. Best believe Dahye is going to hear about this later.

Hoseok looks just as puzzled as the others, but nonetheless he nods, announcing the schedule has been officially confirmed. A collective acclaim fills the room, only for the boy to stop it with a raise of his pointer finger, “Now, I will assign you guys in your respective cars.” Which is comically followed by a joint groan, and some protests. Hoseok ignores them, and goes on reading off his perfectly planned out Word document.

”Namjoon is the first driver, and he’s travelling with Iseul, Seokjin and Sora,” he looks up to briefly check with the mentioned members to see if there are any complaints, then proceeds. “We’ve got Yoongi with me, Aera and Taehyung. Then…” Hoseok squints his eyes while scrolling down the document, and those few seconds of silence are enough for Eunbi’s thoughts to anticipate what is about to follow. She lowers her head, unwilling to meet Jeongguk’s glare when Hoseok says, “Jeongguk is driving with Jimin, Dahye and Eunbi. All set?”

The positive response is quick, even too rushed and disregardful of what was said, as Namjoon and Taehyung have been impatiently begging for the never-ending organising to be over so they could order food and finally fill their starved stomachs. No one pays any mind to it, but Eunbi and Jeongguk stay quiet, while Jimin and Dahye share a knowing look. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.

The evening is spent in the cramped living room of Eunbi and Dahye’s shared flat, eating pizza and letting a random movie play, which soon only functioned as a background noise the moment Taehyung started a game of Would You Rather. Even if Yoongi initially shushed him, everyone eventually became more delighted with Seokjin’s unthinkable suggestions than with the film, “Would you rather be trapped in a small room with 10,000 tarantulas for 10 minutes, or eat 10 tarantulas in 10 minutes?”

Eunbi tries to let herself be distracted by the content smiles on her friends’ faces, even feels less distressed when she notices Jeongguk relaxing as well, but that doesn’t stop her mind from overflowing with all the things that could potentially go wrong. It inevitably shows on her face, and in her unusual quietness. She has been pondering on the last information Hoseok had shared about the confirmed schedule for hours now, worrying it was going to start the trip on the wrong foot. There were all the best intentions to not poke the sleeping bear, but she fears being in the same car as him is going to stir him awake.

After the group leaves the apartment at past 1 a.m., Hoseok checking with everyone that they’ll show up at 8 sharp tomorrow morning in front of the same building they’re now parting ways from, Eunbi releases a long sigh as she closes the door behind her shoulders. Dahye catches the look on her features immediately, taking her pretty face in between her palms, “I’m sorry for earlier. I was trying to help.” She pouts, and it makes the shorter girl chuckle.

Eunbi shakes her head, dismissing her apology with a small it’s okay, and freeing herself from her friend’s hold so as to avoid meeting her eyes, instead busying herself with tidying up the mess in the living room. Her flatmate looks at the strangely silent girl narrowly, “What are you thinking? Please, don’t let it be something stupid like I don’t wanna drive in Jeongguk’s car.”

When all Dahye is met with is silence, she knows that specific something stupid is flowing in the other girl’s head. Eunbi spends the next hour packing and letting Dahye think she’s wholly convincing her distressed roommate nothing could go wrong from just being close to each other, and if anything, it could be a starting point.

For the sake of getting at least three hours of sleep before the long drive ahead, Eunbi fake promises her friend that she won’t let such thoughts haunt her mind and stop her from enjoying the holiday (she was forced to repeat those exact words) knowing she’s going to let them do precisely that. She also ends up staying awake all night either way, trying to come up with a reasonable excuse that she can use to ask Hoseok if a small change would be possible, hoping it wouldn’t be too much of a hassle to him and his perfect plan.

When the following morning rolls around, the group gathers in the courtyard of the flat complex as instructed hours earlier by Hoseok, who looks like he’s on the verge of a serious crisis when it’s one minute past 8 a.m. and Taehyung still hasn’t shown up. Eunbi fears for her life when she taps his shoulder as delicately as she can, still unable to avoid a jumpy reaction from the boy, who then relaxes when he sees the girl’s sweet smile. That lasts for about one second, because when Eunbi softly asks him if they can talk he’s back to puffing out panicky breaths.

She hesitates a moment before uttering in one single exhale, “I’d rather not go in Jeongguk’s car.” Faced with Hoseok’s perplexed stare, she goes on explaining in a rushed, messy speech, “It’s nothing personal, really. It’s just- Iseul! Yeah, Iseul begged me to be in the car with Dahye… She doesn’t know Sora that well so she said it would be way too awkward. I can go with Namjoon!” She ends it by trying to sport a convincing grin on her lips, but with the way it looks like she’s being held at gunpoint to smile it’s doing the exact opposite, not helping in hiding her own panic at all.

Hoseok takes a few seconds to process her request and read her expression, but in the end he just shrugs and nods enthusiastically, “That’s okay!” He then claps his hands twice, recalling the others’ attention who comically snap their heads in unison, hanging on the boss’ lips, “Tiny change. Eunbi doesn’t wanna be in Jeongguk’s car, so she’s going with Namjoon.”

For the second time in under 24 hours, Eunbi is so embarrassed she prays the ground to swallow her whole. Hoseok doesn’t seem to be making a big deal out of the way he worded his announcement, busy typing away on his phone, probably updating his Word document with the recent change. The others don’t look too fazed either, accustomed with the two infamously not being too fond of each other for no apparent reason, except for Dahye and Jimin: the former is looking at the girl incredulously; the latter has shifted his attention to his best friend.

Eunbi can feel cold sweat dripping down her forehead, the weight of the world crushing on her shoulders. She’s afraid to follow Jimin’s line of vision, but as she slowly does, it leads her to meet Jeongguk’s intense gaze, a slight pissed scowl hardening his features along with his brows almost meeting at the bridge of his nose. His all black attire composed of an oversized t-shirt, cargo bermuda shorts and chunky sandals matches perfectly with the look on his face. He seems confused, and unnerved. And sad? This is not how things were supposed to unfold.

Under such pressure, the girl impulsively releases a nervous laugh, her whole face red with awkwardness, “It’s not like I didn’t- Okay! I’ll just go wait in the car.” Her head hangs as she distances herself from the group, finding an escape from Jeongguk’s disappointment in Namjoon’s car. She bangs her head on the dashboard a few times, making the most of the last minutes alone she’s getting before departure.

Starring in that shitshow was not on her list of things to keep in mind for Jeongguk’s birthday camping trip in any way. On the contrary, what she has been trying to do is going by the rules of the list itself: stay away from Jeongguk and don’t be a bother. Instead, the opposite seems to be happening every time she attempts to be nice to him so as to not be a hassle during the trip. Releasing a shaky breath, she hopes her intentions wouldn’t be misinterpreted by the boy, as she tries foolishly convincing herself the telepathy between them still exists, at least to a small extent. She was only doing this for him. To make it easier for him. Please, please send this telepathic message to Jeongguk.

Connection probably isn’t working too well, because when they all get to the destination after a fairly long ride, Jeongguk still looks pissed, shutting the car door with more energy than required and unloading the luggages, taking his and Iseul’s to the entrance of the camping site. Eunbi narrows her eyes as she observes the scene, the short haired girl thanking the previously annoyed boy and effortlessly putting a smile on his lips, and she almost doesn’t notice Namjoon urging her to move. She abruptly shakes herself out of that trance, relaxing her hands that had subconsciously closed into fists, and takes her bags out of the car. As she clumsily drags them on both of her shoulders, her Converses do little to protect her soles from the rocky ground, and she groans. It’s not like she was expecting Namjoon to carry her baggage, she can do it herself. But as she keeps watching Jeongguk easily handling all that weight, she huffs.

The campsite looks amazing. The space that the group has at their disposal is huge and wholly surrounded by nature, making it the perfect getaway from the chaos of the city. Not too far, in between trees, a glimpse of the sun reflecting its rays in a large lake can be caught. Eunbi witnesses an excellently carried out jam session, with the lively enthusiasm of her friends on microphone, birds on percussion and cicadas on bass. She smiles, and sighs contentedly. Dahye’s words from last night echo in her head, don’t let this stop you from enjoying the holiday, and today she wants to believe them. She’s glad she chose to wear jeans shorts instead of cargos, the heat slowly but surely rising, and a flowy white top that keeps her fresh, for now.

Hoseok instructs them to get to work, and they do. All their bags are gathered under a big ancient tree as each couple and trio starts (tries) setting their tents. While they’re busy figuring out how to ensure the tent won’t fly away, which Taehyung fears particularly, Jimin and Jeongguk offer themselves to go and fill everyone’s water flask at a nearby drinking fountain they had found. Eunbi kneels down to fish hers out of a blue backpack and goes to hand it out to Jeongguk, who’s collecting Dahye’s bottle. The boy smiles at her friend, but it gets wiped off when he shifts his gaze on Eunbi’s shorter figure. The moment is brief, and awkward: her big unsure eyes stare into his hardened ones, arm extended out to him, wondering if there might be something funny on her face for him to turn so serious; she hesitantly lifts her brows, waiting for something; Jeongguk looks her up and down, only to not acknowledge her water flask, and just walks past her.

Eunbi is dumbfounded, the tip of her ears reddening as she remains paralysed with her hand out, even after Jimin collects her flask, muttering something close to Don’t mind him, please accompanied by an apologetic smile. She regains consciousness of her surroundings only when, beside her, Dahye can’t help the snort coming out of her mouth, trying but failing to save it with her hand. The still shocked girl slowly turns to face her amused friend, mouth slightly agape and left eye clearly twitching, “Did he just… act as if I don’t exist.”

The situation shouldn’t be funny, but to Dahye it’s the peak of comedy as she keeps giggling the more the slow realisation of what has just happened shows on Eunbi’s features. Obviously, the latter can’t find one single reason to laugh about it, whining while the taller girl pats her shoulder, still smiling, “You really need to talk to him.”

The targeted girl ignores that, biting her nails nervously, ”Was he saying anything about… me, in the car?”

Dahye lifts her brows, shaking her head, ”Nothing. He’s probably talking shit about you with Jimin, though.” Eunbi follows her pointed finger and catches Jeongguk animatedly discussing with his flatmate, balancing the bottles in his arms, before they turn a corner. Eunbi fusses, lightly tugging on her braided pigtails, and she feels helpless as even the friend who’s supposed to be supporting her through all of this is chuckling at her. Despite being shorter, when Eunbi shoves Dahye’s shoulder she manages to make her stumble, but that doesn’t stop her laughs, though.

”You’re building the tent on your own.” Arms crossed and pout on, Eunbi isn’t joking as she goes to sit under the tree surrounded by bags and ignores her name being called out. Rather than reacting to it, she spots tiny bugs between the grass and inspects them for a while, pretending it keeps her distracted from what’s plaguing her mind. Soon after, with her knees to her chest, watching those ants working to transfer food from one side to the other inevitably gets her lost in her thoughts. What is she doing wrong? There’s clearly unresolved problems between her and the boy who brutally ignored her existence minutes ago, but she thought maybe if she started seeking for truce, then he would too. His response, instead, makes her realise no matter how much she tries, it’s apparently not enough to mend what happened all those years ago. She messed up worse than imagined.

The constant pondering makes her lose track of time, and she comes back to reality with undesired outcomes that she convinces herself to be true. When she recovers from the (as she has deduced, deserved) humiliation, Dahye has already set up half of the tent and Eunbi walks over to her bashfully, “Sorry for being childish. I’ll finish this, Hye.” The girl just smiles softly and nods, sending her a flying kiss that makes Eunbi chuckle before taking her previous spot under the tree. At least Dahye doesn’t hate her.

It takes her a while to figure out what to do but she soon grasps how hard a seemingly simple task can be, feeling bad for letting Dahye do a great part of it on her own. Still, she needs to work fast as lunch time is approaching, and everybody around her is almost finished. She has been crouching on a particular spot on the ground for a while now, trying to properly secure an angle of the tent unsuccessfully. Until she groans exasperated, puffing her hair out of her vision and lifting her body up to find a solution. She tries stomping on it a few times, but it doesn’t work, and if anything it worsens the situation. Huffing out, with her hands on her hips she looks around for help, and the first person her eyes fall on is Jeongguk.

He was already staring at her, comfortably sitting on a deckchair with his legs spread and sunglasses on. His tent looks perfectly set already, with Jimin seemingly fixing the inside of it. His hand is covering his mouth before he uses it to lift his glasses over his head, and is that a smirk? They both stare at each other in silence, Eunbi still struggling to breathe, and she hesitates slightly until her eagerness to be over with the tent becomes stronger. She speaks up to make herself heard over the small distance, “Can you- help me?”

Jeongguk narrows her eyes at her, initially not answering but not even moving from his relaxed position. The girl is ready to be met with silence again, but it’s something worse when he opens his mouth, “I think Namjoon would be happy to do that.” He’s as stern as ever as he returns the sunglasses on the bridge of his nose, furtherly spreading his whole body on the chair and facing the sun. Only then, he releases a content sigh, smiling slightly.

All of this cannot be real. What does that even mean? Eunbi can feel her eye start to twitch again and she needs to clench her jaw to stop it. It’s okay. Breathe. She unexpectedly but successfully manages to hold herself from exploding on him, both overwhelmed with tent building and frustrated with his behaviour. She can’t really decipher what led him to not only act cold, as he usually is with her, which is fine, but also mean! But no problem, she’ll try once again. It costs nothing to be nice. And she tells herself she’ll stay that way, even if she’s met with the opposite, until he breaks.

The storm of negative emotions tormenting her thoughts can be distortedly seen as a good thing on one side, if she considers that the sudden adrenaline flowing in her body gets her through most of the task without any help, even mindlessly, while she keeps reflecting on the interaction and the previous ones. Why the fuck would Namjoon be happy to help her? Well, he would, he’s naturally a helper, but why did Jeongguk say that? Is he really that pissed about her going in his car? She tries to understand, she really does. Keep being nice is what she tells herself instead.

When the tent is finally up, only with Dahye’s finishing touches, and food is finally in her stomach, refilling her energy tank, it’s like there’s a switch going off in her head, making it seem as if nothing bad has ever happened. Eunbi is back to her talkative self with a full tummy and a bashful grin while her best friend teases her for the earlier tantrum she went on about, but at least it’s all smiles again.

The first day at the campsite is spent basking in the slowness that follows after ticking off the only two activities planned for today on Hoseok’s schedule: setting their tents and preparing meals for lunch and dinner. The boss then instructs the group on just getting acquainted with their surroundings, and they don’t need to be told twice, making the most out of those short remaining moments of ease.

The rest of those hours are used to laze by the huge lake, in between swims and sunbathes. Luckily, Eunbi had packed a few bikinis and she chose to wear a black set, its laces meeting at the back with a bow. Sitting back and taking it easy, before all that she will be faced with the next few days, gives her a chance to get closer to the others. During the earlier drive, she had the opportunity to chat with Sora and discover the sweetheart she truly is, and the car was then easily filled with laughter, mostly provided by Namjoon and Seokjin’s terrible jokes. She now sits by Sora on a beach towel, all the other girls in a circle catching up and laying by the sun. In the back of their gossip session, the boys could be heard laughing and squealing, and the sound reminded Eunbi of sweet childhood. She briefly shifts her attention to them and smiles when she observes how they’re doing the most to tire their energy out, from using a rope hanging by the branch of a tree to leap into the water, to initiating a volleyball match using one of their rolled up towels.

Eunbi grows even fonder than before of the people she’s surrounded with, the earlier stress leaving her body and being replaced by serenity, a small sigh released from her lips before she returns to listen to the girls’ chat. She laughs at something Dahye says and jumps on it excitedly, making the others chuckle at the two friends eagerly recounting one of their craziest uni experiences so far.

All of it is short lived when Taehyung and Jimin suddenly drop a water balloon over their heads, a collective gasp filling the space followed by the two boys’ childish giggles and Dahye’s screams, getting up to run after them. They all spend the rest of the afternoon trying to get back at each other with more pranks, bathing in the lake’s cold water and taking silly group pictures to seal the day. As the sun begins to set, they all sit on their towels and silently observe nature, definitely too tired to speak, and preferring to savour the sweet moment.

When the sun finally leaves its place for the moon to rise and the group of friends gets back to their tents, their stomachs growling signal it’s time for dinner. They take turns to shower using the nearby public structure and then help setting a campfire to cook. It also works as a very needed source of heat, given the temperature has significantly dropped and their bodies are still humid from washing up. Eunbi wears the grey cargos she had discarded earlier this morning when deciding on what to put on, and a white tee, her damp hair falling on her shoulders and making her feel slightly chilly. She comes up beside Yoongi to help him with the meat, benefiting from the warmth of the fire.

There’s not much talk between the two, only the older boy advising her to be careful of the flames every two minutes, but it’s comfortable. Eunbi still has a hard time reading through Yoongi, and maybe it’s what she enjoys the most about him: his aura is soothing and it exudes security. He doesn’t exactly show it, but he’s deeply attentive and caring of his friends, and the girl feels safe next to him. She can sense him looking over at her while the meat is cooking, and as she turns to him she meets his eyes with a smile. He ponders, scanning her face “You got sunburnt. You need to wear sunscreen tomorrow, or it’ll get worse.”

Eunbi chuckles, dragging her pointer finger up and down her red nose, “Yeah, I know. It kinda hurts but it looks like I have natural blush now!”

Yoongi shakes his head with a small amused scoff, “That’s stupid, Eunbi. Wait for me here, I’ll go get you an after-sun cream.” And even as he walks off, he reminds her to not stay too close to the fire. She thinks that’s an exact demonstration of what the boy is truly like in her head.

The girl keeps grilling the meat, humming unknown melodies under her breath, and she almost misses a broad figure sitting on one of the chairs surrounding the fire. When she looks up, it’s Jeongguk avoiding her eyes and instead staring at the flames, their light reflecting in his big orbs and making them shinier. He wears his bermudas from earlier, but he now has a grey Stussy hoodie on top of it. His locks are still wet after freshly coming out of a shower, and they curl on his forehead, making him look like a poodle. She smiles. It’s like 15 years old Jeongguk is there with her again, his bare, exhausted face and droopy eyes taking her back to Busan. Without even realising what she’s doing, she extends a cooked piece of meat his way, “You want some?”

Startled, the boy breaks from his spacing-out and registers the request. He looks between Eunbi and the meat, gulping. He licks his lips, and she swears she can also hear his stomach rumbling. When he keeps ogling the food without replying, she wiggles the fork and his eyes follow its every movement, as if hypnotised. Then, he suddenly screws his eyelids shut and breaks from the trance, simply shaking his head no and fishing his phone out of his pocket, mindlessly scrolling on it. Just like that, she’s back to the present, and Jeongguk hates her. Eunbi narrowly glares at him while he can’t see her.

Yoongi comes back soon after with two different creams in his hands, and he gives them to Eunbi with a chuckle. She thanks him and lets him take over the cooking, while she curiously inspects the products, still standing next to the fire. When Yoongi spots his younger friend on the chair, he asks the same exact question as her, forking a piece of meat, “You want some?”

Jeongguk’s attention is back up, this time on Yoongi, and when he sees what his hyung is referring to he eagerly nods. Eunbi interrupts her examination just in time to see the boy hungrily shoving the food in his mouth, brows furrowed and praising noises accompanying his munching, making the older friend by her side chuckle. Instead, the girl is once again in disbelief, even more as he watches Jeongguk patting his knee with force, satisfied with the bite, “Hyung, this shit is so good. I want more.”

Eunbi scoffs imperceptibly, leaving the scene with an annoyed scowl wrecking her pretty features. As she enters her tent, she’s glad Dahye is still showering as she makes the most of that isolating moment. She sighs wearily and whips out her phone. Using its camera, she tries to ignore her tumbling emotions and instead puts on the creams Yoongi had given her, but not even those are enough to distract her. She’s still incredulous at what she’s being put through, her patience wearing thin, and the pact she made with herself before coming here is dangerously close to being broken.

Dinner is spent with good food and even better people, and only then Eunbi visibly untenses again. In between bites and full mouths, they go from discussing random facts to casually engaging in games of Truth or Dare or Never Have I Ever, the beer bottles slowly being emptied while their tummies get filled. When they’re done eating, the relaxed smiles on their faces implicitly communicate how the meal has been the perfect ending to the lovely day spent together. Still, they stay by the fire and keep up an effortless chat. When one of them comments on the limpidity of the sky, its stars being perfectly visible in this zone of Seoul, they all look up and stare in silence at the fullness of the lights.

Even if it’s not too late, the weariness from being out in the sun for multiple consecutive hours is weightening down on most of them, Seokjin and Sora retiring to their tents, soon after being followed by Yoongi and Hoseok.

It’s a little past midnight, and Eunbi starts to feel more and more affected by the cool breeze, its effects showing on her prickled skin. She tries to warm herself up by rubbing her exposed arms with her hands, but it’s to no avail, “God, I’m so cold.”

A collective agreement follows her claim, with Iseul speaking up and curling herself into a ball on the deckchair she’s sitting on by taking her legs up to her chest and hugging them close, “Me too, it’s freezing.”

”Oh, I have a spare hoodie.” Both girls snap their heads at the voice, which belongs to Jeongguk. However, as he quickly gets up to retrieve the sweater from his tent, it’s not clear who between the two he’s referring to, their curious expectant eyes following his every movement. Eunbi has her reasons to feel so eager, given the fact that she has been begging for one nice interaction with the boy, a spark of hope lighting up in her chest at his offer. On the other hand, she doesn’t know why the other girl seems equally excited, twirling her short hair around her fingers as she waits for Jeongguk to come out of the tent again. She huffs, a pout ending on her features.

When the sought-after boy gets back with a blueish crewneck in his arms, both girls hold their breaths, the sudden tension going unnoticed by the others (except for Dahye, she’s like a psychic when it comes to her best friend’s emotions), until Jeongguk lays the piece of clothing on Iseul’s shoulders, coming behind her and then sitting on his chair again.

Iseul bashfully thanks him, the tips of her ears seemingly reddening while a sweet, alluring smile makes its way on her lips. Eunbi scoffs at that, and if looks could kill Iseul would be dead right now. The dirty look she sends her way luckily goes unnoticed, and she keeps hugging her own body trying to provide herself with warmth. When she shifts her attention to Jeongguk, he’s already looking at her, smirking. She can’t be convinced he isn’t doing all this on purpose.

Even with her teeth almost chattering, the neglected girl forces herself to stay with the others until the end, and with Namjoon and Taehyung retiring to sleep only six of them remain. Under a white full moon, the conversation doesn’t really follow a clear direction, steering from existential questions that none really have the answers to, to Jimin’s drunken adventures. Jeongguk giddily joins the recounting and adds many details to it, specifically highlighting the embarrassing parts that his roommate is trying to omit to save face, and making all of his friends laugh with their whole chest, Eunbi included. She simply can’t ignore the fact that he’s naturally charming, and hilarious as well. In the middle of his storytelling, his whole body gets involved and it makes the events seem even more impressive. Eunbi smiles when she compares the Jeongguk in front of her to the beloved one in her past, the one that would sit her down and force her to keep up with his running imagination, constantly up with new ideas for silly scripts.

Then it’s Dahye’s turn to share one of her experiences, and Eunbi inevitably gets thrown into the tale, which had seen the two friends drunkenly sneaking themselves into a concert. It’s like they’re perfectly mirroring Jimin and Jeongguk’s dynamic, because while Dahye is trying to leave out critical parts of the story, Eunbi strongly insists on specifying them with an unseen emphasis for 1 a.m., causing everybody to laugh along. In between chuckles, her eyes fall on Jeongguk, who is mindlessly scrolling on his phone and seemingly not paying attention. Throughout the recounting, she notices Jeongguk distractly listening but never laughing, and if he does it’s only after something said by Dahye. Slowly, the enthusiasm gets wiped off her face as she curls up on the chair, sulkily letting her friend finish telling the story.

Another hour of effortless conversation goes by, and Jeongguk is back to lively chatting again, his animated gestures and witty jokes getting laughter out of his friends, but this time Eunbi doesn’t join. She silently sets on observing the boy, despite being caught a few times. She really wants to understand the reason behind his behaviour, but there’s no factual explanation she can come up with other than the obvious reasons that put them in this situation in the first place. If that’s the case, there’s nothing much she can do other than going up to him and finally talking it out like the mature adults they should be, but with their petty, silent bickering she doesn’t think that’s happening any soon.

While she’s busy squinting her eyes at the boy, in a borderline creepy manner, she doesn’t notice Iseul crouching in half in laughter at something Jeongguk said, until she’s directly referring to her, “Oh god, Eunbi! Why did you never tell me Jeongguk was this funny?” Said girl is startled by the question and by the abrupt interruption that shakes her out of her trance, confusion written on her face and it must be evident with the way Iseul goes on explaining, “Dahye told me you’ve known him for a long time.”

All at once, the atmosphere is tense and maybe Iseul and Aera can’t feel it, but Dahye definitely can as she snaps her head to her friend, who’s staring directly into Jeongguk’s eyes. The two seem to be battling an unnamed war through eye contact, and the intensity of the boy’s gaze ignites something implacable in the girl’s chest, dangerously close to rage, and it has to do with all the feelings she’s had to bottle up in less than 24 hours. She scoffs, referring to Iseul but never breaking the staring contest with the boy, “Oh, is he? Don’t think I’m well acquainted with that side of him yet.”

If the tension wasn’t palpable to everyone before the comment, it surely is now, the only ones that have something left to say being the crickets and owls in the background. Jeongguk only snickers before washing a hand over his face, an unsettling smirk on his lips. He seems to finally acknowledge the other girl’s presence, but it’s not in the way Eunbi initially imagined it would go. Instead, it’s venom spitting out of his mouth, “You would've been if you weren’t so self centred, always wrapped in your own bubble all the fucking time.”

Eunbi's confidence falls as quick as her heart, a sudden force weighing on it and almost crushing it. She’s fast at hiding it, ignoring the slight sting she can sense in the back of her eyelids, her only goal is to shoot harder. She forces the fakest smile she can muster, “Self centred? Are you sure you're talking about me?” The affronted girl scoffs, loud and sarcastic, “Fuck, and I thought you'd know better than that, Jeongguk. You should try getting your head out of your ass and look around. Maybe you'd see how shitty you've been treating all of us-” me “-for these past weeks.”

Jeongguk is visibly taken aback, and it’s his heart falling this time, his face following suit. His broken features do little to hide the doubts plaguing his spiralling mind. Had he pushed it too far? Had he been actually so bad to his own friends? Seeing his contender’s face relaxing with victory makes him snap out of the sudden trance, as he regains consciousness fast. No, he hasn’t. Fuck this. Blinded by anger, he utters the unimaginable, “Speak for yourself when you say shit like that. As far as I'm concerned, I've been treating you fairly seeing the bitch you are.”

His eyes are as pitch as black, the stars in them that Eunbi would love to get lost into are unreachable now, almost as if a dark cloud had obscured them. It must be the pollution that's taking over his heart too.

She’s frozen in place as the cruel words echo in her mind, the force that was keeping her heart underwater had managed to crush it, and it was now coming up her throat, squeezing the air out of her lungs. Her ears ring with the sudden lack of oxygen, and she can only faintly hear Dahye’s raging comments coming in her defence against Jeongguk. She can only seem to focus on the cracking of the fire, though, its thumping noise suddenly unbearable, as she feels more and more engulfed in its flames. She forces all sounds to come back to her, strongly pulling herself out of her own plagued head, the boy in front of her now unrecognisable to her empty eyes.

Looking around, she notices all of her friends — his, after all — had gone extremely quiet, the pressure weighing on them too. She can't stand it, needs to get out. She wishes she had never agreed to this. So much for keeping her peace. Yet, she'll never give him the satisfaction of knowing how much that hurt her. She'll die before crying in front of him.

“Well, if you don't mind, the bitch has had enough now, so with all due respect, she's going to sleep.” With a forced tight lipped smile, she gets up in one fast movement and walks to her tent, leaving the others disoriented, and a still furious Dahye scoffing at Jeongguk. He follows her with his eyes until she disappears in her shelter, clenching his jaw and announcing his departure soon after.

Inside the tent, Eunbi takes several deep breaths trying to calm down, and she feels frail when she can sense her eyes prickle with tears. She tells herself it’s angry ones. Apparently, being nice isn’t enough, and she watches as the seal to her pact shatters with force, signalling no come back. Following suit, the puzzle breaks once again, and she’s left scrambling for the pieces falling, looking for the one that will start it over again. And this time, it’s going to be even harder.

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hoesheez · 6 months

Text

Free Racha…

3Racha/AFAB Reader

WARNINGS: free use, unprotected sex, language

A/N: been wanting to write a fic with both studio sex and putting moans into a song, dont ask why haha

MINORS DO NOT INTERACT!

After dating the men of 3Racha for a few months now, you thought it was finally the perfect time to ask them something. It was something you had been thinking about for a while now, the thought of it fueled many of your late night thoughts you used to pleasure yourself. One day when the four of you were finally in the same room, you brought up your idea.

You were all hanging out in the kitchen, playing a game of UNO when you mustered up the courage to ask them. “Do you guys know what free use is?” Jisung practically choked on his drink, “Come again?” he asked as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve. Changbin had stifled a laugh and hid behind his cards while Chan turned to you with an eyebrow raised. “What about it?” he asked curiously.

The three men looked at you, your words caught in your throat. “Come on then,” Changbin said as he placed his hand on the table, his muscular arms flexing as he crossed them over his chest. “Yeah, tell us Y/n,” Jisung spoke next. Seeing as how you couldn’t get out of it now, you sighed and cleared your throat. “Well, I wanna try it with you guys, it really turns me on thinking about it.” The men looked at one another, “You sure?” Chan asked. With him being the first man you started dating out of the trio, he knew you more than the others did and wanted to make sure you knew what you were getting into. He placed a hand on your thigh and squeezed , “Cause Im definitely on board.” Changbin and Jisung stood up as if they’d miss out on something, “Me too!” they both said in unison. You giggled at their enthusiasm, “Cool, uhmm,” you said and stood up, walking over to Changbin and Jisung who sat on the other side of the table, “should we try it out now?” you leaned in front of them on your hands and looked at them with a devilish smirk. Changbin reached out and pulled you in for a kiss, meanwhile Chan was already behind you pulling down your pants. Changbin pulled away and began undoing his pants as you leaned over to Jisung and gave him a kiss next. “So guys, when will you both be free so we can start working on the song?” Chan asked as he licked his hand and pumped himself, getting ready to enter you from behind. By now, you were already leaning on your arms sucking off Changbin and Jisung simultaneously. “I have an appointment tomorrow, why not this weekend?” Changbin huffed as you worked on him, taking his length all the way to the back of your throat. “Cant, we’ll be at dance practice all day.” he explained as you pumped him with your free hand. The men continued to talk and go about their business as you obeyed and let them fuck you however they liked.

Ever since then, they’d use you freely whenever they wanted. Whether it be at home or in the studio. When you were alone with each of them or altogether, it was incredible. Your deepest desires finally coming true, and the men you loved sharing every experience with you.

So of course when chan texted you to come over to the studio, you knew that you’d be used and fucked exactly how you liked. Just the thought of it caused your pussy to ache with need. You got ready and decided to wear your prettiest lingerie, some tight shorts that made your ass look amazing and sprayed yourself with your most intoxicating perfume. You stopped by their favorite restaurant to get some food and hurried to the JYP building to meet your three boyfriends.

You rode the elevator up and went to your second favorite place besides home and knocked on the door. Jisung answered, looking you up and down in appreciation, but then paying more attention to the bags of food. He took them from you and let you inside, finally saying hello with a gentle kiss. Chan turned away from his computer and looked at you, then did a double take, this time looking at you longer. He tapped Changbin who was behind him on his phone. The muscular man looked up at him as if he was going to say something but then followed Chan’s eyes to where they fell on you. You watched as he bit his bottom lip and shifted in his seat. “I brought food,” you said and put your things down before coming over to give Chan a kiss. He kissed you back and held the back of your head, “You look amazing.” he whispered against your lips. You smiled and went to Changbin, who offered you a seat on his lap. You sat on his thick thighs and leant in to kiss him. He couldn’t help himself and immediately undid his pants, pulling out his thick cock for you to suck. You quickly moved on the couch, laying on your belly and taking him into your mouth. Jisung came to sit and you moved your legs up and allowed him to sit, putting your legs back on his lap after he sat down to begin eating his food. He used one of his free hands to squeeze your ass, “How’s the song coming along?” he asked with a full mouth. Chan sucked his teeth, “Its, okay,” he said with a nervous laugh. Changbin patted your head as you sucked his dick, your hands coming to tug on his balls. He moaned softly, “Should we take a break?” he suggested and Chan shook his head, “There’s really no time, we have to push through the night, we’ve got this.”

He stretched with a small groan and quickly went back to mixing sounds. Jisung tapped you to get you to move your legs and he got up and put his food down. “Lets hear what you have so far.” he said and reached around your back to unbutton your shorts and pull them down your legs. “Alright, its not very long but,” he said and a tune began playing.

It sounded great to you, but these men were professionals, anything less than perfect wasn’t good enough. So you minded your own business and continued to suck Changbin off, ready to help in any way you could. You perked your ass up to Jisung after he finished taking off your shorts. He leaned in and began kissing your rear, pulling your underwear down to get more access to your plush skin. “Its a good start, lets record some vocals and see.” Chan turned to him, “Should i just do that now? Maybe it’ll help us decide on how to finish it?” He asked between the two men. Changbin nodded, “Good idea.” he said and pushed you onto him further. You gagged and dug your nails into his taught thighs through his jeans.

Chan started to set up the microphone so he could add some vocals to the demo. Jisung had already taken his cock out and slid it against your wet folds, slapping your ass and moaning at how wet you were. You immediately pulled off of Changbin, “Harder, Sungie, please” you begged and Changbin roughly took you by the hair and shoved his cock back into your mouth. “Go on, give them another.” he groaned out as he held your head down, his dick at the back of your throat making you gag. Jisung slapped your rear again, harder this time and you squirmed under him with a moan.

Chan finished setting up the microphone and cleared his throat to begin singing . While he recorded, Jisung finally entered you, his dick dragging deliciously against your tight walls. Changbin let go of you and you inhaled deep, his cum mixed with your saliva dripped from your mouth. He removed his shirt revealing his muscular body and moved to be on his knees on the couch, much like the position Jisung was in on the other side. They had you now on either side and thrust into you roughly in tandem. You moaned deeply with a stuffed mouth as the men thrust into you hard. Chan sighed, his need to be inside of you growing. He tapped the spacebar on the keyboard and the new tune began to play.

“Wait,” he said suspiciously and played it again, “Did you guys hear that?” Changbin and Jisung stopped, as their leader played the snippet over. You payed attention to the music after the man stopped and you could hear a moan in the background of the song. “Was that?” Jisung asked and slammed into you from behind. “That actually, sounded pretty good.” Changbin said and pulled you off of him.

He moved to take Chan’s place at the computer, chan coming over to your waiting mouth and pulling himself from his shorts. “You’re moans sound so good, lets hear some more.” he entered your mouth and wasted no time in thrusting to hit the back of your throat. Jisung picked up his pace and fucked you harder, his hands gripped your rear, sure to leave beautiful marks. He huffed and moaned, thrusting faster and nearing his peak. You felt him pick up his speed, moaning loudly when he reached a hand between your legs and began rubbing your clit. You gagged and huffed on Chan’s dick, unable to move, only looking up at him with tears in your eyes. “Play it back.” he said and Changbin clicked the mouse and replayed the part he just recorded.

Your whiny moan played in the background with the baseline. The three of them looked at each other, “So, we’re doing this?” Chan asked with a laugh. You got off of him quickly, “Start recording! I’m gonna cum!” you yelped and Changbin quickly hit record and brought the microphone closer to you. You huffed out a few light moans, growing louder and louder until your orgasm washed over you. “Ahhhh!” you cried out beautifully, the boys stunned from the noise you had just made.Jisung chuckled and stuttered against you, soon reaching his peak. He sighed and leaned down, kissing the back of you neck and trailing soft kisses down your back.

Your throbbing core spasmed on his softening cock before he finally slipped out of you. Jisung then tucked himself into his pants and went to the computer to review what was going on. “Come here babe.” Chan said and he brought you by your hand to sit on his cock. Your breath hitched and he bottomed out, your hands going to his shirt and gripping hard. “Play that one back.” Chan said as you began riding the leaders cock, greedily bouncing up and down as your orgasming moans played from the computer speaker. Chan removed your top and immediately grabbed your breasts and squeezed them through your bra. “That one might be a little, too suggestive.” he pumped up into you, meeting your hips with his. Changbin and Jisung agreed and began editing it to sound more subtle. Your head rested on his chest as you moaned and whined with how good he was fucking you. “Babe,” he said softly and turned your face to his. “Thank you.” he whispered against your lips and you wrapped your arms around his neck and kissed him, nibbling on his lower lip before you pulled away. He lifted you up and moved you to lay on your back on the couch. He grabbed one of your legs and pulled it closer to his body, letting the other hang off of the couch.

The sounds of your soaked and messy cunt caused the other men to look over at you getting fucked. Chan was fucking you so hard, your breasts bounced wildly with every thrust. “Damn.” Changbin said and stood up, and moved closer to you to fill your open mouth with his cock once again. “Let me try something,” Jisung mumbled and sat down, turning his attention to the computer. He clicked away and worked as you got pounded behind him: Chan picked up his pace, his thrusts becoming more brutal and precise, “See if there’s some samples saved, and add some autotune.” Chan grunted through his teeth, his hips stuttering as he climaxed. His seed shot into you and he moaned, breathy and soft. The sound of his moans and his last hard thrusts caused you to cum once again, your body involuntarily pulling away from him as you couldn’t handle the overstimulation.

“Auto tune? On the moans?” Jisung asked as he turned his head to look at Chan, who was standing up and stuffing himself back into his shorts. He went over to the computer and the two of them started disagreeing on how to finish the song. Changbin pulled out of your mouth and came to help you to stand up with a strong grip on your hand, “Just do rock, paper, scissors.” Changbin suggested and the other men began playing rock, paper, scissors to see if there will be auto tune or not. “Idiots,” Changbin said under his breath and the two of you laughed.

He turned you so that your back was to him, then he lifted you up, holding your thighs and arms with his arms over you.He thrust up into you, his balls slapping against your ass loudly. The arguing men quickly noticed what was going on, their heads turning and jaws going slack as Changbin used his strength to fuck you in a full vaginal nelson.

“Ahhh fuck!.” you cried out as he fucked you fast and deep. Jisung tapped chan to start recording and put the microphone in front of you, capturing your babbles and moans for them to hear later. “Assholes,” you huffed out, feeling your body go flush, all of a sudden feeling slightly embarrassed. The men teased you and laughed with you as Changbin continued.

“Well the songs almost done, just a bit more tweaking.” Chan said and focused on his work. Jisung brought his hand to your cunt, using his fingers to rub your clit, “Good, I’m so ready to head home,” he sighed and rubbed you faster. Changbin picked up his pace, fucking you faster, “You close?” You nodded, tears falling from your eyes at this point, “Yes Binnie.” Jisung continued to rub you, and along with Changbin’s brutal thrusts, you soon came, squirting with a small scream. The youngest’s jaw dropped as he got wet in the process, “Wow! Do it again!”

Changbin soon came into you, his strong arms holding you tight as he grunted out his climax. He sighed and put you on the floor, kissing your cheek before you stumbled and fell into Jisung’s body. He held you close, “Okay fine, maybe next time.” he kissed you on the lips and brought you to sit on the couch, which soon turned into you laying on his and Changbin’s laps. Chan came over and kissed you on the forehead, “Let me clean you up.” His voice was soothing as he grabbed some tissues to clean you and gave you the spare shirt and shorts he kept in his studio for emergencies.

The four of you relaxed and ate after the intense session. Changbin massaged your legs and feet, while Jisung rubbed your head gently and occasionally bent down to kiss you. Chan sat on the floor next to you, eating his food and feeding you at the same time. Once he was done, he went over to the computer, “Ok so, this is the song so far.” The song that played through the speakers was a slow r&b track with high hats and a sample of Chans vocals, along with your occasional moans hidden in the background music. “And heres what it sounds like with autotune.” he said and played the song. It sounded horrible, definitely not as good as the first. You all agreed it was trash with a look at one another, Jisung breaking out into a contagious laugh. They teased the way your moans sounded with the note changes thanks to the tuning, something you were sure they’d never stop doing for a while. You just laughed and enjoyed the moment with them, ecstatic that they cared about you so much and that you could truly be yourself with them.

A/N: no because tell me they wouldn’t tease you relentlessly with auto tune moan jokes lmao also this definitely isn’t one of MY fantasies 👀 you have no proof!!

#stray kids #stray kids smut #3racha smut #3racha #bang chan #seo changbin #han jisung #kpop smut #studio seeeexxxxxx #not my fantasy haha

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yougavemeyourheartyouknow · 1 year

Text

On thin ice (Hockey player! Miguel O’Hara x Figure skater! Fem! Reader)

A/N: Hiii Im back from my mini break :) I wanted to write more, but I wanted the next chapter to begin a certain way so I’m making this one short hehe. Excuse any typos and grammatical errors. Miguel probs being ooc

(Y/N)- Your Name

Cursing, funny little hehe drama, Miguel being Jealous, ansty (?) (Like, If you squint)

Word count: 1k

Series Masterlist

Chapter 9: Until I fall asleep, spilling drinks on my settee.

—

It’s been 3 weeks.

It’s been 3 weeks since you were in that practice room with Miguel O’Hara.

It’s been 3 weeks since you kissed Miguel O’Hara.

It’s been 3 weeks since you started to avoid Miguel O’Hara.

You didn’t do it on purpose, at least not at first. The day after the very overdue make out session, you told yourself that you would wait a day or two before you talked to him about it, in an attempt to get all your thought in order. Then, that day or two turned into three… then four, then a week, then 3… and at this point, it would be too awkward if you finally decided to face him. What were you even supposed to say after ignoring him for 3 weeks? “Hey Miguel, sorry I basically ghosted you after we made out, even though I said I’ll talk to you afterwards.” You’d rather die of embarrassment. So now you found yourself purposely avoiding him, and although your boy problems should be the last of your problems, they wouldn’t leave your mind.

As you came out of the bathroom, tossing your hairbrush onto your semi-messy bed, you let out a heavy sigh as you saw Kate finish fixing the whiteboard calendar that hung in your dorm room for the new month of October, on the third Friday, she had wrote “MIDTERMS,” in big red Expo marker, and on the following Friday she had written “REGIONALS” in the same way. The two words made your stomach twisted, and for once in the past three weeks, your mind was finally off the topic of the hockey player you had kissed.

“You know staring at the board won’t make those words go away.” Kate said, snapping you out of your thoughts as she capped the Expo marker, you let out lips curl down into a frown and your thumb’s fingernail started to tap repeatly on the surface on your ringer finger’s nail, a habit you've developed when you're nervous, because you knew she was right.

“Can’t you let me pretend at least?” You were joking of course, before making your way over to where you had your gym back half-hazardly thrown at the foot of your bed, zipping it open and checking of all your skating gear was in the bag.

“You’re overly stressed, what is it? Midterms, Regionals, or Miguel?” She asked with a head tilt, hey eyebrow going up with the question.

“All the above…” you mumbled under your breath as you finish rummaging through your bag before zipping it close and throwing it over you shoulder.

“You’ve got this.” Kate sent you a sympathetic smile, which you returned before leaving your shared dorm.

—

You told yourself no skating on the weekends as an attempt to keep yourself from over stressing yourself, but here you were, in the middle of the rink on the first of October, on a Sunday. To be fair, you weren’t practicing, you were just going to practice some jumps and spins, holding to get your mind off everything that’s been transpiring in your messy life. It was honestly a miracle that when you arrived that the rink was empty. You were in the middle of going over your triple lutz, each time you came back down on the ice your landing was wobbly, that is if you landed it. Most of the time you couldn't land it at all, it’s a move you’ve been trying to perfect for months now. Hoping to have it down before coach Kavinsky could have choreographed the long program in hopes to get more points from the judges, but unfortunately you still had too much trouble with it. It would have been a risky move to put it in the program.

“You should probably take a break from that move before you end up black and blue.” The voice rang out through the empty rink, causing you to lose concentration and fumbling the move again.

“Fucking hell, Logan. You should know you can’t do that shit…” you groaned as you slowly gathered yourself to get your body off the ice after falling. Logan chuckled and shook his head, his hands going into his pockets as he walked towards the entrance of the rink, taking the guards off his skates.

“Sorry, sorry, you’re right…” He mumbled with a small smile as he helped you up, “I just wanted to check on you. I know you like to come here when you’re stressed.” He added in a more serious tone.

“Yeah I’m…” your words trail off, a heavy sigh leaving through your nose instead. Logan, already knowing your answer just gave you a sympathetic frown, rubbing your shoulder before pulling you into a hug.

—

“She’s already told you that she’s not dating Logan-“

“I don’t care Peter.” Miguel growled, leaving the stadium, shoving past the front doors and angry stomped to his car in the parking lot. Peter followed behind him. While you and Logan were in the middle of your beautiful friendship moment of reassurance, neither of you noticed Miguel nor Peter making their way to the ice with their gear on and hockey sticks in hand. But upon seeing you embracing your skating partner, he quickly turned back around and made his way back into the locker room, changed back into his regular clothes, then (quietly) storming off and out of the building. “You expect me to believe that bullshit!? She’s all over him, like she wasn’t all over me 3 weeks ago!” He yelled as he throws open his back car door and angrily throws his bag and hockey stick into the back seat, Peter also putting his stuff in the back, but in a more calm manner.

“Miguel, that’s her skating partner. Not to mention her best friend.” Peter tries to reason with his friend as they both go into the car. “Obviously they’re gonna be close. If she was dating Logan, do you really think she would have let you kiss her? Let alone return the kiss?”

Miguel didn’t respond to Peter’s question, instead just letting out a small huff of air and a grunt. His hands gripping onto the steering wheel so tight that his knuckles began to turn white.

If you wanted to play that kind of game, then fine. He’ll play. He’s the best player on the team after all, this little cat and mouse will be easy for him.

—

Taglist: @tayleighuh @cowboylikeevie @coralineyouareinterribledanger @jukioku @loser-alert @migueloharaspookiebear @serpentstarr @littlexscarletxwitch @darksidescorner @sukioyakio

#miguel o hara fanfic #miguel o'hara x reader #miguel o'hara #on thin ice fanfic #spiderman 2099 x reader #astv miguel #astv spiderman 2099 #miguel o’hara au #figure skating au #hockey au #miguel spiderverse #spiderman 2099 #spiderman 2099 fanfic

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am-i-the-asshole-official · 1 year

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AITA for telling the teacher I made a group project all by myself which made my classmates get a worse grade?

Background: im 16F and in eleventh grade, im in a new school which is only for eleventh and twelfth grade. So my whole class was all people who didn’t know each other. This happened in the first few weeks of school. Also english isnt my first language and I’m a very shy person.

We got the task from our English teacher in our first English lesson to make a presentation and poster. She choose our groups and we just sat together for like two minutes and then the lesson was over and I completely forgot who I was in a group with because I didn’t yet know anyone’s names. We had to do the presentation three weeks later so I figured in that time someone else would reach out to the group so I don’t really need to know who was in my group.

No one else reached out for a week and the teacher was sick for the next week so I couldn’t ask her who was in my group. So we now only have less than two weeks left to do the project.

I send a message in the class group chat asking who’s in my group. No one answers. A few hours later i send a message again and no one answers again.

So I decide, ok, im just gonna start this by myself and the others can help later I guess. So I get a big piece of paper, do some research, print pictures etc… I also message the group chat with pictures of what I’m doing.

We are now at the weekend before the presentation is supposed to be on Thursday and I still don’t know who’s in my group. A different classmate sends a message in the group chat to ask who’s in her group, and someone replies to her with some names, including MY name.

So I finally know my group and I make a group chat with just us and ask them about ideas and if they could maybe write some texts for the poster and what part of the presentation they want to do. No one answers. I keep doing the poster alone and send pictures. I don’t get more back than „looks good“ and „👍“.

Now we’re at the day before the presentation. I have a finished poster and I’m writing the last part of the text while sitting at the kitchen table. My sister is sitting there too and doing homework. I’m complaining about how I did the whole thing by myself and the others completely ignored my messages. She says I should just say to the teacher that I did it all alone. I don’t really want to do that, but frustrated as I am I write on the back of the poster „100% (my name)‘s work“, kinda as a joke, and actually planning to erase it later, but I forget to erase it.

It’s Thursday, we do our presentation as the last group before the break. The others read the texts I wrote. We don’t get our grades told yet but it’s not a bad presentation.

After the lesson we change rooms and I stay behind for some reason I don’t remember, when the teacher wants to talk to me because she saw that writing on the back of the poster and she asks if I really did the poster by myself. I say yes because it’s true and it literally is written there so how am I supposed to lie. She also notices that the texts everyone read (she collected those too) are all in my hand writing. So it’s clear to her I did the whole thing alone.

A week later we get told what grades we got. I have a 1 (best grade) while the other group members have a 4 (barely passing). They ask why and the teacher says they would have gotten a 6 (worst grade) but they at least did the oral presentation. She explains that I told her I prepared the presentation all alone, and then not just my group but the whole class erupted and called me an asshole and worse things until I actually started to cry and no one talked to me for weeks. The other people in my group said to the teacher and the class that I told them I wanted to do the project alone, which I didn’t, but maybe it seemed like that because I had already started it when I found out who was in my group?

My family said everyone else was an AH for making me do all the work and stuff. But I’m not sure because of that giant negative reaction that not just the people involved, but also the rest of the class had. I‘m quite a solitary person and didn’t have friends in the school I went to before this one, and because of that I’ve always made group projects alone and don’t know the etiquette around them. I also do feel bad that they got a bad grade because of me, especially if they really thought I didn’t want help.

TDLR: I did a group project alone because my group ignored me. We did the presentation together, and I told the teacher that I made the poster and the content of the presentation alone. The teacher then gave the rest of my group a bad grade. My entire class insulted me until I cried when they found out. I don’t have good social skills so im not sure if I was right or wrong.

What are these acronyms?

#aita #am i the asshole

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vase-of-lilies · 1 year

Text

No Tears Left to Cry

❀ Possesive!Bucky Barnes x Reader (F)

❀ Warnings: Established kidnapping, captivity, NON-CON DUB-CON, dissociation, toxic relationship, manipulation, dacryphilia (aroused by someone else crying), restraints, bondage (shibari - the picture linked looks similar but just the other leg is down not tied up:)), BDSM themes, swimming in a lake, threats of drowning, drugging, lying, gaslighting, mind games that you should not play with other people, oral (f receiving), edging, skin carving with a knife (if there are more, please let me know!)

❀ Word Count: 3k

❀ A/N: This is a middle-ish story to that ties together with Coming Home To You! I would recommend reading Coming Home to You first!!!! I got this idea from a suggestion on AO3 (which has MUCH more feedback than Tumblr...) and I am really excited to write this and get everyone's opinions:)

It was you, but less. Your skin lost its color, your hair had gotten thinner, and your walk had less pep in it. Of course, when Bucky brought you here, you didn’t expect him to make you stay. With different intentions, you would have loved to stay forever. Once he started getting selfish, and needy, you were scared. When you didn’t listen to him or rebelled against him, the wrath you had to face from him was unimaginable.

On the first day, it was like any other day. You had gone down to the lake and had such a wonderful time! Just down the road was a beautiful secluded lake all to yourself and Bucky. As you stepped out onto the dock with him, he wrapped his arms around your waist and sighed. "It's so nice to be out here alone with you, away from everyone else." He whispered, kissing up the back of your neck and to your ear.

"It's beautiful up here, Buck. Are Steve and the others coming up later?" You had asked curiously, genuinely thinking that it would be a retreat up to the cabin with everyone.

"No, sweetheart. It's just us. Forever."

You chuckled at his wistfulness and turned around in his arms, nuzzling into his chest. With a maneuver that Natasha had taught you, you easily shifted you and Bucky over the edge and into the cool water below. You laugh heartily and swim over to him, kissing his lips softly as you float together.

It was what anyone wanted in that moment. Alone, in the woods with the one person you love. But Bucky had darker intents than just a weekend get away.

On Monday, the day he said you would be leaving back to New York, he had purposly slept in. You were all packed and ready to go, trying to wake him up. "Come on, sweetheart, just two more hours, wanna hold you." He said as you tried to drag him out of bed. He was much to strong for you, and pulled you into the bed with him, holding you close to him.

"Baby, I have work tomorrow. I already told Clay that I would work overtime this week since I was going out of town." You explained. The mention of your co-worker made Bucky tense up, grasping a tighter hold on you. "I already talked to Clay... and he said you're good for the week." Your brows furrowed, that doesn't sound like Clay.

Lie number one.

"Bucky, h-he wouldn't just let me off the hook. Im his only receptionist."

He rolls his eyes and flips you over onto your back. He gently cups your cheeks and says, "And you're only going to be here another week, so he said it was fine. I wanted to surprise you with a couple more days so we could really feel like we were here forever."

Lie number two.

You smiled at the sudden surprise, and tilted your head. "He really said I could stay another week?" He nodded at your question, and kissed your head.

"I promise, baby. I wouldn't lie to you."

Lie number three.

You took his word for it and relaxed into him, laying on his chest as he cradles your body against his. With the next week to yourselves, Bucky took that opportunity to drill the bars into the windows and install the locks on all of the doors. While you were on the doc, you heard his footsteps behind you and you turned.

"Why don't you come inside, love? It's getting chilly, you look cold." He says, and you try to protest but he's already began to clean up your blanket and the drink he made you. As you stand up, you're hit with a wave of dizziness. Tears stung your eyes as you look to the empty cup in Bucky's hands.

"Wh-what did you d-" your sentence is cut short as you stumble forward away from Bucky. He watches you pitifully crawl away, dirt getting under your fingernails as you drag yourself further away from him.

"Y/n, lets go inside. You look very ill." He says, kneeling in front of your form. Tears roll down your cheeks as you look up at his smiling, god-forsaken face. You whimper as he flips you over, gently picking you up. Your limbs feel like they weigh two tons, but Bucky picks you up like you are nothing.

As the world around you turns to black, your last thoughts consume you. "He lied to me... he hurt me... he's going to kill me..."

~~~~~~~

By the time you woke up, it was dark outside and dimly lit in the bedroom where you reside. Not in the bed though. Before you could open your eyes, a rough yet gentle hand ghosted its way across your stomach, and around to your back. You were standing up? It felt like you were in a swaying ship, rocking back and forth as the waves hit the sides, but you were stationary, in the cabin where Bucky is keeping you.

Once your eyes fluttered open, you were eye to eye with Bucky. Who is much taller than you. It was when you moved that you realized you couldn't; with your arms suspended above and behind your head, your right leg had been tied with a rope at the knee, hoisted up pulling your legs apart. Your left leg was kept tied at the ankle connected to a small ring on the ground, your toes barely grazing the hardwood floors beneath them.

He had tricked you, drugged you, and suspended you like a puppet that he is the master of. You tried to speak, but your voice was muffled by the very bandanna you gave Bucky when he began riding his motor cycle. You thought it would be good luck and a token of your love for him.

"Shh, don't talk love. I need you to listen to me." Salty tears fell down your cheeks, and Bucky was fast to wipe them away with his thumbs as he cupped your head in his big hands. Forced to look at him, you let him continue.

"You were too distracted by work, and that man you call a work-husband and I needed you to focus on your actual husband. He won't know you're gone, and no one is going to help you. You are here with me forever." He kissed your gagged lips, and ran his fingers over your perked nipples that sat perfectly with your bound breasts.

He talked to you as you hung helplessly. "Im going to make you feel so good, my love. You won't ever want to leave. You're not ever going to leave." His lips moved down the valley of your breasts and down passed your navel. His large hands kneaded your ample ass, and he pulled your hanging body closer to him.

As he got to your folds, he licked a long stripe down your slit, focusing on your bundle of nerves nestled right at the top. A choked moan left your throat, and more tears fell down your cheeks. "Keep crying baby girl, its making me all hot and bothered..." he joked. You shook your head, but was unable to make him stop.

His fingers teased your entrance and he pushed two straight into you. Sucking in a breath, you whimper at the sudden intrusion. Bucky was quick to ease you by sucking hard on your clit, his tongue swirling in just the right way that made you see white. You tried your best not to moan and give into him, but you failed too quick for your liking.

His stubble burned your inner thighs in just the right way, and when Bucky slapped your ass it made it even better. You allowed yourself to be eaten like a full course meal, no matter how much you hated it.

"Fuck baby girl, you taste so fucking good," he moans beneath you, lapping at your cunt like a starved man. You slick sticks to his lips as he continues to eat you out and it turns you on. Once again, you hated it.

As you felt the rising of your orgasm in your belly, he smirked and pulled away at the last second. You whined when he did not let you cum, and you looked at him as he stood up. "You will cum when I want you to..." He said dangerously, in a voice you knew very well. You nodded in shame and sniffled as he knelt back down and started devouring you again.

You closed your eyes, and allowed him to make you feel good. It was true, he did make you feel good, amazing even. And he treated you like the queen of all goddesses. Even in a time like this, you still felt loved and held by him.

As the feeling of your orgasm formed once again, he pulled away for a split second to say "Cum for me baby, be a good girl and let go." You obeyed him and he unraveled you as you came. He smiled against your cunt and continued to suck hard on your clit as your orgasm ensued.

Once he felt your little bud flutter at the sense of touch, he pulled away. He wiped his mouth and kissed up your body, taking a nipple into his mouth, and followed the rest of your body up to your lips. "You're safe with me, I promise." He kissed a tear off of your cheek and left his lips on your head for a second.

You knew you were safe with him, but it didn't feel like it. He was possessive and when he got possessive, it terrified you. You tried to talk, and he allowed you to pulling the gag from your mouth and around your neck.

"Wh-why," You whimpered, looking at him with sadness and betrayal in your eyes. "Why are you doing this? D-did you hurt anybody?"

He sighed "You are too kind hearted to be out there all alone my love. Don't you see that? The people who are hurt deserve it, especially the people who hurt you. All you need to know is everything is taken care of, and you have nothing to worry about. Ok?"

With no energy to fight, you only nodded and looked down. You sighed in relief as you felt Bucky walk behind you and begin untying your hands. He lowered you to the floor, and as he continued to untie the knots around you, you were scheming. You were not going to stay here like he wanted you to. And you were not going to listen to him no matter how harsh the punishments or consequences are.

"How about you lay down while I make dinner? It's your favorite too. I got the ingredients just for you." He said with a smile, untying the last little bit of rope around your legs. You decided to play his little game, and smiled up at him.

"Thank you, honey, th-that's really kind of you." You say cautiously, not wanting to anger him in any way. He helped you up and you stumbled a little bit, your legs still getting used to being on the ground again. You lean against him and he helps you sit down on the bed. You frown as you see a long chain connected to the wooden leg of the bed, on the end a large metal cuff.

He reached for your leg and you took this opportunity to kick him hard in the face. Blood spews from his mouth as he stumbled back and you made a run for the door. You had jumped over his reaching arm and beelined to the front door. When you got there, you noticed a new addition to the knob. It was a thumb sensor and a pin pad. The bastard talked to Stark? You knew this technology anywhere.

Bucky's booming footsteps made their way out of the bedroom and came closer to you. Before you could think, you were struggling and kicking as his arms wrapped around you, picking you up and pulling you outside of the house. On the side of the cabin was a weather shelter, and he pulled on the doors and threw you down the stairs. You landed on your back, scraping your exposed skin on the little rocks and pebbles that were scattered across the ground.

You screamed in pain, and tried scooting away from the now very angry Bucky. Your bloody back met a solid stone wall and your eyes met Bucky's piercing blue ones. "You little bitch.... I cared for you, I gave you pleasure, I was going to make your favorite fucking dinner! And this is how you repay me??" He shouted at you, making you cower. You didn't dare move, or say anything as he rummaged around the dimly one-lightbulb-lit room.

"All I do- no all I did and continue to do for you, I get a kick in the face. Such an ungrateful little shit!" You, Bucky and even God knew you screwed up. You ruined what solid chance of safety you would have gotten with Bucky and you would soon find out the consequences.

He dragged a white folded table to the middle of the room and grabbed you by the hair. He pulled you to the table and pulled out his six-shooter antique revolver from his pocket. He pointed it at your head and ordered you to lie down on your back. You listened to him, horrified. He grabbed the rough rope from the ground and began tying each limb to the legs of the table, securing your body to the top.

"This is what you deserve, Y/n, this is what you deserve for not being grateful for everything I do for you!" He yelled, making you flinch and look away from him. He pulled his favorite knife from his belt and flipped it open. He straddled your hips and held his hand over your stomach keeping you still.

"You. Are. Mine. Y/n. You are MINE." It took everything in you not to scream as his knife carved into your skin. You failed and your vocal chords ripped themselves apart as Bucky meticulously and strategically etched into your skin.

"Pl-please! I'll I- I'll be go- ah!!!! Ill be good!!! Please!! Ill be good!!!" You sobbed, but it fell on deaf ears. Bucky pulled the bandanna around your mouth again, and you immediately bit into the fabric to take the pain away. Once he was done with you, he had drawn what he called a "masterpiece" on your torso.

"Property of James Buchanan Barnes." Was jagged and bleeding along your waistline, and "JBB" was carved in more jagged letters between your breasts. You were tired and scared, but emotionless as you stared up at the light. Passed the light, passed the roof, and into a place you would rather be.

He got off of you and stood above you at the head of the table. He squeezed your cheeks together and growled, "Next time you misbehave, it's going to be cement on your feet and I'll throw you in the fucking lake. Understand?" You don't answer, your silence is enough of an answer for him. Your mind was somewhere else, anywhere else but here. You weren't listening to anything around you, and you had survived what Bucky gave you.

~~~~~~~

It only took one of Bucky's outbursts to scare you into submission, and he did a damn good job of it. You didn't say a word for the next two weeks as he nursed you back to health. He had carefully bandaged your back and knife-inflicted wounds and kissed your skin to get you back to him. He wanted your old self back. He got you, but a different version of yourself.

You were a shell of yourself, and you had silently told Bucky that he won. To try and make you happy again, he had finally made your favorite meal. He led you to the dinner table with a blindfold on and helped you sit down. When he pulled the blindfold from your eyes, you were met with a candle-lit table with [your favorite meal] on the plate in front of you.

Tears fell down your cheeks and you turned in your chair. You wrapped your arms around Bucky's waist and cried into his shirt. He cradled your head and held you close.

"Little one, whats wrong?" He asked as he knelt down next to you. You looked at him through tear-filled eyes and shook your head.

"N-nothing..." A sad and weak smile formed on your lips. "Absolutely nothing is wrong. Not now, an-and not anymore." Your inner thoughts had won, and you had finally broken under Bucky's harsh treatment. He had a smile on his lips too, and he tilted your head up towards his.

"Im so happy to hear that, doll, so so happy." He kissed your nose and followed with a sweet kiss to your lips. "Such a sweet girl... I may even let you go to town and go shopping with me next time." Your face lit up at that and you nodded instantly.

"I will be good, so good I promise, a-and I'll even-" his chuckle cut you off and he responded "Honey, you don't have to do anything but be good. I will take care of you. I promise." And he would, from that day forward you didn't need to leave the cabin. The cuff came off, and you had free reign around the property. He even lets you go to town and do the grocery shopping with him. You learned to tolerate it but when Bucky didn't like you only tolerating it, he made you love it.

Once there were no tears left to cry, you learned to love it.

With Bucky, was captivity really that bad?

#bucky barnes x reader #Bucky barnes x f!reader #Possessive!Bucky Barnes x Reader #Bucky x reader #Bucky Barnes #Dark fic #non con #bucky barns x y/n #Bucky Barnes x you #Bucky Barnes x captive reader #dark!bucky barnes x reader

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traumacatholic · 6 months

Note

I recently got engaged to the love of my life. We are both still very young, but currently there is a possibility they may have cancer. we cannot currently make an appointment with the hospital because its the weekend, and moreover if we can get an appointment it may be months away. Im terrified beyond belief. My fiancé even more so.

I truly do not know what to do. I'm someone who has been blessed in life in that I have never lost someone close to me. My fiancé pulled me out of the worst time in my life when I met them. My connection to God has never been strong despite my family being catholic. I don't even really know how to pray. We have so many plans for the future, to be married and raise a family together. To try and put a little good back into the world. To grow old together.

I am at a loss. Any prayer you can offer would mean so much to me. I would do anything for my fiancé, and though it feels wrong to come back to my faith because something horrible is happening and not for simply wanting to I only hope God can forgive me for it and protect my Love.

Of course, I will keep you both in my prayers. Never feel like you're turning to your faith for the 'wrong' reason, because this can put you off really engaging and connecting with your faith and using it as a pillar and a support network. Please reach out to a Church, even if you aren't currently attending one. And asking for prayers and for help from the Priest. Even if you did turn to faith for the 'wrong' reason, ultimately by spending time in prayer, spending time reading Scripture, spending time going to Church - whatever things you might be doing. Should hopefully lead to you sincerely connecting with your faith in a way that perhaps feels more meaningful to you. A genuine engagement with the faith. It is better to turn to God in times of desperate situations, than to never turn to Him at all. God never tires of us turning to Him for help.

People turn to the faith in different ways, in many different situations. We should never treat the individual turning to God as 'this is the right reason', 'this is the wrong reason'. Anything that could lead to someone genuinely increasing their faith, no matter how slim that possibility may be, should be encouraged. How many cultural Catholics still turn to St Anthony for help finding a lost item? Or a Hail Mary when they're in the hospital waiting room? As the old saying goes 'there's no atheist in the trenches'. And regardless of how 'silly' or 'insincere' or whatever else term we might use that turn to faith might be, God will use it as an opportunity for you to develop or redevelop that relationship with Him. Our entire life is a conversion process. We are always, every single day, choosing to convert to God through repentance or choosing to slip away from Him. Hoping in God, hoping in His power and His mercy and His comfort isn't a bad thing.

In terms of prayers, if you are feeling up for it. There is an Akathist to the Theotokos for healing - particularly for healing from cancer. I know you don't have a confirmed diagnosis, but please don't feel like you have to wait until then to pray this. You can pray it now. This is a long prayer. It is designed to be read all the way through. Don't worry about the names of Troparion or Kontakion, that's meant for people that are chanting the Akathist. http://www.stvladimiraami.org/sheetmusic/akathistvsetsaritsa.pdf Has the beginning prayers, as well as the full akathist. Generally, the first couple of times reading through an Akathist can make it take a long time. But I found through the Akathist that I prayed daily, that eventually it takes a lot less time because you know the prayer well enough. Don't feel like you have to read this every day. Traditionally, Akathists can be said once a day for a 40 day period. You don't have to do it for that long, just as and when it feels feasible. It does also have three prayers at the bottom. If you're ever not feeling up for praying the Akathist, feel free to pray those individually.

I have attached some much shorter prayers under the read more. Feel free to mix and match between them. I would recommend having at least one prayer, that you pray morning and night. If you can, I would also recommend reading a Psalm a day.

Dear Lord, as my loved ones and I await the results of medical tests about my affliction, let us offer you our anxieties for our good and your glory. Calm us in our worries, knowing these don’t add wisdom but rather stress to this situation. Enlighten us, though the power of your Spirit, to make wise decisions as to treatment. Help us not to turn away from You in these fragile, painful moments, but rather towards you for grace and strength. Comfort us in seeking you now as we place all our concerns in your loving hands as we say “Thy Will Be Done.”

Mary, health of the sick, you brought forth into our world Jesus Christ, our Divine Healer. In your caring goodness, intercede for (mention name), who is truly in need of miraculous assistance.

If it be God’s will, I ask this day that the gift of healing from all forms of cancer be granted to (name).

Comfort him/her during times of anguish, pain, confusion and despair. Ask our gracious Savior to grant him/her physical health, inner peace and patience in suffering.

May God’s healing graces grant (name) a life of happiness, health and fulfillment here on earth, and one day the joy of eternal glory in His loving embrace.

Amen.

Let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy.

O Lord Almighty, the Healer of our souls and bodies, You Who put down and raise up, Who chastise and heal also; do You now, in Your great mercy, visit our brother (sister) (Name), who is sick. Stretch forth Your hand that is full of healing and health, and get him (her) up from his (her) bed, and cure him (her) of his (her) illness. Put away from him (her) the spirit of disease and of every malady, pain and fever to which he (she) is bound; and if he (she) has sins and transgressions, grant to him (her) remission and forgiveness, in that You love mankind; yea, Lord my God, pity Your creation, through the compassions of Your Only-Begotten Son, together with Your All-Holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit, with Whom You are blessed, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy.

O Lord our God, Who by word alone did heal all diseases, Who did cure the kinswoman of Peter, You Who chastise with pity and heal according to Your goodness; Who are able to put aside every malady and infirmity, do You Yourself, the same Lord, grant aid to this Your servant (Name) and cure him (her) of every sickness of which he (she) is grieved; lift him (her) up from his (her) bed of pain and distress, and send down upon him (her) Your great mercy, and if it be Your Will, give to him (her) health and a complete recovery; for You are the Physician of our souls and bodies, and to You do we send up Glory: to Father, and to Son, and to Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

O God, our help in time of need, Who are just and merciful, and Who inclines to the supplications of His people.

Look down upon ____________and have mercy on them and deliver them from the trouble that now besets them.

Deal with ____________ not according to their iniquities, but according to Your manifold mercies, for we are the works of Your hands, and You know our weaknesses.

I pray to you to grant ____________ Your divine helping grace, and endow them with patience and strength to endure their hardships with complete submission to Your Will.

Only You know our misery and sufferings, and to You, our only hope and refuge, we flee for relief and comfort, trusting in Your infinite love and compassion, that in due time, when You know best, You will deliver ____________ from this trouble, and turn their distress into comfort.

We then shall rejoice in Your mercy, and exalt and praise Your Holy Name, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, both now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen

[Feel free to pray this one for yourself, and to edit it to be a prayer for your fiancé. From my understanding, when we are praying for someone else, we omit any references to them being a sinner. So you would edit it to 'Be merciful to him/her, O Master. Take from them the heavy burden of despair.']

O Greatly-merciful Master, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and cleanse me from every sadness and disturbance and cowardice. Drive away from me every spiritual choking and demonic sorrow, that I sense in my body and my soul. For You are our Joy, and the Hope of all the ends of the earth, and those far off at sea. Be merciful to me, O Master, upon my sins. Take from me the heavy burden of sin and despair. Drive far away from me every sadness and laziness. Confirm me in Your Love, and with unassailable hope and unshakable faith in You, through the intercessions of Your Spotless Mother, and all Your Saints. Amen.

[I would recommend this one for yourself]

O Master, Lord my God, in Whose hands is my destiny: Help me according to Thy mercy, and leave me not to perish in my transgressions, nor allow me to follow them who place desires of the flesh over those of the spirit. I am Thy creation; disdain not the work of Thy hands. Turn not away; be compassionate and humiliate me not, neither scorn me, O Lord, as I am weak. I have fled unto Thee as my Protector and God. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee. Save me for Thy mercy's sake, for I have cleaved unto Thee from my youth; let me who seeks Thee not be put to shame by being rejected by Thee for mine unclean actions, unseemly thoughts, and unprofitable remembrances. Drive away from me every filthy thing and excess of evil. For Thou alone art holy, alone mighty, and alone immortal, in all things having unexcelled might, which, through Thee, is given to all that strive against the devil and the might of his armies. For unto Thee is due all glory, honor and worship: To the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen

#prayer #prayer request #prayer req #urgent prayer request

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moonshynecybin · 5 months

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I need the riders to be crammed around a table for press cons again. Need Pecco/Marc/Bez/Pedro jamming their elbows together and biting their way through the answers. Well not Pedro because he will be having too much fun on there. But Marc/vr46 would be great

i knowwww i miss when they would take the people who hated each other most and put them shoulder to shoulder like they were in a get along shirt… just absolutely hoping they would brawl stone cold crazy style. NOW it’s swagless covid-distancing bar stools. they don’t even have a TABLE to play FOOTSIE under. catastrophic. liberty media if you want to capitalize on the rpf engine we’ve assembled for you PLEASE at least bring in some sort of couch situation. like this is genuinely terrible to look at you should want them sucking and fucking at the table or at the VERY least yelling THATS MY OPINIOONNNN over dani pedrosa's perfectly still tiny little body at each other like the golden days of yesteryear. COMPARE !

like dovquez is vibing. it ALSOOO serves as VERY easy shorthand to see who actually likes each other. like genuinely and for real who do you talk to at the lunch table. for what twink do you ignore your literal job for. you literally could not payyyyyy rosquez not to yap at each other for three entire years. like every weekend you have SEEN the photos. (until the papers get served and then it’s uh. it’s different.) like i think we should all take a moment of silence and look at the qatar 2016 presscon table line up and send yorg good vibes through the ether universe for having to sit through that one. a conceptually nauseating presscon experience.

i mean. compared to cota the year before. its like when two of the people you are forced to hang out with semi regularly USED to annoy you because they wont ever SHUT UP. but then they break up and its sucks in a different way. AND they made their breakup about YOUUU.

anyways i also miss when they would stand up for the photo at the end and i could mentally arrange them via height like little matryoshka dolls. what im saying is they should be gathering all twenty of them in a room and having them sit in each other's laps.

#they also only interview them like. three at a time now which means less chances for funnnn interactions #like you guys DO realize you are selling an entertainment product right. narratives are built on relationships you WANT your fans invested #in those relationships. idk. liberty call me.#motogp #callie speaks #asks #i personally would like to see bezz attempt not to laugh at marc's antics out of an absurd sense of loyalty MORE OFTEN !!!

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xticklemeemox · 1 month

Text

The Love You Want: III, Part Twelve

Word count: 18,438

teehee fluff and smut and ANGST

Kinda dont like this but im insecure so!!!! <3

ALSO THIS FORE IS NOT ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FORE'S THE BAND HAS HAD. NEW ORIGINAL DUDE THAT IM CALLING FORE

Masterlist

AO3

Previous Part

Vessel and II are a quarter way into The Two Towers when III finally wakes, drooling on II's pillow as Elvira sleeps on it above his head.

"Mornin'" III slurs, rubbing one eye as they curl up into as small of a ball as possible, right up against II's side.

"Morning, sleepyhead. Rest well?" II says, receiving only a muffled hum in reply.

"When you're more awake, I'm going to need your and Ves' help maneuvering the mattress into the house. Carrying it in was no problem's all the tight corners and furniture I won't be able to navigate past. It's just sitting in the foyer right now, taking up space." II requests, and III nods into II's side.

"Coffee first." They mumble, eyes still shut as a thumb absent-mindedly traces a line back and forth on II's thigh.

"You seem more tired than usual." Vessel comments lightly, erring on the worried side, sitting up.

"Using my magic all day while Four was here was exhausting. Sleep said I would get used to it, though, and it wouldn't affect me so badly with time."

"Will you be able to healthily maintain your disguise on tour?" II questions, turning his phone screen off to properly pay attention to the conversation.

"I'll be fine. I'll have ample practice by the time touring comes around since Four's probably going to be coming over more often. Oh, speaking of, how do you feel about him? A bit blunt, but I can be as well." III finally sits up too, yawning into a closed fist.

"It's a bit early for me to say. He seems nice enough. What about you, Vessel?"

Vessel takes a moment to gather the words, not sure how to respond. Should he mention the man in his dreams? Vessel had wanted to wait until he'd spoken with Sleep, but... No. No, he'll wait to say anything.

Biting his lip nervously, Vessel says, "I do not feel drawn to him as I was to Three."

II takes that answer in, remembering the way he, too, was drawn to III, but not as strongly as Vessel had been. II himself didn't feel drawn to Nick, to Four, either.

"Well, has Sleep chosen our Fourth yet?" III says around another yawn, tears beading at the corner of their eyes.

"I am not certain. I will ask." Vessel moves to get up, but II stops him with an arm around his waist, pulling him back to II's side.

"Stay awhile, sweetheart. Ask later, once we finish our movie. I don't want you to leave my side just yet."

Vessel's face floods with a startlingly red blush, more shy about II blatantly admitting to wanting his company than he was about all of the dirty talk from that sinfully pretty mouth.

"What were you watching anyway?" III asks, hunching over to lean his head on II's shoulder.

"Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers." II replies, using his available hand to start carding gentle fingers through their hair, his usual blonde but now sporting black tips.

II's hand is warm where it has slid down to grip Vessel's hip tenderly, and Vessel is utterly lost in the gentleness of it.

"Oh, I've never actually seen those movies. A few scenes here and there from the first one, but that's it."

"We can- Um, I don't mind restarting from the first movie. If- If Two doesn't mind." Vessel speaks up, blushing further when II presses a kiss to his cheek.

"I don't mind. I've seen The Lord of The Rings a myriad of times along with The Hobbit trilogy-" II pauses, a frown appearing alongside a furrow between his brow, seeming to be thinking hard about something, "With my mothers. We would dedicate a whole weekend every once in a while to watching both trilogies. It got more difficult to plan once I moved out, but we managed."

"A nice memory then." III says delicately, "Seeing as you remember that."

"Yeah, it was nice..." II murmurs before brightening, "That settles it then, we'll take this downstairs to the living room. First, we need the mattress moved. I'll make your coffee afterwards if you'll just help me now, Three?" II aims to compromise, and III takes a moment to think it over, still a bit drowsy.

He nods once, and that is that.

Except Vessel speaks up next, "I can help."

"Don't think I didn't notice the fresh blood on your bandages, my love. You're not helping." II insists, leaving no room for argument.

Vessel startles a little, looking down at his arms. As II says, red and black blood has seeped through the layers of Vessel's bandages, notifying the others of fresh wounds. Guilt freezes his veins, and he looks down to the bed, hands clenching tightly in his lap, feeling as though he should pull away from the comfort the other two are providing just by being so close.

"I want to help, regardless of what I've done to myself. I can help move furniture, or some other task. I do not want to be useless as you both do all the work."

II frowns, a heavy thing that seems to weigh down his shoulders too. "I do not want to exacerbate your injuries, self-inflicted as they are. If I even so much as think you're straining your arms too much, I'm sending you to time out on the couch."

"I am not an ill-mannered child that needs to be put in time out." Vessel protests in a murmur, before looking up in a sudden panic, fearing his words were too bold.

II's smile is softer than Vessel expects, eyes just as kind with a blatantly playful gleam that Vessel does not miss, "You certainly worry me as though you were one."

The panic washes away once Vessel sees that II isn't upset with him for talking back, a wobbling, guilty smile replacing the thin line his lips had fallen into. It's the only answer he can muster, and II takes it as it is, moving on, "Up, up, if we want to finish all three movies in the trilogy today we have to start soon."

"A lazy day, then? We have so many of those." III rolls over onto their back as II gets out of bed and pulls Vessel to his feet beside him.

Elvira yowls lowly as III accidentally lays his head on her tail, wacking them on the forehead with a paw. III scowls as they sit up, a palm pressed to where her claws had lightly scratched along his forehead.

"I think we all deserve one after the last few days. I know I was stressed about meeting our manager and then needing to pick a guitarist. Vessel was a wreck- Don't you try to object, honey, I could feel it in the bond."

Vessel gnaws on his lower lip to refrain from protesting anyway. II kisses him, a sudden thing that sends Vessel's thoughts scattering pleasantly. When II pulls away, he explains to a speechless Vessel, "Good morning kiss. Also, your lip was starting to bleed. Can't have that pretty mouth damaged, now can we?"

Vessel opens his mouth to stutter out a flustered response, glad when III speaks up instead, oscillating fingers beckoning II closer, "I want my good morning kiss!"

II laughs, pulling away from Vessel to crawl onto the bed, leaning over III to place a soft kiss on his lips, one hand cupping their face lovingly. "There, honey. Now, up."

III groans in dismay but does as told. Vessel makes to step away from the bed so III has ample space to stretch, but careful fingers thread through the hair at the back of his head after they stand, III reaching forth to pull Vessel close enough to kiss him just as tenderly as II had kissed them.

II laughs when III pulls away, the sheer redness of Vessel's face now visible. "So easily flustered today, Ves." He comments, picking his phone back up from the bed and checking the time.

"Your compliments are so freely given, I am not used to them, even now." Vessel replies, somehow managing to turn a deeper shade of scarlet.

"I love seeing you blush. Its my favorite thing. Of course I'm going to compliment you until that pretty flush appears. You and Two deserve every compliment I give. Two is so cute, even when he looks so angry while drumming."

II gasps, affronted, "I'm not angry! I'm concentrating."

"You look angry." III says bluntly, smirking.

"I do not! Ves, Ves, tell them they're wrong!" II pleads, trying and failing to keep from laughing.

Vessel looks between the two, embarrassment forgotten, finding the words on the tip of his tongue. Should he say them? He wants to, but fears II's reaction. II has never gotten angry with Vessel over anything he's said...

"Its the furrow between the brow." Vessel confirms, watching II carefully.

III smiles at Vessel participating in the teasing, hesitant still, but... more relaxed. He's been a bit more open with his words ever since he'd woken up from his week long sleep, more open with his affections, though barely.

"You wound me, sweetheart. Three is our brat but for you to agree with him? Why, I never!" II keeps his tone playful, exaggerated perhaps a bit too much, but he wants to make sure Vessel knows they're both only joking around.

Vessel's self-satisfied, answering smile is small but sends zings of delight down the bond, glad that his teasing had not landed him in any trouble.

"Enough playing around, we're wasting daylight!" II commands, clapping his hands together softly so that it doesn't startle Vessel too badly.

He's pleased when Vessel barely flinches, squeezing II's hand when he offers it to hold.

With all three of them working together, they manage to get the mattress into the living room. Fitting it with the sheet they'd bought, II decides to see how it looks shoved up on one end against the wall they don't use. It makes the living room look a little cluttered, but it's not like it won't look the same when they set the mattress down to use.

"Right then, I'll be making our drinks. Go on ahead and start up the first movie again, Three." II brushes a hand along III's lower back, purposefully touching the mark he knows sits there.

III lets out a loud squeal, a sound neither of the other vessels are sure they've ever heard from him. Their face flushes red, arousal splintering through the otherwise joyful bond. II's bond is satisfied, a sense of victory thrumming down the tether. Payback for III's teasing, Vessel supposes.

III opens their mouth to speak but II is already gone, light chuckles still being heard from the direction of the kitchen.

"I can't believe he did that and just walked away." III grumbles, causing Vessel to let out a small laugh.

He watches III closely afterwards, eyeing them up as though they're going to grow angry with Vessel for the noise, but III only sighs around a smile.

"You laugh, pretty, but we've not touched your mark. Its pleasurable, and he just left without even doing anything about the tent in my jeans. What a tease, that one. Adore him, though." III pouts, plopping down onto the mattress, remote in hand.

Will III ask Vessel to do something about his aroused state? Vessel wouldn't mind, not since its III.

Despite Vessel's secret hopes, III doesn't ask for help with his... problem, choosing instead to do as II asked while readjusting their pants every once in a while.

It confuses Vessel. III was clearly aroused, and Vessel was right there for use. His past partners wouldn't have even given it a second thought.

"Do you... need help with that?" Vessel asks after III adjusts their crotch area again.

"Hm? Oh, no. I'm fine." III dismisses Vessel's offer with a half-smile as they scroll through some movie app, looking for the correct movie.

Vessel tilts his head to the side, not quite understanding why III is refusing the help if Vessel is offering.

"Do you want to help?" III asks once he notices Vessel's odd expression, having selected the first movie of the trilogy and queuing it up to watch.

Vessel's lips pinch, glancing away. He goes to reply but III speaking over him stops the words from being heard, "I don't want you offering unless you want to, Vessel. I have a hand I can use if I really need to get off. At the moment, I'm not worried about it. My hard on will go away in a minute, I'll live."

Though there had been heavy deliberation, instead of offering himself up again, Vessel merely asks, "Are you certain?"

III levels a soft look at Vessel, one arm held out invitingly. As Vessel takes it and lets III pull him down to rest his head on their shoulder, they speak again, "I'm quite certain, Sugar. As we've said, you're more than just your body. We love you, not for what your body can give us."

Unbidden, tears well up in Vessel's eyes, held back with an iron will. He nods, throat tight, as II finally comes back with a few mugs in hand, held with fingers in strange positions befitting guitar chords.

Vessel sends a small portion of his gratefulness down the bond to both II and III, for differing reasons. II, for not bringing attention to Vessel's tears, and III for being so blessedly kind to him. To both of them, for giving Vessel so much he does not deserve.

II sets both his and Vessel's mugs down on the coffee table they'd decided to leave at the mattress' side, crawling over the blankets they'd haphazardly tossed onto the makeshift bed. He reaches for Vessel, curling one hand into the soft mess of his hair, the other coming to hold his shoulder for balance as II hovers on his knees.

"Might I have a kiss sweetheart?"

"Always."

The kiss is short and sweet, just a simple sliding of lips against eachother, delving no deeper into more intimate territory. When II pulls away, Vessel feels better, tears dried and forgotten.

"I've got the movie pulled up whenever you're both ready." III says, eyes just as soft as his voice, when II pulls away from Vessel.

II makes himself comfortable beside Vessel, all three of them leaned with their backs against the piping of the couch cushions. He then hands each of them their respective mugs, warm to the touch. The movie is started without much preamble, and Vessel and III get to experience the story in full for the first time, II chiming in quietly during duller moments to reveal backstory from the books or the ways mishaps during filming added to the movies.

Vessel's six eyes track different parts of the screen easily, keeping up with anything going on in the background, the subtitles, and the main focus of the movie's scenes. Its made easier by the screen being bigger, Vessel thinks offhandedly, taking another sip of his coffee.

The day is well spent, relaxed and comfortable. It is past midnight by the time all three of the extended editions of the movie's are finished, II chattering sleepily but excitedly about his favorite parts as Vessel and III follow along to the best of their ability. Its rare to see II with so much energy when he isn't drumming, and its quite a welcome sight.

II and III head off to bed while Vessel finally goes to the altar room. He lights all of the candles, as usual leaving the red one for Sleep to light himself. He kneels on the ground, feeling his knees beginning to ache from the unforgiving hardness of the floor. After a moment, he stands back up.

Before Vessel properly kneels for worship, he first has something he wishes to do. Has wished to do for some time now, ever since he woke up.

He stares ahead of him, the symbol on the wall seeming to beckon him closer. He reaches out, trying to find the words and feeling a little silly for even thinking about doing something like this.

"Thank you." Vessel whispers, one hand hovering over the sigil on the wall.

Even now, the drumbeat of his heart pounds in his ears, all around him.

"You kept Three safe. You finally did something right. You've fallen for such good people. You don't deserve them, will never deserve them for as long as you live your second chance at life. Undeserved as it is, unwanted-" Vessel cuts himself off, not daring to speak it out loud.

A deep breath in, and Vessel continues, "So many failed attempts and when you finally, finally succeed, you take back your life just for the chance to be loved. So pathetic. But I can't find it in myself to regret the decision. Most days, at least."

He sets his hand down on the sigil, his whole body shivering with the feeling. His heart beats in his chest, pounding away at his ribcage violently. The vines on the walls shiver and shake in time like Vessel's own body has begun to. Claws dig in, applying pressure but not enough to bring pain. Vessel's breaths turn shallow, slowly applying more and more pressure-

'My first, what are you doing?'

Sleep's voices, startle Vessel, and he pulls his hand back to his chest as though burned. The red candle below him is burning brightly, golden flame casting glimmering shadows on Vessel's shirt.

"I have a question for you, my God, if you do not mind my asking."

'A question? You always have many and I am always happy to answer. What is it?'

"You once mentioned a possibility of a fourth and fifth vessel. Have you chosen the fourth yet?"

'I have not chosen a Fourth��vessel, my First.There will be no Fifth, I have decided.' Sleep refutes, voices laced with heavy confusion.

Sleep hadn't-? Oh. Well, that is quite surprising.

Then, who was the man in Vessel's dream? He had been real, alive, Vessel knows without a doubt. Like with II and III, there was some invisible force binding Vessel to him. Thinking back on it, it didn't quite feel like anything under Sleep's control. Vessel knows whatever it was, though, was soul deep.

"I see. My mistake then." Vessel amends, feeling Sleep's curiosity brush against their bond.

'A penny for your thoughts, as you humans say?'

Sleep wishes to know what he is thinking?

A quietly surprised laugh leaves Vessel, a smile pulling at one corner of his lips, "Not so human anymore. Did one of the others teach you that phrase?"

'Yes, my Third has taken to questioning me on my thoughts at random throughout the day. A new development, and not unwelcome. He has yet to find the pennies I have left in their favorite jackets pocket.'

Vessel laughs again, a bit louder than the one before, smile still present. Sleep does not reprimand him for the sound. Neither had II or III. They've never thought him too loud, just as he has never once thought III too loud. Vessel had only needed to get used to III's louder personality, and he had, he'd worked hard to.

'I did not know you remembered how to laugh, my First.'

Vessel shrinks into himself at the words, but does not let his rising insecurities stop him from replying truthfully. "The others do not mind as my past partners did."

The wording of what Sleep had said would strike Vessel as odd, if he had not been focused entirely on making sure that Sleep knew it was thanks to II and III that Vessel had been able to laugh at all. Vessel hasn't laughed genuinely in many years, afraid of the loudness of the action, the stares he would get in public, the demands of silence from those who claimed to have loved him.

Vessel had not laughed like that long before Sleep ever came to him.

'I...' Sleep pauses, falling into a pensive silence, His unanswered question all but forgotten.

'I am glad, my First. They suit you well.'

Sleep's short response is carefully controlled, all emotion kept out of His voices.

"They are treating me better than I- than I feel I deserve." Vessel replies softly. "I truly adore them, far more than I will ever be able to articulate. They mean the world to me, and it is thanks to you that we were brought together. I thank you."

'I have only granted your wish, my Vessel.' Is all Sleep responds with, presence pressing into his back as though in a hug. 'You gave me your heart, it is only right I find you others to give you theirs.'

Vessel leans back into it, a small part of him wishing he could feel Sleep as though He were actually touching him, hugging him. Vessel will not allow the others to hug him, no matter how he longs to be held, so if... if Sleep could hug him... then- Alas, it is not to be. Not any time soon. The God cannot even conjure a physical form. Selfishly, it is why Vessel has been so keen on getting the band going, in his own way. In spite of his anxieties and fears. The more rituals they perform, the more worshippers they attain, the stronger Sleep will become. His anxieties will not stop him from doing as his God requires, not when it comes to gaining Him more strength.

"I do not want it offered up in the same way." Vessel whispers, almost afraid of what the admission means.

Vessel offered his heart up to the next living thing that offered to love him without a second thought. He was a man who had been ready to die for years before his attempts ever actually worked. He doesn't want those he loves to ever feel as he had, to suffer as he had.

'Do not fret, dear Vessel. Their hearts are yours, but the way yours is mine will never be the same.'

Vessel is glad Sleep did not press any further. Who was he to tell his God that he knew who their Fourth was, before Sleep himself knew?

II and III took the news of the Fourth's spot being unfulfilled for the foreseeable future well. Yet Vessel could not get the image of those striking eyes to leave his mind. He wanted to tell them what he saw but Sleep's indecision stays his hand, guilt beginning to fester somewhere deep in the heart that no longer belonged to him.

Nick starts coming over two days a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Their manager had set them up for a small stage at a festival in about a month's time. Vessel had nearly had a panic attack when they'd found out, overcome with anxiety at just how many people would be at the festival itself. Playing a tiny venue or shop was one thing, something Vessel had thought they'd be doing for a while yet, which would have been easier on his nerves... but a festival?

II had managed to help him calm down by rationalizing that their non-existent fan base would mean not many people would be there unless they drew a few curious onlookers. It did help, but by then Vessel's nerves were fried, and he couldn't even think about singing for the rest of the day without his body beginning to tremble.

"How are we supposed to play a show when our singer is too much of a nervous wreck to even sing with his band?" Nick had said curiously, offhanded as he was tuning his guitar.

Vessel had withered under the biting remark, said with a pleasant smile. II's reassurance in Vessel made Nick back off but it wasn't like Vessel could disagree with Nick's words. It really was pathetic that he couldn't even sing properly in front of his boyfriends, most days, and Vessel always withdrew into himself whenever Fore came over, even if he was all smiles and friendliness. No matter how nice he seemed, Vessel couldn't seem to even begin to trust him. Elvira seemed to be the same, always sticking close to Vessel or hiding away in one of their rooms. Vessel's nerves made it difficult to sing fully, but he managed, after hearing what Nick had said. Managed, even if he felt eyes watching him constantly when Nick was in their house, a sort of pleased gleam in his honey brown eyes as Vessel shrunk under his stare. Vessel was so much taller, and yet... he still felt unexplainably scared of Fore, small under his gaze in a way that reminds him of Before.

Vessel wasn't sure if it was a blessing or a curse that II and III merely chalked it up to Vessel being an introverted, pathetic mess (his own words.) They both got along with Fore well, with time, and Vessel desperately didn't want to ruin the budding friendship between the three, so he remained silent. It was better this way.

One day, III had cornered him in the music room after they'd finished practicing, II having left to see Nick out the door. He'd forced himself to sing again, at as normal of a volume as he could manage, and he really just wanted to go lay down. Maybe in one of the other vessels rooms, to seek comfort from them indirectly without bothering them by asking.

"You seem stressed, Sugar." III comments, placing a gentle kiss to the tip of Vessel's nose.

Vessel feels trapped, in the base sense of the word. Not unsafe, never unsafe, as III's long arms cage him in. The wall is hard against his back, digging into his shoulder blades uncomfortably, but Vessel doesn't notice, not when the only thing his mind can focus on is III in front of him. III, who is placing gentle kisses on Vessel's jaw, over one eyelid, his forehead, as they patiently wait for Vessel's reply. It works to begin calming him immediately.

"It's not easy for me to sing in front of others. I'm better with you and Two, now, but- Not with Nick. I'm- anxious about our show coming up."

"Nick's just worried about the festival. You sounded absolutely divine today, Ves. Sing so pretty-" III interrupts himself by stealing a deep, bruising kiss that leaves Vessel panting.

Vessel wants more. Wants to lose himself in III's overwhelming love so he can't think of the near future, can't think of eyes crawling along his skin. More than that, Vessel just wants III.

So, he gathers his miniscule courage and asks for more of III's lips on his. III positively lights up, kissing Vessel again and again and again, only stopping when III needs to take in deep breaths. Vessel's cock starts growing hard, III's knee just barely pressing against it between Vessel's legs.

III is utterly elated that Vessel had asked! Asked for kisses!

"Take this up to my room? Unless you don't want to, of course." III asks, finally, after an innumerable amount of kisses shared between them, every one of them deep and world ending.

Vessel stares at them, foreheads pressed together. He thinks of the aching hardness between his legs, the warmth of III's thigh pressed into him, how utterly safe he feels with III's arms caging him to the wall. III's chest, while close, rising and falling with every panting breath, does not get near Vessel's own. They've never broken his only rule.

He nods, and III grins, kissing him again. A hand slides down to clasp Vessel's own, squeezing it before III starts to lead them both out of the music room. They pass II in the hallway, who smiles, well aware of what they're heading off to do. His necklace is off, looking just as the Second of Sleep's vessels should, so Vessel slips his own necklace off while III lets their magic wash away.

"Have fun you two." Is all II says, heading in the direction of the living room.

He doesn't leave without first pressing a tender kiss to Vessel's lips, one hand cupping Vessel's jaw so gently, before doing the same to III.

Vessel almost wants to ask II to join them, but II is gone before Vessel can even properly entertain the thought of asking III if it was alright. Besides, Vessel has a... request to make, of III.

Maybe he should ask another time, or never. To not overstep the invisible boundaries Vessel knows exist. But... III seems to want him, and Vessel wants him, too.

"May I make you feel good to help you unwind?" III says, pushing their door open and shutting it behind Vessel once the other has entered.

Vessel nods in agreement without a thought, still lost in his own mind, before pausing halfway to III's bed. Vessel holds himself, biting down hard on his lower lip nervously. III waits patiently, sat on the bed, for Vessel to gather the words, always more patient than Vessel des- Feels he deserves.

"Actually... Can you teach me- Ah, how to give a blow job? I want to make it up to Two, eventually." Vessel states, trying to remain firm in his resolve despite his nerves.

"Is this about the last sexual encounter we had? He isn't upset with you, Sugar. You don't need to make it up to him unless you want to." III says with furrowed brows, worried over Vessel's reasoning for the request.

"I want to. I want to make him feel good, like you made me feel good. I did not know that's what a blow job was supposed to be, I had never been taught. My mouth was more a hole, a thing to be used just like the rest of me. I did not realize there was more to it. I want to learn."

III frowns, sad at what Vessel has just admitted, "Are you sure you want me to teach you? I'm sure II wouldn't mind if he's who you want to please."

"I want to please you, too. You, uh- I got ar-" Vessel tries to gather what he wants to say, "I would really like to continue what was going on in the music room. I- I only hope you don't mind that I am inexperienced with blow jobs. I... I will likely not be able to give you pleasure, initially."

III doesn't think Vessel could get his mouth on their cock without feeling pleasure, whether Vessel was good at blow jobs or not. III was just far too attracted to the other man. As it was, just the thought of it had III's already hard cock twitching in his pants.

"That's fine, my love. I'll teach you." III agrees with a forced smile to hide his displeasure at the new information, leaning forward to kiss Vessel's cheek.

"Would you like to start right now or another time?" III asks, stepping back so they can sit on their bed again.

"Right now, please? If that's alright." Vessel sinks a fang into his lower lip, nibbling on it before releasing.

"Of course it is, Sugar. I'd gotten myself worked up anyway, kissing you like that." III assures, beckoning Vessel closer.

They lean back and twist to grab a pillow from his bed, placing it on the ground in front of their spread legs. Vessel stands in front of it, not quite sure what III is doing.

"What... is that for?" Vessel asks quietly, staring down at the thick pillow in confusion.

"For your knees, so you don't hurt them. Or would you prefer us on the bed?"

"No... No, this is fine, it's just- I have never... This was never done for me." Vessel admits, almost sheepish as if it was his fault that those before II and III didn't have the decency-

Vessel startles slightly when III stands briefly enough to kiss him before plopping back down. Vessel barely stops himself from following them down, wants to press his lips to theirs again, and again, and again. Wants to inhale every breath III exhales like it will bring them closer together, to share oxygen even if Vessel doesn't need it.

"This will become normal for you, in time. Your past partners should have done this for you. Would you kneel for me?" III keeps his voice gentle, but firm.

Vessel nods, contemplative as he does as asked. The pillow is soft under his knees, keeping them and his shins from aching on the hard flooring. Is this all that would have been needed to keep his legs from bruising so badly? This... this is all they would have needed to do?

Vessel doesn't understand why his ex boyfriend couldn't have done this simple thing for him. He must not have been worthy of it.

III must think him worthy of the comfort, at least. Vessel feels warm at the thought, reaching out with his hands to nonverbally ask for III's own. Without an ounce of hesitation, III takes Vessel's hands in theirs and brings them up to plant a kiss on his knuckles.

"We can do this some other day, if you'd like." III offers, clocking in on Vessel's nervousness even without the bond broadcasting it so blatantly.

"... I want to do it now, but I'm... I'm afraid it will hurt." Vessel confides, the blatant trust in his eyes nearly sending III into an early (Late? Second?) grave.

Well, perhaps that metaphor is far from correct but the way their heart flutters in their chest with adoration certainly feels like it will kill them.

When III gets their hands on whoever did this to him, whoever treated him this way, fuck, they'll wish they were never born. They'll wish it was Sleep who had gotten His claws into them instead.

"It shouldn't, but I swear to you, if it does, let me know and we'll stop. Here, let's hold hands the entire time. Squeeze once for green, twice for yellow, three times for red." III lets one of Vessel's hands go, but keeps a tight hold on one still.

"I trust you." Vessel says, and means it.

"I'm glad." III murmurs, bringing Vessel's hand up again to kiss his knuckles.

It spreads warmth down to Vessel's toes, to have some part of him be kissed so gently, so reverently.

"Would you like me to get undressed by myself or would you like to help?"

Vessel thinks back to how... sensual it had been, for III to undress him last time, staring at him with a heated gaze as they slowly undressed him inch by inch, piece by piece.

"I want to help." Vessel murmurs, hesitantly placing his hands on III's hips.

The pajamas are familiar, just slightly too short at the ankles. He hadn't paid any attention to what anyone had been wearing today, too caught up in his own mind and his insecurities but Vessel recognizes them immediately, finally getting a proper look at them. He would not dare imagine-

"Are these... mine?" Vessel flushes bright red, and III turns about the same color.

"Yes. I... missed you while you were asleep so II and I stole a shirt of yours each and I shoved my non-existent ass into a pair of your jeans. Snaked this pair of pajama pants, too. Forgot to give them back. Should... we not have?"

"Wear whatever of my clothes you want. Both of you." Vessel says, then grows nervous as he decides whether or not to say the next sentence, "I- Is it alright- I- Can I wear some of your clothes, too?"

III's gaze intensifies, the deep depths of his ocean eyes darkening with stormy intent, "I would love nothing more than for you to wear my clothes. Would you let me fuck you in them?"

Nodding as his blush deepens, Vessel smiles. The idea does sound nice. Possessive, in a way. Like III will be claiming Vessel as his while he's in their clothes. If its them, Vessel wouldn't mind being a possession. Not when they treat him so kindly, let him decide things for himself. It does not feel like a restricting possession, like Vessel thought it might.

Perhaps Vessel will have the courage to ask if III could keep Vessel's clothes on, next time. If Vessel doesn't ruin any chance of III wanting a 'next time' after this.

Vessel takes his time sliding the pants over III's hips, down his thighs, his knees, then his calves, then finally over the ankle and off their feet. The entire time is spent nervously glancing up at III as though Vessel feared he was doing something wrong, but III only watched him with desire swirling in their irises. Despite what III thought Vessel might do, the other's hands linger on III's thigh, itching to trace the ink that signifies the end of Sleep's markings that have stained III's skin up to his knees pitch black. Even here, a small freckle has turned into an upside down question mark, just below their left knee on the right side, its coloring pale like the human parts of III's skin.

"You can touch me, if you want to." III says softly, keeping eye contact with Vessel when he looks back up at him hesitantly.

... this is something Vessel has wanted to do, on both II and III, since he'd first seen the markings.

He'd never allowed himself to think about it, his want to touch.

Slowly, Vessel starts to trace the inky markings on III's thighs that are visible below their boxers. The first cool touch sends pleasant shivers down III's spine, all throughout his body. It makes Vessel pause, but at III's breathless insistence to keep going, he continues tracing the marks. He moves gentle fingertips over every bit of ink that reaches up from III's thighs, tracing the tiny curves of question mark freckles on III's legs with the tip of a claw, so carefully as though III were fragile glass.

Soon enough, Vessel has traced all of them below III's waist that aren't covered by their boxers, and III is a mess above him, face flushed with half lidded eyes. A prominent bulge is tenting their boxers.

"Keep going." Its almost a demand, just tender enough, just breathless enough to soften it.

Vessel slowly reaches for his boxers next, thumbing at the waistline before beginning to pull those down, too. III shimmies so they'll slide down his hips and over his ass without any resistance, and those are discarded with his pajama pants. III's cock is hard and leaking pre-cum, standing at attention before him.

III is that hard just from Vessel touching him?

"You look so pretty below me, Sugar. Doing so well." III croons, breathless, watching in rapt attention as Vessel leans back on his haunches once III's boxers are fully removed.

Vessel's already flushed face deepens in color, mumbling in embarassment, "I've only taken off your clothes."

What's really getting to Vessel is he can feel just what his touch is doing to III. The bond is open wide as III hides absolutely nothing from Vessel. He is struggling to accept that his touch alone could cause such a strong reaction in his partner.

"And you looked so pretty doing it. You touch me so gently, make me feel so special, my love." III grins, but it falls a little when Vessel can't quite manage to meet their eyes, "Do you want to keep going?"

He must have taken Vessel's shy pause as apprehension. Vessel nods, reaching out again.

Vessel touches each point of the flames, less hesitantly this time, following the curve down III's pelvis. The shifting golden question marks are enrapturing, Vessel taking great care in tracing over each one as they shift to different spots. No matter where they shift, their dotted end is always pointed downwards, the questions marks angled to point at each hip bone.

Vessel does not limit himself to only III's markings, tracing swirling patterns into the pale skin of his hips, breaching the soft flesh of their stomach. Vessel leaves that area alone quickly enough, trailing gentle fingers down into the coarse hair leading down to III's red, leaking cock, enraptured by the flame-like markings even here.

One hand slides over III's bare thigh to find their hand, and it is III who clasps their fingers together. Vessel leans a little closer, offering a single lick to III's tip before opening his mouth, intending to swallow him in one go, the only way Vessel knows how.

"Not like that, Ves. You'll hurt yourself."

Vessel pulls away to speak, wetting his lips with a pink, split tongue, "I've had practice ignoring the pain."

"You'll be getting no more practice if I have any say in it." III tries to keep the dismayed hiss in their voice from being too obvious, "Let me guide you through the proper way to do it. If it hurts, stop, and pull away. Please."

Vessel nods his head in agreement, uncertain, mollified when III very gently boops his nose. It makes him go cross-eyed for a split second, pulling a smile back to Vessel's cheeks. "There's that beautiful smile, pretty. Let's continue."

Vessel leans forward again to hide the way his smile stretches into a grin, lukewarm breath ghosting against the leaking tip of III's dick, opening his mouth further and diving right in to trying to fit him inside Vessel's mouth.

"Slower, Ves, open your mouth a little wider. Yes, that's it, pretty, now flatten your tongue, and take me in slowly so your mouth, then throat, can get used to the stretch. Make sure you breathe through your nose." III orders, keeping their voice light and level even as the sensation of Vessel's mouth around his cock is quickly overwhelming their senses.

Vessel does as ordered, listening to the instructions and trying his best to do them. He finds that it doesn't hurt like he thought it would. Going slower really does make the stretch easier, allowing III's hard cock to sink further into the back of Vessel's throat. This would normally have hurt, Vessel knows.

"Go slow, Ves. Slow-. Don't try to take too much at once." III reprimands around a breathy whine of pleasure as Vessel tries to take in III's dick to the base too quickly.

Vessel goes even slower, knowing he can do this far faster than III is allowing. He doesn't quite understand why III insists he goes slowly, Vessel had already said he was used to the pain. Though, III did look upset at the admission. Perhaps it stems from the care they show him. He didn't need to give Vessel such a soft pillow to kneel on, either, but it really has helped his knees.

Eventually, Vessel feels the tip of III's cock hit the back of his throat, swallowing a little at the feeling, even if it doesn't trigger his gag reflex. That had been trained out of him long ago.

III sucks in a harsh breath, fingers flexing in Vessel's hold. The pleasure Vessel had caused echoes through his own body, the bond rife with their shared arousal.

"Good, that's good lovey. I'm going to start moving now, okay? Squeeze once for yes, twice for no."

Vessel squeezes once for yes without delay, having been ready for III to move since he'd taken the first quarter of their cock in his mouth. It wouldn't have been anything Vessel hadn't done before. III has far more patience than Vessel's ex boyfriend.

"May I cup your jaw?"

Vessel takes a moment to think about it. Does he think the touch will give him flashbacks? III has been nothing but considerate, and it was the words II had said coupled with touching his jaw that had set Vessel off. As long as III doesn't say anything similar, it should be alright. Hopefully, Vessel doesn't fuck this up again.

Vessel squeezes once, blush deepening as III grins down at him. They keep their movement slow, reaching down to cup his cheek, ever so gentle in his affections. They start up a shallow rhythm of thrusts as they speak, and Vessel takes it, easily, because it doesn't hurt and III isn't pulling his hair and Vessel feels safe-

"I'm proud of you for thinking it over and not just agreeing because I asked." III says, keeping a careful eye on the bond and glad to see that Vessel seems perfectly content.

Vessel's blush spreads to the tips of his pointed ears, flattening his tongue against III's cock and then separating the two split tips to lick up on either side of the shaft as best as he can, in answer.

III's grin falters into an airy moan at the sensation, "Holy fuck, Sugar. Do that again, please?"

Vessel stares up at III with wide eyes. He didn't realize it would affect him so greatly. Vessel does as asked, easily continuing to lick and lap with his split tongue even when III starts to buck into his mouth more and more. A particularly hard thrust follows Vessel swallowing around the tip of III's cock at the back of his throat, surprised at the zing of pleasure it sent racing down Vessel's spine. Pleasure that wasn't Vessel's own.

"Co- Shit, color, love?" III barely manages, head falling to rest their chin on their chest, panting as he forces themself to stop moving his hips to check in on Vessel.

His deep ocean eyes have misted over with a lust filled haze, and Vessel feels trapped in that electrifying gaze, unable to look away. Vessel squeezes III's hand once, and III starts thrusting into his mouth again.

It doesn't hurt, but the sensation brings tears to Vessel's eyes anyway. It doesn't matter to him, because it doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt even with III fucking into his mouth a little rougher than Vessel thinks the other intends.

It feels so good to be giving III pleasure, to feel it bleeding into Vessel's own side of the bond and making his dick harder in turn. Vessel jerks his hips subconsciously again, in need of something, anything to touch him, an action he wishes he had more control over. Every time he does so, though, the sight seems to please III.

"You're doing so well. You asked me to teach you, but it seems you already picked up some things from when I sucked you off, hm? Such a fast learner, pretty."

III can't get enough of the sight of Vessel staring up at him with half-lidded eyes, all six glowing dimly with his pleasure even if Vessel hasn't cum yet. The wet heat of him around III's cock, the tightness of his throat, the muffled, nearly impossible to hear moan that III wishes they could catch with complete clarity only brings III closer to the edge.

Soon enough, III feels his release close, his hand sliding from Vessel's jaw, brushing his ear and cupping the nape of Vessel's neck to bring him closer, fucking into his mouth with vigor.

Vessel takes it, six eyes never straying from III's face, trying to memorize every minor change in expression as he interchanges between hollowing his mouth around III's cock and sucking, and swirling his tongue along the underside of their shaft as much as possible. It is more difficult than Vessel expected as the waves of III's orgasm crash over him as well, bringing him to the edge of release.

"Look so pretty-" III's breathy voice breaks around a moan, "with that perfect mouth around my cock. Could you suck a little more? Y-yeah, just like that, beautiful."

Vessel moans inaudibly around III's dick, rutting his hips into nothing, chasing friction he will not find. III's voice sounds so pretty, and his praise made Vessel feel like he was doing good.

III lets out an obscene keen at the way Vessel's throat vibrates around their cock, thrusting deeply into the back of Vessel's throat. For a second, III worries they might have hurt Vessel, but the other seems perfectly fine.

Not to be narcissistic, but III knows they aren't exactly an easy fit, and Vessel took him in so well, a little too well. Another piece of the puzzle to add alongside what Vessel had said earlier. Something to ask about later, when III knows it won't ruin the heady desire swimming through Vessel, through themself.

Vessel wants to see III cum, wants to watch them fall to pieces by use of Vessel's mouth alone. Wants to be the reason for their pleasure, Vessel wants to be good.

It isn't too much longer when III finally cums, the sight of his dear Vessel below him, taking him in so well, eyes half-lidded and glowing, staring up at III like he'd hung the moon and the stars in the sky-

Fuck, III wishes he could snap a photo of the exact moment they spilled their load into Vessel's mouth. Oversensitivity hits quickly, their cock softening. III guides Vessel off his cock gently, feeling satisfied and so completely and utterly in love. Vessel's head rests heavily on III's thigh, staring up at them with six shining eyes, golden tears gathered around the edges.

Vessel misses the heavy weight of III's hard cock in his mouth immediately. He was able to give III pleasure, and III did not hurt him in return. III had been so loving, even when he'd fucked into Vessel's mouth, roughly chasing relief at the end and yet never pulling Vessel's hair too harshly, never dragging him around by his jaw. He felt like more than just a hole to fuck into with the pillow under his knees, the soft caress of a thumb at his nape while III held his head still.

Vessel couldn't remember a time he ever felt this needy. It made his jaw ache with the need to bite, to sink his teeth into something, anything. Vessel makes a decision, worrying over it even as he enacts it. III was still catching their breath above him, harsh pants as his fingers stroke the hair at the nape of Vessel's neck. Their eyes were closed, faint echoes of their orgasm traveling down the bond as they come down from their high.

Vessel opens his mouth, fangs glinting in the low light. He does not do more than press his teeth to III's skin, he applies no pressure, does not bite down at all. He lets his mouth linger there, contemplating whether he can really bite III like they'd said he could. He wants to, but... Vessel doesn't feel ready to.

He feels as if that admission to himself is allowed. Maybe.

III does not hit him. He isn't shoved away. They only hum lowly, continuing to slowly stroke their large hand through Vessel's hair, petting him lovingly. III doesn't even open his eyes to see what Vessel is doing, just trusts that Vessel won't hurt him.

His teeth resting on III's skin coupled with the petting makes Vessel sleepy almost, taming the arousal swimming in his gut, pulling him down from the edge of cumming. Perhaps if he'd properly bite III, Vessel might cum. It is not something Vessel feels ready to allow himself... but he wants to. Wants to feel III's skin between his teeth. Wants, wants, wants.

Silence ensues, serene, and Vessel finds himself almost dozing off, eyes slipping shut, too. He isn't quite sure how long they sit there together, but Vessel would stay in this moment for the rest of his life if it were possible.

"You're like a cat, Ves." III muses, teasing lightly as he opens his eyes back up.

Vessel makes a noise in the back of his throat, something like a small protest, or maybe an agreement. He's trying to pull himself back to wakefulness but isn't finding the endeavor very successful. III lets out a short bark of a laugh, and it startles Vessel so badly his eyes fly open and he almost pulls away. He really is like a cat.

"Sorry, Ves. Your turn, though." III states, soft like a breeze, letting their hand rest at their side again.

III waits for Vessel to pull his teeth away to move, leaning back but still staring up at III and looking so pretty that the racing in his heart must be heart palpitations. III doesn't bother pulling their clothes back on, not even their underwear, climbing out of his bed.

"My turn?" Vessel tilts his head, hands fisted in his lap while his entire body tingles with arousal.

"Your turn." III confirms, taking Vessel's hands and pulling him up to sit on the bed. "Unless you don't want to, of course. I'd prefer to pleasure you, though, if you'll let me."

"I- I want to. I don't... I don't want to fuck up like last time."

"What happened last time was not your fault. It wasn't anybody else's either. None of us could've known you were going to react that way. You yourself were surprised by it, love. II and I know not to do that again."

"Are you sure you won't be mad if I mess up again?" Vessel asks, gripping III's hands just as tenderly as the other.

"You won't mess up, but no, lovey, I won't be mad. I swear it. Do you still want to continue or are we done for now?" III leans forward and kisses Vessel's cheek, nuzzling into his face lovingly.

Vessel leans into the affection, still unused to it during sexual scenarios, nodding shortly. Another tender kiss is placed on Vessel's lips before III is moving down to kneel where Vessel had been.

"Let's get you undressed, Sugar. Shirt on, as usual." III says offhandedly, more focused on Vessel's skin under theirs.

"Thank you." Vessel murmurs, lifting his hips so III can pull his jeans off with less difficulty.

"Of course. Your comfort is my top priority." III says, mouthing at Vessel's thigh, sending tingles of pleasure shooting down his spine, "Can I touch?"

Vessel tilts his head, confused and a little breathless. "As long as you follow my rule, I welcome any touch you offer me."

III doesn't waste any time putting his hands on Vessel's hips, for once free of any wounds. The scars are slightly raised under III's wandering fingers but he pays them no mind, intent on tracing the newer patterns that have made their home on Vessel's skin since his last bout of sickness. The fabric of Vessel's shirt hides some of it, so III pushes the cotton up a little to get a better view.

Vessel shudders under the featherlight touch that sends more tingles down his spine. His already hard cock is leaving an uncomfortable wet spot in his underwear, III granting him mercy by sliding those down his thighs and off his body entirely.

His hands are immediately, back on Vessel, tracing his Sleep given markings and the newer ones he's gained from his own magical misuse. Every gentle caress, every soft kiss that turns deeper as III nips at Vessel's thighs has Vessel growing nearer and nearer to cumming. It's almost embarrassing how easily being treated with care brings him close to the edge, without III's mouth ever wrapping around his cock.

Each nip leaves Vessel wanting more. He wants III to bite him like he means it, like they want to tear off chunks of Vessel's flesh. To be consumed by his lovers is a beautiful thought. He'd get his end, and at the pretty white jaws of those he cares for most in this world. Always so careful with him, Vessel almost wants to see where the delicate stops.

Vessel doesn't think even Sleep could bring him back without a body to revive.

Airy little sounds spill from Vessel's lips with every faint bite, his cock twitching with need, leaking pre-cum heavily.

III is tempted to see if they can get Vessel off by just continuing to nip and bite and caress, but refrains from testing it just yet. He's quite sure he could though, with how close to cumming Vessel seems to be through the bond.

Fingers trail up Vessel's stomach, causing the muscles there to clench at the slightly ticklish feeling as III lavishes his happy trail in attention. The unexpected feeling steals a short laugh from Vessel's mouth, cutting off into a half surprised, half pleasured huff of air as III sinks his teeth into the meat of Vessel's stomach, right beside his belly button.

III wishes he has Vessel's six eyes just so he could watch every part of Vessel he desperately wanted to. Their gaze kept flicking between his face, his cock, and the expanse of skin he was exploring under their hands.

He decides quickly that there is plenty of time to touch later, and that III needs to have Vessel's cock in his mouth within the next few minutes or he would go insane with desire. III lifts Vessel's legs over either of his shoulders, making it easier to close the distance between them. One hand comes to wrap around the base of Vessel's cock, the other wrapping under Vessel's thigh and around to lock the limb in place with a hand splayed over the stretch of skin right below its apex.

III dives in without preamble, starting off with short kitten licks at Vessel's tip to lap up the pre-cum spilling down the shaft. Vessel's cock twitches at the attention, sensitive already as his hips jerk towards where the stimulation is coming from though III's arm keeps him from moving too much.

Having previously been given permission to touch and not have been hurt afterwards, Vessel is a little less hesitant about reaching down and slipping a hand into III's hair. He does not pull at the lightly curled strands, only rests his fingers between the split colored mess (a soft lavender and his natural blonde) as a means of holding III while their hands are otherwise occupied. It makes him feel more secure in what is happening, helping to soothe the nerves he can feel beginning to rear their head.

Placing one last kiss to Vessel's tip, III speaks, staring up at Vessel with wide, begging eyes, "Want you to use me to get off. Fuck my throat, Sugar, its okay. I swear it."

III then opens their mouth and starts working to take the thick girth of him into their eager hole, his other hand still holding Vessel's dick lightly.

Vessel watches in aroused interest, the heat of III's mouth welcoming him in, his mind seeming to zero in on the sensations III is gifting him. He tries to think over III's words, tries to focus enough to imagine himself doing as III said.

III takes him slowly, staring up at Vessel deliberately as his tongue swipes along the underside of Vessel's cock. His deep ocean blue eyes implore Vessel to keep eye contact, to keep watching. A learning experience, just as Vessel had asked for, even as III works with eager abandon to take more and more of Vessel's cock into his mouth. His hand slides away once III is almost to the base, seeking out Vessel's available hand instead.

III bobs his head to work their mouth the rest of the way down, tears beading at the corners of his eyes. Embarrassed affection flits down the bond when Vessel watches III nuzzle into the coarse pubic hair around his cock, starting to suck and lave their tongue around his shaft.

III lets out a low humming sound every once in a while as airy pants, almost whines, escape Vessel at the feeling. III is doing everything he can to bring more and more noises out of Vessel, but nothing really seems to work. All III wants is to hear him, he knows Vessel would sound absolutely divine.

III knows how to suck cock and he knows how to do it well. He'll pluck a moan from Vessel's lips eventually, its only a matter of time. Then they can reassure Vessel that every sound is welcome and wanted as they make him positively sing. Whether its II or III that manages it first doesn't matter to III, not when it will clearly be a big step for Vessel himself.

Forever thankful that his fear of blood does not transfers to the crimson of Vessel's eyes, III watches in fascination as the others eyes all glow brighter and brighter with every passing moment as III brings Vessel closer to coming undone. Vessel gets so lost in the pleasure he starts rutting his cock into III's eager mouth, though they're only small, shallow thrusts. Too afraid to do anything more, Vessel's control over himself is well-maintained even when his lovers threaten to shatter it every time they fuck.

III's teeth just barely graze Vessel's cock with another thrust of Vessel's hips, the sensation overwhelming him with pleasure, sending lightning traveling down his spine and into his limbs, leaving them tingling. Overcome by the feeling, Vessel accidentally pulls on III's hair still held in his grasp.

Anxiety starts festering in Vessel's empty ribcage, like a million bats had made their home there in place of his heart. The sound III makes sends Vessel's racing mind into a grinding halt. A quiet moan Vessel couldn't have hoped to control rips from his throat as III moans around his cock, teeth scraping over Vessel's shaft again. It causes another cut off sound as Vessel scrambles to apologize around the pleasure clouding his brain.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean-" Vessel's nervous gaze flits about the room, anywhere but down at III as both of them stop what they're doing.

He doesn't know if he's apologizing for pulling III's hair or making such a loud noise, for enjoying the slight pain III's teeth had caused.

There's a squeeze of III's hand in his own that Vessel doesn't notice at first, the second time gets his attention though, and his gaze flicks down. III is staring up at him with half-lidded eyes heady with desire, yet so caring.

Anxiety makes Vessel's hands begin to shake, fingers still interweaved between III's hair, still clasped so gently with III's own hand. He moves to let go but III squeezes tighter than any of the other times. III starts tracing something on Vessel's thigh, and it takes a moment for Vessel to figure it out.

G R E E N

Oh.

Oh, so... so Vessel isn't in trouble. That's what the squeezing of Vessel's hand was for. III was trying to tell him that he was okay, that Vessel didn't hurt or upset him. Embarrassment replaces the anxiety, having let the color system slip from his mind.

"I'm sorry. I forgot." Vessel admits, smile watery, and speaks the truth when he says, "You can, uh, continue now. Green for me, too."

Vessel had expected some pain, at least, for fucking up. Instead, III caresses the bond they share, sending down their love and pride in Vessel and while it makes him happy, bashful too, the praise mixed with III's wet mouth still around him reminds him of just how aroused he still is. Reminds him of how close he had been to cumming with III's teeth along his shaft and all the pleasure his pretty mouth had been giving Vessel up until that point.

III, given the green light to continue, starts sucking again, making sure to drag his teeth along Vessel's cock very, very gently. It sends fizzles of pain down the bond but heightens the pleasure Vessel is feeling, and III is a little sad that Vessel enjoys the pain this greatly. There are those into pain during sex though, even if they haven't had a past like Vessel's, III tries to reassure himself. They like their hair being pulled which causes some pain, so its not terribly different.

It takes a little work, but Vessel eventually starts thrusting shallowly into III's mouth again, and he is so proud of Vessel for it. III makes sure to send that pride down the bond, his desire, his love, and holds Vessel's hand tighter when Vessel's pleasure and shy adoration are returned.

Vessel may not declare his love for them verbally without them first saying so, but it's so clear to them that their devotion is reciprocated.

Vessel doesn't last as long as III did, already worked up and aching despite the pause they'd had. It takes mere minutes and III's skillful tongue working its wonders to unravel him completely. Well, that and some teeth, which is no true surprise to Vessel. Vessel pants, holding in a low moan as he comes undone, spilling so much white into III's waiting mouth that it leaks out the sides, dribbling in small droplets down their chin alongside drool. The swallowing sound III makes is audible, as Vessel swims in mild embarrassment at the sound.

He looks about as debauched as Vessel feels, staring up at Vessel adoringly as they pull their mouth off Vessel's cock.

"You fall apart so prettily above me. Fuck, I can't get enough of the sight of you, ruined by my mouth alone." III says, voice a little hoarse as he licks his lips clean of Vessel's cum.

"Want a picture so bad." He mutters, eyeing how Vessel's eyes are softly glowing, a single trail left by a golden tear having made its way down his face. He looks divine, shirt askew as a blush paints his cheeks.

"Pardon?" Vessel asks, trying to blink the stars from his vision.

Aftershocks of his orgasm still tingle down his spine when III nips a spot on his thigh again.

Vessel's cock twitches again with the low whine Vessel tries to muffle with his hand, wanting more than this, but he will not ask.

III stands, stretching. Something pops in their back and a sigh of relief is released. "Oh, nothing you need concern yourself with just yet, Sugar. I'll talk to you about it some other time. It's nothing bad, I swear it. I'm going to go get a wet dish towel to wipe us off, be right back."

Vessel accepted the answer nervously, watching in silence as III starts getting dressed again, only bothering with his boxers and tank top. Six eyes rake over III's tall, lanky body, taking in every detail possible and trying to memorize the shape of him, the way he moves, the shifting flame-like markings on his back.

III pauses on the way to his door when Vessel calls out to him, quiet and uncertain, "Can you.. stay? I'll take a proper shower later, I just..." Vessel trails off, looking away.

"You likely want to get clean, though. Go on ahead." Vessel rushes to correct himself, but III stops him with a smile, hating to see him look so hesitant. "Of course I'll stay, Sugar. All you have to do is ask."

Vessel even asking is answer enough for a suspicion III had had for a while now. He'd always been on the verge of asking something after they were intimate like this. Always leaned into every gentle touch, as if relishing in what he thought would be the last gentle caress he'd ever receive. It is clear now that Vessel is a cuddler after sex, wanting the closeness and the reassurance. III would never even think to deny him.

III makes his way back to the bed, smile widening into a grin at the way Vessel seems to light up with their return. He makes an aborted motion to reach out, and noticing it, III reaches out for him in his stead, always eager for them to touch.

"We could read together, pretty! I was going to loan you this series if you wanted, but since I've the idea in my head right now, might as well show you. Would you like that? You're free to decline."

"I'm interested. Would you... read to me?" Vessel asks shyly, letting III grab a book from his nightstand, a drawing of a primrose stuck between the pages falling out when he opens it.

III beams, leaning back on the pillows of their bed, "Of course, Sugar. Come, lay down, I'll start from the beginning. The series is called The Hunger Games."

III pats their stomach, and used to this by now, Vessel says his head down, laying his arms over III's waist to hold him loosely. Its one of the ways Vessel has worked up to more closeness between them while maintaining his rule, and III soaks up the affection given so freely. A blanket is spread out over Vessel's naked form as best as III is able, and once they're both ready, III starts to read aloud, making up their own voices for the characters as he goes.

Vessel listens with rapt attention while III reads, lulled into a sense of peace as the chapters pass by. Before III starts the next one, though, Vessel asks something that had been on his mind, letting III finish taking a sip of their water. He's so tired, but determined to stay awake for a while longer.

"Do you- Uh, do you think Two will even want me to pleasure him like that?" Vessel asks, breath cold where it exhales onto III's skin, looking up at them through his eyelashes.

For a moment he fears the repercussions of interrupting their reading, but III only reaches down to move some hair away from Vessel's face.

"Two will be so happy when you go to him, Sugar. He's been wanting to share an intimate moment with you for a while now." III reassures, running a hand through Vessel's loose hair to try to tame it.

He really does look so pretty like this, relaxed and rested, head laid on III's stomach. "Are you certain? I fear disappointing him, more than I would like to admit."

III puts the bookmark back in so they don't lose their spot while he and Vessel converse.

"Vessel, I won't lie and say you don't worry him. You do. You worry me, too. Your... your cutting disappoints him, because he hates to see you hurt. I hate it, too." III pauses, the words familiar on his tongue, when Vessel stiffens, but does not let the conversation end there, "What I mean is, nothing else you have done or will ever do would truly disappoint Two. Unless you kicked a puppy or something."

Vessel stares up at him, keeping eye contact longer than III has ever noticed him to do, seeming to be searching III's face for something. There's a careful prodding along the bond, too, that does not go unnoticed. III waits patiently for Vessel to gather his thoughts, thumbs stroking over Vessel's cheek with his face cupped in III's hand.

Vessel's mind is a mess. On one hand, he hates that him hurting himself is causing them so much pain. He's felt so guilty every time he's harmed himself, because all he can see is III's stricken expression when he took that blade to his arm right in front of them. II had tried to keep his own fear from Vessel, but he isn't as quick to hide things in the bond as he thinks he is. Vessel knows he is hurting them by hurting himself.

Aside from that, Vessel trusts III. If- If III says that II wants him, will not turn him away, then- Vessel should at least... try, right? II has never hurt him.

"If you're certain, I will ask him soon. To- To have sex. I want him, and can only hope you're right that he wants me too."

III smiles softly, leaning over to kiss the top of Vessel's head. "I'm proud of you, Sugar. Things will go well, I'm sure of it. Now, would you like to continue or are we done reading?"

Vessel nuzzles into III's hand before settling back in, comforted by III's warmth against his cheek, the very faint thumping of his heartbeat a comfort, too. "Can we continue? I'd like to see how Katniss handles this next situation."

"Sure, Sugar. We should read the whole series then watch the movies and lord over Two our superior knowledge by pointing out all the differences like he'd done with Lord of The Rings."

Vessel smiles around a small laugh, knowing now that II wouldn't get angry over something like that. Lighthearted teasing seems to always be taken for what it is, not as a bruise against his ego. It makes Vessel wonder if he could tease II, if he could dare make a joke himself instead of just tacking on his own playful comment to whatever jest III has made.

The festival was looming ever closer, the date they needed to pack up, then leave the following day was growing nearer. Vessel wanted to be with II before they left, needed to feel his skin under Vessel's, wanted to hold him, kiss him, love him, if II would allow it. Vessel knows just being near him would help his frayed nerves, but he can't help wanting more. Always so selfish in wanting all that they can give.

He'd spent time with III for the last week or so, learning what III had to teach. III always seemed insistent that Vessel didn't really need teaching, only needed to work past his expectation of pain. III always stayed with Vessel after, always insisted they service him, too. It made Vessel feel warm, like he was more than just his body. He had never felt this way before the other vessels came into his life.

Vessel is nervous when he leaves his room to find II. He is sure a trail has been worn into his flooring from how long he had been pacing in his indecision, trying to gather up the courage to just ask for what he wants. He fears being forward, even if II and III have expressly stated they want him to ask when he wants things. That he's allowed to want things.

Picking one last time at his half-healed scabbing, Vessel finally just wraps a new bandage around his arm to finish the task he had started before leaving his room.

II's door is closed, something out of the norm. Vessel nearly turns right around at the sight of it, not wanting to disturb the drummer during the clear request for alone time.

Vessel turns around, anxiety slipping away as his self-appointed task is put aside for a later time, or never. The sound of a door hinge creaking makes him pause, yet too scared to turn around again to see if it was II's door opening.

"Ves? Is something wrong?" II's voice makes Vessel's muscles relax instantly, but Vessel's overactive mind keeps him from turning to see him, nervous once more.

"No, nothing is wrong." Vessel replies, almost meek.

"Did you need something then?" II asks, voice coming closer as a warm hand reaches out and takes Vessel's colder one.

"Well, it's not really a need." Vessel starts, vehemently shoving down the arousal simmering through his veins.

He'd deliberated for a while if it was truly alright to go ask II for help with it, and it never faded away like Vessel was sure it would if given time.

"A-actually, I suppose it is. I- I would like to pleasure you, if- if you want me to, that is."

"You're coming to me? I figured you would prefer Three." II asks, voice gentle and questioning.

Vessel shakes his head side to side slowly, feeling guilty he had made II think that way, "It is you I want. I am certain of it."

"Okay then, sweetheart, come on in." II smiles, and Vessel's nerves fizzle at the edges as though they're going to disappear entirely as long as II keeps smiling at him like that.

II's room is the same as it always is, clean but not excessively so, and well-lit. The door is shut behind them, lock clicking into place as II walks up behind Vessel. It's a testament to how far he has come that Vessel doesn't jump out of his skin when II's hands settle carefully over his hips, a kiss pressing into his shoulder blade. "What would you like us to do today, sweetheart?"

Vessel knows his answer immediately. He'd been practicing with III for this, after all. Well, practicing and just enjoying III and the love they shower him with.

"I would like to give you a blow job. I have been practicing with Three." Vessel tries to speak plainly, but his nerves are clear as day in his expression.

"Is this something you truly want to do? You aren't forcing yourself?" II asks, and Vessel can feel him probing along the bond with concern.

"It is something I want, yes. Do not... Worry." Vessel has to force the word out of his mouth, still unused to the concern they show over sexual situations and Vessel's apparent physical and mental wellness, "I will admit it stemmed first from wanting to make up for messing up the last time we had a sexual encounter with all three of us, but I have... I have discovered I like the closeness of the act. Three has been helping me learn to give blow jobs the proper way, so that I do not hurt during or after."

The blue of II's eyes seem to freeze over at Vessel's last sentence, but it is thawed out before Vessel can truly take note of it. "You did not mess up last time, Ves. Things like that happen while we learn each other triggers and kinks. As long as you're sure this is what you want, then you can give me a blow job. I'm quite sure I'll enjoy it. After, we can discuss if you want to do anything else, okay?"

Vessel finds himself nodding, taking comfort in II's willingness to discuss their wants before taking things further, even if they were in the middle of sex.

Vessel hope that one day they won't need to discuss things, that his mind and body can trust them as his heart does to not hurt him. Vessel is perhaps more surprised than he should be when, like III, II reaches to grab a pillow from his bed for Vessel to kneel on. He doesn't voice his confusion this time, already understanding its purpose and silently grateful for the accommodation.

He kneels on the pillow, hands laid overtop each other in his lap, waiting patiently for II to get in front of him.

"Three seems to have taught you proper manners. I knew he was being a menace on purpose." II remarks lightly, stripping out of his pants and underwear, left in only his plain black socks.

After he sits on the bed in front of Vessel, he strips off his t-shirt, too. Fully unclothed, II spreads his legs in front of Vessel, gaze soft and inviting. Vessel is still nervous, but the more familiar situation helps him release some of the tension in his muscles.

"Start whenever you're ready to, beautiful. Touch me however you want." II says, bending his index finger in a come hither motion.

Given permission to start, Vessel leans forward eagerly, wanting to taste II in this way he has yet to. His hands come to rest on the outsides of II's thighs, thumbs rubbing over the soft skin. He allows himself only a moment to hold II in this way before one hand reaches to II's half-hard cock to hold it still for Vessel to start giving it attention. His split tongue swipes at the tip while his fingers start up a short circular motion at the base. "Just like that, sweetheart." II hums, fingers twitching with his want to touch.

II is afraid to do so. Afraid of accidentally setting Vessel off again.

His bond tells Vessel of his hesitation, so he takes his hand off II's thigh and grabs one of II's instead, threading their fingers together. II squeezes his hand once in gratitude, watching in blatant interest as Vessel's mouth opens wide to lick a stripe up the underside of II's cock, now hard and aching.

It feels heavenly, and more so when Vessel begins taking II's thick girth into his mouth. Vessel knows to go slow, now, bobbing his head slightly to work more and more of II's cock into his mouth, careful of his fangs. He seems to be the only one who likes the pain of a sharp fang scraping his cock. III had jerked away at the barest hint of it and needed time to even want a mouth anywhere near his dick. Vessel had felt absolutely terrible, no matter how III had reassured him that pain in that area wasn't commonly enjoyed, but there were certainly those who did. Vessel felt better when III explained it was probably something kinky to Vessel's taste that didn't overlap with III's tastes. The explanation helped soothe Vessel's fears, which is what III had been hoping for.

He'd still been expecting to be hit for hurting III though. He never was.

Eager as II was for a moment like this to finally occur, Vessel's mouth on him already aroused him to the point of falling apart at the seams, starting up a shallow thrust. His split tongue added a new level of sensation as Vessel used it to lick up either side of II's shaft as he sucked. II can't hold in his groan of pleasure as Vessel's moans lowly, too lowly for the sound to be picked up by II's ears, but the vibrations were felt clear as day. Vessel's mouth is teetering on the edge of being too cool, though there is some warmth there. His mouth still feels heavenly around II's dick nonetheless, tongue sliding along his shaft and shoving II closer and closer to the edge of release.

Vessel settles down to just let his throat be used as II's cock starts hitting the back of his throat. His eyes are glowing faintly, dark eyelashes casting shadows over the nigh unnoticeable crimson light shining from Vessel's eyes. Something II knew they did, but has never managed to see due to circumstances they didn't yet know how to avoid. II knows now, knows not to ask Vessel to look at him while grabbing his jaw, knows not to pull his hair, not to dig his nails into Vessel's face without caring if it would hurt. II would never, anyway, but it is not something he plans on letting slip his mind.

II wants to ask Vessel to look at him, wants to see the scarlet glow as he spills into Vessel's pretty throat, but doesn't know how to ask. Fears triggering him. The bond is taut with their shared arousal, II feeling himself inching closer and closer to coming undone, and it is then a thought strikes him.

He strokes an invisible finger along the bond he shares with Vessel, plucking at it carefully in question. Half-lidded eyes clouded over in desire open further to glance up at II in confusion before settling on II's happy trail again, and II can tell Vessel is swimming in their shared pleasure. II tugs again, more insistently, and Vessel finally meets his gaze and holds it, curiosity shining in all six eyes as II continues thrusting, growing more erratic in his movements as Vessel's eyes meet his. II is caught, tangled in that beautiful stare, loving the feeling of watching and being watched in return.

II isn't concerned with edging himself this time, too riled up by having Vessel below him, sucking his cock so well, looking so beautiful-

There is no time to give warning, II moaning loudly as he cums, spilling white into Vessel's waiting mouth, holding him close with a hand in his hair, bringing him ever closer so that Vessel's breath exhales onto the coarse hair around II's cock.

II continues thrusting into Vessel's mouth, chasing the lasting threads of his orgasm as it slowly peters out.

"That's enough, sweetheart. Did so well for me, I'm so proud of you." II murmurs, breathless and satisfied, letting his hand rest on top of Vessel's head, petting his messy hair.

Vessel isn't quite sure why they seem to like petting his head so much but he isn't going to complain, would rather cut his tongue out and never sing again than lose the serenity the gentle action evokes in him.

He rests his head on II's thigh when he pulls his mouth off his cock. A little more secure in himself, Vessel opens his mouth and lets his teeth rest on the skin of II's thigh.

He does so expecting to be hit, but the blow never comes. Vessel should have known. II and III have never hurt him. Vessel has not worked up to properly biting III, but resting his teeth on their skin had never gotten him in trouble at any point during the few times they've been together. II seems to be the same, which should come as no surprise.

"Give me a minute, my love, and then I'll fuck you. If that's alright, that is?" II breathes, sensitive dick still hard.

"You still want to fuck me?" Vessel asks, removing his teeth from II's skin.

He is pleased to see no marks left except for faint redness, despite the small, small part of him that wishes he could leave something more lasting.

"Fuck, yes, please, if you're alright with it. Finally we have a moment with just the two of us and I want to savor every minute."

"Three was right then." Vessel mutters in disbelief, licking his lips to gather the lingering taste of II's cum.

"Right about what, my love?" II asks, staring down at Vessel with what he knows now is love, feeling it so strongly down the bond it is like Vessel will drown in it.

A happy death, to be sure.

Fuck, Vessel wants to crawl into the space between II's ribs and make himself a home there. He wants to be the air that II breathes, guiding him in to safety and blessed silence, breathing him out and back in, in a never ending cycle.

"That you- That you want me. Sexually."

"Of course I want you sexually, sweetheart, if you'll have me." II says gently, cupping Vessel's cheek, "Was there something I did that made you think I wouldn't?"

"No, n-not exactly. I... I just- I messed up last time. I thought I'd ruined any chance of you ever..." Vessel trails off, uncertain.

"I have not slept with you because I did not want to push you into something you weren't ready for. Three and I have different approaches to sex with you, Ves. He is... bolder than I am. I'm afraid of hurting you, or pushing you too far."

"I'm afraid of disappointing you." Vessel admits in return, moving on before II can say anything, "If you had asked me... I may have been hesitant but- I- I..."

"Vessel, sweetheart, do you want to have sex with me? You can say no, and I won't be upset." II asks after a moment of Vessel not being able to find the words.

II is glad when Vessel takes the time to think it over, even if its only a split second before a decision is made.

"Yes. I want you to fuck me." Vessel replies, making a valiant effort to hide the anticipation swirling in his gut alongside the arousal.

II leans down, hands gripping Vessel's shoulders, pulling him up with ease. Vessel lets him, would let II do anything to him that he wanted if it meant Vessel could stay near him, remain loved by him. II pulls Vessel around by the bicep insistently, always so gentle, and tugs him towards the bed where he is shoved back onto it. "Crawl back for me, sweetheart." II orders, and Vessel does so, keeping eye contact as II crawls after him.

Back meeting the pillows, Vessel sinks into them, staring up at II as the smaller man straddles Vessel's waist. He leans in close, hovering over Vessel as II's hands come to rest on Vessel's shoulders, keeping him balanced.

"I don't want to just fuck you, Vessel. I want to make love to you." II whispers, breath ghosting against Vessel's lips.

"Is there a difference?" Vessel whispers back, six eyes all glancing indecisively between II's striking icy blues and the plush pink of his lips.

Vessel isn't sure what he wants to focus on, caught between using different sets of eyes to watch the objects of his desire and merely letting his full attention rest on either II's eyes or his lips.

"Yes." II says, pressing their lips together.

It steals Vessel's unneeded breath, II's tongue slipping between Vessel's lips after they swipe against them for entrance. Vessel loses himself in II's taste, pleasure sliding along his veins alongside his inhuman blood, filling him up the brim.

II grinds his hips down into Vessel's, rubbing his naked cock against Vessel's trapped in his clothes still. The friction is delicious, a slow sliding of their aching cocks against one another that sends liquid heat up Vessel's spine, warming him from the inside.

Despite Vessel's assumptions, II does not go any further for a few minutes, content to simply kiss Vessel. To taste him and touch, a caress of careful fingers on Vessel's shoulders. It could be minutes or hours as II grinds their hips together, and eventually Vessel feels secure enough to grind his cock up into II's. It causes II to smile into their kiss, and sends happiness through Vessel's neurons.

"Undress yourself for me, Ves." II pulls away to speak, lips bruised and swollen as he reaches over to grab a bottle of lube out of the nightstand drawer.

Vessel is sure his lips must look the same as he moves to take off his boxers. He hesitates, gripping the hem of his shirt but moves to pull it off. "No, sweetheart, you can leave your shirt on. I know it helps you feel more comfortable."

Nodding, Vessel murmurs his thanks, leaning back into the pillows at II's firm command. Two of II's fingers trail down Vessel's stomach, past his dick, to meet his ass. His fingers are already slicked with the lube, one finger entering him easily. II thoroughly works that finger inside Vessel before moving on to insert a second, never going too fast. Once II can comfortably fit three fingers inside, he pulls them out and wipes his hand on the bed. "Ready, sweetheart?"

Vessel hums his agreement before remembering to speak his answer.

II's cock is thick as it slowly enters him, stretching him out slowly. Not for a single moment does it ever slide into pain, II taking great care in keeping Vessel as comfortable as possible. Quiet words of affection are spilled as II watches Vessel's slick hole take more and more of him until he is seated fully inside.

Vessel is lost in a haze of ecstasy so strong its almost palpable, stifling a short, gasping moan into the pillow as best as he can. He's a little embarrassed to be so overwhelmed so quickly when II has only just started. II is warm inside him, letting him adjust to the thickness. Vessel hasn't taken a cock like this in a while, III never taking things further than the blow jobs, and Vessel never asking despite his desires.

Calloused fingers reach between them to grasp Vessel's leaking dick, slowly stroking it while II waits for Vessel to be ready for him to move. II could have started thrusting into him right away and Vessel wouldn't have minded, not with how loose he'd made sure Vessel was.

II pulls out almost to the tip then slides back in, causing Vessel to gasp. Just that one thrust felt divine, and every slow, measured thrust after felt just as blissful. Unlike III, unlike any other sex Vessel has ever had, II does not get even a little bit rougher as time goes on. His strokes remain slow, his hand on Vessel's cock remains gentle. It is the slowest sex Vessel had ever had.

He didn't know sex could be slow at all.

Is this what II meant when he said they'd make love instead of just fucking? It must be. Gasps of pleasure fall from parted lips, nothing louder than a whisper. II leans down every once in a while to press kisses to Vessel's mouth, his jaw, his cheeks, all the while words of praise are spoken reverently as though Vessel was his God and they were not mere servants themselves.

The fields of elation are blooming around him, inside him. Flowers are filling the cavity of his chest where his heart should be; sunflowers, red roses, purple balloon flowers. Vessel is overwhelmed with his love, his devotion, and wants nothing more than for II to know. Wants to say it, tell him.

Vessel wants to bite. To sink his teeth into II's flesh. To leave a mark that he knows will bruise, will last longer than a day. Wants to lay claim to II by marking up his pale skin.

He wants to bite so badly his teeth ache with his need, grinding them together to try and relieve the desire within him.

"You wanna bite me, sweetheart? I can see it in your eyes. I don't mind." II says, words stilted with every punctuated breath he releases, the slow thrusts jarring them both, the bed creaking lowly.

Every drag of II's cock in and out of Vessel seems to last forever, a steep climb up a hill where Vessel knows he will find his end. Vessel didn't know sex could be this gentle. He didn't know sex could be this, so different from anything he had ever experienced before. Perhaps it's because it is with II, and II makes everything feel okay when his world is splintering apart.

II stops moving, continuing to stroke Vessel's cock slowly between them so that Vessel's pleasure doesn't abate like II wants his to. Vessel can't quite see the appeal in edging oneself, in not wanting to feel release as soon as possible when it feels like this.

Vessel really does want to bite II. Wants it so badly he feels as though he is going to combust if he doesn't get to taste II's skin between his teeth. A decision is made as II keeps fucking into him. Vessel feels safe. II- II wouldn't hurt him. Vessel was given permission.

Vessel grabs II by his shoulders, II's hands coming to pull Vessel closer by his own shoulders, a hand sliding up his nape to rest in his hair at the back of his head. His teeth sink slowly into II's skin, slow enough that II can hurt him if he wishes, shove him away. Hit him like Vessel knows he would deserve, but II only pulls Vessel closer with a hand in his hair. He applies more pressure, laving his tongue against the pulse point in II's neck, feeling his heartbeat thrum against the wet appendage and tasting II, tasting the sweat that clings to his skin.

"You can bite me harder." II murmurs, knowing Vessel will not ask, could not anyway, not with his teeth making indents into II's skin.

Tears well up in Vessel's eyes. He does not let them fall, making a valiant effort to keep them at bay, as he applies more and more pressure. II huffs out a whine of pain, and Vessel immediately makes to jump away, an apology on the tip of his tongue, but II's hand keeps him rooted in place.

"Keep going." II says, no louder than a whisper. "I like the pain, since its you."

The tears slip over, streaking down his cheeks. II starts thrusting a little more insistently, but never leaving the slow, gentle pace he has set. "Doing so well, sweetheart. Being so good for me." II moans, feeling overwhelmed by Vessel being so close to him physically as he continues slowly thrusting into the tight heat of Vessel's ass.

A moan vibrates the flesh trapped between Vessel's teeth, just as overwhelmed by II as he is by Vessel. Love bleeds from every open pore, the threat of a sob making Vessel's throat tight.

He feels so fucking good, so loved. Safer than ever before.

Vessel is cumming for the first time that night, splattering his release onto II's stomach as he pauses fucking into Vessel to pull himself away from the edge again, and he finally lets his tears fall.

Gold splashes onto II's neck, dripping down into the dip of his collarbone as Vessel's fangs at long last break skin. Euphoria crashes into him, spurring on the cresting of his orgasm into a tidal wave of pleasure spilling over the tether of the bond to flood all three vessels.

There's a faint flash of surprise from III's bond before everything is quickly overshadowed by the effects of the orgasm still tearing through Vessel's nervous system. II's hand moves from Vessel's sensitive cock to his hip, thumb tracing the curve of Vessel's hipbone, grinding into him as Vessel shudders and gasps, overstimulated but enjoying every single moment of it.

Iron spills over Vessel's tongue, split tongue lapping at the blood seeping out between Vessel's fangs. Vessel panics, trying to pull away. II doesn't let him. Holds him there, his blood coating Vessel's tongue. Any moment now, Vessel expects pain to explode across his face, his head, any part of his body II can reach, but it never happens.

II never reaches out with ill intent to harm Vessel, only lovingly strokes the fabric covering Vessel's back. II still isn't letting him move, and after a moment, Vessel settles down, no longer trying to escape from pain he was so sure was coming.

"Color, Ves?" II asks, as soft as his thrusts.

A sob tears through him, forcing him to unlatch his teeth from II's skin. Falling back into the pillows behind him, all of his eyes squeeze shut, golden tears obscuring his vision. He manages to choke out an answer on the tail end of a half-sob, still quiet even now, clutching his own shirt in his need to hold something. "Green."

The fabric tears underneath his claws, but Vessel doesn't notice, doesn't care, not when he feels like this.

Safe. Safe. Safe. So loved and cared for as II makes love to him, reaches over to wipe the tears from Vessel's cheeks as he keeps slowly fucking into him.

Sweat drips down II's brow, his whole body warm with minor exertion, smiling down at Vessel with such love it sends Vessel reeling. He's overstimulated, overwhelmed, and so, so happy.

"Gonna come soon, pretty. Think you can look at me while I do? Just know you'll look beautiful."

Vessel smiles, relishing in the fact that the words didn't strike a panicked chord in him. He remains feeling euphoric and safe, managing to pull his six eyes up to meet II's as he continues crying. Vessel enjoys the overstimulation far more than he thinks he should, glowing crimson eyes never once straying from the icy blue of II's as he continues thrusting into him. The pillows are soft behind him, cocooning him in comfort.

II keeps thrusting into him, each slow drag of his cock seeming to take Vessel's unneeded breath with it. His face is creased with pleasure, the blue of his eyes sucking Vessel in. II cums with a moan into Vessel's mouth, a deep kiss shared between them while II's spend warm's Vessel from the inside. It sends Vessel into another orgasm as the pleasure floods the bond. Shallow thrusts send tingles of overstimulation all throughout Vessel's body, a welcome feeling.

II's lamp begins to rise from the nightstand, its chord keeping it from floating up to the ceiling. When Vessel notices, tearing his gaze away from II at the feeling of his magic working without him calling upon it, it sets itself back down with a faint thud.

"Feel so good around me, sweetheart. I almost don't want to leave." II sighs, but begins pulling out anyway.

Vessel almost asks him to stay inside, high on elation. He wants II to stay close in a way Vessel can allow.

"Three told me you like to cuddle, sweetheart." II says as he reaches for some tissues in a box he keeps at his bedside.

A bashful flush heats Vessel's cheeks, glowing eyes averting their gaze as II starts cleaning Vessel up. Vessel's short nod is answer enough, and II chuckles, leaning over Vessel to kiss him again.

Joy shoots through him, and before Vessel really knows what's going on, he's crying worse than before. He can't seem to stop himself, no matter how hard he tries. Vessel sobs, heaving breaths, lungs aching, and still so happy. Overwhelmed by the love II has shown him. Gold spills down his face, dripping into his hair as he curls up on his side, face pressed into II's ribs.

II is beside him in an instant, a blanket tossed over Vessel's shaking form as II holds him from behind, keeping well away from his chest and neck. He is warm behind him, soft nothings being whispered into the air, a gentle hand caressing his hip.

"That's it, sweetheart. Let it all out. I've got you, promise."

II's kind words only make Vessel cry harder, overwhelmed with emotion. He turns, burying his face into II's chest, clutching at the blanket between them and wishing the barrier wasn't there. II is stroking up an down Vessel's hip, over his side, jumping to his arm, his caresses featherlight. All is silent except for Vessel's harsh breaths as he sobs silently, and II's gentle words of affection.

Of course, the tranquility couldn't last.

"I wish you would stop." II says, tracing a gentle finger along the seam of the bandages around Vessel's arm.

He freezes as soon as the words leave his lips, an apology already on the tip of his tongue. Vessel has gone still as the dead next to him, face tucked so far into II's chest that the drummer couldn't possibly hope to see what expression he's making.

"I do not want to." Vessel says quietly, a foreboding feeling filling the empty space between his ribs at the admission.

The flowers inside are beginning to wilt, Vessel's good mood dying with them.

Then words just start spilling out of him, "Pain has been my only constant companion. I do not know how to live without it. I can't."

II tries to keep the frown from pulling at his lips, but isn't quite sure he manages.

"But... if- if you ask it of me-" Vessel takes in a steadying breath, long eyelashes fluttering gently as he looks up at II through them, all six eyes still glowing in the aftermath of his orgasms, "If you ask it of me, I will truly try to limit how often I mar my flesh."

"You would... Do that for me? I- As much as I hate seeing you hurt, I know it must be hard to even think of- Of not hurting yourself, sweetheart."

"There is nothing in this world I would not do for you, if you'd only ask it of me."

Vessel means every word, no matter how the idea of... of even attempting to stop hurting himself is daunting, terrifying. Vessel wants to be brave for II, so he'll try.

II's eyes are crinkled at the edges with the sheer enormity of his smile, gold flecks sticking to his cheeks as he cries crystal tears. "I love you. I love you so much. I know you don't understand that this is a good thing, for you to even try to lessen your pains like this, but it means the world to me. More than you'll ever know. I'm- I'm so proud of you."

"I do not feel as though it is something you should be proud of me for." Vessel admits, placing his head so it rests against II's chest.

His heartbeat is loud in Vessel's ear, a soothing sound that smoothes over Vessel's frayed nerves. It lulls him back into the contentment he'd felt mere moments prior. Vessel is glad it came back at all, worried their turn in conversation had ruined how happy he'd felt.

"I will be proud of you regardless of whether you feel worthy of it. I love you, Vessel." II says, reaching up with a hand to stifle a yawn.

"I love you, bel- Two. I love you, Two." Vessel responds, stumbling over his words with a blush, "You can sleep. I do no mind. It's late anyway. I wish to stay up a little longer."

"Are you sure? I don't want to just... sleep, if you want to continue our conversation?"

Vessel shakes his head, "No, it is alright. I don't- I don't want to speak on it any longer. I want to bask in these emotions for a while longer."

"Okay, sweetheart." II agrees hesitantly, pressing a kiss to Vessel's hair. "Wake me if you need anything, alright?"

Vessel hums, pressing his ear closer to II's chest so he can listen to his heartbeat better. The sound brings Vessel peace, like layers and layers of comfort are being spread over him like a blanket with every thump against II's ribcage. Vessel can almost fool himself into thinking it's his own heart, too. Supposes that must be true, a little, since the other vessels had eaten the apple of Eden.

Vessel knows exactly what that was made of.

Once II falls asleep, Vessel carefully sits up, blanket still covering his nude form. He takes it with him to keep himself covered while he leaves II's room. It doesn't take long to grab his notebook, settling down beside II to write. There's a song stuck in his head, a loop of lyrics he absolutely must write down before they're lost to the void.

Vessel puts a pencil to the first fresh page of his notebook he finds. The words come to him easily as II lays asleep beside him, ethereal in his beauty. His snores aren't quite loud, but certainly noticeable. The sound is familiar and calming, lulling Vessel into a focused headspace.

It isn't long before there's a tugging on the bond, questioning in nature, and Vessel tugs back, accepting.

Vessel doesn't pause in his writing as III shuffles into the room quietly. They press a kiss to the side of Vessel's head as he continues to work. "Writing something, Sugar?" III murmurs softly, carefully avoiding glancing down at the pages.

"Yes, for Two. I want to complete the song entirely before I show him." Vessel replies shyly, tilting the notebook so III can read the lines, "Do you think he'll like it?"

III does not let their surprise show at how nonchalant Vessel is while showing him his notebook. Vessel always kept the lyrics of his songs under wraps until they were ready to be used. For the other to be showing III- No, that's not important right now, III can't miss this chance to see Vessel's writing process.

There's only a couple of lines written, but they steal III's breath away as he takes in the words with rapt attention.

'And I know the angels tonight are as lost for words, As I am to merely behold you as we lie down together'

"I would like to think I know Two well enough to say that he's going to want to fuck you right after he cries from how beautiful these lyrics are. He's going to love it."

"W-what-" Vessel stammers, pausing in the middle of writing down another line, eyes wide as he looks over at III.

He watches III's smile, the curve of their eyelashes, the blatant adoration in his beautiful blue eyes, and blurts, "Is now a good time to tell you I have one I'm working on for you as well?"

III's smile turns sinfully wicked, "Oh? Don't show me until its completed then, and expect the best sex of your life afterwards."

Vessel cannot stop his gasp of surprise, nor the need that shoots through him at III's words. He finds himself murmuring his agreement, something like anticipation swirling in his gut. Vessel almost wants to finish the song faster, especially with the lascivious expression on III's pretty face. He can't remember a time when he'd been so willing to have sex, so desperate to be touched like that. Never, if he were to be honest. II and III have changed his views on many things, and his views on sex were not immune.

"Sleep, don't look at me like that, Sugar. You need to rest and if I don't stop us now, then you're definitely not going to be resting." III groans, hiding their flushed face behind their hands.

"I wouldn't mind." Vessel protests lightly even as his mind wanders back to his previous train of thought, a lyric line beginning to circle through his head.

"You're busy, Sugar, and I want you resting. I had a hand and an imagination earlier, I'm not that desperate. If you still want me tomorrow then I'll gladly fuck you then, alright?"

"I would like that." Vessel murmurs, hiding his face behind his notebook so III can't see his blush.

III laughs heartily, kissing Vessel's cheek before climbing into II's bed to rest at his other side, II in between the both of them. The smaller man continued snoring, completely unaware of anything going on around him. It makes Vessel feel so overwhelmingly fond, to have those two here with him.

III doesn't even bother trying to stay awake, curling around II. Vessel continues writing until his eyes burn and exhaustion threatens to take him away.

Vessel regrets ever closing his eyes to rest, what feels like hours later, when he opens them and finds himself being dragged to the bedroom in his first apartment away from his parents.

No.

Not, not again. Not after Vessel had just been the happiest he'd been in years. Please.

#sleep token fanfiction #sleep token #vessel sleep token #ii sleep token #sleep token iii #iv sleep token #sleep token fic #polyvessels

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