waitingandwishing

[waitingandwishing]

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Word Count: 2k "𝖫𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌, 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖾 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌" ━━ Ever since you were a kid, all you wanted was to be cared for.

You hummed under your breath as you walked down the street with a packet of dried fruit. It was odd, usually you never craved fruit like this, but this week seemed to be different. 

As you walked down the oddly lonely street, an unnaturally blue color down an alleyway caught your eye. You turned your head only to see nothing there once again. You dug your hand into the bag, eyes still on the alleyway, and chewed another piece.

A bird suddenly flew down at your feet, looking at you with a little hat perched on its head. You knelt down, tilting your head to the side. It followed with its yellow eyes suddenly bursting into three. You grimaced, backing up.

You looked back up to see another pair of round yellow eyes staring back at you from the alleyway. Was the fruit getting to your head? The yellow eyes moved forward, appearing in the sunlight to reveal itself. It was a… Giant blue tiger?

You hesitated before walking forward, causing the bird to fly away. “Hi?” You spoke, reaching your hand out to pet it. It eyed your hand, frog-blinking before rubbing into it. “Aww… Hi…” Your tone changed from confused to soft in a matter of seconds. “You’re so cuuute.”

“I know.” A familiar said behind you. Although you couldn’t see his face, you could tell his face was smug.

You turned to see Jinu standing with his hands in his pocket. You leaned on your hip, the smile on your face replaced with a serious look. “What are you doing?”

“Just… Talking. I was planning on meeting you last night but you kind of…” He pointed to the bruise on his face and the cuts on his cheek.

You pursed your lips, yeah you really did rough him up… You did feel bad. He wasn’t exactly planning on killing Rumi right? And you trusted her judgement on deciding not to kill him while he was monologuing. And just because he was annoying didn’t mean that he deserved to be roughed up like that right? 

You sighed internally. This was just like you. Oh! I wanna punch this guy, but then you hurt him and all of a sudden feel bad? Ugh… Your emotions always made you do things that contradicted them. 

“Sorry… About that.” You said, rubbing the back of your neck with a guilty expression before clearing your throat. “What were you doing with Rumi?”

“I saw her markings.” Jinu said, “And I know you have them too.”

“How did you know that?” You asked. You doubted that Rumi would’ve told him, and no one else knew, not even Celine.

“I… You really don’t remember me?” Jinu asked. 

“Of course I do? We literally fought yesterday.” You blinked, well, maybe this guy wasn’t an evil demon, but he was definitely… Crazy.

“Right, of course.” Jinu nodded, clearing his throat. The two of you stared at each other, the silence even more awkward with his cat rubbing on your legs.

You smiled immediately, scratching the cat’s ear. It surprisingly purred at the movement, his eyes closed with a smile on his face. You laughed, cupping the cat’s face.

Jinu watched you with wonder, staring at you with a slightly dazed look. You were so… Pretty. Perfect. It had been so long since he’d heard laughter that wasn’t careful or performative. Yours was small, sudden, almost like you regretted letting it escape. He didn’t. He wanted to make you laugh again. 

You cleared your throat, looking at Jinu. “The only reason why I haven’t killed you right now is because… I heard what you had said. About your family… And your lover.”

“I understand how it is to care about people. I guess I sort of… Understand why you sacrificed your soul for that.” You said. You couldn’t believe what you were doing! It was stupid to try and understand, you knew that. Not because you didn’t mean it but because you did. “But if you ever think about using Rumi or mine’s secret against us, I won’t hesitate on killing you.”

“... Right.” Jinu swallowed. You didn’t remember him but… He remembered you. That was what counted right? This kindness you had knew no bounds. Even when you hated him. He’d rather have any connection with you then no connection at all.

He watched as you turned away, giving one last pet to the tiger. Derpy (Yes, I believe the tiger's name is Derpy) made a noise of discomfort, standing up from his sitting position to follow you before looking back at Jinu. Depry let out a grumble, sitting down on the ground almost like a child crossing their arms and pouting.

“It’s okay. We’ll meet her next time.” Jinu said, stroking Derpy’s head as his bird flew down and landed on his shoulder.

- - -

“You know you’ll never beat us. Your plan will never work. We’re gonna…” Mira and Zoey both said before mumbling. You groaned alongside the two of them.

“This is… Really bad.” You said. Anxiety was creeping into you, not just because the Idol Awards was coming soon and you guys had no idea how to write this song, but also because Jinu now knew yours and Rumi’s secret. 

“We only have to write the best diss track ever to crush the Idol Awards, or there’ll be a demon apocalypse.” Mira said sarcastically, flopping onto the bean bag and throwing three darts that landed on Jinu’s face perfectly.

“Yeah! We gotta get up close and insult their stupid faces!” Zoey said, crawling from her chair to the floor. “Their nasty, disgusting, not beautiful… Perfectly dewy, symmetrical, shimmering…”

“Zoey…” You sighed.

“Okay, enough! I’m taking these down!” Mira finalized, ripping off the multiple posters and pictures of the Saja Boys. “Just like how we’re gonna take down these boys!”

“Take down?” You muttered, turning to Rumi who perked up at the word.

“Takedown!” Rumi stood, “That’s the song! It’s a takedown!”

“So sweet, so easy on the eyes…” Zoey started, thinking hard as you came up beside her. “But hideous on the inside.”

“Nice.” Mira nodded.

“You like it?” Zoey asked excitedly.

“Sounds great, Zoey!” You complimented, to which she practically jumped for joy at.

“Whole life spreading lies but you can’t hide…” Mira declared.

“Baby, nice try.” You finished.

“Woah, that’s sounding good.” Mira smiled, crossing her arms. 

Rumi nodded, finding the rhythm of the song. “I’m ‘bout to switch up these vi-” She coughed, her voice suddenly giving out. “Sorry guys.”

“No, take it easy.” Zoey placed her hand on Rumi’s forearm.

“Yeah, rest that voice for Idol Awards.” Mira reassured her.

“I’m sure your voice’ll be better in a few days, Rumi.” You nodded, “After all, Huntrix wouldn’t be Huntrix without you!”

The three of you sat down, now brainstorming the background music and more of the lyrics. 

“You think this is good?” You asked before repeating the lyrics you wrote down, “'Cause I see your real face and it's ugly as sin. Time to put you in your place 'cause you're rotten within’?”

“Yes! Ohhh I love that!” Zoey nodded, “And then we could add, ‘When your patterns start to show, it makes the hatred wanna grow outta my veins’?”

“I like that.” Mira nodded. You and Rumi exchanged glances before nodding. Was this hypocritical of the two of you? That you were talking about their patterns but had ones of your own?

No… No because this was technically about themes stealing others souls. You and Rumi haven’t hurt or killed anyone in your lives. 

“Oh! How about ‘A demon with no feelings. Doesn’t deserve to live’?” Mira suggested excitedly.

“It’s so obvious!” Zoey said.

“That could be what comes after. That it’s obvious what they’re doing?” You suggested.

“Yesss! Oh this song is gonna crush them!” Mira wrote down the lyrics onto her piece of paper, the three of you doing the same as well.

All of a sudden, a pink pulsing echoed throughout the studio and you all exchanged glances. You nodded, leaving the studio and quickly going after the demons. You’d be able to figure out the song once this next wave was done.

- - -

“All right, team, I know everything is all Saja, Saja, Saja but we’re gonna turn it into Huntrix, Huntrix, Huntrix! Yay!” Bobby said, his jazz hands adding a bit of flair to his words. “These fans slept on the sidewalk, overnight!”

“Thanks, Bobby.” You smiled as he tapped away on his phone. You turned to the three of them, lifting up your pen.

“Happy fans, happy Honmoon!” The four of you cheered before separating. 

“Let’s bring them in! Welcome.” Bobby announced. A wave of fans dressed in purple came through the door, all practically running to see you.

You smiled at the amount of people that had come. You didn’t know that this many people really liked Huntrix. Well, you did, but you weren’t expecting to see it fully. You usually didn’t attend many signings like this.

“Hey, hey, single file, no pushing.” Bobby said to the five people dressed in sleeping bags.

“And who should I make this out to?” Rumi asked.

“‘To our biggest fans.’” 

The sleeping bags piled to the floor, revealing the Saja Boys. “It’s the Saja Boys!” The crowd murmured, clearly excited by the second Kpop group.

The four of you groaned, glaring at them with a very reasonable amount of anger. “It is an honor.” Bobby smiled before yelling, “Table, now!”

As soon as the table was set down, half the crowd went to where the Saja Boys were signing. You and Rumi exchanged glances, realizing the stakes. You stood up, a soft smile hiding the annoyance underneath. “THe Saja Boys can sit with us!” You said, “We wouldn’t mind.”

“What? Y/N!”

“Y/N, what are you doing?”

“We need all the fans we can get.” You said, Rumi nodding in agreement. Security pushed the table next to yours, causing the fans to go back into their original line.

Jinu sat down on your right, leaning in close. Uncomfortably close. Rumi eyed you, you glanced at her before nodding. She paused for a moment before nodding as well and going back to signing her posters.

“I didn’t think you liked sharing.” Jinu said, resting his head on his hand.

“There are some things that I’m fine with sharing.” You said, turning to the fan in front of you and giving them a smile as well as a signed poster.

Jinu opened his mouth to retort before quickly closing it. He was going to mention your secret, but he knew you. You never really liked going back on your word. And when people you cared about were in the mix, he was sure you’d actually kill him.

He turned to Rumi, talking to her for a moment. You eyed the two of them, scoffing before pausing. For some reason, you didn’t feel like being around them anymore. Something about them talking to each other rubbed you the wrong way? You must’ve been irritated about something happening earlier this week. Why does it feel like there’s something wrong with you then? You must’ve been stressed too.

You breathed in, calming yourself as you handed out another signed poster. “Hello!” You smiled at four girls standing before you. Jinu turned back towards you, watching how easily you could mask your annoyance. He guessed that some things never changed.

“Hi!” The four of them waved. “We actually, uh have something for you!”

“Oh, really? You didn’t have to.” You smiled. The four of them handed you a letter with their names signed on it. “Thank you girls so much.” You signed the poster with their names and handed it to them.

You loved fans that were like this. You enjoyed reading their letters, minus the creepy ones, and seeing how much of an impact you made on them. As they walked off, you turned to see Jinu staring at you. “What?” You asked.

“Nothing.” He turned back, giving out a signed poster of himself to a fan. “And here I thought we’d be getting along after our last meeting.”

“I’m not trying to associate myself with someone who’s helping Gwi-Ma.” You accused, handing out another poster.

“I’m helping myself.” Jinu fumed. “He’s promised to erase my memories, and those voices in my head will be gone.”

“Are you whispering?” A fan suddenly asked. The two of you glanced at each other before quickly signing a poster and handing it off to them.

“Your secret’s safe with me.” She said, pointing to her shirt. You blinked before giving her a tense smile as she walked off. You forgot how weird fans could be sometimes.

“Just because Gwi-Ma is erasing all your memories doesn’t mean you won’t keep your shame. It’ll still be there.” You challenged, now staring directly at him, “Have you ever considered that the shame of hurting others because of your own selfish desires is the real reason you're a demon?”

Jinu widened his eyes, a flash of recognition appearing across his face. He’d heard that line before. He’s heard you say it time and time again which meant that on the inside, you were still you. 

“Excuse me, Mr. Jinu.” A voice snapped him out of his staring, causing him and you to turn to a little girl standing before you. “I made this for you.” She said, lifting up a piece of paper.

“Uh, for me?” He asked, taking the sheet of paper and looking over it with a surprising amount of care.

You smiled at the cute girl before turning to Jinu, “You really wanna be working for a demon who wants to end a world that she’s living in?”

Jinu paused, the cheers going deaf to his ears. He glanced at you, longing evident, before looking at his drawing once again.

You clapped alongside the crowd, “Woo Jinu.” You said, laughing at his expression. He looked so similar to a lost puppy. 

Rumi followed your movements, clapping alongside you as well, “Give it up for Jinu!” She clapped.

The crowd cheered louder, bouquets of flowers being thrown at the Saja Boys. Mira leaned forward, catching you and Rumi’s cheering. “‘Give it up for Jinu’?” She repeated with a raised eyebrow.

“Unfortunately, the Saja Boys have to run. Thank you, everyone.” Jinu announced, his hand tightening around the drawing as the Saja Boys exited the stage.

You let out a breath. Why was Jinu’s presence so suffocating? You could feel him everywhere and it seemed like every time HUntrix went out for anything the Saja Boys were there. Was he tracking your guys’ movements?

Bobby came up with his phone, a grand smile on his face as he showed you, Zoey, and Mira the new posts on Instagram. “The Internet loves this, and the internet is never wrong!” He said, scrolling through the feed. “Y/N x Jinu! I don’t know what fanfiction is but it sounds important! Zoeystery. Where did they come up with that?”

“Miro-mabby?” Mira gritted her teeth. 

“Aw, you’re so cute together!” Zoey awed. You stared at the feed before rubbing your temples. You were too tired to do this… 

(A/N: What if I told ya'll I'm making another verse for Y/N?)

taglist: @the-bookish-artist @nisarelle @iviorienne @justanindiangirl12 @t4naiis @usuallyunlikelyfox @livsh20

[waitingandwishing]

Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

Word Count: 2k "𝖫𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌, 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖾 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌" ━━ Ever since you were a kid, all you wanted was to be cared for.

“Once they come off the stage, we’ll jump down for the attack, and these boys’ll be…” Rumi turned to the three of you to which you all said simultaneously, “Done, done, done…”

The four of you giggled as you climbed up the stage, watching from above as the show continued on. “That’s one flaming hot Jinu!” The host said as the black haired one, Jinu, popped the hot sauce bottle out of his mouth with a wheeze.

You rested your shaky hands on your knees. Jinu huh? You knew that name too… But it was a popular name in Korea, something that almost every person you knew had. That’s probably why it was familiar, because it was common!

Your left hand tightened around the handle of your whip while your right was twisting itself to warm up your wrists. You breathed in, watching the crowd before hearing the host start to wrap up the gameshow. You smiled internally, but tried to keep a neutral expression on your face.

“Then why say goodbye, when we have extra special guests coming up?” Jinu suddenly grabbed the microphone.

“What’s happening?” You snapped your head towards Rumi, who shrugged.

“Please welcome, Huntrix!” He gestured up towards the four of you and you quickly put away your weapon. You waved to the camera, a charismatic smile on your face as you tried to hide the horrible nervousness you were now feeling.

“I LOVE YOU HUNTRIX!” Someone in the crowd shouted.

“We just wanted to stop by and congratulate our hoobaes on their debut and-” Rumi started before being interrupted by Jinu.

“And of course, play games with us! Bring out the slides!” Jinu announced, and quickly a slide with four ways appeared in front of you.

“Oh, no…” Rumi chuckled awkwardly, “We couldn’t possibly…”

“In the balls, in the balls, in the balls!” The fans cheered for you. You sat on the slide, pausing for a moment before pushing yourself off.

You slid down easily, as this time you were wearing leather shorts so you simply lifted your legs up a little bit to slide down, but the rest of them… Not so much. You flopped into the ball pit, cringing at the weird sticky warmth that clung into the pit before seeing a hand in front of you.

You looked up to see Jinu smiling at you, a flash of yellow in his eyes. You stood, choosing to ignore his hand and help the rest of your girls up instead. Jinu’s face flickered with something along the lines of annoyance and bittersweetness, but you didn’t care to think anything of it.

“This was… So great!” You smiled sweetly, looking at the crowd as Rumi, Zoey, and Mira stood beside you.

“It was truly an honor to share the stage with you.” Jinu said, his hand placed on his chest, before bowing down with the rest of the Saja boys.

“Oh no, the honor is ours.” Rumi said, the four of you bowing down as well.

“No, it was ours.”

“It’s ours.”

“Ours.”

“Ours.”

“Ours.”

“Ours.”

The curtains soon closed and the four of you got up from your bowing positions, turning your heads before following the Saja boys out the backstage.

The city was bathed in an almost green colored light, and you quickly turned your heads to see the Saja boys head into the bathhouse.

“Let’s go get these guys.” Rumi gritted her teeth. You and the others followed before Zoey gasped excitedly.

“We finally get to go to the bathhouse with Rumi!” She realized.

As you entered, the foggy nature made you slightly anxious though you summoned your weapon anyways. “Mens?” Rumi realized and the four of you groaned.

“Wow. Did you really follow us in here?” Jinu asked.

“Wow, did you really wait there to pose for us knowing we’d follow you?” You shot back, glaring daggers at him specifically.

“You think we’re just gonna let you steal our fans?” Rumi asked and as if on cue, the four of you all raised your weapons. “You’re gonna have to fight us for them.”

“Yeah, keep our hands off our Honmoon!” Zoey yelled.

Jinu chuckled, “We’re not here to fight.” The bathhouse water glowed a familiar pink, water demons rising from the rippling demonic energy. “They are.”

“Water demons?” You frowned.

“Oh great, my favorite.” Mira said sarcastically. 

“Get rid of the Hunters.” Jinu said, his hand placed on the closest water demon near him, “Then you can eat all the souls you want.

As soon as you saw one lunge at you, your whip lashed out. The end snapped with a sonic crack, splitting a demon’s head in half before it could touch you.

You twisted, rolling under a clawed swing as Mira came over and sliced it in half. She gave you a nod, to which you nodded back with a slight smile before another lunged.

You pivoted, wrapping the whip around its wrist before yanking it hard and dragging the creature toward you. Using the demon’s momentum, you slammed your elbow into its face and kneed it in the chest.

You turned, seeing Rumi go after Jinu and the rest of the boyband members. What- What was she doing? You needed her to take care of all the demons!

Before you could call out her name, three more surged in. You sliced one across the chest then stepped back with a kick to knock down the second. You crouched and spun, executing a leg sweep that dropped the third to the floor. The whip cracked down onto the demon’s skull easily.

“What’s going on with the Honmoon?” Zoey asked as more demons tore through. “It’s getting worse!”

“We can’t hold them, we need RumI!” Mira said before launching forwards at another demon. You huffed, being thrown into the wall and causing it to crash on impact.

You let out a yell, eyes wide as you coughed. You quickly stood, seeing Jinu standing on the far left and Rumi standing in the middle with the side of her jacket ripped off. You widened your eyes, surging forward before your whip wrapped around Rumi’s waist and pulled her back into the smoke.

“Here!” You handed her a piece of cloth before turning and throwing your dagger at one of the demons that was attacking Zoey. “Hurry up and get back in!”

As you ran, you turned your head to see Jinu staring at you with wide eyes. You contemplated killing him but… No. Zoey and Mira needed you. There would always be next time. You ran forward, whip slicing one demon clean across the chest. Sparks flew as the whip’s edges tore through flesh and bone. 

You landed in a crouch and rotated your torso, whip trailing into a reverse-U crack. The sharp recoil disarmed the next demon, slashing through the tendon of its reaching hand. It screeched, disappearing in a pink poof.

A demon lunged from behind. Without looking, you spun the whip, catching the creature’s leg and flipping it off-balance. In one fluid motion, you dragged and wrapped the whip, looping around its neck. You yanked it forward and a rolling head hit the ground. Hard.

You could hear your breath, the silence louder than ever, before an old man interrupted your quiet realization. “Hey! This is the man’s bathhouse. Get out of here!” He yelled. You all awkwardly filed out, your voices overlapping with apologies as you exited. 

Jinu… The memory of you locking eyes with him replayed. Why did it feel like he knew you? Why did you even think he was anything but a stranger? Was he tied to those dreams you were having… Was your weird demon side of you now controlling your dreams?

You sighed. You should really get some sleep…

- - -

You bit into a persimmon, not just frowning at their bitterness but the fact that no… Memories or dreams had resurfaced because of it. You had hoped getting unripe ones would help with remembering but it seemed as though you had been wrong.

You huffed, throwing the half-eaten persimmon in the trash before seeing a flash of blue light out of the corner of your eye. Rumi? You watched as she walked down the street, looking behind her before running faster. What was she doing?

You looked at Mira and Zoey, who were knocked out on the couch with a movie playing, before pulling up your hoodie and exiting out the tower. You wanted to follow her.

~~~

Rumi landed on one of the rooftops, unsheathing her sword to go in for the kill. After this, her secret would be safe and the Saja boys would be one less member for the other girls to kill. She ran forward, raising her sword before slicing the head of the demon easily. Only for the head to be… A mannequin?

“What?” She widened her eyes.

“Wow. I wasn’t expecting a hug but-” Rumi turned, her sword raised once again as she swung angrily at Jinu. “Jeez, jeez, okay! Calm down. I thought the mannequin was gonna be a fun icebreaker! But I see I was wrong.”

He jumped away again, dodging Rumi’s sword as she lunged at him once again. “Whoa, whoa!” He said, jumping up onto another rooftop, “Hey! I just wanna talk.”

“Talk?” Rumi furrowed her brows, pausing her movements.

“About your patterns?” Jinu offered, raising his arms up before adding, “And where’s your friend? I thought she would’ve followed you by now?”

“Stay away from my friends!” Rumi said, swinging her sword rather chaotically.

“Whoa! I could’ve told your friends what you are.” Jinu said, dissipating into a puff of pink smoke just as Rumi’s sword was about to slice through him and appearing behind her instead. “But I didn’t, did I? Because… They don’t know.”

Rumi’s breath hitched, but she didn’t falter. The two of them circled each other on the roof, waiting for the other person to strike. “Ah… I did guess right.” He smirked smugly, “Demon girls. But also Hunters.”

“Girls?” Rumi muttered to herself before tightening her grip on her sword, “How’d you know about Y/N’s markings?”

“Y/N.” Jinu repeated, his eyes glazing over just for a moment before turning his attention back to Rumi. “Let’s just say… It was a hunch. That you both were demons.”

“Just Hunter, not demon.” Rumi said, still circling Jinu.

“Then how’d you get the patterns?” Jinu asked, his voice growing more impatient.

“That’s none of your business.”

“Huh…” Jinu furrowed his brows before looking back up at Rumi, “I know what it feels like to have them.”

“Feel?” Rumi repeated. The thought made her almost laugh, “You’re a demon. Demons don’t feel anything.”

“Is that what you think?” Jinu asked, his voice rising higher as he paused his walking, “That’s all demons do. Feel. Feel our shame. Feel our misery. It’s how Gwi-Ma controls us. Do you not hear him in your ear?”

“What are you talking about?” Rumi asked.

“Huh. You’re lucky.” Jinu stated, turning away and looking at his hands. “I’ll never forget the first time I heard him. That was 400 years ago.”

“My family was extremely poor and miserable. I had a single possession to my name, an old bipa. So I busked the streets, but it didn’t get me anywhere. I was desperate. We were starving.” He said, his voice full of sadness and misery. “Then, I heard him. ‘You can’t do anything for your family. You’re not good enough for them. But I can help you be good enough’.”

“Overnight, my fate was changed. My voice was praised, even by the king himself.” Jinu smiled bittersweetly, “My family and I lived on the palace grounds. Our bellies were finally full, our clothes clean. We were happy.”

“My lover was happy.” Jinu reached into his pocket, pulling out a necklace with a small bead. He lifted it to the moonlight, watching as the tiny shards of mother-of-pearl practically glow in the moonlight. "What the court would cast aside, she wore over her heart…”

Rumi widened her eyes. Jinu, a demon, once had a spouse? She couldn’t believe it…

“But the patterns, they kept spreading until they consumed me.” Jinu tucked the necklace back into his pocket, “And I was condemned to the demon world, prisoner of Gwi-Ma for all eternity… My family lost everything. My lover was beaten and expelled from the palace for loving a bipa player. They were even worse off than before… Every day since, I’ve been haunted by the memory of failing them.”

“These are a constant reminder of my shame. A shame I can never escape.” Jinu turned to Rumi, walking towards her. He paused, raising his arm before a snap caught his wrist.

Rumi and Jinu turned to the source of light, only for the demon to be pulled away and slammed onto the ground. “Rumi!” You shouted, landing beside her, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah… I just…” Rumi caught your hand as you went down to attack Jinu. You blinked, confusion laced with annoyance in your eyes.

“Rumi?” You looked at her. She swallowed before letting go of your wrist, though you didn’t make any moves to go after Jinu. Rumi was more important than a stupid boy band demon. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

You placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her markings to glow underneath her turtle neck. You recoiled, hand markings also glowing underneath your gloves as well. 

“Yeah…” Rumi placed her hand on yours with a slight smile, “Yeah I’m fine.”

[waitingandwishing]

Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

Word Count: 3k "𝖫𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌, 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖾 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌" ━━ Ever since you were a kid, all you wanted was to be cared for.

He was already there when you arrived, sitting on the low stone ledge with his sleeves rolled and his bipa leaning against the wall beside him. A faint melody hung in the air, like the breeze had interrupted his playing.

“You’re late,” He said, without looking. You thought it was slightly unsettling that he could sense your presence, but you didn’t mind it. At least someone did. His face was blurred like always, familiar but definitely strange to you…

“I brought persimmons,” You replied, holding up the little cloth pouch tied at your waist.

He looked over, clearly unimpressed. “Are they the bitter ones?”

“They’re the only ones.” You shrugged.

He sighed dramatically. “I suppose I must suffer.”

“You’re a palace musician. Suffering is your art, isn’t it?”

He let out a short, startled laugh and shook his head. “That’s unfair. I suffer beautifully.”

“Mm… I doubt it.” You teased. You plopped down beside him, close enough to hear the quiet creak of the bipa’s strings when the wind touched them. The cloth of your uniform rustled, stiff from the day’s work and still smelling faintly of tea and cedar floors.

“Today,” You said, biting into a persimmon, “A minister sneezed during a prayer. Twice. I thought I was going to explode.”

The man leaned in, curiosity evident in his voice. “Did he try to cover it?”

“He looked like he was dying. Turned completely red.” You chuckled.

“I wish I’d seen it,” he muttered, grinning. “I would’ve written a funeral dirge just for him.”

You choked on the persimmon and laughed, hand to your mouth. “You’re wicked.”

“You’re the one who laughed first.”

You both dissolved into laughter then. It was soft and quiet, it had to be, but it was still real. It was warm, unrestrained in a way neither of you could be when the sun was up and the palace was watching.

He plucked a note, thoughtful. “Something I was working on during rehearsals. But it’s wrong. It keeps slipping out of my fingers.”

“Maybe it’s not wrong,” You started, leaning closer to get a better look, “Maybe you just have to… Play for someone else?”

He looked at you with surprise and you quickly backtracked, “But of course that would be rude to any honored guest! A-after all you’re playing for them, not for someone else! Forget I said anything, the bitterness from the persimmons might be getting to my head…”

You opened your eyes, gasping as you snapped back up from your bed. Why were you suddenly having these odd dreams of this guy? Ugh, that was sort of creepy of you. 

You scratched your head, standing up from your bed and getting ready for the day. You needed to help Rumi get her voice back, but you weren’t sure if Zoey’s method of doing that was… Ethical. Oh well, you wanted to handle it before calling Celine, after all, she would just put more and more pressure on Rumi.

“It’s just a sweet dream, only today. Wait for me, on the stage. We will meet once again…” You muttered under your breath as you changed out of your pajamas to some comfy clothes. You slid on your gloves, covering the markings that stained them.

You and Rumi had them since the day you were born, but you weren’t related to Rumi or even were remotely close to having any heritage with demon blood. It was obviously a mystery, but you hadn’t stolen any souls from people yet so obviously it wasn’t a problem. Yet.

- - -

“He’s got this special tonic.” Zoey explained as the four of you walked down the street wearing your disguises. “Apparently, it can heal anything from sore throats to relationship problems.”

“Shhh! Quiet Zoey…” Rumi mumbled, covering her face just in case they’d be seen.

“Why are there so many people today?” Mira muttered.

“Ooh! It’s down that alleyway!” Zoey said, skipping down a creepy looking passageway. You cringed but followed her. 

Usually, you tried to trust Zoey’s judgement and give her the benefit of the doubt, but obviously it was hard when this so-called doctor had a special tonic that could heal emotional bonds. Maybe they bonded because of their hatred for the scam?

As they arrived at the “Doctors” place, Mira placed one hand on her hip with an unimpressed look on her face. “Yep, about as legit as I expected…”

“I… Does it even taste good?” You asked. “It sounds like it tastes like one of those old lady houses with chipped wood furniture…”

“That’s… Oddly specific.” Mira commented, furrowing her brows. Although you were skeptical, you did hope that this guy was actually for real.

“Earthy and herby. Smells legit to me.” Rumi shrugged.

“Yay! That’s the spirit!” Zoey clapped her hands together and grabbed Rumi’s hand to guide her inside. “Kaja, kaja, kaja, kaja!”

“Hurry, before someone sees us.” Mira sighed, entering the establishment. You followed behind them with a smile.

You sat down next to Mira, picking at the loose strings in your leather gloves. Persimmons… Your hand traced your lips. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to buy some today after Rumi’s check-up.

“Rumi Nim?” The doctor walked through and you quickly stood up with the others to bow. He chuckled, “Sit, sit. You need no introduction.” He turned his attention to Rumi, “So, a problem with your voice?”

“Yes.” Zoey jumped in, “So we need one of your awesome tonics. Something that’ll work super fast.” You nodded alongside her.

“Okay, let me see.” The doctor leaned forward, pulling his glasses down. Rumi opened her mouth for him to check before he quickly shook his head, “Ah, ah, ah. In order to heal a part, we must understand the whole.” He breathed in deeply before staring into Rumi as if trying to see her soul. “I see… I see… No.”

You blinked, clearly confused. Was this guy crazy? You were starting to think that he was but at this point you weren’t sure.

“Actually, I don’t see. Very strange.” He adjusted his glasses, now looking a bit more closely, “You have lots of walls up.”

“Woah! He’s so good right?” Zoey rocked you back and forth with awe in her eyes. You nodded along, but that could be said about anyone.

“So many walls…”

“Walls?” Rumi scoffed, turning away from his uncomfortable gaze. You felt bad for her, being read like this in front of Mira and Zoey wasn’t exactly ideal especially with her secret… “I don’t have any walls.”

“Uh, yeah, you do.” Mira commented, looking up from her OUTER magazine before turning to Zoey and muttering, “He is kind of good.”

“I’m just trying to stay focused.” Rumi shrugged.

“Hm… Focus is good, but focusing on one part leads to ignoring other parts,” The doctor leaned in on Rumi’s left side, "Making you separated, isolated.”

“Ooh ooh!” Zoey raised her hand, “Emotionally closed off?”

“Yes! Yes!” The doctor nodded along in agreement.

“She’s also a workaholic, doesn’t know how to relax…” Mira listed off the reasons before Rumi interrupted her.

“I know how to relax!” Rumi said defensively.

“You… Really don’t.” You added with a grimace.

“I bet she refuses to go to the bathhouse with you.” The doctor grinned mischievously. Honestly you were wondering why he decided to sell tonics and not work as a therapist at this point.

“Oh my gosh, yes!” Zoey exclaimed.

“How did you even-”

“Dude, we’ve been trying to take her to the bathhouse forever!” Mira and Zoey both said at the same time. You sighed, shaking you head and giving Rumi a ‘I don’t know what else to do’ look.

“How is this helpful?” Rumi asked with an eyeroll.

“It’s helping me a lot.” Mira said with a raised eyebrow.

“Waahh, I can’t believe you got all that wisdom just from looking at her!” Zoey smiled. The doctor turned over to her, eyes suddenly wide as he started to look deep into her soul as well. “Wait, why’re you looking at me?”

“I see… Eagerness to plead. Maybe a little too eager.” The doctor spoke.

“What? I’m not like that…” Zoey said before panicking, “You guys would tell me if I was like that, right?”

“Um…” Before you could give an honest answer, the doctor turned to look at you.

“I see… silence. Your soul is quiet and seeks to be loud again.” He said before turning to Mira. You paused, pursing your lips before looking back down at the ground.

Mira and the doctor stared at each other, making groans and grunts of annoyance before Mira bit back and the doctor shied away. “Yeah, that’s right.” Mira smirked.

“Okay,” Rumi cut through the both of them, “How does this help me get my voice back?”

“As I said, in order to treat the part, we must understand the whoooole.” He created a circle with his hands.

Rumi groaned, rubbing her hands over her face, “That’s great and all, but I thought we were just here for your tonics.”

“Can we just pay for the tonics now?” You asked, holding up your credit card. He nodded and as soon as you paid for the box, the three of you exited outside and waited for Rumi to come back with the medicine to help her voice.

You yawned, stretching out and pulling off your hoodie to scratch the back of your neck. “Hey guys, do you think after this we could get some persimmons?” You asked.

“Hm? Why? Are you making jam?” Zoey asked. You shrugged and pulled your hoodie down over your face.

“Just woke up craving some, thought it’d be nice to have something other than what we’re eating now.” You explained, glancing at Mira. “We could probably pick up some Boba on the way?”

Mira gasped, “Yeeessss.” She nodded. You laughed at her happy expression before seeing Rumi exit the door.

“We got the tonics! We got the tonics!” You three all cheered and started walking alongside each other.

“Yay! Once your voice is fixed, we can get back to the important stuff, like the fans.” Zoey grinned, latching onto Rumi lovingly.

You suddenly paused, hearing muttering from around the corner before seeing a couple of shadows. You widened your eyes as Zoey exclaimed, “Fans?! We can’t let them see us here, hurry!” Mira, Zoey, and Rumi hid behind you to which you sighed at.

“Guys, we’re in disguises for a reason.” You said, pulling up your mask, “This is why you wear masks.” You walked forward only to pause again at the… Surprisingly good looking dudes walking down the alleyway?

Mira, Zoey, and Rumi peeked out from behind you, eyes wide at the sight of them. “Woah…” Zoey and Mira said, eyes wide and mouth agape.

You and Rumi exchanged glances before shrugging. “So hot…” Mira muttered. 

Rumi grimaced. “Ugh, you guys are so gross…”

You kept your expression neutral, but you had to agree that they were definitely handsome. You turned to look at Rumi, about to speak before the black haired man nudged into her and made her fall. You widened your eyes as the box slipped out of her hand and caused the tonics to scatter everywhere across the cobbled street. 

“Uh…” He brushed his shoulder, “Watch yourself.”

Your eye twitched and you placed a hand on his shoulder, “Hey, apologize to my friend.” You crossed your arms.

“Hm?” He turned to look at you before you could see his eyes widening slightly and the faint sign of his pupils dilating. 

You frowned, recognition lighting up in your eyes. That guy did look sort of familiar though… Did you know him? No… You’re usually good at faces, you definitely didn’t know him. “Apologize.” You gestured to Rumi, “You’re the one who bumped into her.”

He scoffed, turning away and giving a half-assed apology, “Sorry.”

You sighed, rolling your eyes. What a child. There was plenty of space between Rumi and the rest of the street, he just happened to bump into her and make her fall because he was immature. You could never be with someone who had a horrible personality.

You knelt down next to the two other girls, helping them pick up the rest of the tonics. “What a jerk.” You shook your head.

“Yeah, they’re not even that cute.” Zoey frowned.

“They’re so bleh.” Rumi shook her head.

“They’re so…” Mira fake gagged as she threw another tonic in the box.

You all retched before hearing a funky beat come from around the corner. “Hm?” Your expression contorted from annoyance to curiosity.

You, Rumi, Mira, and Zoey all peaked from around the corner to see a puff of pink smoke fill the air. Zoey adjusted her hat while Mira pushed up her glasses. You pulled Rumi’s hoodie over her head and tightened yours with the strings.

The four of you walked towards the pink cloud of smoke, wondering what was happening before seeing a silhouette peak through. Then, all of a sudden the boys from before started to dance and sing.

“Don’t want you, need you. Yeah, I need you to fill me up.” The lead singer, the black haired one that bumped into Rumi, sang. You had to admit that his voice sounded pretty good.  “Masigo maysyeo bwa do seonge chaji ana.”

“It’s those stupid jerks again!” Rumi realized. You sighed, so much for those persimmons.

An old lady burst through your group, hands reaching to grab the lead singer. “Got a feeling that, oh, yeah. You could be everything that-” He pulled his chest forward, somehow pushing the grandma away with his… Charm? You wouldn’t exactly call it that, “That I need, tastes so sweet!”

“These guys are a boyband…” You muttered, eyes narrowed. Usually you wouldn’t be so hostile, it wasn’t like you to be this… Annoyed. But something about that black haired boy’s face made you want to… Violently bash a soda can into it.

“Looking like snacks!” The one with his eyes covered put his hands up as another with light pink hair moved to the front.

“‘Cause you got it like that.” The boyband moved to the side to allow one with a yellow beanie move forward with undeniable confidence.

“Take a big bite, want another bite, yeah. Neoui modeun geol nan wonhae, wonhae, wonhae Neo malgon modu pyeonhae, pyeonhae, pyeonhae!” He moved to the side, all of them going down a line to reveal the black haired one drinking… One of Rumi’s tonics?!

“Seriously?! I paid full price for those things!” You scoffed, crossing your arms and turning your head away.

“Can’t let go, no, no, not tonight.” They all shook their fingers in scary synchronization before posing so the black haired boy, which you assumed was the leader, could sing. 

“Jigeum dangjang nal bwa sigan eopjana.” He sang as he placed his hands on his chest. The others parted, now standing in a more horizontal zigzag.

“Neon naekkeoya imi algo itjana.” The boy with the light pink hair’s voice was soft, a surprising falsetto coming from his throat.

“‘Cause I need you to need me,” The leader sang, all of them gathering into a straight line as they harmonized. You raised your eyebrows, somehow their harmonization didn’t sound crunchy despite them being a new boyband? They probably had someone else write and produce their songs then. “I'm empty, you feed me so refreshing. My little soda pop.”

“You're all I can think of, every drop I drink up!” They moved their shoulders up and down, smug smirks on their faces. “You're my soda pop, my little soda pop.”

Zoey smiled, moving her shoulders along with them before noticing you staring at her with a raised eyebrow. She immediately stopped, but continued to move her shoulders slightly with Rumi as well.

“It is annoyingly catchy though.” Rumi muttered.

“It’s infectious.” Mira said.

“You can say that again.” You pursed your lips before widening your eyes. There were faint markings crawling up their exposed arms, purple markings. You looked back at the leader, who was… Oddly staring at you for some reason, and noticed a flash of yellow sparkling through.

You all gasped unanimously. “They’re demons!”

“Magicians!” You, Rumi, and Mira eyed Zoey for a moment before she quickly corrected herself, “Demons. Obviously demons.”

“Uh, make me wanna flip the top. Han mogeume, you hit the spot.” The one with a baby face stepped forward, everything about him seemed sort of nonchalant but you had a feeling it was definitely an act considering they were demons and surrounded by souls they could eat. “Every little drip and drop, fizz and pop, ah. Soreum doda it's gettin' hot.”

“Dang, they’re good.” Zoey admitted with a sigh.

“Incredible.” Rumi nodded, “But a demon boy band? Why?”

“I don’t care. A demon’s a demon. We kill them.” Mira said, eyes trained on them like a german shepherds as she stepped forward.

“No, it’s too public.” You said, catching the pink haired girl’s wrist.

“What if they try to kill these people?” Mira asked.

“It doesn’t look like they’re gonna hurt anyone.” Zoey said, trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, “In fact, it almost seems like they’re nice demons?”

You, Mira, and Rumi once again turned to look at Zoey with confusion in your eyes. What was she talking about? Nice demon was technically a contradiction! “Demons are never nice!” Mira and Rumi said.

The Saja Boys, or whatever their names were, it didn't matter to you, soon finished their song. The crowd surrounding them erupted into cheers and praise.  You didn’t mind that they were doing this, but they were jerks. Maybe if they were nice you would’ve been like Zoey but they weren’t.

You stared up at them before ultimately deciding that this was worth your time. At least now, you had a new objective to do while Rumi healed her voice. Kill the demons.

You felt eyes on you, turning back to see the leader staring at you once again. You tilted your head before ultimately leaving with the other girls to go get ready to defeat them. Why was he staring at you?

He probably knew you guys were Hunters so that meant he was targeting you specifically. Fine. Then you supposed that meant going after him first.

[waitingandwishing]

Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

Word Count: 3.2k "𝖫𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌, 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖾 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌" ━━ Ever since you were a kid, all you wanted was to be cared for.

The great wooden doors of the hall opened wide, sliding smoothly on their brass rails with a quiet groan that seemed to hush the world itself.

Rows of ministers and officials stood in stiff formation, faces solemn beneath their embroidered hats and robes. Their eyes were fixed on the raised dais where the Queen would soon appear, draped in layers of red and gold.

You wondered how they could follow tradition so easily. It was unlike you. With your shaky hands and often dazed mind, you were surprised you had made it this far without being exiled or even worse, executed.

From behind a carved screen, the quiet, ethereal sounds of the daegeum flute and pyeonjong bells began. Soft, reverent notes that floated through the vaulted ceilings, invoking ancestors and divine blessings.

At last, the Queen stepped through the doors, her embroidered train carried by attendants who knelt low, ensuring no thread touched the cold stone beneath. Her face was serene, composed like a living statue, framed by the gleaming phoenix crown that caught the light with every measured step.

With a lacquered tray balanced carefully in your shaking hands, you stepped forward from the shadowed side chamber. The porcelain cup upon it was filled with the finest brewed tea, its warmth a humble offering through the grandness.

The murmurs ceased as you knelt before the Queen’s dais, bowing your head in deep respect. Slowly, you extended the cup forward, lowering it so gently it might have been a feather landing on silk.

Every movement was practiced, precise. The years of training made the dance of service feel automatic, yet no less reverent. Around you, the ritual continued. The court chanting prayers in measured rhythm, the musicians weaving melodies that seemed to connect earth and sky, past and present.

You often wondered how they remembered things like these, prayers and memorizing the faint music. You had never been good and playing. Sure, singing was a talent of yours if you counted humming quietly when no one was around, but other than that you never really had time for those sorts of things.

The cup was accepted with a silent nod, and you retreated on careful knees. You carried more tea, a fresh cup for the Queen’s attendants, then another for the ministers seated stiffly in rows. Each vessel passed silently from tray to hand.

This room was filled with power, tradition, and expectation. The Queen’s every movement, every breath, carried the weight of a kingdom’s hopes. And here you were, small, unseen, something that wouldn’t even… Matter.

As you knelt beside a tray of refreshments, your fingers brushed the smooth surface of a jade cup. For a moment, you imagined what it would be like to wear those heavy silks, to have all eyes fixed upon you, to carry the weight of history as the Queen did. Ha. As if.

The last cup of tea was placed gently, and you bowed low, signaling that your service was complete. The murmured prayers filled the hall once more, voices rising beneath the solemn notes of the instruments. Stepping back into the dim corridor beyond the main chamber, you allowed yourself a rare moment’s breath.

The soft clatter of strings reached your ears, delicate and melancholy, coming from the musicians’ alcove.

Curiosity pulled your gaze towards where the bipa player sat alone. He held his instrument carefully, fingers poised above the taut strings, eyes closed as if caught in a world far from the marble and silk of the palace. As if he felt your stare, his eyes opened and met yours.

You stared across the room at each other, something amidst the two of you before you turned away. Such distractions were forbidden, and though a quiet ache started to stir inside you, you knew your place. You knew who you were.

Soon enough, the last of the ceremonial drums had gone silent. The court had gone silent with officials whispering their final bows, and the Queen returning to her quarters. Servants like you moved in quiet waves, folding screens, extinguishing lanterns, gathering spent flowers from the edges of the hall.

You had stayed behind longer than you should have. A cracked teacup had gone missing… At least, that’s what you told yourself when you wandered past the back of the musicians’ alcove, empty now save for one.

He was still there. The bipa player sat with his instrument across his lap, back straight, hands still. Not playing, just… Resting. Like he had been holding his breath through the entire day. 

You should have left. Instead, you stopped a few steps behind him. Just enough distance to pretend it wasn’t a conversation if someone happened to see. 

“You played well,” You said softly, almost to the ground. There was a long pause, long enough that you wondered if he heard you or not.

“…I saw you during the tea procession.” His voice was smooth, almost like honey. There was something gentle about him, despite his sharp features. You now knew why they kept him near the palace. If his speaking voice sounded like that, then his singing voice must’ve been even better.

You glanced at him. Not at his face, but at his hands. One rested lightly on the curved body of the bipa, fingers rough and hard. The other held a cloth, slowly wiping down the strings as if afraid to leave them bare to the night.

“You’re not supposed to notice me,” You whispered, trying to sound stern. It came out small. You hated small…

“Neither are you.”

You let out a small laugh, something that could’ve been mistaken for a sigh. “I noticed they kept you near the palace.” You said. “Will you be… Staying?” You cringed at the crack in your voice. Why were you so hopeful? You could be executed just by talking to him like thai!

“For now,” He replied. “Until they summon music again. Or forget me.”

That last part lingered. The palace had a way of doing that. Using people like candles and setting them aside when the wax ran too low.

“I’ll remember,” You said before you could stop yourself.

This time he turned, just slightly, enough that you could see his eyes. He had a bittersweet look in them, one full of regret and longing. You vaguely remembered the saying, the eyes are the window of the soul. 

“And I,” He said, “Will remember the musuri who poured tea.”

Your heart thudded so hard it made your ribs ache. A suffocating feeling pressed against your chest and you felt warmth flood through you. “What’s… What’s your name?” You asked.

The bipa player looked at you for a moment before speaking. You couldn’t hear him though, his voice seemed to be… Delayed?

Just before you could speak, you heard voices screaming your name.

“Y/N!? Y/N?! HEY! WAKE UP WE HAVE A PROMO!”

You furrowed your brows, letting out a groan as you opened your eyes to see the three girls standing above you with worried expressions.

“What…?”

“You fell asleep as soon as we crashed on the couch! We have to do a promo for Golden!” Rumi explained, holding up your new outfit.

“I thought we were gonna take a break before releasing it though.” You said, letting out a yawn as you rolled off the couch dramatically.

“Well… Someone released it.” Mira said, sending playful daggers to Rumi who simply laughed innocently. You smiled, letting Zoey pull you up from the ground.

“I mean, it’s fine.” You shrugged taking the outfit from Rumi, “I think our fans would be excited for our new single release.”

The three girls frowned, exchanging glances before looking back at you. “Are you okay, Y/N? I mean, you never usually pass out like that.” Zoey furrowed his brows.

“Yeah, usually you eat before going to sleep.” Mira crossed her arms.

Rumi placed a hand on your shoulder, “If you’re feeling burnt out you can tell us. We can take a break if you want.”

You shook your head, thankful for their support and love. “I’m fine.” You nodded, hands clutching the new outfit. “Let’s get ready for that promo.”

- - -

Rumi lied on a bed, a golden light shining through and streaking across her face. Mira sat with her knees pressed to her chest, facing away from the camera and looking out the window instead. You sat along the edge of a roof, staring up at the darkened sky. Zoey stood against lockers, their blue bathed in the same golden light.

It shifted to something bright, the sun glaring in the camera lens as you, Zoey, Mira, and Rumi cruised down a deserted street in an expensive looking car. Unlike the last couple of scenes, the four of you looked… Happy.

“I was a ghost, I was alone.” Rumi stood underneath a tree with still clothes tied around its branches, wrapped in a robe that covered her from head to toe. “Eo du wojin, ap gil sok e”

She rushed through the forest, braid trailing behind her and hand clutching the robe tightly to her body before she collided with a tree.

“I didn’t know how to believe…” She sat atop a dais, a solemn and lonely expression on her face as the lighting darkened. She turned her head away with her eyes closed, furrowing her brows before opening them with a newfound determination. “I was the queen that I’m meant to be!”

Rumi stood, the robe with a golden layer of fabric on the instead now being shed off of her to reveal her outfit. She had a confident smile on her face, looking at the camera as if to say “I know who I am and I’m not scared”

“You were the star,” You sat with your head resting on your desk, a lonely expression on your face. The room was bathed in bright light except for a shadow that casted over you ominously. “So I dimmed my light, guess what? I’ve been burnin’ this whole time!”

There was an almost ethereal glow behind you as you lifted your head from the desk, lighting up the shadow that almost completely consumed you. A smile was bright on your face, the sun giving you a goddess-like silhouette.

“I lived two lives,” Zoey turned and two backgrounds cut behind her, one of Korea and one of America. They merged together as two hands tried to pull her to one or the other.  “Tried to play both sides but I couldn’t find my own place.”

She broke free, the light shining down on her as she skateboarded up near the camera with a newfound determination to not fit into any of the molds that were given to her.

“Called a problem child,” Mira sat with her parents and her brother, an annoyed expression on her face as a picture frame boxed her into a space. She raised her limbs, spotlights lighting each of them up before the dim background bursted the box and allowed her to move freely with her family out of the picture, “‘Cause I got too wild.”

“But now that’s how I’m getting paid!” She stood on a golden jet flying through the air with a smile, hair blowing in the wind. “Kkeut eop si on stage!”

The camera flipped left, showing the four girls standing with their new outfits on. The jet they were standing on spun around the world, all of them bathed in the same golden light as before.

“I’m done hiding now I’m shining like I’m born to be!”

The camera cut to Rumi standing up from her bed, the door to the room opening and basking her in it’s promising glow.

“We’re dreaming hard”

The camera cut to Mira, who now had her head facing towards the camera. Her eyes widened at the bright future the light promised.

“We came so far.”

You stood from your desk, stepping closer towards the door outside of your room.

“Now I believe!”

Zoey’s eyes widened with happiness as the halls of the school were left behind and taken over by the gold.

“We’re going up, up, up! It’s our moment! You know together we’re glowing!”

The four of you sat in a car, cruising through easily. You sat next to Rumi on the back of the car, arms raised as cool wind washed over your faces. You laughed as if nothing in the world mattered. And at this time, it didn’t. Because you were with your friends.

- - -

“Rumi?” You knocked on her dressing room door. 

“Come in.”

You entered, closing the door and locking it behind you. The purple marks coating her skin were more noticeable now, and you noticed how she shied away from you as you came closer.

You gave her a smile, “We’re gonna do it.” You reassured her, “We’ll seal the Honmoon, Rumi.”

Rumi nodded, though she didn’t look as confident as she usually did when Huntrix released songs like this. “You’re… You can do this Rumi.” You frowned, ungloving your own marked hand and placing it on her shoulder.“We can do this. We have each other’s backs.”

Rumi looked at you, swallowing before nodding. She tilted her head down before breathing in and smiling slightly. “Thanks, Y/N.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Rumi.” You said with a smile. Your hand lingered on her shoulder before exiting her room and closing the door behind you.

You looked up to see Mira and Zoey exchange glances at each other before looking back at you, “Is… Uh… Rumi okay?” Zoey asked.

“She’s nervous. You know how it is with us almost being able to go fully gold.” You shrugged before clearing your throat, “How about you guys? Are you okay?”

“Totally.” Mira nodded.

“Yep! Just excited!” Zoey grinned. 

You nodded, the three of you getting on stage for rehearsal before RUmi quickly joined you. The four of you did your choreography as usual, singing and harmonizing easily like always.

“We’re going up, up, up! It’s our moment!” Rumi and you sang, dipping down before lifting up and raising your hands to your heads. “You know together we’re glowing! Gonna be, gonna be golden! Ohhh!”

You and Rumi moved back, Zoey and Mira moving forward and lifting their hands, alternating from left to right. The four of you then shifted and you moved next to Rumi, your voice ringing out with hers as you both walked forward.

“Ohh, I’m done hiding, now I’m shining, like I’m born to be-” Rumi’s voice cracked, causing the music to pause and the practice rehearsal to come to a halt. You turned to look at her with a worried expression. What was wrong?

“You okay?” Mira asked.

Rumi cleared her throat, hand resting on her collarbone, “Yeah… Yeah, I’m fine.” She nodded, “Let’s take it again. From the top!”

You once again got into position, kneeling in front of Rumi as Mira and Zoey flashed their hands and moved their arms around the two of you. 

“I’m done hiding, now I’m shining like I’m born to be-” A sudden cough escaped from her, causing a panicked look to appear on her face. What the hell was happening?

“Um, Rumi, are you okay?” Bobby asked, stepping forward. “Do you need some water?”

“I just need five.” She breathed out, quickly stepping away, “I’m gonna take five.”

“Five minutes?! We go live in ten!” Someone in the back yelled.

You, Mira, and Zoey exchanged looks. You wanted to follow Rumi, but something inside you told you not to. It was unlike you to think this way but… Maybe she just needed some alone time? Celine’s been putting a lot of pressure on the both of you since you were young, more on Rumi then you. After this, you were going to make sure Rumi rested.

- - -

The silence around the four of you was awkward to say the least. Your silverware was the only sound that plated through the shared dinner. “I… I’m sorry about the show.” Rumi muttered.

“Rumi, it’s okay.” Zoey quickly jumped in, “I’m sure everything will be fine. Bobby can handle it.” Her phone started to ring and she quickly answered it, “Hi, Bobby!”

“Girls, I can’t handle this!” Bobby said through the phone, making you cringe internally. “There’s thousands of disappointed fans and the network is losing their minds! Okay, this is why you pay me 3%! Okay, back off! My girls will sing when they’re ready.”

You smiled bittersweetly at Bobby defending the four of you before Mira hung up the phone with a serious expression. “It’s okay. We can reschedule another live show within days.” She reassured Rumi before glancing at you to see if you were okay with it. You nodded with a slight smile.

“I… I don’t know if that’s going to be possible.” Rumi said, “My voice, it’s in trouble.”

“In trouble?” You repeated. She glanced at you, swallowing. You could barely see it, and thankfully Mira or Zoey didn’t notice, but you saw the faint purple markings starting to creep up her neck. 

“Then why did you push up the Golden release?” Mira asked.

“Because we’re so close, and it’s so… Important.” Rumi pursed her lips.

“Okay… Then we’ll handle this.” You said, “We’re Huntrix, and our fans love us,” you said.

“Exactly,” Mira nodded quickly, backing you up. “We just need to handle this right.”

You gave Zoey a look across the table, and she instantly picked up what you were thinking. Her eyes widened, then she nodded slightly before turning back to Rumi. “Maybe we should call Celine?” Zoey suggested.

“We know what she’d say, Zoey.” Mira said and Zoey perked up.

“Oh, right, right.” Zoey smiled, clearing her throat before doing an impression of Celine, “‘We are Hunters. Voices strong.’” Mira smiled, going along with Zoey as well. “‘Your faults and fears must never be seen,’” they said in eerie unison.

“Okay, now I’m scared,” you said with a soft laugh, holding your hands up. “Too accurate.”

“You’re next, Y/N,” Zoey smirked. “Give us your best ‘Celene’ voice.”

You groaned, dramatically clearing your throat. “‘Once the demons are dead you can retire!’”

Mira snorted into her soup. “You sound exactly like her.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly how she says it.” Zoey nudged Mira’s arm with her elbow. The two of them then turned to Rumi, their faces now serious.

“No. We gotta hide it and fix it.” “For sure. We have to hide it. Mh-hm.”

Rumi pursed her lips, looking down at her soup. You glanced at her before speaking up, “Rumi, we should take a break.” You said, “We know how important the Idol Awards are but-”

“No! No way. It’s our most important show. It’s when we strengthen the Honmoon for the entire year.” Rumi said, eyes widened slightly with panic. “We can’t skip it. We just can’t… Not when I’m so close…”

You, Zoey, and Mira gave glances at each other before you reached over to her. “Whatever hater or mad fan says, we’re getting through this together.” You said.

“Okay, we have two weeks to fix Rumi’s voice. Any ideas?” Mira asked. 

“I do have one idea…” Zoey’s voice trailed off as a cheeky grin appeared on her face. 

“One idea?” You repeated, skeptical.

“Actually, 57, but let’s start with my favorite!” Zoey said, pointing her phone at Rumi, “Don’t worry, it’s totally legit.”

[waitingandwishing]

Masterlist - Next Chapter

Word Count: 3.2k "𝖫𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌, 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖾 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌" ━━ Ever since you were a kid, all you wanted was to be cared for.

Crowds from all around Korea gathered to see Huntrix's Final World Tour Concert! The buzzing energy from the cheers and excitement practically filled the air with a golden glow. Something about tonight seemed different, like something would... Change (Though it might've been because Huntrix would soon take a long hiatus).

"Mira's my favorite. She's the visual and lead dancer of Huntrix. Nobody can move like Mira." A fan with glasses dressed in a pink Mira hoodie said with a smile. "Apparantly, she's the black sheep of her family."

"I don't know why because she's so cool." A fan with a sweater and beanie scoffed, "Who else could wear a sleeping bag to the Met Gala?"

"Yeah, she's our role model." A younger fan said with her other two friends behind her. The three all had straight faces on as they stared into the camera. "She's the best. Love her."

"We're here for Zoey!" A group dressed in green and carrying signs said excitedly. "She's the rapper and lyricist."

"She grew up in America. Somewhere called Burbank, USA." A boy with a bowl cut and freckles spoke.

"She's the cutest maknae!" The girl next to him smiled.

"But when she raps, she goes hard." The boy nodded.

"She gets really scary. Like, so scary, 'You better watch out'"" The girl said as if threatening the man holding the camera instead of giving an example.

"We love Rumi!" Two girls smiled. "She's pop-star royalty. Her mom, a Sunlight Sister, died when she was a baby. But Celine raised her and built Huntrix around her."

"Rumi's voice is just incredible, like..."

"It brings us to tears!" Three grown men holding and dressed in Huntrix's merch sobbed.

"Y/N's obviously the best!" A girl with her boyfriend squealed, "She's so sweet! Her and Rumi are rumored to have known each other when they were younger though!"

"It makes sense they grew up together." The girl's boyfriend nodded. "They both have really good voices."

"Even though Y/N and Rumi are usually grouped together, Y/N's her own person too! She's got more of a softer tone unlike the rest of the girls, which we love!" Three girls said in scary unison, "They're taking a break, and they need it, but we're gonna miss them so much!"

The three girls started to clap and cheer, the rest of the crowd along with them, as the concert was about to start. The stage lights casted strobing shadows across the city skyline, painting dancing figures on the rooftop ledge. Cheers for the kpop idols could be heard even when you were as far as you had been.

"Okay, this is our biggest show yet." Rumi said. The four of you were huddled together, serious looks on your faces as you tried to take in the anxiety clawing at your hearts.

"The most songs." Zoey grinned.

"The most moves." Mira said seriously.

"Which means the most carb loading." You chuckled.

The four of you broke the huddle, raising your arms to cheer. "For the fans!" The four of you shouted excitedly.

You were so happy you were here with your greatest friends. Something about always being with them made you feel so... Happy. Usually you'd never be this content and more jittery during something as nerve-wracking as this, but you couldn't help but feed off of the other girl's emotions.

"I need like 10,000 calories to get through the choreo." Zoey said, stuffing some kimbap into her mouth.

"A thousand percent. A gajillion percent." Mira nodded.

"Mira, that's not a real number." Rumi commented.

"It is for our fans." Mira said.

"Our fans deserve the best." You smiled, eating your food with much more decency than they were. Sure, you were hungry, starving even, but you really didn't want to risk staining your new costume for this performance.

You watched as Rumi shoved down a whole roll of kimbap before letting out a cough. You laughed before quickly patting her on the back. She coughed, wheezing for a moment before finally swallowing it with a sigh. "Thanks, Y/N," Rumi said.

"No problem." You smiled.

"Okay, time for our pre-game ramyeon!" Rumi announced, grabbing the four cups and handing them to the three of you. You held yours, the title "Amen to Umami" staring back at you. Zoey had come up with the funny wording.

"Happy fans, happy Honmoon!" The four of you beamed, cheering your styrofoam cups of ramyeon together.

"Wait, there's no water in these." Zoey realized, a sad expression now on all of your face. You sighed, standing up and going to the oddly tense flight attendant who was pouring... Coffee into a flower pot?

"Um, excuse me, miss?" You stood in front of her.

"Yes, Miss Hunter... Ix?" The attendant asked with a strained smile and oddly jerky movement.

"We asked for hot water-" You said before being cut off.

"Right away. You're welcome. Arrideverci. Goodbye." She said, quickly walking away. You furrowed your brows. You never liked being cut off. Something about it always made you feel like you were being ignored.

"Uh, oookay." You muttered, walking over and flopping down on the couch with a huff.

Rumi checked her phone, realizing it was their manager, "Hi, Bobby!" She said, sitting up next to you with her arm resting on your shoulder. You leaned into it, craning your head in the camera.

"Um, what are you doing?" Bobby asked, panic evident in his voice. You furrowed your brows, why was he so nervous? Was there a backstage malfunction?

"About to eat our pre-show ramyeon." Rumi said, turning the camera over to Zoey who was chomping on some fishy chips.

"Pre-show? What about the show-show?" Bobby asked, turning his camera over to the thousands of people waiting in the audience. You widened your eyes, about to say something before his phone was suddenly taken.

"Hi!" Four girls squealed, "We love you!"

"Oh, we love you too!" The four of you praised, trying to all fit into the camera. You loved your fans. They were so supportive and loving, you appreciated that so many positive people were drawn to Huntrix.

THe phone was passed on to the group of crying men, the four of you started to sob alongside them as well, "That's so sweet."

"Yo! I just got this!" A man said, snatching the phone and lifting his shirt up to show the tattoo plastered on his side. You, Rumi, and Zoey grimaced as Mira chuckled. That was going to stay on his body forever, what if he regretted it later on?

"Gimme that!" Bobby panted, finally being able to steal his phone back, "Why are you so late?!"

"Late?" You repeated, clearly just as confused as he was.

"Fifty thousand fans are waiting for you." Bobby said as the four of you gazed out the window to realize that the plan had flown past the concert where Huntrix was supposed to be performing. "They made cute signs and everything. How can you be late? I wish you were here."

You turned back to the flight attendants, a suspicious look on your face as well as the others. "Don't worry, Bobby. We'll be there in just a bit!" You said before Rumi hung up.

Rumi and Mira groaned while you pinched the bridge of your nose and Zoey continued to munch furiously on her snacks. "I didn't even get to finish my ramyeon!" Mira complained.

"Why do they always interrupt our snacking?" Rumi asked to no one in particular.

"They will face my wrath!" Zoey yelled.

You stood up to the woman, your arms crossed and an unimpressed look on your face, "You're a demon, right?" You asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

"What do you mean?" She frog-blinked.

"You're smiling all weird, watering plants with coffee, and those guys don't really look like they know what they're doing." You sighed.

"Oh, we were just-"

You cut her off like she did to you before, stomping on her foot to reveal her demon self. The demon working as the cart attendant then turned into a blue colored demon and two other ones appeared as well. "You and your friends are really mean for interrupting our snacking all the time." You said, stretching out your arms, "The rest of you can come out, we're in a hurry!"

A hulking red one appeared, large blue horns and carved out swirls on its skin noticeable. You wondered how the uniform could stretch large enough to fit his huge stature.

"Oh, you got the patterns." Mira said, feigning sympathy before saying, "Now you gotta die."

"The only ones dying tonight are your..." Mira burped, interrupting him. You held back a chuckle, letting it come out as a cough instead. "Uh, I said, the only ones dying tonight are your-"

Rumi's stomach gurgled and she quickly thumped on her chest. "I'm sorry, what?" Rumi asked. You stood there, still stretching out your body. This was also another reason why you didn't eat as fast as the other girls did.

"Your fans! We're gonna eat your fans!" The large one yelled angrily, his voice distorted and low.

"Whoa! No.

"No, thank you!"

"Oh... I don't know about that."

"No, no, no."

"Not our fans." Rumi said, a small smirk appearing on her lips as she placed her hands on her hips.

"When you mess with our fans..."

"We need to make it hurt."

Glowing lines of pulsing energy appeared, shimmering like a warning call to the demons.

"Ugh, you came at a bad time"

Rumi smirked, resting her arm on your shoulder. Your arms were now uncrossed, an unimpressed look on your face as you looked at the demons coldly. They shivered at the sight.

"But you just crossed the line"

Mira tugged on her fingerless leather gloves, her expression serious, while Zoey gave a sweet yet unsettling smile, stretching out her arms. This was going to be a good pre-show warmup.

"You wanna get wild?" Rumi's voice sharpened, "Okay, I'll show you wild."

As if on cue, Mira and Zoey broke formation, charging at the nearest demons with surprising strength and even more surprising movies. You confidently strutted beside Rumi, smiling to yourself as the two girls easily took down the demons.

"Better come right, better luck tryin', gettin' to our levels"

Rumi nudged your shoulder, signaling you to move to the kitchenette. You nodded, hands slightly shaky as you grabbed the kettle and filled it with water.

"Cause you might die, never the time, tryna start a battle"

A demon lunged. Rumi raised one finger in warning without missing a beat, watching the water slowly fill the kettle. Another demon came from the side and you turned mid-step, bashing the kettle into its face as Rumi caught another by the collar and threw it backward into the cockpit.

"Bleeding isn't in my blood, ppyeos-sogbuteo dallaseo—"

The kettle hissed, and you tossed it over to Mira, who caught the jug midair. She brought it down on a demon sitting in a passenger chair, metal clashing with flesh. You cringed internally at the smell of it's burnt demon skin.

"Beating you is what I do, do, do, yeah"

Mira tossed the jug across the aisle. Zoey caught it with one hand, smirking, already turning toward the next wave of demons. She poured the hot water into her ramyeon bowl, balancing it while elbowing one demon in the ribs and tripping another with the back of her heel.

"Body on body I'm naughty, not even sorry"

You regrouped together, the four of you standing in a slight circle as you filled your ramyeon with water. More demons charged, one from each direction. The four of you kicked simultaneously,sending them flying across the suddenly endless plane.

"And when you pull up, I'll pull up a little late to the party (Na-na-na-na)"

Mira raised her chopsticks and Zoey rolled her eyes playfully, both about to take a large slurp before Y/N stopped them. You pointed at the "Wait for 3 minutes" rule at the end of the directions, to which they sighed at before placing their cups back down on the coffee table.

"Locked and loaded, I was born for this. There ain't no point in avoiding it. Annoyed a bit? Bul-eul bichwo da bikyeo, ne apgil-eul ppaesgyeo!"

The cabin lights dimmed and an almost alive blue light rippled throughout the aircraft once again. You cherished its beauty and relished in its soft, almost singing, glow.

"Knocking you out like a lullaby"

Threads of light spun around you as weapons emerged from the glowing threads. Zoey's daggers gleamed as she trailed her hand against the threads to make them appear, Mira's spear shimmered as the tips of her fingers called out to the glow, Rumi's sword pulsed with energy as she pulled at the light, and your whip cracked against the floor of the plane.

"Hear that sound ringing in your mind. Better sit down for the show"

Demons began to scramble, clawing toward the emergency exits. Too late. Just like Icarus, they flew too close to the sun.

You raised your weapons, voices blending into a perfect chord. "Cause I'm gonna show you how it's done, done, done."

You slashed through the demons with fluid grace, their bodies a blur of motion.More demons appeared behind the curtains, from overhead storage. They struck with no etiquette, clearly just aiming to hurt and scare.

"HUNTRIX DON'T MISS!"

Mira impaled one mid-air as Zoey ricocheted a blade off a tray table. Your whip latched onto one of the scrambling ones, pulling it forward before plunging your dagger into its chest. You chuckled as it shimmered away in pink magic.

"How it's done, done, done! HEY! Huntrix don't quit! How it's done, done, done! Run, run, we run the town-"

You stumbled, falling back on the couch with wide eyes as the aircraft suddenly shook. Just as your styrofoam cup almost fell from the coffee table, Rumi caught it and handed it to you with a smile. You grinned, grabbing the cup and standing up from your position.

"Whole world playin' our sound."

You ran towards the windows and outside, the front half of the plane was suddenly... Gone?! Somehow, it had been torn clean off from two demons clinging to the wing and the flight attendant, which was also starting to rip away.

"Turnin' up, it's going down! Huntrix show this, how it's done, done, done"

The wing tore free. The girls walked towards the edge of the plane. Mira let out a sigh, shrugging as if this happened every day. Well, this actually did happen almost every day if you were being honest. "Yeah, this plane's trashed."

You exchanged a look before slurping their ramen in perfect sync. "Okay, let's do this," Rumi said walking towards the plane's door.

Wind kissed your exposed skin, causing you to let out a slight sigh at the cool breeze penetrating the hot sweaty air. "Yeah, something about when you come for the crown," You turned, leaning backwards with a smirk, "That's so humbling, huh?"

You waved to Rumi as you dived off the plane with the others behind her. You felt a rush of adrenaline fill your body, the nervousness evaporating from your skin as you saw the stage lights grow brighter.

"gabjagi wae geulae? meonjeo geondeulyeo, wae? ijeya pogihae, what? Nothing to us. Run up, you're done up, we come up from sunup to sundown, so come out to play"

Rumi dove like a bullet, her foot practically glowing from the speed of which she was falling. "Won either way, we're one in a million. We killin', we bring it, you want it? Okay—" She kicked a demon's chest, sending it flying even more than it already did. "Heels, nails, blade, mascara"

Rumi casually inspected her nails, tossing the mirror to you to which you quickly passed to Mira and took out your phone instead. "Fit check for my napalm era." You took a picture with Rumi in the background, a smile on your face despite the fact you were falling.

Mira brushed her hair and flicked a blow-dryer at a demon like a cannon. "Need to beat my face, make it cute and savage"

Zoey sat on the shoulders of a demon, concentrating as she used her makeup brush on it, applying blush to its confused face. "Mirror, mirror on my phone, who's the baddest? Us? Hello!"

She smirked before pushing off of the demon and penetrating it with her dagger. It poofed mid-scream. The concert came into view and you braced yourself to land, now diving down to the stage with your friends beside you.

"Knocking you out like a lullaby. Hear that sound ringing in your mind."

They landed, causing a fog to appear. The lights behind them created a silhouette standing above the three demons that were left.

"Better sit down for the show. 'Cause I'm gonna show you, I'm gonna show you! I'm gonna show you how it's done, done, done"

You parted the fog, jumping through and killing the last of the demons with your special weapons easily. The four of you walked with confidence, microphones now replacing the weapons in your hands.

"I don't talk, but I bite, full of venom, uh. Spittin' facts, you know that's how it's done, done, done—" Mira said confidently, eyes trained on the crowd.

Zoey stepped up beside you with a grin, rapping in tempo as she faced the camera pointed at her. "Okay, like, I know I ramble but when shootin' my words, I go Rambo. Took blood, sweat, and tears, to look natural, uh that's how it's done, done, done."

You and Rumi stepped forward into the center spotlight, hand in hand as you both stared at the pulsing threads surrounding the stage and eventually creeping outwards to the rest of the world. You needed to do this.

"Hear our voice unwavering. 'Til our song defeats the night"

You turned to the left while Rumi leaned over to the right side of the stage. You knelt, smiling at the crowd as you and Rumi's voice harmonized together.

"Makin' fear, afraid to breathe. Til the dark meets the light!"

The two of you hit the note, making the crowd cheer louder and louder. As Rumi continued on, you held out the microphone to the people near you with a smile before joining the rest of the girls in the center stage.

"How it's done, done, done. Run, run, we run the town! Done, done, done!"

You danced alongside them, circling and moving with grace and ease. You watched as the Honmoon glowed bright, shifting into another color that the four of you had been waiting for for a long time.

"Whole world playin' our sound! Done, done, done! Turnin' up, it's going down. Done, done, done!"

You exchanged glances with Zoey, gesturing to the golden shift, to which she excitedly grinned at as the others did as well.

"We hunt you down, down, down (Down) We got you now, now, now (Got you now)"

You stepped in front of the three of them, the last final notes of the song coming soon.

"We show you how, how, how (Show you how). Huntrix, don't miss, how it's done, done, done"

Rumi, Mira, and Zoey posed behind you as you knelt in front of the three of them, a smile on your face as you held up two peace signs for the final pose.

[waitingandwishing]

sweet dream

☾ ｡🪼｡⋆ ⊹₊ KPOP DEMON HUNTERS- "𝖫𝗂𝗏𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌, 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖾 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌"

━━ Ever since you were a kid, all you wanted was to be cared for.

"𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗍𝖾𝗇𝖽… 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍, 𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍?"

┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ˚★⋆｡˚ ⋆ ┊ ┊ ┊ ⋆ ┊ ┊ ★⋆ ┊ ◦ ★⋆ ┊ . ˚ ˚★

"𝖶𝗁𝗒 𝗐𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖨 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝗍𝖾𝗇𝖽?"

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

taglist: @the-bookish-artist @nisarelle @iviorienne @justanindiangirl12 @t4naiis @usuallyunlikelyfox @livsh20 @venommie @dprweganggang03

[waitingandwishing]

I have a feelings in my nuggets you already wrote smth similar but basically reader that's like opposite of Aiden like they used to be super outgoing and now they are really quiet and keep to themselves and people always think they are sad when they just are tired and shy?....

i- you have a feeling in your WHAT

-> context: quiet!reader

-> fandom: school bus graveyard

-> warnings: none?

ASHLYNN

You used to be the loud one. The one always cracking jokes, making plans, filling silences with ease. But lately? You've gotten quieter. Not because you're sad, like everyone assumes. You're just tired. Social stuff drained you now, more than it ever used to. And truthfully, you’ve always been a little shy underneath it all. It just took you a while to stop hiding it.

The two of you didn’t talk much. Neither of you needed to. Ashlynn just kind of… Showed up one day. Sat beside you during lunch and said nothing. And again the next day. And the next. Once, she slid a wrapped snack across the table without meeting your eyes. "Didn’t want it," they mumbled. You took it. Didn’t say thanks. Didn’t have to.

Weeks passed before either of you said anything longer than two words, but somehow, it didn’t feel like silence. It felt like space. Like breathing. Like maybe you weren’t good at being friends but were trying to be

You sat side by side on the curb, sharing fries from a crumpled paper bag. “You’re still not talking much,” Ashlynn said. The two of you decided to take a break from the phantom planning that you were doing and go outside for once. Thankfully, the gas station had some half-decent fries the two of you could munch on.

You shrugged. “Not much to say.” A pause. A sip of soda. “People keep thinking I’m sad again,” You muttered.

“You always look kind of sad,” The redhead said bluntly. “It’s your face.” You snorted, barely a laugh but real. “I get it, though. I don’t talk because I don’t want to. You don’t talk because you’re tired."

"You could say that again." You said, looking at her with a slight smile.

“I’m not good at this, but… I like you. You’re quiet like me. But not in a bad way.” Ashlynn said, playing with the ends of her sleeve.

You didn’t answer right away. Just reached for another fry. “Yeah,” You said finally. “Same.”

AIDEN

It wasn't that you were hiding your true self. It was more so that you'd always been this way. It was similar to how a leech sucks up blood. You could enter the room quietly but all of a sudden it was so easy to smile and laugh and be loud. You just... Got tired of pretending you were bright and happy around people

The hallway cleared out fast after last bell, but you were still at your locker, pretending to look for something. You're not in a rush. You never are anymore. You remember Aiden coming up to you with his ever present grin. “You live over by 3rd Street, right?” He had asked.

You walked next to him and listened to him talk about puzzles and something about a horror game. You stayed quiet, but enjoyed the mind-numbing words. When the two of you split ways, he called out, “Same time tomorrow?” You didn't answer. But the next day, you waited by the lockers

“You always do that,” You muttered, picking a gummy bear off the floor. You were at Aiden's house this time. His parents had just gotten back from a stressful work trip so Aiden thought he needed a distraction.

“Do what?” Aiden grinned, sprawled upside down on the couch.

“Talk like you’re in a sitcom.” You raised an eyebrow.

“It’s my coping mechanism. Let me have this.” Aiden pouted. You tossed the gummy bear at him, hitting his forehead. “You’re a menace."

“You invited me over.”

“Because I like you, you emotionally constipated cryptid.”

You don't smile, but you don't excuse yourself to the bathroom to have a panic attack so that was good. You grabbed the remote instead, tossing it to Aiden. “Pick something that won’t make me hate you.”

“Too late. We’re watching cursed cooking shows.”

You sighed, “I’m going to regret this.”

“Yeah,” Aiden said brightly before sitting up. “But I’ll make popcorn.”

LOGAN

You notices how people assume you're sad or upset just because you're quiet, and it always felt so... Frustrating... And isolating. Sure, you accepted that this was part of who you were now, but you also wished you had more energy or courage to be outgoing again...

Logan changed that. He was so nervous around you and busy focusing on himself that he didn't point out anything about you. It made you feel... Slightly relieved. You met him when you were paired for a project. You don’t talk much at first, just coexist together. He initiated conversation... Kind of poorly if you were being honest. "Um. I-I like your notebook. I mean, not like in a weird way. Just—it’s, uh, cool..." Ever since then you started to realize he was harmless, safe.

It was a weird game Logan mentioned in a ramble that brought the two of you closer together. “Wait,” You said quietly, “you like that too?” Cue the flustered smile. “Y-yeah! I mean, not a lot of people do, but it’s really good and... Um, you do too?” You nodded and scooted a little closer to him.

You and Logan sat side-by-side on a worn-out couch in his living room. The blonde's fingers fiddled nervously with the corner of a comic book, glancing at you every few seconds. “So… uh, did you want the last slice of pizza, or should I—”

You shrugged, eyes on the TV. “You can have it.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to steal it. I’m really bad at sharing.”

“It’s pizza. Sharing is optional.” Logan laughed quietly, more at himself than the joke. You turned to look at him, your expression blank. “Thanks for coming over."

“I mean, I invited you,” Logan bit the inside of his cheek before muttering, “But, you know, sometimes I worry I’m annoying.”

You turned to look at him and for the first time in a long while, their expression softens. “You’re not,” You say, “You’re… Good company. Even if you do talk too much.”

Logan's smile brightened tenfold and it made you slightly smile as well, “Well, someone’s gotta do the talking around here.”

TAYLOR

Deep down, you were hoping you could reconnect with that outgoing part of yourself someday, or at least feel more comfortable in social settings. But you've learning to be patient and gentle with yourself in the meantime.

Thankfully, Taylor had been that outgoing part of you that had been missing. It was during lunch, where you usually sat near the edge of the room with your head down and your tray mostly untouched. You weren't avoiding people. But you also weren't asking to be noticed either.

That’s when Taylor showed up. “Hey,” She had said gently, stepping up with a tray in their hands. “Mind if I sit?” You didn't say yes but you didn't say no either. She sat next to you, leaving a respectable amount of space between the two of you. A few minutes later she had slid an unopened juice box towards you to which you gratefully took. You smiled, and you drank it.

The two of you were sitting on the rooftop, you with your back against the wall with your headphones in (but nothing playing), while Taylor was writing something in a battered notebook beside her.

The sun was warm, the breeze soft. The air smelled like freshly mowed grass and concrete. Neither of you had spoken in the last fifteen minutes before Taylor did.

“You okay with quiet?” Taylor asked suddenly, without looking up.

You blinked, looking over. It still alarmed Taylor at your sad expression, but she tried to get used to your resting sad face.

“I’m always okay with quiet,” You said softly.

Taylor smiled slightly, “Good. Just checking.”

There was a pause before you asked, “You ever gonna let me see what you’re always writing in that journal?”

“You first,” Taylor said, nudging your own journal with her elbow.

You rolled your eyes but didn't argue. You opened your journal, flipping to the most recent page and letting her take a peek just for a moment before hiding the page again.

“It’s good,” Taylor said after a moment, “You know that, right?”

You shrugged, trying to act indifferent, but you're actually trying not to smile. “You always say that,” You murmured.

“Because it’s always true.”

TYLER

You know you're not sad, you're just... Tired; emotionally and socially drained. You had accepted that this was part of who you were now, but you wished you had more energy or courage to be outgoing again...

And Tyler was one of those people who didn't care if you were emotionally or socially drained, he simply just... Let you be you for some reason. It was interesting because the first time you guys met he was nothing but arrogant. You were sitting on top of a washer with your knees drawn up, flipping through an old paperback. Tyler walked in with a basket under one arm, phone in the other. “You’re in my spot.” He had said. You simply stared at him and he sighed with an eyeroll, "Look, I’ve had a crap day, and I’m not great with asking nice, so can we share, or are we doing this awkward stare thing for the next hour?”

You thought for a moment before shifting to the side silently. Tyler sat beside you, balancing his phone on his knee and tapping away like he didn’t just force a social interaction into existence. A few minutes passed before he said, “You don’t talk much, huh?” You didn't look over at him, “Cool. I talk enough for both of us.” You huffed a breath. Not quite a laugh, but close.

You were already there when Tyler walked in, half-asleep against the dryer.

“Oh, you decided to show up,” Tyler said, dropping his basket with a thud on the slightly moldy floor.

You lifted a hand without opening your eyes. “Wasn’t in the mood to talk.”

“Yeah, well, next time text me you’re not dead. Or I’ll actually call your house like a psychopath.”

You cracked an eye open to look at Tyler's face. “…You don’t even have my house address.”

“Don’t test me. I’m resourceful and Taylor's a good stalker.”

You snorted, sitting up with your knees pressed to your chest, “Sorry.”

The blunt one shrugged. “It’s fine. Just... You vanish sometimes. And I suck at knowing if I’m supposed to leave you alone or not.”

There's a beat of silence before you spoke again, “You can check in,” You mumbled, “I just… don’t always have energy to answer.”

Tyler nodded, serious for once. “Cool. I’ll take grunts, emojis, or vague existential memes. Whatever you’ve got in the tank.”

You finally smiled, small, but real. Tyler dropped into a chair beside you and kicked his feet up. “Also, I brought snacks,” He added, pulling a crumpled bag of chips from his hoodie.

You gave him a look, “You crushed them again, didn’t you.”

“It’s a texture thing. Shut up and eat.”

BEN

You're careful about who you let in emotionally, valuing your privacy and space. You've learned to prioritize your mental health and well-being, even if it meant disappointing others who want the “old” you back.

And when you spilled to Ben, something about his quiet nature and kind spirit made you... Trust him. You had first met outside at the park. You didn't look up at first before noticing Ben's scuffed shoes. He was a little awkward, definitely unfamiliar. Hood up, soft eyes. He met your gaze and didn't flinch, but also didn't speak. He held up a notebook, already written in: “Sorry. Didn’t mean to take your spot. Want me to move?”

“No,” You had said against your better judgement. The boy nodded with a small but sincere smile and sat down. After a while, he pulled out a small notepad and started sketching some simply lines and shapes and little doodles. Reader noticed and tilt your just enough so he can see yours too. He glanced over before carefully drawing a smiley face in the corner of his page and turned it towards you. You smiled.

Ben approached you without fanfare as usually. He sat beside youlike it was the most natural thing in the world. No writing, no gestures yet, just... Presence.

You don't look over at him right away, but you know it’s him. It had always been him. After a moment, he opened his backpack and pulled something out. A little crumpled paper crane. He set it on his knee gently.

You finally turned to look and met his gaze. “Bad day?” Ben signed.

You nodded, eyes a little glassy but not crying. Just tired. He doesn’t try to fix it though. He just sits closer, not touching but close enough to feel solid. Real.

Then he writes something quickly in his notebook and nudges it over: “You don’t have to say anything. I’m not going anywhere.”

You stared at the note for a long moment before smiling, “…Thank you.”

Ben offered a smile. A little lopsided, a little sleepy-looking. He leaned back against the tree. And you two sit like that for a long time, saying nothing, but saying everything at the same time.

(A/n: Ooh boy this was a doozy... I have never used that word in my life... Anyways, hope this is to your liking!)

[waitingandwishing]

request rules!

No Smut!

Only female or gn reader (I'm not used to writing male reader)

Nothing too violent or graphic

Nothing like smoking, drinking, drugs (Am willing to imply it)

Please do not request anything when requests are closed!

I might not be able to get to your request very quickly so please be patient and do not send another repeat of your request

[waitingandwishing]

Helloooo!! I love your blog and writing style and just had to request something for SBG, but of course take your time to write it and you dont even have to if you dont want to!

Also, english isnt my first language so this is kinda choppy

I was wondering if you could do a SBG x fem or gn reader who Japanese? Maybe english isnt their first language and they forget words, or feels strange speaking in english so just ends up being quiet? I am Japanese and I never see writing about it in fandoms..so maybe? But if not its okay! Have a great day!

ofc!!!

-> context: japanese!reader

-> fandom: school bus graveyard

-> warnings: none?

ASHLYNN

You sat hunched, hands fidgeting with the zipper of your coat. A thermos rested between you and your redheaded friend, unopened. "寒い…" You murmured, breath visible in the cold air. 'Cold...' Ashlynn glanced over at you with a slightly confused expression. "Um… Not snow, but white… what was it again…?"

"Sleet?" Ashlynn asked.

Your fingers fluttered trying to mimic the image in your head. "No, no… ugh, I can’t remember."

Ashlynn tilted her head before saying, “Frost?”

Your eyes lit up and you nodded, "そう、それ！フロスト…" 'Yes, that! Frost...' You repeated the word in english before sighing, "English is hard..."

Ashlynn gave a small, understanding smile. “Yeah. It is.” She unscrewed the thermos and poured a little into the cap, offering it to you with a nudge. “Thank you.” You accepted it with both hands, sipping in silence as steam rised between the two of you. "I like sitting with you. I feel, uh, 落ち着... When..." You went quite for a moment, furrowing your brows before huffing and simply taking a sip of your hot chocolate instead.

You know Ashlynn's being patient, but it doesn’t make the heat in your face any cooler even if it was winter... It’s not that you dislike talking. It just… Took so much effort. The words sounded foreign on your tongue and your words sounded foreign to Ashlynn's ears.

"I feel calm when I'm around you." Ashlynn said after a moment. She usually never filled the silence, but this time felt different.

You turned to look at her, eyes soft. "Same."

AIDEN

Your not sure how you ended up here. On a creaky rooftop with booming fireworks overhead. It’s loud. Bright. Chaotic. The kind of place you usually avoided.

Aiden practically dragged you here. “Come on, you have to see it from up top! Trust me, it’s right in your face!”

You didn’t know what “right in your face” meant exactly, but you followed. You always did.

Now your curled up on a blanket, legs tucked beneath you, drink clutched between her hands. Aiden lied flat on his back, arms behind his head and grinning like he owned the night sky.

“Isn’t this amazing?!” He asked, “I swear the colors are brighter up here!”

You nodded softly. "きれい…" 'Beautiful…'

“What was that?” He asked, suddenly snapping up from his position to hear you over the fireworks, “Say it again, it sounded cool!”

You hesitated warmth rushing over you. You're afraid you’ll make a mistake, and maybe Aiden won’t understand you, or worse, think less of you.

It felt... Strange, like your thoughts got tangled when you tried to speak in English. It was always better to stay quiet anyways but...

You looked at Aiden's patient expression. You had known Aiden for a while and he was everything BUT patient. If... He could be that way maybe it wouldn't be so bad?

"Beautiful..." You muttered, "But loud."

Aiden snorted, “Yeah, it’s the kind of loud that shakes your bones! Best kind.”

You sipped your drink, looking down at the glowing town below. The fireworks reflecting in your eyes, “But… It is okay... When I am with you.”

Aiden buffered for a second, blinking, before his grin returned. “Aww, that was adorable. Say it again, I want to record it.”

You gently smacked his arm with your sleeve, scoffing, but smiling. You leaned in a little closer to Aiden, resting your head on his shoulder as you stared up at the sky.

LOGAN

“Okay, so the kanji for ‘tree’ is 木, right?” Logan's voice is a little shaky, like he's afraid of making a mistake.

You nodded, "はい、木。" 'Yes, ‘tree.’'

“Phew, good!” He exhaled loudly, then pulled out a notebook covered in doodles and carefully written Japanese practice. “I’ve been trying to learn your language. It’s… Uh, really hard.”

You smiled faintly, feeling a little shy but warm inside as he continued to ramble on.

“You’re really patient, you know? Sometimes I get so nervous, I forget how to say anything. I mean, look at me, I’m supposed to be studying and I can’t even pronounce ‘ありがとう’ properly.” He tried to say it, stumbling over the syllables, and chuckle nervously.

You'd never think he'd understand. How odd the words sounded on your tongue or how odd it was to be smiling about a joke you didn't understand. But... He did. And he was as patient as you were with him when learning these sort of things. “It’s okay... Uh... Take your time.” You smiled.

“Thanks. That... Means a lot... I really don't know how you do it. I mean, I'm pretty sure that I'm still learning english...” Logan pushed his glasses back up, biting his lip. “I don’t always know what to say, but I like being around you... Even if I’m kind of a mess.”

You didn't know what to say to that.

TAYLOR

You sat together at a corner table, a shared blanket draped loosely over your knees. Taylor watched you carefully, noticing how their fingers nervously twisted the hem of their sweater.

“Hey,” she said softly, voice like a gentle breeze. “You don’t have to force yourself to talk if you don’t want to.”

Your eyes lifted, hesitant but trusting. Your English was slow today, words stuck behind a wall of nervousness and unfamiliar sounds. You hated it. “Thank you. But… I want to talk.”

Taylor smiled warmly, “Okay, I’m listening. Whenever you’re ready.”

Your fingers relaxed, curling around the warm mug in front of you. You took a small sip of tea, letting the heat spread through your hands.

“Sometimes I get scared,” he reader admitted quietly, their voice a mix of English and Japanese. "The words... 消える. Disappear."

Taylor reached across the table and squeezed your hand gently. The small touch was grounding, a promise without words. “Do you want to practice together?” she asked. “No pressure. Just… us.”

You nodded, a small smile on your lips. You didn't know what you did to deserve someone like Taylor. Someone so... Kind and understanding and positive.

“Okay,” She said with a bright smile, “Um... How do you say ‘friend’ in Japanese again?”

"友達。" You said.

“Tomodachi,” Taylor repeated carefully, trying the word out loud. “Tomodachi.”

You laughed softly, the tension in your body easing like the clouds outside. Time slowed, and the world shrunk to just this warm space.

“You’re amazing,” Taylor sighed after a moment, voice full of admiration. “It's crazy how hard you try.”

You paused, looking at her before squeezing Taylors hand, "ありがとう。あなたがいてくれて、うれしい。" 'Thank you. I’m happy you’re here.'

TYLER

It was late, almost 10 PM. The neon buzz of the convenience store casted a pale glow across the street. Tyler spotted you there, standing by the drinks fridge, frozen in place, holding a bottle of some drink but not moving.

He walked up, frowning. “It’s late. You shouldn’t be out by yourself.” He crossed his arms. You didn't look at him at first. Just stood there, quiet. Tired eyes. “Did you even eat dinner?”

"ちょっと…疲れた。" You muttered. '…I’m just a little tired.'

He didn't understand the words, not exactly. But he heard the tone. He saw your slumped shoulders. “Mm.” He reached into the fridge, grabbing a ten dollar sandwhich, and tossd it into your basket without asking. “Eat something.”

You looked at the sandwhich, startled, then back up at him with a confused look. "Why?"

“You’re not a ghost. You don’t get to starve and float around like nothing matters.” Tyler raised an eyebrow.

You smiled slightly, "ありがとう。" 'Thank you.'

Tyler sighed, “Whatever. Just… Text me next time, okay?” He waved a vague hand, “I’ll try to figure it out. Might take me a decade, but I’ll get there.”

You nodded and walked out alongside him. Tyler didn't say much, a pack of M&M's for Taylor in his hand, he just walked a half step behind you like a silent guard. And you doesn’t say much either.

But that night, you sent him a message. "ちゃんと食べたよ。"

He has no idea what it says. But he sees the sandwich emoji, and smiles.

BEN

The rain started just as the last bell rang. Thunder rumbles low, distant but growing. The hallway is filled with the rustle of bags, chatter, and the sharp squeak of wet shoes. Students rush for the exits.

You lingered by your locker, quietly fumbling with the zipper on your coat. You don't have an umbrella.

Everything today felt off. English was too hard, your words got tangled, and even when you spoke, no one seemed to get you. You knew the words yesterday. You practiced it to. But your tongue won’t move right, and the sentence always fell apart halfway through.

A shadow fell beside you, and you looked up to him. The boy with headphones always slung around his neck. He says nothing, as always. Just stands there, already holding an umbrella.

You start to say thank you but quickly quiet down.

Ben gave a small shake of his head and gently handed you one earbud instead. Curious, you took it and put it in your ear.

The music started, soft piano with faint rainfall woven into it, like he somehow recorded the exact moment around you. It’s not from any artists you know.

"...ありがとう…" You muttered, a small smile on your lips. Ben was always someone you could relate to. Someone who also had the trouble of speaking english with, someone you could be quiet with, someone who understood you.

He smiles. A small, real smile that makes his eyes soften. Ben holds the umbrella up, silently inviting you to walk with him. He never says a word. But you've never felt more understood.

(A/n: I'm not sure if the japanese is accurate, please correct me in the comments if I'm wrong!)

[waitingandwishing]

idk if you are writing much for sbg, let alone how to request much, but could you do romantic or platonic sbg (or just Tyler and Ben) with reader with like long curly hair, similar to Sunday kalogeras and she doesn't know what to do with it most the time.

-> context: curly haired girls are so fine

-> fandom: school bus graveyard

-> warnings: none?

TYLER

Sometimes you had no idea of how to manage your hair. You swore it had a mind of its own. Spiraling curls that framed your face like storm clouds. Most days, your let it roam free, more out of surrender than choice. You owned six different hair products, none of which worked the same way twice. One morning it bounced like a shampoo commercial, the next it looked like you'd fought a bush and lost.

So somehow, through all that mess, Tyler still managed to find his own ways of liking it. "By the way, your hair looks good. I like it like that. Just… thought you should know."

That compliment caught you off guard but practically made your whole day. The way you beamed and awkwardly laughed with a small thanks made Tyler want to say more just to see you smile once again.

The wind picked up once again, the sky gray and blinding. Your hair, predictably, went wild once again. "Ugh," You muttered, brushing it back. "I should just shave it off."

Tyler glances at you, thinking for a moment before muttering, "Don’t."

You squinted at him, pausing your walk, "Don’t what?"

"Shave it," He said. Then shrugged, as if it was nothing. "I mean. It’s... Food. Like that. Or however it is. Doesn’t matter."

"You think my hair’s good." You asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah." He sounds like he’s admitting a war crime. "I mean, it’s a mess, but it works. On you." He shifted on his feet awkwardly and you forced yourself not to chuckle in amusement at his sudden bashfulness. "I like it."

You stared at him for a moment, though he avoided eye contact like it was physically painful. "...You like my hair?"

He exhaled hard. "I like you. The hair’s just part of it. Unfortunately." He rubbed the back of his neck, looking ready to bolt.

She blinks, stunned, before standing beside him once again with a chuckle. "You suck at this," she says.

"Yeah," He sighed. But it was worth it to see you smile at him.

BEN

Some mornings, it feels like your hair wakes up before you do. You've watched enough tutorials to know you're supposed to love your curls. Embrace the volume. Romanticize the frizz. But you’re not sure how to “romanticize” waking up with your head looking like that.

You've tried tying them up, taming them with pins, wrapping them in scarves, only for a stubborn curl to spring free like it’s laughing at your efforts. Sometimes you catch people staring, and you're never sure if it's admiration or awe at how you haven't burst into flames from sheer frustration

You were fussing with your hair, again. You turned to see Ben staring at you with a slight smile before he noticed your gaze. He paused, cheeks tinted pink before he quickly signed 'Beautiful'. HUH?! You opened your mouth to ask him to elaborate before Aiden had caught his attention with a ladybug.

It was late afternoon and you were sitting with Ben in the park. Aiden and Taylor were doing an arm wrestle as Ashlynn begrudgingly recorded and Tyler and Logan watched.

Your curls were frizzy from the humidity, and you were constantly pushing them behind your ears. “I don’t even know why I bother with this hair.” You muttered.

Ben stared at you for a moment before gently reaching out and tucking a stray curl behind your ear. “What are you doing?” You asked.

He held your gaze for just a moment longer before giving you that adorable smile of his you loved. "They're really pretty." He typed on his phone.

You stared at him with slightly wide eyes before smiling bashfully. Warmth filled your chest, making your hands tingle and your legs shake slightly. "... Thanks."

(A/n: keep in mind I DO NOT HAVE CURLY HAIR, so i am unfamiliar with this ask! so sorry if this is wrong and please tell me in the comments!)

[waitingandwishing]

since prom season is here, i was wondering if you could write romantic headcannons for the SBG kids with f reader at prom?how they ask, what they wear, and generally what they do and how they have fun at prom

ooh yes!!

-> context: Prom, prom, prom

-> fandom: school bus graveyard

-> warnings: none?

ASHLYNN:

Oh my lord did this girl overthink things. She spent days thinking about it before eventually asking, "Would you go to prom with me?" Fortunately, you said yes, and her parents were so excited when they found out you were her date to prom!

Honestly, she's pretty nervous. She didn't really think this far since she was so sure you would say no, so she had no idea what she was doing. Thankfully, you didn't know either.

For Ashlynn's outfit, she wore her hair up in a high pony tail and wore a suit. (Like that one art that Red posted I believe!)

She's not really a big dancing person, especially with the loud speakers and stuff like that, but if you asked her too she'd do it for you. She's actually really light on her feet (Obviously because she did ballet) and you too had a great time together! "Thanks for... Doing this with me."

AIDEN:

This one’s not subtle. He goes big. Tbh, I'm just imagining Aiden show up at your house with a loud speaker playing that one song that goes, 'What is LOOOVE baby don't hurt me' or something like that with a huge sign with puns like “Out of All the Fish in the Sea… Will You Go to Prom With Me?” or “I Know This is Cheesy, But I’d Relish Going to Prom With You!”

Even though he seems pretty excited, that's mostly because he's nervous. You're just so charming and stunning, what if he passes out?!

He probably wears a suit, much to his dismay. His tie is loose, his hair is messy, but he still looks much more put together then usual. You're not used to seeing him clean up well so it's a surprise.

I swear he's everywhere at once. His energy is slightly overwhelming, but never boring. He drags you onto the dance floor IMMEDIATELY and even afterwards he WILL try to dance with you every 10 minutes. But you two enjoyed every minute of it because what was better then spending time with someone you love? "This is better then I imagined it to be, y'know?" (Platonically or romantically)

LOGAN:

He overprepared. Runs through a whole script in their head and still forgets half of it when the moment comes. But he did give you an adorable bouquet of flowers from his grandparents, “I-I made this… it’s okay if you say no, I just thought maybe… You would go to prom with me?" It was awkward, but so genuine that it was impossible not to smile and say no (Not like you were planning to anyways).

Obviously he was nervous, who wouldn't have been? He wasn't sure why you said yes or why he even asked you in the first place! Well, he knew why. You were kind, breathtaking, and so amazing it was hard to NOT ask you!

He wore a classic suit that’s just slightly too big since it was his grandfathers from when he was younger (That surpisingly fit him). His hair was fussed with too much, then immediately messed up by nerve but you loved it.

He started the night super stiff and unsure of what to do. Kind of hugs the wall or hovers near the snacks. He's also very sweet and respectful and nervously offers his hand for slow dances. "I'm really glad you came with me.”

TAYLOR:

She didn't need a huge stunt, she just wanted to make you feel special. Probably does something simple but meaningful like bringing flowers and a handmade sign with an inside joke.

She likes you a lot. You're honestly the best friend (Maybe???) she ever had and she had been looking forward to asking you out for prom. She doesn't exactly know what she's doing but she wants to make sure you're having a good time with her as much as she will with you!

Probably wore a flowy dress, something that feels easy and bright. Her hair was probably soft and styled up in a low bun. She looked so effortlessly cute and sort of 'spring-themed'.

Greeted you with a hug and a compliment. On the dance floor, she knew all the lyrics and danced kind of clumsily (But you loved it anyways) with zero shame because why would she be ashamed when she was having a great time with you?

At some point, you caught her staring at you with a small smile while holding your hand. “This is a good night.”

TYLER:

Absolutely NOT the kind to plan a big promposal. They’d rather be set on fire. But it's you. And you're the best. So he'll try plan something (With Taylor's help of course). Of course, he got embarrassed halfway through and abandoned the fancy stuff and just handed you the gift instead.

He's trying to be chill but is definitely dying inside. He's definitely brushing off his emotions though since he doesn't know exactly what to do.

His suit is pretty minimalist, it was his dads (Bittersweet, I know), and he didn't know how his family or you were going to react. His mom almost cried but smiled and told him he looked just like his dad, his sister teased him all night. He says he's not dressing up for anyone but then proceeds to look amazing.

He pretends that his doesn't care about prom but he show up. On time. Looking great. On the dance floor, he makes comments about how stupid the slow dance is but will sway along with you during prom with a small smile on his face when you look away (He's whipped).

BEN

He's actually such a chill guy I'm not even joking bro. He'd give you a small music box, sheet music, or a handmade card that says something like: “I can’t say it out loud… But will you go to prom with me?” (Yes Aiden pushed him to ask you out) or play a song on the guitar beforehand (And yes Tyler had to teach him)

Probably would wear a classy suit of course but would match whatever color your wearing as well. There's a sort of soft elegance that Ben has whenever you see him.

Prom is a sensory experience for him. He feels it deeply. The music vibrating through his chest, lights pulsing like a heartbeat, people laughing and dancing.

He'll tap you on the shoulder and point at the dancefloor. You'll gladly dance with him, and sway with him. Your practically glowing in his eyes, laughing and smiling and looking at him. Your here for him.

(A/n: I really liked doing this one for some reason lol)

[waitingandwishing]

OMG HIIII I LOVE UR SBG FICS SM !!! UR WRITING IS LITERALLY AMAZING 🌷🌷🌷🌷 if it’s ok with u, i was wondering if u could do a romantic sbg x reader where she tells them that she’s scared of dying in the phantom realm. they reassure her and promise that they wont let that happen to her, only for reader to die right in front them a few moments later after she feels okay ? i love angst :3

ironic... very ironic 😭

-> context: Death is not the greatest loss in life.

-> fandom: school bus graveyard

-> warnings: angst, mentions of blood and injury, death,

ASHLYNN:

It was cold in the phantom dimension, even when you were in the facility. It was quiet and tense with the evident fear of death hanging above your head. You were walking much slower then usual as you and Ashlyn traversed through the halls, mouth pressed into a solid line as your thoughts whirled within your head.

You paused, mouth opening, then closing, before you spoke quietly. “Can I say something kind of pathetic?” You asked, voice a little shaky.

Ashlynn glanced at you with a look that was more confused then judging much to your relief.

“…I’m scared. I keep thinking I’m gonna die here. Like—I just have this feeling, and I hate it. It’s stupid, but I can’t stop thinking about it.” You said, burying your head into your knees with a sigh.

Silence. Ashlyn stared at you for a long moment. Studying you, like she was trying to find the right words in a language she didn’t speak. “…That’s not pathetic.” She finally said after a moment.

You paused, lifting your head up just enough to look at her,

“I’m not… great at saying things that make people feel better. But I want you to know that...” Her voice caught in her throat and she looked away from your piercing gaze, “—I’ve been scared too. Of something happening to you. And the rest of us of course.”

This was clearly harder for her than fighting anything out there. “You’re… really important to me.” She muttered, “If something tried to take you… I wouldn’t let it."

The last part was quiet, like it slipped out before she could think twice. Her gaze held yours, unflinching now. The weight of the words settling between the two of you.

“…I didn’t know you felt that way.” You said, standing up straighter then before.

“Yeah. I figured.” Ashlynn said, a flicker of a smile appearing on her face, “You’re kind of bad at noticing.”

You laughed a little, and for the first time since you've been transported in the phantom dimension, your shoulders relaxed and you moved closer to Ashlynn. “…Thanks. I needed that.”

And then—thump. Thump. THUMP. A rhythmic pounding echoed from deeper in the hallway.

Your heart dropped. “Shoot!” Ashlynn spun around and you followed without thinking, legs suddenly sluggish with fear.

The sound grew louder behind you... Wet, unnatural, wrong. Your teeth chattered, not from cold, but from the vibration rising in your bones. A sharp pain bloomed in your chest. You gasped, stumbling.

And then, you turned around. Big mistake. The phantom was already on you. Dark, skeletal limbs, eyes that shimmered like oil, claws that slashed across your chest sharp and fast.

You screamed, falling backward as pain exploded through your body.

Ashlynn’s eyes widened in horror. “Y/N!”

The creature was on top of you now, shrieking as it drove its claws into your throat. Warmth gushed out of you in sickening pulses. Ashlynn lunged forward but the world was already slipping sideways. The last thing you saw was her face, contorted in panic, as the Phantom clawed you apart by your throat.

AIDEN:

It was cold, and you were walking alongside Aiden as the whole group traversed through the school. “Can I say something kind of sad?” You whispered, not wanting to draw attention to yourself.

“Only if I get to make fun of you a little after.” Aiden said with a playful smile. You gave him a look and his expression softened almost immediately, “Kidding. Mostly.”

“…I’m scared. I keep thinking I’m gonna die here. And with Tyler and everything I just... Like... I just have this feeling, and I hate it. It’s stupid, but I can’t stop thinking about it.” You muttered, crossing your arms as your chest tightened.

There’s a pause. Longer than usual. Then he exhaled, looking serious for once. “Hey. Look at me.” You do. Aiden's expression is lighter than you'd expect, but his red eyes are steady. “You're allowed to be scared... And this place sucks in, like, seven different ways.”

They shift closer, voice quieter now. “But you’re not dying here. Okay?” A pause. He nudges your arm gently with his elbow. “You matter. Not just because I like your face. Though I do like your face. So don't die and ruin it.”

"That's... That's a pretty crappy way of comforting someone, You paused, looking at him before letting out a breathy laugh, "But... Thanks, Aiden."

"RUN!" Ashlynn suddenly yelled. The ceiling crashed down and the redhead winced, covering her ears.

Logan turned and pulled out his gun, aiming at the large worm and managing to land a bullet in its eye. Taylor widened her eyes at the realization before pulling the gun from the blonde and aiming it towards the worm.

"Taylor?! Taylor, what are you doing?!" Ashlynn shouted.

"KEEP SHOOTING! We need to injure it as much as we can!" Taylor cried as she and Logan continued to aim for the worm's face.

Eventually the monster fell but Taylor kept shooting. "Taylor." You called out, placing her hand on the girl's shoulder. Taylor dropped the gun down, slowly turning to look at you before nodding.

"We need to hurry in case it recovers." Logan said, pulling you away from the monster as you hurried down the hall and took a left in the coaches office. Ben laid Tyler down on a cot in the office.

"Where are they?!" Taylor shouted, irritated by the missing keys, "Coach must've moved them again!"

"Does he move them often?" Ashlynn asked.

"Yeah, because idiots like Jay and Conner keep messing with them." Taylor groaned exasperatedly.

"I feel a minor sense of deja-vu." Aiden thought to himself, swishing his knife back and forth.

"Like when we went to get the jeep?" You suggested and Aiden snapped with a smile.

"Yeah!" Aiden grinned.

"We have 3 minutes left, Aiden there's a straggler." Ashlynn informed him.

"Yeah, I can hear it running." Aiden grinned, turning his body fully as he stabbed the phantom in its face. "✨Got it✨! Did you see that, Y/N?"

You nodded, "Great job," You smiled, though fear was still evident on your face, "Are there anymore?"

"I can't see any- whoa!" The building started to rumble as they all fell down the ground, the ceilings were cracking.

"Everyone get under something!" Ashlynn yelled but as you were about to get under the desk, you saw Aiden and ran towards him.

"AIDEN!"

You felt yourself hastily lose consciousness, eyes closing as you laid helplessly along the rubble. Was Aiden alright? He wasn't hurt was he? You felt a sharp throbbing in your head, and you couldn't breathe. Was something on your chest? What was happening?

Aiden widened his eyes as he pulled you from the rubble. The left side of your face was heavily bruised and bloodied. There was blood smeared across your cheek and possibly coming from your mouth. Your body was limp, eyes half-lidded. And you... You were... Dead.

LOGAN

The cold air of the phantom dimension clung to your skin. Your hands trembled as you hugged your knees to your chest. You couldn’t shake the fear gnawing at her insides. You were scared. Scared of dying in this place, of fading into nothingness, with no one to remember you.

"I don’t want to die here," You whispered, your voice barely audible AS Ashlynn made another turn. "I don't want to disappear."

The large and looming monster-like centipede rushed forward, moth wide open to swallow you whole. You couldn't stop staring. Couldn't stop waiting for it's teeth to crush your skull...

Logan hesitated, heart racing. He could see the panic in your eyes, the vulnerability you were trying to hide behind that weak smile. He hated how helpless he felt, how little he could do.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to steady his shaking hands as he crouched beside you.

"H-hey," Logan said, voice soft but earnest, "You're not gonna die here. I won’t let that happen to you. You’ve got me, okay? We’re in this together." He smiled, though it felt more like a grimace. "I’ll figure it out. I’ll... I’ll keep you safe, no matter what."

Your eyes flickered up to meet his, lips curving into a weak smile. It wasn’t much, but it was something. "I-..." You turned back to look at the phantom before Logan turned your head to look at him.

"We're gonna be okay..." He muttered. You tried to believe him. You did believe him. Or at least, you wanted to.

"I just... I feel like I’m already fading," You murmured, voice breaking. "Like this place is swallowing me whole, and I won’t be able to come back."

He quickly reached out, placing a trembling hand on yours, "No, you're... You’re right here, and I'm right here. We’re right here."

For a second, everything seemed to slow. The darkness that had swallowed them seemed to shrink back, just for a moment, as though it had heard their promise. You closed your eyes, taking a deep breath, as if your fear had been calmed for just a moment.

"Okay," You whispered, your voice light now. "Okay, I-." Ashlynn then jerked the car, swinging as you slammed into the back. You let out a yell before hearing Taylor scream. You turned to see Tyler falling out of the car, eyes wide before you felt yourself tipping and falling as well.

The air suffocated you as fear stabbed through your heart. Or maybe it had been a branch.

TAYLOR

Desperation. That was all you could feel. You were desperate to go home, desperate to sleep, desperate to feel. You sat at the edge of your bed like a broken doll, arms limp at your sides, eyes unfocused. Your body ached in places you couldn’t name. Your thoughts were too loud and too distant all at once.

"Hey, hey!" Taylor waved her hand in front of your face. You turned, eyes glossed over. Taylor's face contorted into pain, furrowing her brows. She had seen that look before. She had seen it many times in her childhood. In her mother. "Are you okay?"

You didn’t answer for a moment. Instead, a soft, shuddering breath escaped your lips. Your shoulders sagged, and something in you finally cracked open.

“I’m tired,” you whispered, your voice barely audible. “And scared... I don’t want to think anymore., I don't- I don't think I can do this anymore...”

Taylor didn’t say anything at first. She just sat beside you, gently, like she was afraid you'd break under the weight of even kindness. Then she reached out and pulled you into her arms.

You didn’t resist. Your head fell to her shoulder, and she held you there, arms steady and warm, heart beating where yours felt hollow. She didn’t try to fix anything. Didn’t offer words. Just stayed.

"Can you stay with me, Taylor?" You asked. She nodded, her hand slowly stroking your head carefully.

“I’ll stay,” she murmured, brushing hair from your face. “You’re safe now, and I won't let anything happen to us. To you. Just rest.”

You looked up at her, your eyes blurring over before you smiled. You're not sure you believed that but... You believed in her.

You closed your eyes. And for the first time in what felt like forever, you let yourself fall asleep in someone’s arms.

The world around you darkened, and comfort wrapped you in it's warm embrace before it was quickly pulled off of you. You furrowed your brows, opening your eyes before... Seeing yourself. Again.

Ever since you had entered the phantom dimension you'd been having these... Dreams. Dreams of fighting yourself, but you always won so...

“I’m not afraid of you,” You lunged first, fist flying in a tight hook, but the doppelgänger ducked, driving a brutal elbow into your ribs. You gasped but didn’t fall. You responded with a rising knee, clipping your twin’s jaw.

They grappled, feet sliding on the invisible floor, exchanging blows that thudded meatily through the void. Every strike from the doppelgänger was cruel. An eye gouge, a throat jab, a heel to the knee.

The doppelgänger rebounded with a snarl and tackled you, slamming you both to the floor. They mounted you and their claws tightened around your throat.

You felt air escape your lungs, and you could feel your eyes prickling with tears. You gagged, letting out another gasp before your doppelgänger used it's suddenly sharp nails to claw at your throat.

"Now there's only me." It whispered, it's voice sickening. Blood ran down your neck, warming the ground beneath you as it stained your skin.

TYLER

You sat on the edge of your bed, arms slack, eyes unfocused. You weren’t even sure how you got here. The world moved like it was underwater.

“Hey,” came a voice. Low. Firm. A hand waved in front of your face. You blinked slowly and turned your head.

Tyler was standing there. Not frowning. Not wide-eyed. Just watching you carefully, jaw tight, like he was trying to solve a problem her didn’t have the right tools for. “You look like horrible,” He muttered.

There was a pause, and then he sighed. It wasn’t annoyed, it was more of a sigh of someone who didn’t know how to say what they meant, so they defaulted to doing.

He crouched in front of you and tugged your blanket up from where it had fallen before tossing it around your shoulders. Then stood, moved around the room with focused energy. Closing the blinds, clearing the clutter from your bed, kicking your shoes off without asking.

He returned, standing stiffly for a second before sitting beside you. “You sleep yet?” You shook your head. “Tch. Thought so.” Another pause. Then, quieter: “You need it.”

"Can't." You said, your hands trembling. "I don't think I can do this again, Tyler... I don't- I'm..."

"You're okay." Tyler said, stiffly wrapping an arm around you. You paused before relaxing and lying your head down on his lap. He stiffened before sighing.

His hand rested along your back, his thumb rubbing small comforting circles. “Just sleep. You don’t have to do anything else right now.”

He was right. You didn't. So your breathing slowed, and with the blanket wrapped around you and the hand still resting on your back that held a presence that said, 'You’re not alone.', you happily welcomed the warmth.

Sleep came like a tide. Not crashing. Just rising slowly. You heard him shift beside you, maybe checking if you were okay. Maybe about to say something else, one of those awkward, half-choked reassurances they never quite knew how to phrase. But you didn’t answer. Your chest didn’t rise again.

Tyler froze. “…Hey,” He said, voice sharp this time. A little louder. A little more afraid. Another beat of silence. “Hey.” He shook you. Not rough, but hard enough that you should’ve groaned, should’ve stirred, should’ve done something. You didn’t.

Tyler sat up fully now, eyes wide. Hands moving without thought. Checked your pulse. Checked your breath. Nothing. Nothing.

"No—no, no, come on—” Panic cracked through his voice like he hated the sound of it coming from his own throat. "You were just—you were fine. You were just talking— What happened?!"

His hand trembled, still shaking your body, still wishing you were still here. What had happened?! You couldn't have just... That was impossible!

But it was already too late. You were gone. Softly. Silently. Like you'd slipped through the cracks of the world the moment it got quiet enough to let you go.

BEN

You were still crying as blood gushed out of your stomach. You felt Ben shift beside you. Then, with trembling fingers, he pulled out his notepad and scribbled something, holding it up so you could see: “You’re safe. I'll stay with you.”

This had been unexpected. You were fearful and fighting for your life in one moment, before then having your guts clawed out by a phantom in another. Two many had overrun you, and when the group had caught up to you, you were on the brink of death.

They carried you back to the graveyard, hoped that you'd be safe, and let Ben try to nurse you back to health. But he wasn't a nurse or a doctor, he was just a kid. You were just a kid...

You blinked. He wrote something else. Slower this time. Every letter deliberate, like it meant something heavy. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

You swallowed hard. A lump caught in your throat. You could see that in the way they stayed close, in the way his hand found yours and gave it the softest squeeze, that you knew he wished he could do more. Ben always wished he had done more.

"I-it's okay, I'm okay. We're gonna be okay..." You said rapidly. You didn't have enough time to say more, didn't have enough blood to stay alive.

“I won’t let anything happen to you, so please stay alive.” He wrote before quickly setting the notepad down and getting back to work.

And maybe, for the first time in days, you believed them. Your breathing slowed. Your head leaned onto his shoulder. The ache in your chest eased, just a little. Just enough. “I think I’m okay,” you whispered, hoarse.

His arms tightened around you. Ben's face crumpled in silent horror. Not a sound escaped him. But that was always how it was. He held you tighter as blood soaked his hands. But this time it wasn't his. It was yours.

(A/n: So sorry I didn't get to this one sooner, I was really stuck on this one for some reason! Also I'm not sure if I like this one, I'm really sorry if this isn't as good as you hoped it would be!)

[waitingandwishing]

NOT A REQUEST BUT I THINK I SENT A REQUEST IN WHILE THEY WERE CLOSED!!! MY EYES WENT RIGHT OVER THE REQUEST ARE CLOSED TEXT! SO SORRY!!!

ITS ALRIGHTTTT HAHA I JUST CHANGED IT WHEN I REALIZED I FORGOT TO SO YOU PROBABLY SENT IT IN JUST BEFORE

[waitingandwishing]

Hi wish!! If u arent too busy i was wondering if u could do sbg x a reader whos pretty popular in school comes from a well off family kinda like aidens and seems pretty intimidating at first but turns out to be really sweet and a considerate person?

-> context: reader is pretty chill

-> fandom: school bus graveyard

-> warnings/tags: female reader, reader has sort of a resting bitch face

ASHLYNN

She thought you were... Arrogant at first. You walked around like you owned the place. Everyone watched you, stepping out of the way like it’s natural. She guessed it must've been nice. Expensive clothes, perfect posture. You're too polished. Too quiet. Kind of intimidating with that really serious face you had on almost every class, 24/7. She couldn't imagine you ever having a bad day (Even though you sort of looked like you did) or a real conversation.

But then, she saw... More. During Savannah, you had given her ear plugs when she had winced at the loud sounds in the house, you had trusted her and listened to her even when Tyler didn't in that motel room. You didn't understand her but trusted her even when she was a complete stranger.

She remembered your name, too. That shouldn’t have mattered, but it did. Ashlynn noticed how soft your eyes got when someone talked about their day. Or how you slowed down your steps when she or Logan was walking behind. You’re still too shiny, too well-put-together. But... That’s not all you are.

You sat next to her at lunch when everyone in the group was busy with extracurriculars and said she looked lonely. Ashlynn told you she wasn’t. You didn’t believe her, but didn’t push about it either. You ate your sandwich and asked if she liked old music. Ashlynn said something sarcastic and you laughed. Not just with your mouth but with your eyes too. She didn’t know she liked that look on you. And now she kept thinking about it. About you.

AIDEN:

At first Aiden pegged you as one of those types. Another polished rich kid with a perfect smile and a reputation built on image. Probably boring. Probably soft. You were kind of scary too with that face of yours. But you didn’t flinch when he pushed boundaries. You didn’t show off, but you didn’t back down either. That quiet confidence? It wasn’t fake. And that smile? Yeah, there was something real behind it. Sweet, even. Unexpected.

He then noticed the way you listened when people talked. Really listened. The way you helped someone without making a scene about it. The way your eyes softened when you thought no one was watching. You didn’t chase thrills like he did, but you weren’t afraid of them either.

Suddenly, you weren’t just “the pretty, popular one.” You were someone real, someone surprising, someone Aiden wanted to know more about! You didn’t chase thrills like he did, but you weren’t afraid of them either.

It didn’t hit all at once. It crept in between moments, like the way his stomach flipped when you laughed, or how e started looking for you in a room without meaning to. And maybe the worst part? You weren’t trying to impress him. You weren’t even trying to change him. You just saw the real him and didn’t look away. That’s when Aiden knew. Not because his heart raced, but because it finally didn’t have to.

LOGAN:

He noticed you before you even spoke. Everyone did. You carried yourself like you belonged. To everyone, including him, you were untouchable. Too cool, too pretty, too everything. The kind of person he'd admire from a distance and never speak to unless absolutely necessary. Not because you were mean, just because you were intimidating. Like getting too close might burn a little.

Logan assumed you’d be like everyone else in that crowd. Popular and politely indifferent. But then you had confronted Barron when he had been harassing him for his homework answers and asked how his project was going with actual interest.

That’s when things got worse. Or better. Because now he couldn’t just write you off as some unreachable stereotype. Now you were real. Kind. Thoughtful. Still intimidating, sure, but you had been... Nice. And genuine. He could get behind that.

You had helped patch him up after that phantom gave him a nasty scrape across his torso. Logan couldn't help but go pink when your hands gently traced along his torso to help him. You were so kind, and so... Attractive? You went from “intimidating and way out of my league” to “oh no, I like them” in the span of a few heartbeats. Every time you talked to him, even just a “hi” or a casual glance, he short-circuited a little. Practiced lines? Gone. Coolness? Nonexistent.

TAYLOR

To Taylor, you looked… Sharp. Put-together. Maybe a little cold. Like someone who had it all figured out and didn’t need anyone else to slow them down. It wasn’t like she thought you were mean. Just… Distant. The kind of person she wasn't sure she were allowed to talk to. Like saying the wrong thing would make you turn away.

The more time she spent with you, the more the edges around you softened. She noticed how you checked in with people without making a big deal of it, how you always seemed to know when someone needed a moment of peace, a distraction, a laugh.

You weren’t intimidating to her now, you were someone she admired, respected… Similar to her brother but not in a loud, overwhelming way. Just in that quiet, steady way. She liked that, she liked how powerful you were with your kindness.

Everything was a blur for the whole group. Shouting, blood. Tyler, pale and still. Taylor tried to hold it together. For him. For her mom. But her hands wouldn’t stop shaking, and her chest felt like it was caving in. Taylor never really had anyone really listen to her. She didn't want to burden Tyler, or bother her mom, so when you simply let her cry on your shoulder she didn't know what to do but know that she loved you.

TYLER

He saw you across the hall, surrounded by people, laughing like you owned the place. Great. Another one. You looked like the type who had it all, nice clothes, good grades, effortless charm. Probably used to people bending over backwards just to stay in your orbit. It annoyed him, it got under his skin.

At first, Tyler didn’t want to admit it. It didn’t fit with the image he had in his head. The cool, untouchable, perfect you. The more he saw, the more it messed with his brain. You didn’t need to act all sweet and innocent. You didn’t need anyone’s validation. You just… were.

Maybe it was the way you smiled at people, how you actually listened to what others said. It drove him nuts, because now he didn’t know what to think. Maybe you weren’t so intimidating. Maybe you were… Kind. Sweet, even. That, he couldn’t wrap his head around. You, sweet?

Honestly he hated you. Every time he saw you do something sweet, something thoughtful, something that wasn’t for the benefit of your “perfect” image, it made his chest tighten. It didn’t help that Tyler found himself watching you more than they should. He'd catch himself staring at you when you weren’t looking, studying the way you smiled at people, the way your voice softened when you were being kind. And damn it, it was messing with him. You were everything he thought he didn’t want, and yet, suddenly, everything he wanted. You were sweet. And he couldn’t stop thinking about you.

BEN

At first, you seemed like the kind of person who didn’t need anyone else. The kind of person who could fill a room without saying a word, whose every move was sharp and composed. You were intimidating, like you lived in a world Ben wasn't invited to.

Of course, he had his suspicions based on stereotypes and his past. Were you a bully? He wasn't sure. But those thoughts soon evaporated when he saw you defending Logan from Barron. He had smiled to himself then. It was nice to see someone with as much power as you did at this school stand up to an asshole like him.

Still, there was a hesitation. He didn’t know how to break through your walls, how to reach you when he couldn’t even speak. It's never stopped him before, but Ben could only watch from afar, silently hoping you’d notice him. Maybe even see him the way he sort of saw you. Someone who understood how to exist in the quiet, the kind of person who could connect without saying a word.

The way you smiled, the way your eyes softened when you helped someone without hesitation, the way you seemed to see people, not just the surface. It was a strange kind of affection, Ben couldn’t find the words to explain it. But every time you walked past him, it felt like their heart fluttered in a way that music couldn’t capture. He didn’t know if you saw him the way he saw you. He didn’t know if you’d ever understand, if you’d ever see past the silence to what they truly felt. But he couldn’t help it. He liked you. He really liked you.

[waitingandwishing]

(Cross posted on Wattpad and AO3)

Prev. - Next Chapter

-> context: you remember this food and shadow milk tries to jog your memories

-> fandom: cookie run kingdom

-> warnings/tags: female reader, kind of yandere shadow milk

You found the dining room to be peculiar, but that should be expected since everywhere in this spire was weird. The room was private, away from the rest of the ‘audience’ and the two cookies she had spotted earlier, the table was much too long for the two of them, and the chandelier had candles that didn’t seem to emit any light whatsoever.

Shadow Milk Cookie sat at the head of the table, leading you to sit down on the chair right beside him. Two glasses of sparkling juice appeared in front of you.

“You’re favorite!” Shadow Milk grinned from ear to ear. You paused, looking at his expression before reaching over to the glass and taking a sip. You lifted your eyebrows. It was pleasant, acidic and citrusy but mild enough that your face wouldn’t pucker.

The cookie from before, the one you were chasing down, came into the room with a silver platter. “Kya haha! Here you go, Shadow Milk Cookie!” She giggled, placing the platter down in front of him. “Do you like it?! Is it good?!”

“Mhmmmmm yep.” Shadow Milk said, sliding the silver platter to you. Candy Apple eyed you suspiciously, a frown now replacing her smile. 

“What’s… Your name?” You asked awkwardly, looking at the biscuits and hot jelly stew.

She glanced at Shadow Milk before looking back at you, “I’m Candy Apple Cookie!” She said, “Who’re you?!”

“Y/N… Cookie…?” You said. Even though the name sounded foreign on your tongue, you knew it had to be yours. “Thank you for… Bringing this out, Candy Apple Cookie. It looks delicious.”

Candy Apple paused, eyes wide and now sparkling. She giggled to herself, muttering something happily under her breath as she skipped away and out of the room.

“Do you like her? You were always so good with kids, sugar puff!” Shadow Milk grinned. You looked back at him and then to the direction Candy Apple went.

“She seems devoted…” You said before reaching over and taking a small sip of the soup. As you tasted the soup, you smiled. It was also pleasant, savory with small chunks of jelly meat. But then again, you’d take anything other than jellybean on toast, “This is really good!”

“Hehehe, I know!” Shadow Milk smiled. And as if you weren’t already close enough, he leaned forward with his nose practically touching yours. “Try some more!”

“I- Right, yes.” You nodded, reaching forward and blowing on your spoon before taking another sip.

Shadow Milk sighed, sitting back onto his seat with his legs hanging off the arm rest, “Remember our 100th date? You made that face when I tried to feed you a snail, the same face you're making now!”

You laugh awkwardly. It was all said with charm, but he’s still trying to make you remember the version of you before you were imprisoned. Speaking of which… “Hey, so… Is my soul jam the reason I don’t remember you or anything else?” You asked.

Shadow Milk paused, his expression turning sour as he sighed. “Hm, probably.” He turned around to lay on his stomach and look at you properly. You felt your seat being pulled towards him and all of a sudden one of his clawed fingers was tracing the outline of the heart shaped hole in your chest. You shivered slightly, eyes growing wide. “I’ve got to find a way to bring them back, don’t you think sugar puff?”

“Don’t you mean ‘we’? They’re my memories too.” You pointed out. He sighed and you felt yourself get pushed back to where you originally were.

“Isn’t it strange," He mused. "How I remember everything so clearly… And you can barely recall my name without wincing?”

“Well… That’s typically how amnesia works.” You said, taking another spoonful of soup. “But I’m sure… We can figure this out right? I mean, is there a library here? I’m sure we’ll be able to find something, right?”

“Well, of course there is! My Y/N Cookie was- is always so resourceful isn’t she?” Shadow Milk Cookie giggled, his feet kicking up and down. “That reminds me! I’ve kept all of the old stuff you used to have so we can look at them together! Doesn’t that sound fun?”

“Yeah… It’d be nice to finally have the chance to recover my memories…”  You smiled before another silver platter was placed in front of you. You paused, holding your fork just above the jelly meat before looking back up at Shadow Milk. He was staring at you with his usual expecting and sharp toothed smile. You looked back down and took a bite of the food. “Thank you, Shadow Milk.”

“Of course! I see that even though you don’t remember anything you still have your grrrace and elegance.” Shadow Milk smiled, “That’s one of the things that made me like you so much!”

You smiled at the compliment. You hadn’t gotten any cookie interaction in over decades, so the praise felt nice. All of this was sort of comforting. Everything here, the grandness of the dinner, the respect from cookies. You liked it. Was this what you had felt like in your past? You hoped so…

“What did we do? When we were… Lovers?” You asked awkwardly to fill the silence. You didn’t know how to feel knowing Shadow Milk had been your lover and possibly the cookie you’ve been thinking about.

“I’m so glad you asked!” Shadow Milk giggled like a schoolgirl, “You were the life of the party, always preparing balls and dances! We used to dance so much your feet got blisters!”

You nodded, “Was I a good dancer?” You asked, fishing for more.

“Of course you were! The absolute best! I used to lay on your lap and you’d comb through my hair like those corny couples.” The jester said with a content sigh, “And now, we get to do that all over again!”

You thought for a moment. You weren’t sure if you still had feelings for him, but there were definitely some lingering emotions still between the two of you that you couldn’t quite place.

Technically, Shadow Milk was the one who was able to keep you going through all the years. And he had been kinder to you (Either then the fact he choked you just a few hours ago) then you’d ever been to yourself before.

“Okay, but… You have to help me get my memories back.” You said after thinking it over. “Please.”

“Well, why wouldn’t I, sugar puff?” The cookie asked, leaning over towards you, “We’ll recreate everything. The dances, the fireworks, we’ll make it perfect this time.” 

“You could be lying,” You said softly. “You could be making it all up, and I’d have no way of knowing.”

Shadow Milk pouted dramatically, flopping over the armrest like a tragic actor. “I would never lie to you! Except when I do. But not about this, sugar puff! I love you.”

You pursed your lips, swallowing. He loved you, and you could tell. But did you love him? Would he throw you away if you didn’t? You needed more time to think. “You say you love me, but…” You hesitated. “You nearly choked the breath out of me earlier.” His smile didn’t falter. “That was just a moment,” he said softly. “You’re too important to lose again.” His voice cracked with something deeper. Not just love. Need.

He needed you. It pained him to see you not remember his voice, his touch. He saw how you recoiled away from him and how you hesitated to say his name. His heart clenched at the sight of your uncertainty. He had to help in some way. Your love would be his. It was a drug he didn’t care he was addicted to. And you’d feel the same soon enough, you’d love him like you did before.

Even if you didn’t love him in the end, and he threw you away. The moments in between would surely give you some of your memories back. You didn’t care if you only got one. You just wanted your life back. The life that the witches took from you. The witches. They punished you, and for what? Shadow Milk didn’t explain but clearly it was unjust. You were an innocent cookie and they made you suffer for years. Years of yearning, years of crying. Years of endless pain. 

Anger boiled within you and even when you tried to keep your cool, your dough felt like it was going to explode with rage. It pulsed under your dough, a heat that made the candlelight flicker when you moved. Your glass trembled before cracking. You blinked out of your angry daze as sparkling juice dripped onto your new outfit. “Oh, sorry…” You said, grabbing your napkin. Had you done that? Shadow Milk smiled at the cracked glass.

[waitingandwishing]

*runs up to u extremely out of breath and lowk dying* SBG X READER WHOS RLLY GOOD ACADEMICALLY? LIKE BRO CAN SPEAK MULTIPLE LANGUAGES, TOP OF EVERY CLASS AND OVERWORKS HERSELF TO THE EXTREME THAT PEOPLE GET WORRIED?? MAYBE SHE JUST CRASHES TF OUT WHEN HER GRADE DROPS?? IDK HAVE FUN BE CREATIVE *runs away but trips over air*

— 🍋‍🟩

UM ARE YOU OKAY??? *helps you up*

-> context: if you fail, you'll crash tf out

-> fandom: school bus graveyard

-> warnings/tags: female reader, reader can speak french, spanish, and english

Imagine Ashlynn's surprise when you just whipped out another language in your french class. And her surprise when you two had gone out to a restaurant and you ordered in spanish. How did she never know this about you?

She studied with you, helped you keep an open mind and take breaks, she shared her lunch with you in the library when you were too busy. She remembered the date of your exams/tests and leaves you some snacks on your desk the morning of.

It’s just one grade. That’s what they’ll say. Just a stupid number on a paper... But that number could decide your future! 89... That number made your vision goes blurry. Not from tears. From everything. From the weight in your chest and the nausea twisting in your gut and the way your hands go numb around the paper.

Now you can’t breathe. The hallway is too loud. Too bright. People are walking around you like the world isn’t ending. So you run. You don’t even know where. Just away.

Somewhere quiet. Somewhere nobody can see the way your lip trembles or the way your brain won’t stop screaming. You end up in the stairwell. Cold concrete, dim lighting.

Your knees hit the ground too fast and your bag spills. Pens and papers and highlighters scatter like your thoughts. You sit there, breathing hard, heart thudding like it’s trying to escape your chest.

You knew the reason your grades were dropping was because of the phantom dimension. Not being able to sleep well at night was probably the cause but you couldn't help but feel like it was also partially your fault. Because if you had worked harder you wouldn't be in this situation...

You're so tired. Not just sleepy. Bone-deep, soul-sick tired. You don’t cry. Not really. Just…Shut down.

You stare at nothing for a long time. Let the ache settle into your body like it belongs there. Even now, even here, part of you is still calculating how to fix this. How to be better. How to be enough.

You don’t know how long you sit there. Minutes. Hours. A lifetime. Your next class has probably started. Great, now you're skipping class...

The stairwell is silent, except for your breathing and the occasional rustle of paper every time you shift just enough to notice how much you hurt. You don’t hear the door open. Just the sound of footsteps.

“There you are.”

You flinch. You don’t look up. You can’t.

Ashlynn doesn’t push, just eases down beside you with her back against the wall, knees drawn up like yours. Not too close. Not too far. “I was worried,” She said.

You squeeze your eyes shut. You want to apologize. You want to explain. You want to vanish. But all that comes out is a whisper, “I wasn’t good enough.”

“You don’t have to be.” Ashlynn said after a moment of silence. “You’re not a number, you’re not a... A GPA.”

You swallow hard, throat burning. “Then what am I?”

She doesn't answer right away, just sits down with you and lets the silence stretch until it stops feeling heavy. And when she does speak, you feel a lot better then before, “You’re someone who deserves to rest.”

Aiden is the type of person to not even try and still get good grades. Sure, you were slightly jealous but at least you could study together! You taught him some words in French and Spanish (Mostly insults) though so that was a bonus.

Now see, he's the type of person to always always distract you when you two are studying. You try getting something done, Aiden makes you laugh or throw paper balls at his head. Even though he's always distracting you it's also from a good cause. He just wants to see you laugh.

You don’t remember falling asleep but you wake up with your face mashed into your desk, cheek stuck to a page of notes, and your neck screaming in protest. Your eyes sting and your mouth tastes like stress and stale air. For a moment, you forget where you are. Then you see the planner. The test.

The 89.

And it all comes rushing back. Before the spiral can start again, your door creaks open, “I bring gifts!” a familiar voice sings.

You groan. “Please leave.”

“Impossible. I have entered this room with snacks and zero dignity. You will accept my offerings.” You crack one eye open to see Aiden standing in your doorway holding a bag of chips, a juice box, and a lopsided drawing of you wearing a graduation cap that says 'Human Encyclopedia (With Bonus Existential Crisis)'

“I’m fine,” you mumble, voice like gravel.

“You’re lying,” He said, placing the snacks on your desk, “Which is fair, I lie about flossing every time I go to the dentist. But you look like a raccoon that lost its will to dig through trash.”

“Wow. Comforting.” Aiden slid onto your bed, legs criss-cross, “Okay but real talk. You don’t have to be perfect all the time. It’s not illegal to crash. You’re allowed to be a little disaster.”

You sigh, dragging yourself slowly upright. You did everything right. Every lecture, every flashcard, every all-nighter where your eyes burned and your fingers cramped and you told yourself it was worth it. That you were worth it... “I just—I worked so hard. And I still failed.”

“Whoa whoa whoa,” He widened his eyes, popping open the juice box like it’s wine. “Eighty-nine is not failing. Eighty-nine is… A soft flex. A round-up-to-‘A’ situation."

You should really stop chasing that impossible, suffocating idea of "enough." But you won’t. You never will... "Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I just... Stopped caring, y'know?" You muttered with a sigh.

“Okay, okay, I know it sucks but you’re still the smartest person I know." Aiden said, walking over and placing a hand on your shoulder, "And not just because you can explain quantum physics using marshmallows. You’ve survived the midterm apocalypse!”

You laugh. It’s small, scratchy, but real. And somehow, just like that, the weight doesn’t feel quite so unbearable. "Thanks, Aiden."

Logan respects you a lot. He blinks, like, 12 times when you speak fluent French out of nowhere. Honestly really confused but honestly just raised the amount of how much he admires you. You're so smart, and being that way is what makes you strong! How amazing is that?

Overthinks everything. Does he say congrats? Compliment you? Keeps trying to impress you but ends up awkwardly referencing medieval astronomy and ancient mythology instead. He does brings you calming tea though and he's also so adorable and incredibly sweet, so that's a bonus.

You don’t cry. You just... Sit there, motionless on your bed, surrounded by notes and highlighters and unfinished assignments that all feel heavier than they should.

Your body is buzzing, but your brain feels like static. You’re so tired. And even though there's a knock at your door, you don’t answer because if you did you're sure you'd collapse.

The door creaks open anyway, just a crack, and then you hear that familiar voice. “Um. Hi. I brought tea.”

You glance up and see Logan standing awkwardly in the doorway, holding a chipped mug. His sweater sleeves are pulled down over his hands. His hair’s a little messy, like he ran his fingers through it a thousand times before working up the nerve to come here.

“I—I can go, if you want,” He says quickly. “I just… You weren’t in class, and I kinda panicked. And then I remembered how you like tea when you’re stressed, so I made some, and it tastes kind of like flowers and regret, but—”

“You can come in,” You mumble.

Logan blinks like he wasn’t expecting that to work, and well, he wasn't. He stepped inside carefully, like your composure might shatter if he moved too fast. He sets the mug down on your nightstand and sits on the floor next to your bed, knees to his chest.

There's a wall of tension and awkward silence between the two of you before he speaks, “I don’t think failing a quiz makes you less of a genius,” he says.

“I didn’t fail.” You muttered.

“Right,” he nods. “Sorry. You… Crushed it slightly less than usual.”

You close your eyes. “It just sucks. I worked so hard. I feel like if I stop for one second, everything’s gonna fall apart.”

He nods again. His voice is quieter now. “But you’re not gonna fall apart... Right?”

You open your eyes, but don't dare to spare a glance at him.

“You’re the most terrifyingly brilliant person I’ve ever met,” He says. “But... You can rest, you know. You’re allowed to just… Be. Even if you’re not fixing the universe with your brain.”

You nod, finally letting yourself lean back against the pillows. The tea smells like warmth and thankfully he doesn’t leave. "Thanks, Logan... I..."

You look at him and he's staring at you like you’re made of starlight and cracked glass. Like you're enough...

"No problem."

She's just so... Great. She praises you and brings you snacks or little notes that say things like “don’t forget to eat". She looks at you like you're the smartest person in the world and then makes sure you’re resting well. All in all, Taylor's just so... Supportive.

She thinks you're so impressive to. Somehow being able to speak her language better then her is odd but she's thankful that you can remember all the verbs (I headcanon that her and Tyler don't know much Spanish because 1: Their dad's dead, and 2: Their mom never got to teach them bc she was dealing with her mental health)

You don’t even notice her come in at first. You’re sitting on the floor, surrounded by open textbooks, pens without caps, and crumpled sticky notes all while trying not to bash your head into the wall.

Your laptop is still glowing. Your hand’s still clutching a highlighter. But your brain is done. You’re staring at the wall. Not thinking. Not feeling. Just blank.

“Hey,” Taylor says softly, making you flinch slightly. She's kneeling beside you before you can speak, setting down a familiar mug “I didn’t mean to scare you, you didn’t answer my texts, and I got a little worried.”

You open your mouth to respond. Nothing comes out.

Taylor took one look at your face, the exhaustion behind your eyes, the slump of your shoulders, and doesn't tell you to keep pushing. You looked similar to her mom, and that scared her. Sleep deprived, pink eyes, hungry.

“You’ve been working so hard,” She murmured, “For so long. And I know you want to do well. I know how much this matters to you.”

You clench your jaw. Your throat burns. Your ears ring...

“But you don’t have to break yourself for it,” She said softly. “You’re allowed to rest. You’re allowed to not be perfect.”

Your eyes sting and you looked away. “I don’t want to let anyone down..."

“You haven’t,” She said almost immediately “You never have.” She reached for your hand, hesitant, gentle. “You’re more than your grades. More than your work. You’re you. And I love that version, even when she’s tired.”

Your breath hitches. And you feel yourself fall forward into her arms, into that warm, steady comfort. "I don't want to burden you with whatever mess I'm dealing with." You muttered, "You don't have to do this..."

"But I want to."

Tyler doesn’t say he’s proud and he acts like it’s no big deal. But if anyone else tries to mess with you? He’s immediately feral. He cares deeply, he’s just emotionally allergic to sincerity since he couldn't express his emotions in his childhood.

He’s lowkey checking your quiz for fun later and smiling at your notes like a dork I swear it's almost insane how much Taylor teases him for it. He buys you snacks but pretends they’re extras. (He 100% bought it for you.)

You’re just… Sitting on the floor of your room, surrounded by the shreds of what used to be your schedule and a quiz you didn’t ace. Your hands are shaking. Your vision won’t focus.

It’s quiet... You always hated the quiet whenever you were feeling like this. Until it isn’t and the door swings open a little too fast. “What the hell?”

Tyler’s in the doorway, wide-eyed, holding a bottle of water and a half-baked excuse to check on you. But one look at you on the floor, burned out and blinking too fast, and something in his chest cracks.

“You… You okay?”

The words wouldn’t come. Just silence. And guilt. And the echo of a voice inside your that said, You should be doing more.

He runs a hand through his hair, visibly flustered. “Stupid question. Of course you’re not okay.”

You try to say something, anything, but your throat tightens. He steps closer, then hesitates. “Can I... Sit?” You nod.

Tyler drops to the floor next to you like it’s foreign territory. Like he doesn’t know how to do this. Well, he does, he's done this a lot with his mom and his sister but not with a person he likes...

“You missed one question on a test,” He says finally. “That’s not the end of the world.”

“It wasn’t just the quiz. I feel like… I..." You groan, shoving your face into your hands, "It's like every time I’m one mistake away from everything falling apart.”

He goes quiet and you hate it. You'd rather have him leave than watch you fall apart...

“You’re not a robot, you know.” You blink. “I mean—hell, I know you act like one, with your eight million study guides and your color-coded pens and your encyclopedic brain... But you’re still human. You’re allowed to mess up.”

You don’t respond.

“...It actually kind of freaks me out when you push yourself like this. I know you're brilliant, but even you have limits.” He clears his throat, looking away from you. “And it sucks seeing you like this. I like it better when you're yelling at me for distracting you instead of… Looking like the weight of the universe is on your back.”

You look up at him and he rubs the back of his neck. “…I’m really bad at this.”

“Yeah,” You say softly., turning to look at your notes, “But thanks.”

He shrugs, eyes flicking to your hands. “Here.” He reaches into his hoodie and pulls out a bag of chips, “It’s not much, but… you gotta eat. And drink some water, or I’m calling Taylor to deal with this mess.”

You smile, looking at him before taking the snack, "... Thanks... I guess."

If you forget to eat? Ben will slide a sandwich beside you, no words, just a soft tap to get your attention. He'll offer you his hoodie when you're up too late in the library, draping it over your shoulders and giving a little shrug like “You need it more.”

When someone (Barron) makes a snide comment about you “trying too hard”? He doesn't speak but his glare says it all. He smiles when you talk about things you're passionate about, nodding along and reassuring you when you doubt yourself.

You don't know when your breathing got so shallow. Everything’s buzzing. Not in your head but your whole body. Your fingers hurt from writing. Your back aches. There are sticky notes on your arm.

And you don’t remember the last thing you ate. Or slept. Or felt.

You’re sitting on the floor of your room, surrounded by torn-up flashcards and an unfinished practice test. Your laptop is still open, the screen blinking like it’s taunting you.

Your thoughts began to drag, thick and sluggish, like trying to run underwater. And for the first time in a while, the thought hits you: I can’t do this. You've never felt that way before. Never... Never been so helpless...

That’s when the knock comes. Soft. Barely there. You don’t answer but the door creaks open anyway and Ben steps inside. Quiet as always. He freezes when he sees you, red-eyed, shaking, barely holding it together.

You don’t speak. Neither does he.

But then he’s kneeling in front of you. And gently, carefully, he places something in your lap. A folded piece of paper. His handwriting.

You can let yourself have a break.

Your lip quivers and your vision blurs and when your body finally gives in, you lean forward and he catches you before you can fall too far.

Ben's arms wrap around you like he’s done this before. His hand traces grounding circles across your back. He doesn’t speak. He doesn’t need to.

When your tears start to fall, he wipes them away with soft fingers. You don’t even realize you’re shaking until he cups your hand in his, squeezing gently. And then, slowly, he pulls out one more note. You unfold it.

You’re not just brilliant when you’re winning.You’re brilliant just for being here.

[waitingandwishing]

reblog if you’re okay with people writing fanfics of your fanfics and/or fanfics inspired by your fanfics