Summary:Jimin has three secrets, the first is that he’s a psychopath and the second is…
Tags:Flash back chapter, unreliable narrators, controversial characterization, psychopath Jimin, obsessive behaviors, yandere! jimin, morally questionable characters, guns, violence, gore, blood, murder, a brief drug reference or two, crime, first time smoking, depression, anxiety, hurt/comfort, medication for said depression, morally grey characters, Epilepsy, 4th wall breaks, vminkook focused, mild sexual content.
W/c:13.0k
A/n:Several people guessed Jimin’s second secret in my ask box! but no one has guessed the third yet! i hope you enjoy it, i’m posting this immediately after getting my wisdom teeth removed~ so wish me luck! if certain parts of this this chapter seems like it’s intentionally vague or intentionally misleading thats the point- i try to write each character differently and jimin’s pov is written mostly in reference to tae- if it doesn’t involve tae (or one of his other loves) why mention it you know? this chapter is stylistic to say the least.
The narrative is so interesting, so different, it clearly shows how is telling us it! I love it!!!! I wasnt sure at first what you’d mean as jimins narrative and how unreliable but know I get it!!! And just- Wow Li!!!! It’s so good it clearly shows his personality and his trying to convince us, it’s like really getting in his mind!!
I never thought much about how the pack got together but I Love this bits of their past, when they’re just 3 of them, the courting, kookies getting in love with them and how he started to love him and when joon got in their lives and ♥️♥️♥️
I just love it!!! It’s in the past but it doesn’t make this chapter a filer or less interesting than the story in the present!
The mafia part was also interesting…. I like the ideia that he got into it not because he truly wanted but the opportunity appeared and he needed the money. Not gonna lie, I feel how heavy it is and how it’s got more heavier now for him (the description of his first murder and now at the end, you clearly see that he wasn’t happy at first but now he is even less happy lol)
If I’m not wrong, you said that some member of the pack would change jobs at the end of the story, right? I hope Minnie be one of them also, will they know about it?? I wonder if all the secrets will be shown to everyone at some point, like jinnies as well (that also must know about minnie)
I was so dumb that I thought his secret was that he was in the mafia, not that he knew that yoongi was who he is now…him going to find him at that supermarket wasn’t a coincidence, them? He found him and planed that?
If we have to people involved with mafia in the pack I hope they be ready to whatever monbyul brings at some point and protect yoongis and Mc urgh
I’m so so in love with the pack~ when you described how minnie memorized their likes I could picture them together and oh I’ll never be tired to read their little love scenes ♥️♥️♥️
I’m glad they found each other, it feels like minnie was OK taking care of them both till koo got will and joon and jinnie really helped him carry that extra emotion… he also saying he’s not human enough to have anxiety and actually having it and Jin being the one to calm him down- it’s totally like “shushhh Minnie you’re not the monster you’re trying to tell us you are”.
500% in love with him sticker!!!
Thanks for this update!!!!
I hope you’re feeling better and enjoying your day!!! Much kisses and love!
@hananinare ahhhhhh im so glad that you enjoyed the diffrence in pov change and the change in style! it was really really daunting to write but im so glad it was pulled off well! it is really heavy to jimin- his whole like- being is in a way? like being in love and loving them is the only peace he gets T-T
i know the little flashback chapters here and there might not be the most interesting things because of course we already knows who ends up with who and stuff- but im glad that people are still enjoying them for their little tidbits.
yes! there will be several occupation changes near the end of bily and jiminie is going to be one of them, i can’t spoil it but! it makes me verry happy to think about what happens with them<3 all the secrets are eventually going to come out and be talked about within the pack- though it’s more events that have forced their hand.
minnie did not actually plan to find Yoongi, you’re going to see the section of the story again immediately following Yoongi leaving the pack from a Different perspective. but that part was entirely accidental! jimin didn’t know yoongi would be there in h-mart.
jinmin in this are…so cute- you put it so well. jimin couldn’t be the pack alpha he wanted to be and cope with all the stress, bending to jin and namjoon is so much better for him. now i think people kinda understand what i mean when i say that like- weather or not jimin is psychopathic is really up to interpretation, because he does feel anxiety and intense love and sympathy for others. he’s not just all murder and all love for tae tae you know?
im so happy that you enjoyed this chapter~ im sorry it took me a second to respond to you i don’t know how i forgot! i always enjoy reading your responses to this <3 thank you for leaving them <3
“Hey, will you still be able to make it?” Jungkook says to you through the phone. He was currently preparing the “date” he was going to have with you.
The“date that isn’t a date but is a date” according to Taehyung. Actually, Taehyung was with him right now, helping him out.
“Of course, I’m on my way. The park by campus right? Jimin’s dropping me off as we speak,” you say. Jungkook’s eyes go wide.
“Oh, you’re almost there?” He says, turning to Taehyung in panic.
“It’s okay,” Taehyung says, “don’t worry.”
“Who’s that?” you question, hearing a voice that doesn’t belong to Jungkook.
“The friend I told you I made in class. Taehyung. He’s helping me with something. Anyways, I’ll see you in a bit. Get there safe,” Jungkook says, not waiting for your response before hanging up.
“She’s going to get there before me,” Jungkook says, grabbing his camera and backpack. Taehyung grabs the blanket and the plastic bag full of your favorite snacks on top of the bed.
“Don’t worry about it, Jimin sucks at driving. We’ll get there before he does,” Taehyung says, walking nonchalantly out of Jungkook’s dorm.
Jungkook told Taehyung about your study session with Jimin earlier today and he mentioned how Jimin is his best friend and roommate.
“Oh Yn is the one that needs a calc tutor?” Taehyung says to Jungkook with a huge smile on his face. “My best friend is the one tutoring her!”
“Your best friend is Jimin?”
“Yup. Best friend, roommate, soulmate, you name it,” Taehyung says, taking a seat at Jungkook’s desk. “Have you met him? He’s a great guy. Smart, nice, adorable..”
“Are you in love with him or something?” Jungkook says, handing him a drink. Taehyung grimaces at him, taking the soda can from his hand.
“No I hate that guy,” he says, cracking it open. “But a lot of girls and guys do fall for him. He’s really pretty.”
“Oh,” Jungkook sits down at the foot of his bed, facing Taehyung. “Do you… Do you think Yn would like him then?”
“Of course, everyone likes him!” Jungkook frowns and Taehyung quickly shakes his head. “No no, not in that way of course. He’s still single for a reason.”
“Oh, is he like a bad guy or something,” Jungkook says.
“No, he’s the sweetest.”
“Taehyung!”
–
“Thanks for dropping me off Jimin,” you say, taking off your seatbelt.
“Of course, I wouldn’t want you to go here all alone. Is your friend here?” Jimin says, taking off his seatbelt as well and stepping out of the car.
“Jungkook should be around here,” you say, “you don’t have to wait for me, I’ll be fine.” Jimin shakes his head, walking to your side of the car. He opens your door and holds his hand out to help you get out. You blush as you put your hand on his.
“It’s dangerous for someone to be out alone this late,” Jimin says. He’s still holding on to your hand.
“No worries, she won’t be alone,” you hear someone say. It’s Jungkook and he’s walking up to the two of you. He glances down at you two’s hands for a second too long and Jimin lets go.
“Okay good,” Jimin says, smiling at Jungkook. “It’s good to see you again by the way. The four of us should hang out sometime.”
“Four of us?” you ask. You know you’re bad at math but not that bad. You point at yourself, then Jungkook, then Jimin, holding up three fingers at him. He laughs at you, his eyes forming little crescent moons. He turns to Jungkook and points behind him. At the car parked just a few feet away, a boy with super fluffy hair and a boxy smile was waving at you excitedly.
“HI YN. JUNGKOOK TOLD ME A LOT ABOUT YOU. I’M TAE BTW,” he yells at you, making you laugh.
“NICE TO MEET YOU TAE. JIMIN NEVER MENTIONED YOU,” you yell back, giggling when Tae’s jaw drops.
“Sorry,” Jimin says in a normal tone of voice.
“I’M EATING YOUR LEFTOVERS,” Taehyung says, getting back in the car and quickly driving away.
“Oh no he doesn’t,” Jimin says, rushing to the driver’s side of his car. “Tomorrow again Yn?” He asks you before getting in. You smile at him and nod. “Okay, see you then. You too, Jungkook.”
“Bye Jimin!”
“Bye Jimin,” Jungkook says, waving. “By the time he gets there, Taehyung will be done with his food already,” he says to you, laughing.
“What makes you say that?”
“He drives slow.”
You look at Jungkook, quirking up an eyebrow at him.
“Taehyung told me, we left the dorms after you called me and still got here at the same time.”
“Oh,” you say. “Well anyways, what are we doing?” You look down at all the stuff he was holding. “Picnic?”
“Yeah, and we’ll take some pictures for the project,” Jungkook says, walking off. You catch up with him, sneaking your arm around his.
“Where are we going to do all of this?” You ask, looking up at him. Jungkook points to the biggest hill. “All the way up there??”
“It’s not that high,” he says.
“It’s high enough for my legs to get tired,” you mumble.
“Want me to carry you then,” Jungkook says. You think about it for a second before shaking your head no. “Okay, then suck it up.”
–
“So what do we do?” You ask as you watch Jungkook set up a tripod in front of you. You were sitting on the blanket he laid out.
“Sit, talk, eat, look at the stars. I need a candid shot,” he says, running away from the camera.
“So is it just going to keep clicking or…”
“It’s recording, I can just go through it later and take some screencaps.”
“Okay,” you say, sitting down comfortably and looking up at the stars. You even point to one for dramatic effect. Jungkook laughs at you as you do this.
“You don’t have to act, just be natural,” he says.
“Fine. What are we taking pictures for again? Your movie poster right? What’s it about? Two friends going on an evening picnic?” Jungkook lets out a nervous laugh.
“Umm… more like two friends at the meteor shower. Making wishes.” You smile at him.
“So basically us the other day?”
“Yeah, basically. But it’s a love story.”
“Ooohspicy~”
“More like sweet,” he laughs. “See, the boy is in love with the girl. But she doesn’t know it yet. In this story, every wish that’s made comes true. At least the non silly ones.”
“Was my calculus wish silly then?” You say, making a face that Jungkook laughs at.
“Not at all. Passing calc is important for you, it’s going to come true.”
“So what are their wishes? The kids in your story.” Jungkook bites his bottom lips, looking away from you for a second before he answers your question.
“Uhh,.. Well the girl wants to pass her class and … well the boy wants the girl.” He says. Turning to you. “Because he’s been in love with her. Since she drew him that heart on his notes with her purple highlighter back in high school.”
Suddenly your heart stopped.
You let out a small, awkward laugh.
“Are we still talking about the project?”
“Y-yeah, of course,” Jungkook says, looking away from you. You didn’t know how to feel. Did your best friend just confess to you? Isn’t this a bit too… out of nowhere?
“Jungkook,” you say, grabbing his hand. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make this awkward.”
“No, it’s fine, it was my fault, I should’ve just kept it to myself.”
“Was that really your wish though? You like me?”
“Is that pathetic?” He says quietly. You smile, shaking your head.
“No, of course not. I would’ve done the same.” He nods, smiling at you as you squeeze his hand.
“I hope this doesn’t change much between us. It’s okay if you don’t like me back. I at least had to tell you.”
“Yeah, no, it’s– it’s fine, don’t worry. You’re still my Jungkook.” He laughs, wrapping his arm around your shoulders and pulling you in for a hug.
“And you’re still my seaweed.”
“UGh,” you groan. “Ruined it.”
He laughs as he pulls away. “Anyways, I brought your favorite snacks.”
“Ooh thank you~ but is it okay if we eat them later instead? I’m still kind of full.”
“Oh did you just eat?”
“Yeah, Jimin took me to Pied Piper. He has a friend that works there. And you’ll never guess who it is.”
Jungkook laughs, rubbing his hand on his forehead. “I bet it’s that Jin guy.”
“YES.” You shake your head. “But don’t worry. Turns out, he flirts with all the cute girls for tips.”
“But he never flirted with you,” Jungkook says, trying not to laugh.
“He probably sensed that I’m broke.”
“Or that you’re not cute,” he responded. Without hesitation. Making your jaw drop.
“Says the one who likes me.”
“Hey, it’s the personality that matters.”
You smack him hard on the arm, making him get up and run a few feet away.
You two are going to be just fine.
“You’re annoying.”
“But you love me anyways,” Jungkook says, running to his camera. “Okay, but I think we’re good with the shots.” He hits the stop button and turns the camera off.
“So that’s it?” You ask, helping him pack everything into his bag.
“Pretty much. Why? Do you want to do anything else?”
“I’m in the mood for coffee..”
Jungkook laughs as he swings his backpack on. “Coffee? It’s like 10. In the evening.”
“So?”
“You’re not going to sleep tonight.”
“When do I ever?”
“You literally sleep all the time.”
“Jungkooooooook,” you whine. “Please. You can’t let me walk to get coffee alone.” Jungkook rolls his eyes, giving in. He extends his hand out to you and you happily grab his hand. “Thank you.”
“Yeah yeah. Which cafe do you want to go to?”
“Well there’s this bakery in between Magic Shop and Pied Piper that sells some good coffee. I’ve never been but I’ve heard good things.”
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HIHI WELCOME BACKKKK
ngl my heart was beating so fast during that ligtle confession part and AHHHHH KOOKIE ITS ALL GOOD BBY YOU’LL GET THE GIRL SOOON. also also, jungkook without a filter is a mENACE and should be warned /j
A/n: Wow, a once in awhile post? Maybe I’ll continue, it depends if I get inspired to write again!! Anyway enjoy!!!
Summary: Be careful who you love and be careful of others feelings, because in this world each heartbreak chips away at your emotions until you feel empty. (In other words, another AU similar to Hanahaki but not)
Prologue
The (h/c) haired man looked blankly outside the window, feeling numb and empty. There was no joy or sadness watching the birds fly in the beautiful sky as sunset, that he used to love so much, turned to night. There was nothing, and he wished he could hate it. But he couldn’t, right now he was just an emotionless doll waiting for a doctor to fix him and the man only wished he listened to his mom when she said to be careful. He laid down and closed his eyes to remember what brought him to the cold white room of a hospital.
The world was both lovely and cruel as humanity evolved where feelings and empathy mattered more than anything. People were more considerate on who they truly loved as they learned that each heartbreak will take away emotions from the person who has been hurt. Luckily, it wasn’t something small like unrequited crushes or small fights with a friend/lover or something unavoidable like death taking away a loved one. No, when someone you love and hold dear betrays you or crushes your heart and trust is when your heart is chipped, the more important they are in your life, the bigger the chip. Of course, the world has found a way around a feeling empty forever. If it’s a couple of chips then simple therapy and medicine will help heal you with time but for more severe cases and those who are completely empty, there is a procedure performed where doctors will piece and fix the broken heart but at the cost of the memories of those who broke it. May it be parents, lovers, best friends, anyone who hurt the person will be forgotten.
(Y/n) learned to be careful from his mother as his father left them when he turned 5 and saw his mom become less caring, not completely but her love became less apparent. While his father was never there enough for (Y/n)’s heart to chip, his mother suffered greatly, she got better after a few years but she had told him to make sure that the person he chose to love was true and to never hurt them like his father did to her.
He knew to be careful who he gave his heart to but then in college he met someone who made his heart beat fast, Kim Seokjin, an acting major who was slightly older than the other. They hit it off when they were paired up for a scene in an acting class, and were often teasing each other and trying to get the other to break character in class. On one of their practice days, Seokjin took the other back to his dorm to practice where he met his 6 bandmates. The 6 were enamoured by the scene they performed and cheered for their hyungs. After that, the (h/c) male often visited the dorms to hang out and cheer on his new friends as they trained and debuted.
(Y/n) found that hangouts were either loud and exciting as a whole or small group or a quiet one on one with a member. Of course, the male was never with one member for too long as another would join soon after, pouting (mostly the maknae line) and wanting attention. This escalated to a day where they all fought for (Y/n)’s attention and while the other found it flattering, it got tiring dealing with the same squabbling and confronted them about it. It led to the band looking away and turning red from embarrassment as they sputtered excuses. (Y/n) expressed his concerns of him not wanting to ruin their band if they’re going to fight because of him and he’s willing to leave them alone if he’s causing them too much trouble. They quickly went to him and tackled him to the ground in a group hug, yelling not to leave and saying it’s because they all were trying to court him and see who he would choose.
It was (Y/n)’s turn to flush red and let out a small “oh”. He then started to laugh, much to the others confusion and hurt. (Y/n) apologized and quickly explained that he didn’t realize that they were actually flirting with them and felt stupid(to which all of them denied and said he’s amazing). He admitted to having crushes on all of them but didn’t want to choose and hoped they would rather be friends rather than someone getting hurt if he chose only one. They all cooed at his sweetness and shared a look and nodded.
They said they’re willing to share if the other will have all of them and (Y/n)’s eyes widened as he asked if they were sure. The boys answered him with kisses making him laugh and kiss them back with the same enthusiasm. They were the happiest men in the world. This was it, this was love, it was all theirs to cherish and to hold.
A/n: Thank you @ kurochan3 for requesting! I was going to post this on Christmas but was busy sorry! Happy (late) Holidays!
(Y/n) watched with a fond look as his love walked down the aisle with a dimpled smile, eyes warm and full of love. He didn’t want to cry at how beautiful the male looked in front of the others as the other stood in front of him and shooting a big smile before turning his back to look at the girl he was marrying. He Looked down so no one could see his smile turn into a frown and schooled his expression and looked up with a teary smile.
As the vows were said, he closed his eyes and reminisced his time with his best friend.
“When we met it was like a scene from a movie. It was fall and the leaves scattered on the ground, a cup of coffee in hand and I was reading on my phone.”
A five year old Namjoon sat under the trees, busy reading a book his mom bought him instead of playing on the playground with others. A thermos of hot chocolate sat by his side, and he picked it up, drinking slowly from it, still reading and ignoring his surroundings. Namjoon didn’t notice another child coming up to him with a curious smile.
“Hey!” The child yelled, startling Namjoon and making him spill a bit of hot chocolate on himself.
Namjoon winced at the heat while the other child quickly stammered out apologies,
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you, I just wanted to be friends. Does it hurt? I’m sorry!” The child bowed.
Honestly, Namjoon wanted to cry a bit at the chocolate burning him but he saw the other tearing up. He quickly took out napkins his mom gave him and wiped his shirt and offered another one to the other.
“It’s okay. Don’t cry, look it doesn’t hurt at all!” He comforted with a smile.
The child didn’t look convinced so Namjoon smiled even more, “I’m Namjoon! You wanted to be friends?” He asked
This got the other to smile and nod happily, “Yes! I’m (Y/n), I’m seven. What book are you reading? Is it good? Is there a hero? A prince? Oooo what about a-“ (Y/n) asked excitedly.
Namjoon answered the questions with the same enthusiasm and the two sat with each other until their parents called them to go home. The two begged for a play date to which Namjoon’s mom was surprised since Namjoon didn’t prefer to play with other kids but because the two kids hit it off so well, she agreed with a smile.
“Our days together as friends, was amazing and you supported me for anything and everything and soon enough, I fell in love with you.”
The two highschoolers talked about a book they read as they walked together to lunch.
“I’m just saying Joonie, you could write something better. You’re so smart that you skipped some years of school and your poetry and songs are so lovely and well thought out.” (Y/n) argued.
Namjoon blushed at his words and shook his head, “I don’t know. I don’t think I could stand writing a whole book, at least poetry and songs are quick.” He said.
(Y/n) eyes lit up, “Then, how about becoming a song producer! You’ll be so successful that others will buy all your albums and want you to write songs for them.” He encouraged.
Namjoon looked at him with thought and a blush at the amount of support his friend always showed him. He knew (Y/n) was genuine but also loved seeing him flustered so he gave him a smile, “Only if your beautiful voice is there to sing my songs then maybe I’ll be a producer. After all, I need someone cute to sing since I can’t at all.” He hummed.
(Y/n) turned red and stumbled over his feet and glared as Namjoon paused his walking to laugh at him.
Namjoon thought he got him there but (Y/n) just smirked, “So I’m someone cute?” He questioned.
Namjoon choked on his laugh and quickly looked away but a hand took his and turned him around.
(Y/n) has a fond look on his face, “Don’t worry. I think you’re pretty cute yourself.” He said.
Namjoon blush turned even redder but he didn’t let go of (Y/n)’s hand as they continued walking into the cafeteria in a soft silence.
“You’ve always took care of me and showed your constant love for me.”
Namjoon sat in his studio, working on his latest song when someone bursted threw his door and hugged him from behind, “Joonie! The love of my life, my soulmate. I have come to make sure you don’t starve to death and overwork!” (Y/n) said with a giggle.
Namjoon blushed and laughed at the other’s cuteness. He turned his chair around and looked at (Y/n) with fondness. (Y/n) set the food on the table and tackled the sitting male and kissed him with a chuckle.
Causing Namjoon to laugh and half heartedly push him away, “Okay, okay! Thank you, my love.” He said.
“How’s the new song going? Can I listen?” (Y/n) asked excitingly.
“It’s going smoothly since I had inspiration. Here.” Namjoon said and put headphones (Y/n)’s head.
(Y/n) listened with his eyes closed and smiled as the demo played. When it was done he smiled at his boyfriend, “As always, it’s lovely!” He said and kissed him.
“Through our fights, we grew. Through the hard times, we fought together.”
(Y/n) growled as Namjoon yelled at him, “All I wanted was to come home and relax with you (Y/n), and you come at me with all this bs saying I don’t love you?!”
(Y/n) pulled his (h/c) hair as frustration and anxiety built up, “You said you would be here for dinner but instead you were with her! It’s been months since we had time together for a date because you’ve spent time with her instead of me!” He cried out.
Namjoon glared at him, “I can’t hang out with others now? God, you act like I’m cheating on you! Just for a couple missed dates? It’s like you haven’t known me for years! You know I wouldn’t do that.” He scolded the other.
(Y/n) looked away, “The Namjoon I know wouldn’t have been so condescending of how I felt. The Namjoon I know, would have noticed earlier how agitated I’ve been with the missing time. The Namjoon I know wouldn’t promise me dates he knew he would miss and would call when he knew he would and not make me wait hours alone at a restaurant! The Namjoon I know wouldn’t have forgotten our anniversary!” He whispered getting louder with each sentence, pausing when he heard an intake of air from the other and calmed himself.
He gently brought his phone out and showed the picture to Namjoon causing him to stop breathing, “The Namjoon I know wouldn’t have lied and cheated on me. But I guess I never really know you, did I?” He said with heartbreak.
(Y/n) walked to their bedroom and left the stunned male alone. He grabbed his bag he already prepared and passed Namjoon one last time before saying quietly, “The article said that you wanted me as your best man, to save you the trouble of the public questioning you, I will be just that. Just your best friend, nothing more and as your best friend, I hope you two will be very happy.” He said and left their apartment.
Namjoon fell to his knees and sobbed because he knew he messed up and it hurt because no matter how much he hurt (Y/n), the (h/c) haired man cared about and loved him.
“I love you, Lee Hyuna, and I’ll never leave your side.” Namjoon finished with a big smile.
After the vows, the priest asked if anyone objects to their union. People’s eyes turned to the best man, knowing the history between the two but (Y/n) just smiled and stayed quiet. The ceremony ended and everyone cheered as the couple walked out to live their happily ever after.
(Y/n) clapped and waved as the couple waved goodbye. A hand was on his shoulder and he looked behind him and found Seokjin staring at him with a pitting look.
He led (Y/n) away until they were alone, and pulled him into a tight hug, “We’re alone now, it’s okay to cry. You’re so strong, but it’s okay to let go now.” He said quietly.
Suddenly the tears he held back, leaked out and like a dam, it broke loose and (Y/n) held his friend with dear life and sobbed and screamed until he couldn’t anymore.
(Y/n) brokenly whispered in his friend’s chest, “Cheers, to those who moved on.”
His love married someone else and (Y/n) was left with nothing but heartbreak.
Genre: Angst/Fluff Pairing: Park Jimin x Male Reader
A young man sat on his bed, curled in on himself as he looked at pictures of a happier time on his phone. Pictures of him and his loved one, the man who made him the happiest, who helped him when everything seemed to go wrong and comforted him when he cried. But now, that man was gone. No one can wipe away his tears, tell him that he’s perfect in every way and silence his insecurities, the same ones that in the end drove the man away.
So the one left behind cried in their once shared room, muttering one small phrase, “(Y/n) come back, please? I’m sorry.” Over and over.
He looked over the half empty room, devoid of most his ex lovers things.
Their last fight was one of the worst, all because he accused his love of cheating with his band member, while (Y/n) tried to explain that wasn’t the case, the demons in his head made him scream at the innocent man. He yelled, poking at all his lover’s own insecurities and scenarios that (Y/n) did that were fabricated in his head. The other looked hurt as he screamed for him to leave and never show his unfaithful face to him again and did just as he told. He packed most of his necessities and quite a few clothes before taking his leave without a single goodbye but with hesitance waiting for his lover to call out for him, to hold him back in his arms but he slacked his shoulders when he realised that the other was too in his head to try.
The memory haunted him but before the lonely male could break down and cry about his mistakes, his phone rang, without looking at it he answered immediately, hoping it was the person he lost.
“Jiminie-hyung? It’s me, Taehyung, we’re worried about you since you haven’t been to practice in a couple of weeks.” The voice said, disappointing the crying man.
“Yeah Tae. I’m fine, just under the weather. I have to go.” He muttered before hanging up, despite the protests on the other end.
Tears started to stream down his face again, Jimin couldn’t help but start sobbing again as the silence got to him again. He laid his head down on (Y/n)’s pillow and snuggled into it, smelling the shampoo and scent he missed so much. There he cried himself to sleep, praying for his lover to come back.
When he woke up an arm was wrapped around his waist and a soft snoring was heard behind him. Jimin quickly sat up and brought a hand to the waking male’s face. He let out a sob of relief when he felt the warmth he longed for the past few days. The other smiled softly at him, sitting up and wrapping his arms around the crying man.
Jimin cling to him like he was going to disappear and cried out, “You came back! You came back. I’m sorry for what I said-“ He rambled.
(Y/n) let him, while running a hand through his lover’s hair. After a few minutes he shushed him and quietly said, “It’s okay. I’m here now, my Mochi. I missed you, I couldn’t go anywhere because you are my home. While you said things that hurt me, I love you so much and I’m sorry I left you here to your demons when I know they torture you.”
Jimin sobbed saying it wasn’t his fault, but the other shushed him and laid them both back down. (Y/n) hugged him tighter, repeating that he’ll never leave again, and that he loved Jimin forever and more. Soon enough, they fell asleep once more, in each other’s arms, with small smiles and dried tears.
A/n: Oof i had this in my docs for a while and forgot about it. I’m sorry it took so long! This was requested a while ago by @jeonjamsss.
(Y/n)’s Pov
I pouted and complained about how people thought Jungkook liked me on Yoongi’s lap on the couch,“I don’t know (Y/n)-hyung. Kookie seems pretty into you.” Yoongi said as he ran his hand through my (h/c) hair.
I groaned and buried my head into his stomach and whined, “Noo Gigi, he’s just as attached to me as he is with Jinnie-hyung. In fact, those two seem more in love then what people see with me and him. Plus, he already told me- uh nevermind but as I was saying noooooo not Kookie, my child.”
Yoongi rose an eyebrow from the secret that Jungkook had told me but decided to let it go and continue to pet my head. He paused and moved us to a more comfortable position where we lay face to face with each other. I continued to cuddle and complain to him about anything and everything and he just hummed and listened to me while running his fingers through my hair.
It went on like that for a few minutes before someone bursts through the door, “Hyungs! Do you want to get dinn- Um am I interrupting something?” A confused Taehyung asked with a small head tilt, though there was a hint of a small smile and excitement in his eyes.
Yoongi and I looked at each other with confusion before shaking our heads and got up from the couch, “Why would be interrupting something TaeTae? We were just talking about work? Anyway, what did you need?” I asked with confusion as Yoongi nodded to my words.
Taehyung’s eyes turned to disbelief before groaning and shaking his head. He sighed and put a hand on his forehead, “Look, just- Dinner you both are buying dinner for me and Jungkookie right?” He said with exasperation but ended with a hopeful tone.
I rolled my eyes and held Yoongi’s hand, “ Alright let’s go I guess but with that attitude only Kookie is getting free food.” I sighed and dragged him out the door.
Taehyung looked at our hands before his eyes widened and he whined, “Hyung, me too! Buy food for me too!” He called out from behind and ran to catch up.
Yoongi snickered and mumbled how mean I am. I bickered with him that he’s meaner and we went back and forth with banter while Taehyung kept whining about food and something else that I couldn’t hear as he mumbled under his breath and I was too caught up looking at my crush.
Yoongi snickered at something I said and suddenly threw my hand forward causing me to run into a waiting maknae, “Go to your boyfriend, hyung!” He chuckled as Jungkook looked at us with his wide doe eyes, and a blush.
I flushed in embarrassment before gently pushing Jungkook away and patting his head, “Sorry, Kookie. GiGi is being a jerk again!” I said with a sing song voice.
He and Taehyung both giggled as Yoongi glared at me and we relinked our hands and continued our banter and walk to whatever food place the two youngest talked about.
(Taehyung’s Pov)
Jungkook and I watched as our two hyungs danced around each other, flirting, and denying their feelings for the other. Yoongi-hyung was somehow convinced that (Y/n)- hyung liked Jungkook while (Y/n)- hyung was convinced that Yoongi-hyung just didn’t like him at all which is ridiculous as Jungkook and I watch Yoongi-hyung basically sitting on his lap while he fed (Y/n)- hyung. Truly a disgusting pair of oblivious love struck hyungs, but we stayed quiet as the two giggled and whispered to each other. Jungkook looked at me and we sighed, catching the attention of our hyungs.
“Are your meals alright? Do you need more food?” (Y/n)- hyung asked with slight worry.
I smiled, “Nope! I was trying to digest my food watching you two lovey do-” I said before trying to repress a scream from two people kicking me a little too hard.
I saw my hyungs looking at me with innocent eyes and slight blushes on their faces while Jungkook snickered at me. I glared at him with all my might causing him to full blown laugh.
“So nothing’s wrong right, Taehyung?” Yoong-hyung asked and admitted an aura of death.
I nodded quickly before stuffing my mouth and saying, “Nofing, wrung fere!”
He nodded with a smirk and continued to feed the other snickering hyung. We continued to eat with everyone unfairly teasing me. I wish the two would just get together already.
Timeskip
(Jimin’s Pov)
Jin-hyung and I read through the rolling comments and questions that we answered as we did a Vlive in our hotel room. One comment from a fan caught my eye as it did for others apparently as everyone got on that subject.
‘So like does Suga and (S/n) know they’re boyfriends already or are they still oblivious?’
I chuckled and nodded while Jin-hyung groaned and looked behind him at the two people laying on the bed, cuddling and holding hands, whispering softly together before Jin-hyung called out, “Hey lovebirds! The Army are asking how you both are doing.”
The two blushed and looked away from each other before, shaking their heads, sitting up and softly giggling and started talking about the music their working on, unintentionally finishing each other’s sentences. Jin-hyung rose an eyebrow at the camera causing me to laugh, interrupting the oblivious hyungs.
The two looked at me in confusion as I looked at the camera, “Does that answer the question Army?” I asked and got a bunch of confirmations and pouting emojis.
Jin-hyung and I laughed at the confused noise the other pair gave but when Yoongi-hyung was about to ask it, Jin-hyung beat him to it, “Anyway! We have to go Army! See some of you on Saturday!” He blew a kiss to the camera and we all said bye.
Yoongi-hyung and (Y/n)-hyung looked at us confused for earlier but before either one of them could ask Jin-hyung hoisted Yoongi-hyung up and bid us a good night. Yoongi-hyung resisted for a moment before (Y/n)-hyung patted his head and told him to rest up for practice tomorrow.
When they left, I tackled the (h/c) hair hyung to the bed and laughed as he squawked in surprise. He began giggling and pushed me on my side of the bed before reaching for the light.
I looked at him with curiosity and asked, “Hey hyung?”
He hummed as he settled in the bed and turned towards me.
“Why don’t you confess to Yoongi-hyung?” I asked.
He sputtered in shock, turning red before answering, “Why would I do that?”
I rolled my eyes, “Confess that you like him? You guys make it a little too obvious that you both like each other.” I pointed out.
(Y/n)-hyung blinked, “You think he likes me back?” He wondered.
I groaned, “Well, I don’t see him cuddling the others like you two do on a daily basis.” I said sarcastically earning a small bop on the head from the red hyung.
“First of all, the disrespect.” He said jokingly, with a small smile, “Second of all, he just likes to indulge me just like he lets you and Taetae get away with various things.”
I rose an eyebrow and got my phone and went to a folder named ‘Two dumb in love hyungs’ and pulled the first few photos up and showed him.
“Yeah, but he doesn’t initiate touch like he does with you with us. Also, he always shoos us away when we get too touchy with you or teases you too much. Something he doesn’t do with anyone else, if anything he’ll join in on the teasing.” I said, muttering the last part with a pout.
(Y.n)-hyung looked away from my phone, “Even if what you say is true, if we did start a relationship, the consequences of us fighting would affect the band and-”
I stopped him before he could overthink the situation and grabbed his hand, “But you guys have fights like a couple anyway but you both always find your way back to each other and if you both have a bad fight the others and I will help you both.” I assured him.
He sighed, “I wouldn’t even know where to begin with if I wanted to tell him, Minnie.”
I lit up and sat up texting a group chat named, ‘Suga(S/n) need to get together’, who had everyone in the band except the two oblivious people in the band and told them to get prepared as my side of the plan worked.
I smiled at the confused hyung besides me, “Don’t worry Hyungie, we are going to help you.”
His eyebrows furrowed and asked, “What do you mean “We”-” before getting cut off by the knocking on the door.
I turned on the lights and rushed to open up the door. Everyone in our group chat had rushed to our room to dog pile on the now distressed (Y/n)-hyung to help him plan the perfect confession.
Timeskip
(No one’s Pov)
The crowds cheered as the 8 men as they finished up their concert.
“ARMY! Thank you for joining us today! We love you but before you leave we need to ask you a question!” Namjoon said happily in the mic.
The crowd responded with yells of what and cheers.
“First, I’m going to pair each member up,” he paused and put the members, with each other: Jimin and himself, Jinkook, Vhope, Suga(S/n).
All of them looked excited except the last pair, one confused and one nervous.
“Now, we’ll raise our hands one pair at a time and you all will cheer for which pair will have to do a closing act together.” He announced getting screams and cheers from the army.
First, he and Jimin rose their hands, the army cheered but quietly, the army bombs stayed their white glow. Jinkook and Vhope got the same responses. When Suga(S/n) rose their hands, the Army screamed and their Army bombs started to flash a wave of rainbows.
Yoongi and (Y/n) stepped up to center stage with nervous looks, albeit for two different reasons.
Yoongi whispered to the other, “What are we supposed to do? Our duet song?” He asked confused and got a sheepish grin and small follow along from (Y/n).
(Y/n) turned towards him and dug around in his pocket before fishing out a small box.
“Hey GiGi, remember that time you first met me before I got to officially join the group during the Run album? You were offput and offended that I would be joining late into the band but then started to warm up as I brought you coffee and asked for some help about producing some songs I had made. To be honest, I lied to you when I said I wanted to produce songs and joined BigHit for that.” (Y/n) said with nervousness.
Yoongi looked surprised and confused but said nothing as the other continued, fiddling with the box, “While I was brought in because of it, I originally wanted to just sing and perform on stage but as soon as I heard your songs and then I would be joining your band, I wanted to impress you so I took up producing and changed my focus. I did it all because I liked your songs and when I got to meet you, it was because I started to really like you, so much more than anyone I’ve ever met,” (Y/n) open the box to reveal a black bracelet with small a small aquamarine in the middle, “Did I impress you GiGi?”
The silent male’s eyes soften and he smiled with small tears gathering in his eyes. Yoongi wiped his eyes, and took the bracelet and examined it while (Y/n) looked at him with anticipation.
“Honestly, when you first came with your songs I thought they were shit,” He finally said and quickly continued with a smile and put on the bracelet, ignoring the crestfallen face of the elder “but you got better the more you worked on them, while your songs didn’t impress me all too well. Your persistence to talk to someone who gave you the cold shoulder, and get them to love you was something else.”
He smiled fondly as (Y/n)’s face processed his words and lit up, “You love me?” (Y/n) happily asked quietly.
He chuckled, and nodded. (Y/n) teared up and jumped at Yoongi to hug him, surprising him and barely preventing them both from falling. Loud cheers were heard from the once quiet crowd and the rest of the band.
(Y/n) pulled away a bit and said, “I love you too.” before smashing their lips together causing everyone to scream for them and cheer their ship name out loud, while their duet song blasted in the stadium.
They pulled away and rested their foreheads together, smiling at each other with the love they’ve always had with each other before turning towards the crowd and start waving with the other members goodbye to the army and together, they walked off the darkening stage hand in hand.
BTS Reaction to your pregnancy test finally coming back positive.
Warning: Vomit (Morning sickness)
Namjoon
He waits anxiously in the living room as you take the test, wringing his hands.
When you don’t come out after 15 minutes he starts to worry and goes to find you
You’re sobbing on the floor when he walks in
Immediately he is at your side telling you it’ll be okay you can try again
You’re crying too hard to tell him, so you hand him the test and he freezes his soothing motions
Tears well in his eyes as you watch for his reaction
Suddenly you’re being lifted off the floor and carried towards your bedroom he lays you down carefully, but he doesn’t let go.
His hands trail down your sides and lift the hem of your shirt.
He leans down and presses hundreds of kisses into your tummy as you giggle, trying to wriggle away from your husband’s affectionate assaults
Seokjin
You find out while he is on tour
There’s only a month left so you don’t tell him
He would only want to fly home immediately and there’s nothing for him to do yet
Hiding from him is torture when he checks in everyday and all you want is to spill the secret and see the joy on his face of finally…
But you know it’ll be worth it
He comes home to string flower petals leading to your closed bedroom door
He opens it to find a tray of goodies laying out for him and a jewellery box with a note that says ‘find me waiting in the bathroom’
He doesn’t open the box too eager to see you after so long he takes the box and heads straight for you
He is more than confused to find you sat on the closed toilet lid in a fluffy bathrobe instead of in a bubble bath like he was usually greeted with
You roll your eyes and gesture to the unopened box he still looks very confused at the little white stick displayed under new cufflinks that read “daddy”
Eventually you just stand letting the robe fall to display your rounding belly.
The shock finally hits him, and he sweeps you into his arms, cradling you close with one arm, the other hand on your stomach.
Yoongi
You are out shopping with your little boy
Daddies black card burning a hole in your pocket as you treat the birthday boy
You’d just finished lunch when the overwhelming urge to vomit hit
The next three days you struggled to keep anything down
Yoongi eventually convinces you to go to the hospital even though you think he’s being a bit dramatic for a stomach bug.
The news you are six weeks pregnant hits you like a truck after what the doctors told you last time
It’s one of the few times Yoongi lets you see him cry off stage.
Hoseok
It’s a joke when he says “maybe you’re pregnant” after developing a weird craving for spray cheese on salt and vinegar crisps
This wasn’t even that weird
You laughed
It’s not exactly out of character for you to try weird food combos
Except spray cheese is disgusting
You still feel a little silly when you go out to buy the test
Lo and behold the little plus mark appears and you are left in shock
Fully on autopilot you walk into your kitchen test in hand
Hobi looks up confused, glancing at your outstretched hands and makes one of those noises only he can
He sweeps you off your feet and dances you around the kitchen pulling you out of your shellshock.
Jimin
You’d never seen someone so excited yet so close to an obvious breakdown
There are 30 swatches of paint on the wall of the spare room by the end of the week
Trying to remind him that if there is still 32 weeks to go does not slow down the process
He enlists the boys while they have time off because he is worried he won’t be around to help as much when their schedules pick up again
Every detail is run by you before it’s placed in the nursery
And he has a baby shower party planned long before your second scan.
Taehyung
The moment the at home test comes back positive Tae has booked you in for a hospital scan
You sit in the private hospital room twitching as you wait for the ultrasound technician to come in
Taehyung squeezes your hands reassuring you after so many negatives and false starts
This time feels different though
Eventually the doctor comes in and you lie back ignoring the discomfort that comes with a transvaginal ultrasound
It was early on and you needed to be sure
The doctor’s brows furrow and you steal your nerves for the news that it was another false alarm
“Are you prepared for the possibility of multiple births?”
Taehyung can’t contain his excitement head whipping to look at your pale complexion
The doctor doesn’t get to say triplets before you’ve blacked out
You thought you were around 12 weeks and starting to show
Nope! Six weeks and very bloated
Jungkook
Five nights into your private luxury yacht honeymoon you are vomiting over the side of the rails while your very confused half naked husband watches on
You’re taken to the doctor at the next port
You laugh when he suggests pregnancy you’ve only been off birth control for a month now
Everyone said it would take forever and you’d already waited for so long
Turns out the universe just didn’t want you living in sin
They did several tests
Each positive
You do wish the little bean could have waited to make you sick when you weren’t living on a boat for a month
You cut the trip short
But JK already had you rebooked for six months after the due date for your first family holiday
Anon Asked: Heeey beautiful peeps,if it’s not to much trouble how would vampire!Bts react to a banshee s/o? Btw your writing is amazing
Aww thank you angel!~ This is so cool! Here you go !
Seokjin
This boy would be as cocky as can be. He would always brag to his family and friends, that the two of you would have the cutest children if that was in the cards for the both you; claiming that becuae of his suave and swift genes, being paired with your beautiful and graceful ones, you were bound to make beautiful and strong babies. His friend where a little worried. Although he seemed happy, they warned of how it might not be a success relationship, and that your mind was known to be “moody” or so they thought. The words and warning of others didn’t sway him though; He knew exactly how to handle anyone, and knew that if it came down to it, he would be able to do so, with a raise of his eyebrow, and a flash of that smoldering smile of his. If anyone needed the warning, it was you, because he was a ball of s*x appeal and charm.
“To hell with them! You are the love of my life, and I pretty much like it that way.”
Namjoon
At first he was timid. He wasn’t really sure how he should’ve approached you, being as he knew you weren’t a vampire such as himself, but he also didn’t know just exactly what you were. After telling him, he grew wide- eyed, but continued conversing with you, then one thing led to the next. Now, here he was, paired with a creature who wasn’t seen with vampires too often, but he wasn’t complaining. The two of you would earn some odd looks and whispers, but after soemtime he would just pull you into a warm hug in front of everyone,as he grazed your neck playfully with his teeth, but never breaking skin. You two had so much in common, and had so much fun together, that not one comment or word changed the way he felt. He just saw you as someone that he loved, and knew that he would love for a very long time; maybe even forever.
“I really do love you (y/n). I don’t care what anyone else says, or thinks.”
Yoongi
He was never really one to get out, let alone date. Sure, he had friends and family that he visit and who he visited occasionally, but never had he been interested in someone before. It wasn’t until he met you. He had met you at a party his friend Taehyung was hosting. Of course, he knew who you were, at least when it came to face value since he was watching you from across the room almost all night long, but he suddenly grew closed off when he brought you two together. In all honesty, he was just nervous more than anything, but after a few laughs and small conversations, the two of you hit it off. Now here you were, months down the road, happily together. Like Namjooon, he never cared at where the two of you came from, all he cared about was you as a person (half person you could say) and the moments that you two now shared. You made him comfortable and come out of his shell more. You made him feel alive (again)
“I don’t know what it is about you…but its like you drew me in. No one has ever had that effect on me.”
Hoseok
He absolutely loved that you were different than him. Vampires? Yawn. Just kidding! He loved his kind, and his family being the most important thing to him, were just the same! But it was almost like a culture shock when it came to you and your own. He was actually excited to learn more about you and all the traditions and history behind you. He wasn’t that weirded out like most would be when it came to dating another species. No no, this boy was so comfortable around you, it would actually surprise you! He based most of the relationship on your personalities and the way you connect to each other. However, that came as no problem for him, for he was not your typical dark, and cynical vampy, oh no, he was the playful and optimistic type; which was pretty uncommon in his community. Which is why the two of you worked out so well. He could care less about what people said about him, so he would give the same care for the thoughts towards his relationship with you. Unless, it was directly towards you, then he would show his evil side.
“ I love you so so soooo much! nothing it going to stop that !”
Jimin
He would treat you the same just as he would anyone else, but with more love and affection, being as you were his someone special. Although, with you he came off a quiet clingy, and it wasn’t just because he was a bloodsucker. Oh no. This boy found you ravishing and mysterious, and just like Yoongi, he wanted to know everything about you, but he was outright about it. You were timid, you admit. Vampires of his kind were known to be mischievous liars and cheats, but he was different. At first he was flirty, even with your own friends. You thought he would at least go for your Bestfriend who was a forest fairy, but was surprised by his interest in you. When you did ask him why he had chosen you out of everyone else he just ruffled his hair back and flashed a warm and sincere smile,
“ I was drawn to you, by your beauty and mystery.. even if you don’t think you are, to me, you’ll always be the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
Taehyung
He would always be taken aback by you. Not because of what you were, but for the fact that he had never been close to your kind before. He was a nervous wreck around you, and always found himself to be tongue tied. Just like a smitten kitten, he would be cautious, in a sense of doing things that made you happy, rather than annoyed, worried you would fall for a werewolf, or perhaps a merman. He also wouldn’t want you getting upset with him, in fear of you screeching at him, although that was something else that had him interested, for he had never been with someone who held such power.This made him giddy; he loved bringing you along to anything whether it be family gatherings, or just hanging out with friends. He wanted to show you off, and he would just do that.
“Wow…I’ve never met someone with such grace and strength at the same time! You never cease to amaze me, my love.”
Jungkook
Just like Taehyung, he found you very interesting, even if the two of you were together for some time now. He sadly admit that he was unsure of you and being with you. He was still too easily swayed by others words, but after seeing you and spending time with you, he soon found himself missing you when you weren’t around more and more, and thus he knew he had caught feelings. It was strange to him being as he stayed traditional, dating only in the vampire community, but he just found you so exotic and interesting, how could he stay away? It wasn’t until he was introduced to you, that he was hooked. He just coudn’t take his eyes off of you the minute that he laid them upon you. You would find his starring quite often, but you didn’t mind, it just made you flustered. For one thing, this vampire would be quite clingy, and somewhat possessive. He didn’t want anyone else, but you.
“I’m sorry for starring, you’re just so lovely my dear.”
Anon Asked: Hi, I don’t know if you’re still taking requests, but could you write a BTS reaction to meeting their little sister’s boyfriend? Thank you
How cute! Here you go honeybun!~
Seokjin
He would be a mix of emotions, with both good and bad. Hearing of you having a boyfriend made him scratch his head a few time. When did you start growing up so fast already to this point in time right now? It’s not that he didn’t want to make a good impression on this boy, because he did! He wanted to appear as the cool, but mature older brother, but that wouldn’t go quite as planned. Immediately, he started to throw out jokes here and there, some actually making you two laugh, but the rest made you cringe, and once this happened, he started getting nervous as he told embarrassing stories on when you were younger once upon a time to try and cover up the awkward silence, but it just seemed to make things worse. But it was all in good fun. If he could laugh at all his joke, no matter how “ bad” them seemed, then he was a good candidate in his book.
“Awww (y/n)! Don’t make that face! We’re just joking around. That reminds me! She used to make that face when she was young with our parents. It was a funny story…”
Namjoon
An exasperated and heavy sigh would escape him as he heard about this boy and the news of his coming over so he could met your parent(s) and him. He knew the day when you would start dating would come, but he didn’t know it would be so soon, and although he was all for others to do what they wanted as long as it made him happy, he would have some trouble with this when it came to your and your love life, but he would push away his thoughts and disagreements, until he met your boyfriend first. He couldn’t judge something or someone without sitting down and getting to know them first, and that’s just what he intended to do. The talk with him went well, as he would be serious but understanding of all he would say, though he remembered to remind him that even though he seemed like a good guy right now, he could always change into the bad guy if pushed enough, and that usually happened when it came to his family or members. But you being his only baby sister, he had a softer spot for you, and just wanted to make sure this boy knew.
“It was nice meeting you. You’re not a bad kid at all and I feel you have good intentions for (y/n). Please, don’t make me regret saying that.”
Yoongi
It would worry you when telling your big bro, Yoongi, because it was never good when it came to boys being around you. You thought back to the time, some guy was looking your way, before going up to you with intentions of getting your number, but that didn’t happen, as Yoongi was set off and attacked him like a loyal dog, protecting their owner. He was that protective of you. And although you didn’t mind that, this was totally different. When you told him, you expected him to go into a fit of rage, but he was surprisingly chill and mature about the situation. Of course he wanted to meet him right away, before things between you two could escalate, and that’s just what he did. He would talk calmly, but sternly with him, making sure his words reached him. He wanted to know all about him, and made sure he wasn’t caught up in bad crowds or around anything that could potentially hurt you later on. Even though he knew relationships sometimes didn’t last he made sure to let him know how he felt about him being with his little sister.
“This is me being nice, because you’re someone my sister likes. But if you don’t treat he well, then you’ll end up seeing another side of me.”
Hoseok
You thought that maybe he would be happy for you, which he was! But his initial reactions was to be serious and sit down with you and him to have a just as serious conversation with him. This would worry you a little, being as you though he would be different about this whole situation, but he was just watching out for you, his baby sister. You’ve seen the way he could get whenever he was upset, and you thought that’s how he was right now, and you were scared that he would run off your new boyfriend, but that feeling went away as he smiled at him, before he polietly and seriously talked with him.He didn’t want to know his whole life story, maybe not until he knew you were going to be around for a while, but he wanted to know things from the people he was around, if he drank or smoked, if he was safe when it came to driving and being out and about, and the most important question, if he really and genuinely, liked you and saw a relationship with you. Even if it was something that embarrassed you, he had to know his answer so he knew that he was being forreal and not just stringing you along.
“I get it. What’s not to like about (y/n)? She’s a jung. But I want to know what you like about her..and if you really like her, like her.”
Jimin
The two of you were so close, that hearing about you having a boyfriend would set him off, but he pushed it back with all he had. He saw just how much you were growing and didn’t want to get in the way or hold you back from doing so, but it would be just so hard to watch it all unfold. Now that there was a new addition to the family though, he couldn’t help but feel somewhat threatened. Though he knew that this jealousy was selfish, so he would do his utter most best to try and get to know this other guy. Of course the mature side of his would peak little by little until he found himself sitting down with him, having a nice conversation with him here and there. At times he found himself gritting his teeth so he wouldn’t say something rude or out of turn, so he kept all his smart remarks to himself for your sake. By the end of the day, he thought to himself that this kid wasn’t as bad as he thought, and he kicked himself for being so rude right away, even if he was doing it discreetly. Still, he would make sure to keep an eye on him nonetheless, but eased up on him.
“I guess you’re alright, I’m just watching out for (y/n)..I love her so much and just want whats best for her.”
Taehyung
At first, he would not be happy whatsoever. Even when you joked with him or talked to him in a lighthearted tone, that frown didn’t lessen up. It’s not that he didn’t want you to do what was best for you or made you happy, but it was hard to get over his anger and annoyance. Here you were, his little sister, dating some guy he had never met, but even still, when you told him he was coming over for dinner, Things just got worse, he would say how he didn’t want him coming over. He was only going to be home for a while longer before leaving again for work, so he didn’t want to have to spend that time with someone he didn’t know very well. Even though this was a lie. Tae loved meeting people left and right. He was a people person and got along with everyone he met. But it was a different story when it came to someone who could later on hurt someone he loved dearly.When you realized he wasn’t going to change his mind, the only thing you could do was plead with him. After seeing you do this, he realized how happy you were with this guy, and who was he to take away your happiness?
“Okay, okay..Just stop crying..Big brother is sorry..I’ll do my best to accept him, if it’ll make you happy.”
Jungkook
Now having him as your older brother would make him a little pest from time to time, especially with this. Like Jimin, he would be a little salty, but he wouldn’t even try to hide it, it would just directly come out, and without warning too. When he came over for a family dinner, that’s when everything turned upside down. He would make snark remarks at him, trying to jab at him and get under his skin, earning glares and frowns from you. All he could do was smirk and chuckle with a smug shoulder raise. Your parent(s) seeing the way this was making you and your boyfriend feel, made sure to pull him aside to let him know. That’s when he would start to feel bad, and feel that, maybe, he was going to far. He apologized to the both of you, and expressed how he really felt, even if it did put a bad taste in his mouth, but he wanted you to know that he didn’t want you to feel bad for the person you took interest in. He would retaliate for tonight, until the next time.
“I’m so sorry (y/n)…I didn’t mean to make you feel bad, I was just being protective of you..”
Smoke and Mirrors: a magician’s trick, the art of making an entity appear to be floating through the use of smoke and mirrors. In figurative speech, something which, once examined, is proven to be an illusion. Like the moon reflected on water, or a flower reflected in a mirror. Unable to be touched.
Description: Listless idol Jeon Jungkook has lost his creative spark. Something just feels…missing. And between jet-setting across the world and constantly evading public scandals, Jungkook’s life up until now has felt like a movie. One thing Jungkook can count on, however, is video games. Y/N has been gaming forever. And when a new VR game called Arcana is released, both Y/N and Jungkook are all over it. But what will become of Jungkook’s online persona when life forces the two to work together? And will Jungkook manage to keep his identity a secret from one of his closest Internet friends?
Genre: Romance, Drama, Fluff, Angst
Pairing: Jungkook x (gender unspecified) Reader
Word Count: 12.1k
Tags: Solo Idol!Jungkook, Gamer!Jungkook, Makeup Artist!Reader, Manager!Seokjin, Florist!Hoseok
Warnings: Swearing and mentions of alcohol, although infrequently
A/N: Haha….ha….ha….um, well this is awkward isn’t it? I haven’t been active on here in a long, long time! But God does it feel nice to return. In the time I’ve been away, I’ve been working on a lot of things at once. Too many chefs in the kitchen, except the chefs are projects/responsibilities and the kitchen is me and is also on fire. I think right now more than ever, I’ve leaned into writing to help me feel a bit better about the world. So if this story can make you happy that’s honestly all I can ask for. I don’t think I’ll be keeping a posting schedule, as that feels like too much for me right now, but maybe in the future I’ll come up with a schedule that doesn’t feel overwhelming! Regardless, I’ve missed you guys and I’ve really missed posting my writing here. I hope you all still remember me! And I hope you enjoy this story. Really. As always, please feel free to send me any thoughts or concerns! Questions, critique, comments: send them all my way! I can’t wait to get chatting with you all again.
And I’m on Twitter! I’ll put the link here if you want to follow. I’m very active over there!
“Well work harder, damn. Tiki’s about to go down,” you say, gritting your teeth as you whip around toward the dragon staring your party down.
It circles you, never once looking away, several stories tall with glowing yellow eyes that seem to leave trails behind in the darkness of the cavern. You feel at once impossibly small and impossibly fragile in front of such a behemoth, all purple scales and saliva stringing across pointed fangs.
“Just focus on offense for now,” says Sapphire, grunting as he lunges sword-first toward the dragon.
Your brows shoot sky high as Sapphire, a DPS like you, runs straight for the enemy. His silver knight’s armor clanks in his wake. “Wait!” you call, but it’s too late. Your teammate has his sword plunging in and slicing out and slashing wild before you can even prep your next spell. “Jesus, Saph!”
You hear his laughter like bells echo through the cavern, seeming to bounce against the domed ceiling and drip like water from the clinging stalactites. “Tiki! Distract!” you call as the dragon whips wildly: first toward Sapphire and then toward you. “Shit,” you whisper, examining your mana with a hiss. “I need a second to recover!”
Tiki, a massive green orc and also your team’s tank, rushes in with his battle axe. Upon the first hit, the dragon writhes in pain and turns toward Tiki, ire in its yellow eyes. Tiki says nothing, just lets out a string of labored breaths as he swings his heavy weapon. Sapphire is quick to attack at the dragon’s heels. The dragon opens its mouth to spew flames across the charred cavern, aiming right for Tiki, but before it can Zero finally heals him with a flash of white light and a bolt straight to his broad green chest. You jump, turn to the side to see Zero is standing beside you about twenty feet from the dragon.
“Get spelling, Nova!” he shouts, long blonde hair flying in the breeze his spell created.
His voice, deep and gruff, doesn’t suit his pretty, dark-skinned elven body: particularly the well-rendered female…curvature. Every time he talks, it takes you off guard. You shake it off and nod once.
“Loli! Get punching!” you call to your resident monk as she idles near the dragon’s tail. She says nothing. You sigh, rest a hand on your hip. “Loli!”
She jumps to attention. “Sorry! My roommate needed me,” she says with a laugh, rubbing the back of her half-shaven head.
“Tell her to piss off!” calls Tiki as the dragon, halted by Zero’s healing spell, recovers and swings a mighty paw his way.
Your mana is finally restored and, shutting your eyes, you summon a bolt of ice. With a shout, you spin your staff over your head before slamming it down with a thunderous clap. Ice splinters dizzyingly fast from the ground beneath your staff and crawls like frost until it hits the dragon, stunning it still for a few seconds.
“Health’s low! Saph, go for the kill!” Lolita shouts as she lands a solid punch on the dragon’s belly that shatters your freezing spell.
Without waiting a second more, Sapphire shoves his sword into the dragon’s heaving chest as it writhes from pain. It looses a cry that sends vibrations through the cavern. A few rocks tumble from fissures in the cave walls, and a stalactite cracks and careens toward the ground where it explodes into shards.
And, with that, the massive beast falls to its stomach, its head clunking to the ground in front of Tiki’s feet. The ensuing silence rings in your ears as the five of you stand completely still, waiting. It wouldn’t be the first time an enemy has fallen only to reveal a dormant ability that results in a second battle. None of you says a thing until the massive body before you begins to dissolve into pixels, leaving you with only the skull as a prize and a bag of loot in place of a carcass.
Lolita is the first to break the silence with a loud hoot. “Wooh! Hell yeah!” she shouts, clapping her hands.
You chuckle, lean on your staff. “Loli, you can only celebrate halfway since you missed half the fight,” you tease with a fond sigh.
She rushes toward you, wipes off her blue robes and crosses her arms. “My roommate came in!”
“And you didn’t warn us,” Zero chides as he smooths a few flyaway hairs, smiling. That model of his is just too pretty…
“I-,”
“Guys!” Sapphire shouts, jumping once as he examines the loot bag. “Look at this!”
You spin your staff in your hand and jog to stand beside the knight. His red eyes are bright, digging through the bag until he produces in one gloved hand—
“Is that a Philosopher’s Stone Fragment?” asks Tiki, similarly enraptured as he comes up beside Sapphire’s flank.
Sapphire nods. “Which means—,”
“Which means we’re one step closer,” you say, and you lock eager eyes with Sapphire who only nods. “Well shit!”
“Also means we were right to come this way,” Lolita says, holding up one finger as if correcting us. “And whose idea was that?”
Zero shoves Lolita by the head and turns back toward the loot bag. “Anything else?” he asks.
Sapphire digs around before shrugging. “A shield,” he says.
“Don’t need it,” Tiki says.
“And…mm…,” he pauses, brow furrowing as he pulls out a piece of paper. He purses his lips, runs a hand through his blue-black hair, cocks his head to the side. “Schematic?”
“For what?”
“Oh!” he exclaims, turning to you as he hands you the paper. You look it over and scoff. “Superior elemental staff.”
“Cuts down the mana I need to do spells,” you say, rolling your eyes as you pocket the paper. “Coulda used that today.”
Sapphire claps your shoulder. “Next time! We’ve still got three fragments to find before anyone else does.”
You nod. “Well, with that settled…,” you begin, itching to use the bathroom.
“Ah! You gotta leave?” asks Sapphire.
You nod. “Got work in the morning.”
“Eugh,” he sighs, shoulders slumping. “Me too.”
“Me three,” says Zero.
“Ah, the working world. We’re lucky, huh Tiki?” Lolita says with a wistful sigh as water from overhead drips onto her shoulder. She jumps a little, but settles easily. “Don’t you miss your reckless college days?”
You laugh. “I only graduated last year,” you say, turning toward Sapphire. “Speaking of which, Saph did you ever go to school?”
He stiffens. “Ah, uh…,” he begins, glancing at his feet. He’s quiet for a moment. “No. Not past high school,” he says with an almost sheepish nod.
You don’t say anything, but it seems like there’s something he’s keeping to himself, something he doesn’t want to share. Sapphire is always like that, but this feels a little different.
“Hm,” you say, sensing his discomfort. “Welp, I’m gonna peace out for the night. Message me when you guys wanna go for the next fragment. I’ll keep researching where it might be.”
“Mm, sounds good,” says Tiki. “I’m starving. Loli, wanna get some food?”
Lolita glances at Tiki out the corner of her eye. “You mean, like, real food?”
Tiki sighs. “Obviously real food. I don’t wanna waste money on game food.”
She laughs and nods. “Alright. I’ll meet you at your dorm.”
“Mm.”
Without another word, both Tiki and Lolita blink out, leaving nothing behind them. You turn toward Zero and pat his back. “Sorry for getting on your case tonight,” you say. “I was worried Tiki would fall and then…well, you get it.”
Zero shrugs, examining one of his perfect fingernails. “No, I wasn’t on my game tonight. I’ll be better next time.”
“Me too,” you say, waving as Zero too blinks out.
You turn toward Sapphire and offer a smile. “Sorry for asking about college,” you say.
He stiffens, brows raised. “Hm? Oh, no it’s fine,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck with a smile. “It’s just, uh…well, you know my dad always wanted me to go to college so…”
You wave your hands, shake your head. “Forget it, alright? I won’t bring it up unless you do first.” You smirk. “You played tank tonight, didn’t you?”
He laughs. “Yeah, a little.”
“Don’t do that shit,” you say, but you can’t help your smile. “What would we do if we lost you in the middle of a battle?”
You can see his posture go a little straight. He turns to you, blinking. “You…?” he begins, but cuts himself off with a laugh. “Ah, mm, well…I’d better get going.”
“Mhm. Message me if you get any new info about fragment locations,” you say, then chuckle. “Or if you just wanna talk about The Bachelor or something.”
He laughs with you. “I don’t watch The Bachelor!”
“Well, whatever you watch!” you call as you jog a few paces away. You offer a wave which Sapphire mimics before pressing the disconnect button on your headset.
You shake your head, disoriented as you return to your bedroom, your window sitting before you, the outskirts of Bucheon spreading out in spindly arms around you. Your head throbs a little and you wince, removing your sensor gloves and setting them gently on the light wood table beside your computer. You guide one of the philodendron leaves to the side so it won’t tickle the gloves. You shuck off the sensor jacket too and leave it draped over the back of your gaming chair. Slowly, you return your attention to the window, smiling down at the sea of lights undulating in the dark. It’s a nice evening, you notice as you press the pads of your fingers to the cool glass.
Your phone, until then sitting dormant on the tabletop beside your potted jade plant, pings to life with a notification. Your eyes widen and you grab for it, stretching your torso as you do to work out your aching muscles. Tonight’s session with the group had gone long, and the fatigue on your back is severe from slumping in that gaming chair like a shrimp. And even though you have to move your upper body to activate the full range of Arcana’s sensor controls, your ass feels like you’ve just sat through back-to-back, four-hour lectures.
BeastSlayers™
SacredSapphire: miss u guys already :-(
You laugh, watch as Tiki begins writing a message in response.
TikiTikiRoom: ..
TikiTikiRoom: dont be soft bitch ill kill you
You pad down the hallway, watching your phone as you stumble through the dark apartment with one hand on the wall bracing you. You connect your phone to the TV speakers and play some lofi something or other, bop your head as you enter the kitchen and flip on a flickering yellow light. You rifle through the freezer, produce a cherry red popsicle. You press it to your lips and smile.
Lolovely: I haven’t even made it to Tik’s dorm wtf why are you being sappy already?
CodenameZer0: Looool, Saph? More like SAP.
TikiTikiRoom: press f
SuperNova: I think it’s sweet :’)
SuperNova: Wanna voice chat?
SacredSapphire: nonono
SacredSapphire: someone’s coming over lol
Lolovely: ominous…
You chuckle and take a bite of your popsicle. But as you do, the thing turns to mush and slides from the stick like slop, staining your white shirt and your lips red. “Shit!” you exclaim, then rush to the freezer.
With a sigh, you notice that a layer of ice is frosted over the back. And as you jam your hand in, you can feel that the temperature is higher than it should be. Hence, melty popsicle. You groan, take to it with a knife from the creaky drawer. You chip away at the ice and keep chipping until the back of the freezer is visible once more.
“Cheap piece of crap,” you mumble, kicking the fridge with your socked toe.
You return to the group chat to a slew of messages.
TikiTikiRoom: WAIT SAPH DO YOU HAVE A BOY/GIRL/THEYFRIEND??
TikiTikiRoom: IM GONNA HAVE AN ANEURISM
Lolovely: !!!!!!!!!
Lolovely: ??????
CodenameZer0: Hohohoh
CodenameZer0: Could it be?
SacredSapphire: NO!!
SacredSapphire: i don’t have a boy/girl/theyfriend! i’m too busy, rip
SacredSapphire: it’s just someone
SacredSapphire: don’t worry about it lol
Lolovely: sus…
Lolovely: nova’s better at this stuff
Lolovely: interrogation
Lolovely: think if i scream hard enough nova will come back?
Lolovely: NOVAAAAAA
You laugh and take a few photos. First of the old laminate floor which now resembles a crime scene in cherry popsicle red. Next of your shirt, now streaked in slush. Third, of your face, lips stained like you’ve smeared lip tint on your skin. You pull a pout before snapping the shot, then send all three together.
SuperNova: I crave death.
SuperNova: Stupid cheap fridge. Freezes over literally monthly.
SuperNova: I hate it here.
Lolovely: oooh that pic…
Lolovely: kinda….sexy hehe
SuperNova: ???
You set your phone aside and take to cleaning the floor. Last thing you need in this shithole is an ant infestation. Your music bumps gently through the sound bar beneath your TV. Sure, your apartment is decked out in tech, but the place itself?
You glance around the kitchen, a sanitary white with pretty fixtures, and suppress a sigh. It’s all for show anyway, this apartment. Like almost all the others in the area, it only looks nice. The reality, however…
Well, it’s melted popsicles and a shower that only runs lukewarm.
You check your phone with a hip against the countertop.
TikiTikiRoom: lewd lol
SuperNova: Shut up lmao nothing lewd about my shitty fridge.
SuperNova: Anyway, no I’m not gonna help you bully Saph.
SuperNova: Leave him alone or I’ll bite your ankles.
Lolovely: !!!
Lolovely: qu'est-ce que pas?
Lolovely: Nova…you’ve been defending Saph lately…
Lolovely: hold on i’m seeing something…
CodenameZer0: Don’t threaten my ankles.
SacredSapphire: nova baby ur the only loyal one here
Laughing, you type your response and make your way to the couch, falling flat on your stomach with an unpleasant thump.
Jeon Jungkook sits still, swiveling in his gaming chair with a soft smile as he watches the messages surge through the Discord group chat. Even though they’re busy teasing him, Jungkook can’t help the swell of fondness in his chest for his group mates. He leans back precariously far, the room nearly pitch black save for the shifting LEDs on his keyboard and the purple screensaver on his monitor.
SuperNova: It’s you and me, Saph.
SuperNova: Now come here and get your kith :3
Jungkook chokes a laugh with his hand, covering his mouth as his eyes squint. He tosses his head to the side, lets out a sigh. Quietly, he touches the photo you sent and lets it spread across his screen. He chuckles, examining your expression. Displeased, you eye the camera with furrowed brows and a pout. Briefly, Jungkook considers telling you it’s cute.
But he quickly clicks out of the photo, clears his throat, and catches up with the chat.
CodenameZer0: God, barf.
TikiTikiRoom: no kithes for zero
Lolovely: lolol i want a kith :(
SuperNova: Get in line then. Saph first.
SacredSapphire: i….*blushes*
SacredSapphire: N-N-Noona!
CodenameZer0: FUCKING BARF GOODBYE
Zero’s icon goes offline and Jungkook laughs in earnest now, his head lolling back. But before he can respond, the door to his studio opens with a robotic jingle. He jumps a little, turning his whole body toward the door. He nearly falls off the chair as he swivels.
In the doorway, Kim Seokjin shuffling across the threshold with two cups of coffee in a carrier. He looks a little disheveled, hair windswept and eyes scanning the room round and round. His gaze lingers here and there: resting on Jungkook’s wall of figurines, then on the futon still pulled down and covered in a messy heap of sheets, then on Jungkook’s face as he sits perfectly still, perfectly redhanded. Jungkook’s mouth agape, his fingers poised to type another message to the group chat, his computer monitor showing no lyrics, no notes, no Ableton. Just his screensaver.
Jungkook had planned to pull up his WIP song before Jin arrived, but the opportunity to do that has long since passed.
“Uh…,” Jungkook says, dumbfounded with round eyes glowing in the flashing keyboard lights. “Hey, Seokjin.”
Jin’s nostrils flare, his expression fiery. His attention flashes to the sensor gloves, the controllers sitting beneath them, the sensor jacket left astray on the ground, haphazard.
“Jeon Jungkook-,”
“I can explain!”
Seokjin glares at him, cocks one single brow. “Uh-huh?”
“I…,” Jungkook begins, flustered as he rises to his feet. He feels like he’s in school again. Seokjin’s gaze is disarming, intense, and his knuckles are white as he crushes the cardboard handle of the coffee carrier. “Uh…I was taking a small tiny little break.”
“A small,” Seokjin begins, placing the coffee on Jungkook’s work desk and resting his palm beside it, “tiny,” he continues, leveling his eyes with Jungkook’s, “little break?” Jin’s jaw is clenched.
Jungkook swallows hard. “Mhm…”
Jungkook expects Seokjin to bare his canines, to sneer at him, to scold him to kingdom come. But his manager simply eases into a sigh and leans away from Jungkook, rubbing his forehead. It’s clear the will to fight with Jungkook is slowly leaking, and before long Seokjin has fallen backwards onto the futon, crushing the blanket mountain in his descent.
“Listen,” Seokjin says, fatigue in his voice. “You’ve got…so much going on in the next few months, you know?”
“I know!” Jungkook says, quick to sit beside Seokjin, brows knitting. He feels like a kid again, and the disappointment laced through Jin’s words feels like his childhood. “Trust me, I’m not just…like, procrastinating. It’s not that.”
Jin eyes him sidelong. “Then what is it?”
Jungkook stiffens, his back straight as a board. He clears his throat, stares at the coffee. “Let me get those,” he says, rushing to his feet with a clumsy stumble and grabbing the coffees before returning to his spot beside Jin. He hands Jin a coffee, expectant and, begrudgingly, Seokjin takes it and sips.
“Don’t avoid the question,” he says, stern. “If anyone’ll understand, it’s gotta be me, right?”
Jungkook nods. “No, you’re right!”
“Like, we’ve gone through some hard shit and where have I been? Right behind you. From day one,” he says, leveling a serious look at Jungkook. The lighthearted mood has fled from the room through the cracks in the walls. “All I’m asking is for you to put in the effort.”
Jungkook sighs, rests his forearms on his knees, laces his fingers around the coffee cup. He stares at the space between his toes. “I just…,” he begins, voice choked with insecurity. He doesn’t want to say it. In fact, he’d rather do just about anything else.
Because, after all, saying it means it’s real.
And if it’s real, then it’s a real problem.
“Listen,” Jin begins, patting Jungkook’s back. “I get it. Making music…it can be really tiring, right?” he says. Jungkook can only shrug. “And sometimes you might not feel like you can do it. Like you don’t have the inspiration.”
“Mm…”
Seokjin gives another pat, stronger this time. “But that’s how life is, Jungkook. Work doesn’t just wait. You’re an adult now. You’ve got adult responsibilities. And when you make a passion into your full-time job, you kinda sacrifice the freedom. Deadlines are a thing. You can’t just…be flippant and casual about it.”
“I’m not being casual,” says Jungkook, and for the first time since Jin walked in his voice is strong and steady. He sits up straight and meets Jin’s imploring eyes.
Seokjin offers a small smile. “Good,” he says. “I trust you. And, you know, you’ve got a whole team of producers behind you who wanna see you succeed. All you’ve gotta do is call.”
“I know.”
“You’re not doing it alone, alright?” he asks, and Jungkook’s throat tightens a little. “That’s the good thing about making your passion into your full-time job, huh? Now…well, now it’s not just your responsibility. It’s divided.”
“Yeah.”
“Well…,” Seokjin says, patting his thighs as he pushes to his feet. “Just wanted to drop by and check on you.”
Jungkook offers a smile and nods, standing with his manager. “Yup.”
“You do remember what’s on deck for tomorrow, right?” asks Seokjin, cocking a brow as he takes another swig of coffee.
Jungkook nods again. “Screen test with the drama people.”
Jin smacks the side of Jungkook’s head and crosses his arms. “Not the drama people!” he says, rolling his eyes. “It’s IJBC.”
“IJBC, right,” Jungkook says as he tenderly rubs the side of his head. “I remember.”
“Do you even know the name of the drama?” The younger boy falls silent, sheepish. “It’s called Give Up Generation, Jungkook.”
“I remember,” Jungkook says, pouting a little. “I just…forgot for a minute.”
Jin can’t help chuckling. “Get to bed early then so you don’t have dark circles,” Jin says with a smile, nodding as he turns toward the door. “Ah!” Seokjin pivots around, casting a disdainful look over Jungkook’s shoulder at the foldout futon. He pulls a scowl. “Sleep at home tonight, will you?”
Jungkook chuckles. “Alright. Stop nagging now,” he says, patting Jin’s back as he guides him out the door and into the hallway. “Bye, Jin!” he calls, not awaiting a response.
Slowly and with his head down, Jungkook shuffles back inside and slumps into his gaming chair, staring at his screensaver. He heaves a deep down sigh, lets it escape through his lips nearly pinched shut. Like exhaling cigarette smoke.
His phone pings to life with an incoming message.
SuperNova: Alright, I had your back before but I don’t cosign the Noona Agenda. I don’t even know if I am your noona.
Lolovely: seconded.
Lolovely: plus it’s icky.
TikiTikiRoom: boooooo
SuperNova: Wait, I think I just heard something in the hallway. Hold on.
Lolovely: SCARY!
TikiTikiRoom: burglars lol
Lolovely: ctrl z yourself, tiki
Lolovely: what if it is though…?
TikiTikiRoom: doubt it.
SuperNova: !!!
SuperNova: Lol it was a package…?
Lolovely: so late…?
SuperNova: Yeah…Lemme open it hold on.
The next message that comes through is a photo you send. Jungkook sits up straighter, opens it quick, and grins once he realizes what it is. A cardboard box, relatively big, sitting torn open on your kitchen floor, the photo features a look inside at several pretty makeup palettes and brushes. Jungkook doesn’t know the names of everything he sees, but he knows why it’s a big deal.
SacredSapphire: !! they finally sent it!!
SuperNova: They did!!
Lolovely: wait what? what did who send?
SuperNova: Lol, sorry. Uh I guess I only told Saph. But the brand I’ve been communicating with actually sent me a PR package! I’m gonna use it on my next job.
SuperNova: This shit’s super expensive too, so I’m lucky I’ve been in contact with a rep.
SuperNova: Gotta use the best to be the best!
TikiTikiRoom: i forgot ur a makeup artist lol
TikiTikiRoom: .-.
SuperNova: …
SuperNova: We’ve been group mates for like four months jfc
SuperNova: Anyway, yeah I’m glad. I guess they sent it to the wrong apartment? So my neighbor brought it over. He just got back from work.
Lolovely: neighbor?
Lolovely: cute neighbor?
SuperNova: He’s like seventy so no, not really my type.
SacredSapphire: nova, that’s super cool. i’m sure you’re gonna get big gigs soon.
SuperNova: Well, I can hope haha.
SuperNova: No, well…all I can do is work hard.
SuperNova: >:-)
All you can do is work hard, huh?
Jungkook tosses his phone to the side and rubs his hands up and down his face. He pinches his eyes shut and relaxes into the back of his chair, feeling the lull of sleepiness finally pulling at him.
And instead of going home like Jin asked, Jungkook simply pads over to the futon and, without moving the blankets, collapses atop them and falls asleep where he falls.
“I’m very sorry.”
“No…uh, no it’s fine.”
“Of course, you can keep the fees or whatever.”
“Oh, um, I…no, I’ll refund those too.”
“Really? I’ll give you a really good review!”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I’m really sorry.”
You sigh, plant a hand on your forehead and heave a sigh. Forcing a smile, you shake your head and press your phone into the crook of your shoulder, bending down to give your fiddle-leaf fig a hose down with your watering can.
“It’s fine. Things come up, you know?”
The girl on the other side of the phone, a young independent model going in for headshots, had called you an hour ago and had spoken at length about why she has to cancel her appointment with you today. How the photographer did this or that, how she actually watched a few tutorials online and figured she could do it herself, how she felt so so bad. You feel bad for her, of course. Kind of.
“Listen, I’ll give you a shoutout on my page, alright? I’ll tag you in my story,” she says.
You shake your head. “No, that’s fine. Just, um…you know, take care. Remember to clean your brushes.”
At this, she laughs. “Thanks for being so cool. I was actually super nervous to call and cancel. I’ve had to cancel a few things like this before, and I’ve had bad experiences,” she says. “Anyway, I’ll recommend you!”
“Alright.”
“Thanks!”
You nod as she hangs up the phone. Gently, you rise to your feet and set your watering can aside on the kitchen table. You set the phone beside it, pausing to glare at the black screen. Well…there goes your Sunday. You turn over your shoulder, pad to the window, crack it open a little. A bracing breeze whistles through, cooling your skin. You shut your eyes against it — only for a moment — before you turn on your heel, shove your feet into your sneakers sockless, swipe your phone and house keys, and shove out the door.
The florist’s is a healthy walk away, but the weather is nice enough and you’re too tired to brave the subway even if it’s only a few stops. You pass buildings and parks as the landscape becomes more and more urban and the high rises look like they could puncture the cloud layer. Before long, you’re standing in front of Happy Garden and, stepping through the sliding doors that are always left open and all-but nonfunctioning with the lush green plants climbing all around. You breathe a sigh of relief, pat your chest a little as the fresh, grassy scent settles your heart.
You aren’t there for more than half a minute before Hoseok stumbles out from the back room, grinning wide with a bouquet of hydrangeas in his hands, wrapped in butcher paper and twine. He curves around the stumbling greenery littering every surface and encroaching on every walkway and comes to a stop in front of you. He smiles.
“Hey,” you say before he gets the chance. You hold up one limp hand in a lazy wave.
He glances up and down, from your head to your toes, and sighs. Still holding the hydrangeas, he rests a hip on the checkout counter and cocks a brow.
“That is the opposite of encouraging,” you remark with a scowl.
He chuckles, pats your arm. “What’s up?” He jerks his head toward the front of the store where bouquets are displayed and you follow behind him as he leads you there. “Unsuccessful raid?”
“Contrary to popular belief, my life doesn’t revolve around video games, actually,” you say, but his laugh wipes the grimace from your face.
His fluffy hair bounces as he bends down to add the hydrangeas to the display and when he stands upright once more he crosses his arms. “You know what I mean. You’ve been in here a lot lately.”
“Pardon me for trying to raise plants,” you say with a pout.
Again, he laughs. “Jesus, stop trying to pick a fight!” he says. “You must be in a really bad mood if you’re here acting like this.”
“Well what’s that supposed to mean?” you begin, outrage all over your face, before locking eyes with Hoseok and composing yourself. You sigh, nod your head. “Yeah, no I’m being annoying.”
He smiles, heart-shaped, and the apples of his cheeks grow rounder. What a joyful guy, you think to yourself with a wistful sigh. “Tell me about it then.”
He pulls one of the empty display boxes over and offers you a seat as he begins tending to the plants all around. You oblige, settle in, and sigh again. “It’s just…everything kinda feels like a dead end right now.”
“Hm?” he asks over his shoulder, graceful hands guiding a waxy leaf back in place.
“Like with my work,” you say, then shake your head. “No, that’s not it. Not entirely.”
“What do you mean?”
“Like…things are okay, you know? I’m getting PR gifts. I’m growing my following on Instagram. I’ve got consistent clients,” you say, nodding. “Like everything is fine, you know?”
“But something feels…missing maybe?” Hoseok offers as he moves to spraying the ferns with water.
You shake your head. “More than that, it’s…like, I feel like I’ve hit the ceiling of what I can do, you know? Like what if this is the best I’ll ever do?”
“Is that bad?” he asks.
You sigh. “Not bad, just…disappointing,” you say. “I wanna work on movies. Red carpets. Editorials.” You rest your chin in your hand and your elbow on your knee. You stare up at Hoseok, now trimming brown leaves from another plant across the store. “I don’t wanna be stuck doing birthday parties forever.”
Hoseok hums, turns toward you with his hands in his apron pocket. He offers a smile. “You sound like a brat.”
You stiffen, eyes wide. “I-,” you start, but there’s really not much you can say to retort. So, softly, you slump once more and shrug. “Yeah…”
“And if you keep that attitude, you’re never gonna be an editorial makeup artist. I can promise you that,” he says with a nod as he approaches once more and crouches before your knees, still smiling. “Everyone has to grow somehow, you know? Be grateful you’ve got opportunities to build your resume.”
You nod. “Yeah.”
“What brought all of this on?”
Shrugging, you glance away toward the big croton plant in the corner, basking in morning sunlight, leaves all stiff and red and green. It’s a pretty plant. You tilt your head to the side, stare longer.
“That model bailed,” you say, but you’ve almost forgotten the self-pity of a moment ago. You stand to your feet and wander toward the plant, hitting halfway up your thigh. You crouch before it and look it over. “Hoseok, this is a really big croton.”
He laughs. “Mhm.”
“How much?”
“With the pot and given its height, it’s going for thirty-five-thousand won.”
You raise your brows. “I expected worse.”
“We’re fair here!” he protests, wagging his finger at you as he comes to stand beside you.
You smile softly, run a finger along the edge of a leaf. “It’s really pretty.”
“Suits you,” he says.
Without noticing, your anxiety begins to subside. “I think I’ll take it.”
“I’ll give you five-thousand off since you’re having a bad day,” he says, patting your back.
You turn to him with a smile. “Thanks.”
He chuckles. “I’ll loan you the dolly so you can get that thing home. Just bring it back before two.”
You stand up, stare down at the plant, nod once. “Mhm.”
Hoseok makes his way toward the cash register, punches in a few numbers. You linger a few steps behind, still staring at the croton. You get a good feeling off that one. Hoseok would tease you if you said as much, but you know when to listen to your intuition.
“Your big break will come Y/N,” Hoseok says as he rings you up, not once glancing to meet your eyes. “Just keep going.”
Jungkook sits with his head leaning against the rattling van window, eyes half-shut. Seoul blurs past him in shades of silvery grey and it’s all he can do to keep himself from falling asleep. For all his nagging, Seokjin had been right about one thing: Jungkook was sporting purplish bags beneath his eyes from a restless night’s sleep. Jin sits beside him now, frowning at his phone as he scrolls through Twitter. He’d given Jungkook a very stern talking to once he’d seen him, and really Jungkook deserved it. He knows that.
“Your voice is in good condition, right?” asks Jin.
Jungkook sits up straight, clears his throat. He shrugs. “Yeah. Why?”
Still stewing over his phone, Seokjin waves his hand without looking up. “Don’t worry about it.”
Jungkook sighs, leans back once more, gazes out the window once more. His phone buzzes once and he grabs it quickly, eager to distract himself.
BeastSlayers™
SuperNova: [image attached]
SuperNova: check him out OJO
Jungkook clicks the image you sent and chuckles as it loads up. The photo features nothing of you save for one hand, reaching out from behind the camera, throwing up a peace sign. Behind your hand, a houseplant. A pretty big one at that.
Jungkook smiles and drafts his reply, but the others are quicker.
CodenameZer0: Another plant? Lol isn’t your apartment overflowing with them by now?
SuperNova: Hush. Look at him.
LoLovely: cute!
LoLovely: does he have a name?
SuperNova: I don’t name my plants.
TikiTikiRoom: lol
TikiTikiRoom: because THAT would be weird
CodenameZer0: At least Nova can care care for a plant in the first place.
CodenameZer0: Let’s be honest here, Nova’s probably the only one among us who is even remotely responsible enough.
SacredSapphire: Nova it’s cute!
SacredSapphire: name him after me ;3
SuperNova: Sapphire?
SacredSapphire: hmmm say my name hehe
CodenameZer0: STOP IT FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST
CodenameZer0: IF THE FLIRTING DOESN’T STOP I’M GETTING YOU A TWO-WEEK BAN ON ARCANA
SacredSapphire: SHIT okay okay, let’s just take it easy
SacredSapphire: talk this out like adults…
SuperNova: Once I’ve finished setting up my new plant, I’m gonna play Animal Crossing. Anyone free to join? I’ve got oranges and mums.
SuperNova: Also had a meteor shower last night and have leftover star fragments first come first served.
The offer is tempting, to be sure. Not only would he receive star fragments, he’d be able to wander your island with the others. It might feel like you guys are side-by-side for real. Jungkook reaches into his backpack, slumped between his knees, and rifles around for his Switch. But as he produces the case, Seokjin shoots him the evil eye.
“If you’ve got time to play games, you’ve got time to review your lines,” he says, cocking a brow.
Jungkook sighs a little, slides the Switch back inside his bag. “I’ll look them over again.”
“Good.”
He takes one last look at his cell phone, checking the group chat with a frown that pinches the sides of his lips.
TikiTikiRoom: MEMEMEME
TikiTikiRoom: if any of you fakes get there before me ill go apeshit
TikiTikiRoom: i need so many
LoLovely: don’t need fragments, just wanna see ur cute face hehe
SuperNova: /blushes
SuperNova: I’ll open the gates once Sapphire Junior is nice and settled.
CodenameZer0: I’ll come too. I wanna shop.
SuperNova: Can’t you be cute like Lolita?
CodenameZer0: /gags
SuperNova: You coming, Saph? I’ll save a few fragments for you.
TikiTikiRoom: FAVORITISM
SuperNova: I am transparent about my favoritism toward Sapphire.
SuperNova: Because he is indeed my favorite.
LoLovely: *shocked pikachu face*
SacredSapphire: soz :-( i can’t
SacredSapphire: working
SuperNova: :-(
SuperNova: Next time we’ll all come to your island.
Jungkook tries not to feel that twinge of melancholy that tugs at his chest. That one he always gets when his friends go out for barbecue or grab drinks and hit the karaoke rooms. The one that feels like he’s really, deeply, fundamentally missing out on something important.
No, he doesn’t feel it. Instead, he focuses his attention on the printout Seokjin had given him three days ago. He scans the lines over and over, committing them to memory.
“No! That’s the thing, she didn’t even tell me!” says the girl below your brush.
You attempt to guide the highlighter across her cheekbones, but before you can make contact with her skin she’s jerked away once more, talking so animatedly that you can’t even tell if you’ve made her eyebrows even.
“That’s shitty,” says her friend beside her, likewise preoccupied as Jieun struggles to match her skintone.
The two of you lock eyes, both hovering over the two women as they chat over matching cups of coffee. Jieun puffs out her cheeks, raises her brows, and goes back to work, smoothing foundation on to the client’s chin with a brush.
You stand in a nice apartment — all marble floors and high ceilings and windowed walls overlooking Seoul. When you’d gotten the offer for a Seoul gig with Jieun, you’d been hesitant. The subway ride is long and you prefer to stay relatively local. But something made you agree. You don’t know exactly what. Call it divine intervention or epiphany or Jung Hoseok, but the words just keep going had been replaying in your brain since you last saw your friend. The pair of women — likely in their thirties — had booked both you and Jieun to do their makeup for a Sunday luncheon.
“And you know she’s looking out for him,” says Hyejin with a scoff. “As if I’m gonna bite the kid’s head off.”
“Maybe you will,” jokes the other woman, laughing just as Jieun reaches in to apply some liquid blush to her cheeks. “You know she’s got a soft spot for him.”
“Yeah well it’s a soft spot in all of our wallets if he doesn’t get his shit together,” says Hyejin, sighing. There is real woe in her expression and you can feel from the shift in atmosphere that things have turned serious. “He’s talented, you know? But…sometimes I think she goes too easy on him,” she continues, and this time her tone is decidedly softer, the movement of her face less pronounced.
You use the opportunity to work some powder beneath her eyes with a sponge. “Well, that’s motherhood for you,” says the other, flippant.
“Have you seen what the folks are saying on Twitter?” asks Hyejin as you apply shadow to her eyelids. “About his voice.”
“Hm?”
“Well some of his bigger hate communities have been compiling all the footage of his stage mistakes and they’re spreading it around,” Hyejin says with a huff. “Stupid, honestly. They’re making it out like he makes those mistakes all the time.”
“Netizens are like that, Hyejin,” says the other woman, now easing into her chair with her eyes shut as Jieun can finally get to work setting her base.
“Still…”
“Nowyou’re the one defending him,” she remarks with a laugh.
“It’s not that,” Hyejin says, scoffing. “It’s just…like if he doesn’t prove himself soon, all those commenters are gonna have more ammunition, you know? Which is annoying for all of us.”
“Sounds like you care a little bit.”
“I dont.”
“Hm.”
You focus on Hyejin’s full lashes, applying mascara with delicate, steady strokes. She hums a little as you use the pad of your fingertips to tame stubborn eyeshadow into blending more seamlessly. It seems, at least, that the conversation has died down. For that, you are very grateful.
“Say, do you two know anything about k-pop?” asks Jieun’s client.
The two of you lock eyes once more. It’s true that you are well-versed in pop culture: video games, TV shows, YouTube drama. But you’d be lying if you said you tune in to Inkigayo every week. And despite Jieun’s age and her trendy look, you know she’s not the type to keep updated on current idols. And you see in her brown eyes your own shock mirrored.
“Um…no, not particularly,” you answer for the both of you. Jieun releases a breath she’d been holding and smiles her thanks. “Do you two work in the field?”
Hyejin waves her hand and sighs. “Don’t go bothering them with those sorts of questions,” she says, and you notice for the first time the easy poshness that this woman has. Even with her head tilted back and her eyes shut tight, she seems sure of herself.
You envy her just a little for that.
“What? They’re young,” says the other woman, grinning with her eyes shut as Jieun works on her eyeliner. “You ever heard of RTE?”
“Hey now,” says Hyejin, warning in her voice.
“I’m just curious,” the woman continues with a sigh. “Look us up if you haven’t.” The woman chuckles, reaching out blind to smack Hyejin’s upper arm. “Hey, maybe even tweet something nice about our artists!”
“Knock it off and let them work,” Hyejin says, prying open one eye to meet yours. She offers a smile, apologetic, and sighs. “She’s just playing around. You can ignore her. It’s what I do.” She nods her head and leans it back once more.
Quietly, you get back to work. But you can’t help but feel like this woman’s incredible presence makes you paler somehow.
“What’s the point if it makes me unhappy?” Jungkook shouts, brows knitting, eyes growing watery. “The money, the lifestyle…what good is it?” his voice settles into a bare whisper, cracked.
“You only say that because you’re young! You’re stupid! You’re naive! You think things work out just because you want them bad enough?” says his costar, glancing down at the script every now and again as the two stand across from one another.
The set bustles on behind them, crew carrying tall lights and fixtures as they scuttle by. But Jungkook and his costar — a man named Namjoon acting as his older brother — continue their scene under the watchful eye of the cameras, trained right on them. Less of a screen test and more of a chemistry check between actors, Director Lim watches the monitor closely with his scrabbly chin in his palm.
“So what if I fail?” Jungkook asks with a quiver, referencing his script once to make sure he got the line right. “What’re you gonna do? Tattle on me to Dad?”
“I won’t have to,” Namjoon says, sighing as he grips the bridge of his nose. “He’s got his watchdogs trained right on you.”
Jungkook stiffens. “He’s been…following me?”
“I told you you’re too naive for the real world, Jiwon.”
Director Lim claps his hands and in an instant the tension and the scene are broken. Jungkook takes a respectful step back from his costar, and Namjoon offers him a bow of the head. Jungkook returns it, fighting off a nervous grin, and turns to the director as he circles around the equipment to stand in front of them. He’s a middle-aged man, handsome in a way with salt-and-pepper hair and eyes that seem to grab you and hold on like a snare. Jungkook is pinned in place like a bug in a shadowbox.
But Director Lim’s face splits in a crooked smile and Jungkook feels himself ease, exhaling long and slow. “Great job, boys!” he says, clapping both of their shoulders. “You were selling it well.”
“Thank you, Sir,” Jungkook replies too quick, like an eager child.
Director Lim chuckles, pats him again. “I’m praising you, kid. Don’t look so scared.”
He swallows hard. “I…I know. Um…thank you, Sir.”
Behind the trio, a group of stylists cart a rack of costumes quickly to the other side of the set, snagging the back of Jungkook’s shoe as they do. Jungkook stumbles to his knees, caught off guard, and the girls jerk to a stop as they catch themselves on the clothing rack. The two stare down at Jungkook, wide-eyed, and each of them covers their mouths. Immediately, they bow their heads in apology, both muttering sorry, so sorry almost too quietly to hear. Jungkook shakes his head and stands to his feet.
He too bows his head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been standing there,” he says gently, hoping to assuage their concerns.
But the girls remain bowed, as if too afraid to even lift their heads. Jungkook, puzzled, leans down slightly to meet their eyes, but they glance away so quickly that he can’t even get a proper look at either of their faces.
“Um…it’s really not a problem,” he says, but before he can say more Director Lim approaches with a grim severity in his eyes. Jungkook, quick to stand up straight and face the director, stutters a little as he settles himself in front of the stylists. “It’s no big deal,” he says to Director Lim, but it’s like the man can’t even hear him.
“We were distracted, Sir,” says one of the girls, raising her head slightly to meet Director Lim’s gaze. “We are very, very sorry.”
“It really isn’t-,” Jungkook begins.
“You think it’s appropriate to crash into my actors? In the middle of a conversation about their performance?” Lim asks, but it’s clear the question isn’t meant to be answered. His tone has shifted into something cold. “You could have very well injured Jungkook.”
“I’m fine-,”
“But what if you weren’t?”
Jungkook shuts his mouth, staring helpless at the girls as they both stand up straight once more, eyes on the floor and hands knitted in front of them. He feels a hand on his back between his shoulder blades and jumps a little, turning quick to find Namjoon standing close.
“Don’t,” is all he says, voice terse and so quiet Jungkook almost doesn’t hear it, before dropping his hand and taking a half step back.
Jungkook’s jaw clenches, his hands work into balls as he stares. The lighting is low, dramatic as if a scene composed by Lim himself. The two girls lift only their eyes to gaze up at him.
“We’re very, very sorry, Sir,” says one of the stylists, guiding a lock of dark hair behind her ear.
“Mhm,” he says, looming. “Make sure it doesn’t happen again. Can’t afford to replace two stylists and a makeup artist in the same week.”
Jungkook simply stares, Namjoon’s warning freezing through him like ice. His limbs feel leaden. And as the two girls rush off, dragging their rack behind them, Jungkook focuses again on Director Lim.
He swivels back around to the two actors with a bright, fatherly smile. “Pardon me,” he says, waving his hand with a warm laugh. “Gotta keep the crew in check otherwise they’ll slack off.”
“Ha,” Jungkook puffs out in response, smiling in turn.
Namjoon hums a little. “Why don’t we try the reconciliation scene?”
“What in the world do you mean?” Hyejin yells into her phone just as she ushers you into her apartment. You eye her as her face grows red, her brows coming together. “He’s not quitting!”
Hyejin pauses to offer you an apologetic smile. She’s dressed in a modest pajama dress, padding barefoot along the cool marble floors. She leans against the arm of a nice black leather sofa, raises a hand to her flushed cheek, looks at her toes with vexation. Carefully, you set your makeup kit on her kitchen island, meeting her eyes with raised brows as if asking permission. She waves her hand, nods once before pinching the bridge of her nose between her index finger and her thumb.
“Listen, we knew Lim was difficult. But this is a huge opportunity for his career.” Hyejin rubs her kneecap, massaging. Her short hair falls along the line of her jaw as she dips her head in a deep sigh. “I know you know that, Seokjin. But you’re his manager. You’ve gotta keep convincing him.”
You begin unpacking your things, setting them neatly along the edge of the countertop, and try not to eavesdrop as Hyejin continues letting out chopped sighs. You can hear her fidget around the apartment behind you. She’d called you again, only a few days later, to secure you for another important event. A meeting, she’d said. You didn’t want to agree. Wanted to say you were too busy, that the commute was too much.
“Hey,” she whispers behind you. You jump, but turn nonetheless to find her cupping one hand over the phone’s receiver. Her eyes are severe, jaw clenched. “How long can you stay? This call might take a while.”
You raise your brows, think back over your schedule. “Hm…,” you respond, then shake your head. “I’m free all day. But…when’s your meeting?”
She stiffens, eyes flashing to the clock on the oven. “Shit,” she mutters. She approaches you with a frown. “I’ve only got two hours to get everything ready—Yes! Yes, I’m still here Seokjin. Stop panicking, for Christ’s sake—,” she says, her shoulders pinching. She glances at you again. “Um…”
You glance around the apartment. It’s spotless, as usual. But you spy in the corner beside a massive potted umbrella tree a taupe pantsuit, hanging beside a steamer. You’d have thought someone in her position would have sent it to the cleaners to be properly steamed, but perhaps it had slipped her mind. With the way she’s pacing around the apartment, still dressed in her pajamas, you wonder if perhaps she’s not as put together as you thought.
“I’ll steam that,” you say with a nod, pointing to the suit.
She stares at you, wide-eyed. “Oh, no. You don’t have to do something like that-,”
You shake your head. “No problem. What else do you need done here?” you ask, consulting your wristwatch with a hum. “If we keep it light, I can have your makeup done in forty-five minutes.”
She blinks at you. “Uh…well…,” she begins, then jumps a little as a voice in the phone shouts loud enough for you to hear. “No! No! Can you relax? I’ll talk you through it in just a minute! I’ve gotta sort some things out,” she shouts back at the phone. She turns her attention back to you with a sheepish smile. “Um, I need to steam the suit, wrap the fruits — they’re a gift for the client —, call the restaurant to confirm the reservation, shine my shoes, organize our documents chronologically and set them up in a binder,” she says.
You have to admit that the sheer volume of busywork has you taken aback. But you steel yourself with a bracing sigh, nod once, and offer her a smile. “Consider it taken care of,” you say.
“Ah! I…I really feel bad dumping all of this on you,” she says, crossing her arms with knit brows. “Normally I’d have my assistant doing all of this, but she’s ill.”
“Not a problem,” you say, smiling once more. “Just take care of your phone call and leave the rest to me! As long as we’ve got forty-five minutes for makeup, we’ll be fine.”
She lets out a sigh that seems to deflate her, shoulders slumping as if in profound relief. She nods once, smiling, and turns on her heel. “I’ll be in my office, alright? I promise I’ll be out in time!”
You give one wave as she rushes through a clouded glass door and shuts it behind her. You roll up the sleeves of your sweater and get to work on the suit.
Two hours later, and you’re accompanying Hyejin out into the apartment hallway. She pauses as the door clicks shut, waiting for it to give a chime, and turns to you with a sigh. She looks pretty. You had to rush a bit once she emerged from her office, and after taking care of the other chores you found it difficult to focus on her makeup, but you’re proud enough of your work given the circumstances. You’ve managed to match her eyeshadow to her pantsuit with gentle oranges and reds.
Since you were rushing to finish everything in time, the two of you hadn’t had a chance to exchange words. Perhaps you are curious — just a little — about the emergency she had to quell over the phone. Or maybe you just want a proper thank you. So you linger beside her in the well-lit hallway, you let your eyes wander to a potted fern in the corner by the elevator, wait for Hyejin to say something.
“I’m sorry,” she says, sighing. She glances at you through her lashes.
Your eyes go wide. “Hm? What for?”
“For having you do all of that,” she says, flitting one manicured hand. “I feel guilty.”
You shake your head. “No,” you say with a smile. “It’s no problem at all, honestly. You had me booked for an hour and a half anyway.”
She sighs again. “I really feel bad.”
“Don’t worry about it…,” you say, eyeing her. She crosses her arms, vexed, and purses her lips a little. “Um…was that call about an artist?” you ask.
She snaps back to herself, glancing at you. “Oh? Yes. That was about our biggest artist actually,” she says. “I think I’ve got it taken care of though, thanks to you.” She guides the two of you to the elevator. “I’ll pay you extra, alright?”
You laugh. “No, no. It’s fine! I’m just glad it all worked out.”
She stares at you, scanning you for a very long moment as the elevator rises to your floor. You try not to fidget, not to shrink under her scrutiny, but you feel yourself recoiling just a little. Her gaze is intense, knowing, as if she can see right through you and she’s looking for something. And as the elevator arrives, she gives a hum that sounds contented and you wonder if she’s found it.
Jungkook glances around the empty pavilion, scanning the cobbled streets for any sign of escape. From above, a dark mage is laying waste to the small shanty town. Not a single player has ventured out this way, all following a lead in the Elysian Forest to the west. But after you had mentioned a tip you got from researching at the Library of Arcana, you’d suggested visiting the seaside nook on the far south of the map. A legendary evil slumbers hidden, you’d recited over voice chat with a laugh, Sounds about right.
Only now, Jungkook’s alone. His hands are sweaty around the controllers in his palms and the realistic graphics are serving only to make him more nervous as the mage swings low near the central fountain and sets off a spray of fire just in front of him. Jungkook can almost feel the heat.
Jungkook had set out to do some scouting. Nothing extreme. Just a simple peek about, seeing if he could find any clues. He sent a message to the group chat, but he hadn’t waited on a response before he signed in. He’d had no idea that the Big Bad herself would come flying from the fountain the moment he touched the water with his sword. And now she’s circling him like some sort of hawk. Quickly, Jungkook calls up his inventory menu and searches through his items. A few extra swords he picked up, some ritual herbs, his old chainmail armor, some healing potions and…
The fragment…
If this mage takes him out, he’ll end up dropping his entire inventory. Including the fragment.
And by the time he can make his way back over here, other players will have come running from the commotion.
And the fragment will be gone.
“Shit,” he hisses out, dismissing the menu and focusing back on the mage as she releases a chilling cackle.
The quaint village is smoking, with thatched roofs catching fire and whole storefronts crumbling into piles of simmering stone. The sky is nearly blotted out with ash, and all he can see is that mage, swirling around up there in billowing black robes and shiny white teeth exposed in a wicked grin.
Jungkook glances over his shoulder toward the street he’d taken in to the village, but it’s too smokey to see anything more than the outlines of ruined buildings. There’s no way he’ll be able to navigate his way out of here without a lantern. And if it’s this smokey, he’s absolutely positive that nearby players have noticed. Which means more competition.
And more people to snatch his fragment when he falls.
The mage gives a cry, shouts her line, “Not enough yet?!”, and swoops down at a dizzying pace. Jungkook stumbles back, but he’s not fast enough. She’s approaching in a dark blur, too quickly for him to counter. A flash of regret washes through him as he squeezes his eyes shut inside his VR headset. He doesn’t want to see this.
He waits for a tense moment that way, anticipating the melancholy piano chords that accompany in-game death, but none come. Instead, he hears very keenly the sound of the mage grunting as if in pain. And, in an instant, he opens his eyes wide to see standing on the other side of the fount
Request: fluff: Friend group travelling (wherever inspires you most! I’m thinking someplace like Hawai where they visit secret beaches and stuff! Site-seeing in the city could also be interesting!). Jimin and and OC know eachother through friends. OC is independent and not TOO into the whole adventuring deal but does it to enjoy some quality time with her friends. Jimin is flirty and playful and makes the trip all the more interesting for her. (I don’t know how you want to set it up but maybe two friends are dating and they invite their two seperate friend groups on this trip to meet. Or maybe it’s a wedding and OC is a bridesmaid? Anything works honestly!) - @silviasgotyourback
Description: You’re not too keen on…you know…risk-taking. In fact, it scares you to your core. But when your close friend Kim Namjoon gets in your head, you agree to a crazy trip to Fiji with him and his pals. But what happens when one of those pals – specifically Park Jimin – sweeps you off your feet not only figuratively, but literally?
A/N: Wow what a long break I’ve taken haha! But I’m back (kinda) to post some one shots (slowly)! I’ve been working really hard on my graduate school writing sample and auto statements, and I’ve just started my senior year of college AND started a new job so I’ve been incredibly busy! I apologize nonetheless for my absence. It’s felt horrible being away. Very guilty lol. Anyway, thank you my dear for requesting and for being so so so SO patient with me. I hope you like the result!
Also, if you want to follow me on Twitter please do so! My handle is @/nirvana_namu. I would post a link, but rumor has it Tumblr killed links and I’m not taking any chances.
- Mercury
You’re not sure why you agreed to this.
Standing at the tippy top of a mountain, looking out over the entire surf as it roils in the golden island sun, you watch your best friend get strapped into a harness with a laugh that echoes through the humid air. His gaze is focused downward, along the slope of treetops leading to the water. A zipline. A really steep, really fast one. One of the longest in the world! Namjoon had proclaimed with no small measure of wonder in his round eyes before you’d boarded the plane side by side only a day prior. If you weren’t so scared, you’d want to paint it.
You really don’t know why you agreed to do any of this.
The vested employee adjusts the straps secured around Namjoon’s hips, tugs them once or twice — not nearly enough by your standards — and mumbles something unintelligible into the receiver of a walkie-talkie. Enveloped in greenery, Namjoon pauses to turn and look at you and, upon snagging your eyes, offers a big, stupid, dimpled grin. He waves one hand over his head at you as you wait to be loaded into the next harness. And it looks like his eyes are squinted against the sun, but really they’re squinted from the sheer force of his joy. A joy too big to be contained in a smile alone.
That’s exactly why, you think to yourself with a grimace as you shamble forward along the worn footpath, second-to-last in line, arms crossed over your torso as if they can protect you from whatever fresh hell Namjoon’s planned out.
The employee pats Namjoon’s bare shoulder before releasing him and sending him speeding down the swaying cable with a scream so loud it pierces your ears. His body falls out of sight for a frozen millisecond before the cable gives a mighty bounce and his head reappears, bobbing up and down as he slides toward the bottom. You wince, more out of fear than discomfort, and pause to peek over the edge of the loading platform, following the line of the cable all the way to the bottom. Your heart races as your eyes trace the dense tree line, seemingly endless, and the sheer drop that had claimed Namjoon just seconds before.
And that’s when, as you sweep your twitching gaze out behind you, you lock eyes with Park Jimin. Standing behind you, the very last of the group to depart down the cliffside, his lips are quirked into a smirk that reads cocky and his brows are raised, unyielding eyes stuck on you like tree sap. Of all people to be stuck with on the top of a mountain…
Your face goes hot and your spine stiffens by a few degrees. You stare back at him, trying to discern any measure of fear in his smiling expression, his half-exposed teeth, his rosy cheeks, his teasing brown eyes. But instead all you see is, as usual, a perfect facade of composure.
Well, that and a sinfully handsome face.
He saunters up beside you, scans you from head to toe, and hums a little. “Nervous?” he asks, as if he doesn’t already know.
You clear your throat, fan yourself with your hand as a futile defense against the jungle heat, and nod your head once. “Mm.”
Upon hearing your response, Jimin’s demeanor shifts a little. He uncrosses his arms and his smirk slips, brows raising. He leans closer to examine your face and you avert your gaze, heart hammering. “Whoa, you’re actually spooked, huh,” he remarks before glancing around the platform. “Shit, I don’t think the guide’s gonna let you turn back now.”
You’d expected him to make fun of you, perhaps laugh at your weak constitution. But this…
This is new.
Though well-meaning, Jimin’s words serve only to set your palms sweating and your heart racing faster. Your throat feels a little funny, tight like asthma. You shift your weight from foot to foot. “I-It’s fine,” you mumble, sliding past him as the employee beckons you forward with a lazy wave. “I’ll just…do it.”
Jimin hangs close behind you as the employee begins strapping you in, not sparing even a single word for you. “Hey, uh, my friend’s a little nervous,” Jimin says lowly to the young man working on hooking the harness around your hip. He glances up to meet your eyes before looking toward Jimin. “Any way you can, like, go gentle or something?” Jimin offers a convincing smile, the kind of grin that could get anyone to do anything.
The employee surprises you by releasing a puffy laugh and straightening to his full height, pausing to pat the dust off the backs of his legs. He chuckles and pats your back. “I can’t control the cable,” he says, then pauses for a moment to think. “But…,” he continues as Jimin turns pleading eyes his way, “if you’re feeling really nervous, I’ve heard it helps to shut your eyes and count to ten. Like, tell yourself you’re definitely gonna do it once you reach ten and just…go.”
You swallow hard and inhale sharply through your nose. “Alright,” you say, but his words have fled from your brain as soon as they’d been uttered. Your voice is shaky. Almost as shaky as your hands as you raise them to grip the straps of your harness.
Have you always had such a strong grip?
Your brain goes a little fuzzy, looking out over the precipice on which you stand, unsteady feet and rushing pulse. It’s dizzying. Like the world is spinning, but you’re not spinning with it. Or perhaps you’re spinning and it’s the world that’s gone still. Either way, the stretch of trees extending far beyond the tips of your hiking boots looks like it’s swaying on an axis, and each blink tilts the view some different way. You wonder if you’re breathing enough, or maybe too much, because your head is spinning. Like when you stand up too quickly after sitting for a while. You wonder if you’ll pass out before you reach the bottom.
If you reach the bottom.
Jesus, you hadn’t even considered the possibility of this stupid cable snapping. It doesn’t look too stable, upon closer inspection. Bouncing in the breeze. And as the employee finishes strapping you in, you pause for a moment to move your legs about and find, to your horror, that the straps are slightly loose.
Oh God.
You’re gonna throw up.
“Hey,” says a soft voice from beside you.
You feel a warm hand slide along the skin of your upper back, resting to cup your shoulder. Slowly, you turn your toward Jimin, standing with one arm wrapped around you and the other braced on his own knee so he can level his eyes with yours. He’s smiling a little. A different one this time, a soft one. The wind blows his dark hair from his eyes and carries the scent of his cologne. Somehow, you feel yourself relax a little against his side.
“It’s gonna be okay, alright?” he asks gently, and this is an entirely new Park Jimin to you. A tender young man with kind eyes. He smiles again and gives your shoulder a squeeze. “I’m right behind you.”
And for some reason, that comforts you. You don’t have time to dissect it however, as the employee takes up your other side and raises his brows, asking silently if you’re ready to go. Of course, you aren’t. How can you be? But again, Jimin squeezes your shoulder and seizes your attention with another smile, this one turning his eyes to crescents as he nods his head.
“Um…yeah,” you say, taking a moment to focus on your breath.
“Remember,” says Jimin as he steps away from you. “Count to ten, okay?”
“Okay,” you say, shutting your eyes.
One.
You’re gonna do it.
Two.
On ten, you’re just gonna go.
Three.
It’ll be fine.
Four.
Joon did it, and he’s fine.
Five.
And Tae before him, and that guy Jimin brought.
Six.
Nobody’s died yet.
Seven.
You can do it too.
Eight.
And even if I’m scared, at least you’re not alone up here.
Nine.
Jimin’s right behind you.
Ten.
Your scream rips through the valley below.
And, seconds later, so does your unfettered laughter.
You met Park Jimin on the worst day of your life a month ago. Freshly laid off from your job as a financial analyst — a job which Namjoon disliked from the start —, and disappointed by a string of bad dates after a catastrophic breakup, you’d agreed to meet up with a few college friends for a drink at your local stomping ground. You’d found Jimin sitting in the middle of a smoky bar with a girl on one arm and a guy on the other. Gross, was all you’d thought in passing. You’d paid him little mind, too busy wallowing in your own self pity to think too hard about any one thing, but it seemed he was incessant on grabbing your attention by any means necessary.
You’d sidled up to the bar, awaiting Namjoon’s I’m here text, and had only just ordered your drink when the strange young man with the unusually bright smile took up the space beside you. Now alone, he offered you a grin and his hand for you to shake. For a few seconds, you only stared at his outstretched palm. At the lines cutting across it. What was that long line called? The life line?
Eventually, however, you realized he wasn’t going anywhere, planted firmly in the wobbly barstool to your right, and you relented with a handshake. But that wasn’t what this stranger was after. He yanked you just a little once your hands connected.
“Hey, honey!” he said as he pulled you in toward his chest, sweeping you up in a tight, firm hug that knocked the wind from your lungs.
You were neither playful enough nor drunk enough to reciprocate and instead sat there stiffly, arms pressed against your sides as the stranger with the cute face hugged you close. Over his shoulder, you locked eyes with the girl who’d previously ornamented his left arm, watching you keenly, and it didn’t take you long to understand what was going on.
“Dodging an ex?” you whispered without moving your lips too much.
You felt a wave of shivers trace up your spine and it only took you a few seconds to realize why. It was just the sort of thing you imagined Hanseul doing if he ever bumped into you…
He chuckled. “Two, actually,” he responded as the young man he’d been entertaining also lifted his eyes from his drink to give you a once-over.
You sighed. “You’d better be buying my drink,” was all you said as the two of you broke away.
He’d laughed — that melodic sort of laugh that made you feel a little floaty — and rubbed your shoulder with a grin. “I’ll buy you twenty,” he joked, sliding the bartender a bill as he returned with your cocktail.
“So how’d you manage to get caught up with two exes at once?” you asked, nursing your glass.
He rubbed his jaw and shook his head, smiling at the bar table before him. “They were friends to begin with,” he said. And when you said nothing, only recoiled slightly, he met your eyes with a bright laugh. “C’mon don’t give me that look!”
You cleared your throat, turned away, and worked your straw between your teeth. “I dunno, sounds like maybe you brought it on yourself then,” you said, taking a healthy sip.
The stranger laughed again — more like a disbelieving scoff — and adjusted one of the several rings on his slender fingers. “Well I didn’t ask the two of them to come out tonight,” he said with a shrug. “And besides, neither of them looked unhappy to see me.”
“Ugh,” you mumbled, eyeing him sidelong as he chuckled.
He smirked and leaned across the bar toward you. “What?” he asked, and something about the heavy-lidded look he gave you, the simmering something in his eyes, made your pulse quicken. He rested his cheek in his hand and cocked his head to the side, now close enough to smell a whiff of his cologne. “You think I’m a bad guy?”
You swallowed hard before downing the rest of your drink and slamming the glass back on the bar. You waved the bartender over and pointed to the empty glass. Wordlessly, he began fixing you a replacement. You peeked back at the guy to find him smiling at you, musing perhaps, with the strangest mix of curiosity and pity in his expression.
You were definitely going to need another drink.
“Do good guys usually do stuff like that?” you asked, watching the bartender as he shook your drink around his metal tumbler.
He chuckled. “Can goodness be quantified by things like who we date?” he asked.
You stiffened. “Not by who you date,” you continued, shaking your head as memories of your own ex resurfaced. “But who you hurt, sure.”
He rolled his eyes, swiveling in his barstool to look at you head on. “Why’s it my fault who gets hurt?” he asked.
You cocked a brow. “You…can’t be serious…” But from the expression he wore you were certain that he was indeed quite serious.
He shrugged. “It’s not my intention to hurt someone, so why do I have to take responsibility if they get hurt?” he asked, then smirked and gave your thigh a nudge with his knee. “The way I see it, if you get hurt you’re the one whose expectations were too high.”
“That’s gross,” you said, inching away. You were inclined to simply leave, abandon this conversation and the bar at large and call it a night. But the bartender wasn’t finished with your drink and you weren’t about to piss him off. Not on a day like today. “If you’re dating someone, you’re committing to them.”
“What about polyamorous people?” he countered with a smug grin.
You rolled your eyes. “I’m not talking about polyamorous people. I’m talking about monogamy.”
“But why does everyone expect monogamy?” asked Jimin, tossing his hands up in the air with a breathy laugh. “Anyway, I always make it clear from the start that I’m not the kind of person who wants to be…well, you know…,” he started, then furrowed his brow and waved his hand. “Like, in a relationship.”
You sighed, nodded your thanks to the bartender as he slid you your drink, and watched as Jimin again offered cash in return. “And that’s fine, but you can’t expect someone to stick around and be okay with that.” You rubbed your temples as memories swirled together. “Be okay with half of you.”
If you really loved me, you’d understand that I could have any person in the world and you’d still be my number one!
Scumbag.
This gave him pause and, slowly, he shifted his eyes your way once more, scanning you. “Half of me?”
You nodded and downed a gulp of your drink with a wince. “Giving half is fine if the other person is giving half too. If you both only expect half,” you began, then ran your hands along your neck. Your skin was feverish, alcohol making your head light. “But if one person wants more, it’s not fair to string them along.”
He stared at you gravely, eyes hard and jaw set, and furrowed his brow. “That’s too old-school,” he said.
You huffed and crossed your arms. “It’s not old-school!” you said, wagging a finger at him. “It’s about respecting the other person enough to let them go when you realize you can’t be what they need.”
He pouted a little and rolled his eyes. “You sound ancient,” he said, then paused to give you a knowing smirk. “Wait, don’t tell me,” he began, scooting closer with a conspiratorial look. “You were scorned by your ex. Like…I dunno, like they cheated or something. Broke your heart, ruined your trust, blah, blah, blah. And now you’ve got this vendetta or something because you got hurt.” He grinned and wiggled his brows.
You stiffened, eyes wide, and stared at him. “I…,” you began.
He laughed from his gut and nodded. “Ah, nailed it, didn’t I?” he asked.
There was a cruel edge to his teasing, an ill-intentioned bite that felt like it was made to injure. You couldn’t quite put your finger on why, but you knew you felt it in that hazy bar, surrounded by throngs of people gathered here and there, enveloped in smoke and conversation. But like a heat-seeking missile, it seemed his words were engineered to uncover the softest parts of you and destroy them.
Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was something else, but your eyes welled with tears and your throat constricted. You stared at him, this stranger who had pegged you without err, and felt the weight of your frustrations pressing down on the tops of your shoulders like sandbags. And as he perceived the shift in your expression, his own face changed from a cold sort of scrutiny to a round-eyed concern that washed away all evidence of his previous behavior.
“Oh shit,” he said, standing up and blocking your face from view. You felt a few hot tears spilling over and were quick to wipe them, but the humiliation was there on display whether you cried or not.
He’d gotten you.
Luckily for you, Namjoon’s timing had been particularly impeccable that day and he’d barreled into the bar with a lopsided grin and clapped both you and the stranger on the backs, Taehyung and Yoongi sauntering behind him. You’d startled a bit, jumping slightly at his approach, but once again luckily — or perhaps unluckily — Namjoon seemed to have little regard for the poor mood he’d stepped into and didn’t seem to notice your glassy eyes as you buried your nose in your drink.
“Well jeez, look at you two already getting acquainted!” Namjoon exclaimed with a big laugh.
You paused your sipping for a moment to slide only your eyes up toward your friend. “Huh?”
He blinked down at you, one hand still clamped onto the stranger’s shoulder, and raised his brows. “Didn’t I tell you I was inviting some work friends?”
You spat your drink, sending droplets of sweet alcohol splattering across the bar. Quick to right yourself, you faced Namjoon properly and, sputtering, replied, “Him?”
Namjoon laughed and rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me you guys didn’t introduce yourselves,” he said, adding theatrics to his heavy sigh. “This is Park Jimin. That choreographer I’ve been telling you about? He’s coming with us to Fiji.”
Still coughing up the remains of your rum and Coke, you pat your chest. This was the kind-hearted dance major wunderkind who dazzled everyone at Namjoon’s entertainment company? This was the kid who, at the age of twenty-four, had more accolades than both his predecessors combined? This was the guy who befriended all the trainees and brought them sports drinks during long days of practice?
This was the guy you were going to spend two weeks with on an island in the middle of the Pacific?
Namjoon, standing between the two of you, moved to taste your drink and as he leaned forward you locked eyes with the acclaimed young choreographer over the plane of his back. Park Jimin stared at you with wide eyes and lips parted as if to speak. But even after Namjoon had straightened up and begun complaining about your drink order, Park Jimin, still with mouth agape, said nothing.
And so, as you go ripping through the jungle on a wobbling cable, screaming and laughing and crying just a little, you wonder how exactly that very same Park Jimin is the one who comforted you into taking this leap of faith. Below your dangling feet is a patchwork of different greens, all bleeding into a motion blur as your body is propelled down toward the bottom platform. As you slide along, you can just see Namjoon’s figure, reduced to a small silhouette amongst the trees, as he stands waving like mad at the edge of the platform. Laughing, you shoot both hands above your head and wave them around, causing you to sway on the cable. Startled, you quickly return your hands to gripping the straps near your chest.
You feel like a bullet whizzing through humid air and then, all at once, friction takes hold once more and you seize, eyes squeezing shut from the whiplash, head throbbing just a little, suspended over the platform. You are greeted by a chorus of applause and hollers of encouragement as the employee begins the process of disconnecting you from your harness and, as your feet land stiffly on the concrete slab, you lift wild eyes to meet Namjoon’s. You find him still with that grin plastered across his face, hair windswept, shirt askew.
“Wow!” is all you can say as the group laughs.
Namjoon smiles and claps your shoulder. “Right?” he asks and you can only nod and turn your eyes back up toward the cliff from which you’d descended.
Now far too distant to discern amongst the foliage, the loading platform sits somewhere lost in green. And, without meaning to, your mind wanders back to Park Jimin and you wonder idly if he’s counting to ten.
Sunset drenches the island as you lounge on the warm sand, leaning back on your elbows with eyes half-shut as you gaze out at the glittering ocean touching the horizon line. The sky is darkening by degrees, with vibrant reds and oranges spreading like watercolor into the navy blue edges. And for a blissful moment, you’re alone with it. Alone with the profound. And you’re not thinking about the new job you’d taken, or the text messages Hanseul left you this morning, or the bills you know you’ve got to pay soon. You’re not thinking about anything.
It’s beautiful.
Of course, it’d be more beautiful with a pina colada, but you don’t let your mind linger there too long. After all, Namjoon said this trip was supposed to be about adventure and ‘finding yourself’. You aren’t sure how much of yourself you can really find at the bottom of a fruity drink.
Namjoon invited you on this trip a year ago. He’d done it in typical Namjoon fashion: calling you up at two in the morning and rambling incoherently for a while before eventually getting to the point. You’d become so used to his pipe dreams that you’d half expected this plan to fall through like the others. The second the words left his lips, you’d rolled your eyes.
“What I’m saying is,” he began, breathless over the phone, as you push yourself up onto your bottom, bed sinking beneath you, “let’s go to Fiji.”
“Joon…,” you groaned. “Please, I have work tomorrow-,”
“Listen, fuck your job,” he said and you could practically see him waving his hands like a man gone mad. “This is important. Like…might be the most important thing we’ve ever done together, you know?”
“Where is this even coming from?” you asked, stifling a yawn. You glanced out your window and saw the city painted black, pinpricks of yellow office building lights.
He sighed. “I was looking up tropical music for this new song I’m working on for the trainees and I stumbled upon this incredible video about Fiji.”
“Like a generic white girl vlog?” you asked with a laugh, but Namjoon seemed deathly serious as he remained silent. You paused a moment. “Wait, you’re like…for real with this, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, of course.” He was quiet. “I just…I dunno…I guess, while we’re still young enough to do it, I wanna experience something incredible. While we still can. While things are still like this.”
“What do you mean?” You raised a hand to open your window, let in some cool night air, but as you jammed your hand along the pane, the thing only rattled dumbly in response. You huffed, focused.
“I mean life is transient and nothing’s guaranteed,” he said. “Who knows who we’ll be tomorrow, you know? Who knows how long these moments will last?”
You stilled for a moment, staring out your closed window, hand still poised to force it open. You glanced over your shoulder at your tiny apartment — clothes strewn over every piece of furniture, easel gathering dust in the corner of your living room, unused for the better part of a year, paintings still unhung propped against walls on the floor — and couldn’t help but sigh. As silver moonlight filtered in through your curtains, you felt an unfamiliar tug in your chest. A longing that didn’t make sense.
You had the job, the boyfriend, the social life…
You had it all.
But why did Namjoon’s words make you feel so hollow?
And before you even realized what you were doing, you replied, “How much is it gonna cost?”
“What’re you thinking about?” asks a soft voice from beside you.
Startled, you scramble slightly, sending a spray of sand flying through the air. You sputter a little, having inhaled too quickly for your lungs to handle, and squint against the golden sun. But as you settle enough to face the person beside you, you’re surprised to see it’s Jimin. Sunset drenches the expanse of shoreline, catches in the ends of his black hair, outlines the side of his rosy cheek as he gives you an easy smile.
You raise your brows. “Hm?”
He chuckles, rubs the back of his neck, and shrugs as he digs the heels of his hands into the sand, leans back on them. “Just…looked pensive.”
“Pensive…,” you repeat, mulling it over. You purse your lips. “I guess just…thinking about this trip.”
“What about it?”
“Just…why I even bothered coming,” you begin, then chuckled and eyed him sidelong. “You saw how I was today. The whole…adventure thing isn’t really my scene.”
He smiles, revealing on closer inspection one charming crooked tooth, and tilts his head to the side. “What do you mean? You looked like you were having the time of your life!” he says, nudging you with his elbow.
You smile at your knees, now pulled toward your chest, and sigh. “Thanks for saying that, but you know I was a mess.”
He pouts a little. “You weren’t.”
Glancing his way, you find him with furrowed brows staring distantly at the ocean. “Mm…,” you mumble in response.
He sighs. “You were scared,” he begins, then shrugs. “But you did it anyway. What’s so bad about that?”
You sense that he’s perhaps talking about something else while talking about you. Like he’s saying two things at once. But you don’t bother prying. Instead, you simply sigh and join him staring at the surf.
“It’s beautiful, huh?” you remark as the two of you sit side by side. And there’s a gentle sort of quiet between you, one you never expected to share with someone like Jimin.
But somehow, here he is. And looking at him as he watches the waves splash forward and recede, you can’t help but feel a little guilty for your attitude towards him. Guilty for the dread you’d felt as you boarded the plane behind him. Guilty for the scowl you’d worn as he walked beside you on the trail up to the zipline today. Guilty for the complaints you’d aired to Namjoon about him.
“Yeah,” he says with a pleasant, lazy smile.
Birdsongs welcome you to the fresh island morning. Lazily, you roll onto your side and peel your eyes open, straining against the sunlight pouring in through your ocean-facing windows. You yawn, pushing yourself up onto your bottom to stretch sore arms above your head. You twist your torso this way and that, crack your knuckles, point your toes as you extend your legs before you. The room is filled with bright morning light, all hardwood floors and tapestries on the walls. You glance around your bedroom – one of eight private rooms in this massive Airbnb – and realize with a start that this is the first morning in years that you haven’t immediately grabbed for your phone to check for work emails.
You expect, perhaps, to be unnerved by this. This lack of structure, lack of organization.
But, perhaps more unsettlingly, you are…
Surprisingly calm.
You shake your head and pad on bare feet into the bathroom beside your room. As you brush your teeth, you lock sleepy eyes with your reflection and can’t help but crack a little smile. For the first time in a long time, you look like you’ve had a proper night’s sleep.
You emerge in the living room a few moments later to find Taehyung – Namjoon’s stylist friend – and Seokjin – Namjoon’s actor friend – still sleeping on the couch, the TV still droning on as they’d likely forgotten to turn it off. And, standing in the kitchen by himself nursing a cup of coffee and a calm smile, is Namjoon. He’s caught a bit of a tan, glowing in the gentle sunlight, and his eyes are warm and fond as he looks out across the living room at his friends.
As quietly as you can manage, you maneuver around the sleeping boys and take a place beside Namjoon, resting a hip against the marble counter. “Morning,” he says softly.
You nod once. “Morning,” you repeat, and hold your hand out for his mug of coffee, wiggling your eager fingers. He chuckles and relents without much fight, offering the handle to you carefully. You take a warm, welcome sip and sigh. “How’d you sleep?” you ask.
He hums a little and adjusts the sleeve of his loose tee. “So tired I didn’t even dream,” he says with a laugh.
Smiling you reply, “Me either.”
He eyes you with a knowing smile and squints a little. Like he’s teasing you. “You like it here, don’t you?” he asks.
You roll your eyes and give his shoulder a healthy shove. He laughs in response, but says nothing more as you sweep your gaze out toward the wall of windows leading down to the beach. It’s immaculate in the morning time. Not a single silhouette dots the shoreline, only fishing boats just beyond the surf. Tourists are still asleep, you reckon, and you feel a little proud to not be one of them sleeping away the most beautiful hours of the day. You can see faint traces of clouds ringing the horizon, and the pastel yellows of sunrise giving way to the azure blue sky.
“It’s…really nice,” you admit with a nod, sipping the coffee once more. And, without meaning to, you think of Jimin yesterday. His hand on your shoulder, his comforting words reminding you to ground yourself before you floated away. “Yeah…,” you add, concealing an unintended smile.
Namjoon, however, has always been the smarter one out of the two of you and, predictably, he catches this shift in your expression and turns to you head on with raised brows. “Whoa!” he remarks with a grin. He points to your face with his index finger. “Look at that!”
You swat his hand away with a laugh and roll your eyes. “Lay off, alright? I’m having a good time. Isn’t that the whole point?”
He chuckles and sighs as he rests once more beside you. Gently, he lifts a hand to softly pat the top of your head. You’re certain your shock registers plainly on your face as he pats again. “I’m proud of you,” he says.
And in the simplest of phrases, he’s managed to pluck something profound from inside of you. You don’t need to ask to know precisely what he means.
Why does it make you want to cry?
“Morning,” says a quiet voice from behind Namjoon and, leaning slightly so you can see around your friend’s broad chest, you notice Jimin standing there and can’t help but smile.
He glances between Namjoon and you for a few seconds, brows lifted as if in question, before Namjoon clears his throat and wordlessly excuses himself, snatching his coffee on his way back into the living room where he begins rallying the boys awake.
You sigh, running a finger along the countertop’s perfect edge. “What’s on the agenda for today?” asks Jimin as he settles beside you.
You pause to think. “Um…,” you begin, tapping your lips with your fingers. “I think…,” you continue, musing as you begin to work your lower lip between your index finger and thumb. “Something about ATVs.”
But before you’ve even finished your sentence, Jimin has seized your hand in his and is now standing so close you can smell the scent of his detergent wafting up from his pajama shirt. He stares down at you with heavy-lidded eyes and a smirk, gaze flashing around your face before landing on your lips as he pulls both your hands down toward your shoulder. Your heart begins to race, eyes wide, skin hot where his fingers touch yours, and you swallow hard as he chuckles a few times, his breath fanning out across your warm face.
“Sorry,” he says, voice low and breathy. “It was distracting.” He then drops your hand and swivels on his heel, back toward the hallway from which he’d come. He pauses, however, to shoot you a wink over his shoulder. “Hard to focus when you do that,” he says, tapping his own plump lower lip with his fingertip before offering a wave and meandering down the hall.
And you stand there dumb, heart pounding so loud you can’t hear the crashing waves just outside the window.
You were shocked when you found out Hanseul had been messing around behind your back. Gutted, really. If it hadn’t been for Hanseul leaving his Instagram logged on to your phone, you’d probably never have found out to begin with. He’d always been that sort of guy, though.
Reckless.
And how very cliche, you’d thought as you read through months of exchanged messages, that he’d exchanged you like a used car for a newer model once he’d gotten tired of you. You dragged your finger almost lazily across the screen, brows raised as you rested on your couch, reruns of The Office blending into background noise. And where perhaps you’d expected hurt and resentment, you found only a grim acceptance.
Of course, you thought to yourself with a strange chuckle as you read the most recent message. A sappy sort of love IM that made your stomach churn. Riddled with sentimentality and grand platitudes, the messages reminded you of the ones you’d exchanged with Hanseul in the beginning. The ones that made you hopeful. Of course.
Somewhere amongst that grim acceptance, however, was something you didn’t expect. Something primal. A sort of fear that had no name.
Fear, perhaps, of the implications.
Fear of all the things that would have to change, all the comforts you’d known for years chipping away like old paint left on the wall too long.
And so, like a house of cards, your world shook and crumbled mightily down to its very foundation.
You’re slack-jawed as you stare at the row of ATVs standing equidistant before you. Eight identical machines pointed down the rolling hills behind you. An instructor standing with a grin and hands on her hips as she watches you scan the locomotives with your eyes wide and round. Beside you is Namjoon, smiling too broadly for his face to accommodate, with Seokjin and Taehyung drowsily fighting yawns. Jimin stands on your other side, arms crossed as he smirks at the ATVs like he’s done it all and seen it all before. His friend Jungkook is practically vibrating with anticipation, and Hoseok – another choreographer from the company – stands whispering in low tones with Yoongi, the young PD Namjoon never stops talking about.
The imposing green trees sway in the breeze around you: all potential threats as your group nears the line of ATVs. You wonder just how long you can manage on one of the things before hitting one of those tall waving trees. Anxiously, you glance over your shoulder at the hills extending as far as you can see. More possibilities for horrific injury.
As you tromp through the yielding sand underfoot, you feel someone step closer to you and you don’t need to lift your eyes from your boots to know who it is.
“You know, if you’re scared-,” Namjoon begins, but you silence him with a look, gaze severe.
He raises his hands in surrender before chuckling and patting your shoulder. He says nothing more as he swerves around you to hook his elbow around Taehyung’s neck. The two, laughing, continue toward the row of ATVs. Taking a moment to manage your breath, you press your palm against the rubber handle. You shut your eyes.
One.
You’re getting on this fucking ATV.
Two.
You’ve come this far, you can’t chicken out now.
Three.
You always chicken out.
Four.
When was the last time you did something that scared you this much?
Five.
Well…yesterday.
Six.
Before that though.
Seven.
When was the last time you took a risk?
Eight.
When was the last time you did something you wanted to do?
Nine.
Something you really wanted…
Ten.
You take a long inhale, nod once, and swing your leg over the side of the ATV. With both shaking hands gripping the handlebars, you glance to the side to see everyone else has mounted their vehicles, except for one. Jimin stands at the end of the line, talking with the guide too quietly to hear, but the way he’s waving his hands makes it seem like there’s a problem. The guide glances around, brows knit, before shrugging his shoulders and cupping a hand around the side of his mouth to shout.
“Hey guys! Looks like we’re one ATV short! Someone’s gonna have to share!” he calls, and grumbles resound around the group.
Beside you, Namjoon and Taehyung complain about having to share, both clearly not too keen on offering Jimin a spot on their ATV. You briefly feel bad for him, standing on the edge without a place to go to. You wonder if he feels left out, or if perhaps he’s considering staying back so the guide can show you the way. Without meaning to, you turn your head and lock eyes with Jimin and the instant you to you wish you hadn’t. Because now his eyes have lit up and his face is splitting in a small, hopeful smile.
And you know you’re cooked.
With a sigh, you raise your hand and wave it like mad, beckoning Jimin over. After all that, the breathing exercises and everything, after finding your courage, here you are handing over the reins.
“You can ride with me,” you say with a sigh as Jimin emerges at your side, smiling bright.
“Thank you,” he says with a laugh before hoisting himself up behind you.
“Oh!” you exclaim as Jimin rests his hands on his knees, right beside your thighs. He leans around your side and eyes you with wide brows. “I figured you’d wanna drive…,” you say, face going hot.
He blinks at you for a moment longer than normal before splitting into a grin and nudging your hip with his knee. “Well why would I do that?” he asks, rolling his eyes. “You looked really determined.”
Just like that, he understands exactly how you feel.
Startled, you turn to face him halfway, twisting your torso awkwardly as you lock eyes. He’s still smiling, still bright. The apples of his cheeks are redder than yesterday, and the bridge of his nose. A sunburn. He looks peaceful. As if he trusts you to drive this massive machine. As if it’s not even a thought that’s crossed his mind.
As if he never even considered taking this ATV from you.
“You guys ready?” shouts the guide with a hoot.
The boys around you holler their responses but you stay silent, still just staring at Jimin as he shields his face from the sun with one hand, still smiling, still peaceful.
You grip the handlebars and kick the ATV to life.
You first met Namjoon when you were in high school. He was a grade above you, so you’d never had reason to speak with him. Aside from passing him in the halls every now and again, you didn’t really interact with him at all. But things changed when he approached you after class as you finished cleaning off the blackboards. You’d stayed behind not because you wanted to, but because your classmate had pawned their classroom duties on you after a miserable game of Gin Rummy at lunch. You hadn’t protested much once the responsibility had fallen on your shoulders.
Another excuse to avoid going home.
Bony knuckles rapped against the blackboard beside your head and you jumped out of your skin, releasing a scream several octaves higher than you anticipated. But as the moment of panic passed, you realized with a start that the one who’d roused your attention was indeed upperclassman Kim Namjoon. And there he stood with a small dimpled smile and gentle eyes scanning you. You weren’t sure what he was looking for when he looked at you, but the way he tilted his head to the side made you think that perhaps he’d found it.
“Hey,” he said, face outlined by the last golden rays of autumn daylight.
You swallowed hard and took half a step back toward the podium. “Uh…hi…?”
“This yours?” he asked, dangling a sketchbook before you with one hand.
It took you several moments of squinting at the Strathmore sketchbook to realize that, in fact, it was yours. Your name was right there in the right corner where you’d scribbled it a month ago. And there was the tear in the cover from when your mother had tried to rip the thing from your hands – unsuccessfully.
A rush of fear swelled through you and you snatched the pad from his outstretched hands like you were a prisoner and he was offering you food. Scared he’d rescind his offer if given even a moment to think it over. And as you clutched the thing to your chest, you scanned him with narrowed eyes.
“Where did you get this?” you asked. You were certain you had kept it safely in your bookbag since lunch. But glancing at the bookbag again, you found it surprisingly empty.
Namjoon raised his brows and raised his hands in surrender. “I didn’t steal it, if that’s what you’re thinking,” he said, then chuckled with a shrug. “What kind of thief would return the thing they stole anyway?”
You paused for a moment, brows furrowed, before sighing and nodding. “I guess that’s true,” you admitted before gently guiding the sketchbook back into the mouth of your backpack. “Um…,” you hedged as you turned back to the guy. You held out your hand to him and he rolled up the long sleeve of his uniform cardigan to take it in his own. “Thanks,” you finished with a shake.
He shook his head. “Don’t mention it,” he said, laughing a little. “Had to ask around to find out which class you were in though.”
You felt a warm bloom of embarrassment and pulled your hand away, shoving it back into your pocket and averting your eyes. “I don’t have a job or anything,” you said.
He blinked at you. “Hm? What’re you talking about?”
You rubbed the side of your arm and shrugged. “My family’s kinda poor too. Like, we do fine, but my parents are really serious about money so…,”
“What’s your point?” asked Namjoon with wide, curious brown eyes.
You stared at him for a moment, puzzled, before continuing. “Aren’t you gonna ask for, like, reward money or something?”
He released a booming, chesty laugh before waving his arms like mad and shaking his head. “No! God, do I look like a thug to you?”
You eyed him from top to bottom and shrugged. “I don’t really know what a thug is supposed to look like.”
He sighed and gripped the bridge of his nose between his fingertips. “Forget the money,” he said, pausing to give you a warm smile. “I just wanted to meet the person who made those drawings.”
You went stiffer than a board. For a moment, time stood still. Namjoon froze before you, the gently falling leaves outside the classroom window froze, and you froze too. Like your feet were rooted to the ground.
“You…did you look through it?” you asked softly, too horrified to raise your voice above a bare whisper.
He nodded. “Of course,” he said. “I was looking for a phone number or something on the inside flap, but then I got distracted by the art.”
“You…”
“You’re really talented,” he said, offering another big smile. “Like, you could go pro if you wanted to.”
You swallowed hard, your throat constricting, and chucked the dirty blackboard eraser on the podium with a puff of fine dust. Without another word, you zipped up your backpack and slung it over your shoulders. You walked past him quickly, not even sparing him a glance, and walked faster when he followed you, calling after you and begging you to turn around.
Namjoon followed you around for a month after that: waiting outside your classroom after school, catching you off guard as you sketched in the courtyard during your lunch break, walking his bike behind you as you led the way to the bus stop, cheering for you at the sports festival and causing you to miss the volleyball coming straight for you. Every time he’d come around, you’d turn grey with horror and you wouldn’t say a word. But luckily for you, Namjoon said plenty enough for both of you. It was always, When are you gonna join the drawing club?or,You should start working on a portfolio, or, If you love art so much, why aren’t you applying to an arts college?
You didn’t bother asking how he knew where you were applying. As you’d gotten to know him, you’d begun to understand his uncanny ability to secure sensitive information from teachers. It seemed they all loved him about as much as you despised him. Not long after that comment, you finally began responding when he spoke to you. And you even began bickering like real friends.
After a while, you grew accustomed to him being around all the time. To the point that, when he graduated a year before you and went on to pursue a degree in music, you’d felt almost lonesome without him. And to the point that, when you texted him about your choice to pursue a degree in business, you were almost relieved when he caught the late bus out to your house to scold you.
One day you’re gonna snap, he’d said that night in a moment of calm. You’re gonna finally have enough of living for them. And it’s gonna hurt when it happens. Bad.
But the scolding had never been enough.
Because, in the end, that persistent fear ran like still waters through your body.
You’re realizing more and more that it’s the same fear. That it’s always been the same fear. Back then when you were so scared of losing Hanseul that you considered not even telling him you’d found the messages. In high school when you were too scared to show anyone your sketchbook. Even now, as you straddle the vibrating ATV, Jimin’s arms wrapped lazily around your middle as he giggles behind you, you’re scared to make a single sound for fear of messing up your focus on the hills before you.
If you really think about it, it’s all the same.
When you boil it down to its core, it’s always been the same.
Fear of fucking up.
Like you’ve been walking a tightrope from the start, and any small misstep will result in you plummeting, face first, into the ground below.
Your knuckles go white against your skin as you clutch the handlebars. Stiff, you follow the guide as he vaults over a hill, having no choice but to do the same. You launch your ATV over the sandy bump, sending both you and Jimin flying through the air. And even though a part of you expects to go splat in the dirt, after a few weightless seconds of flight, the two of you return to earth in one piece. This time, it isn’t Jimin’s laughter that startles you.
It’s your own.
“Holy shit!” Namjoon shouts as he runs toward you, face covered in fine dust. He grins at you like you’re his child, and as you slide off the side of the ATV, he sweeps you up in a big hug, laughing. “You did so good!”
You laugh too, patting his flexed bicep, and lean away slightly to get a better look at his dirty face. “God,” you say with a laugh, running the pad of your fingertip along his cheek, leaving behind a stripe of clean skin. “You need a shower, Joon.”
He nods and peels himself away, turning his attention to Jimin behind you. “You don’t look so good,” he remarks with raised brows.
And as you turn to see for yourself, you notice that in fact Jimin doesn’t look so good. Up until then it had been all laughter and smiles and playful squeezes, but now that he was standing in the dirt, arms crossed, leaning back against the ATV with his helmet in his hand, he looked…less than pleased. He watches you and Namjoon with narrowed eyes.
Oh God, you think in a moment of blind panic, I bet he wanted to drive the ATV after all…
But the moment Namjoon approaches and claps his hand against Jimin’s shoulder, the latter perks up and his eyes go bright once more. He turns a grin towards you and offers a big thumbs up. The sky above his waving hair is a perfect blue, and the sun is unrelenting, but somehow his smile is brighter. Carefully, you join the duo and pat the ATV with a sigh. Looking at it now, it doesn’t seem so scary at all. And after all the tips your guide had given throughout the course, you feel ready to do it all again if you get the chance.
Jimin eyes you with a fond smile. “How’d you like it?” he asks.
You hum. “It was…really exhilarating,” you say with a grin. Gently, you reach out your hand for Jimin to shake and without missing a beat he laughs and takes it.
But instead of shaking it, he gives a sharp yank and you go tumbling into his chest. Heart hammering, you struggle to regain your footing, but before you can process what’s going on, Jimin wraps both arms around your back and holds you tight. You’re sure your face reveals your chagrin, so you’re careful to keep it buried in his chest. And although it’s muffled through the fabric of his shirt, you can hear Jimin’s heart thumping quick.
“Thanks for letting me ride with you,” he says quietly against your hair.
You swallow hard, nerves making your hands sweat, and nod once. “Um…yeah, of course.” You can’t help the nervous laugh that escapes your parted lips and, hesitantly, you reach around to pat Jimin’s back with one hand. “It was fun.”
He backs up with a smile, but keeps one hand on your shoulder. “Yeah. Let’s do it again when we get home.”
You laugh again, eyes wide. “Are there ATV courses at home?”
Jimin pauses, purses his lips, and shrugs. “Let’s find out.”
Namjoon snaps his fingers. “Shoot! What time is it?” he asks, brows knitting.
You check the watch around your wrist and squint at it, but it’s hard to focus on anything with Jimin still touching you. “Um…half past two,” you say, brain foggy as Jimin steps closer.
He glances over your shoulder to stare intently at your wristwatch. Easily, he slides his hand along your shoulder blades before letting it rest at the small of your back. You can feel the ends of his hair tickling your hot cheek. He hums a little beside you and nods once, as if he is simply verifying the time. Perhaps he is simply doing that.
“Shoot!” Namjoon exclaims again. “If we don’t leave, like, now we’re gonna be late for snorkeling!”
Without meaning to, you slide your eyes toward Jimin and raise your brows only to find him staring at you with the same expression. The two of you share a knowing look before breaking into small smiles.
“Wouldn’t wanna be late for snorkeling,” Jimin says under his breath as Namjoon jogs back toward the guide, all the while frantically miming with his hands.
You grin. “God forbid.”
Hanseul said something once that really stuck with you. Not the sort of sentimental thing that you thought might’ve stuck with you, but something entirely mundane. Something trivial, something said in passing.
It was a Sunday afternoon. Neither of you had work, so you’d decided to take a nice long drive through the city. The sky was endlessly blue and beautiful, and even though you were just one car in the infinite stream of vehicles on the highway, you felt somehow free. With the windows rolled down all the way and music bumping softly through Hanseul’s car’s speaker, you remember shutting your eyes and just…breathing for a minute. And that was enough.
“Jesus Christ!” Hanseul shouted with a belabored sigh, and your eyes snapped open once more. You were quick to locate the source of his frustration and found, merging into your lane from the right, a massive freight truck. “I will never understand the hubris of semi drivers who think it’s a good idea to pass other semi drivers.”
Settling your racing heart, you sighed and breathed a laugh. “Impatience I guess,” you remarked, but he was prickly beside you and you knew he wasn’t finished.
He scoffed. “As if passing that guy is gonna get him there any faster,” he said, then rolled his eyes and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “Everyone should just go their own pace.”
And with that, he stopped talking. And you returned to leaning your head against the passenger doorframe, gazing out at the line of cars entering the highway.
The sun is white hot on your bare skin as you tread water, face bobbing just below the ocean’s surface. Floating like a buoy, you squint into the endless blue to catch a glimpse of some wildlife. It’s not as easy as it looks on Instagram, that much is clear to you now. The waves waves are gentle but restless as they rock you around and the plastic of the snorkel pushes uncomfortably against the sensitive skin of your lips. Your arms and legs are still sore from the previous day’s hike, and now your thighs ache from gripping the ATV. But somehow, despite the hardiness of it all, as you float parallel to the ocean floor, you can’t help but stare with wide-eyed wonder every time a flash of red fin or plume of underwater dust catches your eye. And so, mystified, you swim onward.
You feel someone swim up beside you, but it’s too much labor to look and you can’t tear your eyes away from a particularly beautiful fish cresting over the top of some coral beyond your fingertips. It’s only when that someone taps your shoulder that you finally snap from your daze and, blinking quickly, burst out from beneath the water and shove your snorkel to the side. Fearing catastrophe, you turn gasping toward Jimin as he wades beside you with a grin.
And your heart settles down.
You pat your chest a little and sigh. “Jesus,” you mumble.
“Scared you?” he asks, and from this close it’s hard not to get caught up in the brown of his eyes, in the wet ends of his dark hair as they dangle just above his eyebrows.
With the saltwater and the sunlight kissing his skin, he’s practically glowing.
You shake your head. “What’s up?” you ask.
He points with one finger toward the water below and wiggles his brows. “You wanna go down with me? The instructor said it’s really awesome.”
You stare at him for a long moment, trying to discern any malintent or ulterior motive and, upon gleaning none, settle for a nervous, breathy laugh. “Ah, I dunno…,” you say, rubbing your nose with the side of your finger. You look away, toward Jungkook’s fins as they flap violently against the glassy surface of the water. “I’m happy just looking from up here.”
Jimin hums a little. “You sure?” he asks, eyeing you like he knows something you don’t. “You seemed really into it when I came over.”
You swallow hard and your mouth tastes like seawater and anxiety. “No, I’m…,” you start, but it’s weak. The sentence trails into nothing.
He smiles bright enough to blind and you almost have to shield your eyes. “Come on,” he says, offering his hand toward you. “We’ll go down together and come back up together. I’ll hold your hand the whole time.”
You stare at his outstretched fingers, pruny and slightly sunkissed, and ponder for a moment. Were you always so tepid? So lukewarm? Wasn’t there ever a time in your life when you did things just because they sounded fun? Thinking back, it’s hard to pinpoint the precise moment you became so pragmatic, so afraid. Perhaps when your parents told you a career in art wouldn’t work out for you. That you didn’t have the stuff. Perhaps even before that.
But deep down, buried deeper than you’d like you admit, there’s a part of you that’s always wanted to zipline through the jungle. To ride ATVs. To see the coral up close.
That slumbering part of you is beginning to awaken.
And you wonder as you take Jimin’s hand with an uncertain smile if this has been your pace all along.
He giggles and the two of you dive in unison. You follow the instructions the snorkeling teachers gave you on the boat, and you hold your breath just the way you’re supposed to. Nonetheless, the deeper you swim, the cooler the water becomes and the more your nerves begin to rattle.
Only this time, you don’t find it unpleasant. Not at all, actually.
Because Jimin’s hand is warm.
The two of you coast to a stop in front of the vibrant red coral as a school of orange fish rushes by in a wave. You both reel back for only a moment and then, catching each other’s eyes, exchange the biggest smiles your snorkels allow. And boy is Jimin right. It is awesome. You swear you’ve never seen colors like this. Juxtaposed against the perfect blue all around, the coral reef stands like a mountain underwater, fish flying like birds around the jagged pink peaks, hiding in the deep purple. Anemones wave so close you’re tempted to touch them, and as you lean closer for a better look, you see a red seahorse nestled beside a green sea plant. As if sensing you there, the tiny fish scoots out from its cover and makes its way toward you. Eagerly, you extend your index finger and the creature nudges you just slightly before continuing on its way to the other side of the coral barrier.
Your heart is pounding, racing like a sports car and loud like one too. You turn toward Jimin with eyes blown wide and he’s grinning at you, so fond. He gives your hand a squeeze and you can’t help but squeeze back. Wordlessly, he jerks his head toward the surface, and the way the water plays with his hair makes it look like silk. You’re distracted for a moment by how beautiful it is, how beautiful he is, but he squeezes your hand again and once more jerks his chin upward. Ah! You need air!
You only realize it as Jimin makes a motion toward the surface, but now that you’re conscious of it it’s all you can think of. Q
⤑ Paring: Jungkook x reader (with a little bit Namjoon x reader and Taehyung x reader)
⤑ Genre: wolf!au, soulmate!au, collage!au
⤑ Summary: y/n has been feeling a certain darkness ever since she got her period. Something was calling her and one day that ‘light’ came into vision. You’d never thought however, that it would be a werewolf.
⤑ Rating: 18+
⤑ Warnings: mentions of rape, depression, smut, oral sex, window-sex, shower-sex, knotting, marking and animalistic behaviour.
⤑ Wordcount: 9.5k
⤑ A/n:hey!! This will be my first story on this account. I used to run another tumblr account, but I felt like I needed a new start hehe. Hope you enjoyed this one!
‘why is it so dark?’, you ask yourself as you try to see, but nonetheless fail to do so. It’s too dark. You can’t understand what you feel, but it has been the darkest feeling you have had in your whole life, though you might not yet be that old. It is creeping up on you, like a tiger or some other creature. It might’ve always been there, but never this strong. Never since this very moment. A white ray stands tall in front of you, all too sudden but not unwelcome. You feel like you need to be there, like this might be the place that brings you the peace you have been seeking. You know the feeling, the dark feeling, ends with this light. It all fits too well…
You take a step forward, but when you look down to see where you are walking on, you don’t see your feet. It’s only you, like a floating conscious. Even though it got you distracted for the smallest second, you knew this wasn’t important enough. The only thing worth doing right now is taking another step towards this warm and sunny light. Another step was taken and you feel your body heating up. Even though the light is your answer, you are still reacting to it in all the negative ways. ‘Is this what I need? It’s probably better than that horrifying darkness around us. Around me and this light’.
So without another thought, you take three more steps. There it is, right in front of you. You can feel your whole body reacting in heath, but you still feel save somehow. It’s resisting and it feels unnatural, but you haven’t felt as connected in so long with such a simple thing. You want it. No, you need it. And it also needs you. Two sides, two consciousnesses needing one another. But it doesn’t feel enough. You need more. You need to be closer. You need hi-.
‘Y/n? You are burning up! Are you okay? Wake up!’.
The sudden voice wakes you up in one simple snap. Your eyes spring wide open as you look scared towards your friend, who just as well returns that look. Namjoon puts his hand on your forehead. You flinch as he retracts his hand as fast as lighting, making a gesture as if your forehead is about a 100 degrees. ‘Damn y/n, that should be illegal. It’s way too hot. Please go to the nurses office’, he exclaims.
You put your hand on your heart, feeling how fast it’s beating. It’s so fast that you can feel it in your whole body. You are trying to recall your dream, but you only seem to remember that you felt a dark feeling. It must’ve been a nightmare. You check out your surroundings as you felt quite out of place, but you soon notice you are still in the comfort of your school’s library. You let out a breath, shaking off that weird experience and you try to calm down your body. ‘I think I had some kind of nightmare’, you inform Namjoon before picking up your pencil.
You have been working all night with your classmate. You were assigned to work together on a project. Since the both of you had a hard time to find a good spot in your agendas to work together, you found that only today you could really work on it. So you both took the chance and ended up working all night. You pull out your phone and you notice it’s already 11 pm. Your eyes widen. ‘Namjoon, why didn’t you wake me up? We really need to get going. Can we still get out of the building?’. He chuckles and shrugs. ‘Thought you could use some rest, you’ve only been gone for twenty minutes, so don’t worry. But you’re right. We should go home’. You let out a small sigh before clearing out your desk. He didn’t mean it bad, so you let it go. You both pack your things and go home.
As you walk your way to your dorm, you can’t help but feel that same creeping feeling. You feel that darkness. It’s not uncommon for you anymore. It has been a few years already, the moment you had your period. You have felt it ever since that moment. You can still remember the first dream about it. It was like just now, dark and alone. As if there was something or someone missing from your life. Your mother showed her concern about it and took you to a doctor, who gave you a number of a psychologist. There we thorough experiments, but no one could really tell what it was and how to get rid of it. At some point you found yourself at a more spiritual room. That was even more traumatic, as she just looked at you in fear and told you to leave within a few seconds. It got you thinking. Are you some kind of devil? Some kind of lost soul from another world, what certainly isn’t holy? This time though, this last dream, it was different. Different from your other dreams. You did feel the darkness, but there was something else. It felt refreshing and warm, something you haven’t felt in so long. Whatever it is, you hope that same feeling will return to you. And this time you won’t be woken up. This time it will stay with you.
A/N: I have this story originally on my new Wattpad account: @a_sad_pandas_corner, where I will poste the episodes of this series more frequently. So if you want to keep up with the story I recommend you read it there :).
Chapter: Day 1 - The Mystery-man
Genre: Loverboy!Taehyung, Fluff, Angst, smut
Paring: Taehyung X reader
Word-count: 4.3K
Warnings: Sexual content, groping, kissing, pinning, parent-problems, splitting parents.
Summary: Only few can keep the good and the bad people apart in one look. When your first look upon Kim Taehyung found place, you thought you knew which of the two he was. Some people are wrong in those moments and will move on, but you aren’t ‘some people’ and that has gotten you at wrong places.
It’s about 11 pm when you hear them again, yelling at each other with all the rage of the world. You’re sitting on your bed, looking down at your hands as you try to ignore all the noise coming from outside your room. Something breaks downstairs, sounding like a vase or maybe a glass? You grab your phone, which lies besides you. You turn up the volume of the music you’re listening right now, focusing on it. It’s now on its highest volume, the noise now making crunching sounds through the song. It’s almost irritating to listen to, but everything is better than the yelling voices of your parents. You lay yourself back on your bed, hiding under your blankets as you close your eyes. Just try to ignore it.
You were never the type to be influenced by anyone. A strong person, that’s how you saw yourself a year ago. That was until your parents started to have certain problems with each other. Well… these problems were always an issue. It was only until their buckets were full and the ‘issues’ couldn’t be ignored anymore. It was actually about 10 weeks ago that your father called its quits with your mother, after about 2 years of couple’s therapy. Your house fell apart and you are caught right in the middle of it. And of course, that isn’t even the issue. It’s their problem, not yours. But when your mother wakes you up in the middle of night, crying about your father and only talking bad about him, that does make you very sad.
Why can’t she fucking move on already.
You suddenly hear a door being slammed close, sounding like the front door. You quickly get out of your bed, holding your phone in your hand as you look out of your window. You see your father walking away from the house, kicking some bushes on the sidewalk out of rage. Your eyes are looking sad as you see him walking away for the hundredth time in the past few weeks. Splitting parents always have business to take care of, like the economic aspects. But they can’t agree on anything. Your mom doesn’t really have a great job, being an elderly-caretaker. And she loves her job. She is one of those people who only wants to give and loves every single human being. She judges no one and wouldn’t want to lose a single soul out of her life. Your father, on the other side, is a train operator and has a solid income. Together they could afford this house. But since my mom can keep the house, she would have to pay it herself, though she obviously can’t. So now they argue about that, along with my mom who just wants her husband back in her life.
You see him turn a corner, now showing his angry-looking face for a split second. He just goes away like that, not caring
‘He hasn’t even said goodbye to me’, you whisper to yourself as a tear makes its way down your face.
You start focusing on the stars, which shining as pretty as always. Your family falls apart and you can’t do anything about it. How things like this can make a strong woman like you, make you cry on a beautiful evening like this. You often blame yourself for making it so personal, to feel so sad about it. Like it’s your own fault for making it influence you. ‘Your father is an asshole’, you hear as your mother comes in. You put off your earphones as you face her. Her eyes look tired as she sits down on your bed and starts to cry. ‘He has a girlfriend (y/n), the same woman from 4 years ago. He has cheated on me’, She almost yells, her face resting in the palms of her hands.
These nights always go like this. She gets mad at your father for some reason and you have to find your way through it. You love your dad and your mom equally. They don’t understand that, sharing everything with you and slowly makes you broken inside. You would never share your problems with your child like this; you simply don’t know what to do. You feel guilty, sad and just want to get away from the situation. But that’s not today, because your mother needs you. And that’s what you’re going to do. You will hear everything and you will ignore the way you feel about it. Because your mother has no one to turn to, she is alone in this and you’re the only one she could let her heart out to. Even though it makes you sad, you will let it be.
‘Hey, you okay’, Jimin asks you as he approaches your desk, sitting right next to you. You lift your head up from your desk as you had taken a small nap. ‘Yeah, just tired. That’s all.’ You stretch your back as you let out a yawn, now facing Jimin. He smiles at you, making you a bit happier too. He always has the ability to do that, make you happy on moments you thought you couldn’t be.
His hand makes its way to your neck, slowly massaging it. It’s really his thing to do when he notices you aren’t feeling that well. He just doesn’t use any words, because if you wanted to talk about it, you would’ve done that by now. So instead he just tries to sooth you with his hands and it truly does miracles. It’s a warm feeling that starts to glow right by your heart, a good friend. A friend you’ve known since second grade when he came live here with his family. He couldn’t really speak any English, since they are from Korea and were trying to seek that ‘American dream’ elsewhere. When you look at Jimin now, you see happiness, and that is way of an improvement from when you had just met him. He was such a scared little boy. You were the first one to try to make friends with him, but that was because you were quite an outsider too. Together you’ve grown and you’d never want to lose him.
‘Talk to me when you’re ready’, He says with his soothing voice, before loosing his grip on you as the professor walks in. The class begins, finally a moment you can stop thinking about all the bad things.
‘Sooo… Tonight’, Jimin begins his sentence, looking with bright eyes at you. You huff as you shake your head, remembering your promise to him. You open your locker, changing your books for the next class ‘Applied Psychology’.
‘You better keep the promise’, He says as he punches your shoulder. You scoff, giving him a sarcastic expression. ‘Yeah Jimin, I will wear that playboy outfit, but I swear if you don’t I will-‘. He interrupts you by blocking your mouth with his hands. ‘Silence my child; you know I’m a hoe; of course I will come dressed up like a stripper. How could you doubt me’, He says and he has a point. If someone is a diva, it’s this mess beside you. You shake your head out of disbelieve at what he just said before you start licking his hand, wanting him to let you go. ‘Hey! You dirty girl, save that for some dick’, He yells as he tries to dry his hand on his jeans. You look at him with mischief, winking at him before making your way to your class.
‘See you on 8 pm at my place’, you yell at Jimin before disappearing between the crowds.
‘Hey mom, tonight is that party I talked about. So I will go to Jimin around 8 to get dressed’, you say mindlessly as you walk into the living room. She hums, focused on her laptop, seeming to play some game. You sigh to yourself, putting your back on the dining table before getting a glass of milk out of the kitchen. She doesn’t really have any attention for you anymore. You don’t blame her though. She has it difficult. ‘You know (y/n), that skank your father is now with has mental issues. She has borderline your father told me 4 years ago. She had said she would try to find someone’s weakness and use that to get what she wants.’ Your mother starts telling. You immediately feel miserable; you don’t want to hear this. You don’t care and your mother shouldn’t either.
‘So? That’s his problem and maybe this woman has changed’, you try to reason. Your mother shakes her head. ‘No this woman tries to break this family.’ You scoff. ‘You didn’t need that woman for that’, you say like it’s obvious.
‘(y/n), my life is a complete mess because of this. It hurts and I don’t want to do anything.’ You want to go away. ‘I don’t want to fucking live anymore (y/n), I can’t see any reason anymore.’
And suddenly your rage goes from a zero to a hundred.
‘Don’t fucking joke about that shit mom, you fucking have me. You need to get over your sorry self. It’s your own fault for being in this shit, you could’ve been over this for weeks, but you don’t do shit. You just keep on playing the victim’, you yell, anger dripping off of your words. You can’t take it anymore. Everything, why hasn’t it stopped yet. Why can’t your mom get over it and try to rebuild her life? It has been 2 months already, maybe even more. She keeps on asking my father these questions and she keeps on getting bad answers, because he IS getting over all of it. He is moving on, he wants a new life. She keeps on making you meddle into it and you’ve never asked for it. ‘Mom I can’t do this today, I’m going to Jimin’, you say before storming out of the house, taking your back with you. You go to the nearest bus stop and take the first bus to Jimin’s neighborhood. You put your earphones in, put on some sad music and jus let yourself cry. You need to let it out; you don’t care what other people think. Holding it in it never the right option, is what you’ve learned. Fuck everyone, all toxic people. They just need to go out of your life and annoy someone else.
Your body stiffens up as you feel a hand being placed on your shoulder. You turn around to the person as you pull your earphones away. It’s a guy, an unfamiliar guy. His eyes look worried, as he seemed to have asked you something. Your heart starts to race as you remember that you were just crying your eyes out and you immediately start to dry your tears. You laugh slightly out of shyness, not knowing really what to say at this point accept ‘Sorry, had a bad day.’ His face clears up a bit as he sits next to you. ‘Good, a beautiful girl like you shouldn’t be crying like that’, he notes as he helps you cleaning your eyes. You look at him with aw as his soft hands make their way across your face.
He is around your age, probably older. His skin looks soft and has a caramel tone. His eyes are a bit moon-shaped and they spark joy, like Jimin’s do. Your eyes scan his hair, beautiful and puffy, his lips also look so plump and kissable. He is a gorgeous human being, that’s for sure. He even knows how to dress and that’s not something you could say from many men. His hand is still caressing your face before slowly letting go, smiling at you as he does.
‘You a bit better?’ he asks as he sits back a bit, looking you up and down for a split second. You nod, blushing a bit. He laughs slightly as he grabs your cheek, squishing it in a cute manner. You whine a bit, hating it when people do that but still smiling because it’s this guy. ‘Oh! Whining now? I see how it is’, he says as he laughs. You look up at him with mischief, your body leaning up against him as you flirt a bit. How can you blame yourself? He is hella handsome.
You suddenly hear a voice calling a street, being the street you need to be at. You quickly push the ‘stop’ button, signaling the driver to stop by the next bus station. ‘Sorry, this is my stop’, you say to the unknown man. He scoffs as he stands up, making way for you to come by. You show him a small smile as you try to walk past him, but he grabs your arm, making you turn around. His face is suddenly very close, making your eyes widens and heart to pound very quickly. He now shows a smirk before saying: ‘I hope we meet again.’ He lets go of your arm and you almost stumble away, still catching yourself as the bus stops. Your heart still pounds like crazy when you step out of the bus. You turn your focus to the bus, trying to catch a small sight of the mystery man. He sits on your old place in the bus, smirking down at you and sending you a wink. You huff at the sight, did that really just happen?
You continue your way to Jimin’s house, being only 20 minutes away. It’s at this point that you try to get that guy out of your head and to focus back on the real world. It’s about 5 o’clock; you went away from home early because your mother made you crazy. Now you’re here without your Halloween costume and without any other items to stay over at Jimin’s. Great, I should’ve thought this through before I stormed out of there.
You arrive at the apartment complex. You walk up the 4 stairs to Jimin’s floor and clock on his door. It takes a bout a few seconds before someone opens the door. It’s Jimin, seemingly just gotten out of bed. He has a questionable expression on his face.
‘Why so early?’
‘I didn’t want to be home’, you simply say. There is no need to lie to him, he knows your struggles and you trust him enough. ‘I forgot my costume though’, you confess, having a painful expression on your face, because you know he wouldn’t be happy to hear that at all. And you were right, because his face went from worried to very unimpressed. ‘You serious (y/n)’, He says with much disappointment.
You look at him with the saddest eyes you could possibly make. He shakes his head. ‘No, that face isn’t going to work on me.’ You start to pout, hoping he will buy it. You even make a step closer, grabbing his arm. ‘I had to storm out Jimin, please forgive me…’ you say as sad as you could. He sighs as he looks at you for a few seconds more. He then nods for you to come inside. You immediately smile as you do a little dance before going inside. ‘You’re the best!’
‘What will you wear though’, Jimin asks as he walks to the kitchen, making some tea for you to calm down. ‘I don’t know, I don’t think I want to dress up anymore’, you confess, sitting down on the kitchen counter. He looks with a quite shocked expression at you. ‘No no, you’re going in a costume’, he says, pouring hot water in a cup, ‘you will look bad beside me honey.’ You scoff, like you care about that. You always look bad beside him; he’s one good-looking boy. ‘I look like this Jimin, maybe you can paint my face like a clown, that I am anyways’, you say, making Jimin laugh. ‘You are speaking facts.’ You make a offended-noise, slapping his shoulder before taking the cup of tea he had just prepared for you. ‘That’s good enough I guess’, Jimin says, ‘And if you just loose the leggings, shorten that skirt a bit and make that shirt a crop-top, it should work.’ Jimin looks at your body as he pictures it in your mind before nodding to himself. ‘A sexy clown.’ You laugh at his comment, shaking your head.
‘Sounds like a plan then.’
‘You sure 10 pm isn’t too eraly’, Jimin asks as the both of you walk up to a big house. You pull your shoulders up, but when you come closer to the house, you already see many people inside. ‘Shouldn’t be a problem I guess.’
You ring the doorbell before waiting for someone to open the door. You can hear the loud music from the inside, people dancing and laughing. People are quite early partying already, maybe even drunk. Then you know a party is good. The door opens and you see Joy standing in the opening. She has the classic cat-woman outfit on and it hugs her body on all the right places. You immediately feel Jimin making a step closer, making you huff. Sometimes he is such a dog for anything sexual and not only with girls. But that’s him, a great but sexual best friend. And not even one time has he tried anything with you, being in a more of a brother-sister relationship. That would just be unnatural.
‘Joy, looking great as always’, Jimin notes as he takes another step closer to her. Her expression becomes smiley and a bit shy, like any other girl reacts on him. He really is one of the good-looking men on school and you being his best friend, does put some pressure on you some times. There are always rumors about you two being together, girls are therefore jealous on you. You got used to it though and you would never let yourself being driven away from Jimin. He is your best-friend-soulmate.
Joy let’s the both of you inside, immediately stepping into a whole other universe. Everywhere around you are people in costumes, ones more serious than the other ones. Mostly it’s just sexy and skintight costumes by the girls and very simple costumes or the guys. Everyone seems to have a great time, dancing on the beat of the music and others just kissing one another in some corner. It’s a good party, you can tell, what’s quite rare. Some people really just don’t know how to throw one. Ones Jimin and you went to some party where people were just playing games on the ground, no music and a bit alcohol. Jimin and you just went outside and held your own party with some beers and night-talks. Actually one of the most rememberable moment with Jimin, how lame that party even was. Great talks are hard to forget.
‘I’ll get us some drinks’, Jimin yells over the music, before leaving you in the crowd. You just walk over to a couch, which was half-covered with kissing teenagers. A few years ago, you would’ve stayed away from these kinds of scenes, but you’ve learned not to care about it. Jimin always just takes you to all the parties and you’ve actually met a few people because of that. You’ve made more friends and you’ve become more social.
You let your gaze scan through the room. The house is quite big, being a single house and Joy having rich parents. She often throws parties like these, since her parent let he. One of the perks of being rich I guess, though it’s quite sad that her parents don’t really care. They never had really cared, Joy once told you when she had thrown another party, being drunk as fuck and telling you all her secrets. She also told you she had a big crush on Jimin, but that she isn’t trying to be friends with you because of that. She genuinely thinks you’re cool, so now you’re friends.
Your eyes fall upon a group guys in the corner, seeing Jimin merge between them with his two drinks for you still in his hands. He greets a few guys and then reaches one particular guy, Jungkook. Jimin always loves to come closer to this guy at parties, for intimate reasons. It normally takes about 30 minutes until they had gone off to some corner of room, but this time it apparently took about 3 minutes. You laugh to yourself upon seeing the two already kissing, Jimin pushing Jungkook away and probably telling him that he has to bring the drinks to me. You see Jimin walking back to you, a happy expression across his face.
‘You horny bitch’, you yell at him as he gives your drink. He just winks at you before heading off back to Jungkook, who receives him with open arms. You scoff before drinking your drink and standing up. You go take a little walk through the crowd, looking for someone you know, which you for some reason don’t find. The bodies around you just jump around you on the music as you try to get through them and to not let your drink fall, which fails.
‘Fuck’, you curse to yourself as the drinks falls over your white shirt, which is now see-through. You quickly try to make your way to a bathroom, so you could try to clean it. When you find a bathroom, you open it, being lucky no one is in there kissing or anything. You close the door behind you and all the music has suddenly become silent. Only faint noises could now be heard, locking you in a quiet save-space. Again another universe where you could take a break from the loud people. Though you’ve just been here for a few minutes, so much rest is not needed. But you can’t really find anyone you know; you mostly see a lot of freshmen, new faces actually. It’s a chance to meet new people, but you’re not really up for that. You weren’t really up for this party anyways, not after last night, no. You’d rather just be in bed, watch some Netflix maybe. But Jimin wanted you to come with and maybe some distraction wouldn’t hurt.
You get a tissue and try to clean your shirt, looking at yourself in the mirror as you do so. Suddenly the door opens, making you turn to the person.
‘What?’
The now familiar face stands in front of you and your heart immediately begins to pound faster. It’s him, the mystery man. His skin is still as beautiful as ever, his eyes and his lips still so remarkable. His face turns happy the moment he sees you, but also surprised and probably mirroring your face. He recognizes you, you think at least. He is easily recognizably, being in a Joker-costume but only having the slightest of make-up on. You are in full-covered clown make-up, making it a bit harder.
‘It’s my cry-baby!’ He exclaims as he closes the door behind him, walking up to you. ‘And you’re the mystery-man!’ You say in the same tone. He smiles with much joy, looking you up and down. He gives you a satisfies expression, grabbing your waist as he pulls you closer to him. You let out a little squeak, as your face now looks shocked by being this close to him. ‘I guess you’re now the Harley Quinn to my Joker, hmm?’ His voice is suddenly very deep, his face so close to yours as he barely touches your lips. You swallow, mouth watering by the beauty of this man. You allow yourself to let your hands slide up his torso. You want to feel him closer to you, the attraction is not normal. You feel his hands do the same thing, hands dragging up your skin and feeling every curve. Your whole body leans into his touch, maybe even pleading fro more. His expression is dark and even devilish as he shows a smirk.
‘You want more’, He notes and you let out a sigh upon feeling him grabbing your ass, squishing it softly. You haven’t let yourself being this open this quickly before, but you don’t think you will regret this. You let your hands slide down to his belt, slowly rubbing what’s under it and you can feel it grow under your tough. It was now his turn to let out a growl, pulling you closer as he curses: ‘Shit baby, you really are a horny bitch aren’t you.’ You’ve never been called this before, but you don’t mind. You only get wetter upon hearing him calling you things. You want him, now.
His lips finally touch you, as he had kept on teasing you. His kiss is filled with lust as he backs you up to the bathroom wall. He pins you up against it as you arch yourself into his body. You both breathe loudly into each other’s mouth, kissing with much passion, his hands holding yours high above your head. His kisses turn passionate and before you knew, were his lips on your neck. You feel your body rill by the feeling, knees feeling weak, as you want him to just fuck you against this very wall. You want all of him right now, dick pounding into you.
He suddenly lets you go, stepping away from you. He smirks down at you as you look confused back at him. He suddenly has your phone in his hands, your eyes widen as you try to grab it away from him. He just holds it very high in his hands, as he seems to dial someone. ‘Give back!’ You yell, jumping to get the phone, but he is too fast. He runs around as you follow him through the bathroom and when he is finished, he gives your phone back like nothing has happened. You frown at him, checking your phone on what he has just done.
‘That’s my number’, he says when you see he has called someone. You cock your head to the side. ‘I thought it would be nice to know you first before I-‘, he grabs your waist again and pulls you close, his lips beside your ear, ‘fuck you real good.’ You feel another wave of pleasure going through your body by hearing that sentence.
He lets you go again, winking at you before disappearing out of the room, back into the crowd. You just stand there, clothes everywhere and make-up ruined.
A/N: I have this story originally on my new Wattpad account: @a_sad_pandas_corner, where I will poste the episodes of this series more frequently. So if you want to keep up with the story I recommend you read it there :).
Chapter: Pilot
Genre: Loverboy!Taehyung, Fluff, Angst, smut
Paring: Taehyung X reader
Word-count: 945
Warnings: Abuse, unjust, anxiety, force, loverboys, sexual abuse, swearing, sexual content,
Summary: Only few can keep the good and the bad people apart in one look. When your first look upon Kim Taehyung found place, you thought you knew which of the two he was. Some people are wrong in those moments and will move on, but you aren’t ‘some people’ and that has gotten you at wrong places.
Your face remains down as you hear the door open. Every second suddenly feels like 10 more as the time goes on. You’re just sitting there, fixated on your feet which are carefully crossing each other on the ground, your hands squishing the fabric of the unfamiliar sheets. You can see your bruises, handprints which now paint your skin. It’s all so unfamiliar. The only thing that does feel familiar is that feeling. The feeling you always have during these 'moments’. Your heart pounds like you’ve just ran three marathons. Your head spins and you can’t fixate. You know that doesn’t just happen, that’s not something you’d usually do. It must be something in that damn drink they always give me. Sweat begins to drip off of your face, though he told me so often to stop that. How can I stop it?
It’s common for you to have these kind of 'thoughts’ during these 'moments’. You call them 'moments’, because the correct words make your heart ache. You know what’s awaiting you and you know you will feel about a thousand times worse and terrified than you are right now. If I just knew where I was. But you don’t and it wouldn’t matter if you did know. He says I can’t know anything, and that’s what you will go with. Knowing nothing will always be better than knowing something, certainly in this industry.
The door closes. finally, Just get it over with already.
The time it takes for these men to close the door, is nothing compared with the time they take to have to walk to you. It’s the moment they slowly reveal their ugly selves. They have zero shame for the things they do to girls like you. Though they are 'costumers’, it’s well known this isn’t legal. These girls aren’t allegedly letting themselves getting punched, tortured and sexual abused. They know what they are doing, but they don’t really give a fuck. And here you are, right on the spot where no fucks were given and you are the one getting literally nothing out of it besides hurt.
It has been about 2 days since you’ve been here, since that 'person’ had taken you to this place. It had been about 12 days since you even met this person and began to trust him. It’s so easy to fall for lies from others. So easy to fool others and get profit out of it. You knew this world excised, but more like 10 years ago. They were just stories and happened to a couple of girls around the country, you thought. But that It’d ever would’ve happened to you wouldn’t be something you would’ve expected. But here you are, in an unknown bed. Your own familiar clothes burned to ashes, letting you only wear the slightest of lingerie. Forcing you to lay there, chained up in this bed and letting men use you for nights-and-nights on. If you could choose between death and this, it wouldn’t be a hard choice anymore, if you were to ever get to a balcony. Or if they even have a balcony. Am I even in the city?
You slowly dare to look up at the man. He is tall, probably about mid-40s. His face is pale and tired. He could be someone’s father or husband, but no, he is in this room waiting for you to stand up and let him use you the way he wants to. Or maybe he is one of those gentle customers, though that isn’t common. With you, in your 2-day experiences, that hasn’t happened yet. Other girls in the building would be all happy when they had a 'softy’ and they would have finally been treated like a 'princes’ again. For these girls it has been too long. Too long that they had been suffered through these people and it has become the only thing they know. I need to stop fucking thinking. Thinking makes you feel just miserable. You will realise, over-and-over again, how bad your situation is. How bad you miss your family, your life. How much you regret you’ve chosen the wrong fucking guy. You could’ve just looked a little bit further than that fucking face of his, there must have been signs. How could you ever let this happen to you, why couldn’t you have been more careful?
Train of thoughts, which all these are, they will go away. Just like the saying goes: they are like trains. They come on by in a high speed, wheels making loud noises, making you feel nervous. The moment it passes you, you feel overwhelmed and a bit shaky, because the train is going so-so fast. It’s almost when it’s gone, that you’ve realized it was just a train and it’s nothing to be overwhelmed about. It passes like any other thought, it’s just a bit more scary than others. You just need to remind yourself to stay calm, then nothing will go wrong. But can it even get more wrong than the situation you’re already in and can’t get out?
'Hi sweetheart, you ready?’
You again look up at the big man. He is unbuttoning his blouse, dark eyes on his face as he does so. You feel all kinds of shivers running through your body as he seems to undress you with those bleak eyes, your alarm bells are going off like crazy upon seeing this man disclosing himself. Your body screams for you to stand up and walk right out of that door. But fuck, you know better. You know better than to walk out of there and let those men push you straight back inside. You know it is no use; you will only make it worse. They will make you worse.
'Why don’t you get on your knees?’
And it starts.
I guess I’ve become a emo now, but I don’t mind some depth in my work :)
Jin always made sure to treat you like a goddess. He has gentle touches on your body, especially with your nipples. His fingers would trail down from your collarbones, down to your breasts as you ride. His breathing would be loud and a moan would leave both of your mouths when he starts pinching your nipples. His touch left goosebumps all over your body. This man really knew how to make love to you and you wouldn’t trade it for anything else.
Yoongi:
Yoongi just loved your boobs. He would always put it in his mouth, as if he couldn’t live without them. His moves were always rough and it wouldn’t take him long to destroy your pussy after you released your boobs out in the air. He’d suck on your nipples hard and his tongue would make fast circles around them, making you just as hot as he was for you.
Hoseok:
For him it wouldn’t be necessary to have sex to play with your breasts. Sometimes he would just pin you down on the bed, sit on your waist and pull off your shirt. Your bra was off in no time too and then he’d start squashing your breasts together, of course in a gentle way. His thumbs would glide over your nipples, making them hard and perky. He loved the sight. he could do this the whole day, just laying on you and playing with your boobs until the time had come to sleep.
Namjoon:
Namjoon had the biggest kink for your boobs. He knew they were your weakness too and as the kinky shit he was, he would throw some BDSM-equipment into it. He’d attach your nipples to some chains, making them sensitive and maybe hurt a bit. You both liked it hard like this and he made fully use of that through these chains. He loved the way your boobs would bounce and swing around as he pounds into you from behind.
Jimin:
Jimin didn’t need to do much to turn you on. He would just have you seated on his lab, half naked. His hands would slowly make circles around your nipples. The tingling sensation would send you straight to heaven, getting your panties weak in a minute or less. Jimin loved to make you horny and needy like this for him. He didn’t need to do much more before you would go down on your knees and repay the favor. ‘You’re always so good for daddy.’
Taehyung:
Just as he had arrived home, he’d see you stand in your black lingerie. He noticed you were waiting for him, waiting for her boyfriend to fuck her right. He’d let his bag fall on the ground and would walk up to you. He’d loosen his tie before he scoops you up from the ground, bringing you to the couch and letting you down on his lab. His hands would pull down your bra and his lips would immediately be planted on your nipples. You’d moan out of relieve, being happy your boyfriend finally fulfills your needs. The one hand he has free, he would use to aggressively play with your nipples. This is why he loved to come home to you, you’re always full of surprises.
Jungkook:
Jungkook loved to play with your nipples. He’d always take his time with you, giving every boob it’s own amountof attention. His tongue would make small circles around your nipples before pulling on it, leaving your nipples hard and perky. He loved the moans and whines he dragged out of you by his actions.
