#th8

Notes: I thought I would have time to get through the entirety of the new chapter. I didn't realize it had been so long since my last update...SO! Here is a preview of Chapter 4 to hopefully hold you over. Merry Thanksgiving!!

Synopsis: As the 71st Hunger Games draw near, you and Minghao must navigate the complexities of your relationship. When you're reaped, will the arena transform you into someone unrecognizable? And when it’s all over, will Minghao still see you the same way? Will you even make it out alive?

Pairing: District12!XuiMinghao x District12!Reader

Word count: 708

Attributes: Fluff, Slow-burn, Angst, HungerGamesAU, Hunger Games Insert fic, Violence, Political Tones. [If I can think of anything else I'll add it later :)]

Note/Warning: I’m unsure how long it will take to fully finish this, but I will complete the story. A good amount of the content is already written; it just needs some revisions. The story will unfold over several chapters, following the format of the first three films. Also, this is my first fic! So thank you for reading! I have also tried to keep physical descriptions to a minimum so anyone can read! (I tried my best couldn't find a nondescript neutral photo for the collage that would fit the theme of the 1st arena)

Chapter 3

Chapter 4: One foot in the Door

Three tight consecutive knocks rapped against the door startling Y/N awake. Her eyelids struggled to lift, the stress over the day's events weighing her down. “Dinner in the main cart, be prompt young lady,” even through the door Y/N can hear Effie’s cut together precise tone. Y/N drags her body upright, muscles already aching. The little light flowing in from her room’s window has begun to turn an orange-yellow hue as it crawls across the floor. Letting out a deep breath she stands from the bed that has all but folded itself in around her, too soft she thinks to herself, and not a years of aged away lumpy “soft”. 

Looking to the floor Y/N notices a pair of slippers waiting beside the bed. Sliding them onto her feet Y/N pads over to the door. The electronic door slides open with no command as she steps into the train card hall. Almost in sync, Jeahyun emerges out of his own room. The teenager Y/N notes is still in his reaping attire, a worn brown suit with worn padded elbows of which stitches have begun unraveling most likely the last few years. The two of them stood side by side is almost comical, Y/N’s silken capital sleepwear attire and Jaehyun’s district twelve signature hand-me-down wear, a true juxtaposition of their past and their coming days. 

“Hungry?” Y/N asks with no emotion to her voice as their eyes meet. The tiredness of her (E/C) colored eyes reflected in the boys own ebony eyes. 

”Not in the slightest” Jaehyun replies as he steps forward, the two falling into motion as they head back towards the main cart. 

“Can’t wait for them to stuff us like pigs then starve us out?” she questions. While joking, their impending hunger was imminent even in the face of the reality neither would be expelling the nausea settled deep in their stomach. Jaehyun quirks a smile at her remark. “At any rate we probably should try to stomach whatever we can before we get into the arena. Who knows what terrain they'll throw us into.” she says seriously. 

Reaching the compartment the two are met with Effie who has taken to fussing over the silverware aligning each shiny piece with surgical precision. Heymitch, sat at the dining cart table as Effie buzzes around him, is slouched over with a new glass filled with a different shimmering fine capital liquor sloshing within. The two teens pause in the doorway causing Effie’s head to perk up in alert of their arrival. “Come, come” she waves them over excitedly. Jaehyun and Y/N make their way to the table pulling the heavy chairs out and sit. A pair of Axov emerge from a connecting door with steaming plates causing Heymitch to stir and manage to pull his head up despite the almost visible weight pulling it down. The hunger, the type of dripping starvation that sits in the pit of the stomach of those that live on Twelve’s district outskirts and poorer areas is a sensation that must never leave, no matter how much he drowns it out with drink after drink, capital refined liquor or the hobs cheapest moonshine, must rumble within the older man as well. 

Placed in front of them is a small chicken like roast, with what were its legs that too ran free now caught by the capital are tied together, as a moat of sauce and vegetables clings around it. The sight alone reminds Y/N of her own position in these games, causing a new violent wave of queasyness to rumble throughout her. 

A dry-snarky-chuckle breaks the young woman from her tunneling thoughts. As Y/N looks up at Heymitch who already has his gaze set on her and silverware heading for the bird. Her eyebrows drawn together in confusion as her lips purse. “You seem settled in,” he jabs, ripping into the poultry before him. 

Y/N eyebrows quirk, “That makes two of us”. 

SISTER SWITCH: MANAGER OF SEVENTEEN "I'm pregnant," she said quietly. Dabi choked on her tea. "What?" "I need your help," Dami added, her voice barely above a whisper.

CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

It was a lively atmosphere in the fitting room as stylists hustled to finalize the members’ looks for the upcoming tour. Dabi stood quietly, observing the chaos with a calm curiosity. Her eyes wandered to a tray filled with accessories: silver necklaces, rings, and earrings glinting under the fluorescent lights. One ring in particular caught her attention—a silver band engraved with intricate patterns. Picking it up, she turned it over in her fingers, admiring the craftsmanship.

“Do you like it?” Dino’s voice broke her reverie.

She turned to see him standing a few feet away, his expression soft yet curious. His casual demeanor was a stark contrast to the bustle around them.

“It’s beautiful,” she replied, holding the ring up so it caught the light.

He nodded, stepping closer. “It suits you,” he added, almost shyly.

There was a moment of silence before he spoke again, his tone lower. “By the way... I’m sorry about the other day. I shouldn’t have been so mean.”

Dabi looked at him, tilting her head slightly. “It’s fine. You were valid for feeling that way.” She shrugged lightly, her voice warm.

Dino couldn’t help but smile at her response. “You’re... really sweet, you know?”

His gaze lingered on her as they made small talk, his tone soft and his posture relaxed. He found himself admiring the way she carried herself, her unbothered grace paired with an air of mystery that drew him in.

Across the room, some of the other members exchanged glances, their chatter dipping momentarily as they noticed the interaction. Seungcheol, leaning against a nearby counter, observed the two closely. His brows furrowed slightly, though he said nothing.

“That’s the longest I’ve seen Dino talk to anyone without fumbling,” Jeonghan teased under his breath to Joshua, who chuckled quietly in response.

Hoshi, meanwhile, grinned and whispered something to Mingyu, who nodded enthusiastically.

“Do you want to join us for dinner again?” Dino asked suddenly, his tone laced with hope.

Dabi hesitated, her gaze flicking briefly to Seungcheol. His jaw tightened ever so slightly, but he kept his eyes on the mirror in front of him, pretending not to notice.

“I already have plans,” she replied, her voice steady, though the faintest hesitation lingered at the end.

Dino caught the fleeting glance but didn’t comment on it. Instead, he offered her a soft smile, nodding in understanding. “Maybe next time, then.”

She returned his smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

As Dino turned back toward his spot near the stylist, his heart fluttered unexpectedly, his chest warm with a feeling he couldn’t quite place. Behind him, the other members were clearly trying to suppress their smirks, whispering amongst themselves.

“Good luck with that, Dino,” Vernon muttered as he passed by, earning a playful shove from Dino.

Seungcheol, however, remained quiet, his gaze drifting back to Dabi.

As the day wrapped up, the fitting room buzz finally dwindled, and Dabi was on her way out, her mind replaying the interactions from earlier. She was almost at the door when a gentle touch on her wrist made her stop. Turning, she found Seungcheol standing behind her, his expression calm but intent.

“Our date tonight,” he said softly, his voice almost a whisper amidst the fading noise, “It’s going to be cozy. Dress comfortable.”

Dabi blinked, momentarily taken aback, before nodding. He gave her a wink, a small smirk playing on his lips, and walked away, leaving her standing there with a fluttering heart.

Later, she got ready, choosing black baggy jeans, an oversized black zip-up sweater, and a simple white T-shirt, pairing the outfit with her favorite sneakers. Her makeup was understated, accentuating her natural features, and she left her hair loose, letting the soft curls frame her face.

When a knock came at the door, she opened it to find Seungcheol standing there, his hands in his hoodie pockets. He was dressed in a black hoodie, loose jeans, and sneakers—eerily similar to her outfit. They both paused, taking in each other’s appearance, and then burst into laughter.

“We’re matching,” she pointed out with a small grin.

“Great minds think alike,” he replied, his smile warm.

The two made their way to his car, the chill evening air surrounding them. Once inside, Dabi buckled up and turned to him. “So, where are we going?”

He glanced at her, his expression playful. “It’s a surprise. But I’ll give you a hint—it’s something classic and cozy.”

When they pulled into a drive-in theater, Dabi’s face lit up with excitement. “A drive-in? I’ve never been to one of these before!”

Seungcheol grinned at her reaction. “First time for everything.”

After parking, he reached into the back seat and pulled out a picnic basket. Opening it, he revealed a spread of food and her favorite drinks, earning a surprised but grateful look from her.

“You remembered,” she said softly.

“Of course,” he replied with a small shrug. “I pay attention.”

As the movie Wonderland began, he tuned the radio to the station broadcasting the film’s audio, the sound filling the car. They settled in, sharing food and making lighthearted comments about the movie. Their laughter blended with the gentle hum of the car’s heater.

At one point, both of them reached for the same snack, their hands brushing against each other. They paused, their eyes meeting in the dim light of the screen.

Seungcheol’s lips curled into a soft smile as he held her gaze. “Can I kiss you?” he asked, his voice low and tentative, yet confident.

Dabi felt her heart skip a beat, warmth spreading through her chest. She nodded, her voice barely audible.

Seungcheol leaned in slowly, gently placing his hand on her cheek as he closed the gap between them. His lips met hers in a tender, lingering kiss that made the world outside the car melt away.

When they pulled apart, their eyes met again, and a shy smile played on Dabi’s lips. Seungcheol rested his forehead against hers for a moment before sitting back, a sense of ease and contentment settling between them as the movie continued.

He kept kissing her, as she was pulled over to his side of the car, and his seat was pushed back as far as possible. No one could see inside, as he had tinted windows, so no one was the wiser as they made out slowly in his car. The sound of the movie was playing on the radio as she kept kissing him and making him groan, as she rocked her hips back and forth. She threw her head back as he kissed her neck, gently bitting into it. She moaned softly as his hands trailed up her white shirt, as her black zip up sweater was falling off her arms. They pulled away, and he adjusted his sweat correctly as he told her to hop in the back of the car. She did, and he followed after her. Their clothes were slowly being discarded as he pulled her pants off, kissing her most sensitive part. He nipped her inner thighs before taking off his hood, and shirt, unbuttoning his pants. He grabbed a condom in the glove compartment, before putting it on, and settling himself between her thighs. He kissed her neck before pulling back, and pushing her hair out of her face. He gently prepped her, as she moaned softly, her hands shyly coming up to her face.  He put the condom on before gently pushed inside her, and she moaned, as he faltered for a split second. Dabi was beneath him, flushed, slightly trembling, biting her lip to hide the breathy moans that were spilling out of her. His jaw tightened, as he started thrusting in her deeper. He grabbed her wrist, as she tried covering her mouth, pinning her hands to the seat. "Don't. Don't hide your face. I want to see your face."

His grip tightened as his hips started snapping against her, almost knocking the breath out of her, as her walls tightened around him, making him groan in her neck, as he kissed it. He moved away from her neck, looking directly at her. "Open your eyes....Look at me."His voice was firm, as if he wanted to prove something. She opened them slightly, as he pressed his forehead against hers, his pace going fast. 

The car was shaking by now, as he fucked her hard and good. 

"Don't you dare act shy." She let out a breathy moan, as he smirked.  "Yeah, that’s what i thought," he rasped, his voice thick with satisfaction. "your body doesn’t lie." His pace quickened, each thrust hitting so deep it had Dabi crying out into desperate, high-pitched moans that filled the car. He grinned, his breath hot against her neck. "Fuck," He whispered into her neck, "You’re so good for me," he groaned, his cock twitching inside her as he dragged her body closer to his. "you feel how deep i am? how much i’m stretching you out? bet it’s driving you crazy, huh? bet you’re close already."

She tugged at her hands twisting in his grip weakly, but he didn’t let go. Instead, he leaned down, catching her lips in a messy, heated kiss that left her gasping for air. "Wanna see every fucking second of you falling apart on my cock." He murmured against your lips, his voice low and teasing.

The way his hips snapped into hers, he memorized watching every twitch, every moan, every little tremor that rolled through her as she came with a loud cry.

He cursed under his breath, his pace turning rougher, sloppier, chasing his own release. "that’s it," he groaned, his voice wrecked as he buried himself as deep as he could, his release spilling into the condom with a sharp gasp.

he stayed there for a moment, catching his breath, his body pressed against hers. when he finally pulled back, his hands loosened around her wrists, but he didn’t let Dabi go completely. instead, he leaned in, pressing a slow, almost lazy kiss to her lips. 

"Guess the movie was pretty good huh?" She laughed. 

The drive back was quiet but comfortable, the city lights flickering past as soft music played in the background. Seungcheol occasionally glanced over at her, noticing how peaceful she looked, her head resting against the window.

When they pulled up to her place, Dabi turned to him, hesitating for a moment before speaking. “Do you... wanna stay over again?”

Seungcheol blinked, slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected her to ask, but the way she looked at him—calm, trusting—made his heart warm. He let out a small chuckle. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

She smiled, opening the door. “Come on, then.”

Inside, she handed him a spare hoodie and some sweatpants before they both got comfortable in her room. The night was cool, and the weight of the day was settling into their bones. She climbed into bed first, and Seungcheol followed, slipping under the covers beside her.

He pulled her close, his arm draping over her waist as she nuzzled into his chest. “Comfortable?” he murmured.

“Mhm,” she hummed, her voice laced with sleep. “You’re warm.”

He chuckled softly, pressing a light kiss to the top of her head. “Good.”

As exhaustion took over, they both drifted off, wrapped up in each other. For the first time in a while, Dabi slept soundly, and Seungcheol, despite rarely being the type to stay the night, felt at peace in her presence.

Neither of them noticed Dabi’s phone buzzing on her nightstand. Messages from Dino appeared one after another:

Dino: Hey, I know you said you had plans, but I just wanted to talk. Dino: Are you still awake? Dino: Manager?

THE8 as the moon

"like how the sky is the darkest before the sunrise, we're only going through our last growing pains"