bia !

You hear him before you see him—always the same: the hurried shuffle of too-big shoes, the frantic slam of a shoulder against the swinging glass door, and the apologetic murmur of “Morning” that barely beats out the time clock.

You don’t even look up from your monitor. “It’s 9:47.”

Sunghoon wheezes into his cubicle—which, of course, is right next to yours. His tie is crooked, his glasses fogged, and his hair’s got a single, infuriatingly perfect curl bouncing on his forehead like it was placed there by angels. 

“Yeah,” He huffs. “Sorry. There was traffic.”

There’s always traffic in Metropolis. But that excuse is wearing thin, especially when he is the only one in the building who acts like he has to physically leap over it. 

You finally glance up, deadpan. “You know who else got stuck in traffic today? Me. Chaewon. The kid from copy who literally rides a unicycle to work. We all still made it to work on time.”

He runs a hand through his hair and smiles sheepishly, like that’s supposed to mean something. And somehow, it always does—with everyone else. Chaewon laughs it off. Riki yells, but only half-heartedly. Even Jake calls him “Jeolla” like it’s an inside joke and not an indictment of his hometown and somehow his incompetence. 

But you?

You are not charmed.

You’re Gotham born and bred. You’ve filed stories from under police tape, from fire escapes, from alleys where the blood was still wet. You didn’t claw your way out of that city just to share a byline with a man who treats deadlines like vague suggestions and shows up to work looking like he just wrestled a tornado.

Again!

“You’ve been late every day this week, Park,” You mutter, turning back to your monitor. “If you’re aiming for a record, congrats. You’re winning.”

He’s quiet for a beat. You think you’ve shut him up, finally. But then—“I’ve never really been good at winning things,” He says softly, almost like he’s talking to himself. 

You glance at him from the corner of your eye. There’s something about the way he says it, not pathetic. Just… strange. Like maybe he means something bigger. You almost ask. 

Almost.

Instead, you scoff and shake your head. “Try winning a Pulitzer. Might help your case.”

He grins again, that irritating, dimpled grin, and unpacks his bag like he didn’t walk in almost an hour later. You hate that he’s always late. You hate that nobody seems to care. You hate that he never has a good excuse, but still somehow gets away with it.

And most of all?

You hate that you’re starting to care enough to notice.

2 ── You hate his "aw shucks" act.

If Park Sunghoon’s lateness is a thorn in your side, then his personality is the knife twisting next to it. 

Not that it’s a bad personality, exactly. That’s the problem. On paper, he’s the perfect coworker—polite, humble, well-liked by every living soul in the building. He holds elevators. He offers to do coffee runs even when it’s pouring. He once helped Heeseung from Archives fix the jammed printer with nothing but a safety pin and a hopeful smile.

People adore him. They smile when he walks into the room. Laugh at his dumb jokes. Trust him. 

You do not.

Because you’ve been watching. You’ve been taking mental notes since week two. That “aw shucks, I’m just a small-town guy from Jeolla” routine is too well rehearsed. No one is that gentle and that oblivious. No one stammers through meetings and then turns in a perfect copy by the end of the day. No one is that clumsy—spilling coffee, tripping over wires—and yet somehow always lands on their feet.

You didn’t come from Gotham to fall for the world’s oldest trick.

So when he chuckles nervously after Chaewon slaps him on the back for landing a quote from the Steel Syndicate leader—a quote you had been chasing for a week—you grit your teeth and mutter:

“Oh, give me a break!”

Sunghoon turns to you, blinking. “Sorry?”

You don’t bother to fake it. “You play the ‘golly gee’ routine, but you’re sharper than you act. And frankly, it’s annoying.”

His brows knit behind his glasses. “I’m not acting.”

You arch an eyebrow. “Right. You just accidentally out-interviewed me and walked away with the best lead we’ve had all quarter.”

He laughs, scratching the back of his neck, all bashful. “I really wasn't trying to one-up you. I just—I guess he liked me?”

You scoff. “Of course he did,” You mumble. “Everyone does. Must be the charm of your down-home, butter-wouldn’t-melt-bullshit!”

“I’m from Jeolla, not Nebraska,” He says, like that explains everything.

You lean forward across your desk, voice low. “I’ve met people from Jeolla. They don’t act like they’ve never heard someone curse before.”

Sunghoon shrinks back slightly, like your words sting, but there’s a twitch of something else in his eyes—like he’s fighting a smile.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you curse,” He offers gently.

You narrow your eyes. “I save it for when I’m alone. Or keep it in my head. Like right now, for example. Internally? It’s a full symphony of four-letter words.”

He snorts, an actual snort, then claps a hand over his mouth like he’s embarrassed by it. That’s when you realize something terrifying. He’s not pretending to be harmless.

He is harmless.

And that somehow makes it worse.

Because no one is harmless in this job. Not in journalism. Not in Metropolis. Especially not if they’re good at it. And Sunghoon? Despite the dopey smile, the apologies, the way he trips over every desk in the bullpen. Sunghoon is very good at it.

You hate that his small town bullshit works. You hate that it makes people underestimate him. You hate that it almost worked on you. But the worst part? You’re starting to realize it’s not an act. It’s who he is.

And that makes you want to scream.

3 ── You hate how he somehow always gets the exclusive.

There’s something sacred about how the word exclusive in a newsroom. It’s the holy grail—the thing that earns you front pages, corner offices, Pulitzers. You’ve chased exclusives down back alleys, stayed on hold for eons, bribed a coffee-stained secretary with two croissants and a MetroCard just to get one measly quote from a crooked city councilman

But somehow, Park Sunghoon just gets them.

Every. Fucking. Time.

He never brags. That would at least make him bearable. He just shows up—late, of course—shrugs off his coat, and drops a crisp interview transcript on Riki’s desk like he tripped over it on the sidewalk.

It’s infuriating.

You first noticed it during the Union Square train derailment. Superman was spotted hauling survivors out of the wreckage. No reporters got near him. Police kept everyone back. Even Chaewon couldn’t get close. And she's Chaewon!

But the next morning?

There it was: Superman Speaks on Metropolis Disaster by Park Sunghoon.

You stared at the byline like it had personally offended you. Your fingers hovered over your keyboard as you read the quote—exclusive, lengthy, insightful. Too insightful.

“He said that?” You asked Sunghoon across the bullpen.

Sunghoon blinked. “Uh, yeah. He flew by while I was walking back from a source.”

You narrowed your eyes. “And what, he just… pulled you into the sky for a heart-to-heart?”

Sunghoon smiled, bashful. “We’ve talked a few times.”

You nearly choked on your burnt coffee.

A few times?

Since then, it’s been quote after quote. Superman says this. Superman warns that. Every piece is conveniently labeled “as told to Park Sunghoon.” You’ve pitched a dozen stories with solid leads, real impact, and Riki still passes them over in favor of Sunghoon’s Superman exclusives.

You’ve tried to ask how he does it. Casually. Aggressively. Once while both of you were on a stakeout at a warehouse near Suicide Slums, you even offered him your last protein bar if he’d just tell you how the hell he keeps finding Superman.

Sunghoon just smiled. That soft, maddeningly patient smile, and said, “I think he trusts me.”

Trusts him.

Like Superman sits around rating journalists on a Yelp scale.

You stare across the bullpen now, watching Sunghoon quietly type something into his terminal. He looks like a librarian. One of those sleepy, gentle ones who offer you a tissue when you cry reading To Kill a Mockingbird. 

And yet somehow, he gets the hero in blue to spill his guts.

You hate it.

You hate that it makes you question your own work. You hate that you keep looking for the cracks in his story, the thing that explains how he’s doing this. You’ve doubled-checked timestamps. Scrubbed security footage. Asked sources. Nothing adds up. 

No one sees Sunghoon talking to Superman.

And yet Sunghoon knows things. Small details. Direct quotes. Reassurances Superman has never given anyone else.

You lean back in your chair and stare at the ceiling. Either Park Sunghoon is the luckiest man in Metropolis… or he’s hiding something.

And you don’t believe in luck.

4 ── You hate that he doesn't talk shit.

Newsrooms run on gossip.

That’s just a fact.

You don’t survive in this field—not in this city—without learning to weaponise information. It’s part of the culture. You swap barbs while the coffee brews, trade snark over late-night edits, hurl critiques and conspiracies like dodgeballs. Everyone does it. It keeps you sane. Keeps you sharp.

Except Sunghoon.

Sunghoon doesn’t talk shit.

At first, you assumed it was a tactic. A kind of passive power play, let everyone else tear each other down while he keeps his hands clean and his halo polished. You even waited for him to crack. Made space for it.

Chaewon stormed past your desks muttering, “If I have to rewrite one more of Franklin’s clickbait trash, I swear to God—” and you turned to Sunghoon, ready.

Nothing.

He just said, “Franklin’s trying to juggle two kids and night school. He’s doing the best he can.”

You blinked. “That’s your take? Really?”

Sunghoon smiled, easy. “Well, it’s not like yelling about it helps.”

You stared at him for a full beat, then scoffed. “Wow. How do you make ‘reasonable’ sound so smug?”

He laughed. Not mocking. Not defensive. Just… amused.

It keeps happening.

Gina in Copy fakes sick twice in one week to go see her boyfriend in Coast City. Nobody buys it. You expect Sunghoon to at least comment. Something gentle, like “Must be nice to have a love life” but he just covers her calls without being asked.

When Jungwon blows a quote in a city council interview, you hear three people mutter about it near the break room. Sunghoon hears too. You watch his eyes flick in that direction, but he doesn’t engage. He just brings Jungwon a coffee the next morning with no explanation.

You don’t get it.

You’ve worked with assholes and saints and everything in between. But there’s always a crack. A vent. A gripe. A single “Jesus Christ, can you believe this guy?” at happy hour.

Sunghoon? He smiles, he listens. He takes the fall for other people's mistakes, and never once asks for anything in return.

It’s not that he’s quiet. He barks. He just doesn’t bite. 

You should hate it. Actually, no, you do hate it.

Because it makes you feel mean. Makes you feel like every time you roll your eyes or mutter something under your breath, you’re the one slinging mud at a guy who just… doesn’t throw it back.

He’s not better than you. That’s what you tell yourself. He’s not better. He’s just boring. But that’s not true, is it?

Because when Carol’s mom lands in the hospital, he’s the one who quietly organizes a grocery drop-off.

When Riki has a meltdown over a typo in the Sunday headline, Sunghoon doesn’t flinch. He just calmly fixes it. Compliments the new intern’s formatting, and reminds Riki to breathe.

When you come in one morning with three hours of sleep and that coil, pre-caffeine snarl already at your lips, he places a black coffee on your desk without saying a word.

You hate how it makes your chest tighten.

You hate that he makes kindness look easy—not loud or performative or fake, just… part of him.

You hate that you’re starting to notice how often his eyes go soft when someone’s having a bad day.

You hate how your shoulders drop just a little when he walks in.

You hate how, for all the ways he frustrates you, he never gives you a real reason to hate him back.

You tap your pen against your notebook and glances at him—across the bullpen, bent over his desk, tie askew, glasses sliding down, that same stupid curl on his forehead. He’s reading something, mouth twitching like he might laugh, and you watch him longer than you mean to.

You shake yourself.

No.

This is just a strategy. Observation. Knowing your competition. It’s not softness. It’s not a crush. It’s not a slow-burn, late-blooming kind of fondness, the kind that sneaks up on you when you’re too tired to fight it.

It’s not.

You just hate that he doesn’t talk shit. That’s all.

5 ── You hate how he remembers everything you say.

You’re not the type of person who expects people to remember things.

You’ve had too many conversations die halfway through a sentence. Too many men nod politely, only to ask you the same question a week later like they never heard your answer the first time. You’ve learned to file your words under ‘for now’—disposable, temporary, forgettable.

Park Sunghoon doesn’t see it that way.

You noticed it during your first lunch break, maybe two weeks in. You’d been ranting—venting, truly—about how every salad in Metropolis comes pre-drenching in some sort of smug artisanal vinaigrette. You weren’t even talking to him. Just muttering to yourself while stabbing a piece of limp kale in the breakroom.

The next day, he passed you a plain turkey sandwich from the deli on 6th and said, “They don’t just dressing unless you ask. Though you might like it.”

You blinked at him

“You remembered that?” You asked, caught off guard.

Sunghoon shrugged with a smile. “You seemed passionate.”

You were half convinced it was a fluke. But it wasn’t.

Because the pattern kept happening.

You mentioned once—once—that your favorite weather is when it rains but the sun’s still out. A week later, during one of those golden, misty drizzles, he caught up to you on the steps and said, “Looks like your kind of day, huh?”

You told him offhandedly that your least favorite movie trope is the girl tripping while running. Three nights later, you passed each other in the hallways after working late, and he asked if you’d seen the new action flick in theaters. “No tripping heroines, I promise.”

You said that once your dad used to call you ‘kid’ and that no one’s used the word since.

He’s never called you that. But you catch him hesitating once. Mid-sentence. Like it’s on the tip of his tongue, but he swallows it.

You don’t know how to feel about that.

Because you never asked him to remember. You never wanted him to.

You’ve known people who remember birthdays because Facebook reminds them. Or likes and dislikes so they can use them later. But Sunghoon? He never uses it. He just stores it. Quietly. Thoughtfully. Like your words matter. Like they’re puzzle pieces he’s collecting, not to solve you, but to understand you.

And maybe that’s what bothers you most.

Because no one’s ever tried to understand you.

Not really.

Gotham trained you to guard your secrets with blood. To keep your walls high, your smile sarcastic, your stories brief and impersonal. But Sunghoon listens like he’s trying to paint a picture of you in his head, one brushstroke at a time.

And you despise it.

You hate that it makes you feel seen. 

You hate that it makes you feel real.

You hate that it makes you wonder how much you’ve remembered about him.

You glance at his desk. Same stupid Superman bobblehead he swore he didn’t buy himself. Same chipped I Heart Korea mug. Same pair of extra reading glasses tucked into the drawer, just in case.

You remember that he doesn’t like spicy food. That he uses semicolons like they’re going out of style. That he hums the theme from Star Wars when he’s writing something he’s proud of.

You remember way too much.

So maybe you don’t hate that he remembers everything you say. Maybe you hate that you’ve started doing it too.

6 ── You hate that he looks at you like he sees you.

There’s a kind of look people give you when they think they know who you are.

Back in Gotham, it was always the same—calculating, wary, sometimes impressed. You were the youngest on the crime desk, the loudest in the pitch room, the one with the sharpest elbows and the thinnest armor. People look at you like a problem to solve or a rival to beat.

But that’s not how Sunghoon looks at you. He looks at you like you’re someone. Not a headline. Not a byline. Not the girl from Gotham with a chip on her shoulder and a pen like a scalpel.

Just you.

And it drives you batshit crazy.

Because it’s not just in meetings, when you sneak up and catch his gaze across the table—it’s in the little moments. When you’re half-asleep at your desk and he walks by with a fresh coffee. When you’re biting your tongue in an argument and he gives you a look like he already knows what you want to say. When you laugh—really laugh—and you see him watching like it’s a rare event he doesn’t want to interrupt.

It’s too much. Too soft. Too honest. You don’t want to be known like that. Not by him. Not by anyone.

But he keeps doing it. Like it’s effortless. Like seeing you, the real you, the messy and angry and guarded parts is just what happens when he looks at someone.

And you hate that you notice it. And you hate that some small, quiet part of you never wants him to stop.

7 ── You hate how nervous he makes you feel.

You’re not nervous around people.

You’ve been yelled at by corrupt mayors. Cornered by gang members for writing the wrong names in the right story. You’ve told a Gotham crime boss to spell his name correctly if he wants to be quoted. You know how to stand your ground, spine straight, heart steady.

But Sunghoon makes you so nervous that you might shit your pants.

Not in the usual nervous way—not in the way bad people do. He doesn’t threaten or belittle or hover too close. No, Sunghoon stands a respectful distance away and still somehow manages to get under your skin. He fidgets when you talk. He laughs at your sarcasm. He listens like he’s memorizing you on purpose. 

And lately… you’ve been messing things up.

You dropped your pen the other day. Three times. In one meeting.

You forgot what you were saying mid-sentence when he looked at you—just looked at you—like the whole room had gone quiet except for you.

You called him Sunghoon and it came out soft, almost breathless, and it startled you. Like your mouth knew something your brain just hadn’t caught up with yet.

When you brushed against him near the elevator, shoulder to shoulder, your pulse stuttered. Not fear. Not irritation. Something else. Then it hit you.

You like him.

God, you like him.

You like his stupid glasses and his kind eyes and the way he always holds the door for people even when they don't say thank you. You like the way he scribbles notes in the margins of his reporter’s notebook and the way he lights up when someone says the words human interest. You like that he takes his job seriously without ever acting like he’s the smartest man in the room.

You like that he’s good. You trust him. And that might scare you more than anything else on this planet.

You hate that he makes you nervous, because it means your guard is down. And you never let your guard down. Especially not for someone like him. Especially not when he might possibly, slightly, maybe, feel the same way.

Because if he does.. if he does… you’re not sure what happens now.

8 ── You hate that he's Superman.

You almost died today.

Not in the dramatic, flashing-lights-before-your-eyes kind of way. More like sudden and sharp. One second, you were walking past LexCorp Tower with a coffee in hand. The next, the sky cracked open with a sound like the earth tearing apart, and something enormous. A ship? A drone? It spiraled out of control and straight into the street.

You didn’t scream. Not at first. Your body froze instead, the kind of instinct that Gotham should’ve removed. Get big, get loud. Scare the monster away from you.

But flight or fight invited a friend to the party. Fawn. And she told you not to move a muscle. To get small. Get still. And pray to Jesus of Nazareth that the monster passes.

It didn’t.

It was coming right for you.

And then, just like every headline you’d ever written about him, Superman was there.

He was a blur at first. Then red. Then blue. Then everything stopped. The drone crumpled against the pavement thirty feet away, a crater the size of a bus sinking into the asphalt. Wind whipped around you, debris in your hair, your coffee exploded on the ground. And in the center of it all, standing perfectly fine like the chaos had bent around him on purpose—

Him. 

Superman.

He turned to you, eyes impossibly soft for someone who could tear steel apart with his bare hands. “Are you hurt?”

You nodded dumbly. Maybe you shook your head. You don’t remember. Your voice wasn’t working.

He gave you a smile, the kind that should’ve made you feel safe. It did. But it also unsettled something deep in your chest. Almost like recognition.

He took off again in a gust of air and cape and godlike power, and you stood there shaking, your hands empty.

That night, you sat cross-legged on your couch with the local news running in the background, half-heartedly typing notes for tomorrow’s article. You watched grainy footage of Superman returning a flaming car to the street like it was a paper toy. You watched people cheering, waving, chanting his name.

You knew he was a hero. You knew he’d saved countless lives. But seeing him up close? Feeling the air shift around him, the sheer weight of him?

It rattled you.

And yet, what kept circling in your brain wasn’t just the blur of the cape or the force of the landing. It was his eyes.

The way he looked at you.

Like he knew you. Like he saw you.

And then your fingers stopped moving.

Because you’d seen that look before.

Early this week. At the Daily Planet. In the elevator, when you’d complained about the vending machine eating your dollar. 

Sunghoon had looked at you like that.

You stared at the paused frame on your screen. Superman mid-turn, mid-expression.

You grabbed your phone, opened the gallery. A photo Jungwon had taken at Chaewon’s birthday last month. Sunghoon, standing beside you with that same crooked smile. Same jawline. Same posture.

Your heart sank.

No.

You looked again. 

You zoomed in.

And all at once, every thing—every late arrival, every exclusive quote, every ‘You okay?’ after a tremor, every ‘How did he know?’—every moment fell into place like puzzle pieces you’d been too close to see. 

Park Sunghoon is Superman.

You sat there frozen, blinking at the screen as a sick kind of heat spread through your chest. You hate that he’s Superman.

Not because he’s dangerous. Not because he lied—though God, he did.

You hate it because you were just starting to fall for Sunghoon. Sweet, awkward, late-to-everything Sunghoon. Now you’re not sure where Sunghoon ends and Superman begins.

And worst of all? You’re not sure which one of them you’re in love with.

9 ── You hate how he touches you.

You told yourself it was for the story.

That inviting Sunghoon over to your apartment—late, after deadline, with a six-pack in the fridge and the lights dimmed just enough to feel casual—was a journalistic strategy. You even made a notepad with scribbled questions, highlighted sources in your phone, and pulled up three articles from the Planet’s archive as “references.”

But deep down, you knew exactly what you were doing.

Sunghoon knocked once. Polite. Timid. He always knocked like he didn’t want to disturb you, even when he had to enter the bullpen three minutes before a press conference with ink on his tie. You opened the door and didn’t let yourself look too long at the way his glasses slid down his nose or how the sleeves of his white button-down were rolled to his forearms.

He stepped in, soft-voiced as ever. “You said you needed help with something?”

“An article,” You said, breezy. “About Superman.”

And God, you said his name like a test.

Sunghoon blinked. Just once. Just barely. But you caught it.

You offered him a beer. You talked. You took notes on nothing. And he sat there—not relaxed, exactly, but trying to act like he was. He always had this charming nervousness to him. But now that you knew—knew—it wasn’t nerves. It was restraint. It was a man constantly folding himself into something smaller to pass unnoticed.

You kept waiting for him to lie.

He didn’t.

So you forced his hand.

You said it like it didn’t cost you anything: “You’re Superman.”

Silence. Stillness. The longest pause you’d ever heard.

He didn’t deny it.

He didn’t laugh it off.

He just looked at you.

And it was like the air in the room shifted. Something cracked open between you. Not hostile. Not afraid. Just honest.

“You’ve known?” He asked quietly.

“I figured it out after the LexCorp thing. The way you looked at me.”

He closed his eyes. Like he was trying to protect you from something—or maybe protect himself from what he already knew was coming next.

“I never meant to lie,” He said. “Not to you.”

“But you did,” You replied. “Every day.”

And you should’ve been furious. You should’ve thrown him out. Written the article. Exposed everything. But you didn’t.

Because all you could think about was the way he looked at you in the cratered street. The way he always hovered a second longer when your hands brushed. The way he saw you—really saw you—even before you ever knew who he was.

And the way he touched you now, when he reached across the table to cover your hand with his own—gentle, grounding, warm.

You hated it.

You hated the way the contact burned up your arm and across your chest like he’d set your blood alight. You hated how steady it felt, how calm, how wanted. You hated the way it made you lean in, just slightly, like gravity was tugging you toward him.

“You’re mad,” He said.

“I should be.”

He swallowed. “Are you?”

You looked at him—really looked—and saw all of it. The weight of two lives. The softness behind the cape. The man who brought you coffee when you were hungover. The man who pulled a collapsing building off a school bus.

Park Sunghoon. Superman. Both. All.

And you hated that he made you feel like this. Hated the way his fingers curled around yours like he’d been waiting to do it for months. Hated that your heart was pounding so loud you were afraid he could hear it.

You stood.

He stood too.

You should’ve said something. Pulled back. Cut it off.

But when he stepped forward, eyes locked on yours—when he hesitated, like he needed your permission—and when you didn’t stop him—

His mouth met yours, and the world dropped out.

You hated the way it made you forget every single reason you were supposed to hate him. Hated the way his hands were patient, reverent, like he was memorizing the shape of you. Hated the way you melted into him like you’d done this a thousand times in another life.

You hated the sound you made when he pressed you gently against the wall. Hated the tremble in your breath when his lips found the spot just beneath your jaw. Hated how badly you wanted him—and not just the cape. Not just the secret.

Him.

Sunghoon.

You pulled him closer.

And in that moment, you didn’t hate anything at all.

You didn’t mean for it to go this far. You meant to confront him. To unearth the truth. To hold him accountable. 

But now his hands are at your waist—warm, grounding, familiar—and he’s kissing you like he’s spent decades thinking about it. Like he’s imagined it in quiet mornings between bylines and burning buildings. Like it’s the one indulgence he never allowed himself to have.

Your fingers twist in the fabric of his shirt. “Tell me to stop,” He breathes against your skin. You don’t. Because you’ve wanted this. Hated how much you’ve wanted this.

Not just tonight. Not just since he walked through your apartment door with that bashful smile and that stupid, careful politeness like he didn’t have a goddamn clue you were about to wreck both of your lives.

No, you’ve wanted this since the second week at the Planet. And you’ve finally got it.

You fist his shirt and push him back against the wall, chest heaving, and when he looks at you with wide eyes and his lips parted, looking so vulnerable in a way that makes your throat ache, something inside of you snaps.

“You’re such a fucking liar.”

His breath stutters. “I didn’t want to—”

You cut him off with your mouth.

And that’s all it takes.

The kiss is desperate. Messy. Teeth knocking, breath uneven. His hands roam over you like he’s been starving for it, like he’s been dreaming about this for years. One palm slides up your back, the other fists in your hair, and you moan against his lips before biting down, just enough to make him groan.

You push him toward the bedroom.

He lets you.

You straddle him the second he hits the bed, pressing your hips down until you feel him twitching beneath his slacks, already hard, already straining. You grind slowly, deliberately, and his head drops back with a strangled sound.

You kiss him again, slower this time. Meaner. Like a punishment. Like retribution for every late arrival, every Superman scoop, every time he looked at you like you hung the fucking moon.

When you break away, you lean down, your mouth brushing his ear. “I hate you.”

His breath catches. His grip on your hips tightens.

“I hate how soft you pretend to be. I had that stupid fucking ‘golly gee’ act like you’re not hiding the most dangerous secret in the world. I hate you.”

“God,” He breathes, almost broken. “Say it again.”

“I hate you, Sunghoon.”

And then his hands are everywhere.

He rolls you over, yanking your shirt off so fast the fabric nearly rips. His mouth crashed to your neck, trailing heat down your collarbone, between your breasts, across your ribs. When he pulls back to look at you, there’s something primal in his gaze. Starved. Worshipful.

“Tell me where you want me,” He rasps.

You lean up on your elbows. “You’re Superman. Figure it out.”

His growl vibrates through your chest before he drops to his knees at the edge of the bed, dragging your pants down your thighs. He doesn’t stop to tease. Doesn’t play coy.

His mouth is on you in seconds.

Hot. Wet. Perfect.

You cry out, hips jerking, but his hands grip your thighs and hold you down, unmovable. His tongue flicks in tight, devastating circles, and then he flattens it. Slow and deliberate, until your eyes roll back in your head.

“Fuck—Sunghoon—”

He moans against you, like the sound of his name falling from your lips is the only thing he’s ever wanted.

Your fingers tangle in his hair. “I hate this. I hate how good you are at this.”

He groans again, deeper, louder. You feel him rutting slightly against the mattress like he’s getting off just from tasting you. The thought makes you whine. It’s almost unfair how good he is at this. Like he’s memorized you.

He finds your clit again, circles it with obscene precision, and you arch off the mattress with a sharp gasp.

“You’re close,” He whispers against you. “I can feel it.”

“I’m going to kill you,” You pant.

“I’ll die happy.”

Your orgasm hits like a wave crashing through you, hot and heavy and blinding, You cry out, sharp and breathless, thighs trembling around his head. Sunghoon doesn’t stop. He licks you through it, soft and reverent. Like he wants to savor every second.

You look down at him, wrecked and panting. “I still hate you,” You manage.

He grins, a real one this time, crooked and infuriatingly gorgeous. “Good,” he says. “Then you’ll hate this even more.”

And just like that, he’s crawling back up your body, slotting himself between your legs, the head of his clothes cock nudging against your soaked entrance.

And he’s still hard. Rock fucking hard.

You blink. “Jesus Christ.”

He pulls his pants and boxers down as his smile widens. “Not quite.”

You punch his arm. He laughs, but the sound dies quickly when he lines himself up and pushes in, slow and smooth, inch by inch. You both groan. You clench around him instinctively, and his jaw locks.

“You feel—fuck. Better than I dreamed.”

“You dreamed about this?”

He leans in, kisses you hard. “Every night.”

You’re still trembling from the first wave when Sunghoon pulls back just enough to look at you, eyes dark, pupils blown wide like he;s been holding back an entire storm.

You arch up into his hands, desperate and aching. His lips descend again. This time with hungry insistence, sucking bruises into your skin—neck, collarbone—a map of possession in deep, dark purples. You try to catch your breath but he pins your arms above your head with one hand, the other trailing fire down your ribs, across your stomach.

“Don’t move,” he commands, voice trembling like it’s torture holding himself back.

His mouth covers yours again, hot and insistent, teeth grazing your bottom lip as his fingers move faster inside you. He kisses and sucks at your neck, marking you like he’s carving your name into his skin. 

You shiver, heart pounding as he works your shirt off you, fingertips trailing across your ribs once more. He’s relentless, and you wouldn’t have it any other way. You’re gasping, trembling under the weight of his touch. You’re still sensitive from the last orgasm he coaxed out of you, be he’s not done. Not even close.

His hands tremble as he touches you. The way he looks at you now—wide eyes, desperate, like he’s about to break—makes something wild flare inside you.

He’s not the untouchable hero tonight. He’s yours. And you own every inch of him.

You kiss him hard, biting his lower lip as you maneuver the both of you until he’s on his back and you’re on top of him. His skin is impossibly warm under your touch, slick with heat and desire.

Sunghoon’s breathing is ragged, his chest rising and falling quickly. He presses himself against you, hands tangled in your hair, holding you close like he’s afraid to let go.

You take control, guiding him down until he’s lying back, breathless and vulnerable. You straddle him, sliding your heat against his ache. His hands cup your hips, trembling, and he whimpers softly as you begin to move.

“Fuck,” he groans, voice thick with need. “So good… God, you’re so good…”

His eyes squeeze shut, mouth falling open, exposing raw, desperate pleasure. He’s never been like this, the strong and invincible Superman, not when it comes to you.

He whines when you shift, when you grind, when you tease that sensitive spot that makes him arch into you, hips jerking uncontrollably. Then you sink down onto him.

“Please, don’t stop,” He begs, voice breathy and broken. 

Your hands slide over his chest, feeling the rapid thumb of his heart beneath your palms. He’s lost, undone, and it’s yours to keep. You ride him slowly, building, driving him higher, feeling every shiver and gasp as his pleasure months.

He whimpers your name over and over, voice cracked and raw. “More.” He begs, fingers clutching your hips tighter. You give it to him.

Faster now. Harder. The room fills with the sound of skin sliding, ragged breaths, and his desperate, needy whimpers. When he comes, it’s shuddering and loud—hips bucking wildly, mouth open in a ragged cry. 

You collapse against him, breathless, hearts pounding together in a thunderous rhythm. He pulls you close, lips brushing your hair, whispering your name like a prayer. And you hate that you don’t want this to end.

10 ── You hate that you love him.

You told yourself it wasn’t possible.

Not with Park Sunghoon—Mr. Always-Late, Mr. Aw‑Shucks, Mr. Exclusive‑Scoop Superman. The man who made you roll your eyes before you even opened his email. The man who kept secrets that could’ve rewritten your career. The man you once swore you'd never let in.

And now you’re waking up tangled in his arms, back pressed against his chest, his breath warm against your neck. He’s asleep—still shirtless, still soft beneath the weighted duvet like he’s the one who needs comfort, not the other way around. Your mind whips through all the reasons you shouldn’t feel this calm. This safe. This full.

You hate him.

You hate how he made you laugh at that stupid coffee joke you said while complaining about the crime desk. You hate how he trails kisses along your eyelids when you’re half-awake just to check if you're really real. You hate that he’s Superman—because knowing he could see the world in one blink, yet he chooses to stay here, beside you… it almost hurts.

You roll over carefully and catch his gaze.

He blinks. “Morning.” His voice is rough, like he’s just been dragged out of a dream you wish you were in too.

You raise an eyebrow. “Morning? You know you’re not even supposed to exist before 8, right?”

He grins softly, stretching, then wraps an arm around you again. “I got a day off,” He says. “Superman’s on vacation.”

Your lips twitch. “Vacation. That’s rich.”

He chuckles into your shoulder. “So you don’t mind.”

You scoot back enough to face him. “I mind that you’re gorgeous at 7 a.m. and I can't even hate you for it.”

He quirks his mouth. “Sorry.”

“Oh no, it’s fine.” You tap the bridge of his nose with a finger. “Let the world survive without Superman for one day. Let me hate you slightly less.”

He laughs, and it’s the softest thing in the room. Your chest tightens. You’ve hated him for a lot of things—his lateness, his lies, his speed-of-light heroism—but none of it compares to the strange ache of joy when he smiles at you this way.

“We should get breakfast,” He says, voice low like he’s testing gravity. “I know this place downtown that has killer cinnamon rolls.”

You sit up. Hair messy, pajamas rumpled. You cross your arms. “I hate cinnamon rolls.”

He scowls in mock horror. “No real human hates cinnamon rolls.” Then softer: “Fine. We’ll go anywhere you like.”

You narrow your eyes. “I’ve lived decades off burnt coffee and reuse foam. I don’t crave anything sweet.”

He’s thoughtful for just a beat. “Okay. Black coffee and stale bagels it is.”

A grin tugs at your lips. It’s so utterly him to tease. So… effortless. You're flooded with old habits—cynicism, sarcasm—and they feel braver than you thought.

But then his thumb brushes gently over your hand. And underneath the banter you suddenly realize how loud your heart is.

You clear your throat. “But seriously—I still hate you.” You lie.

He stills beside you. A small smile covers his face.Heartbeat thunders under his palm. “You know,” he says quietly, voice cracking just a little, “I hate how worried I get when you pull investigative duty alone.”

Your gut clenches. “You’ll fly here if anything happens.”

He nods. “In five seconds.”

You stare at him. Really stare. This is not Superman breathing next to you—this is Sunghoon. Vulnerable. Human. Loving.

In that moment, all the hate evaporates.

“We’re a mess,” You laugh softly, looking away.

He brushes a strand of hair behind your ear. “Best mess I’ve ever been in.”

He kisses your temple lightly. Tender. Long. Enough that you’ve lost count of everything you should hate about him.

And you hate that this moment isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning.

taglist: @wonubug @wonwounds @seobmoji @jiumeow @kyoteas @rkvist

The plan was simple.

Ni-ki and the gang he had recently joined had been tasked with taking vengeance on a close friend of the chief of police, who’d been trying to take them down for months.

The friend who just so happened to be a rich collector with hundreds, if not thousands, of artefacts. To someone like ni-ki such things were valuable but also essentially pointless, especially when they were sitting on an old, wealthy man’s shelf. They’d be of much better use in his grasp.

The plan goes as follows: sneak in through the supposed ‘weak spot’, then head for the office, take what’s most valuable and leave before anyone could notice they were ever there.

Sounded easy but also eventful which was rather exciting for ni-ki in particular. He’d only recently joined this gang so this would be his first time with enough status to actually be trusted to go out and do something for once. This was his chance to get a good reputation on the others.

When the time finally rolls around for the heist, ni-ki and his other members pile into their van, the designated getaway vehicle. He’s practically bouncing up and down with excitement as he slides into his seat beside Jake.

“Jeez man, a simple heist surely cannot have you like this. You wouldn’t survive some of the other shit we’ve pulled,” Jake says, shaking his head.

“Hey!! God forbid I’m glad I actually get to do something,” ni-ki defends. “Besides I’m sure you would’ve been like this on your first time.”

Jake scoffs, “Nope. Unlike you I had some dignity and didn’t look like I was going to lose my mind over stealing a few collectibles. Also don’t get your hopes up, sure you’re here but you probably won’t be doing anything interesting.”

Ni-ki rolls his eyes dramatically, “Just you wait bro. I’m gonna prove you all wronggg…”

Heeseung turns around from the driver's seat. “I swear to god if the two of you don’t stop bickering I will crash this car before we can even get there.”

That shuts the both of them up. Crashing meant a failed heist which also meant no payout and without pay what really was the point in all of this??

Eventually the car pulls up in front of a rather luxurious looking house. “Alright this is our target boys,” Heeseung briefs. “If you guys aren’t in and out within twenty minutes I will not hesitate to slam on the accelerator and leave you all here for the cops to catch.”

Everyone nods understandingly, here time was of the essence. Every other second spent in that house was adding the risk of cops showing up and catching them in the act.

Nobody needed that.

The others start moving out whilst ni-ki stays stuck there for a moment staring at the building in awe. Growing up he’d never seen anything like this ever, so he couldn’t help but to take it all in. What he and his family could’ve had.

A pang of envy hit him at whoever happens to reside in that home. What had they done to deserve this other than being rich?? Ni-ki and his family had surely worked just as hard as these people yet why couldn’t they get this sort of lifestyle??

Unfortunately, that was just how the world seemed to be. Life was unfair and he couldn’t do anything about that.

“Riki,” Jake snaps his fingers in his face, breaking him out of his mind. “You coming or what?? We’re wasting valuable seconds right now.”

Ni-ki nods slowly, finally putting his emotions behind him, “Right.”

The two of them catch up to the others who are only slightly further ahead assessing the supposed ‘weak spot’ they’d been informed of. It’s a window leading up to a room where the curtains are drawn, “Reckon we could climb up there??” Jay asks.

Sunghoon, who’s by far the strongest of the group, nods. “I’ll wait down here and give people a boost up.”

One by one they all climb up into the room labelled as the weak spot where security was lower and there were more hiding spots. However what they don’t expect to see is you lying on the bed peacefully asleep.

“Holy shit…” Jungwon whispers. “Sunoo who the fuck are these supposed ‘sources’ of yours and why are they incapable of doing anything correctly?!”

“I-I don’t know!! They never told me that this room was a bedroom let alone had someone occupying it!!”

Jay pinches the bridge of his nose, letting out an exasperated sigh. “Right well the office is only a few rooms away but still we need someone to handle…this…” he gestures to the bed where you’re still asleep.

He looks around the room as though he’s about to choose someone to assign the job to when Jake speaks up. “Ni-ki can do it.”

“What?!” Niki's voice is slightly above a whisper which earns him a few glares and shushes from the others.

Sunghoon nods in agreement with Jake, “You’re the lowest ranking here, no offence. But lowest rank means shittiest jobs so you can wait here with sleeping beauty to ensure that the mission goes smoothly.”

Before ni-ki can even try to protest again the others are already gathering the necessary equipment. “Great, just great,” Ni-ki murmurs, sliding down the wall. “First proper job and I get stuck on babysitting duty. Absolutely fucking brilliant.”

He looks over at you and sees you’ve now turned to face his direction rather than the walls. God you’re pretty. Even in sleep he can tell that, the way your eyelashes fall gracefully onto your face, how your plump lips are slightly parted with the occasional soft snore escaping them.

Even for a criminal this was unprofessional. One of the first things taught is do not catch feelings for someone you’re taking from. And here he was breaking that very same rule on his first day.

In order to distract his mind from the thought of you he decides to do a bit of snooping around. Some would call that an invasion of privacy but ni-ki’s excuse was that it was part of the job. He’d already broken into your room in the middle of the night so pretty much every line had already been crossed. Surely knowing a little more info about you wouldn’t harm anyone.

Within the first few minutes he’s probably already learnt around twenty different things about you. After all, your room makes it rather obvious to figure these things out. He’s learnt purely from looking around that you’re 18, the same age as him, you do ballet and that you adore the colour pink.

Just as he’s about to continue searching for more information, he hears a small sound coming from the bed. Turning around he sees you waking up slightly, your eyes are barely open but when they meet his they are filled with fear.

Immediately he rushes over to you, placing his large hand over your mouth to muffle any possible sounds. “Shhh…it’s okay. Go back to sleep.”

God he sounded like an idiot right now. Telling you that everything was okay as though there wasn’t a random ass man in your bedroom right now. If the same thing happened to him that would not calm him down at all.

Once he realises that this tactic is going to get him absolutely nowhere, he crouches down beside the bed so he’s level with you before speaking gently. “I’m gonna move my hand away but you have to promise me you won’t scream. Okay??”

You nod fearfully and for some reason he believed you. To him you came across as the innocent type, the type who did as they were told.

True to Niki's prediction, when he removes his hand you don’t scream. Instead you let out a small whimper that is barely audible over the sounds of the night.

This time rather he sits in silence next to the bed. He’s trying to prove to you that he’s not a threat, not something that you should be scared of. That he’s just the same as any other teenage boy except he’s just living in slightly different circumstances to the ones you’re used to.

His plan seems to work as after another few minutes of letting the silence stretch out he hears your breathing begin to become more steady, more even. Maybe you finally trust that he’s not there to harm you.

He looks down at his watch and sees there’s only seven minutes remaining for him and the others to get out of here without being ditched by Heeseung. That means there’s no doubt they were almost done with the valuables and would soon return to the room where you were currently awake. Not a good first impression.

“C-could you try fall back asleep?? The others are gonna be back soon and I don’t want you to be scared by them…”

He wants to punch himself right then and there. Obviously you couldn’t just fall straight back asleep when there was a stranger in your home.

You let out a watery laugh, “How exactly am I supposed to fall asleep in a situation l-like this??”

“If you want me to be honest I have no idea…or I could try something?? Only if you let me though…”

You nod slowly, at this point you just wanted to sleep and forget this whole interaction ever occurred. Seeing that he has your permission ni-ki places his hand on your head and starts gently brushing them through your hair. Something that had always helped his younger sister fall asleep whenever she had nightmares.

Gradually, you feel yourself begin to involuntarily relax under his touch. Sleep begins to drag you under despite your defenses being stubborn.

“That’s it sweetheart…” ni-ki murmurs, trying to help you relax even more. Not even a few seconds later you’re out like a light again when the door starts pushing open.

Ni-ki quickly pulls his hand away before any of his other members could even form an idea of what’s just happened. They walk in, hands full with bags and bags of valuables.

“How was babysitting duty ni-ki??” Jake teases.

“Fine. Still don’t even understand the point of me doing this though. She hasn’t even budged once.”

Jay tosses him a bag, “Here. Take this and let’s get out of here.”

❤︎.

The next morning you wake up having slept surprisingly well given the events of last night. You hear the sound of sirens outside instantly, you're guessing that’s a consequence of whatever the hell that boy was doing in your room last night.

You can only hope it wasn’t something atrocious given the fact he was actually rather kind. You couldn’t picture him and whoever he was with doing something hideous to harm your family. But then again, you didn’t know him at all.

Your mothers voice comes from downstairs, shouting your name over and over again. You rush down the stairs, feet padding on the wooden floor. Her expression floods with relief the second she sees you perfectly fine and unharmed.

“W-what happened??” You ask, unsure whether to be curious or fearful.

“Someone broke in and stole all your fathers collections of artefacts. The police were saying given the secure layout of the house they could’ve only gained access through your bedroom. They’re saying they want to interview you…see if you saw anything.”

You couldn’t do that. Couldn’t be forced to rat them out. Sure they might be criminals but you were also too optimistic about humanity.

“D-do you think it could wait until t-tomorrow…” you feign stress and fear. “I’m still sort of shaken up by this entire situation. Also I think I could use some time to recall any key information…

Your mum gives you a sympathetic look, “I’ll have to have a word with the captain but I think that should be fine my dear. Now you should try to go get ready for school…it’s difficult to comprehend that all this happened but we should try to keep going.”

She gives you a considerate smile and a light tap on shoulder before disappearing off, probably to go and update the police on your reluctance.

You run back upstairs into your room. How on earth were you supposed to pull this off without getting that boy into trouble?! Not only did lying go against your morals but you were also a terrible liar at that. Any time you’d look around awkwardly and your cheeks would flush completely giving you away.

By the time the night comes you’d completely psyched yourself ready to put on one hell of a play tomorrow. You’d even consulted with some of the kids you wouldn’t even normally associate yourself with at school to give you some tips.

Apparently to be a good liar you had to do three simple things: be confident (already off to a bad start here), include tons of details and finally be consistent. How hard could that be??

You’re sitting on your bed rehearsing your performance for the cops tomorrow when you suddenly see a shadow on the lawn in front of your window. The figure moves into the glow of the street lamp which illuminates the features of the boy from the previous night. The one who had somehow managed to sweet talk you back to sleep despite the fact he’d broken into your house.

He signals to you to open the window and for some reason even though you barely know this boy you’re compelled to do so.

The window opens and he clambers in holding out a ‘bouquet’ of flowers—flowers which might have been picked from someone’s garden tied together by a string in an imperfect bow.

You raise an eyebrow, “And what are these for??”

“These are partially an apology for my members breaking and or ransacking your home last night. But they’re mainly from me to apologise for scaring the shit out of you.”

You giggle, taking the flowers from him to inspect them. “These are certainly interesting…” there’s an assortment of different types, some that are wilted whilst others look as though they’ve been well cared for.

Ni-ki chuckles, “Yeah well we don’t exactly have florists where I live sooo…let’s just say I may have taken them from someone more fortunate.”

Both of his statements cause you to frown, “You mean that your living conditions aren’t good so that’s why you have to steal??”

He can’t help but to let out another chuckle at your innocence about the world. Growing up in such a wealthy family you obviously hadn’t been exposed to the horrors of the poor conditions on the other side of town. That was in comparison to him who’d grown up in that environment so he was used to having to take what was needed to survive.

“Hey, it's not funny!!” You swat at his arm, “It’s bad that people have to do that!! We should be doing more to prevent this!!”

God you are too cute. So sheltered, so protected from seeing all the inequalities in this world. Your eyebrows furrow in confusion at how the world could possibly be so cruel and unfair. “You know what sweetheart you don’t worry your head about how I got these. Just take good care of them mkay??”

“Ugh, would you stop calling me sweetheart!!”

“Sorry sweetheart,” he teases. “But if you really wanna do all that formal shit…my names ni-ki or riki or whatever the hell you wanna call me.”

“Ni-ki,” you murmur under your breath, liking how it sounds before telling him yours.

“No offence but I think sweetheart is gonna stick. It’s what I called you at first and I like it soooo…”

You silently accept the fact that ni-ki is unwilling to use your name before speaking again, “You know the police know you got in through my room right?? Now I have to do some stupid interview with them tomorrow.”

He raises an eyebrow, “And why is that stupid sweetheart?? Normally the people from your family would jump at the chance for something like this…why not you hm??” He brushes a stray strand of hair away from your forehead. “You too scared to rat out some criminals??”

You shake your head, “I-I didn’t wanna rat you guys out…but im also a really bad liar.”

“A bad liar huh?? You’re too cute…” his expression turns slightly confused when he realises that you just admitted that you weren’t going to turn him in. “And why do you not wanna turn me in sweetheart. You rich people aren’t usually so charitable towards those like me.”

“Well…” you avert your gaze downwards sheepishly.

Ni-ki tilts your chin back up, “Look at me when you’re talking.”

Your cheeks burn and you’re not quite sure whether it’s from embarrassment or being flustered. “I didn’t wanna turn you in because on that night you were nice…I somehow slept better after that than I do on most nights. But now after learning more about you I don’t wanna do it even more.”

“So what do you like me now??”

“Hey stop putting words into my mouth!! I never said such things,” you defend.

“Okay then so how about I put it this way,” he pauses dramatically. “Because you know now that I’m poor and don't exactly have the best life, you think that my story is pitiful and you feel terribly for me so you don’t wanna rat me out to the cops.”

“Okay maybe the first one was more accurate after all…” you mutter, voice barely above a whisper.

“Oh so you do like me?!”

You shake your head, “Nuh uh!! I just mean that I don’t think I pity your life. Everyone’s life is different, we’re all raised in different ways and I guess that’s just what unfortunately happens. But some people like you manage to make it work.”

“You ever kissed anyone??” Ni-ki asks suddenly.

The abrupt change of subject catches you off guard but eventually you manage to shake your head slowly and let out a small, rather humiliated ‘no.’

Yep. You were 18 and had not once been kissed by anyone ever. Most people thought it was just down to your innocence, that you didn’t even know what it was, which was a pretty decent excuse. Except the truth was you just never thought anyone would like you like that.

“That’s a shame…” he murmurs. “If you did like me after all I’d offer to be your first but it seems that’s not the case.”

He begins to turn his back as though to leave when he hears your voice, “Wait!! Maybe I do like you…”

“How can I be so sure that you aren’t just desperate to be kissed.”

“Because I don’t care about being kissed, I care about you!! I care about you because even though you can come across slightly scary and sometimes you do bad things, you were still good to me. A-and I like that about you…”

He chuckles, “I knew you liked me. I just wanted to hear you say it first.”

Ni-ki leans down and presses a kiss into your lips. His lips are gentle against yours like he’s scared to break your innocence anymore than this act is already doing.

Carefully, he pulls away after a little while. “That good enough for you??” He asks his thumb affectionately caressing your cheek.

You nod slowly, still shocked by everything that had happened.

Ni-ki clears his throat glancing back at the window. “I should um probably go…but I’ll see you around. If you want??”

“Yeah…”

As he’s sitting on the window ledge about to climb back down, ni-ki gives you one last glance. “Oh and for that interrogation tomorrow. Give them hell sweetheart.”

He wanted a mini-jake.

That he could teach football to, that he could share everything he loved with. Essentially a child who was about 99.9% him and 0.1% you. Sure it would’ve been nice to have the perfect 50-50 but you didn't bother mentioning that to him.

But that all changed the second he caught a glimpse of the pink colour inside the gender reveal cake.

It was quite the shock to the system when he realised he’d have to adjust his fantasising about your future to a baby girl rather than the full mini clone of him. But it was certainly a change he was willing to make.

The nursery almost got an entire revamp. The walls Jake had intended on painting a sage green colour were immediately changed to a pale shade of pink.

“You do realise she might actually like sage green?? Everything doesn’t have to be pink just because she’s gonna be a girl,” you told him.

Jake simply nods, “Yes but she’s already informed me she likes this one far better.”

You raise an eyebrow, “And how exactly would you know what she wants?? She can’t speak sooo are you using some secret code??”

He walks over and places a large hand over your stomach. As though sensing him the baby kicks in agreement. “See told you that she prefers this colour.”

Next came the bunny obsession phase. The two of you had been out trying to find her first stuffed animal when Jake’s eyes fell into a giant pink bunny with floral patterns on its ears.

“Oh my god it’s perfect,” he gasps pointing at it in awe. “I can already picture it in my head right now.”

You chuckle, “Jakey you do realise she’s going to be tiny. That thing would swallow her whole. That cannot be her first stuffed animal.”

Jake sighs, “How about room decoration then?! It can sit by the rocking chair in the corner…and we can utilise it once she’s older.”

“Fine,” you eventually agree after realising that Jake’s opinion will not be easily swayed.

He pulls down the teddy which is practically the same size as him let alone your child. That’s when you see it, a miniature version. One that looks like it was made purposefully for babies.

“Oh we are so getting both of them…”

After that was purchased, almost everything in the nursery became bunny themed. Bunny sleep suits?? Got them. Her first blanket?? Plastered with bunnies.

Then came the struggle of trying to pick out a name. Due to the vast amount of options it seemed virtually impossible to find one the both of you would settle for.

“What about Layla??” Jake suggests one day whilst the two of you are lazing on the couch together.

“Layla as in the name of your dog?? As in the one that is curled up right next to you??”

Jake pauses for a moment considering how that might not be an ideal option. “…Right. That isn’t very convenient. Layla might get confused if she keeps hearing her name.”

“What about Sophia??” You suggest randomly, it wasn’t too uncommon that people wouldn’t know how to pronounce it but to you it always sounded satisfying.

“Sophia Sim,” Jake murmurs. “I’m sold. It sounds perfect.”

He leans down, pressing a kiss onto your belly, “I can’t wait to meet you Sophia.”

“…Neither can I.”

He wanted a mini-jake.

That he could teach football to, that he could share everything he loved with. Essentially a child who was about 99.9% him and 0.1% you. Sure it would’ve been nice to have the perfect 50-50 but you didn't bother mentioning that to him.

But that all changed the second he caught a glimpse of the pink colour inside the gender reveal cake.

It was quite the shock to the system when he realised he’d have to adjust his fantasising about your future to a baby girl rather than the full mini clone of him. But it was certainly a change he was willing to make.

The nursery almost got an entire revamp. The walls Jake had intended on painting a sage green colour were immediately changed to a pale shade of pink.

“You do realise she might actually like sage green?? Everything doesn’t have to be pink just because she’s gonna be a girl,” you told him.

Jake simply nods, “Yes but she’s already informed me she likes this one far better.”

You raise an eyebrow, “And how exactly would you know what she wants?? She can’t speak sooo are you using some secret code??”

He walks over and places a large hand over your stomach. As though sensing him the baby kicks in agreement. “See told you that she prefers this colour.”

Next came the bunny obsession phase. The two of you had been out trying to find her first stuffed animal when Jake’s eyes fell into a giant pink bunny with floral patterns on its ears.

“Oh my god it’s perfect,” he gasps pointing at it in awe. “I can already picture it in my head right now.”

You chuckle, “Jakey you do realise she’s going to be tiny. That thing would swallow her whole. That cannot be her first stuffed animal.”

Jake sighs, “How about room decoration then?! It can sit by the rocking chair in the corner…and we can utilise it once she’s older.”

“Fine,” you eventually agree after realising that Jake’s opinion will not be easily swayed.

He pulls down the teddy which is practically the same size as him let alone your child. That’s when you see it, a miniature version. One that looks like it was made purposefully for babies.

“Oh we are so getting both of them…”

After that was purchased, almost everything in the nursery became bunny themed. Bunny sleep suits?? Got them. Her first blanket?? Plastered with bunnies.

Then came the struggle of trying to pick out a name. Due to the vast amount of options it seemed virtually impossible to find one the both of you would settle for.

“What about Layla??” Jake suggests one day whilst the two of you are lazing on the couch together.

“Layla as in the name of your dog?? As in the one that is curled up right next to you??”

Jake pauses for a moment considering how that might not be an ideal option. “…Right. That isn’t very convenient. Layla might get confused if she keeps hearing her name.”

“What about Sophia??” You suggest randomly, it wasn’t too uncommon that people wouldn’t know how to pronounce it but to you it always sounded satisfying.

“Sophia Sim,” Jake murmurs. “I’m sold. It sounds perfect.”

He leans down, pressing a kiss onto your belly, “I can’t wait to meet you Sophia.”

“…Neither can I.”