Lila!

The silence in the submarine was deafening, the ringing in your ears was the only thing you could hear and it only got louder as the quiet stretched on. One might go crazy inside this vessel if they were in it long enough.

The quiet was shattered when one of the little lights flashed and ticked, indicating a nearby object. Hongjoong's fingers curled around the handle to the left, twisting it to steer the rattle trap around whatever was causing the sensors to go off. The little triangle on the circular screen turned with Hongjoong's maneuvers as the submarine shifted. The flashing subsided instantly and you proceeded with your journey.

Hongjoong was your captain and you were his second in command. He led the rebellion against the COI and Eden, making his own community of survivors. Utopia. Now you were both stuck in a rickety submarine dubbed The Iron Lung, sent into the depths of an ocean of blood and tasked with exploring it in exchange for your freedom. Information on this illusive ocean was scarce and the soldiers that tasked you and Hongjoong with this mission were vague. They wouldn't tell you what you were looking for, just that you had to photograph it. Since you couldn't take pictures through blood, the submarine was equipped with a special camera that could capture images via X-rays.

You sighed and kneeled on the grated floors, digging through the satchel you were given before being welded inside the submarine, pulling out a notebook. Flicking through the pages, you saw information and images of the submarine printed on them, some of the words blocked out with marker, a paragraph marked with a big X on it and the word NO in bold. It was odd, but you brushed it aside and skimmed the information inside. How to operate the control panel, the parts of the submarine, etc.

"This says excessive use of the camera could expose us to radiation." You said aloud.

Hongjoong paused, glancing over his shoulder.

"Great." He scoffed. "They put us in a death trap."

"No kidding." You grumbled.

"Let's just not use the camera too much."

You hummed in agreement and flicked through more pages, taking on the duty of familiarizing yourself with everything.

"Okay." Hongjoong murmured to himself, repeating the coordinates under his breath. "We're here."

You snapped the notebook shut and slipped it back into the messenger bag, getting to your feet.

On the back wall was a glowing green button, to the left was a giant screen for displaying images captured with the X-ray camera.

Hongjoong stood and joined you in the back.

"Alright. Go for it."

You hit the button and a bright flash of white temporarily blinded you both. When it faded, a fuzzy image showed what appeared to be teeth sticking up from the ocean floor. The objects were elongated with uneven ends.

"What is that?" Hongjoong murmured.

"Dunno, but they wanted us to take pictures of it." You shrugged. "I'd say we're done."

Hongjoong mirrored your shrug and used the charcoal stick he was given to add a check mark on the map.

He dropped back into the little chair in front of the control panel and steered the vessel towards the next location. He hummed quietly, finger tracing the grid on the map to find the correct coordinates. You walked over and stood by, observing Hongjoong while he did his work. He was someone you admired and would follow to the ends of the earth. His views on the future and what it could be inspired you. He wanted to forge his own path, separate from the cultish beliefs of Eden and the harsh perspectives of the COI. "They both have flaws." He had told you once.

He just wanted a community where people could simply exist.

You arrived at the second destination, finding a cluster of jagged sticks, like scraggly tree limbs of some sort.

"Stick things." Hongjoong murmured to himself, checking off the coordinates on the map.

"This all seems pointless." You said as the submarine rattled forward, the metal creaking again.

"I agree, but we have to do it."

You stepped over to the control panel.

"Why don't I steer for a bit? I don't want you doing all the work."

"I'm fine." He glanced back towards you. "I can handle it."

You wished he wouldn't take on so much by himself. Maybe it was his sense of leadership. Maybe he felt responsible to get you two out of this situation. Or maybe he cared for you more than you thought.

"Well," You began. "if you change your mind, let me know."

He hummed in acknowledgment, turning the knob on the control panel to steer the submarine in the right path, listening to the beeps of the proximity indicator.

Your attention drifted to the shabby interior of the rattle trap. The pipes lining the walls were rusty and glistening with condensation. This vessel wasn't safe, anyone could see it. Of course, you don't expect the COI to give convicts a stable sub to use for this exploration. No. "Criminals" got scraps.

"We're here." Hongjoong announced when the vessel came to a creaking halt.

You shuffled to the back and hit the green button to capture an X-ray photo. There were strange striped tubes coming from the ocean floor in arches. Your expression twitched at the abnormal sight.

Hongjoong, who had joined you to catch a glimpse of the "anomaly" was unfazed. He returned to his seat in silence, checked off the location, and proceeded with the journey.

The submarine lurched as Hongjoong adjusted course, referencing the map.

Hongjoong sighed, like what you were both doing was an inconvenience.

"I just don't understand why they'd send us down here." He muttered, turning the steering lever.

"Yeah. Taking pictures of 'anomalies' doesn't seem like rehabilitation to me."

"No. It doesn't." He uttered quietly. "I can't put my finger on it, but something doesn't feel right."

You nodded silently in agreement.

This was a strange punishment, if it even was one. Though it didn't seem like a way to absolve you and Hongjoong of your so-called "crimes" either.

The occasional beeps of the proximity indicator  punctuated the silence lingering inside the sealed sub. Your gaze was trained on the back of Hongjoong's head, his dark hair partially tied into a ponytail. Your fingers fidgeted with the sleeves of your shirt, observing your captain. You weren't sure when your admiration turned into attraction, but somewhere along the way, things changed. Feelings morphed from platonic to something stronger. There was never a time to confess your feelings, and now you were stuck in this situation, your circumstances less than ideal.

It was too quiet and you had the urge to say something. The words were right there, an urge present in your chest. The silence was begging to be filled and your lips parted.

"Oxygen." The robotic voice cut through the silence in the submarine like a knife, your eyes darting to the lights at the right of the sealed porthole. Three remained.

Hongjoong was looking at it too.

"We'd better hurry." You said.

"We're almost done."

The submarine creaked and groaned when it slowed to a stop at the next zone. Hongjoong pushed himself out of the chair and shuffled to the back with you. You pressed the glowing button, triggering a flash of light. The bright white faded to reveal the image you captured. Your breath hitched at the sight that flashed on the screen, startled by its sudden appearance. With these X-ray images you never know what's going to pop up.

"Bones." Hongjoong murmured.

"There were living things here." You added, examining the picture. The closest thing it could be compared to was a dinosaur, its ribs sticking up from the ocean floor.

Everything went silent again, the weight of your shared discovery weighing down on the both of you. You turned to Hongjoong, searching his face.

"What are you thinking right now?"

"I'm thinking if there's bones down here, things lived in this ocean once." An eerie pause. "Maybe they still do."

You shook your head. "No. The head soldier at the COI said nothing down here was alive."

"Do you really believe her?" His voice had an edge to it.

No. You didn't. You were simply in denial.

"Let's get moving." He said, going back to his chair.

You followed behind, standing at his side as he grabbed the steering handles and navigated the vessel away from the zone, proceeding to the next one.

"Just in case there are things down here, we should hurry." He cautioned. "We've only got one more stop."

That brought some relief. One more anomaly to capture and you'd find your way out and back to the COI base. They'd let you go and you'd be able to return to life as normal—or as normal as it could be.

Since the Quiet Rapture, things haven't been normal. It's been people fighting for places to inhabit, struggling to survive. Wars have nearly broken out between Eden and the COI. Utopia was peaceful, but since the destruction of Filament Station, thanks to Eden, the COI have gone after any and all groups that aren't theirs. That's how you ended up here. They ambushed you. They attacked.

The muscles in your jaw tightened at the unfairness of it all. Utopia has done nothing but exist in peace.

"It's not fair." You grit out under your breath.

Hongjoong noticed the subtle bite in your tone.

"We didn't do anything to them. They just assumed we were a threat." You continued. "It's unjust."

"I know." He murmured. "We were just existing."

His attention drifted to you for a moment, silently assessing your body language, tense and rigid.

"We're gonna push through." He assured you.

The sharp edges of your anger softened at his words. He was always so optimistic. You both envied and admired that about him.

You glanced at the coordinates on the ragged map where the final stop was, then at the numbers on the control panel. You were almost there.

You weren't sure how you were going to get back, and you weren't going to concern yourself with it right now. Not until the last image was captured.

As you neared the final stop, the air felt heavier somehow. You couldn't put a name to it or explain why, but your stomach churned with unease.

"Alright. We're here." Hongjoong announced, getting up from his chair.

You joined him at the back and captured a picture, your final one.

More bones. A spine, it seemed.

The long curve of a vertebrae, pale and jagged against the dark backdrop arched from the ocean floor. It was massive, just like the skeleton you discovered at the previous zone.

"We're done." Hongjoong exhaled.

He started to walk away while you stayed looking at the image, observing it. In the back, beyond the skeletal spine, was something else.

"Wait." You grabbed the back of Hongjoong's shirt made from scrappy fabric.

"What?"

"Look." You pointed.

He stepped closer, squinting, straining to discern whatever lurked in the void. Grayish splotches that were barely noticeable made the vague shape of something unidentifiable.

"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. It could be a rock wall."

"Yeah. Maybe you're right. It's not our business anyway." You dismissed, the image fading from the screen.

You had completed your convict rehabilitation tasks. It was time to go back.

Hongjoong returned to the controls, double-checking the vessel's current position.

"It looks like we're near a tunnel system." He observed, pointing to where a narrow passage was depicted on the map.

You couldn't help but wonder what other strange things were in that tunnel.

"They didn't have us explore that." You voiced your thoughts aloud.

"The cables attached to the sub probably wouldn't do well going through a tunnel. The base needs a way to pull us out."

"Right."

"Anyway." Hongjoong cracked his knuckles. "Let's head back."

His fingers curled around the steering handles and he began the journey back.

Despite the lingering unease, you felt a spark of hope. That flicker fueled your courage and the words you were prepared to speak earlier were ready to come out.

"Hey, Joong?" You only ever called him that when you were having personal discussions.

"Yes?"

"My timing isn't the best, but I guess I'm feeling brave since we completed the mission."

This wasn't how you planned on confessing, welded inside of a rickety iron submarine surrounded by blood and bones, but you weren't sure what would happen after this. The COI were untrustworthy and for all you knew, they could separate you once you returned or claim you hadn't completed your tasks and keep you prisoner.

"I like you." The words were simple and straightforward. Not romantic or heartfelt, just the truth.

Hongjoong paused and turned in the chair, the dim lights casting shadows over his sharp features. You were trying to read his expression, panic and regret stirring in your gut the longer the silence stretched.

You opened your mouth to dismiss the whole confession when a noise from outside the vessel stopped you. There was a low resonance beyond the rusted walls that struck a small rush of panic in your chest. Your head jerked towards the disturbance.

"Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

That same sound, a deep rumble of something moving vibrated the submarine.

"That." You pointed to the wall of the vessel.

Hongjoong's expression shifted and his jaw tightened.

"We have to get out of here." You urged, trying to suppress the panic in your voice.

Every light on the proximity indicator ticked at once and a resounding thud abruptly knocked against the hull of the submarine, sending you stumbling back, colliding against the metal pipes with a grunt.

"What was that?" Hongjoong asked.

"I don't know." You pushed yourself off the wall, staggering a little. "Everything in this ocean is dead."

"Or supposed to be." Hongjoong added grimly, walking over to the green button.

"Wait." You scrambled to your feet, heart racing.

"We shouldn't overuse the button. The radiation."

"We have to see what's out there."

You stared at Hongjoong for what felt like ages before your hand rested on the button. "We do it together."

He gave a single nod and you pushed.

A bright white flash temporarily blinded you both before it faded into a grainy image. Your heart dropped to your feet, the blood draining from your face.

A massive, horrifically mutated creature was pictured on screen. It had two small eyes, slits for nostrils, and a set of terrifying long teeth that tapered into points.

Fear gripped you so fiercely that your throat tightened and moisture stung your eyes as the image faded from the screen.

"What is that?" You uttered shakily.

"That might be what you were seeing earlier. Behind the bones."

"I knew it." You trembled. "I knew something wasn't right."

Hongjoong hit the button once more with his fist clenched tightly.

The creature was closer now and a small, weak noise left you, your trembling hands gripping the front of your shirt for comfort. It looked even more frightening now that you could see it clearer.

"What do we do?" You uttered.

You were trapped. This submarine wouldn't stand a chance against whatever that was. It wasn't equipped with weapons and it certainly wouldn't hold up if it were hit.

Hongjoong swallowed thickly and you could've sworn you saw a flash of fear in his brown eyes. He didn't respond, taking another picture. This time, the creature had backed off.

When that image faded, he took another, using the strong X-ray camera as a way to fend off the monstrous being.

When the threat had retreated, you took a staggering step back, your breaths short and panicked. You could hear your heart thudding like a drum in your ears.

"Hey."

Hongjoong's voice cut through the pounding and your wide eyes met his, which were eerily calm for someone in a potentially life-threatening situation.

"We're gonna get through this." He told you, his hand finding yours.

Your breath hitched, fingers twitching as he laced his with yours.

"I'm scared." You croaked.

"I know, but stay strong. Okay?"

Hongjoong's gaze pierced into yours, as if trying to convey a silent message, and it helped. It always did. Whenever you were upset about anything, he always had a way of calming your nerves and easing your anxieties. You took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"There you go." He released your hand and went to his seat. "Let's get out of here."

You moved to stand behind him, your hands holding onto the back of the rickety leather seat for stability.

"We need to make contact with the COI."

As much as you didn't trust them, they might be your only hope.

Hongjoong started backtracking, navigating his way back from where you both came, moving as fast as the sub would allow.

"Oxygen."

As if things weren't already bad, you were down to half your oxygen supply, the O2 level showing only two lights.

"Don't worry about that right now." Hongjoong advised.

Tearing your eyes away from the meter, you shifted your focus to the latitude and longitude numbers on the control panel, watching them flicker. The blood ocean rushed past the sealed vessel, every noise keeping you on high alert. The proximity indicator ticked and flashed whenever you were near an object and Hongjoong skillfully maneuvered around each one.

A drop of blood landed on the panel and you stepped back, glancing up at the ceiling where the red liquid had gathered in one small spot.

Hongjoong followed your gaze, noting the buildup.

"This thing can't handle the depths."

Hearing that made your stomach drop. You both knew this thing wasn't equipped to handle the pressure of a blood ocean. The solider from the COI told you that as you made your descent.

"They said this thing was welded as tight as they could get it." You told Hongjoong. "And we still have leaks."

He pressed his lips together. "I know."

The depth meter started rising slowly, as did your hopes. The glowing bar climbed its way past the red zone on the meter. You looked towards the speaker on the upper wall of the interior, hoping to make contact with the COI base.

"Hello?" You called, testing out the connection. "Can anyone hear me?"

Silence followed.

"Hello?"

Static fizzled through the clunky box and broken, unintelligible sentence fragments cut in.

"Hey." Your words had a frantic edge to them. "Can anyone hear me?"

"Convict 2?" The voice of the head soldier of the COI spoke, her radio feed choppy, but clear enough to understand.

"Yes!" You exclaimed in relief. "You have to get us out of here."

"Did you get the pictures?"

"Yes, we got the pictures, but we found something else."

A pause. "What do you mean something else?"

Hongjoong hesitated in his steering and glanced over his shoulder at you, his expression grim.

"W-we don't know. It was..." You had to swallow down the panic in your voice as the image of that thing flashed in your mind unprompted. "some giant monster with hundreds of sharp teeth."

"What else have you seen?" She asked you.

"Just weird objects and some bones."

"Bones?"

"Yes."

"That ocean is empty." The woman said.

"No, it's not." Hongjoong's voice cut in sharply. "Are you listening to her? We saw something alive. It attacked us, knocked right into the submarine. It could've been the thing that left those bones for all we know."

"Did you get pictures of it?"

"Yes. It's all I could do to fend it off." He bit. "You guys didn't exactly equip this thing with weapons."

She sighed over the intercom. "Are you sure it was alive?"

"Yes!" You and Hongjoong both exploded, reaching your limit with her lack of urgency.

"It moved." He stated pointedly.

"The terrain is made of congealed blood. The ocean floor tends to shift."

Your heart sank. "Why do you sound like you don't believe us?"

There was a long pause that spoke volumes.

"Are we even getting out of here?" Hongjoong asked after an agonizingly long stretch of silence.

"I can't answer that." She finally responded.

Your heart sank as everything shifted into place, realization dawning on you. This mission was suspicious from the start. No comms. No way out until completion. Now you'd captured all the pictures you needed and they wouldn't let you go.

"Why not?" Hongjoong stood from his chair and went over to the speaker. "The deal was for us to take pictures of anomalies and we'd be free." His tone had a sharp edge to it. "This is life or death! There's something down here and it doesn't want us snooping around. Pull us up."

"Watch your tone, Convict 1." She snapped. "You're in no position to make demands."

Your jaw clenched so hard you thought it might snap, your fists balled tightly at your sides.

"You're a liar!" You snapped, lashing out. "You lied to us!"

Hongjoong watched you with concern, his hand reaching out for one of your trembling fists. Some of your rage fizzled at his touch, but there was still a flicker of resentment in your chest.

"Were we even supposed to make it out?" You uttered faintly, voice wavering.

"Yes."

"She's lying." Hongjoong immediately spoke up.

You closed your eyes, fighting back tears.

A groan reverberated through the rusted metal of the ship and low rumble sounded outside.

"It's here." You whispered shakily.

"It found us." Hongjoong said to the speaker. "Get us out!"

"Just hang on!" She snarled.

"We don't have time!" Hongjoong shouted.

Every light on the proximity indicator ticked and flashed at once, your wide eyes darting to look at it.

"What's—" You yelped when a sudden force knocked the side of the vessel, sending both you and Hongjoong tumbling across the floor.

"Convicts?" The soldier's voice called out. "What's going on?"

You winced, a sharp pain shooting up your back upon impact. Your captain was on his side, crumpled in a heap on the metal flooring.

"Hongjoong?"

He didn't move.

"Hongjoong?" You scrambled towards him, rolling him onto his back.

A strained sound of discomfort grumbled in his chest and you breathed a sigh of relief.

"Are you okay?"

He didn't have a chance to answer as you were both launched across the small space again. Hongjoong groaned, his body colliding with yours. Everything happened so fast, you didn't notice he had wrapped his arms around you to shield you from the impact.

"Convicts! Talk to me!" The woman demanded.

"It's attacking!" Hongjoong responded sharply, annoyed at her insistent demands when you two were getting knocked around like ragdolls.

You let out moan of discomfort as aches throbbed along your backside. You could hear the woman stepping away from the intercom, talking to her crew.

"You okay?" Hongjoong asked.

"I think so." You blinked, noticing the way he was wrapped around your body. "What about you? You took most of the impact."

He smiled faintly at you. "That's what a captain does.”

"Alright." The woman sighed roughly. "We're pulling you up."

All you could do was hold Hongjoong tighter as the entire sub rattled, an overwhelming rush of relief flooding your veins.

"Y/n?"

"Yes?"

"About earlier, what you said."

Your heart jumped into your throat and regret started to churn in your gut. "What about it?"

"I like you too."

"What?"

He gave a soft smile. "I like you too."

A bright smile broke out across your features, and optimism bloomed in your chest.

The moment was shattered when the ticking on the console returned and the submarine was jostled again, both you and Hongjoong screaming in unison. The creature hadn't retreated. It was still lingering, pushing on the vessel.

"What's going on? There's resistance." The soldier asked.

"That thing is still here!" Hongjoong shouted, his arms tightening around you.

"It's pulling us down with you." She said.

"Then pull harder!" He demanded.

"We can't. We have to cut the line."

"N-no!" You cried out. "Don't! Please!"

"You can't leave us!" Anger and desperation laced Hongjoong's tone.

"I'm sorry." Came her final words before the two of you were sent tumbling around the cabin as your only way back home was cut.

When the vessel landed on the ocean floor, the lights inside flickered and your bodies collided with the metal grating.

"Ah." Hongjoong whimpered, attempting to push himself up looking dazed, maybe even concussed.

Your body hurt, your breaths were coming out fast and shallow as your reality shifted into place. The COI cut the cables that connected the submarine to their ship. They left you.

They weren't coming back.

"Hongjoong?" Your trembling voice gave away just how terrified you were.

He blinked hard a couple of times to clear the fogginess in his head before responding. "Yeah?"

"Are you hurt?"

"I don't think so." He grunted, bringing a hand up to rub his head. He had a small cut on his brow. "Are you?"

"N-no." You examined yourself. "Just scraped up."

All the while you were holding back tears, your throat tightening as you tried to ignore the groaning of The Iron Lung settling.

It was quiet—deathly quiet. Your vision blurred with watery tears and one finally slipped free, trailing down your cheek. Hongjoong's body stiffened when he noticed your current emotional state and brought a hand up to your cheek, swiping the tear away with his thumb.

"They wanted us to die from the beginning." You sobbed. "I don't think we were ever meant to make it out."

"Hey." Hongjoong's brows were knitted together in concern and he scooted closer to where your bodies were flush against one another. "It's gonna be okay."

You could see barely-concealed fear in his eyes, but he continued to put on a tough exterior, no doubt trying to keep it together for your sake.

"I don't think it is." You uttered weakly.

"No." He spoke firmly. "We're getting out of here. I'll make sure of it."

He stood, staggering to the green light and slammed his palm on it, a fuzzy image of a tunnel flashing on the screen.

Your brows furrowed and you wiped your tears. "Are these the tunnels we were outside of earlier?"

"Maybe." He surmised, moving to the chair, spinning it to face the console before sitting down.

You watched from your spot on the floor as your captain pulled out the map again, his finger dragging across its textured surface.

You nearly got choked up by just watching him and his endless determination. Hongjoong's eyes flickered to the numbers of your location, his fingertip tracing along the grid printed on the map. Pushing yourself to your feet, you ignored the aches and teetered over to him.

"We were here." He pointed to your last location, then his hand moved to a different area. "Now we're here."

"How?"

"I think that thing pushed us further away."

Your eyes drifted to the closed porthole, knowing that beyond the glass was an endless tunnel system.

"Do you think these are its tunnels?"

"Possibly."

You looked around the area, finding the satchel of notebooks had toppled over and its contents scattered. Picking up the notebook with the submersible info inside, you used it as a makeshift table, snatching the map and charcoal pencil.

"You steer and I'll map our path." You told Hongjoong.

Something akin to motivation sparked in his brown irises and the hint of a smirk tugged at his mouth.

"Let's do it." His fingers curled around the lever and he pushed it forward, the submarine shuddering as it moved ahead.

Any time the proximity indicators would go off, Hongjoong would change the direction of the vessel and have you mark its position on the map. You took occasional photos to get a general understanding of the area, keeping an eye on the depth meter as well.

As you were marking a location, a drop of blood fell onto the parchment. You gasped softly and quickly wiped it away with your sleeve.

"More leaks." Hongjoong murmured. "We have to keep moving."

The vessel groaned in protest and rattled ahead.

"What are we going to do if we make it out? I doubt the COI are waiting for us. Who's gonna undo the welding on this thing?" You asked.

Hongjoong pressed his lips together and released a long sigh. "I don't know, but I'm sure if we manage to get to the surface they'll spot us."

"I hope so." You whispered, gaze drifting to the interior of the sub where blood was now slowly oozing through the cracks of the metal sheets and down the piping along the walls.

"Oxygen."

Both your's and Hongjoong's eyes snapped to the O2 meter where only one light remained.

"Oh no." You whispered

"It's okay. Don't worry about that right now." He advised. "Stay focused."

You blinked a few times and nodded, trying to ground yourself.

Then, a whooshing sound outside the submarine. Your breath caught and you looked to your captain. He paused in navigating and rushed to the camera to take a photo.

A mangled mess of arms and legs flashed on the camera and you let out an involuntary noise of panic. The image faded and Hongjoong took another one. This time you could see what those appendages were a part of. It was that thing. That eel with all the teeth.

"It's made out of human bodies." You squeaked, eyes brimming with tears as the notebook nearly slipped from your gasp.

Human bodies all mutated into one giant monster.

Hongjoong took a step back from the screen, his mind a whirlwind.

He immediately headed back to his chair only to be thrown back when the vessel was jostled. He went flying to the far wall, his body hitting the camera button on impact, a flash following. You were thrown into the pipes, everything in your arms clattering to the floor as you were forced into the harsh, rusted metal.

You whimpered, bringing a shaky hand up to your brow, pulling back to find blood on your fingertips.

You had to blink a few times to clear your vision and saw your captain lying in a heap on the floor.

"Hongjoong!" You cried, staggering over towards him, knocking into things in the process.

You didn't make it over as you collapsed. Your head was throbbing and you couldn't focus.

"Joong."

Your eyelids fell shut and everything went black.

"Y/n!"

A distant voice reached your ears, rousing you into consciousness

"Y/n!" The voice was louder now, coming from above as you finally peeled your eyes open.

Hongjoong's battered face shifted into view and you parted your lips to speak.

"What happened?" You croaked.

"You passed out."

"Huh?" You started to sit up, wincing at the pain.

"I don't know how long you were out, but that thing is still outside. We have to fight it."

"How?"

Hongjoong helped you up, making sure you had your bearings.

"I have an idea." He said.

You managed to follow him to the chair, forgetting about the things you dropped on the floor. This wasn't about finding a way out anymore, this was about defeating the one thing standing in your way.

"What's your idea?" You asked.

"I'm gonna ram it."

"The sub won't make it."

He turned to you with a somber expression and your heart sank.

"We don't have a choice."

You swallowed thickly, your hands gripping the back of the rickety seat. "Do it."

Hongjoong shoved the lever forward with force and The Iron Lung groaned and rattled with the movement.

"Check the camera." Hongjoong instructed.

You went to the back of the sub and pressed the button, the mutated face of the eel taking up majority of the screen.

"It's right in front of you. Staring right at us." You said.

"Good." He grit out. "Hold onto something."

You went to where he sat and wrapped your arms around him from behind, squeezing your eyes shut and bracing for impact.

The submarine jerked and a screech rang out around you.

"Hull breach. Hull breach. Hull breach." A robotic voice repeated through the speaker.

When you opened your eyes, you found that the porthole cover had somehow deactivated and a crack marred the glass.

"That's not good." You uttered.

Blood sprayed in through the fissure in the porthole window, leaving a red streak across your faces.

You winced, wiping the fluid from your cheek. Hongjoong made a noise of disgust and cleaned the spray from across his nose.

"Did we kill it?" Came the fateful question.

"I don't know."

The silence stretched on and neither of you heard any disturbances. Hongjoong sighed and turned to assess you. His brows furrowed.

"That gash on your brow looks infected." He brought a finger up to it, brushing over the area that had now become more than just a cut.

"The scrapes on your face look worse too." You noted.

He pulled back to feel his own wounds, hissing at the sensitivity of them.

"Let's just go." He dismissed, reaching for the lever again.

The control panel was smudged with blood and the interior of the cabin had become more severe. Puddles of blood were accumulating inside and it had your anxiety rising.

"Hongjoong. The blood."

He turned, scanning the damage. "We'll just keep going. We've still got some oxygen."

"Yeah, but how much?"

"I don't know." He stated grimly.

You proceeded through the tunnels, continuing your journey back. The map had gotten smeared with blood, but you used it anyway, mapping out your trail. Neither of you were going to quit. If there was even a shred of hope, you would cling to it. You both would.

Hongjoong had you take pictures periodically to see where you were, assessing the terrain.

All the while, you kept an eye on the leaks. They were slow, but blood was accumulating in the cabin and eventually it would fill the entire vessel. You hoped it wouldn't come to that.

You pushed on the camera button for what felt like the hundredth time, a white spot glowing in the distance.

"What is it?" Hongjoong asked.

"I don't know." You murmured.

The submarine rumbled forward and you took another picture. The orb was a little bigger now, but you still weren't sure exactly what it was. 

"It's a light."

Hongjoong pushed himself up and joined you at the back, assessing the image. "That could be our ticket out."

He returned to the console and pushed on.

Everything around you slowly got hazy and distorted, the vessel vibrating and rumbling due to some unseen force.

"Ugh. What on earth?" Hongjoong grunted, holding his head.

You blinked hard a few times, teetering your way to the camera. The photograph captured was indescribable. A bright light shone brilliantly before you, its magnitude felt even through the screen and the iron walls of the submarine.

"What is that?" Hongjoong's disoriented voice came from beside you.

"I don't know." You whispered, trying to stay upright. "It's... intense."

Despite both your discomfort, you couldn't tear your eyes away from it. The light was otherworldly. You could feel it in your soul. This was something else. It felt alive.

Your trances were broken by a screech, followed by the groaning of the metal. You tumbled into Hongjoong as the vessel was jerked. Some of the disorienting effects faded, leading you to believe something pulled you back.

"That eel isn't dead." You grit out.

Not even a second later, multiple sharp teeth punctured through the hull and a scream ripped from your throat. The interior began flooding.

"No. No. No. No." Hongjoong snarled defiantly, grabbing the control handles and pushing forward.

The eel screeched and retracted its teeth, but that only made the deluge of blood seep in faster.

"Leave us alone!" You shouted, knowing the creature couldn't hear you.

"No." A distorted female voice echoed.

Both you and Hongjoong froze, looking at each other, then at the speaker. You were too deep to make a connection with the COI base.

"You've seen the light. We cannot let you leave." She growled.

The eel. She was speaking to both of you. How?

Hongjoong's expression hardened. "We're getting out of here."

He thrust the submarine forward again and the eel screeched.

"You fools!" She cried.

"Again." You demanded, joining Hongjoong at the front, your hand wrapping around his where it gripped the throttle.

He met your gaze and you could've sworn you saw a flicker of red in his eyes. You pushed forward with him, ramming into the eel, ignoring her words.

She let out a rough noise and the entire ship lurched, the force prying you and Hongjoong away from the controls and into the pool of blood gathered on the floor.

Noises of discomfort and pain were all you could make as you braced yourself. The crimson lapped at your body and all you could do was stare in horror.

Your forearms burned from where they'd been scraped earlier and you went to assess the injuries. Rolling your sleeve back, you startled at the sight of discolored welts.

"Something's happening." You trembled, tugging your sleeves back further to see the rash spreading.

When you looked at Hongjoong, you could see welts on his face, your heart sinking. They weren't there just a second ago.

"Your face."

He reached up to feel around, paling instantly.

"It's the blood." You stated. "It has to be."

"What do you mean?"

"It's... it's not normal. It's changing us."

That revelation made you both nauseous.

"You will surrender!" The eel's distorted voice rang through your heads. "You belong to the ocean now."

Determined, you both got up, blood sloshing around your bodies as you returned to the control panel, working in tandem to ram the eel, casting aside your concerns in favor of killing the monster.

She was relentless and defiant, but so were the both of you. She rammed the submarine, but you remained undeterred, ignoring the increasingly rapid mutations taking over your bodies.

If you and Hongjoong were to die, you'd die fighting.

The control panel was nearly covered with blood and it was becoming difficult to operate. The eel's defiant words no longer echoed in your minds and that's when you released the throttle.

Hongjoong looked at you, his skin splotchy, parts of it grotesquely lumpy. His irises were red like the blood ocean. Sharp teeth akin to those of the eel had started to sprout from his skin along his cheek. You imagined you looked the same, becoming one with the ocean as she had said, but you didn't care. These were your final moments.

Without hesitation, Hongjoong grabbed your face, pulling you in for a kiss. It was unconventional and yet filled with longing. Tears stung your eyes, your lips molding with his, feeling every ounce of emotion being poured into the intimate action. You kissed him deeply, trying to memorize the shape of his lips and the feeling of them slotted with yours.

When you pulled away, you were crying. Even Hongjoong's eyes were wet. Outside, the eel lurked, the heavy sounds of her moving around like a knell that signaled the end.

She couldn't be defeated with a rickety submarine. Deep down, you both knew that, but you tried anyway. Fighting until the bitter end.

You clung to Hongjoong tightly, not caring about the blood or the unsettling mutations altering your bodies. You only cared about him.

"I love you."

"I love you too." He whispered as the final blow to the submarine was delivered.

A bright white light flashed, brilliant and blinding. A warm feeling seeped through your chest, flooding every part of your body. Peace. This was true peace. The intensity of it was overwhelming and indescribable. Contrary to what you believed, death was a warm embrace.

The gentle heat ebbed away just as quickly as it arrived and the heaviness of reality started to settle. You gasped sharply, eyes snapping open.

Stars. Flickering in the open space above.

"Y/n?"

You jolted upright, finding Hongjoong beside you, his body smudged with blood. The mutations were gone. You hastily examined yourself, feeling nothing but smooth skin and slick blood.

Before you was the crimson ocean, pieces of your submarine bobbing at its surface.

"We... we survived?" You breathed.

"Yeah."

"How?"

"I don't know." Hongjoong shook his head.

You searched your foggy memories, one otherworldly detail standing out from the rest.

"The light."

"What?"

"I think the light saved us. That bright beacon in the ocean. Whatever it was, it saved us."

Hongjoong blinked. "I don't understand."

"Neither do I, but we're alive and that's all that matters."

A low whirring thrummed in the distance and you lifted your gaze to find a spaceship approaching. As it neared, you made out the engravings COI on it.

"Do we let them take us again?" You asked Hongjoong. "What if they lock us up?"

"We served our penance." He said. "Besides, our submarine is busted to smithereens and we're still in one piece. We experienced something I’m sure no other convicts have. We have the upper hand.”

Hongjoong’s hand reached to grasp yours, squeezing softly.

“We’re going home.”

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"We should have a toast first." San spoke up.

Seonghwa, eager as ever, stood and held his glass up. "Thank you to everyone who worked hard on this comeback. It wouldn't have been possible without you. To my members, let's enjoy some time to ourselves and celebrate our win. Fighting!"

"Fighting!" The group chorused.

Everyone collectively raised their glasses and downed their shots, Hongjoong's lips pressing together at the bitter aftertaste. You cleared your throat, dropping the glass back down onto the table.

"One more. One more." Wooyoung eagerly chanted, grabbing for an open bottle.

"Are you trying to get us drunk before we even eat?" Hongjoong chastised teasingly.

"Hey, loosen up." Wooyoung laughed. "We're celebrating."

Another round was poured and everyone threw back their shots. Jongho, the most immune, started filling his glass again for a third round.

Mingi laughed, pointing at the youngest. "Look at this guy."

While the others cut up with one another and goofed off, Hongjoong turned to you, his gaze lingering long enough for you to notice.

"After such a busy schedule, seeing you is like a breath of fresh air." His hand found yours under the table, his thumb caressing your knuckle.

A chorus of "ooh's" rang out, bringing your attention to the many platters of food being brought to the table, their savory aroma dancing in the air.

An array of side dishes were spread along the table to pair with the grilled beef and pork. Everyone had the same wide-eyed expression, reaching for their chopsticks eagerly.

"I'm gonna show you how to properly eat grilled pork belly." Hongjoong grabbed a piece of meat, taking a little of the side dishes, steering clear of the vegetables, and creating one perfect bite.

Instead of eating it himself, he held it out to you. You let him feed you, barely managing to get it all in one bite.

"Mmm!" You hummed in approval, giving him a thumbs up.

"I told you." He grinned proudly.

Food disappeared and glasses continued to be refilled. All the while, you were witnessing firsthand the rapid effects the soju was having on your boyfriend. He didn't have a noticeable pink flush, but his behavior gave it away. Hongjoong giggled more, finding everyone entertaining. He laughed that loud belly laugh of his that you loved so much. The alcohol had definitely loosened him up, allowing a glimpse of a goofier Hongjoong you didn't get to see often.

He wasn't the type for a lot of PDA, but with all those shots coursing through his veins, he became more touchy. He would give your hand a little pat, lean over to bump shoulders, and even rested his hand on your thigh.

After Yunho made some ridiculous pun, your boyfriend leaned over on you as he cackled, which he'd been doing often, losing his balance despite being seated.

"You alright?" You chuckled.

"Yeah." He drawled with a grin, draping his arm over your shoulder. "Never better."

A discussion at the opposite end of the table seemed to have sparked an impromptu karaoke session. Mingi stood up to belt out lyrics, dragging poor Yeosang to stand beside him. Hongjoong got up and swayed with the others, bumping into you while singing along. Even San, who had been sitting quietly, was now on his feet singing loudly. You were grateful to be in a separate dining room, away from any patrons looking for a peaceful meal.

Watching the guys was so entertaining, you almost missed your boyfriend going to do a handstand, his legs hoisting into the air beside you.

"Hongjoong!"

He took a couple wobbly steps before dropping his feet back to the floor. He stood upright, laughing heartily. The other members seemed unfazed by his behavior, like it was just another day.

"Ohh captain's drunk!" Laughed Seonghwa, who was already teetering on the edge of intoxicated.

"He does this all the time." Yunho assured you, grinning at Hongjoong's drunken enthusiasm.

"Careful." You warned in a lighthearted tone.

He waved a dismissive hand. "Ah. I'm fine."

Once the group sing along ceased, Hongjoong sat back down, taking a bite of grilled beef, his free hand coming to rest on your thigh. Your eyes darted down at the contact, his touch warm, even through the fabric of your pants.

He chatted with the boys, discussing some of the highlights of the comeback, recalling a few funny mishaps during the promotional period.

"No, no. Tell the story about how you slung your mic across the stage at M Countdown." Hongjoong said to Mingi through a laugh, his touch leaving your thigh to absentmindedly reach for your hand.

The rapper began his tale of woe, leaving the entire table laughing, including you.

The topic switched and your attention drifted from the conversation when you felt Hongjoong's forehead hit your shoulder.

"I'm so glad you're here." He drawled drunkenly.

"I am too."

"You're so nice." He murmured. "And you're all mine."

"That's right." You had to conceal the amusement creeping into your tone.

On a regular day, Hongjoong was possessive—in a sweet and endearing kind of way, but tonight the alcohol had brought out a more vocal side of him.

"You won't look at other idols, right? Only me?" He asked in a murmur, lips in a soft pout.

"Only you." A chuckle slipped out. "I promise."

"Mmm." He nuzzled against you. "Good. You can't look at other idols. Just look at me."

"I will." You snickered. "You tired?"

He nodded.

The other members were equally as wasted, some worse than others. The group's manager gathered them all, guiding them towards the communal SUV that took them out. Hongjoong shuffled behind you, dropping into his seat, his head falling limply onto your shoulder as you wrestled with his seatbelt, clicking it into place.

He was out like a light within minutes, the street lamps briefly illuminating his face as they passed. Getting him inside and into bed would prove to be a challenge, but it was one you were willing to tackle. And you'd definitely be teasing him for his behavior tomorrow when he was sober.

𝐒𝐄𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐇𝐖𝐀 | 성화 | w.c 1,460

Mingi's arms gesticulated wildly as he told some elaborate story over dinner, Wooyoung cutting in every so often to correct him when he misquoted something.

"It's been so long since we've gone out as a group." Seonghwa said to you, his eyes glimmering with unspoken, but visible, appreciation. The undertone of excitement in his voice didn't go unnoticed either.

The entire table was buzzing with conversation as everyone pored over the menu, discussing what they were craving.

"Wahh. They have boiled pork belly and seafood pancakes." He gaped. "I don't know what it is, but greasy food always pairs well with soju."

You considered Seonghwa to be a connoisseur of sorts when it came to food and what combinations were the best, so you trusted his opinion.

"They have the brand of beer I like too." He pointed on the menu. "I might have one."

Seonghwa was a lightweight when it came to alcohol. He knew that, you knew that, the whole group knew that. However, Seonghwa knew his limits.

"Should we order some spicy rice cakes?" Yeosang asked, glancing down the table.

"Two." Yunho added enthusiastically, holding up two fingers.

"That sounds good." Seonghwa gasped.

The entire group loved food and would chime in when someone suggested something particularly delicious. Once the order was placed, multiple bottles of beer and soju were brought to the table. Jongho grabbed one and started doing tricks with it, creating a cyclone with the alcohol. Seonghwa took one and opened it in a showy manner, rotating and twisting it open. You chuckled at his theatrics, watching as he poured you a shot of soju. Mingi did the honors of pouring Seonghwa's, filling it to the brim

"Woah. Woah. What's that?" You laughed loudly, pointing to the overflowing shot.

"Hey, Mingi's no good at this." Wooyoung shook his head.

"You can't pour it out." Jongho cut in.

Seonghwa took the glass, examining it before grinning, clinking his glass softly against yours with a small, "Cheers."

He tilted it back, taking it like a champ. You followed, drinking your own glass. The burn was subtle, lingering in your chest after you took the shot.

Seonghwa released a long "Ahh." and sat back in his chair.

"Let's have another round." Wooyoung suggested, already working to pour more shots for those around him.

Seonghwa refilled your glass and let you do the same to his. You made sure not to overdo it like Mingi did, giving him a normal level of alcohol.

The warmth from the soju mixed perfectly with the cozy and welcoming atmosphere of the restaurant. Conversations buzzed between the group, Yunho telling a particularly interesting story about Yeosang walking into his room naked while he was doing a livestream.

"I was laid on the bed holding my phone and I see Yeosang in my peripheral."

Yeosang was laughing, but you could see his ears were pink, and it wasn't from the alcohol.

You had your hand over your mouth, nearly doubled over in your seat from laughing so hard.

"No one saw him, right?" Hongjoong asked Yunho.

"No, no. But I told Atiny about it as it was happening and everyone wanted me to turn the camera around."

The entire table burst into laughter.

"That's our Atiny." Mingi chuckled.

During the conversation, Seonghwa decided to crack open one of the beers while it was still cold, taking a sip of it.

He let out a noise of approval, his brows pulled together in an expression that let you know he enjoyed it. He looked towards you with a little smile, leaning over to say quietly, "You look really pretty tonight."

The heat of a blush spread across your cheeks and all you could manage was a shy thank you.

Amidst the discussions and silent exchanges, glasses were refilled and ready for another round.

After Seonghwa's third shot, you could tell he was starting to loosen up. He was laughing louder and being extra cheeky, his ears sporting a deep shade of pink.

"Let's play a drinking game." He piped up.

Yunho's expression brightened at that and Jongho nodded in agreement.

"Okay. Pick one." Hongjoong nodded towards Seonghwa.

Immediately, a game chant was started, prompting your boyfriend to give his answer at the end of it.

"What about 369 game?"

A chorus of excited noises echoed down the table as everyone got ready.

It started on the opposite side of the table, Yeosang began the game by calling out one. It went to Wooyoung, who called out two, then San clapped. The game continued, going around the table until the second round of numbers when they started to get higher. Seonghwa, poor guy, missed his cue to call a number, prompting the group to start chanting, "Idiot shot! Idiot shot!"

Seonghwa's giggles filled the air and Yunho did the honors of pouring the shot—to the brim. Seonghwa examined the glass with wide eyes.

"You don't have to drink it all." Hongjoong assured him.

"No. I can do it." He insisted, cheeks flushed.

His nimble fingers took the glass, raising it to his lips and tilting it back.

It took two servers to bring out everything that was ordered. Bowls of steaming rice cakes, glistening cuts of pork belly, perfectly browned seafood pancakes, and other dishes were laid out on the table for the group.

Your foodie boyfriend's eyes were wide with wonder as the food was brought to the table, darting from platter to platter. Some of the members laughed at his awed expression, a few teasing remarks made here and there.

"Cute." San giggled.

"What do you want on your plate?" Seonghwa asked you, brown irises shimmering under the dim restaurant lighting.

Your heart softened at his attentiveness. Even tipsy, he made sure that you were taken care of.

Everyone fell silent, quietly enjoying the spread of dishes brought to the table. You glanced over to check on Seonghwa periodically, watching lovingly as he took massive bites of his food.

You stifled a chuckle, to which he gave you a blissfully blank stare.

"What?"

You shook your head. "You're just cute when you eat."

His face melted into the most adorable little smile, his eyes going soft. In a split second, he closed the distance between your faces, pressing a kiss to your cheek. You blinked at the public display of affection and before you could fully react to it, Seonghwa went back to stuffing his face.

As the night progressed, his eyes became rounder and more glossy, his cheeks and neck tinged a deep pink—a clear sign he was drunk.

"Hwa, love." You murmured.

He turned to you with a ditzy expression, blinking expectantly. "Yes?"

"Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine!" His words were accompanied by a slight slur. "Let's play another drinking game!"

A few suggestions were thrown out there before everyone settled on one. You participated in the game, watching Seonghwa giggle throughout the whole thing.

"You messed up!" Wooyoung pointed to San, who was barely hanging on. "Penalty shot."

Seonghwa laughed loudly. "Haha! Idiot."

He was being particularly adorable, unintentionally cranking up the cuteness.

He wobbled in his seat, leaning sideways into you when he laughed, needing support, lest he go toppling to the floor.

When the evening came to a close and everyone was taken back home. You were left to deal with a drunken Seonghwa who staggered while trying to get his shoes off in the doorway. His roommates, San and Mingi disappeared to their own rooms. San was about to fall asleep standing up while Mingi couldn't stop laughing at him.

You barely managed to get Seonghwa to his room without stumbling. As soon as you released him, he dropped down onto the side of his bed.

You sighed softly and cupped his cheeks, gently forcing him to look at you. His face was the reddest it's ever been and his brown eyes were glistening in the dim lamps in his room.

"You're so pretty." He murmured, gazing up like you'd hung the moon.

"You're very drunk right now." You giggled quietly.

"But I still think you're pretty."

"Thank you, Hwa. You're pretty too."

His puffy eyes widened. "I am?"

"Yes." You stifled a soft laugh. "Now, I think pretty boys like you need some beauty sleep, yeah?"

He nodded with a cute little noise.

He didn't bother with pajamas, merely stripping down to his boxers and collapsing in his bed. You stole one of his shirts and a pair of sweats, turning off his lamp and crawling into bed. He was glued to your side in an instant, curled up against you.

"Soft."

You reached up to caress his hair, earning a faint noise in response. "Goodnight, Hwa."

"G'night." He slurred, already dozing off.

𝐘𝐔𝐍𝐇𝐎 | 윤호 | w.c 1,030

It was a cozy Friday night with Yunho. The coffee table was littered with partially-eaten containers of food and bottles of soju that had long been opened. An exhausting week of work was behind you and your weekend was being kicked off by having a game night with your boyfriend who'd just gotten a new game for his PlayStation. The Spider-Man-themed controller was clutched between your hands, your fingers moving swiftly over the buttons and joysticks.

"Good job, good job, good job." He repeated, eyes glued to the TV screen.

Yunho was leaned forward, completely engrossed in the gameplay, barely even blinking, lest he miss something.

His body jerked and he yelped. "Dodge! Hurry, hurry."

Your thumbs toggled the controls and you moved your avatar out of the line of fire, your heart pounding from the adrenaline.

One by one, the both of you worked to take out enemies from the other team until the very end. There was only one player left from the opposing side. You located their hideout and ambushed them with Yunho, taking them down and winning the game.

Yunho threw his hands up in victory, leaning over to pepper your face in kisses.

"That's my girl!" He praised, stirring up butterflies in your stomach. "Let's celebrate with a shot."

His neck and ears were already red and the same rosy hue was starting to spread to his cheeks from previous shots, but you agreed anyway.

You set aside the game controller and let Yunho pour up a glass, taking the bottle from him to serve him in return.

"To a good game." He toasted, clinking his shot glass with yours before tilting his head back.

You mirrored his movements, feeling the subtle burn that followed. You returned to your partially-eaten food that still held a little warmth, chewing quietly as the background music for Yunho's game filled the room.

"Should we watch something?" He asked.

"Yeah. I think I'm ready to relax for a bit."

Yunho immediately opened up one of his streaming services and scrolled the options.

"How about this one? We've been putting it off." He offered.

The thumbnail for an anime that recently released was displayed on the screen along with a description.

"It's got that one character in it." He added, proceeding to dramatically mimic said character from popular clips that had circulated social media.

His goofy behavior never failed to make you laugh. Giggles bubbled up out of you and Yunho's already glossy eyes seemed to shimmer.

"Let's do it." You agreed.

The first episode started to play and Yunho situated himself against you, his thigh pressed against yours, an arm draped behind you. You leaned into his side, eyes focused on the screen. Throughout the next few episodes, Yunho alternated between eating and taking a few sips of soju, opting to drink straight from the bottle.

At first, you paid no mind to it. Yunho had a decent alcohol tolerance, so you knew he wouldn't get plastered. He would gradually shift his position, sometimes pulling you right into his chest, keeping you very close. This behavior was a little clingier than normal. It wasn't anything to be alarmed about though, so you let him do as he wished and lay however he wanted.

It wasn't until he started grabbing your hand to play with it and peppering your arm with kisses that you realized something was up. You could no longer concentrate on the anime, as Yunho's clinginess was taking most of your attention.

"You okay?" You finally asked, your voice tinged with amusement as you watched the way he nuzzled against the back of your hand.

"Mhm." He hummed blissfully, releasing your hand to wrap his arm around you, pulling your body against his.

You shivered when he pressed his face into the crook of your neck, releasing a warm breath right against your skin.

"You're so soft." He murmured, words slurred.

His lips pressed firmly to the junction between your neck and shoulder, making your eyelids flutter involuntarily. He pulled back to nuzzle into your jaw, lips brushing along it.

"I love you." He uttered drunkenly. "M'so lucky."

The ticklish sensations caused you to shiver. "I love you too, Yun."

He leaned over, putting more of his weight on you until you were laid on the couch, partially trapped beneath his body.

"Yunho." You chuckled.

He laughed in response, settling fully on top of you.

"You're really comfy."

"And you're drunk."

"Only a liiitle." He drawled, snuggling into you.

Yunho's weight was comforting, his body warm and cozy. He shifted, pressing a clumsy kiss to the corner of your mouth, his hand slipping underneath the hem of your shirt to caress your bare waist.

"This is nice." He murmured, pressing his lips to your jaw.

His kisses were messy and uncoordinated, but stirred butterflies in your gut nonetheless.

"We're missing the show." You whispered, fingers carding gently through his hair.

"S'okay."

You had no doubt that if Yunho was with a group of friends right now, he would be laughing and bouncing everywhere, but due to the lazy atmosphere, the alcohol was making him feel heavy.

He pulled back just enough to look at you, his glazed brown eyes glimmering in the light of the TV. He gazed at you like you were the most beautiful thing he'd ever laid eyes on.

"What?" You decided to ask.

"You're the prettiest girl I've ever seen."

"Okay. That's definitely not true."

"It is." He insisted, dragging the words out with a faint whine.

Instead of arguing, you indulged him. "Well, thank you."

"You're welcome." He hummed, dropping his head onto your chest with a little huff of self-satisfaction. "I know what I'm talking about, y'know."

"Hm?"

"I'm a little tipsy, but I know what I'm saying."

You believed him. After all, his tolerance for alcohol was impressive.

"Then I want you to tell me again tomorrow."

"I will. I'll scream it from the rooftops."

"That's not necessary." You giggled, brushing his hair. "Just rest for now."

At your words, Yunho's body relaxed and he fell silent, save for his soft breathing.

"Goodnight." You whispered.

𝐘𝐄𝐎𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐆 | 여상 | w.c 1,430

Green bottles of soju were scattered along the tabletop, one of them already empty. You and your boyfriend were usually homebodies, preferring to stay in rather than go out. However, tonight, you found yourselves in an outdoor eating area beside a food truck. An array of classic Korean meals and side dishes were spread along the tabletop, some partially eaten. The tent covering the dining area made for a comfortable experience and it helped that there were only two people in there besides yourselves.

Yeosang took a rice cake between his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth, humming appreciatively.

"This is nice." You sighed, grabbing a generous bite of ramen, slurping the noodles quietly.

"Mhm." Your boyfriend nodded, chewing with a little pout on his lips—an adorable habit of his.

You reached for your phone, opening the camera and snapping a couple pictures as discreetly as possible, wanting desperately to capture this moment. Unfortunately for you, Yeosang was much more aware than you hoped in that moment, his eyes catching the top of your phone peeking from over the edge of the table.

"Hey."

You jerked your phone out of sight and started laughing out of embarrassment at being caught.

"Sorry. You looked cute."

"I'm not cute." He denied.

"Right, right." You chuckled, recalling how Yeosang didn't like being called that. "Then what do I do? What am I supposed to call you?"

"Call me handsome. Sexy, maybe?" He grinned, wiggling his brows.

"When you're eating with a pout on your face? That's impossible." You huffed dramatically, slumping forward.

"Okay." He relented. "I'll give you a pass this once. Only once, because you're my girlfriend."

You gave a small laugh, knowing that was a lie. He let you call him cute all the time.

"How generous."

Yeosang set his chopsticks aside and reached for another bottle of soju.

"Wanna see something I learned from Jongho?"

"A bottle trick?"

He nodded, taking the bottle and holding it sideways before jerking it upright, the force of the movement causing a small tornado inside the glass.

"Ooh." You clapped. "Impressive."

He had that signature tiny shy smile on his face at your praise.

"Here. Try it." He pressed the bottle into your palm, his fingers brushing yours.

You mimicked his movements, jerking the bottle, watching as a partial cyclone spun inside the glass.

"I did it! Sort of." You chuckled, passing it back to Yeosang who cracked the seal and poured you both another round. You clinked your glasses and downed the shot in one smooth motion.

"Should we play a game?" He asked, licking his lips.

"Which one did you have in mind? A lot of them require a group."

"Let's just do rock, paper, scissors. Leave it up to chance."

A slow grin spread across your lips. "I'm down."

Yeosang rested his elbow on the table, fingers curled into a fist. You mirrored him, your eyes meeting his.

"Rock, paper, scissors. Shoot!" He chanted, sticking two fingers out in the form of scissors.

You had kept your same starting stance, your hand still clutched into a fist.

"Ha!" You laughed. "Take a shot, Sangie. I win."

He smirked, taking his loss in stride as you poured him a glass, watching him throw back the shot.

"Okay. Round two." You grinned, holding your fist out again. "Rock, paper, scissors. Shoot!"

You chose paper this time, Yesoang stuck with scissors.

"Ah." You dropped your head as your boyfriend's devious giggles reached your ears.

When you lifted your gaze, he was already pushing your penalty shot across the table.

You shook your head, grabbing the glass and drinking down the soju inside.

You played a few more rounds, your heart racing every time you made your move. Much to your relief, Yeosang ended up drinking the most. Though you had your fair share of losses.

"I think I have to tap out." You giggled, feeling a little buzz coming on.

"Not me." Yeosang shook his head, pouring another shot just for fun.

"Are you sure about that?" There was a hint of amusement in your question.

"Of course I'm sure. I'm good at drinking." He insisted, downing the shot.

"Suit yourself." You huffed out a laugh, taking another bite of food. "Unlike you, I wanna be able to remember this tomorrow."

"Don't worry about me." He waved his hand dismissively.

You huffed out a laugh and shook your head.

While you eased up on the drinking, Yeosang kept pouring shots, alternating between drinking and eating. His ears were red and the color was slowly creeping onto his cheeks. His behavior was changing too. Normally, he was calmer and more laid back. Now, he was acting cuter, pouting and speaking in a higher tone.

"Whew." Yeosang huffed, shrugging off his jacket. "It's hot in here."

Your eyes were instantly drawn to what he wore underneath the jacket. A tight black tank top, his favorite one.

Yeosang's gentle, angelic laughter filled the air and your attention snapped up.

"What are you looking at?" He asked, his tone carrying a cutesy lilt.

"Nothing." You lied.

"Come on." He drawled with a teasing grin, his glassy eyes glinting with amusement. "Tell me."

"I'm look at you, silly." You responded, trying to play it off as nothing.

More giggles spilled from his pretty pink lips as he swayed in his chair.

"You're wasted."

"No. I'm Yeosang."

You pressed your lips together to suppress a laugh.

"Hey." Yeosang drawled, his big eyes glimmering. "Let's take a walk."

"I think that's a good idea." You said, getting to your feet and offering him your hand.

His fingers curled around your palm and he stood, swaying on his feet.

"Woah there." You stumbled forward to help stabilize him.

He leaned on you, giggling.

"Alright, bud." You grabbed his jacket draped across the back of his chair and started making your way out of tent. "Let's go."

The night air hit your skin, the temperature outside cooler than inside the sheltered tent.

Yeosang shivered, walking closer and pressing his face into your hair.

"Cold." He whined.

"Let's get your jacket back on." You pulled away, holding it out for him. "Maybe cover up those distractions too."

"Distractions?"

You eyed his chest and arms, causing him to smile shyly. "Oh."

He tugged on his jacket, returning quickly to your side, draping an arm around your shoulders. You supported some of his weight, keeping him steady as you strolled down the sidewalk.

Yeosang yawned. "Mmh. I change my mind." The pout in his voice was evident. "I wanna go back home."

"Getting sleepy?"

He nodded against you. "Wanna cuddle with my girlfriend."

You huffed out a laugh. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

His eyes were barely open and his pretty lips were pushed into an unintentional pout.

"You're so adorable when you're drunk." You murmured with a soft laugh, unable to keep the thought to yourself.

"Nooo." He dragged out. "I'm not cute. I'm sexy."

"You don't realize this, but your cuteness level goes up when you're drunk."

"It does not." He whined, leaning further against you.

"Alright." You relented. "Whatever you say."

He swayed and bumped into you with a small grunt.

"Easy." You warned.

He giggled, clinging tighter to you and nuzzling into your hair. "Sorry." He murmured, letting out a dreamy hum at being so close.

As you returned to your apartment, Yeosang put more of his weight on you, his feet dragging across the concrete, indicating just how tired he was.

You managed to get him inside and lead him into the bedroom where he detached from you, barely having time to shrug off his jacket before he dropped onto the bed. His arms instantly reached out to you, beckoning you to lie down with him.

"Not yet." You chuckled, tugging off his shoes.

He groaned in protest, but let you undress him so he wouldn't be uncomfortable.

"Tonight was fun." He murmured into the pillow as you changed into some pajamas.

"It was?" You clicked off the bedside lamp, bathing the room in darkness.

"Yeah. I liked drinking with you." He felt around for your forearm, his fingers curling loosely around it and tugging you towards him.

The moment you landed on his chest, his arms wrapped around your waist. His body was warm from all the alcohol he consumed, the heat seeping through your clothes as he held you in his embrace. A gentle, sleepy noise fell from his lips, followed by steady breathing.

He was out.

You suppressed a chuckle, leaving a delicate kiss on his cheekbone. "Goodnight, Yeosang."

𝐒𝐀𝐍 | 산 | w.c 1,280

Ateez were all seated in the private dining room of a restaurant that had been making its rounds on everyone's social feeds. There was a break in the group's schedule and Jongho managed to get everyone together for a shared dinner.

"I read about this place online." Your boyfriend marveled, staring up at the ceiling in wonder.

"Their sashimi is supposed to be really good. It's all anyone talks about on Instagram." Seonghwa mentioned.

"Ooh. They have marinated crab." Yunho gaped.

"We should get a couple orders of that." San added.

After some menu browsing and discussions, everyone placed their orders, including an impressive amount of alcohol. Some ordering beer, others choosing the classic soju.

"We need to go all out." Jongho had said.

It was easy for him to say. He had one of the highest alcohol tolerances in the group.

Beverages were brought out first, your boyfriend reaching for one of the bottles, pouring you a generous shot.

Once everyone had their glasses filled, Mingi took the initiative to get the ball rolling.

"Cheers." He called out enthusiastically, clinking glasses with everyone.

The group took their shots at once, the now empty glasses hitting the table with a small thump. San's face scrunched a little at the taste and you chuckled in quiet amusement.

"What's so funny?" He asked with a dimpled smirk, draping his arm across the back of your chair.

"Your reaction." You responded simply.

"Do I amuse you or something?" There was a teasing glint in his eyes as they flickered up and down your seated form.

"Very much so." You giggled, giving his nose a little tap.

Seonghwa reached over to fill your glasses again caught your attention.

"Another round already?" You questioned with a small laugh.

"Yeah. We're going all in tonight." Seonghwa grinned.

San wasn't one to initiate the drinking. He more so just went along with everyone else, following when another round of shots were poured up. If one was given to him, he would drink it.

"Alright. Let's go, let's go." Wooyoung chanted, tilting back his glass, prompting everyone else to do the same.

The food was brought out minutes later and there was a brief intermission in the drinking to indulge in the mouthwatering dishes that had been ordered.

Your poor boyfriend was awful at holding his liquor. It didn't take many shots for his face to start sporting that telltale pink flush. You didn't think much of it at first, not realizing just how poor his tolerance was. Everyone had placed their orders and started playing games to pass the time. San was roughly three shots in and you only noticed his tipsy behavior when Seonghwa, who was also pink, pointed it out, laughing at him.

San blinked cluelessly at the teasing until it finally processed in his mind.

"No." He denied, rubbing his cheek. "I'm okay."

"You sure?" You asked, your eyes drifting over his red face.

"Mhm." He nodded.

You didn't want to push, choosing to drop it for the time being and took a bite of food.

San observed the other members almost dazedly, leaned forward slightly, bracing himself in his chair.

"Another round!" Yunho encouraged, pouring shots for everyone.

San silently watched everyone grab their glasses and downed the alcohol with them. He was clearly feeling it, but went along with whatever the group was doing.

"What about a game?" Yeosang suggested.

"Let's play the one where we yell at each other back and forth." Mingi suggested.

"No." Yeosang cut in and immediately shook his head rapidly. "I'm not getting screamed at again. That was scary."

The rest of the group laughed, seemingly recalling a previous drinking session together.

A more tame game was suggested after that and everyone agreed on it. One by one, you would take your turn, keeping up with the steady pace of the game. It didn't take long for Hongjoong to mess up, resulting in a penalty shot.

"You alright?" You asked San after a few rounds of drinking games, taking in his reddened face.

His eyes were puffy and barely open, giving away just how affected he was.

"Yeah." He answered, sounding completely coherent despite his appearance. "Just a little hot."

You laughed softly, endeared by his current state. He looked sleepy, blinking sluggishly.

"If you say so."

"I do." He insisted with a little pout.

As the drinking games proceeded, he kept up the best that he could. It was painfully endearing seeing him this way. When he lost a round and had to take a penalty shot, he took it in stride, but leaned over on your shoulder pouting about it when no one was looking.

When it wasn't his turn, he fell silent. He didn't speak, spaced out and staring at nothing. You pressed your lips together to suppress a laugh, but he noticed.

"What?" He inquired, the clueless expression on his face making you have cuteness aggression.

"You seem a little drunk."

"M'not drunk." He denied, his words punctuated by a small whine.

What started out as a group dinner turned into a karaoke session at a 24 hour karaoke bar. The nine of you were packed inside of a room with colorful lights dancing along the walls and floor.

Jongho was standing before the TV on the wall, singing along to the words displayed on the screen. San must have gotten a sudden burst of energy, his singer instincts kicking in the second he heard music. Though he wasn't the one with the microphone, he was belting out the lyrics with his eyes closed as he swayed in his seat, getting lost in the emotional ballad. Other members had joined in, but your boyfriend was the loudest.

You burst into laughter at the enthusiasm that San was exuding, watching him amusedly. His face was still sporting that deep red flush from all the drinking, making this moment all the more entertaining.

San slung an arm over your shoulders, making you sway with him. You held onto his waist, joyful chuckles spilling out of you.

His singing ceased when the song came to an end and Seonghwa stepped up to grab the mic next.

Music started up again and the whole group straightened at the opening instrumental of a popular upbeat K-pop song.

San jumped to his feet and pulled you with him, shouting out the words with Seonghwa and the others. Singing wasn't one of your talents, but you still had a buzz from the alcohol earlier and joined in, dancing around the room with San.

He tugged you against him, stumbling slightly.

"Woah there." You chuckled.

His head rested against yours, a hum vibrating in his chest. "Love you so much. You're so beautiful." His words were murmured and dragged out like he was sleepy.

"I love you too, San."

"You should stay the night when we go home."

"If your roommates are okay with it, I will." You chuckled.

"They don't care." He moved to nuzzle against your cheek, letting out soft hums that sounded akin to a purring cat.

"You tired?" You asked, brushing your fingers through his dark hair.

"Mhm." He nodded.

"I think San's ready to go home." Hongjoong pointed out, having noticed the way he was clinging to you.

"No!" He raised his head immediately, lips pushed into a pout. "Let's keep singing."

Scattered laughter filled the room at his reaction.

"You sure?" Yeosang asked.

"Yeah. We just got here." His sentences were exaggerated with a whine at the end that made your chest squeeze with adoration.

"Alright. We'll sing a few more songs then we'll head home. Deal?" You asked him.

"Mmh." He nodded. "Deal."

𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐈 | 민기 | w.c 1,310

The first indication that your boyfriend was drunk were his texts, or more so the selfies he sent. Blurry pictures of Mingi smiling brightly at a table filled with food was what greeted you when you opened his messages. His grin alone was proof enough that he'd been drinking.

He used to indulge in alcohol often and had since cut back, but Jongho and Wooyoung invited him out and those two were big drinkers.

Your fingers hovered over the keyboard pensively before you decided not to text. He may not even be able to respond.

"At least he's having fun."

You sighed and leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling, twiddling your thumbs.

Your phone buzzed a few minutes later and you jumped to check it. More selfies flooded in from Mingi. Blurry group photos, then a picture of Wooyoung kissing a visibly uncomfortable Jongho on the cheek, followed by a series of images showing the youngest grappling Wooyoung into a chokehold. You snorted amusedly, knowing how affectionate he was sober.

The evening wore on and your boyfriend made sure to spam endless selfies and snapshots, some of them obviously accidental.

As you swiped through the pictures, Mingi's contact photo popped up on the screen and his custom ringtone played aloud. He was FaceTiming you.

Your thumb swiped to accept the call, raising your phone level with your face. You jerked back when Mingi's eye filled the screen, startled by the unexpected sight.

He pulled back, blinking owlishly.

"Y/n!" He shouted over the sound of Wooyoung's loud cackles.

"Mingi, what are you doing?" You asked with a laugh.

"I sent you pictures! Look." He turned the camera to show the table filled with nearly empty plates and many bottles of soju, crumpled napkins and discarded chopsticks littering the space.

You caught a glimpse of Wooyoung and Jongho in the background, both of them attempting tricks with the bottles.

"I got your pictures. It looks like you're having fun."

"I am!" He clumsily faced the camera back to himself, smiling drunkenly.

"Why'd you call?"

"I missed you." He spoke loudly.

Your expression softened. "I miss you too, but I'm glad you're having a good time."

"Hey, you should come join us!"

"Oh. No, I don't want to intrude."

Before you could continue, Wooyoung chimed in.

"Y/n, get down here! Mingi has been whining about you all evening."

Your boyfriend's already pink cheeks deepened. "Heyyy." He frowned.

Wooyoung snickered in response.

"Okay. I guess I'll head that way.." You gave in.

"See you soon." Mingi waved, his phone wobbling in his hand before he ended the call.

You sighed, shaking your head. "That boy."

Half an hour later you stepped into the bar, having shed your comfortable clothes for proper outside attire. Your eyes scanned the small space that had a surprisingly decent crowd clustered on the floor.

"Y/n!"

Your attention was drawn towards the call of your name and a large hand waving excitedly over the clusters of patrons. You recognized the flashy rings instantly, a knowing grin spreading across your lips.

Mingi emerged, staggering towards you with a dopey smile on his face.

"Y/n." He uttered, throwing his arms around you.

"Hey, baby." You greeted, rubbing his back.

He buried his face into your shoulder, releasing a mix between a groan and a sigh.

"Wooyoung and Jongho... they're sooo fun."

"I know they are."

"I'm so happy you're here."

"Me too. Now I can keep an eye on you." It was partially a joke. "You said you weren't gonna drink a lot. How did this even happen?" You asked him.

"We played games and I kept losing." He whined, pulling back with a pout. "They made me take penalty shots."

"Oh you poor thing." You cooed, running your fingers through his lengthy hair, tidying the unruly strands.

If there was one thing you knew about Mingi, it's that he liked to be babied. Contrary to his height and sometimes intimidating appearance, he enjoyed when you doted on him. He melted into your touch, sighing out a slurred, "I love you."

"I love you too." You laughed, giving him a little pat on the cheek. "Let's go sit."

He took your hand, guiding you through the crowd, back to his table where Wooyoung and Jongho erupted in excited exclamations at your arrival.

"Heeeey!" Wooyoung greeted.

You joined the two of them and Mingi dropped back into his chair, sitting beside you.

"We just ordered more food. You hungry?" Jongho offered.

"Oh yes." You grabbed a pair of chopsticks and took a bite.

"Alright. How about another round of shots?" Wooyoung beamed, already opening a bottle of soju.

"No." Mingi shook his head. "I can't. No more."

"I'll have one. Only one. I'll probably be driving this guy home later." You gave your boyfriend a pat on the back.

"Alright." Wooyoung pushed a glass towards you. "One shot."

You took the glass and turned it back just as Wooyoung and Jongho did.

"Ahh." Jongho sighed dramatically.

You grabbed your chopsticks again and went back for more food after downing your shot.

"This is insanely good." You praised.

"It pairs so well with the drinks, doesn't it?" Wooyoung chimed in, grabbing himself a bite.

You glanced over at Mingi, checking on his current state. His eyes were glossy and he looked like the pouting emoji personified.

"Mingi?"

"I think I'm ready to leave." He frowned. "It's stuffy in here."

"But she just got here." Wooyoung whined.

"No, no. It's fine." You placed your chopsticks down. "I can take him home."

"Yeah, he's kinda out of it." Jongho reasoned.

"Alright." Wooyoung sighed.

You said your goodbyes and took Mingi to your car, watching him fumble with the seatbelt.

"Here." You reached over to click the buckle into place.

"You're so nice to me." He murmured, his words slurred.

"Because I care for you, bub."

He let out an incoherent murmur as you started the engine and headed towards home.

Somehow, you managed to lead Mingi inside and get him to your shared bedroom without him collapsing. He stepped past the doorway and held your waist to steady himself.

"You good?"

"Mhm." He flashed a dopey grin, cheeks flushed from the alcohol.

There was no time to react as he leaned in to capture your lips in a clumsy, uncoordinated kiss.

Your hands flew to his cheeks, pulling back just enough to talk.

"You really missed me, huh?"

"Yeah." He breathed, diving in again.

"Mmph!" You giggled against his lips. "You were only gone for a couple hours."

"I still missed you." He whined softly, kissing you once more, awkwardly guiding you towards the bed.

The back of your knees hit the edge of the mattress and Mingi went tumbling forward on top of you with a small grunt.

"Oops." He laughed, pressing his face into the crook of your neck, leaving a trail of sloppy kisses along your skin.

You squirmed, the sensations both pleasant and ticklish all at once. He raised his head, shimmying to reach your lips only to bump his forehead against yours by accident.

"Ah." You flinched.

"Ow." He whined. "Maybe I need to take it slow."

"Good idea." You caressed his hair, pushing it back away from his face. "How about I get you some water?"

He gave a sleepy nod and you managed to slide out from underneath him, slipping off to the kitchen.

By the time you returned, Mingi was asleep. His shoes had been kicked off, but he was still fully clothed, splayed across the bed.

A sigh of endearment exhaled through your nostrils as you placed a bottle of water on the nightstand, gazing down at your boyfriend's sleeping form.

"Goodnight, sweet boy." You whispered, placing a delicate kiss to the top of his head, leaving him to rest.

𝐖𝐎𝐎𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐆 | 우영 | w.c 1,070

Taking care of your drunk boyfriend was not on your agenda tonight, but Wooyoung liked to let loose and have a good time.

It started off just fine. You, Wooyoung, San, and Seonghwa all went out for a fun little karaoke night, renting a private room for the evening. There were snacks, sweets, and alcohol of course.

Wooyoung dragged you up from the bench along the back wall of the room and to the TV, choosing a fun duet to sing. It was a popular song from a film that was sweeping the charts, one that you could shout at the top of your lungs to.

You both belted out the lyrics without a care in the world, paying no mind to how you sounded, jumping around and getting lost in the music. Wooyoung took your hand with his free one, spinning you around while singing passionately. The lyrics were interrupted only by laughter from the both of you.

Your little performance earned you a standing ovation and a round of applause from San and Seonghwa. The both of you did a bow and returned to your spot on the bench lining the wall at the back of the room.

San got up and grabbed one of the microphones, choosing a song to sing, striding around the room trying to get everyone hyped up. You clapped to the beat, cheers and shouts of encouragement filled the room. San began singing roughly, straining to put his heart and soul into his performance.

Wooyoung took one of the soju bottles and started pouring shots for everyone while his bandmate carried on with his enthusiastic rendition. You clinked your glasses, swallowing down the liquid inside that left a subtle burning in your chest. Your boyfriend grabbed the last full shot glass, trying to get San to drink it despite being in the middle of an enthralling vocal performance. His singing ceased long enough for Wooyoung to press the glass to his lips. San laughed, but his face was twisted in distaste at the unpleasant bitterness of the soju.

There was a brief intermission between songs so everyone could enjoy some of the food and refuel. Spicy chicken stir fry, veggie dumplings, and Korean corn dogs. These karaoke places specialized in bar food or anything greasy to help you get less drunk. Plus, it paired well with the alcohol.

A string of mozzarella stretched from the corn dog in Wooyoung's hand right to his plush lips. He ate his way along the gooey trail of cheese, humming pleasantly.

"So good." He spoke through a mouthful of food.

"Soooo good." You agreed, pinching a fried dumpling between your chopsticks.

As the night progressed, the empty bottles piled up, so did the empty plates. Things took a turn when the four of you finished off the third bottle of soju. Wooyoung was eager with the shots, even insisting on playing some drinking games.

"You're wanting to play with the two weakest drinkers in your group?" You questioned with an amused grin.

"Yes." He answered without missing a beat.

So, you played a few rounds of games and continued on with karaoke.

The first indication that Wooyoung was getting drunk was the fact that he couldn't keep his hands off you. His warm palms found their way to your waist or even your thigh, squeezing and caressing subtly wherever they landed. He kept stealing kisses too, leaning over to randomly smack his lips against your cheek and jaw. Wooyoung was affectionate anyway, but with all the alcohol he consumed, it became much worse.

While a pink-faced San was eating, you were having a conversation with Seonghwa, talking to him about a clothing store you visited recently when Wooyoung randomly grabbed your face and kissed your cheek firmly, pulling away with a loud smooch sound.

"Wooyoung!" Your cheeks flooded with heat, but San and Seonghwa only laughed, desensitized to this kind of behavior.

"They're not bothered with seeing a little public display of affection. Besides, they're both tipsy." Wooyoung waved it off dismissively.

"Yeah, so are you." You countered, lightly poking his cheek.

He snapped his teeth teasingly at your finger and you yanked it away, you shot him a warning look, not being serious. He responded with a mischievously smug smirk.

At that point, Seonghwa and San had gone back to eating, your previous conversation about shopping had fallen to the wayside.

"Behave." You nudged him.

"No promises." He sang with a playful lilt.

He did not behave.

For a while, he kept an arm draped over your shoulder and had you pulled against his side. He wouldn't allow you to even stand up when it was your turn to sing.

You didn't know how long you spent inside the karaoke room, but when San looked like he was about to fall asleep, Seonghwa suggested calling it a night.

Wooyoung lumbered in through the front door with a drunken grin plastered on his face. You sighed and closed the door, flicking the lock. The moment you did so, Wooyoung's hands found your waist, pulling you back against him. The tip of his nose traced your neck and you suppressed a shiver.

"Mmm. Tonight was fun." He hummed. "You looked so good dancing without a care in the world."

Your muscles tensed when he placed a warm, open-mouthed kiss to your neck.

"Wooyoung."

"What?" He grumbled against your skin, his deft hands sliding under the hem of your shirt to brush against your waist. "You're so warm."

"You're a little drunk right now." You reminded him despite how nice his touch felt.

"So what? I just wanna kiss my girlfriend. Is that so wrong?"

"You can barely stand upright."

"Then let's go lie down."

You managed to get to the bedroom, prying Wooyoung off long enough to change into pajamas. He didn't bother with any, merely stripping down to his boxers.

He hooked an arm around your waist and pulled you towards the bed and on top of him, his hands sliding along your sides. His nose nuzzled against your cheek before he turned his head to kiss your lips. His aim was off and he ended up kissing the corner of your mouth instead.

You laughed softly. "You should probably sleep."

"Lemme kiss you for a little while longer." He murmured, his droopy eyes gazing into yours. "Please?"

"Okay." You caved. "Just a little longer."

𝐉𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐇𝐎 | 종호 | w.c 1,130

It was a cozy Saturday evening with Jongho. Laid before you was the classic Korean combination of fried chicken and beer, along with a few bottles of soju for variety.

"This is where it's at." Jongho rubbed his hands together, taking in the spread.

The fried batter on the chicken looked so mouthwatering you could practically feel the crunch already, and the glaze on the sauced chicken glistened under the warm lamplight, making you swallow instinctively.

Your boyfriend passed a pair of disposable gloves to you for eating (complementary with the meal) and presented you with your drink of choice.

"Ladies first." Jongho gestured.

You didn't need to be told twice, reaching out to grab a chicken leg covered in sauce.

The first bite had you slumping against the back of the couch dramatically, earning a string of heart-fluttering giggles from Jongho. He slipped on a pair of gloves and grabbed a classic fried drumstick, taking a large bite. His brows scrunched together as he chewed, humming in approval.

No words were exchanged, just the soft crunch of the fry batter as the two of you ate in silence.

Jongho reached over and opened up a bottle of beer, taking a swig of it, his eyes closing at how the flavors mixed.

"An unbeatable combo." He said, shaking his head. "So good."

He finished eating and pulled off his gloves, grabbing the soju next, twisting the cap and pouring a couple shots for the both of you.

A grin played at your lips seeing Jongho slide one over. "Alright. Getting the party started pretty quickly, huh?"

"You know it."

You gave a little shrug and took the small glass, lightly clinking it with Jongho's before tilting it back. You pressed your lips together at the taste, setting the glass back on the table.

"Don't expect me to keep up with you tonight." You told him.

"I don't. Tap out whenever you want." He said, pouring himself a second shot.

You pushed your glass towards his, indicating you weren't backing down yet.

Jongho tended to be a little heavy-handed with alcohol, pouring shots that nearly filled the glass.

"Jeez." You laughed, raising your glass to examine it. "Are you trying to get me plastered?"

"Not on purpose." He giggled.

You huffed amusedly, drinking the full shot.

Jongho had just finished his, pulling away with an exaggerated exhale.

"I like drinking on occasion." He said, swirling his beer inside its bottle. "Especially if I'm going out to eat. I can't have a delicious steak without a good glass of wine. Or chicken without beer."

"Of course." You nodded, knowing how Jongho enjoyed a good food and drink pairing.

"Mingi says you're the only reason he drinks anymore." You mentioned.

"Did he?"

"Yeah. He stopped, but when he goes into eat with you, he ends up drinking."

"Hah!" Jongho threw his head back, letting out a loud laugh. "He's weak-willed."

You scolded him, by delivering a light smack to his shoulder. "Hey. Be nice."

"It's the truth."

You huffed, shaking your head.

The conversation progressed from there and Jongho started telling you funny stories about the members and things that have happened when the cameras were off. During this, he poured more shots and you two enjoyed some more chicken, nearly finishing off both boxes. His story-telling abilities already made you laugh, especially with the way he mimicked people, but with the alcohol, things were even funnier to you. Your loud cackles filled the living room, tears brimming at the edges of your eyes while you clutched your stomach.

Jongho was leaned over, his eyes scrunched into tiny crescents as his adorable laughter reached your ears. The sight alone was enough to make your heart melt. From the crinkles by his eyes to his endearing gummy grin.

"He did not say that." You spoke through belly laughter.

"He did! I swear."

Time slipped by and the table was littered with empty bottles, boxes from the chicken, and wadded disposable gloves and napkins. Jongho drank two beers and both of you emptied four sojus. Jongho stretched, blinking blearily. His neck and ears had been pink for quite some time, but now the color started creeping to his soft cheeks. You watched him leave the room and return with a fresh bottle of beer.

Even in your slightly hazy state, a small tinge of worry flared in your chest.

"Not to be a buzzkill, but don't you think you should slow it down?"

"Slow it down?" Jongho echoed perking up at your words, almost immediately going into his group's choreography for their song Bouncy, singing the lyrics under his breath.

"Jongho." You laughed. "I don't want you getting hungover tomorrow."

He huffed, slumping in his seat. "I just want one more."

"I'm not gonna stop you from doing what you want, but you've had a lot."

"Oh, come on." He wiggled his shoulders, laying the cuteness on extra thick. "One more bottle of beer."

You tried to resist, but it was impossible. Jongho was just too cute, especially when he acted this way. Plus, the alcohol had given you a little buzz that was clouding your judgement.

"Alright. One more, but I don't want you getting sick."

"I won't." He waved you off. "I'm a champ when it comes to drinking. My tolerance is soooo good."

His pink cheeks and slurred words said otherwise. Jongho had reached his limit of tolerance.

"Right, right." You nodded, giving him a pat on the back.

"Why do you sound like you don't believe me?"

"Because I don't." You giggled.

"Hey!" He leaned over and grabbed your sides, making you yelp.

Your laughter spilled out when he laid partially on top of you, trapping you against the couch cushions.

"You don't trust me?" He asked, raising a brow.

"Nooo." You teased, a big smile plastered on your face.

"Oh yeah?" Jongho grinned, his face inching closer. "If I'm so drunk, then why am I aware of the fact that I have you trapped right now?"

You could feel heat creep onto your cheeks at his words, not missing the glint in his eye. You were at a loss, not having a comeback.

"Speechless?" He asked, his half-lidded eyes drifting to your lips.

By the time it registered in your sluggish mind, his mouth was on yours, warm and soft. Your arms draped around his shoulders in acceptance, eyes falling shut as you kissed him back. It was a little messy and uncoordinated, but it made your stomach do flips.

Jongho hummed, dragging his lips slowly over yours, letting you feel the shape of them.

"What about your beer?" You asked when he pulled back a fraction.

"I don't want it anymore. I want you."

★ ────────────────── ★

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★ ────────────────── ★

The air went completely still and you waited, listening for any changes outside. Howling wind, pounding rain, anything. But you got nothing

You grunted in disapproval.

"Seriously?" You huffed out under your breath, setting the book down.

The tea you'd been steeping was ready, so you took a moment to enjoy it, hoping it would soothe any lingering nerves riddling your body. Sitting down on the couch, you took a sip of the herbal brew, letting it warm you from the inside out. This spell was tricky and you didn't want to botch it, so you chose not to recite it again.

Oftentimes when witches couldn't cast spells, it was due to a distracted mind or emotional block that prevented magic from flowing. You just needed a moment to relax and clear your head.

Instead of focusing on your shortcomings, you shifted it to your breathing, inhaling and exhaling steadily. Expelling any negativity. It was just a spell, albeit a powerful one, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if you were unsuccessful.

With that, you finished off your tea, placing the empty cup down.

"Alright." You sighed, standing back up. "Let's try this again."

You took the book, relaxing your shoulders and reading over the spell briefly in your head, centering yourself before speaking them aloud.

You could almost feel the prickle of magic in your fingertips, a feeling of excitement welling up inside of you.

Then... silence.

Your spell book was snapped shut with a sharp clap. You were almost there, you could feel it. Maybe you were in the wrong environment. Maybe you needed to be outdoors.

You paced the local cemetery, riddled with frustration. Not even the pink and purple skies could quell your inner turmoil. Maybe you just weren't ready. This spell was extremely powerful and, as much as you hated to admit it, maybe you didn't have the training for it. If you went to your mentor, he'd probably tell you that you needed ten years of practice to even attempt a spell like this one.

You weren't a quitter though. You were determined, and maybe a little but stubborn, but you weren't one to give up so easily.

Rolling your shoulders, you relaxed your body, releasing a long exhale. No negativity. No qualms. You could do this.

You read the words written on the parchment, reciting the incantation firmly, your tone holding a bite due to your lingering aggravation. The wind picked up with a howl, stirring the leaves that littered the dried grass. As you continued speaking, the foliage began to swirl around you like a cyclone, whipping your hair wildly. You could feel the power in the words you spoke, your magic flowing throughout your entire body, tingling in your fingertips. This was it.

You spoke louder, a green haze thrumming to life in your peripherals that indicated your eyes were alight with power.

As soon as you spoke the last word, the leaves fell back to the faded blades of grass, the wind dying down instantly.

The night stilled, even the crickets had stopped chirping. You released a soft exhale, already feeling the exertion settling into your bones.

"I did it." You breathed, grinning proudly.

The results, while impressive, were unexpected. You imagined rain or dark, rolling storm clouds, but the strong gusts of wind were proof enough that the spell worked. Now all you had to do was memorize the incantation until you no longer had to recite it aloud to use it.

Just then, the ground beneath your feet shifted. Your attention dropped to the earth below, legs tensing as the dirt moved again, like something was pushing it from underneath. You gasped and stumbled away from the grave, watching with wide eyes as a hand emerged from the ground. You should've made a run for it, but you were too shocked at what you were seeing. The corpse clawed his way up from the dirt, staggering to his feet. You backed away as he approached stiffly, his partially-decomposed face smudged with mud that obscured his features.

"Stay back!" You demanded in a trembling voice.

The zombie reached towards you and you conjured up a flame in your palm on instinct.

"I said stay back!"

He immediately shrank away and shielded himself from the small blaze, whimpering softly. Your breathing stuttered and you found yourself feeling sorry for the creature. The flames in your palm extinguished themselves and you lowered your hand.

"Hey."

He peeked over his arm that was partially shielding his face.

"I didn't mean to scare you." Your words were spoken gently so as not to startle him further.

His cloudy eyes surveyed you apprehensively before he lowered his arms. You watched him with just as much hesitancy, waiting to see what he would do.

His hand reached out again and you flinched back.

"H-hey." You stuttered, but he didn't stop.

His fingers neared your head and it made you shout on instinct. "Don't!"

As soon as that word left you, the zombie pulled back with a leaf pinched between his thumb and index finger. He released the foliage and let it flutter to the ground before meeting your bewildered gaze. He was only trying to get a leaf out of your hair.

You blinked, your gaze falling to the spell book tucked under your arm.

"Ah." You gasped, flipping through the pages frantically, trying to figure out where you went wrong.

You flicked to the weather manipulation spell, eyes scanning the words scrawled on the parchment. It was exactly what you recited.

"That doesn't make sense." You murmured.

The nameless man tilted his head slightly, observing you in silence.

You thumbed through the pages until you came to a spell you wouldn't dare perform. Resurrection. Upon reading over the words, you found that it was the same incantation as the weather manipulation spell.

Your brows were pulled so tightly together you felt the tenseness between them. Flipping back to the weather spell, you reread the words. As you observed the writing closer, you realized some of the A's were actually O's and vice versa. The writing was so rushed that the letters blended into one another and looked like completely different ones.

The blood drained from your face when you came to the horrifying realization that you'd accidentally cast the wrong spell.

"Seonghwa is gonna kill me." You whispered.

Your wide eyes snapped up to meet those of the man standing before you.

"What am I gonna do?"

He blinked owlishly before shrugging.

You sighed, dragging a hand down your face.

Closing the spell book, you tucked it under your arm and began to pace restlessly. The man whom you just raised from the dead merely watched you as he'd been doing the whole time.

"What's your name, anyway?" You asked.

He opened his mouth to speak, but the only sounds that came out were strained and incoherent.

Your attention moved to the grave he emerged from, clumps of dirt piled around the stone where he'd unearthed himself. A name was engraved into the granite along with his birth and death date.

Choi Jongho.

"Jongho?" You read aloud, glancing over towards the zombie who perked up in recognition.

"Okay. Jongho." You nodded, continuing to pace around.

You couldn't just leave him here and you couldn't let him go free. People would freak. You heard shuffling and glanced over your shoulder to find Jongho following you, staying a safe distance away, but watching. Experimentally, you took a few steps further, he followed.

You sighed in resignation, realizing your only option. "Alright, come on."

As soon as you started heading out of the graveyard, Jongho shuffled behind you.

The front door to your cozy little home flew open as you entered, flames bursting to life in the fireplace at your presence. Jongho flinched, cowering from the small blaze when it ignited.

"It's alright." You assured him. "It won't hurt you unless you touch it."

Despite not being remotely close to the fireplace, he kept a wide distance, watching the flames like they would leap out at him.

"I charmed it for convenience." You explained. "Pretty cool, right?"

He looked to you, then the bright orange flames.

"Okay." You cleared your throat. "You're staying here with me until I can figure out how to fix this." You told him, flipping through the pages of your spell book.

It was an old tome passed down for years, there had to be a reversal spell somewhere.

The sound of the crackling fire was accompanied by your frantic flipping as you searched for a way to undo your mistake. Page after page, you skimmed the writings scrawled on each one, but found nothing. You had just reached the final page when you heard a thump. You snapped the large book shut with a heavy sound and turned to the source of the noise. Jongho was wandering the room, bumping into things by accident.

"Hey, hey, hey." You hurried over, taking him by the shoulders. "Careful. You're stiff and uncoordinated right now, so just take it slow, okay?"

The confusion in his clouded eyes was obvious. It was clear he was trying to adjust to his new condition. It made your gut twist with guilt. Being resurrected and having to adapt to a body that wouldn't do what you wanted it to had to be difficult. This poor guy was resting peacefully until you came along and disturbed him.

You led him to the couch and eased him down onto the cushions, taking a seat beside him.

"This is a mess." You sighed, dropping your face into your hands.

You felt lost. You didn't know what to do.

"I'm so sorry." Your apology was muffled by your hands, making you sound even more pathetic.

A hand landed on your shoulder and you raised your head. Jongho gave you a slow pat and you couldn't help but laugh softly.

"Thanks."

You exhaled and leaned back against the couch, observing Jongho for a moment.

"Maybe we should get you cleaned up."

He looked down at himself, then back at you, grunting and nodding in agreement.

Standing from the couch, you helped Jongho up and took him into the bathroom.

You wet a washcloth with warm water and used it to carefully wipe over Jongho's face, trying not to stare too long at the partial decomposition of his skin. He sat completely still, his clouded eyes locked on you while you wiped away dirt and other earthly filth.

Now that he didn't have grime on his face, you could get a better look at him. You pulled back, blinking in awe. He was cute.

You looked away and cleared your throat.

"So we should probably get rid of those clothes. They're tattered and stained." You gestured to his suit. "I can get the shower started and let you wash the rest of yourself."

He looked towards the shower.

"Okay maybe you can just stand underneath the water. That's better than nothing." You gave an awkward laugh, his lack of speech making things a little unpleasant.

He slowly pushed himself to his feet and lumbered over to the shower, struggling to get inside of it. You turned on the water and Jongho flinched at the feeling of it.

"Sorry." You apologized, adjusting the knob until the water temperature was just right.

"I'll use magic and get rid of those dirty clothes so you can bathe properly." You gave him a heads up. "So, like, don't freak out okay?"

As soon as you tugged the curtain shut, you gave a twirl of your finger and Jongho's dirt-stained clothes appeared in a heap on the bathroom floor.

You felt a sense of obligation to stay near your new undead houseguest to make sure he was alright, so you hopped onto the bathroom counter to wait on him. Having a practical zombie in your home wasn't the strangest situation. Being a witch, you'd seen lots of odd things, never a reanimated corpse, but it wasn't the craziest thing you'd experienced.

The sound of the shower spray was the only thing filling the room, along with the occasional grunt when Jongho would knock into something, soft thumps and light thuds accompanying the sounds of the water.

"You alright in there?" You asked tentatively.

He grunted and it didn't sound like one of distress, so you let him be.

Minutes later, the water shut off and Jongho's hand shot out from the curtain, blindly feeling around for a towel.

"Oh!" You gave a flick of your wrist and sent a towel from the cabinet to his open hand.

Your legs swung off the edge of the counter, listening to the rustling sounds of Jongho drying off. The curtain was pushed open and he was standing there with the towel haphazardly wrapped around his waist. You yelped, covering your eyes immediately. You only caught a glimpse of him, but the image was seared into your mind: strong biceps and chest, toned abdomen, wide shoulders. For a dead guy, he was certainly fit.

"S-stay there for a second." You stuttered, keeping your eyes screwed shut as you used your magic to conjure up a set of fresh clothes to cover him.

When you opened your eyes, Jongho was looking down at his outfit, examining it. A t-shirt and sweatpants replaced the towel that looked as if it was about to fall off his hips.

"There." You breathed a sigh of relief as he clambered out of the shower. "Feel better?"

Jongho gave a small nod, adjusting the waistband of his sweats.

Despite his discolored skin, he appeared more human. You walked over to him, wanting to observe from a closer perspective. The decay was more obvious now, the edge of his ear slightly decomposed, his eyes looking a little hollow, lips almost a blueish color, and the veins visible underneath his pale skin. You turned your gaze away, a strange feeling present in your chest.

This was too weird. You couldn't think a corpse was handsome... even if he was. You could only imagine what he looked like when he was alive.

You were quick to shove the thought far away, burying it deep in the back of your mind.

"Right." You murmured. "Follow me."

Your fingers curled lightly around his wrist as you guided him to the kitchen.

You opened the refrigerator, unsure of what you were looking for. Jongho watched from behind you like a curious puppy. You glanced at him, then back at the fridge.

"Are you hungry?" You asked faintly.

His clouded eyes seemed to light up and he nodded.

You stiffened for a moment in brief realization.

"Uh. You don't wanna eat brains—do you?" The question was uttered hesitantly.

His expression shifted and his head tilted adorably in confusion before he wrinkled his nose and shook his head. You tried not to make your reaction obvious, breathing a small sigh of relief.

"How about a nice warm soup?" Your expression brightened as the idea popped into your head.

Jongho's brow twitched in thought before he nodded and you swore you saw the corner of his lips quirk up.

"Alright then. Have a seat over there and I'll get started."

Jongho spared a glance towards the dining table where you gestured, not making any efforts to go over there.

"Or you can stay where you are." You added.

A flame was conjured on the stovetop and you got to work preparing the broth. Jongho stood in the corner and watched in silent awe at the way you moved about the kitchen, using magic to chop vegetables and toss them into the pot. A delicious and hearty aroma filled your small cooking space shortly, the smell making your mouth water.

"It's almost done." You flashed a smile at Jongho, sprinkling various seasonings into the broth, giving it a stir.

You let the soup simmer for a few minutes to let the flavors mingle, biding your time by slicing a loaf of bread you picked up at the market earlier in the week. You cut off a few slices and placed them into a basket for serving.

With some struggle, you managed to get Jongho seated at the dining table. You placed a bowl in front of him, sliding a spoon into the steaming soup. You prepared a bowl for yourself and joined him at the table.

Jongho slowly reached for the spoon, missing the handle a few times before finally grasping it. You hadn't taken a bite of your own soup yet, wanting to see why your guest thought first. After a few attempts, Jongho spooned some of the broth and brought it to his blueish lips, slurping it quietly.

His body jerked a little and you momentarily feared that it caused him harm.

"Mmh." He grunted.

"Good? It's good? You liked it?" You questioned almost frantically, still unsure on whether he was okay or not.

He gave a nod.

You got a spoonful of soup and gave it a taste for yourself. You hummed happily, pleased with the result. You lifted your gaze to watch Jongho take another bite, smiling softly before pushing the basket of bread closer to him.

He eyed it for a moment in silent contemplation before taking a piece, practically shoving it into the soup. You didn't expect him to move gracefully what with his limbs being so stiff. He slowly brought it to his mouth and took a bite.

There was something endearing about his mannerisms and behavior, but with that came a pang of guilt. He was in this position because of you.

"I'm sorry about this—bringing you back to life, I mean." You apologized sincerely despite having done so earlier.

Jongho looked at you, something in his expression letting you know he didn't hold it against you.

"I just wanted to try weather manipulation and the stupid handwriting in my spell book is hard to read." You rambled. "It was never supposed to end up like this, I swear."

The silence from Jongho only made you want to fill it with your endless chatter, over explaining yourself and droning on about things he probably didn't care about. Part of you needed to justify your actions and assure him that it was a horribly careless mistake.

"I goofed real bad." You murmured, stirring your soup, gaze fixed on the broth. "I should've been more careful."

Jongho set his spoon down with a soft clink, reaching across the table to pat your hand stiffly. His touch was cold, but greatly appreciated. You lifted your gaze and he placed his free hand over his chest, grunting softly as if trying to convey his gratitude. Though he couldn't speak, the sentiment was communicated clearly.

You gave him a wobbly smile. "Thanks."

Jongho withdrew his hand, returning to his steaming bowl of soup, the ghostly sensation of his touch still lingering.

Maybe it wasn't all that bad. He didn't seem to mind being brought back to life. Sure, it was probably annoying to not be able to move around like he used to, but right now he seemed content slurping spoonfuls of soup.

That night, you were getting ready for bed, Jongho lingering nearby while you pulled back the covers of your bed.

"Are you tired at all?" You asked him, to which he shook his head.

"Right." You muttered, feeling silly. "Dumb question. Sorry."

His undead nature and lacking need for sleep posed a bit of a problem. Before you could suggest any solutions, Jongho lumbered over to a chair in the corner of your room, plopping down in it.

"Are you just gonna sit there all night?"

He gave a single, firm nod.

"You sure?"

He just sat there unmoving, resolutely so.

With a sigh, you slid under the covers. "Alright then. Goodnight."

He made a noise in response and you clicked off the lamp. In the dimness of your room, you could see the vague shape of Jongho watching silently. Instead of feeling unsettled though, you felt safe, watched over. And he seemed perfectly content being your undead guard for the night.

You rolled onto your side, finding a comfortable position before closing your eyes and letting the muffled sounds of crickets and frogs outside lull you to sleep.

You blearily opened your eyes, waking up to find Jongho seated in the same spot he was in when you went to sleep the night before.

"You're still here." You noted, as if you ever believed he would leave. "Did you even move?"

He slowly shook his head, your brows raising.

"Were you comfortable at least?"

He gave a pensive expression before shrugging and giving a nod as if to say, "Eh. Yeah."

Huffing out a soft laugh, you stretched your stiff limbs, sitting upright and rubbing your eyes.

"Well, do you want breakfast?" You asked.

He responded by giving you a vigorous nod.

After forcing yourself out of your cozy bed, you shuffled into the kitchen, Jongho not far behind. You gathered various fruits and laid them out on the cutting board, moving to the pantry to get out pancake batter. It was too early for manual work, so you used your magic to mix the ingredients together.

Without your knowledge, Jongho had wandered over to the cutting board, reaching for an apple. You heard a snap, jerking your head towards the noise to find your undead houseguest with two halves of an apple in his hands.

"Did you break that?" You asked bewilderedly.

Jongho grunted, reaching for another one just to show you. You gasped as the fruit broke in half with ease under the strength of his hands.

"You're really strong."

You didn't know anyone who could break fruits with their bare hands like that.

There was something prideful in Jongho's pale and cloudy eyes, a hint of satisfaction on his face after impressing you.

He reached for another, but you rushed forward

"No, no." You laughed faintly. "Two is plenty."

You could've sworn you saw a little pout on his lips.

Breakfast was spread out on the table. The pancakes, fresh from the pan, were steaming, the butter pats on top melting rapidly due to the heat. The fruit, chopped into perfect chunks thanks to your magic, was an appetizing sight that had you ready to dig in. Jongho sat across from you, taking it all in.

"Would you like some syrup?" You asked, to which he nodded.

You didn't expect him to be able to pour it without making a mess, so you took it upon yourself to drizzle it over his pancakes for him.

He watched, following the stream of sticky amber from the bottle all the way down to the steaming hotcakes on his plate.

"Is that good?" You inquired after a moment.

"Mh." He nodded.

You used the side of your fork to cut off a bite of pancake, popping it into your mouth to savor the sweet taste, the butter giving it a slightly salty flavor that was just right. Jongho took his fork, mirroring your movements and, with a little more difficulty, took a bite.

He grumbled in response, but it wasn't a negative noise. It was a pleased sound that let you know he liked it.

"Good?" You asked him just in case.

He nodded, spearing a chunk of strawberry and eating it.

In the days that followed, you scoured every inch of your small home for anything that might help you figure out how to undo your mistake. Scrap papers shoved in drawers, old notes, even spell lesson books from when you were younger. But you found nothing.

Amidst all of this, you had to keep an eye on Jongho. He was still trying to adjust to his new situation, lumbering around and bumping into things on occasion. He was curious, looking at all of your knickknacks and old artifacts. He nearly dropped one of your amethyst clusters after pulling it off the shelf to look at.

When he wasn't following you around, he was standing by the window where your small dining table was, watching birds and other wildlife scurry through your backyard and garden. His expression was always the same, blank and unreadable. It made you wonder what was going on in that head of his.

"Hey." You walked over to where he stood, an idea popping into your head. "The weather is nice. Would you like to go outside?"

He turned to you, his expression shifting ever so slightly to something akin to excitement.

"You do?"

He nodded.

"Come on then." You flashed him a warm smile, taking his cold hand and guiding him to the back doors. His fingers instinctively curled around yours in response.

A gust of warm air greeted you when you stepped outside, bringing Jongho over to an area surrounded by flowers, lowering yourself to the grass, inviting Jongho to do the same. He hesitated at first, but began to slowly move until he landed on the ground with a soft thump.

He released a heavy sigh of exertion and looked out at the vast yard. His shoulders raised as he took in a deep inhale through his nostrils, breathing in the aroma of the flowers around you. His eyelids twitched, lashes fluttering slightly as if he were experiencing a foreign, yet overwhelming, sensation. Perhaps the sensation of life that he'd long forgotten.

You needed to find a way to reverse your mistake. But for now, you would make sure Jongho was as comfortable as he could be.

"See? The sun feels nice, doesn't it?" You closed your eyes and tilted your head back.

The warmth seeped into your skin, cozy and welcoming. You cracked one eye open to check on Jongho, finding him mirroring your same stance, head tilted and eyes closed.

Cute. You thought.

A cluster of daisies swayed nearby in the zephyr and you reached out to pluck one from the ground, twirling it between your fingers. Jongho was still basking in the sun when you turned to look at him, your eyes flicking to the bloom in your hand, then back at him. You reached out and gingerly slid the daisy into Jongho's hair, his eyes snapping open in a startled manner. He stared at you before reaching up to touch the flower.

"It's just a daisy." You giggled.

He blinked, eyes searching the area until he found his target, reaching to pull a New England aster from the grass, its purple petals capturing his attention. He extended his arm, placing the flower into your hair just as you did with his.

Something in his expression lit up when you chuckled and for a fleeting moment, with the sunlight shining on his skin, Jongho almost looked alive. You knew he wasn't truly living, but in that single moment, it felt like you caught a fleeting glimpse of what he could've looked like before death took him from the world.

"Hey, wanna see something cool?" You asked Jongho.

He grunted in response.

You stretched your arm out towards an empty patch of grass, feeling the tingle of magic in your fingertips as you channeled it. Your eyes glowed a vibrant green and clusters of wildflowers rose from the earth, covering the once empty space.

Jongho let out a noise that almost sounded like, "Wow."

You watched his awed reaction, the glow in your eyes dimming back to their natural hue. A giggle spilled past your lips, endeared by Jongho's fascination.

An unknown amount of time passed in the yard amongst the flowers. You basked in the sun and watched wild animals skitter about, entertained by Jongho's reaction to two playful bunnies leaping around in the grass, chasing one another.

It was tranquil and therapeutic in a way. Jongho seemed to enjoy it too.

The yard quickly became a place where you and Jongho spent your time. He loved being in nature. Some days you had tea and sandwiches, other days you'd have him break apples for you both to snack on. Searching for a way to reverse your mistake fell to the wayside, the task seeming less important the longer you were with Jongho.

Today, you needed to go into town for a few groceries. Jongho's eyes followed your form, taking notice of your attire. Instead of your usual cozy pants, baggy shirts, and sweaters, you wore something nicer: a dark colored top with a long black coverup that billowed behind you when you walked, and a pair of lace pants that flared out at the bottom, almost making it look like you were wearing a skirt. He was mesmerized, unable to tear his eyes away from you.

Jongho shuffled behind you, moving around easier these days, as you slung your tote over your shoulder.

"Oh!" You laughed softly when he bumped into you. "You have to stay here, Jongho."

He whined, his expression showing clear disappointment. He'd been more expressive lately.

"I'm sorry. People will stare if you go out."

He seemed to understand, but still wasn't willing to let you leave.

"I won't be gone long." You assured him.

With some reluctance, he relented and let you leave.

"Stay out of trouble and try not to break anything, please." You called before pulling the door closed.

It was the weekend, so the village was packed with people. The scent of freshly-baked bread, grilled meat, and savory seasonings wafted through the air, calling you like a siren song. Vendors were set up selling sweets and handmade wares, patrons dined on the patio of a small Italian restaurant, others enjoying coffee outside of a cafe.

You reminded yourself to stay focused, deciding to shop around later, weaving through the crowd towards your destination. You stepped into a small shop tucked in a secluded alleyway. The scent of aromatic oils and various herbs teased your nostrils when you stepped into the little establishment. You were a regular there, stopping in for magic supplies and whatnot.

"You again." The elderly lady at the counter grinned. "I haven't seen you in a while."

"Something came up." Literally from the dirt. "I was preoccupied."

"It happens." She shrugged. "Anything specific you're looking for today?"

"Just some herbs for tea."

"I just received some lavender yesterday from a local grower if you're interested."

"Oh. Thank you." You maneuvered around the old wooden shelves to the corner where the herbs were, grabbing vials and small dried bundles of whatever you had run out of.

After restocking your herbal supply, you leisured through the village, window shopping as you passed by the many shops. The sweet aroma of warm cinnamon drifted towards you, inviting you to locate the source. Your gaze landed on a bakery across the street and as you got closer, the sugary scent got stronger. You pushed open the front door, a bell chiming softly above. At the front, in a display case, was a batch of freshly-baked cinnamon rolls, the icing still melting.

Jongho instantly came to mind and before you even realized, you were asking one of the employees for two of them. You wondered if he would enjoy something sweet, already imagining the look on his face when you surprised him.

You headed straight home after that, wanting the cinnamon rolls to be warm.

You pushed open the front door to your little home, startling slightly when you saw Jongho just inside.

"Woah." You jolted. "Have you been standing there this whole time?"

He nodded.

You imagined Jongho positioned in front of the door watching it, waiting for you to return like a puppy.

"I brought you something."

He blinked, tilting his head curiously.

"Come here." You gave a nod towards the dining table, leading Jongho over before setting down the cinnamon roll.

His eyes widened and a noise you couldn't put a name to escaped him, but it was a positive one.

"I got one for each of us. I don't know if you like cinnamon rolls, but I thought you'd like one."

He reached for the little box it was in, fumbling clumsily with the flap before managing to get it open.

You watched quietly as he took the baked treat in his hands and bit into it.

"Mmm." He hummed roughly, his eyes closing in bliss.

The sight made your chest feel all warm and fuzzy.

"You like it?"

He nodded his head adorably, taking another bite, some icing clinging to his lips, which he was quick to lick off.

"You're kind of adorable." You found yourself saying.

Jongho paused, blinking in surprise. And for a brief second, you thought you saw a tinge of pink on his cheeks.

It rained for a couple of days, so Jongho wasn't able to go out in the yard like he normally did. He didn't like that very much. He didn't have to be able to say it for you to know, you could just tell. You stood beside him at the window, watching him watch the downpour outside. It could've been a trick of the light, but you could've sworn you saw a hint of brown in his eyes, as if the cloudiness in them had faded. He seemed to notice your staring and turned his head. You stiffened, clearing your throat.

"A weather manipulation spell would come in handy right about now, huh?" You laughed, attempting to make a joke.

Jongho gave a little huff, a half smile on his face.

"Was that a laugh?"

He reached a hand up to touch the corner of his mouth, as if realizing he was able to express himself easier.

"Huh." You gave a little huff of amusement. "How about that."

It was hard to see Jongho struggle to convey what he was feeling or thinking. Sometimes it was cute, but other times it was a reminder of why you brought him into.

"I know I've gotten a little distracted, but I'll fix this." You told him quietly.

A look flashed across Jongho's face, it was so quick and brief, but you caught it. Fear. Worry. Almost like he didn't want to go back.

The sun had finally graced its presence upon the garden and dried up any lingering moisture from the days of rain.

Jongho was eager, tugging at the sleeve of your cardigan.

"Easy." You giggled. "Let me get some shoes on first."

You managed to slip on some sandals by the back door before Jongho practically dragged you outside.

"You're getting fast." You commented through a small laugh, the grass brushing your ankles.

Jongho lowered himself to the ground in your usual spot, pulling you to sit down with him.

"You're eager today." You commented with a light huff.

He didn't respond, just tilted his head back and closed his eyes. A faint smile played at your lips, attention locked on him. The longer you stared, the more you realized his appearance had changed. His skin was smoother, the decomposition of it having faded slightly during the time he had been with you. Even the curve of his ear where it was previously rotted had regenerated.

"Jongho." You uttered his name faintly.

He opened his eyes, still rimmed with shadows, the cloudiness in them now mostly gone, leaving behind faded brown irises.

You opened your mouth to continue speaking, but froze as a shiver rattled your spine. You put magical wards up around your home to alert you to visitors and someone had just crossed onto your property.

"Someone's here. I need you to stay put. Okay?"

Jongho made a noise that almost sounded like, "Huh?"

"Just stay here." You told him, getting up off the ground and heading inside.

You brushed the grass off your clothes while making your way through the living room, reaching for the knob. When you answered the door, your heart plummeted to your feet. His black trench coat and wide brimmed hat was a dead giveaway before he even raised his head.

"Seonghwa!" A big uneasy grin was plastered on your face at the presence of your mentor. "What are you doing here?"

"Checking in." His eyes drifted past your shoulder into your home in observation. "Is this a bad time?"

"No." You denied with a laugh. "No, no, no. You just startled me, that's all. I don't get many visitors."

"Ah. I didn't mean to scare you. I probably should've given you a heads up." He gave an apologetic smile. "So, how are things?"

"Um." You threw a brief glance over your shoulder to scan the living room. "Fine."

Seonghwa's thick brows tugged together in suspicion. "Are they?"

"Yes."

"If you're having trouble with your magic, you can tell me. It's what I'm here for."

"No, it's not that." You shook your head. "Everything is fine."

It wasn't.

"You're sure?" Seonghwa's expression was a mix of concern and suspicion that had unease settling in your gut.

"Positive."

His brown eyes roamed your face for an agonizingly long moment, peering into your soul. The air went still while you did your best to school your expression, listening to your heart pound in your ears.

Seonghwa gave another sweep of the interior of your home before speaking. "If you need anything, and I mean anything, let me know."

A muffled thump sounded from somewhere inside and your heart jumped, anxiety spiking. Jongho was supposed to be outside.

"What was that?" Seonghwa asked.

"Just the house settling." You lied, forcing a smile.

"Y/n."

You stiffened at his tone. Chastising, like a parent to a disobedient child.

You opened your mouth to speak or come up with an excuse when Jongho came stumbling out into the living room. Your head jerked towards him, watching his form hobble forward, bumping into the coffee table.

Seonghwa's sharp gaze snapped to Jongho, who had frozen in place, eyes darting back and forth between you and your intimidating mentor.

"What's going on?" Seonghwa's voice was eerily placid, like he was teetering on the edge of an emotional explosion.

"It was an accident." You blurted. "I was only trying to attempt a weather manipulation spell,"

"Weather manipulation?" Seonghwa echoed in disbelief while you spoke.

"and the spells are strikingly similar. The handwriting in my book is so messy I didn't realize I was misreading it."

"So what you're saying is you accidentally resurrected a corpse?"

"Yes." You murmured shamefully. "But I really didn't know."

You grabbed your spell book and showed him the two spells, hoping it would gain you a little understanding from your mentor.

He released a long sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is why we always double check spells before we cast them. Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"I-I'm trying to fix it." You defended.

"Fix it?" Seonghwa echoed. "This cannot be fixed. Necromancy can't be reversed."

Part of you was relieved, you'd become attached to Jongho in the few weeks he'd been with you and returning him to the grave made your heart sink. The other part of you was terrified, only because of how Seonghwa was reacting.

At this point, Jongho had tucked himself behind you, his fingers clenching the back of your shirt. He was scared.

"I think he's changing." You spoke up, unsure if it would grant you some grace with Seonghwa.

"What do you mean he's changing?"

"The top of his ear was decomposed and it's grown back." You gestured to where Jongho cowered behind you. "I didn't realize it until today, but I think he's... healing."

"That shouldn't be possible." Seonghwa denied.

"It is though." You took a step forward and felt Jongho hold tighter to the back of your shirt, hearing his feet shuffle after you.

Seonghwa's attention turned to Jongho who was peeking out from behind you, his cloudy brown irises showing visible apprehension.

"I don't understand." Your mentor muttered in disbelief. "This is unheard of."

"What do you mean?" You questioned.

"This isn't puppeteering the dead. You brought him back to life. You revived him."

Your lips parted in disbelief. "I what?"

"He's clearly sentient. He's aware of what's going on around him and reacts to it. Does he obey your commands?"

"N-no. I told him to stay outside when you arrived."

"And he wandered back inside." Seonghwa finished decidedly. "You brought him back, soul and all."

Everything felt like it shifted as you grasped the magnitude of what you'd done. Necromancy alone required a great deal of power, but actually bringing someone back to life was on another level.

"There's no way. I'm... I'm not powerful enough." You denied, even though the proof was clinging to your backside.

"Evidently you are." Seonghwa said. "Accidental or not, you fully brought a person back to life."

You exhaled shakily, looking down at your palms.

"There's no way to undo my mistake. So what does that mean?"

"It means he's yours." The air went still as Seonghwa paused after dropping that vital information on you.

"I suppose there could be worse things." He finally spoke, albeit with a reluctant sigh.

You relaxed at that. Seonghwa was a good mentor. He was kind, understanding, and hardly ever lost his temper. Though with a mistake of this magnitude, you expected a lot of reprimanding.

"I'm okay with that." You nodded, speaking truthfully. "I understand my mistake and I've already apologized to Jongho for it. I take full responsibility for what happened."

A look of approval flickered across Seonghwa's expression.

"Good." He praised. "Besides, he's taken a liking to you."

"I know." You responded quietly, a warmth seeping into your chest.

It was strange the way you felt about Jongho and you hadn't allowed yourself to think on it for too long.

"I'll be coming back." Seonghwa vowed. "As your mentor, it's my responsibility to make sure you don't make any more mistakes."

You nodded in understanding. "I won't let this happen again. I can promise you that."

He gave a single, pleased nod. "Oh and before you go trying to cast powerful spells, let me know first, okay?"

"Absolutely."

With that, Seonghwa turned and started walking away. You released a sigh of relief and pushed the door closed. With your intimidating mentor gone, Jongho let go of you, taking a step back.

"Well," You began with a sigh. "we're stuck with each other."

Jongho's face visibly lit up and you chuckled softly.

"You're okay with that?"

He nodded eagerly.

That night when you were heading to bed, Jongho lingered closer than normal, shuffling to the edge of the bed when you pulled the covers back.

"What is it?" You asked when you noticed he wasn't in his usual chair.

His eyes darted to the bed, then back at you.

"Are you... tired?" You questioned.

He gave a faint nod.

There was a spark of excitement in your chest. This was good, this was progress.

"Okay. I'll go set up the couch." You started to step away, but Jongho's hand shot out and grabbed your forearm.

His quickness caught you by surprise.

"No?" You asked.

He shook his head.

"Then, where..." The rest of your sentence went unfinished as your gaze drifted to the bed. "Oh."

A giddy feeling stirred in your gut, but you pushed it down. "Okay, yeah. You can sleep with me."

Jongho let out tiniest little noise of elation and it took everything in you not to react to his endearing behavior. He really was like a puppy.

You made sure Jongho laid down first, ensuring that he was comfortable before you slid underneath the covers on the opposite side of the bed. He shifted closer, seeking your presence. The intimacy of the situation couldn't be ignored, nor could the giddiness bubbling in your stomach.

"Goodnight, Jongho." You muttered softly, suppressing any flustered feelings.

"Mmm." He grunted in response.

Instead of trying to go to sleep, you stared at the ceiling, your mind swirling with thoughts. Seonghwa's words from earlier weighed on you. Your mistake couldn't be undone. Jongho had gone from a temporary guest to your permanent roommate, not that you minded. He was good company.

There was one thing that stood out during your exchange with your mentor that you still hadn't processed though: you fully brought Jongho back from the dead. It was an accident, but you still performed a powerful spell that you never in a million years would've thought you could pull off. That revelation alone was enough to have you questioning yourself and your limits.

A rustle came from beside you as Jongho shifted, turning onto his side to face you, his eyes closed.

Despite his condition and the circumstances, the urge to reach out and touch him was nearly impossible to ignore. He was becoming more alive by the day, but he was still technically a corpse. That's why you were conflicted. And instead of trying to sort out your muddled feelings, you shoved them away. It was a temporary fix that was becoming less and less effective.

You stared, making out the soft curve of his cheeks in the dim lighting in your room. Just this once, you let yourself indulge in your desires, slowly reaching out towards Jongho. Before your fingers could so much as brush his hair, his eyes opened.

You froze, every muscle in your body locking up. His eyes flicked to your palm hovering near his face, then to you. He blinked and made a devastatingly adorable sound you'd never heard before. A confused little "Eung?" noise.

You opened your mouth to say whatever excuse you could come up with first, but Jongho's fingers curling around your wrist made your mind go completely blank. He brought your hand to his cheek, pressing your palm against his skin. Your heart leapt into your throat at the contact. Jongho's eyes closed and he subtly pressed his cheek further into your palm, relishing in the blissful feeling it gave him. The sight alone was enough to make your chest tighten.

His skin was soft, all the decomposition having healed. There were still patches of discoloration, but the change was obvious.

Without thinking much of it, your thumb started softly caressing his cheek. He let out a relaxed grumble. It was nearly impossible to just stop your ministrations, so you continued until soft snores filled the small space between yours and Jongho's faces.

"Sweet dreams." You whispered, carefully withdrawing your hand, settling down into the sheets.

The next morning, you opened your eyes to find Jongho awake already and lying closer than he was when you'd gone to sleep. The sunlight pouring in though the cracks of your curtains shone on the back of his head, giving his figure a soft glow.

"Oh." You rasped. "Hello. Have you been awake for long?"

He shook his head.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Mh." He nodded, grunting.

The air went still and he stared, blinking slowly. His hand slid across the sheets, closer to you. You tracked the movement, but didn't pull away, waiting to see what he was trying to do.

The intent was clear in his slightly clouded eyes as he reached out. The tips of his fingers lightly brushed your cheek, a barely-there touch that felt almost hesitant. Your lashes fluttered when he made contact, the pleasant sensation causing your heart to flutter in your chest.

"P-P-P..." Jongho sounded out the letter, pushing it out in soft breaths that made it hard to hear.

"What?" You whispered, unsure if he was just making noises.

"Pr—"

The struggle was clear on his face, his brows pulling together in visible concentration.

"Prettyyyy." He drawled hoarsely, dragging the word out as he used his voice for the first time in years.

For just a moment, everything stilled. Your eyes were blown wide in shock.

"You spoke." Your voice was barely audible due to the sheer disbelief.

His reaction was a bit delayed, his expression now mirroring yours as he withdrew his hand and brought it up to his mouth in bewilderment. It was only then your brain registered what he'd actually said and your cheeks started to burn.

"You think I'm pretty?"

He nodded.

You wanted to hear his voice again. One word wasn't enough. But instead of forcing him to talk, you waited.

"Y-Y/n." He rasped, speaking your name for the first time since meeting you. It came out in broken syllables, but it was progress and it made your stomach do flips.

Jongho rubbed at his throat, coughing and wheezing quietly, attempting to force his vocal cords to function.

"Need water?" You asked him.

He nodded.

With a swift flick of your wrist, you conjured a cold bottle of water from the kitchen, cracking open the seal and passing it to Jongho.

His fingers curled around the plastic and he brought it to his lips, taking idle sips.

He pulled the bottle away and handed it back to you.

"Better?" You asked, twisting the cap back on and setting it on the nightstand.

He nodded.

You watched him for a long moment and he did the same to you, studying. His fingers twitched and inched towards you once more. You didn't dare move, waiting, staring. They landed on the top of your shoulder, slowly trailing down your arm, his touch felt almost intimate, leaving goosebumps in its wake. He paused at your wrist, his fingers slowly wrapping around it.

"Th-ank you." He uttered faintly, his voice no louder than a whisper.

The words were broken and uttered sluggishly as Jongho familiarized himself with the feeling of them again, but their meaning was the same.

"For what?" You asked him.

"E-everything." He drawled.

That single word was enough to make your heart squeeze with appreciation.

"I just wanted to make sure you were taken care of."

His fingers moved to lace between yours, giving your hand a squeeze to convey his gratitude. You smiled warmly, watching as he brought your hand to his lips. A soft gasp escaped you at the subtle, yet loving, gesture.

The dynamic between you had shifted after that morning. After that little kiss to the back of your hand. The feelings you'd been dancing around were real now.

Jongho was much more affectionate, often placing his hands on your waist while you cooked, watching from over your shoulder. Now that he could speak a little, you attempted conversations with him, never forcing him to strain his vocal cords.

"I've been meaning to ask you something." You said, absentmindedly tracing the rim of your tea cup.

Jongho, who stood beside you hummed, watching you expectantly with those deep brown eyes of his. They were unmistakably alive now.

"Are you okay with this? I mean, I brought you back from the dead. I essentially forced you back into a body that no longer worked the way it used to."

"It's... ge-tting b-better." He rasped.

"I know and, believe me, you look much more alive than when I first brought you back, but I still feel this guilt gnawing at me."

"I d-don't mind be-eing here..." A pause. "with you."

"You don't mind dealing with the, uh, recovery process?" You weren't sure what to call it.

"This?" His fingers brushed the curve of his ear, the one that was partially rotted when you resurrected him. "No."

"You don't? Not even being unable to move around easily?"

"N-not if I get to s-stay like this with you."

Your breath caught in your throat and you were at a loss for words.

"That makes it worth it?" Came your whispered response.

He nodded, taking a step closer.

You set your cup on the countertop, turning to face him.

Jongho was okay being stuck in a body that was healing slowly, because he was healing, and he got to be around you, the clumsy, kind, witch girl who was trying her best to atone for her mistake. He still had some trouble moving around and was having to get accustomed to using his voice again, but it was worth it to him.

He took another step closer, narrowing the already small gap between you. You didn't stop him, didn't speak, didn't move. Not even when his nose brushed yours.

"This... okay?" Jongho rasped faintly.

Your mouth had gone dry and for a second, you couldn't find words.

"Yes."

The kiss was slow at first, clumsy even, but that didn't matter because the devotion was conveyed clearly. Jongho's hands anchored themselves to your waist, his thumbs kneading your flesh in a loving manner. His lips were warm and soft, making butterflies erupt in your stomach.

He pulled away far too soon, leaving you disappointed and disoriented, blinking yourself back to reality. The kiss was brief and yet there you were feeling utterly dazed.

"Wow." Was all you could manage to say.

Jongho laughed softly, his eyes glued to your lips while his tongue darted out to wet his own.

"More?" He asked in a soft breath, eyes desperate.

"Yes." You panted. "Please."

His lips met yours again, this time with more fervor.

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