AngelAnya's Blog

Ateez/Exo/BTS/SKZ/TXT🖤💞multistan💞🖤 Far beyond 21+ Fairly new to Tumblr, as well as writing fanfics. Doing my best to write my feral thoughts so you can all suffer with me. Feel free to leave comments and feedback. It's very much appreciated! 💌

[anyamaris]

About Me!

Welcome to my blog- You can refer to me as Anya! I write Ateez fanfics, and am starting to write for more! I'm slowly warming up to multiple others. I also like to know a group fairly well before I'll write them, so if I don't know them well enough, I likely won't attempt anything.

My ults are Yeosang, Jin and Baekhyun. I also bias Kang Daniel, Soobin, Hoseok, and many others from other groups. 🤍💜🤍

Thank you to @kwanisms for the gorgeous banner here and for my blog header, you're amazing, talented, ridiculously magnificent and I adore you!!!!

Minors please do not interact with this blog.

Here are my masterlists for the groups I've written so far:

Ateez Masterlist

Stray Kids Masterlist

Exo Masterlist

TXT Masterlist

Kang Daniel

Jackson Wang (until I get a header for GoT7)

BTS Masterlist

Networks:

@ksmutsociety

@lapydiaries

@bangtanwritershq

@thebtswritersclub

I truly enjoy meeting and talking to other writers, as well as readers of all sorts of fandoms. Just because I don't write a group doesn't mean I don't enjoy reading, so feel free to talk to me about anyone or anything!

My current list of favorite groups/solo artists include (not extensive, I'm certain I'll add more or forget to put on here!):

Ateez

BTS

Exo

Stray Kids

Shinee

Kang Daniel

Woosung

Onewe

Oneus

TXT

Monsta X

The Boyz

Wavy

As I said, this list is not extensive, and there are groups I'm currently learning like Seventeen and NCT that I can't claim to be a true fan of just yet-though I'm certain I will eventually!

As I mentioned, I do write! I have not received many asks but just in case I do, here are things I will NOT write because I'm either not good at it or not very comfortable writing it for various reasons. I do know others who have plenty of experience and fics involving things I myself am uncomfortable writing so I'm happy to direct you to them in that case!

Will not write:

MxM (for now)

CP 🚫🚫

mommy!idol

Cheating on Idol

Idol cheating

Majority of parent fic types

ie. Idol is a parent or reader is a parent

Idol reactions to stuff-I'm just not good at them, sorry!

This list is also not extensive, I just won't write things I'm not comfortable with for personal reasons. Outside of anything underage, I know others who will write some of these and will pass info along!

Feel free to send an ask or don't be afraid to dm me if you have any questions or just want to say hi! I am fairly chaotic and I am also very chatty, so you have been warned!

Reblogging and comments are sooo appreciated so please do leave them! I read them and my heart soars when I know someone is enjoying my work. It means more than you know!

Have a great day and look forward to chatting and seeing you all around!

[potatomountain]

No More Running

PART of the LAPYDIARIES ADRENALINE ANTHOLOGY

- 8 members. 8 writers. Same au, same world! - Check out the other 7 as some are intertwined!

Pairing: Song Mingi x fem reader AU: post-apocalyptic, super powered, dystopian, e2l genre: dystopian, action, adventure, romance WC: 22k (she got out of hand and im not sorry) Estimated avg read time: 1 hr, 50 minutes Warnings: Mature rating, violence, gun fights, super powers, mentions of experimentation. e2l but mostly one-sided and not really enemies more perceived enemies. Choking, death threats, prisoner/hostage x captor. Lots of manhandling, illusions, speeding, mentions of death, minor character death, dry humping, fondling, cumming in pants. "there was only one bed" trope, restraints. Reader is called Rat/mouse and Baby (may be various other names), Mingi is a dick. Mingi is traumatized (all characters are to some extent ngl) Summary: Surviving in a wasteland a century after the near decimation of humanity has never been easy. All it takes is being in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and suddenly you're trying to prove your innocence without even knowing why. Just that the fearsome captor of yours is someone you don't want to hate you. And the people he brings you around are too likeable to want to move on from. Living your life on the run no longer seems like a way of life worth living. Main Masterlist

Author's note (PLEASE READ): so I have been working on this for months and it's been a slow process because it was a collab. a crossover collab. There was a lot of back and forth to make sure things aligned nicely and we all liked the ideas and world we built. Some of the 8 of us kept our stories pretty solo and some, like me, wanted to include others. So keep in mind that every other member and oddly named character is one of the other writer's! It's their reader and the member they curated for this piece. This also means you can see THIS Mingi in the other fics. There are going to be scenes told from multi POV's and there are also going to be some inconsistencies we did our best to smooth out. Each story can still be read as a standalone but please feel free to read the others. In fact, to better understand the Mingi here, I highly recommend reading the others! This entire 22k is from reader's pov. There are aspects I wrote about Mingi that didn't get showcased. I enjoyed writing this so much. The slow burn, the world, the crossover's. I know it's a chunky fic for tumblr. I know it's not the usual cup of tea (the spice isnt until way later and pretty brief) I really hope you all enjoy this and pls please PLEASE give feedback and check out the other's for a better, more amazing picture!

Last but not least: Dividers by me, Banner was made by @yourfatherlucifer , beta reader was my lovely @bunnliix and biggest shout out to @sanjoongie for making this one of my favorite pieces to work on! if you see any mistakes pls ignore. I suck at editing and this was a big piece im so tired bruh will link the Adrenaline Anthology masterlist as soon as it's available!

Fear is a powerful motivator.

Like gasoline in your blood, pumping through your veins with each ragged breath, ready to explode at any second. Every step further and further. Every paranoid glance around.

Blood pumping so viciously it felt like a physical drumming on your skull and chest as you darted down another alley in search for freedom.

But freedom isn’t for you. There was a time when you might have thought so, that you were free to an extent. Yet it had been shattered and spewn across the dusty sands along with the blood and chunks of human flesh that had been your parents.

Nights like this was just another reminder of how much freedom you lacked. How it came at such a high price, instilling the fuel of fear into your blood like a drug.

Most raids you had lived through were stealthy, though you can count on both hands the amount of raids you had lived through in your twenty something years of life. Or was it thirty now? You would be lying if you said you knew what year it was, let alone just how old you had been when you had lost both parents and freedom alike.

Needless to say, not all raids were stealthy and quiet and easy to avoid. Those ones ended as soon as they found whoever they wanted, and it was never you. But these ones? Where gunfire and explosions and screams could be heard around the rubble turned town? They had no specific target. These were the raids you were sure were attacked just because of the sheer amount of people living there. Or lack thereof. Like they just had a hunch the population held what they wanted.

You didn’t want answers, if only because you thought it would steal any remaining freedom you might still have. To keep yourself from being tethered to whatever these strange men were looking for- that they thought you had.

A nearby yell told you that your current hiding spot in this alley was not safe, so quickly you scrambled up and rushed across the cool sand to the other end of the alley, hissing when you tripped over buried debris that wasn’t deep enough in the sand to avoid.

Somehow you managed to roll out of sight and into the shadows of the stone and metal half destroyed construct, realizing too late that beyond the large slabs of broken wall and concrete there was no escape from this alley. Not without climbing too high on wavering debris where you would surely be seen in the moonlight up there, no guarantee the other side was safe. For all you knew it could be a chasm in the earth, small ones littered all over the wasteland from the occasional earthquakes over the years, sometimes too subtle to notice until the ground was sinking beneath you.

No, it would be best to turn around and- shit.

You had a split second to sink yourself further into the shadows of the debris, glancing over your shoulder at the mountainous rubble to see if perhaps a hiding place would work. Your one saving grace was that the masked men now standing a few yards from you had their attention elsewhere.

Well at least they didn’t see me when I crossed the path, you bemused in your head, pulling your hood up and over your face more to try and hide in the shadows. It was both a blessing and a curse that the moon was full and free tonight, guiding your way but making it hard to hide.

Maybe you should have stayed where you had been sleeping since the men hadn’t scoured the buildings as you had thought. No, you just had to run, fear of being caught and dragged to who knows where causing you to flee.

Why is it that when the intense urge to flee over takes your body you always seem to make the wrong decision?? 

Holding your breath to try and still your rapid heartbeat- that you were sure the men would be able to hear if they tried- you could only watch wide-eyed as they charged.

Not at you, but another group from the other end. They had taken off after a deep… bark? And from your spot attempting to become one with two pieces of wall and shadow, a fight ensued.

At first you only saw the masked men in all black, and a second group of men. Shirtless, heads and faces covered with masks, bandana’s, and hats. What weapons there were found new homes in the sand beneath their feet, turning the fight into an all out brawl. It was clear the shirtless men weren’t trying to kill like the masked men were.

When one was tossed face first into the sand at the entrance of your alley your blood burned with the need to run again. They were so close. They just had to look up and-

Shaking from the fear and need to flee, you risked a glance over your shoulder again to look for a better hiding space. The man was dragged off without noticing you and you were quick to climb a bit deeper into the mountain of debris, small enough you could fit almost completely behind another section of wall. 

Terrified of being discovered, you situated yourself so the top half of your head was peaking over the wall, gripping the stone with trembling fingers. 

Fate was cruel to have this battle right where you could see. Why couldn’t they just move on already?

Another deep bark, this time closer, drew your attention to the left. A new figure stepped into the scene, moonlight illuminating his back and casting his front in shadow. Pale blue hair was slicked back wildly down over his nape and into a black military type jacket with worn golden accents fluttered as he moved with surprising ease between the men fighting.

He was tall, dark, and fierce. And you had no idea which side he was on.

Something told you that it didn’t matter, he was dangerous.

He moved like the eye of a sandstorm, the chaos continuing around him but left him untouchable. As if he was above it all, or the others around him were so beneath him they were just that unworthy of a glance.

The fact he stared ahead as he effortlessly pushed the men out of the way, every step like an effortless dodge or defense, the feeling running through your veins was even more painful than before.

Like alarm bells going off in your skull, positive if you so much as breathed he would be on you like a hell hound tearing into his next meal.

The apprehension in the pit of your stomach only grew when a few men charged at him from behind and he effortlessly turned as if he sensed it. They stumbled, your heart skipped a terrified beat, both in response to the fierce and cocky expression now illuminated by the moonlight.

The shirtless men around tried to back pedal as if they knew what was coming. The others charging the stranger finding out first hand what that was.

As if he knew just how to kick the man closest to him for maximum damage, you watched in cold awe as the man flew back right into his comrades, all of them falling like a domino effect. One or two of the shirtless men got pushed down in the way, but they were all quick to disarm and restrain the men in black.

The blue-haired man watched with something akin to cold nonchalance and you were certain he had known that was going to happen.

Just like that the fight was over. This stranger swooping in and ending it with such natural ease it was something to admire.

You would hate to be on his bad side.

No sooner had you thought that, exhaling the breath you had definitely held too long, that the air seemed to shift. It was easy to miss if you weren’t still so high strung and on high alert.

Like a wolf that had smelled its prey, the man’s head snapped in your direction. Dark eyes locked onto yours, his sharp jaw clenching hard enough you could see it from where you were hidden. High cheekbones, hard angles around his eyes and the sharp and straight nose; everything about him was hard edges and fierce danger. You swore his eyes reflected the moonlight, or like they glowed from within.

Before you could even process if you were seeing things, he was already marching directly your way. As if your body finally registered that you were in danger and needed to move, you quickly started scrambling up the debris behind you even if it would result in a dead end. He was bigger than you, maybe he wouldn’t follow-

With a cry you were pulled back so suddenly and thrown through the air behind you. Vaguely you registered that he had yanked you by the back of your jacket but before you could think of a reaction, that same fabric was hitting the packed sand. 

Unlucky for you the same debris beneath the sand you trip over earlier found your head with a harsh thunk. It left you further disorientated and unable to do anything as you were suddenly pinned down, arms at your sides and legs pressed tightly together between two knees.

You could only stare up at the twisted and fierce features above you, even more sharp angles from the shadows of the moonlight. The skin around his eyes a deeper shade like makeup or some discoloration of his skin, making the fierce narrow blue gray of his eyes feel as if a dragon was staring you down.

The snarl on his wide lips only intensified that feeling.

“Who are you?” The deep timbre felt like a piercing knife.

And under all this, with your head throbbing from the pain of injury, your lungs felt like closing in. This was how you die. By a beautiful warrior ready to kill you for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Your lips moved soundlessly, attempting to get something out. A name, a purpose, but none came to mind.

None but the soft plea of “please don’t kill me”.

Pain shot out from your skull down your neck as the man above you slammed you back on the ground, your head once again hitting the buried object, the sand making the impact blunt enough to do more than bruise and jar your brain. Suffocating on your own fear at the impact, you barely noticed his eyes taking on a glow as if from within.

“I will if you don’t give me a straight fucking answer! Do you work for them?! Are you spying on us?!” Spit hit your cheek as he screamed mere inches from you, jostling you further.

“No! I was just passing through. T-the fighting woke me up and I just ran! I swear-” You gasped.

The man above you didn’t seem pleased, snarling back his lip as he yelled “lies!”

It was by some luck one of the shirtless men was nearby and tried to vouch for you. “I saw her earlier at the market.”

“Oh yeah?” The stranger’s head snapped up to turn his fierce glare on his companion. “Was she wearing the mark of that blasted place then?!” He grabbed at your jacket, paused to glance down and then started patting the dark fabric. Each pat had his brow furrowing more and more in confusion. “Why the fuck can I not touch it? What’s your fucking ability, rat?” The bystander tried to see what his companion saw, only to tremble and step back. He let out a panicked yell and then ran.

Your fear felt ten times more weighted on your chest now, eyes burning as if they were full of gasoline. You were just as confused as they were. “Please- let me go-” Your voice trembled, trying to reel in your fear, knowing that when your emotions were high it was hard to understand what was going on. Hell, half the time you didn’t understand even when you were once again level headed. It didn’t even phase you any more when someone just ran when you were scared. Were you a scary sight as a tiny trembling woman?

Because what did he mean mark that he can’t touch? What ability? You were nobody with nothing important, could he not see that?

Just someone at the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Please…” You tried again, noting his paler complexion now.

He seemed to be at war with himself over your plea, his expression softening for a moment, just the barest, before hardening back into a scowl.

“Like hell I’m letting a rat run back to it’s master’s.” A deep snarl before he was yanking you up onto your feet.

With a yelp you could only go along with him, his large hands enveloping your smaller wrists, making you feel as tiny as a rat. But you weren’t a rat, or a mouse or an animal. The sudden pull to your feet had your head spinning, your fear so suffocating that you realized you hadn’t been breathing right.

Not that the other cared as you swayed on your feet, instead wrapping an arm around your waist and yoinking you up and over his shoulder. The motion was so sudden and jarring that your vision was spotted for a moment. “Take care of the other rats.” He barked out, moving in the direction that he had originally come from.

Resigned to your fate you shut your eyes, hands grabbing the back of the jacket just to steady yourself. He moved fast, long legs gliding over the sands beneath his feet as if no grain dared to mess up his gait.

There were murmurs as he passed the others, fear and other such tones heard even if the words weren’t as clear. 

“- not scared?” “So much bl-”

“-not what I see.”

“Creepy.”

They were afraid of you for some reason. How did you appear to them? When you looked in the mirror you thought you were the least threatening person out there. Right?

It hurt to think about and your head was pounding. The tears wanted to fall and the fear burned in your veins.

Years you had run, avoiding capture though you never understood why anyone would want to capture you. Now that you were caught, you were just so tired.

Your only hope was that the man who held you on his shoulder like a sack of junk wouldn’t kill you. The ones he had fought had no problem killing people after all.

They killed your parents.

So maybe, just maybe, you would be fine.

That spark of hope loosened the knot in your throat to finally let you breath enough to relax. Just enough to let that insistent throb in your head take over and consciousness to leave you.

When you woke, it was due to getting thrown from your seat. If you could call it a seat. 

Your head hit the rough metal roof, limbs tangling themselves as you found yourself in a cramped space, half on a worn seat. A loud rumble vibrated the seat and space, which you quickly realized was a vehicle. 

Another jolt had you realizing that it was moving and you were in the backseat. Your hands had done a good job of keeping your head from bashing into the roof again, gaze taking in your surroundings a bit better.

The windows were all missing save for the front one, and even that was cracked to bits and barely holding on. Sand flew in from all the windows and you had to quickly pull your own goggles down to save your eyes, the man in front of you wearing shades himself and some black military hat with worn gears sown into it. The jacket was now removed and the white tee shirt he wore was covered in sweat and sand from the hot sun. One long muscled arm was on the makeshift steering wheel, the other moving the gearshift with ease.

The “jolts” were the vehicle going over the sand dunes, the half buried settlement no longer in sight behind you but you could make out some sort of old broken road for miles just over the last couple dunes behind the vehicle. So the two of you had been going for awhile? Truthfully you hoped he had rested before taking you away.

Where was away anyways? “Um… where are we going?” He shot a glance over his shoulder and smirked. Suddenly your stomach was swooping from more than just the jostling of the car. “So it finally wakes up."

Okay, ouch. You weren’t an it. “Hard to sleep when you get pelted into a metal roof.”

“Oh I imagine.” Did he just pick up speed?

Holding onto the door as tightly as you can after the vehicle flew over another dune, you felt sick to your stomach. Maybe you were wrong and he really was going to kill you.

He didn’t say anything after that, and you were too sick and disorientated to attempt speaking again. Instead you held on, whining in pain any time your still throbbing skull hit the roof or your butt hit the uncomfortable worn leather seat beneath you. You swore you could feel the springs of it poking your ass every time it came down.

The sun was high in the sky but had already started its descent by the time the desert dunes gave way to the road again, and then shortly after a settlement came into view. Vaguely you remembered it, you had been to so many over the years after all. Another small one but it was more well built than the one you had just been at. In the distance you could see a larger settlement. Maybe one of the city ones. 

Maybe you were being dramatic when the vehicle stopped just outside the small settlement and you opened the door with the intention of hugging the ground. “Sweet land~”

The man who had taken you was a lunatic. Who drives like a mad man? Like he would drive right off a cliff if one was in his way?!

You didn’t even mind the bit of sand that got in your mouth, spitting it out and wiping off the grains with the back of your hand. 

Like the madman he was proving to be, he just picked you up as if you weighed nothing and tossed you back on his shoulder. With a whine you accepted your fate.

Maybe that made you a coward or a quitter to not fight back, but you weren’t a fighter and he certainly was. Running was your usual go to and that was out of the question, so you would just have to go along and hope everything makes sense eventually. Most of all, you hoped that you weren’t in any danger.

Unsure when the man was going to let you down - or if he would let you speak- your eyes darted around. There were a few merchant stalls in what looked like the town square. The couple dozen buildings boarded up and protected with the wall wrapped around the settlement made of debris of metal, cement, and anything large. There was even a large old neon sign that said “Drive-In” as part of it.

No different than most small settlements. A lot of them were areas that weren’t completely destroyed, usually off main roads that were still intact even after a century or so. And never too far from larger settlements like the city just on the horizon. Small settlements were with people that didn’t want to deal with the self appointed government or the rebellion, or any powerful movements.

At least that’s what you gathered. Most people didn’t pay attention to the forces building around them, just trying to survive in the wasteland that was the world.

What was a bit strange though, was that small settlements weren’t the nicest to strangers. Not with fear of bandits or the raids. And yet it was not lost on you how a few of the merchants called out to the man carrying you. “Welcome back! I have new supplies if you’re interested.” One of the traders said as the two of you passed, just for his eyes to land on you and widen considerably. 

All you could offer was a shy wave and smile, jostled with every step of the body holding you up. Honestly you were starting to get light-headed from all the blood running to your head.

Before you could mention it, suddenly the two of you were inside and you were set down at a booth, ass nearly missing a loose spring. That would have hurt like a bitch.

“Stay right here.” His deep voice rumbled with a warning glare before he was turning towards someone at a makeshift bar.

He crossed the distance with considerable ease, said something to the older woman behind the counter, and then set a few bits of payment down before immediately making his way back to you.

In all that short time you definitely let your eyes wander. With the daylight it was easier to make out his features; just as fierce as you expected but the plump lips were definitely a showstopper. Wide shoulders accentuated by the white tee that had a light dusting of sand on the fabric, and a gaudy golden sash around his small waist, hanging down to his knees. It wasn’t the only thing on his waist, two belts at different angles holding a water skin and dagger, all hanging over dark pants that showed just how long his legs were.

It was entirely unfair that he looked like a damn wet dream and nightmare at the same time.

He paused on the other side of the small rickety table that had some stained cloth as a poor tablecloth. One eyebrow lifted as he stared you down and you were positive he looked almost amused. The expression was gone after a mere second and he easily slid into the booth next to you, throwing his arm over the back as a silent threat.

That left you stuck between the towering gorgeous captor and the rusty, painful looking spring. It made the top ten of uncomfortable but not horrible positions you have been in.

It was worse that he didn’t say anything. You had no idea why you were here, where here was, or his intentions. Meaning you had to pull your big girl panties on and ask “Um… Sir?”

“Shut up.” He hissed, not even looking in your direction.

Instantly you stiffened, hands on your knees as you worried your bottom lip in between your teeth.

“But I would like to know what is going on? I won’t run off or anything just- eek!” You jumped when he slammed the side of his fist on the table, fear shooting through down your spine to make it ramrod straight.

“Didn’t I say to shut up?!” He growled- growled- like a damn dog as he narrowed his eyes on your much smaller figure. Another squeal left you as his hands grabbed at your jacket again, positive he probably could smell your fear at this point. “This wasn’t there a minute ago. What the fuck are you doing? Stop it!” Sounds escaped your too tight throat as you tried to explain you weren’t doing anything, just scared. You didn’t know what he was seeing. His words made no sense. No sound you made seemed to appease him, the leather clad fingers of his now wrapped around your throat as if it could make your pathetic sounds make sense.

At a loss on what to do your eyes darted around the room for help. Anyone. Surely someone would be willing to- ah the bar lady! She was watching across the room, eyes wide but clearly confused by the two of you. She caught your gaze, and all you could do was try and plead with your eyes.

Desperate for her help.

Her expression shifted in an instant, her footsteps like thunder mixing with the rush of blood in your ears. And then- “Mingi! What are you doing to that poor girl?! She’s clearly frightened!” “She works for them! See? The logo right here, that’s from the lab!” The man hissed out, tightening his grip on your throat. The pain burned as much as the tears building up behind your lashes. Keeping your gaze on the woman and pleading was all you could do, mouthing help as if she really could.

She did. A gun was pulled on him, holding it up while the woman looked absolutely furious. “You’ve finally lost your fucking marbles, Min. There ain’t no logo  there. I just see a scared, injured little woman who is terrified of you and blue in the face. Now get. The fuck. Off her!” She cocked the revolver, surprisingly in good condition, and that finally gave him pause.

Your gaze met his- Mingi’s- and you pushed down your fear as much as you could to show your sincerity that you were not a threat. This close you could see the shift of emotion in his blue-gray eyes; the anger and fear to confusion. They searched yours for any sign of… well you didn’t know what but judging from the way his fingers loosened and the shame the momentarily colored his face, you didn't think he found it.

Gasping for breath when the hand was finally off your throat, your own fingers gingerly touched the now bruised skin. Mingi seemed to adjust himself a bit further from you and turn his attention to the woman. The woman who had just saved your life, earning a raspy “thank you” from your throat. You hadn’t realized he had been choking you that hard, too caught up in your own fear and desperation.

Assured there was no more immediate danger the woman put her gun away and offered you a small smile. “‘Course sweet thang. I don’t know why this brute tried to wring your pretty neck after he just paid for a meal for ya both but I’m sure he is gonna tell you as I go get your food. If he tries it again, he won’t be living this little hole without a hole in his head. Understood?” She aimed the last word at the ‘brute’ next to you.

“Yes.” He grumbled, almost dejectedly.

Satisfied that he listened, the woman turned on her heel and headed back to a door behind the bar. There was no one else in the place at the moment so you were sure there was nothing stopping him from finishing the job he just failed at, but several moments passed without any threat. 

You were starting to think he wasn’t going to explain like the bar woman had told him to, resigned to it even when he did speak. It caught you off guard enough you jumped again, earning a look from him you couldn’t decipher.

“I swear you work for them. The fuckers who do the raids. Kidnap people. I wouldn’t be surprised if they used someone with adrenaline as a spy out here, like a dirty fucking rat. If it’s useful enough.”

Okay that answered literally zero of your questions and just gave you more.

Adrenaline?

He thought you were a spy? To help the people that murdered your parents?

A soft chuff-like laugh escaped you, making you wince from the pain in your throat. “She’s right. You really lost your marbles.”

He didn’t seem to like that judging by the flash of fury over his features. Immediately you shut up. Whether he was insane or not, he was powerful and capable of ending your life whenever he wanted. You might be safe for the moment but once you left this settlement with him -which you were sure was going to happen- he had nothing stopping him.

Attempting to appear sheepish from your outburst you turned your attention back to your hands and the worn and holey gloves that covered them. “I don’t get what you mean, like at all, but if it clears my name or whatever, I’ll go wherever you need me to go to prove my innocence. I also don’t like the suggestion I work with those mask men. They- they have been nothing but a source of pain for me and I would rather not be associated with them.” Hesitantly you spared him a glance. “So- I’ll do whatever you ask of me until you believe me when I say I’m nothing you claim I am.”

Another undecipherable expression, shifting over and over again, like circling through the same thoughts. Until finally- “I am taking you to a contact of mine. I trust that he can properly determine if you belong with them or not.”

“And if he proves I am innocent?” something told you that it wouldn't be enough to be set free.

The gaze he fixed you with all but confirmed it. “Then we figure out what the fuck you are doing to throw my sense off. It's never wrong.”

“Your… sense?” Would anything he says not confuse you for once?

He was saved by the woman returning with two metal plates of food. Some kind of meat, potatoes, even some bread. Your mouth watered at the sight even if it looked dry, there was water set down as well.

Mingi didn't bring it up again and you were too distracted by the food to do so yourself. However, for the first time, you didn't like that it was left unanswered.

For the first time you did question your reality. Not to know why the raids were done. Or what made you similar to the ones they were after.

You wanted answers just so you knew why your captor thought so low of you. You wanted to know what he saw, and why he did. And most of all, you wanted to know if he would ever look at you as something else than an enemy.

Being carried like a sack of junk was a running theme at this point, but he didn't seem to mind that you held yourself up to stare at more than his ass- if he hadn't tried to strangle you, you would admit it was a very nice ass.

After the meal, which he had been scolded for the duration of by the bar woman- who had introduced herself as Mox-, Mingi had carried you back out. He stopped at the trader who had called out earlier, looking at his wares and making a purchase you couldn’t see since you were once more just trying to make sure your face didn’t collide with the other’s rear end.

He was definitely less scary like this, being face to bum.

You were getting lightheaded again by the time you were unceremoniously dropped into the passenger seat of his vehicle, wincing as your butt met more than the seat. He just pulled you forward to take the item- some communicating device by the looks of it- and then set you back in the seat. 

The drive to the city(because of course that’s where he’s going) was silent and only a little less scary than the ride to the settlement. It was spent mostly keeping the sand out of your face and not swerving out the window when he made a sharp turn to avoid a hole in the road. Reckless and dangerous.

It would be a scary fact if you didn’t think it came from some sort of confidence he had. Which, sad to admit to yourself, was attractive.

He didn’t take the vehicle into the city though, stashing it by some rubble just outside after he had roughly deposited you on some rock to wait. Then it was back over his shoulder as he headed right in.

You lost track of time as you glanced around as best you could, constantly having to adjust your hood that got in the way. The city was busy, and much nicer than surrounding settlements.

That was until you had presumably gotten to the slums. 

While there was technology throughout most of the city, from speakers to some cameras and working lights and appliances, it was much less lit up and much more run down. There had been a lot of construction in what you thought was the city center.

Here it did look like most other settlements just with the addition of power. Probably working water. Would you be able to bathe or shower? Now that sounded like a grand time.

The deeper into the slums you went, the more you noticed everyone looked at you two in the same two different ways. Either with suspicion or wary; or a nod of acknowledgement. Well, they looked at Mingi that way. Everyone just gave you a look of suspicion. Or dare you say disgust.

It was starting to get really uncomfortable being on his shoulder like this, especially after another near miss with a cart passing by. “Hey Mingi?”

“What?” Well at least he didn’t tell you to shut up this time.

“You said we are meeting a contact of yours right? Are we almost there? I’d like to be able to use my own feet again.” There was only some hope that he would find your joke humorous, but it was met with the same brick wall that was your captor.

He didn’t reply or react until a bit later. “Here.” He pushed through some doors, down a hall, and then into another door. Music is what you heard first, low enough you couldn’t make out where it was coming from, but it was nice none-the-less. Pushing yourself up you took in where you were and-

It was a bar. He brought you to a bar.

Odd place for a contact to prove you weren’t some secret spy but he was an odd guy so nothing off the point yet. The strangest thing is the place looked trashed, like a storm had come through or a- no, no way it was a raid, right?

Getting used to this by now your bum didn’t hurt that bad when he set you down on a stool at the bar. “Stay here.” He grumbled but not like you had any plans to move. This seat was actually the comfiest one you’ve sat on all day.

Without waiting for a sign you were going to follow his order he was off, heading down the bar and towards a door that was half behind it. Just as someone stepped out. “Watch where you're--Silver?!”

The woman who had collided with his chest looked up and her face fell. “Mingi?”

He did not seem to like the other and for a moment your heart went out to them. You knew first hand what it was like to be on the receiving end of his ire and it was a scary thing.

Before the woman could say anything, you noticed someone else next to them. They seemed happy to see your captor even. “Hey, Mingi, what can I do for you?” The gorgeous man greets Mingi with a half hug. Of course he’s friendly with gorgeous people- no, you didn’t let that thought spiral either.

“I’ve got this rat that I need you to look into,” He jabbed a thumb in your direction and you tried not to flinch at the action.

“Rat?” His eyes followed the direction Mingi pointed before landing on you. “Her?”

“I found her when I was trying to break up a--” Mingi’s eyes shoot towards the silver haired woman, which on closer inspection you recognized. How could you ever forget the one woman you spent a whole raid with hiding out. That sort of camaraderie was not easily forgotten, even as a wanderer yourself. Mingi did not seem to share the sentiment considering the glare he shot her way, “Can we talk somewhere else?”

The too-gorgeous man tilted his head in answer. “Certainly. Silver, my office is--”

“Without her?” Mingi cut him off rather rudely in your opinion. You shot the woman, Silver, a smile of understanding. Did this Mingi dislike anyone who’s been a victim of a raid before or something?

The other shook his head. “No can do, Mingi. If you haven’t noticed, the bar just got raided. I’ve got to keep Silver close by.” Ah so you were right. A raid. That was- your anxiety spiked a bit, head falling to hide your expression. Maybe you should ask why they-

Mingi scoffed. “She’s probably the reason you had the raid. Not exactly conspicuous, an invisible girl.”

His animosity was clear and you could hear how it made Silver guarded from her tone “That’s literally the definition of inconspicuous, Mingi.”

“Hey.” You lifted your head at the deep warning word to see the man put a hand on Mingi’s chest as if to hold him back. “She’s with me, whether you like it or not. But we should go back to my office.”

Realizing that they were leaving you glanced up, meeting eyes with Silver first and offering a wave and a shy smile as if that could encourage her. Just for Mingi to snap at you. Really you didn't mean to flinch but he sounded so pissed off.

“Don’t fucking move, I’ll be right back.” He barked out before following the two out of sight.

You stayed right where you were, playing with the bar and taking it all in. There was a pool table in good condition, and even under the debris it looked like a nice bar. Maybe when all this is over you could get a drink? Right here in this bar? Maybe talk with Silver? 

What if…?

Maybe you did want to move now, suddenly restless with thoughts and feelings you realized you never let yourself have. What if you had friends? What if you had someone to laugh and cry with? Make memories with? Someone you could come to a bar like this and just enjoy being alive?

Why couldn’t you do that? Just enjoy being alive? For once?

The memory of your parents dying for you flashed in your head as a reminder. Because that’s what happens when you don’t worry about dying. 

The sound of raised voices- Mingi’s voice- drew your attention. You looked up to hear a door slam and then Mingi was in sight marching in your direction with a fierce expression, much like when he had when fighting those men. “Everything alright?”

He paused just before you, chest heaving and glare sharp enough to feel like daggers piercing your skull. Despite that, the fear you expected didn’t rise. Not until he snapped his hand out and grabbed your shirt, yanking you close enough his breath fanned your face. “I will kill you if you really aren’t innocent. Understand?”

A spike of fear shot down your spine because you believed him. You believed him and that he would kill you even if you are proven innocent, just doesn’t meet his standards.

“Y-You have to actually give me a chance first you know?” You choked out, hands coming to rest on his in an attempt to pull him off or appease him- really you didn’t know which.

“Why should I?! You have that logo! I don’t trust what Silver said about knowing you- maybe you bugged her?”

There was a crazy look in his eyes, like he wasn’t seeing you, or even the present. 

“Mingi-” He jostled you, dropping you back down on the stool for a moment and looking away. You recognized that same battle on his features from before and it occurred to you that his blatant hatred for you wasn’t for you at all, but something you reminded him of.

Once more your parents faces flash in your mind, knowing damn well what it feels like when the past haunts you. “I want to prove my innocence, not manipulate you or anything. I- I want to know why you dislike me so much or are so convinced I am out to get you. I don’t know why those raids happen, just that those men are bad and they hurt others. They killed my parents for getting in the way once. A long time ago. And I’ve just been trying to get by since. I swear I have nothing to do with them if you think I am with them. And if you just… just give me a chance. And let your friend prove it I-” You swallowed hard, not sure what you could offer outside of your life.

Nothing else needed to be said though, he no longer looked ready to rip your head off. Your desperation to be heard must have reached him. “Fine. I will… consider you innocent until Yeosang tells me otherwise. Until then we are laying low.” He grabbed your arm then and pulled you off the stool.

Even if his grip hurt a little, he was letting you walk with him, right out the door. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a step in the right direction.

Hopefully it didn’t take too long for his friend- Yeosang he said- to tell him that you were innocent. But maybe long enough for you to figure out just what it is about you that makes your captor so quick to anger. 

What in his past was he running away from too?

He was quiet on the trek back out of the city, only making one stop at a street vendor grabbing food. Rice balls and some meat on skewers that you couldn't name for the life of you. It was a lesson long ago not to try and guess what you were eating as long as it was edible and didn't taste like dung. He didn't say anything as he gave you a small portion, pulling you along once more but now out of the city.

Back in his vehicle, more silence. It was almost unnerving by now, though you should take it as a good sign since he wasn't sneering in your direction or making accusations. You weren't about to look a gift horse in the mouth, eating the food given to you as quickly as the other.

It took the water bottle handed to you for you to realize just how parched you were. The heat was no joke in the wasteland, water scarce outside of cities and settlements that have made due. It was an effort not to down the bottle, and to ignore the unreadable expression on Mingi's face.

You weren't sure what to make of him when he wasn't glaring or cautious of you, and that expression was neither. Best to ignore it, hold some small hope in the back of your mind it was a good sign.

It was silence once more when he started driving, this time in the opposite direction the two of you had come from. You didn't bother asking where he was taking you now, only hoping that it wouldn't end with your head rolling.

He didn't bother offering an answer either, just drove.

And drove.

And drove.

Not nearly as maniac as before but you were starting to miss the back seat as you were jostled left and right in the small space, too afraid to jostle towards the other and receive backlash that would shatter this fragile truce the two of you seemed to have.

So by the time the sun was setting on the horizon and a small settlement much like the one this morning pulled into view, you had hopes of meeting the ground again.

And much like the morning, you did face plant into the rough sand as he pulled to a stop, adding some dramatics under your breath. "I will never take solid ground for granted again."

"Can you shut up?" Mingi barked from the other side, getting out and making his way around the car in quick strides thanks to his long legs. "Get up, we're staying here for the night."

Ah so not a permanent stop? Though the locals seemed to be friendly with Mingi here too, a guard of sorts waving in his direction and a young teenager running up and babbling something to him about gas and a room.

They paid you no mind, not even when Mingi yanked you up by your bicep, apparently too impatient to wait for you to stand up yourself. Rude, but your mouth stayed shut.

You couldn't forget your life was in his hands. Maybe you could fight back. Take the weapon he had in his holster and use it against him, but you had the feeling that just the thought alone of doing so would have your head bashed into the ground. Instinct said Mingi was not a man to try and fight. You had no chance of winning.

Not like you were a fighter either. You were, as ironic as it was, a mouse. You hide and run and make yourself as small as possible to avoid conflict and pain. How fitting he would call you a rat, even if you didn't like it.

You were pulled into a rundown shop front, dragged along as he caught what looked like a key tossed in his direction before you were pulled down a narrow hall, last door on the right. The rotting wood beneath your feet creaked with every step until you were both stepping into a small room.

Small room, one bed, no window, and just a rickety wooden chair next to the smallest table you had ever seen. It was more an armrest for the chair than a table.

"Sleep. We leave first thing in the morning." He nudged you towards the bed and shut the door. He had to squeeze past you to the chair, groaning as he sat down and dropped a small bag on the floor next to his leg. You hadn't even noticed that he had brought a bag.

But you noticed the gun he set on the narrow table, finger on the trigger as he jutted his chin to the bed.

You scrambled over to it and climbed onto the lumpy mattress, though it was still better than the hard floor you had slept on often.

Laying on your side, up against the wall, there was probably enough room for him to lay down if he wanted, but with the way he was looking at you, like the slightest wrong move he would shoot, had you believing he wouldn't take you up on the offer if you spoke it.

Worth a try though right? He clearly hasn't slept since he found you. And you had no idea how long before then he had last slept.

"You should sleep too Mingi. You need rest."

His eyes lowered from your frame to empty spot on the bed. For a moment his gaze wavered, his exhaustion apparent.

You pushed.

"I won't do anything. But if you don't trust me you can tie me up or something. You just… you should sleep." It wasn't lost on you that he could have tied you up to the chair and slept himself, but he had given you the bed to let you sleep. "It wouldn't do you any good to be sleep deprived." Mingi was silent, appearing as if he was mulling over your words. So you didn't expect him to stand up and start removing the sash.

What?

Squealing, you quickly backed up, hands floundering in front of you. "Please keep your clothes on!"

He scoffed- or chuckled- kneeling on the bed and grabbing both of your wrists. "I'm not a monster, I wouldn't force myself on my enemy. I have no need to force myself on someone if I want them."

That stung, though you couldn't pinpoint why. Just whimpering as he tugged your wrists in front of you and started looping the golden sash around them. Soon enough they were tied together, tight but not digging into your flesh. That's all you could ask you suppose.

It still puzzled you why the words stung. Maybe his insistence that you were some harmful person? When you haven't done anything to really earn such a view.

Maybe you took his words to heart more as a woman than as a person. Why would you want him to want you though?

"Face the wall." He ordered before rolling you over anyways. He adjusted your body with a clear disinterest, chipping that ache deeper. There was a dip in the bed as he got up, the small, buzzing light in the room was turned off the next second, and then another dip in the bed.

Despite facing the wall, you were hyper aware of his every movement. Every shift of his body as he got comfortable. His large hand found your waist like a heavy weight that knocked the breath out of you.

It burned even through the clothes. His grip was tight, breath on the back of your neck as he let out a few huffs in his effort to situate himself. The bed wasn't long enough for his legs and they ended up bent and pressed against your own, one over top yours.

You had never laid so close to someone before, your heart racing in your chest and heat burning your cheeks. Was this normal? While your legs were entangled, there was distance between your torsos, like it would physically burn him if he got too close.

That odd stinging was back in your chest.

"How do you know her?" His deep voice practically vibrated the air, blowing heat onto your back.

"Who?"

"That bi- the woman earlier. Silver."

"Oh." Licking your lips you thought back to the closest to a friend you had before. "We hid together during a raid. When we weren't quite yet adults. It was an accident really. We both slid into the same rundown shack to hide from the other men, too scared to speak since we could hear them right outside."

The moon had been bright that night, much like the night Mingi had found you. Even to this day the striking silver of her hair was so easy to remember. Over the scars you glimpsed, and the wounds you were sure she carried, it was the silver hair that was first to your mind.

Like liquid moonlight.

A stark contrast to the dull gold of your own hair.

Pushing those thoughts aside- and pushing your hair out of your face with your bound hands- you continued. "It was a tight fit, and even when we could no longer hear the men we didn't move. Some time during we had grabbed each other's hands, shared our cloaks like blankets. I remember hoping they didn't find us, if not for me than for Silver. She was so scared she trembled." You had pushed your own fear down as best you could, wanting to reassure her more than anything that she would be safe. That they would make it out.

You had hoped the smiles you had given in the moonlight provided comfort.

If she still remembered you, then maybe you managed that at least. "We said a few words to each other in the morning. Neither saying our names or where we were going. Not out of distrust though! I just… if I got caught I didn't want to know where she went. I heard they have ways of getting that information out of you even when you don't want to tell them."

Having rambled a lot you tried to turn to apologize- make sure he wasn't upset with you even- but his hand tightened on your waist when you tried, his head pressing against the back of yours. "They do." He had whispered it so softly you weren't sure you had heard him right.

But you had. You hadn't mistaken that vulnerable shake in his tone. You hadn't misheard the emotion that belied experience.

When he didn't say anything else, you swallowed a growing lump in your throat, pushing down your fear and stealing the courage from the memory you had just recited. "If you… if you are scared… I would like to be a comfort for you. However that looks. Everyone needs someone who will keep them safe." Even to your own ears, it sounded as if you were about to cry.

His exhale was shaky against the nape of your neck, fingers bruising against your hip but you stayed strong. This was a moment to understand him and why he was so dead set on making you an enemy. He could drop the key to the answers at any second.

Perhaps he did, with the rough way the words left him. "I lost them."

You didn't know what to say to that, what could you say? Talk about your parents? How they died to keep you safe? He could probably understand, but this moment was vulnerable enough. You didn't want to push him, it could just be his sleep deprivation getting him to open up like this after all!

Instead, with great effort, you moved your hands down to his. It was a bit awkward, but you managed to wrap your hands around four of his fingers. A gentle squeeze, then just holding them.

Not long after, the steady breath against your neck and the loose hold in your hand told you that he had fallen asleep. It wouldn't come easily for you though, as your mind was plagued by the enigma of a man behind you.

And the urges to turn and comfort him in your arms, even if he would find it unwelcome.

Somehow you had fallen asleep, though it didn't seem to be for long, as your body was still quite heavy and demanding rest when you awake. Mingi is shaking you by your bicep, even going so far as to pat your cheeks a few times.

Which was odd for you. Years of wandering had made you a light sleeper especially with the constant threat of those raids. This was proving false ever since you met Mingi, finding yourself harder to wake and in deeper sleep than normal.

It would be an issue if you didn't have a dozen more blaring issues to handle before it. Like how impassive Mingi's sharp features were when you finally looked up at him with sleepy eyes.

Had you imagined the vulnerable talk the two of you had last night?

He made no sound or indication that you had, instead pulling you up a bit roughly. It had you wincing. "I can get up myself." Voice groggy, you protested the treatment for perhaps the first time.

His posture stiffened as if struck, breath halted as he just stared. You almost believe you imagined it with how quickly it passed. The next second he was tugging the sash off your wrists, freeing you just to immediately put distance between you two. "Let's go."

You had to scramble out of bed to catch up to him with how fast he left the room. You didn't even see him pick up the bag or gun, but neither were there.

"Wa- Mingi!" His long legs made quick work of the distance while your own short ones struggled to close the growing distance. He made it down the hall and out of the inn before your own limbs stopped stumbling and were fully awake.

Part of you wondered if he intended to leave you behind. If he no longer cared about your innocence, just wanted you out of his sight. That same part of you ached at the mere idea of him leaving you behind.

Which was foolish to say the least. He had been nothing but abrasive towards you. He gave you no reason to like his presence, to care for his opinion.

And yet… chasing after him through the sand, past the vehicle, you did your best to close the growing distance as your footing became unsure once more. You reached for him, panting out his name as you identified the reason for the fear in your chest.

You didn't want him to leave you behind. You wanted to know him. To know why he seemed so afraid of you. What had made him prickly like a cactus, what was he protecting?

Mingi was an enigma you wanted to know all the ins and outs of, despite his poor treatment of you.

Despite how out of reach he was, both physically and figuratively.

The sand moved wrong under your foot, your tired limbs caving under the sudden movement, knees hitting the still cool sand as the sun was just barely peaking over the horizon.

That was when he finally stopped. When his broad back turned so he could face you. His expression was twisted as if wounded by the sight of you. How did you look, for him to have such a pained glaze to his eyes?

With a shake of his head he seemed to shake off the emotions, features blank as he closed the distance with three easy strides. "What a nuisance, can't even keep up little mouse?" He huffed, hauling you over his shoulder the next second like a sack of potatoes.

You should be upset that he was carrying you like this, but you weren't. His large hand on the small of your back wasn't as rough as it was before. He adjusted your body so it wasn't so harsh on your stomach.

Most importantly, he wasn't leaving you behind.

He walked for a moment, the sun a bit higher now and warming up the wasteland once more. You could see the settlement that the two of you had just left straight behind you, and the city was off in the distance, parallel to the current path. He seemed to be going deeper into the wasteland, a dangerous thing to do if you don't know where you are going. So easy to get buried under sand dunes or find yourself in a sandstorm. Let alone sink holes.

"Where are we going? Why did we leave the vehicle?" You decided to ask, much more awake and alert now.

Surprisingly, Mingi answered "a friend's place. He doesn't like it when I bring it."

"What's he like?" Did Mingi treat him the same way he would treat the two at the bar?

"Annoying." He scoffed immediately, but you could feel the fondness in his tone. You were sure he might be smiling even, not that you could see.

Your view consisted of his ass in his jeans, his white shirt getting pulled up by your hands holding onto it for dear life, afraid to go lower. Your social interactions with people were on acquaintance level basis, so to think of someone's rear end- even if it's the majority of your sight right now- had you quite flustered.

The fact it was a nice one, a good size with his muscular thighs right under, made you even more conscious of it. And your own. It was right there next to his face, right by his hand. He could-

"Is he just annoying?" The words slipped from your lips like a serious of chirps, hiding your face in your hands as you willed yourself to be a civil woman about your… captor's ass. Because he was still your captor, even if you were a willing victim. Even if you wished he was much more than that.

That was a statement you would not be thinking about in further detail at all.

"He talks a lot. Loves the sound of his own voice. Pushes himself like an idiot. Just as reckless in his own right. Too friendly if you ask me. Always calls on me to verify if someone is safe but still takes them in first. Like what if they hurt his weak ass before I get there? There is no need for him to be so fucking friendly. He can take care of himself, yeah, but I rather he not." It was a lot more than you expected to hear from him, the fondness much more evident the more he talked about this person.

Like a distraught mother nagging out of care.

The comparison had laughter bubbling from your throat before you could help it. His feet stopped on the sand dune beneath you both, turning his head to glance down at you- though you felt it more than saw.

"What the fuck is so funny, mouse? Would you like me to go on about how much of a pain in the ass you are?" He barked out, grip on your back tightening for a moment.

Maybe the heat or the constant rush of blood to your head was making you delirious, but it had the bright idea of pinching the man's ass in retaliation. "There, now I really am a pain in your ass." You giggled, shifting your body enough to try and grin back up at him, pinching again just a bit harder to earn a barely there yelp from the man.

"I will fucking drop you." He hissed out, yet you didn't feel any real malice in the words. Like it was just for show.

Odd that.

Instead of calling him out on it, you circled back to his friend. "It just sounds like you care about him, nagging about how he isn't taking care of himself the way you wish he would."

He turned his face away quickly, robbing you of seeing his reaction to your words. Yet you felt it. In the way his shoulders relaxed, his grip on your shirt that didn't feel threatening or harsh, more like resignation.

"I do." Soft, barely caught over the wind blowing sand around you, somehow missing your face- quite strange out in the open like this. It always felt impossible to fight off the sand, thus the permanent goggles on your head.

That you hadn't needed once since meeting Mingi, outside of the vehicle.

"So don't try anything funny with him either." He growled out, starting the trek once more.

The rest was left in silence. Him as he focused on moving over the dunes while adjusting your weight on him. And you kept pushing yourself up to take a look around. There was a lot of debris around, but it was some structure that he came up to. It looked no different than the rest of the debris in the distance, like destroyed buildings slowly worn down by the sand and heat.

Yet he walked up to what appeared to be a door, though it looked more rusted shut than a usable entrance. You didn't question it as he started pounding on the metal. "Woo! Open up!" A beat past, then another. He pounded on the door once more. "Wake your ass up. It's not that early. No one else is around."

When you were beginning to question if this was truly the right place. After all who would live in a house half buried in sand? Like it was sinking at the weird angle it was leveled. But the door did creak open, a lanky man with wild black hair sticking up from sleep holding something up that you couldn't see from your angle. Some weapon probably.

"Mangi? What the- if this is some new weird way your ability manifested that's kind of cool." Tone heavy with sleep still, it was clear the man was happy to see the taller one, putting away the weapon and grinning. Then he glanced your way. "Or not? What is this? You never bring anyone to visit me."

You didn't have to see it to know Mingi rolled his eyes. "I'll explain when we're inside if you don't want any sand getting in."

"Right right, come on in." He stepped back, letting the two of you inside. You tried to get a look around, but once more your sight was only of the stranger and the heavy door he was pulling closed, muscles bulging with the effort.

"That must be heavy." You blurted out, brows furrowed with concern at the effort it took to shut the hulking metal.

The man, Woo(?), smiled at your concern. "I got the muscles for it, don't you worry your pretty little head about it. I'm Wooyoung by the way, a friend of Mingi Mangi's is a friend of mine. Make yourself at home." "We're not friends." Mingi barked out before you could reply, tossing you down on some cushions. A couch apparently. "I just need a safe place for a bit to keep an eye on her."

Your eyes took in the surprisingly cozy living space as the two chatted.

Wooyoung didn't seem too keen on keeping you out of the conversation though, making his way over and taking a seat next to you, that wide grin still on his face. "Oh? Well does she have a name?"

Mingi tensed at the question, but Wooyoung wasn't paying attention. Of course Mingi didn't know, he didn't ask. And what would you say anyways? You hadn't told anyone your name since your parents died, too scared of what would happen.

"You can just call me whatever you like. I'm not usually around someone long enough to exchange personal information." You said instead, which was mostly true.

"But I gave you my name, isn't it only fair? And you'll be with Mingi for awhile." The other pressed, making you a bit nervous.

He had a point as well, yet you still didn't want to indulge it. The name you hadn't spoken in so long. Was it really even your name anymore? Trying to think of your parents calling out to you, all you could picture was the way they told you to run even as they were killed.

Your discomfort must have been obvious, Mingi swooping in and picking you back up and away from Wooyoung, making a sound that was like a warning growl. "Wooyoung-" "It's okay!" Not wanting the two to fight, you were quick to speak up, placing a hand on Mingi's chest as if that could stop him. "It's just… I don't remember my name. Only my parents did and for the longest time I tried not to think about them. It always made me sad, because I'd inevitable think of the last time I saw them. So please, call me anything. I really don't mind. In fact it's nice to see what people come up with! Mingi called me rat- well mouse. I guess I am quite skittish like one." You rambled on, wanting the tension to ease up.

They were friend's, they shouldn't fight. Mingi should be nice to him even! If he cared so much about the man.

"Oh you poor little goose, you sound very proud of that." Despite the almost playful nature of his words, Wooyoung's brows were pushed together in sympathy or something akin to it. It was jarring to see such emotion directed at you after the way Mingi had been treating you.

Or perhaps this was the first time someone looked at you as if they were acknowledging the pain you had gone through.

The smile you offered the man felt watery. "Goose? Am I goose-like or something??" You giggled, feeling Mingi's arms tighten around you in an almost defensive manner.

"You are so tiny I could break you in half." Mingi unhelpfully supplied.

"Yah! Don't threaten Miss Goose like that!" Wooyoung pointed a finger at him while your brain was still processing what had been said.

It definitely did not register as a threat in your head.

Rolling his eyes, Mingi set you back down on the couch, hovering a moment before facing off with his friend, arms crossing over his bare chest. "Whatever. You have someone here Wooyoung. Want to tell me about them?"

At that, the other looked away. "No getting past you huh? I was actually going to send word to Yeosang to have you come visit me. Got someone I need you to check out. They sought refuge but… well they wear a jacket with the insignia-"

Mingi's whole demeanor changed then. Becoming rigid, fierce. Any ounce of warmth gone from his visage as he stared at a nearby door that was shut. Like he could see behind it. "Bring them out."

Immediately his eyes flickered to you once more, the hardness from the first meeting was back. Fear wanted to over take your heart once more, but you fought back. Now that you believed you knew him a bit better, you didn't want to fear him. He also seemed more dangerous to you whenever you let your fear show.

"I normally would have you stay where I can see you, mouse, but I'd rather not let you meet someone else who also wore the insignia. Wooyoung, can she use your shower?" He glanced back at the man.

You no longer cared about what was going on at the mention of a shower. How long had it been since you could enjoy getting clean? The layers of sand probably stuck to your skin even under your clothes?

"Yeah sure but she'll have to use your clothes. You're welcome to wash hers in the meantime." Wooyoung waved his hand as if shooing you both off.

Immediately you stood, bowing and thanking the other before you were quickly thrown over a familiar shoulder. At this point you should expect it.

As Mingi carried you to what appeared to be a bathroom, you waved and smiled at Wooyoung who looked quite taken back by Mingi's behavior. And then the bathroom door was shut. "Stay here a moment."

He was in an out in a flash, setting a pile of clothes on the old warped counter. "The shower works but careful of the crack in the ceramic of the tub. Wash up well and just leave your clothes there." He pointed to a wicker basket that must be a clothes hamper of sorts. "Don't leave until I come get you."

And then he was gone.

No complaints on your part, you stripped quickly and turned on the shower. When warm water came out you squealed in happiness. Not too hot, which was perfect for the heat outside. Something nice and cool on your overheated skin, getting rid of all the sand from the deepest crevices of your body.

Sometime between washing your hair with the soap provided and just standing under the cool water to soak in the sensation there was a knock on the door and Mingi's deep voice through the wood. "Call when you're done."

It was some time later when you were dried and wearing clothes that were far too big on you. The shirt hug off one shoulder completely, tucked as much as you could into the jean shorts that went halfway down to your knees. If not for the clean pair of underwear he got from somewhere, you would be concerned of accidentally flashing your gracious host or Mingi.

One of those did not spark the embarrassment you expected it to.

Mingi retrieved you when you knocked on the door, his expression one of shock and something else you were unfamiliar with as he took in the sight of you in his clothes.

"Why are you hogging little goose! Let her free you big brute!" Wooyoung called from behind when Mingi made no move to let you out of the bathroom. "They need to eat. Come on."

Your stomach growled at the mention of food, the aroma now reaching you. Had you taken that long in the shower? For him to make a meal of all things?

When Mingi still didn't move, you ducked under his arm with a squeaky "excuse me". Spotting Wooyoung in the small kitchen at an old table, you waved and made your way over. Since Mingi didn't stop you, you supposed it was allowed. "This smells delicious."

"Thank you, cooking is a passion of mine. Have to have those in this forsaken wasteland right?"

"I suppose so. I don't really have one. I'm good at trading though." When a seat was offered to you, you graciously accepted, eyes wide at the food. It was not much, after all in a wasteland feasts were a rarity. But it was a meal. A home-cooked meal.

One Mingi did not join you for.

He disappeared into the bathroom, most likely to take a shower himself. But it gave you plenty time to eat yourself.

Wooyoung was good company. As Mingi had said, he talks a lot. He had a warm energy to him, carrying most of the conversation but still asking for your input. It was mostly about food, you even found yourself indulging his questions about what sorts of food you had discovered on your travels.

The fact he was in awe over the distances you had traveled made something blossom in your chest. He talked about Mingi, how he was always off doing something, probably saw as much as you had. That it was a wonder the two of you had never met before now.

Mingi was silent when he came out of the shower, plopping down at the table where half the food was finished between you and Wooyoung. He listened to the man regal a tale of Mingi getting in a fight with someone over the "stupid vehicle" he always drives. The tall man had some choice words to say on the matter, but Wooyoung laughed him off.

"Why don't you make sure your damn guest eats and isn't plotting your fucking demise or some shit?" Mingi snapped out after you laughed at something Wooyoung said.

That was the first time Wooyoung looked genuinely put off by something Mingi said to him. Almost angry. "Fine, I will." He got up, made a plate, and then disappeared into the other room.

Mingi snatched your wrist the second Wooyoung was gone, pulling you closer with a snarl. "I told you not to try anything."

Confused, you blinked owlishly up at him. "But… I'm not? We're just talking?"

"You're getting all bright and shit when you do. Pulling something weird with your ability." He hissed, dismissive as usual.

There was those confusing words again. You didn't have an ability though? "What do you mean ability? I'm just a traveler. You still don't think so?"

He wavered. Just for a moment. But the derision was back quickly. "My intuition says you have one. And all I can think about is that it probably has to do with illusions. You're making them somehow."

You could not be more confused, mouth agape as you just stared.

Mingi kept talking. "Mine has never been wrong about recognizing another with Adrenaline. I know you have it. I just can't figure out how it manifests. We'll have to test it while we're here. No need to bother Woo with playing host to you."

He let go of your wrist the second the door opened again, turning to his food as if he hadn't just flipped your world upside down.

"There. Happy you damn grouch?" Wooyoung huffed as he sat back down, returning to his food before he noticed the change in your posture. "What did I miss?”

"Nothing. Just a warning…" You quickly tried to amend, unsure if it would spark an argument between them or not. Hopefully not. "I have an ability I guess? He said we'll be figuring it out while we're here, so sorry if we bother you with that."

Wooyoung looked crestfallen. "Bother- you aren't a bother silly goose. Maybe I can put you two to good use instead?”

That perked you up. "Like what?" Helping might be a way you could prove yourself a bit more trustworthy.

Yet Mingi quickly intervened, dampening your eagerness a bit. “You aren’t doing anything.”

“Aw why not? Come on~ It’ll be fun! Oh I know, how about you two help me with dinner later?"

"I don't know how to cook…." You start, just for Wooyoung to wave you off.

"That's fine, Mingi does. He can teach you.."

"Absolutely not!"

"Why not? Don’t be rude Mangi. It’s just cooking. Maybe Goosey has a hidden talent for it or something? I know you have reasons to be wary but nothing can be confirmed unless you give her a chance.” It almost sounded as if Wooyoung spoke from experience.

Yet the words had Mingi even more tense, practically vibrating with emotions-anger most likely- as he glared at Wooyoung. The latter seemed unaffected by it. "It's… complicated."

After a few more moments of tense silence, Wooyoung let out a sigh as if he could blow away the tension. The look he gave Mingi, one of care and other mixed emotions you couldn’t name, made your own chest ache. “Fine, just you and me then? We can talk about it later. Just… being friendly doesn’t hurt sometimes ya know?” Words that sounded as if they’ve been spoken many times before.

"Caution can be necessary but can be damaging in many ways as well. It’s something anyone can struggle with." A new voice filled the air, soft and sagely.

Mingi jumped up quickly, grabbing a knife from the many belts around his waist and pointing it at the woman. Wooyoung jumped up with concern, ready to reach for Mingi should he do something.

The woman looked a bit embarrassed at the reaction of the two. "I just came to bring these out. I'll be out of your way shortly."

"Good." Mingi hissed, earning a warning look from Wooyoung who was now moving around the table to take the plate from the woman.

However you didn't want her to leave just yet. Something about her words rang true and you wanted to hear more. "How can it be damaging?" After all, you had spent most of your life on the cautious side as well.

"Don't listen to her. Just a tri-"

"Wooyoungie is right, being friendly wouldn’t hurt you know." You found yourself huffing out, not thinking about the consequences of your words. This was just the first thing you wanted to put your foot down on. "I want to hear what she has to say. Can't you trust your friends as well as you trust your so-called ability?"

The tall man went deadly silent at that, making no move at first. No one spoke until he put the knife away.

"Hi there, are you staying here too?" You asked, trying to be friendly while the two men seemed to have a silent conversation with their eyes over your head.

The woman, something regal about her, nodded. "Something like that. I'm sorry if my words confused you. If… you would like to talk away from them?" She asked, glancing at Mingi.

You supposed she didn't want to be around him. Which was fair. He wasn't being very nice. However the malice you expected to see was not there on Mingi's face. He looked… conflicted.

This was a vital point you supposed, to show that he could trust you to some extent. Trust you and trust his friend. And you hoped he would.

The joy you felt when he not only nodded but shooed you in their direction was immense. You didn't even think about how you were reacting, jumping up from your seat and kissing his cheek with a squeal before making your way over to the woman. "Thank you Mingi!"

You followed the woman into the room, missing the teasing remarks Wooyoung whispered towards Mingi but not missing the tell tale "shut up" the man barked in response.

He might be doing this for Wooyoung, but it still made you happy.

You found that you really liked the woman. She was quiet, but with an air about her that had you hanging onto every word. She explained her ability let her see what could come to pass, sounding quite forlorn about it.

But what you liked the most was the patience she seemed to have, letting you open up to everything that had happened with Mingi. They two of you put your heads together to try and decipher just what your own "ability" was that he seemed so dead set on saying you had.

"You're good for him." She had told you after listening to your story, a soft smile on her face.

It made you blush. "I don't know about that. He said… nevermind." You sighed, adjusting your position on the bed the two of you had been sitting on for the past few hours, it seemed, fresh glasses of water on the end table that Wooyoung had brought recently, teasing you both for your "girl time."

"I don't need my… ability to know. The way you talk about him is sweet. Even though he hasn't given you a good reason."

You knew her words were true, but you could not think of yourself being good for someone. "I… I hope he believes I'm innocent some day. I… I want to stay by his side. Know why he's lashing out so harshly."

She reached over and patted your hand, the soft smile somehow warmer. "Everyone needs time. Especially with this. But… I don't see him being unreasonable." The certainty she said it had warmth spreading through your chest.

What you couldn't admit was how terrifying it still was. You had thought for years that you just had to keep moving. Don't get attached. Don't stay in one place. No one will get hurt for you if you do that. No one else's blood will be on your hands.

Yet Mingi filled you with some certainty that he was safe to be around. That the real threat was whatever plagued him. That he could, and hopefully would, stop harm from coming to you. It was a surreal feeling.

He was a surreal man.

When you left the room to accompany them for making dinner, it ended up just being you watching Wooyoung and Mingi bicker in the kitchen. Wooyoung constantly teased him, often bringing you and the woman he called Magpie into the conversation. You were the one who mostly responded.

Mingi practically ignored Magpie's existence. Acting as if she wasn't even there. No one pointed it out, but you did pout about it. You had asked enough of him though, you didn't want to ask him to put aside his prejudice for the woman when it seemed like a losing battle to begin with.

When dinner was done, Mingi once more carried you to the table, acting as if your legs were incapable of working. The fact he sat you on his lap to eat further flustered you. Was this due to distrust or something else?

"I only have the couch and floor for bed options." Wooyoung said after dinner was done and you insisted on helping with the dishes.

"We'll take the couch." Mingi's tone left no room for argument.

Which you wanted to do, glancing at the couch and knowing it wasn't even big enough for Mingi. How were you both going to sleep on it.

Or did he intend not to sleep once more?

You found the answer later, Mingi picking you up to be chest to chest before laying down on the couch so you were on top of him. Your heart was racing, face to face with him beneath you, fierce eyes boring into your wide ones.

"Oh isn't that romantic~" Wooyoung teased from the other side of the couch, plopping a blanket over you both. "Rest up silly goose. Don't let this meanie eat you in his sleep. He can be quite the wolf." He winked before leaving you there a stammering red mess.

Mingi chuckled once the two of you were alone, his arm solid around your back and holding you in place. Your legs were tangle in between his, one of his longer limbs propped up while the other hangs off the couch and his foot rested on the coffee table. "Stop acting like such a virgin. This is the easiest way to make sure you don't run off." He hummed, pressing your head down to his chest- it was a nice, plump chest- and urging you to sleep.

But his words just had you even more on edge. Virgin. Well you were one. And it flustered you to no end that he called it.

What was worse was the chuckle he let out. "Oh you are huh? Don't get so squeamish, little mouse." His chuckle was deep and you could feel it in his chest under your ear, making you blush and squirm even more.

His hands tightened suddenly, holding you against him to the point you could feel everything. It just made it worse, your heart racing. Your hands tugging on his shirt.

You didn't know what changed, but everything felt different. Hotter.

Mingi had pulled you up so you were staring down at him, mere centimeters between noses, eyes locked. "You are… quite easy to read actually."

What did he mean by that? Why was he smirking up at you like he just caught you in a trap? Where was his hand go-

Oh.

Squeaking you grabbed his wrist in surprise, face burning, chest tight, but nothing as hot as your breast now in his hand.

"I can fit you in my whole hand perfectly."

Pushing up as fast as you could you were straddling his thigh and holding his hand away from you, a mess of emotions. Hot, flustered, particularly warm and fluttery in your stomach and lower. "Mingi-"

He grinned. Not in that near sadistic way when he would spare a grin your way. But it was still teasing.

And warm.

"You like that don't you? Want me to touch you, mouse?" He asked, large hands on your hips, moving up and pushing his shirt up in the process.

Whatever your expression was just had him chuckling again, low and deep that had your stomach doing jumps and tricks.

"Yeah… you are easy to read." His tongue darted out, running over his thick bottom lip and drawing your attention.

What did he see? Why was he looking at you like… that.

Like he was enjoying himself. Like he enjoyed the view of you sitting on him like this. Enjoyed touching you.

Why were you enjoying it? Especially from a man that scared the living daylights out of you just yesterday.

You were more confused by these feelings more than anything. Confused by the way Mingi scrutinized your expression; no longer with overwhelming malice but like he was putting together a puzzle and starting to see the picture.

Then "I'll stop, lay back down and sleep."

Not that he gave you a choice, pulling you back to his chest, tucking you half under his arm but making sure you were comfortable.

Too flustered to protest any more, you shut your eyes. Sleep didn't come quickly, but it did come. Lulled to slumber by the steady heartbeat under your head.

You woke to the rumbling of words in the chest under your head- but it was a stomach not a chest. You didn't move, flustered from the position and alert from the words spoken.

"We were kids ya know. Tortured. Experimented on. Killed if we didn't follow them or try to escape. We didn't ask to be hurt. But we could have stayed there and continued to be. We chose to leave and fight."

Mingi was talking. Snapping at someone low and mean. There was pain in his tone, his hand gripping the back of your shirt tightly. You gripped his side back, a poor attempt to comfort.

If he noticed, he didn't say anything. "I'd rather die fighting than die being a lab rat for them to play with until they don't think I'm useful anymore. Better me, someone willing to fight- willing to die- than an innocent fucking child who's only crime was being different." He spat, and then was up off the couch, throwing you over his shoulder.

You squeaked, gripping his shirt and glancing at who he was being harsh to. You weren't surprised it was Magpie.

"Tell Woo I'll be back later. If I stay I might bash your fucking head in and I am not about to do that to him when he gives a shit about you. He's better than the both of us." He snapped, grabbed his bag, and was carrying you out before you could say anything.

The sun was barely up, the light peaking over the horizon while the burning star was still hidden out of sight. It bathed the sand dunes with intricate shadows and warm colors, no doubt the grains still cool from the night however.

Mingi moved with a purpose over the dunes, and after the first you had a feeling you were heading to the settlement the two of you had stayed at prior.

It wasn't a long walk, but long enough for you to think about the scene you woke up to. The words hissed with years of pain. An anger that seem bone deep.

Should you ask?

Would he answer?

Pulled out of your thoughts you were set down much more gently than you expected, hands on your shoulders to balance you quickly. You had been right about the sand, it was cool on your bare feet. Grounding.

"Mingi?" You glanced up at him, curious as to why he had stopped. The settlement was in sight, seemingly still asleep. You couldn't see Wooyoung's safe house any more. So why?

The only answer was an expression on his face that was akin to anguish and the rapid breathing he was trying to control.

Hesitantly, you reached out and gripped his forearm, a gentle squeeze like a comfort. "For what it's worth, I think you are doing a brave thing. T-the fighting and rebellion. You're a part of it right?" After the day with Wooyoung, you had put it together.

The rebellion you tried to stay away from. For no reason other than the doubts you could help. You traveled. You could barter. And you were scared more often than not.

The men in the raids. The emblem they wore. You didn't pay attention to it other than to avoid anything with it. But maybe you always knew.

Mingi stepped closer, eyes wide as he processed just what you had said. "Wha- what happened to the shivering mouse who was scared of me hm?" It was clear he was trying to tease, but his tone was more questioning- too wispy to be teasing. Like he couldn't find his own breath.

He was right to question you though. You did. It hasn't been that long since he found you. Less time since he had his hand around your throat.

And yet… you thought of how frightened he had looked even as you were shaking with your own fear. You thought of yesterday as he had interacted with the talkative man who welcomed you, even if a bit cautiously. You thought of how close the two of you have been physically two nights in a row and how his touch seemed to be getting more and more gentle.

"I don't have a reason to be scared of you when you aren't hurting me. When you listen to me talk. When you give me your clothes and keep me safe, even if you are doing so for different reasons than care. You could have killed me that first night. In my sleep. Or any time really. But you didn't." You offered a smile, moving your hands to his torso and gripping the fabric of his shirt. "You don't want to hurt someone who doesn't deserve it and I think you think I don't."

Wherever you had gotten this confidence was beyond you, but you fully believed it.

Mingi did not think you were a threat. He did not want to hurt you. Not any more at least.

He looked shaken by your words, hands clenching but not gripping your shoulders; just resting there. He didn't speak, but he was trying based on his mouth opening repeatedly.

Pride swelled in your chest, that you could render the large man speechless. Shaken. When he often moved and spoke with unwavering conviction and confidence. In this moment he seemed off kilter.

It didn't last long. He was throwing you over his shoulder again as soon as he found his bearings. And as if to punish you for the feelings you incited in him, he smacked your ass. Squeezing the plump flesh a second after and keeping his hand there as he started his walk again.

No longer face to face, he spoke, voice gruff "cheeky little mouse. Maybe I should teach you a lesson."

You didn't mind the lick of heat that ran down your spine at his tone. It had been far too sensual to be a threat.

As he carried you into the settlement you realized, with warmth blooming in your stomach, he never denied what you said.

Unfortunately, the punishment was having you sleep and eat alone in the same room as the night you had spent here. Mingi left you alone to go handle things, and you were left with your thoughts.

Imagination drew up visages of what you thought Mingi would have looked like as a child. Afraid as he is experimenting on- not that you can conjure up such images, just blurry feelings of a scene.

Did that mean he had no family? No parents?

Would you have experienced the same if you had been captured when your parents were killed?

These thoughts and more ran through your mind as you lay there, staring up at the ceiling, waiting for your not-really-captor captor to come back.

About midday he did, stepping into the room and pausing as his eyes landed on you.

You offered a wave and small smile, trying to be welcoming.

He scoffed, rolling his eyes as he shut the door. "I never locked the door you know."

"I know." You had never heard the click. And he didn't tie you up. "Why would I leave?"

That had him pausing again, expression void of any discernible emotion as he stared. He shook whatever thoughts he had and climbed onto the bed, boxing you in. Eyes locked on yours he said "what sort of mouse enjoys being trapped?"

"I'm not a mouse, ya know. I just… Have no reason to leave." The admission had heat running up your neck as you turned away rather quickly. As if you could hide from him.

He laughed, low and deep. You could see a wide grin on his lips in your peripheral, deepening your blush.

"Are you sure about that?"

"I told you I wasn't afraid of you anymore-"

"Oh I know, mouse. But that doesn't mean you want to stay with me."

Your fingers twisted in the worn sheet under you, catching your bottom lip between your teeth as heat flooded your nervous system. "I-" Did you want to stay with Mingi?

He was making you feel so small right now. Probably intended to make you feel trapped, his body easily covering yours. He could wrap his hands around your throat in an instant.

He could… but he won't. The playful glint in his eye when you turned to meet his gaze once more said that much.

"If I wanted to stay with you… Would you let me?" You spoke the words so softly between you, like a secret that would shake the world if spoken too loudly. In a way it was, it would shake your world.

It seemed to shake Mingi's. The playful glint was gone, a whirlwind of emotion in his blue-gray eyes.

Unintentionally you held your breath, waiting for some dismissive remark or a threat or something. All you saw in his expression was conflict.

"Why?" He finally croaked out, as if he couldn't fathom you- or anyone- wanting to stay by his side.

It was a good question. One you weren't sure you could answer. "I don't know exactly. I- I've spent my life on the run. Hiding and never staying in one place for long. I guess I realized that isn't much of a life. Just because I am afraid someone will get hurt for me, like my parents did, shouldn't keep me from people."

You thought particularly of a silver haired woman, one who had spent only a night with you and it was the closest you felt to someone in so long. The fact you crossed paths with her again was… well it felt like you were being given a chance for something.

Wooyoung's chattering self wormed his way into your mind- your heart. The woman in his home that listened to your troubles, even when you could tell she was guarded and feeling awkward.

But most of all- the man above you. "You face your enemy head on Mingi. Even though I think… I think you are afraid of them. Of what they do. You still fight them. You told Magpie you would rather fight and die than have them harm another innocent child. That's… really cool of you." Offering a smile, you brought your hand up to the dangling necklaces between you. Silver and gold, loud and unnecessary for battle. Like he was saying look at me. I'm too cool for you to touch. "You don't run, and maybe I'm hoping that I can get some of that courage if I stick around."

Like a broken spell he slapped your hand away and sat up, still caging you in with his legs as he glowered down at you. "You don't know me, little rat. Don't act like you do."

"But I want to" you shoot out quickly, not wanting to back down.

"No you don't" He hissed, grabbing your hands and pinning them to your sides when you reached for him again. "I don't- I am not as brave as you think I am. I-"

You wanted him to open up to you. You hoped he would. His sight faltered, a gasp leaving his lips as he stared down at you, eyes glassy.

Then angry, growling as his hands moved to your shirt and he yanked you up. "You're doing it again! Stop it! Whatever fucking illusion- I don't want to see this. I don't want-" a sob. That was definitely a sob he broke off on.

"I want to get to know you Mingi. Tell me? Please?" You fought off your fear, focusing instead on being pliant and safe for him. You wanted Mingi to trust you.

He bent over you, face buried into your chest as his hands shook. "I run when it matters most, mouse. You shouldn't-"

He didn't continue.

You couldn't ask.

The shirt was getting wet, sticking to your skin. You didn't move, letting him do… Whatever this was.

Maybe he was right, that he did run when it matters. Maybe you did too.

He didn't get up until your shirt was drying and he was no longer shaking. He avoided your eyes, but you could see his were red.

The urge to embrace him and comfort him was strong but you reeled it in, just watching as he swung himself off you and sat on the edge of the bed. He pushed his white and blue hair out of his face, the strands looking oddly soft but wild.

"I have a theory about your ability. We're going to kill some time here and figure it out. Give Wooyoung time to head home and deal with…" He sighed, shoulders drooping.

So he was changing the subject? Not even bothering to address what had just happened? Was this an example of how he runs away?

It made you want to stay even more. To follow. Scurry after him like a mouse looking for the scraps he'll drop. Scraps of himself, pieces he will let you glimpse.

Maybe you finally lost it mentally, thinking of yourself with such an analogy.

"Okay. What do you think my ability is?" You can be patient, follow his lead. All you have is time.

"Illusions. Like a camouflage or mirage. Those bastards had us doing all sorts of tests for our abilities, I can remember some. Some of their explanations. The… Chemical that gives us our abilities have different triggers. There are those that are constant. Part of us. Like my sixth sense of sorts, it is always present, always beneath the surface. But most are triggered. At first as a defense mechanism or as a response to feelings. That bi- Silver goes invisible. I think yours can work like that, but it's different.

"Yours changes how you are perceived, based on how you are feeling. When you were afraid of me, I saw what I was afraid of on you. Your ability manipulated my sight so that I would feel what you feel towards me." Mingi finally ended his explanation, finally glancing up at you.

There was some sense to it, his theory, though it was hard for you to work through it when he had given you another piece of himself. Alluding to his childhood, the training he was forced through. The implication that he doesn't remember all of it.

It was a lot to process, so you focused on what you could. "How um… how do you know it's not just fear?" You wanted to know about your so called ability, after all it was why those men had gone after you.

Had killed the only family you had. Continued to hunt you like prey.

And maybe there was a way to use it- this ability. A way to make a difference. Stand your ground.

"Because-" Mingi pulled you out of your thoughts, his expression now hungry in a way that had your stomach doing figurative flips. "When you got flustered, when I touched you, there was another illusion of sorts. I saw you not only shirtless but marked up and looking as if I just fucked you dumb. A sight, I'm sure, was meant to turn me on. Despite the fact I could physically feel your shirt."

Well, with the heat burning just under your skin and the ache between your thighs, you were sure he was now seeing a similar visage.

If he was correct.

"Mouse-" He turned towards you, swallowing hard enough you couldn't help but watch the way his throat bobbed. "Reel it in baby, we still have a long day ahead of us."

He made true on that, pulling you out of the room after finding you sandals since your shoes were forgotten at Wooyoung's. After a light meal, the "testing" began.

It wasn't anything cruel or harsh, just emotionally draining. Testing what emotions trigger it. The distance it works. If you could willingly force a perceived illusion onto him from thought alone.

You couldn't just make yourself feel something toward him and it was unpleasant when he would get snappy at you for it. Something he stopped quickly when your annoyance at his attitude did manage to incite an illusion of sorts.

He got some of the people in the settlement to join in, though briefly, so by the time the two of you stumbled back into the small room and onto the just as tiny one bed, you both had a pretty good handle on your ability and triggers.

It was funny actually. You had been so worried about learning about the men of the raids and what made you a target before- believing that knowing would take away the last bit of freedom you fooled yourself into thinking you have. But now that you knew about the lab rats that took those with Adrenaline - Mingi had explained during your training montage- and about your own ability, you felt free.

No, not freedom. Control. You felt like you had control over your life for once.

That you didn't need to run or hide. That there were other options for you.

That you could provide safety, just as you had wanted to do so with Silver so long ago.

It had you grinning as you sat on the bed, watching Mingi as he slid the deadbolt shut, effectively locking you in here with him. No fear sparked at the action, but heat did. No one would disturb you, making this now the safest place for you to be.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" He cocked an eyebrow, closing the distance between you while fighting off his own grin.

"Like what?"

"Like… hm, you're happy to see me? Didn't I tell you mouse-"

You waved your hand to dismiss his half baked warnings. "You never answered me. Earlier. When I said I wanted to stay with you. If you want to train me and my ability, that means I get to stay right?" You asked, widening your grin.

He barked out a laugh, shaking his head as he pushed you back onto the bed, manhandling you with ease. There was no malice behind it, no real force, but you sort of enjoyed it. You weren't going to tell him that just yet though.

"You really want to stay with me?" He asked, climbing over you, muscles moving in a way that reminded you more of a predator stalking it's prey. "I think you're smitten with me. Find me hot. Want my cock? Little Miss virgin."

Heat ran up your chest at his words, charring the skin of your cheeks from the inside it feels like. Your body betrayed you, no doubt giving off your emotions and with your ability too. It would be nice to control that part, so you could be turned on in his presence and be spared from his immediate teasing.

And for reassurance that he wanted you in turn because of yourself, not whatever your ability made him see.

He groaned, head falling forward to rest on your clavicle. "It makes it easy to read how you are feeling, that's for sure, but I am afraid I wouldn't last long when you look like the perfect fucking wet dream. I'm hard already, baby. Try and reel it in- Ah that can be a great way to train you. Like a pet."

You gasped at his words, hands gripping his biceps as his nose brushed against the skin of your neck. "Do you think I can? What if I never get a handle on it well enough? I wouldn't want to have to focus on that while you're making me feel good, Mingi…"

Another groan. "Good point. Maybe I should shut my eyes. I'm sure the sound of you whining and moaning with each thrust would be-" "Mingi!" You were hot all over, legs pressed together as you felt his mouth on your skin.

"Yeah just like that-" "Mingi-" He nipped at the flesh just under your ear, causing you to whine.

His hands moved to your thighs, squeezing and rubbing them as he pushed them wider. A second later they were wrapping around his small waist.

Your whole world tilted as you felt a hard bulge in his jeans, pressed against your core. It made it hard to think, to breath right. Soft whines left your lips as he continued the assault on your neck. Kisses both soft and harsh, trailing over your flesh. Some were on the tender skin of the left over bruises from when he had choked you, inciting delight instead of fear.

It occurred to you, somewhere in the back of your muddled brain, this was a distraction.

He kept you pleasantly in a state of bliss with the kisses, hands kneading your flesh and his hips beginning to rock against yours. A glance down and you noticed his eyes were clothes tightly, but not in pain or concentration. Like desperation.

A roll of his hips applied pressure just right for your head to fall back, his name falling from your parted lips like a reverent cry. You had never felt like this. This pleasure, this desire, burning a sizeable hole in your belly up to your chest but mostly in your core where it throbbed.

The underwear you wore was wet, sticking to your folds more and more with each press of his bulge to your core. You wished the clothes were gone, that you felt his member poking and prodding and then slipping in deep to chase away the intense emptiness that had found it's way into your inner walls.

His lips never left your skin, the heat from his breath burning as much as your own desire. His spit joining your sweat, making a mess of your neck.

The pull of your shirt up had you whining, the roughness of his own shirt scrapping against your hardened nipples as the force of his rolls had your whole body moving on the bed. His large, rough hands found the supple flesh. He wasn't gentle, but not too rough, squeezing, kneading and pinching.

"Fuck, baby, get a bit louder for me. Cry my name. Cry." His tone was rougher, but hot. Husky maybe? It didn't matter, just that the tone of his voice had you obeying instantly. You pulled at the back of his shirt, holding on and even trying to meet his hips. The pleasure from each roll was building and building, driving you to something that was a rarity even by your own hands.

Tears pricked your eyes when you were finally on the precipice. It was right there. A harsher flick of his hips, a slight difference in angle as you realized you were babbling his name like a chant. That you needed it more than air.

It was the wetness of his tongue on the shell of your ear as he whispered "cum for me" that released the knot holding it all back. Your underwear was soaked, hips jerking so much he had to grip them to hold them still while he chased his own. A moment later, when clarity started to find you, did you feel the way his hips stuttered and he drooled against the flesh of your throat.

It took some time for the heat between you both to dissipate. For Mingi to straighten your limbs and pull away, halting all protests with a kiss to your forehead.

"Good pet. Get some sleep now, we'll head back to Woo's in the morning to clean up. I forgot your clothes there but they're clean." His tone was strange: warm but somewhat distant. He didn't look at you as he got up from the bed, turning off the small light.

Only when you were facing the wall, heart finally beating at a normal pace did you acknowledge the blaring truth.

He never said you could stay.

“Still carrying you like that?” Wooyoung's familiar voice had you lifting your head to see him as Mingi passed. The man was smirking and you returned the smile.

Hand on Mingi's side to hold yourself up, you waved. “I'm used to it by now. Easy traveling.” You offered up, having just accepted your fate that this was how Mingi was going to carry you, even if he no longer seemed hostile towards you.

No, whatever was between you both now was something far different. Not that you could name the strange heated tension. Lust maybe? You've never wanted someone like that.

Until Mingi. Until yesterday.

Laughing, Wooyoung shut the door. He turned just to find you both no longer moving. Not that you knew why.

“What is she doing here?” Mingi hissed beneath you, his body tense under your hands. “It better be news on Mouse, Yeosang.”

Yeosang? Wasn't he-

Quickly you scrambled up, accidentally yanking Mingi's hair to push yourself up and peer over his head at who was in the room. There was the far too beautiful man, and then, even without the silver hair, you could recognize her. “Can I get down Mingi? I want to talk to-”

“Fine fine.” The man huffed, dropping you down next to him with his arm wrapped around your waist and holding you against him. “Stop your squirming little one or I'll tie you up again.”

You couldn't help the heat that bloomed over your face at the reminder, gripping his shirt to stop your squirming as he so eloquently put it.

“Hi Mingi. I did look into it and she's clear as far as I saw. It would have helped if you gave me a name though.” The blonde huffed though it was more of slight amusement and resignation than actual annoyance.

The tension immediately leaked out if Mingi at that, you could feel the way his muscles relaxed at the confirmation. Even if the both of you had figured things out, it didn't hurt that he still had his doubts.

He nearly dragged you to the sofa, moving before you realized he was. When you nearly tripped over your own feet, he just manhandled you up, swinging you forward, and then unceremoniously dropping your back on your feet in front of him. “Thanks. Are you staying? Do I have to play nice with this bi-”

“Mingi.” The blonde cut him off the same time you did, though his was in warning and yours like a plea.

Mingi ignored Yeosang and glanced down at you instead with a glare that lacked his usual malice.

You didn't hesitate to continue your plea even if you didn't think he would listen. “Please don't. I don't know why you dislike them but please?”

His jaw clenched, heated gaze flickering to your lost acquaintance of sorts. “She knows why I don't like her. What she did. Or didn't do.”

For a second the air cracked with palpable tension, making you shiver. Silver flinched and you wanted to reach out and soothe whatever wound Mingi just poked at, but in the next instant the tension was zapped away.

To your surprise, and everyone's perhaps, Mingi moved to sit on the couch right next to Silver, pulling you down on his lap so you were facing the woman. His arm was around your waist, gripping your side a bit harshly but you didn't mind.

No longer were you scared of him. No longer did you think he would harm you. Or that he even disliked you. The new marks he left on your neck were probably proof of that, as was his jacket that swallowed your frame.

“You said you missed them right. So talk. Don't expect me to acknowledge them. I don't like cowards.” Mingi snapped out, starting soft and ending harsh. You got the impression he wasn't talking about just one person though. His words yesterday had you believing he thought of himself as one of those cowards.

Still, it was more than you could ask, glancing down at Silver's hands with a silent question to hold before you started chatting away.

Asking about them. How they knew Yeosang. When it appeared they didn't want to talk about it, you offered up parts of yourself.

Places you visited. How you would like to visit the bar maybe and have a drink with her. And Yeosang. Even declaring you would drag the man beneath you.

Mingi let you chat, adding nothing to the conversation unless he was directly spoken to by either you, Yeosang or Wooyoung. It wasn't lost on you how he didn't acknowledge Magpie.

It wasn't lost on you that with the hours of chatting, Mingi never stopped touching you. Not unless he was pulled away by one of the others or the restroom. Or when he had you clean up and change into your old and now clean clothes like the original purpose for coming back so soon. It wasn't lost on you the bit of disappointment on his face when you stepped out in your own clothes, or the devilish smirk he gave when you slipped his jacket back on instead of your own.

He stayed as a brooding presence attached to you. You just accepted it. After the discovery of your ability- or at least deducing what it probably was- he stopped being an enemy.

You almost wanted to say friend but… a friend doesn't mark up your neck with his mouth or touch you intimately. They definitely didn't dry hump each other. But you most definitely did not bring any of that up surrounded by his actual friends. Instead the topic of your ability was enough. Explaining it to Silver and the others who would listen.

That Mingi wanted to teach you how to control it. The room was far too heavy at that statement and you had no idea why.

It was dinner time when you were no longer sitting on Mingi(after his shower finally), but he was next to you sitting on the arm rest, his thigh against your shoulder, talking to Yeosang about… something you hadn't been paying attention to. Plans for tomorrow you think?

It was with a ringing alarm that everything seemed to stop. All eyes on Wooyoung as he ran for it almost desperately.

He speaks to Magpie for a moment, too quiet for you to hear but he glances your way.

“Mingi, can you take this one? Use the radio, it has a tracker.” Wooyoung suggests, tossing the old radio to Mingi who catches it with effortless ease “I…I have to stay back.”

The next second you are hauled up by his hand on your bicep. He pockets the radio and is already on his way towards the door. You follow without thinking. “You sure?”

You notice Yeosang and Silver are quickly trailing after you both, something set in their shoulders that breeds trepidation in your stomach. “We’ll fix it, Wooyoung. Count on us. We’ll bring them home.” Yeosang offers as if to appease the other man.

Then the four of you were outside. And as you suspected, you were swooped up onto Mingi's shoulder again. Any humorous comeback that might have filled the space wasn't spoken. The tension was too heavy to let it.

“I have my vehicle nearby. We can take that. It's a bit of a walk.” Mingi announces, already setting off to the nearby tiny settlement he had left the car at. The same settlement you two had spent the other nights at, learning what made your ability tick. Just over a few dunes.

Thankful you didn't have to walk over the sand, you just held on as the two followed. They seemed tense. You didn't like how tense everyone was.

Yet all you could do is offer a disarming smile. A wobbly one that betrayed your own anxiety, too scared to ask what was happening.

So you didn't.

The night was long and tense. From Wooyoung's to the car and then holding on for dear life in the vehicle as Mingi's reckless driving ensued. The delay for gas seemed to make the tallest even more anxious.

He must have a bad feeling about this, and yet he we was still rushing. Perhaps he thought things would end badly if they didn't make some imaginary deadline.

He made you hold onto his arm as he drove as recklessly as usual, his hand finding your thigh when he wasn't using it. You had a feeling it wasn't to keep you seated.

Nothing was spoken all night. Hours over sandy dunes, half hidden roads, all in tense silence.

It broke when Mingi shut the car off suddenly and pulled it to the shadow of some rubble. He apparently decided the rest would be done on foot, considering you were thrown over his shoulder seconds later.

Without the vehicle there was no lights, just utter darkness before dawn. It made it hard to see the expressions on your companions faces, but you could still hear Yeosang complain about the lack of vision.

"We're getting closer" Mingi's chest rumbled under you, his hand tightening when the sound of gunfire and angry voices- an angry roar actually- reached you. He was taking off in seconds.

The downside to being hauled around was the view: you had no idea where you were going, or what the others saw. Whatever they saw when dawn broke and light illuminated their faces enough to see their expressions, their features were twisted with old pain and shock.

Like seeing a monster that they thought they had been rid of.

Mingi nearly dropped you at whatever he saw, making it hard to twist and see just what the issue was.

“We have to hurry,” Yeosang pulled Silver past you both, breaking through whatever shock had taken hold of them.

“Fuck,” Mingi cursed, hefting you back onto his shoulder, higher this time. “We need a plan!”

“There’s no time!” Silver yells after them, running towards the loud gunfire and shouts. Lots of shouting.

“You two, go after the one that needs help. Mouse and I will go help the other one,” Mingi barked out, already on the move to… well someone needing help.

After hours of silence it really hit that this was a rescue mission. A dangerous one. One you had no business being in.

Yet Mingi set you down when he reached the fight, glancing at you with a look of concern. "Make them afraid. You can do it." He shoved a gun into your hands and then turned to fight the men without a second thought.

The same men he fought the night he found you. The same men that took your only family away.

It was difficult to bite the anger back and bring forth your fear, willing the men to feel it. To be afraid enough to run.

Not once did you pull the trigger, instead taking note of how Mingi handled anyone who dared to aim at you. Who began to panic with the fear you were no doubt making them feel with whatever illusion they perceived you to be.

It was more than a little hard to keep focus when someone threw a car and leapt a great distance to another portion of soldiers. The loud noise had you dropping the gun, chest pounding with your own need to run. All you could do was confuse and frighten them and yet here someone was like a super soldier!

“San!”

An unfamiliar voice screaming an unfamiliar name shifted everything. You felt it. Saw the way Mingi froze after kicking away one of the armed men. Even the sand in the air seemed to still in this moment.

Your gut twisted with one look at Mingi's face. Eyes wide, burning with emotion. Shock, disbelief, hope and an insurmountable guilt you could not fathom.

It occurred to you he knew this San… and he had no idea he was who they were saving today.

The sight rooted him in place, even as one of the soldiers aimed at him. Mingi didn't seem aware of it.

The gun went off.

You acted without thinking. Pulse racing. Fear suffocating your lungs and stomach. You screamed something, unable to hear your own voice over the ringing in your ear.

Collision with the larger body was felt throughout yours, just to be overwhelmed by the shooting pain in your shoulder. The pain had your knees weak, falling to the sands beneath you the same second Yeosang reached you both.

At first you didn't hear what was said, the pain was too much. The ringing in your ears white noise. Your eyes worked just fine though, taking in the too gorgeous man ripping his own shirt to wrap your shoulder with bloody hands.

That was your blood on his hands.

It was your wound he was wrapping.

Silver shouted out Mingi's name and brought you back to the world, eyes flickering up to meet Mingi's horrified gaze. He looked frightened, staring at you as if you were dying in his arms.

The pain might feel like death, but it wasn't anywhere vital. Yeosang was handling it with precision. This might be the first time you had been shot but you didn't think you were going to die.

“We can save him. We have another chance. We can save Mouse. And we can save the lady San is trying to help. We won’t fail.” The conviction on Silver's voice latched into your own chest, even if the words were meant for Mingi.

Last night filled your head. The way he had cried. The sorrow that had filled his voice when he had admitted that he runs when it matters most. This was one of those moments, where it mattered.

And you still believed he was not a coward. You still believed he was capable of bravery and heroism and winning even when he's scared. Precisely when he is scared.

“Mingi,” you did not like how faint your voice sounded. The pain you could not hide from your tone, even with a smile. “I…I'll be fine. After all, I'm good at hiding, right?” Yes you weren't a fighter, but you were damn good at hiding. At surviving. And right now Mingi needed you to be okay, even if it was just so he can focus on who really mattered. You jerked your chin in the direction of the super soldier that seemed so important to him. To them. “Go.”

As soon as they ran off you started to crawl away, a feat with your injured arm. Holding it to your chest you made it to the nearest broken vehicle, standing straight up with its nose buried in the sand. There were a lot like that around now that you could take a quick second to grasp your surroundings.

You tucked yourself behind the vehicle, out of sight and hopefully safe. A good distance from the core fighting.

There were shouts, more gunfire. You could hear Mingi and Silver and Yeosang but could not decipher what was said.

The pain was intense now that there were no dire distractions. Breathing took effort. Keeping your eyes open as your head spun took more.

The battle was still ongoing when your consciousness left you.

When it returned to you, there was no sand or sun or fighting. No vehicle holding your spine up. You were laying down now, sprawled out on a bed. There was a dim lamp across the room, and when you turned your head to examine the room you found a figure bathed in that light.

It was Mingi, sitting in a worn leather chair, continuously running his hands through his hair. He wore new clothes. Clean clothes. And the strands he kept stressing seemed damp.

The lack of sand on his form brought attention to the lack of sand on your own. You felt clean, no longer in your own clothes and- with a wince you became acutely aware of your shoulder.

In an instant Mingi was up and at your side, brow furrowed with apparent worry and pain. "Don't move too much." The concern was even more evident in his deep voice.

"It's fine, just hurts… a lot." You offered him a smile, reaching up with your uninjured arm to run your fingers along his tense jaw. "I'm just happy you are alright. Is your friend okay too? The one we went to save?"

"How do-" his eyes had gone wide, breath halting.

You saw no distrust in his eyes, only shock. "Wasn't hard to figure out. I don't know the details but he sounded important to you and Silver."

"He is." Mingi blurted before flinching at how loud his voice had come out. "He is. He… well thought we lost him, a long time ago." He brought his hand up to hold yourself to his cheek, gaze soft and vulnerable on yours. "You said everyone needs someone to keep them safe… to be their safety. Right?" When you nodded, he continued on. "San was that for me. He's… he always made sure we were all safe and taken care of. With his ability we put blind faith in him. We thought he couldn't die. But that wasn't the only reason he made us feel safe."

Looking away, Mingi seemed to be battling with himself or searching for the next words. You let him, thumb brushing over jaw in silent encouragement. "We… We escaped. Silver, Yeosang, San and I… With a lot of other kids. Some of them help out with the rebellion. Some settled down or went into hiding. We had a plan, had help, but we got caught. I- I blamed Silver. She was supposed to keep us invisible up to a point. But failed. And so we had to fight…"

Tears brimmed his eyes now, blinking rapidly to stop them as he lowered his head. "By we I mean San. He jumped in and took the damage. Shielded us so we could run. I-I could have helped. But I was scared. Freedom was right there. And I was so scared of being taken back there I just ran. I didnt care about San or Silver or Yeosang in that moment. And when I glanced back, I swore I saw San bleeding. I thought he died to save us, but the only one I saved was myself."

By the time Mingi had finished recounting the clearly traumatic memory, you were sitting up and holding his head to your chest awau from your wounded shoulder. His broad frame was shaking with sobs, but you let him continue.

His hands gripped the back of your shirt, pulling you closer. "I don't remember tests the put us through but I remember the proving grounds. Where we saved San last night. I could remember every time I hurt another kid out of fear of getting hurt and tested on. There weren't many of us that had a constant type of adrenaline, and San's made it difficult to test but not me."

Your arm tightened around his head, heart hurting for him. He had just been a kid. They had all been just kids. "It's okay Mingi. It's okay to be scared. It's okay to act on that fear. And San… your safe space is back. You saved him and-."

"You got hurt because I froze." His words cut through your own attempts to comfort him. He lifted his head, the blue in his eyes vibrant beneath the tears. "You saved me. And not just with that bullet. I-" he cupped your small head in his larger hands, bringing his forehead to yours. "I have no words to explain how much you have grown on me. Baby I- fuck it."

His lips were on yours the next moment, full of reverent devotion and vulnerability. He was giving a piece of himself with every quick stroke of his lips that your own matched, taking him in.

You could not explain it either, how in a matter of days he had gone from your captor to someone you wanted to stay with for perhaps the rest of your days. You wanted to be a part of his life as much as Yeosang and Wooyoung were- no much more. You wanted his lips on yours and to be carried on his shoulder. You wanted to wake up to him and bounce around in his vehicle as he drives with reckless abandon.

You wanted Mingi and all that meant.

Head hitting the pillow again, Mingi had laid you down with a gentleness that betrayed the growing desperation of his kisses. He crawled over you, caging you in and keeping you safe from the rest of the world.

There was a knock on the door suddenly, but Mingi didn't pull away until someone stepped in and gasped.

"Can you not attack her the moment she wakes up, Mingi?" Someone hissed. A familiar someone.

You wiggled from under Mingi just enough to see over his bicep at who stood there. Silver. "Hi! It is totally okay I am totally okay right here. Mhmm pro-promise." Your breath hitched when Mingi's lips moved to your ear and nippled on the sensitive flesh.

Silver rolled their eyes but they didn't seem offended. "Well I thought you might want a drink with me. To help with the pain down at the bar but if you-"

"No no we're coming!" You stopped Mingi by covering his mouth, smile widening. "I-if it's okay if Mingi-"

"Course it is. We made up baby, don't worry." The man grumbled against your hand as he sat up. "Let's go have a few drinks with our friends yeah?"

Warmth flooded your chest, this time tears pricking your eyes. "Yeah." Then, much softer and with a sudden boldness you lifted up your arm. "Carry me?"

Now Mingi rolled his eyes, just to grin down at you in a way that was boyish and warm. "Always."

If you read this all, thank you so much. And once more a big shout out to Topaz ^^ Go read their Yeosang and Silver stat now :p

[anyamaris]

Oh my goodness, the sheer amount of worldbuilding you put into the first scene??? The little easter eggs of Ateez songs, Mingi’s “Who are you?” and the pure action right from the start had me hooked. You’re truly amazing at the atmosphere in this! Mingi’s description gave me goosebumps, whew! I can PICTURE the mv.

Mox is amazing, I was grinning the entire bar scene! Also, the way you’ve done justice to TRUE enemies to lovers is MASTERFUL! I can’t describe how fulfilling it is reading this after working with you on this for months. I can really see how much you love these two characters and I am so happy you got Mingi for this. You truly poured your heart into this concept and you brought it to life beautifully. /wipes tear

Ugh...getting all the way through this, I'm shaking, crying, happy happy tears-You and Topaz truly wove together what it means to collab perfectly. It's so colorful and visually amazing. I can't express the words to tell you how engaged I was throughout and up to the scene at the end that just made me cry like a baby. Absolutely stunning. Please do more enemies to lovers cause omg you truly get it. I look forward to more from these two!

[sanjoongie]

Floating Silver

💥For the Adrenaline Anthology, a collaborative works by @lapydiaries. Please look forward to the works by @flurrys-creativity writing Yunho, @daemour writing Wooyoung in Crossroads, @defwoodz writing Jongho, @anyamaris writing San, @pars-ley writing Hongjoong, @potatomountain writing Mingi in No more Running and @an-annyeoing-writer writing Seonghwa.

💥Summary~ your plan is simple: get yourself into the middle of a radioactive sandstorm to reverse whatever genetic code got you shot with Adrenaline, so that you could halt the government from searching you out. Your result: your childhood best friend coming to the rescue and suddenly being sucked into a selfless world of the rebellion.

💥Pairing: Kang Yeosang x Reader (f) code name: Silver

💥Genre: action, romance

💥Au: post-apocalyptic au, adrenaline era inspired au

💥Trope: childhood friends to lovers, one-sided slow burn

💥Warnings: shooting by way of guns, childhood trauma (physical injuries resulting in impairment), super power fights, mentions of character death, facial scars due to acid ( scene not descriptive ), confidence issues, super powers activated through fear, self hatred, description of dystopia world ( poor, desolute, cruel ), nightmares, suicide mission,

💥Kinks: wet clothes(see through), description of a hard-on, body worship, semi-public sex, sex with no protection, sex on a desk,

💥Rating: 18+, MDNI

💥Word Count: 18,646

💥Author's Note: This world was a treat to develop alongside my fellow net writers. Please enjoy this humble love letter to Adrenaline and the other stories that take place in this collab 💞 others decided to write solo but you can find Ley's Shadow, Ares's Mouse, Dae's Magpie and Anya's Sage throughout this one 😏

“Quickly, children, this way!”

Seonwoo swung his arms, indicating you should all follow them through a door that clearly said anyone who passed it would be shot. He was the only adult you trusted.

Your feet were stuck in their spot. You couldn't move an inch. You wanted to leave this bad place. But you didn’t want to get hurt anymore. You just knew your limp was going to impede your escape.

“Come on, we gotta go.” Yeosang tugged at your elbow hurriedly.

Mingi had rushed towards Seonwoo but suddenly turned when he sensed that you and Yeosang had lagged behind. “Guys!”

San, who stuck by Seonwoo’s side, started jumping high so that he could see where his friends were. “Mingi? Yeosang? Silver?”

You shook your head vehemently. “I can’t do it, Yeosang.” Hot tears began to fall down your cheeks. “I can’t!”

Yeosang grabbed your face with his two hands. “Yes, you can. I’m here with you with every step of the way.”

You held a hand out and saw that your body was flickering. No, why of all the times would your powers start to work when you had screamed for them to help you at any other time?

Mingi’s head jerked towards another direction and he cocked his head. “Guys, we gotta go. Please!”

Yeosang closed his eyes, screwing up his face in concentration. You felt yourself get lighter and you gasped. When Yeosang opened his eyes, they were that weird blue color. “Light as a feather now, right? Let’s go.”

Yeosang pulled you along like you weighed nothing. And even though your feet didn’t move, your body followed him. You passed Mingi, whose nose was flaring. When at last you were the final ones to pass by San and Seonwoo, Mingi began a sprint behind you.

Children of different sizes were all climbing the staircase that most likely rose to the surface.

“No more dilly dallying, children,” Seonwoo cooed. “It’s time to be free birdies again, hmm?”

Yeosang nodded firmly and continued to tug you up the stairs.

“That’s so cool,” San murmured behind you.

Yeosang giggled. “You’re the one with super strength!”

“I’ve got a cool power too guys!” Mingi insisted.

Somehow, between the boy's silly conversation, you felt your nerves ease a little and your body stopped flickering in and out of sight. Yeosang sent you a bright, encouraging smile and climbed the stairs, two stairs at a time.

“I bet I can get to the top faster than you!” San declared.

“Hey no fair! You didn’t say when!” Mingi protested.

“That’s it, children,” Seonwoo encouraged. “Last one up is a chicken.”

“I don't want to be a chicken!” Mingi screeched, overtaking San, and then you and by proxy, Yeosang.

The moment of fun was quickly lost once everyone reached the top. The surface wasn’t bare, as you had normally imagined the wasteland of the apocalyptic desert. There were patrols and government soldiers. They had guns and gun mounted vehicles. There were towers with search lights.

“Everyone, take each other's hands,” Seonwoo shouted to the crowd of children.

Someone was crying but you weren’t sure who it was.

Seonwoo crouched in front of Mingi. “Remember, Mingi, your powers are super important here, right? Your sixth sense allows you to know when danger is coming. Use it just like the hallway.”

Mingi nodded but he looked very pale.

Seonwoo next stood in front of you. “Silver, I need you to imagine that everyone that is holding hands is all under a big sheet. And under that sheet no one can see you guys. Do you understand?”

“I--I can’t,” You sniffled.

“I know you think that you can’t but, child, you can. Whatever was making you flicker when Yeosang was trying to get you to run, you have to channel that.”

You nodded stiffly. You were going to fail, you just knew it. Your heart started to beat a million miles per second, just like right before an experiment, and you whimpered.

“Sannie, you know what you’ve got to do. Break that door. Stand in front of any of the cars that are trying to go after the children. You’re the protector.”

“I can do it,” San said with confidence.

“I’ll be right behind you every step of the way!” Seonwoo shouted.

San pushed everyone away from the door, before backing up and taking a run at it. He tackled it with his shoulder and the door went flying. With a grin of triumph, San hooted, and then everyone rushed out.

You watched with bewilderment as everyone flickered out of existence. Yeosang’s hand still warm in yours and another child’s in your other, you floated along with the line of children. Your heart was beating out of your chest as you passed soldiers with their guns and vehicles with their machine guns but no one noticed you were escaping because everyone was invisible.

“You’re doing it, Silver, see!” Yeosang praised you.

You were actually doing it! Your heart swelled with pride. You had numerous injuries and a hurt heart from failing experiment after experiment. You weren’t useless, you were actually helping!

“Silver, no!” Mingi shouted suddenly.

And that’s when everything crumbled around you.

Your prideful moment hushed the Adrenaline pumping in your veins and the line of escaping children flickered back into view. Shouts broke out and soldiers beelined towards you.

San ran towards the soldiers immediately, not a scarred bone in his body. Yeosang dropped your hand in order to block any of the incoming fire from the soldiers. A spotlight blinded him but for a moment, allowing some of the sleeping agents to hit a few of the children.

You watched in horror as a car hit San at full force, bending like paper around him.

You wrapped your arms around you, rocking on the ground. You knew you were going to fail this.

“It’s okay, children, you can still escape!” Seonwoo shouted from the back of the line. “Run! Use your powers!”

The last thing you saw was Seonwoo running towards San, who was sending soldiers flying with his strength. But they had numbers that could even combat that. San's tiny face smiled towards you and Yeosang and Mingi, nodded purposefully, and then you lost sight of him under all the soldiers. There was no way he was making it out of that alive. You knew how the facility was towards unruly Adrenaline children.

Mingi was the first to take off, his long legs taking him far. Yeosang grabbed back onto your hand and dragged you away as well. All three of you watched as a soldier loaded a different set of bullets and they hit San like he was just like all the other children.

“No!” You screamed.

“San will be okay,” Yeosang insisted. “He always is. We have to run!”

Mingi was so far ahead of you, you didn’t think you’d ever catch up. But Yeosang was steadfast by your side. Somehow your little legs moved, despite your injured foot, and you made it into the city and away from the floodlights.

You shot up in your bed, breathing heavily. You hated when you dreamt of that night that you had escaped the Facility. You put a hand on your chest to calm your beating heart. You watched with a worried gaze as your body began to flicker in and out of reality. This was not the time!

It was most likely coming back to you with your intentions today.

Today was the day you reversed your curse.

If the damn radiation from the apocolypse had fucked up everybody’s physiology then it could damn well reverse it. The plan today was to catch yourself in the middle of one of those nuclear radiated sandstorms, and come hell or highwater, you were going to be free. You didn’t care if it cost your life. It wasn’t much of one anyways.

You had been scared most of your life, or most of what you can remember anyways. Scared when the government had raided your home when you were young and abducted you because you tested positive for Adrenaline. You had been scared as the government had experimented on you, trying to both understand what Adrenaline did for you but also to capture it for their own use. You had been scared when you had escaped the Facility. You had been scared when you had gone into hiding and left Yeosang and Mingi to their own hero-hungry plans. You still lived scared because at any moment the government could finally track you down and drag you back to the Facility.

You wrapped your arms around your legs and rocked yourself, just like you had that faithful night in the desert. Unfortunately for you, nothing really calmed you down like Yeosang did. And that ship had long set sail.

You shook your head. It was fine to be scared today. Maybe it would be easier to weave your way through the slums and get to the edge of town quicker. You weren’t going to attempt the train, that was beyond your capabilities. You were also too scared to use anything government controlled.

So you took a backpack, with nothing really inside of it. You were too much of a paranoid mover to really own anything you couldn't pick up and carry. You took enough water from the hidden well under the old ice cream shop to last you for the trip there and back. You got scared enough to disappear for a few moments to steal some days-old bread.

And then you were ready.

You kept a light jog, throughout the slums, avoiding crowds and keeping to the lighter traffic areas, despite your odd gait. Although you always feared being caught, which helped your Adrenaline flow easily, you weren’t stupid. If you were invisible, you didn’t need someone bumping into nothing. Even a whisper in the slums could travel up to the government.

Before no time at all, perhaps by noon, you had made it to the edge of the city. The slums were closest to the desert, of course. No one that worked for the government or was better off wanted the constant reminder that this world was the result of a nuclear reaction that ruined the world. You wondered if they were truly better off in their unawareness. Does the government steal children that were well off just as much as children were sold by their parents for some spare coins?

Your disgust at your own past had your body flickering and you cursed yourself for getting distracted. You looked around to see if anyone was around you and were shocked when you saw a blonde figure behind you.

Yeosang strode confidently towards you. He wore a long black shirt. You weren’t sure that was the best choice in the desert but maybe it was made from a special material you were unfamiliar with.

“Did you really think you could go anywhere without me?” Yeosang said quietly.

You looked away, guilt flushing through your veins instead of Adrenaline. “Why are you here, Yeosang?”

“Whatever you're planning on doing, you're not doing it without me.” His eyes were solid on yours. He didn’t need to shout to be heard.

“I’ve done well enough without you so far, I don’t need you for this,” You snapped.

Yeosang flinched but smoothed his features quickly. “Not true. You always need me.”

“Don’t you dare follow me,” You snarled, before adjusting your pack on your back and limping into the desert fully.

You didn’t hear him, but Yeosang caught up with you quickly, grabbing your hand.

It yanked you backwards, and your hood fell from your head, revealing your silver hair. You were shocked for a moment at the contact. Yeosang’s hands no longer fit perfectly between your own hands like they had as children. No, his hand practically engulfed yours now.

Shaking yourself from your stupor, you yanked your hood back up. “Let go of me.”

Yeosang shook his head. “No. I didn’t back then and I won’t now.”

Yeosang’s small face flickered in your memory. His quiet smile. His quiet encouragement. His quiet strength. Damn him.

“Well, we aren’t children anymore, Yeosang. You don’t have to save me anymore either.” You pulled at his hand but Yeosang refused to let go.

“You don’t have to do that, you know,” Yeosang said. “Hide yourself from me.”

The left side of your face had been horribly scared by an experiment gone too far. The scientists had, in a foolhardy plan, scared you with acid, only for you to freeze up and actually get doused in it.

“Habit,” You murmured. “Whatever! It shouldn’t matter. Let go of me and leave me alone. This is my burden to deal with.”

A tiny frown marred Yeosang’s handsome features. “You don’t get it, do you? I will never leave you alone.”

“You’ve left me alone fine all these years,” You insisted.

Yeosang’s hand slowly loosened over yours. “Do you really believe that?”

You were quick to take back your hand. As soon as you turned around, your heart started to beat out of your chest. Not far off, electricity traveled through a wall of yellow dust. There it was, the storm that the old lady in your slum had predicted. She said she could feel those storms in her bones.

Your body went invisible and you started off with your gangly limp once again.

“Silver, I will follow you into that storm, don’t you ever doubt what I won’t do for you!” Yeosang shouted.

You cursed under your breath. “How did you know I was planning on doing this anyways!”

“I have my ways. If you didn’t insist on not being a part of my life, you’d know that.”

The guilt stabbed through your heart. Your body flickered back to life and you grumbled Yeosang’s name. He easily caught up to you again. Damn that bastard for knowing you inside and out. His arms wrapped around you, pack and all, trapping you against his body.

“If you go into that storm, I’m going in there with you. We will both get rid of our powers together or we’ll die together. It’s your choice,” Yeosang said steadily in your ear.

You shouted with rage and then slumped in Yeosang’s grasp. “You know I’ll not risk your life. Not after what we’ve been through.”

“San would be so pissed off at you right now. He didn’t--”

You jerked your head back and bonked Yeosang hard enough that he yelped. He let go of you and you scrambled backwards in the sand. “How dare you use San’s death against me! Who are you, Kang Yeosang? I don’t know this man before me.”

Yeosang’s gaze is hard but firm. “I’m taking you back to my bar. We’ll talk more there.”

Your mouth dropped open as he promptly turned on his heel and started to head back towards the city’s outskirts.

“What do you mean by ‘your bar’?” You shouted at his back.

As it turned out, your telekinesis-wielding ex-best friend owned a bar. He waved a hand at the bartender, who immediately pulled a bottle from the top shelf and poured two glasses.

You wrinkled your nose as he shot the glass back. He offered you one and when you didn’t take it, he threw that one back too.

“Jesus, Yeosang,” You scoffed.

“It’s not every day you save your best friend from killing herself,” Yeosang said.

You coughed and choked on your own spit. Yeah, you had no idea who this Yeosang was anymore.

“So, what do you think about it?” Yeosang wondered.

You shook your head in disbelief. “How the hell do you run a bar?”

“It’s quite easy, actually. You see, everyone is miserable, so they all want to come here and drink their woes away. I provide the alcohol and they provide the money.”

You glared at Yeosang and his eyes sparkled with amusement. “Congratulations.”

His glee made him smile. “Did you see what the name of the bar was?”

Your eyes moved around and then you locked in on the blinking neon light behind the bar.

Floating Silver

“You named your bar after me?” You shouted.

Yeosang gazed at you sadly. “I didn’t know what else to call it. You’re the only thing that’s ever meant anything to me.”

You hung your head in shame. You still didn’t understand why this man held you in such high standing in his life, even after all this time. You had both been children while you had endured the horrors inflicted upon you in the Facility but once you had escaped, you had refused to risk bringing any attention to yourself. Yeosang had decided he was going to do anything to help others escape, just like Seonwoo had done for you group of children.

“There’s something else I want to show you.”

There he was again, grabbing your hand like it was nothing. Or maybe it was everything and he was determined to pretend like no time had passed between you two.

Still, Yeosang brought you to a backroom where the liquor was stored. You peered curiously at the bottles and kegs. “How do you get all this stuff?”

“The government is fine providing the slums with alcohol. It keep us dull and buried in our problems, just how they like us,” Yeosang said with a fake smile that he quickly wiped from his face.

“That’s great and all but what else--?”

Yeosang looked at you with a sneaky smile. He put his hand palm down on one of the large wooden kegs. It began to float, revealing an empty, dark corridor.

Yeosang pulled you into the darkness and you couldn't see anything at first. “Yeosang!” You squealed.

Suddenly, lights turned on and you could see the corridor went at a slow slant down. “I syphon some of the electricity provided to the bar down here.”

“What is this place?” You couldn't help but wonder.

“This is how I sneak people out of the city,” Yeosang told you plainfaced.

“I…” Your words caught in your throat. “You actually did it.”

Yeosang looked proud. “I did.”

Shame burned through you. Here you were, living for yourself, and Yeosang was saving people. You shouldn’t even be allowed to stand by him.

“Good for you, Sangie,” You said with a tight throat.

“Good for us, Silver,” Yeosang corrected you. “I was thinking--”

“Raid!” The bartender shouted down the corridor. “We gotta get everyone out of here, Mister Kang!”

“Shit,” Yeosang cursed under his breath. “Quickly, get anyone who needs to flee down the tunnels.”

Both your hands tightened on Yeosang’s sleeve. “Yeosang” you said, your throat tight with fear.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got you,” Yeosang assured you.

You watched as various people from the slums filtered past you. You worried at your lip with your teeth and couldn't take it anymore. “Yeosang, we have to go.”

Yeosang shot a glance towards you. “I said I’ve got us, Silver. Why can’t you trust me like before?”

“Because I’ve spent all my life ensuring I never get caught, Yeosang, and waiting around as others flee is not how I kept out of their hands!” You shouted.

Yeosang’s lips made an angry line. “Once everyone is safe, I’ll close the door and it’ll be fine.”

“I’m not fine!” You argued. You pulled at his arm. “Please, Yeosang, surely someone else can close the door?”

Yeosang shook his head. “No. I’m the one that guarantees everyone’s safety. I’m always the last to leave.”

You let out a small noise in your throat and collapsed to the ground. How was it that the boy who ensured your survival was now going to be your demise?

You watched as your body began to flicker in and out of existence. You held your hand out as it blended into the dirt below. This was it. You were going to get caught. All because Yeosang interfered with your brilliant plan to--

Yeosang used his powers and moved the old keg in front of the entranceway to the tunnel and then dusted his hands. “There. Tight and safe. We can--” Yeosang peered around. “Silver?”

You opened your mouth but no words could come out. You were so tight with fear, so locked up because of it, that you couldn't even reach out to your ex-best friend.

“Silver?” Yeosang couldn't raise his voice, in fear that the government soldiers would hear you behind the keg. “Silver, please. Don’t leave me again.”

You managed a squeak through your fear-locked throat and Yeosang’s head whipped in your direction. “I’ve got you, don’t worry.”

Yeosang put his hands out, tentatively reaching around until his deft fingers found your shoulder. The next second, you were floating. His hand smoothed down your arm and wrapped around your hand.

Tears flowed down your cheeks silently. Once again, you’re an utter failure and a coward. And here was Yeosang saving the day. You hated every fiber of your being.

Without another word, Yeosang pulled your floating body down the tunnel. For what seemed like hours, all you could hear was Yeosang’s booted steps as he ran while pulling you behind him. Eventually, the soothing rhythm of his steps settled you and your Adrenaline slipped away, taking away your invisibility.

By then, the tunnel had widened out and a smooth sandstone wall with a single steel door came in view. “This is a safe place. Don’t worry,” Yeosang assured you before tapping a beat on the door.

A slot moved across, eyes assessed him and then closed. You feared the worst immediately, but then large bolts moved back and the door opened. “Get in here, Yeosang.”

Yeosang squeezed your hand and took you in with him. The doors closed but the person who opened them narrowed their eyes at you.

“Who’s this?”

Yeosang smiled. “It’s my bar’s namesake.”

Yeosang disengaged his powers and you fell to your feet.

“Well, she goes with the others that we don’t know,” the person grumbled. They reached out for your arm.

Yeosang intercepted the hand before it even landed on you. “After everything I’ve done for you guys?”

The person winced. “You know security is higher after--”

Yeosang chuckled darkly, tongue in cheek. “If I say she’s trustworthy, then she is.”

The person paled and then lowered their hand. “Sure. Okay, Yeosang.”

“What is this place?” You wondered.

Yeosang put an arm around your shoulder and tucked you against his body. “Used to be an old bunker for the government. Since it’s buried in leagues of sand, it’s long since been abandoned.”

You stared at Yeosang. “What is this place?” You repeated flatly.

Another voice answered. “Welcome to the Rebellion, Silver.”

Yeosang’s eyes widened momentarily. “Shadow.”

“You’re not the only one who knows things, Yeosang.”

You turned to find a woman standing with her arms crossed under her chest. Everyone about her showed that she was confident in where she was in life. She was the complete opposite of you. That was… until you reached her eyes. Her eyes showed a different tale. She was one step from going over the edge.

“Silver, this is Shadow. She’s a good friend of mine.”

Shadow shook her head. “We’re working acquaintances, Yeosang. Your true friend was--” The words turned to ash in her mouth and she shook her head as if to get her thoughts in place. She sent a polite if not tight smile your way.

Yeosang’s eyes softened and he looked away. “I was just telling Silver we’re safe here.”

Shadow’s lips twitched in agitation. “What would provoke this raid?”

Yeosang shrugged. “I paid my dues already so your guess is as good as mine.”

Shadow’s eyes came back to you. “She’s the only different factor, Yeosang.”

“There--” You licked your lips. “I’m a nobody.”

Shadow laughed dryly. “You and I both know that’s not true, Silver.” Her eyes dragged back to Yeosang. “You know--”

Yeosang held up a hand. “We’ll be out of your hair as soon as the coast is clear.”

Shadow huffed. “Whatever you say, Yeosang.”

“Now what?” You wondered as Yeosang squeezed you even closer in reassurance.

“Now you’re stuck with me,” Yeosang declared.

You stiffened. “What does that mean?”

“Until we figure out if the raid was truly about you or not, you’re not going anywhere without me, Silver.”

You frowned up at your ex-best friend. “You do remember my ability is to disappear, do you not?”

Yeosang grabbed both of your shoulders. “I”m serious. You could be in big trouble. You’re not to leave my sight.”

“If anything, this is your fault! If you had just let me--”

Yeosang shook you. “Don’t. I would never let you. Ever.”

“I probably wasn’t even on their radar until you decided to take me back to your stupid bar!” You shouted. You attempted to knock Yeosang’s hands off you but he wasn’t letting go.

“You're lying to yourself if you think that.” Yeosang leaned down to peer into your eyes. “Why are you trying to get rid of me?”

Your spine straightened and your jaw snapped shut. You refused to answer that question.

Yeosang sighed. “Let’s find a place to settle in. It’s going to be a while before the bar is cleared and we can go back.”

Meanwhile, you studied this so-called rebellion. It seemed like a simple community until you saw the others with Adrenaline. It made sense that others would come together. The thought terrified you, of course. Wasn’t this a present wrapped in a bow for the government? If they ever found this place, it would be like a goldmine for them.

You started to tremble in Yeosang hold.

“Hey, I said we were safe here, Silver, come on.”

Immediately Yeosang enveloped you into his chest. You could hear his steady heartbeat. Your throat was tight, and swallowing was difficult. How could he be like this after all this time? After your cowardice and fear were always painting every aspect of your life.

Once your trembling stopped, Yeosang pulled back. “I”m going to go check and see if everyone from the bar is okay.” He paused, studying your features. “Stay where I can see you, okay?”

You explored the rebellion’s HQ in order to keep your nerves under control. There were old rusting tanks that would never move ever again. They were trapped in their own bodies. You sympathized with their state.

“I like using their old base against them. It feels like another fuck you to them, you know?”

Once again, Shadow seemingly popped out of the darkness. She scared you enough for your body to blink out of existence immediately. She chuckled but it was along the line of insanity. You had a feeling that she was playing a little too well with that line.

“It’s an honor to finally meet Yeosang’s inspiration, you know. Even though I have no idea who you two were before you joined the fold.”

You breathed in and out deeply. “If he didn’t tell you, I’m not going to either.”

Shadow sent you a measured look and then curtly nodded. “I respect that.”

“Are you…?”

“One of you?” Shadow laughed softly under her breath. “No.”

“Then why… why help any of us?”

“The truth?” Shadow strode in measured steps. “I only did it because that’s what he wanted to do.”

You waited for the other shoe to drop. You weren’t about to push a wounded animal.

“Hongjoong was the one that wanted to keep everyone safe. He’s never stood for any injustice in his entire life. I was just here to watch his back. And I couldn't even do that.” The final sentence was said in a silent whisper not meant for anyone’s ears.

You nodded like you completely followed. “Did you love him?”

Shadow turned, her face full of ache. “He was all that I’ve ever loved.”

You’re the only thing that’s ever meant anything to me.

You don’t even know why you asked her that. Or why Yeosang said a similar sentence. You were just supposed to be floating in life, taking care of yourself.

“Did you tell him that?”

Shadow’s hair fell in front of her face. “Never.”

Suddenly, like someone pulled a string through Shadow, she left behind her confessions and drew back to her restricted self, and walked off without another word.

You couldn't blame her, really. Too much vulnerability could do one harm.

Things settled, and true to his word, Yeosang took you back to the bar, albeit in a more calm manner aka your feet could take you there yourself.

“Listen, I’ve got an apartment above the bar,” Yeosang spoke carefully. “You’ll stay with me until we get this figured out.”

“No,” You folded your arms under your chest.

Yeosang lifted an eyebrow at you. “Yes.”

“How exactly are you going to figure out if the government is after me or not?” You demanded, still standing in the storage room.

“I have my ways,” Yeosang said cryptically.

“Whatever,” You stride out of the storage room and directly into someone’s broad chest.

“Watch where you're--Silver?!”

You crank your neck back and look up into the face of someone who you did not think you’d ever see again. “Mingi?”

He does not look pleased to see you again. The feeling is mutual. The last time you saw him was when you had all split ways, you believing it would be harder to find escaped children that way. But the scene of Mingi being the first to flee never left your mind.

“Hey, Mingi, what can I do for you?” Yeosang greets Mingi with a half hug.

“I’ve got a problem that I need you to look into,” Mingi said gruffly.

“Problem?” Yeosang’s eyes travel along the bar behind Mingi when they finally land on someone sitting on the stools. “Her?”

“I found her when I was trying to break up a--” Mingi’s eyes shoot towards you. “Can we talk somewhere else?”

Yeosang tilted his head. “Certainly. Silver, my office is--”

“Without her?” Mingi cut Yeosang off immediately.

Yeosang shook his head. “No can do, Mingi. If you haven’t noticed, the bar just got raided. I’ve got to keep Silver close by.”

Mingi scoffed. “She’s probably the reason you had the raid. Not exactly conspicuous, an invisible girl.”

Your hackles rose at Mingi clear animosity. “That’s literally the definition of inconspicuous, Mingi.”

“Hey.” Yeosang put a hand on Mingi’s chest. “She’s with me, whether you like it or not. But we should go back to my office.”

Yeosang grabbed your hand and took you towards a door on the other side of the bar. You gazed curiously at the ‘problem’ Mingi had dragged in and were surprised that you knew her. She waved shyly but remained at the bar as Mingi barked at her. This didn’t feel right.

Once in Yeosang’s office, Mingi started to give the details to Yeosang on how he had found his little problem. The details weren’t exactly damning but he kept insisting that she wore the insignia of the government.

“She’s not one of them,” You interrupted.

Yeosang cocked his head. “How do you know?”

“I know her,” You admitted.

Yeosang sat back in his chair, fingers steepled. “Tell me what you know.”

“One of the nights my part of the slums got raided, we ended up in the same hidey hole. There’s no way she’s one of them. If she was, then I would have got caught.” The woman had been kind and cheerful. She was a little ray of sunshine in an otherwise dark world where you tended to hide in.

Yeosang looked deep in contemplation. “I can put some feelers out, let you know if I dig anything else up,” he offered.

You shake your head. The circumstances that Mingi caught your Sunshine friend wasn’t sitting well with you. Manhandling her and treating her like shit was a little too much like the government had treated you and countless others.

“Why help Mingi, Yeosang? It’s not like he doesn’t understand about running away and leaving others high and dry,” You said, derisiveness dripping from your tone.

Mingi’s lips pulled into a sneer. “I’m out here risking my life. What are you doing? Hiding in a hole in the wall, trembling and hoping the government doesn’t find you again?”

“Enough, the two of you.” Yeosang shook his head like he was the only levelheaded one in the room. “We didn’t escape for the two of you to fight like this. San didn’t give up his--”

Mingi stood ramrod straight, looking extremely uncomfortable. “I’m not here to talk about the past. Look into my problem for me and let me know if you find anything.”

They exchanged a nod and then Mingi was gone.

Yeosang stood up and sat on the front of his desk. “Did you have to attack Mingi like that? You have no idea how long he’s wrestled with what he did that night.”

“Clearly he’s not over it,” You murmured.

“And neither are you.”

You hung your head low. “I don’t understand why I’m here, Yeosang.”

“You’re here because--”

“So what if the government is after me?” You shouted at Yeosang. “What does that have to do with you? I’m just someone who you knew once that isn’t worth her weight in gold. I have no business being here.”

“That’s not true,” Yeosang argued. “You’re worth something to me.”

You looked up and saw that Yeosang’s hand was hanging over your head, like he was about to reassure you. But you didn’t want that. You wanted to cling to your anger at yourself rather than recognize that feeling that you had buried long ago.

“Your bar got raided because of me, Yeosang. I am fucking up everything for you! You should just discard me like the trash I am.”

“Don’t say that.” Yeosang’s tone was rough and his throat sounded like it was tight. “You’re not trash. You helped us escape that night, Silver, regardless of how it ended, if you hadn't summoned your powers, we never would have made it as far as we did. You have to see that!”

“I’m tired, Yeosang. Can you please show me where I can sleep?” It was clear that Yeosang wasn’t going to let you go no matter your reasoning. The only true escape was to fall into a slumber.

Yeosang wiped a hand over his tired face. “Yes. Of course.”

He led you to an apartment that was above the bar. You could still hear some random notes of the music playing downstairs, despite the lack of customers after the raid. It wasn’t much but it was Yeosang’s and he was clearly proud of it. It was much better than the cell you used to share in the Facility. Or even your room in the slums for that matter.

“I’ll fetch some water and heat some up for you. You can at least wash up,” Yeosang offered.

You sent him a baleful look. “Not worried I’m going to disappear on you again?”

Yeosang sent you a bittersweet smile. “Nothing to be scared of up here, right?”

You let out a bittersweet laugh in return. “Right. I’m useless without my fear.”

Yeosang’s face dropped. “I didn’t mean--”

You held your hand up. “It’s fine, Yeosang. Thank you for the water and the offer to clean up. I’ll gladly take it.”

In no time at all, Yeosang had the promised hot water, which he poured into a large, chipped basin. He gave you a washcloth and a towel, ratty, but clean at least. “Let me know if you need anything else,” He said.

“I just want to sleep the day off me,” You muttered.

Yeosang closed the door behind him and you started to strip. You only let yourself get down to a tank top and shorts. You never stripped naked--ever. You sat down on the bed, rubbing your disfigured foot. You tried to avoid anything reflective, not particularly interested in looking at yourself.

You methodically wetted the washcloth and rung out the excess water, washing off the sweat from your fear and the sand from the desert off your body. It wasn’t long before the basin was dirty and you were somewhat clean. It felt nice, at least.

“I’ve got a change of clothes if you need them.”

You jumped at the sound of Yeosang just outside the door. “I--I’m not decent, don’t come in!”

Yeosang chuckled. “I’ve never heard that one before.”

Your stomach dropped. Of course Yeosang has had partners. You are well into adulthood now. Not to mention Yeosang was gorgeous.

Except now you didn’t know what to do. You didn’t want to put on clothes just to accept Yeosang’s offer. This was stupid.

“I don’t need any clothes, Yeosang,” You refused his offer.

“Silver, I know you do have access to good amenities where you were living. Take my clothes, and I’ll wash what you’ve got,” Yeosang sliced through your declination like it was butter.

“No, it’s fine. You’ve already given me this much.” You glanced at his bed. It wasn’t glamourous but it wasn’t a nest of blankets on a floor of stone like you were used to.

Then it all hit you. “Wait, you want me to sleep in your bed?” you squeaked.

“I’m coming in, this is ridiculous, Silver.”

“No--wait!--Yeo-Yeosang!” You floundered back, arms reeling and you fell backwards, knocking the basin over and spilling the water all over you.

Yeosang opened the door, his eyes wide with surprise at your current state. “Silver, what…?” Those eyes quickly darkened as the water made your clothes cling to your body.

You avoided the look he was giving you. It was making you feel warm and it was completely foreign to you. You scrambled to find the towel he had given you. Yeosang’s hand covered yours before you could bring it around your body and shield yourself from him.

“It’s dirty, don’t,” Yeosang said softly.

“Yeosang.” You were trembling and your body began to flicker in and out of existence.

“What are you so scared of?” Yeosang cooed. His other hand cupped the side of your face, the bad side, that was textured from your acid scars.

“How can you bear to touch me like that?” You demanded roughly.

A faint, amused smile pulled the corners of Yeosang’s lips. “Touch you like what?”

“Like I’m not disgusting,” You whispered.

Yeosang pulled you flush against his body. You squirmed but it only made it all the more apparent how exactly Yeosang was feeling. “Does it seem like you are disgusting to me?”

You started to shiver delicately in Yeosang’s hold. “You don’t make any sense.”

Yeosang held your chin between his thumb and forefinger, determined to hold your gaze. “You’re beautiful and flawed to me. Both can exist at the same time. In fact, your flaws are what make you beautiful.”

Your throat tightened. You had never forgotten the one night you two had whispered to each other the first night you had been captured; children scared and hiding under the covers in the same bed. You held a glow-in-the-dark stuffed animal while Yeosang told you that his birthmark was the reason the government had pulled him in for Adrenaline testing. That same night Yeosang had told you that your hair was beautiful. Neither of you saw each other as flawed, despite those characteristics being the reason you had been targeted.

“I’m a coward, Yeosang,” You whispered. “I’m disfigured. There’s nothing about me that’s beautiful.”

Yeosang’s eyes were full of sorrow. “I wish you could see yourself the way I do.” Tears spilled down your cheeks. Yeosang’s hands cupped your face, rubbing them away. “Don’t cry, Silver.”

“Wh-wha-whatever this is. I d-don’t d-deserve it,” You spat out, despite your hiccups and sobs.

“That’s not true. Stop saying such cruel things about yourself.” Yeosang whispered back.

Then he leaned in and placed a kiss on your cheek, the scarred side first. He turned your head and placed one on the other side, the unmarred one. When you didn’t struggle in his hold, he moved to kiss the side of your mouth that was closest to your acid scars. You whimpered, tears still pouring down your cheeks.

“It’s okay, Silver,” Yeosang assured you. He pulled you into his arms and hugged you tightly. You released everything into sobs. You cried and cried and cried, tears soaking his own shirt. You cried for your lost childhood. You cried for your injuries that would never be healed. You cried for losing San and the other children that didn’t make it out that day. You cried for leaving behind Yeosang and Mingi to find themselves instead of staying together. And most importantly, you cried for Yeosang’s clear adoration for you, despite your own self hatred.

Once your sobs subsided, Yeosang let go of you for only as long as it took for him to rid himself of his shirt. You stood in shock at the view of his upper body. He had his own scars but they only seemed to add to his beauty, if not to the lines of muscles.

Before you could protest, Yeosang was pulling off your wet clothing and putting you into his original set he had brought in for you. Then he bundled up the two of you in his makeshift bed, and petted your hair until you fell asleep in his arms.

You woke up in Yeosang’s bed but he was no longer there. He must have left sometime in the night to go get information for Mingi. You still didn’t like that Mingi had basically kidnapped your Sunshine friend and was keeping her captive, but it wasn’t like you knew where Mingi went, and you weren’t exactly in a position to save her.

You left Yeosang’s room and wandered around his apartment. You didn’t know what else to do and felt too much of a burden to eat any of his food. You had no idea what Yeosang’s situation was, exactly, even as the owner of the bar.

He didn’t leave you alone for long, which you should have come to the same conclusion. He stopped mid purposeful stride, seeing you in his clothes in his place.

“Do you know how many times I’ve wished to walk into my place and see this?” Yeosang said in a strangled tone.

Your heart constricted and you battled with it immensely. “Yeosang, don’t.”

It was clear after what had occurred last night that Yeosang was more determined than ever to push his agenda. “No, I won’t stop, Silver. You’ve been beating yourself up over something that you cannot change. You’re just like Mingi. You have to stop. If you can’t do it for yourself, do it for me.”

You turned your head. You didn’t want to cry again. Your hair falls like a curtain, hiding your emotions.

“Let’s get out of here. Get some fresh air.”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea, Yeosang.”

“You spent enough time dodging the government and their goons. Surely you could spend an afternoon with me.”

“And do what? Stroll around, arm in arm, and talk about what exactly in the middle of a public area? Yeosang, we’re not normal citizens. We won’t be safe no matter how much you want to pretend.”

“Then let’s not pretend.”

You rolled your eyes but Yeosang’s face was firmly confident. “I’m serious. No one is going to suspect anything if we walk around like we have nothing to hide.”

“Yeosang, I can’t!” You couldn't help but wail. “It’s been years and I still don’t have control over my powers. All it takes is a tiny scare and then I’ve revealed the both of us.”

“I have confidence in the both of us. Come on.”

Once again, Yeosang was holding his hand out and asking for you to take it. He wriggled his fingers encouragingly. “I got you, Silver. Let’s go.”

Hesitantly, your fingers slid over his palm and he entwined them amongst his own. He smiled sweetly. “See? We can do this.” And just to show you just how confident he was, he tucked your hand into his arm, like a gentleman of old, and you two strolled through the streets around the bar.

Floating Silver wasn’t located in the bad part of the Slums; that was reserved for where people wanted to live and hide. He was in a somewhat respectable part. It was almost on the line between what people considered the poor part and the City. Pavilions and stands popped up around the wall that separated the two. City citizens were not encouraged to mix with the rabble. Their shiny boots hardly ever touched the dust outside of the wall. But it was still a natural place for everyone to gather.

The stalls sold various items. There was food, fresh for what it was worth, and cooked. There was salvage from the desert and abandoned places, which there was a plethora of. People hawked their wares, some eagerly looking to make money and others dejected at what the world had given them.

“See? Isn’t this nice,” Yeosang murmured.

You pulled up your hood firmly so that your hair was well hidden. You noted that Yeosang had his hood up too. It wasn’t uncommon for a sandstorm to whip through the city at a moment’s notice. But it hid his beautiful birthmark.

“It’s been a few minutes, like that’s proof,” You argued.

“The fact that this world continues to spin on its axis makes me understand that no matter what, life will go on. It’s up to you to walk with it or against it,” Yeosang mused.

You watched with a pessimistic gaze as a thief pickpocketed an unsuspecting citizen. You saw the smirk that painted their features as they dashed away, turned a corner and were gone. It was only when the citizen went to pay for the item they had been looking to purchase and put their hand in their pocket, that they realized all their money was gone. They cried out with shock but no one around them pointed the way the thief had gone. It was a dog eat dog world here and if you were stupid enough to get stolen from then you deserved the empty purse.

You exchanged a glance with Yeosang. Yours was “see, I told you so.” But his was accompanied by a big sigh.

“Do you have a coin to spare, Miss?” A tiny adorable child stood in front of you all of a sudden. They grinned broadly, missing a front tooth. Too young to be begging.

“I’m sorry, I don’t--” The words caught in your mouth as you felt some unskilled movement in your pocket. Your hand wrapped around the tiny wrist immediately.

“Awe, Minjae, you said you could do it!” the adorable child in front of you protested.

“Let go!” Minjae cried out, struggling in your grasp. You bent down to show Minjae how to improve his skills, for you had been a begging child on the streets once, which evolved into a pickpocket. But before you got a chance, Minjae firmly planted both of his feet against your knees and pulled himself from your grasp.

You both fell backwards. Minjae sprung up immediately and fled the scene, weaving between the taller adults. Your ass hit the sand and sand path and your hood flew back.

There were some startled gasps. Silver hair wasn’t exactly common.

“It’s one of them!” A woman cried, covering her mouth. “Quick, someone call the authorities!”

Yeosang yanked your hood back over your head and hauled you upwards with his hand in yours. “Quickly. We must flee!”

“Don’t let them get away!” A man shouted. “There’s coin in turning in one of the Adrenaline Afflicted!”

After only a few steps, your heart started to beat a mile per minute. Fear seized up your throat and slowly iced its way through your veins. Your body began to flicker, becoming an illusion and camouflaging amongst the sandstone buildings. “Yeosang!” You squeaked in terror.

Yeosang spun you around and cupped his hands together. “Climb. We’ll be better off the streets. Hurry, Silver!”

You put your hands on Yeosang’s shoulders, his eyes flashing blue for but a moment, and when he hefted you upwards, you floated like you were lighter than a sheet in the wind. You grabbed the lip of the three story building and quickly pulled yourself to the rooftop. Yeosang was only seconds behind you, eyes taking in the surrounding area. When he was satisfied that no one was following you, the two of you skimmed the rooftops.

Your Adrenaline was still acting up. Your hands and feet were gone, along with part of your forearms and calves. Leaping over a gap between buildings didn’t help the matter. “Do you think we lost them?” You couldn't help but ask.

Yeosang turned his head to send you a confident smile. “Of course.”

You clucked your tongue. “You're just saying that to settle my anxiety.”

Yeosang shrugged his shoulders. head still on rotation for anything threatening. “Even if that was the case, I’ve gone this way before. No one ever looks up, Silver.”

A few minutes later, Floating Silver’s sign gleamed in the distance. You felt your shoulders relax and your invisibility eventually dissipated. You felt safe with Yeosang, so that of course extended to his bar. It made you wonder, if you had never disappeared from his life, could you have lived a better life of yours? Instead of fleeing from a rat hole to a garbage dump, always on the run, always hand to mouth, could you have settled somewhat comfortably with Yeosang?

You shook your head. In what universe was a silver-haired being that disappeared every time she got scared going to live a normal life when hard lived citizens were eager to turn individuals with Adrenaline in for money? You were at least happy that Yeosang had found his place of peace. And you were ruining that.

Yeosang found a latch on the rooftop, right behind the neon sign. He raised it and signaled for you to go down the ladder first. It led into Yeosang’s office. Convenient.

“I’ve got to put some feelers out,” Yeosang said. “After that sighting, you might be in even more danger. Go straight to my apartment and stay there until I come back.”

“Yeosang…”

Despite the urgency of the situation, Yeosang crossed the space between you and him. He tugged you against his chest and held you tightly. “It’s not your fault, Silver. None of this is your fault. You were born with Adrenaline. You’ve never hurt a fly with your powers. The government is just some shitty group of people that believe that your life is worth sacrificing so they can live their cushy lives. We’ll get through this. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Okay, Yeosang,” You whispered against his chest.

“You and me until the end, remember?” Yeosang whispered into the crown of your head.

Once Yeosang left after comforting you, you couldn't get what he said out of your head. You hadn't heard him say that since the day you had left him and Mingi behind. But you used to say it to each other each night before you went to sleep. Or sometimes Yeosang would say it to you to reassure you that nothing could ever separate you two. It was the only way you got through some situations of your life in the Facility….

Flashback

“What do you think they’ll ask us to do today?” Mingi wondered, eyes studying the adults as they gathered in a group.

All the children that lived in the Facility had been drawn out to the proving graveyard. This was a place where you children were tested. You hated this place. The cars that were planted into the earth like rotting vegetables gave you the heebie jeebies.

“I don’t know but they look angry today,” you said warily.

San nodded, quiet this morning. He danced on the balls of his feet, looking antsy as well.

“No matter what, we’ll get through it together, okay?” Yeosang smiled at you, brighter than the sun sometimes.

You squeezed his hand back but jumped when one of the handlers clapped their hands. “Stand in your positions, children. Don’t dally now, we have important business to get to.”

Once the handler was satisfied that everyone was in their spot, he nodded. He wasn’t Seonwoo, who was continuously offered comfort and sweets to keep your spirits up. This one, his name was Hyuk. He was always the handler that had the most hard tests. It was like he enjoyed torturing children for a living.

“Today, we separate the strong from the weak. Some of you have performed wonderfully, which you shall be rewarded today. You will not have to participate.” As if not having to go through whatever horrible situation Hyuk had thought up was a reward enough. “But the rest of you, who have not harnessed their powers to our satisfaction will be fighting today.”

Yeosang and San moved to the group of successful Adrenaline users and you and Mingi were in the failure group. Mingi stood tall, spine straight but his jaw trembled as if he was holding back sobs. You kept your eyes on the ground. Perhaps if you believed this one time, you could finally go invisible and avoid this test altogether.

“I hope we’re not fighting the dogs today. I hate when they sic the dogs on us,” a child beside you shuddered after their statement.

“You’ll be fighting each other today, children.” Hyuk smiled like he was a cat eating his cream.

Round after round ran, children pitted against each other. Speed against echolocation. Fire powers against teleportation. Some children didn’t survive their round and were left bereft of any air, face down, never to rise again. You chanted inside your head that today would be the day that you were able to summon your powers immediately.

“Silver.” Hyuk said your name with a snap. “You will fight…” His eyes skimmed the failure children before he settled on one that was one of the biggest children of the group. She didn’t have strength like San had. No, her power was making the ground move. It wasn’t very helpful when there wasn’t any natural earth around, as was most of the cases when you were inside of the stark white walls of the Facility. But out here, in the proving graveyard, she was queen of the castle. “ ...Jiwoo.”

You flinched but still moved to the centre of the graveyard. You had learned a long time ago that if you fought these little tests, no matter how much you knew you would fail, there was always a shock stick that Hyuk used liberally. The children learned quickly to not prompt him to use it.

Jiwoo looked like she was determined to win this. You closed your eyes and dug your nails into your palms. Please let you become invisible, please let you become invisible, please--

Hyuk blew his whistle and shouted “Begin!”

When you felt the trembles below your feet, you knew you had failed. Your eyes flew open and you began to run. Sand blasted in a spot behind you. Then another. And another. You were barely missing Jiwoo’s blows. So she adjusted. Instead of shots of earth upwards to hurt you, she opted with blocks of ground that rose up and clamped together. You started to pant as your energy was leaving you. You could run a little fast but the air in your lungs often gave up on you quickly. You were slowing and you knew there was nothing you could do about it.

“You can do it, Silver!” Yeosang shouted.

Hyuk snapped his fingers and sent a soldier to discipline your best friend. You watched in horror as they snapped out a baton and brought it down behind Yeosang’s legs. He cried out and fell to his knees in pain.

“No!” You yelled. You paused and suddenly your body was completely invisible. But it was a few seconds too late. The edge of two slabs slammed together on one of your feet, creating so much pain that you blacked out.

It took hours for them to find you, because you had remained invisible as you had passed out. Even once they got you to the medical wing of the Facility, and with the experimental scientists and doctors on their payroll, the best they could fix you up with was a limp that would follow you for the rest of your life. But, since you had successfully brought forward your invisibility to survive the round, they had passed you and Jiwoo.

You got back to the room you shared with Yeosang, Mingi and San late. But that didn’t stop Yeosang from offering you the lower bunk and carefully tucking you into his blankets.

You whimpered in pain and Yeosang squeezed your hand in reassurance. “You’ve had worse, remember, Silver?” The acid running down your face still haunts your dreams sometimes. You nodded imperceivably against Yeosang’s pillow. “You’ll make it through this too.” He paused, his voice sounding rough. You weren’t sure, but you had a feeling he was crying. “We’ll make it through this. I’ll make sure of it.”

You were too hurt to agree with him. You just wanted to go to sleep.

Yeosang raised your hand between your two small bodies, turning on his side to face you. “You and me until the end,” Yeosang whispered. “Promise.”

Like clockwork, you both held out your pinkies and kissed them. “Promise,” you said hoarsely.

Present day

“Pack up your things,” Yeosang said with a tight throat, blood completely draining from his face when he finally came back to his apartment.

Your head snapped up to meet your childhood friend’s gaze. “What?”

“I’ve started to hear some things. I’ve got a few sources that say the government thinks some new Adrenaline users have surfaced. We need to go to ground. Somewhere that won’t bring attention to the bar or the hq. Get desert-ready.”

“What about Mingi’s information?” You couldn’t help but ask.

“I’ve got it. We’ll find him later. Mingi has a knack for that, remember?” Yeosang jerked his head at the direction of the door. “Let’s go.”

You grabbed your familiar cape, bringing it tight around your shoulders and pulling up your hood. You had always cursed your hair for being the reason that the government had pulled you from the slums to the government facility but nothing was harder than keeping your one identifier hidden from inquiring gazes.

Yeosang put on airy, light colored clothing, grabbed your hand and then you two were back on the streets.

“Where are we going?” You wondered.

Yeosang shook his head. “I can’t say. Just know it’s somewhere safe.”

The journey was less heart-thumping than when you rushed to the rebellion hq or when you had made your way into the sandstorm. You continued to look over your shoulder, however. Yeosang’s words echoed in your mind. Did the government really find you? If they thought you were a new, undocumented individual with Adrenaline, it was only a matter of time before they figured out you were one of the missing children from years ago. And that meant bad things for Yeosang and Mingi. You didn’t want to be the reason their lives got ruined again.

“Are you sure I should be going with you to this safehouse?” You hissed.

Yeosang looked both ways down a broken road and then shot across it. “Of course. If you’re the one they’re looking for, you have the best reason to go there.”

“Mingi would be cursing you right now and you know it, Yeosang,” You insisted.

Yeosang smirked, his shoulder shaking in silent laughter. “Well, sometimes Mingi doesn’t always know best. He may have his powers but his heart might as well be a mystery to himself.”

“What do you think San would say?” You couldn't help but ask next. Being with your old comrades in arms, children against the government, was shaking up a lot of old memories.

Yeosang looked sad but almost happy at the thought of San. “I think he’d be whooping and laughing, excited that we’re seeing some more action. I think that he would roll his eyes at your protests at going to the safe house with us. I think if San… if San was here with us, you never would have left us.”

The quiet realization that he had been the glue to your group the entire time washed over you. He truly was the one who wouldn’t let anyone blame themselves. San was always quick to make someone smile. Of all the people that had survived, the children that had escaped, San deserved to have been one of them.

You let Yeosang drag you through the quiet morning light, through the streets that had yet to stir with stubborn but bleak determination to live through this post-apocalyptic life. When you got to the edge of the city again, this time on the other side, you dug in your heels. The last time you had come here was to end your life. Suddenly, you didn’t want to risk it anymore.

Yeosang hefted the bag he had brought along, nodding resolutely. “Trust me, Silver.”

Of course you trusted him; you trusted Yeosang with your life. How else would you still be alive today if not for him always believing in you. “I trust you, Yeosang.”

Yeosang smiled and then wiped it, eyes getting serious. “Let’s just hope there’s not another storm on the horizon. Wooyoung really hates when I bring sand in.”

Luckily, there was no sandstorm. It was the simple struggle of walking through the dunes. The sands constantly shifted. Even a slight breeze would bring up a dusting of sand, that could blind you or make you cough, your tongue getting coated with it. You pulled the collar of your cape up above your mouth as Yeosang found a scarf and tied it around his face as well. You two looked like a bunch of thieves in broad daylight. But it was the only way to survive the harshness of the desert.

Yeosang leaned over, his elbows against his knees. He let Mingi know that Mouse was in the clear, despite the difficulty of having to dig around without a proper name. Mingi seemed to visibly sag with relief, which was another development. Although you had known in your gut that Mouse was on your side, it was good news that Yeosang had found nothing on your sunshine friend.

Still, the behemoth dragged Mouse to the couch, and continued with his verbal poison. “Thanks. Are you staying? Do I have to play nice with this bi--?”

“Mingi.” Yeosang and Mouse both covered up the foul words he was about to say. Yeosang's arms bulged as if he was holding back but Mouse proceeded to beg for him to stop although citing she wasn't sure why he felt the way he did.

You knew exactly why he hated you. He hated you for the same reason you hated yourself. The same reason his own self-loathing ate away at his consciousness, according to Yeosang. You both failed that night and San was lost to you all.

“She knows why I don't like her. What she did. Or didn't do.”

Still, you couldn't help but flinch at the truth of his words.

Despite his obvious ire with you, Mingi sat down beside you, placing Mouse on his lap and arranging her like a doll. Still, it seemed like Mouse didn't mind, so you kept your mouth shut in that regard.

“You said you missed them, right? So talk. Don't expect me to acknowledge them. I don't like cowards.”

Mouse took your hands in her own. When it was obvious you couldn't tell her how you knew Yeosang, she talked about herself. Where she had been since you saw her in the bar. How she wanted to go back with you and Yeosang and Mingi and actually have a drink. You didn't think that was possible but you didn't want to kill her dream.

“Oh! Also, I thought you might want to know, Mingi and I figured out my powers!” Mouse announced.

Everyone froze. It was still difficult to speak of Adrenaline and its effects, even now, with years between you and the Facility. Even now with the government looming on your tail.

But here was Mouse, prepared to explain it in great detail. How her feelings created illusions. How her illusions affected the one who made her feel those feelings. How Mingi wanted to help her control them.

Suddenly, no one could make eye contact. It hit a little too close to home, learning to control your powers as children with the cruel handlers in the Facility. Regardless of your opinion of Mingi, or perhaps in view of his new treatment of Mouse, you were sure she was in better hands than you and the other children had been.

Before you know it, while talking with everyone, and Wooyoung loudly announcing to no one that was listening that he was making dinner, you had fallen into a false sense of security.

“...and how you're going to repay for getting information on your little mouse is by helping me eliminate whoever is hunting Silver.” You tuned into the ass end of Yeosang negotiating with Mingi.

Mingi frowned. “I know I owe you but--”

“You do.” Yeosang met Mingi’s frown with a firm gaze. “And you'll help me do this.”

Out of nowhere, a beep begins to sound, interrupting everything. Wooyoung paused his vigorous cooking at the sound of it. Just as quickly, he snapped out of it, zooming towards where the sound was coming from. Magpie and Wooyoung have an exchange of words and then the safehouse keeper is grabbing a bag, looking at a device and heading for the door to the outside. Wooyoung stopped, looking back at Magpie and another type of silent conversation happens before Wooyoung is tossing the device to Mingi, asking him to go in his stead. Yeosang agreed easily which had you wondering why exactly Wooyoung would want to run out the door and then decide it was better to send out others. Then again, you all had your secrets and trauma.

To your utter horror, Mingi decided to drive you all through the dunes to the location. It seemed the device Mingi had given him, a tracker, showed that the person you were attempting to save was far away. Mouse offered you a trembling smile over Mingi’s shoulder, her typical roost, but smartly didn’t say anything.

While the hours seemed to pass in anxiety-ridden slowness, Yeosang’s thumb stroked the back of your hand the entire time. You wanted to say something to him, anything, but it didn’t seem like the time. All you could wonder was if you would get there in time to save someone. Finally.

When Mingi killed the engine, the darkness still blanketing everything, you knew it was time.

This was it. This was your chance at redemption, you could feel it in the way that Yeosang clung to your hand as you ran into a battle unknown. You could feel it in the way that Mingi’s shoulders were tense. You could feel it in your own body, because you were solid and unflickering. It was as if your fear was nowhere to be found. Had Yeosang conquered it.

“I can’t see anything,” Yeosang protested, loping beside you easily.

“We’re getting closer,” Mingi growled over his shoulder, eyes glancing at the tracker.

A cluster of guns went off and a roar of anger echoed through the dunes. Whoever was in trouble, they sure had pissed off the government. Either that or they were too valuable to lose. You knew that feeling all too well.

The sun was beginning to rise, the darkness of the early morning slowly releasing its hold. Soft blues became a backdrop to a place that had you stopping in your tracks. “It’s…”

How did you give voice to the one place that you did not want to return to? To the place of your torment and anguish. To the place where Yeosang and Mingi and… and San struggled with you through the experiments and the torture as mere children.

You were at the proving graveyard.

There wasn’t any time to process what you were feeling. You could see two figures in the distance running away from a group of what must be the pursuing soldiers. Since when were there more than one person to save? The soldiers were catching up.

“We have to hurry,” Yeosang pulled at you and began to ran again.

“Fuck,” Mingi cursed, hefting Mouse higher up on his shoulder. “We need a plan!”

“There’s no time!” You shouted, keeping up with Yeosang.

You watched without the ability to help as the larger of the two picked up the smaller and leapt farther away. It shouldn’t have surprised you that you were coming to save someone with Adrenaline but it was more than that.

“You two, go after the one that needs help. Mouse and I will go help the other one,” Mingi barked.

Yeosang nodded and started to branch off, splitting up. You watched as the larger person in trouble leapt back into the fray. They must be trying to keep the other safe. Your heart sank. You weren’t going to be that person this time, you refused. You weren’t a coward any longer. You were going to start helping others, not be the one always in need of help.

The fight, despite your quick response, was starting to go in the soldier’s favor. Mingi’s long legs were working their hardest to catch up with the other person who was fighting. Hand to hand combat could only go so far against soldiers who were armed. As much as it seemed like they were getting overwhelmed, it didn’t seem like they were getting harmed. Odd.

You and Yeosang finally manage to catch up with the smaller person, who turned out to be a woman in a labcoat. Is this the person you were saving? No wonder the government wasn't too keen on letting her get away. If she was one of them, she would know too much to let loose into this world.

Before you could introduce yourself, however, there was more commotion. You watched as the man who was fighting lifted one of the cars that was nose first in the sand and chuck it at a knot of soldiers, taking out a quarter of their numbers. Then he leapt at another set of soldiers, fighting continuously, tirelessly.

“San!” The woman shouted at the man fighting for the both of them.

The near-invincibility, the super-strength, the power-leaping… it couldn't be. San was…

The man turned around at the lab coat woman’s shout and it was as clear as the sun finally cresting over the dunes and washing the red-sand with its light. The boy from your childhood, the one with a heart of a lion and the courage to match, was standing bathed in the golden hour. He was alive, San was alive!

You had but a moment to dash away a tear before meeting Yeosang’s eyes. He nodded gruffly, turning his head away. You didn’t have to say anything. It was obvious that this time you were going to help San, and save him. There was no other alternative.

“Don’t move, we’ll go help San and come back for you!” Yeosang assured the woman before taking off towards the fight.

You followed behind him, arms pumping and legs lifting with all your might. All this running was burning your lungs but you refused to stop.

Mingi had joined the fight already, having put down Mouse, and taking out a few soldiers already. However, when the woman shouted your dead-friend’s name, he froze. Mingi hadn't moved, mouth open, unable to contain his complete shock. Not even his super power could rouse him as a soldier aimed at the tall man’s body.

“No!”

Mouse, who had been using her powers to confuse a clutch of soldiers, immediately dropped her hands and launched herself at the man who had been keeping her captive. Her shoulder hit him in time to help the bullet avoid his flesh. But she ended up taking the bullet herself, that was evident as red blossomed from her shoulder.

Yeosang and you caught up with the two. Yeosang crouched immediately, pressing a hand to staunch Mouse’s wound. When that wasn’t enough, he ripped a piece of the hem of his shirt, in order to tie it around Mouse’s shoulder. Mingi looked in horror at the cost of his moment, frozen once again in the moment of danger.

“Mingi!” You shouted at your old childhood friend. “Mingi, we can’t do this again.”

For the first time since you had reconnected with Mingi, he showed worry. He started to appear just like the child of the past. “I can’t--”

You brought your hands to his shoulders and shook him. “We can save him. We have another chance. We can save Mouse. And we can save the lady San is trying to help. We won’t fail.”

“Mingi,” Mouse said in a faint voice, clearly filled with pain, but still smiling through it. “I…I'll be fine. After all, I'm good at hiding, right?” Mouse jerked her chin towards San. “Go.”

Yeosang stood and moved in front of both you and Mingi. His eyes were serious but there was a small pull at the corner of his mouth. “Let’s go save San.” He appeared confident that he could succeed with you two. He reached down with both his hands. You clasped one and Mingi the other. Yeosang pulled you both up and the three of you turned back to the tide of battle.

San may be invincible, but it was clear he was tiring. His motions were a little slow, his reaction time a little lax. He needed help. He needed his friends.

“San!” Yeosang couldn't help but shout out.

San whipped around, eyes wide with confusion. “Yeosang? Mingi? Silver?”

“Watch out!” Mingi shouted, his powers letting him know that two soldiers were behind him, looking to take him out with his back turned.

San ducked without another prompt, avoiding one punch, and sweeping out a leg to take out the other soldier. His fighting abilities were at another level. What had he been doing this entire time you three thought he was dead?

Yeosang put his hand on a car and moved it with his telekinesis, making a few yell and scramble to avoid the twisted, empty wreck, distracting them from harming San, but still more seemed to approach the invisible man.

Once again, every one of your friends was helpful, useful, doing something while you were left to watch on. Mouse was bleeding somewhere, hurt as well. No, you weren’t the trembling child that had been hurt time and time again any longer. You were here to prove with Mingi that you weren’t a coward. You were here to make sure that San survived another sunrise. You were here because Yeosang believed in you. You were here because you had found a friend in Mouse, a comrade-in-arms with Magpie. You were here because… you loved yourself. Your powers. Your disabilities. You were you. And you weren’t afraid of that anymore.

You dashed forward, coming to San’s side. Your hand descended on San’s bicep and you both turned invisible. You couldn't see it, but you could hear San’s infectious grin. “You learned to control your power!”

You didn’t have any time to self reflect anymore. Mingi turned, his sense advising him about the soldier that had whipped out one of the feared electric batons of your childhood, going for Yeosang. Mingi’s eyes narrowed, remembering the attack from the proving grounds with Hyuk. He blocked the attack, grabbed the attacking man’s arm and threw him over his hip. When the baton fell to the ground, you snatched it up, letting go of San.

The three of you stared at San. His wise eyes paused on you all and then he nodded. “Let’s do this.”

San launched himself into the battle once again, landing on top of the car that Yeosang had floating in the air like a wrecking ball. His land caused the car to slam to the ground, taking out more soldiers with it. Ming shouted out warnings to you all, doing his best to disarm and disable any soldier that dared take him on. Yeosang touched some fallen soldier's bodies, sending them careening out like ragdolls. You ran and touched your comrades, putting them into the cloak of invisibility when they were in danger, and using the baton to stun soldiers to unconsciousness. The four of you worked fluidly, just as you the facility had been working to break you from. You banded together and you took out the entire battalion that had pursued San.

By the end of it, there was no one to challenge you. San bent over, his hands braced against his thighs, clearly beyond fatigued. Mingi’s eyes searched the desert for Mouse, for she was nowhere to be seen. And Yeosang… he had eyes for only you.

“I knew you could do it!” He shouted in triumph. He jogged to your side, lifting you up and swinging you around.

You smiled down at him as he lowered you down, his face became serious. You knew that look. “No. Wait. This is not the--”

Yeosang silenced you with a kiss. It was a kiss full of his happiness for you. It made your mind spin with its intensity. It’s as if, for a moment, the only thing that existed in the desert was you and your childhood best friend. Your Yeosang.

San whooped and catcalled. “When did that happen?” He shouted.

“The hell if I know,” Mingi replied. “She hasn’t seen him since--”

--since you died.

It was unspoken and yet it held itself aloft in the air, as if it could be dashed in a moment. As if San would fade and the three of you had only imagined this entire fight.

Yeosang broke the kiss with you, but held you close. “We should regroup. You can tell us everything when we get back to Wooyoung’s safehouse.”

Eventually, Mingi’s powers helped him find Mouse. He carefully, tenderly held her to his chest, almost appearing as if was holding glass. San passed out soon after. You also found the lady in the labcoat passed out as well. Somehow, Mingi, Yeosang and you managed to get the others back to Mingi’s vehicle and you made the trek back to Wooyoung’s safehouse.

You were driving, considering if anything went south while the sun was up and you were visible to any patrols, you could make the car invisible with your controlled power. The idea of being able to save everyone once again almost made you giddy with desire to see it happen. Almost.

“Look at them,” Yeosang said softly about the two couples in the back of the vehicle.

You glanced in the cracked rearview mirror, finding San and the lady he saved passed out together, heads knocking gently against each other. You had no idea who this woman was but you knew without a shadow of a doubt that if San was trying to save her, that she was one of the good ones. Mingi snuggled Mouse, completely in his lap, careful of her wounds of course. It was evident that your sunshine friend meant everything to your childhood friend and you couldn't help but want things to work out between them.

“It’s nice to see love win, yeah?” Yeosang prompted you.

“Don’t talk about me like I’m not here,” Mingi grumbled. “Who said anything about love?”

Yeosang turned around completely in the car. “After everything we witnessed, and you want to deny that love wins? What about our love for San helping us win?”

“That’s different,” Mingi denied.

“You better love her,” You snapped suddenly, weary of this Mingi right now. “The way you’ve been taking care of her… if I were her, I’d fall for you too. Just do right by her, do you hear me, Mingi?”

Mingi looked like he wanted to argue with you, but when he met your eyes in the rearview mirror, he didn’t. “Yeah.”

“Such a lame reply,” You scoffed.

Yeosang watched your interaction and the lightbulb suddenly went off over his head. “You guys made up?”

“Don’t get used to it,” Mingi and you said in unison, causing Yeosang to laugh.

Wooyoung’s face was beyond relieved when you all showed back, battered, but alive. Mingi gave Wooyoung back his radio tracker. Wooyoung supplied you all with some medical supplies and food and water. There was limited space at Wooyoung’s safehouse, so the plan for Mingi to fix up Mouse at Yeosang’s bar was made. A quick conversation between Yeosang and San had San deciding to head back to the bar with the labcoat lady known as Sage and you as well. So it was settled.

Yeosang clapped Wooyoung’s bicep in a weird bro-shake. “We’ll return with some damn good alcohol next time,” The bar owner promised, making Wooyoung grin widely.

You also exchanged some final words to Magpie. “Love won today, for all of us. Maybe it’ll win for you too.”

Once the six of you were back at Yeosang’s bar, quickly closed and everyone shooed out, San began his long story about what actually happened to him that fateful night. How Seonwoo had saved him. San was instead brought up, like the other children that had been caught that night, to become the government’s keen tools. He suffered the future that you and Yeosang and Mingi had escaped. It wasn’t all bad, considering Seonwoo was working for the rebellion and kept him safe.

That’s where Sage came in. The woman seemed wide-eyed in wonder about it all. She certainly didn’t view the group of you Adrenaline-afflicted as the other scientists once did when you lived in the Facility. She was more of a lab rat, as it turned out. She was Seonwoo’s protege. You were sad to learn of his death, all the Facility-tortured children were. She had an unfortunate incident with another soldier and that’s how the two of them were on the run. Luckily, San had the back up S.O.S signal and tracker and the rest was history.

“What will you do now?” You couldn't help but wonder as you all sat in various positions in Yeosang’s bar.

San looked conflicted. His eyes shot towards Sage, who was twisting her hands in her lap and deliberately not looking at San. “I’ve got to get her to safety.”

Sage opened her mouth and then thought better upon it, closing it without speaking.

Yeosang slapped San on the shoulder. “That's why you're here. We’ll get you to the rebellion without another hiccup.”

“But…” Mingi hefted Mouse in his arms, almost as if to distract himself. “This won't be the last time we see you… right?”

San must have recognized old Mingi--the vulnerable child he used to be--and knew exactly how to respond. “Of course!” he said, grinning like he was just going to go to sleep in the bed above Mingi, like the old days.

“San,” You bit down on your lip. How did one apologize for another's misfortune?

“You don't have to say anything,” San replied softly. “Everything happened as it should have.” He glanced at Sage again. “We were exactly where we needed to be when we needed each other.”

After promising that they would see San again, Yeosang guided San and Sage to his underground tunnels to ensure they got to their destination. San had decided that their best course of direction was literally to go underground, to the rebellion. San needed to tell them that his position in the Facility was compromised but he was clearly concerned about Sage as well. Considering that was exactly what Yeosang had done the minute you were in danger, you couldn't begrudge them that, even though it hurt to see San leave once again. You hoped he continued to keep Sage safe, whatever else those two were going to go through.

Eventually, Yeosang gave up his bedroom in the apartment above so that Mingi could finally nurse Mouse back to good health. And then there were two.

Yeosang was still behind the bar, wiping it down like it was just another day, while you still sat in front of him at the bar on a barstool. Except it wasn’t just another day, but far beyond that.

“Yeosang.”

Yeosang sent you a sweet smile your way. “We don’t have to talk about it. We dealt with a lot today.”

You shook your head, your silver hair swaying around your head, brushing against your scars. “No, I think we do.”

Yeosang pressed his lips together. Was he nervous? “I’m really proud of you today. You made up with Mingi and you proved to yourself that you can control your powers, despite your fear. You did good.”

Your chest became warm from his praise but he was dancing around the true subject. “And the kiss?”

“The kiss was in the moment. I--if it made you uncomfortable…” Yeosang sounded choked up about it.

You cocked your head. What happened to the confident Yeosang from the past week? The one that wouldn’t let you hide from him, inside or out. “Yeosang, what are we?”

Yeosang’s shoulders curved in on himself, almost as if he was a big dog trying to make himself seem smaller. “Best friends?” he offered.

You clucked your tongue. Since when had you changed positions? “Try again.”

Yeosang slowly raised his eyes. “Boss and employee?"

You couldn't help but laugh silently at that. “Are you offering me a job?”

“A woman that could turn invisible would be awfully useful for a guy who runs an information market,” Yeosang smiled hesitantly.

“True.”

“...does that mean you’ll accept my job proposal?”

“Well,” You drew out the syllable in thought. “Isn’t it frowned upon for the boss to be in love with his employee?”

Yeosang’s eyes widened. “Yeah, I suppose that’s unprofessional.”

“Then perhaps we should be partners.”

“What did you just say?”

“Yeosang, you have been there for me for literally everything in life. You were even there for me when I needed to walk away from everything. You were there for me when I wanted to end my life. You were there for me when I wanted my life to end when we were children. You were there for me when all others would report me for coins. You were there for me when I finally found myself. Don’t you think you should be there for me now that I know what I want?”

Yeosang’s voice was husky with emotion. “And what is it that you want?”

“A life with the person who means the most to me.”

Even if Shadow had lost Hongjoong, even if the future for Magpie and Wooyoung was still uncertain, even if Sage and San were just starting their journey and even if you had to beat up Mingi to get him to admit his adoration for Mouse, you had to do this for yourself and for everyone else fighting for their love. Because you had fought for yours and you deserved to take those winnings.

Yeosang gave up on the rag he had been using to wipe down the bar and circumvented the space that dared insert itself between you and him. He stopped just short of where you had swiveled around to meet him. “Please tell me that means me because I will float whoever else you’re talking about and they’ll never kiss the ground ever again.”

You smiled broadly, barely holding back a happy laugh. “Of course that means you, you goof!”

Yeosang’s eyes darkened and this time you didn’t feel weird or off or worried or unsure. This time you knew what you wanted. “I don’t think it would be a good idea for our first time to be on the barstool, Yeosang.”

“Maybe the second time then,” Yeosang replied cheekily but nonetheless, effortlessly scooped you up and took you to his office.

“We can talk about our partnership later,” You joked.

Yeosang confidently held you against his body with one hand and swiped all his belongings on his desk off, before depositing you there. “There will be no talk about it,” Yeosang said gruffly, “This is what seals the deal.”

Yeosang held your face and kissed you. Your legs remained around his thick waist, eager to keep him close. This time you kissed him back, sure in your feelings for this man who never doubted his own. You hoped he felt your love for him because there was no denying it now. You loved Yeosang.

“Wait--” You pushed back on Yeosang’s chest.

“If you’re going to tell me that we have to stop, I don’t think I can agree with you,” Yeosang growled.

“No--” You paused to laugh. “Yeosang, I love you.”

His lust lessened because pure wonder and love for you replaced it. “You love me?”

Your hand reached up to thumb across his birthmark. “I think I’ve loved you since that moment we slept together under the covers, telling each other why we were here.”

“Me too,” Yeosang whispered, like admitting that might break the spell between you two.

That’s when you pulled off each other’s clothes. Yeosang had seen you earlier the day you had tripped and spilled the dirty water from the basin over your tank top but this time he could admire more of you. His gaze burned into every inch of your skin. If your skin became heated, it wasn’t from embarrassment but feeling like you were a person who deserved to be lusted after. Yeosang’s body wasn’t anything to skim past either. His body had clearly been sculpted from years of working for the rebellion, for helping others and being on the run himself. He truly was gorgeous, your childhood best friend. No, your love.

“I can’t believe I was away for so long. I was an idiot,” You said as your hands admired Yeosang’s chiseled body.

Yeosang huffed in laughter. “Oh, so now my body is what makes you change your mind.”

You leaned forward, to press a soft kiss to one of his pectoral muscles. “I guess you should have taken your shirt off and came and rescued me from the slums a long time ago,” you joked back.

Yeosang’s arms wrapped around your head, practically smothering you against his chest. “You needed your space.”

“Something you’re clearly not worried about now,” You joked, muffled by your lips against his skin.

When Yeosang released you, you continued to kiss down his body until he couldn't take it anymore. He gripped your head and raised you back, slanting his lips against yours, your naked chest against his. Your nails dug into the muscles on his back and he groaned into your mouth.

“At least wait until I’m inside of you before you do that,” He complained.

You raised an eyebrow at him. “Do you want me to scratch your back while we have sex?”

Yeosang’s eyes practically rolled into the back of his head at your words. “God, yes.”

You bit down on your lip and glanced down at Yeosang’s cock, clearly pressed up against his stomach. “Then maybe we should get you inside of me then.”

Yeosang swallowed loudly, then lined up his cockhead to your wet slit. He pushed in, slowly, eyes watching your face for any sign of discomfort. Instead, you moaned loudly as he fought against your clenching walls. He felt so good. He was so good.

“Yeosang,” You choked on his name.

“You’re doing so well for me, my love,” Yeosang said.

You clenched down on him, from the praise and from the new nickname and Yeosang accidentally shoved the rest of himself deep into you. You both cried out together and then laughed at the moment. Yeosang’s forehead was pressed against yours. “Ready?”

“Yeosang, please!” You begged.

Once Yeosang focused on moving in and out of you, your hands flew back to his back, scratching down with the desperacy of remaining grounded. “Oh, shit.”

Yeosang hummed, husky voice tight with desire. “Does that feel good?”

“So good, Yeosang, oh my god, please.”

“Please what?” Yeosang growled, biting down on his lip.

“More, more, more,” You chanted.

You laid back on the desk, with Yeosang's palms planted behind your hips to keep your body trapped so he could slam into you. The harder he thrusted into you, the louder the sound of skin on skin echoed through the office. You couldn't be ashamed, however, all you could feel was the pleasure of being with the one you loved and who loved you back.

“I--fuck--” Yeosang cursed quietly. “Are you close?”

“Mhmm,” You nodded, “So close.”

Yeosang adjusted his angle and then you were gone. One more pass deep inside of you and you were seeing stars. You screamed his name, nails now clawing across his forearms. The pleasure that you felt right now, was worth all the work you put into yourself.

You opened your eyes as you felt Yeosang’s thrusts become sloppy. He panted above you, nose scrunching as he whispered the only name you had ever known, too young to remember what your parents had ever called you. It was who you were and it was perfect coming from Yeosang’s mouth.

“There.” Yeosang gasped. “Deal sealed. Partners in crime and in life,” Yeosang proclaimed.

You threw an arm over your eyes in exhaustion. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously in love, maybe,” Yeosang shot back.

You scoffed. “Let’s clean up. I want to see if Mouse is up yet.”

“Priorities, huh?” Yeosang raised an eyebrow at you. You swore that you had never seen anything sexier in your entire life.

You pressed a happy kiss to his lips and hummed in agreement. “Confession to my childhood best friend. Then seal-the-deal sex. Then checking up on my sunshine friend. Priorities.”

After disentangling yourself and getting dressed, you opened the door to the bar from the office and jogged to the stairs that led to Yeosang’s quarters. When you saw that Mingi wasn’t out of Yeosang’s bedroom, you moved to the door, knocking gently. Your impatience to see Mouse okay had you pushing through regardless of what was on the other side.

You gasped as you took in Mingi braced over Mouse. You let out a sigh of relief. At least she was conscious. Still, what the hell was Mingi thinking???

“Can you not attack her the moment she wakes up, Mingi?” You hissed.

Some movement occurred and Mouse’s face peeped past Mingi’s bicep. “Hi! It is totally okay. I am totally okay right here. Mhmm pro-promise.” Mingi moved in closer to Mouse, causing her breath to hitch. Ew.

You rolled your eyes. You guessed this would be your life now? “Well, I thought you might want a drink with me. To help with the pain. Down at the bar. But if you--”

“No no we’re coming!” Mouse covered Mingi’s mouth before his typical garbage could spew from his lips, smiling adorably. “I-if it’s okay if Mingi--”

“Course it is. We made up, baby, don’t worry.” Mingi spoke past Mouse’s hand as if it was nothing. “Let’s go have a few drinks with our friends, yeah?”

“Guess who I found up and smiling?” You said as you descended the steps back into the Floating Silver.

Yeosang grinned broadly. “You’re awake. Thank God.”

“Or, you could thank Mingi,” Mingi grumbled, scratching the back of his head. “Can I have my regular, Yeo?” He said, somehow managing to keep Mouse on his lap as he sat sideways on a cracked bench in a booth.

“What’s that called, a Grumpy Giant?” You shot at Mingi as you moved behind the bar to help Yeosang with the drinks.

“Ha ha ha,” Mingi said sarcastically.

Yeosang looked thoughtful. “Actually, that’s not a bad idea, Silver. I was trying to think of a name for his monstrosity."

“What’s that?” Mouse piped up.

“Ginger beer, a shot of ginseng, dark rum and a slice of lab-grown lemon,” Yeosang supplied.

You covered your mouth, giggling. “No, seriously, that sounds exactly what a Grumpy Giant would be!”

Mingi frowned, bemoaning his self-made fate. He looked down at Mouse, who couldn't help but laugh as well. “No, seriously, guys! That’s not funny. Yeosang, don’t make that a thing.”

Yeosang shook his head. “I’m adding it to the menu the next minute I have.”

Mingi covered his face in lament and you all bursted into belly laughter.

Yeosang made a bright, lemon and bubbly drink for Mouse, which matches her perfectly. A tequila and lime juice over ice is for Yeosang. And for you, he creates something with liquid smoke that he said he stole from a transport for the inner city. The four of you cheered at the booth and drank, celebrating a job well done, and frankly, a new, budding friendship that would work for the rest of your years.

Because even if the government was after you all, and even if your Adrenaline put you in danger, you all had each other and that’s all that truly mattered, in the end.

Special thanks goes to Ares for being with me on this journey the entire way. for sprinting with me these past months, for pouring her all into her fic along with me, and over all intertwining and growing these characters and this story into something that will be beloved to the both of us for the rest of our friendship. Please go give her story some love and to see how our stories elevate each others.

[anyamaris]

Ugh the journey of reading this and seeing all of your love and talent and hard work on this-you and Ares blended your stories so beautifully and im just sitting here happy crying at the end.

I absolutely love this fic and the journey of both characters. The slow burn one sided devotion of Yeosang, the self loathing and growth of Silver finally coming to terms with herself and her emotions, finally accepting of who she is...and the charisma of the two is soooo well done. Yeosang being so off beat and cheeky and well...so Yeosang is so perfect.

Ill just sit here and sniffle and wipe at my tears happily because this is gloriously heartbreaking, painful, exciting, action filled and sexy as hell. Just absolutely amazing, Topaz!

[anyamaris]

Title: Guardian's Oath (Part 1)

Pairing: Soldier!San x Biotech!F!Reader (oc nickname used)

Summary: Your work as a biomedical tech testing blood samples for Adrenaline amongst the population would be a horrific way to make a living. It's only the thought that you're protecting an unknown soldier amongst their ranks by tampering with his sample that keeps you from losing your mind. But one night and one mistake upends your life and another's as you know it.

Word Count: 9k

Genre: Dystopian AU, angst, Ateez Adrenaline based AU

Warnings: Blood, death, explicit violence, corrupt government, sexual harassment, lots of implied experimentation and harm to children (nothing too explicit, implied in flashbacks), fight scenes, graphic language, a bit of gore. Please heed any triggers. 18+ MDNI

A/N: This is a collaboration for @lapydiaries with @sanjoongie @potatomountain @pars-ley @flurrys-creativity @defwoodz @an-annyeoing-writer I had so much fun doing a true collaboration with everyone and tying our stories together. Please check out the others in this AU! This is a part 1 because I had some life hiccups, I intend to continue into a part 2. As always thank you to @cafekitsune for dividers!!

San’s lungs burn as he runs behind the others, little legs pumping faster than his brain can process.  The careful but hurried pace Mr. Seonwoo had set for them was disrupted with the blaring sirens, the flashing red lights signalling their mutiny. He tries to keep his eyes locked onto the figures of his friends ahead, risking a glance back every so often. 

It seems as though they've been running for hours now, and despite the endless training they’ve all endured, the terror of what will happen if they are recaptured is making it harder to focus on pacing. A hand slips into his, forcing him to focus on the friend attached to it. Mingi’s hand squeezes his, and San feels the shared tension yet hopes that together they might all make it out. He returns the grip, nodding to Mingi. He has to be strong, brave, and confident for them. Even if he feels as if he might pass out from fear.

“Sannie, you know what you’ve got to do. Break that door. Stand in front of any of the cars that are trying to go after the children. You’re the protector.” Silver's whimper helped him draw upon his Adrenaline, knowing he needed to be strong for them. 

“I can do it,” San said with confidence. 

“I’ll be right behind you every step of the way!” Seonwoo shouts.

San pushed everyone away from the door, before backing up and taking a run at it. He tackled it with his shoulder and the door went flying. San shouts triumphantly as everyone rushes out around him.

Mr. Seonwoo leads the group out into the familiar sight of the proving grounds. San’s throat closes instinctively even though he’s so used to seeing it in the daytime. The light of the moon floods the massive crater in silvers and blues, and he is grateful for the darkness to avoid looking at the traces of the children who came before them.

He can see Silver and Yeosang’s hands clasped together much like his and Mingi’s, and he keeps his gaze on the two figures. He has to focus on them and Mingi’s hand in his. It helps to drown out the overwhelming fear threatening to buckle his legs. 

For them.

The grounds aren’t helping his inner turmoil, echoes of his deepest fears worming their way into his mind.

Coward.

Weakling.

Worthless.

They’d used every form of intimidation once his Adrenaline had manifested, yet despite what horrors they’d rained down upon him, he refused to harm anyone with his strength. 

Yet they’d eventually found his true weakness, one he didn’t even realize on his own. Once they’d threatened harm on the other children, he’d finally relented. The very idea of hurting one of his friends…

He glances over at Mingi, wanting nothing more than to see the fear and panic wiped away from all of their faces. He remembers how hard it was for Mingi to stop crying over the wound over his eye. They’d forced the two to fight in this very place, yet San had been so afraid of injuring him that he’d dropped his guard. 

San possessed incredible strength and resistance to harm, powers he’d found out the horrifying way during experimentation. But when they pitted Mingi against him, his incredible speed mixed with San’s hesitation, Mingi had managed to almost take out his eye, leaving behind a bleeding cut on his eyebrow. 

It hurt his heart to see the horror on Mingi’s face the split second that it had happened, and it had taken days to convince him that he wasn’t to blame for the injury. It pained him more to see Mingi distressed than some stupid cut that came from being forced to fight. 

He could never blame Mingi, nor any of them. He blamed the soldiers, scientists and officials who caged them and tried to break them. The only person he could trust beyond his small group of friends was Mr. Seonwoo. 

They all have their own scars. Poor Silver had come out of this the worst, scarred from the horrors of the life they've led and the atrocities of their experiments. His eyes are drawn to her form, trying to keep up despite her limp. He’s grateful to Yeosang for keeping her hand in his, keeping them all moving, otherwise he’d be carrying her. He highly doubted Yeosang would let it get to that, and he trusted that they’d all make sure they didn’t leave anyone behind. 

He risks another look behind and is alarmed that he can see a mass of figures emerging from the facility. Panic almost causes him to stumble, but Mingi manages to keep his grip tight, keeping him moving forward.

His mind races, looking around at the small group of people he’d lived with, cried with, spent countless hours in the darkest recesses of the night speaking about the world beyond that might never see.

That glimmer of hope that had been shown to them when Mr. Seonwoo came for them is now being threatened. San feels his skin tingle, a rush flooding his body at the thought of that tiny glimpse of freedom being extinguished, at the faces of those closest to him darkening with despair. 

He barely registers Yeosang calling out something to Silver, then another hand is grasping his, linking them altogether a moment before they wink out of visibility.

She did it! San feels pride swell for her as he feels his body floating, watching as they all float past the soldiers that had managed to flank them from the side, unseen. The surety that they will make it out unscathed blossoms in his chest a moment before children begin to wink back into his sight. 

“Silver, no!” Mingi calls out, dropping San’s hand as he rushes forward in a panic.  

Unwilling to allow that flame to go out, San immediately turns as he lands on the ground, rushing towards the soldiers shouting at your sudden appearance. 

San’s stomach twists as bullets fly past him, the screams of children driving his anger up to a level he’d never felt before, making his skin feel as if it’s on fire.  

San lets out a roar of pure fury as a car barrels towards him, focusing all his anger at the vehicle as it slams into him. The steel makes a shrieking noise as it bends around his small frame, pushing him back but not causing even the smallest damage to him.  

He can hear Seonwoo calling out to the children behind him, “It’s okay, children, you can still escape! Run! Use your powers!”

San rushes towards the closest group of soldiers, opening up his entire being to unleash his rage upon them. They won’t get through him, he will protect them, anything for them-

He risks one last glance back at his friends; the thought of giving them this window to become free brings a smile to his face as he nods confidently. This is what he was made for. This is why he has this power. 

To protect.

He chooses to ignore Silver’s pained wail as soldiers overwhelm him. His mind is clear, sharp, focused on his intent. He knows it will hurt them to leave him behind. He hopes they know he chose this. For them.

He waits until the soldiers pile into him, closing his eyes as he concentrates the burn into his core. Bullets ricochet off his body, a dark satisfaction filling him as he watches the shards rip through the bodies of the men around him. He swears he can hear the soft chirp of birds as he sucks in a quiet breath.

Then he releases everything within him, power bursting out of him, coming up out of his crouch and throwing the men piling on him flying. He manages to turn and catch the sight of three figures turning back to look and he wishes more than anything that they can hear his plea.

Go.

Relief floods through him even as he puts his fist through the stomach of a large soldier, spinning into a crouch to kick the shin of another as he rushes in, breaking the bone with a sickening snap. 

One last glance allows him to focus on keeping as many of them from pursuing the ones who got away. One after another, he releases his pain, his agony, his rage upon them. 

For every child who screamed.

For every scar they inflicted. 

For each and every tear his friends cried into the darkness when they thought no one could hear.

For them. 

It’s his last thought as he’s finally overwhelmed but he can finally welcome the darkness. 

Many years later....

The lab is quiet as you go about your work, going through the process of testing blood samples and checking off the anonymous numbers they belong to. Nobody speaks as you all focus on your tasks, trying to ignore the familiar presence of uniformed soldiers who patrol this sector armed with tasers and other various weapons.  

Occasionally, one will wander over and hover behind one of you. At the moment, one of the soldiers is hovering near your closest neighbor, and you try your best not to react to the way he’s far too close to her. Your jaw clenches as you glance over, catching her uncomfortable expression.  

Unfortunately, this is the way of things as none of you are brave enough to speak up to one of them. Even if they aren’t armed, the likelihood of anyone caring about a lowly lab tech being harassed is almost nil. Luckily, very few of the soldiers are as distasteful as this one, echoing the relief in your neighbor as the disgusting man finally walks off and out of the lab area.

You spare an empathetic look for her and she just nods, rolling her shoulders and going back to the work at hand. You do your best to relax your own tense muscles, moving your head back and forth to loosen up.  As you do, you catch sight of a familiar profile, the slicked back dark hair, and the tell tale eyebrow scar flooding your entire body with relief. 

When soldier Choi was around, there were few to none of the men acting out of place. He was stern and quiet, but he was very respectful. The one time you’d witnessed it was when he was present years ago, early on in your time here, soldier Choi had marched over and whispered a few brief words into the horrid man’s ear. 

The soldier’s face had lost its color, then soldier Choi had escorted him from the labs, with the expression of a man you’d never want to cross.

 You’d never seen that soldier again.

Soldier Choi San. Absurd how you always found your eyes drifting to him, watching him, studying him. He is just another soldier tasked with ‘protecting’ you all, and you doubt he’d hesitate to turn you in for incineration if your cover is ever blown. 

Yet sometimes in the deepest of the nights where you are alone and alone with your thoughts, you’d catch yourself wondering what if. What if this world wasn’t such a nightmare, what if neither of you were insignificant pawns in this corrupt society. What if you caught his eye across a dimly lit bar…

As you daydream, watching soldier Choi speak through the glass, he turns his head and catches your stare. You startle, quickly looking down at your paperwork, feeling your cheeks heat. Yet you can’t help stealing another glance at him before forcing yourself back to work. It might be your imagination, but you swear his lips twitch slightly before he turns back to continue the conversation he’s having.  

Idiot…of course he didn’t smile at you. Out of all the soldiers you’d come across, he is the least likely to ever have some illicit affair with anyone of worker status. Not to mention, despite how ridiculously attracted you are to the gorgeous man, there was no way you’d ever get involved with a government employee, let alone a soldier. 

Outside of the dangers behind becoming emotionally or sexually involved with someone like them, there is too much risk of your secret being exposed. You shake the thoughts off at that particular one, knowing that today is one of the rare days you truly need to focus.  

The number has appeared.  

Blood tests were random, testing for Adrenaline amongst the general populace played like a lottery. And you were one of the many who did the blind testing for it. Everyone was subject to testing, and the samples only came across to labs in the form of serial numbers. This made it so that there isn’t a way for the samples to be manipulated.

You scan your paperwork and find a specific series of digits you’d have memorized, then turn to open the compact refrigerator next to you, extracting the small vial. With practiced ease that belies the stress churning inside your stomach, you go through the process of slipping the vial from your hand into your lab coat pocket, popping open the secret compartment within the fridge to extract the replacement tube with clean blood. 

Risking a glance around, you note that no one is paying any attention to you and breathe out a sigh of relief. One thing your mentor had always stressed is that no matter how many times you’d easily exchanged them, you could never let your guard down. It was truly life or death to be as covert and normal as possible; not just your own life, but the one belonging to the soldier behind this tiny bottle of cells.

Seonwoo had already had this process down before you’d even been old enough to enter into the workforce, the position you are allocated each day, the position of the fridge from the cameras everywhere…no detail was spared. 

Being a double agent wasn’t the life you’d had planned, but it was more rewarding than serving this corrupt government with no hope to be seen. When Seonwoo had taken you in, he’d focused your studies on positioning you where you’d be most helpful to the rebellion. 

Despite never having seen Adrenaline with your own eyes, you knew that the powers ruling this world had harnessed the mutation and warped young children who manifested it into a terrifying elite force of monstrous beings. Beings who could level a city with their powers all in the name of “good”. 

It’s a struggle to keep your face stoic and not curl your lip at the thought, shaking yourself from errant thoughts to be the nobody you need to be. While you may never witness the effects of your contributions, nor even know the name of the mysterious hidden agent you protected with your work, you could sleep easier knowing you’d helped the smallest bit.  

The day continues, mundane and dragging as it always is. You reward yourself by stealing covert glances at San as he patrols, making sure to never linger longer than a few seconds. If only your life wasn’t what it was, if only this world wasn’t like it is…

You glance at the clock on the wall to distract yourself from those kinds of thoughts, wondering if you should attempt to ask for a pass to go outside the compound into the city. It had been awhile since you’d felt the need to seek out companionship from another, but your stress levels have been higher lately, making it harder to get proper rest. A night of physical exertion with some random man you didn’t need to know more than what he felt like without his clothing on might be just the remedy. Self medication, you could say.

You catch the eyes of your neighboring companion, your lips twitching as she mouths “Out?”. Must be thinking the same thing, you think as you give her a curt nod. 

Voices shatter the silence, heavy boots on the sterile tiled floors drawing your attention and that of those around you, a group of officials being escorted by soldiers Choi and Lee. The tension returns to your body as they approach the labs from the hall, and you can’t help but be curious as you catch sight of a man near the back in a black lab coat with the unique symbol of a red cube on his armband. 

Your heart pounds as they approach, taking note of the small case he’s carrying. It was extremely rare to see one of the head researchers enter your sector, let alone your lab. Those individuals are normally cloistered behind the tightest security while they work on their projects. Mind racing at what could possibly be in the case, you do your best to avert your gaze as they draw closer. 

“Sir, this lab is the furthest from any outside exits, the tunnels leading directly to the proving grounds. The specimens are housed nearby as well…” Their voices trail off as they pass, your thoughts already processing the new information. 

Something new, experimental. 

“Specimens” he’d said. 

You do your best to keep your stomach contents where they belong. Specimens…such a disgusting word to assign to the innocent children who never asked to be here. 

Clasping your hands together, you try to calm yourself. Whatever it is that lies within that case, you are certain that its contents must make its way to the hands of the leader of the rebellion.

Hongjoong, you recall his name. He’s legendary amongst the people, government and civilians alike. Though he’s not spoken of within these walls, everytime you’ve ventured out you hear rumors and stories of his and the group's exploits. It always adds that little bit of hope in this dark world, enough that you can return to this compound and your tiny dorm within. It’s enough to make you continue on for their sake.

I have to get my eyes on whatever it is. 

The group stops near the large biomedical fridge, and you can make out snippets of words as they speak. Straining your ears, you try to look busy without giving yourself away, each phrase you catch making the need to get it out that much more important. 

…batch three…innoculation…survival rates unknown…necessary casualties…neutrilization-

Breathing through your nose, you glance up and freeze as your eyes meet soldier Choi’s. Does he know you’re listening? Would he catch on, turn you in? Before you can spiral, he gives you the slightest of nods and turns his back to you. Huh? What was that-?

Before you can overthink it, the men unlock the cooling unit, extracting a set of vials to store within. They're going to store it here…this is your chance to possibly obtain one of the samples and get it into the right hands. 

The group finally leaves, exchanging a few words with each other before making their way back out. Soldier Choi lingers a moment longer, startling you as his gaze meets yours once more. His stern features give nothing away so you can’t tell if he’s suspicious of you or if he’s just found you looking at him too often.  Shit.

Finally the lab clears out as the day drags on, soldier Choi and soldier Lee swapping with their replacements an hour prior to the end of your workday. You suppress a groan as you recognize their replacements.  

While soldier Im is terminally lazy, choosing to disappear into the common areas where the workers reside to nap, soldier Oh concerns you. Why does he have to be here tonight, of all nights? If anyone were to ever make you fear for your personal safety, it would be him. You can’t even count how many times the man has propositioned you or tried to follow you to your quarters. 

“Damn it…damn it…” You mutter under your breath, resisting the urge to look at the fridge that houses a treasure trove of information for the rebellion. Don’t be a rookie, idiot. You’re far too experienced at this to draw attention towards your goal.  It’s not as if Seonwoo is alive anymore to help you out with-

“Well, well, well. Sage…my favorite girl.” Soldier Oh’s meaty hand slaps down on the stainless steel tabletop, and you lean away from him as he attempts to breathe down your neck. 

Gross.

“I have work to focus on-” You protest, twisting your body away from him, trying to make space.

“Aw c’mon, why don’t you focus on me?” He taunts, circling behind you to face you again. 

He chuckles in amusement as you curl your lip, unable to contain your disgust at his provocations. You knew he reveled in making you uncomfortable and he very well knew how much you despised him. You’d been vocal enough and given him the cold shoulder for ages. Somehow, you’re convinced this has the opposite effect on his efforts.

Gritting your teeth as his hand rests on the small of your back, you wonder what his arrogant face would look like if you stomped on his foot, or broke one of these glass vials and opened his carotid-

“Soldier Oh, you’re needed in the infirmary!” Soldier Im’s gruff voice cuts through your ponderings, relief flooding through you as the weight of his palm disappears and he stalks off without a second glance.

Fuck, I hate it here.

By the time you’ve completed your samples and sterilized your area, you note that all the others have gone. The lab is quiet as you glance down at the completed array of negative vials that need to go into the biotech fridge for the night. 

Hesitation is a fleeting thing, your feet moving before you can come to terms with the decision you seem to have already come to. The only people who have the code for the devices in here are the techs and those who run this place. If you are caught, it could cost you everything. 

The hidden soldier you protected, that is another matter. You’d been churning this in your mind all day, and the memory of a conversation with Seonwoo reemerged. 

“If I get caught? What happens?” You’d asked him, one of the many worries you’d had becoming a plant within the labs.

His face had not reassured you. Though you knew he cared for everyone in this world, one thing he never did was lie.

“You would be considered an enemy of the state and would likely be incinerated before the dawn of the next day.”

His words terrified you, yet that wasn’t your main concern, so you reworded your worries.

“What would happen to the number? The hidden soldier I am keeping secret?” 

He had nodded then, finally understanding. “You’re not the only person the rebellion has within. They’re not the only soldier we have who possesses this power Though your discovery would be a loss, another would take your place. Your charge would be safe.” 

Despite not having a death wish of course, this had always reassured you. Any mistake you make is a blow, but it wouldn’t cost someone else their lives. You’d have to trust that the people more important than you would take care of their own if something were to happen. He’d gone on to tell you how they assigned workers with the soldiers with Adrenaline, like a buddy system without knowing who the other was.

Like attempting to steal and smuggle out a new experimental drug that could possibly be devastating to the cause. You have no attachments to anyone else, outside of encrypted messages that rarely came, and that one number that only existed in your mind. He couldn’t be found if you fucked this up.

The fridge is open, your fingers already deftly palming one of the vials as you deposit your samples within, positioning yourself to make it look as if you’re doing as you always do at night. You try to swallow down the terror building within you, breathing through your nose to steady your heart. 

As you close the fridge, you plug in your code to lock it, turning on your heel to exit the labs. The sample feels as if it’s burning a hole in your palm despite being chilled, and you slip it into your pocket as you do your best to keep your walk steady and normal. 

By the time you exit the labs and swipe your ID to enter the dorm area, you realize you’ve been holding your breath. Your head swims as you finally suck in air, a small bit of relief flooding through you as you round a corner towards your personal quarters. The sight of the familiar door has you picking up your pace, your mind already plotting how to manage to get this out of the compound and into the right hands. 

A small smile plays at your lips as you reach down to your lanyard to scan your ID at the door, feeling triumph well up. Yet right as the scanner beeps but before the door can open, a hand clamps down on your arm, tugging you harshly around. The wind is knocked out of you as your back is pushed into the wall beside your quarters, taking you a moment to understand what is happening.

Soldier Oh’s angry face is inches from yours, his hot breath making you flinch back in revulsion. Panic churns in your belly, moving to twist away from his strong grip.  

“Oh no you don’t, bitch. Think you can mock me?” He hisses as he tugs you forward just to slam you forcefully back into the hard wall. His nostrils are flared, his pupils enlarged as he glares at you with pure loathing. 

“I-I didn’t- I wasn’t-” You can’t form words, your mind immediately going to the sample, terror at him having caught you out, how you can manage to explain-

“Shut your mouth. Always acting like you’re better. Like you can deny me. Don’t you know who I am? I could snap your pretty little neck and walk away right now.” His fingers reach up to skim the column of your neck, causing you to flinch backwards, turning your head away.

His hand grasps your jaw and forces you to look at him, squeezing painfully. “Maybe I’ll have my way with your corpse afterwards, hm?” He smirks at the fear in your eyes, and you know he can feel how badly you’re trembling. 

“Fuck you-” You spit out before you can stop yourself, but his revolting grin just grows. 

“You’re right…that wouldn’t be much fun, would it?” He leans in, your heart thrumming wildly in your chest. He finally releases your face as you squirm, grabbing the ID hanging around your neck to scan the door to your room again. It finally occurs to you to scream, knowing full well cameras are on you but not willing to rely on any help to come. Perhaps someone would be nearby… yet you know that none of your fellow techs are going to risk themselves to come to your aid.

He yanks you from the wall and propels you towards the open door as you suck in a breath, his mocking laughter following your sharp little shriek.

“Scream away, sweetheart. No one ever comes.” He grunts as he thrusts you into the small space that should be your sanctuary. His words cut through your fear and enhance it all at the same time. 

Of course he’s done this before. Fuck this world.

Still, you’re not going out without a fight, catching yourself on the metal frame of your cot before you fall. All thoughts of anything else flee from your mind as you prepare to bite, kick, scratch; anything maim the enormous man. You’d rather die scarring him than lie back and-

The next moment happens too quickly to process, slow motion yet faster than you can blink.

The giant form of soldier Oh is stalking towards you, a grin of triumph on his lecherous face while the door slides closed, then that smile fades as he turns his head. 

Your brain shuts down as you realized that a pair of hands clad in fingerless black gloves have materialized from behind him, then his head is turning and turning…and turning-

In a split second, the sickening crunch of bone fills the room followed immediately with the heavy thud of his dead weight dropping to the floor.  Soldier Choi stands over the lifeless corpse of the soldier, his fists clenched tightly, his chest heaving as he stares down at the body.

Silence fills the space, the thrum of your heart beating in your ears before you snap back into reality and process what just occurred. You’re frozen in place as your mouth works without a sound.

The sight of the man’s head turned completely around, torn flaps of skin exposing the broken bone beneath, blood pooling underneath him has you clamping your hand over your mouth to keep your stomach from emptying itself into the mess.

Soldier Choi finally looks at you, his furious expression melting as he takes in your state. He closes the distance, gently taking your arms and guiding you to sit on the bed. His soothing voice finally cuts through your distress. 

“Hey. Hey look at me, don’t look at him.” You tear your gaze from the bleeding heap of flesh on your flood into the dark, wild gaze of the man kneeling before you. 

“Shh…it’s okay. You’re safe. He can’t hurt you. Breathe.” He mimics taking a deep breath, nodding as you echo it, focusing on him. 

“I…what…how-?” You stutter out, unable to comprehend anything. How did he know to come? He just killed another soldier. Holy fuck, how did he twist his head almost off-

“S-soldier…Ch-ch-” You manage, but he shakes his head. 

“San. It’s easier. Look, I know you’re panicking. But right now, we need to move, do you understand? We’re both in danger and we need to move quickly before they find us. The cameras will have picked up everything.” He is already guiding you up and towards the door as he speaks, efficient yet gentle as his eyes plead with you.  

The tightness of his jaw mimics your own inner turmoil, and he quickly opens the door to your room. He takes his eyes off of you for a moment to check the hall, then he clasps his hand in yours.

“Trust me.”

His request helps to alleviate the alarms going off in your mind, forcing you back into your present circumstances. It’s not like you could do anything else right now than trust the man who just twisted another soldier’s head almost clean off for you.

Choking back the flash of that very thing from your brain, you give him a curt nod. He doesn’t hesitate as he tugs you along, stopping every so often to check around corners and hallways. 

Neither one of you speaks, not willing to chance alerting anyone to your presence as he finally leads you into a corridor you’ve never been in. He scans his own ID at a massive bunker door, ushering you both through before it’s all the way opened. 

“Soldier Choi-” You whisper, unable to stay silent, your free hand slipping into your pocket to clasp the sample you’d almost forgotten about.

“San.” He cuts you off, not looking back at you as you rush through a large open area, the shadows of vehicles barely visible in the dark space. 

“San-why did you-” 

He finally glances back as you stop at a small doorway. His hand squeezes yours gently, as if reassuring you. Instead of asking what you want to know, he answers the question that’s in your thoughts.

“I’m with the rebellion. It’s my responsibility to keep you safe. I promise I’ll explain once we are clear of the danger. I’ve sent an SOS to a contact. Please…trust me.” He risks the moment to cup your face in his palm, taking you off guard. 

Your heart thuds at the intimate gesture but you only manage to nod, too stunned by the last hours events to even begin to think clearly. 

That’s all it takes for him to snap back into action, leading you through the dark doorway and down a long flight of stairs and into a long underground tunnel.

San’s hand is warm in yours as he tugs you along the dark hallway, your labored breath tightening your chest with every inhale and subsequent exhale.  The overhead lights of the tunnel flicker sporadically, and you find yourself turning your head to look back over your shoulder.

“Eyes forward-” San’s voice is concise and clear, snapping out the order in the way only a man who is used to being obeyed can.  You focus on his broad back, the muscles flexing beneath the snug grey uniform top. You still can’t believe that soldier Choi…San…is the man you’ve been protecting all this time. The sheer strength he displays as a normal man is already mind boggling, but the added effect of the mutation-

Focusing on this new information isn’t helping at all but it’s better than panicking over what is pursuing you.

Your heart is pummeling your eardrums, and you realize that for the last few moments you’ve been running up a steady incline. 

What kind of training has to go into their regiment to have this kind of stamina? Your mind races with the most random of thoughts to try to distract from the fact that your life as you’ve known it is now over.  

Bile rises in your throat at the memory of the soldier’s head snapping 180 degrees, the sickening crunch preceding the thud of his body collapsing to your floor.  At the image of San’s clenched jaw, his nose flaring wildly, his hands shaking as he looks down at them in shock.

One of those hands that so easily broke a seasoned soldier’s neck is now clinging to yours to save your life.

The soft catch of his breath is the only signal that something’s changed. You tear your gaze from his trapezius muscles, registering that you’ve been unconsciously dictating the clinical names for each in your brain to push the more disturbing thoughts out.

You’re racing towards what appears to be a solid concrete wall, momentarily wondering why he’s suddenly speeding up. Your lungs burn at the unexpected change, but then San releases your hand, causing you to stumble.

“Don’t stop!” He commands.

A shocked cry leaves your throat as he leans forward, head down, arms flexing and pumping as he gains an ungodly burst of speed. Panic surges up into your chest as you realize what he’s about to do.

“WAIT-!” You scream, but you’re drowned out by the guttural noise that fills the tunnel a moment before he collides with the seemingly impenetrable barrier.  

Yet, instead of the reckless soldier collapsing beneath the impact, the entire structure trembles then bursts into a cloud of dust and broken debris.  Your momentum slows in shock, but then those strong, thick fingers are grasping yours again.

“Don’t. STOP.” His voice snaps you out of your stupor, his dark eyes meeting yours finally as he turns to look at you.  

Your feet are still moving yet you can tell from his glance over your shoulder that it’s not fast enough. That whatever…whoever is behind you is closing in. You’re holding him back, you realize as your lungs threaten to burst out of your chest. 

His jaw tics as his gaze flicks back to you, his pace not faltering at all before he’s spinning in a surprisingly graceful move and scooping you up into his arms.

“Hold on. Whatever happens, don’t let go.” His voice takes on a softer tone as he turns and rushes through the hole he’s created.  

Your arms tighten around his neck, your gaze drawn to the ragged scar over his eye, your mind a confusing jumble of warring thoughts. Despite your intensive studying and daily exposure to Adrenaline, you’ve always been at the microscopic perspective…seeing it play out in real time is breaking something in your brain.

You’re trying to meld the cold, stoic soldier that gave you slight nods in your mundane daily routine to the man currently leaping through the shatters remains of the wall he just destroyed with his fucking body…

His shirt is torn and filthy from the impact, yet you’re stunned to see not a bit of blood or injury. How in the world…what kind of power-

This isn’t the time to give in to curiosity and speculation, you chastise yourself, tearing your eyes from him to figure out where the hell you are.

Wisps of hair tickle your face as he races across the barren wasteland. Your heart stutters as you realize where you’ve come out.

Silver light bathes the ravaged earth, shadows from the rusted tombstones of what used to be vehicles stretching as far as you can see.  Your stomach twists from the horror of what this place is.

The proving grounds…or the proving graveyard.

While only ever whispered about, everyone knows the tragedies that have occurred here…that still take place to this day. Despite the speed at which San is carrying you, your gaze can’t shut out the random flashes of broken skeletal remains.  

Your eyes burn at the sight of the small fragments of bones bereft of the children who used to house them. 

Though he’s exerting all his focus on getting you both to safety, San seems to notice your distress. A firm palm cups the back of your skull and forces your face into his neck, cutting off the horrific nightmare landscape.  

Heart pounding in your throat, you focus on appealing to whatever forces exist in this terrible world to make it through. You still haven’t processed the revelation that San is that anonymous number, that he was just a series of digits you’d memorized for years without a face.

The one soldier you’d have expected least amongst them all that was hiding this incredible power. Memories of Seonwoo come unbidden to your mind, the importance of keeping this secret. That you were protecting someone that could change the world. 

This man has risked everything to get you out, when he could have just let that soldier do whatever he wanted with you. That he could have turned a blind eye and kept himself safe, secret, letting another lab technician take over-

If we make it through this-

Your silent pleas are interrupted by San’s arms tightening momentarily around you, the shouts of the soldiers pursuing you growing louder.  You peek out from the crook of San’s neck despite your better judgement. Fear in the form of icy heat rushes through your veins as you look over his shoulder. At the telltale uniforms of-

No.

No, please, no, not them-

“Listen to me. No matter what happens, you run, okay? You run like hell and you don’t look back. Someone will be waiting. Promise me-” He finally sounds winded, pained, his arms tightening around you a moment before his dark eyes lock onto yours.  

The only thing you can manage is a nod, too many thoughts and protests whirling through your mind in that split second. Years of wordless communication with this strange soldier has conditioned you to simply agree, despite wanting to do something, anything to help him-

Your gesture seems to lock something into place for him, his eyes closing in apparent relief. When he opens them, they’re dark, dilated, focused. His jaw tics, clenching and you can feel his entire body tense, each muscle seeming to coil before the breath is knocked from your lungs.

Wind whips through your hair, your stomach upending as the landscape races by far below as San’s powerful leap propels you both an incredible distance. Hope bubbles up in your throat suddenly.  We can get out of here, we can-

But then you’re being lowered, San extracting himself from you as he deposits you on the parched earth. You are already shaking your head, knowing what he’s intending. Any words die in your throat as he kneels before you and his hand cups your face for the briefest of moments. The impending sunrise teases the horizon to bathe the world around you, turning those dark eyes umber. His normally stoic expression softens as the side of his mouth twitches in the barest hint of a smile. 

“Go.” His voice is barely a whisper but it hits you like a tank as the warmth of his fingers leave your cheek cold. Time seems to slow as you watch him twist gracefully away from you, invisible tension bearing down on you as his lithe body goes taut like a spring being wound up. 

Adrenaline- Your mind whispers as he vaults into the air, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.  Your throat closes as his form recedes, closing the distance between you and the men that are pursuing you. Your hand flies to cover your mouth, fear freezing you in place at the sight.

San’s solitary figure lands, his feet already moving as he hits the ground, sending him barreling into the horde of soldiers. You watch in stunned yet fascinated horror as he tears through the first few, his movements practiced and nimble. He’s almost feline with how he ducks and twists, each motion efficient as he uses his momentum to land one devastating blow after another.

Yet, you’d caught sight of the uniforms of the men in the back lines, the familiar terrifying symbols that mark those soldiers as the elites. The ones that survived these very grounds and became amoral monsters for the corrupt government.

Despite the distance, you can hear the scream that tears from San’s throat as he grasps one of the corpses of a car, ripping it from the ground where it’s embedded then hurls it into a group of soldiers. A cloud of dust erupts from the impact as he takes out a quarter of the men he’s fighting, San already leaping again into yet another cluster of bodies.  

“SAN!” You shriek, finally finding your voice. Your heart clenches as he turns briefly to check on you, and from this distance you can see the fierce determination on his face. He’s like a fearless warrior only spoken of in legends, the rising run illuminating him as he is bathed in the golden hour.  

It’s only then that you realize there are people near you, startling you into drawing your eyes from the battle to their forms.  Two figures…a man and a woman. San had said someone would be waiting. How did they know? He must have contacted someone somehow-

“Don’t move, we’ll go help San and come back for you!” The man’s deep voice tears your spiraling thoughts, hope welling up within you. 

“Please-” But your words fall on deaf ears, both forms already racing towards the fray, causing you to sit up and clutch your fist to your chest, tears forming and threatening to spill as you catch sight of two more figures in the distance closing in to help.

Awed, you can only provide the audience to the scene taking place before you in the distance.  Nothing could have prepared you for the sheer insanity unfolding, the unexpected newcomers displaying their own powers to sync up with San.

A car suddenly rises into the air, then the woman who’d been with the man who’d reassured you touches San and they both wink out of visibility.

Holy shit, they all-they all are-

Wet trails cut through the grime and dust on your cheeks as you watch the battle turn, each of the four figures who’d joined San showcasing their own unique powers. San suddenly reappears, leaping up onto the floating car to slam his feet into it, sending it slamming into the soldiers beneath.  

You can hear the voices calling to one another as they move in unison, as if they’ve been doing this for their entire lives together. Finally, you watch as two of the elites turn and retreat back towards the compound, ceding their defeat to the overwhelming force they hadn’t expected.

Your hand catches on the ground as you try to stand, your legs shaking as exhaustion finally hits you. Your feet catch as you stumble forward, your eyes locked onto San in the distance, surrounded by his allies. Managing to take a few steps, you watch him turn and speak to the others, his weary smile filling you with relief. 

San collapses down onto one knee, then another, and your own body gives out, sinking to the ground as fatigue wins out. 

He did it…he did it…they did it-

San topples forward onto the ground just as your own consciousness surrenders you to the dark.

The first thing you register before even opening your eyes is a weight on your waist. Pain radiates through your entire body, the kind of pain and aches that comes from overexertion. Soft noises occasionally disturb the silence as you slowly make your way out of your slumber. 

Unwilling to open your eyes just yet, you blindly feel around, your hand drifting to the unknown weight on you. Memories of fleeing slowly flood back into your mind as your fingers find an arm draped over your waist, ending in a hand that twitches as you touch it.  

Sucking in a breath as you recall the moments leading up to your unconsciousness, you attempt to sit up. The arm wrapped around you keeps you in place, though, and you go still as soft breath stirs the hairs at the nape of your neck. 

“S..San?” You whisper nervously, hoping it’s him and you’ve not woken up with some random stranger. As much as you’d love for the previous night to have not happened, you’d still prefer it be his arm-

“Mmm?” A soft murmur answers. You finally open your eyes a bit, glancing down at the fingers that slip between yours, entwining your hands. 

Relief floods through you.

You’d know San’s hands anywhere. 

He breathes a sleepy sigh against your skin, tugging you back so his chest is flush against your back. 

A flood of emotion wells up in you, finding comfort in knowing somehow you’d both made it out of the fray. You tense as you realize that he may be injured, given everything he and the others had faced, turning over abruptly to look him over. 

The motion stirs him from his sleep, and you shove down the guilt at waking him. You had to make sure he wasn’t harmed in any way.

He slowly opens his eyes as you look his face over, your eyes darting over every inch of skin you can find to check on him. He watches in silence as you inspect him, allowing you to make an exhaustive search of him before you’re satisfied. 

The only damage you can find is to his clothing, torn and soiled from the previous evening’s battle. Smooth, undamaged golden skin peeks back at you where wounds should be. You finally look up at him, curious but remaining silent. 

His eyebrow twitches, the side of his mouth threatening to lift at your scrutiny. It’s surreal how you’ve yet to speak a word between you yet his expressions convey everything. You reach up to run the pad of your thumb over his eyebrow scar, tearing your gaze from his as you try not to stare too deeply into the dark depths of his eyes. 

His arms tighten around you a bit as his eyes close again, as if he’s about to return to sleep.

“San…” You whisper as he shifts. It’s not as if you want to be anywhere else right now, but you still need answers. So many answers. Shit, you didn’t even know the questions you needed to be asking.

“I know.” His voice is reluctant but he loosens his hold, allowing you to sit up and finally look around.  

The room you are in is the copy of any guest room that could exist within the city, but given that you’re safe and with San, you assume that his allies had moved you both to safety. You know for a fact that before you’d passed out, you’d seen San fall. 

Thank all the forces in the world that he has allies. 

It hits you again that he’s part of the rebellion. He’s the number. He’s the one who’s blood you’ve been hiding all this time.

Your head pounds at the way the information has yet to fully set in, only pieces of the escape clear in your mind. 

He finally sits up, and you can read the concern in his eyes.  You’re so used to the stoic, stern expression he normally wears that the soft care on his face makes him look like a completely different man. 

He’s no longer Soldier Choi. It’s going to take awhile to digest that tidbit of information, though it’s not as if you haven’t been wearing your own mask.

You close your eyes and rub your temples as you try to focus. Right now, you need to-

“Oh shit-!” You exclaim, finally realizing you’re still wearing your labcoat. Your hand dives into the pocket, and you collapse back against the headboard of the bed in relief as your fingers close around the vial.

San tenses at your sudden shout, looking like a man who is about to pounce on any hidden threat.

“What? What’s wrong? What is it-?” 

You shake your head, pulling your hand from your pocket. His eyes are drawn to the glass vial resting in your palm.

“Um…I took this. From the fridge last night, before…it’s a sample from the case those men brought.” You look up, his wary concern bleeding into shock then his lips part as he sucks in a breath.

“We need to talk to the others.” 

Before long you’re seated beside San in a man named Yeosang’s bar. He’d briefly introduced you to everyone before Yeosang had herded everyone out and closed it for the night. Now you can only listen in rapt silence as he explains what happened years ago, shocked into silence that he was one of the many children who’d undergone those horrific experiments once they manifested their Adrenaline.

He filled in the gaps between his capture as a child, into how Seonwoo had managed to flee with him. It stunned you to realize you’d both been rescued by the same man and put together with intention.  

Apparently, Seonwoo had kept San secret for awhile while training him to hide his powers, all while raising you to be a spy in the labs in tandem. 

You note the pained expressions on his allies' faces, and can sense that they’d each had to go through their own form of torment within, and after escape. The woman, Silver, named aptly for her hair, wore the most visible. Scars across her face, and you learned that her hair color had changed due to the extensive, horrible tests they’d done on her.  It sickened you to think any human could torture a child, let alone cause this much damage. 

You relay your own story, about your rearing by Seonwoo and last night’s events leading to having to flee. San hadn’t mentioned the sample yet, so you kept it to yourself for now. It is likely better that the less people who know about it right now, the better. It kept everyone else safe and its existence safe until it was in the right hands.

You find yourself twisting your hands together in the tense atmosphere as Silver asks what their next steps were. You hadn’t had a chance yet to discuss that before this meeting, and you can’t bring yourself to look at San.  Would he abandon you now? He had no reason to continue on with you, but-

“I’ve got to get her to safety.” San’s voice interrupts your thoughts. You open your mouth, about to protest, but the words are stuck in your throat. You’d be lying if you said he shouldn’t stay with you. In the short time between him rescuing you from soldier Oh til now, you have formed some kind of trauma bond with him. That had to be what this was, because it felt as if you were parted from him, you’d fall apart.

The thought alarms you, but you push it to the back of your mind for now. The most important thing was getting this sample to the rebellion. You excuse yourself, moving away a bit to let San have some private words with his long lost companions.

By the time San returns to your side, you can see his expression looks tense. You check quickly, realizing you may be moving quickly given the way the conversation took. The vial is hidden within your clothing, secured and safe for the time being. 

He takes your hands in his, his jaw working as he takes a moment to collect his thoughts.

“I just heard…something happened within the rebellion but I still intend to take you.” His eyes are anxious, worried. Your stomach twists despite the relief that he’s not leaving you behind.

“What happened?” Your words are timid, hesitant, as if he doesn’t say a word that everything will be okay. 

But it’s not okay.

“Hongjoong is dead.”

To be continued...

[lapydiaries]

Annual Summer Event 2026

Summer finally arrived. The weather is nice, your work schedule is cleared and you are ready for your booked vacation!

Though what happens when your journey takes some unexpected turns?

Welcome to the Summer Event of 2026 held by Smoky Quartz Flurry!

Please choose one of the many destinations for traveling including some special twists and turns. Hopefully each and everyone of you will find a wonderful vacation time (literally or figuratively) at the end of this event.

Red Marker:

You chose a city tour! Traveling to a metropolis (Los Angeles, Dubai, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Seoul... just to name a few options). The reason you're traveling? Depending. What you'll find on your journey? A possible fling, love, something your heart truly desired!

Light Blue Marker:

You chose a couple vacation! You and your partner wanted a romantic escape from your daily lives (watching polar lights, going to Paris or Venice, going to the Maledives...)

Green Marker:

You chose a nature adventure! Far away from the city life you want to discover the beauty our planet has to give (Safaris in Africa, an Outback adventure in Australia, traveling in a camper van from South to North America...)

Orange Marker:

You "chose" a work travel! Maybe you didn't get your vacation approved or you have to use it to learn something for work or you need work to finance your travel ideas (be it learning a new language, branching out the company ties, do a work and travel..)

Dark Blue Marker:

Whatever you chose for your summer, didn't happen. Your plans? Ruined. Your location? Unknown. Maybe you got ship wrecked in the Bermuda Triangle and are now captured by the merfolk, or you unknowingly stepped through a fairy circle in Ireland taking you to another world, or you found an old artefact in the middle of the amazon which took you back in time, maybe you just met a creature you didn't think existed... the possibilities are endless!

Choose your trip wisely and enjoy your journey. Make sure to include something unexpected in your written works. If you're able to include it in your graphics as well don't let me stop you! Remember to use the network tag!

Timeline:

June 1 - Event begins

August 23 - Masterlist posted

August 31 - Event ends

[anyamaris]

Title: Until My Last Breath

Word Count: 1206

Synopsis: A case of Hanahaki disease shows up on your table, bringing with it a man from your past.

Pairing: Mafia Organ Broker!Namjoon x Coroner!F!reader

Genre: Horror/Thriller, Angst

Trope: Hanahaki disease, mafia inferences

Flowers Chosen: Anemone, Sweet pea (It's vague but I took some liberties in descriptions of the flowers)

Triggers/Warnings: Graphic description of an autopsy and equipment, overall cryptic environment of a morgue, inference to Namjoon being into organ marketing/mafia, mention of surgical scars. Angst with inferences of a past tragic relationship.

Submission for @lapydiaries Admin Dae's Drowning in Flowers event

A/N: Thank you to @sanjoongie and @pars-ley for getting me through writing this! I've never written or really known about Hanahaki disease before this beyond just vague ideas. I wanted to play with the idea of seeing the effects of it from a different pov than you'd expect. Thank you to @cafekitsune as always for the dividers and @pars-ley for the gorgeous banner! Written while listening to Dying To Love and The Grey by Bad Omens.

The familiar tingle of disinfectant stings your sinuses as you make your way across the chilly, windowless room. The soft ticking of the clock adds some ambiance to the silent space, and you’re reminded that you’ve yet to cue up some music to get you through the long night to come.

You go about the beginning of your shift, paperwork, checklists, all of the things ingrained into your everyday routine. Pulling out your white lab coat, you turn to secure your hair then wash up before heading over to cold storage.

The stainless steel metal doors house those unfortunate enough to have ended up in this quiet morgue, in the hands of a woman who’d come to terms with death long ago.

Your eyes search for one particular door, your heart heavy as you recall the documents listing her stats. 

Door number 3.

Female, 25. Lung obstruction possibly leading to death.

A tingle races up your spine but you roll your shoulders to try to release the tension building slowly.

You push aside the technical terms you’d read off her chart, trying to clear your mind before you face the poor girl lying on the slab behind the door reducing her to a number in a refrigerator.  

Pausing, you take a deep breath that tugs at your own past scars before you nod once. Perhaps you’d be wrong and it’d be a simple case of pneumonia that had killed her.  

Forcing yourself into professional mode, you tug open the door and begin the steps for her autopsy.

All hope drains from you as your scalpel slices through her chilled flesh and tissue, cranking open the rib spreader to reveal the lungs beneath. The tell tale sign of the disease is automatically apparent as you notice the little barbs puncturing the lining.

The familiar floral scent permeates the air as you make an incision, so out of place in this sterile, sanitized environment.  The once beautiful blooms are now withering in her chest, the fetid fragrance of sweet rot accompanying the decaying petals.  

You set aside your scalpel and gently pick one up, rubbing the deteriorating tissue between your gloved fingertips. A sigh leaves your lips at the discovery, but before you can return to your work, soft footfalls catch your attention from the ceiling above.  

Your hand hovers over your surgical knife, your gut twisting as the footsteps seem to hesitate. 

As much as you will those shoes and the man connected to them to turn and leave, you’ve been anticipating this since you’d read her chart. 

To your dismay, heavy clomps descend the concrete steps before the morgue door is being swung open.

You blow out a long breath as your sanctuary is breached by the living, breathing figure you’d rather not have to face.  

He seems to sense your unwillingness, but you both know it can’t be avoided.

After a moment he clears his throat, the first note of your name brushing past his lips. But before he can even utter the syllable, you cut him off. 

“Namjoon.” 

Bracing yourself, you keep your face stoic before turning to face him.

Tall, short hair slicked back from his forehead. Dark eyes behind glasses that just enhance his good looks, an expensive suit adorning his large frame that can only be purchased at the most exclusive tailors.

The rigid creak of leather cuts the tension in the air as his gloved fist clenches the handle of his thick metal briefcase.

His full lips twitch at the edges, that familiar dimple threatening to peek out and wink at you as if it could stir your heart once more.

You’re aware of how ridiculous you both must look, two people standing in a cold morgue staring at one another probably reliving a lifetime of memories, yet you both have a job to do.

“I’ll prepare it.” You turn your back to him, willing your hand to steady as you retrieve your scalpel and go about extracting the thorny mass from the cadaver's chest cavity.

Silence fills the room for a long moment as you work before he finally steps up across from you. You only give him a glance before returning to your removal, your sharp blade delicately separating plant from human cells as he observes.  

As rare as it was for this to come across your table, it’s not as if it’s never happened.  You’re both well versed on this by now, an almost companionable quiet settling around you. 

“You’ve gotten better at the roots.” The deep timbre of his voice draws you from your inner thoughts. You merely nod, finally withdrawing the compacted blooms from the thorax.  

He settles the heavy briefcase on the table beside you, the sharp snick of the latches unlocking as you turn with the mass in your hands to gently place it inside.  

Your gaze lingers on the beautifully horrific plant, wondering about the girl they came out of and the person who’d caused her to birth them. If she’d suffered much as they slowly suffocated her.

Namjoon’s hands linger on the lid, allowing you the time with your thoughts. A sadness washes over you as you tear your eyes away and look up at the man who’d once-

“Have there been any breakthroughs?” You redirect your focus, voicing something more tangible and less melancholic.

That dimple peeks out again as he shakes his head, his tongue pushing out his lower lip the way he always does when he’s frustrated.  

“You know I’m not privy to that…but…” His gaze meets yours, dropping to your collar before quickly snapping back up.  “...but you know if I ever know-”

Your smile is your only answer as he finally snaps the lid shut, sealing away the diseased blooms within now that your part in this is through.  

With a nod, he lifts the case and turns to go, his footfalls a small relief as they signal that you can return to your routine without the intrusion of his presence trespassing on your mind.

Before you can turn back to the autopsy, he pauses at the door, his broad shoulders tensing.

Without looking back, he places a hand on the door, hesitating.  

“I’ll keep my promise. Until the moment I draw my last breath, I swear-”  

His vow rings throughout the room, and you can only feel the remnants of your heart stir like a specter; a ghost limb trying to remember the place it no longer resides.

Without another word, he pushes the door open and ascends the stairs, his heavy footfalls slowly fading as you allow the cold silence to calm your weary bones.

Your turn back to the table, the clock ticking faintly as you resume your night.

Your hand drifts up to your torso, your palm settling over the fabric that conceals your surgical scars.

You can’t help but wonder which is the preferable fate; the disease extinguishing your life like this poor soul on your table or…living but unable to love again.

You grab the tiny remote and turn on some music to drown out the intrusive hope that Namjoon’s longing eyes held, focusing on what will hopefully be the last tragic case of Hanahaki to come across your table.

[anyamaris]

Epiphany

For the @lapydiaries May's Blooming Garland, Lily of the Valley. Theme:Purity

[sanjoongie]

𝔏𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔡𝔦𝔢𝔰 ‘𝔠𝔞𝔲𝔰𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢’𝔰 𝔫𝔬 𝔴𝔞𝔶

˖°𓇼Summary: Sometimes there's a reason people avoid a spot on the beach. And sometimes nothing cures survivors guilt like a little vengeance ˖°𓇼Pairing: Siren! Hwang Hyunjin x Human! Reader (f) ˖°𓇼Genre: horror, smut ˖°𓇼Au: mermaid/siren, fantasy, modern fantasy ˖°𓇼Rating: 21+, Minors/Ageless blogs Do No Interact ˖°𓇼Word Count: 2,897 ˖°𓇼Author's Note: i was going through something and this darkness lowkey got me through it so i hope this can pay it forward for anyone else. special thanks to @anyamaris for helping me with the ending and her enjoyment of all that's dark ˖°𓇼Divider by @/cursed-carmine ˖°𓇼Warnings beneath the read more~

˖°𓇼Warnings: ⚠️please mind the warnings 🛑✋️if you can not handle gore, please turn back now!, DD:DNE (dead dove: do not eat), cannibalism, death, descriptions of eating bones and flesh, splitting headaches, descriptions of dead bodies, throwing up, grief from death, panic attack, descriptions of fear, mourning, survivor's guilt, near-drowning, revenge best served cold, descriptions of carving a chunk of flesh from your thigh, bleeding, using a knife on yourself, salt water in wound, sexual innuendos towards licking a wound, pain=pleasure, mind manipulation via siren powers, brainwashing, descriptions of pain, siren venom making you pliant as well, unreliable narrator, oral (m), descriptions of a merman's dick, implications of interspecies mating, killing a merman, character death

All you can hear is a wet, crunching noise. It could be anything really if you let your mind wander aimlessly, which it seems to be doing right now. You’re not aware of where you are or how you got here but that one thing that keeps getting you to focus is that wet, crunching noise.

You feel like you should attempt to open your eyes. Something is prompting you to gain consciousness. But it’s so hard. Your eyelids don’t want to open. And your thoughts seem to go in and out. The darkness is comforting. You don’t want to know what’s going on right now.

But why?

That’s all that it takes for you to fight a little bit more. Maybe you should open your eyes. Maybe you shouldn’t be surfing your unconsciousness like you’re on an innertube at some water resort's lazy river. Maybe you should know what the fuck is making that wet, crunching noise. 

You groan and press the heel of your hand against your forehead. It feels like someone has driven an icepick through your eyeball, lobotomy-approved.

crunch crunch plop crunch crunch plop

Your eyes peer into the dimly lit air. Moisture envelopes you, bringing a shiver to your spine. What in the world was making that noise?

You blink heavily and slowly but surely, like a camera lens coming into focus, your pupils dilate so that you can see through the murky shadows of your location.

At first, your brain can only focus on the jerking of your friend's body. Their eyes gaze lifelessly into the darkness, unblinking as if starting some kind of staring contest. Then you follow the odd red lines that run along her sternum. Weird, you didn't remember seeing them earlier today. Those lines lead to jagged edges of flesh.

Your eyes stop following the path suddenly, dropping back to her stiff hand that keeps jerking with the rest of her body.

Crunch plop plop

You don't want to look up. Your brain is begging you to just turn and leave this scene behind. But the curiousness deep inside your monkey brain, the one that circumvents any survival instincts, wins.

So your eyes drag upwards. Following the jerking body. Following the red lines. Following the jagged flesh. And meet glowing eyes.

The eyes, bright with the light of sun shining through a hole high in the ceiling of whatever cave you've been dragged into, blink slowly. Studying you. Watching you. 

But it's not the eyes you should be worried about.

It's the mouth.

Those sharp teeth, serrated to eat flesh. The jaw, moving up and down to manage the chucks into smaller pieces. The lower face that is covered in blood and gore and--

That's as far as you make it until you have to bend over and empty your stomach. Something humanoid is eating your friend and all you can manage to do is be sick over it.

You don't get to have a hero moment where you grab a rock and rush at the thing eating her. You don't shout for it to stop. You simply release all the sea water and food you had earlier, tears streaming down your face.

You cough and spit for a moment and that's when the terrifying crunch crunch plop stops.

And what replaces it is a slow, dry, dragging noise that sends goosebumps over your skin.

You wipe your mouth with the back of your hand and watch with horror as the creature drags itself down from the pile of bodies and towards you.

You freeze. All you can do is take in the damp, tangled hair, the broad torso, and the long tail that appears as a fish does.

Is this what a real mermaid looks like? No, not a benevolent mermaid. A siren of legend, one that coaxes their victims to eat them.

“You're unlucky you awoke early,” The creature muses. “Or perhaps lucky, given the situation.”

It's as if, as soon as the siren opens its mouth, everything seems a lot better. You're not thinking about the blood on his mouth or the matted hair or the animal-like reflective eyes. Instead, you see a gorgeous creature, half man, half fish, before you.

“Why lucky?” You find yourself voicing.

“I am full now so I won't be needing you any longer.”

You nod, like that makes perfect sense. “I see.”

The siren purses their lips to the side in thought. “Although I don't know exactly how you'll leave here.”

You shrug, like the thought doesn't even matter. “I'm okay, as long as I'm here with you.”

The creature rolls their eyes. “You humans truly are that weak.”

The graceful, handsome siren uses his large, muscled arms to pull himself into the turquoise waters and you begin to keen at being left behind. 

That’s when your senses came back to you. Or rather, the siren’s effects wore off. Then you realized you were alone in a cave with your dead friends.

You scrambled back, as far away as you could be from the pile of corpses until rough rock scraped your bare back. Then you started to sob into your hands. 

This was all supposed to be a fun, local seaside vacation. Why did this happen? One minute you had all been splashing in the shallows, having found a spot on the beach that both the locals and other vacationers had vacated and--

You choked on your grief and fear. Why the fuck had you been the only one that was left? Images of your friends, laughing and carefree, flashed through your mind. This was fucked up. And now you were stuck in their tomb?

You claw at your throat like you can’t catch your breath. You were going to suffocate in this cave, breathing in deadly fumes from the dead, and then what? Would that creature eat from you once you were dead? Would your body be an open protein bowl for it?

You shake your head. You may not be a hero or a warrior but you are one thing--a survivor. 

You plunge into the pool from which the siren also escaped to. You swam down, following a tunnel until murky, seaweed-filled water revealed a lighter patch. You barely climb your way to the surface but you do make it.

The story of your gruesomely murdered friends never makes it to the front page. For who would believe you? And so you carefully curate the story of a strong undertow stealing your friends from you, being the only one not swimming that day. Despite your warnings about the area known for such, as you had discovered was most likely the excuse for anyone else that had died in that area, you were squeaky clean and sent on your way.

Squeaky clean--you scoffed at the way that not one person blamed you for your friend's death. Throughout the funerals back to back, you smile and weep, but no one blames you at all. 

You blame yourself, however. You didn't make it out of that cave because of some brilliance or abilities, no, the creature that had devoured all your friends simply had a case of his eyes being too big for his stomach. The audacity that you survived because of blind luck drove you mad with guilt. Unable to handle it, you took the extra time you had off to deal with your trauma and went back to the beach where it had all started.

You had a plan, you see. 

As it turns out. You weren’t the hero. Or a survivor. You were actually the grey area in between good and victim. You were going to enact revenge on the damn siren. He had grabbed your life and shook it up like an etch’n’sketch. You planned on returning the favor.

You make your way to the same inlet that your friends had insisted were the best kept secret on this shore. You walk until the waves gently lap at your thighs. You wanted to wear the same suit that you wore on that faithful day but the police had long confiscated that. Still, you had gone to the same store and bought the same style, only in a different color. The only thing different about today is that you had brought a sharp paring knife with you today. 

You breath in deeply, letting it out slowly through your nose and then you begin to carve a piece of meat from your thigh. You made sure it was a fatty part and no where near your main arterie. You bit down on your lip, the pain radiating through your body, but you were determined to see this through. 

Once you had a chunk of flesh, you threw it into the ocean. The salt water lapped at your open wound and you hissed as the pain exemplified. Still, your eyes remained on the horizon. 

You didn’t see anything at first. You hoped that your chunk of flesh wouldn’t go to a normal fish to nibble on like forgotten bait. And then you saw the flash of tail and beamed triumphantly. You had lured the siren to your location. 

The details were fuzzy on how he had taken you all but this time your senses were sharp with the pain. The siren launched himself out of the water with his powerful tail, leaping like a dolphin through a wave. He pounced on you like a true predator, webbed claws digging shallowly into your neck and shoulders. He hummed a tune that made you docile as his venom pumped into you. 

You felt your eyes being covered in his glamor, not until his inner eyelids that kept them safe from the water. The half fish half man appeared like a wet dream. His hair dripped down to his shoulders in a tangle that only made you want to dive your fingers into it. His shoulders were broad, his chest lean but muscular. The torso dipped into a small waist and that’s where his humanity ended. His fish tail shimmered with rainbows and glitter. He was breathtaking.

You opened your mouth to speak his praises but the siren pressed a finger to your lips. “Wait until we’re somewhere more intimate for your words of adoration,” He said, eyes disappearing into crescent moons and sparkling with mischief.

You nod and soon the siren is taking you back to his cave. The secret to him taking you to his underwater cave was revealed as well. It seemed that the siren had the ability to breath air into your lungs as you travelled underwater. He simply had to slot his lips to yours, expand your lungs with his own hair and you were fine once again for a few minutes. 

Your body to clung to the siren until at last he deposited you to the charming grotto. There was a nest of soft moss, dry and away from the water’s edge. He pushed you to sit up there, remaining in the pool of water in the cave.

The siren spreads his legs and his finger circles the gaping wound in your thigh. “Did you do this for me?” he wonders, chewing on his lip. 

You cup his head adoringly. “You gave me a new purpose to life. How could I not come back to see you?”

The merman cocks his head curiously. “You are different, human.”

You giggle as if he told you were the prettiest human he had ever come across. “Thank you.”

“Can I taste you?” The siren asks cautiously. His eyes try to meet your eyes but they are drawn back to the hole you created. 

You nod slowly and his mouth descends to the wound. His sharp, red tongue traces the outside and then it enters the hole. He hums with pleasure, eyes fluttering softly as he tastes your blood and flesh. You shudder through the pain… or is it pleasure as well?

“Would you gift me with your name?” You sigh softly.

The siren pulls his mouth from your wound. “Hyunjin.”

“Hyunjin.” You repeat his name like it’s enjoyable to simply utter it from your lips. “Will you allow me to taste you as well?”

Hyunjin sends you a look of interest but also confusion. “How so?”

Your eyes travel down his beautiful body. “How do mermaids and mermen make merchildren?”

Hyunjin’s eyes darken perceptively. “You wish to taste my seed?”

You moan loudly. “Yes, please.”

Hyunjin hauls himself to the lip that you sit on, leaning forward flirtaciously. “I’ve never done this with a human before.”

“Show me,” You whisper with hunger. 

Hyunjin brings his fingers to his pelvis. A bump, a shell almost, unfurls like a flower to reveal what must be the head of his cock. “You must coax it, human.”

You practically collapse against Hyunjin’s lap to bring your tongue and mouth to the opening in his pelvis. You lick and trace the head until it slowly but surely rises up out of his body. It’s head is quite different than a human’s cockhead. It is flat, flared out like flower. It’s length is quite long, rising inches and inches out of his opening. You laugh in delight until it seals against your lips. Your tongue can still run along it’s slit and play with it, but the flat end has suctioned against you like a lip mask. 

Hyunjin leans backwards as he receives the pleasure you provide. “It seals like that to ensure no seed is lost between the exchange,” He breathes heavily. “You see our seeds are rare and precious.”

You wrap both of your hands around the length of Hyunjin, able to amply pump the gratuitous length. He is covered with his own slick and it seams to give him even more pleasure. 

“Oh seas,” He curses softly. “That feels good, human.”

You pump him and lick him, hoping that he’s never felt like this before. Because who would waste precious seed on a blowjob? Or was this a suckjob? Either way you work his length as quickly and well as you can, hoping and praying that he will release his seed into your mouth.

The siren seems overcome with pleasure and with a deep, loud groan, you feel the seed press against your lips. You receive it eagerly, curling your tongue around it carefully. Once Hyunjin has released his seed to you, the suction against your lips is released. His cock receeds back into the cup and it closes carefully. 

You sit up and watch in happiness at the panting sitren that you have created. He looks debauched and delicious, leaning on his arms, enjoying his come down. You play with the round shape in your mouth, waiting for his attention to come back to you.

“That was…human, how did you…?” The siren opens his eyes and they narrow on your slightly. “What’s that in your mouth?”

You push the round item to purse it between your lips. Hyunjin’s eyes widen in surprise. “My seed? I released it to you?”

You pop it back into your mouth and play with it further, feeling rather pleased with yourself. 

Hyunjin is feeling the exact opposite, however. Panic covers his face and he lunges at you. His hand clutches your jaw. “Give it back to me. Right. Now.”

You shake your head despite his tight hold of your face. It was your prize and you weren’t going to give it back so easily.

Hyunjin changes tactics. “Come now, pretty human, if you give me back my seed, I can show you what my cock can do for you. It isn’t fair you gave me all the pleasure and took none for your own.”

His free hand smoothes over your knee and up your thigh. His finger dips into your wound and jolts through you. The pain slices through your happiness and you remember your plan with what you were going to do with Hyunjin’s seed. 

The pearl of Hyunjin’s essence, for that is what the seed was; it was apart of Hyunjin’s life force, to create a new life. The mermen and mermaids exchange it back and forth until enough life force is absorbed into the mermaid that they create a merchild. That would never work with a human. But it was tied to Hyunjin’s life.

You push the pearl between your moral and with a pleased smile, you crack it between your teeth. Hyunjin clutches his chest, clearly in pain. His claw digs deeper into your wound and you cry out, but it doesn’t stop you from mashing the pearl in between your teeth until it’s powder. 

Hyunjin glares at you balefully, hatred emanating from his foreign, fish eyes. His body slips into the water, boneless and not resistant against returning back to the sea. For that’s what he was destined to do when he died. In one moment, he was half man and half fish and then next he was foam splashing against the cave’s inner walls. 

The glamor is gone as soon as you finished swallowing Hyunjin’s life essence. Your wound is spilling blood and it hurts like a bitch but you could give two fucks if you make it out of this cave this time. Because you had won the war between siren and human this time. This time you weren’t the victim. This time you were the champion.

[anyamaris]

TOPAZ! Oh my goodness, TOPAZ! This is brilliantly gory and twisted, the disturbing darkness of him is just gloriously fantastic!

Seriously, the visuals from this have me just squealing in delight and disgust! The vivid depiction of the beginning, and the way she returns - AH just master class in weaving a whole story in such a short fic! I'm wonderfully creeped out and grinning like a moron, I absolutely adore it and I will need you to write more horror please.

[sanjoongie]

🄶🅁🄴🅈 🄰🅁🄴🄰

🩶Pairing: Grey Jedi! Kim Jungkook x Mandalorian! Reader

🩶Au: star wars, sci fi, mandalorian, jedi

🩶genre: smut

🩶trope: enemies to lovers

🩶rating: 18+, MDNI

🩶Warnings: mentions of lightsaber battles, death, dismemberment, laser pistol fighting, ⚠DUBCON⚠ (jungkook uses his sith powers to manipulate the reader to do some questionable things), dirty thoughts, breast play, body worship, begging, oral (f), unprotected sex, slight degradation, praise kink, biting, aftercare mentioned

🩶word count: 3,642

🩶summary: When you go to avenge your brother’s death, you did not expect to find the jedi who had killed him merciful, or hot, or capable of twisting your mind and body exactly how he wanted.

🩶divider by @cafekitsune

🩶author's note: I wouldn't have written this without @anyamaris & @pars-ley encouragement. What started as a payback plot bunny turned into going back to my roots. I hope you can enjoy!

Your android, B0-0M, chirped at you as you stayed low to the ground, your scanner looking for any movement at the encampment below the cliff you were laying on.

“No, Boom,” You said fondly, pushing it back from the edge. “I’m not sending you on recon.”

The android made a small noise of sadness and her wheel whirled as she moved behind you. You chuckle at her disappointment.

You were hunting Jedi today. More specifically, the Jedi that had killed your brother.

You may have love your brother with all your heart but you knew in your heart of hearts when he took up the contract to kill a jedi that he was in over his head.

“Come on,” Your baby brother flashed his dimples at you. “It’s the contract of a lifetime! Imagine me, Django Eldoradon, a killer of Jedi. I think our ancestors would be proud.”

Tears filled in your ducts and you let them stream down your cheeks under your helmet.

“Better to honor them with your life than your death,” You whispered to yourself.

Your throat tightened as the flap to the small abandoned hut finally fluttered but it was not the Jedi that came out. Instead, it was a small child. He ran around outside as if he didn't have a care in the world. And when he found a stick, he began to swing it around like it was a…

No, it couldn't be. The Jedi were near extinct. Had the grey one found a Force sensitive child to train?!

You closed your eyes and were reminded of the bleak remains of your brother. The charred flesh from the lightsaber will never leave your olfactory senses. His head had been removed and his arm. The jedi had no sense of mercy when he killed your brother. You would not be like him.

“Boom, I have a job for you.”

Boom whistled and wheeled her way to where you were slowly shuffling backwards. You sat up when you were no longer in view of the cliffs and patted her on her head.

“I need you to distract the child down there. Preferably lure him away from the camp. Pretend you’re playing a game with him, anything. Just keep him away from the camp until I call for you, can you do that?”

Boom did a fancy twirl, making happy noises and then wheeled off down the trail that had taken you up to the top of the cliffs.

Unfortunately, the Jedi had decided to leave the hut at the most inopportune moment.

The Jedi ruffled the youngling’s hair and then moved to two swords leaning against the hut. He tossed one to the youngling and took a fighting stance. You whispered for Boomie to halt her progress, to wait for a better moment to lure the youngling away. Instead, you had to endure watching as the Jedi fondly corrected the youngling’s stance and adjusted the wooden sword in his hand and patiently taught him more.

Problem number two was when the Jedi took off his shirt because of the exercise and the rising morning sun’s temperature. You had the perfect view of the way his broad back muscles rippled as he whirled his wooden blade, suddenly showing off for the youngling, who applauded in wonder.

You rolled your eyes. This Jedi was just another arrogant man. The world would be better without him.

A tinge of regret for what may become of the youngling echoed in your heart but you shook your head. You couldn't care for everyone. And the only person who had truly mattered to you had been killed by the man down the cliff. There was only one thing left to do: kill him.

The Jedi broke to go to a rain barrell for some water. The youngling did not follow him, instead opting to try whirling the practice blade by himself.

“Now, Boomie!” You whispered excitedly.

Your droid zoomed over, doing all sorts of exciting tricks and lured the child away from the hut and completely out of view and hearing of what might happen when you killed the Jedi.

You secured your hookshot around a rock and silently let yourself down the cliff. By the time you had your blaster aimed at the Jedi’s head, he finished drinking the water from the barrel.

“I was wondering when you were going to come down from your hiding place,” The Jedi said, without even the decency of turning around and facing you. “Your anger radiated from the top of that cliff all morning.”

You sneered under your helmet. “I’ve come to claim the bounty on your head, Jedi Scum.”

“Oh that old thing is still around?” The Jedi turned around, leaning against the water barrel. “How much is it up to now?” The smirk on his face only fed into your anger. “Two Mandalorians in a span of a few days, so it must be pretty high.”

“I didn’t come here to listen to you brag about yourself. Will you defend yourself or will I simply shoot you in the head and be done with this,” You snapped.

The Jedi took a fighting stance. With his saber drawn, the laser growing and glowing grey of all colors, he motioned with two fingers. His eyes danced as if he found this whole situation amusing. What a fucking arrogant Jedi!

With a shout, you launched yourself upwards for the advantage of a higher vantage point with your jetpack thrusters working quickly. You shot at the Jedi but he deflected your blaster’s shots. You barely avoided one and the other made you adjust lower. You shot your hookshot at the Jedi but he simply jerked his head to the side before it could wrap around his neck. With reflexes quicker than anything you had ever encountered, his hand shot out and grabbed the wire. He pulled with all his might, jerking you down and back to the ground. You rolled on the ground, head over heels, and in a stance to shoot at Jungkook again. Still, his lightsaber deflected them all. You managed to use your vambrace to block the reflected shots as you stood, the beskar steel doing its magic.

Briefly, you wondered, if this was also when your brother felt the hopelessness of fighting a Jedi.

The Jedi held out his hand and suddenly you couldn't move a muscle. He briskly walked to where you stood, frozen in place.

“I knew you couldn't win the battle without using your Jedi tricks. You’re nothing without your Force,” You spat.

“The Force is the entire reason I am who I am,” The Jedi announced. His eyes narrowed. “But what’s your story?”

His eyes drilled into yours and you swallowed. You felt like your memories were being sifted through. Flashes of your life passed through your mind. Your childhood. The slow stretch as a teenager. The arduous journey as an adult. The recent death of your brother at the hands of a Jedi. The way you studied the Jedi on top of the cliff.

A slow smirk pulled at his lips and then his tongue played at the lip piercing.

“Revenge for your brother? How original,” The Jedi poked at you verbally.

“This isn’t a story for you to yawn at, Jedi scum, this is my life!” You snarled.

“It’s Jungkook, not Jedi Scum.” Jungkook paced in front of you, seemingly unbothered by your response. “Seeing as how I’m clearly at an advantage here, I have a proposal for you. If you can resist my powers in manipulating you, I will allow you to kill me.”

The shock of his words made your brow furrow in confusion. “Why would you do that?”

Jungkook shrugged. “I’m curious as to how much of a Mandalorian you are. Pitting your resistance against my powers is interesting.”

“And if you win?”

“Then you will cease in your attempts to kill me. I don’t wish to be continuously watching my back for a Viroblade in it.”

This was your chance to get revenge for your brother. Everyone always said how stubborn you were. Wouldn’t that equate to a Jedi attempting to manipulate you? You had to try.

“Deal,” You spat.

Jungkook grinned. “Splendid.” The Jedi released you from the force and you had control over your body. Or so you thought.

You felt pressure in your brain immediately. It didn’t hurt, it wasn’t physical. It was sudden thoughts that didn’t seem like your own. Such as the way your fingers itched to cup your breasts. You most certainly did not want to do that. Then came the thought that you should ditch your armor. No? Perhaps your helmet?

“Wha…what are you doing?” You stuttered.

Jungkook raised an eyebrow. “Why, manipulating you, Mandalorian.”

You shook your head. This was absurd. Shouldn’t he be trying to get you to point your gun at yourself? Shoot your hookshot around your neck? Use your jetpack to fly yourself into the cliff face???

Except more thoughts that had nothing to do with your death continued to permeate your mind, each one becoming harder and harder to resist. Thoughts of sucking Jungkook’s length and the weight of it on your tongue. Thoughts of wrapping your legs around Jungkook’s waist as he thrusted into you. Thoughts of--

You were sweating now. You gritted your teeth and said, “What is the point of this?”

Jungkook chuckled. “Are you tempted?”

You swallowed as imagery began to filter into your mind: Jungkook’s head between your thighs, lapping at your inner folds. His hands molding against your breasts, massaging them with interest. His lips pressed against yours in a searing kiss that had you licking your lips.

“No,” You growled. At least you attempted to growl. It sounded more like a whine.

“No?”

“These are dirty tricks, Jedi,” you murmured.

“Surely you’re aware I do not follow the strict teachings of the Jedi. You’ve seen my lightsaber. I’ve killed your brother. Dirty tricks all well within my abilities. Shall we try some more?”

A loud whimper pulled from your throat as you felt a throbbing between your legs. Wetness gushed out of you as if you had just had an orgasm. The ache inside of you was almost immeasurable. You felt almost dumb with lust.

“Ju-jungkook,” You protested.

“Giving up?”

You opened your mouth to decline, to argue, but you found your inner thoughts brought to the forefront of your brain. They brushed against your inner sanctum; wondering if his shoulders rippled as he changed stances while practising his forms for the youngling he was protecting. The way he had twitched his fingers to encourage you to come and attack him when you had launched an attack on him. The glimmer of amusement in the dark orbs of his. Thoughts you had stuffed into the far recesses of your mind, to never see the light of day, were bright as day in your mind now.

“St-stop that,” You demanded.

Jungkook hummed in disagreement, shaking his head. “I don’t think so. This fight has to have an end. It’s either you win or I do.”

Your entire body was covered in a sheen of sweat now with the mental resistance. You stripped off your gloves in an attempt to find some relief. Then your helmet came off. Then your chest plate. You pulled at the turtleneck of your bodysuit, but still you were hotter than the two suns on Tatooine.

Those same fingers continue to move down your collarbones, pushing the front zipper down your torso. It managed to make its way halfway down your chest before you snapped out of it. The air licked at your sweaty skin and you sighed.

“All you have to do is let go and all this can stop,” Jungkook crooned. “I can help you with the relief. Remove your clothes and show me your battle-hardened body. Flick your nipples for me, I’m sure they’re a beautiful color and deserve to feel the morning light on them?”

“I will not break,” You vowed.

“Oh, you will,” Jungkook said with confidence that only a Jedi carried. “I can feel it in your mind. How much you wish to let go of it all and sink into the pleasure.”

“That’s you projecting,” You denied.

You kicked off your boots to further relieve the heat in your body. Your leggings were gone too. You felt like a flame licked at every bit of your skin that was covered. The urge to get naked pulled at you greatly. The slick between your legs, the ache to be filled, pushed at you even more.

Jungkook paced around you. “You’re a valiant warrior. Strong, capable, and beautiful. It’s not a loss to let yourself go to your baser instincts. We are human after all.”

“Aren’t you a Jedi? Don’t you hold yourself to a code?” You attempted to distract yourself with words.

“You saw my saber. I simply act for the balance. A bad act for a good one. A good act for a bad one. The cycle repeats and I maintain my stance.”

“That’s awfully arrogant of you.”

“It is simply what I am tasked with, Mandalorian.” Jungkook shrugged his broad shoulders. He walked behind you and you could feel his lips against the shell of your ear. “Break for me. I can give you pleasure that you’ve only ever dreamed of as some merc grunted over you.”

“Get the fuck out of my head,” You hissed.

“Oh, but it’s so fun in there,” Jungkook mused. “You’ve never had a man taste you before. Should I be the first? How you will gasp as my wet appendage teases your throbbing clit.”

“Stop it,” You grunted. You clenched down on nothing, pressing your thighs together.

“But oh, how you want it, Mandalorian?” Jungkook chuckled. The Jedi’s hands hovered over the curves of your body. You wanted to lean into his touch. All you had to do was--

Your breasts filled his cupped hands and you both groaned at the feeling. His rough palms and callused fingers squeezed your tits and played with your nipples. Pleasure rippled through your body and you whined.

The Jedi made quick work of the rest of your clothing and took you inside of his makeshift hut. He laid you gently on the bed of blankets and pillows in the corner.

“You should be commended for your fight.” Jungkook’s eyes danced merrily.

HIs lips refused to leave any of your skin untouched. The column of your throat, the line of your jaw, the stretch of your collarbone. His descent between your breasts was torturous. You arched your back, needing him to touch your nipples but he refused. He kissed your hip bone and the inside of your thighs and your calves but he did not dip his tongue in between your thighs like he promised. It was like he was pulling a sentence from your mouth without the mind tricks.

“Please,” You rasped.

“I want to hear you say it,” Jungkook said huskily.

You groaned in frustration. Your hands dug into his hair and pulled hard. Suddenly, your tense thighs were on either side of his head. “Lick me,” You demanded.

Jungkook’s arms wrapped around your thighs and he brought his lips to your lower ones. You could have sworn you saw a smirk on his lips but it didn’t matter when they were wrapped around your clit.

Your back bowed as intense pleasure shot through all the nerves in your body. You gasped and thrusted your cunt further onto Jungkook’s face. The Jedi groaned as his tongue paused to lap at the delicate nerve. As much as you hated to admit it, he had been right. You had never felt something so good before. Your finger was nothing compared to Jungkook’s tongue on you.

It was quick to bring you to completion, your thighs shaking and your hands in his hair tugging. You groaned, unhappy with the quick orgasm.

“Is… is that it?” You demanded.

Jungkook snorted. “Hardly.”

Your body was raised without further ado, and you found yourself on your side. Jungkook was quick to settle down behind you, also on his side. He lifted your upper leg up, hooked his leg with your lower one, and thrusted between your legs.

You whimpered as your sensitive core was prodded by his cock.

“This time, you will say it, Mandalorian. Or I won’t enter you. No matter how much you say please. I want to hear what you want,” Jungkook grunted.

Your pride rippled between your desire and your anger. The last thing you wanted to do was bow to a Jedi, let alone the exact one that had killed your brother. But there was a pull, a need, a desire that held a flame akin to your need to battle. Certainly, there was fight in your Mandolorian blood, but wasn’t fucking there too?

You growled. “Get out of my head,” You insisted.

Jungkook giggled. He let go of your leg with his hand and stroked your body instead. One hand caressing the swell of your breast and the other ran along your inner thigh. “but you’re so fun to play with.”

He continued to rut against you, smearing your wetness along your folds and your thigh in a mess that made you grit your teeth. True to his word, he did not penetrate you.

“How can you…?”

“Intense concentration.”

You sighed. “Jungkook.”

“Say the words and I’ll give you my all.”

You swallowed loudly. Somehow, you believed it.

You licked your lips in preparation for what was coming your way. “Fuck me,” You whispered.

All it took was the Jedi to angle his hips differently and then he was spearing right into you. You let out the most lascivious groan that had ever left your lips in your entire life. Being filled to the core with a cock that knew exactly what it was doing was a completely and utterly different feeling than being rutted into because of a battle won.

Jungkook dotted kisses up the side of your neck and he slowly thrusted into you. “You are so fucking wet for me, Mandolorian.”

“I…” Words were lost on your tongue. You couldn't have even said your own name at that moment. All you could focus on was the way your insides were churning with lust.

“Gone dumb already?” Jungkook laughed silently against your skin. “I told you I’d make you feel like nothing you had ever experienced.”

Jungkook’s arm wrapped around your upper chest to hold you in place, his thrusts shoving you upwards unwittingly. Both your hands dug into his bicep as you whimpered.

“That’s it, show me how good you can take me,” Jungkook whispered against the shell of your ear.

All you could manage was to hold on as Jungkook continued to fuck up into you. Your eyes rolled into the back of your head. The Jedi was right; you were utterly dumb on his cock. All you focused on was the way he slipped into you and out, pleasure radiating from your lower stomach and through every vein in your body. You were on fire and soothed at the same time.

“You can be a good girl for me and come, huh?” Jungkook grunted into your shoulder. His mouth was against the skin there, tongue making circles there and his teeth teasing a bite.

“Please,” was all you could murmur.

“That’s it, just along for the ride, aren’t you? Riding my cock so well, just like I knew you would.”

Your back arched, head cast back against Jungkook’s shoulder and lower half pushing back against his pelvis as your climax hit you like a two tonne bantha. You screamed his name as bright lights painted the back of your eyelids. The pleasure was insurmountable.

“Good girl,” was the last thing you heard and then Jungkook grunted, releasing inside of you.

He rode out his high as you came down from your own. “Fuck, I don’t think I’ve had a Mandalorian before. If I had known, I might have fucked your brother instead of killing him.” And then he bit down into your shoulder as he thrusted slower and slower inside of you.

If you had energy, you would have punched the Jedi, but you had nothing more to give.

When you woke up later that day, you were in your inner suit and completely cleaned up. You could smell something good being cooked and the laughter of a child. Your brain only caught up with you when you heard the happy chirps of B0-0M.

You sat up quickly and groaned as your thighs protested any movement.

“You're safe,” The Jedi reassured you.

You rolled your eyes. “I've never been safe my entire life.”

“Well for now, no one will hurt you while I'm here.”

You clucked your tongue against the roof of your mouth in annoyance. “I tried to kill you earlier.”

Jungkook chuckled. “And I fucked you earlier.”

You huffed. “I’m going to find my armor.”

Before you could make it to the door, Jungkook was there, Force Speed lending to his steps. “Don’t.”

“I didn't come here to cement a future,” You scoffed.

Jungkook stared at you. “I didn’t say that. I just said that for today, you don’t have to worry.”

You avoided his seemingly all-knowing gaze. “I’m going to get my armor now, Jedi.”

Jungkook placed a hand on your shoulder. “At least stay the night. Niki is enjoying your droid's presence. He hasn’t had a lot to laugh about for most of his life.”

You rolled your eyes and sighed, crossing your arms under your breasts. “I hope you’re a good cook.” You made your way to a stool by the fire that Jungkook had been cooking at.

Jungkook smiled happily, moving back to the fire. “Whatever you need.”

[anyamaris]

I AM LITERALLY CRYING REAL TEARS HERE.

Oh my god...like when you first told me about this, I was already dying for it but it's so far beyond expectation that I want to go outside and scream and make everyone I see read this fucking masterpiece. This is literally the most fucking amazing thing ever and on May the Fourth it just...I've ascended.

B0-0M is my new favorite character ever....the ending with the child and B0-0M? (No spoilers for the those who haven't read ofc) AND OMG THE...THE SMUT? THE BACK MUSCLES? THE LIP RING? THE REFERENCES? Only you could have done this.

Only you. You're a fucking master. I am but a mere padawan. I shall forever bow to you. GOD ITS-I could write forever about this. I NEED MORE OF THESE.

[anyamaris]

Reblogging because on reread, I second my ranting and raving about this, and it needs to be read by everyone everywhere. JEDI JUNGKOOK FOREVER!

God, I need more from this. Let me get my wallet.

[sanjoongie]

ŞƤƗĆ€

🤎Summary: this jedi knight's mission is to retrieve some precious cargo from a brothel--you, an abducted citizen crucial to this jedi's future. already addicted to Spice, he has but one option when push comes to shove--show the Pyke's he's here for cunt 🤎Pairing: Jedi Knight! Kang Yeosang x Brothel Slave! Reader (f) 🤎Genre: smut 🤎Au: sci fi, star wars 🤎Trope: strangers to lovers 🤎Warnings: mind manipulation (he's using his jedi mind tricks for good), for the mission to blend in Yeosang pretends to be cruel and uncaring, oral (m), sex with no protection, dom! yeosang, sub! reader, sci-fi drug consumption, ⚠️dub con⚠️, praise kink, tsundere kink(?) 🤎Rated: 18+, MDNI 🤎Word Count: 2,445 🤎Author's Note: @anyamaris this is for you for the lovely halloween san you wrote me. A topaz never forgets her debts 💞 🤎divider by @thecutestgrotto

Yeosang pulls the hood of his cape over his head more securely. He glances at the sandstone building, but that was the only part of it that was nondescript. The large neon sign that proclaimed it was a brothel was gaudy enough. 

The Jedi Knight’s lips tighten in determination. His mission this evening, in the light of a tiny crescent double moon, was to retrieve a civilian from the brothel. They had been kidnapped and sold into slavery. As a woman, an easy way for her to pay for her cost was to put her on her back and work for it. The true problem lay in the fact that said person was tied to his future in some way. All he knows from the brief echo the force has gifted him with is that you need to be removed from the brothel for him to fulfill his destiny. 

But Yeosang isn’t about to enter the front door and announce his presence. With a small smirk, a quirk of his lips really, he bends his knees and Force Jumps to a third floor cullis. His hands grasp the metalwork and hauls himself through the open window. 

Yeosang had acquired the information from a Rodian earlier by using the Force that this was your room. He knows he’s proven right when the Force whispers into his mind. His eyes quickly adjust to the darkness of your room and find your form.

At first Yeosang believes that you’re slumbering but when he leans over the bed you're lounging in, he realizes you’re simply in a state of drugged out. Yeosang sighs sympathetically. He’s not sure if it's a blessing that you’re barely aware of your surroundings. It was typical that the Pyke’s give their whores enough Spice to allow them to be pliant for their paying clientele. 

Yeosang views the lovebites and bruises on your body. You’ve certainly been used in this scenario. Yeosang hovers his hand over your forehead and focuses on your inner thoughts. They’re disjumbled and he has to pinpoint his inner peace to maintain his sanity. Luckily, he gets you lucid enough so that you can understand the situation.

“I’m here to rescue you,” Yeosang's deep voice rumbles from his chest.

Your eyes widen at your moment of clarity. “What?”

Yeosang licks his lips. “There is no time. I am a Jedi Knight. I need you to follow my every command.” His eyes steel straight into yours with determination. “I will get you out of here tonight.”

All you can do is nod, biting down on your lip. His sideprofile is lit up by the sliver of moonlight. You believe this is a dream your subconscious has cooked up. Because how could a Jedi be that beautiful and be sent here to save your sorry ass?

A Pyke guard bumbles into the room. “Who are you? This whore isn’t slated for any client right now.”

Yeosang waves his hand. “I have paid for the entire night with this client.”

The Pyke guard frowns. He pulls out a pad and double checks. “No, this one is slated to be downstairs entertainment at this hour.”

Yeosang’s face remained calm. The Pykes had been trained to resist Jedi Mind Tricks. This was about to make his mission infinitely harder. He smiles sweetly. “Of course. I just wanted a sneak peak at what I was enjoying this evening,” he says smoothly. 

The Pyke guard doesn’t look convinced. “I’ll be escorting her downstairs then…” He scoots around Yeosang. He grips your arm tightly and shakes you. “Come, slave, it’s time for you to make some money.”

You sway in his hold. Yeosang remains calm but he does not appreciate the way you’re treated like an object. He follows the guard down to the ground floor of the brothel. There is a seat elevated at the back of the room, fit for a king. A Pyke is sitting there already. He must be the leader he had been debriefed about. 

“Who is this?” The Pyke leader demands.

“I found him in her room,” The guard reveals. He throws your body onto the raised platform in the middle of the room.

The Pyke leader narrows his eyes at Yeosang. “What is your purpose here?”

“It’s a brothel, isn’t it?” Yeosang replies evenly. “I believe my purpose is self-evident.”

“You’re not like the regular locals,” The leader persists. His eyes rake over Yeosang’s dressing. “In fact, you appear like a Jedi.”

Yeosang bent his neck in deference. “Indeed, I am not a local. But I am no Jedi. Would a Jedi visit a brothel? Surely they are trained that passion is not a virtue as Jedi.”

The Jedi Knight watches as the gears in the Pyke Leader’s head turn and turn. He’s formulating a plan to test the Jedi. Yeosang knows not to underestimate this particular leader. There was a reason why he was one of the best at smuggling Spice through the galaxy. 

“Prove it. Fuck the girl.”

Yeosang’s feet move towards his mission’s objective. It behooves his mission to convince the Pyke leader that he is just a foreigner looking for some relief after some deep space travelling. “If you’re offering her up, why not?”

The guard moves to swat Yeosang for his cheeky words but the leader holds up his hand. “I’ll allow it. If he’s a Jedi, he shouldn’t be swayed by a soft body and wet cunt.”

Yeosang loosens his hold on his discipline of his body. You moan softly on the dias, turning slightly, as if every shift of your scant clothing is stimulation. You are a temptation that typically wouldn’t rouse Yeosang but his body stirs at the sight of you, pliant and willing. 

The small amount of clarity that Yeosang had gifted you allowed you to be more aware of your surroundings but it did nothing for the way the drug kept you wet and turned on. You hear the Pyke Leader commanding the Jedi to fuck you and it had caused you to moan. He was a statue that came to life.

You push your upper body to a sitting position and crawl across the dais to meet Yeosang as he steps onto it. You tip your head back to look up at the Jedi and you moan softly again. His body is carved into perfection. The way his hair is lifted off his beautiful features makes your heart skip a beat. His eyes are brown and soulful. 

Yeosang looks down at you with dispassionate eyes. His hand gently grips your hair, guiding you towards his cock. “Get me hard and wet, slave. Do your job.”

Your mouth practically salivates at the thought of him in your mouth, pressing down on your tongue. You’re not sure if it’s the Spice talking or if it’s your own libido, but it’s much better than the slim, three fingered Pykes fucking you from behind like animals. 

“She drips on the dias,” The Pyke leader muses.

There is indeed a puddle under your pussy. But you have no shame in this moment, only eyes for the Jedi with the thick cock pressing up against his baggy pants. 

“That’s because she recognizes who her true master is,” Yeosang says without a drip of malice. He’s cold, so cold. It only makes you drip even more.

You quickly pull his pants down to his thighs and engulf his length into your mouth. bob up and down, struggling a little with his girth, but doing your best. Drool pools past the corners of your mouth, as you cough and gag. It’s a messing blow job at best but Yeosang is twitching against your tongue, so you take that as a sign that you’re doing well. 

The Pyke leader seems to get bored easily. “Do you only deign to defile her mouth?”

Yeosang continues to fuck your mouth as his eyes bore into the Pyke. “Do you simply rut inside of her? Are you even able to fill her up? Do you not know how to enjoy a whore?”

The Pyke raises his head stubbornly. His mask hides whatever derision he feels but his voice doesn’t. “Continue.”

Yeosang pulls out of your mouth and you let out a whine. You wanted to feel his hot seed as he came down your throat. Stupid Pykes.

Yeosang plays a thumb over your cheekbone, brushing tears you hadn't realized you had shed while you sucked him. “Be a good girl for me,” Yeosang says, low enough for your ears only. “And when this is all over, we’ll get out of here none the worse for wear.”

You nod, eager to say yes to anything the handsome Jedi tells you. You know he’s here to pull you out of this hell but all your spice-addled mind can think about is those muscles being used on you. 

Yeosang maneuvers you to your back, bending you in half. His large hands press on the back of your thighs to keep you in place. His cock is in his other hand, prodding your wet folds. “Forgive me but this must be as real as possible. Do not let this taint your thoughts of the Jedi.”

You frown in confusion for only a moment before Yeosang grunts as your cunt clenches around him. Then, he’s proving to the Pyke’s that the only reason he’s here is to fuck you within an inch of your life. 

The moan you let out as Yeosang’s cock digs deep into your cunt echoes throughout the room. His sharp but accurate thrusts have you moving your hips upwards, seeking out the pleasure he was doling out. Being bent in half allowed Yeosang’s cock to reach places inside of you that had never been stroked. 

“You’re doing so well for me,” Yeosang whispers, a slight strain on his voice. 

The way his hips are working against your ass is almost as much of a delight as the way his muscles strain above you, as he holds his honed body aloft of you. It’s a pleasure to watch his his muscles bulge and release as he fucks you.

Your hands move to grip his biceps but Yeosang doesn’t allow that. He grabs both of your hands with one hand and pins them above your head. It brings his head closer to you, lips so achingly close. 

But one doesn’t kiss the pleasure slave one is fucking. Especially a Jedi Knight.

The sweet denial only adds to the moment. You clench down hard around Yeosang once again. You whimper as he stirs pleasure deep inside of you. You open your mouth but all that manages to come out is a cry of pleasure.

“Once I fill you up, this will be all over,” Yeosang promises.

You press your lips together and nod. Yeosang had no idea but there was no way that you could live the rest of your life not making it up to him that he had saved you. And showed you pleasure beyond your scope of imagination. 

Yeosang changes his angle, somehow fucking you deeper, and you lose all sense of self except for the feeling of him inside of you. Your eyes roll into the back of your head as your pleasure begins to crest. 

“He’s fucking her dumb,” someone whispers behind a hand. 

“Probably so desperate for any cunt he can acquire,” The Pyke leader dismisses. “Hurry up and unload your balls in her. She’s empty anyways.”

Your cries of pleasure echo throughout the room as Yeosang’s skin slaps against yours. You come and almost black out from the climax. You’re not even sure you’re breathing still. You feel like you’ve just died and gone to heaven. 

The show's not over yet, however. As your walls tighten around him, he grunts, scrunching up his nose and coming inside of you. It’s almost an animalistic snarl and you sigh in happiness. 

Yeosang pulls out and your legs descend shakily. He puts himself back behind the confines of his pants and adjusts his cloak to cover his body again. “What do I owe you for the whore?” He asks, his mask back up again. 

“Please,” The Pyke leader waves away Yeosang’s words. “You’ve provided entertainment for us all. You owe us nothing. Let us drink and enjoy the night, since you are not a Jedi like we suspected.”

You ache from the way that Yeosang has fucked you but you count your lucky stars regardless. All you can do is have faith that the Jedi will come through on his promise and save you from this hell hole.

The guard abandons his post and you’re left to lounge, forgotten by the night of drinking. The Pykes offer Spice as well. You watch as Yeosang manages to ditch the drink and drugs almost artistically and completely under the radar . Still, the Jedi acts as if he’s full of both, inebriated as the rest of the Pyke’s in the brothel.

Yeosang grunts and throws his thumb towards your form. “Let me pay for this one and a room. She was good. For a whore.”

The Pyke leader claps Yeosang’s back companionably. “Only the best for my new favorite client.”

Yeosang sweeps up your form easily in his arms and climbs the stairs back to your room. You throw your arms around the Jedi’s neck and snuggle to his well-formed chest. 

“Hold on tight,” He whispers to you. 

For as soon as he enters the room and closes the door, he’s striding towards your open window and launches himself from the third-story. You close your eyes tightly, trapping a shriek between your lips. You brace for pain but you never experience it. In fact, a breeze gently tugs at your hair and when you raise your head, you realize that Yeosang is jumping distances inhumanly possible across the rooftops. 

“You’re really saving me,” You say in awe of the Jedi who holds you in his arms.

Yeosang doesn’t look down at you, his eyes too busy scanning the rooftops, mind on the mission. Still, he responds to you. “Did you doubt me?”

“I doubted my situation,” You tell him.

“I will help you get the Spice out of your system. We’ll clean you up in no time and return you to…” His Adam’s Apple bobs, the only sign that he’s hesitant to say the next part. “...you will not be living a normal life.”

The Spice is still in your system, despite the fresh air. You giggle eagerly. “I don’t think it would be a normal life with you,” You say. 

A small smile twitches at Yeosang’s lips before he smoothes it out completely. “Smart girl.”

[anyamaris]

OH. OHHHHH.

Holy fuck, Topaz. I know I say that all the time, but seriously. WOW.

The visuals, the setting, the way the plot weaves so well with the smut...goodness.

You manage to hit all the things I want from reading, encompassing the Star Wars lore and world, Yeosang's personality and quirks and it just SATISFIES!

THE NOSE SCRUNCH AND THE HAIR UP AND I AM PICTURING LEGACY AND AHHHH-seriously, this is so amazing. I read it, then I went back and read it again. I absolutely love how it's a combination of him doing this to rescue her, but it's also sexy. It's disturbing but you've made it necessary and haven't glorified anything. It's all in service of the plot to get her out-and I love the addition of the spice clouding everything.

Ah I could rant, and I will, heading to your dms 🤍

[sanjoongie]

ᵣₑᵥₑₙgₑ ₒf ₜₕₑ ₙₑᵣdₛ

🤓Pairing: Math Genius! Kim Hongjoong x Chemistry Whiz! Reader (f) x Gamer Boy! Jeong Yunho 🤓Au: university, reversal 🤓Trope: bully love 🤓Rating: 18+, MDNI 🤓Word Count: 1,957 🤓Warnings: ⚠️dubcon/noncon⚠️ degradation kink, sadist! Hongjoong, sadist! Yunho, oral fixation, drug usage, sex drugs, sex without protection, oral (m), clit play, hair pulling, face fucking, choking, dacryphilia, cum eating 🤓Summary: in a school where the smart and geeky rule, you find yourself at the bottom of the totem pole and bullied because of it. What ensues after you attempt to sell a panty-wetting drug to your peers and your inability to stop lowering your year's average is nothing short of panty-wetting itself. 🤓Author's Note: i'm not one for uni aus, i usually avoid writing them and reading them, @potatomountain inspired me with an idea for the centerpiece of this banner, and with @anyamaris influence with nudging me to read make it hurt by elle mitchell, this is what became of writers helping writers 😆 🤓divider by @/cursed-carmine

Your hip hit the first row desk of an empty lecture hall as Jeong Yunho shoved your reluctant body. You cast a hurt glance behind you but your heart hammered inside your chest because of the picture of pure intimidation Yunho cast with his hood up and his mask over his lower half.

“Move it,” he grunted.

You pushed on further into the lecture hall, if only to see Kim Hongjoong follow suit, closing the door behind him with a foreshadowing noise.

Hongjoong clucked his tongue in disappointment. “Why are we here again, Loser?”

You surged forward to get into Hongjoong’s face but Yunho’s large hand descended on your shoulder and halted you. And like that you melted into a quivering ball of anxiety and something else you’d rather not look at right now. “I tried my best.”

Hongjoong let out a loud sigh. “Well your best isn’t good enough. Our year’s average is down again.”

A small tremor began to echo through your entire body. Yunho used his other free hand to chuck your chin up to meet his gaze. He cocked his head and you could tell his eyes were crinkled in malicious glee.

Hongjoong started to walk towards you and Yunho, arms held behind his back. “You know what I told you would happen if you failed us again.”

Flashbacks to your wanton cries and skin slapping against skin made you swallow your own tongue. “Please, Hongjoong. That’s the reason I couldn't raise my grade. How was I supposed to study when all I was thinking about was--”

“Keep her quiet, Yunho, I'm already tired of her weak excuses,” Hongjoong ordered.

Yunho’s large hand encompassed your face and you had more unbidden flashbacks of-- you shook your head as tears began to prick the corners of your eyes. There was no winning this, you knew already.

“How they let you into this school is still a wonder to me,” Hongjoong continued voicing his thoughts out loud. “Just because you’re a whiz at chemistry and are most likely to create the next drug that makes a gadrillion dollars and adding prestige to our alumni doesn’t seem like a good investment to me. But what do I know?”

Hongjoong stopped in front of the professor’s podium and hauled himself up until he was sitting on it. He crossed his legs and finally zeroed his sharp gaze on you. Then his eyes flickered towards Yunho. “Well, get it over already. I’ve got better things to do than doling out punishment to the dumb.”

Yunho’s hand on your mouth left to dig around in your shoulder bag until he found the plastic container where you kept your failed creation. “Say ‘ah’!” Yunho instructed.

Your eyes were back on Hongjoong, who was scrolling on his phone now.

“I raised my GPA. I'm doing better. I can do better! We don't need to do this!” You insisted.

“If I don’t come through with the punishment then you’ll never get better.” Hongjoong raised his eyes off the screen of his phone and looked back at you. “Don't pretend like you're not already wet.”

Your shoulders drooped in defeat. You opened your mouth and stuck out your tongue. Yunho deftly pulled a paper-thin square from the plastic container and pressed it to your tongue. You brought your tongue into your mouth and closed your lips, but Yunho’s fingers remained, trapping the drug on your tongue. It melted the minute it touched moisture regardless but you figured by now that Yunho had an oral fixation.

It wasn't long before your pupils dilated and your body was prepped for sex. You had attempted to make a drug that tapped into your intellect, made it easier to study and perform tests. But you had tapped into your libido instead.

It wasn’t bad enough that Hongjoong found out that you were selling the drug in exchange for other students to do your homework without his permission. Even worse, he found out the drug's properties. That’s when he found you the first time, alone in the science center’s chem lab, demanding you show just how good your drug is. Of course, it was below him to fuck you himself. But Yunho…

“Yunho has a thing for dumb sluts,” Hongjoong said derisively.

You despised Yunho. He was good at everything. Including sex. The first time Yunho had to pin you down on the chem lab bench, cheeks smooshed against the cool marble. You wanted to fight. But you were afraid of pissing off the two most powerful guys in the university. They had the power to make your life an even more of a living hell than it already was.

And besides… Yunho had fucked you good. He hadn't even needed to touch your clit. He made you come untouched. No man had ever done that before. You weren’t exactly happy it was Yunho that taught you such pleasures, drug or no.

You braced yourself against the podium, hands on Hongjoong’s legs, preparing for the fuck of your life. Hongjoong lifted a corner of his lip in a sneer. “Lay on the floor, Yunho. I want her to fuck you. That’ll be more punishment for her, to do all the work herself. Seeing as how she can’t do enough work to get our classes average up.”

Yunho shrugged his broad shoulders and laid down on the floor in front of the podium. His long fingers deftly undid his belt and he was shoving his jeans down to his thighs. He stroked himself while he waited for you.

You sighed and took your thong off from under your short skirt. You gave it to Hongjoong, whose hand was already open and waiting for it. He took your underwear last time, saying it was the only way to keep track of how many times they’ve had to punish you. Then you maneuvered until you were straddling Yunho, facing him.

“Not that way, you idiot! You think I just want to see your ass? Turn around. I want the full view,” Hongjoong snapped.

Your face and chest heated up in embarrassment. Hongjoong made you feel so dumb. You turned around and put your hands on Yunho’s thighs to get ready. You raised your ass as Yunho directed his cockhead to your indeed wet lower lips. You bit on your lip as he rubbed himself against you.

“Look at you. Dick’s not even in you and you’re already anticipating,” Hongjoong clucked his tongue again.

Yunho suddenly thrusted upwards and was enveloped in your tight, wet heat. “The drug’s still holding true,” Yunho grunted.

“Good.” Hongjoong leaned forward, an elbow on his knee, eyes eager for the show.

You cried out as Yunho set a drilling pace, hitting the end of you each and every time he fucked up into you. You quickly began to work your hips, slamming downwards to meet Yunho’s thrusts, otherwise Hongjoong would complain that you weren’t working hard enough.

“That’s it, such an eager slut for that cock, aren’t you?” Hongjoong purred.

The fact that the side effect of the drug you had created to purposely make you sharper actually had you dumb around a man’s cock you despised didn’t go over your head. But you truly had an empty head, only the feeling of your cunt being fucked good by Yunho and the pleasure it created.

“She’s dripping down my balls,” Yunho said in a tone that sounded like wonder but couldn't be. The man always had his hood up, his mask on, and a sharp push for you.

“I swear to Einstein's theory that if she created the woman’s version of Viagra accidentally I’m going to throw up,” Hongjoong said with an eyeroll.

Yunho’s hands dug into your hips, holding you in place so that he could keep the pace that he wanted. You were plenty happy to remain in this position until you found your orgasm but Hongjoong was an impatient fucker.

He checked his phone and then hopped off the podium. “I’ve got class in twenty. Let’s finish this so I can go get an iced americano.”

You watched with wide eyes as he began to undo the button to his shorts. He smirked. “Seeing as how it’s taking you so long to come, sounds like you need all your holes filled, huh?”

You shook your head, trying to lean back but Yunho simply sat up to stop you. “I’ll help her out.”

Yunho dipped two fingers into your wetness, his cock still sliding in and out of you seamlessly. With the wet digits, he rubbed your clit hard and you fell back against his shoulder with the pleasure of it all.

Hongjoong grabbed a fistful of your hair to get you ready for his thick cock. He shoved it unceremoniously into your mouth and you moaned as it passed over your tongue. Maybe you were the one with the oral fixation???

“That’s it,” Hongjoong murmured, pumping himself into your eager mouth. “This is where you belong, isn’t it? Just a fucktoy for the rest of us with brains to use. You shouldn’t be in a classroom, you should just be a cum bucket for all of us. What do you think, hmm? Wanna drop out and give us the formula to your drug? At least you wouldn't be struggling.”

Anyone dumb enough to not understand how much Hongjoong was looking to take away from you would have agreed to that. You made non-commitmental noises as your tongue swirled around the head of his cock when he pulled out.

Then, true to Hongjoong’s theory, you came undone with the untold pleasures given to you. You screamed around Hongjoong’s cock as your walls clamped down on Yunho’s. Yunho let out a loud moan as he released inside of you, not a condom in sight.

And when you were panting and Yunho’s cum dripping out of you, Hongjoong held your head as he face fucked you. His cock made you choke and tears streamed down your face. He came down your throat, holding you against his pelvis until he was done.

Only then did he release you, gasping and coughing, to slump against Yunho once more.

You despised the pat to your hip from Yunho, whether it was to comfort you or to tell you nonverbally it was a job well done. You despised yourself more for coming undone for these two bullies.

“You've got a chemistry midterm coming up. Surely you can do well in the one apparent subject you're allegedly good at?” Hongjoong said while tucking himself back into his shorts.

Yunho pushed your shoulder to get you off him and you fell over onto your face. You barely caught yourself before you broke your nose. Yunho laughed under his breath as he dressed himself. “Doubt it. She couldn't even create a drug to get her out of her current situation.”

This time, ugly tears of embarrassment pooled up in your eyes. “I'll ace it. Just watch,” You said through gritted teeth.

“What's that?” When you looked up, Hongjoong had his head cocked curiously.

You plastered on a simmering smile. “Why would I do better if I just get to come?”

Hongjoong narrowed his eyes down at you. You could see the gears turning in his head; the future revealing itself with several forks. Then he grinned triumphantly. “See you later, Loser.”

Yunho let out a mean cackle, his head thrown back and his hood momentarily thrown off as he followed Hongjoong out.

Who knows what Hongjoong had decided or planned. You knew it wasn't good for you, either way.

Why in the world did you live during an era when the nerds ruled the world and were making your life a living hell?

[anyamaris]

Ahhhh I absolutely love this, I love this concept and the execution is fantastic! I could picture Hongjoong up on that podium, sadistically watching like a fucked up sex maestro lol. So hot. Soooooo hot. Girl youd better ace that!

[sanjoongie]

𝔇𝔢𝔞𝔱𝔥'𝔰 𝔈𝔯𝔢𝔠𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫

➸Pairing: Prisoner! Bang Chan x Warden! Reader (f) ft Constable! Lee Know ➸Genre: smut, dark ➸Au: historical, prison, nobility ➸Trope: power of authority ➸Rated: 21+, MDNI ➸Warnings: ⚠️noncon⚠️ heed the warnings, please!!!, hangings, morbid entertainment, erection due to choking, twisted reader, twisted lee know, cock torture, cock stepping, bdsm, bindings, use of horse crop, choking kink, ropes, spit kink, degradation kink, sadist! Reader, sadist! Lee Know, masochist! Bang Chan, lee know assists?, overstim, voyeurism, exhibitionism, outerjob ➸Word Count: 1,763 ➸Summary: as you sit and embroider while prisoners are executed, you endure another boring day as the last. Until a strapping, struggling, interesting prisoner interrupts your day for some exciting entertainment. ➸divider by @/cursed-carmine

“Bring forth the next prisoner,” you sighed with boredom.

The moon was hanging high through the broken side of the keep that you inhabited. Having pissed off the lord of these lands, but as the daughter of a powerful man, you had been banished as the lady warden of the Maniac. It was an abandoned fort, a ruin, really, but it was where you ruled for the most part.

The four guards that were assigned to the next man prepared for execution made you raise your eyes from your intricate embroidery of a bleeding tree from your perch on the old wooden chair you assumed every evening for executions. The grunts of pain as both the guards and the prisoner intrigued you. He was clearly strong but outnumbered. The ebb and flow of the prisoner yanking the guards off their feet and their blunt clubs knocking at his weak points was more interesting than the typical skin and bones prisoners.

“Why does he have such life to him?” You inquired.

Your constable looked down at his book of scribbles. “Bang Chan, the man before you, has been charged with resisting arrest, life taking of the constables attempting to arrest him, breaking and entering, thieving, illegal drugs and alcohol smuggling, murder of innocents--”

The man had just been put to his knees by the prison guards knocking out the back of his knees before you. A scowl marred his surprisingly gorgeous features. “That part is untrue. As is the--”

“--forced himself upon women and men alike, stealing of virtue--"

“That one is true,” Chan nodded with agreement.

“Remove his worldly properties,” you commanded with a flick of your wrist.

Bang Chan was stripped of his jacket, shirt, and pants, leaving him only in his small clothes. He was dragged to the raised platform where all the prison’s hangings took place.

Minho licked his lips in anticipation. “Madame, he might--”

A cry of alarm went out as the guards lost their hold of Chan, one having moved to prepare the hangman’s noose. The prisoner launched himself from the dais and landed nimbly on the balls of his feet, fingers splayed on the old-stone floor. He grinned voraciously at you.

You continued with your embroidery, not worried. No one would touch you. Minho would never allow such a moment to sully his reputation.

Chan lunched forward as if he was looking to pin you to your chair with his fingers around your throat when Minho intercepted. He pulled back on Chan’s middle finger and broke it. It brought the prisoner to his knees in pain, but he did not shout. Both you and Minho looked disappointed in the lack of screaming.

“Why is he not yet hanged? I have countless others to witness as the Warden. Goodness, what a bore.” You covered your mouth daintily while yawning.

Minho brought a hand over his heart and bowed at the waist. “Right away, Madame.”

Minho snapped his fingers and twice as many guards moved to take Bang Chan to the hangman’s gallows. Bang Chan cursed and threatened, injuring other guards still, even with a broken finger, as they bound his hands together.

When the noose was placed around Bang Chan’s neck, you pricked your finger and laughed in anger. Everyone in the room stood ramrod straight. For if you were laughing in anger, there was danger to every single person in this open room, prisoner or guard.

“Is there a reason we are forgoing the hood for this evening's entertainment?” You said in a sickenly-sweet voice that belayed the poison in your disposition at this moment.

Minho rolled his eyes and strode purposely to the dais. “Utter fools, must I do everything myself, or shall I jerk your strings as if you are incapable marionettes?”

Minho found the black hood of death, a mocking, grinning skeleton imposed on the front. A guard hastily removed the noose so that Minho could yank down the hood onto Chan’s head. Then your constable tightened the noose over Bang Chan’s neck himself, grinning in triumph. He bowed at the waist again. “Apologies, my lady, I shall oversee everything from now on personally.”

You brought your finger to your mouth and sucked on the pricked finger to rid yourself of the blood. “As you should, Lee Know, honestly.”

Minho’s eyes darkened, whether from lust or insult to the degradation, you cared not. You lowered your gaze back to your embroidery and continued with the tree’s outreaching branches, no longer in need of the red thread for the blood.

Without another word, Minho yanked the handle that triggered the trapdoor, and the wood gave way to Chan’s hanging. The choked noises were music to your ears. You cackled gleefully, overjoyed that his neck did not break immediately. Nothing was more boring than a quick death.

Minho chuckled darkly. “Madame, you should see this.”

“Oh, what now, Lee Know?” You scoffed, rolling your eyes and peering up through your eyelashes.

You gasped in delight to see that Minho was prodding a very large dick impression coming from the hanging prisoner’s small clothes with a riding crop. Your eyes grew in wonder as the cock throbbed against its confines, the more Minho poked at it and the prisoner struggled and choked.

You snapped your fingers, and Minho threw a dagger, cutting the rope that threatened Bang Chan’s life.

“Executions are over,” You announced.

Carefully, you placed your embroidery down on your chair, lifted your skirts, and approached the raised dais. Prisoners and guards alike filtered out of the main hall, returning to their dungeon or the guard house.

Minho was peering curiously down at the struggling Bang Chan through the trap door. “He is still bound, Madame. Although I do believe the noose is still firm around his neck.”

“Perfection, Lee Know,” You purred.

Once you were before the prisoner, you pushed him to his back. Bang Chan held himself very still at the pressure of the heel of your boot on his balls, and the front of your boot pressing onto the shaft of his cock.

“Do you know that it’s a very regular bodily function, acquiring a stiffie while dying, prisoner?” You asked a rhetorical question.

The choked gurgle returned to you made you chortle in glee. You watched as the black hood made an impression where Bang Chan was breathing in deeply through his mouth.

“It’s perfectly natural to become turned on by choking, Sirrah*, ” You continued pushing down on Bang Chan’s cock. “I would not expect such a large, strapping man as yourself to enjoy it, but our kinks are often revealed at our darkest moments, isn’t that right, Lee Know?”

Unabashedly, Minho grinned eerily down at you torturing poor Bang Chan’s cock. “ ‘course, Madame. Remember the first time you used a cat-o-nine tails to flog a prisoner and you found me pressing against my pants? A wonderful moment, to be sure.”

“Indeed, Lee Know,” You agreed.

A deep moan left Bang Chan’s mouth as you raised your foot off his cock but pulled on the severed rope of the hangman’s noose. “Is your cock throbbing, Sirrah? Your breathing erratic, blood sounding in your eardrums. Do you wish to be taken in this very moment?”

Bang Chan shook his head in denial, and you sighed dreamily. “The best prisoners are the ones that simply bend and do not break, don’t you agree, Lee Know?”

“Our favorite, Madame,” Lee Know agreed.

Your neck turned at an odd angle as you looked up through the trap door to your constable. “Well, what are you doing up there? Get down here and prepare the prisoner for our fun!”

Minho jumped to the task, jaunting down the stairs to find you below the raised dais. His fingers yanked down Bang Chan’s small clothes, trapping his tense thighs between the cloth. Minho gripped Bang Chan’s red cock by the base and spat on the head. It throbbed at the feeling of the hot wetness that coated it now.

That was when you raised your skirts and descended down on the raised cock that Minho held for you. You hissed at the stretch, not relenting in the pulling of the rope around Bang Chan’s neck.

Minho cocked his head curiously. “Too thick, Madame?”

You hummed in contentment. “Hardly, Lee Know. Just right, I’d say.”

As you bounced on the bounty inside of you, Bang Chan moaned and choked beneath you. His muscles contracted and released, hips rising unbiddenly as your wet heat squeezed down on him.

“Remove his hood, Lee Know, I wish to see his struggling features,” you commanded.

“As you wish.” Minho ripped the hood from Bang Chan’s head, revealing the man’s internal struggle.

Bang Chan’s eyebrows were furrowed, and he swallowed furtively. He bit down on his lip so roughly to keep out his moans that he was now bleeding. His eyes rolled into the back of his head as you quickened your pace.

Minho watched your tits bounce in their barely-there confines as you continued to bounce on Chan’s cock. “Will you come, Madame?”

“He can’t help but thrust into my heat, Lee Know, he is such a naughty prisoner. Fucking your lady warden? Surely that will add to his list of crimes?” You said throatily, enjoying the pleasure provided.

“Surely,” Lee Know nodded.

Bang Chan began to shake his head back and forth, clearly in denial about his own pending orgasm. His noises began a crescendo of a choked cry that was tattling on him.

“Oh, he’ll spurt inside of you, my lady,” Minho chuckled mockingly. “Poor Bang Chan cannot hold his seed inside his dumb cock, can he?”

You watched greedily as your inner walls clamped down on Bang Chan, milking him of his pleasure and his seed. Both of you moaned through your orgasm.

You laughed as you came down. “That was a well-timed sentence, Lee Know.”

Bang Chan’s shoulders shook as he came down from his high. He whined pathetically as you raised your body so that his cock would slide out of you, but you ran your cunt along the line of his still-hard dick, covered in your wetness and his seed.

“Angel’s Lust lasts for hours, prisoner,” You smirk in satisfaction.

You lazily ran your wet cunt over and over his length, watching as he ejaculated through another orgasm. This one strained his neck, his back bowed, strong body lifting your own upwards.

“Shall we start a bet on how much pleasure and pain we can coax our new toy through?” You asked your constable.

Minho tipped his head back and laughed heartily. “I wouldn’t dare bet against you, my lady.”

“And that’s precisely why you're my constable, Lee Know.”

***

Sirrah: Used frequently in Shakespearean literature and early modern English as a term of address to a servant, child, or a person of lower social standing. It was rarely used for social equals or superiors and could sometimes be an insult.

[anyamaris]

WHEW! WOW~!

Oh my....my grin grew so much reading this. It's dark and fucked and twisted and everything I love, absolutely unhinged as promised!

I love that Lee Know is your trusted man, he fits this so perfectly. And the added do unto others coming back around on Chris just WHEW!

God I love your dark beautiful mind! S tier you. ❤️❤️❤️

[anyamaris]

"Dream"

Submission for @lapydiaries monthly flower event and Yoongi's birthday!

[sanjoongie]

ɨ քʊȶ ǟ ֆքɛʟʟ օռ ʏօʊ

🔨Pairing: Warlock! Jeong Yunho x Witch! Reader (f) ft Warlock! Yeosang 🪄Genre: smut, (lowkey) crack 🔨Au: fantasy, witch, modern fantasy, modern witch 🪄Trope: enemies to lovers 🔨Inspo: kinda rolling with the same world as Dirty Tail 🪄Rating: 18+, Minors do not interact, all ageless/blank blocks will be blocked!!! 🔨Word Count: 3,449 🪄Warnings: a magical, cursed dildo (yes, i said that), daydreams of jerking yunho off, daydream sub! yunho, degradation kink, female masturbation, brief Yeosang muscle arm kink moment, dubcon, edging, orgasm denial, mean! dom! yunho, desperate! dumb! sub! reader, clit play, cock-drunk, oral kink, cum eating, negotiations mid scene, nipple play, anal (f), double penetration, squirting, black out orgasm, slight somnophilia if you squint 🔨Summary: when you find a dildo in the broomlot outside your shop, you try to throw it out but it somehow ends up in your bag when you go home. Little do you know your arch nemesis has cursed it so that you become addicted to it... and by proxy, himself, because that's all you can imagine now with the cursed toy 🪄Beta'd by: @mejuii & @downtoamagicalland 🔨Author’s Note: credits to @potatomountain @daddyfordaeddy, @anyamaris for this idea that fabricated from their conversation and shared image. Thanks but no thanks 🪄divider by @cursed-carmine

Jeong Yunho lurks around in the broomlot outside your place of work. Toil and Trouble, the shop you co-own with your best friend, that specializes in building witch homes. 

“ ‘So you don’t have to toil in the trouble’, my ass,” Yunho mutters under his breath.

He is just unhappy you have such a perfect witch slogan. You make a lot of money, much to his chagrin. You two had been classmates' and arch nemesis’ all through high school and throughout college, looking to make the Coven’s List over each other. Yunho had won that round but you’re the one that had ended up with an amazing best friend and an even better business idea.

You aren’t even in the same spell circle. You specialize in commanding inanimate objects, of course, and Yunho worked more on curses and hexes. Sure, he made good money with people set on revenge, but your job just did better. Someone always needed a new house. 

Luckily for Yunho, he knew the perfect way to get even with you. He holds a bright pink dildo in his hand, and leans to murmur to it.

A curse on you, from this moment further

An addiction to this, your cunt shall nurture

Upon touch of your skin to this colorful toy

My image you’ll see, you’ll crave and enjoy

Paired with a pocket pussy, I'll control it all

Feel as you feel, crumble and fall

“Let's see how you deal with this,” Yunho cackles in malicious glee.

He tosses the toy to the ground and leaves with a firm push of his feet while on his broom.

“What is this world coming to?!” You demand, sending another look of disbelief over your shoulder.

“You're late,” Yeosang, your best friend and co-owner of your shop, intones.

“Late is better than never, don’t you think?” You smile at Yeosang and move towards your desk opposite of him. 

Yeosang laughs, pretending you were funny, and then goes completely stoic. “It’s been out there since I got here at 6am.”

You wrinkle your nose at the admission. “Ew, why have you been here since 6am?”

“Because I needed to finish the mockups for our meetings today,” Yeosang replies, shuffling some papers. “Now, if you would like to look them--” 

He almost jumps out of his seat in shock as you screech loudly abruptly. 

“Oh my god, the Stephen’s will be here any minute now. They have young children. I’ve got to get that dildo out of there!”

You drop your bags and begin to teeter on your heels towards the entrance again. Yeosang starts to grumble under his breath. “I should have never exchanged my cookies for grapes in grade school.”

You stride towards where the dildo is unfortunately lying on its side. You remove the scarf wrapped around you and use it to cover your hand while you pick up the discarded toy.

You hold it outwards and practically run towards your shop, head moving back and forth, desperate for no one to see you. You manage to make it back with no witnesses.

“Oh Morgan's tits, couldn't you have thrown it out in a dumpster or something? It's probably cursed!” Yeosang complains. 

You move towards the garbage under your desk to throw it out.

“Not out here!” Yeosang hisses but it's too late. “The Stephen's are here, hide it, quick!”

You toss your scarf and the dildo under your desk. You sit and steeple your fingers, smiling. “Samantha. Darrin. How good to see you!”

It's not until you're home that you realize that you accidentally tossed the dildo into your bag. Wasn't your bag on your desk though?

You shrug your shoulders. Oh well. You pull out your scarf, and by some curse of Hecate, the dildo tumbles to the floor. On instinct, you grasp it by the cock to catch it and then grimace.

“Oh gross,” you complain, dropping it to the floor. It lands on its stand. “Maybe Yeosang is right, maybe it is cursed.”

You contemplate it for a moment and decide to cleanse it of its curse. What if you throw it away and someone else comes across it? It would be better if you were a good Samaritan, right?

So you take it to your bathroom and dig out the cleansing salts you keep in your bathroom drawer. But the bag is empty.

“I know we learned a cleansing incantation in class,” You mutter under your breath.

Deciding to wing it, you find some soap and start to wash the dildo in the sink. You try to think of the spell but instead the image of your arch nemesis comes to mind.

“Fucking Jeong Yunho,” you growl.

At first, he's smirking in your memory because of your failed incantation in class, something he was much better than you at. But then, as you wrap your fingers around the dildo to spread the soap, you imagine him on a bed, your hands wrapped around his cock. You're sucked into your mind's eye, so you don't notice the dildo growing in length in your hands. 

You feel yourself getting wet at the idea of jerking Yunho off. He used to wear those grey sweats that left nothing to the imagination. You think about shoving your hands down them and teasing him.

“Oh fuck,” he whimpers in your mind's eye. “Don't touch me like that.”

“Like what, Yuyu?” You wonder, using both hands now to lather up the dildo.

“I don't--” His lips curl inwards like he wants to deny his next set of words. “I don't want to feel good from your touch.”

You shake your head and drop the dildo. What the fuck were you doing? You immediately wash the dildo off of the suds, and put it on a towel to air dry in your bath. You'd call a classmate tomorrow--certainly not Yunho-- and see if they can't help you with a cleansing incantation.

Clearly it was time for bed.

Except you can't fall asleep. You toss and turn but your brain just can't turn off. Neither can you pussy either, apparently. You keep clenching your thighs together but you're not finding any release. 

“Oh fuck it,” You groan and turn over to dig into your bedside table. 

You grab your pill vibrator and turn it on but--it doesn’t. 

“The fuck?” You mutter to yourself. “I swear to Hecate that I charged this.”

You get up, grumbling, and go find your spelled circle that charges up your magical items. You place your vibrator on it and return to bed.

Except you're still turned on. You spread your legs and touch yourself but your touch is too soft, your fingers not long enough. You only frustrate yourself some more. 

There is a solution…

“I'm crazy,” You say, getting up and making your way to the bathroom.

You find yourself grabbing the damn dildo that you had cleaned and stomping back to your bed. You wiggle until you're comfortable, pillows propping you up, and then you get a good look at the dildo.

It's… you cock your head as you look at it. Wasn't it your basic bitch flimsy dildo earlier? Upon further inspection, it was firmer than you remembered and it had a switch for vibration. 

You shrug, counting on your bad short term memory and turn it on. In a very short time, you've teased your clit with the vibration tip and you're wet enough to push the toy inside of you.

Except why can't you get the image of your old arch nemesis out of your head? The previous imagining of him as a whiney sub didn't fit right now, for whatever reasons that your mindset had changed. 

Now, as you tease the tip of the dildo up and down your slit, all you can imagine is Yunho riling you up like he used to.

“You want this, don't you?” He smirks, watching as the underside of his cock is getting coated by your wetness. 

You shake your head. Why Yunho? Why not Yeosang, who was your normal fapping material? 

You imagine Yeosang looking down his nose despite your protests that this might ruin your friendship. Yeosang's arm flexes as he runs a finger down the center of your body…

…and turns into Yunho triumphantly pushing into your aching cunt.

“Merlin’s beard,” You gasp as Yunho's cock stretches your walls.

“Look at how well you fucking take my cock, Little Witch.”

Why wouldn't this bastard stay out of your wet dreams?

“I've had longer,” You reach for an air of unimpressedness.

You can imagine Yunho’s eyes darkening as they did when you got the upper hand in anything against him. “Then you’ll have no trouble if I double the pace.”

“Wait, Yunho--!” You work the dildo inside of you quickly, drinking in the instant pleasure that you had been craving since the idea of jerking off your old classmate. 

“Oh fuck that is so good,” You can’t help but moan. 

“Poor little horny witch needed her arch nemesis’s cock to get dumb on, hmmm?” Yunho provokes you, without pause in his thrusting. 

“Hnnnn, Yu-yu-” You’re given a reprieve as you slow down, losing the quick pace and going back to a pleasurable slow build. 

“I knew you couldn't keep up that pace,” You shoot back. “Probably nut within two minutes of being in a pussy. I just know those rumors about you back at college weren't it.”

You adjust your position, sliding further down your cushions, your lower half elevated, so that you could get a better angle with the dildo. And then you began that brutal pace that was making you moan loudly in the privacy of your bedroom. You had no sweet clue why the idea of Yunho degrading you in bed was turning you on but you were here for it, if it gave you release.

“Is this rough enough for you?” Yunho is snarling now. “LIke the feel of balls slapping against your ass, do you, Little Witch? I’ll fuck you for so long that you’ll be crying for release.”

…what monster had you created?

For hours you edged yourself, denying your orgasm again and again. At some point you questioned your sanity, because was this really what you wanted? You started to feel like you weren’t exactly in control; that this image of Yunho was pushing for his wants over your own. Because surely you could come if you wanted to, could you not?

You whimper and whine as the cursed dildo moves in and out of your gushing cunt. You are beyond wet, your cum dribbling down your perineum and coating your asshole. 

“Please, Yunho, let me come,” You whine.

You can imagine your worst enemy bracing himself above you, watching how your sweet cunt is taking every inch of him without protest. “No, Little Witch, I don't think I will.”

You moan loudly, canting your hips upwards to find more friction but Yunho places a large, firm hand that encompasses your hip bone and pelvis to hold you in place. Your next breath out is another whine.

“I need to come, please, Yunho!” You beg again.

Your legs widen so that your clit can come in contact with his pelvis as he grinds into you. The sparks that come from that have you swallowing loudly and moaning all over again.

The cursed dildo has adapted to your desires, growing prongs that grate slowly, imitating Yunho’s fingers slowly teasing your clit.

“Yunho, oh my god, Yunho.” Your eyes flutter shut at the sensation of him slowly fucking your loose cunt and the dull edge of his long fingers torturing you.

“I'll never tire of hearing you beg me with my name on your lips,” Yunho chuckles cruelly. “Who knew you'd be such a good cocksleeve for me?”

Your pride takes a hit, but Yunho’s cock is sliding along that spongy part inside of you, and it makes you choke on another long, drawn out moan. “Fuck you,” You whisper.

Yunho’s fingers pinch the hood of your clit, rubbing it between his finger and thumb, giving you pleasure but not enough to get you off. “I think you need a position change.”

You whimper as you turn around, keeping your face against your sheets but your ass in the air. The dildo continues to make messy work out of you, rubbing your clit and moving in and out of your sopping hole. 

Yunho clucked his tongue in disappointment. “Face down, ass up for your arch nemesis, this is kinda sad.”

You didn’t respond, so caught up in the dual pleasure and the fact that you could feel your climax coming to a point. “Yu-yu-yunho,” You stutter. 

“I can feel the way you’re clenching down on me,” Yunho chuckles. 

His hips stop moving and his fingers are crudely inserted into your mouth. He tugs you upwards, his fingers pulling your cheek, until you’re upright on your knees. Then he pushes two fingers down on your tongue. 

“Taste how fucking wet you are for me,” Yunho growls.

You whimper again, doing as commanded, if only to guarantee that he’ll continue fucking you. You swirl your tongue around his fingers. 

“You really would do anything I said just to get to come, wouldn’t you?” Yunho says lowly into the shell of your ear. 

Once Yunho removes his fingers, you start to plead. “What do you want?”

“Mmm, I dunno,” Yunho hums. 

His hips, however, begin back up again and you fall into a stupor. You desperately try to doggy-paddle back into some lucidity. 

“Come inside me?” You offer weakly.

Yunho scoffs. “I could do that at any time. Come on, you can do better than that.”

“Fuck my face?” You grasp at straws.

“It would be nice to see you choke on my cock, but I rather like where I’m at right now,” Yunho deflects.

His wet fingers tweak your sensitive nipples into stiff peaks and you moan airily. “Yunho, please, I’ll do anything.”

“Anything?” Yunho wonders. 

“Jesus Christ, Yunho, just fucking let me come already!” You beg.

Yunho pulls out and you just about break into a sob. You are literally a quivering mess right now. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please.”

That’s when you feel Yunho prodding at your asshole. Covered in your wetness already, and Yunho’s cock coated in it as well, he’s able to push past the tight ring. The sensation feels wonderful. His steady but slow pace should be torturous considering how much you had wished him to fuck you faster in your cunt, but this way you feel him fill you up utterly, every inch and it only makes you clench down on nothing in your pussy. 

“How’s that?” Yunho wonders lowly. 

“S-so good,” You moan.

“God, you’ll even let me fuck your cute little asshole, won’t you?” Yunho chuckles with dark amusement. “I really had no clue you’d be the perfect cocksleeve.”

For a moment, all you can hear is the slow susurration of Yunho’s cock filling you to the brim. When his hips meet the flesh of your ass, you arch your back. “Give it to me, Yunho, please, it feels so fucking good,” You moan.

“If only I had two cocks, huh?” Yunho jokes. “Then you’d never leave my bed.”

“Oh god,” You gasp as you feel something else prod your pussy lips. 

The dildo has adapted once again. The cock going in your ass is ribbed so that for every half inch that goes inside of you, your ass has to suck in a ring. Then the cock pushing inside of your pussy has spaced out, raised dots, that pass over the spongy part inside of you. And then, the little rabbit ears to play with your clit. 

“Yunho, I can't,” you cry. Drool pools into the sheets below you, feeling over stimulated and over pleasured.

“Yes you can, you can take it all, Little Witch,” Yunho encourages you. “You’ve got such a greedy body, fuck, you are clenching down on me with both holes, I can’t believe it.”

“Yunho, Yunho, please, please let me come. Come in all my holes. Rub me through another orgasm even if I tell you no, that I'm too sensitive. Fucking take me every night until the new moon, just let me come, please?”

If you had been less fucked out of your skull, you might have noticed that Yunho perked up at the new negotiations. “Every night until the new moon?”

Tears of desperation are running down your face. “Yes. Yes, please, now let me come.”

Yunho’s fingers roughly rub your clit at a faster pace. The cock in your ass moves slowly, making you feel each rib move out, as the cock in your cunt thrusts into you deeper and faster.

“Oh, I'm gonna come, Yunho, oh my god, please, mmmm, please it feels so good, make me come. Fuck me good, Yunho, please,” You babble. 

You're desperate for it. You need it, it's beyond a want, you'll simply die if you don't come. The pleasure is so good and all-encompassing. You just want to come and pass out, if you're being honest.

“Every night I'm coming to your witch’s hut. I'm going to claim you over and over again in your bed. You're going to come on my cock so many times, you'll wish you never picked up my cursed dildo,” Yunho whispers into your ear. “Now, come, Little Witch.”

Your body convulses as you come so hard, you're not sure if you black out or you see stars. Either way, the pleasure courses through every nerve in your body. You cry out. You chant Yunho’s name. And you squirt on your bed, adding to the natural fluids already coating your sheets.

“Oh fuck yes,” Yunho moans, and he's not that far behind you. You feel him fill up both of your holes with his hot seed. Like your pussy needed to be any sloppier than it already was.

You collapse with the dildo still inside of you and fall into a deep sleep.

You only realize it when you wake up with a moan. Your eyes fly open as you realize it was your moan. You pant heavily and you feel like you just came. But how?

Sometime after you had passed out, you had turned onto your side, the way you naturally slept. You glance down your body and see that the dildo is still inside of you and it's moving on its own accord.

You move to your back and grip the base tightly. You see a flash of Yunho on a broom but it's gone when you pull the dildo out of you. It comes out of you with a loud, embarrassing squelch.

“What the fuck?” You curse, staring at the dildo on your bed.

A dark shadow forms in front of you, with the symbol of a five star and a circle around it. A quick glance at your grandfather clock tells you it's way too late for anyone to be calling on you.

You grab a spiderweb silk robe, and wrap it around you. Your jaw drops to the ground when you see that it's Yunho, your old classmate.

Yunho is bracing himself against your door, panting. He's sweating and his hair is sticking to his skin. A faint blush is dotted over his face.

“Do you… always… fall asleep… with your… toys… in you?” He says in between gasps.

Then it hits you. Yeosang had been right all along. The dildo had been cursed. And who better to have cursed it than your arch nemesis? 

You folded your arms under your chest. “I knew you were rotten to the core but really?” 

Yunho has the audacity to smirk at you. “Totally worth it. Got you begging and pleading for me, my name a spell on your lips. And you agreed to let me fuck you every night until the new moon.”

You feel heat shoot up your chest, lick up your neck and scorch your cheeks. “You asshole. Coercion by curse is illegal!”

Yunho raises his chin. “Are you going to take me before the Tree?”

The Tree, where witches and warlocks used to be hung, was now where the local government held trials. You weren't about to explain to the local authorities that you had fucked yourself with a random dildo that turned out cursed because you had been horny and desperate.

When your silence was all the affirmation Yunho needed, he responded with, “So, I'll see you tomorrow night?”

You roll your eyes and slam the door in your arch nemesis’ face. But secretly? You couldn't wait for tomorrow night for the real deal.

[anyamaris]

I cannot scream enough about how such a wacky, unhinged conversation turned into such a fucking MAGNIFICENT masterpiece.

First off, let me kiss your brain for turning that into something that is just SO YOU. Magic and curses and the whole witchy vibe is soooo Topaz. It's beautiful and funny and I enjoyed reading this twice, and it will go under my "must read every month" fics of yours.

Seriously, the evolution of the...object based on the fantasy you're having, and the ENDING WHERE HE SHOWS UP? ITS SO GOOD-like??? God, I need more, need a sequel, need to eat this up daily.

[anyamaris]

❤️Happy Valentines everyone! I thought I'd go a little dark this year ❤️

[sanjoongie]

꓄ꃅꍟ ꅏꀤ꓄ꉓꃅ'ꌗ ꍏꊼꍟ

𖤝The Witch's Axe is a submission for the Witch Hunt Event - @lapydiaires one year anniversary 𖤝Prompt: "You will never burn, not unless it's for me." 𖤝Pairing: Demon! Choi San x Witch! Reader (f) 𖤝Supporting Characters: Lover! Jaehyun (NCT), Witch Hunter! Bang Chan, Demon! Hongjoong, Warlock! Mingi, Demon! Seonghwa, and my fellow admins Demoness! Isa @mingsolo, Witch! Flurry @flurrys-creativity, and Witch! Dae @daemour 𖤝Genre: angst, smut, adventure 𖤝Au: demon, witch, historical, fantasy, magical 𖤝Book inspiration from Demon's Bride by Leigh Miller and The House of Gaian by Anne Bishop 𖤝Trope: fated mates 𖤝Word Count: 16, 197 *nervously giggles* 𖤝Rating: 18+, Minors Do Not Interact. All ageless and blank blogs will be blocked. 𖤝Warnings: ⚠️dark content ahead⚠️ animal sacrifice, description of blood, physical fighting, magical/elemental fighting, verbal fighting, descriptions of future human torture, threat of death by fire, bigotry, suicidal thoughts/pre-actions, San can feel what you feel through your mate bond, slight mental manipulation because of mate bond, daredevil flying, possessive! San, made up pagan religion (the Goddess & her Consort), shivering from the cold, danger of hypothermia, character deaths, descriptive physical threats, slapping, machoism, execution by hanging, descriptions of torture devices, descriptions of drowning, no deep description of torture just brief overtures, Bang Chan is delusionally obsessed with you (sorry chan, you ended up being the bad guy), execution by fire, pain from fire, death by fire 𖤝Kink Warnings: San is turned on by you by your mere presence/scent, slight predator/prey, pet name (Heart, my heart), morning wood, almost-somnophilia, San tempts you with his naked body, skinny dipping, manhandling, cloth ripping, outerjob, spine sensitivity, biting, sex without protection, creampie, biting, begging, oral (f), horn play, wing play, cum eating, overstim, pussy drunk, cock drunk, 𖤝Summary: Betrayed by your lover to the man that is hunting and killing all the witches in the human realm, it is revealed to you that your fated mate, a concept you had never heard of, is a demon. It's as if he was sent here to teach you how to mend your broken heart. Will you live a sheltered life with your lover or will you save witchfolk? 𖤝Author's Note: the theme of this anniversary was extremely personal to me. I have been excluded and made to feel lesser because of my age. No one should be made to feel this way. So what better story to write than of my ult loving me unconditionally and overcoming everything through the sense of love and community. Lapydiaries means so much to me, the true place where us hags can gather and not be judged due to our age. To all my followers who are with us older kpop fans, you are loved and adored and i appreciate you!!! 💞 𖤝divider by @cursed-carmine

You woke up in the crude, one room hut that you called home. The dried herbs of your craft wafted through the air as you pulled from slumber’s arms. You rolled around in your bed and were met with the warmth of your lover. 

“Jae, I must start early today with the ritual,” You groaned, heaving yourself out of bed.

At least, you attempted to. Your lover’s arms wound around your waist and pulled you back into your bed. “Must you? I hate when you have to take the poor sheep’s life.”

You ran your hand up Jaehyun’s nape of his neck and dove it into his strands. They were mussy from the morning and from you tugging it last night. You felt like you were the luckiest witch in the world. 

“Mmm, I must. In order for the village to have an easy winter. It’s the least I can do. Especially since Seokmin gave me the sheep. And Seonghcheol sharpened my blade. And--”

“Yes, I know, I know,” Jaehyun interrupted you. “The village appreciates the hard work you do. But must you kill the sheep only a few meters away from where you sleep?” 

You leaned backwards to see that Jaehyun was wrinkling his nose in distaste. He wasn’t complaining last night. “Of course. My hut is at the centre of the village. I’m the hub and the villagers are the spokes. Jaehyun, why are you making such a fuss today?”

Jaehyun beamed up at you, his dimples pulling at your heartstrings. “I’m sorry. It’s just feeling extra today. I’ll leave you. I don’t want to mess up and add mal airs to the ritual day.”

This time it was you who grabbed onto his arm before he left your bed. Your gut was telling you something was wrong. “And not give me a goodbye kiss?”

“What was I thinking?” Jaehyun teased, leaning down and pressing his lips to yours. “I'll see you tomorrow for the festival.”

You sighed heavily as Jaehyun walked out of your house. Regardless of your heavy heart, you prepared for your day. 

You found your ash staff and made the correct circle in the ground where the sacrifice would occur. You used the runes for crops, health, and good luck. You made sure to dry and disperse thyme, rosemary and jasmine. Then you followed the lines with the soil from the various farms that surround your village. The final piece was the white dress you needed to wear. 

With all your preparation done, you fetched the sheep that would be your sacrifice. You lured it in with some grain. With some firm tugging and a little cajooling, the sheep went inside the sacrificial circle without disturbing too much dirt. 

Once you nudged the thyme bundle into its correct eastern position after securing the sheep to the centre, you took your spot at the northern position. The chant was simple: you simply entreated the earth to be a good benefactor. Allow the soil to be ripe with nutrients so the crops would grow, that the herds would eat well, that the humans would too. You entreated the water to allow for the good clean storms. You entreated the air to push the seeds to rest in your forests and naturally produce what you wouldn’t plant yourselves. Lastly, you entreated the sun to send strong sunshine to allow the humans to be happy and the trees to grow. 

With that, you gripped the wavy-bladed dagger that your grandmother had gifted to you when you had turned thirteen. You whispered thanks to the sheep for its lifeblood and then slit its throat. It bleated weakly and you gently laid it down so that the blood could mix with the soil of the village that you had spread around. 

You flicked the dagger that was covered in the sheep's blood to all the points: East, West, South and North. You held it above you and entreated the Goddess and her Consort to look favorably upon your tiny village. 

The door bursted open abruptly, blowing out all the candles in your hut. 

“Look what we have here.”

A silver-haired man strolled into your house like he had been invited. “A witch in the middle of a blood sacrifice. What horrible demon are you summoning to kill this village?”

“What are you talking about? I’m doing my annual ritual to help the village produce its best!” You protested. 

The man shook his head. “They always want you to think that they’re doing good. Take note, she thinks you’ll believe this even though she’s covered in blood.”

“Who are you? Why have you barged into my house? Leave and begone,” You commanded, standing up resolutely.

The man smirked. “I see my reputation does not proceed me. Why, Witch, I am the Witch’s Axe, Bang Chan.”

“The Witch’s… you mean the man that’s been going around and preaching that witches are evil? That abhorrent man?”

The silver haired man threw his head back and laughed. “I’m abhorrent when you’re the one who is about to slaughter the village that allowed you to live here? “ The man shook his head in disbelief. “Now I understand why you brought me here, friend. Here, the coins for your accurate information.”

Some of the men with the Witch’s Axe moved and cleared the path for your lover to enter. 

“Jaehyun, help me…”

The words died in your mouth as Jaehyun opened his fist to receive the coin that Bang Chan had finished fishing out from the coin purse hanging from his belt. 

“What are you doing?” You demanded in horror. 

Jaehyun looked at you pleadingly. “You know how bad my family is doing, sweetheart. I had to.”

“You…had to…” Your words tasted like ash in your mouth. 

“Come now, Witch,” Bang Chan motioned with a beckoning motion. “Let’s do this the peaceful way and I’ll be merciful with you.”

Your heart broke into pieces all around you. So did your mind. The edges to your vision felt blurry as your sadness and rage grew around you. The air began to stir without your behest. Some candles started to come back to life. 

The men with the Witch’s Axe slowly began to filter out back through your door. Chan’s hand went slowly behind his back. “Don’t make this any harder on yourself than this has to be,” He said in a quiet voice, as if you were a horse he was soothing in order to put a bridle on. 

You started to laugh under your breath but soon it bubbled from your chest, up your throat and out of your mouth in maniacal laughter. “Do you think I am one of those poor women who have been falsely accused? No, you should have given Jaehyun more money. I’m the one that shouldn’t have messed with.”

The door to your house shut firmly and all the candles you had in your house were lit with fire that rose dangerously high from their wicks. 

Chan pulled a hand axe from behind his back. Ironic. “Good. I like it when they fight.” He grinned equally maniacal back at you. 

You felt a droplet of water hit your face and you flinched like it was burning you. 

“Wait, you’re--”

“Let’s dance, Witch,” Chan roared. 

You dodged the throw of his axe, but just barely. He was already readying another to throw at you. Your branch of air and fire worked well in swirling around you. It was as if a small tornado surrounded you, wreathed in fire. You shot a fireball at Chan but he moved the bucket of water Jaehyun had hauled from the village well last night to wash from this morning so your fire never hit him. 

When the next hand axe thudded and only missed your toes because of the rush of air you used to mess with its trajectory, you knew you were in trouble. You gripped your dagger tightly. 

“I will not allow you to capture me, Witch’s Bane,” You spat. 

“Oh, you all say that. But you’ve never met someone like me,” Chan teased. 

“Oh, I’m sure there are plenty of your kind around. Did your mother think your father was a charming wanderer when simply it was a Warlock looking to spread his seed. Did she resent you for most of your childhood? I know your kind, Witch’s Curse.”

With another roar, Chan charged at you. His broad shoulders hit your midsection and slammed you into the wall so hard that you both went through the material. You landed with Chan on top of you. You were disoriented and couldn't breath. 

“You and me, we’re going to have so much fun, Witch.” A shudder ran through you as Chan pushed your hair away from your face. “First, I've got a lovely bridle to put on you, one that will pierce your tongue and make you beautifully mute. Then, I think I'll cut your heels so that you’ll never be able to run away. And then I’ll mount you when you say you’ll do anything for this torture to stop. When I’ve had my fill of you, when the village demands that you be put to the flame and cleanse it of all your evil, I’ll have three other women lined up to do the same thing. But don’t worry, I’ll remember you.”

You spat in Chan’s face. “You are a disgusting slug of a creature. I vow to you right now, I will not burn, it will be you who will be ashes by the time we’re done.”

You summoned your branch of fire and lit a corner of your dress. If you couldn't leave this place with your life, the least you could do for every witch was to rid this world of Bang Chan, The Witch’s Axe.

“No!”

Your eyes wildly looked around for the one voice that would protest your suicidal plan. Your heart had leapt at the thought that it might be Jaehyun. It was not. 

A large man threw Bang Chan off of you like Bang Chan was a brittle leaf. You heard him hit the opposite house with a crash and screams of the inhabitants. 

“Today is not your day to die,” The man vowed. 

He leaned down, placed a hand on your shoulder and in a poof of purple smoke, you two were gone from the village centre. You were on the cliffs above your village, looking down at it. The man restrained you as you watched in horror as the entirety of it burnt to the ground. Chan must have ordered it in order to flush you and the mysterious new man out, for surely you could not have gotten far. 

Except the man was clearly not a human.

“You should have helped me kill him!” You shouted. 

The man shook his head. “That’s not my path.”

You fell to your knees as your entire life burnt up. Your future, your past, your life is gone now. 

Your bruised heart panged horribly. Numbness spread through your veins from your broken heart. All you wanted was to be wanted. Why had Jaehyun done that to you? Of all the people to betray you, why him? For some coin? How could he?!

You knelt in the soft grass, dress covered in blood and a dagger in your hand. What was there to live for? You lifted it up and brought it to your breast. 

“Whatever you were going to do with that, I suggest you don’t.”

You raised your eyes reluctantly to the man that had saved you and restrained you from throwing yourself to save your village. 

“Will you also take away my choices?” You asked in bewilderment.

“No,” the man said softly. “But I don’t think he’s worth killing yourself over.”

You had no idea how this man knew what your heart wept over. No branch of magic you knew spoke of hearing thoughts. 

Still, tears welled up enough that you’d believe you were drowning, even as your sobs threatened to choke you. “I loved him.”

The man shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants, and then looked up at you through his fringe. “No, you didn’t.”

When you didn’t lower the dagger from your breast, his gentle hand cupped yours and took the dagger from you. 

Your throat was tight with emotion. “I thought I loved him.”

The man shrugged. “You did. But it was not true love.”

Your lower lip quivered and you hiccuped with your sorrows. “How do you know?”

“Because I would have sent him.”

You shook your head in disbelief. “My mind has truly broken.”

Those same gentle hands chucked your chin upwards and a thumb followed the curve of your lower lip. “No, you’re anything but broken.”

You giggled, the type that fell from your lips like shattered glass. “I am obliterated.”

“I won’t allow you that.”

You pulled away from the gentle touch. “It’s too late for that.”

“It wasn’t too late to take the dagger from you.”

“I was going to carve up my flesh like my heart and mind feel like. What’s so wrong to be as I am on the inside?” You demanded.

Kind hands cupped your upper arms. “You have been wronged, it is true. But it is not permanent.”

“How do you know?” You asked with a wail. It doesn’t seem possible to live beyond this moment.

“What if I told you that you’ve not met your true love. I know who he is. If you consider living past this moment, you’ll discover him.”

That caused you to pause. That caused you to ponder. That caused you to not hurt for more than a minute or two. Curious.

“Would he heal me?”

“No.”

Would you get betrayed by even your true love?

“You will heal yourself.”

“I don’t understand.” This conversation was following threads only this man could see, apparently. 

“No, I don’t suppose you would. But you will.”

“So, you’re telling me if I decide to live, that someone will love me truly?”

A bright smile brightened the man’s face. “He already loves you. You just have to meet him first.”

He offered his hand, your dagger tucked into the back of his pants. A pendant hung from his neck as he leaned down. “Will you?”

Anything was better than what you were doing and feeling right now, wasn’t it? Not far to fall when you’ve already hit rock bottom. “I will.”

He hauled you onto your feet as he pulled off his pendant, and you were hit with a whoosh of air. You stared up in disbelief. Where had those wings come from? And the horns. And the talons. 

“What are you?”

“Shouldn’t you ask who I am first?”

You shook your head and tried to pull back but this man--nay--this demon would not let go of your hand. “If I’m seen here, they will only believe more of the lies the Witch’s Axe spreads.”

“Oh, we won’t be here for much longer. But if you ask my question, I’ll answer yours.”

“Who are you?”

“Choi San. And I am a demon.”

“A demon. I swear to you, I didn’t summon you.”

A twist of his lips has your stomach dipping. “You kind of did, actually. Anyways, you better hold onto me. We’re about to travel and it’s very disorienting.”

You turned your head and looked over your shoulder at the smoldering ruins of what used to be your village and your home. Maybe it was because you had nothing to worry about, not even your life, or maybe it was because everything had been taken from you, but you weren’t worried about San’s vague statements.

“Take me far away from here, San.”

“Gladly, my heart.”

“My--?” 

You screamed and closed your eyes as the world turned upside down. Or sideways? You weren’t sure, you just knew you felt like you were going to be sick. San had stepped through a purple portal and now you were experiencing vertigo. 

You didn’t dare open your mouth, for fear more than vomit would come out. 

“Just a little bit more,” San said, his arms tightening around you.

You were suddenly very distracted by the hard item that was pushing into your stomach.

Then your ears popped and you opened your eyes. 

“San, where are we?”

“The Demon World.”

Your jaw dropped slowly as you took in the world around you. A mute red grasslands spread out below the crest of the hill you were standing on. In the distance were crags of rocks that you could only describe as teeth, topped with a neon orange substance. It was odd but familiar and beautiful. All were true.

“I knew you’d love it here.”

Back to the matter at hand. “Why the hell are you hard?!”

San pulled at the crotch of his pants, adjusting himself. “That’s a standard response to meeting one’s fated mate.”

You rubbed your face tiredly. “This is too much. I’ve actually died, haven’t I? This is the last few minutes where my mind is just popping off and creating some fun before I truly become worms and dirt.”

San frowned down at you. “That’s not very nice of you to say.”

“I was betrayed by the man I loved, the Witch’s Axe is after me, I’ve met a demon after attempting to kill myself, and now I’m in the demon realm where said demon has just declared we are fated mates.”

San looked thoughtful. “That about sums it up.”

You held up a hand. “I’m going to need a minute.”

“Me too,” San admitted. “Although I don’t think it’s going away anytime soon because I can still smell you.”

“Then I’m going away!” You stomped down the hill but you didn’t get far.

“I don’t think so, Heart.” You have a moment to contemplate the way San’s growl made you feel before you were swept off your feet and realized you’re flying. “You have the rest of your life to realize that I’m never going to let you more than an arms length away from me.”

“This is ridiculous! You knew the entire time?” You shouted as air streamed by you. You tried to ignore the fact that you were fucking flying.

“I’m the one in charge of making sure that the demons find their witch or warlock counterparts, of course I knew. It’s my job to know.” Did you see a hint of a pout on those pillowy lips?

“San, I…”

“I know you’re heart sore. I can feel it through our connection. It’s okay. I can wait.”

You remained quiet until San flew you to the crag-teeth that you had admired off in the distance. “Our home is here.”

Our home. How did you lose the love of your life and found another one so quickly? This day was beyond maddening. 

Still, San gracefully stepped on a landing, tucking his wings against his back. “Welcome home, my heart.”

He let you down and you took a hesitant step. The furniture was similar but in a purple hue of wood you were certain didn’t exist in the human realm. The setting was cozy but lush. It felt homey but it certainly wasn’t like anything you had experienced. 

Then you zeroed in on the bed. You turned on your heel immediately. “Is there truly only one bed?”

San raised his gaze to yours and looked back down. “Of course.”

“Of course, he says,” You scoffed, throwing up your hands. “Of course!”

“You’re sleeping with me, where else would you sleep?” San protested.

“Not in the bed of a man--sorry, demon, that I just met?!”

San frowned again. “Not any demon. Your fated mate,” 

“Oh, I’m sorry, like that makes the difference!”

San flinched. “It does. I would never harm you.” 

As if to prove his point, San pulled your dagger from where he had safely tucked it and gave it back to you. You looked down at your dagger as if it could give you the answers you were looking for. 

“Look, San, I’m sure you’re a very nice demon but I don’t know you. And whatever this fated mate means to you, I’m not sure it feels the same for me.”

San’s head hung low. “I know.”

You breathed in and out deeply. You put your wavy-bladed dagger next to a double headed axe near the door. “Thank you for rescuing me. I’ll never be able to repay you.”

San shook his head adamantly. “I didn’t rescue you. I simply took you where you were supposed to be.”

You looked around. “The Demon Realm, huh? This is truly where I’m meant to be?”

“Well,” San took a step forward. “With me.”

“Okay, okay, I get it,” You used your hands to stop San from stepping too close. “I just need some time to… absorb everything.”

“Of course.”

San showed you the rest of your new home. The kitchen, the baths, the living room. Everything was open without feeling like your cramped one room shack. 

“I don’t have anything but this.” You raised the skirt of your dress listlessly. Leaving the human realm with nothing but the dress you had performed your ritual in seemed a bit ridiculous to you now. You didn’t even have your favorite socks that you wore on a cold winter night. 

“Oh, don’t worry. I had some clothes made for you. We’ll bring the seamstress in and she’ll take something in if it needs it but… I don’t think it will.”

“Know me so well, even down to my measurements, huh?” You joked.

“I’ve seen you in my dreams. I’ve felt your body under my hands. Of course I know your measurements.”

A shudder ran down your spine. You know this is odd. Weird. Not right. But somehow, after everything, San simply knowing your size and making clothes for you in advance felt like… like what you wanted from Jaehyun. 

“Oh,” was all you could manage. 

You moved to the wardrobe and opened it. There was… everything you could need. You pulled out a soft nightgown and rubbed your finger and thumb together to admire the quality of the cloth. “This is--”

A hand covered yours. “Yours. It’s yours, Heart.”

That’s when you broke. You sobbed and sobbed and San simply held you. He held you and rubbed your back until all you could manage was hiccups. And when you were done, he moved you to the bathroom where he lovingly washed your face, and left so that you could clean up decently and change into the nightgown.

And when you left the bathroom, and you saw that San was waiting for you on the bed, you practically leapt into his arms. You cuddled your cheek against his chest and sighed. “I don’t care if this is weird, it feels right.”

San pulled away to look down at you. “I thought you said you didn’t know what being mates felt like?”

Did you? How do you explain that San’s comfort meant everything to you right now?

“Whatever, can we just sleep?”

“Of course, sleep, Heart. I’ll be here when you wake up. We will have a new day tomorrow. I will show you more of the Demon Realm and your new home.”

Well, that was the plan anyways.

Things work out a little differently when you woke up to San’s cock nudging your ass and his whimpering in your ear.

“San,” You whispered.

San simply whimpered back at you, arms tight around your body. His lower half continued to grind in between your ass cheeks.

“San!” You insisted more firmly.

“Please!” San whined. 

You groaned. “San, wake up!”

San moaned and stirred behind you. His grip tightened and his hips flexed and then he pushed himself away. “I’m sorry. My body moves instinctually. It was our first night as mates and…I’m sorry,” he finished lamely. 

You moved away and this time San let you go. “It's fine.” 

Well, it wasn’t fine, or you would have let him finish in his pants as he clearly intended to. Or would you have turned around and found just how thick his cock felt against your ass cheeks? Your face heated up at the thought. Was this the mate bond San was talking about?

San cleared his voice. “I’ll run you a bath. You’d like that, to start the day clean?”

“When I’ve had my fill of you, when the village demands that you be put to the flame and cleanse it of all your evil, I’ll have three other women lined up to do the same thing. But don’t worry, I’ll remember you.”

You shivered and ran your hands along your upper arms. “I don’t think I’ll ever be clean.”

San cupped your face again. It seemed a habit of his; as if he wanted you to only focus on him. “Don’t think of him. You’re safe here. As long as you’re with me, no harm will ever come to you.”

It didn’t seem like an empty promise. San had saved you after all, despite all your attempts to fight Bang Chan. Still, the Witch’s Axe’s words seemed to slither around inside of your skull. It was impossible to rid yourself of them. 

“But don’t worry, I’ll remember you.”

You blinked as San’s lips against yours brought you out of your head. San sent you a sheepish smile as he broke the kiss. “Don’t torture yourself. I can feel it. Stay present with me. I can keep you distracted if need be.”

“I…” It had been a simple touching of lips but somehow it had your brain muddled. Especially after that offer. “No.” You shook your head as if to rid you of those thoughts. “No! San, I said I need time to absorb.”

San spoke through his pout. “I know but you were torturing yourself with your thoughts and I thought--”

“No,” You repeated firmly. “I’ll get ready for the day and you’ll show me the Demon Realm.”

“Fine.” But the pout wasn’t gone. Who knew demons pouted so often? 

With your arms held behind San’s neck, he spread his beautiful bat-like wings and took flight from the landing that branched from your new home. You let out a small squeal of delight at the butterflies it created. 

A satisfied smile spread along San’s face. “I will make sure to fly you everywhere, if you like it so much, my heart.”

You shifted in San’s arms, not exactly sure how to take that. “You don’t have to fly me everywhere. I’m not sure how your wings work but I’m sure it’s straining carrying me all the time.”

“I tossed a man yards away from you and you doubt my strength!” San protested.

You couldn't help but smile. You hadn't meant to tease him but he was absolutely adorable in his responses. You schooled your features when he looked down at you incredulously. “It’s not like I’ve inspected them. I don’t know how strong they are.”

San’s frown at your statement had you biting down on your lip. How were you to resist this man who you barely knew when he was so attractive?!

“Allow me to demonstrate.”

With a howl, San was pulling his wings tight around the both of you and performing a sudden death drop. You screamed in glee. Then he opened his wings, diving and dodging the teeth-like crags. His arms didn’t shift the slightest as he held you and you felt beyond safe despite the devil-may-care attitude. 

“When we come of age, there is a flight path between the mountains that we must fly through. It’s called Dancing like Butterfly Wings. It may sound whimsical but it was the hardest flight of my life. This is mere child’s play to that,” San told you. 

“When I came of age, I had to gather my moon’s blood and combine my two branches of power for the first time. I had to stay there all night until finally I was so frustrated I made a flame tornado that destroyed the entire glade I was sitting in the middle of.” 

You wondered how San would react to mention of your moon’s blood. Jaehyun always made sure he was scarce because it was a sacred time for a woman. You always wished he had stuck around to help you out since you couldn't use your magic much. 

San’s eyes widened. “But you’re not supposed to perform magic when you’re bleeding!”

“That’s the test,” You said proudly. “To prove that you are connected to your magic even through the pain.”

San nodded resolutely. “I understand. Going through Dancing like Butterfly Wings is similar. As if your flying is so natural that despite your muscles hurting you can still manage the high winds and maneuvers. You are strong, my heart.”

“Well, I suppose, that means we’ve been matched well then,” You allowed.

San's arms tightened around you possessively. “We were born for each other.”

“Do you really think that we had no choice over who we fell in love with?” You demanded.

San looked off in the distance, face serious. “I don't see it like that. It's more an assurance that there is someone out there just for you.” 

“You help bring fated mates together, right?” You inquired, recalling what San had told you earlier.

San nodded. “I help demons, and witches and warlocks, with their matches.”

“How?” And why didn't you find me earlier? You couldn't help but think with a painful beating of your heart.

San made a noise of distress. “I promise you, I found you exactly when you needed me.”

You sighed. “Doesn't feel that way, San.”

“I'll show you what I do another day. For today, I want to show you my favorite place in the entire Demon Realm.”

You flew in companionable silence until the early morning sun glinted off of the surface. 

“Is that water…pink?!” You demanded incredulously.

“It’s Lake Fever,” San murmured. “My favorite place.”

The lake was in the middle of a clearing, a copse of flowing trees that reminded you of weeping willows only full with blue flowers instead of leaves. It was a serene piece of heaven and you felt yourself settle immediately. 

“San, this place is beautiful,” You said softly.

San set you down. “I was hoping you would like it too.”

“I…” You were almost at a loss for words. Although you knew the demon realm existed, you  never expected it to be so beautiful. “Thank you.”

San began to unbutton his shirt. You couldn't help but watch as bronze skin was revealed. You had snuggled into it last night but you had been so emotionally overwhelmed that you hadn't truly had a moment to appreciate his carved body. San reached to the collar behind his neck and unbuttoned that too. Why hadn't you realized his shirt had an open back for his wings?

San lifted his eyebrow at you. “Want to go for a dip?”

“A…dip?”

San quirked a tiny half smile. “It’s warm. There’s some vents underneath that maintain it. It’s almost bath temperature. It’s really good for sore muscles.”

“Another reason why it’s your favorite place?” You wondered.

San nodded. “Yup.”

“Why didn’t you tell me where we were going? I could have…” You lifted your skirt uselessly. 

San cleared his throat. “It was a surprise.”

You chewed on your lip. You wanted to take this dip with San but you had just had your heart torn out by Jaehyun and you were considering going skinny dipping with your new mate? Things were moving a tad bit too fast for your logical brain. 

You shook your head. “You go ahead. I’m not the one flying us around everywhere.”

San shrugged his shoulders. His broad, muscled shoulders that rippled as he stretched and folded his wings. “Suit yourself, Heart.”

Your eyes widened as he bent over to remove his pants and then strode confidently towards the lake, as if he wasn’t butt-naked. 

Your eyes went to the sky but your mind wasn’t going to forget San’s plump bare ass anytime soon. What would it look like with nail marks, or bite marks? You shook your head. No, you couldn't--

San let out a chest laugh that was deeper than his happy giggle. “Like what you saw?”

You sat down at the shore, gathering your knees upwards and you buried your face into your arms. “You did that on purpose,” You mumbled. 

After a bit, you raised your head and watched as San splashed around in the lake. He ducked underneath the surface to wet his hair and slick it backwards, a strand or two catching on his horns. You were having a hard time not staring, even only being able to see him from the chest up. 

This was a set up, if you ever saw one, but you found that you almost couldn't complain.

Especially when San started to climb out of the water. You turned your head to avoid seeing his full frontal nudity. San let out another one of those delicious chest laughs. 

“That was offered freely, what’s wrong, Heart?” San teased.

“Doesn’t seem right,” You grumbled. 

San must have grabbed his pants and put them on because the next thing you knew was that he was standing over you, shaking his wet hair out over you. You squealed and then jumped up.

Only to meet San’s eyes dancing with amusement. He had his pants on but not his shirt, simply tucked into the waistband of his pants. 

“Are you a dog?” You demanded.

“No,” San said with a dimpled smile.

You rolled your eyes and sighed. “Are you done with your dip? What else can you show me?”

Instead of entertaining your question, San reached out for you. You let him drag you to his body, wet or no. “Nowhere where there are any others. We’re in our newly-mated era, you see, and I won’t suffer anyone near my mate.”

“Awfully possessive for a demon I’ve barely met,” You continued to grumble. 

San gripped your chin and made you stare at him. “You are mine, Heart, make no mistake about it.”

“Don’t you find this just a bit much?” You demanded desperately. “Some people take years to fall in love. How can you act like this?”

“I’m following my heart.” San grabbed your hand and placed it over his heart. “Don’t you feel it?”

You could feel San’s chest muscle flexing under your hand. You could feel his smooth, warm skin beneath your palm. You could feel his heart beating erratically, like he was excited for this moment. You could feel--

“San, you’re hard again,” You deadpanned.

“I have my mate pressed against me,” San murmured lowly. “Your soft curves are molded against me. I can smell you and it’s driving me insane. Do you know what our bond is doing right now? It wants us to cement our joining. It wants our bodies to come together. Do you know how hard it is to not take you right now?”

You gulped, hard and loud. You had no moisture in your mouth. You had never been so thoroughly wanted by any man in your entire life. Was this what it meant to have a fated mate?

“I don’t…I don’t fuck without strings, San. I have to be involved. I have to know you. I have to want to fuck you knowing your heart and soul, I--”

San growled--growled!!--and his eyes lit up with a yellow ring along the iris. “You do! You know me inside and out because we are mates.”

“San--”

San breathed in and out through his nose deeply. He had a charming nose whistle that made your heart skip a beat. It has been doing that a lot lately. “I’m sorry.”

And when he released you, you felt empty and longing. You felt cold. You felt--

You looked into San’s eyes and saw his sorrow. You felt rejected. Was this his feelings? You couldn't help but snatch up his hand and rub your cheek against it.

“I’m not rejecting you, San,” You assured him. “I just--you’ve known about this your whole life. I only found out about this yesterday.”

“I know,” San agreed but he sounded so dejected.

Your heart hurt knowing that you were the cause. San had been nothing but lovely to you and here you were making him feel horrible. 

“This was a lovely trip,” You murmured and then placed a chaste kiss on his cheek.

San sucked in his breath in surprise at the cheek kiss. When you stepped back, he put a hand to his cheek, as if he didn’t believe the kiss was real.

“You’re welcome,” he said. 

You shivered and you realized you were soaked from San. “I think we should go home now,” You said softly.

“I--” San looked around into the sky and narrowed his eyes. “What the fuck?”

Suddenly, San was shoving you behind him just as you heard the whooshing of another set of wings. 

“I thought I’d find you here.”

San threw open his wings, almost as if he was trying to make himself seem bigger than he already was. 

“Why are you here, Hongjoong? You know the rules.”

“There’s an emergency,” Hongjoong replied.

“Someone else can deal with it,” San said through gritted teeth. “Do you know how much it’s taking me to not rip you apart for being close to my mate right now?”

“San, they need you. Someone’s mate died before we could get to her.”

You side stepped San. “Another witch?”

Hongjooong’s eyes widened. He nodded slowly.

You turned your head. “San, you have to go!”

San grimaced. “I can’t, Heart, you have no clue--”

Hongjoong cocked his head. “Wait--have you not--?”

“Careful what you say next Hongjoong, because if I even get a hint that you’re thinking about my mate in a carnal act with me, I will--”

“San, there’s no time for this!” You insisted. “That bastard clearly wasn’t hurt enough when you chucked him into a building. He’s still killing witches! We have to help!”

“Heart, someone else can--”

“You have a better connection with the heartstone, San, please, you might be able to locate the next mate before they are in trouble!” Hongjoong pleaded. 

“I can’t, Hongjoong,” San declined. 

Your heart ached that you had been saved from that fate but you couldn't help the next witch. It made you feel weak and useless and very, very angry. 

You grabbed San’s hand and dragged him a few feet away from Hongjoong. “Are you really telling me that you can’t go help other witches because you haven’t fucked me yet?” 

San wearily ran his hand over his face. “It’s not by choice, Heart, I promise you.”

You ran a hand through your hair. “So if we--can you--?” You looked desperately at San for an answer.

“Heart, no,” San pleaded. “I don’t want our first time to be like that!”

You made a decision, right then and there. There were worse things you could do than fuck a handsome demon so that another witch or warlock could live. With San still in tow, you walked back to where Hongjoong was. 

“You tell them--”

San yanked you back into his chest, arms locked around you, holding you tight to him. He wasn’t about to let you get that close to Hongjoong, apparently.

You struggled a bit in his hold, you couldn’t help it. “Tell them San will be there later today. He’ll help. I promise.”

Hongjoong dipped his head, his lips twitching into a smile. “My thanks, witchling.”

“We’re leaving,” San grumbled and swept you into his arms once again.

This time you cuddled into his chest, the air of the morning not quite warm enough at the high altitude and the swiftness in which San was flying. 

“S-s-s-san,” You stuttered, your teeth chattering.

San cursed under his breath. “We were supposed to dry off in the sun. Consort damn you, Hongjoong.”

By the time San landed back home, your toes and fingers were slightly numb. San didn’t bother to put you down, he simply walked straight into the bathroom. There was a large pearlescent-colored metal tub. 

“I c-can s-sum-m-on--” You could barely speak, you were shivering so badly.

“Curses,” San swore. “Heart, I say this is the most respectful tone but you need to get out of your clothes and get in bed with me.”

“I c-c-an d-d-do it-t-tt!” You insisted.

San shook his head. “There’s no time.”

San gripped the chest of your dress and ripped it in two. It fell to the crooks of your arms and you stared down your body in complete surprise. San removed his wet pants next and reached for your underclothes before you smacked his hand. 

“N-n-no-t-t-t we-t-t-t,” You stuttered. 

San whined. “Heart, you’re killing me!”

He threw you over his shoulder and then tossed you onto the bed. You bounced only once before San was pressing his body on top of yours. He encapsulated you with his body. His eyes were traveling over your face, watching your every feature. Slowly but surely, San’s heat permeated your skin and your shivering began to slow down. 

You whined as San pressed your harder into the bed. “You’re smothering me!” You protested. 

“You can breathe just fine,” San argued. 

“I’m warm now!” You insisted. 

San shook his head. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“San!” You shouted.

San winced at your tone but did not relent. “It’s my fault. You’re not moving until I’m satisfied you’re fine.”

“I’m fine!”

San’s chin found the crook of your neck. You froze when his lips found your pulse. His tongue swiped out to press there. 

“What are you doing?”

“Preparing you,” San murmured into your skin. 

“For what?” You squealed. 

One minute your entire world was San above you and the next, the demon was lying on his back. His wings were tucked tightly against this back. You were straddling his hips now. San’s taloned hands smoothed up your thighs. 

“Did you forget why we came home soaking wet, heart?” San said in a low voice. His eyes were hooded as he looked up at you. 

“No, I didn’t, I just--”

“Heart, you have only your underclothes on and I’m not wearing a stitch of clothing,” San reminded you. 

“I know that,” You replied. 

“You’re so soft,” San murmured, hands now flowing over your hips and finding your underwear. His taloned forefingers circumvented the straps there and then with a sharp tug of his nail, both sides of your underwear were ripped. 

“Must you destroy all my clothing!” You protested.

San smirked. “No. But every time I do, your scent spikes. You like it.”

“But you got them for me,” You pouted.

San chucked your chin. “I’ll get you more. Don’t worry.”

You changed topics, aware of the reason you were currently straddling San right now. “You’ll be able to help the others after this, right?” You asked.

San gripped the back of your neck and brought you down to press against his chest. “I don’t want to think about anyone other than you and me right now, Heart.”

“You’re very good at this,” You observed.

“What? Tempting you?” San’s eyes were directly on your lips. “I was made for you. Just like you were made for me.”

“Are you going to kiss me now?” You whispered.

San’s warm breath fluttered against the sensitive skin of your lips, that’s how close you two were now. “I’m going to do more than kiss you, Heart,” San replied. 

Your hands slipped to cup San’s neck and run along his jaw as San tipped his head to slant his lips across yours. He kissed you slowly but it was heated in its tone. He turned his head the other way to slant his lips against yours again. Each time he pressed his lips against yours you felt your body melt further into him. 

The hand that had been gripping the back of your neck moved down your spine, causing you to shiver. San whined but you couldn't help but smile. 

“I’m not cold,” You admitted. “It’s just sensitive there.”

San eyes came up to yours to watch as his finger trailed your spine until he found your corset. Then he ran his talon down the ribbons there until finally you felt your ribs no longer being squeezed. He gripped the garment and threw it across the room like it offended him.

Now there was simply the piece of material that was your underwear between San and you. The both of you became acutely aware of it immediately. San pinched it between his fingers and cocked his head. You nodded and then he threw that too. 

You gasped as your wet core pressed against San’s hot cock. It twitched against you and San moaned. “Heart,” he called out to you. Both of his hands dug into your ass, pushing you further against him. 

“Oh Goddess,” You cried out. 

San bit down on his lip, hard. “You’re in charge, Heart, I can’t--” You shifted your hips again and his back arched. “Please!”

You rocked your hips up and down San’s length, not reaching down to put him inside of you quite yet. You were enjoying this moment of power. 

Jaehyun always insisted that since he was the man, that he fuck you. You had never rode Jaehyun before. You belatedly thought that this was perhaps you were a powerful witch that Jaehyun felt the need to turn the tables in the bedroom, like this was his only chance, seeing as how you provided for yourself. 

San began to growl and you smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, sorry.”

“If you think about another man while I’m inside of you, I take no responsibility for fucking you senseless, Heart, until you can think of no other but me.”

The hand that you had been bracing yourself with on San’s stomach caressed upwards. Your other hand followed until they both separated over each chest muscle. “I’ll make it up to you,” You promised.

“Heart--!”

Your hands finally found his wings and you gasped in happy surprise at how soft they felt. 

“You’re killing me,” San complained even though his eyes were rolling into the back of his head. 

“Are you sensitive here, San?” You asked.

“I’m sensitive anywhere you touch,” San moaned. 

“Your horns?” You glanced upwards to where they curled towards the bed. 

“If you touch my horns, I will have no choice but to flip us and fuck you through this mattress, Heart, don't test me,” San threatened with his whole chest. 

You giggled. “I have so much to learn about you.”

“We will have all of our lives to do that,” San assured you. “Please, put me out of my misery.”

You glanced down at San below you, moving your hands back to his shoulders. “Are you suffering because you’re not inside of me?”

“I’m dying!” San protested.

“But doesn’t this feel good?” You continued to tease him, rubbing your soaked folds over his twitching cock. 

“Heart, please,” San begged. His eyebrows frowned and his eyes pleaded and you couldn't help but give into him. 

The moan San let out when you finally sunk down on his length was wanton and debased. His talons made indents in your ass as he continued to cry out. “You’re so fucking warm, ugh so wet, I need you so badly, Heart.”

“I’m here, San, I’m here,” You reassured him. 

“It’s not enough!” San abruptly sat upwards, hands moving to the small of your back to keep you close. “I need all of you.”

“Why is it every time I look you in the eyes…?” Your words died in your mouth. How did you encapsulate what the look in San’s eyes felt like?

A gentle smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Because it’s what I feel, Heart. Being like this with you, this is where I’m meant to be.”

“How am I supposed to consolidate all this?” You wondered.

“Just love me right now, that’s all I ask,” San prompted before placing a kiss on your lips. 

You moved your hips as your hands dived into San’s hair. You pressed the kiss for more and San obliged you. You felt like you couldn't get enough of his kisses. You had never felt like this before. It was--

You gasped in realization, breaking the kiss. San simply smiled at you knowingly. “I know, Heart, I know.”

You whined and wrapped your arms behind his neck. Your hips moved more vigorously, grinding your clit against San’s pelvis. San absentmindedly ran his talons up and down your spine, making your shiver and moan in his grasp. You felt like this sex was something more--something substantial--something--!!

“Come on my cock, Heart, make it yours,” San murmured into your ear.

And then you unravelled. You felt your cunt convulse around San’s length. Your climax hit you so hard, your eyes rolled into the back of your head and you saw stars. You felt as if your heart was being peeled back, layer by layer, until it was left open. 

You panted as you came down from your high and opened your eyes. “San?” 

Your heart splintered. Did you simply take your pleasure from San and gave none back? Were you not enough for him? Did you do something wrong?

San’s mouth was open with wonder. His eyes sparkled like he had just witnessed something extraordinary. “You are my everything, Heart.”

You felt yourself soften at his words. “But you didn’t…come…” You said lamely.

San’s eyes immediately sharpened and you swallowed loudly. “Are you giving me permission to take control?”

“I want to see you lose control,” You whispered. 

San groaned loudly. “All I do is lose control around you. You constantly have to tell me to put myself back together. And now you want me to do it on purpose?”

You pressed your lips together and nodded. 

That’s all it took.

Suddenly, the headboard to the bed was digging into your shoulders as San drove deep in between your thighs. With both hands holding your waist, his hips flexed and sharply thrusted into you. You felt like he was driving the air from your lungs with how hard he was going. But it didn’t hurt--no, it hit a deep part inside of you that you didn’t realize you needed. 

San’s hands moved to brace against the headboard, his arms boxing you in. “You are mine,” San growled territorially. “This body, this heart, this cunt is mine,” he stressed. 

You whined as you felt a second climax building from San fucking you so well. “I’m yours,” You agreed. You’d babble anything, truly, if that meant he’d continue to fuck you like this. 

Without warning, San turned your head and his mouth was back to your pulse. “Mine,” he growled once again and then bit down at the thin skin there. 

Your fingers dug into his side at the pain but soon it was all lost as San came inside of you. He moaned against your neck, chasing his high as he continued to thrust into you. Between one thrust and the next, you were gone too, this one coming even harder than the last. You truly spaced out, unaware of your surroundings until you blinked and San was looking down at you with worry. 

“Heart?” He said his pet name for you. “I’m going to get a cloth now.”

“For what?” You said faintly.

San chuckled. “For many things, but mainly for the mess between your legs.”

“The mess…?” 

You tipped your head and saw the gushing liquid that was coming out of your clenching hole. It was a frothy mess, dark and viscous. Nothing like normal human cum. San’s cum appeared as the dark ocean whipped up into a frenzy on a stormy night. 

You winced as your neck twinged with pain. You clamped a hand down on it and when you felt more wetness, you pulled back your hand and saw your blood. 

“San!” You shouted.

“What, what?” San ran out, naked as the day he was born, with a cloth in both hands. Then he appeared sheepish. “Ah, you’ll be alright. Everyone bleeds a little from their mate's bite.”

You showed your hand fully covered in your blood. “I must look like you almost killed me!”

San’s eyes combed over you. Your blood was running down your breast now and his cum was forming a pool on his bed. “You look ravishing, heart.”

You huffed. “My good sir, if you would continue to help me clean up instead of staring at me like I’m a treat on the table?”

San ducked his head and padded over to you. “Of course, Heart. I’ve got you.”

You allowed San to wipe away the blood along your body but you neatly plucked the cloth away from him to clean up the mess between your legs. San pouted at that. 

“I don’t trust you to start up another round,” You admitted to him.

“What’s so wrong with that? Most newly mated demons and witchfolk spend days in bed together!” 

“Well, we have somewhere to be, do we not?” You pointed out. 

San took the dirty clothes and tossed them into a basket. “Not before I feed you. You need energy.”

“San, I’m--”

San bared his teeth at you. “You will eat!” 

“You are a pushy nuisance!” You shouted back.

“I’m your pushy nuisance,” San argued.

You rolled your eyes. “Is this how it’s going to be, mate of mine?”

San bounded back to the bed and curled you into his body for a hug. “For the rest of our lives, Heart.”

“Ah, San,” You sighed. “You’re giving me whiplash.”

It was only after you ate a light lunch, could you then put some clothes on and San was willing to leave your home again. You flew in a different direction, and this time with a cozy sweater that smelled just like San. 

Things had shifted between you two. It wasn’t just that you two had been intimate but it was inherently tied in with that. You felt like San had put a key into the lock of your heart and opened it up completely. 

“What did we just do?” You asked.

“I told you this is why there is a newly-mated observed time where the two mates are together, just the two of them. They sort out their feelings and their lust and they come to an understanding,” San scolded you. “Now you have to deal with this AND the situation we’re about to walk into.”

“It’s important that we save lives. My feelings can wait,” You insisted.

San sighed heavily but snuggled you closer to him. “Just another reason to love you, I suppose.”

Through the rust-colored prairies, San flew until he reached a town. Or what you assumed was a town. From your view high up, you could see a spiraling road that descended into the ground. As San flew down with you in tow, you could see that there were demons flying across the abyss, trading or greeting each other. You felt sorrow for your old village. 

San gave you a loud smacking kiss on the crown of your head. “You’ll make a new life here, you’ll see.”

Down and down, San went, the wind rushing by your ears and the dwellings and stores stopped and you began to see statues. They were demons standing guard, their wings spread behind them and their weapons of choice drawn. The artist had captured them as if in mid-fight. They were beautiful but also intimidating. Probably what the intent was. 

There truly was no end to the descent but there was an end to San’s flight path. He finally landed on an open terrace. 

“The hearthstone is one of our guarded magical items,” San explained to you, setting you down on your own two feet. “We keep it down here for safe keeping.”

You peered at San curiously. “Who would dare try to steal it from demons?”

San laughed under his breath. “There are other beings and creatures in the demon realm. Also there are some that would attempt to sabotage the mating connection. Some believe mixing with the magical folk dilutes our blood.”

“I…” Your brain hadn't exactly gotten to that part of the mating exchange. “Are there little half demons running around here?”

“Of course!” San assured you. Then he sent you a sly smile. “Why?”

“Nothing, no reason,” You attempted to diffuse the situation. 

San nudged you with one of his wings. “Not thinking about my cum inside of you as we speak?”

“San!” You looked around wildly but there was no one in the empty hallways lit with torches. 

“San?” Hongjoong stuck his head out of one of the open doorways in the hallway. “You came!” Hongjoong still looked warily at San.

“She’s got my cum in her, Hongjoong, you’re okay!” San shouted.

“Oh my Goddess,” You hissed, feeling embarrassment heat up your cheeks.

“Oh, good,” Hongjoong replied, his own face heating up as well. 

“Can you show me the hearthstone, please,” You tried to redirect by tugging on San’s arm. 

“Of course, Heart,” San agreed, though that didn’t take away the mischievous smile on his face.

Further inside, at the end of the long hallway, a room opened up. It wasn’t a grand affair like you thought it would be, but a cozy room with a few chairs and a fireplace. There was a grand painting above the fireplace but other than that, the central focal point was the heartstone.

It was a dark, rough hewn stone in the shape of a heart, of course. San clasped a hand down on your shoulder. “The painting is of the first demon and witch mated pair. He discovered the heartstone and learned to harness its power. So many demons and witchfolk were yearning for their hearts desire with no guidance. I am a descendant of the first mated demon. I also hold the affinity to help others find their fated mate.”

You looked at San with reverence. “You must help so many demonkind and witchfolk.”

San nodded proudly. “It is my privilege. I get so happy when I see them finally reunited.”

“San is a romantic, if you can’t tell,” Hongjoong added, having followed you to the heartstone’s room.

You ran a hand behind San’s back, clasped his hip, and squeezed him close. “I’ve noticed.”

San cleared his throat and focused on Hongjoong. “Is the demon here who has felt the call?”

“I’ll go get her.” Hongjoong nodded quickly and jogged out of the heartstone room.

“A demoness and a warlock, huh?” You thought out loud.

San shrugged. “The fated pairs can work both ways.”

You brought your forefinger and thumb to your chin in thought. “I wonder if I know him.”

A low growl left San’s lips. “What do you mean ‘know’?”

You smiled happily. You knew that San’s possessiveness should be something to be wary of, but you were finding it refreshing. “There was a warlock in the next village over. I would visit him sometimes. His affinity with earth meant that he grew the most wonderful ingredients. That’s as far as it went.”

San narrowed his eyes down at you but shrugged it off. “Well, it doesn’t matter now. You’re my mate and he’s about to discover his.”

You giggled under your breath. “Yes, San.”

The demoness entered. Her wings were tucked against her back but her eyes widened at seeing you and whipped her head towards San. “A human in the inner sanctum?”

San raised his eyebrows at her. “My mate in the inner sanctum,” he corrected her.

She still eyed you with judgment. “Of course, my mistake.” Then she demanded bluntly. “Shouldn’t you be--” Hongjoong made a cutting motion at her. “--ah, you’ve come to help me. You have my many thanks, San.”

San dipped his head in acknowledgement. “You can thank my mate. She doesn’t want any more witchfolk to get killed before they can find their mates.”

“Thank you, witchling,” the demoness said with slight warmth in her voice. 

Hongjoong grabbed you softly at the elbow and pulled you back as San and the demoness approached the heartstone. San glared daggers at Hongjoong, who was quick to drop his hand when you two were some distance away.

“San needs to focus on the demoness’s heart, which the heartstone helps with,” Hongjoong leaned to you to explain.

“Hongjoong, I’m about a minute away from ripping your arm off and beating you with it,” San snarled.

Hongjoong raised his hands in defeat. “Got it, got it.”

You watched as San took a deep breath and then he placed his hand on the left side top of the heart. The demoness put her hand on the other side of the heart.

“I need you to dig deep,” San instructed her. “Think of your hopes and dreams for your mate. Then I need you to follow the tug of your heart. You’ll know when you feel it.”

“Mingi, you better not be flirting with anyone,” the demoness muttered under her breath. 

The heartstone glowed--no, it pulsed, as if it was beating. And perhaps it was. The demoness gasped and San’s eyes acquired that yellow ring around the iris. 

“Do you feel them?” San intoned.

“I--I do!” The demoness stuttered.

“Follow the rope guiding you to them. Follow it until you can see their face in your mind’s eye,” San commanded.

The demoness shook as she must have done so internally. Then the heartstone shone so bright that you had to throw up a hand to brace for it. “I see him! It’s unhealthy how much I want him. I need to calm down,” she muttered.

The glow faded until it was a faint pulse again. You lowered your hand and San was grinning like a child with some sugar. “It is done.”

The demoness threw herself at San. “Thank you, thank you!”

The flames of possessiveness fanned over your own emotions. You were happy for the demonness but she was pressed up against San’s chest. That was where you belonged.

San raised an eyebrow at you over the demoness’s shoulder. You raised the corner of your lip and he laughed silently. He pushed the demoness back. “You’re welcome. Hongjoong will help you with the transmography pendant.” 

The two demons left and it was just you and San now.

You shook your head in shock. “That’s why you didn’t look like a demon when I first saw you!”

“It’s hard enough coming to terms with being mates. Adding the demon aspect is a bit much, we’ve found over the years,” San revealed.

“And yet you did it backwards for me,” You said.

San laughed in slight embarrassment. “I needed you to accept my outside first.”

You sent San a knowing look. “More like you wanted to flex your wings.”

San spread his wings cockily. His head lifted with an attitude. “I knew my mate then, you’d say.”

You shook your head and laughed at the ridiculousness of this moment. You reached out with your hand and San took it willingly. “That was amazing, what you did for her. Thank you for coming and helping her and her mate. And thank you for letting me glimpse into your world.”

San ducked his head, his cheeks heating up slightly. “It was my pleasure.”

“Although if most demons thank you by hugging them, maybe don’t tell me about that when you come home after a long day,” You joked.

San pulled your curves to his side. “I think I like you jealous like this,” he whispered into your ear. 

“I’m not the one threatening to rip anyone's arms off,” You muttered.

San giggled like he was gleeful of your petulance. “No but if you could have sent a burst of wind at the demoness to push her back, wouldn't you have?”

“It’s not polite to use my power like that,” You sniffed.

San cackled, throwing his head back with a deep laugh. “That’s my mate.”

You fell into a comfortable rhythm in the Demon Realm. There were plenty of witchfolk with the various mates and descendants of mixed blood that felt like home in the descending village where San worked. In actuality, you had always been the lone witch in the village so being surrounded by so many others felt better than home. You wondered what had kept you all segregated in different towns for so long?

You also had the honor of meeting with more witchfolk and demons that were fated mates. San was doing a wonderous job of saving your kind but for as many as he saved, it seemed just as many died. The Witch’s Axe was working feverously in his worship to death.

But Bang Chan’s obsession with the one that got away made him work even harder.

You and San were invited to a welcome ceremony. One of the demons that San had managed to help to save their witch wished to honor San--and his mate--with a small gathering. Their week of being wrapped in each other was over, of course. 

Not that time had changed anything between you and San.

The humans have a fond saying that love has an intense spark but it fades with familiarity. That never happened between you and San. San showed you almost daily just how much he needed and wanted you. Some part of you believed he was dedicating his life to making up for the love you had lacked before him. 

Seonghwa, the demon that had invited you, was glowing as he introduced his witch mate. He looked down at her with adoration while his mate stated a very important fact to you.

“I have a message to pass on to you. The Witch’s Axe made it clear that you needed to hear this.”

You blinked several times, the new witch’s words needing time to sink into your mind. “Come again?”

Seonghwa also looked confused and wasn’t happy as his mate pulled away to speak with you. “You need to know. I believe we are acquaintances with the same witch. The one who deals in air? A very kind woman who can never say no to anyone.”

You sucked in air between your teeth in apprehension. “Is she dead?”

Seonghwa’s mate shook her head. “No, but he has her.”

You slapped your hand to your heart and gripped your shirt tightly with the other. Here you were, safe and happy, and still witches were being targeted and killed. Even with San’s help of saving the mates of demons, it still wasn’t enough. 

San was by your side in an instant. Your heart wrenching was always a call to him. 

“Heart?” San leaned in front of you, his head cocked and concern written all over his face. 

You put a hand on Seonghwa’s mate’s arm. “Congratulations for being connected with your mate. As you can see, you’ll have someone being able to read your every emotion each turn of your heart. I wish you a happy and healthy life.”

A rare smile cracked through the witch’s normally stoic face. “I believe he will have to worry about me.”

You allowed a tiny laugh to escape you as San swept you up in his arms as he was ought to do when he decided it was time to fly you home. 

He didn’t say a word once you landed home. He moved enough logs into the fireplace and waited for you to light it. The light of the flames flickered along his sharp features as he stared into it.

“Are you going to tell me what upset you at the welcome ceremony?” San wondered out loud. 

“San…” How would you tell him that you felt responsible?

San turned around, frowning hard. “Don’t you know you can tell me anything by now, Heart?”

You sighed heavily. “I know I can, San. I suppose I know that I won’t like what you have to say in response.”

San moved quickly to stand in front of you and then fell to his knees. He wrapped his arms around your legs and pressed his head to your stomach. “My heart.”

You patted your hand on his head, careful of his horns. “I appreciate your candor, truly. There’s no need to sulk.”

San turned his head upwards, his wings flaring in anxiety. “Will you tell me?”

While carding your hands through his hair, you spoke. “Seonghwa’s mate informed me that the Witch’s Axe has a friend of mine in his grip. I can’t help but worry that I’m living in a dream and allowing others to suffer what I might have lived through if not for you. I feel responsible. If you hadn't swept me away. If I didn’t try harder--”

San hugged you tighter. “It’s not your fault.”

Your fingers found the base where San’s horns met his scalp. “I know but I can’t help but feel this way. And now that Bang Chan is holding this particular witch over my head…”

San growled. “It’s a trap.”

“I know, San,” You admitted.

“You’re not allowed to go anywhere near him ever again,” San commanded.

You laughed under your breath and then gripped both of his horns in your hands. San let out a soft moan and allowed his head to be tipped upwards. “Didn’t you promise me that if I touched your horns I would end up on my back?”

A grin quirked at the corners of San’s pouty lips. “I believe I said I would put you through the mattress.”

San’s head jerked as you pulled harder on his horns. “Then why am I still standing?”

Wordlessly, San lifted you up, arms still around your legs and easily moved you towards the bed. “You need not say anymore,” he purred. 

Carefully, San set you down but didn’t let you go. He rubbed his cheek against your thigh, still covered by your skirt. The way your legs had split against the bed, allowed for the slits up each side to reveal your legs. 

“I knew this was a good idea to have these made,” San murmured while fingering the fabric of the front of your skirt. 

Your hand found the top of San’s head once again. “You know I’ll wear whatever you’ll have made for me.”

San grinned deviously. “Anything? That allows me a lot of wiggle room, Heart.”

“Anything,” You reiterated. 

San’s eyes rolled into the back of his head at your tone. “Then I will spend hours with a seamstress purchasing the most debased clothing just for me.”

“As long as it was you who chose it,” You smiled. 

San licked his lips, his eyes on the prize. He lifted up the fabric barring his view of your clothed cunt and groaned upon seeing the fabric wet. “Heart, I’m of a mind to feast on you. Apologies if I become nonverbal.”

“You are a demon, after all,” You teased.

The crotch of your underwear was torn with his talon, as you were used to by now, and San’s face dove in between your thighs. Your head hung backwards as you braced yourself on your elbows on your shared bed. San’s tongue found your aching hole and began to tease you by pushing his tongue in and out of you. You gifted him with some whimpers as he played with you. Your hips thrusted on their own accord with the pace that San set, steady and focused on your every gasp. Your hands remained on his horns, urging him on. 

San changed his direction and moved towards your clit. His thumbs held your outer folds apart so that he could lay the flat of his tongue against the most sensitive bundle of nerves on your body and gave you untold pleasure. Your back collapsed to the mattress fully, head moving back and forth as the knot in your stomach tightened and wound and pulled until your release was embarrassingly quick. You cried out, your back arching and your fists tightening on San’s horns. 

“Heart, if you clench my horns any tighter, I might come as well,” San teased you.

“S-stop, stop that, you rascal,” You rasped. Your body twitched as San lapped at your hole, feeding off your cum.

San raised his head, your weary body unable to keep a hold of his horns any longer. You released his horns, arms falling carelessly to the bed. San made a show of slowly licking his upper and lower lip of all your wetness there. “Don’t ask me to stop when I would spend the rest of my life feeding from between your thighs.”

You groaned in slight frustration and closed your legs on San’s head, almost comically squishing his cheeks there. “I’m not asking.”

San chuckled, pushing your thighs down easily and climbed up your body. “Yes, Heart.”

Your demon mate rested his head in the crook of your neck and licked the now-healed mate marks there. You shivered. “Mine,” San sighed contently.

Then his hips began to shift in between your thighs. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise that San was throbbing and hard after what he did but it always seemed like San was in a constant need for you. It warmed your heart that was still healing from its break.

“San, I’m sensitive!” You whined. 

“You came undone for me quickly, Heart,” San chuckled knowingly. “Are you also sensitive anywhere I touch you?” Of coure he was referencing the first time you two had fucked. Did he memorize every moment with you?

Your nails trailed up San’s sides and found the junction where his wings and back muscles met. You watched his facial expression as his eyebrows furrow and San pouted. “Or perhaps our mate bond allows for some liberties, hmmm?” You hummed in question.

San’s wings bloomed over you, casting a soft shadow to San’s features. “Touch me however you want. I, however, will be satiating myself with your body further.”

One of San’s arms bulged as he held his body aloft with one hand as his other found his breeches and pulled them down just far enough to release his cock. You gripped the strong branch of where his wings connected to his back tightly as San slowly fucked himself inside of you. 

“Fuck, San.” You licked your lips. “You feel so good inside of me. These muscles make me so wet.”

“I will never get enough of you,” San moaned. His thrusts were shallow and struggling to fight with the clenching of your inner walls. “Once I loosen you up, you seem to take me so well. Goddess help me, you squeeze me so fucking good.”

Between the two of you torturing each other with all the amazing sensations, you were surprised either of you had the capacity to get anywhere orgasm wise. You were drunk on his dick and San was drowning in your cunt. 

San was right, however. Once he managed to sheath himself inside of you fully, it was no problem to fuck you properly. Your hold on his wings almost became a lifeline because San’s slow fucking of you was going to be the death of you.

“San,” You moaned. 

“Do you feel every inch of me inside of you, Heart?” San focused his hooded gaze down on you. 

“Oh, Goddess,” You moaned again. “This is--” You swallowed but found that there was no moisture in your mouth. 

“Tell me,” San commanded you, his pace remaining the same slow, torturously drag inside of you.

“I need you. I’m yours. Only you can make me feel this way.” You weren’t entirely sure what San was looking for but you knew it had to be one of the above.

“You squeeze down on me so good, Heart.” Now it was San’s turn to sound strained. “You’re practically milking me.”

“Fill me up,” You murmured and then the both of you were gone.

San sped up, albeit his strokes became messy and desperate. He sealed the orgasm with a kiss, drinking in all your cries and moans. His guttural release inside of you fed yourself as well. You found your legs locked behind his plush ass, trapping his cock and seed inside of you. Someday you were going to be privy of seeing his viscous, dark foaming cum released from his cock as you stroked it but today was not that day.

“I love you,” San sighed as he collapsed on top of you, snoring shortly afterwards.

You would have giggled under your breath if this wasn’t exactly what you had been working towards. Instead, you kissed his head in response.

After struggling with getting out from under San’s body, you finally manage to pad towards the dressing screen where your personal effects are. San’s been gifting you with jewelry but the most important item was a ring.

“I know you’ve been grumbling about having no means of getting around from our remote home so I made this for you.” San scratched the back of his head shyly. “It’s imbued with my own power to make a portal.”

“This is wonderful!” You admitted happily.

“You don’t need it, not really. I’m always going to be there for you but--” His unspoken words of ‘given the reality of how I saved you’ spoke through his silent gaze. “--I thought this would be important to you.”

You hated having to use sex to distract San and use his gift to you against him but in your heart of hearts, you knew you had to save the witch that Seonghwa’s mate had informed you was in need of help. 

“I love you too, San,” You whispered into the air before you put on the ring. 

The purple portal appeared before you and you braced yourself. San had told you to think of where you needed to go, or the person you needed to see, and the portal would take you where you needed to go. The vertigo wasn’t as easy to work through without San’s arms around you but you still managed to get through it. 

You were in front of a door that didn’t look familiar to you at all. You hoped your thoughts had directed you exactly where you needed to be.

You raised your fist and pounded at the door. 

A man opened the door and looked down his nose at you. “And who are you?”

“Tell your master that the one that got away is here. He’ll want to know,” You replied snidely.

The door closed in front of your face and you rolled your eyes. But you were right. The door was practically ripped open by the silver-haired man that had so abruptly ripped you from your old life.

Chan ran the back of his finger down the side of your face. “I knew you would come back to me.”

You raised an eyebrow at him. “You ensured that, didn’t you? Now, release your prisoner and take me in her stead.”

Chan frowned, shaking his head in confusion. “Release her? She’s a witch. She must die by trial of magic.”

“You are beyond deplorable,” You said with disbelief. 

Chan’s smile widened, his fingers and thumb holding your chin between them. “I am simply removing the stain on humanity. There is no need for magic or the ones who would inflict it upon us.”

“You should have been swallowed instead of accepted in the womb.”

You felt the ground beneath you before you felt the slap that had you tumbling downwards. Your hand raised to your cheek. The hot imprint of Chan’s hand was evident. 

Chan continued to speak his thoughts out loud. “You’re lucky I have specialized in humbling your kind. You’re all the same: defiant until you’re pliant. I’ll fix you, don’t worry. You’ll be pleading and begging and soft upon my cock; exactly where you should be.”

“There’s a difference between the ones before me,” You maintained. “I have had the honor of being loved and mated with a demon. Nothing you can do to me can compare to that. I will leave this world knowing that. You cannot take that away from me.”

Chan sent you a look of disgust. “You mated with that thing? How disgusting. If you summon it and give me the chance to kill it, I will keep you alive.”

You started to laugh, so hard that tears came to your eyes. “You really have never felt any true love, haven’t you? You think that I would give up the love of my life for the chance to live? To live by your side as a horrid example of how witchfolk should truly live? Your soul is blacker than I thought.”

“You will submit to me.” Chan slammed a boot into your stomach and you dry-heaved. 

You faked a look of adoration. “If I do, will you release the other witch?”

Chan tsked. “She is a witch; she can save herself since she’s so powerful.”

If Chan didn’t know your friends affinity, she might be able to--

“A sharp drop off the edge of a cliff should judge her affinity for air. And if she isn’t what she says she is, then of course I will compensate the village.”

Fuck.

So you showed up like a dog on a leash for the Witch’s Axe. The leash itself had spikes on the inside of the tough leather, so that any tug on the leash had the sharp points pushing against the thin skin of your neck. Even without provoking Bang Chan, you saw the malicious gleam in his eyes as he’d remind you of the power he had over you right now.

Your fingers created crescent moon marks on the palms of your hands as you clenched them hard, a reminder that if you behaved yourself, you might have a chance to help save the witch who might lose her life today.

As Bang Chan had so eloquently described, everyone was gathered at the lip of a canyon. There was a stage built, a nose hanging out on an arm over the drop into the canyon. Why Bang Chan thought challenging a witch with her most strongest branch of the elements was beyond you but you had a feeling it had something to do with his ego. 

Chan threw his arms out wide and addressed the crowd. “Today we have a woman on trial for being accused of the curse of being a witch. She will be dropped for her supposed crimes. If she is a witch, she will hover with her power of the air. And if she is not a witch, she will struggle and strangle herself with the weight of your accusations. Let us begin.”

Some of the Witch’s Axe’s cronies pushed and shoved the witch of air towards the stand. She stumbled, and it was no small feat for her to stay on her feet, by the look of her damaged body.

You stared in horror at the bridle that was around her head. It was exactly like Bang Chan had described it. There must be an instrument that was piercing and holding the witch’s tongue so that she could not speak. Meanwhile, the metal contraption that held it all in place appeared as a barbed wire nightmare of a halo around her head. 

Chan tugged on your leash and you allowed only a small narrowing of your eyes to show your pain as the spikes pierced deeper into your skin, allowing rivulets of blood to stream steadily down to pool into your collarbones. “That’s your future if you continue to be stubborn.”

You stared straight ahead. Your mind was whirling a million miles a minute. You had to do something. You could see the dazed, glazed look in the witch’s eyes: Chan had given her something; she didn’t look like she was in her right mind, let alone be able to fight the Witch’s Axe or his thugs.

They didn’t even bother to remove the bridle from the witch’s head. It was probably so the witch couldn't say anything to the crowd. Chan really did enjoy being the only voice heard. The noose went around her neck and they poked her with a cruel fire stoker towards the opening in the stage that would allow her to plummet.

Bang Chan’s eyes stayed on the witch. His lips moved wordlessly. Was he funnelling the watered down version of power he bore? This was it. It was all or nothing right now.

The witch took one step towards her death and you grabbed the leash that Bang Chan held. His focus had been on the witch about to die so it made it easy for you to yank it out of his grasp. You ran towards the stage and focused your fire magic first, burning through the rope that was the noose. The witch did not strangle. Then you used your air magic to help her hover out of the grasp of the other witch hunters, also sending a blast of air to push them all away.

“Our logical acquaintance is with her mate!” You shouted. You yanked off the portal ring from your finger and threw it at her. “Find yours! I’ll see you in the demon realm when this is all said and done. Simply focus on the faint tug at your heart for love and you’ll succeed.”

The witch’s eyes sharpened to a moment of lucidness. She nodded and then put your ring on. She took a step off the air platform you had created. The crowd gasped a second time but as you all rushed towards the edge. You saw the portal to the demon realm closing. 

You closed your eyes and sank to your knees in relief. You had succeeded in your mission.

A bubble of water surrounded your head as someone punched you in the stomach. The air left your lungs and when you inhaled, water flooded in. Bang Chan used his affinity with water to torture you for a moment before he released the water. You coughed and coughed. The illusion of almost drowning wracked through you.

“See how the wretched creatures look to even kill their own kind!” Bang Chan shouted for all to hear. He knelt down to grab the leash, wrapping the leather around his hand until there was no slack. He brought his lips so they were close to your ear. “You will pay dearly for that.”

You let out a wet, bitter laugh. “Worth it, Witch’s Bane.”

The next day made what Chan had promised when he first burst into your hut sound like mere child’s play. 

You now understood why the air witch had been so mentally unpresent during her execution. The potion that Bang Chan had fed to you made the word disorientation seem like a mild dose of sickness. Sometimes you thought you knew where you were or who you were with and sometimes you swore you were back home with San. Cruel hands turned into a loving embrace. Pleasure emerged into excruciating pain. 

Sometimes it was a relief to not be fully aware of exactly what Chan was doing to you and other times you wanted to lock it into your mind's eye for when you exacted your revenge.

Yes, you were still living in that lie. 

As the hours, or seconds, or days--you weren’t sure--passed, you realized that you weren’t escaping this. You were fully capable but Chan’s method of torture was specialized in bringing witchfolk to their knees and unable to defend themselves, despite their power base. 

But you had something the other witches had not: a demon mate.

Chan pushed your chin up, gently bringing your focus back to him. His tone was as a lover addresses their sweetheart. “Come now, you and I could have so much fun in this world. If you leant your power to me, if we combined forces, we could become the sole magical practitioners of this realm. With a big enough army, we could even invade the demon realm. Summon the demon that forced himself on you. We can make everything and everyone tremble beneath us.”

Your eyes focus on what’s around you. A crowd of people. You were standing on a pyre of wood. Your hands were tied behind your back at a stake. 

Oh. This was your execution.

It was almost funny the way that Bang Chan thought he was the hero in this story. You smiled and he thought you were about to agree with him.

“I didn’t want to have to break you but you do look so beautiful this way,” he murmured to you. 

“I would never betray the first man who loved me unconditionally for a fucked up, unloved witch’s spawn. Go ahead and try to burn me. Fire is my element. I would embrace it as I would my demon mate. You better make sure you don’t ever meet my San, because he would rip you limb for limb for what you’re about to do,” You announced triumphantly. 

“You’re making a mistake,” Chan said, stepping down off the pyre and shaking his head. 

You grinned maniacally. “It’s never a mistake to bet on love.”

Once Chan was sitting on the chair they hauled to another stage where the Witch’s Axe was to reign over this moment, the jeers began. The crowd screamed about how you were the seed of all their problems. You were an abomination. How you didn’t deserve to live. Chan motioned with his fingers for his cronies to light your pyre.

All the witches you knew were selfless and giving and helped every village and human they encountered. Even the hermits would aid any who crossed their path. Witches were some of the best humankind had to offer and yet this was the result: jealousy. 

You let the horrible words flow around you like a river, and you, the one rock that stood against them. Instead, you thought of your mate.

Choi San, the demon who had not allowed you to take your life after becoming broken pieces. Choi San, the demon who could not restrain himself when it came to you. Choi San, the demon who lived romance by guiding hearts to their fated mates. Choi San, the one soul who made you feel complete. 

You opened your eyes and you smiled happily. Within the wavy distortion of air from the flames licking up the wood, you saw the one person in all the realms who you loved the most. He walked with such conviction, wings spread. God, his shoulders were so broad they almost blotted out the sun. He was so powerful and beautiful and the most pure soul you had ever encountered. 

Your mind was giving you the final sendoff you wished for. You closed your eyes and leaned your head back, as if you were to drink in the warmth from the sun above. You wanted the last thing you saw to be San.

You heard the wooshing of the wood as they collapsed and the fire climbed closer. More pain started to wrack through you. 

“Heart.”

You were even imagining your mate’s sultry tone. How wonderful.

“I know you’ll be angry with me for slipping out without you. But I had to do this. I love you, Choi San.”

“I love you too but if you’d open your eyes, you’d realize you’re saying your goodbyes for no damn reason,” San’s voice snarled.

You opened your eyes and gasped. You couldn't feel him, your arms were still behind your back, but you knew with your entire mate bond that the real Choi San was in front of you.

“San.” You said his name like it was a synonym for love. The heat was so strong that it stole any tears that would have fallen for your mate. 

San sent you a devilish, devil-may-care grin. “You will never burn, not unless it's for me.”

With his talons, he shredded the ropes around you and gathered you in his arms. You had lost count the amount of times San had held you close while he flew with you. This time was different. You could feel his arms trembling from anger with how frail you were in his arms. 

“San, I had to save her. Like you saved me.”

“I am angry at the fool I was. I should have grabbed my axe and flown with you into battle, not attempt to keep you from the fight,” San shook his head. 

Once again, you had held San to a standard that he blew through the roof. He wasn’t angry at you. He was angry at himself for not standing with you on your choice. He served to protect but what you truly needed was someone to throw themselves into serving justice with you. 

You raised your arms, no matter how hurt you were, and wrapped them behind his neck to bring San’s head down to touch foreheads. “I love you with the entirety of our soul bound, Choi San, Heartstone bearer.”

San smiled through tears of his own. Your strong demon who had a heart three times too big for this cruel world. “I loved you before we met and I will love you beyond it. In this life, and every life we meet. Our bond will keep us connected as many times as it takes for us to love together.”

You blinked heavily, becoming dizzy with the potion that Bang Chan had forced you to consume. “He’s given me something. It’s how none of us are strong enough or belligerent enough to fight him. I can’t--this time I can’t fight him. I fear I would do more harm to innocents rather than exact my revenge.”

San looked forward with purpose. “Send it through our bond. Believe in our connection and your connection with your two branches of elements. I will be your tool for destruction.”

San circled around until he found where Chan had been standing, waiting, watching your execution. Firstly, he put you down amongst the crowd that had gathered to watch you die. He sent a death glare to all. 

“Mutter ill of my mate or make an attempt on her and I will personally pull your entrails out via your nostrils,” He warned.

The people made a wide semicircle around you, keeping several arms lengths away from you.

You had the honor of watching San from behind as he pulled his double-headed axe over his shoulders, careful of his wings and took a fighting stance.

“Imbue me with your magic, Heart. And watch the show.”

You focused deep within the well of your magic. It was difficult, the potion tugging you mentally in every which way. But it was easy to follow the love flowing so thoroughly through your bond. You sent your strength in air and fire to San.

“If I had realized I could wipe the world of both witchfolk and demonkind in one fell swoop, I would have let you match up all matter of pairs,” Bang Chan said with the showmanship he proudly wielded.

San laughed, this type you had never heard before. It was full of bloodlust and simmering-below-the-surface rage. “Today I snuff the cockroach that has been hiding in the cracks of my floorboard.”

Bang Chan’s face clouded with humiliation and infuriation. “How dare you?! I am the Witch’s Axe. I--”

With a shout of savagery, San swung his axe downward. Your magic accumulated into a fire tornado, now fueled with San’s acrimony from Bang Chan’s treatment of you and all witchfolk, and swept up Bang Chan before he could voice another monologue as he was wont to do. 

Instead of you burning at the stake, Bang Chan was the one who disappeared in a swirl of ashes. There wasn’t a battle, or a struggle, but a simple blink--and the Witch’s Axe was gone. 

San turned, triumphant in his exactment of your revenge. “How’s that, Heart?”

You simply raised your arms in his direction in response. San secured his axe on his back once again and swept you up in his arms wordlessly.

“You are the true Witch’s Axe,” You murmured. “Not one used against us but for us.”

San looked evenly at all who gathered around you two. “Let that be a lesson for any who would dare treat the witchfolk with scorn or contempt. They exist to better your lives, not ruin them. Spread the word that the true Witch’s Axe will smite those who would try to wipe any witch or demon from either realm.”

“Take us home, Mate,” You pleaded.

“With pleasure, Heart,” San agreed. 

“What did you mean back there, with that corny line of ‘burning for you’?” You laughed under your breath.

The look that San sent to you made you clench around absolute nothing. “You’ll find out when I get you bathed, fed and in our bed.”

If this was to be your life forever more, regardless of what you had gone through to get here, you were sure that it was a life well worth the struggle.

[anyamaris]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

This was epic and beautiful! AHH it's so good! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and omg the amount of times I giggled and laughed and gasped! The writing is so good, and him calling her "My Heart"? GAH! And I love the demoness cameo, I KNOW WHO DAT IS!

Topaz, you definitely outdid yourself with this one. Witches and demons are definitely your forte, and I want more from this world!

I can seriously feel your adoration for San in this too, and I absolutely love how pouty and whiny he is. And that imagery at the end? THE AXE? please give me demon barbarian San.

[defwoodz]

Mistaken (alt version)

yunho x reader (f) ft. yeosang / g: angst, fwb, smut / wc: 2.5k / warnings: guns, general ‘mafia’ and crime references, death threats, language, voyeurism, smut content. -- r: 18+

a flip scenario of what could have taken place if Yunho did showed up at your door that night.

a/n: this fic is an alternative version focusing on the last part of my previous fic MISTAKEN (which you don´t have to read to enjoy this one, but I would highly recommend it) full disclaimer: this is mostly for me and @sanjoongie who has patiently waiting 2 fucking years for me to write this. Here you go queen, hope it was worth the wait ☆

Midnight, and Yunho hadn’t shown up. You start to get really annoyed. 

He had said late night but this was just too much. And why wasn’t he answering your texts? Incorporating a little on the bed, you saw yourself in the tall mirror at the corner of the room. Your back-less dress, makeup. You looked too good– and now it was going to waste.

It was ridiculous that with all the power, money, a damn husband and a friend like Yunho; you were really struggling this much to get laid.

Tired of waiting, you grab your phone ready to call him, something you would never do in your right senses, when you hear a knock on your door. You sit up and begin fixing the wrinkles of your dress. Before opening the door you look through the peephole. 

“Fucking finally.” 

“Hey,” Yunho stood before you, all in black, looking somehow agitated when you opened the door harshly. “I´m sorry, something came up at the last minute.” His tone guarded, and If you didn't know him better, worried. 

Any other time you would had left long ago without even waiting five minutes, but right now you were too desperate to have a good fuck to care about why he was late. You grab him by the collar of his black blazer and pull him into the room. 

“You'll have plenty of time to explain yourself later” you urged him into the bedroom removing his blazer, practically shoving him inside. Yunho chuckled at your urgency,  helping you remove his belt. You pushed him to sit on the edge of the bed, sitting on his lap. He grabbed your waist, just letting you do as you pleased with an amused look; but still you felt something was off. 

“What´s wrong with you?,” you stopped your task of removing his shirt, noticing his eyes weren´t entirely with you. “Your mind is elsewhere, tell me what happened.” your tone was impatient but curious. It wasn't common for Yunho to beat around the bush. 

He sighed softly, throwing his head back. "I think your husband was following me."

You froze, placed in Yunho´s lap. You suddenly forgot to breathe even. "That's not possible, he is in Tokyo right now,” you managed to say after a few moments. Yunho sat straight on the bed, helping you find your balance.  

“Well maybe isn't him-him, but his men,” he started caressing your arm softly, visibly more calm knowing you knew he was actually not in Seoul. “I definitely noticed someone following my car  when I got out of my office. I went home before coming here to see if they went away but when I was heading here they were still on my tail.” 

“Yunho, you aren't exactly everyone's favorite person” you rolled your eyes, trying to calm yourself. “It could be literally anyone”. You knew that wasn’t good either but alas, you hoped it was anyone but Yeosang. Yunho would be in serious trouble.

“Hey, that's not true,” he said, slightly offended. “I´m a lot of people's favorite person” He smiled against your lips, trying to gain entrance to your mouth. You took a deep breath. After resisting just  a little, you let him kiss you, already feeling more at ease by having Yunho's lips savouring yours. 

“And, are your men downstairs, in case someone was indeed following you?” You were having trouble talking, with Yunho's tongue trying to devour your mouth. He already managed to lift the skirt of your dress and was massaging and squeezing the curves of your ass. 

“Yes they have orders to take care of everyone who asks about me.” He muttered out between sloppy and urgent kisses. You wrapped your arms around his shoulders, the soft silk of his shirt suddenly annoyed you. He grabbed you and stood up, turning and then gently laid you down on the bed, removing his shirt letting you admire his slim but toned body. 

Your clouded eyes follow his hands as he undo his pants, smiling at you with devilish intention. And you fucking loved that smile. 

It was then when you both heard the door open with a loud thud. 

“What was that?” you whispered, looking at Yunho, whose color had disappeared from his face entirely. He quickly buttoned his pants and you sat on the bed too frozen to actually fully stand up. Fear invaded you. Was this another attempt at you? The people following Yunho actually got in?. 

“Stay here,” Yunho whispered, quickly grabbing a small revolver he carried in his blazer´s pocket. Your heart was beating so fast you could barely hear him. And it almost stopped completely when the figure of none other but your husband, Yeosang, appeared in the bedroom door frame. 

Yunho stood still, your soul dropped to your feet. You had a sudden flashback of the way Yeosang had killed that man back in Greece, how easy and sudden. Sure the man was trying to kill you that time. You wondered how much would he´d wait to kill someone who was actually trying to fuck you. 

Yeosang smiled softly, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. Neither Yunho or you dared to speak so he broke the silence. “Am I interrupting?.”

“Kang…” Yunho started, voice slightly shaken. Yunho wasn't a coward, but mostly he wasn´t stupid. He knew if Yeosang wanted he could kill him right there. His men hadn't been a problem, he was at his mercy. “I can explain-” he managed to say before Yeosang raised a hand at him.

“Exlpain what? Do you think I´m stupid?.” He entered the bedroom getting closer to Yunho until he was face to face with him. Yunho was taller but Yeosang didn´t flinch. “I´m sorry I ruined the fun.” He smiled and you could see it in his eyes that he didn´t mean it at all.

Yeosang turned to you, getting closer and sat beside you, eyeing from head to toe. He then looked at Yunho. 

“Tell me Jeong. How many times have you fucked my wife?” 

You sighed out loud. “Can´t we not?” you finally stood up, facing your husband. “What gives you the right to come here and make this scene?” 

“I´m your husband.” He said, gaze firmly on yours.

“Please, I wouldn´t be here trying to get laid if you did what's expected from one.” 

Yeosang scoffed. He looked at you with those deep brown eyes. Entirely different from those you saw at the wedding. You could tell it hurt his pride, but he couldn't deny it was true.

“Are you that desperate to fuck that you have to call this bastard here?”

“Enough!” Yunho spoke, getting beside you. “I don´t know what is going on between you two, but it doesn´t concern me, I´m leaving.” He said, taking his shirt and blazer from the floor. 

“You´re not going anywhere.” Yunho stopped, feeling the cold metal of Yeosang´s gun against his stomach, taking the revolver from Yunho´s hand. “We are going to solve this right here, now.”

You were shaken. Embarrassed. Furious. “What the fuck Yeosang?”

Yeosang left the room for a moment, you could hear him saying something to the men outside the door. Then you heard the door close. 

“What the fuck?” Yunho repeated quietly as Yeosang was out the room. You shrug, not knowing what the hell was going to happen. You wished to have your own gun right now, just in case. 

After a minute Yeosang came back to the room, taking his jacket off. Just then you noticed his hair was down, his clothes not the usual tailored suit you had seen him in since you met him. His white undershirt was fit and tight. You felt entirely stupid but you couldn't fight your brain;  he looked incredibly attractive right now and it was sending a burning sensation through your entire body. 

He then took Yunho's blazer and shirt from his hands and tossed them on the nearest chair. “Come on, continue where you left it.”

Yunho frowned, turning to you with an extremely confused stare. Your parted lips refused to close. Entirely perplexed, you wanted to ask your husband to repeat himself but the words didn't come out.

“I want to see how you were going to fuck my wife, Jeong. Is that clear enough?” 

“Yeosang-” 

“I´m not asking, Y/n.” His tone was exactly like that time when he promised you he would make sure no one will ever attempt to harm you again. “Unless you want to die here, you need to fuck my wife as you were about to.” He spoke to Yunho directly. 

Yeosang leaned against the dresser beside him. Arms crossed. His gun holstered on his belt, close and ready. You shook your head, you wanted to fight but you couldn't deny, this was extremely arousing. The need to be taken, used, still burned deep inside you. And since Yeosang appeared it has intensified. 

Yunho´s semblance seemed more relaxed. You took a good look at him to know just how much it would take for him to either fight Yeosang or go along. Surprisingly you saw a glimmer in his eyes that suggested the second. 

“Pretend I'm not here,” Yeosang urged. His tone was gentle, but his voice had deepened. Fuck. He really wants to see this. You gasped a little when he approached you. “Come here,” he demanded, pulling you close and going to the back of your dress to unzip it. He softly let the fabric go down to your feet until you were in nothing but your tiny lace underwear.

You saw the shine in Yeosang's eyes, and how his lips parted a little. He caressed the curve of your hips very gently, locking eyes on you before returning to his spot against the dresser. 

“Yunho,” you called him softly, without breaking eye contact with Yeosang. “Fuck me.” 

Yeosang licked his upper lip. And you felt your lower stomach swirl in anticipation. 

Yunho scoffed, looking at Yoesang accepting this was actually going to happen. And then he approached you, grabbing you by the waist. “You two are insane.” he said, pulling you against him and starting to kiss you. 

You closed your eyes, letting Yunho grab, pinch and touch everywhere where he wanted. He went down to your neck, licking and sucking. You cried a little, both from the sweet pain and to let Yeosang know you were enjoying every bit. 

Yunho then grabbed you by your legs, lifting you and making them hug his waist. You hung to him, kissing him ravenously, desperately. Your tongues are savoring each other. You bit his lip and licked where it hurt after. Yunho placed you on the bed, leaning over you. He slid down the only piece of lace covering you. He then swiftly slid two fingers inside your pussy. “So fucking wet,” His voice barely a husk. 

“Fuck… Yun-” you moaned when Yunho pushed one more finger in. He swirled them, flickering and caressing your sweet spot. He knew exactly where to find it. And you were too wet to care for more foreplay. While you moaned and let Yunho break you apart with his fingers only, you opened your eyes just enough to be able to see Yeosang. The room was dark but you could still see a glimpse of his fair skin and soft features all over you. 

You moaned loudly when you noticed he was rubbing himself right now as he watched you. 

You were shamelessly riding Yunho´s fingers all the way to the knuckle. He sucked and kissed your nipples at the same time, sending waves of pleasure so intense that you could feel the knot already building up in your lower stomach. You were desperate for release but also wanted Yunho to fuck you properly. And Yeosang, you wanted him to see it. 

“Yunho, please…” You whined. Yunho looked over at you, his features soft, eyes cloudy. He always looked so cute while doing the nastiest things to your body. “I want you inside me.” 

“Yeah?,” he moaned. “Fuck, never imagined you loved being watched.” He smiled cockily, but you didn´t care. You need him inside you now. You needed Yeosang to hear the beautiful sounds you could let out.

Yunho removed his fingers, making you lick them clean while he undid his pants and shoving them down. His cock throbbing and leaking already, desperate to enter you. He aligned himself and pushed painfully slow inside you, filling you up easily. “F-fuck.” he muttered, lips parted, huffing and puffing from the intense feeling of your pussy clenching around him. 

“Yes- like that… deeper, oh Yun-” 

“Fuck, youre so wet,” He phanted as he was finally fully inside you. He then picked you up from your back, wrapping your legs around his waist, lifting you a little. With support of his arm on the bed and grabbing your waist with the other he started pounding into you with force, eyes fixed on yours as he fastened his pace. “Do you enjoy it? That he´s watching me fuck you like this?.”

“Yes- yes” you moaned.

You were completely hanging onto him, arms around his shoulders; legs against his waist, trying not to fall on the bed by the force and speed in which he was thrusting into you. His stamina was insane, maybe he was riding the same adrenaline of having someone watching, and the fact that if he didn´t fucked you good, he might be feeling a bullet. The sudden thought made the bliss take over, and you let out a moan that you were sure every guard outside could hear. Yunho hit the sweet spot he knew so well, not stopping at all. As your release washed over you, he was trying to get release himself. 

“Fuck, I´m gonna-” Yunho cried. 

You were on the pill, you knew Yunho was aware of this. That's why you didn't stop him. 

“Stay inside me.” you begged. 

“Yunho moaned as he came inside you. Moments later his pace slowly decreased. He let you lay on the bed but not until he was sure you were filled up until the last drop. Sweat beads on his forehead, black hair sticking on, his skin glowing and his eyes as bright as ever. With an awkward smile let you know he was coming back to reality. 

You tried to recover your breath slowly. Yunho incorporated, hesitant to look at the man beside him. Yeosang was still standing, lips parted, visibly aroused and with a huge bulge on his pants. You sat on the bed, completely naked shining with the after glow. 

After a moment, Yeosang broke the silence, clearing his throat. He looked at you with such lust, letting you know with just a glance that from now on, he was going to be the one to ruin you in the best way possible. This would be his second promise.

“Take your time , a car will be waiting for you downstairs.” He said matter-of-factly, before taking his jacket and leaving the room. Both Yunho and you stood still until you could hear the door closing behind him. 

After that, Yunho sat on the bed, smiling awkwardly. “Fuck Y/n, who the fuck you ended up with as a husband?” He shook his head, fixing his pants and taking his clothes from the nearby chair. 

You stood up, walking towards your bathroom but stopped before entering. The realization that Yunho will leave your apartment tonight, probably to never come back hit you. You got closer to him, taking his face in your hands. Yunho was who you relied on when you wanted to be yourself, have fun and get a away from this whole crime family dynamic for a few hours. You knew there wasn´t romantic love between you two, but in your own twisted way, he was your friend. And this might be the last time you get to be with him like this. It was bound to happen, but you never imagined it would be with your husband witnessing your last encounter. 

“Go home, he's not gonna kill you, not tonight at least.”

“Are you sure about that? He might be waiting, letting me have you one last time was an act of mercy” He said. And you knew he was only half joking. 

“He won't." you assured him, leaning forward to savour a last deep kiss.

“Fuck, I´m going to miss this, having you like this.” Yunho smiled bitterly. 

You rolled your eyes, Yunho was cynical, but also sincere. “Me too, I'm going to miss this- miss you.” 

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@mingsolo. please do not repost/translate to other sites.

[anyamaris]

GOOD FUCKING GOD?!~ @sanjoongie said I needed to read this and omg, she was not kidding. HOLY HELL. Seriously? Like, my mind is on FIRE after reading that.

MAGNIFICENT. GLORIOUS. God....I need to dream about this.