A/N: MDNI, afab reader, black reader, we love ony down bad as always. I had fun writing this one
“Ony, again bruh come on.”
Onyankopon sighs, rubbing his hands down his face as he stands in the doorway of his dorm. His teammates stand on the other side, once again urging him to come out for the night. “Come on, yall know how my mama is. If I don’t ace this test, I’m done.” he shrugs. Groans sound out in the crowd of people. “Ony, it's college. One bad test won't mess you up. You already have a 4.0.” his best friend Connie slaps a hand on his shoulder. “And if I was paying my own way through school I would agree. But my folks ain’t going for that and yall know it.” he explains for the umpteenth time as he pushes his glasses up on his face. Ony’s arm cross over his wide chest as he tries his best to be patient with his friends and teammates. They’re cutting into studying time was the only thing running through his mind. One thing about him, he ran a strict program. Study time was set and organized each week depending on workload. Alarms were set on his clock for breaks and lunches. Phone silenced for no distractions. He had it all in order but his teammates were disrupting his routine and it made than vein in his neck twitch in agitation. He knew they meant well but it didn't change a thing.
“Come on man. Y'all know he ain’t budging when it comes to this school shit. We gone be late to the party.” Eren groans from behind them, his booted foot kicked up behind him balancing him out as he leans against the wall. He folds his over his chest, black hair greased and slicked back into a low ponytail. “Exactly.’ Ony quickly agrees, “Y'all just go. I’ll catch the next one.” He compromises. Another round of complaints and head shakes sound out. “Wait, isn't your girl supposed to be there tonight?” Reiner asks, that heavy country twang coming from the back of the crowd. Eyes shuffle from him back to Ony, patiently waiting for his response. To be honest, Ony wasn’t sure if you were going to be there or not. I mean he figured you would just because he knew you. That’s literally how you two met.
Ony had been forced to go to at least one team outing by his friends and coaches (yeah, it was that bad.) After hours of reluctance he agreed to go only because he was offered (bribed with) a full study day of no interruptions and a light practice day which everyone knew he wouldn't take. His team had managed to get him out that night for the annual fair. The minute he got there he was ready to leave. It was overwhelming. The lights, the bodies, the people. He found himself standing in the line for the ferris wheel in hopes that the height from the rotating ride could offer him some sense of reprieve from the chaos swarming around him. His eyes fan the area, taking in his surroundings, teammates standing close by loud and boisterous. And then he saw you and instantly it seemed like the world melted away. Ony rarely gets awestruck but there was something about the way your brown skin shines under the moonlight, eyes twinkling like stars. Drawn like a moth to a flame he didn't even register that you had walked up to him until you were standing right under his nose. “Hey cutie. What’s your name?” Was the first thing you said to him that night. His eyes widened because there was no way you were talking to him, right? But you were. He stuttered his name to you and your response was one he would never forget. “Nice to meet you Ony. I’m Y/N. In a few minutes, I’m going to hold out my hand and you’re going to put your phone in it. I’ll be expecting a text from you with a time and a date. And if you can set it in the next 48 hours, you’ll definitely be getting a goodnight kiss that night.” He was so starstruck that he barely registered when your hand lifted in front of him. He fumbled his phone from his pocket and before you had walked off good he had sent you a text (Eren had to force him to do it because he was still confused about the entire encounter). A few dates later, he had finally asked you to be his girlfriend. It was a sweet, quiet gesture much like him. A promise ring stuffed in your favorite dessert at your favorite restaurant coupled with two dozen roses. You shared your second first kiss that night.
You and Ony are alike and different at the same time. Both academic scholars with big aspirations. But where he is quiet, you are the life of the party. Never shying away from a function, a member of every black student organization on campus from student council to dance team, and more. If there is a gathering, you are there. Everyone who ius anybody and even the nobodies know who you are. And Ony loves it about you. Although he is much more on the shy side, his favorite thing is seeing you get the praise and accolades you are much deserved. That being said, there aren’t many parties that you miss so Ony assumes that you would be in attendance tonight as well. “She may be and that’s perfectly fine. But I’ll be here in my room. Now if y'all excuse me, I have to get started. I’m already behind schedule.” He pushes them, in between their complaints, away from the door and closes it, locking both locks. A heavy sigh and soft finally escapes his lips. The clock hits 8:41 and Ony groans in agitation. He was supposed to start at 8:30 on the dot so he can take his breaks on time. “Guess I’ll just have to move things around.” He mumbles aloud as he sits down at his desk to get started.
10:03 pm
His floor is quiet, everyone else having went to celebrate their big win. Pages spread neatly across his desk paired with uncapped highlighters and scribbled on sticky notes. His eyes scan the PowerPoint on his laptop as he double checks the answers on his practice test. He exhales softly through his nose, squinting as he pushes his glasses back closer to his pupils. He had already taken his first break and he was due for another one at 10:30. Focus. Only a few more minutes and you can give your eyes a rest. He blinks a few more times and continues to read. “When comparing the velocity of…” he reads aloud.
His phone rings.
The loud sound shocks him from his thoughts causing his brows to furrow together. His eyes dart over quickly as he reaches out to silence it. He didn’t realize he hadn’t turned his ringer off which is strange for him to say the least. Ony always remembers to turn his ringer off when he is studying. Distraction aside he shakes his head and collects his thoughts. Ignoring the call, he picks up where he left off. “Comparing veloci…”
The phone rings again.
What is happening tonight? He thinks. He lets out a small huff of annoyance flipping the phone up to see who is calling. There are very few people that can bypass his silencer on his phone and his parents know he studies late nights. His heart jumps when he sees your name and picture on his screen, that familiar warmth seeping under his skin. His eyes check the clock. 10:23. 7 minutes. He isn't supposed to answer his phone for another 7 minutes. The FaceTime call continues to ring, device vibrating in his hand. Ony bites down into his lip as he contemplates. He doesn’t normally break his schedule but he knows your deep brown eyes are starting at the phone right now with your brows slightly pulled together, waiting patiently for him to answer. The call would be ending soon and this is the second time you called him. One time won’t hurt. He swipes the phone icon right just as it was about to end, setting his phone up on the shelf so that you could see him and turns his eyes back to his computer screen.
The call connects.
Your face fills the screen, brown skin glistening under the soft led lights in your room. You notice his attention is elsewhere and you smile bright. He is studying obviously. “Hi baby.” You say softly. “You not going to the party?” Ony swallows heavily but keeps his attention on the laptop. Your sweet voice sending tingles down his spine. This may have been a bad idea He thinks to himself, shaking his head before responding, “No. I have an exam this week. I’m trying to make sure I’m prepared.” His eyes continue to scan over the text on the screen. You give his a soft hum. “What about you? Are you planning on going?” He asks. “Thinking bout it. I was going to see if you wanted to help me pick an outfit but you seem busy.” You say softly, shuffling on your bed. “If you can give me a few minutes, I just have to get through this.” he responds jotting down a few notes on yellow sticky. He rips it off and adds it to the others on his wall. “You work so hard. I'm so proud of you baby.” you encourage and it makes his body run warm. He mumbles a shy thank you. Ony’s eyes glance over to you for a quick moment and he regrets it the exact moment he does. His eyes widen at your current position. One leg bent close to you, the other stretched out, slightly dangling off the side of your bed. Your back arched ever so slightly and Ony feels his chest tighten.
You were effortlessly beautiful and a major distraction right now. Still, he doesn’t dismiss you or end the call. Instead he swallows the heavy pit in his throat and forces himself to turn back to his computer, ignoring the blood rushing down his body. “So,” you say, lifting your arm up and leaning your head against your hand. “What you studying?” You ask him, eyes watching the side of his face. You admire the way the screen reflects against his features. Ony was effortlessly sexy. Chiseled jaw and smooth skin with the longest and fullest lashes you’d ever seen. You watch his full lips move as he reads the text to himself softly. “Uh, I was looking over the power points for my kinematics exam and…don’t do that.”
It came out deep, gravelly and sent a tingle down your spine.
You blink a few times, caught off guard at his statement. “Do what baby?” You ask in confusion. Ony holds in his groan refusing to look your way again. He runs his hands down his face “That thing you do.” Your mouth parts in an “O”. You take the time to look at your man and the strain on his face. You have seen Ony in many phases over the past few months. You’ve seen his intensity during games when he tunnels visions on one goal, carrying his team as quarterback. You’ve seen him shy, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose in social settings. You’ve seen him nervous, his lips grazing yours gently, never pushing you too far. You’ve even seen him worried, from his grades to that one time you fell and sprained your ankle and he doted on you for weeks. But this Ony is definitely someone you hadn’t seen before. His jaw is clenched, chest rising and falling at a more rapid pace that you are accustomed to seeing from him. His shoulders are squared, tense and pulled to his ears. Deep brown eyes blinking quickly as he stares at his screen like the words would disappear if he didn't. “Ony, baby what are you talking about? What did I do?” He turns to you and the looks in his eyes nearly pulls a gasp from your chest. “You are being distracting.” he growls. “Ony?” you whisper his name and his eyes roll closed. He takes a few breaths to steady himself before opening them again. “Sorry.” he mumbles before turning back to his computer.
You sit up in your bed, leaning your top half on your folded arms. Shock still coating your features. “Onyankopon Nyamekye. Look at me.” you command, trying to figure out what in the hell just possessed your boyfriend. “I can’t.” he whines, pushing his glasses up once more. You let out a broken laugh. Ony has never acted like this before. “I was…” he starts then sighs. “I was doing so good.” he whispers softly. “And what is that supposed to mean?” Ony leans back from his computer and turns to look at you, really look at you. You sit up on your bed, shorts hiked up slightly from all the rustling around and your top cut just low enough for Ony to see the curves of your breasts peeking from the top of your shirt. The sight of your nipples pressing against the thin fabric makes his mouth water. “Now can you explain why I tried to call my man to check in because I miss him and he’s asking like he can’t give me 5 minutes of attention.” He couldn’t tell you the real reason. You wouldn’t look at him the same. So instead he settles for, “I just need to get this done. I’m a bit behind.” You let out a pouty huff, crossing your arms tighter which in turn pushes your chest out more. Ony shuffles in his seat but you’re too upset to notice. “Fine, I can just let you go. I need to start getting ready anyway.” You murmur slipping off the bed. Your phone falls down in the process, causing the camera to point up to the ceiling. It gives him a moment to breathe but not much. Because after the lust simmers he finally realizes how upset he made you. It makes his stomach knot up.
“Baby.” He calls out to you but you don’t respond, already in your mood. Instead you focus on pulling your clothes out and getting your makeup out of your vanity. Ony feels bad. He knows you weren’t actually doing anything but there was no way he was going to tell you that your thighs and titties were making him so hard that he couldn’t read through his notes. So he settled with the study card as always. Using the moment of quiet, he turns back to his notes. You disregard the phone, now focused on getting yourself together. You take time doing your hair and makeup. You fix your hair to perfectly accent your features. Smoky eyes set with dramatic liner and a deep red lip deepens your sex appeal as you work on piecing together your outfit.
It was fairly warm out and you knew your liquor jacket would do you just right so you choose a jean belted mini skirt and crop option for your fit. It paired perfectly with your boots and the overall look. You smile to yourself., looking at your body in the mirror. “Okay. Purse, ID, keys…where is my phone?” you mumble to yourself as you grab everything you need to get ready and leave. You hadn’t registered Ony was still on the phone up until that moment. “Ok, I’m about to leave.” You say flatly. He startles a bit at your voice. Ony had been attempting to study again but his eyes dart from the screen to his phone in hopes that you would come back. “You that mad at me? You won’t even show me your outfit.” He says trying to lighten the mood. He knows you’re upset with him but he isn’t too keen on letting you go out without seeing you. “You’re studying. Not tryin’ to distract you.” You quip. Yeah, you were pissed. “I'm on a break now.” he lies. His break was 20 minutes ago but schedule be damned. There is no way he is letting you leave without at least looking at you. “Come on baby. I want to see you.” He pleads. You release a small huff from your nose already relenting (because how can you tell him no when he asks so nicely), setting the phone up on your desk so he can see your full outfit. The minute you step back from the screen, Ony’s mouth drops open. His eyes devour you. The way the crop shows off that perfect amount of your belly. The skirt cutting into the meat of your thighs. His mind raced with how good that deep shade of red would look wrapped around his dick. He responds before his mind registers it.
“Fuck.”
Your eyes widen, your mouth dropping open to match his. Ony doesn’t cuss. “Did you just-…” “Do a spin for me mamas.” His voice came out low and gravely, eyes slanted. The same way it is when he has just woken up and you love it. Your thighs press together gently but you obey, giving him a slow 360. “You’re so pretty baby.” He compliments you. “Thank you Onya.” You whisper back. A text chimes on your end breaking you from the trance that is your man. “Shoot, that’s Sasha. I got to go. I’ll see you tomorrow baby. Bye.” You say before disconnecting and rushing out the door. Ony released a deep breath and turns back to his studies.
11:47 pm
Ony struggled through the last 15 minutes of his study session. Every time he tries to read, his mind keeps conjuring up pictures of you in that outfit. His leg shakes underneath his desk in anxiousness. Come on Ony. Focus. He tries to give himself a pep talk but he is failing. He’s never had this problem before. Before he could sit and study for hours without stopping. But being with you, he could barely go 30 minutes before he wanted to see your face or hear your voice. And for the most part he’s been doing good. Until recently.
Recently his desire for you has caused his focus to fall short.
You and Ony hadn’t been intimate…yet. You wanted him to be sure and he didn’t want to rush you. You’d only been dating 8 months. But one night you came over to check on him while he was studying and things started heating up. It was the way his glasses were sitting against his face that had just did something to you. Before you knew it, you’d climbed onto his lap while he was sitting at his desk, pressing your lips all over his neck, sucking softly. His thick hands gripped your sides, hips involuntarily pressing up into you causing you to whimper against his skin. The minute your lips met his, his hands held you down moving your hips up and down his print. “Baby.” You whined and it made him want to push his dick deep inside of you and fuck the noises from your throat. But before either of you could get further, his ringer exploded into the room interrupting the moment. Breathing heavy he checked the caller id and groaned aloud. It was his mother. His head dropped against your chest. Perfect timing mom. The ringer continued to fill the air. “You should take that.” You said to him, removing yourself from his grasp. By the time he had answered and his mom’s rambling filled his ears, you were already shuffling out the door, mouthing a quick we will talk tomorrow. Ony was so worried that he had pushed you too far that he didn’t bring it up again. But you couldn’t stop thinking about that day. Especially how tight his hands held you down as he growled into your mouth. You wanted more of that Ony. But your sweetheart of a boyfriend refused to be that with you.
“I think you should just tell him.” Sasha mentions in the middle of the party. How the conversation circled around to your sex life, the world will never know. “Yall know I can’t. Ony is just…he’s too gentle for that.” You shrug, downing another shot. “Come on. Every man has some level of aggression just pent up inside. You just have to get him to understand that you want to see that part of him.” Annie chimes in. “Yeah, just tell him. Hey big daddy, I want you to fuck me into the mattress until I can’t walk for a week.” Sasha says dramatically waving her hands in the air and pressing her tongue to her teeth. You all burst into laughter. “Not my Ony. He’s a gentle giant so I doubt that will be true. And I’m okay with that really.” You say to your friends. “Alright enough boyfriend talk. Let’s shake some ASSSSS, HOE!” Mikasa yells aloud causing you all to erupt into cheers. Getting lost in the music you waste no time standing on the furniture and showing out with your girls. Unbeknownst to you, Sasha had taken your phone to record you, posting you wilding out to your main story. She eyes Annie and Mikasa as they giggle, well aware of what she was doing. She types quickly, tagging Ony in the story and locking your phone before you realizes what’s happening.
Ony’s phone chimes at exactly 12:23 am. It only takes him a minute to pick it up, brows furrowing in confusion at the notification. The video was only 12 seconds long. It took 7 of those for Ony to get up and throw his jacket and shoes on, snatching his keys off the door hanger and starts walking to his car. Ony wasn’t mad per say. Actually he didn't really care at all. He knew he bagged a baddie when he got with you and unlike most small minded men, he knew what that came with. The video didn’t make him upset, it made him fucking feral. Seeing the way your ass jiggled in that skirt, fabric pressing gently against your pussy coupled with built up pressure from before…yeah he wasn’t making it through the rest of the night without fucking you.
Sweet, never breaking the rules, always on time shy Ony broke so many traffic laws speeding to where you were. His body hot with fever. This is so out of character for him but he doesn’t care. Not with that video playing in his mind. He needs you. So gentle giant Ony hit 97 in a 45, burning rubber as he slides into the parking lot of the club. He barely put the car in park, cutting the engine and speed walking into the building. You’re having the time of your life completely unaware of the scheme that your friends have devised so imagine your surprise when you hear “Aye Ony you made it!” from Connie’s loud ass in the corner. You damn near snap your neck at how fast you turn around to see him. “Ony? Wha…”
“Let's go.”
You blink in shock, his tone throwing you for a loop. “Baby huh?” You couldn’t have heard him correctly. Your eyes scan the shocked faces around you. Your friends lips press together to hold back laughter. “You heard me. We leaving. Get yo shit.” He grunts. Your brows furrow together, a pout forming on your lips. “I’m not ready to go. Why you acting like this?” You cross your arms. His eyes trail your chest and then back up. “You either gone go willingly or I’m gone make you. And you only have 3 seconds to decide so you better choose wisely.” You were in complete and utter shock. Who the hell was this standing in front of you and where did your man go? More importantly why the fuck did it have your pussy leaking in your panties. “Ony, I said I’m not leaving.” was the dumbest thing you could’ve said in that moment.
It was like a scene from a movie. He walked up to you pupils dilated and smiles, tongue running across his lips. Next thing you know, you were upside down. “Tell your friends bye baby.” He says hoisting you up on his shoulder in the middle of the club. A round of cuss words and exclamations sounded in the room blending in with the music. No one had ever seen Ony act like this before. But he didn’t give a damn. “Ony!” You yell out but you’re only met with his hand smacking your ass. He carried you out the door and to his car. “Ony what has gotten into you?” your chest rises and fall rapidly as you sway against his shoulder. His only response is another hand on your ass. The sting is short lived as he rubs the spot he just hit, his hand slipping towards your pussy. You let out a soft moan as his fingers coast across your wetness. Ony climbs into the driver seat of his truck, you still sitting in his arms. “Ony, this is dangerous.” you whisper but you couldn’t lie and say it didn't excite you. “Spread your legs baby.” Ony commands. “Ony, I can’t…” “Spread your legs so I can see my pretty pussy baby.” Now that gets your attention. Ony isn’t vulgar in any form.
Well, he wasn’t.
This was something new for you both. But he didn't give a damn about anything else other than the pure lust rushing through his veins. “Ony.” You whimper. “Come on mamas. Be a good girl for me, okay?” His deep voice rumbles low in his chest. Your breath is ragged, your body trembling as you lean back slowly in the front of the bench seat of his Chevy. You tilt your hips forward spreading your legs slowly. One leg resting on the top of the seat and the other bent slightly resting against the center console. You spread your legs slowly, heat singing your skin from his gaze. “Keep it just like that babygirl.” he starts the car, engine revving as he skirts off down the road, his non driving hand inching underneath your panties. He plunges two fingers inside you with ease and your body convulses at how full you feel. Ony’s hands are big, matching the rest of his massive frame. “Fuck.” You whine as your hips chase his fingers. “Damn baby, you dripping all over the fucking seat. Look at my pretty pussy just gushing for me.” Ony’s deep voice rings in your ears, dragging chills down your spine. Your confusion clashes with your euphoria because the only thing running through your head is what the fuck happened to the sweet man I’m dating. This was a different person completely. You can tell in the way his eyes devour you, the way his fingers caress your walls, the way his tongue drags across his lips and he smirks down at you. You try to call his name but only a moan falls from your lips as he hits that spot just right with the tip of his middle finger. “Ony please.” You whine, your back arching further from the seat. “You begging now just wait until we get in this room.” He growls plunging his fingers deeper, knuckles slipping past your opening. Your manicured hands grip the fabric of the seat as you feel your orgasm build in the pit of your stomach. Eight months, that’s how long it had been. I mean sure you have toys and you and Ony may or may not have sent some photos back and forth but nothing too explicit. So this was overwhelming you in the best of ways.
Eight fucking months and it took a 12 second video to make Ony snap.
He looks over at you sprawled out on the seat, eyes pinched shut as you ride his fingers. Your chest rising and falling. He can feel how close you are by the way your pussy had a death grip on his fingers. He pulls into a parking lot and cuts the engine turning towards you. He leans over, one hand pressing in the seat by your head and his fingers fuck you faster and harder. “Come on mamas. Release for me. Show me how fucking good I make you feel.” He encourages in your ear. “Onya, I’m cumming.” You scream out, pussy squirting all over his hand. “There she is. Ride that shit out for me baby.” He slows his pace but doesn’t move away until he can feel your body start to come down from your high. Your eyes open slowly as he pulls his hand away from you bringing it up to his mouth. The moan he lets out when he tastes your pussy burns itself into your auditory memory and makes your body quiver. “You taste good, angel.” His voice does it again. It shifts in a way you can’t fully explain. “Ony, baby what’s going on? I don’t understand.” You stammer out, still catching your breath. “Come on.” He ignores your question. Your eyes widen. “Ony, are you listening to me.” His eyes narrow. “I’m trying to be patient with you baby. I really am. But if you not out of this car and walking up those steps by the time I finish talking, I will fuck you on the hood of this fucking truck. And I know you don’t want campus police called because your moans are echoing across campus now do you?” He says as he gets out of the car. Your mind registers it quickly and you are rushing out of the truck and following him to his dorm room.
Ony had the pleasure of being a student athlete so his “dorm” was more apartment than dorm. It’s own living area and private bedroom, it was plenty spacious. And Ony was going to make sure you touched every inch of it the minute you both stepped inside. There was no time for words. Your back was against the door, legs wrapped around his waist. You don’t get to question him because your words get caught in your throat. Ony’s undoing his pants and the only thing you could focus on was how pretty his dick is. Long, thick, and veiny. It was like something out of a porn video. “Ony..’ your sentence is cut short as one quick movement has his dick kissing your cervical wall. The scream you let out, you are sure it reverberates through the halls. 9 long raw inches fuck you into the mahogany door. You can only ride through it, nails digging into his back. “Fuck baby, wait please.” You grovel as he takes everything you can give him and then some. Shock blends with the perfect amount of ecstasy, your body practically melting in his arms. “Ony what the fuck has gotten into you.” The sentence is broken into pieces, scattered between heavy pants and moans of pleasure. It does nothing to deter him, if anything he drives his dick further inside your walls, forcing your back against the wood door. You are at his mercy in every sense of the word. “You doing all that begging and shit now. This what you wanted right?” His voice pulls a visceral reaction from you, back arching into a C. “That’s exactly what the fuck you asked for. You been feigning for this dick anyway so you might as well take it.” His words stir something up deep inside you as he quite literally stirs your insides. Ony revels in the way your melodic cries fill his ears. Nights he dreamed about finally coming to life. Your pussy squeezing every inch of his dick and it drives him crazy.
“Ony baby please. I can’t…” you whine. “What I tell you about quitting? We don’t quit do we mamas?” he encourages through strained grunts. Tip pressing deeper until it grazes your cervical wall. “You my superstar ain’t you baby. You not gone quit on daddy, right?” Ony pushes you past your breaking point. You can’t do anything but nod frantically. “Nah, I want to hear you baby. Say you’re my superstar.” Only presses his hips into yours, holding his dick deep inside of you. You tremor, “I’m your superstar.” you whine, tears welling up in your eyes from the pressure. You carve deep crescents in his back but he doesn’t give a fuck. Instead, he tilts your hips just slightly angling his dick to where it hits your g spot. Ony slows his pace and deepens his strokes. Was it wrong for him to enjoy seeing you broken and fucked out underneath him? Maybe but that wouldn't stop the way he fucked you. “
“Fuck, you take daddy’s dick so well. My perfect fucking princess. I'm so proud of you.” He praises as he work you to another orgasm. Your legs tremble as your muscles contract around his dick. The way he slips into you seems effortless, like he is perfectly crafted to fit you. He adjusts his hip height and slowly rolls his pelvis forward, finding that gummy spot deep inside her. “Ony,” you whine “Yeah, I know baby I know. Just give me this last one, ok?” He asks you. All you can do is nod as you feel yourself flood him. “There she is. I love that shit baby.” he says as you feel your eyes fluttering closed. “You can tell your friends thank you for posting that little video.” is all you hear before you fade out of consciousness.
The next morning you stretch out, your body sore as hell. You could hear the shower running as you roll over. You reach out to grab your phone and check your notifications. Your IG was blowing up. Apparently Ony’s stunt in the club went viral. Clips of you being tossed over his shoulder were all over your feed. You tap the photo on your own story to add an update when the video from last night pops up. Your eyes squint, “I know I didn't post this…” But there it was. The video of you showing out last night and in the corner, his tag. You mind puts two and two together and your eyes widen. “These bitches set me up.” You whisper aloud.
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when dadkuna gets the call that his son’s suspended for fighting at school
the call hits at 3:17 pm. the school number on the cracked screen of your phone. you swipe to answer before it can ring twice.
“hello?"
“mrs. ryomen? we need either you or your husband to come down to the office. your son was involved in a physical altercation. he’s suspended for three days pending further review. he’s waiting here now.”
you press two fingers to the bridge of your nose, already feeling the headache bloom. “wha—okay. we’ll be there in twenty.”
sukuna’s in the garage, hunched over the old harley he’s been rebuilding for months. black tank clinging to his back from the heat, grease streaked across his forearms where his tattoos peek out. he doesn’t look up when you step into the open bay.
“hey kuna?” you softly call, “school called.”
he keeps wiping the carburetor with a shop rag. “what now.”
“he got into a fight and they’re suspending him. we have to go pick him up.”
the rag stops mid-motion. his jaw flexes once, visible even from the side. “he start it?”
“they didn’t say over the phone.”
“figures.” he tosses the rag onto the cluttered workbench. his tools scattered, half-empty beer can sweating beside a crumpled pack of cigarettes. “let’s go.”
the drive is quiet except for the sound of the truck and sukuna's knuckles white on the wheel. you know better than to fill the silence with platitudes. he hates that shit.
ren, your son, is slouched in one of the orange plastic chairs bolted to the wall outside the principal’s door. his split lip already swelling, fresh bruise blooming purple under his left eye, knuckles split and crusted. blood’s dried in a thin line down the front of his gray hoodie. he looks up when the door swings open, meets sukuna’s stare straight on. no ounce of apology in his eyes. just the same stubborn set to his mouth you’ve seen a thousand times in the mirror.
he was looking exactly like sukuna at that age in the old photos you've seen.
not only does he look like his dad, he for sure got his temper too.
"you better have a damn good reason." sukuna stops in the doorway, boots planted. “what the fuck happened.”
“some kid wouldn’t shut up about mom,” ren says, “said shit i wasn’t about to let stand, so i handled it.”
ahhh fortunately for him, that's enough of an excuse to sukuna.
you feel sukuna’s temper rise and you just sigh knowing he’ll most likely tolerate this behavior again. you move first, moving pass them into the principal’s office ready to get this over with so you can have a talk with your son properly.
the principal’s a nervous-looking guy in a polyester suit two sizes too big. he looks ridiculous, you and sukuna once had a good laugh talking about him. he stands when you enter. sukuna follows, shoulders filling the narrow doorway. he doesn’t sit. just crosses his arms and leans against the wall, tattoos catching the harsh overhead light.
he clears his throat twice. “mr. and mrs. ryomen thank you for coming so quickly.”
sukuna stays silent as the principal fidgets with a pen.
“your son initiated the physical contact,” he starts. “the other student sustained a mild concussion. we’re recommending–”
“he said something about my wife,” sukuna interrupts. "that true or what?"
the principal lets out a nervous chuckle. “be that as it may, we maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward violence–”
sukuna’s voice cuts in again, “say that part again. what exactly did the other kid say about her?”
the room goes still, you don’t know whether to feel embarrassed or proud that both your husband and son are standing up for you like this. ren shifts his weight, sneakers squeaking on the linoleum.
“called her a gold digger,” ren says. “said she only married you for the cash and that you’re just some ex-con tattoo artist who knocked her up... that pissed me off."
sukuna’s gaze flicks to you for half a heartbeat. you shake your head the smallest amount—no. he exhales loudly, the frustration in him growing more.
“so my kid put his hands on a loudmouth who was talking shit about his mother,” sukuna says. “and you’re punishing him for it.”
“school policy is clear—”
“your policy’s obviously shit.” sukuna pushes off the wall. “you let these kids talk whatever trash they want all day, but the minute someone actually responds, you clutch your pearls?”
“mr. ryomen, i’m going to have to ask you to—”
you can't stand this.
“me and my husband understand the suspension. we’ll take him home. do we need to sign anything?”
the principal hesitates, then slides the forms across the desk. you sign quick while sukuna keeps staring at the motivational poster on the wall like he’s imagining putting a fist through it.
the parking lot’s baking under the late-afternoon sun, shadows stretch long and jagged from the chain-link fence and the row of staff cars, a couple seagulls wheel overhead, crying once before banking toward the football field. the truck chirps twice when sukuna thumbs the fob, the doors unlock with that familiar pop.
sukuna's ready to hear whatever lecture you have to give this time.
“backseat, ren,” you say flatly.
he doesn’t argue. he ducks his head and slides into the back without a sound. the leather creaks under your guys weight as sukuna fires the engine.
“you don’t get to decide what’s worth fighting over at school,” you start. “i don’t care what he said about me. you don’t put your hands on someone because words hurt your feelings. that’s not how this works.”
ren stares down at the rubber floor mat.
“you’re grounded. two weeks. no phone, no going out, no friends over. you come straight home after school when the suspension’s up. you do your work, you help around the house, and you think about why throwing punches isn’t a solution. clear?”
ren nods once, slow. “yeah.”
“say it.”
he lifts his eyes just enough to meet yours in the rearview. “it’s clear. i’m grounded two weeks. no phone, no nothing.”
you hold his gaze another second, then turn back forward. “good.”
the rest of the drive unspools in thick silence. traffic thins as you leave the school zone, the sun dipping low enough that the dashboard glows faintly orange. you keep your eyes on the road, fingers laced loosely in your lap, while sukuna’s grip on the wheel stays steady but no longer bone-white.
when the truck finally rolls into the driveway, sukuna kills the engine with a twist of the key. the sudden quiet is awkward.
you unbuckle first, turning halfway in your seat. “i’m starting dinner. kuna,” you pause facing your husband, “talk to him.”
sukuna exhales through his nose when you enter the house. he reaches over and twists the key back just enough to kill the accessory power, plunging the cabin into near-darkness except for the faint streetlight spilling through the windshield.
ren’s voice comes out low, a little nervous now that it's just his dad with him, “you mad at me?”
sukuna laughs in response. “mad?” he echoes. “nah, not mad. you did what you had to do.”
"wait really??"
“kid talked shit about your mom,” sukuna continues, “you handled it. part of me gets that—hell, most of me does. but your mother just laid it out plain, she's right, you don’t swing first at school. not because defending family is wrong. because getting caught makes it useless. next time you decide something’s worth handling, make sure no one sees. or better yet, walk away and deal with it where cameras don’t reach and mouths don’t run to teachers.”
ren nods slowly, throat working like he’s swallowing everything he wants to say. “she’s pissed.”
“she’s pissed because she doesn’t want you turning into me at sixteen.” sukuna finally flicks his eyes to the rearview mirror, meeting ren’s gaze head-on. “look just take the grounding, do the time, don’t argue with her. she’ll cool off faster that way.”
ren rubs his jaw, careful around the swelling bruise. “yeah… okay. i get it, thanks dad.”
sukuna pops his door open, the dome light flooding the cab with weak yellow. “come on. go help her with whatever she’s doing in there and ice that face before it swells completely shut.”
ren climbs out first, shoulders hunched a little like the weight of the day is still sitting on them. sukuna follows a second later, pocketing the keys as he exhales once more.
later that night when the house quiets down, ren’s already shut himself in his room, lights off early for once.
you and sukuna are both in bed too.
sukuna’s sprawled face-down on the mattress, shirt gone, the wide map of his back exposed.
he groans low when you climb onto the bed behind him, knees bracketing his hips. your hands settle between his shoulder blades first, thumbs digging slow circles into the knots that live there permanently.
“fuck—right there,” he mutters into the pillow.
massaging him is one of the routines you guys do before sleeping, sukuna claims it completes his day no matter how shitty it went.
you keep the pressure steady, working down the length of his spine. the room smells faintly of his soap and the arnica gel you rubbed into ren’s face earlier.
after a minute you lean forward, hair brushing his shoulder.
“sooo you two talk in the truck?”
“yeah.”
your palms slide up to his traps, kneading deeper. “and???”
“told him he did good putting the kid in his place.” sukuna shifts his head to the side so he can talk properly. “but that he can’t be dumb about it next time. school cameras, witnesses, snitches—whole system’s built to catch the guy who actually swings. told him if he’s gonna handle shit, handle it clean. or don’t handle it at all.”
you pause for half a second, glaring at him. “so you basically told him it’s fine to fight… just don’t get caught.”
he snorts. “i told him reality ain’t the same as the lecture you gave. sweetheart, you want him safe and i want him smart. both can be true.”
your hands start moving again, tracing the ridges of muscle along his ribs. “you’re enabling him.”
“i’m not telling him to start fights.” sukuna turns his head the other way, cheek pressed flat to the pillow so he can see you out of the corner of his eye. “i’m telling him the world doesn’t run on zero-tolerance posters. kid talks about you like that again? someone’s gonna feel it. might as well be someone who knows how to throw properly. i just don’t want him suspended every other week or expelled before he graduates.”
you press your thumbs into the base of his skull, he hisses softly, sounding pleased.
“he looks so much like you in those old pictures now,” you say quieter.
“he’s got your eyes though. softer when he’s not pissed. he’ll figure it out.”
you lean down, lips touching the warm skin behind his ear. “you really not mad at him?”
“nah.” his voice drops lower. “‘m feeling proud. some punk runs his mouth about my wife and my kid lays him out without blinking? that’s blood. that’s mine.” he exhales again. “but i hate seeing his face fucked up. hate even more that he’s gonna carry my reputation around like a target. they already look at him sideways because of me.”
your hands slide down his arms now, working the tension out of his forearms, the same ones that were covered in grease earlier. “he’s not you at sixteen. he’s got us. both of us.”
sukuna turns over suddenly. quick enough that you have to brace on his chest to keep balance. he catches your wrists and tugs you down until you’re half sprawled across him. his eyes flick over your face, looking tired.
“c’mere,” he mutters, already reaching. "didn't i just get lucky?"
his hand slides to the back of your neck, fingers curling into your hair just enough to guide you down. he pulls you in like it’s the most natural thing after a day like this.
the kiss lands soft, lips pressing slow against yours. you taste the faint mint from the gum he was chewing earlier, mixed with whatever’s left of the day on his breath. his other arm loops around your lower back, palm flat and heavy, dragging you closer until there’s no space left.
your chest against his, heartbeat thumping steady under your hand.
he angles his head to deepen the kiss. tongue brushes yours lazily like he’s savoring it, you feel his fingers tighten slightly in your hair before loosening again.
you pull back after a minute, just enough to breathe. noses still touching, foreheads pressed.
he doesn’t open his eyes right away. just stays close, breathing you in.
“better?” you whisper.
“mm yeah.”
his thumb strokes along your jaw then he leans up and kisses you again. it's shorter this time like he’s saying shut up and stay here. lips linger a second longer before he drops his head back to the pillow with a tired exhale.
arms stay wrapped around you, one hand settling low on your back, the other still loosely in your hair.
“stop thinking about it, kay? he’ll be alright,” he says eventually. “yer a great mom and 'm trying not to screw up too. he got time to fuck up and figure it out. more than i ever did.”
A/N: genuinely. what is this. art by _avecot on x. also vote
HII i was wondering if you could do with Damian and possibly the other batboys if you wanted the prank on TikTok where you pretend to hide something( someone) in the closet when they return home from a patrol pls❤️❤️❤️😅😅
who's that?
IN WHICH... when damian returns home, you prank him by pretending you're hiding another man in the closet!
warnings: hurt/comfort ig but it's meant to comedic, fluff, f!reader, imo lowkey fucked up!reader bc this prank is so mean :(, yall r kinda goofy at the end, very briefly suggestive but no smut, pet names
wc: 1.2k
a/n: in a way this connects with "climbing your boyfriend" bc they're both pranks you pulled on dami :)
also i personally would never do this prank bc like cheating—even if it's not real and just a prank—just irks me so bad😭 for the fic tho
If it wasn't already obvious enough, you love to prank your sweet, mildly dense boyfriend. You climb him, you trick him into giving you $100, you've gotten him to accidentally say what's up dog? more times than you can count. It's easily your favorite pass time—he's just so precious when he's staring at you with furrowed brows, all confused and disoriented as to what the fuck is going on.
So, yes, when you saw a girl on TikTok pretend as if she was hiding another man in the closet upon her boyfriend's arrival, the prank was calling your name.
The moment you hear Damian's footsteps ascending the stairs, you purposefully make lots of clamor, banging your closet door a bit as you open and shut it, whisper-yelling "Go, go, go!" into the empty room. Your phone is hidden between some books, documenting everything.
Damian pauses on the staircase, frowning at all the ruckus coming from your bedroom, but he tries to think nothing of it. He continues his way up and turns the corner to your shut door. Well, now it's suspiciously quiet on the other side...
"Beloved?" he calls softly, knocking his knuckles on the wood. "Can I come in?"
"I— one second, Dami!" you call back, smiling brightly. You bang around in the closet a bit more, taking a deep breath to collect yourself before swinging open the door. Your smile is suspiciously big, eyes suspiciously lively. "Hi!"
"...Hi?" he replies, taking a tentative step into the bedroom. Your eyes keep darting from his to the closet doors. His own narrow with skepticism. "What's up with you, habibti?"
"Nothing! Nothing's up with me, Dami," you chirp, taking a seat at the edge of your bed. "C'mon, come join me!"
He blinks. He knows something's up with you, he has an inkling. He doesn't know what that something is, exactly, but it's definitely there. "Sure, love." He toes off his shoes and joins you on the bed.
He instantly clocks how you purposefully but yourself on the side of the bed that lets you see the closet, but prevents him from seeing it. You smile down at Damian, a hand fiddling with his dark hair—distraction.
"How's your day been, baby?" you ask curiously, eyes continuing to flicker up to the closet. He begins to turn over his shoulder to look at the 2 doors, but you stop him. "I said how's your day been?"
He turns back to you slowly. "It's...it's been good, habibti. Yourself?"
You nod, making a hurry up motion while looking at the closet. Damian's frown deepens. "What was that?"
You jump (or at least pretend to) "...What was what?"
"Why'd you go like—" he repeats your motion. "Who're you talking to?"
"Nobody."
"Please, do not lie to me, hayati."
You laugh in a way that sounds far too defensive. "Nobody, Damian. C'mon, let's keep talking." You reach for his chin, turning his head back to you. You smile big again.
His eyes dart between your own nervously. You're seriously beginning to regret this prank—the sad, doubtful look beginning to pool in his big green irises is sending aches straight to your heart.
"If there's something you're not informing me of, please do so, love," he murmurs far too gently for someone who's under the impression that they're being cheated on. "I'd rather hear it from you."
"Hear what from me?" you ask, being purposefully difficult.
He sighs softly, staring at your pretty, pretty face so adoringly. "If...if there's another man behind those doors. If you were with someone else before I showed up, I'd rather hear it from you, habibti," he clarifies.
Despite the pit in your stomach, you continue with the act. You scoff. "You seriously think I'm hiding another guy in my closet?" you laugh incredulously. "Don't be silly, baby boy. I'd never do that!"
"...Open the closet, beloved."
"No!" you reply maybe a bit too quickly. The immediate response makes Damian flinch, a look of disbelief and denial flashing in his eyes before disappearing behind the adoration once more.
Damn you and your stupidly loyal boyfriend.
"Love, please."
"N-no, Dami. I already told you that I'm not hiding anything."
You feel him begin to get up, slipping out of your grasp too fast for you to pull him back. You hear a soft sniffle come from him, and when he finally looks at you again—now standing directly in front of the closet—there's a shiny coat over his eyes.
The pit in your stomach grows. Please don't cry, please don't cry, please don't cry... "Dami..."
"I love you more than anything, anyone, in this world, do you know that hayati?"
You swallow. You nod.
"I always will love you dearly, no matter who's behind this door. Okay? You'll always be it for me. If I ever get married, you'll be the only one on my mind. Every woman I ever kiss, I'll imagine her as yo—"
"—It was a prank!" you blurt out before you can stop yourself. "I swear on everything, on Titus, that this is all a prank, Dami-baby!"
You stand up and approach him, cupping your boyfriend's cheeks. The pool of tears at the base of his eyes hurts your heart—in fact, it causes tears to gather in your own eyes as well. "Oh, baby, see?"
You point to the bookshelf where your phone camera peeks out, and something in his expression loosens with relief at the sight. "I've been recording since before you came in. I— I saw some girl do it on TikTok and her boyfriend just got really mad. I didn't think you'd cry and spit poetry at me, Dami. Oh, I'm so sorry!"
He relaxes entirely when you throw your arms around him, tucking your face into his neck. "I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you," you whisper against his skin.
His warm, soothing hands rest on your back, nudging you closer. "Oh, habibti," he coos softly, raining kisses down onto your hairline. "You and your little pranks, hm? Always getting you into trouble. I believe you, honey, but y'know I'm still going to open the closet, right?"
You nod, lifting your head to look up at him through your lashes. You grin. "Nobody's in there, I pinky swear."
He chuckles softly, ruffling your hair lovingly. "I know, love. But I gotta check."
Of course, when he swings the closet open, all that he sees is clothes...upon clothes...upon clothes. No men or women to be found. "Just what I suspected. My baby would never cheat on me, now would she?" he smiles, scooping you up into his arms and tossing you back onto your bed.
You squeal, laughing as your boyfriend climbs over you, hovering. His necklace dangles in your face. He leans down, kissing all over your face—your smile only grows. "Y'know something, beloved?"
You hum. "What do I know, Dames?" you ask.
"I think I deserve a big apology."
The smirk on his face is what influences your response. "Apology sex, eh?" you blurt playfully, giving him a dramatic flirty look.
He rolls his eyes, flicking your forehead lightly. "No, you dog. Cuddles. Lots of 'em. And maybe a movie. And you're required by law to play with my hair the entire time."
Now that? That's something you can—and will—gladly agree to. You reach to grab your phone off the shelf, ending the recording. "Looks like you have a deal, baby."
you died for ryomen sukuna. you refuse to live for him this time.
synopsis: you weren't supposed to survive. but when you're given a second chance and wake up from death's door years in the past, you're left to decide whether to stay in sukuna's shadow and repeat history or carve out a new path for yourself. when the latter leads you to falling for a pretty dark haired boy, you quickly discover that your history is a lot harder to run from than you thought. will choso help you through it? or will sukuna haunt you forever?
pairing: heian era!Sukuna x f!reader, Choso x f!reader
wc: 12.7k
content: mdni!! angst and fluff and smut!!!! character death, regression, reader dies and accidentally turns back in time, blood/violence, true form sukuna, he's a real asshole guys lmfaoo, sukuna has ISSUES, abandoment issues, trauma from death, emotional hurt, BUT COMFORT THIS TIME !!, moving on from toxic relationships, courting, choso is obsessed with her, garden dates, mutual pining, falling in love, kissing/making out, marriage proposals, accidental pregnancy, pregnant sex, oral sex (f! receiving), choso loves to eat out his wife (he just loves his wife in general), unprotected piv sex, doggy style, nipple play, creampie, sukuna being miserable and mourning what he could've had, VERY happy ending for reader
a/n: this is a commission by my sweet amazing angel @martianzmars and part two to this!!! ADORE you cutie pie :3 the sukuna art is by @alukaforyou <3
How long had red eyes haunted you?
Carved themselves into the deepest recesses of your mind, always present, always there, even when he wasn’t. Watching you chase after him, waste away days and years yearning for him to look back and realize you couldn’t catch up.
You clung to your last breaths like you’d clung to him.
Where had your love landed you? At death’s door?
Still, you couldn’t bring yourself to regret a single second of it. Even if the last time you spoke to him, you told him you wished you never met him.
Sucking in broken gasps, tasting blood on your tongue as your hand traced over your stomach, making one last wish as you felt the faint kick of your child stirring inside of you.
That they would live.
It was a fool’s hope. Bargaining with the universe that they’d get a life you never got the chance to give them.
But wasn’t that what every mother wanted for their baby?
The best?
You knew you were going to die.
Could feel your strength slipping, heart slowing as your body grew painfully heavy. A hand was holding yours, the man who’d done this to you regretting his decision, maybe, no matter how much he resented Sukuna.
You weren’t stupid. You’d always suspected some day he’d be the death of you. Undo everything he’d built simply by being him. Pissing off the wrong person or pushing past his own limits until you were caught in the crossfire.
And now your baby would pay the price.
Something damp was on your cheek, and it took you a second to realize it was your own tears.
It was too late to cry about it.
But they weren’t for you.
Picturing a chubby-cheeked baby, fingers wrapped tight around one of yours as you cradled her against your chest, yawning as she blinked and revealed a pretty red pair of eyes you’d already spent your life loving.
Maybe in another one you’d get to adore hers too.
Dying wasn’t quite as cold as you dreamed of. No, it was surprisingly warm.
Almost like you were being held, squeezed softly as you drifted into the dark – only to blink and discover the ceiling wasn’t blood-stained.
The ceiling wasn’t the same at all, actually.
Belatedly realizing someone was shaking you, struggling to piece together your fractured surrounding until a flash of your former favorite color snapped you out of it.
You heard yourself say his name, a raw croak that came out more like a squeak. A completely different pitch than it had been before.
And the Sukuna in front of you was not the same one who left you locked up in his estate.
All scrawny, starvation etched features standing out in the dim lighting, just a fucking kid, your stomach dropping as you quickly glanced down to see that it was gone. What the fuck was this?
He told you to sleep, just as grumpy and gruff as you remembered.
Were you reliving your life in your last moments?
He shoved your face back into his chest, the scent of smoke hanging onto it as you squirmed in his hold.
“What’s happening?” You asked, unable to not sound like you were pleading.
You didn’t even know for what.
Confusion complicating the heavy feelings curdling in your core, loss choking you up as you tried not to cry on him.
And despite the bone-deep sorrow slicing through you, there was a faint sense of comfort too, body relaxing as you let him hold you, convinced it would be the last time. That the universe was listening and granted you one more night with him.
Brought you back to some of the best days of your life, where you were both still children, where the only thing you had to worry about was what you’d eat next and what the weather was going to be.
Before Sukuna became the monster everyone said he was.
You supposed you could pass on semi-satisfied falling asleep on his chest.
But the morning came again, and you were still stuck in your much younger body.
It was bittersweet.
You survived.
Got a second chance to go down a different path.
And still, you found yourself following your own footsteps. Treading softly after Sukuna, appreciating more than you had the first go-around. He might not admit it. Would probably never be able to see it himself, scoff at even, but Sukuna was kinder than you’d given him credit for.
He didn’t use soft words. Didn’t have it inside himself to offer you comfort in the form of gentle touches or genuine reassurance.
But he shared his food. Protected you even at the expense of himself. Giving you the thickest blankets even if he’d spend the night shivering when the wind whistled through the barely-standing hut you both holed up in.
And it was enough.
He had always been enough for you. It was him who wasn’t happy with what you had.
Who craved more and more and more.
It was only a matter of time before you were left behind again.
You waited. Sat by his side and nursed his wounds, using your experience from all the years you already lived with him before to help him heal faster this go-around. He never spoke of the past. Either of them.
Pretended to only be interested in the present while you wondered if he remembered his last life too. It would be a lie to say you weren’t tempted to ask. But you were scared to pry, to acknowledge what happened. What became of both of you.
You thought he knew.
Suspected it in the strange way you’d occasionally catch him staring at you, how he’d rip you back the second he sensed danger since you couldn’t properly see curses yourself, shove you behind him and scoff if you complained about getting covered in dirt. All four eyes narrowing like he wanted to tell you that you’d survived worse.
On rare occasions, when he wasn’t wearing a shirt or robes, you’d catch the corners of his stomach mouth twitching up when your hands swept over the scratches and burns that often ended up littering his body after battles.
It was one of the few things that made you hesitate.
If he did remember, if he knew, why wouldn’t he just heal himself? Was he not strong enough now?
He certainly was making fast work of forcing himself forward, of carving himself into the familiar shape you’d watched him whittle and warp his body into before. Muscles slowly growing as he scavenged harder, spread out further to find fish, although he usually only managed to snag a couple at a time.
You still preferred picking off the boney parts and gnawing at what was there to him grave robbing.
It was easy to find a new rhythm with him.
You stole. He fought. You both survived.
Often holding onto a single finger from his second left arm as you followed everywhere he went. Through the fields and forests as he spat out rants you heard so many times before.
He hated this place. Hated this world. Hated every wretched thing in it.
You had told yourself he didn’t hate you. Whispered it to yourself in the dark, kindled it until you were convinced that it was true.
Sukuna wouldn’t tolerate you if he didn’t.
Wouldn’t let you stay in his space if a tiny sliver of him didn’t at least hold some affection for you.
But lately, you weren’t so sure anymore if you could believe he truly loved you. That his heart beat for yours, his existence swirled and stood still the way yours did for him.
You knew how this story ended.
And no matter how much you wished the page wouldn’t turn, the weeks bled into months and the years started slipping by as you shrank more and more in his growing shadow.
You still thought of her.
Or well, you supposed your baby could’ve been a boy, but it didn’t really feel like one. Hand absentmindedly drifting over your stomach when you’d allow yourself a few somber moments to daydream about what could’ve been.
Of what your life would have looked like if Sukuna had just fucking stayed back then.
But no, even now, it seemed he retained that infuriating habit of running away.
“I’m going.”
He wasn't supposed to leave you yet.
Not now. Not for another few years.
You felt like you’d been stabbed all over again. As if someone had dumped a bucket of freezing cold water over you, ice forming in your bones as you choked on the rock his announcement had practically pushed down your throat.
A voice in your head tried to scold you, screaming that you should’ve seen it coming.
“You’re leaving,” you heard your own voice, but it seemed like someone else’s. Your own body was foreign, limbs that wouldn’t work, a heart that still kept beating even when it should’ve stopped a long time ago. A living corpse.
“There’s nothing for me here,” Sukuna grumbled.
Nothing.
That was all you were.
It wasn’t the worst part.
Wasn’t what gutted you the most.
No, what felt the worst was how badly you wanted him to ask you to go with him. You’d follow him anywhere. Go where he wanted. Do what he wanted.
You just wanted him to fucking ask.
To say it out loud that he didn’t want to live without you either.
All you ever got was silence.
His heavy stare, those eyes that you were pretty sure you’d still be seeing when you shut your own until the day you died again, his mouth twitching down into an irritated scowl as you stood your ground for the first time in your life.
And you accepted it the same way you accepted him, for what it was.
He would never ask. And you wouldn’t waste your life waiting for him to.
“I was happy,” you managed, refusing to let yourself crumple and cry as you watched him walk away from you again, feet glued to the ground as he disappeared into the daylight.
You just hoped that somewhere along the way, you had made him feel the same.
The simple days where it was just you and him, where you were sweating under the sun or shivering under the moon, were still your favorites. The moments where you weren’t worried about what there was to eat or how to make it through another day, when you managed to make him laugh or felt his touch linger against your arm.
And somewhere in the handful of weeks that followed, living in the empty hut you could hardly call a home anymore, you were forced to face the harsh reality that it was never the same for Sukuna.
That if he ever truly loved you, he never would have left you.
In the last life or this one.
Was it pathetic that you were pretty sure you’d never be able to move on?
Sad that you sat there for months, barely even managing to force yourself to get out to eat?
Scrounging for half the amount of food you usually did since you were all alone now, dealing with the painful awareness that it didn’t feel all that different to being with Sukuna.
It wasn’t like he even spoke that much when he was here.
But his absence was still heavy. Still weighed you down, tangled in an invisible string that kept trying to trip you up, tied to a place that smelled like him, felt like him. Clinging to tattered blankets you used to share, drifting off to dreams where he’d say the things you knew would never leave his lips.
It didn’t take long for you to give up on seeing him again. His path wasn’t yours anymore.
The village changed without him.
Felt smaller somehow.
All those strangers who simply existed on the periphery before slowly became more prominent.
It took time. But once they realized that the pink-haired curse that plagued the outskirts of their world, they slowly began to warm up to you.
You learned their names. Occupations. Families. Their histories.
Eventually began to exchange what you foraged for food and ingredients, used the skills you learned in your last life to start making a few home remedies for some of the children who got scuffed up running and chasing after each other in the fields. Word got around, and somehow you ended up studying under the only apothecary there, trading in the husk you called home for a warm bed roll and three actual meals a day.
They used to be villains to you.
Faceless bodies you demonized for how they ostracized Sukuna.
But it was hard to see them the same when you were being welcomed. When for the first time ever, you didn't feel like you were hanging on by a thin string, dangling over a bottomless pit waiting for the frayed rope to snap and let you fall.
It was good.
Particularly fulfilling?
No.
Still better than starving and scraping by? Very much so.
You bided your time. Appreciated that you didn’t have to spend your second chance surviving entirely on bugs and rotted leftovers while you honed the skills you already acquired. Saved up the meager money you made, held onto it tight as you tried to picture what you could make of yourself.
And when you were of age, you were surprised to actually receive proposals from a few of the other villagers, boys you’d never really see as men despite them being a couple years older than you here. Lingering around and pestering you with promises of a future filled with whatever you wanted.
The problem was, without Sukuna, you didn’t know what you wanted anymore.
Just that it wasn’t here.
It wasn’t until a group of merchants passed through that you made the decision to start searching for the answer somewhere else sooner rather than later. Regardless of how dangerous it felt to venture past the safety of your village on your own.
All from a casual suggestion made by one of them who said that you’d be better paid for your apothecary services by one of the clans in the south as you treated a burn on his arm. Slipping you a few coins and a rusted dagger under the table while the apothecary you technically worked under was preoccupied bartering with his friends for ingredients you couldn’t find here.
The universe seemed to agree with him when you stumbled on an orphan on the edge of the village two days later while you were scavenging for more herbs, her skin stained with filth, dirty nails clawing at the ground to pick out bugs.
Her legs were covered in scratches, but she had managed to make her own balm to cover them in.
You’d barely been able to get any information out of her.
Honestly though, she reminded you of well, you.
No family. No home.
Nothing but the clothes on her back and the cold look in her eyes that said she didn't want to die yet.
And you weren’t going to let her either.
Bringing her back with you, faintly aware that you were just shoving someone in the spot you were supposed to be occupying.
“Give it a couple years,” you murmured, nudging her forward, letting her take your place as one of the few people who’d shown you kindness skeptically raised an eyebrow. “She'll be even better than me.”
It wasn’t like you set the bar particularly high.
Living here felt like lingering in a graveyard.
The ghost of Sukuna haunting you as you walked away, deliberately heading in the opposite direction as the one you watched him storm off in all those years ago.
Once upon a time, you thought it was fun to travel. To find new places, etch the shape of the landscape into your memory as you explored how vast everything was outside the village with a protector by your side.
You knew Sukuna was still alive.
Heard stories and rumors spread from the handful of traveling merchants passing through during the warmer seasons. The man with four arms. The one who could wield fire.
He was already making a name for himself.
Carving out a reputation for being ruthless.
Maybe age had granted you a wisdom you lacked before, but you were surprised to discover that the open wound in your chest that typically throbbed at the simple reminder of him had started to close. It certainly wasn’t sewn shut.
But it wasn’t infected.
Didn’t seep poison into your blood stream as you travelled through terrain you’d once walked by his side and fell asleep to sunsets the same shade as his hair.
Wherever he was, you still hoped he was well.
That he was satisfied.
Would it be too much to wish for the same for yourself?
You picked up tidbits of information from the villages you trekked through. Asked around for directions, fishing for rumors about where you were headed.
The Kamo clan.
You didn’t remember much about them.
Only what the guards had admitted to you when they offered you meals during your pregnancy, discussing Sukuna’s alliance since he’d hardly been speaking to you.
And of course, the man you met in the garden that night.
You didn’t even get his name.
Knew nothing about him except the warm tone of his voice through the trellis, hidden from your sight as he awkwardly stammered out an admittance that he’d gotten lost. You had laughed at him, lips curling up at the joy of someone actually talking to you like a real person.
You offered him instructions on how to get back to the main hall, face flushing when he softly requested you join him on the way back to continue speaking, murmuring that you had a pretty voice.
Before him, you hadn’t even realized how sweet a compliment could taste.
How comforting he could feel to be seen.
Even if he technically didn’t.
You assumed he was a worker. Maybe a distant relative to the Kamo’s.
Would he be there?
It wasn’t like you knew him. Didn’t even have his name to poke and prod around for details on.
But you’d still like to take him up on a walk. Have that conversation from before, no matter how late it was.
How were you supposed to know you’d run into him when you’d least expect it?
You estimated you were only a day or two out from the Kamo estate – one of the outlying villages you just passed through directing you to a winding path carved into the land by horses or oxen.
Readjusting the bag you’d made yourself over your back, huffing as your muscles strained from the use, the last of your food eaten the night before, but you were used to being hungry. Treading forward just for you to feel a familiar buzz in the air.
The invisible thrum of something ridiculously strong, almost oppressive as you froze in place. You knew it wasn’t Sukuna.
But you were terrified it was one of the curses he used to slaughter. You were never able to see them. Couldn’t do much more than vaguely sense them, pick up the faint changes in the air before he made fast work of the things he used to scoff at.
Were you about to be picked off?
Devoured by a monster you couldn’t even see?
You were sure your second death had arrived – until you heard a man’s lazy laugh, casual voices conversing while you stood stunned.
“Can’t hit me? Come on, wound me a little,” one of them chuckled, baiting the other as your feet finally began to move. Just, well, in the wrong direction.
Your head was telling you to run. To sprint back to the relatively safe space of the last village who let you sleep there, but no, your body had decided to go towards the noises, flinching at the loud sound of a tree splintering somewhere nearby.
“I’m trying,” a man murmured back, and you stilled again.
Stopping as it struck you what was drawing you there, at what your mind had recognized before the rest of you.
It was him, wasn’t it?
The guy from the garden?
He wouldn’t recognize you, wouldn’t remember, but perhaps he’d still have a sliver of the kindness he previously spoke to you with. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, your breath catching at the sight of his bare chest, a few scattered scars over his abs, but far cleaner than Sukuna’s.
You continued, stepping off the path and into the grass as you lightly treaded over to the treeline, peeking through the foliage to find two quickly-moving men training in a man-made clearing. Both too distracted with each other to notice you creeping along the edges, avoiding the twigs and fallen branches.
“You’re still weak,” the first one teased, and the terrifying realization dawned on you that you recognized his voice too.
The heir to the Gojo clan. The one who killed you.
White hair falling in his face before he raked it back, blue eyes glittering in the sun as he dodged an attack too fast for you to see, pink lips curling up into a cruel smirk before he rattled off another taunt your ears refused to process.
Nausea curdled in your stomach. Fingers trembling as you barely managed to stifle an unexpected sob, throat constricting tight enough that you knew no puke would come out no matter how badly it felt like you wanted to get sick.
Your sweaty palm pressed against your stomach as you stumbled back.
It felt like you were about to die all over again.
Even if he had no reason to deliver the death blow this time.
His voice was in your ear again, apologizing softly when it was too late, holding your hand as he tried to justify what he’d done, half-whispering that Sukuna’s child wasn’t supposed to live as if his remorse could make up for murder. Offering that he thought you were like him.
Not his prisoner.
Locked up just because you committed the grave crime of loving him.
You still offered a warning. Told the man about to kill you that Sukuna was going to come back. That he was only signing his own death warrant by enforcing yours.
It didn’t change anything.
You guessed you’d never get to know what Sukuna would’ve done.
If your end would have mattered much to him.
“Oh?” His voice lilted up curiously, and you knew somehow that he’d noticed you, but before you could run, a sharp slice of pain pierced through your shoulder, a strangled gasp escaping as you realized you’d been hit by something.
Glancing down to realize your arm was bleeding, pain immediately radiating across your body as you bit your lip to contain another sharp exhale.
You stumbled back, losing your balance as you nearly hit the ground. Someone caught you before you could, a strong arm wrapping around your waist and hoisting you upright. Panic overrode the pain, fighting the hold as the memory of bright white hair and burning blue eyes surged to the forefront of your mind before you looked up and found the opposite.
“I’m sorry,” that soothing voice apologized, thick and low, and you stopped squirming, actually practically slumping in his arms as he supported your weight. “I, uh, wasn’t exactly paying attention.”
You assumed it was some innate ability he possessed, a sorcerer like Sukuna.
Truthfully, you hadn’t fully understood all of it, only ever taking the few tidbits of information he would give you as the truth – the rest shielded from you.
“You wanted a show, sweetheart?” His company called out, your blood running cold as you recoiled further back into the warm chest of the man whose name you still didn’t know.
“I was looking for the Kamo estate for work when I heard-” You started, unable to finish when you felt his stare on your skin.
It felt like he could see straight through you.
He didn’t remember, did he?
“Work?” That gravelly voice resumed in your ear, and you forced yourself to look up at him, pretending the other one didn’t exist.
“I'm, um, an apothecary,” you muttered, your head feeling remarkably fuzzy as his dark eyes searched yours.
“I’m Choso,” he awkwardly answered, remorse bleeding through his tone as his stare drifted down to where you were wounded.
Choso.
Something inside you clung to it, committed it to memory as you hazily studied his face. He was far more handsome up close. A clear complexion, harsh features standing out on his pale skin. Intense eyes that simmered instead of seared through you. Pretty lips that curled down not in condemnation, but concern.
“There's poison in that,” he frowned, finger tips brushing over where your skin had split open.
And before you could recite common herbs and flowers that you would need to detoxify it, he was abruptly placing his mouth over your shoulder, sucking hard on the wound like he was trying to draw out the poison seeping into your bloodstream.
Gojo laughed behind him, as if this whole thing was amusing to him, and you were once again struck by that dizzying sensation, abruptly aware of how lightheaded you were – and how heavy your lashes suddenly seemed to be.
“Shit,” Choso cursed, pulling back with his thick brows all scrunched together before putting his lips back on you.
You were busy thinking about how surprisingly soft they were when your vision blurred into black, and your body gave in, strength sapped before you could even realize what was going on.
Waking up in a bed roll sometime later, harsh sunlight shining down on your face forcing you to immediately scrunch your eyes shut again.
Had it been twenty minutes? Twenty hours?
Sitting up ached, groaning as your palms pushed up. Someone was helping you, an unfamiliar hand on your back assisting as you blinked and struggled to clear the fog from your head.
Looking to your right to find a relatively quaint room, bed rolls set up and a few dried herbs hung up on the walls, the translucent paper doors pulled back to let fresh air in, the faint scent of flowers carried in on the breeze.
“How are you feeling?” A quiet voice asked, and your head snapped to the side, heart stuttering when you realized it was just him. Choso. He was sitting on the floor next to you, face all scrunched up.
You turned your attention past him, giving the room a onceover to make sure you were really alone.
No Gojo.
You breathed a sigh of relief, rolling your sore shoulder back to make sure it was truly fine too.
“I think I’m okay,” you mumbled, tempted to peel back the bandage covering your shoulder and see what you were working with.
“Again, my apologies about that,” he murmured, and you didn’t know how to deal with…that. The genuine regret glittering in his stare, the one that hadn’t seemed to so much as turn away from you once since he’d accidentally struck you. “I feel awful.”
“No need,” you shrugged.
You had no interest in dealing with debts in this life.
Sukuna had once felt like he owed you. And in his own screwed-up attempt to save your life, he got you killed.
The fingers on your back twitched, and when you glanced back up at his face, you couldn’t really decipher the strange expression he was wearing. The tilt of his head, the way his bottom lip was slightly pushed out.
It reminded you a bit of a small puppy you’d once seen at Sukuna’s estate.
A stray that had wandered into the garden in search of food.
You’d snuck into the kitchen to collect some scraps, but by the time you returned, it was gone. Disappeared back into the surrounding woods, you supposed.
“So you’re, ah, in need of a job?” He pressed, and you nodded slowly.
It was odd to be speaking so casually to someone else. This close.
“I heard that I could find work from a merchant passing through my village,” you explained, examining the bandage on your shoulder, waiting for him to remove his hand from your back – but he didn’t.
“We could use another apothecary,” the pretty dark-haired man not-so-subtly pouting at you as you hesitated.
Wasn’t this what you wanted?
But now that he was freely offering it, you were reluctant. Scared that you were once again about to accept a path that would only lead to another ending.
It took everything inside you to shove down your fear, bury it in the same grave the old you slept in, and nod again.
“I’ve got quite a bit of experience,” you added, and the corner of his mouth twitched up, offering you a small smile that seemed to infect you too. Catching yourself almost smiling back at him, chest all funny and tight as he jutted his thumb back towards what you assumed was the rest of the estate.
“Do you need a place to stay as well?”
One thing was certain.
This life would not be the same as your last.
And maybe, you never truly needed Sukuna at all.
Your strengths weren’t the same as his. But you had still carved your own way out of the village he used to call wretched and wicked.
Found a future where you weren’t scraping by to survive.
You thought Choso felt bad for accidentally hurting you. That this was his form of an apology, giving you employment, a place to stay where you wouldn't need to worry about missing meals.
But he began visiting you every day.
Inviting you to walk through the gardens with him or join him for meals. Shy at first, avoiding your gaze and stammering a little when he addressed you formally. After a few months though, it had settled into easy conversations, your mood lifting just by the sound of his voice behind you on the duller days.
He’d sometimes drag you out, surprise you with picnics out by flowers, always asking you which ones you liked the best, seeking your opinion on even the smallest matters. Showing you small scrapes it looked like he only obtained five minutes before he showed up outside your room.
Occasionally, you’d wake up to a bouquet of clipped flowers, neatly tied together with bits of ribbon you began collecting, setting aside and saving. You started drying them too, pressing them in between pages of apothecary books that he just happened to have laying around, all in suspiciously good condition.
He'd been ecstatic when you told him you could read and write, leaving you notes tucked under your door during the day when you weren't expecting it. Asking if you'd help his younger brothers to learn the same like they didn't already have a tutor, simply to spend more time together.
It took you an embarrassingly long time to realize he was trying to court you.
And even then, it was only because you overheard some of the estate staff whispering about their young master trying to woo the new apothecary and realized what had been right in front of your face the entire time.
At first, you told yourself that it couldn't be true.
But after two weeks of studying his behavior, sneaking glances at him over lunch only to discover he was already staring at you, picking up on all the little ways his touch lingered, his fingers constantly grazing against yours and his hip bumping into your side, you started to think that perhaps it meant more.
His presence seemed to envelope you even without him there. His words clouding your head and things he'd given you filling your room.
Frankly, you didn't know what the fuck to do.
A man like that deserved better than someone as damaged as you.
Choso was soft.
You were used to rough. Hard edges and sharp corners that cut into you when you tried to get too close.
He made your heart flutter. Soar up into your throat and choke up all your words. You had done your best to ignore it. To wring it free of all those fickle emotions, but all it would take was one of those low laughs of his or his hand to skim over your skin, and it would inflate again.
The idea that he could possibly return so much as a sliver of those feelings was terrifying.
It only got harder to handle when you sent a letter back to your village to relay that you were working as an apothecary and could possibly send supplies only to receive one back a month and a half later informing you that there was no one there to read it.
Nothing there.
Only ash and dust.
The entire village had been razed in your absence.
It didn’t say if any survivors made it out, or even what started the blaze that burned it down.
But you knew.
Some small part of you convinced that it had to be him.
That Sukuna had returned – and left no trace of where you both came from behind. Was he coming back for you? And to save or slaughter?
You didn’t know anymore.
All you could really think of was the people who had opened their doors for you. The man who taught you the skills that helped you get here. The girl you’d brought to him to take your place.
Were they gone too?
Reduced to corpses at the hands of the monster they’d all been scared of?
It took every ounce of strength to not fall apart. To hold back the tears that wanted to fall and focus on working. On living since they couldn’t.
Choso tried to ask what was wrong. Expressed his concern no matter how many times you told him you were fine. Even bought you a silk kimono when he caught you staring at one of his father’s concubines passing by, clueless that you were just distracted and not wishing for something similar.
You didn’t know how to explain the guilt that laid inside your stomach, coiled there like a snake, waiting for you to let yourself relax to strike and remind you that nothing was going to be easy for you.
Even if being with him felt like the easiest thing in the world.
“What are you thinking about?” Choso murmured, holding out a small piece of fruit in front of your mouth, watching your lips as you parted them for him so he could pop it in. It was fresh. Juice dribbling down that he had to wipe away, the sweet taste lingering on your tongue. A rarity even in an estate like this – something special that was somehow reserved for you.
You wondered when this intimacy had become normal. Natural for you to be sitting just a few inches from him, letting him feed you as the spring sun warmed your skin.
“Can I ask you something?” You spoke softly, a little scared that just by letting the words leave your chest, this would all crumble into dust and you’d realize it was a dream.
Your brain conjuring up something wonderful in your final moments to cushion your death blow.
“Always,” Choso murmured.
“Are you courting me?”
He stared at you, brows scrunching together tightly as you held your breath. Would this be the rejection? The moment-
“Was it not obvious?”
Oh.
You hadn’t realized how much it had felt like you were breathing underwear until you sucked in air that wasn’t weighed down with a lifetime and a half of hurt.
“I thought you’d choose someone…different,” you carefully spoke, swallowing hard as he frowned at your statement.
It was true though.
You assumed he’d be in an arranged marriage. Perhaps with a proper lady from another clan. Or from a wealthy merchant family. Maybe he’d fall in love with a kind woman – one that bore no wounds or scars.
“You’re the one I want.”
Everything you ever wanted wrapped in a pretty package. A dark-haired man who could say it out loud without having to scoff or shrink his feelings down to next to nothing.
It hurt as much as it healed.
Felt like he was strangling your heart with his sweet words.
You hadn’t realized you forgot to reply until his face scrunched up.
“Does that mean you don’t like me?” He asked, and panic you hadn’t expected burst in your chest, your hand reaching out to lace your fingers through his before you could stop yourself.
All your attempts not to get attached had clearly failed.
“I do,” you half-whispered, even when it made your lungs strain to force the two syllables out. It went against what you knew. You were used to swallowing your feelings. Bearing the burden of them alone.
You didn’t know what to do when someone wanted to carry them for you.
He exhaled, lashes fluttering as he leaned in like he was about to kiss you before hesitating, waiting for you to meet him halfway there.
And you did.
No matter how wrong it felt to kiss a man that wasn’t Sukuna.
You used to think you were soulmates. Tied together by some string of fate, bound by an oath of survival.
It wasn’t until Choso’s gentle lips pressed against yours that you realized that might just be stupid. Sentimentality that only you were clinging to all this time.
He tasted tender. Softness you could sink into.
His fingers cupped your face, slowly slipping back into your hair as you sucked a little on his lower lip, teeth skimming over the unbroken skin.
Pulling back for air first as you forced yourself to retreat, studying his face for any sign of regret only to find stars in his eyes. The look of craving more you knew was reflected back on your own.
“Can I kiss you again?” He asked, close enough he could brush his nose back against yours.
“You truly want to?”
“I've been dreaming about your lips from the first day we met,” he confessed, as if it was as easy as taking a breath. “I suppose I'll spend the rest of my life dreaming about them.”
Your face felt hot, growing warmer by the second as you struggled to find something to say to his open declarations.
“You can’t just-”
Voice faltering when his face abruptly fell at your surprise, unable to finish your sentence if it would disappoint him.
He scratched the back of his head as if he was replaying the last few moments too, tilting his head to the side before sighing, “I'm not very good with tradition.”
It wasn’t like you were.
He was the eldest son of a clan head. You were an orphan who had clawed through death to get here.
Your mouth fell open, but you weren't very good at answering with what any woman in your position should say. Unsure where he was trying to go with this, what he wanted from you until he spelled it out and left no room for doubt.
“Will you be my wife?”
This wasn’t how it was meant to happen.
He was supposed to go visit a woman in their home. Do the whole three days of back-and-forth. Hell, he could even have multiple wives.
But no, here he was, proposing to you without even the promise of sex. Asking for your hand in marriage despite your low status, watching you like he’d be wrecked if you didn’t say yes.
“Yes,” you murmured, nodding slowly as pure hope you weren’t acquainted with pushed up to the surface.
You liked him.
But even if you hadn’t, you knew you still would have the same answer. Choso offered security you weren’t accustomed to. Real safety in his strong arms when he picked you up and squeezed you, his soft laugh reverberating through you and giving you something to hold onto.
You were engaged.
He wanted to build you private quarters on the outskirts of the estate, something that would solely be for you and him, one that overlooked the little pond and garden you walked so often together. A place where you wouldn’t have to worry about the servants judging your status, away from the main houses that were always bustling and busy, preoccupied with clan politics.
Rather than it just being a pretty dream, he put it into action, hiring local laborers to start construction immediately, murmuring that as soon as it was finished, his father assured him he would make your marriage official.
And for once, you let go.
Released everything you'd been running from.
It was too late to change any of it. And you were tired of your regret ruining your second shot at happiness.
Falling in love with Choso came quickly when you realized you had been doing it all along.
Just in small increments, pieces of your heart slowly chipped away until it belonged entirely to him.
A year slipped by before you could even grasp it, floating on a cloud that never held any rain, no storms to weather through when he occupied your time.
Your schedule wasn't built around his – still keeping up your apothecary work while he found every excuse he could to interrupt.
People still whispered. Wondered what exactly he saw in you.
But it didn't bother you.
Because he was yours and you were his, and belonging to someone had never felt better.
Once your quarters were finished, he proudly showed you a tour of every room, kissing you at the threshold as you started your new life as husband and wife.
Telling you that you were his family now.
Pledging that you'd be his first priority, the pillar of his heart and soul while you tried your hardest not to break down and sob.
It didn't matter how many times he said things like that. Pieced together all those romantic, poetic words that you once never thought you would hear. Thought no one would ever feel for you.
But now you just accepted you'd been looking for them in the wrong place before.
Choso loved you. And you believed him.
Sukuna had never been capable of it.
It was rare that you thought of him.
Only on cold nights where the blankets didn't seem to warm your bones. Waking up from bad dreams where you were back in that tiny room when he locked you away. Sometimes when a breeze would pass by, and it would carry the scent of something burning on it.
You thought you saw him once.
In the garden while you and Choso had been tangled together, his eyes locking into yours for a handful of seconds before he was suddenly gone.
A ghost coming back to haunt you only seconds after you confessed you had moved on.
It couldn't have actually been him. The Sukuna you knew would have pulled Choso off by his hair, perhaps slaughtered him on the spot for the crime of touching something he once considered his.
Not leave without a word.
You told yourself it was just your guilt.
Resigned yourself to leave him behind in your memories the way he once left you.
Of course, you should've known better.
His father had informed both of you of their finalized alliance with the feared monster with four arms over dinner one day, both of them oblivious to the way you froze in your seat, knuckles straining against your utensil as you listened to them discuss strategies for strengthening the clan in this time of peace.
Their conversation continued casually, and you could only think of how much your wine looked like blood in this light.
Of what his reaction might be if you actually bumped into him again.
Would he be mad you married another man?
Or had he moved on too?
Replaced you with someone stronger?
You wouldn’t be surprised. You always wondered if he got tired of taking care of you. Sick of you lapping at his heels and tugging on his sleeves.
What actually caught you off guard was how little jealousy you felt imagining him with a wife, or even taking a concubine in the same bed he used to bury himself inside you in. No simmering coals or even flickering flames of hurt or anger flashing through you.
Because in spite of everything, you still wished him well. Content with how his new life had turned out.
All you wanted now was for your paths to not cross again.
You could appreciate what his place in your heart used to be from afar.
That was enough.
You never told Choso about him. Only about the boy who helped you survive once upon a time. A fellow outcast from your childhood who left for a different path.
Truthfully, you hadn’t spoken of your younger years much at all with him. Vaguely reminiscing about the rare good memories you had when he’d relay cute stories of his siblings, playing the proud big brother while you were ashamed to admit to what roles you’d put yourself in.
The girl pining after a boy who let her die.
Who left her again and again.
At least you weren’t her anymore.
At least, with Choso, you were loved.
“You seem nervous,” he murmured softly when you were back in bed that night, your soft thigh slotted between his muscled ones.
It would be a lie to say you weren’t.
But you didn’t like to lie to him.
Even if you omitted the truth sometimes.
“Won’t the Gojo clan try to take action against us or him?” You tentatively asked, letting him sift his fingers through your hair as he sleepily snuggled closer. You couldn’t remember the last time you said Sukuna’s name.
“He’s a threat, but he’s still a man,” Choso muttered, craning his neck down to plant a tender kiss on your finger where you were slowly drawing stars on his chest. “He has no wife, or even concubines. Maybe it’d be a different story if it appeared he was planning on having children, but-”
He was still speaking, reassuring you that there was nothing to worry about, reminding you that he was on friendly terms with Satoru, clueless at how casually he was throwing around the name of a man who once murdered you and Sukuna’s heir.
Was it your fault then?
Were you really the one to blame for the attack on Sukuna’s estate – simply for having his baby?
No.
You were sick of blaming yourself.
He was the once that shuttered out the rest of the world. Turned his back and decided it was him against everyone else. Made himself the villain without any regard for who would be collateral damage for his cause.
It appeared he had once again decided he’d prefer to be alone.
“What do you think?” Choso asked, dragging you back out of your dark thoughts.
“Mm?” You murmured, making yourself look back up at him. Your husband. The man who hadn’t hesitated to marry you. Who happily called himself your other half.
“Would you like a baby?” He spoke softly as he changed the grim subject, brushing your hair back from your face.
“Someday,” you shrugged slightly, struggling to swallow the pit pooling in the back of your mouth at the idea of actually going through that again. “Maybe.”
It was hard to stomach the idea of having another baby when you were scared you would look down at him or her and wonder what could've been.
You never planned on someday meaning you would miss two periods in a row a matter of months later.
Perhaps you should have seen it coming.
You supposed you should've tried harder to avoid it. Taken more care to not conceive.
It slipped your mind that this body of yours was in much better condition than it had been before. Not so many years of starving and subsisting on meals you had to share with Sukuna, a much less strenuous and stressful lifestyle when you had the support of more than one person.
Still, you couldn't bring yourself to tell Choso once your suspicions only appeared to confirm themselves in the coming weeks. You knew you should just say it. That he wasn't Sukuna. Wouldn't lock you up and leave you.
But getting the words out felt impossible.
A lump in your throat as familiar symptoms began showing up. Breasts swelling, nausea stirring, exhaustion settling, all while you tried to act like everything was normal with your husband.
Keeping up with your apothecary work while your body ached and begged you for naps, craving snacks throughout the day just to devour whatever Choso brought for picnics for lunch.
Until he happened to bring fish, and your stomach immediately revolted in protest at the smell.
You were bending over the closest bush, puking up the few bites you managed before as your husband immediately panicked. Holding your hair and rubbing your back, asking if you were alright while you coughed, hot tears forming in the corners of your eyes.
Crying wouldn’t help, but it was just another thing you couldn’t stop, damp streaks on your cheeks as you knew that you couldn’t keep this to yourself anymore.
“I think,” you paused, covering your mouth with the back of your hand as another wave or nausea passed, gagging before you were able to clear your throat and speak again. “I may be pregnant.”
You waited for your world to fall apart once more.
Trembling as you snuck a tiny peek over at him, but he was already leaning over to pull you against his chest for a hug as if you hadn't just tossed up your lunch in a bush. His entire face lit up, eyes glittering as he squeezed you tight.
“Are you sure?” He asked, unmistakable excitement in his voice as he started decorating your face with kisses. Lips messily pressing all over your cheeks, against your jaw, grazing over your forehead.
“Not completely,” you murmured.
Maybe that was more like you didn’t want to believe it. To accept that you would spend months worrying that you’d meet the same fate you had before.
Some sliver of you was grateful that you wouldn’t have to experience it on your own. That, even if history repeated itself, and you didn’t get to have this child either, you’d at least get to spend the last of this time with someone who genuinely wanted you and your baby.
“Still,” Choso grinned, wide and rare, his usually dark eyes opened all the way for once as his hand reached for your stomach. “We might be having a child.”
“You’re not scared?” You asked, and he immediately shook his head, a lopsided smirk forming as he pressed his palm against your robes.
“A baby with you is the greatest gift I can imagine,” he answered without hesitation. Without a pause or a flinch. Raw honesty in the low rumble of his voice. Sincerity that bled into his dark eyes, boring into you under his thick brows as he pulled you against him for another hug. Murmuring in your ear that he’d make sure the chefs would start preparing you a special diet, one that would be good for the baby, talking about building baby furniture because he refused to hand them over to nannies and nurses for days at a time.
And his confidence was enough to quell your own concerns.
For a little while.
Every month brought more changes to your body.
Created new worries in your mind when you’d overhear his father discussing their alliance with Sukuna or see Satoru visiting from across the estate.
It didn’t take long before you couldn’t hide your pregnancy from anyone, a noticeable bump present no matter what robes you wore, although Choso had pretty much bragged to every member of the estate already about his wife and his baby.
Your hand drifted back over the growing swell of your stomach, feeling the faint kicks beneath your stretched-taut skin, mind refusing to slow down as your husband dozed off into dreams next to you. His own palm placed below your belly button, resting there gently as his back pressed against your spine.
Was it normal to be afraid?
For the fear to sink into everything you did these days, head snapping at every little sound, panic pulsing through your veins when Satoru came to visit, despite the fact he’d been nothing but nice to you this time.
He even sent a gift for the baby.
Tiny silk robes in that familiar shade of blue, attached to a note rambling about his own life before adding a line about hoping the three of you were doing well.
It took everything inside you not to burn it while Choso wrote a letter back thanking him for his generosity.
You knew it was wrong to hold it against him.
That he had no clue what he’d even done to you. No memories of your death at his hands. Even the version of him that did it had felt bad about your death. But it didn’t erase what happened.
Sure, the events were changed, but the effects lingered.
He was friendly now, but what if he decided that this child was a threat too?
You couldn’t protect your baby before. You couldn’t even protect the village who helped you get here. They all died.
And you could talk yourself in and out of circles about it, but it was hard to convince yourself all this time later that you didn’t bear some responsibility for it when simply looking down at yourself reminded you of everything you lost.
Choso noticed your distance.
But he just held fast anyway, supported you when you didn’t know how to get any of the stuff in your head out of your mouth.
Showering you with affection like he was trying to show you he was sturdy enough to weather any storm for you.
“Will you be disappointed if our child is a girl?” You found yourself asking him late in the evening one night, and Choso’s mouth twisted into a stiff pout. Brows scrunched together as his palm paused over your stomach where he was massaging lotion into your skin with the hopes the baby would kick or shift, a glob of it slowly starting to slip down without him rubbing it in.
You never got the chance to have this conversation with Sukuna.
Although, it probably would have been a pointless one.
If he was to have an heir, he'd only want a boy. Someone he could harden. Mold into a miniature version of him.
Of course, maybe you were just being bitter. Making assumptions from the scars he'd left you with.
“Do you truly think it would make any difference to me whether our baby is a boy or girl?”
No.
Not him.
But you wanted the reassurance anyway.
The comfort that came with hearing the words out loud.
You were instinctively leaning into him, trying to take some of his warmth for yourself while he shook his head at the mere idea of being disappointed by your child.
“Besides,” he hummed, letting you lace your wrists around his neck and bury your face against his chest, cradling you closer. “We can always make more if you wish.”
Like he wouldn't blame you for preferring one or the other.
“We have not even had one yet,” you softly scolded him, and he was abruptly moving his hands around to your back, easily lifting you despite how far along you were, carrying you back to bed as he forgot the task at hand. Your open robe fluttered around you as he laid you flat on the bed, his soft hands hastily rubbing the last of the lotion in as he leveled you with his serious stare.
“I'd have ten with you if you let me,” he murmured, like he had last found his real purpose in life being a father.
“We are not having ten,” you giggled a little, making a conscious choice to release the tension you were used to clinging to.
“Five?” He proposed, making you laugh harder just so your mouth would be open for him to kiss. You were so distracted by the heat behind it, how he immediately began to suck softly on your lower lip and pull you into his tide that you hadn’t realized he was trying to distract you from turning down his compromise.
And honestly, when he was on you like this, you wouldn’t really mind giving him five kids. Having a family.
You broke away for a second to breathe, but he just used it as an opportunity to start trailing kisses lower down your throat while your fingers ran through his soft hair.
“Maybe we can practice making them,” you muttered, and that was all he needed to hear.
He helped you sit up enough to get your robe off you entirely, striping you bare before removing his own barely-there nighttime attire. His chest had somehow gotten even broader in recent years, tapering down to his pretty waist, defined muscles carved into them as his pretty cock sprang up, tip swollen and pink like your permission was enough to summon an erection.
Sex wasn’t quite the same with a huge bump in the way.
But it didn’t stop him from throwing your legs over his shoulder and burying his face between your thighs.
Eagerly licking and lapping you up, dragging his tongue over your entrance before shoving it in. Swirling it around as if he would die if he didn’t savor you, pleased to rut against the bed as long as some part of him got to be inside of you.
He always ate you out like he was dying of thirst, the thick muscle of his tongue working in-and-out with a desperation that couldn’t be matched. Raw need in the way he whimpered as if he was on the receiving end, forcing it in as deep as he could while your thighs clamped down on his head.
His intensity was intoxicating. It made you feel drunk, dizzy on his affection as the heat in your core grew hotter and hotter with each sweep of his tongue.
“Fuck, my angel, you taste so goddamn good,” he groaned into you, the reverb of his voice ricocheting around in your chest as you made some keening sound in return.
Unable to form the words to express how he made you feel despite how long you’d been together, how many times you’d been in this position for him.
“C-Cho,” you whined, thighs tensing as you tried to tug him up by his hair.
Painfully impatient, your body pulsing as your pussy ached for more. And honestly, your husband would probably spend the entire night buried in you only to come up for air if you let him.
“Mm?” You didn’t know if it was actually meant to be a question, but it sounded like one all muffled between your thighs.
“I want you,” you huffed, wiggling your hips like it would make your point.
“Say it again,” he dared you, having to peek up at you from above your baby bump as you rolled your eyes at him, pushing out your bottom lip in a pout.
“I want you,” you echoed, emphasizing it more this time as his lips curled up in a crooked smirk.
“I love you,” he said in the next breath, and it still made your heart flutter.
Squeeze tight as he lavished that love on you openly.
Loving him back was the best thing that ever happened to you.
You let his big hands flip you around onto your hand and knees, nudging them further apart as he readjusted behind you, making sure you were supported by his grip before he even slipped his cock between your slick folds.
“Look at this,” he muttered, his naturally gravelly voice making you clench around nothing, the faint click of his tongue leaving you latching onto every tiny sound he made as he stared at you. “How lucky am I.”
Was it luck?
Or were your fates tied together too? Was this second life of yours always going to lead you to him?
You hoped so.
Hoped that you were always meant to be his.
But if you weren’t, you were still happy you got to choose him.
His cock slipped inside you slowly, taking his time to push through despite the lack of resistance. Like he appreciated every inch that got to experience your warmth, loudly groaning your name.
He didn’t fuck you like Sukuna.
He didn’t slam you into the bed or manhandle you into whatever position he was feeling like.
Choso was soft.
Slow.
Deliberate in a different way. Treated you with consideration, making sure you were comfortable every step of the way, checking in sometimes when it wasn’t even necessary.
“You’re so pretty,” he murmured, reverence in each stroke of his hips as they hit your skin. Not rough, not pounding into you with reckless abandon, but in a steady rhythm, his cock filling you up in all the right spots, nudging against all those sensitive spots inside you without letting the pleasure venture into pain.
“You’re even prettier,” you whispered back, nails digging into the blankets underneath both of you, glancing back over your shoulder to see what sort of face he was making.
His head was tilted back, scrunched up in pleasure, the lump in his throat bobbing wildly as he grinded deeper.
One of his hands groped at your breasts, squeezing and groaning at how swollen they’d become, although your milk had yet to come in. You supposed once the baby was here, he’d probably be battling her for who got to have them more.
He rolled a nipple between his thick fingers, his cock pumping in-and-out as you gasped at the sensation, the peaked buds extra sensitive these days. One hand still firmly planted on your hip as the rest of his body leaned forward, his hard and chiseled chest against your much softer back.
“My beautiful wife,” he purred, pressing kisses across your bare shoulder blades, playing with your nipple as his cock throbbed inside of you.
You probably could cum just from his words alone.
Body reacting to every little thing he did reflexively, burning up from the inside out as the filthy sounds of him filling you up replayed in your ears.
“You’re everything to me,” he mumbled, half a moan, and truthfully, that was all you had ever wanted.
To matter that much.
The hand on your hip readjusted, slipping down so he could rub your clit like it was something to worship, his endless adoration present even in the way his thumb swept over the bundle of nerves. He didn’t try to push you to your peak, or drag you to an orgasm, no, it was more like being gently guided there, each steady motion bringing you closer and closer as he praised you with soft reassurances.
“Cho, m’getting close,” you whispered, head falling forward as your body began to tremble. Shutting your eyes and focusing on all the places where you were connected.
“Cum for me, baby,” he murmured back.
It was that easy with him.
Words backed up by his actions.
Finishing fast, crying out his name as his thrusts started to stall out, his fingers twitching over your clit as he tried to hold out a few seconds longer to soothe you through it. But then he was right there with you, warm ropes of cum filling you up since he couldn’t get you pregnant again anyway.
Both of you shivering and shuddering as you came back down from the pleasure before he was helping you roll over onto your side, murmuring that he’d go get you a washcloth when he forced himself to pull out a few minutes later, leaving a little kiss on your arm as he got up.
Your hand drifted to your stomach as you yawned, eyes threatening to shut again, to drift off into dreams as you traced over the physical proof of how much Choso loved you. The baby you made together.
Although the thought made you pause, your mind conjuring up something you’d silently been considering.
You and Sukuna had regressed. Souls saved and offered a second chance.
What if your child had been given one too?
You didn't have an explanation.
But you faintly felt a growing certainty that the baby inside you was one that had been there before. Granted another opportunity for a different future – this time with a father who wouldn't be scared to love her.
“You're just hoping to see her, aren't you?”
Sukuna scoffed at Uruame’s not subtle suggestion.
“Weren't you the one that said we should keep an eye on our allies?” He grunted, glaring at the books in the library as he waited for Kenjaku to join him for this impromptu meeting.
In the four years since he'd seen you in that garden, sprawled out and squirming for another man, he hadn't caught so much as a glimpse of you in the sprawling estate he started to hate visiting.
And yet, here he was again, with a weak excuse of discussing defenses neither he nor his ally needed.
“My apologies, my-”
“Go see what’s taking him so long,” Sukuna dismissed his servant, waving them away as his foot tapped the floor. Slouching in a chair that was too small for him, shifting his bottom set of arms in his robes as his skin itched with discomfort.
Today would likely be no different than the rest of them.
Another long one without any sign of you.
His loneliness only led him to wondering whether or not you truly remembered your last life together.
Sometimes, he was certain. So sure when he'd think of the words you left him with, the way you looked at him, that you knew. But then he'd let the doubt creep in that you had never actually admitted it, as if it would absolve him of the guilt of your death as long as you didn't remember it.
It wasn’t like you were wasting away mourning him. No, you moved on.
You had married that boy.
Although, he guessed the Kamo heir was technically older than both of you, despite lacking the extra years of experience Sukuna’s past life had granted them.
He had the displeasure of meeting him a few times, barely able to contain his irate scowl every time he spoke. All quiet, the tone of someone who never had to go through anything remotely terrible.
What was it you saw in him?
Softness?
Someone you could take advantage of for safety?
He’d like to think that. Water your relationship down to something you’d done out of necessity rather than believe any of it was real.
There were days he considered waging war, ripping every building of this estate apart until he found you. Imagined himself stealing you away from here, running off to some other shithole village and taking it for just the two of you. Live like the old days.
Free and unburdened from the rest of the world.
But every time he got close to actually doing it, that face you made when you told that asshole you loved him and he ended up going out to rip apart curses to take his rage out instead.
“You look funny.”
A squeaky voice snapped him out of it.
Both his mouths immediately curved down into deep grimaces, brows pinching together as he glanced up to see-
Oh.
A ghost was standing in front of him.
Tiny hands and chubby cheeks. Hair that looked just like yours and a face that has haunted too many of his nightmares for him to ever forget.
And a set of red eyes that reminded him of himself.
His throat closed up, constricting at the thought of this toddler looking exactly like the child he had desperately spent decades attempting to scrub from his memory. One that had never been born.
That he failed to protect before she even sucked in her first breath.
She stepped closer, not scared of him, just blinking up as she stopped just shy of his robes, familiar features scrunching up in confusion as her finger reached out to poke him.
No.
It couldn’t be real.
She-
“Sweetheart,” your soft voice called out, and it felt like someone was strangling him. All the air sucked out of his lungs as your daughter turned around, scampering over to the sound.
He couldn’t stop his head from swiveling towards you too if he wanted to.
Everything he’d been running from hitting him all at once at the sight of you, immediately noticing all the little changes that somehow made the heart he was sure had shriveled come back to life. The cute smile lines etched by your mouth, your face softer now, no hurt lingering in your eyes as you met his stare, only a brief second of shock registering before you immediately released it.
And then, you surprised him again.
You smiled.
“Sukuna,” you said his name the same way you did in his dreams. Without judgement or fear. Accepting him and all of his atrocities later. “How have you been?”
“I see you’ve been busy,” he grunted, still incredibly stiff as you let out a small giggle, stroking your daughter’s hair softly.
“Yeah,” you agreed in a quiet hum, glancing down at her with easy adoration. “Was she bothering you?”
“No,” he huffed, a little too fast to seem normal.
His eyes flitted back down to her, a heavy weight settling in his stomach as he started to consider how it was even possible for her to have those eyes if she was a Kamo.
He didn’t want to consider the alternative.
To accept the chance that perhaps her soul was half his after all.
“He looks funny,” she repeated, innocently batting her lashes as she pointed a finger back at him.
“You can’t say that,” you scolded her, mouth falling open as you apologetically glanced back in his direction, exhaling like you were used to wrangling her.
“Come here,” he grunted, and she was already scampering over before you could grab her.
Your lips pressed together, but you didn’t tell her to stop.
Some part of you trusted him despite all that he’d done. Held out that stupid hope of yours that he changed.
Maybe he could’ve.
If this was his. If you and her belonged to him instead of someone else.
But he doubted it.
He didn’t know how to treat children. Not when he’d only been treated poorly himself.
“Are you going to eat me?” She questioned, rightfully assuming he was a monster.
“He’s not-”
“I might,” he dryly said, parting his robes just enough for her to see the mouth on his stomach, earning a laugh from her as you resisted one yourself.
“Do you have to brush those?” She pointed at one of the teeth inside it, and his eyes betrayed himself by looking back at you, trying to silently ask what he suspected.
Did you think she was his?
Before he could reply, she was already leaning in, sticking a sticky finger to poke a sharp canine while you huffed at her to stop.
“Don’t be a brat,” he muttered, jaw clenched tight as he tried not to smile. “Listen to your mother.”
It nearly sounded natural coming from his mouth.
You made a small noise of surprise, but you didn’t tell him to stop either as your daughter returned to you again.
“Is he your friend?” She asked, although in her voice, the words were barely pronounced correctly.
“We actually lived in the same village together when we were children,” you answered, smiling at the memory as if it was something you were still fond of while you poked your daughter’s nose. “Like you.”
This reunion wasn’t awkward.
No, it almost felt how it used to.
The fog he’d been living in parting for a few clear moments, your face filling a void he’d been ignoring for so many goddamn years. Emptiness he’d convinced himself was normal suddenly occupied, re-coloring his entire world in a handful of minutes spent in your presence.
But the door to the library opened, and the man you’d chosen over him interrupted.
“There’s my girls,” he huffed, casually hugging you from behind, his dark eyes only flitting up to notice Sukuna at the last second. “Oh, I didn’t realize you were visiting today.”
“Your father is late,” Sukuna snapped, his voice tight and laced with a bitterness he wished wasn’t so obvious.
“Did you know mommy and S’kuna were friends?” Your daughter asked your husband innocently. Sukuna honestly wanted to know too.
“Hi, Cho,” you spoke softly, breaking the tension easily. Giving him those eyes that would make a man melt, turning in his grip to place a hand on his chest. “It was back when we were kids. In the village.”
Judging by the surprise flickering across his pale features, Sukuna would guess your husband had no knowledge about your history together at all.
But then it disappeared, and he was already accepting it. Looking at him with new respect.
“You should join us for meals more often then,” he easily said.
“M’hungry,” your child whined, yanking on his robes, looking up at the only father she'd ever known.
He let go of you to scoop her up like it was nothing, laughing as he hoisted her on top of his shoulders as she squealed.
“You just want something sweet,” he teased her, unfazed by her pulling and playing with her hair as you smiled at the little family you made.
The one that was supposed to be Sukuna’s.
Before he screwed everything up.
“What about you?” Choso asked you, leaning down to plant a soft kiss on your forehead.
“We ate two hours ago,” you reminded him, rolling your eyes as you brushed your fingers against his hand.
“You need nourishment,” he firmly spoke, not hiding his glance down to your stomach. Sukuna felt a particularly uncomfortable shift in his own, rage prickling as he pieced together the obvious clues. You were pregnant. With a baby that had absolutely nothing to do with him this time. “What about-”
“I just want to say goodbye to Sukuna first,” you promised, ready to leave him in the past this time.
“Okay,” your husband agreed, as if Sukuna wasn’t even a threat. Not sparing him a single consideration, simply that confident in your marriage. Trusting your judgement without worry. “We’ll wait for you outside.”
Sukuna wanted to scream.
To take you and her with him even if it meant he’d be the one raising another man’s child. Watching him carry her out and listening to her giggle and call that bastard daddy while his blood silently boiled.
“It could’ve been us, huh?” You said once the door shut behind them, not even wistful.
No regret. No remorse.
And Sukuna knew that he had no reason to be angry about it either. Had no right to wish for you to want him instead.
“Yeah,” he admitted, swallowing his pride as he shrugged. Told himself that none of it mattered.
He didn’t need your love.
After a life of lying to himself that it was worthless, it wouldn’t do anything to long for it now.
Your eyes lingered on the doorway your husband just walked out of, adoration that was no longer reserved for him glimmering in them.
“Are you happy now?” You asked, tilting your pretty head to the side.
Sukuna wasn't selfless. But you made him wish he was.
“Yeah,” he lied, crossing all four of his arms across his chest and acutely aware that you were the only person who had truly never seen him differently because of them. “I am.”
the strongest sorcerer of all time refuses to have a weakness...even if it's you
synopsis: ryomen sukuna is not meant to have feelings for anyone. let alone the best friend sleeping in his bed, the single person in this suffocating estate who isn't scared of him. from starving to being double stuffed, you stayed by his side throughout all of it. so why can't he seem to do the same for you?
pairing: heian era!Sukuna x f!reader, Choso x f!reader
wc: 10.7k
content: mdni!! heavy angst and smut!!!! character death, regression, blood/violence, true form sukuna, he's a real asshole guys lmfaoo, mean and possessive sukuna, fingering, titty sucking, unprotected piv sex, anal sex, double penetration (each hole), creampie, accidental pregnancy, sukuna has ISSUES, reader loves him anyway, emotional hurt, no comfort, sukuna crashing out, sweet choso is also here, garden sex, mentions of marriage, happy ending for reader
a/n: this is a commission by my sweet amazing angel @martianzmars !!! love you cutie pie :3 the sukuna art is by @winterrbluess <3
What was the worth of a flower?
It faded. Wilted. Petals falling off with time if they weren’t trampled on first. They didn’t last. Just another weak, fragile thing that sprouted only to die.
“Why?” He plucked off a delicate petal, nose scrunching in disgust.
You frowned at him, and he passed the detestable thing back to you. Swallowing his scoff and spreading his thighs further apart on his throne, propping his face up with one of his arms. Must you end the day with some boring fight over a petty thing like that? He watched the way your fist tightened around the crooked stem from the corner of one of his bottom eyes.
“It’s medicinal,” you muttered, gesturing to the cut on his arm.
He rolled his eyes, flexing his bicep before letting his own energy wash over him, healing himself without even an ounce of exertion.
He didn’t need some puny, pathetic flower to do it for him.
Didn’t need your help.
What would it take for you to realize that?
You weren’t kids anymore. Not twelve years old, skin and bones, needing you to collect herbs and wildflowers to cure him from some cold or sickness. Both of you had grown up.
And yet, you were still here, still following him, trailing after his path of destruction, holding onto his sleeve. Because you needed him.
That was just the way it was.
“My lord, you still have-”
He shut up his aide with a single wave, grinding his back molars as he waited for the next person to enter the throne room. He resented his title. Resented the room itself.
They were supposed to be a symbol of his strength, things he was given simply because he scared people. The men with money shoving material possessions, lands, titles, women, whatever they thought would satiate him, offering up their servants and daughters alike if it meant their heads would be spared.
Sometimes it did.
But others weren’t always lucky. And his mood was, ah, how did you put it?
Fickle?
His flames shifted with the wind.
And your attitude this afternoon wasn’t helping.
You dismantled the rest of the flower yourself. Moodily perched on the edge of his lap, distracting him while he tried to listen to the whines and pleas from his subjects. They always had something to complain about, even when they got on their knees trembling to ask him for more.
These days, you didn’t even look up when he slaughtered them. Just twirling the stem between your fingers as the blood hit the floor.
Your mouth was moving, like you were speaking, but no words came out. Pouting a little, your brows pulling together as you pried the last petal off and let it hit the ground.
“What are you doing?” He grumbled, and you shrugged your shoulders, not looking back.
“Playing a game,” you responded softly, barely reacting when one of his free hands grabbed your waist through the top layer of your kimono.
He grunted his disapproval, but you didn’t flinch.
The rest of the world was terrified of the four-armed monster rumored to butcher and burn those who dared to cross him. Serve their bodies up on a spit roast.
He said they hadn’t experienced true hunger if they condemned him for a little cannibalism.
You didn’t fear him though. Saw past the scars and disfiguration that made even those beneath him turn and whisper.
“What kind of game?” He tch-ed, tempted to take the plain stem now from you.
“I asked if you love me,” you admitted, and he couldn’t decide if this was some crude attempt at teasing him. His fingers sank deeper into your side, pulling you deeper into his lap.
He nodded towards the scattered petals on the floor, the blood slowly spreading and threatening to seep into them. “What did you land on?”
“You love me not.”
Sukuna’s mouth twitched at how you said it. As if you gave an idiotic child’s game weight.
But he didn’t protest. Didn’t say no or scoff.
Instead, he pried you off of him, placing you on the floor, barely bothering to check that you wouldn’t be stepping in blood before he started towards the exit.
“Kuna,” you started in a soft voice, the irritatingly intimate making him freeze for a split-second, enough that you corrected yourself. He'd only criticized you for it once, snapped at you to refer to him properly when he was at his court. “My lord.”
“My chambers tonight,” he announced, not looking back at you.
There was a rhythm to the routine. A monotony he found dull and draining, a familiar itch creeping under his skin at staying here this long. He wanted back out in battle. To find some other sorcerer claiming themselves capable to cleave down.
He made up his mind during his next meal, stuffing his mouth full of meat, fork stabbing clean through the fine cut of someone he never got the name of as he planned out his next departure. Some irritating white-haired woman kept trying to talk to him from across the table, claiming to be from some clan he couldn’t care less about.
An advisor tried to quell his annoyance, but it was like another bug in his ear, whispering that she could be useful as a concubine, as if Sukuna gave a shit. A flick of his fingers was all it took for the room to finally fall silent – even if the wall was now splattered with blood.
Perhaps they should be grateful he gave them messes to clean. Stable employment meant they wouldn’t starve. That their children wouldn't.
Not everyone was so lucky.
You kept eating next to him, taking a long sip of your wine before excusing yourself a few moments later, leaving without looking over at the still body in the seat next to you. You weren’t apathetic like him, but you would hold your tongue no matter how much his anger hurt you.
Did it splinter your soul to see him kill?
Sukuna had no way to know.
Conversations weren’t something so commonplace between the two of you anymore. So much had changed, enough that he tried to convince himself that you were simply a body that he shared his bed with.
He disliked the other concubines. They always expected things from him. Wanted clothes or jewels or power. Occasionally, he considered making you his wife, if only to put the others in their place.
To remind them that they would never occupy the space by his throne. That they would never have children that would sit on it.
His new advisors, these men who swore they had intelligence simply because they were schooled, they all urged him to. Begged him to select someone from a clan to have a child with, for his legacy, but he refused.
Why would he want a child? Especially one that would be like him?
He’d carve out his own legacy.
You were waiting for him by the time he returned to his room, cross-legged on the floor, squinting at a poetry book. Neither of you had learned to read as a child, but he’d begrudgingly hired you a tutor – and just happened to sit in on your lessons to learn himself. Supervising, he said. You didn't argue otherwise, even if your brow subtly arched up at his looming presence, his bottom set of arms folded across his chest while the tutor instructed you on how to write, teaching you everything from haikus to the hidden meanings in famous poems.
Sukuna had found it unfortunate when he had to kill him, but it wasn't his fault that the fool had tried to put a hand on your waist, no matter how innocent he claimed it was.
You had been mad at him though, huffing and shutting yourself in your room for four days before you started speaking to him again.
Calling him a child, like you weren't the one clinging to this life he created.
“What are you thinking about?” You asked, drawing him out of another pointless memory of the past.
“You left dinner early,” he dismissed your question entirely. He didn't want to answer it. Why dredge up another reason for you to be annoyed with him?
“I prefer to eat without the smell of iron,” you said, in that measured voice of yours, playing this game of skirting around the real subject.
“You used to eat dirt,” he pointedly reminded you, and you threw your book at him. A rare reaction, your hurt flickering across your face for a few fleeting seconds before you shut back down, maybe remembering that he beheaded a woman for much less hardly fifteen minutes ago.
“You ate bugs,” you argued, brows furrowed in frustration before you glanced away from him.
“And now we both get full meals that you don't even finish,” he sharply replied, the edge to his voice echoing as you flexed your jaw, forcing yourself to not respond to him.
A poor imitation of the meek submission the other women who flitted around in their fine kimonos were well-versed at.
“My apologies, master,” you eventually murmured, your mockery not going unnoticed as you lifted your chin to look up at him from the floor. Dragging your eyes over his bulky frame, muscles stretched taut over bone, skin littered with scars and tattoos.
And still, you stared like he was just the weakling he used to be. That faint flicker of sorrow persisting even when he had practically handed you a soft life on a silver platter.
Sukuna scoffed, squinting before he begrudgingly took two steps forward, beckoning you to stand with a single gesture.
You obeyed. Dusting off the skirt of your robe as your hand reached for the tie – but Sukuna beat you to it.
Skin slowly exposed when he peeled off every layer, removing piece by piece until you were completely bare for him, the light and shadows from the flames dancing across the shape of you while you stood still. Waiting for some appraisal, for him to do with you as he wished.
Your position was always defined by him after all. As his friend or his fuck.
He tossed you onto the mattress, his top set of hands pinning your thighs to your chest, watching your eyes widen as his own loosely-fastened robe hit the floor.
Love was a waste.
It meant nothing.
You said it to him once, declared it under the moon, knees curled against your chest as you looked at him like that. But that had been before. Before the estate and the esteemed treatment that came with a title and land and leverage on all the people that previously treated him with disgust. When it was still simply you and him surviving.
He didn’t say it back. Didn’t do anything other than grunt, tempted to call you a brat for saying something so stupid.
“You're rather distracted tonight,” you murmured, fingers frozen just before they could touch his face. He flinched from it – pulled back before you could make contact.
“You’re irritating today,” he grimaced back, even if you were the least annoying part of his life. The only thing that wasn’t dull and dreadful. The only one that actually made him feel alive.
He waited for you to whine that he didn’t really mean that, but your eyes just searched his for silent confirmation.
You knew better than to expect him to say it out loud.
And despite that (pretty) little pout of frustration flitting across your face, you were still wet when he dipped a single finger into your dripping warmth.
All your feelings fading into the mush of pleasure, eyes rolling back with a simple crook of his thick finger, lazily swirling it around to see your reaction. Not much could compare to the adrenaline of a fight, of sorcery and raw strength, but a faint shiver of exhilaration ran down his spine at the sight of you arching your hips up to make sure he was knuckle-deep, lips falling in a lewd moan as he added another digit.
He ignored it though, shoulders stiff as your walls tried to clamp down on him.
“Were you this wet when you were on my lap?” He dryly mocked, not particularly caring how mean you might call him for teasing you later.
You always forgave him.
Whatever he did, you found a way to justify it.
You weakly nodded, chin tilted back in the air as your lashes fluttered, gasping for air that didn't seem to go in.
“Answer me, brat,” he grunted.
“Yes, m-my lord,” you moaned, and it was only when they parted he noticed your pretty lips painted the same shade as his hair.
“Sukuna,” he snapped, sick of correcting this stubborn new habit of yours. Sure, it had been who insisted on it in the first place, but it was annoying to remind you of what you were and weren't allowed to do.
You swallowed hard enough for him to notice, but you still didn't say it.
Held your mouth closed, and he begrudgingly closed the gap to crash into it, claiming it in a greedy kiss, his tongue in your mouth while you threw your arms over his shoulders. One hand ending up in his hair, scratching at his scalp the way you knew he liked, even if it was another thing he'd never admit out loud.
You tried to wrap your legs around his waist, to push back against the palms still pressed against your thighs, but he didn't let you budge, refused to allow you to try and lock him in some more personal position.
For all the times he'd been called a freak, a curse, for these four arms, there were many more he found them quite useful.
He crooked his fingers deeper, harder, and your body was tensing automatically, your focus fading as you discovered yourself lost and floating in the force of his strokes. Your features softening, catching a fleeting hint of a smile before you were squirming again in his grip.
Using your body to beg him for more.
Sukuna did what he always seemed to do. Oblige you.
Pulling his fingers out the second he thought he stretched you out enough, although it was always a tight fit when it came to him, but he paused, collecting your slick and rubbing it across your puckered hole in preparation for his real main course.
You were the only thing he wanted to devour tonight.
Drinking up the way you whined, wiggled your hips as he dipped his finger deeper in your ass, pushing past the initial resistance to open you up. Taking his time before adding another one, keeping a keen eye on your wrecked expression.
“S’torture,” you slurred, weaking moving your arm trying to grab one of his cocks and guide it to your entrance. “Wan’ you.”
Drunk on him.
He snatched your wrist before you could touch though, letting out a low growl before dropping it over your head.
“Then beg,” he mocked.
“Please,” you immediately whispered, eyes wide and wavering. “Please, Kuna.”
Sukuna couldn’t stand how much he felt like a slave when you spoke like that, lips pretty and pursed and painted that infuriating fucking color.
He dragged his fingers out with a heated huff, wiping them on the sheets and glancing down to see how wet you were for him, glistening in between your thighs as he kept them pinned in place.
“Brat,” he dryly name-called, but his top cock was already throbbing as he slipped it through your soaked folds. Your fingers rushed to tangle in his hair, brushing it back and holding it from his face like he wasn't about to turn you into even more of a blabbering mess.
Glossy eyes hazy with arousal, anticipation as he slipped inch by inch inside, his other cock throbbing, aching to feel you too. Veins pulsing, abs tensing as he felt the sinful way you squeezed and sucked him in.
“Hngh,” you groaned as his bottom tip started to grind against your ass, already starting to feel full as the first one found that spongy part at the back that left you scrambling for your senses.
“You're a wreck,” he tch-ed, like he wasn't already resisting the string tugging tight in his own stomach, restraining himself as his second cock finally slipped inside you, the slow burning stretch leaving you frozen, shuddering as you tried to take him without falling apart.
“Y-you,” you gasped, lashes fluttering, stray tears collected in them as he pulled out just to push back in a rough thrust that made a soft squeak escape instead.
“Finish your sentence,” he murmured, dark and dangerous. He wanted to bite. To sink his teeth into your skin until it left the kind of bruises that would mark you as his to everyone who saw.
“It’s your fault,” you huffed, half a whisper, half a whimper.
Sukuna scoffed, rolling his eyes and his hips, stuffing you too full to speak.
One of his hands groped at your chest, grabbing and squeezing, watching them bounce in time with each thrust, leaning down to wrap his mouth around your peaked nipple. Tongue swirling over the top, sucking hard, toying with you while you unravelled underneath him.
You tugged at his scalp, but he was too focused on his current task, lapping and licking at the hardened bud, feeling the soft tissue of your tits while your cunt clamped down around him in response.
Making all sorts of noises that were hardly coherent, moans that hung in the air, the light of the fire dancing across the walls as he fucked you until you forgot all about your attitude earlier.
His fourth hand flitted between your thighs, finding your clit with ease. Sukuna knew your body inside and out. Memorized without making an effort too. He supposed it was simply time.
Rubbing rough circles over that bundle of nerves, well-aware what you liked, what was too much, what would make you whine and cry and try to wiggle free. Although, right now?
Double stuffed with that dreamy look in your eyes, half-lidded and hopeful as you stared up at him while he took you in both holes?
You would accept anything he gave you.
Painting patterns he'd done a thousand times before across that sensitive spot, pinching and playing with it until your thighs were trembling, toes curled as your lips were stuck permanently parted in a broken plea of his name.
You came so easily, he almost found it cute. That soft mind of yours melting with sloppy thrusts, stuffed too full to so much as think while he fucked into your stretched-thin holes, molded into the shape of him. Wrecking you with the way his hips slammed down, threatening to bruise your fragile body.
But you took him how you always did.
With greedy moans, nails raking down his shoulders and slicing through his skin. A little allowance he still gave – one he waited to heal until the morning after every time.
And then he was snapping too, warm ropes of cum spurting out and filling you up, his abs tensing before the abrupt release, his breath briefly growing ragged as his chest heaved.
Most of the world was ugly. A disgusting, boring place he couldn't stand being stuck in.
But the sight of you as he pulled out, dripping with his seed, kiss-bitten and barely held together, shivering as you struggled to catch your breath, well, it wasn't awful.
He didn’t mean to cum inside of you.
A simple accident. He stared indifferently at the cum leaking out onto the sheets, a prick of annoyance setting in at the thought of needing a servant to come change the bedding again in the morning.
It wasn’t the first time he slipped up. But you both were fairly certain years of starving had left you barren. Unable to conceive when you couldn’t even menstruate properly even now.
There was a time when he didn’t think you’d even survive this long. Nights that he was convinced morning wouldn’t come.
Where the snow had collected in your hair and ice clung to your lashes, where he couldn’t tell whose wounds were worse, watching you shiver and shake and cry for someone he could never be.
But it never happened – and you were here now, shivering underneath him for entirely different reasons, sweat making stray hairs stick to your forehead as you belted out one last whine of his name.
He let go of you, dropped your legs, untangled you from his body. Standing up as his cocks still sprang up in the air, rolling his shoulders back as you tried to sit up straight, clearly sore judging by the way you shuffled and readjusted.
“Lay down,” he ordered, but you got down on your knees in front of him anyway. Took his top cock in your smaller hand, still covered in cum and slick, gingerly licking it clean before he pulled you off by your hair. “Do you ever listen to me?”
You pouted at him, but you obeyed this time, pushing off the floor with your palms and crawling back into his bed, pulling the blankets over your bare body.
Sukuna grunted, using a discarded piece of his own clothes to clean himself off, unable to stop his lower eyes from snapping out to watch you while you tossed and turned, impatiently waiting for his return.
Irritation bubbling back up at your wide-eyed stare, how you bit your lip at him before squinting, not saying anything when he yanked the covers back and got in too.
He never understood what was going on in that head of yours.
“Perhaps we could take a walk around the garden in the afternoon,” you hopefully suggested, your fingers hesitantly interlacing with his, readjusting to lay closer to him. He let you do it. Indulged you when you squeezed his scarred and calloused palm.
“I leave tomorrow,” he informed you, his mouth twitching down as your face fell.
He didn’t have to, he supposed. The world revolved around his decisions – he forced fate’s hand.
“How long will you be gone?” You asked under your breath, your hand slipping away from his to fix a loose strand of your previously pinned-up hair. He rolled away from you, the disappointment in your eyes bothering him like some shallow cut that refused to close.
“A couple weeks.”
It ended up being closer to a couple months.
Days spent on battlefields, nights staring up at star-dotted skies or at the ceiling of his tent. His name, which used to only be spoken in hushed whispers under your breath, was now known across the land. Scarred into the people who lived on it.
He returned to his estate with blood staining his robes, sweat sticking his hair to his forehead as servants rushed out to greet him. A handful of concubines he couldn’t remember the names of stepping out to stammer greetings.
But you weren’t there.
Not outside. Or in the entryway.
The bed in his chambers neatly made and markedly absent of the one person allowed to stay there when he was gone. And when he stomped across to your wing and threw open the door to your room, it was empty too.
He sent a goddamn letter before his arrival. Everyone here had to know by now he returned home.
Were you hiding from him?
It wasn’t like he wanted a fucking kiss or fuck.
But Sukuna didn’t tolerate disrespect. Couldn’t.
For as much as he disregarded court etiquette when it came to you, he would be a fool to miss the strange tone the sparse letters you’d been sending to him had begun to take. No longer begging him to return promptly, but telling him you didn't mind his delays. That everything was fine here, no need to rush back to his throne and the woman waiting for him on it.
If everything was fine, where the hell were you?
He could still sense you, still feel you somewhere close, unable to discern exactly where you were. Following the faint presence of your energy, tugging it like a line until he was in the gardens. Trailing down the winding path, leaves scattering by his feet as a chill bristled over his skin until he found a little alcove that was easy to miss, your body curled up on a bench, like you were taking a nap.
“Wake up,” he snapped, tempted to shake you awake as you sleepily rubbed your eyes and started to blink up at him. His mouth opened, ready to snarl something about you catching a cold out here like an idiot with no blanket or cover, say that you knew better, but for once in miserable existence, he was stunned into silence as his senses picked up on a second energy signature swirling around and clinging to your skin.
No, inside of you.
“You’re pregnant,” he accused, staring at your stomach while something unfamiliar stirred in his own.
“It’s-” You weakly started, trying to explain, but he silenced you with only a single hand held up while you made yourself sit. Exhaustion was obvious in the rings under your eyes, your fingers shaking as you fiddled with the skirts of your robe, deliberately loose to disguise the growing bump beneath it, surely.
He was going to behead whoever failed to inform him of this.
The personal servant he assigned to you had to know. The chef too, if he was cooking the proper food for your new needs. And his unborn child’s.
“Your hands work just fine,” he sneered, nose scrunching up as something inside him twisted. He never wanted an heir. Never wanted to bring another curse into this world. How many fucking times had he told himself that? But this baby was yours too. “Why did you not write to me?”
“My lord,” you began again, but you offered no real explanation. “I-”
“You what?” He barked, brash and blunt.
Sukuna couldn't fucking believe it. That you would do this to him.
Not even a single letter?
Was he not worth the truth to you?
He expected this cowardice from the other useless creatures in his court. But you had to know-
“I wasn’t sure how you’d feel,” you admitted, looking down at his feet instead of his face. “I was scared.”
Sukuna nearly laughed.
You were scared of him.
He supposed it was only inevitable. How much blood had you seen him shed? How many lives had he snuffed that you bore witness too?
And now you suspected he was going to take the life of your child. His own flesh and blood, the baby that sprouted inside you, and you were sure he was going to hurt it. Did you think he was going to hurt you too?
“Did I not make a vow to keep you safe?” He hissed, reminding you of the only oath he’d ever taken.
Maybe you were both barely big enough to know what the weight of that would mean, but he held true to his word. Asked the world for enough strength to protect the only person who saved his life, to return the favor, although you surely regretted the childish decision now to offer a starving boy the last of your food when he'd grown up to be the man he was today.
The first time he met you, he tried to kill you. Robbing graves and eating remains, barely scraping by when he saw you under a tree, curled up on your side and clinging to raw roots. He bit you, buried his canines in your exposed shoulder, drawing blood while you startled awake. Your small fists whacking him as hard as you could, fat tears rolling down your cheeks as you tried to fight him off. He'd been too exhausted to keep trying, huffing and letting go of you while you whined and asked him why he did that. And still, despite your wet face, the fresh wound, you still offered him your foraged meal, murmuring that he looked like he needed it more than you. He washed it down with the blood on your skin, dragging his tongue over the bite mark while you winced, tasting the salt on your face next.
You didn't stop him.
Started stealing more food, just enough for both of you to survive while he tried to get stronger.
Tied together by circumstances, intertwined by some pathetic twist of fate, two parent-less children uselessly trying to take care of each other.
But still, you were still alive, weren't you? Even when you didn't like what he had to do to ensure it. The times he had to peel the bark off trees and demand you eat it, days where you got hurt trying to defend him, forced to shake your shoulders and keep you awake, shoving down his anxiety that you’d drift off and die.
This, too, was for your own good.
You called him every name you could think of, weak fists hitting his back, telling him to put you down so you could talk about it, as if you hadn't tried to hide it.
What was there to say?
You knew as well as he did he was not a kind man. Maybe you had been made for motherhood after all, but he had not been cut from a cloth destined to be a father.
But he had a vow to uphold.
And you would have a thousand targets on you once word and whispers spread of what you were carrying. Whom.
Locking you up was his only option.
The room was on the other end of the estate, one kept under careful watch by the few people who had been around long enough to know better than to cross him.
You pounded against the door at first, protested that this wasn't fair, like anything in either of your lives has ever been.
A servant would test your food for poison, bringing meals three meals a day while you whined about feeling like a prisoner. But your stomach started swelling with the weeks, a small bump taking shape, your hand reaching out to rub it when he came to visit or the rare occasion he spent the night.
The anger was still blooming under his skin, silent rage burning when you frowned at him, as if he wasn't doing this for you.
He still fucked you, pressed your body into the bedding and claimed you as his, even if it wasn't the same. Your body was changing, your words wilting as you complained about not being able to see the seasons shifting, the garden blooming, missing the weather and the warm sun.
You had him.
Why was that not enough?
A neighboring clan invited themselves over, forcing him to play host while he ordered everyone to stay hush about your current condition, ignoring your pleas begging to attend just one dinner, despite his irritated promise to see you afterwards.
Except – while the festivities were still ongoing, he came to bring you food he personally selected, you had managed to sneak out, slipping past the pathetic guards, or maybe sweet talked them through a sliver of pity to allow you to walk through the garden at the worst possible time.
He stormed through, stomping as he made a mental list of men who wouldn't make it to the morning, sharp eyes scanning through the winding pathways and rose-lined trellises, searching for your energy amongst all the sorcerers here.
Bumping into a scrawny dark-haired man in the middle of the path, vaguely recognizing him as the Kamo head’s eldest son, the stupid startled expression that flashed on his face before he started stammering something about getting lost only making Sukuna scowl before he snapped at him to return to his father before he sent him to an early grave.
He didn't give a shit if there would be retribution, if his threat would amount to something more, his throat constricting and closing at the idea of some other stranger stumbling across you first.
Ripping down a trellis to break through the path, pushing through only to find you bent over and plucking a flower, recoiling at the sight of him when you glanced over your shoulder.
Guilt.
Written all over your face, in the way your mouth preemptively opened, ready to offer a weak excuse for something simply inexcusable.
It wasn't just you that you were putting in danger.
He dragged you back by your arm, tugging you through dimly-lit halls, your soft voice not reaching his ears even when you attempted to explain yourself.
It was only when he slammed the door shut and let go of you in your new chambers, your kimono doing nothing to disguise the clear outline of your stomach that he paused.
“I wish I never met you,” you whispered, pained, pulling away from him while his mouth twitched.
“You’d be fucking dead,” he bluntly said, his dinner churning in his stomach, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
“Maybe I would be better off,” you spat back.
He rolled his eyes, shaking his head as his thin tether to sanity threatened to snap.
“You’re-”
“You're punishing me,” you pointed out, interrupting him with a finger pressed against his chest where his heart would have been. It didn't feel like he had one anymore.
Maybe he was.
“I'm leaving.”
Why should he stay?
You were ungrateful. Maybe some time apart would make you remember how fortunate you were to be in this position.
Maybe going back to picking off sorcerers would burn off some of the betrayal, dull the blade of rage he felt every time he thought of this situation you were both stuck in.
He didn’t mean to be gone so long.
But there were battles to win, blood to be spilled. And it did make him feel better to see the bodies strewn on the ground, to climb up to the top of the world and look down on everyone else when he used to be at the bottom.
The letter came late. Too late for him to do anything actually worth anything. His estate had been besieged. Surrounded and cut off, only able to send out this single communication from one of the few servants that slipped out during the attack.
It seemed the Gojo’s had been waiting for the right moment to strike.
He didn’t rush back.
Maybe he should’ve. It wasn’t that he had confidence in the soldiers stationed there, in his own forces, but he thought he selected ones with any competence to know what to do. How to handle invaders – even if they were powerful sorcerers.
He took his time fighting his way there, slowly sending sorcerer after sorcerer to early graves. He was the strongest after all. Would go down in history as a monster instead of a man.
Not a single wretched soul was spared.
Although his own soldiers were picked off along the way, he kept moving. One foot in front of the others, carving a path back to you. Back to the small world he'd made for himself.
Slashing and cleaving through them, scoffing at their bold professions of how they’d be the one to take him down. They never were.
It began to get boring.
Monotonous when all it took was a few moves to leave them a whimpering bloody mess on the ground.
He figured the head of the Gojo clan would be waiting for him, probably poised and planning out some grand fight while he tried to wait out and starve everyone inside the estate. Let them grow weak enough they wouldn't be able to do anything to support Sukuna when he arrived.
But he never expected the white-haired asshole to be sitting outside of his gates, casually leaning against it and flipping through the pages before he glanced up with blindingly blue eyes.
“Ryomen Sukuna,” the fabled six-eyes user greeted him, a casual smirk curling up on his lips as his sharp stare dragged over him. He was still covered in scrapes, mere flesh wounds, but the man just grinned brighter, tossing the book to the side and standing up.
No servants. No guards.
Birds falling silent and the chittering of bugs fading to the background as he stared down the only person bold enough to try and take his place by force.
Sukuna wasn't in the fucking mood.
He hadn't been back in months, and this was his reward? There would probably be repercussions that came with killing the Gojo brat, but he was asking for it.
The freak didn’t even attempt to move out of the way when he sent the first slash, just taking it, but it didn’t even touch him.
Sukuna couldn’t help but laugh, amused at the prospect of putting down someone like him. Of an actual challenge for once.
Trading blows, dodges, gritting his teeth to push through the pain when a blow hit him only to grin when he managed to break through the technique that had been protecting his opponent, watching the cut blemish his previously clear complexion.
“I met your wife,” he called out, not even flinching as he wiped the blood from his cheek with the back of his hand. “She was pretty. Even with the baby.”
Sukuna saw red. Heat soaring through him, rage radiating through his veins. The fucker had to be lying. Maybe he heard of the baby through a servant he captured, but he had gotten it wrong. You weren’t his wife. Sukuna almost spat out something out that he would surely regret. That asshole didn’t need another reason to go seeking you out. To turn his attention away from Sukuna and to who was inside of the gate.
“You just missed her,” he continued, clearly mocking him, hands moving up, about to throw another attack before Sukuna sent another cleave he expertly maneuvered away from, the gate behind him splintering from the force.
“Shut up,” Sukuna hissed, knuckles clenching as he held them up, but his brain was faltering, failing to come up with what he needed to do when his thoughts had started to uselessly wander.
The fun he’d felt at the start was gone. Replaced with something raw, like every movement he made was stepping on glass, shards of it stuck inside his throat as he was caught off-kilter.
“She begged, you know,” he added. “Said you'd come back for her.”
The next few seconds were a broken blur. Throwing all of his cursed energy into a move, just a little too late to realize the white-haired man across from him was doing the same.
It was the aftermath that was clear. The slashed body cut in half in front of him, the blue eyes staring up at the mirrored sky, seeing nothing after a spoiled life of getting everything. Blessed to never know hunger or pain or suffering like him or you had.
And still, Sukuna knew he was dying too.
Even if he didn’t quite believe it. Couldn’t wrap his brain around the gaping hole in his side, his energy draining as he stumbled forward through the broken gate only to discover blood-soaked halls inside.
It wasn’t a siege. It was a slaughter.
Sukuna had done more than his share to see it for what it was. They were never trying to get his attention by holding his people hostage. They knew he didn’t care. So the clan killed them anyway.
He wasn’t sure when he started running, how his body was even capable of moving, but he had to see it anyway. Confirm what everything in his body was telling him when he couldn’t feel you anymore.
Your guards were gone.
The door was cracked open, his hand impulsively shooting out to shove it the rest of the way, as if he couldn’t smell what was inside.
But you were on the bed, curled up on your side, and he could almost believe for a second, you had been spared. He knew the truth though.
There was only death here.
Rolling you over to see your face, black encroaching on the edges of his vision as his body threatened to give out, blood dripping from his side down to the floor, onto your bed. The light had left your eyes. Nothing else there for him to find in there except a single unspoken accusation.
You're late.
He didn’t have enough cursed energy to repair the damage to himself.
But what was there left to live for anyway?
Warmth.
Hands that didn’t quite fit in his, boney fingers clinging to his palm, too little to belong to anything except a child. For a brief moment, he thought it was yours. His.
It couldn’t be. You were dead – and so was the baby growing inside you. It was impossible, and still, his mind betrayed him. Spawned treacherous images of a tiny thing that looked like you, annoyingly clingy and cute.
His eyes opened, still thick with sleep, blinking slowly as he tried to discern dreams from reality.
It wasn’t your child.
It was you.
Younger, your eyes still shut, lashes fluttering just slightly as he realized when this was. Where you both were.
Back in the old village, in the husk of an abandoned home, where you slept on a makeshift bed of straw and tattered blankets he’d stolen from someone’s trash. Dirt in your hair, shivering before you snuggled closer, exhaling softly as your head rested on his chest.
Breathing.
What sick joke was this?
There was nothing he’d done in his life to deserve a second chance. Was it some kind of hell to repeat his shitty life, cursed and condemned to a similar fate?
He let go of your hand, sitting up to shake your shoulders harder than he should, watching you startle as you weakly opened your eyes. Focus slowly aimed on him as your brows scrunched together, fingers tightening and grabbing his shirt.
“Mm, Sukuna?” You croaked, voice hoarse.
He blinked.
Laid back down, head throbbing as his dry mouth reminded him that he needed water. You were slow to move with him, body still heavy with exhaustion before he pulled you down again.
“Go back to sleep,” he grunted, pressing your head back down against him. Running through the possibilities, wondering if this was just his life flashing before his eyes, a memory he’d forgotten.
But it felt fucking real.
You went stiff, trying to peek up at him, but his palm pressed down on your hair, refusing to let you budge.
Had he really regressed? The clock turned back to a winter he hardly remembered?
“What’s happening?” You asked, but your words were small, muffled into his shirt.
“I’m just tryin’ to rest,” he grunted.
Dozing off without meaning too, something about the pressure of you on him, the faintly familiar feeling of you curled on his chest dragging him into dreams. He didn’t think he’d wake up.
But he did.
And he was still here with you, children once more, condemned to scraping through trash and digging up graves and bugs to fill your stomach. He loathed this weak body of his. The scrawny arms and legs that could barely make it more than a few miles in a day.
You were quieter than he remembered.
More self-conscious, more serious, your smile not quite reaching the same spots on your face. Somehow clingier at the same time, softer with him, not arguing nearly as much anymore over who got to eat what or nagging at him for being reckless. You held on tighter to him in the evenings, pulled him closer, picking flowers you knew he couldn’t appreciate. Pressed a chaste kiss against his forehead, whispered the word friend like it was something intimate. A glimmer of adoration he didn’t deserve still glittering in your eyes.
Would it still be there if you knew where you were both headed?
What had happened before? How you wasted away waiting for a monster who didn’t show up in time? Died for him?
Everything kept happening the same way it had before. You, stealing whatever food you could, narrowly avoiding getting caught and coming back to him with chilly hands and shaking limbs, affection in your words, rare laughter ringing in his ears long after it slipped from your lips. Him, struggling to get stronger, to feed the cursed energy inside him and train on a mostly empty stomach.
He woke up once to you staring at him in the middle of night after going hunting for two days on his own with two measly fish to show for it, your fingers delicately tracing the shape of his jaw before you froze, that funny flicker of guilt in the lines of your face.
“What are you doing?” Sukuna grumbled, unable to work up more than a weak glare.
“Missed you,” you muttered softly, dragging your small thumb over the deformed half of him, just underneath his eyes.
“It was only-” He started, stifling a yawn as you yanked him into you this time, your fingers sliding around to guide his head into the crook of your collarbone, despite the terrible pillow it made.
He fell back asleep there anyway.
Before he realized it, a whole year passed, then two, the seasons changing and shifting, your presence a constant pull by his side, and yet, one he refused to lean on.
Sukuna hadn’t learned his lesson.
Rejected what the world might be trying to show him as he insisted you eat the past-ripe crop while he stuffed himself with the one thing you still refused to take so much of a bite of. You were still clinging to humanity he no longer felt any kind of connection to in his second life.
“This place is wretched,” he muttered the next morning, shoving what few possessions he had in his sack. You were sorting through herbs you collected, not even glancing up when he spoke. Just silently stacking them, barely fucking reacting.
He huffed, loud enough you had to look. “Hm?”
“I’m going,” he insisted, remembering the first time you had this conversation. Where he announced that he wanted to go, wanted to leave this pitiful village and all the awful people in it. You grabbed him, whined about how dangerous it would be before caving in and clinging onto his hand as you asked to come with him.
He had grumbled, shrugging his shoulders, letting your clumsy feet trail after him down a dirt path.
Besides, there was no reason for him to stay here now either.
Why bother reliving the next few years of starvation and scraping together enough for both of you to survive?
“You’re leaving,” you echoed his sentiment, and he shoved down the uncomfortable suffocating feeling settling in his chest.
“There’s nothing for me here,” Sukuna somberly spoke.
You stood up, staring at him with an expression he didn’t understand. Arms folded across your chest, your lips pressed together in a thin line, ready to watch him walk away. Eyes hollow, daring him to say something else, to do something else. To not leave you alone like this.
Why weren’t you begging to go with him?
Tugging at his clothes and trying to convince him to take you too?
He could ask you to. The question was on his tongue, all it would take was a couple words. To grunt out a ‘well?’ or ‘come on’ and surely, you would listen. Would rush around to collect what little things you had and chase after him.
Sukuna’s throat was closing up, constricting tighter with every strained second of silence.
But he didn't say anything.
And all you had to offer was a little tilt of your head and a sad smile, swallowing hard before you said something he almost hated you for.
“I was happy.”
So he left like he said, stepped out and didn’t look back, scoffing under his breath once the village was out of sight that you’d come running sooner or later. Scramble to search for him, face the fact that you wouldn’t be able to survive without him.
What the hell had you even meant?
The only thing here was misery, curdling and coiling, trying to claw and claim his life and yours through starvation and sickness. In the scowls and stones thrown at him for simply having the misfortune of being born. What was there to even be happy about?
He pictured you huddled by a dying hearth, hands held out and shuddering, shutting down the thought before it could curse him.
Sukuna gave it a month before you realized you made a mistake.
You still needed him.
It was never him that needed you.
Getting stronger was easier when he didn’t have to look after you anywhere. Without needing to play babysitter or make sure you didn’t end up in the line of fire during fights. He fended for himself just fine.
Time slipped by faster.
He had more important things to focus on than the weather, redoing all those years of training with expertise from experience, forcing his body to catch up to his brain.
Eventually, he found a companion in a child he stumbled across. A sorcerer who couldn’t quite control their potential yet, but suited his needs just fine. Could cook for him, store food too. They were far more fucking obedient than you were, listened intently when he barked orders at them.
Uruame wasn’t you.
But he didn’t miss you.
He was fine living like this. Slaughtering without discrimination. Growing stronger far faster than he did in his last life. Avoiding the same petty mistakes that had resulted in injuries, acutely aware of the fact you weren’t there to nurse them anymore.
Honestly, other than that, he hardly thought of you at all.
Sometimes, he’d see you in his dreams, the older you, but rather than stuck in that small room, you were laying back in his chambers, one hand on your stomach, a lazy smile on your face while you read a book.
Or he’d wake up in the morning, reaching out for a hand that wasn’t there.
You probably weren’t even alive anymore.
In an unmarked grave or tossed out in the woods. Maybe you managed to get a job as a seamstress, or found a clan or lord to work for as a servant to stave off fate without him.
People were starting to whisper his name now, things getting thrown his way again now, fear sweeping across the land of the four-armed freak out for blood and bodies. If you wanted to find him, you certainly could.
So really, Sukuna had no reason to return.
Perhaps it was morbid curiosity, scratching an itch he’d been ignoring for what? Nearly ten years now? A decade had turned him from a skeleton to a curse, made more of muscle than anything else, his bulky frame far more menacing than it had been even in his last life. Well-tuned, energy coiling around him as he walked down familiar paths as he found himself standing on the outskirts of the place that had never really been home.
It looked almost the same.
And yet, the only thing that mattered was missing.
The frame of the place you both used to sleep under had caved in, the thatched roof fallen into a pile of debris, the rest of the houses intact. Their inhabitants cowering inside as he prowled down the street, glaring as he felt the world still.
Uruame was standing by his side, head bowed slightly down as they assessed the situation.
“Would you like me to go door-to-door?” They asked.
“Fine,” he tch-ed, shrugging his shoulders, his robes hanging loose as he walked ahead without them. There wasn’t a single trace of your energy. No sign to be found.
An elder stepped out, aged wrinkles doing nothing to disguise the tremble in his mouth as he welcomed the monster that had been born here so long ago.
“Ah, welcome-”
“Where is she?” He snarled before he could finish.
“Your friend?” He feigned innocence, taking pride in his position as if it meant anything when a single sweeping motion of Sukuna’s fingers could cleave through his skull if he chose. “Ah, I believe she left, what was it? Two springs ago?”
Tilting his head to the side, pretending this was a friendly conversation rather than his last words.
“Left?” Sukuna repeated, scoffing at the fucking notion you would just go.
Sukuna would search every home and rip every meager fucking foundation from the ground before he believed that you left.
“She didn’t say where-”
Blood was strewn against the mud wall of a home behind him, a scream ringing out from someone watching.
This was just a waste of his fucking time.
He burned every house down. Left the village for the third time in his life in ashes, dark rain coming down as the smell of meat burned his nostrils.
That would catch your attention, remind you that he existed if the elder had even been telling the truth. Sukuna considered the chance he was lying, that perhaps you had passed away long before he'd ever stepped foot back here on this pointless endeavor and the man had foolishly attempted to save everyone else by making up some story about you leaving.
But you didn't show up to scold him.
And eventually, the memory of you started to shrink. Maybe it was shoved down, forced under the surface while he focused on what he told himself was important. Defeating all the sorcerers he had so long ago, settling his score with the Gojo clan by catching them off-guard this time, razing their estate and refusing to spare so much as a single servant while the fear sparked and spread across the countryside as the cowards crawled into their shells and threw whatever they thought would satiate him out.
But not everyone was terrified.
The Kamo clan was just as interested in him in this life as the last, the head of it inviting him over for a proper tour of their own sprawling compounds, one Sukuna only begrudgingly accepted.
The man was strange, stitches etched across his forehead, but he agreed with Uruame's opinion that he might be useful in the future considering his output of cursed energy, so he tolerated his presence.
A potential future partnership.
He loathed to think that he needed a partner at all.
But even Sukuna had the sense to see why an ally like him might work out in his favor someday.
Despite how much he loathed this forsaken estate.
It was lavish, annoyingly so, traditionally designed and upholding the pillars of a lifestyle Sukuna still felt repugnance towards.
His partner refused to shut up, insisting they continue this irritatingly long conversation through their gardens, Uruame dutifully opening the door and taking notes for Sukuna as he nodded along to whatever he was spewing now.
Sprawling flower beds and arches adorned with roses, studying thorny stems wrapped around the trellis, a strange urge tempting him to pluck one. A faint memory started to float up, a name that plagued his dreams, but then he heard something he’d almost forgotten.
A pretty laugh. Soft and sweet.
A dessert he hadn’t tasted in so long, the taste was lost on him.
But he recognized it instantly.
He tried to ignore it. Focus on the boring political spiel he came here for, to shove it down, telling himself it had to be his imagination. A fractured remnant, dug up by these stupid fragrant flowers.
Until he felt it.
Sensed your presence, his head snapping in that direction to spot a picnic blanket spread out on the bank past a small koi pond. You were here. You were happier.
Dressed in silk robes, smiling as you popped a strawberry in your parted lips, the juice dripping down the corner of your mouth. A thumb reached out, dragging over it to keep you clean, and he repressed a sudden surge of pure rage.
Anger simmering at someone touching you like that, daring to put their filthy hands on what was his, his seething stare shifting to see some dark-haired man, a black tattoo stretching across the slope of his nose, brown eyes only focused on you.
He knew that face, even if it was just a distant image of a night he'd rather forget. The night you snuck out, the one from the gardens before he found you.
Kamo noticed his stare, chucking softly.
“That’s my son, Choso, and his fiancée,” Kamo informed him, nodding towards the two of you. “Would you like to meet-”
“No,” he interrupted, scowling at you playing house.
So this was where you found yourself?
Cozying up to the Kamo clan to secure a future for yourself? Instead of choosing him?
He wanted to laugh. Actually, he wanted to murder that runt, and then-
“He’s actually a few years older than you, but I doubt…” Kamo continued, and Sukuna felt one of his fists reflexively start to take the shape to send a slash his way, only quelled by that annoyingly bright giggle of yours as he brushed a finger over your lips. You fucking licked it. Running your tongue over his knuckle, reaching up to grab his hand and hold it there.
You left him for this?
Walked away from him to become the next womb for the fucking Kamo clan?
Too enraged to even realize he was the one who left you, all his muscles too tight, too tense, cursed energy flaring up as he fought to keep it under control here.
“Are you alright?” Kamo carefully asked, brows knitted together as Sukuna’s jaw flexed tight.
“Yes,” he managed a one-word reply, turning his head away from you.
Were you pretending he didn’t exist now? Was he a chapter in your story that you were choosing to forget?
His focus had shattered.
Fractured into something he couldn’t scrape together, his thoughts lingering on that infuriating expression of yours. For once, he was stuck on what to do. A possessive thing inside him curdling and demanding he take you back here and now, cut off every damn digit that had touched you.
But the splintered remnants of his reason reminded him that he was supposed to be here to form an ally.
Which probably wouldn’t appreciate him snatching his heir’s bride.
It made Sukuna fucking sick to think of you as another man’s wife.
One of Kamo’s assistants scurried up, bowing his head deeply before muttering something to his master. His face scrunched up, and he shook his head before looking up at Sukuna apologetically, “Would you excuse me for a few minutes?”
Sukuna only tch-ed, waving his hand as he glanced around the suddenly suffocating arched walkway of the garden.
“Feel free to look around as you please,” he politely said, but he didn’t miss the cruel glint in his eyes before he walked away. The look of a man who knew too much. Bored enough to enjoy other people’s misery.
Sukuna tried to walk away.
To continue down this path he’d picked, to push you and your pretty laughter back out of his mind. But it curved in on itself, and here it was again. There you were.
He couldn’t stop himself from looking.
You were sprawled out, hair in the grass, giggling happily at the boy in front of you. Sukuna thought he’d seen every expression of yours. Sad, starving, smiling, he was sure he’d known all of you.
But you never looked at him like that.
So free.
Unburdened, unbridled by what, exactly? Him?
“You’re beautiful,” you murmured to your groom, grinning as he gripped your legs and hooked them around his waist. Your robes mused, pushed up to reveal plush thighs, soft skin that still made his mouth water, spit pooling in the back of his throat as this fool failed to appreciate-
“I could live a thousand years and I would trade them all just for this moment to last,” he spoke quietly, his chest rising and falling too fast, like he had to hurry to get the words out. Assured, the kind of certain Sukuna wasn’t sure he ever gave you.
“Would you?” You teased, one corner of your lips curling up higher than the other, clearly past pleased.
The man, this Choso of yours, nodded, acting like a loyal knight as he craned his neck down to kiss the tip of your nose. You wrapped your wrists around his neck like he was some missing puzzle piece, fiddling with the ends of his hair as you sighed with contentment.
“Tell me more,” you requested.
Sukuna didn’t want to hear it. Didn’t want to hear this poor excuse of poetry and confessions as he watched from the sidelines like some sick voyeur, all four eyes stuck on the familiar curves of your body as your betrothed shoved your clothes to the side to shove himself in you.
Could it even be considered fucking?
All slow and tender, treating you like some fragile thing that might break, rocking his hips against your body as you dug your heels into his back. Kissing your mouth instead of sucking on your tits, caressing your exposed skin rather than holding you down.
And yet, you were making more sounds with him than you did with Sukuna, tiny whimpers that hung in the air, moans that ended up muffled in that bastard’s mouth. Writhing and wiggling your hips like he wasn’t an amateur.
“I would do anything for you,” he whispered, and Sukuna nearly snorted, sure that he had no idea what anything really meant. Would he starve for you? Kill for you? How far would he go just to call you his?
Because right now, Sukuna was considering stomping over and cleaving him into his next meal to make sure he’d never be able to see you again, and he was fairly certain that your Choso couldn’t say the same.
“All I want,” you purred, eyes opening slowly and fluttering, flooded with pleasure Sukuna unfortunately had to face he did miss. “Is for you to stay with me.”
You didn’t even know Sukuna was there, and yet it still stung.
Felt like an arrow aimed directly at his heart.
“Of course,” Choso answered easily, head bobbing, dark strands hanging down as his next thrust left you tossing your head back.
Sukuna would do anything for you. But he just couldn’t get himself to be there.
“I love you,” he moaned, rutting harder, even faster, your thighs locking him into place as you giggled at his expression. Sukuna stalled, staring uselessly at the moron’s cock drunk confession.
“I love you too,” you sweetly whispered back, brushing his hair back from his face.
He had to step away before he saw anything else.
Before he got to watch the man cum inside you the way he used to, before he made another decision that would destroy his life – and yours.
Sukuna didn’t know peace. He never had any to offer you.
When he stepped back, he had the misfortune of stepping on a tiny twig, as if his afternoon wasn’t awful enough.
Your head snapped up first, your eyes locking onto his, and he saw the recognition before the guilt. How you held your breath, the light dissipating from that warmth you radiated as if his shadows swallowed you whole.
And he didn’t know what gave it away, what little detail in your face did it, but he realized something he failed to fucking notice for far too long.
This had never been his second chance. This was yours.
He had never deserved it. Or you.
You knew it too.
The universe tried to spare you, and he got tangled up in it. Your soul and his were still tied together even when the world attempted to give you a new life.
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Summary: Your long-term relationship with your bodyguard-slash-personal assistant Lee Heeseung goes way back in high school. Ever since then, he keeps your heart guarded and humbled in every possible way since your makeup line started to rise into fame. But when a dating scandal tied you with your brand's ambassador, leading to a PR stunt that will last for two years, that's when you realized that your relationship with Heeseung was starting to crumble because of the fortune and popularity.
Fourth installment of Big reputations series.
✰ Song inspirations: King of my heart by Taylor Swift, National Anthem by Lana del rey, Midnight Rain by Taylor Swift
✰ Word count: 22.7k
✰ Tags: CEO au, bodyguard/assistant au, established relationship, secret relationships, aged-up characters (they’re both in their early 30s) relationship conflicts, jealousy, ANGST, mild fluff ig, smut!!! misunderstandings, rumors, breakups (and getting back together,) heeseung is such a green flag and down bad (fuck yesss), usage of korean honorifics. mentions of kpop idols.
✰ CW: plot with porn, smut, service dom! Heeseung, p in v sex, unprotected sex (pls dont), cumming inside, bathtub sex, praise, petnames, riding, fingering, kinda breeding kink, idk what else to tag but this is just soft shitty smut and they’re very much in love.
✰ Asul's note: FUCK YES ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP WITH CONFLICTS, one of my favorite tropes to write. After almost two months I was able to finish this one, thank god. Anyways, I eyeballed everything so don’t come after me and yeah, buckle up because this is going to be a long-ass ride. Not proofread by the way.
The hallways were empty and lights were dimmed throughout the whole building. The only lights that were on were in your office where you sat on your couch, analyzing the latest product campaign for your new lip gloss collection.
You leaned against the headboard too casually like you’re in your house, but it shouldn’t surprise you either since you basically treat your office like it's your own home. Eleven pm was still early for you to go home. There are a lot of things that you still need to check and approve before the meeting tomorrow — you want to make sure that everything will be flawless after all.
Then a soft knock echoed inside the empty office, completely startling you. Your hands scrunched the paper you were holding as you looked up at the person who disturbed you.
“It’s eleven in the evening,” he said. “I think it’s time to go home.”
“Give me five minutes.” you quickly said before shifting your attention towards your paper.
“You said that thirty minutes ago.”
You only smiled, “and yet you let me go past five minutes.”
“Okay, that is enough, let’s go home y/n,” Heeseung said in defeat before walking towards you. You were quick enough to dodge his hands as you gave him a glare.
“Heeseung.”
“Love.” he dictated and your heart skipped.
“Damn you Lee, I thought endearments aren’t allowed inside the office?” you cursed at him.
“During office hours, and it’s just the two of us here,” he explained and with you distracted, Heeseung snatched the papers off your hands. You could only groan as a complaint when he returned to your table to put down the papers. After that, he grabbed all your stuff before approaching you once again.
“Come on now, or do you want me to carry you on the way towards the elevator Miss l/n?” he asked.
You chuckled to his suggestion. Grabbing your bag from him, you put on your shoes and stood up to face him, “I don’t think that the securities will be pleased to see their boss being carried by her bodyguard Mr. Lee.”
“I am your bodyguard for a reason,” he pointed out.
“That wasn’t part of your job description.” you joked and Heeseung merely laughed at your words. You walked out of the office first, and eventually, Heeseung followed behind after grabbing his bag. Walking behind at a safe distance until you two entered the elevator.
The two of you went inside the elevator together, Heeseung pressed the button of the underground parking, and the silence devoured you two in a tension that crawled on both of your skin. You two were an inch apart and yet, it kills both of you to be at that distance.
“Your place? Or mine?” Heeseung asked suddenly.
“Mine,” you simply said before opening your bag. As the elevator reached its destination, you lent Heeseung the keys of your car which he accepted without any questions.
The two of you went to the only car inside the parking lot. Heeseung unlocks the car’s door, opening the door of the passenger seat for you. You gave him a smile as you went inside before he closed it and went to the driver’s seat.
It had become a routine. An act that you two had memorized and danced around for years. The moment Heeseung started the engine, your shoulders relaxed and you could finally breathe again.
“Do you want some food?” he asked as he started to drive away from the building.
You shake your head, massaging your temples as you feel your head spinning. “Just tired.”
““I want to go straight to bed” tired or “I needed something relaxing to do” tired?” he asked once again while his eyes were fixed on the road.
“The latter.”
“What do you want to do then?”
“A bath? Maybe something to soak into,” you mumbled as you leaned on the window, you watched as the car passed by stores and establishments that were closed at the dead of the night. Now that you had gotten out of your office, you suddenly felt weary and tired.
“Just take a nap, I’ll wake you up when we’re home,” Heeseung ordered and it felt like a spell because you unknowingly let out a yawn.
Before you knew it, your eyes closed by itself, drifting to your slumber. The car was quiet as Heeseung only drove smoothly. Eyes on the road as he lets you sleep throughout the whole drive.
As soon as you two reached the building of your house and parked at the garage, Heeseung turned off the engine and glanced at you.
“Hey,” he tapped your shoulder lightly and in a split second, you woke up, glancing at him who gave you a smile.
“We’re home.” Heeseung announced as he removed your seatbelt.
“Thank you love,” you mumbled.
As the two of you walked out of the car together, you couldn’t help but to lean against Heeseung’s side, a subtle way to break down the gap between the two of you. Heeseung knew what it meant and gently, he placed his arms around your shoulders and pulled you close to him. It was each other’s cue — the two of you are free to move now.
Because behind closed doors and private moments, you and your personal guard-slash-assistant Lee Heeseung were lovers. A love that goes way back in high school. Way back in your small hometown where you and Heeseung lived in the same street, went to the same school, wherein your friendship bloomed into a young, puppy love that seemed to be perfect like the movies.
They say never mix business with pleasure, and you make sure that your private life is completely uninvolved in your company. Especially now that your makeup brand has become a consistent trend globally, everyone’s eyes are also on you. Having been present in every collection launch and talks, you were the face of your brand — the spotlight will always be on you, that’s why you wanted to make sure that your personal background would remain unexposed to the world.
While your lover? Heeseung preferred to be in the shadows. A few feet apart from you, assisting and guiding you in every step you make. He made sure you remained grounded, and you’re thankful that he’s always there watching after you. He wasn’t just an assistant in your company — everyone knows how important Lee Heeseung is to their boss.
Still, no questions about your relationship with him. They merely see it as something professional, and perhaps because the two of you are great with hiding your relationship in public.
The reason why it remained private? Simple — Heeseung doesn’t want to be in the spotlight. He just doesn’t want to. End of discussion. It was his only request and you knew that it was for the best for the two of you. Having a relationship revealed in public could end up with unsolicited advice from strangers, the continuous questions about your status rather than your own business, and of course, rumors and scandals that may ruin one’s reputation.
Hence why you two continued loving in secret. Your status remained a mystery to the whole world and you only gave them a smile whenever they asked you whether you're single or not.
“Does it matter?” it’s always been your answer. There’s no interview of yours wherein they ask about your status and every interview, that’s your answer. They seem like they have grown tired of your answer. The public seemed to have concluded that you’re just a strong, independent woman who didn’t need a man, while the man who always trails behind you was just nothing but your bodyguard.
If only they knew, sometimes you wished they knew how tender Heeseung’s love is for you. How he treats you so delicate yet admires your serious side especially inside the office. You wanted to brag about it to other people, but you remained quiet because you didn't want to be a selfish one who couldn’t comply with her lover’s only wish.
But perhaps, Heeseung was the selfish one here, since he didn’t want to share to the public how he loves you. You two could’ve been a great image of a long-lasting love but maybe, things like that are meant to be a quiet form of love.
Despite that, your relationship with Heeseung has been going strong ever since you said yes when he asked you if he can be your boyfriend. It’s not perfect, you’ll admit. There are flaws and challenges you two had to face, but everything seems to be peaceful now. Your relationship has become secure ever since.
“I can’t believe it’s only Wednesday,” you complained the moment you entered the bathroom.
The bathtub was halfway full. Everything’s warm and smelled like lavender. Heeseung was by the cabinet, returning the scent oils you two keep while you hummed in contentment. You grabbed a hair tie and tied your hair in a messy bun enough to keep it dry during the bath.
“You’re overworking yourself too much, that’s why,” Heeseung answered. You only chuckled in his words before you started to undress yourself, same goes with him.
“Well, this is my life Hee,” you pointed out after shrugging the last garments. “And it will always be. Who am I if not a good CEO who’s hands-on to her company and people?”
Heeseung faces you. His expression was soft yet filled with worry, “I know my love, and I’m proud of you. But sometimes, you have to put yourself first, alright? It might deteriorate your health at some point.”
“It won’t, you’re there to look after me after all,” you said with full confidence.
“Of course, I will always be here,” he assured before planting a kiss on your lips.
You kissed him back — just enough to feel his lips and love for you. The tension started to rise and the room became hotter as Heeseung’s hold on your face tightened, a breathy groan escaped his mouth as his movement became hungrier, eager for more that it became too much. You pulled away from him in a second, catching your breath as his hands let go of you.
“I’m too tired for sex love,” you told him immediately, and he only stared at you, nodding before giving you a smile.
“Okay, it’s okay love, should we get into the bath?” he offered and you nodded.
The bath tub was almost full when you and Heeseung settled inside the bath tub. The water was enough to cover you two. You leaned your back against Heeseung’s chest and everything moved out of instinct. Heeseung grabbed the loofa nearby, lathering it with enough soap before he grabbed your arms, carefully scrubbing it.
“You don’t have to do this,” you whispered to him and a kiss on the temples was all you got.
“But I want to,” he insisted, and his careful touches were enough for you to relax against his warmth as he continued cleaning every part of your body.
Heeseung had already memorized every part of your body. He knew you like the back of his hand that he knew which sigh was out of relief or out of contentment. He knew that when you rubbed your ears, it was out of discomfort or how you fiddle your fingers out of anxiety.
Or when you rubbed your shoulders with your thumb gently caressing it, you’re eager for something — that’s when he stopped. Placing down the loofa beside and letting you settle down on his chest again. Your thumb left your shoulders and instead was placed on his hands that were wrapped around your stomach area. You started playing with his slender fingers, intertwining with it which he squeezed lightly as answer, making you giggle at the act.
“Contended?” he asked.
“I love it,” you smiled. “A relaxing bath with my loving boyfriend, everything’s perfect love.”
Heeseung hummed at your answer. You rested further on his weight, head on the corner of his shoulder which instinctively made Heeseung kiss your temples.
You closed your eyes as you found yourself relaxed at the tranquil silence. Ignoring how your lover’s hands started to travel around your body, since Heeseung has always been touchy with you.
But slowly, his right hand trailed from your stomach down your pussy. You open your eyes out of surprise when he starts playing with it.
“Love —” but you were cut off when Heeseung hushes you, slender fingers gently rubbing your clit in circles making you lean against him further. “Ha — shit.”
“You wanted to relax, right? Just let me do my work,” he kissed the end of your shoulder while his fingers did good motions on your bud. “Just relax my love. It’s just us, let yourself fall.”
A deep exhale escaped your lips as he drew eights on your clit at just the right pace. Enough to make you moan and give your body little twitches every second. You could hear his contended hum as his left hand travelled on the swell of your breasts. Gently fondling your left curve which left you wanting more.
“Heeseung — please,” you whispered and before he could ask, you turned your head on him and captured his lips in which he reciprocated immediately. The kiss was gentle and careful. His lips guided yours in a careful motion, before you pushed yourself deeper on him, earning an earthy chuckle from your lover.
“What happened to ‘no sex’ tonight?” he teased.
“We’re just kissing,” you stated. “Just — please, I just want to feel good.”
Heeseung hummed for a second before inserting his callous fingers inside your entrance, completely catching you off-guard.
“Love — oh!” his fingers curled at your spot immediately, earning a shaky moan from you. You fell immediately to his touch, breathing becoming unstable as he continued to play with your insides. Your warm walls hugged his fingers, needy and eager to grasp its roughness as Heeseung’s fingers did scissoring motion in a fast pace before curling at the spot that had you seeing stars.
“Hee!” your right hand found its way to his arms but your lover only hushed you quietly, a broken sob escaped your lips as you looked at him. “Please?”
“Are you going to cum now love? That fast?” he teased with a smirk and as much as his tone annoyed you, you nodded to his question, eager for release and an orgasm that hopefully might wash off today’s stress.
Heeseung locked his lips on yours again, hungrier and rougher which you reciprocated with much desire. His finger continued abusing your hole until you broke down — moaning in his lips as your toes curled at the sensation, pussy clamping his fingers but that didn’t stop him, and instead, Heeseung pulled out without any hesitation and rubbed your clit fast.
“Stop! Hee —” you gripped on his shoulders tight, your back ached as his hands didn’t stop playing with your clit until you were a crying mess. You were catching your breath when he stopped while you remained shaky by the aftermath.
You don’t even know if you were exhausted or relaxed by his actions, and yet, you let your lover shower you with kisses and hum as he wrapped his arms around your stomach. Contented with his actions while you close your eyes again in attempts to relax.
“You did good my love,” he whispered to you as he planted a kiss on your temples. You only hummed in response, body finally relaxing as the high slowly started to dissolve. You leaned back against him but you weren’t ignorant with the way his thick cock poked against your back.
“Love, you’re hard.” you told him.
“I know, but It’ll down die later.” he answered immediately and that made you turn around and look around him.
“It’s unfair on your part,” you said before shifting your position to face him.
“Love, you said you’re too tired for sex and I understand. I did it to relax you further, not lead you onto having sex with me,” he explained and as much as you wanted to be flattered by his soft explanation, you couldn’t help but to crave for more especially when his huge shaft stood tall in front of you.
“Yeah, but I couldn’t relax further now, you riled me up Hee,” you objected.
Heeseung raised an eyebrow, “you sure?”
And instead of answering him, you shifted further close to him. Your knees scraping against the marbled surface of the bathtub before you grabbed his dick, pumping it a few times before you aligned it on your pussy.
“I want this,” you answered back before you felt his bulbous tip opening your entrance further, making you moan at the sensation as you slowly sinked down to his cock.
“You feel so good love,” you whispered to him as you felt yourself full and filled while your pussy swallowed his cock whole. You leaned close to him and sealed his lips with a kiss before gazing at him. His round bambi-like eyes turned sharp and lustful making you smirk as you cup his cheeks gently.
“Just relax for me, love alright?” with that, you moved your hips. Going up and down as the water started to spill outside the tub. Your pace slowly became fast as you felt the sensation of your cervix getting rammed by Heeseung’s cock.
Heeseung rested on the edge of the bathtub. Hands on your waist as he watches you bounce on his dick, eager to get him off, even though the mere view of you on top of him was enough. The breathy moans that escaped your lips every time his tip kissed your cervix, the way your expression distorted in pleasure while your tits bounced at every movement. Heeseung could only curse under his breath — he’s the only one who could see this side of you after all.
“Fuck, keep going love,” Heeseung moaned before capturing your breast with mouth. He looked up to you, watching you throw your head back out of pleasure as his tongue swirled around your hardening bud. Your grip on his shoulder tightened as he held you firm on your waist, guiding you in your movement.
“Hee — oh my gosh!” you shouted as you became more rougher, knees reddening against the surface but it only drove you further to make your lover cum.
“That’s it love — fuck, your pussy’s sucking me good y’know?” he spoke into you, pushing you further until your pussy’s starting to tighten around his cock.
“Fuck, why am I — I’m supposed to make you cum!” you cried, but you didn’t stop, you continued your actions because you could feel your orgasm brewing in your pit.
“It’s no worries love,” Heeseung assured. “Come here.”
Heeseung pulled you for another hungry kiss, you let yourself fall back as you kissed him. Hands tightening on his shoulder while you continued bouncing on his dick — the same time he started thrusting upwards to meet your movements.
The pleasure became more intense. Everything felt overwhelming, filled with eagerness as both of you followed a rhythm that only you two could do. The tub that used to be full is now halfway empty due to the roughness of your actions, too hungry for the pleasure of each other’s warmth.
And perhaps, you two are just madly, deeply, in love with each other, because the moment you two broke off the kiss, and you let yourself rest on Heeseung’s shoulder, your lover continued the act for you, knowing that your stamina is lower than him.
You came before he could’ve, but Heeseung didn’t care at all. He had loved that you tried even though you insisted that you’re not in the mood for sex tonight. That’s why he took over, taking care of you just like he always does.
It didn’t take a while for him to cum too. He relaxed underneath your touch, arms tight around your waist as his cum spilled inside you, warm and thick, you could only whine in satisfaction of being filled by your lover.
“You did good love,” Heeseung assured. Rubbing your back gently as he kisses your temple. You only hummed as you let yourself be assured by your lover.
“‘M sorry,” you mumbled, head resting on his shoulder as you find yourself becoming drowsy, tiredness finally hitting you.
“No worries love,” he repeated. “Should we get out now? The water’s cold now, maybe we should take a quick shower to wash our body further.”
You nodded as an answer before your lover carried you to move towards the shower area. The shower was quick with Heeseung washing every inch of your body while you stood there, tired and on the verge of sleeping.
After changing into sleeping clothes and having your hair dried. The two of you returned to the bedroom — not until you grabbed your phone because that’s when you noticed the numerous missed calls from your employee.
“It’s Jungwon,” you announced as you looked at your phone.
“At this hour?” Heeseung tried to snatch your phone but you managed to dodge his hands.
“It might be important,” you stated, knowing how the younger one could be.
Heeseung crossed his arms, “it’s past midnight, things like that are unprofessional y/n.”
“But he won’t be calling me at this hour if it wasn’t important,” you reasoned out.
“Because you enable this habit of his,” Heeseung interjected. “Come on now, let’s go to sleep. We still have work tomorrow —”
“Five minutes,” you pleaded. “Just five minutes and I’d be in bed.”
Heeseung stared at you for a second. He only shook his head before he nodded, “fine, five minutes.”
You smiled at him before planting a kiss on his lips. “Love you.”
Heeseung hummed, accepting your gesture as he smiled shortly, “love you too.”
He watched as you left the room while he made himself comfortable on your king-sized bed. The silence was killing him. You should’ve been in bed, cuddling with him to sleep but Heeseung knew how important your company is to you that you just couldn’t help but to look after it at this ungodly hour.
Heeseung decided to just kill time by playing some online game, something worth five minutes while waiting for you. He grabbed his phone and opened some of his games — and he finished it within five minutes.
He looked at the bedroom door and you’re still outside. Still talking to Jungwon who’s probably talking his heart out about whatever idea he has that he had to bug you late at night. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he looked up at the ceiling. He pondered about whether to get up and grabbed you to go to sleep, but the bed became too comfortable for him to move. Heeseung finds himself tired now too.
Five minutes turned into ten, until slowly, Heeseung lost track of time and he had drifted off to sleep without you on his side.
-
Your company has always been a bustling building that smelled like rose and soft eucalyptus.
The atmosphere has always been light. Bright greetings and warm smiles welcomed you in which you reciprocated naturally as you made your way towards your office. You always made sure that your employees aren’t intimidated by you. Limitations exist but you didn’t want them to deem you unapproachable.
Meanwhile, Heeseung was behind you, casual and relaxed while carrying your bag — a daily sight for everyone. They knew Heeseung was your personal assistant, and they knew how meticulous he was when it came to his job. They always joke about it. Wherever you are, there’s Heeseung trailing behind you.
Still, they never question your relationship with Heeseung. Especially when you two keep it professional and at distance whenever there are employees around.
“Good you’re here,” Jungwon, your creative director, greeted. He was sitting casually on the couch when you entered the office.
“You’re too excited for your proposal Mr. Yang,” you smiled at him as you went to your desk chair. Heeseung placed down your bag at the table, greeting Jungwon midway.
“Well I am because I think this is going to be the turning point of our company Ms. l/n. Trust me on this one,” he insisted, filled with enthusiasm that you couldn’t bear to ignore.
“You said that last night too, and I can trust your suggestion as always. Please gather every section head and hold a meeting at ten, I’ll be there immediately,” you ordered and with that, Jungwon nodded.
“I already gave them a gist of it and they like the idea. All I need is your approval if I am going to be honest.”
“Well, I am listening,” you answered. “What you propose has always been for the good of the company, so who am I to say no?”
“Good, that’s good call Ms. l/n, I’ll see you later at ten,” and with that, Jungwon left the office. You only crossed your arms as a chuckle escaped your lips.
“Always an enthusiastic kid,” Heeseung commented with a chuckle.
“He has so much potential that it’s scary sometimes,” you added. “But it’s good potential, I like how he went from that anxious intern back then to a more confident board member in our company.”
Heeseung nodded, “I wonder what he’s planning to propose this time.”
“We’ll learn about it in the meeting, but for now, how about a warm cup of coffee?” you asked, glancing at him with a nod.
“Of course Miss,” he answered with a formal tone, and that was your cue. The two of you are in your office personas. No more petnames, or sweet gestures. He’s now your assistant, while you’re his boss.
-
The conference room was cold yet it was filled with anticipation as you sat in the middle chair. Heeseung sat on your right, Ipad in front of him as he was readying himself to jot down important details during the meeting.
Jungwon was already in front, pacing back and forth, mumbling some words under his breath which you find amusing. Soon, every chair was filled with the section head who seemed confident about today’s agenda.
“Now that we’re here, should we get the meeting started Mr. Yang?” you stated, loud and clear enough for your other employees to be quiet.
“Of course! Without further ado, the reason why I called everyone in this meeting was because I have found Mayumi beauty, a new brand ambassador,” Jungwon proposed, and you raised an eyebrow.
Heeseung glanced at you. A brand ambassador? This one’s not new to you but it’s been months since you last had an ambassador. You weren’t able to find another one who’s suited for the image of your brand.
You watched as the presentation changed its slide. Jungwon clicked the video revealing a GRWM video from an idol. You weren’t familiar with musicians and singers, but you had found him appealing.
He had strong masculine features, sharp jaws and eyes, and a pretty bare face. He spoke with much softness as he went on with how he does his skincare routine.
“And this, I use this as my toner — this is my last bottle actually, and I heard this one’s discontinued, so shoutout to the owner of Mayumi beauty, please don’t. I need this toner, this one’s mild and doesn’t irritate my face at all,” he then laughed before gently placing the product on his face. He was careful with it, delicate like patting a baby’s skin.
You couldn’t help but to stare at him longer. Finding his features and movement gentle and clean, he seemed perfect.
“Stealer’s Jay?” one employee asked.
“Stealer has a good reputation. Ten years in the industry, no scandals, no controversies, they’re good-looking too,” Jungwon explained “I chose Jay specifically because one, he supports our products, and two, he’s the nation’s gentleman. His gentle and masculine aura is suitable for Mayumi’s calm and colorful branding. Plus, this video was just released yesterday. It trended worldwide and now, fans are demanding to buy the toner.”
“If we are able to get him as our ambassador, we could re-launch the night sky collection again, and it’ll be in demand this time,” you mumbled under your breath, deeply pondering about the possibilities of your collection becoming popular if you release it at the moment along with Stealer’s Jay becoming the face of your brand.
“That’s true! With that, we could also release a variety of skincare collections aside from makeup products, this is the perfect timing Miss l/n that I am talking about,” your director pointed out. A few employees agreed, while you remained quiet, deeply pondering about it as your eyes never left the screen where Jay’s face was plastered.
You didn’t even notice how your lover’s stare lingered on you for too long.
He could see it. The glimpse of hope in your eyes — the feeling wherein someone had appreciated your products. The Night sky care routine was one of your first collections that you had released. It was a risk, venturing to skin care from makeup products. Heeseung advised you to take it slow and focus on makeup products, but you were persistent.
In the end, the sales weren’t good compared to your makeup products. You were forced to stop the production and just let it run out of stock. It took you years to return the loss in profit that you never tried to launch other products aside from makeup products.
“Would he accept it?” you asked. “You know how some labels are wary about endorsement deals, if he’s really that popular, it would be probably hard for us to reach out to him.”
“Trust me in this one boss, I know how to contact Jay’s manager directly, give me a week and we’d have Jay as our brand ambassador in no time.” Jungwon answered with full confidence and you didn’t object further. He knew what he was doing and with your silent approval, that’ll be enough for him to get his phone and reach out to Jay’s manager.
You nodded, a quick glance from Heeseung who only eyed Jungwon.
“Then give me an update within the week.” you settled and Jungwon seemed satisfied with your answer.
The meeting ended immediately. No further concerns were addressed to you. The whole day passed by in a blur. Meetings and shortcomings that were adjourned immediately like a piece of cake. The day felt like your typical day in your life as a cosmetic brand’s owner.
Everything feels fine but you noticed it. The quiet and reserved mood of your boyfriend. He was quiet after the meeting. Formal and distant that it confused you all of the sudden.
“Mr. Lee, please come to my office now,” you ordered. It was three in the afternoon, and you’re not going to wait until five. It’s eating you alive. Heeseung’s the type to keep his concerns all by himself and you didn’t want his worries to be bottled up in his mind.
“Yes, Ms. l/n, is there anything that you want?” he asked using his formal tone. He stood tall in front of you. Hands clasped behind his back, patient as he waits for your words.
“You’ve been quiet since the meeting, is there something wrong about it? You can tell me,” you told him immediately.
Heeseung stared at you for a second. He looked like he’s pondering whether to lie or not. But you knew your lover, you’d be able to catch even the smallest white lie that would slip out of his mouth. That’s why you gave him an assuring smile and you witnessed how his shoulder relaxed.
“Do you really want it? A new ambassador, and releasing an old collection?” he asked. “You’re doing fine now with your makeup collection, why venture out further?”
“Why not Hee? It’s the perfect timing, you see how in demand the toner at the moment, we should be able to get that momentum immediately especially when Stealer’s Jay made it trend too,” you answered immediately before raising an eyebrow. “Unless you don’t trust my choices.”
“Of course not, and I am sorry if I crossed the line with my words,” he immediately replied and it made your forehead creased. The Heeseung you’re talking to right now is your assistant, not your lover.
You stood up from your chair, walking towards him who remained from his place. As you come face to face with him, just a few inches close to each other, your eyes are locked on him.
This distance felt wrong. You two aren’t allowed at this distance especially when at any moment, someone might walk into your office.
But you were concerned about Heeseung, a thin line forming on your lips as you tried to search for his gaze. “Is this about having a male ambassador?”
“Would it be stupid if I said yes?” he answered and you only smiled. Your hands find their way towards his neck tie, proper and clean, and yet you acted like you fixed it.
“He’s just a brand ambassador, we had tons of male ambassadors before, this is not the first time Heeseung.” you assured.
He was quiet for a minute before he said, “just a bad hunch about this.”
“Bad hunch? What do you mean?”
“I don’t know either,” he simply stated. “But my guts are telling me something.”
You chuckled at his words. “Maybe you’re just hungry Mr. Lee, why don’t you go out and buy us some instant ramen at the family mart? I’m kinda craving it too.”
But Heeseung didn’t move. He only stared at you which made you flinch, his eyes told you that he's not joking, and you immediately understood it.
“You don’t have to worry, love,” you swore to him. “This is simply just work.”
“I know,” he replied. “I just, everything feels funny to me right now. Maybe you’re right, maybe I’m just hungry.”
Guilt hovered over you as his words were a sigh of defeat. Before Heeseung could turn his back, you grabbed him by his sleeves. He was surprised by your actions but everything faded when you gave him a smile.
“This is nothing Heeseung, you know that my heart belongs to you,” you told him.
“I know, and I’m sorry for making you worry about me.”
“I like it sometimes, when I worry about you,” you smiled. “Relationships should be equal after all.”
Heeseung only nodded, your heart became calm as you noticed that he seemed satisfied with your conversation.
“We’ll be okay Heeseung,” you said using your softest tone. “Okay?”
His shoulders relaxed. Eyes locked on you as he held your hands, squeezing it for a second before letting go.
“Always,” he answered and that assured you.
A soft gesture. An exchange of words that you two stole from the movie, “The fault in our stars.” Heeseung thought that the ‘okay’ was too cliche, while you, on the other hand, think that ‘always’ was too absurd. In the end, it became a corny thing for the two of you to say to assure each other. Something more meaningful than “I love you,” because you two only knew what it meant.
And for the following years the two of you had been together, those words became constant. A gentle reminder that you love each other unconditionally.
-
Park Jongseong was brooding and charismatic. At the age of thirty-one, he’s one of the prominent stars in the k-industry. Main vocal and leader of Stealer — a three-member male group, they have been dominating the charts and general public ever since they debuted. Never fading, never out-trended by their younger juniors.
In less than a week, Jongseong’s label agreed to the endorsement deal. The following week, he’s in your company building, for the contract signing and first photoshoot of the collection.
Everyone gushed at him. How can they not? Park Jongseong was not only charismatic, he was also charming and a gentleman. Soft-spoken yet humorous to begin with. He had managed to swoon everyone inside the room with just his mere presence and aura.
Most of all, he had managed to capture your attention. You welcomed him with a warm handshake and smile, his expression immediately light-up the moment he saw you. The two of you conversed during the contract signing and his gentle demeanor made you put your trust in him within a few minutes of getting to know him.
“I am serious Ms. l/n, your products saved my life,” he said with much sincerity which made you smile wider.
“Same goes to you Mr. Park, suddenly, there’s a boost in our sales and demands. I am honored that you agreed to be our ambassador.” you replied, not noticing how Jongseong’s smile became wider as he looked at you.
“I am honored too, to be chosen as an ambassador from a gorgeous woman like you.”
The compliment caught you off-guard. The soft squeals and teasings from your employees could be heard but you only laughed it off before you asked one employee to guide Jongseong towards the makeup room. The teasing never stopped and yet, you ignored it as you proceeded to talk to Jungwon about other details.
The atmosphere during the shoot was light. Everyone was in a good mood. Music filled the place as Jay struck a pose professionally in front of the camera. He looked clean with subtle makeup, holding the product in his hand as he gazed at the camera. He was mesmerizing to say, compliments echoed inside the room, boosting his confidence further.
You were monitoring behind the screen. Arms crossed as your face observed Jay’s professionalism. He’s easy to work with. A natural that even if he just stood there, he’d be able to sell the product. He was able to give his own insights, making the photoshoot quick and laid-back.
“This is perfect,” you mumbled. A proud smile on your face as you stare at Jay.
“I told you, I got you boss,” Jungwon proudly answered and you only pat the younger’s shoulders as an act of gratitude.
“Thank you,” you heaved out a sigh. You couldn’t believe it. Your collection would be given another chance. Everything wouldn’t happen if it wasn’t for Jungwon’s idea. The thought had made your heart swell in pride. You have achieved another goal. You were able to venture outside your makeup products and everything is going smoothly given that you had scored a famous idol as your endorser.
The shoot finished late at night. Everyone was tired yet warmly congratulated everyone for a successful wrap. Jay had approached you and you only gave him a smile as you accepted his hands. Congratulations and words of gratitude started off the conversation until the two of you ventured out, going from one topic to another.
Everyone seems to have gushed at the two of you, but you chose to laugh it off. Remaining at a safe distance with the idol who seems eager to get to know you.
You didn’t even notice that Heeseung has been staring at you for way too long. He was by the corner, helping everyone clean up the studio because he tries — tries hard not to show how it annoys him that you’re talking with Jay.
Heeseung shouldn’t worry…right?
Because he chose to love you in secret. He chose to ask you to keep your relationship private even though there’s a deep yearning for you to tell the public about your relationship. He chose this life and he should owe up to his decision.
Heeseung trusts you too. That’s why he shouldn’t worry about how your laugh was too loud at Jongseong’s jokes — and how the whole room seemed to be amused by your chemistry with him.
He shouldn’t worry. Definitely not.
“Let’s go?” you approached, making his thoughts disappear.
The shoot ended hours ago. It was past one am and everyone had left the studio inside the office. The only people remaining inside the office were you and Heeseung.
Heeseung shouldn’t worry at all. Not when he’s the one you go home with. You seem to be in a good mood that he only resorted to giving you a small smile before grabbing your stuff and leading you towards the elevator.
Your routine never changed. The distance is still apart and yet Heeseung didn’t miss the way you kept on glancing at him, like you were itching to tell him something.
“I missed you,” you spoke to him the moment you two had reached your place. It should’ve assured him, especially when you clinged to him like a koala. Your arms wrapped around his while you pressed your cheeks on his side. You looked cute and soft, and you only act like this around him.
That should lessen his worries. You’re still the same girl who he loved since high school after all. Nothing has changed.
Especially when you two ended up in bed. Naked, sweaty, and high from the euphoric bliss that only the two of you could enjoy. After the assuring kisses and words, you lay on his chest, hearing the soft heartbeat as it rises softly against the warm moment you two just did.
Perhaps, that should settle his worry. Heeseung’s arms held onto you even tighter, caressing your skin unknowingly, finding comfort that you’re here with him — not with Jongseong, not with anyone. Him.
“Love,” you called out, snapping Heeseung out of his thoughts.
“Yeah? Do you need something?” he asked immediately.
You stared at him for a minute, like you were analyzing his expression. That scared Heeseung for a moment. Afraid that he was too obvious about his worries.
But you only gave him a tender smile before tapping his nose.
“We’re okay right?” you asked and that simply made him sigh with relief.
He gave you a smile, strong hands brushing your hair delicately, “always, my love.”
In the end, he shouldn’t be worrying too much. Especially when you could assure him without having Heeseung to open up his worries.
-
Jongseong’s ambassadorship was a hit.
Your sales rocketed. Stocks are in demand and it wasn’t only a domestic hit — international demands were also quick to rise. Expansions of global stores outside South Korea are in talks, and it just processed into you how big of an impact Jongseong’s ambassadorship was to your brand.
You were grateful for him. Sending him flowers and gifts during their domestic concert. Personally, he expressed his gratitude to you and you were just glad that you made the right call to accept him as your brand’s ambassador.
Aside from that, everything was still in the water. You were still preparing for your new launches aside from the night sky collection. Everyday felt like a constant rush, but in a good way for you. Your brand has become consistent in the industry, and you wanted to keep it that way.
Of course, your relationship with Heeseung still remained serene. Private and intimate, just like it has always been. The constant routine never bore the two of you too, and somewhere, with all the busy demands you had at the moment, all you could think of was going home just to be with your lover.
You missed him. Which is funny given that you two see each other everyday. But it’s different when you call him “love” or when his touch lingers on your skin. You wanted more of it. Was it too much to ask? You wondered one day.
“Heeseung, can we go to the mall? I just want to check our store there and I want to buy something for a special someone” you asked Heeseung one Friday morning.
Your meeting just ended, and Jungwon reminded you about your newly-opened store at the brand-new mall in the shopping district. You wanted to check an update on it especially when Jay’s still currently on trend right.
It was a perfect opportunity for you to also buy a gift to Mrs. Lee. Her birthday’s fast approaching and Heeseung had rented a beach villa for the celebration. Aside from that, you also wanted to spend more time with your boyfriend, alone. It’s like hitting a lot of birds with one stone.
“Of course Miss l/n, should we head there right now?” he asked and you nodded as an answer.
The two of you left the office around lunch time. No one batted an eye at the scene. Even at the mall, no one questioned the two of you. Heeseung has always kept a distance from you. Like a puppy trailing to its owner, except well, your puppy is a six-foot tall man in his formal suit.
You went to your store first. Checking the sales and talking to the store manager who accommodated you warmly. You two shared a couple of updates while Heeseung wandered around the store. Seeing Jay’s face plastered at every corner, his lips could only form a thin line — not wanting jealousy to incite him during a field work.
“Everything’s doing fine here,” you said with glee before approaching Heeseung. “Jay’s photocard is currently sold out. It was a great deal to have his photocard as a freebie for the collection. I have to remind Jungwon that we need to restock it — and probably have it reprint again, since it is selling fast.”
“He’s a good ambassador, he’s great at promoting it too,” Heeseung commented yet his voice remained neutral. “He also has the face.”
You laughed at your boyfriend’s words. “You know love, you also have the face. If only, you could be our brand’s model.”
He only laughed, “I’d like to keep my beauty reserved for your eyes only.”
“You’re so corny.” you stuck out your tongue on him before pulling his arms, wrapping around it dearly as you pulled him away from the store. “Come on now, let’s go shopping while we’re here.”
Heeseung removed your hold from his. You were surprised but he gestured to you to walk first. Your frown became invisible.
“There’s nothing to worry about love,” you convinced.
“Please, we’re still outside, Miss l/n,” he said with an authoritative tone and that made you flinch.
Of course. Even in public, the two of you couldn’t act as a couple. Your face and name is pretty known. Rumors could stir up and that’s the last thing that Heeseung wanted you two to get involved in.
And yet, it couldn’t help when a bitter smile left your lips, “alright.”
You walked in silence while Heeseung trailed behind you. A deep sigh escaping your lips as you have your boyfriend around but not on your side. You wonder when will the two of you even have the chance to walk together, do PDA or maybe holding hands like normal couples would do.
All your thoughts faded when your eyes landed at a watch outlet. You decided to go inside to take a look into the products. Eyes darting at the smartwatch, you remembered Heeseung suddenly and his old smartwatch. The one he bought using his first salary. Now it’s hidden somewhere in his drawers, useless.
“What would you prefer?” you asked when you felt Heeseung’s presence nearby. “I think the deep red is your style, but it’s too eye-catching right? Maybe the army green would be nicer.”
“There’s no need to buy unnecessary things Miss l/n,” Heeseung answered and you glared at him.
“It’s for you, love,” you said, dictating the last word, making him raise an eyebrow at you.
“Y/n, for the love of god, we’re in public,” he said with a serious tone and you only stared at him for a good moment before darting back to the watches.
“Can I have this in army green? Thank you,” you asked the shop assistant who immediately left to get your order.
The two of you stood there in silence, waiting for the assistant to return, you impatiently tapped your heel as you turned around to your lover with your arms crossed.
“You worry too much,” you told him.
“Everyone knows you,” he replied. “I am just being careful.”
You wanted to ask him. What’s wrong if the two of you get caught in some rumors? It's not scandalous at all given you two have been dating for too long — nothing’s wrong with your relationship at all. Heeseung just wanted to keep it private and nothing more.
But this is private. No press nor reporters. Just a couple doing a couple things. What’s wrong with it? It’s not like you’re that famous. Sure, some people may recognize you but it’s not to the extent of an idol’s popularity.
That’s why you wonder, why couldn’t the two of you be lovers in public?
The shop assistant returned with the box a few minutes later. After checking the product, you bought it without sparing at the price. Giving it to Heeseung who accepted it in a blink.
“It’s for you, if you’re planning to return it to me, I am buying you another three of the same colors,” you said sternly at him.
“My watch is doing fine,” he said, glancing at the silver vintage watch his father left for him.
“I know, but use it how you want it. For your exercise or playing basketball — it’s for convenience love,” you told him.
“Thank you, Miss l/n.” he spoke formally and you visibly rolled your eyes at the name.
“Just call me by my name, please,” you told him and he didn’t say a word.
The two of you wandered around the area longer than you expected. You couldn’t find a proper gift for Heeseung’s mother and you were slowly becoming impatient. It didn’t help that your lover isn’t in the mood to indulge in your schemes too. You wanted him to move freely and yet, he kept professional. Maintaining his job as your bodyguard.
The two of you ended up at a coffee shop nearby just to fuel your energy. The sun is almost setting and you had probably went to every store and had bought things that aren’t your gift for Mrs. Lee. Your frown was invisible and your feet were tired — not even the sweet cream soda could save your mood.
You stared at Heeseung who’s taking a sip of his coffee. Your eyes returned to the coffee shop and how mostly couples are inside. The two of you blended so perfectly around them.
So this is what going out with your boyfriend feels like. It’s been so long since you and Heeseung had a date in public. Always indoors or if not, private rooms in expensive restaurants. This one felt normal — nostalgic like you two are back in your younger self.
But it was too far from your expectations. Not when Heeseung talked to you like you’re his boss — which is true in some ways, but you hated how he takes your private relationship too seriously.
“Should we go now?” Heeseung asked a few minutes later, and you nodded. Too tired to deal with his attitude, you just decided to focus on finding a gift for his mother.
Fortunately, you ended up at a kitchenware store and remembered that Mrs. Lee had enrolled in baking lessons, so you decided to give her those expensive ceramic sets with different colors.
“What do you think? Would she love this?” you asked Heeseung, glancing at the different displays before deciding to pick the sapphire blue set.
“I think your presence is enough for her,” he commented and you smiled bitterly.
“If only I could, but Jungwon had set it up as a wrapped-up dinner for Jay’s ambassadorship, I couldn’t say no to him since most of our staff had agreed to come.” you told him and his expression changed.
It was a sudden announcement. You weren’t able to say no since it was also the only time Jay’s free. Unfortunately, it landed on the same date as Mrs. Lee’s birthday celebration, leaving you no choice.
Heeseung nodded, “right, I forgot about that. I’m sorry, I couldn’t come.”
“It’s okay, I’m sorry I couldn’t come to auntie’s party,” you told him apologetically.
“You know, you could always ditch the party and come with me,” Heeseung joked and instead of laughing, it only broke your heart more.
“I’ll make up next time, okay? I couldn’t leave my staff too,” you insisted and that made Heeseung exhale sharply. He never thought that you two were going to have this conversation inside a kitchenware store.
“I’m not mad, I understand, but sometimes you have to put yourself first alright? If this is what you want, just go with it, and not because everyone expects you to be there.” he pointed out.
“Everyone’s expecting me to be there.”
“You’re such people pleaser, but y/n, sometimes it’ll just put you in a helpless situation.” Heeseung advised.
“I know love, I’m sorry, I’ll try next time,” you apologized. “It’s a good thing that you’re there for me, what would I do without you?”
“You’re a smart girl y/n, you can do things without me too,” he smiled and that comforted you in a split second.
“I don’t know, maybe I’m too dependent on you,” you teased, making Heeseung chuckle.
“Someday, you’d learn that you’re still the independent girl whom I loved,” he professed and that thought only made your heart skip a beat.
The two of you went home straight after a long day in the district. It was night time when the two of you had arrived at your place. You slumped down everything you bought on the couch while your gift remained in Heeseung's car.
That’s when you remembered, Heeseung’s going to leave in a few hours since he’s going to drive his way back to his hometown. It felt bitter to you since it’s also been so long since you went home. This was your only opportunity and yet, change of plans happened. It was a shame that couldn’t come but you promised Heeseung that you’ll make up with them when you’re not busy anymore..
“Don’t forget to send me updates alright?” Heeseung asked.
You smiled at him, giving him a quick kiss. “Of course love. Enjoy the party — oh! And tell auntie happy birthday, I’ll visit her soon.”
Heeseung nodded at your words before giving you another kiss. With one last glance, he went to his car and drove away from the apartment.
-
The beach villa was filled with bright noises and laughter.
Heeseung’s mother just turned sixty. Her face was still warm and hopeful as she made a wish before blowing the candles on the cake that her beloved youngest son was holding. Mrs. Lee smiled as she looked at Heeseung who had prepared everything despite his busy job in Seoul.
“What did you wish for grandma?” one of her grandchildren asked, and the old lady chuckled.
“Oh, just for my kid’s happiness and good health,” she answered softly. “And to have grandchildren from Seungie.”
“Mom, why would you say that?” Heeseung asked with a nervous chuckle, earning teases from the crowd.
“Well, you and y/n have been together for years! Goodness, when are you going to marry her?” an aunt asked and Heeseung brushed it off.
“At the right time,” he answered confidently.
“When will be the right time? Look at your mom, she’s aging now!” another one commented, erupting the whole room into laughter.
“Time is ticking Seungie,” Mrs. Lee teased before her smile turned small. “I do wish y/n is here with us.”
“Right, where is she by the way?” a relative asked.
“She’s busy, she wanted to come but they’re busy preparing for a collection launch, her employees are holding her back,” Heeseung explained, shrugging at the thought that you’re probably preparing for the company dinner.
“She’s always so focused on her career, it’s rare to find a girl that’s passionate about the things she wants,” Mrs. Lee added, giving her youngest son a smile and pat on the back.
Ever since Heeseung introduced you to his family, his mother had doted on you like her own daughter. You, on the other hand, saw her like your second mother. The one who’d spoil you rotten with food and love aside from the love you receive from your biological one. You never missed her birthday ever since you dated Heeseung. Today was a rare case, but Mrs. Lee brushed it off, knowing how busy your career is.
It was hard for you to be absent on her birthday. Your family was present there — almost everyone was present except for you. Your gift lay rest among the rest, and you knew that it wasn’t enough to make it up to her.
But the celebration continued. Soft music filled the living room, the elders were in their own world. Gossiping, playing cards, and talking about retirement plans while the youngsters took over the outdoor pool and beach outside. The sun was barely setting and everyone was in the middle of the fun.
Soon, beers and liquors were added to the party as night arrived. Heeseung was holding a bottle of beer, half-full and a shield for his uncles and male relatives who encouraged him to drink more. He managed to escape them, hanging out with his other relatives who are in the dining area, eating the cold leftovers.
Heeseung was looking at his phone most of the time. Sending you updates and photos of the party. Messages like, “they kept asking where you are, wish you were here.” and “It’s not been a day where I’m not with you and I miss you already.” were sent to you. It made him wonder what you are doing right now and how the company dinner is doing.
It was past midnight when the party ended. The elders went to their respective room to rest, while some are still up for late-night drinking and swimming. Heeseung busied himself with cleaning up the dining area. Putting the food in the fridge and cleaning the dishes, feeling exhausted but still contended especially whenever he remembers his mother’s smile and excitement at her birthday party.
“Heeseung hyung,” Heeseung turned around to see his younger relatives, gathered with a worried expression.
“Is this the reason why y/n noona’s not here?” one of them asked before handing Heeseung his phone.
Stealer’s Jay rumored to be dating y/n l/n, CEO of Mayumi Beauty following his ambassadorship with the brand.
It was enough for Heeseung to be nailed from where he was standing. His expression shifted into a shocked one as his hand tightened on the phone, staring at the photo of you and Jay. Leaving the restaurant, together, laughing — it looked convincing to the public.
The two of you were in your own world, not caring about hiding each other’s identity. Jay was looking at you with a gleam in his eyes, while you were smiling. It was a reckless act that will definitely ruin each other’s reputation. But if you’re not afraid to tell the world that you’re dating someone as perfect as Park Jongseong, then it shouldn’t be a reckless act at all.
“Uncle? Are you okay?” his niece asked, snapping him away from his thoughts.
“Is this true hyung? Is y/n noona cheating on you?” another cousin asked.
Cheating on him — you wouldn’t. You’re not the type to cheat on a relationship. Not when you’re dependent on him, especially when your conflicts with your relationship weren’t always about third parties and —
It felt like a bucket of ice water washed over him.
This is probably the first time that a person might be the problem in your relationship. And he’s not just any person. He’s Park Jongseong. The nation’s gentleman. Perfect. Charming. A lady’s man. Someone who’s open to his feelings about you in public — the only thing Heeseung couldn’t do.
Heeseung’s heart skipped a beat. A curse escaped his lip as he looked at his younger relatives before giving back his cousin’s phone.
“Excuse me,” it was the only thing he said before he exited the kitchen.
Heeseung found himself by the seaside. The soft crash of waves hummed in the dead of the night. He looked into his social media and all he could see was you and Jay. The two of you are currently trending right now. He skimmed through all the comments, mixtures of bad and positive comments filled the forum and comment sections.
Some are mad, some are confused, while others are supportive. Heeseung doesn’t know what to feel. All he could feel was how his stomach was churning. All the food he had eaten today was rising up to his chest, and he’s fighting the urge to vomit it all out as he pressed your caller id and placed it on his ears.
Heeseung was praying internally. Hoping you’d pick up the phone. He wished you would pick up the phone, explain to you your side because for the duration of the whole day, you’ve been in radio silence.
All his messages were left unread. No updates from you. Not a single message from you and that bothered him the whole day. Whenever the two of you are far away, you two always opted to communicate and update each other as much as you two could. It could be the small things like you just arrived at the restaurant or maybe Jungwon had picked you up and the two of you drove towards the meeting place together.
But he didn’t receive any of it. Not a single message. Heeseung has never felt scared for your relationship up until now.
“Please love, just pick up the call, please,” he whispered to himself as your caller id continued to ring.
“Hello?” Heeseung sighed in relief. Eyes shut as he was about to speak, you immediately cut him off.
“This is Ms. l/n, if you’re hearing this voicemail, she’s busy at the moment, please leave a message and I’d get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!”
Then came the three seconds of silence before the beep ringed on Heeseung’s ear.
You didn’t pick up the phone. Heeseung’s call went straight to your voicemail — that was when he knew.
“Are you home my love?” he asked, words shaky and breathy as he concealed himself from crying.
Heeseung faced the ocean. The waves crashed down in its tranquility as he engulfed himself with the silence, hoping he’d find strength in his own solace.
“The rumors, they aren’t true…right?” he asked foolishly. Smiling bitterly at how he stupid he sounds right now.
The call beeped once again. His voicemail was sent. Heeseung looked at his phone and his homescreen of you was all he could see — and instead of feeling assured, all he could feel right now was betrayal.
-
The whole building was in a buzz.
Everything was full of chaos. Whispers and murmurs lingered around every cubicle, every desk, and hallway as your photos from last night spread across the country.
Heeseung arrived alone. Clean and sharp just like his usual fit and yet, it completely surprised everyone that he arrived at the building alone.
“I wasn’t able to pick her up, I just came from my hometown and went straight here,” he explained, immediately brushing off the prying eyes and curious expressions from his colleague.
“Ms. l/n had arrived ten minutes earlier, she is a mess right now, would a cup of coffee ease her?” one employee suggested and Heeseung shook his head in response.
“I’ll take care of it,” he said because of course, it’s him. He’s always there to take care of you, to clean every problem you encounter and yet, Heeseung couldn’t bear to enter your office as he arrived at the floor. The door was closed and Heeseung stood there in silence.
He doesn’t know what to do. Should he be professional and ask his boss what she needs, or should he act selfish this time and let you handle everything since he had warned you about Jongseong after all?
“Mr. Lee!” His thoughts trailed off when he saw Jungwon walking towards him. “There you are, the meeting has started, you should be there.”
“Meeting?” he asked and yet, he followed the younger male without hesitation.
“About the rumors of course, we all know that your advice could help us come up with the solution,” Jungwon casually replied. His feet became fast and hasty as they reached the elevator and closed it.
“What even happened last night?” Heeseung asked. “It was a company dinner right?”
“Yes, but almost everyone had left, Jay and y/n stayed,” Jungwon explained. “I don’t know what happened, but Jay dropped her off in her apartment. She sent me an update when she got home, it was around past eleven too.”
Heeseung nodded at the younger’s explanation and yet, it left nothing but a sour taste on lips. He wondered, why did you need to hide everything about that night from him? Shouldn’t relationships be about trusting each other? How could he even trust you when you couldn’t be true to him?
Did you really need to hide the fact that you were with Jay the whole night? Was that really necessary?
The moment Heeseung entered the conference room. You were already there, on your usual middle chair. Hair tied in a low ponytail with lesser makeup. Cold, stressed, and most of all, guilty. Guilty that you’re involved in a dating scandal, with Park Jongseong out of all the people.
Jay was there, on the left side of the table. Casual and chill, like he wasn’t bothered that his fanbases are closing because he got caught in a dating rumor. Heeseung badly wanted to punch that smug grin out of his lips.
But of course he couldn’t. It’ll just surprise everyone in the room. So instead, he sat in an empty chair, three chairs away from you. An odd move that had his colleagues raising their eyebrows since they’re used to Mr. Lee sitting beside you.
“Well, this is a first for everyone, and currently, the public is divided,” Jungwon started, beside him was Choi Soobin, Stealer’s head manager.
“Some are convinced while others…let’s not dive into it because they’re kinda crazy about Jongseong.” Soobin explained before heaving out a sigh. “Jongseong had explained everything to me. It was a company dinner. Everyone had drinks and got pretty drunk at some point. Everyone was having fun like a typical company dinner and then one by one, everyone started to leave, until it was just the two of you. Care to explain further?”
“We just talked the whole night,” Jay explained. “We didn’t notice the time, not until you called and we called it a night. We left and I dropped her off at her place before going back to my apartment.”
“That’s all?” he asked once again and Jay looked at you apologetically. His smile looked sorry but Heeseung wasn’t convinced.
“It’s my fault that we didn’t wear any cap or mask, I’m sorry y/n,” he said softly.
“It’s okay, we didn’t know that photographers were there,” you immediately replied, giving him an assuring smile as your shoulders slacked.
Heeseung scoffed under his breath and yet it was only you who noticed it. You watched how Heeseung’s glare at Jongseong darkened. The grip on his pen tightened and you knew that he was just holding himself back — and you have never felt more guilty than before.
“Lame excuse Jay, you should’ve been more careful, and now, you have involved Miss l/n in this situation,” Soobin waved as he looked at everyone inside the room.
“No, it’s not Jongseong’s fault, I should’ve been careful too,” you insisted. “I knew he was a famous idol, and yet, it didn’t sink into my mind that thought too. I should’ve been more careful too.”
You admitted your fault. Heeseung nodded to your words, avoiding your pleading eyes as he shifted his attention on the empty table.
“Since it’s both of your fault, it is also your choice whether you want to face the consequences or not, this is a rare thing to happen but with Jay’s reputation on the line, we wanted to keep his image good and clean” Soobin stated.
“You could confirm the relationship with Jay but for PR purposes.” Jungwon proposed, staring at you. “There’s no need to be out of the public the whole time but the two of you will be linked no matter what. It is up to you if you wanted to act in public, but confirming the dating rumor would still benefit the two of you.”
“How? This is Stealer’s Jay we’re talking about. What about his crazy fans? Ms. l/n will be the target of harsh comments. This might also affect our sales big time?” one employee asked which the others agreed.
“Isn’t it bad for Ms. l/n image? She’s the CEO, he’s her brand’s ambassador, some may think that there’s a power imbalance between the two of them.” another one pointed out.
“I understand your sentiments, this is why we held this meeting, so that we’d be able to see the advantages and disadvantages of the PR relationship. Please remember that this is for two years, if you ever agree Ms. l/n.” Jungwon added.
“Isn’t two years too long?” you asked.
“Most celebrity couples nowadays wanted to convince the public that what they had was real, two years is believable,” Soobin explained.
“Jay’s fine with it, we just want to hear from you Ms. l/n, are you willing to be in a PR relationship with Jay?” Soobin added and your heartbeat stopped.
“This may have pros and cons, think about it Ms. l/n, but you know, who wouldn’t dare to reject the nation’s gentleman, am I right?” Jungwon teased, and some agreed while others chuckled at Jungwon’s comment.
“Right, I mean, there’s nothing wrong right? Ms. l/n’s single and she seems comfortable around Jay, who knows, this PR relationship might become real.” another one added.
Heeseung watched as your smile became fake and small. He knows that you’re under pressure right now. Everyone was pitching in their opinions and it was obvious — they wanted you to accept the proposal.
“I mean…is our sale doing fine right now? I am scared that they might boycott it due to the rumors,” you said softly.
“Good news is, our sales are stable at the moment,” Jungwon shared. “We still don’t know if it’ll drop the moment you two confirm the rumors, but publicity, whether good or bad, is still publicity right?”
You nodded, convinced as you only brushed your shoulders. “Right…if it’s helping our brand, I don’t see the problem with it.”
Heeseung could see how you seemed determined to agree with the proposal now that Jungwon had put your company on the line. He hated how you were only agreeing because the majority wanted you two.
He trusted you. You were his smart girl after all. You know what you’re doing is right, and probably for the best — but at the same time. Was your company all you value at all?
“Mr. Lee,” Jungwon called out, making Heeseung glance at the former. “Is there anything you wanted to say? Everyone had chipped in their opinions about the solution.”
Heeseung became quiet for a minute. The whole room shifted into a tense atmosphere as everyone’s eyes were on Heeseung, who looked you coldly in the eye and you were surprised by his stare.
There’s a faint nervous beat in your heart as he looks at the other employees. A nod as he said his thoughts.
“I think we’re just wasting our time here,” he commented sternly. “It’s up to Ms. l/n if she wants to do the PR relationship. Whatever she and Mr. Park had, we shouldn’t interfere anymore since we’re just her employees and what happened last night was part of her private life. Our sales are doing good at the moment right? Then let's just leave Ms. l/n decide on this one.”
Some agreed immediately, while others were surprised by Heeseung’s answer. You were nailed at your place as Heeseung stared at you for a moment, and you could see it. He wasn’t just disappointed at you — he was deeply hurt by your actions.
The rest of the meeting continued. Opinions circulated further while you sat there and sinked into your chair. Not caring about what Jungwon and Soobin are talking about in front. You just wanted to go home and rest, and not just rest, but to rest in your lover’s arms.
In the end, there was no final conclusion to your rumor. You weren’t able to come up with the final decision, not when Heeseung’s words lingered in your mind.
They only released a statement wherein both companies are going to look into it. Hopefully, you’d be able to come up with a decision by tomorrow — everyone was hopeful you’d say yes, and yet, the thought of Heeseung walking out of the conference room immediately after the meeting was adjourned haunted you.
You were completely quiet for the rest of the day, and so was Heeseung. It was a suffocating eeriness of silence, and you didn’t like it at all. You didn’t like how he acted like you were a ghost. He passed by you, completely ignoring you, and you knew that it was entirely your fault. Everything was your fault and yet, it still hurts that Heeseung treated you coldly.
“Hee, what was that?” you asked.
It’s six in the evening. The building’s quiet, leaving you and Heeseung alone. You thought he’d go home sharp at five — thankfully he didn’t. That’s why you were able to corner him.
“What do you mean ‘what was that?’ ms. l/n, I am just giving my opinion regarding the suggestion,” he said with a serious tone that your forehead creased.
“It’s past five Hee, drop the act.” you ordered.
Heeseung raised an eyebrow, “suddenly you wanted your boyfriend right now?”
“I needed my boyfriend earlier — why? Why would you say that? Do you really want me to enter a PR relationship?”
“Well, do you?” he challenged. Tongue sharp as his eyes glared at you. “Because if you don’t want it, then what’s holding you back to reject the proposal? I assumed it wasn’t me given how cozy you and Jongseong were at that damn company dinner.”
“Love, it’s not what it looks like.” you convinced.
“Then explain to me, why were you with him the whole night? Knowing full-well that I am wary of him and there’s already a lot of inside rumors about the two of you. Let me guess, for the sales and boost of your brand then?”
“It was a company dinner Heeseung.” you repeated.
“Let’s add more to that. You were on radio silence the whole day, I kept you updated while I went straight to your voicemail, what happened to keeping each other updated over everything? Was that night so fun that you had forgotten that you had a boyfriend?” Heeseung pointed out.
You became quiet. Your stare lingered at your boyfriend who looked at you with disappointment — and it kills you that you couldn’t come up with an answer.
“Heeseung, it’s rude to be on my phone while having dinner with them.”
“Can’t even spare a minute for me? Was Jongseong so entertaining that you couldn’t even open your phone?” he mocked, and you could hear it. How his voice shook as he said his name.
“Heeseung, he’s my brand ambassador, I just want to make sure that he feels supported and welcomed.” you insisted.
Heeseung chuckled in disbelief, “that’s your excuse? y/n you’re a smart girl, don’t you fucking see that he’s hitting up on you!? From the very start, he likes you and has been hitting on you, and you’re enjoying every fucking second of it that it makes me sick standing in the corner watching you two flirt with each other.”
“We were not flirting Heeseung, I was just being nice —”
“It’s different with Jongseong y/n, it’s different and I don’t know why you couldn’t see it.” he objected.
“This wouldn’t have happened if we just publicized our relationship, Heeseung.” you rebutted.
Heeseung stared at you for a good minute, before another chuckle in disbelief escaped his lips. You watched as he groaned as a complaint before shifting his stare at you.
“We were fine with our relationship being in private. We were always fine, but suddenly a guy our age came and I don’t know, he showered you with affection in public and maybe you loved the attention he was giving you in front of everyone.” he accused and every word he said stabbed daggers in your heart.
“You know that’s not true Heeseung, I am doing this for my company’s image.” you defended.
But Heeseung remained unfazed, he stared at you coldly, unconvinced by your reason. “This isn’t about your business anymore. It’s about your private life, which is irrelevant with your brand. Do you really want to be stuck in a PR relationship with him for two years? Two. Fucking. Years. Even if it’s for the best of your brand?”
“If it means saving my image and company, I’d do it.” you said without any hesitation. “I built this company from scratch, Heeseung, and I am going to do everything for it. Everything.”
“Even if it means agreeing to the PR stunt?” he challenged.
“If I had to, I have to,” you said sharply.
“But can you?” he asked and you stopped. “Can you really throw out our relationship for your company? Love Jongseong more than you love me?”
“That’s your issue?” you asked in disbelief. “If you’re man enough, you’d understand that I have to do this.”
“If you value our relationship, you’d understand why I am acting like this,” he rebutted.
“I value our relationship, Heeseung, but I value my company too. You were there from the very start. You knew what I went through just to be here —”
“And your success right now is not enough for you because you’re hungry for more, you want more and maybe that PR stunt could give it to you.” he cuts off. Bitter words throwing daggers at you.
“Maybe it could, because it’s something you couldn’t give me.” you coldly replied and he merely chuckled.
“So I guess I am right. This is about me now. About me asking you one thing. One damn thing and that’s to keep our relationship a secret.” he concluded.
“Yes! Because why? Why should our love be a secret!?” you shouted, all your frustrations about your private relationship finally bursted out.
“I just want my life to be normal! I’m not like you who wanted fame and fortune. I just want you and nothing more, is it selfish that that’s the only thing that I wanted!?” he shouted back, causing you to flinch. Eyes wide at the sight of an angry Heeseung who has always been calm and soft-spoken.
You’d never thought that you’d push his buttons — to break him out of his gentle demeanor. He must’ve been so angry about everything that he had to raise his voice just to prove his point.
“I am yours Heeseung, I will always be,” you assured. “But you have to accept that you’re not dating the same girl from high school. I am a CEO now, I own a company and I have a reputation to hold and protect. If you couldn’t accept that, maybe —”
“Maybe what?” he taunted. “You think I am insecure that you’re successful while I am nothing but just a mere assistant of yours? You think so low of me.”
“No, you just have to accept that I am not yours completely, that I have other priorities other than you.” you stated.
Heeseung’s eyes never faltered. He looks at you for a good minute, calculating, observing as your words cut deep into his mind.
“Fine,” he accepted and you became confused.
“What do you mean —”
“I forgot, you’re the boss here. Oh well, you’re a smart girl y/n. Whatever your decision will be, it’s for the best, right?” Heeseung stated mockingly.
“Heeseung —”
“Go, accept the PR stunt. Date Jongseong or whatever, I am not going to hold you back anymore if it means reaching your dreams and goals for this company,” he said so softly yet his eyes were angry at you.
That’s when your forehead creased further. “What the fuck are you talking about Heeseung?”
“This is the last time I’m going to repeat myself to you” he spoke before heaving a sigh. Tired and weary from the argument you two had. “I am not going to dictate everything to you anymore because clearly, you don’t need me anymore.”
Your eyes widened at his words. Your heart started to pound harder than before, tightening against your chest as your eyes never left Heeseung.
“Are you…breaking up with me?” you carefully asked.
“Maybe I am or maybe I am not, I don’t know y/n, I don’t know,” he answered, eyes landing somewhere else. He’s just as confused as you are. Heeseung doesn’t lie at all. The two of you are in the heat of the argument, everything’s confusing and for the first time — no one wanted to lower their pride.
“But one thing for sure, I am not going to hold your hand in this PR stunt of yours. You think I’d let myself watch you be with another man for the next two years? And do I mention that guy fucking likes you? Might as well call it off.” Heeseung declared and that’s when you felt your world stopped.
“Heeseung, no, please —”
“Do what you want, I am not going to dictate everything to you,” he repeated. “Think about your image, your company and your reputation — don’t ever think about me because clearly, I am just a small part of your life.”
“Small?” you breathed. “I have loved you for more than fifteen years Heeseung, you think you’re just a small part of my life?”
“If that was the case, then why was it hard for you to reject that simple request?” he questioned and you became quiet.
He smiled at you, bitter yet strong. His hands pats your head, for comfort, you assumed and yet it only made you shudder, concealing the tears as his hands brushed your hair before letting go. “Do what’s for the best of your company. I am not going to let everything you built go down to waste.”
“You’re so unfair,” you spoke to him, voice dripping with frustration. “How is it that it’s easy for you to walk away from everything we had?”
“Oh, you think this is easy for me?” he asked in disbelief. “You think it was easy for me? Everyday, you slowly become out of my reach y/n. Even though we go home together, make love, and all the corny shit we always do, your mind is always in other places. Always on your phone, worrying about your company and letting your employees annoy you at ungodly hours — when was the last time have you ever truly decided for yourself?”
“That’s not true,” you disagreed. “I love you Heeseung, I always do. It’s just that —”
“I am not your priority anymore, I know that and we’ll just keep going around in circles here y/n. Let’s just end this conversation.”
“Do you really want this? Do you really want me to go on a public relationship with Jay?” you taunted.
“No, I just want you to become successful in your life,” he said sincerely. “And if this PR stunt would give you that, who am I to hold you back?”
You didn’t say a word. You stood there as Heeseung’s gaze at you was soft. His bambi-like eyes that had you melting in every possible way gaze at you with much love and yet, it only gave you nothing but guilt.
“Don’t forget to turn off the lights before going home okay?” he reminded. “Goodbye Miss l/n.”
His words struck you like lightning. You were frozen in your place as you watched Heeseung turn around from you. Grabbing his bag from his desk chair and before he could reach the elevator, you called out his name, making him stop midway.
“We’ll be okay, right?” you asked, voice shaking as your heart started to race in an uneven manner.
Heeseung looked at you one last time. His lips turned into a thin line as he nodded. “I love you okay? I’m doing this because it’s for the best.”
Those were his last words. Heeseung went towards the elevator and left. Your heart shattered into a thousand pieces as you tried to process the conversation you and Heeseung had. Confusion gets into you as you try to comfort yourself, concealing yourself from crying because you don’t want to cry — you hated crying after all.
This is for the best. You convinced.
This isn’t the first time you and Heeseung called it off. You reminded yourself.
You went home alone for the first time in years and your house has never been this quiet for so long.
-
The truth is, you and Heeseung had broken up twice.
A long-term relationship has never been a perfect relationship. There were ups and downs. You and Heeseung started young and immature, of course, there will be obstacles. But one thing for sure, your break-ups weren’t because the relationship felt suffocating that the two of you had become toxic for each other, most were just because of the outside factors.
The first time was during college, during your senior year. Your internship was too heavy, courses were becoming too demanding, and you were also working a part-time job because you didn’t want to burden your parents with your allowance and rent.
In addition to that, you and Heeseung were in a long-distance relationship. He stayed in your town and studied at a community college because he had to take care of his bedridden father. Communication becomes less now that two are too busy with their own world — the relationship becomes the least priority.
You cried to him when you told him that you couldn’t continue your relationship anymore. You love Heeseung so much, he means the world to you but you don’t want to keep him around especially when you have a lot of burden at the moment.
The call made Heeseung pale cold and yet, he respected your decision even if it hurt him. He let you go, and promised you that he bore no hard feelings and understood why you needed to let go of your relationship. He wished you all the best in life and that only made you even more guilty of breaking up with him.
But the break-up only made you even worse. Your grades dropped, you’ve been sleeping less and eating one to none meal a day. You quit your part-time job because you were always in a daze during work and it didn’t help that you have shut yourself off from everyone — including your family, and that scared them, afraid of your silence. They asked Heeseung if he could check up on you.
Heeseung agreed in a heartbeat. Even though you and him had broken up, he took a train to Seoul just to check on you. Despite breaking up with him, Heeseung went there with a soft smile and gentle care, and that’s when you realized that you couldn’t live your life without him.
The two of you made up that night. With soft apologies and a warm bowl of instant ramen, the two of you decided to give your relationship a second chance.
The second time was when you were just starting your business.
You didn’t know that starting your own business was this overwhelming. Your manpower’s small and you have to be on-hand with everything. Everything became too much to you that you had ghosted your boyfriend for almost a month.
You asked for a break again, just a simple cool-off to clear your head. Although Heeseung was left in the dark especially when you weren’t answering his calls and texts for almost a month, he had seen it coming.
But instead of letting you go, Heeseung took the earliest train the next day and showed up at the footsteps of your apartment early in the morning — completely shocking you.
Heeseung decided to stay there for good. He helped you with your business, carrying your burdens and lifting all the worries off your shoulder with patience and love.
Now. This is the third time you two called it off and this time, it was Heeseung who asked for a break, and that scared you.
You knew you pushed too far. You knew that your reasons were illogical and you just don’t know why you were hesitant to reject the PR stunt. Heeseung’s words continued to haunt you. Were you really too focused with your business that you had slowly drifted apart from him? Perhaps, and you were a little too late to realize it.
Then enter Jongseong. But Jongseong’s probably just the tip of the iceberg. He might have triggered Heeseung’s insecurities too. A man who can love you in public. It was something Heeseung couldn’t do to you. He was content to love you from afar and in private, and you, you should’ve been content with it, because he’s the only one who could love you in your lowest, most raw moment.
But maybe, in the deepest, most corner part of your heart, you yearn to tell the public that you’re happily in love with the guy who you had been loving since you were sixteen. If only your relationship’s known in public, this chaos would’ve been solved. Still, you remained quiet, respecting your lover’s only wish about your relationship.
If only you had paid attention to him too, then maybe, he would have been by your side by now.
“Mr. Lee’s on leave?” you raised your head in a split second, glancing at Jungwon who’s holding Heeseung’s file of leave.
“Did he say how long?” you asked as your heart started to pound harder than before. The last time you saw Heeseung was Friday, three days after you two had that argument and ever since Saturday, he has been on radio silence.
“He didn’t but he has a lot of leave so he could actually leave for a whole year,” the younger male joked before he placed down the paper on your desk and you only stared at it. “This is the first time he filed a leave right? But are you going to be okay? You’re pretty dependent on him too, do you want me to find someone who’d be your assistant for the res—”
“It’s fine, I’ll be fine Jungwon, there’s no need,” you immediately replied. Smiling at Jungwon who only stared at you.
“You seem stressed,” he observed.
“Well, with all that’s been happening, how could I not?” you laughed.
“Jongseong’s manager had called,” Jungwon shared. “They’re asking for an update. You know the rumors are kind of dissolving at the moment but most of his fans aren’t letting it go.”
“Our sales?” you asked instead.
“Still going strong though, the wishlist collection’s currently sold out and the stocks are still in demand. They wonder if you’re going to release another collection featuring Jongseong despite the rumors speculating, everyone thinks that it was just a mere coincidence given that it was a company dinner.” he explained.
“Good, that’s good,” you nodded yet you felt unsatisfied with his answer. “I still don’t have a concrete answer about the stunt Jungwon, don’t you think two years is too long?”
“It is, but it’s what they proposed to us,” he explained. “I tried asking for a year or months, but I don’t know why they’re demanding two.”
“That’s too long.” you commented.
“I know, and they’re eager to know your decision, I don’t want to pressure you but time’s ticking boss,” Jungwon said with a pitied tone.
You only gave him a nod, “I know, thank you Won, could you leave me for a moment?”
Jungwon complied with your request. You watched as he walked towards the door but panic arose and you called out his name so loudly that he glanced back at you with concern.
“Is there something wrong boss?” he asked, looking at you with a concerned gaze.
“I —” I am going to accept the proposal. Your mind was screaming that sentence.
Heeseung said do what's best. He trusts that you’d decide what's best for you and your company. Heeseung — he loves you so much that he’d let go for your own happiness and success. He has always been selfless and you, selfishly took advantage of it.
If the proposal was for the best, then you should go with it.
But you could feel your heart tightening as a shaky breath escaped your lips before clearing your throat. Acting like everything’s since you don’t want to appear weak in front of your employee. He doesn’t understand why you’re suddenly acting that way after all.
“I — I just want to ask,” you shared, trying your best to act like your voice isn’t raspy and shaky. “Should I accept the PR stunt?”
“Do you like Jay?” he asked you back and you were surprised by his question.
“Why does it matter? It’s a PR relationship, feelings shouldn’t be involved,” you stated.
“PR or not, you’re bound to a man for two years. Would you like that?” Jungwon shared.
“Well, if it’s for the best and to save our company’s image, why not?”
Jungwon stared at you for a good minute. Observing your expression, he finds it odd how his confident and optimistic boss feels like a hurricane at the moment.
“I thought about Mr. Lee’s words during the meeting,” he stated and your heart skipped a beat at the mention of your lover’s name. “He said it’s your private life and it didn’t affect our sales and stocks. We’re doing fine and come to think of it. You have always been private about your life and relationship. Whatever status you have, are you okay with dating Jay in front of the public’s eyes?”
You became quiet at his words. Jungwon had understood your silence, and carefully, he smiled.
“Take your time but not too much boss, your decision will come at the right time,” he advised.
Jungwon left your office with the door shut. You stared at it for a good minute. You think of Heeseung, and how his office desk is just right beside that said doorstep. Then, you stared at his leave of absence. Personal reasons. It was what’s written in his excuse.
Then you wondered about his whereabouts. You were aching to ask his parents, relatives, or maybe close friends about his whereabouts but it would only make you a dumb fool. They probably knew those rumors with Jongseong and asking them about Heeseung would just give off the fact that you two called it off because of it.
You stared at his paper once again. He’s gone. You don’t know if it's for good or whether he’d returned just for the sake of having a job — you don’t know, because all throughout your life you never ask Heeseung what he wants.
He just wants one thing — you. You never thought about what his dream job would be or even his hobbies other than basketball and gaming. You never asked him about his goal in life. Heeseung wasn’t ambitious unlike you, and that left you dumbfounded.
Heeseung’s right. You have become too focused on your career that you couldn’t even spare a glance at him. Even if he’s the person you’d go home to, and even if you two had a lot of tender moments behind closed doors — suddenly it felt performative and calculated. A routine you two had become used to throughout your relationship.
There’s no stepping stone. No future plans with him — all you could think of was your brand, your collections, and if your products could remain timeless despite the on-going fad in the industry.
Handling a business, a popular brand to be specific, wasn’t easy for you. You never expect that you’ll come this far, and you’re doing everything to make sure your efforts won’t crumble in just a blink.
If the PR relationship would do good for you and your company, then you’d do it. Even if it’s a risk — even if it means losing something important to you. That was your initial thought. Heeseung should’ve understood it. He was there from the very start after all.
But then again, this is Heeseung we’re talking about. The same guy who confessed to you at the school dance two months before your high school graduation. The same guy who was there for you when you called it off twice. He was ever patient, loving, and understanding.
The only thing he wished is to keep your love not in secret, but away from the prying, judgemental public. He wishes that your love would be only for the two of you, and for the people who had witnessed it young and immature — and you, you had understood it from the moment he opened it to you.
And yet, you were so career-driven that it drove the only person who was there for you throughout your hardships. With Heeseung gone, you’re now a mess. You were confused, stressed, and angry at everything that just happened, that you couldn’t help but to laugh at your situation.
It just sinked into you that you had always been dependent on your lover. This is just one of the simplest examples of your dependency on him. It feels so sickening how you can live without him while he’s probably out there, doing something just to clear his mind, trusting that you could decide everything on your own — you were smart after all.
Oh Heeseung. You heaved out a sigh as you looked at his paper, signed with your approval as your heart continued to ache. You trust me too much.
-
It was nearing eight in the evening. You were alone in your office and for the first time in your career, the office never felt more eerie than ever.
You were busy. Busy if it means pondering about your life and career decisions while stalking your boyfriend on the internet. You keep going through Heeseung’s social media but your boyfriend just happens to be the most chronically-offline man you have ever met that there’s not a single trace of his digital platform. All his social media accounts have no posts nor updates. It has just come into you that his offline personality could be so annoying sometimes.
You put down your phone. The object clanking against the wooden table as you leaned against your office chair. There’s nothing for you to work overtime. Your business is doing fine and thriving. You could’ve just gone home and rested, but going home means facing your empty apartment that had a lot of traces of your lover’s existence — it’ll just make you miss him even more.
As you slumped on your chair further, that’s when a knock on the door disturbed your peace, completely startling you. You shifted on your seat as you watched the door swing open.
“Hi,” he greeted with a smile and your heart throbbed with anxiousness.
“Jongseong, what brings you here?” you asked.
“Just making sure you’re doing okay,” he walked forward towards your desk. Placing down a cup of warm coffee, you only gave him a smile as you grabbed the cup.
“I am doing okay Jongseong, I’m just…busy,” you reasoned out.
Jay leaned against the edge of your desk. His boyish smile was warm and should be comforting and yet, you didn’t feel a single beat in your heart.
“Busy?” he asked with a chuckle.
“Yeah,” you quipped immediately. “With the summer approaching, we are aiming to release another collection and new shades. My mind has been afloat lately but this happens very often.”
“Is that the reason why you haven’t decided with your statement about us?” Jay asked and that made you lift your head towards him.
For a minute, you pondered, “perhaps yes.”
“Why? I thought we're doing okay.” he pointed.
You blinked for a moment. Pondering Jay’s words, and then it hit you. “You…like me?”
Jay chuckled at your question. “Am I not that obvious?”
“Maybe you were, it’s just that I was oblivious,” you admitted. “Or maybe I wasn’t oblivious, I just had my heart protected because it already belonged to someone else.”
The smile on Jay’s lips faded. You two stared at each other for a minute. No one dared to move nor spoke. Your revelation caught him off-guard, while you sat there and waited for his initial reaction.
“You have a partner?” he asked in disbelief.
You smiled bitterly at him. “Yes, I have. We’ve been together for more than fifteen years.”
“Woah,” it was the only thing he could say. You nod in agreement at his reaction.
“We kept it a secret, no one knows except our close friends and family — this is probably the first time I told someone about my relationship.” you added.
“Not even Jungwon?”
You shake your head as an answer.
“Is that the reason why you’re still hesitant to our proposal?” he asked.
“Yes, because he made me realise that even if it’s going to give me and my brand a good boost in popularity, it’s not going to be worth it especially when it means I am going to pretend that I’m in love with someone else.” you explained. “The proposal was too long too. Two years? That’s too much Jongseong, then I realized that I could never pretend to be in love with someone. Not even months or weeks, or even a day.”
“You really love him that much?” he asked, feigning a bitter tone in his lips.
“I do,” you spoke softly. “And I’m sorry if I led you into thinking that you had a chance with me.”
“It’s okay, it did hurt though.” he chuckled softly, making you smile.
“You’re the nation’s gentleman Jongseong, I’m sure you’d find someone who’d reciprocate your love.” you convinced, giving him a comforting smile.
“I hope so,” he smiled, before stretching his hands to you. “Friends?”
You only looked at him, accepting it with a firm handshake. “Friends.”
It was that easy. You thought as you removed your hold from Jay. You felt the weight on your chest removed. It was so easy to reject Jay and the proposal that you should’ve done it days ago. It felt bittersweet to you and yet, there’s a sense of relief in you.
You’re not going to lose your company if you reject the proposal. Jay seemed to have accepted your rejection immediately too. It was that damn easy and you were just clouded with fear and anxiety of losing the only thing that you had built from scratch.
But that also meant losing the only person that you’re sure that you’re going to love for the rest of your life. It was a bittersweet decision. You hated that Heeseung had to let go for your sake — and you hated that you let him be. You didn’t even fight for it. Not even once.
“Can I ask?” Jongseong blurted out in the middle of the silence. After your conversation, he decided to keep you company over a cup of coffee he bought.
“What?”
“Is Mr. Lee, your boyfriend?” he asked and your heart skipped a beat. Eyes wide at him and he immediately got his answer.
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell,” Jongseong assured.
“Yes, he’s actually my boyfriend,” you confessed. “He doesn’t want public attention and any unnecessary comments from the public about us, that’s why he wanted our relationship private.”
“I assumed he's a smart man,” Jay commented. “I’m pretty sure he was throwing daggers at me during the meeting, and you seem convinced to accept the proposal, but the moment he gave his opinion you suddenly became hesitant.”
“Are we obvious?” you asked.
“No, not really, my eyes were just on you the whole time, and I could count how many times you looked at him throughout the whole meeting.” he confessed and you only chuckled at his words.
“I made a huge mistake,” you told him. “He’s right, the fame got into my head that I wanted everything about me and my career to be perfect — and what’s a perfect careerwoman if she doesn’t have a perfect boyfriend?”
Jay only stared at you who bitterly smiled before taking a sip on her coffee. “Heeseung has always been perfect. He was everything I could ask for…and he was deeply, madly in love with me that it’s sickening sometimes. But you know what? We’re just meant for each other, because I am so dependent on him that I feel like my brain’s turned off because he’s not there to guide me.”
“Is it a bad thing?”
“Of course not, we just…love each other that we know that we’re just fated to be together,” you shared with a smile. A soft smile that Jay thinks was reserved only for Heeseung.
“Your boyfriend’s lucky to have you.” he commented, staring at you whose smile faded for a moment.
It felt ironic. Heeseung was never the lucky one. How could he be lucky to love someone like you? You were lacking in terms of your relationship with Heeseung. Always putting him on the corner, always keeping him around but never on your side. He only wanted one thing and yet, you couldn’t even give it to him.
How is he lucky? Oh, if only there were ways for you to show your love to him aside from sharing it to the whole world, you could’ve.
“No, I’m luckier to have him as my lover.” you said in your most sincere tone.
-
Send to: My love
I told Jungwon that we’d be rejecting the proposal and that Jongseong and I are only good friends.
Jay visited me last night at my office. I told him about you, and you were right. He likes me, but he understood immediately that I am in a happy relationship.
Everything’s done now Hee. Please go home, I miss you.
Or if you still need space, it’s fine. But could you at least send me a message? I just want to know if you’re doing okay. I love you. We’re going to be okay, love.
10:30 PM
Both companies had denied the rumors. The public was pleased with the confirmation. Everything returned to the way it was. You kept in contact with Jongseong and remained friends with him. His ambassadorship with your brand continued and everything had moved on — everyone except you.
Heeseung’s leave is still on-going and you couldn’t stomach the fact you don’t know how long you’ll have to endure his absence. You missed him like crazy. You wonder if he had read your message or saw the news. With the news out now, it should’ve been a sign for him to go home, right? Right?
Another thing that’s clawing you with worry is whether the two of you could still fix your relationship. Is everything over now? What if Heeseung didn’t return anymore? What would happen to you? You couldn’t fathom the fact of living the rest of your life without him.
You didn’t even notice that time had passed in a glimpse. Your worries drifted from Heeseung to your company and then back to Heeseung again. You badly wanted to know if he’s doing okay after all but not a single trace of him could even be found.
You decided that the day was exhausting to you. Grabbing your bag and deciding to go home after the clock strikes seven. This has probably been the earliest time you have clocked out of work.
The moment you arrived at the gates of your apartment, you stopped midway when you noticed who was standing in front of your house. Your heart started to beat fast as you stared at the figure.
“Auntie,” you called out as you approached her. Mrs. Lee turned to your direction, her smile old and wrinkly as she waited for you.
“Oh dear, look at you, you’re so thin now,” she spoke as she grabbed your arms. Her cold hands indicated that she had waited for too long outside your doorsteps.
“Have you been waiting here for too long? I’m sorry — wait, let’s go inside first,” you insisted, guiding the old widow inside your house immediately.
Mrs. Lee knew your house in a heartbeat, having visited you many times. The moment she entered your house, she made her way towards the kitchen immediately and you knew what she’s here for — and somehow, your heart was filled with guilt and worry.
If she’s here, then it means that Heeseung didn’t go home. Does she even know that you and her son had broken up? That Heeseung’s somewhere in this world, doing god knows what as a breather, while you’re here heart filled with guilt because you let your relationship with Heeseung crumble in just a glimpse?
“I just made these yesterday, you could pair it with newly-cooked rice and you’re good to go,” Mrs. Lee chuckled, handing you the tupperware of marinated eggs which you loved the most.
“Oh, look at this, your fridge is empty, good thing, I went here,” she brightly told herself before she opened the huge bag she had brought. You watched as one by one, she filled your fridge with side dishes and prepared meals that’s good for almost a month.
“You didn’t tell me you’ll be visiting,” you blurted out, heart still pounding in a rapid manner.
“I want it to be a surprise,” Mrs. Lee jokingly said.
“You've been waiting outside in the cold for too long, I should’ve gone home early,” you added but the woman remained calm. Her expert hands stacked the tupperwares and jars inside your fridge without a hitch.
“Make sure you eat well, okay? I'll return here next month and they should be empty and clean by that time.” she said the moment she closed the fridge’s door.
Mrs. Lee glanced at you and you nodded at her words. Your words got stuck on your throat as the elderly woman who you consider as your second mother looked at you with a soft smile.
“Seungie asked me to bring you food,” she shared, completely catching you off-guard. “He wanted to make sure you’re eating well without him.”
Her words broke you. A tear formed on your eyes as your lips trembled in front of her. You felt inaudibly terrible, knowing that she knows that you and Heeseung are on a break and yet here she is, with her motherly tone and bag filled with side dishes, comforting you.
Despite that, you were in relief to hear her words. You were assured that Heeseung still cares for you despite his silence.
“I didn’t mean to hurt him,” you confessed to her and she nodded. Soft hands patting your back making you cry louder.
“Relationships aren’t always going to be on the good side dear, there are challenges,” she shared. “It’ll only strengthen the bond you two had made.”
“I miss him, I miss him so much,” you sobbed. “Could you please tell him that?”
Mrs. Lee nodded, “I’m pretty sure he misses you too right now. Let’s just be patient okay?”
You nodded once again. Mrs. Lee softly brushed your hair before giving you a warm hug that made you sob harder in her motherly embrace.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry for everything,” you apologized to her. “I didn’t want to hurt him — I never want to, I’m just —”
“There, there,” she hushed. “Be strong, okay? You’re a strong girl my dear, that’s what Seungie likes about you. Keep fighting, for you and him, alright?”
You nodded at her words. You couldn’t comprehend everything as she wipes off the tears from your face.
“He just needs time for himself,” Mrs. Lee added. “But he knows that you’re there waiting for him. Could you?”
“Of course,” your lips trembled. “Even if it drives me crazy that he’s not here with me, as long as he’d return. I’m going to wait.”
Mrs. Lee seems to be satisfied with your answer. She cupped your cheeks softly before giving you a hug once again, and that’s when you ever felt assured and comforted for the past weeks.
-
You’re going insane.
It’s been exactly one month, two weeks, and four days without Heeseung.
Everything has died down. The rumors were cleared. Your sales didn’t drop and Jongseong’s out of the country, going on a world tour with his bandmates.
Everything’s fine now and yet, Heeseung is still not here. Still not answering your calls nor reading your messages and you’re turning insane.
Mrs. Lee doesn’t know about his whereabouts. He didn’t go home to his hometown either, and it’s clear that he’s doing everything for himself. For once, you decided to let it go and just be patient. Wait for him and he’d return — that’s what Mrs. Lee told you and you convinced yourself that you’d be okay.
But you couldn’t hold it any longer. You find yourself spiraling. Heeseung’s absence is torturing you.
You have never been this desperate. You wanted to find any clues about his whereabouts. You convinced yourself that he might’ve left a trace of something before he left. Right?
That’s why you went straight to his office desk. That one place that you don’t usually snoop around. You’re not one to look into your lover’s things and privacy but you were desperate. You just need a single clue of his whereabouts — hopefully there is, and you’ll stop and just wait for him.
As you pulled the drawer open, assorted organizers were shown to you. Papers and folders on the side. Some office materials like staplers, glue, and punchers were on the other side. His nintendo switch lay there idly which was funny considering that he barely used it.
Then you saw it. By the corner. Standing out from the rest in its velvet maroon color. Your eyes widened at the sight as the logo of a well-known jewelry brand was engraved on top.
You grabbed it with your hands shaking. Heart thumping out of nervousness as your breath holds on its own. This can’t be. You thought as it felt light on your hands. You wanted to ask your lover — how long has he been keeping this in his office desk?
You opened it, revealing to you one of the most gorgeous rings you have ever seen. Gold band with pink diamond on a marquise cut. You knew what it was. It was the engagement ring that you always wanted — and Heeseung got it for you.
Heeseung was planning on proposing to you. You don’t know when or where or how — but all you knew was guilt wrung into you further.
A tear shed from your eyes. You grabbed the ring and observed it. It was exactly what you wanted. Delicately, you placed it on your ring finger and it fit like a glove. You sighed in relief as tears continued to trail down from your eyes, thinking of your lover and the future that could’ve happened if it wasn’t for the mess you made.
In a heartbeat, you will always say yes. You always knew that Heeseung was the only person you wanted to marry. He’s the only person you have ever loved after all.
You just have to make things right. But you already had. Perhaps you should be more patient. You know Heeseung, he’s just probably cooling down his mind. You just have to be patient. Just like how he was, when he stood by your side for years. He has always been patient with you.
He’ll come home. He’d come home because you were his home no matter what. You could only clutch onto the ring further. It felt absurd to wear it, knowing he hasn't asked you the question but everything just feels right with it around your fingers.
You went home after, and for the first time since his absence, you felt assured about Heeseung’s love for you. As you pressed the keypad, swung the door open and looked into the hallway, you freezed.
Shoes. A pair of huge shoes that you were all too familiar with because it was your gift for him. You stared at it for a good minute as your heart started to beat rapidly.
Is he — he’s here right? Right? You kicked your heels too hastily before entering the living room quickly and there he was.
Sitting by the couch. The luggage was on his side like he just arrived from his flight and went straight here. He looked tired yet calm, and your heart stopped when he stood up from his seat.
“Hee —” your breath halted as you faced him, eyes began to water as he looked at you calmly — and that scared you. Why is he so calm in this manner?
But Heeseung gazed at you softly, shoulders relaxed as he gave you a smile, “I miss you my love.”
Tears ran down your eyes as you walked towards him for a hug. Heeseung caught you immediately, pulling you to a bone-crushing hug that left you breathless. His hold on you firm and strong, indicating that he never wanted to let you go while you let yourself be buried in his touch, smelling his strong perfume which made you sigh in relief.
He’s here. Your Heeseung’s here with you. Hugging you tight with the same longing as you had for him.
“I’m so sorry, love. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to undervalue our relationship. I didn’t mean to hurt you — I’m sorry, please don’t ever leave me again.” you said in between your sobs.
“Hey, deep breaths love,” Heeseung stated before he broke out of the hug. Heeseung cupped your cheeks and made you look up to him. His calm gesture deeply contrasted your mess but your lover was confident. He gave you a smile as he wiped away the tears with his thumb.
“You know that I couldn’t stay mad at you for too long. You’ve done what’s right and I’m sorry if I disappeared for too long. I just — I just need a breather, but not from you, but in this world. You understand, right?”
You nodded to his explanation, sobs leaving your lips as you cupped his face too. “Of course, of course Hee — I’m sorry, I’m really, really sorry for ruining your trust.”
But Heeseung hushed you softly, “It’s okay love, it’s okay, we’re going to be okay.”
“We are?” you asked once again, hopeful as it’s been a while since you heard those words.
“We are, always my love, always,” he assured before placing a deep kiss on your lips. You reciprocated it immediately, feeling his soft, luscious lips on yours, you couldn’t help but to whine as he captured you perfectly with his touch. You were melting under his arms and suddenly, you’re overwhelmed.
“Heeseung,” you called out once again. You feel like you’re dreaming and you don’t want to wake up. You couldn’t even bear to look at him right now. You still feel guilty for ruining your relationship.
But Heeseung, he has always been confident with you and your love for him. He hummed softly, as his eyes never left you. He smiled for a short moment, before patting your hair.
“I’m here, I’m not going to leave you anymore,” he promised. “Mama told you to wait for me right? And you’re here, you waited for me, my strong girl.”
He pulled you for another hug and you deeply sobbed in his touch. Your hands were clutching on his shirt hard, as you inhale the familiar scent of his, hoping it brings you comfort than you’ve yearned for so long.
“I don’t want to lose you again,” you told him. “I won’t — not anymore, I am so stupid for letting you walk away Hee. I hated myself for not fighting for you.”
“It’s okay my love, I am not going anywhere again. I’ll be here for you,” he assured as he cupped your cheeks, making you look at him. His stare was calm against your tear-stained ones. “Just promise me, we’ll be okay and will always be.”
“Of course love,” you whispered to him, smiling as you cupped his cheeks. Pulling him to another deep, loving kiss which he reciprocated before pulling away. “You’re everything to me. My constant, my always — my future is with you.”
That’s when he felt it. The hard band against your fingers. Heeseung’s eyes turned wide as he grabbed your right hand to see the ring he had kept in his office drawer.
“How did you —”
“I know I shouldn’t snoop around but I was desperate to find any clues of your whereabouts,” you explained. “I saw it, and yes Heeseung, I will marry you in a heartbeat.”
Heeseung stared at you for a good minute. His eyes wide and gleaming like a deer caught in the headlights. You only smiled at him whose hands tightened on yours.
“I was scared,” he said, voice shaking. “That you’d turn me down.”
“I have loved you since we were sixteen Heeseung. Ever since we dated, all I could think of was building a future with you — what our wedding would look like or how many kids we will have. Love, it’s always going to be you, despite all the challenges we had.” you swore and Heeseung’s grip on yours tightened.
“I — I love you,” Heeseung confessed, pressing his forehead on yours. He leaned close and a sigh of relief escaped his lips. “I love you, thank you, thank you for making me the happiest man alive.”
“No, I should be thanking you,” you rebutted, glancing at him. “You have always been my heart’s keeper. Thank you Heeseung, without you, I wouldn’t be where I am right now.”
He kissed you once again. Deeper and intense. A kiss that you never felt before. A kiss that ties your promises — an oath for the future that waits for you. It felt like a new beginning. Like the aftermath of new year’s, wherein everything’s tranquil after a boisterous celebration and yet, everyone’s heart is filled with anticipation for the new start.
Everything became too real for you. The next thing you knew, Heeseung was groaning against your lips, capturing it with hunger that you took a step back. Your lover caught you immediately, his arms wrapping around your waist as he tugged you closer to him. You placed your arms around him, responding to his kisses with much intensity.
“Bed?” he asked in the midst of your kisses.
“Please,” you sighed against his lips. “I need you so bad — you were gone for too long. You were killing me Hee.”
“Well, I was dying without you my love,” he rebutted before grabbing you by your thighs and lifting you. You instinctively wrapped your legs around his waist as you found yourself leaning downwards Heeseung for another kiss.
Your back hit the mattress before you even knew. But you didn’t care, not when Heeseung’s lips began to get more hungry to get a taste of you. Licking and biting your lips, making you whimper at his actions.
It didn’t help that his hands busied themselves on your blouse and one-by-one he started to unbutton your blouse without breaking the kiss. That’s when you insisted on removing his shirt, making him break the kiss as he hastily undressed himself — along with his pants and boxers while you were quick to remove your clothes too.
“I miss you — so fucking much,” he whispered as he nestled onto the bed once again before grabbing you and making you sit on his lap. Both skins were warm and intimate as Heeseung’s mouth trailed on your jaw, downwards your neck and collarbones. You threw your head back, giving him enough space to worship your body with his mouth.
“I miss you too, love —” your words were cut off when Heeseung’s lips trailed on your breast. Sucking it harshly as his tongue flickered on your hardening bud. He groaned under his act, as he glanced at you who looked at him darkly.
Heeseung removed himself from your breast and once again kissed you. His hunger for your lips was too much. More than a month without you, without your touch, or smile nor laughter had driven him mad. It assured him that you're here with him. Kissing him back, reciprocating his madness with the way your lips roughly battled his, tugging his hair harshly that it made him moan under you.
“You missed me that much?” he taunted in between.
“So much Hee, if you don’t fuck me dumb right now, I’m gonna go insane,” you answered and Heeseung only chuckled at your words before he pushed you to lay down on the mattress. He captured your lips once again, while his hands trailed on your skin until it reached your pussy which made you spread your legs wider for him.
His hands gather the slick before rubbing your clit in a feathered manner. Teasing you who instead of whining at his actions, grabbed his semi-hard cock and started stroking it harshly. Heeseung lets out a soft groan as your expert hands stroke it in a pace he has always liked, tight and fast while squeezing its tips every time you reach it.
“Heeseung — just put it in, please I need you right now,” you begged. His cock was already hard and you’re there, whimpering as your pussy was twitching, begging to be punctured by your lover’s dick.
“Fuck, alright, always so needy for me,” he responded before he grabbed your legs, pulling it close to him before he aligned himself inside you.
The sensation was intense. Your pussy welcomed him in a tight hug as his dick penetrated your tight warm walls. Both of you were holding back each other’s breath until Heeseung fully sheathed himself inside, groaning loudly as he felt your warmth around his cock.
“God — you feel so good,” he whispered to you before kissing you once again. “So fucking good to me, my girl, my love — my future wife. Fuck, that sounds so fucking good when I say it.”
Heeseung started to move. Light strokes to have you adjust to his size again while you could do nothing but whimper at how his cock slid on your pussy, stretching you in a good way that it had your toes curling.
His thrust became more frantic, faster as the room became hotter. Sweat started to bead, mixing in each other’s warmth as you two held each other close. You pulled him close to you as lustful sounds were the only thing that left your mouth. Your hand brushed against his hair, tugging it tight while his face buried in the depth of your shoulders. Inhaling your scent as he scratched your skin using his teeth.
Both of you were drunk at the ecstasy of the act. Your legs tightened around his waist, locking him inside you as he continued to pound on your pussy. Heeseung couldn’t help but to groan louder as his hips slapped against yours. He could feel how his cock slid inside your pulsing cunt, his tip stabbing your cervix at every sharp thrust that he made.
“Mine,” he claimed before slapping a hard thrust inside you, choking you underneath. He lifted his head to look at you, a mixture of desire and love was all you can see and that strung your heart with bliss.
“Yours,” you mumbled back before pulling him for a kiss which he reciprocated lovingly, you grabbed his right hand out of your waist, intertwining it with yours as you placed it on the side of your head. Heeseung could feel the curve of the engagement ring on your ring finger and that thought just drove him into insanity.
His thrusts become hasty as he ruts inside you like an animal. Moans turned into cries of pleasure as you could feel the pooling tension inside your stomach.
“Hee — ” you tried to put out words but the feeling has become too intense. Your fiance found the spot that had you arching your back as your pussy clamped tightly around his cock.
“It’s okay my love,” he gestured, wiping the sweat that trailed on your side. “Just let it go love, ‘m right here, don’t worry about anything.”
Your orgasm came in just a second. Strings of cry and moan escaped your lips, in which your lover hushed using his lips. Capturing yours in a sloppy manner as he continued abusing your sensitive cunt.
“T-too much,” you whispered to him but Heeseung cooed you softly, he rested his forehead on yours as his breath became unstable.
“Be patient, love, just let me,” he asked and you only whined as you felt nothing but becoming overwhelmed with everything. Your hands tightened on his hold, fingernails digging on his skin as your legs weakened around his waist, letting fall on the side shaking.
“You said you want kids right?” he asked you and your overstimulated brain was trying to formulate what he was trying to say.
“W-what?” you managed to ask.
“Going to give you that,” he claimed before thrusting sharply inside you. “Going to put a baby inside you. You want that? You want a family right? Let’s start right now, love.”
“Yes,” you sobbed. “Gods, Hee — oh my god, I want it, I want it with you.”
“Take it,” he ordered. “Fuck, you’re going to be my future wife — future mother of my kids, fuck, it’s all I ever wanted.”
Heeseung’s thrusts never stopped. Not when he’s driven to breed you, fill you with his cum enough that you’re full, warm, and filled with it. All he could think of was your future together. Your married life aside, your business and company, and what your kids would look like. It led him to fasten his pace, impatient for the future that waits for the two of you.
Heeseung let out a feral groan as his orgasm came. Burying his cock deep inside you as his warm seeds filled your cunt, making you whine at the feeling. He was catching his breath as rest on you, head on the dip of your chest while his dick twitched at every short thrust he made.
The room became silent in just a second. The two of you remained at your positions, catching each other’s breath as you found yourself brushing Heeseung’s hair before wrapping your arms around him.
“I love you Hee,” you whispered to him before kissing the top of his head. It was a rare moment, with him clinging for your warmth while you comfort him in the most intimate way.
But in a second, you felt him shaking, alarmed you grabbed him immediately, and to your surprise, you saw tears trailing down from his eyes.
“Heeseung, no, no, why? Why are you crying love?” you asked with a concerned tone, cupping his face as he sniffed his tears away.
“I’m just —” a relieved smile formed on his face as he stared at you. “I’m just happy that you’re here with me.”
“Love, I’m not going to leave you,” you told him immediately.
“I thought I was going to lose you that day. I just — I just couldn’t imagine seeing you with somebody else. Someone who’d love you in front of the world.” he confessed and you knew who he was referring to.
“I’m really sorry for that, I didn’t — I was just scared of losing my company. But after everything, I was more scared of losing you,” you explained to him. “And I am sorry, for only realizing that the moment you’re gone. I should’ve loved you more, I should’ve — seen you more than you have cared for me.”
Heeseung nodded to your words. The tears never stopped and you couldn’t help but to feel your heart shattering because you had hurt the man who had done nothing but to love you. You smiled bitterly as you made him look at you once again.
“You don’t have to love me in front of the world just to prove your love to me,” you stated. “Not when you could love me like this in secrets, with just the two of us. This love is just for us Heeseung, only us — and I’ll make sure that it’ll be this way, forever.”
“Thank you,” he spoke with much gratitude. “Thank you my love, I’m sorry for making you worry.”
“You’re here now, and we’re okay, we’re going to be okay, alright?” you repeated before planting a kiss on his lips, and from there, he nodded.
“Always.”
Heeseung rested on the bed now that he had calmed down. You immediately wrapped your arms around his bare chest as you rested on his side. Snuggling on his warm as the night becomes calm and tranquil.
“Now, I’m curious,” you whispered to him against the silence. Glancing at him who shifted his position. “How were you planning to propose to me?”
“On our anniversary,” he confessed. “I was planning to take you to Paris because you know, it’s the city of love and you always dream of getting proposed there.”
“Love, I was seventeen back then!” you insisted, and yet Heeseung only chuckled.
“I have to take notes on that one, I have to make sure that I have earned enough money to take you to Paris — and to marry you and give you the bright future that you deserve.”
“Oh Hee,” you said, feeling your heart swelling with pride for loving the right person. “You did. I wouldn’t be where I am without you by my side. Even though we kept our relationship a secret, you never left my side — never, and thank you for loving me.”
“I am lucky to love you,” he reciprocated before pulling you closer to him. “And I can’t wait what the future awaits for us.”
“I feel the same way love,” you answered, smiling at him before the two of you fell under the peaceful silence again.
“Love,” he called out out of the sudden, that it made you look at him. His eyes were looking for yours. Eyes round and filled with love as he smiled. “We’re okay, right?”
You smiled back at him. The gentle course of your expression slipped along with your touch. Cupping his cheeks as your stare lingered at him, loved and in love.
Pairing: Neteyam Sully x Tayrangi!Reader (Olo'eyktan's Daughter)
Word Count: ~7,4K words
Summary: As the fierce, independent daughter of the Tayrangi clan's Olo'eyktan, being traded away in a political marriage to secure an alliance against the Sky People is your absolute worst nightmare. Neteyam Sully is determined to play the dutiful, perfect husband to unite your people—at least in public. Behind closed doors, your clash of egos erupts into venomous sarcasm, competitive aerial warfare, and a boiling, hate-fueled intimacy neither of you knows how to handle.
CW: Arranged/forced marriage, enemies-to-lovers, intense verbal sparring, extreme public vs. private persona contrast., Heavy sexual tension, hate-fueled physical intimacy, smut! (passionate, rough make-out sessions and suggestive, raw intimacy driven by frustration), cocky/provocative Neteyam, stubborn and aggressive female lead, Mild fantasy violence, strong language, suggestive themes.
The winds of the Eastern Cliffs did not sing; they screamed.
Growing up along the sheer, jagged precipices of the Tayrangi territory, you learned to walk on stone that plunged thousands of feet into crashing, violent seas below. You were the eldest daughter of the Olo'eyktan, bred for vertical drops, gale-force updrafts, and the untamed freedom of the Ikran riders. Among your people, status was earned through flight, precision, and unyielding will. You did not bow to anyone. You did not take orders.
So when your mother stood before the gathering of elders alongside Toruk Makto and casually bargained your future away for tactical air support, you felt the air vanish from your lungs.
The ceremonial fire burned high against the grey slate of the council platform, casting flickering shadows over the assembled war leaders. The salty sea breeze whipped your dark hair across your cheeks as you stood rigidly behind your mother, your tail lashing against the stone with visible, murderous fury.
"An alliance of blood," your mother declared, her voice cutting clean through the roaring mountain wind. Her angular cliff-dweller markings seemed to glow in the twilight as she gestured toward the Omatikaya delegation. "The Omatikaya and the Tayrangi will fly as one against the Sky People. My daughter will unite our sky riders with the firstborn of Jake Sully."
Across the flames, Jake Sully bowed his head in solemn agreement. "Our clans share the sky and the trees," the former marine spoke, his voice carrying the heavy cadence of a general. "My eldest son will stand beside your daughter. Their union will seal the perimeter of the eastern ridge."
Your jaw tightened so hard your fangs achingly pressed into your lower lip. You turned your gaze from Toruk Makto to fixate entirely on the heir sitting beside him.
Neteyam Sully sat perfectly still, his posture rigidly straight beneath his warrior beads and leather harness. He looked like an illustration from a military manual: composed, disciplined, and sickeningly stoic. But as you narrowed your eyes, analyzing the structure of the boy you had just been traded to, your resentment deepened into visceral disgust.
He was not built like the slender, whip-thin riders of your cliffs, nor did he possess the sleek, elegant proportions of a pure Omatikaya hunter. He was broad. His chest expanded wider beneath his choker, his shoulders carrying a heavy, dense muscle mass that spoke of foreign gravity. And when his hand moved to rest casually on his thigh, your eyes locked onto his fingers.
Five. Five thick, heavy digits curving against the woven fabric of his loincloth.
He carried the blood of the dreamwalkers. The lineage of the very sky demons who were burning Pandora’s forests.
While your blood boiled, Neteyam met your murderous glare across the fire. His golden eyes were bright and searching, taking in your war paint, your bared fangs, and the aggressive stance of your shoulders. Yet, instead of reacting to the lethal hostility rolling off you, he simply offered a slow, respectful inclination of his head toward your mother.
He accepted it. Just like that. Like you were a freshly carved bow being handed to him from the armory.
That night, hours before the Omatikaya delegation was set to depart for the forest, you tracked him down. You found him standing alone near the royal Ikran perches, checking the thick leather strapping of his saddle under the pale glow of Polyphemus.
You marched across the stone ledge, the beads of your ceremonial belt clicking sharply with every aggressive stride, and cornered him against the wooden railing.
"I will not be your quiet little forest bride, Sully," you spat, stepping directly into his personal space until your chin tilted up to meet his gaze. Up close, his height was infuriating; you had to crane your neck to look him in the eye, acutely aware of the dense, broad build he had inherited from his alien father. "I don't care what our father agreed. You give me a single order in your camp, half-blood, and I will throw you off the nearest ledge."
Neteyam didn't flinch. He didn't step back. Instead, his golden eyes dropped slowly from your eyes to your bared fangs, lingered on the rapid rise and fall of your chest, and then glided back up to your face. A faint, infuriatingly patronizing sigh escaped him.
"Good evening to you too," he murmured, his tone smooth and entirely unbothered. "I don't recall giving you an order. In fact, I was going to suggest we try to make this work. We have a war to fight against the RDA. Our clans need to see a united front."
"A united front?" you scoffed, crossing your arms, your tail whipping sharply against his calf. "You're a hypocrite following your father's script because you don't have the spine to tell him no. You sit there acting like the dutiful little soldier, letting them trade us like supplies just for a pat on the head from Toruk Makto."
For a fraction of a second, the stoic soldier mask slipped. His heavy jaw tightened, the muscles in his neck flexing beneath his braided choker as his golden eyes darkened. But just as quickly, he smoothed the expression over with a faint, cocky smirk that instantly made your skin burn.
"Save your breath for the migration tomorrow,Sweetheart," he said, turning his back on you to adjust the reins on his mount. "The forest canopy is thick, and the wind won't carry you like it does out here. You're going to need all that fire just to keep up with me."
Within three weeks of living beneath the dense, towering roots of the Omatikaya camp, Neteyam Sully realized something undeniable: you were the hardest fight of his entire life.
It seemed you had a dedicated, personal obsession with testing his patience and driving him completely out of his mind.
In public, Neteyam was determined to make the things work, be the absolute embodiment of the perfect, devoted Na'vi suitor—and that way, maybe, you two could really get along.
But you refused to play along for even a second. While he tries with you, you make it your personal mission to humiliate him and challenge his authority in front of the entire clan at every given opportunity.
If he approached you at the communal hearth offering to carry your heavy woven gathering basket, you would yank it out of his reach, snapping that you weren't weak and could carry it yourself, loudly spitting complaints about his ‘freakish demon hands touching your things.’
If he returned from a grueling hunt and bowed his head to present you with the prime cut of hexapede—following strict Na'vi courtship traditions—you would immediately scoff, smirking coldly in front of the elders as you asked if that pathetic scrap of meat was really the best the great Omatikaya heir could bring down.
Neteyam wasn’t just 'performing' for the clan; he genuinely was trying to be a good partner to you, And all your rejections and sharp comments were pushing him more and more to want to hate you too.
The forest heat was stifling, but Neteyam had spent the better part of the morning climbing the treacherous, high-altitude branches near the ridge. His hands were scraped, and his knuckles were bruised from the rough bark, but he didn't mind. He had finally secured a rare, chilled nectar fruit—the kind you’d mentioned missing from your home on the cliffs while you talked with Kiri and he heard you.
He found you near the perches, re-stringing your bow. He didn't approach with fanfare; he just walked over in a casual and relaxed way.
"Hey," he said softly, holding out the fruit. "I know the forest floor is nothing like the cliffs. I thought... maybe you’d want something that tastes like home."
He wasn't doing this for the elders. He was doing this because he was tired of the cold, silent war between you and he honestly wanted to start over.
You didn't even look up, your fingers continuing their rhythmic work on the bowstring. "Oh, look at the Golden Boy, playing the doting husband again. Did you save the forest from a threat, or did you just waste your morning picking fruit so you can act like you're domesticating me?"
Neteyam’s shoulders slumped, just a fraction. The genuine smile he had prepared faded, replaced by a flash of genuine hurt and confusion. "I was just trying to be nice. I thought you'd appreciate it."
"I don't need your charity, Sully," you replied, finally locking eyes with him, your gaze hard and unyielding. "I don't need you to 'fix' my comfort. Go back to being the perfect heir and leave me alone."
Leaning forward just an inch, he dropped his voice so only you could hear, smoothly slipping into the harsh, alien tongue of the Sky People he had learned from his father. "Take the damn fruit, sweetheart."
Your upper lip curled back instantly at the foreign word, a low hiss vibrating in your throat. "Don't use that demon language on me, half-blood. Keep your Sky People words—and your sticky fruit—to yourself."
Shouldering your spear, you turned on your heel and marched toward the Ikran perches without a second glance,lleaving him standing there in the clearing. As he watched you go, his jaw tightened in pure, incredulous frustration. He was trying, and you were treating his sincerity like it was an insult.
A small, wicked part of you relished the way he looked—defeated and annoyed—but beneath that, a flicker of guilt pricked at you. He was annoying, sure, but he was trying, and you were determined to make sure he knew that 'trying' wouldn't change the fact that you weren't here of your own free will.
You made him look like an absolute idiot. He treated you with patience and respect and you just bared your fangs and hissed the second he stepped within arm's reach.
You were impossible. Relentlessly defiant, constantly challenging and provoking him at every turn. But the absolute worst part? That lethal, venomous treatment was reserved exclusively for him.
He would watch from across the clearing as you laughed easily with Kiri, or traded playful punches with Lo'ak. Worse still, he caught you offering a bright, genuine smile to Spider—which drove Neteyam’s territorial instincts insane, considering Spider was literally one of the sky demons you supposedly despised whenever Neteyam offered a helping hand.
Now Neteyam stood in the shadows of a giant tree, watching you. You were showing Tuk how to weave a vine-trap, your voice patient, your expression soft and bright. You were laughing at something Tuk said, and for a moment, you looked so gentle that it made his chest ache. You were the girl he had hoped to find in this forced marriage—the one who could laugh and be kind.
He took a step forward, a hopeful light in his eyes, ready to approach you without the usual armor. "Hey, that’s a good knot, Tuk," he said, his voice quiet.
The change in you was instantaneous. It was like a shutter slamming shut. The softness vanished, replaced by a sharp, defensive glare. You stood up, your posture stiffening immediately.
"What are you doing here, Neteyam?" you asked, the warmth in your voice replaced by ice. "Don't you have a war to manage or a clan to impress? Tuk was busy."
The shift from the girl who was laughing to the girl who was biting his head off hit him like a physical blow. The vulnerability he’d felt just seconds ago hardened into defensive arrogance. If you wanted to play rough, he would play rough too.
"You know what? I think I'm leaving, you look like mom and dad about to fight," the girl murmured, escaping the death grip of the two of you.
He took a step into your space, his height advantage suddenly very apparent. He looked down at you, his smirk sharp and entirely unamused.
"I was just admiring your work, sweetheart," he drawled, using the English word like a weapon. "I didn't realize that being kind to my sister required you to be so miserable the second I walked into the room."
"I'm not miserable, I'm just realistic," you spat back. "And stop calling me that, you annoying, Sky People-obsessed brat."
"What’s the matter, darling?" he teased, dropping his voice into a mocking, intimate register as he stepped even closer. "Is it hard to keep up that 'I hate everyone' act when I’m standing right here? You're so good at being a nightmare for me, I’m starting to think you do it because you don't know how else to get my attention."
He watched your eyes flare with rage—a look he was starting to find incredibly intoxicating. You didn't realize it, but the more you fought him, the more he wanted to break that attitude down, piece by piece, just to see what was underneath.
Why was your venom saved only for him? It wasn't like he had begged to be paired with you either! It had been forced on both of them, and Neteyam was actually trying to make the best of a difficult situation so their people wouldn't burn.
But you? You took every single opportunity, in front of the entire village, at all hours of the day, to broadcast your utter discontent and disgust for him.
'Ironic. Insufferable. Stubborn. Foolish. Cruel. Malicious. Grumpy. Ungrateful. Childish. Bossy. A complete bitch'. Every single one of those words crossed Neteyam’s mind whenever you opened your mouth, and the list only grew longer with each passing day. It felt like every living creature on Pandora had earned the right to your smile and kindness—except him.
Neteyam kicked a rock into the river with enough force to send a spray of water ten feet high.
"She’s a psycho," Neteyam muttered, throwing his head back. "Straight-up mental. I brought her the nectar from the high ridge—the dangerous one—and she acted like I’d just insulted her ancestors."
Lo’ak snorted, picking at a loose piece of bark on the log he was sitting on. "Maybe she just thinks you’re a suck-up, bro. You’re always hovering. It’s pathetic."
"Shut the hell up, Lo'ak," Neteyam snapped, spinning around to face him. "I’m not hovering! I’m trying to make sure we don't kill each other before the war is over!"
"Yeah, sure," Spider chimed in, leaning against a tree with a smirk. "That’s why you spend every night pacing the marui like a caged ikran."
"I am not pacing," Neteyam defended, his voice rising. "I am thinking. And thinking is hard when she’s acting like a total bitch for no reason. She’s stubborn, she’s difficult, and she has this... this way of moving when she’s angry—" He stopped, his face suddenly heating up. "She’s got this lethal way of pinning a target that’s, like, actually pretty impressive. And when she’s pissed off, her eyes turn this shade of yellow that's... whatever. It’s annoying."
Lo’ak let out a loud, mocking laugh. "Oh my god. He’s gone. Look at him, he’s blushing!"
"I am not blushing!" Neteyam shoved Lo'ak’s shoulder hard. "She’s just incredibly talented and it’s frustrating that she wastes it being a total pain in my ass, okay? She’s a menace, she’s hot-headed, and she’s a complete nightmare, but she’s the only person who doesn't treat me like the 'Golden Boy.' She’s actually... I don't know, she's captivating, okay? Happy now?"
Spider howled, clutching his stomach. "Holy shit, Neteyam! 'She’s captivating'? You’re down bad, man. You’re literally pining over a girl who probably wants to throw you off a cliff."
"Eat dirt, Spider," Neteyam growled, though he couldn't hide the faint, involuntary smile that pulled at his lips. He hated that they were right, but he couldn't stop the thought of you from taking over his head.
One evening, by the central fires, Neteyam took his seat beside you. He reached out, his large hand resting over yours on your knee for the benefit of the watching elders. Instantly, your fingernails dug so savagely into the flesh of his palm that you nearly drew blood.
He didn't wince. He leaned in close, brushing his lips against your pointed ear in what looked to the camp like a tender, romantic whisper.
"Keep digging your claws in,sweetheart," Neteyam murmured against your shell, his voice dropping into a register dripping with venomous amusement. "And I'll tell my mother you're getting so impatient you want to speed up the mating ceremony."
"Touch my ear again with those alien fingers and I'll feed them to a viperwolf," you hissed back showing your fangs, your tail twitching impatiently against the ground, noticeably annoyed...or excited.
From across the fire, Neytiri watched you yank your hand away from her son's under the guise of reaching for a fruit bowl. Her ears twitched slightly.
"Look at them," Neytiri murmured to Jake, her tone carrying a blend of concern and exasperation. "He is trying so hard with her. A true protector. But she rejects every gesture. May Eywa hear our prayers and make them get along before she takes his eye out."
Jake chuckled softly, leaning back against a mossy root and taking a sip from his cup. "He's doing better than I expected. Eywa gave him broad shoulders to carry that kind of attitude. Don't worry, baby. What starts badly, ends well. You'll see."
And the moment the heavy woven flaps of your shared marui fell shut for the night, however, they were both on each other's necks, ready to kill each other.
You threw your hunting pack across the floorboards, spinning to face him. "That's the last time you touch me, you damn idiot! I'm not your wife, I'm not your property, I'm nothing to you!" The fury was palpable in your voice, your crouched posture, and your chest rising and falling noticeably fast. Both of you were ready to fight.
Neteyam unbuckled his chest harness, tossing the thick leather straps onto a wooden bench with a sharp thud. The stoic prince vanished, replaced by an arrogant, deeply frustrated young man who was entirely fed up with your disrespect.
"Oh, forgive me, sweetheart! But in case you've forgotten, we're getting married, and whether you like it or not, you'll be my wife! Neteyam snapped, taking two aggressive steps toward you. His tall, heavily muscled frame filled the compact space of the tent. "I didn't ask to be paired with a stubborn, spoiled bitch like you either! Eywa knows how much you drive me crazy every day! You question every word I say, you humiliate me in front of my own warriors, and you treat every attempt I make to keep this alliance alive like an insult"
"Because it is an insult!" You marched right up to him, jabbing your finger hard into his bare, scarred chest. "You act like the doting martyr so your daddy gives you a pat on the head! If you hate breathing the same air as me so much, break this agreement!”
Silence settled between them both; amidst the screams, they had ended up just inches from each other. Their breaths were ragged, their hearts pounding violently.
They both knew they couldn't break the agreement; they needed something strong and certain to unite both clans to manage this war as best as possible. Perhaps that was what bothered you, what caused your hatred and repulsion towards him, because you had fought for your freedom, but he simply accepted his fate.
You came back with another string of insults, shouting in his face while he looked at you in a way you couldn't quite identify.
"You are a complete, arrogant hypocrite playing the saint while you resent every second I breathe your air!" You yelled, preparing to throw another punch at his chest.
Neteyam caught your wrist—firmly locking your arm in place. Instead of pushing you away, he yanked you an inch closer. His chest heaved against yours, his golden eyes blazing with a cocky, dangerous heat in the dim bioluminescent light.
"You think you have me figured out, cliff rider?" he growled, stepping forward until your back hit the central support post of the tent. He towered over you, his gaze dropping to your parted lips with a dark, taunting smirk. "You scream and bite because you're terrified of looking small in a forest that doesn't belong to you. You can throw all the tantrums you want inside these walls. You can call me a demon, insult my blood, and act like a spoiled little brat all night long."
He leaned down until his breath brushed the shell of your ear, his voice dropping to a rough, mocking whisper. "But tomorrow morning, you will walk out that flap, you will stand by my side, and you will remember who actually commands this camp.”
He released your wrist with a deliberate, arrogant toss, turning his back on you to stalk toward his sleeping mat.
Your heart is beating fast, not just from anger, your skin is tingling where he touched you.
"Don't sleep in too late, sweetheart, tomorrow another lovely day awaits us together," Neteyam spoke again, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Two nights later, suffocated by the dense canopy and the rigid rules of the Omatikaya camp, you slipped out of the marui long before midnight. You climbed the high stone perches where the Ikran roosted, waking your dark-scaled coastal mount. You needed open air. You needed vertical drops where no one could tell you how to stand or who to smile at.
Launching off the highest branch of the cliff-edge, you urged your mount into the dark, starlit sky above the floating Hallelujah Mountains. As a Tayrangi, your Ikran was bred for the vicious updrafts and sheer vertical dives of the ocean cliffs. You didn't fly with the cautious, textbook formations of the forest warriors; you flew like a falling stone, tucking your mount's wings and plunging thousands of feet into the misty ravines before pulling up at the absolute last second.
As you banked sharply around a massive floating island, letting the icy gale whip through your hair, a high-pitched screech cut through the night air behind you.
You glanced over your shoulder. Slicing through the cloud cover at breakneck speed was a sleek green forest Ikran, its rider flat against its back, pushing the beast to its absolute limits to intercept your trajectory.
Neteyam pulled up directly alongside your left flank, matching your speed knot for knot. You braced yourself for a lecture via throat-mic—an order to return to camp, a reprimand for breaking nighttime curfew.
Instead, when you looked across the gap between your mounts, what you saw stole the breath right out of your lungs.
Neteyam wasn't frowning. His lips were parted in a wild, adrenaline-fueled grin. His braided hair whipped violently in the wind, and his golden eyes burned with an intense, competitive fire you had never seen on the ground. Up here, away from his father's eyes and the crushing weight of his title, the rigid soldier was gone; he was simply an arrogant boy racing the wind.
"Is that all the eastern cliffs taught you?!" he shouted across the roaring gap between your mounts, his voice ringing with pure challenge.
"Talk less, tree-boy!" you yelled back, a sudden, unfamiliar thrill coursing through your veins. "Try to keep up!"
You pulled hard on your neural bond, sending your Ikran into a brutal, inverted barrel roll that clipped the mist of a passing waterfall before leveling out in a steep vertical climb. To your shock, Neteyam didn't hesitate. He copied the maneuver flawlessly, his heavier, muscular frame shifting balance with surprising agility as his beast sliced through the spray, hovering inches above your wingtip.
For an hour, you danced across the sky. You led him through narrow stone canyons, diving through impossibly tight gaps, testing his reflexes and his nerve. Every time you pushed the envelope, expecting him to back off, he matched you, his laugh echoing across the open canyons.
Eventually, your mounts tired, guiding you down to land on an isolated, wind-scoured plateau overlooking the vast, bioluminescent expanse of the forest valley far below.
As soon as your boots hit the moss, Neteyam slid off his saddle and walked toward you. His chest was heaving, his skin glistening with sweat and mist, but there was no anger in his stride. For the first time, his gaze held genuine, unreserved respect mixed with cocky amusement.
"You're not bad at all, cliff rider" he said, breathing heavily as he stopped two feet away, resting his hand on his belt. "But your recklessness is very careless; in a war, you'd be handing yourself to the enemy on a silver platter."
"And your maneuvers are very tense, they lack emotion; it should look like a dance.," you shot back immediately, wiping a drop of mist from your cheek. "You fly like you're memorizing a manual, Neteyam. You're bracing for impact instead of riding the draft. Loosen your hips."
Neteyam froze. His golden eyes flicked slowly down from your face to the curve of your waist, lingered on the leather strap resting against your hips, and then glided back up to your eyes. A slow, filthy smirk crept across his face.
"Loosen my hips?" he repeated, his voice dropping an octave as he took a slow step forward, trapping you against the side of your Ikran's warm leather saddle. "Is that official instruction from the great Tayrangi flight master?"
Your breath hitched. Up here, alone on the plateau under the violet glow of Polyphemus, the contrast in your sizes was suddenly overwhelming. He towered over you, his broad chest blocking out the stars, smelling of rain, ozone, and clean leather.
"It's the basic theory for flying well." you managed to say, refusing to back away even as your heart hammered against your ribs. "If you fly rigid, you break against the wind."
"I don't break easily, sweetheart," he murmured, leaning down until his forehead nearly brushed yours. His gaze lingered heavily on your parted lips, his breath brushing warm against your skin. "Though watching you fly tonight... I'm starting to think you might enjoy trying to break me."
The truce in the sky did not survive the crushing reality of the ground.
Three days later, a long, grueling scouting mission along the border went disastrously wrong when a torrential Pandoran monsoon slammed into the ridge. Blinding sheets of freezing rain and gale-force winds grounded your mounts, forcing the two of you to seek emergency shelter in an abandoned, decaying RDA metal outpost rusted into the mountainside.
The shelter was cramped, smelling of damp metal, ancient oil, and cold moss. Rain hammered against the corrugated steel roof with a deafening, relentless roar. You were both soaked to the bone, freezing, and completely out of patience.
Neteyam paced the metal floorboards, stripping off his soaked chest harness to dry his bowstrings with a piece of cloth, his broad shoulders tensing with every turn. You sat on a rusted supply crate, shivering slightly as you wrung the freezing rainwater out of your dark hair.
"If you had just followed the ridge line when I signaled instead of scouting that ravine on foot, we would have beaten the storm," Neteyam muttered coldly, not looking up from his bow. "We wouldn't be stuck in this metal box."
"If your tracking skills were half as impressive as your ego, we would have found the trail three hours ago!" you snapped, throwing your wet cloth onto the floor with a sharp slap. "God, you are insufferable! Perfect little Neteyam, never wrong, never making a mistake! You led us into a dead end because you refused to listen to me!"
Neteyam dropped his bow. The clatter of the heavy wood against the metal floor echoed sharply in the small room.
He turned, closing the distance between you in three long strides. Before you could slide off the crate to retreat, his hands slammed against the metal wall on either side of your head, boxing you in completely.
"I am sick of your mouth," he snarled, his chest pressing against yours with every ragged, furious breath. The rain hammered against the roof above you, drowning out the world outside. "I am sick of your insults, I am sick of your pride, and I am sick of pretending that you don't drive me completely insane!"
"Then stop pretending!" you yelled right back into his face, your hands flying up to shove against his hard, broad shoulders. "Fight me! Tell your father you hate me! Tell him you can't stand being bonded to a girl who doesn't worship the ground you walk on! Do something honest for once in your life instead of acting like a saint!”
“Shut up, just close your stupid pretty mouth already!” Neteyam's voice sounds exasperated, as if an impossible limit had been crossed. "You want something honest?!" Neteyam roared. “"Fine, I'll give you something honest, and maybe you'll finally shut up!"
His hands moved from the metal wall, his large, five-fingered hands tangling violently in your damp hair, cupping the back of your skull, His other hand goes over your throat, gently pressing it to make you raise your head towards him. He didn't give you a second to process before he slammed his mouth down onto yours.
It wasn't gentle. It wasn't the sweet, performative affection he displayed by the campfires. It was raw, furious, and driven by months of suffocating frustration, territorial jealousy, and repressed desire.
You gasped in shock, but the sound was swallowed instantly by his kiss. For a split second, your brain tried to rebel—this was Neteyam, the hypocrite, the rival, the alien-blooded prince—but your body betrayed you entirely. Your hands, which had been shoving against his chest, slid upward on instinct, your nails digging desperately into the thick braids at the nape of his neck, pulling him closer.
He groaned against your lips, a deep, primal vibration that shook you to your core. His arms wrapped around your waist, gripping you with immense strength as he lifted you effortlessly off the supply crate until your back hit the cold metal wall with a dull thud. You wrapped your legs around his hips, anchoring yourself to the solid, searing heat of his broad body.
"Insufferable," he growled against your mouth, biting down lightly on your lower lip before capturing it again in a deep, bruising kiss. "Stubborn, arrogant brat."
"Cocky... tree-climbing bastard," you breathed between gasps, your nails scratching down the muscled expanse of his back, feeling the heavy muscles shudder under your touch. "Half-blood freak."
“I hate you, I hate you, idiot, half-breed," between kisses you bit her lower lip until it bled, although he didn't seem to care.
"Mhm, says the whore who's wet, pulling me closer to her, ironic, isn't it?" His voice was low and tempting, his hands running all over you, his insults sending heat towards your lower area.
Every insult poured fuel on the inferno. The hostility that had kept you at arm's length shattered, morphing into a heavy, intoxicating need. His hands moved with possessive urgency over your waist, gripping your hips as if he wanted to leave bruises to prove you belonged to him and him alone. He trailed hot, open-mouthed kisses down your jawline to the sensitive expanse of your throat, making you arch your back against the steel wall and cry out his name—not in anger, but in desperate, unadulterated yearning.
He grabbed your hips, shifting your weight until you were fully seated on the edge of the metal desk, his broad frame stepping between your thighs.
"Please, just fuck me, coward." Your tone of voice was a mixture of longing and annoyed, desperate to feel him inside you.
His eyes met yours with an intensity that tightened your chest. "If that's what you want, we'll do it right."
He reached over his shoulder, grasping his kuru and brought it forward, his glowing golden eyes locking onto yours with terrifying determination and security.
"Bring yours out," he commanded, his voice shaking with raw need. "I'm not going to fuck with just anyone, I'm going to do it with my woman.”
The silence stretched between you for a moment, the heat and need on your center becoming unsettling. His hands caressing your thighs created a strange contrast of intentions.
He was sure of this; despite your insults, your anger, your cruel and childish way of behaving towards him, he wanted to be with you.
And after so many months trying to resist the tension and magnetism between the two of you, you could no longer pretend.
Your hands trembled as you reached back, unwrapping your own dark braid. The moment the glowing pink tendrils of your kuru brushed against his, a shockwave rattled through your spine. As the thousands of neural fibers intertwined, locking your nervous systems together in tsahílu, your vision exploded into brilliant white light.
The sensory flood was overwhelming. You didn't just feel his hands on your hips; you felt the roaring, possessive inferno inside his mind. You felt his crushing frustration from the past months, the profound weight of his responsibilities, and beneath it all, a dark, consuming obsession with you that had been burning since the moment you stepped onto his beach.
Neteyam gasped, his forehead dropping against yours as the union struck him with equal, blinding force. A lopsided smile appeared on her face as she tried to catch her breath. "That's it, good girl... Now I'm going to grant your wishes, sweetheart."
His voice was an intoxicating purr as his mouth traveled down your neck, removing your top. His hands cupped your breasts, and he took one into his mouth, licking it with fervor.
You melted under his mouth and hands that now traveled through your belly to your center, moving in slow circles that made you tremble and moan.
After releasing your breasts, with one hand he gripped your waist, driving The five digits of your fingers inside you moving them against you with a raw, dominant rhythm that demanded total surrender. Through the bond,you could feel everything more intensely stripping away your defensive pride, forcing you to feel exactly how deeply he craved you.
"No more insults," he growled against your ear, his breath hot and ragged as his fingers moved with relentless, bruising rhythm against you. "No more hiding behind your pride, sky rider. You feel what I feel for you. You know it's real."
You cried out, your nails sinking into his shoulders as the dual overload of physical pleasure and mental union threatened to break you apart, you were so close. "Neteyam—"
"No," he commanded, biting gently at the shell of your ear, He stopped his movements completely, pulling his fingers out of you. You whimpered. He leaned back just enough to force you to look into his blazing golden eyes. "Now you're my wife, you're going to address me properly if you want to come, no more being a spoiled bitch ."
Tears of overwhelming sensation pricked the corners of your eyes. The bond left no room for lies, no room for sarcasm. You looked up at the broad, beautiful warrior who had entirely consumed your world.
"Ma'Teyam," you sobbed out, your arms wrapping tightly around his neck, pulling him down until your chest pressed flush against his. "Please, Ma'Teyam."
A ragged growl tore from his throat at the sound of his name on your lips.
"That's all, baby." He smiled slightly, taking off his loincloth and entering you at once.
His rhythm was raw and merciless, hitting your G-spot with every thrust, making your eyes roll back in pure pleasure, your voice turning into whimpers and pleas for more.
“Oh look at the powerful warrior, you hated me so much and now you're begging to keep this cock inside you, you're desperate, aren't you, sweetheart?” His voice was muffled as he hid against her neck. Whispering all those filthy words in your ear, sending you to the edge.
That afternoon, amidst the cold metal, the rust, and the damp shadows of the shelter, the war between you burned itself to the ground.
When you returned to the Omatikaya camp the next morning, the rain had cleared, leaving the forest dripping with golden sunlight. But between the two of you, the silence was deafening.
Stubborn pride is a difficult armor to shed permanently. Neither of you explicitly acknowledged what had happened inside the metal shelter. You didn't speak of the faint bruises hidden beneath your leather garments, nor the way your voices had gone hoarse from things that had nothing to do with arguing.
You thought you could go back to the old routine: your cold hostility in public, the bitter distance in private.
But something had shifted fundamentally at the cellular level.
For Neteyam it was official; you were already his and he was completely yours.
For you, it was... you didn't know exactly what it was yet but you were starting to like it.
During the evening meal around the central fire, Neteyam sat beside you as usual. When his large, five-fingered hand reached out to rest on your knee, your muscles didn't tense. You didn't reach down to dig your nails into his palm. Instead, your fingers instinctively shifted, opening up to interlock with his, letting his thumb rest against your pulse point.
Neteyam paused mid-conversation with Lo'ak. His golden eyes dropped slowly to your joined hands, then flicked up to your face. You were staring fixedly at the roasting meat over the fire, refusing to look at him, but a dark, burning flush crept up your neck and tinged your cheeks.
A slow, genuine smile—soft, entirely devoid of his usual arrogance—touched the corners of his mouth. His thumb stroked the back of your hand, gently, reverently, drawing a subtle circle against your skin.
The real shift became undeniable the following afternoon on the training grounds.
You were practicing defensive spear alignments when Neteyam approached. Instead of stepping in with his usual cocky critique, he stood silently watching your form. When you paused to wipe your brow, he walked forward, reaching into the woven pouch at his belt.
Without saying a word, he held out his hand. Resting in his broad palm was a handcrafted chest harness and matching armband. It was meticulously woven from strong Omatikaya forest leather, but reinforced and weighted along the shoulders with polished grey slate stones gathered from the high eastern ridges—a blend of forest durability and Tayrangi balance.
You stared at the gift, your breath catching. "You made this?"
"I noticed your old harness was chafing against your Ikran's saddle during steep dives," Neteyam said quietly, his golden eyes soft, stripped of all defensive armor. "The slate adds counterbalance for vertical drops. Try it on."
Instead of arguing or throwing a sarcastic remark, you unbuckled your old leather strap and let him step behind you. His large, warm hands were incredibly gentle as he draped the new harness over your shoulders, carefully adjusting the straps to fit the broad curve of your collarbones. When his fingers brushed the nape of your neck, you didn't pull away; you leaned your weight slightly back against his chest with a soft sigh.
Later that night, inside the privacy of the marui, you stood by the water basin washing the ceremonial face paint from your cheeks. You heard the rustle of the tent flap closing, followed by the heavy, familiar tread of his footsteps.
You braced yourself for a tease, or a cocky remark.
Instead, large, warm hands slid gently around your waist from behind. Neteyam pulled your back flush against his broad chest, resting his chin comfortably on your shoulder. His tail curled slowly around yours, interlocking with a possessive, intimate weight that sent a shiver through your spine.
"You didn't fight me today during the tactical briefing with the scouts," he murmured quietly into your ear, his voice rumbling soothingly against your back.
"You actually had a decent strategy for the valley ridge," you replied, though your voice completely lacked its usual bite. You turned your head slightly until your nose brushed his cheekbone. "I'm not going to argue just for the sake of it, Sully."
Neteyam chuckled, turning his head to press a soft, lingering kiss against the bare skin of your shoulder. "Could've fooled me. I spent the last three months thinking arguing was your primary language."
"Only when you act like an insufferable know-it-all," you whispered, turning around in his arms until you were facing him. You rested your hands flat against his broad chest, feeling the steady, comforting beat of his heart beneath your palms.
"I am a know-it-all," he admitted softly, wrapping his arms securely around your lower back. His golden eyes shone with a quiet, profound devotion that made your heart swell. "But I finally figured out how to get you to listen to me."
"Oh really?" you raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk teasing your lips. "And what's your great strategy, Mighty warrior?"
Neteyam didn't answer with words. He cupped the side of your face with his large hand, his thumb stroking over your cheekbone, and pulled you down into a kiss that was slow, sweet, and overflowing with unshakeable partnership.
By the time the seasonal migration arrived and your mother visited the Omatikaya camp to formalize the final stage of the military alliance, the entire clan knew the truth.
They didn't need to look at signed treaties or listen to council speeches; they only needed to look up at the sky.
High above the camp, breaking through the mist of the canopy, two Ikran soared in absolute, flawless synchronization. The sleek green mount of the Omatikaya prince did not fly with textbook rigidity; it dived, rolled, and caught the thermal drafts with the wild, breathtaking recklessness of the eastern cliffs. And right beside him, matching him wingtip to wingtip through every inverted turn, flew the Tayrangi princess.
When your mounts landed on the central training grounds, Neteyam leapt smoothly from his saddle and walked straight toward you. In front of your mother, in front of Jake and Neytiri, and in front of the entire assembled warrior ranks, he didn't offer a performative bow. He wrapped his arm firmly around your waist, pulling your body flush against his, and kissed your forehead with fierce, unapologetic pride.
"He has learned the ways of the cliff wind," your mother noted, her sharp eyes softening as she watched Neteyam adjust the straps of your slate-weighted flight harness with careful, protective hands.
Jake smiled, crossing his broad arms as he watched his son look at you like you were the only breathing creature on Pandora. "He learned a lot more than that. I told you, they just needed some time to work things out."
As the elders turned away toward the council fire, Neteyam looked down at you, his golden eyes shining with that familiar, cocky glint that you had somehow fallen completely, hopelessly in love with.
"See, sweetheart ?" Neteyam whispered, leaning in so his lips brushed against yours. "I told you on the first night on the ledge. We make a great team and you learned to love my sky-demon nicknames"
You rolled your eyes, wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling his tall frame down for another deep, lingering kiss. "Shut up and kiss me, Sully.”
Synopsis: When your best friend Kim Sunoo discovers your secret talent for art, you thought you’d never hear the end of it within AISA’s walls. However, surprisingly enough, he makes a strange request to become your source of inspiration when you admitted you had artist’s block. What you didn’t expect to realize while working on your pieces was how truly gorgeous Sunoo actually was, as it begins to stir up unwanted and unforeseen feelings within yourself for this young agent. He wasn’t just beautiful - he’s majestic, mysterious and hiding a loneliness you never thought he possessed. Your art becomes a way of understanding him and he becomes the motivation for your hobby you never knew you needed. But what’s going to happen when a new obsessed agent tries to steal your best friend from you?
Warnings: inappropriate language (mild cursing), explicit mature content - smut (MDNI), oral sex (m receiving), definitely more on the angsty side and Sunoo bringing out an emotional version of himself
Mishi’s Thoughts: First fic for the maknae line is here! I definitely wanted this to be a bit more on the fluff and angst side, so I tended to include a bit more of those aspects in this fic rather than a load of smut like usual. Actually proofread this one this time and I just want to thank everyone for all the support once more! Yes, I seriously can’t thank you guys enough! Permanent taglist is still open so please feel free to ask, don’t be shy! I’ll happily add whoever would love to be a part of it. Also, I may or may not release a surprise fic before the Starboy series ends mainly to celebrate Romance: Untold’s 2nd anniversary. Hopefully I can finish it by July 12th. Can someone please make a time machine and take me back to that era because I seriously miss it so damn much? Take me back I want to stay there forever. If you have any ideas for me to write about and you’d like to share, my requests are open now so I’ll happily take any suggestions as I’m almost done the series. Gentle reminder this is in no way connected to who I’m writing about in real life and yeah that’s about it. Thank you all so much for reading and interacting (please do)! Enjoy!!
“What’s this?” Sunoo mused to himself as he entered the lounge, noticing a sketchbook sitting on one of the coffee tables with the familiar sigh of your signature on the bottom right-hand corner.
He glanced around, finding you standing some distance away by the bar counter, sipping a cup of coffee while chatting with another friend.
He moved to take a seat, picking up the sketchbook and opening it, flipping through the pages.
Sunoo widened his eyes, taking note of the artistic drawings within. Stunned at the character studies, botanical sketches, urban scene thumbnails and even abstract line experiments.
He couldn’t believe it - fingers running over the gradients of color swatch pages and deep or light pencil shadings.
He was quite literally appalled and even entranced at the outstanding work presented in the sketchbook.
When you made your way back over to where you left your sketchbook, you froze, noticing your best friend going through your work.
He didn’t notice you just yet. But judging by his expression, you were positive that he was studying your drawings with an intensity that you’ve never seen before.
“Sunoo? What the hell-” you tried to start but he cut you off.
“You did all this? On your own?” His voice was soft, lacking the usual excitement he always had.
You nodded, watching him lift his head to look at you for a brief moment before falling strangely quiet, stopping at a particular sketch of a female face.
You watched his eyes trace the loose pencil lines capturing a distant expression on the person’s face. Some lines were fully shaded like along the nose and jawline and others were just quick gesture lines alongside the cheekbones.
He looked up, bright fox eyes showing a bit of curiosity within them.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He asked softly.
You blinked, “Tell you what?”
Sunoo rolled his eyes, a small smile playing on his lips.
“That you’re an artist of course!” He exclaimed and you immediately moved to sit beside him, clapping a hand over his mouth with your eyes wide.
“Not so loud!” You chided him.
He looked around, everyone else within the lounge minding their own business.
You carefully pulled your hand away from his mouth, your cheeks flushing now that your secret was out.
“It’s not important,” you muttered under your breath.
Sunoo scoffed, “Of course it is. Y/N these are amazing you know that?”
You shook your head, trying to play it off, “They’re not that good, trust me. It’s just a hobby.”
“So?” He shot back, flicking through the pages of your sketchbook, “These are actually brilliant you know!”
“How could you hide these from me? I had no idea you were so skilled in art!”
You let out a heavy exhale, looking away, “It’s really not that deep, Sun.”
Sunoo didn’t say anything for a moment, growing quiet.
When you actually looked over at him after a few minutes of silence, he appeared to be in deep thought.
“How often do you do this hobby then?” He asked, his voice low.
You let out a soft sigh, shaking your head, “It’s hard to say. I haven’t even sketched in a long while.”
Sunoo raised his eyebrows, glancing over at you curiously, “Artist’s block then? How come?”
You looked at the sketchbook in his hands, “I brought it to work with me thinking it’ll bring me some motivation. Didn’t help though.”
“What if you used me?” Sunoo suddenly piped up after a short pause.
You snapped your head over to him, confused, “What?”
Sunoo looked around, refusing to meet your eyes, “You know… maybe you need inspiration I guess?”
“So you’re basically saying you want to be my muse?” You gazed at him intently, tilting your head and watching him get flustered for a moment.
He quickly cleared his throat, letting out a light laugh that sounded more like a squeak, “Well- yeah pretty much. Muse if that’s what you want to call it.”
You furrowed your eyebrows, “You think it’ll work?”
He shrugged lightly, a bit shy as he closed your sketchbook and handed it back to you.
“I guess we’ll only know if we try right?”
“You’re absolutely sure you want to do this, Sun?” you asked, plopping down on an armchair opposite where Sunoo was sitting on your living room couch.
He nodded, “Positive. Why wouldn’t I?”
You shrugged, “I don’t know, what if you don’t enjoy it and it’s boring?”
He let out a soft laugh, shaking his head.
“Y/N, I want to be your muse.”
You stared at him intently for a moment, your heartbeat picking up speed, noticing how his own face turned pink at his confession.
He added hastily, “It’s for your artist block isn’t it? I’m just thinking that maybe my face would I don’t know- give you ideas?”
That made you laugh, though a deep part of yourself sensed that he wanted more with this opportunity.
“Why’d you think you could help me though?” You asked curiously.
You tried to make yourself look busy so you wouldn’t have to look at him for too long, flicking through your sketchbook and sharpening your drawing pencils as he spoke.
You paused on a blank page when you heard his voice - quiet and almost shy. A stark contrast to the bubbly and excited Sunoo you knew.
“You know… I like being around you obviously. Not just when we’re working but because you’re my best friend, Y/N. I don’t want to do this just to interfere or anything. It’s just- looking at your work and seeing the expressions and talent within everything, there’s just something honest and genuine about it.”
You looked up, a small smile now playing on your lips as you listened to him keep going.
“And I guess… I don’t want to be someone who doesn’t make that feel dangerous for you. I truly just want to help you experience the light of happiness and inspiration this hobby is bringing for you.”
You let out a soft laugh, stunned yet extremely touched at his words, “Sun-!”
He shook his head, beaming as he gained a bit more courage to keep talking, “Shush! I’m not done!”
“If being here helps you keep that softness without feeling exposed… then I’m extremely glad to be a part of it. Even if you never call it anything. Even if it’s just me sitting nearby while you create. I just want to see the real you and for you to see the real me,” he finished with a sheepish smile.
You blinked at him, staring at your best friend in stunned silence until you both suddenly burst out into a ruckus of laughter.
You picked up a crumpled paper ball out of the multiple you had tossed around your living room floor from work you weren’t satisfied with in the past and pelted it at him, earning a shriek as you both giggled.
“You are so cringe Kim Sunoo!” You bubbled out a laugh, yelping as soon as another paper ball came flying right back at you.
“You ready?” You asked as the laughter eventually died down.
Sunoo nodded, shifting his position on the couch and placing his hands on his knees as he straightened up.
You chuckled, taking in his earnest gaze at you and the slight tilt of his head, “Not so stiff. Relax. Just- be yourself.”
He raised his eyebrows at you in a questioning stare, “What? I am being myself though.”
You shot him a bemused look, “Looking like a frozen fish? Since when?”
He rolled his eyes and immediately leaned back, crossing one leg over his thigh while he rested his arms on the back of the couch, clearly a much more relaxed position than before.
“Better?” He asked, his tone dry.
“Loads.”
You shifted your attention to your sketchbook, trying to figure out which pencil to use until you suddenly felt his stare boring into your skin.
“You don’t have to stare at me either, act natural and do your own thing. Watch the tv if you must,” you didn’t look up and he muttered under his breath, grabbing the tv remote, turning it on and flicking to the movie he wanted to watch while passing the time.
You spent the next few hours sketching Sunoo, concentrated gaze occasionally flickering from his profile and then back to your page as you tried your best to capture his somehow ethereal beauty (you couldn’t help but notice all of a sudden) with just some pencil lines.
You couldn’t remember the last time you’d felt so focused and determined to produce something that was actually worth it.
Sunoo on the other hand, was internally excited to see what the outcome of your drawing would be like, a deep part of him craving to be seen in such a way that was unlike anything he’d ever experienced before.
The apartment was quiet in that way it only got late at night, when even the crickets outside seemed to soften their rhythm.
You had somehow shifted your position to be more comfortable on the armchair, legs crossed underneath you and your hair pulled up into a messy bun as you erased a stray drawing stroke, your pencil caught between your teeth.
Sunoo was shamelessly sprawled along your couch, half-asleep with unfocused eyes on the bright tv screen.
He wasn’t even bothering to keep a decent position for at least a few minutes straight, constantly tossing and turning as the hours passed and he hated that you didn’t seem to care.
The air smelled faintly of graphite and a buttery, vanilla candle you put to burn sometime when he didn’t even notice.
“Are you done yet?” Sunoo whined dramatically, a small pout on his plush lips as he stared blankly at your concentrated figure.
“Almost,” you mumbled out distractedly, not even bothering to glance up at your sulky and bored best friend as you lightly stroked your pencil along the paper.
Eventually, you let out a gentle sigh, straightening up before glancing at Sunoo.
You took a keen look at him, as if inspecting and analyzing his features thoroughly before quickly looking back at your drawing in your sketchbook when he caught you.
“What?” He asked, a bit flustered as his ears turned pink when you didn’t say anything for what felt like almost an eternity.
You looked back up at him, catching his uneasy look and you shook your head, reassuring him with an easy smile of your own.
After hesitating for a bit, you turned the sketchbook around while slipping off the armchair. Your fingers lingered on the page, almost protective, as if you weren’t sure you were ready to show it just yet.
Eventually, you let Sunoo take the sketchbook while sinking down next to him on the soft cushions, a heavy sigh laced with exhaustion escaping your lips.
Sunoo didn’t expect much at first. His best friend literally drew as a hobby and he only figured it out until now - beautiful things yes, but never anything that appeared to be personal to him.
Never anything that felt like this.
Then he took the sketchbook when it faced him and the world went still.
It was him obviously. But not the version he saw in mirrors or his favorite selfies. Not the version he performed for people when working and wandering around AISA.
This was the quiet version - the one who carried softness like a secret as he gazed at the tv, the one who felt too deeply especially when it came to sentimental moments and the one who hoped someone would someday look long enough to notice the ache behind the smile.
He caught it in your drawing - everything perfect down to the silent, forlorn and distant gaze in his eyes, even when he had a calm smile on his face the entire night.
You had captured him effortlessly, he was convinced of that.
Sunoo’s throat suddenly tightened. His eyes stung. He didn’t speak at first, afraid his voice would break the moment as he stared wordlessly at the work of art.
He was so caught up in his own emotions that he didn’t notice you had been watching him the entire time, lip caught between your teeth with completely different thoughts running through your head that maybe he hated it.
This was in reality, your first time actually drawing someone who was aware you were doing so.
And you had to admit you were rather ashamed to be showing him any of your work in the first place, clearly not too confident about anything of it at all.
You shifted nervously, not even certain why you were feeling so flustered and embarrassed every time you and Sunoo were dealing with this particular hobby of yours.
Clearing your throat, you spoke up trying to joke with him lightly, “You- uh- You can say if it’s weird or ugly you know.”
Sunoo didn’t take the bait, shaking his head slowly while still staring at the sketch of his upper body with that strange and somehow enrapturing gaze.
“It’s not weird. It’s-” His voice cracked and you weren’t even sure when was the last time you heard that happen, “It’s me.”
You blinked, then let out a gentle laugh, “Well yeah it’s you silly. Who else would it be?”
“No,” Sunoo whispered, his serious tone making you sober up instantly as he finally looked up.
“You drew the part of me I didn’t think anyone could see.”
Your expression softened hearing him, the tension in your shoulders easing.
“I just… noticed it I suppose? I never said this before but you carry this quiet kind of strength. Like you’re always holding something gentle, even when you don’t show it.”
“I did,” you responded easily, catching the glassy look in his eyes but choosing not to comment on it.
Your voice was low, almost shy as you looked away, “I always do.”
He looked back at the sketch, tracing the lines with his eyes - the tenderness and distance conflicted in his gaze, the slight tilt of the mouth, the vulnerability tucked into his posture.
It felt like being recognized in a way he had never been before.
He exhaled shakily, “This means more than I know how to explain you know.”
You just smiled, simple and sincere.
“Then don’t explain it. Just- let me keep seeing you. Alright?”
Sunoo felt something warm bloom into his chest - relief, gratitude and maybe something deeper?
He closed the sketchbook gently, holding it like something fragile and precious.
“Thank you,” he said, voice steadier now.
“For noticing me.”
“Always,” you replied, your cheeks flushed, giving him a light shove to which the both of you doubled over with laughter at.
With newfound inspiration, something new begins on a night when AISA’s training rooms finally begin to empty out.
You stay behind to practice your art, charcoal staining your fingers as Sunoo lingers nearby with no real reason to be there.
When you glance up and casually ask him to sit for another sketch, he agrees with a shrug - nonchalant, effortless and unaware of what this moment would become.
In the stillness, you notice something new: the way Sunoo’s expression softens when he thinks no one is watching.
You draw it without meaning to.
And Sunoo, usually lively and excited, now watched you with a quiet curiosity.
As time passed, your sessions moved to either of your dimly lit offices, where the only light comes from desk lamps.
Shadows fell across Sunoo’s face, revealing a loneliness that you never realized was there. You sketch the vulnerability, the gentleness and the unspoken ache.
Sunoo doesn’t comment much on that aspect as he praises your work, but he studies each drawing longer than the last, eyes flickering with recognition - like he sees something meant only for him.
The intimacy grows in silence.
Soon enough, you two meet on either of apartment complex rooftops on starry nights, where the city hums below and the sky feels impossibly wide.
Here, Sunoo feels as if he can relax completely.
He sits still for long stretches, letting you capture the way his shoulders loosen, the way his gaze softens into that familiar vulnerability now and the way he looks at the stars as if he’s searching for something he lost.
Your drawings begin to change, laced with that subtle improvement of certainty and confidence in your work.
Lines grow tender. Shading lingers around Sunoo’s face as you drew him. Emotion eventually slips into every stroke - warmth, longing and affection you never consciously chose.
And somehow, your hands confess before your voice ever could.
Sunoo, ever the emotional and empathetic one, notices though.
He doesn’t say anything at first, but his behavior shifts in response to yours naturally.
That friendly and playful dynamic between you both was still there, though something deeper and heavy lingered underneath.
Something neither of you wanted to admit.
Touches started lasting longer - with you adjusting his hand or brushing his shoulder occasionally, even to steadying his chin once or twice as he posed.
Not accidental, but not acknowledged either.
Sunoo’s eye contact stretches, heavy and searching. His protective instincts sharpen, even when you two are working in AISA. He ends up walking you home after random sessions, whether it be from headquarters or his apartment. He also stands closer during training or meetings, watching the room before he watches anyone else.
Your art slowly becomes a language between you two - quiet, unspoken and intimate.
One night however, things took a turn where there was no going back.
You finish another sketch of Sunoo, growing quite fond of using him to practice.
It was artwork that captures everything - the loneliness in Sunoo’s eyes, the softness he hides from the world and the hope he carries quietly.
When you see it, he goes still. Something in him shifts - recognition, vulnerability and maybe even longing.
He doesn’t speak at first. And you don’t pull away.
“How do you manage to do it?” He rasped out, staring at another gorgeous piece of artwork involving himself.
You gauged his reaction silently before trying to shrug it off nonchalantly, “It’s just a drawing Sun.”
He let out an exasperated sigh, side eyeing you in such a way that made a small smirk curl at the corners of your lips, “Don’t act stupid. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
You let out a mixture of a scoff and a laugh, “Does it matter how I see you?”
“Tons. You see the real me underneath. And somehow you’re still my best friend after noticing it.” His voice dropped to a quiet murmur.
You frowned, a bit confused, “Why would I stop being your friend just like that?”
He doesn’t respond, clearly lost in thought.
“Y/N,” he instead started off, lifting those insanely captivating amber eyes to meet your curious ones.
“Yeah?” You asked, mentally strangling yourself for how breathless your voice sounded all of a sudden.
Sunoo hesitated, as if conflicted and debating on doing something he knows he shouldn’t, before slowly leaning closer.
Your heart leaped, knowing the inevitable was coming and frankly speaking, you had no reason or excuse to be pulling away.
When those pillowy, plush lips of his met yours in a gentle kiss, time seemed to stop for just this moment between the two of you.
You let your eyes flutter shut, pressing your own lips a bit firmer against his in response, as slowly your hands planted themselves on his broad shoulders.
You two got lost in the kiss for a moment longer, before Sunoo hastily pulled away, his face a bright shade of pink to match yours as he scrambled up on his feet.
You watched him with a disoriented expression as he grabbed his bag and practically bolted out of your apartment’s front door, heart clenching as your mind replayed the moment between you two.
Falling back on your couch, you groaned out in exasperation while kicking your feet, pulling a couch pillow over your face for a moment as you tried to process everything that just happened. Uncertain especially, about why he just left like that.
But the truth settled between you two now, gentle and inevitable: you both crossed into something deeper, something tender, something neither of you meant to reveal but both felt.
And your closeness will continue to unfold into a story told with charcoal, pencils, paint and silence - drawn slowly, carefully and intimately.
You tried to talk to Sunoo about what occurred that night, but it was quite obvious that he was avoiding you.
Though you couldn’t be sure why, as you distinctly remember kissing him back. Not to mention the fact that he initiated the kiss in the first place which caused all of this.
When you texted him, he’ll respond sure, but he’ll avoid answering the blunt question burning in your mind and even when you tried to call him like before, mainly for a genuine gossip session, he would make up some lousy excuse and refuse to answer his phone.
It was beginning to infuriate you, unsure of why he was acting this way.
Yet with his actions of purposely dashing and dodging away from you every time he saw you at AISA, it somehow made you crest-fallen, leaving a deep ache in your heart that mingled of confusion and hurt, which would further ruin your day.
You managed to cross paths with Sunoo once more, ready to open your mouth and yell for his attention if you must. But before you could even utter a word, you watched in shock as he bolted past you without a glance, as if he was in some strange hurry from something. Or someone?
He wasn’t even trying to be subtle about it and you were ready to chase after him and demand answers when you froze. That was when you noticed a young woman probably about the same age as you and your best friend, clearly trying to be discreet and follow him but she was being way more than obvious.
She caught your confused gaze and flashed you a rather bright smile, straightening up and approaching for a conversation.
“Hi! I’m Kim Sora! But you can just call me Sora. It’s nice to meet you!” She stuck out her hand for you to shake and you immediately plastered a polite smile on your face.
“It’s nice to meet you, Sora. I’m Baek Y/N,” you responded calmly.
“You’re probably wondering why I’m here aren’t you?”
You couldn’t even shake your head and respond with a polite “No” not really caring at the moment, because she immediately blabbered on, “I’m a new agent here! AISA is so cool so I wanted to work here too. And then I saw Sunoo. My god isn’t he just adorable and hot at the same time? I don’t know how that’s possible.”
You blinked, listening to her rant on about your best friend.
Your Kim Sunoo.
An unexplainable feeling welled up deep in your chest - angry and raw, but you masked it with a composed expression, simply nodding along as she kept talking while hardly paying attention to any shit she was saying.
You knew exactly what was happening to you, your fists clenched tightly at your sides as her words flew through your ears.
“You’re also probably wondering how I know him right? My trainer assigned him to keep an eye on me and guide me through the agency for the first few weeks. It’s been like what two weeks now? And I just can’t seem to get enough of him oh my gosh he’s such an absolute sweetheart! Plus he and I share the same surname isn’t that so cool? It’s like fate I swear-”
You were only partially paying attention to her, your mind spiraling as you tuned out her voice and connected the dots.
It’s actually been almost two weeks since you and Sunoo kissed and he’s been avoiding you since then. Was it because of what happened between you two or was it because this new agent seemed to have more than platonic intentions with your best friend?
“Um hello? Are you even listening to me?” The new agent snapped her fingers in front of you, pulling you out of your thoughts. And it appalled you that she was speaking so casually to you as if you both had always been friends or something.
You cleared your throat, shaking your head, “Right, I’m sorry. What were you saying?”
She stared at you for a moment, her keen gaze making you feel a bit self-conscious before her face broke out into this wide grin again.
“You seem to know him. He’s mentioned you before now that I come to think about it. So do you think you could help me?”
You shot her a bewildered look, if anything she sounded like she was trying to demand your assistance, “Excuse me?”
“Help me get him. I’d love to have a boyfriend like him.” She bluntly responded, looked up at you with wide eyes, trying to pull a puppy dog expression on you but it was failing miserably.
You tried your hardest not to twist up your face in disgust, replying cautiously, “Sora, you’ve only known Sunoo for two weeks. Don’t you think this is taking things a bit overboard?”
She stubbornly shook her head, “How? I mean he’s literally single, I’m sure he’s open to the idea of dating too isn’t he?”
You just shrugged nonchalantly in response and she seemed to grow irritated with the fact that you weren’t outrightly agreeing with her.
She smiled at you again, though this one seemed a bit forced, “Forget it then. I can work by myself. Just forget we had this conversation.”
She turned to leave, then paused, her smile dropping as quickly as it came, “Oh and- before I forget.”
She stepped closer to you, coming up in your face even as you tried to back away, her smile non-existent now, “Don’t mess this up for me alright? He’s mine.”
“Bye!” She beamed and waved, as if she didn’t just threaten you and assume possession of your literal best friend.
You watched her round the corner of the corridor, most likely on her way to find Sunoo and you straightened up, dusting yourself off as you muttered under your breath.
“What a damn weirdo.”
Now that you knew about Sora, you found it even more difficult to try and communicate with Sunoo.
It was like seeing as you knew her face and that she existed, she was appearing all around AISA, trying to further shove her way into Sunoo’s life.
You decided to stay on the low for now, witness their interactions and behavior together for yourself, so that you could try to understand what was happening.
You tried to convince yourself that you weren’t stalking or obsessing over Sunoo. There’s no way you’re that possessive. Well, at least not as possessive as compared to Sora.
You were just trying to look out for him and his well-being. He’s your best friend after all right?
You found them in one of the training rooms one day, nonchalantly hovering around with a friend of yours who was working on improving their skills.
You noticed Sora corner Sunoo near the sparring mats when he was trying to get one set up for them - leaning too close and laughing way too hard at things he himself didn’t even find funny.
You watched from across the room as she touched his arm, her sickly sweet voice making you feel sick.
“Sunoo, we should train a bit more when everyone’s gone after work,” she said, voice dripping with flirtation.
Sunoo stepped back, “I have plans, I’m sorry.”
But Sora persisted, blocking his path.
You noticed Sunoo’s irritation, of course you did, he was your muse for months until this bitch had to ruin it - tight shoulders and clipped tone, even seeing him glance at you with something unreadable.
You however, with a bunch of thoughts making your mind spiral and overthink, misread it as interest in the agent as you watched Sunoo gently grasp the giddy woman’s hand and pull her out of the training room.
And yeah, that damn well stung.
Another time, you were dropping off mission files when you heard that annoying voice of Sora’s again.
“Sunoo, I made coffee for you!” She squeaked, placing a cup on his desk.
Sunoo didn’t even look up from where he was furiously typing on his computer, “I don’t drink coffee.”
“Oh- well I can make tea instead!”
“No,” he said sharply.
“Just- stop okay? Please.”
You froze in the doorway, watching the tension coil in his tightly clenched jaw. But when he finally noticed you, he looked away, refusing to meet your gaze.
Your stomach twisted.
Why won’t he talk to you?
Why is he shutting you out?
The third incident was your final straw.
You found Sunoo on AISA’s rooftop, trying to get fresh air. It was a secret spot you two usually frequented when things got too crazy and you needed to clear your heads.
Sora however, never took Sunoo’s jabs at rejection and followed him like a shadow.
“Sunoo, I thought we could watch the sunset together.”
You froze by the staircase on your way up, hearing her familiar voice.
He exhaled, annoyed, “I came up here to be alone.”
“But you’re never alone,” she said, stepping closer, “You always have someone around you.”
She wasn’t lying. This was the first time you ever noticed Sunoo behaving like this.
Purposely avoiding you - his own best friend, not even attempting to hide his irritation at Sora, though she clearly couldn’t take a hint or witness the cracks in his typically calm and bubbly demeanor as he tried to stay composed for as much as he could.
Sunoo’s eyes flickered over to you, sensing your presence without a moment’s hesitation - standing by the door, watching. His expression tightened, unreadable again.
You felt that familiar horrible feeling of jealousy flaring deep within you - sharp and humiliating.
Is he really choosing her right now?
You show up at Sunoo’s doorstep a day later with anger burning hot beneath your skin - jealousy, confusion and frustration all still tangled together.
You were extremely upset.
And you don’t knock.
You hammer your fist against the door until it flies open.
Sunoo stands there, startled, hair slightly mussed up like he’d been pacing.
“Y/N?” His voice is tight. He couldn’t possibly avoid you now and you mentally chided yourself for not thinking to confront him sooner.
“Why do you look like you’re about to fight me?” He tried to joke, but you didn’t play along.
“You,” you spit out, stepping inside as you shoved past him, “have been acting weird almost all month. And I’m not letting you dodge me again.”
Sunoo shuts the door after you slowly, shoulders tense.
“It’s hard to explain. But I wasn’t dodging you I swear. I was just trying to sort out everything before we talk about you know- this.” He gestured between the two of you.
“I don’t care, explain it now,” you demand.
“Explain us. Explain why you’ve been so avoidant and irritated, especially since Sora showed up. And stop acting like I’m the problem.”
His jaw flexes. He doesn’t answer.
When he didn’t respond to you, inspecting his feet rather intently, you let out an exasperated sigh.
“You let Sora follow you everywhere,” you say now, voice trembling with built up rage.
“You let her cling to you 24/7. And then you shut me out. What the hell am I supposed to think?”
Sunoo’s eyes widened, his gaze snapping up to meet yours, clearly offended, “You think I wanted her attention?”
“Well yeah- you don’t even attempt to push her away!” You tried to defend your jealousy.
“I do!” He snapped.
“Every single time, Y/N. You saw it!” He sounded desperate now.
You shook your head, clearly lost in your own head, “I saw you looking at me like I was the problem.”
Sunoo stepped closer, his frustration finally breaking through.
“I wasn’t irritated at you. I was irritated because Sora kept bothering me when the only person I wanted to talk to was you.”
Your breath catches.
He continues, his voice growing low and raw.
“I didn’t know how to handle it. I didn’t want you to think I liked her. I didn’t want you to think I was- choosing her over you.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything? For basically a whole month?” You whisper.
“Because I didn’t want you to see me like that,” he admits, “I didn’t want you to see me in a frustrated and irritated way, especially when we were supposed to talk about what happened that night.”
“And I didn’t want you to see how much you actually affect me,” he admitted, his voice dropping lower.
You stared at him, completely stunned.
Sunoo’s voice softened even further, “I wasn’t avoiding you on purpose. I was trying to figure out how to tell you that the only person I want around me… is you, not Sora.”
Your anger dissolves immediately, replaced by something warm and dizzying.
“Sun…” your voice was barely above a whisper.
He steps even closer, amber eyes intensely locked on yours.
“I don’t want Sora. I never did,” he murmurs, “I want you. I always wanted you.”
The tension between you two shifts - no longer sharp and no longer painful. Just charged. Just honest. Just the truth finally spoken aloud.
You stepped closer, slowly cupping his handsome face as your thumbs stroked the soft skin of his puffy cheeks.
Both of you gazed silently into each other’s eyes for a long moment, not breaking eye contact as Sunoo’s gaze bore deeply into your steady eyes.
He flashed you a wry smile, making the both of you chuckle as you rested your forehead against his, tiptoeing up to wrap your arms around his neck as well.
“Can we talk about that kiss now?” You finally broke the silence, voice still low.
He hummed, “Do we have to? I can just go in for another one right now, can’t I?”
You smiled, leaning in to press what was supposed to be a quick and chaste kiss to his lips which he immediately deepened before you could pull away.
Both sets of lips moved in effortless sync, your fingers snaking up to tangle in the soft, dark locks of hair at the nape of his neck while his own fingers tilted your chin up, allowing him better access to your mouth.
Sunoo’s free hand trailed down, sliding just under the hem of your shirt and brushing against your skin there, sending tingles down your spine.
Before your makeout session could escalate however, the sound of rapid knocking broke the two of you out of your private bubble.
You pulled away from him with a quiet groan, crossing your arms as Sunoo pouted at the direction of his front door.
When he moved to open it, you both stiffened the moment you caught sight of Sora standing over the threshold.
She was carrying what appeared to be a bag of takeout and had a bright smile on her lips the moment she saw Sunoo, which faltered slightly when she noticed you in the hallway behind him.
Nevertheless, she kept up that cheerful tone as she questioned, “Y/N? I haven’t seen you in so long, hi! What are you doing here?”
You cleared your throat, thinking of how to proceed with your response, though it felt like your voice got stuck in your throat as you caught her gaze on your now swollen lips.
Her smile dropped instantly and she snapped her attention to a rather bashful-looking Sunoo, his cheeks as red as his swollen lips to match yours.
“What’s going on?” She demanded and you were a bit surprised at how panicked she sounded.
“Did you- did you kiss him?!” She raised her voice at you, ready to shove past Sunoo but he stopped her, gently pushing her back outside.
“Sora please-” he started, but she clearly wasn’t having any of it.
“Please what?” She cut him off, fuming now as she gazed at you hovering closer to Sunoo now, who appeared to now be much more protective of you.
She scoffed when he didn’t respond to her, “Neither of you are denying it. I can’t believe this. I warned you, Y/N!”
You and Sunoo flinched at the way she suddenly yelled that last part.
“You- you’re a bitch that’s what you are! I wanted him! I told you that! And- and you go and do this? What the hell is wrong with you?” She was on a full rant again, this time with her voice raised loudly.
“Sora-” Sunoo tried to start again, but she just held up a hand to his face, stopping him from speaking as he stared at her with mild offense.
She tried to shove past Sunoo again, but he overpowered her easily, growing frustrated, “Sora! Stop it!”
Sora straightened up, her and you staring at a now furious Sunoo with shock.
“That’s enough! Leave Y/N alone!” He raised his voice, Sora staring at him blankly, her own cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
“You need to leave. Now. Because I think you know exactly what’s happening between me and Y/N. So stop acting foolish.”
Silence enveloped your surroundings for a moment. You stood there speechless, staring silently at Sunoo.
Sora stared at Sunoo as if he grew seven heads. She didn’t say a word, but the awkwardness was clear.
She slowly backtracked, leaving silently and you felt a pang of guilt, noticing the tears that had welled up in her eyes.
Both you and Sunoo watched her retreat down the hallway, shoulders shaking as silent sobs wracked through her body.
Sunoo’s cheek rested against the top of your head. He’s been silent for a while, just breathing you in, thumb brushing slow circles over your hip.
When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost fragile.
“Can I say something? Without you pulling away?” He murmured.
You shift slightly, turning your face up toward him, “I’m not going anywhere.”
He exhaled shakily - relief, exhaustion and affection all tangled together.
“I didn’t know how lonely I was,” he admits, “Not really. I thought I was fine. I thought- if I kept smiling, kept fighting, kept being the perfect agent, that no one would notice how empty it felt inside.”
You lifted your hand, brushing your fingers through his hair. He leaned into the touch like he’s starved for it.
“But you noticed,” he whispers, “Not because I told you. Not because I slipped up. You saw it.”
His eyes met yours - soft, warm and vulnerable.
“Every time you drew me… every painting, every sketch- it was like you were telling me, ‘I see you. The real you.’ And I didn’t know how badly I needed that.”
Something in your chest tightened, “Sunoo-”
He shook his head gently, pressing his forehead to yours.
“No, let me finish. I need you to hear this.”
His fingers laced with yours, squeezing tightly.
“When you showed me that first sketch, I swear my heart stopped. You captured something I didn’t even know I was showing. That loneliness… that part of me I kept buried. You didn’t judge it. You didn’t run from it. You held it like it mattered.”
You swallowed hard, emotions rising.
“I wasn’t trying to expose you,” you whisper, “I just- drew what I felt and saw when I looked at you.”
“I know,” he says softly, “That’s why it meant everything.”
He shifted, pulling you closer until your head rested on his chest. His heartbeat was steady, warm and grounding.
“I felt like I finally belonged,” he continued, “For the first time in a long time. With you. In your art. In the way you look at me.”
You breathed in, letting the weight of his confession settle between you.
“I didn’t want to lose that,” he says, “I didn’t want you to lose you at all. That’s why everything with Sora messed me up. I wasn’t thinking straight and I just wanted to get her out of the way, before I could actually communicate properly with you. And then I thought- maybe you didn’t want to see me anymore because of how I was behaving.”
You tighten your arms around him, “I always see you, Sun.”
His breath catches - just a little.
“Good,” he whispered, brushing a kiss against your temple.
“Because I don’t want to ever go back to feeling invisible. Not when I have you by my side.”
You tilted your head up, meeting his gaze, “You’re not invisible to me. You never were.”
Sunoo smiled - small, soft and the kind he only shows when he feels safe.
“Then stay like this,” he murmurs, eyes dropping down to your lips for a moment, the memory of your earlier kiss still fresh in both your minds.
“Just for a little longer.”
You let out a quiet hum of acknowledgment, your lips meeting Sunoo’s halfway as you both kissed each other deeply.
Shifting slightly, you sat up a bit straighter so that you could reciprocate the kiss better, both of you finding yourselves tangled in an intimate makeout session for a while.
When you pulled away, breathless and gasping for air just like him, you adjusted your position on the bed.
Sliding down towards his legs, your darkened eyes never leaving Sunoo’s, you watched as his own eyes grew wide with shock.
“Y-Y/N you don’t have to-” he tried to start off, his voice breathless from kissing you just now.
You immediately cut him off, shaking your head as you reached up with your free hand, placing a finger over his mouth lightly, “Shh.”
He instantly shut up, closing his mouth as he stared down at you, amber eyes mingling with surprise and if you looked closer, excitement.
Your other hand slid along his shirt, feeling the faint outlines of what appeared to be abs as you moved your fingers toward his pants.
Not breaking eye contact with him for a solid minute, you skillfully undid the button and zipper, tugging the denim of his jeans down carefully.
As if falling for the pull of your touch, Sunoo’s hips shifted up instinctively, allowing you to pull his pants off properly.
A barely there yet knowing smile curled at your lips, listening to the uneven breaths leaving your best friend as your fingers trailed lightly over the bulge exposed by the thin material of his Calvin Klein boxers.
He let out a quiet gasp, squeezing his eyes shut as you ran your fingertips up and down along the outline, “D-don’t-”
You raised your eyebrows, taking the opportunity to tease him, “Don’t what?”
He squirmed, making you remove your free hand from his mouth and press down firmly on his thigh to keep him still.
“Y-You know what I mean, Y/N just- just please-” his voice broke off into a desperate whine when your fingers traced teasing circles on his erection.
“Need me that bad?” You replied, eyes never leaving his gorgeous face as you watched it scrunch up with pleasure.
“Mhm- really bad-”
You pulled your hands away, purposely teasing him again but Sunoo wasn’t having it, his own hands swiftly pushing his boxers down.
You blinked, your eyes going wide with surprise and want as you caught sight of his cock. You definitely weren’t expecting him to be withholding that much from you - eyes carefully tracing the pulsing veins along the thick, long shaft of his painfully hard cock.
You could’ve sworn a bit of saliva dropped from your mouth at the sight and you hastily tore your eyes away to look back up at his face.
Sunoo’s beautiful eyes were blown wide with desire and need, clearly expecting you to take him.
“What?” He managed to croak out, voice hoarse.
Your cheeks flushed crimson, realizing how ridiculous you looked staring at him like that as if you weren’t just teasing the life out of him.
You cleared your throat, “N-nothing. Are you sure though?”
“I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life,” he nodded at you, though his voice trailed off, “If you don’t want to though then you really don’t have to-”
“No,” you immediately cut him off, using your free hand to intertwine your fingers with his, holding his hand tightly.
“Just promise me you’ll let me know if it feels good alright?” You pleaded, moving to sit on your knees between his spread legs as he moved to accommodate you.
He nodded, still shifting uncomfortably from how painful his arousal had become, “Got it.”
You didn’t need to say much more, leaning your head down to the level of his cock, wetting your lips at the sight.
You could hear Sunoo’s ragged breathing above you, his larger hand squeezing yours with an intensity that you didn’t even bother to register.
Starting off with light kitten licks on Sunoo’s sensitive, leaky tip, you used your tongue’s taste buds to register the salty flavor of his pre-cum.
Encouraged by the ragged breaths he was taking above you, you kept going, eventually moving to suck at the angry, red tip, your tongue swirling around it as you took that part into your mouth carefully.
Sunoo inhaled sharply, his heavy breaths mingling with a soft gasp when you did that, his free hand instantly moving to tangle in your hair.
You held steady for a moment, allowing him to adjust to the overwhelming pleasure, but he tightened his grip in your hair, pushing you down slightly as a signal to keep going.
Feeling cheeky again, you decided to jump the gun, going straight for the rest of his length as you took him further into your mouth.
That definitely startled him, body jolting and his voice cracking as he yelped, “Ah! Y-Y/N wait- shit!”
His words died down with a breathy sigh, head falling back as you glanced up, watching his reaction while you settled your mouth properly over his cock.
You took as much of him as you could, bobbing your head slowly so that his tip just barely bumped against the back of your mouth.
Once you were comfortable and you were sure he was too, thumb rubbing small circles on the hand you were holding, you began to suck a bit harsher on his length.
Soft moans and dazed whimpers left Sunoo’s lips in a frenzy as you swirled your tongue around his shaft.
His fingers pulled at your hair, curling some of the strands with his fist but you didn’t seem to care, relentless as you sucked and swirled your tongue around him.
Sunoo hissed when you teasingly nipped at his base with your teeth, hips bucking up instinctively while squeezing his eyes shut as the pain slowly dissipated into immense pleasure. You felt yourself get wet between your legs as he whined your name sweetly.
It was safe to say you were enjoying his reactions thoroughly, eyes fixated on the smooth expanse of his neck from his head still thrown back.
You could also tell that he wasn’t going to last much longer, smiling around his cock in your mouth with saliva drooling down your chin as you noticed how agitated his body got, hips relentless as he fucked your mouth, along with how loud and vocal his sinful sounds were.
“S-shit shit s-shit Y/N I’m gonna cum-” he didn’t get to finish his blabbering, a loud cry of your name leaving his lips.
Using the remaining strength he had, he fisted your hair and forced your head down on him, making you gag slightly with surprise as your fingers dug into his thighs to keep yourself steady between his legs.
You felt the loads of his cum shooting into your mouth as Sunoo came. Thick, hot ropes of his release coating the walls of your mouth as you choked slightly trying to swallow as much as you could while he thrusted slowly.
By the time you pulled away, licking off any remnants of his release on your lips, Sunoo was a goner.
He was slumped back against the sheets and pillows, his eyes closed and his eyebrows furrowed.
His swollen lips were parted as he panted heavily, limply holding your hand still.
A gentle smile played on your lips seeing how satisfied he was, you crawled back up to settle against him and he welcomed you easily, though still dazed from what happened.
He wrapped both of his arms around you, holding you like you were the only thing anchoring him to the world at the moment and maybe even for the rest of his life.
And for the first time since everything that unfolded between you two, the silence feels full - warm, healing and yours.
“I just want to see you shine ‘cause I know you are a star, girl” - Stargirl Interlude, The Weeknd
Hii, I was wondering if you could do like a fic about fratgojo where reader does vlogs for like college life and university stuff and she does a lot of videos with him and the friend group and frat brothers they all have different interactions with the camera and like the people who watch the vlogs love you guys and find it all funny<3 .. something like this 😏 if you are still doing frat jjk
Hii! You're the first person to make a request, so I screamed in happiness when I saw this <3. I love this request, and yes I'm still doing frat jjk. I've been taking a break from them to continue my other fics. Thank you so much for requesting! 💗
Game Day
JJK & AOT college au x influencer! black reader
word count: 1k
a/n: I do not consent for my content to be published on other platforms and such by others. Also, please don't claim my work as your own! <3
You’re a college influencer known for your vlogs. With your viewers' favorite segment being you and your friend group. In the beginning of the video you decide to pull a prank on Fratjo. “ ’jo hold the camera right,” You say, fixing how the camera is aligned. “Why am I doing this?” Fratjo asks. “So, my followers can see my outfit,” you look at him. “What if they want to look at my outfit?” He asks. “No one is worried about your outfit ‘jo.” “You shop in the men’s section if they care about your outfit they’ll care about mine.”. You get quiet, “why would you tell my business? Cut the cameras, because I’m about to tell you something.”
Brief Intermission
“Hi guys! I’m going to do a quick outfit of the day before I go to a football game to support my friend, Reiner” Fratjo holds the camera properly. “Okay so, my shades are from freaky fetish,” you say.
“Wait a minute-”
“My shorts are from don’t care about the wedgie”
“You have a wedgie? Oh my gosh-”
“My top is from free the nips-”
“Where are you shopping at?!”
“My flip flops are from toes out, but no pics.”
“There’s no way-”
You let out the laugh that you’ve been holding in. You watch Fratjo’s expression go from confused to holding in his laugh. You try to hold onto him while laughing, but he begins laughing himself.
On the way to the Game
“It’s so hot that my eyebrows are sweating,” Shoko says. “So, that’s why your makeup is melting?” Sukuna asks. You look at the camera, then back at Shoko. She looks back from the driver’s seat, “YOU CAN GET THEHELL OUT, BECAUSE I’M THE ONE DRIVING! Matter of fact, you drive, since you have so much to say.” Mikasa instantly looks out the window, so she can quietly laugh. Shoko pulls the car over, and Sukuna gets in the driver’s seat. “Tiny ass car...” Sukuna mutters.
“This is a Nissan Altima.” Shoko rebuttals, hitting Sukuna upside the head. Utahime tucks her lips, attempting to not laugh. You begin laughing then Mikasa and Utahime join you.
You get to the game hungry, and Mikasa films for you. “Where’s the food? You whisper against Choso’s back. Choso looks over his shoulder, “I have nachos, do you want any?”. “Thank you! I’m going to kiss you on your hot mouth,” you deepen your voice. Choso’s face instantly gets red. You two share nachos and watch the game. “You guys are not right for not sharing with me,” Fratjo says. Choso looks at him, “you’re a grown ass man, buy some.” Your jaw drops, and Mikasa zooms in on your face. She pans the camera over to Fratjo who’s just as shocked.
Choso continues eating nachos, and you look over at him. “Choso why’d you say that?”. “Because you’re a woman, and he’s a grown man mind you.”. You begin to laugh, after catching your breath you look over at Hange. “What are you drinking?” You ask; she looks around then pulls you close. “I snuck in tiny shot bottles,”.
“How?”
“I’m my bra”
“You have titty shots?”
“Yup,”
“I don’t get the game. I just like watching the guys, because they’re fine.” Historia admits.
“Well, honesty is the best policy.” Eren says, eating a hotdog. “Can I have a bite?” Sasha asks. “Why didn’t you ask me to buy you one when I was down there?” He side eyes her. “Because I ate my game chips while eating my car chips.”.
“What are car chips?”
“Car chips are the chips I bring for sitting in the car, but I ate those chips and the chips I brought for the game. So, can I please have a bite of your hot dog?”
“I don’t know where your mouth has been Sasha...you’re in a whole relationship.”
“Okay, but you’re in a literal frat. At least I’m consistent with one guy.”
“Ooo she said you getting around erennn” Jean instigates. “Shut up” Eren replies, continuing to eat his hot dog. “You’re a grown man eating a glizzy,” Jean responds. Eren continues chewing, then swallows. “Why are you worried about what I put in my mouth? I’m a grown man who paid for this hotdog, what do you have to eat? Molecules, get the hell on” Mikasa laughs behind the camera, and zooms in on Sasha sneaking a bite of the hot dog. “Get your mouth off my hot dog before I call paw patrol.” Eren says.
You look over to find Hange swinging from side to side. You pull her closer, and she rests her head on your shoulder. Shoko returns with a hot dog, and hands it to Sasha. “Oh my gosh, I love you so much.” Sasha raves. “You know I’ve got you baby,” Shoko replies, before eating her hamburger. By the third quarter, Connie bought Hange a snow cone to cool her off. “This is good,” Hange says. Utahime sits beside him eating the snow cone he bought her as well. “Go Reiner!” Hange yells. “Dang, that is why we're here to support Reiner,” Sukuna admits. Shoko stares at him, “you’re a bad friend”. Sukuna turns off Shoko’s fan as a rebuttal. Choso holds the fan in the middle, so you both can get air.
“So, guys for our next segment we’re going to do a Q&A.” You say, pulling out your phone. “First question, are you dating any of the guys?” You stare at the camera, then back at the phone,“No, they get on my nerves.”
“Can I read one?” Choso asks, and you hand him the phone. “Why is Sasha always hungry? Her stomach must be an empty pit” the camera pans to Sasha who pauses mid-bite at the question. “Stay out of my business, because you’re not paying for my groceries every month” She replies. “You mean every day. Your everyday groceries” Sukuna corrects; the camera pans back to you. You’re holding in your laugh, returning to your phone.
“Does Jean have a girlfriend?” You look at the camera, and Jean comes into the frame. “Well, la-” You shove his face out of the way. “Alright next question!”.
After your university wins the football game, Reiner comes up to the camera waving at it with a smile. His hair is damp, and the equipment looks good on his body. “Hey guys,” He says. The camera pans to Utahimewhose mouth is slightly agape. She looks at the camera, “Mikasa quit,”. You end the video in the car with your friends.
Summary: every night, Prince Jeon Jungkook finds himself swept up in a village girl's bakery where they share sugar and laughter, but one day, he stumbles across her injuries taken from defending helpless children and he spends the day tending to her, before unleashing his rage on the aggressors.
Genre/Tags: royalty au, romance, fluff, angst, comfort, feral Jungkook, down bad Jungkook
Word Count: 11.7k (I got carried away)
Warnings: blood, injury, lashings, violence, physical fight, (lmk if i missed anything)
Notes: I've had this in my head since we saw Jungkook in Mexico and I finally wrote smth with it. Genuinely had me kicking my feet, giggling when I wrote this btw. I was kind of between keeping this and making it a series but rn I have no idea what else to write with this so I thought screw it and just post this. Who knows... I might post more in this kind of setting but for now it's just this... hope you like it!
The scent of yeast, burnt sugar, and baked flour always hangs heavy in the midnight air of the kitchen. It's comforting, warm, familiar, and completely separate from the cold, stoned streets of the village beyond these walls, which encompass your life. You wipe a stray smudge of flour from your forehead with the back of your hand, leaning over the heavy wooden workstation to knead the first batch of dough for tomorrow's, well, today's morning rush.
Deep in concentration, you almost don't hear the bell above the back door, which lets out a tiny, muffled chime. But you don't even have to look up to know who it is.
"You're late," you say, keeping your voice flat, still pounding the dough, though a familiar beat of warmth thumps against your ribs. "Shouldn't you be tucked into your silk sheets at the palace by now, Your Royal Highness?"
"A gentleman is never late, sweetheart. He arrives precisely when he means to," Jungkook says, his voice a smooth, playful purr as he slips into the kitchen nestled behind the main bakery area. "And I told you to stop calling me that." He is dressed in his usual disguise, a faded, oversized linen tunic and dark trousers. The entire kingdom knows the face of Prince Jungkook, though few would expect him to be sneaking out of the citadel walls just to loiter in a dusty village bakery. He pushes his hood back, revealing strands of unruly dark hair and those ridiculously large, glittering doe eyes which you can't stare into for too long without feeling heat crawl up your neck.
You sigh, ignoring him as you turn around to face the pantry. You reach for a jar of imported cinnamon, but, of course, it is sitting on the absolute highest shelf, tucked away near the ceiling. You huff, stepping up onto your tiptoes, stretching your arms as high as they can go. Your fingers brush the base of the jar, but you cannot for the life of you get a proper grip. Suddenly, a broad, solid chest flushes directly against your back. All you feel is lean muscle as the heat of him radiates through your apron. Then an arm clad in faded linen reaches up over your head, his large hand wrapping around the jar. You will yourself not to let your eyes linger too long on the prominent veins running across his forearms to his hands.
"Need a hand, love?" Jungkook murmurs right beside your ear, his raspy late-night voice sending a shiver straight down your spine.
You drop back onto your heels, turning around within the small space he has trapped you in. His free hand comes down to rest casually on the edge of the shelf beside your head, effectively boxing you in. He looks down at you, a smug, devastating smirk playing on his lips as he hands you the cinnamon. Your fingers lightly twitch as they brush his.
"I had it under control, Crown Prince," you shoot back, tapping the jar against his chest to force him to take a step back.
"Right, maybe from over there you did, but from here, all I saw was you hopping up and down like a grasshopper," he teases before turning back.
And before you can swat at him, his hand shoots out toward the cooling racks. You attempt to block him with an elbow, but he uses his height advantage, leaning over to snatch a freshly dusted, warm beignet from the tray. Ones you had just made as a test batch, so the recipe was perfect for the morning rush. He pops the entire thing into his mouth in one go.
"Hey!" You glare, swatting at his arm with your flour-covered hand, leaving a stark white handprint on his dark sleeve. "Do you have any idea how early I had to wake up to prep those? The yeast has to rise for hours, Jungkook! Hours!"
Jungkook chews happily, closing his eyes in mock ecstasy. "Mmm. So worth it. You outdid yourself, truly." He leans his hip against your table, entirely too close, invading your space with the scent of the crisp night air and something rich, clean, and faintly expensive. He points a finger at a bowl of glossy chocolate batter. "What do we have here?" His eyes are lit with nothing short of mischief.
"Don't you dare-"
Too late.
He dips his index finger straight into the bowl, swirling it around before sucking the batter off with shameless, slow deliberateness. He locks eyes with you, a wicked, teasing tilt to his lips. "Sweet. " He pauses. "Just like the baker."
You feel the heat rush straight to your cheeks. "You are an absolute menace. I don't know why I keep letting you break into my shop. I really need to invest in a heavier deadbolt. Or tell the royal guards that their beloved prince is a little sugar thief."
"Because you love me," he says instantly, shifting his weight around the table to follow your movements like a shadow, or more like a separation-anxiety ridden puppy. "And because I am excellent company. Who else is going to help you with labour at one in the morning for the low price of sugar? Besides, the guards would never believe you."
"A public nuisance is what you are," you correct, though your lips twitch. You turn to a tray of unadorned cupcakes and sigh, handing him a backup piping bag filled with sweet vanilla buttercream. "If you're going to loiter, at least make yourself useful. Pipe the tops of those. Like this." You demonstrate a perfect, elegant swirl on one, pulling the tip up to create a flawless peak.
Jungkook takes the bag, his chest puffing out with entirely unwarranted confidence. "Easy. Watch a master at work. I've got great hand-eye coordination."
He grips the bag with way too much force, causing an explosion of frosting that lands on the cupcake, tilting precariously to one side like a melting snowman before sliding off the edge completely.
You burst out laughing, a bright, clear sound that echoes in the quiet kitchen. "A master? Jungkook, it looks like a squashed toad!"
"It's abstract! It has personality!" he protests, bumping his shoulder heavily against yours to disrupt your balance. He looks down at your laughing face, his own expression softening into something incredibly tender. His eyes track the way your eyes crinkle at the corners, capturing the exact shade of warmth in your smile. "See? I made you laugh. That’s worth at least three more free pastries tonight."
"In your dreams, thief," you scoff.
After a few minutes and many fails later, he gets the hang of it, leaving you to grab a heavy wooden spoon and begin vigorously beating a massive bowl of thick, stubborn cookie dough. You hate this part the most. After a long day, hours of selling and continuously running through the main shop and the kitchen, creating new batches and noting down special orders, the physical effort of the mixture, especially after the non-stop whipping of the meringues and the kneading of the dough, makes your wrists ache. Your movements slow slightly as you wipe a bead of sweat from your brow.
As Jungkook continues piping, he glances at your figure a few times, as if it's second nature, and tracks the sudden lag in your rhythm. His eyes soften, the playful posture shifting into something much more attentive, which goes unnoticed by you. He steps up right beside you, his hand sliding over yours on the handle of the wooden spoon. His palm is warm, broad, and calloused from sword training.
"Hey," he says softly, his shoulder bumping into yours. "Go check on the hearth. I think I smell burning."
"What? No, it's not, I just put it-"
"Just go check, stubborn," he cuts you off, smoothly applying just enough pressure to slide the bowl away from you.
Before you can protest further, he completely takes over, his muscular forearm flexing beneath his rolled-up sleeves as he beats the heavy dough with absolute, effortless ease. It's only when you reach the hearth, and you find your cake, in fact, not burning, that you realise he invented such a thing so you could rest your tired wrist.
You cross your arms with a small smile, and you lean against the counter, watching him work. "Look at you. Future monarch doing manual labour in a village kitchen. Oh, if the King could see you now, he'd strip you of your title."
"Let him," Jungkook grunts with a grin, not missing a beat as he whips the dough into a perfect, uniform consistency. "I'd make a fantastic baker's assistant. I'm strong, I learn fast, and I look great in an apron."
"You don't even have an apron on," you point out, laughing.
"An oversight you can easily fix," he shoots back, flashing a brilliant bunny-toothed smile that makes your heart do a ridiculous little flip. He stops mixing, sliding the perfect dough toward you. "There. Perfect. What's next, pretty lady?"
You roll your eyes at the name. "We need to pour this batter into the tins," you say, dragging a heavy ceramic bowl of vanilla batter and two circular metal tins toward the centre of the table.
"I've got it," Jungkook volunteers eagerly. He lifts the heavy ceramic bowl, and you try not to pay attention to the way his biceps strain slightly against the linen shirt. He tips it over the first tin, carefully pouring the thick, pale-yellow ribbon of batter into the centre until it fills it perfectly. He moves to the second tin, pouring the remainder.
Once the bowl is mostly empty, he sets it down and picks up a long spatula. He meticulously scrapes the remaining thick batter from the inside walls of the bowl, gathering a massive, delicious glob of it onto the edge of the spatula. He brings it up toward his face, his eyes lighting up as he prepares to lick it clean.
"Ah-ah-ah," you say quickly, swatting his wrist away. "No way. I did all the measuring for that batter. That's mine."
You grab the end of the spatula handle. Jungkook blinks, then a surprised, but competitive spark instantly ignites his doe eyes. He tightens his grip, tugging it back towards himself. "I did the pouring! And the scraping! Royal decree dictates that the scraper gets the reward."
"There is no such royal decree," you laugh, pulling the spatula towards your side. "You're abusing your power, Your Highness!"
"I am a prince, I can make up whatever laws I want to," he gasps dramatically, pulling back.
You step closer, using your leverage to yank on the handle. For a second, you are pulled completely into his space, your hands tangled together on the thin piece of wood, faces inches apart. You can see the faint amber flecks in his eyes and the absolute amusement radiating from him.
Jungkook looks down at your determined face, his gaze dropping to your lips before a wicked, triumphant grin splits across his face.
Suddenly, he completely lets go of the spatula.
Because you were pulling so hard, you stumbled backwards a step, clutching the spatula victoriously to your chest. "Ha! I win!"
"Do you?" Jungkook asks, his voice dripping with amusement.
Before you can answer, he reaches down and grabs the massive, heavy ceramic mixing bowl that still has a generous coating of thick batter stuck to the bottom and sides. He lifts it, completely sticking his face inside the wide rim, using his finger to swipe a massive glob of batter and popping it into his mouth.
"Fine, keep the tiny spatula," he mutters happily from inside the bowl, his voice echoing. "I have the motherlode."
"Jungkook!" You burst out laughing, completely scandalised. "You are a literal child! Get your face out of my bowl!"
He pulls his head out, a tiny dollop of yellow batter sitting right on the tip of his nose. He looks incredibly ridiculous and remarkably cute all at once. He steps closer to you, his eyes locking onto yours with an unbearable amount of playful intensity.
"You have something right..." you start, pointing at your own nose.
"Where? Here?" he asks, deliberately wiping his cheek instead, smearing it further.
"No, you idiot, let me-"
You step in, reaching up with your thumb to gently wipe the batter off the tip of his nose. The moment your skin touches his, Jungkook freezes. The childish playfulness drops away in an instant, replaced by a sudden, heavy stillness. His gaze drops, heavy and unblinking, tracking the movement of your fingers, then the curve of your jaw, and finally resting on your eyes.
The kitchen goes entirely silent. The only sound is the low, rhythmic crackle of the hearth fire. His breath is warm against your skin. You feel your own breath hitch, your thumb lingering against his nose for a second too long.
A slow, devastatingly tender smile stretches across his lips. He reaches up, his large hand gently wrapping around your wrist, his thumb rubbing a slow, comforting circle into your pulse point.
"You know, you're very bossy for a regular citizen," he murmurs, his voice dropping into a raspy, late-night register that makes your heart beat erratically against your ribs.
"And you're very compliant for a future king," you whisper back, trying to maintain your defences, though the proximity is making it impossible to think straight.
"Only for you," he says softly, his thumb continuing to trace your wrist. "I don't let anyone else order me around like this. I think I like it."
You clear your throat, gently pulling your wrist from his grip to hide the bright blush creeping up your neck. You turn away to hide your burning cheeks, reaching for a small plate hidden under a glass dome on the back shelf. "Shut up and try this. I've been working on it all afternoon. Consider it payment for your... impeccable assistant work."
On the plate sits a pastry you’ve been experimenting with: dozens of microscopically thin, crispy layers of golden dough, stacked high with rich, velvety custard and fresh cream sandwiched between them, dusted lightly with powdered sugar.
"What is it?" he asks, leaning over your shoulder, his chest practically pressed against your back again, completely erasing the distance you just tried to create.
"Just shut up and try it," you say, handing him a small fork.
He takes a bite. The audible, delicate crunch of the layers echoes in the quiet room, followed by the smoothness of the cream. Jungkook freezes completely. His eyes widen to twice their size. Without saying a word, he devours the rest of the pastry in two massive bites, nearly groaning out loud.
"Marry me," he says flatly. "I'm serious. Name the day. We can live right here in this kitchen. I will waive the royal dowry, I will fight the council, I don't care. I will do nothing but eat this and look at you for the rest of my days."
You laugh loudly, shoving his shoulder hard to create some space. "So dramatic." You reply back.
"So in love."
"So in need of therapy." You mutter back, turning to grab a handful of loose flour to dust the wooden surface, the fine white powder settling like mist.
The frantic energy of the kitchen slows down, settling into a comfortable, quiet rhythm that has secretly become your favourite part of the day. Jungkook works right beside you, his initial royal clumsiness giving way to a quiet focus as he tries to correct his piping technique, finishing the cupcakes, his tongue poking out slightly between his teeth in pure concentration.
Then, the kitchen goes entirely silent. The only sound left is the low, rhythmic crackle of the hearth fire and the heavy, rhythmic thud of your palms against the dough.
You feel a sudden weight on you, a gaze so intense it feels tangible against your skin. You glance up, a stray lock of hair falling into your eyes, and catch him.
Jungkook isn't looking at the cupcakes anymore. He is leaning his chin in his hand, his elbow propped on the wooden counter, his eyes fixed entirely on you. His gaze is heavy, unblinking, tracking the curve of your jaw, the sweat dampening the nape of your neck, the fierce determination on your brow. There is no trace of the boyish prankster in his expression right now; his eyes are dark, deep, and filled with an intense, quiet gravity that makes your breath hitch completely.
"What?" you ask, your voice dropping to a breathless whisper. You try to sound annoyed, but the slight tremor in your voice betrays you. "Is there flour on my face again?"
Jungkook doesn't blink. A smile stretches across his lips, his voice drops again, sending a shiver straight down your spine. "Nope. Just looking at something beautiful."
You feel the heat rush from your chest all the way to your hairline. You look down at your rough, flour-dusted hands, and a sudden, heavy wave of insecurity twists in your stomach. It’s a reminder that always haunts the back of your mind. He is the Crown Prince. You know his face, you know his title, and you know the vast, impossible chasm that lies between your worlds.
"You are a terrifyingly smooth talker, Your Highness," you say, your voice turning a little hollow as you force yourself to look back up at him. "I suppose this is the exact same poetry you feed to the high-born noble ladies at the palace court."
Jungkook’s smile falters slightly, his doe eyes tracking the subtle drop in your shoulders, his sharp instincts picking up on the sudden shift in your mood. "Noble ladies? Trust me, they don't care about poetry. Just titles and crown jewels."
"I'm serious, Jungkook," you say, huffing a breath but still kneading the dough on the counter. "Why do you even come here? You have an entire court of perfect, beautiful women at your feet. You should be spending your time there with them, not in a drab bakery."
You pause. The next words come out in a whisper you hope he doesn't hear. "You could be with women who actually know how to dance, with titles, who wear silk and velvet instead of aprons caked in dried dough. They don't smell like yeast and sweat."
But he does, and the playful demeanour completely evaporates from Jungkook's face. The silence returns, heavier this time, but thick with an undeniable warmth.
He stands up straight, stepping around the workstation table to face you. He moves with a quiet, deliberate grace. You keep your eyes down, focusing on the dough. Press. Then push. Then fold. Then turn. And repeat. Don't look up.
But he doesn't let you hide. He reaches out, his large, warm hands gently taking your wrists, halting your movements. His palms are warm and incredibly grounding.
"Look at me," he commands softly. You don't.
"Hey…" He trails off, voice unbelievably gentle, "Please?"
How can you say no to him?
When you finally look up into his eyes, you find them swimming with a fierce, profound sincerity.
"None of them." He pauses, "Are you." His voice is a low, intense whisper that rings clearly in the quiet kitchen. He squeezes your hands, his thumbs rubbing soothing circles over your knuckles. "The court ladies are hollow, Y/N. They smile because they were trained to; they speak from rehearsed scripts; and they look at me like I'm a crown to be won, a stepping stone for their families. But you? This?"
He leans closer, head tilting down so your eyes are entirely locked. He wants you to feel how much he means every word.
"I'd rather be no place else. You're real. You're fierce, you're brilliant, and you look at me like I'm just a man. I don't want silk, and I don't care about their perfect poise. I want this. I want the smell of yeast and sugar, and I want to spend my evenings with the pretty little baker who threatens to throw rolling pins at my royal head."
Your heart hammers violently against your ribs, your lungs locking up under the sheer weight of his words. His eyes drop to your lips for a long, agonising second, and you think you might actually combust from the heat spreading through your veins.
Sensing the overwhelming tension and desperate to save your blushing face from melting, a familiar, wicked spark suddenly reignites in Jungkook’s eyes. He lets go of one of your hands and steps to the side.
Before you can even process the emotional whiplash, he blows a sharp puff of air across the workstation. A massive cloud of white flour erupts directly onto your face. You gasp, coughing, your eyelashes completely coated in white powder. Through the white haze, you see him throwing his head back, laughing loudly, looking immensely proud of his childish distraction.
"Oh, it is so on," you hiss.
You scoop up a massive, double handful of flour and throw it straight at his chest. It hits him with a satisfying, heavy thwack, turning his dark tunic completely white from collar to waist. Jungkook’s jaw drops in utter shock, his laughter cutting off. He retaliates by pinching more flour before sprinkling it over your head, coating your hair in white. You squirm, laughing as you grab another handful and go to move around the bench, but your shoes slip on the pile of flour that has accumulated on the floor, and you are sent plummeting to the ground. Jungkook is faster, though, of course, and he manages to hold onto you, one hand on your arm and the other firm against your waist as he manages to pull you back up.
"Falling for me already?" His lips upturn in a playful smirk.
You scoff, already pushing away from him, "You wish, rich boy."
You both laugh. And the next few hours continue like that. You love the back-and-forth; it calms you after a long day and prepares you for the next. You truly relish these moments, that is, until you gaze up and notice the sky outside, the dark midnight lighting slightly.
"You should get going, Jungkook, dawn's coming, and I should rest before prepping for the morning." You explain.
He whines, pouting his bottom lip in a way that makes him look like an oversized puppy, but he relents. He walks to the back door, pausing to look back at you, the playful smirk returning to his face as he pulls his hood back up over his dark hair. "See you tomorrow, my beautiful baker. Try not to miss your prince too much."
"Oh, that won't be difficult at all, Jungkook," you say, and he holds his chest, mocking a dagger struck through his heart, but you’re smiling wide as the door clicks shut, the quiet warmth of his presence lingering long after he’s gone.
The next morning brings a particularly bitter cold. The sun has barely crested the horizon when you set up the outdoor display rack, lining it with fresh, golden loaves of bread and warm rolls.
You return inside to tend to the ovens, glancing out the large front glass window. The village market is starting to wake up. The other store owners are sweeping outside their doors and beating the rugs. The stall owners are setting up their carts with small chatter amongst them, no doubt some high-class gossip they read in the papers this morning.
Through the glass, you also notice three small, shivering figures creeping toward your outdoor display. It’s the children who sleep under the alleyway awnings near the secondary square. They look emaciated, their ribs practically visible through their tattered rags, and your heart cracks slightly at the sight.
One of them, a little boy no older than six, reaches up and snatches a small loaf of bread. But before you can even open the door to tell them they can have it, even come inside for more, a harsh, booming voice echoes through the square.
"Thieves! Drop it!"
Two royal guards, clad in gleaming, heavy iron armour, march out from the shadows. They look bored, angry, and eager for a distraction. The children shriek, dropping the bread into the dirt as they try to scatter, but one guard lunges, grabbing the little boy by his scruff, lifting him completely off the ground. The child wails in terror.
The second guard unclips a heavy, thick leather lash from his belt, a sadistic grin spreading across his face. "A lesson needs to be taught. Stealing from the village market carries a heavy price, brat."
Your blood runs cold. You don't think. You throw the bakery door open, sprinting out into the freezing air.
"Stop! Stop, please!" you shout, throwing yourself into the scene.
The guard with the whip pauses, lowering his weapon slightly, his eyes narrowing. "Move aside, girl. These street rats are breaking the law. They require consequence."
"It's my bread!" you say breathlessly, your heart hammering against your ribs. "It’s my shop! I don't mind. I was giving it to them. They didn't steal anything, I swear."
The guard holding the boy sneers, dropping the child to the dirt, where he scurries behind your skirts, clinging on to them for dear life. "Do not lie to the Crown's authority, baker. We saw them take it. If you harbour thieves, you share their guilt. Now step away before we make an example out of you, too."
These guards are notorious. They are brutes, drunk on the microscopic amount of power the crown grants them over the poor villagers. You look down at the crying child holding onto you, burying his face in your skirts, and a stubborn wave of protectiveness washes over you.
"They are starving children," you say, your voice trembling but resolute. "If you must strike someone to satisfy your pathetic need for power... strike me. Leave them alone."
The guard with the whip cuts a dark, ugly glare toward you. "You want to take the punishment for a bunch of gutter rats? Fine by me. The law demands blood for theft. Now kneel."
You look around the square. A few villagers have stopped to watch, but they immediately look away, hurrying along, terrified of getting involved.
No one is going to help you. You don't expect them to.
You swallow hard, your knees hitting the cold, unforgiving cobblestones. You pull your hair to the side, exposing the back of your thin cotton chemise. You brace yourself, gripping your knees tightly.
Crack.
The first strike tears through the air and slices directly across your upper back.
A choked, agonising shriek tears from your throat. It feels like a line of liquid fire has been seared into your flesh. The sheer force of the blow knocks you forward, your palms slamming into the dirt. Tears sting your eyes instantly, blurring your vision.
"That's for the first brat," the guard grunts.
Crack.
The second strike hits, the leather biting into the exact same raw skin. You gasp, your lungs seizing.
"That's for the second."
Crack.
The third blow tears your chemise open at the side, the fabric ripping away as the leather draws blood. You press your forehead against the freezing ground, sobbing silently as you pray for it to end.
"And that's for the third," the guard sneers. He pauses, looking down at your trembling, broken form, but his eyes only gleam with a deeper cruelty. "But you opened your mouth to the Crown's authority, didn't you, girl? You think you can talk back to us?"
Crack.
The fourth strike is harder, delivered with the full weight of his arm. A ragged scream escapes your lips, your vision flashing white. The pain is blinding, radiating across your entire torso.
"And this one..." The guard chuckles, raising the whip one last time just to satisfy his own twisted amusement. "...just because I feel like it." He says low, only for your ears to hear.
Crack.
The fifth strike shatters whatever strength you have left. You collapse entirely onto the cold cobblestones, your chest heaving as deep, agonising tremors wrack your body.
They leave you there, laughing as they walk away. Slowly, agonisingly, you push yourself up. Your vision swims. You stagger back into the bakery, your hands shaking so violently you can barely turn the lock. You flip the sign on the door to CLOSED, then wince as you draw the thick curtains shut.
You stumble up the narrow wooden stairs to your small apartment on the second floor. In the tiny bathroom, you try to peer into the cracked mirror, but you can’t see the damage properly. Reaching behind yourself with a wet cloth, you touch the wounds, and a fresh wave of sobbing breaks out. It hurts too much. You can't reach it properly to clean it. Blindly, you wrap a clean strip of linen around your torso, pinning it clumsily, though you know it's too loose.
Exhausted, broken, and throbbing with a relentless, burning agony, you crawl onto your bed, burying your face in the pillow, letting the tears ruin the sheets.
Hours pass. Eventually, the sheer restlessness of the pain forces you out of bed. You can’t lie down comfortably, and you can’t sit up straight. You're exhausted. But you drag yourself back downstairs into the darkened kitchen. You decide not to open the shop today, you can't bear the thought of standing at the counter, but you need a distraction. You begin mindlessly wiping down the clean surfaces, moving like a ghost in your own home.
Jungkook is practically skipping through the crowded, muddy alleyways of the lower village, keeping the heavy fabric of his dark wool cloak pulled tightly around his face. Thankfully, his royal duties ended earlier today, allowing him more time with you. He did have to dodge three separate royal attendants, lie straight to his personal guard, and scale a crumbling section of the northern citadel wall just to sneak out today, but he didn't care. He would gladly scale the highest mountain in the land if it meant reaching your doorstep a second earlier than usual.
The only thing occupying his mind for the last twelve long, agonising hours has been you.
He is down bad. Mortifyingly, hopelessly, helplessly down bad.
Every time he closes his eyes during council meetings or listens to his father drone on about trade routes, he doesn't see crowns or maps. He sees the way your eyes crinkle into perfect, breathtaking crescents when you laugh at his ridiculous antics. He sees the faint, light dust of white flour that always seems to settle on the bridge of your nose. He wants to taste that layered cream pastry again, sure, but more than that, he just wants to hear the melodic cadence of your voice.
He wants to tease you until your stubborn pride flares up, just so he can witness that fierce, fiery spark in your eyes that makes him feel more alive than any royal decree ever could. He is a prince of the realm, surrounded by high-born court ladies who fawn over his status and offer plastic, practised smiles, but none of them holds a candle to the sharp-tongued, beautiful baker who looks right past his title and treats him like a normal man.
As he navigates the bustling market crowds, his inner monologue takes a heavier, more ache-filled turn. He is growing so tired of the midnight boundaries. He is tired of being the mysterious visitor who has to vanish before the sun crests the horizon. He wants more. He wants to be the one who wakes up next to you, watching the morning light catch your face. He wants to hold your hand in broad daylight, right in the middle of the crowded square, and dare anyone to say a word about it. He wants you to be his, entirely and completely, but he knows how fiercely independent you are, how hard you work for your little shop, and how you probably don't feel the same. So for now, he hoards these secret hours like a dragon guarding gold. And even if he has to keep this boundary with you for the rest of his life, be nothing more, he'll take that sacrifice if it means he gets to be in your presence, in your life, in whatever way you'll have him.
He turns the final corner into the main square, a boyish grin already splitting across his face, his heart does an eager little flip against his ribs. But the moment his eyes land on the bakery, his steps instantly slow to a halt.
The outdoor display racks are completely empty. The heavy linen curtains are drawn tightly across the front windows, blocking out the daylight. The wooden sign dangling from the brass chain reads CLOSED.
Jungkook frowns, a sharp, cold knot of unease tightening in the pit of his stomach. It’s mid-afternoon. The sun is at its peak. You never close the shop at this hour. Even when you were burning up with a fever last winter, you stubbornly dragged yourself down to the counter to sell bread, refusing to lose a single coin.
He hurries up to the heavy front door, his hand trembling slightly as he knocks loudly against the wood. "Y/N? Love? Are you in there? It's me."
Silence. The square carries on around him, completely indifferent to the sudden spike of adrenaline flooding his veins.
Panicking now, his breath catching in his throat, he rushes down the narrow, shadowed side alley toward the back entrance. He grabs the brass handle and turns it, fully expecting it to be locked, but to his surprise, it clicks open. He's going to have a few words with you about that. He slips inside instantly, shutting the heavy door quietly behind him to keep his presence hidden.
The kitchen is cast in deep shadows, completely devoid of the usual roaring hearth fire and bustling energy. The only light comes from a single, lonely candle burning on the centre island.
Then, he spots you.
You are standing by the deep stone sink, your back completely turned to him. Your shoulders are hunched forward, your movements incredibly slow as you mindlessly wipe a copper pot with a rag.
"Hey," he says softly, exhaling a long, ragged breath of relief as he drops his hood. "You scared the absolute hell out of me. Why are the front doors locked? Did you actually sleep in for once?"
You flinch violently at the sound of his voice, your entire body spasming as you drop the rag into the water with a dull splash. You don't turn around to face him. You remain entirely still, staring down into the basin. "Jungkook. What are you doing here? You shouldn't have come. The shop is closed today."
Your voice sounds completely wrong. It is hollow, strained, and entirely stripped of the vibrant, feisty warmth that usually greets him.
Jungkook's playful smile vanishes in an instant, his large doe eyes narrowing with deep, immediate concern. He takes a slow step closer, his boots clicking quietly against the floorboards. "Yeah, I noticed. Are you okay? You sound tired." He tries to inject a tiny bit of his usual playfulness into his tone, trying to coax a smile out of you as he steps up directly behind your frame. "Did you miss me so much this morning that you couldn't even focus on baking today?"
"Not now, Jungkook," you whisper, your voice cracking slightly. Your shoulders hunch even further forward, your head bowing.
You slowly reach up with both hands, attempting to place a copper pot on the drying shelf slightly above your head. The exact moment your arms extend upward, your breath catches violently in your throat. A sharp, ragged, agonising wince escapes your lips, and your entire body shudders as you quickly drop your arms back down, your hands flying to clutch tightly at your own side to brace yourself.
Jungkook's protective instincts flare to a blinding degree. The sight of you in discomfort hits him like a physical blow to the chest. He reaches his hand out, his palm hovering just a millimetre above your trembling shoulder, desperate to touch you but terrified of hurting you. "What's wrong? Y/N, what happened?"
"Nothing," you say quickly, your tone sharp, laced with a desperate, stubborn defensiveness.
You finally force yourself to turn around and face him, but you immediately take two deliberate steps backwards, keeping a wide distance between your bodies. You force a terrible, completely strained smile onto your pale lips, though your lower lip is trembling. "I just... I was moving the heavy wooden grain table earlier, and I bumped into the corner. Hit my side pretty hard. It's just a nasty bruise, Jungkook. I'm fine. Really."
Jungkook doesn't buy it for a single second.
He steps right back into your space, his gaze sweeping over you like a hawk, analysing every single detail of your appearance. His heart aches at the sight of you. You look terribly pale, the healthy flush entirely gone from your skin. Your eyes are heavily red-rimmed and puffy, surrounded by dark circles, making it glaringly obvious that you’ve been crying for hours. And your posture is completely wrong: you are leaning slightly forward, your spine stiff as a board, breathing in tiny, shallow, calculated gasps as if expanding your lungs fully is a luxury you can't afford right now.
Seeing you in this state genuinely, physically hurts him. It feels like a cold blade is turning in his own chest; his stomach drops, and a suffocating wave of anxiety threatens to choke him. He hates seeing you vulnerable, hates the fact that something has stolen your bright energy.
He tries to keep his composure, forcing his voice to remain calm so he doesn't spook you, until you turn slightly to the side, attempting to step away from his intense scrutiny to grab a towel.
That's when he sees it.
Through the torn fabric of your shirt, along the side of your figure, he sees the clumsy linen bandage you had tried to wrap around your own torso, which has slipped completely out of place. A small, dark red stain of fresh, wet blood is seeping heavily through the white cloth, stark and horrifying against your skin.
Jungkook’s breath hitches violently in his throat. His blood runs cold.
"Y/N," he says, his voice dropping into a dangerously low, gravelly register, entirely stripped of all playfulness. "Why is there blood on your back?"
You freeze in your tracks, your hands tightening against the fabric of your apron until your knuckles turn white. You try to let out a casual laugh, but it comes out as a pathetic, broken sob that tears right through his chest. "Blood? Oh, don't be ridiculous. It's probably just cherry jam from the tarts. I am a baker, after all, I'm always covered in-"
"Don't lie to me," he commands. The tone is quiet, but it carries the heavy, unyielding authority of a prince who will not be denied.
Before you can utter another word of deflection, he steps directly into your personal space, erasing the distance between you. His large, warm hand moves around to your back, his fingers hovering just a fraction of a millimetre above the blood-soaked bandage. He barely, infinitesimally brushes the very edge of the cloth to see what lies beneath.
The slight, feather-light pressure is a catalyst for pure agony.
A choked, absolutely agonising groan tears from your throat. Your eyes roll back for a fraction of a second as a white-hot wave of pain flares anew across your nerve endings. Your knees completely buckle beneath you, your strength vanishing instantly as your legs give out entirely.
"Whoa- hey, look at me, I've got you, I've got you!" Jungkook panics, his heart leaping straight into his throat.
His arms shoot out in a blind reflex, catching you securely before your body can slam into the hard floorboards. He pulls you tightly against his chest, cradling you against his solid frame, his large doe eyes widening to twice their size with pure, unadulterated terror. He is hyper-aware of how fragile, how small you feel in his arms right now, your entire body trembling violently against him.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I've got you," he frantically whispers, his voice shaking as he holds you up. "Talk to me, please. You have to tell me what happened. You're bleeding."
You clutch desperately at the fabric of his faded tunic, your fingernails burying into the cloth as if it's the only anchor keeping you tethered to reality. The blinding pain, the hours of lonely exhaustion, and the sudden, overwhelming comfort of his warm, safe presence break the stubborn dam holding your emotions back.
You snap completely. You bury your face into the solid crook of his neck and break down, sobbing hysterically. Deep, painful, racking wails tear from your chest, echoing loudly in the empty kitchen.
"It hurts," you cry out, your voice breaking entirely into a raw shriek. "Kook, it hurts so bad, please... I can't bear it..."
Hearing you cry like this, hearing the absolute agony in your voice, completely breaks something fundamental inside Jungkook. A wave of sheer fury crashes over his soul. He sees bright, blinding red. He is the Prince of this kingdom, and someone in his village, under his family's rule, had dared to lay their hands on you. Someone had inflicted this kind of barbaric, sickening pain on the sweetest, most selfless person he knew.
He locks that rage away into a dark corner of his mind, storing it for later, because right now, your tears are the only thing that matters.
"Let me see it," he murmurs, his voice shifting into a soothing, incredibly soft contrast to the storm raging in his chest. "Let me help you, sweetheart."
"No, it's fine, just leave it, please go away," you sob, your stubbornness flaring up one last time through the tears. You weakly try to push his chest away, hiding your face from him. "You shouldn't be here. You're a prince, Jungkook. You shouldn't be seeing me like this... it's messy, it's fine..."
"Y/N," he says, his tone leaving absolutely no room for argument, though it is dripping with an unbearable amount of love and panic. He gently but firmly cups your face with both hands, forcing you to look up at him. His own eyes are shiny with unshed tears, wide and desperate as he uses his thumb to wipe a stray tear from your wet cheek. "Look at me. Look into my eyes. I am not going to hurt you. I don't care about being a prince right now. I care about you. Let me see it. Please, don't do this to me. Don't push me away when I know you're hurt."
You look into his frantic, pleading eyes, seeing the genuine agony in his own expression caused purely by your pain, and your stubborn defences finally melt away. You nod weakly, letting your head fall against his chest.
"Let's go upstairs," he whispers against your hair.
He slides one arm securely under your knees and the other firmly behind your shoulders, lifting your body effortlessly into his arms. He carries you up the narrow, creaking wooden stairs as if you weigh absolutely nothing, his movements smooth and careful, ensuring your back never brushes against a single wall or doorframe.
He carries you into your small bedroom, gently setting you down on the very edge of your bed.
The bedroom upstairs is quiet, shadowed by the late afternoon light filtering through the linen curtains. You sit on the very edge of the mattress, your knees pulled slightly toward your chest, your fingers twisting and burying into the worn bedsheets. Every shallow breath you take feels like glass slicing through your skin. Behind you, the quiet rustle of fabric and the soft clink of a ceramic basin tell you that Jungkook is preparing to face whatever horror is hidden beneath your clothes.
"I'm going to pull the fabric down. Is that okay?" Jungkook’s voice is a low, trembling whisper. The playful, cocky boy from last night is completely gone, replaced by a man carrying a heavy gravity.
You nod miserably, dropping your head down.
You feel his large hands settle on the collar of your dress. His touch is so light it’s almost non-existent, his fingers shake slightly as he carefully guides the torn, ruined cotton down your arms. He doesn't pull; he coaxes the fabric away, millimetre by millimetre, ensuring the rough material doesn't catch on the open wounds. As the cloth falls away, exposing your bare back to the cool air of the room, you hear him let out a sharp, ragged intake of breath.
The silence that follows is deafening.
Five jagged, angry lines of destroyed flesh cross your skin. They are swollen, with a deep, bruising purple at the edges, and fresh blood has oozed out where your movement has reopened them. The clumsy linen wrap you had tried to apply is tangled and soaked through with red.
"Who did this to you?" he asks.
The question is delivered in a voice so quiet, so entirely devoid of warmth, that it makes you freeze. If you were to turn around, you would see the menacing glare of a monarch in his eyes. His jaw is clenched so hard the muscles flare against his skin, his knuckles white as he grips a clean cloth.
"The patrol guards," you whisper into the empty room, a fresh tear tracking through the flour dust on your cheek. "In the square this morning. Some of the alley kids... they took a loaf of bread from the display. The guards… they caught them. They pulled out the lash for them. They're just babies, Jungkook. They were hungry. They wouldn't have survived it. I couldn't just watch."
You take a trembling breath, crying out slightly as the movement pulls at your skin. "I told the guards I'd take it instead. Three for each child... one for talking back... and a fifth... because he felt like it."
A suffocating silence fills the room. For a long, agonising moment, he doesn't say a single word. You brace yourself, expecting him to call you foolish, to tell you that a simple villager should never interfere with the Crown's enforcers. Instead, you feel the soft, slow dip of the mattress as he sits down directly behind you, closing the distance between your bodies.
"You are far too good for this world," he murmurs, his voice thick and strained with an emotion so intense it sounds like it’s tearing his throat apart.
Then, you feel the cool, wet cloth touch the very edge of the highest welt.
You flinch violently, a sharp, broken gasp escaping your lips as your hands lock onto the bedsheets. But before you can pull away, Jungkook’s free hand comes around to rest gently on your uninjured hip, holding you steady with an iron-firm but incredibly soft pressure. He rubs gently at the bare skin on your hip.
"Shh, I know, love, I'm sorry. I've got you. I'm being as gentle as I can. Just breathe through it. Focus on my hand," he murmurs, his lips so close to your bare shoulder that his warm breath fans across your skin, offering a fleeting contrast to the stinging cold of the water.
His movements are agonisingly slow but deliberate, focused. He cleans away the dried blood, his fingertips occasionally brushing against your uninjured skin. The sheer intimacy of the act makes your heart hammer in a completely different way. He treats your body like it is made of the rarest, most fragile porcelain, his touch lingering over the curves of your shoulders as if he wishes he could absorb the pain into his own skin.
He reaches into the wooden cabinet on your wall and pulls out a jar of thick, green herbal salve. He rubs a generous amount between his palms, warming it up before he speaks. "This is going to sting at first, Y/N. But it will help the fire go out. Let me know if it's too much."
When his fingers make contact with the raw wounds, a whimper tears from your throat, and without thinking, you lean to the side, your head resting against his solid shoulder. Jungkook doesn't move. He accepts your weight fully, his chest pressing lightly against your side as he leans to the side to get a better angle. His fingertips are unbelievably soft as they smooth the thick ointment over the angry welts, working with a reverent, quiet rhythm.
Every time your body shudders with a sob, he pauses completely. He leans forward, pressing his lips in a soft, comforting breath against the uninjured skin of your neck, whispering broken apologies into your skin until the tremors slow down. It feels intensely, overwhelmingly private, a sanctuary built out of raw pain and an undercurrent of heavy, undeniable devotion.
Finally, he takes a fresh roll of clean white linen bandage. To wrap it around your torso, he has to slide both of his arms completely around your waist. He leans in close, his chest flushing against your uninjured skin, effectively enveloping you in a tight embrace. You can feel the heavy beat of his heart against your shoulder blade as he pulls the cloth snug, securing it with small pins.
"There," he whispers against your ear, his hands lingering on your waist, his thumbs rubbing small circles into your sides before he reluctantly pulls away. "All clean. The fire should start to fade now."
You slowly turn your head, looking at him over your shoulder. His doe eyes are dark, swimming with a profound, aching yearning that terrifies you in their intensity. He looks at you not like a friend, and not like a vagabond, but like a man who has just watched his entire world bleed.
"Lie down," he commands softly, his voice thick, pulling the heavy wool blankets back. "Don't sleep on your back, lie on your stomach. I'm going to go brew some tea for you, okay? Don't move an inch."
You are too exhausted, too thoroughly drained of strength to argue. You crawl into the centre of the bed, resting your cheek against the pillow, and he pulls the blanket over you before leaving.
Within minutes, Jungkook returns, holding a steaming ceramic mug. He sits on the edge of the mattress, his large hand gently lifting your chin to help you take a few sips of the warm, sweet liquid.
The warmth of the tea and the cooling effect of the salve make your eyelids incredibly heavy. Jungkook sets the mug on the nightstand and reaches out, his thumb gently brushing a stray lock of hair away from your face, his touch agonisingly tender.
"Thank you, Jungkook," you slurry, your eyes fluttering shut as darkness tugs at the edges of your mind. "For staying."
He leans down, his lips pressing a soft kiss against your forehead. He lingers there before pulling away and resting a hand over yours on the pillow beside you. "I will always stay," he whispers against your skin, his voice sounding far away. "Sleep now, my beautiful baker."
He stays with you, one hand stroking the back of your head, fingers toying with the strands of your hair, and occasionally massaging your scalp, his other hand firm on top of your own until you drift off. The moment your breathing evens out into a deep, heavy slumber, the lingering softness completely evaporates from Jungkook’s face.
He stands up from the edge of the mattress, his frame expanding to its full, imposing height as his expression hardens into pure, unadulterated ice. The boyish warmth that usually fills his dark eyes is gone, replaced by a vacant stillness. He looks down at you one last time, your pale face resting against the pillow, and leans over to press another gentle, feather-light kiss to your temple.
He quietly moves around the room, his boots making absolutely no sound against the wooden floorboards. He sets a fresh glass of water on your nightstand, along with a small plate of dried fruits and crackers he salvaged from your pantry. Beside it, he leaves a small piece of parchment, scrawling a quick note in his elegant, fluent script.
He writes in his usual playful tone, desperate to lighten your mood when you wake up, even if his own chest feels like it is caving in from pure malice:
Eat all of this. If I come back tonight and find out you haven't eaten, I'm going to steal every single pastry in the kitchen as punishment. Rest up, my pretty girl. I'll be back to cause more trouble soon~
He slips out of the bedroom, guides himself down the narrow stairs, and exits the bakery, locking the back door securely behind him.
The walk back to the palace is a blur of blinding, volcanic rage. He doesn't care about staying hidden anymore; he doesn't slip through the shadows or wait for patrols to pass. He cuts through the upper village like a wraith, his eyes fixed on the towering stone citadel ahead. People stare as he passes them, a path being made before him as people flock to the side, no doubt whispering about the stern look on his face.
He storms through the heavy iron servant entrances, slamming doors on their hinges, tearing off the faded linen tunic and throwing it to the stone floor like trash. Attendants and low-ranking guards rush to him, bowing in absolute terror at the sheer aura of lethal fury radiating from the young prince. They have never seen him like this.
"Get me my royal uniform," Jungkook barks, his voice ringing through the high stone corridors like a crack of thunder. "Now."
Minutes later, he is clad in the official armour of the high crest: a dark, structured jacket lined with heavy gold trim, epaulettes resting on his broad shoulders, heavy leather combat boots, and the royal insignia pinned sharply over his chest. He looks every bit the future ruler he was born to be.
He strides down the western corridor toward the main guard barracks. The heavy oak doors, reinforced with iron bands, don't just open; they slam against the stone walls with a violent, echoing crash as he kicks them through.
Dozens of off-duty guards and captains instantly freeze, dropping their dice and flagons of ale, snapping to absolute attention. The room goes dead silent.
"Who patrolled the main market square in the lower village this morning?" Jungkook demands. His voice isn't loud, but it is dangerously low, vibrating with a lethal, quiet edge that makes the hair on the back of everyone's necks stand up.
Near the back of the room, two guards exchange a nervous, sweating glance. Slowly, their armour clanking in the heavy silence, they step forward and bow deeply.
So these are the brutes who had stood over you on the cobblestones.
"We did, Your Highness," the lead guard stammers, keeping his eyes glued to the floor. "Is there an issue with the sector?"
Jungkook doesn't answer immediately. He walks up to them with a slow, agonisingly measured pace. The air in the barracks becomes completely suffocating, the temperature practically dropping as the prince circles them. He stops directly in front of the guard, who has a heavy leather whip strapped to his belt.
"An issue?" Jungkook echoes, a terrifying, dark smile tilting the left corner of his lips, though his eyes remain dead and vacant. He peers down at the guard, who is half a head shorter than him. He folds his hands behind his back, leaning in slightly. "Tell me about your morning patrol. I want to hear about how efficiently you enforce the King's law."
The lead guard swallows hard, his throat bobbing nervously. "It was... a routine patrol, sir. We apprehended a group of street rats attempting to steal from the market stalls. We administered the standard physical deterrent to ensure compliance with crown regulations."
"A physical deterrent," Jungkook repeats, his tone almost conversational, entirely too calm. "And tell me... did these so-called street rats take the lashes?"
The guard shifts his weight, his iron greaves clanking with the movement. "No, Your Highness. A local villager stepped in. A peasant girl from the bakery. She obstructed our duty and offered to take the penalty in their stead. We accommodated her request to maintain the crown's authority in the square."
"You accommodated her," Jungkook whispers. His jaw clenches so hard the muscles flare violently against his skin. His fingers curl into tight, white-knuckled fists behind his back. "Five lashes. Is that correct?"
The second guard, thinking the prince is merely verifying protocol, chimes in, "Yes, sir. Three for the stolen goods, one for her insolence and talking back to the guard, and... one extra, just to ensure she remembers her place beneath the law."
The mention of the fifth lash, the one delivered purely out of sadistic amusement, shatters the final thread of Jungkook's restraint, leaving behind a monster driven by pure, protective devastation.
Without a single syllable of warning, Jungkook’s right fist shoots forward.
Crack.
His knuckles connect squarely with the lead guard's jaw with an inhuman amount of force. The sheer momentum of the blow rips the heavily armoured man off his feet, sending him flying backwards. His body crashes into a heavy oak table, splintering the thick wood into raw kindling before his armour skids across the stone floor, a spray of dark blood erupting from his shattered mouth.
The second guard gasps in pure shock, his eyes widening in horror as his hand flies to the hilt of his sword in a blind, conditioned reflex.
"Touch that steel," Jungkook roars, stepping into his space instantly, "and I will take your hand off your wrist."
Before the guard can even process the threat, Jungkook's royal combat training takes over. He intercepts the man's arm, his grip clamping down on the wrist like an iron vice. With a brutal, fluid twist of his upper body, he snaps the guard's wrist backwards. The bone pops with a sickening, wet crunch, forcing a loud, piercing shriek of agony from the man's throat.
Jungkook doesn't stop. He drives his knee directly into the guard's stomach, crushing the wind out of his lungs, followed by a heavy kick straight to his chest plate. The metal dents inward with a loud clang, and the guard goes sailing through the air, crashing hard onto the stone floor, coughing up strings of bright blood as he rolls onto his side, clutching his broken arm.
The rest of the barracks stands paralysed. No one moves. No one breathes. To strike a royal guard is treason, but when the attacker is the future King, and a man who can kill with his bare hands, the law belongs entirely to him.
Jungkook turns his gaze back to the first guard, who is desperately scrambling backwards on his hands and knees like a terrified, wounded animal, leaving a trail of blood on the floor.
Jungkook walks over to him, his heavy leather boots thudding rhythmically. He stands over the grovelling man, then reaches down, grabbing the guard by the throat and the collar of his iron breastplate. With a guttural growl of pure, unadulterated rage, Jungkook rips the man completely off the ground, slamming his back against a massive stone pillar.
"Who do you think you are?" Jungkook hoarsely whispers, his face inches from the guard's bleeding, trembling features. He tightens his grip on the man's throat, cutting off his air until the guard's face begins to turn purple. "You wear my family's crest. You carry weapons funded by my treasury. You eat food provided by my citizens. And you use that power to strike an innocent, defenceless woman in the streets?"
"Your Highness- p-please-mercy…" the guard chokes out, tears of genuine, paralysing fright mixing with the dark blood pouring down his chin. "We didn't... we didn't know she was... we didn't know..."
"You didn't know what?" Jungkook roars, slamming him against the stone pillar a second time, cracking the mortar behind his head. "That she has a name? That she feels pain? That her life is worth infinitely more than your pathetic, miserable existences?"
He weakens his grip just enough to let the man gasp for air, only to drive a brutal left hook directly into the guard's ribs. The sound of fracturing bone echoes clearly in the silent room. The guard lets out a strangled sob, his head slumping forward.
Jungkook grabs him by his hair, forcing his head back up so he has to look into his eyes, eyes that are currently completely devoid of mercy, cold and dark as a winter grave.
"Listen to me very carefully," Jungkook whispers, his voice dropping into that lethal, quiet promise that chills everyone in the room to the bone. "If I ever see either of you set foot in the lower village market again... if I ever hear that you so much as look in the direction of that bakery... I will ensure you are stripped of your titles, thrown into the deepest dungeon beneath this palace, and I will personally pick up the leather lash and show you what five strikes feel like when delivered by someone who actually knows how to use it. Do you understand me?"
"Yes... Yes, Your Highness... Forgive us... Forgive us..." the guard weeps, his spirit completely broken, pressed flat against the cold stone.
Jungkook shoves the guard away in utter disgust, letting his limp, groaning body slide down the base of the pillar into a pathetic heap.
The prince stands up straight, slowly adjusting the cuffs of his dark royal jacket, his chest heaving with heavy, deliberate breaths as he reins in his wild adrenaline. The fury still burns hot in his veins, but his composure returns like a heavy curtain falling over a stage. He looks around the barracks at the rest of the silent soldiers who are still locked at attention, none of them daring to even blink.
"Clean this pathetic mess up," Jungkook barks coldly, casting one final, disgusted look at the two broken men on the floor. "And remember exactly whose crest you wear. If any of you forget your duty to protect our people, I will personally remind you."
He turns on his polished leather heel, his golden cape snapping behind him, and storms out of the barracks, his mind already racing out of the palace gates and straight back to your quiet, shadowed bedroom.
The bright, warm rays of the morning sun pierce through your thin linen curtains, casting long, golden bars across your bedroom.
You slowly blink your eyes open, your body instantly tensing as you brace yourself for the white-hot, agonising fire that had consumed your back yesterday. You hold your breath, carefully shifting your weight to test the movement, but to your absolute surprise, the blinding agony has receded into a dull, thoroughly manageable ache. The throbbing is heavy, a reminder of the guards' cruelty, but it no longer cuts your breath short. The cooling herbal salve Jungkook applied worked absolute wonders overnight.
You slowly press your palms into the mattress, pushing yourself up into a sitting position, your eyes immediately darting around the quiet room.
Jungkook.
He is gone. The space beside your bed feels entirely empty, the cool morning air still carrying the faintest, lingering hint of his crisp, rich scent.
A heavy wave of emotion hits you as you sit there in the morning silence, the blankets pooled around your waist. Your mind drifts back to the blurry memories of yesterday. You remember the sheer terror in Jungkook's eyes when your knees had buckled in the kitchen, the way his strong arms had snapped around you before you could even hit the floor. He had held you so tightly against his chest, as if you were something incredibly precious he couldn't bear to see broken.
The memory of his touch makes your skin tingle beneath your bandages. He is the Crown Prince of the realm, a man born to be served, and yet he spent his hours kneeling on your floor, on your bed, cleaning your wounds with trembling hands, and whispering soft, broken apologies against your skin every time you whimpered in pain. The sheer, intoxicating intimacy of him wrapping the linen around your waist, pulling you flush against his solid chest, plays on a loop in your head. It sends a strange, dizzying heat curling deep into your stomach, a mixture of profound gratitude and a budding, terrifyingly deep affection.
You turn your head towards the nightstand. There sits a fresh glass of clear water, a small plate neatly stacked with dried fruits and crackers, and a folded piece of parchment. You reach out, your fingers tracing the crisp edges of the paper before unfolding it. Reading his messy, hurried handwriting, a genuine, breathless laugh bubbles up in your chest.
The ridiculous boyishness of his threat instantly cuts through the lingering shadows of yesterday's trauma. Even when he is trying to be authoritative, he can’t help but be the same teasing menace who steals your cake batter. You smile, dutifully eating every single cracker and dried fruit on the plate, feeling the energy slowly returning to your limbs, before drinking the water down to the very last drop.
Exhaling a long, steady breath, you carefully slide off the bed. You find a loose, lightweight, clean dress in your wardrobe and slip it over your head with meticulous care so the fabric doesn't rub harshly against the fresh dressings. You feel remarkably better; the deep, uninterrupted rest has done wonders for your body and mind.
Marching down the staircase, you are determined to open the bakery today. You refuse to let those guards steal your livelihood or intimidate you out of your own shop, and you certainly can't let your regular village customers down two days in a row.
The kitchen downstairs is dead quiet, smelling faintly of the chamomile tea Jungkook had brewed for you. You walk straight to the front door, unlocking the heavy brass deadbolt, and pull the thick curtains back to let the brilliant morning light flood the room. Bracing yourself, you push the front door open and step onto the threshold to set up the outdoor display.
The moment your boots clear the frame, you freeze completely in your tracks.
Sitting proudly on the wooden bench right beside your shop entrance is an overflowing bouquet. It is massive, easily the size of your entire torso, completely taking over the small wooden bench. But as you take a slow, hesitant step closer, your brow furrows in sheer confusion.
The flowers aren't real.
You lean down, your breath catching completely in your throat as your eyes scan the arrangement. They are meticulously, beautifully handcrafted entirely out of soft, colourful yarn. Dozens upon dozens of intricately crocheted roses, delicate lilies, and bright daisies, amongst others, which are woven together with an unbelievable amount of patience, care, and precision. The bouquet bursts with vibrant, warm shades of pastel pink, sunny yellow, and rich cream, completely immune to the biting morning frost.
Tears instantly spring to your eyes, a sudden, heavy wave of emotion tightening in your chest until it's actually hard to breathe.
You are, unfortunately, severely allergic to real flowers; the pollen makes your eyes swell shut, and your lungs feel heavier within minutes. It is a small, trivial detail you had mentioned to Jungkook months ago, a passing, light-hearted remark made at two in the morning while you both sat on the kitchen floor giggling over a tray of accidentally burnt sugar cookies. You hadn't thought twice about it. You had assumed he forgot it the second the words left your mouth.
Yet here they are. Flowers that will never wither, flowers that can never trigger your allergies, flowers made with a level of dedication that a person can only give when they are entirely, irrevocably devoted to someone. Only a handful of people in the world know that secret about you, and your royal visitor remembered every single syllable.
Tucked precisely into the centre of the soft yarn roses is a small, heavy piece of parchment. You reach out, your fingers trembling violently as you pull the note free from the stitches and unfold it.
I heard real flowers make you sneeze.
These will never wither, and they will never hurt you.
I'll be there tonight. Don't lock the back door.
- J.
p.s. leave out some extra cookies, please <3
You press the heavy paper firmly against your chest, right over your thundering heart, staring out into the bustling village square. A silent tear slips down your cheek, cutting through the light dust of flour on your skin, but a bright, genuine smile graces your lips.
Yesterday, you felt completely alone, broken and humiliated on the cold cobblestones while the world looked away in fear. But today, clutching this note, you feel safer, more cherished, and more protected than you have ever felt in your entire life.
You find yourself glancing up at the morning sun, already tracking its slow path across the sky, a deep, restless yearning settling into your very bones. For the first time in your life, you find yourself utterly despising the daylight, wishing the hours would fly by in a breathless blur. You can't bring yourself to care about the flour, the dough, or the baking today. All your heart can focus on is the ticking of the clock, desperately waiting for midnight to fall so you can hear that muffled chime, the click of the door, and fall back into the familiar step with your prince.
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⋆。°✩Genre: childhood best friend connie x black fem reader
⋆。°✩Synopsis: you and connie grew up together in brooklyn. growing up, you two were inseparable until you went across the country for college. you two went from talking every day to just “happy holidays” texts. you go back on his block for a block party, surrounded by nostalgia, you run into him again, and this time, you two admit to all the things you wanted to say to each other all those years ago.
⋆。°✩Contents: plot with smut, connie's lowk a yearner, pnv, unprotected sex, face riding, nipple play, edging, slight over stim, pet names (mama, love, baby), praise, soft dom con, passionate sex, multiple orgasms, squirting, dirty talk, aftercare
⋆。°✩A/N: they r tew cute n corny, this was supposed to be released last summer, but I procrastinate too much, so enjoy 😛
It was a warm summer evening in Brooklyn. Summer in the four boroughs meant one thing, block parties.
The smell of people grilling was in the air, mixed with the sound of loud music, and the chatter of neighbors catching up like they hadn’t seen each other in years, even though they probably had just yesterday.
You and your homegirl were on your way to one right now, walking through streets that were lit by the glow of the sun and the signs of corner stores.
This wasn’t just any part of Brooklyn, though. This was the block where your childhood best friend, Connie, grew up. Everything came rushing back to you the minute your sneakers touched the ground. You could almost see younger versions of yourselves running through these streets, laughing until your stomachs hurt, and dreaming of what life would be like when you got older.
But life had a way of pulling people in different directions. You and Connie had grown apart, though not in a crazy way. It just happened.
When the time came to choose a college, you packed up and moved to the other side of the country. Leaving New York had been your dream for as long as you could remember. You hated this city. It was suffocating. But you knew you couldn't leave forever.
You had craved something different, you wanted to experience a new place for the time being, New York was your home, and you couldn't imagine leaving forever, someone something kept you from leaving forever.
Still, walking through this part of the neighborhood again, the memories felt bittersweet. You glanced at your friend, who was busy scrolling through her phone. You wondered if Connie would be there tonight.
You and Connie had practically grown up as a package deal. From the time you were kids, you two had been inseparable, doing everything together, playing tag at the park, riding bikes until the streetlights turned on, and spending late nights talking about your dreams for the future.
You went to the same elementary, middle, and high school, growing up side by side. Connie had always been the loud, funny one who could make anyone laugh, while you balanced him out, being the quieter and more mature of the two.
You two were inseparable until you left, California just wasn't another borough, it was all the way on the other side of the country, a 6-hour flight.
At first, you and Connie tried to keep in touch. You’d text every day, call each other to catch up, and even FaceTimed a few times to make things feel like old times. But as the weeks turned into months, you two texted and called less and less.
Life got in the way. Your new school needed your full attention, you were on scholarship, and you had to make sure you didn't mess up your chances, and Connie had his own life back in Brooklyn.
Slowly but surely, the calls turned into missed ones, and before you knew it, the connection you’d once had disappeared.
You didn’t mean for it to happen, it just did. Now, walking through his old block on the way to this party, you couldn’t help but wonder if he thought about you as much as you thought about him.
You wanted to text him and tell him you were back in Brooklyn, but you felt it would just be awkward. So if you saw him, you saw him.
You knew you were almost there when you heard the sound of old-school hip hop. The songs bring back memories of when you and Connie would run around these same streets as kids.
That brought a smile to your face, but it also made you realize just how long it had been since you’d last experienced a night like this.
Even though you hadn’t been around much in recent years, you had a feeling Connie’s parents and grandparents would want to see you. They’d always treated you like family, and they still remembered the little girl who used to play in their yard.
The thought of reconnecting with them made your heart feel warm. You weren’t sure how'd they react, but you knew it would make you feel a lot of things.
As you rounded the corner, you spotted the police cars blocking off the street as y'all reached the heart of the block party, the notes of "Big Poppa" playing in the background, even through the music, you could hear the laughter and chatter in the air. Being back in Brooklyn, you felt carefree, warm, and alive with the energy of summer.
There was a burst of colors and sounds. There were bouncy castles on one end of the street, and the sun made them shine as kids jumped around in them. There was a cotton candy stand next to it, and kids played with pink and blue cotton candy in their hands. Some kids ran back and forth on the street playing tag, while other kids rode their bikes and scooters.
There was an open fire hydrant, where kids were filling up water balloons to throw at each other. The smell of meat cooking on the grill and the smell of fresh corn roasting over the fire mixed together.
As you looked around, you saw familiar faces, some from your childhood, others you hadn’t seen in years. People were sitting on their stoops, enjoying the warmth, talking with friends and family. The older generation was lighting up cigarettes and cigars. Laughter rang out from all directions.
Everything about this moment, the sounds, the smells, made you feel like you’d never truly left. It was home in a way that no other city could compare.
The laughter, the music. It was yours in a way that only someone who had spent their childhood running through these streets could understand.
But there was something bittersweet about it, too. As much as you loved being here, you couldn't deny that things had changed over time. Brooklyn had changed over the years. The streets now had cafés, luxury apartments, and people who didn’t carry the same history with them.
But this small part of the borough still felt like home. The people and the corner stores were all still there. You couldn't help but feel proud of that, as if this part of Brooklyn belonged to you.
It was comforting, knowing that, despite everything changing around it, this place, this community, still held on. For now, it felt like the Brooklyn you remembered.
You knew that the first thing you had to do was get to Connie's family's brownstone because you were on his old block. You couldn't let them see you first. It just felt right to say hi to them first. As you walked toward the orangy-brown building, memories flooded back.
You had spent so many afternoons here, sitting on their stoop, eating snacks with Connie’s mom while she rambled on in her Dominican accent. Her house was a second home to you.
As you approached the steps, you spotted a familiar figure through the open door. Before you could even say anything, Connie’s mom was already on her feet, her eyes lighting up as soon as she saw you. “Mi hija!” she called out with that same loving tone she had used when you were a kid. She pulled you into a tight hug.
It was like getting a hug from your mother, it made you feel the kind of warmth that only a second mother could give. The smell of her was the same, the spices and lavender you remembered, the smell of her home never changed.
As she pulled back, her face was glowing with excitement, her eyes scanning your face as if trying to pick up on every little detail. “Where have you been? How is college?” she asked quickly, her questions tumbling out as she held you at arm's length, her hands still resting on your shoulders.
You chuckled softly at her rapid-fire questions, ease washing over you. “I’m doing good, Mom. College is good,” you smile.
She smiled brightly, her face lighting up as if hearing those words was enough to reassure her that everything was alright. You could see the happiness in her eyes, like she’d always known you’d make it, no matter how far you’d gone from Brooklyn. "I'm so glad to hear that, mi hija," she says, pulling you back into a hug once more. "You know you're always welcome here. Never forget that."
While you were enjoying Connie's mom's hug, a burst of energy ran toward you, and before you could even react, Connie’s younger siblings were there.
His little sister wrapped her tiny arms around your legs, her grip tight as she looked up at you with a wide grin. "I’ve missed you so much!"
And before you could even bend down to respond, Connie’s younger brother, always the more reserved of the two, stepped forward and wrapped his arms around your waist.
“We’ve missed you.” The feeling was mutual. You missed them all, but especially his younger siblings, who seemed to have grown up so much since you last saw them.
You pulled them both into a tight group hug. “You guys have gotten so big,” you said, ruffling his little brother’s hair while your hand rested on the younger sister’s head. “I’ve missed y'all, too. So much.”
You barely had time to react before you heard the voice of Connie’s grandmother, "Ahh, you’ve made me get up out my chair now!" her eyes sparkling as she stood up from the rocking chair on the porch. With a warm smile, she pulled you into a big, tight hug, just like she always had when you were younger.
"I’ve missed you so much," she squeezed you just a little tighter before pulling back to get a good look at you. Then went to pull out her phone.
You laughed, already knowing exactly how this would go, one of those moments where older people tried to figure out how to take a picture. You stayed smiling at the phone the whole time, even though it took a long time for her to get the shot.
Finally, after what seemed like a million attempts, she finally got a picture. “Ohh, I’ve missed you,” clicking the phone off. You laughed, shaking your head. “Now, where is that boy Connie.” She sat back down in her chair, shaking her head.
You made your way over to the grill. There, standing behind the grill, was Connie's uncle.
He looked up when you approached, a sly grin spreading across his face.” Wassuppp unc,” you called out, fighting back a smile. Connie’s uncle stood by the grill, wearing an oversized white tee and basketball shorts, a rag slung over his shoulder.
“Ohhh, look who pulled up. You came to eat, or you just here to harass me?” He raised an eyebrow, always ready for a little back-and-forth.
“Now y’know imma need a plate,” you teased, crossing your arms as you leaned lightly against the grill.
He shot you a look, “Trust me, I know.”
You gave him a quick side-eye,” Wowww it’s like dat? Crazy.”
“Y'know I'm jus playing witchu, c’mere.” laughing as he stepped closer to you. Then, before you could say another word, he wrapped you into a tight hug, lifting you slightly off your feet with a laugh.
"It’s good to see you, unc.” you said lightly as your feet planted back on the ground.
He pulled back just enough to look you up and down, his eyes happy. “Good to see you, too. Don’t you worry, you’ll get your plate soon enough,” he said, turning back to the grill. “I gotchu covered, always.”
You smiled. Connie’s family was your family, and no matter where life took you, they’d always have a place in your heart and vice versa.
“Wassguddd,” you called out, a grin spreading across your face, making your way through the familiar faces. One by one, you made your rounds dapping up each one of them. Armin greeted you with his usual soft smile, lighting up his face. “Long time no see,” his voice warm as you made your way over to eren.
“Yooo, look who finally decided to show up,” he teased. He pulled you in for a quick hug, clapping your back with mad force, letting you know he’d missed you.
"Damn nigga." You chuckled, pulling away.
Jean next, stepping forward with that signature smirk already in place. He leaned in his hand, gripping your shoulder firmly as he pulled you in. "You know I’ve been waiting for you to show up," he pulled back, the corners of his lips twitching. "Things never feel the same without you around."
Before you could respond, Sasha nearly bounced into your arms. “Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re here!” Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around you in a quick but tight hug. Pulling back, she beamed at you.
Last but not least was Mikasa. She approached with a small but genuine smile, pulling you into a quick hug. “It’s good to see you again,” she said simply.
You took a moment to look around, expecting to see Connie’s familiar face in the group, but there was still no sign of him. “Where Connie at?” you asked casually, your face scrunched up slightly from the sun beaming into your eye.
Eren shrugged lazily, leaning back, taking a slow sip from the red cup in his hand. “He’s around here somewhere,” the corner of his mouth lifting into a smirk. “Y’know, how he is.”
You chuckled softly at Eren’s playful remark, shaking your head cause this was very connie-like. But as the minutes ticked by without any sign of Connie, you decided to quietly slip away, going back toward the brownstone where Connie’s family had been.
You watched everyone around you, hearing the sound of laughter, music, and people talking.
Yet, in this moment, you felt distant. You let out a slow breath, leaning back slightly as your eyes moved across the street, scanning for that one person you’d been hoping to see.
You heard the sound of small feet running toward you. Looking up, your gaze landed on Connie's sister. Her curly pigtails bounced with every step. In her hands was a small notebook, the pages slightly crinkled from all the use. She clutched it tightly to her chest, making sure you couldn't see it before she showed you.
Her bright eyes locked on yours as she ran up the steps, nearly tripping on the last one, but she caught herself just in time.“I made something for you!” She plopped down beside you.
Her body leaning slightly toward you as she extended the notebook with both hands.“Oh, you did, huh? What is it?” You watched her small hands flip through the notebook’s crinkled pages. Her fingers, smudged with leftover crayon and marker.
“Look!” She looked up at you, her grin even wider now, revealing a missing front tooth. Your eyes fell on the drawing, the picture was of you, her, and Connie with different crayons.
In the center of the page, she had drawn herself with her signature ponytails, her hands held up in a peace sign, and her smile so big. To her left was you with your favorite hoodie and your favorite pair of sneakers, your arms wrapped around her.
And then there was Connie, standing on her other side. She’d drawn him tall, his smirk stretched across his face with a beanie covering his buzzcut. Connie’s hand was resting lightly on her shoulder, but his other hand was extended slightly toward you. Above his head, she’d drawn tiny pink hearts, scattered across the page
“This is all of us,” her eyes glistening. “Me, you, and Connie! And look, Connie’s looking at you like this.” She scrunched her nose and gave her best impression of a lovesick puppy, giggling as she pointed to the hearts above his head.
Your checks warmed up as you glanced at the drawing again, this time catching the little details you’d missed before. Connie’s figure was slightly closer to yours than hers.
You took the notebook gently from her small hands. “Wowww,” you said, “This looks so good. You did great!”
She giggled softly, leaning into your side, her head coming to rest gently against your arm. “Thanks,” she said quietly.
After a pause, she glanced up at you. “Do you think Connie’s gonna come today?” You shifted slightly to get more comfortable, your eyes moving from the notebook in your lap to her.
“I hope so,” you replied, wiping some of the small strands of her hair out of her face. “I’ve been waiting for him, too.” She let out a small hum of agreement, her eyelids drooping slightly as she cuddled closer. Her tiny fingers toying with the edge of your shirt.
“Do you think when we see him, we can all play together? Like we used to?” Her wide eyes looked up at you. You couldn’t help but smile, your heart filled with love for the little girl who had grown up right in front of your eyes.
"Yea." You pulled her in closer. “We can do that.”
"Promise?" You stuck your pinky finger out to her as her smaller one wrapped around yours.
"Promise." You made sure to press your thumbs together.
“Ma, I swear, I'm not even that late!" You heard that one voice that you would recognize anywhere. You and his little sister turned simultaneously, your heads snapping toward his voice.
There he was, slightly hunched as he tried to dodge his grandmother’s playful hits. She was scolding him, though the laughter in her voice made it clear she was just messing around.
“That’s him! That’s him!” his little sister squealed. She jumped up from the steps so quickly that it startled you, grabbing your hand and pulling you along with her.
You couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm as she tugged you forward, her little legs moving as fast as they could. Her grip was strong for someone so small.
When she finally reached him, she let go of your hand and launched herself toward him, her arms stretching wide. Connie caught her, spinning her around.
As you slowed your steps, excitement in your chest grew stronger. Seeing him now, the smile on his face is so familiar. He looked really good, handsome.
Connie stood there, the sunlight framing his face as he walked up, his sister to the side of him. He wore a plain gray tee, the fabric snug across his shoulders and chest, the shirt having a few faint wrinkles. Dark green cargo pants sat low on his hips, giving a pop of color to the outfit, and they bunched slightly around his ankles, where you saw his black cats. A black Yankees beanie rested on his head, covering his overgrown buzzcut.
The sunlight hit his skin just right, giving it a warm glow from the faint sweat on his skin from the heat, with freckles dotted on his cheeks and nose.
But it was his eyes that got you the most, as they always did, hazel green mixed with gold that seemed to shift depending on how the light hit them. Today, the sun brought out the gold, making them glint in the sunlight.
Every detail of him was so distinctly Connie, from the slight tilt of his head when he laughed to the relaxed way he carried himself. He looked exactly how you remembered; every detail of him seemed to hit you over again, making your chest tighten, but the strongest one was the one being that he felt like home, you couldn't have been back home without him.
He then looked up, his eyes landing on you, and for a moment, the noise around you seemed to fade. “Yooo.” Your lips curved into the biggest smile, one you couldn’t fight back even if you tried. The rush of emotions hit you all at once, your steps quickened, closing the last bit of distance between you, practically launching yourself into his open arms.
“I missed you, Con,” your voice muffled against his chest as your arms wrapped tightly around him. He caught you with a laugh. He spun you around, the scent of weed and his favorite cologne filled your nostrils, just that scent alone was able to trigger so many memories in your mind.
"Naaa, you ain't' miss me, you went hollywood." He teased as he gently set you back on your feet, his hands lingering for just a moment longer.
“Nuh uh, that was all you.” You shot back as you playfully hit his arm.
He tilted his head slightly, his grin stretching wider as if he didn't believe you. “Mhm, sure,” You rolled your eyes at his words.
“Whatever, bro,” you cross your arms, raising an eyebrow at him.
“Y’know I’m just playing witchu,” he said smoothly, his voice dropping an octave. The way the words rolled off his tongue made your breath hitch, trying to fight back a smile while his gaze was steady on yours as he ran his tongue over his bottom lip, a small smirk going across his face.
Before you could reply, his fingers wrapped tightly around your waist, pulling you in closer for another hug, though his hands settled a little lower than you had expected, sending a wave of warmth throughout your body.
“I missed you too,” his voice quieter this time, while you felt the warmth of his breath brushing against your ear. Something about the way he said it, like he needed you to know.
You felt yourself melt into the hug, your fingers brushing against the soft fabric of his shirt. His grip tightened just slightly, his chin brushing the top of your head as he held you there.
He held you so tightly, it felt like nothing else mattered, just the two of you in this moment.
You couldn’t see it, but Connie’s family stood a few steps away, their faces lit with knowing smiles. His grandmother nudged his mom lightly with her elbow, leaning in to whisper something that made them both chuckle quietly.
His younger siblings exchange words about him, finally confessing, but his brother says something like he's too scared. They all knew it wasn’t a secret to them. Connie had been in love with you since the day you two first met, and they’d been rooting for him ever since.
To everyone else, the signs were obvious the way Connie’s eyes always softened when he looked at you, his grin grew wider whenever you were near, the way his voice dropped just a little whenever he spoke to you.
And you. The way you lit up when he was around. It was like the rest of the world could see the invisible thread tying the two of you together, pulling you closer, except for the two of you.
It wasn’t just the way you two looked at each other, it was in every small interaction, the way the air around you seemed thicker whenever you were together.
To everyone watching, it wasn’t a matter of if but when. They could see it so clearly, two people hopelessly, obliviously in love. And here they were, hoping that this was the moment when you both finally realized what everyone else had known all along.
But it wasn’t. The moment passed as you both pulled away, though the warmth of his arms still stayed. Connie cleared his throat. “You gotta tell me how college life’s been,” he said, slinging his arm over your shoulders.
As you walked back toward the grill, the scent of food hit you, “Wassup, my boy,” his uncle called as he extended his hand, dapping Connie up.
“What’s good?” Connie replied. His Uncle didn’t respond right away. Instead, he pushed his sunglasses down to the bridge of his nose, letting his eyes peek over as he looked past Connie.
His face broke into a sly smile as he nodded in your direction. “Ight na look whose back.”
"Yea, i've been starving," Connie's uncle smacked his teeth loudly, rolling his eyes.
"Yea yea, you just got here bout 30 minutes ago,” he shoke his head, making you laugh. "But thank you for commin' out tho, it's nice to see you."
You shrugged your shoulders at his comment. They were family to you, and you were gonna be there whether Connie was there or not. “You know I couldn’t miss this."
Connie's uncle quickly interrupted you with a laugh that made his whole body shake. “Mmhmm, couldn’t miss this, or couldn’t miss him?” He jabbed the spatula in Connie’s direction, his grin stretching wider as Connie immediately groaned in annoyance.
"Here he go," Connie's shoulders slumping slightly as he turned away for a second. Connie's uncle was wagging the spatula for emphasis.
“Nah, don’t ‘here he go’ me, boy. “I seen the way you was lookin’ at her earlier, actin’ all cool. You ain’t foolin’ nobody.”
“You done yet?” Connie asked, the corner of his mouth twitched like he was trying not to laugh, but the way his eyes flickered toward you gave away the truth that he wasn’t really mad.
“Nah, I’m just gettin’ started," adjusting the Yankees cap backward on his head. He gestured with his spatula to add more emphasis, “Lemme tell you somethin’. I been watchin’ this boy try to impress you since he was rockin’ them little light-up sneakers thinkin’ he was fresh as hell."
Connie groaned, dragging a hand down his face as you burst into laughter. “You doing too much." His uncle pointed the spatula at you now, his grin widening as he locked eyes with you.
"You remember that time he fell out that tree tryin’ to get you that dumb lil’ flower? The one you said was your favorite, even though you ain’t really care like that?”
Your eyes widened as the memory came rushing back, and a laugh escaped before you could stop it. “Oh my God, I forgot about that. The flower wasn’t even that cute.”
You could see the tips of Connie's ears turing red as he tried to act like he didn't care about the words being thrown at him, “Had that boy riskin’ life and limb for a weed.”
By now, Connie’s grandmother had shuffled over, hearing the end of the story, and started cackling, her laugh infectious. "He got halfway up the tree, lost his grip, and came tumblin’ down like Humpty Dumpty. Had him limpin’ for two weeks after that!” She added, “Had me running out with ointment and bandages." Everyone but Connie was laughing even tho he had a small curve to his lips while he was trying to fight back a laugh.
“And don’t even get me started on how he-” Connie's uncle began, ready to tell another embarrassing moment about Connie, but Connie cut him off with a louder voice, trying to drown out whatever story was about to say
“Chillll, you actin' mad, fed right now.” Despite his protest, a laugh broke through, ruining his attempt to sound serious.
Connie's grandmother couldn't help but roll her eyes at his choice of words." Boy, please. You just don’t want us exposin’ you."
Connie shot her a playful glare before running a hand over his face, clearly trying to suppress his own laughter. “Y’all got jokes today, huh?” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
But his uncle wouldnt let up. He pointed the spatula at Connie, his grin never leaving. “Nah, but for real,” He gestured between the two of you, his spatula emphasizing every word. “I been watchin’ you two since y’all was kids, and let me tell you, ain’t nobody else puttin’ up with yo' goofy ass like she does.”
You felt your cheeks warm up as his family's eyes turned towards you. Connie glanced at you, too, his grin tugging at the corner of his mouth, though he quickly looked away.
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice for dramatic effect, though it was loud enough for everyone to hear. “If you don’t lock it down, boy, imma have to start callin’ you a damn fool. And trust me, that name gon’ stick.”
Connie groaned loudly, throwing his head back dramatically, “We just friends, Unc.”
His uncle barked out a laugh, slapping his knee for emphasis. “Yea, ight, you a fool, and I heard that one before,” he said, pointing the spatula at Connie. “You know who else said the same thing? Me. And now look at me, thirty years deep with my ol' lady."
Connie let out a short laugh, shaking his head as he glanced at you briefly. His grandma chimed in then. “Listen to your uncle, baby. He’s makin’ sense for once in his life.”
The entire group burst into laughter, the sound rolling through like music. You couldn’t help but laugh too, despite the way your heart was racing. You glanced at Connie, catching his eye for just a moment before you looked away again.“Yea, yea. Let’s get you some food before they come up with more material.”
“Yea yea my ass get her, her food before I call her mama and tell her you slackin’. Don’t play with me, boy.” He gave Connie a look, the corners of his mouth twitching with a grin.
Connie shook his head with a quiet chuckle, his hand dragging over his face. He stepped around the table, grabbing a plate from the stack. “Man, y’all are somethin’ else,”
He turned toward you, his hazel eyes catching yours for a beat longer than necessary. Then, just as casually, he threw in a wink. “You better make sure my plate looks good, or I might actually have to call my mama.”
Connie paused mid-scoop, while he glanced sideways at you. “Oh, y’know I gotchu, don’t trip,”
You finally had your plate in hand, piled high with Chicharrón, some Arroz con Gandules, and sweet Fritos Maduros. The smell was so good you couldn’t wait to stuff your face.
Sitting into one of the classic white plastic chairs, you let out a satisfied sigh. Connie plopped down beside you, his own plate just as full. Soon, only the sounds for a moment were the crunch of the chicharrón and music.
“College been stressful,” you said between bites, the fork in your hand pausing briefly as you glanced over at him. “But it’s fun. I’ve met a lot of new people and done lots of new things."
Connie nodded as he chewed, his hazel eyes flicking to you. He swallowed quickly, leaning back in his chair with a casual ease, his plate balanced on his lap.
"You been talkin’ to anyone?” Connie asked casually, but the way he leaned forward slightly and glanced at you out of the corner of his eye showed how curious he really was.
You let out a laugh, shaking your head as you set your fork down on the edge of your plate. “Boyuhh,” your eyebrows lifting giving him a look.
“What?” Connie said, feigning innocence as he shrugged, his lips going into a smirk. “I can’t ask questions?”
You rolled your eyes but couldn’t fight the grin tugging at your lips. “No, I ain’t been talkin' no one,” you admitted, taking another bite out of your food.
Connie leaned back in his chair, bucking his hips to get more comfortable. He nodded slowly. “Mmhm, good,” the corners of his lips curving into a smirk.
You glanced at him quickly, trying to figure out if he was being serious or if he was just messing with you. “Stop playin’,” your head dropping down to avoid his gaze, feeling the heat rise in your cheeks. “Whatchu mean, ‘good’?”
Connie shrugged, his smirk turning into a full grin. “I’m just sayin’. It’s good to know,” he casually replied, but the way his eyes lingered on you made it feel anything but casual.
“You so corny,” you bit back a smile as you tried to act all unbothered.
His eyes never left you as he leaned in, pulling your chair closer to him, the smirk never leaving his lips. “Corny, huh?” His arms folded across his chest, clearly enjoying the way you were trying to hide the smile creeping onto your face.
You looked down at the food on your plate, fiddling with your fork. “Yea,” the words coming out quieter than you intended, biting your bottom lip.
But Connie, chuckled under his breath, the sound deep as he was clearly satisfied with your reaction. “Mmhm,”
Connie leaned in closer, his eyes locking onto yours as he drummed his fingers lightly on the edge of your chair. “You callin’ me corny, but look at you over there,” a smile on his lips. “Tryin’ mad hard not to smile.”
You rolled your eyes at his comment, your fingers fiddling with the edge of your plate. “Ain’t nobody tryin’ anything,” wanting him to shift the attention off yourself, you blurted out, “How has life been back in Brooklyn?”
Connie tilted his head as he caught onto your attempt to change the topic. “Ahhh, not you tryna change the subject,” he laughed softly. He leaned back a little,” Brooklyn’s been, Brooklyn.”
"But foreal tho,” Connie’s voice dipped low, pulling your attention entirely to him. "I like you like this."
His eyes lingered on yours, your face scrunched slightly, “Like what?” you asked, your voice softer than you intended.
Without breaking eye contact, his hand moved, reaching out to rest gently on your knee. The touch was so casual, yet you felt your body warm. “Here,” His thumb began to move, brushing soft circles against your skin. “Wit' me.”
You blinked with a small smile going across your face slowly, all you could do was sit there as his fingers continued their movement against your skin. It felt like time had slowed down, the world around you fading as you were locked in that moment, just the two of you.
Connie leaned back, warm fingers leaving your thighs, shifting his weight onto one arm as he let his gaze rest on you, a sly smile tugging at the corners of his lips. His free hand tapping his thigh, “Ight, but lemme letchu finish your food before you start sayin’ I’m distracting you too much,”
You let out a dramatic sigh, shoulders rising and falling. Tilting your plate toward him, you showed him most of your untouched food. “You already did, con,” you whined, your lower lip turning into a playful pout.
Connie raised a brow, fingers brushing over the faint stubble along his jaw. He leaned in slightly, resting both elbows on his knees, hands clasped together, his hazel-green eyes narrowing playfully. “Oh? So it’s my fault now?”
“I mean,” You began, as your fingers held your plate to the side, “Let me ask the audience.” You turned your head to the side, pretending to look into the imaginary camera.
Connie let out a low chuckle, his shoulders shaking slightly as he leaned back, the smirk still playing at his lips. “Man, whatever,” He shifted in his chair, leaning in just enough for his knee to brush lightly against yours.
“You done yet?” His smirk deepened as he cocked his head, his voice dipping just a little lower. “Or you gon’ keep tryna flirt with me so you don’t gotta get up?”
You couldn’t help but laugh hard in his face." You mad, delusional, shaking your head as you straightened up.
“Yea, ight,” Connie replied, pushing himself up in one smooth motion. He stretched lazily, arms reaching high, making his shirt ride up just enough to reveal a glimpse of his happy trail and the lines of his lower abs.
The stretch lasted only a second before his arms dropped back to his sides. He extended a hand toward you, tilting his head slightly, eyes gleaming, “C’mon,” he drawled. “Let’s go do something before you start blaming me for you being bored, too.”
"I could never be bored with you, Con," you said, a warm smile spreading across your face, as you reached out to take his hand.
The moment your fingers touched, Connie gave a slight tug, maybe a little harder than he meant to, pulling your head straight into his chest. Wrapping his arms around your waist, his thumbs brushing slowly up and down your skin.
“That’s like the nicest thing you’ve said to me today," he teased, fake-crying as he dramatically wiped an imaginary tear from his eye.
You huffed, rolling your eyes as you pushed him off. "And you ruined it," shaking your head at him.
Before you could fully step away, he grabbed your hand again, fingers curling around yours. "Ight, my fault."
“C’mon tho” his fingers tugging you forward. You barely had time to respond as he moved the two of you through the crowd, your hand still firmly in his grasp.
He led you past groups of kids squealing and running through the open space, playing tag. You ducked your head slightly to avoid the trail of smoke drifting through the air, the scent of Black & Milds and whatever else the old heads were smoking lingering. They were playing spades on a folding table nearby, laughter rising from the men gathered around it.
You passed the cotton candy machine. A guy with the cart full of glowing toys waved light-up sticks in the air, calling out prices as kids tugged on their parents’ hands with wide eyes.
“Connie,” you said, breathless from both the pace and trying to keep up. “Where are you-” And then you saw it, the bounce castle. Slightly faded from all the years, its colors popped.
A short line of kids waited at the opening, some hopping in place, others tugging at the mesh walls. You slowed your steps, tugging back on his hand. “Connie, now you know damn well our big asses ain’t posed to be in there.”
He stopped just short of the entrance, turning to face you with that glint in his eye and a grin that was already guilty. “Ain’t nobody stoppin’ us,” he said, lowering his voice. “Just act like we checkin’ on the kids or somethin’.”
You stared at him, wide-eyed, your fingers still tangled with his. “You not serious right now.”
“Oh, I’m deadass,” eyes sparkling as he gave your hand another tug. “I’m tryna bounce, and you comin’ with me.”
You stared at him in disbelief, then at the poor kid operating the castle gate, who looked way too unsure about whether to stop him or just move out of the way. “Connie,” you warned again, but part of you was already smiling.
“If we pop this thing,” you side-eyed Connie as you approached the entrance. The bounce castle already wobbling under with all the kids already inside, and the closer you got.
Connie, completely unfazed, he cleared his throat dramatically, putting on his fake, responsible adult tone. “S'cuse me, lil man,” he said with an exaggerated nod toward the preteen standing guard at the mesh entrance, barely taller than the clipboard he was holding. “Just tryna check on some kids real quick. Won’t be long.”
You fought back a laugh as the kid squinted at both of you, arms crossed, lips pursed in suspicion. He looked Connie up and down, then at you behind him, eyes narrowing as if trying to calculate your combined weight. “Uh-huh,” the boy filled with attitude. “That’s what the last grown-ups said right before they popped it and dipped.”
Connie paused mid-step, glancing down at the kid with one brow raised. “Yo, don’t do me like that,” he said, holding back a grin. “I bounce light. Real aerodynamic. Don’t play me.” You shook your head at Connie's choice of words, sure he and that kid didn't even know what aerodynamic means.
The kid sucked his teeth and stepped aside just barely, giving you both the nastiest little side-eye. “Well, y’all better float, then,” he muttered. “Don’t have me out here explaining nothin’ to nobody.”
You nearly fell over when that lil’ kid hit y’all with the “y’all better float” line. Your knees buckled as laughter burst from your chest. You clutched your stomach, tears pricking at the corners of your eyes. That lil’ boy was too bold. You were crying.
“Boy,” Connie snapped, flipping the mesh flap back down, towering over the kid with his brows furrowed. “Who you talkin’ to like that?” His tone dropped, all fake authority now, one hand cocked on his hip. “Don’t make me go find yo mama, 'cause I will.”
The kid didn’t blink. “Do it then,” he fired back instantly, folding his arms with a shrug. “Ain’t nobody scared of you. She's right over there by the snow cones, tell her I want red.”
Connie blinked, thrown off by how fast the boy came back. He turned fully around like he needed a moment to reset. “Yo. You bold. You real bold, kid,” he said, finger pointing.
The boy didn’t even flinch. “I just call it how I see it. Y’all both built like y’all supposed to be supervising, not jumpin’.” His lips pursed like he meant every word.
You let out a wheeze, your hands flying to your knees as you bent over, struggling to breathe between your laughs. “Na, why he on us like that?” Actual tears falling now.
Connie looked at you, eyes wide like he couldn’t believe the disrespect. “Nah, this is crazy,” he said. “Ight, kid. You got it.” He pointed at the boy, like he was giving him his props. “But at least we havin’ fun while you over here policing us like you, TSA.”
The boy sucked his teeth, then stepped aside with the most exaggerated sigh, “I’m just sayin’,” he muttered. “Bounce responsibly. I ain’t got time to be patchin’ no adult-sized holes.”
You completely lost it, stumbling through the entrance behind Connie, who was already shaking his head. Connie turned over his shoulder, dead serious. “You better bounce light. 'Cause if we pop this thing, I’m blamin’ him.”
“I dare you,” the kid replied with a smug smirk, already pulling the mesh flap back.
“Na, wussgud with him tho,” Connie said as he flopped dramatically into the castle, the whole castle shifting with his weight. “He gon’ grow up and be somebody’s sassy lil manager.”
There weren’t many kids left in the bounce castle by the time you two really got going. Most had already got out one by one, guided by that same sassy little boy who had taken it upon himself to enforce crowd control.
You watched from the far end of the castle as he stood at the mesh door, one hand on his hip, the other gesturing with exaggerated concern. “I’m just sayin’,” he announced to the remaining children. “I don’t trust it with all these adults in here. Y’all can bounce again later for your safety.”
Within minutes, the castle was practically empty. All that was a few echoing giggles outside, and you and Connie alone. Which, unfortunately for you, meant he had full range to be as annoying as possible.
Connie stood across from you, rising to his feet with that playful glint in his hazel eyes. He planted his feet wide for balance, knees bent, arms slightly out as the floor shifted under him.
He bounced once, then again, his grin growing as he got into it. Alright,” he said, his voice cocky, already hyping himself up. “I forgot how fire this feels. I’m lowkey an athlete.”
You laughed, already off balance as you pushed yourself upright, your arms flailing slightly to stay centered. “Athlete where?” you shot back, squinting at him. “You already almost busted your ass tryna stand.”
Connie raised an eyebrow, his grin deepening. “Bet.”
Before you could fire off another joke, he crouched low, jumping up with ease, his body flipping backward in the air with a burst of movement. He landed the backflip with a “Athlete here.” and immediately did a quick front flip, his arms out dramatically as he landed upright again, wobbling just a bit but holding it together.
You were still catching your breath, chest rising and falling from all the jumping. “You just a show-off,” you said, unimpressed.
Connie shot you a look. “Yea, ight,” he said, “Gotta give the people what they want.”
You scoffed, planting your hands on your hips as you bounced in place, the castle beneath you, letting out a squeak with every movement. “What people?” your face scrunched up in confusion. "It’s literally just me here, and I definitely didn’t ask for that.”
Without warning, he jumped forward, landing just a few inches in front of you, “Nah, you was thinkin’ it tho,” he said. “I saw it in your face. You were like, damn, he really could be an Olympic athlete.”
You threw your head back, letting out a full laugh. “Boy, bye,” you , shoke your head slowly as your hands found your hips. “I was thinkin’, damn, he really needa start floatin’ for real.”
“Naaa, you got jokes,” he said, still laughing as he shook his head. “That’s crazy.”
He took one exaggerated leap backward, his landing shaking the whole floor beneath you both, making you wobble a bit. Then he dropped low into a WWE-style wrestling stance, knees bent, arms out. His eyes locked on you like he was about to make a move.
Your smile dropped instantly. “Connie, don’t do no stupid shit,” you warned, pointing a finger at him. Your voice came out serious. “I swear, if you tackle me, I’m finna fuck you up, word to.”
“You gon’ have to fuck me up then."
Your eyes widened instantly. “Connie!” you shouted, spinning on your foot to take off, your feet running against the floor. Your arms flailed, trying to steady yourself, but you barely got two bounces in before he lunged.
Connie launched forward, his arms hooking tight around your waist mid-air. You let out a high-pitched squeal as he lifted you clean off the floor, your legs kicking instinctively.
You crashed down, your bodies bouncing multiple times against the floor. The whole floor wobbled from the impact.
You landed flat on your back, breath knocked out of you for a second, your hair sprawled around your face. Connie rolled halfway on top of you, one arm beside your head, the other still wrapped loosely around your waist.
You blinked up at him, your breath shaky, body still adjusting to the impact. “You dumb as hell,” you slapped him weakly at the back of his head. “Didn’t I say don’t do no stupid shit?
“Damn, chill!” Connie laughed, grabbing the back of his head with both hands, acting like you really hurt him. “Talk about abuse.”
“You laughing, girl? You think this is funny?” Trying to sound mad through your smile. “You almost broke my back, Connie. My spine."
“You dramatic,” Connie said, still breathless with laughter. He grinned wide, teeth flashing, then reached over and flicked you right in the center of your forehead with his middle finger. It was light, but just enough to make you glare.“You still breathing,” he added, like that made everything okay.
“Barely, nigga,” you, side-eyed him hard as you shifted on the floor, trying to sit up. Your legs still tangled loosely with his, making movement clumsy. You elbowed him lightly in the ribs out of spite.
But Connie had gone quiet. You didn’t even notice at first, too busy fixing your shirt and moving your hair out of your face. But when you glanced back, he wasn’t laughing anymore. He was just watching you. His smile had faded, his eyes locked on your face, deep and still and filled with something that made your breath hitch.
Not just looking at you, looking into you. “You mad pretty,” he said randomly. His voice quiet, like he didn't mean to say it out loud at all.
You blinked, caught completely off guard. “Oh, baby, you’re so weird.”
But he didn’t laugh. “It’s true,” Connie said again, the kind of softness in his voice that the kind that came from his heart. “You’re hella pretty. Like annoying levels of pretty. It’s actually crazy.”
“Shut up, Con,” your voice cracking just slightly, your lips trembling around the edges as you tried to hold it together. You turned your face away, but not fast enough to hide the smile tugging at your lips.
A smile he definitely saw.
And he didn’t say anything after that, he just let the moment hang in the air, his eyes still gently fixed on you like he didn’t want to look anywhere else.
“Connieeee!” The familiar voice rang out in the distance. You and Connie both lifted your heads at the same time. He was just starting to sit up fully when the bounce house flap flew open, the air shifting as Connie’s little sister came running in.
“Don’t hit her again!” she shouted, marching across the bounce castle floor. Her fists were balled tightly at her sides, her brows pulled together in a serious glare. All 40-something inches of her stood tall, like she’d been called by God to defend you. “I saw you tackle her!” she , pointed a finger at Connie. “That’s not fair!”
You broke into a loud laugh, your head tipping back as the sound burst out of you, caught completely off guard by how serious she looked.
Her tiny face was all scrunched up as Connie blinked, stunned, his brows furrowing as he looked down at her in disbelief, like he genuinely couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that she had come in just to scold him. “I ain’t even hurt her for real,” he protested, tossing his hands up dramatically in defense. “We was just-”
“Don’t care!” she snapped, cutting him off with a stomp of her foot that made the whole bounce floor jiggle beneath her. Without warning, she took off in a full-speed sprint toward him, her little fists clenched.
“Yo, wait, wait, wait.” Connie let out a small laugh and groan as he stumbled backward, his back hitting the bounce house floor with a soft thud.
“Get him!” she screamed, but she was giving it everything she had with her tiny arms wrapping around him in an attempt to pin him down.
You scrambled to your feet, still giggling, and lunged toward him, throwing a bunch of light punches at his chest and shoulders. Connie threw his arms up dramatically, clutching his side like you were actually hurting him.
"Agh, damn girl, why you hittin’ so hard?!” he yelled playfully, his body falling deeper into the bounce castle floor like you’d knocked the wind out of him.“Y’all double teaming,” he groaned, as his sister jumped on his leg again. “It’s not fair. I need backup.”
You were laughing so hard your punches slowed, your hands slapping gently against his sides. His eyes full of fake agony, eyes squeezed shut, mouth hanging open like he was on his last breath.
By the time the three of you finally stepped out of the bounce castle, the sky had softened into a blend of yellow, orange, and pink colors.
The sun was dropping low, and a golden hue cast over the neighborhood. The noise of the block party had quieted into a quiet murmur. People had already started packing up, folding chairs closed, grills were getting turned off, but the smell of food still lingered in the air.
Connie’s little sister walked beside you, her small hand curled around yours. With each step, she did little skips, her shoes thudding lightly against the pavement, her hair bouncing with every movement.
Her fingers gripped yours tightly whenever her feet left the ground, like she wanted to make sure you stayed right there with her. You could feel the way she clung to your side, how she kept glancing up at you every few seconds, she missed you.
Connie trailed just a few steps behind, eyes on both of you, hands tucked in the pockets, a small smile on his lips.
“Let’s get outta here.” Connie leaned in closer. The corners of his mouth tugged into that lopsided smile you knew all too well. His breath was warm against your ear, and the way his hazel-green eyes locked onto yours made your heart skip a beat. “I wanna show you what you been missin’.”
You raised an eyebrow at him, lips curving into a teasing smile. “Boy, I just got back.” A soft laugh slipped from your lips as you nudged him playfully with your elbow..
But the way he looked at you, the way he spoke to you, stirred something warm in your gut. It didn’t just feel like he wanted you. It felt like he missed you. Like he needed you.
“Let’s say bye to your people first,” you said, glancing over to where Connie’s family was still posted up on the steps, laughing and talking like the party was still in full swing.
The three of you started walking together. Connie’s little sister suddenly let go of your hand and took off running with a squeal, her ponytail bouncing as she launched herself into her mom’s lap.
As soon as you reached the steps, Connie didn’t waste a second. “ight, y’all, we finna head out. We’ll see y’all later,” he said all in one breath before anyone could really register it. He slung his arm around your shoulders, locking you into a, playful chokehold.
“Connie.” Your voice was light as your hand instinctively reached up to grip his forearm. Your fingers curled gently around his skin, trying to push him off without really trying. He wasn’t even holding you that tight.
“Connie, uh-uh! Get your ass back over here!” one of his aunts hollered from the steps. But Connie? He wasn’t listening. Didn’t even flinch. His steps only picked up speed as he led you further down the block, his arm still slung around your shoulders, locking you in. You could feel the way his body shook with quiet laughter, clearly amused by all the noise behind you.
“Connie!” his grandma barked, trying again. “Boy, you hear me talkin’ to you!”
You glanced back over your shoulder with a small grin, turning your head just enough to wave at his family members still calling out, watching you both with amused expressions.
Some were laughing. Some were shaking their heads. His uncle even held up his phone like he was about to snap a picture. “They so damn fresh,” you heard someone say with a chuckle.
Once you got far enough down the block, just out of his family’s view, your eyes landed on the familiar car parked down the block, the back of a 1997 Acura Integra, the wrap a glossy dark blue with a few scuffs and scratches. You immediately rolled your eyes at the sight of it.
“Oh my god, Connie, ain’t no way you still got this old-ass car.”You shoved yourself out of the loose chokehold he still had you in. The taillight still had that slight fogginess to it, and one of the bumper stickers you remembered from years ago was somehow still holding on.
But just from the outside, you could tell Connie had been putting in work. The glossy royal blue wrap shinned under the lights. The chrome trim around the windows was polished, and the blacked-out rims gave the car a more modern look.
He'd even swapped out the old headlights for LEDs that gave off a cool glow. The windows were tinted just dark enough to hide whoever was inside, but still legal enough to get away with. Even the old Acura badge on the trunk looked new, like he had replaced it.
“Na, you ain’t gon’ get on my baby like that,” Connie said, yanking his keys out of his pocket. His face was srucnhed up, looking like he was offended.
“You don’t see these upgrades?” He stepped back, arms spread like he was showing off a masterpiece. “Look at the wrap. Glossy royal blue custom. No scratches. No marks. Rims blacked out. New tires, LED lights. Don’t play with me.”
You rolled your eyes, but your smile gave you away. “C’mon, get in,” Connie said, doing a small jog around to the passenger side like he was a valet.
He pulled the door open, letting you step inside, while he then leaned against the door frame, one arm resting on the roof. “She’s old, yea,” he said, eyes glinting with pride as you slid into the seat. “But she got personality. You ain’t even seen the inside yet.” He gave you a playful wink before gently closing the door behind you.
He opened the door and slid in beside you, the car dipping just slightly with his weight. He twisted the key in the ignition, the soft rum of the engine coming to life, the interior lights started to glow blue and purples lining the edges of the dashboard and beneath your feet.
“You see these upgrades?” He glanced at you with a proud look on his face. “C’mon, I know you feel these new leather seats, stop playin’, this ain’t the same car from high school.” He patted the seat under him, then leaned forward, tapping the touchscreen in the center console as music started to cue up. “Peep the lights. You see that? I got ambiance in here now. He turned to you with a raised brow, waiting for your reaction.
“No more static either. I got the Bluetooth in this joint. Aux, touchscreen, all that. We don’t gotta listen to no ass radio, no more talkin’ ’bout you can play whatever you want, Apple Music, Spotify, shit, even SoundCloud."
“C’mon, baby, stop playin’ with me,” Connie said with that cocky grin as he shifted the car into reverse. He leaned back casually, his right arm stretched across the back of your seat while his left hand stayed steady on the wheel.
You felt the light pressure of his fingers brushing against your headrest as he looked over his shoulder, his jawline catching the last of the sunset slipping in through the windshield.
The car eased out of the spot with a low rumble, tires crunching gently over gravel as he maneuvered out of the spot. “Go ‘head,” he said once he straightened out, reaching into the cup holder for his phone. He held it out to you, his screen already on the Spotify app. “Play you want.”
As the car pulled onto the road, the block was quieter now, no longer loud with the energy of the party, but filled with that soft nighttime Brooklyn, the occasional bark of a dog, people chilling on stoops.
It was a mix of old and new. A weed dispensary where a food spot used to be. A freshly painted mural on the corner wall, you remembered being blank for years. Graffiti tags with street art. It was all still your neighborhood.
You decided to hit shuffle, and the opening notes of “2am” by Cassanova flowed through the speakers. Connie’s fingers immediately started tapping along to the beat. His hand was light on the wheel, guiding the car with ease.
“You still ain’t tell me where we goin’,” you said, your voice soft over the music. You turned slightly to face him, your eyes drifting from the road to his side profile, the subtle curve of his jawline, the glint in his hazel-green eyes, the curl of his lips.
“Don’t worry ‘bout it,” Connie said, that stupid-ass grin still plastered on his face, like he was trying real hard to keep things cool. But you knew him too well. He kept his eyes on the road, but you could tell he wasn’t fully present.
His bottom lip was pulled slightly between his teeth, not enough to bite, just enough to fidget. Every now and then, he’d tap his thumb against the steering wheel faster than the beat, or do a double-tap, something he always did when he was thinking too hard.
You knew him all too well. You leaned back in your seat, watching him out of the corner of your eye. He was in his head. Big time. Probably thinking ten steps ahead like he always did, overanalyzing everything, probably even second-guessing bringing you wherever y’all were headed.
He let a few more beats of the song pass, fingers still tapping gently. His hand slid from the gearshift and landed on your thigh. You felt the warmth from his palm. His fingers spreading just lightly over your skin. He moved like he’d been waiting to do that all day.
You turned to look at him, that lopsided smile already tugging at your lips. But Connie? He didn’t even glance your way. His eyes stayed glued to the road ahead, jaw relaxed, left hand is steering, the other is gripping your thigh.
Now it was your turn to overthink. Your eyes flicked down to his hand resting on your thigh, his fingers still. The warmth of his touch lingered on your skin, making it hard to focus on anything else. The longer it stayed, the more your heart picked up speed.
You glanced at his face, his expression unreadable. That grin had faded into something more serious, like he was trying not to let his nerves show, but you saw the way his thumb kept tapping against the steering wheel, the way he licked his lips and blinked a little slower than usual.
Your fingers twitched in your lap. Should you grab his hand? Would that make it weird? Would it make it better? You shifted slightly in your seat, pretending to adjust your shorts just to buy yourself another second.
You pressed your lips together, your thigh tingled under his touch, your chest was tight with something warm and stupid, and suddenly the air between you two felt thick.
Finally, like you couldn’t help yourself anymore, your hand inched closer to his. Your pinky brushed against his first. Then slowly, you slid your fingers under his, your hand slipping into his palm, and his fingers curled around yours without hesitation.
He turned to face you, eyes lingering, searching like he was trying to read your mind. But now your head stayed facing forward, fixed on the road ahead. You didn’t look at him, not with how fast your heart was thudding against your chest.
He could tell you were trying to keep it cool, but the small things gave you away. The way your hand tightened slightly in his. The way your breath hitched when you felt his gaze still on you. And even though your face stayed the same, your body leaned just a bit toward him.
Connie tilted his head a little, the corner of his mouth twitching up, not a smirk this time, “Y’not slick,”
“Boy, please, you not slick,” Your eyes stayed fixed on the windshield, hands suddenly fidgety in your lap. It came out harsher than you meant it, but the nerves bubbling in your chest made everything feel ten times more intense.
Connie let out a low chuckle, “Trust, I ain’t tryna be,” he said, glancing at you out the corner of his eye.
You shook your head, biting back a smile, still facing toward your window even though your face was burning. “Whatever,” you muttered, but your fingers, without even thinking, gave his hand the smallest squeeze.
For a second, neither of y’all said anything. The music low between you, his thumb brushed gently up and down your skin like he didn’t even realize he was doing it. But you didn’t want him to stop, and neither did he.
You started to have that feeling back in your chest the moment you caught a glimpse of the faded brick building just up ahead, your old elementary school.
The name was still barely visible on the side, the playground out back rusted but still standing. The moment you saw it, it hit you. The benches tagged up with old Sharpie, your names with hearts carved into the wood.
This was the park where you first met Connie, barely old enough to know how to spell each other's names but already chasing each other through the grass. You played tag, hide-and-seek, and swung so high on the swings that the sky seemed so close.
It was where you had your first fist fight, your knuckles scraped, eyes blown wide, over something stupid you couldn’t even remember now. Connie had been the one to pull you back, arms around your waist, yelling at you to chill while also lowkey laughing because he was impressed you could swing like that.
It was where y’all got high for the first time. Huddled behind the old jungle gym, giggling over a joint rolled way too loose, trying to act grown while your eyes watered from your nose and throat burning. Connie kept pretending he wasn’t paranoid as fuck, and you were the one to calm him down.
It was where you came when your heart broke for the first time, sitting on the swings long after the sun had gone down, tears on your cheeks. Connie had pulled up in a hoodie, silent at first, then offering you half his Arizona and the rest of his hot fries like that was enough to fix a broken heart. And somehow, it kind of was.
And now, here you were again. Years later. Older, different, but somehow the same. You glanced at Connie from the passenger seat, his profile soft in the fading light. And just for a second, the years in between didn’t feel so far away.
“Let’s go.” Connie's voice was low as he cut the engine, the hum of the car dying. He twisted the keys from the ignition with a quick flick of his wrist.
You didn’t move right away. You just sat there, legs crossed, fingers playing with the edge of your shorts, your body turned slightly toward him. Connie always opened your door. Ever since he got this car passed down to him, back when the passenger side door used to stick so bad he had to wrestle it open, and the AC barely worked, you had all the windows rolled down, he’d made it a thing. Said it was manners. It was just how he moved with you.
So you waited, a small smile tugging at the corners of your mouth as you watched him unbuckle, push open his door with a bit of extra force, and step out. The car rocked slightly from the shift in weight. He didn’t even look back as he jogged around the front.
As he reached for your handle,the veins in his arms flexing, his face unreadable. And then the door creaked open, and there he was, standing tall, leaning his forearm casually on the roof, looking down at you with that boyish grin.
The two of you stepped onto the cracked pavement path, and a gentle breeze rustled the trees overhead, carrying with it the faint scent of grass and playground rubber.
Your steps were slow and steady, falling in rhythm with Connie’s beside you. Neither of you said much at first, but the silence wasn’t awkward, it was just quiet.
The tips of your fingers brushed once.
Then again.
Not fully holding hands, but lingering close enough that you both noticed. His pinky barely grazed yours before pulling back, and you caught the slight glance he gave you out of the corner of his eye like he was waiting to see if you’d flinch. You didn’t. If anything, your hand moved in his direction.
You made your way over to the swings, you and Connie always had your designated spots. His was the one on the end, the one that dipped slightly lower from him and other kids jumping off it too many times. Yours was the one next to it, the swing that rarely squeaked.
Your gaze lingered on it, a wave of nostalgia hitting harder than you expected. That swing had been yours, you defended every summer.
You could still remember Connie pretending not to care, then racing you for it the moment your back was turned. One time, he even pushed you not too hard, just enough to make you stumble so he could snatch it first, laughing his ass off while you shouted empty threats behind him.
You shook your head at the memory, lips still curled in that soft, nostalgic grin. “Dumbass really pushed me for a swing,” you mumbled to yourself, a quiet laugh escaping as you gently kicked a small rock on the ground.
You saw Connie’s eyes flick toward the swings, that glint lighting up before he even moved. “Connie, don’t you fucking dare.”
But he was already gone, bolting through the swing gate with a laugh spilling out of his chest. You took off right behind him, your shoes pounding against the cracked pavement as you tried to catch up, your breath quick with disbelief and laughter.
“Connie!” you called. But of course, he made it to the swings first, your swing, claiming it, dropping into the seat with a dramatic sigh like he belonged there. He gripped the chains with both hands, leaning back like he was perfectly comfortable, like he hadn’t just stolen your spot for the millionth time.
He swung gently, looking over at you with a smug little grin. “What?” he said innocently. “You was movin’ too slow.”
“Connie, get up,” you snapped, breathless from running.
He just shrugged, dragging the tip of his sneaker in the foam. “Nah, I’m chillin’. Feels like good right here.”
You narrowed your eyes at him, your hands planted firmly on your hips, “You got one minute before I drag you off that swing, Springer. Don’t test me.”
Connie tilted his head back lazily, that grin never once leaving his face. “Mmm, drag me then,” he said, kicking his feet just enough to make the swing creak back and forth. “You always tryna fight me for this swing. You ever think maybe it likes me better now?”
You crossed your arms, raising a brow. “Boy, please,” you scoffed, stepping closer. “I don’t think anything likes you better. Not the swing, not the park, not even Mister Softee. You're delusional.”
“That’s crazy,” he leaned back farther into the swing, letting it rock under him. “You come back, I offer you a ride, treat you to a lil nostalgia tour, and you out here disrespectin’ my name in front of my swing?”
You rolled your eyes but couldn’t hold back the smirk tugging at your lips. “Get up before I actually drag you off.”
He grinned wider, cocking his head playfully. “Make me.”Just as Connie started to kick his legs, easing himself into a slow swing, you stepped in without hesitation. Your fingers curled tightly around his forearm, and with one sharp tug, you yanked him clean off the seat.
“Yo, chill!” he shouted through a burst of laughter, his body jolting forward. His feet scrambled to catch his balance, arms flailing before he managed to steady himself. He turned around wide-eyed, a hand clutching his chest like he almost just died. “You really dragged me like that?!”
You didn’t even blink. You spun on your heel and dropped yourself onto your swing. The chains rattled under your grip as you leaned back into it. “Don’t ever play wit' me.”
He blinked at you in disbelief, lips parted. “Ight, my fault,” he muttered, brushing the front of his shirt. “Snatched me up like I owe you money.”
“Honestly, you probably do,” you shurgerd as Connie dropped down onto his swing with a heavy thud, the one he always used to grab.
The rusted metal squeaked like it always did as he settled his weight into it. Without warning, he kicked off hard, his sneakers digging into the ground for momentum. The swing jolted forward, lifting him high into the air, the chain links clinking as he moved back and forth.
You side-eyed him, your own swing gently swaying with each small kick of your feet. “Boy, you really doing all that for real?” your eyes trailing after him as he went higher with each push.
His feet kicked out, his back arched just enough to make the swing rise higher, the chains tightening with a small creak.
Connie turned his head toward you mid-swing, “Gotta remind you I still got it,” he called out, voice rising.
You just shook your head, lips twitching into a soft smile as you let your gaze wander, taking in the park in. It was fully dark now, the sky above a deep navy, faintly lit by a few stars that peeked through the light pollution. The only real glow came from the old streetlamps scattered around the park, some flickering weakly.
The air smelled like a mix of damp earth and faint weed smoke. There were still a few people hanging around, mostly older teens huddled near the basketball court with hoodies pulled over their heads, passing around a joint and talking low. Their laughter drifting in and out.
The place had changed. Some of the benches had been replaced so homeless people couldn't sleep on them. The paint on the jungle gym was peeling more than you remembered.
But everything else? Still the same. You exhaled slowly, your breath visible in the chill that had crept in with the night, and for a second, it almost felt like you never left.
“Y' know,” your voice soft as his swing slowed to a gentle rock. “It’s crazy, one day we were just little kids here, and now we’re some grown-ass adults.”
He dragged the toes of his sneakers along the foam, slowing his movements so he could turn his head toward you. “I used to think I’d grow up, get rich, buy the park just so nobody else could touch it,” a small laugh left his lips. “Like, I was ready to put my name on it and everything. ‘Connie’s Park.’”
You snorted, your fingers tightening around the cool chains as your own swing rocked lightly beside his. “Please, Connie. You’d be a terrible park owner,” you said, rolling your eyes with a grin. “You’d ban kids for no reason and take all the good swings for yourself.”
“Nahhh, not if it was just for us,” he turned more toward you, the chain squeaking as he twisted in place. “Like, imagine that. No noise, no people, just us. You on your favorite swing, me on mine. Forever.”
Your breath caught for a second, you looked over at him, his features relaxed in the dim glow, and for a moment, it felt like the whole world quieted.
There was just something about Connie, something that had always been there. The way he spoke to you, like every word, even when he was just joking. The way he looked at you. That pull he had on you, the closeness that had been there since you were kids.
Back when it was just scraped knees and daring each other to jump off swings. But now? It was still there, but deeper. No matter how far you went or how long you’d been gone, in moments like this, sitting beside him with the night, it shows how close you two really are. Reminding you that you never really let him go.
Without even thinking, your hand reached across the space between you, fingers brushing lightly against his. You didn’t grab him, not yet, just let your fingertips rest there, testing the waters. Connie didn’t flinch. He turned his hand out. The warmth of his skin met yours as your fingers slid into his, locking together.
He didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. Instead, his thumb started tracing soft, slow circles over the back of your hand.
“You still think you could beat me in a race across the park?” you asked suddenly, breaking the silence with a smirk tugging at your lips.
He blinked over at you, his grin already forming. “Beat you? Girl, I did beat you. Every single time.”
“That’s a damn lie,” you shot back, laughing. “I let you win once, and you’ve been delusional ever since.”
He turned toward you now, eyes glinting, the chains of his swing twisting slightly as he angled himself in your direction. “Nah, you always had a lil’ crush. That’s what it really was. You let me win ‘cause you liked me.”
You scoffed. “Boy, please. If anything, you had the crush. You used to chase me round' this park like a puppy.”
He leaned a bit closer, his swing inching toward yours just enough that your knees brushed. “And look at us now, still chasing each other.”
“Na you chasing me”
“Man, whatever, c’mon, let’s go see how Junior’s doin’,” Connie said, nodding his head down the block toward the deli. You both knew exactly who he meant. Junior, the deli owner who had been holding it down on the corner since before yall were born.
He was at least forty years older, with a greying beard and a voice that carried. But despite his age, Junior had the kind of energy that made the neighborhood feel alive.
Always posted behind the counter with a half-eaten sandwich and some sports game playing in the background, he treated you two like you were his own, especially when you’d come in with new report cards. He’d give you free snacks if your grades were good, giving you chips and honey buns.
Connie, of course, never had the grades to match, but Junior let him slide anyway, always talking ‘bout “I’m rewardin’ potential, not performance.”
You laughed softly at the memory, already able to picture Connie lying through his teeth about a fake B-minus just to get a free Arizona, and Junior pretending to believe him, all while shaking his head with that little smile he couldn’t hide.
The walk to Junior’s was mostly calm, the kind of quiet that only really hits late at night. The air was warm from the summer humidity, but the sidewalks had cleared. You and Connie walked side by side, your steps slow and easy, the kind of silence that felt comfortable until it wasn’t.
“Oh my gosh,” you shrieked, body jolting as your feet left the ground, startled. A massive rat darted across the cracked sidewalk just inches ahead, its long tail dragging behind. You’d jumped straight into Connie’s side without thinking, gripping his arm like your life depended on it.
Connie nearly doubled over, bursting out laughing. “Yo. It wasn't even that big.” He looked at you with a grin, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.“Clearly, you been outta New York too long.”
You glared at him, heart still thudding as you reluctantly let go of his arm. “Connie, c’mon, nah, that thing was huge. Like a big ass opossum.”
The two of you finally made your way to the deli, the fluorescent lights casting a soft glow. The chipped red-and-yellow awning still hung above the doorway, the same one that had been there since y’all were kids, its colors a little more faded now. The neon “OPEN” sign in the window, and the door creaked like it always had.
You expected him to not be there right now, figuring it was too late for Junior to still be behind the counter. He had to be over sixty by now, and even back then, he always joked about retiring. But as you pushed the glass door open and the little bell overhead jingled, there he was.
Standing behind the counter like he’d been waiting for y’all this whole time, arm resting on the worn surface. His salt-and-pepper beard was a little longer, the circles under his eyes a little deeper, but that same smile spread across his face the moment he saw you. “Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in,” Junior said, like no time had passed at all.
You let out a laugh, one that came straight from the gut, your eyes lighting up. “Damn, Junior. You still here?”
He chuckled, tossing the half-scratched lotto ticket onto the counter. “Y’all thought I was gonna retire before I saw your grown ass again? Nahhh. Ain’t no way,” he said, as he rounded the side of the counter.
Without hesitation, he pulled you into a tight hug, the kind that squeezed the breath out of you yet made you feel safe all at once. His arms wrapped around your frame. Junior was someone who watched you grow up, who fixed your scraped knees, saw report cards, and let you have snack runs after school. “Long time no see,” his palm giving your back a firm pat. “’ Bout time you came back.”
You could feel his smile before you saw it again, the kind that wrinkled his eyes and softened his whole face. Over his shoulder, Connie grinned too, watching the reunion with a smile.
Connie was already grinning ear to ear. He leaned his elbow on the counter, the exact way he used to back when he was sixteen and coming in here every other day after school. Eyes flicking to the familiar snack racks and scratch-offs behind Junior like nothing had changed.
“You still givin’ out free chips if I say I got straight A’s?” Connie asked. They dapped each other up, a small clap coming from them. Junior was pulling him in for a quick half-hug, slapping his back, like no time had passed at all.
Junior grabbed one of the newspapers behind Connie while they were in a hug and he smacked Connie on the back of the head, not hard, but just enough to make Connie duck like a kid again. “Boy, you never had straight A’s,” Junior grinned from ear to ear, shaking his head like he still couldn’t believe the lies Connie used to try to sell him back in middle school.
Connie held the back of his head with an exaggerated wince. “Damn. You tryna give me brain damage, old man?”
Junior waved him off like he’d done a hundred times before. “You already came in here wit yo brain damaged,” he said, pointing a finger at Connie like he was scolding him, but the warmth in his eyes told the truth. “But go ahead. Take what you want. You know how it go.”
Connie lit up at that, already eyeing the shelves like a kid let loose in a candy store. “Say less,”
You couldn’t help but laugh, watching the exchange while you were looking at the drinks.
“You two ain’t married yet?” Junior called out while he was walking behind the counter, full of that nosy-uncle energy he always had. His voice carried across the deli as you were reaching into the fridge to grab you and Connie’s usuals.
You turned your head slowly, your fingers still wrapped around the handle of the refrigerator door. Connie let out a low laugh beside you, already cracking open his Arizona Fruit Punch like the question didn’t bother him.
You pulled out your own drink, a cold Watermelon Arizona, and shut the fridge door with your hip, shooting Junior a look. “Junior, you still on that?”
Junior scoffed dramatically, tossing the scratch-off booklet onto the counter like he was offended. “On that? C’mon. I’m gettin’ old, I wanna be able to be at y’all’s wedding before my knees give out,” he said, rubbing his lower back for emphasis as he leaned forward. “I practically raised y’all in here.”
“You know how many sandwiches I made while y’all sat right there,” he pointed to the worn corner, where there were chips from years of wear and tear, “arguing about who was better at Double Dutch."
You laughed, already picturing a younger you and Connie perched on that counter with hot chips in hand, play-fighting between sips of soda. Connie snorted beside you, shaking his head with a grin, but Junior kept going.
His voice softened a little as the memory pulled him back, a crooked smile spreading. “Every week it was somethin’. You with your jump rope and Connie swearin’ up and down he could out-jump you while the boy couldn’t even stay in rhythm.”
“Na, I had rhythm.” Connie cut in defensively, grinning.
Junior didn’t even glance at him. “You had rhythm like a busted washing machine.” He snorted, then looked back at you. “But you always came back. Both of you. Like this place was home.”
“Man, whatever lemme get two chopped cheeses with barbecue sauce,” Connie said, leaning casually against the glass counter like he’d never left. He tapped the counter with two fingers, then glanced back at you with a smirk. “You still like it with the barbecue, right?” You couldn’t stop the smile tugging at your lips as you nodded your head.
Junior, still rocking his signature Yankees cap tilted slightly to the side, gave Connie a squint, already pulling gloves on with one hand as he reached for the grill handle with the other. “Y’all come back here like no time passed. Same order, same nonsense. You want it on a hero or a roll?”
“Roll,” Connie answered instantly. “C’mon, y'know how we eat old man.” You leaned on the edge of the chip rack, eyes scanning the row of candy and chips.
As Junior threw the meat on the hot grill, it began to crackle and hiss. You felt Connie’s shoulder brush against yours lightly, casually.
Junior nodded at both of you while flipping the meat. “I swear, I blink and y’all all grown. But y’all always been a pair. Don’t matter how long it’s been, you two walk in here, and it’s like nothin’ ever changed.” You glanced at Connie again. He was already watching you.”
“Yea,” he murmured. “Some things just never change.”
Just as if on cue, a familiar soft purr echoed from the corner of the deli. You barely had to look, your body reacted before your eyes even found her. Walking her way out from behind the chip rack came the deli cat, the same one you and Connie had practically grown up with. Her orange-and-white fur was a little duller now, her body moving slower now.
Your face lit up instantly. “Hi, mama,” your voice softened the way it always did for her. You bent to your knees, hand already reaching out as she found herself around your legs, her purrs growing louder the longer you stroked down her back. Her body brushed against you.
“She don’t even like nobody no more.”Junior called out with a chuckle from behind the counter, flipping the meat on the grill.
Connie snorted behind you. “That’s ‘cause she got taste.” You scooped her up gently, hands sliding beneath her soft belly as she let out a low purr, already melting into your arms like she’d been waiting for this all day.
As soon as she settled against your chest, she put her head up and began nuzzling into the curve of your neck, her little head pressing insistently like she was claiming you all over again.
“Aww,” you cooed, voice dropping to that tone only reserved for her, “I missed you too, mama.” Your fingers automatically began stroking behind her ears, where her fur was still the softest, while her tail flicked back and forth.
Junior returned to the counter, setting everything down like it was, the two warm sandwiches wrapped in foil, two ice-cold Arizonas, and a pack of watermelon Sour Patch and Skittles. All of it slid neatly into the classic black plastic bag.
"How much we owe you?” Connie asked, already pulling out his wallet from his back pocket.
Junior shot him a look over the top of his glasses, one brow raised like he couldn’t believe Connie had the nerve to even ask that. “Boy, put that wallet away.” Junior leaned on the counter, crossing his arms with an unimpressed look. He’d known you two your whole lives and wasn’t about to start charging now.
“You think I’m takin’ money from y’all tonight? After all them years of you eatin’ for free just ‘cause she brought home good grades?” He nodded toward you with a smirk.
You laughed, gently nudging Connie with your elbow. “He’s not wrong. I was the reason you got snacks sometimes.”
Junior pointed a finger at you, nodding. “She held it down, and you always came in here actin’ like you earned it.” Junior waved dismissively at Connie
Junior pushed the bag toward you both. “Now take your food and get outta here before I change my mind.”
You both grabbed the bag, your hands brushing for just a second as you lifted it. You turned to leave, Junior added with a wave of his hand, “Y’all be safe out there. And don’t go makin’ no babies on my block, you hear?”
“Too late,” Connie said under his breath, and you smacked his arm on your way out the door, your laughter ringing.
“Missed his ass. He needa sit his old ass down somewhere tho, should be sleep by now.” Your voice full of affection as you stepped out onto the sidewalk. Connie was already swinging open the passenger side, waiting for you to get in.
"Deadass," he agreed. You slid into the car, the leather seats.
The scent of his cologne clung to the air inside. Not that you would say it out loud, but you really liked the way he fixed up the car from the last time you saw it.
Connie settled into the driver’s seat, the door clicking shut behind him. The keys jangled softly as he slid them into the ignition, but he didn’t start the car right away. His hand came to rest on the back of your headrest, fingers lightly drumming against the leather as his eyes found yours.
“Y’know,” he started, voice low, in a way that wasn’t like him. Not the Connie everyone knew, not the jokster. This was different. Softer. “I fixed this car up, not just ‘cause I love it.” He paused, his tongue pressing against his cheek like he was working through the rest in his head before it left his mouth.
“But ‘cause I ain’t wanna let go of the stuff we did in it.” Which was history. You. Him. All the laughter, the arguments, the late-night drives, being stupid teenagers, and even still now, the unsaid confessions.
You couldn't help the smile that crept onto your face. Connie’s words hung in the air. He didn’t look at you after he said it. Just stared straight ahead.
Instead, your hand moved slowly, deliberately across the center console. You reached for his fingers, brushing against his knuckles, then sliding between them. Like no time had passed. You didn’t look at him right away. Just squeezed soft at first, then tighter.
You just let the moment pass, your hand still intertwined with his, fingers resting softly against his palm. You leaned into the center console a little more, something drawing you toward him without even realizing it.
Your gaze wandered not intentionally and landed on his forearm. That’s when you noticed the new ink. You reached over without saying a word, your fingertip gently brushing the edge of a tattoo that curled just along his forearm.
The tattoo caught your eye in the dim lights, one you didn’t fully remember. So it had to be newer, something he must’ve gotten after you left.
Your nail traced along the lines. You felt Connie’s breath hitch as your finger moved slowly across the ink, the silence between you stretching. His arm stayed still, letting you take your time. Letting you see it. Like maybe he’d been waiting for this moment to show you, to let you find it on your own.
But once you recognized it, you couldn’t forget it. Your lips parted slightly, a breath caught in your throat. There, in the design, were those terrible doodles, the same ones you and Connie had drawn of each other back in elementary school.
Lopsided heads, uneven arms, big stupid grins. One of them was supposed to be you, the other him. And beneath each figure, your initials were scrawled in that same terrible handwriting you'd used back then, yours under the crooked girl, his under the terribly drawn boy. It was ridiculous. And it damn near broke you.
Because of all the things he could’ve inked on his skin, that’s what he chose.“Connie,” you breathed, your voice softer now. Your eyes lingered on the tattoo, thumb brushing lightly over the outline of your childhood drawings.
“What?” He glanced at you out of the corner of his eye. “You tryna distract me while I’m drivin’?” he said, that smirk playing on his lips, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
He was trying to play it off. To shift the weight of the moment back into something light, like he always did when he overthought. But his fingers gripped the wheel a little tighter. And even though he was staring at the road, you could tell he was waiting to see what you’d do next.
“Connie,” you say again, even softer this time. Your voice barely above a whisper, your eyes hadn’t left his arm, your fingers still resting gently over the tattoo. There was something about seeing your childhood doodles, inked forever into his skin, that made your chest ache.
Your throat tightened, your vision blurring just a little, and you blinked rapidly, holding back the sudden rush of emotion. It was silly, and he’d made it permanent. “You’re too sweet.”
“Don’t cry.” He had parked the car by then, the engine ticking quietly in the silence as he turned to face you fully. One of his hands came off the steering wheel, the pad of his thumb brushing beneath your eye, catching the small tears that had begun to gather in the corners.
It wasn’t just about the tattoo. It was everything. The way he looked at you. The way he remembered small things about you. The bounce castle, the car, the park, the swing. The jokes, the snacks, the music. Every small gesture tonight had made you feel so seen.
It was the quiet moments, the way his fingers rested on your thigh, the way he opened your door without thinking, the way he listened. Every part of tonight was with you in mind. That’s what made you fall in love him so much. “C’mon,” he said softly, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “We here.”
It was late, real late. Most of the windows dark, the only sounds being the soft hum of cars in the distance. You two had parked a little far off, walking the rest of the way, finally making it to his house.
Most of the people in Connie’s house were knocked out by now, with the lights off. So naturally, you two were trying to be quiet. But of course, the second Connie eased open the front door, holding it so it wouldn’t creak, he whispered, “ight, just follow behind me, don’t trip over nothi-”
He immediately stumbled forward, groaning low under his breath as he smacked his shin right into the edge of a shoe rack by the door. You watched him freeze in place, his lips pursed like he was trying not to scream. “Shit,” he hissed through clenched teeth.
You shook your head at him, of course it had to be his dumbass. “Boy, how you gon’ tell me not to trip over nothin’, look at your dumbass,” you whispered, barely holding in a laugh.
“Man, just come on before I leave you,” he muttered, glancing back at you with a playful scowl as he limped a little.
You two crept up the stairs like kids sneaking back from somewhere they knew they shouldn't have been. The house was dark, only a faint nightlight glowing from the hallway outlet, casting small shadows up the staircase.
But you didn’t need light to know your way through this place, you knew this house like the back of your hand. Every creaky board, every wall scuff from back when y’all used to race each other to the kitchen for snacks.
Finally, you reached his room, the door creaking open. Once you stepped in and your eyes adjusted, “Connie,” you started, blinking at the scene in front of you, “ain’t no fucking way.”
The room looked exactly like it did back in high school. Same scattered collection of action figures on the shelves, some in dramatic poses, others lying down like they’d been through war. Comic books were stacked messily on the dresser, and anime posters still on the walls, faded, just peeling off slightly at the corners. But the main thing that threw you off?
The Spider-Man bedsheets.
Bright red and blue, with Peter Parker mid-swing across a pixelated skyline. “Why you got Spider-Man bedsheets, bro?” you turned to him with disbelief in your voice.
Connie just shrugged, completely unbothered, tossing his keys on the dresser. “What you mean why? Man’s a goat.”
“You’re a grown man bro.”
“Exactly. Grown enough to not care.”Connie slid open the window in his room.
He reached down to grab the crinkled black deli bag stuffed with your snacks and sandwiches, the plastic rustling in his hand. He ducked through the open window and stepped onto the fire escape, the metal clanking softly beneath his sneakers.
You followed right behind him, lifting one leg through the window, then the other, your hands bracing against the frame as you climbed out. The night air was cool against the warmth on your cheeks.
You two got comfortable on the metal as Connie sat with his legs stretched out, sorting through the black bag, pulling out your watermelon sourpatch kids, his Arizona, making sure everything was accounted for.
You leaned into him, head resting softly on his shoulder as the city buzzed faintly below. The warmth of his body next to yours made the night air feel less cool.
“I forgot how pretty you look under streetlights.” His voice was teasing.
You lifted your head and gave him a look, a smirk tugging at the corner of your mouth. “Stop flirtin’ with me, Springer.”
You took a bite of your chopped cheese, it hit just right. Your eyes wandered across the quiet street below, the faint orange glow of the streetlights. It wasn’t much, just cracked sidewalks and cars lining the curb, but somehow it all felt like home. Connie felt like home.
He sat beside you, legs bent at the knees, arms resting at his side as he stared off into the same night sky. It was just the two of you, your breaths syncing in the silence.
There were no jokes, no teasing. Just the shared space that you shared for years. The kind of silence that didn’t need to be filled. You stole a glance at him. And he was already looking at you. He didn’t say anything. And neither did you. He just looked at you with a soft smile.
“You still eat like you inna race,” you said with a soft laugh, shaking your head as you leaned in a little closer. Without thinking, your hand came up, thumb brushing the corner of his mouth where a bit of barbecue sauce clung.
His skin was warm under your touch, but he didn’t flinch or pull away, he just stared at you, still chewing slightly, brows lifting just a bit in surprise.
When, without breaking eye contact, you brought your thumb to your lips, tongue darting out slowly to taste the sauce. You dragged your teeth lightly across the pad of your finger before letting it drop to your lap, eyes never leaving his.
Connie blinked once, then twice. His back pressed a little deeper into the cold railing. But the look on his face? That crooked smile?
It was like he was trying not to give in too easily. He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head like you were trouble and he knew it. “Keep lookin’ at me like that,” his voice rougher, now, “I’m not gon’ be able to chill.”
You tilted your head, feigning innocence as you slowly took another bite of your sandwich. Connie shifted beside you, subtly adjusting his seat like you were making it hard to sit still.
“Don’t look at me like that, shorty,” his eyes narrowing at you, but of course, there was no real heat behind it. You could see the muscles in his jaw flex as he chewed more slowly, like he was trying to focus on the food and not you.
You leaned into him just a bit, your voice soft but edged with teasing. “I’m not lookin’ at you like anything,” you said, even though your eyes were on him again.
For a second, the air between you two felt silent but loud. You felt it sitting in your throat, the words right there, clawing their way up. You wanted to say it.
You wanted to tell him everything, how this whole night had you spinning, how you’d never stopped thinking about him, how it always came back to him. Only him. You opened your mouth. Then, closed it. Your eyes dropped to his lips, then flicked away.
His tongue darted out to lick the corner of his mouth where your thumb had just been. He watched the way your eyes kept flicking to his lips, then down, like maybe you were hoping he wouldn’t notice. But he did. He always did.
“Say what you wanna say,” his voice lower now, thick with that Brooklyn drawl. His eyes were locked on yours, expression serious despite the teasing grin he wore a second ago. “Or I’ma say it for you.”
Your thighs shifted slightly against the cool metal, and you sat up straighter, barely, just enough to tilt toward him, and for a second, he didn’t look like the boy you grew up with, he looked like someone brand new and familiar all at once.
You tilted your head, eyes scanning his face, his lips, his jaw, the tattoo on his arm that had your initials, still there. That was all it took.
You moved without a word, slowly swinging one leg over his, settling onto his lap. Your thighs rested on either side of him, your body closing the distance in a way your mouth hadn’t dared to yet.
“Ok,” His hands instinctively went to your hips, his grip was firm, a light little squeeze like he wasn't ready to let go of you. “You wanna play like dat.”
"Heard."He leaned in closer, his lips brushing the shell of your ear. “I promise you-” You could tell he had a smirk etched onto his lips without even having to see it.
Connie's hand was moving up and down your waist. He pulled back. “I think no- I’ve been in love with you since we were kids.”
“I’m talkin’,” he said, glancing away like he couldn’t believe he was saying this, “back when you used to chase me around the monkey bars. When you cried over that dumbass grade you got, and I gave you half my sandwich to make you feel better, even though I was hungry as hell.”
He laughed, his eyes were glassy now. “I was in love with you when we was stupid and sneakin’ Arizona cans in our backpacks. And now? You sittin’ on my lap, talkin’ shit, lickin' my barbecue sauce on your thumb, and I’m still right here. Still yours like I’d always had been.”
It was silent for a beat before. “I ain’t never stopped wantin’ you. Even when you left. Even when I told myself to move on.” He swallowed. “So if you still feel anythin’, just say it. Or kiss me. Or” He trailed off, almost bashful now. “Just, don’t leave me guessin’ no more.”
“Ion think I really ever left you guessin', but if I kissed you right now?” Your voice was barely above a whisper, fingers trailing up the side of his face, your palm settling gently against his cheeks. “Where would we go from there?”
Connie didn’t answer right away. His eyes searched yours, not just for permission, but for truth. For all the things you hadn't said yet. His breath hitched just slightly under your touch, his jaw tightening like he was holding back. “Ion think we’d stop,” his voice low. “Not this time.”
The space between you was barely there, the only thing keeping you apart was hesitation, and even that was slipping. His hand rose to cover yours on his cheek, his thumb brushing your wrist like he was trying to memorize the feel of you. “You kiss me,” he said slowly, “and I’m yours right now and forever.”
And that’s when everything shifted. Like a thread that had been pulled too tightly for too long, finally gave way, unraveling years of what-ifs, stolen glances, almosts, and everything unsaid between you. You leaned in slowly, intentionally, and your lips finally met his.
Soft at first. But the second he realized it was real, that this was actually happening, Connie's hands flew to your cheeks, fingers curling around your jaw like he was scared the moment would disappear if he didn’t hold on tight enough.
He kissed you like he'd been holding it in for years, because he had. Like every late-night call, every stupid argument, every ride around the block had been leading to this one moment.
His lips molded against yours. The heat of it wasn’t rushed, it wasn’t lustful, but something deeper. You could feel the way his chest rose and fell against yours, just a little too fast. His thumb brushed your cheekbone lovingly. Like you were something he never thought he'd get to touch again. You were his, and he was yours, and there was no undoing it now.
Connie had finally kissed the girl he’d been in love with since the first time he made her laugh, and it felt like the whole world stilled just to make room for it.
Connie pulled back for a second, just barely his lips lingering inches from yours, breath shaky, eyes scanning your face like he needed to confirm this was real. His eyes searched yours, his eyes wide as if his brain was still catching up to what his heart already knew. You were here. You kissed him. After all these years.
His lips were slightly parted, swollen from the kiss, and his thumb brushed slowly along your bottom lip. And for a second, he just looked at you like he was trying to memorize the moment. And then something shifted in his eyes, awe.
His lips crashed back into yours, this time with no hesitation, no fear, just everything he’d ever wanted pouring into that kiss. It was deeper, needier, like he was trying to make up for every day he hadn’t said how he felt.
His fingers slipped into your braids as he tilted his head, pulling you closer, not just physically, but emotionally. Like he needed to feel every second of this.
You could feel the tension melting out of his shoulders. He wasn’t dreaming. He wasn’t imagining. This was happening. You were kissing him like he was the only thing in the world, and for him, you always had been.
Connie’s thumb rested delicately on your cheek, the rest of his fingers going gently along the side of your neck. His hand was warm, the pads of his fingers brushing over your skin with a tenderness that made your heart flutter.
He tilted your chin slightly, guiding your head just enough to give him access, and then, softly, slowly, he began to press kisses along the curve of your neck.
Slow, loving kisses pressed along the curve of your throat, each one sending a warm pulse through your body. You could feel his breath against your skin, shaky, like he couldn’t believe he was finally this close to you. Your scent was sweet, something he’d never forgotten, cause he could never forget.
“I’m so in love with you, Con,” you whispered, barely able to get the words out. Your breath hitched as another kiss landed just below your jaw. The weight of what you said hung between you, finally spoken aloud after years of silence, tension, and everything unsaid.
He stilled, just for a second. Then you felt his smile against your skin. “I love you too, mama.” His hand tightened ever so slightly on your neck, not rough, he leaned back just enough to meet your eyes, forehead brushing yours. “Been in love wit you.”
You didn’t say anything at first, just let the weight of his confession settle in your chest, warm and heavy. His breath mingled with yours, foreheads still touching, his eyes locked onto you, then, the breeze hit it was soft yet cool, brushing against your thighs.
You blinked, suddenly aware again of where you were still sitting out on the fire escape, the chill creeping in, the sounds of the city humming below. You glanced at him, your hands still resting on his chest. He felt it too.
You just couldn’t help yourself, you leaned in and pressed soft, fluttering kisses all over his face. His forehead, his cheeks, the bridge of his nose, even the corner of his mouth. You giggled quietly between each one, like your heart was full. Now, the boy you’d been in love with all those years ago was yours. Finally. And you couldn’t be happier.
Connie let out a low chuckle, his eyes fluttering shut as he soaked in the affection. “Damn, “You gon’ kiss the freckles off my damn face, huh?”, he mumbled, lips curving into a smirk, “Y’know I ain’t gon’ stop you, tho.”
“Shut up, Connie,” you said through a breathy laugh, your hand lightly smacking his chest. The warmth of his skin beneath your palm made you linger a little longer than you meant to. He didn’t even flinch, just grinned wider, all smug and satisfied like he knew exactly what he was doing to you
Connie let out a soft, reluctant sigh and brushed his knuckles along your jaw. “C’mon,” he whispered,“Let’s go inside.”
You didn’t need to ask where or why. The air had shifted into something thicker. You climbed off his lap carefully, legs a little unsteady.
Connie reached behind you to grab the half-eaten sandwiches and the empty Arizona cans, and the two of you stepped back through the window.
The quiet creak of the window shutting behind you was the last sound before everything went still. The room was dim, lit only by the small scattered lamps he had throughout his room, giving the walls a golden look, and Connie, standing there watching you, looked like something out of a dream you never let yourself believe in.
You sank down onto his bed, the sheets surprisingly soft beneath you despite the loud red-and-blue Spider-Man print stretching across them. You looked down, then up at him, a laugh slipping past your lips. “Can’t believe I’m ‘boutta let you fuck me on some Spider-Man bedsheets."
He stepped in close, a smirk crawling across his lips as he stepped between your legs. “Spidey got Mary Jane, I got you. I think I won."
Before you could say anything slick back, he caged you in, palms planting firm on either side of your thighs as he leaned in, his forehead brushing yours, heat radiating off his chest.
His lips found yours again, and this time the kiss was messy. Your tongues moved in tandem, breath catching between shared exhales. Like neither of you could get enough.
Your hands slipped up the back of his neck, fingers finding the short, overgrown curls at the top of his head. You played with the little bit of hair he had, tugging just enough to pull a low groan from deep in his throat.
Connie responded with his own grip, tightening his large hands, finding your neck, not in a rough way, but in that possessive kind of hold that said you’re mine now. His thumbs rested gently under your jaw, tilting your head up as he deepened the kiss, pulling you in closer like you still weren't in close enough.
You felt Connie’s lips press softly to your shoulder, a slow, lingering kiss that made your breath catch. Then another, just below your collarbone. His hands slid down your sides with a kind of touch that was gentle. He moved with intention, kissing his way lower, dragging his mouth along your stomach.
By the time he dropped to his knees in front of you, your thighs were already trembling slightly from the anticipation. He rested his cheek against one of them for a second, his breath warm on your skin, his fingers gripping your hips like he never wanted to let go.
He looked up at you, eyes low with something deeper than lust, his lips brushing your inner thigh. “Y’know I been waitin’ to have you like this, right?” voice thick with want but also had that soft, teasing tenderness only he could pull off.“Imma kiss every inch of you, mama. You mine now. Lemme show you.” Then he kissed the inside of your thigh so tenderly and full of love you could feel it in your chest.
His fingers played lazily with the hem of your shorts, rough fingertips brushing the soft skin of your thighs, slow like he was savoring the moment. His eyes flicked up to meet yours, still waiting for your go-ahead. He didn’t need words; you didn’t either. You gave him a small nod.
Connie suddenly paused. “Wait,” he muttered, breathless but grinning, and peeled himself away from you.
“Connie, what are you doing?” your brows furrowing as you blinked at him, your body still on fire from his touch. He had pulled away so suddenly that it left your skin feeling cold.
You sat up a little, watching as he went across the dim room, muscles flexing with every lazy step. The soft creak of the floorboards gave him away, even though his movements were light. He crouched by the corner, where the little black speaker sat beside his phone.
The glow from his screen lit up his face as he squinted, thumb scrolling with calm, deliberate flicks. His lips curved into that smug little grin, one you’d known since middle school, and one you knew meant nothing good.
“I gotta set the mood,” he said, not even looking back, his voice dipping into that same damn playfulness that hadn’t left his voice once tonight, and it wasn’t about to now.
The speaker clicked on with a soft chime, and you could already hear the opening notes of something familiar. That deep bass thumped low through the room, and your eyes narrowed. “Connie.”
He turned around slowly, already biting back a grin he couldn’t hold. “Pony” by Ginuwine pulsed through the tiny speaker, clear as day.
He started taking off his shirt like he was in some kind of striptease, dragging the fabric up slowly, his hips throwing in a ridiculous little sway. A grin plastered across his ridiculous face. “You like what you see,” he teased with a playful wink, rubbing his hands together like he was about to put on a whole performance.
You stared at him deadpan, unamused but clearly fighting a laugh. “Connie, hell na,” your voice flat with fake annoyance. You grabbed the nearest pillow and hurled it at his chest.
The pillow hit him with a soft whump, knocking him off rhythm just enough to break his fake sultry pose. He stumbled back a step, clutching the pillow like it was a wound, grinning like a damn fool.
“Ight,” he said, holding his hands up in surrender, laughter bubbling in his throat. “You got it.” You just rolled your eyes, but the warmth on your face betrayed how much he was getting to you. The room felt stupid and safe. Just the two of you, Connie being Connie. And you both loving every second of it.
He got back on his knees in front of you, the soft thud of them hitting the floor nearly drowned out by the low beat of Ginuwine’s “Pony” still thumping through the little speaker in the background. His hands returned to your thighs, warm and steady, rubbing slow circles into your skin.
His touch was unhurried. You could feel the tension building in the space between his hands, in the way he kept looking up at you through half-lidded eyes, his mouth slightly parted like he was about to say something but didn’t.
You had to pause for a moment, the stupid song throwing you off, rolling your eyes, you reached over with one hand, grabbing his phone off the nearby nightstand. “Na, we not doin’ this,” scrolling through the Spotify with a small laugh. “We not finna be doing this to Pony, Connie.”
You tapped one of your old playlists, the kinda songs that felt like they had you and Connie in it. Connie watched you the whole time, the corner of his mouth twitching like he wanted to say something slick, but didn’t.
He just leaned in closer, resting his cheek lightly against your thigh for a moment like he was listening to the beat of your skin. Then he mumbled against your skin.“Relax. Lemme take my time. Ain’t no rush tonight.”
Connie’s fingers hooked into the waistband of your shorts, his touch unhurried as he dragged the fabric down your hips. You lifted your hips just slightly, making it easier for him to slip them off.
His eyes didn’t leave you, not once. When the fabric finally slid past your thighs, down your legs, and hit the floor, his gaze lingered at the center of your panties. A slow smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Damn”
His thumb brushed lightly over the obvious wet patch that had formed against the cotton. “You sure you wasn’t sittin’ in the car like this the whole time?” He raised a brow, his grin deepening.
You felt heat rush to your face and all over. Before you could even form a response, his thumb pressed down with the faintest pressure, just enough to draw a soft, involuntary whine from your lips.
Connie’s gaze flicked up, catching the sound. His eyes darkened as he leaned forward, placing a slow, small kiss right over the damp spot. His lips stayed there for a second longer than necessary.
“Connie, please…” Your voice cracked, your words came out soft and breathless. The anticipation had built so high, pooled too deep between your thighs. You were aching, throbbing in a way so desperate it made your fingers dig into the sheets without even realizing.
Your body was already leaning into him, chasing his touch. Every time his fingers lingered too long, or his breath ghosted over your skin, it sent another ripple of frustration through your body.
“Stop takin’ your time,” you tried to say with firmness, but your need betrayed you. It didn’t come out like a demand. It came out like a plea. And Connie knew it. You were all bark, no bite, and he loved every second of it.
“C’mere then,” he said as he let himself fall back slightly, leaning onto the sofa chair behind him, his legs spread naturally. From where you were sitting, you could see the slight bulge pressing up against the fabric of his pants, impossible to miss. One of his hands moved instinctively, cupping himself, slow and needy, as his eyes dragged over you like you were something he’d been starving for.
“Sit right here. Lemme taste you right.” He ran his tongue slowly over his bottom lip, like he could already taste you. The look in his eyes darkened, pupils wide with hunger. He looked dangerous like this, like the second he had you on his face, he wasn’t going to let up. Not until you were trembling. Not until he got everything he wanted.
You’d never seen this side of Connie before. It caught you off guard, in the most intoxicating way. The boy who was usually all jokes and shit-talking, who laughed with his whole chest and made every moment feel lighter, was now looking at you with something darker but still had that look that made your stomach flip, and your skin burn. His voice wasn’t as playful as you were used to, and hearing him speak like that? It was making your head spin.
You didn’t move at first, you were frozen in the moment, your breath caught. “C’mon, love,” he spoke again. “You gon’ make me beg for it?” That last word to leave his mouth was a small “please” which left his mouth like it was pulled from somewhere deep.
The shift in him was the perfect balance between dominance and desperation, and it was fucking with your head. You didn’t know whether to melt into the mattress or crawl right into his lap.
You rose slowly from the bed, your legs carrying you on instinct more than thought. The room felt thick with tension, every step drawing you deeper into it. You walked over to where he was, your feet soundless against the hardwood floor, until you stood between his spread legs right where he wanted you.
The look in his eyes was enough to make your knees wobble. “Maybe I will,” you said, the words leaving your mouth with a tease, though they faltered just slightly as his hands found your waist.
He pulled you in immediately, strong arms wrapping around you, holding you there like he didn’t want you to go anywhere. His head tilted back to look up at you, lips brushing your skin as he spoke.“You know I'm in so so love with you, right?” he murmured into the softness of your plump thighs,
"'Cause I’m ’bout to fuck yo’ shit up.”The way he said it made your breath hitch. “Take ’em off,” eyes on the last piece of clothing between you and him.
His fingers hooked into the sides of your panties, gripping the soft fabric like he owned it. His touch was rough enough to make you take a deep breath to try to calm yourself down.
But you didn’t. Instead, your lips curved into the faintest smirk, that same teasing glint sparking in your eyes as you looked down at him. “How ’bout you take ’em off?”
His eyes darkened, jaw flexing once like he had to stop himself from dragging you down right then and there. The control in his expression cracked just a little. You loved being the reason for it. “Bet,” and just like that, his hands slid lower with a hunger that made your stomach flip.
Your panties slipped off with ease, the soft fabric gliding down your thighs before pooling at your ankles. You stepped out of them slowly, the air cool on your exposed skin, making you shiver every inch of you felt hyperaware, your heart beating so loud it almost drowned out the quiet music in the background.
Connie’s hands moved with a lazy kind of confidence, fingers curling around the delicate cotton like it was nothing and everything at the same time. His eyes didn’t leave your body as he bunched the fabric in one hand, then, without breaking eye contact, slipped it casually into his pocket.
Your breath caught, lips parting slightly. “Connie, I’ma bout to fuck you up,” heat curling in your belly at the same time.
His grin spread, “What?” he said, “I gotta keep ‘em for memory.”
“Now sit.” His tone shifted so suddenly, leaving no room for games. Something in you responded instantly, like your body knew to react before your mind could catch up.
You moved forward slowly, heart pounding, knees sinking into either side of his head. Connie leaned back into the plush lounge chair, his hands finding your hips, then gliding down to your ass, kneading the flesh, which made your skin burn.
“I got you.” his palms went up your thighs, steadying you. You hovered just barely above his face, nervous despite the heat pooling low in your belly. You didn’t want to hurt him, didn’t want to press your full weight down, even though every part of him was telling you to. Then came his voice again, rougher now, “All the way, mama.”
His fingers dug a little deeper into your flesh, pulling you closer. “Don’t hover. I want you to sit. Suffocate me if you need. I'll die a happy man." Your chest rose with a sharp inhale, and you realized it wasn’t just want in his voice, it was need.
You actually sat this time, you let yourself settle onto him fully, the heat of his mouth meeting you head-on. Your thighs caged his head in, and your hands flew to the armrests of the chair, gripping them like your life depended on it.
The first flick of his tongue made your whole body jolt, his tongue dragged up your slit in a way that had your thighs trembling around his head.“F-fuck~” you whimpered. Your nails clawed into the cushion beneath, as your hips jerked forward on instinct.
Connie groaned low in response, like he tasted that reaction and got high off it. The sound vibrated through you, buzzing against your clit in a way that made your hips twitch.
His tongue was relentless, dragging up and down your slit in long, deep strokes. Every pass was firm, like he knew exactly where to hit to make your stomach tighten.
Then he shifted slightly, his mouth closing around your clit, tongue circling the sensitive bud before sucking gently, then harder, lips locking into place like he wasn’t letting go until you broke apart in his mouth.
“I can’t,” your voice barely more than a breath. The pleasure was overwhelming, your nerves burning in the best way. “Con, it’s too much.” Your fingers tried weakly to push yourself up, your thighs trembling, you didn’t even know if you were pulling away from the pleasure or chasing relief from how good it was, but either way, Connie wasn’t having it.
His hands gripped your hips tighter, just enough to keep you there. “Let me have you,” he murmured against you, his voice coated in need. He looked up through his lashes, his lips glistening, eyes needy. “I need you, baby. Please.”
The desperation in his tone cracked something in you. You felt it in your chest, in your gut, in the way your thighs locked tighter around his head without meaning to. His fingers dug a little deeper to hold you close. And then his tongue was back on your clit, his mouth dragging you closer to that breaking point with every pass of his tongue.
His tongue moved up and down your slit like he’d memorized every inch of your body, like every flick and drag was mapped out in his mind, hitting spots you didn’t even know you had. It was overwhelming, the way he devoured you.
You let yourself come undone, unraveling in Connie’s mouth. Every word, every groan, every flick of his tongue dragged you deeper until there was nothing left but need. “connn.”
Your fingers ached from how tightly you were gripping the arms of the lounge chair. You couldn’t take it anymore, your body moved on instinct.
Hips rolling, as you began to rock your cunt against his face, slowly at first, then with growing desperation. The heat of his mouth was too much and not enough all at once. Connie’s hands slid down, gripping your ass to guide your rhythm, grounding you to him like he didn’t plan to let you go.
You could feel him mumbling something against your pussy, the words so incoherent that you couldn’t make out a single one. Swallowed by the wet sounds between your thighs and the gasping noises that left your lips. Still, you didn’t need to hear them as just the vibration of his voice sent shivers running up your spine.
All you could understand was want. No, need. The overwhelming, aching need to cum was building so fast it felt impossible to breathe. Every movement, every swipe of his tongue, every squeeze of his hands was pushing you closer, dragging you to the edge.
Your thighs shook around his head, your fingers clutching the armrests like they were the only thing keeping you grounded in this moment. You were right there, it was so close it hurt.
The corners of your eyes had tears welling from the sheer intensity of it all, the pleasure building so high, everything else was thrown out of your mind. “F-fuck, Connie, I-” The words tumbled out. You couldn’t even finish the sentence, your mind was too full of him.
The rhythm of your hips faltered, grinding against his mouth in desperate strokes. You were losing it. Each movement was messier than the last, chasing a release so close it felt like it was right there. Your body teetered, you were trembling, your mouth parted, silent moans falling out.
Connie pulled back for just a second, the sudden absence of his mouth making you whine instinctively, your hips twitching forward in protest. Your breath hitched, eyes flickering to his dazed confusion until you met his gaze.
“Look at me when you cum.”The glint in his eyes was wild, like he already knew he had you on the edge. Then, without another word, he dove back in, tongue lapping as if making up for the pause.
You started moving, grinding your soaked cunt back against his face, messier and even needier now. But your eyes stayed on him, just like he told you to. You watched him watch you, his eyes never leaving yours.
It had your stomach twisting in tight, aching knots, the pressure building so fast it felt unbearable. Your whole body trembled, legs shaking around his head, and the way you were grinding had gone slow.
You were unraveling so fast, chasing release like it was the only thing keeping you breathing. Connie’s hands tightened around your hips, guiding you to move faster refusing to let you hold back.
The tears were falling freely now, vision blurring as the pleasure had blurred everything else. Then it hit, a loud groan ripped from your throat as you came, hips jerking, thighs clenching around his head, your release soaking his face. You slumped forward, gasping.
Connie slowed the movement of his tongue, easing the pressure in soft, steady licks as your body trembled above him, letting you come down at your own pace. Your chest was rising and falling. Your body felt heavier now.
Connie had that glint in his eye that made your stomach twist all over again. His lips were wet, jaw slick with you, glistening as his is grin was just a little too satisfied. The sight of it made your face burn, and you shifted, flustered, trying not to shy away.
“Why you actin’ all shy? Memba the way you was fuckin’ my face a few seconds ago?” his voice rough, “Takin’ it so well f’me. You made a fuckin’ mess.” His tongue darted out, and slowly he ran his tongue over his lips like he didn’t want to waste a drop.
Then, without warning, he pulled you forward until you were trembling against his mouth. His lips placed a soft kiss on your clit like he wasn't ready to let you go just yet. But he did.
Connie exhaled, licking his lips one last time before slipping his arms from around your thighs and standing up in front of you. His chest rose and fell, glistening, while the warm light caught everything. He looked at you like he wanted to ruin you all over again.
“Y’good?” His voice was low, gentle even, his eyes were scanning your face like he was trying to get the answer just from your face alone. There was something you couldn’t ignore anymore. Maybe it had always been there, and you were just too blind to see it before.
You nodded slowly, still catching your breath, and a soft, knowing smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. “Good,” He brought your hand down between you, guiding it to the thick bulge straining against his boxers.
It was so hard and impossible to miss. Your fingers curled instinctively around it, and Connie’s breath hitched slightly at the contact.“You feel that? That’s what you do to me.” his voice deeper, not having that same gentleness that was in it before.
“Lie down.”Connie’s voice was calm but firm, the kind of tone that made your stomach flip and your thighs press tighter together. His gaze never left you, leaving no room for argument.
But you didn't budge, you didn't want to lie down, not yet. Not when his lips were still slick with you. Not when he had worshipped you with his mouth. And not when your palms were now wrapped around the thick heat of him, your fingers brushing the outline through his briefs, feeling just how hard he was, feeling just how much he wanted you.
“Let me take care of you,” You sank down onto your knees looking up at him through your lashes, stubbornness written all over your face.
He didn’t answer right away. Just watched you. Jaw tight. Adam’s apple bobbing like he had to swallow something back. You could feel the tension radiating off of him. The way his muscles flexed under your touch. The way his hand twitched at his side, you drove him insane he wanted to be inside you so bad
You kissed just above his waistband, dragging your lips slowly across the warm skin, then down, feeling him jump slightly under your mouth. He was so hard now that it almost hurt to look at.
You slipped your fingers beneath the band of his jeans and boxers tugging them down, letting them fall to his ankles. The second he was free, his cock sprung up toward his stomach he was thick, the brown tip leaking precum. You felt him throbbing in your hand.
You could hear the small hitch in his breathing, the low sound of him muttering “fuck” under his breath like he was genuinely losing composure for the first time tonight.
You leaned forward, your tongue tracing the underside in one slow, deliberate stroke that had him already going insane. You licked from the bottom of his tip all the way to leaking tip. “F-fuck, mama, please,” his voice cracking just a little. “Don’t tease, please I need to be in you so bad right now.”
It took everything in him, every last shred of control, to reach down and gently tangle his fingers into your hair. He gave a soft tug, enough to pull you off him with care, not force. Your mouth released him with a wet little pop, the absence making both of you shudder for different reasons.
Your brows furrowed immediately, confusion and a little protest in your expression as you looked up at him. Lips swollen, eyes glassy, spit still connecting your lips to the tip of him.
But Connie looked ruined and you hadn’t even done anything yet, “Please,” he rasped, his voice wrecked like it was caught in his throat. “Lemme be in you.” His thumb brushed your cheek, so softly so tenderly but his eyes were anything but, they were dark, soaked in years of want they looked as if they were just pleading for you to say yes. “Been thinkin’ ‘bout this for years, baby. Please.”
Connie pleading with you did something to you, everything really. He looked so good like that, desperate, eyes wide, pupils dilated, his voice wrecked. The way Connie begged. It was hot in a way that made your whole body throb. You couldn’t get enough. You got up slowly, eyes locked with his, and a soft, breathless “Ok” left your lips.
“I’m not gon make you wait another second.” Your voice was still laced with that same softness you always gave him, the kind that melted him from the inside out.
Then your tone dropped into something deeper, needier as your palms squeezed his skin now. “Fuck me Connie.”
Just those three words shattered any restraint Connie had left in him. Connie was on you in seconds. The moment he processed those words, it was like a switch flipped. His hands gripped your waist, dragging you toward the center of the bed like he couldn’t get inside.
Your thick thighs sank into the mattress, the sheets warm beneath you from the heat of everything that had already happened. You could feel the steady thrum of your own heartbeat in your ears, in your chest, everywhere, to be honest.
“I got you,” Connie whispered, voice softer than you’d ever heard it. His fingers found the hem of your shirt, his fingers slipping beneath it. You raised your arms without a word, letting him peel it off you slowly, his eyes never leaving yours.
“I know,” you whispered, your voice soft as your eyes met his. There was a quiet sparkle in your eyes, one that you never noticed yourself, but everyone else did. Especially when you looked at Connie. You were the calm to his chaos, you always had been. Since you were kids. And right now, looking up at him like this, it felt like every piece of that history, every laugh, every fight, every moment had led to this one.
Connie leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to your lips once, then twice, then a third like he couldn’t help himself. His hands moved behind your back, fingers working with surprising ease as he unclasped your bra in a single motion. “Well damn nigga.” Your brows lifted, your face instantly scrunching as he tossed your bra to the side. “How many bras you been out here unhookin”
Connie shook his head, a low chuckle slipping past those lips of his. “You actin’ like I ain’t got skills. Don’t play wit’ me. These hands? Gifted.” He then threw his hands up in mock defense when he saw the deadpan look on your face, like you weren’t impressed in the slightest.
“Only bra I ever wanted to take off was yours, anyway. He stepped in closer, his legs settling between yours. Then he leaned in, his hand on your chin, tilting your head slightly so his lips could begin kissing down the side of your neck.
Each kiss softer than the last, like he was making sure you could feel the ghost of every touch long after he pulled away. Like he wanted his mouth to linger even when he wasn’t there.
“Don’t be tryna get slick,” you muttered, trying to keep your voice steady, but the way your breath hitched on the last word gave you away.
Connie just smirked to himself clearly proud though it was clear he wasn’t in any kind of rush tonight. No matter how many times he claimed he needed to be in you so bad, he was moving even slower and slower. Like he was trying to savor every second of this moment. Like he needed to memorize every sound you made.
His lips moved from the side of your neck to the middle of your throat, his warm breath hitting your skin before each kiss landed, making you twitch beneath him. Then lower down to your chest, his mouth grazing the top of your breasts. His hands trailed up your sides as he went, fingers spreading like he was trying to feel every inch of you all at once.
“I’m not.” His voice was low, barely more than a breath against your skin, then his lips closed around your nipple. A gasp broke from your throat as his tongue swirled around the sensitive bud, slow at first. Like he was testing you. Testing how much you could take. His mouth was warm and wet, every flick sending a ripple of pleasure straight through your chest, down your stomach, pooling between your thighs.
He sucked gently, then a little harder, his tongue tracing soft circles. One of his hands came up to cup your other breast, thumb brushing lazily across your other nipple, not wanting either to feel neglected. You arched into his mouth, your hands curling in the sheets as his tongue moved like he knew exactly how to unravel you.
“Fuck-Con, that feels so good.”He had your body trembling underneath him. He didn’t rush. Made sure you felt every little pull of his mouth and every swirl of his tongue.
The slick pop of his mouth pulling off your nipple made your breath hitch again. Connie glanced up at you through his lashes, a lazy grin tugging at his lips like he knew exactly what he was doing to you. “Dont stop, please.”
Kissing his way across your chest before giving the other side the same treatment, it was messy, open-mouthed kisses, his tongue dragging. You could feel yourself getting worked up all over again, heat pooling between your legs.
Connie still had his lips wrapped around your nipple, sucking soft and slow while his other hand worked over your other breast, massaging the sensitive bud with just enough pressure to make your toes curl. You were so caught up in all the heat that you didn’t even notice his hand slipping away from your breast.
It drifted lower, wrapping around the base of his cock. He groaned under his breath. The second his palm met his cock, it twitched in his grasp as he gave it a few slow strokes. His breath hitched against your skin like he was struggling to keep it together.
Then, without a word, he guided himself right to your entrance, letting his fat cockhead press against your soaked cunt. He didn’t push in yet. Only dragging his tip up and down your slit, slicking himself. “F-fuck, Con, please,” your voice breaking. “I need you.”
He didn’t answer at first. Not with words, anyway. At the same time, his mouth was still on your chest, his lips closing around your nipple again. He gave it one final, slow swirl of his tongue, then bit down lightly, just enough to make your hips jerk beneath him, a gasp tearing straight from your lungs.
Your whole body tensed, stretched tight with anticipation, the drag of his cock at your entrance making you ache from the inside out. Every part of you was screaming for him. Connie finally pulled back, his mouth glistening, eyes half-lidded with want. “You ready f’me, mama?” he rasped, voice trembling with restraint, still holding himself right there on the edge.
It took you strength you didnt even know you had in you to mumble a “Please.” It came out shaky and desperate, like you were hanging by a thread and he was the only thing keeping you there.
Connie’s cock kept dragging up and down your slit, the swollen tip catching on your clit every now and then just to make your back arch and a whine slip out of your mouth. It was maddening, the slick sounds, the way your body clenched around nothing, aching to be filled.
You needed him inside you. Just as bad as he needed to be there, but he wasn't letting up. “Huh? Whatchu said?” A grin spread wide across Connie’s face. “Imma need you to speak up f'me, love.” That stupid smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, the kind that always meant trouble.
But he was slipping as well, you could tell by the way his jaw clenched every time your hips bucked, the way his hand flexed tighter around the base of his dick as he kept sliding it through your folds over and over, it was driving him crazy, too.
He wasn’t just teasing you. He was torturing himself as well, but he loved it. Loved how you looked beneath him, squirming, whining, your thighs twitching every time he rocked against your clit just right.
But what he loved more was the way your face turned, the way your brows furrowed, how your lips parted like you were about to say something but couldn’t. Like you were trapped between begging and breaking.
Connie leaned in just a little, his breath brushing your ear.“You look too good like this, baby. Gotta make it last.”
“Connie, you can literally feel how fuckin’ wet I am.” The irritation was bubbling in your voice, not because of him, kinda, but not really, but because he had you waiting so long you were losing your damn mind.
“Just put it in.” Your tone cracked at the end. Your fingers curled against his arms, nails digging in lightly like you were trying to ground yourself. “Please,” you added, quieter now. The word slipped out, so needy, and it completely wrecked him.
The ‘please’ did it. Connie’s whole body tensed like he’d just been hit in the chest. His smirk faltered for a split second just long enough to see the way your eyes pleaded up at him, how your thighs trembled, how you were barely holding yourself together. “Yea I know, I ain’t even slide in yet and you already leakin’ all over me.”
He leaned in closer, chest brushing against yours, his lips ghosting over your mouth without kissing you yet.“That's crazy baby.” You could feel how hard he was, twitching between your legs, the head still dragging slow, taunting strokes through your slick folds.
He ultimately waited one more beat, just long enough to make your breath hitch again before finally pushing into you.
It wasn’t fast or rushed, he took his time. You could feel every inch as he stretched you open, thick and heavy, dragging along your walls like he was carving himself into you. The pressure felt so good, making your back arch and your nails dig into his skin like you needed something, anything to hold onto.
Your head fell back against the pillow as the fat head of his cock eased past your folds. A deep, guttural sigh left your lips, your eyes fluttering as you took him inch by inch. “F-fuck” you exhaled, barely able to catch your breath. This was it. The moment you’d been aching for all night. And it was everything.
Your walls instinctively clenched, trying to adjust to the thickness of him, but it was no use, he stretched you out brutally, filling you up, and he wasn’t even all the way in yet. You could feel every twitch of him inside you, and the heavy drag of his veins pressing against your walls.
“Y’good?” Connie’s voice came out more strained than usual, like it took everything in him not to bury himself deeper into you. His jaw was locked tight, the muscles flexing as he tried to hold himself back, for you, to let you adjust.
Your eyes fluttered open, meeting his, your lashes wet. The look on his face nearly undid you. His brows furrowed, lips parted, eyes dark but still so soft with you. Your face twisted from the stretch, that kind of pleasure that hurt in the best way, and you gave him a small, shaky nod.
“Lemme hear you.” His eyes never left your face, watching every twitch of your face, every shudder your body made, and every small sound that left your parted lips
“S’good.” Your eyes were already half lidded, face fucked out, and he hadn’t even done much yet. “Deeper.” you said and who was Connie to deny you when you looked at him like that? He didn’t waste another second. His hips rolled forward, slow at first, letting you feel every inch before finally sinking all the way in.
He didn’t move yet, just stayed buried deep inside you, he wanted you to feel every part of the stretch he was giving you, but it was going to drive you insane. It made you hyperaware of every inch of him you clenched around him taking a deep breath to steady yourself.
“You feel that?” He took your hand guiding it down to your lower stomach pressing your palm right where he was filling you up, and the weight of it made your breath hitch. His pupils were blown wide, like he was barely holding himself together. He looked unhinged in the best way.
“I asked a question.” His voice dropped lower when he said it. His thumb slid down pressing deliberately against your clit. Just enough pressure to make your hips twitch beneath him. He still didn’t move inside you and that was the worst part.
He stayed seated deep, keeping you stretched around him while his thumb began slow, lazy circles. Each pass made your breath hitch, making your fingers curl against the sheets. “Answer me,” he watched your face twitching.
“Yes,” you breathed out, voice already breaking. “Of course I feel it.” His thumb pressed a little firmer, drawing a soft gasp from your lips, your back arching off the mattress.
The stimulation was almost too much with him already buried inside you, the pressure building low in your stomach. “Now please,” your fingers slid up his arms, nails grazing his skin like you needed something to hold onto. “Just fuck me, Connie.”
The last part came out softer than you meant it to. Needier. Desperate in a way that made his jaw tighten. But he didn’t slam into you. Not yet. Instead, he pulled almost all the way out, slow enough to make you feel the drag before pushing back in just as slow. “I gotchu baby.”
Your mouth fell open, a quiet gasp slipping out before you could stop it. The first slow roll of his hips made your fingers tighten against his skin. The next one deeper. And the one after that somehow felt like it went even deeper.
His movements were deliberate, like he was savoring every second. The slow rhythm was torturous in the best way, making your body ache for more. You could feel the heat pooling low the tight coil in your stomach getting tighter with each slow thrust.
“Look at me,” You tried your best to meet his eyes, and when you did, you could see the hunger in his eyes. Fuck, he looked so damn sexy.
“You look beautiful, mama. Fuck,” he breathed out as he leaned down, planting soft kisses along your neck.
“You look good too, Con, ” you whispered back, breathless. You wrapped your arms around him, pulling him as close as you could.
Then, suddenly, his pace shifted, still slow, but deeper now. Each movement, he dove harder, hitting you in all the right places. You clenched around him, gasping as he hit your sweet spot again and again. “Conniee~.”
His lips found yours, soft at first, then rougher, more demanding. You parted your mouth instinctively, and his tongue slid inside. The kiss deepened, becoming messier as he continued hitting that spot inside you.
A low, grunt rumbled from deep in his throat, vibrating against your lips. You moaned into the kiss, your breath hitched.
“You squeezin’ ‘round me, so tight, baby,” his voice thick with need. He pounded into you harder, each thrust diving deeper, making your nails sink into his skin.
Your body trembled beneath him, nails digging deeper. “Tell me how good you feel.” He didn’t let up, each thrust harder than the last. "I wanna hear you."
You gasped, voice breaking, “S'good, Connie, don’t stop.”
His thumb found your clit again, circling your clit that sent shivers racing through you. Your back arched off the bed. “Connn."
“You like that, baby? Needa feel you cum all over me.” his thumb circling your clit faster now, rubbing with more precision as his hips slammed deep and hard inside you. You felt your whole body tighten "Gonna cum f'me?"
“C’mon, baby,” he urged, his voice like a man barely holding himself together. “You’re almost there, mama, I feel it.”
“I’m close,” your breath shaky Just a few more circles of his thumb, and you were almost there.
“Come on baby, you’re doing so good for me,” he praised.
Then it hit you your muscles jerked around him as you cried out, “Ughh~.” But his fingers didn’t stop. “Fuck,” you moaned,
“I’m almost there, baby,” he said, speeding up his thrusts, his hips pounding with more urgency. While his fingers kept working your clit, “One more f'me? Can you do that?”
“I dont know,” your voice cracked, sounding desperate as the words left your mouth. Connie was driving you insane, you felt so sensitive.
"You can, baby, you can." His thumb pressed harder, making a soft whine leave your lips. His hips slammed back into you. All Connie wanted was to see you cum all over his dick again. He could watch that a thousand times over.
"I'm so close," you breathed, voice trembling. It hurt so good you didn’t know what to do with yourself.
As Connie neared his own release, his body tensed, You could feel, the way his breath hitched and his jaw clenched. He tried to hold back the small whimpers escaping him, but you heard every one and they only made you clench around him harder.“You’re driving me crazy,”
“Fuck,” you both gasped, cumming at the same time. Your back arched off the bed as your whole body jolted, your walls clamping down around him, you squirted, the liquid covering his dick and soaking the sheets beneath you. Your thighs shake as your grip on him tightens.
“You tryna kill me.” he groaned, voice wrecked, barely holding on. He buried himself deep inside you, his body tensing the ropes of his cum filling you so you felt warm and full, you could feel the small twitches of his dick inside you as his cum leaked out of you.
For a second, neither of you moved. Connie stayed right there, still buried inside you, his chest rising and falling against yours. His forehead rested against your shoulder, his grip on you loosening just slightly but not letting go. And for a second, it feels like way more than just sex.
He let out a slow breath against your skin, his thumb brushing along your waist, pressing small kisses into your skin.
“You can squirt!?” he looked at you with wide eyes, shocked and impressed all at once.
“Shhh, your people's sleeping,” you laughed, smacking his forehead lightly, a small smile tugging at your lips.
“ight, ight,” he chuckled, still smiling mad hard. “So, how was that?” His hand stayed on your thigh as he slowly started to pull out. The feeling made you exhale softly, your body still sensitive from everything. “It was good.”
For a second, neither of you said anything, just looked at each other, Then he leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to your lips. Once. Twice. Then a third, each softer than the last.
“Yea?” a smile spread across his face. “I’m glad.”
“I’ma be right back,” he added, brushing his thumb along your cheek before getting up.
You watched him disappear into the bathroom, the sound of running water filling the space for a moment. When he came back out, he had a warm washcloth in his hand.
Without saying much, he climbed back onto the bed. “He was quieter now, more focused as he gently wiped you down. Who would’ve thought that could happen?”
It made your chest tighten in the best way. You couldn’t help but smile at him.
“Why you lookin’ at me like that?” he asked, squinting.
your legs were moving at a pace your body could hardly keep up with, as your boots kicked up dust, debris and other things you couldn’t quite see so dead in the night. regardless, you ran. you ran, and ran and ran and ran until you thought you were going to collapse because it was the only way to ensure freedom.
the sounds of a wailing car behind you were only getting louder as you ran through the desert like town, not knowing where you were going, only knowing that at this time of night, you were incredibly unsafe from the evil behind you. you couldn’t believe this was happening to you, your dress bunched up at your knees as you ran, tears streaming down your face whilst you heaved through sobs, desperately trying to swallow down your emotions if it meant you’d preserve your energy.
you had been framed.
your father, and your horrible step mother - oh how you hated them with every fibre of your being. you had never known your birth mother, after she had passed away when you were so young, leaving you with an abusive father who married an equally horrible woman who saw you as a stain in her relationship. thus came years upon years of torture, being forced to hide away in your own home, to be as invisible as possible in hopes they’d simply forget you existed.
it had worked for as long as you could remember whilst you lived only in the corners of your room, looking out of the window as other girls your age walked through your town in extravagant gowns, donned from head to toe whilst men bowed, flirting, all while pretending they were above it. your chest tightened at the interaction with a frown, knowing that you would never get to experience such a thing. your home was located in the centre of town, with your window high enough where you could watch uninterrupted, but close enough where you could feel like you were secretly immersed.
your eyes would trail over the men half in curiosity and half utter shyness, nibbling away at your lip. their studded belts, heavy denim and notorious cowboy hats - you were in awe at the confidence they oozed whilst they conducted their business around the small town.
only one had ever truly caught your eye.
jeon jungkook.
the only way you knew how to describe him was manly. big chest, bigger than any of the other men, with arms and biceps that had your fingers shaking on the windowsill. his shoulders broad, all whilst his thicker legs strained against his denim, boots heavy on the ground, hat nestled onto his head like home.
his eyes were darker than the others, like he had seen too much in his lifetime, much more than a 30 year old man of his calibre needed but it also solidified him as one of the most respected people in town. hell, even the sheriff was inclined to bend the law when it came to him, knowing that it was the worst kind of mistake you could make to have a guy like jungkook on your bad side.
and so, you’d stare from your window, your sweet, white, cotton dresses always slipping from your shoulders absentmindedly, swallowing down inappropriate thoughts about the man you had never met.
it was when he turned, his back to the shopkeeper as though he could feel eyes on him, and met your gaze that you found yourself gasping loudly.
immediately, you flushed pink, looking away, pretending to be interested in something else whilst he continued to stare openly at you. pretty eyes, even prettier lips - you were the mere definition of dainty, all perched up on your window sill, your arms resting on it and your head as a result, resting on your arms. he had never felt want this deep in his stomach, and sure, his cock hardened up at the sight of a pretty woman like any other man - this felt different.
he didn’t greet you like a good gentleman would. no, instead, he simply stared.
you could feel your stomach dropping as heat prickled down your spine, enough for you to retreat back into your bedroom, all whilst he continued to watch you. he watched the way your dress, too big, one you would wear at home only, slipped from your shoulders further, revealing the slight corner of your breast, only to be hidden away by your hair.
the window was shut. you went with it.
he gritted his teeth.
that had become a distant memory now, somewhere lodged in the back of your head as your weakened legs continued to take you across the outskirts of town, running as far as you could possibly go. your sobs were only growing louder as the adrenaline pumped and pumped and pumped, your chest heaving.
your mind was a flood of horrible thoughts, playing back the scene that had caused this entire situation.
your step mother had branded you a thief. her pearls had gone missing, no doubt taken by your no good father to be pawned for gambling money, but you were an easy target, fingers pointing at you, pulling at your hair, promising a threat of utter violence. you had never felt fear like it. all pleads for reason had fallen on deaf ears, causing you to practically flee once you heard the boots of the sheriff come towards your home.
you knew what happened to thieves in this town.
they were punished, beaten down until death was a welcome finality, regardless of whether they were male or not. the thought terrified you. to die at the hands of such cruelty when you were entirely innocent felt unjust in the highest of powers and yet you had no one to help you, to support your claim, with your father naturally adding further fuel to the fire by agreeing with his wife.
despite having been in this town your entire life, never had you ran outside of the town borders.
wildlife and scary people typically roamed the earth here, what in deserted land, sand, dust and grime in every corner whilst cars often sped up, trying to get to the town quicker in hopes of getting out of such eerie lands. it only worsened at night.
your exhaled hard at the sight of a house, small. it sat in the middle of nowhere, just in reach, causing you to run further and further just to reach it once you saw there were lights on too. you heaved, your legs beginning to fail you.
it wasn’t until you were a few metres away that you could feel the headlights behind you, causing you to sob loudly, your eyes shutting as you practically accepted the fate that was about to befall you.
that was, until a pair of large arms grabbed you from up front.
your brain stopped working in that moment, your mind completely shutting down as you all but collapsed into the chest of a much, much, larger man. you could practically feel yourself falling in and out of consciousness as he clung to you just as tightly as you clung to him, picking you up with a sort of ease that could have only been assigned to one person.
you shut down entirely.
the lights only grew closer until the sound of a car had finally stopped, the heavy boots of the sherif that had originally made you run stopping right behind you, your body cowering even deeper into the arms of the stranger desperately.
“step aside, jeon. girl’s wanted for theft.” you whimpered at the authoritative voice directed at the person you were crying against.
“you see it?”
the drawl of the man holding you echoed into your head, your face hidden in the crook of his neck as he began to cradle you. your sobs only soaked the cotton of his shirt, all whilst a large hand pushed on the back of your head to keep you down, almost as a protective measure.
the sheriff frowned. “what?”
“you see her steal?”
“sir.” the sheriff sighed, uncomfortably shifting from foot to foot. “i’m simply carrying out-“
you could feel the body against you tense all whilst you sobbed quietly, hands shaking violently against him, only causing his grip to hold you much firmer. you were being grounded, unable to hear the conversation as words didn’t register in your mind from the sheer feeling of overwhelming fear.
“you’re on my land calling my girl a thief, sheriff?”
he took a few steps closer only causing you to whine against him, as though he was stepping in to the line of danger, and therefore taking you with him. your brain still hadn’t caught up that you yourself were in the arms of danger itself.
“jeon. her father…” he began, with a sigh again. “she’s been accused.”
“folks accuse each other every damn day.” he gruffed back, fingers intertwining into your hair.
“i still have to take her in.”
jungkook looked at him then, darkened eyes that appeared harsher in the dead of night. he lived alone out here, only man brave enough to do it and yet he had never imagined you would ever be here in these circumstances. he could feel your shaking body against his in a way that had his cock stirring, something even better knew was inappropriate given the situation and yet he couldn’t help himself. his girl. his sweet girl. you had no idea.
had no idea how long he had kept his eyes on you. always looking up at your window at different times of the day, mastering the art of sitting inside the saloon with open doors, positioned just right so he could drink and watch you.
had no idea that it was you he pictured as he stroked his cock, hissing out at the thought of the beautiful girl his eyes couldn’t stop catching whenever he was out in the town. always ignoring the advances of other women - their batted eyelashes and dropped handkerchiefs had no hold over him.
certainly had no idea about the fat diamond ring sat in his home right that very second. he had plans to come to your family home tomorrow and do it the right way, ask for your hand in marriage with your father’s blessing and whisk you away as soon as he got the chance. get you in a nice white dress, with a lavish wedding just like the girls in your town dreamt of.
you were a lady. he wanted to do right by you.
having you in his arms like this, the almost see through cotton of your dress, all loose and bunched up, dirtied by the desert ground as it slipped from your shoulders; it was fucking sinful. bodies pressed together, your arms wrapped tightly around him as your face nuzzled into his neck, the musky scent of his aftershave enough to soothe you just slightly. in the arms of a stranger, you felt a taste of safety.
it was improper, the way your breasts were practically spilling against him, knowing that if anyone saw you, it would ruin your reputation in this town for life, what being unmarried and all. but in the game of life and death, you couldn’t think of anything other than the broad man protecting you.
he didn’t give a fuck. you were his girl, his wife to be. you didn’t know it yet, but he’d put that rock on your finger, and he’d make everyone stare as he walked arm in arm with you, announcing you as his. you were protected now, and he felt a prickle of genuine anger in his spine at the sheer idiocy of himself for not realising you needed that protection seemingly sooner.
“you gonna take her out of my arms?”
the question hung there as the sheriff continued to shift uncomfortably.
“she’ll be treated fairly.” he weakly rebutted.
“that right?”
“it’s procedure.”
“procedure.” jungkook laughed humourlessly. “procedure got her running in her fucking dress away from you, sheriff?”
he took another step closer, and at this point, the other man stepped back, inching closer to his car at the sight of the heavy gun sat at jungkook’s hip. he wasn’t an idiot. he had killed for less.
“her father’ll come looking for her if we don’t bring her in. i can’t promise..he’ll be more lenient.” he nervously admitted.
“let him.” he scoffed.
“he’ll want the girl back.”
“he ain’t getting her.” jungkook clung to you almost animalistically.
the tone jungkook used had officially made the other man too uncomfortable and despite him being the one with authoritative power, everyone in town knew you’d be a dead man to try your luck with jeon jungkook. he had no idea that you were his girl, and with the way he was clinging to you just as hard as you were to him, he gathered that this wasn’t something he wanted to get involved in.
with a tip of his hat, and a shaky apology, he retreated back to his car, almost hurried, and drove off.
the sound of a screeching car had you whimpering in his arms, body still shaking, clinging to his shoulders in hopes he wouldn’t let you go.
he didn’t. not once.
he stood, holding you fiercely as he watched the car retreat, headlights disappearing over yards of land that belonged to jungkook - that no one else dared to enter.
his arms remained locked securely beneath your knees whilst his other hand held you flush to his chest, your heartbeat slowly beginning to slow at the sound of his own. every so often, another broken sob would escape you as the reality of your situation cascaded down onto you, clinging to the man you had yet to identify as though your body recognised he was the definition of safety.
his hand slid through your hair, just slightly, positioning you properly before turning around and walking towards the house.
“easy.” you heard his voice command, and you nodded, ever obedient, through your sniffles.
he climbed the wooden porch without another glance towards the road, no fearful regard of his secluded surroundings despite it being an area so many people feared. his heavy boots groaned against the old timber before shouldering the door open.
warmth met you immediately.
the scent of pine, wood and musk - all heavy in the air, no doubt settling into the older, wooden furniture as though it had been here longer than anything else. the smoke from the fire burning immediately soothed your skin, a comfort that knowing despite the heat riddled middays, it took a mere log filled fireplace to calm the freezing cool of night.
the home wasn’t lavish by any means, but it felt safe, lived in even. the furniture looked as though it had been built by hand, a home created by the person living in it.
a worn, leather saddle sat against the far wall alongside a lengthy, coiled rope, a rifle mounted in easy perimeters on the wall whilst a large armchair sat just opposite.
the door slammed shut, a heavy click ringing through the air.
you flinched.
silence filled the air. the first thing he tried to do was place you down on the arm chair, no doubt to get a few words out of you, to understand the situation better but it didn’t seem feasible when all he could hear was you whine and whimper the second you felt him trying to remove himself from you. as a result, you clung to him harder, causing him to clench his jaw at the feel of you, positioning you properly.
stubborn girl. fuck, he liked that.
your face was still hidden in the bridge between his shoulder and neck, refusing to move, even making a show of whimpering extra loud anytime he moved. he couldn’t believe how sweet the sound tasted up close, what with your body against him like this, his frame engulfing yours so deliciously.
and so, instead, he took a seat on his chair himself, bringing you down with him. he positioned your legs on one side of him comfortably, whilst you nuzzled into the corner of his neck again, tears staining his skin as your shaky hands clung to the large arms that were caging you in.
you weren’t aware of yourself - not aware of the way your dress had slid up so high, and how you had been positioned so perfectly against his bulge that the growing pressure against your cunt was all purposeful. you felt dizzy.
for a long while, neither of you spoke.
the fire cracked, whilst the wind rattled harshly outside, kicking up dust and sand all over the outdoor porch. inside, it was only your mix of breathing that really soothed you, as you felt his pulse against your skin, your sobs having quietened down to little hiccups that jungkook selfishly wanted to hear for the rest of his life. how was it that you, quiet little thing, were so sweet even in your despair?
once your breathing no longer released in desperate gasps, you finally lifted your head.
your lashes fluttered open, sniffling away, as your eyes met his for the first time that entire evening. the familiar line of his jaw, the heavy darkness that swirled in his face alongside the hardness imprinted on every crevice of his features - oh, you knew him. you knew him better than you wanted to admit out loud for the man in front of you was the same man you had been dreaming about for months now.
his cowboy hat cast a heavy shadow on his face just as the realisation hit in real time.
“mr..jeon?”
your voice barely existed, scratched from the sobs and cries for help earlier, more breath than actual sound.
he gave a small grunt. “jungkook.”
your lips parted as you stared, and stared, and stared. it didn’t help that he was doing the same, large hands moving to cup your waist and thigh openly, as though it was completely appropriate between two unmarried parties in your community. it certainly was not.
the same man you had watched from your window, the one who never greeted nor smiled. the one you caught staring on countless occasions, even catching his gaze through your curtains whilst you were dressing.
once, you had opened your blinds mere minutes after a morning of secretly touching yourself, hand over mouth to stop the moans of his name as you imagined him being the one to do this to you, only to have caught his heavy gaze almost immediately. simply stood outside, cowboy hat low on his head, covering half of his face.
you had frozen still, thinking he might have seen you, or worse; watched you.
he had watched your cheeks flush a bright shade of red, eyes widening before trailing down to see the large bulge in his denim trousers, straining painfully. a confirmation. the two of you were well acquainted indeed through stolen glances and heavy need, but never with words.
your gaze dropped, shock lining your features as you realised the very situation you were in. perched on his lap, dress to your thighs due to the way it had been bunched earlier, bare skin against his all whilst you were practically smothering him with your own body - oh, this was the very definition of indecent.
the colour in your face deepened immediately.
“i-i..”
you hurried to move, practically jumping to get out of his arms but he moved faster. his arms around you tightened quickly, reflexes sharp as he dragged you right back until you were in the same position once more.
“down, girl.”
“this..” hiccup. “this isn’t proper.”
his expression didn’t change, merely looking over your face with both a hunger and determination that had your stomach swirling. you couldn’t help but wonder whether you had fallen prey to the big, bad wolf in real time.
“no. it ain’t.” he gruffed out at you, though he made no effort to move, only making a show of pulling you close.
“a lady shouldn’t…” you swallowed down the heavy lump in your throat, tears still lining your waterline. “i’m not supposed to be alone with you.”
“yeah?”
“in your house.”
“mm.”
“not..” you hiccuped again as you broke the eye contact, glistening orbs looking over his home and towards the door where you subconsciously began pulling at his shoulders to cling to him further as though the threat of outside was still near. “not..sitting like t-this.”
“you done?” he narrowed his eyes at you.
you returned his gaze in confusion. hiccup. “..done?”
“worrying?”
“w-what if the sheriff tells everyone i-im here.”
“folks talk. he will.” he shrugged as though it was nothing.
you anxiously screwed your face at him, making another attempt to get up but his grip was merely too strong.
he could read you like an open book. here you sat, denying the very comfort you so desperately needed because you were scared of the outcome - terrified of being caught in a position that had been so severely ingrained in your mind as bad, thanks to your parents and community. you’d be branded a whore for the rest of your life, no doubt the worst of worst considering it was jeon jungkook you were canoodling with; a man so terrifying that others seemed to cower.
“you run here?” jungkook pulled you out of your thoughts, catching your gaze once more.
you nodded.
“ask to be accused?”
you shook your head in a small no, lip quivering.
“ask to be fucking hunted?” he hissed.
a no, again. this time, you could feel the tears coming back.
his eyes never left your face as the arms wrapped around you suddenly yanked you until you were completely and entirely flushed against him, your own arms having to wrap around his neck more comfortably to accommodate the move.
“then what’ve you got to be ashamed of?”
your throat tightened as your tears fell, the severity of the situation you were in scaring you. you had no where to go, no one to run to, and yet you’d still be condemned by the same community you had been raised in.
“i don’t know what i’m supposed to do.” you readily admitted to him, lip quivering in a way that had him angrier by the minute.
the thought of you in this position upset him. it had his chest rising and falling as he bit down the hunger for violence he so desperately seeked, wanting nothing more than to grab every person responsible for this and beat them till all they could chant were apologies to you. his sweet, sweet girl. just looking at you, all teary and pouty - he wanted to kiss it away. wanted to make it go away for you.
“don’t have to think, y/n.” he assured you suddenly, the hand on your thigh heavy. “don’t have to think again, you hear me?”
the words hung between you as he wiped your teary face, large, rough hands cupping your face in the sweetest of ways. it confused your brain. how could something so mean, so accustomed to the harsher things be capable of such gentleness?
thoughts of your father’s temper and your step-mother’s calculated fury only spurred the tears on further as you gently gripped his chest.
“they’re gonna be so angry.” you admitted through a quiet sob. “they’ll come for me. i should have just gone with the sheriff…they’ll prolong the shame this way.”
“they ain’t touching you.” jungkook scoffed for what felt like the millionth time that month.
you slipped your gaze away from his, breaking it as you looked down at your lap. his body was so warm, heat radiating from every crevice and after the adrenaline, the biting cold of the outside had finally soothed with him holding you.
still, sniffling, you felt him wipe your face. “they’re cruel like that.” you admitted.
“ain’t letting no one come near you, sweets.” he assured once more, his hand heavy on your jaw. “you’re protected now. y’hear me?”
this thumb lingered under your eye for a moment longer before dropping all together, the rough pad of it having collected another tear, watching as it disappeared into the calloused liners of his digit as though you had become one part of him.
you couldn’t understand it.
couldn’t understand how a man so feared could sit so still in front of you - how someone only spoken about in hushed tones around town had become such a calming force in a matter of seconds. every movement carried purpose, intent; every gap of silence voluntary. it unsettled you.
neither of you moved for a few more minutes as you absorbed his words.
then, without warning, he rose.
the leather beneath you groaned as he stood up to his full height all whilst placing you down on the seat on your own, no longer engulfed in the inappropriate embrace, the sudden absence of his heat making the room feel all the more colder. your fingers twitched against your skirt before you could stop yourself, a quiet whine echoing against the quiet walls.
he tensed.
his shoulders rolled, jaw flicking as his hardened gaze stared you down, all whilst you wanted nothing more than to scamper back into his arms where safety was promised.
heat climbed your neck, but jungkook had already turned away.
heavy boots hit the ground in loud footsteps, your ears peeking as you listened to him in confusion, his frame disappearing beyond the doorway.
you could hear the sound of a drawer being opened, followed by a rustling and a moment or two of silence you couldn’t quite place. it was loud enough to have you sit up a little, head craning to see beyond the doorway but the house was dark, and nothing was visible beyond jungkook’s body walking back.
your shoulders slumped in relief at the sight of him again, your shaking hands and nibbling lip enough to have his darkened eyes narrow. you almost didn’t notice the small box in his hands. tiny. palm sized.
he stood in front of you then, causing your neck to crane up.
it was your turn for eyebrows to furrow as you watched the big, burly man - too gruff to be anything gentlemanly, too rogue, too rough around the edges - drop to his knee.
your eyebrows raised in shock, as you watched him pull up the velvet box, a deep red, and reveal a ring inside that had your throat letting out a choked gasp.
“jungkook?”
“bought this in spring.” he murmured over the crackling fire. “was meant to come down tomorrow.”
your chest rose and fell rapidly.
“had a whole fucking speech for you. kind of talk a man says to a lady.” his eyes never left yours. “was gonna meet your father like a man worthy of you. was gonna do it right f’you, you know that?”
“since spring?” you whimpered at him, knowing that had been months ago.
your heart was beating out of your chest, all whilst it raised and fell in quick successions.
jeon jungkook, the most powerful man in your entire town, infamous for his mere self, on his knee, in front of you with a box holding a diamond ring more lavish than anything you had ever seen.
for you.
“was gonna come to you.” he whispered then, your faces close. “but you came to me. tonight.”
your lip quivered.
“they chased my girl?” he hissed then. “made you run and hurt yourself, and you ran to me, to my house, without even knowing it.”
you watched him in silence.
watched the broad man before you settle onto both knees, body so close to yours that all you had to do was part your legs for him to truly become one with you. somehow, this position felt even more intimidating than when he hovered over you - what with him filling every inch of space between your knees, his shoulders so wide that they hid the warm glow of the fireplace behind him.
you should have shuffled backwards. should have remembered every lesson drilled into your brain from birth, from the society you grew up with, from your step-mother. you should have shuffled your dress down, skirt falling over your legs properly instead of where they sat mid thigh. you should have pushed him away, scandalised at the topic of marriage from a man that hadn’t spoke to your father.
more importantly, you shouldn’t have reached out to touch him.
your body had began leaning forwards immediately, your faces close now, bodies mere inches away from pressing against each other. one hand was settled on the box, the other moving up your neck, fingers longing to feel either side of it whilst you withered below him. it wasn’t until he cupped your cheek and he felt you nuzzling into him that he nearly cursed.
something unreadable crossed his face.
a slow breath left him through his nose before his gaze dropped to your left hand sitting, shaking, on your bare thigh. his eyes lingered too long, catching sight of dampened panties that were all but clinging to you, only causing further blood to rush to his already hardened cock. he grit his teeth.
he reached for it, watching the way your fingers disappeared into his. they looked so small compared to his own, so delicate - the thought was toying with his brain, with the sight spurring his need for you.
with careful movements, he slipped the diamond ring onto your finger.
“fits.”
you blinked back a new flood of tears, trying desperately to swallow down the wave of emotions as you took him in.
this wasn’t him asking you - he was telling you. you could feel your shoulders lumping all as you curled into him, his large arm coming to sit around your waist where he yanked you further into his chest. your large eyes peered at your ring with shaking breath, gaze flickering from his back to the jewellery on your hand over and over and over until jungkook wanted to laugh from how cute you were.
the man you had your eyes on for months. for so long, you sat, watching him from your hidden spot by the window, enamoured by the way he tipped his hat at all of the vendors he’d walk past. you peered through the opens doors of the saloon where he’d sip his drink, legs spread, eyes dark before you’d find them catching your own.
most times, you’d hide, looking away, cheeks red as you pretended to do something to hide your embarrassment. other days, where the exhaustion was high, or tears were fresh from the verbal abuse your parents had given you, you’d maintain the eye contact. wonder of a life where you’d be able to walk hand in hand with a man like him up and down the town.
here he was, promising you that life.
“it’s so beautiful.” you whimpered at him, feeling half unworthy of such a jewel.
it no doubt cost more than anything you had ever own, and despite coming from a respectable home, this was grander than anything your mother had too.
his grip on your waist tightened, just as your gaze returned to his, sniffling. he leaned forward, your nose touching his - another act of immodesty, all whilst he curled your dress further into his arms, as though he wanted to finally press himself against you just so you could feel the way his heart was beating out of his own chest.
despite the heat in your stomach, the corners of your mouth lifted slightly through a hiccup. “y-you haven’t even asked..me properly.”
that earned you a small twitch of his own lips. a rare sight.
“on my knees for you, sweets.”
“most men a-ask.”
“most men ain’t me.”
you hiccuped again, sniffling, shuffling closer.
the diamond caught the light of the fire behind him, illuminating the corners of the room and offering it a warm hue. both of you looked down, watching his thumb swipe it against your finger in a sweet movement.
“come morning,” he whispered, tone softer than anything you’d heard yet. “i’m taking you to the courthouse. stand beside you. give you my name.”
he said it with the same certainty he’d spoken every other promise thus far. your eyes shut gently as you found your heart blooming, nodding gently.
you didn’t realise he was still waiting for your confirmation.
you answered him though, not even seconds later, as your free hand moved before you could think. both careful and tentative, your fingers slipped into the dark hair at the nape of his neck, fingers grazing his pulse. he went completely still, with every hard line of his body seemingly locking into place.
you swallowed “is this..still improper?”
his gaze lingered on you for a long moment, slightly gulping as your nails scratched his scalp.
“yes.”
you went to retract your hand, but he stopped you.
jungkook stepped forward until your bodies were completely brushed against one another, chest against chest, head against head, bulge against core. you could feel him in ways that you knew would have you ruined for life, with your eyes drying up from the tears and growing hooded at the feel of him. he held you so tightly, practically squeezing all of the stress and worry of the situation away.
it was then that he lifted your chin, noses kissing as your breaths mingling.
“good thing i’m fixing that tomorrow morning.”
—
being married to jungkook was the beginning of a life you never realised could have been yours.
three months into your sudden marriage and you were realising that this was what living was all about. you’d wake up to his lips smothering your cheek, your neck and lips - covering you in kisses that would wake you from sweet sleep to even sweeter reality. other days, you were the one who would wake first, your fingers tracing over a hardened chest, scarred and wide until you’d catch him staring at you.
oh, the stories you had heard before all of this.
mean, old jungkook. nearly killed a man for talking out the side of his mouth, pistol to his head after beating him up. the way he’d walk around town, picking up jobs that no one else wanted to do, getting paid handsomely for his time knowing that no other man would be able to do them. everywhere he went, people cowered, whispered even. got his beers for free simply because the bartender was too scared to actually charge him.
and yet, when it came to you, he was completely different. gentle, sweet, softer than anything you’d ever experienced.
in the first few days of being married, you had gone into town on your own, head lowered as per usual as your bonnet, neatly wrapped around your head and neck, hid most of your face from anyone staring in.
oh, it had spread like wildfire.
jeon jungkook had married the village freak. the girl accused of thievery by her own parents. the girl that sat quietly at her window, rarely being allowed outside of her home unless it was for a social affair, staring at everyone in town.
what use did he have for you?
what use did jungkook have with a wife?
people had gossiped with each step you took, and your hands had began to shake without even noticing. you frowned, shoulders raising at the feel of so many eyes on you when your only fault had been existing.
it wasn’t until you felt a heavy presence around you, chest brushing your back, breath touching your shoulder as a head dipped down that uou subconsciously relaxed.
your husband, only a few days in, stretched his arm beside you, picking up the ribbons you were looking at with his own hand. you peered over your shoulder, just as he looked down at you, your gazes meeting as a shy smile began to form on your face, a glint in his eye.
“i like the pink one.” you whispered up at him, and to his amusement, you began brushing you fingers against the very ribbon in his hand.
people were watching with bated breath. it was like watching a film, watching a scene that they couldn’t quite understand, what with the way jungkook openly held you, lips lifting in genuine humour.
“i’ll take the lot.” he grunted at the seller, who watched open eyed, nodding with a slight gasp at being pulled from his thoughts.
you giggled, hiding your mouth behind a gloved hand, before cheekily pushing him away, walking over to another stall, only for him to do the same thing with each vendor you went to.
it only took a month to fully grow accustomed to him. cooked dinners on the table, waiting for him as he’d come home all dusty and sweaty, worked to the very bone - you could feel heat deep in your stomach as you watched him take off his hat, hang it on the hook before walking over to you. before you could even greet him properly, he’d have you pinned against the wall with your skirts up to your hips.
you learned rather quickly that to be jungkook’s wife meant being fucked against every surface, at any given chance.
you knew your husband was obsessed with you, deep want swirling in every crevice of his mind as he practically snarled how sincerely he wanted you despite being in his arms already. working away from you, in town, all whilst making you bolt the doors so you wouldn’t be disturbed by anyone else.
exhaustion practically rolled off of him, but his sheer need for you trumped everything. it was his driving force for months, keeping that ring in his pocket until it was time to actually marry you, and now that you actually wore it on that pretty little finger, it seemed that the feeling had only intensified. he’d come home with it radiating off of him, almost shaking from how much you suffocated his thoughts - all you, only ever you.
the worst thing? you fed into it.
would purr at him the second he got his hands over you, sighing so pretty when he’d pick you up just to push you onto the dining table just to fuck you just the way he wanted.
his favourite was when you’d whimper his name back at him, all shy and breathy, fingers curling into his heavy shirt whilst the sound of skin slapping against skin hit every single surface. it was delicious, really, the way you’d beg for more and more and more like he was incapable of hitting that exact spot. it only spurred him on further.
today was no different.
you, scantily dressed. it was the mere definition of improper, with your cotton dress, just passed your knees but with an open neckline, sleeves slipping down your shoulders whilst your hair sat behind your back. you had cooked him something good, perfecting the recipe over the months you had shared with him until it was the meal he asked for over and over.
you could hear the sound of hooves outside, his horse slowing down making you bite your lip in anticipation. you had been needy for him all day, having choked on his cock until he had cum down your throat but that hadn’t been enough for you. you wanted more. you always wanted more.
turning, you walked over the door just as it opened up, the wooden frame rattling as his heavy boots shook the very ground he walked on.
jungkook appeared. chest wide, shoulders wider, dirt smeared on his boots and jeans as his sun-kissed skin was hidden from you by his cowboy hat. immediately, you walked up to him, taking a hold of it before putting it on your own head with a loud giggle, peering up at him through your eyelashes.
“hi.”
he gruffed at you, a man of few words still.
before you could say anything more, his too large hands grabbed you, picking you up with an ease that came from a life of manual labour.
you sighed all pretty, legs wrapping around his waist almost immediately as he breathed in your scent, heavy, lips attached to the pulse in your throat almost immediately.
“fucking missed you.” he hissed, almost angry, as though the thought of you had been plaguing him all day. “always smell so good.”
“it’s the perfume you bought me, kookie.” you hummed back, hat still on your head.
“need to buy you more.”
that earned him a smile as he lifted his head to look at you. for a few moments, his eyes traced over ever inch of your face - his chest tightened. his pretty, little wife. you were the sweetest thing he had ever gotten in his life and having you in his arms like this, barely dressed, breasts peaking out over the white cotton, already littered with purple bruises created as a manifestation of his feelings for you.
“missed you.” you admitted softly, noses brushing against one another. “you worked for so long today.”
the whine in your voice had his already hard cock push against the denim of his jeans.
“gotta work hard for you, sweets.” he murmured back in that gentle tone he reserved solely for you.
you frowned a little at his words, knowing he pushed his body a little too hard for your liking all in the name of being able to spoil you rotten, when all you wanted was him and him alone.
“you look tired.”
“m’fine, baby.”
“worked all day without eating again.” you muttered with a deeper frown, just as he dropped his head to kiss the corner of your mouth. “told you i don’t like it when you do that, kookie.”
“like coming home ‘n eating with you.” he responded, lips attacking your throat.
you bit back a soft whimper as you tilted your head to the side, eyes slowly closing at the familiar and yet euphoric feeling of jungkook savouring you. sweet kisses always became ravenous, especially when he’d find that sweet spot on your neck, your shaking hands clinging to his shoulders.
you squeaked as he bit down on your neck, hissing, grunting, large hands moving down to cup your ass cheeks.
“c-cooked for you..” you whimpered out then, opening your eyes despite wanting nothing more than to have him ruin you. “made..made you your favourite.”
“yeah?” he whispered. “my girl been cooking for me?”
“mhm. made it real nice this time.”
jungkook knew his curse in this life was to feel too much for you. the cuteness aggression practically overtook him every time he took a look at you - so sweet, so eager to please. he placed you on the ground after planting a final few brushes of his lips against your jaw before leaning down properly, head pressing against yours, and placing a kiss to your lips.
you utterly melted in his arms, his arms tightening around yours as you slacked against him, kissing him back with just as much passion.
your lips moved in unison, fingers clinging to the material bunched around his stomach as he leaned down in a way that couldn’t have been comfortable. his body engulfed yours, shielding your own frame from anything other than the feel of his love for you.
you moaned into his mouth just as his tongue swiped at your bottom lip, making you readily open up for him to swirl and devour you in every way you wanted. his hands trailed over you, kissing, taking, fixing - you were his sweet girl and you relished in it, all whilst taking his kisses. feeling you melt against him had his brain short circuiting.
you pulled away breathlessly.
he chased you with his lips, kissing you over and over until you were a giggling mess struggling for air, pushing him away with a gentle pat of his chest. he wasn’t a talker, not much of a smiler, but fuck; one look at you and he couldn’t help the small quirk of his mouth.
“come on, cowboy.” you teased him.
he followed you, watching you adjust your dress once more despite his wandering eye, his cock half hard from the sight of your hips swaying innocently. his little wife was a minx, a destroyer of his very sense and being and she had no idea - perhaps that was what attracted him so much to you. the sense of constant naiveness, a gentleness stretched to you that he loved to pollute, wanting nothing more than to hear you beg for it first.
you shoved him down into the chair at the table, almost cheekily, whilst plating his dish.
jungkook sat with spread legs, thighs large and toned, eyes dark. he tracked your movements until you placed the plate in front of him, and watched as you turned to sit opposite him.
no chance.
one swipe of your waist and you were squeaking, pulled onto his lap, your dress sliding up in an immodest way as it revealed your inner thighs, jungkook making you press your back to his chest. he loved having you on him when he ate, or when he did anything, really.
his favourite was having you on his horse with him. riding his horse around the county, you facing him, chest to chest as you clung to him like he was the only thing you needed in the entire world and it made him feel like more of a man than ever. you were his darling girl, his sweets - your mere existence had him pumping up his chest as he rode you into town, burning holes into anyone who dared even look at you.
you couldn’t help your giggles as jungkook made a show of positioning you properly on his lap, his body engulfing yours despite both of you being sat, causing you to snuggle back into him. you watched him begin to eat, your fingers curling into his shirt, observing with curiosity.
you weren’t the best cook. cleaning and maintaining the home was difficult too; but you tried - not like it mattered to jungkook whatsoever. he liked you lounging around, looking pretty and reading your books, playing with the new ribbons you were ready to sow onto your bonnets.
he was obsessed with you. hard not to be, in his eyes, as he deemed you the dream woman he had always wished for, still half unbelieving that you too had shared the same feelings for him. he wasn’t a man of love or romance by any means but for you, he wanted it all. wanted to show you it piece by piece if it meant it would make you shine brighter.
he manoeuvred you then, feeding you the last few bites so you could get a taste of the stew you had cooked so nicely, positioning you oh so perfectly onto his cock so that it nudged your clit just right.
the feel had a soft sort of gasp leaving your throat as you clung to the edge of the table, looking down to see his hands on either side of your waist, grinding you down onto his cock like it was normal. you threw your head back slightly, moaning into the air as he pulled you back and forth, a hiss leaving his own lips.
“tell me, sweets. you like wearing slutty dresses like this around the house?” he harshly whispered into your ear, nudging your clit meanly.
“mhm.” you nodded, not even denying it. “like what you do when i wear them.”
at that, he squeezed the skin on your stomach, leaning down to bite down on your shoulder.
“yeah?” suckling on the skin. “what do i do?”
“make me take it.” you whimpered back, leaning forward even further.
“yeah i fucking do.”
jungkook grabbed your throat, one hand rough on your delicate little neck before moving you on his lap and pressing his lips to yours. you kissed him back with a level of passion dedicated solely for moments like this where pleasure overtook your brain.
your tongues danced in unison, a false war you had no intention of winning, and yet it felt so good to tease him just the way he liked teasing you. facing him on his lap only amplified the feeling against your clit as you grinded down, earning you a hiss from his throat.
before you could even think, jungkook had parted from your lips and he was pushing you against the table, your back resting on the smooth, wooden surface whilst he hovered over you.
he pressed kisses against your chest, your stomach, your hands that clung to his body as though he was your very own lifeline. you whimpered as he yanked the dress off of you, practically ripping it in order to get to your breasts. his mouth latched onto your left boob, grunting as he bit down on your nipples sucking, panting, licking. you were left purple and bruised, covered in honeyed hickeys that sunk into your skin like love drunk promises.
by the time he was done with you, you were a whining mess, breasts too sensitive for the way he was ruining you.
“my girl.” he whispered down at you, pressing kisses to your lips once more in hurried pecks, only for your hands to lose themselves in his hair, pulling him right back.
“mm. want you inside already, kookie.” you slurred up at him, all whilst he swore he couldn’t breathe from the sight of you.
hair blown out, legs spread, pretty pussy on show. you were flushed red, purple littering your chest with bitten lips driving him insane. you were everything he had ever wanted, and he often wished he was a man of better words for he had little in his vocabulary that felt adequate regarding his feelings for you.
“can’t, sweets.” he murmured down at you, fingers rubbing at your clit openly. “gotta stretch you open.”
your moans were music to his ears.
“i can take it. wan’it now.”
“you can take it?” he asked, voice condescending.
“mhm. promise.”
jungkook felt a thrill deep in his stomach at your words.
you had been together for a few fickle months now, and every time you had sex, it was the same conversation. it thrilled him at the beginning, and it only fuelled him more - the illusion of bravery. you’d tell him you could take all of him, all at once, only to whine and whimper the second he started to fuck you, too sensitive to stop shaking.
it was his favourite game, hearing you beg and beg and beg, only to watch you beg and break once it actually began.
he found himself in that exact situation now, rubbing his cock up and down your folds, your tattered dress ruined in fragments around your body. you were staring up at him with such hazy eyes, clouded by pleasure, unburdened by reason.
“you sure, sweets?” he whispered down at you, jaw clenching.
you hummed, with a big nod, wiggling your hips. “gonna take it all.”
“yeah?”
jungkook lined himself up, slowly and surely inserting his cock inside of you.
two hands sat on either side of your head as your mouth fell open to form an o, large eyes growing wilder and shaking arms coming to desperately hide your own face. the stretch was unfathomable, both painful and yet so, so pleasurable - a deep itch that could only be situated by your husband’s cock.
immediately your eyes shut tight as he pushed another inch in, just to hear you suck in a deep breath of air, trying to mitigate the overwhelming emotions.
“c’mon. thought you could take it?” he cooed at you, voice dripped in a condescending tone.
it only had you clenching harder around him.
“c-can’t…too big.” you whimpered loudly, much to his glee, feeling your much smaller hands beat against his chest as he further pushed.
“yeah you can. can and you will.” he hissed down at the feel of how tight you were despite being fucked open nearly every night by him.
his words had you moaning out loud, your legs opening wider as he pushed your thighs apart.
before you could whine again, complaining about his size despite being the one to beg and ask for him to fuck you the way you knew you couldn’t handle, he pushed the rest of his cock into you with a single thrust.
your eyes rolled to the back of your head, all whilst your body fell limp into his arms. it turned him on so much to see you wither below him, fingernails scratching already scarred skin all whilst clenching around him so sweetly.
the feel of him so deep inside of you, so heavy against your frame as you whimpered, pounding against his chest only causing him to grab your hands. he held them tightly to his chest, forcing you to stay still, all whilst you gasped for air.
just as you were adjusting, jungkook pulled his hips back and began to thrust. in and out, deeper and deeper - the feel of him had drool beginning to form at the corner of your mouth as you fell into cockdrunk territory at the mere feel of his cock. your back rose from the table, hands still locked away in his own, your moans echoing off of the walls of the room.
it brought him such pleasure to know your voice carried, whimpers and cries so loud he was sure that despite his secluded home, the whole town could probably hear him making love to you. his sweet wife, withering and begging for something she couldn’t even handle.
his thrusts began to pick up, growing in speed as the sounds of skin slapping against skin echoed in his ears. he released your hands momentarily, watching as you immediately wrapped them around his biceps, begging for him to get closer to you as though you weren’t one.
jungkook turned downwards, picking up your smaller frame from the table and sitting back down on the heavy set chair, pulling you onto him so that you were straddling him with his cock nestled inside.
the position had your brain short circuiting, hitting deep inside of you. you could feel him planting sweet kisses to your cervix, your head pressed against his just as he planted his feet firmly on the ground before fucking up into you meanly. harsh, rough, fast - he didn’t bother to take it slow, knowing well enough that after weeks of fucking each and every day, it was the last thing you craved.
“so tight.” he growled down at you, slapping your ass loudly, all whilst you whimpered into him.
“so mean.” you whined at him, feeling him pound into you like a man scorned.
“gotta be mean to you, baby.” he cooed then. “pussy like this needs to be fucked open.”
your eyes rolled to the back of your head, all before he grabbed your throat, pushing on either side. the lack of oxygen was intoxicating, even more so once he pressed his lips against yours, chasing you despite your bodies already being pressed so intimately together.
“love you. love you so fucking much.” he parted from your lips, watching the way your eyes maintained eye contact, so far gone. “love you, kookie.”
fuck. he loved nothing more than hearing that. your declaration of love, the woman he idolised, worshiped. the very woman he had eyed for months and months, cleaned up his act, sorted himself out just to marry. you loving him was the greatest gift he had.
“again.” he hissed. “say it again.”
“i l-love you.” you moaned, just as he thrusted harder.
you were meeting his thrusts, grinding hard down, riding your cowboy husband closer and closer to your highs.
he goaded you into repeating yourself over and over and over as he shuddered from your promises of love, an understanding shared between you that you were his, entirely. forever.
“my wife. i’m gonna give you the world, sweets. gonna give you everything you’ve ever wanted, you hear me?” he hissed in your ear, hand no longer on your throat. “gonna give you children, get you nice and round for me, hm? you want that?”
you nodded desperately, chest rising and falling in pants as you rode him quicker, the burn and pain completely overshadowed by the aching pleasure each thrust left behind.
“fuck. such a good girl for me, taking my cum inside your pretty pussy every day.”
his coos were taunting you, and you could feel it deep inside your stomach. you were falling victim to it, letting it roll off of you in waves as his tone only heightened the already growing pressure in your stomach.
you knew you wouldn’t last, knew that it was only a matter of time you’d be cumming all over him, only causing you to wrap your arms around his neck and pull him in even closer, just as he continued to pound.
“wan’it, kookie.” you whispered against his lips, a heightened sensation in your stomach. “get me pregnant.”
the crazed look in his eyes was enough to finally push you off the edge, just at the same time as him, as the both of you let out final moans from a heavy orgasm that overtook the two of you. your eyes shut tight as you squeaked, clenching so hard around his cock he nearly choked, feeling you milk him for every last drop. your legs began to shake around him, caged around him whilst he sat in the chair, still fully clothed whilst you were naked on his lap - the denim of his jeans irritating in your skin almost deliciously.
by the time you were calming down from your high, jungkook had you up in his arms, walking towards the bathroom. his cock still sat inside of you, your shaking figure whimpering in his arms as he bent down to start the bath for you both, all whilst you clung to him like a koala.
your words were spinning through his head at a million miles per hour.
get me pregnant. get me pregnant. get me pregnant.
it’s all he could see.
minutes later, when you were both in the bath, your head rested against his chest, snuggling into him in warm water whilst he clung to you as though you were a precious jewel. in many ways you were.
“you mean it? you ready, sweets?” he softly asked down at you, breaking the silence, all whilst you traced patterns against his skin.
you bit back the soft smile that wanted to form on your lips, knowing exactly what he was referencing. your husband was nothing if not a man who wanted to provide for you, especially when it came to the things you really wanted - you had discussed starting a family before, but this felt like the first time in which you were actually ready.
“wanna have a family with you.” you admitted softly, blinking up at him gently. “do you?”
he brushed a hand against your stomach, cupping the area far too sweetly for a man who knew nothing other than grit and violence.
“i want everything with you.” he confessed honestly.
this time, you couldn’t help the shy smile that appeared.
outside, the wind continued to howl against the walls of your shared home in the very same way the night you had stumbled into his arms, afraid and fearful for your life. you had fallen onto his land, unaware of the fact you had just entered the lair of perhaps the scariest man in town, an act that typically would’ve resulted in a fate far worse than death.
the desert remained unforgiving, the people in town no kinder but everything else has completely changed. no more were you the same girl that sat, locked away in your home dreaming of the very life you were living now. no longer were you the girl, often ridiculed by the people in your shared community for merely existing. no longer were you the girl sat by your window, watching jungkook from afar, wondering his name, wondering what he was like and more importantly; wondering whether he had ever noticed you.
oh, how little you knew then.
how naive you must’ve been to think there was ever a reality in which jeon jungkook could have done anything other than love you in the darkest of ways, possessiveness clouding every one of his actions.
his arms only tightened around you now, broad palm resting against your stomach as though to will an extension of your shared future, chin settling atop of your head all whilst you snuggled deeply into him.
he had promised you protection the same night you had ran into his arms unknowingly, begging for safety, for anything that would take the horrible sense of fear away. he remembered the way you had shook in his arms, half breathless and the other half terrified beneath the pale moonlight - it angered him. he had given it to you, in more ways than one, in forms that you never thought could be for you.
now, months later, you had realised his true devotion.
he had been protecting you from a life that had only ever brought you pain, replacing it with one he vowed to make joyous in every single manner he knew; even if that meant changing the very world to adapt to it.
he knew the whole city could come and knock on his door, but he was ready to answer it the same way he had done that night - with one hand on his gun, and the other holding your shaking body to his almost harshly. he dared anyone to take his girl away, his wife, his sweet, sweet girl.
he’d make them fucking pay.
—
hi my loves 💜
fighting the PCD really hard rn but also using it to fuel my writing, so i hope you guys enjoy this!!
as usual, let me know your thoughts & if you have any ideas for me my babies <3
if you wanna support a bad b pay her london rent, my kofi is here !!
𓊆ྀི warnings .ᐟ + word count— 9.3K, original!blackfemreader, boyfriend!onyankopon, plug!onyankopon, fresh out the pen!onyankopon, southerncoded!onyankopon, femreader, shy!femreader, giggly!femreader, aggressive!onyankopon, sweet!onyankopon, dominant!onyankopon, car sex, doggy style, missionary, pet names, dirty talk, aggressive pet names, squirting, creaming, condomless sex, pussy eating, dick sucking, overstimulation, minors are not welcome! 𓊇ྀི
メモ。— inspired by the destiny’s child song. i just live for a wattpad hood love story, so here’s mine. love y’all.
YOU HADN’T BEEN THIS NERVOUS IN A WHILE. You wanted to gnaw at your heart shaped pendant sunken between heavy tits, deep plum gloss outlining your full lips that you’d chewed to a swell just minutes before. This moment didn’t feel real—and yet, it was. He was coming home.
Thick Louisiana heat presses against your skin like a lover’s embrace, sprawled across the king sized bed in the heart of the 7th Ward—a place where shotgun houses and Creole cottages line the streets like old friends. The walls of your shared home hum with memories, the scent of cayenne and slow cooked roux lingering in the air from last night’s gumbo. The bedroom is a sanctuary—mahogany furniture polished to a shine, silk sheets the color of midnight draped over the mattress, and gold framed photos of y’all’s happiest moments catching the dim glow of the sunset through half closed blinds.
But something’s missing.
You bury your face into his pillow, inhaling deeply—or trying to. His scent, that intoxicating mix of sandalwood and blunt smoke, has faded to a ghost of what it once was. Three months without him sleeping beside you, without his deep voice grumbling nonsense in your ear as he pulls you closer. The emptiness is heavy.
Your massive pitbull, Bear, stretches across the bed like a living shadow, his muscular frame pressed against your thigh as if sensing your longing.
You run your fingers through his coarse fur, murmuring, “You ready for Papa to come home?”
Bear’s ears twitch at the mention of him, dark eyes flickering with something like understanding. Even the house feels quieter without his presence—no bass rattling the windows, no deep laugh shaking the walls, no rough hands tugging you into his lap just because.
Onyankopon.
Deep brown skin kissed by the Louisiana sun, glowing like polished syrup under the streetlights. His cornrows are always fresh, laid to perfection, trailing down to the nape of his neck with a crisp lineup sharp enough to cut glass. That mouth of his—shiny grills flashing when he smirks, a warning disguised as charm. His beard-goatee combo is always kept tight, framing full lips that can curse a man into the ground or praise you so sweetly it makes your knees weak.
And his body. Lord. Broad shoulders, thick arms wrapped in ink—every tattoo telling a story. The fleur-de-lis stamped near his left temple, a silent declaration of loyalty to the soil that raised him. More Louisiana love etched into his skin— oak trees, 504 in bold script. His knuckles say NO LOVE, but you know better—know the way those same hands cradle your face like you’re the air he breathes.
You’ve seen him in business mode. Jaw clenched, voice dropping to something low and lethal, a Glock tucked in the back of his waistband like a second shadow. He didn’t play—not when it came to money, not when it came to respect.
But you know the truth.
That same man who’ll put a bullet in somebody’s kneecaps over disrespect is the one slipping Mrs.LeBlanc a stack of bills every month so her lights stay on—the one who refuses to sell to fiends nodding out on the corner. The one who bought the whole block Thanksgiving turkeys last year just because.
A good man with rough edges. Yours.
Your heart aches with the knowing—the kind that lives in the quiet spaces between his laughter and the way his eyes get distant sometimes, staring out at the horizon like he’s searching for something just out of reach.
You’ve seen the flicker in his gaze when y’all pass a college campus, when he watches old men playing chess in the park with no worries weighing them down. You know he dreams of something else—legitimate money, a life where he doesn’t have to look over his shoulder every five seconds. But survival mode is a beast he can’t shake, not when the streets raised him harsher than any parent ever did.
Your mind flashes back to that night—the night.
The way his face twisted in fury as the cops swarmed, their boots kicking up gravel as they yanked his arms behind his back too rough, too eager. You remember screaming his name, lunging forward only for his voice to cut through the chaos like a blade—Go back in the fuckin’ house!—and the way your legs shook as you obeyed, tears blurring your vision until all you saw were flashing red and blue lights swallowing him whole.
Three months.
Three months of letters tucked into envelopes smelling like your perfume, of collect calls where his voice was gruff but his words were soft—“How you holdin’ up, baby?"
Three months of praying the charges wouldn’t stick, of begging your parents to understand why you couldn’t—wouldn’t—walk away.
You think God would approve of this, child? Running with a man who feeds poison to his own people?
Their words stung, but not as much as the truth burning in your chest—you loved him anyway. Loved him when he came home smelling like gunpowder and regret, loved him when he held you so tight it felt like an apology.
But still, there’s a part of you that dreams too—of lazy Sunday mornings without fear, of a future where his hands are stained with paint instead of blood. A future where he chooses differently.
You sigh, pressing your face into Bear’s fur as if he can absorb the weight of your thoughts.
Soon.
Your dark curls lay across the pillow like spilled ink as you sink deeper into Bear’s warmth, the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest beneath your fingertips lulling you into a false sense of calm.
Then—movement.
Bear tenses beneath you, his massive body going rigid before he suddenly hikes up with a deep, rumbling growl—not the dangerous kind, but the kind that vibrates with recognition. In an instant, he’s off the bed, paws thudding against hardwood as he bolts toward the living room.
Then—the creak of the front door.
You left it unlocked. You knew.
Before you can even sit up fully, you hear Bear’s excited whines, the frantic scratch of his claws against the floor as he launches himself at someone—at him. Your pulse thunders in your ears as you swing your legs over the edge of the bed, bare feet hitting the floor before you even realize you’re moving.
And there he is.
Standing in the doorway like a storm, shoulders bigger than you remember, muscles straining against the thin fabric of his white muscle tee like he outgrew it in just three months. His sweatpants hang low on his hips, the same pair he’d left in before they took him, but now they cling to thighs that look harder, more defined.
His cornrows are freshly done, edges sharp enough to draw blood, that damn fleur-de-lis tattoo peeking out from beneath the slant of his brow. But it’s his eyes that grip you—dark, calculating, hungry—as they rake over you like he’s memorizing every inch.
“The fuck you leave the door unlocked for?”
Your lips part—but the second his voice hits you, really hits you, something inside cracks wide open.
“…I—I knew it was you,” you whimper, voice trembling like a leaf in the wind.
Onyankopon knows you.
‘Knows the way your bottom lip trembles right before the tears fall. ‘Knows how your voice gets small and shaky when you’re trying—and failing—to hold it together. ‘Knows that no matter how spicy your mouth gets, that tender heart of yours spills over first.
And right now?
His dark eyes drink you in all of you.
Your caramel skin glows under the dim lights, bare except for the tiniest rebellion inked along your ribs—his name, etched in delicate script, hidden beneath the swell of your tits like a secret only he’s allowed to touch.
Those freckles—god, those freckles—dusting your cheeks and the bridge of your nose like constellations. Your round face flushed, slender eyes shimmering with tears, long dark curls tumbling wildly over your shoulders as you try to hide the way your body shakes.
Hips fuller, ass heavier, waist somehow even smaller than he remembered, all wrapped up in that deep plum babydoll dress that barely covers your thighs. His gaze drags lower—no bra, just the thin lace of your panties peeking beneath the hem, your brown nipples stiff and visible through the fabric.
And then—
“You left me.”
Your tits bounce heavily as you hiccup, hands flying up to cover your face in that adorably flustered way you do when you’re overwhelmed.
“Aight, Mama—lemme’ hold you," he murmurs, voice thick with that gravelly warmth that usually melts you right where you stand. But not today.
You shake your head hard, curls whipping against your cheeks, suddenly furious—at him, at the streets, at the damn system that keeps snatching him away from you.
“No," you snap, voice wobbling despite yourself.
This is your routine.
The one where you unleash every pent up ache—where you sob about how Mrs. LeBlanc asked about him at the store last Tuesday, how you burned the first pot of gumbo because he wasn’t there to taste test it, how Bear whined at the door every night for a week after they took him.
“You missed—you missed everything—"
Onyankopon exhales through his nose, patience wearing thin. He reaches for you again, fingers brushing your waist, but you smack his hand away—or try to. Your tiny slap barely fazes him, and the way his jaw tightens tells you his sympathy’s run out.
One large hand fists into the back of your dress, yanking you against him so hard your breath whooshes out of you. His other arm bands around your waist, locking you in place as your tits press flush against his chest.
“Ony—!"
“Nah," he growls, “You done?"
And just like that—you crack.
Your fingers claw into his shirt as you bury your face into his neck, inhaling that familiar scent—jailhouse soap, and him. A choked sob escapes you as he grunts, adjusting his grip to cradle you tighter.
“Yeah," he mutters, lips brushing your temple—“That’s what I thought.”
His nose drags along the curve of your neck—inhaling deep—like he’s trying to drown himself in you. Vanilla. Spiced cinnamon. Caramel. Your scent clings to his senses, and a rough groan vibrates against your skin before he cups your face in his big, calloused hands.
Then—his mouth crashes into yours.
Not soft. Not sweet.
Claiming.
His tongue strokes against yours, hot and demanding, before he sucks your bottom lip between his teeth—sharp, just how you like it. The sound of his grunts fills the space between kisses—“Goddamn, you smell so good—” his palm smacks against your ass with a sharp CLAP!, making the flesh quiver beneath his grip as he kneads it possessively.
“Why you doin’ allat’, huh?” His voice is gruff but softer now, forehead pressed to yours—“A nigga was gon’ find his way back to you.”
“Your lawyer said…” your voice cracks, fingers tightening in his shirt—“‘Said they coulda’ gave you more time…”
His jaw ticks—once, twice—before he exhales hard through his nose.
“Look at me.”
When you do, his eyes burn with something fierce.
“Ain’t no cage gon’ keep me from you.”
And just like that—his mouth is on yours again, swallowing your whimpers, his grip tightening like he’s determined to erase every second of those three months apart.
Your whimper melts into something hotter, needier—tongue sliding bold and filthy against his, dragging slowly before plunging back in, tasting the mint on his breath mixed with something darker, smokier. Onyankopon growls against your lips, tongue stroking yours with a rhythm that makes your thighs clench.
“Greedy ass," he rumbles, voice thick with amusement—"Threw that lil’ tongue at me like you ain’t just been cryin’."
“‘Want you, Papa…" you pant this, rocking your hips against the hard ridge of him, shameless.
His hands tighten on your face—rough but reverent—as he pulls back just enough to lock eyes with you, his gaze burning through you.
“Three months, baby. Three months ‘I been dreamin’ ‘bout my pussy," he grits out—“But nah, we gon’ do this right."
Your brows knit—confused, frustrated—until his thumb swipes over your bottom lip, smug as hell.
“A nigga got a whole garden in the Hummer for you," he admits lowly, "Tulips, roses, shit you like—whole backseat covered."
That freckled smile of yours spreads slowly across your face, until you realize something.
“Wait—you got your car back?"
His smirk doesn’t falter, but something shifts behind his gaze—hooded, calculated.
“Handled it."
You blink once. Twice. Then deadpan, “I won’t even ask."
“You already knowin’," he chuckles, swiping his thumb over your bottom lip one last time like he’s erasing the question altogether.
“Go ‘head, start gettin’ yo’self pretty. Imma’ run some plays by these niggas, handle some business ‘fore we head out."
Your stomach knots. Already?
Three months gone, and the streets demand his presence before the sheets even lose your warmth. You bite your protest back regardless, swallowing it down with a soft “Okay," that barely fills the space between you.
Onyankopon studies you for half a breath—like he sees it, the tension in your jaw—before gruffly adding, “Aight? I’m happy to be home."
And just like that he’s turning away, crouching to ruffle Bear’s ears as the dog practically vibrates with joy. You watch them—the way his tattooed hands roughhouse with the beast who missed him just as much as you did—and exhale.
“Yeah," you murmur, touching the heart pendant at your throat.
“…Me too."
The afternoon light slants through sheer curtains as the scene shifts to another familiar rhythm—Onyankopon planted on the bedroom bench like a king holding court. His muscular thighs spread wide, fresh out of the shower but already dressed in that effortless urban elegance—crisp black tee straining across his chest, black Amiri cargos, icy AP watch glinting at his wrist. Cuban links drip down his neck as he barks into his phone, voice sandpaper rough—“Nah, that product ‘move different now. ‘Tell them lil’ niggas to tighten up or get got."
Meanwhile, you exist in your own world mere feet away—naked as the day you were born, lost in the ritual of getting ready.
Your reflection in the vanity mirror is sinful—that waist cutting in like an hourglass before flaring out into heavy hips and that ass he can’t stop smacking. Oversized tits sway as you lean forward to dab blush over freckled cheeks, brown nipples stiff from the breeze drifting through the window. Between your thighs—pretty pink folds glistening with arousal, still tender from the thought of him earlier.
You’re so engrossed in blending highlighter along your collarbones that you don’t notice his approach—until thick fingers suddenly part you from behind.
“Papa—!”
Your giggle bubbles up as his calloused thumb swipes through slick heat, inspecting you with a low hum of approval.
"Fuck you laughin’ for?" he grunts, still half distracted by his phone conversation—“‘Just checkin’ my property."
The juxtaposition is ridiculous—him murmuring “Two keys max,” into the receiver while his other hand teases your clit—until you slap his wrist away, cheeks burning.
"Stop it!”
“‘You the one bent over lookin’ like dessert."
Sigh. Business and pleasure, always intertwined.
Now fully dressed, you feel every bit the masterpiece you’ve crafted—your curls styled in a voluminous flip over cascading like spilled ink down your back. Dark, feathery lashes make your almond shaped eyes look bigger, doe like, while deep brown lips—blended with a hint of plum—give your mouth a sultry, kissable pout.
The outfit is pure temptation—tall, strappy heels that add inches to your shorter frame, black capris clinging to every curve of your full hips and round ass like they were painted on. The lace trimmed camisole is sinful, its sweetheart neckline framing the swell of your breasts, the sheer fabric teasing glimpses of skin beneath. Your small Coach purse twinkles with playful keychains dangling from it, a hint of softness against the fierce femininity of your look.
You do a slow, deliberate spin for him—hips swaying, lashes fluttering—before rolling your eyes dramatically when he barely glances up, his big hand absently rubbing the side of your hip as he continues growling into the phone, “Nah, lil’ bruh, that’s not how we move.”
Frustration flickers.
With a huff, you drop onto his lap without warning, your weight forcing his thighs to adjust beneath you. His free arm instinctively wraps around your waist as you play with the coarse strands of his beard, your fingers tracing the sharp line of his jaw while he keeps talking.
You murmur against his ear, “I got all pretty for you, y’know.”
“Aight, Imma’ see you in twenty.”
You blink.
“Twenty minutes? Where?"
“Across the Westbank," he replies smoothly, fingers trailing up the curve of your thigh where the capris hug tightest—“‘Told you I had business to handle."
Your arms cross over your chest, “This was supposed to be our time."
“Youn’ think I know that? I got shit to do."
“Yeah, ‘cause a drug dealer has way less free time than the average working man."
The words hang in the air—sharp, but edged with truth. His brows lift, a silent challenge, and you bite your lip before melting back against him with a soft “Sorry…”
Your voice dropped to a whisper, “I just want you to myself today."
Onyankopon exhales through his nose, the tension in his shoulders loosening as his hands slide up your back.
“You got me," he murmurs, lips brushing the slope of your bare shoulder.
“But I got a whole neighborhood to take care of—including buyin’ everythin’ yo’ greedy lil’ ass wanna see under the sun."
His mouth trails up your neck, each kiss a quiet apology, a silent promise. You sigh, tilting your head to give him more access, your resolve crumbling beneath his touch.
“Fine," you concede, “But hurry, please?”
“Ain’t gon’ be long enough for you to miss me."
And just like that, he had you under his spell.
The first time you rode shotgun on one of his business runs, your pulse had thrummed with something illicit—the thrill of danger, the heat of rebellion licking at your skin like a forbidden flame. Back then, watching him command respect with just the tilt of his chin felt electric, his dominance a live wire beneath your fingertips.
Now?
Now you slump in the passenger seat of his freshly detailed Hummer, fingers drumming against the leather as you stare determinedly out the window. His employees—lean, hungry looking young men with eyes too old for their faces—nod at you with careful respect, like you’re some kind of queen they’re afraid to glance at too long. You offer weak smiles in return, teeth digging into your plum stained bottom lip.
Onyankopon moves like a storm—methodical, unhurried—handing off product wrapped in crisp bills, exchanging terse words with buyers who swear they can handle weight they clearly can’t. Every so often his palm lands heavy on your thigh—reassuring, possessive—but your skin feels too tight today.
Your gaze flicks to the Glock tucked between his seat and the console, the .45 holstered at his ankle, the AR barely hidden beneath the flower blankets in the back. The arsenal used to make you feel safe. Now it just makes your stomach twist.
“Can we go?"
He pauses mid sentence, dark eyes cutting to you—reading the tension in your jaw, the way your fingers twist the rings on your hands.
“Five minutes," he grunts.
Onyankopon’s jaw ticks as he leans out the driver’s side window, his deep voice dropping to a lethal calm—
“Nigga, you movin’ like you want problems.”
The young boy couldn’t be older than nineteen—puffs his chest out, fingers twitching near his waistband like he’s itching to prove something.
“I ain’t scared—”
“That’s yo’ first fuckin’ problem.”
Before the kid can retort, Onyankopon shoves the car door open and steps out, looming over him like a shadow. Even from the passenger seat, you can see the moment the boy realizes his mistake—how his shoulders tense, how his eyes dart sideways for backup that ain’t coming.
“You gon’ get smoked actin’ like this,” Onyankopon growls, jabbing a finger into the boy’s chest—“Get yo’ shit together ‘fore I help you.”
“Aight, Onyo’. Damn. My bad—”
“Get the fuck on.”
He dismisses him before sliding back into the driver’s seat, his energy crackling like live wire. You don’t say a word—just shift in your seat, crossing your legs tight, lips pressed together.
The engine roars as he peels off, tires biting pavement. At the first red light, his hand cups the back of your neck, dragging you into a kiss so filthy your toes curl in your heels.
“Good girl,” he murmurs against your lips, “Appreciate you holdin’ me down.”
You nod, still quiet, but your fingers tighten on his wrist—Where are we going?
“Yo’ lil’ candy ass arcade on Canal.”
Your frown melts instantly—the one with the vintage Pac-Man machine and strawberry mochi. A grin tugs at your lips despite yourself.
“…’Kay.”
Once again? Under his spell.
The neon glow of Canal Street buzzed around you as you stepped into the old-timey arcade, its retro facade hiding a freshly renovated interior that smelled faintly of buttered popcorn and digital nostalgia. The weekend crowd pulsed around you—laughing teenagers, couples locked in competitive banter, families chasing kids hyped up on sugar—all seeking the same escape from reality. Your fingers tightened around Onyankopon’s large hand as you tugged him inside, watching his sharp gaze flick over the space—new LED lights where flickering fluorescents once hung, sleek game consoles replacing the creaky ones he remembered.
“Ain’t been gone that long,” he muttered, but there was no real irritation in it, just the low rumble of a man recalibrating.
“Three months can feel like a sentence, Papa.”
He thinks on your words for a moment.
“‘C’mon, then. I’m tryna put ‘belt to ass in Mortal Kombat.”
“In your dreams!”
You darted away with a giggle, weaving through the crowd as his deep chuckle chased you. The sound was rare enough to make your chest ache—he was letting his guard down.
And when he did?
It was like the sun breaking through a storm.
At the game station, he was ferocious—button mashing with the precision of a man who took everything seriously, even play. His victorious howls shook your ribs where you stood pressed against him, his arm slung around your waist as he crowed about flawless victories. But then—your turn. His competitive edge melted into something softer, his hands guiding yours over the controls when you pouted about losing.
“Like this, mama—time it right.”
It was a quiet parallel to his life—his instinct to protect, to guide, even in something as trivial as a game.
Later at a secluded lounge area tucked in the back of the arcade, you both shared strawberry mochi and sweet wine. The other couples around you laughed easily—holding hands, stealing kisses without glancing over their shoulders first. Your fingers traced the rim of your glass as the thought settled heavy—Did they have regular lives? Were they happier?
Onyankopon’s voice cut through the haze.
“You been thinkin’ on somethin’ since we left the house."
His voice is low, steady—a statement, not a question.
“Hm?”
“Hm?” he repeats, “Yeah, you."
You swirl the sweet wine in your glass, avoiding his gaze for just a beat too long before answering, “I’m just happy to have you home."
He leans back in his chair, arms folding across his broad chest.
“‘You want me to believe that?”
“That’s what I’m telling you.”
A beat passes. Then another. His expression doesn’t change—just that same quiet intensity, like he’s reading every flicker of hesitation in your body language.
He stands, the chair scraping against the floor.
“We gon’ talk over dinner," he confirms, “It’s aight."
And just like that, the conversation is postponed—but not forgotten. You exhale softly, nodding as you rise to grab his hand, the unspoken weight of your thoughts lingering between you like an extra shadow.
The restaurant hums with the soul of New Orleans—exposed brick walls draped in vintage jazz posters, flickering candlelight glinting off brass fixtures, the rich scent of gumbo and buttery cornbread hanging thick in the air. Live piano notes drift from the corner, smooth and lazy like the Mississippi at dusk.
You sit across from him, legs crossed just so, your lace camisole dipping to frame the heavy swell of your breasts. Small dimples flash as you press your lips together, watching him watch you with that quiet, unnerving focus of his—like he’s peeling back every layer you’ve carefully stacked since this morning.
“Thank you for bringing me here,” you murmur, fingers tracing the rim of your water glass.
His response is a low rumble—“Ain’t gotta thank me for doin’ shit a nigga supposed to do."
Silence stretches between you. You know that look—chin tilted down, thick brows slightly furrowed—he’s turning something over in his mind.
Then, out of nowhere—“How yo’ mama doin’?"
You smile, soft and genuine.
“Still prayin’ for you."
His lips quirk—“‘Wouldn’t want it any other way. She give a nigga ‘travelin’ grace."
You tug a curl behind your ear, exhaling softly.
“Well…" You reach for your purse, heart skipping—“I got you somethin’."
Your fingers tremble slightly as you pull out the blue velvet box—small, unassuming, but holding all the hope you've tucked away.
His lips quirk before he even opens it, that deep voice laced with mischief—“Lemme’ guess—is it you, butt ass naked on top of a second Hummer? ‘Cause I was already plannin’ on makin’ that happen."
You roll your eyes, “No, boy."
He flips the lid open, thick fingers pausing as he pulls out the sleek, leather bound planner—matte black with silver detailing, masculine but refined. The attached pen glints under the soft restaurant lighting.
“i got you a planner!" you squeak, suddenly nervous.
His brow arches, thumb tracing the edge of the booklet before he meets your eyes—“That’s sweet, baby. But why?"
You fidget, twisting a curl around your finger—“Well…I thought maybe it could be a new bonding experience for us?"
Your voice is softer now—"You know…we could journal on Sundays during online sermons, make grocery lists, plan things together…"
Your next words come out in a rush—“I thought…maybe even show your parole officer that you do want more in life, you know?"
The air between you shifts.
His expression hardens, “Youn’ think I want more in life?"
"I didn’t mean it like that, I just—"
“So what you sayin’?"
His voice is calm, but there’s an edge beneath it—the kind that makes your pulse stutter. You swallow, choosing your next words carefully.
"I just…want you to try something new, On’."
Your gaze lifts, meeting his—“There are these moments where you talk about your future—goin’ to trade school, gettin’ off the streets, somethin’…practical. You’re just too smart for that to go to waste."
A beat passes. Then his lips curl—not quite a smile—“You think bein’ pragmatic gon’ pay the bills?"
"Ony—"
“Niggas out here with degrees still hustlin’ backwards. You think a planner gon’ change the fact that this city don’t give a fuck about no trade school paperwork?"
His voice drops low, gravel rough with conviction—“I got half a fuckin’ city to feed, ion’ do this shit ‘cause I like tellin’ niggas what to do. The side of town we stay on? You still there ‘cause you refuse to leave yo’ family, and I respect that."
His jaw flexes, thumb brushing over the planner still in his hand—“But I should get the same in return."
He’s right. He’s always talked about putting you up somewhere better—somewhere with gates and quiet streets, or even leaving New Orleans altogether—but he’s never pushed you. Never made you choose when you never agreed to that.
And now here you are, handing him a planner like it’s an ultimatum, like paper could fix the jagged edges of the life he’s built.
You blink hard, swallowing the lump forming—“I’m sorry…”
Fingers trembling, you reach to take the planner back, but his hand closes gently over yours before you can.
“Don’t do allat’," he murmurs, voice softer now. The planner stays in his grip—not rejected, not dismissed—just held.
“‘This the shit that’s been weighin’ on yo’ heart all day?”
The question hangs between you, raw and exposed.
“…I talked to your parole officer,” you admit, voice barely above a whisper—““Before your release.”
His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t interrupt.
“He said if you get caught again…it’s twenty-five to life, Onyankopon. No parole.”
A single tear escapes before you can stop it, sliding hot down your cheek. You swipe at it fast, but the damage is done—your face is warm, your lips trembling as you whisper, “I can’t lose you again.”
“I ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
His voice is gruff, thick with something that makes your chest ache. He doesn’t promise miracles. Doesn’t swear he’ll change overnight. But the look in his eyes—the vow in them—says more than words ever could.
“You have to be here, y’know?”
His thumb swipes under your eye, rough but tender.
“I’m knowin’, baby.”
But you can’t stop now—the words spill out like a confession, shaky and raw—
“When we have our first lil’ Papa…when we get married…when you finally graduate…”
Your breath hitches, lips quivering as you grip his wrist, needing him to hear this, to feel it like you do.
“You can’t leave me like that again.”
The words break on the last syllable, “You just can’t.”
That’s all it takes.
In one swift movement, he’s out of his seat, leaning across the table, his big hands cradling your face—not gentle, not this time—commanding your attention.
“Stop that fuckin’ cryin’,” he growls, “I’m never leavin’ you again.”
You whimper—half protest, half relief—but before you can speak, his mouth crashes into yours, stealing your breath along with the last of your tears. It’s not a sweet kiss—it’s desperate, possessive, a promise sealed in salt and heat.
The waitress approaches with a tray piled high with steaming Creole dishes—crispy fried catfish, creamy shrimp étouffée, golden cornbread muffins—but freezes mid step when she catches sight of you two, your faces still inches apart.
Her voice squeaks out, “I’ll—uh—‘come back!”
Onyankopon doesn’t even flinch, just leans back slightly, his deep voice smooth as molasses—“Nah, you good, love. We ain’t mean to stop what you gotta do.”
You quickly wipe your face with the back of your hand, giggling apologetically at her, your earlier tears replaced by a warm, flustered grin.
“Thank you, sweetheart,” you murmur as she carefully sets the plates down.
“Is there anything else y’all need?” she asks, glancing between you two like she’s half-expecting another emotional hurricane.
Onyankopon settles into his seat, stretching his long legs out before casually dropping the bomb—“Can you box her up as a to-go entrée?”
Your mouth falls open before you snatch a fry off his plate and flick it at him. He catches it between his teeth, smirk victorious as he chews.
“Damn. Nevermind then,” he murmurs, low and playful, making the waitress bite back a laugh before she scurries off.
The rest of the night feels good—normal in a way that makes your chest ache with gratitude. Before leaving, you drag him into the restaurant’s vintage black and white photo booth, cramming yourselves into the tiny space. He grumbles “This shit for teenagers,” but still lets you pose him—gruff, sexy glares mixed with moments where he suddenly pulls you in, his lips at your neck, his hands possessive on your hips while the flash captures it all.
And when you climb back into the Hummer later, the LED lights inside now glow a soft violet—you can’t help but watch him with quiet fascination.
He’s on the phone with one of his men, voice a low, authoritative rumble—“Nah, don’t move ‘til I say so”—while his free hand rolls a blunt with effortless precision, his thick fingers crimping the paper just right.
The Hummer idles softly outside your apartment building, the engine a quiet purr beneath the hum of the city at night. The LED glow from the dashboard paints his sharp features in an otherworldly hue—high cheekbones catching the light, the flicker of his chains as he moves.
You sit curled in the passenger seat, cradling the bouquet of flowers he’d surprised you with earlier—roses, peonies, all lush and fragrant. You press your nose into the petals, inhaling deeply as your lashes flutter shut for just a second. Sweet. Just like him when he wanted to be.
Across from you, Onyankopon flicks his lighter—the flame casting brief, dancing shadows across his deep brown skin, his tattoos momentarily illuminated like ancient script. He takes a long pull from the blunt, smoke curling from his nostrils in smooth, practiced streams.
“Non, fais pas ça—Nah, don’t do that. Li pa bon pou biznis.”
You watch as he takes another hit, the ember glowing bright before he exhales again, smoke filling the space between you.
“Mwen pral rele ou pli ta,” he murmurs into the phone before ending the call.
Silence settles, but it’s comfortable—heavy with the scent of weed and flowers, the quiet understanding between you two thicker than the smoke.
You reach over, brushing a thumb over his knuckles.
“Teach me,” you murmur.
He arches a brow.
“Creole?”
You nod.
His lips curl into that half smirk that always makes your stomach flutter as he nudges the blunt between his fingers and murmurs, "Say ‘Mwen renmen w’."
I love you.
You bite your lip to suppress the grin threatening to take over your face—you know what it means—but you play along anyway, voice lilting sweetly, “Mwen renmen w."
His eyes darken, the low purple light catching the flecks of gold in them as he exhales smoke and leans closer, rough palm cradling your jaw.
“I love you so much fuckin’ more, girl."
You only took two hits, but it’s enough—your body melts against his side, pliant and warm, your cheek pressing into the firm curve of his shoulder as he scrolls through his phone with one hand, the other absently tracing circles on your thigh.
Messages light up the screen—coordinates, confirmations, the usual—but you’re too busy nuzzling into the scruff along his jaw, breathing in the mix of his cologne and weed. You press a feather light kiss there, right where his beard meets his cheekbone.
“Thank you, mama," he murmurs, voice gravel rough but tender.
You go in for another, but this time he turns his head just enough to meet you halfway—a quick peck at first, teasing. But when you chase his lips, he hums low in his throat and suddenly it’s not quick anymore.
His tongue swipes across your bottom lip, demanding entry, and you part for him with a breathy sigh. The kiss deepens—slow, filthy, calculated—until you’re squirming in your seat, your fingers tangled in his chains.
“Aight," he growls against your mouth, one hand already on the door handle—“"We takin’ this shit upstairs."
The kiss is molten, unhurried but heavy with intent—your foreheads bump together, lips slanting clumsily as you whimper into his mouth, needier than usual. Your heel slides up over the center console, legs spreading just enough in that shy, wordless way of yours—can’t wait, don’t make me wait.
Then—there—the rough pad of his middle finger swiping over your clothed folds, and fuck, the fabric is already damp, sticking to your skin. Your tongue stutters against his, a broken huff catching in your throat as your head falls back against the seat.
“….Ain’t even touched yo’ ass yet,” he murmurs, but his finger circles again, mimicking the lazy thrust of his tongue—slow, then slower—until you’re squirming, your hips canting up into his touch.
“Mwen renmen w,” you mewl, and his fingers curl, gripping your thigh as he licks into your mouth like he’s trying to taste the words.
“‘Fuckin’ right you do.”
The air in the Hummer is thick—hot with the weight of desperate breaths and the slick, sinful sound of his fingers teasing you through damp fabric. Your hands fist gently in his beard, the coarse strands scraping against your palms, sending a shiver down your spine. You can’t help it—you nuzzle against the roughness, craving the friction, the burn of it against your skin before dragging him down into another filthy, open mouthed kiss.
Your legs spread wider—so fucking wide—knees falling slack against the leather seats, silently begging.
His fingers then hook into the waistband of your capris, dipping just beneath. He doesn’t even push inside yet, just swipes slow along your soaked folds, gathering the slick there before dragging back up. Your hips jerk, but he pins you with a glare, forehead pressed hard against yours as his breath fans over your parted lips.
“M’gonna cum if you put ‘em in,” you whimper, voice trembling, weak.
You squirm, biting your lip—“Ony…I’m so wet.”
His nostrils flare, eyes narrowing as he leans in, his breath hot against your ear—“I’mma put ‘em in. You ‘bet not fuckin’ cum.”
The moment his thick fingers slide inside you, deep, your body betrays you in the most obscene way—your pussy clenches around him with a wet, shuddering pfft as his knuckles sink into your swollen folds.
A weak, desperate sob tears from your throat, your voice breaking high and needy like you haven’t been touched in years, like his fingers are the only thing keeping you sane. Worse? You gush around him instantly, soaking his hand in a humiliating rush of slick, your hips jerking helplessly.
“Fuck,” he growls, dragging the word out low and rough as your eyes roll back. He’s fucking you with his fingers, slow and deep, curling them just right to make your back arch off the seat.
“Ughn—ohmygod—“ you slur, voice wrecked, your mouth falling slack as he pistons his fingers in and out, your wetness squelching around them with every thrust.
He leans in, his breath hot against your ear—“Soundin’ like a fuckin’ baby.”
And you do—whimpering, gasping, your pussy clenching around his fingers like it’s trying to milk them for more.
“Ain’t even fucked you yet,” he murmurs, cruel, twisting his fingers just to hear you sob again.
A desperate whimper claws its way up your throat as you crash your mouth against his in a messy, open mouthed kiss—tongue sliding filthy against his, lips smearing wet and frantic. Your brows knit together, a tight little frown creasing your forehead as his fingers bury themselves even deeper, stretching you with that perfect, brutal coil that makes your toes curl.
“Onyo’—fuhh—!"
The words dissolve into a senseless slur, your voice cracking as your legs hike higher, knees pressing into your chest, showing him—begging him—just how badly you need it.
Your mind hazes, drifting back to those long nights alone—phone pressed to your ear, his voice rough through the receiver as he talked you through it, murmuring filthy promises while you rubbed your clit with trembling fingers, tears streaking your cheeks.
And now? You can’t even handle the real thing.
His fingers withdraw with a wet pop, leaving you empty and whimpering—until his rough grip tangles in your hair, yanking your face toward his lap with a throaty command.
“Gon’ eat this dick up," he grunts, voice dripping with dominance—“Actin’ like you can’t even take my fingers."
You surge forward, pressing a sloppy, desperate kiss against his lips—“M’sorry—"
“Ion’ wanna hear allat’,” he growls, "On yo’ knees."
He shoves the console back with one hand, his other hand still fisted in your curls, guiding you down. The sight of you beneath him is obscenely perfect—your large, teary eyes peering up through your lashes, lips parted and puffy, freckled cheeks flushed.
With trembling hands, you tug his sweats down just enough to free him—his dick springs out, thick and angry, the tip already glistening. It’s bigger than your face, heavy in your small hands, veins prominent under your fingertips.
"Fuck," you whimper—you can’t help yourself, smacking the swollen head against your tongue before licking a kittenish stripe up his shaft.
His rough palm cups the side of your face, calloused fingers pressing into your soft skin before delivering a dominant smack—not hard enough to hurt, just enough to make you whimper and redden under his touch.
“How much you missed this dick?" He growls, watching with hooded eyes as you bob your head messily, spit and pre-cum slicking your lips.
Your answer comes in slurred, desperate sucks—“Mmmhh—mmph!"—the vibration of your whimpers traveling up his length. You've always struggled to take him fully, but you try so hard, your throat fluttering around the head as you choke back tears.
He chuckles darkly, reaching for the blunt still smoldering in the ashtray. Onyankopon takes a slow drag, exhaling smoke through his nose like some kind of arrogant god watching his worshipper struggle.
“Pull them pretty ass titties out," he commands, "You know what a nigga like."
With shaky hands, you tug your top down, letting your heavy breasts spill free. Your nipples are already peaked and sensitive, and when your fingers brush over them, you jolt with a breathy gasp.
“Ah—!"
“Keep goin'," he rumbles, sinking deeper into his seat, blunt dangling between his fingers as he watches you with lazy hunger.
“‘Ain't tell you to stop."
You press your tits together around his thick length, the head of his dick peeking out between the softness of your cleavage. You begin rocking your body, fucking him with your tits in slow, worshipful strokes—
"Mwen renmen w," you mewl again, voice weak and trembling, your swollen lips forming the words between gasps.
“Say that shit again.”
“Mwen renmen w!" you mewl even deeper, your hips jerking uselessly as your arousal drips down your thighs.
He grunts, finally tossing the blunt aside—“Fuck it. A nigga need yo’ pussy now."
Your fingers clutch at his shoulders, pulling him down as your back hits the leather seat—his massive frame hovers over you, swallowing you in shadow except for the violet glow of the LED lights streaking across his sweat-slicked skin. Your lips find him again in a weak, sloppy kiss, your mind too fogged with lust to form coherent thoughts—just need, just heat, just him.
“Show a nigga what he been missin’.”
Your thighs tremble as you slowly spread your legs wider beneath him, presenting your soaked folds—puffy and glistening under the dim light.
“Been waitin’ for you," you whimper, voice cracking with desperation.
The words hit him like a match to gasoline.
He crashes his mouth back onto yours in a searing kiss before trailing his lips down—lower—licking a hot stripe down your neck, sucking bruises into your throat, teeth scraping over your collarbone. Your back arches when his tongue swirls around one taut nipple, then the other, pulling whines from your chest as pleasure spikes through you.
But he doesn’t stop there.
Strong hands grip your thighs, spreading them wider as he licks his lips—"Fuck, look at you."
And then he dives in.
His tongue drags slow and filthy up your slit, savoring you before he buries his face between your legs, nose nudging your clit as he devours—deep, hungry strokes of his tongue, curling just right inside you.
Your hands fly to his braids, gripping tight as your hips jerk—
"Fuck, baby.”
His response? A low, vibrating growl against your pussy, his fingers digging into your thighs to hold you still as he feasts.
Onyankopon’s mouth is filthy—so loud, messy and wet, lips sealing around your clit with a suck that makes your whole body jerk. Saliva and arousal mix in obscene, sloppy sounds, his tongue working you open with rough, languid strokes like he's savoring every damn second.
You tuck your chin shyly, peeking down at him through fluttering lashes—his face buried between your thighs, eyes hooded with satisfaction as he eats you like his last meal. Your fingers tangle in his braids, twisting gently, playing with the silky strands as a soft pout forms on your lips.
“…Missed playin’ in your hair," you whimper, voice thick with emotion—almost fragile, like admitting it out loud makes it more real.
“Ain’t gotta miss it,” he rasps, his tongue plunging deep—"Keep playin’ in my shit. Gon’ let you braid me up again after you make a fuckin’ mess on me."
Your breath hitches, fingers tightening in his hair as you nod frantically, spreading your legs even wider—"Uh-huh—y-yeah—!"
Your words dissolve into stupid, slurred nonsense—"Ony—fuhh—I’mgonnac—“ as your pussy gushes against his mouth, the lewd squelch of his tongue working you over drowning out your weak cries. Your cheeks burn hot, embarrassment and pleasure twisting together as you feel everything—his nose grinding against your clit, his lips sucking your folds, his tongue fucking into you in slow, filthy circles.
“Taste so fuckin’ good," he growls against your skin, the vibration making you squeal peevishly.
“Mwen renmen w..."
And just like that? Switch flipped.
His grip tightens, lifting your legs effortlessly over his broad shoulders, thumbs rubbing slow circles into the arches of your feet like he’s savoring the feel of you.
“Keep tellin’ a nigga you love him,” he grunts, voice low and rough—"Let’s have a conversation."
You whimper, arms looping around his neck, pulling him closer until his forehead presses against yours—breaths mingling, hearts pounding.
“Mwen renmen w," you whisper again, barely audible, lips brushing his with each syllable.
And then—oh God—you feel him. His thick length slaps against your soaked folds, the blunt head nudging at your entrance, already making your body tense in anticipation.
“Yeah, huh? Talk to me."
You nod frantically, pliant eyes struggling to focus as he starts to sink in—slow, so damn slow—stretching you in a way you haven’t felt in too long.
Your face twists—lips parting around a shaky gasp—as the fullness steals your breath. And then? Emotion hits you like a tidal wave.
Tears prick at your eyes, your chest swelling with something so big it hurts. You feel connected—like his soul is pressing into yours with every inch.
“Mwen renmen w," you sob—weakest yet, voice cracking—as he finally bottoms out, his hips flush against your ass.
His groan is guttural, hands tightening on your thighs—“Fuck, mama—I know."
And then he moves.
His strokes are borderline punishing—each thrust forcing a choked gasp from your throat, the stretch of him bordering on too much, too deep, too everything. Yet your body clings to him greedily, walls fluttering around his length like it’s been starved—rewarding him for every inch he takes, every brutal snap of his hips that leaves you whimpering.
Your toes curl, thighs trembling where they’re hooked over his shoulders. One large hand fists at the nape of your hair, yanking your face close to his until your foreheads knock together—your head jerks back with each rough thrust, lips parted in a shaky pout, tears spilling over your flushed cheeks.
Weak little sobs hitch in your chest with every drive of his hips, your nails digging crescent moons into the sweat-slick muscles of his back. Between broken moans, your voice cracks—soft, vulnerable—
“Hurts—seein’ you leave," you sniffle, brows knitting together, “D—don’t…wanna do that again…”
His glare darkens, jaw tightening as he rams into you harder—deeper—a grunt tearing from his chest as his breath fans hot over your face.
“Then don’t," he snarls, voice raw with possessiveness, "Ain’t goin’ nowhere if you keep takin’ dick like this.”
Your next cry is swallowed by his mouth—his kiss bruising, tongue forcing its way past your lips as if to silence your doubts. And god help you, you let him—melting into the pain, the pleasure, the promise in every snap of his hips.
You’re silent now—past words, past whimpers—just taking him, your body trembling under the sheer weight of his dominance. The only sound is the obscene squelch of your pussy creaming around him, gushing embarrassingly with every withdrawal of his thick length.
“That’s it—take this shit. Ain’t no runnin’ now,” he growls, watching your teary eyes roll back as your walls clench around him.
A surrendering little sob escapes you once more—weak, broken—your hands limply gripping his shoulders as he fucks you through it, his pace never faltering.
“Fuck, girl—you drippin’ all on me."
And you are—soaking his thighs, the leather seats, everything. Your orgasm wrings you out in slow, torturous waves as he uses you, claims you, ruins you.
His touch softens just enough to soothe—calloused fingers brushing away your tears as he kisses you through your cries, lips lingering against yours in a rare moment of tenderness.
“M’sorry,” he just grunts, voice rough with sincerity.
“Ain’t leavin’ you again."
Your nods and whimpers dissolve into another aching climax, your pussy pulsing around him as you drown in the love, the passion, the need. It’s a moment that could last forever.
But just like that? The mood shifts.
His grip tightens, flipping you effortlessly onto your knees, face pressed into the leather as he drags you back onto his lap—ass up, his dick buried to the hilt inside you. Your feet tuck atop his thighs, heels digging in as you let out a tiny, shuddering “O—Ooh—!"
You start slow. Rolling your hips back tentatively, but he then growls, “Take yo’ time. ‘This dick ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
The command is clear.
You listen, setting a rhythm—slow, deliberate—skin slapping together in a steady, filthy clap that fills the heavy silence. Your thighs tremble, face smushed into the seat as your whimpers grow louder—"O—O-ooh—!"
Onyankopon’s hand cracks down on your ass, “‘There she go’. My lil’ nasty ass bitch."
Your fingers slip between your lips, stifling your moans as you rock back onto him, ass quaking with each bounce.
“I ain’t movin’," he warns, "Give me a fuckin’ show.”
You press a shaky hand against his abdomen for leverage, sitting up just enough to feel him deeper—too deep—hitting a spot so painfully good your body locks up.
His grip tightens around your waist as you whimper—"Ooh, shit!” before desperately bouncing your ass back onto him, the sound of skin slapping skin deafening in the enclosed space.
And then? Your pussy farts around him for the thousandth time, wet and obscene, the vibration dragging a trembling groan from your throat—“Ooooh, mygod—Papa—!"
You were never loud like this.
Your moans drag out—whiny, high-pitched, annoyed with yourself because you can’t stop them, each thrust pulling another pathetic sound from your lips.
Onyankopon’s hand slips around your torso, calloused fingers cupping beneath your breasts where his name brands into your skin—it’s effortless. He’s bouncing you down onto his dick like you weigh nothing, your legs kicking weakly as your cream paints his length.
“You gon’ keep takin’ this muhfucka’ like you missed it.”
And you do—each bounce, each squelch, each fatty noise your pussy makes proving it.
"That’s my muhfuckin’ girl."
Your head falls back against his shoulder, mouth drooling, eyes rolling, body melting. He owns you.
His thick forearm presses against your throat, the pressure just enough to make your vision blur at the edges as he fucks into you with even more brutal, punishing strokes. His jaw rests heavy atop your head, your weak panting the only sound you can manage past the tightness in your windpipe—your body submitting under his dominance.
“Mmmf—hot," you mewl, sweat slicked skin sticking to his, the air in the car suffocating.
Without breaking rhythm, Onyankopon reaches over and rolls the window down, the sudden rush of night air hitting your overheated skin—
Oh God.
Your noises—those pathetic, whimpering, creaming sounds—are now free to echo into the quiet neighborhood.
Panicked, you reach a shaky hand toward the window switch—but his grip tightens around your throat, cutting off your air as he rams up into you, all while tugging you down onto his dick even harder.
“Nngh—!" you choke, humiliation burning through you as you clench around him.
“You whinin’ like a bitch,” he grunts directly into your ear, the vibration shooting straight to your core.
Then, with a final rough tug, he forces your face toward the open window—forcing you to see the dimly lit houses, the quiet streets—his people, his city.
“Let everybody know I’m back home.”
And you scream. His name ripping from your throat, raw and unhinged.
“Mwen renmen w,” he growls between thrusts, the Creole rolling off his tongue like honey mixed with gravel—your words, your love, thrown back at you with the same raw intensity you’d given him all night.
Your body jerks as he nuts—deep, so deep—his release flooding you in thick, pulsing waves that make your thighs quiver.
For a long moment, there’s nothing but heavy breathing—his chest rising and falling against your back, your own breath hitching in your throat as aftershocks ripple through you.
Then, weakly, you tilt your head up, catching his lips in one last, tender kiss—your little cries soft against his mouth, voice trembling with everything—relief, exhaustion, love.
Your body melts back against his chest, muscles lax and satisfied as you peer out through the cracked window at the quiet streets of the 7th Ward. The humid night air carries the distant hum of cicadas and the faint bassline of someone’s music drifting from a porch down the block. His warmth presses into your back, steadying, as you tilt your head to murmur against his skin—
“Where would we go... if we left?"
For a beat, he stills—his breath huffing against your damp shoulder before he nuzzles into the crook of your neck, lips brushing the sensitive skin there.
“Wherever you wanna be, girl. ‘Long as it’s got a bed that can take how I fuck you."
A weak giggle bubbles from your throat—but then you say it, the words slipping out before you can second-guess them.
“‘M serious, Papa. I think it’s time to get out the 7th.”
You feel his surprise, the way his grip tightens reflexively around your waist.
“Where ‘this comin’ from?”
You swallow, suddenly shy.
"Been thinkin’... ’bout quiet. ‘Bout space. ‘Bout you—us—somewhere ain’t nobody knockin’ on the door.”
His fingers trace idle patterns on your hip as he murmurs, “A crib up in the Art District ‘don’t sound bad."
“Gives more space for Bear to run around."
“Yeah," he agrees, "A nigga could look into some trade schools ‘round there too."
Wait.
You turn slightly in his arms, searching his face.
“You’re serious?"
He nods. Then he says it—words heavy with the weight of a future he’s choosing.
“‘Wanna give you a ring. A child. ‘Can’t do allat’ bein’ on the streets.”
Your heart swells.
You clutch his face as you say, “It doesn’t matter who you are to everybody else. You got me. I love you more than life itself, Onyankopon.”
He grunts low in his throat—then crashes his lips against yours in a kiss so deep, so emotional, it makes you giggle against his mouth, cheeks burning.
“We finna’ go get a ring right fuckin’ now.”
You giggle once more, pressing a hand to his chest.
"Let’s make it into the house first, yeah? We need a shower."
"Aight. Imma’ fuck you again in there."
You squeak as he hoists you up, your half naked body tucked tight against his chest as he steps out into the humid night. A few voices call out from porches down the block—“Aye, Ony back home!"—cheery, thick with that Southern lilt.
You nestle your face against the sweat damp skin of his collarbone before murmuring, “…The 7th ain’t so bad with you here."
When you peer up, his gaze is already locked on you—dark, heavy, full of something that makes your stomach flip.
“A nigga couldn’t ask for anythin’ more than yo’ love.”
Before you can respond—scratch scratch scratch—Bear’s massive paws hit the front door, his excited whines vibrating through the wood.
Onyankopon just chuckles, adjusting you in his arms as he kicks the door open. And the last thing the neighborhood hears before it slams shut? Your giggles, his grunt as Bear tackles him, and the thud of all three of you entering inside with a heap.
Warnings: Jake as a father, kissing, flirting disguised as arguing, injury, + chaos at the end
Summary: Tuk almost died because they weren't paying attention. Now Y/N and Aonung have to deal with the consequences. The guilt? Manageable. Admitting they're in love? Significantly harder. Well that's when the storm comes in the play.
The day had been going well, too well, really, which should have been the first warning.
Y/N Sully balanced effortlessly on the rocky outcrop, her bowstring taut between her fingers as she tracked the school of fish darting through the shallows below. The water was clear, the sun warm against her shoulders, and Tuk's excited giggles from where she crouched nearby were a constant, comforting hum beneath the sound of the waves.
Aonung, of course, ruined it.
"Your stance is off," he muttered just as she loosed her spear. It struck the water a second too late, and the fish scattered in a silver flash.
She clenched her jaw. "My stance is fine."
"Your spear arm wobbles like a newborn's," Aonung added, leaning against a nearby rock with that insufferable half-smirk. His own catch, three fat fish already strung on a vine, swung lazily from his hip while Y/N's fingers twitched at her sides, already preparing for a punch.
"Maybe if you shut your mouth for once, I wouldn't miss," Y/N snapped, whirling on him so quickly that her braids lashed against her shoulders.
His smirk didn't falter. If anything, it widened, infuriatingly unbothered.
Tuk giggled again, crouched far too close to the water's edge, her tiny fingers skimming the surface as she tried to catch minnows.
"You’re blaming me for your bad aim now?" Aonung drawled, rolling his shoulders as though he were settling in for a proper argument. The tide licked lazily at the rocks beneath them, but beyond the cove the sky had already begun to bruise purple along the horizon, the familiar warning of a storm gathering out at sea. Y/N barely noticed. She was too busy imagining how satisfying it would be to wipe that smirk off his face with her fist.
Tuk's delighted squeal twisted suddenly into a sharp gasp, then a scream, high and panicked, cutting through the salt-heavy air like a knife.
Y/N spun toward the sound just in time to see her little sister's small hands clawing at the surface, fingers spread wide before she was dragged beneath the water with a violent splash. The sea churned where she vanished, bubbles bursting upward in frantic streams.
Y/N didn't think as she lunged forward, her forgotten spear clattering against the rocks as her knees slammed into wet stone and both arms plunged into the shallows. Her fingers brushed nothing but froth and the slick pull of retreating waves.
"Tuk!"
The name tore from her throat, raw and desperate.
Aonung's mocking smirk vanished instantly.
He was moving before Y/N could shout again, diving into the water in a clean arc, his body cutting through the waves with the effortless precision of someone born to the sea.
Dark shapes writhed beneath the surface.
It’s not a fish. It’s something larger and alive.
Y/N's pulse hammered against her ribs as she waded in after him, icy water climbing her shins while panic tightened around her chest like a vice. She couldn't see clearly through the churned-up water. Couldn't reach far enough. Couldn't do anything except watch.
Then Aonung surfaced.
He broke through the waves with a gasp, Tuk clutched tightly against his chest.
The creature, some eel-like monstrosity streaked with faint bioluminescent markings, still clung to her ankle, its jaws locked in a vicious grip.
Aonung snarled something low and wordless.
One arm remained wrapped around Tuk while the other drove his hunting knife downward.
Once.
Twice.
The water darkened around them.
The creature convulsed violently before going limp, its grip finally loosening as it slipped beneath the surface and disappeared into the depths.
Tuk trembled uncontrollably when Y/N gathered her into her arms.
Her sobs were muffled against Y/N's collarbone, her fingers digging into her sister's arms as though she feared she might vanish if she let go.
Y/N held her tighter.
"I've got you," she whispered, pressing her lips against Tuk's damp curls while her own breath came in ragged gulps. "I've got you, Tuk-Tuk."
Aonung waded toward them, his expression unreadable, his usual arrogance replaced by something strained and quiet.
For a moment his hands hovered uncertainly near Tuk's back, as though he wasn't entirely sure he had the right to comfort her now.
"She okay?" he asked, his voice rough.
Y/N swallowed hard before nodding. "Just scared."
She adjusted Tuk in her arms, trying to ignore the way her own legs shook from the rush of adrenaline.
"We need to get her home."
Tuk tightened her grip immediately.
"Don't wanna go in the water again."
The words twisted painfully in Y/N's chest.
She couldn't blame her.
Before she could reply, Aonung stepped forward, his jaw set with quiet resolve. “I’ll carry her,” he declared, his words carrying the weight of an order rather than an offer.
"You keep watch."
Something hot and defensive flared in Y/N's chest, but before she could argue, Tuk lifted her tear-streaked face and reached toward him.
“Okay,” she whispered, her voice so soothing it silenced every protest Y/N could muster.
Aonung took her carefully, settling her against his side with surprising gentleness, one hand resting lightly against her back.
Within moments Tuk sagged against him, exhausted, her small frame finally surrendering to the aftermath of fear.
Y/N clenched her fists, feeling a surge of frustration. She should have been the one carrying Tuk, the one to pull her from the water. Yet, it was Aonung who had moved faster, who had saved her. The realisation left a bitter taste in her mouth.
"Let's go," she muttered quietly.
Behind them, the first drops of rain began to fall.
The wind whipped the waves into frothing peaks behind them, and the first crack of thunder split the sky just as they reached the woven pathway leading to the Sully family's marui.
Jake Sully was already standing in the doorway, his silhouette sharp against the glow of the hearth.
His expression darkened as he observed Tuk’s limp form in Aonung’s arms, the trembling of Y/N’s hands at her sides, and the unnatural pallor that had settled over both their faces. Rain slashed sideways through the open doorway, soaking the woven floor mats and bringing the storm’s scent inside.
“What happened?” Jake’s voice was low and dangerous, a tone that could make even the reef’s boldest predators retreat.
"It was a tsurak," Aonung said, his voice flat and his shoulders squared as though he were bracing for a blow.
Tsurak.
The creature slithered through Metkayina legends like venom through a wound, whispered about in hushed tones around dying cookfires. Elders spoke of bioluminescent streaks pulsing through the blackest depths and jaws capable of swallowing a child whole.
Jake's eyes flicked immediately to Tuk's ankle, where dark bruises were already beginning to bloom beneath the skin.
Something in his face went still.
Neytiri appeared behind him, her fingers curling around the doorframe until her knuckles whitened. Her gaze locked onto Tuk’s tear-streaked face before sharply shifting toward Y/N.
“Explain.” It wasn’t a request.
Y/N opened her mouth, but the confession lodged in her throat before it could form.
We weren't paying attention. I let her get too close. I was too busy arguing with him.
The truth tasted like failure.
Beside her, Aonung shifted Tuk's weight in his arms, his jaw tightening.
"She wandered too deep," he said more quietly. "The tsurak was hunting near the reef. It..."
"You were supposed to be watching her."
Jake stepped forward, rainwater dripping from his braids, his voice dropping into a low snarl.
The accusation wasn’t against Aonung; it was directed at Y/N.
She felt it land like a slap. She flinched to which Aonung stiffened immediately.
Behind Jake, Neytiri's tail lashed once, sharp enough to crack through the silence.
"It wasn't just her," he said, his voice rough. "I was there too. I didn't see..."
"Enough."
Neytiri stepped forward and took Tuk from his arms before he could finish.
Tuk whimpered but didn't resist, curling into her mother's chest like a frightened hatchling seeking shelter. Neytiri's fingers traced the bruises around her ankle, her nostrils flaring as she examined the injury.
The silence that followed settled heavily over the room, thick enough that it felt almost physical, pressing into Y/N’s ribs with every breath she took.
Neytiri did not speak at first. Her arms remained firm around Tuk, who had begun to quiet in her grasp, the earlier terror slowly giving way to exhaustion, her small fingers still curled tightly into the fabric of her mother’s chest as if she feared the world might take her again if she let go. Neytiri’s eyes, however, had not softened. They moved between Y/N and Aonung with a steady, unyielding focus, taking in every detail, every tremor of guilt, every drop of rain still clinging to their skin.
"You both failed," she said at last, her voice low and absolute, cutting cleanly through the lingering storm outside.
The words landed with a finality that made Y/N’s throat tighten painfully, because there was no anger left in them anymore, no heat to argue against or defend herself from, only truth, heavy and undeniable.
Tuk could have died.
The thought pressed into her chest until it hurt to breathe.
Jake exhaled through his nose, turning slightly away as though even looking at them a moment longer was difficult, his shoulders tightening beneath the weight of exhaustion and something deeper, something closer to disappointment than fury.
Y/N clenched her hands at her sides, nails biting into her palms as she tried not to let the pressure behind her eyes spill over, because crying would not fix anything and it would not undo what had already happened, and she knew, even without being told, that neither of them would accept excuses.
Aonung stood rigid beside her, rain still dripping from the ends of his braids onto the woven floor, his usual confidence nowhere to be found beneath the silence that wrapped itself around him. His jaw was tight, but he did not speak, and the absence of his voice felt almost unfamiliar in a way that made everything worse.
For a long moment, no one moved.
The storm outside filled the gap between them instead, wind pressing against the walls of the marui and rain striking the woven structure in uneven, restless rhythms that mirrored the tension inside.
It was Tuk’s small sound that finally broke it, a soft, tired sniffle as she shifted in Neytiri’s arms, her grip loosening just slightly now that she was safe again, though not entirely willing to let go. Neytiri immediately adjusted her hold, brushing damp hair back from Tuk’s face with a gentleness that contrasted sharply with the severity in her expression.
Jake finally turned back toward them, his gaze lingering on Y/N for a moment longer than Aonung, something unreadable passing through his eyes before he spoke again, quieter now, controlled but firm.
“We take her to Ronal,” he said.
After that, there was no discussion, only movement and the lingering weight of everything that had already been said. There was an unspoken understanding that nothing about this would be forgotten easily, not by any of them.
Tsahik's hut sat farther back from the shore, where the reef’s constant roar dulled into something steadier, like a deep breath held beneath the surface of the world. The path there was walked in near silence, broken only by the soft sound of Tuk’s occasional whimper as she shifted in Neytiri’s arms, and the steady rhythm of rainwater dripping from Aonung’s braids onto the packed sand beneath their feet.
Jake led the way without looking back, his shoulders set in a rigid line that made it clear this was not a walk, but a decision already made and being carried out. Neytiri followed closely behind, her grip on Tuk never loosening, as if holding her was the only thing preventing the moment from breaking further. Y/N walked slightly behind them, each step weighed down by the presence of Aonung beside her, though she did not look at him yet, not while her thoughts remained too raw to safely confront.
When they arrived, Ronal was already waiting.
She did not ask what happened at first, because whatever urgency had brought them here was already written across their bodies in salt, bruises, and exhaustion. Instead, she stepped forward with calm precision and took Tuk from Neytiri’s arms without hesitation, lowering the child onto a woven mat near the hearth where the light was warm and steady, untouched by the storm still raging outside.
"It was tsurak," Aonung said before anyone else could speak, his voice rough and immediate, as though the words had been sitting too long in his throat.
Ronal pressed her palm flat against Tuk’s ankle, her fingers spreading carefully over the bruised skin as she examined the injury with quiet precision, her touch steady in a way that made it clear she was reading far more than just what could be seen on the surface.
“Tsurak,” she murmured, her voice low and deliberate as she kept working, “do not hunt near the reef.”
Her golden eyes lifted then, sharp and unflinching, settling on Y/N and Aonung in a way that made the air feel suddenly thinner, as though the space inside the hut itself had tightened around them.
“They live in the deep waters. Far from here.”
Aonung shifted slightly beside Y/N, his tail giving a small, restrained flick against the floor, a rare sign of discomfort he did not try to hide but also did not explain.
“Then why—”
“They are drawn to noise,” Ronal interrupted without looking away from Tuk for long, her fingers pressing lightly again against the child’s ankle as though following something invisible beneath the skin, something only she could interpret.
“Loud sounds. Disturbances.”
Her gaze lifted again, slower this time, and lingered on Aonung before moving to Y/N’s hands, still clenched tightly at her sides as if she could hold the moment from falling apart by force alone.
“The tsurak hear it. They follow.”
Y/N felt it in her chest first, a pressure that made the memory come back too clearly, the raised voices, the heat of anger, the sharpness of every word exchanged too close to the water.
Aonung’s tail flicked again, the motion smaller this time, almost involuntary, and the tip brushed lightly against Y/N’s calf before he seemed to register it, both of them stiffening at the contact as if it had been far more deliberate than it actually was. He did not move away, but he also did not acknowledge it, only tightening his jaw and fixing his gaze somewhere beyond the far wall where the storm still beat against the woven sides of the hut.
Jake finally turned fully from the doorway, the shift slow but decisive, and his eyes, dark and unreadable, locked directly onto Y/N.
“You were fighting.”
Y/N’s throat tightened at Jake’s words.
“Yes,” she admitted, the word coming out rough, like it had to be pulled free. Aonung didn’t speak beside her, but his silence carried just as much weight, sharp and unavoidable in the small space between them.
Jake exhaled slowly through his nose. “You realize,” he said, voice low, “that one day, you’ll both be leading your people.”
Oh, believe us, we both know that.
Aonung’s jaw tightened slightly, his fingers twitching once at his sides before he forced them still.
“That’s why we train,” he muttered, the defensiveness quick to surface even if it didn’t fully hold. “To learn.”
Jake’s gaze shifted to him immediately. “Learn what?”
Aonung swallowed, his throat working as he tried to answer and didn’t quite manage to find one. Whatever confidence he usually wore wasn’t there anymore, stripped down to something tighter and less certain.
Jake’s hand flexed once against his thigh, then again before he let out a slow, controlled breath and turned away from them.
“We’ll talk in the marui,” he said, his voice low enough that it almost disappeared under the storm. It wasn’t offered as a choice, and the set of his shoulders made it clear there wouldn’t be space for disagreement.
Y/N swallowed, her throat dry despite the rain cascading down her skin and soaking through her clothes. She didn’t need to look at Aonung to know he was beside her, completely still, as if even the slightest breath might worsen the situation.
Then Jake added, quieter but sharper “Alone.”
Something shifted in Aonung at that, seeing that his posture tightened, though he still said nothing.
The walk back carried that silence with it.
Only the storm filled the space between them, wind pushing through the trees and rain hitting the ground hard enough to blur the path beneath their feet. Their footsteps sank into the mud in steady rhythm, but no one spoke to break it.
Halfway back, movement broke through the rain ahead of them, and Lo’ak and Neteyam emerged from the downpour.
“What happened?” Neteyam demanded immediately, his attention snapping straight to Y/N as he reached for her arm. “We heard—”
“Later,” Jake cut in without slowing, stepping between them and continuing forward as if the interruption had never fully existed. His hand came down on Lo’ak’s shoulder, firm and guiding, redirecting him without force but with no room to resist.
“I need to speak with your sister alone.”
Lo’ak opened his mouth like he wanted to argue, but Neteyam caught his wrist before he could, holding him back with a quiet look that said enough without words. The protest died before it could fully form, swallowed by the weight in Jake’s voice and the tension in his posture.
Y/N kept walking, with her chest tightening, because even without turning around, she could feel all of them watching her go.
Kiri was waiting in the marui when they arrived, perched on a woven mat. She took one look at Jake's face and rose without a word. As she passed Y/N, she gave her elbow a brief squeeze, equal parts comfort and warning. The woven door flap fell shut behind her with a soft rustle, leaving Y/N alone with her father.
Jake stood by the centre of marui, his hands bracing against its edge and shoulders bowed beneath an invisible weight. Firelight cast shadows across his back, revealing old scars from battles Y/N had only ever heard about in stories.
When he finally spoke, his voice was low and rough.
"You know better."
The words hit harder than any shout. Y/N dug her nails into her palms and replied, “I do.”
"Then why?" Jake turned to face her, his eyes reflecting the firelight. There was no warmth in them, only something sharper. "Why let it get that far?"
He remained still, rainwater trickling from his braids onto the marui floor, and spoke words that pierced deeper than any blade, without raising his voice or pacing.
"I'm disappointed in you, daughter."
Her stomach dropped. My own father says he is disappointed in me. I should have been better, I am supposed to be better.
Y/N's fingers twitched at her sides. Her throat tightened around a sudden, desperate urge to explain, but what could she possibly say?
That Aonung had provoked her?
That she'd lost control?
That none of it would have happened if he had just kept his mouth shut?
The excuses sounded pathetic the moment they formed. Childish.
"Your job is to protect her with your life," he said quietly.
Jake exhaled sharply through his nose, the sound nearly swallowed by the storm rumbling outside, before he turned away. The line of his shoulders remained rigid beneath the dark ink of his tattoos.
"Dismissed."
Y/N swallowed against the bitter taste of failure coating her tongue.
"I'm sorry, sir," she managed, the honorific scraping against her throat like sand.
It wasn't enough. It could never be enough. I will never be enough.
Still, the apology escaped anyway, small and desperate in the silence stretching between them.
Jake remained silent and unmoving. His broad back faced her, silhouetted against the firelight like a statue carved from disappointment and storm.
The rejection stung more than any punishment he could have given.
Unable to bear it any longer, she turned...and ran.
The woven door flap slapped against her shoulder as she pushed through it. Wind-driven rain lashed her cheeks like tiny knives, but she didn't stop.
Her bare feet pounded across the slick pathways, the storm's roar swallowing the strangled sound that escaped through her clenched teeth. Behind her, the warm glow of the Sully marui grew smaller with every stride, swallowed by darkness, rain, and the hollow ache spreading through her chest. Somewhere between the marui and the shoreline, her vision blurred.
Saltwater streaked down her face. Whether it came from the storm or her own tears, she couldn't tell.
It didn't matter.
The sea churned violently beneath the storm’s fury, black waves crashing against each other as the wind tore their crests into frothy white foam. Y/N barely slowed before diving into the churning water.
The cold hit like a punch to the chest, knocking the breath from her lungs.
Good.
Let it hurt.
Let it drown out the echo of dad's words.
Let it smother the memory of Tuk trembling in my arms.
Let it erase the image of Aonung carrying my sister to safety with steady, capable hands when I couldn't.
Y/N kicked harder, driving herself deeper beneath the surface. Salt burned her eyes as she angled toward a submerged cove she had discovered months earlier during one of her reckless solo dives.
She needed to escape everyone and the disappointment reflected in her father’s eyes. I want to run away from myself.
The cove wasn't marked on any clan maps.
A jagged fissure hidden within the reef wall, barely wide enough to squeeze through, opened into a secluded cavern where bioluminescent algae painted the ceiling in swirling shades of blue. Y/N had never shown it to anyone. Not even Lo'ak, with whom she is closest.
Especially not Lo'ak, who would have told Neteyam within the hour.
Now, with her ribs aching and her father's disappointment clinging to her like wet kelp, this small cove was the only place she wanted to be.
Y/N broke the surface with a sharp gasp. Her lungs burned as she wiped saltwater from her stinging eyes.
In that moment, she found herself utterly still, unable to move even a muscle. The cavern around her was bathed in a gentle, ethereal blue light, with delicate ripples of bioluminescence gracefully weaving their way across the surface of the water and casting shimmering patterns on the rugged, jagged stone walls that surrounded her. High above the tranquil pool, perched confidently on a rocky ledge, was a figure whose presence was immediately familiar to her, a sight that stirred a flood of recognition within her mind.
Aonung.
He froze, his hand halfway to a discarded knife beside him. His tail stiffened, and his eyes widened in surprise as they locked onto hers.
For a moment, neither of them moved. The only sounds were the distant drip of water echoing through the cavern and the ragged rhythm of Y/N’s breathing.
“You…” Aonung’s voice cracked. He cleared his throat and lowered his hand slightly, though his fingers remained hovering near the knife. “You followed me?”
Y/N let out a breathless laugh that sounded more like a wheeze.
"Into your secret hideout?" she shot back, hauling herself onto a ledge opposite him. Water streamed from her clothes and pooled beneath her feet. "Don't flatter yourself."
His brows furrowed as the blue glow cast shifting patterns across his face. The tension in his jaw and deepening scowl were illuminated. “Then why are you…”
"Because my father hates me," she snapped, wringing out her braids with more force than necessary.
The words tasted bitter and raw on her tongue. She hadn't meant to say them aloud, especially not to him.
Aonung’s tail flicked, creating ripples across the pool. Uncharacteristically, he had no retort. He simply observed her with that infuriatingly unreadable expression. The algae on the cavern walls pulsed softly, casting shifting shadows that made his features appear older and sharper.
"You come here often?"
Aonung's fingers twitched toward the knife resting beside him, the movement seeming more like habit than caution.
“Often enough,” he muttered, glancing upwards at the algae-streaked ceiling as if it held some hidden wisdom. His usual smirk was gone replaced by a more subdued expression. “When I need to think.”
Y/N snorted, shaking water from her ears.
"Must be exhausting for you."
She slumped against the damp stone drawing her knees to her chest. The cavern’s salty, faintly metallic smell, reminiscent of churned seawater, filled the air. The surprisingly comfortable silence was soon broken by Aonung’s expression.
He leaned forward with his gaze sharpened and his nostrils flared.
"You're bleeding," he said, his voice stripped of its usual teasing edge, that he has in their usual conversations.
Y/N followed his gaze to the shallow cut along her calf.
Blood, diluted, trickled down her skin and vanished into the pool below.
"From the rocks," she muttered, glancing away. "When I lunged for Tuk."
He crossed the small distance between them and crouched beside her, his attention fixed on the wound. His fingers hovered over her calf for a moment, as though weighing whether she would shove him away, before he pressed a damp strip of woven seaweed against the cut. The sudden sting made her hiss through her teeth.
"Hold still," he said, his voice lower than usual.
With remark behind her teeth, Y/N tensed instinctively, her fingers digging into the damp stone beneath her. Aonung's hands were rough from years of spear training and reef hunting, the skin calloused and worn, yet his touch was surprisingly careful as he adjusted the seaweed wrap and pressed it firmly against the wound.
Overhead, the bioluminescent algae pulsed softly, casting shifting patterns of blue light across the cavern walls. The glow illuminated the concentration etched across Aonung's face, highlighting the furrow between his brows as he worked.
There was something strangely unsettling about seeing him like this; not smirking, provoking or looking for a fight. He is simply focused and quiet. He looks wiser.
Without a word, he tore a narrow strip of woven kelp from the wrist wrap he wore and secured the seaweed bandage in place with practiced efficiency. The movement was so natural that it was obvious he had done this many times before.
He finally leaned back to inspect his work.
“There," he said. "It should stop bleeding now."
The silence between them felt heavier than the storm raging beyond the cavern walls.
Y/N found herself watching the way Aonung's hands moved as he secured the final knot in the bandage, his fingers quick and precise in a way that felt completely at odds with the lazy arrogance he usually carried around like a second skin. When he finished, he sat back on his heels, his tail flicking once behind him.
"It'll hold," he said gruffly. "Unless you plan on falling onto another rock."
Y/N flexed her leg, testing the bandage. The sting had dulled considerably, muted by whatever medicinal properties the seaweed possessed.
"Thanks."
I’d never thanked him before, not when he’d rescued me from a riptide during training or saved Tuk.
The realisation settled heavily in her stomach.
Aonung snorted and shifted back to his side of the ledge. "Don't get sentimental."
Then he picked up a loose pebble and tossed it into the pool, with a gesture that felt more absent-minded than mocking. Ripples spread across the glowing water, distorting their reflections beneath the bioluminescent light.
Silence settled between them once more. Y/N stared down at her reflection as the water stretched and warped her features with every passing ripple. Her braids hung loose and tangled from the storm, and there was still dried salt clinging to her skin.
I look awful.
"I should thank you."
Her voice barely carried beyond the steady drip of water echoing through the cavern. Aonung went completely still.
His fingers paused around another pebble.
"...What?"
Y/N swallowed.
"For saving Tuk."
She added, “If you hadn’t been there…”
The memory was still too fresh.
Too vivid.
Tuk disappearing beneath the surface.
The water closing overhead.
Panic.
Aonung looked away first, his grip tightening around the pebble as he stared into the glowing pool below them.
"If I hadn't been there," he said slowly, "the tsurak wouldn't have come at all."
The pebble left his hand with more force than necessary, striking the water and sending ripples racing across the cavern.
"My mother said it herself. Tsurak follow disturbances. Noise. Fighting. We were arguing like children, making enough commotion for every predator in the reef to hear us."
His jaw clenched. “We were behaving like fools.”
Aonung rested his forearms on his knees and continued staring into the water.
"I was pushing because I was angry, and you kept pushing back because you were angry too, and neither of us cared what was happening around us until it was too late."
Y/N exhaled slowly. “Yeah.” The agreement tasted bitter. “We were.”
She traced a finger along the edge of her bandage.
Aonung’s head jerked up in surprise but he quickly schooled it back into neutrality. He studied her for a long moment his gaze tracing the exhaustion in her slumped shoulders and the slight tremor in her fingers against the stone. The cave’s blue glow softened his usual sharp features making him appear younger and almost vulnerable.
"You're admitting fault?" he asked finally, his voice carefully neutral. "That's new."
Y/N scowled, picking at a loose thread in her makeshift bandage. "Don't make it weird." The words came out half-hearted, lacking their usual bite. "She could've died because of us."
The pebble in Aonung's hand cracked against the far wall with sudden violence, the sharp sound echoing through the cavern. "I know." His voice was raw, stripped bare of its usual arrogance. When Y/N looked up, his fingers were clenched so tight around another stone that his knuckles gleamed white in the bioluminescent light. "She trusted us. Both of us. And we—" He exhaled sharply through his nose, the sound jagged. "We failed her."
Y/N swallowed against the lump in her throat. Outside, the storm howled against the cave mouth, waves slamming into the reef with enough force to send tremors through the rock beneath them. Inside, the silence between them felt heavier than the ocean's weight.
Aonung shifted abruptly, his tail flicking droplets of water across the ledge.
"Your father was right."
His jaw tightened as he added, “We’re supposed to be leaders, future leaders, anyway.” He let out a humourless laugh and shook his head. “And today we were just stupid kids.”
Y/N didn't argue.
Staring into the rippling water below, she gazed at her reflection. Salt had left her braids tangled and uneven, while dark shadows lingered beneath her eyes.
"I didn't even see it happen," she admitted quietly. "I was so busy being angry at you that I didn't notice Tuk wandering deeper until..."
“Until she screamed.” Aonung’s voice was flat and weary as he finished his sentence. He picked up another pebble rolling it between his fingers before dropping it into the water. “Same.”
Y/N glanced at him. Perhaps for the first time since they’d met, Aonung seemed completely stripped of his usual confidence. His shoulders curved inward and the rigid line of his spine held a tension no amount of posturing could disguise.
He looked exhausted too.
Aonung exhaled and rubbed his palms against his thighs as though trying to scrub away the memory itself.
"My father won't say it."
His gaze remained fixed on the water. "But he's disappointed too."
Y/N's eyes drifted to his hands as his fingers found the necklace resting against his chest. He traced the intricate weave absentmindedly, following its familiar pattern.
The same necklace Tuk had clung to while he carried her back to shore.
Aonung swallowed. "Not just because of Tuk." His voice dropped lower. "Because of everything."
Y/N frowned slightly. She'd never considered that Tonowari might look at his son and see the same failures her dad saw in her. That beneath Aonung's arrogance, there might be the same crushing weight of expectation.
"I guess we're both disappointments, then," Y/N said, watching a droplet of water slide down the cave wall.
Aonung's tail struck the stone ledge with enough force to send a spray of water into the pool below. The algae's glow caught the sudden tightness around his eyes before he turned his face away. "You were never a disappointment to me," he said, so softly the words almost drowned in the cave's echoes.
Y/N wondered for a moment if she had misheard him. Surely I had.
"What?"
Aonung didn't repeat himself. Just stared at the cave wall as if it held the answers to some unspoken question, his fingers tracing the edge of his knife sheath like a nervous habit she'd never noticed before. The bioluminescent algae pulsed slower now, their light dimming as the storm outside reached its peak, wrapping the cavern in an eerie, flickering twilight.
Y/N suddenly realised her heartbeat was too fast. Far too fast
"Then why—" She swallowed, the words sticking. "Why do you act like you hate me?"
His shoulders tensed. "I don't—" He drew in a sharp breath and dragged a hand across the back of his neck. When he spoke again, his voice was rougher, scraped raw. "It's easier."
"That can't be true," she said, her voice scraping low. "You definitely were disappointed when I kept falling off my ilu the first year we came here."
Aonung's tail flicked sharply against the ledge, scattering droplets. "That was different." His jaw worked around the words as if chewing through tough meat. "You were—" He exhaled sharply through his nose. "You kept getting back on, no matter how many times you fell. Even when the whole clan laughed." His ocean eyes flicked to hers, unguarded for once. "I wasn't disappointed...I was astonished."
Y/N's fingers stilled against her damp bandage. She remembered those early days; her knees bruised purple from ilu saddles, Aonung's mocking laughter ringing across the waves as she surfaced sputtering for the dozenth time.
"You laughed loudest," she pointed out, voice flat.
Aonung's shoulders hunched. "Because it was safer than telling you—" He cut himself off, tossing another pebble into the pool where it sank like a stone between them. "Doesn't matter now."
"It does." Y/N lunged forward, her bandaged calf scraping against rough stone as she grabbed his wrist. The bioluminescent algae pulsed overhead, painting their tangled fingers in eerie blue. "Tell me now" Her voice cracked like breaking ice.
Aonung's pulse jumped beneath her grip. For three heartbeats, the only sound was the distant roar of the storm and the slow drip of water down the cave walls. Then he exhaled like he'd been holding the breath for years.
"It was safer than telling you..." he whispered, the words barely audible above the cave's echoes, "how starstruck I was by you."
The words landed like a spear to the chest. Y/N’s grip slackened around Aonung’s wrist. The cave’s bioluminescent algae pulsed slower now, their dimming glow stretching the silence between them into something taut and fragile.
"Starstruck," she repeated, the word tasting foreign on her tongue.
Aonung’s throat worked as he swallowed, his gaze fixed stubbornly on the rippling pool between them. "By your... personality," he muttered, as if reciting a memorized list. "Courage. Ambition." A muscle twitched in his jaw. "And beauty too, I guess."
Y/N's jaw went slack. The cave’s bioluminescence flickered across Aonung’s face, illuminating the way his ears twitched backward. Her fingers, still loosely curled around his wrist, felt the rapid flutter of his pulse against her fingertips.
"Beauty," she echoed, voice hollow with disbelief.
Aonung’s tail lashed once, sending droplets skittering across the ledge. "Forget I said that." He tried to pull his wrist free, but her grip tightened reflexively.
"You were starstruck?" The words tumbled out before she could stop them, half-choked on something between incredulity and the dawning realization that this was the missing piece. All those years of barbed comments, of him pushing her into the water during training, of lingering stares she’d written off as contempt.
His ears turned deeper blue. "I said forget it."
The cave’s algae pulsed dimly, painting the sharp planes of his face in bruised blues. Y/N exhaled shakily, her fingers loosening around his wrist but not letting go. "I... I looked up to you when we first came here," she admitted, the confession scraping raw against her throat. "You knew the ocean like it was part of you. I thought—" Her voice hitched. "I hoped I would have been able to learn from you. But you didn't even see me."
Aonung's fingers twitched beneath hers, his pulse jumping like a startled fish against her grip. The cave's bioluminescent glow flickered across his face as he exhaled sharply through his nose. "From the moment you stepped off that ikran," he muttered, his voice rough with something Y/N couldn't name, "I couldn't look away."
The cave’s bioluminescence pulsed slower now, the algae dimming as if holding its breath alongside them.
“You left me in the middle of that first spear-throwing lesson. Walked off like I was nothing.” The cave’s algae pulsed dimly, casting his flinch in bruised blue light.
Aonung’s throat worked. He didn’t pull away. “I panicked,” he admitted, voice gravel-rough. “My hands shook so badly I thought I’d drop the spear. Blushed like a hatchling seeing their first eclipse.”
"You... blushed." The words came out half-strangled. She remembered that day with crystalline clarity; Aonung tossing his spear aside mid-lesson, his retreating back rigid with something she'd mistaken for disdain. Not once had she imagined his ears burning beneath the surface or his palms slick against the harpoon's grip.
Aonung's fingers twitched beneath hers. The cave's algae pulsed weakly, illuminating the way his throat moved as he swallowed. "You were standing too close," he muttered, staring resolutely at the water between them. "Kept leaning over my shoulder to see the grip. Your braid kept brushing my arm." His tail lashed once, sending droplets skittering across the ledge. "It was... distracting." The algae suddenly lost their glow and they were met with darkness.
"You ran away," Y/N breathed, the realization dawning like sunrise over open water, "because you got a boner."
Aonung’s tail smacked the ledge with a wet thwap, his ears flattening against his skull. "I panicked," he hissed, yanking his wrist free with enough force to send droplets flying. The darkness hid his expression, but the sudden rigidity of his spine was unmistakable. "You—your braid smelled like—" His fingers flexed violently. "It doesn’t matter."
Y/N’s lips parted. "You panicked," she repeated, voice climbing an octave. "Because I smelled nice?"
Aonung exhaled sharply through his nose with a sound caught between frustration and something embarrassingly close to a whimper. The cave's algae flickered weakly back to life, casting his grimace in fleeting blue light. "Not just nice," he muttered, fingers digging into the ledge beneath them. "Like that stupid oil you rub on your spears and the yellow fruits you seem to never leave alone. Like—" His throat clicked as he swallowed. "Like you."
She remembered that day and the way Aonung had stiffened when she leaned in, which she had mistaken for disgust. "All this time," she whispered, "I thought you hated me."
Aonung's tail lashed once, violently, sending ripples across the pool. "I tried to." The admission came out raw, scraped from somewhere deep. "It would've been easier."
She looked at Aonung’s face; his jaw clenched tight, his blue eyes fixed stubbornly on the cave wall. Y/N’s fingers hovered between them, still tingling from the heat of his wrist.
"Easier," she echoed. The word tasted bitter. "Because hating me meant you wouldn’t have to admit—"
"—that I’m an skxwang," Aonung finished flatly. His fingers dug into the stone ledge, knuckles whitening. The algae’s flickering glow caught the tightness around his eyes. "My father told me to train you. Not to—" His tail lashed once. "Not whatever that was."
Y/N exhaled sharply through her nose. The cave’s damp air smelled suddenly of salt and something like ozone before lightning strikes. Her fingers twitched against the ledge. "So instead of teaching me," she said slowly, "you spent years being insufferable."
Aonung’s ears flattened. "Worked, didn’t it?" His voice lacked its usual bite. "You got good. Better than good. You surpassed me." The admission came out grudging, but not insincere. "Even if it wasn’t by my hand."
Y/N’s fingers traced the damp edge of the seaweed bandage still wrapped around her calf. The cave’s bioluminescent algae pulsed faintly, casting shifting shadows across Aonung’s face as she studied him—really studied him—for the first time. "I watched you," she admitted, voice barely above the cave’s echoes. "After you left me that first lesson." Her thumb pressed against the kelp weave, remembering. "Every spear throw, every dive, every time you adjusted your grip on the harpoon. I memorized it."
Aonung’s breath caught in his throat. His fingers remained pressed against the ledge, water trickling from his braids onto the stone between them.
She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze squarely. "I practiced until my hands bled. Until I could outswim Rotxo, outmaneuver Tsireya." A pause. "Until I matched you."
Aonung’s throat worked. The algae’s glow caught the way his pupils dilated—black swallowing turquoise. "You watched me," he echoed, voice rough.
Y/N’s pulse thundered in her ears. "Every time." The confession hung between them, fragile as sea foam. She remembered those stolen moments; Aonung’s effortless grace in the water, the flex of his shoulders when he hauled himself onto the docks, the way his laughter carried across the waves when he thought no one was listening.
Aonung exhaled sharply, his tail lashing once. "Eywa," he muttered. His fingers uncurled slowly, brushing against her wrist where it rested on the stone between them. His touch burned hotter than the wound on her calf.
"You watched me," Aonung repeated, voice dropping to something low and rough. His thumb traced the raised veins along her wrist, following the path of her racing pulse. "All this time?"
She remembered moonlit nights spent mimicking his spear-throwing stance behind empty maruis, dawn patrols timed to coincide with his fishing routes. "Yes," she whispered.
The cave’s algae pulsed weakly, illuminating the way his gaze traced the line of her throat—like a hunter tracking prey, or a diver memorizing currents. "Why?" The word rasped out, raw.
"Because—" Her voice cracked. The truth clawed up her throat, sharp as coral. "I wanted you to look back. Even if only once."
Aonung went utterly still. His thumb froze mid-stroke against her pulse point, his turquoise eyes widening as the admission sank in.
"Look back," Aonung repeated, voice hoarse. His fingers tightened reflexively around hers—not painful, just present, anchoring them both. His thumb traced the ridge of her knuckles with a roughness that sent sparks up her arm. "All those times I turned away..." His breath hitched. "You were waiting."
Y/N swallowed hard. "Yes and you never did," she murmured. "Look back, I mean."
Aonung’s fingers twitched against hers. The algae’s flickering glow caught the sudden tightness around his eyes. "I did," he said, voice scraping low. "Every time."
"Don't lie to make me feel better," she whispered. To which Aonung’s fingers tightened around hers, pressing her palm flat against the damp stone ledge between them. "I counted your braids," he admitted, voice low, rough. The algae’s glow flickered across his face, illuminating the way his jaw worked around the confession. "Every time you turned away—fifty four. The way the light caught the beads when you moved."
Y/N’s breath caught. She remembered the weight of his gaze during training and how she’d assumed it was scrutiny, not this.
"I memorized the scar on your shoulder," Aonung continued, thumb brushing the inside of her wrist where her veins throbbed. "From the tawtute attack when you were twelve. The way it paled when you were cold." His exhale shuddered. "I watched the way you tied your hair back before diving—always three twists of the cord, never four."
"I saw the way you smiled when your siblings were happy," he admitted, voice rough as reef rock. His fingers flexed around hers, hesitant. "Always wondered what I'd have to do for you to give me that smile."
She remembered those moments; Tuk giggling as she braided flowers into Neteyam's hair, Lo'ak splashing Kiri with a well-aimed wave and her own laughter bubbling up unbidden. She'd never noticed Aonung watching.
Y/N's lips curled upwards at that and she ducked her face away, pressing her forehead against the damp cave wall to hide the flush creeping up her neck. The bioluminescent algae pulsed weakly, casting flickering blue light across the water behind them. She heard Aonung shift beside her, his tail lashing once against the stone ledge, droplets scattering like startled fish.
"You're laughing at me," he muttered emberresed, voice rougher than the cave's walls.
"I'm not," Y/N lied, the words muffled against the cool stone. Her shoulders shook once, betraying her. The mental image of Aonung—proud, infuriating Aonung—counting her braids like some lovestruck hatchling was too absurd not to laugh at. Or maybe it was the sudden, dizzying realization that all those years of mutual hostility had been... what? A badly played game of catch?
Aonung's fingers tapped impatiently against the ledge. "Your shoulders are shaking."
Y/N pressed her lips together, shoulders still trembling as she fought to compose herself. The algae pulsed faintly, casting flickering blue light across Aonung's scowling face when his ears were practically glowing with embarrassment. "It's just—" she hiccuped, wiping at her eyes with the back of her wrist. "All this time, we could've been friends instead of—" Her breath hitched on another suppressed laugh. "Instead of whatever we were."
Aonung's tail smacked the ledge with enough force to send droplets flying. "Friends," he repeated flatly, as if the word tasted foul. His fingers twitched toward her before curling into fists against his thighs. "Is that what you want?"
The question landed between them with unexpected weight. Y/N's laughter died in her throat. She studied his profile in the dim light—the tension along his shoulders, the way his fingers dug into his own thighs. This close, she could see the faint scar bisecting his left eyebrow, the one he'd gotten during their first ill-fated sparring match.
"No," she admitted softly. "No, not just friends."
Aonung went very still. The cave’s algae pulsed weakly, illuminating the way his throat moved as he swallowed. His fingers uncurled slowly from his thighs, hovering just above the damp stone between them. "Then what?" The question came out rough, scraped raw.
Y/N exhaled shakily, as if the very air around her was heavy with the weight of unspoken truths. She remembered those moonlit patrols, where she had matched his stride with deliberate care, just to feel the gentle brush of his tail against hers, a silent communication that spoke volumes. "You know..." she murmured.
The algae’s flickering glow caught the way his pupils dilated. "Say it." Aonung’s voice dropped low, a challenge and a plea woven together. "After all this time, you owe me that much."
The storm outside reached a sudden crescendo, waves slamming against the reef with enough force to send tremors through the cave walls. Y/N’s breath hitched as the vibration skittered up her spine. She lifted her chin. "I wanted you to look at me the way you do when you think no one’s watching," she said, "like I was something worth catching."
His fingers hovered above hers, trembling slightly before curling into fists against the ledge. "I did," he whispered. The words sounded scraped raw. "Every damn day."
The only sound was the gentle falling of water droplets from their bodies.
"It only took a tsurak attack," Y/N muttered, shaking her head as the absurdity of it settled between them like sea foam. "A near-death experience for Tuk. A storm. An accidental metting in a cave." Her fingers traced the damp edge of her seaweed bandage. "For us to admit that."
"I’m glad we did," Aonung murmured, voice rough as the cave walls around them.
The algae pulsed weakly overhead, casting flickering shadows across his face as he turned toward her, ocean blue eyes unguarded for once. His tail curled around the ledge, the tip brushing her thigh.
"Glad we almost got Tuk killed?" she asked, but the bite was gone from her voice. Her fingers flexed against the stone, her pinky overlapping his where they rested between them.
Aonung exhaled sharply through his nose. "No." His thumb traced the ridge of her knuckle, calluses catching on her skin. "Glad it forced us here. To this." His gesture encompassed the cave, the storm outside, the space between them where unsaid things hovered like bioluminescence in dark water.
Y/N ducked her chin, hiding the way her lips twitched upward. Aonung’s fingers twitched against hers. Then suddenly, decisively, he reached up, cupping her jaw with surprising gentleness. His thumb brushed the corner of her mouth, coaxing her face upward until the cave’s dim glow caught her expression.
"Don’t hide it," he murmured. His thumb lingered at the edge of her smile. "After all this time, let me see."
Her pulse hammered against her ribs as his palm cradled her jaw with unexpected reverence. Years of harpoon grips had made his fingers rough but they were impossibly tender against her cheekbone. The weakly pulsing algae illuminated the flecks of blue in his eyes – close enough now to count.
Her smile widened as his thumb traced the curve of her lower lip.
Then his fingers curled into her braids with sudden certainty, pulling her forward until their foreheads touched.
Before closing the distance.
The kiss was sweet at first, but then Y/N's fingers found the woven edge of Aonung's loincloth before her mind could catch up. She fisted the damp fabric and yanked him closer, hard enough for their foreheads to bump together.
Aonung grunted, his free hand slamming against the cave wall to steady himself while the other remained tangled in her braids. Around them, the bioluminescent algae pulsed with a faint glow, casting their intertwined shadows across the rippling water.
"Eywa's teeth," Aonung hissed, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he adjusted his grip on her hair, tilting her face upward as his thumb brushed the corner of her mouth once more. "Warn a man next time."
"Next time?" Y/N breathed, the words ghosting across his lips as her grip tightened on his loincloth. The coarse fibers dug into her palm, grounding her just as much as they held him in place.
Aonung's tail lashed once, before curling possessively around her thigh.
"Don't pretend you won't do this again," he muttered. Then his mouth was on hers again, hot and insistent.
By the time dawn crept across the horizon, the storm had softened, leaving behind only the hiss of retreating waves at the cave's entrance. Aonung's fingers lingered in Y/N's braids, as though afraid she would dissolve like sea foam if he let go. His thumb brushed the shell bead at the end of one braid, the gesture absentminded yet intimate.
"They'll be searching by now," Y/N murmured against his collarbone, her words vibrating through his skin. She could already hear the distant calls; Neteyam's voice cutting through the mist, Tsireya's higher pitch threading between the waves.
Aonung exhaled sharply through his nose, his grip tightening momentarily before releasing her. "Dad will have the entire eastern reef combed," he admitted, rolling his shoulders as if preparing for battle.
The water hit Y/N's calves first—cold enough to make her toes curl against the slick cave floor. Aonung didn't hesitate, plunging in up to his waist before turning, his outstretched hand catching the dawn light filtering through the cave's mouth. His fingers dripped saltwater onto her wrist where their skin touched.
"You first," he said, voice rougher than the reef's edge.
Y/N sucked in a breath as the water climbed past her thighs, the chill tightening her muscles. Aonung's fingers flexed around hers, his grip firm enough to anchor but loose enough she could pull away. She didn't. His tail flickered beneath the surface, stirring up bioluminescent plankton that clung to their legs like scattered stars. And then they dunked.
The first breach of daylight stung Y/N’s eyes as they surfaced beyond the cave’s mouth. Saltwater sluiced down her face, mingling with the lingering heat of Aonung’s touch where his fingers had gripped hers moments before. He surfaced beside her with a sharp exhale, shaking water from his braids like an ilu shedding rain.
"Stay close," Aonung muttered, his free hand brushing the small of her back as a swell lifted them. His fingers lingered, just enough to steady her against the current, before he struck out toward the distant shore, his tail cutting through the water with practiced efficiency. Y/N followed, her muscles protesting the cold after hours in the cave’s stagnant warmth.
The reef passed beneath them in a blur of color—crimson fan corals recoiling as their shadows darted overhead, jewel-bright fish scattering from their path. Aonung adjusted his stroke to match hers when she faltered, his shoulder bumping against hers whenever the current threatened to pull them apart. It was nothing like their usual races; no taunting, no reckless dives to prove superiority. Just the steady push toward shore, his presence a constant against her flank.
The shore materialized through the morning mist like a dream half-remembered—first as a dark smudge against the horizon, then resolving into distinct shapes: the hulking silhouettes of warriors stationed along the tide line, the flicker of torches despite the dawn light. Y/N's stomach plummeted when she recognized the tallest figure. Her father's broad shoulders rigid with tension, his tail lashing violently against the wet sand. Beside him, Tonowari stood statue-still, his trident planted deep in the shoreline like a standard of war.
Aonung's hand found her wrist underwater, his fingers tightening briefly before letting go. "Brace yourself," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the waves.
They were twenty strokes from shore when the shouting started. Neytiri's voice cut through the mist first, quivering with something between fury and raw relief. "Skxawng!" The insult carried across the water, but the way her hands trembled as she waded into the surf betrayed her rage as fear in disguise. Behind her, Ronal gripped Tuk's shoulder with white-knuckled intensity, her healing kit strapped conspicuously across her chest like she'd expected to retrieve corpses.
The water turned shallow enough for Y/N’s feet to scrape sand just as Jake’s bellow rolled across the surf: "Get over here!" His voice cracked mid-command which she’d never heard before. Aonung’s fingers brushed her wrist underwater, fleeting but firm, before he straightened his shoulders and strode forward, water sluicing off his thighs with each step.
Y/N braced for impact as Neytiri reached them first. Her mother’s hands seized her face with terrifying gentleness, thumbs brushing salt-crusted cheeks as dark eyes scanned every inch of her for injury. The anger drained from Neytiri’s frame in a visible wave when she found only exhaustion and Aonung’s clumsily tied seaweed bandage. "Stupid child," she whispered when her forehead pressed against Y/N’s with bone-deep relief.
The weight of Jake's glare hit Aonung before the tide could fully recede from their legs. Tonowari hadn't moved but his gaze tracked his son with terrifying stillness. "Explain," he said. Just one word, flatter than stillwater.
Aonung's throat clicked audibly when he swallowed. "The storm drove us into the caves near Three Brothers Reef," he began, voice steadier than his clenched jaw suggested. His fingers twitched at his sides, still damp from their grip on hers underwater. "We waited it out."
Jake's nostrils flared. He looked between them; Y/N's seaweed bandage, Aonung's salt-crusted braids and the space between their bodies that had been nonexistent moments before. His frown deepened. "Waited it out," he repeated, voice dangerously low. His tail lashed once. "That's all?"
Y/N opened her mouth, but Neytiri's grip tightened fractionally on her shoulders. Behind them, Tsireya fidgeted with her armband, her eyes darting between Aonung and the fresh bruise purpling along Y/N's ribcage.
Jake took a step forward, his tail lashing hard enough to kick up sand. "You two—" His voice roughened, fingers flexing like he wanted to throttle something. "You nearly got Tuk killed with your—"
Aonung moved before the accusation fully landed. Three strides. He was positioned slightly in front of Y/N, not quite blocking her but angling his body to absorb Jake's glare. His shoulder brushed hers, warm despite the morning chill.
The entire beach stilled. Tsireya's hands flew to her mouth. Even Tonowari's fingers paused mid-air where they'd been gesturing for calm.
Jake's tirade cut off mid-word. His gaze flicked between them—Aonung's protective stance, the way Y/N's fingers had instinctively curled into the small of Aonung's back without realizing it. Neytiri's grip on Y/N's shoulders loosened slightly, her thumbs brushing the tension from her daughter's collarbones.
Ronal was the first to speak. "Well," she said dryly. "This is new."
Aonung's ears flattened. Jake's nostrils flared as he took another step forward, close enough that Y/N could see the way his braids trembled with suppressed fury. "You have exactly three seconds," he ground out, "to explain why—"
Aonung's fingers twitched at his sides. "It was my fault too," he admitted, the words rough like he'd dragged them over coral. "Our fighting—" He swallowed hard. "It drew the tsurak. I know that."
The confession hung between them like mist over the reef. His gaze flicked to Aonung's shoulder, still pressed against hers, then to Tonowari's impassive face.
Neytiri's fingers tightened briefly on Y/N's arms before releasing. "You admit this," she said slowly, eyes narrowing at Aonung. "Yet you stand together now?"
Y/N stepped around Aonung. "He saved Tuk," she said, voice clear despite the salt crusting her lips. "Tsurak would have taken her if he hadn't acted."
Jake's tail lashed once. Behind him, Tuk buried her face in Tsireya's side, small hands clutching the older girl's armband.
Ronal made a low noise in her throat as she nudged Tonowari's trident with her foot. "Told you," she murmured, too quiet for most to hear.
Aonung's tail twitched against the wet sand. "We talked." The words came out gruff, but his fingers brushed Y/N's wrist underwater.
Jake exhaled sharply through his nose. He looked at Tonowari, who hadn't moved from his trident's shadow. "You hearing this?"
Tonowari's fingers flexed around his trident's shaft, his knuckles whitening against the polished bone. "I hear," he said, voice low enough to make the warriors behind him lean forward. His gaze flicked to Aonung—lingering on the way his son's shoulder still pressed against Y/N's, the way his fingers twitched like he was resisting the urge to reach for her again. "Do you believe it?" he asked Jake, not unkindly.
Jake's nostrils flared as he studied them: Aonung's seaweed-stained hip wrap, Y/N's salt-crusted braids, the space between their bodies that kept shrinking despite the tension thickening the air. "I want to," he admitted gruffly. "But after years of—" He gestured sharply between them. "This—you expect me to buy that one storm fixed it?"
Y/N's fingers brushed against Aonung's wrist under the water—not quite holding, just anchoring herself against the current of Jake's disbelief. The sand shifted beneath her feet as she straightened, meeting her father's glare head-on. "It wasn't the storm, dad," she said, voice steadier than she felt. "It was realizing we'd been idiots."
Aonung's shoulder bumped hers; half solidarity, half warning. His fingers curled around hers underwater, hidden from view but undeniable in their grip. "We needed a push," he admitted, jaw tight. "To see we're not..." His voice trailed off as his thumb traced the inside of Y/N's wrist down the same path he'd followed in the cave. "Not as different as we pretended."
Jake's eyebrows shot up, his gaze darting between their concealed hands and Aonung's suddenly vulnerable expression.
Jake's hand scrubbed down his face hard enough to scrape salt from his cheeks. "No," he growled, the word landing like a harpoon strike. "Absolutely not. It's too early for this." His tail lashed sideways, kicking up sand that pattered against Tonowari's trident and stomps away.
Neytiri's fingers tightened momentarily on Y/N's shoulders before releasing. She leaned close, her breath warm against her daughter's ear as she murmured in Na'vi too rapid for the others to catch: "Your father did not sleep. He paced the shore all night." Her lips twitched upward despite herself. "His tail wore a path in the sand."
Before Y/N could respond, a commotion erupted from the tree line, the distinctive thud of someone tripping over their own tail.
"He was worried you killed him! Now he is worried about different type of activities you two could have done!" Lo'ak's voice carried across the beach as he barreled through the shallows, arms pinwheeling for balance. He skidded to a halt in front of Aonung, dripping seawater onto the sand as he pantomimed a dramatic double-take at their proximity. "Oh eywa—are you two holding hands underwater right now?"
The moment splintered; Lo'ak's grin widening as Aonung's grip on Y/N's wrist tightened reflexively, his tail smacking the water's surface with enough force to splash Tsireya's knees. Tuk giggled into her hands from where she clung to Tsireya's side, her earlier terror forgotten in favor of this new, fascinating drama.
Y/N yanked her hand free with a splash that caught Lo'ak square in the chest. "Shut up," she hissed. Aonung's knuckles brushed her hip underwater.
Jake's groan carried across the beach as he came closer to them again, scrubbing both hands down his face. "For the love of—no, from now on there needs to be at least 15 feet between you two." His tail lashed once as he huffed.
Tonowari's trident creaked in his grip as he studied his son. He watched Aonung's shoulders square beneath the scrutiny and the stubborn set of his jaw before releasing a slow breath.
"I agree. I have no desire to become a grandfather yet. Son, if you are serious about this, you will follow the proper courting customs."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Aonung nodded. “Of course.”
Jake went utterly still.
Neytiri blinked.
Lo'ak made a strangled noise somewhere between a laugh and a choke.
"Wait." Jake lifted a hand. "No. No, you don't answer that that fast."
Aonung frowned. "Why?"
"Because that's the answer of somebody who's already thought about it."
Another pause.
"I have."
Lo'ak doubled over so abruptly he nearly face-planted into the shallows. "OH, EYWA, HE'S SERIOUS!"
Y/N wished the ocean would open beneath her feet and swallow her whole.
Lo'ak then straightened so fast he nearly lost his balance again, eyes wide with delighted horror.
"Neteyam is still asleep."
Nobody liked the look that appeared on his face.
"Lo'ak—" Y/N warned.
"Neteyam is still asleep," he repeated, backing away through the shallows. "He doesn't know any of this."
"Lo'ak."
"I have to go tell him."
"LO'AK."
"This is the best day of my life."
He spun on his heel and took off toward the village.
"LO'AK!"
His laughter echoed across the beach as he disappeared over the dunes while Jake stared after his retreating son for a long moment.
"I liked him better when he was lost." Neytiri smacked his arm.
Tonowari cleared his throat, attempting to drag the conversation back under control.
"Then there will be supervision."
Jake's head snapped around immediately.
"Good."
"Strict supervision."
"Very good."
"No disappearing alone into the reef."
"Excellent."
Tonowari considered for a moment, tapping the butt of his trident into the sand.
"Three months."
Jake stared at him.
"Three months?"
"That is the customary courting period."
"Can we make it a year?"
Y/N groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Dad."
"A year?" Aonung echoed, genuinely offended.
"Two years," Jake countered immediately.
"DAD!"
Even Neytiri was beginning to lose her battle with a smile. Tonowari's expression remained admirably composed, though the twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed him.
"Perhaps six months."
"Done."
“Dad!” y/n exclaimed as Aonung opened his mouth.
"Do not negotiate," Jake and Tonowari said in unison.
The two men blinked at each other.
A beat passed.
Then Tonowari sighed.
For the first time in their time knowing eachother, he looked at Jake not as another clan leader, but as a father enduring a uniquely terrible trial.
From somewhere deep in the village came Lo'ak's triumphant bellow.
"NETEYAM!"
The shout echoed across the shoreline.
"THEY WERE HOLDING HANDS, NETEYAM! HANDS!"
A startled yelp then rang out from somewhere among the marui pods. Followed immediately by a heavy thud.
Tsireya winced.
"Did he just fall out of his hammock?" Tuk asked.
Another crash answered her question.
Lo'ak's cackling carried all the way back to the beach.
𝐚/𝐧: I'm so sorry this took me so long😭 I had a lot of stress at work and didn't feel like finishing this fic, but now I have some time off and hope to be able to write more! (started to finally watch off campus, so maybe I start writing for that fandom as well—I'm so in love with tucker ♡)
𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: bruce wayne x batmom!reader feat. batkids
𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: mr.banks was disrespectful towards you. so who's better to teach him a lesson that all actions have consequences other than the batboys?
𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: fluff, a bit violence, nudity (only mentioned), established relationship, 4k words, not proofread, pls let me know if I forgot something :p
You stand in the kitchen, reheating the soup for Damian, although Alfred would have done it, you told him you would do it yourself. You needed a moment simply to yourself, that's why you told Bruce to watch something with Damian while you were in the kitchen.
Your alone time didn't last long when you feel arms wrapping around your waist. You flinch slightly before you relax against your husband, even after all these years together, he could still sneak up on you, but he's Batman after all so you're not really surprised.
"You okay?" Bruce mumbles into your neck, tightening his arms slightly around you.
"'M fine," you drawl through a sigh, frowning when one of Bruce's arms let go of you to grab the wooden spoon in your hand, lying it down before he turns the stove onto a lower temperature to be able to turn you around in his arms to face him without having to worry about the food.
"Want to finally tell me what happened with the school?" he asks, cupping your face softly with his hands.
You let out a deep sigh, playing with Bruce's collar to avoid eye contact. It's not like you didn't want to tell Bruce what happened because you really want to tell him, but you slowly started to think that maybe you were a bit dramatic about everything. The school politics say that 'in case of an emergency the parents are to be informed'—𝘨𝘰𝘴𝘩, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘩𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘦, it's completely disrespectful to adoptive parents, foster parents, stepparents and other caregivers—
"Honey?" Bruce says softly, noticing that your mind was wandering so he gave you a soft smile when your eyes finally snapped up to his. "I was worried when Zuri told me that the school had called."
Your eyes widen at that, you didn't really think about what must have gone through Bruce's head when Zuri told him after his meeting that the school had called. He must have thought that you were sick or that something happened to you.
You shake your head in his grip, leaning forward to give him a soft peck on his lips. "I'm really fine, my love. Sorry that you had to worried about me. I had so many things going on in my head, and after Damian ate his soup we pretty much fell asleep, but I should have called yo—"
Now Bruce was the one to leave a soft peck on your lips, stopping your ramble. "No need to apologize. I'm just happy nothing happened to you, so please tell me why the school called me, and why they couldn't reach you."
You huff, letting your hands fall back to your sides, but before you could look away, Bruce stepped a little closer to you, and brushed his thumbs over your cheeks to ground you (and maybe to ground himself too).
"They couldn't reach me because they... because they didn't even tried to call me in the first place," you say, looking your husband in the eyes to see his reaction.
You feel his hands twitch lightly on your face, his brows knit together in confusion after a few seconds. "What do you mean?"
"The vice principal told me that the parents are to be contacted in case of an emergency."
"Yeah," Bruce nods in understanding, but his brows were still knitted, "but they couldn't reach me, and you are the first person to be contacted anyway, so why didn't they?"
"In case of an emergency the parents are to be contacted," you repeat, seeing how your husband's confusion turned slowly into irritation.
"I understand that, so why didn't they call you?"
You could see it in his expression: jaw tight, gaze sharp, and he let go of your face, hands tightening into fists beside him. He knew the answer to his own question, but he was hoping that he was wrong about his assumption.
You take a deep breath before letting everything out that happened and where your thoughts have gone. "They didn't call me because I'm just his 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, and therefore have not the same rights, and the worst part his that 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨! I'm not his real mo—"
"Stop," Bruce grits out, shaking his hands lightly out on his sides to cup your face again, firmer this time, still gentle of course, but with more earnestness. "You 𝘢𝘳𝘦 his mother as much as you are the mother of our other children."
You nod at him, feeling a lump forming in your throat, and tears welling in your eyes. You knew that in your heart, but it was really good to hear the words leave your husband's mouth.
"Give me a name," Bruce says with a deeper voice and darker eyes. Someone disrespected you, his 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦. And he will not have that.
"Mr. Banks," a raspy voice says before you even got the chance to open your mouth.
You quickly wipe away a few tears that had escaped your eyes with the back of your hand before you turn towards the door where your youngest boy leaned against the doorframe.
"Dami, why aren't you in bed?"
"You weren't there," he mumbles, feeling heat creeping up his cheeks that didn't came from the fever so he cleared his throat (well, he tried to, but the scratching in the back wouldn't go away) and straightened up from the door. "It was cold. It's much warmer when someone else is in bed, and I didn't know it takes so long to heat up soup."
You laugh softly, of course he didn't want to admit that he wanted to cuddle. "You're right, it doesn't take that long."
"You can go back to bed with Damian," Bruce says, grabbing the wooden spoon before you could, "and I'm taking care of the school."
You give him a soft but meaningful kiss, mumbling '𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴' against his mouth before you walk towards your son.
Damian looks at you with still glassy eyes. "Could you please get me the blue blanket?"
"Of course, my little bat," you answer, stroking a few strands away from his eyes, turning towards your husband when you hear a light scoff. "Got a problem with that?"
"No," he answers with sarcasm, "why would I have a problem with a blanket?"
You lift your eyebrows and smirk before you put on an innocent face. "I don't know. Why do you have a problem with the blue blanket?"
Bruce just shakes his head, turning towards the soup. He knew that you knew what his problem with the blanket was, and he doesn't want to play that game. Unfortunately for him, you wanted to play.
"It's big, fluffy and keeps you warm—"
"It's a 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯 blanket."
You gasp in fake surprise. "Really? I never noticed that."
Bruce scoffs again, throwing a dish towel at you, but you already ran out of the room, your laughter still echoing through the hallway.
Damian smiles softly after you before his father's voice snaps his attention towards him. "Damian."
"Yes?"
"When you're feeling better, I'll need your help with Mr. Banks," Bruce says, stirring the soup again, "and those of your brothers."
"Do you have something in mind?"
"Plenty," Bruce chuckles, looking back to Damian with a mischief smirk, "but I'm sure you got some ideas as well."
.𖥔 ݁ ˖🦇 ݁˖ ݁𖥔 .
—𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆—
"Are you sure this will work?"
"Pleaseeee," Tim scoffs, opening his laptop,
"'cause this'll work."
Damian rolls his eyes, looking around before he looks back to Tim. "Can you hurry up? It is slightly embarrassing when someone sees us together."
"What is embarrassing?" Tim asks, frowning slightly when he opens a few tabs on the Laptop. He only half listen to his younger brother, he has an important task to complete, after all.
Damian raises a brow, "should I really say it out loud?"
Tim's frown deepens, finally looking up from the screen when it finally dawns on him what Damian was trying to imply. "Do you mean me? 𝘔𝘦?"
Damian scoffs at the high pitched and offended voice of Tim, rolling his eyes again. "Congratulations Timothy, you're officially the greatest detective of 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘭𝘭𝘭𝘭𝘭 time," he says with a pointed look.
"I'm not embarrassing," Tim argues, still very offended, "you're embarrassing and you don't see me complaining do you?"
"What makes me embarrassing?" Damian asks, looking around again before he sits down next to Tim to be able to look at the screen. He raises his eyebrow again when Tim couldn't come up with something.
"I don't know," Tim shrugs, looking back to the loading screen, "you're the younger brother that automatically makes you embarrassing."
"So according to your logic," Damian starts with a disgusting look on his face, "that makes Jason what?"
"What does Jason have to do with this?"
Damian pinches the bridge of his nose. "He's older than you, and according to your logic, that makes you the embarrassing one," he huffs with a little smirk, "which is the same thing I told you."
Tim opens his mouth to say something smart back, but nothing came out because Damian had a point (not that he would ever tell him that), so he did the only right thing in this situation: flicking Damian's forehead.
Before Damian could do something back to Tim, the screen finally lit up with their target. The boys glanced at each other for a few seconds before they quickly leaned towards the laptop to have the perfect view of Mr. Banks still sleeping in his bed. Is it questionable to spy on your vice principal? Yes. Do the boys care? Absolutely not! That 'man' disrespected you and no one disrespected their mother.
"I hacked into every system in his house," Tim smirks, "this is going to be a lot of fun!"
.𖥔 ݁ ˖🦇 ݁˖ ݁𖥔 .
—𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆—
"Boys, dinner is almost done," you yell down into the Batcave, "please finish your training." After you heard replies of '𝘺𝘦𝘴' and '𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨' you made your way through the grandfather clock towards the dining room. You're a bit suspicious; normally the boys would argue back that they weren't finished with training, but perhaps they've noticed that Alfred isn't in a good mood today and definitely don't want to make the butler even angrier.
𝘖𝘩, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦!
The boys stand behind Tim who's sitting at the Batcomputer, playing the video of Mr. Banks again. It shows him running around his house in a panic; the lights are constantly switching on and off, the doors are opening and locking themselves—every time he pulls on the door it's locked but as soon as he lets go of it, the door opens again. That was the favourite of Tim and Damian because they were the ones to always press the button to close and open the door, it was really funny to watch Mr. Banks frustration.
Jason's favorite part is where the vice principal gets up, the curtains open, and he stands naked before almost his entire neighborhood. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦? Maybe, just maybe did someone dressed up and rang everyone's doorbell to report a gas leak—well, everyone expect Mr. Banks.
Dick's favourite is when Mr. Banks slips because the refrigerator has leaked, in his panic to get away from the window, the vice principal didn't see the water on the floor.
"Okay," Dick laughs, seeing only lights through his tears, "play this part one more time, and then we go up before mom sees this."
.𖥔 ݁ ˖🦇 ݁˖ ݁𖥔 .
—𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆—
"I'm not sure this is a good idea," Damian mumbles, but still follows Jason through a window. "Father said we shouldn't do something illegal."
"We aren't," Jason simply states as if they hadn't just broken into Mr. Banks' house, opening some drawers in the living room.
Damian still stands hesitating at the window, eyes following his older brother, who looks through some books before he turns around to look at the younger boy.
"Look," Jason sighs, "we just want to find something to help the old man get rid of this damn jerk, so either you help me," he gives Damian a pointed look before he points to the window, "𝘰𝘳 you go back home".
Damian rolls his eyes before he starts to look through the house as well. "What are we even looking for?"
"Don't know," Jason mumbles, looking behind a few paintings to see if he finds a safe, "but you know it when you see it."
.𖥔 ݁ ˖🦇 ݁˖ ݁𖥔 .
—𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆—
Bruce walks through the door, seeing Damian sit on one of the chairs near the secretary's desk, this time with perfect posture, head hanging low to cover up his smirk.
"Hallo," Bruce greets the secretary, stepping forward to her desk, "I'm here to pick up my son, Damian Wayne."
"Of course," the secretary nods, standing up and points to a door that lead to the principal's office, "I'm going to get the vice principal."
Bruce nods with a polite smile, glancing to Damian when the secretary goes into the office. He takes a deep breath to calm himself, although he firmly believes that violence isn't the solution to everything, it's still his first instinct when something or someone threatens his family. Or in this case disrespected 𝘺𝘰𝘶, his 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦.
Damian takes a deep breath himself, he's still a bit upset with himself for not being able to defend you last week, and he really just wants to punch the idiot in the face. But you're so proud of him that he no longer reacts directly with violence, and he certainly won't let that pathetic excuse of a man ruin that.
Bruce gives his son a knowing smirk and a wink before the office door opens again, and the man he never met but hates anyways walks out, and stretches his hand out in greeting.
"Mr. Wayne," the vice principal greets with a smile that makes it almost impossible to not punch him in the face, but lucky for him Bruce is able to control himself. "I'm glad we're finally meeting."
"Yeah," Bruce says with a fake smile that only Damian knew was fake, shaking the other man's hand a bit tighter than he normally would, but he remembered that you said Mr. Banks did the same to you. "I'm glad you're happy that we're finally meeting," he says, letting go of Mr. Banks' hand, "but my wife announced this wouldn't be a pleasant meeting so I'm not sure what you're happy about."
The vice principal is taking aback by the sudden change in the atmosphere, glancing to his secretary for help, but the woman looked into her computer, completely ignoring him. He got himself into this situation; now he can figure a way out.
"I assure you, this is just a misunderstanding."
"What is?" Bruce challenges him, "is it that you misunderstood the meaning of a mother?" Bruce says, still with a smile but the longer the vice principal looked at Bruce's face, the more he noticed how sharp it actually was. "Or does the misunderstanding lie in the fact that you were disrespectful to my wife and thought I wouldn't do anything about it?"
Mr. Banks gulps; his throat suddenly feels really dry. "How about we continue the conversation in my office?"
"That's not necessary," Bruce dismisses him, "you already got a second chance, but you called me first 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯. This means you disrespected my wife. 𝘈𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯."
"M-Mr. Wayne, if you would just please let me explain—"
"There is nothing to explain," Bruce chuckles, "You thought that in your position of power you could do whatever you wanted, but you're wrong."
Bruce turns towards his youngest with a soft real smile. "Please get your bag, we're leaving now. Mom's waiting in the car, we're going to get some ice cream."
"Mr. Wayne," the vice principal tries again, "I don’t know what your wife told you, but I can assure you that it wasn't like that."
Bruce turns sharply around, narrowing his eyes. "So you say that my wife is dramatic?"
"W-What n-no... of course not," he stutters, taking a few steps back when Bruce takes a few steps towards him, towering upon him.
"So you're calling my wife a liar?" Bruce says in a dark voice (or like his family called it: his Batman voice).
"I-I would...ne-never..." the other man stutters out, he feels his heartbeat going up, and that his hands start to sweat when he looks in Bruce's eyes. Who knew that the prince of Gotham could be this terrifying? Wasn't he the one who used to strip at parties a lot a few years ago?
"But you did," Bruce says with a clam voice, "but it's alright, you know why?"
Mr. Banks opens his mouth but nothing came out so he just shakes his head, relaxing a bit when Bruce leans back again.
"Because 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳, and I make sure you lose your job. I can't let children have a vice principal who is disrespectful towards women, can I?" Bruce says with fake politeness. "Now excuse me, 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦 and I are taking 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘯 to go get some ice cream."
Bruce turns around, and leads Damian with a hand on the shoulder out of the school, relaxing with every step he takes, looking down towards his son when he feels an intense gaze on him. He lifts a eyebrow to let the boy know he can say what he wants to say.
"Don't tell the others but that was really cool."
Bruce chuckles, giving Damian's shoulder a soft squeeze. "I won't tell, but if you found this cool you should see what happens tomorrow."
"What do you mean?"
Bruce stops, making Damian stop as well. "There's something important you need to understand," when Damian nods Bruce continues, "when someone hurts my family they don't only hurt Bruce Wayne's family." 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘉𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘯'𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭.
.𖥔 ݁ ˖🦇 ݁˖ ݁𖥔 .
—𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆—
"Where are you two going?" you say, crossing your arms over your chest.
"Patrol," Bruce says simply, putting on his gloves.
"I can see that," you roll your eyes playfully, going towards your husband who's hands immediately go towards your hips, "but Dicki is in his police outfit."
Bruce looks towards Dick with narrowed eyes, he told him they need to hurry up before you saw them because he knew you would ask questions why he is going out as a detective and not as Nightwing.
"Master Dick spilled something on his suit again, and unfortunately I haven't had time to remove the stains yet," Alfred angel like voice echoes through the Batcave, ever the true hero, "therefore, I suggested that he could still come along as a detective."
"That's a wonderful idea Alfred," you smile at the butler before you turn to your two boys. "Please stay safe, I love you."
"I love you too," Bruce says, leaning forward to kiss you, completely ignoring the disgusted sound coming from your oldest child.
"That's enough," Dick says, tugging his father away from you before he gives your temple a kiss, "love you, mom. But we really need to go before Damian and Jason start to team up against Tim again."
.𖥔 ݁ ˖🦇 ݁˖ ݁𖥔 .
𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥. They really fired him. After everything he did for that awful school and the stupid kids. And why? Because of a bored dramatic housewife!
Mr. Banks is relived when he finally arrives home. He had to walk all the way to his house because his car wouldn't start (wonder how this happened), putting the boxes with his belongings down, he starts to search for his keys, but freezes when he hears something behind him.
"I know what you did," came a deep voice from behind him.
"Do you want money?" Mr. Banks says in panic, "just take it and go away."
"I don't want your dirty money."
"W-What else do you want? Please, I don't have anything else."
"That's not true," the voice says with a chuckle. 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘯?
Mr. Banks chokes on his next words, "do you work for the Joker? P-Please, I don't have the money yet but... but tell him I have it in a few weeks. I need more time!"
It's quiet a few seconds, and Mr. Banks almost thinks the man behind him is gone, but then came the deep voice again, "looks like you don't have a job and therefore no money."
"It's not my fault!" the ex vice principal says a bit louder, punching against his door, "it's the fault of this stupid bitch—"
Mr. Banks yells when his face connects with the door, immediately feeling pain shooting through his nose and a mental taste in his mouth. The hand on his neck tightens, "carful! I hate men who talk disgustingly about women."
"Please," Mr. Banks groans, "it's her fault! Tell Mr. J if he wants the money, he can get it from Mrs. Way—", he yells again when his face connects with the door again, crying out when the man behind him kicks his feet away so his knees fall onto the floor.
"𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 say her name," the deep voice growls, "if you ever say her name again, you wish I would work for the Joker."
This is so confusing! The stranger does not work for Mr. J and doesn't want his money. What does he want?
"Do you understand?" Mr. Banks just winces when the hand still holding his neck tightens again. "𝘋𝘰. 𝘠𝘰𝘶. 𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥?"
"Yes," the man cries out, reaching behind him to the hand on his neck, trying to make the man let go of him.
The stranger chuckles again, leaning down to be level with his ear, "always 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳: respect will take you far in life."
Mr. Banks groans when the hand let go of him, causing him to fall forward against the door. A few tears escape his eyes, relief shooting through his body before he tenses again when he still feels someone behind him.
"BPD! Don't move."
"Finally," Mr. Banks laughs.
"You are under arrest," the voice behind him says before he feels hands on him, but before he can thank the police man he feels handcuffs on his wrist. 𝘞𝘢𝘪𝘵, he is under arrest? What about the guy behind him with the deep voice. When he turns around, the stranger is no longer there.
"This is a misunderstanding...there was a guy and he—"
"You are under arrest for disorderly conduct, money laundering, and dealing drugs for the Joker."
"What? No—"
"You have the right to remain silent—"
"This is a misunderstanding! Please—"
"Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law—"
"T-They tricked me! And you! Do you understand? They—"
.𖥔 ݁ ˖🦇 ݁˖ ݁𖥔 .
"That was really cool," Jason says with excitement in his eyes, standing on the roof of the house opposite Mr. Banks' house.
"Yeah..." Tim agrees, "does that mean dad is actually cool?"
"Don't say that," Damian scoffs as if he hadn't said the same thing the day before.
"I think he was pretty cool," Dick says through the earpiece, looking up after he put Mr. Banks in the police car. "Dad doesn't play around when it comes to mom."
"That's right," Bruce says, coming up behind the boys, "you all did a really great job and I'm proud of all of you."
"Yeah yeah," Jason dismisses him with a light blush on his cheeks, "don't get sentimental now, old man."
Bruce chuckles, shaking his head when he looks down and sees that Mr. Banks still tries to argue with Dick. "I'm sure you have everything under control now, I have something else to take care of." With that the Bat was gone as quickly as he had been there.
"He goes home, doesn't he?" Dick questions with a frown.
"I really don't want to think about what dad and mom are going to do, dickhead," Jason groans in disgust.
"That's not what I—"
"Yeah, whatever. Let me get a selfie with this jerk, he comes on my shitface wall."
.𖥔 ݁ ˖🦇 ݁˖ ݁𖥔 .
"Bruce?" you mumble, feeling an arm wrapping around your waist before you feel his chest snuggling against your back.
"Go back to sleep, baby," he says, kissing the back of your head.
"What are you doing here?," you whisper, almost asleep again, "it's early."
"Just wanted to be with my girl," he grins against your throat, kissing you there a few times. Bruce feels totally relaxed when he hears your sleepy giggles.
You turn around to give him a kiss on his lips. "I love you."
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𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: damian wayne x batmom!reader (feat. bruce wayne and tim drake)
𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: damian is sick and needs someone to pick him up from school, but the vice principal doesn't make it easy for you as damian's stepmother.
𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: a bit angst (idk if it's considered as angst but just to be sure), mention of having to bury a child (jason), fluff, 3.1k words, not proofread, let me know if I forgot something :p
𝐚/𝐧: wanted to post this fic like 2 weeks ago, but I was distracted by other ideas.
"Here we are," you say, turning around to face your youngest boys in the backseat.
"Great, thanks mom," Tim smiles at you, unbucklling his seatbelt so he is able to lean forward to give you a quick kiss on the cheek before he opens the car door to step out, frowning at Damian when he realises that the younger boy hasn't moved a muscle yet, although he was always the first one in and out of the car.
You give him a nod when he looks to you, signaling him that it is okay to go. "Have a nice day with your friends, Timmy. Love you."
"Love you too, bye," he says with a smile, closing the door when he spots some of his friends.
When Tim is far enough away, you turn your head towards Damian who's slightly leaning against the window. He looks a lot sicker than when you all left the house, but when you tried to convince him to stay home he said something along the lines like '𝘐'𝘮 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦' and '𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴' or something like that.
Damian lives with you for a while now, but sometimes he still finds it difficult to accept help (especially because he still has the feeling that you want to test him and not that you actually just want to care for him). You don’t want to think about all the cruel things Ra's al Ghul probably did to him when he was sick and couldn't concentrate on his training.
With a shake of your head to get the image out of your mind, you look at Damian again. "Are you sure you want to go to school?" you ask with a soft voice because you're sure the boy has a headache, "your father has a lot of meetings today, and with Tim going to a friend's house after school, it would be just you and me at home, and well Alfred of course."
"I'm fine," he mumbles back while finally unbucklling his seatbelt.
You let out a quiet huff, of course 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 his answer. "We could watch some movies, read a bit or play some games," you suggest, "we can do whatever you want."
"I want to go to school." 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦, you give him that.
"Okay," you relent, watching him rub his slightly glassy red eyes before he opened the car door to step out. "I'm home today, please call me when you feel worse," you say, thinking about what you could say to convince him to come back home with you, "you're not weak if you call me, Dickie still calls me when he's not feeling well."
Damian rolls his eyes with a scoff, "Grayson just wants the attention you give him."
"And I gladly give it to him," you defense your eldest son, "I give it to all my kids. That includes you too," you smile softly before you continue with a teasing voice, "besides, if you really think Dick wants attention when he's sick, you should really see how your father acts when he's sick."
Damian's lips twitch at your tease.
"Have a nice day, love you."
Damian gives a small nod, working his jaw before he lets out a quiet, "bye, mom," and closes the door to make his way to the entrance of the school.
You start your car, smiling to yourself despite the slight guilt you felt because you couldn't convince him to stay home with you. Damian started to call you '𝘮𝘰𝘮' a month ago, and it still made you smile every time you heard it. You two had a bad start—like everyone had with him—but when he started to realize he couldn't get rid of you, he started to see that you actually didn't want to get also rid of him—like he thought—but that you just want to get to know him, and if he wants to take care of him.
.𖥔 ݁ ˖🦇 ݁˖ ݁𖥔 .
"Hello?"
"Hello, Mrs. Wayne, it's Zuri. I'm really sorry to bother you," she begins, and you straight up at the voice of Bruce's assistant, not because you didn't like her, you absolutely adore Zuri. She's a really sweet woman in her mid fifties, who helped you a lot back then when you were new parents to Dick, and you bought him along when Bruce had time to eat lunch together. It was rather her tone that let you knew something was wrong.
"What did Bruce do?"
"It's about Damian—"
"Damian?" you interrup her, feeling guilty for not convincing him to stay home.
"Yeah," Zuri winces, "the school called a few times, saying that he doesn't feel well, and that Mr. Wayne should pick him up, but he's in a very important meeting right now."
All you could think about was why the school tried to call your husband first, and why they didn't called you immediately after they found out Bruce was busy? On all three information sheets of your boys (Jason went to a public school), you filled out that in case of any emergency you'll be the 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 person to be reached out for, and 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 if they couldn't reach you, they would have to reach for your husband. 𝘚𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭?
"I asked them if they couldn't reach you," she continues, when you didn't say something back, "they said that it was against the school rules or something like that, and that Mr. Wayne should pick Damian up."
"Against the rules?" you ask, but it was more a question to yourself. "That's weird, but thanks for calling me."
"I'm sorry for not asking more questions, but they pretty much ended the call quickly after that."
"No need to apologize," standing up from your bed, you grab a jacket before you make your way downstairs to get your shoes, "you absolutely did the right thing to call me first, before interruping an important meeting."
"It's probably just a misunderstanding."
"I hope you," you say, putting on your shoes, "please let Bruce know, after the meeting is over, that I picked Damian up, and he doesn't need to worry, we just make a cosy movie day together."
"Will do Mrs. Wayne."
"Thanks again Zuri, have a nice day, bye."
"You too. I hope Damian gets well soon, bye." With that the call ended, and you had all your things to go get your son, and make a cosy movie day, hoping that he doesn't want to watch animal documentaries again.
.𖥔 ݁ ˖🦇 ݁˖ ݁𖥔 .
You walk through the door, seeing Damian sit on one of the chairs near the secretary's desk, well he's more slumped into it which directly alert you on how worse he must feel because that boy has a straight posture 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, even when he was 'relaxing'.
You go straight to him, ignoring any other people in the room completely, your boy comes first.
You kneel before him to better cup his face, frowning when your hands make contact with his skin that feels hot and sweaty. He probably has a fever. 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭?
"Ummi?" Damian questions, when he felt your hands cup his face, trying to blink his dizziness away, "I'm...fine."
You smile at him softly, knowing he must feel vulnerable (even though he would never admit that). He called you that the first and last time after he was seriously injured on a mission. Back then, just like today, he didn't want to admit that he didn't want to be alone, and you didn't left his side for his entire recovery time. Some time after that he started to call you 'mom'.
"I know, baby," you let out a quick disbelieving laugh, of course he still tries to argue with you, "but I take you home anyway. You can feel fine at there too."
He doesn't argue with you any further which is another signal for you that he was anything but fine. You just hoped you didn't need to take him to a hospital or call a doctor, you just want to get home, give him some medicine, Alfred's famous 'get well' soup, and than cuddle in bed, but for now you had another problem to solve first.
Standing up, you turn around and look at the other two people in the room. You first look to the secretary, the one who should have called you, but she wouldn't look directly into your eyes which is really weird to you because she was always friendly, shrugging it off in your head, you turn your gaze to the man you never saw before.
"Hello," the man greets with a sigh and a look that tells you he is not happy that you ignored him before, stretching his hand out anyway, "I'm Mr. Banks, the vice principal."
"Mrs. Wayne," you say, shaking his hand, "where's Mr. Santos?" you had a really weird feeling about this 'vice principal', starting with the fact that you never saw this man before and that he had grabbed your hand to hard to which you let go as soon as possible.
"Oh, Mr. Santos isn't here today, he called in sick."
You give him a soft nod in acknowledge, looking over you shoulder to make sure Damian was still fine, you really should make this conversation short, the sooner you'll be home the better.
"Will Mr. Wayne be here soon?" Mr. Banks asks before you could ask anything, looking at the door to see if Bruce just parked the car, and will soon coming in as well.
"No, he's in an important meeting," you answer, "which is why I'm actually a little confused as to why nobody called me. The information papers clearly states that in case of an emergency, I am the first person to be informed."
Mr. Banks frowns slightly, seemingly not happy about the fact that your husband wouldn't come to the school. "We simply followed the school rules."
"Which are?"
"In case of an emergency the parents are to be informed."
"But I wasn't informed," your brows knit together, looking back to the secretary, but she still avoided eye contact. "The assistant of my husband informed me. I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding, but I'm the first person to be informed because—"
"In case of an emergency the parents are to be informed," Mr. Banks interrupts.
"Right," you agree, nodding your head once, "that's why I'm confused to why you didn't call me first, or even after my husband didn't answer his phone."
"In case of an emergency the parents—"
"Which I am," you interrupt him this time, getting very irritated with him, your child was sick, and you wanted to know why nobody called you. "I'm his mom, so I—"
"𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘮𝘰𝘮."
"Excuse me?" you say with a clam voice, but you were everything but calm. Yes, you're his stepmother, but you absolutely didn't like the tone he used when he said the word.
"You're his Stepmom, and the school rules say that 'the parents are to be informed', and that doesn't apply to you here," he says with a smile on his face that you really want to slap off of his face.
Damian straights in the chair, glaring at the vice principal. How dare he to speak to you like that? Your his mother, and nobody but him and you could decide on that matter. Reaching to his dagger, that he actually wasn't allowed to bring to school, he stops when you step aside, blocking his way to Mr. Banks. Damian scoffs, knowing it's a warning that you have everything under control. He slumps back in his seat, but being still on high alert to fight for your honor.
You relax slightly when you hear Damian scoff, knowing he wouldn't do anything, well at least for now. You've been long enough together with Bruce, therefore you have unfortunately a lot of experience with these kind of people. People who saw you 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 as his wife, as a 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘭 who can't do nothing but spend the money of her hard working man.
"You can of course wait here with Damian until your husband arrives."
You're normally a very patient and calm person, you had to be with four sons, but you were fed up with this man, so you couldn't help yourself but laugh at him.
Mr. Banks looks confused, clearly not understanding what's so funny all of the sudden. "That's not funny, Madam."
"Yeah it is," you say, still laughing, "it's very funny that you think you can stop me from taking 𝘮𝘺 sick child home."
"It's against the school politics to allow a stranger to pick up the kids."
"Well, lucky for you that I'm not a fucking stranger. I'm his 𝘮𝘰𝘮, I have authority 𝘢𝘯𝘥 permission to take him home."
"Like I said," Mr. Banks continues, completely ignoring what you just said, "you can wait here with Damian, but only Mr. Wayne and Damian's mother are allowed to take him home."
You scoff, turning around to go to Damian. You were absolutely tired and fed up with this stupid conversation. "Sweetheart, grab your bag, we're going home."
"You can go, but Damian stays here. I don't want to call security, so why don't you calm down and go a bit shopping or whatever else you do with your husband's money."
Normally Damian would jump off of his chair, and protect your honor from his vice principal, but he felt really dizzy. But then he saw the look in your eyes, and could slump back in his seat with ease, knowing this look all too well, he knew to better not stand in your way.
"I adopted three children."
"What—"
"I adopted three children," you say again, raising your voice slightly, "I'm their mother, and also Damian's. I didn't adopt him because his biological mother is still alive, and I'm very grateful for that because the parents of my other children are 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥."
"Mrs. Wayne please listen—"
"No, you listen!" you take a step forward. "I had to fucking bury on of my kids, so if you think security can stop me, please be my guest and call them, but I'm calling the police because you hold us hostage. I have permission to take Damian home, so next time do your fucking job, and look in the files of the children to see who is allowed to pick them up and who isn't."
Mr. Banks looks shocked, not knowing what to say or what to do, but before a sound could come out of his mouth you continue, "oh and I'm not a stupid little doll who spends the money of her husband all day. Am I a staying home mom? Yes! Absolutely nothing wrong with that. You think you can do my job?" you laugh again, taking another step forward, "fine, let's switch places for a day, but we all know you wouldn't survive an hour in my shoes."
With that you turn on your heels and go to kneel before Damian again. "C'mere, baby," you say in a much softer tone, taking him in your arms to stand up, its also another sign on how bad he must feel. Damian wouldn't let people carry him, he must be really 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 tired.
"Ma'am, please let us talk this through," Mr. Banks tries to stop you, seemingly sensing that he made a huge mistake, but before his hand, with wich he tried to stop you, could touch your shoulder, Damian stopped him.
Damian grabs Mr. Banks' wrist, looking him with his last bit of strength sharp in the eyes, "don't touch her!"
I-I wasn't I o-only—" the man stutters, shocked by the brutal strength of the young boy.
You turn around, forcing Damian to let go of his vice principal. "You wanted to meet my husband so desperately? Congratulations, you will meet him, but I can guarantee you that it won't be a pleasant meeting," you say with a wicked smile that mirrors the same one that your son has on his face, when you finally leave the school office.
.𖥔 ݁ ˖🦇 ݁˖ ݁𖥔 .
Back home you send Damian into his room to change into something cosy, asking Alfred to make soup while you prepare tea and look for medicine to hopefully reduce Damian's fever.
You thank Alfred before heading to Damian's room with a tray of everything you need to take care of your boy, frowning when you see his door is open, but he's not in the room, you smile to yourself because you know exactly where he is, where all your children end up sooner or later: 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮.
And indeed, Damian lies in your bed on his father's side as if it had always been his.
"There you are," you smile, placing the tray on your nightstand.
"I thought it made more sense to be here so you wouldn't have to get up every ten minutes to check on me," he mumbles between coughs. Damian would never admit out loud that he just doesn't want to be alone right now so. "And your TV is a lot bigger than mine."
You both knew that was a lie; all televisions were the same size, thanks to 12-year-old Dick and his jealousy of Jason at the time. But you just hum in agreement, happy that you can take care of him without arguing about it.
.𖥔 ݁ ˖🦇 ݁˖ ݁𖥔 .
A small smile spread across your face when you hear hurrying footsteps. After Damian ate his soup and drank half of the tea, he quickly fell asleep once his head made contact with your shoulder, thanks to the medicine.
Bruce opens the door as quietly as possible, smiling when he sees you and Damian cuddle up together with you stroking your hand through his hair. When Zuri told him everything after his meeting, he immediately cancelled all other meetings, and made his way home.
"Hey," he whispers, leaning over you to give you a kiss before he brushes some hair from Damian's forehead, the boy lets out a displeased sound, tucking his face into your neck. "Looks like we got another mama's boy."
You laugh softly, cupping Bruce's face with your free hand, "aren't they all at some point?"
"Can't blame them," he smiles, leaning down to give you another kiss before he frowns slightly, "want to tell me what happened with the school?"
"Later," you answer to which Bruce nods. You don't want to talk about what happened now, knowing that Bruce will get angry when you tell him what the vice principal said. "I just want to cuddle with my boys."
Bruce smirks, standing back up to his full height to take off his jacket and tie before he cuddles up to your other side.
"What?" he asks at your raised brow, "he's completely on my side, and they always kick me when their sick."
"Expect Dick."
"That's because he kicks every other time."
"Can you be quiet? I'm trying to sleep."
You and Bruce chuckle, giving Damian a kiss on the head and cuddle closer together. You feel the stress from today leaving your body when you melt against your husband, knowing that Bruce will probably ensure that Mr. Banks won't find a job as vice principal ever again, after having a 'talk' with him of course.
𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: damian wayne x batmom!reader (feat. bruce wayne and tim drake)
𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: damian is sick and needs someone to pick him up from school, but the vice principal doesn't make it easy for you as damian's stepmother.
𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: a bit angst (idk if it's considered as angst but just to be sure), mention of having to bury a child (jason), fluff, 3.1k words, not proofread, let me know if I forgot something :p
𝐚/𝐧: wanted to post this fic like 2 weeks ago, but I was distracted by other ideas.
"Here we are," you say, turning around to face your youngest boys in the backseat.
"Great, thanks mom," Tim smiles at you, unbucklling his seatbelt so he is able to lean forward to give you a quick kiss on the cheek before he opens the car door to step out, frowning at Damian when he realises that the younger boy hasn't moved a muscle yet, although he was always the first one in and out of the car.
You give him a nod when he looks to you, signaling him that it is okay to go. "Have a nice day with your friends, Timmy. Love you."
"Love you too, bye," he says with a smile, closing the door when he spots some of his friends.
When Tim is far enough away, you turn your head towards Damian who's slightly leaning against the window. He looks a lot sicker than when you all left the house, but when you tried to convince him to stay home he said something along the lines like '𝘐'𝘮 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦' and '𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴' or something like that.
Damian lives with you for a while now, but sometimes he still finds it difficult to accept help (especially because he still has the feeling that you want to test him and not that you actually just want to care for him). You don’t want to think about all the cruel things Ra's al Ghul probably did to him when he was sick and couldn't concentrate on his training.
With a shake of your head to get the image out of your mind, you look at Damian again. "Are you sure you want to go to school?" you ask with a soft voice because you're sure the boy has a headache, "your father has a lot of meetings today, and with Tim going to a friend's house after school, it would be just you and me at home, and well Alfred of course."
"I'm fine," he mumbles back while finally unbucklling his seatbelt.
You let out a quiet huff, of course 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 his answer. "We could watch some movies, read a bit or play some games," you suggest, "we can do whatever you want."
"I want to go to school." 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦, you give him that.
"Okay," you relent, watching him rub his slightly glassy red eyes before he opened the car door to step out. "I'm home today, please call me when you feel worse," you say, thinking about what you could say to convince him to come back home with you, "you're not weak if you call me, Dickie still calls me when he's not feeling well."
Damian rolls his eyes with a scoff, "Grayson just wants the attention you give him."
"And I gladly give it to him," you defense your eldest son, "I give it to all my kids. That includes you too," you smile softly before you continue with a teasing voice, "besides, if you really think Dick wants attention when he's sick, you should really see how your father acts when he's sick."
Damian's lips twitch at your tease.
"Have a nice day, love you."
Damian gives a small nod, working his jaw before he lets out a quiet, "bye, mom," and closes the door to make his way to the entrance of the school.
You start your car, smiling to yourself despite the slight guilt you felt because you couldn't convince him to stay home with you. Damian started to call you '𝘮𝘰𝘮' a month ago, and it still made you smile every time you heard it. You two had a bad start—like everyone had with him—but when he started to realize he couldn't get rid of you, he started to see that you actually didn't want to get also rid of him—like he thought—but that you just want to get to know him, and if he wants to take care of him.
.𖥔 ݁ ˖🦇 ݁˖ ݁𖥔 .
"Hello?"
"Hello, Mrs. Wayne, it's Zuri. I'm really sorry to bother you," she begins, and you straight up at the voice of Bruce's assistant, not because you didn't like her, you absolutely adore Zuri. She's a really sweet woman in her mid fifties, who helped you a lot back then when you were new parents to Dick, and you bought him along when Bruce had time to eat lunch together. It was rather her tone that let you knew something was wrong.
"What did Bruce do?"
"It's about Damian—"
"Damian?" you interrup her, feeling guilty for not convincing him to stay home.
"Yeah," Zuri winces, "the school called a few times, saying that he doesn't feel well, and that Mr. Wayne should pick him up, but he's in a very important meeting right now."
All you could think about was why the school tried to call your husband first, and why they didn't called you immediately after they found out Bruce was busy? On all three information sheets of your boys (Jason went to a public school), you filled out that in case of any emergency you'll be the 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 person to be reached out for, and 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 if they couldn't reach you, they would have to reach for your husband. 𝘚𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭?
"I asked them if they couldn't reach you," she continues, when you didn't say something back, "they said that it was against the school rules or something like that, and that Mr. Wayne should pick Damian up."
"Against the rules?" you ask, but it was more a question to yourself. "That's weird, but thanks for calling me."
"I'm sorry for not asking more questions, but they pretty much ended the call quickly after that."
"No need to apologize," standing up from your bed, you grab a jacket before you make your way downstairs to get your shoes, "you absolutely did the right thing to call me first, before interruping an important meeting."
"It's probably just a misunderstanding."
"I hope you," you say, putting on your shoes, "please let Bruce know, after the meeting is over, that I picked Damian up, and he doesn't need to worry, we just make a cosy movie day together."
"Will do Mrs. Wayne."
"Thanks again Zuri, have a nice day, bye."
"You too. I hope Damian gets well soon, bye." With that the call ended, and you had all your things to go get your son, and make a cosy movie day, hoping that he doesn't want to watch animal documentaries again.
.𖥔 ݁ ˖🦇 ݁˖ ݁𖥔 .
You walk through the door, seeing Damian sit on one of the chairs near the secretary's desk, well he's more slumped into it which directly alert you on how worse he must feel because that boy has a straight posture 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, even when he was 'relaxing'.
You go straight to him, ignoring any other people in the room completely, your boy comes first.
You kneel before him to better cup his face, frowning when your hands make contact with his skin that feels hot and sweaty. He probably has a fever. 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭?
"Ummi?" Damian questions, when he felt your hands cup his face, trying to blink his dizziness away, "I'm...fine."
You smile at him softly, knowing he must feel vulnerable (even though he would never admit that). He called you that the first and last time after he was seriously injured on a mission. Back then, just like today, he didn't want to admit that he didn't want to be alone, and you didn't left his side for his entire recovery time. Some time after that he started to call you 'mom'.
"I know, baby," you let out a quick disbelieving laugh, of course he still tries to argue with you, "but I take you home anyway. You can feel fine at there too."
He doesn't argue with you any further which is another signal for you that he was anything but fine. You just hoped you didn't need to take him to a hospital or call a doctor, you just want to get home, give him some medicine, Alfred's famous 'get well' soup, and than cuddle in bed, but for now you had another problem to solve first.
Standing up, you turn around and look at the other two people in the room. You first look to the secretary, the one who should have called you, but she wouldn't look directly into your eyes which is really weird to you because she was always friendly, shrugging it off in your head, you turn your gaze to the man you never saw before.
"Hello," the man greets with a sigh and a look that tells you he is not happy that you ignored him before, stretching his hand out anyway, "I'm Mr. Banks, the vice principal."
"Mrs. Wayne," you say, shaking his hand, "where's Mr. Santos?" you had a really weird feeling about this 'vice principal', starting with the fact that you never saw this man before and that he had grabbed your hand to hard to which you let go as soon as possible.
"Oh, Mr. Santos isn't here today, he called in sick."
You give him a soft nod in acknowledge, looking over you shoulder to make sure Damian was still fine, you really should make this conversation short, the sooner you'll be home the better.
"Will Mr. Wayne be here soon?" Mr. Banks asks before you could ask anything, looking at the door to see if Bruce just parked the car, and will soon coming in as well.
"No, he's in an important meeting," you answer, "which is why I'm actually a little confused as to why nobody called me. The information papers clearly states that in case of an emergency, I am the first person to be informed."
Mr. Banks frowns slightly, seemingly not happy about the fact that your husband wouldn't come to the school. "We simply followed the school rules."
"Which are?"
"In case of an emergency the parents are to be informed."
"But I wasn't informed," your brows knit together, looking back to the secretary, but she still avoided eye contact. "The assistant of my husband informed me. I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding, but I'm the first person to be informed because—"
"In case of an emergency the parents are to be informed," Mr. Banks interrupts.
"Right," you agree, nodding your head once, "that's why I'm confused to why you didn't call me first, or even after my husband didn't answer his phone."
"In case of an emergency the parents—"
"Which I am," you interrupt him this time, getting very irritated with him, your child was sick, and you wanted to know why nobody called you. "I'm his mom, so I—"
"𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘮𝘰𝘮."
"Excuse me?" you say with a clam voice, but you were everything but calm. Yes, you're his stepmother, but you absolutely didn't like the tone he used when he said the word.
"You're his Stepmom, and the school rules say that 'the parents are to be informed', and that doesn't apply to you here," he says with a smile on his face that you really want to slap off of his face.
Damian straights in the chair, glaring at the vice principal. How dare he to speak to you like that? Your his mother, and nobody but him and you could decide on that matter. Reaching to his dagger, that he actually wasn't allowed to bring to school, he stops when you step aside, blocking his way to Mr. Banks. Damian scoffs, knowing it's a warning that you have everything under control. He slumps back in his seat, but being still on high alert to fight for your honor.
You relax slightly when you hear Damian scoff, knowing he wouldn't do anything, well at least for now. You've been long enough together with Bruce, therefore you have unfortunately a lot of experience with these kind of people. People who saw you 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 as his wife, as a 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘭 who can't do nothing but spend the money of her hard working man.
"You can of course wait here with Damian until your husband arrives."
You're normally a very patient and calm person, you had to be with four sons, but you were fed up with this man, so you couldn't help yourself but laugh at him.
Mr. Banks looks confused, clearly not understanding what's so funny all of the sudden. "That's not funny, Madam."
"Yeah it is," you say, still laughing, "it's very funny that you think you can stop me from taking 𝘮𝘺 sick child home."
"It's against the school politics to allow a stranger to pick up the kids."
"Well, lucky for you that I'm not a fucking stranger. I'm his 𝘮𝘰𝘮, I have authority 𝘢𝘯𝘥 permission to take him home."
"Like I said," Mr. Banks continues, completely ignoring what you just said, "you can wait here with Damian, but only Mr. Wayne and Damian's mother are allowed to take him home."
You scoff, turning around to go to Damian. You were absolutely tired and fed up with this stupid conversation. "Sweetheart, grab your bag, we're going home."
"You can go, but Damian stays here. I don't want to call security, so why don't you calm down and go a bit shopping or whatever else you do with your husband's money."
Normally Damian would jump off of his chair, and protect your honor from his vice principal, but he felt really dizzy. But then he saw the look in your eyes, and could slump back in his seat with ease, knowing this look all too well, he knew to better not stand in your way.
"I adopted three children."
"What—"
"I adopted three children," you say again, raising your voice slightly, "I'm their mother, and also Damian's. I didn't adopt him because his biological mother is still alive, and I'm very grateful for that because the parents of my other children are 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥."
"Mrs. Wayne please listen—"
"No, you listen!" you take a step forward. "I had to fucking bury on of my kids, so if you think security can stop me, please be my guest and call them, but I'm calling the police because you hold us hostage. I have permission to take Damian home, so next time do your fucking job, and look in the files of the children to see who is allowed to pick them up and who isn't."
Mr. Banks looks shocked, not knowing what to say or what to do, but before a sound could come out of his mouth you continue, "oh and I'm not a stupid little doll who spends the money of her husband all day. Am I a staying home mom? Yes! Absolutely nothing wrong with that. You think you can do my job?" you laugh again, taking another step forward, "fine, let's switch places for a day, but we all know you wouldn't survive an hour in my shoes."
With that you turn on your heels and go to kneel before Damian again. "C'mere, baby," you say in a much softer tone, taking him in your arms to stand up, its also another sign on how bad he must feel. Damian wouldn't let people carry him, he must be really 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 tired.
"Ma'am, please let us talk this through," Mr. Banks tries to stop you, seemingly sensing that he made a huge mistake, but before his hand, with wich he tried to stop you, could touch your shoulder, Damian stopped him.
Damian grabs Mr. Banks' wrist, looking him with his last bit of strength sharp in the eyes, "don't touch her!"
I-I wasn't I o-only—" the man stutters, shocked by the brutal strength of the young boy.
You turn around, forcing Damian to let go of his vice principal. "You wanted to meet my husband so desperately? Congratulations, you will meet him, but I can guarantee you that it won't be a pleasant meeting," you say with a wicked smile that mirrors the same one that your son has on his face, when you finally leave the school office.
.𖥔 ݁ ˖🦇 ݁˖ ݁𖥔 .
Back home you send Damian into his room to change into something cosy, asking Alfred to make soup while you prepare tea and look for medicine to hopefully reduce Damian's fever.
You thank Alfred before heading to Damian's room with a tray of everything you need to take care of your boy, frowning when you see his door is open, but he's not in the room, you smile to yourself because you know exactly where he is, where all your children end up sooner or later: 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮.
And indeed, Damian lies in your bed on his father's side as if it had always been his.
"There you are," you smile, placing the tray on your nightstand.
"I thought it made more sense to be here so you wouldn't have to get up every ten minutes to check on me," he mumbles between coughs. Damian would never admit out loud that he just doesn't want to be alone right now so. "And your TV is a lot bigger than mine."
You both knew that was a lie; all televisions were the same size, thanks to 12-year-old Dick and his jealousy of Jason at the time. But you just hum in agreement, happy that you can take care of him without arguing about it.
.𖥔 ݁ ˖🦇 ݁˖ ݁𖥔 .
A small smile spread across your face when you hear hurrying footsteps. After Damian ate his soup and drank half of the tea, he quickly fell asleep once his head made contact with your shoulder, thanks to the medicine.
Bruce opens the door as quietly as possible, smiling when he sees you and Damian cuddle up together with you stroking your hand through his hair. When Zuri told him everything after his meeting, he immediately cancelled all other meetings, and made his way home.
"Hey," he whispers, leaning over you to give you a kiss before he brushes some hair from Damian's forehead, the boy lets out a displeased sound, tucking his face into your neck. "Looks like we got another mama's boy."
You laugh softly, cupping Bruce's face with your free hand, "aren't they all at some point?"
"Can't blame them," he smiles, leaning down to give you another kiss before he frowns slightly, "want to tell me what happened with the school?"
"Later," you answer to which Bruce nods. You don't want to talk about what happened now, knowing that Bruce will get angry when you tell him what the vice principal said. "I just want to cuddle with my boys."
Bruce smirks, standing back up to his full height to take off his jacket and tie before he cuddles up to your other side.
"What?" he asks at your raised brow, "he's completely on my side, and they always kick me when their sick."
"Expect Dick."
"That's because he kicks every other time."
"Can you be quiet? I'm trying to sleep."
You and Bruce chuckle, giving Damian a kiss on the head and cuddle closer together. You feel the stress from today leaving your body when you melt against your husband, knowing that Bruce will probably ensure that Mr. Banks won't find a job as vice principal ever again, after having a 'talk' with him of course.