tysm to my bbygirl @lovelytaes-blog for bringing this to my attention đš it looks like someone (user SunsetWithJimin) on wattpad decided to plagiarize my fics: daydream, it takes two & bands. they literally copied it word for word, which is actually insane. i thought we were done doing this shit? đ„č i donât even know what else to say anymore. all that time and effort just for people like this to take your shit & claim it as theirs.
spreading awareness not for myself, but for other authors cause at a quick skim, it looks like they are copying other writersâ works. theyâre deleting comments!
đ 18+, minors do not interact âą masterlist âą submit a request
đš minors and blank blogs will be blocked
storm chaser
âł Brought to you by The Sands of Time Collab
When a series of natural disasters befalls Earth, you're sent to several countries to provide on-the-ground support and (hopefully) find some answers. Unfortunately, your best bet at both requires trusting a lunatic claiming to be a newly awoken god who shares the same goal as you.Â
PAIRING: horus!seungcheol x UN!reader
WC: 50K lulz ._.
TAGS: crack, pansexual scoups, fem!reader, part epistolary, honestly this is weirdly more workplace romance than anything else lmao, accidental marriage, feat. set!vernon, feat. UN!joshua jeonghan chan and wonwoo
CW: mentions of past wars and violence, natural disasters (typhoon, earthquake, tsunami, floods), no natural disasters are meant to reference real ones and if the timelines do line up with one that is not intentional!, past eye injury (accompanying scar), past leg injury, family issues, end of the world, there are some mentions of egyptian lore that are not explained further so you may need to google things if you want the full context, that being said this is not accurate to egyptian mythology and should not be taken as such!, brief threat of bodily possession
SMUT: marked at start and end, unprotected piv, creampie, possessive, body worship, actually just worship in general, fingering, oral f. receiving, spitting (I AM SOOOO BACK), semi-rough sex, missionary, cowgirl, doggy
A/N: i cannot stress enough how cracky this turned out to be LOL. i didn't mean for it to turn out this way but apparently this is what horus!seungcheol wanted to be and who am i to say no to him. if you read my devil!junhui then you know exactly what you're in for haha. ANYWAY, THANK YOU TO @sailorsoons AND @daechwitatamic FOR HAVING ME ON THIS COLLAB AND FOR BEING SO UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE DEADLINE. i only love the finished product as much as i do bc you allowed us the space and time to be creative, and i am very grateful. also big thank you to @hopecutie for beta reading the first couple thousand words of this and confirming it was making sense; i suppose it was nice to hear you giggling about it in the next room. and ty @jjknj for thinking about beta reading it. it is the thot that counts LOL. OK OK hope you all enjoy!
UNITED NATIONS â OFFICE FOR COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
DEPLOYMENT NOTIFICATION: IMMEDIATE
MISSION ID: UNOCHA/APAC/0808-KR
LOCATION: Seoul, Republic of Korea
LEAD OFFICER: Y/N L/N, Senior Disaster Assessment & Coordination Officer
DATE ISSUED: 31 March 2026
DURATION: TBD
DISASTER CLASSIFICATION: Urban flooding event, subsurface structural collapse
SUMMARY: Unusual, high-intensity rainfall has resulted in rapid flooding across central Seoul. Drainage systems exceeded capacity within 30 minutes of onset. Multiple sinkholes have been reported.
Additional note: Increased avian clustering observed prior to rainfall escalation.
OBJECTIVES:
Assess infrastructure damage and stability risks
Coordinate with municipal emergency response teams
Identify immediate humanitarian needs
Submit SITREP within 12 hours of arrival
TRAVEL ADVISORY:
Flooding â avoid underground transit. In accordance with protocols issued following 2018 incident with Officer Lee, please avoid driving through waterâstill or otherwiseâregardless of perceived depth
Birds (??? Not sure how serious the bird situation is for it to be included in briefings but if you want your bird flu vaccine, let me know)
YOU'RE REALLY STARTING TO SECOND-GUESS YOUR CAREER CHOICE. You could've been a teacher like you wanted for most of your childhood. Or an engineer, which is what your parents originally had planned for you. Or an au pair for a nice but grossly out-of-touch billionaire family.
Anything seems better than standing in the middle of the largest typhoon everânot that you can definitively or officially say this is the largest typhoon ever. That would've required anyone in the UN or Seoul or quite frankly, the world to foresee its arrival and calculate its category. Somehow, between the UN's World Meteorological Organization and the Korean government, no one even knew it was coming at all. But right now, in this moment, as you stand here, soaked to the bone and shaking so violently, your chattering teeth are almost louder than the sound of the sky ripping wide open, you don't care for accuracy. This could be labeled a mild tropical depression and it would still be the largest typhoon as far as you're concerned.
Your deployment papers cited unusual rainfall and flooding as the concern to focus on during your visit. Even your boss had assured you that it would probably be a quick trip. He handed you your notice, smiled, and said, "We don't think matters will escalate. You'll probably be back on a plane within a day."
Well, Joshua Hong had no idea what he was talking about because how can all the overpaid, self-important people at his level miss a whole typhoon? In March? In a country where typhoon season is in the third quarter of the year?
Your team landed at Incheon Airport, went straight to where the emergency teams were stationed, and you were just about to start taking notes for that situation report due in Joshua's inbox in 12 hours, when water was suddenly pelting you from seemingly all directions. Once you were able to gain your bearings long enough to at least squint at the dense wall of rain, you found a near-black sky and several people struggling to keep from flying away in the wind.
"You'll just be there to make sure everything's fine in Seoul," Joshua said. "I was told the rain could very well stop before you even land," Joshua said. Joshua is going to get an email from you about a raise as soon as you're dry.
Especially because what you're doing right nowâcrouching down under a bus stop, clinging pathetically to the leg of a bench, and begging a man who thinks he's God to get out of the streetsâdefinitely warranted some kind of hazard pay.
Miraculously, the stranger stands steady and strong in the middle of the street's intersection, arms crossed over his broad chest as he watches the sky carefully, expression too calm for someone who is most likely about to die and has zero qualms about bringing you right along with him.
You don't know why you ran back out here to warn him, and even more perplexing, you don't know why you're still here, hugging a dirty bench anchored into the concrete to keep from being blown away. Maybe it was the guilt of being the representative of an organization who should've absolutely known this was coming that had you feeling like it was the most important thing you'd ever doâsaving this specific man's life. With enough warning, you could've helped with proper evacuations.
Or maybe you're just tired of your job and subconsciously, you're ready to follow this lunatic into the light.
âSir, please!â you scream into the barrage of rain between you and the man. It's futile; you barely even hear yourself, but you continue anyway. âEven if you are God, what are you trying to prove right now?! Whatever it is, you don't have to! I believe you!â you lie.
You're not very religious or even spiritual, but you've come to think of God as a very shapeless, faceless, human-less entity. Maybe even just a ball of light. You definitely did not think of God and picture a tall, brooding man around your age with long hair, tattoos, and muscles that really bulge under his clothes, wet and sticking to him like a second skin.
So no. You do not believe this man is God. God being hot is not an option in your mind.
âI believe you, okay?!â you lie again. âYou're God! Now please come out of the rain and into the shelter with me where it's safe! And dry!â
He gives no indication he heard you.
âI'm really not keen on dying out here with you!â you shout even though your actions don't really align with your preferences right now.
You squeeze your eyes shut and shriek as a particularly strong gust of wind threatens to rip your hands away from the bench and whisk you into your next life.
"Nobody is dying." His voice reaches you easily, clear and unbothered by the roar of the water. He mutters like the storm is nothing more than a minor blip in an otherwise perfect day to him. "Least of all me."
You open your eyes to find the stranger suddenly standing next to you, eyes still on the sky and glaring at it as he assesses something silently. You look up at him from where you're almost parallel with the ground, dumbfounded about how he's staying upright with zero effort.
"I am a god," he repeats the very first thing he said to you when you first spotted him from inside the shelter and followed him out here. "This is all child's play."
"Okay!" you squeak as another gust shoves you against the seat of the bench roughly. You immediately lower yourself until your chest is pressed against the sidewalk so you can hug the bench leg tighter to you. You crane your neck up to look at him, sputtering as rainwater assaults your face and gets into your mouth. "But I'm not a god! And I would really appreciate safety right now, sir!"
"I know you are not a god, mortal," the man huffs as he pushes his wet hair away from his face, finally looking away from the sky to fix his gaze right on you. Your mouth clamps shut as a shudder runs through you.
With his long hair out of the way and without the storm separating you, you have a better view of his face, and you briefly ponder if God can't be hot, maybe he can be beautiful. Because what this man lacks in sanity, he more than makes up for in the face. Even in the darkness that has suddenly swallowed Seoul, you can discern the plumpest, pinkest lips you've ever seen and skin that looks so soft, smooth, golden, and warm, you're convinced a palm to his cheek would save you from the cool bite of the storm. And his eyesâthey pierce you and pin you to where you're pathetically curled up on the ground. Regularly, you'd find big, brown eyes like his charming, but⊠he only has one. Because the one that isn't brown is a bright, brilliant gold, a thick scar cutting up through it from the middle of his cheek, up through his left eye and brow, and into his hairline.
"Make no mistake," he says, unimpressed, "it is very clear to me that you are no god."
You blow a raspberry, water spraying from your lips as you do. You feel like you're becoming a puddle the longer you stay out here.
"Were you a god, you would know that Set has awoken."
"What?!" you shout, frantically rubbing your face into your arm to push your hair away from it, too scared to release a hand from the bench to do it properly. "You just woke up? Maybe you should go back to bed!"
His mouth presses into a thin line just as he decides he's done speaking with you. He turns his attention back to the storm and sighs, shaking his head. He raises both arms with his palms turned toward the skies. Just as he does, movement to your left catches your eye, and you notice a flock of birds landing on a power line nearby. You watch as more and more start to occupy the space, all immovable by the storm and facing the two of you like they're enjoying a show.
"What the fuckâŠ"
"I will find him," the man says. Your head snaps back to him, frowning. His brows are pulled down and that golden eye of his sparkles with fierce determination.
"Huh?!"
"I will not let him get away with this."
It's the last thing he says before a flash of blinding light forces your eyes shut. The light burns bright even beneath your eyelids so you shove your face into the crook of your elbow. Only a few moments pass before the wind around you slows to a gentle breeze and the cacophony of sounds around you gradually calms down, until you can only hear the soft drip drops of water running off all the surfaces the rain had relentlessly battered.
You frown, peeking just one eye above your elbow. You gasp, lifting your head and scrambling up onto your knees. You're met with soft sunlight, a blue sky, and not a single cloud, bird, or self-proclaimed god in sight.
MISSION SUMMARY REPORT
MISSION ID: UNOCHA/APAC/0808-KR
LEAD OFFICER: Y/N L/N, Senior Disaster Assessment & Coordination Officer
DATE ISSUED: 31 March 2026
DATE COMPLETED: 2 April 2026
DURATION: 33 hours
DISASTER CLASSIFICATION: Urban flooding event, subsurface structural collapse CATEGORY FOUR!!! Typhoon
KEY OBSERVATIONS:
Affected area is stabilized and requires no further humanitarian aid, not that we provided any. At all. No signs of additional rainfall, though I assume our long-standing ability to anticipate the weather is suddenly hindered.
Local authorities and response teams express confidence in handling structural damage without further interference. Probably because our interference was useless.
Flood levels diminished approximately two hours after landing without clear cause. Data irregularities reported across monitoring systems. Maybe look into that.
No deaths and all injured citizens are expected to recover quickly. NO THANKS TO US!
OFFICER ASSESSMENT: Due to insufficient notice of Typhoon Coups (who named this typhoon??) and a complete breakdown in communication, I do not believe I was able to do my job effectively in Seoul. Had I received a warning as per long-standing protocols, I would have been able to assist in mobilizing UN resources to facilitate proper evacuation, volunteer support, and aid distribution. Unfortunately, that did NOT happen, and both UN and local response teams were unprepared for the CATEGORY FOUR!!!! typhoon. But by the grace of God (who is surprisingly handsome)â
"What the hell is this?" Joshua scoffs, throwing all seven pages of your report on his desk and running his hands through his hair in distress. When it's sufficiently tousled out of his usually careful styling, he presses the heels of his hands into his eyes and takes a deep breath painstakingly slowly.
"It's a gripping and honest portrayal of how I almost died in Korea this week, and you didn't even get past the first page," you say simply. You tilt your head and sarcastically ask, "Sorry, is there something wrong with my memoir? Does it burden you to copy-edit what could've been my last memories? Areâ"
"Okay, okay, okay!" he chants, stress very obviously (and loudly) escalating as he drags his hands down his face and trains his eyes on you, exhausted. "I get it!"
He exhales slowly and you know he's doing his best to maintain his composure, a challenge you've always presented him. When he speaks again, his voice is a lot steadier.
"It's not like I'm happy with the fact that a team I deployed and am responsible for got caught in the middle of a monster typhoon. I assure you I am just as angry as you are that we received no word about Coups."
"Again, who named it thatâŠ" you mutter, sinking in your seat and lazily propping your elbow up on the arm of your chair and resting your chin in your hand. Joshua ignores your interruption.
"And trust me, the folks at the World Meteorological Org are getting their asses handed to them for it. I'm, like, 99.9 percent sure Wonwoo is firing people as we speak."
"Good" is all you say to that.
"They are very sorry," Joshua informs you, "and are working around the clock to understand what they missed. But by all accounts, it was an anomaly freak storm that came out of nowhere."
You roll your eyes. "Freak storms don't come out of nowhere, Joshua. And by the way, a delivery of donuts to the office hardly feels like a sufficient apology for almost killing us with their incompetence. Wonwoo and his gang of loser nerds at the WMO can kiss myâ"
"Regardless!" his voice rises over yours. Your lips twitch, threatening to surrender your laughter. "We have a level of professionalism to maintain, and I can't submitâŠ" he gestures at your report with a perplexed expression on his face, "whatever this is as your summary report."
You glare at him. "What's wrong with my report?"
He huffs a laugh. "Are you serious?" You raise your eyebrows and make it clear you are. His face falls into a flat expression when he realizes you are not joking about your report. "The entire first page is about how the UN was useless. Are you trying to get our department dissolved?"
"If I am, do we get a severance package?"
Your boss purses his lips to stop himself from saying whatever it is he's about to. Joshua has cursed at you exactly one time in the decade you've been working together, and you've been chasing that feeling of accomplishment ever since.
"Also, what's all this talk about God?" he asks, leaning forward to quickly scan where he left off. He recites aloud:
But by the grace of God (who is surprisingly handsome), the storm calmed and the team was able to help the locals reestablish their volunteer and aid center. We quickly worked to find any citizens affected and thankfully did not find anyone with serious injuries. I may have also been looking for God but he really was gone. Along with all his birds. At least I assume those were his birds. UnclearâŠ
Joshua's voice trails off as his eyes continue reading, his brows pulling so far down in confusion, you would laugh if you weren't convinced you were completely losing your mind. When he reaches the end of the first page, he looks up at you like he agrees you've lost your mind.
"Did you get checked out by a doctor after?" he asks suddenly.
"YesâŠ" you answer, frowning.
"And? What did they say?"
"I'm fine?"
"You didn't hit your head in Korea?"
You groan, rolling your eyes. "No, I did not hit my head," you say even though you're actually not sure if you did. The initial onslaught of torrential rain and furious winds had you very disoriented for a while there. "I wish I had. That would be a lovely explanation for all of this."
"All of what? Your newfound belief in God?" he asks skeptically, knowing you well enough to remember you aren't at all a religious person.
You push yourself up and lean forward, resting both elbows on his desk and commanding his attention.
"Something weird happened in Korea."
"You mean, other than the freak storm and everyone's obsession with these birds?" he asks, looking absolutely done with today. You don't blame him. You're done with this whole week.
"Yes," you confirm. "I met someone. Well, 'met' is kind of generous. I⊠crossed paths with someone. We did not get to have have a proper conversation given the circumstances, let alone exchange names. Which is unfortunate because if he really is God, it would've been nice to know his name." You pause. "Hey, would you have ever pictured God as hot?"
Joshua stares at you blankly, not a single thought betrayed by his face as he blinks several times at you.
"Right," you say, nodding. "About this guy."
You tell him everything that happened, which admittedly isn't a lot at all. You had just gotten the last few civilians that were receiving aid into the shelter when you spotted a stranger standing in the middle of the street. You called out to him but knew it was useless, and before Lee Chan, the youngest member on your team could tell you not to, you were running out into the downpour, trying to get to the man in question. You came up a few meters short, having to drop down and hold onto a bench to keep from flying.
"You did what?" Joshua asks, narrowing his eyes at you. "All this talk about the WMO almost killing youâ"
"They did."
"âwhen you willingly ran into the storm?" he reiterates like he's trying to make sure he has it right.
"My job is to help people onâ"
"Your job is to follow protocol, which says you need to shelter in place when things like this happen. Did you even include that in your report?" He pauses, clearly internally debating if that's something you should even include in your report.
"Yes," you tell him. You're always completely honest in your summary reports regardless of whether that means it gets you in trouble. "You would know that if you finished reading my memoir." Your boss heaves a dramatic sigh. "Now let me finish, this isn't about protocol!" you complain, irate that he's interrupted your retelling.
He waves a hand for you to continue, and you tell him the rest. As you recount how the man repeatedly claimed he was God, Joshua's patience visibly wears thinner and thinner until he succumbs to reclining in his chair and closing his eyes. He only opens his eyes as you arrive at the end, when the stranger reached up into the sky and the storm seemed to bend to his will.
"You think this⊠crazy person who calls himself God⊠stopped the storm."
You shake your head. "No." He shoots you an incredulous look like he isn't sure why you just made him listen to all of this then. "But I also don't not believe him�"
"Oh my god," he sits back up and starts gathering the papers of your report before presenting it to you in a pile. "Redo this, please. And leave out your god. And all the snarky remarks."
You snort as you stand up. You push the small pile back toward him and he raises his eyebrows up at you.
"I did my job and I did the report, and I have nothing to change. If you'd like to edit it, I invite you to, but I'm not redoing this."
Joshua groans, letting his forehead come to meet his desk. "You make life so hard."
"No, the WMO makes life so hard," you correct him. "Theyâ"
You're interrupted by the door to Joshua's office opening so forcefully and abruptly, it hits the wall and bounces back. You both flinch, turning to find Jeon Wonwoo, the director of the nerds that failed to identify the typhoon, standing in the doorway and looking like he ran across campus to get here.
"Oh good, you're here too," he breathes, nodding at you. He invites himself in and closes the door behind him. "Bad news, we still have no idea why we weren't able to anticipate the typhoon in Korea."
"Great," you grumble. "So glad you ran all the way here to tell us that." Joshua shoots you a warning look while Wonwoo offers you a sheepish smile.
"But the good news is that we were able to uncover another anomaly."
Joshua's frown deepens. "What?"
Wonwoo winces. "Yeah, so bad news againâbad news sandwich, ha." You give him a flat look that cuts through his weak giggles. He clears his throat and continues. "We think there's something headed for Southeast Asia."
"Something?" you parrot skeptically. Vagueness isn't something the weather nerds at the WMO did. "Another typhoon?"
He shakes his head. "No⊠not quite."
You and Joshua look at each other, and your boss groans, waving a hand at your report. "Whatever, we'll just submit this as is." You smirk. "What do we need to know, Wonwoo?"
To: J. Hong <joshua.hong@unocha>
CC: W. Jeon <wonwoo.jeon@wmo>; You <yn.ln@unocha>
From: J. Yoon <jeonghan.yoon@unocha>
Subject: ?????
got ur request for deployment. why on earth would we need to deploy humanitarian affairs bc of tiny earthquakes in the middle of the ocean too small to fully register on the richter scale? if this is a ploy for vacation i would respect u more if u would just say so
Sent from iPhone
To: J. Yoon <jeonghan.yoon@unocha>
CC: W. Jeon <wonwoo.jeon@wmo>; You <yn.ln@unocha>
From: J. Hong <joshua.hong@unocha>
Subject: RE: ?????
Jeonghan â thanks for reaching out. After the events in Seoul this past week, Wonwoo and I thought it best to be proactive in our efforts. His team has found small tremors in the waters immediately surrounding Singapore. The patterns seem to be closing in on the city-state and are growing in strength. I'll let him get into the details I'm not qualified to relay. We'd like to send Y/N and her team to get locals ready for a potential earthquake. As Singapore doesn't have a history of earthquakes, we expect any activity to be unsettling for citizens. Not a heavy lift, and good to get ahead of it.
Joshua Hong
Director of Operations
UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
To: J. Hong <joshua.hong@unocha>
CC: W. Jeon <wonwoo.jeon@wmo>; You <yn.ln@unocha>
From: J. Yoon <jeonghan.yoon@unocha>
Subject: RE: ?????
right. singapore doesn't have a history of earthquakes⊠bc its tectonic plate has no active faultsâŠâŠ. forgive me if my faith in wonwoo and his army of dorks is a little low at the moment
Sent from iPhone
To: J. Yoon <jeonghan.yoon@unocha>; J. Hong <joshua.hong@unocha>
CC: You <yn.ln@unocha>
From: W. Jeon <wonwoo.jeon@wmo>
Subject: RE: ?????
ATTACHMENTS: proof for big boss.ppt
Hi. I am on this thread by the way! I have attached my team's data points for you. On slide 12, you'll find increased seismic activity in the East China Sea, which very oddly and narrowly avoids both Taiwan and the Philippines. On slide 23, you'll see that each instance monitored has increased and that our last recording of the quakes (in the Singapore Strait) are very much on the Richter Scale at 3.7 now. You'll also find the work my team has done and the equations behind the predictions that these earthquakes will reach Singapore at anywhere from a 5.0 to a 7.0âlarge enough to disrupt a country unprepared for this. Of course, it is your decision. Though if that decision is no, we would love to have that in writing. Just in case an entire city-state collapses. No other reason. Thanks.
â W.
To: W. Jeon <wonwoo.jeon@wmo>; J. Hong <joshua.hong@unocha>
CC: You <yn.ln@unocha>
From: J. Yoon <jeonghan.yoon@unocha>
Subject: RE: ?????
i know ur on this thread. i was the one who added u was i not? u lost me at slide TWELVE? i'm on my phone. i'll get to this when i'm back at my office
Sent from iPhone
To: J. Yoon <jeonghan.yoon@unocha>; W. Jeon <wonwoo.jeon@wmo>; J. Hong <joshua.hong@unocha>
From: You <yn.ln@unocha>
Subject: RE: ?????
Oh for fuck's sake, YES JEONGHAN. THIS IS FOR A VACATION. CAN MY TEAM AND I PLS GO ON VACATION???
UNITED NATIONS â OFFICE FOR COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
DEPLOYMENT NOTIFICATION: IMMEDIATE
MISSION ID: UNOCHA/APAC/0808-SG
LOCATION: Republic of Singapore
LEAD OFFICER: Y/N L/N, Senior Disaster Assessment & Coordination Officer
DATE ISSUED: 3 April 2026
DURATION: TBD
DISASTER CLASSIFICATION: Unusual seismic activity
SUMMARY: The WMO has noted unusual seismic activity in the East and South China Seas, with evidence that activity is moving toward Singapore and increasing in strength. We are deploying personnel to prepare and support local authorities and response teams.
OBJECTIVES:
Assess infrastructure risks and provide recommendations for support
Prepare and establish aid centers with municipal emergency response teams in the case of disaster
Identify immediate humanitarian needs
Submit SITREP within 12 hours of arrival and every 6 hours until confirmation that activity has passed
TRAVEL ADVISORY: Heat waves expected to reach upwards of 37°C
AUTHORIZED BY: Joshua Hong, Operations Director; Jeonghan Yoon, Chief of Section
"Why did Chief Yoon wish me a nice vacation before we left?" Chan asks as he sets a case of water bottles on the table next to yours while you write your first situation report.
You snort, answering without removing your eyes from your screen. "No idea, he's crazy."
Yoon Jeonghan is not crazy. Actually, you view him as a sort of kindred spirit at the UNâas much devoted to helping people as you both are to annoying them. And with Joshua stuck right in between you on the corporate ladder, it truly makes for an entertaining time.
"Probably doesn't think anything will come out of these dumb baby quakes," you add, shrugging. You're not even sure you do. You're kind of on the same boat as Jeonghan when it comes to trusting Wonwoo right now. After all, you almost died because of him.
"I see you have a lot of respect for the WMO's work," your field assistant jokes, taking the seat next to you and beginning to sort through paperwork.
"We could have died, Chan," you say for the nth time this week.
"No, you could have died because you decided to run out into the middle of a storm," he corrects you. You roll your eyes. "The rest of us were perfectly safe."
Your fingers pause over the keyboard and you narrow your eyes at your report. You suppose that's right. The storm just magically disappearedâmaybe because of that weirdo man, maybe not. But either way, the typhoon dissipated just minutes after everyone took shelter. There's a high possibility no one would have died regardless of the WMO sending notice. But seeing as you'll be using it as an argument for a raise, you choose to ignore this.
"Whatever," you murmur, continuing to type. "Let's not be pedantic."
"What does pedâhey!" Chan interrupts himself and straightens in his seat. He shakes your arm and you look up to find him pointing. "Isn't that the man you almost died for?!"
Your head jerks to where his finger is pointed, and sure enough, you find the same man from Korea, standing under the shade of a row of trees, looking out at the sea. You can only really see his profile, but it's a very memorable profile. You screamed at it for several minutes in the pouring rain after all.
"What theâŠ"
"What is he doing in SingaporeâŠ?" Chan asks, his hand falling as he crosses his arms in thought. "What a weirâ"
You're up and walking around and away from the table before Chan can finish what he's saying or ask you what you're doing. You excuse yourself as you squeeze past local volunteers lounging around, bored and no doubt questioning what they're doing here, preparing for a disaster on such a normal day. But if this so-called God is here, maybe Wonwoo's team is onto something.
"Hey!" you bark as you get closer to the man. If he hears you, he shows no sign of it, standing so still, you could mistake him for an oddly placed mannequin. You walk faster, and when you finally reach him, you have so much inexplicably pent-up energy, you jab your finger into his shoulder a lot harder than you mean to. "You!"
The stranger doesn't even flinch, his eyes coming down to you in disinterest. He spares you just a moment before his eyes drift back to the sea.
"Um, hello?!" you call, waving a hand in front of his face. "Remember me? The person you almost killed in Seoul?!"
You choose to ignore Chan's voice in your head poking fun at you for your newfound habit of accusing people of almost killing you.
"What on earth was that, huh?" you ask, poking his shoulder a touch less violently this time. "Where did the storm go? What did you do to it? Where did you go?"
When he doesn't show any sign of answering your questions, you scoff and move your body in front of his. Dry and without the haze of rain, you can appreciate his fortunate looks even more. Half of his long hair is pulled back into a bun, a sharp, solid gold hair pin shaped like a feather stabbed through it to keep it in place. He's dressed in fine linens, the same ones that were plastered to his skin back in Korea, and you realize it wasn't just the rain. His top is slightly sheer, showing off not only his bulging muscles but several tattoos across his ribs, chest, and collarbones, all leading up to two feathers on either side of his neck. You tiptoe to interrupt his line of vision, and you notice two more you didn't see before: a tiny sun at the outer corner of his right eye and a moon at the left, next to that golden eye of his.
His eyes come down to meet yours, the same gold sending a chill down your spine. You don't let it distract you, though.
"Well?! And what are you doing here anyway?" you ask, narrowing your eyes at him. "Are you chasing weather?" You frown at the weird question. "I mean, storms. Or earthquakes. Or⊠whatever! What are you doing here?"
"Mortals have become much more⊠talkative since I laid myself to sleep," he observes, voice low and rumbling like it's coming deep within the earth itself.
"What?"
"Do you speak in anything other than questions?" he asks back. He lets his eyes wander from you to scan the horizon again.
You glare at him briefly before glancing over your shoulder to see what he could possibly be looking for. The waves roll in leisurely and the tide is rising, but nothing seems to be out of the ordinary. You figure that isn't your area of expertise, though. It's the WMO's, and they predict the strongest tremors will start from the south, in the Singapore Strait. The strait you're staring at now. You turn back to the man.
"Are you here for the earthquakes?"
"I am here for Set."
"To set up what?"
His eyes flick down to you and annoyance briefly disrupts his stoic features. "What?"
"What are you setting up?"
"I am here for Set, mortal," he says again.
"Okay, repeating it doesn't make it make any more sense, brother," you sneer, rolling your eyes.
"He is not my brother. He is my uncle."
"What? Who is your uncle?" you ask, exasperated. "Why can't you talk like a normal human being?"
"I am not a mortal and I have no desire to share any similarities with one," he answers, eyes roaming the water. You give up and set yourself back down off your toes, shaking your head.
"Okay⊠so you're visiting an uncleâŠ" you deduce, scratching the back of your neck awkwardly. "Well, while you wait for him, do you mind telling me about Korea?"
"I know little to nothing about Korea."
"No, I mean the stâwait. Are you not Korean?"
"No."
You squint at him. When he notices your silent scrutiny, he seems to fidget a little before looking down at his body like he's just become aware of it.
"I⊠I suppose this vessel is Korean. Yes."
"You're so weirdâŠ" you say before getting back on track. "What happened in Korea? Did you really stop the storm? How?"
The look he gives you convinces you it's the dumbest question anyone has ever asked him. "I am a god."
"Yeah. You've mentioned that once or twice now," you murmur, getting the sense you'll never get anywhere with him. Maybe it was just a coincidence. Maybe he really is just a crazy guy visiting his uncle in Singapore.
"So you know. Why do you keep asking then?"
You snort. "I'm surrounded by scientists in this line of work. 'God' really isn't a sufficient answer."
"I command the skies. Everything in it is mine," he clarifies further. From the way he says it, you can tell he earnestly believes it will help you understand. It doesn't.
"Right." So he's just crazy.
Silence falls over you as he sighs and pointedly steps to his left so he can view the ocean clearly again. You give up your interrogation and turn around, admiring the view alongside him.
"What's your name?" you ask after a few moments.
"Horus, Uniter of the Two Lands, Lord of the Sky, Protector of the Pharaoh, and Avenger of my father before me, Osiris, god of the underworld, the afterlife, and rebirth," he answers with zero hesitation.
You're stunned for a moment, your mouth falling open as you struggle to figure out what to make of him. "UmâŠ" He hums in question. "Do you maybe have a nickname?"
"A nickname," he repeats.
"Like⊠something shorter I can call you that I won't have to spend whole days memorizing."
He pauses, brows furrowing a little as he looks back down at himself again. You don't rush him, and after a few moments, he nods once and tells you, "Seungcheol. You may call me Seungcheol. Is that short enough for you, mortal?"
You tilt your head and repeat it. "Seungcheol. Yeah, I like it. Funny nickname for⊠whatever the earlier one was. Do you have a surname?"
"So now the name is too short for your liking?" he asks, shooting you an icy look. You take the tiniest step away.
"No⊠just curious."
"Choi."
"Cool."
He grunts and averts his eyes once more, allowing you to relax. You watch a few birds circling the sky nearby and after a few beats of peaceful silence, he surprises you when he asks, "And yours?"
"My what?"
"What do people call you?"
"Ah, definitely not 'mortal,'" you laugh a little. You say your full name for him. Then, because you've decided pressing the buttons of this stranger has kind of delighted you so far, you add: "Storm Chaser, Protector of Citizens, and Mortal Enemy of Jeon Wonwoo and the WMO."
Seungcheol tilts his head a little in clear confusion but ultimately nods, very seriously accepting your fake title. "I will remember that, as my brain has far much more capacity to do so than yours does, Y/N L/N, Storm Chaser, Protector of Citizens, and Mortal Enemy of Jeon Wonwoo and the WMO."
You laugh loudly at that, not bothering to take offense at being called dumb by someone who thinks he's God. You think you see the corner of his lips quirk upâmaybe the closest a serious man like Seungcheol can get to smiling.
"Perfect," you tell him. "But you can also just call me Y/N."
"Your nickname."
Not quite, but you don't feel like being on the receiving end of another glare. "Sure is."
You both allow the silence to wash over you again, nothing but the sound of the waves gently rolling in as you start to doubt your usefulness in Singapore. At least you got a company-paid vacation out of it. Sure, it came with a shitload of paperwork and a subordinate hellbent on convincing you you're a drama queen, but at least it didn't involve emails in the confines of four grey walls while Joshua groans in frustration for eight hours straight in the room next door.
"I guess this is as nice a vacation as any," you say mostly to yourself. "I got to leave all my work behind for everyone else to worry about, the weather is nice, and nothing is happening. After Korea, 'nothing' is very nice."
"The weather is nice," the man agrees, though he frowns like it's not the positive you make it out to be. "It should be warmer." He looks up and away from the water, squinting at the gloomy sky, sun hidden from view.
"Yeah, I guess it should be," you shrug. "Joshua did say it would be hot. He included a heat advisory in my briefing."
"What is a briefing?" he asks, before looking down at you. You fidget a little under his gaze again, that golden eye seeing right through you. You clear your throat.
"Nothing a god should concern himself with," you practically squeak.
He hums, seeming pleased with the answer. If he is, you definitely feel pleased that he feels pleased. "It seems that you are finally catching on."
You press your lips together and nod, refusing to tell him you actually think he could benefit from a trip to the doctorâif not for his hallucinations, then definitely for his experience being assaulted by a typhoon in Korea.
"It should be hot, and it should be sunny," he says again, eyes falling back to the sea. The waves seem a little larger than before. "And the grounds tremble."
You tense at that observationâone you can't make. "What do you mean 'the grounds tremble'?"
"I do not know how to make that statement any clearer than it is."
You open your mouth but find yourself speechless and dumbfounded.
"He will arrive soon."
"Who?"
"Set." When you don't respond, he looks down at you, sighing at your inability to follow anything he says. "My uncle."
"Oh," you nod, elongating the vowel as at least some of his ramblings finally click for you. "Your uncle's name is Set. We're here to see Uncle Set."
He looks perturbed by that phrasing, odd enough to him that it seems to take him out of his thoughts. "I⊠I do not know that I would phrase it that way or⊠call him that."
"How would you phrase it?"
Before he can answer, the ground beneath you jolts briefly but violently, eliciting a startled scream from you and several others in the vicinity. Just as you're about to lose your balance, Seungcheol's hand wraps around your wrist, pulling you toward him and steadying you.
"Thanks," you breathe. His attention isn't on you, though, his gaze glued to the horizon. You follow it and find a waveâif you can call it thatâseveral dozen feet larger than any of the ones that have met the shore. "Is thatâŠ"
Seungcheol's hand slips away from yours and finds your shoulder, gently pushing you away from him. "Go," he says. "Help everyone away from the shore."
You don't need to be told twice, immediately sprinting back to where Chan is already corralling whoever will listen away from the area. "We need to get to higher ground!" he says, obviously having seen the monster wave headed your way.
"This is Singapore!" you shout back frantically, helping someone up before they're crushed in the panic of the crowd. They're running away as soon as they're on their feet. "There is no higher ground! Just get everyone as far away from the beach as possible! I need to let the WMO know they were right!"
Fuck, you childishly think as you scramble toward your laptop, I need to let Wonwoo know he and his losers were right.
"Chan!" you scream, your laptop open in your left hand as you try to type with your right and run to him at the same time. You have trouble stopping, barreling right into him. He doesn't even blink. "They're making an evacuation center on Bukit Timah Hill! According to Wonwoo's math, it's not quite high enough, but it's all we've got."
"Perfect!" he shouts over the heads of people running past, gesturing them in the direction away from the water. "Where is that?!"
"Um," you check the message you received. "Twelve kilometers away!"
His face falls and he levels you with a flat look. "Okay, how the fuck are we going to get everyone 12 kilometers away with nothing but our bare hands?"
"Such a good question," you say, snapping your laptop closed and hugging it to your chest. "The good news is that I have secured the two of us hefty raises. Do not tell the rest of the team when we get back. Jeonghan has sworn us to secrecy. Whatever, though. You snooze, you lose, am I right?"
"We can't enjoy a raise if we are dead!" Chan shrieks, arms falling as he pauses crowd control to look at you helplessly. "Are we going to die?"
You open your mouth to say, "No of course not," but find yourself incapable of lying so blatantly. So you smile tightly and opt to not answer at all. "There are shuttles, buses, taxisâall kinds of vehicles and drivers volunteering or mandated by the government to help transport civilians to the hills. Just help everyone get on and then join them."
"Oh god."
"What?"
"Where are you going?"
"Why are you assuming I'm going anywhere?" you ask. He stares at you blankly until you sigh and nod. "Okay, yeah, I want to go find Seungcheol."
"Who the hell is Seungcheol?"
"He seems to know what's going on," you tell him, not bothering to properly answer. "He felt the ground moving right before that quake! I'm sure if I find him, he'll have answers."
"Or you'll both just drown in a tsunami!" Chan frantically screams at you.
"Okay, relax, I'm still your boss," you mumble, shoving him away from you. "Go do as I say and I'll find you after."
"I cannot stress enough how incapable you will be of performing any of the verbs coming out of your mouth if you are dead!"
"I will not be dead!" you shout as you turn and head back toward the spot you left Seungcheol at. "I will be with a god!"
"Wait, give me your laptop!"
"No! I'm not done with my SITREP!"
"Are you fucking kidding me?!"
You push against the current of people running the opposite direction of imminent danger, struggling to stay on your feet as the panic rises. By the time you reach your abandoned table, the area is empty, giving you hope that everyone will get far enough away in time. You continue running until you reach the treeline you and Seungcheol had been standing at, dismayed to find him nowhere in sight.
"Fuck," you breathe, looking every which way. "Where are youâŠ"
You're frozen in place momentarily when your gaze meets the wave, considerably closer than it was when you first spotted it in the far horizon. It's more a wall than anything else, dark and menacing and towering over you, reaching so far into the sky, it makes the sun even smaller than it already was to begin with. It dawns on you for the first time that after all the complaining you've done in the last week, you very well might die today.
"Um," you mutter to yourself, trying to tear your gaze away from the water. "Focus, focus." You squeeze your eyes shut and shake your head. When you open them again, you refuse to look at the ocean, instead kneeling in the grass where you are and opening your laptop.
If you are going to die, then the least you can do is be useful in your last moments, supplying Joshua with as much information as you can so he's prepared to send the proper aid as fast as possible. You type with trembling hands, not bothering to correct any typos. It's not like any SITREP you've written before; for one, it's typed directly into your Teams chat with your boss, and secondly, it's in all caps with more exclamation points than you've ever used in your life.
"Mega tsunami⊠estimating⊠over 20 meters⊠by⊠time it reaches⊠shore," you narrate your own words, pressing send every few lines in case you die in the middle of your SITREP. Joshua pings back several expletivesâa treat you can't even enjoy at the moment. "Shut⊠up!" Send. "Local evacuation⊠Bukit Timah⊠Chan will require aid and extraction. If I die⊠please allocate raise⊠to Chan." Send.
"What are you doing?"
You scream, immediately caving your body over your laptop like it's the one that needs protecting in the event of a tsunami and not your life. You crane your neck up to find Seungcheol standing over you, and you groan loudly in relief.
"Oh my god, thank godâthank you!" you correct yourself, body sagging against your laptop. You shoot him a weak smile. "We should stop meeting like this, huh?"
He glares at you, extinguishing the joy in your body. "I told you to leave."
"You told me to help everyone out," you correct him, pushing yourself back onto your knees and quickly typing Joshua a goodbye in the middle of his panicked ranting. You shut the laptop again and tuck it under your arm as you stand. You gesture to the very empty space around you. "I did that. So. I technically did exactly what you told me to."
Seungcheol's lips turn down in displeasure at the corners. "Mortals are impossible."
"So, um, what are we going to do about this?"
For the first time, Seungcheol laughs. It's just one and it's mean and condescending, but it's a laugh. "Ha! 'We'? We are doing nothing. You are mortal and useless in the matters of gods. You will run far away from here, and I will stop Set as I always do."
"Your uncle?" you ask, causing the god to take a deep, aggravated breath when you don't acknowledge anything else he said. "Uncle Set is the reason behind the storms?!"
"Please stop calling him that."
"I thought he was your uncle."
"He is. But I do notâit isâjust stop calling him that."
You raise a hand in surrender. "Okay, no Uncle Set. Got it. Why do you need to stop Set?"
"The longer you stand here asking me your useless mortal questions, the closer this wave will reach land."
"Then you should probably stop it."
"Leave."
"No."
"Leave." The ground jolts again as he commands you, and you get the feeling it isn't a funny, little coincidence. You shriek, but right yourself quickly, clearing your throat and smoothing your clothes.
"No." You pause, rolling your eyes when the word doesn't come with your own baby quake. "That didn't inspire an earthquake like yours did, but I hope you know I also mean business."
The corner of Seungcheol's lip twitches, and after a brief standoff, he simply turns away from you and begins walking down to the beach.
"Are you coming or not?" he asks without turning around.
"Um, should we maybe not be on the beach as a tsunami approaches?"
He stops walking and turns over his shoulder to glower at you.
"Right. I'm coming! I'm coming. Wait for me, please!" you scramble after him, laptop still tucked under your arm as you stumble through the sand clumsily. You reach him, unabashedly grabbing onto his arm to steady yourself as you bend down to kick your shoes off. He raises an eyebrow at you. "They make it harder to walk in sand."
His eyes slowly drop to your hand on his body, and you immediately take it back. He clears his throat, adjusting the linen on his arm before rolling his shoulders as his cheeks turn a soft pink. "You should not make a habit of touching gods."
"Okay," you say dumbly. "I won't touch gods. Sorry."
"Let's go."
He stalks off without another word, and it isn't until you're standing in wet sand that you realize the sky has darkened considerably, filled with dozens of birds fluttering about.
MISSION SUMMARY REPORT
MISSION ID: UNOCHA/APAC/0808-SG
LEAD OFFICER: Y/N L/N, Senior Disaster Assessment & Coordination Officer
DATE ISSUED: 3 April 2026
DATE COMPLETED: 4 April 2026
DURATION: 28 hours
DISASTER CLASSIFICATION: Unusual seismic activity Mega tsunami
KEY OBSERVATIONS:
I'm alive. I'm ALIVE!!! So is everyone else. No casualties or injuries. But most importantly, ME. I AM ALIVE!!!!!!
The tremors the WMO detected seem to have graduated to earthquakes later measured at 6.8 on the Richter scale, creating a tsunami approximately 120 kilometers from the Singaporean shore. The tsunami, estimated to be over 20 meters tall, never reached land.
Civilians were successfully evacuated to Bukit Timah Hill, where they received aid and instructions to find displaced loved ones via Officer Lee's very efficient check-in system. Although the tsunami never reached land, Officer Lee successfully achieved a 100% evacuation rate. GO CHAN!
As previously discussed and well-documented via Microsoft Teams, I expect raises for Officer Lee and me, effective immediately
OFFICER ASSESSMENT: As referenced in my last mission summary, God played a large hand in stopping this tsunami. God, it turns out, has a name! It's Horus, Uniter of something or other, but he lets me call him Seungcheol. I expressed a healthy amount of skepticism in my last report when it came to Seungcheol's claims. I am both excited (as a human being) and incredibly confused and conflicted (as a lover and believer of science) to report that I have zero skepticism now. Make no mistake, Seungcheol is the only reason Singapore continues to stand today. He's the reason anyone is still alive. He's the reason the ocean ran from him screaming like a scared child. HE IS THE REASON! Oh my god, I think I may be religious? Wait, should it be oh my Horus? Oh my Seungcheol? Iâ
Joshua scrubs his face in frustration, sinking low in his seat, just as Jeonghan reads whatever made your boss give up and giggles uncontrollably. He points at the report, pulled up on Joshua's computer rather than printed out this timeâsomething about saving paper when he knows it will need to be edited heavily on the computer first anyway.
"Oh my Horus," Jeonghan repeats. "You've lost your Horus-damned mind, Y/N."
You grin, pointing at him. "Good one."
"Thanks," he giggles again, pushing Joshua out of his own seat so that he can sit down and continue reading through your mission summary report.
"Why are you entertaining this?" he whines at his boss. You think it's probably taking a lot of willpower for Joshua to keep from stomping his foot. Jeonghan snorts.
"You saw her video. Why wouldn't I entertain this?"
Joshua turns toward you, eyes narrowed in clear suspicion. The video in question has Seungcheol on camera, seemingly punching a hole straight through the wave, effectively dispelling it several kilometers out from shoreâand in 4K. Unfortunately, it also caught you eating shit when you fell over from the sonic boom it caused in 4K.
"Swear on your life you didn't edit that video."
You raise a hand. "I swear on my life that I didn't edit that video, other than to trim out the part where I fell. I swear to God." You raise your eyebrows emphatically, tilting your head in the direction of who exactly you're swearing to. Joshua's eyes follow your gesture to Seungcheol, who stands behind you, refusing to sit in the chair next to yours.
"Swearing to me does nothing, mortal," he says gruffly. "I will accept red meat, beer, incense, or gold, though. Preferably all four."
You turn around to look at him, his eyes flicking down to you without moving his head. "You take offerings?" He doesn't bother answering verbally, but you've learned to read his eyebrows by now. They twitch upward as if to say, Is that not what I just said, mortal? You nod. "Not like⊠human offerings though, right?"
"Iâ"
"Great, I've signed off and am sending this to the printer. I'll submit it myself," Jeonghan announces, pushing himself away from the desk. Joshua looks at him like he's lost his mind. "What? I'm your boss. If I say it's fine, who's going to tell me I'm wrong?"
You smile. "Thank you, Chief Yoon."
He snorts. "'Chief Yoon'? That's cute, kiss ass. Raises should be reflected in your next paycheck. Lee's too. Glad you're alive." He makes his way out of the room, nodding at Seungcheol as he goes. "Your Highness."
"Incorrect" is all the god says as Jeonghan exits.
Joshua flops back into his seat. "Why are you here again?" he asks the god.
"Don't be rude, Joshua," you murmur, embarrassed. "You are in the presence of a god. Would it kill you to sit up?"
Your boss makes it clear it would absolutely kill him to sit up right now. You roll your eyes.
"He's here because he knows where Set will be next."
"And who is Set? And why do we care?"
You glare. "If you read the mission summary report, you wouldn't have to make me explain all of this to you all over again."
"I'll make you a deal," your boss says, leaning forward. "If you can get to your point in the next three sentences I read in your report, then I will finish the rest of it. If not, you're going to sit here and answer all of my questions for as long as it takes me to understand all of your absolute nonsense."
"Perhaps you should watch your tone when speaking to her," the man behind you warns. Your boss's eyes meet Seungcheol's briefly, before immediately coming back down to you. He clears his throat uncomfortably.
You scoff, unaffected by Joshua's lack of patience for you. "Fine! Deal!"
Joshua shakes his head in disbelief as he turns to his computer, picking up right where he left off.
"'I should probably go to church,'" he recites with a sigh. "That's sentence one." You roll your eyes. "'I'll ask Seungcheol if he has a church I can go to.' Sentence two."
"I do not," the god answers you. "Though it is⊠amusing how eager you are to worship me, mortal." The words immediately make you want to stick your head into sand and never come out.
Joshua looks between the two of you with a mild level of derision. He turns back to the screen to read the third sentence. "'Anyway, Seungcheol's evil uncle, Set (uncle comma Set, NOT Uncle Set)'â" Seungcheol hums in approval, making you preen with pride. "â'who murdered his father has awoken again, and is now wreaking all kinds of havocâŠ'"
Joshua's voice tapers off as he realizes the third sentence he allowed you is the longest run-on you've ever written in your life.
"Keep reading!" you bark. "You said three sentences! Read 'em!"
He shakes his head but obliges anyway. "Jesus⊠uh, 'is now wreaking all kinds of havoc, causing storms and shit because he's mad that Seungcheol defeated him a million years ago'â"
"Incorrect. Not a million."
"It's hyperbolic," you clarify for Seungcheol. "An exaggeration."
"Ah."
"â'and is back for revenge (if you have not realized by now, he's also a god), so Seungcheol is searching for him to defeat him once more and put a stop to all this madness, therefore he is our one and only hope at defeating these stormsânot Jeon Wonwoo and the WMO.'"
Joshua sits in silence after the conclusion of the sentence. Someone might mistake him for reading the rest of your report, but you recognize the far away look in his eyes as him desperately trying to keep from screaming and pulling his hair out.
"So that is why Seungcheol is here," you say, smiling widely. "After stopping the tsunami, which I can again confirm is 100 percent real, he so graciously agreed to come back with us and help us mortals. All we need to do is find Set, stop him from ending the world or whatever it is he wants to doâ"
"Take over it, not end it," Seungcheol corrects.
"Right," you nod. "We stop that, and the storms end!"
"HaâŠ" Joshua forces out a huff of laughter. "RightâŠ" He blinks several times, nodding as his left eye twitches. "Okay, um. Please get out of my office and let me take a nap." You raise an eyebrow at him. "Very glad you are alive, by the way. Please leave now."
"But weâ"
"Do whatever you'd like," Joshua interjects, waving a hand at you. "Just say Jeonghan told you you could if anyone asks. Again, very glad you are not dead. Do not bother me for the next 24 hours."
You snort. "Say less. Good night!"
"It is midday."
"Shhh," you shake your head at Seungcheol, taking his wrist in your hand and leading him out of the office. You release him to close the door softly behind you. "My boss is this closeâ" you pinch your fingers together. "âto having an absolute mental breakdown. Let's get far away from him."
"I should inform you if you are serious about worshiping me, I will not accept any other 'bosses' in your life," Seungcheol says, causing your brain to malfunction. "I will be your only god."
"Um, right," you say, trying to ignore the sudden warmth between your legs. "Right, right, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it, hm? For now, I'd like to introduce you to my team and show you our weather center! Maybe we can get a headstart on where Set is headed next."
UNITED NATIONS â WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
Workplace Incident Report (INTERNAL USE ONLY)
REPORT ID: 960717
DATE FILED: 8 April 2026
INCIDENT DATE/TIME: 8 April 2026
FILED BY: Wonwoo Jeon
INCIDENT TYPE:
âŹïž Verbal dispute
âŹïž Workplace misconduct
âïž Physical altercation
âïž Property damage
âŹïž Ongoing harassment
âŹïž Improper use of office resources
PERSONNEL INVOLVED:
Personnel 1:
Name: Wonwoo Jeon
Title: Director, Climate and Global Forecast Systems
Status:
âŹïž Injured
âŹïž Uninjured
âïž Requiring medical attention (detail below)
Note: Although I bear no physical injuries, my team and I will forever be traumatized by this event. I demand counseling for us all.
Personnel 2:
Name: Seungcheol Choi
Title: Unclear, defer to Y/N L/N
Status:
âŹïž Injured
âïž Uninjured
âŹïž Requesting medical attention (detail below)
Note: N/A Seungcheol is not employed by the UN and is therefore not beholden to our policies. I'm unsure why Director Jeon insists on including him in this report as he will not be reprimanded but I digress. - Y/N L/N
PROPERTY DAMAGE ASSESSMENT:
List all damaged property resulting directly from incident and estimated cost below.
Item 1: Office chair (3) $1,100 each
Item 2: Company laptop $1,500
Item 3: Personal phone $1,000
Item 4: Stapler $10
Item 5: Photo frame $15
INCIDENT SUMMARY: Please attach necessary witness statements to your report to assist HR in making processing efficient.
At approximately 10:00, Y/N L/N entered the Global Forecast Operations Center with a stranger I would later learn is Choi Seungcheol. She informed me he will be a consultant for UNOCHA, approved by Chief Yoon, and would be helping my team understand the recent weather anomalies (in far less kind or professional words). Upon hearing my name, Choi Seungcheol said, "Jeon Wonwoo? Jeon Wonwoo of 'Y/N L/N, Storm Chaser, Protector of Citizens, and Mortal Enemy of Jeon Wonwoo and the WMO' Jeon Wonwoo?" which I still don't understand. Y/N nervously laughed and whispered something I couldn't hear to Seungcheol, who did not seem receptive to it. I am not sure what happened next but I was suddenly on the floor.
ATTACHED WITNESS STATEMENTS:
đ Seungkwan Boo: Did the UNOCHA start an Avengers program we weren't notified of? Have we been hiding superheroes this entire time? Does the WMO have some? Will we create super soldiers? If so, I would like to be considered for the WMO Super Soldier program.
đ Jennifer Huh: I was looking for any emerging anomalies as instructed by Dir. Jeon when Officer L/N visited with that little guy she manages (Chad?) and another man I've never seen before (very handsome man). I don't know what was said but the new man lifted his hand and suddenly everything exploded. Or maybe not exploded. I'm not sure to be honest. I was kind of distracted. The man was very handsome.
đ Kendall Ebeling: Okay I was technically taking my break and playing Valorant, but again, I was on my break so this cannot be considered a misuse of office resources as I was on a break. During my break (from both work and Valorant since I was waiting for a new game to start), I saw Officer L/N, Officer Lee, and a stranger come in. The stranger was mad at Director Jeon for doing something to Officer L/N. At this point, voices were rising so I exited my game while STILL ON MY BREAK to pay better attention. From what I gathered, Officer L/N called Director Jeon her sworn enemy at some point as a joke but this man took it VERY seriously. Anyway, I don't know how to describe what happened next (during my break) without sounding like I am losing my mind, but let's just say I am going to church during my NEXT break just in case God is real.
đ Chan Lee: I saw nothing.
đ Y/N L/N: If you are forcing me to submit a formal statement, I must insist on consulting a lawyer before putting anything into writing. Thank you.
SUPERVISOR COMMENTS:
No consequences recommended. Seems like your average work tussle. Approving counseling for Wonwoo and co. Approving expenses for replacing all damaged property aside from the stapler and photo frame. Cry me a river. Formally approving Choi Seungcheol as a consultant for the UNOCHA, reporting to Officer L/N.
SIGNATURE: Jeonghan Yoon
"He's been here for almost two weeks now, and nothing has come up," Joshua points out as he makes himself his third cup of coffee this morning. "By all accounts, everything has gone back to normal. We don't need a consultant anymoreânot that we ever did in the first place!"
You glare at the ceiling. "Seungcheol saysâ"
"The UN doesn't operate on 'Seungcheol says.' We operate on data. From theâ"
"The horde of dorks under Wonwoo's wing, I know," you say, rolling your eyes as you slide the creamer toward your boss. He mutters a thank you as he pours it into his cup. "But his data has been known to miss things."
"One thing. It missed one thing."
"And that one thing almost killed me!" you shriek, tired of having to remind people of your near death experience. "Seungcheol says he feels a presence! Set is still out there!"
"How do you expect me to care about something I don't believe exists?"
You shake your head. "Fine, whatever caused the typhoon and the tsunami is still out there!"
"What, climate change?" Joshua snorts. "Yeah, I know." He takes his first sip from this newly made cup before heading out of the break room and toward his office.
"Well⊠yes," you mutter, trying to keep up with his long strides. "But you know what I mean."
"I actually don't. I haven't known anything you've meant since you returned from Korea, and frankly, I feel like everyone is kind of losing their minds here."
You know it's because Jeonghan has pretty much completely accepted anything you say about Seungcheol as truth, even going as far as creating a budget meant solely to support his "consultation" needsâGod Gold, he calls it, which Seungcheol accepted as an official offering. He now treats him like a loyal follower. He doesn't need to know Jeonghan probably thinks it's a bit, and Jeonghan doesn't need to know that most of the God Gold is going to snacks. For you.
Even Wonwoo and the entire WMO are on board, mostly because they fear him the way only god-fearing people would. As for everyone else, you shove your phone and the video from Singapore in anybody's face who will spend more than two seconds with you, making it hard for anyone to refute your claims that the UN now has a representative god.
Joshua is the only one keeping his reservations, even with all the evidence you've given him.
And now, he wants to get rid of Seungcheol because things have been "normal" for the last two weeks. If you can call being a full-time godsitter "normal."
"You can keep him around as long as you want," Joshua says as you both reach his office. A smile lights up your face and you open your mouth to thank himâuntil he finishes his thought. "In your personal life." Your smile immediately drops. "When you come to work, he's gone. It's time to return to the minuscule level of professionalism this office was holding onto by the very tips of its fingers before Korea happened."
You scoff. You have never been professional within these walls a day in your life, but that is neither here nor there. "Fine. I'll make him go. But his next guess is South Asia. No signs pointing thereâjust a feeling. If something does happen, he's coming back as a consultant for as long as he's willing, and you stop pretending like something really fucking weird isn't happening."
Joshua opens his door and rolls his eyes. He obviously doesn't believe anything will happen because he says, "Deal."
"And we keep the God Gold regardless of his involvement at the UN," you add.
"What?"
"Good talk," you huff, turning and retreating into your own office next door. Seungcheol is seated in your chair, his brows pulled all the way down as he scrutinizes your personal phone, laid flat on your desk. "Where'd you get that?"
You don't know why you ask. You know exactly where he got it: the bottom drawer where you keep it while you work.
He answers without looking at you. "Desk."
You sigh as you hear the telltale sign of Seungcheol beating a level on Candy Crush. You drop yourself into the chair across from him and say, "You have an addiction."
It's your fault, really. He heard you playing the game during your lunch break a few days ago, his interest piqued when he heard a ridiculously deep, male voice announce, "Tasty!" after a good combo.
"Who is that?" he asked, staring at you hard from across the table in the break room, where he was eating another human hyperfixation he'd recently discovered in your lunchbox: Chocopie.
"No one," you said truthfully. But several days with Seungcheol had taught him enough about the way you speak to know you sometimes said "no one" or "nothing" when you were 1. hiding something (your Chocopies) or 2. too lazy to have to explain something to him ("What is a 'dork' and why do you keep calling those people that?"). He mistook this for one of those moments.
"Why are you hiding a man in your phone?" he asked, glaring at you. "Why is he calling you tasty? What does he find tasty?"
You gave him a puzzled look. "He's not calling me tasty! He's calling the combo tasty! You freaking weirdo."
"So you are talking to someone." He unceremoniously grabbed the phone out of your hand, and after a brief struggle, a lecture about privacy, and a tutorial, a Candy Crush monster was born.
He's been playing it every moment he hasn't been at the weather center, scanning data and scaring the nerds.
"Gods do not suffer from trivial mortal afflictions like addiction," he mutters.
"Okay, then stop."
"I cannot."
You snort but let him off the hook, reminding yourself he's been "asleep" long enough to have to catch up on everything you consider mundane. He should be allowed to enjoy something as mind-numbing as ad-riddled phone games.
You've learned a few things about Seungcheolânot that many, but enough to dread having to fire him. He's a god named Horus whose father was murdered by his own brother, Set. After avenging his father, he went to sleep because "bringing peace and harmony to the world is deceptively tiring." He awoke with the storms and picked the "strongest, nearest unoccupied vessel to command," and⊠that's all. You suppose it's not enough to get as attached as you feel.
You try not to fidget in your seat as you watch the god play on your phone. Why are you dreading telling Seungcheol that Joshua ordered you to fire him? He won't even know what that means; the concept of labor is utterly lost on him. For all you know, Seungcheol will think your boss is threatening harm upon him via flame and cause another workplace incident.
It will be weirdâhaving to work without him stuck to your side. Aside from wherever he disappeared to when it was time for you to go home, you have spent every moment of your day with Seungcheol. And while he hasn't gotten any less serious than when you first met, you're endlessly entertained by his antics. His discoveries about unremarkable human things make you appreciate them a little more. His commitment to treating Wonwoo like the man is truly your mortal enemy (and his subsequent amusement over how scared he and his staff are of him) pleases you. And his demands for more "offerings" from Jeonghan like beer and red meat on top of the God Gold never fails to make you laugh.
Seungcheol makes the work days feel a little shorter and the small stints of joy a little more frequent, even if it's clear he has no idea he's doing anything beyond what he's meant toâstopping these storms that you don't believe for a second are over.
Maybe your reluctance to let go of any of that is the reason why you ask what you do. You open your mouth to deliver the news, but instead of something like "Hey, Seungcheol, the UN wants to step back on this project" or "Doesn't it kinda suck around here? Do you maybe want to quit?" your brain goes with, "Have you always been a god?"
Seungcheol's face is proof that the question is as dumb as it sounds, his expression a perfect split between baffled and concernedâprobably concern that your brain cells have all vacated the premises.
"As opposed to⊠what�" he asks, raising one, thick eyebrow at you.
You shrug. You're not sure why you're asking that; you just said the first thing you thought of to avoid talking about his removal from your team. "I don't know anything about you. What if you were human once?"
With how often he reminds you he is a god and would never want to be a measly mortal like you, you half expect him to curl his lip up in disgust or bark his singular, mocking laugh at you. He doesn't. He simply watches you steadily, the small downturn in his brows the only sign that he's not completely zoning out.
"I was not ever human," he says finally. You think maybe he took so long to say it in an attempt to mask the regret he knew would seep into his voice. He didn't totally succeed. "I have always been a god."
"Did you want to be?" you ask bluntly. "Human?"
He sighs heavily, something he learned to do from watching you deal with your boss, and he bends down to open your bottom drawer and tuck your phone back into it, resigned to being interrogated instead of left alone to his vices. When he sits back up, he stares at you with his hands folded on the table in front of him like this is his office.
"Is there a reason you are back to asking me so many questions?" he asks. "I had a booster on Candy Crash."
"Crush." It's alarmingâhow easily his expression can fall into a glare without even moving a single muscle in his face. "Right. Sorry. No reason. Just⊠curious."
It isn't a total lie. His time here has been full of climate monitoring, data, tormenting Wonwoo, and mountains of paperwork for you to do from your eventful adventures across Asia. You haven't had time to get to know each other, though from the way he looks at you now, you're sure he was fine with going the rest of his immortal life without ever learning a single thing about you beyond both your and your mortal enemy's names.
"I think you humans are⊠infuriating and annoying." You snort and the sound makes his lips twitch. "But you are also doing your bestâmost of the time. You suffer and you persevere and you smile and some of you destroy, but even more of you create. You find hope in the silliest things no one should find hope in."
"Like?" you ask, a little amused to hear his observations of humanity over however many years he's existed.
"Like the calendar."
"What?"
"You always announce how many days left until a certain day on your calendar."
You frown, unsure of what he could be talking about.
He mimics you without even trying to change his voice, keeping it monotone as he sways back and forth, waving his hands in the air unenthusiastically. "'Payday this week. My will to live is returning as we speak.'"
The laugh that comes out of you is so loud, it actually startles the god, which just makes you laugh harder.
"Why are you laughing?" he asks, sounding irritated.
You force yourself to calm down, shaking your head and grinning widely. "I'm sorry. I'm not laughing at you... I'm actually not sure why I'm laughing," you admit, another giggle escaping your lips. You touch your fingers to your mouth, and when you're sure the laughter has subsided, you nod and try to temper your smile. "That was a very good impression of me."
His lips slant, and you take his own version of a smile where you can get it. "Thank you."
"And you're right." You nod. "I do find hope in the calendar."
"See!" he says far too petulantly for a god. "You mortals find the most insignificant things to be happy about."
One, last giggle fights its way out of you before you clear your throat and try to be serious again. You nod when you think your composure is under control. "Tell me more. What else have you observed about us?"
"Most of what is considered beautiful about life were not given to you by us," he informs you. "They are human-made. We may have given you the tools for survival, but you made life. You made some very abhorrent things." You tilt your head in agreement. "But you also made hope, joy, love. You put meaning into everything because you cannot stand any of this meaning nothing. You care for others oftentimes better than yourself. You crave brotherhood."
"Oh, not I. Absolutely not. I crave girlhood."
"Ah, I was not aware the word had changed. Thank you. You crave girlhood." He corrects himself and you nod in approval. "You laugh and you fight and you uplift and⊠you are pureâpurer than even any god I have known." He takes a small breath. "In any case⊠I strongly believe you are something worth protecting."
You know he's addressing the entirety of humanity, but you don't think your heart, which does giddy somersaults in your ribs, gets the memo.
"I have dedicated my life to doing that. All that I have ever done has been and will always be in the name of protecting humans." He swallows and you realize he's nervous. He shrugs a little, the movement ironically looking so human on him. "I suppose I have existed long enough to wonder what it would be like if I were something worth protecting to someone as well." He nods thoughtfully like he's internally checking to see if he's telling the truth. "If that makes me a god who has wished to be human before, then yes. I have."
From the way he looks at you blankly like he's waiting for the next question you'll inevitably fire at him, you know he has no idea the gravity of his words on an emotional person like you.
You've admittedly (and rightfully) been a little preoccupied with Seungcheol being a god. Even if you still question the absurdity of everything when you're alone at home, in the quiet of the night, your belief in him has been surprisingly unwavering. So of course, your mind hasn't done much other than try to process his existence and how it can help stop the storms. In the two weeks he's been here at work with you, you never stopped to consider that he⊠had feelings? Are deities not above such "mortal afflictions"?
Well, if he's been deflecting with comments about how inconsequential he finds humans just to have a list this long about all the things he finds beautiful about them, then no. You suppose gods aren't above the afflictions of yearning for something you can't have at all.
Seungcheol, it turns out, is just as human as you are.
You immediately feel the guilt of being so casually inconsiderate seep in, and your shoulders deflate in defeat. Have you ever even asked him how he was doing? How his day was? If he needed anything?
Oh god, you think. What if Chocopies are all he has to eat and you've been hiding them from him?
"Are you hungry?" you ask.
"HungryâŠ" he repeats, giving you that same baffled look.
You nod, immediately standing up and jerking your head toward the door. "Come on," you say, aware you sound a little frazzled, your movements a little frantic. You move to his side of your desk, bumping your rolling chair with him in it out of the way so you can retrieve your phone and purse. "I am going to treat you to a meal!"
Seungcheol doesn't show any excitement but he does stand immediately, which you take as a good sign. "Will there be meat and beer?"
He's literally been asking for meat and beer 24/7 since you've met him, and you're just taking him seriously now. You want to slap your palm to your forehead, but instead you smile tightly and nod.
"There is going to be so much meat and beer, you're going to lose your Horus-damned mind."
"Stop saying that," he grumbles as he follows you. "Jeonghan is a bad influence on you."
You snort, leading the way toward the exit. "Or I'm a bad influence on him."
The god falls silent like he's actually contemplating it. As you pass his office, Joshua walks out with an already empty coffee mug, startling when he almost runs into you.
"Oh! Is she walking you out?" he asks Seungcheol. You try not to give anything away on your face.
"Yes," the god answers, voice as icy as it always is around your boss.
Joshua nods, at least having the shame to look regretful. "Sorry about this, man. We just need toâ"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," you cut in before he can say anything else about firing Seungcheol. "I'm taking the rest of the afternoon off to treat him to barbecue."
You don't give your boss a chance to protest past the small noise he makes, already barreling past with a god hot on your heels.
"Are you sure you are not the boss?" Seungcheol asks, the tiniest piece of mischief layered in his voice. You smile at him.
"Oh, I'm definitely the boss," you inform him as you unlock your car and gesture for him to get in.
He hums thoughtfully but says nothing else.
UNITED NATIONS â OFFICE FOR COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
Expense Report
(INTERNAL USE ONLY)
FILED BY: Y/N L/N
SUPERVISOR: Joshua Hong
SUBMISSION DATE: April 17
EXPENSE DATE: April 16
EXPENSES:
AYCE KBBQ â $675
Bird feed â $60
Karaoke â $90
Chocopies â $25
COST CENTER: 1004 (God Gold)
PARTICIPATING PERSONNEL: Seungcheol Choi
BUSINESS JUSTIFICATION: Engagement with our contracted consultant is vital for team building and morale. Additional charges incurred are a result of consultant's dietary needs and restrictions.
REVIEWER (if different from supervisor): Jeonghan Yoon
Reminder: All expense reports and reimbursement requests must comply with the UN's financial and gifts & entertainment policies and include proper receipt documentation.
To: You <yn.ln@unocha>
From: J. Yoon <jeonghan.yoon@unocha>
Subject: bruh
what the hell is this expense report from last week and why is it going to me instead of hong
Sent from iPhone
To: J. Yoon <jeonghan.yoon@unocha>
From: You <yn.ln@unocha>
Subject: RE: bruh
As stated in the report, it was to cover a team outing. It was addressed to you because I want it to be approved. Do you think Hong would approve?
To: You <[email protected]@unocha>
From: J. Yoon <jeonghan.yoon@unocha>
Subject: RE: bruh
chocopies fine. karaoke MAYBE. but i can't just approve almost $700 worth of kbbq what is wrong with you?? how do you even spend $700 at ayce kbbq for TWO PEOPLE??? and bird feed for WHAT
Sent from iPhone
To: J. Yoon <jeonghan.yoon@unocha>
From: You <yn.ln@unocha>
Subject: RE: bruh
As stated in the report, Seungcheol has very specific dietary needs and restrictions, resulting in an incredibly high bill at our morale-building dinner. He ate so much meat that at some point, the manager begged us to leave. He was still hungry, and who am I to deny a god a meal? I told the manager we'd pay them for each round of meat and we were allowed to stay.
Anyway, I've literally never seen anything like it. I was simultaneously in awe and a little bit grossed out. I think cows would go extinct if we let him run free. He also drank enough pitchers of beer that they cut him off because "there's no way he doesn't have alcohol poisoning." Spoiler alert: he did not even achieve a buzz. So. That is how you spend $700 on AYCE KBBQ.
The karaoke bill should've been a lot cheaper, but I spent more time in there explaining the machinations of K-Pop to him. Unfortunately, I did not realize we'd been there for hours until we paid for our time in the room.
As for the bird feed, Seungcheol has some friends I didn't know about, and I wanted them to eat too. He insisted that was unnecessary since they're "strong, competent hunters," but I bought them feed anyway. The falcons weren't about it, as expected, but the little birds loved it. I've noticed more of them following me around now. It seems to please Seungcheol, so if you don't approve that expense, I guess I don't mind paying for it. Worth it. But I cannot pay for anything else.
Happy to answer any more Qs you have. Otherwise⊠please please please approve this. If you make me explain this to Joshua, he will have an aneurysm then quit his job and if he quits, I'll quit and if I quit, Chan will absolutely quit and it'll be all your fault and you'll have even more work than you already do.
To: You <[email protected]@unocha>
From: UNOCHA Expense Reports Center <expenses@unocha>
Subject: Your expense report 951004 has been approved
J. Yoon has approved your expense report submitted April 17. View your report here.
To: You <[email protected]@unocha>
From: J. Yoon <jeonghan.yoon@unocha>
Subject: RE: bruh
so⊠you went on a date�
Sent from iPhone
You look up from where you were reading Jeonghan's latest email on your phone, brows furrowed as you consider his question. A date? No, you were just getting to know Seungcheol. As a friend. Because you've been an asshole who's been looking at him as nothing but a storm-chasing god meant to help you and your team. And you succeeded; you learned a lot about Seungcheol that may not have been as deep-cutting as his innate desire to be human but just as important in your opinion.
For example, he wants to be the one to cook and takes great offense when you so much as look at the tongs. Unsurprisingly, he's also the type of person who serves the other first when eating, constantly piling your plate with food long after you had already tapped out (at round four out of what you suspect was dozens), citing your need to be healthy and strong.
He's slept with both men and women, a fact you found out when the male server wouldn't stop flirting with him and you teased him for it, not-at-all expecting his response to be: "I need the men I lay with to be much more⊠formidable than he is." He went on to explain that his partners are not chosen by a perceived genderâthe use of which he admits still perplexes himâbut by how strong he finds them.
Of the offerings he demands, meat and beer are his favorite, in that order. He told you about a time ages ago when he never went a day without several offerings, receiving them from all around the world with fervor from his enthusiastic worshipers. He grew quieter when he shared that he woke up to a very different worldâmaybe one that has forgotten the might of gods. You definitely blushed when he told you, "So it satisfies me to no end to receive this offering from you," and you didn't bother correcting him to inform him it was not meant to be an offering and was just a regular human hangout.
Though you learned back in Singapore that he commanded everything in the sky, he really drove the point home when you left the KBBQ restaurant hours later to a cloudy night sky and you mentioned wishing you could see the moon. He simply pointed at the sky and there it was, not a single cloud marring it. And sure, that was probably the most romantic thing that has ever happened and will ever happen to you, but it still wasn't a date.
The thought is absurd. What kind of date involves eating enough pounds of meat to feed a small country? Or having to explain what the fuck Inkigayo is?
"Oh, sorry, am I bothering you?"
Your eyes slide from the wall, back to your boss. You raise your eyebrows. "What?"
He half laughs and half scoffs. "Why did I even hire you?"
Your face falls, deciding you don't care what it was he was saying. "If you think anyone else would put up with your constant complaining and moaning and groaning and whining and needless copy-editing, you are sorely mistaken, Joshua Hong."
He glares at you, ignoring the rant and repeating what you assume he was saying before Jeonghan's email distracted you. "Why is he still here? I told you to let him go a week ago."
A sigh escapes your lips before you can stop it. "I can't do it. He's not even getting paidânot really, anyway! He has no concept of a salary or benefits! Why does it matter if he's here?"
"It matters because everyone is distracted," he points out. "The entire WMO just freezes when you two are at the weather center, and Wonwoo can barely breathe, let alone function well enough to do his job when they're in the same room. I can never find Chan at his desk anymore because he does his work wherever the two of you are, and on the topic of you, you're so wrapped up in this god theoryâ"
"It's not a theory!" you exclaim. "It is happening right in front of your eyes and you're being purposefully obtuse!"
"Regardless," he says, his voice gaining that edge you recognize as his fast approach to being genuinely angry with you. You deflate into your seat a little. "You're so wrapped up in whatever this is, you're losing sight of your responsibilities."
You don't bother refuting the point, knowing that pushing Joshua's buttons any more will just result in several days of Professional Boss Joshuaâyour least favorite personality of his. The one that doesn't speak to you unless it's about work, doesn't entertain jokes, and doesn't care to be a friend outside of being a colleague. And at the end of the day, everyone at work is someone you consider a friend because you don't really have those outside of these walls.
That's also why you probably don't want to fire your newest one.
"Is this a formal complaint about my performance?" you ask quietly.
He sighs, shaking his head. "No, of course not. I just need you focused again. We're behind on paperwork and you have team members who are due for deployments soon. The longer you stay hyperfixated on storms that aren't even happening, the more you fall behind."
You nod slowly. It's a fair piece of feedback. You know Seungcheol has been a priority for you since you were able to convince him to come back with you, but you also wholeheartedly believe him when he says Set's presence is strongâthat he'll be striking again soon. You just don't know how to buy him more time without completely sacrificing your job.
"Fire him, Y/N," Joshua orders with finality. You know there's no way of skirting around this one. "If you need me to, I will. And I won't wait to do it."
"No it's okay," you mumble, dejected as you stand and make to leave his office. "I'll do it."
"Good."
You walk to the exit, and just as you reach out to turn the knob, the door is thrown open with an anxious and frantic force only Jeon Wonwoo is capable of.
"What the fuck!" you scream as the door connects with your face, sending you stumbling several steps back.
"Oh shit! I'm so sorry! Oh fuck!"
"Wonwoo, what the hell!" Joshua shouts. You hear the stomps of his feet as he runs around his desk to where you are. "Are you oâholy shit."
"What?!" you shriek, your eyes squeezed shut as you cradle your nose.
"Wonwoo, what the fuck?!" Joshua repeats, graduating to cussing that you, once again, cannot enjoy in the moment.
"I'm so sorry! I'm so, so, so sorry!"
"Oh my god! Is it broken?!" you screech, ignoring your aggressor's apologies. "Is my nose broken?! Did you just break my nose?! Why don't you ever fucking knock?!" When you don't get an immediate response, your voice reaches a fever pitch as you scream, "Why isn't anyone answering me?! Am I bleeding?!"
"It was an accident, I swear! Don't kill me!"
"Oh, I'll fucking kill you if you don't answer me right now!" you say, whimpering at the thought of needing surgery for your nose. You've never even broken anything.
It's silent as you sense who you think is probably Wonwoo scramble away from you.
You feel gentle fingers close around your wrists, pulling your hands away from your face. You allow who you assume is Joshua to do so, trusting that Wonwoo isn't dumb enough to touch you right now. One hand moves from your wrist to your nose, a single finger running down the bridge of it. You wince when the pain multiplies. You jerk your head away but the hand still around your wrist holds you in place.
"Breathe in." You inhale involuntarily anyway when you realize it's Seungcheol's voice. As soon as you do, you feel a strange tingling sensation in your nose before it snaps back into the place you suspected the door forced it out of. You squeak from the surprise but feel no pain, even as the tingling spreads from the center of your face to your cheeks.
"What the hellâŠ" Joshua breathes to your left.
"Does that feel better?" Seungcheol asks, letting his hand fall from your nose. He squeezes your wrist once and you open your eyes. He stands before you, much closer than you expected, eyes trained on you so intentlyâthe gold one sparkling much brighter than usualâyou visibly squirm. He asks again. "Are you alright?"
You reach up to your nose and cheeks to touch them, and when you feel no pain, you nod. "I'm fine⊠I think."
"How did youâŠ" Joshua trails off, his eyes on your nose and his finger half-lifted toward you in confusion. "Her noseâŠ"
You're just as surprised as Joshua. Aside from the whole "I can stop massive storms and tsunamis" thing he had going on, you never thought to wonder if Seungcheol could do other, equally fantastical things. Like healing a broken nose.
"Good," Seungcheol says, ignoring your boss and nodding at you once. His hand slips from your wrist, and your fingers twitch with the need to feel him again. "Excuse me while I take care of your mortal enemy."
"What?"
Seungcheol turns toward Wonwoo, who immediately lets out a laughably high-pitched shriek and cowers behind a smaller, very puzzled Joshua. "I said it was an accident! I didn't mean it!"
It only dawns on you now that his pleas for mercy before were not for you, but for the god, who must have heard the commotion from your own office next door. You almost huff in annoyance but when Seungcheol reaches his right hand out and a brilliant ball of golden light that looks like the sun itself spirals down his arm and manifests into a huge spear taller than himself in his grip, your irritation is forgotten.
"Seungcheol, don't!" you gasp, putting yourself between him and your colleagues.
"Please move."
"No, you can't just go around impaling nerds with your little sun spear because they're annoying," you tell him, throwing Wonwoo a dirty look over your shoulder. He mouths another apology at you before you turn your attention back to the god.
"His offense is not being annoying," he grunts, fingers tightening around the golden spear. Your eyes travel up to the tip of it, and you swallow when you see how sharp it is. It looks like it will draw blood if you look at it for too long. "His offense is hurting what is mine."
Your eyes widen and your face immediately flushes. "Huh?" you squeak.
"What's his�" you hear Wonwoo repeat in a panicked whisper. "His what?"
Joshua doesn't answer him, instead asking his own question. "Are we going to just skim over the fact that he healed her face? Is that not something that we are going to discuss� Her nose was broken! She was already beginning to bruise!" He gets his answer when everyone ignores him.
"What do you mean?" you ask your consultant.
"It is my duty to ensure no harm comes to my consort," Seungcheol says casually like it's something everyone in this room should have known.
"What?!" Joshua finally snaps out of his daze. "Your consort?! Since when?! Is this why you've been dragging your feet firing him? Is that even allowed? Did you tell HR?"
"Be quiet before I change my mind and decide to make being annoying a punishable offense," Seungcheol barks at him. Your boss falls silent immediately. You wish you could laugh.
Instead, you blink at the god several times, mouth opening and closing but failing to form syllables for what feels like hours.
"Your⊠consortâŠ" you repeat. "Like⊠a queen consort⊠like⊠a wifeâŠ"
"Yes." He says the word like this information isn't making your stomach turn in knots. "Now please step aside."
"No, no, let's just go back to the consort thing super duper quick," you say, shaking your head several times. "Um, what makes you, uh, call me⊠that?"
He looks at you like you've lost your mind, a look you've grown quite used to at this point. "Your offering."
"My⊠offeringâŠ" you repeat, narrowing your eyes as you try to follow. "The dinner?" He nods. "Okay⊠and⊠what about my offering?"
"You hit her head hard enough that she has lost her memories," Seungcheol hisses as he fixes his glare over your head, right at Wonwoo. "I will end you."
"Oh my god," Wonwoo whines.
"Should we call HR?" Joshua whispers.
"We should call the police!" he shriek-whispers back.
"I didn't lose my memories!" you yell, hands waving frantically as you try to redirect Seungcheol's attention to you. "I would just like to understand what's happening here! I'm a little confused!"
Seungcheol frowns down at you. "About what?"
"About being your⊠consort," you whisper the last word, suddenly feeling outrageously shy having this conversation in front of other people.
With how much travel your job demands of you, your dating life has been dormant for years now. And before that, you had never even gotten past the "what's your favorite color" stage, let alone the marriage stage.
"Why are you whispering?" he asks loudly. You glare at him.
"Can you please lower your voice?" you whisper again through gritted teeth, stepping closer to him so he can hear. "Explain this to me like I'm a child."
He frowns even harder, eyes going to the ceiling as he shakes his head like he's explaining that the sky is blue. He at least acquiesces and whispers back, "You gave me the biggest offering I have ever received. You arrange for others to give me offerings as well."
"What? Like who?"
"Jeonghan," he answers. "I have decided to make Chocopies part of my accepted offerings, and he supplies me many, at your request. The little one has also shared his lunch with me."
You gawk at him. "Chan?" He shrugs. Chan was treating the god like a friend before even you were. "And all of that makes me your consort�"
"No. All of that makes you a high priestess."
"Oh."
"I have simply decided to take you as my consort."
"What?! 'Take me'?" you scoff, looking him up and down. He follows your gaze and raises an eyebrow at you. "Don't I get a say?!"
"A say in what?"
"In whether or not I want to be your wife!"
"Why would you offer me so much meat and beer if you were not hoping to become a god's wife?"
"Oh my god," you breathe, chest rising and falling quickly as you begin to connect the dots of your misunderstanding. "Seungcheol." You take a deep breath before asking, "Exactly how long have you been asleep?"
He shrugs. "Perhaps a thousand years? I am not sure."
"A thousand?!" Joshua squeaks again. If you knew his belief would come with so many interruptions, you wouldn't have pestered him so much for it.
"Okay, makes sense," you nod, rolling your lips between your teeth and trying not to panic. "So we have a lot to catch you up on when it comes to matrimony, I see. Since when do gods even take mortal wives?" You mutter the question more to yourself, but he answers anyway.
"Since I decided I wanted to."
You balk at him, hating yourself for the small feeling of pride that blooms in your chest at the insinuation you're his first chosen partner. You shake your head to clear it. A god thinks you're his consort, dude. Get it together.
"Now please move so I can end the mortal who hurt my wife."
The words make several parts of you ache, but you focus on the matter at hand: preventing Wonwoo's untimely, bloody death. If you actually have managed to accidentally become a god's wife, that has to come with some perksâlike ordering him around and expecting him to obey. Unless "happy wife, happy life" is not something god's observe. After all, Seungcheol doesn't strike you as someone who likes to follow. Regardless, you have to try.
"No! It was an accident, Seungcheol. Those things happen!"
You hesitantly lay a hand on the spear, chills running down your spine when your skin meets the warm gold. It doesn't budge until you give Seungcheol an exasperated look. He glares at you before relenting, allowing you to to push the spear down by his side.
"Now, I will deal with Wonwoo how I see fit," you inform him. "And you will put⊠that away." You pause, looking at his spear expectantly.
He stares at you hard and you fight to keep your composure, straightening your posture and tilting your head to meet his unwavering gaze. After a moment, something in his expression softens and he nodsâbarely noticeable to anyone but you. The spear dissipates into a million tiny fragments of light, and the room collectively lets out a breath.
"I have chosen well," he says, voice low as he watches you. "A strong partner." The words nestle between your legs.
"Uh, congrats on your union�" Joshua says uncertainly.
"Shut up," you murmur, turning to glare at him.
Seungcheol looks up at Wonwoo and you catch him flinching. "As soon as she says I am allowed to, I will rip you limb from limb."
"I will not be allowing you to do that ever," you clarify, looking at the god. "Come on. We should talk."
"No time," Seungcheol says simply. "We must go."
You frown. "Where?"
"India," he answers. "There'sâ"
"Some kind of phenomenon happening," Wonwoo finishes, finally stepping out from behind Joshua, obviously in awe that the god already knows. "It's what I was running over here to tell you!"
"Fuck," Joshua groans, shoulders sagging. You grin, finally enjoying this one curse because you know that between your broken nose and the confirmation that Seungcheol really did feel a presence in South Asia, Joshua can't resist the truth any longer. He looks at you and nods. "Fine. You can keep him."
You clap several times and shriek with the excitement of getting your way. "Come on, my very employed consultant. To India!"
UNITED NATIONS â OFFICE FOR COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
DEPLOYMENT NOTIFICATION: IMMEDIATE
MISSION ID: UNOCHA/APAC/0808-IN
LOCATION: Republic of India
LEAD OFFICER: Y/N L/N (or⊠Choi?), Senior Disaster Assessment & Coordination Officer
DATE ISSUED: 24 April 2026
DURATION: TBD
DISASTER CLASSIFICATION: Atmospheric anomaly; reduced solar visibility event?
SUMMARY: The WMO has noted an unusual haze affecting northern India with significantly declined visibility over the last 48 hours. Current readings do not fully match pollution, wildfire, volcanic, or seismic activity or seasonal patterns. Forecast models have become increasingly unhelpful, and predictive confidence remains low. Personnel are being deployed based on observed patterns by external consultant, Choi Seungcheol, who has frustratingly been correct several times in a row now.
OBJECTIVES:
Assess transportation risks and provide recommendations for support
Provide updated observations to the WMO Forecast Operations Center
Submit SITREP within 12 hours of arrival and every 6 hours until reassignment or the sky has decided to behave normally again
TRAVEL ADVISORY:
Personnel should expect limited sunlight regardless of time of day
Respiratory protection is strongly advised until we receive air composition test results
Please tell your team members to refrain from asking if this is "another god thing" over official channels
In the case of a life-threatening event, we strongly recommend using what little survival skills you seem to possess and prioritizing your life. To be abundantly clear, NO ONE in this office expects or wants you to risk your life to submit a SITREP. In fact, if either of your senior managers receive distressing messages about you dying, you will be suspended WITHOUT PAY should you survive.
Foolishly enough, it doesn't occur to you to be scared of the situation at hand until you arrive in India and bear witness to what this "anomaly" has done to its skies. You've almost been dragged away in a typhoon Wizard of Oz-style and you were uncomfortably close to experiencing a historic tsunami, but you didn't let the fear bubble up past your ability to push forward. You think your ability to do that is waning.
As you stare up at the darkness that nearly blacks out the sky, what Seungcheol has been trying to drill into your head begins to really, truly sink in: the world is in danger. Maybe you haven't felt as scared up until this point because something in you knew that he had it handledâthat he would protect you and everyone else, and everything would be fine. After all, everything has been fine so far. But you feel scared now, and it's probably due to the fact that the god next to you doesn't seem to understand what's happening any more than you do.
"Seungcheol," you say his name quietly, unsure if he'll even hear you over the chaos of the street below your hotel balcony. "What is this?"
He continues staring at the sky, turning his thoughts over and over in his mind the same way you found him back in Korea. Just when you think he's too preoccupied to entertain one of your questions, he looks down at you, worry unmistakeably etched into the space between his brows.
"I am⊠unsure."
You shake your head. "This doesn't feel like the others, does it?" you ask him, thinking aloud. "It's not so⊠chaotic. Or violent."
In fact, you're impressed by how life has continued on without a hitch for the locals. The sky is, by most people's definition, black at 11 a.m., and everyone carries on like nothing is happening. You reckon they assume it's the result of a wildfire or a terribly polluted day, especially since they haven't received word from officials about what's happening.
The air composition test that Wonwoo ordered before your deployment hasn't returned any results yet, but you don't need it to say definitively that this isn't pollution. You're not sure the word "haze" even effectively describes the issue you've been sent to observe. The sky is too clear to be called hazy. Right now, it just looks like someone threw a blanket over the sun. You can just barely see the outline of itâlike the light is fighting tooth and nail to pierce through the blanket and failing.
"You sound scared."
"I mean, I am!" your voice comes out in a squeak.
"Why?" he asks, as seemingly confused about your fear as he is about the sky.
You gesture at the vast darkness above you. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"You did not exhibit much fear before."
You balk at him. "I think we have very different memories of Korea and Singapore if you think I wasn't afraid."
He studies you carefully before his shoulder twitches upward in a small shrug. "You were frantic, yes. But you were not afraid. You ran after me into the storm in Korea. You came back to the shoreline after evacuating the locals in Singapore. Both times you could have very well died." He looks away from you and toward the sky. "But would you go into this darkness without knowing what was waiting for you?"
The question leaves you holding your breath. He has a pointâthis fear feels as different as the atmosphere right now. Your work is grounded in things that have been long-studied and understood before you were even born. You know that warm ocean waters and wind make for the perfect typhoon. You know that when a tectonic plate is forced underneath another in the middle of the ocean, the centuries of stress it causes will have to go somewhere someday, and that when it inevitably does, it can and will cause a tsunami.
The scariest things about these two incidents wasn't that they happened; it was that no one saw them coming and no one was able to prepare. But at least you knew how they happened. You knew how to react and how to respond and all the risks associated with running into the danger. The scariest thing about your mission now is that you have no idea what could have caused this. You don't know anything.
This is no longer a matter that science can help you make sense of; this feels like a matter belonging entirely to the godsâto Seungcheol.
"I would go in if it meant it would help," you answer him honestly. Even if Joshua would disagree, you still wholly believe you have a responsibility to help no matter the cost. He calls it something you need to unpack in therapy. You call it your job. "I would be scared the entire time, but I would."
You don't need to ask him the same question because you know the answer, but he tells you anyway. "I would too." He pauses before adding, "I would be nowhere near as scared as you seem to be, but I would go in with you."
You laugh, rolling your eyes as you do, and you don't miss the way the corner of his lips quirk up into the world's smallest smile. "Okay, tough guy," you sigh when you catch your breath. "Good to know neither of us would be alone in⊠that."
Seungcheol hums as he stares at the midday night alongside you.
"Can you bring it back?" you ask. "The sun?"
Seungcheol sighs. "I am not sure. Although I command the skies, the sun is not completely under my domain. Setâor whoever this isâknows that."
You frown. "What do you mean 'whoever this is'?"
He shakes his head, clearly annoyed with himself for not having an answer. "This is not characteristic of Set at all. Set thrives on disorder and chaos. Storms." He nods at the street below. "This would not satisfy Set."
You look down from the balcony, observing the road packed with cars, mopeds, and people, all on their way somewhere, all with something to do. It is chaotic and disorderlyâbut only to you. This is every day for the locals. Seungcheol is right; they're not panicking at all. Compared to the screaming crowds in Korea and Singapore, hundreds of people tripping over each other to reach safety, this is the picture of calm.
"Set sounds like a real piece of work," you grumble. "Gaining your power from sheer panic is a whole new level of low." He grunts in agreement but says nothing more. "Did you ever... forgive him� For what he did to your father?"
He shakes his head. "I cannot grant forgiveness to someone who has not asked for it."
You wince. "That's terrible, I'm sorry." He hums in response but again, says nothing else. "I don't know if I agree that you can't forgive someone who hasn't apologized, though."
"What do you mean?"
"Maybe forgiving him would be more about you being able to accept your circumstances and move on, rather than giving him peace."
"I have moved on."
"You went to sleep for what you think is a thousand years immediately after defeating him," you point out. "Kind of sounds like an extreme attempt at avoiding your feelings if you ask me." You feel his stare boring holes into your profile, but you don't turn to meet his gaze. You simply shrug and add, "But you didn't ask me, soâŠ"
"I did not," he agrees. After a beat, he adds, "But I value your opinion all the same. If we can confirm that this is not Set resorting to his old ways and causing more trouble⊠I suppose I will consider forgiving him. For myself."
"Good," you say, smiling to yourself. You glance at him briefly to see his eyes are still on you. You purse your lips in thought before deciding that asking your next question is what you would ask a friend. And if you're trying to be more considerate of the god's feelings, it's your duty to ask. So you do: "Do you want to tell me about him? Your dad?"
Seungcheol's frame becomes rigid for a brief moment before he forces himself to relax. He reaches forward and wraps his fingers around the railing, leaning against it. You're struck by how casual and human he looks.
"There is nothing to speak of," he says quietly. "I never met him. I was created by my mother solely to avenge him and take my rightful place as king."
You frown. "Created?"
"From a piece of the sky itselfâa bolt of lightning."
"And you just agreed to avenge someone you never even knew?" you ask. "Isn't that asking for a bit much from a child?"
"I was no ordinary child. I am a god, and it was my duty. I only exist to protect order and justiceâto protect the world. If I cannot do even that, I am of no use."
Your frown deepens. He makes being guardian of the world sound like an easy feat, and you can't help the feeling he's only repeating words he's heard from someone else.
"You never knew protection yourself," you murmur your thoughts out loud before you can stop to wonder if it's wise. "As a child and even now. No one has looked after you since your creation⊠no wonder you're so curious about being human."
Seungcheol shrugs half-heartedly. "I did not need it."
"Maybe not. But you deserved it."
He looks down at where you're leaning on the railing and you stand straight to meet his stare. He holds it for a moment, the gold in his eye swirling like a storm of its own, before his gaze sweeps over the entirety of your face slowly. It lands on your mouth.
Your own eyes naturally fall to his lips too, so pink and so plump, you're not sure if the feeling in the pit of your stomach is desire or jealousy.
"What makes you say that?" he asks, voice barely a whisper but still powerful enough to make your knees tremble.
Your eyes flick back up to meet his again. You lick your suddenly very dry lips, and the movement makes his eyes travel back down briefly.
"I don't know," you say, voice wavering as he steps closer. Your mind becomes increasingly muddled, so you pluck the last coherent thought you have from itâhis own words. "I just think you're something worth protecting too."
He stops mid-step, and his posture relaxes before you, even that stony expression he constantly wears melting into something undeniably softer. He blinks a few times before he hums and nods.
"That is⊠very kind," he says, clearly unsure of what he should say.
You're at a loss, yourself, so instead of finding a smooth way to transition the conversation, you let the silence sit, turning your body away from him and toward the railing once more. You tilt your head up at the sky, trying to slow your heart rate and ignore the way he openly stares at you.
Finally, after some time, he turns away too, eyes back on the big mass of blackness. It's a familiar picture: the two of you standing side-by-side, watching the sky and waiting for whatever comes next. You yawn, leaning forward and resting your forearms on the rail of the balcony.
"You should rest. It was a long journey for you."
You peer over your shoulder at him. "I'm not tired," you protest. You definitely are; your fear of the sky will keep you up anyway, though.
"No use in lying, mortal."
You roll your eyes but don't bother arguing. Instead, you ask, "If this isn't Set, do you have any ideas who it could be?"
Seungcheol crosses his arms over his broad chest, his biceps bulging against the linen of his top. It distracts you enough that you miss the first few words of his answer.
"So we will have to check with Ra," is what he's saying when you tune back in. "I am not sure where he is these days, but he might have a better idea."
"Who's Ra?"
"He is the creator of the universe. He is the sun god."
You narrow your eyes at where the sun should be. "Wait, you have a sun god and you didn't think to go to him immediately upon landing here?"
Seungcheol gives you a flat look. "As I said, I do not know where he is."
"Clearly," you say, hand gesturing at where the sun isn't.
He snorts. "He is not the actual sun." Your mouth makes a small o. "But he does command it. If it continues to stay hidden for long, I do not doubt he will be here himself soon." He mutters the next sentence, making it clear it's a complaint. "And he will be wondering why I have not dispelled the darkness yet."
You smile. "Wow. Even gods are beholden to their bosses, huh?"
He squints at you but says nothing, prompting your smile to grow wider.
"Oh, he's actually your boss," you confirm, laughing.
"He is not my boss. He is⊠he isâŠ" he shrugs helplessly.
"It's okay, he's your boss," you inform him, shaking your head and laughing. "Don't worry. Everyone has one. And speaking of them, mine will be expecting a SITREP from me soon." His frown becomes icy at the statement. "So if there's nothing we can do immediately, I'm going to get that done to send to Joshua."
You turn to walk back into the hotel room that both Jeonghan and Joshua thought would be hilarious to make you share with Seungcheol. The god scoffs and you turn over your shoulder to find him giving you a sharp enough look that you stop in your tracks and raise an eyebrow.
"What?"
He walks in with you, stopping when he's toe-to-toe with you and forcing you to tilt your head back to look at him. "You are my consort."
It catches you by surprise, mostly because you haven't found the courage to talk about it, but you do not need to be reminded that you're his consort.
In fact, it's all you've been able to think of since the four of you were gathered in Joshua's office. All throughout your briefing meeting with the UNOCHA and WMO team members accompanying you on the trip, you thought about the way you went from being dreadfully single to a wife in the span of a minute. While packing your go bag, you wondered if you knew it would result in marriage, if you would have still brought Seungcheol to KBBQ. As you boarded the jet, Seungcheol's hand hovering over the small of your back to ensure you didn't trip, you relentlessly thought about the fact that the god had to have had a moment where he stopped and thought, Yes. I would like to make this specific mortal my wife. And through all of that, you also had to process the fact that you didn't even hate the idea.
All of what you knew about Seungcheol you learned about at dinner; it isn't inaccurate to say you hardly know him at all. He also decided this without your input (and no, you don't count meat and beer as proper input). You never went on a dateâthough maybe Jeonghan is right; maybe KBBQ was a date, unbeknownst to you. Either way, everything tells you that you should hate this. You really don't, and it baffles you to no end. You don't need a reminder of any of it.
"I told you if you were serious about worshiping me, I would not accept other men in your life."
You scoff. "Okay, first of all, I highly respect you and am in awe of you, but I don't worship anyone, least of all, a man." Seungcheol mirrors your offense on his own face. "Second of all, you did not say you would not accept men."
"Yes, I did."
"No, you said you would not accept bosses." He opens his mouth to argue some more but pauses, frowning when he realizes you're right. "Exactly," you say. "And like I said before, I am the boss, whether or not Joshua actually knows that."
"Hm." You smirk when he has nothing to say to that. It falls right off your face when he adds, "Well, you must worship me."
"Oh, please, you're grasping at straws."
"What?"
"Nothing." He glares at you, always annoyed when you'd rather say "nothing" than explain something to him. "Fine, I'll entertain this. Why do I need to worship you?"
"You are my consort."
"Once again," you sigh, taking a seat on the king-sized bed and crossing your leg over your knee, "I must point out that repeating something does not make someone understand your point any better, sweet Cheollie."
You meant the pet name to be sarcastic, if not a little mocking, but the way the god's skin turns a bright pink delights you.
"A high priestess worships her deity. Why else would you offer me so much meat and beer?"
You nod. "Okay, yes. We should talk about this." You pat the space on the bed next to you. Seungcheol looks at it blankly. "Sit, Seungcheol."
He huffs at your bossiness but obeys all the same. "We are already talking."
"Yes, but⊠there has been a misunderstanding."
"What do you mean?"
You sigh again. "Seungcheol, I took you to Korean barbecue because I wanted to get to know you. And befriend you."
"Be⊠friend me."
"Yes, befriend you," you repeat, nodding. He watches you so carefully, it endears you how hard he's trying to follow along. "You're my friend. I want to get to know you. And to get to know each other, humans tend to go out and eat together. So I bought you lots of meat and beer because I wanted you to feel appreciated and have a good time."
Seungcheol nods slowly. "I felt very appreciated."
"Right, and I'm glad, but⊠it wasn't an offering."
"Yes, it was."
"No, it wasn't," you say, wincing a little. "It was a friendly gesture, and it's not your fault you interpreted it the way you did because you woke up so recentlyâhow would you even know the difference between breaking bread and an official offering? In fact, it's probably my fault since I never bothered to learn more about you and your world before that day."
Maybe you wouldn't have brought him to the restaurant. Maybe you still would have. Regardless, you regret that neither of you were equipped with the proper information going into your "morale-building" night.
"So⊠what does a friendly gesture mean to you mortals?"
You bite your lip, a little confounded by the question. In general, you know what you should say. But personally, with Seungcheol specifically, you think your answer is a little different. A friendly gesture for the god feels a little different than one for Joshua or Chan would.
"Um⊠it means⊠I want to be your friend?" you say pathetically.
He looks unimpressed. "And that is all? You only want to be my friend? You do not want to be a high priestess? Or a consort? My consort?"
"I didn't say that," you deny, shaking your head a little too fast. "But that is also moving very fast for humans."
Seungcheol hums, frowning a little as he follows along. "And when does one take a wife for humans?"
"Well, we don't take wives so please stop saying that," you say, chuckling lightly. "It just depends. Some wait a few months, others several years."
He scoffs so loudly, you flinch. "Years?" he repeats. You think it's the most passionate he's been about something since you've met him. "Humans hardly waited a fortnight the last time I was awake."
You nod. "Right, but their lifespans were also so much shorter then, y'know? Now, we take our time to make sure the match is right and that we like each other and that⊠I don't know, that we can agree on how to split the chores." How can you describe a relationship to a god as someone who hasn't had one in years?
"I like you. I do not need years to know it."
You raise your eyebrows, trying not to fidget under his steady gaze. "Uh, well⊠okay. What do you like about me? Maybe it's something you'd just like in a friend rather than a wife?"
His readiness to answer the question catches you off guard. "I like that you have many questions. It is clear you are very interested in the lives of others around you. You try hard to understand them."
You make a noise of disbelief. "You constantly complain that I have too many questions."
"Yes, because you seem to like teasing and being teased."
You frown. "WhâŠ"
If you take even a second to stop and think of Seungcheol's time with you at the UN, you can clearly see why he would come to this conclusion. There isn't a day that goes by that you don't make fun of Joshua and Chan or Jeonghan doesn't stop by to rib you a little. You realize the god has picked up a lot more than you've given him credit for.
"Oh," you say dumbly. "You just sound so serious when you tease⊠I thought I was annoying you."
He shakes his head before pausing to think about it. "Well, maybe at first." You grin, thinking about the way you accosted him in Singapore. "I have grown fond of it. I am also fond of how honest you are. And how determined you are to help your people." He purses his lips together and stares at you hard. "Maybe that, best of allâyou are good."
You tear your gaze away from his, breathing evenly through your nose. "Those are all things friends can like about each other, Seungcheol," you tell him. "It doesn't necessarily mean we should get married."
"Well, we are married."
You look back to glare at him. "That's another thing, humans decide together that they are married. In fact, they have a period of engagement before they get married. And before that, they date. None of whichâlet me remind youâwe have done!"
He looks at you with a level of incredulousness that would make you laugh if you didn't have a god that thought he was married to you.
"What is dating?" He says the word with extreme distaste.
"I suppose they would've called it courtship the last time you were awake," you answer, shrugging. "You go and spend time together and make your intentions clear to each other."
"Ah." The muscle in his jaw twitches when he clenches for a moment. "Courtship. I understand."
You nod, letting the silence sit as he very obviously mulls the idea over. After a few moments, your curiosity gets the best of you and you ask, "Have you ever courted anyone? Or gotten married?"
His eyes flick up to you from where he had been zoning out, the gold a duller shade without the light of the sun to catch in it. He slowly shakes his head.
"I have not. Regardless, I am confident I would be more than acceptable at it."
You bite down a laugh because you know he's being 100% serious. "I have no doubts."
"Good. I value your faith in me." He stands then, nodding definitively like he's come to a decision. Instead of sharing his thoughts with you, though, he promptly leaves the room without another word.
"Okay?" you murmur to yourself as you stand to get your laptop and start your SITREP. "Good talk?"
UNITED NATIONS â OFFICE FOR COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
MISSION ID: UNOCHA/APAC/0808-IN
LOCATION: Republic of India
LEAD OFFICER: Y/N L/N, Senior Disaster Assessment & Coordination Officer
SITREP NO.: 7
DATE ISSUED: 27 April 2026
TIME PERIOD COVERED IN SITREP: 06:00-18:00
SITUATION TO DATE:
The haze is still present, the sun is still lost, and we still don't know why. Lead Officer L/N refuses to submit further reports regarding the haze until it does something new, claiming that writing the same report repeatedly is "starting to feel like a hostage situation." Responsibility for SITREP preparation has temporarily been delegated to the undersigned. Unfortunately.
ACTIONS TO DATE:
Checked haze
Confirmed haze still present
Checked haze again after lunch
Confirmed haze remained committed to the bit
Attended briefing with WMO
Learned nothing
Updated spreadsheets
Learned more nothing
ACTIONS TO BE COMPLETED:
Wait for something to happen
Continue monitoring atmospheric conditions
Continue coordination efforts
Continue pretending there is enough new information to justify six-hour reporting intervals
Continue trying to determine whether Consultant Choi is flirting or conducting some kind of ancient ritual
ISSUES:
No significant environmental changes have occurred
At approximately 0600 hours, Consultant Choi was observed accepting breakfast from room service. At approximately 0605 hours, he was observed leaving the room, claiming that the first breakfast was insufficient. At 0630 hours, he was seen in the cafeteria, eating several meals worth of food.
At approximately 0730 hours, Consultant Choi presented Lead Officer L/N with a small carved wooden bird. When asked where it came from, he stated, "I made it." No further explanation was provided. Lead Officer L/N has carried it for the remainder of the day.
Consultant Choi has developed a habit of bringing Lead Officer L/N things he believes she might like. Items observed during this reporting period include: tea, a flower, an unusually smooth rock, a second flower because the first one wilted. The purpose of these gifts remains unclear.
During a team lunch, Consultant Choi stood up when Lead Officer L/N left the table and remained standing until she returned. Three personnel assumed there was an emergency. There was not.
At approximately 1340 hours, Researcher Boo asked Consultant Choi whether he and Lead Officer L/N were dating. Consultant Choi scoffed and informed him, "I am courting her." Follow-up questioning produced no additional clarity.
Consultant Choi continues to refer to Lead Officer L/N using titles no one else understands, the most concerning being: "future mother of falcons." This resulted in a 30-second silence during which nobody knew how to proceed.
Team members remain uncertain whether Consultant Choi understands modern courtship customs. Evidence increasingly suggests he does not. The team has begun placing informal bets regarding whether the two of them are:
âŹïž Friends
âŹïž Dating
âŹïž Cursed
âïž Unknown
Consultant Choi appears capable of locating Lead Officer L/N anywhere within a five-kilometer radius. Testing was not authorized. Results have nonetheless been consistent.
At approximately 1712 hours, Lead Officer L/N smiled at Consultant Choi. Consultant Choi immediately stopped paying attention to the ongoing briefing. This lasted long enough for three people to notice. Neither apologized for the interruption.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
My personal wellness update:
Overall team morale: Moderate-to-low. The only thing keeping these people afloat is the betting pool.
Lead Officer L/N: Appears happy when not looking at the sky, at which she seems to be on the verge of a panic attack when she does.
Consultant Choi: Appears increasingly troubled by the idea that this is not Set. Will not clarify. Only Officer L/N's presence puts him at ease. All of us steer clear otherwise.
Officer Lee: I want to GO HOME! PLEASE! I MISS THE SUN!
PREPARED BY: Chan Lee, Research Officer
REVIEWED BY: Joshua Hong, Operations Director; Jeonghan Yoon, Chief of Section
[REVIEWER COMMENT] Lee, the purpose of a SITREP is to provide OPERATIONAL updates. Stop using official documents to keep track of your supervisor's love life. Please revise before submission. Also, who started the betting pool? Please have them call me immediately.
- J. Hong
[REVIEWER COMMENT] Leave it, I want to see where this goes. Did you send Hong the betting info? I want it too. Placing big bucks that they come back dating!
- J. Yoon
"Seungcheol?" you call, smiling as you exit the copy of Chan's SITREP Joshua just pinged you with several expletives. Chan is not your favorite direct report for nothing; he sows just as much chaos as you do, and you love it. Maybe you have more in common with Set than you gave him credit for.
You slide your laptop off your lap and slip out of bed, exiting the bedroom of your shared suite as the knocking on the door continues.
"Did you order room service again?" you ask, not that you're opposed. You're just not looking forward to another back-and-forth with Jeonghan trying to explain why Seungcheol's black hole of an appetite is the UN's responsibility.
"No," he calls from where he discovered what bubble baths were yesterday. He's on his third one in under 24 hours. "Unless you're offering!"
You roll your eyes but smile at the suggestion. Since your conversation on your first day in India, the god has been showering you in gifts and making surprisingly funny jokes about you taking him to barbecue and giving him "another" offering to make the marriage official.
You've done no such thing, but you do continue to accept his gifts, a row of them perched in front of the television in the living room: a hand-carved wooden birdâmuch like the tiny ones that follow you around nowâseveral different rocks, two Chocopies, a bracelet, and two flowers that have since wilted and disappeared from the shelf to be pressed between the pages of your journal.
"I'm not!" you sing-song as you reach the door.
"Shame," you hear him mutter.
You peek into the eyehole to find a man who looks to be around your age that you've never seen before. He stands casually, one forearm resting on the frame with his forehead resting on that same forearm like he's tired of knocking. He's not a UN team member and he isn't dressed in the hotel's uniform either, and as far as you know, he's not a guest you've seen around.
You frown. "Hi. How can I help you?"
"Hey," he says, voice muffled through the door. "I'm here to see a friend."
You lean away from the door to look over your shoulder. From the way you can hear Seungcheol softly humming along to your playlist of songs he has decided he likes, you know he isn't expecting a "friend." You press your eye back to the peephole.
"Who?"
He clears his throat uncomfortably, lifting his forehead off his forearm and rubbing the back of his neck with his other hand. "See, I haven't seen him in a while, so⊠I don't actually know what name he goes by these days."
Your brows rise almost high enough to touch your hairline. It wouldn't make sense if you weren't with a god who took the name of whatever vessel he chose to be in. But you are, and this person seems to know that.
"Why don't you give me the name you do know him by?"
"Hey, who are you talking to?" Seungcheol calls out to you from the restroom. You ignore him.
"OrâŠ" the stranger starts, his lazy smile growing tight. "Why don't you open the door because every moment you keep it closed is just me showing off my level of restraint?"
"Um, hey!" you call, not wanting to reveal your pseudo roommate's name. "Can you please come here for a second?"
"Smart girl." The man at the door smirks, eyes going to the peephole and winking.
Seungcheol must sense the discomfort in your voice because you hear immediate sloshing in the tub, a curse as he seems to slip, and thunderous footsteps as he quickly makes his way to you, a hotel towel hanging low on his hips. He's still soaking wet, save for his hair, which is gathered up into a small, messy ponytail atop his head like a sprout. Your eyes bulge at him, mind going a million miles an hour as you process that his fist is most likely the only thing keeping his towel from completely falling to the floor.
You've seen practically all of this; Seungcheol's linens didn't leave much to the imagination. When he wasn't looking, you definitely wereâall the hard lines, divots, ink, spaces you thought could be soft enough to cuddle up to. What you're seeing now isn't really new. Seeing it so up close and without a flimsy piece of fabric in the way still makes your brain short wire anyway.
You're suddenly incapable of forming words, your skin aflame as you step aside and nod at the door. He hesitates, looking at you questioningly before he peeks through the hole. As if the stranger senses him watching, he speaks.
"Horus," he calls tauntingly.
Your eyes widen, and you immediately disappear into the room and come back out with the small, folded umbrella you always pack. You know if it's a godâand if he knows Seungcheol by name, it most likely isâyour umbrella won't fare well. Still, it comforts you to have some semblance of a weapon in your hand.
It does comfort you even more, though, when Seungcheol's sun-soaked spear manifests in the hand not currently holding his towel up.
"Open up," the stranger says in a tired sigh. "I've traveled quite a ways to be here. The least you can do is invite me in."
Seungcheol's jaw clenches hard enough that you hear his teeth grind together. His fingers clasp the spear tighter, and you somehow know immediately that this has to be Set. You suddenly feel more afraid than you have in the last few weeks. Instinctively, you step closer to the god, hand going to his forearm and gripping him in a weak attempt to feel grounded. He looks back down at you, and upon meeting your gaze, his expression softens. He shakes his head slowly and lends you a small smileâsomething he's been affording more of for you lately.
"I will not let anything happen to you," he whispers so quietly, he might as well be mouthing the words. "Go to the bedroom."
You shake your head vehemently. "No." He immediately sighs. "You can't make me."
"I'm growing tired of this, nephew."
You bite your lip and bounce a little, making a humiliating and anxious squeak as you do. "Is that Set?"
"Ah, you've talked about me then," the stranger laughs. "I can assure you, mortal, that whatever was said about me was⊠well, probably incredibly accurate, actually. But! I'm a changed man. Promise." The amused lilt in his voice is anything but promising.
"Do not speak to her," Seungcheol all but growls.
He lets go of his towel briefly to take your hand in his, and you squeak again when the fabric loosens around his waist even more. You see the beginnings of the hair that leads to places you've admittedly feverishly dreamt about in your sleep, waking you up often enough that Seungcheol has asked if you were having nightmares. You had no idea how to explain to a god what wet dreams were, let alone explain that he was the center of yours. You avert your eyes quickly, though Seungcheol doesn't give you much of a chance to ogle him anyway.
The god leads you away from the door, to the corner of the room. He grabs your umbrella easily, making you gasp in both offense and surprise. He tosses it away from you, replacing it with the spear in his other hand. He lays it carefully in both your hands, gently closing your fingertips around the weapon. You swear it glows a little brighter, the metal warm and comforting against your skin.
When he's sure you have a handle on the spear, he nods and turns away from you, wasting not even a moment as he finally opens the door and plants a hand on the frame to block the way. The stranger stands there, about the same height as Seungcheol, looking as normal as anyone else you've come across. He doesn't wear the linens Seungcheol does or sport the intricate tattoos he does or even speak the same way he does. He's in medium wash jeans, a white tee, and sneakers, and his posture likens him more to a teenager than a god in your opinion. But then his eyes scan Seungcheol's state of nudity then flicks to you and meets your gaze, and you feel the ancient divinity he carries in his vessel. His body may pass as human, but his eyes give him away. You see centuries of wisdom and violence and life buried just underneath the surface, like he doesn't care to hide them just for the sake of your comfort. You only realize now Seungcheol might have been doing exactly that this entire time.
"Wow," he whistles, smirking as he lets himself into the room, swatting away the arm that Seungcheol is using to block him. "You two are⊠comfortable. Did I interrupt something?"
"Do not look at her," Seungcheol says, his voice a low and rumbling warning. He steps between you and his uncle. "You do not look at her, talk to her, or breathe near her. Whatever business you have is with me."
You can't see Set anymore, but you imagine he's still smirking when you hear his snort of amusement. "Sure thing, nephew. No prob."
He kicks the door closed behind him, making his way to the couch and plopping down easily. You keep the spear mostly parallel with your body, though you situate the point in his direction.
"What should I call you in this new vessel of yours? Great choice, by the way. Real⊠beefy. And greatly endowed if that shape in your towel is anything to go by." He grins. "Is that a rubber ducky in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"
Seungcheol's face cycles through several confused expressions, confirming for you that Set has been awake far longer than he has. In fact, if Set is so attuned to human slang, he may not have ever gone to sleep at all. And if he hadn't gone to sleep like Seungcheol had assumed, that means the arrival of the storms weren't a signal of him waking up. The haze isn't Set's doing at all.
"What are you saying? I have no pockets. I am nude."
Set's mouth makes a small o before a boisterous laugh escapes it, his mouth forming a wide heart shape. "Oh dear god, you've only just woken up, haven't you?" he asks, throwing an arm across the back of the couch and bringing his ankle up to rest on his knee. "How long ago did you wake up? A decade?" Seungcheol purses his lips. "Shorter? Five years?" When he gets no response, he raises an eyebrow at him. "Shorter�"
"It is none of your business," Seungcheol says in a clipped voice.
Set frowns. "Have you not risen at all since you crawled into bed like a child in need of a nap after humiliating me in front of the council and the entire world?" he asks, scoffing. The words should be biting but he says them so casually, you'd think it's a story he only heard about and wasn't the center ofâthe cause of. Seungcheol's silence is enough confirmation for him. "Holy shit, Horus!" he gawks at him. "You've been sleeping for four thousand years?!"
You gasp at that. "Four thousand?! You said one!"
Set's eyes go to you, but Seungcheol steps between the two of you once more. "I said I believed it was one thousand," he grumbles. "I was not sure."
"Well, it was four," Set corrects him. "Lazy ass."
"Why are you here?" he asks, aggravated.
"Oh, me? I'm doing well! Been traveling the world and really finding myself for most of the last four millennia, thanks for asking," he says. "How are you?"
The sarcasm is lost on Seungcheol, who says, "I do not care and I did not ask. Why are you here? I assume you have been awake this entire time, so you cannot be the cause behind these events?" He comes to the same conclusion you did.
"Well, I haven't been awake the entire time," he drawls, crossing his arms and throwing his head back to rest against the couch. "I did take a little cat nap after our⊠skirmish. And a few more throughout the years. Nowhere near four thousand, though. I've only recently just woken up from my latest one, actually." He sighs, smiling wistfully. "Imagine my surprise when I see the news and find someone wreaking more havoc than me." He answers Seungcheol in a more straightforward manner: "No. I am not behind whatever that is." He gestures vaguely toward the window.
"If not youâŠ" you mutter, stepping around Seungcheol and suddenly more curious than afraid. "Then, who?"
"Am I allowed to answer the mortal or should I act like I didn't hear anything, Horus?" he asks him pettily. Seungcheol clenches his jaw again, and you can see why these two fought as hard as they did. Beyond all the murder, Set seems to know exactly which buttons to push to get a rise out of him.
"Speak when spoken to," he orders through gritted teeth. "Otherwise, you have nothing to do with her."
Your cheeks warm, but Set shrugs, accepting the terms easily. He brings his head up off the couch and nods at you. "My question exactly, mortal. I'm sorry, what is your name?"
Seungcheol opens his mouth to protest but you give the god your first name before he can.
"Cool. You can call me Vernon." He nods at Seungcheol. "Same goes for you, if you ever decide you want to share your vessel's name with me, little HorHor."
"Do not call me that."
He completely ignores him and addresses you again. "I heard rumors of a man who stopped a tsunami. Can you believe that?" he asks dramatically. "A tsunami! Then, I heard that the sun just magically disappeared from the skies in India. And while little HorHor here was busy presumably staring at the sky as I know he is wont to doâ"
"I hate you."
"âI took it upon myself to poke my nose around here. Looks like the sun is weakening in a lot of places. Did your fancy computers pick that up?"
You frown. "No⊠they didn't." Wonwoo is going to hear it from you. "What do you mean 'weakening'?"
"I mean," Vernon starts, straightening up and planting both feet on the ground before leaning his elbows on his knees and leveling you with a serious look, "from here on, the sunlight is weakening. Just past India, the sun rises and sets but the light wouldn't give your retinas so much as a tan, even if you stared at it straight on with your weak, little eyeballs."
You scoff, weirdly offended by the comment.
"Then why is the sun gone here?" Seungcheol asks, frowning.
Vernon shrugs. "When I ran out of leads, I came here knowing I'd find you staring at the stupid sky. Guess I was half wrong because I found you cozied up with a human, fresh out of a bubble bath."
Your cheeks are on fire as you spit out all kinds of protests, denying you were ever in a bubble bath with Seungcheol, who seems content with letting Vernon think whatever he wants to think.
"That is not important," he says, waving a hand casually even as his lips fight to keep a smirk off his face. "Y/N is part of the UN and is helping locals prepare for whatever disaster is imminent."
"Quick, what does UN stand for?" Vernon shoots at Seungcheol, who buffers like a computer. He snorts.
"United Nations," you whisper, nodding when he thanks you.
"Unitedâ"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever, cheater," Vernon waves a hand and rolls his eyes. "Cheating really is in your nature, huh?"
Seungcheol's expression becomes darkâlethal, actually. In one moment, the spear is in your hand and the next, it's materializing in his own grip, the tip pointed at the base of Vernon's neck. His eyes travel down to it but he makes no sign that he's scared.
"Are you suggesting I won our battle because I cheated?"
Vernon smiles. "Hm. Maybe a few decades ago, I would have. But I've done a lot of soul-searching, HorHor." Seungcheol's neck turns red, a vein popping out as he swallows back whatever insults he has for Vernon. You think it's bold to goad the man who has a spear pointed at him like this. "I've long moved past our complicated history. You'll be happy to hear I'm over my fear of hippos and lettuce, as well as my resentment of you."
You look between the two. "What?"
Vernon's eyes slide to you and he smirks. "Not familiar with Egyptian mythology, are you?"
Your brows rise. "Egyptian?"
He laughs. "Oh, humans are so funny. You're telling me you not only have the power of Google but the UN and you didn't bother looking anything up about this guy?" he asks, looking at his nephew. He frowns and instead of letting you answer, he nods. "Hey, what the fuck is your name anyway?"
Seungcheol sighs heavily, letting his spear dissolve into specks of light once more. "Choi Seungcheol."
"Oooh," Vernon nods, repeating the name several times like he's testing it out. "I like that. Sounds like someone who's well-endowed." You clear your throat and avert your eyes from Seungcheol's general vicinity. Vernon raises his eyebrows at the towel. "Feel free to go get dressed by the way. I'll behave around the lady."
Seungcheol scoffs. "I am not going anywhere as long as you are here, lest I gain another person I will be forced to avenge." You take the smallest step back once more.
"So drama," Vernon blows a raspberry and slouches. "Well, I'll be here for a while. I don't know if you've noticed but we're the only two who can figure out what the fuck is happening here."
"I was planning on finding Ra after Y/N returned home." That's news to you, and you know Seungcheol deliberately kept it from you when he won't meet your eyes.
"Been there, done that," Vernon says. "Can't find the guy."
"What do you mean you cannot find him?"
"What do you mean, what do I mean? Exactly that: I can't find him. I've scoured the skies, I've visited the council, I've looked for that gaudy boat of his. Hell, I've even gone to his altars and prayed. Can you believe that? I fucking prayed. I cannot find him."
You don't think you've ever seen Seungcheol as worried as he is now since you've met him. He opens and closes his mouth several times before he decidedly clamps it shut, his eyes going to the window and back out at the sky. As mean-spirited as it was, Vernon isn't wrong about Seungcheol's habit of staring at the sky. It's like the god found all his answers in itâor maybe it was comfort. Whatever it was, ever since it darkened, he hasn't been able to get what he needs from it, and you can tell from the way he rips his gaze away and scowls at the wall.
"If Ra is goneâŠ" he murmurs.
Vernon nods regretfully, a little too comfortable as he slouches against the sofa and sighs like this is just a minor inconvenience. "Then the universe is in peril." He nods more as he seems to zone out. After a brief moment, he snaps out of it and shrugs. "It can't be that bad, though, right? The sun is still making its journey⊠it's just having a bit of a weird time and needs some help." He grins at Seungcheol. "Which is why I came here. My brilliant nephew who can do no wrong and knows everything ever must have a plan to put an end to all the bad stuff in the universe, no?"
You glower at him. "I don't like your tone, Vernon."
His eyebrows rise slowly at your interjection. "Oof, brave human, hm?"
Seungcheol takes the comment as a threat, immediately stepping forward.
"Oh relax, I'm not going to do anything," Vernon scoffs.
"Yeah, and I doubt you could with Seungcheol here anyway," you scoff right back, earning you a look of pride from the god. You ignore it for the sake of not losing your train of thought. "If you have nothing to contribute other than thinly veiled insults and petty reminders that you and your fragile ego got beat within an inch of your life four thousand years ago, I don't think your presence is really needed here. I think Seungcheol and I have it handled." You look to him now, badly shaken by how fond he looks as he stares at you. "Right?"
He smirks and nods once before turning back to Vernon. "The lady's word is law."
"Law?" he repeats. "What is she, your consort?" he snorts. Seungcheol opens his mouthâno doubt to confirm his belief that you areâbut his uncle, thankfully, keeps running his mouth. "Whatever, if I'm going to crash here, I guess I will follow the law."
"If you're going to what?" you ask, blinking rapidly, right as Seungcheol says, "What is going to crash?"
Vernon shrugs, clearly more than happy to ignore the both of you. He straightens his posture and nods. "I may have overstated my progress in therapy and may harbor some resentment over the lettuce." Seungcheol winces, but neither man allows you any time to ask for clarification. "I⊠apologize, Horus."
Both you and Seungcheol startle at the sudden apology. You've only known Set for a handful of minutes, and still, you can glean how monumental it is for him to say sorry.
He sighs like this is the hardest thing he's ever had to do. "I apologize both for my pettiness and my 'thinly veiled insults' and for⊠Osiris." To his credit, he sounds genuine. "I've had thousands of years to think about everything. All I've concluded is thatâŠ" He shrugs, too casual for how devastating his next words are. "I miss my brother more than I crave power."
Your mouth falls open slightly. You don't think you can wrap your mind around four thousand years of loneliness. At least Seungcheol was asleep during that time. To walk the world immortal, with nothing but time to think about all the mistakes you've ever made⊠it sounds like torture. You think it's enough of a punishment in itself.
But forgiveness is not yours to give. You look to Seungcheol, surprised to find his gaze already on you. You can't decipher what the expression on his face isâa complex mixture of haunted and tormented and relieved. He nods once and turns back to Vernon.
"I forgive you," he says resolutely. "If not for you, then for myself."
He glances at you once more and when you smile at himâa silent reminder of how proud you are of himâfor the first time, he returns it. Not a small quirk of the lips or a smirk or a snort. No. It's a wide and bright smile that punctures the cutest, most endearing dimples into his cheeks. It melts every last bit of you until you have to fall into the armchair across from Vernon to keep from collapsing.
"Holy shit. Are you⊠in love?"
To: C. Lee <chan.lee@unocha>
From: You <yn.ln@unocha>
Subject: Request: Research Egyptian mythology
Anything you can find on Horus, Set, and Osirisâespecially if it involves lettuce or hippos. And I guess anything else you might find pertinent to someone who may or may not have a crush on a god. Thanks.
To: You <[email protected]@unocha>
From: C. Lee <chan.lee@unocha>
Subject: RE: Request: Research Egyptian mythology
ATTACHMENTS: egyptian mythology for dummies.pdf
Hey boss, here's the research you requested, with an emphasis on certain individuals who may or may not be greatly impacting this team's workload.
Let me know if you need anything else! Like someone to book our flight tickets home, perhaps? Happy to do whatever!!!
đ egyptian mythology for dummies.pdf
Egyptian Mythology for Dummies*
* a.k.a. people with crushes on consultants who also happen to be gods?
Horus
Horus's domains include the sky, kingship (the pharaohs), protection, falcons, and being right about everything. He is the son of Osiris and Isis (who were brother and sisterâŠ). He is frequently depicted as a man with a falcon head, and is associated with the sun, moon, order, and justice. Common mythological activities include fighting Set, arguing with Set, competing with Set, trying to kill Set, and winning brawls with Set through increasingly questionable and unconventional means. He's generally considered one of the good guys and is historically noted as devoted, loyal, stubborn, and headstrong. It seems to me that these traits remain very much intact.
Set
Set is the god of storms, deserts, violence, and chaos/disorder (Horus's natural antithesis). He was the brother of Osiris (whom he murderedâŠ) and of course, the uncle of Horus. He also married his sisterânot Isis. His other sister. I attempted a family tree but it was weird and I decided against including it here. Anyway, I'd say thanks to his poor interpersonal skills, this guy is responsible for 90% of all documented family problems. I mean. He murdered his brother and then gouged his nephew's eyeball out (later returned to Horus thanks to the god Thoth). Not really a team player. Black sheep of the family actually, if you ask me.
Osiris
God of death, rebirth, and agriculture (one of these is not like the others). He was famously murdered and dismembered by his brother, Set. His wife/sister, Isis, searched the world for all of his parts and brought him to Anubis and Nephthys, who helped put him back together. And voila, first mummy ever is born. Or not born. Resurrected. He became ruler of the Underworld. Through means that are not agreed upon or are not workplace appropriate, Isis created Horus to avenge Osiris. Hence everything else stated above.
The Lettuce and Hippo Things
In their quest to win the throne that Osiris's death left unclaimed, Horus and Set partook in many competitions. Some of them were normal. Most of them were not. The lettuce thing is one of the more famous episodes of the Horus-Set conflict. The short version is that Horus successfully tricked Set using lettuce. The long version is not suitable for workplace correspondence, and I recommend you Google it on a personal device. As for the hippos, one account of the conflict describes both gods transforming into hippos and engaging in an underwater contest to determine who should rule Egypt. Several versions exist. All agree this was somehow considered a reasonable solution???
Miscellaneous Information
I have no idea what mythological information would be considered pertinent to someone with a crush on a god, so I just included random things. If you need more, let me know and I will add as needed (though a quick meeting to understand what you're looking for would be helpful).
Ancient Egyptians impressively were able to explain nearly every aspect of the world through mythology. The flooding of the Nile was thought to be Isis weeping for her murdered husband. The stars were believed to travel across the goddess Nut's back, enter her mouth at sunset, and travel through her body at night (moving across the sky). What do you think stars taste like? Candy maybe?
Tons of myths talk about the journey of the sun, which was considered very important. Apparently, failure of the sun to travel across the sky would result in catastrophic consequences, so several gods were involved in protecting it along the way.
The seasons are heavily tied to the myth of Osiris's death. Akhet (July to October) is the flood of Isis's tears and the resurrection of Osiris, both giving fertility to the land. Peret (November to March) is when the floodwaters recede and the land is ready for planting. Shemu (April to July) is harvesting season, when the scorching heat of the sun god Ra is strongest, ensuring ripe crops before the cycle restarted.
Ancient Egyptian temples employed sacred geese! Consultant Choi spent 15 minutes explaining why this was entire reasonable and I agree with him. I think the UN should have geese too.
To: C. Lee <chan.lee@unocha>
From: You <yn.ln@unocha>
Subject: RE: Request: Research Egyptian mythology
What would the gods need to protect the sun from?
To: You <yn.ln@unocha>
From: C. Lee <chan.lee@unocha>
Subject: RE: Request: Research Egyptian mythology
Mainly Apep (a.k.a. Apophis), the god of darkness and destruction. He's a giant snake who lives in the waters of the Underworld and keeps trying to eat the sun overnight when Ra is passing by with it on his little boat (I imagine the sun tastes like hot wings instead of candy but let me know if you disagree). During eclipses, Egyptians believed it meant the snake was succeeding in attacking the sun.
Should I call an emergency meetingâŠ
To: C. Lee <chan.lee@unocha>
From: You <yn.ln@unocha>
Subject: RE: Request: Research Egyptian mythology
Yes. Only Wonwoo and the Js. Meet me at the nerd cave in 10.
To: C. Lee <chan.lee@unocha>
From: You <yn.ln@unocha>
Subject: RE: Request: Research Egyptian mythology
Oh and btw agree on the stars. They'd prob explode in your mouth like pop rocks. Idk about the sun and hot wings though⊠if we're sticking to candy, maybe sour chews in chamoy and tajĂn?
It's just a little before midnight when you enter the hotel's multi-purpose room, where Wonwoo and his team set up their center of operations, with both Seungcheol and a very sleepy Vernon in tow.
If you're being honest with yourself, you're glad for an excuse to get out of your hotel room. After Vernon's wildly invasive question, he and Seungcheol broke into an argument that resulted in several summoned (but ultimately unused) weapons and an endless string of insults, curses, and mockery. Fortunately, the commotion gave you a chance to sneak back into the bedroom to read all about the myths that you failed to realize were based on Seungcheol's life. And maybe agonize over why Vernon would ever even ask if the two of you were in love. He didn't even know that you two were kind-of-but-not-really-married, and already, he was somehow arriving at crazy conclusions.
Of course neither of you are in love. If you were, you wouldn't have bothered to try and slow down the whole marriage ordeal. You would have accepted the odd and unconventional proposal, maybe demanded a barbecue feast of your own, and lived happily ever after with the sexy god of the sky. But no. Instead, you're forcing him to woo you with handmade gifts and random trinkets that remind him of you so that you can lock yourself in the bedroom and kick your feet and giggle. Because you are not in love.
But after you open your journal to take notes on the YouTube video you pull up about Egyptian mythology and you find your pressed flowers from Seungcheol, you think maybe you're trying to be. Maybe you like how you feel around Seungcheol. Maybe you like getting to know him. Maybe he understands you better than a lot of people do despite not understanding a lot of things at all. Maybe you would want to answer Vernon's question with a yes.
You didn't get much space to ponder those things, though. Chan's email revelation couldn't have come at a better time: near midnight, when Vernon had finally fallen asleep to the very soothing lullaby of Seungcheol's yelling, and the latter retreated into the room with you, determined to avoid meeting your eyes as he sat himself at the window and glared at the unchanging darkness. With the god suddenly in the room, it felt impossible to think, breathe, or even just watch your dumb YouTube video. Chan's research was your saving grace.
"Hey," you call to your direct report, who already has both Jeonghan and Joshua on a video call, their faces filling the big screen you and Seungcheol have been mindlessly staring at whenever you need a break from the sky. "Thanks for taking care of this."
He looks over his shoulder at you and smiles, nodding. "Of course. I assume it means we can go home soon, right? I'm so vitamin D deficient, it's getting scary. Do you see how pale I am? I'm so fatigued, and I feel like my bones are turning to dust. I can only take so many supplements. I needâ"
"Lee," Joshua cuts in, sighing heavily. "Please tell me why we're hopping on a call at this hour."
"Yes, please tell me why you took it upon yourself to shut my game down before I could save it," Wonwoo murmurs petulantly, slouched in his seat in the corner. Seungcheol glances at him and he immediately (and pointedly) swivels his seat so that his back is facing the god.
"What'd you do to him?" you hear Vernon whisper to his nephew.
"Nothing, unfortunately," Seungcheol whispers back. "Yet."
"Who the hell is that?" Jeonghan asks, leaning so close to his screen, all any of you can see are his two eyes and his pristine forehead. "Standing next to Choi?"
"Ah, that'sâŠ" you turn back and tilt your head at him, unsure of how to explain. "That's Vernon."
"Okay?" Joshua speaks now. "And who is Vernon and why is he here?"
"I don't like that one," Vernon grumbles, yawning. Seungcheol snorts.
"Tell me about it." Leave it to Joshua to unite the warring gods with his uptight work persona.
"Vernon is⊠Set."
"SetâŠ" Jeonghan repeats, frowning. Both Chan and Wonwoo flinch away from the two at the mere mention of the name. You don't blame them; after all, you have been touting the god as the big, bad enemy for the last few weeks.
You wince. "Yep. Set. He, uh, arrived a few hours ago, and long story short, he's not causing the issues we're having and he's just as confused as we are and he has apologized for being a major, all-around asshole."
"Whoa," Vernon mutters. "I didn't say all that."
"How about you give us the long story long version?" Joshua asks, already scrubbing his face in the way he does when you're actively shaving years off his life.
"She explained it exactly as it happened, so I am not sure how she can be any clearer," Seungcheol interrupts gruffly, prompting Jeonghan to stifle a surprised snort. "Now, Y/N has expressed needing to discuss something important, and I think we should allow her the chance to tell us instead of forcing her to repeat information that is already sufficiently clear."
Joshua looks affronted but his boss simply laughs aloud, clapping as he does. "Okay, okay. Welcome to the team, Vernon slash Set."
"Vernon is fiâ"
"The team?" Joshua repeats, incredulous. "Is one god consultant not more than enough?"
"Also, are we supposed to just forget about all the horrific stuff you made me look up on my work computer because you say he's a changed man?" Chan asks.
"Oh relax," the god in question says, rolling his eyes. "The last thing I want to do is labor. I am not a part of your silly team. I am a crew of one." He turns to your subordinate. "And I promise you Google doesn't know the half of it. So maybe pipe down before I become an actual problem."
"Got it," Chan immediately chirps, turning to busy himself with a computer that's long been turned off.
"See?" Jeonghan grins. "Vernon is only here temporarily. No need to get your panties in a twist, Shushu." Before Joshua can throw a tantrum over the nickname, Jeonghan hands the floor over to you. "Take it away, Y/N. Why are we on this video call?"
"Chan found something really interesting," you say, walking to where Wonwoo is sitting. You nod at his computer. "Can you pull up the satellite images of the anomalies' paths? All three please, down to every single earthquake that led to Singapore."
Wonwoo nods, leaning forward to follow directions. He minimizes the video call and brings back the weather monitor, clicking around until what you've asked for is on the screen.
Once you confirm both Jeonghan and Joshua can see the images, you turn back to the WMO director.
"We've learned from Vernon here that just outside of India, the sun is weakening. Can you confirm?"
Wonwoo frowns at the suggestion that he's missed yet another thing, jaw clenching when he gets the appropriate confirmation that he has. A few circles pop up on the monitor.
"Places where the UV index is unusually to alarmingly low," he explains.
You walk up to the monitor and point at the typhoon in Korea, finger tracing from where you first saw Seungcheol, down to the first, tiny earthquake not far from the coast. From there, your finger moves back and forth to each earthquake.
"These aren't random occurrences," you murmur as your finger grazes over Singapore and toward India. "Whatever is causing this is moving through the world."
"Why would it be moving back and forth like that?" Jeonghan asks, nothing but eyes and forehead again as he tracks the erratic movement of the anomalies. "It's almost like it'sâŠ"
You move past India and to the surrounding countries with increasingly weakened sunlight. "Slithering," you finish his sentence.
There's a sharp inhale behind you and you don't need to turn to know it's Seungcheol.
"He succeeded," he breathes. "He swallowed the sun."
"No," his uncle protests, suddenly very awake. His voice rises with a panicked edge you haven't heard before and honestly didn't think he was capable of. "He couldn't have swallowed the sun. It's still out there⊠just not here. Ra still has it with him. There's no way Apep ate the goddamn sun and we didn't hear about it."
"How would we have heard about it?" Seungcheol points out. You turn to find his arms crossed over his chest as he talks at the other god with irritation you know was left over from their argument. "Ra is nowhere to be found. He is the one who would have told us!"
"Sorry, uh," Jeonghan cuts in, frowning deeply. "What's going on?"
"Apep!" Chan shouts a little too gleefully for the circumstances.
"He's a giant snake whose entire thing is trying to eat the sun," you add.
"A snake�" Joshua echoes, looking tired and distraught. "You're telling us⊠the storms are being caused⊠by a snake?"
"Go ahead," you tell Chan when he tilts his head at you in question. He grins and nods, always loving a chance to shine.
"Apep, sometimes known as Apophisâ"
"Apep," Vernon corrects sharply, his nervous energy manifesting in a tapping foot and nail-biting. "Apophis is the name colonizers gave him."
Chan doesn't miss a beat. "Apep, never ever known as any other nameâ" Even in his nervousness, Vernon grins at the man. "âis a giant snake chilling in a river in the Underworld. Every night, Ra passes by with the sun on his boat for whatever reason, and every night, Apep tries to eat it." He looks to both gods for confirmation.
"Good" is all Seungcheol says as his uncle nods in agreement, and that's more than enough for your direct report, who beams at the man famously known for only communicating in grunts and glares with anyone who isn't you.
"Why does he want to eat the sun�" Wonwoo asks, frowning at his screen as he pulls up more data about the UV indices in the area.
"Beats me, maybe it tastes good," Chan says, shrugging as he takes a seat next to the director, clearly done with playing meeting leader.
"If Apep ever succeeds and Ra fails to rise in the new dawn," Seungcheol supplies, "the world as we know it⊠will come to an end."
There's a heavy silence as everyone lets that information sink in. It's broken when Jeonghan inhales sharply. "Whoa, that was so cool, I just got the chills. Cinematic as hell."
Joshua glares at his computer. "Can we be serious for even a second?"
"I am being serious. This is the moment before the movie reaches the climax, Shushu. It's very serious."
Vernon ignores the two, shaking his head and bringing one hand up to his chin. He stares hard at the floor like he might find the solution written on it. "Apep has never succeeded, but he's come kinda close a few times."
"Define 'kinda close,'" Jeonghan requests.
"Mmm, like, maybe 2,000-ish years ago, he got really close," the god estimates, tilting his head back and forth. Seungcheol's eyebrows rise in surprise and you suddenly remember the man was asleep for double that time. "You, mortals, call it a total solar eclipse, but it's actually a sign that Apep has intercepted Ra."
"Longest total solar eclipse!" Chan pipes up from the computer he's stationed at, Googling things in real time. "June 15, 743 B.C. It lasted over seven minutes."
Vernon nods. "Apep attacked Ra and succeeded in knocking him off his boat. We were able to hold him off and get away, though."
"'We'?" Joshua repeats. "You were there?"
Vernon fidgets as Seungcheol turns to him with a flat stare. "It is his duty to aid in Ra's protection. Which begs the question, why are you not with Ra?"
He fixes him with a fierce glare. "I know you've been asleep for 4,000 years, but I haven't accompanied Ra on that mini yacht of his in quite some time."
"Four thousand?" several voices echo.
"Right, you were too busy 'traveling the world and finding yourself,'" Seungcheol huffs, recalling his uncle's own words.
"Actually, I was busy trying to find my family because the loneliness of walking around for four millennia on my own, doing nothing but thinking about every mistake I ever made was becoming entirely unbearable. Ra encouraged my journey to make amends." You wince at the unexpected and intimate admission. "But you wouldn't know about that, dear nephew. You were busy napping."
"Forgive me for finding myself tired in mind, body, and soul after you murdered my father, fought me for the better part of a century, and gouged my eye out," Seungcheol scoffs.
"Jesus Christ," Joshua whispers just as Jeonghan whistles and mutters, "The family drama goes crazy."
"Oh, please, Thoth fixed your eye just fine!" he argues, gesturing wildly at Seungcheol's golden iris. "If anything, you look a million times cooler like that!"
"It's true, he does," Jeonghan comments, nodding.
"And besides, I already said sorry!" Vernon bellows, his voice accompanied by a sudden downpour of rain outside that you know isn't a coincidence. You look over at the windows to find water already beginning to cascade down the glass.
"Oh, well, as long as you said sorry!" Seungcheol barks a laugh at his face. "I guess all is well then!"
"When did he learn to use sarcasm?" Wonwoo whispers, eyes never leaving the two.
"He spends all his time with her," Chan jerks his head toward you. "Of course he was going to pick up on sarcasm sooner or later."
"Um," you mutter as you ignore them and turn back to the gods, "maybe we should all just calm down, andâ"
There's a deafening crack of thunder somewhere above the hotel, so powerful, you feel it reverberate in your own chest. You flinch, instinctively stepping back even as Seungcheol inserts himself between you and the god of storms. You feel a tug on your sleeve and find Wonwoo pulling you back to stand with him and Chan.
"You said you forgave me! Why say you forgive me if you're just going to hold it over my head?!" he shrieks at his nephew. You think you'd find this funny if the booms of thunder weren't getting increasingly louder, causing the windows to rattle with each rumble.
"And you said you had changed!" There's a loud crash behind you, causing you and the other two humans cowering in the corner to jump and turn toward the glass doors that lead to the private courtyard. It's too dark outside and the water distorts the shapes you can already barely make out the windows. "If that were true, why are you neglecting your duties with Ra?!"
"What was that?" Joshua asks before being frantically hushed by Jeonghan, whose brows furrow in concentration trying to listen to the gods yell at each other.
"Are you dense? I just told you why!"
"I will not be fooled by you," Seungcheol seethes through gritted teeth. "Do not pretend to care about any of us, least of all me!"
There's another crash, and this time, you turn early enough to catch something escaping away from the doors and into the darkness. You squint hard, eyes straining to see past the torrent of rain with no success. It isn't until there's a flash of lightning that you finally see where the sound is coming from. The night is drenched in stark whites and electric blues, and for a brief moment, Vernon's anger illuminates not only the dozens of birds perched on the perimeter of the courtyardâon roofs, railings, benches, ledges, any available surface reallyâbut the hundreds circling the sky, which has turned into a swirling, sinister, black cloud. The birds are all situated facing your group, seemingly watching and waiting for an order.
"Holy shit," Chan whispers next to you.
"SeungcheolâŠ" you call half-heartedly, too stunned by the sheer amount of birds outside to look away.
"You are impossible," Vernon spits. "Leave it to you to hold a grudge for 4,000 years!"
"You murdered myâ"
"Oh shut up!"
The words deliver a particularly devastating explosion of thunder that shakes the entire building, and you realize with just enough time to tackle both Wonwoo and Chan to the ground that this is the sign the birds were waiting for. The three of you frenziedly scramble under the desk as the room explodes into fragments of glass. The birds crash right through the doors and windows with absolutely no hesitation as they flock to their commanding god, circling the two and encasing them in their own arena of sorts.
You can faintly hear Joshua and Jeonghan's frantic screaming, indiscernible against the cacophony of howling wind, pounding rain, and earsplitting thunder.
"Oh my god!" Chan shouts. "What the hell do we do?!"
"What?!" Wonwoo shouts back at him over your head.
"I said," your subordinate starts, sucking in a deep breath before yelling back to the man on your other side, "WHAT THE HELL DO WE DO?!" You glare at him, elbowing him to give you space.
"Oh! I don't know!" is the man's answer. "Maybe we shouldâ"
You don't hear what you're sure is a super brilliant idea because there's a loud crash and your bosses' voices are cut off. The lights flicker until they completely shut down, the room lit only by the lightning bolts that strike at the sky. You clamp your hands over your ears, entirely too overwhelmed to hear any of your own thoughts, let alone figure out a plan of action to get the gods to stop wreaking havoc on the hotel. You squeeze your eyes shut as the world around you shakes and roars, and if this is just two gods bickering, you're struck with the raw fear of what it would look like if Apep succeeds in devouring the sun.
You feel a tug on your shirt and open your eyes to find Chan pointing toward your feet. You look down and find a cluster of tiny birdsâthe same ones that have been following you around since you started feeding them. They tilt their heads at you happily, periodically hopping in place as if there isn't any imminent danger.
"What are you doing?!" you scream at them, earning you a look from both Wonwoo and Chan. The birds tilt their heads the other way. "Get out of here! You'll get hurt! This is for the big birds!" They hop and flutter their wings briefly. "I don't have any food!" You shake your head, turning your attention away from them and carefully poking your head out from under the desk to peek at the gods.
They each have a weapon in their grasp nowâSeungcheol his sun-soaked spear and Vernon a sceptre with a long-snouted animal made of gold at the end of it. You watch helplessly as they lob strike after strike at each other, every blow producing a sonic boom and a burst of blinding light that makes it feel impossible to follow their movements. The two only ever pause to scream at each other, their words completely lost to you. At a few points, Seungcheol's birds attempt to help get the upper hand, swiping at Vernon with their sharp talons, just to be called off by their own god himself.
Whatever, cheater.
Are you suggesting I won our battle because I cheated?
You have no doubt Vernon's earlier jibes are what prevent Seungcheol from allowing his birds to intervene. The two remain evenly matched, and you don't know how long you, Wonwoo, Chan, and the tiny birds have been watching them for when Vernon successfully feints to the right, his nephew responding accordingly. He switches his stance at the last moment and wastes no time swiping at Seungcheol's legs from the left, taking him down in the blink of an eye. He quickly spins his sceptre, the sharpened end pointed right at Seungcheol's throat. And you do what you do best: you run right at the danger without a second thought.
Neither of your colleagues have a chance to stop you as you your legs force you forward before you can even process what you're doing. Your eyes are trained on the gods. Vernon's mouth is moving, speaking lowly to his nephew through gritted teeth as his eyes flash with 4,000 years of pent-up emotions you can't even begin to try to understand. Seungcheol watches him carefully, still as a statue as his eyes flick between his uncle and the spearhead. He only notices your movement from his peripherals when you're mere steps away, turning his head to look at you, eyes widening with panic when he registers what's happening. His mouth starts to shape the word no, but you don't listen; you don't even let him finish saying it. Vernon turns over his shoulder to follow his gaze, his own eyebrows rising as you close the distance to them. His grip on his weapon falters right as you throw your body between them.
Your breath is ragged as you cover the god's body with yours, arms caging him in like you can actually protect him. Your fear convinces you that you can. That even if you die for it, you will. That you'll do whatever it takes to protect him the way he needs someone to.
For the first time since you met him, Seungcheol looks terrifiedâlike you're the threat. He scans your face with alarm, the gold in his eye glowing so brightly, you almost can't look directly at it. He breathes fear into your name.
"What are youâDON'T!" He hugs you to himself tightly and you sense the other god tower over the two of you. You squeeze your eyes shut, burying your face in the crook of Seungcheol's neck and hoping that if Vernon has a conscienceâwhich you suspect he doesâthat he won't kill an uninvolved mortal just to get to his nephew.
"Yes," you whisper into Seungcheol's ear, thinking of all the gifts propped up in the living room of your hotel room. All the meals the god fed you. All the conversations you've had and the feelings you've been gifted since Korea. "After this weekâafter all of this, my answer would have been yes."
He shouts again, voice cracking as his hold on you gets impossibly tight, but you can hardly hear over your own pounding heartbeat and blood rushing in your ears. The chaos lasts for only a moment more before it all just⊠stops.
The silence that follows is almost more deafening than the storm was. You muster up the courage to lift your head off Seungcheol's chest just enough to find the god already frantically running his hands along every bit of your back, making sure you aren't injured. When he finds you unharmed, he heaves the loudest, most dramatic groan and throws his head back, letting his body go limp under you as he closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose.
"You are going to be my undoing, mortal," he pants.
You frown as one of your tiny birds lands on Seungcheol's forehead and chirps at you cheerfully. The god pays her no attention, and when you feel movement along your shoulders, you realize all of your tiny birds came with you, every single one protectively (and joyfully) resting on your head and back and on various parts of their own god.
"I would've never hurt her."
You sit up, looking over your shoulder at Vernon, whose weapon is nowhere to be found. You feel the taps of microscopic feet as the birds hop on you to adjust to your movements. The god of storms looks down at you, his face devoid of any of the anger and bitterness it carried just moments ago. Now, he just looks tired. He glances between you and Seungcheol.
"Or you," he adds. His eyes flick to the birds. "Or⊠them⊠I guess."
The bird hops off of his forehead as Seungcheol opens his eyes and stares hard at Vernon for several seconds. His face eventually softens into the same exhausted expression, and it's like watching him physically let go of his fightâhis stubbornness. The resentment between the two seems to evaporate as fast as it reared its ugly head, leaving him visibly drained.
"I know." He takes a deep breath and lets his head fall once more, his hand squeezing your waist closer to his body. You're filled with an inexplicable swell of comfort at how genuine the two words sound. You know it isn't easy to believe him after everything he's done to Seungcheol. The man exhales underneath you. "I know."
THE HINDUSTAN PAPER
29 April 2026
Localized Storm Baffles Meteorologists, Hundreds of Birds Gather Outside Central Delhi Hotel
NEW DELHI â Meteorologists are investigating a highly unusual weather event that developed early Wednesday morning over the Rajpath District, where a severe thunderstorm remained confined to an area measuring less than one square kilometer for nearly 20 minutes.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), surrounding neighborhoods experienced calm conditions with clear visibility, while guests at the Ashoka Grand Hotel reported torrential rainfall, hurricane-force wind gusts and near-continuous thunder.
"It was as if someone had drawn a circle around the building," said one hotel employee. "We couldn't even see across the street."
"We could hear the thunder from where we were," said a resident living just a little more than a kilometer away from the hotel that had been woken up by the storm. "But when I looked out, there wasn't any rain. It looked fine."
Witnesses also reported an unusual concentration of birds gathering around the hotel during the storm ranging from pigeons and crows to flowerpeckers and mynas, as well as several birds of prey, most notably, falcons. Wildlife officials stated that no obvious explanation has been identified for the behavior.
The storm dissipated as abruptly as it formed. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has acknowledged awareness of the incident but has not commented on whether it is connected to the series of unexplained atmospheric anomalies reported across Asia in recent weeks.
At this time, authorities have confirmed no injuries and reported minor structural damage to the hotel. Meteorologists continue to review satellite imagery.
You're approaching 13 hours since the argument that rocked the hotel grounds and countless since you've last slept by the time you're entering your shared hotel room with Seungcheol.
Upon being disconnected from the meeting, both Jeonghan and Joshua immediately hopped on the UN's jet and made their way to India with the Public Affairs team to mitigate the situation with locals. And for some reasonâprobably as punishmentâJeonghan required each and every one of you to be awake and present throughout it all. During the debrief with Public Affairs, during their statement to the press, during the meetings with the hotel to discuss the "unexpected storm" and the damage incurred to their equipment and to the property. And finally, when he and Joshua couldn't take their exhaustion themselves, Jeonghan released you all to your hotel rooms, demanding you be back in the new, much smaller room the hotel provided you since the gods destroyed your previous makeshift headquarters in just five hours to figure out a game plan.
Vernon, very clearly powered by whatever guilt he harbors over his abandoned station protecting Ra on his boat, opted to stay in the room, poring over Wonwoo's data and his computers and set on finding something for you all to wake up and come back to.
You shuffle into the suite, barely functioning as you mindlessly kick your shoes off and make your way into the bedroom, not really registering that Seungcheol is following close behind you. You only notice as you stand in front of the bed, staring at it as you debate spending more energy you don't have to shower or if you should just get into bed in your outside clothes. You sway a little from the exhaustion, and without hesitation, his two hands come to your waist to steady you.
The warmth of his hands seep right past your clothes, and before you can convince yourself not to, you chase that feeling of comfort and safety and lean back into his hold until your back is flush against his chest and your head is cradled by his shoulder. You sigh pleasantly, eyes fluttering closed.
"Rest," Seungcheol says, the rumble of his voice reverberating from his chest and into your back. "We can talk when you wake."
You open your eyes at that, turning to face him. He lets his hands fall from your waist, but you catch them, placing them back on you almost petulantly. One corner of his mouth quirks up in amusement but his fingers curl around you tighter. "What do we need to talk about?" you ask, feigning ignorance.
The god doesn't glare at you like he does whenever you make a joke during a serious moment. This time, he watches you steadily, eyes skimming over your entire face and body. He starts running his hands across your back, brows furrowing the tiniest bit as he does. You immediately understand what he's doing, and you grab his forearms to stop him.
"Cheol, I'm not hurt."
His hands freeze, his expression surrendering some of the anxiety he seems to have been shielding from you for the last 13 hours. From the moment the storm ended and the hotel employees burst into the room to check on you to the moment Jeonghan excused everyone, Seungcheol has been hovering over you in a way anyone would perceive as much clingier than usual.
He didn't take more than one step away from you at all times, even going as far to rest a hand on your shoulder or your knee despite the looks both Jeonghan and Joshua gave the two of you. At one point, Chan took the seat next to you and was immediately chased out of it with a single, silent death glare. When things slowed down, he tried to talk to you, just to get interrupted by one of the othersâJoshua, desperate to understand what happened after they were disconnected. Wonwoo, demanding answers about the weakening sunlight. Chan, asking where the heck your tiny birds went. Even Vernon, surprisingly and quietly commending your bravery intervening the way you did.
You knew he was still reeling from the stress of the argument, but having his hands all over you now, searching for something that isn't thereâlooking into his eyes now and seeing the desperation and helplessness in themâyou suddenly understand the kind of emotional turmoil he's been in the entire day.
"HeyâŠ" you speak softly, bringing your hands up to his biceps and rubbing up and down gently. "What's wrong?"
"Why did you do that?" he asks, voice barely breaking above a whisper. "Why would you put yourself in danger like that? You could have⊠you could haveâ" He clears his throat.
You shake your head and smile, hoping it will convince him that you never thought you were ever in any danger, even if it's not true. No one needs to know the way the terror belatedly settled into your bones just as you threw yourself over his body, least of all Seungcheol himself. It doesn't take any words for you to see he's not-at-all convinced, though.
"I just⊠needed to," you say, unsure what other reason you had to do what you did. It was as natural as blinking, as breathing, as existing. You didn't have to think twice; it was just what needed to be done.
"I felt something odd when I saw you running to me," he tells you, shaking his head as his eyes go somewhere far away, gaze coming down to your shoulder. He frowns as he tries to make sense of whatever's in his head. "I forgot where I was and what I was doing. It felt as though the heart of my vessel had suddenly failed. Like these lungs were no longer working. I feltâŠ"
"Scared?" you try filling the word in. His eyes come back up to you and his frown deepens.
"I thought the feeling was foreign to the godsâsomething given only to humans so they would revere us," he admits.
You laugh a little. "You've never been scared?"
"No. I have never been scared."
Your smile fades as the realization that Seungcheol was scared for you dawns on you. He stood in the middle of a typhoon and stared at the sky like he was stargazing. He faced a tsunami head-on without so much as blinking. He fought Vernon fiercely with a confidence that certainly seemed befitting of someone who's never felt fear. And the first time the god feels fear in the thousands of years he's been sentient is when he thinks your life is threatened.
"Oh," you say dumbly, unsure what else there is to say. "I'm⊠it's okay. Vernon said so himselfâhe never would've hurt me. I was never in any danger."
He shakes his head, seeming a little frustrated as he does. "You did not know that when you put yourself between two, very dangerous gods," he argues. "You ran into the danger even when you still thought there was a chance you could die." His voice cracks on the last word and he pauses, swallowing as he looks over your head with glassy eyes. "You could have died."
You purse your lips and look down at his chest as you mull the words over. You don't really have anything to say to that because you do remember very briefly thinking you would die to protect Seungcheol. And standing here, in the safety of the god's arms with no imminent danger looming over you, you know that it wasn't just the adrenaline speaking. Standing here, with a clearer albeit tired head, you think you would still die to protect him.
"It turns out I don't need years to know I like you either," you tell him, feeling a little silly as you do. It's only been days, and already, you're changing the tune of your song. You let your hands travel from his biceps to his chest, and the heart of his vessel beats erratically under your palm. "And you're someone worth protecting to me. Even if it means it comes at the costâ"
"Stop," he interrupts you, an angry edge to his voice. "Do not say that."
"It's the truth."
You look up at him to find him staring at the same spot over your headâprobably the wall behind youâeyes filled with unshed tears now. You frown, snaking your hand up his chest, his neck, and to his cheek. You shake your head as you swipe your thumb across his skin. He's warm and soft and you immediately feel lighter just having your bare skin against his. He looks back down at you, unmoving even when the first of his tears fall.
"It's okay to feel scared, Seungcheol," you tell him. "You don't think I was scared, too?" You catch his tears as they approach the hand resting against him. "Why do you think I came to you in the first place? I watched someone entirely capable of murder take you down and point his weapon at you."
His fingers curl against you until they're just tightly balled fists resting on your waist.
"I'm fine. I'm here. So are you. Everyone is okay." You give him a few moments to let the words sink in before you continue. "I'm your consort, am I not?" you ask, voice trembling. His gaze sharpens, the gold shining more luminously. "This is what we'll do for each other. You protect me. I protect you. Right?"
He takes a deep breath, his entire demeanor changing from someone overwhelmed and paralyzed with fear to someone tasked with a responsibility he takes incredibly seriously. He nods.
"Of course," he says, voice steady and strong again. "I will protect you with my life."
"And I you, with mine."
His face falls back into a glare. "I would ratherâ"
You shake your head as you smile pleasantly at him. "I do not care."
He clamps his mouth shut, and you grin widely at the revelation that he is a believer of happy wife, happy life. You let the hand on his cheek travel to the back of his neck, fingers twirling into the long hair at the nape of his neck and scratching his scalp slowly. He groans at the sensation, eyes fluttering shut and giving you the opportunity to admire him unabashedly. This is a god and you've taken him as a husband. You smile to yourself at the thought.
"Seungcheol." He opens his eyes.
"Yes?"
"Will you kiss me?"
The god flattens his hands against your lower back, pressing you to him until you're joined chest to toe. He wraps one arm around you as he brings the other hand up to cradle your face, hand so large, his fingers plunge into your hair and rest at the base of your skull. Seungcheol tilts your head up to his, and his gaze shifting between your eyes and lips quickly.
"I have wanted this since you first welcomed me into your life," he tells you. He doesn't give you a chance to process that information or respond because he dips his head down to meet his lips to yours.
It's about as mind-blowing as you imagine kissing a god would be. It's vast and eternal and sacred, and it feels like you're being carried right through the thousands of years he's lived. He kisses you, and you feel the power of his reign. You see empires rise and fall. You watch the sands of time slip through glass. And through it all, is Seungcheol. And now you.
You're lost in it immediately, and you close your eyes, trying desperately to keep your body upright and against him as the heat of his affection melts everything on the way down from your mouthâuntil you feel it right between your legs. His hold on both your waist and your jaw tightens hesitantly, like he thinks anything more might crush you. But when you open your mouth and run your tongue against his, begging for entry, he groans and hugs you to himself so tightly, you don't know where you end and he begins.
He welcomes you in, his tongue twisting with yours with the expertise only someone who's done this since the beginning of time can. He walks you the short distance to the bed, grip on you loosening when the back of your legs hit the mattress. His hands come down to your hips, thumbs massaging the soft flesh there as his kiss slows to something less voracious and less desperate. Like he's just realized you're rightâyou are okay and you are here, and nothing bad is going to happen. He isn't going to lose you. He has time with you.
His thumbs dig into your hips as he leans away and pushes you back onto the bed. You gasp at the abrupt motion. You prop yourself up on your elbows, watching nervously as Seungcheol stands at the edge of the bed and hooks his hand into the pit of your knee, lifting so that your leg is hiked up on his waist. You bring your other leg to wrap around him without his help and he smirks at your unprompted obedience. He runs his hands up and around so that his palms are flat against your shins before he drags them forward and down the front of your thighs, stopping at the apex.
Unbeknownst to him, you clench around nothing when his hands rest too close but too far from where you want him to be.
"Seungcheol." Your cheeks warm when you hear how whiny your own voice comes out. The god's fingers twitch at the same sound that embarrasses you.
"If you give yourself to me tonight," he starts, voice husky as his eyes sweep you up and down. Your breath hitches at the vulgar images his words immediately inspire from your imagination. "That will be it. You will be mine, and I will be yours."
You give him a shallow nod. It might have taken a near-death experience, but you know that's exactly what you want now. Exactly what you need.
"There is no changing your mind. There is no one else you will lay with. No one else you will worship. No one else you will love." You inhale sharply at the word, squirming under his touch like that will help his hands slip lower toward your core. He squeezes your thighs to subdue you. "It will only be you. And me. Until the sands still."
You're too lost in the all-consuming need for exactly what he's promising you to wonder what it truly entails.
"Do you understand?" You nod more frantically now.
"Yes. Yes, I understand, Cheol. Okay."
"And?"
You reach forward and he acquiesces to your silent request immediately, planting a knee on the bed almost right up against your groin and bending down to hover over you so that you're eye-to-eye. You wrap yourself around him, pulling his head down to envelop his lips again. He kisses you back with just as much eagerness, and you almost forget that he asked you a question until he breaks apart, pinning you down against the mattress when you try to chase him.
He gives you a pointed look, raising his eyebrows at you.
You roll your lips between your teeth briefly before smiling. "And I want all of that," you finally answer him. "Only you, only me. That's exactly what I want."
He processes the words for a moment, then the smile follows shortly. His entire face lights up like the missing sun, and he looks down at you with a level of fealty that paralyzes you. No one has ever looked at you like thisâlike devotion to you is second nature. You feel undoubtedly safe and loved.
"I want to give you everything tonight, Seungcheol," you tell him, nodding with finality now. You can't help the small "If you want to, of course" you tag onto the end of your sentence. He scoffs at it.
"I have never experienced desire like this in my existence," he informs you. "I have been yours for a long time now. All that is left is for you to be mine."
You nod. "I'm yours."
He leans down until you're nose-to-nose, the god tilting his head slowly to graze his skin along yours. You buck your hips up and meet nothing, his own hips still hovering over yours. He smirks.
"I tend to lose myself in bed," he says, his breath tickling your skin. "Stop me if you need me to."
"I won't," you say stubbornly. "Take me."
Instead of laying his weight across your body like you expect and desperately need him to, he pushes himself away and off the bed once more. He doesn't give you time to complain, busying himself with the waistband of your sweats and undoing the knot you had no business double tying when you first put this on. Once it's free, he pulls your sweats off, your panties following immediately. He stares at your cunt for several seconds, his breathing becoming shallow the longer he does.
"Seungcheol, come here," you whisper, reaching for him.
He obeys, mouth on yours and giving you what you want before you can ask for it. His plump lips and his warm tongue feel so much more intense with the weight of your promises behind them now. His power serves you, the empires that rise are yours, and the sands of time move only at your will. Somehow, you know he truly meant it when he said he's been yours for some time now. You wish you hadn't deprived yourself of this for as long as you did because you're already drunk off the euphoria of him.
When he leans back, his hands are under your shirt, skimming your skin as he pushes it up and over your chest. He abandons the shirt for your bra, frowning down at it. Realizing he probably hasn't seen a bra since waking up, you open your mouth to explain what it is, but you underestimate his patience. Without wasting another moment, he rips the fabric between the cups easily, tearing the undergarment off you before doing the same with your shirt.
"Seungcheol!" you screech, watching your clothes disappear over his shoulder. "You can't just destroy my clothes!"
"I will get you more," he mutters, flattening his tongue over your nipple, the warmth of it a stark contrast to the air conditioning of the room. You gasp, hips twitching against his and prompting him to bring a hand to your hips and press you back down.
The god laps at your nipple so fervently, you feel your arousal dripping down your folds and into the sheets under you. He pulls all sorts of sounds out of you, only stopping to bite and suck at the flesh of your breast. When your hips won't stop uncontrollably bucking up, he moves the hand pinning you down from your hip to your pussy, running his middle finger down along your slit.
"So wet," he grunts, suddenly too preoccupied with his finger to continue leaving marks on your chest. When it's thoroughly soaked with your arousal, he slips his middle and ring fingers into you in one go, pressing his thumb against your clit once he's knuckle-deep inside you.
"Oh, fuck," you mewl, hands turning into fists around the linen covering his shoulders. He watches you shamelessly, eyes boring into yours as he starts to pump in and out and his thumb massages your clit simultaneously. "Oh, Cheol."
"Mmm," he hums, obviously pleased at the reaction he's getting. It only inspires you to be even more vocal as his fingers start working harder as a reward. "You can take it, right," he states more than he asks.
"Yes," you rush to say, suddenly afraid any lapse in response will make him stop. "Yes, yes. IâI can take it."
"I know you can. YouâŠ" he murmurs before planting a kiss on your lips, "are perfect."
You sigh his name, his praise feeling downright holy paired with his fingers inside you. "That feels so good," you exhale between moans, trying to keep your body from arching as he works you open.
Your eyes close on their own accord, and the bed dips as Seungcheol moves to get off it, leaving your hands empty. His fingers don't lose their rhythm, though, making it hard for you to open your eyes to see what he's doing. When you feel his breath fan across the skin of your mound, you make a broken sound and grip the sheets under you like they'll save you.
Seungcheol's thumb lifts off of your clit, replacing it with his mouth. He leaves gentle kisses on and around the bundle of nerves until your thighs are trembling pathetically. When you're reduced to bumbling underneath him, he finally opens his mouth, stiffens his tongue, and kneads into the skin immediately surrounding your clit without touching it.
You keen at the sensation of his spit sliding down his tongue, pooling around your clit, and dripping down your folds to join your own fluids. His fingers slow inside you to match the way his tongue languidly and teasingly traces circles into your cunt.
"You eat it so good, Cheollie," you whimper even as he intentionally dodges your clit with each pass of his tongue. Thankfully, the praise undoes his resolve and he flattens his tongue, covering you as he starts to greedily eat you out. "Seungcheol!"
He doesn't let up even as you start to thrust up into his face, making you little more than a mess of spit and discharge. When he slips a third finger into you, your orgasm takes hold on you without warning, forcing a string of moans and curses out of you. Every muscle in your body contracts in response to the sensation, forcing you up into a crunch. You prop yourself back up on your elbow, the other hand coming to the back of Seungcheol's head as you practically hump his face, too engrossed in your orgasm to feel ashamed of it.
Thankfully, the god seems to appreciate it, his tongue and fingers stuttering and becoming erratic as he groans and grinds into the edge of the bed. He slows when your grip on his hair loosens and your muscles relax as you get over the crest of your orgasm, sending you collapsing back into the mattress. He licks one last stripe over you, drinking you clean as he takes his fingers out of you.
He stands, making quick work of the knots on his linens until his top unwraps and falls off his body and to the floor. Your breath catches in your throat as you take in his naked torso. It's not your first time seeing it in the last 24 hours, but it is your first time seeing it under these circumstances, and it has your pussy aching to be filled. He stares at you steadily, the corner of his mouth tilting into a smug smirk when your eyes drop to his hands at the waistband of his pants. He undoes the knot on his belt, and lets them join the rest of his clothes on his floor, and Seungcheol is naked before you.
"You are so, so beautiful, Seungcheol," you whisper, feeling small all of a sudden. It's hard not to as you stare at his cock, just as well-endowed as suspected.
He doesn't say anything and his expression betrays no sign that he even heard you. He simply climbs back on top of you, slipping an arm under you and easily carrying you further up onto the bed until your head is on a pillow. He kisses you once, twice, three times, before he works his way to your neck, muttering into your skin as he does.
"You are the most beautiful soul to ever walk this world," he says confidently like he knows it for a fact. You shiver as his lips graze your pulse. "In all my thousands of years of godhood, I never would have dreamed of finding a consort as beautiful, as intelligent, as selfless, as perfect as you."
You hook one leg over his hip, digging the heel of your foot into his ass to get his cock closer to your entrance. When he doesn't budge, you groan, glaring down at his dick like it's at fault.
"Look at me, love."
The affectionate pet name forces your gaze up quickly, and when you meet his eyes, you know he put his entire heart behind that single word. He stares at you like you're the deity in the room and he's the most pious man at your altar. He brushes your hair away from your face, taking his time studying your face.
"Seungcheol, you can't change your mind either," you tell him. He's not even inside you yet, and you know it's over. He can't look at you like this and expect you to ever be without him again. "You'll be mine, too."
He smiles like the thought of anything else is silly. "I already am." He kisses you gently before he adds, "I will not change my mind."
You nod. "Good. Now, please get inside me."
His cheeks turn a pretty pink as he finally lowers himself, lining himself up with your hole. You inhale sharply when you feel his tip poking between your folds. He doesn't slide in, though. "Look at me when I take you."
You groan at the possessiveness in his words, watching him with half-lidded eyes as he finally, finally, finally starts to push into you. He takes a painstakingly slow time, both of you panting through the tight fit as he disappears into you inch by inch.
"You're so big, Cheol," you whisper, fighting the urge to squeeze your eyes shut so you can honor his command to look at him.
"I know. But it is all yours," he reminds you, peppering kisses across your cheek and neck. "So you can handle it, can't you, love?"
You almost choke on the moan the words inspire from you. "Yes. Yes, yes, yes."
After a few more moments, Seungcheol bottoms out, buried in you to the hilt. You curse, finally giving into the need to close your eyes as you adjust to the feeling. The god doesn't move, settling for attaching his mouth to your nipple once more, one hand coming down to your clit and lazily massaging as he lets you take your time relaxing into the sensation of being full.
"So foolish of you to think I am not already yours," he mutters, lifting his mouth off your chest. You open your eyes and find him watching you again, his lips forming a smile when you squirm under his quickening pace on your clit. "I chose you the moment you came back to the beach in Singapore. I chose you before you ever made your offering. I chose you every dawn and every dusk since thenâevery moment in between..." He sighs happily, keeping his eyes on you. "So foolish to think otherwise."
"CheolâŠ" you gasp as you feel a second orgasm on the horizon. His fingers are more than enough to get you there, but his words usher you along even faster. "Please."
"Shhh," he shushes you gently as you start to whimper the closer you get. Seungcheol notices the wetness in your eyes before even you do. "Oh, do not cry, my love. I am a generous god."
You release a desperate sob when he leans down and runs his tongue up the length of your cheek, licking up the few stray tears that escaped the corner of your eyes. You clench around him and he moans loudly, making sure you know you feel just as good to him as he does to you.
"Your tears taste like reverence," he whispers against your skin, kissing the path the tears took down your face. "How can I belong to anyone else when you worship me so well?"
"I do," you gasp, nodding desperately. You're so close. "I'll worship you better than anyone else can, Seungcheol. All yours."
He hums, pleased with the words. "I will show you exactly what it means to be mine. I will make love to you so thoroughly, you will only know my name. Only speak my name."
"Seungcheol."
He smiles. "Going to fill you up until you are more me than you are you." Your mouth falls open in a silent shout as your pleasure starts to rear its head at the thought of Seungcheol dripping out of you for days. "There you go. That's it. Come undone for me, my heart. Let go."
Your muscles unwind at the command, allowing the orgasm to ravage your body without resistance. Timing it perfectly with your climax, Seungcheol finally pulls his cock halfway out of you before pounding right back in, coaxing a scream out of you. When his second thrust in has you writhing in pure ecstasy, he deems it safe to set a near brutal pace, hips snapping to meet your ass so hard, your skin starts to throb.
You reach up overhead as his cock bullies you further and further up the bed until you're hitting the headboard. You press a palm against it, pushing yourself away from it and inadvertently sucking Seungcheol deeper into you. You keep your hand there as your body is dragged up and down the bed mercilessly.
"Oh, Seungcheol," you groan, "Please."
"What is it, love," he pants. "What do you need?"
"Fill me up," you gasp. "Fillâfill meâ"
He reaches up, grasping your face in his hand and squeezing until your mouth is wide open. He leans down, mouth swishing as he looks up at you like he's asking if you're sure.
"Please."
The word is barely out when he squeezes your face hard and spits into your mouth, the first bits of Seungcheol becoming part of you. Your cunt clenches around him as you swallow, feeling a fraction better at the thought of having a piece of him now.
"Mâmore," you breathe, barely able to speak with how roughly he pounds into you. He has you pinned underneath him, and still, he proves himself to be at your beck and call, immediately complying and spitting into you again when you open your mouth wide. "Fuck!"
"Take it," he pants, finger wiping at some of his spit on your chin and shoving it into your mouth. You suck his finger, tongue swirling around it. You moan at the tasteâa mix of the salt from his sweat and your own cum. He moans right back at you, his hips snapping forward with more piety as you release his finger. "Perfect. So perfect."
The constant reminder of how the god sees you finally makes something inside you snap, and before he can register what's happening, you're turning the both of you until you're on top of himâdeft enough that you do it without him slipping out of you. He inhales, hands coming to your waist to support you as you immediately bounce on his cock.
"Oh gods," he breathes. "Yes, just like that."
"Do you like it, Cheollie?" you ask, words coming out in broken gasps as you impale yourself on his cock repeatedly. He nods hastily. "Do you like my pussy? The way you fit inside me so perfectly?"
"Yes, my heart. I love it."
"It's yours," you remind him as your arousal makes nasty squelching sounds that just make you even wetter.
Seungcheol's hand comes down to your clit, the other heading the opposite direction to cup your breastâboth working their assigned body part simultaneously with a feverish energy. Your eyes roll into the back of your head at the feeling, hand coming up to grip the edge of the headboard as you ride the god. You know you only have one orgasm left in you before you teeter into overstimulation, so you grab the hand rubbing your cunt and you bring it up to your other breast, squeezing both your hands over his until he has your chest in a territorial grip.
"Mine," he practically growls. You nod, unable to say anything as you try not to come.
"Seungcheol⊠can't⊠I can'tâI'mâ"
"One more, my love," he breathes. "Can you do one more?"
"Y-yes," you answer. He carefully pulls out of you, whispering comforting words into your ear when you start complaining. Seungcheol turns you around and gently pushes you to your knees, his hand settling between your shoulder blades and pushing you until your cheek is against the mattress.
He bends over you, chest pressed to your back. He kisses your shoulder before whispering, "Do not forget: stop me if you must."
"I won't," you tell him, wishing you could see his face when you hear his amused snort.
The god pushes himself back off you and nudges his knee on the inside of each thigh, directing you to spread wider for him. He palms each ass cheek, spreading them apart for several seconds. You're honestly too fucked out to feel self-conscious about him studying such a vulnerable part of you.
"So beautiful," he sighs to himself.
He grips your hips, not bothering to warn you as he thrusts back into you hard, his pace immediately aggressive from the start. You don't know if it's the exhaustion from an eventful day or the fog of lust you're blanketed in, but you can't even find it in yourself to release the sounds your body desperately wants to. Your moans are cut off, stuck in your throat as you try desperately to last long enough to have Seungcheol finish inside you.
His fingers dig into you, pulling your hips back to meet his as he thrusts forward, the sound of your skin slapping together and Seungcheol's soft pants filling the room. You hear him spit again, and it isn't until you feel your pussy impossibly wetter that you realize he spit on his own cock, fucking more of himself into you. You groan, the noise half muffled by the mattress.
It only takes a few more thrusts before Seungcheol pulls you up against his chest, hand splayed across your throat and forcing your head against his shoulder. Without interrupting his rhythm, he guides your head to turn to the side so he can catch your lips, tongue entering your mouth as soon as you open it.
You cry and sob into the kiss, the new position allowing him the perfect angle to hit the ridged spot inside you, cock luring your third and final orgasm closer and closer to the surface. You break the kiss with a gasp of his name.
"I am with you," he pants in your ear before leaving open-mouth kisses down your neck. He wraps one arm around your chest, a hand finding your nipple and pinching. The other hand, of course, finds your clit once more, no intention of leaving it this time. "Come, my heart. One more. I am with you. Give me one more."
The assurance that Seungcheol is coming along with you finally allows you to give in to the pleasure, your cunt clamping down on him hard when you do. He captures your mouth again, swallowing your screams and replacing them with his own moans as his dick pulses inside you, pumping you full of his cum just like he promised he would. It feels endless, the hot flow of it eventually having nowhere else to go, and leaking out of you in a filthy, lewd mixture of god-given gratification.
"Say it," Seungcheol murmurs when you both have survived the peak of it, voice vibrating against your back. He slows to a stop.
"Yours."
You feel his lips smile against your shoulder. "And I am yours."
You sigh happily at the reminder, eyes fluttering closed as Seungcheol brings both arms to wrap around your waist in a sweet embrace. He nuzzles his face into the crook of your neck, tightening his hold on you as he whispers all kinds of promises into your skin. To protect you, worship you, respect you, support you, care for you. And best of all, as you start to feel the exhaustion take over your consciousness, the god of the sky kisses you once more and promises to love you until the sands stillâuntil the end of time.
UNITED NATIONS â OFFICE FOR COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
DEPLOYMENT NOTIFICATION: IMMEDIATE
MISSION ID: UNOCHA/EMEA/0808-EGY
LOCATION: The Duat, Egypt
LEAD OFFICER: Seungcheol Choi, Uniter of the Two Lands, Lord of the Sky, Protector of the Pharaoh, and Avenger of his father before him, Osiris, god of the underworld, the afterlife, and rebirth â and consultant to the UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs
DATE ISSUED: 3 May 2026
DURATION: TBD
DISASTER CLASSIFICATION: Active threat to the sun
SUMMARY: Following lengthy discussions with external consultants Seungcheol Choi and Vernon (last name unknown as he refuses to give it), it has been determined that the current environmental anomalies are not the result of natural meteorological or geological processes. They are the consequence of a snake attempting to eat the sun. Despite many protests from Consultants Seungcheol and Vernon, Lead Officer Y/N L/N and Officer Chan Lee will be deployed. Waivers have been signed, as requested by HR and Legal.
OBJECTIVES:
Locate and save Ra
Assist Consultants Seungcheol and Vernon as needed
Ensure the humans remain alive
Due to the extreme circumstances, SITREPs will not be required
TRAVEL ADVISORY:
Intelligence regarding Duat is limited to ancient texts, Google, Officer Lee's Duat for Dummies guide and Consultants Seungcheol and Vernon. As such, personnel should be prepared for anything.
This is the UN's first deployment to the underworld. We do not have relevant guidance. Please, for the love of god Horus everything good, exercise sound judgment and return. ALIVE.
Seungcheol is determined to remind you he's crossed with you every step of the way to the Duat. You don't know why he's so annoyed that you weaseled your way into this mission; you explicitly told him that night in India that he wouldn't be without you again. You're not sure why he thought the underworld would be an exception.
Still, he won't meet your gaze or speak in more than one or two words at a time or, worse, simple grunts. Even now, as you stand on the literal banks of the Nile, he refuses to lift his eyes to yours.
"Are you sure whoever is driving this boat knows to come get us?" Chan asks, sighing impatiently as he looks up and down the river. The light of the nearly full moon glints against the water, casting thousands of little diamonds on the surface, floating downriver.
It would feel peaceful if you weren't here for the reason you are: to save Ra and make sure your husband doesn't die doing it. Your heart skips a beat. Your husband. In a matter of weeks, Seungcheol managed to go from a lunatic stranger you were risking your life for to someone incredibly important to you⊠that you are still risking your life for. No matter how angry he is, you wouldn't change your decision to be here.
"Yes," Vernon hisses, rolling his eyes. "You, humans, are so impatient. Do you think a boat ride between the mortal world and the Duat will take mere minutes?" Chan stares at him blankly and he scoffs. "It won't."
"Okay, but how do you know it's coming?"
"I just do!" he says when Seungcheol stays committed to remaining silent. "I am a literal god. Why do you doubtâ"
You make a noise of surprise as the bow of a cedar boat comes into view, slowly and quietly cutting through the waters of the Nile like a ghost in the night. It glides along slowly, almost achingly so, and it only stops when almost the entirety of the boat has passed.
"Passage to the Duat?" a man at the stern asks. He holds a long oar upright in his fists, the other end of it anchored in the bank.
He's tall, beautiful, graceful, and entirely too apathetic looking for someone whose job is to ferry souls into the underworld. Surely, the gig is more interesting than his bored, almost irritated expression suggests.
"Mahaf, is that you?" Seungcheol asks, no problem speaking now. Chan straightens as soon as he hears the name.
The ferryman's eyes slide to the god and they narrow. "Minghao while we are in these waters, Seungcheol." Neither god seems surprised that he knows his name. "What brings you to the Duat?" he asks, gaze roaming over the four of you.
"Is this the start of your questioning?" Vernon grumbles. The man's plump lips curve into a soft smirk.
"No, just curious," Minghao answers.
You frown and lean toward your subordinate. "Questioning?" you whisper.
"You didn't read my Duat for Dummies guide, did you?" Chan pouts. You roll your eyes but mutter a quick apology all the same. "Mahaf is the celestial ferryman. He's known to make souls requiring passage into the Duat answer questions to prove their worthiness."
"Oh. Great. A quiz. Exactly what you want to be subjected to right after you've died."
Chan elbows and shushes you, and because you know he's much more well-researched on all of this than you areâand that he would never dream of shushing you unless it was dire you shut upâyou whisper another apology and stop speaking.
"Two gods of your power⊠surely there are easier ways to travel into the Duat than on my humble boat, no?"
"We have humans with us," Seungcheol says, clearly irked by that fact. "We want a guarantee that their souls will be given safe passage into and out of the Duat."
Minghao nods, leaning into his oar and resting his chin atop it. "And only I can grant it."
Your eyes widen. "Sorry, there's a chance our souls don't come out of the Duat?!" you squeak.
"Oh my god, this was all in the Duat for Dummies guide, dude."
Seungcheol throws you an exasperated look, and you immediately understand why he didn't want you here. "No," he answers. "There is no chance your soul will get stuck in the Duat because if Minghao does not grant you safe passage, you are not breathing near his boat, let alone stepping foot on it."
Vernon whistles and your cheeks are set aflame at the scolding.
"Okay, watch the tone, sweet Cheollie," you warn him, feeling a modicum of satisfaction when he fidgets under your glare. "I get we're all a little high strung and anxious at the moment, but I'm here to help."
"Ah," Minghao smiles widely now, extending a hand and gesturing to you. "So the great King has finally taken a Queen Consort."
Vernon chokes on nothing as the ferryman casually outs you and your god. Seungcheol clears his throat and gives him a shallow nod, sending his uncle into a coughing fit.
"Get a grip," Chan murmurs, pounding on the god's back until he swats him away. "I've started their wedding registry for them. I'll send you the link later."
Vernon shoots him a withering look before turning to his nephew. "You're married?!"
"Yes" is all Seungcheol affords him before turning to Minghao. "Can we start?"
"As you wish. Who first?"
"Us," Seungcheol answers immediately, pointing to himself and Vernon. You roll your eyes but allow him whatever comforts he needs.
Minghao waves them both forward before nodding at Vernon. "Set, Set, Set," he chants, turning ideas over in his head for how he wants to quiz the god.
"Are we talking riddles or�" you whisper to Chan.
He shakes his head. "I don't know. All I know is that he wants the truth. So be honest."
"Tell me, Set," Minghao starts, shutting you up immediately. You stand straight once more, all your attention on the ferryman. "What has been your greatest wound?"
"Whoa, starting off strong," you murmur, Chan nodding in agreement.
"Probably when he cut off my leg," he says simply, pointing at Seungcheol.
You and Chan balk at Seungcheol, who simply shrugs. "He gouged out my eye."
"So you cut off his leg?!" Chan whisper-shrieks.
"His vessel has a leg," the god points out. "He is fine."
Minghao shakes his head. "You know that is not what I am asking."
Vernon sighs. "What are you asking?"
"Your greatest wound, dude," Chan interjects, earning him another glower from the god. He nods and steps back. "You got this. I'll leave you to it."
"You are free to enter the Duat on your own," Minghao reminds him. "But if you want to get on my boat, you will do it as an honest man. What will it be?"
You start to shift your weight from foot to foot the longer Vernon stands there, staring at the ground. It wouldn't be surprising if he chose to enter the Duat on his own and meet the rest of you once you've safely gotten in. It is surprising that he eventually answers.
"I have tried to do good for thousands of years now, but I have only ever been remembered for my very worst mistakes," he finally says, voice quiet as he admits it. You feel a sudden dread at having to receive a question from Minghao. You already feel like you shouldn't have heard Vernon's answer, and if all of them are like this, this is going to be a painful entry fee.
Minghao hums. "What do you seek in the Duat?"
"Oh my god, we get more than one question?" you ask, bringing a hand to your mouth and chewing on your nail anxiously.
"Redemption," he says. Before Minghao can tell him it's the wrong answer, he adds, "And forgiveness."
"Hm, alright" is all Minghao has for him. He nods at Seungcheol now. "Horus. Who are you if the world no longer needs a king?"
Even from behind, you can see the way Seungcheol's shoulders tense, and you think about the conversations you've had about the people forgetting the godsâthe way his light dimmed at the thought of no one at his altar. If Minghao's aim is to tear their insecurities wide open, he's doing a phenomenal job of it.
"I amâŠ" he starts. "I am nothing."
You bite back a disappointed sigh. It was the answer you expected but hoped he had moved past.
Minghao narrows his eyes at him, a small smile playing on his lips. "I believe you believe that is true," he says slowly before his gaze lifts to meet yours. You suddenly feel incredibly small. He says your full name and it feels like he pulls you forward with it, your feet taking a few steps forward.
"It's not her turn," Seungcheol cuts in, stepping in front of you.
He goes ignored. "And you. Do you believe that is the correct answer? Should I allow Horus onto my boat with that answer?"
You know you should just say yesâget the group on the boat faster and get to Ra faster. But you take Chan's word to heart and trust that honesty is actually the best policy here. You shake your head. "No. I don't believe that."
Minghao smiles, nodding. "Horus." He gestures with his hand. "Would you like to try again?"
Seungcheol takes a deep breath, finding the time to spare you a sharp look for throwing him under the bus. He shrugs. "I am still a god?" The ferryman shakes his head. "I am a man?" Another shake.
"Oh, it's a trick question!" Chan pipes up. "The world will always need a king!"
"Wait, we can phone a friend?" you ask when Minghao confirms with another head shake.
"He'd be a bird!" Vernon guesses.
"A hawk?" you ask.
"No, that's Ra," Chan corrects. "A falcon!" No.
"I'd be human�" No.
"Why would you be human?"
"I don't know, why would I be anything?"
"Dead?" Chan guesses. "Would he beâ"
"No, you idiot," you hiss, slapping him upside the head. "Mention my husband dying one more time and I'llâ"
"He'd be his own king!" Vernon throws another one out there, pointing at Minghao as he does. Interestingly, the ferryman tilts his head in thought at that one before shaking his head no. "Damn."
"No, wait," you breathe, "I think that one was close!"
"There is no 'close,'" Minghao denies. "Only the truth."
"Okay, Yoda," you say, waving a hand and making Chan's eyes bug out at you. The ferryman only smirks. "If the world no longer needed Seungcheol⊠does that take anything away from him?"
"Uh yeah," Vernon deadpans, "his crown."
"Okay, literally yeah, the crown," you repeat, unaware if there's an actual crown. "But the world largely doesn't know that Seungcheol is a god, right?" He winces and you throw him an apologetic look. "Sorry, it's just a fact. Not many pagans these days. So if the world doesn't know that Seungcheol is king, then if they don't need a king, he would simply⊠continue existing."
"He would still be himself," Chan follows along, nodding. "You would still be worthy."
"Yes!" you agree, mostly because whether or not that's the actual answer, it's the takeaway you want him to have. "You'd be worthy!" You all look to Minghao, who just shrugs.
"It is his question. He must believe his answer." You all look to Seungcheol now.
"Well?" Vernon prods.
Your god's gaze flicks between everyone surrounding him until they ultimately stay fixed on you. You can still see the remnants of his irritation with you, but there's softness behind itâlike he's asking if you really believe that.
"I believe it," you say just in case he is. "I have since the beginning."
"What wife says, goes," Vernon mutters, turning away with a tiny smirk.
"If the world no longer needed a king," Seungcheol says to Minghao without looking away from you, "I would still be worthy."
Minghao nods. "How devoted are you to your godly duties, Horus?"
Seungcheol looks at him now. "As devoted as I can be."
"Is that so," the ferryman smiles. "What do you hope to find in the Duat?"
"My sun god."
"Why?"
Everyone's eyes ping-pong between the two, suddenly engaged in a fast back-and-forth you hope you won't be the subject of when it's your turn.
"He needs my help."
"And you would help your sun god if he asked for it."
"Yes."
"What else?"
"What else, what?"
"What else would you do for your sun god?"
Seungcheol frowns. As the only god he really answers to, you know he finds the question silly. "Anything."
"And if your sun god commanded you leave her soul in the Duat," Minghao points at you, "would you?"
You swallow hard with everyone else's eyes on you now. You wouldn't blame Seungcheol for saying yes. After all, he's been beholden to the laws of the gods for thousands of years, and he's known you for a few weeks. Really, he should say yes. He would beâ
"No. I would not."
Vernon's eyebrows meet his hairline and his jaw unhinges as he stares at his nephew, who refuses to look at anyone aside from his interrogator.
"You would forsake your sun god?"
"I would be faithful to my betrothed, which is what Ra would want." Vernon makes a face that suggests that is not-at-all what Ra would want, but Seungcheol ignores it.
Minghao grins now. "Hm. You may both board."
"Wow, he's down bad," Chan whispers to you as the two walk onto the gangway that extends from cedar to silt, talking to each other in low voices you can't make out.
"Shut up," you grumble. "Look alive."
Chan startles when Minghao points at him. "You. Lee Chan."
"Yes, sir," the man responds, making you roll your eyes and step aside for him.
Minghao's mouth twitches in amusement. "Why are you here?"
Chan doesn't even have the shame to try and lie first. "I think this would be a fun story to tell my kids one day, and I suffer from severe FOMO." He pauses, tilting his head up at the sky to think before adding: "And I like her as my boss, so I guess it's important I help her stay alive."
You raise an eyebrow at him but all he does is shrug. "You just want a good performance review."
"Well, yes."
Minghao also looks surprised by his honesty, his momentum stuttering a little as he thinks the answer over. "Um, what do you hope to find in the Duat?"
"Ra," he says, nodding and shrugging like it would just a nice plus rather than an absolute must-have that will save the world.
The ferryman frowns at him like he's unsure what to make of the man. "What is your deepest insecurity?"
"That people will stop hearing and seeing me, and I'll stop mattering to people."
"Holy shit," Vernon half-laughs as Seungcheol stares from the boat, dumbfounded.
"ChanâŠ" you pout, throwing an arm around his shoulder.
"Oh please," he rolls his eyes, shrugging you off. "I know you won't stop hearing or seeing me. You and your emails never leave me alone."
Before you can even scoff, Minghao waves him onto the boat. "Okay, okay, just board."
Chan grins widely, bowing his head a little in thanks before practically skipping up the gangway and joining the two gods. From the looks on their faces, he's definitely gloating about passing this quiz with flying colors.
You hear your name again, and you find Minghao's eyes trained right on you. You take a deep breath and nod. Honesty. You can do honesty. That's easy. You're always incredibly honest; it's a trait many people have actually hated about youâspecifically, Wonwoo.
"You are not dead," Minghao observes. "You ask for passage into and out of the Duat as a living being." You nod. "Why?"
"I want to help." That's an easy one.
"Why?"
You pause. "Because I careâŠ" you say hesitantly, unsure what kind of answer the question demands.
"Why?"
You huff now, feeling like you're talking to a toddler. "Because we should all care?"
"Is that why you do what you do?" Minghao asks. "Your occupation?"
You nod. "Yes. People always come together in the face of disaster. I want to be helpful to someone on their worst day."
Minghao makes a noise of understanding like he's found the actual question he wants to ask you. "Is there anything you would not give to help someone on their worst day?"
You tense at the question. It's a sticking point with Seungcheol and even your coworkersâyou run into danger without thinking twice about it. You'll fling yourself into a typhoon, you'll head in the direction of the tsunami, and you'll get between two warring gods. All signs point to the answer no. You've already put your life at risk several times.
You feel Seungcheol's gaze bore into you from where he stands on the boat, and you can practically hear him begging you to tell Minghao you would not give your life to help. You can't appease your god.
"No," you say, fidgeting under his burning eyes as you try not to meet them.
Minghao nods slowly. "Your devotion to protecting others is admirable." You wait for another question but it doesn't come. "Though it is a shame how negligent you are of yourself."
You glare at the ferryman. "I'm not negligent of myself!"
"Oh, that was not a question," Minghao informs you before gesturing to the gangway. "You may board the boat. I hereby grant your humans safe passage into and out of the Duat."
You make your way onto the cedar, insisting you're not negligent of yourself the entire way there. "God forbid a girl save a life or two!"
"Trust me, I am sure Horus would forbid it if he had the power to," Minghao mutters, taking the oar and beginning to row you all away from the bank. "Quite the pair you two areâone selfish enough to forsake a god for you, the other selfless enough to waste her life and die for a stranger who would never do the same."
"I think he wants to fight," you tell Chan.
"No, no, he definitely doesn't," he counters. "That's all you."
To: J. Hong <joshua.hong@unocha>
From: You <yn.ln@unocha>
Subject: Quick question
Do you think I have a martyr complex?
To: You <yn.ln@unocha>
From: J. Hong <joshua.hong@unocha>
Subject: RE: Quick question
Oh god, is your life already in danger? Also, what carrier do you have that allows you to email me from the underworld?
Joshua Hong
Director of Operations
UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
To: J. Hong <joshua.hong@unocha>
From: You <yn.ln@unocha>
Subject: RE: Quick question
NO, I am on a boat on the Nile and the person (god? Unclear) who owns it thinks I'm self-negligent!!!
To: You <yn.ln@unocha>
From: J. Hong <joshua.hong@unocha>
Subject: RE: Quick question
Fork found in kitchen
To: J. Hong <joshua.hong@unocha>
From: You <yn.ln@unocha>
Subject: RE: Quick question
I can't stand you.
To: You <yn.ln@unocha>
From: J. Hong <joshua.hong@unocha>
Subject: RE: Quick question
If this is really bothering you, I will try to be serious.
Yes, you kind of have a martyr complex, and I know you think that's a requirement for the job, but your "whatever it takes" attitude can be really put you in danger sometimes. Your selflessness is a huge part of the reason why I hired you and why you're such an asset to the UN, but you can't help people if you die or are gravely injured. What good are you DEAD? Think of all the people you've helped over your career. What would have happened to them if you hadn't been there? There are so many more people to help. The next time you want to throw yourself in the way of danger, I would invite you to think about that. You have a team for a reason.
There. Is that OK?
To: J. Hong <joshua.hong@unocha>
From: You <yn.ln@unocha>
Subject: RE: Quick question
Yeah. That's ok. thx.
To: You <yn.ln@unocha>
From: J. Hong <joshua.hong@unocha>
Subject: RE: Quick question
Stay safe.
You're not sure where the Nile flowed from Earth to the Duat. Even when Minghao docks the boat once more and tells you you've arrived, you're not sure you believe you're anywhere other than a few miles downriver from where you started. Everything looked the same at first. Then, Seungcheol and Vernon started leading you and Chan through fields that became gold, under skies that gave way to galaxies, and alongside a river made of memories.
The souls you saw weren't the zombie-like versions of themselves you expected; they looked like you and Chan. They played with children, tilled the fields, fished in the river, ate together. They came from all different times, and still, they lived together so harmoniously.
"You are too comfortable," Seungcheol says as you pass the latest group of souls.
You frown, more surprised he's talking to you than anything else. "What?"
"With the Duat," he clarifies, walking slower to allow Chan and Vernon to lead. "You are too comfortable. You smile at the souls and you look like you want to bathe in the river."
You shrug. "Would it be badâ"
"Yes," he says abruptly, stopping and circling his fingers around your wrist. "Yes. It would be bad to do that. To get comfortable here. It is meant to be comforting because this is for the dead." He stares at you hard. "You are not dead. Do you understand?"
You wriggle your wrist out of his grip and nod as you continue walking. "I understand, Seungcheol. You don't have to talk to me like I'm a child."
"I am not talking to you like a child."
"You are," you insist. "You're also acting like one. If you're upset with me, you should just communicate that instead of ignoring me or being cold."
"I do not want you here."
"Yeah, no kidding," you grumble.
"You should be safe at home."
"I should be wherever you are," you say, stopping once more to face him. You glance at the other two to make sure they're out of earshot, and when you confirm they are, you look at the god before you. He watches you cautiously. "You told me if we⊠did what we did, that it would mean I'm yours. That you're mine."
"Yes," he agrees immediately, taking a step forward and crowding your space. "And you are. I am."
"Well, to me, that means we do the hard things together," you tell him. "We lean on each other. When you need help, I help you. I don't stand on the sidelines and watch you and wait for you to come back."
"And youâwill you let me help you?" he asks, voice low. You glare up at him, knowing where his question is going. "For once in your life, will you let someone else take the burden? Will you let someone else help?"
"Iâ" you clamp your mouth shut before your denial can make its way out.
You shake your head, thinking of the emails Joshua sent minutes before your phone became useless. You have a team for a reason. Isn't that a big part of why you love what you do? Because you get to do it with people you love, too?
"Yes," you finally say, nodding when Seungcheol raises a doubtful eyebrow at you. "I recognize that is something I can work on, and I will work on it. I will ask for and accept help when I need it."
"Good," he breathes, resting a palm against your cheek and sweeping his thumb back and forth. "I am sorry for behaving like a child." You smile at the resentment in his voice from being compared to one. "I am just⊠scared. I am not used to being that way, and you scare me. You being so near to death scares me."
"I'm scared too, but not as much when I'm with you," you tell him. "I know I'm safe when I'm with you." He smiles at that, leaning down to catch your lips in a chaste but sweet kiss. "I didn't come to worry you or be a distraction. I came to make sure you have everything you need to come back in one piece."
He nods, sighing and letting his hands fall to yours. "I know. My fear is my problem to deal with. You have proven time and time and again that your presence makes the difference. I am lucky to have as fierce a woman as you at my side."
You blush, slapping his shoulder as you push him away. "Okay, big guy, relax before I beg you to take me in the middle of a field in the underworld."
Your god smirksâsleazy and smugâand you hate that it works on you. You groan, stomping away from him and toward Vernon and Chan, who stopped at the river's edge, waiting for the two of you to catch up.
"Excellent incentive to survive," he comments, trailing after you.
Once you catch up to the other two, you walk on for what simultaneously feels like seconds and days. You're glad it isn't just you when Chan comments on it and he's promptly informed that time is not linear or even truly real in this world. Both of you are too mortal to want to understand that and ask no further questions.
You have no idea how long it's been since you were a passenger on Minghao's boat when you hear what sounds like a large waterfall. Not long after that, Chan spots smoke in the distance. As you walk toward it, the sky becomes darker and darker, until it's pitch blackâuntil it feels so suffocatingly close, you're convinced you've entered a cave.
"Stay close," Seungcheol murmurs to the group, though you know the message is meant for you when you feel his hand squeeze your wrist briefly.
"I am sticking to you like glue whether you like it or not," Chan informs him, practically cowering into Vernon's side, unperturbed by how many times the god elbows him away.
"Let the record show, I do not," he hisses, yanking his arm away when Chan escalates to grabbing it.
Just as you think your eyes are adjusting to the dark, the void is suddenly backlit by clusters of fires, the source of the smoke Chan pointed out earlier. They're scattered about erratically, burning all sorts of hues. Seungcheol stops your group, raising a finger to his mouth as he looks around. You do the same.
On first glance, it looks like someone threw embers around like confetti, but you notice the clusters crowding downriver. You tap Vernon on the shoulder and point quietly. He understands immediately, jerking his head to his nephew to accompany him. They walk off, and Chan sidles up next to you.
"Now what?" he whispers.
"Now, we try to survive," you whisper back. "Come on."
You follow the two around the bend of the river, which either bleeds black now or reflects the infinite void of the black above youâyou're not sure which. The river ends in violent rapids that empty out into a waterfall, just as you suspected. Ahead of you, both gods summon their weapons, making you two freeze in place. You crane your neck to see what they're defending against and see nothing but a huge mansion. It isn't until you muster up the courage to keep moving and reach the gods that you realize it's not a mansion.
It's a boat. Golden, brilliant, and so magnificently large, you feel a little scared of it. And it's washed ashore.
"Ra's boat," Seungcheol whispers to both of you. "He must have been attacked here."
"Right before the falls," Vernon observes. "He was right at the end of the journey." You hear the guilt in his voice, and your fingers twitch to rub his back in comfort. You refrain, though, unsure if the gesture would just make Seungcheol's uncle smite you.
"Eyes on Apep?" Seungcheol asks, head on a swivel as he surveys his surroundings.
"No, butâ"
The rumbling starts so subtly, you mistake it for the thunderous force of the river, but it becomes strong enough to bring you and Chan to your knees, both of you more than happy to stay crouched in the tall grass while the gods stay upright. The rumbling stops, and just as you're about to ask what the fuck that was, the river explodes, black water shooting up like a geyser before raining down on all of you. You clamp your hands over your ears as you hear the most sickening, earth-shattering roar.
"Get out of here!" Seungcheol shouts at the two of you. "Find Ra! We'll hold him off!"
Chan wastes no time, dragging you away just as you realize what you're staring at. You mistook it for the blackened sky at first, but when the light of a fire catches a reflection for a brief second, you realize you're staring at a scaleâat hundreds of scales.
Colossal is the only word you can think of to describe Apep. It suddenly makes sense to you that his body moving through the world created an earthquake so large, it triggered a tsunami. If you thought what you felt in India was fear, you're not sure what it is you feel now. You're not sure how two gods in these tiny vessels are supposed to stand a chance against a goliath like Apep.
"Come on!" Chan grunts at you through gritted teeth, fingers so tight around your bicep as he drags you, you're sure you'll be bruised if you survive to see tomorrow.
"Chan," you rasp, barely able to find your voice as you force yourself to look away from the snake that just burst out of the river. You both shriek, getting thrown to the ground as Apep's body lands, causing rolling quakes under you. The sound is followed by the nauseating noises of weapons sinking into flesh, screams, roars, more earthquake-inducing strikes to the ground. The gods have started the fight.
"You good?" Chan asks, scrambling to his knees already while you remain on your stomach. You can hear him but you can't. You can see him but you can't. You can understand what he's saying but you can't. "Yes, you're good. Come on, up, up."
"Chan," you feel your mouth shape the syllable again. "Chan, no."
"What?"
You grip his forearms, dragging him back down to his knees when he gets to his feet. He looks at you like you're crazy.
"What are you doing?" he asks frantically. "We have to find Ra! Get up!"
"No, Chan," you gasp for air, your chest tightening and making it feel impossible to. You press a hand to your ribs, mouth opening and closing like a dumb fish as you try and fail to breathe.
"Oh my god, you are not having a panic attack right now!" he whines, looking between you and the river quickly. He drags you lower until you're both on your stomachs, hiding in the tall grass away from the massive, murderous serpent. "Okay, okay. Look at me."
You follow directions, Chan a blurry mess as you realize your eyes have filled with tears. "How⊠how are they going toâhowâ"
"Hey, that is not our business," Chan says, shaking his head as he squeezes your hands so hard, you want to rip them out of his grip. He doesn't let you, forcing the pain to ground you. "Our business is finding Ra, okay? We don't look at the snake, we don't think about the snake, we don't even know the word, 'snake,' okay?"
Your tears start to roll down your face as your chest tightens with each instance of the word, snake. You shake your head, thinking of Seungcheol getting obliterated with one swipe of the tail. It's like two ants trying to kill you. Laughable. Impossible.
"Vernon has fought this thing every night for thousands of years," Chan reminds you. "Successfully. And Seungcheol is an even better fighter than he is. They're going to be fine. The best thing we can do right now is find Ra."
You breathe out through your mouth, squeezing Chan's hands back now.
"The faster we find Ra, the faster we get out of here and away from that thing," he reminds you. "But if we keep laying here, twiddling our thumbs, they will have to fight even longer, and weâoh okay, we're moving!"
Chan doesn't miss a beat as he gets up and runs after you, sprinting toward the massive boat. You reach the base of it, overwhelmed by the mountain in front of you, cursing under your breath as you think about how long it's going to take to search for the sun god in this thing.
"What the fuck?" you whisper, looking around for a ladder to hoist you up onto the deck.
"No, there," Chan points at splatters of blood in the sand of the bank, leading behind and away from the boat. "He got out."
"How do you know?" you ask. "He could just beâ"
"Apep would've ripped the boat apart if Ra was still in there," Chan says. You don't fight him on it, knowing his experience writing the dummy guides will probably keep you alive right now. "He must have gotten out. Come on!"
He leads you around the boat, where the splatters quickly disappear, leaving you no trail to follow. "Fuck," he breathes. "Okay, look that way." He points. "I'll lookâ"
"What the hell?" you breathe, frowning as you follow his finger toward the riverbank, where you find a tiny bird. He raises his eyebrows at you and looks over his shoulder.
"What?" he asks.
You look at the bird, who tilts its head at you as it hops a few times in place. "It's a bird."
"Okay?!" he shrieks impatiently. "Who cares?! Weâ"
"It's my bird!" you clarify, frowning as you walk closer to it. You walk alongside the boat, the bird hopping around just past it, closer to the water.
"Your bâ"
You both scream in horror as a black scaled tail slams into the wet sand where the bird had just been, the force of it sending you both careening backward onto your asses.
"No!" Chan screams so loudly, his voice cracks. "That did not just fucking happen! We did not just watch a fucking baby bird get pulverized! NO!" You wail nonsensically, slapping Chan's arms like he's supposed to be able to do something.
The tail slithers away, and you flinch, ready to see the flattened body of your bird. It leaves nothing in its wake, and you both pause, confused.
"Where�"
"Is it too tiny?" he asks. "Maybe it's still on the tail�"
Your heads snap to the right when you hear soft chirps, both of you collapsing into the sand with a groan of relief when you find the bird hopping on a flat rock protruding from the water.
"Oh, you son of a bitch," you breathe, hand pressed against your chest, your heart fluttering wildly underneath it. Ironically enough, the stress of thinking you witnessed the slaughter of a bird regulates your nervous system. "What?!" you shout at it as it chirps and hops. "What are you doing here?! What do you want?!"
"Follow it," Chan says, crawling toward it. When he reaches the end of the boat's shadow, he pauses, craning his neck around to see where Apep and the gods are.
You join him, poking your head out of the shadow to see past him. Seungcheol and Vernon move so fast, you can't keep track of them for more than a second at a time. The snake, thankfully, is too large to move as quickly and deftly, his body sliced open in several places the gods successfully struck him.
"Okay, come on," Chan whispers, crawling into the open toward the water.
"Why are we following the bird?" you ask, crawling clumsily and quickly to follow as close to Chan as possible.
"You followed the bird at the hotel," Chan says. "They know what you have to do!"
You tilt your head but don't argue. You have no idea what else to do, and the birds have never steered you wrong. You reach the edge of the river, the bird just out of reach as it hops on the stone. You realize there are a series of stones the two of you can use as a path across to the rushing waterfall. You groan.
"Do not tell me you want us to go to the waterfall," you hiss at the bird.
It tilts its head at you before it flies off the rock and several rocks downâin the exact direction you just told it you didn't want to go.
The two of you groan. "Why are we here?" Chan sighs.
"Apparently, you have insane FOMO," you mutter, pulling yourself into a low crouch. You glance at Apep and find him entirely preoccupied with the two gods. You hop onto the first stone, finding walking across the first few very easy while the waters are still calm where you are.
It's when you reach the fork in the river that separates the rapids that gets your heart racing. The bird waits patiently, watching you as you move.
"Hey, buddy," you whisper, looking over your shoulder. Apep swipes at Seungcheol with his tail, and the god narrowly dodges it before sinking his spear into the snake. You force yourself to look away before you see something you don't want to. "Where are we going? Hm? Care to share?"
"So does marrying Seungcheol make you Dr. Dolittle now, or�" Chan deadpans. "What's going on here?"
You glare at him. "So following the bird isn't crazy but talking to it is?"
"It's clearly leading us somewhere. It is not talking to you."
You roll your eyes, turning your attention back to the bird. You find it with its back to you, still hopping and fluttering its wings as it looks past the waterfall. You frown, scooting to the very edge of the rock, as close to the water as you can get without entirely tumbling in.
"Oh fuck," you sigh. "Chan."
"What?"
You point to where exactly the bird was leading you. Past the rapids, where the waterfall curves away from you, you can see a ledge just under the cascading water, where the body of a man is sprawled, unconscious. Where Ra must have gotten swept in the current at some point, was swallowed by the falls, and had just enough strength to catch himself on a rock before careening to the very bottomâso far down, you can't even see where the water lands.
"Of course," Chan says, looking away from the ledge and up at the never-ending black above you. "Of course he's in the goddamn waterfall because where the fuck else would he be? Surely, not in an easily accessible place like the very safe field behind us."
You sit back on your heels, settling into a low squat as you try to think of the best way to get to Ra that won't require rappelling down a waterfall. The bird flies onto your knee now that it's done guiding you. You stare down at it.
"I don't suppose you have a huge strong bird friend that can just carry Ra up here?" you murmur. It tilts its head at you. "Yeah, figured."
"Okay, a plan," Chan sighs. When he doesn't continue, you raise your eyebrows at him. "What? You're the boss! What's the plan?"
"Philippines, 2018," you start. He nods.
"The floods."
You nod. "Remember that lady who wouldn't evacuate until someone got her fat cat out of the tree?"
Chan sighs. "Yes."
"You climbed that massive tree, got that obese cat out of there even while it was actively attacking you, and climbed back down safely."
"You think Ra has claws?" he asks, zoning out in thought.
"Mmm, no," you say, unsure. "But if he does, I doubt he'd use them on his savior."
"Oooh, savior," he repeats, eyes lighting up. "Okay. I got this. I have great upper body strength. Who else is gonna save Ra? You?" He laughs and you try not to glare at him. It's true, you have very little upper body strength.
"You climb down," you say, flinching a little when the ground quakes again. "You go get Ra. I'll find something to pull you both up with. I don't pull you up because how would I do that, but I help spot you as you climb back up."
"No," he protests. "Get one of the gods to pull me up. It'll take them a second. Justâ"
"No, that will risk Apep noticing we found Ra. He'll eat Ra!"
"Y/N, I appreciate your faith in me, but I cannot carry a grown ass man up the side of a cliff, while I'm being pelted by hundreds of gallons of black fucking water."
Your retort dies in your mouth, and you deflate. He's right. Even just sending him down without a spot is insane. You find yourself nodding before you can figure out how you're going to lure one of the gods away. "Okay. Yeah. Stay here. I'll find you something to help climb down with on the boat."
Chan agrees, crouching low as you head back to the bank. Your bird takes it upon itself to hop onto your head, its tiny claws clinging to the roots of your hair to keep from falling off. The fight has moved to the fields, where Apep freely dives head first into the ground, exploding out of it like a demonic weasel and sending one or both gods flying repeatedly. You try not to pay attention to it as you find the ladder to the boatâa gold-strewn rope leading to the deck.
"Please tell me there's rope up there," you mutter mostly to yourself as you hoist yourself up the first rung. You feel the bird flutter off you and up onto the deck. "Oh okay, bye! Thank you for your service!" You shriek a little as the force of Apep landing jolts you against the boat, the rope ladder serving no stability for you.
You grunt as the quakes stop and you're able to pull yourself up another rung. It takes you a few moments to hear the chirps in all the chaos, but when you do, you look up to find the bird, more gold-strewn rope in its tiny beak. You stare up at it, dumbfounded. There's no possible way it understood you, did it? And no way it's able to pull what can be several pounds of rope for you. And is now moving like it's trying toâ
You screech, throwing your weight to the other side of the ladder and swinging away as the heavy, coiled rope falls from where the bird shoved it off the edge of the deck. It just barely misses you, the wind of it hurtling past slapping you in the face. It lands with a loud thump, the sand below you flying about. You look down at it before looking back up at the bird, flinching violently when you find it directly in front of your face, on the same ladder rung your hand is on.
"Jesus Christ," you sigh, forehead coming to rest on your hand. The bird takes it as an invitation to hop back on your head. "Thank you, tiny bird. Thank you."
"That was fast," Chan says when you return to him, the golden rope coiled around your body. You buckle under the weight of it, practically colliding into your subordinate when you come to a stop.
"I am Dr. Dolittle," you pant, scrambling to remove the rope from your body and transferring it to his.
"Okay, we can expand on that more later," Chan says, nodding. He takes a deep breath before he gives you his best smile. "I'll see you later then."
"Hey," you seize the collar of his shirt and yank him toward you, ignoring the way his eyes bulge in surprise and fear. "You better stay alive or you will not be getting that fucking raise."
"Yes, ma'am," he murmurs. You release him slowly before bringing him into a hug.
"Thank you for being the best partner in all of this," you say.
"Ditto," he returns, rubbing a circle into your back before gently pushing you away. "Now go get me some help and get a god."
"Yup," you nod, clapping once as you move onto the next objective. "Good luck."
You leave Chan to his task and focus on yours. When you make it back to the bank, you find Apep in the river again, his black skin hard to make out in the equally black water. You take the bird in your grasp, setting it down in the sand and crouching down.
"Thank you so much for your help," you say to it. "But now you should stay here because I am off to do a very dangerous thing, and we cannot have you getting hurt."
The bird tilts its head at you. You smile as you run a finger down its feathers.
"Okay, go find some safe cover!" you whisper, nudging it gently with a knuckle. It hops but doesn't go anywhere, and it's clear you're going to have to leave first. "Bye-bye!"
You stand once more and sigh, wiping your clammy hands on your pants. Before you can talk yourself out of it, you run to the nearest godâVernon, perched in a tree and concentrating hard on the water as he tries to pick Apep out. He notices you running at him and double takes, waving a hand erratically and shaking his head in an attempt to get you to stop. You glance toward the river, no sign of Apep surfacing yet.
"What are you doing?!" he hisses at you as you start climbing up the tree to join him.
The god is mostly as you left him, and you're glad to find that the worst you see on him is a few scrapes and bruises. He rolls his eyes and grabs you by the collar when you slip trying to pull yourself up. He yanks, easily getting you up on the branch with him. Chan is right; they'll get him up off the cliff in no time.
"Found Ra," you wheeze. You've never done this much cardio in your life. "Just past the waterfall. On a ledge."
Vernon squeezes his eyes shut and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Of course."
"Yeah, yeah, of course," you pant, waving a hand to dismiss this part of the conversation you've already had to go through. "Chan is getting him. He has rope."
"Rope," he repeats, unimpressed.
"Mhm," you nod quickly, pressing a hand to your chest like that will convince your heart to stop pounding so hard. "He just needs someone much stronger than me to help pull him up once he has Ra."
Vernon groans, eyes coming back to the water. You look down. You're not that high up, but he has a good enough view of the river that he should be able to see Apep. If he does, you have no idea because you definitely do not.
"Um, where is he?" you whisper.
"Fuck if I know," he grumbles, eyes coming up to a tree much taller across the river. You don't see what he's looking at, but when you see the glint of gold within the leaves, you're sure Seungcheol is perched there, opposite his uncle, with his golden spear. "Coward dove into the water just as it was getting good."
"Good?" you ask, just barely catching your breath.
"Yeah, see that?" he asks, using the long-snouted animal at the end of his sceptre to point at splotches of black in the field. You nod, noting that it looks like a huge oil spill. "That's his blood."
"Oh," you breathe, your stomach twisting. You look away immediately. "Fantastic. Good. Uh, great job."
"Thanks," Vernon snorts. "Okay, I'll help Chan. Just stay here andâ"
You're left to assume what the rest of his sentence was because the water beneath you suddenly splits as a vortex of brightly colored fire blasts through it and right into the sky. You flinch and Vernon's fist closes around the back of your top to keep you from startling right out of the tree. You turn to him and glare.
"What?"
"Stop handling me like a toddler," you grunt, ripping your top free of his grasp. You adjust your collar before looking back at the river. Apep emerges, slithering toward the tree Seungcheol is in.
"Okay, here's my window," Vernon says, making to leave the tree. He pauses and turns over his shoulder to give you a stern look. "Do not leave this tree or so help me god, I will turn your friend into snake food."
You scoff, mouth opening to tell him where he can shove his threats, but the god is gone in the next second, and when you peek around the leaves, you don't see him anywhere in the vicinity.
Your breath catches as you're forced to watch Seungcheol evacuate his tree just as Apep sets it aflame, its leaves engulfed in a blaze of blue so hot, you can feel it even across from the river. Your fingers tighten around the branch Vernon left you on as the snake chases your god further into the field, bobbing and weaving to dodge his strikes.
The only solace you have is the trail of thick, black blood it leaves behind everywhere it slithers. "He loses the fight every night," you mutter in an attempt to self-soothe. You find Chan is much better at it than you are. "Literally every, single night. Winning is an anomaly for him. Winning is the normal for Seungcheol. It's fine."
You repeat the words to yourself for what feels like years as you watch the two dance back and forth, Seungcheol clearly wondering where Vernon is and looking around every chance he can. Apep loses when it's Ra and Set. You try to shake the thought away but it's too late. As soon as you think it, you can't stop.
Seungcheol needs Vernon. Apep can't be taken down by one god. Even someone as powerful as Ra needs help warding him off. Did you just fuck your husband over?
You turn to look toward the falls, dismayed when you can't see any sign of the three men emerging yet. Chan said it would be fast. Where the hell is Vernon? You gasp as the tree threatens to send you flying out of it. You look up to find Seungcheol has managed to pin the snake on his back, his tail thrashing against the ground wildly. He thrusts his spear into his eye, and the Duat is pierced with an ear-splitting scream you think Joshua and Jeonghan have to be able to hear from the mortal world.
Apep's body stops thrashing, his tail falling one, last time. Seungcheol's chest heaves as he yanks his spear back out, groaning as he jumps off the reptile's body and walks toward the river.
You scramble down the tree ungracefully, falling the last few feet down, landing on your knees but paying no mind as you stumble forward to Seungcheol. Your god narrows his eyes at you from across the river, the expression quickly turning into a glare when he realizes you aren't a hallucination.
"What are you doing?!" he bellows, managing to sound like he's right in front of you.
"I needed help!" you shout back, nowhere near loud enough to project your voice across the body of water. He doesn't hear you but doesn't ask you to repeat yourself, simply walking to the bank. He moves like he's about to take a step, but his foot pauses mid-air as he looks down at the water. "Seungcheol?" you call. "What is it?"
He frowns. He mutters something to himself you can't make out. He bends down, cups a hand and gathers water into it, and brings it up. He lets it seep through his fingers. Black.
He catches your eye at the same time the ground rumbles. He whips back around toward Apep, both of you horrified to find just the tip of his tail as he disappears underground again.
Seungcheol shouts your name, louder than you've ever heard him. "RUN!"
You don't think twice, sprinting the opposite direction as fast as you can. The sound of the earth beneath your feet separating starts to crescendoâso loud, you have no idea where the snake is coming at you fromâbefore you feel the actual rolling. When you do, it's impossible to keep yourself upright, stumbling repeatedly like you never learned how to walk as the world beneath you rocks back and forth.
When the breath is knocked out of you, you're sure Apep has swallowed you whole from the ground up. You squeeze your eyes shut, not enough air to even scream. But then, you feel fingers around your waist, and someone is twisting you mid-air, situating you so you're on top as the two of you crash into the ground, sliding several yards with Seungcheol under you, taking the brunt of it.
You finally slow to a stop, your god groaning under you. "Ow."
"Are you okay?!" you scream in his face, making him wince.
"Are you okay?" he asks, blinking several times as he weakly lifts each arm to make sure you have no injuries. "Oh, good." He sighs. He looks like he's about to rest when the ground jolts again, and suddenly, you're upright on your feet again. "Where the hell is Vernon?"
"Helping Chaâ" Chan's name turns into a full-on scream as a mass of black erupts from the dirt in front of you. Seungcheol shoves you behind him, throwing his spear up just in time to keep Apep's tail from coming down on the both of you.
"Go," he grits through his teeth, struggling under the weight of the snake. "Please."
You don't make him ask twice; you're here to help, not distract him. You run toward the boat when your body suddenly stops, incapable of working. Everything stops working. Your heart, your lungs, your eyes. You hear your name somewhere behind you, but its drowned out by the voice inside your head.
Ah. Pretty, pretty, little girl, a voice calls to you. It reverberates through your entire being, and your skin breaks out into goosebumps. Where have you been hiding? It has been ssso long since I have ssseen a human.
You're given enough control to squeeze your eyes shut, but it proves to be a mistake. As soon as you do, you're plunged into a void inside your mind, endless nothing for as far as you can fathom. You don't see him in the blackâit's impossible to. But you feel him, and that's worse.
"Hello, pretty."
You flinch away from the voice, falling to your ass and scrambling backward immediately.
"Oh no, darling," he calls, clicking his tongue in disapproval. "No need to be ssso scared."
"Get away from me!" you scream, throwing an arm across the space in front of you. Apep chuckles when you come into contact with nothing.
"I have looked for a hossst for a millennia," he informs you. "As you probably know, that is impossible, trapped here, in the Duat⊠where no living human wandersss⊠until you. How foolish of your god to bring you right to me."
"I will never be your vessel," you seethe, hugging yourself in a weak attempt at protecting yourself against something you can't see.
"Why not? I am a magnanimous person. I will still allow you time to yourssself⊠I will still allow you time with your beloved."
"You aren't even a person!"
His laugh is dark and velvety, and it has the hairs on the back of your neck standing up. "That is true. Unfortunate. I do need your permission⊠what can I do to convince you?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" His next words brush against the shell of your ear from behind, making you cringe away. "Not even⊠eternity?" You feel his presence disappear from your side, and you don't know where he's gone off to until he speaks again, directly in front of you. "Eternity with your beloved? You will never have to die. Never have to be without him. Just you. And Horusss. Forever. Does that not sound lovely to you?"
"He would never have me with you inside. And I would never want that."
"Your moralsss bore me."
You scream, tears springing to your eyes when you feel something thick and heavy wrap around your middle, binding your arms to your torso. What feels like a large hand squeezes your cheeks together, roughly bringing your face up to where you imagine Apep's is. You whimper when you try to wriggle away and the restraints around your middle tighten so painfully, you can no longer breathe.
"Or, I can force my way in, and it can be youâŠ" You thrash when you feel a tongue drag from the hollow of your throat to your jaw. "And me⊠forever⊠no Horusss, no Ssset. No⊠anything." Your mouth falls in a silent scream as he constricts you until you're sure your body is going to implode under his touch. "Doesn't that soundâ"
The black is punctured by Apep's own inhuman scream, making you convulse as his hold on you loosens until you're on your own again.
You open your eyes to the moment you found Seungcheol in Korea. The way he looked down at you, clinging to the bus stop, entirely unimpressed with your attempts to save him.
You see your mother taking you with her as she donated blood after a disaster in another country, explaining that you give when you're more fortunate. And you are always more fortunate.
Joshua, extending his hand to you on your first day on the job, smiling so brightly, not-at-all exhausted by your endless antics yet. His boss, Jeonghan, grinning at you and telling you he knew you were going to be funâhe could tell.
Seungcheol, in Singapore, a small quirk of the lips as you spoke to each other, watching the ocean. Seungcheol, coming back to the UN with you. Seungcheol's cheeks stuffed full of barbecued brisket, washing it down with beer until it dribbled down his chin. Seungcheol's arms around you, his mouth on you, his promises in your earâfilling you up in every sense of the word.
You gasp as your head breeches the surface of water you didn't realize you were under, strong arms forcing you up into the air to breathe. You sputter several times, coughing and choking as a hand frantically pushes your hair away from your face, the other holding you close to a hard body you think is familiar.
"Seungcheol!" you scream, stunned by the fear you hear in your own voice. "Cheol, Cheoâ"
"I'm here," he breathes, pressing you to him and patting your back as you continue to spit up water. "I'm here. It's okay. You're fine. I'm here, my heart. I'm here."
You don't know when your wheezing calms or when your heart stops racing. But when it does, you're on the riverbank once more, laid out on your back with Seungcheol's face hovering over you.
"What happened?" you ask, frowning.
"He⊠he had you," your god says like he's admitting something horrible he, himself, did. "He took you under the water. So I went after you."
"And did you eviscerate the fucker?" you ask, voice cracking around your words a little. Your throat still burns from throwing up river water. River water that tasted like⊠Chocopies?
Seungcheol affords you a single, disbelieving laugh. "Yes, love. I did. I said I would protect you, did I not?"
You nod, gesturing for him to help you sit up. He does, handling you so gently for such a strong warrior, you think you might weep. "You did. Thank you. Thank youâŠ"
"What did he tell you?" he asks, face fixed in a frown. You stare at the river, comforted in the fact that Apep is absolutely goneâat least for the nightâbecause the water is made of memories and the sky boasts the galaxy again.
"He wanted a vessel," you tell him. His hold on you tightens and you shake your head. "I told him to fuck off."
"That's my girl."
The words make you smile, and at the sight of it, Seungcheol surges forward to kiss you. It's desperate and clumsy and messy, but it's exactly what you need and want after todayâor however many days it's been in this timeless world.
"I love you," he reminds you when he breaks away.
"I love you," you return. "Where are the others?"
Seungcheol frowns. "I thought you would know. I have no idea whereâ"
He's interrupted by chirps, and your gaze goes to the tiny bird resting atop his wet head. You stifle a giggle. "I have a friend who knows."
Your husband smiles. "Do you now?" You nod. He looks pleased. "They laughed at me, but I was right."
"About what?" you ask as he helps you up, the bird flying away, knowing you both will be following.
"You being the future mother of falcons," he says simply, making your face burn hot. You slap his shoulder and shove him, but he goes nowhere, just laughing at you. "Come on, my love."
You follow the tiny bird to where Chan tied the rope to a questionable looking branch growing out of the side of the waterfall. Seungcheol ultimately relents to your demands he bring you down to the three men, who seem to be arguing on the ledge.
"Oh great!" the deity sprawled on the ground that you assume is Ra shouts. "More of you to tell me to go do my job. Has it ever occurred to you that I want to take a break?!"
Your brows rise at the tantrum you're immediately met with. Chan sees your soaked state and opens his mouth to ask until you shake your head. His jaw snaps shut and he nods once, gesturing at Ra.
"It turns out the sun god is a baby," he says, sighing heavily.
The tiny bird rests on your head, chirping at Ra in what you know must be disapproval.
"I am not a baby!" he insists. Vernon groans, leaning against his sceptre.
"We have a snake to kill."
"Done," Seungcheol grunts. "Just need to bring the sun home now."
Ra glares. "What is the point of anything?" he asks, letting his head loll back so he can stare at the planets above him. "I rise and I set and I rise and I set. I fight every night, travel every day. And for what?" You pout, dropping into a low squat and hugging your knees as you listen to the man's voice fall into something less whiny and more helpless. "Humanity is lost. They do not care about each other, let alone the sun or the gods or Apep! Leave me here. I must rest."
"That's not true," you refute. He looks over at you and frowns.
"Who are you?"
"I am Y/N L/N, Storm Chaser, Protector of Citizens, and Mortal Enemy of Jeon Wonwoo and the WMO," you inform him. "And I would know best the state of humanity."
Seungcheol nods when Ra looks to him for confirmation.
"Humans can get so lost, it's true. From the outside looking in, it might look like we hate each other. Sometimes, it feels like that from the inside too," you admit, sighing. "But I see disasters every day. Over and over again, I watch strangers help strangers. I see neighbors rebuilding together. I see children playing and laughing in the aftermath of the worst day of their lives."
You think of Minghao now, and you look at the people around you.
"I've never known how to ask for helpâit seems like you may know a thing or two about that," you say, assuming if he's this burnt out and exhausted, he's never thought to ask another deity to ferry the sun overnight. "Still, these gods and this humanâthey come to my rescue every single time. We may not know about the gods or the sun orâŠ" You can't quite bring yourself to say his name. "Monsters. But we still carry on, believing in either you crazy assholesâ" Vernon snorts. "âor each other. Or at the very least⊠we carry on knowing the sun will rise again tomorrow.
"There are billions of people outside of the Duat waiting for you. Waiting for the sun to rise. Now, you may rest, but you cannot give up," you tell him. "We will not let let you. We're going to help you bring the sun home. All you have to do is get on your boat. Can you do that?"
Ra groans, letting his head hit the rock below him dramatically. After a moment, he raises one, limp arm. "Carry me to my solar barque, Set."
Vernon glares at nothing in particular but obeys anyway.
"Dr. Dolittle and god whisperer?" Chan murmurs as Vernon picks the sun god up easily and starts climbing back up the cliffside. You grin, feeling the bird on your head hop.
"I think so!" you say genuinely.
He sighs. "This is insane. My future kids aren't even going to believe any of this."
"Not a chance in Duat."
MISSION SUMMARY REPORT
MISSION ID: UNOCHA/EMEA/0808-EGY
LEAD OFFICER: Seungcheol Choi, Uniter of the Two Lands, Lord of the Sky, Protector of the Pharaoh, and Avenger of his father before him, Osiris, god of the underworld, the afterlife, and rebirth â and consultant to the UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs
DATE ISSUED: 3 May 2026
DATE COMPLETED: 18 May 2026
DURATION: 360 hours
DISASTER CLASSIFICATION: Active threat to the sun
KEY OBSERVATIONS:
I am told these reports are meant to begin with "key observations." YOUR first observation should be that I will not be doing this "reporting" ever again. I am only doing so because my wife requested it.
MY first observation is that humans are too eager to run into danger
My second observation is that they will continue to do so no matter how closely they brush against death. I used to find this irritating. I have come to appreciate human resilience. My wife is made of it.
Officer Lee Chan continued taking notes during our battle with Apep and during his time with Ra. Here they are: 1. Consultants Choi and Vernon can, in fact, bleed 2. I have a new phobia of snakes 3. Officer L/N should be president of the world, but only if they let me go with her 4. She thinks the river tastes like Chocopies. I think they taste like Starbursts 5. The sun is VERY whiny. Everyone please make a point to go and get vitamin D every day to appease him.
I do not understand most of this
Consultant Vernon was difficult to work with at times, but he was a "team player," as Officer Lee put it. He also has not left since mission completion, joining the team for meetings, meals, and what Y/N calls "hang-outs" (Important Note: NOT offerings). I am growing accustomed to his presence. Perhaps I enjoy it.
Ra is on hiatus. In the interim, Vernon and I are ferrying the sun at night with the help of Mehen and Isis for extra caution. Apep has not stood a chance so far. The sun has resumed its expected schedule, and we have received word from Ra, who enjoys downtime in Norway, where he says the sun never sets. Perhaps he should take this annual leave to prevent what Y/N calls "burnout."
All in all, I would consider the turnout highly favorable
OFFICER ASSESSMENT: I do not understand what else I could possibly add beyond my observations of the mission. Y/N advised I write about what I have learned. I have learned I loathe snakes and tongues and men. That is all. Y/N advised I take this more seriously. Fine.
For thousands of years, I believed my sworn duty was to protect the world and all of humanity. I believed the gods were the reason life continued. I was mistaken. The gods might be the reason the sun rises and sets, but humanity makes the moments in between worth it. In my time as a consultant, I have watched the best of you come together time and again to understand how best to help the rest of the world. You rebuild cities, share food, carry strangers on your backs, and although some of you would be better off on the other end of my spear (Jeon Wonwoo, if Y/N ever allows it), I consider it an honor to be among you.
Through you, mostly through my heart, my most beloved, my wife, my queen consort, my I have been told to "reel it in." Fine.
Through you and through her, I have managed to learn something new for the first time in thousands of years. I have learned how to choose kindness and forgiveness and Chocopies when cruelty or resentment or power would have been easier. I was asked what I would be if the world no longer needed a king. I was told I would be worthy. I tried to believe it. I think I have my own answer now. If the world no longer needed a king, I would simply be. I would walk beside the people who save this world every dayâmy wife chief among them.
I suppose that is what I have learned. If it does not suffice, I invite Joshua Hong to come say that to my face.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Officer Lee and Officer L/N should receive pay increases immediately
Consultant Vernon should receive recognition for services to humanity not reflected in historical records and a formal apology from historians
I would like an increase of God Gold
I would also like offerings made to my wife in place of whatever this "wedding registry" everyone keeps talking about is. Please shower her in gold, Chocopies, and weapons you would find useful in a fight against a monster. She has asked me to add that you shower her in compliments as well.
I have been informed this is not how recommendations are usually written. I do not care.
PREPARED BY: Seungcheol Choi
REVIEWED BY: Joshua Hong, Operations Director; Jeonghan Yoon, Chief of Section
[REVIEWER COMMENT] Excellent work. No comments.
- J. Hong
[REVIEWER COMMENT] Judge-ua Hong has no comments�?? I think he's just scared of you, Seungcheol. Approved on God Gold, approved on raises for Officers L/N and Lee, and approved on Consultant Vernon's recognition. I will work with you on reaching out to the UN's honors committee to secure awards for your team's work on⊠saving the world. Denied on a formal apology from history. We are not going to apologize on behalf of recorded civilization. IDK how we would even go about that.
- J. Yoon
[REVIEWER COMMENT] I am not scared. I am simply thankful everyone is alive!!!
- J. Hong
[REVIEWER COMMENT] K.
- J. Yoon
MISSION STATUS: COMPLETEDÂ
JOIN MY PERMANENT TAG LIST
A/N: DAMN this really got away from me LMFAO. sorry that it's 50K in one post but i do not have it in me to split this into two after writing this whole thing being mindful of shift+enter to get around the 1000 block limit. hope you liked it tho!!! pls reblog and/or comment if you did <3
Having disagreements and arguments with Joshua and Jeonghan wasnât always smooth sailing. But at least you had learned to navigate through them. But this time, you felt blind. You felt lost.
âź pairings: joshua hong x female reader x yoon jeonghan
âź genre: angst, fluff, smut [18+]
âź aus: rockstar joshua, theatre director jeonghan, boyfriend joshua, boyfriend jeonghan, polyamorous relationship
âź word count: 20.1k
âș đ§: sunset with you â def. | violet crazy â dpr ian | lovememore. â dosii | fuxxin' love â OoOo | after image â jiwoo
â season one â season two â read more
âź warnings: arguing, walking out, anxiety. smut with plot, long sex scenes, sub reader, sub joshua, dom jeonghan, threesomes, mmf sex, unprotected sex, anal sex, vaginal sex, pegging, oral sex, nipple play, masturbation, solo time, messy sex, dry orgasm, cum mixing, creampies, cumming on skin, sex toys, bondage, cucking, anorgasmia. pet names: baby, beautiful, bunny, princess, (hers) babe, baby, baby-boy, handsome, (joshua and jeonghan's)
âź authorâs note: i was supposed to post guilty pleasures first. but then jeonghan decided to make an appearance at the 09.14 concert and wrecked my whole world. also, the sex scene is obscenely long. i'm sorry. you've been warned. ksksks
âź disclaimer: minors dni this post is intended for 18+ readers. please have your age stated in your description and try not to look like a bot please đ.
part ix
Your fingers twitched, hovered over your keyboard, and then settled.
The clock in the corner of your laptop screen read 3 AM on the dot. The room you had set up as a study was so quiet that you could almost hear the static coming from the monitor and laptop cables.
You had rejected the headphones some hours ago, convinced that there was nothing that could help you focus. The third cup of tea of the night sat on your desk, and you drank half-way through. Cold and abandoned.
And the staring contest had been going on for more than thirty minutes now. Words ceased to exist in your mind, coming at you in stale, meaningless sentences. You didnât want to face it, you didnât want to admit it. But then you sighed in resignation.
You had writerâs block. Again.
You pushed yourself back, using your hands on the desk to roll out your chair and got up. You left the light on, going down the hallway and into the living room.
The apartment was dark. And it was almost unsettling to walk through its deserted rooms in the middle of the night. The only sound was the one you made when you drew the tall curtains, blocking out the view of the vast, sleepless city.
You turned on the lamp in the living room, and the soft click the switch made was almost too loud. But you were the only one to hear it, and it still made you wince. And then you headed to the kitchen, grabbing the lonely glass of water you had abandoned hours prior and filling it again.
You drank deeply, each large gulp filling your tummy to feel something other than the tight knot of anxiousness trying to eat you alive.
The front door pushed open, the sound causing you to snap from your train of thought. Your first instinct was to run to the front door and receive whoever had just crossed it. But you remained glued to the floor, determined to wait.
Yoon Jeonghan looked like hell.
His face was slightly puffy, his eyes worn and darkened. His hair was messy, ruffled as he had just taken his black beanie off with a sigh, taking a hand to scratch his scalp.
But he came to a sudden stop.
âHi, baby,â he said, his voice gruff, but he was still gentle when he greeted you. âWhy are you still up?â he asked, his tone gentle, coated in worry as he took some steps toward you.
âHey,â you said dispiritedly, turning to face him.
He wore a black shirt, paired with a black leather jacket, jeans, and sneakers. And when he approached, you noticed a faint smell of tobacco, which made you look for his eyes. He had been smoking lately. Since taking on the role of director of a web television series, he had been stressed and resorting to old habits. Â
âIs something wrong?â he asked when he noticed youâd dismissed his previous question.
âNothingâs wrong,â you muttered, eyeing him up and down swiftly. âYou were out late,â you pointed, biting back the need to reproach that heâd been smoking again.
âYeah, filming was delayed longer than Iâd expected,â he said, waving a hand like it was nothing.
âYou couldâve texted back,â you said flatly, tilting your glass in the kitchen sink and emptying it before exiting the kitchen.
Jeonghan stood there, watching you turn away from him with a perplexed look on his face. He blinked. âI told you I was coming home late,â you heard him say, falling into step behind you.
âNo, you told me that yesterday,â you said with a pained tone, but to your advantage, he didnât get to see that mirrored on your face. âGuess you forgot to tell me today too.â
There was a silence, and the shuffle of Jeonghanâs feet on the marble floor stuttered, but he kept walking behind you.
âIâm sorry, baby,â he started, his tone gentle, and you could hear the honesty in the crack of his voice. âI-I thought I had told you not to wait for me. It mustâve slipped from my head, Iâm soââ
âItâs okay, Hannie,â you sighed as you reached the door to the study, turning around to face him. Once you saw his confused expression, you gave up. âJust⊠forget it,â you said flatly, turning on your heel to return to your desk.
You sat down on your chair, grabbing your mouse and clicking aimlessly. With a painful jab to your gut, you opened the document you were working on again, finding the empty gap that you couldnât bring yourself to finish. Hesitant, you brought your fingers to the keyboard, trying to type words and string out sentences.
But the presence standing under the doorway made you incredibly aware of how you couldnât even pretend to write.
âAre you going to stand there?â you asked quietly.
Jeonghan entered the study with a careful gait, and you didnât want to turn to see him, but you still did. He stood right next to you, sending one fleeting look to the screen right in front of you, and then back to you. âCome to bed with me,â he said softly. And you were quick to catch the cautious demeanour around him. Â
âIâm mad at you,â you replied to him, but your voice waned in deceit.
Jeonghan showed you a smirk, tilting his head to one side. âTake it out on me. Talk to me,â he told you, shrugging slightly as he tucked his hands in the pockets of his jeans. âYell at me, I donât know.â
You shook your head, rolling your eyes as you averted your gaze back to your screen. âI have nothing to say.â
âBaby.â
The chiding way he uttered your name made you look back at him once more. âWhat?â you asked, letting the annoyance you felt ring in your tone.
âAre you truly going to give me this?â he asked, his mouth transforming into a pout. âCome on. Letâs talk.â
You took a deep breath. âYou shouldâve texted back,â you repeated slowly, feeling your pulse quicken under the sudden rush of anger.
Jeonghan blinked, confusion settling on the features of his face. âIâm sorry about it. I forgot.â
But you werenât fast enough to hold a rein on your reaction. You winced, and a quiet voice in the back of your mind questioned whether this was a valid motive to have an argument with him. âExactly. You and Joshua like to forget that Iâm here.â
Jeonghan sighed, but you didnât give yourself the opportunity to see his full reaction. You glued your eyes to your screen, scrolling aimlessly through your unfinished manuscript, finding nothing. The words written there were almost completely polished; you just needed to write one final scene.
Your heart deflated painfully when Jeonghan backed away from you, leaving the study without saying anything else. You were unsure as to what he could say to make it all better, but right now, everything sounded wrong to you.
Your gaze inevitably wandered to the portrait that sat beside your laptop. It was a photo that Jeonghan had taken one night you went out together for a karaoke date. That night you had solidified in your heart that you wanted nothing more but to spend the rest of your days with Jeonghan and Joshua. You missed that night.
After a long moment of staring at your laptop screen, you sighed, turning it off and pushing yourself away from the desk one final time for the night. You sneaked a look towards the bedroom as you passed it by, finding out that Jeonghan was in the walk-in closet, probably changing his clothes into something comfier. You continued walking until you reached the living room, opening the door to the balcony and stepping outside.
The balcony was long and narrow, but spacious enough to fit a couple of chairs and a small table. You ignored them, propping your elbows on the banister and looking down at the streets below.
It was a chilly night. The breeze hitting your face made your eyes water at first, but you brought your hands to your face, burying your nose in the sleeves of your sweater to warm up. You let your eyelids fall close for a moment, and in that, the weight of your exhaustion finally caught up with you.
Back at your old apartment, you would routinely find yourself standing on the rooftop of the building, staring at the city lights. Looking for inspiration. Your heart squeezed at the memory, wishing you had one more night in that place, wishing you could go back.
There was nothing particular about that place in itself. But things seemed simpler. The old apartment wasnât big enough for three people, but it didnât make you feel like you were all alone in a mansion.
And now, having moved to a bigger place, you truly felt a punch in the gut whenever Jeonghan and Joshua left. There was still so much of this apartment that didnât feel lived in yet. Some spots needed furniture, the floors were cold, and the walls were too tall. Something was wrong about it, and you couldnât quite put your finger on it.
The door slid open behind you, and you didnât feel like turning around to see who it was. You kept looking over the twinkling city lights, trying to reach back into your mind and tap into that inspiration you were missing out on lately.
As soon as the place beside you was occupied, your heart fluttered. You knew it was Joshua without even having to turn your head. He placed his elbows on the banister and leaned over, mimicking your position.
After some seconds, you gave up. Turning your head slowly, you found his calm face. Eyes directed towards the city, his lips slightly pressed in a shadow of a smile. When he sensed your gaze on him, he leaned sideways towards you.
âHi, beautiful,â he said sweetly, moving his gaze from the city to your face. âIs it one of those nights again?â
Confusion swept all over you, dismantling your role of indignation. You opened your mouth, stuttering over empty words, âI uh, c-canât write,â you admitted, eyes shifting from his face for one second, realizing in your head that the main reason why you were angry in the first place was because of your block.
Joshuaâs gaze softened. âIs that why youâre in a mood?â he asked, his tone ever so gentle.
You frowned. âIâm not in a mood,â you fought back, thinking that both Joshua and Jeonghan had come home late in the last few days. âYouââ
He smiled softly, catching your small misstep. âYou were supposed to hand in the final manuscript three days ago,â he said, his tone dropping even lower.
âBut thatâs not the reason why Iâm angry,â you lied. But as soon as you finished blurting the sentence, you wanted to take it back. You bit your tongue, causing tears to brim in your eyes.
âSo you are angry?â he asked slowly, raising his eyebrows.
You let out an exasperated sigh, tearing your gaze away from his face. âYou havenât been home,â you said reproachfully.
That brought the conversation to a full stop. Both of you pondered in silence, looking at the city that had fallen silent as the nightlife slowed down.
Joshua let out a heavy sigh. âBaby, we have talked about this before. Jeonghan and I have very demanding schedules. We canâtââ
âI know,â you cut in quietly, blinking in slight annoyance. âItâs not thatâI donât mind that your jobs are demanding, I truly donât. I just want you two to try to make time for me.â
âAnd we agreed that we would, remember?â he said.
You shook your head, gnawing at your bottom lip to mask the slight quiver in it. âYou still havenât,â you mumbled, keeping your gaze on your fidgeting fingers.
Joshua paused. But then, he directed a long look at you, sighing softly in resignation. âIs this really the reason why youâre angry?â he asked, and the softness in his tone was still there, but it felt hollow.
âYes,â you hissed, the tears in your eyes blurring your vision. It made your heart race to feel your tears flow almost instantly. A nasty, sticky feeling took over you, brimming inside you with a boiling sensation at the pit of your tummy.
A sigh tore through you, making you bury your face in your hands. âI donât know,â you finally said, sniffling against the sleeves of your sweater.
âCome to bed, baby,â he pleaded, his tone waning. And even though you couldnât see his face, you could picture his sparkling dark eyes perfectly. âYouâre tired. You havenât been sleeping well these past few nights. Please, you need to rest.â
Your mind was split between the present and the memory of you being so happy just a couple of weeks ago. You were happy that Jeonghan had finally moved in with you and Joshua. You were happy to be with them both.
And nowâŠ
You nodded, lifting your head from your hands. Joshua stood back from the banister, now facing you. He brought a hand to your nape and the other to your back, pulling you closer to him. Once your chest touched his, he wrapped you in a tight hug.
âHey,â he mumbled softly when you sobbed against his chest. âAre you alright?â he asked. âIs something else bothering you?â
You could tell from his tone that Joshua was truly worried. And rightly soâhaving disagreements and arguments with Joshua and Jeonghan wasnât always smooth sailing. But at least you had learned to navigate through them. But this time, you felt blind. You felt lost.
But before you could tell him just that, you shook your head, your next sob muffled by the soft fabric of Joshuaâs light grey hoodie. The woody scent of his cologne filled your senses, giving you an odd sense of peace. You found the smell of his cologne to be strong, almost aggressive at firstâit made your tummy twist. But at the same time, it calmed you down.
Joshua slid his hands to hold you by the shoulders, pulling back from you to look into your eyes. âLetâs go to bed, yeah?â he asked, moving his hand to pinch your chin.
âOkay,â you replied in a mere whisper, motioning for the door.
His hands brought you to a clean stop, firmly pulling you from moving further away from him and towards the sliding door. You turned to him, reading his face, a question forming at the tip of your tongue.
His hands moved from your shoulders, cupping your face fully. A gasp spilled from lips when the question couldnât get out, because Joshua was crushing his mouth against yours. But he kissed you passionately, almost as though trying to snap you out of your despair. You searched his hands, finding his wrists, which you circled with your fingers.
His warm hands against your cheeks were enough to bring you back to life. You had been feeling so lost, so lonely that it was truly incredible how fast you could be saved from your own thoughts with only a touch.
You moaned in his mouth when his lips moved with yours seamlessly. Almost like two lovers dancing with each other. And when your lips pulled apart, creating a soft smacking sound, you let out a gasp, chasing his lips for more.
âYou know you can talk to me, right?â Joshua asked. His tone rose, and this was more than worry now. It was as though he was saying, I know thereâs something wrong, but Iâll give you time to figure it out.
It crushed your soul to know that not even you could understand the turmoil happening in your head, in your heart.
âYeah,â you breathed, teeth clattering slightly because of the chills coursing through you. âI know, Josh.â
Joshua pulled away, but not too far, just enough so he could see your face, your eyes. He then brushed the hair from your temple, tucking it behind your ear. Something he saw in your face made his gaze soften, his dark eyes glimmering against the bright city lights. But he said nothing, even if you could read the love written on his face.
Sometimes Joshua didnât understand you. Sometimes he did. This was one of those times in which he sensed what was wrong with you, but he allowed you the opportunity for you to catch up with him.
And something about it was so reminiscent of the time you were just beginning to fall in love with him.
A sudden rush of overwhelming love came over youâit pushed you into his arms, and you were kissing him again. He mumbled a half word just as your lips collided with his, but you couldnât make out what he said.
As your lips moved with his, you felt a daze seep into your skin, melting into your bones. The warmth and affection pouring from him made the armour you had put up crumble to the ground. And now, you were reduced to nothing but true exhaustion.
Joshua smiled, making you feel his lips curving against yours. âI take it that youâre not angry anymore?â he asked, his tone sweet, but teasing.
âIâm still angry,â you whispered stubbornly, even though the feeling had already simmered into nothing but a mere tantrum. âBut Iâm giving you both a pass for tonight.â
âMmmn, as much as I want to take the pass, we do need to talk about it,â he said.
âCan we talk about it in the morning? Iâm getting cold out here,â you said meekly.
âOf course,â he replied, giving you a small but reassuring smile.
Then he took your hand in his, sliding the door open with his other hand and took you inside. He didnât need to lead you down to the bedroom by the hand, but he still did it anyway. It felt as though he were victorious that he was able to fish you out of the dark turmoil happening inside your mind, and he was not letting you go.
Jeonghan was lying on his side of the bed, his gaze glued to the phone screen. But once he caught sight of you walking in with Joshua, he discarded his phone on the bedside table. He paid attention now, his eyes quickly scanning your face.
He patted the spot beside him on the bed. âCome here,â he said, noticing that the pointless fury had dissipated.
You climbed on the bed, letting out a tired sigh as you tucked yourself under the covers. âI owe you an apology for how I acted,â you mumbled, moving your head on your pillow to lock eyes with him.
âAh, donât worry about it, Princess,â he said, blinking briefly at you. He lifted his gaze from you, finding Joshua. âHow was work?â
âIt was okay,â he said simply as he started to undress. âWas dying to come back,â he confessed with a shy giggle.
You placed your head on Jeonghanâs chest, using him as a pillow to get a better view of Joshua discarding his clothes one by one, placing them neatly on the armchair.
âMn, I get that feeling,â Jeonghan mumbled, running his fingers through your hair. And by his tone, you knew that he was looking at Joshua with the same intent as you.
Joshua climbed on his side of the bed. And then came the best part of the day for youâJoshua hooked an arm around your waist and pulled, peeling you off Jeonghanâs chest. You giggled merrily as you were dragged from one side to the other like it was nothing, and as soon as your body collided with Joshuaâs, he let out a blissful sigh.
He immediately cuddled up to you, sinking the tip of his nose in your hair, breathing in deeply. Jeonghan said nothing this time, just clicked his tongue and scooted closer to you, a curious look on his face. âYouâre feeling better now?â he asked cautiously.
You felt Joshua move behind you, and you knew he was trying to get a better look at you. âYeah,â you said, but your tone felt off.
None of them commented on how obvious your mediocre lie was.
Jeonghan outlined the features of your face with his gaze. âIâll remember to text you next time,â he said, pouting softly. âIâm sorry, baby.â
âItâs okay,â you said, tearing your gaze away from him, and in that, you allow both of them to communicate silently through a fleeting glance. âIâm probably just exaggerating.â
Joshua placed a hand on your hip. âDonât say that,â he said.
âNo, I know you both have very hectic agendas,â you said, but your tone was still weak, your gaze shifty.
âBut we still have to let you know when weâre coming home late,â Jeonghan countered. Then a half smile drew on his face as you looked at him again. âItâs my day off tomorrow, so youâll have me all for yourself.â
You matched his smile. âI like the sound of that,â you said softly.
âYeah?â Jeonghan asked, clearly enjoying seeing you regain your smile.
âMmm-mmph,â you nodded primly.
âI have an early schedule, but I can come back early,â Joshua mumbled sleepily, going back to nuzzle your hair with his face. âSo Iâll be all yours tomorrow night too.â
âOkay. Good,â you said with a pleased tone.
Jeonghan grabbed one of your hands to kiss your knuckles, watching you as you blinked slower and slower. Sleep took you in, and you were mildly surprised to have fallen asleep so easily after nights of being wired up in tension.
âSleep tight, baby,â Jeonghan said.
You were falling.
The level of awareness you had at that moment was very littleâblanketed by the tiredness you felt. You were dreaming, hands roving all over your skin, touching and feeling you in places only you would let them and only them touch. You tried to voice it outâask them to take you, to touch freely.
Joshua and Jeonghan were having you all to themselves yet again, splayed on the table and wholly naked. You were theirs to have fun with, theirs to take. And you would give yourself to them willingly any day, any night.
Joshuaâs mouth was making out with your pussy, hands grabbing your thighs and keeping them apart while Jeonghan played with your nipplesâfingers pinching and teasing one while his tongue swirled around the other.
And then you blinked, they had switched positions. Joshua kissed your chest, wrapping his lips around one of your nipples to tug at it lightly. Now Jeonghan was between your legs, tongue buried between your pussy lips, licking vigorously.
The dream took you there quicklyâand then you were falling. Your body stretched and went taut beneath the sheets, and you felt yourself emit a sound through your mouth, snapping you awake.
âWhatâs happening?â you muttered, feeling disoriented. You blinked a few times, understanding that you were having a dream where both of your boyfriends were pleasuring youâtaking your body however they pleased. And you cummed in real life.
You turned to your side, finding Jeonghan peacefully asleep, his arm resting across your tummy. His eyelids were trembling slightly, his breathing deep and slow. Then you directed another look to your other side, where you found Joshua, wide awake and looking at you.
The orgasm you just had still sizzled beneath your skin, but as Joshua looked at you, you felt it linger. Your body was now ready for more, eager.
Joshua brushed your cheek with the back of his fingers. âWere you having a good dream, baby?â he asked, his voice low and raspy. It made you think that perhaps you had woken him up by accident.
It took you some seconds to resurface from dream to reality. âYeah,â you sighed, your tone already honeyed, weighted in arousal.
âMmn,â he hummed, his voice raspy enough that it came out like a purr. The back of his fingers trailed from your cheek to your hair, threading it gently. A knowing smile spread on his lips when you blinked repeatedly as his fingertips caressed your scalp. âCare to share?â he asked softly.
You let out a breath, stretching your limbs beneath the sheets, and the last aftershocks from your orgasm were already leaving your system. âDonât remember much,â you mumbled quietly, careful not to disturb Jeonghanâs sleep.
But Joshua wasnât convinced, his smile spreading wider as his fingers slipped down to hold your chin up. âWant me to help you remember?â he asked, his voice dropping to a whisper.
You moved your head in a tight nod. âPlease,â you whispered. And then, something came over you, because you lost all your capacity to stay sane. Your mouth lost all filter. âYou both had me on the table.â
Joshua giggled lightly as he kissed you again, more passionately. âWhat were we doing, baby?â he whispered.
Behind you, Jeonghan stirred beneath the bedsheets, eliminating the space between his body and yours by simply outstretching his arm and scooping you from Joshuaâs embrace.
âAhââ Joshua gasped, watching Jeonghan pull you into a hug.
âYou two are loud, Iâm trying to sleep,â Jeonghan muttered, sounding half-asleep still. But then he did the opposite of sleeping, sinking his nose in your hair to breathe in the sweet smell of your skin.
Joshuaâs gaze trailed down as Jeonghanâs hand pinched the fabric of the oversized t-shirt you were wearing, and then with a flick of his wrist, he hiked it upward, parking his hand on your belly.
Your body jolted against Jeonghan. His hand was cold against your skin, but you always welcomed his touch, light and gentle.
Joshua smiled, knowing that Jeonghan was fully awake now, but refused to let you go. âWhere were we?â he asked, keeping his tone low. He scooted some inches towards you, closing the space again between his body and yours.
You giggled quietly before Joshua pressed his lips on yours, giving you tender pecks at first. His hand came to cup your cheek, right before diving into a deeper kiss of locked lips and shy touching of his tongue against yours. It brought a low hum out of you, feeling his tongue swiping on your bottom lip before rolling into your mouth expertly.
âMn?â he pressed. âAre you going to keep telling me, baby? What were Jeonghan and I doing?â Joshua asked, his soft voice waning softly as your hands searched for him, feeling his warm body beneath the bedsheets and covers.
You squeezed your eyelids. âI uhâŠâ You started, but Jeonghanâs hand moved, leaving a trail of tingles with his cold fingertips on your tummy. âYou were eating me out,â you said shakily.
âYeah?â Joshua whispered. âWhat else?â he stuttered slightly as you caressed his bare chest with your hand, running it down his torso and feeling the hard muscles of his lats.
âI think you were taking turns,â you said, giggling softly. You were now making the dream up with parts of the things you still remembered.
âYeah? You were cumming, baby,â Joshua mumbled right before capturing your lips with his. He kissed you swiftly, moving his hand from your cheek to your hip, his fingers outlining the band of your panties.
âHow do you know?â you asked curiously.
And as Joshuaâs hands toyed with the waistband of your boyshort panties, Jeonghan pressed his front against your ass, making you feel his hardening bulge. You let out a broken sigh, pushing your ass further, wedging it slightly so you could make him grow harder. Jeonghan grunted silently behind you, his hand traveling up from your belly to your chest.
âYou were moaning,â Joshua replied, his tone waning as your hand also reached the waistband of his boxers.
Jeonghan cupped one of your tits in his hand, flicking your sensitive nipple with the pad of his thumb and drawing an airy moan from you.
âJust like that,â Jeonghan added quietly.
âYou heard it too?â you said, feeling your cheeks get warmer.
âYou were moving around more than normal,â Jeonghan mumbled, and you turned over your shoulder, finding his gaze on you. There was a light smile on his face, but just barely. His eyes were still dreamy, shifting from your face to Joshuaâs.
âOh god. Thatâs embarrassing,â you sighed.
Joshua smirked, pressing a kiss on your temple before getting out of bed. âNot the first time it happens,â he said playfully.
You watched him walk out of the bedroom and into the bathroom. âDo you have to go?â you asked, not even trying to hide the disappointment in your tone.
âGot an early schedule, baby! I will be back at eight, I promise!â he replied from the bathroom as he started the shower.
âMmph,â you huffed, though not audibly enough for Joshua to hear.
Jeonghan emitted a light laugh, noticing the beginning of your tantrum. âBig baby,â he teased, wrapping you in his arms before kissing your cheek.
âShuddup, Jeonghan,â you mumbled, feeling hot in the face.
But Jeonghan continued kissing you, from your cheek to your jawline, humming softly when he finally reached your lips. And when he pressed his lips against yours, you were too slow to reciprocate.
Jeonghan started laughing into the kiss. âWhatâs wrong?â he asked, his tone rising in mockery. âAre you turned off, baby?â
âNo,â you said, but your tone felt off. âI justâmmph,â you were cut off by another crushing kiss.
 âGrumpy,â he whispered in between kisses.
âHannie,â you giggled lightly as he showered you with tender kisses, trailing down to your neck to make you moan. Your skin prickled under his lips, making him smile triumphantly.
He stopped kissing you briefly, propping his elbow on the pillow to have a better angle to look at your face. âHey,â he said softly, waiting for you to lock eyes with him. âI have some errands to run at Cheolâs bar. But Iâll be back in a few hours.â
You noticed the look he gave you. He was studying your face, waiting for your reaction. He was testing to see how you would take his words. And you couldnât hide the disappointment flitting across the features of your face.
âOh, okay. I see,â you said, looking away. âThatâs okay.â
âBut then Iâll come back and we can do something. Just you and me. How does that sound?â he said, sneaking a hand back under your t-shirt, parking right on top of your belly button.
Your eyelids fluttered at his light touch, you nodded. âI like that,â you told him, turning your gaze back to him again. âI just feel sad that we arenât spending much time together anymore, you know?â you confessed.
His gaze softened. âI know, baby,â he told you, softer now. âRight now our agendas might be tight, but weâll make it up to you.â
You smiled at him. âWell, you better,â you said.
Jeonghan matched your smile. âWe will, sweetheart,â he said, leaning to press his lips against yours. âWeâre in this together.â
At that, you felt at peace.
You circled his neck with your arms, locking your wrists as you kissed him again, deeper this time. âYeah. We are.âÂ
Maybe it was stress. Maybe it was your writerâs block telling you to stop looking at the same document forever.
You set your laptop aside, looking at it with scorn. You had gone down your list of things you always did to combat stress and writerâs block. You went to the gym, you went out, you read new books and watched new movies. The last time you went through something similar, Jeonghan was there for you.
A sharp pain pierced your heart, making you wince on the couch. The pain was so real that it left an echo inside you, lingering with each beating of your heart.
With a big sigh, you rose from the couch, now determined to get through this without the help of anyone. Last time you had Jeonghan to help you out with your writerâs block. And way before that, Joshua was also there to give you inspiration.
You opened the drawer you shared with both of your partners. It was neatly arranged, and you had organized it into different sections. There were toys for you, toys for Joshua and Jeonghan, and toys that could be used with someone else, remotely, and such. You had a wide variety of toysâdildos, vibrators, wands, rings, masturbators, you name it.
But there were the effective ones, which you kept always on sight. Clean, charged, and ready.
Throwing a glance back at the door, you smiled to yourself with a hint of mischief. For a moment there, you felt like you were about to be busted by either of your boyfriends, but you were obviously alone.
After setting down a towel on top of the duvet, you lie on the bed. Doing this with the thought of your boyfriends finding you like this was beyond exciting. It had your blood coursing through you with pure ecstasy, heating your body, your face, your fingers.
You got naked, so now you were lying on the very large bed with your knees spread open. It felt almost surreal to be living this experienceâto have not only one but two boyfriends and still resort to using your toys for a little pleasure?
But you discarded the thought aside, determined not to let anything bring you down. You pumped a little bit of lube onto your fingers, letting it drip off your fingers and onto your pussy lips. You sucked in a breath through your lips when the cold, runny liquid slid down your folds, and then you acted fast.
You turned on the suction toy by pressing and holding a button. It started vibrating softly in your fist, and you quickly took it to the top of your mound, finding your clit effortlessly. Your body immediately responded to the feeling of the slow, rhythmic vibrations against the very sensitive bud.
Much to your demise, you amped up the mode sooner than you wouldâve thought. The feeling was mechanical, steady. You tried to compare it to the feeling you got whenever either Jeonghan or Joshua ate you out. And you were very much deflated when you wished to have that instead.
But a flashing thought came over you. The memory of that dream you had of your boyfriends sharing you made your entire body respond with a shudder. And you let your mind go, imagining Jeonghan and Joshua eating you out at the same time, both of their tongues lapping on your lips. You closed your eyes, biting your bottom lip to stop yourself from moaning loudly.
And you attempted to hold that fleeting scene in your imagination. You needed that to happen, so you started to feed into the fantasy of having both of your boyfriends with you. You tried to remember how their lips felt whenever they wrapped them around your clit as the vibrator suckled at your clit.
âGod,â you choked out, pressing the toy against your engorged clit even harder.
But as the seconds went by, and the pressure built up, you realized that you couldnât cum.
You lost control, pushing the pad of your thumb on the button, amping up the vibrations against your clit. The feeling now was all-consuming, burning into the bundle of nerves relentlessly, almost aggressively. You whined like a wounded animal, trying to relish the pleasure that was attacking your pussy, and even though you liked the feeling, it was still hard to reach your high like this.
Squeezing your eyelids hard, you tried to pretend that your boyfriends were there. You moved the vibrator around your clit, trying to get more of its incessant vibrations. And even though the pleasure was blooming inside you, it wasnât an orgasm.
âFuck,â you whispered to yourself, shutting the vibrator off.
You didnât think twice and got up, going to your drawer to pull a dildo. And then the same thing happened, you tried reaching your climax in different ways. Different positions. You imagined twenty scenarios in your head.
Nothing.
You opened your eyes slowly, pushing yourself to your elbows and thinking of getting another rabbit dildo instead.
Only to find Jeonghan standing in the doorway.
A gasp left your lips at the sight of him. You hadnât even heard him come in, let alone, you hadnât even sensed him watching you masturbate.
But that wasnât the first of your worries.
Your tummy twisted. He looked glorious. He wore a simple pair of white jeans, a black t-shirt and a denim jacket. It was a simple outfit, but it was he who made it look extraordinary. Leaning sideways against the door frame, he stood there with his arms crossed on his chest.
He tilted his head to one side ever so softly. âHaving fun, Princess?â he asked, a small smile playing on his pink lips.
You huffed, trying to calm your rapid heartbeat down. âTrying to,â you mumbled flatly. You put on a pout, trying not to let your shame show. âHelp me?â
Jeonghan pushed himself off the frame, walking idly towards the foot of the bed. âYou canât cum, baby?â he asked.
You gnawed at your lower lip, shaking your head as you let your head fall onto the pillow.
You heard a soft laugh, and sneaking a look at him, you watched him get rid of the denim jacket. He placed his hands on his hips, assessing the mess you had made of yourself with a big sigh. âYou used all of these toys?â he asked, and when you nodded meekly, he just raised his eyebrows. âAnd you didnât cum once?â
âI think thereâs something wrong with me,â you said with a flat tone, making him laugh out loud.
âI bet there is,â he said playfully, making you smile. And when the white jeans came off, he climbed on the bed with you. You opened your arms to him as he crawled on top of you. Feeling his body against yours brought a blissful shudder to your body, making you sigh as you welcomed in his warmth, his smellâhis presence.
âWhy canât you cum?â he mumbled, his tone sweet. He kissed your mouth swiftly but heatedly, then he moved his lips to your cheek, then to your jawline.
âI donât know, Jeonghan,â you whined reproachfully. âItâs your fault.â
The accusation made him chuckle. âMy fault?â he said.
âHas to be somehow,â you said, closing your eyes as he got to work immediately, kissing your chest with open-mouthed kisses, making your skin prickle and your body shudder.
âMmph,â he hummed in acknowledgement. âSounds like me,â he smirked against your skin.
âYeah, it does,â you replied, not really paying attention to where the conversation was headed.
It was quickly proven that your toys were indeed completely and utterly useless.
Jeonghan was giving loving kisses to your body, doing nothing out of the ordinary. But you were already deep in a puddle of pleasure, relishing the feeling of his lips against your breasts, the way he kissed your nipples slowly, thoroughly.
âHannie,â you called with a honeyed tone, tangling your fingers in his dark mane of hair, following his movements until he reached your mound.
And when he licked you, your entire body came to life. Your back tensed on the mattress, and your legs twitched. He licked the lube along with your juices, humming at the taste of you mixed with blueberry. His tongue lapped against your pussy lips, giving you broad and generous strokes right before he dove into your entrance with the tip of his tongue, having you wail out in pleasure.
He continued eating you out eagerly, giving a couple of playful tugs to your clit to get you all riled up. Waves of pleasure washed over you, slowly building up to something more. Something you had been so raring to finally have.
Jeonghan stopped.
Your head snapped up, looking at him pull back from your legs, using the back of his hand to wipe your arousal off his chin. âWh-why did you stop?â you asked.
He gave you a full smile that denoted his mischief. Leaning over you, he gave you a crushing but passionate kiss. âSo you have something to blame me for now.âÂ
Your heart squeezed. âHannieââ you mumbled chidingly. âKeep going,â you said, your tone whiny and soft.
He pretended not to hear you. âWhat was that?â he teased, kissing below your earlobe.
âPlease, keep going?â you asked, subbier now.
âMmn,â he pretended to ponder. He cupped your cheek with one hand, sliding it down to your chin. âWhy donât you earn it, sweetheart?â
You felt your eyebrows knit. âI thought you were going to help me,â you said with an accusatory tone.
Jeonghan gave you a tiny shrug. âI am, but only if you do what I ask.â
You blinked dumbly. âButââ
âI see you two forgot about me already,â Joshuaâs voice came in with a mocking tone.
You gasped, but couldnât move due to Jeonghanâs body pinning you down to the mattress.
âBehave,â Jeonghan warned you firmly, but still mischievously. He left one final kiss on your cheek before pulling back. âShuji, you are late. You know what that means,â Jeonghan pointed, sitting back on his knees.
âLate by a few minutes!â Joshua replied with a light laugh.
âBut you promised youâd be on time,â Jeonghan quipped back.
Joshua came into your view. Looking at the mess you were in with a mildly surprised look on his face. âWhat happened here? Did all of your toys run out of battery?â he teased.
âBunny canât cum,â Jeonghan smirked.
âJeonghanâ!â you wailed out in shame.
âWhat?â he laughed. âIsnât that the truth?â
You gaped at him, but then just huffed. âIt is,â you said, blinking bashfully. âI canât cum.â
âOh, you sweet thing,â Joshua said with a shockingly beautiful smile. He turned around, starting to take off the plaid shirt he wore over a black wife-pleaser. âIf I had known you were in the middle of it, I wouldnât have interrupted.â
âActuallyââ Jeonghan started, winking at you playfully as he climbed off the bed and opened the drawer, ââI was just telling her that if she wants to cum, she has to earn it. And since you were late, you will have to pay for it.â
Joshua raised his eyebrows, halfway through undoing his grommet belt. âOh,â he uttered, his eyes glinting with understanding. âI think I know where this is going.â
Jeonghan fished out something that wasnât a toyânot exactly. It was a pair of boyshort panties, but these were specifically to hold a dildo. A harness.
Your mouth fell open.
But before you could even ask, Jeonghan simply went on, âRemember you said you would like to try it?â he asked Joshua, tilting his head to one side curiously. âIs that still on the table?â
Joshua averted his gaze to the floor, pretending to fold his plaid shirt. âOnly if Bunny is still up for it,â he mumbled, the tips of his ears turning bright red.
It became hard to read whether Joshua really wanted it or not. But as you studied his movements with your gaze, your heart fluttered. He was shy about it, but only because he really wanted it.
Jeonghan turned to you, a questioning look in his eyes.
There was nothing Jeonghan would dare to do without your consent or Joshuaâs. He knew well that Joshua wanted this, so in reality, it was only your say he was waiting on.
But with one look, it became clear to him that you also wanted it. He blinked, and his gaze softened.
âCome here,â Jeonghan ordered, his demeanor instantly changing into one you adored. It was a commanding aura, gentle but firm.
You climbed down the bed, approaching him quietly until you stood in front of him.
âPut these on,â he said, handing you the black boyshort panties. And then he turned to Joshua, motioning with his head. âGet ready.â
Joshua had a playful smirk on his face, but the evident shyness was still painting his ears red. But he still followed Jeonghanâs instruction, heading to the bathroom to prep.
You finished putting on the boyshort panties, and Jeonghan wasted no time, grabbing you by the neck with one hand to crush his lips against yours, giving you a hot kiss. âDo you remember how to do this, baby?â he asked you, and just by the way he breathed, you could tell he was excited.
âI uhââ you looked down at your hips. The boyshort panties were designed to place a dildo right where your mound is, except that Jeonghan hadnât chosen the dildo yet. âThe toy we used was different from this one,â you pointed nervously.
Jeonghan giggled giddily. âYes, it was,â he said, sliding his hand down from your neck to graze his fingers against the waistband of your panties. âI think thisâll be more comfortable.â
âHopefully Josh likes it as much as you did that time,â you added meekly, sneaking a glance at his face.
Jeonghan grabbed you by the waist, pulling you closer to the point you felt his black polo shirt against your chest, making your nipples harden. You raised your face to meet his sparkling eyes. âDonât worry, baby. He will, I know it,â he told you confidently.
You flicked one eyebrow up. âBecause you liked it?â you asked meaningfully.
He rolled his eyes, showing you a cheeky smile. âYeah. But also because you were amazing,â he said with a light chuckle. âAnd because it feels amazing.â
You shuddered with the memory of it. When you pegged Jeonghan the first time, he was rendered a complete messâmoaning raunchily and babbling nonsense, cumming all over himself like he hadnât ever before.
And then, he probably knew what you were thinking because he blinked slowly at you, throwing you an endearing look. âIâll tell you what to do.â
At that, you felt yourself smile. âOkay,â you mumbled right before Jeonghan dipped his head to kiss you softly, almost ghostly.
âJust relax,â he told you in a mere whisper, his voice almost waning in desire.
The sound of Joshua returning to the bedroom made you turn, but not completely, so you still had a chance to look at Jeonghanâs face, the way his eyes seemed to widen slightly at the sight of Joshua.
Joshua was finishing taking his watch off, leaving it on his nightstand. He had kept his clothes on, probably to leave that part for you. Jeonghan immediately slipped into his role, motioning to the bed with one sharp nod of his head. âTake his clothes off,â he told you, patting your side lightly.
Your heart stuttered slightly with excitement at the commanding tone he used with you. But you fell into step behind Joshua, grabbing his hand and turning him towards you. As you met his gaze, the fluttering feeling inside your body intensified so hard that it had you shuddering.
âHi, handsome,â you said, trying your best to sound sultry.
Joshua smirked softly, catching your act in a second. But he brought two fingers to your chin, pinching it softly. âHi, beautiful,â he said, his big dark eyes reading you. âAre you ready?â
You laughed lightly. âShouldnât I be asking that question to you?â you said pointedly.
He gave you a half shrug. âWhy canât it go both ways?â he asked, raising his eyes to Jeonghan, who was standing right behind you. âAre you just going to watch?â
âIâll tell Princess what to do,â you turned over your shoulder to see the smirk plastered on his stupidly handsome face. âIâm improvising.â
Joshua rolled his eyes. âFigured,â he mumbled.
âEnough talking,â Jeonghan said, patting your ass again with his hand.
âOkay,â you sighed nervously. Your hands found the hem of Joshuaâs black wife-pleaser, slipping them beneath to feel the hard muscle of his abdomen, his warm skin. At the same time, you pushed yourself to your tiptoes, touching his lips with your own tauntingly.
Joshuaâs eyelids fluttered closed at your touch, but he still responded to your light kiss, pressing his lips against yours slowly. A ghostly laugh escaped through his lips when you slid your palms up the sides of his torso, fingertips grazing his lats while hiking his wife-pleaser up.
âRelax,â you mumbled into his lips, surprised that your voice sounded like a purr. âI got you,â you told him, more confident now.
âI know, baby,â he responded, his voice also gruff, low. âI just like you very much.â
You could feel Jeonghan standing behind you, watching you undress Joshua slowly, enjoying every step of the process. You removed his wife-pleaser completely, revealing his hard chest, his strong shoulders.
âI like you very much too,â you said, tilting your head to one side to let your gaze wander down his body.
Joshua swallowed hard, his gaze flitting from you to Jeonghan. âAll yours,â he whispered.
You showed him a tiny smirk. âI know, baby. All mine,â you said.
Jeonghanâs hand came down firmly on your glute now, and if it werenât for the boyshort panties you wore, it wouldâve stung more. âGet on with it,â he ordered you.
You yelped from both the surprise and the hard pain shooting across your skin. But it got you excited all the same. âSorry,â you said with a playful giggle. âGot carried away.â
Both men smiled at the sound of your laugh. You heard Jeonghanâs sigh at the same time Joshua showed you an endearing smile.
You took his washed-down jeans off, heartbeat fluttering wildly as you revealed more of his body. Heâd been working out more, and the results were crazy fast. His muscles flexed with every movement he made, even when he stepped out of his pants. You gnawed at your bottom lip, reaching out to graze your fingertips on the faint lines of his abdomen, stopping at the band of his boxers, waiting for instruction.
âGo on,â Jeonghan mumbled, his voice fading. He was clearly enjoying this too.
And by the look on Joshuaâs face, he did too. He liked being watched. He had always liked it. He loved being admired, and to have the two people he loved the most looking at him like this made him grow hard. So when you pinched the waistband, pushing his boxers down, you werenât surprised to see his hardened cock.
You sighed out when your hands finally touched him, but this was fleeting. As you reached out to grab him, you were beginning to pump him languidly, enjoying the way he looked at you with lust-lidded eyes.
And then another spank came.
âGet him on the bed, baby,â Jeonghan told you.
âCome on,â you told Joshua, pushing him with your hands on his chest. Joshua sat on the bed, crawling backwards until he could lie his head on the pillows, his dark eyes never leaving you.
You sneaked a look at Jeonghan, who was removing his own polo shirt with one efficient move. âGet him ready for you,â he said meaningfully. âRemember how?â
You nodded, licking your bottom lip before biting down on it.
That time you did this with Jeonghan, it started with playful banter and kisses that turned into sloppy make-out sessions. But you knew this time was different; you had the experience already, but this time you were doing it as a full-blown polycule.
Your gaze left Jeonghan just as he was sitting down on the bed right next to Joshua, his eyes on you while you straddled Joshua. Jeonghan had gotten rid of the rest of his clothes when you werenât looking. And heâd brought with him a pair of pink fuzzy handcuffs, a pink dildo, and the bottle of lube.
You swallowed hard, excitement making your heart flutter.
Joshuaâs gaze wandered from your face to the fuzzy handcuffs, his mouth parting softly as a questioning look took over the features of his face.
You slipped a hand beneath his chin, moving his face towards you. âEyes on me, baby,â you told him sulkily, but your tone was velvety and honeyed at the same time. Joshua gave you a very light smirk, clearly enjoying the soft, dominant side of you. His pierced eyebrow quirked up, but he obeyed you without any quippy remarks.
And it had your heart pumping hard and fast against your ribcage. More than the arousal, it was the eagerness to make him feel good. So you started attempting to achieve just that, bending over, and planting the tenderest kiss against his plump and wet lips.
âAre you going to behave?â you asked him, mirroring the things he told you whenever you sub for him. Your tone was low and soft. It sounded enticing. But it was the darkened look you threw at him quite effortlessly.
âDepends,â he said, his entire demeanour waning at the sight of your confidence.
You showed him a smirk. âKeep your focus on me,â you said, the words landing firmly despite them being coated with honey.
âOr what?â he breathed, eyelids fluttering wildly when you sat back, pressing your crotch against his growing erection.
You grabbed his hands, placing them on your thighs, indicating to him where you needed him to touch you. âOr Iâll get nasty,â you told him.
Joshua let out a low cackle, his body vibrating below yours. âTempting,â he said, sneaking another look at Jeonghan. âDonât you think?â
Jeonghan pressed his lips into the tiniest of smirks. He couldnât hide his own enjoyment in his glinting eyes either, looking at you and then at Joshua. âCanât say it isnât,â he said, then nodded at you. âKeep going, princess.â
You suddenly became too conscious of your own body. The excitement pulsing in your veins, making your skin prickle and hot. The way your limbs moved, graceful but at the same time, you felt in a rush of emotions, making your fingertips twitch and tremble as you ran your hands on Joshuaâs torso from his abdomen to his chest.
You bent over again, kissing his lips one more time. âBe good, yeah?â you breathed.
âIâll be good,â Joshua replied in kind.
You left a kiss on the corner of his lips, feeling his hands explore your body while you kissed his neck, his collarbones. You adored his body, kissing every inch of his skin to show him how badly you wanted him to feel good. And when you reached his chest, he instantly tensed, his hands slipping to grab your thighs, clenching them softly.
Joshua sucked in a breath through his teeth, the hissing sound cutting through the air. âFuck,â he whispered as you palmed his bulging pecs, brushing one of his nipples with the pad of your thumb while you grazed the other with your teeth, ever so lightly.
âMmn,â you hummed softly, enjoying his reaction. Now, emboldened, you closed your thumb and pointer fingers around his nipple, pinching it softly as you licked the other.
The grip his hands had on your thighs tightened, but without hurting. You caught sight of the skin on his arms prickling at the sensation of your tongue on his nipple, so you repeated the same motion on the other.
âThat feels good,â he sighed blissfully.
His eyes were closed, his red, plump lips were parted, the lower hanging almost in a silly-looking way. Then, as you bent over to run the tip of your wet tongue around his nipple, his eyebrows began knitting. And you wanted to get more of that look.
Slowly, you covered his skin with loving kisses, trailing down to his navel. The tips of your fingers outlined the soft hairs of his happy trail, from below his belly button until you reached his pubic hair, teasing him a little with the lightest of touches.
You sneaked a glance at his face. Joshua swallowed hard when your gaze met his, his hand finding your cheek to cup it with careful fingers. He watched as you grabbed his hard cock with one hand, angling it so you could kiss the tip without tearing your gaze away from his.
Then, testing him, you licked the bulbous head of his cock, which was flushed and oozing precum. Joshua was already tense, so he could only let out a quiet moan as he watched you swirling your tongue around his cockhead. âFuck,â he gritted, closing his eyes. You were wrapping your lips around him, and then you started blowing him off.
âGod, baby. Youâre so good at this,â Jeonghan praised, watching you bob your head up and down on Joshuaâs cock.
âFuck, yes she is,â Joshua gasped, his tone strangled as you hollowed out your cheeks, making obscene noises with your mouth wrapped around his cock.
His fist closed around your hair, fingers coiling tightly around your strands of hair and making you whine in a mixture of pleasure and pain.
âBehave,â Jeonghan told Joshua, his tone stern and unquestionable.
You took his cock into your mouth again, gagging softly as his tip kissed your throat, but barely. He was so big that you couldnât fit him into your mouth completely, so you began stroking him around the base.
âIâm trying,â Joshua gasped.
Jeonghan wasnât pleased with that answer. A metallic and fuzzy material was slipped into the free hand, and you instantly knew what Jeonghanâs intention was. You grabbed the handcuffs, blindly finding the button that snapped them open, and waited.
One of Joshuaâs hands was still firmly attached to your thigh. So it was easy to find his wrist and close one of the handcuffs around it, the metallic click bouncing off the walls.
You raised your head, taking his hand by the handcuff and placing it above his head. âTold you to be good,â you said, hovering on top of him.
Joshua blinked slowly at you, a faint smirk painting his face. âThat was me being good,â he told you with a flick of his studded eyebrow. âAnd you know it.â
You nearly gasped at his words. âGive me your other hand,â you said, trying to exert control. But in reality, you were flustered. And dripping wet.
Joshua obediently offered you his other wrist as you hooked the chain of the handcuffs around the rails of the headboard. And when the other cuff closed around his wrist, you fell into a desperation.
You wanted to ditch the plans of just making him feel good. You wanted to feel good too.
But you pushed your own desires aside.
You positioned yourself between his legs, grabbing the bottle of lube that you had used beforehand. You lathered your fingers first, and then you started teasing him by grabbing his cockhead with your hand, pumping him languidly as your lubed fingers circled his hole.
Joshua sucked in a breath again, clenching his teeth tightly as he watched you play with his patience. âBabe,â he whispered shakily.
âMmn?â you replied, almost primly.
âHurry,â he whispered impatiently.
âRelax, let our Bunny do her thing,â Jeonghan said with a light giggle, outlining Joshuaâs sharp jawline with two fingers, motioning Joshuaâs face towards his. âYou said youâd behave.â
You continued spreading lube around his hole before using one finger first, feeling his entire body react to it. âGod, that feels good,â Joshua whispered, closing his eyes as you started working him open.
âYeah, I know,â Jeonghan replied, giving him a slow, passionate kiss.
Joshua moaned into the kiss, his hands twitching uncontrollably in their cuffs as you pushed another finger inside him, scissoring him slowly. You knew Joshua was just as eager as you were because he pulled back from the kiss, giving you a look. âPlease, baby, just do it,â he said with a high-pitched whine.
âYouâre ready for me, Josh?â you asked slowly, still pushing your fingers inside him.
He nodded with sharp and rapid motions. And that was enough confirmation for Jeonghan, who sat up, grabbed the pink dildo from the bed and placed it in your boyshort panties. He placed a kiss on your shoulder, watching you stroke the dildo up and down, lubing it completely.
And then you scooted your hips closer to his ass, your thighs spread in position as you guided the pink tip of your dildo to his hole, notching it playfully at first. Joshua let out a sharp breath, but didnât stop you. His eyes were locked on your face, blinking slowly as you started pushing in, and inâŠ
âFuck,â Jeonghan whispered at the sight.
âOh, god,â Joshua gritted, sinking the back of his head on the pillow. He sighed deeply, screwing his eyes shut. âFuck, fuck, baby,â he drawled as you pushed in your toy in and out of him shallowly, testing him.
âSlowly, Princess,â Jeonghan said beside you, his eyes trained on the pink dildo disappearing inside Joshua.
You felt clumsy at first, thrusting the dildo by moving your hips with slow, tiny motions. But as you rolled your hips on him, you caught a rhythm you could keep without tiring out quickly. And it had Joshua moaning out raunchily, clenching around the toy and forcing his wrists against the cuffs.
âDeeper,â Joshua sighed, blinking repeatedly. âPlease go deeper, baby,â he pleaded with a raspy tone.
You looked at Jeonghan, asking for permission. He nodded at you, and then you pushed your hips flushed against Joshuaâs, slipping your hand on the back of his thigh to angle him for your deep thrusts.
âGood girl,â Jeonghan said beside you.
Joshua gasped, his body arching off the mattress as he moaned. âFuck, that feels good,â he said. âDonât stop,â he said, his eyebrows furrowing deeply. âPlease, please.â
âMake him cum, baby,â Jeonghan told you, his eyes shining with both awe and adoration for you and Joshua.
And you imagined what you would look like from Joshuaâs point of view. Your cheeks were flushed, sweat covering your forehead, but just barely. Joshua couldnât keep his eyes away from your face as you mirrored his expression of pleasure. His eyes dipped to your chest, to your tits every time they bounced as your thrusts turned faster.
âFuck, Iâm gonna cum,â he gritted, his mouth dropping open as he gasped desperately.
Jeonghan acted fast, lying on his side to kiss Joshua. He wrapped his hand around Joshuaâs hard cock, and started stroking fast around its head, just as ropes of white cum started spurting, and just continued leaking, landing all over Joshuaâs abdomen, chest and the back of Jeonghanâs hand.
Joshua was breathing hard as Jeonghan pulled back after leaving a soft kiss on Joshuaâs bottom lip. âBaby, stop,â Jeonghan told you.
âNoâkeep going,â Joshua pleaded, his eyes teary in pleasure.
Your hips stuttered, but Jeonghan nodded at you, pushing you to continue thrusting. You planted your hands on Joshuaâs hipsâjust like he does it when he fucks you, and just continued fucking him, deep and fast.
âYouâre going to cum again?â Jeonghan asked, not hiding the awe in his tone.
Joshuaâs hands balled into fists, a gasp leaving him as he just nodded, his gaze wandering back to you. You were beginning to grow tired, but you didnât relent. Changing the position of your body, you leaned forward slightly, putting the work on your knees and thus bringing down your hips on Joshua slightly harder.
âFuck!â Joshua gasped. âRight there, baby,â he whined raunchily.
And then something out of the ordinary for you happened. Because Joshua began letting out a series of lewd sounds, gasps and moans, his cock twitching in the same way it does every time he cums. Joshua was having an orgasmâone that was very evident by the way the air left him, in the way his body was taut and beginning to tremble.Â
Joshua blinked slowly, opening his eyes as he went lax and looked around curiously. You slowed down, stopping only when Jeonghan gave you a tight nod with his head.
âWhat happened?â you asked, your tone rising in slight worry.
Jeonghan smirked just as Joshua lifted his head, looking down at his body. âShuji had a dry orgasm.â
Joshua sighed, a lazy smile spreading on his lips right before he let his head fall back onto the pillow, giggling slowly. âI didnât even notice,â he said.
âWas that a first?â you asked, tilting your head to one side.
He nodded, licking his lips. âFelt like a normal orgasm,â he shrugged.
âAre you good?â you continued.
âYeah, baby,â he said, sighing once more. âWonderful.â
You looked at Jeonghan again, looking for more instruction. âTake that off,â he told you, motioning to the boyshort panties as he grabbed one towel he had prepared beforehand and started cleaning Joshuaâs abdomen. âYou did well,â Jeonghan muttered, looking at Joshuaâs face dreamily.
You climbed off the bed, discarding the panties and the dildo altogether.
âThat was amazing,â Joshua said, following Jeonghanâs gaze as they locked eyes briefly.
But their moment was cut short. You crawled on top of Jeonghan, pushing him down with your hands planted firmly on his chest. He sat back against the headboard, gasping softly as you straddled him and, without any foreplay, any warning, you sank on his cock.
âGod,â Jeonghan bit back a moan, both men looking at you now.
You let out a blissful sigh as you bottomed out on him, his hands grabbing your hips to guide you through it, knowing you were tired. But you rolled your hips on his cock as though your life depended on it. Sweet, sweet pleasure was building back inside your body, sizzling beneath your skin as both of your partners held witness to you being so horny that you couldnât even speak.
Jeonghanâs hands clutched your hips tighter, swallowing a moan. âFuck, baby,â he said in pure awe. âYouâre so wet. Did you like fucking Joshua?â he said, a smirk spreading on his beautiful lips,
âMmm-huh,â you nodded, letting out a whiny moan as you grinded your hips down on Jeonghan, feeling his cock reach in so deep that your eyes started to water.
Jeonghan moaned with you, blinking slowly as his own pleasure started to build up. He turned to Joshua, nodding at him meaningfully. And once again, you were too slow or too unaware of their silent communication that you didnât know what was going on before it happened.
Joshua nodded back, pressing the button of the handcuffs with the pad of his thumb. The handcuffs sprang open, letting him free in an instant. And your dominance was gone with it, too, as you watched Joshua push himself on his knees and right behind you. With one effortless move, he snatched you up from Jeonghanâs body, bending you over for him and slipping his hard dick inside you, all in one go.
âJoshuaâ!â you gasped, instantly subdued to the merciless snapping of Joshuaâs hips against your ass.
You placed your hands on the headboard, bent over Jeonghan as he watched your face, your body, your pretty tits bouncing against his face as Joshua fucked you hard and fast. Jeonghan cupped your tits, softly palming them before taking one of your nipples into his mouth, suckling obscenely loud.
âFuck,â you gasped lewdly. âI think Iâm gonna cum,â you said.
âLet go,â Joshua husked in your ear, his arms still firmly wrapping your body as he pushed himself in and out of your cunt. âCum for me,â he said.
Your eyes searched Jeonghanâs face as he pulled back, giving you a tiny nod. âCum on his cock, baby.â
The tight coil inside you finally snapped, making you wail out in pure pleasure. Your eyes rolled back right before your eyelids fluttered closed, letting go of the tears gathering in the corners. Your hands held onto Joshuaâs forearms, your fingernails sinking deeply into his skin as you cummed like you havenât in a while.
âFuck, youâre making a mess, baby,â Jeonghan sighed, getting all the view of your cum dripping out of your pussy.
Joshua let out a deep moan that reverberated on his chest, vibrating against your back. He pressed his forehead against your nape, his deep thrusts slowing down and now using his arms to sink you back down on his cock, fucking his cum deep into you. âGod,â he gritted against your skin, pressing a tiny kiss. âFeel so good.â
And then you thought he would let you go. But instead, he sat you back down on Jeonghan, making you gasp as his cock slipped inside, pushing Joshuaâs cum and yours back inside your pussy.
âFuck,â Jeonghan whispered, moving his hips sloppily at first, trying to fuck his cock into you.
You followed the motion of his hips, moaning at the sight of Jeonghanâs face riddled with pleasure. It gave you another rush of energy, making you plant your hands firmly on Jeonghanâs chest, angling yourself forward right before you started rolling your hips faster.
Jeonghanâs mouth fell open. âFuck, thatâs it, baby,â he drawled lazily, looking at you as you fucked him hard and fast. âThatâs it,â he added in a mere whisper.
Joshua slumped down on the bed beside Jeonghan. And now you had them both looking at you, both men completely and utterly lost in you, in your face, in the way you were moving your body.
âBaby, keep going,â Jeonghan said, his tone rising but still gruff. âFuck, Iâm cumming,â he said, and then let out a deep moan. âFuck, oh fuckââ he gasped, mouth parted as his eyes locked with yours.
A wave of pleasure washed all over you, making your skin prickle. And it pushed you to take your fingers to your mound, stroking your clit with fast swirls. Your entire body shook when Jeonghanâs hands clenched your hips tightly, fingernails digging into your skin. The sudden flash of pain had you tipping over the edge.
âJeonghanââ you gasped, right before your second orgasm took over you, hot waves of pleasure consuming you quickly. The thought of having both of your partners sharing you like thatâcumming inside youâit drove you crazy.
You stopped after a couple of seconds, breathing hard, languid with pleasure and exertion to the point that you felt ready to pass out.
Jeonghan read you well. He grabbed you by the wrist, tugging you towards him. You simply lay your head on his shoulder, facing Joshua, who was lying still, or equally as tired as you were.
âThat was⊠intense,â you said.
Joshua smiled. âThatâs one way to put it,â he said.
âThat was amazing,â Jeonghan said with a big sigh, pressing his lips against your shoulder. âYou were amazing, baby.â
âI agree,â Joshua said, grabbing your hand to kiss your knuckles.
âYeah?â you asked, âDid you like it, Josh?â
âI loved it,â he said, blinking slower and slower.
Aftercare happened like it usually did. You showered, checked if your body needed water or food, and got ready for bed. You tidied the bedroom first, cleaning all of your toys from the bed, along with the evidence of the activity you had with your boyfriends.
You were the first one to lie on the bed. You waited patiently, looking at your boyfriends prepare their things for their next day at work respectively. Jeonghan joined you first, and Joshua was last.
âYouâre okay, Bunny?â Joshua asked curiously as he lay on his side.
âYeah, why?â you frowned.
Joshuaâs gaze flitted to Jeonghan in a dash. It was a fleeting glance, but you noticed. âYouâre quiet,â he said. âMore than usual.â
âIâm tired,â you said. But once again, your tone landed weakly.
âIs there something you want to talk about, baby?â Jeonghan asked, his tone rising slightly.
Your breath caught in your throat. There was so much that you wanted to share. All your concerns, all of your anxieties, gone with one breath. You gaped at Jeonghan briefly, right before tearing your gaze away from his face, directing it to the ceiling.
âI want us to spend more time together.â
The room stilled at your confession. Joshua didnât move, his gaze fixated on your face, as Jeonghan turned on the bed, now mirroring Joshua.
âWhat do you mean?â Joshua asked softly, slowly.
âYeah, youâre barely here,â you said, still avoiding eye contact. You started to fidget with your fingers, twisting around the sheets. âI want us to do more things togetherâI donât know. I miss us.â
Your tone fell at the last word uttered. And you felt your words reaching them, even if they said nothing at first.
âWell, what do you want to do, Princess?â Jeonghan asked.
At that, you dared to look up. Jeonghan was calm, but as you locked eyes with him, he immediately started to read the features of your face. But you still went on, determined to let your thoughts out. âI know that itâs⊠a bit complicated for us three to go out on dates in public.â
âBut youâve thought of something,â he caught on.
You nodded. âRemember that I told you I wanted to go camping?â you asked Jeonghan.
He blinked and then nodded.
âI found the perfect place,â you said, heartbeat going so fast inside your chest that it made your tone quiver. You reached for your phone under your pillow and then quickly pulled out the photos of a camping site you found online. âMaybe we could rent a cabin. Or get a tent, I donât know. But I would like to go here.â
You showed them the pictures, Jeonghan took the phone from your hand, swiping a finger on the screen to read more about the place. Its location, the details, and prices. Your heart fluttered in excitement.
âItâs a nice place. Off the grid. Might work,â Jeonghan said, locking your phone and leaving it on the nightstand.
You turned to Joshua, and without him even uttering a word, you knew what his answer would be. And your heart deflated completely.
âBaby, I think itâs a nice idea. And I would love to do it someday soon but,â he breathed in deeply, bracing himself to see the disappointment in your face. âI canât have breaks right now. Not when weâre getting ready for the second leg of the tour and recording music.â
You lowered your gaze, nodding dejectedly. âI get it,â you whispered, trying hard not to choke up.
Joshua pinched your chin, commanding your gaze back to his face. âBut that doesnât mean we canât have dates, you know?â he said, offering you a hopeful smile.
âLike what?â you replied, swallowing hard.
âMaybe we could do a movie night. Or we could play board games again. Or dinner with wine, I donât know,â he said, shrugging lightly.
âIâd like that,â you said, sniffling softly. âCan we do all of that soon?â you asked.Â
Joshua blinked, his brow furrowing. âYeah. Of course, baby,â he said.
âTomorrow?â you asked, your tone tiny.
Jeonghan chuckled. âI have a rehearsal. Letâs do it this Wednesday.â
âIn three days?â you asked, looking down at the bedcovers. âOkay.â
There was an exchange of looks between Jeonghan and Joshua. You could sense it in the way the air emptied, in the way there was a tension tightening in the room, but there was nothing voiced out loud.
âIs there something else you want to tell us, baby?â Jeonghan asked in a tone that was low, but sweet. Cautious.
You shook your head on your pillow.
And something hung in the air, deflating your heart with remorse. Something telling you that if you didnât speak up now, youâd pay for it later. Youâd been through this before, and somehow, you just didnât learn.
Because you never learn. Not until it was too late.
Days went by, and you became more and more convinced that something was wrong. Like maybe you had moved into the wrong place, maybe you had jumped into something too fast, too soon. Now, you were entirely alone in a place that felt like a palaceâof shiny floors that almost showed your reflection, cold spaces that felt too empty that you could hear your own echo.
You were alone.
Joshua was out recording music for his next album.
Jeonghan was caught up in long hours of filming.
You balled your hands into fists, trying to swallow your incoming tears. You desperately craved for either one of them to get back to you, to notice that you were in dire need of attention. Oh, because you recognized that you were just mad because both Jeonghan and Joshua had forgotten about the movie night.
They forgot, you thought with a stabbing pain in your gut. They forgot about your plans to spend the night together. It was insulting, really. You had worked really hard to get this afternoon free to spend it with them⊠and they simply had different plans that would consume the rest of their day and would give no second thought to your efforts.
You stared at your phone screen. The chat you shared with them called Home sat vacant. You hesitated before typing,
Did you guys forget about tonight?
I thought we had agreed to have a date tonight.Â
No answer.
Iâm done.
With a frenzied feeling reeling inside you, you pushed yourself to your feet from the couch and made your way to your bedroom. There were big tears in the corners of your eyes as you pulled out your duffel bag and emptied it out on the walk-in closet floor. You grabbed your essentials, sleepwear, two changes of clothes and toiletries.
That sane part of you was begging to pull the brakes. Begging you to think this through before you do something really stupid. But that part was growing smaller as the seconds went by, and you felt freer from the shackles of that stupid pain stuck deep inside of you like a thorn.
You were convinced now that you were doing this for yourself. After changing your clothes, you went to your studio to pack your laptopâand then something stopped you.
The photo on your desk, showing both Jeonghan and Joshua smiling with you, caused you to rethink for a split second. With a short sigh, you grabbed a sheet of paper, splitting it in two and wrote two different messages, leaving each on its respective side of the bed.
Your heart thumped in your chest loudly as you made your way down to the elevator, duffel bag on one shoulder, laptop bag on the other. But you didnât stop, and you didnât look back.
And then, you left.
Jeonghan felt his pulse strumming on the base of his throat.
As soon as he got the chance to get a moment by himself, he pulled out his phone. It had been vibrating incessantly for a few minutes and then just stopped. Heâd thought it would be just usual business in the group chat he shared with you and Joshua, maybe youâd sent something funny, or maybe not that funny and Joshua was teasing you for it.
But as Jeonghan scrolled through his messages, his heart dropped to his stomach.
At the top of his screen, Joshuaâs name and phone number appeared. Jeonghan hurriedly pressed the green button, accepting the call.
âHey, whatâs going on?â Jeonghan asked calmly, but his gut feeling was telling him to run.
âI was going to ask the same thing to you,â Joshua said, and by the sound of it, Jeonghan could tell that he was still busy in the recording studio.
âDid we miss the movie night?â Jeonghan raised his wrist in front of him, bringing his smart watch to life. It was Tuesday. He frowned.
âI thought that was happening tomorrow,â Joshua said, also responding to what wouldâve been Jeonghanâs next question. âSheâs not answering my texts, and sheâs not picking up the phone.â
Jeonghan sighed heavily and started to walk towards the parking lot where heâd left his car. âIâm heading back home. You keep trying her phone, okay?â
âYeah, I willâŠâ Joshua replied, disheartened. âMaybe we just didnât make sure when we agreed to do it.â
Jeonghan blinked, car keys ready in his hand as he stood in front of his car. âBut we didnât,â he frowned. âOr did we?â
âI donât know. We couldâve,â Joshua replied, and just by the tone of his voice, Jeonghan could picture the expression on his boyfriendâs face perfectly. The worried look, the slightly knitted brows. âBut that doesnât matter now. Not when she thinks we havenât really been present with her. And that weâre not making time for her, you know?â
âYeah, Iâm all too familiar with how that goes,â Jeonghan replied shortly, getting into his car and turning the engine on. âIâm heading back home. Iâll text you when I get there.â
âSure. Iâll try to break free from here soon too. Bye,â Joshua said, hanging up right after.
At that moment, Jeonghan could hear the slight tinge of worry in Joshuaâs voice. He knew then that the panic inside him was not misplaced, not entirely.
As he drove there, he kept dialling you through his carâs dashboard, getting more and more anxious each time you rejected his calls. He kept thinking of what to say now that might compensate for this big fuck upâeven if it wasnât truly a fuck up and you got the dates mixed up. There wouldnât be an easy way to sort this one out, not at first.
âCome on, baby. Just pick up,â Jeonghan whispered to himself.
The elevator ride was excruciatingly slow. It had him tapping his fingertips against the rail outlining the metal box, sighing at each time he felt like his lungs were about to burst.
Jeonghan hated conflict. He hated facing someone he cared about and potentially saying hurtful things to each other, even if those things werenât necessarily insulting.
He pulled out his phone and opened his chat with Joshua, texting: I just got home. Where are you?
The elevator doors parted as he pocketed his phone, making his way into the apartment. He felt his phone vibrate in the pocket of his jeans, but Jeonghan didnât have the headspace to pay attention to thatâbecause when he opened the door, his heart instantly deflated.
âBaby?â he called tenderly as he pushed himself through the apartment, finding the living room decorated in a movie night theme.
There was a bowl with popcorn on the coffee table, three clean wine cups and a bottle of red wine were lined neatly around the bowl. You had set the coffee table with your favorite snacks and had also left your favorite board games at hand in case the movie wasnât entertaining enough.
Jeonghanâs heart squeezed as he looked at the living room and everything you had done for the date. You had readied everything for the perfect date, but not only thatâwith so little, you showed just how much you had missed hanging out with Joshua and Jeonghan. The details, the preparationsâyou were excited. Â
You missed the homeliness of it. You were eager to have that again with them.
âBunny?â Jeonghan called your name, louder this time. He made for the bedroom with a hurried step now. âBaby, weâre sorry, we thoughtââ
He came to a stop.
Your clothes were scattered on the floor, trailing to the walk-in closet, where Jeonghan found more items that belonged to you. The side of the closet that was for your stuff was messy, as though picked apart in a hurry.
Jeonghanâs pulse began to race. His mind was split apart, but somehow he still had the lucidity to think sharply, even though part of it was beginning to reel anxiously. He ran to your studio, knowing now that he wouldnât find you thereâbut he would find a definitive answer instead.
Your laptop was gone from the desk.
At that, Jeonghan stopped completely, knowing there was nothing else to be done here.
He returned to the bedroom, feeling lost. His heart was still beating frantically, vibrating through his whole body to the point he felt like he was on the verge of puking. Â
However, this time he saw something that he had missed at first. There was a sheet of paper neatly placed beneath his pillow, and an identical one beneath Joshuaâs as well. He went around the bed and grabbed his, opening it with trembling fingers.
I left to get some time and space for myself. Iâll be sitting by the lake, looking at the stars.   Â
I love you.
Jeonghan read the brief note written in your handwriting over and over again, walking aimlessly until he stumbled upon the couch. There was so little information on the note, but with that, you were letting him know where you had gone. And Jeonghan knew perfectly well that you wanted to be left alone. Â
This fuck up, as Jeonghan had called it, had struck a nerve for you.
But his attention was robbed at the sound of the front door clicking. He raised his head, trying to compose himself as best as he could as Joshua made his way to the living room, taking his jacket off.
âHey,â Joshua sighed, his face still contorted in a frown. âHow bad is it?â he asked, blissfully aloof to the graveness of the situation.
Jeonghanâs shoulders went slack as his entire body went heavy with anxiousness. He breathed in, preparing himself for it. âJoshuaââ
âWhat?â Joshua asked, his face melting into worry.
âSheâs not here,â Jeonghan said, folding your note with his fingers. Anxiety built up swiftly, coiling around his throat. He gulped hard. âShe packed a bag. Left a note. Thereâs one for you too.â
Joshuaâs mouth parted softly as acknowledgement sank within him. And then he shuddered hard. âShe left?â he asked dejectedly, his eyes widening as he hurried to the bedroom.
Jeonghan made no move to follow him and waited, hands holding your note still as he looked around the living room.
The space was so large that even Jeonghan felt small in the white, tall walls of it. And his poor heart was crushed over the thought of you waiting for him and Joshua to come through that doorâonly to find out that once again, you had been ignored and work was more important.
âFuck,â Jeonghan sighed, taking his hand to his face and rubbing it hard, trying to ease the pain in his chest.
Joshua came back to the living room, his entire demeanor darkened with misery all over. He was pressing the phone to his ear, but then locked it and threw it somewhere on the couch again. âShe took her laptop too,â Joshua said, as though that were the damning evidence of your punishing departure.
A pause.
The room stilled in cold, dead silence. The emptiness permeated the walls of the living room, and somehow, this place felt strange to Jeonghan now that he had your absence to ponder over.
âWhat do we do now?â
Jeonghan shook his head slowly. âWe do nothing,â he said, his tone flat.
Joshua paused, deadpanning to Jeonghan. âNothingâwhat do you mean nothing?â he gasped.
Jeonghan made a motion to Joshuaâs note that was still neatly folded in half. âWhat does yours say?â
Joshua unfolded the sheet of paper and handed it to Jeonghan without a word. This note was a bit lengthier, and Jeonghan suspected why.
Iâll come back as soon as I clear my head. I really need this for myself, so please donât come find me. Iâll be at the camping site I told you about. Please try not to worry about me, Iâll be fine. Iâll be safe. I will come back.
I love you.
âSo what, we just sit and wait? Shouldnât we be doing something?â Joshua asked with an anxious edge to his tone. He grabbed onto the end of the headrest of the sofa as he tried to bring himself to a calmer state.
Jeonghan raised both notes in his hands. âThis is what sheâs asking, Joshua,â he said. âWe should at least give her that, donât you think?â
âBut she left because she feels lonely. I get that she doesnât want us to worry about her, but I donât want her to think that weâre okay with thisââ Joshua gritted. Straightening back again, he started for the door and then turned back around immediately. âAt least Iâm not okay with this.â
âIâm not happy with this either, but if this is what she needs right now, then I think we should let her have it,â Jeonghan argued, trying to keep himself put together, but in reality, he was brimming with panic too.
Joshua let out a heavy sigh. And with great reluctance, he shook his head and started pacing back and forth in the living room.
âBesides, there is nothing we can do,â Jeonghan added, trying to make Joshua see reason. But part of him felt that he was saying these things for himself as well. âSheâs not picking up the phone or replying to any of our texts. We could go to the camping site and look for her, butââ
âShe asked us not to,â Joshua finished the sentence with slight disappointment. âYeah, I know.â
âWe messed up, Shuji.â
At that, Joshua turned around. His face was contorted in pain, anger and distress. âYou donât think I know that?â he asked, nostrils flaring angrily. The frown made his eyes look darker, and the corners of his mouth were slightly downturned. âI thought we were past this, I thoughtââ
Jeonghan shook his head slowly. âThis is different,â he asserted, motioning to the notes with a light move of his hands. âThis doesnât feel right.â
Joshua let out a big sigh that denoted his full frustration. He hated this, Jeonghan knew. âOf course itâs not rightâsheâs fucking gone,â Joshua hissed, turning away and walking towards the bedroom, hands cupping his nape, pulling his own hair.
Jeonghan stared at the two pieces of paper in his hands for a second before diverting his gaze out of the window. The sun had fallen, so now the city lights were at full view against the dark, moonless night. Jeonghan sat in the living room for a long while, contemplating the silence and letting your absence sink in.
This doesnât feel right, Jeonghan thought, convinced that there was something more to the reason why you left. You tended to run away when things got hard, he knew that as well as Joshua. But you had reached your fill.
This was the result of days and nights feeling lonely and ignored, yes.
But something didnât fit.
There had to be more to the reason why you left. And Jeonghan needed to find what it was.
In all your years of writing, you had made a little tradition for yourself. Whenever you turned in a final manuscript, you would book a trip somewhere. You would take your mind off things that pertained to work for a little while. Sometimes you would only go for an afternoon, sometimes youâd stay a night and then come back home.
However, this time was different.
You hadnât turned in your final manuscript of your second book on time. And this was a first for you. And this being the first time, you felt awful. You wanted to blame all the external factors in your life for thisâthe stress, the writerâs block, the anonymity, your relationshipâŠ
But in truth, it was you the reason why the manuscript wasnât ready. Your head was all over the place, and you recognized that. Your thoughts felt like a meteor shower, except that everything went in a different direction, crashing in the wildest ways imaginable.
You felt exhausted.
The trip had taken longer than you had anticipated. Getting out of the heart of the city at rush hour was the first mistake. You had to sit through hours of traffic dodging calls, planning what the next days would look like.
And your heart was not resting. Your mind was racing with the dozen things you needed to cover before you reached the cabins. Things like food, expenses, the trip back, and most importantly: what you were going to do when you got back.
You were leaving that last thing to the very end of your trip.
A big part of you knew that you had let your impulses win. You felt ignored, lonely.
You let out a sigh. The driver directed a look at you over the rear mirror, but didnât make any inquisitive expression. And you didnât make the effort to explain that you were exhaling out of the stress coiling around your heart, and not because of the long time it was taking you to get out of the city.
Your phone vibrated in your fist. And this time, you didnât even check if it was Jeonghan or Joshua calling. You simply dodged the call by swiping your thumb over the screen.
One of the things that kept you from turning back was the fact that you knew what their apologies would sound like. And that fact also gave you a very odd sense of peaceâas though knowing that you werenât coming back home to a solution also prepared you to not feel disappointment.
You gnawed at your bottom lip, tears at the verge of spilling from your eyes. Your phone began vibrating again, and you swiped your thumb automatically; the name Josh kept appearing incessantly.
And you didnât wonder more. You didnât wonder whether they had arrived at the apartment yet, only to find that you werenât there. You didnât wonder if they had already found the notes you had written for each of them. And it wasnât because you didnât care, but because it even hurt to think.
When you arrived at the cabin you rented, you felt free. All the thoughts that were consuming you bit by bit seemed to ebb away once you lay down on the bed alone. Staring at the ceiling, you took in a big breath, trying to calm your weary heart.
You thought of telling them that you had arrived safely. But each blinking of your eyes took you further away from reality, and into a very deep sleepâthe deepest and soundest sleep you had ever experienced in a long while.
Sleeping alone for the first time in what truly felt like ages led you to wake up feeling disoriented. Your heart constricted in your chest as you looked around your surroundings, finding nothing but the four wooden walls that were so different from your home. You breathed in the smell of dust and humidity, trying to take deep breaths to calm yourself down.
You searched on the bed, realizing at a slow step that you had slept in your regular clothes. And when you finally found your phone somewhere beneath the pillow, you turned it on, squeezing your eyes at the bright white light of the screen. You skimmed through an endless number of text messages from each of your boyfriends.
But you pressed the tip of your finger on the Home group chat. It sat empty from the last message you sent the night before. And it felt vexing that the next message after twelve hours read:
I arrived safely.
Iâm fine.
It was the first time, maybe in months, that Jeonghan felt empty.
In these past few months, heâs been in a relationship with you, and heâs had ups and downs. In all fairness, it was a really complicated relationship from the start. From the moment he realized he was falling in love with you, he knew that his heart was destined to go through a lot of stress.
And what was to be expected, really? Falling in love with his best friendâs girlfriend was something damned to fail. But lucky for him, it worked out for him. And in that, he was now in the most complicated situation heâd ever been in. But also, the easiest.
Loving you was easy.
So much so that he didnât find it in his heart to be mad that you left. In fact, he felt sad and disappointed in himself that he didnât see this coming. Or maybe that he did and still didnât make any attempts to stop you from leaving.
The first night you were gone broke his heart.
Joshua was lying on his side, hugging your pillow. He had done this instinctively, almost, as though he needed to feel something closer to him to fall asleep. There was no playing around as usual, no fighting to see who would get to cuddle you for the night.
He woke up alone. It made him feel empty.
Jeonghan turned over, reaching for his phone in the nightstand. And as he read his screen, his pulse quickenedâyouâd texted. It didnât matter to him that you had done so in the group chat. It was something.
So he took a chance, pressing the call button. His eyes fixated on the ceiling as your phone rang once, twiceâŠ
You picked up the phone at the fifth ring.
âBaby?â Jeonghan called softly, heartbeat racing unbearably fast.
âHi,â you replied quietly, shyly.
Jeonghan sighed, closing his eyes slowly. âHow are you?â he asked and then waited for your answer.
You took some seconds to reply, which Jeonghan thought you were just thinking of your answer. âIâm fine,â you said, your voice creaking slightly.
He sat up on the bed. âIâm so sorry,â he mumbled, feeling his heart squeeze.
There was a pause. And Jeonghan hated that he couldnât see your face, so that way he would know what you were truly thinking. Because he knew you werenât fine, he could tell by your tone alone.
âListen, I donât have a lot of reception here. I just wanted to tell you both that Iâm going to come back home in a few days,â you informed him, your voice quivering, but you kept yourself firm.
Jeonghan felt the air leave his lungs. âA few days?â he repeated dumbly. He shook his head slightly. âBaby, please come home. We can talk about thisââ
Jeonghan lifted his gaze to the doorway, where Joshua was appearing with a worried look on his face. Jeonghan closed his eyes slowly, bringing two fingers to pinch the bridge of his nose. âBaby, please just listen to meââ
âSo if you really want to talk to me, be sure to clear out your agendas every day at eleven in the morning and six in the afternoon,â you said, sighing out in a sign of finality.
Jeonghan breathed out, knowing that he didnât have any upper hand in this. He had no control over the situation. âFine,â he gritted.
âOkay,â you whispered, surprised that he had conceded to your plan that easily. âOkay. Iâll go now.â
âWait,â Jeonghan said, and when the line didnât go dead, he continued. âI know youâre not really looking for apologies right now. But weâre truly sorry,â he said, opening his eyes to find Joshuaâs face.
Joshua sat on the foot of the bed, as though his knees had given out. His eyebrows were knitting in worry, his big brown eyes boring into Jeonghanâs.
You said nothing.
âPleaseââ Jeonghan mumbled, his voice breaking when he couldnât keep his nerves down. ââjust come home, baby. You donât need to do this. Please, just talk to us.â
âMaybe I do need to do this, Hannie,â you said, softer this time. âIâll call again in a few hours, okay?â
âFuck,â Joshua breathed in defeat.
âOkay,â Jeonghan replied to you, also knowing that it was futile to keep pleading. âWeâll be waiting for your call.â
âI love you,â you mumbled. And as though shy, you added in a lower tone: âI love you both.â
At that, Jeonghan understood that you knew Joshua was also listening to the conversation. He nodded. âWe love you too,â he said.
And then you hung up.
Jeonghan sighed, throwing his phone aside with little care as to where it landed. âSheâs coming back in a few days,â he informed Joshua. âDidnât tell me when.â
Joshua shook his head slowly, his gaze lost somewhere on the floor. âYou were right,â he said, his voice gruff with emotion. âThis doesnât feel right.â
Jeonghan breathed in deeply in an attempt to get rid of the ugly feeling gnawing at his heart. âYeah,â he whispered, bringing a hand to Joshuaâs shoulder. He squeezed softly, thinking that if he couldnât ease his pain, heâd try to give some peace to Joshua. âBut sheâll come back.â
âI know,â Joshua said, nodding. He lifted his head, locking his gaze with Jeonghan. âI know,â he repeated, more reassuring this time.
The next morning was peaceful.
You woke up feeling released from an invisible weight. Like all of your worries were put on hold, and you were able to finally breathe.
You walked out of the cabin, the wet and cold air receiving you and making you hiss.
The camping site was beautiful, even more so than the pictures you had shown Jeonghan. Your heart squeezed. You had planned to come here with them both, and you would be enjoying this place with them. But now, with the sudden turn of events, you had to do it alone.
Your stomach was empty, but somehow your appetite was nonexistent. The thought of not being with your partners made your stomach feel uneasy, but you knew that you had to get something to eat soon.
The camp was beginning to take life. As you breathed in deeply and then exhaled, you started to feel weightless. You were really here. Alone. You had gone a long way from home.
You palmed your pockets, pulling out your phone. You had three hours to eat, drink coffee and perhaps take a look around.
Being freed from all of the anxieties gripping you back in the city was truly the greatest medicine. As you opened your final draft, you found out that the words you were looking for were sitting at the tips of your fingers all along.
And you wrote, and wrote until the clock marked ten minutes to eleven in the morning. You were almost reluctant to stop, but you did, turning your computer off and putting it back in your knitted satchel. You were happy with your progress; you were one step closer to the finish line.
The air outside was still crisp, despite the sun blazing against the very green surroundings. Your teeth clattered slightly, but you pulled out your phone, gnawing at your bottom lip as you debated who to call. But you pressed your thumb against the call button and waited.
âHi Bunny,â Joshua sighed, almost as though heâd been holding his breath, waiting for your call.
âHi Josh,â you replied, closing your eyes as the feeling blooming inside you took over your senses with a powerful shudder. It was the sound of his voice, wrapping you like a warm blanket.
âYouâre on speaker,â he informed you, and by his tone, you could tell that he wasnât happy at all. âHow are you?â
You knew that you were in deep trouble now. But you didnât care. You didnât find it in yourself to care. âIâm okay,â you replied nonchalantly, opening your eyes to fixate on a nicely shaped cloud in the sky.
There was a silence that stretched between you and the other end of the line. You could almost picture them, your boyfriends sitting around the phone, debating what to do, what to say now that you were gone.
âBunny, we need to talk,â Joshua said.
You breathed in, trying to bring back that weightless feeling you had earlier. âOkay,â you said.
âDo you know when youâre coming back?â Joshua asked, enunciating each word slowly, cautiously.
âNo,â you replied, lowering your gaze to your feet, where you kicked a rock with the tip of your boot. âIâm thinking that maybe Iâll come back after I finish my draft.â
You heard a sigh, and you initially imagined that it was Joshua who had done it. But thenâ
âSo if it takes you a week to finish itâŠâ Jeonghan said, his tone tight. And it was then that you knew that by leaving, you had probably caused some tension between Joshua and Jeonghan.
Your heart fell to your stomach.
âThen Iâll be back in a week,â you replied, remorse eating at you.
âDonât you think that this is too much?â Joshua asked, and you heard Jeonghan mumble something under his breath. You werenât able to make out what he said, but you knew he was trying to contain Jeonghan. âBaby, we get itâyouâre mad at us, we fucked up. But nothing will get solved if you stay awayââ
âJoshua,â Jeonghan cut in sternly.
Your heart deflated painfully. âAnd you think youâre solving things like this?â You asked slowly, trying to keep your feelings in check, something you were failing miserably at.
He stuttered for a beat. âNoâI donât know,â he confessed, his voice cracking halfway through the sentence. âPlease just come back. We canât fix things if youâre away.â
You breathed out, building some courage to get yourself through this. âYou made time for me just because I left, Josh. So we can say that leaving did fix something,â you said gently, almost in a motherly tone.
âRightâand we learned our lesson. Happy?â Joshua bit back resentfully.
âNo, Iâm not happy,â you said. âThatâs the whole point!â
âAll the more reason to come back and talk with us!â Joshua said, his tone ringing now with exasperation.
âYouâre not talking, youâre just yelling!â you replied, your pulse quickening to the point it made you feel nauseous. âIf youâre not really going to talk, then Iâm hanging up the phone.â
âSee? Youâre doing this again. Youâre running away!â
âJoshuaâ!â Jeonghanâs voice shot through your ear like a bullet.
Tears brimmed in your eyes before you could even process what you were feeling. Anger, pain, remorse. You sniffled loudly, squeezing your eyes harshly to try to stop the tears from flowing anymore. âIâll call you later tonight, yes?â
âIâm sorry. I didnât meanââ Joshua started.
âWaitââ Jeonghan cut in.
But you didnât give them a chance to say anything else. You cut the line right as they were speaking, without even caring about how childish you were coming across. You hated this. The sticky feeling you always got whenever you had a confrontation.
Joshua was right. You were running away.
You made for the way back to the cabin, one hand gripping the strap of your satchel, the other your phone. The air in your lungs felt tight, and your stomach felt uneasy with anxiety. And as you fought with your feelings, your body started to lose the battle first.
Your steps stuttered, causing you to stumble against a tree, where you held up a hand to steady yourself. Your vision weakened, eyes tearing up, but now from something different. And it was then that anxiety won, pushing your body to a lamentable demise.
In seconds, the group of ladies were coming to your aid. And you immediately felt bad, because you were sick due to a condition of your heart, and your own thoughts had betrayed you.
But there you were, vomiting all because you were once again too weak to face hardship.
Jeonghan threw his phone on the table quite heedlessly. âWhat the fuck, Joshua?â
Joshua was sitting down at the round table, head between his hands, bouncing a knee frenetically. âIâm sorry,â he said, sitting back with a sigh.
âYou didnât need to say that,â Jeonghan said, rising from his seat and pacing around the dining table. âWhat the fuck were you thinking?â
âI wasnât,â Joshua said, his gaze piercing a hole into the ceiling. âI lost it. Iâm sorry.â
âYou have to apologize to her next time. We need her back, Joshua,â Jeonghan said, trying to keep his anger in check.
âBut she doesnât want to come back, she doesnât want us to go looking for her. What can we do?â Joshua said desperately. âOur hands are tied! We canât do shit until she decides to come backââ
âShe will come back,â Jeonghan repeated for the nth time, tiredly. âAnd we wonât get her back until she feels that itâs safe to do so. And youâre not helping by pointing out her wrongs.â
âI know,â Joshua said, shaking his head. âI just canât be okay with this.â
âI get it, but right now we need to think clearly,â Jeonghan said, tension flitting across his face, but he forced himself back to composure. âRight now, we need to concede to her plan.â
The next days were more of the same. If anything, change only came with a decline of things.
The next days felt like living in a haunted house. You were gone, and it was as though everything that was holding them up was lost. While Joshuaâs mood had gone off like a bomb from the moment you left, Jeonghanâs slowly withered.
And the longer they were stuck in this standstill, the more erratic they became.
The promise of your return was beginning to look more and more uncertain. Your calls were even shorter. You only called to check in, to tell them that you were alright.
Until one day, you didnât call.
Joshua pushed the button of the lift, and then, with more desperation, he pressed it again and then sighed shakily. It was the fifth day you were gone, and Jeonghan didnât want to see it, but he was beginning to lose his mind.
âCome on,â Joshua gritted, pressing the button one final time before the doors of the lift closed up.
Jeonghan pulled out his phone, his stomach twisting in anxiousness. âMaybe she forgot,â he mumbled.
âShe couldnât have,â Joshua replied at once, leaning back against the wall of the lift, placing his hands on the banister and gripping tightly. His gaze was lost on the floor, and Jeonghan knew his boyfriendâs mind was beginning to reel.
âMaybe she didnât charge her phone,â Jeonghan said now, but he knew the words were empty. His heart deflated, stress coursing with each pump. âOr maybe she finally decided sheâs better off like this.â
âShe wouldnât,â Joshua said, annoyance ringing in his tone. âShe was happy, she told us just thatââ he said, letting out an exasperated sigh. âIf youâre not going to say something helpful, then shut up.â
âDonât tell me to shut up,â Jeonghan bit back, giving Joshua a scornful look. âWe need to prepare for the worst. Sheâs been gone for five days, and not once has she expressed even wanting to come back. We left her alone, we dismissed every single complaint she had, and then we stood her up.â
âWe didnât stand her up!â Joshua gasped, his eyes widening in pure fear. âIf you donât want to go looking for her, then fine, but if she doesnât call today, Iâm going to the camping site.â
The doors parted, letting Joshua out before Jeonghan could reply with anything. But Jeonghan fell into step anyway, heart heavy as they both made their way to the apartment door. Joshua pushed himself in the direction of the kitchen, where they would wait for your phone call.
But Joshua came to a clean stop, noticing something new. Jeonghan sucked in a sharp gasp.
It was a lonely coffee cup, filled with water to the brim. A forgotten and unused tea bag was sitting on the counter. The water looked as though it had been boiled previously, but time went on, and it chilled, leaving specks of water where it once steamed. It was something so simple, and yet, it told both of them everything they needed to know.
Joshua reacted first. âBunny?â he called out, his voice carried by a hint of hope. âBaby, are you here?âÂ
They both made it to the living room, where you were lying asleep on the obnoxiously large couch, hugging a blanket.
Jeonghan felt a wave of relief washing over him as he saw your pretty face. And in one second, he knew that every single resentful thought and comment he made all stemmed from fear of losing you. He looked at you and in one second, he forgot about the disappointment he felt when you left.
Jeonghan sighed, casting a look at Joshua, who took two steps towards you. âLet her sleep, Shua,â he mumbled softly.
But it was too late. You jerked awake, opening your eyes before you raised your head.
âHey there,â Joshua said ever so gently. He was being cautious. âDonât you want to sleep on the bed?â he asked at first, as though all of the other questions sitting at the tip of his tongue were meaningless.
Jeonghan understood that. But he couldnât hold his curiosity back with that much efficacy. âWhen did you get here, princess?â he asked. And then, with slightly more urgency, he added. âWhy didnât you tell us that you were back?â
You pushed yourself up, sitting up slowly. Exhaustion was written all over you, but there was something else, something that was difficult to even hold witness to. With a painful jab to his gut, Jeonghan knew that you had been crying yourself to sleepâheâd seen it before, he was familiar with that look on your face.
And it seemed that Joshua noticed this at the same time, sending a furtive but meaningful glance at Jeonghan.
âPlease sit. Both of you,â you croaked, motioning to them over. Your voice was low, but even then, it was still sweet.
Jeonghan moved first, sitting next to you without moving his gaze away from you. Then Joshua followed, sitting to your other side.
âI got here like two hours ago,â you replied to Jeonghanâs question. âI thought youâd be back soon. But I was too tired, and I fell asleep waiting for you.â
âWhy did you leave for so long?â Joshua asked, his face showing the worry he had been trying to hold back for days.
You shook your head, gnawing at your lower lip to stop it from quivering. âPlease, Iâll answer to everything in a moment,â you told him, your voice lowering to a broken whisper. âJust let me get this out and Iâll tell you everything.â
You stood up from the couch, slowly moving to the armchair where you had left your bag. âI didnât know why I was feeling so drained, and it scared me that my emotions were so out of control, so I started thinking and thenââ your voice got cut off by a sob. But you didnât stop, reaching inside the bag to pull out a bunch of Ziploc bags. ââI started feeling ill.â
Jeonghan watched the moment happen in front of him as though his mind had left his body. With a deep blow to his chest, he instantly knew what was inside each plastic bag. They were pregnancy tests. Each bag was labelled with the time and date you did each test, the symptoms you were having, and the results. Some were marked as negative, but the majority were positive.
âIâm pregnant,â you said, voice trembling. And your entire demeanor had an explanation for its renounced nature now. You were suffocating in nervousness and panic.
All the things Jeonghan felt in that moment.
âWhat?â Jeonghan blurted, turning his head to look beside him.
Joshua was equally, or if not, more shocked. His eyes had widened, his mouth hanging slightly. His whole body had gone rigid, to the point that Jeonghan was sure his boyfriend had stopped breathing.
Huge tears spilled from your eyes as you sighed in both exhaustion and something that resembled despair. âI t-took all of these tests. Only two came out negative,â you said, choking back a sob. âIâm pregnant,â you repeated, still quivering.
Jeonghan took the bunch of bags from your hand. âBut how is this possible?â he asked despite his shock. Jeonghan didnât have the headspace to count or to read the things you had scribbled in the notes on each bag. But he could swiftly calculate at least ten of them.Â
âI donât know,â you mumbled shakily.
âDid you stop taking your birth control pills?â Jeonghan asked, the words still spilling out of him before he could think twice about them.
You shook your head, using the back of your hand to wipe your tears. âIâve been taking them accordingly until I found out about this,â you said, your voice coming out a little congested.
With trembling fingers, Jeonghan skirted through the plastic bags as though he needed to see the eight out of ten positive test results to convince himself. You did all of these tests all on your own, and held to this information for days before mustering the strength and valor to tell Joshua and Jeonghan.
Foolishly, Jeonghan felt his mouth drop open. His eyes skimmed through the notes you had scribbled with Sharpie on the plastic bags. He read through the symptoms you were documenting in each bag. You were sick for days, experiencing nausea, breast tenderness, and headaches.
And he remembered you constantly feeling tired. The lashing out, the crying⊠And heâd brushed it all off. His heart crushed even harder. âWhat do you want to do?â Jeonghan asked, slipping into a problem-solving mode.
You shrugged, lower lip trembling slightly. âIâve already talked to my doctor and scheduled an appointment,â you replied, but the answer felt empty. Like you were hanging on for either Joshua or Jeonghanâs opinion on the matter.
Jeonghanâs gut twisted, realizing that his mind was completely blank.
You watched them both for a long minute, anguish contorting the features of your face as neither of them mustered the reaction you were looking for. You had expected something else, what? You were not sure. But you were disheartened by their impassiveness, by their shock. You had half-expected Jeonghan to be shocked, yes. But you also had expected Joshua to appear at least a bit happier.
Your eyebrows knitted in a bit of despair. âJoshua?â you called softly, taking a tiny step towards him. âBabe, are you listening?â
Joshua snapped to reality. In one movement, he rose from the couch, picking you up from the floor with a big hug, spinning you around in the living room. He was completely silent, his eyes glistening with tears, sobbing loudly as he hid his face in your neck.
You let out a light giggle, wrapping your arms around him. Relief washed over you; it was visible by the way you closed your eyes, sighing through your nose. Joshua put you back on the floor, cupping your face to kiss it repeatedly to hear your laughter again.
You touched his forehead with your own, cupping his face in your hands. âIâm pregnant, Josh,â you repeated. Your voice was now sweeter and so full of love.
And Jeonghan just watched. Aghast, heart beating a mile per second.
You were pregnant.
âź authorâs note: helloooooo!!
this has been sitting in my drafts since july 2024. and it truly is so amazing that we're here now! so uh, ta-da? lmao
thank you guys for reading this far! i has been a while since i had posted such a long chapter and it has been really exciting. this was a roller coaster of emotions. and i loved every minute of it!
i am so excited hehehe
toodles!
â STAY TUNED FOR PART X! â | PREVIOUS CHAPTERS | BUY ME A COFFEE âĄ
Okay, ya lo digerĂ. Literalmente lo leĂ en cuando lo subiste JAJA. Y no sabes cuĂĄnto lo estaba esperando, V. Este capĂtulo tiene tantos matices que tengo que hablar de todos separados.
4- ESE FINAL, DIOS MĂO. No me lo esperaba y la verdad me gustĂł bastante, sobre todo por la diferencia entre reacciones, una fue en shock pero feliz y la otra fue puro shock y sin saber que hacer. Lo adore, en serio, fue bastante bueno y la manera en la que lo escribiste fue ARTE, sinceramente.
No puedo esperar a los siguientes capĂtulos y ver como todo se va a desarrollar para ellos. Siento que va a ser un plot enorme y que nos darĂĄ muchĂsimo de que hablar...
It was terrifying to think that you would now be in the limelight for the first time in your life. Terrifying, but freeing.
âź pairings: yoon jeonghan x female reader x joshua hong
âź genre: fluff, smut [18+]
âź aus: theatre director jeonghan, rockstar joshua, polyamorous relationship, mlm
âź word count: 24.5k
âź warnings: smut with plot, alcohol consumption (no dubcon), possessiveness, jealousy, mmf threesome, oral sex (m receiving), penetration anal and vaginal, making out, edging, dirty talk, fingering, cumming on skin, breeding kink, use of toys, exhibitionism, cucking, brat taming: cold shoulder, bondage. dom joshua, switch jeonghan, sub reader. pet names: beautiful, bunny, princess, baby (hers) babe, handsome (jihan)
âș đ§: seven â jung kook | am pm â jay b ft. whee in | can't get you â jaehyun | moonlit floor â lisa | baby â jay b | slow dancing â v | hit the floor â ethan low | being â tabber ft. yerin baek | truth be told â baekhyun
â season one â season two â read more
âź author's note: HELLOOOOOO!! i just want to preface this by saying that the content of this chapter and series as a whole is not a reflection of josh's life as an idol whatsoever. this is just fiction đ
âź author's note 2: soooo, this one is a little bit long, lol. they take a little while to gdtf ksksks but bear w me, because the sex scene is loooooooooooong. i apologize but at the same time idc, this fic is super indulgent for me hahakjfhf
enjoy!
âspecial thanks to @aeristudios for helping me figure out some of these scenes out, ty baby âĄâ
âź disclaimer: minors DO NOT INTERACT. this post is intended for 18+ readers ONLY. please have your age stated in your blog description and try not to look like a bot please đ
part viii
Home.
You woke up with a slightly throbbing headache. As soon as your lucidity kicked in, you were aware of the arm draped on the curve of your waist. You stirred beneath the tangled bedsheets, breathing in deeply.
Jeonghan tightened his arm around your waist, pulling you closer to him before you could wander away from him. âMorning, princess,â he mumbled lazily, his tone low, and there was a slight gruff to it that you only heard when he woke up.
You smiled to yourself, curling back against his body. âMorning,â you mumbled back, creaking one eye open.
Joshuaâs side of the bed was empty. And he was nowhere to be seen around the bedroom.
âWhat time is it?â you asked.
âDunno. Donât care,â he breathed, but didnât attempt to move.
You let out a disgruntled sound, trying to reach your phone on the nightstand, but the grip Jeonghan had on you made it difficult. You turned over, only to catch a sight of his face partially buried on the pillows. âHannie, let me move,â you whined just as impishly.
He took a deep breath through his nose. âNo,â he mumbled, not bothering to open his eyes.
You stared at him in utter disbelief, yet he didnât even open his eyes. âJeonghan,â you muttered, kicking your butt back at him but only making him grunt. âCome on, I need to pee.â
He muffled a lazy giggle on the pillow. âGo and then come back here,â he replied sluggishly.
You rolled your eyes, nudging his shoulder with the palm of your hand. âGod, youâre so clingy,â you teased, giggling at him.
That drew a smile on his face. He stopped hugging you, pulling his arm from your waist. âSays you,â he mumbled lazily.
You slithered beneath the bedsheets, letting out a tiny yelp when Jeonghan slapped your thigh playfully as you were climbing off the bed.
But you walked to the bathroom through the hallways cluttered with cardboard boxes containing your belongings.
When you came back, the bed was empty and already made. You snorted when you noticed the noise coming from the kitchen. So you made your way there with a quiet gait, following the smell of coffee drifting from the kitchen.
Jeonghan was leaning back against the counter, his arms crossed on his chest. He was giggling about something you werenât able to hear when you got there. But his eyes were on Joshua, who was busy putting ground coffee into the brewer. His back was turned, but he was saying something, and from the sound of his voice, you could tell he was smiling.
The moment slowed down for you as you witnessed it.
They both were so wrapped up in their conversation that you went completely unnoticed. You watched as Joshua turned to Jeonghan, putting a hand on the counter, right next to Jeonghanâs hip.
Jeonghan raised his face, a nervous look crossing his face as Joshua leaned forward, Jeonghan closed his eyes as they both shared a tender kiss. It was quick, but it left Jeonghan with a smile on his face as Joshua turned to continue his task. Jeonghan watched him briefly, but his eyes were drawn to you as if he mightâve felt your presence.
Joshua followed Jeonghanâs gaze, finding you standing beneath the doorway. âGood morning, bunny,â he said gently.
âMorning,â you replied with a smile, approaching him to plant a small kiss on his cheek, then moving to kiss his mouth.
Jeonghan watched, and you already knew what he would say before he uttered the words: âWhat about me?â
You panned to him, making him giggle. âCome here, you,â you mumbled, pressing your lips to his. You noticed as you placed your hand on his shoulder that Jeonghan was wearing Joshuaâs clothes.
âHow did you sleep?â Joshua asked, turning the stove on.
âFine, but I am kind of hungover,â you admitted with a shy smile.
âWell, you were partying like youâre the rockstar here,â Jeonghan snorted, nodding at you. âGo rest, baby. Weâll take breakfast to you.â
You sat on the couch, legs tucked under you, watching your boyfriends move around each other seamlessly. Like they had a plan they had spoken about before you got there and were just following along without them having to talk.
They looked at each other occasionally. Jeonghan smiled like there was something he was keeping a secret. But you knew there was a shyness to his smile, the way he drove his gaze away and just kept to his task at hand.
But Joshua wasnât having itâhe mumbled something under his breath, making Jeonghan smile and huff. Joshua came closer to Jeonghan, leaning towards him and looking at his face intently.
Jeonghan didnât skip a beatâhe closed the space between his lips and Joshuaâs, planting a quick and playful kiss. âYouâre going to burn the pancakes,â he reprimanded with a chuckle.
âYou keep distracting me,â Joshua mumbled, turning over his shoulder to look at you.
You smiled at him when he noticed your gaze upon them, observing the tender moment they were sharing.
Jeonghan turned around, following Joshuaâs gaze. He left the open kitchen, wandering towards you and sat down beside you, his fingers brushing your ankle. âDid you take the drugs I left you on the nightstand?â
âYeah,â you replied aloofly, looking at his dishevelled form. His black hair was messy on one side and flat on the other, he looked cute despite that. You noticed he was wearing Joshuaâs t-shirt, one that he usually wears to sleep.
You reached out, brushing his hair with your fingers. âThanks for taking care of me, Hannie.â
He pressed his lips into a smile. âAlways, princess.â
Joshua came into the living room with a plate of toast and a mug of coffee, which he set down on the coffee table. He had a sleepy smirk on his face, but he looked happy, almost excited, even.
After he set everything on the coffee table, he practically plopped down across both your legs and Jeonghanâs with a dramatic sigh.
You switched your hand from Jeonghanâs hair to Joshuaâs, which you noticed now was slightly wet from the shower he took before you woke up. âWeâll have to get a giant couch eventually. One that actually fits the three of us.â
Jeonghan smiled softly, a hand moving to rest on Joshuaâs hip. âYeah, about that,â he mumbled, aiming a knowing look at Joshua.
âWhat?â you asked, panning from Jeonghanâs face to Joshuaâs.
Jeonghanâs fingers fumbled with the hem of Joshuaâs t-shirt nervously. âIâm moving in,â he announced, lifting his gaze to look at you. His mouth parted as he studied your face. âI decided to move in with you both.â
The first thing you knew was that Joshua was fully aware of this turn of events. His silence told you that much, and his gaze was focused on you, waiting for your reaction.
What you felt then was an immense sense of relief. This was what you wantedâa home with both of your boyfriends, something that provided you with more stability. Commitment.
âOhâo-kay,â you whispered, gathering your words. But you were happy beyond belief. You finally smiled. âOh my god,â you stuttered. âIâm so excited.â
Jeonghan blinked when he heard the emotions making your voice quiver. âYeah?â he mumbled, his eyes starting to glint.
You nodded happily. âThis is going to be great.â
Joshua smiled too as he rose from the couch. âThat means youâll have to start packing up,â he told Jeonghan with a pleased sigh.
âThat is the part that doesnât excite me,â Jeonghan said through gritted teeth, but then he finally smiled. âI think I could hire someone to do that for me.â
You clicked your tongue, reaching to grab a waffle. âDonât be lazy, Jeongjeong,â you said, taking a large bite. âI could help you with that.â
Jeonghan giggled, slapping your thigh playfully. âI am lazy. Do you know how much shit I have?â
Your eyes widened. âOh, then weâll probably have to look at other apartment options,â you said.
Joshua pressed his lips, humming thoughtfully. âI think the apartment you chose is perfect,â he said.
âYeah, I donât think we need more space than that,â Jeonghan chimed in, using his hand on your thigh to caress your skin.
âBut I do agree with you, bunny. We need a bigger couch,â he smirked, entering the kitchen to grab the two forgotten mugs of coffee and bringing them over to the living room, giving one to Jeonghan.
Jeonghan received his mug, looking at Joshua sitting down next to him. âWe need bigger everything,â Jeonghan agreed. âMaybe a bigger bed, even.â
You gave him a pained look. âI like my bed.â
âYeah, because you donât sleep with yourself,â Jeonghan chuckled and then explained: âYou move around all the time.â
You gaped at him, shocked. âThatâs not true.â
âItâs true,â Joshua mumbled under his breath, sipping from his mug quietly.
âSpecially when youâve had too much caffeine throughout the day,â Jeonghan said, now emboldened. âThatâs why I hug you through the night, so you stop moving.â
You made a horrified expression. âSo you donât hug me because you love me?â you cried out.
Jeonghan started laughing, tipping his head back. âOf course I do, babyââ
âI thought you both liked cuddling me!â you squealed, trying not to smile at your own ridiculous act.
Joshua raised his palms innocently. âDonât drag me into this,â he said. âIâm used to you moving aroundââ
âOh, so you also hate me.â
Jeonghan squeezed his eyes shut, still laughing. âPrincessââ
âYou bastards,â you accused falsely, making him laugh even harder.
âYou shouldâve just kept your mouth shut,â Joshua told Jeonghan, concealing a small smile.
âBaby, you know we love you,â Jeonghan said, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. âBut you need to fix your sleeping habits.â
You dropped your act, your shoulders going slack a little. âYeah, youâre right,â you conceded, sighing through a smile. âMaybe one day I will.â
âUntil then, we get a bigger bed,â Jeonghan said, laughing again when you deadpanned at him.
But you couldnât lie, you were happy.
The morning of the move came. You woke up before your alarm went off, and the sudden rush of excitement kicked in, pushing you out of bed. The realization of how much stuff you had accumulated over the years hit you as you walked from your bedroom to the living room, which was littered with tons of moving boxes.
Around the time the truck came in, you were ready to go. Joshua helped you with moving boxes, and soon the apartment started to empty. Jeonghan arrived some hours later, more to monitor rather than do the heavy-lifting, occasionally taking one box to the truck.
As the space started to feel hollower, you slowed down, appreciating this part of your life you were leaving behind, taking a moment to reflect.
Joshua left the box labelled as notebooks on the kitchen counter with a loud thud. He sighed, walking towards you. âWhatâs wrong?â he asked, immediately noticing something in your eyes.
The apartment where you had lived for years was now completely empty. Every single corner that you had filled with memories was now stripped, echoing with each footstep you took towards the door.
You had stopped in the kitchen to ponder, watching the space in silence.
âNothing,â you finally replied, lifting your gaze to find him. âIâm okay,â you said, but your tone was off.
Joshuaâs gaze softened. âYou sure?â he asked, pouting slightly as his brow furrowed. âYou look sad.â
âIâm just thinking,â you muttered softly, extending a hand to him.
He took it, slipping an arm across the small of your back, turning you around so he was the one leaning back against the counter, wrapping you with his arms in a hug. âWhat are you thinking about?â he asked, studying your face.
You placed your hands on his chest, shrugging slightly in his embrace. âAfter I published my first book, I had enough money to move out and live alone. I moved to this apartment and started building a life, little by little,â you told him, your gaze flitting across the white walls. âThen I met you. Iâm just thinking of how crazy life is.â
Joshua tilted his head to one side. âAre you sad that youâre leaving this place behind, then?â he asked curiously, and when you nodded, he smiled slightly. âWell, look at this the other way aroundâweâll be taking this huge step, all of us. Together.â
The twinkle in his eye told you everything you needed to know. Joshua was happy. It warmed your heart to see the corners of his eyes lifting in a happy smile. You ran your palms down his chest, holding his gaze.
âIâm only sad Iâm leaving this place behind because it holds so many memories,â you said quietly, trying to convey all your emotions with a single glance.
âWeâll make new ones,â Joshua said, still holding you firmly. Something made his smile fade, but whatever he was thinking of, it didnât tarnish the twinkle in his eyes. âAnd who knowsââ he shrugged slightly, ââmaybe being in a bigger place will give us the opportunity to start thinking of the future.â
You blinked dumbly at him. âLike what?â you asked.
He paused briefly, licking his lips as he selected his words carefully. âYeah, I mean⊠weâre a family now. You, Jeonghan and I. It would make sense for us to take things further, right?â
âFurther as inâŠâ you trailed off.
He gave you a nervous smile, one that was gone in a second. âI know that things are more complex now that we have Hannie, butââ he took a deep breath. âI havenât given up the idea of making you my wife.â
Your heart stopped for a second, and your mind started reeling. Everything about his demeanor told you he was sure of his words, even if he looked nervous to voice them.
Joshua noticed the shock in your eyes, so he continued: âDonât panic yet,â he said, a smile spreading on his face. âI just think that we should talk about it. Soon.â
âYeah, I think we should,â you agreed. âWhat about Hannie?â you asked, lowering your tone due to the nervousness tightening around your throat.
âMaybe I spoke too soon,â Joshua smiled lightly. âI plan to talk to both of you about it. With us moving in together, I just think that we should consider taking things seriously. All three of us.â
You coughed an awkward chuckle. âJoshua, youâre making no sense,â you said.
But in that moment, Jeonghan stepped into the apartment, looking distracted. His sweet brown eyes fell on you and Joshua, and his shoulders went lax. âOh, I see you two lovebirds are slacking off,â Jeonghan accused, looking at you reproachfully. âI was beginning to wonder why you guys didnât come down.â
Joshua released you at once, and you backed away, still distraught. Joshua cleared his throat, facing Jeonghan. âThereâs only one box left,â he pointed to the box he had left on the kitchen counter previous to your conversation.
âOkay, then you take it,â Jeonghan ordered with a cheeky look on his face.
Joshua smiled, but it was very obvious that his nervousness hadnât washed off. Quite the contrary.
Jeonghan extended an arm out to you. âReady, princess?â
You nodded, breathing in deeply. âIâm ready,â you said, approaching him to take his hand.
Jeonghan laced his fingers with yours as Joshua grabbed the remaining box with your stuff. Then you walked out of the empty apartment, throwing one last look over your shoulder before Jeonghan closed the door for you. And then you, Jeonghan and Joshua stepped out of the building, embarking on a new chapter of your lives.
Together.
Jeonghan sat on the foot of the new bed for a minute, staring at the screen of his phone.
Heâd just agreed to direct a huge TV series for a very popular streaming service. And the script heâd been offered wasnât even half-bad. But it felt unpolished. It had pacing issues, underwritten side characters and too many songs one after another.
Heâd mainly been tasked with offering structural feedback before the shooting beganâtomorrow, heâd sign the contract. And he already felt the burden of this opportunity sitting on his shoulders.
His phone buzzed inside the pocket of his hoodie. Sighing, he reached for it, pulling it out and glanced at the screen.
It was an email. An invitation passed to him from one of his teamâs assistants. The subject read, Youâre invited to The Quiet Spring Premiere.
He arched an eyebrow. And almost decided that it was too late in the day to open it.
But the pad of his thumb hovered over the screen.
He clicked the message.
You are cordially invited to the premiere of The Quiet Spring, directed by Daniel Hwang.
He huffed a quiet laugh. They had mailed him a proper invitation to his office. But since he had taken too long to give a reply, the director of the movie had reached out to his assistant to send him the email.
Jeonghan stared at the screen for a long moment.
It wasnât the first time heâd been invited to one of these events. And heâd attended begrudgingly, only because he wasnât the social butterfly everyone seemed to think he was. But that isnât to say he wasnât popular; he was just a little awkward.
But this one was a big deal. Not some indie screening in a bar. This was the press, red carpet, formal wear, full industry, and the worldâs eyes.
He took a screenshot and sent it to Seungkwan, typing, Did you give them my personal email address?
His right-hand man and close friend responded immediately with a, What do you think? I almost gave them your phone number since youâve taken like a month to respond.
Jeonghan clicked his tongue.
On his screen, he saw three little dots appearing, indicating Seungkwan typing a long message. But at the end of it, Jeonghan thought his friend mightâve changed his mind, because the text only read, Are you going alone?
Jeonghan felt a shudder. As though heâd just swallowed a cube of ice.
But he replied, I have a plus one.
And then he locked his phone, tossing it on the bed as he rose from it and walked out of the bedroom.
The boxes sat on the pristine marble floors of the new apartment. It had been just a few days since you all moved here. Half-eaten takeout boxes were littered on the counter, three sets of chopsticks sticking out like abandoned flags. The apartment was dim, lit only by the soft glow of the lamps on the ceiling.
Jeonghan sighed tiredly, walking down the hallway from the master bedroom to the living room. You were curled up on the massive new couch, legs across Joshuaâs lap. He sat next to you with his head leaning back against the headrest, his hand resting on your knee. None of you was really talking; tiredness had consumed you from the eventful day.Â
Joshua ran his fingers along your shin, absentmindedly looking at the ceiling, his gaze drifted. âYou took long enough,â he said, looking now at Jeonghan.
Jeonghan had just finished a long work call that took the last bit of energy he had. So he plopped down on the couch, next to Joshua and instantly curled against him, resting his head against Joshuaâs shoulder. âThank god itâs over,â he said.
You looked up from your phone screen, a sweet smile spreading on your face once you saw your boyfriends curled up on the big couch. âWhat was it about?â you asked, not hiding the curiosity in your tone.
Jeonghan drew in a breath, a spark of mischief appearing in his eyes. And fighting the smile that threatened to break the soft features of his face, he said: âOh, it was just one of my mistresses, honey. Nothing to worry about.â
Joshua clicked his tongue, shrugging Jeonghanâs head off his shoulder. âLike you have the time to get other partners,â he huffed.
Jeonghan grunted as his face bumped against Joshuaâs shoulder. âAhâyou little shit!â he said while laughing.
âWho were you talking to?â Joshua pressed, as curious as you were now that Jeonghan was holding back.
âIt was a work thing,â he finally explained, rolling his eyes in annoyance.
âWas it about the series you were invited to work on?â Joshua asked at once, as though the memory of Jeonghan telling him about the project had never left his mind.
âYeah. I was negotiating,â Jeonghan sighed, driving his gaze to the ceiling. âI demanded that my production team get involved, too. That way Seungkwan gets to work with meââ
âAnd he will take a lot of workload off your hands, got it,â Joshua muttered under his breath.
Jeonghan shot him a dark look, which Joshua just shrugged off.
âDid they agree?â you asked.
Jeonghan nodded, a triumphant smile drawing on his face. âThey agreed to all of my terms. Gonna put them in the contract tomorrow.â
âTomorrow?!â you asked agape.
Joshua also turned to him, eyes opened in surprise. âHannie, this is huge,â he said, finally smiling. âCongrats. We should celebrate.â
âI agree. Congrats, baby,â you also chimed in.
Jeonghan smiled, hiding his face a little behind his hands. âThanks,â he mumbled, his voice muffled a little.
Outside, the sky had already deepened into a rich navy, and the windows were glowing faintly from the city lights below. Somewhere in the silence of the apartment, the buzz and the hum of the traffic provided a steady background. You, Jeonghan and Joshua just relished in the silence, too tired to move, but happy.
You sighed loudly. âIâm exhausted. We should go to bed,â you said. âI vote for watching a dumb show tonight.â
Jeonghan patted your thigh lovingly, his cold hand sending tingling down your skin. âWhy donât you go, baby? Weâll be there in a minute.â
You immediately caught on that Jeonghan wanted a minute alone with Joshua. It was pretty obvious, and as you looked at both of them, you almost refused. But you stood up from the massive couch, noticing Joshuaâs curious face as he eyed you and then Jeonghan.
âDonât take too long, you two,â you said, raising a finger at them. âOr Iâll come get you.â
Jeonghan smiled, blinking slowly at you. âOf course, baby,â he replied warmly.
You walked away from the living room with a gentle pace, feeling two pairs of eyes on you as you turned on the corner and down the hallway, disappearing from view.
âWhatâs up?â Joshua asked, raising his head from Jeonghanâs shoulder too look at him fully.
âWe need to talk,â Jeonghan mumbled, peeking from where he sat to the spot you had disappeared mere seconds ago.
âAbout what?â Joshua replied, following Jeonghanâs gaze. But you were very obviously nowhere to be seen.
Jeonghan hesitated for a second, his lips parting softly right before he released a brief sigh. âI got invited to a film premiere.â
Joshua raised an eyebrow. âFor what?âÂ
Jeonghan sat up straight on the couch. âItâs called The Quiet Summer, or something like that. Daniel Hwang directed it. Big deal, apparently.â
âDaniel Hwang? You havenât worked with him sinceââ
âYeah, I know,â Jeonghan said quickly. âI was surprised, too.â
Jeonghan glanced between the hallway and Joshuaâs face, then he continued, more cautiously now. âTheyâre doing a lot of press around it. And Iâm on the guest list⊠so I am expected to walk the red carpet. Especially now that Iâm on this new project, I need to put myself out there.â
Jeonghan could see in his boyfriendâs eyes the pieces of the puzzle coming together. But then there was a sparkle in his eye, Joshua had caught on.
âIâm asking Bunny to come with me,â Jeonghan said softly, his heart beating rapidly against his throat.
Joshua opened his mouth, then closed it. âSo weâre doing another âofficial coupleâ thing?â
Jeonghan bit his lower lip, nodding once. âMaybe I could pull some strings and get Midnight Haze invited too.â
Joshua took a long moment to reflect. âWhy? You two could have your moment without me being there, you know? We avoid unnecessary drama.â
Jeonghan winced at that. âBut I want you there too,â he muttered in a lower tone. âI want both of you there with me.â
Joshua gave him an empty smile. âWe canât just show up all of us there. It would defeat the purpose of you and Bunny doing the official couple thing entirely.â
Jeonghan rolled his eyes. âYouâre obviously not posing for the cameras with me, dummy. But I think you should also be there,â he said, and with a note of nervousness, he added: âI want you to be there.â
Hearing this, Joshua smiled lightly, his gaze softening. âYou want me there or Midnight Haze?â he teased.
âI obviously want you there,â Jeonghan pouted. âLook, if you donât want to be there for me, then fine, I cââ
Joshua laughed, pushing forward to grab Jeonghan, hands cupping his neck. âShut up, you dumbass,â he said, crushing his mouth against Jeonghanâs. âOf course Iâll be there for you.â
The moment was put to a halt. Jeonghan melted instantly, his shoulders going slack at the same time that a sharp gasp spilled from him. But he gave in, grabbing Joshua by the hem of his t-shirt to pull him closer.
Joshua parted his lips, giving access to Jeonghanâs with a tiny but guttural moan. Jeonghan rolled his tongue inside Joshuaâs mouth, now kissing him with abandon, and a hint of anger from his fleeting tantrum.
âWhy did you tell Bunny to wait in the bedroom, though?â Joshua asked quietly, pulling away slightly to look a Jeonghanâs face.
âBecause sheâs planning to part from her anonymity because of you and me,â Jeonghan explained with a more serious tone. âHer career is changingâsheâs growing quickly. And Iâm going to put her in the limelight as my partner too. I wanted to talk to you about it before you freaked out.â
Joshuaâs gaze disconnected as he listened. âItâs ok. I wonât freak out,â he replied quietly.
âReally?â Jeonghan asked. âPeople will be able to finally put a name on her face. There will be a straight line connecting her to you because of me and all the media perusing in your personal life.â
Joshua blinked, and the anxiousness was evident in the way his breath caught in his throat. âBut the media talk surrounding you isnât nearly as insane as it is with me,â he countered.
âAnd what if it gets to that point?â Jeonghan ventured, his pulse quickening too.
âThen weâll deal with it,â Joshua replied, but there was something off about his tone. He breathed in, shifting on the couch slightly in discomfort. âLook, I donât have a lot of answers right now. But I do know that the way the media will treat her with you wonât be as harsh as it will be with me.â
Jeonghan knew this to be right. Even if it were just a simple theory.
So far, the only talk held by the media and fans surrounding Joshuaâs complicated love life is that there was a girl in his life, but people didnât know who this person even was. No one knew for sure it was you. Blurry photos, and low-quality videos of you walking hand in hand with Joshua were already floating on the internet. What gave Joshua some peace of mind was that no one knew your name or face yet.
âPromise me that whatever happens, weâll talk about it before you lose control again,â Jeonghan said, his tone shaky but his gaze steady, lingering on Joshuaâs face.
Joshua knew this wasnât something to take lightly. Every promise heâs made with Jeonghan, heâd taken seriouslyâeven those broken by lifeâs unexpected change of direction.
âI promise,â Joshua mumbled, his tone unwavering.
Jeonghan pulled back, but stuck out his hand, holding up his pinky finger.
âReally?â Joshua chuckled.
âReally,â Jeonghan punctuated, holding his hand an inch higher, insisting.
Joshuaâs smile became wider. But he didnât hesitate, lacing his pinky finger and meeting the pad of his thumb with Jeonghanâs. They stayed like this for longer than they needed to, none of them really wanting to let goâtheir fingers remained laced, their thumbs touching until they started to feel each otherâs pulse.
A second lasted an eternity.
Jeonghan lifted his face, finding Joshuaâs gaze set on him. And before neither could speak up, they were closing the space between each other, meeting in a slow, tender kiss. Jeonghan locked his lips with Joshuaâs, matching a perfect synchronicity almost instantly.
The kiss was wet, warm, and it had everything that drove Joshua a little crazy. Jeonghan let out a sweet but tiny grunt into Joshuaâs mouth, moving his hand to Joshuaâs cheek, pulling him closer, telling him to crush him with kisses if needed. Joshua also moved his hand, finding Jeonghanâs waist, gripping it gently.
Jeonghan paused for air, pressing his forehead against Joshuaâs for a long moment. And Joshua was too, breathing softly but with a slight hint of desperation. âWe should get to Bunny,â he whispered shakily.
âYeah, we should,â Jeonghan said distractedly. His hand lingered on Joshuaâs cheek, his thumb brushing back and forth twice. âJust give me a moment,â he said.
Joshua let out a short sigh, smiling. There was a quippy remark sitting on the tip of his tongue, and Jeonghan could sense it. So he quickly brought his thumb to the center of Joshuaâs lips, sealing them for a second, bringing him to a stop.
Jeonghan squeezed his eyelids briefly, armoring himself with enough valor to speak what he hadnât for days since Joshua kissed him for the first time. He never said these things first, and he wasnât good at confessions. But this time, he decided to take another route.
âHey,â Jeonghan whispered, not removing his thumb from Joshuaâs lips. He breathed in, feeling himself brimming with so much nervousness that he felt like a kid meeting love for the first time again. âI love you,â he said, a little bit louder now.
Joshua took a quick breath, one that Jeonghan felt due to the proximity he still had to Joshuaâs face. But Joshua pursed his lips against Jeonghanâs thumb, grabbing his hand by the wrist and pulling it down. âI love you too,â he replied with a nervous giggle.
Jeonghan released a gentle exhale, slipping his hand below Joshuaâs nape, feeling his dark hair through his fingers. Joshua met him halfway with a tender kiss.
âAre you two coming to bed?â
You were standing in the living room right in front of them, wearing nothing but an oversized t-shirt you stole from Jeonghanâs closet. But your pretty face wore a pout, eyebrows knitting softlyâwell aware that this expression was a weakness to both your boyfriends.
Joshua pulled back, Jeonghanâs hand slipping down his neck, causing a shudder down his spine. âYes, baby,â he chuckled lightly.
You smiled sweetly, tilting your head to one side. Something about the glint in your eyes captured Jeonghanâs attention.
Jeonghan blinked, getting up from the couch. âYou were listening, werenât you?â
The giggle that escaped you told them all they needed to know, as with that laugh, you gave yourself away. âI didnât mean to!â you cried, watching as Jeonghan approached you with two efficient steps. âI was coming to get you, but I also didnât want to interruptâŠâ
âHow much did you listen?â Joshua asked curiously.Â
âEnough,â you giggled as Jeonghan clicked his tongue. âIt was cute!â
âCome on, you little minx,â Jeonghan quipped, slapping your ass playfully and laughing at the tiny squeal you emitted. âLetâs go to bed,â he said, sneaking a look over his shoulder.
Joshua was rising from the couch, a serene smile painting the beautiful features of his face. He blinked slowly at Jeonghan, as though signalling that everything was fine. There was no need to worry, no need to leave the conversation pending.
And despite the quick beating of Jeonghanâs heart, he knew that he was safe. He was homeâwith you and Joshua.
âSoâŠâ Jeonghan started, trying to drag your attention as you quite practically threw yourself on the bed, sitting right in the middle, like always.
âWhat?â you asked.
Jeonghan sighed, not knowing where to start. âWill you go to a film premiere with me?â
Your mouth parted in a tiny âoâ, blinking in surprise. âOh my god, o-of course, Hannie,â you gasped, a smile forming across your features. âFor what movie? When?â
A warm feeling washed all over Jeonghan, the rigidness in his entire body dissolving once he saw your eagerness. âItâll be soon. But are you sure, baby? Thereâll be cameras, and pressââ
âIâm sure, babe,â you said, nodding twice. You let out a sigh that denoted a quiet resignation, one that you were more nervous to confront with both Jeonghan and Joshua. âIâve decided to let go of my anonymity.â
It was something youâd already disclosed to both of them before. But it was never really a conversation held in depth, and so much has changed in the past couple of weeks that youâve decided to put it aside.
âHow would that work?â Jeonghan asked, careful and curious.
The question hung in the air briefly, and Joshua looked at you with the same curiosity written in his eyes.
âI donât know,â you sighed. âIâll have to do now in-person interviews, maybe book tours, signing? Yena mentioned that Iâd have to be more open now in social media, show my face more.â
âAll the things you love,â Joshua commented, sarcasm coating his words.
You lowered your face slightly, fingers fidgeting with the hem of your t-shirt. âI used to think that I wanted to remain hiding behind a pen name the rest of my career. But now⊠I donât know, plans change.â
Joshua climbed onto the bed, sitting right next to you. âWeâll protect you where we can,â he said, reaching to grab your hand. âAnd where we canât, weâll stand beside you.â
Your heart fluttered. âYeah?â you asked softly, lifting your face to lock eyes with him. The optimism in his words felt like armor, soft and strong.
It was still terrifying to think that you would now be standing fully under the limelight. Terrifying, but freeing.
You shrugged slightly. âI guess I will be writing this new chapter with you two,â you smiled softly at them.
Joshua matched your smile, soft but proud. âThatâs my girl.â
Jeonghan lay down on the bed next to you, grabbing your hand to place a tender kiss on your knuckles. âOur girl.â
There was an ominous silence in the car. One that you just assumed was born out of the nervousness that Jeonghan was trying to conceal.
He was partially turned to his window, his elbow placed on the windowsill of the car as he rubbed two fingertips on his lips. He did this as a nervous tick, you knew.
You reached out to grab his hand. âHey,â you said softly. âAre you okay?â
Jeonghan blinked, clearly snapped out of his thoughts. But he turned to you, turning his hand over to squeeze yours. âIâm fine,â he replied with a gentle tone, taking a deep breath. âJust nervous.â
You showed him a smile. âYouâre going to do fine,â you asserted.
He pressed his lips in a kind smile, but you could tell he was still nervous. âWhat if I say something wrong?â
âWhat could you possibly say?â you shrugged.
âI donât know. I stutter when I get nervous,â he chuckled, giving your hand another tight squeeze.Â
You laughed softly, but then you noticed something in him. Something that wasnât just connected to tonightâs evening.Â
Jeonghan turned slightly on the seat, grabbing both of your hands in his. âBaby,â he breathed, and his sweet brown eyes connected with yours. âI wanted to do this differently, but I guess life has been too crazy lately and we really havenât slowed down.â
You never saw Jeonghan this nervous, let alone this serious. Your tummy clenched, and your hands instantly started to sweat. âYes?â you whhispered shakily.Â
He closed his eyes, sighing slowly. âI really wanted to do this differently, but now I have no other choice,â he told you solemnly, opening his eyes. âWould you be my girlfriend?âÂ
You stared, thinking that you mightâve heard wrong.Â
But he continued. âI feel sad that we started our thing with the wrong foot. But now Iâm about to launch you to the world as my girlfriend without me ever asking you formally.âÂ
Your heart squeezed. âHannieââÂ
âI know Iâm sounding ridiculous,â he chuckled. âBut I love you. I want to do things right with you.âÂ
That instantly warmed you up. You smiled at him. âYou know my answer is yes,â you told him, your tone honeyed. âI love you too.âÂ
Jeonghan smiled as well, leaning to press his forehead on yours. âI love you, baby,â he repeated, softer now.Â
The black car rolled to a stop at the curb outside the hotel. Jeonghan let out a labored breath, forcing himself to calm down.
âReady?â you asked.
He shook his head, his eyes catching sight of the man standing outside the door. âNope,â he said honestly. âBut Iâm still doing it.â
Jeonghanâs door opened, camera flashes popping instantly as he stepped out of the car. He fixed his jacket, turning around to extend a hand at you. You grabbed his hand, stepping out of the car too and standing now next to him.
Flashing lights showered over you, and you could immediately tell that they were not solely focused on Jeonghan. People knew your name now. Your true name and not the authorâs. The first person calling for you wanted you to turn to their camera lens. And at first, to hear your name being called out loud made your stomach turn.
Jeonghan linked your fingers with his, squeezing your hand tightly. And then you knew what had truly been making him nervous.
You were no longer a mystery. You were now a story. Something for the world to put a name on it, to fully appreciate.Â
âReady?â he murmured, leaning to your side slightly.
You wondered if heâd read the anxiety in your face now. âNo,â you said, giggling. âBut weâre here. Thereâs no backing out now.â
He nodded. âNo backing out,â he repeated.
You walked hand in hand with him just like you did that same morning. But now it was in full view of the world, the gossip sites, and the media. The first few photos were polite, routinary. Jeonghan was standing stiffly at your side, smiling carefully.
But people started calling his name, trying to get his attention. He turned to give you a look and you nodded at him, stepping back to let him do his thing. The questions started as soon as he approached.
The first few questions were peaceful, aimed to the true purpose of his attendance at that event. âHow does it feel to be stepping into this new role?â Was one of the first questions, or âWho are you excited to see tonight?â
But as he continued going down the line of interviewers from magazines, websites and such, smiling and replying to each question politely. And Jeonghan, being who he is, noticed everything. He knew everything was going to be livestreamed and knew that he would soon see his face plastered on social media.
It wasnât his first rodeo, but it sure was the first being so⊠personal.
Jeonghan turned to you, grabbing your hand as his face contorted into an expression of true anxiety. He broke into a chuckle once you noticed the very obvious state he was in. âLetâs get inside,â he muttered, nodding to his team.
âYou have one more,â one of his coordinators told him, nodding to a male interviewer.
He didnât have time to let go of your hand when the person was already speaking to him. The man greeted him amicably, to which Jeonghan replied in kind, bowing his head. The guy wasted no time, saying: âYouâve been keeping things under wraps for a while. Youâre for sure surprising us and your fans. Should we be asking about the project or the relationship?â
Jeonghan blinked, an anxious feeling gnawing inside him. But he kept himself composed. âWeâre here to celebrate the work of our colleagues, nothing more.âÂ
Unfortunately, that just opened the door for everyone to scream questions at him. Questions that were to some extent, loud enough for you to hear and understand clearly, even though the voices clashed and mixed.
âIs it just the two of you tonight?â one woman quite literally shouted from the back. At the same time, someone asked: âIs this your official debut as a couple?â and one faceless voice from the bunch spoke loudly: âHow long have you been keeping it a secret?â
At that, Jeonghan pulled you away from the swarm of microphones, video cameras and lights. And you caught a glimpse of his face as you tried to keep up with his pace, he was not pleased.
âThat was insane,â he said under his breath, motioning for you to walk before him.
You wished to have something witty to say, if it werenât for the anxiety and adrenaline coursing through your veins. âItâs my first time facing this,â you commented, shaking your head lightly as you got to the entrance to the hotel. âIt is insane.â
âIf it makes you feel better, itâs my first time getting questions like this and not people asking who I am,â he chuckled, but then slowed down to direct a scrutinous look at you. âAre you okay?â he mumbled, softer now.
You walked at his pace, almost coming to a halt. âI am,â you nodded.
He released a shaky breath. âWell, I was terrified,â he admitted shyly.
Your heart stuttered. âI know. I could tell,â you teased gently. âBut you handled it well.â
âYou think so?â he asked, raising his eyebrows.
âYeah, of course I do,â you replied with a light smile, bumping his shoulder with yours.
The anxiety on his face was broken by a broad smile. He panned at you from your feet to your head. âYou stole a lot of looks tonight,â he said, biting his lower lip as he wrapped an arm across the small of your back, bringing you closer to him.
You huffed, blinking slowly. âItâs the dress,â you said, looking down at your chest. âMy boobs look great, though.â
Jeonghan coughed up a laugh. âYouâre right about that,â he said under his breath. But then he seemed to compose himself, directing you another look. âYou look gorgeous,â he said softly.
âThank you, Jeongjeong,â you replied, feeling your chest heat up.
You looked around the lounge, which was dimly lit and completely covered in luxury. There were velvet cushions and high-top tables, and just enough distance from the noise of the gala.
âDo you think Joshua is already here?â you asked, anxiously looking for him.
He followed your gaze while gnawing at his bottom lip. âI donât know, but we shouldnât look too suspicious.â
You looked at him. âThere are no cameras inside this place,â you pointed out. âThereâs no harm in just hanging out with him, right?â
Jeonghan tilted his head to one side. âYeah, I guess so,â he said, hesitantly. Then, he sent a look around too, through the unfamiliar faces. âWhere is he?âÂ
As soon as he got there, Joshua wanted to leave.Â
He had slipped into the side lounge quietly, pleased that his presence had gone unnoticed by the media. He had nearly begged his manager to find a way to get into this premiere without having to answer any questions. And he was lucky enough that he didnât have to do any promotional duties for his band.
Midnight Haze had amassed recognition.
So he walked there with his hands tucked in the pockets of his black pants. His hair was styled in a messy way, strands of hair hanging messily in every direction while the rest of his hair was slicked back.
When he got in there, he noticed a few familiar faces, and he couldnât quite avoid the attention he got from other famous people.
But then he saw you.
Joshua would never be able to explain what he felt when he saw you. In the room full of people, he heard your voice, instantly plunging him back to the day he saw you for the first time. Even though it happened a long time ago, his reaction was the sameâhe searched your face, saw your eyes and lips. You were gorgeous, the prettiest girl heâd ever laid eyes on.
His nervousness evaporated when he saw you standing proudly, grabbing Jeonghanâs arm. And thatâs when Joshua remembered the whole point of this. You had renounced a big part of your life that you held with secrecy, stepping into the light not only with Joshuaâs best friendâbut with his new life partner too.
And you both stood outâyou always did. A slight feeling of perplexity coursed through Joshua when he noticed just how attractive you both were. You and Jeonghan attracted everyoneâs eyes, and you simply had a very special synergy with Jeonghan.
Joshua approached you and Jeonghan with effortless calm, one that he could only get once he saw how happy you looked. You were so wrapped up in a conversation with Jeonghan that you didnât notice him coming closer.
But Jeonghan did. He raised his gaze, finding Joshua standing right behind you. An easy smile drew on Jeonghanâs face, blinking at him slowly.
âAre they serving any champagne here?â Joshua said.
You winced, caught off guard by his presence. âOh god,â you muttered, turning around. Your eyes glinted as you searched Joshuaâs face. âHi, babe!â You mumbled sweetly, not even trying to hide the affection brimming from you.
Jeonghan wrapped his arm tighter around your waist. âEasy there,â he muttered beside you.
You giggled bashfully. âSorry, force of habit,â you said.
Jeonghan slid a flute of the champagne he decided to neglect across the high-top table. âHere. Drink mine,â he said.
Joshua gave him a thankful nod. Drinking the contents from the flute in one go. He directed you and Jeonghan a cheeky look. âYou two look very convincing,â he said.
Jeonghan arched one eyebrow. âThatâs a compliment, right?â
âAbsolutely,â Joshua said with ease. âBut I shouldnât hover for too long. I donât want this to backfire on our faces.â
You listened intently, keeping your gaze on both of their faces.
âI think you could stay here for two more minutes without drawing unwanted attention,â Jeonghan rolled his eyes slightly. âYouâre not that popular,â he teased.
Joshua smiled, giving you an amused look. âOkay. Two minutes.â
You laughed, unsure. âSo do you think this is working?â
He scratched his forehead hesitantly. âI guess weâll have to see,â he pointed at you and Jeonghan. âIâm pretty sure that youâve convinced at least some people. And Iâm pretty sure that the media is already frothing at the mouth about your debut.â
Jeonghan sighed, pressing his lips in a tight line.
You noticed it. âAre you sure youâre okay about this, Joshua?â you insisted.
Joshua tilted his head back a little, looking at the ceiling. âThe fewer questions they ask about the three of us, the better.â
âThey did ask, though,â Jeonghan said, keeping his tone flat.
But in his eyes, you could see a twinge of deception. He didnât like this plan. And he didnât like that Joshua had the urge to keep secrets. You knew this.
âThatâs why I have to step back a little. Let you two shine,â Joshua urged, motioning a step back.
But you stepped toward him, Jeonghanâs hand slipping in yours, trying to reel you back to him discreetly. âSeriously, Josh, are you okay?â
If Joshua said no in that moment, you would drop the act. Deep down, you didnât care about appearances, about what the media or the world thought.
But Joshua looked at you and smiled. It wasnât a forced smile, but something softer, easier. âIâm fine, baby,â he muttered quietly, but then glanced around to see if anyone was paying attention.
Jeonghan stepped closer to you, placing a possessive hand really low on your hip.
Joshua noticed the subtlety of the action and thanked that Jeonghan shared the same thoughts as him. âAs long as we donât get weird headlines or speculations, Iâll be okay. You two make the cute couple the media can root for and I get to stay in the background where the real stuff happens.â
Jeonghan huffed. But he concealed his reaction by moving his hand from your hip to your lower belly, keeping you close to him. âVery selfless of you.â
Joshua smirked. âDonât ruin it.â
They shared a look, and you didnât need to tap into their special connection to know what was happening. Jeonghan was still unsure about this plan, but seeing Joshua relieved that it was working put him at ease.
Joshua cleared his throat, stepping back again. âIâll go check on the boys,â he said, finally removing his gaze from Jeonghan. âTell me when youâre ready to go home, yeah?â
âOf course,â Jeonghan replied.
âJust wanted to say that you two are handling this well,â Joshua said, giving you both a gentle smile.
You huffed. âWeâre pros,â you rolled your eyes playfully.
He started walking away, but a thought made him stop briefly: âAt least... weâre the ones who know what really happens behind closed doors.â
You smirked, a nice warm feeling blooming in your chest. Joshua gave Jeonghan a quick wink, then walked away, leaving you and Jeonghan in the spotlight.
It was well past midnight when you got back home.
The elevator ride was quiet. The kind of quiet that spoke more about your collective tiredness than anything else. Socializing came harder for you than for your boyfriends, and it was a good thing that not much of it was required from you. But you still felt drained.
The apartment was dark. You slipped out of your high heels the minute you crossed the door, fumbling to get the light switch.
Jeonghan beat you to it, turning the lights on with one hand as he slid his jacket off his shoulders. Joshua came in last, slower than usual. He was tired, and even though the night had gone well, you could tell that there was a lot he was leaving unsaid.
He loosened his jacket, following you and Jeonghan to the bedroom and just stood there for a minute, like he didnât know what to say once the noise was over.
You turned to him as you removed your earrings. âYou disappeared after the set.â
He shrugged. âYeah, I know,â he said, unbuttoning his black dress shirt. âThere were a lot of people looking.â
Jeonghan reappeared from the kitchen holding a large glass of water. âYou didnât have to vanish either, you know? You were also a guest.â
âIt felt safer,â he replied gently, removing the shirt from his shoulders.
Jeonghan let out a labored sigh. âWell, Iâm done with that for tonight,â he said, undoing his shirt as well.
You stepped closer, wrapping your arms around both of them. âIâm glad weâre back home.â
A fraction of a second passed before you felt both Jeonghan and Joshua ease into the hug. You felt one of them loosen up and heard the other one sigh. You lifted your head, sneaking a look at them as Joshua rested his forehead on Jeonghanâs shoulder. âI needed this,â he said.
Jeonghan sighed, slowly leaning over to press a long kiss on Joshuaâs head. âMe too,â he replied softly.
Joshua lifted his head, his face so close to Jeonghanâs that it was easy for him to press his lips against Jeonghanâs. It was a sweet kiss that was immediately reciprocated, making Joshua hum.
Clothes came off first, jackets and shirts tossed over the chair that was pushed to the corner of the bedroom. No one spoke for a while, and you just co-existed with them in silence, letting it settle around you comfortably.
You flopped onto the bed with a groan, crawling to lie down right in the middle, as you usually did. Now the bed was wider and more spacious than your previous one, so there were enough pillows and space to stretch and get comfortable.
Joshua came to your side, curling up next to you. You rested your head against his chest, humming slightly as his fingers started playing with your hair.
âTomorrowâs the recording session, right?â you asked him.
âYeah, baby,â he replied, his tone waning in tiredness.
Jeonghan came back to the bedroom, sighing as he lay down on your other side. âWhatâs happening tomorrow?â he asked.
âIâm having a live session recording with the boys,â Joshua explained, though this was the second time he told Jeonghan this information.
âAh, yes, thatâs right,â Jeonghan said with a tone of acknowledgement.
âAre you nervous, Josh?â you asked softly.
âNo,â he told you. âWeâve rehearsed a lot. I could practically do it with my eyes closed now.â
âHow humble of you,â you giggled softly.
âWhat can I say?â Joshua smirked, giving you a quick wink. âWeâre pros.â
You smiled in response, enjoying the look of quiet confidence he showed you.
Joshua was nervous.
There were only a few times when he truly felt like his anxiety was eating him alive. The feeling fluttered in his stomach, quick and alarmed, demanding attention. It also made his limbs tremble if he let himself feel it.
But he fought against it. He knew that he felt like this only because he cared so much. This was important, and it was a milestone that he had wanted to achieve ever since he took on the path of being a musician.
The makeup artist took little time with him, focusing more on styling his hair than his face. They adorned his ears with subtle earrings, his neck with a heavy choker made of leather and chain; and lastly and a detail that couldnât be missed, they changed the stud piece for a black one on his eyebrow.
As he sat in front of the vanity mirror, he rehearsed in his head one more time. He didnât doubt his ability to get the show done. It was more like a mechanism to fight off the anxiety running around in circles inside of him.
Youâll do amazing, babe. You got this. I love you, read your last text message, which sat at the bottom of the chat. You always had great timing for these types of things, always saving him when he needed it the most.
Joshua stood up from the chair once the makeup artists took a step back and went on to work on his bandmates. He grabbed the leather jacket from the clothing rack that was labelled with his name and put it on with a short sigh, letting out the last bit of his nervousness.
And as he was getting micâd up, his mind slowly got into a state of unbreakable focus and determination. His body only followed, forgetting about the restlessness caused by his heart.
There were three stationary cameras planted on each side of the studio, where the positions would be filled by Joshua, Jihoon, and Vernon respectively. Their places were marked solely by their equipment, which where carefully and very stylistically placedâJoshuaâs vintage guitar was neatly placed in a stand right next to his microphone.
A cameraman was standing behind Joshua. He could sense the air settle as the director gave the signal for the cameras to start rolling, the lights focused on each spot in burning oranges and muted yellowsâand the room fell dead quiet.
Through the corner of his eye, Vernon and Jihoon walked into the studio and stepped on the small stage with an easy gait, quickly getting into their positions. That was Joshuaâs cue to follow, and he started walking.
The camera moved with him, filming the back of Joshuaâs head as he walked to his position, grabbing his guitar by the neck and strap and adjusting it on his shoulder as he regularly would. Stillness still ruled over them, aside from the quiet rustle of fabric, and the soft intakes of breath of his bandmates and him, who were all micâd up.
Joshua grabbed the lonely pick that you had given him once from the mic stand. He lifted his gaze, directing a look at his bandmates, and with enough confirmation that they were ready, he started strumming his guitar.
The song was a quieter version of one of Midnight Hazeâs most popular songs. They had adapted it only for this occasion, as they had with the rest of their setlist. The idea was for Midnight Haze to show their range, and that came with no difficulty for them. The first song was the one they usually played to open their shows, and it flowed quite differently now that it was stripped of the trashing of the drums and the strumming rhythm of the guitars.
But as the setlist went on, just like a regular show would, Joshua closed his eyes to relish the euphoric feeling of playing musicâof his fingertips dancing on the neck of the guitar, the gentle sway of his body as he practically swam with the lyrics.
He felt how much he thought of you when he wrote music. Oh, because the lyrics werenât subtle at all, they have never been. And in his heart, just like always, he felt you there with him on stage.
âYou might be the melody I need,
The only one that makes my heart complete,
But you kiss me like Iâm leaving,
Even when I say Iâll stay.
Donât let me go,
Take me with you,
Donât let me go,
Stay here with me.
I can give you what you want,
I canât give you what you want.â
His eyes remained close through each line, which he sang with a heavy layer of significance, letting them out with a rawness that he felt in his very soul. As if he were still deciding to set his emotions free, or let them choke him out.
But the attempt to keep his emotions to himself was merely futile. Soon, he became a puppet to his own songs, the words resonating in his chest, each chord he struck hitting a particular place in his heart.
And then, he was truly one with his music, as he always intended to be.
Time stopped and lost all importanceâhe forgot that he was supposed to be looking good for the camera while playing music nonstop. And when he looked at his bandmates, he was lucky to see that he was not alone in that.
The set was coming to an end, and Joshua almost didnât want to let go. As much as he loved standing on a stage, sharing his music with tens of thousands of unknown facesâhe was completely enamoured with a quiet, smaller session like this. It sent him back to the days when his only stage was Seungcheolâs bar, and only twenty people were there to listen.
Now, he knew that hundreds of people would watch this video. But in that moment, he didnât really think of that. Right at that moment, he let himself feel his music just for the sake of feeling it. This was his dream.
And when the final song ended, the echo of the room captured Joshuaâs voice, wrapped in the last chords of his guitar. The sound was beautifully haunting, like water running in a distant dream, fading into the stillness of the night. He stood there, hand wrapped around the neck of his guitar, while the other came to grip the mic as he sighed out the last note.
He blinked slowly, realizing that he hadnât really engaged with the cameras at all. He had forgotten about them. About the people standing in the room with him.
Because no one moved, it was as though no one would dare to.
But then, someone clapped. One cooed in amazement. Then more joined in, putting their hands together, politely restrained, but there was a clear hint of awe.
From behind the sound console and cameras, the sound engineer nodded. âThat was perfect,â she said.
And the director also gave a nod. âThatâs it,â he agreed. âIn one take.â
Joshua placed his hands on his hips, realizing he was out of breath. âReally?â he asked, shooting a glance to his bandmates, who were equally astounded.
âYes! Really,â the director laughed.
People started moving again, turning off the spotlights, picking up equipment and such. The spell was broken now, but traces of it still lingered in the air for Joshua, even as he removed his in-ears, coiling the cord around his fingers.
A crew member came up to Joshua as he gathered with his bandmates. âAre you guys coming to the afterparty?â
Joshua blinked. Heâd forgotten that was happening. âAh, yeah. Just⊠I need a minute.â
He gave the in-ears to the first crew member who offered to take them off his hands. Then he removed the strap of his guitar from his shoulder and tucked the custom pick you gifted him in the pocket of his jeans. The next movement was transactionalâthe guitar returned to its stand just as Joshua pulled his phone out of the back pocket of his jeans.
He had turned it off to avoid any potential interruptions. So when he turned it back on, he found out with a pleasant feeling that Jeonghan had also left a brief but sweet message right before the cameras started rolling.
Youâll do a great job, Shuji. Come back as soon as youâre off.
Joshua smiled faintly, his thumbs hovering on the keyboard as he thought of what to reply. Iâm omw. Iâll change quickly and then we have a party to tend to. Â
Jeonghanâs reply came back instantly. A party?
The elevator ride was quiet, but not uncomfortable. This new building had a very ostentatious feel to it. The floors were made of faux marble, the walls slick and gray, and the small monitor to one corner beside the doors displayed the many levels he still had to go.
His new home was spacious, yes. But it accommodated three people perfectly. And although only two weeks had passed, there were still boxes full of stuff in the hallways as he stepped inside the apartment.
As soon as he closed the door, he heard a rustle of fabric, clothed feet running from the bedroom and down the hallway told him that it was you running to receive him.
âHi, handsome!â you squealed as soon as you laid eyes on him, brimming with so much joy that it showed in your sparkly eyes.
You didnât give him the opportunity to reply on time, throwing your arms around his neck as he barely caught up, wrapping his arms around your waist.
A gasp escaped him, but he was smiling already. âMy love,â he murmured tenderly, sinking his nose into your mane of hair and using his arms to lift you off the floor. âHi, beautiful.â
When Joshua lifted his head from the crook of your neck, he found Jeonghanâleaning against the wall with his arms crossed, a light smirk displaying on his face as he looked at you with adoration.
Joshua might belong on stage, yes. But his heart was here. With you. With Jeonghan.
âHi there, Shuji,â Jeonghan said, pushing himself off the wall and approaching slowly.
Joshua returned you to the floor, receiving Jeonghan with a brief kiss on his lips. âHi there, you,â he replied, smiling softly.
âHow did the recording go?â Jeonghan asked.
Joshua pulled his phone out, handing it to Jeonghan. âI recorded some snippets from the monitors, and it came out fine.â
âHonestly, I thought you would take more time to come back,â you said, still smiling softly. You slipped your fingers between Joshuaâs, pulling him softly as you started walking in the direction of the bedroom.
âWe did it all in one take, baby,â Joshua commented offhandedly, even adding a sigh.
âOne take?â Jeonghan huffed. âThen it came out more than fine,â he said, unlocking Joshuaâs phone by entering the number combination swiftly.
âI guess all that rehearsing paid off,â Joshua shrugged, starting to remove his jacket when you were all in the bedroom.
Jeonghan watched the phone screen intently, humming in amazement. âOh, wow. You guys look like pros,â he giggled.
âWe are pros, Hannie,â Joshua rolled his eyes, giggling too.
âYou know what I mean,â Jeonghan replied without taking his eyes off the phone screen as he sat on the bed.
You climbed on the bed right behind Jeonghan, peeking over his shoulder to watch the video too. âOh, wow, you look great, Josh,â you immediately said, adding a giggle. âI meanâyou all look great. But youâre the most handsome.â
Joshua was undoing the button on one of the sleeves of his shirt when you looked at him. He flashed you a smirk, winking at you cheekily. âI know, baby,â
You smiled shyly, sneaking another look at the screen. âOh,â you breathed. âOhâyou used the pick I gave you,â you realized, raising your twinkling eyes at him again.
Jeonghan blinked, looking at you and then the screen. âWhy donât you ever gift me things?â he asked, pouting dramatically as he set the phone aside.
You laughed, immediately catching on to his game. âI get you things all the time, silly.â
Joshua smiled at the little quarrel between you and Jeonghan. But as he finished removing his shirt, he saw both of your attention drifting to his chiselled chest.
Taking advantage that both you and Jeonghan were looking at him, he asked: âAre you guys going to get ready? Or are you going to show up in your pjs?â
âGet ready for what?â you asked.
âDidnât you tell her?â Joshua asked Jeonghan.
Jeonghan sighed, a guilty smile painting his face. âI forgot.â
âThereâs an afterparty the studio is throwing. I was thinking of going for a bit,â Joshua shrugged, as though discarding any importance to it.
âOh, okay,â you said while climbing off the bed. âIâll get ready.â
Jeonghan placed his hands behind him for support. He was still sitting on the bed, his gaze set on his two lovers as they got undressed in front of him. While Joshua did it methodically, you decided to put on a show, noticing his eyes on you.
Joshua followed you with his gaze too, as you removed your tank top, stripping your torso for their view. It messed your hair, but that brought a giggle out of you as you picked the stray pieces of hair off your face. Then, quite playfully now, you threw your tank top at Jeonghan, who, expecting it, caught it mid-air with a light but impressed chuckle.
âYouâre in a mood today,â Jeonghan pointed out, tossing your tank top aside on the bed.
You shrugged, tucking your thumbs beneath the elastic band of your sweats and pushing them down. âI wanna have fun,â you said with a light tone. âI think we need a party.â
Joshua smirked. âHavenât you been partying a lot lately, princess?â
âLet her have fun,â Jeonghan interceded before you could open your mouth. Then, tilting his head mischievously, he added: âMaybe we could help her with that.â
Joshuaâs eyes scanned your frame up and down once, the soft smirk not vanishing from his face as you paced around the room, wholly naked now. âMmn, what are you suggesting?â
You slowed down, now paying attention to what they were planning. You had grown used to their schemes and also to their playful banter. To the point that sometimes you thought they said things to see if you were actually listening and not in your head too much.
âThereâs a toy we havenât used, remember?â Jeonghan said, still sitting on the bed and looking at you and Joshua like you were both Jeonghanâs personal little strip show.
âThere are quite a few we havenât used yet,â Joshua replied, arching an eyebrow. He stood before Jeonghan, wearing nothing but a pair of washed-down jeans.
Jeonghan lifted his gaze, letting his eyes outline Joshuaâs toned body. âThe one we could control both with our phones,â he said, smiling once Joshua hummed in acknowledgement. âYeah. That one. Go get it.â
Joshuaâs eyebrows flicked once, noticing the snappy tone that Jeonghan had used. But with a smile on his face, he turned around and pulled a drawer open.
âWhat are you two doing?â you said, finally catching on to what they were about to do. You were about to put on a little black dress you picked if an occasion like this ever presented itself. It was tight, and it allowed you to go braless without minimizing your figure.
Joshua pulled out a small satin bag, handing it to Jeonghan with a bottle of lube. You were observing them now carefully, so Jeonghan just patted his knee twice, motioning at you. âCome here, baby,â he said.
You panned to Joshua, who stretched out a hand and grabbed yours, pulling you in between Jeonghanâs thighs. Joshuaâs large hands slid from your shoulders to your waist, gripping you gently. Standing behind you now, he bowed his head towards your shoulder, pressing his lips to your skin.
You shuddered instantly, skin instantly reacting with goosebumps all over. âWhatâs happening?â
The bed was high enough for Jeonghan to look at your naked chest directly, noticing your nipples pert and hardened. A tiny smile appeared on his face as he raised his sweet brown eyes to look at you. âYouâre going to use this for us tonight,â he said, raising the small satin bag in his hand.
âWhatâs that?â you said, though you already knew it was a toy. From the moment you saw Joshua pull the first drawer open, you knew.
Jeonghan fished the toy from the bag, discarding the latter somewhere on the bed. The toy was small, egg-shaped, and it hung from a string by Jeonghanâs fingers, itâs pastel pink and blues gave it an innocent presentation itâbut you knew better.
âJoshua and I will control it, while you have fun tonight, yeah?â Jeonghan said. He showed you the toy, biting his bottom lip as his eyes surveyed your reaction.
You swallowed. âWill it be very noticeable that I have it in me?â you asked at first, not saying no.
âI donât know, princess. We havenât used it yet,â he replied, giving a nod at Joshua. âHe bought it for us to play with when he went on tour last time,â he informed you.
âWhy havenât we used it?â you asked, trying to glance at Joshuaâs face, but he was still comfortably resting on your shoulder.
Jeonghan shrugged. âWe were busy with other things, I guess,â he chuckled. âLike you pegging me.â
Your eyes widened at the memory. âJeonghan!â you squealed, trying once again to see Joshuaâs reaction at those words.
Jeonghanâs laugh filled you with a tingling sensation that sat at the pit of your stomach. âBaby, donât worry!â he said. âJoshua loved watching the video we made of that time. Why do you think he wanted to try it next?â
âYou never told me you wanted to try it,â you mumbled quietly.
Joshuaâs grip on your waist tightened slightly. âSome day in the future, baby,â he replied to you as he lifted his head from your shoulder, pressing a kiss on your cheek.
Jeonghanâs anticipation was palpable now. âWhat do you say, princess?â he said, tugging the toy by its string.
You nodded. âOkay. Iâll use it,â you said, but then paused. âBut donât go crazy with it, okay?â
Jeonghan chuckled. âPrincess, that takes the fun out of it,â he said.
You disregarded his comment. âShould I lay down?â you asked curiously.
Jeonghan shook his head. âJust come closer, baby. And place your knee here,â he motioned you closer, patting the bed right next to him and taking the dress from your hands.
You raised your knee, placing it on the edge of the bed, as though you were about to straddle Jeonghan, but not quite so. Joshua pulled your hair back from your shoulder, leaving it bare for him to place more sweet, distracting kisses. You tilted your head to the side, opening your neck for his soft lips.
Jeonghan bent his head forward, meeting your chest with his lips too with a kiss placed on your heart. The contact of both their wet lips against your skin made you shudder, gasping softly as Joshuaâs hands held you in place.
Your eyes fell close, relishing the sweet kisses that became needier as they progressed. Joshua continued kissing your shoulder, trailing up the crook of your neck, his hot breath brushing your skin. Meanwhile, Jeonghan kissed your chest, placing his free hand on your hip to bring you impossibly closer. He took one of your nipples into his mouth, tongue swirling around it to make you moan.
They knew that you could practically cum from a little nipple teasing. But this time, you felt like you were craving their touch for so long that it sent you into euphoria to finally feel it. Jeonghan suckled at your nippleâlightly at first, brushing the pebbled bud with the tip of his tongue over and over again. One of Joshuaâs hands left your waist, his fingers teasing the nipple that wasnât in Jeonghanâs mouth. You winced slightly when Joshua pinched you, and Jeonghan grazed his teeth on you in response.
With a low hum, Jeonghan pulled back, his eyes searching your face as his hand travelled from your hip to your crotch, slipping a finger in between your pussy lips. âSo fucking wet. We just teased you a little, baby,â he said with a honeyed tone, biting his lower lip as his fingers explored your wet cunt.
Your face grew hot, but you angled your cunt for his fingers by pushing your hips forward. Jeonghan dipped his finger between your folds, finding your pooling entrance. âHannieâŠâ you sighed, dropping your head back on Joshuaâs shoulder.
Joshua sighed, his arms keeping you firmly in place. But he found his own distraction, teasing your nipples relentlessly with the tips of his fingers as Jeonghan started thrusting his lithe fingers in and out of your pussy.
âYouâre doing so well, baby,â Joshua mumbled in your ear, making you shudder again.
You nodded aloofly, gnawing at your lower lip as Jeonghanâs fingers fucked you slowly. You were not cumming like this, you were sure of it, but it just felt so good to have them pleasuring you.
But then, Jeonghan inserted the toy inside you, making you snap your eyes open.
âJeonghan!â you cried out, pouting at him. âWhy did you stop?â
âCanât let you have too much fun before the party even starts,â Jeonghan said, chuckling lightly at the expression on your face.
You clicked your tongue, lowering your leg from the bed. âCan I know how this thing feels like beforehand at least?â you asked, still pouting.
Joshua stepped aside, reaching for his phone on the nightstand. âYou might want to lie down or sit,â he said.
You sat down on the foot of the bed, looking at both of your boyfriends expectantly.
Jeonghan stood beside Joshua, who was looking at the screen of his phone intently. âIs it this?â he asked quietly of Jeonghan.
âIs this thing on?â you asked. âI canât feelâoh!â
The toy became alive with slow, gentle vibrations that teased a particular spot inside you. You instantly sank into a puddle of pleasure, pushing yourself down the soft covers of your bed.
âHow is that, baby?â Joshua asked.
âThat feelsâŠâ You drawled the words with a sigh. âGood. So good.â
Jeonghan giggled playfully, muttering something at Joshua that you were quite too gone to even care. But they were discussing that the toy was very silent, and they wanted to see if it would still be like that in the highest mode.
The intensity of the vibrations increased, shaking inside you in relentless, almost violent patterns. And because of its design, it was lodged in one particular spot inside you that felt so much and very intensely. You cried out loudly, legs tensing and hands curling into fists.
âGod, fuck!â you yelled.
âHow about that, princess?â
âT-too much!â you squealed, opening your eyes to see them both looking at you with fascination written on their faces.
âMaybe we should just keep it on the lower modes,â Joshua said quietly, still looking at you dazedly.
You were writhing on the bed now, gasping for air as the toy pulsated inside your walls listlessly. âGod⊠m-make it stop, please,â you pleaded, squeezing your eyes shut.
The toy died at the same time you felt it was just about to tear an orgasm out of you. You took a big gulp of air as soon as it stopped, feeling your body go lip almost as though against its will.
But once it was over, you wanted more.
âOh⊠tonight is going to be interesting,â you said with a labored sigh, finding your shaking limbs to sit up.
Joshua and Jeonghan exchanged a meaningful look. You didnât have to be an expert to recognize that brief gesture. You knew.
âYou wanted to have funâŠâ Joshua shrugged, smirking mischievously.
You stood up from the bed, grabbing your dress from where it had been previously discarded to put it on. And then you grabbed a clean pair of panties. âIf you two are going to have control over this thing, donât you think it would be safe to put some limitations?â
âItâs your decision, princess. Whatever you say goes,â Jeonghan said as he put on some dark denims, which he paired with a black t-shirt and a leather jacket.
You smoothed the fabric of your dress while humming thoughtfully. âI think that as long as you donât go overboard with it, Iâm fine.â
Joshua smiled sweetly at you, approaching you to press a kiss on your forehead. âYou got it, baby.â
âMaybe you could give us a signal if you want to stop,â Jeonghan suggested, running a hand through his long, dark hair.
You hummed thoughtfully. âI could squeeze your hand twice, or something,â you nodded.
âOr give me a very passionate kiss in front of everyone,â he said, giggling when you deadpanned at him. âWhat? Itâs a great idea!â
The loft was already buzzing with life when you arrived.
It had an industrial feel to it. High brick walls with barred black windows extended before you on dark gray floors. A mix of blue and red neon lights gave the place a murky feel, like being in a club but exclusive only to friends. The place was already packed, and it surprised you to see some familiar faces, famous people such as actors and musicians.
But the world seemed to stop once Joshua stepped in.
All eyes were centered on him. Everyone stopped to say hi, to wave, and call his name. Your stomach dropped at the sight of people taking out their phones to snap photos of him.
Joshua looked over his shoulder to see you and Jeonghan. There was an air of coolness about him, but the flicker in his eyes told you he was nervous about thisâabout being so close to the limelight with you and Jeonghan closely behind him. An undercover lover, standing in plain sight.
Someone received him with a glass of whisky, sliding it into his hand while giving him a pat on the back. âThere he is! I thought you had pulled a disappearing act!â
And thatâs where the avalanche of praise started.
People came closer to Joshua, quickly surrounding him and swallowing him out of their line of vision. Your chest tightened once you couldnât even get a glimpse of his face.
Jeonghanâs grip tightened. âCome on, letâs find something to drink,â he murmured close to your ear.
You nodded, deciding that maybe one drink wouldnât hurt.
Slipping between the mass of unknown faces, you slowly became aware that Jeonghan was quite popular as well. People made subtle nods at him as you passed, by patting his back or his shoulder, to which he also responded politely.
But it was Joshua who continued moving through the loft like he belonged there. The smile he wore was intentional; you could tell as you cast a look over your shoulder, spotting him talking with people. He laughed and bowed his head, which made you think that he was being complimented.
Jeonghan tugged your hand, egging you close to him. âStop gawking, people are already looking at us,â he told you, leaning towards your ear.
âRight, yeah,â you mumbled, turning to the bar in front of you. âTequila?â you asked him.
Jeonghan raised an eyebrow, pursing his lips cutely. âMmmn, I think we should switch it up a little, donât you think?â he flashed you a grin.
âGin and tonic?â you blinked.
He grimaced. âI hate gin.â
âYou what?â you asked, scandalized, even though part of you already knew this bit of information.
He chuckled, tipping his head back. âStrawberry Mojitos?â
âOh, you want to get drunk fast?â
âI mean, we gotta get through this party somehow,â he rolled his eyes playfully. âBesidesâ,â he leaned forward, his breath fanning your ear as he said: ââyou need to get loose, princess.â
Your entire body became alight. You had forgotten about the toy still lodged inside your walls. âOkay, you may have a point there,â you nodded.
âAlways do,â he said, winking at you.
âPffft,â you huffed, giggling with him.
Jeonghan smiled once he heard your laugh, his eyes outlining your face swiftly. He turned to the bartender, raising two fingers as he gave the order. The very sleek and polite air to which he commanded himself was perfectâalmost annoying. It drove you a little crazy.
It was hard to remove your eyes from him, but you still did it, scanning the room once. Twice. Then again.
Then your eyes found him.
Joshua had moved to the balcony. Leaning back against it and facing the loft. He was surrounded by unknown faces, silhouetted by city lights. He barely moved, but somehow, he sensed your gaze on him. Like something magnetic.
His eyes saw you, but he gave you no reaction. His face impassive as he yanked his gaze from you when someone called his attention.
It left you breathless. The empty exchange of glances, as though you were nothing more than his best friendâs girl. The past and present between you are shadowed by the spotlight on him.
Jeonghan circled your waist with his forearm, slipping a cool glass into your hand. He followed your line of sight, just as you were turning. But you saw, Jeonghanâs eyes were on the balcony, his features went rigidâprobably encountering Joshuaâs coldness too.
âYou okay there?â Jeonghan asked you, glancing your way now.
You nodded. âIâm okay,â you said. Raising your glass to him. âItâs all part of the plan, right?â
The corner of his lips curled slightly. âIndeed, princess,â he said, clinking his glass with yours.
You both drank deeply, lowering your glasses once they were empty. Jeonghan sighed heavily, putting his empty glass back on the countertop. âAnother?â he asked you.
You shook your head slowly, wiping the corner of your mouth with the pad of your thumb. âHold your horses, cowboy,â you giggled.
âRight,â he smirked. âLightweight.â
 âDonât challenge me,â you quipped, but sheepishly.
Jeonghan didnât listen to you; instead, he pulled out his phone, opening an app you didnât recognize. âAre you ready for this?â he asked meaningfully, showing you his screen briefly.
You gaped a little, thankful for having tried it at home first. âSlowly, please, Hannie,â you said.
He gave you a smile in reply, but conceded to your request anyway. And your breath hitched, bracing for it.
The toy vibrating inside you instantly brought a hot wave of shame to your cheeks. You swore you could feel it spreading all over you. Your back instantly tensed up, and you quickly reached out to grip Jeonghanâs arm.
âGood?â he asked, his eyes scanning your face over and over.
You nodded, swallowing hard. âI think Iâll need another drink.â
Jeonghan sighed with a smile on his face. âYour wish is my command,â he said gleefully, turning to order the second drink.
Your fingers were beginning to shake in response to the toy inside you. An idea sparked in your mindâmaybe having the toy massaging your walls was making you feel more embarrassed than aroused.
You sent another look over your shoulder. Joshua wasnât looking your way this time.
Maybe Jeonghan was right. Maybe you needed to loosen up.
Jeonghan handed you the newly filled glass, and you began to drink.
It was difficult to relax with the toy activated inside you. Despite the gentle, unstoppable vibrations inside you, you couldnât really allow yourself to feel them. Your surroundings were overwhelming, loud, and buzzing.
âJeonghan!â someone called, probably an actor or someone important, judging just by the appearance alone. He was tall, slender, and beautifulâalready approaching. âWhat are you doing here?â
Jeonghan turned with an easy half-smile that was already fueled by the alcohol you were both quickly consuming. âOh, you know me, Iâm everywhere.â
The other man grinned. âHonestly, thatâs not even a lie,â he said, shooting you a quick look, as though noticing you there for the first time.
Jeonghan quickly got to it. âThis is my girlfriend,â he said proudly. âBaby, this is Doyoung, a friend from high school.â
You smiled politely, heart beating rapidly in your chest due to the anxiety running in your veins. âNice to meet you,â you said, bowing your head kindly.
Doyoung seemed appreciative of your demeanour, replying to you with a bow and a smile.
Something inside of you blossomed with a mixture of shame and embarrassment. It excited you to think that no one but you and your partners knew what was going on, the game you were subjecting yourself to with them.
But at the same time, you were expected to play a role in this party. You were here as Jeonghanâs girlfriend, and he was expeditiously introducing you to new people, important people. You couldnât afford to make a fool of yourself in front of these people.
You squeezed Jeonghanâs arm once, tightening your hand meaningfully.
Jeonghan pulled out his phone mid-sentence, but without stopping the flow of his words as he told a story to his friend. With zero regard for any potential possibility of someone catching sight of his phone screen, he switched the intensity of the vibrator inside you and pocketed his phone elegantly.
You relaxed your grip around his arm. Even though he hadnât brought the toy to a stop, it was a significant switch.
But you were being edged. And that left a bite that you couldnât quite fend off for much longer.
You cast another look over your shoulder.
However, this time, the scene you caught was different.
Joshua had moved from the balcony and was now standing closer to you and Jeonghan. He was, as expected, not alone. People surrounded him wherever he went, and even though the crowd was different this time, you recognized one face in particular. It was from a long time ago; however, the experience had left its mark in your memory, otherwise she would be just a face in the crowd. Just another person trying to catch five minutes with the famous Joshua Hong.
Her name was Thea. Your brain clicked with the information immediately. And from that moment on, you found it very difficult to pull back. As if the memory activated a slope in your mind, and your hands were too slippery to stop it.
Seconds. Just mere seconds were the ones you got to see from the scene unfolding before your eyes. Joshua was a few meters away from you, but close enough to discern the words Thea told him.
âDid you miss me, Joshie?â
Her voice was all but low. And with a jab to your heart, you assumed that she had nearly screamed those words to grab your attention. Did she remember you? You did not know. And you hoped she didnât.
Joshua turned, and for the first time in the night, his shoulders relaxed. He smiled, but much to your painful demise, it wasnât one of those smiles he used for the cameras. It was a smaller smile. Kinder.
âThea,â he replied, still wearing that stupid smile. âIt has been a while.â
You turned back. You couldnât watch anymore.
But you heard her laughter. And the words she replied to Joshua were all but a ringing of her voice. Almost like echoes designed to haunt you.
You almost obligated yourself to pay attention to Jeonghanâs conversation with his friend. But they were far too deep in their chat that you couldnât discern what the topic even was. You forced a smile when they both laughed amicably.
Doyoung excused himself, saying he had to say hi to other friends. He said goodbye to Jeonghan and bowed again to you politely.
Jeonghan wasted no time, pulling you closer to him with his arm around your waist. âHeâs handling it. Calm down,â he muttered into your ear.
You winced in alarm, shock washing over you like an iced bath. Was your reaction too obvious? You pulled back, looking at him with a question written all over your face.
Jeonghan blinked, showing you a tender smile. âIf anyone knows you well, itâs me, love,â he told you sweetly, a hint of playfulness in his tone.
âBut I havenât said anything,â you countered, frowning slightly.
âYou keep gawking at him,â Jeonghan said, his voice low enough for only you to hear. âAnd heâs talking to his ex, so youâre obviously coming off as interested in the situation.â
You arched an eyebrow. âSo you know her too?â you asked.
Jeonghan rolled his pretty eyes. âI donât like what that tone is insinuating,â he chuckled briefly. âYes, princess. I know who she is. I met her a couple of times after she and Joshua were done.â
âOh,â you let out quietly, trying to sneak another glance at Joshua. âSo you didnât meet her when they wereâŠâ
Jeonghan shook his head twice. âNope. But I know that she tried to sleep with him multiple times after they broke up. He said no every single time,â he coughed another chuckle. âSo you have nothing to fear, baby. Trust him. He knows what heâs doing.â
Trust Joshua.
You were able to look past Jeonghanâs shoulder, spotting Joshuaâstill engaged in his conversation with Thea. She was gorgeous as you remembered her. Tall and slender, shiny hair, sparkly make-up, and long eyelashes. The way she leaned towards Joshua and laughed made your stomach churn, evoking a wave that boiled up the blood in your veins, so strongly that you were completely unsure whether it was just jealousy.
Maybe the jealousy was also fueled by the relentless massaging of the toy that was still lodged inside your walls.
You looked down at your shoes. âAm I making a fool of myself?â you asked.
âNo, baby. Youâre not,â Jeonghan said with a warm tone. He shrugged. âIf anything, youâre just reacting naturally. Iâd be concerned if you werenât at least a little bit jealous.â
It was then that it dawned on you. âSo you are jealous too?â
Jeonghan slipped his hands on your waist, trailing down until his fingers reached the line of your panties that were well concealed by the little black dress you wore. His smiling eyes looked at you up and down, pulling you closer with his hands nearly reaching your ass. âI donât let it get to me anymore,â he replied sincerely.
You blinked repeatedly, overwhelmed partly because of his words and also because of his hands pressing on your rear. You placed your hands flat on his chest, trying to find some support there. âAnymore?â you wondered. âWere you ever jealous of me?â
Jeonghan smirked, as though already expecting your question. He bent over, pressing the tip of his nose against your cheekbone, angling your head back for him to kiss your cheek. He pressed his lips against your cheek, then against your ear, then lastly on the shell of your ear.
âNo,â he replied to your question. âI liked you from the moment I met you. I wanted to know how your lips tasted, how your kisses felt. I wanted you for myself.â
You laughed. âStop lying, Jeongjeong,â Your voice rose higher, manipulated by the arousal your body was subjected to, and also from the kisses Jeonghan was leaving below your earlobe.
âYou think Iâm lying?â he purred in your ear.
âYeah,â you sighed, almost inaudibly. And it was then you knew the alcohol had poisoned your judgment. âI think youâre full of shit.â
Jeonghan laughed, the sound low and raspy in your ear. âReady for more, princess?â he asked, pulling out his phone.Â
You nodded, circling your arms around his neck to brace yourself. Your knees were beginning to tremble, and you knew that despite not being able to pay attention to the toy vibrating inside your body, it was getting to a point where you couldnât just ignore it. Jeonghan amped up the mode of vibration, and you squeezed your eyes shut to embrace it.
âGood?â Jeonghan whispered in your ear.
You nodded, unable to talk.
âJust feel it, baby. Donât worry about it,â he talked you through it, kissing your ear, your cheek and then your lips.
âOkay,â you whispered shakily, not sure that he could hear.
Maybe you were already drunk. Maybe Jeonghan was, too. But as seconds went by, the world surrounding you started to drift away, to lose meaning. Faces became blurry, music louder, and lights too intense.
You slipped your lips between Jeonghanâs, moving passionately, seamlessly. His hands slipped further down, now fully cupping your ass quite shamelessly. You didnât know if this was for show or to fight back against Joshua. As though reminding him what heâs missingâor what he stands to lose if he lets his diversions go out of hand.
But Jeonghan kissed you deeper, a deep moan vibrating in your mouth when you rolled your tongue inside his mouth, feeling his tongue in the process. You were now fully making out, oblivious to the people around you, not caring whether you were seen or not.Â
The vibrations were slowly and very efficiently building their way into getting you to climax soon. Despite the mode of the toy being still on low, the kissing and the groping were not helping in keeping you still.
You hugged Jeonghan tighter, arms still around his long neck. âJeonghan,â you called out at once when you pulled back from the kiss.
âStill good?â he asked knowingly.
The music was loud, and people were either too drugged or too drunk to even look twice your way. But you still pulled Jeonghan closer. âI think Iâm close,â you muttered shyly into his ear.
You could feel him laughing in the way he released air. âJust feel it. No one will notice,â he told you, pressing a kiss on your temple before adding: âI got you, baby. Let go.â
His arms tightened around your waist, keeping you steady as you crashed down against him. This orgasm was like nothing youâve ever felt before. You were still on your feet, knees shaking, and barely keeping you up. You tried hiding your face on the crook of Jeonghanâs neckâbut he was faster, catching you with a kiss before you could even move.
Jeonghan kissing you made your orgasm betterâmore violent and intense than before. You felt waves of heat expanding inside your body, easing all tension, and leaving you feeling languid, almost depleted of energy. You tried to moan, to writhe, but it was nearly impossible. Pleasure burned inside you like never before, and it was exciting.
You searched his body, finding his arm to squeeze, feeling as if you let the toy keep going, you might need to find a place to hide completely.
But before Jeonghan moved to get his phone, the toy was shut off. At first, you thought that the battery mightâve died, but as Jeonghan frowned at his screen, you realized something.
With little to no control over yourself, you sneaked another glance at Joshua. Where you had previously thought that he was letting the conversation with Thea be his diversion of the night, you were instantly corrected.
Joshua was watching you and Jeonghan. Even as he tried to pretend to be entertaining Thea, his focus was still on you. And heâd watched you cum in the middle of a crowd of strangers.
You saw it. Joshuaâs reaction. Barely. His grip tightened around his third glass of whisky. Then he gave you a tiny smirk.
You tilted your head in reply, trying your best to give him the lightest of smiles. A you okay?
His eyes flicked through the crowd, then back. A tiny shrug.
He was surrounded. Untouchable.
You took in a big breath, letting it out with a small hint of frustration. You wanted him to be there with you and Jeonghan. You knew you were being just jealous, possessive. But you also didnât care.
Joshua saw that from afar, and it was as though he had a direct line to your thoughts because of the slow blink he gave you. As though saying, I know. I see you. I want to touch you too.
Jeonghanâs arms came to hold you against his chest, pulling you closer to rest his chin against your head. âI guess heâs feeling a little bit left out too,â he said, and by the tone of it, you knew he was smiling.
You thought about it for a second.
You were still in a position where you could spot Joshua. Thea told him something that made him turn her way, the pad of his thumb still hovering on his screen. But he listened to her intently, his smiling eyes outlining the perfect features of her face.
It didnât matter. Whatever good judgment you could muster was nullified by either the alcohol or the jealousy still running in your system. Greed took over you, and you were instantly switched to his position.
Whereas you were jealous of seeing the situation in front of you, Jeonghan was the only one who could have you in the light of the world. Joshua had made it so he couldnât come close to you like this.
And something sharp twisted in your chest.
Thea giggled. She was gorgeous. Whatever the tone of the conversation was, it had her slipping her hand around Joshuaâs wrist, making him act quickly and shut his phone off before her gaze could wander to his screen.
You didnât wait.
You grabbed Jeonghan by the hand, pulling him through the crowd in the direction towards the first room you could find. Lucky for you, it was a bathroom. You locked the door, switching the light on in quick succession.
And then you pushed Jeonghan against the cold wall of the large bathroom.
A sharp exhale left his body, his eyes widening in surprise. âSomeoneâs riled up,â he smirked, but welcomed you in his arms, nonetheless.
âShut up,â you sighed, suddenly feeling thankful that you wore high-heels to this stupid party, because there was no need to stand on your tiptoes. You grabbed his chin, pushing your lips against his almost forcibly, making him hum into the kiss.
âYes, I am,â you whispered, wasting no time and started fumbling with the buttons of his silk black shirt.
âWait, wait,â he stammered, trapping your hands with his own. You tore your gaze from his chest, looking at his eyes, still widened. âRight now?â he asked, sending an alarmed look around. As though you were still standing in the middle of the crowd.
You cupped his face with your hands, looking at him intently, from his eyes to his lips. âWhat, are you scared now?â you asked, lowering your tone to an innocent one. âYouâve been teasing me the whole night. Now you donât want to?â
Jeonghan responded with a startled look. âI just didnât think youâd want to do itââ he stuttered when you lowered a hand, undoing one more of his buttons. ââhere, you know?â he laughed softly, closing his eyes as you finished unbuttoning his shirt.
âWell, you shouldâve thought about that before you put that stupid toy inside me,â you countered.
Jeonghan swallowed hard. Your hand was running down from his chest to his belly button, the tips of your fingers brushing down the soft hairs of his happy trail. âYou know, princess, youâve become even more daring these past few months.â
You hummed. âTry having two insatiable boyfriends at the same time,â you quipped, smiling at him softly.
He was a squirming mess, his fingers shaking as he fumbled with the straps of your dress. âIâm the least insatiable out of the two of us,â he argued, his eyes flitting to the door behind you and your face. âWeâre gonna have to do this quick.â
You batted your eyelashes at him. âWhy do it quickly when you two have literally edged me all through the night?â
Jeonghan gave you a hollow laugh, successfully removing the straps from your shoulders and zipping it down to let it pool at your feet. His demeanour changed the moment he saw you half naked, the only thing covering you was your lace panties, which literally left nothing to the imagination.
âBecause,â he started, his tone so low that you could barely hear it over the loud banging of the music outside. âI want us to come back home and have you all to ourselves, princess.â
His finger trailed from the dip between your collarbones then down to your chest, between your breasts. âWe canât do that in here, donât you agree, baby?â he purred, his eyes lowering to follow the tip of his finger, pausing before the band of your panties.
âItâs not entirely my fault that we canât,â you said, trying to shrug to appear uninterested. But the quiver in your tone betrayed you. Your skin tingled where the tip of his finger stood, right before the band of your panties started.
âMmn,â he sighed, the sound deep and almost raspy. But still, it was sweet. Jeonghan was always so sweet to you. âBaby, you got all riled up with a little teasing, donât tell me you canât handle it?â he purred, the tip of his finger finally sliding lower, making it to the crotch of your panties.
Your eyelids fluttered when his finger swiped a line between your pussy lips, feeling the obvious heat and wetness pooling in your panties. âJeonghan, stop playing.â
âStop playing?â he asked, pulling back to look at your face. âYouâre the one who wanted to have fun.â
You rolled your eyes, but just slightly. A smile betrayed you, too, stretching on your lips before you could command the muscles of your face. âJust shut up and fuck me, Jeonghan,â you said, trying to exert as much confidence as you could.
But he smiled, defeating you instantly. âTalking to me like that wonât get you anything,â he said defiantly. But clearly enjoying this, he bit his lower lip briefly, nodding at your lower half. âTake your panties off.â
You hooked your thumbs beneath the band of your panties, pushing them down your legs and effectively going completely bare in front of him. To the exception of your high heels.
His hands quickly found the button of his pants, undoing it and swiftly moving his boxers down. You saw him as he pulled his cock out, already hard and leaking for you. And suddenly you realizedâheâd been playing with you the whole time, making out with you and holding you close as you had an orgasm in the middle of a party.
Jeonghan acted quicker than you. Before you could push him to sit on the nearest surface so you could ride him, he grabbed your hips, turning you over and facing the mirror. You saw your face, already looking fucked outâeyes glazed and dreamy.
âHold this for me,â you told him, putting your panties in the pocket of his pants.
He sighed, the smile not quite vanishing from his beautiful face. âWeâve created a little monster, it seems,â he mumbled, looking at you as you took the toy our of your pussy. It was slick, covered in all your mess.
âMm-hmm,â you hummed, biting your lower lip as you reached behind to grab him. You rolled your hand all over his hard cock, feeling the veins in his shaft and the precum leaking from his dark pink tip. Your mouth watered, anticipating the feeling of him stuffing you full.
âI suppose we shouldnât play with you too far next time,â he said with a low tone, his voice raspy as you guided him inside you, notching his tip in your entrance to taunt him. His hands clenched at your sides, his body tensing beneath you. âYouâre so fucking wet, baby,â he sighed, tilting his head back.
You saw his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard. His eyes, which had stopped looking at the door from time to time and were now zeroed on your reflection in the mirror. He saw your face, your tits, the way you arched your back and angled yourself to take him. Â
âGod, I love you so fucking much,â Jeonghan exhaled blissfully as he bottomed out on you completely. âThatâs it, baby, take me. Take all of me,â he whispered, his eyes lost on the reflection of you in the mirror.
And you were also captured by the sight of him. His silk shirt was parted, slipping from his shoulders slightly. You had fumbled with his pants and boxers enough to get them halfway below his hips. But it was his face that you couldnât look away fromâthe pieces of his dark hair were messily on his face, lips chapped from kissing you all night, and his eyes were darkened by a lust you were well acquainted with.
Jeonghan was looking solely at you. And you knew why. The muscles of your face had relaxedâwhether it was because of the alcohol or the arousal flowing through your veins, you didnât know for sure. But your eyes were dreamy, glistening slightly as you blinked slowly at him. Your mouth was parted, lips swollen, red and wet.
And your bodyâwholly naked to the exception of your high heels that you had kept on. Your tits bounced at each thrust Jeonghan gave you, nipples pert and swollen, skin already covered in a light film of sweat.
You were hot. Alluring, even. The near-animalistic way you were letting Jeonghan take your body made you even more aroused, seeing yourself angling your ass for his thrusts, arching your back to take him in deeperâyou loved it. You felt obsessed with it.
Jeonghan showed you a fucked out smirk. âLike what you see, baby?â he asked, noticing that you were getting off by looking at yourself in the mirror. The way Jeonghanâs eyes scanned you through the mirror and then switched to looking at the line of your back all the way to your ass made you think that he also liked what he saw.
You nodded, unable to talk back.
Having him inside you satisfied an urge that you had been trying to keep at bay all night. You instantly moaned, unafraid of being heard, and almost careless. Something invaded you. The same need that crawled beneath your skin came back, but ten times harder now that you were bending over for him.
You pushed a hand against the mirror for support, but angling your ass for his relentless thrusts. âHannie,â you mewled, taken over by the pleasure quickly building back inside you, but stronger now.
He closed his eyes, humming softly under a long, blissful sigh. âFuck, princess,â he moaned, grabbing you by the hips to keep you in place. âI needed this.â
You knew it was a quick fuck, but god you wanted it to last. You were so needy from being teased for hours that you were almost too overstimmed to enjoy him fully. Especially when you were in a bathroom, a party was going on outside. And Joshua would probably take notice of your absence in the next seconds.
You tightened your jaw, angling your hips on him to search for that spot that never failed to drive you crazy. You moved your body back, but just slightly, ready to take him deeper inside your walls with each thrust.
Jeonghan noticed that you were seeking to satisfy yourself more than him. His eyes quickly scanned your face in the mirror, a smile stretching on his lips. âThatâs it, baby,â he whispered, his hands grabbing your ass. A strangled moan spilled from his pretty lips. âMake yourself cum.â
He tipped his head back, his eyes rolling back too as he breathed in deeply. You knew he was trying to resist his orgasm, squeezing his eyes shut and sinking his fingers onto your skin. âBabyâfuck. Princess, Iâm not going to last long.â
You whined. âNo, please. Just a little more,â you said, not caring how pathetic you sounded. âIâm close too.â
He straightened, moving a hand from you to palm the pocket of his pants. He quickly fished out his phone, opening it and pressing the on button for your toy. You gasped instantly, feeling it vibrate inside your closed hand.
âGive me that,â he ordered, his tone raspy and low. Hearing the urgency in his tone, this ignited something in you.
You obeyed, handing him the toy without question.
Looking at you through the mirror, he pressed the toy against your mound, sending its intense vibrations straight to your clit. You opened your mouth, a strangled cry coming out of it as you practically started slamming down your hips with more urgency.
âOh, Jeonghan!â you cried loudly, the sound high-pitched and raspy at the same time. âFuck, Jeonghan! Yes, yes, yes,â you mewled, closing your eyes to welcome the orgasm youâve been craving to have all night. It came in fiery waves, crashing over you and causing you to writhe and moan desperately.
âFuck,â he gasped, and the hand that remained clutching your hip tightened.
With clean and perfect synchronicity, you grabbed the toy from his grasp, keeping it on your clit as his hand switched to grip your throat, yanking you back up. You gasped, instantly immobilized by both his hands on you and the quick jackhammering of his hips against your ass.
âGod,â he gasped on your ear, and through the mirror, you saw him blinking slowly. âI fucking love this pussy. Feels so good.â
You let out a strangled moan. The sounds from his skin slapping against yours became louder, faster. And the squelching from your dripping pussy also became more noticeable, made you feel ashamed.
âIâm gonna cum,â he told you, directing a look at you through the mirror. âWant me to do it inside?â
You nodded, but barely. His hand still gripping your throat made it impossible for you to move freely.
A cunning smirk lifted only the corner of his mouth. âCourse you do,â he whispered, kissing your earlobe. He was panting, trying to keep the pace of his merciless rutting. âWant me to put a baby in you?â
Your eyebrows instantly knitted, and a moan caught in your throat. âPlease,â you mewled pathetically. The thought alone made you feral, even though you knew it was nearly impossibleâthe attempt to get you pregnant was enough to make you orgasm.
He pressed the tip of his nose against your ear, and you felt his breath fanning your skin and making you shudder. âIâm gonna make you a mommy,â he half moaned. âMake you mine forever.â
You were quite practically helpless. The vibrator was still pressed to your clit, but it was what Jeonghan said that sent you to another climax. Your mouth parted, but no sound came out of it, silently cumming hard until your eyes brimmed with tears.
Jeonghan smiled, as though the sight was something he wanted to achieve before he fucked his load inside you. âC-cumming,â he told you.
You opened your eyes, finding his face in the reflection. He looked languid in bliss and pleasure all overâsweating from the neck down, completely disheveled. He gave you a couple of sloppy, deep thrusts until both of your orgasms started to subside. Panting, you pressed your back against his chest, taking the vibrator off and then his arms wrapping you in a languid hug. Â
Jeonghan dipped his head to kiss your neck, softly pressing his wet lips against the crook of it, and then trailing down to your shoulder blade. âThat was intense,â he admitted with a soft laugh, his breath fanning over your skin.
You laughed, unable to comment on anything about it. You were trying to catch your breath, feeling the loving pecks Jeonghan was leaving on your back, making your skin prickle.
âBe my girlfriend.â
You blinked and turned over your shoulder, thinking that you had misheard. âWhat did you say?â
Jeonghan had a smile on his face, it was playful and full of joy. âBe my girlfriend,â he repeated.
âI thought I already was,â you replied, arching an eyebrow. You were convinced now that this was another one of his pranks.
He shook his head lightly. âI wanted to ask you again.â
You snorted. âRight here?â
He emitted a laugh, one that was loud and playful. You loved it. âI could ask you every day. Anywhere,â he said.
âWe live together now, Hannie,â you teased him, tangling your fingers in his hair lazily.
âMaybe I just want to make extra sure,â he said while still panting softly. He gave you a lazy grin, one that made his eyes glint. âBefore we start talking about marriage.â
Your heart slowed down. âYou heard that,â you said, your smile fading.
He blinked slowly at you. âOf course I did, baby,â he told you in a slightly lower tone. âAnd everything that came after.â
âIâm sorry, we shouldnât have talked about it without you,â you said, your heart squeezing painfully. âIt just came up, and the conversation just flowed naturally.â
He tilted his head to one side, searching your eyes. âItâs okay, I get it,â he reassured you. âBut I still want us to talk about it.â
You gave him a tiny nod. âThen we should get out of here,â you suggested firmly.
âAgreed,â Jeonghan smirked.
You braced yourself before he pulled out of you, and then you immediately started to clean up. Quickly, you gathered your clothes, putting them on as fast as you could with trembling fingers.
âDo you think we were too loud?â you wondered now that you were coming down from your frenzy.
âPfffft,â Jeonghan giggled, waiting for you at the door with a hand on the handle. âOf course we were, baby,â he told you shamelessly.
You felt a hot wave wash all over your face, leaving a tingling sensation on your cheeks. âFuck,â you gritted. âOh, thatâs so embarrassing.â
âWell, you didnât look one bit embarrassed when you were screaming my name,â he mumbled under a breath when you approached the door.
You looked at him blankly.
Jeonghan giggled again anxiously. âWhat?â he shrugged, playing innocent.
âDo you think weâll get in trouble?â you asked, now more nervous to come out of the bathroom.
âWith security?â he asked, but then he gaped in acknowledgement. âOhâwith Shua?â
You nodded, unable to speak up.
âWell, obviously,â he arched one eyebrow. âI thought that was what you wanted,â he said. Then he opened the door for you, grabbing you by the waist to pull you in closer to him, and serve as some sort of shield as you walked back into the sea of unknown faces.
Jeonghan pushed his shoulders back, slipping his arm from your waist to grab your hand firmly. When you looked at him, you noticed him holding his chin up, a shadow of a smirk on his face as though telling the world that yes, you were his. His girlfriend. Â
The music was still so loud that it brought you an odd sense of calm. As it reverberated against the walls and made your whole body vibrate, you knew that it wouldâve been nearly impossible for everyone to hear you and Jeonghan.
But as you saw Joshua still standing in the same spot, you knew that there was no way he didnât know what you and Jeonghan had been up to when you both disappeared. The quick, dark look he shot at you told you everything you needed to know.
A smirk spread across his lips, and then he blinked away.
Jeonghan squeezed your hand tightly. As though saying, I told you so.
âCan we go home now?â you asked, feeling shame heating up your entire body.
Joshua was still talking with his ex. But the fixed features of his face told you he was nowhere near pleased to be looking at her face.
The music swelled, louder, almost as though trying to expel you out of that place.
âIâll call a car,â Jeonghan told you, leaning over so you could catch his words. âLetâs tell Shua, okay?â
But before you could protest, he took you with him, pulling you by the hand.
You tried slipping off, but Jeonghan took it as you were still frustrated with Joshua, so he pulled you tighter, making you unable to escape.
So you hid behind Jeonghan, trying to lower your face as much as you could. Jeonghan approached Joshua, leaning to his ear to inform him that you wanted to go back home.
And through the corner of your eye, you caught her looking at you. It was quite impossible to escape it now. Recognition flashed through the features of Theaâs face as she blinked at you. Her mouth parted, and you knew that she remembered you from that very brief moment where you both met a year ago.
It felt like that had happened a lifetime ago.
But Thea still knew you.
Her widened eyes panned from you to Joshua, and you could almost read her mind. The clear, thereâs something going on here, was evident all over her face.
Shame coursed through you, but you couldnât back away now. You knew that there would be different stories forming in her mind, but this is what you had to commit yourself to.
Joshua nodded when Jeonghan finished speaking. And you were irritated that the music was so loud, because you couldnât tell what Joshua replied, but his demeanor was dry, devoid of all emotion.
But you were relieved when Jeonghan pulled you in the direction of the door.
Casting one final glance over your shoulder, you saw Joshua waving Thea goodbye. Her face was riddled with questions all over, but a hopeful glance lingered over Joshua as he walked away from her, following you and Jeonghan.
But then she looked at you. And a dark smirk painted her face.
You tore your gaze from her, now determined to look down as you stepped into the elevator.
The minute Joshua stood by your side, you knew you were in deep trouble.
He was quiet. Not the kind of quietness he exerted whenever he was tired or sleepy. No, this kind of silence was the kind he kept because he wanted to tell you something once he felt safe to do so. It was the kind of silence he kept before he bent you over to spank you.
It made you feel excited.
Jeonghan slipped an arm on your lower back once you swayed to his side, stumbling slightly, partly because of the high heels and the alcohol intake. âSteady,â he whispered, looking at you fondly.
âMm, sorry,â you replied, giggling softly. You placed a hand on his chest for support and then leaned your head on his shoulder, using this new angle to direct a look at Joshua.
But he wasnât even paying attention. He was holding his phone up, looking at the screen intently as though reading something very interesting or amusing.
Joshua was giving you the cold shoulder.
You turned to look at Jeonghan, who gave you a light smirk, lifting his eyebrows slightly. You sighed in response, either too tipsy or too deep into your post-orgasm haze to even muster a bolder reaction.
The car ride was even more off-putting.
Joshua kept his act up, not fading once in his own way to exert his dominance. He only did one thingâignore you completely. And it worked, because once you were home, you felt the pressure of his silence start to choke you. It left a pulsated feeling inside you.
âJosh,â you called softly as he headed straight to the bedroom.
âBaby, youâre not getting anything out of it right now,â Jeonghan told you as he followed you down the hallway.
But you were stubborn. âJoshua,â you called again, your voice more demanding.
He was beginning to remove his shirt, undoing each button with one hand expertly. âSit her down,â he commanded, motioning to the armchair placed directly in front of the bed.
Your heart fell to your stomach when you felt Jeonghanâs slender fingers circle your arm, pulling you to the vintage armchair. A huff escaped you in sheer disbelief. âSo you flirt with your ex all night, and I get the cold shoulder?â you asked, feeling emboldened somehow.
Joshua had absolutely no reaction to your words. And you hated it. Half-naked now, he turned his back to you, pulling the drawer open and getting a pair of leather wrist cuffs, and with no word at all, he threw them at Jeonghan, who was pushing you to sit down.
Your body started heating up. You sat down on the velvet chair, a short sigh escaping you as you looked up.
Jeonghan knelt before you, looking at you sheepishly through his eyelashes. âSafeword?â he mumbled, testing you.
The word spilled from your lips. However, you held out your hands for him.
Jeonghan paused, the shadow of a smirk appearing on his lips before he grabbed one of your wrists first, strapping it safely to one of the arms of the chair. âToo tight?â he said, testing the buckle carefully.
âItâs fine, Hannie,â you replied to him. And he gave your other wrist the same treatment, strapping it to the other arm of the chair with the same tightness. It was tight enough for you to move your wrists slightly, but not loose enough so you could pull out free easily.
âGood girl,â Jeonghan whispered, a tender look in his eyes as he bent over, grabbing your leg by the back of your knee to place a sweet kiss on the inner side of your knee.
You giggled softly at the feeling of his breath fanning on your skin.
âThe sweetest girl,â Jeonghan added, louder this time.
âPut this on her,â Joshuaâs voice came like a whip.
Jeonghan obeyed, turning around to receive what Joshua had in his hand. It was another toy. But unlike the one you used at the party, this was supposed to be worn inside the tiny pocket in your panties, tightly pressed to your mound. Jeonghan turned to you again, consent written in his eyes as he motioned to your legs.
You shifted on your seat, tilting your pelvis up, inviting him in.
âSo obedient now,â Joshua muttered under his breath, sitting on the edge of the bed to get a better view of Jeonghan sticking a toy inside your panties.
âShe always is,â Jeonghan mumbled softly, lifting his face so you could see him wink swiftly.
You smiled in response.
âIf that were true, this night wouldâve ended differently,â Joshua said.
But Jeonghan didnât reply at that. He swallowed hard, asking for permission once again with his eyes, and when you nodded wordlessly, he moved forward. His hands slid on your bare thighs, under your dress, pulling the skirt up to uncover your body from the waist down. He moved slowly, as though giving you ample chance to stop if anything wasnât to your liking.
However, you were more than eager to know what was going to happen. Even more, you closed your eyes to enjoy the melting shudder that shot across your skin, leaving goosebumps all over it. Jeonghanâs touch was light on your thighs, and even more so as his fingers sneaked beneath the crotch of your panties. A sigh escaped through his parted lips when he felt the warmth and the wetness pooling there.
When he stored the toy inside the tiny pocket of your panties, Jeonghan got up, removing his leather jacket in the process.
âWhy am I getting punished?â you asked almost innocently.
Jeonghan smiled without looking at you, as though telling you to be careful with your words, but at the same time enjoying seeing you dig your own grave in real time.
Joshua placed his hands behind him, leaning back on the bed as he looked Jeonghan up and down as though you didnât exist. âDid you have fun, Hannie?â Joshua asked, his tone honeyed.
âI did, Shua,â Jeonghan replied, removing his watch with his lithe fingers. âAnd you?â
Joshua blinked slowly, shrugging. âIt was fun watching you two from afar, even if I couldnât join for a lot of it.â
âYou were busy,â Jeonghan muttered, approaching the foot of the bed and standing right between Joshuaâs parted legs.
You just watched, balling your hands into fists as Joshua fidgeted with the small controller that was between his index finger and thumb. âBusy talking with his ex,â you said under a huff.
It was then that Joshua acknowledged you for the first time. A smile spread across his lips, but he didnât look at you, he didnât even reply verbally. He raised his hands, placing one on Jeonghanâs hip and the other flat on the abdomen. âTake this off,â he muttered softly.
Jeonghan obeyed again, beginning to unbutton his black shirt with swift fingers. As Jeonghanâs shirt parted, leaving his chest exposed, Joshua leaned closer, placing a trail of kisses from Jeonghanâs sternum all the way down to his belly button. Jeonghan laughed softly at the feeling, and despite you being a mere spectator, you also shuddered, knowing well how Joshuaâs lips feel.
The second acknowledgment from Joshua came when you least expected it. He pressed his thumb down on one of the buttons, activating the toy inside your panties. Your thighs tensed up, knees bouncing slightly as you fought and lost against the gasp that came out of your mouth.
Jeonghan turned to look at you, but he was quickly subdued. Joshua grabbed him by the chin with one hand, forcing him to look directly ahead, not at you. âEyes on me,â Joshua told him sternly. âYouâve had her all night, fucked her for everyone to hear.â
Jeonghan smirked as he slipped the silk shirt off his shoulders. âWell, you didnât look too bothered by it.â
âWhat did you expect me to do?â Joshua said, arching his pierced eyebrow. âWalk in there when everyone saw you two go into the bathroom?â
Jeonghan shrugged. âMaybe,â sighed shakily when Joshua started toying with the belt on Jeonghanâs pants. âWouldâve been fun. Very rockstar on your part.â
Joshua smirked bemusedly. âDid you enjoy it? Taking her in that bathroom?â he asked, bending his head to press a soft, wet kiss below Jeonghanâs belly button, right where his happy trail ends.
âUh-huh,â Jeonghan replied aloofly, tilting his head back as Joshua palmed his growing erection beneath his pants. âShe felt so good, Shua,â he drawled lazily. âShe was so good for me.âÂ
âMmm,â Joshua replied. Raising his eyes to look at Jeonghanâs face, Joshua muttered gently, his tone gruff with arousal. âYeah, I know. Sheâs only good for you.â
You gasped, wrestling slightly against the handcuffs. The vibrator was gentle at first, merely distracting and not at all intense enough to bring you to a climax. But you could feel its gentle motions starting to cause a tickling sensation around your groin, making you writhe.
âIâm also good for you, Josh,â you said, trying to make him look your way, to do something to acknowledge you one more time.
But he rose from the bed, now standing face to face with Jeonghan. And then they dove into each otherâs lips again. Joshua hummed into the kiss, the sound coming out almost like a purr. The kiss was sloppy, and you could see it progress into something more demanding, more urgent. Jeonghan let out a grunt, slipping a hand below Joshuaâs nape to pull him in impossibly close.
But then Joshua pulled back, exerting his control again. Â
âGet on your knees.â
With no hesitation, Jeonghan obeyed once again, dropping to his knees as Joshua and you just watched. But Joshua was still ignoring you, knowing that this was the kind of punishment that you absolutely hated.
But he pressed another button on the controller, bringing the vibrations a little higher. You gasped, closing your eyes briefly to get used to the change.
Joshua caressed the side of Jeonghanâs face, sliding a finger down the cut of his jawline. âAre you going to be good for me, Hannie?â
As you blinked again, you caught a glimpse of Jeonghan nodding his head silently, looking up at Joshua.
âGood boy,â Joshua whispered, smiling softly.
Jeonghan didnât look at you again as per Joshuaâs instructions. And jealousy gnawed at your heart when you saw Jeonghan willfully pulling Joshuaâs boxers down. Joshuaâs cock was fully hard already, veins trailing down his shaft, the pinkish brown tip dripping with precum.
And Jeonghan just didnât wait a second longer. Circling his fingers around the thick shaft, Jeonghan rolled his tongue around the bulbous head of Joshuaâs cock, bringing out an airy moan from him.
âFuck,â you gritted, squeezing your thighs together, but in that, you just ended up pressing the toy to your mound tighter. You gasped, relaxing your thighs again but it was too late.
Pleasure built up quicker than before, the sight before you so alluring that you felt you could cum just from watching it. Jeonghan took Joshuaâs cock into his mouth, bobbing his head back and forth, his mouth creating a wet smacking noise as he pulled away.
âThatâs it. Youâre perfect,â Joshua praised, his voice waning. He tilted his head back, swallowing hard. âSo good for me.â
You whined, and the sound reminded Joshua of your existence in the room, amping up the intensity of the toy still in your panties. A sharp gasp escaped you, but you made no other sound to retaliate.
Joshua tangled his fingers in Jeonghanâs long hair, following the movements of his head. Jeonghan took the veiny shaft further, stroking what he couldnât take into his mouth, humming softly as he pulled back, picking up a pace.
âShow her how itâs done,â Joshua whispered, a smirk painting his face.
âJosh!â you squealed. âNot fair,â you said through a sigh, squeezing your eyes shut as waves of pleasure barrelled down your spine, tearing an orgasm out of you. A whiny cry escaped you as you let the waves of pleasure take you, making you writhe desperately on the chair.
âOh god,â Joshua drawled the words out, sounding gruff and languid as his head remained tilted back. You saw his throat bobbing, his breathing shift. âYou can stop now, Hannie.âÂ
Jeonghan pulled back, and without hesitation, he looked your way. It was by sheer impulse, but his eyes locked with yours, filled with lust and expectation. You were coming down from your high, panting and shaking still.
Jeonghan got to his feet, removing the last pieces of clothing with no hesitation while Joshua opened the drawers to get a condom and a bottle of lube. They both stood naked before you, acting as though you werenât there at all while they shared a passionate kiss. Jeonghan placed his hands on Joshuaâs waist while Joshua grabbed him by the face, deepening the kiss. You saw their tongues brushing as they both hummed into each otherâs mouths.
A strangled noise slipped through your gritted teeth. You wanted their attention, you wanted them to turn to you and shower you with kisses instead. But you continued watching, still strapped to the chair, powerless.
âGet on the bed,â Joshua said, his tone raspy, denoting his need.
Jeonghan hesitated for the first time, looking at you swiftly through the corner of his eye.
âCome on,â Joshua said, patting on Jeonghanâs side twice. âDonât make me handcuff you too.â
âTsk,â Jeonghan laughed softly, but got on the bed, choosing an angle so that his head was resting on the foot of the bed. You noticed he chose this angle so his eyes could divert towards you.
âMmm,â Joshua hummed, clearly noticing Jeonghanâs intentions. But he said nothing about this. Instead, he used the controller to bring down the intensity of the toy, letting you rest from its intense vibrations for a while.
âThank you,â you sighed out unconsciously, feeling languid with pleasure.
Joshua made his first mistake. He lifted his gaze as he climbed on the bed, looking at you with a tender expression written on his face. But the look was fleeting, realizing that he was loosening his dominance with each subby act you made.
âSee?â Jeonghan said, blinking at you. âShe can be good.â
Joshua giggled softly, clearly caught by the moment. âSheâs still not getting away with acting jealous at the party.â
Jeonghan moved his legs so that Joshua could slot himself between them, sitting on his knees as he reached to grab the condom while Jeonghan picked up the bottle of lube, squeezing a good amount of it onto his palm.
âI thought you liked that,â Jeonghan replied, his tone genuine and devoid of snark.
âMaybe I do,â Joshua said, rolling the condom down to his hilt and taking the bottle of lube out of Jeonghanâs hand. He squeezed some lube onto his fingers. âBut then she thought it was a good idea of getting you to fuck her in that bathroom.â
âI think you like that too,â Jeonghan said, his tone becoming more strangled as Joshua started spreading the lube around his hole.
âYeah?â Joshua breathed, tilting his head to one side as he pushed his hand, slipping the first finger inside Jeonghanâs tight hole. âYou think so?â
Jeonghan was rendered speechless, but he nodded either way. Slowly, he rolled his hand up and down Joshuaâs hard cock, lubing him up.
Joshua started thrusting his finger in and out of Jeonghan slowly, reaching for the forgotten controller to change up the speed on the toy. Your pulse quickened, heart frenzied to know that you werenât completely invisible.
âI think you like knowing that she drives me as crazy as she drives you,â Jeonghan croaked, getting the sentence out as though he were completely unable to stop himself.
That made Joshua laugh, the sound airy and sweet. It made his abdomen contract slightlyâJoshua was glorious, in all the extension of the word. Naked, hair messy and completely hard. And Jeonghan was too, except that his hair was messier and he was already dripping precum onto his own tummy.Â
The sight of both of your boyfriends naked on your bed made you choke back a moan. Joshua stopped thrusting his fingers inside Jeonghan, taking his cock on one hand, and guiding it to Jeonghanâs hole. There was an exchange of looks between them, and Joshua proceeded right after Jeonghan gave him a quick nod. Joshua moved Jeonghanâs leg up to his chest, and then started pushing his cock inside Jeonghan, slowly. Very slowly.
You shuddered again, your bound hands balling into fists as you tried to fight off the vibrations against your clit, but it was impossible, you were cumming again on the chair, liquid came gushing out of you as you whined helplessly. âJosh,â you choked back a sob, panting and trying to stop it.
Jeonghan closed his eyes, mouth parting as his eyebrows knitted. You could hear the sound of the air catching on his throat, and Joshuaâs moan in response.
âF-fuck,â Jeonghan sighed, shuddering hard but still not opening his eyes. âJoshua,â he moaned.
Joshua mimicked Jeonghanâs expressionâbrows drawn inward, mouth dropping softly. He moved his hips slowly, shallowly at first. Jeonghan brought a hand to Jeonghanâs tummy, parking it flatly as though to hold him in place.
You shuddered too, trying to hold out as much as possible, but as one orgasm subsided, another one started. âJoshua, please,â you whispered, tears brimming in your eyes, but you couldnât stop. The pleasure was too intense, too hot.
âOh, god,â Jeonghan sighed, grabbing Joshuaâs hand that was still resting on his lower abdomen. âPlease, please, please.â
Joshua smiled softly. âYou like that, Hannie?â he asked quietly.
In that moment, you knew how Jeonghan feltâthe stretch of Joshuaâs cock inside you, the feeling so good, so delicious it consumed you slowly. Unable to talk, you whined again, trying to get his attention.
But Joshua didnât raise his gaze at you, instead, he pulled his hips back slightly, driving his cock back in with one thrust, letting out a strangled moan. âSo tight,â he whispered, blinking slowly.
Jeonghan was reduced to a complete messâonly able to let out mere babbles and long, raunchy moans. His eyes remained closed, his hand placed on top of Joshuaâs while the other gripped the covers tightly.Â
Carefully and slowly, Joshua bent over Jeonghan, pressing a hot but fleeting kiss on his lips. He put a hand on the bed, pushing Jeonghanâs legs up to his chest as they kissed one more time. And then Joshua resumed his deep thrusting, pulling back to sit on his knees again.Â
âGod,â Jeonghan exhaled as Joshua started pushing his cock at a steadier pace. Your heart twisted with jealousy again because all you felt was a tingling sensation shooting right at your core, making you squeeze your thighs again. âFuck, Joshua, donât stop please⊠please.â
âMmm, I might just stop right now,â Joshua taunted. âSee what youâll do without my cock.â
âNo, no, please,â Jeonghan whispered, tightening his grip around Joshuaâs hand.
âYou thinkââ he uttered, pushing his hips deeply, ââyouâre cute? Fucking our Bunny in the bathroom without meâ?â he drove in deeper, getting a raunchier moan out of Jeonghan. ââwhere anyone could hear?â
âFuck,â Jeonghan sighed, pushing the back of his head against the covers. Ropes of cum spilled from his cock, landing on his skin, on his lower abdomen, and chest and just continued leaking. âFuck, god, fuck,â he gritted, taking his cock with one hand and started jerking himself off until the last drop of cum dripped out of him.
The sight was just too much for you. You nearly screamed, cumming so hard that you saw stars behind your eyelids. âFuck-k, Joshua!â you whined, thighs trembling, wrestling against the shackles to no end. You bent over, trying to resist the urge to squirt on the chair again, but it was pointless.
Joshua threw his head back, moaning salaciously as he continued fucking Jeonghan rutting against him desperatelyâspilling himself into the condom. Jeonghan was rendered languid, panting and sighing as he finally looked at you.
Jeonghan watched you cum for the final time, shaking, sobbing and crying. You were completely overstimmed now.
âPlease, Josh,â you whined pathetically.
âShua,â Jeonghan said. He tapped on the back of Joshuaâs hand, snapping him out of his trance.
Joshua grabbed the controller, bringing the toy to a full stop.
âThank you,â you mumbled, completely out of breath. You were an absolute disaster, shaking, crying, and your thighs were dripping with your mess.
Joshua was panting too, his chest rising and falling dramatically. âYou okay?â he asked Jeonghan first.
Jeonghan nodded slowly. âIâm good. Go take care of her,â he urged.
Joshua wasted no time, pulling out of Jeonghan slowly and heading to the bathroom immediately to discard the condom. He came back quicker than you thought, kneeling in front of you to take care of the shackles.
âYouâre okay, baby?â Joshua asked, his tone gentle.
You nodded, still feeling trapped in the aftershocks of the never-ending orgasm you just had. âIâm okay, babe,â you said. âI just need a shower.âÂ
Joshua smiled softly. âLetâs take care of you now, okay?â
Then, without any more preamble, he scooped you up from the chair, taking you to the bathroom where he had already started the shower. He didnât let you move a finger, removing your dress and panties for you, and guiding you to stand under the shower.
âGood?â he asked, testing the temperature.
You shuddered blissfully. âPerfect,â you told him, giving him a tired smile. âThank you, babe.â
His gaze softened, but he nodded at you and then headed back to the bedroom.
Some minutes later, Jeonghan stepped into the shower with you, giving you a sheepish look.
âYou betrayed me,â you told him, pouting at him.
Jeonghan started laughing, shame painting the tips of his ears red. âIâd say Iâm sorry, but,â he shrugged, placing a hand on the back of your head to then press a kiss on your forehead. âIâm not sorry.â
âMmph,â you smirked. âI know.â
Then Joshua came in, standing right behind you. The shower was big enough now to fit you three, and water rained down on all three of you from ahead. Joshua instantly wrapped his arms around you, pulling you to his chest and pressing a kiss on your hair.
âBaby, you trust me, donât you?â Joshua asked, sweetly now.
You turned to look at him, his warm chest pressed to your back. âI do, babe,â you blinked. âBut I canât help getting a bit jealous when a girl is all over my man, you know?â
Joshua giggled softly, tilting his head back a bit. He reached for the bottle of shampoo. âI was just playing a role, baby. I couldnât even pay attention to what she was saying.â
âI think she mightâve recognized me,â you told him, rubbing soap on your legs.
âShe absolutely did,â Joshua emphasized with a labored sigh. âLetâs just hope she doesnât do anything about it.â
âWhy?â Jeonghan asked curiously. âI mean, she saw Bunny with me, wasnât that the point?â
âAnd you were practically flirting with her all night,â you said through your teeth, pretending to be busy scrubbing your body.
A firm slap was delivered on your ass, the sound wet and loud. You yelped, laughing immediately despite the quick shot of pain. âJosh!â
Jeonghan laughed as well, grabbing you by the arm to keep you steady.
âI wasnât flirting,â Joshua mumbled quietly, but he diverted his gaze almost shamefully.
âIt doesnât matter if you were flirting, Shua,â Jeonghan pointed out, rolling his eyes swiftly. âWe have to keep up appearances,â he told you directly now.
At that, you rested your case. âYeah, I guess youâre right,â you said.
âBut also getting jealous of it is also natural,â Jeonghan added, shrugging lightly. âSo you canât tell her anything about it either, Shua.â
âSo youâre the only one winning tonight,â Joshua smirked.
Jeonghan mirrored the smirk. âYes, indeed,â he said, lifting his chin proudly.
You curled up to Jeonghan on the bed, rubbing your feet together as he rolled on his side, facing you. He slipped a hand beneath your t-shirt, parking it right on the centre of your tummy. âYou okay, baby?â he asked softly.
âIâm good,â you replied. âIâm ready to pass out,â you told him.
Jeonghan showed you a tender smile. âYou donât want anything else?â he raised his eyebrows. âTea? Water?â
You shook your head. âI might be paying the consequences tomorrow morning,â you giggled shyly.
âYou shouldnât have drunk too much,â Joshua reprimanded, but his tone was devoid of seriousness. He climbed on the bed, flopping down next to you with a tired sigh.
âLet her have fun,â Jeonghan repeated, leaning over to press a kiss on your temple, his hand still parked on your tummy.
âMeasured fun is also an option,â Joshua pointed out, smirking when you stared at him blankly. âIâm just kidding, baby.â
âI had fun tonight,â you mumbled, closing your eyes briefly.
âYeah?â Joshua whispered, the weight on the bed shifting beside you as Joshua rolled to his side too. He pinched your chin, making you open your eyes. âIâm glad, baby.â
âIâm happy,â you told them both.
Jeonghanâs gaze softened.
âWeâre happy too, baby,â Joshua whispered.
âI know,â you sighed, showing them a light smile. But then your eyes shot open again. âOh, that reminds meââ
âWhat?â Jeonghan asked.
You turned slightly to look at Joshua. âBabe, we need to start thinking about the future,â you said promptly, getting a surge of energy out of nowhere.
Joshua frowned. âRight now?â he dragged the question for a few seconds longer than needed.
âYeah, I mean⊠we live together now. And in the future, what are we going to call this?â you asked, swiftly sending a look at Jeonghan.
Jeonghan squeezed his eyes shut in secondhand embarrassment. âBaby, this isnât the best way to talk about it,â he gritted.
âI mean it already has a name, right?â Joshua said, still out of the loop. âItâs a relationship. Thatâs what it is.â
âShe means further down the line,â Jeonghan aided, still looking ashamed because he knew where this conversation stemmed from.
Joshua blinked, then turned more serious. âYou told him?â he asked you briefly.
âNo, I heard you talking about it,â Jeonghan said.
Joshua sighed briefly, but wasnât upset. âI only brought it because Iâve always wanted this. I was just making sure we were still on the same page,â he said, shrugging slightly.
âBut you didnât think that I would want that too?â Jeonghan frowned.
âNoâI mean, I was going to talk to you about it. I just needed to know she still wanted it first,â Joshua explained, calmer now.
You traced your thumb over Jeonghanâs arm, listening to them while arranging your ideas. âI donât think people like us fit into wedding registries, you know, babe?â you asked Joshua, your tone kind and low.
Joshua let out a breath. âI know. But there are other ways,â he said thoughtfully. âAnd I donât want this with anyone else.â
Jeonghan gave a soft laugh. âCan you imagine that wedding? Would be long as hell,â he joked.
But his joking gave you hope. âImagine the paperwork,â you added, laughing too.
âImagine the headlines,â Joshua also jumped in. âRockstar marries his best friendâs girlfriend⊠and his best friend,â he said with a mocking tone.
You rolled your eyes, but you couldnât deny the warmth blooming in your chest. âItâs not that impossible.â
Silence fell, but this time it felt like everyone was considering that future.
Joshuaâs voice dropped. âWeâll figure it out when we get there.â
âIn the future,â Jeonghan emphasized.
âAt least we know now that we all want it,â you said, your tone dropping halfway through your sentence.
âI agree with Hannie, baby,â Joshua spoke now after some seconds of silence. âWe should take it slow.â
Jeonghan leaned in, brushing a kiss against your cheek. âThank you, baby,â he whispered to you.
You nodded at him, turning to kiss Jeonghan back on the lips, then you did the same thing with Joshua.
Then the quiet that followed didnât feel tense, nor complicated like all the times youâve had serious conversations in the past. This time, the moment was filled with tenderness, wrapped in trust.
It was the start of a promise. And youâve never felt more optimistic.Â
âź author's note: hi there!
i took so long to post this chapter. i began drafting it around june 9 and i'm just finishing it.
this month has been such a roller coaster of emotions, really. i moved out of my parents' house, i started a new job, and then, i lost my fur baby. i'm trying to think positively and keep writing because it's the only thing that truly gives me joy. even if my heart is broken, writing makes me forget about it for a little while.
so if you read this note this far, i thank you with all my heart.
and if you'd like to support my writing journey, whether that's through kind words, sharing my fics, or joining me on patreon, it would mean the world to me.
but truly, just being here and reading what i write is already a gift
Okay, ya pasaron varios dĂas, ya puedo dar mi review con spoilers jsjsjs.
Primero lo primero. ÂżCĂłmo estĂĄs, V? Espero que sea mejor que yo jajaja. No sabes lo que me alegrĂł que subieras el nuevo capĂtulo, lo estaba necesitando muchĂsimo. Te agradezco porque fue un deleite completo, te lo juro. No podĂa dejar de leer y eso que no muchas personas logran eso en mĂ.
Ahora sĂ, el review.
1- Me fascina demasiado la manera en la que Hannie y Bunny se tienen tanta confianza que ya no ocupan decirse muchas cosas, como Hannie y Joshua. Y eso sĂłlo me dice que le van a causar un dolor de cabeza a Joshua, como ya estĂĄ sucediendo...
so, iâve been thinking about this for a while, and i finally decided to open a patreon.
itâs a big and scary step for me, but iâm doing it out of both love for writing and to be completely transparent, necessity.
writing takes a lot. time, energy, research (sometimes), hours spent drafting and reworking things. i love doing it. i really do. but the truth is, i've hit a very difficult point in my life and that is why i've decided to ask for some help
this doesnât mean everything i write is going behind a paywall. iâll still be here, still sharing stories here in hannieween
but if youâve ever enjoyed what i write, if itâs made you feel something, i'd appreciate your support dearly.
iâll be sharing behind-the-scenes stuff there: vlogs [yes, face reveal], early chapters, worldbuilding, and the process of developing my series from scratch! and just my silly face while i yap about things đ
and with that, i will be announcing my new series soon! so stay tuned, hehe ^~^
itâs a little extension of my writing corner for anyone who wants to be part of that!
thank you for reading, for supporting, for just being here! ášàž
it means more than you know
â V (Ï)âĄ
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âź pairings: yoon jeonghan x female reader x joshua hong
âź genre: fluff, smut [18+]
âź aus: theatre director jeonghan, rockstar joshua, polyamorous relationship, mlm
âź word count: 14.6k
âź warnings: smut with plot, alcohol consumption (no dubcon), possessiveness, mmf threesome, oral sex (both m and f receiving), penetration anal and vaginal, reader is on birth control, making out, edging, dirty talk, fingering, breeding kink, dry humping, cucking, brat taming, bondage, dom joshua, switch jeonghan, sub reader. pet names: beautiful, bunny, princess, baby (hers) babe, handsome (jihan)
âș đ§: seven â jung kook | am pm â jay b ft. whee in | can't get you â jaehyun | moonlit floor â lisa | spark â winter | slow dancing â v | hit the floor â ethan low | being â tabber ft. yerin baek
â season one â season two â read more
âș the banner was made by the beautiful @coupsiedaisee thank you baby!!
âź author's note: hellooooo! i wanted to post this for joshie's birthday but hehe i am very slow and get distracted easily :(
also, this chapter is filled with smut lol. there is so little plot in here i'm sorry. i love you all âĄïž
âș disclaimer: minors dni this post is intended for 18+ readers. please have your age stated in your description and try not to look like a bot please đ
part vii
You were awakened by the creaking of the mattress. You had grown accustomed to feeling the warmth of two bodies on either side of you as you slept, so before you opened your eyes, you knew you were alone under the covers.
The faint sunlight was streaming through the thin slits in the curtains, and you knew it was early morning. Then, the second sound was what really pushed you to lucidity and brought you out of your slumber. The dull sound of something akin to pain made you open your eyelids. Pain... and pleasure.
As soon as you opened your eyes, you had to blink a couple of times in the blinding sunlight. But everything became clearer, the half-closed curtains, the unpacked luggage forgotten in a corner of the bedroom... and hands clenching into fists around the sheets at the foot of the bed.
Jeonghan had his eyes closed, his eyelids trembling lightly, and his mouth hanging open. You understood that he had been the one making those sounds, like grunts of pain and pleasure, and you understood why. Joshua was standing behind, his hands on Jeonghanâs hips, holding him steady as he pushed his hips in a slow, but deep motion.
They were both naked. Joshua had his eyes closed too, but his expression was riddled with pleasure, his eyebrows deeply drawn inward, his lips parted. The pleasure in his face was evident, and when he bit his bottom lip, you knew that he was trying not to moan.
What you didnât know, because you were not there to see was that they had started with playful teasing, and bantering in the living room. They teased each other with kisses, telling each other quippy retorts while trying not to make much noise since they didnât want to wake you up.
But the playful kisses quickly had turned into something else, something both of them hadnât been able to stop, they did not want to. It became a game of hushed kisses, and humming noises as both Jeonghan and Joshua became drunk on one another, laughing at themselves when their clothes started hitting the floor of the living room.
âShh,â Joshua had pulled back slightly, sneaking a quick glance at the bedroom door.
âShe wonât hear us,â Jeonghan had said confidently. He ran his fingers through the hair on Joshuaâs nape, raking his fingertips on his scalp.
Joshua shuddered so hard he almost choked on his own spit. âGod. Donât do that,â he groaned, pressing his lips on Jeonghanâs.
Jeonghan laughed lightly. âWhat, thisâ?â he spread his fingertips on Joshuaâs nape, letting his nails slide on Joshuaâs scalp.
âFuck,â Joshua gritted, closing his eyes.
âYouâre the one whoâs going to wake her up,â Jeonghan chuckled quietly.
Joshua didnât reply right away. Instead, he pressed his hips down on Jeonghanâs pelvis, knowing that heâd find a growing bulge beneath Jeonghanâs sweats.
It was Jeonghanâs turn to groan, his fingers curling around Joshuaâs dark hair, tugging it a little.
âWe should do something about these clothes,â Joshua mumbled playfully, there was no smile on his face. He tried to keep his features straight, but there was a slight twinkle in his eyes, showing his eagerness.
âYou first,â Jeonghan replied, sticking his hands beneath Joshuaâs t-shirt before there was any protest.
Jeonghan slid his hands up Joshuaâs back, raking his skin with his fingertips just slightly. The white t-shirt was hiked up Joshuaâs torso, as Jeonghan enjoyed the low grunts that the raking of his fingertips created.
And so, they started losing their clothes, each item joining the other on the floor until it was littered with their t-shirts, sweats, and underwear. The living room was quiet, as the morning light kept creeping in between the parted curtains.
Jeonghanâs heartbeat was so loud that he believed you would hear it all the way to your bedroom. His breathing became ragged as he kept kissing Joshuaâs lips, each kiss more addictive than the last.
âDo you think sheâll wake up soon?â Jeonghan asked as Joshua planted another kiss.
Joshua brought a hand to cup Jeonghanâs chin. âWhat, are you regretting this already?â he asked playfully.
âNo, I meanââ he gasped dramatically as Joshuaâs hand left his chin, and trailed down both their bodies, âI wonder what her face would be if she finds us like this.â
âGo wake her up, then,â Joshua suggested, tucking his hand in the space between their bodies, finding Jeonghanâs hard dick and circling his fingers around it.
âNo, no⊠not yet,â Jeonghan mumbled faintly, closing his eyes as Joshua rolled his hand, jerking Jeonghan off.
A game of sorts had started thenâhow far could they get before you woke up? And Joshua took the challenge all too wilfully, doing things to bring out more sounds from Jeonghan.
Joshua started by leaving hot kisses on Jeonghanâs neck, greedily sucking up spots on his skin as Jeonghan tried the best he could to keep himself quiet. But he was being driven deliriously mad, he must be living a dream, he kept thinking. His heart was still beating frantically against his chest as Joshua marked up a spot on top of his heart.
Jeonghanâs mind spun, his hand leaving Joshuaâs nape as the trail of kisses inched further down his body. Joshua sucked up another red spot on Jeonghanâs lower tummy, bringing out a strangled sound out of him.
âFuck,â Jeonghan whispered, glancing down at his body. Joshua wrapped his lips around Jeonghanâs swollen cockhead, tasting the precum leaking in his slit.
Joshua had never done something like this before. But he retraced every single thing he liked when he was at the receiving end. So he pulled out his tongue, licking up and down Jeonghanâs length a few times before closing his mouth around the cockhead again and sinking down slowly.
If the loud beating of Jeonghanâs heart wonât wake you up, then the sound of his moans would. His mouth parted, hands flying to clutch at the cushions of the couch. He had to be dreaming, Jeonghan thought. Joshua slid his mouth up and down Jeonghanâs cock, the movements were slow and hesitant, like getting used to it before daring to pick up the pace.
Jeonghan closed his eyes, bringing a hand to the back of Joshuaâs head, following the movements of it. Jeonghan exhaled deeply, enjoying the warmth of Joshuaâs mouth, the tentative, but steady movement of his tongue every time he pulled his head back, swirling around the cockhead.
âJoshua,â he called in a moan. âFuck, stop, stop,â he urged with a whisper.
Joshua pulled his head back, a string of saliva connecting his mouth to Jeonghanâs pink cockhead. âAm I doing it wrong?â he asked innocently.
âNo, I justâŠâ Jeonghan trailed off, letting his head fall back on the cushions. âDonât wanna cum just yet.â
It seemed almost crazy to Jeonghan that some nights ago, he felt so far away from the version of himself that was head over heels for Joshua. But now he knewâthat version of him never really went away.
He still was crazy for Joshua.
Joshua crawled back on top, using his arms to frame Jeonghanâs head. âOkay,â he replied gently, planting a kiss on Jeonghanâs lips. âTell me what you want me to do.â
Jeonghan felt like he had just been pushed into a cliff, and he was free-falling. âIâŠâ he croaked, his eyes shifting from Joshuaâs dark eyes to his plump and soft lips. âI donât know what I want.â
Joshua giggled softly. âIâll take it slowly. Tell me whatâs off the table.â
Jeonghan thought about it for a second. He wanted Joshua; he wanted him so badly that it was starting to become annoying and painful. âKiss me,â he whispered, feeling like it was a good way to retake what they were doing.
Joshua had kissed Jeonghan slowly, but passionately. Their lips fit together so well that the kisses quickly progressed into another make-out session. One thing led to another, and soon Jeonghan would let himself be dragged to your bedroom, where Joshua could get a condom and a bottle of lube.
The scene was brutally alluring to you. Catching them before anyone noticed that you were watching silently as they tried to not wake you up. It quickly got your skin heating up, the way Jeonghan bit down his bottom lip making your thighs press tightly.
But you kept your face covered snugly beneath the bed sheets, watching them without being too obvious about it. You wanted to know how much you could get from the moment without them noticing you. You kept watching the moment unravel before your eyes, wondering what had happened moments before you woke up.
Joshua slid a hand on Jeonghanâs lower back, sliding it down his milky white skin. Both looked like they were dying to voice their pleasure. Joshua kept swallowing his moans while Jeonghan bit harder at his bottom lip.
You dared to uncover your face slightly, just so you could get more from the view in front of you. Jeonghanâs hands were holding onto the bedcovers, you could see his pretty cock, hard, the tip swollen and leaking pre-cum. But he kept himself steady, in place and bending over for Joshua.
A quiet exhale escaped you before you could stop it. Joshua pulled back his hips and then pushed his cock back inside Jeonghan, the motion of his hips deep and calculated. You could tell that it was taking everything in Joshua to keep himself in controlâa vein in his neck had started to pop out, and his breathing was turning fitful.
And you ached to joinâto share the pleasure that they had so jealously kept to themselves. A tingling sensation made your pussy flutter, noticing that you had started to wet your panties.
Jeonghan opened his eyes, blinking a few times to find you looking at them. His lips curved in a knowing smile, and he had to bite his bottom lip as Joshua kept rutting into Jeonghanâs ass. âCome here, baby,â Jeonghan mumbled, palming the bedspread with one hand.
You realized after some moments that he was talking to you. Being so dazed by the image in front of you, that you slowly drew the bed sheets and covers down, uncovering your body as he palmed the bedspread again.
âOh, thank fuck,â Joshua sighed upon spotting youâwide awake, and aware of what your boyfriends were up to.
Joshua pulled his hips back, rutting into Jeonghan harderâdeeper, eliciting a raw moan from Jeonghan. âGo slowly,â Jeonghan said with a low tone, as though he had already given that instruction a couple of times before. A reminder.
âYeah, yeah,â Joshua replied shakily, swallowing so hard his throat bobbed.
You crawled to where Jeonghan was motioning you to. âLay here, princess,â he instructed with a gentle tone, but with a hard edge to it. The expression on his face was taut in pleasure, he was blinking repeatedly, as though his vision were blurry.
You laid back on the bedspread, your eyes flitting from Jeonghanâs to Joshuaâs. âGood morning you two,â you mumbled, smiling softly.
They both smiled, as though they had just accomplished an unspoken mission. âGood morning princess,â Joshua exhaled, giving you a lazy smile.
Jeonghan hooked his fingers beneath the band of your panties, pulling and letting it snap your skin, bringing a yelp out of you. âGet these off now,â he instructed with urgency.
You took your panties off, wondering what Jeonghan wanted to do next. His hand slipped between your thighs, motioning you to spread them for him. Both Joshua and Jeonghan watched as you opened your thighs, unapologetically showing them how wet you had gotten.
âMmn, look how wet she is,â Jeonghan cooed mockingly, pulling his body back so he could turn his head to Joshua.
Joshua smiled softly, meeting Jeonghanâs lips with his own in a swift, open kiss. âYou should eat her out,â he mumbled, giving Jeonghan another kiss.
Jeonghan hummed into the kiss, making you feel jealous for an instant. But you didnât know which kiss you desired moreâJeonghan or Joshuaâs.
Joshua pulled out gently, panting softly as Jeonghan positioned one knee on the foot of the bed for support before bending down so his head met your pussy. And without saying anything else, he licked a broad stripe on your pussy, parting your folds with his fingers.
You pushed your knees back, feet dangling off the bedspread as Jeonghan started eating your pussy out, drinking you in. âFuck, Hannie,â you mewled, bringing a hand to stroke his hair.Â
Jeonghan hummed against your pussy, his fingertips parting your lips trailing down to find your entrance, pushing his middle and pointer finger inside you. His tongue made a circular motion around your swollen clit.
You pushed the upper half of your body on your elbow, keeping your other hand on the back of his head. You saw Joshua realigning himself to Jeonghanâs ass, biting his bottom lip as he pushed his cock inside Jeonghan.
âSo tight,â Joshua sighed, rutting his hips against Jeonghanâs ass in a steady motion.
Jeonghan moaned on your pussy, the tip of his nose nudging against you right before wrapping his lips around your swollen clit, sucking at it lightly.
âHannie,â you cried out, your voice pathetic as your body started to ease into pleasure. âYes, yes, please, just like that.â
Joshua kept fucking Jeonghanâs ass with deep strokes, opening his eyes to find your face. Your features showed the pleasure you were getting from Jeonghanâyour eyebrows were drawn inward, your glossy lips parted as you let out the sweetest moans.
You stroke Jeonghanâs head as he ate you out. He hummed with you every time you moaned. He pressed his tongue against your throbbing clit, flicking it from side to side swiftly, expertly. Your eyes glazed over, your mind going blank as you inched closer to the edge.
âFuck,â Joshua gritted, his thrusts turning sloppy as your moans just pushed him closer to his release. âIâm gonna cum,â he mumbled.
Jeonghan pulled his fingers out of you, taking his hard cock and he started rolling his hand over his cockhead. A muffled and urgent moan came out of him, but he kept eating your pussy out, tugging your clit with his lips as his tongue flicked from side to side, pushing you closer to the edge.
As soon as Joshua saw Jeonghan start stroking himself, he allowed himself to go slightly faster, still fucking him with deep thrusts. Joshua moaned, tilting his head back, trying to keep going despite the growing need to cum.
âFuck, Hannie, HannieâŠâ you mewled, mouth opening wide as you sucked in air, and released it with long, sweet moans. You came hard, limbs trembling pathetically as the waves of your orgasm washed over you.
Jeonghan moaned too, the motion of his hand speeding up slightly right before it went sloppy, and slowed down as spurts of cum dripped from his slit, and landed on his fingers.
Joshua came last, his hips buckling slightly before pushing them slowly, deeply. His whole body went taut with pleasure, filling the condom up with tired and raw moans. âFuck,â he said breathlessly.
Jeonghan pulled his head up from your pussy, he was breathing hard too. He raised his gaze at you, his wet lips stretching in a lazy smile as he sighed. âGood morning, baby.â
Joshua was panting, but that didnât stop him from smiling broadly. âSorry for waking you up,â he said.
You rubbed the back of your finger beneath your eye, gathering a tear. âI donât mind you waking me up like this,â you replied sweetly, sighing a smile too.
âSee,â Jeonghan said. âI told you.â
Joshua rolled his eyes, brushing off the confused expression on your face with a motion of his head. âNo, you didnât.â
Jeonghan glanced back at Joshua, exchanging a look before Jeonghan nodded wordlessly. Joshua pulled his hips back, and Jeonghan grunted slightly at the loss.
âIâll take a shower,â Joshua said tiredly.
âYeah, you do that,â Jeonghan mumbled, finding a tissue to clean his hand. He looked at you, crawling on the bed to slump down next to you.
âComing, bunny?â Joshua asked you.
âI think Iâll stay with Hannie for a bit,â you replied, giving him a small smile. Joshua matched your expression, nodding before heading to the bathroom.
You eased back on the bed, turning over on your side to prop your head on your elbow. âHow are you, babe?â
Jeonghan was lying face down on the bed, but he rose slightly upon hearing your question. âTired,â he muttered.
You brought a hand to stroke his back. âDonât you wanna clean up before resting?â
âI thinkââ he began, but quickly faded, pressing his face onto the bed in defeat. âI canât.â
You frowned. âWhy?â
âI canât feel my legs,â he muttered, turning his head slightly so you saw more from the half of his face. And then, with a sigh, he said: âYour boyfriendâs cock is massive.â
âDonât you mean your boyfriend?â you teased, giggling.
Jeonghan gave you a lazy smile, sighing as he continued hiding the side of his face on the bedcover. âOur boyfriend.â
Your heart fluttered. You leaned in, touching his lips with your own. âCome on, baby,â you whispered sweetly. âLetâs go get cleaned up.â
âNo,â Jeonghan hummed, pushing the tip of his nose against yours before pressing a kiss on your lips. âI donât wanna. Especially if you talk to me that way.â
You chuckled, but eased into his embrace, sighing blissfully as his arms encircled you. Jeonghan kissed you lazily, debating whether he wanted to fall asleep like this. But he eventually gave in. He groaned, his pout easing into a smile when he wasnât able to keep his act. âOkay. Letâs go clean up, princess,â he replied just as sweetly. Â
You pushed yourself up from the bed, Jeonghan following you with a lazy gait as you made it to the bathroom. Joshua was standing beneath the shower stream, water running down his naked body as he pushed his wet hair back.
âIsnât the space too tight for the three of us?â Jeonghan muttered as you grabbed his hand, pulling him to stand in the shower.
âNo, itâs not,â you said.
Joshua giggled, the sound making you lift your gaze to him. His smile was full of joy, his eyes turning into half moons. âWeâll have to look for a place with a bigger shower,â he said with ease, adding a shrug before turning around and exiting the shower.
âOh, about that,â Jeonghan muttered, his gaze flitting to the end of the bathroom where Joshua was wrapping a towel around his waist.
You glanced at him, confused. âWhat?â Then your gaze flickered to Joshua, who was suddenly very busy combing his hair with his fingersâdespite it being wet.
Joshua cleared his throat. âCan we talk about this over breakfast?â Joshua suggested knowingly. His eyebrows knitted together in that annoyingly cute way that made you almost forget that he wanted to change the subject. âIâm starving.â
âTalk about what?â You narrowed your eyes. âYou two really need to stop keeping me out of your conversations.â
Jeonghan giggled at your expression. âYou were asleep, dummy,â he teased, yelping when you swatted his shoulder lightly.
Joshua smiled, leaning against the sink. âShould we go to that place you like, baby?â he asked you, clearly wanting to change the subject.
You grinned. âSure,â you said, drawing out the word, then narrowed your eyes at both of them. âBut I will find out what you were talking about.â
âOver breakfast!â Joshua shot back, grinning before he turned away, and walked out of the bathroom.
Jeonghan laughed, but it was off. As you rinsed your hair, you looked at him. There was something in the way he avoided looking at you.
Your amusement faded. âHey,â you whispered.
âYes?â
âYouâre okay, babe?â you asked, stepping out of the stream so he could finish washing.
âYeah, Iâm fine,â he blinked away, dismissively. âLetâs talk about it over breakfast, yeah?â
âFine,â you nodded. Breakfast.
The warm sunlight stretched over the terrace tables, the crisp morning air nipping at the back of your neck. The scent of fresh coffee and banana pancakes drifted around you, weaving through the space between you and your boyfriends.
It wasnât the first time you, Joshua, and Jeonghan had sat here.
You cut a piece of your pancake, lifting it with your fork before taking a bite. The familiar taste melted on your tongue, just as good as always.
âIs it good?â Joshua asked, sipping from his coffee mug, watching you with a knowing smirk.
You nodded, already cutting another piece to offer him. He accepted it without hesitation, humming in approval as he chewed.
Jeonghan was pushing the food on his plate absentmindedly, his eyes flicking between you and Joshua, before finally letting out a sigh.
âSoâŠâ Jeonghan started, his eyes shifty. âAbout the apartment thing.â
Joshua leaned back on the chair, arms crossed. âYes. The apartment thing,â his smirk softened, tilting his head to one side. âHave you made up your mind about it?â
Jeonghan looked hesitantâjust as he did the last time you brought the subject up. His fingers tightened around the ear of his coffee mug.
You reached out for his hand, commanding his sweet brown eyes to you. âTalk to me.â
He sighed. âItâs not that I donât want to move in together,â he said carefully. âI do. I really do.â
Joshua frowned. âThen whatâs the problem?â
Jeonghan shot him a look. âItâs just⊠isnât it a little soon?â His tone was soft. âWhat if it messes things up?â
The confusion on Joshuaâs face flickered into something more understanding.
âJeonghan,â you said gently, your hand tightening around his. âYou want this.â
âI do,â he admitted with a frustrated sigh. âBut what if we rush it andââ
âThings are changing for the better,â you said. âThat doesnât mean they will fall apart.â
âLook,â Joshua exhaled. âWe donât have to sign a lease today. But we should at least look.âÂ
Jeonghan hesitated, looking at you and then at Joshua. The tension of his shoulders eased. âOkay,â he said. âWe look.â
The elevator ride was quiet, save for the soft hum of the mechanical pull. You glanced at Joshua, and then Jeonghan, your fingers wrapping tightly around the strap of your bag. Out of nervousness, you dropped your gaze to your phone screen, looking at the options you had from the realtor.
Joshua stood beside you, practically buzzing with excitement, his hands shoved into the pockets of his black denim jeans. âI have a good feeling about this one,â he murmured, leaning over you.
You knew why he told you that. Jeonghan was quiet, his eyes fixed on the numbers above the elevator doors. He hadnât said much since breakfast, only nervously exchanging some words as you arrived.
The doors slid open, revealing a bright, airy apartment with floor-to-ceiling windows. Sunlight spilled across the marble floors, making the space feel impossibly open.
âOh,â you breathed as you stepped inside first. âI love this.â
Joshua let out a hum as he followed you. âOkay, yeah,â he mumbled. âI see why you like this,â he agreed, turning to Jeonghan. âWhat do you think?â
Jeonghan was the one to step in last, his gaze sweeping over the empty space. His hands were buried into the pocket of his hoodie, shoulder stiff as he gave you and Joshua a shrug. âItâs nice,â he said carefully.
Your ears perked at the hesitation. âButâŠ?â
He blinked slowly at you. âLetâs look around, okay?â
You nodded, trying to ignore his reluctance and just let him be. You walked around the place, the living room had high ceilings, and faux marble floors that gleamed under the sunlight pouring in from the windows.
The space felt wide, and you started imagining where to put the furniture that you were thinking of buying, the furniture that you also owned. The kitchen was sleek, and functional with sandy brown and marble countertops. A wide island sat in the center, perfect for the mornings or late-night conversations.
Joshua leaned on the wide countertop, looking around with awe. âI like this place,â he mumbled, nodding in approval.
Jeonghan was standing by the window quietly, his gaze fixed on the city beyond.
You moved past them, eager to see the bedrooms. The first was smaller, probably meant for guests, but you imagined it to be your new office. There was a second room, which you imagined could fit a bed in it, maybe your bed, since Jeonghanâs mattress was even larger than yours.
Then came the master bedroom, spacious, with a balcony that overlooked the quiet streets below. It had an en-suite bathroom, which was ad hoc for your plans. A deep soaking tub sat beneath another large window, and a glass-enclosed rainfall shower took up one side of the space. A dual sink vanity that made the space remind you of a hotel room.
âThis is perfect,â you murmured, turning to see Joshua leaning against the doorframe, watching you with a knowing smile.
But when you glanced past him at Jeonghan, he wasnât smiling, he wasnât seeing the twinkle in your eye. He stood near the hallway, chewing at his bottom lip.
âHannie, hey,â you approached him, his gaze found yours, as though snapping him from a train of thoughts. âWhatâs wrong?â
âItâs just happening too fast,â he whispered. âWe havenât even been us for that long.â
Joshua scoffed, shrugging as he crossed his arms over his chest. âThis isnât a marriage proposal, Jeonghan. Itâs just an apartment.â
You rolled your eyes, shooting him a look but before you could say anything, Jeonghan replied. âBut itâs not just an apartment, is it?â His voice was gentle, but you could see the confusion in his eyes. âItâs a homeâfor all three of us.â
Your heart stammered. âDo you want that?â you asked gently.
Jeonghan hesitated, then sighed. âOf course I do. I wouldnât be here if I didnât.â He looked around the space again, his eyes lingering on the sunlight pouring in through the windows. âI just donât want to screw this up.â
Joshuaâs gaze softened. âWe wonât, Hannie,â he said.
You reached out to take his hand. âAnd if something happens, weâll figure it out, yes?â
Jeonghan huffed a quiet laugh, rolling his eyes. âYes. We will.â
Joshua smiled, throwing an arm around Jeonghanâs shoulders as he dragged him across the master bedroom, rambling about taking a look at the balcony where he would be able to smoke freely.
You watched them with a smile, trailing behind and already picturing the whole apartment as something more than just a place to live. Home.
Some days later, you had to start packing. It was especially hard since you were also in the middle of finishing the draft of your book. Juggling both felt nearly impossibleâthough it became slightly more manageable with Joshuaâs help. He had eagerly offered to start packing, but you knew all too well that his definition of packing wasnât exactly something you could trust.
Cardboard boxes were stacked in piles, pushed against the empty wall of your studio office. You stood still for a moment, letting your gaze sweep over the space that had been your fortress through long days and even longer nights of hard work. A lump formed in your throat as you remembered when this place had been nothing more than a desk, a chair, and your computer.
It had grown with you, evolved alongside you. And now, you were taking a leap into something new.
From the next room, the soft murmur of a familiar voice blended with the lazy strumming of an acoustic guitar. If you listened closely, you could hear Joshua singingâhis voice dipping into quiet repetition whenever he fumbled a chord. But to you, even his mistakes sounded perfect. You didnât even realize you had moved until you found yourself pulled toward the sound, drifting from the studio into the bedroom.
Joshua sat at the foot of the bed, one leg curled beside him, the guitar propped against his thigh. His head tilted downward, strands of hair slipping over his eyes, concealing his face as he concentrated on his fingers. The light caught on the smooth wood of the guitar as his hands worked through the chords again, more sure this time, more fluid.
A small smile tugged at his lips, unseen by you, as he focused on the music.
Leaning against the doorframe, you watched, letting the warmth of the moment settle in your chest. There was something so grounding about having him here, about the way his presence softened the edges of your world.
The guitarâs strings vibrated beneath his fingertips as he hummed through the final words of the verse he had crafted, his voice settling into the quiet. A flicker of realization crossed his face when he landed on the right chord, and his lips parted slightly as if he were savoring the sound.
And then, finally, he lifted his gaze to you. His eyes held that glint you lovedâthe one that made something deep inside you feel light and steady all at once.
âHi handsome,â you mumbled, even though you lived together, you felt like you had not spoken to him in some hours while you packed the stuff from the studio.
âHey beautiful,â he pressed his lips into a sweet smile, one that turned his beautiful eyes into half moons.
âI thought you were packing the kitchen stuff,â you said, moving from the doorframe.
âI finished ages ago,â he emphasized with a light chuckle, leaving the guitar aside as you approached him. âYou were too preoccupied in there, so I didnât interrupt you,â he took your hand when you were within reach.
You smiled in response, looking at the soft features of his face. âWhat were you doing?â you mumbled as he pressed his lips to your knuckles.
âI was composing something, I think it came out alright,â he replied, turning briefly to hit the stop record button on the screen of his phone.
âI liked the sound of that,â you complimented, liking that his hands found you as soon as you came closer to him.
âYeah?â he smirked slowly. âWanna give it a try?â
You matched his smile, but yours had a tint of shyness. âSure.â
âCome here,â he pulled you to his lap, smoothly turning you over before you sat on the bed, right on the space between his thighs. âIâll teach you.â
âThis is an improper way to teach, Professor Hong,â you giggled, pressing your back against his chest.
âWhat can I say, you really have a knack for getting the most improper side out of me, Ms. Hong,â he frowned with faux chide, but looked cute at the same time; his eyebrows drawn inward, his mouth pressed into a line.
âReally, because I could say exactly the same of you,â you giggled, tapping the tip of his nose with your finger.
He blinked into a smile that took over his entire face. âOh thatâs not true,â he replied with a light giggle as well. âYou were already very indecent when I met you,â he joked, knowing the reaction his comment would bring out of you.
âIndecent?!â you huffed, widening your eyes in indignation.
He laughed, tilting his head back as the sweet sound bubbled out of his mouth. âYes, very,â he emphasized, pressing his large hands on your tummy to bring you even closer to him. âYou are a very naughty girl.â
You rolled your eyes, trying to mask the smile that eventually broke in the features of your face. âGet to work, Professor Hong.â
âRight away, Ms. Hong,â he mumbled happily, grabbing the guitar and placing it on your thigh.
Keeping one hand on the body of the guitar, he guided your hand on the neck. âPlace your index finger here,â he commanded with a soft tone, and you followed, pressing your finger down on the first fret, just where he instructed.
You would have paid more attention to his following instructions if it were not for the closeness of his mouth to your ear. When he spoke, his sweet voice made you want to melt into it.
âNow, again, you move your middle finger here,â he continued, simultaneously instructing you to strum the strings as you move your fingers on each fret, slowly piecing the song he composed.
âLike this?â you mumbled faintly, sneaking a swift look at his face.
âJust like that,â he nodded, not really noticing that you were now caught up in him, the features of his face, his beautiful hands guiding you through his song, and the warmth of his body sitting closely behind you.
âSorry,â you smiled meekly when you accidentally missed one note.
âNo, itâs alright,â he quickly put in. âYouâre doing great, baby.â
But in fact, you were not doing great. You were clumsy, distracted; and you feared it showed in the movement of your fingers. âIâm terrible at this,â you said.
âNo one is good at the first time,â he replied sweetly. âLetâs try one more time, alright?â
âYeah, okay,â you nodded, biting your lip in concentration to get every note he had taught you. It was merely a ten-second bit from the song you had heard him practice, but difficult enough for you.
âSlowly, thatâs right, baby,â he mumbled, and you knew from his tone alone that he was smiling. âSee? I told you, youâre great!â
âI think I got it,â you said, pausing to look at him.
âYou sure do,â he replied in praise, his eyes glinting again with that emotion you had noticed when you walked into the room.
You could no longer resist it, you closed the space between your mouth and his, pressing a quick kiss and backed away meekly.
âKissing your professor is quite indecent on your part, miss,â he smirked.
âSorry, I couldnât help it,â you sighed.
âMmm, you just started something that you wonât be able to finish,â he mumbled, bringing a hand to cup your cheek. âKiss me,â he instructed with the same soft tone, but the firmness of his command was different, it ignited a part deep within you.
You hummed as his lips locked with yours, kissing you hungrily. His tongue outlined your bottom lip as his hand slid from your cheek to your nape, his fingers curling around your hair. âI love you,â he mumbled, breaking the kiss briefly.
âI love you,â you replied, feeling the moment slow down.
Joshua rested his forehead on yours, letting out a soft sigh that caressed your lips. âI think our practice session is over,â he said, grinning as he moved the guitar from your lap and placed it on the floor.
âWhat are you planning to do?â you grinned as well, knowing that look on his face.
âI donât know,â he mumbled in between kisses, his tone aloof and his kiss sloppy. âHow about we just make out and improvise from there?â
âYeah, that sounds great,â you replied, equally aloof.
Then, he lay down on the bed, his arms securing you by the waist pulling you on top. A sigh from his part was muffled in your mouth when he felt your chest pressed to his, he could feel that you wore nothing beneath that zipper hoodie, and that just added to the anticipation building up inside him.
You brought a hand to his cheek, cupping it as you started dominating the kiss. Joshua remained with his eyes closed through it, letting you capture his lips with your own with gentle, but messy movements. The sounds were mixed with his sighs and yours, the wet sounds of your lips in his, and a few tiny moans from you as you deepened the kiss.
His hands roved on your back, trailing down to the small of your back, where they rested momentarily. Another small moan from your part was muffled in his mouth, and that was the only confirmation he needed. He travelled further down, his hands fitting perfectly on your round ass to give it a gentle squeeze.
You moved your knees to each side of his hips, your hands travelling from his face to his broad shoulders, feeling his lean body over his white t-shirt. He swallowed back a tiny moan when you touched his bulging pecs in small motions, up and down while his hands moved from your ass to touch your thighs over your sweats.
Slowly, both your clothes and his became an obstacle between you, since you needed to feel his skin on yours, to see his beautiful body, to explore it inch by inch without his clothes on. But you continued kissing him fervently, sloppily moving your lips on his, enjoying his faint moans muffled by your mouth.
You paused for air, and he also breathed shakily as the tip of your nose bumped with his, drawing a lazy smile from him. Ignoring how flustered you were already, and how hot your face had grown, you reached out for his hands, which were parked on your hips and inching away from his face to look into his eyes, you placed them on your chest. You batted your eyelashes at him sheepishly, moaning sweetly when his hands cupped your tits over your hoodie, his thumbs effortlessly finding your pebbled nipples.
Instinctively, you pressed your crotch against his, grinding your hips with slow motions to relieve the tingling sensation bothering you. A sweet sound came out of you, sparking something in his eyes, as he kneaded your tits, pressing your nipples with his thumbs.
His gaze focused on your hand when you fumbled with the zipper of your hoodie, following it as it came apart, and slowly displayed your naked chest to him. You sat back on him, enjoying the way his big eyes darkened when you slid the hoodie off your shoulders and put it aside.
You leaned forward again, pressing your bare chest on him, making him release a sigh upon feeling your breasts, even if it were over his t-shirt. You grabbed his face, closing the space between his lips and yours with a tender kiss, slow at first, feeling your pulse quicken.
He tensed when you slipped your hands under the white t-shirt he wore, trying to get rid of it. âNo, stop,â he murmured, his voice faint but it brought you to a halt in a split-second.
You froze, looking at the features of his face to understand why he was stopping you from undressing. âYou want to do it?â you asked, your tone giving away that you were confused.
âSlow down, baby,â he said, showing you a small smile. âThereâs no need to rush. Enjoy this.â
âBut I want to make you feel good,â you mumbled, stammering over your words as your face burned with shame.
âI know, and I love that about you,â he said, his smile growing into a more reassuring one. âBut let me be in charge, alright?â
âAlright,â you conceded, matching his sweet smile.
Then, he smoothly rolled over, taking your body with him, and placing your back against the mattress. You encircled his broad shoulders with your arms, just as he leaned over to kiss your face, pressing his lips on the apple of your cheek with a soft sigh on his part. He made a trail of kisses from there to the shell of your ear, bringing a tiny laugh out of you when his breath fanned over a sensitive area on your skin.
âI love you,â he murmured against your ear, smiling when your body tensed and your skin prickled.
âAnd I love you, Josh,â you replied sweetly, your eyes glinting with joy and adoration for him when he pulled back to see the tiny bumps in your skin.
âYouâre so sensitive,â he said, bending to kiss you on the plain of your chest, his wet lips only making it worse for you because each kiss had you squirming under him.
Before you could even agree with him, his lips reached one of your pebbled nipples, pressing soft kisses that slowly evolved into grazing of teeth, bringing a small moan out of you. You held onto him, one hand on his nape, the other around his bicep, fingers digging into the hard muscle.
Discovering how responsive you were being, he slid the tip of his tongue on your areola, barely caressing it but getting your skin to prickle again. You released a short gasp as your thighs tensed up, and as he switched to do the same on your other nipple, your core was already fluttering, arousal sticking to your panties.
You swallowed hard, trying to keep the sounds to yourself. But then he started suckling on your sensitive nipple, the sounds he was making loud and wet, drool trickling on your skin. You gasped, the tension building up between your legs was irritating. âJoshua,â you called.
âMm?â he replied, not bothering to lift his head or to stop kissing your tits.
âI need more,â you sighed, sneaking your hands beneath his t-shirt again, but not in an attempt to undress him, this time you just wanted to feel his skin, to give him but a slight taste of what you felt.
Joshua shuddered upon your fingernails grazing his back. âMore?â he egged you on, but he made no motion to follow your requests, he just simply moved his kisses to the curve of your neck, where he placed another wet kiss on your sensitive skin.
âUh-huh,â you mewled, closing your eyes to savor the euphoric feeling of his lips worshiping you. You slid your hands on his back, dragging the white t-shirt along. âNe-need you.â
He let out a sigh, backing away slightly so you could peel the t-shirt off his torso. His hair got ruffled in the process which you brushed back with both hands as he leaned over you again. Joshua took your hands, lacing your fingers with his and placing them above your head.
âEasy, baby,â he whispered, pressing soft kisses on your bottom lip.
You sighed shakily. He is in charge, you reminded yourself. âSorry,â you said meekly, letting him retake control, letting him do whatever he wanted to you.
âItâs okay,â he drawled, pressing his chest against yours, smiling when you let out a mewling sound again when your sensitive nipples brushed against his skin. âThereâs nothing wrong with being a little needy, right?â
Your eyebrows pinched.
âIâll take care of you tonight, bunny, donât worry,â he murmured, his tone sweet but falling into the sultry one he always used in the bedroom.Â
âOkay,â you replied, swallowing hard when he showed you a slight smirk.
Then Joshua lowered his hips between your parted legs, pressing your hands down the pillows as he supported himself with his elbows too. He dove for another kiss, his lips locking in yours hungrily, letting out a moan in your mouth and reminding you how much he loved kissing you.
It became asphyxiating: to be under the full weight of his body, the grip of his hands on you, kissing you relentlessly. But you loved every second of it, the taste of his kiss, the smell of the cologne impregnated on his clothes, his skin. You loved everything about him, it drove you crazy.
Thoughtlessly, you pushed your hips up despite the cage he had made with his body. The friction you got from rubbing yourself on the crotch of his jeans was delicious, so you did it again, grinding your hips with small motions.
âBrat,â he whispered reproachfully, but enjoyment flashed on the features of his face as you drew your eyebrows in, mouth parting to let out a whiny moan.
âGod, Josh,â you gasped, closing your eyes, delighting over the much-desired friction you got from rubbing yourself on his crotch, slowly feeling his cock stir beneath his jeans.
âAre you gonna come like this, bunny?â he cooed, and you understood from his tone that he was teasing you.
âUh-huh,â you parted your mouth, letting out a series of moans as pleasure bloomed inside you, finding a pace to roll your hips beneath him to reach your climax. You found his hard cock with your crotch, mewling as you rubbed yourself on him, desperation rising inside you as you rolled your hips harder.
You heard a light chuckle coming from him, and then he did something unexpected. He started grinding his cock on your pussy, rolling his hips expertly against yours in the same motion he always did when he was inside you.
âFuck, Joshua, yes, yes,â you mewled pathetically, taking in one deep breath before you came undone beneath his hard body.
Just by your moans alone, he could tell that you had reached your release. The sounds coming out of you were sweet and airy, the most angelic moans he had ever heard from anyone, they drove him insane. He swore that the sounds alone were so arousing that he could get hard just from hearing you.
Joshua stared at your face riddled by pleasure as you came down from your high, smiling softly at him when you opened your eyes. âFelt good?â he asked, feeling his own arousal begin to bother him, his cock stirring beneath the hard fabric of his jeans hindering him.
âYeah,â you let out an airy laugh, thinking of how pathetic you may have sounded, or looked. âIâm sorry?â you raised your eyebrows innocently. Â
âAre you going to behave now?â he asked with a sweet tone, releasing his grip from your hands to brush some rebellious strands of hair away from your face.
âYes,â you replied, nodding your head obediently, but concealing a smile by biting your lower lip.
âGood,â he whispered, leaning to press a kiss on the tip of your nose. He sat back on his haunches, his fingers swiftly releasing the belt buckle and with one motion he pulled the belt from all the loops of his jeans, setting it aside on the bed, next to you. âIâll use that on you if you donât.â
A lazy smirk appeared on his face when he saw a fascination flash in your eyes. âIâll behave,â you cooed sweetly. But you could not help but plan to retaliate somehow.
You jolted slightly when your phone started buzzing on the bedside table, the loud noise from it making you snap your hand to grab it. âSorry,â you told Joshua, sneaking a look at his face and then at the screen, which was displaying Jeonghanâs name on it.
It was on instinct, almost, you swiped your finger on the green button, pressing the phone to your cheek. âHi, babe,â you replied, the words flying out of your mouth before you even processed that Joshua was looking at you.
âHey, princess,â Jeonghanâs voice was loud, you could swear that Joshua heard it too. âAre you busy? Iâm on my way to yours, maybe we could-,â
âWeâre in the middle of something here,â Joshuaâs voice cut through Jeonghanâs and from his tone, you could hear the playfulness in it, but also a slight hint of annoyance.
You saw his hand reaching out to grab the phone and you passed it to him, thinking that he was going to say something else, but instead, he pressed the red button, hanging Jeonghan up and tossed the phone aside, heedlessly.
âSo much for behaving,â he said darkly.
âIâm sorry,â you replied shamefully, but giggling when he just gave you a playful eye roll. âI just answered the phone without thinking!â
âYeah, and now youâre going to pay for it,â the corner of his lips curved slightly.
You watched him sit back on his haunches one more time, but this time it was to get rid of his dark denim jeans. You fought the urge to undress him yourself, but noticing the glint in your eye, his playful smirk grew broader on his face. He climbed down from the bed, getting rid of all his clothes quite unceremoniously, robbing you of the pleasure of both taking his clothes off and enjoying the view of him peeling them item by item.
âStay there,â he instructed when you made a motion to follow him by sitting up on the bed.
âBut I wantâ,â you sighed in frustration before you could tell him that you wanted to please him. âFine,â you huffed.
Joshua smiled at your mini tantrum, pressing one knee and then the other on the bed to climb on it. Your eyes followed him, every movement of his body made his toned muscles shift, his strong thighs calling your attention, quite nearly robbing it completely. Your gaze trailed to his legs, then up his body, glorious in his nakedness. And yours completely.
âLike what you see?â he asked playfully, following your gaze down his body. He was growing stronger, and it showed in the bulk of his biceps, his chest bulging. The muscles of his abdomen were soft but well-defined, the same as the ones of his quads.
âYeah, I do. A lot,â you replied, feeling as you did the first time you saw him naked. Your eyes locked with his, and your heart gave a leap when you saw the endearment showing in his eyes.
He showed you a smirk in response, biting back some playful quip as he grabbed the belt from your side. You had forgotten about it, confusion forming on the features of your face when he took the belt by both ends, straightening it out in front of you.
âGive me your wrists,â he commanded, motioning to your hands resting between your legs.
Before you decided on putting up a fight and making it more difficult for him to dom you, a sigh came out of youâthrilled over the fact that he was giving you something you did not know you missed. You lifted your hands, extending your arms out to him.
âGood girl,â he said, but grabbing your wrists with one large hand. He looped his belt around your wrists, once, twice, coiling the leather until it was firmly binding your hands together. âLie down.â
You lay down, keeping your eyes on him as he crawled on top of you, taking your bound hands by his belt and forcing them above your head. Joshua slotted his hips between your parted thighs, making you whine slightly when you could not feel him freely because you still had your sweats on.
âYouâre going to be good for me now, baby?â he asked, his tone honeyed but he knew just how enticing it was to you.Â
âYeah,â you replied, not hiding the excitement in your demeanor, looking at him with wide eyes, flushing as he smirked at you once again.
Joshua pressed his lips against yours, kissing you tenderly. âWe have until Jeonghan gets here to have fun,â he said.
âHeâs going to be mad that weâre doing this without him,â you murmured against his lips, squirming slightly when his hand moved to cup your chin, his fingers squeezing your cheeks.
âI donât care,â he replied, giving you another kiss, this one was harder, hungrier. âLet him be mad all he wants when he gets here. Youâre mine for now.â
You emitted a short giggle, the sound sweet and shaky with anticipation. âWhat are you going to do?â
He looked lost for a second. âI thought of improvising but,â he gasped, moving back so he could take a look at the watch neatly sitting around his wrist. âWe have at least some good twenty minutes until Jeonghan gets here.â
âSeems like you know his routine well,â you pointed impishly.
âJust like I know yours, baby,â he shrugged with ease, leaning over you once more, placing his hands above your shoulders. âWhatâs your point?â he mumbled, sealing his lips with yours with sweet kisses.
âNo points, I just think itâs cute,â you replied in kind, laughing then his kisses became more repetitive, quick. He trailed down from your lips to your jawline, making your skin prickle again when he reached your neck.
âCute, huh?â he breathed, kissing the dent between your collarbones.
âI think you two are cute,â you added, closing your eyes as his lips reached your chest.
Joshua took a moment to let your words sink in. The thing in his heart had settled deeply, making its home there. It was obvious to you that both Jeonghan and Joshua had unspoken feelings for each other. You could see it in their eyes when they looked at each otherâwhen they talked about each other.
The room fell silent. The only noises Joshua could hear were the sweet noises you made when you sighed, and the noises he made when he planted a new kiss on your skin. For a moment, it felt to Joshua that this could be his foreverâbeing with you, loving you and Jeonghan. The idea sent a rush to his brain, making him sigh against your tummy.
Before he could take his time torturing you with kisses, he went crazy, grabbing the waistband of your sweats to pull them down your legs. Loving the way you always looked flustered whenever he undressed you. No matter how many times heâs done it in the past, you always got that look on your face.
The moment seemed to slow down, as he glanced at your eyes and then at your body, smiling because he couldnât keep the emotions to himself. He was happy and in love.
There was no need to talkâhe felt like all he could do was stare lovingly at your body, as he wondered what on earth he did to get you. He leaned over you, placing a kiss on your forehead, then the tip of your nose, making you laugh sweetly. He rushed and kissed your smile too, before he continued with his trail of kisses down your body.
He hooked his fingers around the waistband of the blue boyshorts you were wearingâhe loved these ones, how they looked on you. He felt like the more comfortable you were, the cuter you looked. His lips curved in a smile, and you mirrored it knowingly.
âYou know I like these,â he mumbled, pulling the boyshorts down your legs.
You nodded wordlessly, pushing your hips up slightly so he could finish taking your clothes off. âCan I keep my socks on?â you asked with a tiny tone, seeing his hand circle your ankle.
Joshua looked back to your faceâhis heart dropping the moment he saw you looking up innocently at him. He felt like he could melt right there and then. âOf course, baby,â he replied, returning back to the trail of kisses he was marking down your body.
âJosh,â you sighed, hands struggling to grab his head as he kissed your lower tummy.
He smiled against your skin, kissing the spot below your belly button, enjoying the way your skin prickled. You moaned softly as he sucked a lovebite into your skin, tensing up under his body but letting him do more anyway. His lips trailed down, reaching your mound and sucking another red spot there.
Your mouth parted, mind torn between wanting to get more hickeys sucked into your body and also wanting him to just eat you out already. You let out a silent moan, glancing down your body as he sucked your inner thighs, parting them for him with his hands.
âFuck,â you whispered, closing your eyes again. You moved your bound hands, trying to reach him and hold him thereâbetween your legs.
But Joshua raised his dark eyes, finding out what you were about to do. âUh-huh,â he mumbled softly, arching his studded eyebrow. âHands where I left them, princess.â
You swallowed, nodding as you left your hands above your head. You tried to ignore the way that name sounded on his lips, reminding you that Jeonghan was on his way to your apartment.
Joshua leaned down, pressing a kiss on your pussy lips without looking away from your eyes. âBe good,â he whispered, his eyes gathering every detail of your expression.
Then he pulled out his tongue, letting it hang from his lower lip lightly before sliding it against your clit. You tensed up under him, looking at him as his tongue slid on your swollen clit from side to side, slowly rousing every nerve ending.
Joshua stopped, pulling back his head from your pussy and pushing himself on his arms. You whined instantly at the loss of his tongue, pleasuring you, and making him giggle. âWait a second,â he said with a soft tone.
He reached out to grab the pillow beside yours. Your tummy fluttered, knowing exactly what he would do with the pillowâyou raised your knees from the bed, leaving only the soles of your feet planted on the covers.
âGood girl,â he praised as he placed the pillow right below your butt, putting some support for his head. And thatâs how you knew, Joshua wanted to take his time eating your pussy out.
Placing his elbows on the pillow, he grabbed your thighs, keeping them parted for him as he bowed his head over your pussy. You watched him pull out his tongue again, dragging it against your parted folds slowly.
The feeling drew out a moan from you, making you close your eyes at the sweet pleasure you got from his tongue swirling around your swollen clit in slow, lazy motions. His eyes raised, finding yours.
Joshua felt a special kind of rush whenever he made eye contact as he ate you out. You looked trapped in a daze like you wanted to speak but never could. Only sweet, gentle moans came out of you, signaling him to keep going. Your body went rigid, as though focusing on not feeling anything else but the motions of his tongue on your pussy.
You could feel the tension coiling, but it happened slowly. Joshua kept his tongue relaxed, only moving it in slow, light motions on your clitâhe did this knowing that it would drive you crazy.
âJoshua,â you called out, closing your eyes as the tension grew. âFaster, please.â
He didnât reply, in fact, you knew that there would be nothing you could say to him that would make him stop licking your clit. He just kept going, his tongue moving without applying real pleasure on your clit, only moving it gently.
You whined, gasping for air as the pleasure only built more and more, but it never got you there. âPlease, Joshua, give me more,â you said, your breathing so unsteady already that you thought you sounded pathetic.
Joshua was amused, in fact, when you opened your eyes, you could see a ghost of a smile on his face. But he gave you what you wantedâmore. The movement of his tongue switched, licking your clit up and down, applying more pressure to it but not enough to make you cum.
You complained again, hips buckling slightly as you moved your knees up. Joshua groaned, using his hands to circle your thighs to keep you steady for him. Then he did something you didnât expect, he gave you more.
It was as though your bad attitude was rewarded instantly. That never meant anything good. But he slipped two fingers inside you, curling them gently against your walls as he continued licking your pussy up and down.
You moaned lewdly, wanting to melt into the bed. The pleasure was so great that you couldnât even register that Joshua had smiled, the breath from his sigh caressing your skin lightly. You were too lostâanticipating your release, and loving the way his tongue felt on you.
But it wasnât enough. You whined again, this time it sounded even more pathetic. âJosh, please,â you said, your breathing so ragged now that it almost sounded like you were sobbing. âPlease, make me cum.â
But he didnât give in, not this time. The massaging of his fingers only made it worse, contributing to the anticipation but not taking you higher.
âStop edging me, please,â you sobbed now, your hands struggling against their bond. âPlease, please, Josh, let me cum.â
Then, he removed his fingers, pulling back from your pussy completely, hands and mouth. You let out a pathetic cry, watching him wipe his chin with the back of his mouth, looking at you as though he had just accomplished a mission.
Riled up, you buckled your hips at him. âPlease, Josh,â you said but made no move to free your wrists from his belt.
Joshua laughed, loving the way your face looked as you beggedâeyebrows drawn inward, pouty lips and everything. He sat back on his knees, and taking another good look at you, he smiled. âTurn over for me,â he said, patting the pillow below your but. âAnd put your tummy here,â he indicated.
You did what he said, feeling a rush of warmth invade you, knowing what was about to come. Using your elbows as support, you placed your lower tummy on the pillow, thus leaving your hips lifted.
You wanted to turn to see him, to see what he was about to do. But he was quick, grabbing your hips with his hands, placing you perfectly on the pillow before raising a hand to give you a firm spank. You yelped against the bedcovers and then moaned, relishing the sweet sting of his hand on you.
Then you felt the bed shift, the bed creaking and dipping as Joshua placed each of his knees at your sides. You fought the urge to turn and look at him, but then you were planting your elbows on the bed, giving yourself some support to turn your head over your shoulder.
Joshua had that look in his eyes. A desperate hunger burned in his dark eyes, heavy with lust as his gaze lingered on your bodyâas though debating what to do with you first.
The hand that was on your waist circled back to grab the side of your butt, while his other hand rolled over his cock as he aligned it with your entrance. You bit your lip and arched your back, using the pillow below you for support.
Joshua smiled lightly, sighing out in delight as the tip of his cock touched your sopping pussy. âThatâs it,â he whispered, pushing his hips slowly so his cock slipped inside you. âThatâs my good slut.â
You moaned, the sound coming out whiny as Joshua sunk inside your walls so deep your eyes started to water. Pushing your face against the mattress, you muffled out your moans as he dragged his cock out of you, then pushed it back in with full, deep thrusts.
Joshua sighed, the view of his cock disappearing inside you drove him crazy. Letting his head drop back, he started thrusting at a steady pace, trying to keep his self-control. But another look at your body made him moan deeplyâthe way your ass looked as he pushed inside you, the line of your beautiful back stretching before him.
And those moans. It was all just too much. He leaned over, placing his elbows at your sides and continued fucking you, slowly rolling his hips, pushing his cock inside your throbbing pussy.
âJosh,â you whimpered. The feeling you got from his cock massaging your walls was so good that you had to suppress your cries on your bed covers.
âLike that?â Joshua mumbled, smiling when all you could do was give him small nods. He bowed his head to kiss your shoulder, drawing another muffled cry from you.
Joshua kissed your cheek before his thrusts picked up the pace, fucking you deeply. Turning his head, he spotted Jeonghan standing in the doorway, leaning on one side as he crossed his arms. Joshua showed him a tired smile, triumphant that his plan had workedâand that you had completely forgotten about it.
Your moans became airy until you couldnât voice out the pleasure consuming you. âGod, JoshuaâŠâ you called out, still pressing your face on the bedcovers. âIt feels so goodâŠâ
âYeah?â he sighed, pushing his cock inside you a little faster. He planted another kiss on your shoulder, deciding to ignore Jeonghan for a little while. âI imagine that this is how I get you pregnant.â
A mewling sound slipped past your lips, buckling your hips up for him. âGod, yes, Josh,â you cried. âPlease, pleaseâŠâ
âYeah, you want that?â he gasped, the sound of your cries driving him a little crazy. âAre you cumming for me, baby?â
âNo,â you mumbled, struggling against the belt restraining your hands. âPleaseânot yet,â you whined.Â
Joshua noticed, using one hand to undo the belt around your wrists, freeing you. âYou can cum, baby. Iâm not stopping,â he mumbled sweetly.
You practically obeyed, pleasure blooming inside you in waves, spreading to your every limb, and dancing beneath your skin.
âJust like that,â Joshua muttered, fitful breaths coming out of him as he felt your walls clamping down around his cock. But he kept pushing inside you, reaching so deep that you felt like you could cum again.
âFuck, youâre so wet, baby,â Joshua sighed, hearing the noises coming out of your dripping pussy. He gritted his teeth, sighing on your neck as his vision blurred.Â
Then he slipped a hand beneath your neck, circling it to pull your head up. You gasped and opened your eyesâonly to find Jeonghan watching you, his eyes trained on both you and Joshua.
A broken whimper spilled out of you, a rush sizzling on your cheeks as the act of being watched just added more to your pleasure. Jeonghan traced with his eyes every detail, as though he wanted to touch, to feel you and Joshua but settled for just watching. He took in a deep breath, leaning the side of his head on the doorway, but you could tellâhe ached to join you and Joshua.
âYouâre being such a good girl for me,â Joshua whispered, his breathing becoming more ragged as he felt closer to his release. He glanced at Jeonghan. âDo you want Jeonghan to make you a mommy too?â
A broken squeal came out of you. âYes, god, yes,â you sighed, closing your eyes as you felt your orgasm subsiding, leaving you with gentle waves. âP-please.â
âDonât worry, baby,â he planted a kiss on your cheek, his thrusts becoming sloppy as ropes of cum spilled out of him. A half groan escaped him as he closed his eyes, delirious with the idea of getting you pregnant. âWeâll make you a mommy.â
Joshua pushed his hips against your ass with lazy thrusts, finishing inside you with a blissful sigh. Sneaking a glance up at Jeonghan, he smiled upon finding his lust-filled eyes. Joshua kissed the side of your head, panting slightly as you seemed to be dissolved into pure pleasure.
âAre you ready for Hannie, baby?â he asked, watching your face, outlining every feature of it.
âYeah,â you sighed tiredly but still wanted more.
Joshua smiled at you, placing a ghostly kiss on one corner of your mouth before pulling back. He rolled over on the bed, slumping his body next to you on the mattress just as Jeonghan approached the foot of the bed.
You turned over carefully, discarding the pillow beneath you and watching Jeonghan as he got rid of his long-sleeved t-shirt with one motion, letting it fall onto the floor. âHi, baby,â he said to you, as though he hadnât just talked to you over the phone half an hour ago.
âHi, babe,â you sighed tiredly, stretching your arms out to him.
He giggled. âWait,â he whispered shyly, throwing a glance at Joshua who was also watching as pieces of clothing hit the floor. âHi, you.â
Joshua showed him a light smile, his heart fluttering nervously. âHey,â he whispered, swallowing hard as he watched his best friendâhis boyfriend, climbing up the bed, fully naked and ready for you. His pretty cock standing fully hard, and leaking precum.
âMmn, you kept these on,â Jeonghan pointed, running a finger around the hem of one of your socks.
You smiled, skin prickling as his finger traced a shapeless pattern on your leg. The sight made Jeonghan smile. âLook at you,â he sighed, sending you an endearing look. âSo responsive. As if you hadnât just been fucked.â
You gave him a fucked out smile, which only puzzled Jeonghan because you looked so sweet to him. His fingertips made a trail from your ankle to your knee, before patting it lightly. You knew what he meant by that, and you obliged, parting your legs for him.
âGood girl,â he whispered, pushing his dark hair back with one hand. That was when you noticed that he was wearing one of your scrunchies around his wristâand nothing else. You sighed embarrassingly loud, looking at his beautiful body, wholly naked in between your thighs.
He stood on his knees before you, looking at you with so much love that your heart felt squeezed. Jeonghan placed his hands on each side of your shoulders, bending over to place a swift kiss on your lips. âWant more, baby?â he cooed, touching the tip of your nose with his. âHm?â
âYeah,â you replied breathily, wrapping your arms around his shoulders. âI want you now.â
Jeonghan gave you a sweet smile. âIâll give you more, baby,â he whispered, pushing his lips against yours in a slow, passionate kiss.
You gasped into his lips, feeling him slot his hips between your parted legs, his thighs touching the back of yours as the tip of his cock nudged your entrance, pushing inside you without any kind of foreplay from his part.
But you loved it. It sent a shudder down your spine to know that you were being shared, used by themâtaking turns trying to get you pregnant.
He gave you a couple of sloppy thrusts, groaning slightly when he felt your warmth, and Joshuaâs cum dripping out of it. But Jeonghan raised his sweet brown eyes at you, his hand moving to cup your cheek. âYouâre so beautiful,â he whispered dreamily.
You would have replied to his compliment, but your heart stammered, making you choke back a whimper. âH-hannie,â you mumbled, caressing his nape with your fingers.
âYeah?â he panted, his hot breath touching your chin.
Jeonghan smiled when your gaze flitted to his lips, then back to his eyes. Your heart thumping so hard inside your chest that you could only return the smile shyly. âI love you,â you breathed.
He giggled shyly, pressing a kiss on your lips. âAnd I love you,â he replied, looking at you with so much endearment you forgot where you were.
But then he pulled his body back, grabbing your hips with his hands as he started thrusting his cock inside you at a steady pace. He sent a glance where your bodies joinedâonly for a moan to spill from his lips upon the sight of his cock disappearing inside you, Joshuaâs cum spilling out of you.
The change in position made you moan. Jeonghanâs cock massaged a certain spot inside you that made you a little crazy. You closed your eyes briefly, enjoying the rush of pleasure invading your body again.
âFuck,â Jeonghan sighed, tilting his head back slightly. âYou⊠you are a dream, princess. You feel so good, I swear.â
Joshua watched you and Jeonghan silently, getting aroused by the sounds, the sweet way you moaned every time Jeonghan pushed his cock inside you. Not only that, but the enjoyment and the pleasure showing on Jeonghanâs face were also so alluring that Joshua felt his mouth parting.
Jeonghan clutched your hips, fingers digging into your skin to keep you steady for his incessant thrusts. Each drag of his cock inside you was so deep and so deliriously good you felt his whole length, filling you up inch by inch.
You moaned, closing your eyes to enjoy the feeling of his cock massaging your walls. âGod, HannieâŠâ you mewled pathetically.
The sound only egged him on. Jeonghan smirked, swallowing hard at the image of you. Your legs spread your fucked out eyesâalways so eager for more. âYouâre always so good, princess,â he whispered.
Joshua nodded, pushing himself to lay on his side to cup your cheek with his large hand. âSuch a good slut, arenât you baby?â
âUh-huh,â you mewled, nodding your head with small motions.
Joshuaâs lips curved in a tiny smile, leaning to press a long kiss on your lips. Then, he glanced at your eyes before dipping his head down your chest, where he planted small wet kisses around your nipple before teasing it softly with his tongue.
You cried out, unable to remove your gaze from Jeonghanâs face as he watched Joshua tease your nipple, popping it into his mouth with a low hum. Joshua started to suck your nipple with his lips, his tongue pressing on the pebbled bud gently, bringing out more moans from you.
âFuck, Iâm gonnaâ,â you gasped, your fingers curling around the bedcovers. âIâm gonnaâ,â You pushed your head back on the soft pillows, mouth dropping open as you let out a mewling cry.
Jeonghan watched you cum, a tired smile appearing on his face as tears spilled from your eyes. The sweet sounds coming from you made his head spinâyou calling out his name between moans and fitful breaths, pushed him closer to his release.
But then you did something he wasnât ready for. âHannieâ,â you mewled, panting with the aftershocks of your release. âHannie, fill me up, please.â
His pink lips parted, a grunt spilling out of them, his hips buckled, but he kept himself in control. âYou want my cum, pretty?â he asked, enjoying the crazed look in your eyes.
âYes, yes, please,â you gasped, clutching harder at the bedsheets as Joshua pulled his mouth from your tits, laying on his side to resort to playing with them with one hand. He smirked at you, at the needy side of you that he loved so much.
Jeonghan released a tired breath, his thrusts slowing down as his hand returned to your lower tummy, deciding to play your game. âYouâll look even prettier when youâre pregnant,â he drawled, swallowing hard before his thrusts became sloppy, fucking his cum deep inside you.
Joshua sat up, so now he was face to face with Jeonghan. Bringing a hand to cup Jeonghanâs chin, Joshua planted a long kiss on Jeonghanâs lips, and you watched as they both moaned into each otherâs mouths, their tongues touching slowly, passionately.
Jeonghan smiled, removing the hand that was parked on your lower tummy to push Joshuaâs shoulder. âYou idiot,â he chuckled. âWe had a dinner reservation an hour ago,â he said, but there was no bite in his words.
âAnd Iâm an idiot becauseâŠâ Joshua frowned, turning over his phone that he had forgotten on his nightstand.Â
âI was on my way to pick you both up,â he sighed tiredly. âBut you two decided to have fun without me⊠again.â
Joshua laughed at the slightly annoyed look on Jeonghanâs face. âWe still have time,â he said, but his tone was off. âI thinkâŠâ
You had no strength to chime into the conversation you felt like you were too gone in your post-sex bliss that you didnât want to chime in. Jeonghan rolled his eyes when Joshua laughed, and in perfect sync, they looked back at you.
âCome on, princess. Letâs get you cleaned up,â Joshua said after noticing that you were inches away from drifting off to sleep.
âNo,â you whined, trying to turn your face onto the pillow.
âNo complaints, bunny,â Jeonghan sighed, pulling out of you gently and making you whimper.
âSo, where exactly did you say you wanted to go?â you asked Jeonghan curiously, watching him as he looked on the floor for his black t-shirt, his hair dripping wet.
He whisked the t-shirt from the floor, turning it over to put it on, one arm after the other. âI wanted us to get dinner at a steakhouse, then I thought maybe⊠you could use some fun and relaxation, so I thought of going to a karaoke, us three.â
Joshua snorted loudly as he was putting on a pair of clean grey boxers. âKaraoke?â he glanced at Jeonghan. âItâs been ages since weâve gone to one.â
You looked at them from where you sat at the foot of your bed, wrapped up in a bathrobe as you towel-dried your hair. You were eager to spend time away from moving boxes and thinking about work. And more eager still, to have fun with Jeonghan and Joshua. âI want to go,â you said meekly.
Jeonghan stopped in his tracks. âWe can still go, princess,â he said gently, looking at Joshua. âWe could have something quick to eat and then go.â
Joshua placed his hands on his hips, nodding in agreement. âYeah, that would be fun,â he said, smiling at you. âLetâs go.â
âOkay,â you squealed, jumping to your feet. You removed the bathrobe and started to look for something cute to wear.
Joshua and Jeonghan stood in silent awe at you for one second as you paced in front of them wholly naked. âMaybe we should get her pregnant,â Jeonghan joked, giggling at the flustered look you shot at him.
âYeah, maybe when we get back,â Joshua followed, also smiling at the way you responded to that.
They both dressed in what you could only describe as a perfect depiction of their personalities. Jeonghan wore a pair of wide-leg khakis that were sprayed with a faux paint pattern, a black t-shirt, and a black leather bomber jacket. While Joshua wore a pair of deep blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and a gray denim jacket.
You decided to wear a casual outfit too, but one that made you feel confident. You had enough just by noticing the stolen glances you got from Jeonghan and Joshuaâwho were waiting for you in the living room.
âReady,â you smiled, spreading your hands at your sides.
The karaoke lounge was tucked away in a very lively side of the street, neon signs reflecting on the sides of the buildings as you strolled down an alleyway, with Jeonghanâs hand linked with your own, Joshua walking at your other side, hands deep in his pockets.
Jeonghan led you to a door, which looked ominous from the outside. But inside, the place was buzzing with energy, groups of drunken people laughing, muffled singing seeping through the walls and doors of private rooms, and the faint scent of tobacco filtering in the air.
It was the first time the three of you were visiting there. But for Jeonghan and Joshua, it was certainly not the first, and things had been⊠different. The lines between their friendship and something more were something that Jeonghan only questioned back then, because the tension was there, but unspoken.
The hostess led you down a dimly lit hallway, stopping in front of a sleek black door. The second you stepped inside, warmth wrapped around you, the glow of the LED lights running along the ceiling, a red U-shaped couch outlining the walls, and a massive screen displaying a song selection menu.
Jeonghan flopped onto the couch, grabbing the remote control. âI call the first song.â
âYou always go first,â Joshua said, dropping into the seat beside him and patting the small space between them.
You followed suit, sitting in between them.
âThatâs because I have the voice of an angel,â he shot back, chuckling impishly.
âSure, letâs go with that,â Joshua snorted.
Jeonghan ignored that, letting out a mysterious chuckle when he found a song he was looking for. Then he looked at you, then with a knowing smile looked at Jeonghan before pressing play.
An intro of a cheesy love song filled the room. Joshua was the first to groan. âOh my god, really?â
Jeonghan grinned mischievously. âI said I picked the song!â
Joshua laughed but grabbed another mic anyway. Jeonghan started singing, completely into the song, belting out every note dramatically while you laughed. Joshua stood from the couch, matching Jeonghanâs dramatic way of singing as he twirled around the small space, fully committed to his performance.
Jeonghan smiled triumphantly. By the second chorus, he chucked another mic in your hand, offering you to sing along, and you didâlaughing, off-key, blushing but not caring. When the song ended, Joshua collapsed onto the couch, smiling and panting like heâd just run a marathon.
Jeonghan, who was sipping his drink, raised an eyebrow. âAnd Iâm the smoker, jeez,â he chuckled.
Joshua laughed. âShut up.â
You nudged at Jeonghan with your elbow. âSing one song, Hannie,â you said gently.
Jeonghan blinked slowly, a small smile forming on his lips before he sighed dramatically. âAlright,â he muttered, taking the mic again and scrolling through the song list. âIâll do one. But youâre next, princess.â
You giggled. âSure.â
The opening notes of a ballad started playing through the speakers. Unlike the prior performance, this song was softer. And Jeonghanâs voice fit perfectly. His voice carried through the space and filled your chest like a warm cup of milk.
Jeonghan stood up, eyes on the screen to avoid feeling nervous. But you couldnât help yourself, keeping your gaze on him as his voice unravelled through the notes of the song.
Joshua rested his head on your shoulder, noticing the love in your eyes as you watched Jeonghan. âHeâs showing off,â Joshua whispered.
You nodded in agreement, watching as Jeonghan danced gently in front of you, fully immersed in the song now. There was something about it, the purple neon lights painting his face as he closed his eyes, extending a hand in front of him as though dedicating the song to you, and Joshua.
But by the time the last note faded, your heart faltered. And Joshua could see it in the way your gaze softened, and he felt a heaviness coil around his own heart.
Jeonghan turned around, a meek smile on his face as he sat down beside you. âTold you I could sing,â he muttered to you.
âRemind me why youâre not a rockstar?â you teased, smiling when Joshua slapped your thigh lightly.
But it was obviousâJeonghan didnât need a stage. Even at his job, he remained behind the scenes. He never needed a stage, just the right audience.
Joshua nudged your arm. âAlright, your turn, baby.âÂ
You exhaled nervously, shaking off the way your heartbeat rushed all the way to your tummy. âFine,â you said, grabbing the mic.
And the night went on like that, singing, dancing, drinking, and laughing. And by the time you were ready to head out of the karaoke room, you intertwined hands with Jeonghan again, warmth filling your chest when Joshua threw an arm around Jeonghanâs shoulders.
You giggled uncontrollably as you stumbled out of the elevator, slightlyâveryâtipsy.
Jeonghan snorted, catching your arm before you could sway too far. âCareful, princess.â
Joshua let out a soft sigh, steadying you with a firm hand on your waist. âAlright, letâs get you to bed, baby,â he murmured, his voice laced with fond amusement.
Jeonghan pushed the apartment door open, holding it for Joshuaâwho, without hesitation, scooped you up effortlessly in his arms. You squealed, your head spinning as he carried you bridal style into the bedroom.
âYou canât hold your liquor, bunny,â Joshua said, easing your body on the mattress.
He took your heels off, one by one and let them drop on the floor. Jeonghan was entering the bedroom, a glass of water in hand and a bottle of ibuprofen in the other, which he left on your nightstand.
Then, Jeonghan started removing his bomber jacket, and leaving it on the armchair in one corner of the bedroom, just as Joshua looked for your set of sleepwear in your drawer.
âI got it,â you sighed, sitting up as you noticed that Joshua was about to help you undress.
You got ready for bed, putting on your pajama shorts and shirt, to then head over to the bathroom to remove your makeup and brush your teeth. As you were coming back, you paused for a second in the doorframe, looking at your boyfriends as they each took a side of your large bed.
Jeonghan was holding his phone, propping it on his tummy with one hand as the other was safely tucked beneath his head. And Joshua was also looking at his phone, except that he was sitting back against the headboard of the bed.
Joshua lowered his phone, noticing you first. âWhatâs wrong?â he asked gently.
âNothing,â you replied softly. You approached the bed, climbing up on it to slump down between them, face-first against your pillow. âIâm so happy,â you hummed.
Joshua and Jeonghan exchanged a look, both putting their phones away so they could join you. They snuggled up to your body as you slowly turned over, taking a deep breath.
âWeâre glad, baby,â Jeonghan murmured.
You cupped Jeonghanâs cheek, turning to him to place a soft kiss on his lips. He returned the kiss, just as sweetly, his lips lingering on yours for a second before pressing them on yours again. Then, you turned to Joshua, your hand flat on his chest as Joshua met you halfway in a tender kiss.
âThank you for tonight,â you told them both, blinking sleepily.
âSleep well, baby,â Jeonghan said as you turned on your side, in the usual position you took, to be cuddled by both of them.
As you slept, Jeonghan placed a light hand on your waist, hearing the soft hum you let out as you nestled blissfully in the warmth, and coziness of being surrounded by them. Joshua smiled at the sight before him, you and Jeonghan.
âIâve been thinking,â Jeonghan whispered, careful so he wouldnât break your peace.
âYes?â Joshua breathed.
Jeonghan was looking at your face, so his gaze was hidden away from Joshua, impossible to read. But everything was in the calm and quiet demeanor he kept, as he gathered his words. âIâll move in with you.â
Joshua stopped breathing for a second. âWhy the sudden change?â he asked curiously, not hiding the rush of excitement he felt.
âI want thisâto be with you both,â Jeonghan raised his eyes, locking them with Joshuaâs. âIâm just afraid IâllâŠâ
There was a long moment of silence. Joshua felt his heart pulsating in his ears, making it hard for him to concentrate. He knew that look in Jeonghanâs eye, whenever he struggled with his words it was because he had something important to say. Something very close to his heart.
Jeonghan inhaled deeply, letting his breath through his nose. âI donât want this to end too soon, and not because we took it too fast,â he said with an air of sadness in it.
âI get it,â Joshua replied. âItâs okay to be scared, I feel it too,â he said quietly. âBut if you want this as much as we do, then there is nothing to fear. Weâll work it out. Weâll take it day by day.â
Jeonghan stared at Joshuaâs eyes. Finding his answer, he nodded. âThat sounds reasonable,â he admitted shyly.
Joshua smiled lightly. His hand found your hip and thus met Jeonghanâs hand on your waist. Jeonghan looked down at his hand parked next to Joshuaâs. Slowly, Jeonghan lifted a pinky finger, and Joshua did the same, linking it with Jeonghanâs. As they met each otherâs eyes, Jeonghan knew.
This was home.Â
âź author's note: hello everyone!
sorry for taking so long to post this, and thank you to everyone who waited!! this chapter was so fun to write, and i loved every second of it. i'll come back with chapter eight, because this story is far from over. i love my boys so much
anyway,
⧠STAY TUNED FOR PART EIGHT !! â§
toodles!
PREVIOUS CHAPTERS | BUY ME A COFFEE? (â'âĄ'â)
2) Ay, mi Hannie tan precioso, me gustĂł que pudo calmar un poco su nerviosismo y su necesidad de saber que todo estarĂĄ bien antes de tomar una decisiĂłn. Lo entiendo al 100 porque yo soy igual, tristemente, a veces nos lastiman tanto que cuando queremos iniciar algo no nos damos cuenta y dudamos, porque esa herida ahĂ estĂĄ y, aunque Han sabe que ambos lo quieren, aĂșn asĂ tiene esa espinita.
3) Me encanto la manera en la que plasmaste la relaciĂłn de los 3. Como todos se ayudan para crear algo bonito y que, si uno estĂĄ dudando, los otros dos se acercan a saber que sucediĂł y la razĂłn.
Sin mås por aportar, sigue asà V. Me alegra mucho que hayas regresado, ya se te extrañaba por estos lares.
Pd. ÂżCĂłmo estĂĄs con la noticia de Wonwoo? ÂżCĂłmo lo estĂĄs tomando? ÂżVas a poder ir al Pal Norte? Porque yo sĂ y estoy muy emocionada, no sabes cuĂĄnto.
Jeonghan had put what mattered most to him to be with you, and now that Joshua was finally coming to terms with the turmoil in his heart, Jeonghan had to face that too.
âź pairings: yoon jeonghan x female reader x joshua hong
âź genre: angst, fluff, smut [18+]
âź aus: theatre director jeonghan, rockstar joshua, polyamorous relationship
âź word count: 21.4k
âș đ§: over you â haon | i want u around â yugyeom ft. de vita | mon amour â gemini | lock me in â hojean | good care â hhybs, asiatic.wav, and slchld | all i got â baekhyun | moonstruck â enhypen | one look â leo
â season one â season two â read more
âș warnings under the cut
âź warnings: cheesy song lyrics that i had to compose, smut with plot, alcohol consumption, switch joshua, dom jeonghan, switch reader, long threesome scene, mlm action, degradation/praise kink, sloppy handjobs, mutual masturbation, heavy makeouts, blowjobs, face riding, pussy drunk joshua, fingering, cum play, cum eating, cum mixing, multiple orgasms, anal sex. pet names: princess, bunny, baby, good girl, (hers) handsome, babe (joshua & jeonghan)
âź author's note: heyoooooooo (âżâ âżâ ) it's here! it's finally here, i made it, we made it! i made it dkjgh. just as a reminder!! Bunny or Princess are stand ins for the Y/N nomenclature hehe. bye!
âź disclaimer: minors dni this post is intended for 18+ readers. please have your age stated in your description and try not to look like a bot please đ.
part vi
Three years before.
Joshua Hong was unattainable.
That is how Jeonghan saw him. He strode between the seas of people, waving, saying hi, smiling, and even pausing for a chat. Joshua was a rockstar. Even if he did not have a studio album, or was not signed to a label yet.
In his years of being in the theatre industry, getting to know so many people, so many divas, personas, alter egos, and so on and so forth, he had never met a natural, not like Joshua. He did not put up an act. He just shone wherever he went, and people gravitated towards him naturally.
It was his birthday, turning twenty-seven. Jeonghan threw him a surprise party under the excuse that it was a New Yearâs Eve getaway. The party turned out to be a success, though he was the only one in the group of people gathered there who was having a bad time.
A girl happened to be sticking to Joshuaâs side, she was pretty, fun, and lively. And also has had her eye on Joshua for a long time. Jeonghan did not need telepathy to know that Joshua would take her to his room upstairs. He could see it in his entire demeanor.
Jeonghan rented a nice house on the outskirts of the city. The open space gave him the chance to have a smoke. He sat on a bench near the bonfire. People resorted to either going to the jacuzzi, staying indoors, or on the terrace, keeping warm by the heaters.
Absentmindedly, his fingers trailed on the edges of the scar that was etched on the skin of his elbow, remembering the time Joshua painted a smiley face over it. Or the times he called early in the morning to ask how his recovery process was going.
Through the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the girl throwing her arms around Joshuaâs neck, being reciprocated with his large hands on her waist. Joshua smiled, looking at her eyes, a slow smirk showing on his lips before he dipped his head, capturing her lips with his in a passionate, slow kiss.
Jeonghanâs insides twisted, yanking his gaze away from the intimate moment he had been prying on. But he could not help but sneak a look again, getting a glimpse of Joshua moving a hand from the chickâs waist to her chin, his lips kissing her bottom lip hungrily.
Misery swept all over Jeonghan. He should have known better. Before deciding to throw Joshua a party, he should have confronted the idea, or fact, that Joshua would have gotten a partner through the night.
Joshua then said something to the girl, seemingly excusing himself, turning towards the bench that was occupied by only one person.
âFuck,â Jeonghan sighed, sticking the vape pen to his mouth to draw in a deep intake of the green apple flavor. As soon as he exhaled, he downed a generous gulp of gin and tonic. âBlegh.â
âIf you hate gin and tonic so much, why have you downed three of these?â Joshuaâs long fingers took the solo cup from Jeonghanâs grip, a smirk dancing on his plump lips as he took one sip from it.
To gather some courage. âItâs what gets me drunk faster,â Jeonghan said, clearing out space for Joshua to sit. He had been alone, looking at the partygoers without much care to strike up a conversation with anyone.
âWhy are you getting drunk tonight?â Joshua let out a raspy sigh as he sat down beside him. âMm?â
Jeonghanâs eyes widened, raising his eyebrows at his best friend. âI⊠donât know yet,â he replied, removing his gaze from Joshuaâs face with a tight feeling twisting his heart.
There was a clicking noise coming from Joshuaâs mouth. âYou know, Iâm usually bad at communicating things,â Joshua spoke to the night sky, his dark eyes glimmering under the moonlight.
Shit. Jeonghan thought. There was no way out of this now.
âButâŠ?â Jeonghan prompted.Â
âBut youâre usually not,â Joshua replied, lowering his gaze to meet Jeonghanâs. âWhatâs going on with you?â
âTsk,â Jeonghan smirked. âAh, itâs really nothing Joshuji. I want you to enjoy your party. I threw it for you,â he remarked.
âAnd Iâm grateful,â he nodded, a shy but solemn smile drawn on his face. âYou know, when I moved here, I didnât know anyone. I was entirely alone and even though I made friends, I never thought I would be finding someone like you.â
âLike-like me?â Jeonghan breathed, his heart pounding nervously upon hearing his best friendâs words.
âYeah, we understand each other, we have so much in common, and on top of that⊠you were kind to me. No one else was but you.â
âAay,â Jeonghan smiled, shaking his head dismissively.
âIâm just being honest, Hannie,â he said, his voice turning echoey as he tipped the solo cup in his lips, taking in a gulp of Jeonghanâs drink. âSo, are you going to tell me whatâs wrong with you?â
âNothing is wrong with me.â
Joshua sucked in a breath pensively. âI am really bad at noticing things, but one thing Iâm good at is noticing when something is bothering you.â
Jeonghan cursed this wavelength he shared with Joshua for a flashing thought. He could not hide from him, even when he wanted to.
âWhy donât you go back to that girl? We can talk about this later,â Jeonghan said, mustering up a light smile.
âI will if you come with me. She actually said she would be up for it,â Joshua arched the eyebrow adorned by a piercing, biting his smile.
The invitation was not rare to Jeonghan. Joshua and he had shared a partner a couple of times before. It was all fun and consensual sex, but Jeonghan thought that it was the worst idea he could ever agree to that night.
âThen donât go,â Jeonghan whispered, hating that he did not have the guts to raise his voice any higher. âItâs true. Somethingâs changed.â
Joshua dropped his act, quitting the mission of uplifting Jeonghanâs mood at once. âOh. What is it?â
âI think IâŠâ Jeonghanâs shoulders went slack when he let out a big sigh. âJoshua, I like you.â
Joshua Hong froze, but there was an understanding in his eyes. âMm,â he nodded, looking at the bonfire in front of them. âSince when?â
âSince that stupid Halloween party,â Jeonghan admitted with a hollow laugh, cursing at himself under his breath. He dropped his head forward, cradling it with his hands. âAt first I thought it was nothing, that I was going crazy, but I canât keep it anymore from you. Iâm sorry.â
That Halloween party. Joshua thought it was the most fun he had experienced in one night. Jeonghan, ever the chaotic guy, burst into Joshuaâs apartment, holding two perfectly identical black suits, a white button-up shirt, and dark sunglasses. âWanna be the K to my J?â And Joshua, ever the loyal friend, said yes without a second thought.
That night, Jeonghan knew for sure, he was falling in love with his best friend.
But, as the logs cracked in the bonfire, Joshua remained quiet. He has experienced this before with other people, friends that have grown feelings for him. He has turned so many people down that he lost count a long time ago. But this time⊠it deflated him painfully.
He watched his best friend lift his gaze, looking at the stars as if they held an answer for him. âI need you to tell me that nothing will ever happen between us, Joshua.â
Joshua knew that having a friend who had feelings for you counted as half a friendship. And Jeonghan knew that too, so it was better to face rejection now and walk away with his heart intact.
âNothing will ever happen between us, Jeonghan,â he said, and it felt like a blow to his chest.
Jeonghan nodded, dropping his gaze to his own hands clasped tightly together. He had dreaded this answer. Granted, he did not expect to hear the opposite. But it still hurt. âThatâs okay. Iâll move on. Take this as a goodbye party for us.â
There was a heavy silence between them that for the first time in months of knowing each other, they did not communicate. One heart was burdened with the weight of rejection. The other had a choice to make.
âBut I still want us to be friends.â
Jeonghan raised his eyebrows, turning his head to study his friendâs face. There, he found worry, his dark expressive eyes already glistening with loss.
âI mean, if-if you want to,â Joshua put quickly, shaking his head with a quick motion. âIf you feel like you canât be friends with me anymore, itâs okay. I will understand.â
Then Joshua dropped his gaze too, a detached manner surrounding his every move. It hurt, it hurt so bad. Joshua had just admitted how much he valued Jeonghan as a friend, and just like that, he was losing him in a moment.
Losing this friendship is what had been driving Jeonghan insane night after night after that Halloween party. The impossible choice that pushed him to lose his best friend forever, or continue living with the exhaustion of being unreciprocated.
âI think Iâll need some space to get over this,â Jeonghan said, his voice strangled by the painful feeling twisting his heart. Getting over Joshua would not be easy.
Jeonghan has had many partners throughout his life, but no heartbreak; he always kept himself guarded and everyone else at arm's length. Everyone except Joshua.
âIâll give you whatever you need,â he promised at once, raising his gaze to match Jeonghanâs. âTell me what you need, Iâll do it.â
At that moment, Jeonghan knew he had to renounce everything he felt for Joshua Hong. Whether it was attraction, a crush, or love, he would have to walk away from it. Jeonghan did not want to lose his best friend.
âI just need time,â Jeonghan tried to blink his pain away slowly. âIâll forget about this, just give me time.â
Joshua nodded, full of certainty this time. He held out his pinky finger, raising his eyebrows once again. âYou promise?â
Jeonghan looked at Joshuaâs finger for one long second, then he looked at his eyes, lacing his pinky finger. âI promise,â he said, touching the pad of his thumb with Joshuaâs in their secret way of sealing promises to each other. Â
That night, Jeonghan made a promise not only to Joshua, but to himself as well. He would keep his heart well guarded until the right time came.
Now.
âYou have one chance,â Jeonghan muttered pointedly, putting a hand on Joshuaâs chest to help himself create some inches of distance. âDecide if this is what you truly want. Decide it now.â
Joshua frowned; firmly cupping the back of Jeonghanâs head still, not letting him go. âWait,â he breathed, sucking in a breath as his brain started to swim. âI d-donât know what Iâm doing. Iâ IâŠâ
âThen I think that we should stop. Right now,â Jeonghan replied, applying some pressure on his chest, but to no effect.
Joshua dared to open his eyes, shaking with a mixture of excitement and relief inside that it was hard for him to speak. âI donât think I want to,â he blurted. âI- I donât want to stop,â he decided, breathing raggedly still.
âYou canât do this, Joshua,â Jeonghan gritted, a part of him wanted to burst into a rageful bout again at him. âI canât do thisâŠâ and then in a resigned way, he pleaded: âDonât play with me.â
Joshuaâs hand fidgeted on the back of Jeonghanâs head, slowly letting go of the hem of his hoodie. âI knowâI know this is sudden,â Joshua whispered, licking his lips in nervousness. âGive me the chance to explain, please. Iâll tell you everything.â
At that Jeonghan desisted, ceasing to try and create some distance. While the fluttering sensation kept kicking inside him, the gears in his brain had started turning too. Joshua was his best friend; even if Jeonghan loved him, he could not let himself be the object of his exploration. If this failedâŠ
âIs this what you truly want, Joshua?â Jeonghan reiterated with more urgency, his tone dropping to a mere whisper as well.
Joshuaâs heart stilled for one second. In truth, the kiss had left him dizzy with overjoy and relief to find out the answer to the question he had been asking himself for weeks and maybe even, months. âIt is,â he nodded, but then his brow furrowed. âDo you want to do this, Jeonghan? Do- do you still⊠Do you want me?â
Jeonghan mirrored him, placing a hand on Joshuaâs nape as a sharp gasp left him. This time, they sealed their lips with an eager kiss, moving to explore each other. Jeonghan lifted his other hand, cupping his cheek to kiss him harder in euphoric fruition, eliciting a strangled moan from Joshua.
Kissing Jeonghan was sweet, even gentler than Joshua had ever dared to imagine all those nights as he watched and rewatched him with you in all those videos, and in real life. Joshua discovered that Jeonghanâs lips were soft, slotting between his perfectly, his tongue touching his in perfect sync.
âShould I take that as a yes?â Joshua exhaled softly raising his eyebrows in question.
âWe have a lot to catch up with,â Jeonghan agreed with a tiny nod of his head. âBut yes. The answer is yes.â
Jeonghan was nervous, his fingers trembling a little when he slid his hand from Joshuaâs cheek to the nape, cupping the back of his head with both hands to then press a gentle kiss on his lips. Both of them were still solidifying their decision, giving each other shy, tentative kisses.
âI need to talk to Bunny,â Joshua blurted, pausing for air. Â
âDonât you mean we?â Jeonghan teased, smiling with the corners of his eyes.
âWe need to talk to her,â he backed away reluctantly, still brimming with relief.
âLetâs go do that now,â Jeonghan motioned to the door, darting a look at his features to reaffirm that he was right. With a knowing smirk, he continued approaching the door, holding it open for Joshua.
âYeah, okay,â Joshua gave one step to the door, then another, feeling lightheaded.
âWe could take the elevator,â Jeonghan suggested, noticing the hesitant sway in Joshuaâs movements.
As the doors slid close, Jeonghan crossed his arms, snorting out a laugh.
âStop it,â Joshua warned.
âYou really are full of surprises, Joshuji,â he teased, biting a cheeky grin.
Joshua slapped his best friendâs shoulder. âI told you to stop,â the tips of his ears were red.
âAlright, alright,â he stepped out of the elevator, calmly walking towards the apartment door.
There is no turning back now, Joshua thought, following Jeonghan down the hall, filling his tummy with one large gulp of air. Jeonghan was waiting for him, one hand on the handle ready to go in.
âBefore we do this,â Jeonghan muttered, meeting his gaze. âIs there anything else you need to say to me?â
Biting his lip, he shook his head no. âNot right now,â he replied with another weary sigh. âLetâs do this.â
They exchanged a meaningful look, one that told years of knowing each other so well, that they were the extension of one another. This time, though, much like the last time they discussed their feelings, there was a gap between them. Joshua did not know what it was.
To Jeonghan, this was a fragile point in his friendship with Joshua. Granted, there were many times when he thought that the friendship would wane and come to an end. Ever since he found out about his feelings for you, a wall stood before him and Joshua, one that he would look over, or see through. But still, it was there.
But now, Joshua was finally tearing through that wall.
The moment was cut short when Jeonghan turned the handle, pushing the door open. Joshuaâs expectations were quickly overturned when he found you standing on the kitchen floor, a hand flying to your chest.
âYou startled me,â you gasped.
âSorry, baby,â Jeonghan said with ease, casting an obvious look towards Joshua. Â
Though not obvious to you. âI, uh⊠Listen, Josh,â you started promptly, looking at both your boyfriends with some shame showing in your features. âI owe you an apology.â
Joshua gaped at you as though he had forgotten how to speak. âWhat? No, baby, I should apologize. I shouldnât have spoken to you like that. I shouldnât have said those things to you.â
Your shoulders went slack. âOh, so youâre not thinking of quitting the band anymore?â you glanced at Jeonghan, who only looked suspiciously shifty.
âNo,â Joshua exhaled. âBaby, why donât you take a seat? So we can talk. All of us.â
You looked at both men in utter confusion, they looked different somehow. And the weight of the tension between them startled you. âWhatâs going on?â you asked with caution. âCanât you tell me right here?â
âLetâs sit down,â Jeonghan urged, and the nervousness about him did nothing to calm yours.
You skirted between them to take a seat on the armchair, bringing your knees up to hug them as a coping mechanism to keep yourself together. Then waited quietly, heart beating faster upon having the realization that there was more than both your boyfriends were letting on.
âWhatâs going on?â you repeated, following them with your gaze as they took a seat next to each other on the couch. When they did not reply right away, your tummy started twisting with worry: âWha-what is happening? Jeonghan?â
You had grown used to their wordless exchanges of communication but could never know what they were planning. That still irritated you.
Joshua opened his mouth, holding his breath as he formulated in his head how to say what had happened on the rooftop moments before. His eyebrows drew in, flashing a worried look at Jeonghan.
âYouâre so fucking bad at this, Joshua,â Jeonghan reproached, locking his sweet brown eyes with yours. âBaby, listen calmlyâ,â
âWait,â Joshua placed a hand on Jeonghanâs knee, commanding him to a halt at once. âBe gentle. Donât do this how I think youâll do it.â
âShe can take it,â Jeonghan argued back, throwing an annoyed look at him.
Joshua rolled his eyes swiftly. âI know she can, but I know youâll be blunt andâ,â
âWe actually have talked about this beforeâ,â
Your mouth was hanging open at the quick exchange between them. âIâm confused,â you quickly cut in. âTalked about what? Why are you being weird? Both of you.â Â
Joshua let out a sharp exhale in utter frustration. âI kissed Jeonghan. We kissed.â
A numb feeling came over your face, barely able to feel your eyebrows lifting. It took you more than two seconds to fully grasp what Joshua had said. It became clearer to you as the seconds rolled on, there was no explanation needed. But it was still hard to come up with an answer with so little information.
Jeonghan noticed first that you were looking for more than a one-sentence explanation. âBaby, there is no better way to tell you this, we were talking, and it just happenedâŠâ
Your mind was reeling, blood pulsing in your ears that it was hard to hear what Jeonghan was trying to explain to you. Light-headed, your eyes swam to Joshua, then to Jeonghan as he continued speaking. Worry flashed across Joshuaâs features, he moved his hand from Jeonghanâs thigh and then to his shoulder.
âJust happened? You-youâre t-telling me thatâŠâ
âBaby,â Joshua cut in. âJeonghan, waitâ,â
âWhat does this mean?â you asked an ecstatic rush of blood making you shudder in your seat.
âWe havenât talked about it yet,â Joshua sent Jeonghan a short look and he nodded. âWe came straight to you so we could talk about it.â
âWell, what do you want to do?â you asked both of them.
They went still as they exchanged another one of those long looks. âListen,â Jeonghan started with a soothing tone, turning to Joshua. âYou need to think if this is all part of your exploration. Because Iâd hate to be used as part of your self-discovery if you decide down the line that this isnât for you.â
Joshuaâs shoulders went slack, exhaling softly through his nose. You knew it was hard for him to voice what he felt, but it became more difficult for you to follow what was happening since they just communicated with one meaningful look that took over one long and silent moment.
Then you saw it, the long look progressing between them, and whatever they communicated seemed to dawn on Jeonghan, his eyes widened, his bottom lip parting slightly in awe.
âSince when?â Jeonghan asked meaningfully, his tone was low and for a moment, you knew it was hard for him to even utter the sentence.
âI wish I knew,â Joshua blinked slowly, raising his eyebrows in a sign of frustration. âI want to say that since the night of the first threesome. But Iâm not entirely sure that it wasnât since before that.â
âIs this why you were confused all this time?â Jeonghan frowned slightly, you had never heard him use that voice. It was similar to the one he used whenever he had a serious conversation with you. But this time it sounded slightly thicker, as if he were choking with some emotion that you could not quite place.
Joshua only nodded, pressing his lips together in a tight line. His throat bobbed as he seemed to be trying to gulp down the same emotion as Jeonghan.
âAnd youâre sure this is not just part of what you are trying to explore?â he asked, drawing out the last word in a way that was meaningful between them. âBecause if it is⊠I donât think I can take it.â
âHold on,â you intervened, leaning forward to try and capture their expressions, to read them both at the same time. âPlease, explain to me whatâs happening. Iâm lost.â
âListen, both of you,â Joshua straightened on the seat, pushing himself to the border of the couch, trying to direct himself at you and Jeonghan at the same time. âI am not sure when it started, but I know that I feel attracted to you both. I think I felt confused because itâs the first time something like this has happened.â
âSo you never felt jealous of Jeonghan and I?â you inquired, tilting your head to one side.
âI did, I donât know,â Joshua let out a giggle in utter shame, rubbing a hand on his flushed face. âI think I was, but at the same time I never did anything to really put a stop to it.â
âThat was confusing to me too,â Jeonghan muttered between his teeth, turning his gaze away, and planting his elbows on his knees. âRemember I told you?â
Joshua nodded. âI think I wouldâve gone insane if you had told me that you wanted a threesome with someone else,â he told you as though he could not stop himself. âAnd when I asked you if you had feelings for Jeonghan, I understood. I was jealous, yes, but I was also annoyed that Jeonghan could do that to me.â
At that, Jeonghan started laughing. Nothing was funny, but tears brimmed in the corners of his eyes.
Joshua gave him a worried look. âIt took me some time to understand that.â
Jeonghan sighed, gathering an invisible tear with one lithe finger. You ignored him, given that you were either too bewildered to reproach him for his attitude or even to understand why he was laughing. âHow did you? I mean, how did you understand that you also had an attraction to him?â
âWellâŠâ Joshua drew in a breath slowly, gathering his words. âI went away, and you guys started sending me the videosâŠâ
Then you understood the reason for Jeonghanâs crazed laughter. The man chuckled lightly again, shaking his head.
âDonât make me whack you,â Joshua gritted at Jeonghan, but you could see a light spark of amusement in his eyes.
âAlright,â Jeonghan raised his hands in surrender. âBut it is kind of funny,â he coughed, and Joshua clicked his tongue. Â
Your gaze fixated on them, feeling obfuscated still. âAre you saying you realized how you truly felt because of the videos?â
âPart of it, yes. I think the other part, the most predominant one, was also being with you both,â Joshua said tentatively, tilting his head to one shoulder. âI couldnât explain why I wanted to see Jeonghan with you. I used to think that I enjoyed watching you two together but now I know. I like being with you both.â
A part of you was thoroughly convinced that this was bound to happen. You did not know why, but this was not totally unexpected. Joshua was very vague with his reasoning when he told you he wanted Jeonghan to be included in your relationship.
But hearing him say it was totally different. It made you feel elated, as though there was nothing that could make your relationship better.
âAnd what do you want, Jeonghan?â you asked, shifting your gaze to him.
Your heart dropped upon remembering what Jeonghan told you some days before Joshua came back: he had to renounce his feelings for Joshua. You understood how Jeonghan must have felt when hearing Joshuaâs confession; he did not want to be played with.
Jeonghan fidgeted, brushing his knuckles against each other. His eyes were fixed on the floor. âI think I want this, but I donât want to lie, Joshua, I am a little weary of the sudden change. Because it feels very sudden to me,â he took one breath, mustering up strength. âI mean, how are we going to do this? Are you going to be able to manage this?â
There was a shared understanding of what he meant. Joshua had been struggling to keep the relationship away from the mediaâs following and the perusing from his fans.
âFrom my perspective, it makes things easier for me,â Joshua shrugged slightly, pushing his bottom lip outward in a pout. âIt gives me the chance to really allow myself to express what I feel.â
âSo, do you want to keep it a secret too?â Jeonghan asked, and you understood what his inner conflict was.
âI want to keep both of you away from the publicâs attention as much as possible,â Joshua explained, keeping a soothing tone.
Jeonghan eased back into the couch, nodding slightly with his head. âOkay, then,â he whispered to Joshua, then turned his gaze back to you. âAre you okay with this, princess?â
There it was, the reason why you loved them both. They could be a chaotic mess, but they would always agree on prioritizing how you felt.
âOf course I am,â you showed them a small smile, pushing yourself to your feet to approach them, standing in between them. They raised their gazes to look at you in an almost perfect sync. âThere is nothing I would love more than the two of you figuring out your feelings for each other.â
âAre you sure, baby?â Joshua asked, gently grabbing your hand to kiss your knuckles, keeping his dark eyes on you. âWe want you to feel comfortable with this.â
âIâm sure,â you nodded. âI want whatâs best for us. Iâm happy as long as weâre all on the same page.â
A small smile drew on Jeonghanâs face. Despite the initial nervousness he showed you, he looked pleased with your reaction. You ran a hand through the dark hairs of his long fringe, making him blink repeatedly.
âIs that settled then?â you asked meekly.
Jeonghan turned his head to look at Joshua, whose tired eyes turned remorseful. He squeezed his hand before he bent to give your knuckles another kiss. âIâm sorry for what happened earlier. I shouldâve never spoken to you like that.â
âItâs okay,â you replied, returning the squeeze to his hand. âI pushed you to talk about it. Itâsâ,â
âItâs not okay,â he quickly cut in, but he was sweet about it. His tone was honeyed, and his eyes glistened as he glanced at you and Jeonghan. âIâm just too stressed, I feel like I canât breathe sometimes.â
âWe need to think of something, Joshua. You canât just let your feelings bottle up,â Jeonghan said, but then, he coughed up a laugh. âWell, both of you.â
âMe?â you asked with a high-pitched giggle, making them smile at you. âI agree,â you said with a more serious tone. âI am trying to not do that anymore, you know?â
âWe know, princess,â Jeonghan replied sweetly to you.
âIâm trying too,â Joshua said, then sighed.
âHave you heard of something called therapy?â Jeonghan joked, emitting a low chuckle when Joshua deadpanned at him, threatening to use his other hand to whack him. âAhâOkay, Iâll stop! Donât need to get violent!â
âI donât get it, why not put the suitcase on the bed? It makes things easier!â Jeonghan said with a smile, sitting down on the pillows of the bed, leaning back against the headboard, phone in his hand, but his eyes were on you.
âSuitcase dirty, bed clean,â you replied, bringing a hand to your mouth to suppress a yawn.
âOh, are you feeling sleepy, princess?â he noticed, a smile stretching on his lips. âI told you to pack everything earlier, you could be taking a nap.â
âI had that thing with Yena and then you guys surprised meâŠâ you shrugged, folding things on your lap before putting them in the carry-on. âIâm almost done,â you gasped, making Jeonghan shoot you a glance. âI forgot that you asked me to trim your hair!â
Jeonghanâs shoulders relaxed. âAh, princess, forget it,â he said. âIâll just wait until we get back.â
You shook your head, shaking your palm frantically too. âNo, no, no, let me finish packing and I can do it,â you said, folding your clothes a bit faster.
âItâs okay,â he insisted, discarding his phone on the bedside. âI need to go back to mine to pack a bag too.â
âSo youâre not staying tonight?â you asked, wide-eyed in disappointment.
âI donât want to drive all the way there and back,â he drew his eyebrows inward when you pouted at him. âWhat? Why are you making that face?â
âI thought you were staying the night with us,â you reproached, keeping your pout until your eyes started to water, completing a full sulky act. âPlease stay.â
âBut I have to pack my things too!â he replied, now chuckling at your childishness.
âJoshua can lend you clothes!â
At that moment, Joshua was returning to the bedroom, pocketing his phone in the pocket of his baggy jeans. âWhatâs up?â he asked, eyeing you and Jeonghan curiously.
You pointed at Jeonghan with one finger. âHeâs not staying the night!â you said impishly, making Jeonghan laugh out loud.
âI need to pack my shit!â he argued back, keeping the light chuckle on.
âYou donât need it!â you said, trying not to laugh at yourself. âJoshua can lend you things.â
âI need my passport, princess,â Jeonghan said before Joshua could agree to your idea, which he was getting ready to do.
âAh, thatâs right,â you conceded with a sigh. You got up from the floor, reminding yourself to pocket your passport too. One of the drawers from your closet was the designated place for things that did not belong anywhere else entirely. That is where you keep your passport. âI made space in one of the drawers for you ages ago, Hannie.â
You sneaked a look at the man still lounging on the pillows of your bed. He looked panicked for a second, his mouth forming a syllable that he could not voice out. âI, uh, I forget to bring stuff in.â
Joshua noticed the same thing you did on Jeonghanâs face, a knowing look crossing his features. âYou could leave some things here. It would save you the trips back to your apartment.â
Jeonghan gaped at Joshua for a second, but you were quicker. âOr you could move in,â you threw in abruptly, the words bouncing off your tongue so unexpectedly that you almost clamp a hand over your mouth.
Joshua glanced at you curiously. âTrue,â he said, keeping a loose demeanour as he walked over to the closet and pretended to fish out a clean t-shirt for himself. âYou know, weâre in the brink of being booted out of here. We could start looking at options.â
A light frown appeared on Jeonghanâs perfect face, his eyes deadpanning from you to Joshua. You could hear the gears of his brain turning from the corner of the bedroom you were standing on. You fidgeted with the sleeves of your sweater, dropping your gaze to the floor before muttering: âIâm already looking at options.â
At that, Joshua could no longer keep his act, he blinked slowly, letting out a characteristic airy chuckle. âFor us three?â
âYeah,â you admitted bashfully. âI was thinkingâŠâ
Joshua stopped pretending to busy himself arranging things from his drawer and turned around so he could look at you and Jeonghan, who remained frozen, his face painted in pure bewilderment. âGo on?â
You sighed, dropping your fidgeting hands to your sides. You paced to the bed, crawling on it with your hands and knees cutely. âWell,â you sat back on your hunches, next to Jeonghan. âYou spend a lot of time here already, Hannie. And Josh will finish his tour in a week and will be spending more time home,â you shrugged coyly. âI want it to be us three, you know?â
There was a silence, one that Joshua did not dare interrupt, but Jeonghan was silently agape. The frown on his face told Joshua that Jeonghan might have not been ready for a proposition like yours.
âWhy donât we leave this conversation for when I get back from touring?â he asked, keeping his tone cool. âWe could go apartment hunting together.â
You caught the misdirect, nodding your head dumbly. âIâd like that,â you replied, sending a swift glance at Jeonghan, who still lay motionless beside you.
Joshua concealed a smile by turning his back on both you and Jeonghan, continuing to gather the things he intended to pack and those that needed a wash before packing them up too. He was unaware of Jeonghan stretching an arm, reaching out to give you a gentle caress on your thigh, snapping you from a trance.
âHelp me trim my hair?â Jeonghan asked softly, drawing invisible lines with the pads of his fingers on your skin.
You looked at his pouty mouth and showed him a smile. âOf course, Hannie.â
âAre you okay with this, baby?â Jeonghan asked, following you inside the bathroom.
âI am, Hannie,â you said, motioning to the bathtub. âSit.â
âHere. I grabbed them from your desk,â Jeonghan said, handing you a pair of scissors as he sat on the rim of the bathtub.
You grabbed them, giggling at how determined he looked. âThis wonât do, Jeonghan,â you told him softly, putting the scissors on the sinkâs countertop. âWe have proper shears,â you said as you opened the mirror cabinet, taking the shears, a hand towel, and a comb.
âAh, silly me,â he muttered, but you noticed his eyes were trained on every movement you made, wandering from your hands to your face.
âYeah, silly you,â you replied with a soft smile. âI told you to get an appointment with the hairdresser.â
âI know you did. I forgot,â he said, his gaze trailing to the rest of your body. His teeth sunk on his bottom lip, that was how you knew he was trying to conceal a smirk.
âDid you?â you arched a brow, smiling with him when he could no longer hold it in.
âI trust you more with this,â he said with ease, even adding a small shrug.
âPlease donât get your hopes high. Iâve only ever done this once and it was to myself,â you sighed, running the comb through his hair. âHannie, look down,â you said, giggling when you nearly poked his eyes with the teeth of the comb.
âRight,â he cleared his throat, tearing his gaze from you.
âHere I go,â you whispered, starting to trim down the edges of his hair.
The blades of the shears made a nice metallic sound, pairing with Jeonghanâs breathing. He sat still for you, his hands resting on his thighs.
âAre you sure youâre okay with this, baby?â Jeonghan asked, speaking quieter than before. His eyes were still lowered, but you could tell that he wanted to glance at the expression on your face.
You paused halfway through, but without removing the shears so he had no chance to move. You understood then that he did not intend on trimming his hair. This was what he had wanted to achieve from the beginning, to get you two alone to talk about the recent turn of events.
âWhy wouldnât I be, Hannie?â you asked softly at first, resuming to trim his fringe.
âI donât know,â he mumbled quietly. âAll Iâm thinking is that if this is sudden to me, I canât imagine what itâs like for you.â
âItâs also sudden to me,â you conceded with a hushed tone, worried that Joshua might hear from the bedroom. âBut I think this is best for us.â
âReally?â he asked, but you knew this was the kind of questions he made to keep you talking before he got to the point.
âYes, really,â you replied sweetly, ruffling the hairs of his fringe.
âDo you really think that?â he pressed, but there was no concern in his tone. He sounded almost surprised.
âI think that perhaps you both wanted this since before I came to the picture, you know?â you mumbled, focusing on trimming his fringe evenly.
âEven when I told you I didnât have feelings for Joshua anymore?â
You paused. When you told Jeonghan about your argument with Joshua, his immediate response was to do whatever was within his ability to fix it, to make it all better for him. You did not know how their conversation happened, but you knew that Jeonghan would have done anything to break Joshua out of his anxious mind.
You lowered your hands to your sides, finally allowing him to raise his gaze to meet your eyes. He smiled softly. âOh yeah? And how is that exactly?â he teased.
âYou know how,â you shrugged meekly, trying to make the conversation end there. But he kept looking at you, expecting a real answer. âSometimes you give him the same looks you give me,â you finished with a smile.
âWell, I just have one pair of eyes!â he said, chuckling playfully. âWhat can I do? I canât give him different looks-,â
âI mean, youâve told me that you think heâs sexy. You admitted that you liked him years ago. And you share a bed with him and me. Maybe those feelings never left, maybeâŠâ you giggled nervously when he had to bite his smile to keep himself from laughing with you. âMaybe those feelings just went dormant for a time.â
âOh, you really are an expert, huh?â he quipped, his gaze followed you as you covered your face in shame, laughing with him.
âIâm just saying that I donât think itâs bad that you have always felt a certain way for him. Itâs okay,â you reassured.
âSo youâre really okay with this?â he asked, lowering his tone to a more serious one.
You nodded quietly, brushing his long hair with your fingers. âThis will be good for us.â
Jeonghan raised a hand to find the curve of your waist, pulling you carefully to plant a kiss on your tummy over your clothes. âThank you, princess,â he muttered, still locking eyes with you. âI never imagined this would happen. So I guess I should thank you for being so supportive.â
âDonât thank me, Jeonghan,â you smiled. âThis might be sudden but Iâm sure weâll work it out. I know you are on the fence on this still. But maybe just give him the opportunity to show you. You know how hard it is for him too.â
âYeah, I guess youâre right,â Jeonghan mumbled, staring off at the distance.
âThat is the truth,â you said matter-of-factly, smiling sweetly at him before booping his nose with the tip of your finger.
âWhat is?â he asked dumbly, finding your eyes again.
âI am always right.â
Jeonghan grabbed his phone from your bedside table and his car keys, glancing your way curiously. He clicked his tongue, smiling when he realized you were still sulking. âDonât look at me like that,â he said with a flat tone.
âIâm not looking,â you replied meekly, turning away to pace back to the living room, knowing he would be tagging along behind you.
âTsk,â without looking, you knew the smile on his face was wider as he said: âYouâll see me tomorrow first thing in the morning.â
âI know,â you rolled your eyes as you got to the living room.
âThen why are you sulking? What did I do now?â Jeonghan asked behind you.
Joshua lifted his head when he heard you approach. He was sitting on the couch, his acoustic guitar sitting on his thigh.
You crossed your arms, shrugging. âNothing,â you mumbled, but stood some steps before him as he grabbed the handle to the front door with one hand.
Jeonghan straightened up. âWell then, Iâm gonna go now, and if you donât tell me what is upsetting you right now, then youâre going to have to wait until the morning.â
âWhat, you donât do phone calls now?â you retorted.
âNope. Iâm not picking up the phone tonight, I need my beauty sleep,â he joked, but when you did not even show him the tiniest of smiles, he turned the door handle. âIâll be going now, in three⊠twoâŠâ
Joshua smiled from where he sat, watching the whole exchange while knowing Jeonghan was just playing with you, and that you would fall right into the game.
Jeonghan twisted the handle and cracked the door open just a bit, the mischief in his eyes shining more when you dropped your hands on your sides exasperatedly.
âFine!â you snapped. âIâll tell you, justâclose the door, okay?â you stammered.
The door was closed quietly and Jeonghan dropped his hand, turning to face you with a grin on his face. âIâm listening,â he cooed triumphantly.
You gaped at him for a long second, then deadpanned over to Joshua, who bit his lip to avoid smiling one more time. He knew you well, probably better than Jeonghan, so he knew that you had been letting some thoughts sit in your mind for a time. Those thoughts begin to bother you over time, showing in your every action.
Joshua shrugged slightly, figuratively stepping aside, and pushing you to speak from the heart, although he suspecting what was bothering you already. And Jeonghan started to suspect too.
You sighed in resignation, shying away slightly by pretending to scratch and invisible itch on your forehead. âYou havenât brought clothes yet,â you mumbled.
Joshua snorted quietly.
âShut up,â you hissed, sending him a bashful look. He showed you his palms in truce, setting his guitar on its stand, and deciding to keep being witness to your conversation with Jeonghan.
âIâve forgotten to do it,â Jeonghan replied, furrowing his brow a little. âYouâre mad because I havenât brought a change of clothes yet?â
âI emptied a drawer for you weeks ago,â you extended an arm, pointing to the direction of the bedroom.
Jeonghanâs mouth fell open a little, then he chuckled lightly. âPrincess donât tell me this is the reason why youâve been pouting at me.â
âWhat if it is?â you lifted your chin a little in indignation.
âI told you Iâd bring some clothes, but I forget,â he said, sending a meaningful look at Joshua.
âIâm not helping you on this one,â Joshua replied.
Jeonghan clicked his tongue once again. âReally?â he chuckled, shaking his head. âAlright, Iâll bring in some clothes with me next time. Happy?â
âWeâll see,â you huffed, but your features broke into a meek smile. âI just wanted you to stay the night,â you admitted.
âI know,â Jeonghan said, rolling his eyes. âBut itâs been a chaotic day, and I havenât packed my things yet. I really need to go now.â
âAlright,â you conceded at last and reached out to wrap your arms around Jeonghanâs torso.
Joshua giggled softly, watching from where he sat the way you tilted your head back to receive a small kiss from Jeonghan. His stomach twisted slightly as he watched Jeonghan make a trail of pecks from your forehead to your nose, finishing with a kiss on your lips. It seemed for a second that this was something of a routine for you.
Jeonghan cupped your face with his hands, looking at you for a short moment. âLove you,â he muttered softly.
At that, Joshua blinked away, wondering why he felt like intruding in the moment. âI love you too,â he heard you reply in a small tone, almost as if shy.
Nervously, Joshua looked up again, finding Jeonghanâs eyes flitting on his direction. Neither of them said anything, they just exchanged glances, trying to communicate something that still escaped both of their understanding.
The moment reverted Joshua to that night in front of the campfire, when Jeonghan first confessed his feelings for the first time. That night, they were both on very different pages when it came to their feelings. And now it no longer felt the same, but there was a lot to reconcile.
Joshua understood, and gave a tiny nod, which Jeonghan reciprocated with a tight smile, he opened the door and stepped out of the apartment, closing the door behind him.
You turned around, a confused look in your face. âDo you think heâs okay?â you asked innocently, shuffling towards the couch.
âLet him be,â Joshua said, reaching out for your hand as you came closer. âHeâs okay.â
âMmm,â you hummed thoughtfully, letting Joshua tug your hand, motioning to sit on his lap. âWas I hasty in inviting him to live with us?â
Joshua wrapped his arms around your body as you snuggled up to his. âA little,â he said softly, giggling at the worried expression on your face. âHe knows that you were thinking about it way before we kissed. But I think that he and I need to work some things out before he decides on moving in with us, baby.â
âYeah,â you said deflatingly, looking away. âMaybe I rushed again,â you brought your hands to your face, covering it in utter shame.
Joshua giggled sweetly, lacing his fingers as he hugged your body tightly to his. âJust give him some time, heâll say yes.â
âYou donât know that for sure,â you mumbled, parting your fingers to sneak a look at him.
âNo, but I know that he needs some time to warm up to the idea,â he said, and finding your expression cute he smiled, wrinkling his nose slightly.
âUgh, I feel bad now,â you sighed, dropping your hands from your face.
âDonât worry. Heâs probably playing hard to get,â he added, expecting you to smile, but you started biting your lip, eyes lost on the distance. âHey,â Joshua mumbled softly.
âYeah?â you replied, looking back to him.
âDonât overthink it, baby,â he said, squeezing your body gently with his arms. âHeâll say yes.â
You nodded, bringing a hand to cup his cheek, running the pad of your thumb on his skin lovingly. âHow are you Josh?â you asked meaningfully, reading his face.
âIâm okay,â he replied with a sweet tone, knowing that you were looking to have a deeper conversation with him. âIâm truly sorry about the way I spoke to you earlier.â
âI know. Donât worry about it,â you mumbled, taking your fingers to thread his brown hair. âAre you feeling better now?â
He blinked a couple of times when your fingernails scratched his scalp softly. âI feel less stressed, baby,â he conceded, but then he looked away, gathering his thoughts before adding: âI think I need to put more limits between my life and my career.â
âWhy?â you asked, your tone low but sweet. You looked at him carefully, admiring the quiet calm in his entire demeanour. âWhatâs happening, Josh?â
He sighed, his gaze returning to your features. âI just feel like life is slipping away too fast and I am too slow to catch it.â
You hummed, weighing in his words while looking at his face. âWhat if whatâs happening is not for you to catch it but just watch it pass by, savoring whatâs really important?â
His features were taken over by a smile, one that you loved seeing on his face. It was fond and full of sweet love for you. He brought a hand to your face, pinching your nose gently. âYouâre right, bunny.â
You sighed. âI always am.â
You woke up some minutes before your alarm went off.
Joshua had an arm draped over your waist, the other was tucked under your head, his bicep forming a dull pillow for you. Unaware of how long you had been laying like this, you tried turning over, facing your boyfriend who slept soundly. He decided to go to bed without a shirt on, so you were now face to face his bare chest, his pecs bulging some inches from your nose.
Without much thinking, you closed the distance, pressing a kiss on his chest, where his heart was. You nuzzled his chest with your face, breathing in the smell of his skin, enjoying the warmth he radiated. Slowly, you felt him stir back to life, waking up to your small acts of affection.
âMmn,â he began, his hands searching your body to hug you closer. âWhat time is it?â
âMorning sleepy head,â you cooed softly, pressing another kiss on his chest. âItâs nearly five AM.â
âWe gotta go?â he mumbled.
âYeah, we gotta go,â you tilted your head back to look at his face. âWe have meet with Hannie in thirty minutes.â
âFive more minutes,â he whispered, blindly finding your face with his lips, pressing them on your forehead.
âOkay,â you breathed, but you knew it would be more difficult for you to slip back into your dreams. That was something you would envy from Joshua, his ability to sleep whenever and wherever. But now, you just enjoyed watching him sleep, his soft breathing sounds the way his eyelashes seemed to tremble slightly as he slept.
Your fingers itched to reach out and caress his face, to outline the beautiful curve of his lips. For a moment, the love you felt for him brimmed so abundantly that you ached to grab his face and kiss it, interrupting his sleep again. But you stopped yourself, knowing that the alarm would go off soon, and he would get to lay in the peaceful bundle of warmth with you.
You thought of everything that went down last night, the conversations, Jeonghan, everything from the moment you met him. Part of you wondered if Joshua was as amazed as you were at the recent turn of events. Deep down, you knew something like this was bound to happen ever since the proposition of starting a polycule was presented by Joshua, but the fact that it had actually come to pass was a bit astonishing to you.
But you were happy that Jeonghan and Joshua had found an opportunity to air their feelings out. Somehow, you found it funny that they seemed to always find a way to fall together.
The alarm finally went off, and you turned over to reach for your phone on the nightstand to turn it off and turned again to face him. âFive more minutes?â he asked, letting out an airy giggle. âI donât want to get up,â he mumbled, closing his arms around you tightly, pushing your face to his chest.
âI know, babe, but we have to, or weâll miss our plane,â you muttered against the tight crevice between his pecs.
Joshua laughed at the muffled sound of your voice. âWhy did we have to get the tickets this early in the morning?â he whined, but sounded more awake now.
âTo avoid being seen? And also, we need to accommodate in the room, have lunch and you need to rehearse before your show tonight,â you reminded him, trying to create some inches between his chest and your face to take a fresh gulp of air. âBabe, come on, letâs go.â
âOkay, alright,â he smiled, shocking you with the way he was beaming some minutes after waking up.
âYouâre in a chirpy mood,â you pointed as he let you go from his tight embrace. Rolling out of bed, you heard him click his tongue. âI mean it, youâre never this energetic as soon as you wake up.â
âIâm just happy to be finishing the tour already,â he sighed, jumping out of bed too.
âMmm-huh,â you teased as you removed your sleep-wear.
âIâm serious,â he sighed happily. âThe sooner I am done with this tour, the sooner I am back home.â
âOkay, yes, but are you sure youâre not also happy because of a certain someone?â you sneaked a look as you clasped a clean bra behind your back.
Joshua wrinkled his nose as he fixed the bedsheets and covers on the bed. âNo,â he replied but the smile on his face betrayed him. âWell, maybe.â
âGod, you two,â you clicked your tongue, shaking your head lightly as you changed your pants.
Joshua paced to where you stood, right before the wardrobe as you finished putting on your clothes. He circled an arm over your lower back, pulling you closer. âAre you sure youâre okay with all of this?â he mumbled, his morning voice sweet and low, but slightly raspy.
âMmm, I have to admit itâs slightly surprising but, you know what?â you tilted your head back to see him. âIâm happy you guys are trying this out,â you said, wrapping your arms around his bare torso. âI think itâll work out.â
âYeah, me too,â he smiled softly, leaning his face so he could press a loving kiss on your forehead. âMe too, baby.â
The hotel room that Jeonghan had booked for you was so spacious that it did not seem intended for two people alone. âWhy are there rose petals on the bed?â you asked upon arriving to the room and immediately deciding to explore it.
âI told the front desk weâre newly married,â Jeonghan said with a low chuckle.
âWhy?â you asked slowly.
âFor funsies,â he shrugged, pushing his sunglasses up to the crown of his head. âThey gave us the bigger room, with a jacuzzi in it.â
âA what?â you blurted, looking at Jeonghan as he opened the double doors that you had suspected lead to the bathroom, which was spacious enough to host a jacuzzi, which was also adorned with two swan-shaped towels sitting on the brim.
âPffft,â Jeonghan laughed at the towel swans, which were forming a heart as well.
âThis is going overboard, Hannie,â you crossed your arms, sending a look at him when he smiled mischievously.
âYou said no to jacuzzi sex, right?â he asked, trying to keep his expression blank, but broke into a laugh when you just glared at him. âAlright, alright, what do you want me to do? They gave us the bigger bed because I said weâre married!â
You conceded with a smile of your own. âIâll tell you what you could do,â you shifted on your feet, walking away from the large bathroom and returned to the suite. âBuy me a ring next time, since you two love to rave about marriage.â
âWhat?â you heard him tagging along behind you. âYouâre telling me Joshua has done this too?â
âMm-huh,â you sighed, opening your bag to retrieve your laptop, placing it on the desk that was pushed to the corner of the suite and sat down.
âReally?â he sighed, and you tried to bite back a smile.
There was a knock on the door that made Jeonghan straighten his back, already knowing who it was. Joshua had been busy in rehearsals, and the flight over had been so short that Jeonghan had little opportunity to actually see and talk to him.
With visible hesitation, Jeonghan shuffled towards the door, opening it and turning his back right away. You looked at him through the corner of your eye, sinking your teeth on your bottom lip a bit harder upon seeing his blank face.
âHi, handsome,â you chirped, looking at him cross the door of the suite with a confused look on his face.
âHi, beautiful,â he replied, matching your tone. He glanced Jeonghanâs way once before approaching you. âWhy did we get the luxury suite?â he asked, leaning down to place a kiss on your cheek.
âAsk Jeonghan,â you smiled at him.
Joshua frowned lightly and nodded. âGot work?â he motioned to the laptop, which you rarely used since you preferred working on your PC at home.
âYeah, I have to review my draft before handing it over,â you sighed. After your chat with Yena, you agreed that you would turn in your first draft for the second book. You were submitting it on time, although there were some things you were not thoroughly content with, you could work them out later in the second revision.
âOkay,â he whispered, giving you a reassuring smile before lifting his gaze to find Jeonghan.
Jeonghan had opened the sliding doors to the balcony, where he perched his elbows on the banister, leaning over it to look at the city below him.
âGo talk to him,â you encouraged Joshua with a soft tone, seeing the reluctance in his eyes. Â
âYeah, IâŠâ he breathed in, fixing his clothes awkwardly before stepping out on the balcony with Jeonghan, closing the door to give you some privacy to work and for them to talk. âHey,â he muttered softly.
Jeonghan eyed him curiously. âHi,â he mumbled.
There was a long pause, longer than Joshua would have liked, since he did not do well with deep conversations, especially those that required him to talk about what he felt first. But something had been bothering him ever since he sat with you and Jeonghan to talk about where the polycule would head, now that he had taken the decision to articulate his feelings for Jeonghan.
Seeing that this would be one of those moments, Jeonghan waited, redirecting his gaze to the city before them. They had a view to the ocean, so vast and mirroring the darkness of the heavy clouds above that announced an upcoming rain. The cold breeze also told him that much, brushing his hair back, blowing the flaps of Joshuaâs plaid shirt.
âI uhâŠâ Joshua looked back, seeing you focused on your work. He remembered the night when he realized he was falling in love with you, the pressure in his chest threatening to burst. Then he looked back at Jeonghan, and it felt differently. Like a calm ebb and flow that had been there for as long as he could remember. It was the familiarity he felt looking into those sweet brown eyes, the reassurance.
So he took a deep breath, knowing that his heart was safe, as long as he spoke truly. âJeonghan, I know that youâre still weary of all this, of the suddenness of it,â he smiled despite himself, his nerves were making his voice quiver. âBut I like you, I donât know for how long I have, but I just wanted to tell you this to offer you some reassurance.â
Jeonghan narrowed his eyes, focusing on Joshuaâs face for a moment before he turned to look at the wild waves lapping against the shore below. He nodded his head, weighing in Joshuaâs words in silence.
âI want to see where this goes, not as a form of exploration, I donât think I need to explore anythingâŠâ Joshua breathed in, turning so he could lean his back against the banister. He saw you back inside the hotel suite, and like a work of magic, your eyes found him too.
A meek smile drew on your face, and you scurried back onto your work. Joshua found himself smiling too.
âIâm ready for this,â he muttered softly, turning his head so he could get a glimpse of Jeonghan, who remained leaning on the banister, his elbows safely planted on it. His fingertips were tracing shapeless patterns on the scar in his elbow.
Slowly, Jeonghan stood up straight, his hands grabbing the banister firmly, as though that served as some kind of anchor. He thought what he wanted to say, what his heart felt ever since Joshua kissed him. There was a strange feeling running amok in his mind, one that he had only felt once in his life; the only other time he felt like this was the first time he kissed you.Â
Jeonghan sent his gaze over the horizon, knowing that he only felt this way because this mattered to him. Joshua was his best friend, and upon looking into his doe eyes, Jeonghan saw the certainty in them, the quiet reassurance.
âIf you say youâre ready, then I am too,â Jeonghan said, hating the fact that it did not take too long for him to yield, just one look at Joshuaâs doe eyes and it was game over for him. So he had to do what he knew best, be a tease. He pointed one finger at Joshuaâs face. âBut if you screw this over, I will kill you.â
Joshua tilted his head back, releasing a sweet giggle that drove your gaze back to the balcony. âIt wonât come to that,â Joshua said, his eyes turning into half moons.
âWell, consider yourself warned, so donât even think about it,â Jeonghan joked, chuckling too. But his gaze fell upon Joshuaâs dashing smile, the half-moon eyes, the tips of his ears growing red. The laughter died down, and he could no longer hear his own thoughts, just the ebb and flow of the ocean in the distance.
âCan I kiss you?â Joshua asked ever so softly.
Jeonghan would have died if Joshua had not asked that. He nodded eagerly, despite having nearly thrown a tantrum mere seconds ago. He leaned towards Joshua, meeting halfway through with a small kiss of pressing lips.
Both of them wondered if you were being witness to this, but the thought simply dissipated upon meeting their lips once again. Joshua hummed softly into the kiss, lifting one hand to cradle the back of Jeonghanâs head, pulling him for a deeper kiss.
Truth was, you had not stopped watching since you heard Joshua laughing. You kept a discreet eye on them as they talked, just as you always did, you liked watching them move in perfect synchronicity, the way they seemed to anticipate what the other said, their eyes never quite leaving each other. They spoke and moved with one mind.
So seeing them sharing a kiss ignited a part in you that you did not know existed. As the kiss deepened, they searched each other with their hands, Jeonghan grabbed Joshuaâs wrist, his thumb swiping a line on the interior of his wrist, caressing softly. Joshua tangled his fingers in the dark mane of hair, both exchanging sweet hums as they tasted each otherâs mouths.
âI always wondered,â Jeonghan whispered, his lip curling a little in a shy smile.
âWhat?â Joshua asked.
 âHow your lips would feel.â
Joshua smiled into the kiss, robbing him of air when Jeonghan rolled his tongue into his mouth expertly, drawing out a moan from him. âSame. I wondered too,â he rasped.
âIs that why you were looking at me funny the other day?â he inquired, but then a chuckle came out of him when he knew the answer. âOh, you idiot.â
âWhat?â Joshua giggled. âWould you have preferred me to kiss you then?â
Jeonghan thought about it for a long second. âNo, I donât think so,â he replied. âI panicked when you first kissed me. I donât think I wouldâve reacted the same way if Bunny had been there.â
âTrue,â Joshua agreed. âI think thatâs why I didnât do it either.â
âTsk, idiot,â Jeonghan whispered.
Joshua just smiled. âI have to get going. Show is starting in two hours,â he said.
âGet going, then,â Jeonghan replied, motioning to the door. âBunny and I will be there shortly.â
Joshua sneaked a look back at you, finding that you had been snooping all along.
Jeonghan followed the line of vision to you. âDid she seeâŠ?â
âEverything, she saw everything,â Joshua smiled, patting Jeonghan on the shoulder once. âCome on.â
Jeonghan followed to the suite, where you pretended to be focused on your screen, reading your manuscript. âAh, princess, didnât you say it was urgent that you submitted your draft?â Jeonghan teased.
âIt is urgent,â you nodded, but you looked away quickly, biting your bottom lip.
âWhy are you blushing, bunny?â Joshua joined, laughing at the meek expression on your face, trying to hide yourself with your hands.
âYou look distracted, baby,â Jeonghan leaned over where you sat, looking at you with a knowing expression.
âStop it,â you deadpanned, but you looked so flustered that it brought a laugh from both of them. âGod, you two are a nightmare,â you mumbled, trying to form a wall with your hands on the sides of your face, focusing back on your laptop screen.
The air was buzzing with excitement in the theater as the audience waited the start of the show, their whispers and anticipation merging into a palpable energy that seemed to vibrate through the walls. You watched from your spot the seats filling in slowly, growing more and more impressed at the quantity of people around you.
Your seats were atop of the side of the stage, so you could clearly get a view of the staff coming and going, testing the electric guitars, getting a stand with drumsticks to place it beside Jihoonâs red drum kit. The stage lights came on briefly, startling the crowd for a second, making everyone think that the show was starting already.
Jeonghan came up to you, hugging your body from behind. âWhat are you looking at, princess?â he muttered, pressing a loving kiss on your temple.
âJust perusing from afar,â you replied, leaning against his touch. âItâs interesting to see what happens backstage.â
âMm, remind me one day to take you to my job on opening night,â he hummed, laughing softly. âYouâll change your mind really quick.â
âYou must have a little more faith in me,â you showed him a smile. âYou forget I like a little chaos.â
Jeonghan paused, but then a smile spread on his lips. âYouâre right about that,â he muttered. âYou are a little bit chaotic yourself.â
You dropped your mouth in a faux aghast expression. âNo, Iâm not,â you chuckled.
His sweet brown eyes read the features of your face, and you saw them brighten with some mischievous idea. âWere you one of those haughty girls when you were in school?â he asked, laughing at your expression.
âWhat is that supposed to mean?â you asked, arching one eyebrow.
âWere you the kind that reminded the teacher to check the assignments?â he chuckled when you moved to push his shoulder.
You gave him an exasperated look. âI mean, I was the only one doing those assignments, and all for the professor to forget about them?!â
âOof, I wouldâve hated you in high school,â he asserted with a low chuckle.
âSo you were one of those kids that slacked off in class?â you quipped back.
âHey, I might have been a slacker, but I was still top of the class,â he asserted, blinking at you proudly.
âShut up,â you giggled. âI wouldâve hated you in high school.â
Jeonghan chuckled, encircling his arms around you to pull you tightly to his chest. âGood thing we didnât meet in school,â he muttered, right before dipping to meet your lips with his own. âAlthough I think I wouldâve had a crush on you.â
âNow youâre spewing nonsense, Mr. Yoon,â you said with a sweet giggle that sent chills down Jeonghanâs spine. âI was your typical nerd in high school.â
âWhat, like youâre not a typical nerd now?â he laughed when you just whined at him, pressing his lips against yours one more time. âI wouldâve crushed on you so hard, no matter how much you got in my nerves.â
âNow that you mention it, you wouldâve got in my nerves constantly,â you said with a smile. âBut I do admit that I am a sucker for that.â
His eyes widened in shock. âOoh, let me act surprised,â he joked. âThanks for the confirmation, though.â
The crowd went alive with a loud roar as the lights of the stage and the theatre went out. Even with the lights out, you could still make out Jeonghanâs face, the smile on it as he looked at you. It warmed your heart to see that Jeonghan was happy, and in love.
âShowâs starting,â you pressed a kiss on his lips and turned around to face the stage that was covered by a thick layer of smoke.
The overhead lights lit up in warm orange and yellow colors, casting sharp shadows and building excitement across the crowd. Then one by one, the members of Midnight Haze started to show up, Jihoon making it to his drums without making it a show, sitting down on the stool, and grabbing his drumsticks. Then Vernon joined the stage with a gentle gait, grabbing the neon green bass guitar on the stand where his spot on the stage was and crossing the strap on his shoulder.
The crowd went crazy with a load uproar when the stage lights changed position, focusing on the center of the stage as Joshua stepped in, waving at the crowd with a charming smile on his face. He took his white guitar, throwing the strap on his shoulder with ease and grabbed the mic on the stand.
âGoodnight everyone!â Joshuaâs voice boomed from the stage and through the whole theatre. The big screens showed him and his bandmates, all excited to perform their last show of the tour. âReady to have fun?â he smirked, his fingers grabbing a pick from the stand and picking the first chords of his guitar.
Jihoon lifted his drumsticks in the air, bringing them down with a splashing sound to join the ruckus of the noise. The first song they played was one of the singles of his album. It was loud and fun and represented Midnight Haze perfectly. It was a rebellious song, that called for everyone to dance along.
And you could tell that the boys loved playing this song, it had them dancing on their feet or bobbing their heads to it. It was a song that you could tell they wrote with the sole intention of making the crowd loosen up and gear up for the show. And as Joshua sang the lyrics, he smiled against the mic, the camera capturing his perfectly beautiful face.
Woke up late, got my shoes on tight,Feeling good, and I'm ready for the night,Turn it up, turn it up, feel the fire,Living life on the edge, weâll take it higher,All night long, weâre gonna shout it out,Come on, baby, letâs get loud!
The stage lit up in white lights, dancing on the floor and to the beat of the music, which resounded inside you, making you dance to it. Jeonghan was dancing along to it as well, rocking his head side to side, his long dark hair shaking as he did so.
The performance took off, showing the Midnight Haze boysâ skills as they played song after song, barely taking any rest. They only paused for water and for wiping off the sweat off their faces. Joshua looked tired after one and a half hours into the show, but the energy that he exhibited created an allure to him. Every time he was shown on the big screens, the crowd went crazy, and he smiled shyly at the uproar of the masses.
âHow are you guys doing?â he spoke into the mic with big breaths, his hands set on his hips as the guitar hung on his shoulder. The crowd screamed and applauded, creating a loud buzzing noise that you imagined could be heard from miles away.
Joshua smiled only, looking at the sea of people with glimmering eyes. âThis next song is called Euphoria. I hope you enjoy,â he said, and turned around to give his bandmates a signal by bowing his head.
Jihoon nodded, clashing his drumsticks once, twice, and then started playing a steady beat, to which Vernon followed with the bass and then Joshua joined in with a melodic riff of his guitar. Joshua danced with a soft sway as he came closer to his spot, and once the beat of the music prepared for the first verse, he lifted his lips to the mic.
Sheâs got a smile that could tear me apart,Like a haunting melody played on my heart,I reach for her, but she slips through my hands,A faded dream that leaves me weak.But until then, Iâll live with the fire,Chasing her shadow, longing for the desireShe leaves me hanging on every word,Every promise sheâs ever made has blurred.
It was a steadier song, unlike the rest. A ballad that still invited you to dance, but mostly to listen to Joshuaâs soft voice swimming over the crowd. Jeonghanâs arms returned to wrap around your body, hugging you from behind so he could rest his head on your shoulder. You welcomed his embrace, snuggling up to it without removing your eyes from the stage.
âI wonder who this song is about,â Jeonghan said in your ear, and you could feel his lips curving in a smile.
Your heart gave a jolt against your chest, but you said nothing, instead, you just sang along the lyrics, knowing that in fact, Joshua wrote this song with you in mind; it told of the time when you and Joshua had not solidified a relationship yet, and you were giving him mixed signals, driving him and yourself crazy.
Sheâs the danger I canât leave behind,I chase her shadow, but I canât make her mine,Her smileâs a puzzle, a riddle untold,Her lips like fire, but her heart stays cold,Her loveâs a fire, but it burns so slow,Like a ghost in the dark, sheâs all I know,Iâm caught in the spell, donât wanna break the ties,Iâm lost in the shadow of her eyes.
As you were watching him sing, you saw the raw emotion on his face, he frowned as he sing, closing his eyes, his chest swelling with each intake of breath. Then it hit you. Joshua could feel every emotion so intensely in his heart, that it was difficult for him to let it show, only being able to scream what he felt through music.
You knew that Joshua would never walk away from this, because as much as he loved being with you in the quiet, peaceful home you built with him, he also belonged on stage. You wondered then, what you would have do to protect that the same way he wanted to protect your privacy from the media and the world. You wondered, how would you do it now that Jeonghan was also your partner and Joshuaâs too.
Jeonghan swayed his body, dragging you along with the gentle dance as he wrapped you in his arms. You turned your head at the same time he did the same, your eyes meeting with his for a long moment. Everything you had to go through to get to this moment crashed against your heart, robbing you of air. Jeonghan had to go through different challenged to get here, to be your partner. It seemed understandable that he would present himself a bit reluctant to agreed to Joshuaâs proposition, and yours.
Jeonghan had put what mattered most to him to be with you, and now that Joshua was finally coming to terms with the turmoil in his heart, Jeonghan had to face that too, and although you did not know what was going on in his mind, you understood his reluctance. And would give him the time he needed to come to his resolve.
He smiled at you when your gaze swam all over the features of his face, leaning to give you a long, loving kiss.
Despite the exhaustion from the flight, the concert, interviews and such, Joshua looked at ease. Upon returning to the hotel room, he emptied his pockets on the small desk pushed to the wall of the room, and sat down on one of the chairs with a pleased sigh.
Jeonghan snorted, taking off his plaid shirt to discard it on the other chair, and sitting down on it. There was no need to say that Joshua was feeling more relaxed with himself now that he had taken one thing out of the way when he confessed his feelings to Jeonghan. Even the air felt different between you and them.
âIâm hungry. Shall we order room service?â Jeonghan asked as he removed his boots.
You were also taking off your jacket, neatly moving it on a hook to put it inside the small closet space. The question drew your curiosity, eyeing your two boyfriends sitting on each chair. Jeonghan had his knees spread, leaning his back in a relaxed position. Joshua had just taken his black converse off, sending a look at Jeonghan.
âUh, right now?â Joshua asked, glancing your way and then back to Jeonghan.
Jeonghan raised his eyebrows. âAre you not hungry?â he asked, but the brightened look in his eyes told you he was trying not to smile.
âYeah, but I was thinking of taking a shower,â Joshua replied, his tone cautious, much as if he were not disclosing part of his small plan.
âYou can shower while we wait for food,â Jeonghan shrugged, his mouth kept in a pout, and that was how you knew for sure, Jeonghan was teasing Joshua.
âWe can shower,â you cut in, knowing what Joshua had been trying to get at. âAnd later when weâre done, we can order food,â you said, throwing a look at Jeonghan. âStop teasing him.â
âWho, me?â Jeonghan blinked, raising a finger to point at himself.
âYeah, you. Stop it,â you giggled at him, but walked to Joshua, nonetheless, grabbing his hand. âLetâs go.â
âIâm not invited?â Jeonghan rose to his feet as well, following you and Joshua to the bathroom door.
âYouâre invited to watch if you promise to behave,â you conditioned impishly.
âI canât make promises like that,â Jeonghan said, raising his palms at you. âBut Iâll try.â
âDo try,â Joshua punctuated, smiling softly at the childish exchange.
âAh, Iâm just playing with you, Shuji,â Jeonghan said. Â
âWe know,â you and Joshua replied in unison.
You started the shower, wasting no time and moving to push Joshuaâs flannel shirt off his shoulders. You were glad for a moment that Jeonghan had taken your warning seriously, because he stood by the doorway to the bathroom, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed as he watched you get rid of Joshuaâs clothes piece by piece.
âYou were amazing tonight. I liked the show a lot,â you mumbled, sneaking a look up to his face as he watched you undo his belt, pulling it from the belt loops and letting it fall on the floor.
âThank you,â he replied in kind but lifting a hand to pinch your chin gently. âDid you dance a lot?â
You nodded, undoing the button of his washed denim pants. âWith Hannie,â you replied to his question. âWe had fun.â
âIâm glad, baby,â he said with a sweet tone, starting to take your clothes off as well.
Once you were both standing under the stream of warm water, Joshua pulled you in for a hug. As soon as your bodies came into contact with each other, your pulse quickened too. The shower was spacious, its walls were made of crystal, so Jeonghan got a view of Joshuaâs hands running all over your naked body, caressing the line of your back with his fingers.
Jeonghan could not remove his eyes from the image before him, he had never felt so attracted to two people at once. It was the best he could ever ask for, being so in love with you and at the same time, being able to finally express what he felt for Joshua aloud.
And Joshua was, for lack of a better word alluring to Jeonghan. Everything about him was attractive, his eyes, his lips, the way the muscles of his abdomen and legs shifted with every move. Jeonghan had been thinking about it ever since he saw Joshua performing on stage earlier.
You closed your eyes, lacing your fingers behind his nape to pull him into a kiss. âYou looked so hot on stage,â you blurted on Joshuaâs lips, ignoring the sound of your own voice, breathy and sweet.
âReally?â he smiled into the kiss, pressing his lips on yours softly.
âYeah,â you sighed, as his hands travelled farther down your back, parking on your ass and giving it a squeeze. You giggled nervously, sending a quick look at Jeonghan, who remained watching everything from afar obediently.
Joshua followed your eyes, his beautifully chapped lips curling in a shy smile when he found Jeonghan staring from the doorway. âAre you eager for tonight, princess?â Joshua asked, pressing his hands against your ass to bring your body against his tightly.
âEh?â you turned, looking at him in confusion. It had been ages since Joshua called you that. And you mostly just expected Jeonghan to use that name on you.
Joshua smiled with his eyes knowingly, bringing a hand to cup your cheek so he could hold you in place as he gave you a gentle kiss. âJeonghan and I will fuck tonight,â he whispered against your lips, smiling when you sighed a moan. âAre you okay with that, baby?â
âOf course I am,â you replied, your tone sugary and breathy at the same time, showing how aroused you were already.
âThatâs my girl,â he said, pressing another kiss on your lips.
A shudder invaded you, making your blood dance beneath your skin upon the thought of watching your boyfriends fuck. âLetâs wash you up,â you breathed, making him laugh at your eagerness.
âOkay,â Joshua replied, letting your hands wash every inch of his skin as thoroughly as possible, covering his beautifully tanned skin with soap bubbles.
Once you finished washing up, you covered your body with a bathrobe as Joshua dried his brown hair as best as he could with a towel. Jeonghan was waiting on the bed, you imagined he sat down at first, but as time went on he leaned back, propping his body with his elbows. But he stood up when he saw you coming back to the bedroom, and you noticed he was nervous.
You sat on the edge of the mattress, smoothing your hands over the creamy white duvet. âCan I watch?â you asked shyly, looking at both of your boyfriends standing before the bed.
Jeonghan tilted his head slightly to one side. âWhat do you want us to do, princess?â
This was a new part of the relationship that you were nervous about, nearly afraid to explore. But also, so eager. Seeing Jeonghanâs reaction back in the shower had given you the idea of simply watching your two boyfriends exploring each other, loving each other freely.
So you just shrugged. âWhatever you both are comfortable with doing,â you replied, mostly looking at Joshua.
You were about to be reminded that neither of your boyfriends lacked daring. Sure, they often needed a little push, but you just had given them what they needed. Joshua did not lose time, grabbing Jeonghan by the back of his neck and giving a firm tug. Jeonghan met Joshua halfway in a brief kiss. The first kiss looked featherlight, as if they were being careful, meeting each other again.
But you could see how quickly that cautiousness dissipated once they got a taste of each otherâs mouths. Diving for another kiss, one of them grunted and it was hard for you to know who it was who made the breathy sound. They were at each otherâs lips, a light dance of exploration, tasting and revelling themselves at the touch.
Jeonghan lifted his hands, blindly searching Joshuaâs chest, caressing with his fingers until he stopped his touch at the hips, pulling forward. Their bodies touched, and Joshua responded with a muffled moan, sinking his fingers in Jeonghanâs dark hair, and forcing his lips into a harder kiss, which Jeonghan reciprocated at once.
You were completely mesmerized. The sight was too alluring, too irresistible to even blink. You were not only caught up in the need to feel them on your lips, to feel their touch, but you knew what each of their kisses felt like. You knew how it felt to be touched by Jeonghan, you knew how it felt to be kissed by Joshua.
You leaned back on your elbows, looking at your boyfriends kissing each other, exploring their bodies with satisfied moans. Joshua started ripping every piece of clothing on Jeonghanâs body with no shame, starting by stripping him off the white t-shirt, and then the baggy blue jeans.
Once they got rid of everything putting a barrier between their skins, Jeonghan moved a hand under Joshuaâs jaw, holding it with ginger fingers as he kissed the apple of Joshuaâs cheek, who opened his eyes slowly, his plump lips parting slightly in desire as his gaze found you. âAre you enjoying this, baby?âÂ
You nodded silently, biting your lower lip to mask your smile. Your gaze dropped to their bodies, pressed together, Jeonghanâs hands cradling Joshuaâs face moved down on to grab his ass, his lips making a trail of kisses on Joshuaâs neck. âHannie donât bite me,â Joshua giggled airily.
Jeonghan detached his mouth from Joshuaâs skin, both moving simultaneously to find each otherâs lips with a brief kiss, their wet lips creating a soft smacking sound that had your blood sizzling beneath your skin. Joshua leaned his forehead against Jeonghanâs, licking his own lips right before his hands travelled down Jeonghanâs back, circling to grip him by the hips and tug him closer.
You shuddered at the sight of them moving at the same time, neither asking for permission nor stopping to test each other. Their hands explored each other, Joshua leaned to trap Jeonghanâs lips in a long, wet kiss as his hand circled Jeonghanâs dick by his pretty length, pumping him a few times, just as Jeonghan grabbed Joshuaâs veiny shaft with equally languid strokes.
At that, you could no longer resist yourself, sneaking a hand between your legs, parting the flaps of your bathrobe. The tip of your finger glided between your slick folds, making you moan at the much-desired contact as you watched your boyfriends moan in each otherâs mouths, stroking each other languidly.Â
They stopped kissing, sharing one long look as their hands moved on each otherâs dick at the same pace. Jeonghan sent you one glance and smiled, making Joshua do the same, his gaze finding you on the bed, legs parted, stroking your clit, circling it with your fingertip, rubbing your arousal all over your cunt.
âI think Baby likes this,â Jeonghan said, turning his face to Joshuaâs.
âFuck,â Joshua breathed, swallowing back a moan.
âMmn,â Jeonghan hummed, diving for another open kiss on Joshuaâs neck that ended up with a light grazing of his teeth against his skin.
âFuck, youâ,â Joshua gritted in pleasure as his body tensed visibly.
Jeonghan laughed, stumbling back when Joshua used his hands to push him to the bed, he sat before he let his body lean back, his happy eyes finding you. âWhat do you say, princess, should we punish Josh for being so damn emotionally constipated, or do you want him to take the lead tonight?â
Joshua stopped, just as he was making a move to climb on top of Jeonghanâs body on the bed, his knee hiked on the edge of the mattress. âWhat?â he blurted. âWhat did I do now?â
âIâm asking her, not you,â Jeonghan bit back.
You liked your lips, burning in utter desire. âI think we should use him,â you nodded, smiling at the glint in Jeonghanâs eyes.
âMmn,â Jeonghan pretended to ponder for a second, raising a hand to pinch your chin. âHow do you want to use him, princess? Do you want to fuck yourself on his cock?â
A smile played on your lips. âCan I keep watching, Hannie?â you asked, batting your eyelashes.
Jeonghan mirrored the smile, but his was slow and triumphant. âOf course, baby,â he cooed, running the pad of his thumb on your bottom lip, which you nibbled at softly. âGet him on the bed.â
You gathered yourself on the bed, crawling on your hands and knees to the foot, where you sat back on your heels. You had to raise your gaze to find Joshuaâs, darkened by wanton need, his pouty lips parted slightly.
âAre you there, Josh?â you asked with a honeyed tone.
The pout turned into a smile slowly. âYouâre turning on me,â he accused, but there was nothing in his tone to indicate that he was displeased with the idea of Jeonghan being in control for the night.
âIâll make up for it, babe,â you replied, keeping the sweet tone on him. âI promise.â
Joshua smirked, bringing a hand to cradle your cheek. âI expect nothing less,â he mumbled, locking his lips with yours in a featherlight kiss that had you emitting a low moan at once. The thought of Joshuaâs lips meeting yours after making out with Jeonghan gave you a different lure.
You reached for his hand, taking it on your own, his long fingers warm and calloused from playing the guitar for hours. âCome here, big boy,â you whispered, pulling him softly to the bed, where he was already pressing a knee on, so he just followed you, obediently lying down between Jeonghan and you.
âTake your robes off, princess.â Â
Sending a quick glance at Jeonghan, you nodded at him. âOkay,â you mumbled.
You did as he said, looking at Joshuaâs long and toned body lying on the bed, his skin adorned with droplets of water here and there, his hand resting below his sternum. He did not shy away from your staring, smiling softly at you when your gaze lowered to his hard cock, stirring proudly on his lower abdomen, and leaking in precum.
Jeonghan was lying on his side, propping himself up on his elbow, equally as alluring. His damp hair dripped on the covers as he leaned his head to one side, his gaze gliding over Joshuaâs body, unable to focus on one part of him. They looked at each other for a second that stretched out, only breaking when Jeonghan inched closer to Joshua.
You watched as they met in a slow, wet kiss, neither of them paused before it, like joined by a magnetic force. Jeonghanâs lips trapped Joshuaâs lower, outlining it with his tongue. The response your body got from watching them kiss was like no other, you could not believe you could feel so intensely from just looking.
Joshua raised a hand to cup Jeonghanâs nape, forcing a hungry kiss. You saw a glimpse of Joshuaâs tongue, licking Jeonghanâs bottom lip before their tongues met briefly, continuing to kiss each other with abandon and a hunger that only incited your own.
Jeonghan moved his body on top of Joshuaâs neither breaking the hard kiss, their hands roving on each otherâs skin freely, as though they were aching to touch each other like this for years. Joshuaâs hand circled Jeonghanâs waist gripping him with gentle fingers as Jeonghan lowered his body on top of Joshuaâs, meeting each other wholly, skin on skin.
One hand had remained on Jeonghanâs nape, and you saw Joshuaâs fingers curl around the dark mane of hair, pulling softly, but demanding more. âBehave,â Jeonghan stilled, his lips lingering on Joshuaâs, moving sensually with each word: âOr Iâll use your belt to restrain your hands.â
Joshua smirked briefly before pressing a kiss on Jeonghanâs lips. âThat sounds fun,â he replied with his honeyed tone. âBut Iâll behave. Just for tonight.â
âBrat,â Jeonghan spat.
âAre you surprised?â Joshua bit back, arching his pierced eyebrow.
âDonât make me consider using the belt,â Jeonghan grunted, but his commanding tone fainted as he dipped his head on Joshuaâs neck, pressing quick kisses on the curve of his shoulder.
âWhat if I want it?â Joshua giggled, having his fun by challenging Jeonghan.
âI donât want to do that the first time I fuck you,â he said slowly. âBesides, I want Princess to have her fun too,â he muttered against Joshuaâs neck.
âFuck,â Joshua tensed, squeezing his eyes tightly. âBut you never bite Bunny like this,â he complained, his tone waning too.
âBecause she bruises like a peach,â Jeonghan giggled, sending you a look. âDo you still have that bruise, baby?â
You bit your lip, nodding. âYes, Hannie,â you raised one knee toward the ceiling, revealing a glimpse of your inner thigh, very close to your pussy. There was a bruise, small but still visible and greenish.
âSo thatâs what it was,â Joshua smirked, his eyelids fluttering when his throat was grazed by Jeonghanâs teeth, making him moan.
âDo you like that, Josh?â you asked as Jeonghan made a trail of lovebites on Joshuaâs neck and collarbones. You enjoyed Joshuaâs eyes glazing over, his mouth parted as he nodded with his head dumbly.
âYeah. Feels good,â he muttered faintly as Jeonghan placed an open-mouthed kiss on one of Joshuaâs pecs. In fact, Joshua was over the moon. His heart going a mile per hour as he looked at your face flushed in expectation, while Jeonghan littered his chest with kisses.
You saw Jeonghan placing a wet kiss on Joshuaâs pec, stopping to lick a circle around Joshuaâs nipple right before grazing at it with his teeth. You had to press your thighs together upon feeling a slight jolt of nervousness that shot straight to your core.
Joshua groaned quietly in pleasure, a slight frown appearing on his face. âAre you enjoying this, baby?â he asked, opening his eyes.
âYeah,â you breathed, and Joshua smiled at you briefly, right before Jeonghan sank down, placing a wet kiss on his hipbone.
âDonât you want to touch yourself?â he mumbled, his tone waning as his hand found Jeonghanâs head, threading his fingers in his hair.
âStroke your clit, princess,â Jeonghan muttered, raising his gaze to find your blushing face. And you realized that they had noticed your body tensing.
Before you did as he told you, you lied back on the covers beside Joshua, keeping your gaze trained in his hands, gripping the base of Joshuaâs cock, jerking him off a few times again, his lip curling upon hearing the raunchy and short moans that spilled from Joshuaâs parted lips.
You planted your feet on the mattress, parting your legs slightly to sneak a hand in, rubbing the pads of your pointer and middle finger on your swollen bud. A moan escaped you at once upon finding your cunt swollen and sopping wet, but all focus was on Jeonghanâs hand, jerking Joshuaâs cock with a playful look on his face.
Then Jeonghan leaned over to wrap his mouth around Joshuaâs swollen cockhead, dragging a deep moan from him. You moaned with Joshua, the sight alone might have sent you into your climax, watching Jeonghan slid his pretty mouth up and sinking down Joshuaâs big cock was out of the ordinary alluring for you.
âFuck,â Joshua gritted out, his eyes focused on Jeonghan alone, watching his cock disappearing in Jeonghanâs mouth.
Drool gathered on the corners of Jeonghanâs lips as he took Joshuaâs cock farther, the tip hitting the back of his throat, feeling every vein of his shaft as he pulled his mouth up, swirling his tongue around the bulbous head.
Jeonghanâs eyes flitted to you, as you fingered yourself to the pace of the bobbing of his head, which he pulled up, his lips wrapping around Joshuaâs cockhead made a wet sound as he detached his mouth from it. âSit on his face, baby,â Jeonghan muttered softly at you, motioning with the tip of his nose at Joshuaâs face.
You bit your lip, and nodded, clumsily gathering your limbs on the bed to crawl to the head of the bed until you stopped right before the pillows and Joshuaâs shoulders. âIâve never sat on your face,â you realized with a nervous giggle.
âReally?â Jeonghan clicked his tongue, repeatedly. âYouâve never let our baby sit on your face? Bad boy.â Â
Joshua showed you a smirk, blinking slowly at you. He extended one arm at you. âCome here, baby,â he said, and you stood on your knees, placing each one on the pillows at each side of Joshuaâs head. âSit,â he commanded, grabbing you by your hips with his large hands and bringing you down, forcing you to sit your cunt on his face.
âGod,â you muttered nervously as his mouth started to work on your pussy lips, licking a fat stripe on your folds to lave at your arousal. âOh god,â you parroted. Now you were face to face with Jeonghan, getting another angle of him pleasuring Joshuaâs cock.
Joshua added a little bit of pressure with his hands on your ass, forcing you to move your hips slightly as he made out with your pussy, giving it broad strokes with his tongue. You moaned, trying not to close your eyes as Jeonghan bobbed his head up and down, sinking his pretty mouth on Joshuaâs cock, you noticed that his own cock was hard, and leaking with precum.
Jeonghan lifted his eyes to you as he continued sucking Joshuaâs cock, who repeated the motion of his hands on your hips, forcing you to move. Jeonghan pulled his mouth free smiling as he said, âHeâs telling you to move, princess.â
âEh?â you asked dumbly, lifting your hips from Joshuaâs face, looking down at him. âAm I hurting you, Josh?â
Joshua giggled, the sound sweet and slightly muffled. âNot at all, baby,â he said. âJust grind on me a little, itâll feel good.â
âHow?â you frowned.
âJust grind your pussy on his tongue, baby,â Jeonghan added right before he took Joshuaâs cock in his mouth, smirking as Joshua moaned loudly.
âFuck, baby, do it now,â Joshua growled, using his hands once again to bring your ass down to his face.
âOh god, okay,â you blurted, placing your hands on the mattress for support and started swaying your hips gently back and forth, rubbing your pussy on Joshuaâs tongue. âOh god,â you moaned once you felt the pleasure building up fast.
It grew quiet for a second, the silence interrupted only by your moans and Joshuaâs as you started grinding your pussy on his mouth at a faster pace, and Jeonghan bobbed his head, matching your pace too.
Joshua moaned loudly against your pussy, the sound lewd and sweet and so telling that he was close. But the warning did little for Jeonghan, who was pulling his mouth from Joshuaâs cockhead as ropes of cum spurted from the reddened tip, disappearing once Jeonghan ran his tongue all over the mess, picking up the cum from Joshuaâs cockhead and shaft, cleaning him off with soft hums of pleasure.
Seeing Joshua come on Jeonghanâs mouth inched you closer to your own orgasm, and Jeonghan read it on your face, heard it in your moans. He leaned over Joshuaâs body, trapping your chin with his hand to plant an open kiss on your mouth, making you taste Joshuaâs cum too.
The motions of your hips became fast and short, rubbing your pussy on Joshua as you reached your climax. You moaned loudly, shaking on his mouth as your orgasm shot up your body, sizzling beneath your skin from your cunt to your face.
âThatâs it, baby,â Jeonghan cooed softly, enjoying the face you made when you came. Your jaw went slack, eyes rolling back as you closed your eyes, savoring every second of your high as you finished grinding your pussy on Joshuaâs tongue.
The covers were soft on your skin once you slumped and rolled over on the large bed. You sighed a moan, as Jeonghan caressed Joshuaâs thighs. He was breathing hard as well, his pretty doe eyes closed but he smiled and then said, âThat was amazing,â he rasped.
You turned your head on the pillows to look at him. He was equally fucked out as you were, panting hard, his eyes dreamy as they found yours. âYeah,â you sighed. âAre you ready for more, babe?â you asked.
Joshua nodded, and for one moment, Jeonghan was thrown back to the day he met Joshua, realizing he had hosted an attraction ever since, letting it grow but ever so slowly. He leaned over, pressing his bare chest against Joshuaâs to plant a kiss on his lips.
âWhat do you want?â Jeonghan asked slowly, and you saw the brief pause, the tip of his nose bumping with Joshuaâs before he met his lips with his own.
âFuck me,â Joshua breathed, bringing his hands to cup Jeonghanâs head, his fingers tangling in the mane of dark hair. âFuck me like youâve always dreamed of,â he said, his words rising in a tone of desperation, as though he had been holding back the thought of it for days, weeks.
âUmn, what makes you think Iâd ever dreamed of fucking you?â Jeonghan teased, propping one kiss on Joshuaâs lips with a playful manner, just like he always did with you.
âPlease,â Joshua breathed, closing his eyes slowly and swallowing hard. âI want thisâI want you,â he said, the words tumbling out of his mouth before he could stop them. Â
âHow do you want me?â Jeonghan asked, and you quickly understood what game he was playing. Teasing Joshua with swift, fleeting kisses on his skin, asking questions that would lead him to beg for Jeonghan to fuck him.
Joshua parted his mouth, craning his neck for Jeonghan to leave a love bite on his throat. âI want you inside me,â he drawled out without shame, closing his eyes to enjoy the torturous kisses that Jeonghan left on his skin.
âMmn,â Jeonghan pursed his lips in a mocking expression. âYou could take my cock in your mouth, is that what you want?â
Joshua rolled his eyes in a near exasperated look. âYou know what I mean, Jeonghan.â
âDo I?â he tilted his head ever so slightly.
You snorted.
âWhat?â Jeonghan asked, turning to see you.
âDonât act like you donât want this, Hannie,â you smirked.
Jeonghan shrugged lightly. âGot me,â he said with a matching smirk. âI just wanted to hear him beg a little.â
âCanât you leave that for another night?â you raised your brows.
âPlease,â Joshua sighed, and then laughed.
âAlright, alright,â Jeonghan laughed as well, crushing his mouth on Joshuaâs. âOnly because Bunnyâs right and I do want this just as bad as you do.â
âThen get on with it,â Joshua muttered against Jeonghanâs lips.
âGod you two are the same. So fucking needy,â Jeonghan complained, chuckling lightly. âPut one of your knees up.â
Jeonghan sat back on his haunches, reaching to grab the bottle of lube he had placed on the nightstand. He rubbed the slick liquid on his fingers on one hand as he supported himself with the other. Then, he leaned to kiss Joshua, and they kissed deeply, both moaning into the kiss as Jeonghan took his lubed fingers and stopped before Joshuaâs balls.
Jeonghan paused, detaching his lips from Joshuaâs to look at him in the eyes, then his fingers inched further down, the pointer finger caressing Joshuaâs entrance, circling it with the tip of his lubed finger. Jeonghan bit his bottom lip, looking at Joshuaâs facial features dissolve and change into pleasure.
A shudder went through your body. You knew how it felt like, to have Jeonghanâs fingers in you, stretching you out for his cock slowly, testing what made you go off, what made you beg for his cock. You licked your lips in anticipation, fixating your gaze on Joshuaâs fac.
âTickles,â Joshua laughed lightly, shaking with some nervousness and anticipation.
âIs it cold?â Jeonghan asked, like he was having a normal conversation with his best friend. But in fact, he was nervous too.
âOkay,â Jeonghan nodded, pressing the tip of his finger on Joshuaâs entrance, and sinking an inch further.
Joshuaâs mouth parted, letting out a silent groan. âOh,â he frowned slightly.
âGood?â Jeonghan stilled.
Joshua nodded. âKeep going.â
âOkay,â Jeonghan pushed in another finger on Joshuaâs entrance, lifting his head to look at you. âTouch yourself, baby.â
Jeonghan kept going, adding a third finger, cautious of his touch so he kept it gentle, focused on Joshuaâs face to see any signs of discomfort.
But Joshua could have melted into a puddle of pleasure and anticipation for more, he wanted more, and more, more. âPlease,â he whispered. âMore,â he said, understanding the situations where you had been in his place, revelling at the fact that he was living one of the fantasies that he had lived through you.
You cradled Joshuaâs cheek with one hand, commanding his doe eyes to yours before you gave him a sweet kiss. âYouâre doing good, Josh,â you muttered with a light tone.
âPrincess,â Jeonghan commanded your eyes to him, motioning to the condoms on the nightstand. And you understood perfectly without him saying it. So you sat on your knees, reaching to grab the condom and ripped the package with your fingers, and carefully grabbed the condom, rolling it on Jeonghanâs hard cock to his hilt.
âThank you, baby,â he whispered, receiving your soft kiss on his lips. Then he pushed a fourth finger in, having Joshuaâs thighs tensing in both pain and pleasure, making Jeonghan stroke his own cock with his hand, lubing himself up.
Jeonghan pressed one hand on the mattress for support, as the other guided his cock to Joshuaâs entrance. You looked at Joshua tensing up slightly, but diffusing his own nervousness as he took in one deep breath. They shared one look right before Jeonghan pressed the tip of his cock against Joshuaâs entrance, and started sinking in, inch by inch, slowly.
Their mouths parted at the same time, but ever so slightly. âFuck,â Joshua breathed, closing his eyes.
Jeonghan cursed under his breath too, retreating his hips one inch, then sinking back inside Joshua. âGood?â he breathed, looking at Joshua expectantly.
âGreat,â Joshua replied in kind, lifting his other knee to his chest, opening himself more for Jeonghanâs pretty cock.
Jeonghan started rutting his hips against Joshuaâs ass, pushing his cock further with each stroke. You knew how it felt, to have him inside you, to be stuffed full of his cock. You could no longer take the pleasure brimming inside you, and tarted stroking your clit with your fingers, dipping them inside you to rub your slick all over your clit, and started swirling your fingers around it, unable to drag your gaze away.
âG-god,â Jeonghan closed his eyes, pushing his hips at a gentle pace, the pressure building inside him showed on his face, on the vein popping on his forehead and neck. It felt so good, so tight, he was becoming addicted to it quickly, starting to thrust with more abandon.
âFuck,â Joshua gritted again, his hands grabbing onto the bundles of bedcovers, trying to anchor himself to something before he lost all self-control. âJ-jeonghanâŠâ he moaned, his voice breaking in uncontrolled need for more, and more.
You saw as Jeonghanâs muscles contracted and went lax with each stroke of his hips, his face contorted in pure, sweet pleasure, matching Joshuaâs expression too, who tried to keep himself angled for Jeonghanâs cock. The dancing of their bodies was too seducing, too enticing. Pressure burst inside you, blooming in every part of your body, its tingling lingering on your skin.
You moaned lewdly, unable to look away as Jeonghan fucked Joshua slowly, his eyes flitted to your face and smiled. âPrincess,â he whispered, as you trembled in the gentle waves of the orgasm that consumed you.
âMmn?â you replied, breathing heavily.
âT-touch him,â he commanded with an urgency that you understood well, pushing his hips against Joshua desperately.
You rolled on the bed on your side, lifting your body with one elbow to take Joshuaâs cock with your hand, rubbing the slick on your fingers all over his shaft. Joshua moaned, blinking repeatedly as his eyes focused on your face.
âYou close?â you muttered lightly, and Joshua nodded with sharp motions. You rolled your hand on his cock faster, your eyes wandering to where Jeonghan met his hips with Joshuaâs ass, thrusting his cock faster.
âFuck,â Jeonghan moaned loudly, louder than you had ever heard him before, he closed his eyes in pure pleasure and breathed raggedly. âIâm there.â
Both looked at each other before they started making the rawest, sweetest moans as they came undone at the same time, ropes of cum spilling onto the back of your hand as Jeonghan pushed thrusted sloppily against Joshua, spilling himself into the condom with raunchy moans that made you want to moan with them too.
Jeonghan lifted a hand, caressing Joshuaâs tummy as he gave a few sloppy thrusts, finishing inside him as he breathed tiredly, just as Joshua was, biting his bottom lip without tearing his eyes off Jeonghan. They looked at each other for a long moment, and you wanted once again to share their mind, to listen in on their channel they so jealously kept to themselves.
You leaned against Joshuaâs face, pushing the tip of your nose on his cheek before pressing a kiss on the shell of his ear. âYou did so good, babe,â you whispered.
Jeonghan climbed down the bed and disappeared behind the bathroom door, leaving you with a very exhausted Joshua, still lying on the bed. He was breathing hard, his face so relaxed that for a second you believed him to be asleep.
You got up, going around the bed to reach for the pack of wet tissues on the nightstand, and started cleaning off the cum on the back of your hand, and the few beads on Joshuaâs lower tummy. You discarded the tissues and went back to lie down beside him on the bed. âHow are you, babe?â you asked softly, running a palm over his chest, feeling the vibrations of his heartbeat.
âAmazing,â he sighed, grabbing your hand and kissing your knuckles. âYou?â he raised his eyebrows.
âIâm good,â you muttered with a sheepish smile.
âYou didnât get to come again,â he realized, shifting his hand to grab you by the waist, turning slightly on the bed. âCome here,â he whispered.
âJoshua, Iâm fine,â you said with a short giggle. âYou should rest, you came pretty hard.â
âI said come here,â he said playfully, tightening the grip on your waist, pulling you to his body.
âOkay,â you conceded, letting him pull your body closer to his on the bed. You were still lying side to side, so it was easy for him to sneak a hand between your legs to run the pads of his pointer and middle finger on your folds.
âYouâre so wet,â he muttered, his eyes glinting with desire again. âJust from watching us, baby,â he said in a tone that resembled praise. âWhy couldnât you come again?â
âI grew sensitive,â you mumbled, shuddering when his fingers glided on your folds a couple of times again, dipping slightly in your entrance. âIt was really fun watching you.â
âYeah, baby?â he cooed, smirking at you when you responded with a quiet nod. âWant me to touch you?â
âYes, please,â you sighed, closing your eyes blissfully as his middle and ring fingers slipped inside your pussy. âGod, JoshâŠâ
âThatâs right, baby,â he praised when you automatically started rocking your hips with short motions, fucking yourself on his hand. âUse me,â Joshua whispered.
Your breath hitched embarrassingly loud when a new set of hands encircled your waist, making you turn over your shoulder. âHannie,â you sighed lewdly, a warmth creeping beneath your cheeks.Â
Jeonghan occupied the empty side of the bed, lying behind you, his chest pressed against your back. His hands gripped you by the hips, helping you to move them on Joshuaâs hand. âMmn, princess youâre making a mess on Joshuaâs fingers.â
The squelching noises became louder when Jeonghan started helping you rock your hips, littering the back of your shoulder with kisses.
Joshua curled his fingers inside you, nibbling your lower lip with his teeth. âMake a mess, baby,â Joshua said, his lips lingering on yours, pressing soft kisses on them. âDid you like watching Hannie fuck me?â
âUh-huh,â you moaned, shuddering at the crude language your boyfriend used.
But he enjoyed it more, âI get now why you like his cock so much,â Joshua taunted, pulling back so he could look at your face. âYou always behave like a slut when he fucks you.â
Your mouth fell open, giving way to a strangled moan. You nodded dumbly, and that only made Joshuaâs grin grow on his face.
âThatâs what you are, a good slut for us, right?â Jeonghan whispered in your ear, leaving small kisses on the shell. âAre you gonna come on Joshuaâs fingers?â
You rocked your hips faster, enjoying that Joshua had started to move his hand too, pressing his fingers on your walls harder to make you shudder in pleasure. The tight feeling pooling in your lower belly became even more intense as your orgasm inched closer and closer.
Jeonghanâs hand moved from your hips, circling over to find your chest, where he started playing with your tits. His fingers fiddled with one of your nipples, pinching it gently and massaging your breast with his palm.
âAnswer him, baby,â Joshua rasped, leaving a small kiss on your bottom lip.Â
âYeah, Hannie,â you swallowed a moan. âOh fuck. Yes, yes, yesâŠâ over and over again. The tension finally snapped, shaking you hard on the bed. Your jaw went slack, letting out a series of lewd moans that only allured both of your boyfriends. They watched you come undone, thrashing, and crying out in between them.
âThatâs it, baby,â Jeonghan praised, kissing your shoulder softly.
âGood girl,â Joshua said too, leaving light kisses on your face.
You panted, holding onto Joshuaâs shoulder for support as you came down from your high. âGod,â you sighed, still with your eyes closed, feeling their bodies so close to you, relishing their warmth.
Joshua pulled his fingers out of your used hole carefully, and lifted his hand to your view and drew it closer to Jeonghanâs face, who opened his mouth, taking Joshuaâs fingers in, sucking off your arousal with a pleased moan. Joshuaâs lips curved into a smile, reminding you of the time he did the same with Jeonghanâs fingers.
You sighed, humming softly as you eased into the aftershocks of your nth orgasm. Jeonghan stroke your arm with the tips of his fingers, just as Joshua nudged the tip of your nose with his before pressing a gentle kiss on your lips.Â
âI love you both so much,â you drawled.
âAnd we love you, princess,â Joshua replied with a small chuckle.
âSo much,â Jeonghan emphasized, propping another kiss on your shoulder.
âCan we order room service now?â you sighed, nuzzling on their warmth, not even bothering to open your eyes.
âWhy donât you order for us, baby? I need to take care of Shua,â Jeonghan prompted, patting your ass lovingly.
âSure,â you cooed, sitting up on the bed with a surge of energy you got from thinking about food. âWhat should I order?â
âSurprise us,â Joshua pressed his lips into a smile, watching you walk over to the desk where the telephone was, dialling the room service.
Jeonghan turned his gaze to Joshua. âYouâre alright?â he asked softly, reaching out to tug Joshuaâs ear by its shell, softly toying with his set of piercings.
Joshua raised his doe eyes from you to Jeonghan, nodding his head. âYeah,â he replied, feeling something flutter inside him. âYou?â
The next day, you were back home. Jeonghan kept his word and spent the night over at yours, being so that he had everything he needed in his duffel bag. When you arrived, you were too tired, and so happy to do anything but snuggle in your bedcovers with both Joshua and Jeonghan, who were happy to please.
You fell asleep quickly, hugging Jeonghanâs frame tightly to your body, using his chest as a pillow. The sight was too cozy and warm to Joshua that he could not resist but following suit, falling asleep too, clinging onto you.
But then Joshua woke with a sharp jolt, his breathing becoming erratic as he dully came to grips with reality. For a small moment, he felt himself falling in his dream, and then he had to breathe in slowly to calm himself and gain lucidity.Â
First, he made sure that he had not woken you up with his brusque move. But he found you huddled beneath the covers, as his eyes adjusted, he noticed that your arm was draped over a pillow, and Jeonghan was nowhere to be found.
That was until he heard a short smokerâs cough in the distance. Slowly, Joshua slid beneath the sheets and out of the bed completely, curiously stepping out of the bedroom, spotting the faint blue light coming from the phone in Jeonghanâs hand.
Jeonghan was lying on the couch, his back resting on the armrest, and his legs stretched out along the seat of the couch. He was so immersed in what he was looking on the screen to notice Joshua coming to the living room until he sat down on the armchair. Jeonghan lowered the phone to his tummy, blinking at Joshua with a light frown on his face.
âCanât sleep?â Joshua asked with a hushed tone.
âYou snore,â Jeonghan accused with an equally low tone, but his sounded full of reproach. He raised his phone to his gaze again, trying to appeal uninterested.
Joshua laughed airily, making Jeonghanâs eyes flick from the screen to where the sweet sound came from. âI donât snore.â
âYes, you do,â Jeonghan countered.
âAh, okay, okay. Iâm sorry,â Joshua said. âWhat are you doing in there?â he nodded to the phone in Jeonghanâs hands.Â
Jeonghan locked the phone, discarding it on the coffee table with a tired sigh. âNothing,â he mumbled, crossing his arms over his tummy. He chewed on his bottom lip before deciding to just let it out. âThey want me to direct a mini-series for a streaming platform. The former director stepped out and someone slipped in my name as an option.â
âThatâs a good opportunity,â Joshua said, frowning at the reluctance in Jeonghanâs demeanor. âAre you turning it down?â
âI donât know. I havenât worked on directing for television before. Iâd need to learn a few things,â Jeonghan sucked in a breath pensively. âIâd need to make some preparations, clear my schedule for the next four months, maybe. I donât know.âÂ
âYou donât want to do it because of the amount of work that it implies, or you just donât feel attracted to the idea?â Joshua asked, tilting his head to one side a bit to study Jeonghan with his gaze.
A thing that Jeonghan felt, the weight of Joshuaâs scrutiny only added to the awkwardness he felt around the whole situation. âI just donât think I am the person to do it, you know?â
âWhy not?â Joshua pressed, a tiny smile sneaking on his face. âYouâre talented and have experience directing for years. The person who recommended you must see that too, right?â
âAh, now youâre intriguing me,â Jeonghan chuckled lightly, playing with his own fingers to ease his nerves. âYouâre only nice when you want something from me, so spit it out,â he said, sneaking a glance at Joshua, only to find his doe eyes, glinting in an emotion that Jeonghan saw only whenever Joshua looked at you.
âI have everything I want,â Joshua mumbled, his sweet tone matching the smile on his face.
Jeonghan fixed his gaze on his hands once again, trying to keep it away from Joshua as best as he could. âDo you, really?â he continued aimlessly.
The room fell silent for a long second, it was a silence that allow for many things to fall in place too. Joshua noticed once again the heavy reluctance in his best friend, and he was now determined to get to the bottom of it. The avoidant eyes, the plain tone; Jeonghan was as clear as water, so clear to Joshua that in fact he could interpret the way that he blinked. Jeonghan was tired, but refused to go to bed.
âHave you thought about Bunnyâs proposition?â Joshua asked softly, breaking through the silence seamlessly.
âAbout going apartment hunting with her?â Jeonghan nodded, sniffling dryly, rubbing the tip of his nose with the back of his hand. âYeah, I promised I would take a look at it. So far all of the options sheâs looking at are nice. Good neighborhoods.â
âBut are you considering what she said? About moving in with us?â Joshua pressed, but trying to keep his tone under control.
âI uhâŠâ Jeonghan sighed, a smile breaking on the features of his face. âIsnât it too soon? I mean, I get that you guys did it before you even knew each otherâs last names, but I need to warm up a little before I decide on doing something like that,â he said, spitting out the words in a swift manner that only made more evident that he was nervous.
âThatâs not true, we already knew each otherâs last names,â Joshua giggled lightly, amused at knowing what was making Jeonghan so awkward.
Jeonghan rolled his eyes. âMy thoughts remain the same,â he said. âItâs a bit too soon, isnât it? And now with⊠the newer developments, I donât know,â he shifted on his seat.
âNewer developments, huh?â Joshua clicked his tongue mockingly. âYouâre just looking for excuses, Jeonghan.â
âIâm not, Joshua,â he sulked.
âYouâre here all the time, you spend most nights here. You only go back to yours so you can change your clothes, tell me if thatâs not stupid,â Joshua refuted with an accusatory pout.
âI do sleep back at my place, sometimes. I only come back here to visit our girlfriend,â he retorted, rolling his eyes but he knew his argument was weak. âI donât think you considered how Iâd feel with all this,â he finally let out, turning his gaze to the wall behind the sofa. He crossed one leg over the other at the same time he shifted his crossed arms over his chest, walling himself off completely.
âWell, how do you feel?â Joshua egged, knowing his best friend well enough to know he was playing hard to get.
The Yoon Jeonghan letting himself go down easy? Even if he admitted his feelings for Joshua, it took him months to get over it. Joshua was the only person in history to reject him, and now he wants him all of a sudden.
âI donât know, confused?â he mumbled shyly, a tiny smile spreading on his thin lips. âI think itâs going to take a little bit of time for me to digest this.â
Then, Jeonghan raised his gaze, finding Joshua across the living room. The window behind him showed the sun rising through the thin curtains, painting a soft halo around his head, the chocolate brown hair shining richly under the incipient sunlight. Maybe you were right, Jeonghan thought. Joshuaâs dark but sweet gaze glided over the features of Jeonghanâs face, already knowing what the root of the problem was. Maybe you were right, and those feelings never went away. And maybe, those feelings kindly went to sleep, waiting for either of them to realize.
Joshua stood up, just as Jeonghan moved his feet on the sofa to make space on it. âWell, while you digest this, can I have some fun?â Joshua asked with an ease in his tone that nearly sounded sultry to Jeonghanâs ears.
Jeonghan raised his eyebrows in mild bewilderment. âHave fun?â he parroted.
Joshua placed his hands on the armrest of the couch, a knee between Jeonghanâs legs and leaned over him, nodding his head with light motions. âYeah, Iâll have fun while you think about it,â he said with a slightly mocking tone. âWhat do you say?â he asked in a lower tone as he guided his lips to meet Jeonghanâs in a shallow kiss.
âWhat if I wanna take my time to think about it?â Jeonghan retorted, tensing on the couch but reciprocating the light kiss with another.
âIâll give you until Bunny wakes up to do it,â Joshua husked, locking his lips with Jeonghan in a slow kiss of smacking sounds and low hums on both parts.
Jeonghan raised his hands, finding Joshuaâs hips, grabbing the waistband of the grey sweats to pull him in, so now Joshuaâs crotch was pressed to his own. âIâm lost, what am I thinking about again?â he asked aloofly.
âSee, you werenât even serious about it,â Joshua giggled, lifting a hand from the armrest to meet Jeonghanâs cheek, to then sink his fingers into the dark mane of hair. âYou like playing hard to get.â
âIâm not the one thatâs hard right now,â Jeonghan quipped sharing another kiss, releasing a quiet grunt upon feeling Joshuaâs tongue rolling into his mouth with ease, as though he had kissed Jeonghanâs mouth countless times before.
âYou sure about that?â Joshua asked, his sweet tone falling into a sultry one, mirrored in his lust-lidded eyes.
Jeonghan slipped his hands beneath Joshuaâs t-shirt, enjoying the way the touch of his cold hands elicited a quick shudder. âWhat kind of fun are we talking about?â
âThe kind of fun that requires you to be quiet so that we donât wake our girlfriend up,â Joshua smirked, lowering his hips more so he could press his growing erection against Jeonghanâs crotch.
âYou two are going to be the death of me,â Jeonghan realized with a low chuckle, letting his hands roam on the line of Joshuaâs back.
Joshua smiled in triumph. âAre you going to think about it, then? About moving in with us?â
âIt depends,â Jeonghan replied, moving a hand to cup Joshuaâs nape, bringing him for another swift kiss.
âOn what?â Joshua asked.
Jeonghan smiled. âOn how well you fuck me.â
âź author's note: who would've thought that hannieween could actually write a slow burn for jihan ksjdhgdj
one thing that i wasn't aware of until i wrote this chapter is that i have written too many shower scenes like ... is this my joshushushu side speaking? is this what joshua would've wanted? to have a shower nearly every fucking chapter? lol
also, can you guys believe this is the first chapter in hannieween history that doesn't have p in v sex? o_o
on a side note: i am in a pretty tough spot right now and was asking for help. thank you everyone who has helped me!!
1- AMĂ el development que tiene el Jihan. Entiendo la inseguridad de Hannie porque yo la he sentido, cuando primero te rechazan y resulta que siempre sĂ, te queda esa espinita de "ÂżSerĂĄ cierto?" Y siento que eso pasa por la mente de Jeonghan.
4- Como siempre, tus historias son vida V. Me encanta lo fĂĄcil que puedo meterme en los personajes y sentir lo que ellos sienten. Quisiera tener un pedacito de tu imaginaciĂłn o de tu forma de narrar. La verdad. Sigue asĂ, por favor.
i truly wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't absolutely necessary, but i require some help. i am in a tight spot at the moment, and i am asking for some help, whatever you guys can give i will truly and wholeheartedly appreciate it. i am not asking for much. thank you ( ïŸ^Ï^)ïŸ
Become a supporter of V today! â€ïž Ko-fi lets you support the creators you love.
Joshua's search for an answer to the frenetic pacing of his life leads him down roads that could cause him more confusion. And fear.
âź pairings: yoon jeonghan x female reader x joshua hong
âź genre: angst, fluff, smut [18+]
âź aus: theatre director jeonghan, rockstar joshua, polyamorous relationship
âź word count: 23.2k
âș đ§: gemini â ethan low | i can't read your mind â meloh | you ain't gotta â hojean | house of cards â bts | different â woodz | habit â i.m | blue â v | screen time â epik high ft. hoshi | eleven â twlv ft. bibi | about you â soulbysel, def.
â season one â season two â read more
âș smut warnings under the cut
âź warnings: anxiety attacks, dark-ish themes, mentions of hard drugs. smut with plot, toxic joshua is back, mlm action uwu, consensual recordings of sex, jeonghan and joshua are into cucking, dom jeonghan, dom joshua, subby reader, dirty talk, corruption kink, pegging, sort of somnophiliac activities, praise and degradation kink, a long ass threesome, use of the word slut (lovingly), car sex, cum play, cum eating, rimming, slight sadism: face slaps, spanking. masturbation, blowjobs, anal sex, double penetration, cumming on skin, edging. pet names: baby, bunny, princess, filthy girl, good girl, sweetheart (hers) baby, babe, good boy (jihan)
âź author's note: hi hi hi hi there everyone! just here with the usual note to indicate that instances where the words Bunny, Princess, or Baby are capitalized, are meant to signify Y/N, ok? ok. ty Baby (â'âĄ'â)
âź author's note pt. 2: this is not proofread. i apologize in advance.
âź disclaimer: minors dni this post is intended for 18+ readers. please have your age stated in your description and try not to look like a bot please đ.
part v
The elevator doors parted with a soft ding. Joshua stepped out, walking down the hallway on the floor he used to live in long ago. He stopped in front of your apartment door, breathing in slowly to calm the tightness in his chest. Bringing a hand up, he knocked three times and waited.
In his hand, he held a bottle of red wine. Joshua did not even know if the dinner went along with it. He preferred whisky. But he would let it slide, for tonight.
The door opened. âAh, Joshuji! Welcome back!â his best friend chanted, instantly bringing him to a hug. âWhatâs this?â Jeonghan grabbed the bottle of wine, pretending to read the label. âI donât know anything about wines.â
âMe neither,â Joshua replied dryly, looking at the interior space. Everything was tidied, his noise amplifiers had been removed and, in their place, stood a bookshelf with your first books displayed. He noticed; that those looked like the books you wrote before you met him.
âWait here, let me go get her. I think she was taking a nap but, sheâs so excited,â Jeonghan said briefly, settling the bottle of wine on the table and turning to the bedroom. âBaby! Wake up, thereâs a surprise for you!â
The bookshelf also hosted a pair of pictures of you, one where Jeonghan was kissing your cheek. Before he could see the other one, his best friend came back, the thing in his chest hugged his heart even harder. You were striding close behind Jeonghan, your hand wrapped in his.
âHi, Joshua,â you meekly stuck your hand out to him. âJeonghan has told me about you,â a smile painted your pretty face. âNice to meet you.â
The thing in his chest burst, making him freeze right there and then. Before he could control his body, his hand was reaching yours, in a handshake. The softness of your fingers. It felt right, it was you. You. His Bunny.
âNice to meet you too,â he forced out.
A sharp intake of breath snapped him back to life. Sitting up in the bed, his senses were catching up. His hand palmed the bed, the spot beside him.
Only to find it vacant. You were not there; this was not your bed. He sat alone in a hotel room.
Joshua let out a breath, bringing his hands to rub his face, trying to calm himself down. He sniffed quietly, trying to hold back the pain throbbing inside his chest.
He searched for his phone in the dark, squinting at the light coming from the screen as he searched for your name. The last text message from you read, Going to bed. I love you! It was sent two hours ago. There was no reply from him.
His thumb trembled slightly before he pressed on the call button. But he held in his breath and pressed the phone to his ear. He still felt hazy, with the last slivers of his nightmare clawing into the back of his head.
âHello?â he mumbled as soon as he noticed you picked up his call.
âHi baby,â you replied sluggishly.
âIâm sorry,â he dropped his head slightly. âIâm waking you up.â
âWhatâs going on?â you asked, your voice went up slightly.
âI just wanted to hear your voice,â he replied, the thing in his chest stammered painfully.
âIs everything okay, Josh? You sound off,â you pointed, and he could almost picture the frown in your face.
âYeah, baby, everythingâs okay,â he replied, a low rasp from the feeling coiling in his throat made his tone sound unsure. âI just miss you terribly.â
You could tell that those last words made his voice thicker. âI miss you too, baby,â you replied sweetly. âI canât wait to see you.â
âNext week, baby, I promise,â he whispered, rubbing the tips of his fingers on the corners of his eyes. âIâll let you sleep now, okay?â
You paused. âSure youâre okay, babe?â
The worry he heard in your voice soothed a part of the nasty feeling pulsating in his chest. âYes, baby, donât worry,â he mumbled with all of the assertiveness he could muster. âYou can go back to sleep now, Iâm sorry.â
âOkay,â you whispered. âIâll go back to sleep, but call me tomorrow as soon as you can, please.â
âIâll do that,â he smiled to himself, trying to picture your sleepy eyes. âI love you.â
âAnd I love you, Joshua,â you mumbled sweetly. âSleep well.â
âYou too, baby.â
The line went dead, and you lay your head on your fluffy pillows. After returning your phone to the nightstand, you sighed.
A hand quickly came to park on your tummy. âWhatâs wrong?â Jeonghan mumbled with a sleepy drawl.
âIt was Joshua,â you explained faintly. âHe had a nightmare.â
âMmn, again?â Jeonghan asked, rubbing slow circles on your skin.
âHe didnât say it, but thatâs what I assume.â
âBut is he okay?â
âI donât think so. He didnât sound like it,â you whispered glumly. âIâve been trying to get him to talk these past few days, but he swears he doesnât remember anything.â
âWeâll go see him in a few days,â he shushed, caressing your hair to uncover your face to his eyes. âDonât worry about him right now, baby. We canât help him from here.â
âI just donât want him to go into hiding again,â you mumbled faintly, nuzzling your face on the crook of his neck.
Jeonghan shivered slightly upon the gentle caress of your breath on his skin. âIâll break him out of it if thatâs what it takes,â he replied with certainty. âNow sleep, baby. Got a big day ahead tomorrow. We got to work.â
âYeahâŠâ you breathed against his neck, placing a small kiss. âSleep.â
Joshua crafted a routine for himself. While on tour he had to learn one thing: he needed to have order. There was no room for worry, so he would not let his anxieties grow. So, he would call you everyday, although sometimes he could not get to your text messages on time, he made a rule to call you at least once a day.
He would hit the gym every chance he could get, and if there was no gym, he would go out for a run late at night, or before sunrise. Then of course, he would go to work: whether it was at a concert, or interviews, events, photoshootsâŠ
However, there was something else happening within that routine too.
He woke up with a start, snapping his eyes open and sighed with frustration at the loud alarm vibrating beneath his pillow. He shut the high-pitched sound at once, letting his face sink onto the white fluffy pillows with a tired groan.
As he stretched out his limbs underneath the bed sheets, he turned over rubbing his eyes with the back of his knuckles.
Another sigh, he unlocked his phone, checking his schedule for the day, verifying he had three hours until his first activity. Then he moved onto checking the messages he had not attended to, discarding mentally those that seemed unimportant and pressing a thumb over your name.
Call me as soon as you can, please. I love you. Your message read. It was sent a couple of minutes after the phone call last night. If he called you right now, he would wake you up again. He could call you later.
The pad of his thumb slid up, swiftly finding the app where you shared a folder with him, and with Jeonghan. His heart banged against his chest. Is it normal to be this excited so early in the morning?
There were new files added to the secret folder that Jeonghan created a little less than a month ago. Lately, he had been getting a new video more regularly. Joshua wondered why the first few weeks of him going away he did not get anything.
But now, it seemed to him that you and Jeonghan had found a way to keep him updated⊠and busy. This was his routine. Wake up, check for new messages, watch your videos, work, come back to the hotel, call you, rewatch videos, sleep.
Now, he never considered himself a person that would watch porn. Not regularly, not even by mistake. Not because he did not like it. But because if he wanted to get his hands dirty, he would do so with someone who would have him. He was not interested in watching porn when he could do the real thing with someone.
But watching you like this changed his view in so many ways. He found out that he was wrong for thinking porn was not for people like him.
When he asked Jeonghan and you to keep him updated, he did it purely because he did not want to be left out. He knew he would miss seeing this side of you, so that was one of his conditions.
Joshua also found out, how well Jeonghan knew him.
He always begun his morning by watching one video Jeonghan recorded of you. The angle was perfect, it captured your body lying on the bed, so he could see perfectly from your hips to your face. Jeonghanâs hand pressed a toy to your wet pussy, pleasuring you without letting you stop for air.
âJeonghan, please,â you whined, teary eyed, hands clutching the towel beneath your body.
âPlease, what?â he asked, his voice low and almost aloof, much as if he were also caught up by the faces you made, and the sounds escaping your glossy lips.
âF-fuck me, just fuck me,â you cried out, your face scrunching as you moaned lewdly, thighs shaking uncontrollably. âPleaseâŠâ
âWhy should I?â he retorted. âArenât you enjoying this, baby? Youâve came five⊠how many times already?â
âSe-seven,â you mumbled shamefully, twitching on the bed.
Jeonghan pressed his finger on one of the tiny buttons of the vibrator he was holding against your clit. âEight makes a nice number, donât you think?â he asked.
Joshua hated that he knew by the tone alone that Jeonghan was wearing a smirk behind the camera. He knew his best friend so well that he had learned all his gimmicks. The vibrator went faster, teasing your engorged clit mercilessly.
âG-god, Hannie,â you gritted your teeth, closing your eyes tightly. âIâm coming, fuck, fuck, Iâm g-gonna come.â
You stirred your back on the bed, sinking the back of your head on the pillow as you came, moaning loudly and so very lewdly. âFuck, youâre squirting again, baby,â Jeonghan sighed, capturing your climax on camera.
âPlease, no more,â you whined, teary eyed and panting. âI just need you, please, please.â
âAlright,â Jeonghan muttered, turning off the vibrator and tossing it aside.
But the video did not stop there. Jeonghan moved the phone closer between your legs, making sure Joshua saw your puffy clit, slick in your arousal, Jeonghanâs fingers slid between your folds, a string of arousal stretching between them.
Joshuaâs cock stirred beneath his boxers, and he begun palming himself upon the sight of your messy cunt, the arousal dripping down the wet towel beneath you. The fingers spread your folds open, as you clenched around nothing with the aftershocks of the orgasm that forced through you.
The next video was one of his favorites.
It seemed to him that you barely had the chance to set up your phone camera pointing to you. You and Jeonghan were both sitting on the small couch of your office, you were facing the camera, your back pressed to Jeonghanâs chest.
Joshua liked to think that you chose this position so he could see your face. And it was probably the case. He stroked his cock with one hand, blood rushing to the tip as he spread his own precum all over it.
On this video, you were sitting on Jeonghan, riding him fast. You leaned back slightly so the camera perfectly captured you bouncing up and down Jeonghanâs dick. Your moans are quiet... until they were not when Jeonghanâs fingers came to the view, slipping between your pussy lips, rubbing your clit with fast swirls.
You came on top of him, clutching your thighs with your hands. Writhing, but you continued riding him, a moan escaping Joshua when Jeonghanâs cum dripped down his dick, as you continue fucking yourself on him.
Joshua swipes a finger onto the next video, where you are on all fours while Jeonghan fucks you from behind. He pumped himself faster, watching you come on Jeonghanâs cock over and over as he comes in his own hand.
Jeonghan fucks you as though he were having fun, when he fucks you, he does so playfully. There is a smile on his face as he grabs your ass, fucking you down his cock. The features of his beautiful face are riddled by bliss and pleasure, his throat bobs as he moans.
Every time Joshua watches this, he wishes he were in Jeonghanâs place; feeling you squeeze around him, your warmth wrapping him. But sometimes, if he dared to admit it, he enjoys watching his best friendâs face as he comes with you.
Joshua sent a glance down his lower abdomen, a few beads of cum splayed on his skin. But he ignored it, swiping again on the screen to take a look at the new video Jeonghan uploaded.
âOh, you gotta be fucking kidding me,â Joshua muttered under his breath.
The video was inside Jeonghanâs car. The phone was mounted on the dashboard, capturing both Jeonghan at the wheel, and you on the passenger seat. Jeonghan was stroking your hair as you were leaning over to him, taking his cock in your mouth.
Jeonghan let out a breath through his teeth. âFuck,â he gritted, letting his head fall back on the headrest of his seat.
You bobbed your head slowly on him, probably on his command so he did not come too fast.
Something you did with your mouth made Jeonghan laugh. âFuck, baby, stop doing that or I might come too soon. Weâre almost there.â
The lighting inside the car changed, quickly surrounding yourselves by an enclosed space that Joshua quickly assumed was an underground parking lot.
Jeonghan gripped the steering wheel tighter, biting his lower lip as he managed to park the car in a spot, shutting the engine off swiftly.
You lifted your head from his crotch, darting a shy glance around you before clicking your seat belt off. âMove your seat back,â you urged, palming his thigh suggestively.
Joshua was surprised to see you take the light slap Jeonghan gave you on one cheek. âDonât boss me around,â he used the same hand to cup your chin, squeezing your cheeks to then kiss you chastely.
But he did what you asked anyway, pushing his seat back as you shifted onto your knees on his sides. You moved your hair to one shoulder, uncovering your face to the camera as you leaned over to continue sucking his dick.
Joshua continued watching, languidly playing with his cock as the blood rushed again to the head, growing harder and harder. He encircled his shaft with his fist, pumping himself to full hardness, groaning under his breath as Jeonghan brought a hand down on your ass, spanking you firmly.
Jeonghan drew in a breath, stretching his back in an attempt to resist the pleasure building up inside him. âFuck, youâre so good at this, baby,â he groaned, squeezing his eyes tightly.
Joshua rolled his hand on his own cock, pumping fast as he remembered how good your pretty mouth feels when you pleasure him; he imagined he was there instead of Jeonghan. You whimpered on Jeonghanâs cock, making him moan as he gathered your hair with his hands, following the movements of your head on him.
âWhy donât we show Joshuji what youâre wearing, baby?â Jeonghan asked, his voice was already turning raspy in wanton.
Joshuaâs heart stammered upon hearing his own name being voiced by Jeonghan on the video. This occurred with frequency, and he knew this was Jeonghan's way to taunt him, even through videos.
You paused, pulling off his cock to nod with your head. âYes, Hannie,â you replied sweetly, but leaned down to continue blowing him off.
âYouâre so fucking needy you couldnât wait till we got home to show him,â Jeonghan rasped, keeping a hand on your hair as he used the other to hike your black mini skirt up, revealing an equally black string thong and stockings.
Joshua shifted his gaze from the side of your face to Jeonghanâs hand caressing your ass gently, pausing to give you a playful spank to make you moan.
Jeonghan sighed, closing his eyes in enjoyment. âFuck, baby. I need you now,â he urged, releasing your hair.
You stopped sucking him off, pushing yourself from your seat and crawling onto Jeonghanâs lap, clumsily straddling him on his seat. Jeonghan reclined the seat back, making you giggle shyly in the heat of the rushed moment.Â
Joshua felt disappointed now that he could not get a view on your face. But the feeling was quickly replaced when Jeonghan hiked your skirt up again, uncovering your ass to the camera. Then he understood why he had not seen that thong on you before; it was one of those that left your pussy uncovered completely.
Joshua got a clear view of your hand guiding Jeonghanâs cockhead to your entrance, hearing your whimpers as you sank down on his cock, moving your pretty ass slowly, as though adjusting yourself on him.
âGod,â you whimpered, dropping your head on his shoulder as you bounced on Jeonghan gently at first.
Joshua moaned deeply. All focus was on the sight of Jeonghanâs cock disappearing inside your pussy. You were picking up the pace, cupping one of his cheeks to bring him into a kiss to muffle your sweet moans.
âAre you enjoying this?â Jeonghan asked longingly looking at the features of your face.
âYes Hannie,â you nodded dazedly.
âYouâre so fucking wet, baby,â he murmured, a light smirk painting his face. âYou shouldâve told me you wanted to fuck in my car sooner.â
It was the first time you had sex in a car, and it was even more exciting than when you first brought it up to Jeonghan. You and Jeonghan had been playing a game of chasing new first times, together.
Ever since he took you in a dressing room of a clothing store, an idea sparked in your head. And now, you were there, in his car, grinding on him.
âFuck, Iâm close,â Jeonghan sighed in pure pleasure, his hands gripping your waist over your skirt. âI need you to come now, princess.â
âI-,â you choked out, and Joshua could hear the shyness in your tone. âI canât, Hannie. Iâm a little sensitive.â
âBut you were begging to have my cock last night,â he rasped, a lazy smile drawing on his face.
âHannie,â you gasped aghast, but Joshua noticed how your hips stuttered.
âWhat? Donât you want Josh to know? How you couldnât stop bouncing this little pussy on me last night?â he asked, but his tone sounded even more gruff and airy. Joshua knew by the tone alone that he was closer.
âHannie,â you cried reproachful.
âYour pretty pussy needs to be filled everyday, right baby?â he looked at you languidly. âCome, baby,â he rasped. âBe a good slut for me.âÂ
It seemed to Joshua that in his time away, his best friend had just discovered how much you liked to be talked filth. You nodded frantically, riding him faster.
âG-god, just like that,â Jeonghan grunted blissfully, gripping your waist tighter, hiking the skirt up your back, so Joshua could see the recoil of your ass on Jeonghanâs thighs every time you sank down on him.
Joshua moaned, unable to yank his gaze from the screen. You were riding him faster, eagerly. Jeonghan smiled playfully at you, sighing in pure pleasure.
âJeonghan,â you whimpered, rolling your hips on his dick with full desperation. âHannie, Iâm close. God, Iâm so close.â
âYes, c-come on my cock, baby,â Jeonghan replied, evidently enjoying how pathetic you were being. His arms encircled your waist hugging you as you hid your face flush on his shoulder. âGod, god, princess.â
âHannieâŠâ you cried out lewdly on his neck, your hands holding onto his shirt for dear life. His arms held you tighter, sighing out a strangled moan as he came with you.
âYouâre so good for me,â Jeonghan muttered gruffly, clearly spent. âSo good.â
You stopped riding him languidly, his hands now moving on your sides to push your hips up, spreading your pussy lips with his hands as his cum started dripping out of your entrance.
Joshua clenched his jaw, groaning deeply as ropes of cum landed on his fist, closing his eyes so tightly he saw stars. The video was cut there, and he stared at it as he panted, trying to recover and process how much he had liked seeing Jeonghanâs cum dripping out of your used hole.
He threw his phone aside, languidly letting his arms rest for some seconds before he rose from the bed, going directly to start the shower. Standing under the warm shower stream, a thought crossed his mind.
It had seemed as though you and Jeonghan were cruising some kind of honeymoon stage. As much as he hated to admit it to himself, you looked in love. And he knew his best friend for long enough to know that he was head over heels for you too.
The only thing he hated though, was that he was not as present in your life.
He came back to the bedroom to find his phone vibrating on the mattress, and he picked it up after reading your name on the screen. As he took the phone to his ear, he stopped at in surprise at the sight of your face, understanding it was a video call.
âHi, handsome,â you smiled, clearly noticing that he had thought you were phone calling him. You were still in bed, bundled up in blankets, an arm tucked under your head.
âOh, hi beautiful,â he replied in kind, his hair dripping wet on his shoulders.
âDid I catch you in a wrong time?â you asked, looking at his naked collarbones covered in droplets of water.
âNo, baby. Itâs fine, I was about to get ready for my day,â he shrugged lightly and looked for a place to prop his phone so he could get dressed.
âHannie is here,â you mentioned as Joshua placed his phone against the lamp on the bedside table.
Jeonghan lifted his head from the pillow beside yours. âHi, Joshuji,â he chanted groggily.
âHi, Jeonghannie,â he replied with a light smile on his face. The image of you and Jeonghan in bed was not strange to him, as that also formed part of his routine sometimes. âDid you guys just wake up?â he asked, turning to fish a pair of clean boxers from his bag.
âYeah, like two minutes ago,â Jeonghan groaned with clear annoyance that you were already on your phone video calling Joshua.
You giggled meekly. âDonât get grumpy,â you teased as the man shifted from his pillow to your chest, getting comfortable on top of your body.
âYou donât let me sleep, so youâll suffer my grumpiness,â Jeonghan muttered, closing his eyes. âHow are you doing, Joshuji? You look tired.â
âI am tired,â he said.
âYou have bags under your eyes,â Jeonghan added with a slight mischievous smirk.
âShut up,â he hissed, feeling his own lips stretching into a smile as well. âYou look pale and wrinkly.â
âAre you sure youâre not sick?â his best friend retorted. âMaybe you should take some days off.â
âStop it, you two,â you huffed, and Joshua giggled bemusedly at your annoyed face.
âDid you watch the videos?â Jeonghan lifted his head only to blurt out that question, you rolled your eyes at him.
âI did,â Joshua coughed out a dry chuckle. âYou two have been really busy.â
He stared squarely at the screen of his phone for a second before unwrapping the towel from his waist, trying to ignore that both you and Jeonghan would see him putting on his boxers.
âAh, a little warning next time!â Jeonghan grumbled, turning his head on your chest as you chuckled.
Chewing on your lower lip to avoid smiling wider you placed a hand on the back of Jeonghanâs head. âAre you busy today, Josh?â you asked sweetly.
Joshua could not help but smiling at the sight of you being soft with both him and Jeonghan at the same time. A warm feeling bloomed inside him. âYeah,â he replied to your question with a sigh, fetching a t-shirt as he put it on. âI have a packed schedule today. We have to shoot a couple of interviews back-to-back. But then Iâll have a whole day to myself.â
Your fingers started playing with Jeonghanâs long dark hair. âMmn, you should come straight back here,â you murmured softly.
âIâd love that, baby,â he replied in kind, pouting at you before giving you a smile. âI guess I could grab the earliest flight after Iâm done,â he said, following your game.
You knew this was nearly impossible. Not only did Joshua had a ton of activities to do to promote his new album, but you knew how much money it was put towards transportation. Flights were expensive.
But Jeonghan turned his head over, sneaking a look back on the screen. âOur flight is in six days; we could do something.â
Joshua saw in his eyes that he had started to plan but looked at you and then back at him. âYeah, probably. Iâll check,â Joshua said with a dismissive air, but kept looking at his best friend.
âYeah, yeah, sure, you do that,â Jeonghan replied, but sent him a meaningful look.
âRight,â he sighed. âI gotta go, baby. Iâll call you later tonight,â he paused. âBye, Jeonghannie.â
âBye, Josh,â you mumbled sweetly, giving him a sad smile. âLove you.â
âI love you,â he replied.
âLove you, Shujiii,â Jeonghan chanted mockingly, grabbing the phone from your hand and ended the call.
âThis color suits you.â
Joshua looked at the woman in front of him. She was young, the bright glimmer in her eyes told him that much. Her long dark hair was draped on her shoulders, covered with a nice pink blouse that was just adorned with a microphone.
âThank you,â he replied, mustering up a kind smile.
âWhere are the others?â she asked, looking around him.
âTheyâre getting their makeup done. Theyâll be here in a couple of minutes,â he looked at his watch.
âOh, cool. That gives me time to reread my questions,â she showed him a smirk, looking up and down her cards and then back to his eyes.
If Joshua meant to read that smirk, he kept himself from doing so. Nodding at her politely, he just stepped back. âOkay. Iâll tell them to get ready,â he lied just to excuse himself, turning back to the dressing room.
He pulled out his phone, unlocking it to find a series of texts messages from you. You usually updated him throughout the day, whenever you felt like the chat you had together was running dry.
So he found a series of photo. First it was a photo of you coming out of bed, holding a fist at the camera in sign of motivation. Have a nice day, Joshie! Your text read. The next photo was the breakfast you made for two, though obviously one plate was for Jeonghan, Joshua found himself smiling. You had made French toast, and that alone reminded you of Joshua.
The last picture was your favorite mug, broken in pieces on the floor, coffee splashed all around it. Jeonghan scared me and I dropped my mug (âŹâŹïčâŹâŹ), the text read.
But before Joshua could reply, a member of the staff working on the production of the big company they were being interviewed by called them. They had their go.
âCome on, letâs go! Letâs go, letâs go,â Jihoon chanted over and over, more to himself than to the other two members of Midnight Haze.
âLetâs go,â Vernon replied dryly, but in his own enthusiastic way.Â
Joshua just nodded and went along with his two bandmates, walking through the tight space of the long hallway. He grew more and more restless as he reached the end of the hall and then the double doors.
The studio was small, and it looked even more cramped by the sound and lighting equipment, the sets of cameras surrounding the set, and the people tracking every single thing that happened during the filming of the interview.
This was not the first time Midnight Haze was interviewed. But it was certainly the first time with such a big production team. This was going to be aired on TV.
And he did not know what to expect.
A very smart PR company was going with Midnight Haze since they started touring again. But not everything was under their control, and as they grew more and more famous, people would naturally start picking them apart, piece by piece.
Needless to say, Joshua was nervous. Fidgeting with the watch on his wrist. He pushed his sleeves once more to his elbows, though pointlessly since they were rolled tight.
One man indicated each member of the band where to sit. And it was not a surprise that Joshua was told to sit diagonally to the interviewer.
Anxiety hugged his chest tightly, but he tried to push it down, swallowing hard and resting his palms on his lap.
âGoing on five⊠four⊠threeâŠâ the man motioned with his fingers, two, one. Go.
All the cameras blinked with a red light, rolling. Joshua Looked at Jihoon and Vernon sitting beside him, looking alive in excitement and nervousness.
âAnd we are back, and we have a new guest in the studio, Midnight Haze!â the interviewer said, Maddy, Joshua reminded himself, her name is Maddy. She went on to giving a brief introduction to the viewers.
Midnight Haze was an independent band that grew rapidly to success. Or dubbed in the media as, Overnight Success, which Joshua thought was a dumb way to call their years of hard work, years of making music, framing their style, doing their best to put themselves out there.
But the media loves crafting stories. That is their job.
âSo tell us more about your album,â Maddy prompted, looking expectantly at the three men sitting in the nice velvety red couch.
Naturally, Joshua had taken the position to answer to these questions, since he was considered the leader of the band, being the eldest, and the frontman. So he just replied. âItâs our first studio album. We worked really really hard to make it, and it means a lot for us to get this opportunity to share it with the world.
The following question was about the production of the album, which Jihoon replied to, taking the opportunity to speak as well, since he was the one who was the most well-versed in talking about songwriting and production.
Vernon took the next question was about touring, and visiting new places, getting to know new things and try new foods.
And lastly, the interview took a turn, diving into questions that sounded more personal. At first, Joshua thought nothing of it since it was a natural thing for media to put them in a tight spot. It was like an experiment, dropping a bomb of a question and see how they would react, make a viral video out of it.
But then, Joshua felt that he was being mocked at.
âJoshua, you had recently gained a reputation of yourself. Youâre a bit of a ladiesâ man. Want to talk to us about it?â she read her cards, lowering them to her lap with some nervousness. Then eyeing the text on her card and then back to his face, she added. âThe people want to know, is there a certain someone in your life?â
Joshua felt as though a hand had squeezed the air out of his lungs. âUh, no, no there isnât,â he replied, adding a cough to clear his throat. Then realizing how he was acting, he put in quickly. âI am a free man.â
Joshua Hong, you idiot. He gritted his teeth, throwing a forced smile at the interviewer.
âFree as the wind,â Jihoon added awkwardly, making Vernon squeeze his face into a grimace, chuckling.
âWell that is all the questions I have for you today. Thank you for coming here!â Maddy clasped her hands together, flashing them a corporate smile.
âThank you for having us,â Joshua replied. The staff member signaled them that the recording was over, and the crew swept in, getting ready to call it a day.
Joshua jumped from the couch, wanting to rip the microphone from his clothes, but someone got to it first, removing it with care before he did something reckless.
He needed a drink.
He undid one button of his white shirt, sighing in frustration and deciding to head back to the van and wait for the guys there.
âHey, can I talk to you?â
Joshua turned to see Maddy approaching him. He made sure that the mic was nowhere to be seen, but he still felt weary as he nodded.
âIâm sorry about the last question, if it felt invasive,â she muttered awkwardly, looking around her before blurting: âI didnât write it in, I didnât want to ask it, but the team insisted.â
âDonât worry,â he said, though he tried to sound as understanding as possible, there was an edge to his words. âIâll better get used to you lot and your questions, right?â
Before he could take in the hurt expression of her face, Joshua turned his back on her, heading to the van.
IS JOSHUA TELLING THE TRUTH?
That was the title to the video that had gone viral within hours. As soon as the interview went live, people started picking it apart. Some to show their true support, some for pure entertainment.
Unfortunately, the latter was the one that gained strength. In a matter of hours, Joshua started seeing a slew, of comments linking the video for him to see. And when people started messaging him, he got worried.
So he ventured on the wild river that was the internet, quickly wishing he had not done so.
The video was a mix of other pictures and videos put together. Bits and pieces of the interview where he was asked about his recent reputation, and his stiff answer were compared to what was a theory crafted by someone who called themselves a follower.
What Joshua saw made the hairs of his nape stand. Is he telling the truth? The caption to the video read. And then he saw his own face, heard his own voice deflect the rumours by saying he was single.
And then, he saw you in the video.
It was just the outline of your body, and he could barely make out your face between the shadows of the photo. He tried to figure when and where this photo was taken, growing more and more restless when he came up with nothing. One thing Joshua new, someone he did not know took this photo.
Jeonghan was in the photo as well, walking behind you, grabbing your hand. The photo framed you as Jeonghanâs girlfriend. But then, the next photo showed you as well, wearing the same outfit, Joshua entering your building with you. Is this girl Joshuaâs girlfriend? That was the theory.
The video meant nothing, there could be a thousand videos put together like this. But the damning thing was that it had gained traction, and with it, people that had a million things to say.
A thing which, Joshua dreaded like nothing else.
âIsnât this going overboard, Hannie?â you asked innocently, setting down the towel on the couch.
âIs it?â he mused, humming as he propped the tripod on the coffee table, adjusting the camera to focus on the couch, and you sitting down on it, putting your hands neatly on your lap.
âI mean you even bought a camera for this,â you muttered between your teeth.
âThatâs not true, I already owned this. I did buy the tripod, though,â he pressed the record button. âWave to the camera, baby,â he instructed softly.
âDo you think Josh will like it?â you waved at the camera aloofly as it captured your movement, adjusting to the lighting of the living room perfectly.
âMmn, I will,â he smiled at you, rising from his knees to approach you.
You tilted your head back, looking at him with bright eyes. âI know you will, baby,â you replied cutely at him. âBut I also want Josh to like it.â
Jeonghan stopped to consider the idea for a second. âI think that heâll like it too,â he shrugged. âWeâve never talked about our preferences around porn, but I know that he likes you.â
You giggled. âOkay.â
âReady?â he asked, pinching your chin affectionately.
âAre you?â you grinned, causing him to click his tongue. âYes, Iâm ready Hannie.â
âLie down, baby,â he motioned to the couch with his head.
âBut donât Iâ,â you stopped yourself before you could ask. âMmf,â you hummed as you moved lying your head down on one large cushion as he pressed a knee on the couch, then the other.
âI want to kiss you first,â he explained once his chest was pressed to yours. âCome here,â he whispered, grabbing your cheek with one hand as he captured your lips with his.
âMmn,â you responded so well to his touch, arching your back on the seats, your fingers sinking in his dark hair, pushing it back.
âYou know that I love you, right?â he muttered with a gruff tone, pressing another kiss on your lower lip.
You nodded. âAnd I love you, Hannie,â you replied with a sweet smile, moving your hands to meet his waist.
Jeonghan shuddered, your hands slipped under his white hoodie, caressing the skin of his tummy. His eyelids fluttered a little, just as he bent down to kiss you again. âNot so fast, princess,â he grunted in your mouth, parting so he could flash you a grin.
âDonât I get to call the shots tonight?â you teased, sliding your hands up his torso.
Jeonghan snickered. âNot really,â he lifted his arms as you slipped the white hoodie off him, discarding it on the floor without much thought.
âBut youâre letting me undress you,â you mused, receiving his face with your hands as he gave you another long, passionate kiss, lips smooching against each other as you hummed.
His hand found the zipper of your hoodie now, sliding it downwards. âBecause youâre letting me undress you.â
You silently watched him as he slowly discovered that you wore nothing beneath that hoodie. He had suspected it when he arrived at your apartment but finding it out was even more exciting. âNo bra?â he smirked when you just nodded with a sheepish grin. âIs this the same case for your panties too?â he nodded at your short pajamas.
âNo, Hannie,â you giggled at his question. The sound bubbly and full of joy.
His ears perked up at this. âAre you nervous?â
âOf course I am,â you cooed, brushing a rebellious strand of hair that tangled with his long eyelashes.
âDonât be,â he muttered. âIâll tell you what to do.â
âI want you to like it, Hannie,â you explained, your smile fading slowly as you gave in fully to the reason of your uncertainty.
âDonât worry, Iâll like it,â he pressed his lips in a reassuring smile.
âBecause you like me?â you quipped, referring back to what he had said about Joshua.
âAh, but this is different,â he coughed up a chuckle. âYouâre the one whoâs going to, how did you put it?â he tilted his head with a dramatic pause. âFuck me?â
That made the giggle return, brightening your face. âHannie!â you said, pushing his shoulder a little.
âYou will do all the work, Iâm just going to tell you how,â he shrugged slightly, given that his arm was still pressed on the couch, propping his weight. Â
Your smile faded once again, your eyes getting lost in the features of his beautiful face.
âWhat?â he noticed. âAre you starting to regret this, baby?â
âNo, no,â you choked out. âIâm justâI wanna do this now,â you nodded.
âSlow down, princess,â he reminded you with a soft tone, leaning his face so he could meet your lips with his. âThereâs no need to rush.â
âBut I want to make you feel good,â you whispered shakily in between kisses. âPlease.â
He let a soft breath through his nose. The pressure wrapping his heart was overwhelming him. âOkay,â he conceded, though it had not taken too much insisting.
You both moved on the couch, so he was now the one lying down, with you sitting on top of him. His hands reached out to grab the sides of your zip hoodie, tugging the sleeves clumsily to get them off you. You backed up, helping him take your hoodie off and dropped it on top of Jeonghanâs.
âGod, youâre so beautiful,â he gasped, grabbing you by your waist as you leaned over to litter his face and neck with kisses.
âThank you, Hannie,â you mumbled with a sigh, his hands were sliding up the line of your back, causing you to shiver. âYou-youâre beautiful too.â
Jeonghan giggled. âThanks, babe.â
You were creating a trail of kisses, starting first with his neck. He had a prominent Adamâs apple, which you kissed and adorned with a small hickey. Jeonghan tensed as you suckled on his skin, closing his eyes, and letting his mouth part.
You had never really marked him before, not because you had not wanted to, but because he would not let you. It was a game of his: not letting you touch him or pull his hair during sex, that also included hickeys.
But he was a different man now. Fully committed to you. It may be silly, but to you it seemed fair.
âBaby,â he breathed languidly, focusing on your lips on his skin only. He felt himself start to grow harder under his sweats.
âMn?â you darted a look at him, only to find him peacefully enjoying your mouth on him.
âKeep going,â he muttered.
You smiled at him, which he did not see. But you lowered your head again, raking his chest with your fingernails as you suckled a lovebite on one of his collarbones.
It was as if the roles were reversed. You were usually the one pleading him to keep going, to go harder or faster. But in reality, you were still waiting for his command, following it with no second thought.
Slowly, you had created a small trail of red spots that led below his belly button, where he was strangely sensitive as your fingertips grazed his skin before slipping them beneath the elastic band of his boxers.
âShit,â he whispered as you delivered another red mark on the soft hairs of his happy trail.
âYouâre a bit sensitive down here, arenât you?â you teased with a small grin.
âShut up,â he groaned, opening his eyes to find you straightening up to tug his sweats boxers down.
You laughed at his annoyance as he pushed his hips up, letting you tug his navy-blue boxers and black sweats down, discarding his warm clothes on the floor.
You got to work at once, sitting on your knees between his legs. âCan I suck you off, Hannie?â
It was a question that he did not need to reply to. As your hand circled his shaft, he nodded, swallowing hard as you pumped him a few times, getting the tip to swell and redden with arousal rushing fast to it.
âYeah, please do,â he murmured faintly, tipping his head back on the cushion as you pressed a kiss on his pretty cockhead.
âHmm,â you breathed, wrapping your mouth around it, tasting the salty precum leaking from the slit. âHave I ever told you that I think your cock is pretty?â
Jeonghan started chuckling, chest vibrating with the sound of it. âThat was the first thing you said when you looked at it, baby,â he remarked, reminiscing of the first night you saw him naked.
âMn, I think itâs pretty,â you nodded aloofly, pumping him on his base as you leaned your head to take him back into your mouth.
âAll yours,â he whispered, parting his lips in pleasure as you bobbed your head on him, sliding your mouth on his cock. âGod, youâre so good at this.â
All he heard was a muffled laugh. His hands grabbed your hair, eyes shut tightly as you continued to give him head him eagerly, slurping sounds coming from your mouth as you sucked him off as if your life depended on it. Your tongue swirled around his cockhead, sucking his length every time you pulled your head up.Â
âFuck, fuck,â he gritted, seeing stars. âBaby, stopâstop. I donât wanna come so soon.â
You pulled out of his cock a second after his rushed pleas came out of his mouth, looking at him wide eyed as he breathed hard. His fingers slipped off your hair, hands falling on his sides languidly as he eyed you meekly.
âAll good?â you whispered.
He nodded with his head on the large cushion. âYeah,â his mouth slowly stretched in a smile. âAll good.â
You leaned over his body when his hand reached out to grab you, cupping your cheek as you met his lips with your own. You moaned into the kiss when his tongue swiftly swiped a line on your lower lip, finding your tongue with a moan on his part.
âAre you wet, baby?â he asked, his voice thickened with arousal.
âDonât you want to find that out?â you smirked playfully at him.
âTsk,â he tutted. âYouâre bratty today.â
But you giggled in triumph when his hand sneaked down your lower tummy, past the band of your pajama shorts and panties to cup your pussy, feeling the warmth and wetness pooling in there.
âPrincess, youâre soaked,â he gasped, feeling your panties damp against the back of his fingers. âDo you enjoy sucking me off that much?â
You stole a kiss nodding at him, a moan escaping between your lips when he dipped a finger inside your entrance, followed by another.Â
âMm, baby, I want to feel you right now,â he purred in your mouth, pumping his fingers in and out, but doing it teasingly, knowing that it would get you nowhere near your climax.
âOh, y-yes, Hannie,â you curled up against him, pushing your hips towards his hand, trying to get him to reach the spot in your walls you liked him to finger so much. You pushed your pajama shorts down to your knees, tugging your panties down as well in eagerness.
Jeonghan smiled, seeing that you were so distracted by your newfound pleasure that you forgot what the plan was initially. âSo you donât want to fuck me anymore?â he teased playfully, conscious of the word choice he was using.
Your eyes fluttered open, a light frown appearing on your face. âNoâI still want to.â
You clumsily stepped out of your pajama shorts and your ruined panties, discarding them also with the rest of the clothes on the floor. Now, you were both fully unclothed and ready for each other.
Your cheeks were painted with heat, lips glossy and puckered as you sneaked a kiss on Jeonghanâs lips. âTell me what to do?â you muttered, your tone quivering but still managing to sound cute to his ears.
âRelax,â he instructed first, squeezing your hip fondly. âGrab the bottle of lube, Princess,â he told you softly, and you reached back for the bottle of lube that you almost forgot on the coffee table, taking the freedom to also grab the toy sitting beside it.
Jeonghan pushed one knee up, the sole of his foot still planted on the couch as you scooted closer between his legs. âRemember how we do this, baby?â he called, making you yank your gaze from his naked body splayed on the couch and found his eyes.
It took you a second to understand what he was implying. You gulped hard, nodding quietly as the memory of Joshua fucking your ass flashed through your mind. Or the times when Jeonghan fucked you from behind, his fingers playing with your puckered hole, while shoving his cock in your pussy.
The bottle of lube emitted a soft clicking noise when you opened it. Reminding yourself to breathe, you spread the cold lube on the pads of your fingers, trying to rub them together as you leaned over towards Jeonghan. You kissed him softly at first, his hands roaming all over your body made you moan into his mouth, deepening the kiss.
Your fingers trailed down, heart beating faster inside you when Jeonghan adjusted his hips for you, making it easier to find the path down his shaft. A shudder ran down your spine when you sneaked a look down his body, finding out how hard his cock was, precum leaking out of the tip and falling on his skin.
Beneath your nervousness, you found a reason to smile at him. âHave I ever told you that I think you have a cute ass?â
âI would remember something like that,â he giggled, his perfect set of teeth.
You leaned down, pressing a kiss on his teeth. âYou have a cute ass, Jeonghan,â you mumbled.
âItâs funny because I donât have any,â he mumbled, groaning quietly when your fingers make their way down the shaft of his cock, grazing his ball sack with the back of your fingers. âJoshua has a cuter ass. Itâs rounder than mine.â
You laughed at his statement, uttered in a rush. âHow do you know?â you retorted. The pads of your fingers pushed down on his puckered hole, gently at first, tentative.
A small grunt escaped his lips, his body tensing slightly on the couch. âItâs okay, keep going,â he put in gently, closing his eyes briefly. âItâs just cold,â he smiled shyly. âOh, I know,â he sent his gaze to the ceiling. âShua use to let me use it as a stress ball sometimes.â
âReally?â you mumbled, outlining his features with your gaze. Enjoying the dazed look in his eyes. âWhat changed?â you asked, pressing kisses on his lips as you pushed your finger in, feeling his muscles relax and contract around you.
âWell, you came along. And here we are now.â
âHere we are,â you grinned, pushing the tip of your finger further in. âHannie?â
âDonât worry, baby. Youâre good,â he showed you a smile.
That emboldened you to keep going.
âYou can use two now,â he mumbled, grabbing you by your hip, clenching your skin softly.
You recalled all those times Joshua used his fingers to prep you, a wave of arousal coursing through your body when you saw Jeonghan swallow a moan, when your lubed fingers went further in a bit, spreading him open gently. You remembered how it felt like, and you felt like moaning too.
âMore,â he rasped, closing his eyes, a soft sigh brushing your lips.
Your body grew tense with excitement when you saw him bite his lower lip. His hand shifted on your hip, finding your tits to knead, his thumbs brushing your nipples, swirling the pads around them, getting them hard.
âHannie,â you mewled, shuddering against his touch. Your skin prickled, he fiddled your nipples between his pointer and middle fingers, palming your breasts with a low hum from his part.
âUse the toy now,â he instructed, giving you a slight nod with his head in reassurance.
You bristled with anticipation, sitting back on your heels to grab the toy with one hand and the bottle of lube with the other. âShould I put it on first?â you asked innocently, looking at the double ended toy that allows you to feel pleasure as well.Â
âIf you want to, baby,â he said.
You decided to do something before putting it on yourself. Smearing some lube on your hand, you lubed the dildo up, sneaking a look at your boyfriend as he noticed your shaking fingers.
âRelax, baby,â he reminded you. âIâm going to like it.â
Jeonghan tilted his hips for you, sucking in a breath when you used your lubed fingers to spread him open. His own hand coming in to help you as you pressed the tip of the dildo against his puckered hole.
Glancing up his face and down his body, you continued to push in, slowly, shallowly thrusting the toy as his mouth fell open, his eyelids fluttering as he closed them with a small sigh. You retracted the toy using more lube with your fingers to thrust another inch in, slowly.
âFuck, baby,â he chocked out his hand snapping to grab your wrist. His eyes were blown wide with lust. âPut it on, now,â he commanded.
You nodded silently, pulling out the toy gently as he reached out to grab the remote controller from the coffee table. âWait, Hannie, are you sure?â you asked, the toy flashing a single led light, ready to be used.
âYeah,â he replied shortly. âI need you to feel it too.â
The end that you were using was a smaller vibrator that attached itself to the dildo with a magnet, that way you did not have to use a harness and were able to feel pleasure too. Jeonghan took the vibrator from you, realizing that he also had spread lube on his fingers and pushed himself from the cushions of the couch to press the pads of his fingers against your pussy.
âHannie!â you flinched, surprised that in seconds he had moved that fast.
âI need you right now,â he explained with a gruffy edge on his tone, his fingers rubbing lube on your messy cunt.
âF-fuck, Iâm sorry,â you squirmed, as he sent you a look before nudging the tip of the smaller vibrator on your entrance.
âItâs okay,â he whispered, pushing in the vibrator inside you. It was bulbous but designed to lodge itself inside your walls. âReady?â
âY-yeah,â you nodded nervously, leaning your body over as he lied down again. You bit your lower lip, nudging the tip of the larger vibrator against his hole, feeling emboldened by the reassuring look he sent you.
âGod, fuck,â Jeonghan gasped, his body tensing on the couch as you inserted the vibrator by pushing your hips towards his, thrusting shallowly, and clumsily. âFuck, k-keep going, baby.â
Jeonghan took one big gulp of air, and you mimicked the action unknowingly right before you retracted your hips, a hand flying to hold onto his thigh as you met his hips with your own, penetrating him fully.
âGod, princess,â he groaned languidly, jaws tightly clenching together as his face contracted in pleasure.
âYou okay?â you mumbled, eyeing his finger on the remote.
âYes, baby,â he smiled, finding your worry endearing.
âI justâfuck, Jeonghan!â you screamed at him when the vibrator inside you came to life, sending strong pulsations on your walls, on that glorious spot it was lodged in. âWarn me next time!â
âThere she is,â he muttered, biting the tip of his tongue as he too relished at the feeling of the vibrations running inside him. He patted your hip with one hand. âMove, baby, I need you.â
Your other hand found his hip, as you retreated yours to meet right back in, swaying them gently, pushing the vibrator to massage him slowly at first. You moaned, feeling the toy work its miracle inside you as it was inside him.
But his face was a complete mirage, he was biting his lower lip, his half-lidded eyes on you the whole time as you thrusted your hips against him. It was hard to find a pace you could keep, you felt stiff and clumsy. But once Jeonghanâs mouth parted, giving way a series of sweet moans, you found your goal to elicit more sounds from him.
Your hands found his thigh, wordlessly motioning to lift it, pressing it against his chest. Another raunchy moan came out of his lips as you moved your hips on him faster, making him grab your ass to follow the motion of your thrusts.Â
âFuck, baby,â he groaned lewdly, his voice thick with arousal. âPrincess, touch me, please.â
You frowned before you sent a look down his body. Your fingers circled his hard cock, pumping him at the same pace your hips were meeting his. His moans became louder, harder to control as he shut his eyes tightly. âRight there, baby,â he rasped, his eyes teary.
âOh, Hannie,â you moaned, hips rutting against him desperately, the vibrator pulsating inside you harder every time you hit your hips clashed with his. His face, riddled with pleasure made it impossible for you to hold it any longer.
âGod, baby,â he gasped, his eyebrows drawn in. âIâm g-gonna come,â he whispered, closing his eyes for a long second.
And then he started making the sweetest, rawest sounds you have ever heard in your life, his lower lip was trapped behind his teeth, moans coiling in his throat as you fucked him through his high. Ropes of cum spurted from his tip, landing on his tummy, and just kept leaking, eliciting a moan from you. Â
You looked at your fist, the back of your fingers coated with Jeonghanâs cum. âBaby,â you gasped, realizing that he was still heaving. âOkay?â
Jeonghan chuckled lazily. âPrincess, I swear,â he drawled. âThat was amazing,â he said with a long sigh.
You giggled cutely at his face, relaxed with the aftershocks of his orgasm. âLet me go get something to clean you up,â you muttered, using your hand on his hip for support as you retracted your hips back.
He moaned, shuddering when you carefully pulled out the toy from him. âThank you, baby,â he whispered, resting his head back on the cushions.
The living room was even quieter when you returned, thinking that Jeonghan might have fallen asleep as you went to the bathroom to wash your hands and to get wet hand towel.Â
But no, his head turned to follow your movements with his gaze, he had been waiting for you starting at the ceiling.
You decided to straddle him, sitting on his thighs comfortably to wipe the cum from his tummy with gentle motions. âSo,â you started, a smile playing on your lips. âYouâve grabbed Joshuaâs ass?â
Jeonghan let out a breathy chuckle, the corners of his eyes wrinkling. âAh, I shouldâve known you wouldnât let that go.â
âAnswer my question,â you quipped.
âYeah, I have. Why is that important?â he rumbled, sending a look to the camera that was still rolling.
You followed his gaze, finding the blinking red light of the device. âWhat, you donât want this recorded?â he gave you a look. âWhy? You could always cut it out,â you shrugged.
âItâs going to be a bitch to edit,â he sighed heavily. âYou know what, fuck it. Yes, I used to have a crush on him.â
The shock upon hearing that was like nothing else. âUsed to?â you raised your eyebrows.
âLong ago, baby,â he rolled his eyes. âLike waaaay before he met you.â
âDoes Joshua know?â you asked at once, heartbeat stammering hard and fast against your chest.
âDoes heâŠâ he repeated, dumbfounded. His frown eased. âOf course he knows, baby. I told him. Besides, he already suspected it when we talked about it.â
âHe did?â you gaped at him. âWell, you were either too open about it or he was exceptionally good at noticing.â
âYeah, okay, it wasnât just a crush,â he rolled his eyes, chuckling dryly with an awkward air surrounding him as he caressed your thighs. âI liked him quite a lot. It was embarrassing.â
âWhy embarrassing?â you giggled sweetly. âHannie, why did you never tell me this?â
âFor obvious reasons,â he replied. âIt happened long ago, baby. It doesnât even matter now.â
Bewildered, you huffed. To think that Jeonghan has had feelings for you and Joshua was something that would take you a little bit of time to digest.
âSo what happened?â you pried even more. âWhen you talked about it, how did Joshua react?â
Jeonghan pouted, humming in thought. âItâs simpler than you think, baby. I trust him, and he trusts me. I told him that I liked him, he told me nothing would happen between us. So I put a stop to what I felt, and never risked losing him as a friend againâŠâ
Until you came along, the words were not said, but they echoed between you and him.
âYou put a stop to what you felt?â you echoed confusedly.
âI did. I forgot about it eventually. If youâre thinking that I still have feelings for him, I donât,â he chuckled dryly. âIf that wasnât obvious alreadyâŠâ
âItâs not obvious, Hannie,â you retorted. âI mean, youâve had sex with himâI mean, not with him, but with me while heâs there too. That doesnât make you think that you might still have a crush on him?â
âNo,â he replied at once. âThat happened long ago, and it was for a brief time, baby.â
âIâm just curious,â you shrugged, shyly looking at him. âYou know? Youâre in a relationship with me and him, in a wayâŠâ
âYeah, I know how it looks. And yes, it is weird at times, but heâs still my best friend,â he brushed the back of his finger down your cheek. âI love you, and Iâm happy being with you.â
You smiled, leaning to press a sweet kiss on his lips. âI love you too, Hannie.â
âSo whatâs next?â he asked, his tone was still languid. âWhatâs next on the list?â
âDo you want more, Hannie?â you asked, teasingly.
There was no list. But when you mentioned to him you wanted to try out new things, Jeonghan wasted no time and got to work.
âNot right now,â he sighed a smile. âBut I wanna know what you would like to do next.â
âMmn, we tried pegging, car sexââ
âHow come youâve had anal sex with me, but I havenât had anal with you?â he blurted, knowing what the bold wording would do to you.
âHannie!â you squealed, scandalized.
âItâs just a question!â he coughed out a silly giggle.
âWe could try that next,â you shrugged.
âMm, but we could do that later,â he said, stroking one of your arms languidly. âI want to do the crazy shit. Ever had sex in a pool?â
âNo, Hannie,â you giggled. âI donât think thatâs sanitary.â
âMaybe just a little fondling,â he shrugged with one shoulder. Â
You rolled your eyes dismissively. âMmn,â you drew out your hum this time. âI want to do it in an open space some day,â you mumbled.
âLike in a beach, or something?â he mused.
âNoânot a beach. I donât like sand sticking to my skin,â you shuddered.
Jeonghan found that cute, and his smile made tiny dimples show on his chin. âThen where, baby? We could go camping.â
âIâd like that,â you whispered, lost in his sweet eyes. âWith Josh too.â
âOf course, princess,â he conceded, wanting nothing else but to make you happy. âNow, could you stop the recording, please?â he chuckled again. âI really donât want to cut out more footage.â
âOkay, okay,â you huffed, moving to reach out for the button to stop the recording, thinking of what Joshuaâs reaction would be if he heard the conversation you just had with Jeonghan.
Joshua stood alone in the balcony of his hotel room, sitting on a dusty chair. Biting the tip of his thumb, he waited on the line for you to pick up the call.
âHi beautiful,â he mumbled, starting to fidget with a loose thread of his sweats.
âHi handsome!â you chirped right away.
âHow are you, baby?â he sighed, heart, stammering uncontrollably in his chest.
âIâm good, I was working on my draft,â you replied, and he could tell by your tone alone that you were in a good mood.
He closed his eyes briefly. He could not do this to you.
âThat sounds good,â he replied. âHeyââ
âHow are you, Josh?â you asked.
âIâm fine, baby. Just tired,â he croaked.
âYou sound tired,â you pointed.
âYeah, I just got to the room. Iâve had a ton of work these past few days. And tomorrow a show, and canât sleep right,â he grumbled.
âWhy donât you try?â you asked, sighing a smile. âI know, Iâm the one to talk, but you usually donât have issues sleeping.â
âYeah itâs just that⊠I want to talk to you about something,â he drew in a breath, thinking of how to go over the thing that haunted his mind.
âSure, what do you want to talk about?â you waited as he gathered his thoughts, then: âIs this about the video?â you asked promptly.
âYouâdo you know about that?â he let go of a huge exhale. âWhy didnât you say something?â
âBecause it doesnât matter, Josh,â you replied. âI just want to know that youâre alright.â
âA-are youâwhat do you mean it doesnât matter?â he frowned.
âNobody knows itâs me, right?â you mused. âAside from the people who know that is me in the photos, nobody knows.â
âBut theyâre saying awful things about you,â he mumbled, brimming with remorse.
âI havenât seen any,â you replied, and he knew by your tone that you shrugged. âEven if I did, I donât care, Josh,â you insisted. âThe only thing I care about is you.â
âI⊠I am not doing okay,â the confession made a knot in his throat. âYou know I didnât want anything like this to happen.â
There was a pause. Joshua felt his own heart beating in his throat.
âBabe, we both knew this would happen. At least I was aware of that when I started dating a popular rock singer,â you giggled sweetly. âThatâs why I donât let it affect me.â
âBut what aboutâŠâ
âMy career?â you sighed heavily. âI donât know yet, nothing has changed so I wonât worry about it.â
Joshua lied perplexed at your nonchalance. âOkayâŠâ
âDo you feel better now?â you asked, your tone sugary and warm. âI donât want you to stress over things you canât control,â you reminded him.
âYouâre right,â he mumbled, bringing his other hand to cover his face. âIâm sorry. I justâŠâ
âThere is nothing to forgive here,â you replied. âI love you, I wouldnât get mad at you for something like this.â
âI love you too, bunny,â he replied. And even though your words did alleviate part of the turbulence in his heart, there was one thing that remained, one thing he needed to talk to you about.
But he could push it down. For now.
Joshua went back inside, closing the door to the balcony and drew the blinds down. Throwing himself to the hard bed of the hotel room, he ignored the busy noise from the streets outside the window.
The lights were off, so he thought of trying to sleep. It was early, so that could give him ample time to try to fall asleep. He closed his eyes, slowing down his breathing. The buzzing noise from outside, and the normal hotel room sounds were distracting. That and the cold, firmness of the mattress.
What he would give to sleep next to you, he thought. To be wrapped by your warmth, to hear those sweets sounds you make, to feel your body pressed against his.
He sighed heavily. The screen of his phone lit up, and that was reason enough to give up trying.
The notification was from Jeonghan. It was another video. This one was longer than any of those he already had uploaded to the shared private folder.
From the thumbnail, Joshua got a sudden rush of excitement. A distraction for the night. It was as if Jeonghan knew what Joshua needed.
The video was one of the most daring that you have sent him so far. Between car sex, public sex and such, this one was where he could see just how far Jeonghan could take you. You were on top of Jeonghan, pleasuring him with a toy.
Joshua saw in your face how entranced you were in the moment, pushing the toy in and out of him, smiling softly whenever Jeonghan moaned raunchily. Then, when you inserted the other end of the toy inside you, and started moving your hips on him, Joshua could not resist himself any longer.
He begun toying with his own dick, looking at Jeonghanâs dripping with precum. His hands on your ass, guiding your thrusts inside him. You pushed one of his thighs to his chest, picking the pacing of your hips against his.
A moan bubbled in Joshuaâs chest, shuddering with overwhelming pleasure as you begun stroking Jeonghanâs cock, continuing to push the toy inside him, making the man moan obscenely.
For a moment, Joshua was not sure why he felt this aroused. Was it because of how you were fucking Jeonghan? Was it because he wanted to be in Jeonghanâs place? Or was it because he wanted to be in your place?
The thoughts swam in his mind, but he knew he had been holding them for a while now. However, he ignored tried pushing them away, tucking his hand beneath his sweats and boxers, pulling out his cock to alleviate the pressure building up.
He released a sigh between his teeth, caressing his hard cock. He watched your hips moving on him, Jeonghanâs face riddled with pleasure, your hand stroking him at the same pace of your thrusts.
âFuck, fuck, fuck,â Joshua gritted.
âGod, baby⊠Iâm g-gonna come,â Jeonghan gasped lewdly, letting out a long, raspy groan.
You were moaning with Jeonghan, both looking at each other as you came apart in the couch. The sight was so alluring, so lewd that Joshua felt like moaning with you and Jeonghan, knowing that there was no turning back from this.
He pumped himself faster, the wet sounds created by his own hand on his cock complimented the sounds from your skin slapping against Jeonghanâs, your hand on his cock, your moans, Jeonghanâs moans. Ropes of cum spurted from him at the same time Jeonghan came in the video, driving that confusion deeper inside his brain.
Panting, Joshua stared at the screen, replaying the video, trying to figure out why he felt that blow to his heart.
Was it jealousy? What was it? Â
Joshua stared at the lights hanging from the ceiling. The brick walls surrounding him were adorned with provocative art, there was a drum set to his left, his guitar sitting in front of him in a stand.
The studio was owned by one of his friends. When Midnight Haze made a stop in the city, Min Yoongi was the first to call them, offering to talk about music while having some drinks. While the other guys went out to buy booze, Joshua fell behind, deciding to rest in the meantime.
He was splayed on a sofa. Cadaver style, hands clasped on his chest.
Well, he felt like dying indeed. That is how bad his anxiety got. Dangerous thoughts swam in his mind, but he blew them away with a sigh.
It had gone dark. The studio was littered with the remnants of the booze the guys had. Vernon decided to call it a night, drunkenly heading back to his hotel room. Jihoon and Yoongi were on the rooftop having a smoke.
Kim Taehyung gathered his long wavy hair with his hands, brushing it back and messily, grabbing the band he trapped with his teeth and securing his hair in half a ponytail. He had started touring with his band Green Nocturne, opening for Midnight Haze for the upcoming shows.
Searching his side, he found his phone between the cushions of the smelly couch and unlocked it, finding the folder with the series of videos of you and Jeonghan, and videos of himself.
He quickly closed the app, heart jolting nervously in his chest.
âSo, what do you want to do?â he released a sigh, crossing his arms on his chest.
Joshua raised his eyebrows in question. âI thought you were showing me some lyrics?â
âAh, yeah, pfff, right,â he replied, humming as he searched for something, patting the pockets of his jeans, and then looking around.
Joshua moved from the old couch to sit on one corner of a large table, grabbing his tablet where he wrote lyrics or notes for his music.
âWhere is that fucking thing,â Taehyung mumbled under his breath. âI swear if I lost it againâŠâ
âThis is the one I was telling you about,â Joshua pushed the tablet across the table to the side where Taehyung was standing.
The man stopped his search for his phone and took one look at the screen. âOh, is this it?â he sent a glance and then read the screen, his fingers grazing the pages where Joshua poured a little bit of his heart.
He nodded a thing that Taehyung did not see.
âDude, why are you getting rid of these?â Taehyung frowned, his eyes meeting Joshuaâs. âThese are good! I can even imagine a sound to these. A Midnight Haze sound, not my sound.â
Joshua shook his head slowly. âTheyâre too specific.â Â
âIs this because of that viral video?â Taehyungâs gaze softened with shame. âYeah, I saw it,â he explained before Joshua could even ask. âDonât even worry about it. Itâs fucking bullshit, man.â
âItâs true.â
The man paused, eyes flickering on Joshuaâs features.
âItâs true, everything they said about me,â Joshua was rigid with rage, but he tried not to let it show in his eyes. âYou even saw it, man. The night of the party.â
âI saw nothing,â Taehyung shrugged with ease. âWhat I saw was two people having fun, loving each other. It is none of my business.â
Joshua knew that Taehyung had seen you hand in hand with Jeonghan, and he also saw you exchange a steamy moment in a secluded hallway. Joshua let out a sigh. âI appreciate that, but thatâs why I canât use these,â he pointed at the screen with the tip of his nose. âI canât have more online theories about her.â
Taehyung let out a thinking sound. âI donât want to take something so close to you, man,â he smiled shyly. âYou shouldnât be afraid of using them.â
That felt like a needle piercing his heart. âI canât,â the feeling made his voice quiver, reducing it to a whisper. He had to protect you. And Jeonghan.
âCan I ask?â Taehyung sat on the corner of the table too, so now they were both facing each other.
âSure,â he shrugged. He trusted Taehyung, and right now, he needed a friend who was closer to his career and his personal life.
âAre you guys⊠is she really your ex?â he asked, the tip of his tongue pushing his lower lip from the inside.
âNo,â he shook his head, the question sent an inevitable shudder through him.
âIs she his girlfriend? Jeonghanâs?â he asked slowly, but the look on his face told Joshua that he was getting a broader idea of where this was going. Â
âWeâre in a polycule,â he explained, trying to come off as nonchalant as he could, but in reality, he still struggled to be open with something that was so precious to him. âI donât want to make it public, so.âÂ
âAh,â he mouthed, nodding his head. âYeah, I get it.â
âCan I ask, then?â Joshua returned, cautiously sending him a knowing look.
âAsk away.â
âHow did you manage it?â he rolled his eyes, searching for words. âYour relationship with Baek?â
âWell, it was easy because everyone wanted to pair me with every woman I even so glanced at,â Taehyung huffed with slight annoyance. âSo the world resorted to making me a womanizer and Baekhyun was just my best friend, you know.â
Joshua nodded in silence, even if that answered his question, he still felt like there was something missing.
âBut then Jimin came along, and everything started getting messy,â Taehyung added, much as if he realized that there was something unanswered lingering in the air. âIt sort of died down when I started dating Mimi. But I guess that didnât stick either.â
Even though there was not much to correlate that situation to his own, Joshua felt some sense of semblance. Having a humane conversation with someone who understood what distress comes with this kind of life brought a soothing hug to his heart.
âIs it fun at least? Being in a poly,â Taehyung smiled slightly as he asked.Â
âFun?â Joshua uttered, as though the word were foreign to him. âYeah, I mean, heâs my best friend and I love her. So.â
âWhat do you mean?â he cocked one eyebrow. âOh, you mean youâre only with her and not Jeonghan as well?â
âYeah, thatâs what I mean.â
âI assumed because of JeonghanâŠâ now he looked even more intrigued. âSo youâre not bi as well?â
Even though the questions were heavily personal, Joshua did not feel uncomfortable. âNope,â he frowned. âWellâŠâ
There was a silence. Kim Taehyung waited, looking at Joshua as he gathered his thoughts with his heart strumming hard in his chest. To finally voice his thoughts about this aloud was panic-inducing for him, but for some reason, he was sure he could trust Taehyung.
âI donât know,â Joshua let out finally, panic hugging his heart tightly. âItâs weird. Because there is no one else Iâd rather share my partner with but him. I think I would have gone crazy if Bunny told me she had feelings for a different person. But when she told me about Jeonghan⊠I understood. Like it was meant to be.â
For a moment, it felt as though he were alone in the room, letting his deepest thoughts come out without any remorse, nor fear that he would be judged. That was the moment he knew.
âBut I did feel jealousy. Part of me was certain that it was because I could not tolerate that Bunny had feelings for another man,â Joshuaâs gaze swam upwards, finding the smoke-yellowed ceiling. âBut I know now that my jealousy also came from the way that Jeonghan dropped everything to be with her. He was willing to lose our friendship for her, he cared about her, loved her, and⊠I was jealous of that.â
âButâ,â Taehyung shook his head ever so slightly, much as if he were discarding a thought. âSorry. I just need to ask, are you jealous that heâs paying attention to her⊠do you want that attention for yourself?â
Joshua found the strength to nod his head. âI think that it was when Jeonghan started to fall in love for her when I begun to wonder. What ifâŠâ he paused, his courage dying down for a minute. But he pushed himself: âWhat if I also want to receive the same love and attention that he gives her? Why do I want that?â
Taehyung showed him a wide smile. âWhy donât you try and talk to him about it? You know, go for it,â he offered his solution.
âHeâs my best friend. What if it doesnât go the way I want it to?â he shrugged in a defeated way. âI donât want to make things even more awkward.â
The man huffed with genuine disbelief. âBut you said it!â he giggled. âHe is your best friend. I am pretty sure that he will understand.â
âWhat if he doesnât?â Joshua insisted, his head tilting to one side.
âYou never know if you never try,â his friend replied, a winning grin spreading on his lips.
âTrue,â Joshua conceded.
âDo you think sheâll understand?â Taehyung asked cautiously.
Joshua remembered the day you told both him and Jeonghan that you would be okay if things went that road. âYeah. Of course. Sheâd have no problem with it.â
Now it was just a matter of his indecision.
âThen just try,â his friend nodded at him in encouragement.
He did not want to lose what he had with you and Jeonghan. He did not want things to take a turn for the worse.
You were sitting down on the couch, reading a book while sipping on a hot cup of tea.
The room was lit with a warm light coming from the lamp standing beside the couch, vibrant in color and soft tones of jazz coming from the flat screen. The whole apartment smelled of detergent and fabric softener, and the hum emitted by the dryer sounded far in the background.
You sighed, turning a page over, and continued reading. You had been immersed in this book for a while, every now and then you would express it on your face, pouting, eyes widening, or even gasping sometimes.
That was Joshuaâs entertainment sometimes. He would sit on the armchair across from you and pretend to play some chords on his guitar, but in reality, all he did was watch you. Study the way your eyes would fly through the lines written on the pages.
But this time around, you noticed. âAre you okay, babe?â you asked, lifting your gaze from the book as you took one sip from your tea.
âJust watching you, Ms. Hong,â he mumbled with a soft smile.
âI know,â you smiled knowingly. âI noticed, Mr. Hong.â
âIâm fine, baby,â he gave you a slow blink.Â
In his head, Joshua was cluttered with thoughts of the future. He wished he got the chance to meet you earlier in his life before he made the decision to give himself into his plans of being a musician.
The nagging urge to quit everything and just continue to have this quiet life with you haunted him. Sometimes the impulse overtook him, sending a rush of anxiety through his veins, much as if he needed to stand up and run away from something. He knew what it was, it was time coming to an end.
Granted, he never really felt like this was his life. He settled in with you, but this still felt like it was your apartment. It was your couch, your flatscreen. He just brought in his clothes and his guitar.
He felt like a guest in someone elseâs life. Like this was lifeâs way to mock him. A what if in which Joshua Hong never dedicated his life to making music. This is what would have become of him. He would have been with you freely and loving you aloud.
Who knows, maybe he would have given you a ring already. Maybe he would have asked you to join him in an adventure together for the rest of your lives, far away from the spotlight.
You rose to your feet, leaving your book behind and approached him with a determination that he loved to see in you. He lifted his gaze to your eyes as you stood before him.
Carefully, you took his acoustic guitar from his grasp, placing it on the couch and turned to him. Joshua looked at you expectantly, knowing what would come next. He just opened his arms, embracing you as you sat on his lap.
âWhat is going on inside that head of yours?â you asked, eyeing him with curiosity as you wrapped your arms around his neck.
âYou,â he breathed, heart beating faster in his chest.
That made you smile. âIâm here, Josh,â you giggled.
He brought a finger to your face, touching the tip of your nose affectionately. âIâm just thinking that youâre cute,â he scrunched his nose, smiling.
âThank you, baby,â you replied, batting your eyelashes as you looked at his eyes, then his lips. âYou are cute too.â
In the distance, the dryer went off with a short tune, signaling that the clothes were dry and ready to unload. The sound drove your eyes elsewhere, and you made a motion to stand up from his lap.
âNo, no,â he whispered. âDonât go anywhere.â
âIâll just take a minute, Josh,â you said, giggling at him cutely when his arms pulled you closer to him. âClingy,â you whispered, using your finger to touch the tip of his nose.
Joshua Hong opened his eyes, groaning with exhaustion against the hard pillows of the hotel bed. A dull pain wrapped around his heart, hurting even more with each second that passed and he slowly came to grips with reality.
He turned over, face down on the mattress, pushing his face against the pillows to feel something else other than the loneliness gripping him. He hugged himself, trying not to cry at the memory of you still clinging to his mind, seeing your face in his dreams, hearing your voice, he felt you in his dreams. It felt too real.
It was not a dream entirely, that did happen sometime before he left on tour. That day, he was thinking of quitting the band, quitting that life altogether so that he could start a life with you. The anxiety he felt for leaving you and his quiet life with you was eating him whole, just like it was now.
It was still early; he could just quit. They could find another singer, another person to fill in his shoes. Hell, maybe that person would be more fitting for Midnight Haze and would do a more decent job than him. Maybe that person will be happier in his place.
The pressure burst in his chest, like a punch in his gut, robbing him of air in an instant. Joshua pushed himself from the mattress, drawing in a big gulp of air, then another, then another.
The veins of his forearms begun to flare, arms shaking on the neat bed sheets, losing strength to prop his body up. His vision turned blurry, a loud buzzing sound blocking his eardrums, the only thing letting him know he was a live was the hard thumping of his heart against his ribcage.
He managed to turn over, gripping his chest with one hand as he tried at calming himself down, trying to slow down his own sharp intakes of breath to slower and deeper ones.
What snapped him out of it was the buzzing of his head dying down at the loud chiming of his phone. It took him some seconds to yank his gaze from the empty void in front of him and he looked at the screen of his phone. Yoon Jeonghanâs photo displaying on it.
âJoshujiiii,â Jeonghan chanted as soon as Joshua picked his call.
Joshua frowned when the sound sent a soothing feeling inside him, calming his heart at once. âHe-hey, Hannie,â he croaked.
âOh, did I just wake you up?â his best friend giggled. âSorry about that, I can call later.â
âNo, no,â he muttered quickly, trying to use the conversation to drive his attention away from his worries. âWhatâs up?â
âAre you coming over?â he asked, seriousness now lacing his tone.
âWhen? Tonight?â
âYep. I know you didnât say it as a joke,â he said, and by the way he pronounced each syllable, Joshua knew his friend was munching on something.
âI wasnât being serious when I said it,â Joshua explained with sigh. âBu-but there is a possibility,â he admitted.
âI knew it,â Jeonghan muttered with some kind of victory. âSo? Are you taking a flight here? Then we could go back to where your big show is, all of us.â
âYeah,â Joshua muttered weakly, bringing a hand to rub the corners of his eyes. âIâd like that.â
âYeah?â he imagined his friend raising his eyebrows. âWell, I could find a plane ticket for you without Princess finding out. We could make it into a surprise for her.â
A smile crept on his face hearing Jeonghan bringing you up like this. His best friend, his partner in crime who loved you so much it warmed Joshuaâs own heart. âSend me prices and everything. Iâll send you my details.â
âSure,â he chirped. âYou know, she will love seeing you. She misses you so bad even Iâm starting to miss you too.â
Joshua was no idiot. He knew the reason behind that choice of words. You were worried about him, and even though you would not ask Jeonghan to intervene, this was his way of telling Joshua what was going on in your mind.
âJeonghan,â he paused. âIâm fine.â
âNo, you donât sound fine,â Jeonghan huffed. âI can hear the snot in your voice. Youâve been crying.â
âAgh, really, Jeonghan. Sometimes I wish you werenât so fucking tactless,â he groaned, rubbing two pads of his fingers on his brow.
âIâm just telling it how it is,â he imagined his friend shrugging with ease. âI wish you werenât so fucking emotionally constipated.â
âYeah, well not everyone can get what they wish,â he muttered with a sharp jab piercing his gut.
âNow youâre being emo, again,â Jeonghan retorted with a low chuckle that died a second before his tone went back to serious. âSeriously, Shuji, is everything okay? Do you want to talk?â
âDonât worry about it,â Joshua quickly said. âWe can talk later.â
âMmn, okay. Iâll send you the info about the ticket in a bit.â
âIâll send you my details,â Joshua paused. âHannie?â
âYes?â
âThank you.â
âDonât thank me, Joshuji,â he replied, seemingly knowing about Joshuaâs situation without even being there, just by the sound of his voice. âIâll see you later, okay?â Â
You stretched your arms over your head, releasing a long groan as your muscles complained with you after sitting down on your chair for four hours without breaks. Content with your progress, even though it was little, you pushed yourself away from the desk and rose to your feet.
The mug had been left empty, aside from the bag of tea in it. You grabbed it as you made your way out of the office and went to the kitchen. You strode on the floor with your fuzzy socks on, feeling a sense of accomplishment at seeing your recently cleaned apartment.
Jeonghan would get out from work in a couple of hours and come to see you. That was the little routine you both had. You worked the same amount of hours that he did, and when he came home, you would stop typing and spend time with him.
You smiled to yourself. The day you would go visit Joshua drew nearer too, and it made you excited that you were going with Jeonghan too. It felt nice to have a stronger relationship with both of them, and it was also nice to see that they were closer.
As the electric kettle made a bubbly noise boiling the water, you tapped your fingers on the counter. Should I bring dinner for us tonight? Jeonghanâs incoming message snapped you out of your train of thought.
Just come straight here. I want to see your face. Read your message, not caring that you were acting clingy already. Even though you saw each other nearly everyday, you missed him when he was not around.
Alright. Iâm on my way, then.
Your tummy twisted in excitement. Already? I thought you were clocking off in two hours. You replied instantly.
The kettle went off with a soft click, exuding a thin column of vapor as you poured the boiling water into one of your favorite mugs. When you finished preparing your tea how you liked it, you turned to your screen, finding no reply from your boyfriend.
Maybe he is just messing with you. Yoon Jeonghan liked to do that.
But then, the smart-lock of the front door beeped, the handle turning, and you knew he was not messing with you. âBabe?â you called as you made your way to the entrance of your apartment.
âYeah?â
You stopped cold at the sight you found. Joshua closed the door behind him, a sweet smile painting his lips as he took a step towards you. You watched him with your mouth hanging open, heartbeat racing frantically in surprise.
âHi beautiful,â Joshua muttered, his gaze swimming on the features of your face, noticing that you were in a mild shock. âIâm here, baby.â
âYouâre here,â you parroted shakily, eyes brimming with big hot tears. âOh god. Youâre here...â
His strong arms wrapped around you in a hug, quickly sweeping you off your feet. And you clung to his neck, holding onto him as though he were a dream and would go away at any given second.
âSurprise,â he muttered with a tiny voice, and that was when you noticed the slight quiver, the quiet sniffling when he buried his face in the crook of your neck.
âI missed you so much,â you muttered, bringing a hand to feel the back of his head, using your arms still around him to hug him tightly.
âI missed you too,â he muttered, his words muffled by your hair and your clothes, but you noticed even so, that his voice had thickened. Â
âHow are you here? I thoughtâŠâ you trailed off. Jeonghan.
âI had a little help,â he replied, putting you back to the floor. âWe wanted to give you a surprise.â
As you parted, you gaze fell on his features, marked by the weight of his tiredness. The color of his skin faded. The bags under his eyes were visible and darker like never before. But on top of that, the very air about him felt worn out, and on the brink of falling asleep at any given moment.
âBabyâŠâ you whispered, your focus falling on his face, which you cupped with the palms of your hands. âDonât you want to have a nap? You look exhausted.â
âIâm fine,â he frowned, his eyes shifting from your face to the rest of your body. âI just want to be with you. Jeonghan will be here soon too. We could go get dinner together or have something delivered.â
You knew Joshua well enough to know that he was trying to avoid something, and given the situation with the recent rumours surrounding you. Thinking that it was all too likely, you gave him a smile, grabbing his hand. âCome.â
He sighed but went with you either way. âBaby, Iâm fine,â he insisted, and you knew by his tone alone that he was smiling. âI donât need to sleep.â
âWeâre not sleeping,â you turned so that he could see you grinning meaningfully at him.
Joshua giggled. âAh, okay, okay,â he said, using his hand in yours to pull you closer to his body. âCome here, baby.â
You lead him to the bathroom, where you promptly started a shower, turning to him. âLet me take care of you, okay?â you asked sultrily, batting your eyelashes at him.
Joshua knew that there was more to your intentions with just one look. But his brain was so burned out that he could not figure out what you were planning, so he just nodded with his head, mouthing okay.
âYou must be so exhausted, baby,â you sighed, toying with the buttons of his plaid shirt as you undid each one.
In no time, you were sliding the cotton fabric off his shoulders, moving to tug the belt of his black denims free. âI am,â he whispered, closing his eyes for a long pause. âSo tired.â
âIâm going to take this off, okay?â you asked when he blindly stepped out of his jeans, feeling your fingers curling around the band of the waist band of his boxers.
âOkay,â he replied mechanically, reaching out to hold onto whatever part of your body he could find.
His hands found the curve of your waist, over the long t-shirt you wore. Thinking that he should reciprocate, his fists grabbed the t-shirt, hiking it up your torso and removing it with one motion.
Seeing you naked for the first time in what felt like ages was surreal to him. Even though he spent most of his nights looking at videos of you, to see you in real life was different. The camera could not capture your beautiful skin, or the beauty marks he loved so much.
âLetâs get you in,â you whispered, noticing the aloof look in his eyes.
âAre you going to shower with me?â he asked dumbly, letting you push him into the shower.
âOf course, silly goose,â you smiled at him sweetly, removing your panties before stepping with him. âI told you Iâd take care of you, didnât I?â
His heart swelled with so much love he was sure it would burst soon. âYeah, you did,â he replied with a dazed smile, leaning his head to get his hair soaked with the warm stream of water.
âGood boy,â you whispered, grabbing the bottle of shampoo, sinking your fingers in his dark hair to wash it with slow motions.
He closed his eyes, deciding to give himself to you wholly. He was safe now, he was with you.
âI love you,â he shuddered. âI love you so much.â
His hands found your waist again, grabbing you as if to support himself.
âI love you too, baby,â you replied.
He opened his eyes again, afraid this would be another nightmare tormenting him with glimpses of you.
You saw something flash his dark eyes for a second before he eased back into the water when you rinsed his hair. Your hands were on him now, rubbing soap everywhere with ginger touches here and there.
âHey,â you hummed. You were washing his torso, moving closer to him, his hands gripped your waist a little tighter, pressing your front to him, making you feel the firmness of his growing erection.
âSorry, I canât help it,â he let out a shy giggle, lowering his gaze to yours.
âI can,â you mumbled, sneaking a soapy hand between your bodies.
Joshua supressed a shudder when your fingers circled his hard shaft, stroking it idly as you watched him subdue himself to you. âBaby,â he groaned, dropping his forehead on yours. âGod, I missed you so much,â he sighed raggedly.
âI missed you too, Josh,â you whispered, pumping him faster, adding more pressure to your grip on his shaft.
He pressed his face on yours, reaching your lips with his own with a tiny groan. âI donât think Iâll last long,â he confessed with a sheepish look.
âItâs okay, baby. This is about you,â you hummed softly. âLet go for me, can you do that?â
He nodded with his head, clutching your waist tighter.
âGood boy,â you breathed. âFocus on me, baby. Do you like what Iâm doing with my hands?â you pumped him faster, your fingers cupping his balls, massaging them.
âYeah,â he shuddered hard against you, closing his eyes to savor the pleasure brimming inside him. âPleaseâŠâ
âLet go,â you muttered. âCome for me, Josh.â
A strangled noise came out of his parted lips. Joshua stopped gripping you, his hand snapping to find the wall behind you, anchoring himself before he followed your command. The last thing he did to help himself reach his high was meeting your lips with a long, sloppy kiss, wet in drool and the water showering over you.
He groaned in your mouth as he came in your hand. You stopped pumping him once he finished spilling himself on your skin. âThatâs it, thatâs it, baby,â you whispered in praise. âHow does that feel?â
âSo good,â he blurted, sighing a euphoric feeling. âYou donât know how many times I wished to have your hand instead of mine,â he mumbled out the words swiftly. âI missed you so much, I need you with me.â
âIâm here, baby. I missed you too,â you said. âLetâs finish washing, okay?â
âOkay,â he said. âAnd then itâs your turn.â
You smiled. âI like the sound of that.â
You finished washing up thoroughly, and then as soon as you finished drying your skin Joshua pulled you in a hug, sweeping you off your feet and a second later, your body hit the mattress.
Joshua climbed on top of you, but before he could even lower his body on yours, you pushed him off, easily turning him over, his back pressed against the covers. On a usual night, that would have been impossible to achieve. But given that he was tired, he did not expect you to do that.
You straddled his waist while kissing him, his hands roamed all over your back, squeezing your skin, he hugged you as you pressed your chest against his.
The accumulated tiredness from the nights when Joshua could not sleep had started to reach a breaking point for him. You could feel it in his kisses, languid and messy. He groaned when you tried to break from him, urging you to keep going.
âStubborn,â you whispered with a tiny smile, pushing his wet hair away from his forehead with your hand.
âYouâre the stubborn one,â he replied with a gruff tone. âIâm fine.â
âSleep, baby,â you paused, looking at his beautiful eyes. âWe can do this in the morning.â
Joshua thought that your words might have magic in them because his will caved in a second. The heaviness in his limbs pushed him to nod his head in agreement. âOkay, okay,â he conceded. âBut only if you stay here with me.â
âOf course, baby,â you giggled. âI donât want to be anywhere else.â
You got under the covers, naked and hair still damp but you did not care at all. Once you were next to him, you intertwined your legs with his, lying your head on his chest as he hugged your body.
âBaby?â he blinked lazily.
âYes, Josh?â you lifted your head to look at him.
âDonât go anywhere,â he whispered, his eyelids falling heavily.
âI wonât,â you reassured him, caressing his cheek with gentle strokes. âI promise.â
He blinked one final time, and like a switch that went off, you saw the muscles of his face relax, falling asleep peacefully in your bed with you.
Some hours later, you moved from his embrace, lying in a normal position but still close to Joshua. You wanted to let him have a nice restoring sleep, so you thought of moving away from him a bit.
But his hands found you beneath the covers, tugging you closer, or hugging you back to him in his sleep. He was so deeply asleep that he did not hear the soft beeping of the smart lock, the door pushed open and then it closed with care.
Jeonghanâs steps were careful, probably intuiting that you were in the bedroom asleep. You saw his head peak in the doorframe of the bedroom, making you lift your hand to wave at him.
âHi, baby,â he whispered, approaching the foot of the bed. âAm I interrupting?â
âNo,â you patted your hand next to you, on the space that was left free.
âOkay,â he whispered, moving to the side.
Jeonghan paused before he went under the covers with you, finding you and Joshua utterly naked. âTsk,â he clicked his tongue, suppressing a smile. âCouldnât you wait for me?â he muttered teasingly.
âShut up,â you reproached with a hushed tone. âJosh was tired, so he fell asleep before we could do anything,â you explained.
âIâm just playing, baby,â he smiled, his gaze finding Joshua. âIs everything okay?â
âYeah,â you frowned, still caged by his heavy arms. âHe was so tired. Couldnât even speak straight.â
âSo, what? Are we having a slumber party?â he grinned.
âMaybe,â you shrugged. âI donât know if heâll wake up right now.â
âWe could order food if he does.â
âOkay,â you nodded.
âOkaaay,â he sighed, pulling out his phone and lowering the brightness of his screen before he dived in the food delivery app.
The dimmed white light coming from the screen illuminated his features, letting you see his perfectly cute nose, his beauty mark that sat on his cheek, his rosy lips, the lower tucked inside his mouth.
âWhat?â he noticed, directing a quick look at you.
âIâm just looking at your face,â you whispered.
âIs there something on it?â he asked, running his palm over his cheeks.
âNo, you dummy,â you said. âI just missed your face.â
âYou saw me this morning, princess,â he giggled goofily.
âYou were supposed to say I missed your face too, princess,â you mimicked his tone to the best of your ability but failed miserably.
âBut I didnât miss you,â he said, trying to sound serious. âI just saw you this morning.â
âI take it back, I didnât miss your face,â you pushed him away with a hand.
âCome here, you little crybaby,â he mumbled, grabbing your hand.
âYou-mmf,â you were quickly shut up by his lips, sealed by his in a chaste kiss.
âWhat?â he dared, planting another kiss, then another.
âYou fucking tease,â you muttered, pushing his face away from yours.
His mouth fell open in surprise. âMe?â he pointed a finger to his chest.
âWho else?â you hissed. âYouâre so fucking annoying.â
âOh, baby, you donât even know,â he grinned darkly at you. âNow, why donât you stay quiet for a minute? Youâre going to wake him up,â he nodded at the man deeply asleep behind you.
You turned on the bed, lying on your back. Joshuaâs arm hugged you just below your breasts, pulling you closer by instinct when you moved.
âSo now youâre going to ignore me?â Jeonghan huffed a puffy air, clicking his tongue.
You stared at the ceiling, dead set on keeping your act up.
But you should have done better than playing with The Yoon Jeonghan.
At first, he just smirked, but as the seconds went by and you pretended to ignore him, the smile wore off. He propped his elbow on the pillow, leaning his head on his fist, intent on watching your face.
Then, he slid a hand on your tummy, he did nothing else with it, he just parked it there, his palm covering your belly button. You rejected his touch, but he caught sight of your eyelids fluttering slightly.
âDonât ignore me,â he drew out the words with a low hum. He lifted his palm, but his fingers lingered on your skin, dragging the tips on your tummy in slow, gentle motions.
You said nothing, but as his fingers trailed on your lower abdomen, you swallowed hard. Jeonghan smiled, loving how well you responded to his touch. Your warm skin prickled, tingling at the wake of his fingertips drawing circles, going lower and lower.
âBaby, Iâm sorry,â he pouted. âDid you get angry because I called you a crybaby?â
The tone he used was mocking you, but you could not pay attention to it. His fingers were so close to your mound that you felt the need to swallow back a moan, the strangled sound coiling in your throat drew his attention.
âWhat was that, baby?â he asked playfully.
Yanking your gaze from the ceiling, you met his, darkened by lust and mischief. The smirk that drew on his face was of silent victory.
âWhat, do you like this?â he motioned to his hand drawing lazy circles on your mound, his fingers grazing the line of your pussy lips. âDoes this get you horny?
You blinked at him, parting your lips in desire but no words came out.
âI bet youâre wet already,â he whispered, a glint lighting up his dark eyes.
You moved your thighs ever so slightly, letting one finger between your pussy lips.
âGod, baby, right next to Joshua?â he whispered, a devilish smirk curving his lips. âWhat is your boyfriend going to say if he wakes up?â
You said absolutely nothing, your eyelids fluttered when he ran the tip of his finger between your folds.
âSo fucking wet,â he mumbled, more to himself than to you, as though he knew already that he would find your pussy sopping wet already. âWho wouldâve thought that youâre such a slut?â
You gasped silently, drawing your eyebrows in. Jeonghanâs finger dipped in your core, his own mouth falling open when he sank one finger in, then another, playing with your wetness.
âHear that?â he asked with a whisper, moving his fingers in and out of your wet pussy, creating a loud wet noise with each thrust.
In the past weeks, you had been having so much sex that your body was extra sensitive.
âPrincess, youâre insatiable,â Jeonghan smiled, throwing a look at Joshua, who was still asleep. âDo you want more?â
Your gaze followed his, finding Joshua peacefully unaware that you were getting fingered by Jeonghan. You nodded.
âMmn, princess, youâre going to wake Joshua up if I give you more,â he cooed softly, moving his fingers inside you, massaging your walls. He pulled them out, driving the pads of his fingers to your clit, which was already swollen with arousal.
You flinched slightly under Joshuaâs embrace when Jeonghanâs fingertips started moving on your clit. You locked your gaze on Jeonghan, silently pleading for more.
Jeonghan took the challenge, stopping the motion of his fingers on you and sank under the covers, carefully placing himself between your legs without disrupting Joshuaâs sleep. You closed your eyes, feeling his hands on your inner thighs, spreading your pussy lips for his mouth.
The first lick set your body ablaze. You tensed up, gritting your teeth as Jeonghan ran his tongue flatly on your folds, licking your juices up, kissing your clit slowly.
As soon as your back stirred on the mattress, Joshua moved. He hummed softly, making your tummy twist, a hand flying to find Jeonghanâs head, but the man did not take the hint, or if he did, he did not give a fuck.
Jeonghan continued giving your pussy broad strokes with his tongue, not caring of the wet sounds he was making.
âMmn,â Joshua pressed his face on your pillow finding your cheek, which he kissed softly.
âJosh,â you mumbled, the sound whiny, making it obvious that you were aroused.
Jeonghan pushed his hands on your inner thighs, spreading you more to dip his tongue inside you with a low groan.
âWhatâs haâ,â Joshua lifted his head from your pillow, spotting the bulge beneath the covers, between your legs.
âBaby,â you sighed a moan.
Joshua watched the body beneath the covers for a few seconds, confusedly finding your face. The last traces of slumber left him, coming alive with a slow smirk drawing on his face. He pushed the covers off, uncovering your body, and Jeonghan between your legs, eating you out. âCouldnât you wait for me?â
You let out a lazy giggle, finding it amusing that Jeonghan had said the same thing half an hour before. âWanna join?â you asked with a sweet hum, raking your fingertips through Jeonghanâs scalp.
Joshua propped his body on one elbow, lying back to watch Jeonghan working on your pussy. âHow do you want me to join in?â he asked, his voice still gruff and lazy.
âKiss me?â you asked with a sweet tone.
The man obeyed without a second thought, bringing a hand to cup your face, kissing you gently. Jeonghan grabbed your legs, hiking them on his shoulders, dipping two fingers back into your pussy, and kissing your clit with his mouth.
You moaned in Joshuaâs mouth, his hands cupping your breasts, fingers pinching and tugging your nipples.
âYouâre close, baby?â Joshua asked, enjoying the sound so much he felt himself growing hard. Â
âI want more,â you gasped.
Joshua smirked, dipping his head over your chest, trapping one of your nipples in his mouth, teasing it with his tongue.
âGod!â you squealed, hands busy grabbing both Jeonghan and Joshuaâs hair. Your thighs tensed more in pleasure, drawing out a long moan as one of your boyfriends licked and kissed your nipples, and the other your clit.
âIâm coming,â you sighed, closing your eyes in bliss. âGod, god, god, Iâm close, Iâm close!â you let out a strangled sound, jaw going slack as you climaxed below Jeonghan and Joshua, neither slowing down nor stopping.
You thrashed, moaned, and cried out each of their names lewdly until you were breathless, teary-eyed, and limp on the mattress.
âGod⊠that wasâŠâ you sighed, smiling as you relished in the aftershocks of your orgasm.
They both lifted their heads from your body at the same time. Jeonghan ran the back of his hand over his chin, wiping away your arousal and his own spit, while Joshua acted on impulse, grabbing Jeonghan's hand and sticking his fingers in his mouth to lick the taste of you.
Jeonghan looked startled for a second, his eyes widening and lips parting. But he shook it off quickly, letting Joshua lick off your wetness. The sight was so arousing, that a moan coiled in your throat.
âPrincess likes that, huh?â Jeonghan asked Joshua, pulling out his fingers from the warmth of his mouth.
âDid you like that, baby?â Joshua asked, his studded eyebrow twitching up.
âYeah,â you sighed, smiling shyly when the sound came out more like a moan than anything else.
Jeonghan had a question etched in his eyes that only Joshua could see. But he ignored it, trying to get a hold of himself before he did more impulsive things.
âWhat do you want, princess?â Jeonghan asked, noticing the dazed expression on your face.
âI want you both. At the same time. You on top,â you pointed at Jeonghan, then to Joshua. âAnd you below me.â
âTsk,â Jeonghan smirked, nodding his head in amazement.
But he climbed off the bed as he took his clothes off, opening the first drawer of your closet. As Jeonghan got what he needed from the drawer, he thought of the brief exchange he had with Joshua, deciding to push it far away in his mind for now. But he could not ignore, that he had liked it.
You rose to your knees, circling Joshuaâs neck with your hands to bring him to your face, pressing a warm kiss in his mouth. âI liked that,â you whispered, referring to Joshua licking Jeonghanâs fingers.
âI know,â he husked with a half-smile. âI can tell.â
Jeonghan returned with a bottle of lube, and one condom, patting the edge of the bed he motioned you over. âI want you here, Princess,â he told you.
You crawled over to him, sitting back on your heels in front of him.
Jeonghan cupped the side of your head, tangling his fingers in your hair, and pressing a small kiss on your lower lip. âBe good for us,â he whispered.
âAlways, Hannie,â you smiled.
âMmn,â he hummed, keeping his quippy retort behind his grin. âTurn around and get on all fours, baby.â
You obeyed at once, getting on your hands and knees, ass to him. Jeonghan started littering your skin with kisses, his hands caressing your ass. Joshua watched quietly, one corner of his lips twitching when Jeonghan sneaked another glance his way.
âCome here, handsome,â you muttered lovingly, extending a hand to clutch his hip. Joshua was hard again, tip leaking with precum.
Joshua mimicked Jeonghanâs previous movements, cupping your face in his large hand. âWant to take me in your mouth, baby?â he taunted, reading your face. Â
âYeah?â you lifted your pretty eyes to his face.
âOpen your mouth,â he whispered, swallowing hard when you obediently parted your lips for him.
A moan vibrated around his cock, Jeonghan kissed your pussy one more time, making your whole body jolt in surprise. âEasy, baby,â he giggled.
Jeonghan closed his eyes, running the tip of his tongue between your folds, licking up your pussy to the rim of your ass, kissing, humming against your skin.
The room grew quiet in a matter of seconds.
Joshuaâs head hung back slightly, sighing out in pleasure as you sucked him off eagerly. Your tongue swirled on his cockhead, hollowing out your cheeks every time you pulled back on him. He opened his eyes, his gaze falling on Jeonghan instinctively.
Joshuaâs heart nearly jumped out of his chest to find Jeonghanâs eyes on him as he licked your puckered hole, a hand stroking his hard cock idly.
âGod,â Joshua exhaled, closing his eyes again. You moaned around him, his hand gripping your hair right before he pulled out his cock out of your mouth with a loud groan.
He threw back his head, eyes focused on the ceiling, panting.
âJosh?â you called.
âGive me a second,â Joshua laughed languidly.
Jeonghan masked his giggle with a low hum, pulling back his mouth from your puckered hole to press the tip of his pointer finger, making you moan. âJoshuji is just out of his game, baby,â he cooed.
âAlright, then, what is it?â Jeonghan challenged. There was no smile curling his lips, Joshua found in Jeonghanâs eyes pure curiosity.
Joshua bore into him with his dark gaze. âNot now,â he warned with a cold tone.
âThere is nothing wrong with admitting that youâre a quick nut,â Jeonghan stated boldly, knowing that his crude vocabulary would rattle him. âBaby will understand, right?â
âJeonghan, why donât you occupy your mouth again and shut the fuck up?â
âDid I hurt your feelings, altar boy?â Jeonghan tilted his head to one side, pushing another finger inside you.
âBoth of you,â you groaned, torn between the fight happening and Jeonghanâs fingers in your ass. âShut up,â you deadpanned.
âAre you ready, baby?â Jeonghan asked, spreading his fingers inside you.
âYeah, I think I am,â you choked out.
âGet on top of Shuji, baby,â Jeonghan patted your ass lovingly.
Joshua got to the center of the bed, laying back as you crawled back to him, straddling him. He grabbed your head with his large hands, pulling you into a long, wet kiss.
You placed your forearms on the pillows, framing his head.
Jeonghan grabbed your hips roughly, lifting one hand, and bringing it down on your ass firmly. You yelped, breaking your kiss with Joshua abruptly.
Joshua smiled at you. âSomeoneâs jealous,â he teased, grabbing your chin with two fingers to continue kissing you.
âTsk, jealous,â Jeonghan huffed. âReady?â
You turned to see him, giving him a short nod.
Jeonghan rolled up the condom down his shaft, spreading the lube in both him and your hole. âYou know what to do, princess.â
âYes, Hannie,â you replied, arching your back to him.
âGood girl,â he sighed, pressing the tip of his cock in your hole, pushing one inch inside you.
âGod,â you gasped, hiding your face in the crook of Joshuaâs neck.
Joshua caressed your back, his fingers drawing a line down your column before he grabbed your ass, spreading you open for Jeonghan. âYouâre good, baby,â he whispered, looking at Jeonghan as he sank another inch in.
Your fingers curled on the pillowcases. âJoshâŠâ you cried out, Jeonghanâs cock filling you up a little bit more.
Jeonghan blinked lazily, biting his lip hard as he pulled back, to sink back inside you, pushing a few more inches in.
âTake it, baby,â Joshua husked, his fingers pressing the skin of your ass, still helping spread you open.
âFuck,â Jeonghan gritted, nearly bottoming out inside you. âIâm gonna start moving,â he drawled.
âYeah, yes, please,â you cried out, the sound muffled on Joshuaâs neck.
Joshua shuddered, your breath fanning on his skin. âCan you take me, baby?â he asked.
âMm-mmph,â you moved your head, to meet his lips with yours. âPlease, Josh.â
âHurry,â Jeonghan groaned, giving you shallow thrusts.
Joshua thought of saying something quippy.
But you sent him a look. âDonât,â you huffed. You grabbed his cock, guiding it to your pussy.
âOkay,â Joshua whispered, suppressing a smile. He started thrusting in his cock, pushing his hips up to meet yours.
Jeonghan moaned, leaning his body forward, pushing you over too. âFuck, god, fuuuuck,â he groaned, leaning his forehead on your nape. âBaby, you feel so good.â
The lewd sound of Jeonghanâs voice elicited a moan from Joshua. Pushing his cock faster inside you, he could feel Jeonghanâs cock inside you, moving in perfect synchronicity with his own.
Jeonghan was fully fucking you doggy style, leaning over your body as Joshua fucked into you. He pressed a hand on the pillow, the other gripping your hip, brushing against Joshuaâs fingers.
âBaby,â Joshua called your name, noticing your features lost in pleasure. âYouâre there?â
âYeah,â you replied aloofly. âIâm close, babe. Iâm so closeâŠâ
âCome for me,â Jeonghan choked out, squeezing his eyes shut.
âNo, not yet,â Joshua gasped, fucking into you faster. Sweat sticking to his skin, making a wet sound every time he met his hips with yours. âWait for me, baby.â
âI canât,â you whispered, your limbs starting to shake. âIâm there, Josh. Please⊠let me come.â
Jeonghan let out a ragged groan. âCome, baby, please come,â he begged, swallowing hard, pushing inside you desperately now.
Just by the sounds alone, Joshua knew his best friend was near his release. He watched as Jeonghan nipped and kissed your shoulder, eyes closed as if though he feared opening them, as though he knew Joshua would be looking.
You cried out a whiny moan. âJoshua, JoshuaâŠâ you sighed, writhing as your orgasm washed over you, teary-eyed and completely fucked out.
âFuck, princess,â Jeonghan gasped, his thrusts slowing down as you squeezed on both men inside you.
Joshua gripped your hips tighter as he moved his lazily. âGod,â he blurted as he saw you and Jeonghan come together just like in all of those videos. You squeezed around him, and he could feel Jeonghanâs cock nudged inside you, pressing against his.
You fell on top of him, walls throbbing around his cock as he spilled inside you with a blissful sigh.
Then Jeonghan fell on top of you, pulling out of you and resting his head on the pillow, beside Joshuaâs head.
Joshua groaned under the weight of both your body and now Jeonghanâs. But you giggled sweetly, resting your head on the other pillow, to the other side of Jeonghan.
Joshua stared at the ceiling again, breathing hard and erratically from the exhaustion and pleasure still coursing through him. But he dared to move his face, turning it to Jeonghan to see if his best friend was awake. Â
With just one look, Joshua knew that Jeonghan had a million questions to ask. His eyes bore into Joshuaâs, his face so close they could feel each otherâs breaths.
Joshua wondered for a second if Jeonghanâs lips were as soft as yours. A thought that almost sent him into a frenzy.
âWhat?â Jeonghan breathed, noticing the change in Joshuaâs eyes.
âGet off me,â Joshua gritted.
âAsk nicely.â
âGet the fuck off me,â Joshua demanded, but a giggle sneaked through his command.
âAlright, alright,â Jeonghan groaned, pushing himself off you and Joshua.
You, on the other hand, were still lost in the gentle aftershocks of your orgasm. Breathing softly on the curve of Joshuaâs neck.
âWe should clean up,â you said, promptly lifting your hips off his.
âWaitâ,â Joshua gasped, but it was too late. Cum dripped out of you, spilling all over Joshua, and your inner thighs.
You stared at the mess for a long second.
âTsk,â Jeonghan returned to the bedroom. âSomeone has to clean that up now,â he said, lying down on the bed, next to Joshua.
Before Joshua could even say anything, you understood what Jeonghan meant immediately, leaning down to his crotch, running your tongue on his lower abdomen.
âFuck,â Joshua gritted when you licked his cum from his skin, the act so hot he felt himself grow hard again. âFuck, baby,â he rolled his eyes to the ceiling, trying to calm himself down.
âLie down, princess, Jeonghan commanded when you finished cleaning up Joshuaâs lower tummy.
You lied back on the bed as he got to his knees, sending a look at Joshua as Jeonghan licked the cum from your inner thighs, eliciting a lazy moan from you.
Joshua felt even more confused than before but kept watching the whole exchange, unable to yank his gaze from it.
You smiled at Jeonghan, right before he dived for a kiss, his tongue rolling inside your mouth with a raspy groan. You cupped his head moaning lewdly in his mouth.
âCome on, letâs wash up, baby,â Jeonghan whispered, patting your thigh once before pulling away from you, but not before glancing Joshuaâs way.
You crawled up to him, a playful smile on your face. âYou there?â you cooed. âLetâs go,â you whispered.
Snapping from a trance, he grabbed your face, placing a rushed kiss in your lips, tasting his cum in the process. âThat was so hot,â he hissed.
âDid you like that, babe?â you asked sultrily, reading his face.
âYeah,â he croaked.
You smiled mischievously, grabbing his hand. âCome on, baby boy, letâs wash again.â
And with that, Joshua knew there was no right or wrong answer to the turbulent confusion inside him, he had to roll with it.
The following morning, Joshua stretched out his arm beneath the bedsheets, humming blissfully once he found your body to wrap in an embrace.
âMorning, babe,â you whispered.
He opened his eyes to see your face, planting a sleepy kiss on your lips. âGâmorning,â he whispered.
Jeonghan looked at both of you, his phone in his hands. âDonât I get a morning kiss?â
The question made Joshuaâs heart jolt nervously. But understanding that the question was directed at you, he rolled his eyes.
However, you smiled, moving to place a sweet kiss on Jeonghanâs lips. âGood morning, Hannie,â you mumbled.
âMorning,â he replied with a flat tone.
âYouâre a bit grumpy since last night,â you pointed. âWhatâs wrong?â
âNothing,â Jeonghan said, shaking his head slightly. âI should go now. Got to go to the bar to drop some payments andâ,â he paused. âIs your thing with Yena still up for tonight?â
Joshua arched one eyebrow.
âYeah, but Josh will drive me there. Donât worry,â you looked at him.
âIâll drive you,â he nodded dumbly. âWhere?â
âI have a date with Yena. Weâre grabbing dinner, weâll talk about my anonymity and see what we could do market wise,â you explained, pinching his chin with your fingers.
âAlright,â Jeonghan sighed, leaning over to place a loving kiss on your forehead. âI love you,â he mumbled right before kissing your lips sweetly.
Joshuaâs heart gave another leap. The smile that painted your face was so sweet, he had only seen it on you whenever you were with him.
âI love you, grumpy,â you replied teasingly.
âShut up,â he sighed a smile, kissing you one more time before he pulled back. âBye, Joshuji,â he waved, much as if he could not walk out without saying goodbye to him.
âBye, Jeonghannie.â
Joshua sat on the pilotâs seat of his van, waiting. One hand supporting his head, the other gripping the steering wheel tightly.
He wished he could say that he eased part of the questions that made his head uneasy. But in truth, he felt even more confused. The easy way out of this, was to just let whatever he felt flow.
But then, he needed to talk it out with you. And Jeonghan.
Frustrated, he sighed. He didnât know what he was expecting when he returned home. He so desperately wanted to go back to the quiet life, that he forgot that time also moved for you, and things changed.
Your life was also becoming less quiet.
Was this his doing?
You opened the door to the copilotâs seat of his van. âSorry, sorry,â you mumbled.
âReady?â he turned the key, igniting the engine.
âYeah, Iâm sorry,â you repeated.
âItâs okay, baby,â he replied dryly. âBringing everything this time?â
âYeah, I triple-checked,â you looked down to your lap, shamefully. âI keep forgetting my phone everywhere.â
âDid you book a table?â Joshua asked, eyeing you as he drove through the city.
âYeah, but Yenâs already waiting for me.â
âMm,â Joshua nodded.
You raised your eyebrows. âAre you mad at me, Josh?â you asked, and without skipping a second, you added: âIâm sorry, Iâ,â
âIâm not mad,â he said flatly.
A long silence was drawn between you, tension building as the seconds passed.
âOkay, tell me whatâs wrong then,â you said with a serious tone, trying to look at his face, but he just kept avoiding your eyes.
âNothing. Nothingâs wrong,â he mumbled.
âDonât do that,â you snapped. âDonât do this.â
âDo what?â he finally looked at you, but the glance was short.
âYouâre avoiding something,â you pointed. âI know you, Josh. There is something bothering you.â
âI donât want to talk about it right now,â he shook his head, pulling up. He raised his eyebrows. âWeâre here.â
It took you a second to understand that he had parked the car in front of the restaurant you were going to meet with Yena. You searched his dark eyes, heart dropping to your stomach when you saw how dead they looked.
âIâm thinking of quitting the band,â Joshua mumbled, the weight of his confession making him drive his gaze elsewhere.
âYouâre not serious,â you whispered.
âI am,â he looked at you again. âIâm done. I canât do this anymore.â
You leaned your head to one side, eyes glinting with pity. âBaby, youâre just tired. Donât say things like this, think it over when youâre well rested.â
âI donât need to think things over,â he spat, shaking his head in frustration. âI want out. I donât want any of this.â
As soon as he blurted the words, Joshua wanted to take them back. He looked at you remorsefully, opening his mouth to apologize but you stopped him, raising a palm to him.
âIâm going to ignore this moment happened⊠and when I come back, you and I are going to talk about this. So think carefully about how you speak to me next time.â
Then you exited the car, slamming the door behind you.
Joshua stood in front of the walled rooftop.
This used to be the place where you would come to ponder about whatever occupied your mind the most. The night Joshua followed you here, he found you in the same spot he was standing in; but you were leaning your head on the brim of the ledge, following the buzz of the busy city as some kind of a lullaby.
Some nights, Joshua would wake up to find your spot of the bed empty, and he know he would find you here, trying to solve whatever plot point you were stuck in. But some nights he would also find you here when you were running away from conflict, running away from him.
He brought a hand to rub his chest absentmindedly, trying to easy the heaviness coiling around his heart.
The sound coming from the rusty hinges of the door leading back into the building rattled him, making him turn around, somehow expecting to see you.
Jeonghan closed the door behind him, crossing his arms as he walked tentatively towards Joshua. âHow long have you been here?â he asked.Â
Joshua shook his head in reprehension. âIf youâre here to play the mediator, just telling you now, I donât want to hear it,â he turned over again, facing the city lights again. âI know I did wrong.â
âIâm not here to play mediator,â Jeonghan said quietly once he reached Joshuaâs side, leaning his forearms on the brim of the ledge. âIâve been looking for you. Youâre not picking up the phone.â
âDid you⊠talk to Bunny?â Joshua asked, avoiding his best friendâs scrutiny. But it was quite unavoidable, he could feel his eyes piercing him.
âYeah, I did,â he replied, finally yanking his gaze away from him and directing it towards the sunset.
Joshua expected him to say something else, something about the conversation between Jeonghan and you. But when he stayed quiet about it, Joshua felt even worse. He brought his hands to his face, rubbing his eyes harshly to avoid succumbing to pure madness.
âIâm sorry, Iâll talk to her when she gets back,â he mumbled, his voice muffling in his hands. He lifted his head blinking the quiet rage stinging his eyes and sent a shameful look to his best friend.
âSheâs already here,â Jeonghan informed with a solemn expression. âShe called me.â
Joshua could not stop himself from feeling resentful that you had called Jeonghan to pick you up instead of him. But even he would admit that it was deserved.
The serenity he found in Jeonghanâs gaze was perplexing. âWhat happened?â he asked with caution.
Joshua took pause, assuming that you might have just told him in brief what happened. âI told her Iâm thinking of quitting the band. We had an argument. I shouldnât have exploded like that, but the truth is⊠Iâm exhausted. I donât want this anymore,â he rasped with a nasty feeling making his face twist.
âAre you really quitting?â Jeonghan seemed unfazed by this turn of events.
âI donât know,â he sighed, clasping his hands together as he lowered his head. âI knew what I was getting myself into when I agreed to sign for the label but⊠I never wanted this.â
âWhat is it that you hate so much about this?â he frowned with clear confusion rising in his tone. âCanât you just admit publicly that sheâs your girlfriend? Forget about me, or how Iâd feel, you would have one thing less to worry about. Two, actually.â
Joshua turned to his best friend, processing his words over and over in his head, all the while scanning his features, finding nothing but quiet resolution. âYouâre insane,â he realized. âYou canât say that. After all the shit that we went through to get here you canât just decide to leave.â
Crossing his arms still, Jeonghan shrugged. âWell it canât be that bad, right? I could just remain in the background or leave completely. Iâm just saying, we can come up with some story to make all of this go away.â
âNo,â he negated with his head. âNo, I donât want you to leave. And Iâm pretty sure Bunny doesnât want that either.â
Jeonghan said nothing at first, but Joshua could tell the severity of his entire demeanor had an underlying reason. âI donât want to leave either, you know that. But look at yourself. I canât stand looking at you like this,â Jeonghan admitted. âI tried to warn you, Shuji. You canât make yourself happy by making everyone happy.â
The perplexing feeling sunk deeper within him. The only reaction Joshua could muster was a hollow laugh that went on until he thought this was what insanity felt like.
Jeonghanâs gaze turned to worry, his eyebrows pinching together.
âThis is so fucked up,â Joshua muttered to himself, dropping his face back onto his hands and muffled a long sigh. âIâm so fucked.â
âIf this is putting you in this state then we should call the polycule off,â he heard Jeonghanâs quiet tone try to bring some sense into this. âYou can go back to your life before all of this, Iâll be fine.â
It seemed astounding to Joshua that his best friend would be up to do that if that made Joshua happy, even though that would mean walking away from you again. It had been so long since Jeonghan and him had a heart-to-heart, that they have missed out on so much. Joshua could easily assume what has happened in the time he been away.
But Jeonghan had no idea about what he has come to find out about himself.
âI canât do this right now, Jeonghan,â Joshua decided, casting one look at Jeonghanâs face, and turned away from him, walking towards the door. âIâm not ready to talk about this.â
Joshua thought of what he would say to you as he crossed the rooftop, dragging his feet with heavy reluctance. He would undoubtedly apologize to you and tell you what was going on inside his head.
He did not want to walk away from his band, that was something he had said crassly, without really weighing how alarming that sounded given the state that he was in. He needed to sleep. He needed to think. He needed toâ
âStop hurting her, you fucking coward!â Jeonghanâs complaint resounded across the space between them, making Joshua stop dead in his tracks.
âWhat?â he blurted, turning around to see him approaching with an angry step.
âYou always do this,â Jeonghanâs face twisted in annoyance, his brow furrowing as he lifted one finger to point at Joshuaâs face. âYou said you wouldnât do this again. You lie and bottle up your feelings until itâs everyoneâs problem!â
âI just said I canât do this right now,â Joshua gritted.
But that just proved Jeonghanâs point. âThe only time you can do it is when you blow up!â he accused. âHow fucking hard can it be to just say what you truly think and feel?â he exasperatedly threw his hands at his sides.
âLike you say what you truly think and feel?â Joshua rolled his eyes in an irked way.
âWhat the hell are you talking about?â he demanded, dropping his hand on his side.
âWeâll talk about this later, Jeonghan,â he huffed, motioning to the door again.
âWhat do you want me to say? Iâll tell you right now,â he challenged, his chest falling and rising rapidly.
Joshua bit his tongue. His first instinct was to try and opt out of the conversation again, try and buy as much time as possible to figure out his feelings, to solve the itching confusion in his heart.
But as he faced his best friend, his resolve became clearer. He did not need to send any more tentative glances at him or wonder to himself any further. Jeonghanâs eyes kept reading his face over and over, just as Joshua drifted towards his lips, and then his eyes.Â
âWhat?â Jeonghanâs brow furrowed deeper, the annoyance in his demeanor died down and swiftly turned into genuine bewilderment.
Joshua thought for a second that whatever emotion showed on his face made his intentions clear. âJeonghan,â he breathed.
His brow finally relaxed; his eyes widening in wordless realization. âJoshua?â
A large hand grabbed the collar of Jeonghanâs hoodie, giving it a firm tug. Their chests clashed together, knocking the air out of their lungs. Joshua paused, giving Jeonghan a moment to back away, to put a stop on this before it was too late.
Jeonghanâs breath hitched, but no words came out of his parted lips.
An overwhelming fluttering invaded Joshuaâs chest. His free hand cupped the back of his head, tangling his fingers on the long dark hair. They both looked at each other as they leaned closer, and closer. Jeonghan closed his eyes, so Joshua decided to do the same until their lips met in a slow, tentative kiss.
âź author's note: hellooooooo,
here it is! slightly late but here it's the first part to my hannieween fest/kinktober celebration. i hope you liked it đââïž
i am so excited for you guys to read the next chapter to lights out!! i am actually very excited to know what you think of this one. it took me some time to finish writing it because i have so many projects at the moment!
but here it is hehe. i'm happy.
âź STAY TUNED FOR CHAPTER SIX!! âź
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Tercero: ÂżEl crush del Jihan? Ese remordimiento de Joshua de estar viendo a su mejor amigo en los vĂdeos en lugar de su novia fue *chefs kiss*, eso y la confesiĂłn de Hannie, que la verdad, yo sĂ veĂa venir, sobre todo por todo lo que ha sucedido en sus vidas y lo coordinados que son siempre, me hace pensar que Hannie tomĂł una actitud espejo, para olvidar sus sentimientos por Josh, mejor decidiĂł reflejarlo. Supongo que por eso le atrajo a Bunny.
Sexto: *cantos de ĂĄngeles en el cielo* TENEMOS BESO JIHAN, ESTO NO ES UN SIMULACRO. AHHHHHHH, LO AMĂ, ME FASCINĂ, NO PUEDO ESPERAR A SABER LAS REACCIONES POSTERIORES A ESE BESO.
Muchas gracias por compartir tu escritura con nosotros V, no sabes lo genial que es tener a buenos escritores una vez mĂĄs en Tumblr. AquĂ tienes una fiel lectora y esperemos que mis reviews se hagan incluso mĂĄs largas jsjs.
can you do suggestive texts with bf joshua? tysm love your work!<3
random texts with bf! joshua
cw: suggestive, fluff, crack ig
authorâs note: i incorporated various requests in one cause i got many requests for random texts with bf joshua and suggestive texts with bf joshua, so i just did random texts with joshua but spiced them upđ€
