#wordsoftheocean

[atzocean]

the perfect day

jeong yunho x reader

word count: 457

warnings: intentional lowercase, very fluffy

description: yunho wakes up to a beautiful sight

ocean’s notes: this stream was something else. why are you so boyfriend?? divider by @saradika-graphics <3

yunho woke up to the sunlight peeking through the blinds. on a normal day, his first thought would be to yank the covers over his face and snag another ten minutes, before he peeled himself out of bed. but this wasn’t a normal day. instead, yunho’s eyes dropped to you. curled up against his chest, your breath fanning over his skin at a steady pace.

you were still sleeping, and you seemed very comfortable wrapped around him. your hair was messy, and your cheek was squished, causing a little pout on your face, but to yunho, you were perfect. everything about you was perfect in his eyes. his frustration at the morning sun melted away the longer he stared at you.

hesitantly, his hand reached out to cradle your head, fingers scratching at your scalp so lightly as to not wake you. he just wanted to feel you, to prove that you’re real. he worried, at times, that you were a figment of his imagination. how could someone so beautiful be so in love with him? he didn’t understand it.

he had to remind himself of the times you’d scolded him for a thought like that. it wasn’t even meant to be self-deprecating. he truly just couldn't wrap his head around it. every second with you felt like a waking dream.

slowly, the time slipped by, and his eyes began to close once again. he was trying so hard to keep himself awake, but your presence was very calming. yunho looked at the clock on the wall and sighed to himself. he needed to get up for work very soon.

wait.

no, that’s not right. he’d been so used to his rigorous routine that he’d forgotten! today was special for a reason, and it wasn’t just because you were there, though that was an amazing bonus. today, yunho had the day off! the entire day to do whatever he wanted. most of his members were going out somewhere, visiting family or friends, or staying in to play games and eat yummy food all day, but yunho had planned for today to be perfect.

as he watched your chest rise and fall, he couldn’t help but smile to himself. a big, beautiful smile that held so much love. he glanced at the clock again. ah, the day is going exactly as he’d hoped.

a whole day off, and he wanted to spend it all with you. he wouldn’t ask for anything else. it was perfect.

finally, he allowed his eyes to close once more, hugging you even closer to him. yunho would be happy to sleep the entire day away if it’d meant being with you. yes, that sounds lovely, he thought, as he drifted back to sleep.

[atzocean]

Bound to The Sea; 1

ot8 Ateez x reader

series masterlist

word count: 3.4k

warnings: fantasy au, use of magic, descriptions of drowning, suspension of disbelief, mermen!ateez, human!reader, slightly flirty (will progress the relationships in the future!), incorrect merfolk lore, ocean related inaccuracies

description: after a terrible accident, (y/n) finds themselves in the company of eight beautiful mermen

ocean’s notes: this will be a series! i hope to get chapters out somewhat quickly, but i do deal with writer’s block pretty often, so expect some gaps in between updates. i have a lot of plans for this story that i can’t wait to share, so stay tuned. :) i would like to try to keep reader as gender neutral as possible, so keep that in mind. this is just a short introduction! dividers by @saradika-graphics 🩵

༄｡° Chapter One

Terror. That was the only thing you could feel. It was terror that was running through your veins, twisting in your stomach, and filling up your lungs. You didn’t know which way was up anymore, and the currents were pulling you in every direction. Your senses were completely disoriented. The more you panicked, the more oxygen slipped out through your lips, water taking its place.

From the shoreline, no one would suspect a thing. Drowning really is a silent way to go. No splashing, no screaming. The only indication you were struggling were the few bubbles that made it to the surface, and the abandoned beach towel back on the sand. But that didn’t mean you had gone completely unnoticed.

As you made one final attempt to push toward what appeared to be the surface, you felt your body weaken. Darkness clouded into your vision, and you sank back down. The fear that had been driving you to fight was pushed into the back of your mind. As your eyes closed, the only thing you could hear was a beautiful melody in the distance. Perhaps a tragic whale song, you thought. Perhaps...

You awake slowly to the slightly muffled sound of conversation. Most of the words are too faint to make out, but you catch a few: “...from the land...couldn’t breathe...human…” and suddenly, much louder, “They’re awake!” As you slowly sit yourself up, you are greeted by a beautiful face in front of you. He has slightly feminine features, with a stronger nose, and nearly white hair that stops just past his chin. As your eyes travel down, you find his slender fingers are gently brushing at your lower legs. Before you have the chance to kick him away, your vision locks onto something curious. Where his legs should be, sits a tail, much like a fish, or a dolphin. Its scales are a pearlescent mixture of pink, blue, and white, and they catch the soft light coming from… somewhere. Now that you think about it, where exactly are you? As you start coming to your senses, you realize not only are you in the ocean, breathing water, sitting in front of what appears to be a fish-person, but you are alive! Something you couldn't say was a possibility just moments before. Or was it hours ago? Days? How long have you been here at this point?

“Hello?” Your racing thoughts are interrupted by a soft voice. The word that came out of the beautiful creature’s mouth wasn’t actually hello, but whatever this strange language was, you were miraculously able to understand it.

“...what’s going on?” You ask, and your hands flew to your mouth, a small yelp escaping at the same time. You are speaking this new language too! How is this possible? You once again begin to spiral in your thoughts.

“Shh…” he hushed you, placing a hand on yours, and lightly tugging it away from your mouth. “There is a lot to explain, we know that, but for now, are you hurt?”

“We? Are there more of—”

“Please, questions later, are you hurt?” he insists. You decide it feels much easier to just slow down and respond to him for the moment.

“I… I’m not sure. My head feels like it’s splitting in half but I don't feel any wounds.”

From behind you, someone mutters, “Probably from the pressure. We’re much deeper than where the humans usually swim…”

You whip your head around in an attempt to find the owner of the new voice, but instead you are met with seven unfamiliar faces, each more ethereal than the last. One of the creatures swims out toward you, smiling as he nears. He is a bit shorter than the first one, with dark hair and a sharper face. His tail, you notice, is much different. Dark blues and teals streak down his scales, parts of it blending into the ocean around you.

“We understand this is frightening, but this is just as new to us as I’m sure it is to you, so please be patient…” he says as he begins doing a once-over on you, focus shifting from your face, to your arms, and— much like the previous check-up you’d endured— landing on your legs. A hint of fascination settles over his face, as if you are the strange one here. But as you look around a bit more, fully taking in the underwater setting you’ve found yourself in, you can only assume that you are the odd one out. In a sea of fish (and fish-people), the human would be the outlier.

“They seem to be okay,” the white-haired one says to the other. “Yes, I agree.” Still in some form of shock, you decide to let them continue their ministrations and conversation without intruding. That is, until the shorter creature’s face takes up more of your view.

“My name is Hongjoong. Our stand-in nurse here,” he nods his head to his left, “is Seonghwa. Do you have a name?” Hongjoong, Seonghwa… pretty names for pretty people— er, fish-people you think. He leans his head a bit closer, prying for an answer from you.

“Yes,” you snicker a little, finding it silly, the concept of these strange creatures asking you if you have a name. Nonetheless, you give it. Why hold back now? The situation is already unbelievable. If you want answers, this is the only option. Besides, they seem nice, and it doesn’t hurt that they’re all so gorgeous.

“Ah, what a lovely name…” the nurse-like one, Seonghwa, whispers. He mumbles it to himself a few times, as if turning it over in his head. They both smile at you, then Hongjoong shifts his attention over your shoulder,

“Well?” he asks, as if urging on a conversation.

“Ah Right! Our turn!” You hear, and turn your head to the others. There is some movement amongst the other creatures. Some pushing, some giggling. One of them is shoved forward but spins back around, grabbing the hand of another, before dragging himself, and his victim, over to you. The other four swim up behind them as well, waiting their turn to introduce themselves.

“I’m Wooyoung,” the rowdy one says with a playful smile, as he not-so-discreetly elbows the larger fish-man (perhaps merman is the correct term, you decide), cheshire grin never faltering.

“And I’m San!” Squeaks out the larger one, rubbing a hand over his rib cage that just took a hit. The two mermen float there for a moment, allowing you to take in their appearances. Wooyoung is smaller, similar in size to Hongjoong, but has a larger nose, and quite longer hair. It’s black, falling just above his shoulders, and it looks so smooth. He has a nearly solid black tail, some areas appearing a little more grey where it thins. On it, he wears many silver chains that cascade down the length. Glancing back up, you note the smirk on his face at your staring. Embarrassment takes over and you move on to San, but not before smiling at Wooyoung.

San, to put it gently, is big. He looks like he lifts weights in his spare time, or all the time. This begs the question— do they have weights down here? Maybe they use rocks? Hmm… a conversation for a later time, you think. In contrast to San’s body, however, his face is very kind. Soft even, with dimples that appear when he smiles. His hair is short and dark, barely covering his forehead. It suits him. His tail is white at the top, and as your eyes move down, it turns to a light lavender, and ends in a dark indigo.

“It’s nice to meet you,” you say softly, wincing a little at your own voice. With all these new faces, a wave of nerves have fallen over you.

As the two move to the side to allow someone else to come forward, you are suddenly met with a sharp pain in your skull. Even sitting down, you find yourself doubling over, holding your head in your hands.

“What happened? Are you okay (y/n)?” Seonghwa says, a little frantically, swimming closer to you. He leans his head down in front of you to try and catch your eyes. You are whimpering from the pain, and now the whole group has inched in a little tighter, worry etched into each of their faces. Hongjoong begins to reach a hand out, but stops short when you abruptly stand up, wobbly but upright, and stumble to an area that is cast in shade.

“I’m okay, sorry, I didn't mean to worry you…” You mumble out just loud enough for the boys to hear, “That headache just keeps coming back.” Now that you’ve gotten out of the bright light, it’s turned to a dull pounding.

Attention turns to Seonghwa, who swims over to you. He reaches into the small satchel that hangs loosely around his waist, pulling out a dainty silver circlet. It has dark blue crystals, and small pearls embedded in the metal. It’s very pretty, and appears to be handmade. As he comes closer and you get a better look at it, you notice a little charm hanging off the back, with the letter ‘H’ awkwardly carved in.

“Jongho, come here, I need your help with this.” Seonghwa says to one of the boys that has yet to introduce himself. He has been pretty quiet compared to the others, but when his gaze settles over you, you can’t help but feel safe in his presence. His chocolate eyes and round face offer a sense of comfort in the unfamiliar setting.

Wordlessly, Jongho sits down next to you, with Seonghwa on your left. Before you can ask any questions, or even protest, Seonghwa has placed the circlet on your head, and a beautiful tune sounds around you. There aren’t any words, but the boys’ harmony feels so familiar. In an instant, your headache has melted away, a warmth taking its place, as if you were enveloped in the sunshine.

When the song ends, so too does the warmth, but your headache doesn’t return. The circlet is removed, but Seonghwa holds onto it still.

“What was that?” you ask, almost incredulous, although grateful for the pain relief. There is still an air of distrust here, despite the hospitality the group has shown.

“The jewelry? Or the song?” Jongho asks, speaking voice softer than you expected.

“Both, but that song felt so familiar…”

“Well I made the circlet,” Hongjoong speaks up, swimming over to the three of you. “This is my initial. I make jewelry with things I find near the shore, and those crystals,” he points to the dark blue stones in the metal, “hold healing magic.” He explains, nodding at Seonghwa and Jongho.

“Our voices act as a strengthener, almost. The song you heard is a song of healing. It works with the magic in the crystals to heal ailments” Jongho finishes.

“Wait, sorry, magic? That's real?” You are very skeptical now. An incredulous laugh even slips out, but you quickly stop yourself upon seeing their faces. They aren’t kidding.

“Humans don’t have magic?” A new voice says, rather loudly in fact.

Your attention turns to the speaker, who is approaching rapidly, and you see the other two you have also yet to meet following closely behind.

“How do you do anything without magic?” He adds to his previous question, his face filled with genuine curiosity, and a bit of shock. Beyond the expression though, his appearance is stronger than the others. His eyes are narrow, and his lips are full. His hair falls in his face, despite its fairly short length. It’s also hard to ignore just how tall he is. Is everyone down here gorgeous, you wonder…

“Uh.. no, humans don’t have magic,” you giggle, a bit of disbelief lacing your words, “we didn’t even think it was real…” you trail off, catching the tall one’s eyes again. He’s listening so intently, every one of them is, and even though the idea of magic has never once occurred to you as a true possibility, suddenly you feel embarrassed for questioning the creatures with fish tails about the existence of magic.

“Hm… you’re flushed… did I say something wrong?” he says. Woah, his voice is deeper now. He moves down closer to you. You notice his eyes slightly flicker down and it finally occurs to you that you’re only wearing a bathing suit. You shift, a bit self-conscious, but try to shake that thought away.

“No! You didn't say anything wrong! I just… this is a lot to take in.” You let out a nervous laugh, noting the space— or a lack thereof— between yourself and the handsome merman called…

“Mingi, by the way. I hadn’t said so yet.” He smiles now, and whatever nerves that had come up wash away at the sight of such a friendly expression. The small trance you are held in is broken by a light flick to the side of Mingi’s head, followed by a:

“Stop flirting with our guest.”

“Owwww!!”

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic, I barely touched you,” says the perpetrator, waving a hand dismissively. He's chuckling as Mingi swims over to the boy who seems to be the eldest.

“Seonghwaaaaa,” Mingi whines out, “Use the circlet on me, Yunho broke my skull.”

Seonghwa looks at Mingi’s head, seeming to be closely inspecting, before giving it a small flick as well.

“Ow!”

“You’re perfectly fine,” He says playfully as Mingi rubs his head theatrically. You can’t help but laugh at their antics.

“Your laugh is beautiful,” the boy referred to as Yunho says politely. “I’m Yunho.” Turning your attention to him, you realize that just like Mingi, Yunho is also quite tall. Despite everyone being in the water, height is still evident. Yunho may be tall, but he is not at all intimidating. He radiates warmth just through his kind features. He has a soft jawline, and a natural blush that spreads from his cheeks to the tips of his ears.

“Thank you, Yunho,” you say, the corners of your lips tugging up at the compliment.

“Oh now who’s flirting with the guest?” Mingi chimes in from a few feet away. At this, Yunho gives you a quick wink, before darting over to Mingi, fingers positioned to flick him again.

“AH!” Mingi yelps, dodging him just in time. A few of the other boys join in, chasing after each other and carrying on about, “seducing our guest.” I guess even fish-boys are still boys, you think.

“I’m Yeosang.” A deep voice cuts through your thoughts. Amidst the chaos you hadn't noticed the last of the mermen settling in front of you. With your attention shifted to him now, it’s hard to believe you didn’t notice him in the first place. He was stunning, to put it bluntly. His face angular, and arms buff, but somehow holding a femininity to him. His eyes sparkled, and his reddish-brown hair framed them beautifully. He looked like he’d stepped out of a painting.

“I’m (Y/n)! It’s nice to meet you,” you finally get out. Yeosang smiles, he seems endeared by your nervousness, eyes meeting a little longer before Hongjoong cuts in.

“Hey guys, it’s getting kind of late, and (y/n) needs the rest. All of us do actually, it’s been a long day. We need to get some sleep.” The others agree, with quiet ‘okay’s and nods. Yeosang helps you stand up, and San rushes over to aid as well.

“Oh no I can walk— or, swim... Thank you though!” You say, gently pulling out of the boys’ grasps.

“Yeah, I’m sure you can, but let us help anyway… just in case,” San says, giving a cheeky smile as he slides his hand back under your arm. Clearly very happy to assist, Yeosang does the same on your left side. Or you can help. Not complaining, you think. It’s hard to say no to them when they’re so eager.

The swim to the boys’ home was beautiful. With San and Yeosang practically doing all the work for you, you were able to sightsee on the journey. You passed small coral reefs that were littered with colorful fish, a dark trench that seemed bottomless, and finally ended up in a large cave, lit with bioluminescent algae that grew along the walls. The cave split off into multiple caverns, serving as rooms in this underwater shelter. The soft teal glow that blanketed each surface added a soothing ambience to the place.

“I’m not sure what your house is like on the land, but I hope this can be comfortable until you can get home,” Hongjoong says, gesturing around the cave.

“It’s beautiful. Nothing like I'd seen before…” Your voice slowly trailing off as you spin around to get a full view of the place. It was magical. That seemed to be a running theme down here.

Your exploration came to a halt when your eyes landed on Seonghwa, who was staring at you with an amused smile. Most of the boys had split off to their respective rooms, aside from Hongjoong and Seonghwa. The former was busying himself with gathering sheets to create a bed of sorts. The latter, however, seemed quite content observing your curiosity.

“Are you staring at me?” You ask, cheeks taking on a slight rosy hue.

“Perhaps a little. It’s cute, the excitement over something we see every day. I can't help but watch.” As he speaks, he’s slowly swimming closer.

“I couldn't imagine waking up to this every morning, it’s heavenly,” You practically sigh out, still shifting your focus back to the luminous algae. Seonghwa smiles again, then sends a quick glance to Hongjoong, who's just finished placing the blankets down.

“Looks comfortable, what do you think, (Y/n)?” He says, pointing at the collection of covers and pillows on the sandy floor. It really did look soft.

“Thank you so much, truly. You’re all so generous,” You say, your eyes flicking between the two of them.

“Of course, if there’s anything else you need, feel free to wake one of us and ask,” Hongjoong says, before swimming into his own quarters, leaving you with just Seonghwa.

“I’m sure this is strange for you. I hope we can at least provide some comfort,” He says, sitting down on the blankets, and patting the spot next to him. You sit, but keep a bit of distance. You’re still very aware of your lack of clothing.

“Yes, I have so many questions. I keep thinking this is a dream and I’ll wake up at any moment, but I’m still here. I appreciate how much kindness you’ve shown, I couldn’t ask for a better rescuer,” You meet his eyes and he looks nervous, but he's still smiling.

“We can go over all of your questions in the morning, I promise, but for now you need sleep. Like Hongjoong said, if you need anything, don’t hesitate, please. My room is just through there,” He points at the first opening on the left of the cave. It has a white curtain hung with rocks to weigh it down. Huh, a door. Who would’ve thought.

“I won’t, thank you again,” You say, turning back to him one last time. Before he stands, he takes your hand in his, and brings it to his lips, leaving a soft kiss on the back of it. And then he’s gone, swimming off to his room and closing the curtain.

You’re left sitting in your makeshift bed, dumbfounded and blushing. You can’t help but run your fingers over the place he kissed you as you lay back in the covers. Maybe it’s just how they show hospitality, you think.

As you get comfortable, you draw your attention to the fabric you’re laying in. It appears to be made out of some sort of plant. Long green strings of plant fiber woven together in tight patterns. You wrap them around yourself to keep them from floating away, and it doesn’t take long before you drift off to sleep. The exhaustion of the day taking hold of you.

You dream of your life outside of the water. Your family and friends, the wind, the sunshine, everything that made you human. There is a sense of loss within your dream, as if these things you've held so dear are slipping through your grasp. As if you are losing yourself. Losing your humanity. That feeling of dread doesn’t go away for the rest of the night, but at least you’re able to sleep.

🌊: thank you for reading chapter one! if you are interested in being tagged, let me know and i can make a taglist :) i’ll start working on the next chapter as soon as possible!

[atzocean]

shelter from the storm

choi jongho x reader

word count: 1.7k

warnings: hurt/comfort, fluff, descriptions of depressive-like thoughts, mental health discussions, use of pet names [baby, pretty, my love], kind of self-indulgent, intentional lowercase

description: after a particularly hard day, jongho does everything in his power to make sure you feel loved <3

ocean’s notes: my first post and hopefully more to come! pardon any typos you may find, i tried my best to proofread well but mistakes happen of course. dividers are from @saradika-graphics !! enjoy :)

it’d been such a long day. the hours dragging by, taking parts of you with it. by the time you walked through the front door, you just broke. legs giving out, you sunk down to the hardwood floor, tears finally falling after holding them in all day. you just couldn’t take it anymore.

“baby?” jongho’s voice comes from the living room, but you don’t hear it over your own thoughts. sobs now ripping through your whole body. your bag falling off your shoulder as you put your head down and tuck your knees in, hugging them to yourself. it’s not helping, but at least it muffles your cries a bit.

“y/n, baby?” he sounds slightly nervous, but keeps his voice steady, grounding. his footsteps get louder as he rushes to you, dropping to your level immediately. his hands go straight to your head to pet your hair. he doesn’t know what’s wrong, but he’ll help however he can.

“what’s going on, pretty? did something happen?” he whispers as his arms move to wrap around you, pulling you to lean against his chest. it’s comforting, and your hands twist into his black t-shirt. it acts as an anchor.

he repeats his question, very gently shaking your shoulder to pull your attention to his voice. “did something happen?” you shrug, because really, you don’t know. it’s as if a weight had settled on you this morning. pushing down harder and harder until every part of you felt weak. you couldn’t shake that feeling no matter how hard you tried.

“shhh, it’s okay baby, i’m here,” he says, placing a kiss on the crown of your head. he stays there, breathing you in while his hand draws circles on your back. your body is trembling by now, and his hold on you is a bit stronger to try to combat it. slowly, your own arms snake around him, grasping so tightly, as if he would slip away if you weren’t careful.

you both stay like that for awhile. him whispering comforting words in your ear, while placing kisses on your head, cheeks, shoulders, and anywhere else he could reach, and you clinging onto him as the sobs slow down. eventually you find your voice.

“i don’t know what’s wrong with me. it just hurts. i don’t want it to hurt. please,” a hard shuddering breath rips through your chest, and tears start falling again. talking about it— whatever it is, isn’t easy. “please make it stop,” finally, your sad eyes meet his, and his heart breaks. there you are, his baby, falling apart in his arms, and he can’t do anything to help you. jongho is trying with everything in him to stay strong for you, but he can’t help his own tears from sliding down his cheeks.

swallowing thickly, he says, “i’ve got you, baby, always.” he shifts, his left arm sliding under your legs, and his right reaching around your back. jongho picks you up off of the floor, leaving your things where they fell; only you matter right now. he walks you over to the couch and lays you down, then slots in next to you. carefully, he moves your head onto his chest and pulls a soft blanket over the both of you.

“whatever’s going on, we’ll figure it out together, okay? if you don’t have the words now, we’ll try again tomorrow. and if you don’t have them tomorrow, we’ll try the next day. i’m not going anywhere, my love.”

you don’t know when it happens, but eventually you fall asleep to the sound of his heartbeat. strong, steady, putting your heavy mind on the back burner for now.

when you wake, your throat is tight and your eyes are sore. it’s still dark outside, so you didn’t sleep through the night, but a few hours must have passed. jongho is still awake, a warm smile on his face when you look at him. you notice his eyes look a little red, but you don’t mention it.

“hey,” he says quietly, still running his hands over your skin. he’ll never stop comforting you.

“hi,” your voice is shaky, still trembling from the crying, but his smile grows wider nonetheless. he leans forward and plants a kiss on your forehead, before once again scooping you up off of the couch. “what are you doing?” you ask.

“we’ve got to go to bed, my love,” he says, glancing down at your tired expression. you nod, the idea of warm bedsheets already soothing you. you’re confused, however, when he walks into the bathroom instead, and sets you on the countertop. he sees your questioning eyes and explains.

“gotta wash your face, brush your teeth, and get changed first. i need you comfortable,” he’s busying himself as he says this. grabbing face wipes and a washcloth. for a moment, you think that you can do this yourself, but the exhaustion settling in your body urges you to let him take care of it, to let him take care of you. so again, you nod.

he chuckles, “wasn’t a question, pretty. i was going to do it for you no matter what,” he mumbles and shakes his head slightly, as he begins wiping off any residue of the day from your face. it’s relaxing, your eyes closing on their own. you don’t see it, but he smiles so fondly at the sight. jongho then wets the washcloth and goes over your skin again, this time removing the oil left behind from the face wipes. every swipe, every touch, it’s all so gentle. he is unbelievably careful with you.

your eyes flutter open when he steps away, and you watch him reach for your toothbrush and toothpaste now. “let’s get you down for a moment, hmm?” he says, helping you off the counter. when you turn around, you're met with a sight you can’t quite come to terms with. in the mirror stands jongho, looking at you with so much love in his gaze you can feel the warmth of it wash over you. but then there’s you: eyes red and puffy, hair slightly disheveled, and a sadness surrounding you. it’s hard to recognize yourself. jongho notices your face fall at your reflection.

“you look beautiful, my love. so beautiful,” he says very pointedly, adoration in his tone. it may not stick now, but it helps ease the hurt in your chest. you mumble out a thank you as he hands you your toothbrush with the paste already on it, before grabbing his own. you stand together, brushing your teeth. it’s such a simple act, but having him by your side is reassuring. when you’re both done, he turns to you, and places a hand on your cheek. he kisses you then, softly. there is nothing special to it, and there doesn’t need to be. it’s not meant to lead anywhere, it is simply another reminder that he loves you. that he is devoted. afterwards, he leaves small kisses on your cheeks and the tip of your nose, which makes you giggle. then he holds your hand and leads you to the bedroom.

“pajamas now, pretty…” he says as he walks to the dresser. he looks through your clothes before pulling out your most comfortable set of pajamas.

“arms up,” jongho whispers. your cheeks take on a slight pink hue at the situation in front of you. he’s helping you change your own clothes, and it’s silly. you’re completely capable of doing it yourself, but jongho won’t let you. this is his way of helping. so you listen. raising your arms when he asks, helping him shimmy off your pants, and put on the pajamas. they’re so cozy.

finally, after a few more small tasks, he is sliding under the covers with you, an arm wrapping around you, spooning you. you’re lying there in the safety of his strong arms, when he begins to hum. it’s low and soothing, and you can’t help but notice it sounds familiar. you just can’t place it...

turning in his arms to face him, you ask, “mmm, jjongie,” he smiles at the nickname, “whats that song you’re humming?”

immediately he looks bashful, like he’d been caught. a blush settles onto his cheeks, leaving you even more confused.

“hm, i guess i’ll tell you then,” he starts, peering down at your curious expression. “in the mornings, when i get up for work, you’re usually still asleep,” you nod.

“i don’t like to wake you when you’re so peaceful, so i start my coffee and begin getting ready for the day while i let you dream some more. eventually though, i do have to wake you up to kiss you goodbye,” and now it’s your turn to blush. he grins, amused.

“in order to wake you up without startling you, i’ve found it’s better to sing to you. softly singing a song to rouse you out of sleep. it works every time, and i stop singing it once you wake up, so i guess by the time you’re truly awake, you don’t really remember it. the song itself is an old nursery rhyme we used to sing in school— nothing fancy. i don't even know what it’s called. sometimes i think my teacher just made it up, but for some reason it stuck,” he finishes, glancing down at your face. you can barely keep your eyes open, his voice lulling you to sleep. he again smiles. he’s so in love with you.

“i love you,” you whisper, snuggling up against him. the weight of your day isn’t gone, but with jongho, you know you don’t have to carry it alone. whatever it is that you are feeling, he’s going to be by your side through all of it. there isn’t a doubt in your mind about that.

“i love you, too,” he says, watching your eyelids fall.

just before you slip into a dream, you hear jongho’s voice quietly singing that same familiar song:

“no, i can not see the sunshine

nor can i hear the rain

but with you, my dear

i find my light

and love you just the same

oh, the birds that sing so sweetly

just past the window frame

can’t pull my gaze from you, my dear

for it’s my heart you claim

forever it is clear to me

though storms may bring us pain

that you, my dear

are the only one

with whom i’ll share a name”

[atzocean]

Bound to The Sea; masterlist

ot8 Ateez x gn!reader

warnings: fantasy au, mermen!ateez, human!reader, angst, hurt/comfort, romance, flirty ateez, magic usage, inaccurate ocean information, inaccurate mermaid lore

**chapter-specific warnings will be listed on each update!**

description: when y/n is saved after a tragic drowning, they find themselves in the company of eight beautiful mermen, but what are they willing to sacrifice to stay alive?

note: eventually, i do plan to make SEPARATE smut “half-chapters.” they will NOT be necessary to the plot, so feel to skip them if you so choose! i will also do everything i can to keep them gender neutral :) i ask that MDNI with those chapters!!!

masterlist;

Chapter One

Chapter Two

to be continued…

[atzocean]

Bound to The Sea; 2

ot8 Ateez x reader

series masterlist

word count: 4.8k

warnings: fantasy au, angst, hurt/comfort, argument, mermen!ateez, human!reader, mentions of death, magic usage, flirty ateez

description: y/n learns the weight of their new reality, and what it means for their future

ocean’s notes: thank you so much for the love on chapter one! i hope this one is just as good :) as for the future of this fic, i have a question for you guys: how do you feel about smut in the future? i am trying to keep it gender neutral, but i can see if i can write something in! if so, would you prefer it be skippable, as in, not vital to the plot, in case you wouldn’t want to read it? please let me know, as i’m very on the fence about it!! dividers by @saradika-graphics <33

tags: @m00f1e @silverkeeho @franbowesax @listeria-monocytogenes @ateez-atiny380 @ffenjoyerdazme @addi-3 @queenofgoodbyes @emilysecresy @ssangx8 @tinycloudz @sugalarity @dumplingsyum

༄｡° Chapter Two

You wake to the sound of multiple voices overlapping. It seems hushed, but serious. Looking around, you’re reminded of the situation you’re in. Underwater, in the company of eight mermen. Right. Finally your eyes land on the group floating around a large flat rock that seems to be acting as a table. They’re eating something, but you can’t quite make out what it is. They still haven’t noticed you’re awake. Sitting up, the covers slide off of you, and you remember your lack of clothing.

“Hey… is everything okay?” You ask, and the conversation stops immediately. Everyone’s attention turns to you, and then to Hongjoong. You can’t help but feel very uncomfortable now. Were they talking about you? Was it bad?

“Yes, sorry, I hope we didn’t disturb you,” Hongjoong says, swimming over to you. “We’re having breakfast if you want some!” His tone is very positive, contrasting the mood that was just settling over the room. You can’t help but notice, however, that you’re starving, and the offer of breakfast sounds amazing.

“Please, I would love something to eat,” You say, still hesitant about the previous conversation. Standing up, a different question comes to mind, “Um… is there any chance I could borrow something else to wear? I feel a little exposed in just a bathing suit,” a blush spreading over your cheeks. Hongjoong almost appears confused before nodding and swimming into his room. When he returns, he has some black fabric and a box. Now you’re confused.

“Let me measure a few things and I’ll work on some clothing for you while you eat,” He says, already circling around you with the fabric in hand. “I found this a while back floating on the surface. Been waiting to put it to good use. You seem like the perfect model,” he says with a smile. If you didn’t know any better you’d think he was flirting.

“Thank you,” you laugh out, cheeks burning even more when you notice that half the boys’ eyes are still on you. Hongjoong makes little notches in the fabric with a small dagger. It appears to be carved from bone, with swirling designs on the hilt. You get lost in it. You’re so focused on the knife, you didn’t even notice how close he’d gotten until he was hovering just in front of you. His fingers gently brush over your wrists as he takes his last measurement.

“Of course. It shouldn't take me too long to finish. In the meantime, here,” he hands you a thin green garment that looks like it’s made from the same material as your blankets. It doesn’t do too much to cover you, but it’s better than nothing. You slip it over your body, and say another thank you, before heading to the table with the rest of the group.

Immediately, food is handed to you. The hand holding it belongs to Wooyoung, who seems very excited for you to try it.

“Did you make this?” You ask him, and he nods quickly.

“Yes! It’s seaweed wrapped cod! We have it pretty often, so I hope you like it…” he says. His excitement turned a bit shy as his sentence ended. It seems like your opinion really matters to him. You take a bite, and immediately you’re met with one of the most delicious tastes you’ve ever experienced. How did this taste so amazing?

Wooyoung’s nerves melt away the moment he sees your expression, his own turning to pride. “That good?” he asks, but he knows it is. You nod, already taking another large bite. You really were very hungry, how long has it been since you’d eaten? You couldn't even remember. The boys continued eating their breakfast as well. The nine of you— minus Hongjoong, who was still working on your clothes— ate in contented silence around the table.

When you’re all finished, Hongjoong joins you, setting the fabric to the side for the moment. You notice it’s already taking shape. He must’ve been working fast. A warm feeling blooms in your chest at the attention and care these mermen have given you. Since the moment you woke up, they have shown you such kindness, it’s almost overwhelming, but welcomed nonetheless. Hongjoong’s voice pulls you out of your thoughts.

“Okay, it’s time,” and he looks around at all the boys, who nod together. They look… guilty? Anxious? Something about the way they fidget with their hands and avoid your eyes pulls all of that previous warmth right out of you. Suddenly, you’re questioning your trust in these men. How can you know for certain that they have your best interest in mind? You don’t know them, this is all unfamiliar territory. Your mind starts spiraling before you even hear what they have to say, taking an unconscious step backward. Then another. And another.

“Wait, calm down! It’s okay, I promise. We just have to tell you something. It’ll help you understand how you’re still alive. How you’re here with us right now. Please, just hear us out,” Seonghwa says, hushing your racing mind, and bringing your steps to a halt. He takes your pause as an invitation to continue, turning to Yeosang and giving him the slightest nod.

“Yesterday, Seonghwa and I were out harvesting seaweed when I heard you. You were so quiet, but I could hear you somewhere close by. I knew something was wrong…” Yeosang’s voice is slightly hushed, like he’s afraid to say it. “I told Hwa, and we followed the sound. When I saw you… It was like I wasn’t myself. You were going to die, I was certain of that. Something in me took over and I just…” he pauses, and looks at you fully, “I saved your life.” You’re beyond confused. Why was that so difficult for him to say? You knew they had to have saved your life in some way. You open your mouth to say as much but he stops you, holding his hand up.

“I used magic. Similar to how Seonghwa and Jongho did yesterday evening to help your head, except it was much more powerful. You weren’t going to make it any other way, I had no other choice… fuck,” he almost sounds choked up, his eyes drop again, and you’re getting scared.

“Yeosang,” you say carefully, “what did you do to me?”

He looks at you one final time and says, “I turned you into one of us, and I don’t know how to turn you back.”

Your blood runs cold. You feel sick and dizzy and your heart is pounding so loud you can hear it in your ears. From the way they’re moving toward you, it’s safe to say you look as bad as you feel. The shock and panic is rooting you to the ground, forcing every thought to circle in your brain like a tornado.

This is why you can breathe the water. It’s how you’re able to understand and even speak their language. All of these questions you’ve had from the start are answered, but this isn’t what you wanted to hear.

Will you ever see your family again? Your friends? Do they think you died? Are they looking for you now? What kind of a life can you live here? You didn’t ask for this, you didn’t want this. The boys’ voices are overlapping in an attempt to pull you out of your own head, but you don’t hear a single word of it. Instead, every sound in your brain comes to a screeching halt as your eyes lock onto Yeosang.

You don’t know when your anguish turned into rage, but it melted away the moment you saw Yeosang properly. He wasn’t just guilty, he looked devastated. His breathing was heavy and staggered, and his eyes were red. The water surrounding him didn’t allow for his tears to fall, but there was no doubt that he was crying in front of you. You sympathized with him, yes, but you can’t deny the betrayal you felt.

“That wasn’t...” you swallow down your own cries threatening to come out, “That wasn’t your choice to make.”

“There wasn’t any other choice! I did what I had to—”

“You could've let me die!” Everyone falls silent. You finally choke out a sob, “You should’ve let me die. At least I would’ve died as myself.”

Yeosang has gone pale, his eyes flicking around as if he’s thinking a million different things at the same time. “I didn’t even… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t consider you wouldn’t want to be saved. I’m sorry, (Y/n), please…” He’s pleading with you, harsh gasps interrupting his words from how hard he's crying. Your entire world is shifting, spinning in front of your eyes. You feel guilty for making him hurt like this, but you can’t help it. He took your humanity from you. You take a step toward him, about to continue, before you’re stopped.

“That's enough.” Hongjoong says, placing his body between the two of you, blocking your vision from each other. “Look, he saved your life. He had no other option. He couldn’t ask what you wanted because you were barely alive by that point. This isn’t his fault. We have opened our home to you, of course, and that offer will still stand. We are more than willing to try to find a solution, a cure if we can, but I will not let you speak to him this way. He’s family, okay?” Hearing his words calms you down a bit. He’s right, this isn’t Yeosang’s fault.

“I’m sorry,” you whisper, and fall to your knees. Your hands dig into the rough sand, squeezing into tight fists. All of those questions from before settle back into your brain, and you’re hit with a sudden burst of adrenaline. A strong desire to know just how much you’re losing. Fuck it.

The moment Hongjoong’s eyes are off of you, you push up from the ground and swim as fast as you can out of the cave. You don’t know how to get back to the beach you were at when you drowned, but you know one thing: you need to swim up. The one goal you had before all of this. It’s what you failed to do back then, and what put you in this situation. This wasn’t Yeosang’s fault at all. It was yours. So you swim, your legs kicking hard, and your arms pushing forward, propelling you straight to the surface.

“Stop!! You’re going to hurt yourself, just wait!” you hear someone say behind you, but you don’t care. You’re already hurt. Nothing else could come close to the pain you feel in your heart. Your legs are growing weaker with every kick, and the change in pressure is making your vision blur, but the light is getting closer and closer. You can feel the warmth from the sun penetrating the water. A hand grabs your ankle just before you breach.

“Let go of me!” you practically scream out, turning to see who it is. Jongho’s dark, round eyes are looking up at you. He let go of your ankle, but his hands are hovering around you. He swims up a little higher so you’re parallel, and continues holding his hands near your waist. Not yet touching, just there.

“You can’t do that. It’s going to hurt. Just let us explain everything better, please,” he says, motioning to the surface, “This is so much more than you realize, and I’m afraid of what will happen if you go up there.”

You want to trust him so badly. You’re exhausted from the crying and the fighting and the swimming. Something else is drawing your energy out of you, but you can’t place what it is. You want to collapse against him, and let him swim you back to those safe blankets in the cave. You want to, but you can’t. Before he can think, you make one last push and your head is out of the water, bobbing slightly from the gentle waves that float past you. The sky is a beautiful blue, and there are birds dotting it out in the distance. A gentle breeze cools your wet cheeks. The salt in the air is sticky. It’s perfect.

Then you feel it. An ache beneath your rib cage. It’s familiar, and it hurts. Bad. The ache turns to a sharp stabbing, causing a whimper to escape your mouth. What is hurting you? Where is it coming from? And, god, why do you recognize it!? You start to thrash your legs, desperate to make the pain go away, until you feel those strong hands snap around your waist, right where they were waiting, and yank you down below. You yelp, eyes meeting Jongho’s instantly. He doesn’t let go. You don’t know why, but he’s just watching you, holding on a little tighter than you think he should. His eyes are searching, and you’re going to ask him what in the world he’s looking for, when you realize: the pain is gone.

It dispersed the moment you got a breath of ocean water. You were suffocating up there. The air was choking you. He sees the recognition in your face, and before you can say anything he pulls you against him in an enveloping hug. He smells like flowers somehow. He is so warm, like a fireplace in the winter. You don’t even realize as he slowly swims you both back down to the cave. You don’t see the other boys’ faces as they follow, having swam out after you as well. You don’t hear them whisper to each other that ‘they tried to breathe air.’ No, you don’t notice any of that.

Instead, you feel Jongho sit you in the blankets, just as you’d wished for before. He drops down in front of you, keeping your attention on him, and him only. Every attempt to turn your head to the other men as they file back into the cave is met with his hands on your face pulling your gaze back to him. You feel the presence of two mermen on either side of you, but you don’t know who it is, and it doesn’t matter, because Jongho keeps staring into your eyes, never breaking contact. He just waits. Letting you sit with the new reality you’ve come to understand. Your life will never be the same.

You don’t know how long you stay there, but as the minutes pass you by, you slowly begin to calm. You’re still reeling, but you can keep your thoughts in order enough to speak. Eventually Jongho lets go of your face, and you settle, finally noticing all of the boys around you. Yeosang is sitting furthest from you, as if he’s afraid to get too close. When your eyes meet, his expression is apologetic, and you can’t stop the words from coming out.

“It’s not your fault. I’m sorry for implying it was. Thank you for saving me, Yeosang.” You can practically see a weight lift from his shoulders at your words. You hope he doesn’t blame himself. He smiles at you, and while his face still reads solemnity, it’s genuine.

“I’ll do whatever I can to help,” he offers.

“I know you will,” you say, and you mean it. You can tell just how important this is to him.

“We all will, but this is going to be bigger than just us,” Hongjoong starts. He turns to you, “We’ve begun working on a plan. That’s what we were discussing this morning. There’s an elder in the village not too far from here, she knows a lot more about magic than we do, and we think she can help.” This gives you a new sense of hope.

“Help? As in, stop the change from happening?” You’re getting excited at the idea, looking around at all the boys, but they don’t seem to share your excitement.

“We don’t know exactly what she’s capable of. Yes, she's powerful, but this situation is… unique. We’re hoping she can at least point us in the right direction of a solution,” Yunho speaks up from where he’s sitting next to you, on your right.

“So… Have you ever met her, or is this all just speculation?” Your tone is curious and light, even if internally the idea that they haven’t actually seen her abilities firsthand makes you frustrated.

“I have,” San speaks up from behind you. He swims around so you can see him, and stops near Jongho. “When I was little, I lived there for a bit. My family needed a place to stay and they gave us a temporary home in their walls. They don’t like newcomers, but I think they felt bad for us. Said that as long as we kept to ourselves and didn’t cause any trouble, we could stay,” He explains, as you nod along, listening intently.

“One day, a villager fell ill. It was sudden, he was fine one day, and the next he could barely move. I remember being so scared for that man. I could’ve sworn he was dying, which wasn’t something I had ever seen before. Us merfolk live long lives, and he was barely forty, and previously in good health. It was strange,” he pauses to let you take in this information. You think about a young San, scared, clinging to his parents as he watches this man suffer. You feel for him greatly. He continues.

“That night, I couldn’t sleep. I tried so hard, but every time I closed my eyes I could only see that man, lying in his bed, pale and shaking. It was haunting me. So for some reason, I decided to sneak out to see him. I think my little brain needed confirmation he wasn’t some monster. I don’t know,” he laughs, his own childhood logic not making any sense. “When I got to him though… he wasn’t alone. The village elder was there.” You gasp quietly.

“She was at his side, holding her hands over him, one above his head, and the other his chest. The magic she was using was so powerful that I could see it in the water. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, a bright white and blue that lit up the whole room. I couldn’t look away. After what felt like forever, she just left. Back to her own home where she didn’t come out for days,” he says.

“And the man?” you ask, completely drawn into his story. San can’t help but smile at you. Your eyes wide as your whole body is leaning toward him, entranced.

“The next day, the man was in better health than he’d ever been. He stayed that way for the rest of the time we lived there. It was amazing. She brought him back from death’s door. She’s powerful.” he concludes.

“That’s good then, right? Maybe she can help…” you say, looking back to Hongjoong.

“We really hope so, (Y/n),” he says, smiling. “Let’s go over the plan now, okay?” You nod.

Everyone sits in a circle on the floor with you. Jongho and San, who were in front of you, shift back a bit to allow for the rest to join. Yunho and Mingi are on either side of you, making you feel very small between the two large mermen. Yeosang has scooted in closer, properly joining the circle, while Hongjoong, Seonghwa, and Wooyoung all fill in the gaps. It’s kind of nice to have everyone gathered around you. Comforting, even.

“In one week, we will leave for the village. There, we will meet with the elder, and hope that she can help us, you, in some way,” Hongjoong begins, speaking carefully, but concisely. He’s making sure you understand every aspect of it. It seems like he ran through this speech in his head multiple times.

“What if she can’t?” Worry laces your tone, but you try to swallow your nerves down.

“We will figure that out if the time comes, but I’d like to try to stay positive,” he says, placing a hand on your knee and giving it a reassuring squeeze. He can’t help but notice the tint to your cheeks. The others see this as well, but no one says anything.

“In the week leading up to leaving, we’re going to work with you, teaching you as much as we can in the short time we have. Swimming lessons will be in the mornings, with Jongho and San.” he nods to them respectively. “You’ll also be studying magic every night with Yeosang and Seonghwa,” he continues.

“And during the day you’re stuck with us!” Wooyoung adds loudly, nudging Yunho.

“Doing what?” you ask, and the smirk on Wooyoung’s face makes you shiver. Yunho shakes his head, chuckling lightly.

“We’re just going to teach you about our everyday life. The way we live down here. Harvesting and hunting for food, carving tools, cooking, cleaning… daily stuff. It’ll help you get to know the basics,” Yunho says, sending Wooyoung a playful glare. The other throws his head back in a cackle, clearly very amused.

“Mingi and I will be working on planning the route, and figuring out all the details.” Hongjoong says. You’re not sure why, but you’re a little disappointed that you won’t get time with them as well. Your face must show it, too, because Mingi pokes your arm and says, “Aww don’t worry, you’ll still see us around. You don’t really get the chance to miss anyone here… close quarters and all that.” You giggle, and once again feel a shyness at the thoughts that come to mind.

It’s strange that all of the boys seem to flirt with you so openly, but they won’t acknowledge the effect it’s having on you. Once again, you fall back on the excuse that maybe merfolk culture is different, but a certain part of you knows that’s not the case. It’s just too… intentional.

Nevertheless, you’re satisfied with the plan, and Hongjoong opens up the floor to any questions you may have. Mulling over the millions of questions you’ve thought of since waking up, you settle on a few that stand out the most.

“How long do I have until it’s permanent?” is your first question, and arguably the most important.

“As far as I know, it’s about seven weeks, but it can vary from person to person. It works in stages. I don’t know all the details myself, but I have a good feeling the elder will have that information.” Hongjoong answers you quickly and formally. He definitely anticipated that one.

“Okay…” you start, feeling a little uncertain about the time limit. “How much do you guys know about humans? Are we as elusive to you as you are to us?”

“Our knowledge is definitely… lacking, to say the least, but we know more than you think, I’m sure of that.” You nod, a bit curious as to what they do know, but decide to pry for that another day.

“Last question,” you say dramatically, building suspense. They all find this quite endearing. “Could I have a proper tour of the place? I already know the main room here, and the kitchen, but everything else is lost on me. If I’m gonna be here for a while, I’d like to know my way around,” you conclude, giggling at the simplicity of your request. They laugh along with you, and Seonghwa shoots upright.

“Yeah, of course!” He says, grabbing your hand and pulling you up. The sudden closeness has your eyes wide, but it doesn’t last long as he pulls you to the back of the cave. Wow, he’s fast.

“Welcome to the tour, I will be your guide, you can call me Seonghwa,” he says very official-like.

“Well, yeah, that’s your name,” you grin as he looks around in thought, before cracking a smile.

“Hmm… I guess you’re right.” He mumbles, jokingly pouting, before placing a hand on your lower back and holding the other out, pointing to the first room. “This is San’s room, and...” he stretches out the word as his hand switches to the right side, “this one is Jongho’s.” All of their rooms have curtains, just like the one on Seonghwa’s, so you can’t see in.

You feel Seonghwa gently push you forward to the next two rooms, and he points them out as Mingi’s and Yeosang’s. Each new push makes a heat spread through your body, as if his hand were on fire, but he continues on.

“Yunho is on the left here, and Wooyoung on the right,” he says. You nod, taking it all in, and trying your absolute best to focus on anything but Seonghwa’s large hand.

You’re shocked when he comes to a sudden halt and turns your body to one of the rooms. This one, you notice, has a tighter sealed curtain, and a hook goes through the fabric where a door handle would be. Seonghwa clears his throat and a little quieter says, “So… this is our private room,” he undoes the rocks at the bottom, and pulls the fabric off the hook. Immediately, recognition dawns on you. Ahh, you think, it’s a bathroom.

Seonghwa looks a little embarrassed as he explains, “I’m not really sure how humans do this but…” he motions to the hollow rock jutting out from the wall, “there’s a current that runs under this cave. Any… waste… can go in there,” he finishes explaining and you both feel shy, but you’re glad that they even have a bathroom. You’d been wondering about that.

“Noted, thank you,” you squeak out, and slip back into the hall, ready to move on. He follows after you, closing the curtain up behind you, before once again placing that warm hand on your back. You just can’t get a break, can you? Finally, he reaches the last two rooms. The one on the right you already know to be his, as he points to the other and tells you it belongs to Hongjoong. Just then, a new question comes to mind.

“So…” you start, a teasing lilt to your voice, “which one do I sleep in?” A noise like a cross between a cough and a choke sounds from behind you, and you can’t help but laugh. In the main room, the conversations dropped silent as they all turned their attention to you. Okay, maybe you overstepped.

“Sorry! I didn’t mean we’d have to share, I just— I don’t know if I can sleep out here all the time. I need privacy too, you know? Or maybe I could just have a curtain put up so I can have a temporary room… or something?” you’re rambling, embarrassed beyond belief at what you just insinuated. You expect them to be annoyed, or disgusted, but they are all just listening to your words tumble out with fondness. Some of them (most notably Wooyoung) even seem a little smug. You groan, and let your face fall into your hands.

“We can each take turns giving up our bed for the night. How does that sound?” Hongjoong suggests. You can hear the smile in his voice, but you’re just grateful he gave a good solution that stopped you from digging yourself into your own grave. The boys all agree to this, and you nod quickly, a quiet thank you slipping out.

Desperate to move on, you ask, “When do my lessons start?”

Yunho grins, and turns to Wooyoung, then back to you. “Now,” he says.

“Now, like… right now?”

“Right now,” Wooyoung confirms, swimming over to steal you from Seonghwa, who seems reluctant to let you go.

“See you later,” Seonghwa’s voice drops a little, and you find yourself incredibly excited for your magic lessons this evening.

Before you can reply, Wooyoung is yanking you out the cave entrance, Yunho following suit. They’re all so playful and fun. They’re always laughing, teasing, and flirting. They seem to care for each other deeply, too. You recall how Hongjoong spoke about Yeosang. He called him family. You find yourself so caught up in these feelings that for just a moment, you don’t mind the idea of being here. For only a passing second, you think that you would be okay if this were the life you were cursed to. The thought is gone as quickly as it came, but it was there, and it didn’t scare you as much as it probably should have.

“Hey, you okay?” Yunho asks you, noticing how you seemed to have zoned out.

“Yeah, I’m good. So, what am I learning today?” you ask, looking between them.

“Lesson one!” Wooyoung cuts in, excited to be in this little teaching role, “Harvesting food!” He holds his arm out to the countless seaweed plants in front of you. They sway in the water like a field of corn. It’s nice to draw similarities between this place and home. Even if the reminder hurts a bit.

“Okay,” Yunho says, pulling another one of those bone daggers from his belt, “let’s get started.”

🌊: i hope you enjoyed!! if you didn’t read the note at the top, i ask that you please do. i’ll start working on chapter three as soon as possible :)

[atzocean]

402

jung wooyoung x reader

word count: 583

warnings: suggestive MDNI, alcohol consumption, wooyoung is a huge flirt, intentional lowercase

description: a loud party, a little alcohol, and your greatest weakness: wooyoung

ocean’s notes: i may consider a part two for this if you all like it :) i do again ask that MDNI please! its not smut, but it is definitely quite suggestive

the moment you sit down, you notice him. jung wooyoung, making slow strides across the room, eyes fixed on you. your breath catches in your throat at the sight of him. he looks devastatingly gorgeous, but then, when doesn’t he?

his black hair has grown out, the ends just brushing his shoulders. he has a black v-neck blazer on, with no undershirt. instead, his neck and chest are adorned with multiple silver necklaces that draw your attention to the exposed skin. he’s also been made up with a dark smoky eye. no one should look that good.

the closer he gets to you, weaving through people and around tables, the more nervous you get. the butterflies in your stomach are testing you. you have to stand your ground, you can’t let him do this again.

“enjoying your night?” he asks, a low drawl gracing his voice from the alcohol in his system— liquid courage, he calls it, as if he needed any more courage. he wasn’t drunk by any means, just a bit tipsy, but it’s got him feeling a little warmer than usual. “or maybe just enjoying the view?” you blush and roll your eyes, he always seems to catch you.

“this kind of party…” you start, gesturing around with the glass in your right hand— the same one you'd been nursing all evening— “it’s not exactly my scene,” you finish, eyes meeting his in an attempt to get the upper hand.

he leans his arms on the table in front of you, and his blazer drops down with the movement, giving you a full view of his chest, the jewelry dangling low. he watches your eyes flick down for a split second, and whatever advantage you had in this conversation melts away as his smirk grows. he knows exactly how to break down your walls. you clear your throat and take a small sip from your glass.

“what is your scene then?” he says, just loud enough to catch your ears over the bass thrumming through the room, and the overlapping conversations around you both.

“i think i just prefer the quiet,” you state.

he hums, nodding gently, as if mulling it over. and then, “you know, you aren’t very subtle. you think you are but,” he stops, staring at you for a beat. letting the realization dawn on you as you squirm under his gaze. he stretches across the table, lips right next to your ear, and whispers, “we both know i drive you crazy.”

then, before you can respond, he pulls the glass from your hand, fingers brushing yours. he inspects the rim, turning it until he finds where your lips pressed against it last, and puts it to his mouth. he takes a long, slow drink, eyes burning a hole through you.

when he turns on his heel with your glass in his hand, you begin to protest, “wait, i wasn’t done!” he stops, but doesn’t turn back.

“you don’t like this brand,” he says over his shoulder, before disappearing back into the crowd. you’re left behind, emotions a cross between angry, shocked, and exhilarated. a shiny card catches your attention on the table. picking it up, you immediately feel a heat grow between your thighs. it’s a hotel room key, and written in thick black ink: 402. you can’t see him anymore, but you know he’s watching you, a smug smile tugging at his lips as you sigh and slip it into your pocket. he always wins.

[atzocean]

atzocean’s masterlist

🌀- angst

🌌- hurt/comfort

❄️- fluff

🪼- suggestive [MDNI]

🩻- smut [MDNI]

OT8;

Bound to The Sea [series] 🌀🌌❄️ (🪼🩻)

HONGJOONG;

none yet :(

SEONGHWA;

k. k. love song ❄️

YUNHO;

the perfect day ❄️

YEOSANG;

none yet :(

SAN;

none yet :(

MINGI;

none yet :(

WOOYOUNG;

402 🪼

JONGHO;

shelter from the storm 🌀🌌❄️