genre: high school!au, shy!sunghoon, figure skater!sunghoon, fluff, one-shot
warnings: none, pure fluff
wc: ~3.1k
📝: i love fluff sm😭 also sunghoon has been bias wrecking me lately so idk if I should take it as a sign hello?
༉‧₊˚.♡₊˚.༄
"I skate better when I know you are watching."
You noticed him before anyone else did.
It wasn’t because he was loud. He wasn’t. He was the opposite, actually. Always slipping out of class before the bell fully rang, disappearing down the hallway in a blur of black backpack straps and messy hair. Park Sunghoon was the kind of person who seemed permanently on the edge of something else.
Most people didn’t talk to him. Not because he was rude, but because he didn’t invite it. He kept his eyes down, gave polite nods in passing, and always seemed half-elsewhere, like his body was at school but his mind had clocked out hours ago.
You only knew his name because of roll call.
And then one day in November, you saw him practicing jumps in the courtyard behind the gym, early morning when most kids were still stumbling into homeroom.
At first, you thought he was just messing around. But no. His feet moved in counts. He wasn’t dancing. He was skating. Mentally, at least. You could see it in how his hands moved, how his body arched into something invisible beneath his sneakers. Controlled. Graceful. Quietly devastating.
You leaned on the railing and watched for a minute too long.
That’s when he noticed you. He froze, eyes wide, caught mid-step. Then, without a word, he grabbed his bag and bolted.
After that, you were curious.
Everyone whispered about him. How he was training for some championship. How he competed on the weekends. How he sometimes left early for Seoul.
But none of them really knew him.
So when you got paired with him for a history project two weeks later, you took it as fate.
“Hey,” you said, sliding into the seat beside him. “Guess we’re stuck together.”
He looked up from his notebook slowly, blinking like you were speaking a language he hadn’t heard in a while. “Oh. Uh. Yeah.”
You smiled. “You okay with working during free period?”
He nodded. “That’s fine.”
“I’m Y/N, by the way.”
“…Sunghoon.”
“I know,” you said. “I’ve seen you around.”
His cheeks flushed slightly at that, and you pretended not to notice the way he scratched behind his ear like he didn’t know what to say next.
You worked in the library that week. Or, tried to. He kept his head down, answered your questions, but never said more than needed. Until the third day.
You caught him scribbling in the margins of your shared outline.
Not notes—movements. Arrows, numbers. It looked like choreography.
“Is that for skating?” you asked, curious.
He froze. “What?”
“That,” you said, pointing. “That’s how you count music, right?”
He looked like a deer in headlights. “I didn’t mean to—sorry, I—sometimes I just—”
“Don’t apologize,” you said, smiling. “It’s cool. I didn’t realize how complicated it was.”
Sunghoon looked at you for a moment. Like he was trying to figure you out. Then, barely audible, he said:
“Do you know much about skating?”
You shook your head. “Just what I’ve seen in Olympics videos. You do it seriously though, right?”
He hesitated. Then nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been doing it since I was five.”
You leaned in slightly. “So that’s where you vanish to every day after school.”
He gave a small laugh under his breath. “Yeah.”
It was the first time you saw his smile.
And something about it—how small, how soft, how unguarded it was—made you want to see it again.
You started noticing the little things.
How he always tapped his fingers in eights, even when he was distracted. How he scribbled rink layouts on napkins during lunch. How his duffel bag had a stitched snowflake patch peeling off the side, probably from a tournament or camp.
Sunghoon never bragged. Never brought it up first. But when he did talk about skating, just a little, it was the only time his voice didn’t trail off.
You’d catch glimpses of it when he thought you weren’t looking—a quiet, breathless kind of focus. Like the sport wasn’t just something he did. It was something he was.
And slowly, things shifted.
He started waiting for you outside class, even when you weren’t working on your project anymore. Started offering you sips from his thermos during study hall. He never said much about it, but he always sat close. His presence, quiet and steady, became familiar.
There was a moment—Tuesday after school, a week before finals—where you caught him watching you laugh with your friends. You turned and met his eyes across the hallway.
Instead of looking away, he held your gaze. Just a second too long.
You smiled.
He didn’t smile back, but his ears went pink, and that was something.
Then, on Friday, he handed you a folded note without looking up.
“If you’re free this weekend… come watch. 7pm. Ice Center.”
“Don’t tell anyone.”
You read it twice. Your heart thudded once, loud.
When you looked up, Sunghoon was already walking away.
The rink was colder than you expected. The kind of cold that crept into your sleeves and nipped at your ankles. You pulled your coat tighter and stepped into the near-empty stands.
He didn’t know you were there yet.
He was already on the ice, alone, warming up with small circles and glides. His black jacket hugged his frame. Every movement looked sharp and rehearsed—but relaxed, too. Like his body remembered it all.
You leaned forward, chin tucked into your scarf, and watched as the music started.
And just like that, he changed.
Park Sunghoon on the ice wasn’t shy. He wasn’t quiet. He was in it—every step fluid, every jump catching the light. His expression was focused, serious, but not cold.
He looked like someone chasing something he loved.
You forgot to breathe more than once.
When the music faded out and his skates slowed, you clapped softly, just once, from your seat in the back.
His head snapped up.
He spotted you instantly.
And the look on his face—stunned, open, soft—was worth everything.
He skated to the edge, still catching his breath. “You came.”
You grinned. “I didn’t think you could move like that.”
He flushed. “Don’t make fun of me.”
“I’m not,” you said. “You’re kind of amazing.”
He blinked. The compliment seemed to catch him off guard. “You think so?”
“I know so.”
There was a beat of silence. The air between you felt warm, even with the cold.
Then he said, almost shyly, “I skate better when I know you’re watching.”
Your heart fluttered.
You stepped closer to the barrier. “Then get used to me being around.”
He smiled again—that rare, unguarded one. The one that made your stomach flip.
“I’d like that.”
You started going to the rink more often after that.
He never asked you to—not directly—but his eyes always lit up when you showed. He’d skate cleaner, land sharper. And when he stumbled (rarely), he’d glance at you sheepishly like your opinion mattered more than the coach’s.
You started doing your homework in the bleachers.
He’d bring you hot chocolate from the vending machine.
When he wasn’t practicing, he’d sit beside you in the cold, sharing one headphone, shoulder-to-shoulder, pretending you weren’t both trembling just a little.
You got used to the silence between you. It was never awkward. It was Sunghoon’s kind—soft, grounding. It felt like snow just beginning to fall. Still. Meaningful.
He told you about Nationals in January. How it was his last year as a junior skater. How everything rested on this one performance.
“I have to land the quad axel this time,” he said, eyes fixed on the empty rink.
“Have you landed it before?”
He hesitated. “Twice. But never under pressure.”
You nudged his arm. “You’ll do it.”
He didn’t respond right away.
Then, quietly, “It’s easier to believe that when you’re around.”
Your heart stuttered.
You didn’t know what to say. So instead, you leaned your head on his shoulder.
He froze.
But only for a second.
Then, carefully, like he’d been waiting for this moment, he let his head tip to yours.
Neither of you said anything else that night.
The shift was subtle after that.
More eye contact. More touches that lingered. Sunghoon would walk you to your bus stop now, even when it meant taking the long way home. His friends started teasing him, calling you his “good luck charm,” but he never corrected them.
And sometimes, when the world went quiet and you caught him looking at you—really looking—you swore he was about to say something more.
But he never did.
Until the night before he left for the championship.
You met behind the school, by the courtyard. The same spot where you first saw him “skating” in sneakers.
He was in his warm-up jacket, holding a paper cup of hot chocolate for you both.
“Thanks,” you said, taking a sip. “You’re gonna do great tomorrow.”
He looked at you, something unreadable in his gaze. “I don’t know if I am.”
You frowned. “Don’t say that.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s not the jumps or the pressure. It’s just… sometimes I get scared. That it’s all I am.”
You blinked. “Sunghoon—”
“That if I lose… I lose more than just points.”
You stepped closer. “You’re not just skating. You’re you. And that’s— that’s already enough.”
His eyes searched yours, like he wanted to say something else. His hand brushed against yours—barely touching, barely there.
“I—”
You waited.
He opened his mouth.
But the words didn’t come.
Instead, he whispered, “Will you be there?”
Your heart ached. “Of course.”
His breath hitched. “Okay.”
You both stood in the quiet.
The moonlight caught the edge of his profile, and you thought, for one fragile second, that he might kiss you.
But he didn’t.
He just held your gaze like it meant everything.
And somehow, that was enough.
The championship was louder than anything you were used to.
Banners waving, announcers echoing through the arena, photographers perched like vultures near the rink. You sat where he asked—Lane 4, back row—hands buried in your coat pockets, heart thumping like you were the one about to compete.
You spotted him at the edge of the rink, head down, hands flexing in his gloves. His coach was saying something, but he looked elsewhere. Searching.
Then his eyes found you.
You raised a hand. He didn’t smile.
But he nodded.
And then he stepped onto the ice.
The music started. A quiet, haunting piano. Nothing flashy. Nothing loud. Just like him. He opened with a clean triple toe loop. Easy. His blades whispered against the ice like secrets only he could tell.
He was breathtaking.
You didn’t blink. Not even once.
And then—the quad axel.
The leap was there. Height, rotation. The landing—too tight.
He stumbled.
Not enough to fall, but enough to break rhythm. You felt the arena inhale. A collective wince.
You didn’t look away.
And neither did he.
He straightened, adjusted, took off again. And the rest of the routine? Perfect. Controlled. Elegant. The kind of skating that made you forget where you were.
When he hit his final pose, chest rising and falling, you clapped until your palms stung.
He didn’t win.
He placed third.
But when he stepped off the ice, jacket slung over one shoulder, medal tucked into his palm, you could see it—the disappointment in his eyes. Quiet. Heavy.
You waited near the exit. When he finally reached you, still breathless from the press and the coaches and the chaos, you asked, “Can I hug you?”
He nodded.
You did. Tight. All in.
“I’m proud of you,” you whispered.
His voice cracked. “I messed up.”
“You didn’t,” you said. “You got back up. That’s what matters.”
He pulled back, eyes shining. “I saw you. During the skate. I looked for you.”
“I was always here.”
You didn’t think. You just reached up and brushed the hair from his forehead, gently.
And he—he leaned in.
No hesitation this time.
His lips were cold, a little chapped. But the kiss was soft. Careful. Like he was still afraid to break something between you.
You didn’t let him.
You kissed back. Steady. Certain. And felt the tension melt from his shoulders.
When you pulled away, he stared at you, dazed.
“I’ve wanted to do that for a while,” he admitted, voice barely audible.
You smiled. “Yeah. Me too.”
A pause.
“Does this mean I’m officially your good luck charm now?”
Sunghoon laughed, a real one, full and bright. “You always were.”
hawks was known for being a young hero who climbed up the ranks as fast as he could, and became the number two hero because of his determination. he quickly charmed the public, and his relaxing demeanor made everyone feel safe in the city. the hero was observant, always noticing every small detail or sound that was the slightest sign that someone was out into harm’s way.
he was charismatic, always gaining others’ trust due to his charm and calm nature. he sure as hell had many fans too, who would shout sexual or flirtatious words at him, which he never reciprocated. of course, he loved the attention, but not from them. he preferred it from you.
keigo loved you with his whole heart, and sometimes wouldn’t even bat an eye at the fans who flirted with him. if he even glanced at them, it’d only be for a second, then he’d sigh, and walk away, wishing it was you clinging to his arm instead of a fan. he was all for physical touch, putting a hand on a fan’s shoulder or bunny ears above their head, but it was a whole different level when he was with you.
whenever he came home, he’d fly onto your balcony or backyard, hardly ever through the front door. after he’d walked into the house, his first instinct was to look for you, and he would always quickly find you. most of the time, you were in the kitchen baking some sweets or reading a book in your bedroom.
but this time was different.
when keigo gently opened the door, trying to stay as quiet as possible to scare you, he heard sounds from the television screen. looks like you were in the living room, then. the back of your head stood still as you rested your fist against your chin, and your elbow against the armrest.
“—police are on their way! where are the pro-heroes when we need them? around a dozen civilians are trapped inside a building caught in flames! can we depend on the heroes to save the—“
suddenly, the helicopter and camera shook, and a burst of red infiltrated the screen. it flew through the sky, and people began to get carried away, floating by something magical.
the reporter continued, “the number two hero, keigo takami, widely known as hawks, has come to save the day! he quickly swept into action—“
keigo forgot all about the video you were watching. his eyes slightly widened, eyebrows raised as his mouth was slightly agape. he knew you admired him, but he never knew you loved him this much. did you watch videos of him saving people on a daily basis?
“how do you manage to look so good even when you’re bloodied up?” you muttered to yourself, keeping your eyes glued to the screen, where he saw himself with a beat-up face, but a smirk still lay there, where he quickly beat the villain only with his fists.
the video abruptly ended, and you turned off the television with the remote. his reflection was seen on the screen, where he stood in his yellow coat, not having rid himself of his hero gear.
you grinned once you saw your boyfriend’s reflection on the screen. turning your head towards him, his cheeks were slightly flushed with a tint of pink. even when you teased and placed your arms on the back of the couch, “keigo, baby, come here. why haven’t you said hi to me yet, hm?” he didn’t respond.
his cheeks became darker and darker until he was almost as red as a tomato. concerned about him, you naturally stood up and slid your hand up his cheek. his body heat became warmer, almost to the point where he felt like he was burning.
“honey, are you okay? i need you to answer me, are you sick? did something happen?” the worried look in your eyes snapped him out of his headspace. he finally blinked and you mumbled, “there you are,” then sent him a smile.
he averted his eyes from your gaze, “didn’t know you watched videos of me like that,” but couldn’t help but glance at your lips when you began to talk again.
keigo placed his hands on your hips and wrapped his arms around your waist, trapping you with his soft wings. he placed a plush kiss on your neck and lips, each full of intimacy and gratitude. you, of course, matched him by kissing the spots that weren’t covered by his costume but began to help him take off his gear.
you were why he kept on fighting for justice, fighting for a peaceful world. you were the reason he fought so hard in battles and saved others as fast as possible. you were the reason why he was so proud of himself and relaxed all the time because he had you. you were his anchor.
he had never felt so loved.
hope u guys like this one! i’ll start taking requests for keigo now
ꜱʏɴᴏᴘꜱɪꜱ || He wouldn’t allow yourself to be troubled with self-doubt, after all you're perfect in his eyes.
᧔o᧓ || katsuki bakugo x f!reader, she/her pronouns, pure fluff, no smut, small dab of angst but short lived, oneshot, aged up, words of affirmation, insecure reader, protective bkg, he’s just a lil guy, 905 word count
The phone in his hand is immediately forgotten at her question.
His head snaps up to look at her, brows furrowed with an evident frown, as if she just threatened his entire existence with mere words.
The blonde immediately stands up, slowly approaching the girl – who's busy staring at herself in the mirror – already growing more irritated by every step he takes.
"I'm gonna pretend I didn't fucking hear that."
Her eyes meet his in the reflection, a shiver running down her spine at the sheer intensity of his gaze, those red orbs piercing into her own.
The beating of her heart only grows louder as his fingers graze her bare back – swatting her hands away which fumbled with the strings of the corset – taking over as he tied it himself with ease.
Mumbling a stern 'i got it' to her as he focused on the task at hand.
The burning sensation on her cheeks doesn't help the swirling thoughts in her head, she's a bundle of nerves fueled by the unpleasant feeling of insecurity.
It's not often she dressed up like this – the hair, makeup and dress was all foreign on this body – it was like she was playing dress up, only the clothes scream at her to take it off.
Self-doubt and anxiety has always followed her like a shadow, sometimes too dark to ignore or too light to know when it'll eventually return.
She thought she was getting better but...
"I thought I told you to stop saying that shit."
His small grumble breaks her out of the trance – reminding herself that she's not alone with her thoughts, not anymore – she can feel the way he ties a bow with the strings when finished.
Resting his hands on her waist instead of moving away, leaning against her so she can feel the warmth of his chest on her back, keeping her grounded.
The determination in his eyes has her staying silent.
"Never call yourself ugly ever again, got it? I don't care if you're joking, it pisses me off."
Though to others it may seem harsh, only those closest to him can understand the care and purpose behind every word he speaks.
The responsibility he puts upon himself to protect his lover – from her own troublesome mind – only heightens the amount of love she has for him.
Her fingers fidget with the silk material clinging to her figure.
"I just... I never wore something so showy.."
Katsuki Bakugo is very attentive.
Hence he notices every directed glance to her torso, every nervous squirm, every pause in between her words.
The overall uncertainty behind those eyes and demeanor.
And it only heightens his increasing annoyance – but not directed to her, never to her – aiming it towards himself instead.
The frustration of not noticing her mood shift sooner – the failure of taking care of what needed to be treasured – has him spinning her around to face him.
Her eyes slightly widen at his actions, though meets his gaze nonetheless.
"Listen up cause I'm only gonna say this once okay idiot?"
His hands stray away from her waist, only to cup her face, cradling it with a surprising amount of gentleness.
She hesitantly nods.
"..'m sorry for not noticing earlier, I should've realized it sooner."
"eh- wait katsuki that's not your fault-"
Her breath hitches as he suddenly leans down, shutting her up with his lips – the kiss is short lived but filled with love, devotion and tenderness – only making her brain short circuit when he pulls back.
The look on his face was a mix of confidence and unwavering conviction.
"I didn't say anything before because well... tch, I know I'm not the best with words but..."
He clears his throat, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed as he takes a glance at her – all dolled up and flustered – it only causes him to grow shy at the sight.
Unsure of what to say next without looking like a fool, he sighs and quickly takes her hand, placing it on his chest as he roughly whispers.
The surprise on her face is evident.
"....can't you feel that? what you do to me when you look like that?"
She can feel the intense rhythm of his heartbeat underneath her finger tips – strong and intense, too intense – her own pulse beginning to mimic his at the realization.
If she wasn't flustered enough, he practically turned her into mush.
"I-I didn't know..."
He rolls his eyes trying to regain some of his composure.
"Yeah well, now you know. So stop doubting your appearance... because you're fucking beautiful okay?"
She goes to respond but he squeezes her cheeks together, making her whine at the feeling, the previous gloomy atmosphere now replaced with warmth.
He subtly smiles at his success.
Although her previous thoughts won't vanish into thin air so soon, she does feel at ease knowing one thing : he truly does love her.
That's all the reassurance she needed to walk out the door, hand in hand – much to his grumbling – towards their special outing for the rest of the night.
Let's just say the paparazzi had a questionable time trying to snap pictures of the famous pro hero couple, with Katsuki suddenly acting bodyguard to every photographer standing a little too close to his girlfriend.
A grumpy figure clinging to her in every pic.
He's suddenly regretting his decision to attend this event with such a stunning date.
a/n ||| hi hiiii i think this might be one of the fastest fics i wrote but i actually enjoyed writing it so much? anyways im scheduling this to post on monday night, i hope it works, i never used this feature before - fingers crossed 🤞🏼 i need to start writing for more characters other then bkg but it's so hard -_- a dabi fic is coming out next so stay tuned!
tags ||| @leleyro @zaiban2989 @qyuin ໒꒰ྀི ´๑ ̫๑` ꒱ྀིა
sigh... bf! katsuki wasn’t the type to let anyone get away with slacking off, especially not you.
he’d been noticing the way you’d been procrastinating, pushing everything to the last minute. he didn’t mind when you were distracted sometimes, but when it became a pattern? hell no.
one afternoon, you were sprawled out on the couch, phone in hand, scrolling mindlessly through social media when katsuki marched in, clearly fed up.
"oi," he growled, standing over you with his arms crossed. "the hell do you think you’re doing?"
you looked up, giving him a tired smile. "just taking a break, katsuki. i’ll get back to it soon."
"bullshit," he snapped, his fiery eyes locking onto you. "you've been taking breaks all day. what’s your excuse this time?"
you sighed, sitting up. "i don’t know. i.. can’t get into it. my brain’s just all over the place."
he walked over to the couch, sitting down beside you and giving you a quick, pointed look. "you’ve been wasting time for hours. you know that, right? if you keep this shit up, you’re gonna be behind."
you shook your head, feeling a little guilty. "i know... i just don’t feel.. motivated."
katsuki’s gaze softened, but there was still an edge to it. "i get it, okay? you’re tired, you’re stressed, but you can’t let this shit slide. you’re smarter than this. you know that."
he leaned in a bit, his voice growing lower, almost like a challenge. "so you’re gonna sit here and waste your potential? huh? is that what you’re gonna do?"
you paused, your mind racing. he was right. you were better than procrastinating, better than letting your goals slip away. katsuki knew how to light a fire under your ass, even without trying too hard.
"fine," you muttered, getting up from the couch. "i’ll study."
"good," he huffed, giving your shoulder a quick shove. "get your shit together. and when you’re done, i’ll reward you. but don’t think you’re getting anything until i see results."
you rolled your eyes but couldn’t help the small smile creeping onto your face. katsuki may have been rough around the edges, but he always knew how to push you in the right direction.
you hummed, flipping through your notes. "what's the reward, anyway?"
his grin was downright evil. "wouldn't you like to know?"
the next few hours were grueling. every time you lost focus, you’d catch katsuki’s gaze burning into you, silently daring you to slack off. and every time you did, his voice would cut through like a knife.
"oi. focus."
"don't even think about picking up your phone."
"you got five more pages. don’t quit now."
it was relentless, but it worked. you were powering through more than you had in the past few days combined. and admittedly? it was kind of hot seeing how serious he was about you succeeding.
eventually, you slammed your textbook shut, sighing dramatically.
"alright. i'm done. can i get my reward now?"
katsuki didn’t move from his spot on the couch, just raised a brow.
"let me see."
"what—"
"your notes. show me."
groaning, you brought your notebook over, dropping it into his lap. he actually flipped through it, scanning your work like he was grading you. "hmph. not bad. you finally use that brain of yours, huh?"
you pouted. "okay, great. can i get my reward now?"
"tch. desperate, huh?"
"you promised—"
"and i'm a man of my word, ain't i?"
the next thing you knew, he was on you. soon enough, his hands were on your hips, yanking you down onto his lap. his mouth was on yours, hot and hungry, like he’d been waiting for you to finish just so he could devour you.
"katsuki—" you gasped between kisses, "i thought the reward was gonna be like... dinner or something."
"dinner’s later," he growled, his teeth scraping against your jaw. "this is your reward."
and ohhh, he rewarded you alright. every kiss, every touch was dripping with pride — like he was genuinely turned on by you grinding through your study session.
"so fuckin’ proud of you, baby," he murmured against your skin as his hands slid under your shirt, "knew you could do it. my smart fuckin’ girl."
it caught you off guard — the way your eyes started to sting when he called you that.
you hadn’t even realized how much you needed to hear that. how much you’d been doubting yourself lately — feeling like you weren’t doing enough, like you were somehow always behind. and here katsuki was, holding you close, praising you like you’d just moved mountains.
"hey…" his voice softened, your shaky breath giving you away. "shit, baby, what’s wrong?"
"n-nothing," you sniffled, wiping at your face. "sh-shit, i’m sorry... i’m just... being stupid. i didn’t mean to be... a turn-off or anything, holy fuck..."
"nah, nah, don’t gimme that," he said, tipping your chin up so you couldn’t hide. "what is it? c’mon, sweets.. talk to me."
"i just..." you let out a weak laugh, embarrassed at how emotional you’d gotten. "you called me your smart girl, and i... i don’t know. i guess i haven’t really... felt like one, lately."
his brows furrowed, like the thought alone pissed him off. "that’s bullshit. you're smart as hell — way smarter than you give yourself credit for. don’t care how long it takes you to get something done; you always pull through. always."
his thumb brushed over your cheek, wiping away a stray tear. "and i’m proud of you. so fuckin’ proud, y’hear me?"
that did it. you broke down, melting into his chest as he held you close, murmuring soft reassurances into your hair.
"s’okay," he whispered, rocking you gently. "gotcha. always gotcha, baby."
and he did. katsuki wasn’t the type to throw around words like that easily — so when he said he was proud of you?
he meant it.
‧₊˚✧[ it's me, kia ! ]✧˚₊‧ ｡ﾟ•┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈• ｡ﾟ ‧₊˚✧[ more of katsuki ! ]✧˚₊‧
⋆˚࿔ kia's note ˚⋆ been procastinating a lot lately and im getting there(?) hope you guys arent like me, procrastinating is a bitch😵💫 hope you guys enjoyed and if no one told you this yet, im really really proud of you💜💜
bakugo carries your photo in his wallet, one particularly special to him.
✮ content. pro-hero bakugo x fem!reader. fluff. reader & bakugo are married w/ a kid (brief mention of family). early 30s.
Bakugo keeps a picture of you in his wallet, and no, it’s not from your wedding or a fancy hero gala.
Hell, it's not even recent.
It’s a polaroid that's almost a decade old; faded, creased and worn with time. The scribbled note in permanent marker on the bottom is still legible in your handwriting, a few hearts with the words "love you!!” etched on to it. Mina insisted on taking everyone's pictures for the new year, flashing her camera around until there were little white squares littering the floor. At the end of the night, you grabbed one — the one — that you thought was the best of the bunch. Bakugo still remembers how your face lit up when you found it as if you’d discovered a hidden treasure.
Well, in one way, you did.
It was a sweet moment, one that you viewed as a cute candid shot of you two on the couch together, sitting in his lap with your arms around his neck as he held your waist. But to him? That was the night he knew, all those years ago, that you were his future — his forever.
So now, as he stands at the grocery store shopping for your little family, the photo peaks out of the pocket of his wallet and fills him with a nostalgic warmth. It’s a small token, a reminder, that being the best hero isn’t his only reason to keep going.
WHAT KINDA DOG IS THAT ?! - the werewolf's route ☆ !
synopsis : kinda feral, clingy protective and loyal to a fault—the best boy !! and no worries, he don’t bite . . oh shit, yes he do ??!!
things were, in fact, not back to normal. not in the slightest. based on the way kaminari practically hoists you up in the air screaming about your boyfriend the moment you walk out of your room.
you'd woken up on time after yesterday's events. even woken up a little earlier ! expecting your normal routine of having some breakfast with the earlier birds in your class.
except—
frantically, you're being shaken around by the shoulders by kaminari "dude, you've gotta come quick ! your boyfriend's on a rampage !"
"what are you talking about ? what'd you do?" you accuse.
his eyes widened, appalled at your accusation "and why would it be my fault?! a-anyway you gotta come quick, he won't listen to anyone !!" the boy cries, pulling you along by the arm as you stumble to keep up with his steps.
"then what makes you think he'll listen to me ?"
"of course he'll listen to you, you're you ! but if he doesn't then i'm doomed !"
so he did do something then... you internally sigh.
and oh, things had definitely not gone back to normal. if the scene in front of you meant anything.
kirishima, sero and mineta were crouched behind the couch, sero holding a broom in between them and your boyfriend, glaring at them menacingly and growling.
it looked like something was poking out of his head were those...dog..? wolf ears ?
your first thought was that they looked so fluffy. your second one was that yep, this was definitely not the end of the shenanigans.
"i brought her, you guys !" kaminari announced, and you only realised he'd been hiding behind you when you felt the tight grip he had on your shoulders.
the four boys turned your way and kirishima let out a sigh of relief "y/n, dude i'm so glad you're here !" sero sent you a casual wave despite the situation he was in and mineta kept his eyes fixed on the boy ahead of them, legs trembling and basically hiding between sero's legs. with mostly all of their eyes on you, you don't notice how your boyfriend (number three ?) had come to a stop and had simply started staring at you.
"what'd you guys do ?" raising a brow and crossing your arms, shrugging kaminari off in the process, you wait for a response from the three boys who suddenly look very nervous.
kirishima, always honest to a fault, spoke up first "nothing, honest ! we just saw him on the couch and started...messin' with him a bit, y'know like usual !"
"uhuh..." you said suspiciously.
"but y'know we realised he looked a little," he looks over at your boyfriend, (you finally make eye contact and woah, he's looking hard.) more specifically the furry ears poking up from his head, occasionally twitching.
"...different." he settled, sweat-dropping.
"we tried to ask him if something happened like good friends and he tried to attack us !" kaminari shrieked dramatically, you nodded after hearing their recountings.
"sorry for waking you up so early, y/n. we figured he'd chill out if you were around." sero explained bashfully.
kaminari grabs your shoulders again and it snaps you out of the staring contest you were having with the other blonde "please subdue him, dude he said he was gonna eat me !"
"subdue ? i'm a zookeeper now ?" you chuckled. your friend ignored your words, pushing you closer to the beast he still had not moved and staring at you dead on. your only semblance of a warning is his nose twitching before a low growl escaped his throat and he was marching over to you, causing your friend to behind you with a squeak.
you're pulled towards him and away from the other blond before you can think, your boyfriend barely makes eye contact and glares at the boy that was just hiding behind you.
"hey, that's enough." you try to calm him down, and only when you place a hand over the sleeve of the old parka he's wearing does he look at you, he squints at you would be better. and then he's looking away with a huff. quiet ooh's come from the boys in the room with you. except for one.
"get your boyfriend checked for rabies !" you hear mineta shout. unfortunately for him, you couldn't care less if this wolfish katsuki were to use his head as a chew toy, you lean in closer to his twitching ears and though his scowl deepens he leans down to listen to you.
"you can have the little one if you want." you say loud enough for the others to hear. all of them laugh, all the tension in the room dissapearing as the wolf actually plays his part and glares daggers at the little fiend like he was his next meal and mineta tries to get the boys to stop laughing at his torment.
your little moment is then interrupted by none other than katsuki himself, who's face just drops when he sees who you're standing next to. the wolf immediately stiffens at the appearance of a new face, baring his sharp teeth and damn they're really sharp now that you're looking at them.
he's arms drop and he sighs, frustrated "ugh—what the fuck ?!"
you can't help but laugh. well, things hadn't gone back to normal that was for sure, and you're a little ashamed to admit that you were sort of giddy about it.
what's it doing now ?
he's just been looking at me lol
fuckin freak
your boyfriend's response gets a snort out of you. you place your phone down to look in the direction a familiar pair of eyes peeking at you.
currently, you're being stalked.
after another explanation given to your teacher, (who was obviously already tired of seeing you and another clone of your boyfriend in tow as he quickly waved you off) and with your boyfriend about to pop a vein, you were left alone with kat—or should you say, wolfsuki.
(you're the only one left in the dorms to giggle at your terrible joke, unaware that the wolf's ears twitch as he looks at you from afar.)
you’re munching down on your breakfast and his eyes are still on you, they've been on you since getting back from the teacher's lounge, since you started making and eating your food. you wonder if he's even blinked at all.
he'd been surprisingly cooperative—and uncooperative at the same time; wordlessly listening when you asked him to follow you to see your teacher, but also hitting you with a nasty glare and a low snarl. he's willing to do what you ask him as opposed to..literally everyone else. but he will absolutely not let you touch him under any circumstances lest you want your fingers bitten off. you're also not allowed to look at him, but he follows behind you pressed so close to you like an actual guard dog, snapping at everyone who gets in a 10 mile radius so it was sort of a surprise to see he'd disappeared the moment you took your eyes off him.
but, just like with your original katsuki, all you needed was a little patience before he would crack and seek out attention by himself.
and that's exactly wait you do, you wait patiently while you pretend to not hear the ruffling of his tail against the furniture while he sneakily stalks around as you eat, you wonder if it's sort of instinct for him, or maybe this one just wants to actually eat you.
it suddenly feels very warm, you feel him glaring holes into your back—you'd been a bit lost in your thoughts and he was most definitely closer now, taking the opportunity. drawing nearer and nearer, stalking you.
you supposed you should feel intimidated, and your heart is beating fast, but it's definitely not because your scared.
but because this was an opportunity to pet those annoyingly fluffy ears of his ! the dragon was an interesting and frankly enlightening experience to how a different katsuki reacts to certain stimuli (the stimuli being you) and you feel sort of bad about how excited you are to see how this one behaves, especially when you see how distraught your boyfriend has looked for two days now.
and frankly, you really wanna see his tail wagging.
you don't turn around yet, afraid it'd frighten him and ruin your whole plan. instead, you quietly swallow down another bite of your grilled cheese "you can come over here y'know, i don't bite. "
you try to sound as friendly as possible, waving a piece of your toast slightly in the air "i still have some left if you'd like. not too brag but they're pretty—"
you stop dead in your tracks when warm air hits your palm. turning, your eyes meet with twitching (twitching !) fluffy ears; katsuki, now close enough to sniff at the bread in your hands.
"…good."
and he finally looks at you again, you almost freeze, you had just broken at least five of his unspoken rules by now. he looks like he's on high alert again, ready to snap at you should you take the cheesy bread away from him.
you don't of course, in fact you bring it even closer to him with an inviting nod, teasingly bumping it against his nose and seeing how he scowls at his nose at the contact.
so cute.
his fangs are very, very sharp—probably almost as sharp as dragon katsuki's were, he bites down on your grilled cheese sandwich and pulls back, far, veeeeeeeeeery far, trying to get the stringy melted cheese to snap, even going so far as to grab your wrist to stabilise himself. you giggle at his troubles, and he glares, but quickly shoots back to catch the cheese threatens to melt onto his chin, lapping at it.
"good, right ?" you laugh. he doesn't respond, only looks at you and back at your plate of food. there's still one half piece untouched you were planning on eating, but you just can't ignore the way his eyes drift from you to your food and he almost pouts. it's his version of puppy eyes, maybe.
cute, but you've always loved teasing him.
"what do we say when we want something ?" you say in a sing songy voice. he glares at you and his response is a gruff "gimme."
you make a buzzer noise "bzzt, wrong answer." you say calmly as you go back to eating, even turning away from him slightly.
katsuki's low growl should sound like a warning, but the longer you deny him, even going back to eating your grilled cheese, it starts to turn into an annoyed whine. he knocks his head against your harshly before pulling back.
"gimme...please."
and sure, he's grimacing like he wants to rip your guts out, but his little pout and flopped ears make him look less constipated and more endearing.
you can't resist, so you hand it over to him and watch as he gulps it down in practically one go. "good boy !" you praise. he growls and shakes his head "no ?" you tease. "no." he mirrors.
"you're not a good boy ?"
he snarls "not a good boy."
"ah, you're a bad boy then ?" he huffs, puffing his chest out "very bad." he insists. but of course, this katsuki is also a shit liar and if it wasn't his beet red cheeks giving him away, it was most definitely his tail wagging at hyper speed behind him.
ah.
well, that's one thing off your checklist of things you want to see before wolfsuki disappears.
you're so entranced by the way his cheeks puff out you hand him another piece of your sandwich without even thinking, but he growls, shaking his head.
"no."
you're a bit confused. especially because he's not even looking at you and almost looks like he's about to drool at the bread in your hands but even though you insist he's just as stubborn. you realise he's still gripping your wrist when he uses it to bring your hand up until your piece of bread bumps against your nose. he looks back at you only when you look down at your nose.
"eat." he commands firmly. his grip is insistent, slightly rougher than katsuki's (which you would assume is because he's..not exactly human.) and his nails are sharper, almost clawing at your wrist. but you can tell he's being careful. as careful as a beast can be.
you do as he says and he makes sure to watch you intently as you eat. he seems almost entranced like you were with him, bluntly grabbing your cheeks to feel how you chewed (you only found out that's what he wanted when he'd growled at you when you stopped).
once you swallow down another bite, you're hit with a sudden realisation and smile at him. it makes him frown, apprehensive, but his ears flop and he's just so cute you can't help but smile wider somehow.
"hey y'know, you don't talk as much as the other katsuki's do. you're so different when you're quiet. it's not something i'm used to." you wonder out loud. "to be honest, i thought you couldn't speak at all at first.." he scowls at you in confusion, maybe a bit insulted you thought he was unable to talk, but his cheeks turn pink and he looks off to the side. ignoring your words, he urges you to continue eating.
you hum happily once you finish, showing him you were done but he doesn't let you go despite that. even after you swallow, his hands stay against your jaw, squeezing your cheeks. he huffs amusedly when he squeezes you hard enough to make a duck face, but loosens up when you whimper in slight discomfort.
"squishy." he settles. he chuckles
"i'm not a toy." you deadpan.
(he seems to finally find something amusing and of course it has to be messing with you, is every single katsuki a little shit ?)
"squishy like one." he snarks, prodding at poking at your cheeks. you decide to retaliate and go for a double handed cheek squeeze. he flies back like you'd slapped him. "not so fun when the shoe's on the other foot, huh ?" you provoke. he doesn't like your answer obviously, and copies you. he grabs both your cheeks harshly while you're still holding onto his. "stupid human." he sneers.
"ouch ! quit it!" you whine.
"let go." he orders. you shake your head "you let go !" he responds with a grunt and you decide to compromise because you figure it's starting to hurt for both of you now.
"okay...how 'bout we both let go at the same time, okay ?" you widen your arms in warning "alright ?" you urge. you take his grunt as a sign of agreement. "okay... 3, 2, 1.." you slowly release his cheeks and he loosens his grip a moment after you, squints at you like he's really debating it, but ultimately let's go of you. you sigh in relief and rub your cheeks and smile up at katsuki who looks away from you, petulantly huffing and ducking his head away from you.
and well, you'd already broken about fifty five of his unspoken rules, you figured you might as well take a leap of faith.
katsuki's eyes widen when he feels your hands in his hair, you half expect him to snap at you, to bare his teeth and growl and bite. but instead, he subtly tries to lean his head downwards just a little to the right to guide you towards the holy grail; one of his fluffy, twitching wolf ears.
just a little bit of patience; that was all a katsuki needed before he'd seek out attention himself, you smile. "good boy." you praise, simpering. he grumbles, it doesn't sound like one of his warning growls, more like a complaint, a denial maybe ?
"not...not a good boy." he stumbles, blinking tiredly. unbeknownst to him, or maybe his instincts had just fully taken control. he ducks his head even harder into you, digging into your palm insisting you scratch exactly where he wanted. you want to see if he's still sensitive in the same spot as your katsuki is. you're proven correct when he lets out a lows rumble once your fingers reach the back of his nape.
"right yeah. very bad boy, right ?" you grin. he growls at you.
after your little tender moment, his path to prodding continues. he prods at your clothes, your ears and your hair and he cannot leave your fingers alone. you can't even do the dishes because he's pulling your hand towards him at any move you make, poking and placing them how he wants like those little wooden mannequins you see in stores.
you'd learned to deal with it after he'd been at it for 30 minutes, you're sitting on the couch now, trying your best to respond to your friends texts asking you how you'd been doing with the feral bakugou, said bakugou still sniffing around at your fingers when—
"WOAH!"
the fucker had bit your hand, and it actually stung. you reflexively try to pull your hand out of his mouth but he takes it as a challenge and growls as he glares, urging you to try and pull his new toy away. did the bastard actually think you were a chew toy ?!
"katsuki, no !" you try, slowly going towards his mouth to pull him away, his head snaps back and when his grip loosens and you manage to rip your hand out of his jaw you bring your hand towards you. aka, away from him and he's obviously pissed as he leans towards you.
"no, bad ! no biting !" a growl is all you get as warning before he's pouncing on you and you're being chased around the dorm building by your wolfish boyfriend.
"ow..." you whine for the umpteenth time. katsuki looks nothing but pleased, pretending like he hadn't heard you as he continues teething at your fingers.
you'd tried quite literally everything to shake him off; whenever you'd lock yourself in the bathroom or your room or anywhere with a lock he'd whine and growl against the door till you let him in; when he'd made his way inside you dorm room his eyes widened before he started making a mess and smelling everything. you had been a bit flattered that he liked your smell so much but you had to pull him out of the room when he started trying to eat your socks.
"ouch !" you yip, this time when you sigh katsuki's eyes fly up to you in surprise, kinda like when puppies realise they took play fighting too far. he almost looks guilty as his ears drop.
"look, you can't just do that, it hurts." you explain. his face drops as you continue and his eyebrows furrow harder, he never liked getting scolded after all. cheeks turning pink he places your hand on top of his head and nudges it. your heart skips despite yourself.
your fingers act before your mind and they curl in his hair. he juts his neck out to you, signalling you to keep going and you greedily reach up to pet his ears again. might as well enjoy this while you could, right ? technically, it was retribution for the what your fingers had to endure for the entire day.
you think you could die happy right in that moment, if zeus decided to strike you down right here and now, you'd welcome it with open arms.
katsuki chases your hand a bit when you pull away. he looks a little sleepy again as he looks at you. his head slumps into your shoulder and he leans up to sniff and lick your cheek and bite into it, a bit softer. as soft as a beasts jaw can be.
his ears perk up when you giggle, and he takes it as a sign to do it again. until he topples you over and decides he likes it that way, no matter how hard you try to push at him. he growls at you, but it sounds sleepy and drained, he's most definitely sleepy now, so you decide to let it go with a defeated sigh.
"you really are a big puppy, huh ?" he answers you with another growl and a sleepy warning "not a puppy.."
you giggle "oh, but you are. big, spoiled puppy." it obviously irritates him that you're not taking him serious but besides pushing his weight onto you some more he says nothing.
you're feeling a little greedy and go back to petting his ears, slowly running over them to see them twitch "besides the ears, and the fact you're so quiet, you and my katsuki are basically just the same."
his ears perking up makes you jump, he lifts his head up with a fang poking out "your katsuki is me. i'm better." he warns.
where had you heard this before ?
"gosh, you guys really are all the same it's crazy..." you wonder out loud, katsuki nudges at your hand and you quickly apologise before continuing to pet him.
a grunt. "i'm better."
"sure you are." you soothe. and he rewards your agreement by turning to face you and leaning up to lick your cheek. his warm arms wrap around you and he's squeezing, a bit hard but you don't mind because he softens his hold just for you, as much as a beast can.
"we sleep. and you don't move," his fingers dig into you. "you stay here."
of course, this katsuki doesn't know how to ask for cuddles either, you laugh and run one of your hands on his back "aye aye, captain."
happy with your response, he nudges his nose onto your collarbone "mine." he says to himself and it makes you shiver.
"mine..my mate.."
and he's out like a light, damn him.
of course, katsuki always had a way of saying the most endearing shit and brushing you off or pretending like he didn't hear you when you ask him, and it seemed this one was no different. though as you look at him sleep, you feel at peace, almost beside your heart drumming against your chest.
you can't help but wonder if this was the end of it, if there was more to come. or if how long this would last exactly.
oh well, you probably had plenty of time to think about that later. your eyes feel heavier and heavier and you fall asleep lulled by the sound of katsuki's breathing and occasional mumbling.
you wake up still warm but looking up at a katsuki this time. your boyfriend.
your sleepy groan catches your boyfriend's attention and your ears starts picking up on your classmates chatter. ah, so classes were over.
"you awake yet ?" your boyfriend speaks, quieter than he usually would to not startle you too much. as quiet as...well, a katsuki can.
you hum, going to rub at your eyes until you realise your arm hangs limply in the air.
oh, katsuki's carrying you.
you kick your feet slightly as giddiness overtakes you "where's katsuki ?" you ask. of course, you know it's a bit of a loaded question and he won't like your phrasing. and by the looks of his pinched brows and scowl, he doesn't. at all.
"don't piss me off." he scoffs and you laugh, tucking your head into him "really missing when you were asleep and fuckin' quiet..." he mumbles.
he grunts when you giggle sleepily to yourself before answering your question “guess he fucked back off to where he came from, found you passed out on the couch. fucker must’ve done a number on ya.” he explains.
you hum in response “you have no idea..”
katsuki eyes you suspiciously “what’d he do ? wasn’t he just sitting there starin’ at ya ?”
“for the most part, but then you just kept trying to bite me, half expected you to try and eat me.”
katsuki’s eyes widen to the size of saucers “what the fuck ? and stop saying it like i did that ! don’t lump me in with that thing, dickhead !”
you laugh, snorting into his chest, you feel how he huffs in frustration. you sigh "besides that, you were a really good boy. for the most part."
an awkward sound stays clogged into his throat and then he's quiet, too quiet for a long while. then he scoffs, you feel it almost reverberate against you. his fingers dig into your shoulder in reprimand. "s-shut up, stop saying weird shit..."
katsuki makes sure to keep his eyes straight ahead when he feels you look up at him, but you see his ear stained red.
“just so you know, this shit isn’t happening again. if i see another one of those bastards i’ll blast him to hell. and you,” he squeezes the bottom of your thigh ripping a surprised noise from you “you’re staying in my dorm tomorrow and we’re gonna study, gonna beat all the shit you missed into your skull if i have to.”
“i’m looking forward to it.” you yawn, unbothered as you prepare to fall right back asleep despite your boyfriend warning you not to.
when katsuki gets you to your bedroom, he's surprisingly sweet when he lays you down your bed and while you're wiggling to get comfy you look up to see him fiddling awkwardly with hands at his sides, you raise a brow at how he glances around, unsure.
you can't ask him what's wrong before he groans at the sky, leans down and chomps onto your cheek.
you stiffen a bit in surprise, your entire body heats up before your thoughts can catch up. he leans back up, eyebrows furrowed like he's angry and you know he's blushing despite the darkness in the room.
"if anybody's supposed to be bitin' you 's me..i'm your boyfriend...don't forget it." he mumbles the last part of his sentence quieter before he makes his way out and he offers you a quick "g'night." with his hands shoved in his pockets.
you wait until you're sure he's gone far enough to grab your pillow and squeal into it. it takes you longer to fall asleep as you wiggle and shake around like a worm. but you manage when you remember and dream about the feeling of the fluffiness of a certain hybrid's ears.
taglist ! ( if your name is in bold i couldn't tag u :< )
convienence. a means to end. that's all this was for both of you right? when katsuki is fed up with the crazed fangirls who just won't leave him alone, he works out a deal with you. it was just coincidence he had a huge crush on you.
☆pair. 2ndyear!katsuki x reader. tags. fake dating!trope, fluff, reader is academically flopping for a bit, pet names, cursing, fighting (verbal), happy ending wc. 6k
ღnote. sorry that this took so long lol! i wrote this in chapter form if you'd like to read it here, but this one shot is the same thing.
post-war brought troubles for a lot of the students in class 1-A. especially bakugo katsuki.
he had to completely relearn how to write with his other hand, had to learn how to fight without injury to it.
and he had to learn to deal with his crazy amount of fangirls.
his fight had been broadcasted, the manner in which he pushed himself to the very brink broadcasted to the world. his victory brought spoils, though not in a way he expected.
he didn't expect to be chased down the hallways every morning, to have a line of girls wanting his autograph as he ate. he didn't expect to be gifted things, things they just assumed he liked, but couldn't be farther from the truth.
luckily, you seemed to like chocolate. he found refuge these days sitting on the roof floor of U-A next to you during lunch, passing you the chocolate gifts he'd been given.
he hated chocolate. but to be honest, he loved seeing you smile.
"thanks 'suki." you said for the nth time, picking the best chocolates out of the box and leaving the gross ones alone.
"yeah." he sighed, glancing at you occasionally as he moved to support the weight of his head with his hands. he found himself speechless around you often. words failing as he leant into the comfort of your presence.
you were about to say something, he thinks. your mouth was open though the blaring of the bell cut you off. "oh, let's go 'suki." you said, holding your hand out to him.
he took it, letting you pull him up and holding onto your hand for just a second too long. you dumped the rest of the chocolates in a trash can and made your collective way down to 1-A. you laughed at how he seemed to try and hide behind you, eyes darting around for the general course girls who seemed to have nothing better to do than follow him around.
they didn't come though. he saw a group of them but when they saw your proximity to him..
they left him alone.
a lightbulb went off in his head, he mentally kicked himself for not thinking of it sooner. as he sat in class, eyeing your seat between momo and jirou, he thought about how he'd ask you.
test papers were being passed out, graded ones. "yo man," kirishima started, looking over his paper, "what'd you get?"
katsuki scoffed. "what do you think? another 100, easy as shit."
kaminari groaned beside him, "you're cheating or something! i got an 80."
"that's high for someone like you!"
"hey!"
"aw man, i got a 70. you're so manly bakubro!"
"yeah, guess i am."
katsuki tried to resist the turning of his head, he really did. but he wanted to know what score you got, if you did well. though from the expression on your face and the way momo patted you on the back,
not to mention the red ink used all over your paper. he knew you didn't.
"man this totally sucks!" you exclaimed, your hands clutching the paper of your test. "i studied and everything, i don't even need math, im a hero for crying out loud!"
jirou's teases and momo's comforts faded into the background as he only focused on you, and the nagging feeling for him to help you.
with another ring of the bell and a sigh from mr. aizawa, katsuki left early to try and beat the crowd of girls who seemed to pounce on him.
he didn't though, he found himself at the entrance at U-A, almost to freedom when the crowd pointed at him, "that's him! i can't believe it!"
"dynamite, an autograph please?"
"hey- don't be so casual. it's lord explosion--"
"who cares? i want a photo!"
at that, they chased him. all his progress down the stairs and through the halls was gone as he was led right back down to class 1-A. he stupidly lead himself right back into a corner.
his head darted around, until he noticed a tuft of familiar hair in the classroom. you hadn't left? oh well, he needed your help and quick.
you were sobbing internally, looking over your horrific test score with a sad expression. a 70? you might as well just drop out now.
as the hours of studying you'd done for waste passed over in your mind, a noise caught you off guard.
he had burst in, making your deflated form jump off the desk. "katsuki, don't scare me like that!"
he rushed over to your side, grabbing your hand off where it was hanging limply on the desk. "be my girlfriend for a second."
the words barely even processed in your brain before you were being manhandled off the desk, your mind rushed to catch up. "wait-- wha-"
before you knew it you were led towards the door of obsessed fan girls. his hand was intertwined tightly with yours, a slight flush on his face.
"listen up." he started, making his fans shush eachother. "my girlfriend hasn't been appreciating all your bullshit. and neither have i, so for the love of god stop it already."
he pulled you alongside him, "move." a path opened for the two of you, letting you two through. he walked you to the entrance, no words spoken between the two of you until you stopped infront of the lockers where you'd keep your shoes.
"[name]-- uh." he took a breath, his heart sped up rapidly around you. it sped up at the simple tilt of your head.
"so. if you help me with this shit, i'll tutor you.
or whatever."
a hand was behind his head, his averted eyes now focusing on you as he awaited your answer with baited breath.
you had an expression of thoughtfulness on your face. your finger on your chin as you looked up to the ceiling to think.
'have everyone think youre dating a cute boy and get a tutor?'
the pinkie of your hand shot out, a closed eye smile on your face. "i'm in!"
a soft smile graced his lips, his pinkie intertwining with yours and sealing his fate in more ways than one.
because you really did have him wrapped around your finger. literally and figuratively.
"let's go to my room so we can talk over it!"
you really were going to be the death of him.
it's not like he'd never been to your room, just not in a situation like this.
not when he'd declared himself your boyfriend an hour earlier, not when his hands were sweaty with his nervousness, and not when you'd agreed so hastily to be his.
he wondered if you'd accept if anyone else asked you. if izuku or todoroki had been facing this situation instead of him.
"'suki?" you patted the side of your bed next to you, "sit with me."
he sighed, the thoughts disappearing from his mind at your words. he really was whipped for you.
"yeah, yeah. i'm goin'" he sat beside you, oddly stiffer than normal. he held his own hands as he waited for you to say something.
"okay, so, we should have like-- a plan or something right?"
"a plan? what the fuck for?"
"like so we don't get caught faking this or whatever. if they find out your fans will just come back running, no?"
he shuddered at the thought. "yeah, don't wanna deal with that shit."
"right? so the first part of our plan, is that everyone has to think we're dating. cool?"
katsuki's mind was racing. cool? more like the best thing that would happen to him. he felt as if everyone knew of his crush on you.. except for you.
being to say he was all yours and that you were all his, even if it was a lie..
"yeah, it's cool."
"great, that's really the only thing we had to establish. we hang out a lot anyways so, we'll just have to be affectionate or something to seal the deal."
his heart jumped at the idea of hugging you, wrapping an arm around you, holding hands with you in public. the ghost of a smile came over him.
"right."
"cool. so nothing else matter--"
"we're starting your studying shit tomorrow. the next test is next week, so we don't have time to play around [name]."
"ughh. i wish you forgot about that." your head fell into your hands. "i hate math, what do i even need it for?"
"advanced math, nothing really. but estimates are important in hero work. estimating time, the abilities of your body, the amount of civilians, all that stuff."
"you're such a nerd."
"hah?"
he continued explaining the importance of math to you despite your grievances. his finger was pointed in the air, you swore you could see the need emoji popping over his face.
your eyes closed, the weight of the day, your grade, and the thought of studying alongside a nerd like katsuki tiring you to no avail. you yawned, laying your head on his shoulder.
you could hear the thumping of his heart, the racing of his blood in his veins. it rocked you to sleep, "wake me up later, m' a take a nap." you mumbled against his shoulder, before falling asleep.
his mouth shut, eyes peeled on your body that now clung to his side. his face grew hot, when did it get so hot in your damn room?
he tried his best to stay awake, to let you nap and wake you up in the morning. but as the clock hit eight o clock, the time he was supposed to head back to his dorm.. he found himself stuck in place.
not by an invisible force, not by some obligation. it was only the thought of wanting to be with you, next to you. wanting to let the comfort of your weight next to him drive himself to sleep.
so he did. he fell asleep, letting his head lay on top of yours, holding your body closer to his. shutting his eyes.
the light of the sun woke him up first, you didn't close your blinds yesterday, and the sun shined brightly,
directly into his face. he groaned, his voice deep from sleep as he peeled himself off of you. he was confused from fatigue, wondering why he was still in your room.
he felt an arm around his waist, he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes to see it was you who was holding him close. he thinks you were using him in place of your huge teddy bear, the one laid neatly in the corner of your bed.
his heart rate quickened once again, wanting to go back to his room, but fighting the urge to stay looking at you.
an absentminded hand moved a couple strands of your hair out your face, pinching your cheek when he got bold.
you don't wake up, he sighed a breath of relief. 'til he felt your body start to stir, you pushed your head more into his chest, your eyes finally starting to open slightly.
"oh? g'morning kat'." you were sleepy, your words slightly slurred and muffled from how you were pressed against him.
"you slept here?" you asked, pulling away from him as you moved to stretch your upper body.
"uh-- yeah." he was once again lost for words at the sight of you, your shirt slightly pulled up from how you'd slept, your hair messy from the lack of a protective style before sleep.
"sorry for waking you up then, 'suki."
"no, i was already up. i just didn't wanna wake you."
"well, you failed." you joked. "anyways, you should get out of here soon, if iida sees you he'll probably flip out and tell mr. aizawa."
"right."
"let's walk to class together!" you clasped his hands in yours. "okay?"
you were going to be the death of him once again. "okay."
you let go and he got up, ruffling his hair slightly and looking back at you who sent him a small smirk and wave. before slowly walking out your door. he did his best to keep his movements quiet and minimal.
he was at the elevator, before uraraka walked out. shit. "bakugo? what are you doing here?"
"uh.. got lost."
her face scrunched in confusion, a knowing smile on her face after a second. "right.. tell [name] good morning for me."
".. tell her yourself." he got into the elevator, already seeing the grin in uraraka's face as he went up a floor to his room.
the same grin everyone greeted him with as he went to sit next to you in the common room, having made you some breakfast. he and you were all ready, you had refreshed your hair from when he was playing with it, simple makeup and your uniform ironed. he admired you while he ate his meal.
"ah, thanks 'suki."
"mhm."
you moved to whisper in his ear, "why's everyone looking at us?"
"fuck if i know."
"so you two lovebirds aren't gonna say anything?" denki said, putting his hands on his hips as he looked you two over.
"'bout what?"
"that you two are totally dating!" mina exclaimed, pointing at you. "and you didn't say anything? wow [name], i thought.. we were closer than that." she mock fully cried.
katsuki was about to say something, you cut him off though. "i thought everyone knew?" with a tilt of your head, a question mark almost visible from the blank expression you wore.
the class only sighed, kirishima shrugged his shoulders. "yeah, we should've guessed. i mean bakugo had a obvious crush on you for the longest."
"yeah, good looks man." sero gave him a thumbs up.
"tch. let's go [name]." he sat up, placing his and your finished dishes in the sink before you followed behind him.
"right! bye guys!"
you grabbed his hand as you walked out the door. nobody was around, there was no need to keep up appearances now.
but that didn't stop him from holding your hand tighter.
and that didn't stop you from clinging even more to his side.
it seemed you two were now together all the time. a clingy couple is what you seemed like to your friends, and more importantly his fans.
at lunch he could now be in the cafeteria again, you were stuck his side as you ate, an arm around you as you shared his food, insisting his cooking was better than the U-A food.
you were caged in by his body, you really did just look like a sappy couple to everyone.
during class, he was caught glancing at you. a lot. he'd roll his eyes and pretend nothing even happened, but everyone knew he was far gone.
during training, as you sparred you noticed he was going harder on you than before. some would think that because you were his crush he wouldn't get so aggressive,
too bad katsuki only wanted to push you harder, get you to show the strength he saw you unleash on those villains in the war. he wanted you to be stronger beside him, if he was number one, he'd want you to be ranked closely to him, because he knew you were strong enough.
that didn't mean it wasn't any more hard to fight him, the man was a maniac.
"you can chill out you know!"
"what? can't take it?!"
"no, slow your fucking roll!" you barely dodged his other attack, just barely moving out the way as he threw an explosion in your direction.
you now had met the conditions to use your quirk, comeback. by generating a max of 8 orbs, they'd absorb energy that you could use back for your offense. the only downside?
melee attacks couldn't be absorbed at all.
a kick to your legs sent you to the ground, you dispersed one of your orbs with the explosion stored inside of it.
"be nice and let me win!!"
"no."
he dodged your attack and pinned you to the ground. he won.
"you're so mean 'suki." you shoved him off you, making him grunt. "a good boyfriend would've let me win!"
a nagging voice in the back of his head was telling him he wasn't yours, you weren't his, and that he was only doing this for his convinience.
"well, i guess i'll be a better one next time."
even that voice couldn't deny that the way he cared for you wasn't anything less than real. that even if this relationship was fake, that he was undoubtedly yours. that the way he held his hand out to you, lifting you as gently as he could fathom.
"wanna go again?" he asked, a boyish smirk on his face.
"you know it!"
your plan of tiring katsuki out with exercise didn't work, so you found yourself in his room at his desk. showered and wiping the dew off your neck with a towel, you sat in front of him with a book splayed open.
he was hammering topic after topic into you.. statistics or something? you weren't really paying attention, you were more interested in the bulge of his muscles out of his tank top.
his words were a blur when you suddenly found yourself reaching a hand out to feel his muscle,
your hand squeezing it.
'firm. hm.' you thought, until he pulled you away, an incredulous look on his face. "this is why your class ranking keeps falling [name]. focus!"
"how can i focus with you in front of me? it's like dancing a donut in front of a cop!" you whined, face planted onto his desk.
"you're.. insane."
"you love me though, don't you?" the words slipped out of your lips without a second thought, your face flushing slightly. "oops, sorry! almost forgot you arent my like-- real boyfriend!"
he swore he heard a bit of disappointment in your voice, felt a bit of reluctance in your movements as you pulled away at him, saw a bit of longing in your eyes.
"uh.. yeah. 's fine. let's just.. take a break." he said, motioning over to lay on his bed and do nothing for a little while.
if you would've told him a couple months ago that he'd be sat, face to face, body next to body, hands awkwardly close to each other as you remained in silence. you'd had a movie on in the background, something stupid he thought. not like he payed attention to it at all.
it was comfortable, being around you. he'd be a liar if he said that he didn't like the fact that everyone now thought you were his and vice versa. not just his fans, not just yours, but your mutual friends. family.
"do you wanna try again?" he asked after a while, voice soft and his hand moving to rub his eyes. it was his bedtime, eight o clock sharp, but he'd break it for you.
"hm? to be honest no." you moved to face him. "you look tired anyways 'suki, you should sleep."
he grumbled, his eyes closing slightly as he slowly swatted your hand away from his face, his grip lingering on your wrist.
"right." he yawned. he didn't know if it was the sleep or impulse, maybe a mixture of both. but he pulled you closer to him. making you crash against his chest with his head in the nook of your neck.
"stay." he uttered, his breath flush against your neck making the hairs stand up.
"katsuki?" you thought you were dreaming. you'd move to pinch yourself if you weren't being pinned down by him.
"please?"
"..okay." your words barely matched your actions. you cuddled more into him, pulling him impossibly closer as you melted into eachother.
a blanket was thrown over the two of you. you fell asleep in his arms, the beating of his heart matching yours as you breathed a sigh of realization.
you were horribly in love with katsuki bakugo. and he was with you.
your 'fake' activities as a couple were coming along a little bit too easily to the two of you.
feeding him a snack in his room as a joke, him finding out he kind of liked being babied, him blackmailing you so you shut up.
all couple things. normal couple activity.
you didn't even have to continue those things behind closed doors, but it just came so naturally. it seemed wrong not to do it.
it seemed wrong for him not to sling a hand over you, not to hold your hand when it was so close to him, not to move the stray strands of hair and tuck it behind your ear.
it seemed wrong for him not to save a spot for you at lunch, not to wake up a bit earlier and slip out of your sleepy grasp to prepare you a meal alongside his.
not to make some breakfast for you, light or heavy, depending on what he'd learned you preferred.
not to walk with you to class, even walking with you to go see your general studies friend in the morning, leaning against the doorway with a smile on his face as he watched you rave on about a show you'd watched recently.
why wouldn't he do it if he could? why shouldn't he watch your favorite shows just to have things to talk to you about?
he found himself fighting to stay focused during your study sessions now too. he found himself noticing things about you, the smaller things.
how you'd flip your hello kitty pencil around while you were speaking. how you'd bite your lips in concentration, your expressions of disbelief when you actually started getting things correct.
he'd have to cover his hand with his face. you were just too cute.
sometimes he'd even get distracted mid sentence. he was explaining simple things over again, just to make sure you knew what it meant.
but it was hard even keeping eye contact with you.
"so, in this problem x would be.. uh.." he went silent, his mouth open but no words escaping.
"x would be what? 7?" you showed your page of work to him, with a nervous smile. "if it's not right tell me already! i know im kinda dumb, it won't hurt my feelings too bad i swear!"
he looked down back at his page. mentally slamming his head onto the table, before recovering. "yeah, no you're right. you got it."
you slammed the work onto his desk, "finally! then we can break now right?"
"yeah, 'guess so."
"let's do something fun. take a walk, my legs hurt from sitting." you pulled him up by his hand, dragging him to his door. "hurry up!"
he couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped him, you really reminded him of just how young you two were. how he was just a high schooler with a huge crush, how--
"why are you looking at me like that? are you sick?" you placed a hand on his forehead, making him promptly rip it off. a scowl quickly replaced the smile that been on his face moments prior. "no i'm not. let's go."
you walked hand in hand, the sunset the background for your 'date'.
the last few days, he'd been nervous to bring up what was happening between you. he was nervous to ruin the odd relationship you two had, he didn't want to lose you. he thought the things you two had been doing crossed the line between friendship and lovers.
you didn't have to do any of this. though he was sure you knew that already.
"math exam's tomorrow."
"don't remind me! you totally ruined the moment you know."
"you'll pass. i mean, i was your tutor after all. if you fail with me as a teacher? you are a lost cause."
"that's not nice to say." you ripped his hand away from yours, crossing your arms on your chest. "thats really messed up 'suki."
he leant down to face you, the sun goldening you two in its wake as he grew a cocky smirk on his lips. "oh really?"
"yes really."
"n' what're you gonna do about it?" his face was barely an inch away from yours. with a glance to his lips, he moved closer.
he barely pecked you, before he heard a loud, obnoxious idiot speak from behind him.
"[name] and bakugo are totally making out over here!"
denki and kirishima were looking at the two of you, a glare crossed over katsuki's face as he basically dragged you with him back into his dorm. he was about to leave you at your dorm, the hallway empty since curfew was around the corner.
he held your hands in his, running his thumb over the knuckle of yours. he intertwined your fingers, only letting go after a while.
he tilted your head upwards with his two fingers, wordlessly asking for permission. moonlight now struck you two as he moved in.
uninterruptedly, he kissed you. deepening it with a pull of the hand, holding you against him.
he let go after a while, his internal clock signaling it was almost time for curfew.
before he left, he whispered to you. "i don't.. really care what we're labeled. and if this shit is real or not.
i just want to be close to you."
he turned, walking to the elevator. leaving your breathless, with your heart in your throat.
no more words were spoken between you two, not as you screamed into your pillow, and not as he stared up into the ceiling of his room.
you passed that math test. and each assignment that went with it.
the end of the year was now coming quickly, of the school year that is. you and katsuki still kept up your 'act', the activities now stretching to dates after school mixed in with your study sessions.
one's that'd leave the touch of katsuki on you more than the touch of knowledge. but it was working nonetheless.
it was all good between you two, an eternal honeymoon it seemed. after all, by now it had been at least seven months since this began. your class ranking was higher, he no longer had to worry about strolling through the halls, it seemed nothing could get in your way.
well, besides two things.
one: the fact that you two were scared to label in between yourselves yet, too bashful to call him your boyfriend and you his girlfriend in private, yet proud fully admitting it to others.
two, the girl currently straddling him with no regard to you whatsoever. your entire cafeteria table was staring at her, looking at what katsuki would do to move her off.
but when he didn't immediately, didn't immediately curse the girl out and push her off him? you did the job for him.
you yanked the girl by her hair, sending her to the floor with a tray of food falling onto her body. all attention was on you as you stared at katsuki, your mouth agape in anger.
"what the fuck bakugo?" you ignored her, even stepping on her leg slightly as your hands were agitated, your whole body was. you didn't even know why you were jealous. this wasn't real, it never was, he was just playing his role too well.
you should've known katsuki would go too far. he always did.
"babe-- it's not what you think-"
"then what was i looking at? and don't call me that. don't- don't fucking call me anything. we're over."
you knew to him that probably meant something different. you acclaimed the despair in his eyes to the loss of protection, to the loss of ease as he walked in the halls and the lack of paparazzi that'd ask him questions on his love life.
but to him it was so much more.
it was those things, yes. but it was more so the thought of losing you. the thought of the affection over the months being nothing but a memory and not his future. the thought of not having you close to him.
the thoughts of becoming nothing to you, less than a friend.
he didn't know why he didn't move, it was like he physically couldn't. the look in the girl's eyes, the grip she had on him, the weird smile. he recognized her as one of the girls who usually would be in the crowd following him around.
"you don't mean that." his voice sounded more desperate than it had in the whole time he'd met you, more longing slipping through than he intentioned.
but the sun's casting light had moved away from you, casting you in a shadow. "i do mean it. fuck you."
he was going to run after you, to chase you as you slammed your lunch tray into the trash. heading up to the rooftop to he alone.
but a hand, mina's, pulled him back. "i think.. you did enough bakugo."
she went after you instead, promising to bakugo she'd check on you.
fangirls were one thing? but a messy public breakup where you were never really something in the first place? surprisingly worse.
he'd been more snappy lately, his aura making the girls around him keep their distance.
he'd become quieter, closed off. you didn't come to eat lunch with him anymore, obviously. and he didn't go up to the rooftop to join you.
he didn't know how to speak to you, how to explain what happened, how to say that he was sorry.
he ran the scenario in his head a million times, thinking over the girl's quirk that had forced him into place. but it sounded so convenient, like he was lying.
but since your entire relationship was based off of one, he didn't know how to approach the topic in the first place.
a week. a week passed before he could muster up the words to speak to you.
a week of being ignored in the hallways, side glances and being walked off on. a week of not having you by his side, not having you to talk to, to study with,
to kiss.
you were alone on the rooftop, eating silently as you felt a presence behind you. you saw his hair in the shadow and sighed, placing your plate onto the floor next to you. "what?"
"let me talk."
"...fine."
he breathed a sigh, hands balling as he forced the words out. "i know what you saw. and i know it was bad, but listen. that.. girl. she had some quirk on me or something."
he paused, seeing as your movement shifted. he took the fact that you didn't leave as a sign to continue.
"i couldn't move, i would've. you know that. but, it was right for you to be fucking pissed. i'd be too.
and i know, this is my fault in a way. i've been.. a fuckin' loser about this." his hand went up to support his head, his eyes averting from where he felt yours eyeing him.
"i needed to ask you out, officially i mean, a long time ago. it was wrong of me to use you-"
"it wasn't like that and you know it." you moved now to face him, you taking his hands in yours once more.
"what are we? to you i mean."
"right now..
we're nothing, right?"
your eyes widened, his eyes came back to look at yours.
"what?"
the words settled between you, it sent a cold shiver down your spine at the implication.
"wait-- fuck i'm messing this shit up. i mean, we're, not anything right now. we weren't anything."
your heart sank, eyes falling to the floor though your hand still held by him. your bleeding heart was in his grasp too, it was apparent.
"but,
i'd like to be? if you'd have me."
he squeezed your hand tightly. "i, i think i did this all out of order. but, would you go out with me?"
you let out an anxious laugh mixed with emotion. relief? despair? you honestly didn't know. tears burned the corners of your eyes.
"you're-- you're real weird, you know that?"
"is that a no."
"no, it's a yes. i think."
"ya think?"
"you don't get to question me!"
"yeah, whatever." you shared a laugh of relief together. he held you, moving away to bring something out of his pocket.
a small bento box for you.
you gasped at the sight of it, it was so cute. "thank god! i hate this school shit." you sat down, patting the side beside you, prompting him to sit down.
"wow, a heart? don't tell me you like me or something katsuki."
instead of deflecting, of telling you to buzz off, of shoving you lightly, a small smile came over his lips once again. after a beat, he laughed boyishly.
"you caught me."
...
he patted your back as you choked on the heart shaped seaweed.
your first date was cute, a small picnic with the country of musatafu as your backdrop. it was weird, this scene had played out between you two various times. in his room, in public, in private, to everyone else you two had just recovered from a messy breakup. and yet,
your stomachs were filled with butterflies at the affection between you two.
your rank was high, the dates were endless between the two of you now. study dates, just going to cafes, mundane things became more when you were by each others side.
years passed, and your poor dorm was going mostly unused. you'd sleep in his bed most of the time, actually- you'd spent most of your time in his room. he even cleared out a section for you in his closet despite the fact that yours was perfectly fine.
graduation came along, your careers came rushing at the two of you.
you were the top rated woman hero, and he was number one. just like he dreamt, just like he imagined the future would be for the two of you all those years ago.
you were picking out some drinks from the vending machine, a pocky hanging out your mouth as you decided between two flavors.
you finally chose, having two drinks in your hand for you and katsuki when he suddenly dragged you into an alleyway, grunting when he pushed you against the wall.
deja vu? maybe, you felt like you lived through this before, the same mindless stampede of girls rushing past.
"i told you to clip down your hair."
"shut up. don't they even care that we're married now? why do they fucking bother?." he sighed, annoyed as he lightly grabbed the can out your hand, his frustration not matching his actions.
"well, maybe we need something that'd make it even more official." a lightbulb went over the both of your heads. you faced each other, a streetlight letting you see the slight pink tint of his cheeks.
"a ca-"
"a baby."
you laughed, keeling over at the sight of his face that grew impossibly red.
you went home, hand in hand, the photos of the two of you together making rounds in the media again.
but as you laid with his head laid on your lap, your head rested comfortably against the furniture you'd chosen for your home?
you couldn't help but feel like everything worked out perfectly.
and with the new addition of your family laid sleeping on top of katsuki's chest.
༉‧₊˚. Jay spent his entire life with his every wish being fulfilled, but what happens when he meets a girl that is not as easily swayed by the endless riches that surrounded his life?
★ rich boy! jay park x fem!reader. fluff & w.c 3.2k ; jay pining, skinship, kissing (?)
─── ɴᴀᴠɪɢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ
If you had told Jay from a few months ago that money couldn’t buy its way through everything, he would’ve laughed at you and tossed a wad of cash in your face. Those crisp green bills had been his ticket to getting whatever he wanted for as long as he could remember. As a child, they bought him toys and books; as he grew older, they secured him clothes, watches, and even the illusion of friendship. Everything could be fixed with money; after all, in this capitalist society, wasn’t that what everyone prayed for?
How naive he’d been to believe in such a fallacy. Because now, staring at you—your animated figure effortlessly taking orders behind the café counter—he realized that some things had no price tags. No amount of money could ever afford something as invaluable as your attention.
Not that it stopped him from trying. Each advance, no matter how many thousands they cost, was met with the same polite rejection—a small smile and a bow of your head.
It only made his heart greedier for you, knowing that material things couldn’t sway you the way they did so many others. To know you would rather work until your hands bled than accept empty charity. The kind of hard work and determination Jay had never known—never needed to know—because the world had always bowed at his command. Now, it allured him more than anything else ever had.
He moved to you now, and he swore you huffed an exasperated sigh before that plastic smile took over your features.
“Jay! Always good to see our loyal regular,” you chirped, your voice bright and practiced, and Jay bit back a chuckle. He knew you didn’t mean a word of it.
After all, he’d probably driven you up the wall with the sheer number of gifts he’d brought over the past few weeks—each one met with an increasingly strained smile and, if he wasn’t mistaken, a faint twitch of your brow. The last one had even earned you a stern lecture from your manager about “workplace professionalism,” something Jay definitely hadn’t intended to jeopardize.
Still, he couldn’t help himself. How else was he supposed to get your attention? He might’ve been the café’s biggest spender—your manager’s favorite customer by default—but the thought of being just another nameless face in your sea of patrons didn’t sit well with him.
So here he was, standing in line yet again, ready to order more coffee than anyone reasonably should, all for the fleeting moments of your undivided attention.
"Always happy to see you, pretty," he replied smoothly, flashing a smile that could probably charm the entire café.
You cocked your head, your eyes narrowing slightly as you took in his unusually minimal appearance. Sure, he was still in his usual outfit—a black dress shirt left slightly unbuttoned at the top, paired with sleek black pants and polished shoes. The dainty silver chain resting against his collarbone caught the light just enough to draw attention, and you’d be lying if you said the man wasn’t ridiculously attractive. But beauty wasn’t everything, you reminded yourself. God forbid you fall for someone who was all riches and no substance.
Still, something was off. For once, he wasn’t lugging in a huge bag stuffed with overpriced gifts—a luxury handbag, an extravagant piece of jewelry, or whatever else his bottomless bank account could conjure up. Gifts that always came with a sheepish grin and a lame excuse about how they "just happened" to catch his eye.
“I’ll take the usual,” he said, already pulling out his wallet to retrieve his black card. He handed it to you with a practiced ease, but his fingers lingered as they always did, hoping to come in contact with yours.
And while you usually avoided his touch, this time, you let your fingers graze his, biting back a smile when his eyes widened ever so slightly at the contact. The reaction was immediate—a faint dusting of pink rising to his cheeks, his composure faltering for just a moment.
“Be right with you,” you said with a wink before disappearing to prepare his order, leaving him standing there with the unmistakable look of someone who’d just had their entire day made.
You reappeared at the counter, placing a collection of drinks that looked like they were meant for half his employees—or maybe an entire office—each one arranged with the kind of care only you seemed to give to something as simple as a coffee order.
Okay, Jay, you got this. How hard could it be?
He huffed a breath, trying to shake off the nerves before locking eyes with you, and he felt his entire composure falter. God, you were gorgeous. Even in that moment, when your appearance was slightly unkempt from running around all morning—tending to a rush of customers, preparing drinks, your hair falling loosely around your face, cheeks flushed from the exertion—you still looked more like a vision than any woman he’d seen, even on the red carpet. Your uniform, with a small coffee stain on the hem, only made you seem more real, more you, and somehow, that made you even more captivating.
“C-could I, you know—” he stumbled, his palms suddenly clammy as he mentally slapped himself for sounding like a fool. “Could I get your number?”
For all his wealth and success, this was the first time he realized it wasn’t enough to win you over. All those gifts, all the luxury, had gotten him nowhere. But something about the way you carried yourself, how genuine you were—it had drawn him in, teaching him that you craved something real.
You tilted your head, blinking slowly at him, a teasing hint in your eyes. “Is that too direct?” he blurted, heart racing in his chest. “I’m sorry, I—I didn’t mean to—”
His words faltered, and the self-consciousness surged again. But then you laughed—soft and genuine—and the sound knocked the air right out of his lungs.
With a smooth, fluid motion, you grabbed a pen, your fingers brushing against his as you scribbled something down on a small sticky note. You slid it across the counter with a knowing smile, your eyes meeting his for a brief, electrifying second before you turned, moving gracefully to tend to the next customer.
For a moment, he just stood there, the note in his hand like it was a prize he had no idea how to claim. He looked back at you, your smile a bit wider now, a slight bounce in your step as you moved to make an order, and he swears he melts into a puddle right then and there.
"Your father is like, the richest man in the country, and you're asking where me where you should take her out to?" Jake couldn't help but scoff at his friend who had showed up banging on his office door for a so-called emergency meeting — deciding how to ask out the pretty barista from the cafe down the road. "Doesn't your dad take your mom out to a fancy Michelin-starred restaurant like, every week? Just take her to a place like that, any girl would kill for the opportunity."
Jay groaned, rubbing his temples. "You don’t get it, dude. She’s not just any girl. I’ve literally bought her every single Birkin, but the one day I decide not to show up with some extravagant gift, she actually gives me her number." He let out a frustrated breath. "I'm sure the last thing she wants is a fancy dinner. I just want to show her I’m more than just a walking ATM.”
Jake raised an eyebrow and took a sip of the coffee Jay had bought him. He thought for a moment, humming softly before snapping his fingers, a grin spreading across his face.
“Why not just go for one of those cheesy dates you see in dramas? Like... go to an arcade, or the library. Didn’t you say she reads on her breaks?”
Jay’s eyes widened, and before he even knew what he was doing, he was jumping over the table to give Jake a bear hug, sending some of his files tumbling to the ground. “You’re a genius! Oh my god, why didn’t I think of that?”
Jake laughed, nearly choking on his coffee as Jay squeezed him tighter, clearly a bit too eager. “Alright, alright, take it easy, dude,” he said, pushing Jay off with a chuckle. "You shouldn't keep her waiting too long, otherwise she might think you're nothing but a flirt."
He nodded, pacing around Jake's office with a barely contained smile.
“Okay, okay,” Jay muttered to himself, more to calm the flurry of thoughts racing through his mind. “Arcade, library... maybe we can grab ice cream after? No, that’s too casual—focus, Jay, focus.” He turned to Jake, who was watching him with an amused expression. “I need to make this perfect. What if she thinks I’m being too cheesy? Or, worse, that I’m doing it because I can’t afford the usual expensive stuff?”
Jake rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his smile. “Dude, you’re overthinking this. Just be yourself—that’s the whole point. She already gave you her number without all the flash. You think she wants some over-the-top, lavish date? Just keep it simple, keep it fun, and she’ll love it. Trust me.”
Jay’s heart seemed to slow down as Jake’s words sank in. For the first time, he felt a little less frantic, a little more sure of himself. “Yeah... you’re right. Alright, arcade it is.”
He grabbed his phone, already starting to search for the closest arcade, his fingers typing faster than his mind could catch up. “I’m gonna make this work,” he muttered to himself with determination, his earlier anxiety melting into a sense of purpose.
Before he could register it, he hit send on the message asking you out to a casual arcade date, with hopes of a small totally not fancy lunch at the restaurant nearby.
The delivered turned to read in a matter of minutes, followed by you agreeing... with a heart emoji.
Jay passed out on the spot.
Jake had barged into his room a few hours ago, quickly admonishing Jay as he eyed his collection of suits and dress shirts to select an outfit for the date.
"What part of 'casual date' does your rich-boy brain not comprehend?" Jake groaned with an exaggerated sigh, yanking Jay’s crisply ironed clothing from the rack and shoving it into his closet. He sifted through Jay’s selection of sweaters and t-shirts, throwing one of the more laid-back options at him.
Now Jay stood in front of the arcade, dressed in a plain white tee, green cargos, and a grey sweatshirt loosely tied around his neck. His sneaker-bound feet tapped restlessly against the pavement, eyes glued to his phone as he reread your text from five minutes ago saying you were on your way.
What if you backed out? What if you thought he was too much of a joke? Too flashy? His stomach churned with anxiety, but he quickly squashed the thoughts down, trying to steady his racing pulse. No, you’re coming. You’re not ghosting me.
He scanned the area, looking for that familiar figure, the one who made his palms clammy and his heart race whenever she smiled.
Then he heard it: his name, spoken with your soft voice, followed by the faintest giggle. His head whipped around, and his jaw nearly hit the ground when he saw you.
Jay's breath hitched in his chest as he took in your appearance. There was something about seeing you outside of the confines of the café, without the apron and the hurried bustle of coffee orders, that made his heart beat harder. You looked so effortlessly perfect—like you belonged in an entirely different world. Your loose braid framed your face just enough to accentuate the soft curve of your jaw, and the way the long skirt fluttered around your legs made you seem almost untouchable, like a scene from a movie.
He hadn’t realized he’d been staring until you stepped closer, your giggle causing him to snap back to reality.
"Jay? Earth to Jay," you teased, the playful smile on your lips only making his heart race even more.
"Uh, yeah, yeah, sorry." He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to hide the flush creeping up his neck. He had to stop doing this—acting like a nervous schoolboy every time you were near. "You look... wow. I mean, you look great. Not that you don't always look great, but—"
You laughed, cutting him off before he could make things worse. "Relax, Jay. It’s just a casual date, right?"
A wave of relief washed over him, but the anxiety was still there, lurking beneath the surface. “Right. Casual. Uh, so—" He gestured awkwardly toward the arcade behind him, trying to shake off the nervous energy, "Let's go?"
You raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by his nervousness. "You sure you're ready to take me on?" you teased, a playful edge in your voice that made his heart beat just a little faster.
Jay shot you a grin, trying to mask the nerves that threatened to spill over. "Oh, I'm more than ready." He motioned for you to follow as he led the way into the arcade, his sneakers squeaking slightly against the polished floor.
Inside, the sound of flashing lights and game machines filled the air, but Jay's focus was completely on you. Your laugh echoed in his ears, making everything else fade into the background. This wasn’t how he’d expected his night to go—he had imagined something more polished, more "Jay," but standing here, with you by his side, felt far more real than anything else ever had.
He gestured to a nearby claw machine, his nervous energy still present, but slowly starting to fade. “Alright," he said, trying to sound confident. "These machines are completely rigged, but the first person to get one in three tries gets a wish. Fair warning, though—I’m a master at cheating the system."
You smirked, unfazed by his challenge. "If I get it on the first try, I win." He scoffed at your brazen attitude, but agreed nonetheless.
Moving towards the claw machine, you pushed in a few coins, cracking your knuckles before fiddling with the controls. In no time, the claws were enclosed on your target—a small brown teddy bear with a tiny bow tied around its neck. The claw gripped it perfectly and dropped it into the bin. You squealed, your excitement bubbling over as you rushed to pick up your prize. Holding it close to your chest, you beamed at Jay, the playful victory shining in your eyes.
Jay blinked, his jaw slightly dropping as he stared at the teddy bear in your hands. “You actually got it,” he said, incredulous but impressed. “Okay, okay, you win this round.”
You grinned, relishing the moment. “Told you I was good.”
With a dramatic sigh, Jay shook his head. “I guess I’ve been outmatched.” But the smirk on his face told you he was anything but disappointed. "Come one, let's try something else."
The day stretched on as the two of you moved from game to game, the playful banter between you flowing more easily with each passing minute. For once, Jay wasn’t thinking about his wealth, his status, or the expectations that weighed him down. He was just here, with you, and it felt more genuine than anything he’d ever experienced before.
You were even more refreshed by his attitude than he was. To think this was the same guy you'd mistaken as selfish and cocky, often mocking him to your friends whenever they would call out your rejection to his advances. The giggly Jay, the Jay with his lopsided smile, the Jay that had ice cream trickling down the corner of his mouth was no where near what you had imagined. And you could honestly get used to it.
"Oh, you cannot be serious," Jay groaned, wincing at the picture of him mid-blink with a derpy smile. You couldn’t help but laugh, staring at the photo strip you had just received from the booth. His eyes were half-closed, his grin more goofy than anything, and the next frame didn’t fare much better, showing him with his mouth wide open, mid-laugh.
You were laughing so hard, your shoulders shaking with amusement. "Oh, this is gold," you teased, holding the photos up between you. "This one's going straight to my wall."
Jay groaned in mock embarrassment but couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped him. “You’re evil. You’ve got to promise me you’ll never show anyone these. I’ll never live it down.”
“I don’t know,” you teased, “they might make a good conversation starter." You winked, slipping the strip into your pocket. “Besides, they’re kind of cute.”
His cheeks flushed slightly, a rare vulnerability flashing through his usual confident demeanor. "You're lucky I like you," he muttered, but the soft smile he wore said otherwise.
You nudged him playfully as you both continued walking toward the exit. "Well, I’m glad I’m not the only one getting embarrassed today."
Jay shot you a look of mock betrayal. "You were the one who dragged me into that booth, remember?"
“I know,” you said, grinning up at him. “But look at the fun we had.”
Jay glanced at you for a moment, his usual charm making a reappearance. “Yeah, yeah, I guess you're right.” He took a deep breath and gave you a more sincere smile. “Thanks, by the way. For giving me a chance, coming out with me."
You returned his smile, feeling your heart warm at the sincerity in his voice. "You know why I said yes?"
Jay raised a brow, waiting expectantly for you to continue.
"I thought you were a bit stuck up for a second, I won't lie. I thought you were one of those rich boys that think they can buy their way through everything, that girls are only worth as much as expensive purses and extravagant dinners. But when you came to the cafe last time empty handed, and asked for my number so shy, i thought there was more to you than that."
Jay’s smile faltered for a moment, the weight of your words settling in. He hadn’t realized just how much of that “rich boy” reputation had stuck to him until now. It stung a little, but hearing you acknowledge the change—it made him want to prove you right.
“I didn’t mean to come off that way,” he admitted, his voice softer now. “I just... I’ve always known how to use what I have to get what I want. But with you, I felt like I needed to do something different.”
You tilted your head, the corner of your lips lifting in a small, thoughtful smile. “I’m glad you did. It’s nice seeing the real you.”
Jay chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck as if embarrassed by the honesty. "Well, I’m still trying to figure that out." He looked at you with a playful glint in his eyes, trying to shift the mood back. “So, what do you say we go out for lunch? I know a place—nothing fancy, promise—but I owe you a proper date.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” you said, moving to walk out of the exit before stopping and turning back to him.
"Can I use my wish?"
Jay blinked, slowly nodding at you. "Of course," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
You grinned, stepping onto your toes to press a soft kiss on his cheek. “Let’s go on another date. This time, it’s on me.”
Jay’s mouth fell open and he felt the heat consuming his body, creeping up his neck and spreading across his face. Oh he could die a happy man right now. He blinked at you, rendered completely speechless.
You giggled, enjoying the way he seemed to freeze, before you pulled him by the hand, guiding him out the door. “Come on, let’s go.”
authors notes: another one inspired by an old writing I did! i rlly enjoyed writing this one. imagine whatever song is meaningful to you
!!not proofread!!
You stirred out of a midday nap, feeling the uncomfortable rub of a seatbelt and the tight feeling in your legs from being cramped in the passenger seat of a car for hours. Going on a roadtrip with your boyfriend to get away from fans and company restrictions was your idea, but the drive was getting a little boring.
Pulling your seatbelt out to allow yourself room, you turned your body sideways, tucking your legs underneath you in the passenger seat. This angle allowed you to watch your boyfriend as he drove, drumming his fingers to the beat of the faint radio. The sun, about 20 minutes above sunset, cast a subtle light over Jungwon’s silhouette. A smile settled on your face as you admired the man next to you.
This didn't go unnoticed, as Jungwon glanced over at your face, “What is it Love?”
“I just love you,” you sighed back, turning your body to face forward again.
“Okay.. weirdo” he laughed, rolling his eyes playfully before taking one hand off the steering wheel to settle it on your thigh. He drew slow, comforting circles into your skin as the road flew past.
For a while you sat in silence, listening to the playlist you had created specifically for the two of you. It was composed of cheesy love songs and music you two listened to together during the earliest stages of your relationship. The next song that came on was one you had danced to the night he asked you to be his girlfriend, and you giggled at the fond memory. Distracted by the music, you barely noticed Jungwon checking the position of the sun every few minutes.
With no warning, Jungwon swerved the car onto a side road, causing you to yelp at the sudden movement, “What are you doing?” you asked.
Your boyfriend didn't answer, simply kept driving deeper into the country fields. When you finally came to a stop he unbuckled and hopped out of the car, running to pop the trunk open. You slowly followed, still confused about his behavior.
When you rounded to the back of the car, you saw Jungwon laying a blanket on a short patch of grass, before tossing some pillows onto it and a small cooler.
“Wonie.. what is this,” you smirked
“We are watching the sunset, baby” he responded, giddy from successfully surprising you. Your heart swelled at the genuine smile on his face. Your boyfriend was clearly planning this, timing it so that you didn't have to wait long. Glancing up at the sky, you could tell it was only minutes before sunset. As you walked towards the blanket and settled yourself on the plush surface, Jungwon scurried towards the car.
“One more thing,” he said, turning up the stereo inside the car so you could hear the playlist still running.
He then came to sit next to you, setting up the pillows behind his back before pulling you against him. You relaxed into his chest, laying your head again his neck and kissing his jawline.
“Thank you Wonie, this is beautiful” you muttered, watching as the sky melted into pinks and oranges. The warm lighting cast a glow across your boyfriend’s skin, and you smiled at the sight before he leaned down to capture you in a kiss.
One of his hands ran up your neck, slowly coming to rest on your jaw, deepening the kiss. There was nothing needy or wanting about the way he kissed you, it was purely love.
You smiled in the kiss before playfully pushing him away, “stop distracting me, we are going to miss the sunset,” you whined. Jungwon simply chuckled and pulled you further into his lap, this time nuzzling his face into the crook of your neck and leaving small pecks on your skin.
The sky was now an array of dark oranges and pinks, followed by the purple of early night. It was breathtaking, watching the stars slowly come into view above the setting sun. So far out into the country, there was nothing to disturb the sky or nature surrounding you. You could hear nothing but the wind, your music, and Jungwon’s contented breathing behind you. It was peaceful, a sort of feeling you could only experience with someone you loved as much as you loved Jungwon.
“Baby,” your boyfriend’s voice broke you out of your thoughts
“Hm?” you hummed
“Listen..” he chuckled, tilting his head back towards the car. Playing faintly from the radio was an all too familiar melody. The song you had introduced Jungwon to when you were only friends. The song that had been playing the first time he kissed you. The song you intended to dance to at your wedding, “It’s our song,” Jungwon explained, even though it needed no explanation.
“Our song..” you sighed, tears welling in your eyes as you let the music wash over you.
“Okay, fuck, marry or kill between Thor, Iron man and… Captain America, who do you choose?” You laugh hearing your friend’s nonsense. Not even a couple of drinks in and everyone is already tipsy enough to make stupid questions like that. Still, Yunah seems so proud of starting this game that you cant really blame her.
“Oh damn, that’s hard.” Yunjin says, taking a couple of minutes to think about the answer. You like night like this, Heeseung’s small apartment is perfect for your group’s gatherings, there’s not many of you anyway, and you enjoy the company of your friends and the slight bitter taste of alcohol while you play.
“I guess i’d kill Iron man, fuck thor and marry cap?” Yunjin’s answer makes both Jay and Jake stand up. “oh hell no, team iron man forever.” You laugh again, and rest your back against the window, drink in your hands. There’s something so comforting about these little things that you cant help but be happy even hearing them get into stupid arguments like that. “Whatever! Whatever, Y/n, what do you think?”
You raise your eyebrows, not expecting to be the next one. You raise your eyes to the ceiling, trying your best to think about the options and the words to say to not let anyone jump at you. “Well, i guess i’d marry Thor? Fuck Iron man and kill Captain America.” “Wow. You’re a disappointment, just as i thought.” You roll your eyes jokingly before taking another sip out of your drink, a smirk on your lips while once again everyone starts to argue about team cap or team iron man.
You dont join in on that, Jake is loud enough to compensate for it, and to be completely honest, the alcohol does makes you too dizzy to keep up. You look around, mostly paying attention to the beanbag where Yunah is sitting on, since you want to steal that so damn bad. Yunjin, Jay and Jake are all standing up, hands moving and their voices getting higher each time someone says something even more stupid. Heeseung should be in the kitchen with Jungwon, probably making more drinks, even if we already had way too many.
Speaking of which, you notice Jungwon coming in the living room, a little smile on his lips as he hears the conversation, a tray full of snacks and drinks in his hand. He puts it down on the coffee table and your eyes meet for a single second, you smile at him, as if thanking him for the snacks. “What about spiderman?” He asks the group, and everyone is silent at that, all the attention towards the blonde boy.
You barely register what he says, too focused on looking at him and admiring him to really pay attention. How long have you had a crush on him? Technically, its only been a couple of years, but because of the blip you do really feel like he’s had you in a chokehold for centuries. And ever since he dyed his hair blonde you cant really stop looking at him, he looks ethereal, he looks like a doll, and from this side you can clearly see the perfect outline of his nose and-
“Y/n? Earth calls y/n are you here?” You blink a couple of times, your ears probably becoming red at the realization that everyone in the room saw you staring at Jungwon so much you couldn’t even hear what they said. “Yes? What? I’m sorry I- Yeah, you were saying?” This is embarrassing, but its not like its the first time this happens either. “We were talking about spiderman, and you’re the only one who saw him, so what do you think of him?”
You furrow your brows, trying to recall the last time you saw the hero they’re talking about. Its not like you talked to him, but if it wasnt for spiderman, a whole house would’ve collapsed on you and you surely wouldn’t be here to tell this story again. Its been a couple of months since that accident, and you can only remember the feeling of his broad shoulders covering you and that familiar scent that you still haven’t been able to connect to something. “He’s… cool i guess? I’d still choose Thor over him though.”
Jungwon laughs at your words and looks at your way before sitting on the couch, and thats enough to make your heart flutter again. You try to not look too long, not wanting to repeat that embarrassing moment just a second ago, but your chest really is about to explode. “I guess its hard to beat a god, uh?” You shrug your shoulders, to be completely fair, you’re not a fan of heroes as much as your friends are so all of this talk to you is just boring talk.
Later into the night you’re sitting on Heeseung’s bed, your back on the headboard. The apartment isnt too big, he does indeed have his bed in the living room, but to you that’s what makes it cozy. Jay is sleeping on the beanbag, Jake and Heeseung are playing some kind of game you dont know meanwhile Yunah and Yunjin left not too long ago, the only reason you’re still here is because Jay is supposed to be your ride home, but you dont know how possible that’s going to be now.
Jungwon notices you and sits next to you with his usual smile, a little too close. Your shoulders brush, making you stiffen for a second. You have to remind yourself that Jungwon and you have been friends long before you developed this absurd crush on him, he’s easy to talk to, there’s no reason to get so nervous around him, and so you relax, just a little. “So… you dont like spiderman?” You giggle at that, lately Jungwon has been obsessed with that guy, he keeps bringing him up, as if he knows him personally.
“That’s not what I said.” You turn your head just to look at him, regretting it almost immediately. He’s really close and you didn’t even realize how you’re basically whispering, as if the other three can even hear you. “Yeah but you still choose Thor! Isnt he like… a thousand years old?” You look at him with your eyebrows raised, you can smell the littlest tint of alcohol in him, he doesn't look drunk, but he’s definitely tipsy enough to continue this conversation.
“Jungwon, if I didn’t know you, I would think you either have a crush on spiderman or you’re trying to set me up with him.” He laughs at your words, and you can't help but smile even more, your heart fluttering looking at his face, the way dimples show up on his cheeks and his chuckles are so crystal clear in your head. “Eh, maybe you just don't know me enough.” You grimace at that, your nose scrunching up, making him smile again.
To be completely honest, it does feel like that sometimes. You and Jungwon have been friends for a while, but lately… He’s been acting weird, as if something happened to him that transformed him into a completely different person, or maybe he just has more secrets than you think. You look at Jay, still soundly sleeping on the beanbag. Its so late into the night, and you do have a couple of projects to work on tomorrow, so you better walk back home if you want to be productive.
You get up and start picking your things up; Jungwon furrows his brows at that, before putting two and two together and realizing that you’re going home. “Hey. Isnt Jay your ride home?” You shrug, you really dont have time to wait for him to wake and sober up. “I dont live too far, i’ll just walk back home.” “I’ll go with you.” You raise your head at that, your heart beating so hard it might explode any minute. Did Yang Jungwon just offer to walk you home?
“There’s really no need to-“ But before you can even finish your sentence, Jungwon is putting his coat on and your cheeks become red, this is really happening. “Its three in the morning; i’m not letting you go alone.” You have to bite your inner cheeks to not smile too hard. You just nod at him and then finally get ready to go, you say bye to Heeseung and Jake before walking out.
You totally get why Jungwon is so well liked; he’s kind, funny, caring, and so handsome. It’d be weird not to. He walks on your right, as if to keep you protected from the few cars strolling around at this hour, and he’s so close to you that your shoulders and hands keep brushing against each other’s. It's cold outside, being January, and what you’re wearing isn't doing much to help you, but he’s already doing a lot, so you can't find it in yourself to ask him for his jacket.
Your house isnt too far, you had simply asked Jay because you know better than walk back home alone and drunk at night, and you’re glad Jungwon thinks the same as you. “I’m glad you’re back.” You say, getting surprised at your own words. Jungwon had been away for that Stark project for geniuses or whatever that was, and you could totally feel his absence. “I wasnt gone for long, though.”
You giggle quietly, definitely embarrassed now. “Guess i just like having you around then.” He looks at you as he smiles. Yunah and Yunjin have been telling you for weeks, they think that Jungwon might reciprocate your crush, but you’re not too sure about it. Him staying for so long during hangouts is a rare occasion, usually he finds some excuse to leave early or he just doesnt show up at all.
You reach your house and stop right in front of your door, Jungwon looks at you while you search for your keys inside your bag. You giggle when you find them, embarrassed by how long that took and, before opening the entrance, you look at him again, a gulp in your throat. You hesitate, your fingers tightening around the key in your hand. Should you just ask him to come in? Would that be too bold or… you know what, fuck it.
“Do you… want to come in? Its late and you live pretty far..” You bite your lips, hoping that doesnt sound too straightforward. Does it sound like you’re begging him to stay? Jungwon eyes seem to light up for a second, he’s about to speak when he suddenly stops, as if distracted by something. He looks at you again, this time he seems guilty. “I- I’d love that Y/n but i really have to go now..”
Your mouth opens to form a little ‘o,’ but you try to hide the disappointment with a smile on your face, you nervously put a strand of hair behind your ear, and the more you look at him the more he looks like he’s in a rush. Oh, he must really hate your idea. “Yeah! No, of course, sure! You must have a lot of things to do at 3 AM." You want to slap yourself at your own words. He gets closer to you and for a second you think he’s about to kiss you or hug you, but instead he just opens the door for you. “Go inside, its getting cold.”
As if the disappointment and embarrassment from last night wasnt enough, its like luck wasnt on your side either. You just wanted to hide and never look at Jungwon in the face ever again after yesterday, but of course the universe had another plan. You look down as the professor tells you that you have to find a tutor for maths and physics if you want to pass his exam. “Honestly, Y/n. This exam is really important for your career, i can help you find a good tutor like…” The professor looks behind you and points his finger towards a student, and you dont really have the courage to look back and see who it is.
“Oh! perfect timing. Come here, Jungwon!” Your eyes widen when you hear that name and you turn to look at the guy. Jungwon walks towards you and the professor with a gentle smile on his face, his hair is a bit of a mess and you notice he’s not wearing his backpack. You furrow your brows, he looks like he just finished a marathon. “Jungwon is the best of the class, i’m sure he can help you, right?”
Jungwon looks confused now, the professor gets next to him and pats his back, you honestly just want to hide, he doesnt look too happy with the idea of being your tutor and you just hope that the reason is not because of you trying to flirt with him last night. Before he can say no, you jump into the discussion. “I- I’m sure Jungwon is busy with that Stark stuff, i can find someone else its really not a big deal.”
“No! No i can do it! I can be your tutor, yeah..” This is awkward, definitely more than you could’ve imagined. You and Jungwon just look at each other and the tension in the room is so dense that you could probably cut it with a knife. The professor laughs and pats both your and Jungwon’s back lightly. “Sure, you figure it out! Just make sure you’re ready for the exam, Y/n.” And that said he takes his stuff and says bye, leaving the both of you alone in the class.
“You dont have to do it..” You say, after a couple of seconds of silence. You’re putting your things back in your bag, trying really hard to not just look too much at him, fearing of the reaction your heart might get from that. “No, no, i really want to. And honestly, there’s not really anyone better than me so..” He chuckles at his own words, but you just crack a little smile, closing your bag before looking back at him. “Let’s do at five today? in the library.”
You’re pleasantly surprised by his willingness to actually help you. You nod at his words, pushing a strand of hair behind your ear, your bag on your shoulder. “Sure. Thank you, Jungwon.” He takes a couple more seconds to just look at you, and you start to feel almost self conscious at that. Maybe you got something in your hair? Something stuck on your teeth? Or even worse maybe you just smell bad and the perfume you’re wearing didn’t cover it up, or-
Before you can keep on overthinking about your appearance, Jungwon just ruffles your hair, a smile on his face as he does that and right now you can only hope and pray that your cheeks are staying a normal color, because you definitely feel hot as hell right now. “See you later, Pretty.” Pretty. He called you pretty. Wait, did he really just do that? You don’t even have the time to realize what just happened that he’s gone. Leaving you alone and on fire in this cold class.
You spend the rest of the day just waiting, and waiting, and waiting for five to come, you even got back home just to change into some cuter clothes. You dont want to make it look like you’re doing too much, its Jungwon after all, it would be weird. So a pair of wide leg jeans and a black top is cute enough. You arrive at the library five minutes early, just to make sure you can get a nice spot and take your things out before he arrives. But he doesn’t.
You know Jungwon, he does have a problem with timing, so you wait. The first fifteen minutes you dont think much of it, he’s always late after all. Then half an hour passes and you actually start to get angry, its already dark outside and you dont intend to wait for him all evening. But you do that anyway.
The initial anger transforms into worry when you overhear a couple of girls talking about how Spiderman was just seen fighting a bunch of criminals off, maybe he got involved in the fight? But thats really not something Jungwon would do. After an hour and a half of waiting you actually feel sad. He either forgot or didn’t care at this point. He didnt reply to your worried texts, nor did he call to tell you he was busy with something else.
You couldnt even concentrate on the physics book, too worried and sad to really be thinking about whatever is written there. Two hours pass, and the library is about to close so you just pack your things back and decide to walk back home, headphones in, and really, the last thing you want right now is sabrina carpenter in your ears singing about getting dicked down, but thats all your spotify wants you to listen apparently.
As if your day couldnt get worse, it starts raining, and the only thing covering you is the hood of the jacket you’re wearing, of course you left your umbrella home, you were so busy thinking about getting cute for Jungwon that you didnt even think about the important stuff. You sniffle with your nose at the thought of it, not really wanting to cry about something so stupid, but at the same time your throat is starting to hurt, and its already raining, so you might as well.
You’re close to your house when suddenly you cant feel the rain anymore, and for a second you actually think it stopped raining, but when you look up you only find an umbrella over your head. Your eyes widen in surprise, and when you turn to see who is holding it, you dont know if you want to keep crying or run as fast as you can.
Jungwon is now behind you, holding the umbrella for you while getting drenched under the rain himself. You dont know what to say, or how to react. All you know is that you feel sad and disappointed and so, so angry at him for wasting your time and making you believe that he actually cared for you enough to help for the exam.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry i swear i didn’t forget i just- i got a call from Stark for that project and I-“ Your brows are furrowed in annoyance, your head shaking and saying no as he keeps on talking and saying excuses. You’re not one to get mad easily, you’re usually pretty chill, and rarely things get under your skin, but right now you really want to just smash his head somewhere. “You could’ve called. Or replied to my dms.”
He’s panting, he must’ve run a lot, and he keeps getting wetter and wetter. Part of you wants to invite him in and give him something to dry his hair out, but you mostly want to take a bit of revenge in a way, and if its by giving him a common cold, then so be it. “We.. we cant keep our phones there, for privacy reasons- Mr. Stark doesn’t-“ “I dont give a fuck about Stark and your fuckass project!”
You manage to surprise yourself by shouting at him that way, you’re just so pissed off. It would’ve been better for the both of you if he hadn’t shown up, at least you would’ve cried yourself to sleep only to act like nothing happened, but seeing him, hearing his excuses that you’ve heard already thousands of times, whenever he missed the group hang outs or class. But this time its different.
“I told the professor you were busy, but you insisted to be my tutor anyway. This exam is so important to me but you just cant understand! Jungwon, not everyone is a damn genius like you, not everyone has fucking Tony Stark making projects and shit for him, i needed help today but you decided to just waste my time.”
Jungwon remains still, looking at you in shock, he’s never seen you this angry, he didnt even know it was possible for you to crash out this way. Suddenly his throat is dry and he doesnt know what to say, meanwhile you are fighting your own tears from falling. You feel guilty, in a way, you dont like getting mad and you definitely dont like the fact that it was Jungwon the one to see you this way. You hate it, how you cant still be fully mad at him because of how much you like him, his big dark eyes looking at you as if you just broke his heart. You take a deep breath in, and right now you dont know if you’re shaking because of the cold, your drenched clothes or from anger.
“I’m sorry.” He doesnt say anything else, and you actually wait for him to add another sentence, maybe you expect another excuse, but no. He just looks at you like a sad little kitten, and that only angers you even more. You shake your head no one last time before turning away from him and walking towards your house. You dont look back, because you know that if you did you would melt, you’d ask him to come inside and you’d say sorry to him for crashing out. And right now this is not what you need.
A couple of days later, you decided to stay in an empty classroom just so you could be able to study without having to worry about getting distracted. You’ve been ignoring Jungwon, but its not that hard when he is barely available anyway. He wasnt with your friends last night, and you havent seen him in class or anywhere else really. Last time you saw him, two days ago, you just turned on your heels and ignored him, but that was it.
You sigh, hating having to do this, the exam will be in two weeks and you still cant bring yourself to understand any of these things. You’re about to give up and smash your head on the table when the sound of notebooks falling on the chair next to you suddenly startles you.
“You were right, i acted on impulse and i’m sorry.” Jungwon is standing in front of you, he looks like he hadn’t slept well, dark circles under his gorgeous eyes that you love so much.
You dont say anything, too confused to actually react in a normal way. He’s making your heart beat so fast and the butterflies in your stomach are going crazy. “I made notes for you. I tried to keep it simple and add schemes, it took me a while, but i really wanted to help you.” Your lips press into a pout, now you really feel awful for how you treated him, this is why you like him so much. No matter how others treat him he’s always kind and gentle and god, you really fucked up, uh.
“I’m sorry for crashing out the other day.” “I deserved it.” “That’s not the point.” You sigh for what seems the ninth time today and you get up. He’s still taller than you, but what really makes you feel much smaller are his shoulders, his body is so fit and broad for him to have the face of an angel. There’s a few minutes of silence, it seems like you two always end up not saying anything for a while, just looking at each other and waiting for the other to speak. This time you decide to break it.
“I’ll offer you dinner, or coffee or a drink? if i actually pass the exam.” Jungwon’s smile gets even bigger, he likes how bold you’ve been lately, first asking him if he wanted to stay at your house, now this. If only he wasnt so busy being a damn hero, he would’ve asked you out a long time ago. “Let’s go see a movie instead, like a date.” You have to blink a couple of times to understand that, is he really asking you on a date? You look at him as if he’s talking nonsense, your lips parted in shock and you fear you might faint from how fast your heart is beating. He chuckles at your reaction. “You better pass that exam now.”
You’ve never studied so hard in your entire life. The two weeks passed so slowly, you basically closed yourself inside your house, or the library, or in the classroom, doing everything you could do to pass that exam. And so, when the day of the test finally arrives, you’re sure you can do it with your eyes closed. Well, kind of. You still dont get the highest grade, because you would’ve needed either a miracle or some sort of dark magic for that, but you still pass it.
You get out of the class, a huge smile on your lips while you walk towards the dining hall, where all your friends are waiting for you. “Oh my god i almost forgot your face!” Says Yunjin, pinching your cheeks when you sit between her and Jungwon. “Did you even eat these past weeks?” “You honestly got us worried.” “Oh my god, you guys. I was just studying its not like a supervillain kidnapped me or something.” Jungwon grimaces at your words. “Ugh, dont jinx it.”
A chuckle escapes your lips as you roll your eyes before digging in your food. Jay and Yunah are now arguing about which supervillain the world has seen would be able to kidnap you, meanwhile Jungwon is shaking his head no, trying to stop them from fantasizing about it. “I wouldn’t mind Loki i guess,” “Ew. Ew, ew, ew, ugly.” Yunjin’s reaction makes the whole table laugh.
“I’ve never met Loki..” Jungwon says, almost to himself, the others probably didnt even hear him, but you turn to look at him with a confused expression, your brows furrowed. “Well, duh. We were too young when the avengers stopped him.” The blondie just looks at you back, almost embarrassed about that sentence falling off his mind and coming out from his mouth. “Yeah… yeah i meant like, uh, yeah we were too young..” He’s acting weird, but you let that go, after all Jungwon does seem like a huge superhero nerd.
The week goes on and finally, finally, its time for your date with Jungwon. If it can even be called a date. Well, he called it a date so you assume it actually is one. Still, he did call you this time telling you he was going to be five minutes late, so you take your time walking towards the cinema.
Its been raining a lot these past few days, but you’re prepared, the white umbrella tight in your hands.
You’re just going to see a movie, but you still thought about dressing up nicely. The white dress you’re wearing might be a bit too springy, but you dont mind that. And you do have a pretty coat over it, so its fine. Your boots are perfect for the weather, and so are the thighs under them, and most importantly you feel cute.
Just as Jungwon said, he reaches you five minutes later, his breathing ragged as if he just ran. His hands behind his back but you can clearly see the flowers he’s trying to hide. He looks embarrassed, but the smile on your face makes me feel much more at ease. “I- Lets say it wasnt a good idea to get them and then run under the rain.” He says, handing them to you.
You laugh, the flowers must’ve looked pretty before he put his hands on them. They’re drenched and some of them are even missing a couple of petals, you couldnt care less about it though. He got you flowers. Yang Jungwon, the guy you’ve had a crush on for two years got you flowers, and you couldnt be happier.
“You’re always running somewhere.” You chuckle.
He links arms with you, walking towards the ticket booth. You dont even know what film you’re watching, knowing him its probably some sci-fi movie or a really old one that he always references but you dont know. “I mean, running is healthy.” “As long as you dont run away from me..” He keeps silent at your words, looking at you deeply, his eyes scanning your body and face, he always does that. “I’ll try.”
That answer leaves you in a chaos of emotions. He will try? What does that even mean? Your face must be telling that, or maybe its the way your body stiffened up. He opens his mouth to say something else, probably trying to save what he just did, but you dont even hear him. A loud noise echoed outside the cinema and you find yourself catching Jungwon’s hands out of fear.
He suddenly looks serious, his hand on your back, his brows furrowed in what seems anger and annoyance, that’s not a normal reaction if someone were to ask you. He looks around, meanwhile the other people around you are already screaming and running out of the theater, and you’re starting to get anxious too. “Jungwon we have to-“ “Take the emergency door on the left, i’ll catch up to you later.”
He lets you go, but you’re only getting more and more confused. He’s not coming with you? You shake your head no, in disbelief. You’re not leaving him here out in danger, what is he, some kind of superhero? “What? Are you out of your mind? Jungwon let’s just go..” You grab his arm and he closes his eyes for a second, getting out a deep sigh before he cups your cheeks.
“I swear, i’ll explain everything to you, but you have to go now. Just trust me and get out from that door only.” He’s not a superhero. You keep repeating yourself that, like a mantra, he cant be. He’s Jungwon, you would know if he was, he wouldnt be able to shut up about it, he’s like a twenty year old Tony Stark, there’s no way he is. But then you feel the way he’s holding you, his broad shoulders protecting you and his big hands on your face, its so familiar. And the look in his eyes is telling everything you need to know.
So you nod, hesitantly, but you do as he says. You can only hope he’s not actually who you think he is, your hands stop gripping his wrists so tightly and he gives you a gentle and reassuring smile before leaving a kiss on your cheek. “Go home, and dont take the metro. I’ll be right back.” You nod again and then you go, with your heart thumping against your chest, your head filled with dots connecting each other, and you dont know what to think.
You reach home safely, only because you did as Jungwon told you. You didnt take the metro, which happened to be involved in the fight, and you wonder how the hell did he know that would’ve happened. You sit on your bed, checking every news site, refreshing the spiderman tag on twitter every couple of seconds. You’re not 100% sure about it, maybe you’re just traumatized and insane, maybe a man protecting you reminds you of spiderman and this is just you projecting, but you cant ignore the signs.
That time at the library, he didn’t come and spiderman was fighting off somewhere at the same time, or all those times he left early or didnt come at all, all those excuses and that Stark project, is that even real? It makes sense, it makes too much sense and you feel like you will be going crazy until he comes back like he promised you.
You’re about to go downstairs and make a chamomile or something that could help you not go insane when you hear a tap on your balcony window. Jungwon is there and you waste no time opening the slide in door for him, you want to ask him a thousand questions but he just puts his finger over his lips, telling you to be quiet.
You dont know why he’s doing that, but you accomplish and close the window door behind him. You were so distracted waiting for him that you didnt even turn on the lights, and its so dark outside so you had barely noticed the mask in his hand. That mask. You take a better look at him and you feel so stupid when you notice what he’s wearing.
You dont know if you’re even surprised at this point, nor how you find the force to close the curtains and turn on one of the little lights in your room. He slides down the wall, he looks tired, and hurt, but he’s still looking at you with that same cocky vibe he always has. “You don’t look surprised.”
“I had a lot to think about walking home.” He smiles even more, and you kneel down next to him, your hand going to his hair without even thinking to much about it, you move them away from his forehead, and you just now notice a few small cuts on his face. “Is this a deal breaker for you?” He chuckles softly, his breath catching, even he knows how ridiculous he sounds right now, but you’re too mad to joke around with him.
“The deal breaker was you vanishing for weeks, lying to our friends, lying to me, finding useless excuses, asking me out on a date and then letting me run off of my own, leaving me alone at the library for hours and-“ You notice the way he’s looking at you, each word you say making him feel even worse, his already huge eyes looking even bigger.
“And… it doesnt even matter, because i like you so much i cant get mad at you.” It should feel good, telling him that you like him, it should feel like letting go of a weight off your shoulders, but it doesnt. Your heart feels heavy, you dont know how to feel, you’re worried sick and you dont know how you’re going to handle knowing that he is, indeed, spiderman.
You let your head fall on his shoulder while he hugs you almost immediately. You can hear the way his heart is beating, he doesn’t like seeing you like this and he hates being the cause of it, so he tries to soothe you down, hands caressing your back and playing with your hair.
“I like you a lot, too. And if this too much for you i’ll- I dont know, i’ll ask that damn doctor magician to erase it from your memory or something, just- I’m sorry.” You shake your head no while hiding in his chest, you dont want to forget this, he trusted you enough to know, and you respect that. “Who else knows?” “Jay and well, Mr. Stark and well yeah, everyone of that category.”
You just nod, you really cant believe this. Jungwon and Jay keeping a secret of this sort, you really thought Jungwon was the kind of guy to tell anyone if he were to be a hero, but apparently you know way less about him than you expected. You raise your head to look at him. He looks pretty hot like this, his lips are red, probably from fighting, his hair is a mess and that’s partly your faul, and wow. The suit fits him so well. His broad shoulders, his toned chest and his biceps look even better with it on.
“You’re staring.” He says, his fingers going under your chin to make you look at his face, which doesnt help your wondering thoughts, since he’s just that handsome. “You always stare at me, too.” “Yeah, ‘cause you’re pretty.” You crack a smile at that, its not the first time he calls you pretty, but it always gives you butterflies. Before you even realize, he puts his arms on your waist and makes you sit on his lap. Well, now you know where all his strength comes from.
“I wasnt expecting our first date to end up like this.” He moves to be closer to you, his nose nuzzling with yours, his voice getting lower, your hands rest on his chest. “What were you expecting?” That question seems to get a reaction out of him, his brow raising, a smirk on his face. “Well, you would’ve hated the movie i choose anyway. At that would’ve led you to be bored, and to us making out.” You giggle at that, you dont know if that would’ve actually happened, but the thought is nice.
“You think you can make my dream come true, Pretty?” Maybe its the suit that is making him act even more cocky than he usually is, or maybe you’re just too turned on by it to think about anything else. Your eyes scan him one last time, your hands moving behind his neck, your lips brushing against each other. “I’ll try.” And that said, your lips finally crash into his. For years you imagined how it would feel to kiss him, and this is so much better than any of that.
Jungwon is confident in his moves, his lips move with ease against yours, his hands keep you still on his lap, his tongue gently asking for permission by licking your bottom lip. You let him, not know that its going to be the end for you. He tilts his head, enough to go deeper while you just let him take the lead. You feel like you’re in heaven his lips are soft yet his kissing gets rougher as time passes, soon enough the room is filled with the sounds of your breathing, your lips meeting and tongues clicking. He doesnt seem to be wanting to let you go, you still pull out after a while, feeling out of breath.
He leans in for more but you stop him with a gentle peck, a giggle escaping from you. “Calm down, Spidey. Not everyone has super lungs.” “I dont, either.” He laughs and pushes your hair our of your face and puts them behind your ears. “You’re really okay with this? Even if I’m spiderman?” You can hear the insecurity in his voice, and honestly, it really is a big deal. He’s a superhero, he gets in trouble, people want him dead and knowing it might affect your daily life too. But right now you dont care.
“First of all, you’re Jungwon. We’ll figure out the spiderman stuff together. But yes, i am sure about Jungwon, a hundred percent.” He nods, a smile on his lips before he kisses you again, and again, and again. “I should’ve done this a long time ago.” He whispers between kisses, next thing you know he picks you up before throwing you on the bed, you giggle again, your body open to him.
You look at him and he just looks so perfect to you. You can’t believe this is happening, Jungwon is on top of you, kissing you and whispering sweet nothings between your lips. He pulls out for a few seconds to look back at you, a smirk on your lips as you bite his ear before whispering.
| synopsis: in which you, the perfect, rich, and popular student helps the schools feared delinquent with a few small injuries.
• *+. Wrote this at 12 am! enjoy and reblog if you can🍂
You were sitting in class, talking with a few of your friends after the teacher finished the lesson for the day. It was fifth period, about an hour after lunch. You heard that there had been a fight, but didn’t look too much into it. In the midst of chatting with your friends, your head began to hurt. After trying to ignore it, you quickly asked your teacher for the pass to the infirmary.
After walking the halls for a while, you reached the infirmary. There you saw a boy sitting on a nurse bed with a disgruntled expression. His face and arms had a few bruises, two open wounds on his face bleeding. One on top of his left eyebrow, and one on his bottom lip. He looked like he had just gotten into a fight. The boy sat alone, looking quite lonely. Seeing your appearance in the doorway, he raised his eyebrows, observing you for a moment before turning his head the other way, clicking his tongue in annoyance.
There you stood, not really knowing what to do. You had looked over at the nurse, who wasn’t even bothering to help him. Did people fear him that much?
Your eyes went back to him, your lips moving before you could even think.
“Do you… need any help?”
The boy scoffed at the your offer, his eyes narrowing as he looked you up and down with disdain. “I don’t need your damn help. Especially not from someone like you.”
He turns away from you, wincing slightly as he examined the bruise on his arm. After a moment, he mutters under his breath.
“Besides. Those morons wouldn’t dare lay a finger on me. ‘Would rather let me bleed out if you ask me.”
He chuckled darkly, but there’s a hint of pain in his eyes - pain that goes beyond just physical wounds. His tough exterior cracks for just a second before he plasters that cynical expression back on his face, glaring at you.
“So why don’t you run along? Don’t want you getting your pretty hands dirty with someone like me.”
Your eyebrows furrowed, looking at the nurse leave the infirmary, excusing herself from the awkward situation. You walked over and grabbed a first aid kit, standing in front of him.
Riki’s eyes widen slightly as you approached him with the first aid kit, clearly not expecting you to stick around. He watched warily as you set it down on the bed beside him.
“What, you’re actually going to bandage me up, or are you just here to gawk at me?” He said sarcastically, but there’s a small hint of curiosity in his voice. Like he can’t quite believe you’re still trying to help him. As you start to unravel the bandages, Riki jerks his arm away, scowling.
“I said I don’t need your help. Just leave it, alright? I can handle myself.” His tone is sharp and defensive, he’s used to being independent. To not rely on others. But he doesn’t move away when you try again, his tough exterior showing some cracks in the face of your kindness.
“Why’re you doing this anyway? You barely know me.”
You froze for a split second. He was right. You had only ever heard his name pumping your peers, but obviously didn’t know him personally. So why were you doing this? You continued to bandage his arm, a small shrug coming from you.
“I… don’t know. I just felt like it.”
Riki stared at you intently, searching your face for any hint of deception. After a long moment, he let out a restated sigh.
“Fine. Do what you want. Just don’t expect me to be grateful or anything like that.” He sat motionless as you started to clean and dress his wound, his gaze fixed straight ahead.
But every so often, he’ll glance over at you, like he can’t quite believe you’re still there. As you finish wrapping the last bandage, Riki flexes his arm experimentally.
Your hand lingered on his skin for a fraction of a second longer than necessary. He freezes at the unexpected contact, a muscle in his jaw ticking.
“There. Happy now?” He doesn’t pull away though. Doesn’t even move. It’s like he’s caught between the desire to shove her hand off, but also a strange urge to lean into her touch.
Soon realizing, you pull your hand away, studying his facial features. You notice the cuts on his face too, noticing that t your work isn’t quite done here yet.
“Hold on a sec, there’s cuts on your face… let me get those.” You sat down and leaned closer to his face, cleaning the cuts.
Riki stiffens as you move closer, your face now mere inches from his. He can see the details of you that he’s never noticed - the long, dark lashes, the softness of your eyes, and the careful way you touch him.
It’s unnerving, this close proximity to someone showing him such gentle care. His voice comes out softer than intended, almost a growl, he there’s no bite to it.
“You’re… too close.” He mutters, not moving back but not pushing you away either. It’s a half-hearted protest, a last-ditch effort to maintain his barriers.
As you clean the cuts, he watches your hands. They’re steady, and your touch, though light, is warm. It’s.. not unpleasant.
He realizes he’s been holding his breath and exhales slowly, the action more revealing than intended.
When you’re done, you lean back a bit.
“There. You look good as new.” You softly smiled.
Riki hesitates for a moment, the soft smile on your face doing something strange to his insides. He sits there, a mixture of confusion and a warmth he can’t rember feeling before.
His gruff exterior fades slightly, replaced by a genuine, albeit halting attempt to respond.
“Yeah… thanks.” He mumbles, looking down to avoid meeting your gaze directly. His next words are muttered to himself than to her “never had someone… do that for me before.”
The, unable to stop himself, he adds with a hint of defiance. “But don’t make a habit out of it, alright? I can handle myself just fine.” Even as he says it, his voice lacks the usual bite. It’s almost as if he’s trying to convince himself more than you.
You nodded, standing up and giving him what looked to be a sweet strawberry candy. “Here. You need it after the sour day you’ve had.”
His hand hovers above yours before he finally takes the candy, his large, calloused thumb unable to mask its delicate wrapper. “Thanks.” He manages, voice barely above a whisper.
You got up and made your way for the door, smiling to to yourself.
Riki’s gaze follows you, a mix of emotions playing across his face. Confusion, surprise, and something else he can’t quite place. He’s not used to such acts of kindness, especially from someone like you. Popular, wealthy, everything he’s always resented.
He clears his throat, almost as if he was arguing with himself.
“Hey.”
You stop in the doorway if the infirmary, not turning around.
“Stay away from guys like me, you hear? It’s…better that way.”
It’s a warning. A push, an attempt to maintain the distance he’s always kept. But there’s a hint of protectiveness in there, and note of genuine concern. He’s not used to caring, but something about you makes him want to shield you from the ugliness he knows all too well.
You look over your shoulder, eyes looking directly into his. The sunlight from the infirmary windows gracing onto your face and figure in the doorway.
“Okay.” You gave him a small smile before walking out, going back to your class.
Riki watched you leave, his eyes glued to the spot where you once stood in the doorway, bathed in the golden sunlight. There was a strange feeling in the boys chest, an unfamiliar tightness that’s neither pain or discomfort.
…
The boy had only known you for thirty minutes, yet he’s already gained a soft spot for you.
SUMMARY. your best friend (and crush, but he doesn't have to know that) sunoo is hiding something. you know this 100%, and it is also 100% up to you to figure out what.
CONTENT. sunoo x f! reader, childhood friends to lovers, best friends to lovers, superhero au, spiderman au, slice of life, comedy
NOTE. can i get a f in the chat for my sleep schedule and social life... this semester's basically going to be eat, breathe, sleep electricity AHHHHH why does the thing i love hate me... um so anyways, hope you enjoyed this, i haven't written anything for sunoo in a while and superhero fics are a classic, as always.
WORD COUNT. 5.1 k
when that week started, the last thing you had expected was to end it not only with a boyfriend, but a superhero boyfriend at that.
of course, this did not come without its (unfortunate) trials and tribulation.
it’s monday morning and you’re dreading another week of boring classes and coursework. the senioritis is seriously kicking in, most times you feel the urge to stay in and roll over in bed.
except those calculus and physics problems will, unfortunately, not solve themselves. god, wouldn’t it be so convenient if they did? you briefly consider the logistics behind building something capable of doing so, but let go, resolving that you most likely didn’t have the required skills.
instead, you get up and head to the washroom to wash up. make-up… or no make-up? you debate whether the trouble’s worth it. hm. you decide a monday is indeed not worth it, simply washing your face and brushing your teeth.
when you head to the kitchen for a quick breakfast before heading out, your eyes light up. your mom had gotten more of the latte pouches you had been raving about for a couple weeks. this was an ideal opportunity to finally convince sunoo these were the best things to ever exist.
last time you had gushed about them to him, a crazed look taking over your eyes, he had given you a sceptical eyebrow raise and quite the judgy look. well– judge no longer, kim sunoo, because it’s finally time for him to convert to your side. of hazelnut latte enthusiasts.
you make the journey to school with a skip in your step, almost humming. the weather has been getting colder recently, but you’re still quite some time away from flat out winter.
you furrow your brows, slightly worried. you had never thought about it before, but what do superheroes do in the winter? like, surely that spandex would not be adequate for retaining heat?
or do they have powers that came in handy for that… nah, there was no way spiders were good at surviving the cold.
you sigh, resolving to ask jay and jake. those two are oddly well versed in the logistics behind superhero powers and suits. of course they would always answer your questions like ‘hypothetically’ and ‘if it were the case’. please, they're so up to something. you just don’t exactly know what, yet.
you should probably let sunoo in on your suspicions soon. surely he’d help you out.
the notes vibrating through your headphones serve as a nice background as you finally arrive at school.
oh school, your prison, your… you spend a few minutes trying to come up with a kind descriptor but come up empty. oh how you wish a minimum attendance score wasn’t necessary. you would spend all day at home instead. you would be more productive there anyways.
the day starts off relatively normal, nudging sunoo and laughing at silly jokes together. sunoo's your best friend for a reason. you’ve longed to turn that title into something else for quite some time, but well… it's hard, damn it! knowing sunoo so well is simultaneously something to be proud of and also terrifying.
because what if you make him uncomfortable?! sunoo generally is not touchy, and could even become quiet at times, despite being an extrovert. you can’t stand the thought of being so distant from him.
you sigh, rubbing your forehead in frustration. sunoo levels you a confused look, but lets it go. you pout, would it kill him to show some concern? eventually it’s your lunch period. one that the two of you share, luckily.
along with his hooligan friends unfortunately. ah, well, you suppose you couldn’t complain when they've been your friends too for over a year now. you and sunoo’s individual friend groups had merged with ease, forming one larger franken-friend group.
your girl friends had initially been disturbed at the thought of spending their lunches with boys, but eventually it grew on them, the boys were too endearing. it doesn’t stop you from zoning out as jay and jake bicker over yet another subject.
“what do you think?” the words snap you out of your trance.
“hm?” you ask, trying not to make it obvious absolutely 0% of the conversations this past lunch has made it to your ears.
sophia shakes her head, exasperated, “these two were arguing about whether that new spiderman movie’s realistic or not.”
“hardley new,” jake mumbles, “it’s been like two months since it came out.”
your eyebrows shoot up, “what, they made a movie? how did i not know about this?”
riki snickers, for some unknown reason, “guess you’re not the spiderman stan you thought you were, huh?”
“ugh,” you roll your eyes, exasperated at the group menace, “i’ve just been… busy.”
busy thinking about sunoo practically 24/7, but that’s different.
“oh, so you’re no longer mrs. spiderman?” jay teases. your eyes focus on the way he basically folds with an oof after that, as though someone had hurt him under the table.
“please,” you huff, “it was never like that. it’s just, objectively, his personality is great. and subjectively, he’s hot.”
if you had been looking at sunoo at that moment, you would have noticed him going bright red. unfortunately you weren’t, too busy defending yourself, knowing that if you didn’t clear this up now, you would be teased about it forever. you gulp.
at your words, jake and jay stop their mini-wrestling match to exchange twin looks of mischief. sunghoon opens his stupid big mouth to add something on as well, but he seems to see something behind you and sunoo that makes him pale and he immediately clamps up.
you furrow your brows, concerned, before whipping around to see what the boy was seeing as well. your eyes widen. that… is not supposed to be in the cafeteria.
a putrid thing, made of sludge and trash towers several meters high in the open room. your jaw drops, and you can’t help your immediate surprise at the lack of smell. a guttural growl echoes through the cafeteria as it expands. you’re frozen in place. a cacophony grows louder and louder, snapping you out of your shock as people scramble to leave. you trip out of your chair, making sure the rest of your friends are moving as well. and they are— except, where is sunoo? your eyes narrow, half immense concern and half suspicion.
you stumble as you try to make your way along to an exit through the din and chaos. something stops you in your place, a realization. you halt in your tracks, ignoring the confusion from your friends and turn. your backpack, unsuspecting remains there under the desk. you groan internally. sunoo’s art project is in there, the clay creation he had spent hours perfecting and creating. he had forgot it at your house last night and you assured him you would bring it today, given the due date was at the end of the school day.
shit. forget sunoo’s grade, he had poured so much effort into that thing. he even confessed he wasn’t even that excited about getting a good grade, just getting the work back so he could display it.
you bite your lip, glancing back at the monster. it doesn’t look that dangerous, does it? the monster rolls around, wreaking havoc and trampling everything in its path. well, it seems to be going the other way, right? you mutter a curse under your breath and dash towards the table, ignoring the shouts and reprimands from lara and megan.
you can feel the sweat on your back, simultaneously burning hot and ice cold. you try to make it to the car as quietly as possible, but it’s next to impossible with the nerves. soon enough you feel a chilling prickle on your neck and you freeze. the monster… it’s looking right at you.
or, well, it seems to be. you can’t really tell, what, with the lack of eyes and all. but it doesn’t remain unclear for long. mere seconds after, the sludge-monster rapidly makes its way towards you.
“shit,” you whisper. and you were only a couple feet away from the table too. while this thing doesn’t look too dangerous, no sharp edges or bits, you have a sneaking suspicion that’s not the case.
what if it just absorbs you and you suffocate and you can’t breathe and you die? it’s now that the panic begins to settle. were you going to die, not even reaching the age of 19?
your breathes come out in shorter, panicked bursts.
and then, and then, it happens. like a ray of light beaming down from heaven, spiderman swings out right in front of you and shoots a web right at the monster's face. of course, it doesn’t deter the thing, but it slows it down minutely.
you watch intently as the boy, in bubblegum pink and mint green, swings around, spraying webs as if to make a paper mache ball. it actually seems to be working, what with the sludge acting like glue for his webs, of course, aided by the trash.
the suit should look ugly– hideous even– but somehow, spiderman pulls it off. or, at least your opinion he does. there's a number of people online who maintain that he's a fashion disaster to say the least. an anonymous identity –bluebird– would loudly and passionately fight, insisting it’s the peak of modern fashion. you can’t help but agree.
you zone back in just as he’s made a disgusting ball of the creature, sighing in relief. you sorta thought you’d be off the hook, but you tense as he makes his way towards you.
“you,” immediately your eyes widen, the voice was so familiar—
spiderman pauses, taking in your expression, before intentionally lowering his voice and speaking gruffly, “what were you thinking? that was so dangerous.”
you hold in a laugh at the way this guy is speaking like anyone does when they want to imitate batman.
“i… my backpack had this thing that was really important to my friend and i didn’t want—”
he interrupts you, “your friend, would he want you to be in danger for his sake? what if you died? all over some project?”
he turns away, upset.
you furrow your brows, something dawning on you.
“hey, how did you—”
but spiderman’s already swinging away.
you’ve been a bit out of sorts since that day. you feel a little off kilter. something is nagging at your thoughts, but you’re never able to put it together, it stays just beyond your reach. you wish this was something you could post on r/tipofmytongue and get an answer except of course it wasn’t.
you sigh, prompting a nudge from sophia, who’s beside you on the couch. she levels you with a concerned look, eyebrows raised, as if to say: “you okay?”
you shake your head to dismiss her. luckily, before she can probe further, jungwon returns from the kitchen with two large bowls of popcorn in his hands.
“popcorn~”
jake, who returned with him and has drinks and cups in his hands, seems to remember something as he makes eye contact with you.
“so,” he starts off and clears his throat, “y/n, tell me you did not actively put yourself in danger to get your backpack.”
you flinch, expecting the confrontation but not liking it still. you look away, refusing to make eye contact.
“... okay, i didn't,” you mumble petulantly.
jake rolls his eyes in response but still nudges you good-naturedly as he settles down to sit beside you. sunoo gives jake a massive stink-eye and at your head tilt– sighs, resigning to take the other empty seat. near sunghoon and riki. great, another day of teasing.
“anyways,” heeseung drawls, having not quite paid attention to the conversation so far, but disliking the mild tension in the air, “wanna watch the new spiderman movie?”
theres an odd silence afterwards, a tense sort of static. you clear your throat, a little perturbed at how strung-up some of your friends seem, what, did spiderman get cancelled?
“yeah,” you mumble, already searching for a site to pirate it, “i don’t see why not?”
the movie is put on despite mild complaints from certain people (read: sunoo, jake, and jay) that it would be boring, and you can watch it any other time. they, of course, are outvoted, riki being the deciding vote. they look at him with betrayal, but he just snickers.
you chew your latest mouthful of popcorn (jake really outdid himself this time, you swear he had some sort of skill, despite his petulant complaints that you only say that because you’re too lazy to do it yourself) and gaze at the web-slinging hero on the screen with a look of wonder.
“you know,” you speak when a song is playing and you’re not interrupting dialogue, “i’m surprised they were able to make the suit like, identical.”
you hear several hums or noises of agreement.
jay mumbles, petulant, but you’re close enough to hear it, “not as if the designer would be able to copyright it without exposing their identity.”
you scrunch your brows, surprised that was his first thought. before you can make a comment expressing as much, jake mutters back to the boy.
“forget the stupid clothes,” he grumbles, “it’s the tech we should be worried about, needs a patent ASAP.”
okay, is no one else hearing this? apparently not, they’re so engrossed with the movie and with you being the barrier between them and the rest of the group, it seems you’re the only one close enough to hear.
you tild your head, “... we?”
they flinch, as if not realizing you could hear them, which was silly because you had started the conversation.
“ahem, you should really pay attention to the movie,” jake comments solemnly.
jay nods emphatically, “yeah, no talking in the theater.”
your jaw drops slightly and you mouth a ‘what…?’ this was your home.
regardless, you listen to them begrudgingly and the movie continues without a hitch. that is, until around 20 minutes later, when sunoo’s phone chimes. loudly. you watch closely, having a clear view from across the room, as his eyes scan the notif and his face fills with alarm.
before you can pause the movie to ask him what was wrong, he closes his phone and slips it into his pocket.
“i.. gotta go,” he pauses as he gets up, “washroom.”
no one else (except for the two buffoons beside you) look alarmed or curious at all, but you can’t help but find it weird. since when did sunoo announce that he needed to go to the washroom? it's weird.
you let it go, waiting the few minutes anxiously until returns. except 5 minutes pass, then 10, then 15, then 20. finally, you can’t take it. you ignore complaints as you pause the movie, at its climax, and face your friends (well, majority of them, jake and jay would have to settle for the side/back-ish of your head).
“hasn’t it been a long time since sunoo went to the washroom?” the others look a little confused, unsure why you’re bringing it up.
megan nods with consideration, “yeah, now that you mention it, it’s been a while.”
you hear an awkward cough from behind you and you turn mildly to glance at the duo.
jake has this strange sort-of smile on his face, “he’s probably shitting, haha.” admittedly, it’s a little amusing and you do let out a snort, but it’s far outweighed by the shrill and robotic “HA HA HA HA” jay lets out in response.
sunghoon stares at him, “dude. what the fuck.”
jay grumbles, ears red, “oh shut up, you literally probably just zoned back in and returned to this plane.”
sunghoon shrugs, but doesn’t deny it.
“o… kay?” lara stretches the ‘o’ out, slightly weirded out by the boys (and after all the progress you had been making), “let's just… finish the movie, we’ve probably got like 15 min left.”
the movie finishes and sunoo still hasn’t returned. you frown, ignoring whatever casual conversation’s started to have and silently get up to check the washroom. unbeknownst to you, jay and jake exchange a worried glance.
the washroom is empty. something you both expected and disliked. you pull your phone out to call sunoo, hoping to find out where he wandered off to. is he snooping through your things again? you had hidden your journal extra well— god forbid he discovers your stupidly massive crush– so you aren't too worried, but still…
your eyebrows raise when you find a text message waiting for you.
sunflower: sorry, had 2 run, tummy was hurting
it was time-stamped almost half an hour ago. you lean against the wall, bewildered.
you: lol tummy.
hey, wait a second—
you: through the backdoor?
the t.v. was situated such that you had a clear view of the front door and it isn’t really like sunoo to exit without a word.
it takes quite some time before you receive a response, during which you wander back to the main area and inform your friend that sunoo isn’t feeling well so he went home.
sunflower: … yeah
you: come back later tho 2 pick up ur shit
sunflower: ur so mean
sunflower: ok since u hate me ill be there later, just gotta stop by my house first
you: when?
sunflower: 8? kinda in the middle of somddffe
you: sunoo??
you collapse against your bed after hours of theorizing and note-taking. your friends had all left long ago, which is when you started this endeavor. it left you here, hours later, mind spinning, and one undoubtable conclusion.
kim sunoo is spiderman. your best friend and long time crush, kim sunoo, is spiderman.
the evidence? well the evidence is really too much to contain on one page (evidenced by the theory board you had built) but your strongest factors were as such:
sunoo disappeared absurdly quick in the cafeteria and then spiderman appeared.
spiderman seemed to speak to you more familiarly than a stranger should.
you had never mentioned a project when you had went for your backpack and gotten scolded.
neither did you mention your friend’s gender.
spiderman changed his voice when you looked like you recognized it.
jay and jake, even niki to an extend, always act weird around sunoo and spiderman news.
there was no reason to leave from the back unless he had to be discreet and quick.
CONCLUSION: sunoo is spiderman. jake, jay, and riki are in on it. (this causes you to be more than a little salty, but in hindsight it’s understandable. those two probably help him with the fashion and function of his suit. now sunoo is very clever in his own right, but you figure those things are more in line with their obsessive interests).
you glance at the time, perfect! it’s 7:00, meaning you can very quickly bike to sunoo’s house and lie in wait for him to return and then surprise him. you make it there and then wait… for quite some time. it all makes sense when you open your phone to see news of a string of co-ordinated robberies. sunoo really must be working overtime. still, you could wait.
instead, you just sit in sunoo’s bed, trying not to inhale the scent in the pillow and blanket deeply like a freak, or roll around in the comforting warmth, as tempting as it might sound. not long after 8:00, sunoo had texted that an emergency meant that he wouldn’t be able to come after all. you let him off the hook, of course, he would never see it coming.
it’s almost midnight when sunoo sneaks through the same window you had used to enter his room, not wanting his mom to mention you and give it away. he seems to have been clever enough to switch out of his suit first before coming home, but the mild injuries and thorough exhaustion he’s displaying is a dead giveaway.
“hello,” you greet sunoo, as if you weren’t sitting in the dark like a creep for several hours.
sunoo will, in the future, maintain that his reaction that night was very calm. that he did not shriek or scramble, scampering so far he reached the other wall, the one with the door, of his room. (he will be lying).
“y/n,” he chuckles awkwardly. he’s got a shopping bag with something indiscernible (though you have a good idea of what it would be, since sunoo left his backpack at your house) and he’s trying to hide it behind them.
“so nice to see you,” he grins, “but, um, what are you doing here?”
“i’ll do you one better,” you completely ignore his question, “what’s in that bag?”
sunoo gulps. he’s got an awfully bad feeling about this. sweat drips down his brow. “nothing, why– why would you ask?”
you sigh, a little tired of this pretence, especially considering the hour of night. sunoo would be exhausted too, no doubt. better to wrap this up quickly, then.
“i know you’re spiderman,” you nod, smug.
sunoo blanches, shooting a furtive glance to the closed door as if he was afraid a family member might have heard.
“i don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stutters.
you roll your eyes. if the fact that he was worried that someone might have heard your conjecture wasn’t a dead giveaway, his strange and uncharacteristic behaviour sure was.
non-spiderman sunoo would roll his eyes in response and say something like, “and you’re nova.”
(nevermind the fact you were about 80% sure that your younger teen friend that often hung around and bickered with sunoo specifically, nishimura riki, was nova).
except, except he's panicking and that could only mean one thing. you're right.
you get up from the bed and make your way to stand in front of sunoo, in the middle of his room. you shiver slightly, the window was still wide open given that sunoo hadn’t had a chance to slide the net back and close it.
sunoo’s face softens in concern, before he speaks,”hey, i don’t know why you have that impression, but i’m not. o… okay? now let’s just, you know, settle down, have a sleepover for old time’s sake, and forget about this, you—”
he’s rambling, clearly nervous now. you interrupt him, voice gentle.
“sunoo?” he looks up from his hands he’s been twisting.
“...yeah?”
you were originally going to say something, but if there’s one thing you know about sunoo it’s that he’s unbelievably determined and he’s got an unshakable will. this, of course, leaves you with only one option.
you look sunoo directly in the eyes, admiring the way the pale moonlight lights his face up as you walk backwards.
at first sunoo lets out a confused, “what are you doing?” then he grows rapidly concerned. that window doesn’t have the garage underneath it.
“save me,” you grin as you make the push off his window-sill. before you can even begin to tilt more than a few degrees backwards, sunoo’s hand shoots towards you and the wrist-devices that had been hidden until now are revealed as they spray the web towards you, drawing a line that connects. the tension balances the gravity that had begun to pull you, keeping you in place.
you grin at sunoo, who seems to be a little surprised at the speed of his own reaction as you pull yourself back in from the sill.
“so,” you clear your throat, “as you were saying?”
sunoo sighs and rubs his forehead, more than a little exasperated.
“close the window and come here, then we’ll talk.” he makes his way to sit on his bed, leaning against the mound of cushions and plushies. he seems incredibly weary and exhausted. it makes you feel a little bad, he’s probably had an incredibly long day and you don’t imagine you’ve helped much.
“soooo,” you drag, a little embarrassed.
sunoo rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, “what do you want to know?”
“oh! well first–”
you proceed to ask a frankly… absurd amount of questions. to the point where sunoo considers whether you’re making them up on the spot. but eventually you calm down, the bulk of your curiosity being satiated. sunoo sighs, he hadn’t wanted you in danger by finding out, but he's also… relieved. it was a humongous secret, one he'd never liked keeping from you. so he's more than happy to be at this state, where he can talk to you about his worries and frustrations and wait a minute— now he can yell at you too!
“it’s my turn to ask a question,” sunoo exclaims cheerily and yet you can’t help but shiver in fear at the grin on his face.
“yeah?” you say slowly, more than a little scared at whatever he might ask.
“what in the world were you thinking when you went back for your backpack in the cafeteria?”
you sigh and then you groan, but the devil has no mercy.
“i just— you spent so much time and effort on that project, and you loved it so much, i didn’t want it to get destroyed.”
he sighs, holding your hand to get the point across, “it’s replaceable, you aren’t.”
“but–” he moves his other hand to cover your mouth, leaning in, “no, that’s it, i care about you too much, you’re worth too much, i—”
all too suddenly he realizes his proximity to you. sunoo flushes a bit, but then the world seems to slow as another thing dawns on him. he breathes in and closes his eyes.
“i like you, more than a friend should, more than a best friend should. i like you and i get so stupid scared whenever there’s the smallest chance you could be in danger.”
he removes his hand (you hold yourself back from admiring it— not the time!) to hear a response.
when you finally pull away, you lean your forehead against his. “i like you too.”
“oh,” you breathe in airily, “i guess i can forgive you for not telling me... that you're spiderman." sunoo pouts at the way you avoid his confession at first, clearly teasing him. instead of answering with words, you lean in to kiss him. it’s beautiful, it’s everything you could have asked for. it’s not like the few fantasy first kisses you had dreamed up in your journal– no, it’s better.
sunoo does that beautiful smile where his eyes disappear and it feels like all the happiness in the world can be seen right there. as far as your concerned, it can.
jay, niki, and jake, sit on the floor on their knees, legs underneath them and heads bowed. sunoo sits on a chair nearby, watching with amusement, silently spooning mint chocolate ice cream.
“you know it is so irresponsible–” you turn your direction of pacing to continue your rant.
such talk has been going on for a few minutes at this point. riki would yawn or roll his eyes, but he is genuinely the slightest bit scared of you. the same goes for the other two goons. they don’t know how you found out, but they knew they were screwed from the moment they realized it wasn’t actually sunoo who had called them for a secret meeting.
after quite some time, you’ve calmed down. you let out a large exhale, exhausted. jake tentatively raises his hand, “i have a question ..”
you narrow your eyes at him, “yes, jake?”
“why isn’t jungwon here?” the other boys, including sunoo curiously enough, whip around to glare at jake and yell “SHHH!”
you raise a brow, intrigued.
“and why, dear jake, would jungwon need to be here?”
“i…” jake gulps, sensing he’s made a grave mistake, but unfortunately being too far into it now to back out, “well… he’s the medic?”
you freeze and your expression falls, “medic..?”
“yeah well.. you know how he wants to eventually get into med school, we thought—”
you snap, “i know what a medic is jake,” you look at sunoo who’s avoiding eye contact, “i just didn’t realize sunoo needed one.”
jay pipes up, trying to make the situation better, “he always does a good job of taking care of sunoo’s injuries. your boy’s in safe hands.”
at first he’s doing a great job at relieving the tension, but jay, unfortunately unaware of when is a good time to stop, valiantly continues in sunoo’s defense.
“yeah, and by the time he’s done, it’s like sunoo wasn’t hurt at all! even the really gnarly ones!” he unfortunately doesn’t see the other boys’ frantic head shaking as you take up most of his vision.
“jay, would you kindly give me an example?”
jay freezes. you’re smiling, but you don’t seem very happy. he swallows nervously, “this one time—” jake pinches him really hard. “OW. i … actually… can’t seem to come up with any examples.”
“what a shame,” you mutter, before turning to glare at your boyfriend. pre-emptively, sunoo starts shrieking. you grit your teeth, you’ll give him something to shriek about, alright. he bolts out of his chair and starts running around the house even before you move.
“abuse, domestic abuse,” sunoo cries when you finally capture him (his traitor friends had turned to assisting you in hopes it would grant them a lighter sentence).
he squirms and writhes as you press on his shoulders, not seriously trying to escape. you smile softly. it’s just like old times. except better, so much better. to sunoo’s surprise, instead of the light forehead flick he expected, you lean in and press a soft kiss to his hairline.
“i know being a hero’s dangerous, so please, please don’t just be a hero, be my hero. you can’t keep me safe if you’re not here.”
“yeah,” sunoo mumbles, dazed, “of– of course.”
riki’s jaw drops, appalled. he had helped you catch sunoo, eager at the prospect of witnessing a good thrashing and now he has to witness this mushy shit? yuck. jay beats him to teasing sunoo.
“wait, that’s the punishment we’re getting? sign me up—” he’s about to continue, eager to mess with the boy, but the chilling glare he receives from sunoo, still on the ground, is enough to shut him up.
jay shivers; he didn’t know sunoo was even capable of an expression like that. sunoo rolls his eyes at his friends’ behaviour before using the back of your neck to pull you in for a proper kiss. you return the sentiment, even as a chorus of ‘ew’s ring from behind you.
summary : in which you seem to be invisible to everyone, but not to him.
featuring : jungwon and sunoo from enhypen
cw : popular!riki x outcast!fem reader, angst, fluff, kissing
wc : 3.5k
nene’s note : this fic is inspired by twice’s wallflower !! pls reblog and tell me what you think of it !
“y/n? oh, you mean mina’s friend!”
“who’s y/n? the one who hangs out with nayoung and her friends?”
“i’m gonna ask the girl from jules’ class for help”
that’s all you ever were to people. someone’s friend, the one you can ask for help when you can’t figure your homework out. you lived in your friends’ shadows all the time, getting outshined every single day of your life. it was like you were invisible to everyone, as if you were a ghost desperately looking for someone who could see you. but that was never the case.
it’s not like your ‘friends’ paid that much attention to you either, they kept you around because you were kind enough to help them study whenever a big exam was coming. you weren’t oblivious to this treatment, in fact, you knew you didn’t deserve it. but the fear of being completely alone couldn’t let you walk away from them. but that loneliness, that emptiness within you never faded away, not even when you were surrounded by people. you spent most of your time with your nose stuck in a book, studying and studying for hours just to get distracted from those feelings inside you.
you wished someone could see you, get to know you, care about you. but you were sure that if you ever disappeared, no one would notice.
someone would notice, though.
that someone was nishimura riki. golden boy of the school, he was so skilled in every sport that multiple teams fought to have him in their group. he was friendly with everyone, boxy smile always showing whenever he met someone he talked with, even just one time, in the hallways. people absolutely adored him, always seeking his attention. he was everything you dreamed to be.
you didn’t know why, but he always greeted you with a smile whenever you crossed paths with him. you two didn’t even talk once, but he never lost the opportunity to flash you a grin whenever his eyes met yours. he was like that with everyone, you thought, probably because he pitied you. you thought it was a facade, he was popular, after all. he had a reputation to maintain. you disliked him for that reason, maybe it was just envy, but you just couldn’t stand seeing him surrounded by people all the time, while you lived in everyone’s shadow.
the bell rang, indicating the end of biology class. you were following mina and jules out of the classroom, when the teacher called out your name, gesturing you to stay. you turned to tell your two friends that you would stay behind and that you would see them later, but they were laughing between them, not even noticing you weren’t behind them anymore. you pressed your lips in a thin line, unfazed by the behavior since it happened so many times before. yet, it hurt every. single. time.
you pushed those thoughts aside, walking to the teacher who was waiting for you with a big smile. you liked her, she was always kind, always making time for her students whenever they were struggling. and that was exactly the reason why she called you.
“hi, y/n. sorry for keeping you behind, but i’d like to ask you a favor. there’s this student who’s failing biology and i was wondering if you could, perhaps, help them? if they fail it, they won’t be able to participate in next month’s tournament. do you think you could do it?” she explained, her voice soft and sweet as always.
you listen to her words carefully, smiling at her while you accepted her request. you weren’t so thrilled about it, since you knew it wasn’t going to be different from all the times you had ‘helped’ other students. they showed up, pretended to be interested just to make up an excuse and make you do all of their homework for them. but the teacher also promised you an extra credit, so you decided to comply anyway.
she told you to be at the school’s library on tuesdays and thursdays, from 4 to 6, and that she would notify the student for you.
so there you were, sitting at a library table, waiting for this mystery student to show up. it was already half past four, so you assumed that they wouldn’t even show up. you started gathering your things to leave, when you heard someone run behind you. you turned around to see who it was, just to find yourself face to face with nishimura riki. people glared at him while telling him to be silent, causing him to smile apologetically and bowing to them.
“i’m so sorry! practice ran late so i rushed here as fast i could, i’m glad you’re still here! you’re y/n, right? you should be the one helping me with biology” he explained, keeping his voice low to avoid getting scolded again by the students nearby.
on the other hand, you couldn’t believe your eyes. the boy you despised the most was in front of you, big smile as he looked down at you. the fact that he looked so pretty pissed you off even more.
“uh, don’t worry about it.” you simply said, uncomfortably shifting on your seat while he took the one right next to you. you took the book from your backpack and carefully placed it on the table, opening it on the page of the first chapter. you looked over at him for an instant, finding him with his own book open at the same page, waiting for you to say something.
“listen, i know you probably wanna be somewhere else, so i’ll spare you the trouble and bring you the homework done by tomor—” you were cut off by him, a confused expression displayed on his face. “what do you mean? i’m not gonna make you do my homework.” his eyebrows were furrowed, as if you were speaking nonsense. “i’d like some help to understand some of the topics, actually.” he said, his tone was soft, yet it seemed like he was bothered by what you said. did someone treat you like that before?
“oh.” that’s all you could say. you were feeling guilty for assuming his intentions, you were just so used to it.
there was an awkward silence for a brief moment, before riki took the matter into his own hands and started asking you questions about some concepts he hadn’t grasped before. you replied to them calmly, taking your time to repeat yourself or reformulate your sentences if he couldn’t understand them. during the whole time, he never once lost his focus, always looking at you attentively and, from time to time, praising your explanation skills, blabbering about how the book made everything look harder than it actually was.
having his eyes constantly on you made you feel a little overwhelmed, not being used to having so much attention on you. you felt… seen. it was awkward at first, but you couldn’t help but like it.
you reminded yourself that he was just being nice because you were helping him, not because he was actually interested in you.
the little tutoring session came to an end, faster than you thought, so you found yourself gathering your belongings to leave. riki did the same thing, casually greeting some of his friends while he walked with you towards the exit.
it was already dark outside, the days becoming shorter and shorter as the colder seasons approached. before you could excuse yourself to catch the bus, riki spoke. “um, you usually take the 6:30pm bus, right?” he asked, scratching his nape while he looked for your eyes, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. you wondered how he knew which bus you took, but decided to not mull over it too much. you nodded, tilting your head to the side as if you were asking where he was trying to get at with his question. “it’s still early, i can’t leave you here, alone in the dark. do you mind if i wait with you?” saying that you were surprised by those words was an understatement. you could feel warmth creeping up your neck, you never really spent time with boys outside of tutoring, let alone spoke to them for this long. “uh.. sure” you replied, your voice low and timid. you think you will never forget the smile riki gave you that night.
you walked around with him, listening to him complain about how his coach threatened him to not let him play at the tournament if he didn’t pass biology, and how glad he was you were there to help him. he also asked you lots of question, such as your favorite subjects, what you did in your free time, whether you put cereals first and then milk or vice versa. and it wasn’t just to avoid awkward silence, he truly cared about your answers, even going on a long rant about how putting cereals after milk was nonsense and how inconvenient it was.
before you could realize, it was already time for you to catch the bus. he walked you to the stop and waited for you to get safely on the bus, waving his hand while grinning widely at you. he didn’t leave until he saw the bus driving away, which made you feel like he cared about your safety, but you convinced yourself you were overthinking it.
once in your bed, you stared at the ceiling, replaying the afternoon you spent with the boy you disliked so much — in vain, you thought — and how your heart started beating slightly faster when you got a message from him asking if you got home safely. you mentally slapped yourself, you couldn’t start to have feelings for a boy who was pitying you. still, you couldn’t help but smile at the thought of his stupid jokes and silly behavior, the memory of his laugh lulling you to sleep.
the next day, you were sitting alone at the cafeteria since your friends collectively decided to skip school without letting you know. you were used to it anyway, it’s not like you talked to them when you were in their company, you just limited yourself to listening to them brag about whoever they were dating at that moment or about some new gossip that was circulating around, while keeping to yourself.
that’s why you were startled when riki showed up with two of his friends, who you recognised to be sunoo and jungwon. they were also pretty popular, sunoo being a social butterfly and jungwon being part of the student council.
“mind if we sit here?” riki asked with his usual smile, waiting for you to agree before eventually sitting next to you, while the other two guys sat in front of you. you were still kind of taken aback from this situation, but you were snapped out of your thoughts by riki resting his hand on your shoulder.
“this is y/n! y/n, they’re sunoo and jungwon. they’re good guys, so feel free to be yourself around them” he explained, introducing you to his friends. you wanted to focus on the two boys sitting in front of you and politely greet them, but you could only feel riki’s hand on you, making your heart pound against your ribs.
“nice to meet you! — sunoo spoke, his voice lively and sweet — so you’re the famous y/n, huh? riki talks about you a lo—” he suddenly stopped, an ‘ouch’ escaping his lips as he massaged his leg. riki immediately grabbed your attention: “what he was saying is that i told them you were tutoring me and how well you explain things!” you missed the way he shot sunoo a glare before grinning at you.
jungwon, in the meantime, was snickering while eating his lunch, throwing a playful glance at riki with a smirk on his lips.
you weren’t exactly understanding what was happening, given that you were still confused by the sudden company and the fact that riki talked about you to his friends. it was probably because you could help them in the future, wasn’t it?
you had a great time during lunch, sunoo excitedly telling you about the new drama play he would star in next month and jungwon occasionally asking you questions about you. the awkwardness in you faded the more you spent time with the boys, breaking out of your shell and telling them stories of your childhood. riki was looking at you with a fond smile the entire time, head resting on his fist, thinking how nice was watching you finally open up and get along with his friends.
time flew once again, the bell that signaled the end of lunch break ringing in the cafeteria. you had learned to have a lesson in the classroom right next to sunoo’s, so you waved bye to riki and jungwon and made your way to class with the bubbly boy.
you had never felt this good before, it felt like a weight was lifted off your chest, loneliness being replaced by a nice feeling. this is what having someone caring about you meant? you wondered how you endured being alone until then, finally knowing what it felt to be seen.
you spent the whole time, thinking about the boy you were tutoring, catching yourself dumbly smiling at the thought of him. you needed a reality check, because in no way he was going to feel the same about you. so, with a sigh, you drifted your thoughts from riki to the teacher and his lesson.
weeks passed, your study dates with riki allowed you to become closer and closer to the boy. you started opening up more, laughing and making jokes with him, telling him about embarrassing moments from middle school and so on. you started seeing him outside of tutoring sessions as well, inviting you to have lunch with him, sunoo and jungwon more often, asking you to try a new cafe that opened in town with them.
you eventually fell for him, feeling nervous every time he stood too close to you or blushing when you caught him staring at you. you knew it was one sided, trying your hardest to not delude yourself and end up with a broken heart and alone all over again. you cherished his company more than anything in the world, so you couldn’t bear the thought of losing him.
you were walking to your locker when you heard your name being shouted by a voice you recognized in no time. you turned around, finding riki standing in front of you with a paper in his hand, encouraging you to take it. you looked at it and saw a 75/100 on his biology test. your eyes widened as much as your smile, looking up at him. “oh my god, riki! you passed!” you said, genuinely happy for the boy in front of you. he worked hard and definitely deserved the grade, you also felt a little proud of yourself at the same time. “yes! it’s all thanks to you!” he engulfed you in his arms, holding you close to his body for a second longer than he should. your face was completely red once he let go of you, you prayed for him to be too excited to notice how that brief — even though for you seemed like it lasted for hours — contact affected you.
“so..” you started speaking, to recompose yourself. “no more tutoring sessions, huh?” you asked, disappointment could be easily found in your tone.
“hm.. about that.” riki said, looking a little nervous for some reasons you couldn’t quite tell. “are you going to prom, this weekend?” he asked, a hopeful glint in his eyes while he looked down at you.
“no, i don’t think so.” you replied almost instantly. was he going to ask you out for prom? no, impossible.
“would you like t—” he couldn’t finish his sentence, that a girl tapped him on his shoulder, completely ignoring your presence or the fact that he was talking to you.
“hi riki.. i was wondering if you.. if you wanted to go to prom with me.” she asked, her pretty, long lashes batting quickly as she smiled at him, waiting for his answer.
“oh, thank you but i was going to ask someone else to go with me,” riki politely declined, obtaining a scoff in response. he shrugged his shoulders and turned back to where you were standing, only to see that you had disappeared.
you left the moment you heard the girl’s question, tears brimming in your eyes as you felt like a fool, thinking that he could ever have feelings for you. that day, you left school early, running to your house and shutting yourself in your room. you cried every tear you had within yourself.
riki had tried to reach out to you countless times, sending you lots of texts, even calling you endless times. but you ignored every one of them. you shouldn’t have gotten closer to the boy, you shouldn’t have fallen for him and you shouldn’t have hoped that he could, somehow, feel the same towards you.
it was prom night, you were on your couch, watching some old romcom filled with cliches and cringy lines, but that made you tear up everytime nonetheless.
suddenly, you heard a knock on your door. you wondered who could possibly be at that hour of a saturday night.
you opened the door, finding riki in formal attire, hair slicked back and a huge bouquet of purple flowers — which you remembered telling him was your favorite color.
“riki?” you called softly, closing the door behind you and looking at him with a confused expression. your heart skipped a beat when you saw him — he looked absolutely gorgeous, he looked like he’d stepped out a fairy tail.
“y/n..” he spoke, his voice carrying a mix of nerves and determination. “i tried contacting you, but you weren’t replying. i wanted to ask you to prom, but since it’s too late, i thought about bringing prom to you.” a shy smile tugged at his full lips as he pronounced those words.
you stared at him, speechless. he wanted to go to prom with you? and when he couldn’t reach you, he came all the way to your house, just to make it happen? it felt like a dream, too good and too sweet to be true.
noticing your surprise, riki carefully set the bouquet on the ground. then, he took your hand in his, warmth spreading all over your face.
“dance with me,” he whispered, his voice soft and filled with hope.
without waiting for your reply, he led you closer to him, his free hand settling on your waist, while with his other hand, he fumbled awkwardly with his phone, tongue poking out as he tried to play a slow song for you two to dance to.
the sight made you giggle, finding endearing how clumsy he was.
you looped your arms around his neck, gazing up at him as you swayed together. the world seemed to fall away — there was only the two of you, the soft music, and the steady rhythm of your movements.
he held your gaze the entire time, his lovesick smile resting on his pretty lips — the ones you couldn’t help but glance at more times than you cared to admit.
as the song came to an end, the world seemed to slow down around the two of you. he rested his forehead gently against yours, his warm breath fanning across your face as he took both of your hands in his, holding them like they were going to break if he applied to much force.
“y/n..” he began, his voice soft and steady, though you could sense the nervousness beneath it. “i like you. i’ve liked you for so long, i couldn’t resist keeping it to myself anymore.” he whispered, waiting for any reaction on your part.
tears welled up in your eyes and before you could stop yourself, you threw your arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. riki stiffened for a moment, his hand lingering on your back before holding you closer.
“i like you too, riki. so much, i can’t believe you actually feel the same” a soft laugh escaped his lips, filled with relief and happiness. he brought one of his hands to your cheek, delicately caressing your skin. “can i be your boyfriend, then?” he asked, his lips curling up into a shy smile as he bit down his lower lip to keep it from spreading too much.
you didn’t answer his question with words. instead, you leaned in, catching his lips in a passionate yet slow kiss. his hand on your cheek moved down to your neck, while his other hand rested on your waist.
at that moment, it felt as if you were touching the sky with a finger. you felt loved in a way that warmed every layer of your heart, cared for in a way that melted every lingering doubt. but, most importantly, you felt seen — truly seen — for the first time.
