Bruce: Tim, why did I just get a an email from Gotham Funeral Sevices, giving me condolences and thanking me for purchasing a black, green, and silver coffin?!
Tim, who has been hiding a sleeping 'vampire' in his room for two weeks: Wow! Why do you think it was me?
Bruce: Jason won't take my money, Dick avoids anything funeral related, Damian told me Talia already has his funeral arrangements planned and "none of the ilk he kills deserves coffins"-
Tim: Yikes.
Bruce: I know. Steph is convinced shes either never going to die or shes going to die fighting God, not sure what that means but she scares me, and Barbra and Duke are my good children who I pretend I never have to worry about in regards to things like these.
Tim: What about Cass?
Bruce: If Cass needed a coffin, she'd either come out and ask me, or I would never know about it. Meaning, it has to be you.
Tim: Touche.
Bruce: Timothy what is the coffin for?!
Tim: Okay jeez. If you must know, I thought sleeping in a small enclosed space would help with my sleep schedule.
Bruce: Why not just ask for a bunk bed, or use the closet or wardrobe?
Tim: Its was 3 am! Give me a break!
Bruce, sighs: ..........So, does it actually help with sleep?
genre: comedy, fluff, angst, eventual smut / greek life, fake dating, roommates, lovers to enemies and back to lovers au
description: Everyone knew about the war that had been brewing on the edge of campus for the past two years. Sorority versus Fraternity; a showdown for the ages. However, when the escalating antics between them yields the consequence of possible suspensions for both chapters, the presidents of each house must come together to try and figure out how to end this battle… Which is kind of hard, considering they were the ones responsible for it in the first place.
note: here is a song that a lovely reader created in inspiration of AiW’s story. Hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do!
→ part one / part two / part three / current / part five
It had been weeks of bristling awkwardness between you and Jungkook. The sharp flinch in your shoulders when either of you walked into a room that the other was already occupying. The mumbled acknowledgments as you entered or exited the apartment. Finding that somewhat happy medium on that first day of living together, after the obvious rocky start, had been… nice? So this tension was now all the more excruciating.
Every time you saw him you wanted to speak up. Say something that would break this stalemate that was suffocating the air. But every time you found yourself on the precipice of it, you just couldn't bring yourself to do it. After your confession of just how this entire ruse was affecting you, it just felt too raw. As if you had bared your entire self to him. Admitting that even two years after things had ended, you still weren't over it. Not only that, you had cried. Fucking cried, when you not only told yourself, but Jungkook himself that he would never see you shed tears on his behalf ever again. Granted you made that promise not knowing you were going to be in the most inconceivable situation imaginable: fake dating and living with the physical embodiment of all your insecurities, crushed dreams, and worst of all (or maybe most pathetic of all) your desires.
You weren't in denial. You could fully admit to yourself that there was a part of you that longed for him still. Or maybe it was that you simply longed for what you once were together. And seeing him in such a domestic setting day in and day out made your chest ache at the possibility of what things would've been like right now if he had never decided to leave.
That was why when things started escalating during your little back and forth game of flirting weeks prior, you finally snapped. If you had decided to give into temptations and sleep with him, it would mean something much more to you than it did to him. And you believed him when he said his intention hadn't been to hurt you. But it was just another stinging reminder that he truly didn't understand what he had caused to fester inside of you for all of these years. So that was why every time you wanted to open your mouth and initiate some sort of dialogue to soothe this miserable existence you both inhabited, you simply couldn't. You had bared it all, and he had simply accepted his mistake.
You were stuck in your head, repeating this same train of thought you'd been in for weeks, when the door to the apartment opened. Jungkook locked eyes with you, giving you a curt nod before heading down the hallway to his bedroom. Your nails curled around the plate you were washing in the sink as he passed.
What this truly how it was going to be? Him giving you space to linger in your embarrassment? No, you couldn't continue like this. To Jungkook, this was clearly just a miscommunication gone awry, nothing more. And for all the things he had done to make you despise him, Jungkook was still someone you knew to be a decent guy. You knew he didn't want you to hurt on his behalf. So if he was going to continue on with life as if nothing happened, so should you.
And that was starting right fucking now.
You walked through the doors of the Tri Delt house, stopping to make small talk with some of the members. They tried starting off with simple small talk before segueing into what they were really interested in—your relationship.
"I know it's been weeks, but I still just can't believe you're back together," Irene said.
"Seriously, we're happy if you're happy, but it's just so crazy!" Seulgi chimed in.
You mustered the best fake smile you possibly could. "Yeah, I know it's shocking. But we're actually so happy. I'm just glad everyone's being supportive and setting aside all the fighting."
"Yeah, for sure. It's been nice to not have to constantly wonder what the next prank is gonna be."
They both smiled, and genuinely looked ecstatic for you. A knot formed in your stomach immediately. Obviously there were some Tri Delt members you were closer to than others, but even the girls you didn't have the biggest connection with were still your friends, and you just hated the constant lying.
You finished the conversation as quickly as you could without making it obvious that your "relationship" was the last thing you wanted to discuss with them. Then you rushed upstairs, turning down the hall before knocking on Jennie's door. She opened immediately, Sana already lounging on her bed. You had texted them about an hour or so ago, letting them know you would be coming. She ushered you inside the room, closing the door as you flopped down next to Sana.
"More trouble in paradise?" Jennie asked, laying at the end of her bed.
"Opposite, actually." You pinched the bridge of your nose in frustration. "He's still barely speaking to me. Like I'm a piece of glass that he can break. It's fucking infuriating."
"He's such a dick." Sana scoffed.
You shook your head. "No, that's the more infuriating part. He's trying to do what I asked. I accused him of trying to sleep with me for the fun of it, and now he doesn't want there to be any misunderstanding."
You had filled the two of them in on the entire ordeal that had occurred between you and Jungkook at Yoongi's party the night it happened. They consoled you to the best of their abilities, but the sting you felt that night still radiated violently.
"Yeah, it's just a tough situation." Jennie rubbed your shoulder. "So what're you gonna do? Just keep ignoring each other when you're at home?"
You chewed at your bottom lip. You had texted them to talk with a very specific question in mind.
"Well," You paused, scratching at your hair. "Either of you… know any guys who don't go to our school?"
There was a pause, both of them looking at one another, a slight smile playing on their lips.
"To sleep with, you mean?" Sana asked, a devious glint in her eyes.
You groaned, burying your face in the pillow beneath you.
You knew it was impulsive, but also not really. It had been weeks since you'd slept with anyone. Usually it was Hoseok, but since he went your college and knew all of the details about yours and Jungkook's history, it was not an option. You needed to get your mind off of these crippling thoughts. And sure, was it the best way to do so, no. But it was the quickest fix you could think of, and something you needed in general.
You and Jungkook had discussed bringing people back to the apartment briefly, but in the weeks since your emotional meltdown neither of you had done so, at least to your knowledge. And you had every intention of being respectful. You weren't trying to do this to make Jungkook jealous, in fact you would plan it specifically for a time you knew he would not be home. This was strictly for you and your needs.
"Don't be embarrassed. We get it." Sana pushed at your shoulder until you begrudgingly turned back over to face them. "But I actually have the perfect candidate."
Your eyes widened, immediately propping yourself up on your elbow in interest. "Okay, say more. Who?"
"One of my guy friends from high school is actually visiting this weekend. His best friend goes to the community college down the road—didn't have good enough grades to get in here, so he's going there for his first two years until he can transfer."
"And this friend visiting, is he…" You trailed off, not wanting to sound vain.
"Hot?" Sana snorted. "Gorgeous actually. Only reason I never went for him was because I was friends with his sister. Here, one second." Sana grabbed her phone, clicking on Instagram to type in his name before turning the screen completely towards you.
You gasped, grabbing it from her to zoom in on his incredibly beautiful face. "Fuck, you weren't lying."
"Told you." She shrugged. "His name is Yeonjun."
"I mean, do you think he'd be interested?" You asked, handing her back the phone.
"Let's see." She immediately swiped off the app before going to her text log and clicking on their thread of messages.
"Oh my god, Sana, no—" Before you could stop her she was already pressing call and this Yeonjun was answering on speakerphone.
"Hey, stranger." His voice was buttery, and paired with the imprinted image of his face from the pictures you saw made you clamp your teeth down on your cheek.
"Hey to you too. Are you in town yet?" She asked.
"Almost. Probably be there in about an hour. What's up?"
"Well… I have a proposition."
You buried your face in your hands, all while Jennie was trying her best to silently laugh. This is was ridiculous. This guy was just trying to come hang out with his friend and suddenly he's being offered sex from a stranger. You felt like you could be swallowed whole right now and be okay with it.
"Sounds… interesting." He paused, amusement hidden in is tone. "What is it?"
"So, my very beautiful friend has gotten herself into the most complicated situation you could ever imagine with her ex, and she needs some…" She paused, glancing at you with a grin. "Relief."
Your mouth dropped open in shock. You couldn't help yourself as you lightly punched her in the arm.
She simply giggled, but kept focused on the call. "Was seeing if you'd be interested."
There was pause, and you felt your chest clinch in embarrassment. Even though he didn't know what you even looked like, the idea of being rejected still weighed heavily.
"What friend?" He asked after a moment.
"Her name's Y/N. She—" Sana started, but was immediately cut off.
"Oh, I'd for sure be interested. I've seen her in your pictures on Insta."
Jennie's smacked at your thigh excitedly as your face burned at his words. But you couldn't help but smile at the compliment.
"Perfect!" Sana exclaimed. "I'll send you her number. And FYI she's one of my best friends, so behave." The amusing expression she was holding suddenly turned serious.
There was a pause before he answered. "I'll behave as much as she wants me to," Yeonjin finally said, making your stomach flip. "Just send me her number, talk to you later."
The line went dead, and all three of you were silent momentarily before ensuring into mayhem. Both of your friends jumping on top of you and shaking your body as they screamed.
"Fuck yes, bitch," Jennie said, tickling your stomach.
"I promise, you're gonna thank me." Sana looked smug, giving you a look that said she's heard Yeonjun was pretty talented in that department.
"Let's just see how it goes." You tried to act nonchalant about it, but almost immediately after you said that your phone buzzed in your pocket. You pulled it out, a text from an unknown number sitting in your notifications.
This is Yeonjun. I assume you heard everything I just said about you from the giggles I could hear in the background on the call. How's dinner tomorrow? And depending how it goes I can give you that much needed relief?
You started to bite at your thumb, smiling around it as you reread the text. You turned it to show Sana and Jennie.
And once again, excited screams ensued.
----------------
Jungkook
Jungkook had been sitting in his car for about twenty minutes. Your vehicle was next to his, so he knew you were inside, making him tap at the steering wheel anxiously.
He hated the tension between the two of you ever since Yoongi's party. For weeks, every time he closed his eyes, all he saw was your tear streaked face staring back at him. You were asking why he would play with your feelings. Why he would try to sleep with you like every other girl he'd had sex with the last two years. It was haunting him. How disgusted you seemed that he would treat you the same as everyone else. And in that moment he wanted to defend himself. To say whatever was happening between them wasn't that at all. In fact, it was the opposite. He felt like he had been reeling at the party, unable to stop himself from trying to bridge the distance that he had created by breaking up with you. It was selfish, he knew that, but it was insatiable; not in just a sexual way but just purely wanting to be near you in whatever way you'd let him.
When you had kissed him, unprovoked, in the car, something had ignited inside of him. Feelings he had been trying to bury for years. Because even after all this time, and all the woman he had been with since, his mind constantly wondered back to you and the relationship he had destroyed.
Jungkook hadn't ended things with you back then on a whim. It was something he had thought about intensely. He loved you, but it was because he loved you and because he was having those curious thoughts that he couldn't stay with you. It wasn't fair to you. You deserved someone whose thoughts were completely for you, and at that time, when he was just eighteen years old and stupid, that wasn't him. But he was older now, more mature, and had experienced all of those things he had been curious about, and what had he gained in the end?
He gripped the steering wheel hard, shaking the thoughts away. Badgering himself with his choice from back then always did nothing but leave his feeling chest hollow and aching, so he forced himself to stop.
He took a deep breath in, forcing himself out of the car and towards the outside staircase that led up to the apartment. Regardless of his confusing feelings, he knew one thing for sure: they couldn't continue like this. The constant tiptoeing and forced pleasantries was grating when so much lurked beneath.
He decided in that moment he was going to speak to you. You had texted him yesterday, asking if he'd be home. He said no because he had a fundraising event to attend with the Lambdas. Unfortunately, it had started raining, ending the event early since it was outdoors. Maybe you had asked if he'd be home because you also wanted to talk things out. He held that hopeful thought as he quietly opened the front door.
Jungkook looked around. You weren't in the kitchen or the living room. Must be in your room then. He tepidly made his way toward your door, his hand hesitantly raising to knock, when he suddenly heard sounds from the other side—or more specifically moans from the other side; both yours and another.
Jungkook felt his heart lurch in his chest. A catastrophic tug making him stumble backwards. His pulse was instantly racing, breathing heavy. He ran a hand through his hair, looking around not sure of what to do. For a second, he told himself that he'd just go to his room and put on some headphones to wait it out. But as he started to step away from your door, he heard an exchange between you and whoever the hell you were with.
"Y-yes, just like that." You sounded breathy and aching, and the combination was enough to make his dick start to harden. Though, it was a short-lived arousal as your unknown male counterpart replied.
"God, you feel so fucking good—So wet." And the worst part, besides walking in on this situation in general, was that Jungkook knew this mystery man was not lying, because he could hear the squelching through the goddamn door.
Fuck this. There was no way he could stay here knowing this was going on in the very next room. He bolted towards the front door, letting it slam behind him a bit harder than he had intended it to. He pulled his phone from his back pocket as he practically ran down the staircase and towards his car.
"What's up?" Jimin answered.
"You at Lambda right now?" Jungkook was already pulling out of the parking lot, his hands still shaky from the adrenaline.
"Yeah—"
"Be there in ten." Jungkook hung up before letting him reply.
He tried turning up the radio for the drive over to drown out the images that were currently bombarding him, but it was doing a pretty piss poor job.
He could still hear your voice in his head, the way it sounded like you were on the verge of coming. It was replaying over and over again on a loop. And those sounds—those fucking sounds.
"Dammit, what hell is wrong with me?" Jungkook asked to himself as he finally pulled into the Lambda house.
There was no reason that he should be reacting this way. You two had been broken up for years now. But regardless of trying to tell himself that, his chest was still steadily pounding. He obviously knew that you slept with people, but knowing that and hearing that are completely different.
Though, who was he to even be getting so worked up about this? You had physically walked in on him having sex with someone, and he was losing his mind over just the sound of you sleeping with someone. God, he was a fucking hypocrite.
Jungkook didn't bother with any niceties as members tried talking to him as he strutted his way through the Lambda house and straight to Jimin's room. He also didn't bother knocking, just swung the door open and sat on the chair in front of the computer, immediately putting his face in his hands.
"Jesus, what the hell happened to you?" Jimin asked, closing the textbook he was studying as he laid on his bed.
Jungkook's knee was bouncing erratically, his body still not letting him calm down. He didn't even really know what to say. This shouldn't even be a big deal, certainly not big enough to come storming in here as if some catastrophe had happened. But here he was anyways, mind running a million miles a minute, and he just needed to talk to someone about it.
"Okay, before I say this," Jungkook started, wanting his friend to know from the jump that he knew he was being irrational. "I know what I'm going to tell you shouldn't matter, but it's fucking me up anyways. And I just… I don't know what the fuck to do."
Jimin nodded. "Okay, so what is it?"
Jungkook took a deep breath, biting down on his tongue before he spoke. "So I came home from the fundraiser after it got rained out, and I finally decided I was gonna talk to Y/N about the weird vibes between us since Yoongi's party."
"From how you're acting, I assume it didn't go great?" Jimin asked.
"Well, I didn't get the chance to talk to her, because when I went to go knock on her door she was in the middle of fucking someone."
Jimin was silent for a singular second before bursting into laughter. Rolling over on his bed and smacking the comforter in amusement.
"I'm glad you find this so funny." Jungkook sneered.
"Dude, seriously?" Jimin sat up in bed, giving him a confused look. "You're a whore. You fuck every girl with a pretty face. Why are you bothered by this?"
Jungkook winced, the ways in which he conducted his sex life being thrown in his face. But sadly, he couldn't deny it.
When Jungkook and you broke up two years ago, he didn't start sleeping with people immediately. He still loved you, and he was still dealing with the mixed feelings of sadness that it was over but also guilt that he was the one that caused it. So he waited a while, but once it started… It never really stopped. He was always finding someone new. There had been times when he found someone interesting and actually went out on a few dates, but nothing ever stuck. And he hadn't found something even remotely similar to what you and him had back then.
"I know that." Jungkook finally answered, slumping in defeat against the chair. "I don't' know why its messing me up so bad."
Jimin stared at him for a minute, eyes narrowing as he gave him a pensive look. "Interesting."
"What's interesting?"
"Well, from my point of view, there's two options here. Either you are a possessive psychopath that can't stand the thought of her being with someone else for no reason other than narcissism, or," Jimin paused, chewing on lip like he didn't want to say the second option.
"Spit it out, or what?" Jungkook waved his hand impatiently, but when Jimin finally verbalized the alternative, he wished he hadn't rushed him after all.
"You still love her, don't you?"
The question sat heavy in the air. The silence deafening, but also damning.
It was admittedly a question that he had been pondering lately. Whether or not he actually ever stopped loving you. It had been easy to ignore while all of the fighting was going on between the two of you for the past two years. It was a lot easier to pretend you didn't love someone when you both were angry at each other. But now that you had both filtered through some of that malice, some things were starting to demand answers again.
Jungkook looked at Jimin, shrugging. "Even if I do. It doesn't matter."
"What the hell do you mean it doesn't matter?" Jimin jumped off the bed, flicking him in the middle of the forehead, making him flinch. "Talk to her, you idiot."
Jungkook couldn't help but laugh. "And say what? Hey, Y/N, I know I broke your heart and basically fucked my way through half of our school, but I'm ready to get back together now?"
Jimin grimaced. "Uh, yeah, definitely don't say that. I'd stick with the classic, on your hands and knees, begging for forgiveness."
Jungkook rolled his eyes. "I didn't even say I still loved her. I said it wouldn't matter even if I did." Though, he felt like he way saying that more for himself than anything.
"Oh, yeah sure, whatever you say." Jimin leaned down so he was eye level with Jungkook. "And while you keep telling yourself that, Y/N's busy coming around some guy's dick in your apartment as we speak. So yeah, guess you're right. It doesn't really matter."
Jungkook's mouth tightened, arm shooting out to push his friend in the chest. "Fuck you."
Jimin simply laughed as he stumbled back onto his bed from the shove. "Hey, if you don't like the image, do something about it."
Jungkook dropped his head back, sighing as he stared up at the ceiling. He didn't know what the right answer was. He didn't know if he even had the right to bring this conversation up to you, and even if he did, you would probably just laugh in his face. But one thing was for sure, he had to do something, he just wasn't sure when he would have the guts to do it.
—————
Things had been going very well with Yeonjun. He had taken you out to eat, you chatted for a bit, and he seemed to be a genuinely fun guy. Once you had gotten back to the apartment, you made sure no one else was home before dragging him into your room to get to the thing that this was all supposed to be about. You hadn't had sex in weeks, and Yeonjun was just what you needed. And like you said, things had been going very well for a while—until the front door slamming shut rattled throughout the air. It startled you, but you weren't about to stop just because Jungkook decided to come back early.
In the end, you and Yeonjun finished, he stayed and hung out for a bit before finally saying your goodbyes. You were absolutely going to have to thank Sana when you saw her again.
It was getting late, and you started to feel a bit snack. You opened your bedroom door, making your way to the kitchen to look for a bag of chips. You had just picked the one you wanted when you heard the front door open behind you. You turned slowly, locking eyes with Jungkook as he entered the apartment.
You assumed even though he had likely heard you having sex earlier that he was still going to continue on with this charade of curt nods and passing niceties. But to your surprise he sauntered straight over to one of the bar stools and sat down across from you.
"Uh, hi." You waved awkwardly. This was the most direct contact that he'd tried to make with you in weeks.
"Hey, uhm, so I wanted to talk to you." He seemed equally as anxious as he drummed his fingers against the counter top.
That totally didn't sound ominous at all.
"Is this about earlier?" You asked, assuming this was about whatever he'd managed to hear through these thin walls and doors when he came back early. "I'm really sorry about that. I didn't mean—"
"No, no, not about that." He shook his head, clearing his throat. "It's fine. The fundraiser got rained out. Sorry I didn't mean to… uhm, interrupt."
"I had a small hope that maybe you hadn't heard anything, but guess that answers that." You laughed awkwardly, fidgeting with the bag of chips still in your hands.
"Oh, I definitely heard," He mumbled beneath his breath.
The tips of your ears flared with warmth from the comment, but you decided to try and move the conversation in a different direction. "So what'd you wanna talk about?"
Jungkook prodded the inside of his cheek with his tongue, seeming a bit hesitant at wanting to say what was on his mind.
"So, I know the last couple of weeks have been a bit weird between us. You know, ever since Yoongi's party."
Oh, so he was finally acknowledging the undeniable tension. Granted, you also could have tried to talk to him about this sooner, but considering you were the one that had cried and made yourself vulnerable at Yoongi's, you figured you'd done enough soul-baring for a while.
"Yeah, it definitely has been." You finally answered.
"I don't know if there's anything I can really say. I just don't want us to feel like we're walking on eggshells around each other or to act like strangers to each other, you know?"
That was probably what had been the most grating about these last few weeks. You would prefer a screaming match in front of the Lambdas and Tri Delts to whatever false peace that this was. Not that you enjoyed arguing with him, but this dance that the two of you were doing, as if you were strangers, it felt even worse in some ways.
"Yeah, I agree. I don't want it to be like that either."
"Cool." He smiled, but you could tell it was forced. Guess he wasn't completely ready to drop the act yet. "Glad we cleared the air."
You were about tell him goodnight and that you were going to go back to your room, when suddenly both of your phones starting buzzing incessantly.
"What the hell?" You pulled your phone off the counter as Jungkook also grabbed his, both of you looking up with horror in your eyes at the exact same time as you read the title of the group chat you had both been added in.
"Lambda x Tri Delt Beach Trip! Next weekend!?" You screeched, reading through all the texts that were coming through from various members of either chapter.
From what you could gather, it seemed that Taehyung from the Lambdas had a beach house a couple of hours away (or more specially, his parents had a beach house), and it seemed he decided that in order to help the newfound relationship between your houses, he was being kind and offering a weekend trip for everyone to come down and hang out. For some reason you didn't buy kindness at the actual reason.
"Fucking Taehyung." Jungkook seethed, pulling at his hair as he also continued to read through the messages.
"Why is he actually doing this? Who is he trying to sleep with from my house?" Because when it came to men, it was always the same, and from Jungkook's pursed lips you could tell you were right.
"Jennie," He finally admitted.
"Jennie!?" You yelled, but also laughing at just the mere idea of them together. "She would chew him up and spit him out."
Jungkook simply shrugged. "He likes them a little mean."
"Hm, maybe I should give him a try when we plan our break up in a couple of months then." You tried joking, but Jungkook was not amused. His jaw clenched, eyes throwing daggers in your direction. "I'm kidding. I wouldn't date one of your friends."
"I know you're kidding," He said, but still relaxing slightly in his chair. "But back to this trip. There's going to be a problem."
"I mean I know there are probably still some people who aren't on good terms, but it's been going pretty well. No one's stepped out of line."
"Not what I'm talking about." He glanced at you quickly before averting his eyes. "They're gonna expect us to share a room while we're there."
A pit formed in your stomach immediately. You were still getting used to the expectations from everyone who wasn't in on yours and Jungkook's secret. But of course they would assume the reunited happy couple would want a room to themselves. A bed to themselves.
"I mean, we're adults. We can handle being in the same room for a couple days. We'll be at the beach most of the time, so we'll only really be in there for sleeping." You tried minimizing it as best you could, but the thought of you two being in the same bed together had your heart racing.
"Yeah, totally." Jungkook nodded, but there was something in his expression that made his response less than convincing. "But anyways, uhm, I'm gonna head to bed… Been a long day. Goodnight, Y/N."
"Yeah, I think I'm gonna do the same." You gave him a small nod as you passed each other.
Once inside of your room, you finally let the facade fall. You had tried acting out there as if everything was going to be okay during this little trip. But you knew that when it concerned you and Jungkook, things could never be as simple as they should.
----------
One week later
You were sitting in the living room area of the Tri Delt house, rummaging through your travel bag to make sure you hadn't forgotten anything. Which was a totally normal thing to do right before a trip, but this was probably the tenth time you'd checked since getting here, making you think it was the nerves forcing you to try and take your mind off of everything this weekend was going to entail. You were still in the middle of looking through your bag when Jennie and Sana dropped down on either side of you on the couch.
"I have a feeling this weekend is either going to be one of the best or an absolute disaster, right?" Sana looked to you for an answer, but her face immediately morphed into one of concern as she caressed a finger between the middle of your brows. "You're gonna get worry lines. You need to relax. We talked about this. Everything's gonna be fine."
After finding out about this sudden trip to Taehyung's beach house, you'd expressed your concerns to your friends. They had said the same thing that you had thought to yourself. That the room you and Jungkook were going to share would barely be used other than for sleeping. But that was the problem, even the idea of simply sleeping next to him had your insides twisting.
"I know. I'll be fine once we get there. I think maybe just the idea of it is going to be worse than the actual thing, you know?"
Jennie turned her head, scanning the room to make sure no one was listening in. It was just a bunch of girls running around grabbing last minute things, too in a rush to be paying attention to them. "Exactly, everything's gonna be fine. You'll barely have to see him. We'll be down at the beach most of the time anyways, while they do whatever the hell the boys are gonna do."
"I don't know, I hear it's Taehyung's goal to seduce you this weekend. Maybe you'll ditch us for him." You gave her a suggestive smile.
She scoffed. "As if."
"Hey, I wouldn't write him off so easily." Sana chimed in, rubbing her fingers together. "He's got money."
"He's hot, I'll give him that, but I wouldn't be caught dead dating one of those Lambda losers." Jennie immediately covered her mouth with one hand as she grabbed your shoulder. "No offense, Y/N."
You just laughed. "None taken."
With that you heard incessant honking start to come from outside the house. It looked like that was your queue that it was time to go. The three of you got up, grabbing your bags, and when you made it outside there were two giant party buses waiting for you. Yoongi, jumping out of one of them.
"Taxi's here!" Yoongi exclaimed.
He wasn't a member of the Lambda's but he was always invited to these kinds of things anyways since he was friends with most members and one of Jungkook's best friends. Plus, it didn't hurt that he always had money to blow on things like giant party buses to drive around a couple dozen broke college kids.
"Look's like the fun's arrived." You grabbed Yoongi, giving him a small hug.
"You know it. Where's Jungkook?" He asked.
You glanced over at the Lambda house, the boys shuffling out sporadically and running back in when they realized they forgot something.
"He's here somewhere." You shrugged.
The last week between You and Jungkook had been decent. Ever since you cleared the air, you and him managed to make small talk here or there. The silence no longer being an ever present monster that the two of you dreaded facing. Though, you couldn't say it was perfect. Obviously living together was still an odd situation. Both of you still having awkward bouts here or there, but compared to before it was a step in the right direction.
Yoongi leaned in, whispering, "You should keep better tabs on your boyfriend."
You grabbed his ear playfully. "Haha, very funny."
"Bickering already?" Jungkook's voice suddenly sounded from behind you, both you and Yoongi turning to face him.
"Speak of the devil." Yoongi bounded toward Jungkook, wrapping him up for a hug. "But no, just saying she needs to keep an eye on you."
Jungkook smirked. "Well, thanks to you and your little plan, I think she gets to do that more than enough.
Yoongi threw his hands up. Hey, I just suggested it. You two agreed. And look what happened. You guys are actually civil now, and the fact that this trip is even happening shows it worked on all of your members too."
You couldn't argue with him there. You looked around, watching some of the Lambdas helping the Tri Delts load their luggage up. It was just crazy to think that all of that animosity truly had only brewed out of control because of you and Jungkook. It made you feel guilty in some ways.
Jungkook nodded. "Yeah, can't argue with you there."
"Are you riding together?" Yoongi asked.
"No," You said immediately, a bit more forceful than you'd intended.
There was brief pause, both of them staring at you in a way that made skin burn. You hadn't meant for it to come out so intensely. It was just that it was hard enough to be watched having moments here or there at parties or events, but having to sit next to him for the two hour drive while everyone shot glances every few minutes would be torture. Someone would be bound to notice that the two of you weren't as close and happy as you were making yourself out to be.
Jungkook cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence. "Yeah no, girls on one, boys on the other. Thought it'd be easier that way."
Yoongi looked at you like he wanted to say something, but after a second it seemed that he thought better of it. "Alright then, I'll get on the boys bus then," He said sarcastically before walking towards a group of Lambdas that had started congregating near you. Some of the Tri Delts were also starting to gather around you. All looking excited to get going already.
"Okay, let's get this party going everyone!" Taehyung yelled, sprinting towards one of the buses.
There were some cheers that resounded around you. You watched Sana and Jennie walk up the steps to one of the vehicles, turning to motion for you to hurry. You nodded, turning back to Jungkook.
"See you there then?" You forced a smile, arms crossing over your chest.
"Yeah, see you there." His eyes darted around you, making you take notice of some of the members of both houses stopping to stare at the two of you. He leaned in, placing a quick kiss on your lips before heading towards the designated bus for the Lambdas.
It didn't matter how many of these brief shows of affection you had endured these past several weeks, it still hadn't managed to get any easier. Your pulse still thundered after every brush of his mouth or graze of his hands. Leaving you to take deep and ragged breaths that you had to hide to the best of your abilities.
You dug your nails into your palms as you turned to make your way towards Sana and Jennie, both of them giving you sympathetic looks as you stopped by their sides.
"I'm good." You lied. "Just ready to be on this goddamn beach with a drink in my hand already."
Sana looked around, seeing if anyone was looking before digging through her purse and handing you a tiny tequila shooter. "Can't help with the beach part yet, but the drink part…"
"Ah, the sign of a truly well adjusted adult. Drinking my problems away." You joked, but still grabbed it anyways before downing it and throwing the plastic bottle back in her bag.
"Oh, whatever." Jennie waved your self-deprecating joke away as the three of you made you way up the bus steps and towards the very back where there was a long seat for all of you to sit. "Everyone deserves a little break."
"You've got that, right." Sana pulled out three more shots, one for all of you. "Cheers to a fun weekend. No drama." You all clinked them together discreetly before downing them.
You clamped your teeth together, the cheap liquor making your throat burn. But she was right. This was going to be a good weekend. Because after all, what could go wrong when you were forced to endure your fake boyfriend's presence for all to see, with copious amounts of alcohol involved for an entire weekend?
Yeah, nothing could possibly go wrong in in that scenario.
-----------
Jungkook
The ride to the beach house was somehow how both long and short at the same time. Long, just because it gave him all the time in the world to overthink how this weekend was going to go, but short, because it was as if he was there and having to deal with what was going to happen before he knew it.
The two buses pulled in front of Taehyung's house. Though, house was a poor word for it. More like a mansion nestled into the sand, blue waves sloshing not far off into the distance. Jungkook had been here a couple of times over the years since he'd became friends with Taehyung his freshman year. However, this was the first time he had brought so many people here at once. After some people couldn't make it due to other obligations, all in all there were going to be about fifty people staying here.
"Your parents are gonna kill you." Jungkook grabbed his bag from the overheard as everyone started filing off the bus. "Do they know how many people you invited here."
"I may have used the term small get together when I pitched the idea." Taehyung shrugged, not seeming all that guilty about it. "It'll be fine."
"Whatever you say, man." Jungkook shook his head at his friend's idiocy, but hey, he wasn't the one who was going to have to deal with the wrath.
Jungkook exited the bus, Jimin and Yoongi following shortly behind him. He watched the Tri Delt bus as the girls filed out one after another, until finally you appeared, and you seemed oddly relaxed. He was surprised at your calm demeanor considering how worked up you had seemed earlier. Not that he wasn't also worked up, he was just a bit better at hiding it.
He started walking towards you, Jennie and Sana pointing him out when he got closer. You turned to face him, a lazy grin on your face—one he knew well. Ah, so that was why you seemed less stressed.
"Someone seems tipsy." Jungkook stopped, giving you a once over.
"Just a bit." You shrugged, smiling as you made the motion with your fingers. "You need to catch up."
Before Jungkook could respond, Taehyung was throwing an arm around his shoulders. "Oh, we all will. Let's go inside. Get everyone in their rooms, and then we can bust open the bottles."
"Show the way." Jennie motioned for Taehyung to go ahead, and Jungkook noticed the way he perked up at the sound of her saying his name.
You walked beside him as everyone filed inside, your shoulder knocking against his arm. He stiffened when you suddenly looped your elbow around his, pulling you to slow down so that you were out of earshot from the massive group of people now walking inside.
"It was only three shots by the way. You haven't driven me to drunkenness, yet." You patted his chest, and he was worried you would be able to feel how fast his heart was beating.
"That's reassuring." He tried replying as nonchalantly as he could.
"I just didn't want you to think it was because of you. I have some nerves about this weekend, that's all. But it's mostly about everyone else."
Admittedly, it had made him sad for a moment that just the idea of having to spend time with him this weekend would make you need to start drinking before you even got here, but he understood what you meant. Usually this performance the two of you had to perform was a couple of hours max, now it was going to be days of prying eyes.
"Trust me, I get it." Jungkook tried giving you a smile. "I think we're just overthinking it. It's gonna be fine. Honestly, everyone's gonna be drinking so much they probably aren't even gonna bother us."
"Yeah, I think you're right. We're totally overthinking this."
Jungkook was glad you were both on the same page. It would make this weekend a lot easier.
The two two of you walked inside the house, watching as everyone shuffled up staircases on either side of the common area to claim their bedrooms for the next two days. Taehyung had told Jungkook that there was a bedroom at the very end of the west wing of the house that was a bit more private, and that you and him could have that room. Jungkook motioned for you to follow him up the staircase.
"This place is insane." You were still gawking at the house as you and him made it to the top and started down the hallway.
Jungkook could see the room at the end of the hallway that was meant to be theirs, but it looked like someone was already trying to claim it because the door was wide open.
"Sorry, boys." Jungkook walked into the room with you behind him, seeing Baekhyun and Johnnie already starting to unzip their suitcases. "Tae already said I could have this one."
They both turned to look at him, but their eyes almost immediately went to you standing behind him. Recognition flashed in their eyes and they immediately starting repacking there things.
"Sorry, Kook." Baekhyun grabbed Jungkook's shoulder, shaking him before leaning in and whispering, "Have fun this weekend."
Jungkook had to bite the inside of cheek to stop himself from spitting a spiteful comment back at him. He knew that it wasn't his friend's fault, that they just didn't know that none of this was real between him and you. But it still set him on edge regardless.
"Okay, I know it's usually me, but you need to lighten up," You said, snapping him from his thoughts.
He let out a heavy sigh, letting his shoulders drop some of their tension. "I know. I know."
You opened the giant closet that sat in the corner of the room, tossing your bag inside before walking over to the balcony and throwing open the doors that oversaw the ocean. You turned, motioning for him to join you outside by the railing.
Jungkook tossed his stuff next yours in the closet before joining you. He looked out at the waves, sea salt lining his nose as he took in a couple of deep breaths. Seagulls were cawing, and the constant crash of the waves suddenly made him feel more at peace. Even more so when he noticed the way the wind started to gently ripple your hair around your face. And for just a second, it made him feel like he could forget what this whole thing actually was. That it wasn't fake, that things hadn't ended, that you and him were just here of your own accord. In your own little bubble.
But of course that wasn't true, and you reminded him of that after a couple minutes of simply staring out at the beach in quiet denial together.
"Ready to go downstairs?" You asked finally, whispering.
"Yeah." Jungkook nodded, but he was lying.
He didn't want to go down there. He wanted to stay out here with you in this small chasm of tranquility you had managed to carve out for him while he was spiraling. He didn't want to put on any performances, he didn't want to pretend that there was something between you, when he knew you would never forgive him in a million years, even if you were playing nicely with him right now.
But in the end, it didn't matter what Jungkook wanted. This was his life, and his own grievances with the situation were his own fault. It must have been some sort of karma, he guessed. Breaking up with you, only to still have these conflicting feelings, and then being forced into such close proximity to the point of living together. It was excruciating, but it was something he deserved, he supposed.
"Let's go." You suddenly tugged at his hand, and before he knew it he was being pulled into the downstairs kitchen, where drinks were already being poured and passed around.
The Lambda, Tri Delt weekend at the beach had officially begun.
Summary: You had only wanted to petition the god of summer for rain to ease the drought. Locked away for your crimes, the god of summer, Johnny comes to your aid to set all things right. Eventual Poly 141.
A/N: Please comment and reblog. Thank you to @ethereal-night-fairy and @wildflower-and-honey for feeding my brain worms. I love you both and cannot thank y'all enough <3 Thank you, @saradika, for the beautiful dividers I use in everything. @itsagrimm it would feel wrong not to tag you in something I had written.
CW: (18+) Children begone! PIV smut, swearing, a Dyslexic wrote this, Religious Kinks, some violence. Let me know if I missed anything!
NO AI
Leave a comment and reblog!
Even on a summer night, wrapped in darkness and starlight, sweat insisted on gathering at your temples. The fire cracked as you added your willow bark and woven cattails to the flames, praying to the god of summer, Johnny, for rain. You anxiously rubbed your arm over your beloved leaves' trellising along your arms, watching the embers' pops fall on dead grass as you stood beside your bucket of dirty water. Crispy and dry, shriveled and withered, the once green leaves of the oaks looked yellow, some falling away to join the dusty ground below. When you traveled to the lake to gather your offering, the water seemed putrid, mostly evaporated, leaving muddy banks to dry in the heat. It reeked a musk so awful; you wondered how even the fish stood it.
Come harvest, the looming hunger would cause an instability you feared. If the tradespeople hadn’t food, your people would not have even a foraged berry; the livestock not a blade of grass to chew.
“The council of elders dictated no fires, little lady.”
You jumped, turning to face Phillip Graves, your neighbor and ever-faithful watchdog for Elder Sheppard. Clutching the fabric of your dress, you licked your lips before tilting your chin up.
“Someone had to appeal to the gods about the drought. Or does the council think they can strong-arm the clouds to gather?” You bit. Pressing your lips together as Elder Sheppard followed behind his dog.
“My mother used to wear the robes of a priestess. I find it odd you wear those robes as well when the last of them burned with her body,” Sheppard noted.
The body of the last holy woman, who had mysteriously burnt to death in her home as her son had conveniently been away, was found with chains tethered to her body. Your family had always insinuated it was Sheppard who had murdered his mother and tried to cover it up, but there was no proof, no investigation.
Power begets power without hesitancy, and nothing made Sheppard hesitate.
“They were a gift, Elder-”
“Stolen or forged items ain’t gifts, little lady,” Phillip interrupted. He moved to stand beside you, circling you wolfishly. His grin never seemed to fit his face, always too small for proportion, a liar in disguise—a mutt of deception.
“How dare you imply such things about my character without proof?” You hissed, hands coming to clutch your skirts.
Phillip lurched forward, grabbing your arm. He tore your sleeve from your dress, the fabric popping at the delicate seams. You stepped back, only for him to hold your arm still in a grip that dimpled skin and muscle. Pain simmered below his touch, dancing with the fear curling in your throat. Philip glared at the tendrils of silver scars blessed to you by Kyle, god of Spring.
If Sheppard killed his mother, what would keep him from murdering you?
“Are there more marks?” the elder inquired, hooking a finger under your belt with a tug to suggest removing the garment altogether.
Enraged, you smacked his hand, retrieving your arm from Phillip’s death grip, “My body is none of your concern!”
“The safety of the village comes before you!” Graves sneered, yanking your skirts towards him until you toppled forward. His hands moved to your hips, and you shoved at him until his hand came sharply against your cheek, the sting of the slap making you gasp.
Phillip… had hit you. Your eyes stung with tears as you grappled against him, shoving your elbows and hands anywhere near his body until you were free, only to be pulled back by Sheppard.
“I think it’s time for you to learn your lesson on hearsay, foolish girl,” Shepard hissed. “The gods are unkind to those who take liberties.”
“I’ve found favor with them. Cannot learn a lesson that is not there,” you quaked. From the corner of your eye, Philip pulled his dagger from his belt, flipping the hilt. With one quick flash, he struck your temple, leaving you crumpled into the cracked, dusty ground.
The moonbeams blurred the walls covered in cobwebs, revealing a thin layer of dust on the floor. Your beloved temple once stood as the prized gem of your people, welcoming all to a haven of peace and community. Pushing into a sitting position, the room tilted like the waves of the rushing river. The darkness of the windowless temple entryway echoed with the dry summer winds, carrying nothing but the singing yearning of water from the plants.
Shepard and Graves deserved to be hung on the oak for treason against the gods, the people, and yourself. Your arms, once covered in Kyle’s beautiful marks, claiming you as beloved of spring, now were dotted with drying scratches and swollen welts of discolored skin from their harsh treatment.
“Happy summer solstice, I guess,” You huffed, slowly hobbling to your feet, using the locked door to bear your weight as the spinning room settled again.
There were worse prisons to be had than a dusty temple. At least in the dusty temple, you were safe and alone from those who wanted you dead. You furrowed your brow and pushed off of the wall, heading deeper into the holy rooms. If they had wanted you dead, they should have stabbed you.
“Gods help me,” you huffed, sitting on a bench along the hallway leading to the offering room. Closing your eyes, you leaned your head against the wall, feeling a touch of a headache thump harder against your skull.
“You called Fawn?”
You cracked open your eyes to see a man standing at the threshold of the altar room, beams of fire light flickering from the once dark room. He stood on his toes, seemingly bursting with energy, trying to go. Where he wanted to go, who knew? Perhaps he didn’t know himself?
“Johnny?” You guessed, gazing at the god of summer. His blue eyes glittered like gems as he nodded.
“As smart as you are, bonny, ain’t ya?” he teased, coming closer. Standing before you, he narrowed his eyes, moving your jaw to examine your temple. “Ach, that will do. What happened?”
“Got in trouble for trying to petition for your favor. Tore my dress and all,” you huffed. “Now I'm locked in here. I'm sure I can get out through the window in the east corridor if I break it.”
Johnny chuckled, holding your chin in both hands as he ran his thumb over your temple, smearing the blood. A breath of warmth trickled from his hand, allowing the skin to stitch together. Your eyes fluttered closed as you soaked in the warmth.
“You could. Or you can stay the night with me,” Johnny teased. “Feel better, Fawn?” He questioned, leaning down to place a kiss on the healed skin. Your face warmed, suddenly bashful of his affection.
“If you want, I’ll spend the night, Johnny,” You muttered as his nose brushed your cheek.
“Nae, spend it if ye want. If ye did nae want to, don’t. I want our Fawn to be comfortable above all.” He gave a bright grin before leaping to his feet and stepping back. Rocking on his feet, he tucked his hands in his pockets.
“I am comfortable with you. I wouldn’t accept it if I weren’t.” You stood, slipped your hand in his, and followed him into the offering room.
The offering room, dressed in old tapestries covered in dust and neglect, still looked magnificent and of the wealth the gods deserved to be honored with. The wealth came in the delicate hand-spun embroidery lace that decorated tables, and in the hair-line needlepoint stitches one of your ancestors had sewn into the tapestries. It was in the richly dyed fabrics of floor cushions and pillows, the foraged metal bowls with intricate silver detailing that held fruits Johnny fed you with.
Fruits that he summoned after you had explained the drought and how you ended up locked in the holy shelter. You chewed on your berry, leaning against him as he pulled you to his side once you sat. The god of the West absentmindedly brushed your arm or hand like he couldn’t help it, needing your skin like a lifeline. He looked at you similarly, leaning forward as you spoke, quietly nodding or humming under his breath, staring at you like you spoke words of newfound wisdom that were important to him. Words he held deep in his heart.
“I am sorry. You might think these problems in the village bellow you, as a god,” You murmured, bashful under his intensity. Setting your meal of fruits and other delicacies aside by your water glass, you let the god pull you into his side once more. “Drought and intrapersonal strife are not new in this world- certainly won’t end anytime soon either.”
“I ken what ye mean, Fawn,” Johnny kissed your hair as you turned into his chest, more so laying on top of the god. His hand slid down to your back, continually moving. “But Kyle was the one to start the drought. These are not normal climate patterns or political drama; they come from us because we protect ours. And you are ours, no?”
You blinked, lifting your chin to look him in the eyes. You understood the gods had wanted you. You wanted the gods in return. But the gods came and went with the seasons, only able to be in the village one at a time, Kyle had once told you. Not all gods were as peaceful as the four who loved and cherished one another. Allowing the gods to gather in groups in mortal lands would destroy people, animals, and the Earth.
“Have I not dedicated my life to the service of the gods?” You questioned. “I belong to you, but you are a god- gods. You cannot belong to me, a mortal.”
Soap hummed, kissing your forehead before saying, “Willne stop us from being loyal to ye. But you need to ask for help, Fawn. We canne help without mortal consent. If either of those haughty bastards lay a hand on ye again,” He tipped your chin up and brushed his nose against yours as he spoke. “I’ll kill them myself. I’ll hunt down their soul in the other world and kill it until nothing is left of them or their legacy.”
A breath caught in your throat. The god of Summer was serious, bluntly stating how he would end the most immortal parts of a human for you. You opened your mouth once, twice, three times to find the correct words to thank him, but it did not matter. His lip quirked into a smirk, knowing he had rendered you speechless. You scoffed quietly in disbelief yourself, smiling, as you reached forward and kissed him, crawling into his lap.
“Mmf, Kyle dinne say you were this eager,” Johnny teased between kisses, eagerly pulling at your hips to be closer.
“I learned it from Kyle,” You giggled, tugging the hem of your skirts to straddle the god of the West. Johnny laughed, finding his hands beneath your skirts, slithering to knee the softest parts of your legs and hips.
“That I believe, but no more eager than me. Might say he learned it from me, Fawn,” He muttered between kisses along your neck until his hands slid to your ass, groping you while pulling you forward, cunt flush with his aching cock. You inhaled sharply, looping your arms around his neck as you gave a gentle rock of your hips.
“Go on, Fawn, take what ye need,” Soap encouraged, pulling your robes from your body with reverence for the material and laying it on the floor with care. His eyes flickered to your breasts, hands itching up to cup your breasts as he mouthed at your nipple. Closing your eyes, your hips continued their gentle grind as he licked and sucked and nipped your skin. His hips started to roll, his cock pulsing under your slick heat.
“Wanna ride you, Johnny,” You muttered as you slid your hand to his cock, stroking him with slow, twisting motions. The god tilted his head forward, resting it on your neck as he groaned.
“Ye could ask to kill me, and I would say yes,” He chuckled.
“Wouldn’t want that. Whose pretty cock would I get to sit on, then?” You giggled. “Besides, you’re not the one I want dead.” Rising to your knees, Johnny moved his hands to your hips and leaned back to watch you sink on him with a groan.
“Ye, ye want someone dead?” Johnny cursed as he throbbed inside of your slick pussy.
“Thought it was obvious, darling,” You breathed, letting your hips come flush to his thighs.
Legs settling to his sides, you sat there momentarily, soaking in the feeling of being connected to the god. He radiated heat, chest pressing against your own until your hearts beat a wild back and forth, call and response. His hand slid along your spine as the other cupped your cheek to bring your lips to his.
Just as it had been with John and Kyle, when the sun rose, and the village awoke, so too would Johnny leave. The infinite curtain of the universe had once separated your two worlds of divinity and morality. Still, it had been risen for you to peek into, touching and tasking the tremendous edges of the divine.
“I adore you,” You whispered against his lips. “Come what may in the morning, I adore you.”
“Then fuck me like you mean it, Fawn,” Johnny teased, smirking. “Move those hips, Gaz won’t shut up about.” He smacked your ass, making you squeak and jolt, but his hands pushed your hips back down. Moaning, you tangled your hands in his hair as he bent his head to play with your tits.
“Fuck, Johnny,” You gasped as he moved a hand to your clit, following the tilt of your pelvis until that familiar heat simmered in your abdomen.
“Feel good, Fawn? Yer choking my cock, love.” Bending his knees, he planted a hand behind himself as an anchor and thrust his hips up, taking the breath from your lungs. Since he couldn’t rub your clit anymore, you rubbed yourself, clenching tighter and tighter as the heat in your body rose.
“Our good little mortal,” Johnny groaned. “So pretty dressed in her robes Price gifted you. Bet you would be prettier spread out on my altar, huh? Dripping on the cloth as I watch you gift me orgasms.”
“I,” You whined at a harsher thrust, hips chasing his for more.
“Dinne fash, Fawn. We all will get our orgasms from you, altar or not. You’re too beautiful not to be blissed out before us.”
Your body tightened. Wetness gushed around his cock as you came unexpectedly from his mouth. Your eyelids blurred with black and white streaks as blood rushed to your head. In all of it was Johnny’s steady thrusts and your slowing rubs, dragging you through your orgasm. Johnny grunted and came, watching his cum spurt along your folds.
You both laid back on the floor to catch your breaths, Johnny’s cock still standing at attention. Brushing your head down to the ends of your hair, he kissed you gently.
“We adore you too, Fawn. So much,” Johnny whispered. “Orgasms on our altar or not,” He joked.
“Well, that’s good. I’m sure plenty of women in the village would offer it if they knew.”
“Wouldne want them, just yours. Few in your village believe like you do. We don’t care for offerings made out of obligation.” Johnny stretched his arms up, bracketing them behind his head. “Price is thinking of how to set things right in your village. But it is difficult.”
“A good many things in life are difficult,” You agreed. “It just depends on the price you are willing to pay for peace.”
It came about Wednesday morning. You had escaped the temple days before with help from the god of Summer to find your home, thankfully untouched by the elders or their dogs. Remaining in your home or the wilds of the woods, clouds slowly gathered. Soap visited you as he could with gifts of food to sustain you and other necessities, so you did not have to go to market, but the darkness gathered.
When the storms came, winds carried the dust like leaves, pelting rocks at your walls. Thunder cracked open the skies and earth, shaking the home’s foundations. You prayed through the storm, thanking the god of summer for rain and praying that your village would not be flooded.
Most said it was an unfortunate coincidence when Phillip Graves’ home got struck and sparked like kindling.
Some said his home alight in the rain was as moving as the dawn of a new day, a reminder of nature’s might.
The smoldering embers of Phillip Graves’ home told another story as they pointed to the West, marking this as the divine punishment for his despicable behavior. That night, when Johnny entered your home, he gifted you a small cloth bag of charcoal, promising you the gods were not done working in your village.
Me again! Hope y'all enjoyed. Don't forget to comment/reblog.
If anyone knows how to format here, could you tell me how to get an extra space between paragraphs? Having everything scrunched together is driving me nuts. When I try manually, the format reverts to the original. Any tips/tricks are welcome :)
2000 years
https://archiveofourown.org/works/82903056
Noctis is only five the first time he… changes. No one knows exactly when it happens - sometime in the early spring, they later figure, back when they were busy with the Promethean Festival and the Citadel was abuzz with preparations. While the nursemaids and nannies were decorating the Royal Apartments and Regis was busy running from one public function to another, Noctis… became someone else.
Fandom: Final Fantasy XV
Relationship: Ardyn Izunia/Noctis Lucis Caelum
Characters: Regis Lucis Caelum, Noctis Lucis Caelum, Ignis Scientia, Cor Leonis, Clarus Amicitia, Gladiolus Amicitia, Other Character Tags to Be Added
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Time Loop, POV Regis Lucis Caelum, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Don't Post To Another Site
The word rings obnoxiously in Steve’s ears as he pushes his way out back, not wanting to be anymore of a talking piece at this party than he already was.
He’d just wanted Nancy to stop drinking, take a second, pace herself…
Steve swipes furiously at his eyes, and then curses when it nearly causes him to run into Chrissy Cunnginham, who’s perched in a chair tucked away from the patio door.
“Sorry, sorry.” He apologizes, trying not to sound like he’s upset, trying to keep his cool--only for her to look up and away, brushing off her own tears.
“Oh.” Steve says, a little laugh bubbling out of him. “You too huh?”
Thankfully she correctly interprets that he's not laughing at her, and adds her own giggle to the mix, the sound gentle even if pitched in upset.
"Boy problems?" Steve asks her, sinking down to the vacant chair on Chrissy's right.
She nods, clasping her hands together in her lap.
"Girl problems?" She asks back, and he grimaces a smile.
They sit for a minute, Steve pulling out a cigarette and offering it to her before lighting up. Chrissy shakes her head, and though her nose curls a little at the smoke she doesn’t say anything.
Neither of them do, staring at the few people bringing the party outside in the way only drunk teenagers can.
"Can I tell you something?" Chrissy says finally, as Steve continues to struggle to keep himself breathing evenly (and not spiraling. He still has to go back and try and escort Nancy home, and he needs to keep his temper when he does it.)
She licks her lips. "I keep trying to break up with Jason, but he won't let me."
It takes a second for the words to register, but when they do he leans himself towards chrissy in concern. “What do you mean, he won’t let you?”
“He’s not--it’s not…”She trails off, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. “He talks me out of it is all.”
She’s downplaying it, and Steve’s concern grows tenfold. “Does he argue with you or just…tells you no or something?”
"It's complicated." Chrissy says, refusing to look at him. "He has this vision for me, for us."
Steve watches as she worries at a hangnail.
Feels the need to reach out and take her hand, but keeps his own hands to himself.
If Steve has learned anything, it's that not everyone wants to be touched as much as he does.
"He keeps telling me I'm just being anxious. That I should trust him, and I do, he just expects me to always do what he says? And more and more lately I--"
She huddles down into the little cat costume she's wearing, pulling the thin black sweater around her. "I want different things than he does."
Steve wonders vaguely if Nancy wants different things.
Or a different person entirely.
"That's not fair to you." Steve says, leaning forward and lowering his own voice. "He can't keep you in a relationship you don't want to be in."
A hard thing for him to say, after the bathroom conversation but this is different.
‘Please, let this be different.’ He thinks, before pushing the thought aside.
"He can't force you to do what he wants just because he wants it, or thinks its best. He should be listening to you and what you want too. Relationships are about…compromise right?” It’s what he’s heard anyway, though most of the time “compromise” means “letting the other person get what they want.”
Which is what he thought he’d been doing for Nancy all this time.
“I can help you if you want. Be your," Steve poorly mimes waving a pom pom. "cheer support."
Chrissy looks at him, eyes still wet. "You would?"
"Of course.” He says, before scooting just a smidgen closer. “Might have to ask you to return the favor though. Nancy said some things tonight and I could really use a second--”
A loud curse makes them both startle, interrupting Steve.
Together, they look around before another noise, like bark being scraped, draws both their attention to the large oak that stands in the backyard.”
"Is…is that Eddie Munson?" Chrissy asks.
"I think so."
Chrissy squints a little, as if not quite believing what she's seeing. "Is…he stuck in a tree?"
Steve finds himself staring in his own disbelief, hands moving to his hips as he watches Munsons wriggling, cursing form.
"I think so." He repeats with a shake of his head.
Eddie's foot slips off a branch, once, twice.
"Hey--" Steve calls out in warning, but unfortunately it comes too late.
The branch under his foot gives away with a startling crack! as another branch shreds Munson's jacket as his full weight caches on it.
"Oh!" Chrissy gasps, hand flying to her mouth as Eddie falls right onto his ass with a yelp.
"You good man?" Steve asks, rising from his chair, hesitant to go over but needing to make sure the idiot hasn't cracked his skull open.
Chrissy has no such qualms, popping up to run over to Munson.
"You're bleeding." She tells him worriedly, dropping to her knees to get a better look.
"Well shit." Munson says with a wonky grin. “I’m sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for?” Chrissy asks, as Steve’s newly honed babysitting instincts kick in and drive him to get up and look at Munson’s injury himself.
Chrissy carefully strokes the older teen’s hair out of his face, as Steve bends down to check his head and neck.
"You hurt anywhere?" He asks, spotting the scratch that had Chrissy worried.
It’s on his forehead--the guy must have knocked his face against the tree when he fell. Head injuries always bleed a ton but this one's well contained to a small scrape.
Probably not a concern, though Steve looks at his pupils anyways.
"Nah, I’m pine. I didn't mean to drop in on you guys.” He waves a hand behind him before dropping his voice to a dramatic whisper. “I knew I shouldn’t have trusted that tree, it was pretty shady.”
Steve, long trained by Dustin, narrows his eyes. "Are you making puns right now?"
"Maybe?" Munson hedges, looking delighted to have been called out.
“Uh huh.” Steve puts his hands back on his hips, straightening up from where he’d crouched down. “Your head okay? You remember your name and shit?”
“Edward Edwardian Munson, present and ready for duty!” He gives a mock salute, before dropping Chrissy a wink. “If the duty is drinking and playing games that is.”
“Your middle name cannot be Edwardian.” Chrissy laughs.
"It is!" He defends, at the same time Steve says,
“It's not "
“Oh?” Munson challenges, as if this entire situation isn’t ridiculous. “Then what is my middle name, Sir Steven?”
“No idea, but I know it’s not that.”
Munson blows a raspberry at him. “Well then, maybe you should mind your own beeswax."
"Like you were doing? Up in the tree right above us?" Steve banters back.
The playful look dies a little, Munson beginning the painful process of standing after one falls.
"For the record, I absolutely was not eavesdropping, you guys just happened to be under the tree I climbed and I was there first. " He says it rapidly, like he's used to being accused of such things, and is heading off as many problems as he can.
Steve just ignores it, opting instead to hold his hands out. One to Chrissy and one to Eddie.
Watches surprise cross the older teens face, even as he waits for Chrissy to get up before accepting Steve's hand.
"Why were you up a tree? The family dog run you up there?" Steve grunts as he pulls the metalhead up.
"Funny." Munson quipped sarcastically. "But no. I was up there for reasons."
'Reasons.' Steve mouths, and has to fight himself to keep from grinning.
"Even though I was there first, I did happen to hear some things." He looks at Chrissy, voice turning serious. "If you need any help getting things through Carver's thick skull I'd love to lend a hand."
"You would cheer for me too?"
"Oh absolutely. I'd make a far better cheerleader than Harrington here." He shoots a grin towards Steve to take the edge off the words, before doing a far more enthusiastic mimicry of the cheerleaders pom pom routine.
"But I know how much Carver hates the word no. If you break up with him and he gives you shit after, I'm happy to step in."
Steve hadn't actually thought about that yet, but given what he knew of Jason it makes sense.
He could easily see Chrissy worrying about Jason harassing her after the break up.
"Thank you. Both of you." She sniffs. "Eddie, are you sure you're okay?"
"Right as rain!" Munson gives a rather theatrical thumbs up. "I'll let you in on a family secret, we Munson's have rubber bones."
She gives him another giggle for his efforts, and even Steve can’t fully cover his
Munson, the ass, notices.
“Well call me the court jester, I got both the King and Queen to smile!” He cheers.
Steve rolls his eyes, but doesn't deny it.
"Chrissy!?" Someone barks, loud in the otherwise quiet backyard.
"Speak of the devil." Eddie drops his voice dramatically as Jason strides out of the house.
"I've been looking for you." He chides, two of his friends following close behind.
They're younger members of the basketball team, ones Steve's brain sluggishly attempts to remember.
"Are your knees dirty?" Jason asks Chrissy, disgust tinting his voice as he slowly looks from her to Munson next to her.
His eyes narrow, expression almost offronted.
"You heathen." Jason snarls, stepping forward with a fist clenched.
It was a move right of the sitcoms Steve swore he didn't watch, and it looked just as cheesy in real life as it did on screen.
"Calm down." Steve speaks up, hands going to his hips.
Jason's head jerks as he registers him, so focused on Munson that Steve slipped his notice entirely.
"Harrington?" He asks, as if Steve could be mistaken for anyone else here.
Steve gives him jazz hands in return.
"What are you doing out here?" Jason speaks only to Steve, whole body angling towards him like he's the only person who matters.
It's something Steve's dad does, if there's a businessman he considers to be an equal in the room. Zoning in on them, so he can subtly work in ways to make them feel inferior.
It's narcissism at its core (or so says his mother, when she's blitzed out on too many glasses of wine.)
"Talking to people." Steve deadpans. "If you're looking for beer, you walked past it."
Jason entire face pinches, like he just stepped in dog shit. "No one just talks to Munson."
It's a stupid thing to say, and whatever Hason was trying to imply with it wasn't appreciated.
"Well mark me as the first." Steve's hip cocks, voice frosting over.
Surprise washes across Munson's face, though he remains silent as Steve deals with Jason.
Probably a smart move, given how Jason seems to be eager for a fight.
"Whatever it is you're doing, you can leave Chrissy out of it." He says, and god his voice even sounds like Steve's dad.
"Chrissy," Steve says, with an eyebrow raise he knows looks judgemental, "can speak for herself."
He turns to face her, inviting her to the conversation, in the same way he'd always wished someone would invite his mother to speak against his father.
Watches as the cheerleader bites her lip, trying hard to hide the tears that have sprung to her eyes--but proves that she's stronger than Steve's mother ever was.
She steps forward, taking the opportunity offered to her with a steadying breath. "Jason--"
"You can explain it to me later." Her boyfriend waves her off, like she was a waitress offering water and not his partner.
Uncaring entirely that she's clearly upset.
That she wants to talk.
Munson has come to stand on Chrissy's other side, gone still in a way Steve's never seen him do.
It's downright weird for a guy who's normally always moving, and Steve knows it's defensive.
He's feeling a little defensive himself right now, though he doesn't want to particularly untangle why.
"Jason, listen to me." Chrissy tries again.
In his preffery vision, Steve spots a flash of familiar color. Turns his head automatically, seeking it out--and sees Jonathan hustling Nancy across the room.
The younger man is trying to balance Nancy while opening the front door, and for a second Steve almost beelines for them, except--
Except.
Nancy's whole body moves in what Steve intimately knows is an exhale, leaning her head in the crook of Jonathan's shoulder.
One arm wraps around his waist, as Jonathan finally gets the door open, and Steve watches with a stunned sort of horror as his girlfriend presses a kiss to Jonathan's shoulder.
It's fine.
He's fine.
Nancy was just--drunk. Seeking comfort. She didn't know what she was doing. She didn't mean it like that, she didn't--
"Oh shit Harrington." Jason drawls, a lazy sort of taunt. "I think Byers just stole your girlfriend."
Steve's head snaps back to him, the emotions he was attempting to box up flying to the front of his brain like dogs who slipped their leash.
"Never thought a priss like Nancy would be easy like that, but then, you never were the kind of guy to inspire loyalty." Jason continues, clearly ignoring his own girlfriend and all Steve can see is red.
Munson sucks air between his teeth next to him, nervously eyeing Steve while Chrissy's eyes have gone wide with shock and growing anger.
"Jason!" She admonishes, but he's not even looking towards her.
That too sharp smile is all for Steve.
He thinks of Nancy, the way she'd been so angry with him but so gentle with Jonathan.
He thinks of the monster he faced down in the Byers house, the terror that had shrank down to that same adrenaline soaked focus he had on the basketball court.
He thinks of this asshole Junior in front of him.
Making Chrissy cry just because she'd been kind enough to try to help Eddie, and accept Eddie's kindness in return when the weirdo tried to help her and Steve both.
Steve taps his foot, then switches his stance.
'Plant your feet.' Hargroves voice snarls in his memory and Steve wouldn't be surprised if the asshole abandons the keg long enough to come watch this.
Have his turn at heckling, just because he can.
Steve plants his feet anyway.
"You know what Carver?" He says, hands dropping from his hips.
Jason's face curves into a smile. "What?" He says, tone smarmy.
"You're full of shit."
Hand cocking back of its own accord, Steve puts every bit of himself into his punch.
Feels it reverberate up his arm as his knuckles connect to Jason's cheek.
It's going to hurt later, but right now all he can do is stand over Jason as the asshole's head snaps sideways, legs staggering him backwards until he's falling into his friends.
Chrissy gasps, Jason's boys chanting variations of 'Oh shit!'
Steve just glares him down.
The junior wipes his bloodied mouth, letting his friends push him up before shrugging them off.
"You're going to regret that." Jason snarls, and Steve squares up a second time, expecting to be rushed, when the sharp snickt! of a switchblade freezes them both.
"I think we're done here." Munson says, knife in hand.
The blade he holds is stained a deep, russet red. Crusty flakes fall off it, drifting gently down to the patio floor.
Jason's eyes boggle at it for a moment before he stands up straight.
"Now it makes sense. You're weak, Harrington, letting the Freak get his claws into you." Jason spits bloodstained saliva down at Eddie's feet. "No wonder Coach wants Billy as co-captain!"
Steve just scoffs.
"Chrissy!" Carver barks, making the poor girl jump. "Come here, we're leaving!"
Trembling, but stepping closer to Steve, she shakes her head.
"Chrissy." Jason orders again, and has the audacity to point to his feet, like a man commanding his dog.
"No." Chrissy says it quietly at first, voice a little shaky, before she seems to realize it.
She stands taller, repeats herself in a stronger voice. "No, Jason. We're done."
Jason stares at her, hard. "Chrissy, your mother told me to bring you home. So I'm going to take you home and get you away from this--demon and his lackey!"
It doesn't sound loving.
It sounds like a threat.
He steps forward, hand out to grab her arm and Steve tenses, shifting to step in front of Chrissy.
Eddie beats him there.
The word demon seems to awaken something in him, because his face is now grinning theatrically, voice dipping low in pitch.
"You heard her, Carver. She said no, and even I respect a lady's wish. So run along now," he walks two fingers in the air, from the hand not waving the knife around. "before I decide to make you and her both one of mine, just as I did Harrington!"
Jason actually crosses himself, before making one last attempt for Chrissy.
"That monster is dangerous. if you don't come with me, I'll have to alert your parents." He locks eyes with her. "For the good of your soul."
Steve snorts at that crock of shit, but Eddie lunges forward, slashing the knife in the air.
It's nowhere near Jason, but the guy leaps a foot back anyway.
"Begone!" Eddie booms, and that's all it takes for Jason and his cronies to huff and puff and stride away.
He keeps his arms in the air for a few beats more, before dropping them when it's clear Jason won't be back.
"So I'm yours, huh?" Steve drawls, as Eddie finally puts his hands down and turns to face them.
The guys scary face drops into something almost excited, and Steve can practically see the adrenaline crackling through him.
"Hey it worked. Carver's a religious nut, he goes running anytime you even hint at Satan." Eddie shrugs, grinning wildly. "Put on a little show and poof! Him and his flying monkeys melt away!"
He mimes melting and Steve stares at him for it, until he hears Chrissy laughing next to him.
Eddie grins at her and Steve is hit with the realization that it was for her benefit. To make her feel better about her psycho ex.
Something fond and familiar winds through his chest as the other boy bows.
He refuses to put a name to it.
"Did you paint your knife?" He asks instead, rubbing the hand he hit Jason with.
"What?" Eddie asks, startled out of his court jester act.
Steve nods to his hand holding the switchblade. "That's not blood, it's way too red."
"Ah." Eddie turns the grin back on, and this time it's for Steve. "Yeah, it's uh. Modeling paint. Not like Carver would know the difference."
Unspoken was the fact that he hadn't thought Steve would.
Prior to last year, he'd have been right.
Drunken cheering erupts into wild yells inside, breaking whatever spell the three of them were under.
Hargrove's voice is the loudest among them, and the dude is definitely wasted.
Steve has a feeling Hargrove also knows the difference between paint and blood, rendering Munson's knife trick useless if the dick tried to start something.
"Do you want a ride home, Chrissy?" He asks quietly.
"If it's not a bother." She says, wiping tears shed refused to let fall from her eyes.
Chrissy Cunningham was a lot stronger than people gave her credit for.
"Come on, Munson, I think it's time we all make our exit." Steve says, finding himself weirdly unwilling to leave the older teen behind.
Eddie could hold his own, but given how badly things were playing out Steve figured it was best if they all just called it a day.
"Yeah lemme just…" Munson puts his blade away, fumbling at his pockets for a moment before turning and snatching up a metal lunchbox.
"There! After you, my liege." He says, before opening the lunchbox to make it talk.
"My lady." He makes it say, pitching his voice high.
Chrissy breaks into giggles again and Steve rolls his eyes, but he claps his good hand on Eddie's shoulder as he walks past.
Eddie smiles at him, this one a bit softer than the others, eyes sparkling and Steve chooses not to read into that either.
The three of them walk together, Eddie splitting off to his van after Chrissy thanks him.
can we say plot bunny?? (recipe and tag below the cut)
— — —
“Hello, and welcome back!”
“Welcome back!” Jee echoed.
“Today we are making Miss Jee’s favourite chocolate chip cookies,” Buck drew out the word favourite dramatically, getting a giggle out of the young girl. “Now, adults, you’re going to like these because they are actually as fast to make as the recipe says, and I’ll link that below. You’ll need a bowl, beaters — you can use a stand mixer if you have one but handheld works just fine! — a spatula, a spoon if you want, and approximately two baking sheets. You might need more depending on how big you make the cookies.”
Jee tugged on his sleeve.
“Don’t worry Miss Jee, we’re getting to the ingredients,” the camera moved to show off the arranged ingredients on the kitchen island. Jee happily pointed to each one and listed them off. “All the measurements are in the recipe,” Buck assured the audience from behind the camera.
The scene cut to Buck and Jee behind the kitchen island.
“Okay, first we are going to mix together the sugars and the butter,” Buck said. “Jee is going measure and add the sugar, and I’m going to pour the melted butter because the bowl is still hot.”
Jee carefully measured the white and brown sugar, adding them to the bowl. Buck poured in the melted butter, putting the empty bowl into the sink.
“Now we get to crack an egg. Jee, do you want to try this time?”
Jee nodded enthusiastically, and Buck handed her an egg and a bowl.
“Now, for anyone new to cracking eggs, it’s always a good idea to break your egg over a separate bowl. If you do get any shell in it, it’s a lot easier to scoop out that way. We don’t want any accidental crunch in our cookies!”
“No crunch,” Jee agreed, cracking the egg against the rim of the bowl with all the care a four year old could muster, pulling the two halves apart and letting the egg drip into the bowl. Buck held out the compost bin for the shell, and then the two of them checked the bowl.
“Miss Jee! Amazing! No shells at all.” Buck tilted the bowl so the audience could see. “Is this your first egg with no shells Jee?”
Jee nodded. “It is!”
“And we got it on camera! Your mom will be so pleased.” Buck let Jee pour the egg into the bowl, and he added the vanilla. “Now, we beat them together. You want to do it just enough that everything is mixed, but if you do it too long, they're not as soft.”
Buck plugged in his handheld mixer and let Jee take it first, wrapping his hand around her small one. “Little hands can definitely help with this, but adults, they might need a little assistance.”
Jee hit the switch to start the beaters, and they mixed the ingredients until everything was combined. Buck turned the beater off, and used the spatula to get the remnants off the beaters.
“Now, the dry ingredients.”
Jee took over again, pouring in the carefully measured flour, baking soda and salt. Buck held the bowl while she used the spatula to mix everything together.
“And last, the chocolate chip cookies! Now you can use chips, chocolate chunks, we’ve even used salted caramel chips before and those were delicious. But I found some unicorn white chocolate chips at the grocery store so we’re going to use those today.”
Jee poured the chips into a measuring cup, then into the bowl.
“What do you think Jee, do we need a few more?”
Jee looked at the bowl critically. “Yes,” she declared, and held her hand out. Buck poured some chips into her hand, and she ate them rather than add them to the bowl.
“Adults, watch out for the sugar high,” Buck laughed, adding a few more chocolate chips to the batter.
They both washed their hands, then Buck used the spoon to scoop batter into Jee’s hands, letting her roll it into balls and place them on the baking sheets.
“Now, you can make these cookies as big or small as you want, just watch your cooking time,” Buck told the audience. “We like to make them about the size of Jee’s hands so it’s easy for her to hold them.”
Jee placed her hand next to one of the cookies on the sheet to show the size comparison.
“And now, into the oven! Nine to eleven minutes, usually, but watch them the first time you make them, ovens can all heat a little differently. You want to take them out when they’re still puffy and look a little underbaked.”
The scene cut to the cookies being pulled out of the oven.
“Give them a couple minutes to finish cooking, and cool down enough to eat,” Buck’s voice came from behind the camera.
The scene cut again to the cooled cookies, Buck and Jee each holding one, a glass of milk in front of each of them.
“Cheers!” Jee said, and they tapped their cookies together before taking a bite.
“Do you like the new chocolate chips Jee?” Buck asked.
“They’re yummy,” Jee declared. “And pink!”
“There you have it folks, the softest chocolate chip cookies. Enjoy!”
The channel’s logo, Baking with Buck and Jee, took over the screen before it went to black.
