summary: âtired of being ignored for a late-night match, you take matters into your own hands.
âlittle did you know that a frantic clash against the keyboard accidentally clicks his webcam wide open, giving his teammates a front-row seat to the entire thing.
tags: mdni 18+, desk sex, unprotected sex, established relationship, exhibitionism (accidental camera stream), voyeurism, guys being a pervy (sanzu and ran), pet names, handjob, spitting
đŽđ ctto of this scrumptious rindou fanart i stumbled upon on (ăŁ'àœ')㣠âĄ
the sharp clicks of a mouse, the rapid and aggressive tap of keys, and the smug, mocking bite in rindouâs voice dragged you out of sleep.
you blinked against the dim, neon-tinted light of his room, stretching out into the warm space where heâd been lying beside you not too long ago. the sheets still heavy with the scent of cigarettes and his expensive cologne.
with a sleepy groan, you fell into that slow, lazy stretch, arms pulling up, back arching, and toes pointing beneath the tangled sheets. your hand aimlessly reached over for him, looking for that familiar warmth, only to catch nothing but cold, empty air.
figures. typical rin behavior.
you spotted the crumpled scrap of black lace on the floor, right where heâd tossed it earlier in his damn hurry to get you undressed. you reached down, slipping it back on, the familiar fabric cool against your skin. the matching bra was nowhere in sight, but that wasnât unusual.
it never stayed on for long when you were with rindou, anyway.
when you sat up, a quick glance at the clock told you it was past midnight. the neon glow from his monitor painted the side of his face, casting sharp shadows over his tattoos. he was slouched in his gaming chair. the overpriced, ridiculous one he swore was âworth every yenâ with his headset on, leaned forward with that typical arrogant posture. his hair was still a mess from earlier, but his eyes were locked on the screen like you didnât even exist.
ârin,â you murmured, voice still rough from sleep as you padded across the room, stopping beside his gaming chair.
no answer. just more clicking and a muttered, âfuck! we gotta win the next round, you fuckers!â
you tried again, a little louder. ârinnie.â
from his headset came familiar voices, ran's sharp laugh and sanzu's low taunting rumble.
you froze, instinctively folding your arms across your bare chest even though youâd already slipped your underwear back on, the matching bra still missing somewhere in the room. your gaze darted to the small webcam perched above the monitor.
âthey can see me?â you asked, narrowing your eyes as you instinctively took a small step to the side, moving just out of the cameraâs immediate scope.
ârelax,â rindou muttered, his fingers still flying across the keys without missing a beat. âthey donât care, baby. don't trip.â
then sanzu's chuckle rolled through the headset, dripping with malice and amusement. âitâs not like this is new. weâve even heard you before, doll.â
your head snapped toward the screen, face burning. âWHAT?â
rindou didnât even blink, completely unbothered by the fact that his gang knew his business. âhomies know i fuck my baby well,â he said, lips curling into a smug, arrogant grin as his hand reached out and gave your ass a quick, sharp slap before going right back to the mouse.
sanzu laughed again, low, slow, and entirely too amused. âi wouldnât mind if she came a little closer to the lens though. let us see what you're hiding, rindou.â
that earned a smirk from you as you perched yourself on the armrest of his gaming chair, facing rindou. your back was toward the camera, giving them a clear view of your curves and the hint of black lace you were wearing.
âat least someoneâs paying attention,â you murmured, letting your eyes flick briefly to the camera lens, at sanzu, before looking back at rindou.
sanzuâs laugh came through the headset, raspy and mocking. âdamn, rindou⊠how the fuck are you so focused on the game right now? iâm more distracted than you, bro. let me get a look.â
a chuckle followed from ran, smooth, lazy, and entirely too amused by his little brother. âno kidding. ignore the match, rin-rin.â
rindou didnât even crack a smile. his jaw tightened, his sharp eyes narrowing through his glasses. âknow your place, idiots,â he said flatly, his tone dripping with hot delinquent pride.
he set the controller down, one hand gripping your hip with bruising force as he guided you off the armrest. the comms went quiet for half a second before breaking into low, appreciative whistles as you rose to your feet, only to step between his legs and settle onto the chair, straddling his lap.
âholy shit-â sanzu muttered, the sound of him scoffing echoing over the mic.
âdamn, thatâs a show,â ran added, completely loving the chaos.
rindouâs attention was entirely on you now, the game forgotten. both of his hands slid up and down your bare sides with deliberate, heavy strokes, his palms warm against your skin. you steadied yourself with your hands on his shoulders, one drifting up to cup his face, your thumb brushing his cheekbone in lazy circles. you leaned in to pepper a few loud, playful kisses across his sharp jawline before his head dipped lower, lips pressing a rough kiss to one breast, then the other, acting like he had all the time in the world for you and absolutely zero for the rest of the gang.
âthis is making me hard, bro,â sanzuâs voice suddenly drawled through the headset, entirely shameless.
you blinked, pulled back to reality, the heat in your cheeks spiking when it hit you.
the boys could actually see you.
and theyâd seen a lot.
worse, this wasnât the first time rindou had let them catch a glimpse. typical arrogant haitani behavior, always showing off what's his. gods, rindou. why would you- ugh.
you turned your head toward the monitor at sanzuâs voice, and the movement shifted your torso, offering them a perfect view of the swell of your chest.
rindouâs hand came up immediately, covering your chest in a suffocatingly possessive grip, fingers curling tightly into your skin to pull you back toward him, forcing you to face him instead of the camera.
âfuck,â he muttered, his hot-headed nature flaring as he reached over with his free hand to violently flick the camera off.
rindou angled his chair back toward the desk, pulling you along with him so you stayed perched snugly on his lap. both of his hands went right back to the mouse and keyboard, his posture straight like having his girl straddling him during a match was completely regular business.
you leaned in, pressing slow, deliberate kisses to his jaw, trailing down to the curve of his neck where his collarbone met his throat.
ârinâŠâ you murmured against his skin. âbaby⊠the game can wait, pleaseâ
âpush mid, now,â he ordered into the mic, his voice clipped, smooth, and completely ignoring your teasing.
ranâs laugh cracked through the comms. âbro, theyâre done for. this idiot just walked right into your trap.â
âyooo- rindou, you wiped the whole squad again?!â sanzu barked a laugh. âguess the haitani brothers really can multitask.â
you kissed his neck again, right over his warm skin, whispering, âjust look at me for a secondâŠâ your hands slid to his chest, fingers curling lightly into his skin, feeling the subtle flex of muscle beneath your touch.
his eyes stayed glued to the screen. âtwo more. clean it up,â he murmured, tracking the minimap. his thighs shifted beneath you, the movement making you rock ever so slightly against him, but his hands never left the setup.
ran and sanzu's voices overlapped, taunting the other team. âeasy win! we took the top spot again.â
rindou glanced at the scoreboard, his expression completely deadpan. âpathetic.â then, without missing a beat, he went right back to finishing the match, still refusing to give you the satisfaction of a real reaction.
but since he wouldnât give you his attention, you decided to take matters into your own hands.
you slid your hands up to his bare chest, feeling the heat radiating off him. your palms moved deliberately, tracing every contour before inching downward. your fingers curled around the waistband of his boxers, and with teasing patience, you slid your hand down, stroking the length pressed hard against the fabric.
rindou stiffened, a sharp, ragged breath escaping him. âhey, not now,â he said, his voice a little shaky as his hand reached down to weakly push your wrist away, âiâm still playing, baby.â
you smiled softly, watching his carefully built control completely unravel. his jaw clenched so hard the muscles jumped, but the dark flush rising on his neck gave him away. his usually sharp, competitive glare flickered into something dark, heavy, and vulnerable.
âfocus, rinnie. aren't you locked in, mmm?â you whispered, your fingers ghosting over him. âor are you about to take your first real loss tonight?â
he tried to retort with a snarky, âjesus, babe-â but the words caught in his throat, replaced by a breathy, âoh, fuckâŠâ that slipped out despite his best effort to stay cool in front of the guys.
you retracted your hand slowly and leaned in, your fingertips brushing his lower lip before gently tugging it down. âspit,â you commanded softly.
rindou hesitated for a fraction of a heartbeat, his dangerous gang executive aura melting away as he obediently let a small amount of saliva gather in his mouth before releasing it into your palm.
your hand dipped back inside his boxers, wrapping around his heat fully now. you started to stroke with purpose, your movements slow and rhythmic.
from across the game, ran smirked, definitely noticing the change in his brother's gameplay. âoi, rindou! youâre lagging! what's taking so long?â
âshut up!â rindou shot back, though his voice cracked just a bit too much to sound convincing. âiâm not lagging, moron.â
sanzu snickered, throwing playful, unhinged jabs. âhell, anyoneâd lose focus with a girl like that putting in work. let him cook, ran.â
rindou gritted his teeth, his knuckles turning white on the mouse, but he couldnât hide the dark flush creeping across his face. âfocus on the game, you idiots.â
you pressed your hand a little harder, slicking the length of him, eliciting a low, almost inaudible groan from deep in his throat. he swallowed hard, attempting to maintain his composure, but it was clear he was completely losing it.
ran shook his head with a grin. âsure, sure. you keep telling yourself you're fine, rin-rin.â
rindou glanced up at you, his eyes narrowing, dark with a promise of absolute trouble. âconsider yourself wrecked after this. good luck walking out of this room tomorrow.â
you smirked, your fingers never stopping their slow, agonizing pace. âoh, i think youâre enjoying this way more than youâre letting on, rinnie.â
rindouâs lips twitched in a reluctant smile as he tried to focus back on the screen, but the tension in his body betrayed him.every muscle taut, every breath shallow and uneven.
suddenly, rindouâs eyes snapped away from the screen entirely, the word bursting out before he could stop it. âfuck!â he violently yanked off his gaming headphones, slamming them onto the desk. the sudden silence in the room was deafening.
without a word, he stood up, his gaze locked on you with a fierce, starved hunger. your legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, arms winding around his neck as he pulled you closer against his chest.
he grabbed you with a rough, delinquent urgency and practically slammed you down onto his gaming table, your ass nearly crashing into the keyboard and his crumpled gang uniform jacket scattered near the gear. your back pressed hard against the edge of his glowing computer tower, the heat between you instantly electric.
his hands slid down your sides, dipping under the waistband of your panties. with a swift, careless pull, he ripped them down your thighs as his cock instantly found its place against you, hard, demanding, and slick.
he grasped your thighs firmly, bruising your skin as he pulled them forward just enough for you to take him whole. his breath hitched, his voice low, guttural, and dripping with raw desire. âyou wanted this so bad, huh? can't fucking wait? now fucking take it.â
the sound of your breath hitched as rindou thrust into you, hard and fast, driving you against the edge of the gaming table. his hands gripped your hips with a fierce, territorial possessiveness, his hips snapping relentlessly.
âfuck, you feel so good baby,â he growled, his voice rough and completely unrefined as he buried himself deeper. your nails dug into his bare shoulders, matching his violent intensity with desperate moans spilling from your lips.
rindouâs breath came in ragged pants, his hair's a mess as his lips parted against your skin, whispering,â âyou wanted my attention so bad, didn't you? now don't you dare close your eyes while i fucking ruin you.â
hus movements quickened, his hips slamming mercilessly, the desk rattling beneath the weight of his aggression. your moans mixed with his low, heavy groans, the tension spiraling completely out of control.
suddenly, a muffled voice cut through the haze from the discarded headset on the desk. ârindou?â
sanzu chimed in, âyo, man, whyâd you gotta leave the match like that? weâre down by two. don't tell me you bit it.â
âbro, letâs just finish it without him. he's busy,â ran responded, laughing.
the boysâ laughter and chatter faded into the background as rindouâs grip tightened. he growled against your neck, biting the skin. âignore them. youâre mine right now.â
your moans grew louder, matching his aggressive thrusts, the two of you lost in a wild, urgent rhythm while the rest of the team continued the match without him.
âi donât like you ignoring me like that,â you gasped breathlessly, your hands sliding up to find his face, fingers gently caressing his cheeks.
without warning, rindou captured your lips in a possessive and silencing kiss, so intense it drove you back until your spine hit the cold, hard edge of the computer tower. the sharp contrast of the cold metal only made the fire between you burn hotter.
rindouâs hips stuttered for a fraction of a second, then snapped deeper, driving you closer to the absolute edge. your breath hitched and your hands gripped his shoulders tight, nails digging into his skin as pleasure burned through you.
âoh shit⊠keep going, baby,â you moaned, your voice trembling with pure need. ât-thatâs so good, rin.â
he smirked against your neck, hearing every desperate, broken sound you made. his hands slid up to your face, his fingers spreading wide to cup your cheeks firmly, his thumbs pressing into your skin, squishing your face in a rough, dominant hold that was so uniquely him.
âyou were looking so pretty for sanzu earlier, right?â he growled low, eyes dark with a dangerous promise. âletâs see if he can save you when i completely break you right here.â
the words sent a violent shiver through you as your body tensed, your release crashing over you in waves. rindou didnât slow down, didnât give you a second to breathe. his cock kept thrusting relentlessly, riding out your climax like he was feeding off your every desperate moan.
your hands scrambled for support, palms flattening against the gaming table. one slipped, your fingers accidentally pressing down hard on the mechanical keyboard, a string of random key clicks echoing loudly in the background. the monitor flickered with chaotic inputs, but rindou didnât even glance at it, too locked in on making you come.
âpretty sure the boys just figured out exactly why i left the game,â he hissed, his grip on your cheeks tightening as if to permanently mark you. âbet they can hear every damn thing right now.â
little did you know, when your hand slammed against the keyboard, it had done more than mash random keys. one of the macro shortcuts had switched rindouâs camera right back on.
the stream lit up with a perfectly clear view of your back arched toward the monitor, arms bracing yourself against the table, rindouâs lean, toned figure moving behind you with sharp, relentless, and unforgiving thrusts.
you were too far gone to notice until a sudden, loud voice from the headset speakers cut through the haze.
âholy shit, rindouâŠâ sanzuâs voice rasped through the speakers, a slow, completely thrilled laugh slipping out. âyou fucking greedy bastard. keeping that all to yourself, huh?â
rindou let out a groan, his fingers digging into your hips so hard his knuckles turned white as he rode out the final moments of his control.
âkeep your fucking mouth shut, sanzu,â rindou growled into the mic. âdon't stop moaning, baby. let that bastard hear exactly whoâs inside you right now.â
hello!!, wondering if i can order a mocha with juraj slafkovsky, peppermint (roommates to lovers) and vanilla syrup (maybe some oral m receiving)
hi! i hope the ending of this isn't too much of a blue ball but it was a perfect place to stop (i'm going to dinner with the fam)
âSlaf!â you shout from the entryway, bothered and annoyed by your roommateâs inability to pull his weight around the apartment. You asked him this morning to take the trash down the hall to the chute and itâs still sitting by the front door when you returned from work.Â
âWhat?â His voice returns, calling to you from down the hall. Heâs in his bedroom, probably on his stupid game with his Slovak friends. Maybe heâs watching Worlds. You have no idea, but he needs to take this garbage out before you untie the bag and dump it in his room.
âCome take the trash out, you lazy ass!â You throw your bag down and kick off your shoes, a deep frown etched onto your face. Youâre ready to confront Juraj the second he steps into your eyeline. This isnât the first time heâs skirted on his responsibilities and it wonât be the last. Youâre fed up, even though you know thereâs more to come.
âHa,â you hear him laugh. âIâm in the middle of something.â
âI donât care,â you reply. âCome do this. You had all day to. Iâm not your mother, Iâm tired of reminding you.â
âGet stuffed,â Juraj jokes from far away.Â
You know heâs joking, but here you are, seeing red. You stomp into his bedroom and put both hands on the back of his wheeled desk chair, dragging him backwards until you both have left his room and made it to the scene of the crime. âTake it out,â you tell him again.
âOh, suck my nuts,â Juraj says. Itâs one of your roommate sayings, one of the ones that doesnât make sense but still acts like an inside joke for the pair of you. Thatâs fine, but he waves you off and that makes you even angrier than you were.
In a split second, you make an irreversible decision. You spin Slaf around in his chair and drop to your knees, hands gathering your hair and tying it up. âIs that what itâll take to get you to do your fucking share of work around here?â you demand, watching him blink at you and recoil slightly due to the shock of your movements. âDo I have to give you a fucking blowjob to get my way? Are you that unmotivated? Is your life that sad?â
âMy life isnât sad,â Juraj fights back. âItâs offseason. I do nothing all day. Thatâs the point.â
âWell, you share a home with me,â you tell him. âIâm not going to pick up after you like a maid.â
âWell, then, the least you can do is give me head, if you wonât let me relax,â Juraj says. His words are biting, but you can see a flicker of excitement in his pupils.Â
You almost growl as you tug his shorts down and grasp his cock, stroking him dry and uncomfortably. If this is what he wants in exchange for doing chores around the house, then this is what heâll get, but you wonât give one thought to his pleasure. This is purely transactional, you decide as you bring your mouth down on his tip and take him deep.Â
His cock isnât wholly erect, still just coming to terms with the fact that itâs getting attention, and youâre able to fit his length completely in your mouth because of it. You hum around him, feeling him grow harder on your tongue, and you roll his balls in your palm.
The blowjob is quick and messy and youâre almost certain that Juraj is too caught up in the stimulation to realize the gravity of whatâs happening. You barely realize it yourself. Youâre roommates and now youâve got his cock in your mouth, his head thrown back like heâs enjoying the way you tongue over his slit, and thereâs some distinct dampness in your panties.Â
You bob your head and stroke his length, spitting on his tip and watching the saliva run down his member before wrapping your fist around his shaft and rubbing it in. You can feel your touch move more smoothly the more he spurts precum and the more you slobber around him, but youâve got a one track mind. Youâre going to make Slaf come and then heâs going to take out the trash on his wobbly legs.
You dive back down between his legs, his precum seeping into your tastebuds and tip meeting the back of your throat when you take him as far as he can go. You swallow around him, gagging and drooling and listening to the choked noises that come from his mouth. His hips twitch up into your mouth like he wants to fuck it, but thatâs not what youâre doing here. Youâre in charge. Youâre doing this so that you can make him do what you want. He doesnât get to fuck your mouth, not when there are tasks to be done.
The tantalizing intrigue caused by his quivering thighs has to be pushed to the side, too. You have to file away the fact that you like seeing Slaf fall apart under your touch. Itâs a thought for another dayâ another time you have to convince him to complete his work before you return home.
WARNING: this fanfiction will contain mature scenes, violence, and coarse language.
word count: 1.6k, a short set-up chapter. enjoy!
if you enjoy this fanfiction, please don't forget to interact.
CHAPTER ONE: ONE SHOT, ONE KILL.
Grace McCarron loved the smell of coffee. Especially in the early mornings when the sun hadnât risen and the streets were still wet with last nightâs rain. It irked her though, how people could be so loud at such an early hour. Couldnât people just be quiet? Talk at a normal volume, it was only the hour of six.Â
The blondeâs fingers rap against the counter in a steady rhythm. Her expression reads neutral as she watches the customers enjoying their breakfasts, discussing work projects and gossip. It was all so mundane, every word they said was capable of drawing a yawn from her lips. Nobody is interesting this morning.
With a sigh, Grace reaches under the counter for the remote, flicking on the television in the corner. Her head tilts, blue eyes sparkling with intense focus at the headline written across the lower third of the screen.Â
Manfred Fest assassinated.
Graceâs eyes narrow, something interesting. Her attention is only being drawn away by the sound of a customer waiting to order. A young woman, brunette, sheâd be mid-twenties.Â
âItâs horrible isnât it?â The woman says.
âIâm on the fence,â Grace admits. âWhat can I get for you?â
âA latte, please⊠You donât think itâs bad?â
âThat a fascist offended somebody and got himself killed? Not really.â Grace presses the coffee, clicking it into the machine before foaming the milk. With practised expertise, she fills a takeaway cup with the espresso and milk, creating lines of art on the top.Â
âI donât know much about foreign politics,â the woman taps her card.
âTake it from me, be glad he wonât be the new German Chancellor.â
Graceâs attention is brought back to the screen as the customer walks away with her latte. A single sniper shot from a distance of over three kilometres. Impressive. More than. The corners of her lips tilt into a small grin, leaning back onto the counter with crossed arms, she watches the news report.
It had started raining again, like it usually did in London. The sound of tires driving over the slick roads was comforting to Grace. Red brake lights reflected in the puddles by the footpath, headlights and street lamps casting a warm hue despite the darkening sky. She loved the rain, the sound of it pattering against whatever surface. However, it did make it hard to get a decent line of sight. Her lips quirked slightly, a lover of challenge. One blue eye closed, a glint of thrill in the other as it stared through the scope of a personalised sniper rifle.Â
Sleeping with the blinds open, Grace could never understand it, but it certainly helped her in this case. The target laid across his bed, his thumb scrolling across the screen of his phone. The lights in his apartment were on, everything visible. He was so stupidly vulnerable. She couldâve shot six times over by now, but would there be any fun in that? Her finger taps against the trigger as she recalls the deviance of the sleazy man. The world would be better off without him.
BANG. One shot, one kill.
Grace pulls her head back from the sniper, standing up, she starts to pack down the rifle. Her eyes donât leave the window of the now-deceased target as she unscrews the barrel, packing it all into a case. She hurries downstairs, unlocking her car and driving off swiftly. Chances are nobody would find him until morning, but it is still safer to get away as quickly as possible.
The internet cafe was practically dead at this hour, a lone stranger or two. It had started to rain outside again, Grace could hear it on the roof, see it on the windows. It was also a Wednesday, unlikely that it would be busy. She plugs a USB into one of the many PCs, accessing Dark Core.
Access Chatroom:
Username: xxxfOxTROT22971x$
Password: ************
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___ job complete.
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___he will not bother you anymore.
FPOxENT779X___thank you.
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___yes.
CRTVDSTRYR*1908 one new message.
CRTVDSTRYR*1908___Big admirers of your work. Have project we think will interest you. Superlative remuneration.
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___i donât work for money.
CRTVDSTRYR*1908___What do you work for?
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___enforcement of consequence.
CRTVDSTRYR*1908___There is a man who needs to face consequences.
CRTVDSTRYR*1908___Canât talk here.
CRTVDSTRYR*1908___Will you meet in person?
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___where?
Grace sits back in her seat, her finger traces her bottom lip as she waits for a response. This was an odd one, but they seem insistent. For them to know of her work, they had to have communication with sources she had helped in the past.
CRTVDSTRYR*1908___Will make a transfer of good will. Location attached.
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___tomorrow morning.
Logout.
A sum of $10,000 has been transferred to your account.
A transfer message has been left.
Grace shuts down the computer, taking out the USB, she packs it into her handbag. Her lips quirk as she exits the internet cafe. Something new, something interesting, a potential challenge. This calls for a stop at that delicious dessert bar down the road from her apartment, a nice meringue or maybe some ice cream would do.
For once the sun was out in London, albeit only slightly, but it did still make Grace look less ridiculous for wearing a cap and sunglasses. She notices a woman sitting on the park bench, must be her. Her black coat flutters behind her in the wind as she sits beside the other woman.
âWho are you?â Grace asks.
âIrish?â The woman responds with a question.
âAnd youâre American.â
âYes.â
âWhy am I here?â Grace leans back against the park bench, crossing her legs. âWhat did he do? Was it assault, did he hurt the kidsâŠ?â
âUlle Dag Charles.â
âUDC⊠the River man?âÂ
âYes,â She answers.
âI donât see how exposing the rich is a crime,â Grace grins. âPlease donât tell me youâve wasted my time.â
âIf he releases River, itâs not just the rich who fall. All secret networks will be exposed, youâll be discovered.â The woman turns to face Grace, trying to get a look at her expression. She quickly realises itâs impossible with the cap and the darkly tinted glasses. âYouâll go to prison for a long time.â
âIf thatâs the case, hidden networks of paedophiles, rapists⊠it will all be exposed. You think theyâll go after little old me?â
âI think even after exposing the rich, theyâll still have the power, and theyâll still be protected.â
âYouâre very insistent,â Grace observes. âWhy me?â
âBecause you always get the job done.â
Sighing, Grace looks up at the cloudy sky, the sun peaking out slightly. She sucks in a breath of the fresh park air before responding. âThis job is a bit harder than the othersâŠâ
âWhich is why weâve hired a second⊠professional, such as yourself.â
âFirst, you ask me to eliminate a man for wanting to expose the rich, and now you tell me Iâd have to work with another person?â
There is a silence that passes momentarily between the two women as they stare each other down.
âRiver is good for nobody. You will go to prison.â
âNo, I wonât.â Grace smirks knowingly. âWho is the other person?â
âHe is one of the best, alongside yourself.â
âWho is he?â
âI donât know his identityâŠâ She answers. âHe took out Fest.â
âAh.â Graceâs lips immediately quick upwards, a grin taking over her expression. She stands up, hands in pockets, she stares down at the woman still sitting. âAnd what do they call you?â
âZina.â
âZina⊠I donât kill innocent men. Give me one good reason to take this job, and not because of River.â
â...â The American woman sits there contemplating for a moment, her mind working a million miles an hour. âYou donât have to take the shot. We need you to⊠babysit.â
Grace lets out a loud chuckle, âbabysit?â
âIt seems our other hire is caught up in a few⊠troubles after the fest situation. We need you to ensure he gets the job done, and if he fails to, you step in and finish it.â
âWell⊠letâs hope he doesnât fail.â
âIs that a yes to the job?â Zina sits up straight.
âHe is aware, I assume?â
âHe will be made aware.â
âGet me in contact,â Grace turns around and walks away, her coat once again billowing behind her.
It was another early morning, three days after Graceâs meeting with Zina. She sat behind the counter at the cafe, it was a very quiet morning. A Sunday morning, not many were up and about. She opened her laptop, plugging in her USB.
Access Chatroom:
Username: xxxfOxTROT22971x$
Password: ************
**&525marTinGuerrE^$___who are you?
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___should i not be asking you?
**&525marTinGuerrE^$___i do not need babysitting.
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___ah.
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___the other âprofessionalâ
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___nice shot.
**&525marTinGuerrE^$___refuse the job.
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___i donât think i will.
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___i get bored sometimes.
**&525marTinGuerrE^$___then stay out of the way.
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___i do the job iâm hired for.
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___donât get into trouble, and i wonât have to step in and clean it up.
**&525marTinGuerrE^$___i donât need anybody to clean up.
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___a little birdy told me otherwise.
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___i am not the enemy.
**&525marTinGuerrE^$___i donât work in teams.
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___there is a first time for everything.
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___iâm not here to steal your job.
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___iâm here to cover your ass so you can get it done.
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___you said you donât work in teams, that means you have no connections.
xxxfOxTROT22971x$___you will fuck up, you will go to jail.
**&525marTinGuerrE^$___Munich.
**&525marTinGuerrE^$___i will send the hotel details.
You'd learned to listen for that black note of quiet danger in his voice long ago when you had first joined the Dregs, a fifteen year old girl from the higher area of Ketterdam. He'd called you a merchling then, shot sarcastic retorts at every single remark of yours. You weren't deadly, you weren't rough enough, you weren't one of them, he'd told you then. He'd shook his head every time you tripped, every time you fell behind the rest of the gang, everytime you apologised for being too slow, for not being experienced enough. He'd seen your kindness as a deception, one he experienced everytime you brought him coffee or included him in a conversation. He hadn't known why you did it, but he'd feigned nonchalance and ignored you as best as he could.
Two years, and the Barrel still hadn't stolen that caring part out of you. No matter how many mansions you'd broken into, no matter how many times you'd carried yourself back into your room at the Slat after university classes, a job, an afterparty, exhausted, dark circles under your eyes and a hand clutching the bandage under your shirt, you'd still get up and make coffee for everyone, fret over their hangovers, make them breakfast. He hated that about you, how you put everyone else first. He hated how you'd never tell him if you were in pain, if everything was falling apart. But then again; he hadn't exactly been a perfect confidante either. He'd never given you reason to trust him. With every sarcastic remark, every snide word, he'd chipped away at your trust until you'd learned to stay away. And that was good for him. It gave him less reason to worry, less reason for the gangs to catch onto his weakness. The further you strayed from him, the better off you'd be.
"I'm fine. The others got away. We got the loot." You breathed out, one hand clutched over the knife gash on your stomach. It was lucky enough that the two of you had managed to escape from the Stadwatch, but a new gang had started up on the edge of the Barrel, one which specified in knife throwing, and their aim was good. They'd gotten you while Kaz and you were looking for one of the more subtle hideouts. Now that you were here, it wasn't as welcoming as it had sounded while the two of you were running, albeit staggering to it, but it was something, at least.
Broken bricks lined the perimeter of the abandoned warehouse, boarded up windows and graffiti adorning the walls. There were dusty divans and a few arm chairs that missed springs, but it was good enough for you. Your mood distinctly improved when you noticed the broken cupboard stocked with dry biscuits and a few three in one coffee packets. The very prospect of it might have sent fifteen year old you into a disgusted thought spiral, but you were starving, and anything sounded good right now.
"It's not them I'm worried about, (name)." You heard the smooth thud of his cane hitting the concrete floor, his slightly asymmetrical steps approaching you. You barely had time to look up before you felt his gloved hand on your shoulder, fingers brushing your coat aside.
"I know they can take care of themselves. You, on the other hand..." He continued, ignoring your look as he proceeded to glance over your wound, letting out an annoyed scoff as you squirmed.
"Hold still." His voice is clipped, brisk as he leans down beside you, gloved fingers peeling back the torn fabric around your wound. His touch is featherlight, the only sensation you can feel cool, expensive leather. For a moment, there's only silence as he stares at the knife embedded in the side of your abdomen, the scars and smooth skin around it. Despite who he is, you wonder if Kaz is in disbelief. He pauses for a bit, shooting you an almost begrudging glare, then sets to work.
The warehouse is dim, lit only by the weak glow seeping through the gaps in the high windows. Every movement of his is precise as he rummages through the supplies he took off some unsuspecting fool earlier. His hands are steady. Yours are not.
"This is the third time this month."
He dabs at the wound, albeit an aperture, left behind when he'd pulled out the dagger, a little rougher than necessary, making you wince and bite your fist to keep down a whimper.
"You think getting yourself killed, putting yourself in harm's way makes you look tough, doesn't it? I don't know why I bother."
But he always does, and he always will. Thatâs the problem.
His gaze flicks up, sharp and assessing, searching your face for signs of pain you wonât admit to. His dark eyes meet yourself, the color of rich coffee. You wonder how they look in the sunlight.
He clicks his tongue in irritation when you flinch.
"You think this makes you brave?" His voice drops lower, quieter, but no less biting. You wince again, but this time not from the pain. It hurts. He hurts you, but you know he means well. But then again, you've never been a good judge of character. After all, you had once believed that your parents loved you, would never hurt you. Maybe it was the same with him. Maybe all these years, you'd just been chasing after a dream that would never come true, a gentle touch, a kind word that you'd never receive. It was just like you- begging to be hurt, to be tortured, then smiling and thanking the people who hurt you.
And yet heâs still here, bandaging you up, making sure youâre not bleeding out on the cold warehouse floor.
Maybe he's just giving you the amount of care that is deserved by an old acquaintance, even an old friend. He'd probably do the same for Wylan or Nina or Jesper. He'd do more for Inej, or even that Imogen, but not you.
His fingers still for a fraction of a second against your skinâbarely noticeableâbefore he pulls away and adjusts his gloves.
"Don't move." He says, moving to the cupboard and setting out a pack of dry cod and biscuits, then settling a flask of water into your hand. "Warm this up for me while I check the perimeter."
You rolled your eyes as he turned his back. He'd never asked you to use your Inferni powers thus far, and you'd only used your Healing to heal any of the Crows or some of the Dregs. He knew what you'd gone through, and in that aspect, he was kind.
"Kaz, wait." Your tongue slipped, and what you'd been thinking came tumbling out like a waterfall of words before you realised. "Why do you hate me?"
Immediately, you cringed. Such a horrible, horrible question- It'd better befit some simpering, darling Kerch girl than you. You were supposed to be titanium, to not care or yield. To be soft to only those who were soft to you. You certainly didn't go around asking people why they hated you. Nonetheless, your eyes settled on his turned back, waiting for a turn, a response, a physical motion- anything.
You'd be happy even if he turned around and cussed you out, even if he replied with something harsh and biting- you only needed an answer so you could move on. Two years pining, two years being basically ignored- it was too much for you.
You hadn't meant to say it. Not like this. Not with your voice breaking, your chest tight and aching. But the words had slipped out before you can stop them, raw and exposed, and you wait on the edge of an abyss, hurting like you'd never hurt before.
Kaz goes still. Not the kind of stillness that comes before he strikes, not the sharp calculation youâve seen a hundred times before. This is different. Like youâve caught him off guard, like the ground beneath him isnât quite steady. His hands twitch, curling into fists, and you notice that at some point, he'd taken off his gloves. His pale, slender fingers flex at his sides, unscathed but covered in your blood.
He doesnât answer.
You make yourself get up and hobble closer, desperate for something, anythingâsome kind of reaction, some kind of truth. But the second you move, his shoulders go rigid, like youâre a threat he doesnât know how to defend against.
"I don'tâ" His voice catches, and that alone is enough to steal the breath from your lungs. He never stumbles over his words. Never hesitates.
But now, he does.
A war is waging behind his eyes, but you don't know if he's fighting against you or himself. His jaw clenches, his throat works around something unsaid, and when he finally speaks, his voice is lower, rougher.
"You deserve better."
Itâs a deflection, not an answer. But you hear what he isnât saying, what heâs never said.
I donât hate you.
I never could.
But I canât be what you need.
And you can't be what I need.
And maybe that hurts more than hatred ever could.
***
After that moment in the warehouse, you began to speak to him less. After all, why would you speak to someone who'd told you in no unclear terms to stay away?
You knew very well what he'd meant to say- I'm not good enough, but neither are you- we'll never be enough for each other.
Those words kept replaying in your head as you threw yourself back into your university classes, dousing yourself in extra credit work and essays, sipping a meagre black coffee between classes which you'd never felt the need to drink before, grabbing a bite of something or other at the end of the day. You'd begun avoiding the Crow Club and the Slat, declining the Crows' calls, refusing jobs and pleading illnesses and clashing classes. You couldn't bear to look at Kaz again.
A week passed, then two. The calls from the Crows never stopped, but they became less frequent; perhaps they'd caught on to you and Kaz. You'd known that they'd known, but it still stung, them knowing that you had begun avoiding them only because of Kaz's wrongdoings. You missed them, you did, but you knew that going to the Slat meant running into Kaz, and you didn't think you could bear meeting those dark coffee eyes again. You looked in the mirror and all you saw was insignificance, dark circles, wan skin. The depth of his refusal.
"You've been out of it for weeks."
Your head snapped up as you felt a calm hand on your shoulder. It was your friend, Saige, her warm green eyes settled on yours. You shrugged, neck and back aching from the hunched position you'd been settled in since noon.
"I'm finishing the assignment. That's all." You replied, tapping another calculation into your calculator.
Saige paused, eyes flitting over your face. The two of you, along with your current friend group, had been friends for almost four years, and you trusted them with all your heart- the only secret you'd ever kept from them was Kaz. You'd never fallen in love until him, believing love didn't exist, abiding by some unspoken rule: don't love, don't break. But he had a habit of dragging you in like a wave into a rocky shore. Too bad you'd evaporated on those very rocks you'd first found appealing.
"You're lying, and you know it." She bops your nose, drawing a tired laugh out of you. "Tell me."
"I won't, because you'll make fun of me or something." You whined, settling down the calculator. You knew she would, but she'd also comfort you, then start her psychoanalysis. You didn't think you wanted to hear that you were attracted to emo gang leader cripples because of your traumatic past. After all, you already knew that.
"I'm not." She replied sagely, moving your books to the side. "I'm not going to laugh. Tell me."
You didn't know what went on in your head, but you told her, all of it. It spilled out like blood from an artery, a fountain of words. The two of you sat there for an hour as you talked and talked and talked. You told her everything you'd never told anyone before- why and how'd you'd joined the Dregs, how you'd been going on jobs with them since you were 15, your friends there, the Ice Court heist, the chaos afterwards, your strange attraction to Kaz. She listened, nodded once in a while and at the end, let out a long breath.
"I'm going to kill him."
"No!" You scrambled. "It's not his fault, it's not-"
"The first time you fall for someone and he breaks your heart?" Saige looked vindicated. "I'm breaking that cripple's other leg, and then, I'll break his third leg too."
You only stared, then burst into laughter- probably the first time you'd really laughed this month.
"No need for that." You replied, sighing and tapping your phone with one hand. "I'm trying to move on."
Saige ran a hand through her dyed violet hair, lost in thought. "Yeah. You do that, and then I can psycho-analyse you all I want."
You giggled. "Sure."
The two of you talked for a while, then parted ways when she had another class. You lay back in bed, scrolling through your new messages.
Nine from Nina. Seven each from Inej and Jesper. Five from Wylan. Three from Matthias. Your fingers itched to write a reply, but you stopped yourself. Better to stay away, to cut ties. Easier for your heart.
None from Kaz.
It kind of broke your heart.
You mumbled a curse under your breath and moved on. It was better, really, to let him go. He didn't seem the type to marry, to settle down, to have kids and a family, to get you flowers. The only gifts you'd gotten from him were appreciative nods and switchblades and quiet nights by his office's window, sharing a few words but never touching, always on opposite sides of the room. And a few sarcastic compliments, maybe. That was all.
New message from â ïž Kaz â ïž
You dropped your phone on the floor.
You gaped at the glowing screen. It contained a single sentence, alarming in its hostility, in its suddenness, in its confidence.
â ïžKazâ ïž: I need you here for a job. Now.
Fuck you, bastard, you thought in sudden anger, picking your phone up and trying to ignore the pang in your chest. I could live a thousand years and still not understand how your mind works.
Your blood boiled at his shenanigans, that piece of shit. You typed furiously-
->you emo piece of shit, you demjin, your hair looks like it hasn't been washed in decades, you look like a dying Victorian child who swallowed shit, your parents probably found you drowning in a septic tank as a baby, and you probably carry 200 different kind of STDs. I don't know how you'd get them though, with that đđđđđđ haphephobia shit you have going on.
You finished typing and sighed, falling back onto your bed, heart giving a painful twinge. You knew you'd curse his name, but you'd still crawl back to him. Bastard of the Barrel. Dirtyhands. He had your little heart clutched in those leather gloves.
***
"You'll never find love." Your mother had told you one cruel winter night in Fjerda, the whole family by the elaborate fireplace. The maids had just served cocoa and your hands were occupied with that. "Every bad thing that happens to you is deserved. Demjin. A devil. A homewrecker. You broke up my marriage with your father and now you're trying to break up this one, too. Learn something from your step sisters. Or maybe just stay away."
Your brother'd looked at you, eyes flitting, but you'd said nothing. The next day you'd left for Ketterdam, for your college. It was hard, staying away. But ever since your mother had started to introduce your step sisters as her only daughters, it'd been easier. Easier when her calls stopped. Easier when she told your brother to stop talking to you. Easier when you met Kaz.
You still sent them cards for every holiday. That silly, simpering heart was what brought you to the Barrel now. Clad in a black corset dress and knee high boots, you figured you could at least go out in style. Maybe you'd even punch him once. Would he let you do that? You had no idea.
They'd changed the locks on the Slat's windows months before, and you'd forgotten your keys. Failing to get a response at the door, you knocked once, twice on Nina's window, ensuring your feet were still on the ledge that you'd climbed so precariously and that your makeup was pristine. You were no Inej, but ledges were nothing to you. Easy, easy, because Ketterdam was forever mildewy. You stepped onto the loose brick and grabbed the window sill.
The curtains were open. You peeked in and saw something you shouldn't have. Not something that inappropriate, but deep down, you were still Fjerdan, and Fjerdans shied away at kissing scenes, let alone touchy feely makeouts in beds.
Good for them, you guessed as you refrained a shriek. No, no, please don't take it off- please-
You thanked Djel as Matthias and Nina's head shot up towards the window, where you awkwardly waved at them, cheeks burning. Nina shrieked and rushed towards the window, opening it instantly.
"(Name)!!" Nina cried, pulling you through the window with as much care as she could in her addled state. "On all the Saints, what?! Where have you been?"
"Places." You said meekly, returning Matthias's warm nod as Nina pulled you into a tight hug. He'd always treated you like a sister, on account of both of you being Fjerdan. And you supposed you were more polite than most of the Crows at first meeting. And Nina and you...well, you two were just differently bonded.
"You can't just...disappear and then come back and say "places"!!" Nina shrieked at you, clutching your shoulders and pushing you onto a chair. "I want an hour long explanation, right now. But first, you need to meet everyone. We've been going insane, and you know giving space isn't our thing."
You sighed, trying to think of something, focusing your eyes elsewhere as Nina righted her clothes and Matthias rebuttoned his shirt.
"I'll tell you later. It's just...university."
Before Nina or Matthias could protest, you stepped up and out of the room, murmuring promises of explaining.
First, you had to find Kaz.
Secondly, you had to kill him.
Very easy, you thought as you opened and shut doors, earning shouts of "she's back!!" from random Dregs. You shot smiles their way and started to go up the stairs, eyes fixed on the unfinished wood. You missed him. Saints, you missed him so damn much. And you hated him so much, too.
You were about to step on that one stair that creaked when you heard a door opening and found yourself shoe to shoe with a pair of black boots and the telltale thud of a cane.
Think of the Devil and he appears.
(Name.)
(Name, you're too gullible for this. You're too good for him.)
"Firstly, I-"
"Where have you been?" He hissed. You didn't meet his eyes, grabbing his collar but not missing the jerk he gave. That fear. Always there. When would he really trust you?
"I hate you, Brekker." You spat. "And I always will. Thatâs all I came here to say."
You met his eyes. He met yours. Your arm brown eyes against his shark-like ones.
"That's for the best," he said dismissively, already turning away.
Deep down, you knew he was right. But you couldnât leave it like thatânot without the last word. A stubborn Fjerdan flaw, maybe. Or maybe just your heart refusing to go quietly.
âBut Iâll probably always love you too, you bastard.â
He froze. Just for a second. Then his eyes met yoursâno longer cold, no longer indifferent. There was something else there now. Something raw.
He opened his mouth as if to speakâ
But then he turned and the door slammed shut behind him. Gone again.
Honestly, you werenât even that excited to go out the night of your birthday. The whole "celebrating yourself" notion just dropped your stomach. Still, they all insisted, and well, that was maybe the beginning of Korean BBQ, loud laughter, and soju bottles scattered on the table before the first piece of meat went onto the grill.
You were halfway through pouring when somebody came up.
âHi, Iâm Mingyu. Iâll be taking care of you guys tonight,â and wow. That tall height, those dimples. Forearms and rolled sleeves. Very dangerous. âI heard itâs someoneâs birthday?â
You gave him a half-wave as your friends all pointed at you as if you had committed some hideous crime.
The guy smiled. âHappy birthday. Would you mind if I took over the grill for you tonight?â
You blinked. âOhâno, you donât have to, we canââ
âNah, I got it,â he said, picking up the tongs like he had been doing this forever. âBirthday rule. No cooking.â
You glanced at your friends, who all gave you this lookâcute guy grilling for you, do not mess this up.
And yes, he was CUTE. Not in that kind of cute that said he should be modeling, but really cute: warm, open kind of cute, with easy smiles and a teasing energy. Every time he checked in, it felt like he genuinely wanted to know how you were doing.
âAre you doing okay?â he asked quietly, flipping the pork belly, just low enough to cut through the chaos at the table.
You nodded. âBetter, honestly.â
He laughed. âGood answer.â
He kept coming back. Not in an annoying wayâjust enough to feel intentional.
More meat. More side dishes. One too many stares that lasted a beat too long. At some point, you stopped pretending you weren't looking at him.
After clearing the plates, he said, "Be right back with something sweet. You're not getting out of here without birthday dessert."
He appeared again with a little dish of vanilla ice cream addressed to you, a napkin tucked underneath. You raised a single brow in question, he shot you a grin, and was gone again.
You pulled the napkin out.
"Hope I didn't burn anything. Happy birthday. Wanna grab a drink sometime? -Mingyu"
You stared at it for a second before raising your head. He was standing by the bar pretending not to stare your way-well, really bad at it.
Your friends immediately caught on and began losing it.
You couldn't help but laugh.
When he returned with the check, you slid the napkin back to him, this time with your number written on the other side.
"Only if you're still down to grill next time."
His smile was brighter than anything in that restaurant.
Genre: fluff /romance âžâž Content: est relationship, yapper wonu, mentions of alcohol and a half drunk wonu âžâž Notes: i firmly believe that wonwoo IS a yapper. Argue w the wall if u disagree. âžâž Wc: 500+
áŻâ There are things that other people don't know about you and your boyfriendâwonwooâbehind the closed doors. but it's a little secret between you two that no one knows.
âYou must be the talker in your relationship y/n.â
Your friend mused. You and Wonwoo decided to attend her wedding anniversary, with Wonwoo chatting with his friends while you sat on one of the stoolsâwatching him with heart eyes.
âReally? What makes you think of that?â You laughed at her comment, some people might be offended at her statement but not you. Because you know something she doesn't.
âWell, he seems like a calm person who would just sit there, listening to you, y'know what i mean but it's cute!â she explained, it's true though. By taking a glance at him, people can tell that Wonwoo is indeed a good listener.
âMhmm⊠i agree, he's that type of personâ you hummed and grabbed a few more drinks to enjoy the night.
As if you didn't lied just now.
After a few minutes of chatting with your friend, you suddenly felt a pair of arms sneak on your waist, chin on your shoulder. You don't even need to turn around, because you know that it's your beloved Wonwoo. Who's intoxicated with alcohol, he must've been enjoying his time with Mingyu and the others.
âLove⊠can we go home now?â He murmured against your skin that you can barely pick it up, but you knew him by heart so you quickly understood what he's saying.
Your hand automatically ruffled his hair causing him to huff playfully, you laugh at his cuteness before looking at your friend with an apologetic smile and bid your goodbye to her and to Wonwoo's friends.
Walking arm in arm, both of you made your way to your shared apartment that's just a block away from your friends house.
The silence was comforting, the soft humming coming from Wonwoo makes you feel relaxed and safe that he's right there with you.
You can't help but recall the conversation you and your friend had. A part of you feels guilty for not telling the truth but it's not necessary anyway.
âDid you know⊠Mingyu told me a lot of funny experience he had when he's on vacation in cebuâŠâ You hear Wonwoo murmuring, followed by a giggle, while he recalls all of the stories Mingyu had told him.
He looks so cute like this; messy hair and a light pink shade dusting his cheeks, and his smile reaching his earsâlooking like the most beautiful man you've ever seen.
âOh really? Tell me about itâ you intriguedâyouâll never get tired of hearing his voice.
âWe'll start off when he accidentallyâŠâ he drifted onto the story, you can tell he's really, really excited to tell you everything. You can see it, just the way he talks enthusiastically makes you realize thatâ
This is the Wonwoo you fell in love with.
âAnd then he even got chased by the dogsââ he rambled and so on, while you hummed, listening very intently and giggling every time he did.
Sometimes there are just things that people don't know behind closed doors. but sometimes, it's better to keep it a secret between you two.
feedbacks & reblogs r highly appreciated à° ââżâ à° DO NOT COPY/REPOST
âwonwoo,â you whisper, nudging his ankle with a sock-clad foot. âwonwoo, wake up.â
he grunts and mumbles something unintelligible, before his lips part and he lets out a soft snore. his hair is a messâprobably because he never seems to stay still when heâs asleep. you reach out and gently trail a finger down the bridge of his nose.
âwonwoo,â you try again. he shivers involuntarily. âbaby, darling, light of my life. sugarplum. rubber duck. love boat.â
âiâm going to break up with you if you call me that again,â your boyfriend finally says, opening his eyes and squinting at you. you grin. he sighs, though itâs not a weary sound. more fond than anything else. loving, in the way only jeon wonwoo is. âwhat do you want?â
you lean over him, elbow brushing over his chest, and try to switch on the lamp placed on the bedside table. fumbling for the switch, you flick it on and blink when the room floods with soft amber light. you kick the duvet off of wonwooâs legs, ignoring his startled huff.
moving back, you place both arms on either side of wonwooâs head and hook a leg over his waist. his hands come up to grip your sides. despite his sleepiness, he smiles up at youâa slow, lazy one, the kind he gives you when heâs happy and content. it brings a smile to your own face.
âi want ramen,â you say in response to his question. âiâm really hungry.â
âreally?âÂ
âreally.â you nod.
his thumb rubs circles on the part of your hip where your shirt is ridden up. âand you couldnât make it yourself?â
âyou make ramen better than i do.â
âitâs literally three steps,â wonwoo says, amused. âitâs packaged food. it tastes the same regardless of who makes it.â
âit tastes different,â you insist. âplease?âÂ
he laughs, chest rising with the movement. âokay, okay. if you say so.â
âthank you.â you bend down and kiss the corner of his mouth. âyouâre the best. iâm the luckiest person alive, i swear.â
âflattery gets you nowhere,â wonwoo says, but when you clamber off the bed, he follows you to the kitchen after grabbing his glasses.
and thereâs something so tender about this, so fragile, a delicate sort of thing that you will cherish and protect with your lifeâsomething special about cooking and eating ramen at midnight, specifically with him.Â
it tastes different.
authorâs note â wrote this because i was craving instant noodles last night at 2 am. unfortunately i did not have a jeon wonwoo to cook them for me & i didnât have any ramen left at home đ
As someone who cooks the most easiest dishes for others bcs "it tastes better when you do it".. I want this irl pls.. When will someone cook for me instead huehue
what about⊠seungcheol, suggestive prompt number 40 đŒđŒ
seungcheol and 40 sounds great hehe ;) thank you of course for requesting, hopefully you will like it! đ
suggestive prompt:
'yell at me again and i'll give you reason to scream.'
'i am this close,' you pinch your fingers together leaving a tiny space in between, 'to start throwing stuff at you. don't tempt me, seungcheol.'
normal man would've huffed and walked away. normal man would've apologized and tried to stop the fight. normal man would've tried to calm you down. but seungcheol is not normal, so he only goads you on with that goddamn smirk on his face: 'i'd like to see you try with your shitty aim.'
shout that you let out is almost not human. you grab whatever you can reach first - remote from tv - and fling it at him with the force that you didn't even know you possessed; it flies past his head and slams on the wall behind him. seungcheol turns back to check and huffs: 'you can't even break stuff, babe.'
you groan loudly. seungcheol starts coming close and you rush to the sofa, grabbing pillows from it and throwing them at him without any coordination, somehow hoping that this influx of pillows will stop him for reaching out. it obviously doesn't, but what it does is amuse him to no end. seungcheol is grinning like a madman by the time he reaches you, pinning you to the sofa with his whole body. 'are you done?' he questions, arching both eyebrows. 'there are no pillows left.'
'get off me,' you press, knowing that trying to push him away will not work. seungcheol doesn't listen though, only presses his body closer to yours. it wouldn't be the first time for your fights to end up in something less about fighting and more about fucking, but this time you're way too angry. 'i said get off me!'
your scream surprises both of you. you have this pact, this unspoken agreement that you two don't scream at each other under no circumstances. this is not what any of you is willing to tolerate and you know it, that's why this scream leaves you shocked as well. seungcheol stares at you, unblinking and you instantly deflate, embarrassed at this outburst. it's okay for you to shout or groan loudly but never at him.
'yell at me again and i'll give you reason to scream.' he mutters, eyes full of intent. you gulp and he softens just a little, gently reminding you: 'we don't scream at each other, baby. remember?'
you nod. 'yeah, i do. get off me now.'
he easily complies this time, giving you his hand to help you stand up as well. you both stare at each other in silence, breathing heavily before seungcheol whispers: 'let's go to bed.' at your quirked eyebrow he adds: 'not for that. to talk. but it can be for that too, if you want.'
'god,' you moan, hitting him lightly. 'you're such an idiot. i hate you.'
seungcheol grins, wrapping his arm around you and pulling you towards the bedroom. he kisses your head and smiles at the way you lean on him, tired of the fight. 'i know. you tried to kill me with the remote, afterall.'
synopsis: you patch up a boy with a bloody nose and bruised knuckles, only to find out that he has quite the sweet tooth.
authorâs note: why do i keep injuring hyuck in all my fics lmao??? anyways i tried to write his character a bit differently than i usually do to challenge myself so please let me know how you guys like it! also remember, ladies: this is fiction. you cannot fix him <3
warning(s): brief description of injuries, mentions of violence, maximum amounts of cringe and melodrama
playlist: all my ghosts by lizzy mcalpine â heart eyes by coin â close to you by gracie abrams â sidelines by phoebe bridgers â the alchemy by taylor swift
RECIPE 1. TIRAMISU
âThis is not what I meant when I said you need your back blown out.âÂ
âNot funny. I almost died,â you grumble as you wrap the back brace around your torso. You hate the immediate relief you feel from the support it provides, no longer able to tell yourself that itâs really not as bad as it seemsâwhich only makes you angrier.Â
âThrowing your back out while lifting a giant bag of flour and nearly getting crushed to death by said flour is genuinely the funniest fucking thing Iâve ever heard,â Yeri, your best friend (derogatory), snorts as she shakes her head. âI wish you had cameras in the storage room because I want to see that shit so bad.â
âThank you for the brace. You can get the hell out now.â You roll your eyes.Â
âSo, what are you going to do now? Arenât you swamped with orders?â Yeri asks, ignoring you completely.Â
You have no clue what youâre going to do now. It isnât just orders you have to worry about fulfilling; itâs also the freshly baked pastries that you have to sell every morning. After a year of blood, sweat, and tears, the bakery that you built from the ground up is finally starting to gain some stable business. So, of course, you chose now of all times to try to lift a bag of flour over your shoulder like you were Dwayne The Rock Johnson.Â
âI think Iâll have to hire some temporary help,â you answer begrudgingly.Â
âYou could sound less like someone is holding you at gunpoint,â Yeri snorts, âCome on. It had to happen sooner or later anyway.âÂ
âI was handling things just fine on my own.â
âWere you, though?â Yeri raises an eyebrow, gesturing to your current state.Â
You fear you walked right into that one. âShut up and help me make some posters.âÂ
The two of you eventually manage to whip up some haphazard âHelp Wantedâ posters, the letters written in glitter pen and Yeriâs clumsy bubble text. You tried your best to fill in the empty gaps on the construction paper by placing Pompompurin stickers that you normally give to customersâ kids all over it. The posters look like a nine-year-old girlâs school project gone wrong, but you hope itâs charming enough to catch some attention.Â
By the time you and Yeri finish hanging up all the posters, the sun is already starting to set, and all you want to do is go home and put a heating pad on your back. After saying bye to Yeri, you start making your way back to the bakery to lock up. Once you arrive, you notice a figure dressed in black slumped over in front of the door. You can see their shoulders rise up and down as they take in labored breaths, leaning against the glass door for support.Â
Every rational fiber in your being screams at you to not approach the stranger alone, but itâs not like you can just leave this person at the front of your place of business. Cautiously taking a step forward, you squat down to eye level with the stranger, wincing slightly from back pain. Through the sweaty and matted mess of his brown fringe, you can see that the stranger is a young man around your age. However, his face is absolutely battered: bloody (and almost certainly broken) nose, split lip, black eye swollen shut, and a jagged cut on his cheek. If he notices your presence, he doesnât show it, keeping his head hung down.
Gingerly placing a hand on his arm, you give him a small shake. âExcuse me? Are you okay? Do you need me to call an ambulance?âÂ
His brows furrow, and he opens an eye (the only one heâs probably able to open) with a wince before lifting a finger and putting it against his lips. You notice that his knuckles are completely scraped raw.Â
âNot so loud. Iâm okay,â he answers.Â
âYou donât lookââÂ
As if on cue, his stomach rumbles with a guttural growl that slowly drawls into a sputtering gurgle before dying out all togetherâleaving a long silence to hang between the two of you.
After another beat, he gives you a sheepish smile. âYou got anything to eat?âÂ
You stare at him for a moment; his face is flushed, pink all the way down to his neck.Â
And like a stupid horror movie character who opens the door to a room that clearly screams danger, you nod.Â
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Fortunately, heâDonghyuck, as he introduced himselfâends up not being a crazy ax murderer.Â
Unfortunately, you find yourself awkwardly sitting in your closed bakery with a virtual stranger, fiddling with a first aid kit while watching him absolutely devour a piece of leftover tiramisu that you had in your fridge. If the situation wasnât so insane, you might actually think it was pretty funny. For someone who looks the way he does, this current picture of Donghyuck absolutely doesnât suit himâbruised chipmunk cheeks stuffed with ladyfingers and cocoa powder stuck on his split lip.Â
When heâs finished, Donghyuck looks over at you with a mesmerized expression on his face, as if you just fed him ambrosia. Thereâs a softness to his face that you didnât think could exist underneath all that grime and dried blood.Â
âThat wasâŠdelicious,â he breathes.Â
âThanks,â you snort, pushing a glass of water towards him. Unsurprisingly, he chugs it in the blink of an eye. âI still think you should get those injuries checked out, though.âÂ
âNah, Iâll rub a little spit in them and itâll be fine,â he shrugs.Â
âDonât be gross,â you sigh, scooting your chair closer to him as you set the first aid kit on the table. âNow, come here.âÂ
Donghyuck reluctantly dips his head, and you carefully cup his jaw for support, disinfecting and applying ointment on the cuts and scrapes on his face. You also clean up the dried blood near his nostrils and on his bottom lip, and he doesnât flinch even when you accidentally brush tender areas like his broken nose or the gash on his mouth. Instead, he stays perfectly still, leaned back in the chair with his forearms resting on his thighs and fingers nonchalantly laced together.Â
He keeps his gaze trained on something past your shoulder, and you also try your best to focus, but itâs hard to keep yourself from staringâespecially when his demeanor has changed so much. Heâs so calm and quiet in such a cold, ruthless manner, as if heâs physically steeling himself from painâlike heâs done this a million times before. Occasionally, you feel his eyes swipe across your face when he thinks youâre not paying attention, and it occurs to you how close the two of you are. Suddenly, youâre acutely aware of the heat of his skin against your palm and fingertips, and you rip your hand away from his jaw.Â
Clearing your throat, you move onto his hands, dabbing his raw knuckles with a cotton ball soaked in alcohol before placing large band-aids on them. Despite your best efforts, itâs hard not to notice how slim his long fingers are or how surprisingly clean his nail beds are for someone whoâs covered in blood. You keep your head completely bent, fighting the urge of looking up and possibly meeting his eyes.Â
âThere, all done,â you announce a little too loudly.Â
âThank you,â he says softly, âfor the cake and for this. For helping me.âÂ
âDonât worry about it. I didnât do much,â you blurt, still avoiding eye contact as you clean up the table. However, you notice in your peripheral that his gaze follows your movements, almost hesitantly, before he asks:Â
âSo, youâre hiring?âÂ
You click the first-aid kit shut, blinking a few times before turning back to him. He looks at you with a raised eyebrow, waiting for an answer.
âIâyeah. How did you know that?â you ask, puzzled by such a random question.Â
Donghyuck points at a poster that you didnât even know you left here, sitting on the table right behind you. You realize that he was probably looking at it while you were patching him up.Â
âThat poster that says âhelp wanted.â With the Pompompurin stickers. Iâm actually in between jobs right now, so if you would have meââ
âYou know Pompompurin?â you interrupt him. Itâs not that important and should not stand out to you as much as it does. Yet, you canât help but grin at the fact that someone like him knows about a tubby Golden Retriever character with a name that sounds like a mashup of the English languageâs most adorable onomatopeias.Â
Donghyuck trails off, stiffening as if you just found out his deepest, darkest secret. He opens his mouth slightly, trying to speak but unable to formulate a responseâan excuse, rather. Instead, he just lets out an airy cough, putting a hand over his mouth and turning away from you in an attempt to obscure his face. Despite his best efforts, he canât hide his glowing red ears and the way his earlier coldness melts away.
âIâyeah,â he responds, words slightly muffled by his hand.Â
You struggle to maintain your composure as you gnaw on your bottom lip to keep from laughing. Fighting a smile in your voice, you finally say:Â
âThe pay wonât be that much, but youâll get a bunch of free desserts at the end of the day. Are you okay with that?âÂ
It takes him a moment to process that youâre offering him the job, and you watch his eyes light up and a warm smile overtake his face. Thereâs still a light shade of pink dusting his cheeks, clashing with the purple bruising and swelling of his injuries.Â
âIâd love nothing more.â
Suddenly, it occurs to you that Donghyuck somewhat reminds you of a tiramisu.Â
He may look a bit rugged and grimey, bitter like coffee, but in actuality, underneath it all, heâs soft and fluffy (but not too sweet) like a mascarpone filling.Â
RECIPE 2. BLUEBERRY PIE
âAre you out of your mind?â
You cringe away from your phone, hurriedly turning the volume down. âDamn, you donât have to scream like that.âÂ
âYou should be the one screaming,â Yeri hollers. âI better not come over one day and find your body stuffed in the freezer or something.â
âI thought you wanted me to hire someone!âÂ
âNot some random dude off the side of the street who was covered in injuries and doesnât even have any baking experience,â Yeri hisses.Â
âI donât need him to bake. I just have him working the front counter and doing all the heavy lifting when I get my ingredient shipments,â you protest. âDid you think I would really just hand over all my orders to some random dude and go party it up in CancĂșn or something?âÂ
Yeri is silent for several seconds before asking, âHeâs hot, isnât he?â
âWhat?â
âSo you did know what I meant when I said you needed your back blown out.â You can hear the smugness in her voice.Â
âYeri,â you say tiredly, âplease be serious.â
âI am serious. Youâre the one being unserious,â she retorts. âYesterday, you acted like you would rather sacrifice your firstborn child before hiring a part-timer, and now look at you. Dickmatized.âÂ
âOkay, Iâm hanging up now.â
âSo, when do I get to meet himââ
You quickly hit the button to end the call and shove your phone into your pocket, letting out an exasperated sigh. You definitely wonât be hearing the end of that for a while. Your face feels warm for some reason, and you decide that you need a coffee break. After you finish making it, you pour yourself and Donghyuck a cup.Â
You peek your head out from the curtain that separates the kitchen and the front counter to see if Donghyuck is busy. Heâs politely chatting with an elderly woman, and your eyes nearly pop out of your head when he takes out the entire tray of egg tarts in the glass display and wraps it up for her. The woman happily hands him a wad of bills and waves him goodbye. After putting the cash in the register, Donghyuck turns around and catches you in the middle of gawking.Â
âOh, Y/N. I was actually just about to head back there. Weâre out of egg tarts for the display,â he says nonchalantly.Â
âUh, yeah, I can see that,â you whisper loudly, âWas that Mrs. Kim? Why the hell did she order a dozen egg tarts? That woman can barely finish a single cookie.âÂ
Donghyuck blinks, clearly confused, whispering back, âShe asked for my recommendation, so I said egg tarts since no one had bought any yet, and she said she would take all of them.âÂ
You pause, things finally clicking. Grinning knowingly, you say, âYou know, having you work the front is doing wonders for sales.âÂ
âI donât understand.â He furrows his brows.Â
You laugh, handing him his cup of coffee. âIâm talking about your face card, Donghyuck. Youâre too handsome, so youâre flustering the customers.âÂ
âAre we not whispering anymore?â he asks awkwardly. âBesides, thatâs not true. Look at the state of my face right now.âÂ
His injuries have faded significantly, but the bruising and cuts are still there. You want to tell him that superficial wounds canât mask the warmth in his caramel-brown eyes, the fullness of his cheeks and the sharp jawline, and the air of mystery that enshrouds him and draws people in.Â
But you donât.Â
âWell, for someone whoâs only been working here for two weeks, youâre doing superb. Injuries or not.âÂ
And itâs true. Youâve always preferred to work alone because youâre the only one who understands how you want things done. You naturally assumed it would be a hassle and a waste of time to try to explain to someone else when you could just do it yourself, but Donghyuck never seems to need an explanation. In fact, he knows before even you.Â
He gets to the bakery three hours before you, cleans and preps all the equipment you need for the day, unloads the ingredient shipments, and is already manning the front counter by the time you arrive like it was no big deal at all. He also seems to have a sixth sense of knowing when youâre about to do something you shouldnât be, even though you downplayed your back injury. Heâs somehow always thereâmoving all the stuff you keep on the top shelf to somewhere within your reach even though you insisted that the rickety wooden step stool you use is perfectly safe, cleaning up a glass beaker that you accidentally shattered, taking out the trash during his breaks, checking in on you when you skip lunch. He even turned down his first paycheck, saying itâs repayment for patching him up and feeding him.Â
Donghyuck is so perfect that sometimes you wonder if youâre being set up, like maybe heâs secretly embezzling money from the cash registerâwhich would be a more viable theory if he didnât drive an Audi to work everyday.Â
âThanks for the compliment. And the coffee,â Donghyuck says, snapping you out of your thoughts. He gingerly takes a sip and makes a strangled noise, a mixture being choking and retching, before slapping a hand over his mouth.Â
âAre you okay? Was it too hot?â you ask worriedly.Â
âNo, itâs justâŠreally bitter,â he mumbles, words muffled in his hand.Â
âOh,â you blink, âSorry. I drink black coffee, so I forgot to ask if you wanted creamer and sugar. Come on, thereâs some in the back.âÂ
The two of you head to the kitchen, and you watch him dump an exorbitant amount of creamer and sugar in his coffee, the dark roast swirling into something more akin to milk tea.
âYou know, there might be some chocolate milk in the fridge if youâd rather that,â you tease.Â
His head shoots up, those doe eyes lighting up. âReally?âÂ
âNo,â you trail off awkwardly, âSorry, I'm just messing with you.âÂ
Itâs a bit adorable that you can visibly see him being disappointed in there not being chocolate milk before growing embarrassed, looking down at his cup. He turns away from you, but you can see the flush on the back of his neck.Â
âYou really have a sweet tooth, huh?â you laugh.Â
âPretty lame, right?âÂ
âWhy would that be lame? Youâre talking to someone who owns a bakery, in case you forgot.âÂ
Donghyuck smiles at you, and itâs sugary sweet like buttercream frosting. He looks at you like you just said the most wonderful thing in the world; in fact, he always makes you feel like that, no matter what you say or do. âI guess youâre right.âÂ
âWhatâs your favorite dessert?â you blurt, needing a distraction urgently.Â
He pauses briefly. âI donât think I have one.â
That actually surprises you. âYou donât? Even though you love sweets so much?âÂ
He laughs, the sound harsh and rough, and it almost makes you flinch. âIâve never really had an opportunity to have many until now.âÂ
Thereâs clearly weight behind his words, but you know youâre not in a position to ask any further. A selfish part of you wants to be important enough to him that you are in a position to know more, but youâre all too aware about him very purposefully keeping you at armâs length.Â
âWell, you have plenty of time to find out,â you quickly continue, pretending not to notice. âActually, Iâm going to a blueberry farm tomorrow because Iâm thinking about adding blueberry pie to the menu. When I get back, Iâll bake one for you, and you can be the first to taste test it!âÂ
âYouâre going by yourself?â Donghyuck raises an eyebrow.Â
âOf course. Who else would I go with?âÂ
âMe. Iâll go with you,â he replies immediately.Â
âBut itâs, like, a forty-five-minute bus ride to the farm. Plus, coming with me to get ingredients isnât part of your job description anyway,â you explain.Â
âI canât come with you on my own free time?â he asks, tilting his head. âBesides, Iâm worried about you overexerting yourself with that back injury. A bumpy bus ride definitely isnât going to help, so Iâll drive us there.âÂ
âYouâre going to drive that fancy ass car to a farm? You do realize itâs going to be dirt roads, right?â You cross your arms.Â
âI think Iâll live. Besides, what makes you think this is the only fancy ass car I own?â He gives you an amused smile.Â
âYouâre joking, right?â You stare at him.Â
He hesitates for a moment. âYes.âÂ
âThat doesnât soundââ
âWhat time are we leaving tomorrow morning?âÂ
â...Seven.â
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Unsurprisingly, Donghyuck picks you up right on time, not a minute too early or late. As the universe would have it, it rained the night priorâmeaning all the dirt roads are now rivers of mud. You wince every time you heard a splat of mud hit Donghyuckâs pristine white car, but he seems to pay no mind to it. The two of you arrive at the farm within twenty minutes (he found a shortcut), and because you came so early, you get the entire farm to yourselves. The staff arms both of you with a large wicker basket each before setting you loose onto the massive property.Â
âOkay, make sure to pick the fat ones. The small ones are super tart, so avoid those,â you instruct Donghyuck. âWeâre going to fill these baskets to the brim and get our moneyâs worth.âÂ
âYou got it, Captain.â He salutes.Â
You give him a determined nod and a thumbs up before turning to your respective side and beginning to pick the blueberries. The two of you work without much fanfare or conversation, and itâs a silence that lingers between you comfortably. It reassures you to hear the sound of the bushes rustling from Donghyuck working; his companionship alone relaxes you.Â
Eventually, when the sun starts peeking through and the weather grows warmer, both of you decide to take a break. You find a spot in the shade before sitting down, pulling out snacks and bottles of water from a backpack Donghyuck brought along.Â
âI have a surprise for you,â you tell him, trying to hide a smile. âClose your eyes.âÂ
He eyes you suspiciously but does so anyway. You fish out a handful of unripe blueberries wrapped in a handkerchief from your pocket and feed some to him. His reaction is nearly instant the moment he starts chewing them; you watch as his face puckers up from how sour they are and his entire body shrivels into itself, a shudder running through him. Heâs polite enough to not spit them out, but youâre not polite enough to resist pointing and laughing at him. Throwing your head back, you laugh so hard that your stomach starts to hurt.Â
âOh my God, your face!âÂ
âUgh,â Donghyuck groans, taking a big gulp of his water. âI shouldâve known you had sinister intentions from the start.âÂ
âI didnât think youâd react like that,â you finally manage to say after catching your breath. âYou really canât handle anything except for sweet stuff.âÂ
âAre you having fun bullying me?â He rolls his eyes.Â
âSo much fun,â you say in a sing-song voice.Â
Donghyuck tries to continue feigning annoyance, but he canât help the low chuckle that rumbles in his chest. His eyes always soften when he looks at you, and his gaze is intimate like a loverâsâgentle, tender, unwavering, and vulnerable. But his warmth is always fleeting, and he only allows you glimpses of it through the unmoving walls that heâs erected around himself.Â
You wish he wouldnât indulge you so, terrified youâll try to cross the line heâs drawn between the two of you.Â
âWhat are you thinking about?â Donghyuck asks, trying to read your expression
âAbout the delicious pie Iâm about to make when we get back,â you smile.Â
âI see,â he responds, though itâs clear he isnât convinced. âIâm looking forward to it.â
âYou better be. This is how Iâm paying you back for driving me here,â you nod.Â
âInstead of that, pay me back by telling me what your favorite dessert is,â he suddenly says. âI do still want the pie, though.âÂ
âThat was random,â you snort. âWhy do you want to know my favorite dessert?â
âBecause you asked me, but you never told me yours.âÂ
You suppose he has a point, but you find it ironic that he wants to know more about you when he refuses to offer you even a modicum of information about himself. Despite this, you tell him anyway because you are obviously the fool here.Â
âIf you must know, itâs red velvet cake,â you sigh.Â
âWhy?âÂ
You donât answer at first, carefully thinking about if youâre ready to be vulnerable in front of himâstill a virtual stranger. A virtual stranger who loves sweets. A virtual stranger who is a bit of a messy eater. A virtual stranger who knows Pompompurin. A virtual stranger who worries about you even when heâs not on the clock. A virtual stranger who gently tells you to be careful whenever you try to do something dangerous, whispering, âIâll do it instead.â A virtual stranger who allows his luxury car to be caked in mud for you.Â
âBecause itâs the dessert that made me realize I want to do this for the rest of my life,â you finally say. âI baked it for my momâs birthday, and I think I ended up being more excited than her.âÂ
Donghyuck stays quiet, gauging your reaction.Â
âI was in college, studying to be a doctor like everyone else in my family. So, like a dumb young person who thought that dreams were more important than money, I dropped out of college and went to culinary school. My parents told me I was ruining mine and their lives, disowned me, yada-yadaâa bunch of depressing stuff, you know. Eventually, I graduated, took out a huge loan, and opened up my own bakery. Worked a bunch of part-time jobs until my business could stand on its own. Now here I am. Still in debt, though,â you laugh awkwardly. âBut Iâm not doing too shabby. I was able to hire you, so at least I have a little cash to spare.âÂ
He still doesnât say anything, so you find yourself starting to ramble. Youâre really not sure what possessed you to trauma dump on him like that.Â
âYou know, a lot of people talk shit about red velvet cake because they say the only thing that makes it special is the red food coloring,â you hurriedly explain, âbut thatâs not true. The cream cheese frosting is super important too. Also, I always say love is the most important ingredient of all. As a baker, youâre kind of baring your heart to the customer, and isnât it kind of cute that red velvet cake is red like a heart? Okay, please say something now or else I think Iâm going to projectile vomit.âÂ
Donghyuck reaches over and brushes a sweaty lock of hair out of your face. His fingers brush over your temple, which makes you sharply suck in a breath. You almost lean into his touch, but you catch yourself. His hand slightly lingers on the side of your neck, like he wants to bring your face closer, but he eventually pulls away.Â
He searches your face, and youâre not sure what heâs looking forâif anything. Rather, perhaps heâs not searching. Perhaps heâs committing your features to his memory, as if the way you look right now is something he wants to remember forever.Â
âYouâve worked hard, Y/N,â he says softly, voice slightly hoarse. âThis is long overdue, but congratulations. You achieved your dream, and donât let anyone ever discount that. Not even yourself.âÂ
You wonder how long youâve waited to hear that. Youâre not even sure you knew you needed to hear that. But when Donghyuck says it, it hits you just how long and hard youâve worked all on your own without a single break. Throughout the years, youâve really only ever heard, âIâm sorry that happened.â When was the last time someone congratulated you? When was the last time you congratulated yourself?Â
You surge forward, wrapping your arms around his shoulders and burying your face in his shoulder. Donghyuck cradles you against him, one hand wound tightly around your waist while the other is tangled in your hair. You can feel his chest rise up and down as he holds you. He smells like lavender soap and a bit earthy from being outside, and the warmth of his skin against your cheek makes you want to close your eyes and fall asleep in his arms.Â
âThank you,â you whisper.Â
âNo, thank you,â he murmurs into your hair.Â
Youâre not sure why heâs thanking you instead, but what you are sure of is that youâre crossing the line, taking a step towards him and wondering if heâll meet you halfway.Â
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âTada!â you announce cheerfully, setting down the freshly baked blueberry pie onto the table.Â
Donghyuck claps excitedly. âHoly shit, it looks amazing.âÂ
âIâm still trying to figure out the right portions for the filling, so let me know if you think thereâs too much or little,â you tell him as you hand him a slice.Â
Without even answering you, he stabs his fork into the pie and almost eats the entire slice in one bite, seemingly unbothered by the steam still rising from it.Â
âBe careful. Youâre going to burn your tastebuds off. Iâm not letting you eat it for shits and giggles, you know. This is for research purposes.â You cross your arms.Â
âItâs perfect, Y/N. Iâm serious,â Donghyuck says after swallowing. âThe filling isnât too sweet, and the crust is airy and light.âÂ
âWell, alright, Gordon Ramsay. I think weâre going to be adding a new menu item then,â you smile. âThink you can get Mrs. Kim to buy a dozen of these?â
âI donât think sheâll need much convincing with how good these taste.âÂ
âYouâre so easy,â you tease. âAll I need to do is feed you. Anyways, Iâm going to clean up here, but you should head home. Itâs getting late, and you wake up way earlier than me.âÂ
âIâll help,â he insists.Â
âGo,â you order, pointing at the door. âI can handle it.âÂ
He looks conflicted but eventually relents when you threaten to physically kick him out. Before he leaves, he turns back to you and says, âThank you, Y/N.â
âWhy do you keep thanking me?â you laugh.Â
âItâs been a long time since Iâve had this.â
âWhat? A blueberry pie?â
Donghyuck pauses, a slight wonder in his expression, as if heâs realizing his answer for the first time as well.
âPeace.âÂ
And you think maybe this is a step forward for him too.Â
RECIPE 3. CREAM PUFF
Itâs quite surreal how easily and naturally you and Donghyuck fall into a routine together. Somehow, in the blink of an eye, two weeks becomes two months. Youâve learned the little things about him, like how he always swipes some icing before you can fill up the piping bag or that heâs not a coffee drinker at all (more of a hot cocoa person) or that he purses his lips when a dessert heâs testing tastes off (no matter how hard he tries to hide it) or that he involuntarily sticks his arm out in front of you when he wants to stop you from doing something you shouldnât.Â
You also notice that he sometimes comes into work with injuries. Theyâre not nearly as bad as the first time you met him, but itâs hard to ignore a bruised cheek or bloodied knuckles. He always has a reason for them, whether itâs tripping down the stairs or accidentally falling down and scraping his hands on the concrete. You can tell by the way he laughs it off that he doesnât plan on telling you the truth, so you laugh with him. The two of you, having taken only a step towards one another, find yourselves completely immobile now.Â
He always does this: envelops you like a cloud but disappears the moment you reach out for him.Â
Youâre honestly not sure why heâs still here. Your injury has long healed, and he clearly doesnât need the abysmal pay youâre giving him. He feels like heâll slip away at any moment, fleeting like a warm spring breeze, and you suppose time flies by when you know itâs limited. Despite knowing that, you canât help but desperately want him to stay.Â
âI think itâs cute how hard heâs working,â Yeri randomly says one day as she eyes Donghyuck prepare orders in the front. Heâs in the middle of a lunchtime rush, so he doesnât even notice the two of you watching him like weirdos.
âWell, thatâs what Iâm paying him to do,â you reply, rolling his eyes.Â
âOh, I think the money is the least of his worries here,â she hums, taking a sip of her coffee.Â
She has a point, but youâre pretty sure sheâs implying something else as well. Just as you go to ask her what exactly she means, you hear a loud clatter. Flinching, you turn your attention back to Donghyuck and realize that heâs dropped a tray on the floor. However, the tray is the last thing on your mind when you see the expression on his face. Itâs a mixture of horror, anger, and almost sadnessâlike heâs finally come face-to-face with whatever heâs been running from. It makes your blood run cold.Â
Donghyuck is looking at a boy around his age; the boy has dark hair, a mole under his eye, and a grim expression. More importantly, heâs covered in injuries too.Â
âWho is that?â Yeri whispers. âWhy does Donghyuck look like heâs seen a ghost?âÂ
Maybe because he has, you want to tell her.Â
Donghyuck grabs the boy's arm, squeezing so tightly that his knuckles turn white, and mumbles something to him. When he turns around and meets your eyes, he looks pained and fearful as if you witnessed something you shouldnât have.
âIs it okay if I take my break early today?â he asks calmly, though the tremor in his voice gives him away.Â
You nod hesitantly, unable to force yourself to speak. You watch him as he drags the boy out; when he passes you, you can tell how tightly his body is wound right now. His jaw is clenched, a muscle spasming as he tries to control himself, and every step he takes seems labored. Heâs running on pure adrenaline right now, like heâs physically steeling himself.Â
However, you donât think heâs ever appeared so incredibly alone before. As you watch his back disappear further and further from your view, youâre unsure if heâll ever return, and you never imagined how terrifying that would be.Â
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.
The cream puffs arenât rising.
Youâre crouched in front of the oven, watching the dough remain flat and lifeless. You shouldâve known better than to attempt to make cream puffs on such a shitty day, especially when pastries like these are so sensitive to the environment and atmosphere. Even though you know you should probably just scrap them and try again, you wait for just a little longer, hoping that maybe if you wish hard enough that theyâll magically start to rise.Â
But then again you suppose that no matter how hard you try, no matter how careful you are, no matter how perfect the batter is, no matter how much time you spend time piping them, no matter how much you want them to rise, they wonât.Â
You decide that Donghyuck isnât like a tiramisu at all; heâs sensitive and delicate and elusive and frustrating like a cream puff.Â
âY/N, theyâre burning.âÂ
Losing your balance and nearly falling over, you gasp loudly. You were so lost in your thoughts that you didnât even hear Donghyuck walk into the kitchen, nor did you smell the undeniable scent of something being burnt to a crisp.Â
âOh, fuâ!â you curse, hurriedly opening the oven and casually suffocating both you and Donghyuck with a hot plume of air. Sputtering, you look around and grab a random rag from the sink before reaching for the cream puffs.Â
âWait, stop!â Donghyuck stops you with an outstretched arm, his hand pressed to your side. âLet me do it.âÂ
He gently takes the rag from your hand and removes the tray of charred cream puffs from the oven, dumping them into the trash before putting the tray in the sink and running some water on itâjust how you like it.Â
Letting out a relieved sigh, he turns back to you and asks, âAre you okay? Itâs not like you to make a mistake like that. You didnât get burned anywhere, did you?âÂ
When you donât answer immediately, Donghyuck rushes forward and grabs your hands, carefully examining your fingers and arms. âWait, are you hurt? Where? Tell me where you got burned. We have to cool it down with some lukewarm water. And donât just say youâre fine. Burns are not a joke, Y/Nâwhy are you looking at me like that?âÂ
His hands are calloused and rough, and you can still see scabs from where he tore his knuckles, yet he touches you like youâre the delicate one. Heâs covered in fresh and old wounds, yet he looks so panicked at the thought of you having a scratch.Â
âShut up,â you whisper furiously, ripping your hands away from him. âFrom now on, donât ask me another question. Itâs my turn to ask you questions.âÂ
He blinks, a bit stunned by your reaction, but itâs clear he knows what youâre about to say. He goes to reach for you again but decides against it. âOkay.âÂ
âWho was that guy?â you demand. âWhy are you always covered in injuries? Why did you lie to me? Who are you?âÂ
âHeâs an old friend,â Donghyuck starts quietly.Â
âDo you treat all your friends like that?âÂ
âWhen I donât want to see them.âÂ
You wait for him to continue.
âBefore I met you, he and I and a few of our other friends workedâŠodd jobs for cash,â he explains, and he looks like heâs choking on every word. âThe jobs usually entailed us hurting people and also getting hurt. I did a lot of shit I wasnât proud of. At the time, I didnât really care. It was just nice to feel something, whether it was the adrenaline rush from doing the punching or the pain from being punched. I got a bunch of money, bought a bunch of expensive stuff, but none of it mattered. Eventually, I just felt nothing again. I didnât even have the energy to loathe myself anymore. So, I took one last job, got the shit kicked out of me, and then I left. Thatâs when you found meââ
He inhales, and his eyes flicker towards you. He gazes at you so longingly, as if you were impossibly out of his reach, that you canât help but involuntarily take a step towards him.Â
But he steps back.Â
âI thought that working here would make me feel like a human being again, but I didnât realize how much I wouldââ He pauses again. âI thought working here would be a nice reset for me, but I naively thought that I could completely leave my past behind. My friends eventually found me, and I guess I care about those reckless assholes more than I thought because they managed to convince me to take on a few more jobs with them. Thatâs why Iâve been coming to work with injuries. But Iâm done. I cut them off for good when they walked into this bakery. I donât wantâŠI donât want our past to tarnish this place. I want to keep this place a beautiful, warm, and pure safe haven that you worked so hard for it to be. Thatâs why I lied to you, Y/N. Iâm a coward to the bone, and I was envious of you. I was ashamed to admit it to you. You, who had the courage to chase after your dream. You, who had the kindness to help a good-for-nothing asshole like me. I only want you to have happy memories from now on, and I am not one of them.âÂ
âAre you going to leave?â you ask softly.Â
âI probably should,â he answers shakily.Â
âWhatâs stopping you?âÂ
âJustâŠone reason.âÂ
âWhen you say it like that, it makes it sound like the reason is me.âÂ
Donghyuck laughs bitterly, and his eyes drag across your face like every movement hurts him.
âYou know itâs you. Itâs always been you.âÂ
When you reach for his hand, he turns away like just the warmth from your body heat burns him. So instead, you take a step back.Â
âI wonât ask you to stay, Donghyuck, I wonât chase you. Iâm going to wait right here, and itâs up to you if you're going to meet me halfway.âÂ
RECIPE 4. RED VELVET CAKE
When your alarm clock goes off the next morning, you seriously consider just not showing up to work. Itâs not like you can be fired for being a no-show when youâre your own boss, after all.Â
And itâs not like you have any employees who will be expecting you.Â
Youâll just apologize to Mrs. Kim and your other regulars later. Youâre allowed to have a day where you just rot in bed and feel sorry for yourself.Â
However, no matter how much you tell yourself that, you find yourself crawling out of bed and getting ready anyway. You canât seem to brutally crush that small glimmer of hope that Donghyuck might still be there, no matter how hard you try. When you see yourself in the mirror, you recoil in horror. Your eyes are almost swollen shut from the amount of crying you did last night, and your face is sallow and lifeless.Â
So much for putting on a brave face, you think wryly to yourself. You tried so hard to look tough, when in reality, you bawled your eyes out and even considered praying to God for Donghyuck to stay. Itâs a humiliating and humbling reality check.Â
âStand up right now,â you sharply tell yourself in the mirror. âHeâs just some guy. Get it together.âÂ
You do your best to clean up your appearance and make the trek over to the bakery. It takes another internal pep talk before you can make your way to the door. After you finally walk up, you see that the lights inside are off. Your stomach sinks, and your eyes start to burn. Even though youâre holding the handle, you canât bring yourself to open the door. Itâs an outcome that you expected, yet you wonder why it hurts so badly.Â
âYou liar,â you mumble to yourself, âYou said you only wanted me to have happy memories.âÂ
Once you make your way inside, you numbly head towards the kitchen, trying to remember what exactly you have to do today. Oh right, now that heâs not here, you also have to make sure all the ingredients are prepped first.Â
When you walk into the kitchen, you do a double-take.Â
The whole place looks like itâs been completely ransacked: used pans and utensils piled up in the sink, two opened boxes of cake mix, containers of ingredients without lids on on the tables, random lumps of flour and egg shells strewn aboutâÂ
And right in front of the oven is Donghyuck, flour in his hair and frosting on his nose. Heâs holding a cake stand withâŠyou think itâs supposed to be a cake on it? The shape is mangled and haphazardly cut, but it has echoes of a heart. The frosting is a hot mess, as if a bird with diarrhea shat all over the cake. The batter is clearly underbaked and makes the cake look gooey in a bad way.Â
âUm, I promise Iâll clean all of this up in a second, but I wanted to surprise you,â Donghyuck starts awkwardly. âItâs not perfect, but I tried making a red velvet cake for you.âÂ
You stare at him, still not sure how to react.Â
âYou once said that baking is like baring your heart to the customer and that love is the most important ingredient of all,â he laughs softly to himself. âI think love is the only ingredient I managed to get right, but Iâm baring my heart to you now, Y/N. Iâm sorry I hid everything and lied to you, but Iâm in love with you. Hopelessly so. All my life, Iâve chased a feeling, not knowing what it was. But now I do. I donât think I knew how to feel until I met you. I never once thought I would ever have a purpose in my life, but you make me want to be a normal, proper member of society. Your dream is my dream. I want to wake up at 5AM and sell egg tarts with you for the rest of my life, if youâll have me.âÂ
Donghyuck sets the cake down on a table in front of you, and you notice that his fingers are dyed red from the food coloring. It almost reminds you of when you first met him, except his injuries have been replaced with red food coloring, flour, and cream cheese frosting.Â
âThis cake is terrible,â you smile, âhow did you butcher it that badly when you used cake mix?âÂ
You watch him blush all the way down to his neck, as he sheepishly looks away. âDonât make fun of me. I really tried my best. I stayed up watching tutorialsââÂ
Leaning across the table, you cup his face with both hands and kiss him, brushing your thumbs across his cheekbones. He tastes like frosting, hot cocoa, and your prayers being answered. The way he kisses you back is bruising, dizzying and knocking any coherent thought out of your head, his hands finding your hips and anchoring you to him. He kisses you like youâre the sweetest and most wonderful thing heâs ever tasted.
When you finally pull away, it takes you a moment to regain feeling in your legs. Donghyuck presses his forehead against yours, lips brushing against yours once again as the two of you try to catch your breath.Â
âI think Iâm going to have to fire you, though,â you whisper. âYou know, with me being your boss and all. The power dynamic is too weird.âÂ
He hums, pausing for thought. âThen how about I become your business partner?âÂ
âWhat?â
Donghyuck reaches into his pocket and fishes out his wallet, pulling out a shiny and fancy-looking credit card. He hands it to you without much fanfare.Â
âI have a lot of money, you know. So Iâm going to invest in your business. Use it as youâd like,â he casually announces.
You stare at him, your jaw hanging wide open. He never tried to hide from you that he was rich, but he never told you that he was rich rich.Â
âWell, damn! Why didnât you show me this earlier? I would have forgiven you a lot sooner,â you tease, slapping him on the arm. âAre you sure you want to give this to me? Iâm quite the gold-digger, you know.â
âWhen I told you to use it as youâd like, I meant me as well,â Donghyuck replies, shrugging.
âYouâre insane.â You hope he canât tell how much your face is burning up.Â
âI guess I am,â he laughs, and you donât think heâs ever looked so free. You want to tell him that you hope he only has happy memories from now on too. You want to tell him that youâll rewrite all of his scars with sugary and fluffy desserts so that they wonât ever hurt again.Â
And for the first time in your life, you feel it too.
Peace.Â
EXTRA
âSo, have you figured out what your favorite dessert is?âÂ
Donghyuck stirs slightly, groaning, as he wraps an arm around your waist and pulls you closer. He slips his hand under your shirt (well, technically itâs his shirt) and rests it on your bare hip bone.Â
âWhy arenât you asleep?âÂ
âBecause Iâm curious.âÂ
âIf I answer, will you let me rest?â
âDepends on how good your answer is.âÂ
âBlueberry pie. Thatâs my answer.âÂ
You smile against the crook of his neck.Â
âWhy?âÂ
âBecause itâs the dessert that made me realize I want to do this for the rest of my life.âÂ
SYNOPSIS. in which wonwoo shows you love in it's simplistic forms - through the five love languages.
PAIRING. jeon wonwoo x gn!reader
GENRE. fluff, comfort, established relationship
WARNINGS. kissing alot of kissing, mild cursing, brief wonu shirtless shower moment, they shower together, some suggestive innuendos, reader wears a dress + jewelry, some creepo harasses reader, last scene is suggestive + contains allusions to sex, i'm rlly just torturing all the wonwoorideuls out there (me included)
WORD COUNT. 8.1k
notes: what are all of u guys love language(s) ?!?! mine is quality time and words <3. i also truly believe wonu is peak quality time, acts of services, and words ughhhdsfjkhdd. tbh all sections of these feature pretty much all the love languages lol its hard to emphasize just one specifically
i. in the moments where my hands speak what my heart can't say
A snowflake lands on your tongue.
You pull your coat tighter around yourself, shivering slightly as you walk your way back from a meet up with some friends. Wonwoo had texted you earlier, asking if you needed anything before he would come over to your place for the first time, and you had told him that he didn't have to come because really... your place wasn't exactly the tidiness right now.
Nothing but the colour white blankets the ground, snow crunching under your shoes with each step. Your gaze drifts up as snowflakes drift lazily down to the earth. The city feels almost otherworldly like thisđso quiet and still, as if time has slowed to let the snow settle into its new home.
You watch the delicate flakes as they hover down, dissolving into the endless sea of white. Despite the chill slithering up your bones, there's a sense of calm that washes over you.
You're so caught up in the scene that you don't hear the faint sound of footsteps approaching from behind. Then you feel something drape over your shoulders. A scarf.
Startled, you glance down, your hands instinctively reaching up to touch the fluffy fabric. You blink and turn around to find Wonwoo standing there, his cheeks flushed from the cold, his breath forming visible puffs in the air.
"Wonwoo? I..." You catch the way the strands of his hair is littered with speckles of white. "I thought you weren't coming."
Wonwoo just shrugs nonchalantly. "I changed my mind. Couldn't let you walk home alone in this weather."
Your heart warms at his words, and you feel the corners of your lips tug upward in an easy smile.
"Thank you," You murmur, adjusting the scarf snugly around your neck. It smells faintly of him. "But you really didn't have tođ"
"Shh," he interrupts, taking your gloved hand in his and stuffing your intertwined fingers inside the pocket of his coat. I'm glad that I came. You deserve to feel safe. "Of course I did."
Wonwoo offers you a reassuring squeeze of your hand in his pocket. The biting chill of the air is no match for the comfort of his presence, and with each step that you take together, you feel more at ease. The snow crunches harmoniously beneath your feet as the two of you walk upon the journey towards your apartment building.
The glow from the lamps on your building reflect warmly off the blanket of snow. The two of you have only been dating just over a month, and each step feels lighter with him beside you. Conversation flows through the cold air easily, wrapping around you like the scarf he gave you.
Then you pause and turn towards him. "Are you sure you want to come in? I mean, my place is kind of a mess right now."
What's a little mess compared to being with you? "It's okay. I don't mind," he reassures, though his voice comes out a bit shyđnot from any unsureness, but just from knowing he's about step foot into your world. There's no way he's backing away from this now.
Uncertainty crosses over your features, but the warmth in his eyes hugs your hesitation about inviting him in. He follows right behind you, and as you step into your place, a sense of relief washes over you. You kick off your shoes and gesture for him to make himself comfortable on the couch.
"Make yourself at home," You tell him, ignoring the slight embarrassment nipping at your cheek from the slightly disheveled state of your living room. There's books and papers scattered on the coffee table, a couple of coats draped lousily over the back of a chair as if you were indecisive about which one to wear, a pile of empty packages in the corner that you haven't had the time to dispose of yet, and a crookedly placed small painting on the wall.
Home. I like that word. Wonwoo settles himself on top of the couch and leans back on the cushion, taking in the cozy, albeit chaotic, atmosphere of your place. This is youđperfectly imperfect.
You disappear into the kitchen, and he can hear the faint sounds of you moving about. "Hot chocolate or tea?"
Wonwoo doesn't answer right away, instead shedding off his coat before letting his feet trail over to where you were in the kitchen. He peeks around the corner, catching a glimpse of you as you rummage through cabinets, and he can't help but smile.
You look so determined. I like that about you.
"I believe that hot chocolate is calling our names right now," Wonwoo inputs cheesily, sliding his way over to where you are, already fishing through your cupboards to find some mugs.
You look up, surprised but amused. "Pardon me, sir, but I believe that this is my place."
"Well, you were taking too long," he shoots back playfully, a light laugh escaping his lips. I want to do this for you.
After scrouging through a few cupboards, he grabs two mismatched ceramic mugs and sets them on the counter. Next to him, you're already heating up the saucepan, but Wonwoo seems to have already beaten you in grabbing the milk jug from the fridge.
As Wonwoo adjusts the flame of the stove to a calmer setting, you add in the cocoa powder and some sugar. Then you reach inside a drawer for a whisk and start stirring the mixture, the rich aroma of chocolate filling the air. Wonwoo watches you, leaning casually against the counter, a content smile on his face, but that doesn't seem to be enough for him.
He comes up to you from behind, placing a gentle hand on your waist as he leans in closer, his breath fanning against your skin and causing you freeze up for a moment.
"Hello," he mutters, voice soft to your ear, lips awfully close to your neck. I want to be part of this moment, too. "Need any help?"
Even if you do answer no, he's already reaching his other arm around you anyway. His fingers brush against yours, cupping over your hand that's whisking away as he begins to help you stir. His body is pressed up behind yours, and it's making everything ridiculously hard to concentrate on.
"Wonwoo, I really can handle this," You protest lightly, though the way he leans into you sends butterflies fluttering in your stomach.
"I know," he replies, and you can hear the smirk in his voice. But I want to be close to you like this.
The mixture starts to bubble slightly, and you can't help but glance back at him, your cheeks flushing under his warm gaze. "I appreciate it, butđ"
I think I can get used to doing these things for you. "It's no problem," is all he says. "I just like being here with you."
The chocolate begins to froth, sending a rich, inviting aroma right to your nostrils and throughout the kitchen. Wonwoo leans closer, his chin resting on your shoulder as he continues to whisk the mixture. This is nice. Just being here with you, doing something simple...
Once the hot chocolate is done, Wonwoo helps you pour it into the mugs, the steam curling up into the air like little wisps of happiness. The heat of the mug seeps into your palms, and you can't help but notice how natural this feelsđhow effortlessly he fits into your world.
Suddenly, your face brightens, and you step away for a second to retrieve a bag of marshmallows from the pantry, holding the bag up triumphantly with a grin.
Wonwoo nearly melts into the floor just from that.
"Want some?" he asks after dropping a few marshmallows in his own mug. You should take it easy, too. Enjoy the little things, right?
You nod eagerly, watching as he plops some marshmallows in your mug. Just a tiny bit more than how much he put in his. Then he grabs both of your mugs, bringing you to follow him into your living room. Although it was still a little messy, the nerves in your system have definitely lessenedđit doesn't stop Wonwoo from noticing that slight glint of anxiety to your eyes.
Look at you, all worried about your place, and here I am, falling for you a little more every second.
He watches endearingly as you quietly blow on the hot chocolate to cool it down, and he copies your actions. Then he takes a careful sip, the sweet, comforting drink warming him from the inside out. He glances at you, watching as you sip your own drink. When you features beam up at him, he can't help but smile back.
Your smile is quite dangerous.
The dim light from the lamp casts a cozy glow around the room, and for a moment, everything feels perfect. Both of you find yourselves enjoying your drinks, settling into easy conversations about nonsense, all while the snow continues to fall outside.
As the laughter fades and the mugs empty out, Wonwoo leans back against the couch, stealing glances at you, and he can't help but feel his heart swell. You are so full of life, and he wishes he could bottle this moment forever, like a pressed flower preserved within the pages of a book.
What did I do to deserve you?
"What are you thinking about?"
Your voice jolts him out of his thoughts as you set your empty mug down on the coffee table, eyebrows raised in curiosity. Wonwoo clears his throat.
"Honestly?" he starts, leaning in a little. There's a bit of shyness in the way he purses his lip together, yet a hint of boldness as his eyes flickers momentarily to your mouth. "I'm thinking about how I'm just three seconds away from kissing you."
Can I show you what my heart wants to say?
In your chest, you heart leaps, flips, and swells with anticipation that it almost aches. Heat floods your cheeks and every crevice of your body as he holds your nervous expression.
"Is that okay?" His voice is barely above a whisper, like he's sharing a secret just for you to hear.
All you can do is nod.
"Yeah," You answer sheepishly at first. "It's more than okay."
The smile that breaks across his face is like a sunrise you could watch every morning. And it isn't long before his lips tentatively brush against yours.
This, he thinks, smiling against your lips, is home.
ii. even the silence is like a love song
Sometimes you think that your boyfriend spends more time at your place than his own.
Not that you're complaining at all. You've already entrusted a spare key to your apartment with him, and he's also told you the code to his own place too. However, sometimes on days that you plan on visiting him, he's already texting you that he's on his way to your place. You'll find him there, either casually perched on your couch, or in your kitchen brewing a fresh pot of coffee as if he's lived there for years instead of just a few months.
It's become a small, ordinary routine, but it's quickly grown into one of your favourite things about being with himđhow naturally he's slipped into your boring, mundane life, as if he's always belonged.
Just like now, when you arrive to find him folding some laundry in your living room. It's a mixture of your clothes and his, all mingled together as if they've always been part of the same household. Wonwoo is sitting on the floor, focused on neatly folding a hoodie you recognise as one of yours, placing them neatly next to a stack of button-ups that belonged to him, his brows slightly furrowed in concentration. The sight makes you pause in the doorway, a mellow smile tugging at your lips.
"Hey," You call out, dropping your keys onto the table by the door.
Wonwoo lifts his head up and catches sight of you.
"Hello." He stands up, already meeting you halfway. "You're home."
His words makes the corners of your lips lift even higher. Home.
"I didn't know how I hired a housekeeper," You remark as you toss your bag on the couch, before letting yourself fall into his own open arms. He wraps them around you without hesitation, pulling you close in a loving embrace. You can feel his chuckle rumble through his chest as he holds you.
"Housekeeper, huh?" he murmurs playfully against your hair. "Is that what I am to you now? I thought I was your boyfriend."
"Boyfriend first, however..." You cast your eyes past his shoulder at the folded pile of laundry on the table. "The housekeeper part needs some work, because I think you put one of your hoodies in my pile."
Wonwoo pulls back slightly, following your gaze to the pile of neatly folded clothes. His lips twitch in a small, amused smile as he spots the hoodie in questionđa faded grey one with this cute stitched cat print that you've probably borrowed more times than you can count.
"Hmm, you can keep it anyway," he says casually, turning back to you and leaning in towards you. "I think it looks better on you than me anyway."
Before you can respond, he's brushing his lips against yours slowly and sweetly, and you find yourself chuckling into the kiss as Wonwoo deepens it just a little, his hands resting right at your hips. When he finally pulls back, a boyish grin spreads across his face, and you can't help but mirror it.
Wonwoo presses a kiss to your nose. "What do you want to do tonight?"
You hum thoughtfully. You didn't have anything exactly planned for tonight, and the day seemed to be taking its toll on you.
"Not sure, I'm a bit tired, to be honest..." You let out a small yawn, an apologetic look to your face. "We can just do nothing, if that's fine with you."
Wonwoo's features only soften. "That's perfectly fine with me."
With that, the rest of the evening is established with the two of you slowly settling into a familiar routine. You both finish folding the rest of the clothes, then you find yourself taking a small catnap on the couch while Wonwoo quietly plays some games on his phone right next to you, keeping the volume low so it doesn't disturb you.
When you wake up, you notice that he isn't right next to you anymore; instead, you hear the sounds of the shower being used. Wonwoo must have decided to wash up while you were napping, and the thought brings a wave of bliss as you groggily stretch your limbs.
When you get yourself to stand up, you rub at your eyes before approaching the bathroom door and knocking on the door softly.
"Babe?" You call out.
The water turns off, sounds of shuffling behind the door. "Yeah?"
"Nothing," You respond, voice muffled. "Just wanted to check on you."
It doesn't take long for the door to be creaked open, with Wonwoo's figure emerging from behind it, water droplets glistening on his skin and his dripping hair tousled in that effortlessly charming way you adore. He's wrapped in a towel, looking every bit like he just stepped out of a magazine.
"Did you need something?" he asks while putting on his glasses that were slightly fogged up, and your eyes can't help but flicker over him for a second.
You swallow a lump in your throat, feeling your heart race faster at his presence in front of you and the way the steam curls in the air around him. The towel around his waist clings to his skin, and you swiftly shoot your eyes up to the ceiling and then down to the floor, shaking your head to clear your thoughts.
"No, I-I'm good," You manage to say. "Just wanted to check in on you."
"Yeah?" He tilts his head playfully. "Bummer. Thought you wanted to join me."
Some sort of choked sound leaves you, and you roll your eyes to hide the heat rising to your cheeks.
"In your dreams, mister," You quip back, but it still doesn't make you any less flustered.
There's a teasing glint in his eyes for a fraction of a second, before it simply melts into something softer.
"I wouldn't mind if you wanted to join," he tells you casually, leaning against the door frame, a subtle smirk playing to his lips. "I think you deserve to unwind with a little bit of pampering."
You bite your bottom lip, torn between how temping his offer sounds and the voice in your head reminding you of the boundaries you've carefully maintained... until now, as it seems. Still, the warmth radiating from him and the sincerity in his eyes makes it hard to resist.
So, you let your shoulders deflate.
"Is there a spare towel in there?" You ask him, prodding the door open a little more with a finger.
Wonwoo's face just brightens, and before you know it, he's reaching for your hand and pulling you inside the bathroom, lips meeting yours as soon as the door clicks shut behind you.
Later that night, the two of you order some takeout from a nearby Chinese restaurant. It isn't long for time to drift by as the cozy atmosphere of your apartment settles over both of you. Even the silence that plagues the room is comfortable, tainted with the hum of the television and the occasional clinking of chopsticks as you both revel within the simple joys the night offersđeach other.
You regret mentioning how it's getting close to midnight, because now you find yourself watching with a frown as Wonwoo begins to pack his belongings and laundry into a bag.
"Are you sure you... don't want to stay the night?" You question timidly, arms crossed together as you lean against the counter, watching his moments carefully with a frown.
Wonwoo pauses, his hand hovering over his backpack as he glances back at you. "I mean, I could... I have a big meeting in the morning though, and I don't want to impose."
A pang of disappointment hits you at his words.
"I... I love having you here, you know," You say cautiously. "You're practically living here half the time, anyway."
His lips quirk up in that familiar way, a mixture of amusement and affection that never fails to make your heart flutter, before it's quick to dissipate.
"I don't want to be a distraction when you need to get some rest," he replies. "You deserve to have your own space, and I know how important alone time is for you."
"I love having you in my space," You interject, stepping closer to him, desperation creeping into your voice. "and I love sharing my space with you."
Wonwoo lets out a sigh. "Love, I don't want you to feel burđ"
"We can live together."
The bombshell that tumbles out of your mouth takes both of you by surprise, and the room goes quiet for a moment. You can see Wonwoo's eyes widen slightly, and his hand pauses mid-motion as he processes what you just said.
"Are you being serious?" he asks, and you expected for his words to come out in utter shock, perhaps even disbelief and disdain.
Instead, there's a note of wonder in his voice, like he's barely believing everything that you just said.
"I know it's a big step, but I..." You take in a deep breath, glancing down at your fidgeting hands. "I mean, we spend so much time together already, and it feels like... like we could really make it work. I justđI want you to be around more. When I wake up, I want you to be the first person I see, and when I come home from work, I want you there waiting for me."
Silence hangs in the air, and you hold your breath. The seconds that float by feel like an entire millennium has passed, your heart bracing itself for the potential inevitable.
Wonwoo's hand tightens around the bag in his hand. "You really mean all that, don't you?"
"I do," You affirm, mustering all the confidence you can. "I want this. I want you. I want us."
Wonwoo lets out a long awaited, bated breath, his gaze softening as he looks at you. Slowly, he sets his bag down, and in a few strides, he's right in front of you.
"You have no idea how long I've been wanting to hear you say that."
You blink, feeling a rush of warmth flood your cheeks. "Really?"
"Really," he confirms, a bright smile spreading across his face. There's no reluctance or hesitation you hear in his voice, see on his features, or find in the way he's holding your gaze. "I've been thinking about it too, to be honest."
You feel the breath you've been holding finally release, and a laugh escapes you, shaky but full of relief and happiness.
"Let me just say this in advance," You start, lips teasing up in a faint smirk. "I'm sorry for the mess I might bring. I promise to clean it up."
Wonwoo only rolls his eyes and steps closer towards you, cradling your face gently with his hand, caressing over the skin of your cheek oh so tenderly.
"When do we start?" he asks, leaning down to press a lingering kiss to your forehead.
"Whenever we want," You reply lowly, lacing your fingers with his. "Whenever we're ready."
Wonwoo pulls you close again to connect his mouth with yours once again. "I think I've been ready from the moment you gave me that spare key, sweetheart."
iii. your heart is in a safe space between my words
There was something particular that always caught your eyes whenever you would casually pass by Wonwoo's desk.
A stack of sticky notes, and a ballpoint pen.
As miniscule as they are, there's something about the way the stack grows smaller over time and the way the pen seems to be slowly losing its ink that makes your heart flutter.
It started off with a simple note you found one day in your lunchbox at work: You're doing great, my love. Have a good day at work!
At first, you didn't think much of it. After all, it was just a little note from Wonwoo, but as you read over the words a hundred times, warmth was quick to sprout within you like a flower seeking the sunlight. And somehow on that same day, not a single cloud had drifted over the sky like the weather had previously forecasted.
From there, that little note was the start of a tradition between you and Wonwoo. Every day, he would leave a sticky note for you somewhere you wouldn't expect itđyour bag, your lunch, the mirror of the bathroom, on the screen of your laptop, or even on the cute kitten plushie that hung in your car.
And every day, you found yourself looking forward to these small treasures, your heart racing in anticipation each morning. What would Wonwoo write today?
Today, however, the stack of sticky notes had emptied out.
You don't mind it too much, though; in fact, it still fills your heart nonetheless, knowing that he had shared each note with you so thoughtfully. After all, just thinking about him is enough to get you through the entirety of the day.
Unfortunately, the day goes particularly sluggish. A bunch of workload had been dumped on you, and you nearly get into an argument with your team manager over some stupid revisions to a project that you didn't agree with. Heavy frustration had settled on your chest during the slow hours that pass, yet somehow, you manage to get through the day with gritted teeth.
When the work day finally ends, you find yourself hurrying on the way home just before traffic could reach its peak rush. As you finally pull into the parking space outside your apartment, a wave of relief washes over you. You step out of the car and make your way to the front door, the familiar scent of home swirling around you like the smell of fresh dinner.
As you enter the apartment, you relish in the familiar scent of home with a deep inhale, and you can already feel the stress of the day beginning to melt away.
"Wonwoo?" You call out as you slip your shoes off and place them next to Wonwoo's on the floor.
Silence is all that greets you. Making your way through the small hall way, you peek into the living room. It's quiet, the weak glow from the lamp casts long shadows across the furniture, and it doesn't take you long to spot your boyfriend sitting on the couch.
There's a book in his hands, earphones in place, and he seems completely engrossed in whatever he's reading. You can't help but smile at the sightđhis brow furrowed in concentration and the corners of his lips twitching up slightly, the subtle flick of his fingers turning each page as if he's savouring each word.
You approach him quietly, and after turning one more page, he glances up and notices your presence. He pulls one earbud out and sets the book down, already scooting a bit on the couch so that you can sit down.
"Hello, beautiful," he coos lightly, eyes lighting up as he takes you in.
"Hi," You breathe out tiredly. Instead of sitting next to him on the couch, you decide on letting your body fall on top of him, making him let out a tiny oof. "'m tired."
Wonwoo chuckles softly, his arms instinctively wrapping around you as you snuggle into his embrace. "Long day?"
"Very long," You mumble into his neck. "and missed you."
"Missed you too," Wonwoo whispers back, pressing a kiss to the top of your head.
You let out a content sigh as the warmth radiating from his body seeps into you, and you feel grateful for the safe haven he provides after a day that felt like it would never end. It feels like home.
"Tell me about your day," he prods carefully, his fingers tenderly carding through your strands of hair.
You pull away a bit to meet his gaze. "Well, it started off okay, but it just... snowballed. A lot of meetings, and my manager was being difficult again. I almost lost it over a few stupid revisions."
Wonwoo's expression turns serious, a slight frown tugging at his lips as he processes your words. "Iâm sorry, love. That sounds really frustrating."
"It's okay. I'm home now," You say as you slide your body in the spot right next to him on the couch. "Just felt like I was drowning all day."
"Then let me help you float," Wonwoo offers. His thumb begins to stroke your arm soothingly, and you can feel the tension in your muscles slowly releasing under his touch. "I'm proud of you for getting through today. It's not easy, but you always find a way to push through. And remember, it's okay to have days like this. It doesnât define you. You are so capable, and I'm always here to remind you of that, okay?"
You blink at him, feeling the corners of your eyes prick with heat. "Wonwoo..."
"I'm serious, my love," he insists earnestly. "Sometimes I think you forget how incredible you truly are."
You can't help but let a small smile break across your face, but you shake your head slightly. "You give me so much more credit than I deserve."
"That's where you're wrong," he replies soothingly, his voice steady as he continues to meet your gaze. "You deserve every bit of credit, and Iâll keep reminding you until you believe it too."
His words fill the space between you, wrapping around your bodyđyour heartđlike a soft blanket on a cold day.
You let out a shaky breath and lean in closer, pressing your forehead to his. "Thank you. You always know what to say."
"That's my job, precious," Wonwoo murmurs, placing a kiss to the tip of your nose. "Glad to see I'm doing it well."
"You want compensation for that?" You quirk up a teasing brow.
Wonwoo just simply smiles, before cupping your face in his hand and landing a firm kiss right at your lips, and it's filled with the reassurance you've desperately craved for the entire day.
When you pull away, your cheeks are flushed, and you can't help but grin at him, feeling lighter than before. You press your body against his once again, settling into the comfortable embrace as he wraps his arms around you tighter.
"By the way," You say, voice muffled against his shoulder. "I noticed the sticky notes were gone today."
Wonwoo shifts slightly, his fingers still tangled in your hair, and you can feel him smile against your shoulder. "Ah, yeah... I thought I had more, but I guess I didn't. I'm sorry."
"No, it's okay. I just..." You purse your lips together, tracing lazy patterns on top of his hand. "I just really look forward to them. They brighten my day, you know?"
Wonwoo tilts his head adorably, studying you for a moment. "You really like them that much?"
"I do!" You admit, smiling against his shoulder. "They make me feel really special."
Wonwoo hums thoughtfully. "I'll make a trip to the store tomorrow then."
"If you do, buy another stack, please."
You pause, feeling a bit embarrassed by how eagerly you're clinging to the idea of these little notes. But before you can add anything, Wonwoo pulls back just enough to look at you, a playful glint in his eyes.
You giggle when you meet his gaze. "Not for you though, for me. I want to start writing you notes too."
Wonwoo's eyebrows raise in surprise, a soft laugh escaping his lips. "I'll be looking forward to it then."
And in the morning, perhaps you'll leave the first note.
iv. it's not what i place in your hands, but what i place in your life
The blinding lights of your vanity shine down on you as you unclip a silver bracelet from around your wrist, placing it gently on the surface of the dresser, the charms clinging together as they settle. It's a bracelet he had gifted you a while backđyou had worn it every day since.
Fatigue slowly starts to plague your body as you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror. You had treated Wonwoo to a date today, and these days, it's rare for you to plan one because he's always the one taking up all those opportunities. It's a tad bit unfair sometimes, but once you got the chance the flip the script, you took it right away.
The door to the bedroom creaks open, and you glance up to see Wonwoo coming inside, still wearing the outfit he had worn for the date. As he catches your eye, a smile lights up his face.
"Hello," he greets, coming up to you from behind, the light shining on his form as he rests his hand on both of your shoulders as you continue to shed off the jewelry you were wearing, giving you a few squeezes.
"Hey," You greet him back, feeling your shoulders relax from his touch.
"Thank you for tonight," he adds fondly. "I had a really great time."
The sincerity in his voice tugs at your heartstrings, a doting smile on your face displayed in the mirror.
"I'm glad," You reply, turning slightly to catch a glimpse of his expression. "Thought you deserved at least a little pampering from me. You always plan things for us."
Wonwoo's eyes sparkle with appreciation, and he takes a step closer, lightly massaging your shoulders with his thumbs. "That only makes me want to step up my game even more, honey."
A pout crosses your face at that, crossing your arms playfully. "No competition here. I just wanted to treat you for once."
"Fair enough," he declares, letting his hands fall back to his side, watching closely as you start to fall into the rhythm of your nighttime routine.
He catches a glimpse of all your jewelry scattered across your vanity, and it warms his heart to see a mixture of some stuff he's personally bought for you, and some pieces that you've picked out on your own over the years.
Wonwoo brings his own hand up to undo his watch and sets it down beside your bracelet, the two pieces contrasting yet complementing each other beautifully. He knows that you aren't biggest person on gifts, yet he loves that you still cherish every little thing he gives you. That's enough for him.
"Think I should invest in getting you a jewelry box for all these," he jokes, trying to lighten the moment as he admires the collection.
You say something in response that he's hardly able to catch, a pitter-patter of hesitation clouding above his head. Unnoticeably, he shoves a hand into the pocket of his pants, fingers fidgeting against something in there. The nerves twist in his stomach, and he takes a moment to compose himself.
"...I just don't get how some people can easily organise all their stuff. I can hardly keep my own desk clean at work!"
Wonwoo nods, forcing a smile that doesnât quite reach his eyes as his mind races.
"...but I think a jewelry box could work. There's one that I saw at this store I passed byđ"
"Sweetheart."
You cut yourself off from your rambling, concern knitting your brows at how suddenly serious he looks. "Yeah?"
He hesitates, glancing at the watch he just set down. "I want to give you something."
There's nervousness in his expression that you see, and you turn your body to fully face him, waiting for him to continue.
Wonwoo opens his mouth as if to declare something, before shutting it quickly. Then he simply takes something out of his pocket, and you watch as he opens up his hand, underneath revealing a delicate-looking necklace resting on his palm, the pendant gleaming under the light.
"A necklace?" You ask him curiously.
"My mom's necklace," he clarifies quietly. "She wore it all the time when I was growing up. It's been passed down in our family, and I thought... I thought maybe you'd want to have it."
Your eyes widen as you lean closer to the shimmering piece, taking in its intricate design. "It's beautiful." You reach out to lightly touch the pendant, before looking back up at him. "Are you really sure?"
He nods slowly. "My mom always said it brought her strength and comfort, and I only hope it could do the same for you."
A lump forms in your throat as you process his words, but the steadiness he attempts to hold in his face reassures you.
"I'll cherish and protect it with my life," You promise him. "Thank you for trusting me with something so important to you.â
Wonwoo just smilesđthere's something bittersweet about itđhis shoulders relaxing as he watches you admire the necklace. "Can I help you put it on?"
You nod, turning your back to him, meeting eyes with your nervous reflection back in the mirror. He carefully clasps the necklace around your neck, his fingers brushing just the slightest over your skin. You feel the cold pendant settle gently against your collarbone, catching the light in a way that feels almost magical.
"There," he whispers, stepping back slightly to admire how the necklace complements your figure. "It looks perfect on you."
You reach up to touch the pendant, the meaning it carries heavier than the weight itself. You meet his eyes through the mirror, taking in his eyes that holds both certainty and vulnerability, and that small, proud smile he wears, as if he's laying his heart completely bare for you.
And you'll treat it with all the care it deservesđgently, without reservation.
v. your skin is the map where my love finds its way home
"I'm taken, sorry."
Usually, that kind of statement would drive someone away right off the bat, but the man that's looming in front of youđwith breath that reeked of alcohol and a smug, ugly-toothed grin plastered on his faceđonly inches even closer, and you can feel the discomfort coil tighter in your stomach.
"What kind of boytoy leaves a pretty thing like you sitting here all alone then?" the man sneers, holding you in place with his lecherous, glassy gaze. "Come on, darling. We could have a little fun somewhere else."
"My husband is in the bathroom and we're on our honeymoon," You rebuke sharply. "and I don't think he would appreciate you being here."
The man eyes you up and down, huffing out a low laugh that sends a shiver of unease down your spine.
"I don't see a ring on that finger of yours, sweetheart," he taunts, leaning in closer. You can feel the heat radiating off him, and it makes your skin crawl.
The hairs on the back of your neck stand on end as you shift uncomfortably in your seat, trying to create some distance between you and the man. For all the wrong reasons, the man is right about how your ring isn't on your finger, and you can feel the panic increasing in your system. You knew you were wearing it for the entirety of the day, yet as you feel around your finger.
You remember taking it to wash your hands in the restroom, but you could've sworn you slipped it back on before leaving.
Where the hell did it go? "Iđ" You stammer anxiously. "I must have dropped it."
This only fuels the man's smugness. "See? No ring means no commitment. What's stopping us from having a little fun, huh?"
You can hear your heart pulsing up to your ears in panic while desperately scanning the confined area for any sign of your lost ring, but it's hard to think clearly when he's so close to you.
Just as the anxiety was about to overwhelm you, a voice cuts through the haze of discomfort.
"What's going on here?"
You peer up to see Wonwoo approaching, the sleeves of his button-up rolled up to his elbows and a frown creasing his brow. The sight of him instantly eases some of your tension, but the man in front of you doesn't back down. Instead, he sneers, his demeanour shifting as he sizes up Wonwoo, who doesn't even look the slightest bit intimidated by the drunken man.
"Who do you think you are?" the man slurs.
"I'm their husband," Wonwoo replies flatly, his voice calm but edged with an unmistakable steeliness. He steps in closer to you, wrapping a protective arm around your waist and pulling you more towards him. "And I suggest you back the hell off."
"You think you can just scare me off?" the man growls, trying to regain his composure. "I was just having a little fun. No need to get all riled up."
"Then go take your drunken ass somewhere else to have fun," Wonwoo snaps back harshly, voice lowering to a threatening tone that sends a clear message.
"What's it to you? They're just a pretty face," he spits and snickers, belittling you as if you were nothing more than an object.
"I don't care what you think, jackass," Wonwoo retorts, his grip around your waist tightening; even then you feel the way he's tracing soothingly over your hip. "Walk away before I call security on you for harassing my partner."
The man fixes you and Wonwoo with a callous glare, scoffing dismissively under his breath before turning on his heel and stumbling away toward the bar of the restaurant. The breath you've been holding in finally escapes out of you in a shaky sigh, relief flooding your system.
Wonwoo's hand remains firm on your waist, the other coming to interlock with yours comfortingly.
"Are you okay?" he asks, gaze softening as he returns all his attention back to you.
You give a nod. "Yeah, I-I'm fine. Thank you, I thought he wouldn't go away but he kept pestering me and wouldn't leave, and then I saw that my ring wasn't on my finger and I..." You quickly cut your words off, taking another deep breath. "I'm sorry, I thought I put it on when I left the restroom earlier, butđ"
With a small smile, he reaches into the pocket of his button-up, and there it is: your ring, the diamond on it sparkling under the glow of the restaurant lights. Your heart swells at the sight, relief flooding your chest.
"I found it at the bar when I was coming back. The bartender turned it in," he explains, while carefully slipping the ring back up at your finger. You can't help but smile affectionately as he adjusts it, feeling the cool metal settle back into place.
"Thank you," You tell him. "I was starting to freak out."
"Don't worry," Wonwoo reassures you, letting his thumb brush over the ring on your finger, before bringing your hand up to plant a kiss on your knuckle. "I won't let anything happen to you, okay?"
You take a moment to collect yourself. As the weight of the situation lifts, you feel a warmth spread through you, not just from the relief but also from the way Wonwoo is looking at youđsoft, protective, and so utterly devoted.
"Come on, let's go get some gelato and then head back to the hotel." Wonwoo helps you up from the seat, his hand never leaving your waist as he guides you through the bustling restaurant and back outside.
As you walk together, he never lets go of your hand, instinctively squeezing gently every now and then and drawing lazy shapes on your palm as you wait for your gelato. You catch glimpses of other couples around you, their hands linked in similar gestures, but none feel quite like this.
Wonwoo wasn't much of a public display of affection kind of person, but in these moments, he feels different. And you weren't complaining at allđyou love when he's not afraid to remind the world of his affection for you.
After treating yourself with gelato (well, Wonwoo had paid for yours, even when you protested no), both of you make your way back to the hotel. The moment the cool air of the room hits your face, a wave of exhaustion courses through you as you place yourself at the edge of the bed.
"Wow, that was a day," You mutter, leaning over to begin removing your shoes, yet Wonwoo is quick to kneel down before you, gently encouraging your hands away. He helps slip them off your feet with a careful, tender touch. His fingers graze against your skin as he sets your shoes aside.
"There," he says with a small smile, looking up at you. "Better?"
You nod, feeling the tension in your muscles begin to ease. "Much better, thank you."
You watch with half-lidded eyes as he stands back up to sit himself down on the bed right behind you, the mattress dipping with his weight. The warmth from his body presses against your back, his hands coming up to caress up and down your arm.
His breath hits the skin of your nape, and that alone was enough to send goosebumps surging through you. He's awfully close to you now, close enough that his lips are just barely ghosting your skin.
He trails his fingers from your shoulder down to your wrist, and you can't help but shiver when he leans in, his lips landing a featherlight kiss to the top of your shoulder, then slowly, they trail up to the curve of your neck, planting brief, lingering kisses that make you melt in his hold.
"Won..." You whisper, your voice nearly lost in the quiet of the room.
Wonwoo only hums in response, his lips landing to the sensitive spot right below your ear, and you feel a slight shiver ripple through you, your breath hitching as he pauses there, savouring the closeness.
"You have no idea..." he rasps lowly against your ear. "...how much I love knowing you're mine."
Your breath hitches at that, his words etching like a scar in your mind as his hands come to toy playfully with the strap of the dress you wore, before leisurely bringing it down your shoulder.
You don't even have to look at him to see the subtle smirk to his face, his mouth trailing its way down from your nape and to the delicate curve of your shoulder, where he presses another tender kiss, this time lingering just a bit longer, eliciting a hushed sigh from you.
After a few moments, you shift your body around so that you're facing him, and the heat of his gaze sends your heart racing. Swiftly, he pulls you closer, basically placing you on top of him as your legs straddle his waist.
A nervous giggle tumbles out of you. "Hi."
Wonwoo's face melts into a soft smile. "Hello."
You aren't sure who leans in first, but suddenly your lips are brushing against his. His hands find their way to your waist, fingers pressing gently into your sides as he deepens the kiss.
"I love you."
"I love you too," he breathes against your lips, hands roaming from your waist to the small of your back and pressing you flush against him, erasing any remaining space between you.
After a few more kisses, you pull away slightly, locking a firm gaze with the man right beneath your touch.
"So," You start, an impish look to your face. "You're my husband now."
Wonwoo's lips curve into a smirk, and he raises an eyebrow, leaning back slightly as he holds your gaze. "That seems to be the case."
A light laugh escapes you as you lean in closer, feeling the delicate fabric of his shirt beneath your fingertips. Your eyes drop momentarily to the buttons of his shirt, and without thinking, your fingers instinctively begin to unbutton the first few, revealing a glimpse of his toned chest beneath.
His breath hitches at your touch. "Love..."
"You don't have to hold back, you know," You whisper between kisses, a playful tone to your voice along with a twinge of softness.
Wonwoo sucks in a deep breath at that, reaching up to push some strands of hair behind your ear. All he could do right now is simply stare at you, admire you, knowing damn well heâll fly to the skies and catch a star if you asked for one.
"I know," he mumbles quietly. "Just want you to be comfortable."
"I am comfortable," You assure him calmly, your fingers still playing with the buttons of his shirt. Each small tug reveals a bit more of him, and you marvel at how his skin glows under the dim light.
For a moment, he studies your expression for any hesitation, before slowly dragging the other strap of your dress down your arm, exposing more of your skin to him to worship, to map out with the tender graze of his fingertips, almost as if heâs tracing constellations on your skin. The chill of the hotel rooms sends goosebumps dancing down your body, but his warmth quickly envelops you as he leans down, peppering loving kisses along your collarbone.
"You're beautiful," he mutters, letting his hands glide over your skin, tiny sparks emitting from his fingertips. His words drip of adoration. "Can I?"
You take note of the way his mouth twitches up into a satisfied grin when he looks back up at you. Even with all the longing he's showing you right now in the way he's holding you, touching you, there's still that undeniable softness that hasn't seemed to lose its spark since he's laid eyes on you all those years ago.
"You can," You answer simply. "You can have me."
Your words send a shudder through him, his heart pounding against his ribcage at the invitation.
"You're going to be the death of me, you know that?" A breathless laugh escapes his lips as he captures your chin gently with his hand.
This only brings a smirk to your face.
"Then let me be your heaven."
That's all it takes. Wonwoo knows that he's playing with fire, but getting burned by you is a risk he's more than willing to fuel.
â Warning: suggestive speech and content, cursing, violence, weapons, stabbing, blood, hostage situation, mentions of domestic violence (not against MC)
â Word count: 27.6k
â Rating: mature, nsfw
â Genre: Iron Man!AU, humour, Marvel references, superheroes!au, workplace!au, they can't stand each other but end up working together!au
â Summary: Each day you wake up wondering what you did in a previous life to deserve your prick of a boss, who is also a womanizer and owns a company that made him a millionaire. But the job pays well, and there's Mrs. Bae too, so you suck it up. But one unfortunate event at the metro station seems to change your life for the better (?).
A/N: I actually thought I could make this oneshot 15~18k, who's the clown here now? Hii, hello, welcome back my lovelies to a completely random and uncalled for Marvel oneshot that is humorous (I hope so) but also deals with serious topics. For the sake of the story, Mingi is aged up and is closer to his thirties and our MC is around 25-ish, though unspecified, and Mrs. Bae, who is Irene/Bae Joohyun, is aged up a lot lmao, so yes, Yunho is younger than everyone ~oops. I think this is all I wanted to say, sorry for mistakes 'cuz some always somehow slip through, and if I missed tagging any warning lmk. I appreciate your feedback lots, so let me know what you thought of this little story, and I hope you enjoy! Thank you for reading ^^ divider
đžïž(you can find my Spiderman!Yunho oneshot here)
           S. Industries, the name of the tallest building in our city is owned by possibly one of the cityâs most affluent men. From engineering and producing weapons that are shipped out to other countries with masses, to fabricating gadgets and small electronic devices that have Mr. Songâs artificial intelligent assistant implemented in them, to joining a collaboration with Mercedes-Benz to produce a prototype never heard of before, S. Industries seemed to do a little bit of everything. Engineers of the best calibre fought to get a spot in the team and those fired often found themselves lost and devastated by their predicament. Smart and important people worked here, people who had a vision and had set their minds on changing the world. Mr. Song, the embarrassingly rich owner of the enterprise, seemed to have flamboyant and insane ideas often, yet, they somehow always managed to work out in his favour. There was rarely a day where Mr. Song wasnât on the news or TV, smirking and winking at the cameras as he flirted with the reporters into oblivionâthese were the good scenarios because there were days when instead of appearing for his good deeds and world-changing innovations, he appeared in scandalous hypostasizes that had to be fixed by none other than me.
He was exactly the man youâd imagine a young and super-rich CEO would be like. He drank and partied as long as the night lasted, and when dusk came, heâd bring ladies into his bed to satisfy his insatiable needs. No woman lasted long by his side, perhaps because his personality was truly dislikeable or perhaps because he couldnât keep it in his pants for too long. There had been multiple occasions when security had to escort his screaming exes out while Mr. Song hid away in his office with his tail between his legs and the excuse that he was too busy working, meanwhile, he was busy whining and nursing his hangover. But he also liked to act like he was the bigger and better person in the room, often with his eyebrows furrowed and with disgust on his features as he looked at you above his narrow glasses and judged whatever came out of your mouth. I couldnât fully understand the women that surrounded me and their desperation to be noticed by the CEO. Despite his very obvious good looks, I always thought his bad personality ruined even the thought of finding him attractive in the true sense of the wordâmeaning inside out. Sure, for a one-night-stand, the man was probably a perfect partner, but even then, I wouldnât have wanted to be another body count added to his long and never-ending list so that he can gloat about it to his buddies while they have a beerâor wine, whatever thing these fancy people drink on a night out if they even do those.Â
And Mr. Song was shameless, he very obviously did not care about the working environment and neither about the fact that there was a power imbalance each time he decided to sleep with one of his employees. I yet had to see the day when it didnât end up with his temporary partner fired as Mr. Song claimed that he was uncomfortable by their overbearing presence, irritated by the constant attention he got from said employeeâor victim, as I liked to call them. The longest an employee he hooked up with managed to continue staying at the firm was two weeks and that one ended on a pretty bad noteâshe now has a restricting order on her hands, Mr Song doesnât play around despite his often easy-going façade. I wasnât one to be quick to judge, but I was thoroughly bothered and disgusted by the lack of care Mr. Song seemingly had towards his female employees, the nonchalance with which he dismissed others never ceased to make my blood boil.
And if it wasnât enough that he was a womanizer, he was also a jerk to his employees when he so happened to ânot be in the moodâ, which translated to him getting up on the wrong side of the bed and so he had the right to be pissy and offensive to everyone around himself, including his so very sweet secretary that I swore to protect with my whole being. Mrs. Bae was an elderly lady who was in excellent shape and an absolute professional in everything she did, she was so eager to teach me everything I needed to know about administrative work as when I had joined S. Industries, I was still fresh out of college with barely any experience. Mrs. Bae was also very loyal to Mr. Song, for some reason, and she was diligent in her work and spent way too much time at the office, fixing Mr. Songâs messes that shouldnât have been committed in the first place. But if there was anyone in this goddamn office that had even a little bit of control over Mr. Song, then it sure as hell was Mrs. Bae as sheâd often storm inside his office without knockingâdisregarding the fact that her boss might be in the midst of unloading his stress, if you know what I meanâand sheâd absolutely put him in his place, scrutinizing him as a disappointed mother would with her disobeying child.
But still, that was just Mrs Bae, others werenât so lucky. If Mr. Song decided he didnât like you, you were dead meat, nobody would want to associate themselves with you, and oftentimes those employees would resign on their own, aware that the entirety of S. Industries had just rejected them. And this wasnât all, Mr. Song also spoke with little respect and consideration, eyes often narrowed and eyebrows furrowed as he scowled and interrupted your speech, embarrassing you in front of your colleagues and unjustly dismissing your hard work. He would also laugh if you made a mistake or if your idea was catalogued as not good enough, sending most of his employees into an existential crisis whenever he did this. It was sad, truly, having to watch my colleagues crumble day by day. I, thankfully, had rarely come in direct contact with Mr. Song as I was a mere secretary assistant, but because Mrs. Bae was basically his right hand, I shared the same floor with her and our boss. That, however, meant that despite usually being overlooked by Mr. Song, I got to watch all of his shenanigans unfold, unable to do or say anything.
Working here has definitely taught me patience and Mrs. Bae advised me to just try and ignore Mr. Song unless I had to work with him directly, apparently, there was nothing he hated more than being ignored. He acted like a damn child that was desperate for attention and not like a man with a very serious burden on his hands, with one of the strongest industries in his hands, able to control the outcome of wars even if he so wished. I had yet to see the day Mr. Song acted like a decent human being, compassionate and understanding, kind and less of a prick.
So, knowing all that, you must understand my honest reaction to finding out that Mrs. Bae had fallen so ill that she had to be hospitalized, scaring half of the company to death when she sent us an e-mail. Of course, in true fashion to her, it was worded professionally and she asked us not to worry but to work even harder in her absence, and then she assigned all her subordinates what their respective assignments would be in her absence. When I had reached my name on the list and read that I was to replace her since I knew everything about management and Mr. Songâs schedule, I was pretty much devastated. There was no definite time of when Mrs. Bae would return and that meant that I could be working as her replacement for a day, maybe a week, or even three years. I knew I would barely last one day by Mr. Songâs side, let alone three years. And, because this devastating news called for a cold jug of beer to drown my sorrows in, my poor best friend had been the one to suffer through a drunken night of me going off about my boss, calling him names and describing atrocious ways of how I would bring his demise forth if it were only legal.
But Sooyoung was a good friend, sheâs been with me since fifth grade, and she sat through the night and giggled whenever I hiccupped or started speaking too loudly, to the point I had people turning our way as I cursed Mr. Songâs name. She was an angel and a sweetheart as she carried my heavy body home that night, giggling and snapping pictures when I told her I felt like throwing up and that I needed a breather. She called her boyfriend when she realized I wasnât able to walk anymore, my high heels long abandoned and in my hands as the freezing ground was none of my concerns at that moment as my eyes bore into a billboard that had Mr. Songâs sharp face and sexy smirk displayed.
âYouâre the devil!â I was sure my voice was loud enough to wake the whole neighbourhood as I stumbled to my feet, pointing a finger at the billboard as Sooyoung spoke on the phone, âIâm going to get you, Song Mingi!â
I huffed and glared at the manâs small and narrowed eyes, shivering when a cold breeze blew past us, âDonât smirk at me, fucker.â
There was a loud giggle behind me and then the slam of a door and I heard my best friend pocket her phone as two sets of footsteps neared me, âYou see that monstrosity? He picks his nose when he thinks nobody is watching, the fucker forgets to turn on the blurring effect to his windows, and I get to see him lazing around his office the whole day, meanwhile, I have to delete articles and call up journalists and beg them not to publish their next issue about how Song Mingi fucked four women and gave them chlamydia or whatever.â
I was sure my words came out jumbled and less clear than they sounded in my head, and I flinched when high-pitched laughter made my ears ring, way higher than Sooyoungâs had ever been. With my head spinning and bile rising in my throat, I swung around and narrowed my eyes at my best friendâs boyfriend. He laughed a lot, loudly mostly, and if I found it cute sober, I absolutely loathed it while drunk, âShut up, fucker!â
âOr youâll beat me up like youâll beat up our boss?â He teased with a mischievous glint in his eyes and I snorted, pulling my shoulders back as I banged on my chest.
âI sure will!â I called loudly and the guy just started giggling again, meanwhile, Sooyoung just shook her head with an amused expression on her face.
âLetâs get her inside the car, Wooyoung, I donât want her to catch a cold.â
âWhy is she even so drunk?â
âMrs. Bae is really sick and Y/N is to replace her.â
âOh, so sheâll be finally working with Mr. Song directly?â
âExactly.â
I groaned and bared my teeth at nothing in particular as Wooyoung and Sooyoung came up on both sides of me to hold me up and walk me towards Wooyoungâs running car, that fucker, he was an engineer at S. Industries and he was rich enough to afford himself a really nice car. A Mercedes-Benz, to be exact, thanks to the collaboration the two companies had going on. For once, I hoped Mr. Songâs project went terribly and Iâd have to answer the calls with a smile on my face and then feign mock disappointment when Iâd relay the message to Mr. Song. Surely the failure of one project wouldnât bring the downfall of S. Industries.
âWell, Y/N, at least thereâll be a raise in the paycheck this month.â A particularly hard slap to my back had the bile in my throat rising until it wasnât inside my mouth anymore at all, but on the sidewalk instead, as Wooyoung shrieked and Sooyoung just sighed, holding my hair back for me as I doubled over and violently emptied the contents of my stomach.
That whole ordeal was three days ago, on a Friday evening, when Mrs. Bae delivered the devastating news. Now, it was Monday and my muscles were tense and my teeth were gritting as I exited the metro and took the escalator, feet already aching from the blisters my other heels left on them. I seriously wanted to die, but Wooyoung was right for once in his life, I would at least get a raise for filling in for Mrs. Bae, but at what cost? The only joy I could find in the horrible day I had ahead of me was my iced caramel macchiato in my hands and the fact that the metro was right next to the building I used to love working at up until three days ago. Higher paycheck or not, I found myself wondering whether it was worth it if I had to work directly with Mr. Song.
I plastered on a smile despite my sour mood as I entered the intimidatingly tall building and greeted the receptionists, who apparently knew of my predicament as they sported matching looks of pity. If there were other women who didnât fall for Mr. Songâs charming persona, excluding Mrs. Bae who was too old to entertain such a young boy and was busy scolding him whenever she could, then in the receptionists I knew I could trust. One of them had a bad run-in with Mr. Song and ever since the two stayed far away from him, sharing my displeasure whenever I came down to have lunch with them. They were sisters and foreigners, yet their knowledge of the language oftentimes surpassed mine, never failing to take me off guard as I watched them with a grin on my lips. They were both in college and apparently, a really pricey one if they resorted to working at S. Industries.
I scanned my badge at the entrance gate and nodded at the security guard, Chanyeol, who looked more like a club bouncer than a security guard at a high-tech company, closely surveyed and littered with cameras in every nook and cranny. The elevator ride up to the top floor was rather lacklustre and filled with silence beside the generic music coming through the speakers, and I basked in the ignorance the engineers exerted towards me, nothing out of the ordinary. But when they got off on their floor, I found myself fidgeting as I still had ten more floors up, turning around to check myself out in the huge mirror. It wasnât even my first day here, yet I felt jittery and questioned my choice of clothing despite it being what I usually wore. A black pencil skirt that stuck to my frame uncomfortably paired with a white off-shoulder blouse that was tucked inside, a dainty belt bringing the look together nicely. My black high-heels werenât as uncomfortable as the ones I had worn on Fridayâthey were still newâand I couldnât wait to sit down and step out of them. I have pulled my hair in a bun and strategically pulled out front pieces that I curled, framing my face if I didnât want to look like an egg due to the oval shape of my face. My makeup was soft and natural looking except for the red lipstick, and I found myself playing with the small cross pendant around my neck, waiting for the elevator doors to open as I reached the top floor.
The hall, my little office, Mr. Songâs huge office, and the small kitchen were all dark, signalling that I was the first one to arrive at work. Of course, that was no surprise as there were days when Mr. Song would come in just a few hours before it was time to go home for his employees, and then heâd usually find something faulty with everything, thus forcing everyone to stay after hours. I hoped today wasnât a day like that because I was sure Iâd end up fired by the evening, something I couldnât afford as I had just moved to my new apartment and the rent was rather high, but the area was good and it was a lot closer to my job, so I couldnât complain. I switched on the lights as I walked towards Mrs. Baeâs desk, now mine until she returned, and I hung my coat on the hanger, placing my purse on the floor just next to it. I powered on the desk computer and headed for the kitchen to prepare coffee for Mr. Song. I had decided to take this burden off Mrs. Baeâs shoulders back when I had joined the company, so I knew his preference by heart, unfortunately.
I watched the coffee machine with unfocused eyes as I ran through in my mind the schedule I had closely studied yesterday. Mr. Song had a meeting before lunch with the engineers about the prototype they were developing, which could take quite a few hours if he was in a pissy mood, and after lunch he had another meeting with the company they were collaborating with, and since that was out of our hands I couldnât estimate the length of the meeting. Before his first meeting, however, I had to print the monthly expenses and bring them to him, and sometime along the dayâpreferably before lunch, was what Mrs. Baeâs note had saidâI had to fix a date and time with a local magazine for an editorial shoot they had been discussing with my boss for months now. The thought made me roll my eyes and I switched the coffee machine off, grabbing the oat milk out of the fridge and brown sugar from the cupboard. The coffee was just a little above half of the cup and I filled it up with the milk, putting in five teaspoonfuls of sugar. I wondered whether Mr. Song would realize I had mixed up his milk on purpose while making his coffeeâsince heâs lactose intolerantâif I ever got the courage to sabotage my boss even if it was silly. But today wasnât that day and I grabbed a tray and placed five cookies on a small plate before I placed both his coffee and the cookies on the tray. I would take them to his office and then print whatever he needed. If maybe I sneaked inside his office before he came in, then maybe I didnât have to face him often as Mrs. Bae would communicate with him through the phone despite them being just a few steps away from each other, I intended on doing that too.
But my steps halted as I returned to the lobby, eyebrows furrowing as the glass to Mr. Songâs office was blurred and light poured outside from underneath the closed door. Oh, had he come in early? My eyebrows furrowed as I wondered whether I was hallucinating, had I been so lost in thought I didnât hear the elevator, his footsteps, and the closing of the door? I could space out annoyingly well, so maybe that really was the case. I sighed and walked towards my desk, needing a second to gather my courage and steel my nerves as my eyes fell on the unlocked computer. So, Mr. Song not only came in earlier but he also unlocked Mrs. Baeâs computer before heading inside his office. That was rather confusing, and just when I had started wondering whether someone had broken in on our floor, I heard his unmistakable raspy and deep voice coming through the glass that separated us. I couldnât make out what he was saying, but it was Song Mingi, no doubt. Glancing at the door and then down at the computer, I decided that I didnât want to enter his office twice today if it really wasnât necessary so, I quickly printed the monthly expenses and bound them together after placing them in order. The numbers were so high that I struggled to read them correctly, but it wasnât surprising, the company was huge and what they expertise in was even bigger.
I grabbed the papers and the tray into my hands, mindful of my steps as I headed for Mr. Songâs office door, taking a deep breath as I paused in front of it. He was still talking, probably on the phone, and I decided it was best I slipped in and out while he was distracted, so I knocked and went inside without waiting for his answer.
âYes, I know.â His voice was harsh and tinged with annoyance as I veered my way around his office like an expert, having been inside too often. Who do you think cleaned up his mess and dusted off his shelves? Exactly, me because I couldnât handle watching Mrs. Bae ruin her already aching back and knees, âHonestly? I donât fucking care. I told you I couldnât design it and produce it in a month, so is it really my fault that your superiors are blaming you now?â
I was curious what this was about, but I knew my place and not to snoop around, so I just headed for his desk hopeful that Mr. Song wouldnât notice me as his chair was swivelled around to face the huge windows overlooking the bustling morning city, mist having settled in the distance where it was closer to the mountains. The view was beautiful from here and I often found myself gazing out the windows when I had to be inside Mr. Songâs office, wondering if Iâd ever earn enough to live in a penthouse, it was wishful thinking but at least it made me more determined to work harder.
âThen deal with it.â Mr. Song snapped as I placed the tray on the desk, in its usual spot, and my eyes fell on the back of his head as he scoffed loudly, his fingers drumming against the armrest of the leather chair he sat in. He was so tall that even his massive chair couldnât hide his form and my eyes stuck to his broad shoulders outlined by the shoulder pads of his black jacket before I snapped out of it and moved as quietly as possible to place the documents I had printed in the middle of the desk, âIâm not taking the blame for your incompetence, idiot, call me when you have a real reason to speak with me.â
Just as I had straightened up and took a step back, Mr. Song hung up and groaned as he threw his head back, eyes screwed shut as he groaned, âWhat a fucking idiot, he canât even design his own gadget and then Iâm at fault for prioritising real projects.â
Well, I was sure I wasnât meant to hear his whining and inner monologue said out loud, so I took a tentative step backwards, praying heâd remain with his eyes closed and with his back turned so that I could slip out of his office before heâd even realize I was in there. For a man who regarded himself so highly, he lacked the skill of being aware of his surroundings at all times, something I didnât mind for once. But my hopes were soon crushed as I stepped on something that made noise, eyes widening as I froze, watching as Mr. Songâs eyebrows furrowed for a second, âAh, Joohyun, morning. Can you please call upââ
Of course, heâd call Mrs. Bae by her name without any regard to her age and accomplishments, I wasnât even surprised he failed to respect the only person who remained stuck to his side in this company, vouching for him when nobody else did as few people liked the CEO. But his eyes opened and his words stuck in his throat as we made contact, albeit a little silly as his head had fallen off the headrest and he was looking at me cross-eyed. The speed with which he swivelled the chair around and fixed his posture should have been comical, but I knew what was coming and so I didnât enjoy it. The slight worry and annoyance were gone from his face in the blink of an eye, replaced with a chilling arrogance and a self-assured smirk as his eyes very shamelessly ran all over my body, checking me out. I clenched my jaw and fixed my posture as well, plastering on the corporate smile that I wished conveyed the message of âfuck yourself, Song Mingiâ, but it apparently didnât as he intertwined his fingers and placed his elbows on the table to lean forward, tongue poking out to lick his lips.
âMy, my, if only Joohyun looked anything like you, Iâd come in early every morning.â His smirk only spread wider, eyes shining with a newfound resolve as he waited eagerly for a reaction, for anything. But it didnât come as I remained impassive, eyes boring into his with nonchalance and coldness as I burned away on the inside, screaming and cursing at him in my mind. How dare he disrespect the lovely Mrs. Bae and disregard all her sacrifices made for his ungrateful ass just because I was young and relatively alright looking?!
âMrs. Bae is sick and until she returns I will be replacing her, but I suppose youâve been informed of the changes, sir.â I tried to keep my voice levelled so that I wouldnât snap at him, but it was a little hard as he bit his bottom lip when I addressed him as âsirâ. I didnât want to think about it for even a second and I suppressed a sigh as he leaned back in his chair, legs spreading wide as he let his eyes run over my body again. Fucker, I hope he swallows his coffee wrong, maybe I should prepare his coffee with regular milk from now on, âThe monthly expenses and payments that still have to be made are on the desk, sir, I have printed them as Mrs. Bae does.â
He glanced at the bound paperwork for a second before his lips pursed, eyes falling back on me. There was a slight change to his features, the quick glimmer of curiosity as he regarded me with inquiring eyes, but it was gone again as he rubbed his plump bottom lip with his forefinger, his hands littered with rings that were huge and somehow looked classy on him instead of making him look like a wannabe punk. For a CEO, he certainly wasnât afraid to dress however he wanted while still being mindful that he was at his workplace. Sometimes he wore suits that highlighted his body and muscles in the right way, turning heads and having me throw him a second glance as he waltzed inside his office, and sometimes he wore outfits that you only saw on the runway, like today. His attire was all-black, non-conferring to societyâs gender norms and unique in its way. He wore a blouse that seemed to fall a little lower on one shoulder, tucked inside pants that reached the floor with a skirt over them that reached just below his knees, his jacket cropped and with shoulder padding. The silver chains around his neck only added to the outfit and I couldnât deny that he was quite the sight to look at with his black hair pushed back, and his undercut fresh. It made him look sharper, it defined his high cheekbones, and with his hair pushed back like that his eyes only became sharper and more intimidating.
âTrying to leave an impression on me already, huh?â His chuckle was mocking and laced with an undertone that almost had me marching up to him and punching the shit out of him, âItâll take a few months before I can say whether youâre qualified for this job, sugar, newbies are great but they always fuck up, no offence.â
âNone taken,â I grinned, trying to contain my rage and pride to lengthen my stay at the company, âIâve been working here for four years, Mr. Song.â
He blinked once, then gulped, and then his eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he took me in again, but finally not with lustful eyes but plain confusion as he probably tried to recall a time heâd seen me before. Instead of being offended that my own boss, the man I shared a floor with and crossed paths with in the hallway more than once, didnât recognize me, I felt accomplished that I managed to dodge him for a complete four years. Weâve ridden the elevator together not once, but I huddled in the corner and always waited for him to get off first in order to stay out of his sight, I just couldnât stand the man and it was obvious to anyone with a pair of eyes.
âAh, perhaps if I hear your nameâŠâ He trailed off and then eyed his coffee, eyebrows twitching as his eyes lingered on them, hand reaching for a cookie reluctantly.
âFive teaspoonfuls of sugar and a quarter of oat milk, just the way you like it.â It actually felt freaking awesome seeing the confused and slightly taken aback expression on Mr. Songâs face, who knew Iâd enjoy being in his presence for once, âAnd Iâm Miss Jang.â
âJangâŠ?â He asked quickly but I just remained smiling, not about to tell him my name. He could look it up very easily with a search in the database, either way, if he was curious enough.
âIâm the secretary assistant, so donât worry, I know everything I need to know.â I ignored his question and took a step towards the door, signalling that I was out of his office in the next five seconds, âLetâs both pray Mrs. Bae returns fast, I quite enjoy shadowing her.â Instead of having to face you, but I didnât add that to my short speech.
Mr. Songâs eyes narrowed as he took in my retreating form and for a split second, I noticed annoyance on his features, making me feel victorious in a way I never imagined I could, âYeah, yeah, whatever. Sheâs too stubborn to remain sick for long, sheâll be back soon, but until then I expect nothing but excellence from you, I would hate to fire you if youâve been working for me for four years. Anyways, whenâs my first meeting?â
âAt eleven, sir.â I checked the time, two more hours until then.
âGood, call Miss Kim and tell her I have something to discuss with her.â He paused to grab his cup of coffee and I refrained from rolling my eyes at his theatrics, âTell her to come as fast as possible and that weâll talk in my office.â
Or fuck, is what he meant but didnât say. I hummed in order to swallow the scoff that threatened to leave my lips and bowed my head just slightly, in the way I knew it was enough to be respectful but still not that much. But Mr. Song wasnât looking at me anymore so he wouldnât see, he was too busy flipping through the paperwork as he sipped his coffee. I gripped the handle of the door but paused in the doorway, eyes falling on the unwrapped and empty package of a condom I had stepped on just minutes ago, âIâm not cleaning that up too, pick it you yourself, Mr. Song.â
And when his head snapped up with a scowl, eyes following the direction I was pointing at, he scoffed loudly and gave me a sharp glare. I smiled in a way that I knew couldnât outwardly be catalogued as a âfuck youâ smile, but it also made sure to convey that I wasnât dumb nor his rag that he could throw around and find amusement in. Then, without waiting to be dismissed, I slipped through the door and walked towards my desk, a smirk making its way on my lips as I graciously sat in Mrs. Baeâs chair, swivelling closer to the desk as I went to raise my hand and flip my boss off, but suddenly, the blur from the windows was gone and I went rigid, hand already midway raised. Mingiâs arm was outstretched as he held the controller, eyes glaring and fixed on me as I scoffed and returned his fierce glare, picking up the central telephone to dial Miss Kim and ask her to come to Mr. Songâs office.
I guess today would be exhausting in all the different ways I didnât think possible before.
           And I was right, it was exhausting in a way that had both my blood boiling and making me feel resigned as I was finally able to shut the computer off, the sun about to set any minute now. I had to stay for longer than expected as Mrs. Bae had a lot of workload, and without having an assistant to help out, I had to do it all on my own. I couldnât complain about that as long as Mrs. Bae was healthy and up on her feet in the following ways, I would fill in for her and work even nights because I respected her and loved her a lot. She was a motherly figure and a good guide for both office-related and life-related things. I couldnât wait to see her and hear her voice, already missing her dad jokes and shrill laughter. But perhaps what I missed the most was that she was the only one who could put Mr. Song in his place, something he desperately needed.
The blurry effect stayed off the windows the whole day and I felt Mr. Songâs sharp eyes on me more often than not, it was slowly driving me up the wall. I knew what he was playing at, he didnât like my attitude towards him and he was trying to find reasons to get rid of me. But he couldnât because I was trained by Mrs. Bae and I was damn good at my job, there was a reason why I survived four years at the company without working as an engineer or down at the lobbyâMr. Song rarely meddled with the lobby girls, and perhaps that was the only smart thing he was capable of doing. But now I had him on my back the whole day, making me uncomfortable as I sat in Mrs. Baeâs chair rigidly and with an aching back by how strained it was, fingers spasming from how much I had been typing away on the keyboard, and a crazy itch to finally go home. At least he wasnât a complete ass and told me to get lunch while he was in the meeting, even handing me his card which I, obviously, declined. He had a peculiar look in his eyes that I couldnât decipher, and then Wooyoung was up on our floor to fetch Mr. Song with a shit-eating grin on his lips.
âAh, my favourite person in the whole wide world!â He had called loudly while Mr. Song was inside his office, door open, gathering paperwork, files, and the jacket he had discarded hours ago. My eyes narrowed at Wooyoung as I paused writing the email for the editorial photoshoot and leaned forward, raising my chin.
âArenât you supposed to be annoying your engineer friends?â I raised an eyebrow as Wooyoungâs grin only grew in size, âYou seem to be lost, this isnât your floor, Dr Jung.â
Wooyoung gave me a deadpanned look at the title I used as he leaned forward, resting his arms against the top part of the desk, âDonât call me doctor at our workplace, dummy.â
âDonât call me a dummy at our workplace.â I mocked Wooyoung and he glared at me before he stole a gummy bear out of the bowl placed there for our clients.
âWell, I see youâre doing just fine,â Wooyoung spoke while chewing, eyes running over the place, âThe secretary role suits you; I should snap a picture for Sooyoung to see.â
âDonât you dare.â I snapped and stood up to snatch the bowl of gummies when Wooyoung went to grab another one, âItâs for the clients, Wooyoung, and stop bothering Sooyoung while sheâs at work. Besides, I already sent her a picture.â
âOf course you did.â He rolled his eyes and pouted as he swiftly leaned over the desk and managed to snatch a gummy still, making me gasp as my eyes widened, giving him a nasty look, âHowâs working with your worst nightmare? Have you flipped him off already? Or have you cursed his name out in the bathroom? I bet you switched up his milk for a regular one like, you said youâd doââ
âWooyoung, itâs nice seeing you on time for once.â Mr. Songâs sharp voice interrupted us, and I gave Wooyoung a warning look before I smoothed my skirt out and placed the bowl of gummies back in its place, âAlthough the blazer and your pants donât matchââ
âThey do!â Wooyoung cut our boss off with a whine as Mr. Song came closer, âMy fashion sense is better than yours.â
âYou wish,â I muttered under my breath as I settled in the chair, thinking that it was quiet enough, but both men looked at me at the same time, making my eyes widen for a fraction of a second. Mr. Songâs impassive façade broke as he gave me a smirk, plump lips pursing as he let his eyes drop to my collarbones and explore my exposed shoulders due to my blouse. I fought back an eye roll and just sighed as I looked back at Wooyoung, âTell Sooyoung when you see her that I might get off late, weâll postpone our dinner for another day.â
âYes!â Wooyoung fist bumped the air in glee and I fixed my glare on the side of his head as he eagerly took the files our boss was holding, âAfter Friday, I wouldnât have survived another drunken dinner so soon. Imagine my poor ears having to listen to you whine about ourââ
âGoodbye, Wooyoung.â I interrupted him with urgency, aware of the panic that coated my features as he snickered like the evil bastard he was, eyeing Song Mingi from the corner of his eyes as the man looked between us with curiosity written over his features. But then it was gone just as Wooyoung opened his mouth, Mr. Song was giving me a sharp look.
âCall Miss Kim and tell her thereâs been a change to our plans, Iâm busy tonight.â I wanted to tell him that I wasnât his messenger, but as his secretary, I pretty much was. I nodded and pulled my chair closer to the desk, getting ready to finish the email when Mr. Song continued, âAnd get back to work.â
I bit my tongue to refrain from wishing him a lovely descent into hell, and I knew I wasnât able to hide my irritated face well enough because Wooyoung snickered as Mr. Song took off towards the elevator, my best friendâs boyfriend lingering just behind him. He gave me a wink before he was right behind our boss, and I sighed as I got back to typing, catching the beginning of their conversation about some issues theyâd run into while designing the new prototype. But other than that quick interaction, Mr. Song ignored me for the rest of the day minus the fact that he was spying on me from his office whenever he could, eyes boring into the side of my head and making me type just a little harsher than necessary.
But Mr. Song said something about being busy and not wanting to be bothered anymore half an hour ago, and after he closed and locked his door, the glass became all blurry and I understood the message: I was dismissed, I could finally head homeâand head home I did, more eager than ever before. The metro was busy as most people were, similar to me, headed home and crowding the place. I stayed a decent distance away from the tracks and typed away on my phone as there was a commotion not too far from me. I didnât react to it, used to the loudness and sometimes crazy people that came down to ride the metro. However, my dismissal quickly turned into alarm when there was a loud shout and a pained cry followed right after it and people ran left and right, knocking into me and almost sending me to the dirty ground. I stumbled and tightened my grip on my phone, not understanding the sudden hysteria until it was too late.
The crowd had cleared up enough so that the scene was visible to me, and I gasped as a woman lay on the ground, clutching her side as blood pooled underneath her. Despite living in a big city where crime was inevitable, I had never come across a scene like this and I felt frozen, terrified, and all of a sudden too dumb to do anything. People were screaming around us, mostly male voices demanding something, but my eyes remained fixated on the crying woman as her hands trembled and sobs echoed despite the loud commotion. Someone next to me was calling the ambulance and cops, at least five men surrounded the wounded woman and screamed at someone that I still couldnât see, and just when somebody shoved me and told me to get away, I snapped out of it, but it was too late. A calloused hand was wrapped around my throat as cold metal pressed against my throat, already wet and dripping red with blood from the aggressorâs previous attack.
âDonât make me do it!â The man screamed at the top of his lungs as I was rendered frozen, heart beating out of my chest and breath stilled in my throat, âDonât make me kill her too!â
I went even more rigid, if possible, body shaking from fear as I remained silent, eyes darting around the place and silently crying out for help with my eyes, âListen, we can settle this, no need to harm her too.â
âYouâll immobilise me if I let her go,â The manâs voice that held me captive thundered over my head and I tried to gulp but was afraid the movement would make the blade cut into my skin, âIâm not going to jail. She had it coming, she was a cheating bitch!â
âAlright, we get it, man!â A man that was crouched next to the wailing woman snapped, eyes burning with passion as he turned to face us, âYou got what you wanted, the woman youâre holding right now is innocent, let her go.â
âDonât tell me what to do!â At the shout and jerk of my captorâs body, I whimpered and grabbed onto his sleeve as I felt the cold blade press much harder into my skin, making my lips tremble as I fought back tears. I tried to pull the manâs arm away, desperately so, but he was relatively stronger, âStop moving around, bitch, if you donât want to die!â
I was breathing hard by now, trying to keep it together, but I was failing as my vision became blurred by tears that I tried to hold in. I could hear sirens in the distance and the people around the woman fussed about as they tried to stop her bleeding, but it didnât seem to help. I wished someone would snatch me away from the psycho holding me and save me, but I knew the bleeding woman needed the help more than I didâunless I was injured too, who knew, maybe Iâd never get to see tomorrow. The thought was frightening and I gulped down another whimper as the man's fingers dug into my shoulder as he kept me pressed against himself, he was breathing even harder than I was, his chest moving up and down quickly against my back.
âListen, the woman youâre holding right now did nothing to you.â Another person tried to reason, a soft-spoken boy who was crouched right in front of the injured woman, hands bloody and eyes hardened, âSheâs a complete stranger to you, she doesnât even know who you are. If you want another personâs blood on your hands and a lifetime sentence, then by all means, go ahead and kill her too.â
I went to protest with a whine, but I felt the manâs grip loosen after a few seconds as he cursed under his breath. I was shaking, still clutching my purse in both of my hands as I had dropped the one holding onto the manâs arm out of fear of agitating him even more. Gasps could be heard above us, where the entrance of the metro was, and suddenly a peculiar sound filled the space. It sounded mechanical but not quite, hard and scraping like metal, and it was loud. The sirens were even louder now and I knew help was close by, I could only hope it came before I suffered any serious injuries. My heart was thumping so fast I was sure the artery in my neck was pulsating too, just the more inviting to be slashed or stabbed. The thought made me shudder and just as I was about to open my mouth and plead for my life too, something red and robot-like descended only a few feet away from us. Everyone gasped and murmured, my own eyes widened as I stared at the robot-like red machine, all armour and menacing looking from up close.
I had only seen Iron Man on TV, and suddenly, everything I had heard about the anonymous superhero seemed to be true. The person behind the iron armour was tall with wide shoulders and narrow hips as the costume moulded onto his body perfectly, and the personâs face was concealed by a mask that never came off, teasing the public of who could bear it. Despite knowing that the person behind the mask had no mal-intention and was here to rather save me, I couldnât help but watch it with doubtful eyes, intimidated by the loomingly tall body and firm structure of the costume. There was a collective moment of pure silence, everyone holding their breaths as they waited for Iron Man to do something. The man holding me cursed loudly this time and I gasped as my eyes widened, his knife digging into my skin so that it scrapped my skin. I bit my bottom lip and tried to refrain from crying despite every particle of my body crying out in desperation to be freed and finally saved.
âWell, what do we have here, huh?â The superheroâs voice sounded somewhat robotic, but it wasnât hard to make out that the personâs voice was grave, deep, and rather sharp as he spoke, âTerrorizing innocent women at the metro, is that a new hobby of yours? Did your mother not love you enough or what?â
âShut up!â The man screamed and made me flinch as it made my ears ring, and suddenly I doubted that Iron Man was here to save the day. Why in hell would he be antagonizing an armed man holding a hostage?! I hoped the superhero could see my glare as I blinked my tears away, suddenly my terror blending together with anger due to nobody doing anything to help me, âWhat the fuck do you know about love, you iron fucker?!â
The armoured man chuckled and it was raspy almost, âI donât fuck iron, but my costume is made of iron, hence the nameââ
âCut the attitude!â The man hissed and I gulped, fidgeting around and reaching inside my purse to see whether I had anything on me to use as a weapon to free myself since nobody was doing anything real to help me, âIâll kill this bitch!â
âDonât call her a bitch, you lowlife.â Iron Man snapped with irritation and I paused, eyes boring into the mask where its eyes were. At least Iron Man seemed to be a decent man when he wasnât mocking and teasing the criminal, âNow, Iâll tell you how this goesââ
âJust shut the fuck upââ
âIf you interrupt me one more time, Iâll blast off your face, dude.â The patience of Iron Man seemed to have snapped all at once as he raised his arm, something blue glowing in the middle of the iron palm. It didnât look friendly nor like it wouldnât hurt as it twisted and turned, accumulating more and more energy, âLike I was saying, this can go two ways. You release her and I take you to the officers without unnecessary injuries or you keep being foolish and Iâm forced to take you down to free her, which are you choosing?â
âFuck yourself!â The man turned his head and spat on the ground, making my face scrunch up in disgust as my body continued to tremble, wondering how Iron Man could hurt my captor without hurting me in the process as well. Certainly, whatever thing he meant to blast at the man wasnât smart enough to go around me or dodge me, no matter how I tried looking at the situation, neither looked like I would get out of this unscathed. But if my hope in the superhero faded, it returned when the cops and paramedics finally showed up, spilling down the stairs, the cops pointing their guns at me and the man as the medics ran to the injured woman to help her and take her away to the nearest hospital. I gulped, counting the seven officers as they closed in on us, stopping just behind Iron Man as they assessed the situation.
âSir.â The captain addressed Iron Man and the superhero ignored him besides the small nod of his head, âWeâll handle it from here.â
âHow?â Iron Man chuckled, apparently amused meanwhile I was seriously on the verge of bursting out in tears. Iâve never had so many weapons pointed at me and I didnât know how to react other than prepare for the pain the bullets would probably leave, âBy harming her too?â
The captain said nothing as he sent the superhero a sharp stare, then faced me with a reassuring smile on his face, âDo not worry, maâam, weâll get you just in a second.â
âCut the crap.â I hissed, surprising everyoneâeven my captorâas my body shook and my voice was laced with fear and annoyance. I wasnât a child they could fool that everyone would be alright, I was conscious that theyâd have to hurt me in order to take down the man holding me, âJust do your job.â
The paramedics rushed the woman above ground, probably to an ambulance, and I wished for nothing more than to be free and sitting in an ambulance where theyâd check for my injuries, hopefully not too many.
âSir, youâll have to drop the knife if you donât want toââ
âMr. S!â A boyish and excited voice called out from behind us and I sighed, mind too tired to keep up with everything that was happening. Just who was this new person and why was nobody doing anything to help me?! But almost as if the newcomer was a mind reader, he called out again, âDonât worry, Iâll take care of it!â
And then everything happened at once, there was web on the manâs wrist that held the knife to my throat, and then it was yanked away, finally letting me breathe without the fear of cutting myself accidentally, and I was shoved really hard. I stumbled as my legs had gone numb, and I was sure I would crash to the ground with a loud and painful thud, but it never happened. What I did crash into was cold and hard, but it wasnât anything like the ground. It was sturdy under my grip as I gasped and gripped onto the iron shoulders of the man, and suddenly, I craved a warm body and some fabric my fingers could dig into for comfort. My chest rose and fell so quickly I became lightheaded as I clung to the superhero with desperation, legs going jelly as he had to hold me up, âItâs fine, youâre fine. Youâre safe, Miss Jang, Iâve got you.â
A sob left my throat but no tears fell from my eyes as the police officers were shouting around us, only making my panic rise as I forced my eyes shut, telling myself that if I couldnât see then it wasnât real. Iron Man tsked and grumbled something intangible before I felt a metallic arm underneath my knees, the other holding me up by my torso, and then I was lifted into the air bridal style and taken away from the scene of the policemen arresting my captor. I tried to reassure myself that everything was fine and that I was safe, but the lack of warm skin and a face I could associate with my saviour only made me more jittery and uncomfortable. Iron Man seemed to realize this as my muscles were tense to the point they were aching, and so, he sat me down on the stairs and tucked me away from the eyes of the world as everyone rushed around us. He stood in a way that he obscured the world for me and I was grateful as I could finally breathe. I held my head in my hands and brought my knees up to my chest, pressing my forehead against my knees, âIâm fine, Iâm fine, itâs over.â
I whispered over and over until my brain finally believed what it was hearing and my muscles relaxed just a little bit, but the trembling never went away. I knew I told Wooyoung to tell Sooyoung I wouldnât go over for dinner tonight, but I didnât think Iâd be able to sleep alone in my apartment tonight.
âAre you hurt?â Iron Man asked as he remained standing, and I gulped and licked my lips, which had become painfully dry in the span of a few minutes.
âNo,â I muttered, keeping my eyes closed, âhe probably scratched me, but Iâm fine.â
âGood, youâre safe.â
âI know.â
My whisper was drowned out by the loud voices of the journalists who made their way down to get the last-minute news just as the cops escorted the man up the stairs. I knew I had to leave a statement and that I would be probably called to the station, but all I wanted to do was get to Sooyoungâs place and soak in a bath until it was time to go to sleep.
âHey, Mr. SonâI mean, Iron Man!â The same boyish voice that apparently actually saved me from my captor was loud and made me cringe as I raised my head and blinked my eyes open.
âStop yelling, idiot.â Iron Man hissed and held the man, Spiderman, back by the shoulder as he skipped over to us.
âOh, sorry.â His voice was slightly distorted, but it was obvious he felt sorry as the eyes of his mask blinked, freaking me out even more than Iron Manâs cold costume. I was very aware that I lived in the same city as certain superheroes, but encountering them felt weird, and if I was being honest, I wasnât much of a fan. I much preferred seeing them on the news and in newspapers. Spiderman, who sounded way too young even with his voice distorted, seemed to be just as tall as Iron Man, if not taller, and he was lean but muscular. It came as no surprise since he crawled around buildings and hopped around in the sky, hanging off his webâyou needed some serious muscles for that, âI didnât mean to startle you, are you both alright?â
âYes, not even a scratchââ
âI was scratched.â I snapped as I looked up at the two, hugging my knees close to my chest still. Spidermanâs mask blinked again and I averted my eyes as it made my skin crawl, âBut Iâm alright, thank you for saving me, Spiderman.â
âSpiderman?!â The iron-clad superhero asked with an edge to his voice, almost as if he was pissed off, âI was the one to come to your rescue firstââ
âAnd yet it was Spiderman who actually did something to save me,â I hissed, utterly spent and pissed off now that I wasnât held at knifepoint anymore, âAll you did was chat away and mock the man, endangering my life even more.â
Silence followed my harsh words but I couldnât care less as I saw a paramedic with kind eyes and a kind smile approach us carefully, greeting the superheroes meekly, âMiss, we will have to check up on you too now.â
âIâm fine though,â I muttered and tried to stand up but found little to no power in my legs, before I could stumble, Iron Man was by my side and helping me up. I looked up at the iron mask and said nothing as I still felt disdain towards the person behind the mask.
âYou donât look fine, Miss Jang.â I huffed and allowed the superhero to help me stand until the paramedic came to my aid, holding me up as the two superheroes followed us up the stairs.
âShould I carry you, maâam?â Spiderman asked with worry, âYouâre a bit pale, I can carry you if you want me to, I know I look scrawny but Iâm actually really strong!â
âI carried her just fine before, do you need assistance?â Iron Man huffed and turned his head sharply towards Spiderman as the two men walked on each side of me and the paramedic. My body was still shaking so it was a little hard to coordinate my legs, but with the help of the paramedic, I was managing just fine, except for the violent thumping of my head and the haze that followed my vision.
âWhat I need is you two shutting up,â As an afterthought since they did save my life, I added, âPlease.â
âSure, maâam, but just let me know if anythingâs wrong, I canââ
âShut up.â Iron Man groaned loudly, and the paramedic snickered as if a situation like this one was something anything out of the ordinary to him.
âYes, Mr. Sonâuh, Iron Man! I mean, Iron Man, sorry sir, Iâll shut up now.â Spidermanâs voice was defeated and a little tight, and I could swear Iron Man muttered a threat under his breath, but once we were up on the surface and all the hustle and bustle of the city hit me, I felt faint. Dangerously faint as I squinted my eyes, the swirling red and blue lights of the ambulance and cop cars blinding me for a second.
âAlright, you can sit in the ambulance and Iâll do a quick check-up.â The paramedic let me know as Spiderman eagerly opened the back of the ambulance and helped the paramedic walk me up and onto the bed, âDo you have anyone we can call to take you home?â
âPark Sooyoung,â I heaved a sigh and opened my purse, âIf she doesnât pick up, then Jung Wooyoung.â
âOh, thatâsââ
âShut up!â I flinched at Iron Manâs harsh tone as he yanked Spiderman by the collar all up in his face, shaking the younger-sounding boy as he just chuckled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head.
âSorry, Mr. S.â
The paramedic snickered again and I handed him over my phone as he grabbed his little light to flash my eyes and momentarily blind me, âSo, because itâs protocol, Iâm going to ask how you feel again. Anything thatâs changed now that weâre above ground?â
âNo, nothing, Iâm feeling fine.â
And then, the whole world went dark.
           I stared at the screen of my phone, I actually had been for a few good minutes now, but my brain didnât register the words. Sooyoung was asking if I was up to grab a quick lunch with her, of course, if my oh-so-lovely boss allowed it, but I was way too distracted by said bossâ deep voice speaking in a hushed tone coming from the kitchen. Itâs been three days since the whole metro fiasco and I had been down at the police station, gave them my statement, and I would be probably called in as a witness once the court date is setâthat fucker isnât getting out of jail after he tried to kill his girlfriend, I wouldnât allow it.
People looked at me weirdly and I heard them whispering behind my back whenever I walked down the hallways as, of course, that idiot of a Wooyoung had run his mouth and now the whole company knew that I almost diedâhis words, not mine. A quick session with the companyâs therapist had her convinced that I was alright and needed no further sessions despite my initial disdain to even go to one because I knew I was fine. Of course, I was a little jumpier and avoided the metro even if it took longer to get to work and then home, but until my mind would fully accept that it was a freak accident and that I was at the right place at the wrong time, I couldnât help but indulge to the small voice of fear at the back of my mind. Sooyoung has been kinder than usual, offering up her spacious couch if I felt like crashing over at her place, but quite frankly, since Wooyoung was almost always over I preferred the quiet of my own apartment, even if I had to triple-check that I locked the front door before I went to sleep.
I was fine, I really wasâand this isnât me trying to convince myselfâitâs been three days after all, and to be frank, the fact that these so-called superheroes actually do their job was another comforting thought. Well, Spiderman at least does, canât say much about Iron Man. The only âhelpâ he offered was to stall and distract my captor, something me and the other on-lookers were managing just fine on our own too. But still, I felt a little bit of gratitude for the iron-clad superhero too for holding me and reassuring me when my brain was fogged up with terror and conviction that I was going to die. But now, three days later, things that seemed insignificant at the moment came back in flashes that had me questioning myself whether it was a fragment of my imagination or it truly had been said.
The first and biggest issue that seemed to concern me was the fact that Iron Man seemed to know my name when it wasnât said or mentioned at the scene at all. It didnât even occur to me at that moment as I was too wrapped up in the fact that a knife no longer put my life at risk, and even welcomed the familiarity and reassurance the superhero brought with his words. But now that I was conscious and no longer ridden with fear, I was thoroughly confused. I knew nobody had uttered my name, not even me, so just how was it possible that the iron-clad man had known it? Did superheroes have mind-reading powers too, or was it just common knowledge that Iron Man knew these sorts of things? Had I been hallucinating? But that couldnât be either because I was sure he had said it twice, that mustâve meant something. Like the fact that I wasnât hallucinating.
And then, not because I associate and compare all assholes to my boss, but the way Iron Man mocked my captor sounded a lot similar to the way Song Mingi would talk down on his employees, sneer on his face as arrogancy laced his tone. The voice modulator Iron Man used made it harder to assess any emotion in his tone, but I was sure I have heard a tinge of cockiness in it when he was busy mocking the man instead of saving me from him. It was a far-fetched reach, I knew it, but there was also this gut feeling that told me to trust myself and roll with the delusion. And my intuition had never been wrong before.
The third reason that it all seemed a little suspicious to meâcompletely aware that this was a relative fact and any man could have the physique of my bossâit still made me search up photos of Iron Man that had been taken on a whim for magazines to compare to those editorial shots Song Mingi enjoyed doing. It was a match, their shoulders wide and broad, hips narrow, creating the perfect inverted triangle shape that so many people went crazy over. Their heights seemed to be a match too, both tall intimidatingly so. I read through forums to see what others who had encountered the superhero had to say, and I wasnât surprised to find out that they were rather condescending about him. Apparently, he liked to talk a lot before he got to do the saving, and it put otherâs lives more in danger, sometimes resulting in grave injuries. He spoke like he ruled the whole world and everyone else had to bow down to him, and he oftentimes after saving the victims disregarded them and told them to go on their merry way and be more mindful next time, as if it was their fault that they had fallen victims in the first place.
And lastly, because perhaps it was the most pressing issue after the fact that Iron Man knew my name, it was the certainty that Spiderman seemed to be familiar enough with the other superhero to know his identity and address him by his name. Now, Iron Man stopped the other one each time from saying his name fully, but I had caught the little he had said, and ever since I had been thinking. I have heard others at the workplace address Song Mingi as âMr. Sâ more than once, even Wooyoung liked to call him thatâand truly, âMr. Sonâ could be just an abbreviation for Mr. Song Mingi. I knew I sounded crazy to most, at least to Sooyoung definitely as she laughed when I told her my crazy theory, she didnât understand why out of all the people I suspected my boss. Well, to be fair, I had no reason for that, but given the fact that the superhero showed up quickly to the scene, it was a real possibility. Even Spiderman and the police took longer, the company was right by the metro and Mr. Song specifically told me to go home as he wished to be alone.
Plus, because I knew Sooyoung would still consider me crazy, I told her about the fact that one time when I had been cleaning my bossâ office I discovered a hidden entry while I tried to move a decorative piece on the bookshelf. It looked like some classic villain shit at that time, but I said nothing about it to no one as I was rather complacent about keeping my jobâI was still relatively new at the company. Sooyoung just laughed it off and told me that he probably had a vault in there for all the money and worthy items he owned. In fairness, it sounded plausible if my brain hadnât decided to be suspicious of Song Mingiâs identity.
I had been devising a plan for the past two days, wondering about ways I could find out the superheroâs identity, or how I could catch my boss red-handed, but nothing was smart or subtle enough. Heâd be able to trace it back to me and then all of my hard work at this company would go to waste, I didnât want that. However, before I could start dwelling more on this, I was snapped out of my thoughts as Mr. Songâs voice carried closer to me.
âNo, I told you not to come hereââ Then he cut himself off with a groan, and I quickly straightened up in my chair as Mr. Song rounded the corner, the light in the kitchen switching off behind him. If he was good at something, even I couldnât deny that it was the artificial intelligence he developed and then implemented in the whole building, âIâm not paying for your lunch again, Yunho.â
Gripping my phone a little tighter as I still had to text Sooyoung back, I allowed my eyes to rest on my boss as I took in his form, trying to recall Iron Manâs too at the same time. Mr. Song wore a suit today, all black and extremely form-fitting, with his black hair pushed back, showing off the undercut he thought made him look hotter. His vest expanded over his chest and became narrow at his waist, however, when he turned his back to me, I noticed that he had it pinched in so that it would cling to his hips instead of hanging freely and comfortably. I knew he was a man full of himself, but it was extremely infuriating that he knew how hot he was and he wasnât ashamed to show it off too, âI told you Iâm busy, kid, I canât just free up my schedule whenever your devices go to shit.â
I flinched when Mr. Song suddenly turned, narrowed eyes landing on me as I turned my head and looked down at the computer, pretending to type away on it as I placed my phone next to the mousepad. My boss continued watching me and I tried not to peek at him, unusual to see him wear his thick glasses. Mrs. Bae had told me that he much preferred contacts and that weâd need to order new ones for him from time to time, so it made me fidgety as I wondered whether amidst my workload I had forgotten to order him some new ones, âYunho, youâre a big boy, take care of it yourself.â
And then he rudely hung up as I could hear the other person still speaking on the other end. Mr. Song groaned loudly and my muscles tensed when he approached my desk, coming way too close for comfort. He leaned his hip against the side of it and crossed his arms in front of his chest, looking down at me. I tried not to scowl as I fixed my posture and read through the email that just made it into the inbox.
âSlacking off already?â Mr. Song mused, voice impassive, âItâs barely your fourth day.â
I remained silent and opened the email instead, skimming through it. The magazine for the editorial shoot has proposed a date and time, so, I turned my head and looked at my boss with a bored look on my face, âIs Wednesday next week good for the editorial shoot?â
âI donât know,â He scoffed, a smirk pulling onto his lips, âYouâre my secretary, youâre the one that knows my schedule.â
My jaw clenched as I stared into his sharp eyes for a second longer, hoping that heâd see I wasnât impressed by his jabs, âYour Wednesday is free, sir, thatâs why Iâm asking. It so seems most of your schedules depend on whether youâre in a good mood or not, sir.â
I smiled sweetly as Mr. Songâs eyes narrowed just a little, and then he bent down, his face coming too close for my comfort, âHow attentive of you. Tell them Iâm only available at noon for two hours, and youâre coming too.â
âIâm doing what?â I asked alarmed, eyes widening, âMrs. Bae never had to go with youââ
âBut youâre not Mrs. Bae, are you?â I wished to punch the smirk off his face as his eyes once again took me in closely, travelling lower on my body before they stopped on my lips, making my heart beat just a bit quicker, âSo free up your own schedule and dress in something sexy, canât have you looking like a grandma if youâre to be seen in public with me.â
I couldnât help but gape at his blatant disrespect, palms turning into fists as I turned my chair to face him better, disgusted and irritated as I tried to remain level-headed, âSince itâs my closet and my body, Iâll dress in whatever I find fit and comfortable for such occasion, Mr. Song, thank you for the recommendation though.â
âIt was an order, not a recommendation.â Mr. Songâs smirk widened and my blood boiled as it was clear as day that he was enjoying the exchange, that he was having fun that I was getting heated over this, âI can buy you something pretty, Miss Jang, if thatâs the issue.â
I stood up, unable to control myself as I glared my boss down despite him being obviously taller than me, âI donât need you to buy me anything and I wonât have you order me around unless itâs strictly work-related. Just because your name is Song Mingi and youâre rich and can have anything and anyone, donât think I wonât hurl your ass to court for breaching the contract and for trying to exploit your employees. Iâm not your pet, Song.â
All amusement and arrogance left Mr. Songâs face as his expression turned cold, his sharp eyes running over my features before he hummed, rubbing his bottom lip as his glasses slipped lower on his tall nose, âSweet, Miss Jang, perhaps then you can cancel the lunch with Mr. Park I should be leaving for right now, something more important came up. I assume you can do this much since itâs work-related.â
I gritted my teeth and exhaled, letting my features relax as I plastered on my generic smile and bowed my head just slightly, âSure, Mr. Song, anything else?â
He took a second as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose then smoothed out his vest, leaning incredibly close so that I would hear his low voice, âThe celebratory party for our collaboration with the car brand is this Saturday, I assume you know most employees are invited. You werenât since it was Mrs. Bae supposed to come, but since youâre replacing her, Iâll be expecting to see you. Jongho will pick you up half an hour before the event.â
My mouth fell open as Mr. Song hummed and cast me one last glance before he turned and headed for his office, my mind reeling at what just happened. Jongho was his personal driver and assistant, he was almost always at his side when the two were out and about as he also served as Mr. Songâs bodyguard. I tried to form some coherent words and refuse the weird proposition, but Mr. Song was already inside his office, however, he left his door open again. My eyebrows furrowed as I settled back down in my chair, nose picking up on a sweet but musky scent that never failed to invade my nose whenever I went inside my bossâ office. It was the cologne he had been using ever since I got to know him, and my eyebrows furrowed as the elevator suddenly dinged, signalling that someone had come up to our floor. Coming to think of it, despite the metal and the obvious smell of iron, something sweet and musky clung just faintly to Iron Manâs costume the day he had saved me.
âHi!â I flinched at the excited and loud voice, shaking my head to clear the thoughts away as I looked up. I was surprised to see a teenager standing in front of my desk, eyes round and smile brighter than my future as his puffy cheeks were tinged slightly red. He had a scarf around his neck that hid his chin and lips and he pulled his beanie off, ruffling his greenish-bluish-greyish hair, âMy name is Yunho! Iâm here to see Mr. S.â
âUhm,â My eyebrows furrowed as I looked down at my computer to quickly run through Mr. Songâs schedule, âYunho andâŠ?â
âJeong, Jeong Yunho, maâam.â He answered, tone warm and soft and yet boyish at the same time as he rocked back and forth on his heels. I scanned through the schedule but his name didnât pop up.
âWell, I donât see you in here, Mr. Jeong.â I pursed my lips remembering Mr. Songâs orders and what I managed to eavesdrop on while he was on the phone, âBut he did cancel an important lunch, were you just on the phone with him?â
âYeah, some of myâuh, devices for school broke and I need Mr. Songâs help.â The young boy tried with a tentative smile and I hummed in acknowledgement, eyeing him curiously. But before I could tell him that I needed to check with Mr. Song first, the man appeared in the doorway and sighed loudly.
âCome on, Yunho, I donât have all day just because you decided to parade your girlfriend around the city and broke it again.â Mr. Song deadpanned, but I was surprised to see fondness in his eyes as Yunho grinned widely, darting towards my boss after he gave me a cute wave, âMiss Jang, you can go have lunch, weâll be busy for an hour or so, take your time.â
âOh, Miss Jang, thatâs whyââ Yunhoâs eyes widened as if in recognition, and I watched him with confusion as Mr. Song slapped a hand over his mouth and yanked the boy who was slightly taller than him inside his office, door slamming closed behind them, âI didnât know she worked for youââ
âShut up.â
And just like that, my suspicion of their identity intensified. Could Song Mingi actually be Iron Man? I didnât know yet, but I was convinced to find out, and a brilliant idea just came to mind. I grabbed my phone and texted Sooyoung that I was too busy to have lunch today and left for the security room of our building. Call me crazy but my gut feeling was never wrong.
           However, there was a single flaw in my plan. How in the hell was I going to execute it without raising suspicions? But it was too late to dwell on that as I had already knocked on the door and was waiting for the security guy to open it. Chewing on my bottom lip, I wondered which lie would be more believable, and just as I debated on wringing Wooyoung into it too, the door opened. Thankfully it wasnât Chanyeol as heâd be able to tell my bullshit from miles away, so I smiled cheerily and hoped the middle-aged security guard would fall for my lie.
âHello, Iâm Jang Y/N, Iâm Mr. Songâs secretary assistant.â I handed my badge to the security guard and he grunted as he looked over it, handing it back to me, âI was wondering if you could let me take a peek at the security footage. My car was scratched yesterday and Iâd like to see who did it since they didnât bother leaving a note on my windshield.â
I tried my best to look disheartened but also slightly annoyed. The security guard froze for a second and then glanced behind himself, âUh, I mean, I can look at it for you, just give me the car model and license plate.â
Fuck, thatâs not how this was supposed to go. I bit my bottom lip and tried to improvise before the guard caught onto me, âYou seeâŠmy ex works here too and I am pretty sure it was him. We werenât able to settle things nicely and I know heâs still got a vendetta for me. I would hate to make this difficult for you, but Iâve got a restraining order pending and I would need the footage likeâŠright now, you know? I can film it with my phone and later on get it emailed, but my lawyer is expecting it today if it actually was my ex.â
I almost grinned at how put-together and real my lie sounded, proud of myself. The guardâs face fell and I tried to school my expression into something like sadness and worry as he sighed, looking behind himself, âFine, come in.â
I offered him a thankful smile and followed him inside, bowing at the other security guards as they gave us curious looks but greeted me back wordlessly. The guard led me to a different room littered with monitors and I stopped behind the chair he sat in, eyebrows furrowed as he opened a new window and typed in a code I couldnât see as it was protected from view, âThis was yesterday? When?â
âWell,â I fiddled with my fingers and tried to rake my brain for the time Wooyoung left work, âmaybe around six or seven in the evening?â
âYou stay a lot for someone whoâs Mr. Songâs secretary assistant.â The guard made small talk as he typed in some more codes and opened up the app.
âHis secretary is sick so Iâm replacing her for the time being, thereâs a lot of work,â I explained and he hummed, nodding his head in understanding.
âWhen I donât have the overnight shift, I also spend my whole day here,â He didnât sound as bothered as I expected him to be, âThe company is huge so we must work hard to keep it going, Mr. Song appreciates us and treats us well after all.â
Well, I didnât want to crush the false image he had of our boss, but the guard was a man and after all, Song Mingi treated his male employees a lot better and with more respect than his female ones. Besides, I bet he barely came in contact with any of his security guardsâbesides Chanyeol, I supposeâso of course theyâd have a positive image of their boss.
âRight, youâre right,â I answered absentmindedly and watched the guard click onto the screen that looked over the garage, clicking some more to rewind the footage to yesterday.
âWhat car are we looking at?â He asked and I almost groaned, trying to remember the model of Wooyoungâs car.
âItâs a Mercedes-Benz, the newer type.â The guard paused and gave me a look over his shoulder, âSorry, my ex is part of the engineering team who are developing the new prototype, and I never bothered asking for the modelâs name but Iâll know when I see it!â
âI see.â The man muttered and clicked some more and there it was, the footage of Wooyoungâs car but he was nowhere in sight yet, âIâll speed it up since you donât know the exact time, tell me when you see him.â
âThank you.â I gave him a wide smile and the guard grunted as he pressed play, people and cars moved quickly on the screen, but not so quickly that we wouldnât be able to recognize them. However, this is where the issue of not having a well-thought-out plan came into play. I had no idea how to get the guard to show me footage of Mr. Songâs office, and I was also sure heâd never show it to me and would even get me fired. I tried to think hard of a way just as I spotted Wooyoung headed towards his car, I sighed but spoke up, âThatâs him!â
The guard stopped the video to slow it down to regular speed, and then pressed play again, making me chew on my bottom lip and wonder whether Iâd be fired if I knocked him out right now. There must be cameras inside this place too and just to make sure, I looked up towards the corner and saw the blinking red light of the CCTV. I sighed but focused back on the screen just as the guardâs phone rang. He cursed as he looked down at his phone and then paused the footage, swivelling around in his chair.
âI have to take this call; itâll take a few minutes.â He said as he stood and hurried towards the door, âIâll be back and then we can have a look at the footage together.â
âSure, take your time!â I grinned at him and waved him off as he quickly left, accepting the call before the door was even closed behind him. Bingo, this was my time to shine. I waited for the guardâs voice to fade into the background and to make sure that no other guard came onside, and then I took my spot in the chair and swivelled closer to the screens. It took me a second to realize how to switch between the many screens, but having paid attention to the guard I realized that it was easier to moderate the system than I initially thought. I clicked on the window that had Mr. Songâs office and squinted my eyes as I watched him and Yunho huddled together at his desk, things pushed to the side as they both were leaning over something. I searched the screen for something that would make the image larger and grinned when I spotted the emoticon, clicking on it quickly as I was curious to see what got the two men so concerned.
Something small, a device as they had called it, was placed on the desk as they crowded around it, lips moving as they spoke to each other. The younger boy had disregarded his backpack, coat, scarf and beanie on the leather sofa and seemed rather comfortable despite this being the first time I saw the two together. But based on Mr. Songâs body language and the way he spoke to him, I knew the two were familiar with each other. A little intrigued myself by that little device, I found myself curiously watching the footage, a yelp almost leaving my mouth when the two men sprung back as something wet exploded out of it. It covered the two in a sticky-like substance and I watched amazed as Mr. Songâs rigid expression melted into that of amusement as Yunhoâs head was thrown back, body shaking from his laughter. It only took another second before Mr. Song was also laughing, pulling his glasses off and nudging Yunho as the taller one clung to my boss and threw more of that weird substance at Mr. Song. I had never seen my boss so laid back and happy so it took me a second to snap out of it and stop admiring his crooked smile through the CCTV, subsequently remembering why I was here.
Adrenaline rushed through my system as I realized the guard could be back anytime and catch me red-handed, surely Iâd be fired with a case on my hands then, and despite Song Mingi being a nightmare, the paycheck and people working here were too good for me to want to actually leave this company. So, I found the option that allowed me to rewind the footage, only to get my hopes crushed when it asked for a code. I bit my bottom lip and tried to recall the numbers the guard had typed in since I took a peek at the keyboard, but it was fruitless. I found myself slightly panicking and pulling at the collar of my blue striped shirt, the chain of my badge brushing against my hand. My eyes widened and I looked down at it wonderingly, could it work? Pressed by time, I decided to try my luck once again as I flipped my badge and searched for my security number on it. I glanced back at the screen and decided to do it, type in my security number. The worst that could happen was the artificial host that Mr. Song designed would recognize someone was trying to âhackâ into the system and shut down the whole company while alerting the police and Mr. Songâlovely.
Sweating a little as my finger hovered over the enter button, I took a deep breath and swiftly pressed it as I had wasted too much time already. To my surprise, the screen started loading as it scanned the code and then suddenly it flashed black before a new window popped up asking for a date and time. My jaw dropped open in surprise and I fumbled for a second as my heart thundered in my chest, unable to celebrate my victory as I pressed in the date and approximate time with shaky fingers, chewing on my bottom lip. I mustâve eaten the lip tint already despite applying it this morning with how much I bit and licked at my lips due to being nervous. The screen loaded once again and then there it was. Mr. Song in his office, all alone, the hallway dark outside as I had left just a few minutes ago. He was sat in his chair, leaned back with his legs spread wide open as he stared out the window, running his fingers through his hair. Something seemed to get his attention as a red light flashed on his desk, and I realized it was coming from the thing I assumed was his desk clock. His lips moved but there was no sound as the cameras only recorded images, and then I watched as Mr. Songâs jaw clenched and eyebrows furrowed. He sprung out of his chair and rushed towards the massive staircase, his fingers brushing against the books and the decorative piece I accidentally discovered myself.
I wasnât surprised to see the staircase moving, making way to a dark passageway that was lit up as Mr. Song quickly hurried down, disappearing from the camera. I looked over the other windows and realized that there were no cameras in the room he had just gone in, so I prepared my phone's camera pointing it at the screen, and pressed record. The wait made it worse; my heart was thumping fast and every sound outside the door made me jump, but just when I considered fast-forwarding, Song Mingi appeared in the frame once again. No, not Song Mingi but Iron Man. Its mask was still open so nobody could even deny it that it wasnât Song Mingi and I gasped as I watched him walk towards his window while pressing buttons on the left arm of his suit. The mask closed and the window slid to the left, making way for Iron Man to leave the office. And then, he was off, flying towards the metro station and leaving me gaping as I paused the footage and stopped my recording. My fingers shook as I fell back in the chair and I ran my fingers through my hair, not having actually expected Mr. Song to be Iron Man.
Of course, I was quite suspicious and even almost fully convinced it was him, but I fully expected to be proven otherwise since I was only being delusional, as Sooyoung had claimed. But no, it was real, my gut feeling was right once again. I took a second to try and wrap my mind around my findings and rationalize my next thought, but there were loud noises outside the room and I panicked, clicking through the windows and struggling to get rid of the footage I had just watched as I couldnât find the âxâ button. The door opened just as I jumped out of the chair and raised my phone as if I had gotten an urgent text or phone call.
âSorry about that, it was an urgentââ
âMr. Song just texted me that he needs me up at the office, thank you but Iâll come back sometime else!â I rushed out as the security guard looked at me confused, stepping aside when I hurried towards the door.
âOh, if you tell me the license plate, I can email it toââ
âDonât worry about it!â I gave him a bright smile and a tap on his shoulder before I dashed outside, heart beating fast as I clutched my phone to my chest, the video in my gallery glaring back at me as I ran for the stairs, trying to keep my legs steady due to the heels I wore. But what would I do now? Do I tell Mr. Song that I know who he is? That I know heâs Iron Man? Or do I try to exploit this since heâs always an asshole and even a jerk to me? Does Mrs. Bae even know? What would she do in this situation? Sheâd certainly be disappointed in me if she were to know I tried blackmailing my boss, but if Mr. Song had been a nice person, then I wouldnât have tried my luck with this crucial information on my hands.
Blackmailing it is, then.
           The rest of the day felt like torture. Pacing up and down outside Mr. Songâs office while he was busy with his meetings and who knows what else didnât help at all with soothing my nerves, and despite a quick Google search of effective blackmailing tactics, I still came up empty-handed. I had to admit that I wasnât as brave as I had once regarded myself, but if there was one thing I knew about myself, it was that I was stubborn and determined to go through with this no matter what. I didnât have an exact reason as to why I was doing this, but I was self-aware enough to realise that I wanted to feel in control, that I wanted to show Mr. Song that he wasnât untouchable and neither the hot shit he believed himself to be. Of course, he could fire me and blacklist me at all companies, but as Wooyoung once had said, why live a boring life when you can bring a little edge and excitement into it by fucking it up yourself. He was right, but I didnât know whether taking advice from someone like Wooyoung was smart or not.
So, without wanting to gain anything out of blackmailing Song Mingi, I decided to stay for as long as he did, and just be upfront when heâd be on his way home. Surely, heâd be too tired by then to give too many fucks about his stupid secretary assistantânow secretary replacementâand maybe heâd offer me more money, whichâŠI would accept, obviously, but not without making a few demands like, heâd have to behave if he wanted to talk to me and respect me like any other male employee he had. Surely, I wasnât asking for much, but with my boss, you never knew what was too much.
So, when it was well after working hours and my legs and back ached from sitting all day long, I decided to brew myself some tea and wait for another hour before Iâd finally go home. Mr. Song had been cooped up in his office for hours now, the door closed and locked, and the windows were blurred so that only the light pouring out from underneath his door was the only visible thing and a tell-tale sign that he was still at the company. I couldnât lie, I was actually quite curious about what he was doing in there, but my pride wouldnât allow me to ask himâmaybe I could ask Mrs. Bae once she had returned. While the kettle whistled and sizzled as I poured the hot water into my cup, I failed to hear that Mr. Song unlocked his door and opened it with a loud groan, too caught up in not spilling the hot water like I had done so before many times. With two spoonfuls of honey in it and the teabag thrown into the bin, I smiled in content as I made to return to my desk. Since I was still here, I figured I could phone up the accountant and settle the monthly appointment he had with Mr. Song, but I was scared out of my mind once I spotted Mr. Songâs tall frame leaning against the doorframe. His arm was up and pressing into the doorframe. His hair looked dishevelled, his black shirt was untucked from his pants with the top buttons unbuttoned, and his vest forgotten somewhere in his office.
I halted as if I was caught doing something bad and stared back at my boss as he fixed his thick glasses. He pursed his lips and looked rather displeased at seeing me, but his eyes curiously fell onto the cup I was holding, mindful of the hot ceramic, âWhat are you drinking?â
âWildberry tea,â I answered and cleared my throat, resuming my walk over to my desk. Mr. Song hummed and licked his lips, eyes stuck to my form as I gave him a questioning look once I sat down in my chair.
âCould you make me some too?â He asked, sounding so unlike himself as his tone was laced with exhaustion, âIs it sweet?â
âYeah, itâs sweet,â I said as he tapped the doorframe before he turned to head back inside his office.
âMake me some!â He called over his shoulder and I rolled my eyes, slouching in my chair. I didnât want to get up again and fetch him some tea when my feet were killing me, he could get it himself, but he was too lazy and I knew he had fun walking me around all day as if I were his pet, it was infuriating. But perhaps this was my chance to finally do what I was here for, blackmail him. I grinned as I got up from my chair with a newfound passion, hurrying towards the kitchen to pour my boss tea and add two spoonfuls of honey. I placed the cup on a tray as well as three chocolate chip cookies, a napkin, and then I headed for Mr. Songâs office after I fetched my phone. It sat heavy in my dress pantsâ pocket as I knocked on the open door as a heads up that I was heading in, and then I walked inside, my red high heels clicking loudly against the marble floor as it was dead silent in Mr. Songâs office.
It was dimly lit now, unlike when the door was closed and locked, and I let my eyes quickly run over the place as they lingered on the hidden door, it was closed, of course. I averted my eyes and looked back at my boss, whose eyebrows were furrowed and glasses discarded in front of him as he stared at his computerâs screen with mild annoyance on his face. Some strands of his black hair stuck up in places in a funny way, and I gulped down the chuckle that threatened to escape my lips, It was rather unusual seeing Mr. Song so stressed and pressed by whatever had him annoyed.
âHereâs your tea,â I announced as I came to a stop next to him, not too close though, and placed the tray carefully on the desk, in its usual spot. Mr. Song hummed, his eyes still glued to the screen, and too curious for my own good, I took a peek at it, surprised to find him reading the news about a war thatâs been ongoing for way too long now. I never took Mr. Song as a person who would worry about others or would feel pressured to do something, but the creases on his forehead and the slight sneer on his lips were rather obvious factors that he wasnât pleased with the development of the war. And then, looking at the article for a little longer, I realized they were bashing his weapons and his company. Now it made sense that he looked annoyed, suddenly I didnât feel as brave as before to tell him that I knew he was Iron Man.
âDid you put sugar in it?â He suddenly asked and glanced at me, making me stand up straight and quickly avert my eyes from his computerâs screen.
âNo, itâs better with honey,â I answered and his eyebrows only furrowed further as he glanced at the tray then back at me. He fell back in his chair and heaved a long sigh, chewing on his bottom lip. The longer I looked at him, the more I realized something was bothering him. I didnât dare ask whether anything was wrong, and he said nothing as he continued looking at me. My heart had started beating faster and I gulped as my phone seemed to weigh bricks in my pocket, a reminder of why I was still at the company and not at home, in my bathtub soaking up my flowery scented bath bombs.
âI donât like honey.â Mr. Song muttered at last and I bit my tongue to stop myself from saying something I might regret later. I sighed and reached for the teacup with a displeased expression on my face.
âFine, Iâll bring you another one with sugarââ
âIâll drink it.â I froze as he grabbed my hand, looking up at me with glimmering eyes, and suddenly I couldnât think straight. He looked very much nothing like the man I had known for years, and it almost made me question myself. Could Mr. Song have an actual soft and caring side? Was he not always an arrogant prick who hit on women and only used them for his sexual needs? I gulped and looked down at our hands, his big palm was calloused and it almost completely engulfed my hand. It made my cheeks flush and I found myself speechless for a second.
âOh, okay,â I said quietly and went to pull back, but Mr. Song didnât release my hand just yet. His eyebrows were furrowed and he seemed to be in deep thought as he looked up at me again with defeat in his eyes.
âDo you ever feel alone, Miss Jang?â My eyes widened at the sincerity in his voice and more so because of the question he asked. I had never thought a man like Song Mingi would be asking me such a thing, certainly, he cannot be lonely, heâs got everyone and everything he could ever want. Perhaps itâs a trick question he can fire me over.
âI think everyone feels alone at times, Mr. Song.â I answered truthfully, not expecting him to nod along and hum in agreement. I almost jumped when his thumb started caressing my skin, covering my arms in goosebumps as I once again looked down at our hands. His touch was warm and gentle, inoffensive and almost as if he wasnât doing it consciously as it was slow and inconsistent.
âEven if they are constantly surrounded by people?â I nodded as I continued looking down, shifting my weight from one leg to another.
âOf course, it doesnât matter how many people are around us and, on our side, if they only want something from us.â I shrugged and looked up, finding Mr. Song already looking at me intensely. I gulped and continued unsurely, âI mean, many people only create connections to exploit them later on, so I think itâs important to surround ourselves with genuine people who want whatâs best for us, like our friends.â
âAnd if the individual doesnât have genuine friends?â Mr. Song suddenly stood and I felt a little intimidated as he placed my hand on his desk and pressed his over mine, pretty much trapping me in one place, unless I wanted to rip it out from underneath his touch.
âThen it must be a truly lonely life, Mr. Song, they should look for quality and not quantity.â My eyebrows furrowed as Mr. Songâs strong cologne reached my nose, and it was a sore reminder that I had a plan that I still hadnât gone through with yet.
âThere are few chances to meet genuine people in my line of work,â He chuckled bitterly and stepped closer, making me look up at him as my heart started racing uncomfortably once again. His proximity felt a little uncomfortable but not as bothersome as on my first dayâperhaps because he had no regard for personal space and always managed to invade it somehow, even if he was just talking to you, âThere are few people who see me for who I am.â
I hummed and bit my bottom lip to stop myself from slipping up and telling him that there was a reason for that and that it was because he was a complete asshole to almost absolutely everyone. But my silence seemed to only spur him on and I was rather surprised that my boss was pouring his heart out to me in his office, after working hours, âThereâs few people who donât want what I own and even fewer people who arenât eager to get in my good graces just because Iâm powerful and able to change their lives for the better or worse. And even fewer women who wouldnât bed me just because Iâm rich and own a mansion and luxurious cars.â
Ah, so Mr. Song was only trying to get in my pants. I was surprised to find myself disappointed and bitter as the thought settled deep in my mind while Mr. Songâs hand slowly gripped my wrist, pulling me gently towards himself as I was unable to react just yet. I thought we were having a genuine conversation about a rather trivial issue that everyone faced daily, but no, he just wanted to fuck me. I shouldâve expected it, of course, he wasnât trying to pour his soul out to someone willing to listen, even if that someone was his secretaryâs assistant. Of course, he wasnât a good human being who tried to find solace in another one, to make a genuine connection and speak honestly. Instead of being disappointed by Mr. Songâs actions, I shouldâve been more disappointed in myself and the fact that I believed he could be good even if for a few minutes. It made me want to cry, but instead, I felt rage simmer under my skin and my expression became schooled as Mr. Song continued staring into my eyes deeply, his face coming closer and closer. I didnât move, I let him grip my waist and angle his head so that his lips would brush against mine, and then I spoke.
âI know youâre Iron Man.â
Song Mingi froze, face giving nothing away but his body went rigid and his grip on my waist and wrist tightened. He didnât have to say anything for me to know that he felt caged, that his mind was twisting and turning to find a reasonable answer that could deny my claim. But I wouldnât stop now because he didnât deserve it. He was a piece of shit and I have had enough of him.
âDonât try to deny it.â My voice was bitter and tone snappy as I glared into his eyes, gripping his arm to push it off my wrist, âI have proof, Mr. Song, and I will take it to newspapers if you try to sweet talk your way out of this.â
âWhat do you want?â Mr. Songâs was eerily cold, eyes that had been previously soft now all sharp and glaring as he leaned down so that weâd be eye to eye, our jaws clenched as I hoped my expression conveyed the spite I felt towards him.
âNothing,â I shrugged and watched as his eyebrows formed a small frown, âNothing material that is, but you should start fixing your attitude towards your employees and women especially. Itâs sickening that you think you can toy around with us and then fire us because you got bored of fucking the same person, Mr. Song. Itâs disgustingâyou are disgusting by doing this.â
He released me at once and took a step back, furious very obviously as he scoffed, pushing his hair back and out of his eyes, âAnd this concerns you how? I thought you were a mere employee and not my mother, Miss Jang, but by all means, please tell me what else I need to fix to fall into your good graces.â
I smiled at him, all sarcastic and ready to tell him to fuck himself, âThe last thing I wish for is to spend more time with you, sir, so donât worry, you wonât have to fall into my good graces, I donât think thatâs even possible at this point. I was merely making a suggestion, perhaps youâd feel less alone if you tried to maintain a pure and genuine connection with someone for once.â
âIf that is all, you can go home, Miss Jang.â Mr. Song crossed his arms in front of his chest, lips forming a sneer, âMaybe I shouldnât have saved you if youâre so ungrateful.â
âSpiderman saved me, not you.â I snapped with fire in my voice, annoyed and irritated, âEven when youâre supposed to save someone all you can do is be arrogant and satisfy your need to show youâre superior to others, itâs pitifulââ
âOut, now.â
With one last shared glare full of spite, I stormed out of his office and Mr. Song walked after me to slam his door closed shatteringly strong.
           I should have been fired. I know I should have been because I was disrespectful to my boss, and perhaps if I had been in his place, I wouldâve fired myself for sure. But I knew his secret and maybe that played a part in me keeping this job for who knows how long. But still, I should have been fired, or at least never spoken to again by Mr. Song, so explain why I found a fancy black box in front of my front door this morning after I returned from grocery shopping. Yes, it was Saturday and I was expected to show up at this fancy get-together to celebrate the collaboration of the two companies, and yes, I did consider emailing Mr. Song that I had fallen ill and wouldnât make it. So, imagine my complete shock when I unboxed my anonymous package and found a gorgeous black dress with the price still on, making my jaw drop not once but twice. It cost a fortune and I might as well have lost my mind when I found the small note tucked underneath the satin fabric.
Thereâs a dress code for the party, wear this. ~ S.M.
Perhaps getting an existential crisis wouldâve sounded much better than getting an insanely expensive cocktail dress gifted by your boss to an event you had no business attending, but because his secretary couldnât go you had to fill in for her. I love Mrs. Bae dearly, but this was not in the job description when I sent my resume in. I knew people of all sorts would be there, all important and owners of multifaceted businesses and companies that were just as rich as Mr. Songâs, and I was understandably nervous. I knew I wasnât supposed to speak to anyone, which I was more than glad to do, but what if anyone spoke to me? What was I supposed to do then? Mind racing with all different sorts of scenarios, I decided to ask Sooyoung to come over and help me get readyâwhich was actually just a distraction from the fact that I couldnât stop thinking about that damned Song Mingi.
Sooyoung, as always, was a sweetheart and made me laugh while we had lunch, while Wooyoung harassed us with phone calls, saying that he also wanted to come over and participate in all the gossiping he knew weâd be doing. San wasnât available tonight, which meant that Wooyoung would be bored, but in the end, threatening to block his number on both phones managed to calm him down, so he finally left us alone. Sooyoung just sighed and apologized because Wooyoung was still clingy after three years of dating, and Sooyoung knew I could get easily annoyed and overwhelmed by her overbearing boyfriend. But I knew he meant well, and I never guilt-tripped Sooyoung too much for her boyfriendâs obnoxious personality.
But the moment to get ready came and I was more than mortified when Sooyoung emptied her tote bag on my bed and started listing off all the lotions and serums and perfumes and bath bombs she brought over for me to use, âYou never know where youâll meet your man, Y/N, you must be ready at all times!â
âDoes that mean I must exfoliate my body with three different body soaps?!â
âWell, obviously yes! Your skin needs to be soft!â
âMy skin is already soft, you know that. Iâm not using all of that Sooyoung, please.â
âFine, but shave at least, okay? For me?â
âI donât shave, I only wax.â
âBut tonightââ
âIâm not going there because Iâm trying to bag a billionaire, Sooyoung, Iâm going because my boss told me to go.â
âYou couldâve said no.â
âAnd risk getting fired?â
âFair enough, go on then, time is ticking, bestie.â
And that is how I found myself two hours into getting ready, only a few more minutes until Jongho buzzed me to go down so that he could drive us to the company. Sooyoung helped me do a low bun that sat securely at my nape, front strands curled and framing my face prettily. My makeup was simple because I refused to let her help me with a smokey eye, I opted to wear a softer eye look so that I could wear my red lipstick. Sooyoung had a similar reaction to me when she saw my dress, and her jaw was on the floor as she reluctantly touched the glittery tulle dress, eyes switching between me and the dress.
âSo, he bought this for you?â She asked with her mouth still hanging open as I changed into clean underwear in my bathroom.
âIâm sure he had it lying around somewhere in that big mansion of his,â I muttered with a scoff and Sooyoung tsked.
âNo, Iâm sure he bought it specifically for you, Y/N.â I rolled my eyes and prayed the stockings wouldnât rip as I pulled them over my knees.
âYeah, sure, Iâm not some peasant turned princess overnight, okay?â I muttered with a huff as I started sweating, this stocking was kicking me in the butt, had I gotten a size smaller?
âY/N,â Sooyoungâs serious voice made me yelp as she appeared in the doorway, pushing the door open. She had an incredulous look on her face like she had seen a ghost or had been just proposed to, I couldnât decide, âYour name is on the tag, sewn into it, more specificallyââ
âWhat?â I asked alarmed as I pushed past her and went to my bed to see for myself. I managed to adjust my stockings and gave a last prayer that they wouldnât rip until I made it back home, then I wouldnât care about it anymore. I held the dress carefully and touched the tag, leaning down to see it better. My eyes widened when I realized Sooyoung wasnât joking, and I looked at her with round eyes, âWhat?!â
âExactly!â Sooyoung shrieked and I gulped, jerking my head away when she came and hugged my side, âAre you sure youâre not into your boss?â
âYes, very sure.â I huffed and made sure Sooyoung wouldnât ruin my hair or makeup as I let her continue embracing me.
âNot even a little bit?â She grinned and batted her eyelashes at me, âBecause Iâm sure he is into youââ
âAlright, stop right there.â I groaned and pulled myself out of her embrace, âMy boss is a womanizer and two days ago he tried to tell me a sob story to try and get into my pants, so no, Song Mingi isnât into me and Iâm not into him. Case closed, Sooyoung, I hate him and I hope he hates me too. I cannot wait for Mrs. Bae to return so that I donât have to face him ever again.â
Sooyoung pursed her lips and gave me a look as she raised the dress for me, âFine, but nobody gifts a dress like thisââ
âHeâs a millionaireâif not billionaire at this pointâso no, Sooyoung, he can gift me a dress like that because itâs nothing compared to how much he spends monthly.â Before Sooyoung could oppose, I raised my hand, âI know because Iâm the one who puts together his monthly expenses.â
âOkay, whatever.â Sooyoung huffed in defeat and walked closer, âJongho is supposed to arrive any minute now, letâs get you into the dress.â
And I let my best friend help me wear the expensive and gorgeous dress, soft against my skin and exactly my size. I didnât want to think too hard about how Mr. Song knew my exact size, but I suppose when you sleep with so many women, one glance at their bodies and you just know. A rather disturbing and disgusting thought that I didnât care to dwell on too much right now.
The dress reached past my knees and the sparkly fabric that came over the satin didnât bother my skin at all. The corset bustier was semi-transparent and had a heart-shaped neckline in the front and lacing back, complemented with a sparkly black cape, which came with voluminous sheer puffy long sleeves. The gown was made of sparkly tulle and satin, its skirt puffy and creating the impression that I was wearing a puffed-up princess gown. Both Sooyoung and I stayed silent as we stared at me through the mirror and I gulped, twisting and turning to check myself out from all angles. I hated to admit it, but Mr. Songâs taste was spectacular. The dress looked rather pretty on me and delicately suited my shape and form. Each time I attempted to finally step away from the mirror and stop admiring myself, I found something new to marvel at, and, thus ended up grinning from ear to ear when Sooyoung started snapping chaotic pictures of me, the both of us a giggling mess when there was a buzz at the intercom. We froze and looked at each other and then I was racing towards it. I knew it was Jongho, but it couldâve been anyone else too.
âThis is Jongho, Iâll be waiting by the car.â The manâs gruff voice said through the intercom and I felt jittery and nervous all over again.
âIâll be down in a second!â
Sooyoung already had my coat and purse in her hands, and I gave her a grateful smile as I quickly wore my high heels, not keen on making Jongho wait too long for me. Sooyoung grabbed her stuff quickly too and then we were out the door, the front door locked, and headed for the elevator in a hurry. The ride down was filled with more laughter as Sooyoung tried to distract me since I was feeling nervous, but it didnât help much when I spotted Jongho leaning against Mr. Songâs sleek Mercedes-Benz, a sophisticated beige colour. Despite not having vast knowledge about cars, I knew that this one was a classic as I have heard my boss gloat about it to others not once or twice, but many times. The car was from around the seventies and the modelâs name seemed to stick with me, it was a Pagoda. It felt illegal to touch it, let alone lean against it as casually as Jongho was doing.
âGood evening, ladies.â There was a playful glint in his eyes as he bowed almost mockingly, and I huffed as I crossed my arms in front of my chest.
âHi, Jongho.â I greeted as Sooyoung waved at him, the two knew each other because Wooyoung liked getting drunk at team dinners and it was usually Jongho who drove him home as he rarely drank, busy running after Mr. Songâs ass.
âWell, if we donât leave in two minutes our lovely Mingi will have us both fired, soâŠâ He trailed off as he pushed off the car and opened the door for me with that playful glint still present in his eyes. Jongho was a well-built man, strong no doubt, but with a soft and cute face and a smile that could charm manyâI had been charmed too, unfortunately, since he knew how to use it to his advantage and made me lose a significant amount of money one time when he decided he wanted to play the claw machine. He was tenacious and smart, a deadly combination for a weak-hearted person.
âDonât worry, Jongho,â I gave him a huge grin as I walked closer, âweâre too precious to be fired, after all, who would clean up Mr. Songâs mess if we werenât there for him?â
âThatâs right,â Jongho muttered and I pressed a quick kiss to Sooyoungâs cheek before I hurriedly sat inside the fancy car, mindful not to scratch the red leather and interior of the car. It was beautiful and expensive, I didnât understand how Mr. Song allowed anyone else to drive the car, but after all, Jongho was a trustworthy person and a good driver. Besides, I am pretty sure Jongho is the only person who Mr. Song considers to be his friend despite him being his employee, and Iâm also pretty sure Mr. Song is a little bit afraid of Jongho because he never misbehaves when the other is around.
âAre you joining us at the party?â I asked curiously as Jongho sat inside too and ignited the engine to life, the rumble a low purr, a rather satisfying sound. Sooyoung grinned at us and waved as Jongho carefully pulled out of the parking lot, and we were off to S. Industries, my heart in my throat. I could only hope at least one familiar face would be at the party, someone I could talk to and hide behind if necessary.
âIâm not in the mood, to be honest,â Jongho said with his lips pursed, turning onto the main street with ease. The hardtop of the car was on as the weather didnât allow us to ride without it, something I wouldâve actually really enjoyed doing now, âBut Mingi did say he wanted me there so Iâll just stick close to the exit. You know, doing bodyguard stuff.â
I chuckled and adjusted myself in the seat, admiring the interior as I carefully reached forward to touch the dashboard. Iâve seen the car numerous times but I have never come as close to it as I was right now, âAre you nervous?â
I gulped and looked at Jongho as he sped through the yellow light, âIs it that obvious? Iâm shitting my pants, Iâm not going to lie.â
Jongho laughed, sounding cute and warm, and his lips stayed in their usual gummy smile, âYou should relax, youâre not supposed to do anything, so really, itâs just a good opportunity to get to know more people. Maybe someone steals you from Mr. Song and then thereâll be a big scandal that Iâll happily enjoy from the sidelines.â
âI know I have no actual reason to be nervous, but Iâve never been to an event like this one before and I justâŠI donât know, actually.â I sighed and looked out the window as Jongho turned onto the street where the company was situated at, traffic was scarce tonight, âIâm not particularly fond of people like Mr. Song.â
âMingi especially.â Jongho muttered with a cackle and gave me an encouraging smile as we stopped at the gates of the underground parking lot of the company, âYouâll see youâll find likeable people tonight, maybe some new friends even. At least I know Mr. Park is a very humble and generous man, if you stir up a conversation with him, heâll be more than happy to indulge.â
âWait,â Suddenly I realized something I hadnât thought about before, âWooyoung will be here too, right?â
We were let in as the gate opened and Jongho waved at the guard as we drove inside the parking lot, âYeah, unfortunately. Who do you think will drive his drunk ass home tonight? Me, and I donât want to, but Iâm a good friend.â
âI thought you werenât friends.â They were, but Jongho denied it every chance it was brought up since he was embarrassed by Wooyoungâs personality. Jongho grumbled something and I chuckled as he parked the car rather skilfully.
âHe said he wonât take me to the Bahamas if I keep denying that weâre friends, soâŠâ He gave me a look which made me laugh, and we both got out of the car once it was parked with the engine killed. But for the rest of the way, we remained silent, especially since the elevator was filled with people dressed in fancy outfits as they were headed up to the fifteenth floor, which totally had a ballroom sort of thing going on. I didnât want to wonder much about why such a room existed in a company like Song Mingiâs, but I supposed heâd flaunt his wealth any time he could.
The hallway was decorated with golden accents and dimly lit, a red carpet laid out, guiding you towards the entrance of the ballroom. I followed the others as I stuck to Jonghoâs side, and he gave me a grin as we reached the entrance, bodyguards stopping everyone to check their invites and if their names were on the list. It was a pretty exclusive party, people couldnât just sneak in if they wanted to. It was mainly to avoid a bunch of press people and journalists who liked to stick their noses where they didnât belong to. I froze for a second when I noticed the security guard who helped me, sort of, by the door as recognition passed his face when he spotted me. I tried to look normal as I nodded towards him and thankfully, he was distracted by Jongho when he went over to greet his colleagues. He wished me luck and then I was off, greeted by Chanyeol when he told the bodyguard to let me through since I was Mr. Songâs secretary (assistant).
The inside of the ballroom was better lit than the hallway, it was decorated with anything golden, and there was a bar filled with people ordering drinks. Orchestra music was playing at a pleasant volume so that people could converse but also dance if they so wished to do, and I found myself not knowing what to do now. I stood awkwardly in the doorway and then decided to move towards my left, keeping close to the wall as waiters walked around with trays, carrying champagne and even some snacks and fruits. Everyone was dressed to the nines and most women wore festive gowns or cocktail dresses and jewellery that glimmered in the lightning subtly, surely worth more than everything I owned as they were mostly diamonds, no doubt. I felt out of place as I slipped out of my coat and looked around, trying to find a hanger or anything. There was none and I jumped when a waiter suddenly stood in front of me with a bored look on his face.
âChampagne?â I wanted to refuse but one quick glance around me told me that everyone had a glass in their hands, so I accepted it, fumbling with my coat and purse.
âDo you know where I can put these down?â I motioned towards my belongings and the waiter sighed before he extended his arm.
âThereâs a wardrobe, Iâll take it there.â And then he went to walk off, but paused, âDo you perhaps work for Mr. Song?â
âI do.â Suddenly I felt extra self-conscious, was it that obvious that I didnât belong here?
âOh, good.â The waiter seemed to perk up a bit, even smiling a little, âYouâre Miss Jang, his secretary?â
âUh, secretary assistant.â I corrected him, and he just waved it off.
âYeah, good, Iâll put your stuff with Mr. Songââ
âDonât do that!â I almost but exclaimed, and quickly blushed when a woman who walked by us gave me a look, âI mean, please, I can hold onto it or somethingââ
âThese are Mr. Songâs orders, so I canât really go against it.â Then he bowed his head a bit and walked off before I could object some more, leaving me with wide eyes. Why would Song Mingi bother with telling the waiters to take my belongings to where his were? It made no sense, but perhaps thatâs the treatment I got for being here in Mrs. Baeâs place. I cradled the champagne glass in my hands and looked around, looking for Wooyoung even if he was annoying and embarrassing. Although I doubted Mr. Song wouldâve let him come if he didnât know how to behave in a place like this. But as my eyes surveyed the crowd, instead of finding my best friendâs boyfriend, I found my boss. Unsurprisingly, he was at the bar, leaning against it as he was chatting to some pretty woman who was all smiles and laughed at almost everything Mr. Song said. I couldnât imagine anything my boss ever said would be funny, but he most definitely acted differently towards people who werenât his employees. I mean, he was well-known for sleeping with women left and right, so it wouldnât surprise me if he was on the hunt tonight despite the gravity of this event.
He held a glass in his hands, and I wasnât surprised to see a ring on almost every finger of his, the one with a big ruby in it rather eye-catching. Being himself, Mr. Song certainly dressed to impress, and as I took in his attire, I realized with alarm that indeed there was a dress code to this event and it wasnât black. Every woman in the room wore different shades of golden or beige, all light and sparkly at times, meanwhile the men wore mostly beige or a darker shade of cream. Eyes snapping back to Mr. Song, I realized it was quite literally just the two of us wearing black outfits, and suddenly I felt really stupid and embarrassed as I stuck out like a sore thumb in the crowd. I now understood why everyone was giving me looks once they passed by me, and I had to take several deep breaths to stop myself from blowing up or crying, I couldnât decide which one just yet.
Mr. Songâs blazer was cropped and put accent onto his shoulders, and perhaps it was glitterier than my dress and all the other ones combined. His pants seemed to be high-waisted and loose as they came down past his ankles, and as he angled his body to face the front of the room, my eyes widened when I spotted him wearing nothing but a simple vest underneath his blaze. It came up to his pecks and it was buttoned up all the way, stopping just above the hem of his dress pants. Heavy silver chains hung around his neck, complementing the jewellery on his fingers and bringing out his tan complex more. I didnât understand why I had to be wearing black as well, surely, he didnât want anyone else stealing the spotlight from him, yet here I was, merely a secretary assistant with our outfits assorted even down to their sparklines. I hated it, I concluded that it made me want to cry and I swiftly downed my champagne in one go, jaw clenching and eyes glaring as I turned my head away, unable to look at my asshole of a boss anymore.
I tried to hunt down another waiter with a tray to place my empty glass onto, but they were nowhere to be seen, so I just stormed towards the exit with the glass still in my hands. People were still coming in and it proved to be a bit hard to leave the room as I had to wait until everyone came inside, and unfortunately, Chanyeol had spotted me.
âY/N,â He said with a small smile as he checked a manâs invitation, âYou look gorgeous, that dress looks amazing on you. Itâs almost as if it was tailored for you.â
I gulped to force down the lump in my throat and tried to smile as the man he allowed inside gave me a long look, a smirk appearing on his lips, âThank you, do you think I could slip out for a second?â
âBathroom break?â Chanyeol chuckled, and meanwhile I usually appreciated how carefree he was, I wasnât in the mood to chit-chat around with him. I nodded wordlessly and he asked a lady to step aside for a second so that I could leave. I was glad that Jongho was nowhere to be seen as I stormed down the hallway, aimlessly as I had never been on this floor before and had no idea where the bathroom even was. The music grew to just a mere hum as I rounded a corner and found myself standing in a lobby, huge doors to my left and right. It was the restrooms and I headed for the emerald-coloured couch in the middle of the room. It was a semi-circle and had its back to the other couch and I plopped down on it, not minding my dress as I slouched, placing the glass on the floor next to my leg. I sighed loudly and closed my eyes, trying to calm my nerves since all I wanted to do was walk up to my boss and demand an explanation as to why he bought me a black dress. Was he mocking me? Was he making fun of me? Did he enjoy berating his hard-working employees? Was this some sort of stupid powerplay? I was furious and I was ready to go on a full whispered rant when the doors to the menâs restroom slammed shut loudly. I had missed the footsteps, but it seemed like whoever entered hadnât noticed me either.
I knew hiding out here wasnât smart on my part as Mr. Song would certainly want to see me, so I took a deep breath and told myself that I could call him out later or at the office on Monday, if not tonight. I couldnât let him get under my skin again, I had to be better than that. Perhaps I should find Wooyoung and grab a drink with him, let him introduce me to some smart people and watch where the night takes us. Grabbing the glass, I rose and fixed my dress, checking myself out in the big mirror to make sure I looked fine. My cheeks were a bit rosy from my sudden anger, but if I plastered on my fake smile, nobody could tell I wasnât feeling so fine. I took off and rounded the corner just as the menâs restroom door opened again, slamming shut irritatingly. Already annoyed, I stopped and intended to call out whoever was keen on slamming doors, but the hushed voices made me halt.
âSheâs gone, bring out the weapons.â
âAre you sure we shouldnât wait for longer?â
âAll the important ones are already here, I donât want more collateral victims than necessary.â
âFine, boss.â
My eyebrows furrowed as I remained rooted to my spot, not having a good feeling at all about this. Who were these people and why were they talking about weapons and victims? I thought this was a highly secured event, so these two mustâve been on the list or something. Otherwise, it made no sense to how they got in.
âThat Song prick will pay tonight for fucking us over, Sehun, mark my words.â
âWhen do you want to attack?â
âWhen he gets up on the podium for his fucking speech.â
âAnd his secretary?â
My heart stilled as my eyebrows furrowed, and I made sure to stay out of view as I listened attentively, disregarding my red lipstick as I had started chewing on my bottom lip.
âItâs not that old hag anymore, pity, the new one is rather gorgeous, isnât she?â
âDo you want me to take her hostage, sir?â
âYeah, kill her if Song isnât cooperating.â
I gasped and pressed my hands against my mouth, hoping I wasnât loud, my heart beating fast as my hands started shaking. My ears rang for a second and I swore my head became hazy, but I had to focus. I had to stop this before anything would happen. I wasnât dying, and nobody was getting hurt tonight.
I knew exactly who to tell.
With a racing heart and unstable legs, I hurried down the hallway, grateful for the red carpet as my heels made no sound. I ignored everyone as I very rudely pushed people out of my way, ignoring Chanyeolâs smile and questions as I snapped at him to get out of my way. Jongho was back and his eyebrows furrowed when he saw my disposition, but I had no time to speak to anyone but Song MingiâIron Man. I felt judging eyes on me as I tried to keep my breaths laboured, eyes frantically searching the crowd for my boss, my heart beating even faster. As his secretary, I have read through the schedule and I knew Mr. Songâs speech was soon, I really couldnât waste even one more second. Taking a breath to calm my nerves and think clearly, my eyes fell towards the bar and thatâs where I spotted my boss. Without thinking, I marched over to himâand the woman he was withâpushing people out of my way without apologizing, but Iâm sure theyâd understand if they knew what was soon to occur.
âMr. Song!â I called out with an edge before even reaching my boss, but he didnât react as he probably didnât even hear me, too busy leaning towards the woman he was talking with as he touched her bare shoulder, trailing his fingers down her skin. My eyebrows furrowed as I came to a stop rather close to them, but neither seemed to notice me just yet, âMr. Song.â
At the insistency in my tone, my boss cast a glance my way and I watched as his grin turned forced, âIâm busy Miss Jang, find me after the speechââ
âI cannot do that, sir, I need to speak to you in private.â When the woman gave me a dirty look, I felt my jaw clenching, âRight now.â
Mr. Song seemed just as displeased by my rude interruption as the ladyâbut she seemed to be more pressed about my presence as she leaned back against the bar and took me in from head to toeâbut when I pushed my trembling hands behind my back and looked at my boss with pleading eyes, he seemed to realize something was wrong, so very wrong, âPlease, Mr. Song, we need to talk.â
He cleared his throat and adjusted his sparkly blazer as he gave the woman a dashing smile, grabbing her hand to press a faint kiss against her knuckles, âDonât get too bored in my absence, Miss Han, Iâll be right back.â
She chuckled and nodded her head, then threw me another dirty glare, and then Mr. Song was finally looking at me with questioning eyes and without thinking, I grabbed his wrist and took off, pulling him after myself urgently. I apologized to people this time as we walked through the crowd, headed for the exit, and Jongho tried to stop us when he noticed us, but Mr. Song raised his hand to stop him. I was too scared to walk towards the restrooms as I didnât know whether the men were still there, so instead, I guided us towards the elevator.
âWhat is your problem?â Mr. Songâs tone was sharp as he snapped once I stopped walking and I whirled around, his eyes were narrowed as they sharply looked down at me.
âSomeone wants to hurt you.â I rushed out and before Mr. Song could interrupt me, I continued, âI needed a moment so I went to the restroom and after leaving, I heard two men talking and they were saying they will make you pay andâthey have weapons, Mr. Song, theyâthey said theyâll kill me if you donât cooperate with themââ
âThis isnât a prank or a joke, right?â Mr. Song asked as he stepped closer, and I quickly shook my head, grip around his wrist tightening.
âI wouldnât joke about something like this!â I hissed as Mr. Songâs eyebrows furrowed and worry coated his expression, âTheyâll attack before your speech.â
Mr. Song averted his eyes as they seemed to cloud over with even more worry and stress and then suddenly, he stepped closer, eyes boring into mine, fierce and burning with determination, âDo you know their names?â
âOne is called Sehun.â I barely finished my sentence when Mr. Song tsked and looked at the ceiling, looking irked as I finally released his wrist, a little embarrassed for having held onto it for so long. Mr. Song licked his lips and then glanced down at me, opening his mouth to speak when there was laughter behind us and chatter. I barely blinked when I felt myself shoved backwards as my back collided with the wall, Mr. Songâs tall form looming over me as he caged me in between himself and the wall. My eyes widened in surprise and out of reflex, I tried to push him away. I grabbed his waist and attempted to wrestle myself out of the hold, but Mr. Song only pushed his body against mine as the laughter and chatter came closer.
âWhat are you doing?!â I whisper-shouted as I looked up at him with a glare, blood boiling that he wasnât taking the situation seriously again and was trying to doâwhatever with me.
âIâm sorry, Miss Jang, but everyone saw us walk outside together and, well, I have a reputation to uphold, you know?â He smirked and lowered his head as I sputtered, trying to push him away once again, âI will let you go when they have walked past us, stop being so fussy.â
âI wouldnât be so fussy if you werenât pinning me against a wall against my own will, sir, kindly fuck off.â I snapped and Mr. Song dared to chuckle, âThereâs lives on your hands and youâre here with me instead, play-pretending that something that isnât happening is happening, putting everyoneâs life at riskââ
âRelax a little, will you?â Mr. Song groaned and poked my forehead with a finger, making me flinch away, âThey wonât attack until I give my speech, so, weâre good. I could just not say that speech the whole night and everyone would be okayââ
âNo, because they want revenge and they will get it, no matter what.â The people enjoying themselves had almost reached us now, Mr. Song cradled my jaw with one hand and tilted my head up, making my heart race as I gulped, âWhat we all need right now is a superhero to save the day, sir, we need Iron Man.â
âI thought Spiderman was the one who saved you.â Mr. Songâs voice dropped low as his eyes searched my face and I felt breathless for a second, his cologne strong and wrapping around us, âBut youâre asking for Iron Man now? Donât you hate me? Wouldnât you rather have someone else save the dayââ
âI donât give a fuck who saves the day, Mr. Song, as long as they stop those two men, alright?â My jaw clenched and my eyes threatened to flutter closed as Mr. Songâs head lowered and his lips came close to mine, âI know youâve done good things before, justâI donât want to die.â
âI know.â Mr. Song whispered and suddenly the people went quiet as they had spotted us, âI donât want you to die either.â
Mr. Song and I stared into each otherâs eyes as I let his words sink in, trying to desperately ignore my quickening heartbeat and the way my muscles seemed to tense when he smiled softly, the hand holding my jaw coming to play with the front strands of my hair before he pushed them behind my ear. The people in the hallway suddenly giggled and muttered something about Mr. Song clearly enjoying himself, and then they rushed off while looking at us curiously. I exhaled once they were gone from sight and thought Mr. Song would release me, but his eyebrows were furrowed and he looked conflicted. I raised my eyebrows at him and slightly tried to push him away again, but he barely took a step back.
âI need you to go back to the ballroom and tell Jongho that thereâs been a change to our plans, then tell Chanyeol to announce that my speech will be soon starting, alright?â His tone was soft and almost worried as I nodded, finally able to relax as Mr. Song completely released me and stepped away, his warmth disappearing with him. I gulped and fixed my hair, pulling the strands back to frame my face once again, failing to notice that Mr. Song watched me closely with a small gulp, âYouâre gorgeous tonight, Miss Jang.â
My head snapped up and I looked at Mr. Song with an alarmed expression, but with a nod of his head he was gone and I knew what I had to do next. So, heeding his words, I ran back to the ballroom and called Jongho aside to tell him thereâs been a change to their plans, watching as realization crossed his features. He squared his shoulders as his expression became schooled and cold, different from the man I knew. He thanked me and told me to stay safe before he was gone too, and then I knew that Jongho also knew who Song Mingi was. Next, I told Chanyeol to gather everyone and announce that Mr. Song would be giving his speech soon, and then I walked closer to the exit, eyes surveying the crowd and trying to figure out who the two men were. Nobody looked suspicious, and I felt more and more nervous as time went by and the room filled up with even more people. Everyone was eager to see and hear my boss, and the room was filled with loud chatter as the music had stopped playing. I jumped when the doors were closed and Jongho stood in front of them, hands intertwined in front of him and eyes steely as he looked around, searching.
The lights flickered and everyone looked at each other, surprised and a little confused, and then the lights went out completely. I gasped as the chatter died down at once, my breaths quick as my muscles tensed, waiting for the worst. I could tell everyone thought this was a trick Mr. Song came up with, but I knew just in how great danger we were. But then, before I could panic more and even start crying, the lights were back on and nothing changed. The stage was still empty and nobody had moved from their spots, I felt confused as Jongho and I shared a glance. Perhaps it was a malfunction or something, but that was unexpected and almost impossible as the building had backup generators that kicked in as soon as the electricity went out. Then, somebody cleared their throat loudly.
âGood evening, ladies and gentlemen.â People whirled around as we looked towards where the modified voice came from, a red iron costumed man stood behind the bar, polishing a glass. I could feel everyoneâs confusion as they gaped at Iron Man, some even looked excited, and I caught Jonghoâs amused smile before I looked back at Mr. Song, âI heard youâre waiting for Song Mingiâs speech, heâs a really good friend of mine, did you know that? Weâre practically like twins, thatâs how close we are.â
People laughed and some even got their phones out to snap pictures as Iron Man placed both the rag and glass onto the bar, resting his elbows on it as he leaned forward, chin in his palms, âBefore I let my dear twin proceed with his speech, I heard there are people here who had planned a surprise for all of us. Kim Junmyeon, are you in the room with us?â
The crowd went silent again and looked around, my eyebrows furrowed as I tried to see if anyone reacted weirdly, but I couldnât tell as there were many people in there. Iron Man chuckled and then stood up straight, trailing an iron finger against the counter, âI heard you brought your little brother too, Oh Sehun, so where are you two hiding?â
The lights went out and I yelped when I felt someone touch my wrist, bony fingers curling around my skin as I started yanking my arm free. Then, two spotlights suddenly snapped on and I whipped my head to my left frantically, ready to punch my captor and free myself and was rather glad to see Wooyoung. His eyes were big and he looked confused and borderline scared too, âI hate the dark, what the fuck is happening?â
âAre you drunk?â I whispered as I looked towards the spotlights, two men were illuminated. One stood in the middle of the crowd, which now had made way and stepped away as if sensing danger, and the other man was rather close to the exit, Jonghoâs fierce glare was fixed onto the man.
âNo, but I wish I was.â Wooyoung whispered, moving closer until his side was pressing into mine, âAre we going to die?â
âWe shouldnât,â Then I looked towards Iron Man who slowly walked around the bar, somehow managing to look menacing as the two men put on the spot looked towards each other, expressions tense and eyes glaring, âDo you trust Iron Man?â
âFuck yes,â Wooyoung whispered as his grip tightened around my wrist, âremember that bad accident I was involved in? Heâs the guy that saved me before the engine exploded, I owe him my life.â
I looked at Wooyoung with surprise as his eyes remained on Iron Man, slightly shaking but filled with admiration. Wooyoung rarely spoke of his accident, and even when he did, he never mentioned how he got out of the car, saying something about it being too traumatic to be spoken of. I gulped and grabbed his hand, squeezing it, âWeâre not dying then.â
âWe better not, I wanted to propose to Sooyoung next week.â But before I could react to Wooyoungâs words, everyone gasped as the two men drew guns, and my eyes widened as Wooyoung suddenly stepped in front of me, shielding me with his body. My heart swelled and I gripped the back of his shirt as I looked at Jongho who was moving towards the one that stood close to him.
âFuck off, you arrogant prick!â The man in the middle of the crowd exclaimed, enraged as he pointed his gun towards my boss, âWhatâs the meaning of this? Whereâs Song Mingi?!â
Iron Man chuckled and as he started walking towards the man, the crowd parted for him as everyone ducked down in fear, âHeâs busy fucking his secretary assistant.â
âFuck off.â I hissed as my glare bore into the side of Iron Manâs iron mask, and as if sensing my rage, the superheroâs head turned just briefly, but I knew Mr. Song was looking at me. Wooyoung cackled in front of me, as if the situation was actually funny, but didnât question it despite it being about me. Did Wooyoung know too, perhaps, that our boss was the superhero?
âWell, Mr. Kim, now that the man youâre searching for isnât here, wonât you lower your weapons?â Iron Man turned his head, âYou too, Mr. Oh.â
A man yelped as the one closer to the door suddenly sprung forward and grabbed him, holding his gun against the manâs head, a seething expression on his face, âIâll blow his brains out if you donât get Song Mingi in here, right now.â
But my boss didnât react as Jongho slowly crept towards the pair, ready to fight off the man holding the weapon. Everyone screamed as a warning shot went off, the man in the middle had his gun pointed towards the ceiling before he pointed it at Iron Man again. There was a tsk and then Iron Manâs hand was pointed towards the criminal, something opening as blue light simmered in its palm, just like when he was supposed to save me.
âFuck you.â The two men spat in unison, and suddenly, the ceiling opened up and large weapons descended, pointed straight at the criminals' heads. They froze as the crowd went dead silent once again, everyone scared to make the wrong move as if theyâd detonate the weapons. Two red dots sat on the criminals' foreheads, and I saw the one in the middle of the crowd slightly falter, fire dying out in his eyes.
âStill want to fuck me?â Iron Man chuckled, lowering his arm, âI only have to press one button and then both of you will be dead.â
I gulped and felt thankful for having Wooyoung with me as his presence brought comfort despite his shaking frame and constant silent curses, eyes darting between Iron Man and Jongho as the driver/bodyguard almost reached the criminal. Wooyoung looked like he wanted to help, but I grabbed his arm and halted him into place, knowing that Iâd never forgive myself if anything happened to him.
âGive us Song Mingi.
âNo.â
And then the man in the crowd fired shots at Iron Man foolishly, emptying his ammunition as Jongho tackled the other one to the ground, getting on top of him to pin him down as the doors slammed open and police officers filled in to take the two attackers hostage. Iron Man casually grabbed the criminalâs gun and snapped it into two before he headbutted him, the man instantly falling to the ground unconscious. Wooyoung seemed to relax as people tried to flee the place, scared and confused, but the police asked everyone to remain calm as the threat had been neutralized. The Captain greeted Iron Man before they collected the unconscious man off the floor, the other one was trashing around and screaming as they had him handcuffed and held down by five officers and Jongho. Despite it being over, I found it hard to breathe as my body continued to shake, and I had to bite my bottom lip to stop myself from crying. The incident at the metro was too fresh in my mind, and I couldnât help but wonder what wouldâve happened if I hadnât eavesdropped on the two men. Wooyoung, sensing my panic, turned and pulled me into a warm embrace, rubbing my back up and down as he muttered reassuring words, cracking jokes that werenât helping at the moment. I did appreciate them, though.
           Once the police took the two criminals and Iron Man mysteriously disappeared and Song Mingi showed up to do damage control, the crowd seemed to remain tense, and thus the party was postponed. Not everyone left, some decided to stay behind and drink and dance around, but as it neared midnight, few people remained. The event was ruined, but surprisingly, Mr. Song didnât look too disappointed by it. After talking to the police and calming the crowd down and apologizing profusely, he sauntered over to the bar and downed a shot of tequila before beckoning Jongho over to drink some whiskey. The younger refused his offer but remained by his side, soon joined by a squeamish Wooyoung who was reluctant to leave me on my own. I assured him that I would be fine and needed the breather as I headed towards the huge windows to gaze outside. The city lights were pretty from the fifteenth floor, and I released a long sigh as I felt exhausted and ready to leave. I didnât want to stay behind, but somehow both Wooyoung and Chanyeol managed to convince me as they offered me another glass of champagne to loosen up. Most of the employees stayed behind, eager to speak to their boss as it was a rare occasion if you didnât work directly with him.
Distracted by the soft music and my own thoughts as I watched people walk down the street from time to time, I wasnât aware that Mr. Song had approached me. He stood next to me, looking down at the city too, lips pursed as he spoke up quietly, âYou did really well, Miss Jang, thank you.â
My eyes rounded as I turned my head to look at my boss, having never heard him thank anyone before so sincerely. It felt nice, it made my body jittery and my heart race a bit, âWould you like to dance?â
That surprised me as well as I froze, looking at my boss questioningly. Did he really want to share a dance with me? Although there werenât many people who could see us, rumours spread quickly at our companyâespecially if they were about Song Mingi and his women.
âUhm, alright,â I muttered and almost flinched when Mr. Song took my hand to walk us towards the dance floor. I gulped and stepped closer when we faced each other, Mr. Songâs free hand went to my lower back as he pressed our bodies together, and I gripped his shoulder as he, for some weird reason, intertwined our other hands. Our closeness felt a bit too much, too intimate, but I said nothing as it didnât feel like he meant to do anything inappropriate. During this one week of working with him, I realized he sought out physical contact more often than not and stood rather close whenever he spoke to someone.
âAre you alright?â I chanced a glance at Mr. Song, but he wasnât looking at me. I licked my lips and tried not to feel awkward as I nodded, suddenly reminded of when he comforted me while I didnât know Iron Manâs identity.
âYes, youâyou did a good job tonight, sir, thank you.â My voice was small and I took a deep breath, feeling awfully vulnerable all of a sudden, âI wasnât ready to be taken hostage again, I was scared.â
âIâll keep you safe, Miss Jang, just donât leave my sight.â Perhaps Mr. Song didnât mean to say that as he gasped quietly right after before he cleared his throat and tapped my lower back, âIron Man saves people too, you know? Not just Spiderman.â
âAre you really jealous over that?â I decided that I didnât want us to be too vulnerable with each other, I still didnât like my boss, so I tried to change the tone of the conversation. Mr. Song scoffed and moved us around the few dancing couples, he was rather good at dancing, fluid and gentle.
âIâm not the jealous type, besides, why would I be jealous of somebody like Yunââ The cut-off was way too abrupt and my ears perked up, eyes widening comically as I pulled my head back to look at Mr. Songâs face. He looked flabbergasted by his own words and I broke into giggles, averting my eyes when Mr. Songâs narrowed at me.
âI donât think I was supposed to know the other superheroâs identity,â I said amused, and Mr. Song groaned as he gripped my hand just a bit tighter, as if warning me to stay silent. Well, at least now it made sense what I saw through the CCTV, that thing Yunho and Mr. Song were fixing had probably something to do with Spidermanâs web. So, it seems Jeong Yunho is Spiderman, what a small world.
âJust donât tell anyone, specifically him, heâll get excited and heâll never shut up about himselfââ
âOh, sounds like he had a good mentor.â I mocked with a raise of my eyebrow and Mr. Song glared at me, âBut I wonât tell anyone. Isnât it even more dangerous for him, heâs still a teenager.â
âDo you worry about me as well, Miss Jang?â
âNo.â
âThatâs a pity, maybe you should.â
âYouâre quite alright inside that iron suit.â
âNothing is indestructible.â
âThen youâll have to be more careful.â
âYeah, Iâll have to be more careful now.â Our eyes bore into each otherâs, and I felt my cheeks warm up as Mr. Songâs warm eyes were intense and curious, glinting with a seriousness that was rare to see on him. But it didnât last for long as he looked away and twisted me around abruptly, making me gasp as I had to cling onto him before I lost my balance, âMrs. Bae will be back in a week, think you can handle me for a little while longer?â
âI donât think I can,â I snorted, realizing that I was almost hugging my boss with the arm that was supposed to only hold onto his shoulder, âBut I donât have a choice.â
âYouâre smart,â Mr. Song chuckled and he lowered his head to be able to look me in the eyes directly, âAnd quite useful. You tried to blackmail me, you move fast, and stick your nose into everything, these arenât necessarily good attributes, but they could be of use to me.â
My eyebrows furrowed as a wide smirk made its way onto Mr. Songâs lips, eyes twinkling with mischief, âWhat do you mean?â
âAre you trained in any martial arts?â I shook my head and Mr. Song pursed his lips, seemingly in thought, âWell, thatâs easily changeable. Are you good with tech?â
I shook my head again and Mr. Song seemed disappointed, âWell, thatâs not an issue, I have Yungiââ
âWho?â I asked confused as Mr. Song grinned.
âThe artificial intelligence I designed to help me, heâs rather smart and a good friend when a manâs lonely.â That was perhaps impressive, but I didnât say that to Mr. Song, he didnât have to hear it from me too, âWell, anyways, I can find something useful for you to do.â
âAm I not useful already?â I asked confused, just slightly offended, âI help Mrs. Bae a lot, Iâm her assistant after all, and by helping her, I help you too, sir.â
âMingi.â
âWhat?â
âStop calling me âsirâ and âMr. Songâ, itâs getting a bit repetitive.â I gave him a funny look as Mr. Song just raised his eyebrows challengingly.
âBut youâre my boss, sir.â
âAm I though?â My heart stilled as Mr. Song suddenly dipped me down, our noses touching as he looked dashing under the dim lights, blazer sparkling and eyes twinkling.
âAre you firing me right now?â I asked alarmed, both arms going around his shoulders once I was in a standing position again. Mr. Songâs strong arms went around my waist as he swayed us slowly to the rhythm of the music the live band was playing.
âYes and no,â Mr. SongâMingiâhummed, and then his voice rumbled quietly next to my ear, âYouâll be working less for Song Mingi and more for Iron Man.â
My eyes widened as my heart raced now, skin tingling at the weird proposition, Mingi continued to explain, âMrs. Bae will be retiring soon and I already have the person who will replace her, and surprisingly, I quite like you, Y/N. I want you to help me outââ
âBut how?â I couldnât find anything with which I would be more useful to Mingi. He chuckled, and I felt him play with the strands that had fallen out of my low bun.
âIron Man needs a secretary too.â
âAnd if I refuse?â I knew I couldnât, there were too many factors at stake right now.
âJongho will kidnap you tonight.â That sounded terrifying, âI canât let you go, you know too much. But I assume you already know that, right?â
âI do, Mingi, but if youâre subjecting me to more hours spent with youâwhich will be my own personal hellâI expect the paycheck to be higher too, you know?â Mingi giggled, the sound deep and surprising, and I found myself smiling.
âIâll give you anything you want, Y/N, just stay by my side.â His voice was low and sincere and I gulped, feeling butterflies in my stomach.
âWhy?â
âBecause.â
âDoes Mrs. Bae know who you are?â
âSheâs my godmother, of course, she knows.â
I chuckled, not having expected that, âThat explains a lot, actually.â
âSheâs a menace,â Mingi grumbled and I chuckled again.
âAnd so are you.â I watched another couple join the dance floor, and suddenly remembered something, âYou said there was a dress code, so why is it that only the two of us are wearing black?â
âBecause thereâs a dress code.â
âAnd itâs gold, not black.â
âExactly.â
âMingi.â
âIâm the host, I can dress however I want.â
âAnd me?â
âShut up, I love this song.â
The song, in fact, was just another classical piece that I was convinced Mingi hadnât heard before in his life, but I remained silent and decided to bring up this subject again sometime soon. Just what was Iron Manâs secretary supposed to do?
Genre: fluff, smut, angst, FWB to idiots to lovers
warnings: Â cumshot/facial, unprotected sex, multiple sex scenes, oral sex (m & f receiving), rough sex, breath play (choking), mentions of exhibitionism, face fucking, virgin wonwoo mentions, idiots in love, edging (emotionally), impact play, sir kink (brief), alcohol consumption
Length: ~19.5k
Note: thank you to @gyuswhore my love, my life, for suffering through this with me. this fic is set in the same universe as her gyu fic for this collab so check it out (threat). also thank u @haologram and everyone else who beta'd this for me bc im sensitive. follow @camandemstudios for more fics!!! i will come back later and tag the people who commented on the teaser but rn im getting day drunk hehehe
summary: Senior year of college is meant to be full of celebration and smooth sailing. Years of work culminating in the final semesters that will send you off into the real world where clubs, sports, and weekends packed with hungover volunteering to pad your resume no longer mattered. Itâd be a piece of cake if it wasnât for your fuck buddy turned coworker having the same plan. But only one of you can get the departmentâs most coveted recommendation that all but guarantees your acceptance. Tension rises and the nearly four year thing youâve had with Wonwoo approaches its endpoint.
collab m.list || m.list
This blog is intended for 18+ only! Minors/blank blogs will be blocked.
âWhatâs the difference between a proton and an electron again?â
âShoot me in the fucking head,â Wonwoo whispers harshly.
Heâs a seat over, a laptop covered in gaming stickers and a coffee cup containing a lethal amount of caffeine occupying the space atop the narrow lecture desk. Itâs a feign to productivity. His screen is split between thesis notes and a countdown to a new video game release that unfortunately hits 0 in the middle of lecture.Â
Dr. Wagnerâs intro to chemistry course isnât difficult â freshman aside â which is why you and Wonwoo agreed to be her teaching assistants. Easy money and a way to get in her good graces come grad school application season. Youâve TAâed the same course since sophomore year for different professors but itâs all the same; the metaphorical killing field before hopeful freshmen become cannon fodder in the real trial of will: O Chem.Â
âMe first,â you whisper back.Â
Wonwoo slumps in his chair, opening the shared drive keeping track of problem areas to touch on in lab hours, and typing âcheck for basic brain activityâ under the class To-Do list.Â
Fair enough. If they canât understand the basics this far into the semester then you two are in for a world of hurt for the next practical. You're in for a world of hurt come next study hall when half of them will complain about failing their quiz this morning despite having the answers spoon fed straight from the notes.
[09:48] You:Â be nice
[09:48] wonwoo: if they were smarter, id be nicer
[09:48] You: maybe theyâre scared stupid
It wouldnât be too far off. One time a freshman burst into tears while asking Wonwoo to check their practice work during lab hours. Wonwoo swears he didnât say anything and the kid looked on the verge of a mental breakdown if the wind blew the wrong way.
[09:48] wonwoo: from what?
[09:48] You: the fact ur trying to kill them with your mind
[09:49 ]wonwoo : i wouldnât kill them
[09:49] wonwoo: just maim or seriously injure so they dont come to class and say dumb shit
Dr. Wagner fields more questions in front of the powerpoint. More âdumb shitâ Wonwoo rolls his eyes at with such obvious disgust even you feel chastised. Luckily, no one can see his face from the front row besides you.
[09:49] You: you wonder why they like me more
[09:50] wonwoo: i know why they like you more
[09:50] You: oh?
Stifling an eye roll of your own you throw a glance his way as the next message comes through,
[09:50] wonwoo: nice ass
âAlright, Y/N and Wonwoo will be passing out the study guide for the next exam. We still have a few weeks so donât worry about the back half but try and review the modules weâve done so far and bring questions for them during study hours,â Dr. Wagner prattles off.
The gigantic stack of printouts is split in half for you and Wonwoo to disperse around the massive lecture hall. Over one hundred students sit in this lecture; the unfortunate ones who were forced to take a 9 AM course three days a week. Half look like their brain is melting out of their ears, otherâs clearly havenât paid attention at all, and a few are sound asleep. Itâs Friday after all. They probably didnât get back from their Thirsty Thursday night out until a few hours ago.
You wouldnât even be here if Wonwoo wasnât a built in insurance policy.
Dr. Wagner collects her things and heads towards the front exit with a cheery, âHave a good weekend!â
âThere's a party at Sigma tonight,â Wonwoo shares as you both pack your own bags. The next class is already shuffling through the doors to claim their seats.
âI have work until eleven.â
âAfter?â
Shouldering your bag, you head towards the door where the next class is already trickling in to find their seats. âDonât you have a tournament tomorrow?â
âI only have to be at the party for like an hour. I can come and walk you home.â
âFine,â you nod. âBut bring your laptop. I think Chan fucked up the last set of results and we need to fix them.â
Itâs not unusual for Wonwoo to spend his Friday nights with you; or another night for that matter. He lives in a dingy frat house on the edge of campus with twenty other guys. Itâs an act of mercy. A long standing tradition from the week before freshman year when you two were the only chemistry majors in your orientation group and that turned into a clumsy hook up at an upperclassmanâs party. You didnât know heâd be a virgin and he didnât know your high school boyfriend dumped you less than twenty four hours before you left for college (but not before you lost your own virginity in the backseat of his car).Â
Itâd beenâŠnot good.Â
Wonwoo was awkward and you were unsure. But he was sweet under the bravado; walked you home that night, pretended he wasnât interested in the fact your roommate never moved in, leaving the suite empty. But he wasnât a good enough actor to feign nonchalance when you invited him upstairs. Turns out sex was a lot better the second time around, in a bed that didnât belong to an unknown upperclassman who couldâve burst in any minute.Â
Wonwoo isnât your boyfriend. Youâre too busy piecing together the ten year plan concocted since junior year of highschool to even think about such frilly ideas. Thereâs barely enough time as it is; youâve got work, a full class schedule, TAing, and all the random clubs youâve wiggled your way into to pad your resume.Â
And heâs busy too. Navigating a sports scholarship and one of the hardest majors left barely enough time for him to wipe his own ass, let alone date. Then came research hours and TAing and the fact volleyball, apparently, wasnât just a one semester sport, there were scrimmages, workouts, and tournaments out of season.Â
Itâs been over three years of your arrangement which works best because you donât have to spend precious brain power deciphering if some random guy you went out with once is playing hard to get or just straight up not interested. You have Wonwoo. Heâs simple.Â
So what you have now, friends. Who hook up. And work together. Who also happens to be applying for the same PhD program for next year. Not together but at the same time.
The application website stares back from your laptop with horror.Â
Itâs still too early to submit any materials but itâs been highlighted in bold red in your calendar since two years ago. Everything is ready to go the second it opensâexcept Dr. Wagnerâs recommendation. Itâs the sole reason you (and Wonwoo) agreed to be her TAs this semester; sheâs one of the programâs most notorious alum, her words as good as gold in securing a spot.Â
Someone hacks a cough and shatters the eerie silence of the library. The backtrack of sparse typing and the custodian shuffling around to have been the only company throughout your shift. No one would choose to rot at any of the weathered study tables late on a Friday night so early in the semester.Â
With the abundance of free time, you fixed Chanâs mistakes in his set of trials easily, no thanks to Wonwoo who still hasnât shown up. Itâs good though. Your stoichiometry homework is submitted three days before the deadline and the mountain of emails clogging your inbox from hopeless undergrads is in the single digits. Half the labs from last week are graded for Dr. Wagnerâs approval, the other half can wait until Sunday night. A long weekend of sleep awaits once the clock hits eleven and youâre free to run home.
Wonwoo stumbless in five minutes before the clock runs out. His duffle for tomorrow is slung over his shoulder and heâs already dressed for bed, rumpled sweats and a hat he definitely wore to the party with high hopes to cut out early.Â
âYouâre late,â you acknowledge, cramming your belongings back into your bag. Heâs close enough to get a whiff of. âAnd youâre drunk.â
âI am not drunk,â he argues.
The lazy smile tugging at the corner of his lips says otherwise but it isnât an argument worth having. All you want to do is get home and pass out.
He shoulders you bag, presenting his hand when you insist you can carry it on your own. The dry warm of his palm against your cold is pleasant enough you donât argue as you tug him towards the automatic doors.
âHave a goodnight, Mr. Lee,â you call towards the security desk.
The guard, old enough to be your grandfather, calls back, âYou too, sweetheart.â
Out in the balmy night, you tug Wonwoo down the street in the direction of your apartment. Two blocks and then a right turn leaving you outside the dowdy building with hallways that constantly reek of weed and new paint smell.
A pack of freshmen girls heading somewhere, marked by their matching uniform of jeans and black tops of various coverage, crowd the sidewalk straight ahead. Someone is crying, one is on the phone, and a few others stand dumbly waiting for their next movie like zombies â all incredibly wasted. You barrel through them without acknowledgement. A few drunken bitter âbitchâs hit your back but you ignore them to focus on the man struggling to push through the crowd without accidentally shoulder checking any of them.
On the other side, you ask, âHave fun at the party?â
âSome pledge puked on Jihoonâs stuff,â he huffs, nose scrunching.
âMay he rest in peace.â
Wonwoo sways from side to side from the weight of your bag but also whatever radioactive mix was served at the party. The stairs provide an extra challenge since the elevator has been broken for weeks but thankfully itâs a short trip to the second floor.
He presents your belongings with routine ease once the front door of your apartment looms ahead. Music from the floor above shakes the walls; hopefully you can make up for the lack of sleep tomorrow morning.
There isnât much space inside the four walls you call home â the âkitchenâ which is a single counter with a stove and fridge youâre barely around to use, fifteen feet away your bed in the corner, bordered by your desk at the foot cramped with a spray of errant papers and books youâve been too busy to deal with. The monitor doubles as a TV and finally a tiny loveseat with a broken leg replaced by a stack of hard covers completes the room.
You beeline for the bathroom to wash away the filth of a long day and Wonwoo, keeping on trend, follows into the cramped space.
âCan I help you?â you ask, shirt tossed into the bin in the corner.
Wonwooâs shirt goes the same and then his pants after a brief struggle. âYou know I sleep better when I shower.âÂ
True.
âAnd I doubt you're gonna let me in your bed if Iâm dirty.â
Even truer.
The water is still cold when you step in but the man glued to your back fights the worst of the chill away. Goosebumps prickle along your skin but have nothing to do with the vent that points directly into the stall (whoever designed the apartments must have had a sick sense of humor) and everything to do with Wonwooâs mouth tracing the curve of your shoulder.
Forcing the heat blooming between your legs down to a simmer, you focus on washing up and getting into bed before it rolls into a boil and you do something stupid thatâll only leave you and Wonwoo struggling for balance.Â
Shower sex is a dangerous sport. Shower sex with Wonwoo has left you both with bruises. Drunken shower sex with Wonwoo will get you both killed.
Soft hums tickle your neck as you clean up. There isnât enough room for two people to stand in the spray at once so you take turns hogging the steamy water and braving the frigid cold until the last bits of soap swirl the drain.
Even when drying off you stay in each otherâs orbit until the need for clothes and sleep drive you both out of the bathroom and back into the equally cramped space of your room.
Itâs not until youâre laying on the mattress, darkness snug on all sides, that you feel Wonwoo roll atop you with purpose.
âWhat are you doing?â
âNothing,â Wonwoo hums into your stomach, fingers crawling up your bare legs.
âThat,â you inhale at the nip of his teeth on the curve of your thigh, âdoesnât feel like nothing to me.â
Wonwoo doesnât answer but gives you plenty of time to brush him off while bruising your skin. You donât. Instead you sink deeper into the blankets and let him push your shirt up until you're bare once more.
The fuzziness of alcohol lingers in his veins â just enough that he smiles into the strip of skin above your panties as you sigh and arch under the delicious weight of wandering hands and mouth at your nipple.
âWonwoo,â you sigh and heâs up and kissing you with eager clumsiness.
A familiar prod at your core through his boxers crashes bubbles through your veins. You felt it in the bathroom but now is when you finally get to indulge with subtle grinds Wonwoo meets in his own search for friction.Â
âDonât you need to be upâughâearly tomorrow?â
He kisses you slowly, tongue dragging along your bottom lip until your mouth opens under his. It burns you from the inside out. Mindlessly you shift your legs to frame his hips better but Wonwoo kisses deeper and all you can think about is giving in to whatever scheme heâs working up to have you both naked and panting.
He leans back a fraction to speak, giving in when you chase his lips before ducking to nip at your ear and mumbling a response. âDonât worry about it.â
âI will worry about it when you snooze twenty alarms and your team hunts me down because I smothered their star player with a pillow,â you snort but heat under a squeeze of his fingers at your sides.
âSleep when Iâm done with this.â
âAnd what is âthisâ exactly?â
A harsh suck at your jaw has your stomach tight. heavy and thick until need drips down your spine to coil in your gut and the emptiness between your thighs becomes unignorable. He hides pleased groans in the curve of your neck until you force a hand under the band of his underwear. Eyes opening, you watch the muscles of his back tense and flex as he rocks against you, fucking your fist greedily.
It doesnât last long. Wonwoo gets antsy under the taunting pressure of your thumb and descends back down your body with burning lips. âTake your shirt off.â
âItâs cold,â you complain but do as he asks.Â
He traces your figure clad in nothing but your glasses and a soiled pair of panties; damp at the crotch from his attention and Wonwoo slips a finger under the hem to tease you that inch closure to depravity.
Wonwoo laves against the hickey on the inside of your thigh from a week ago, itâs yellowed and perfectly shaped like his mouth. Itâs tender under his attention, even the gentle tracing on his nose forcing you to wince in discomfort.Â
He coos, kissing it before skating back to the hem of your panties, lips vibrating against your skin. âSorry I didnât come earlier.â
Why he brings it up now is a mystery. Or the fact he brings it up at all. Life happens. Youâve blown him off more than once for a late night in the library; no hard feelings.
âItâs fine,â you sigh as he tugs the last scrap of fabric off your body and pushes your knees up to display you like a meal.
Spreading you apart, he lands a wet kiss at your entrance before teasing with the heat of his tongue.Â
In a beg for sanity you twist a tight grip in his hair; a tangled mess from his drunk endeavors. Wonwoo pushes harder, drowns in your taste with enthusiasm as you moan and sigh.Â
âF-fuck.â
He wonât ask if itâs good. He knows it is. Nearly four years of hook ups attunes him to your pleasure, a well rehearsed routine that has you both ache in the best way.Â
You lose yourself in shaking breaths, feet planted to drive up into his mouth for more. He sucks your clit and nearly gets his head crushed by your thighs. It doesnât take much and he knows it.Â
You chant âgonna cumâ in choked groans that almost die at the edge of your teeth but Wonwoo hears and takes it as permission to pull out the stops, hand at your thing with a harsh grip and fingers sinking home.
Heâs memorized all the signs of your want; the wrecked echo of your throat and the sounds he pulls from you a clear tell. He flattens his tongue, holding steady as grind straight into mindless bliss. Spit pools and drips and slips down onto the sheets. Wonwoo hums praise, unintelligible but you vaguely know itâs something thatâd make you blush you could hear it over the pounding in your ears.
Back arching, your vision flares white at the edges and when Wonwoo realizes what's happening he makes it last until your fist ball up and youâre floating.
Wonwoo backs down as you twitch through the tail end, sloppy kisses to your clit that could knock into another fit if he isnât careful. But even as you tremble the only thing you want is the weight of his cock in your mouth, or inside you. You arenât picky as long as you get to feel him cum too.
You finally manage to pry Wonwoo from between your legs with an ankle to his ribs. Youâre not done with him despite the fatigue hanging around your shoulders like dead weight. He angles over top of you for a kiss that tastes too much like pussy for your liking but itâs hot knowing heâs covered in you so you push until his shoulders meet the sheets and you can claim his lap.
His dick strains through his underwear, preening when you rock back into the heat. His nostrils flare when you grab for it, stiff enough to sink onto easily.Â
âOh god,â he groans, head digging back into the pillows to watch you like a goddess.
His fingers web across the tops of your thighs, a harsh grip keeping you flat as he grinds up into the wet heat of your pussy. You whimper and sigh for him; all the sounds he loves to hear. You squeeze your chest, taut nipples framed between the slants of your fingers to entice him until he reaches around and knocks you forward for the sole purpose of taking one in his mouth.
Your eyes roll back, jaw locked open, drowning in the stretch and the bite of his mouth and the hands squeezing your ass so hard it hurts. Wonwoo groans, throaty and desperate. âGonna cum. Wanna cum in you. Holy shit.â
He gets you on your back. Too absorbed in his own end, heâs dead weight with his tongue between your lips and harsh thrusts that take him right to the edge. It gives that grit against your clit that means youâll come too, soaked in cum and spit and sweat.
You wish heâd flip you on your front and fuck you with a hand between you shoulder blades and the other tangled in your hair. Thatâs the kind of fuck thatâd leave you satisfied the entire weekend heâs busy but heâs running out of steam just doing this, picking up speed in his thrust, the clap of bodies filling the room.
Chanting his name like a broken record, âWonwoo, Wonwoo, Wonwooâ breathy but loud enough your neighbors will leave another passive aggressive note on your door come morning, all you can think about is his cum. On you, in you. A sick part wants him to pull out and cum on your face â he hasnât, not in a long time because priorities and responsibilities and you're usually lucky to have even five minutes alone before someone needs either of you. But you want it. God do you want it.
âCum on my face,â you whimper. Thereâs drool on your lips and sweat in your hairline. Even if he doesn't, you'll need another shower anyway.
A strangled noise escapes from between his teeth at your neck. Then heâs driving forward so hard you burn; painfully so, mouth locked in a silent choke. Your orgasm rips through your insides, jagged at the edges where Wonwoo fucks himself into your guts.Â
âFuck yeah,â he grunts, pulling away and replacing the grip of your pussy with a tight fist as he straddles your chest.Â
The taste of cock floods your tongue, heady and intoxicating. You get one, two drags against the stiff head and then heâs cumming, dripping his spend over your lips, then your cheek, then your glasses because heâs a sick freak. Even in the dim light from the window he twitches at the sight. You open your mouth and replace his hold, moaning as more comes to the surface. You swallow down as far as heâll go which isnât much in this position but itâs the thought that counts.
Wonwoo grinds to halt with an occasional kick of his hips that leaves you choking â rigid limbs locking in place until he melts with sticky satisfaction.Â
Heâs up and off, your glasses in hand for a thorough cleaning, not even bothering to flick on any of the lights but you hear the sink running in the bathroom before he comes padding back.
âGod,â you whimper in disgust. âThatâs so gross.â
âYouâre the one who asked for it,â Wonwoo snorts, soft passes of a damp cloth on your skin focused on getting you clean enough to sleep.
âBecause itâs hot but you aim for shit.â
Wonwoo tosses the rag somewhere, flopping down and pulling you close as possible with a kiss on your forehead. âNext time Iâll aim for your hair.â
âBitch.â
The sound of music from upstairs pulses through your head as you drift off, Wonwoo asleep on your chest, fingers laced together on the sheets beside your indecipherably intertwined bodies.
Your week is divided into a simple pattern. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays you wake bright and early to attend Dr. Wagnerâs chem lecture and then stay on campus attending every other class you could find to fill the gap between your evening shift at the library. Tuesdays and Thursdays are void of responsibility until your afternoon lab with the freshman near tears while learning basic titration for four hours, followed by office hours where said freshman finally come to actually cry about their grades. Those are the nights you, Chan, Wonwoo and a handful of other lab techs work on research that carries the same threat of waterworks.Â
Itâs there Dr. Wagner pulls you and Wonwoo aside.
âI know you both are applying to Dr. Collins lab for your PhD studies,â she starts.Â
Her office reflects the same disarray as her personality; warm and lived in. Papers and exams are organized in chaos, thick stacks lining her desk waiting for you and Wonwoo to enter them into the online grade book. Books, some leather, some paperback, some the glossy cover of a textbook with cracked spines and yellowing pages are crammed into the bookshelves lining the walls until they threaten to collapse from the weight. It smells like coffee, plants, and the candle she always has burning. Itâs a cozy hovel overlooking the rear courtyard of the science building that resembles the sterility of a hospital.Â
Wonwoo occupies the other barrel chair with worn upholstery. Youâve barely seen him in the past three weeks, too busy with volunteering and working and classes while his own responsibilities keep him so exhausted itâs truly a miracle heâs even here. Dark stains ring his eyes beneath his glasses and he looks paler than usual. Youâll ask about it tonight when he comes over to work on your most recent stoichiometry project (which will be forgotten in favor of passing out during a movie while you play with his hair if history is anything to go by).
âI donât think Iâve ever met two students who belong more in his lab,â she continues.
You try not to preen, but academic validation is a hell of a drug to caffeine addicted undergrads. Wonwoo perks up too. Three and a half years of barely being people for this moment and itâs finally in reach.
âHowever,â Dr. Wagner clasps her hands atop the dark wooden desk. âIâm writing only one recommendation this semester. It might seem unfair but I want to commit to the student that deserves it the most since my schedule doesnât allow me much free time.â
Itâs like being underwater. You hear her words but nothing registers, blinking rapidly in case this is a hallucination from falling asleep in the lab again.
âI know it might not be the news you hoped for but I know senior year is a lot, especially for students as involved as you all, and I thought this could alleviate some of the stress. You two are the only students Iâm considering. So please, keep up the incredible work and we can talk again at the end of the semester when I have a more holistic evaluation of your progress.â
She stands to leave, snagging her purse and blowing out the candle with finality before abandoning the shit storm in your lap for whatever else she has to do on a Thursday night. Probably retell the events of the last five minutes to other professors in the department, laughing at the way youâve turned purple from holding your breath.
âHave a good night you two! See you tomorrow!â
The office, once warm, feels hollow. You feel hollow.Â
âWhat the fuck?â Wonwoo hasnât moved either, glued to his seat as he stares at Dr. Wagnerâs now vacant chair with his mouth wide in shock.
âDid that just happen?â you scoff in disbelief. âIs she serious?â
Wonwoo collapses over his knees with his hands scrubbing at his face like he also might be hallucinating. âI needed that recommendation.â
âWell, so do I,â you argue.
âI know. This is bullshit.â
âDid Changkyun say anything like this happened last year when she wrote one for him?â
âNo, all three people who asked her got one.â
âOh, so itâs just us she hates. Great!â you throw your hands up, sinking deeper in the chair. Maybe itâll swallow you whole and the entire ordeal will cease to exist.
âSheâs probably just trying to get in our heads so we donât slack off this semester.â
âHave we ever slacked off any semester? Iâve been on the Presidentâs Honor List since freshman year. Youâve been on the Presidentâs Honor List since freshman year. Weâre those people.â
Since starting college, since that one night during orientation where you and Wonwoo became a âweâ. Not in the relationship sense, but in the way two lines merge. Same path, same goals, same classes, same PhD program prospects. There was plenty you two did separately but more you did together. Neither competing, but working together.Â
But now thatâs over.
Because only one of you can get into Dr. Collins lab, only one of you can get the recommendation, and only one of you can have what you both worked tirelessly for over the past three years.
âListenââ you stand up and scrub at your own face. âItâll be fine. Weâll figure it out.â
âWe? Only one of us can get her recommendation. Whatâs there to figure out?â
Your face goes hot. Heâs right. âWell, I need that recommendation.â
âSo do I,â Wonwoo argues, eyes cold.
âFine.â
That recommendation is mine.
âFine!â
Weâll see about that.
Wonwoo stays in her office, flinching as you slam the door and flee.
The issue with fighting with Wonwoo is that as mad as both of you are, there are a million responsibilities you share that require close proximity.
Presently, itâs grading the last batch of exams. Seventy eight packets. And because Dr. Wagner doesnât believe in convenience, it all has to be graded by the hand of two TAs running on nothing but caffeine and spite.
Which means itâs past midnight and the couch has a permanent impression of Wonwooâs ass while you both silently fume and scratch through wrong answers with a heavy hand in red ink.
The weather reflects the atmosphere; pouring rain and thunder loud enough to shake the windows. The power has flickered in and out since the rain started but you're both too stubborn to call it quits â if there is nothing to keep you occupied then you might rip his throat out.
Wonwoo doesnât even ask if you want more coffee before he snags your empty mug and moves to the kitchenette. You donât look up when he sets it back down, and only grab it and take the first sip of perfectly steaming hot sweetness when he flops back on the couch without another word.Â
Then the power goes out again, and doesnât come back.
âAre you fucking kidding me?â
Using the flashlight on your phone, you search the drawers of your desk for candles. There nowhere to be found amongst the stacks of unopened sticky notes and tangled cords.Â
Wonwoo shuffles behind you, papers landing on the coffee table completely abandoned. âWeâve been at this for hours. Letâs just go to sleep.â
âI have them in here somewhere,â you bite, another handful of chargers and a stapled youâve never used and other things you didnât even realize you own fill the drawer. You move to the second. âThereâs only a few tests left.â
âWe can do them tomorrow. It can wait.â
âNo,â you spit like a curse.
Whatever Wonwoo was planning to say dies on his lips. âFine.âÂ
His shirt lands over your head, you rip it off only to find him half naked in the dark, huddling under one of the throw blankets you keep on the back of the couch. âWhat are you doing?â
âIâm sleeping.â
âOn the couch?âÂ
âYep.â
âYouâre too tall.â
âWell,â he draws like a pouty kid. âI donât feel like sharing the bed with you.â
In a way itâs safer to argue about something trivial like this versus the entire reason youâve iced each other out since that day in her office. Because at least like this, you wonât lose him. Itâs stupid and petty but at least youâre speaking to each other; breaking through that wall of silence thatâs been steadily growing more and more unnavigable as the inevitable draws nearer.
âFine, then Iâll sleep on the couch and you take the bed.â
âNo.â
âNo?â
âNo. N. O.â
Fine.
Itâs difficult to navigate in the dark. Your knees end up a victim to the edge of the coffee table and you trip over the edge of the rug, but you find the couch. Reaching down, you find his chest, then his shoulder. And once youâre sufficiently oriented you sit on him.
âOw,â Wonwoo grunts as you flop down, elbow in his gut and his chin hitting your forehead. âWhat are you doing?â
You wedge in closer, slipping between his body and the cushions, bracing to kick him off by force if needed. âSleeping.â
âHere?â he asks. Too aware of your plan, he turns as well, grabbing the back of the couch overhead to stay put.
âYouâre too tall to sleep here.â
âAnd weâre both too big to sleep here together. Take the bed.â
âNo,â you huff.
âNo?â
âNo. N.O. I believe youâre familiar with the word,â you spit.
âYouâre being ridiculous.â
âIf you keep talking then neither of us will sleep.â
âNeither of us are gonna sleep anyway. You move too much to be comfortable like this.â
Heâs right of course. Your hips already ache but if you move then heâll find some way to pull you off. âIâm fine.â
âYouâre being ridiculous.â
You do the mature thing and bite him.Â
The muscles corded around his pec twitch under your mouth as he flinches. âWhat the hell was that for?âÂ
You do it again.
âStop.â
âOr what?â you ask, muffled in his skin as you move to leave another bite.
Wonwoo also does the mature thing and pins your wrists in one hand, maneuvering until you're sandwiched between the couch with his chest flat to your back.
âI canât breathe like this,â you muffle into the cushions.
âOh, how tragic.â You feel his words tickle the back of your neck rather than hear them.Â
Wonwoo releases your wrists pinned to your stomach. His hand finds its way under your shirt, his shirt from some stupid frat fundraiser youâd been coerced into attending, flat to your belly with soothing circles. His calf hooks over your own to tangle your bodies together. He kisses the back of your neck, a simple brush of his lips that lingers.
Itâs easier to feel everything in the dark. Your annoyance and frustration forged over the past weeks melts away and all thatâs left is the need to have Wonwoo close. Just like this. Where there are no deadlines, or responsibilities. Where you both can drown in each othersâ presence and everything else is washed away in the heavy drops pounding the windows outside.
Here, everything is uncomplicated.
The next rumble of thunder is loud enough to send you both in the air. Unfortunately, Wonwoo drags you backwards off the couch and to the floor. You land relatively unscathed but he knocks his elbow into the coffee table.
âAre you okay?â
Wonwoo groans and curses, cradling his elbow.
âAw, tell the doctor where it hurts,â you coo, prodding his side.
He snatches your hand and pins it to his chest but not before lacing his fingers through your own. The gentle rise of and fall of breathing and the thud of his heart reverberates down your arm and straight into your own chest where something frozen softens. âHas anyone told you youâre annoying when youâre tired?â
âYes. You. Lots of times.â
âGood. Wanna make sure youâre aware.â
Lighting turns everything white, a quick flash highlighting the room. There and gone and leaving you more disoriented than before. Rolling over, you hook a thigh over his lap which he welcomes, tugging you closer and absorbing the proximity like second nature. Youâre a glutton for warmth â Wonwooâs warmth specifically â even in his sweater and his sweat shorts and his shirt, you still want more of him.
âWe canât sleep like this.â
You donât want to move â laying like this, in the dark, nose dug into his chest as you twisting your fingers in his, squeezing and glowing pathetically when he squeezes back â all you want is to drown in him a little longer. Until you're forced to come up for breath.
But the sore spot between you two is still raw like a fresh bruise.
âThen sleep in the bed,â his lips drags over your knuckles as he speaks.
âNo. You sleep in the bed, youâre too tall to sleep on the couch.â
âFine.â Wonwoo jumps up from his place on the floor, grabbing your hands once again before dragging you around the coffee table towards the opposite side of the room. Itâs ridiculously childish, especially in the dark where he bounces off the desk and the rug roughens the back of your legs.
He shimmies you around a corner and a cloud of laughter puffs between your lips. âWhat are you doing?â
âIâm sleeping in the bed, and youâre sleeping in the bed with me.â
âWhat if I donât want to sleep next to you?â
âThen Iâll cry. Like that time we watched Steel Magnolias.â
âHave mercy,â you whimper.
âThen get your ass in bed.â
Deflating like a balloon, you stand. Wonwoo keeps his hands on you the entire time, guiding you down to the mattress and covering your body with his own just in case of an escape. He bunkers down in the safety of your neck, dragging your hands to his hair, mimicking the motions he craves until you take up the action and gently comb through the tangles.
A part of you wants to cry. Preemptively mourn the end of this â whatever this is. Late nights with Wonwoo, whispering in the dark about clueless underclassmen and annoying professors. Taking turns scrolling through adoptable cats at the local rescue. Cooing over them, rolling your eyes when Wonwoo finds Pixel still listed as available for adoption, a sign to him that heâs meant to have her except he lives in a frat house. Or the nights neither of you can sleep and take a trip to the local diner and tuck yourselves away in a corner booth to watch drunk people cling to consciousness over waffles and hash browns.Â
There will be no more of that. Not by the time winter break comes. One of you is getting the gold ticket and the other will be up in the air with the hundreds of other people competing for the same handful of slots. And if one of you doesn't get in?Â
âWas that so hard?â he whispers into your collar.
When you donât answer, he looks up at. In the cast of lighting coming through the window heâs the same Wonwoo. The one youâve been best friends with for years now. The one who is practically glued to your side whenever possible.Â
The one who youâll have to say goodbye to.
He meets your kiss lazily. Like he still thinks you have all the time in the world.
It makes the urge to cry that much worse.
The rain is gone by morning.Â
The room glows from the orange light of the first minutes of sunrise. Sometime in the night you rolled to your side and Wonwoo pressed tight to your back. Heâs awake, drawing shapes on your hip beneath the fabric of your shirt.
âMorning.âÂ
You hum and roll over to burrow in his chest, the crown of your head digging into his neck and away from the sun. âMorning.â
The warmth of his hands trace the curve of your back, pulling you closer; hiding his own discontent with such an early break in the tentative truce that only seems to exist in the late hours of night and earliest minutes of dawn. Days of sleep deprivation with nothing but sterile lighting in the lab leaves you both needy and vulnerable. So he hugs you tighter and sighs when you do the same.
Heâs hard against your thigh. Clearly a result of biology more than need because heâs snoring against your hairline. Flashes of dreams rush forward â him beneath you, on top of you, behind you. Itâs been weeks since you two last fucked. When you called him an idiot and he called you stubborn and next thing you were on the table with your legs spread for Wonwooâs hand in a clumsy bump and grind while arguing about which one of you fucked up the biosensor callibration through gritted teeth and needy whimpers.
Youâre wet. With his thigh pressed between your own the fact becomes more evident as the urge to curl into it nags.
Taking advantage of the exposed curve of skin beneath your mouth, you kiss and suck with lax intent until Wonwoo tips his chin up and gives a silent green light.
A heavy hand drags down his front, nails scratching bluntly through the fabric until it can slip beneath the waistband of his sweats and the curve of his cock sits pretty in your palm. Commando for convenience and comfort. More the latter because thereâs no shot in hell heâs been getting laid lately.
His breath is sticky in his throat, vibrating beneath your teeth from thin pants as you work him through a loose fist. âCan I?â
âYeah,â he huffs. âYes.â
Slouching down, your head rests on his stomach, sweatpants bunched around his thighs. The first lick sends his hips up in search of more and you eagerly supply the soft suction of your mouth; lips catching around the flared head. A hand on the back of your skull keeps your hair from interfering as he plumps against your tongue.Â
Eagerness fails to penetrate this moment slowed down by the greater need to drag this out. To savor every second because who knows when youâll both stop being petty enough to just enjoy one anotherâs presence again.
âMight cumâfuckâ donât stop,â he grunts.
With the sun filling the room even more youâre running out of time, the warmth growing to leave sweat at the small of your back. He pushes harder into the curve of your throat and you let him, gagging wet with a lewd mix of spit and pre-cum that has you both moaning at the choked sound. Jaw slack, Wonwoo fucks your mouth with slow ruts; stomach tightening and the hand in your hair fisting tight enough you moan.
âShit, babeâc-cumming,â he whines with a pathetic groan youâd make fun of him for later but all you can think about is the thick taste of cum and if thereâs enough time for some attention between your own legs before life becomes unignorable. Not enough time for a real fuck but Wonwoo has a few tricks up his sleeve that promise satisfaction.
You bounce back down next to him and Wonwoo pounces, rolling on top of you, thing between your spread legs. He doesnât shy away from your tongue against his teeth, dips a thumb beneath your chin and slips his tongue right along with it, sucks your lips until the swell, backing off only to bunch your shirt up. Lazy drags of his mouth on yours â not the âI need youâ kisses after a late night but the âI miss youâ ones after weeks of passive aggressive silence.
He licks down your front, goosebumps blooming from the draft as he sucks a nipple until you arch and twist a hand in his hair. You give a lax stretch and sigh while his hand slips beneath the edge of your panties.
Taking the morning for what it is, you fall into the motions until the blare of the alarm clock signals the beginning of the end.
You push away and swipe blindly at the night stand to make it stop but Wonwoo has other plans.Â
He pins your hips down, tongue flat to the crotch of your underwear with a pant. âIgnore it.â
âWhat?â You look at him and find tired eyes watching back from over the edge of your wrinkled shirt. His hair is a mess, stuck to the side of his head from sleep and your eager hands and all you want to do is comb the tangles out while he pulls your strings like a puppet master.
But you canât.
âWeâve got class,â you gasp through a hot kiss on your clit.
A groggy groan of, âskip,â vibrates on your skin.
Fingers curling in the sheets, you grasp for disagreement only to find a moan as he pulls your hips closer and works a finger where you need it most.
âWe canât.â
âWe can,â Wonwoo grunts, focusing on peppering greedy kisses to the sensitive insides of your thighs. âWeâve been early every time this semester.â
The hand not curling in your guts runs down the back of your calf, bending until it hooks over his shoulder.
âFuck, Wonu,â you whine over the crude sounds of his mouth. You want to. God, do you want to. But you open your eyes again and they land on the stack of exams on your desk. Ungraded. Because Wonwoo said you could do them this morning. And now he wants you to skip class despite how important it is.Â
You close your legs only for Wonwoo to take it as a challenge, pinning your hips in place and celebrating his perceived victory with a throaty moan as he rocks against the bed.
âStop.â
He pulls back, mouth wet and brows furrowed. âHuh?â
The alarm on your phone pings again. Swiftly silenced this time as you roll out from beneath him and land beside the mattress on unsteady feet. âWe canât skip. We have to give exams back.â
âItâs not that big of a deal,â he argues, flopping down into the warmth you left vacant.
The room is too bright, a clear sign your morning routine is behind. âYou think now is the time to start slacking off?â
âItâs not slacking off.â Wonwoo snags his glasses. He looks more annoyed with them. âItâs a break. You clearly need one.â
âWhat the hell is that supposed to mean?â
âJust forget it. Iâm not arguing with you about stupid shit.â
âAnd what's stupid shit? The job we signed up for? With the professor who controls our futures?â
Wonwoo fixes his pants and rolls out of bed. On the opposite side. As far away from you as possible. âWhatever.â
âFine.â
âFine!â
âGood!â
âGood!â
You slam the bathroom door shut with finality. When you come back out, any trace of Wonwoo is long gone.
There arenât many people in class. A benefit of Halloweekend is the partying starts Wednesday and doesnât stop until the following week. Even with last night's rain plenty of students are battling hangovers which leaves a third of the usual lecture attendance to witness you and Wonwoo go head to head while Dr. Wagner sits at home with a mysterious illness she announced in an email three minutes after nine AM.
The few that are there snag their papers, lips curled in disgust at the plethora of red ink spilled on white pages. Their own faults for not paying attention during lecture but maybe the scarlet gashes were a little dramatic. Wonwooâs jaw is tight, pointedly ignoring you except to hand exams over that someone is waiting for with dread in their eyes.Â
You couldâve skipped. It wouldnât even count as skipping because class is canceled and thereâs no award for hauling ass at the crack of dawn when your advisor isnât even here to see it. You could be tucked away in your apartment with him under your skin; firmly in the place between dreams and waking where you liked him best, nothing but warm skin and rough hands with his lips on your hairline and your head burrowed in his chest.Â
There are too many witnesses to just drop the act and wrap your arms around him from behind until he gives in. Apologize for the stupid shit he rightfully called you out on. But as your courage grows with each studentâs exit, Wonwoo makes to leave before you can make use of it.Â
Barely an hour of fighting and it already feels like an eternity.
âHey,â you call.
He freezes by one of the desks near the back of the room, like heâs shocked youâre even there in the first place. But he doesnât turn around; just tilts his head so you know heâs listening even if he doesnât want to.
âSorry about this morning. I-I think the stress is getting to me.â
And the fact that I canât be mad at anyone besides the universe for this incredibly shitty situation. And I miss you. Even when youâre right next to me.
âOkay.â
âThatâs it?â you fidget with the strap of your bag; a million pounds heavier even without the weight of ungraded tests that Wonwoo snatched before you could divide the remaining work.
He turns around, eying you with an exasperated look. âWhat else should I say? You called me a slack off and implied I donât do my job.â
âI didnât,â you argue but itâs salt in the wound becauseâ
âYou did.â
âButââ
âItâs fine. Iâll finish grading the exams over the weekend.â
And then you're alone.
Youâre alone in the study room you both usually occupy to work on the Nanochemistry project due at the end of term. The shared document has updates, the blink of his cursor mocking your from wherever he hunkered down. Away from you. The temptation to type âIâm sorryâ over and over again disappears once he logs out barely a minute after you logged on.
Youâre alone at the circulation desk of the library through your shift, head whipping around to every squeak and cough only to find someone who isnât Wonwoo. Thereâs an email from him, to Dr. Wagner with you CCâed, about class averages and exam questions that should be thrown out.
You walk home alone. Other students in various states of dress and intoxication crowd the sidewalks, a few you recognize but they feel a million miles away.
Alone in your apartment, the two mugs from last night clean in the sink.
The good part of being alone is when you start crying, no one is there to see.
Itâs near midnight and the chill of the breeze whipping down the street bites at your exposed skin. Already the should-be-condemned frat house pulses with life, the promise of a long night ahead thrumming through the symphony of drunk screams and music.
Itâs not unusual for you to attend frat parties. Wonwooâs favor guarantees free booze and a perch at the top of the staircase where underclassmen are barred from entering. But youâll settle for watching drunk underclassman stumbling over the front lawn from one of the couches on the front porch (which are so broken in, no one sinks into the cushions â they just fall straight down until the worn springs catch them) because the inside of the house is too hot, and too crowded, and far too loud.Â
A hail Mary apology is the only thing on your mind. Yesterday had been the nastiest spat in recent history between you two; notwithstanding sophomore year when Jeonghan asked you for tutoring and Wonwoo insisted on helping. âHelpingâ meant cutting off every question Jeonghan dared ask with a series of snorts and huffs until you left and refused to talk to him for a week.
Heâd apologized in the most Wonwoo fashion â completing your Thermodynamics assignments for the rest of the semester and before going down on you until you threatened to kick him in the head through sensitive sobs.
Wonwoo is here â somewhere. Shuffling up the past, past the line of eager party goers looking for a way in, you scan the front porch, heâs not in his usual waiting spot to whisk you upstairs where the older members hang out with better drinks and better music. Not that he would be. He doesnât even know you considered coming to this.
Instead, poor Chan, dressed in yellow and black stripes, mans the door with pilot Jihoon by his side.
âJihoon,â you greet, before looking at the younger man. âSpeed bump.â
Chan mumbles something under his breath but lays on the ground regardless. When Wonwoo went through the same hazing you only got a few chances to enjoy the ridiculousness before he dragged you upstairs and shut you up himself.
âCan you not torment the kids?â Jihoon grunts.
âI could. But, whereâs the fun in that?âÂ
âYour boyfriend is inside. If you see Jun, tell him itâs his turn to watch the door.â
âGot it.â
Stepping over the underclassman still laying on the ground, you head inside and straight for the packed kitchen to get a drink. Thereâs barely any space between the hoard of bodies, forcing you to shuffle forward everytime there's a gap in the crowd; but itâs more like swimming against a rip tide.Â
Itâs difficult to see with nothing but a few strobe lights and some strings of Christmas lights to clear the dark. One glance up towards the upper landing of the staircase is all it takes to find him right next to Mingyu. Matching costume, two bean poles standing out from the crowd of shorter men. Mingyu makes a brief nod in your direction but before you can see Wonwoo turn youâre off into the kitchen.
Itâs an even tighter fit in here. A pledge pours drinks from a cooler, for a brief second youâre tempted to indulge. The last time you did, freshman year, you ended up crying in Wonwooâs room mid-hookup. You scan the slim pickings and settle on an unopened beer. The shots you took while getting ready are already catching up.
Forced between anxious isolation and drinking, a few of your friends come up and briefly make conversation. You feign interest, eying over their heads for a familiar mop of dark hair without success.
A few guys stop to compliment your costume. They give themselves away in glazed heavily lidded stares, single minded focus on your legs. They ask what your major is, boast their status as pledges to your disinterested grimace, and move on when you finally put them out of their misery and fib about your âboyfriendâ being âpresident or somethingâ but âI donât pay attention to those things,â and they all disappear significantly paler than when they first appeared.
You bite the bullet of your pride and turn to leave, only to find Wonwoo barely an inch away.
His eyes burn over your figure, the short toga covering just enough for you to avoid public indecency. Good. Itâs the entire reason you wore this stupid costume in the first place. Heâs a horny loser for nerdy shit and this is the best thing you couldâve worn other than one of those video game character costumes forcing your boobs in your throat and leaving you at serious risk for public indecency.
Itâs not the first time youâve wrapped yourself in barely enough fabric to constitute an outfit for the sake of his forgiveness and it probably wonât be the last.
Wonwoo pins you to the counter with his hips, hands bracketing your figure on either side. The green hat with an âLâ is lopsided on his head but at least he didnât wear the fake mustache. âSo, what is your costume?â he hums into the space just below your ear with a kiss.
âGuess.â You tilt your chin, cocky.
âAnd if I get it right?â he asks, lips at your ear.
Heart pound, you ditch the beer and reach for his hips with purpose. âWhatever you want.â
âDangerous words.â
âThink of it as my apology for being a huge bitch yesterday.âÂ
He sighs into your neck, arms tight around your waist in a loose semblance of a hug. Itâs a farce. Your ass meets the counter with minor effort and Wonwoo claims the space between your legs before you can pretend to object.
He still hasnât kissed you.
You want more than kisses. You want to feel him, all of him. Want to drag him to the living room serving as a makeshift dance floor and sink into the heat of his body pressed flat against your own for everyone to see. You want to pull him into that closet off the main hall, familiar from that hot night of freshman year when a drunk make out turned into a timid fingering and eventually Wonwoo handing over his first time on a silver platter. Or even run back to your apartment, pluck through the leftover Halloween candy you bought on discount and watch whatever horror movie has become his recent obsession. You just want him.
âMingyu thought you were Socrates.â
Pressed this close on the sticky counter, his body is the only thing protecting what little of your dignity is left. Even then, there's enough of the slippery warmth of alcohol to tempt you into rutting against him right here for those stupid pledges to see. âMingyu is an idiot.â
âClearly,â he chuckles. âThe rubber chicken gave it away.â
You shake it at eye level. âBehold, man.â
âLame,â his kissing gets bold down the shaft of your neck, teeth scraping your collarbone.
âOh please, I feel your boner.â
He doesnât resist you when you nuzzle along the bare parts of his neck, a tease of soft kissing usually reserved for quiet moments tucked away in your apartment. Even in the chaos of the party, body heat turning the air uncomfortably warm, you crave more of his closeness.Â
His hands feel nice on your legs. None of the timid gentleness of years prior when heâd touch you like itâd burn if he wanted it too much; trailing higher and higher but never under the short hem of the bedsheet turned dress. His fingers flex into the muscle at the outside of your thigh, hook behind your knees and drag you to the edge of the counter.Â
You're sweating through your own skin when he kisses you.Â
The need in your gut blooms at full force. Your mouth loosens, welcoming his tongue and teeth and whatever else heâs generous enough to give while you tug at the loose fabric around his hips to force more close proximity; the zipper of his pants is hot against your core and if you fucked him right here it wouldnât look that different than the PG-13 make out happening right now.Â
âWanna show me your room?â You blink like some moony eyed freshman, glassy, pupils blown from vivid images of all the possibilities in the solitude upstairs. Wonwoo is fine with the game of whatever your apology entails even if it means you throw cheesy lines like that.
He ushers you off the counter, flat to your back as he pushes through the crowd with you ahead. Even in a drunken haze people part out of his way because of the mastery of resting bitch face only he seems to have despite the complaint putty that lies behind it. A private smile splits your lips. He canât be that mad. Not with how he pulls you closer, in the protective way he so often does in the buzz of a single minded crowd with more alcohol in their veins than blood.Â
Mingyu is standing on the landing. Girls in scraps of fabric eye him up and down, even in his stupid costume with the mustache but he ignores them in favor of pouting straight into a red cup.
âWhy is your boyfriend moping?âÂ
âFuck if I know.â Wonwoo focuses on sucking another bruise on your neck like no one's watching.Â
Youâre loose enough not to care about Mingyuâs annoyance as Wonwoo ushers you by. âCheer up buttercup, Iâm sure thereâs a Peach here into charity fucks!âÂ
Itâs meant to be encouraging, but Mingyu looks like heâs torn between strangling you and throwing himself over the banister.
Maybe you did lie about being Wonwooâs girlfriend, but he is president and his room is the biggest and furthest away from chaos. Up on the top floor where the music isnât as loud and the only people on this floor are other members and their guests for the night.
Wonwoo pushes you inside, kicking the door shut loud enough you wince before crowding you against the wood. You throw his hat away somewhere into the darkness, hand twisted in his hair as he kisses you. Sloppy and gross until he rocks into the softness of your stomach, gasoline on the flame.
âTurn around.â
He barely gives you enough space to do so, pressing you flat once again, cheek squished to the door and a rough pull at your waist.Â
âIf youâre thinking about touching my asshole, donât. I have shit to do tomorrow,â you warn.Â
On the other side of the door you hear footsteps but they pass by without stopping.
âNoted, but not what Iâm going for,â he jokes.Â
Your skirt flips up and a draft against the damp crotch of your panties sends a tremor straight through your core. âShare with the class.â
âItâs a surprise.â
âIâm shaking in my toga.â
âAnd you call me a loser.â
âI can call you some other things,â you grit, pushing back into the heat of his covered cock. âThey arenât as nice though.â
âYeah, yeah. Take your panties off.âÂ
Heâs a little bit of a freak. Sometimes he enjoys fucking you in nothing but your underwear and others he wants you in everything but. Maybe because of how this entire thing started; when you wouldnât even take your bra off and he survived on the barest flash of nipple.
The flimsy soiled fabric barely passes your knees before heâs on you again, easily tempted by the arch of your spine. You hum content as he presses a finger into your cunt, then two. His other hand forces the neckline of your dress down and lo-and-behold your lack of bra delights like you knew it would.
Whatever bright idea that fluttered in Wonwooâs brain is forgotten as he spins you back around for an eyeful of naked skin; a mouthful of your chest and your leg hooked around his hip for a pathetic dry hump into the heel of his hand.
âOh, fuck,â you moan with extra emphasis and a caved stomach because thereâs teeth and he makes it hurt. âKiss me.â
Another rut into your thigh and his teeth are back at your bottom lip. Itâs not exactly what you anticipated when you showed up tonight but there are far worse places than having a doorknob in your back while Wonwoo leaves a hickey below your ear; a perfectly good bed ten feet away but neither of you can be bothered to move much more than forcing Wonwooâs pants down enough his cock leaks in your grip, head nestled at your entrance.
You surprise him by sinking to your knees. Head tipped back against the door, you tilt your mouth open to welcome him on your tongue. Wonwoo stares down at you; tits out, hand between your legs as you suck his cock in quick motions until he takes over and fucks into the curve of your throat.Â
âHoly s-shit,â he hisses and you flatten your tongue to help him along. It feels good; seeing him reduced to so little just from the wet suck of your mouth on him.Â
A choked gag forces Wonwoo back into his body, hips curving away so you can swallow air before leaving a sloppy kiss on the tip. Seizing him in a tight grip, you use the spit to jerk him off until he cringes with another pathetic moan.Â
Someone giggles in the hallway, close enough you both hear. Theyâre far enough away you can still whisper to Wonwoo. âRemember that time we fucked in here last year?âÂ
âWhen you almost got us killed?â
Last year, at the same party, when you showed up in a skin tight Shego costume, Wonwoo pulled you to the only available room: Seungcheolâs. Itâd been hot. Fucking when you arenât supposed to, having Seungcheol pound at the door while Wonwoo came down your throat (no condoms and no hope to clean up).
âDo it again.â
His hand creeps into a loose collar around the base of your throat. You keep rubbing between your legs, working up a slick slide until your nails dig into the skin of his thighs.
âReally?â Thereâs no need for muffling the noise when it's his room and the only people at risk of hearing anything have done far worse. He pulls you to your feet, forces your cheek against the door and slides right behind you. Like he was made for you.
âChoke me,â you gasp before digging into the sick part of your brain that likes seeing him strung out, extra breathy just to see his eyes go wide. âSir.â
Your skin sticks to the door, shamefully squeezed as he drags his cock through the mess of your pussy. âYou canât just say that.â
âWhy not?â
âBecauseââ
âBecause what?â you goad. âGonna punish me?â
âYouâd like that wouldnât you? Show up wearing this,â he grits, tugging at the white fabric bunched around your waist, using the hand on your throat to squeeze your cheeks tight with authority you drool for. âAsking to be choked and now you probably want me to spank you and call you a good girl.â
You grunt through the raw thrust at your gut, sending your head back from sheer enthusiasm. âNânot my fault you fuck me so good.âÂ
Wonwoo almost canât control himself, hearing nothing but praise fall from your mouth as he fucks you limp against the door. âGod.â
Someone screams, âLeave room for Jesus!â from the other side of the door and you almost rip it open to kill them if Wonwoo wasnât dragging you to the bed.Â
He folds you onto your front, both standing at the foot of the bed. A deep roll of his hips and youâre filled completely.Â
âO-oh, fuck me,â you moan, uncaring if the idiot outside the door is still listening. Wonwoo has a hell of a hand and puts it to use against the curve of your ass. The coil in your gut pulls taunt as he delivers one after another.
He fucks deeper, a the hand not burn against your bottom between your shoulders. âYou look so goodâ ah âtaking my cock like this.â His voice waivers with the same stunted rhythm of his hips.Â
âW-want,â you choke on spit, drooling into the comforter. âWanna taste you.â
The animalist need to suck both your flavors off his cock nearly sends you into a fit but Wonwooâs there, hooking his hand back around the front of your neck with a subtle squeeze. You want the stupid dress off, you want Wonwooâs clothes off, you want to fuck him where thereâs no one around to catcall in the hallway like twelve year old boys. Want. Want. Want.
What you get is enough pressure from his fingers that your mind blanks. Wonwoo gets a tight enough squeeze on his cock that heâs forced to a grinding halt.Â
Then his rhythm goes deeper, harder. Course curls against the resistance of your ass until you almost collapse against the edge of the bed. His cock hits that spot like it was made for your body. âTouch yourself.â
You comply without further command. Youâre wet, soaked, arousal smeared down your thighs from Wonwooâs treatment. Your fingers bump against his length as you match the pace of his strokes. âFuck, Wonwoo â hmmm.âÂ
âTell me how it feels,â he gasps like itâs his first breath in hours.
âWet, so wet,â you croon, arching harder, joints locking. âGonna cum. Oh my god.â
He reaches low, grabbing your hand from between your thighs and pulling it to his mouth for a taste. His tongue slides between your digits, liquid slick with a soft suction your crave on your clit.Â
âBeg for it.â Wonwoo bites your shoulder hard enough you cry.Â
Stuffing your hand back between your legs, you play with your clit clumsily. Until pink crowds the edge of your vision and it hurts. âPlease, please! I needâWant it. Wanna come for you. Please, sir.â
Wonwoo strains to hear your pleas over the clap of bodies. Heâs worked you near the middle of the bed, practically laying on top of you as he fucks in quick succession.Â
âHarder, fuck me,â you demand. âYes, yes, yâyes!â
If you were on top youâd fall straight off, jerking tightly under Wonwooâs weight, turning your face to greet his tongue between your teeth and mewling sensitivity. He doesnât show mercy, continuing to fuck you through the worst of it.
âHoly shit,â you whimper, head throbbing. Wonwoo forces you back on your knees and you fight through sore muscles and sensitivity to preen under the weight behind his hips.Â
âCan I come in you?â he asks in a shivery breath.
You nod with closed eyes, tugging the hand around your throat to your lips and sucking his fingers like itâs a cock. He finishes with a choked breath, flooding your insides with sticky warmth youâve never gotten used to in all the months youâve fucked without condoms.Â
His breath fans against the nape of your neck, another swivel of his hips from the sensitivity. Your walls squeeze as Wonwoo pulls away.Â
You roll onto your back with a bounce, Wonwoo jostling you when he joins. Shoulder to shoulder, you stare up at the ceiling while catching your breath. âDo you think youâll pop a boner when your students call you a sir next year?â
Wonwoo heaves a long breath, amusement in his voice. âI come inside you and that's the first thing you think of?â
Immediately you regret the joke. Since Dr. Wagnerâs announcement weeks ago neither of you had broached on the topic of what happens after graduation. Mostly from fear. But also because itâs a long discussion youâre not exactly sure what you want out of.
âAnswer the question.â
âI hope not.â
The bed shifts beneath your knees as you crowd over Wonwoo, laying with his arms behind him to keep from sinking flat. The tired lines of his face look deeper in the lamp light. Heâs nothing more than a big softie that wants to cuddle half naked in his bed while you play with his hair until sleep finds its place.
âItâs our last Halloween party.â
âWow, just like old times,â you snort. âShould I start crying? Then itâll be just like freshman year all over.â
Wonwoo laughs, his hand snatching yours and lacing your fingers together. âYou wore a bra and bunny ears freshman year so if youâre gonna whip that out too â by all means.â
âGod, we were so lame,â you announce matter of factly. Crying in lingerie and animal ears in one of the supply closets downstairs all becauseâ
âDonât rope me into that, miss âcrying-because-she-didnât-know-how-to-suck-dickâ.â Wonwoo rolls on top of you, hoping to silence whatever argument bubbling in response with a teasing press of his lips. You're still sticky with sweat and spit and cum, nipples and pussy out and the thought of his dick, limp against your thigh, makes you sensitive all over.
âThatâs former miss âcrying-because-she-didnât-know-how-to-suck-dickâ,â you trail off into his mouth. âAnd youâre one to talk. Remember the time you cried about how happy you were that we were friends.â
He bites your lip in retaliation. âI didnât.â
âYou did. I have the video from Mingyu.â
âI thought he was an idiot.â
âHe is but heâs good for blackmail.â
You might consider staying the night if he keeps tracing his nose along the arch of your collarbone. But a shrill giggle and some pornographic moans ring through the walls of the neighboring room. Not the side Seungkwan occupies. Hoshiâs. And itâs only the start.
âWe canât sleep here.â
Wonwoo collapses, tugging you with him. âI canât ditch again, Iâm on pledge duty.â
âYouâre hiding in your room with me.â
âOkay, technically Iâm on pledge duty.â
He wouldnât stay here if he wasnât required. Wonwoo hates party nights, especially Halloween. Too many variables requiring all hands on deck; too many needy people demanding his presence for some issue that couldâve been handled if they used their brain to think farther than the tip of their nose. Rarely, if ever, does he sleep in his own bed when you have a perfectly good one tucked away in a private apartment without thirty other men tripping over each other.Â
âWell, Iâm not sleeping with that.â On cue, another whimper, clearly a manâs, breaks through the tentative silence. Are they fuck against the shared wall?
Wonwoo sighs, scrubbing his face before moving for his phone. âIâll send one of the kids to walk you.â
âWow, a pledge escort. How thoughtful,â you sneer.
He huffs again, unwilling to start a fight thatâll leave neither of you satisfied. âText me when you get home.â
You donât.
There is an unspoken habit between you and Wonwoo that Sunday mornings are spent at the only reasonably priced coffee shop just near your apartment. A charming hole in the wall, with hanging shelves displaying layers of tchotchkes, paintings lining whatever free space between them, and wobbly tables with equally unbalanced chairs. Itâs always packed because the coffee is decent and they have outlets. After last night, you hope heâs too exhausted to even think about showing up.
Mugs click against dark lacquered tables, the dull murmur of conversation churns over the music swelling softly through the speakers. The smell of pastries and espresso wake you enough to slide into a vacant table in the corner and set to work.Â
Or you wouldâve if someone didnât sit down first.
âOh.â
Wonwoo already has a mug and a little brown bag as he looks up at where you stand dumbly.
âI can just goâŠsit somewhere elseâŠâ You turn to leave, except there are no other tables. Couples and groups claim every single seat except the one across from Wonwoo.
âWhy would you do that?â
âI donât know, probably because Iâm mad at you.â
He unpacks his laptop, shaking his head. âYouâre not mad at me.â
âYes, I am,â you emphasize.Â
âYouâre a bad liar.â
Neither of you are good at lying. Even worse at fighting. Incapable of committing to real anger when it takes all your energy to stand up straight and not fall asleep in a pile of ungraded papers and half finished assignments. Besides, you're only pouting because he passed up a night at your place to clean up pledge vomit.Â
You canât tame the annoyed grin cracking your face. âFine, Iâm not that mad at you. Buy my forgiveness in the form of coffee.â
âToo much caffeine will kill you.â
âI can only hope,â you sigh, arms cradling your head against the hard wood of the table while he joins the queue at the register.
Wonwoo orders your drink and a cheesy pastry the size of your head, the smell of greasy carbs first thing in the morning softening the ice in your veins. He knows your weaknesses too well.Â
âIs this penance?âÂ
âSomething like that.â He tears the crispiest corner off and pops it into his mouth.
âDid you look at the study guide for Calc yet?â
Two hours later you approach the counter for a second round of coffee and snag one of the jammy tarts Wonwoo likes but rarely buys for himself. Whatever chaffs between you two melts under the constant stream of note checking; Wonwooâs hand on your knee under the table helps too.Â
âIf I look at this anymore, Iâll run into traffic.â
âWeâve got the Nano project that needs some work,â you suggest.Â
He stretches wide, a sliver of skin visible between the hem of his sweater and the band of sweat pants. âIâve got practice in an hour. We can do it tonight when Iâm done.â
You try not to stare and instead return to focusing on the screen of your laptop burning your retinas.âIâm tutoring Seungkwan.â
âAfter?â
âHeâs gonna be a bitch and the last thing I wanna do is look at more school stuff.â
âThen no school stuff,â he decrees with finality. âIâll bring mushroom pad thai from that place on Market.â
âAre you trying to bribe your way in?â
âIs it working?â
You hum a dismissal but watch him through your lashes. He looks good â washed in late afternoon glow, hair a mess with glasses and a sweater that hangs off his shoulders. It all screams âdrag me to bed and nap the rest of the dayâ which is trouble for you because you still want to be mad at him if only to see how fair heâs willing to go for your forgiveness.
âWe can watch Yellowjackets,â he barters, packing his bag.
Another group eyes your table with hope to claim it the second itâs available. Sadly, your ass is firmly planted for the rest of the afternoon. With or without Wonwoo.
âYouâre really trying to butter me up, arenât you?â
âI cannot sleep in that house,â he deadpans. âPlease take mercy.â
âOh, so youâre just using me for a place to sleep. Even after I wore that stupid Halloween costume?â
He pauses, eyes glazing like itâs a distant memory and not less than twenty four hours ago. âYou looked hot.â
âYou made that pretty clear.â
âAnyway, Iâll come over after practice. You can bitch about Seungkwan until you pass out.â
âFine, but if there is no pad thai then donât come.â
âWhatever my woman demands,â he snorts, dropping a kiss to your lips before turning towards the door.
Two hours and another coffee later, Seungkwan occupies Wonwooâs abandoned chair. Thereâs no reason for him to be taking an intro chem class as a Creative Writing major other than the fact heâs a bit of a masochist. Heâs not half bad at it and doesnât really need any tutoring but you get paid for showing up even if itâs complete silence as you pick your nails until he needs something.
Youâre marking through his latest attempt when he finally speaks up, âYou're dating Wonwoo, right?â
Red pen scratches through the edge of the paper. âWhat?â
âYou and Wonwoo.â
What is the absolute configuration of the two carbon atoms in this compound? More red ink.
âWhat about me and Wonwoo?â
Seungkwan rolls his eyes with exasperation, like youâre on the outs of some obvious joke. âDating.â
If an alkene has 24 hydrogen atoms, how many carbon atoms does it contain? Another X.
âNo.â
âOh, I thoughtââ
âWeâre just friends.â
When 10 g of 90% pure lime stone is heated completely, the volume (in litres) of is liberated at STP is⊠Wrong, again. Which makes no sense because Seungkwan is good at this level. Heâs fucking with you on purpose.
âHuh,â he comments, grabbing the worksheet back from your claws.
ââHuhâ what?â
âI heard a rumor he had a girlfriend last night, thatâs all.â
It's not the first time someone assumed there's more between you and Wonwoo then there actually is, your fib last night clearly fanned the flames of even more speculation. But neither of you date; not enough time, willpower, or patience to entertain someone around packed schedules. If you and Wonwoo didnât have the same life within the chemistry department then youâd never see each other. Itâs convenient as it can possibly be.Â
Maybe at one point there was. Summer of sophomore year when he studied abroad in Spain and the usual substance of correspondence morphed from memes and jokes to something softer; I miss youâs and youâd like it hereâs. Late night phone calls that lasted hours, refusing to hang up first until one of you fell asleep and the other finally canceled the call.Â
But the opportunity to tip over the edge came and went without coalescing into whatever was on the other side.Â
Seungkwan can pretend itâs an innocent suggestion but he stares you down until you crack with your own curiosity. âWho told you that?â
âSome pledges said they accidentally hit on his girlfriend. I don't even think he knows another girl beside you. Plus you were at the party last night.â
Stupid fuckers, you mutter under your breath. âWeâre not dating.â
âBut you guys are always together.â
âWe work together. You and Vernon are always together, are you two fucking?â
âMy room is next to his and it doesnât sound like work to me.â
âHow does me failing you sound?â you spit.Â
Seungkwan doesn't so much as flinch at the threat but returns to the practice sheet with a smile nonetheless.Â
Typically, fall break is spent hidden away in a pile of blankets with you and Wonwoo alternating movie choices throughout the weekend. Dead Poets Society (him), When Harry Met Sally (you), Over the Garden Wall (him), Fantastic Mr Fox (you), and so on and so on.
This year, you have a strong feeling Dr. Wagnerâs favorite pastime is seeing her TAs squirm. Itâs the only explanation for the unique brand of humiliation she subjects you and Wonwoo to. Tonight, Friday and technically your first night off for the long weekend, she decides to engage in a new sort of torture. A fancy dinner that neither of you could ever hope to afford, and even as her treat, you still eye the menu prices nervously.Â
But Dr. Collins sits across the table, in the flesh, so you pull out the skills you learned in the ridiculous theater class you took freshman year to âdiversifyâ your transcript and smile through the anxiety.Â
Wonwoo does a little better; in a button up youâve only seen him wear a handful of times when his usual wardrobe is sweatshirts and free shirts from campus events, he looks more comfortable than you feel.
âJill, tells me you both work on Epitranscriptomic mapping in her lab?â Dr. Collins asks after another sip of his drink. Two whiskeys at dinner.Â
Itâs not an official interview. Not anything close to it, according to your advisor. Nothing is set in stone, even if Dr. Collins laughs at Wonwooâs awkward jokes and nods enthusiastically to your stories about working in the library (he also worked in the library in undergrad, but used it to nap more than actually work). But it feels like a step in the right direction.Â
âYes, sir.â Wonwoo and you nod in tandem.
Dr. Wagnerâs research focuses on how different RNA modifications vary across various cell types and states. Itâs high level stuff that no one but Wonwoo understands when you rant about the broken Cellraft machine. And his complaints about NovaSecâs constant crashes that leave him without work fall on deaf ears except when theyâre directed at you.Â
Half the reason you two started speaking during orientation is because the overly enthusiastic intern asked what people were looking forward to the most during school. You and Wonwoo were the only ones who seemed to think she meant school-related and not where to buy a fake ID. Apparently, the best person to get a fake ID from was a junior in Dr. Wagnerâs lab that year. Go figure.
âIâve seen you two listed down the line as co-authors,â he nods.Â
The waiter brings dessert, spiced toffee cakes and ice cream. Youâre starving but the knot in your stomach from when you sat down is even tighter and all you can do is pick at the plate.
âWell, Y/N does a lot of the troubleshooting for the RNA degradation issues,â Wonwoo shares.Â
Your face heats at the unexpected but not undeserved compliment. Dr. Wagnerâs work isnât cheap and the thought of wasting valuable money, money that could line the pocket of an extra set of hands, forced you to run a tight ship. The other researchers in her lab could say what they wanted behind your back but Dr. Wagner nods with fondness and you try not to preen.
âWeâd be a mess if it wasnât for her,â Dr. Wagner agrees. âThe lab techs should write her a card.â
Not wanting to leave him out, you shoot a look to your left where Wonwoo pulls at the napkin in his lap. âWonwoo is the one that made sure the parameters made sense for the last publication.â
âAlso true.â Dr. Wagner smiles. âI told you, Harry, theyâre my best students. Excel a mile past my TAs last year. They work together exceptionally well. If I could keep them both for next year, I would.â She says it with finality. There might very well be an opportunity to stay here and continue in her lab, even if your ambition has outgrown the place youâve called home for four years.
The table is cleared, your plate full of mashed cake and melted ice cream with not a single bite missing. Youâre exhausted. Mentally, emotionally; physically from the three all nighters youâve pulled this week. Thereâd be an earful from Wonwoo about the dangers of sleep deprivation (hypocrite) but he looks like heâs seen a ghost tonight and wonât sleep himself.
Dr. Collins glances at his watch with a muffled yawn, âMy, my! Look at the time! My apologies I didn't mean to keep us all out so late. I know you two probably have far more interesting things to be doing than spending the evening with a couple old timers like us.â He winks at Dr. Wagner, who rolls her eyes and hands the check back to the waiter who canât be more than nineteen. âIt looks like Iâll have some tough decisions to make in the upcoming weeks. Best of luck to the both of you.â
Hands shakes all around, and an awkward shuffle at the door and Dr. Collins and Dr. Wagner disappear into the night, leaving you and Wonwoo alone on the long walk back to campus.
You donât beeline to your apartment for a debrief. Or even to ignore the obvious awkwardness cracking between. A bench to the side of the campus green is where you find yourselves, across from the fountain that upholds the tradition of drunken seniors taking a dip during finals when theyâve given up.Â
You want to drown in it.
âWonwoo,â you whisper. âWhat happens if one of us doesn't get in?â
âIâI donât know.â He peers down at you with what you think is grief and the white noise that follows his quiet admission chokes painfully. Thereâs no plan B for something like this
If you got in, then Wonwoo did too. An unfounded assumption that wherever you went heâd be there too, based on almost four years of something between you. Too much to be friendship but too scared to call it something else. Something more. All the stereotypical college firsts had been with him or witnessed by him, you assumed grad school would be the same.
But it canât be.
âThen we should end this.â
The words are out like shaken champagne, a dramatic explosion you canât take back; a mess in the slimmest inches of space between your bodies on the bench in the freezing air.
âWhat?â he says.
You canât swallow back down the idea. Wonwoo wonât let you. Maybe you donât want to. You stare at the fountain across the green with a twitch in your jaw.Â
âOne of us is gonna move to Boston and the other is gonna have to figure it out and Iâd rather not hate you or you hate me when it happens.â
You wonât take it back but you wonât look at him either.Â
âYou think Iâd hate you?âÂ
Heâs staring at you. You can feel the burn of his gaze on your cheek where embarrassment heats as well.
âI would.â You ignore the break in your voice at the complete lie. âIâd hate it if you got in and I didnât. Even though you deserve it and I couldnât be mad about it. Iâd hate it. All Iâve wanted since freshman year is to go there, and I wonât ruin it for you just because I canât have it.â
For a painstaking moment, he doesnât say anything. His shoulders are still rigid and he props his weight into his knees, head bowed so you canât even see his face in the stark street light. He doesnât do anything until you do, until you slump with utter defeat.
âFine.â
âFine?â Your voice pinches in your throat.
âWhat else is there? Youâve already decided for the both of us. That stupid fucking program matters more to you thanââ
You heat close to explosion.âItâs not stuââ
Wonwoo rushes off the bench. âIt is! It is because weâve been dating for the past three years but you wonât even fucking admit it! Youâll tell some stupid pledge Iâm your boyfriend but everytime I think weâve worked it out â that youâre finally ready to talk about it â you pretend nothing is happening.â
âThat wasnâtââ you shake your head.
âItâs fine. Iâll get over it.âÂ
You move quicker than he does and find his hand, but he doesnât want to stay and you canât stop him from leaving. âWonwoo.âÂ
âStop.â His voice is stoic, whatever emotions previously controlling him locked up tight behind faux dismissal. âJustâŠstop.âÂ
If youâre going to lie then the smallest favor you can do is obey his command. You hide your face in your hands, cheeks hot and eyes stinging. Because if you look at him then youâll break into a million pieces. Youâd admit to lying to his face; that you could so much as entertain the idea of hating him.
Wonwoo waits but you say nothing. No argument, no final comment.Â
When you finally look up heâs far enough down the sidewalk that the pathetic croak of his name is unheard.
Endpoint: a critical moment in a chemical process where a specific change indicates that the reaction is complete.Â
Two days later, when you finally get the balls to call Wonwoo and apologize, to tell him heâs right and that youâre an absolute idiot, heâs already blocked your number.
In a game of passive aggressive pettiness, Wonwoo takes gold.
He wonât talk to you outside of class and lab hours. Even then, he refuses to look at you; talks straight around you. Any form of correspondence you receive has Dr. Wagnerâs name attached and anything you send without it is loudly ignored.Â
Other people notice too.
In study hours, the students notice, whisper to each other when Wonwoo snubs your attempt to discuss a batch of graded homework in favor of focusing his attention on a cowering freshman who looks like he might piss himself when Wonwoo calls him by name. All the others bury their heads in their textbooks in fear heâll pick them next.
In Nano, when he shows up just in the nick of time to leave his self-assigned seat next to you empty, and instead sitting next to the door. You feel the eyes on you, hair standing on end at the back of your neck when Dr. Lim stutters through his intro with wide eyes at the scene.
Seungkwan shows up to tutoring significantly less interested in your love life. Or he pretends he isnât. He doesnât ask outright and thereâs pity in his eyes, thick enough you want to burst into the tears youâve waited to come for the past two weeks. Instead you feel hollow.Â
Even Mr. Lee, the night guard at the library, eyes your solitary exit with something like concern. Even going so far as to call campus public safety to escort you the short walk home.
Your other friends try to take you out, get your mind off the tilt in your world axis. You go. Sit at bar tables and laugh when you're supposed to, make empty conversations with strangers but you donât care. You want to go home and curl up in your own misery like a blanket and cry until your eyes swell shut and pass out from exhaustion. Eventually, they stop asking if you want to come and just leave ice cream and bottles of wine on your doormat as support.
Your grades donât suffer, and thatâs the only thing you can cling to right now.
In Dr. Wagnerâs office, an impromptu meeting under the guise of setting final exam expectations and tinkering the schedule, Wonwoo continues the harsh coldness of silence; content to pretend you donât even exist.Â
You work through it easily enough. You and Wonwoo have the same finals so there's only two schedules (Dr. Wagnerâs and your shared one) to coordinate for extra study hours. The entire ordeal takes ten minutes to complete the shared calendar, pack it full of final lab meetings and deadlines for grading.
And when itâs over, you move to rise but Dr. Wagner stops you short.
She looks sheepish which is an odd sight. Immediately, you go to the worst. You grit and swallow and sit back down in the same upholstered chair from the last time she dropped a bomb in your lap.Â
This is the bandaid rip youâve waited for all semester. Whatever is at the end of this meeting means you finally know if youâre good enough or not. If karma does justice and gives Wonwoo the spot in Dr. Collins lab next year because you committed the sin of wanting it too much, sacrificed too much.
âIt seems my attempt at friendly competition had someâŠunintended consequences.â
Where sizzling anger would once flourish and bloom, nothing but empty exhaust stutters to life. âWhat?â
âLast year, the second my TAs found out Iâd recommended them, they slacked off. Missing class, incorrect results in the lab. Now I know you two are hard workers but I was afraid senioritis might set in and Iâd have to lay down the law. I donât like being harsh with my students, not directly anyway. I want the best out of them, and I knew I could anticipate the best from you two. I was always planning to recommend both of you to Dr. Collins. I told him he would regret it if he even thought about not making space for you both next year.â
âWhat?â you repeat again.
Thereâs a weight on your knee. You donât even need to look to know itâs Wonwooâs hand. He doesnât look before flipping it over when you place yours on top, fingers knotting together; holds it tight like heâs afraid youâll vanish if he lets go. You unconsciously squeeze and he mimics without thought.
âSo what does this mean?â
âDr. Collins canât outright say it but heâs on the admissions board and decides who gets to join his lab. He was adamant that both of you join him in Boston.â
âBut we havenât evenââ
âI know, but the application is a formality at this point.â She waves a dismissive hand. âYour work speaks for itself.â
Wonwoo is still there, clenching your hand for dear life. Waiting for the other shoe to drop because there is no way â no way â itâs this easy. Months at each other's throat from the tension and for nothing. Youâre sweaty, heart thumping loud enough it might break from your chest and skitter on Dr. Wagnerâs desk. She keeps talking and you still havenât looked at Wonwoo.
âIâm so proud of you both!â she beams. âAnd Iâm sorry if IâveâŠcomplicated thingsâŠfor the two of you. It was never my intention. Now, go! Rest! Take the day off and celebrate. Send me the links to your applications and Iâll do my part so you can finally relax before finals.â
The pair of you shuffle outside like zombies. In broad daylight, the world keeps spinning and someone drops their coffee a little further down the street and curses a storm; a car honks at a biker, there's packs of students shuffling around where you stand dumbfounded. Your sweater does little to block the chill of late November wind.
Wonwoo still hasnât let go of your hand.
âDid that just happen?â he asks.
âWhat the fuck.â
âWhat the fuck.â
Your laughing, deranged and fatigued cackles that earn several looks but on the cusps of finals itâs not uncommon enough to stop anyone out of concern. âWhat the fuck!â
Youâre not sure what to do. Celebrate? Cry?Â
Itâs a little bit of both as Wonwoo swoops in, wrapping his arms around you tight enough to squeeze a surprised scream from your lungs. Heâs not done, lifting and spinning you around in a quick circle before crying, âWhat the fuck!â
You laugh, snorting ugly cackles as he almost drops you with both of you gasping for breath. Completely deranged but what just happened that the rift between you momentarily heals.
Wonwoo sets you down gently but keeps close, his hands your waist like heâs afraid to let go. Like heâs missed you just as much as youâve missed him. You finally look at him, and itâs the first breath of air after drowning for hours. The creases around his eye, the happy wrinkles around his nose. His hair is long enough it brushes your skin where your foreheads almost touch. His hold is like a cocoon of warmth.
âIâm sorry!â you blurt. âIâm so fucking sorry. Iâm stupid and stubborn and Iâve been so caught up in this program that Iââ
âNo,â he shakes his head, arms tightening as you squirm in his hold.
âLet me finish.â
âNo,â he says. âI like that you're stubborn and a pain in the ass. And it wasnât fair that I expected you to just push aside something like grad school for me. I was being selfish andââ
âI love you.â
You might say it again just to see the way he chokes and turns purple; pulls you closer. Heâs at a loss for words and you capitalize on the moment.
âIâve thought about what would happen if I didnât get in, like a million different possibilities and never once were you not there. I felt likeâŠI donât know, honestly. Like I was losing you and it was easier to be upset about the program than admit that. It was stupid and Iâm stupid, and Iâm really bad at speeches soâŠfeel free to shut me up or whatever.â
You wait for him to process what youâve said â a million emotions swiping across his face. Ridiculous some people act like heâs the embodiment of stoicism because if you know what to look for then theyâd realize heâs terrible at hiding the way he feels.
âYou love me?â
All that crying you did in the past few weeks means nothing because you could cry right now. But you donât look away, you donât ever want to look away from him again because youâd miss the way his face softens.
âWell, weâve been dating for the past three years. Itâs about time I told you.â
Wonwoo doesnât speak, facing morphing into confusion before he scoffs with disbelief. âYouâre so annoying.â
âHey!â you stomp but Wonwoo pulls you closer, buries his face in your neck and squeezes so tight something feels on the verge of popping in your spine. His ears burn red as he whispers those three words back quietly enough you strain to hear them. He bites your shoulder just to be an asshole.
âWhat the hell was that for?âÂ
He does it again.
âStop biting me you freak, weâre in public.â You pinch his side for good measure and only then does he smash the side of his face to yours and begin walking you backwards, in the direction of your apartment.
âWhatever, you love me.â
He lets you walk normally at the cross walk, your hand in his, both tangled in the warmth of the pocket of his sweatshirt because itâs fucking cold and the wind isnât helping. Wonwoo drags you straight home, up the stairs, and crowds you against the door and kisses you until you canât breathe.
âWhy are you crying?â
You are. You donât even realize it had started until you reach up and feel the dampness on your cheeks.
âProbably because I havenât slept in two days and I missed you, idiot.â Wonwoo kisses you flat on the mouth again at the confession, smiling big enough itâs less of a kiss and more of teeth pressed together. But itâs good. You like it. You speak into his mouth, âI promise I would have really âsloppy I love you sexâ but Iâm so tired I think I might throw up.â
âYou missed me.â he hums, more of a statement than a question.
âYeah, big head, I missed you. Now letâs sleep.â
âGod,â he moans, biting his lip in mock pleasure. Maybe even real pleasure at the idea of a Friday afternoon full of nothing but hazy dreams in silence rarely found in a frat house. âI love you too.â
You undress straight down to your underwear. Cotton with a conservative cut because in no universe did you think youâd end the day with Wonwoo back in your orbit. Wonwoo who loves you, Wonwoo who you love back. But he eyes you like youâre a grand prize and all he wants is to touch you. But the rush of adrenaline keeping you conscious is burning out quickly.
He strips too, nothing but boxers and circles under his eyes but heâs happy. It radiates off him in waves and if you werenât part of it, youâd throw something at him because itâd be annoying. You might just be glowing too.
You slip under the covers and Wonwoo snuggles up behind you, a second skin with his hand flat to your stomach to keep you from going anywhere. Not that you would. You donât even remember falling asleep.Â
When you wake up, itâs dark outside; which could mean itâs been minutes or hours since the winter sun likes to deep beneath the horizon early in the afternoon. Itâs the best sleep youâve had in weeks.
Everything is warm; your body beneath the comforter, where sweat sticks at your back, the lips dragging across the curve of your neck, Wonwooâs crotch firm between your legs.
âGood morning to me,â you sigh.
He hums in happy agreement, tongue traces the shell of your ear before kissing across your cheek and chin and finally landing on your mouth with a kiss that can only be described as sappy.
âGot started without me?â Your hands press under his underwear, two palms full of his ass holding him still enough to grind up into. Something about a sleepy make out has you hungry to lay there and take whatever heâll offer.
âIâll catch you up, donât worry.âÂ
You snicker, âNo wonder those freshmen have crushes on you.â
âWhat do you mean?â He traces your naked sides with his fingers.
âIâll catch you up,â you mock, then wince from a razor of his teeth as he shifts down your chest. âIf you were my TA, Iâd try to fuck you.â
âIâm trying to haveâ sloppy I love you sexâ and youâre trying to goad me into some student teacher shit?â
He bites your side, just a nip but you flare and blush anyway. âOoooo, tell me Iâm bad.â
âYouâre annoying.â
âYou love me.â
âAs I was saying,â he whispers into your stomach, fingers tugging your panties off. âSloppy I love you sex.â
âOkay, okay.â You sink a hand in his hair only for him to tug it away, fingers laced together over your sternum as he strokes you to life. âO-oh, thatâsâfuck.â
He hikes a leg up over his shoulder, out of the way for the fingers that satisfy the empty squeeze in your gut. Your tongue prickles with another goad but Wonwoo senses it first and swiftly works to silence you with a hot kiss to your clit that makes your vision bleed red.
The cold of the room works in his favor, pinching your nipples tight until you cave to the need to touch yourself. If the light was on then heâd watch and you get the urge to pause the action just for the chance to watch him watch you.
âDonât stop,â you grunt.Â
He eats it filthy, spit and arousal forming a wet mess slipping down your ass. The way his tongue lashes is nothing short of despicable and you know youâre the one that taught him that and you canât help but flare with pride. âIâm gonna cum, Iâm gonna cum, Iâmââ you chant blindly.
The warmth between your legs surrounds, suffocates until your thighs go numb and your shoulders pull away from the mattress with a groan rivaling porn; but you mean it. Wonwoo means it too.Â
You clench harder, revitalized in the stretch of another finger and a clip of teeth on your clit. You tug at your still clasped hands on your chest, bite into the meat of his palm and let the flood consume you with stiff legs and tears in your eyes. âOh, Wonwoo â u-ugh. Fuck. Fuck.â
Wonwoo takes it, mouth waiting for every eager roll of your hips; completely unphased until you melt back in the sheets with a pathetic mewl.
He kisses up your body, mouth and cheeks wet and warm. When he reaches your mouth you resist the urge to lick him clean. Something about that feels decidedly unlike sloppy I love you sex. So you slip your tongue between his lips instead and spread your legs until his crotch is level with the raw sensitivity of your own.
âRoll over,â you pant.
Like an asshole, he laughs. And then he drops his weight behind his hips and you actually see stars. âWanna do it like this.â
âMake love to me,â you croon.
He doesnât even pretend to stifle the obnoxious snort. âDonât ever say that again.â
âWhat happened to sloppy I love you sex?âÂ
âGetting to it. You like it when I come inside you?â Now heâs the one goading and youâre blushing like youâve never fucked him before. To be fair, you havenât fucked him as the man youâre in love with so itâs a first time for the both of you. Wonwooâs drunk on the power of having you stutter through something so familiar yet new.
âLove it.âÂ
âGood,â he agrees with a saccharine peck to your nose that makes you feel like a doe eyed virgin again. âI love you.â
Your need for games and pretense dissolves. You just want Wonwoo, all of him, until you canât take it any more.Â
Wonwoo senses the change, noses against your cheek before kissing you. Heâs still holding your hand, the other cupping your jaw, thumb tracing the curve of flesh. Itâs vulnerable and soft and something you probably couldâve experienced years ago if you werenât willfully blind.
âI love you, too.â
You whisper the confession so quietly it doesnât even make a sound but Wonwoo figures it out because he surges into action, pulling you to the center of the mattress in all your naked glory. The flood light from the side of the building reflects back in through the slats in the blinds and Wonwoo sits up to soak in what he can see in the limited light.
Twisting a hand in his hair, you pull him down for a kiss; forcing all the emotions you have to the surface. He doesnât make you wait. Instead, he drops flat, flat together from head to toe as he slips inside. Youâre still tight and sensitive, squirming at the feeling of being stretched so thin with Wonwoo wrapped tight in your arms.
âW-wonwoo,â you mewl. You know he loves the sound of his name, any time, in desperate moans and sleepy coos. Youâll say it as much as he wants to hear if he kisses you like he is now â with something new at the edge. Something needy. âMore.â
He wraps your legs around his hips, folding you clean in half with a heavy rut into your pussy youâll feel for days. You both want to drag this out â take hours to come apart and come together again and again â but Wonwoo is already working a hand between your bodies; stroking you over hot coals just to hear you moan his name again.
In record speed, you feel that familiar burn creeping along your spine. He fucks you into a wet mess and itâs all you can do to hold on and claw up his back. Breaks you into something limp and pliant, hands twisted together over head; tugs at that loose thread over and over until you unravel beneath him and Wonwoo watches like itâs magic.
âOh- oh, Wonwooââ you cry. Actually cry. Tears he swipes away with a thumb before pressing his mouth to yours.
Youâre swollen and stiff, muscles taunt while they twitch from a rush of complete bliss.
âM cumming, baby â oh my god.â Wonwoo bucks into the tight squeeze of your legs, deeper, harder, more. âLove youâfuck.â
He hides with soft sighs in your neck, skin sticky where you both slide together. You cradle him to your chest, fingers rushing through the sweaty tangles on his hair gently. A kiss to his head, his brow, his nose that wrinkles from pure content.
But youâre not done yet.
You wiggle from beneath him, peeling yourself off the pillows, lower half still numb from one hell of an orgasm. But you want more, insatiable and doped on years of repressed fondness. âCan you go again?âÂ
Wonwoo looks like you asked him to run a marathon. âYou want me to die?â
âWorse ways to go,â you coo, sinking low enough to take his cock in your mouth. It tastes like you and him and it makes your eyes roll.
âGod. I didnât know sappy sex meant youâd try to kill me,â he moans airly under your ministrations, a hand at the back of your head when you show off with a nose to his crotch before sliding off. âYouâre evil.â
âIâm in love with a sexy nerd and I'm horny,â you sigh dreamily, thrilled with the way he pulses in your hold.
âYeah, wellâŠâ he gives up on whatever rebuttal under the weight of your body on top of his. Nothing he can argue with in that statement anyway so you tease him with a kiss, smile when he chases your mouth, roll when you realize he can taste the mix of you both off your tongue.
âYou knowâŠIâll need a roommate in Boston.â
âHuh,â Wonwoo feigns. His focus is on the way your tug at his cock, spit and cum webbed between your fingers. This isnât the best way to have this conversation but youâre both high on sleep deprivation, love, and orgasms and it encourages loose lips.
âKnow anyone interested?â
He shudders back into the pillow, leaving his neck open for your teeth with a choked, âYeah.â
âWho?â
âMe.âÂ
âYeah?â
âYeah âfuckâwanna wake up to you every morning.â
âEven if Iâm a cranky bitch?â Your knees bracket his hips, cunt split on his cock as you grind against the underside.
His stomach caves as he responds with a thin voice, âyeah.â
You like waking up to him too. Falling asleep with him tangled in your body, listening to him hum in the shower when he thinks you arenât listening. Sometimes he even sings with a little encouragement like those times you were sick and the only thing that got your mind from exploding like thunderclaps was the lullabies from his childhood that he cooed into your hairline.
Starting and ending everyday with Wonwoo sounds nothing short of blissful.
âOkay.â You tangle his fingers with your own, rising on your knees to distract from the sheepish smile splitting your face in two.
âReally?â
âI like having you around,â you admit, sinking down on his cock. âMakes me feel better.â
Weird conversation over the back track of slapping skin and pathetic muffled sobs but you like it. Feels well overdue.
âA-about?â
Everything.
He gives a tender squeeze to your thigh, cradles your face in both hands, eye contact that you fight not shutter away from because itâs terrifying he can see you clearly.Â
Heâs lost; completely mesmerized by the way you bounce on the length of him, grind back into his lap like youâre possessed.
âCanât lastââ he chokes.
âSâokay,â you press the words into his cheek, his jaw, the bones jutting from around his collar. âJust wanna feel you.â
You bend and strain for his pleasure, to watch it dance across his brow as he cums inside you again, his hands heavy on your ass, your thighs, whatever he reflexively grips in a bid for grounding, nails leaving streaks of color. Twitching and jerking in sensitive painful bliss, his eyes roll back with a quick exhale. âFuck-k.â
You're sticky and used between the legs but you take comfort in the feeling and bask in the glow on top of him. Nothing but a pile of satisfied boneless goo where you lay with sweaty skin and heat you feel from the top of your head to your toes. âGood?â
âGreat,â he hums, pulling into one last toe numbing kiss.Â
When feeling returns to your bodies, you spend the rest of the night eating greasy pizza on the couch in nothing but his shirt, drinking wine straight from the bottle in celebration. You kiss Wonwoo whenever you want, which, admittedly, is a lot; a flurry of sappy pecks over his face leaves him blushing and dewy. When you fall asleep after making love once again, the last thing you hear is him saying he loves you too.
Epilogue
4 months laterâŠ
Thereâs a certain level of comfort that comes with receiving an official acceptance email. The words youâve been waiting to hear since Dr. Wagner all but confirmed your future in a fifteen minute meeting last semester.
On behalf of the Chemistry department, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted as a part ofâŠ
The big envelope in the mail today helped too.
Wonwoo sends a photo of his, unopened, because you promised to open them together tonight. On your date; which is nothing more than grading assignments and eating leftover take out on the couch like so many nights have been spent already. But this time heâs your boyfriend. And after all the worksheets are graded, and you get to cuddle deep into the worn couch cushions, you get to tell him you love him and heâll say it back and the flutter in your veins at the thought is nothing short of magical.Â
And this time you have a surprise waiting for him and he might just cry. Or you hope so. Youâve got $50 riding on the possibility.
Youâre sweating through your shirt from putting the new piece of furniture together for the past three hours by the time he shows up with a bag of takeout, Thai food from the place on Market where they know you by order, and a kiss youâve been missing since the morning when he left for one of his stupid workouts.Â
Wonwoo sets the bag on the counter, immediately pulling you into his arms before sagging like a deflated balloon. âPixel got adopted today.â
âReally?â
âYeah.â Heâs moping. He accepts your placating kiss with a pout, and starts unpacking the food.
You feel the smallest flutter of guilt but it's worth it. âThat sucks.âÂ
âShe needed a good home.â Wonwoo confirms and that's the end of the conversation.
Even in your final semester, your schedules are still packed. Crammed full with meetings, exams, work, Wonwooâs volleyball stuff that you attend with posters and sit near the other girlfriends. Itâs weird but not because its the same stuff you two were doing for years. But itâs exhausting.
So you donât blame Wonwoo for not noticing the newest addition to your apartment until heâs inhaled his food and the last third of yours.
âBabe.â
âWhat?â you ask, focusing on cutting another red slash into the white paper.
âWhatâs that?â
He points at the gigantic cat tower in the corner next to the couch. Itâs cramped in tight but in two months youâll both be in Boston with a bigger apartment with real bedrooms so itâs only temporary.
You shrug and make another mark. âOh, just something I picked up.â
âYou donât have a cat.â
âHuh. Weird.â Your eyebrows furrow in mock confusion but you keep grading papers or else itâs game over and the need to watch him puzzle together your plans is all you want. âThen whatâs the thing in the bathroom?â
âYou didnât.â
âI did,â you confirm.
Wonwoo stares open mouthed, between you and the bathroom door and back to you. He might pinch himself but he flies off the couch with childlike eagerness and your face hurts from smiling already.
Pixel spends the rest of the night curled up asleep on her new dadâs lap and youâre $50 richer. Mingyuâs girlfriend is already offering to catsit despite Mingyuâs pouts about losing money.
DISAPPEARING ACT . rindou often disappears for weeks at a time, showing up at home as if it's nothing. a brief exchange triggers a factory reset in him, but you're not as open to it as he expected you to be...
prompt used "better than me disappearing for good. / is it?"
with married!rindou + fem!reader
warnings cursing. a lot of cursing. angst? rindou is an idiot and possessive.
you never got to see your husband anymore. so much so that you considered the chance of it happening next to nothing. you knew what you were getting into being in an relationships with him; lots of meetings and flights to other cities all meant extended time away from home.
you would've been a little more forgiving had he chosen to tell you these things. but no. morning after morning, you wake up to him gone without a trace, without consideration for how you feel. was he alive? was he with someone else? did he not care enough to call or even send a text?
it was as if you lived alone, and a stranger crashed at your place every once in a while. and while you shared polite exchanges, no amount of small talk could overshadow how bleak your marriage was.
it was eleven days before he showed up again. you were, surprisingly, awake when he returned. he was perfectly groomed, albeit a little jaded, but still regarded you with the same coldness you endured since he started leaving. you missed the warmth of your younger days, where he would hold you close and reassure you that you were meant for each other for life.
you decided today was as good a day as any. heck, he even might be gone tomorrow and it would be like you didn't say anything.
"i'm tired of you disappearing for days and then coming back like it was nothing." you said plainly.
he slipped out of his shoes, looking down at you. rolling his eyes lightly but sighing heavily, he started to pull off his tie. "better than me disappearing for good."
a wry smile spread on your face. oh, if he only knew. "is it?"
those two words sent an arrow straight through his heart.
rindou was silent, pretending as if he didn't hear what you just said. but when you scoffed and walked away, he knew it was too real for him to overlook.
"you don't mean that." it was less of a question and more of a please, don't mean it.
you shrugged and went back to your phone, too benumbed to even look at him.
he stared at you, utterly confused as to how to tackle this. "y/n." he said firmly.
you slowly raised your head to meet his eyes, void of any care. "what?"
"i said, you don't mean that." he stood like a tree in the middle of the living area, palms growing sweaty. he loved you. he couldn't lose you, not when you both went through so much to get here.
"don't i?" you responded, placing your phone beside you. not like i see you anymore, anyway. what's the difference?
"stop fucking talking like that and answer me." he snarled. you rolled your eyes, rising to your feet.
"look, rin. who the fuck cares what i think or say? certainly not you." you sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose. "justâjust forget i said anything." you turned towards your bedroom. "goodnight."
wait. he lunged forward, grabbing your arm and spinning you around to face him, backing you against a wall. caging you with arms on either side of you, he stared into your soul, hoping to get some sort of reaction out of you.
you just stared back.
his heart clenched. yeah, he was away for weeks at a time. of course he didn't tell you. why would he? why would he burden you with that information?
"you really think me going away forever is better?" his voice was a whisper, but held the sharpness of a knife. "huh? you want me gone forever?"
you sighed. "i didn't say i wanted that. i just meant that, either way, it doesn't matter. going away forever, going away for weeks and weeks but only staying for a night..." your eyes met his, glossy but fierce. "it's the same to me. i don't care what the hell you do anymore, rindou. just let me go to bed."
he studied the person he truly loved for so long, wondering when it all went downhill.
you were impatient, ducking under his arms. "shit..." you cursed, rubbing the back of your neck as you walked away.
he watched you go. and he never saw you come back.
the next morning he woke up, expecting to see you in the kitchen or watching tv, but his house was empty.
"y/n?" he called out. no answer. he pulled up his phone. no texts, no calls. he bustled around the house, looking for some indication of where you went and he found nothing.
he called his brother, thinking that he was the next best person you would've gone to, but ran had no contact from you.
rindou sat on the couch, nothing to do but sit and wait. he looked around. everything was well-kept, pristine, and sanitized. it was like no one lived here at all. no one except a lonely spouse in an eternal cycle of wait for a husband that wouldn't even give them the time of day to say, i'm heading out.
i love you.
goodbye.
he leaned back, closing his eyes. he doesn't even say goodbye.
he hated himself for it.
hours passed and he didn't move from the couch. he knew you sat there for much longer, day after day, waiting for him. no wonder you were uncaring. coming home meant nothing if he would simply leave again.
then he heard the click of the door. he practically jumped off the couch, racing over to the entrance. he saw you with a couple groceries hooked on your forearms, struggling to keep the door open long enough for you to slip inside.
he rushed over. yanking the door open with such force, it slammed into the wall causing you to jump. rindou winced a little, steadying the door from swinging wildly.
you eyes met his and your face immediately scrunched with confusion. "what are you doing here?"
"well... it's my house..?" he said dumbly.
you pressed your lips into a line. "hm."
you expected me to be gone again, he thought bitterly. he cleared his throat. "let me help you with these," he alleviated the weight off your arms, bunching up a couple bags and carrying them all in one go. "you know, you could just order them for delivery."
you sidestepped him and walked to the kitchen. "why would i do that?"
"so you can have them brought to you from the comfort of your home." he responded lightly. following robotically, he was unsure where everything was supposed to be put away.
you laughed, catching him off-guard. on closer inspection, though, he knew that wasn't a genuine laugh. "rindou, do you think i want to stay in this place any more than i have to?"
you said it so casually, grabbing a bag from him and stocking the cabinets and fridges.
his stomach swirled with much more unease than he'd ever experienced on the job. it was the way you simply didn't care anymore, talking about the rift between you and him as if you were reciting the weather report.
fight me, he wanted to say. kick, yell at me, scream at me, do anything at all to show me you're upset. he knows he fucked up. you definitely know he fucked up. so why weren't you telling him that? why weren't you cursing him out for being a bad husband? your nonchalance came from a long time being cast aside, so much so that you expected it to happen; so much so that you gave up on him.
indifference was the final nail in the coffin of your marriage, and you were about to bang it shut.
he observed you, thinking about how many times you'd busy yourself with mundane errands to feel like you were living. how many times you'd come back to this flat, putting away shit you'd probably never touch. how many times you'd listen to the silence ringing off the walls.
he set the bags down and held your shoulders, turning you to face him. "i've taken the next few days off."
you smiled insincerely. "great."
rindou felt like a kid again, when he had work up enough courage to ask you out. "we... we could spend them together."
your eyes squinted. "why?"
he spluttered. "what do you mean, why?"
you swatted his hands off your shoulders. "god, i shouldn't have said anything," you mumbled. "rindou, this is just you feeling guilty because of what i said last night, okay?"
he frowned. "it's not."
your eyebrows raised as you rummaged through another grocery bag. "it is. don't pretend like you're gonna change. what did you think we were going to doâgo out together? like old times, when we were happy and in love?"
his face burned. anyone elseâif it were anyone else speaking so flippantly with him, he'd have them beat til they're unconscious. and past tense? when we were in love? his brain was doing backflips trying to find a way to salvage the situation. "yes."
you laughed that fake laugh again. it grated on his ears. "that's funny. i was just feeling a little vulnerable last night, is all. had a couple of drinks and maybe was feeling sentimental about the days when everything was simple."
rindou stepped closer to you, ripping the bag away from your hands and towering over you. "it is simple. we canâ"
"we can't do anything." you curled your hands into fists, your voice trembling. "can you just..?" go away?
rindou's breath caught in his chest, fully anticipating another heartless laugh.
he hated it when you cried. he hated it when you were angry. he would do anything for your eternal happiness, he realized, and he'd been falling short of his promises for far too long.
rindou leaned onto the counter, bending at the waist. his hand rested on your waist and his eyes were laser focused on your expression, a confusing mix of frustration, sadness, and the will to remain emotionless.
"baby," he whispered.
"don't fucking call me baby." you hissed.
he pursed his lips, unwilling to compromise. "pretty baby. i don't wanna go on like this." his fingers brushed your cheek. "i don't want to you to be sad anymore."
"well, isn't that righteous." you rolled your eyes though your heart ached. it ached for him, for the boyfriend he was and the husband he promised to be.
he glared at you. "would you just listen?"
"no, rindou." you shoved him away from you, despite the overwhelming urge telling you to pull him in and hug him tight. "stop acting like i'm the one making things difficult. like you're being a fucking saint trying to bring us back together when the only reason we're like this is because of you." your voice became watery, growing in volume as you finally succumbed to all the hurt and pain inside you.
"i tried to be understanding." you sobbed. "i did. i tried. you have your work and i know that it's dangerous. but seriouslyâyou promised you'd make time for me. you promised." you sniffed, rubbing tears off your cheeks, ranting without any goal in mind. "you don't even say goodbye."
he stood frozen, your emotions hitting him square in the face and leaving him dazed. it was like the only thing he could do was stand and watch.
"i didn't want to do this." you said tearfully. "i'm sorry i said anything, okay? i'm sorry. justâleave me alone."
his eyes narrowed. "never. i'm never leaving."
your glassy eyes shot up to meet his with a hard look of their own.
"i love you, y/n. and i'm never letting you go." he said firmly, stepping closer and closer to you. he was done beating around the bush; you should know that no matter how many times you push him away, he will never leave you. he'd make up for his mistakes; all you had to do was give him a chance.
you scoffed. "love? you love me?"
he caged you against the opposite counter with two arms on either side of you. "yeah. i do."
you stared up at him, tears staining your cheeks. "you're a liar."
"y/n." he growledâa warning.
"can't go back into the world having the poor little wife weighing on your conscious, is that it?" you snapped. "never stopped you before."
"y/n."
"no." you ducked under his arm, leaving the kitchen. you evaded his attempts to pull you back, running to the closet. grabbing a coat and your purse, you slipped on your shoes.
"where the fuck are you going?" rindou yelled after you. "this conversation isn't over."
"it is for me." you mumbled, throwing the front door open and ignoring the fire in the pit of your stomach. you got into your car and started it up. the garage opened at an agonizing pace, enough time for rindou to come bursting out the door. he stood at your window.
"y/n, you are not leaving. get out of the car."
"fuck off." you grit your teeth, your eyes raising to the rearview mirror to reverse. you screeched to a halt when you saw rindou's purple hair in the reflection. you gaped, rolling down your window and whipping your head to face him. "are you insane? move!"
he shook his head, standing in all his glory right behind the car. his arms were crossed and his weight rested on one hip; the picture of stubbornness. "you're gonna have to run me over."
you scoffed, laughing breathlessly at the absurd situation. "i'll call the police."
"you won't."
you grabbed your phone. "i will, don't try and stop me from leaving."
"you won't call the police, and you wanna know why?" rindou let his head fall to his shoulder. "you love me. i know you do."
you opened your mouth to retort.
"don't even try to deny it." he chuckled lowly. "you're just protecting yourself, baby. you're protecting yourself from the nightmare you call a husband, right?"
your eyes rounded, looking at him with an unreadable expression.
he walked to your side of the car, reaching through the opening to flick the window button. he slipped his hand out as it began to slowly slide back up.
"leave, then. just know i'm not going to stop my efforts to get you back." he smiled as he went back into the house.
the window closed completely.
you were brimming with annoyance, yet you couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache when you pulled out of the driveway, leaving your houseâand rindouâbehind.
this was so self-indulgent lol. i know they mean well, but when people apologize so quickly and with such intensity, i just get frustrated that i had to get to such a low point to see any remorse or change from them. and of course, i can't argue without crying my eyes out.
anyway, do we want a part two?
jeon wonwoo x gender-neutral reader ; 0.2k ; fluff, established relationship au ; modified & reposted from my old blog. happy (early) new year!
[12:01 AM] â youâre woken up by a kiss.Â
wonwoo smiles against your lips, only allowing a hairâs breadth of space to form in between you both as you let out an annoyed huff. you roll onto your back and he towers over you, arms braced on either side of your head.
âhi,â he whispers, and you can hear the smile in his voice.
âgo to sleep,â you grumble, cracking one eye open lazily.
âitâs midnight.â
âexactly.â you try to turn over, but wonwoo nuzzles into your neck, pressing a brief, open-mouthed kiss to the sliver of skin exposed near your shoulder.Â
âyou know what that means.â he presses his fingers into your waist, bunching up your t-shirt. his hair tickles your neck; you smile.
âit means you need to sleep,â you say pointedly, squinting into the darkness. you bring a hand up and card it through his hair. he sighs softly when you lightly scratch on his scalp.
âand it also means itâs a new day already.â
ââs not a new day âtil the sun comes up,â you murmur sleepily.
wonwoo doesnât argue. he only grabs your hand and kisses the inside of your wrist. the muted city lights that penetrate the darkness through your open window are reflected in his eyesâbut he looks at you like youâve hung up all the stars in the sky, just for him.
âhappy new year,â he says, mouth splitting into a wide grin, and despite your drowsiness, you let him pull you into a kiss, and somehow you already know this year is going to be a special one already.
Prompt: I feel like this could fit him really well - Changkyun and #15
Prompt:
15) You hurt yourself and your bias is in the hospital bed adjacent.
Prompt list can be found HERE.
Pairing: Monsta X Changkyun x Reader
Genre: Fluff
TW: Hospital setting. Mentions of fractures/appendicitis.
.
"Appendicitis," you muttered. "You're telling me it's appendicitis?"
"Unfortunately," your doctor sighed, tapping the side of your hospital bed.
"Well, I don't want it to be appendicitis," you grumbled, crossing your arms, only to cringe in pain from the movement.
"I certainly didn't want that either," the doctor chuckled. "But unfortunately, this is what it is."
"Sooo what's the next steps?"
"We'll have you stay the night and get you ready for surgery tomorrow morning," he nodded.
"Can't you just give me some antibiotics and I can go home?" you groaned.
"Not if you want to be back here in 6-8 weeks to try again."
You leaned your head back on the pillow and whined. "I don't like the hospital."
"I won't take that personally," the doctor chuckled. "I'll be back to check on you in a bit."
With that, your doctor sidestepped around the side of your privacy curtain and began talking to the patient who was in the room with you.
"How are we feeling today, Mr. Im?"
"Same as yesterday," a deep voice croaked. "My butt is numb and my leg is itchy."
"Would it be helpful if the nurse brought you a few more pillows to make yourself a bit more comfortable?"
"Comfort is an illusion here," he muttered bitterly. "I would however like my pudding cup at your earliest convenience."
The doctor let out a surprised laugh. "I'll have someone get right on that."
You heard the physician's steps exit the room and begin to retreat down the hallway. After a moment of silence, the voice on the other side of the curtain cleared its throat. "So, what are you in here for?"
"Appendicitis," you said weakly, but you guessed he had probably already heard that bit. "You?"
"Leg fracture," he sighed. "I'm currently in traction."
"In traction?"
"You know, where they put your leg into a tiny hammock and make it stay there for the rest of eternity?"
"Traction," you repeated. "Got it."
The silence lulled on for another moment. "Whatcha wearing?"
"I'm sorry?" you gasped, hardly believing your ears.
"Don't sound so scandalized," he laughed. "My vote is your hospital gown matches mine. Is it hideous?"
You looked down, furrowing your brow. "I mean...it's not the first thing I would pick to wear."
"Push the curtain back. Let's compare," he said. You could tell from the sudden fluttery motion of the fabric between you that he was attempting to grab at it with his fingertips.
You chewed on your lip, trying to decide if this was a good idea or not. You could just ignore the stranger, whoever he was. Surely he would stop trying to talk to you after some point. Then again, you would be stuck in a room with him for the next day or two. If you decided to stay silent, how awkward could things get?
"I'll make it worth your while," he tried again. "Half of this pudding cup could be yours."
"Fuck it," you thought before narrowing your eyes and focusing on the small pull stick that controlled the curtain. Trying to move as slowly and comfortably as possibly, you grabbed it and pushed it as hard as you could toward the opposite end of the curtain track.
The burst of movement maybe moved the fabric only four feet or so, but it was enough to expose your roommate.
You were shocked by the man you had uncovered. He was smirking mischievously at you, the smile reaching all the way up to his eyes. His hair was black, long, and disheveled, but it suited him. His tan skin had no pallor to it, which was a surprise considering he had been stuck in the hospital room since who knows when.
"Well hello to you too," he grinned, watching you as you took him in.
"Sorry," you squeaked, shaking your head. "I just...I... you weren't what I was expecting. That's all."
"Midsize, dark, and handsome?"
"I...well...midsize?" you fumbled.
"Yeah, I'm nowhere near "conventionally tall" so don't get your hopes up whenever they let me out of this hospital bed," he chuckled. "The adage of "tall, dark, and handsome" didn't quite work."
"Got it," you said quietly, your eyes still roaming his face.
"I'm Changkyun, if you were wondering. And my hypothesis has been confirmed," he nodded. "We are in matching hospital gowns. I've got to tell you, washed out mint is really your color."
"Thanks?" you pushed out. Was this guy for real? "I'm Y/N."
You allowed yourself to finally look away from him and face forward. Taking a deep breath of air through your nose, you slowly blew it from your mouth.
"I was eavesdropping and heard you have surgery tomorrow," Changkyun offered. "That's a bummer."
"Yeah," you said shortly, closing your eyes. You didn't want to even recognize that you were stuck in a hospital bed right now, let alone going in for a procedure.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern. "Sorry if I'm making things worse. I can shut up."
"Please," you said quietly. "And thank you."
After several beats of silence, he cleared his throat again. "It's okay to be scared."
"I'm not scared," you grumbled.
"Didn't say you were. Just saying it was totally okay if you decided to be."
You groaned, opened your eyes again, and turned to face him.
"I'm freaked out," you said quietly, admitting it more to yourself than this stranger.
"That's a synonym for "scared"," he whispered back with a small smile. You couldn't help yourself as you let out a laugh that hurt entirely too much. "Don't think on it too much though. Everything will go great and then they'll wheel you right back here."
"I can hardly wait."
"I can tell," he grinned. "Seriously though, if you don't have anyone else to be here for you, I'm as good a choice as any."
"Oh?" You quirked up your brows. "How so?"
"Well, for starters, I am an A+ cuddler."
"Who said I wanted to cuddle?"
"That's comfort 101, baby," he hummed. "Plus, I'm cute, you're cute, according to science, that makes sense."
You couldn't help but smile. "You're absolutely ridiculous. Do you realize that?"
Changkyun attempted to sit up a bit. "I do in fact live in my head 87% of the time, so i have some idea. Back to the topic at hand though, my hospital bed or yours?"
You choked out a laugh and instantly regretted it as your insides throbbed.
"Sorry," he winced. "You can tell me to shut up again."
"Please don't," you said quietly. This man was absolutely wild, but he was turning your discomfort into something else entirely. You could appreciate that. "You're an excellent distraction."
"You know what else is an excellent distraction? Kissing," he said confidently. "I've heard it works wonders."
It was your turn to sit up now. With wide eyes, you tried to find words. "I don't even know you."
"You could."
Shaking your head. "I think your pain medication is doing the talking right now."
"Is not!" he gasped indignantly. "I know beauty when I see it, and I want your face on my face!"
"Yep," you nodded. "Definitely the medication."
"I will tell them to stop these pills right now and prove to you these are my stone-cold sober thoughts!" he whisper-yelled.
"You're telling me, you just enjoy kissing strangers?"
"If they're beautiful."
You felt heat travel with alarming speed up your neck and to your ears. You knew you weren't at your visual best right now, so any compliment came across well. "You're a flirt, Mr. Im."
"But," he said tapping his chin. "Is the flirting working?"
"I wouldn't give you the satisfaction of knowing."
"Oh, just wait until I get freedom to move again," he gasped. "I am so hopping on one foot over there and suffocating you with unwarranted affection."
"And what if I'm discharged before you are?"
"I'll bar the door with my hospital bed if you don't leave me your number," he said simply.
"And then what?"
"Then we ride my electric wheelchair off into the sunset."