Reconnection

gotak x f!reader

a/n: just finishing watch S2 and the ending?!?!

warnings: spoilers from whc2

Masterlist

it had been a few months since you first met si-eun’ other friends. they all had very different personalities yet, somehow it worked. they accepted you with open arms when si-eun finally introduced you to them.

gotak in particular was very welcoming with you. he was charming, a little reckless, and he had this way of making everything feel like a game. when you’d hang out both you and si-eun had often rolled your eyes at his teasing—he was relentless. he constantly flirted with you in the most absurd ways and you soon grew accustomed to the way gotak’ attention drifted to you like some kind of magnetic force whenever when you were around.

at first, you’d tried to shut him down politely, then firmly, and eventually, you just ignored him.his playful winks and over-the-top comments weren’t even enough to faze you anymore. it wasn’t that you didn’t find him attractive. he was. but you had no interest in getting caught up within his antics. however, some days proved harder than others.

"you’re so cold” gotak teased, his voice dripping with amusement “you know one of these days, you're gonna fall for me, and i’ll be there to remind you i was right from the beginning”

“keep dreaming” you rolled your eyes, not wanting to humour him.

“trust me i will” he reached an arm to poke your side. this was something you always hated so you responded with an elbow into his stomach.

he let out an amused laugh as he was satisfied that he’d pushed your buttons.

it was a regular evening when everything changed. you and si-eun were walking together in a comfortable silence. you had an airpod in your ear and you both began to cross the road.

you hadn’t noticed until you were on the other side of the road but si-eun was no longer beside you. when you turned to see where he was, he was still in the middle of the road.

phone upto his ear, his facial expression unreadable and within a second it happened. the sound of a truck beeping and then a loud sickening thud followed.

your chest tightened and the world seemed to slow down in a rush of adrenaline. your eyes widened as si-eun laid on the floor unconscious.

he’d been hit by a truck.

“si-eun! stay with me, you’re going to be okay” you yelled as you ran into the road towards his body. you then crouched down beside him as you called for an ambulance.

it felt like hours before they arrived and then you were in the hospital waiting room. it was cold,sterile and suffocating. you held your hoodie around yourself trying to hold it all together. you felt numb.

your hands were shaky as you called jun-tae, you mentioned that something had happened to si-eun and you knew he would pass along the message and your phone soon flooded with messages from your friends saying they were on their way.

the minutes of waiting felt like hours, each minute more agonizing than the last. you’de barely registered the footsteps approaching before you heard the familiar voice of gotak.

“y/n, what happened?” his tone was a lot sharper than usual, his usual teasing replaced by genuine concern.

you head immediately shot up at his voice and you didn’t know how to answer him. your lip quivered as you felt your throat tightening.

you wanted to speak but it’s like the words were trapped inside your throat. gotak noticed this and he took a step closer. concern washed on his face.

“it’s ok, take your time” his voice was soft and tears brimmed your eyes as you looked at him.

“si-eun, he-” you tried speaking but instead burst into tears.

gotak instinctively wrapped his arms around you and pulled you into his chest. his hug was protective, warm and almost as if he was trying to shield you from everything. your body stiffened at first but as soon as you felt yourself relax, you then immediately let it all out, unable to stay strong any longer.

his chin rested a top of your head and he didn’t at any point let go.

“it’s okay, im here” his voice was low but comforting “you don’t have to go through this alone”

you remained in his arms for a few minutes more and when you finally calmed down, you slowly pulled away but gotak was hesitant to let you go.

“you’re strong and si-eun. he’ll get through this, ok?” the softness in his voice was something you’d never heard before. it made tour heart ache in ways you least expected.

gotak, who never usually took anything seriously was here and you were now seeing him in a completely different light. he wasn’t just the guy who teased you relentlessly; he was someone who cared, deeply, in his own way.

thenext few days were a blur. you spent most of your time at the hospital, waiting for any sign of improvement from si-eun. gotak was always there, sometimes by your side, sometimes just quietly sitting across the room, his presence comforting regardless.

but you then started to notice the subtle changes in him—the way he no longer flirted with you, the way he would reach out with a soft touch or offer quiet words of support when you needed them most.

hewas there, not as the guy who teased you, but as someone who understood the gravity of the situation. who understood what you currently needed.

one evening, as you sat in the hospital’s waiting area, gotak approached you, looking unusually serious. he stood in front of you for a moment, then hesitated before sitting beside you.

“i’ve been thinking a lot, you know?” he began, his voice uncertain “about everything.”

you glanced at him, surprised by his tone.

“i know i’ve been… an idiot. flirting, teasing you all the time. i guess i thought it was just fun, you know? seeing how riled up you’d get sometimes” he then paused, running a hand through his hair “but, honestly, i don’t want to just be some joke anymore. i want to be here for you. i just don’t know how else to say it.”

your heart skipped a beat as you met his gaze, realizing he was being completely genuine.

“gotak” you whispered, your voice barely audible “what are you saying?”

he shifted closer, his eyes softening “i’m saying i care about you, more than just as friends. i want to be with you in any way you want me. whether it’s a friend or more..”

you didn’t know what to say at first. everything inside you felt tangled, emotions running high. you had seen this side of gotak, but you hadn’t expected it to come out this way.

“you’ve been nothing but amazing to me, you make me feel so cared for and i care for you too” your voice was shaky.

a silence then fell between you both, the weight of your words hanging in the air. gotak then smiled—a genuine, soft smile. he reached out, his hand brushing against yours.

your heart beating fast.

in that moment, everything changed.

as the days passed and si-eun recovered, gotak and you found something new in each other. something more than what had been there before. the teasing and flirtation remained but was overtaken by something deeper, something real.

one evening after a long day, gotak finally leaned in, his lips brushing against yours in a soft kiss. his hands cupped your face as he pulled you in closer. you didn’t resist, instead you melted into the kiss, savouring the moment.

when he pulled back, he smiled, his eyes soft with sincerity which cause you to grin aswell.

“i’ve fallen for you” he confessed “more than i thought i ever could”

“me too” you admitted and he leaned his forehead onto yours and you both linked your fingers together.

“i told you so” the seriousness in his voice disappeared and his usual teasing tone returned “i was right from the beginning”

you let out a laugh, gently shaking your head “whatever”

you playfully rolled your eyes and pulled back from him dramatically to try and make a point but gotak pulled you back in.

“go on, admit it” he smirked and you couldn’t stop smiling.

you really had fallen for gotak.

hard.

neteyam was born to la la la la la la but was forced to ok ok ok ok ok :(

𓇼 invisible string ; lo'ak.

synopsis. a simple conversation makes a full one-eighty as lo'ak airs out his true feelings towards hometree and the clan.

info. angst. lo'ak sully x gn!omaticayan reader. 1,822 words.

warnings. misunderstanding trope! crying, a barely there description of a panic attack, a common neytiri W, stupid lo'ak... like so so so dumb. barely proof read this bro... ignore all the errors :P

"if you could go to any place, where would you be?" you ask softly, the wind carry your voice into lo'ak's pinched back ears.

"easy. anywhere but here," he says with a sigh. and as he lies on his back, lo'ak's eyes close with a huff puffing past his lips. before you could even utter another question of 'why?', he cuts you off with his own train of thought. "dad's always on my ass about something. if i had the chance, i would hop on my ikran and fly as far away as i could."

your brows furrow confusedly, an uneasy smile forcing it's way to your lips as you glance over at his figure, almost ticked-off with how calm his demeanor is whilst laying on the soft grass.

you hum quietly, attempting to sound like you're agreeing but failing miserably. but it's not like lo'ak noticed, no, he was too busy wallowing in his own self pity to hear such a tiny lilt to your voice. too busy to feel the uncomfortable shift within the air that consumes you both.

"so... there's nothing convincing you to stay?" you inquire, busying yourself by looking plucking at random patches of grass. the slight scoff that flutters past his lips is almost gut-wrenching, and you can feel the cracks grow in size as your heart breaks into a billion pieces.

slowly sitting up, he aimlessly glances around the foliage surrounding you both. bringing his hand up, his palm towards the sky as he blocks the sunlight from his eyes. a disgruntled noise vibrates against his lips as he acknowledges your question.

the next sentence that leaves his lips could only be described in one word; heartbreaking.

"when it comes to the hometree... the clan, no. there's absolutely nothing worth staying stuck here for."

you feel the sharp tip of the metaphorical arrow pierce it's way into your heart, the poor thing far from bits and pieces as his harsh words struck deep within your bones. the way your heart rattles in your ribcage is overwhelming to say the least, the continuous thumping of the muscle growing slower and slower as silence blankets itself over two. the sentence leaving his lips so nonchalantly that it almost makes you dizzy, nauseous even. you watch him shrug as he drops his hand into his lap, allowing the sun's rays to illuminate every single one of his features that you've grown to love.

lo'ak misses the way your features fall into one of pure sorrow, frown deepening, and lips twitching uncontrollably as flits of silence yet again fill the tense air.

"sorry for mentioning it, lo'ak."

your voice is low, barely above a whisper as you swallow a thick lump stuck in your throat. the action does little to soothe the scorching hot pain that his words had burnt into your brain. the way his name rumbles in your chest has him confused and left in a daze, unsure of how to respond. you rarely call him by his full name, the fact that you even said it makes his brain short circuit.

"y/n..." he calls out your name, fidgeting slightly as he begins to notice how tense you are. the boy sighs deeply upon seeing your head hung low, bead-clad braids falling off your shoulders and curtaining your face away from his worry filled eyes.

"no, it is fine. i will see you later," you mutter with a shake of your head. standing up from your spot, you don't bother dusting the specks of dirt on your legs, opting to scurry towards the village in a hurry.

lo'ak watches you slip away, physically and metaphorically. the way you try to get away from him etches itself into the deepest parts of his brain, guilt consuming him whole as he is forced to replay the pained look written across your face as you got up to leave.

-

you avoided lo'ak like the plague.

it was like the wind had swept you away, never to be seen again, and it pained him to his very core. the hurt he felt was something he could not shake, heart feeling heavy as days, weeks passed by without a single word from you.

he attempts to remind himself that he has other things to worry about, which means your lack of presence is nowhere near the top of his priority list. but that last glimpse of you before running off, your face twisted in pure misery... well it does nothing but fan the growing flames of desire to make things right.

the desire to hold you, to take back the stupidest thing he's ever said begins to outweigh his duties. and at one point, it fully does. but by the time he musters up the courage to talk to you, it had already been a month since you last spoke.

he tried his best to find you, whether at your hut, the place you hug out in, he even checks all your favorite spots, but you're nowhere to be seen. you are just — gone.

you were like that of a ghost, he even questioned if you were ever real, just a figment of his imagination. but alas, his anxieties are temporarily relieved as his parents and siblings begin questioning him of your sudden disappearance.

lo'ak can never give them a straight answer, tongue laying uncomfortably in his mouth as he swallows the truth of what he has done, how he ruined your friendship.

how he messed up the one good thing in his life.

his thoughts overwhelm quickly, suffocating him. visions of you crying, the angsty look gracing your beautiful features, it's all too much. his heart cannot take seeing you in pain and as he closes his eyes, he attempts to calm his fluttering heartbeat. focusing on breathing in and out, he almost misses the soft calling of his name.

"lo'ak, are you okay?" he hears his mother's voice call out, tone soft as silk as she saunters over to the boy. she sits upon the grassy floor, nimble fingers grazing his shoulders as a silent way to remind him that she is here for him.

"i messed up, ma. i really messed up," he chokes out, voice getting caught in his throat as he hangs his head low. neytiri's eyes widen at her son, she's never seeing him so vulnerable, but nonetheless scoots closer to him. she wraps her slim arms around his shoulders, wanting to protect her little boy from the harshness of the world as he falls apart in her arms.

she pursues her lips, trying to figure out what to say, but as his sobs grow in volume, she pushes away the fact that he does not need advice right now.

no, he just needs his mom.

so, she remains silent, arms engulfing him as he rests his head in the crook of her neck. he latches on tight as if he she would run away, his fingers leaving indents on her biceps as he wails. she shushes him, rubbing circles on his back soothingly as he lets all his bottled up emotions free and into the air that surrounds them both.

-

the sun is barely setting once neytiri gets lo'ak to calm down. her back pressed against a tree as he lays his head in her lap like he used to do when he was little. she hums his favorite lullaby, the same tune on his songchord to be exact. they both remain quiet as she redoes a couple of braids in her son's hair, fixing his flyaways as he eases into her gentle touch.

she doesn't want to force him to speak about the things that plague his mind, wanting for him to come to her when he's ready. so, they both focus on the soft gusts of wind that ripple through the tree leaves, the sweet whooshing sound like music to their ears.

"i think i'm ready," he states, not moving from his mother's lap. neytiri simply hums. "they had asked me if there was any place i wanted to go to, y'know if i had the chance," he begins.

"i-i basically told them that i would rather be anywhere but here, even if that meant being away from them..." he mutters, ashamed. neytiri's eyes soften upon seeing her son shrink into himself, but with a soft squeeze to his shoulder, she reminds him that there is no reason to hide how he truly feels, no need to mask his emotions when he's in her presence.

"i'm so stupid!" he cuts himself off, anger present within his voice as he gets up from his comfy position. he turns around to look at his mother, a sort of understanding gracing her features as she urges him to calm down.

she motions her hands downwards, a sort of up and down movement to emphasize her words, "mawey (calm), my son."

lo'ak nods, inhaling before asking, "what do i do, ma?" his eyes are puffy from crying, streaks of dry tears remaining on his cheeks as he fully sits in front of her. the older woman hums, lips formed into a straight line as she places her hands into his.

"ever since you two were little, y/n was the only child that was allowed to play with your toys." his brows furrow in confusion, head tilting sideways as he opens his mouth to question her words, but she wags her finger 'no' to stop him from doing so.

neytiri tries her best to point out the obvious, but knowing her son, she became all too familiar with having to take it step-by-step for him to understand the depth of an important situation, such as the one he is in now. it was like teaching a baby how to walk, she smirks at the thought as it reminds her of jake. the two were more alike than they let on.

"you care for them, deeply, that much is true. but are you willing to deny that there is not something more between you and them?" she asks, tone calm as to not scare him. lo'ak is taken aback, brows knitting in confusion as he trips over his words.

"mom, there's no way."

him... liking you? no, you're only his friend, nothing less, nothing more. he swallows the lump forming in his throat as he shies away from his her heavy gaze.

"let me put it this way, 'itan (son), they have always been there. you have grown up with them, you both know each other like the back of your hand. no matter how much time puts a wedge between your relationship, you cannot help but be reeled back into them." he squints his eyes, orbs swirling with realization as he begins to slot the pieces together. he urges her to finish, already knowing what she's going to say.

"lo'ak... you are in love with them."

⋆ ˚｡ ୨୧ reblogs / feedback are highly appreciated. thank you so much for reading. we hope you enjoy your stay at diwatopia !

★ diwata's thoughts . . . this,,,, kinda sucks,,, saurry idk if i'll make a pt 2, there probs will be one if this does well so manifesting that it does bc i'll make lo'ak pay lol 😜 n sorry the beginning does lowkey suck... like js talk it out?? bc ig that's the literal fucking meaning of misunderstanding 😐

© ilupearls 2023.

— hanabi

arisu x gn!reader

genre: fluff bcos i’m being nice, implied soulmates, shortfic

warnings: canon divergence and mentions of death, hospitals, injuries, blood, underage drinking and alcohol.

synopsis: It’s New Years’. You take some time to think about your closest friend and how nice fireworks are.

author’s note: happy new year! thank you for all the kindness this year again. i hope you can continue to enjoy my works as i hopefully improve even more! thank you again. enjoy the fireworks as well as this fic featuring one of the characters that bring me most comfort! arisu ryohei. cheers c:

“How long has it been since you last saw fireworks?”

“Since that day.”

You looked up as the fireworks found by a group of hopeful teenagers set off and fired into the sky. They exploded into what felt like millions of colors from this up-close, floating above the hill you laid on. The grass was cold but the breeze was light.

It was New Years’, according to someone who’d managed to keep count. In the Borderlands, you didn’t think you’d ever celebrate that. But as old habits die hard, so do traditions. So when a group of high-schoolers giddily yell about having found nice alcohol and fireworks to celebrate, you can’t really do anything about how much their anticipation rubs off on you.

“I didn’t think I would feel this happy watching fireworks.” Arisu hummed in thought, before nodding to himself with a tight-lipped smile, “In here or ever, really.”

“Did you watch them before all of this? We didn’t talk much back in high school.”

“If Karube and Chota managed to pull me out of my room, then sometimes, yeah.” he said and cracked a bright, nostalgic smile. “Did you?”

“Maybe.” you sighed, smiling to yourself.

“So vague.” Arisu chuckled, “But really. This is kind of nice.”

You hummed in agreement. “It is. Surprisingly so.”

You heard cheering from further away and watched as the lights flew closer to the stars again. Arisu’s hand slowly moved over yours, and then clung onto it like it was the most important thing in the world. Truth was sometimes it did feel this way. Maybe you were the most important thing in each other’s worlds. Maybe you cared about one another more than you did anyone else. Maybe you would never admit it alive unless you’d fear one of you would die. But sometimes even while unsaid, some truths are spoken silently— Like in this case, through the touch of your hands holding each other.

You ignored the pain of the open wound under the bandages on your finger and Arisu did the same. Blood seeped through the white fabric and you knew you’d have to redo the whole bandage soon but in this moment not a part of you could worry or care about that. Maybe the comfort of holding each other’s hand was enough to numb the pain.

A new year didn’t mean much here. Maybe it didn’t mean much at all, even in the real world. But you made a wish to the stars for things to be okay this time around— For you two to be together, always. And Arisu silently hoped for you two to survive and somehow get out of this happy, and together.

Months since the meteors. And since the hospital.

You met Arisu Ryohei again.

You two were in the same class for a few years back in high school but hadn’t really talked much since. Somehow, seeing each other again while walking outside the hospital and realizing you’d both survived what seemed like the impossible brought you back together. And as of now, he was probably your closest friend.

As his closest friend, you decided it would be nice to spend New Year’s together to watch the fireworks or maybe fall asleep before it even reached midnight. Whatever it was, Arisu seemed to be on board. He liked coming over and staying with you, anyway.

The sun had long set and the stars were bright.

“Has it been a while since you saw fireworks?”

“Logically, yes. Somehow it doesn’t feel that long.”

Arisu hummed in agreement. “Same. Weird, huh?”

You laughed. “After everything? Honestly, not that much.”

Arisu chuckled and leaned back against the couch on your apartment balcony. It was a funny feeling to be thankful something as unbelievable as meteors crashing down on Tokyo and nearly killing you happened. It was a funny thing to love someone so much you’d be alright going through all the pain again if it meant meeting them again.

Arisu felt it too. Something way longer than the minute the doctors had told him about. Something like a lifetime of suffering spent alongside someone he held dear. Someone who helped him stay alive and not give up. Someone who sat at his side, watching fireworks in comforting silence. Someone he always felt close to without knowing why.

There was something both nostalgic and comforting about the fireworks. You couldn’t tell why exactly.

When Arisu’s hand timidly reached over to hold yours, you felt like it always belonged there, telling you all the things he didn’t dare say out loud.

I think I love you.

You tightened your hand around his and took a deep breath.

This is stupid but it feels like I’ve always known you.

Maybe the stars shining alongside the light of the fireworks had been kind enough to make the two of you meet again. Or perhaps the red scars that circled around your pinkies like rings were made with fate. Either way, you were meant to be.

you’re so pretty it hurts ♡ arisu ryohei

synopsis ; arisu searches for usagi at a pool party, but finds an old friend instead.

content warnings ; alludes to sex / non-descriptive smut, sexual assault [and how it’s pushed away as jokes], virgin!reader, soft n sappy n sweet arisu ):

song inspo ; im yours by isabel larosa

if you have a blank blog [no bio, no user, no header or profile pic, nothing reblogged, etc] do not interact with my content. you will be blocked.

—— ♧ ♡ ♢ ♤ ——

Lees verder

The Arms of Survival

Warnings - General zombie stuff, (minimal) gore

It was the dead of night, and the air was thick with tension and the smell of decay. The remnants of the high school were eerily silent, save for the occasional groan of a zombie shuffling in the distance. You sat with your knees pulled up to your chest, back pressed against a cold concrete wall. The flickering light of a nearly dead flashlight barely illuminated the room, but it was enough to catch the blood-stained walls and the exhaustion etched onto everyone’s faces.

And then there was Su-hyeok.

He sat just a few feet away, his broad shoulders hunched as he cleaned off his makeshift weapon. His jaw was set, and his eyes darted to the boarded-up windows every few seconds, always alert. You’d noticed that about him—even in the midst of chaos, he never truly relaxed. He was always watching, always ready to protect the group. And, more often than not, he’d positioned himself close to you. It wasn’t something he announced or even seemed to realize, but you’d noticed. You always noticed him.

You’d met Su-hyeok on the first day of the outbreak. He’d saved you from a narrow escape in one of the science labs, grabbing your hand and pulling you away just as a zombie lunged. Since then, you’d stuck together like glue. Maybe it was because you trusted him, or maybe it was because, deep down, you felt safer with him than with anyone else.

“You should try to get some rest,” Su-hyeok said, his voice breaking through the silence. His eyes met yours, and for a moment, the tension in the air seemed to soften. “I’ll keep watch.”

You shook your head, your voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t. Every time I close my eyes, I see them.”

He didn’t ask who you meant. He didn’t need to. Everyone had lost someone. Family, friends, classmates. The weight of it hung over all of you like a storm cloud that refused to break.

“Come here,” he said, patting the space beside him. His voice was gentle, but there was an edge of firmness that made it clear he wouldn’t take no for an answer.

You hesitated for a moment before scooting closer. The warmth of his presence was immediate, a stark contrast to the cold, desolate room. He wrapped an arm around your shoulders, pulling you against his side. It was the first time he’d touched you like this, and despite the circumstances, your heart fluttered.

“You’re not alone,” he said quietly, his voice barely more than a murmur. “I’m here. As long as I’m breathing, I’ll keep you safe.”

The words hit you harder than you expected. In a world that had become so cruel and unpredictable, his promise felt like a lifeline. You didn’t realize you were crying until he tilted your chin up to look at you. His thumb brushed away a tear, and the tenderness in his gaze made your chest ache.

“I mean it,” he said, his brow furrowing slightly. “You don’t have to be strong all the time. Let me carry some of it for you.”

For the first time in days, you allowed yourself to lean into someone else. You rested your head against his shoulder, your eyes closing as the exhaustion finally caught up to you. His hand stayed on your shoulder, grounding you, and for the first time in what felt like forever, you felt safe enough to sleep.

The next day, the group decided to move. The zombies were getting closer, and the makeshift barricades wouldn’t hold for much longer. Su-hyeok stayed by your side as you navigated the crumbling hallways, his hand brushing yours every so often as if to reassure himself that you were still there.

It wasn’t long before disaster struck.

A group of zombies had broken through the glass windows of the classroom, and they came at you faster than you’d expected. Everyone scattered, shouting warnings and grabbing whatever they could use as weapons. Su-hyeok immediately stepped in front of you, his arm outstretched as if to shield you from the sight.

“Stay behind me!” he shouted, swinging his weapon with practiced precision. Each strike was calculated, efficient, and you couldn’t help but marvel at his ability to stay calm under pressure.

But then one of the zombies lunged from the side, and you didn’t have time to think. You grabbed a metal pipe from the ground and swung with all your might, the force of the impact sending the zombie sprawling. Your heart was racing, adrenaline pumping through your veins, but you barely had a moment to process what had happened before Su-hyeok was in front of you again.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes scanning you for injuries.

You nodded, your grip on the pipe tightening. “I’m fine. Let’s just keep moving.”

He hesitated, clearly wanting to say more, but the growing sounds of the horde left no time for discussion. Together, you pushed forward, reuniting with the rest of the group in a small, abandoned classroom. The door was barricaded quickly, and everyone slumped against the walls, catching their breath.

Su-hyeok crouched in front of you, his hands resting on your knees. “You scared me back there,” he admitted, his voice low enough that only you could hear. “Don’t do that again.”

“Do what? Save your life?” you shot back, a weak attempt at humor to mask the fear still coursing through you.

He didn’t laugh. Instead, he reached up to brush a stray strand of hair from your face, his fingers lingering just a moment too long. “Just stay close to me,” he said. “Please.”

That night, the group decided to take shifts keeping watch. Su-hyeok volunteered for the first shift, and you found yourself sitting beside him once again. The room was quiet, the only sounds the distant groans of the undead and the occasional creak of the building settling.

“You should be resting,” he said, his voice soft but firm.

“So should you,” you countered, earning a small smile from him.

“Fair point,” he said, leaning back against the wall. For a moment, neither of you spoke, the silence stretching out between you. But it wasn’t uncomfortable. If anything, it felt... peaceful. Like a brief moment of normalcy in a world that had been turned upside down.

“Why are you so nice to me?” you asked suddenly, the question slipping out before you could stop it.

He turned to look at you, his expression unreadable. “What do you mean?”

“You’re always looking out for me. Protecting me. I mean, you barely even know me.”

His gaze softened, and he let out a quiet sigh. “Maybe it’s because you remind me that there’s still something worth fighting for,” he said. “Something good. When I’m with you, it feels like... like maybe we can make it out of this.”

Your breath caught in your throat at his words. There was an earnestness in his voice that left no room for doubt. He meant every word.

“Su-hyeok...” you began, but before you could say anything else, he reached out and took your hand in his. His grip was warm, steady, and you found yourself holding on just as tightly.

“We’re going to survive this,” he said, his eyes locked onto yours. “Together.”

In that moment, with his hand in yours and the weight of his promise hanging in the air, you believed him.

The next few days were a blur of chaos and close calls. The group continued to dwindle, and each loss weighed heavily on everyone. But through it all, Su-hyeok never left your side. He was your anchor, your constant in a world that seemed determined to tear you apart.

One night, after narrowly escaping yet another horde, you found yourselves alone in a small storage room. The rest of the group had split up to search for supplies, leaving you and Su-hyeok with a rare moment of (somewhat) privacy.

You sank to the floor, your back against a shelf, and let out a shaky breath. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take,” you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper.

Su-hyeok crouched in front of you, his hands resting on your knees. “Hey,” he said softly, tilting your chin up so you were looking at him. “You’re stronger than you think.”

“I don’t feel strong,” you said, your voice breaking. “I feel scared. All the time.”

“That’s okay,” he said. “Being scared doesn’t mean you’re not strong. It means you care. It means you’re human.”

You closed your eyes, tears slipping down your cheeks. Before you knew it, Su-hyeok had pulled you into his arms, holding you close. His embrace was firm, steady, and you clung to him like a lifeline.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured, his hand gently rubbing your back. “I’ve got you.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, you allowed yourself to break. To cry. To let out all the fear and grief and pain you’d been holding inside. And through it all, Suhyeok held you, his presence grounding you in a way nothing else could.

When your sobs finally subsided, he pulled back just enough to look at you. His hand came up to brush a tear from your cheek, and his gaze was so full of warmth and affection that it took your breath away.

“You’re not alone,” he said softly. “As long as I’m here, you’ll never be alone.”

Before you could stop yourself, you leaned in and pressed your lips to his. The kiss was soft, tentative, but it carried all the emotions you’d been too afraid to put into words. For a moment, the world outside ceased to exist. There was no danger, no fear. Just you and Su-hyeok, and the promise of something worth fighting for.

When you finally pulled back, his forehead rested against yours, a small smile tugging at his lips. “We’re going to get through this,” he said, his voice filled with quiet determination. “Together.”

And for the first time in days, you believed him.

*ೃ࿐TO FAULT A NET

[ ACT IV: REAP WHAT YOU SOW ]

spider-man! ethan landry x black cat! reader

#SYNOPSIS— your reputation matters more than you think, superheroes aren't good with emotions, mindy and chad are always ready to fight each other, and ethan can recognize you by your smile alone.

#CONTAINS— enemies to lovers, slowburn, antihero&vigilante reader, familial issues, implication of ptsd, gore, blood, murder, death, reader is overly flirtatious, reader & ethan had trust issues

#AUTHORSNOTE— ethan and the reader are so 'she fell first but he fell harder' coded, also this was supposed to be one long part but i spit it into two bc tumblr wouldn't let me edit so i'm sorry in advance xx

ACT I, ACT II, ACT III, ACT IV, ACT V

you still couldn't believe that you had brought the hero over into your apartment.

your promise to catch ghostface with him was followed by a pregnant pause as you both sipped your glasses of water. the hero was still playing with your cats (they loved him) as he drank water, his mind trying to process what had just happened.

from behind the mask, ethan wanted to cry. he wanted to sob and break everything in his path because he had just lost quinn, and he blamed himself for it all.

the sound of your feet shuffling away from him made him look at you in interest. you were moving carefully, the stitches he had done to your side inhibiting your movement. ethan could see how uncomfortable you felt, but you hid it from him as you began taking out two pots, putting it into your sink to fill both with water.

"should i go?" ethan began, carefully picking up your cats and putting them on the floor. he stood up. "you seem.."

you pulled out two ramen packets, looking at him with a raised brow. you then walked to your fridge, pulling out two eggs.

"you seem busy. making food." he swallowed thickly, watching as you placed the eggs to the side and put your pots of water on the stove before turning on the heat.

"i am kind of busy," you said pointedly, glancing at your pots of water before looking at the hero. the upper portion of your face was still hidden by your black mask, but ethan could see your indifferent gaze as you studied him. "why, do you wanna stay?"

the whites of his mask blinked at that. his mask, still pulled up to reveal half his face, revealed how he sucked his bottom lip between his teeth, thinking about your offer. he seemed unsure. distrustful. exhausted; which honestly, made sense.

you gave him time to think as you turned to your now boiling water. you put the two eggs into one pot before opening the packets of ramen. but your actions faltered when you heard his response.

".. do you want me to stay?" the hero asked you, tilting his head slightly.

a beat. "no." you stated dryly, putting the ramen noodles into the water. "but i feel like you've been eyeing my food ever since i asked— it's kind of hard to tell with the whole mask thing —but i'm guessing you're hungry."

the parts of his face that were unmasked turned a soft shade of red at that. ethan cleared his throat, walking towards where you stood, he leaned on your counter with his back to the countertop. you could feel his eyes on you, watching you as you used a fork to mix the noodles in the boiling water.

"so you do want me to stay," he said with a ghost of a smile.

"no, i don't. but you're staying regardless, aren't you?"

"just for the food," he hummed. "and your cats."

"not for my presence, spider?" you asked, your flirtatious side coming out of you.

"your kind presence?" he tsked. "no." he said, making you roll your eyes. but he saw that rare, downturned smile that tugged at your lips.

his sister. quinn is his sister.

the sudden pause in your actions made ethan peer at you from behind his mask. the realization of what he had said dawned on him, his eyes widening from behind mask.

"she was like a sister to me."

he was lying to you.

you were both playing an unspoken game, two brilliant people with incredible abilities constantly one upping each other, catching onto the clues and making conclusions before the other could reach them. pushing and pulling, trying to solve a string of killers all while hiding who you really were from someone you found stitching up even though you knew you didn't have to.

you quickly returned to stitching him up, your hands now steady as you pushed the needle into his skin again. it reminded you so much of your past, how your world and your idea of your father turned completely sideways when you patched him up. the mere action of patching someone else up who wasn't you made turmoil brew in your eyes.

you were a selfish person. you had stepped on other criminals to get what you wanted, stepped on other people in order to achieve the highest reward; the criminal world knew better than to trust you completely for fear of your lies and manipulation. but to you, patching up someone's injury was something akin to sacred.

it meant you cared.

and that terrified you.

you came to one conclusion as you stitched up his wound for once, your memories were muffled, overtaken by the connection you had made.

ethan was spider-man.

and he knew you made that connection. just by how quiet you had gotten, just by how your hands, once trembling with the weight of the past, steadied.

you couldn't say anything. not without compromising your own true identity. not without compromising the deal you two had, because who would the police care about more, the identity of a superhero or the identity of a woman who had been stealing since she was a child? who had stolen files from their department and gave them to others without another word, who at times stole evidence just to be able to pay the rent.

you couldn't have him know. and you couldn't have him turn you in.

always one step ahead of him. but for some unknown reason, he could read you like his favorite book, and you could study him as though he was your favorite painting. it was as though your mind had chosen to learn his sincerity, and his learned the hidden meanings behind your written words.

but if you knew his family relations, just how close were you to the group? the fact that you most likely knew who he was behind the mask terrified him, because not only did he not know who you were, but you were only working with him because of a deal.

he couldn't turn you in if you helped him catch the killer.

feeding into your suspicions would only give you leverage above him. something to feed to the mafia, to the criminals, to anyone. and more people would get hurt.

you were untrustworthy. maybe it was because his sister died, or maybe because ethan had been stressing over everything so much that he found himself shutting down his emotions again and again for the sake of finding the killer.

he needed to get you away.

"i have to go." he stood up abruptly, his wound only halfway stitched up.

"what?" your eyes widened at his words. "now? i'm not even done stitching you up—"

"i'll do the rest myself."

"like hell you will," you snapped, the sudden change in his mood making you not only confused, but curious. "i'll finish it—" you protested, walking after him as he made his way to the window. but before he could shove your window open, he turned to you.

"why're you helping me?"

his question made your breath hitch, the words on your tongue dying as you blinked.

because i'm not as heartless as you think i am. oh, i also need you to not turn me into the police, so i can't have you dying in gale weather's apartment. but there's more to that.

"you patched me up," you forced out, "i'm returning the favor."

"you and i both know that you don't just patch people up like this." the whites of his mask narrowed at you, his heartbeat pumping loudly in his ears.

"what's that supposed to mean?" you asked slowly, suddenly annoyed at his words.

the hero let out a huff, his filter completely gone and manipulated by the constant stress and turmoil he had felt over the past week. "even the police know that you've manipulated your way around criminals and mafias because everyone knows you work alone," he said through gritted teeth. "you don't act kind just because you care—"

"fuck you," you seethed, but you couldn't deny it. you had a long history of manipulation, of acting for your own benefit and choosing yourself over others. and the deal to never get caught by him was still weighing on your mind.

"you act like you care to get your way. but if i'm wrong, then tell me." from behind the mask, ethan studied your face, brows furrowed when he looked at you. "tell me that you're not known for doing that. that you're not still in this because you're just trying to make sure i won't turn you in to the police in the future. tell me that you're genuinely starting to care, that you aren't just using me. tell me."

there was a beat of silence. your jaw clenched as you looked into the whites of his mask, not backing down from his stare. he was so close to you. his breath fanned over your lips, his own lips slightly parted.

it seemed as though the tension thickened with every passing second as you wracked your brain for what to say. for what to tell him.

because as much as he was correct, if you were to just agree, it didn't feel honest. there was more to your actions, but even you didn't know what it was.

but that was a lie too. you knew exactly why your actions were becoming more selfless, why you found yourself thinking about others more and more. thinking about him more and more.

you were getting attached.

and because you couldn't say anything, because you had never been good with speaking about your emotions, you did what your gut told you to.

you hooked your finger on the collar of his suit and tugged him in, pressing your lips to his. you felt his breath hitch before his hand went to your neck, slowly moving up to hold the back of your head as he pulled you closer to him, his other hand pulling your waist closer to his body. your senses were full of him and only him, how he smelled like like cedarwood and musk, how he tasted sweet despite the blood he spat from his mouth earlier, how he was so warm, like a furnace that soothed your cold limbs.

you pulled away from him, your forehead resting on his. a single string of spit connecting the both of your lips with a single horizontal swipe of your tongue across your bottom lip, the connection was broken.

his adam's apple bobbed as his heavy breaths matched yours. "please tell me you're not just in it for the deal anymore."

your lack of a response made his heart ache. he searched for any sign of hesitancy in your eyes, something, anything to showed that you cared, but you avoided his gaze.

the deal still mattered to you. you were using him to evade police. his face fell at the realization.

the hero scoffed in disbelief, pulling away from you. just like that, your limbs were pulled away from the heat, your world didn't smell like cedarwood and him, and the taste of pennies was all you could feel on your tongue. "right." his finger hooked over where his mask was pulled up, pulling it down over the rest of his face as he opened your window. without another word, he swung away, making you clench your fists in frustration.

in the end, you always had yourself.

you tore your mask off your head, frustrated tears burning behind your eyes as you moved to your window and shut it, this time, making sure you locked it behind you.

"you're a liar! let me go—" you kicked against the man's arms that wrapped around you as though you were practically nothing but a box he had to carry. tears blurred your vision as you looked at the man in front of you, his grey eyes cold as he looked at you.

you used to look up to him. your father used to bring him into your home— the only person you ever remembered visiting —introducing him as frank costa. uncle frank.

he had taken you in after your father had died. cared for you, fed you, provided you shelter. you were 16 now, making it six years since he stepped in as your father figure. six years since he claimed that as your father's best friend, that he felt like it was his duty to care for you.

it was all a lie. it was all a lie, because he was the reason why your father was caught escaping prison. it was all because of him.

"let me go!" you cried, your screams of betrayal turning into sobs as your head hung low, tears dripping onto the concrete floor. he was using you. using you to continuously steal for him in exchange for the simple necessities you needed to survive. and as you grew older, as your skills became more precise, so did his greed. your thefts grew larger. pick pocketed wallets became jewelry from houses, and then that became jewelry from museums.

you were being used. used for your skills, trained to become some thief simply to survive a day.

"i always guessed that this day would come, you know," frank said, looking at you as though you were nothing. as though those years of pretending to care was finally coming out for what it truly was; hatred. pure contempt. "you were always so clever. just like your fucking father." he punched you in the face, making you groan in pain when you felt a crack in your nose. "so fucking stupid. refusing the biggest crime family in new york for what? for nothing." another punch to the other side of your face. his crony let you go, making you fall on the floor.

a swift kick to your side made you taste iron. another kick to your back made you nearly lose consciousness.

frank grabbed you by the collar, lifting you up to study you cruelly. there wasn't anything in his eyes as he admired his work of bruises and injuries, watching as blood flowed from your nose like a continuous faucet. your eyes were half lidded as you drifted in and out of consciousness. the weight of your head was too much for you, and you found yourself struggling to keep it up.

and when you found the little bit of strength to do so, you spat in his face, the splatter bloody along the expanse of his cheek. but as you spat, your hand also curled around the gun he kept at his side.

"you fucking bitch," frank sneered at you before shoving you to the ground again, making you skid against the concrete. the rough graveled ground made gashes all along your exposed arms and legs, and you found yourself lying in a fetus position, cradling the gun to your chest to hide it from them.

and as he and his worker advanced towards you, ready to beat you to death, you pointed the gun towards them and shot them both. his worker in the head, frank in the chest.

you listened as frank choked on his own blood next to you. you sat there in that empty warehouse, listening to the squelching sounds of blood pouring from frank's mouth. pulling your legs to your chest, feeling the continuous pain from all over your body, you cried. you cried like the 16 year old you were, your back heaving with every gut-wrenching sob you let echo around you. when that was all you heard, when you were surrounded by your own sobs, you realized just how lonely you were. how you had no one, and how you wished that someone would come in to care for you. but no one did.

no one was looking for you, no one comforted you. because all you had was yourself.

patrol was quieter when he was alone.

ethan realized that now, as he watched policemen fix the caution tapes around the carpenter sisters' apartment. usually he wasn't one to shy away from playful banter with the policemen (as he felt as though they all had sticks up their asses in some way), but he had no energy. no drive. he hadn't, not for a while.

without you shamelessly commenting on everything and humoring him with your dry humor, he found the nights to be quieter. not necessarily more peaceful, but quieter regardless. ethan wasn't sure if he appreciated it, but it's what he wanted.

his mind was full of the killer, his sister, and most importantly, you. how you seemingly oozed distrust, how your appreciation and oftentimes liking for your position as a criminal made you the last person many people would choose as an ally.

but then his mind drifted to how you didn't hesitate to drag him into your home and patch him up. how, despite the memories that obviously plagued your mind, you forced yourself to continue on.

but then brought up the question of your possible knowledge of his identity. why didn't you say anything? admitting his true name did make him realize that you probably did know him outside of his mask. and that would make him suspicious of your identity.

it was all too complicated, and ethan felt so many emotions at this point, that he just felt numb. apathetic. like a mindless robot going about his day, eating with no appetite, drinking with no thirst. just surviving.

it had carried on even in his day to day activities outside of superhero work. it had been three days since the last attack, and everyone was surprised that there had been nothing. no threats, no calls, nothing. but even though everyone was surprised and only mildly pleased, they were still all on edge.

the door to his and chad's dorm opened as tara walked in with mindy. ethan didn't look up from his position on the couch, only raising his hand in a half assed wave towards them. his eyes were set on his phone as he mindlessly scrolled through social media, ready to drown out whatever they were talking about.

"we were gonna stay in tonight, maybe order takeout. it isn't safe for us to all be split up," tara said to you as you hesitantly walked into chad and ethan's dorm.

"you should join, y/n. you know, just so that we can watch over you," mindy stated, and you shrugged as you closed the door behind you. if anything, you appreciated mindy's honesty more than most.

"why not," you said in response, face falling when your eyes landed on ethan's. he seemed to not expect your presence either as he stared at you, his lips slightly parted, throat suddenly dry, face slightly flushed.

there it was again, that sense of familiarity he felt.

"hi," ethan said awkwardly, swallowing thickly as he quickly moved a bit to the side of the couch just in case you wanted to sit. "i— uh, haven't seen you in a while."

but he had. you forced a tight-lipped smile, one that didn't really reach your eyes as you took his silent offer and sat on the other side of the couch. "thanks," you murmured, looking away from him to stare at the t.v that played some show.

a beat of silence. "are you okay?" he suddenly asked you, making you glance at him. those brown eyes of his— the same eyes you always wondered were behind the mask —stared at you expectingly.

"i should be asking you that," you replied smoothly, easily lying past your emotions.

"but i asked you first."

"so?"

"so, you answer first. c'mon," ethan pushed, worry flashing in his eyes as he noted your lack of sleep.

you blinked at him. "i'm fine. i feel.. fine." another lie. "your turn to answer."

ethan shrugged, looking at the t.v show. "better than before, in some ways. i guess."

"hey—" mindy walked out of chad's room to look at the both of you, her hand covering the bottom of her phone. "i'm ordering chinese takeout right now. what did you two want?"

you thought for a second. "is it from the place on mott street?"

she nodded.

"i'll have the braised noodles and beef." you caught the look ethan gave you from the corner of your eye. "what? that place is good."

a ghost of a smile tugged at his lips. "i'll have the same thing," he told mindy, who gave them both a thumbs up before disappearing into chad's room again. "d'you eat there a lot?" ethan asked you, unable to stop his curiosity.

"i did. used to be my favorite place when i was younger." you tilted your head slightly as you turned your body a bit to face him. as he spoke, it made more and more sense for him to be the web-slinging hero. ethan was more serious when he was behind the mask, sure, but the way he talked was the same.

"i haven't had the time to try as many restaurants around here as i wanted to," ethan said.

"i can bring you to my favorite spots some time." the offer fell from your mouth before you could catch it, but it made a genuine, hopeful smile appear on his face.

his smile was the same too.

you turned your body away from him and didn't speak to him after that. you had to keep yourself away from him. there was no reason for you to care.

an hour and a half passed before the food actually arrived. the entire group— tara, sam, sam's boyfriend (danny, you learned his name was), mindy, and chad —all sat in the living room, some of them sitting on the floor.

"we are not watching a scary movie, mindy! this is arguably the worst time to do that!" chad said to his twin, who only rolled her eyes stubbornly.

"the original nightmare on elm street is literally a masterpiece— chad, give me the remote!" she lunged towards him as he held it away from her, their bickering making you watch on interestedly.

you slurped a noodle, chewing it briefly before swallowing. "are they always like this?" you murmured to yourself, watching as mindy finally snatched the remote from chad. sam and danny occupied the other half of the couch, making you (much to your chagrin) move closer to ethan.

noodles slipped from his chopsticks again, a frustrated huff escaping him as he tried to pick it up again. his focus was honed into trying to pick up the noodle, so much so, that he didn't answer your question.

you turned to him, the past promise you made yourself to try and not engage faltering as you watched him amusedly. you watched for a minute until he realized you were staring, his cheeks flaring in embarrassment.

"thanks for the help, y/n," ethan muttered sarcastically. he watched as a genuine smile tugged at your lips. a downturned one, one that fit you so well, one that made ethan's eyes widen when he figured it all out.

"not for my presence, spider?" you asked, your flirtatious side coming out of you.

"your kind presence?" he tsked. "no." he said, making you roll your eyes. but he saw that rare, downturned smile that tugged at your lips.

it was you. it had been you the entire time.

and you saw the slow realization dawn over his face. the way his face paled, the way his chopsticks fell into the takeout box. the way he breathed, "you," as he stared. he finally figured it all out.

"i have to go," were the first words that fell from your mouth right as the movie began. you ignored the protests from the others as you carefully moved past them, grabbing your coat from the hook near the door.

"nightmare on elm street was about to start!" mindy protested behind you.

"y/n," ethan said, hurriedly putting his takeout on the side table. he would've nearly dropped it if it weren't for his quick reflexes, catching the box before it could drop. and spill. further. but when he looked back at the door, the door was already shutting.

the cold air hit you harshly as you walked out of the dorm building. the starless sky only held the moon as it shone down onto you, joining the street lamps as you walked down the pavement trail. hugging your leather jacket around you, your steps were quick as you made your way to your car, heart beating quickly in your ears.

"y/n!"

ethan's voice called after you, making your blood run cold. "go away," you snapped, ignoring the hoarseness of your voice as you tried to keep walking away. but he was quick to follow.

"just talk to me—"

"talk to you?" that made you turn around and look at him, an incredulous look on your face. "after all the shit you told me? after what you said?"

"you didn't deny any of it, did you?" ethan retorted, hurt and guilt flashing in his eyes. "when i asked you if you were starting to care, you said nothing." his eyes looked over your face. "i asked you to say you weren't just using me and you said nothing. you couldn't even deny it—"

"why does it matter?" you laughed in disbelief. "why do you care so much? you said it before, right? i'm the criminal? you're the hero?" you demanded, jabbing a finger to his chest.

ethan's jaw clenched in frustration as he looked at you, feeling every jab of your finger. "i didn't want you to just see me as some way to get away from the police—"

"then how do you want me to see you, ethan?" you bit back.

"as someone you can fucking care for, y/n!" he snapped. "as someone you can trust! as someone beyond just a guy you made a deal with!" his confession rang in the air, his chest heaving at his outburst. ethan's gaze was hard as he stared at you. "i wanted you," he breathed out, "to care for me as much as i was starting to care for you."

your cold gazed faltered for a moment at that. ethan was searching your eyes for something, for any sign of care, but as soon as he saw it, it disappeared.

you only had yourself. you only had yourself. he did not deserve to have someone like you.

he deserved better.

"most of the mafias knew nothing about the killer. some even admired him." you avoided his gaze, turning slightly away from him. "i'll go with the group to the theatre tomorrow, and after that, that's it. my part of the deal is done." you tried to walk away from him, but his hand took your wrist, stopping you.

you turned to look at him, eyes shining with the possibility of tears. the once lighthearted eyes of his had lost all the spark in them as he looked at you. studying you like you studied your favorite paintings. taking in your every feature, your every angle, your every imperfection. "do you really not care about me?" the question came out as a breath, his heart beating loudly in his chest as you looked at him.

you could feel tears threatening to feel. your nerves were going haywire from the argument, but also because of the fear you felt. the fear of caring for someone so much.

how could he care for you as much as you cared about him?

you shook your head. ethan's heart broke.

ACT V

#AUTHOR'S NOTE— sorry again for the fact that i had to split the last part into two parts. there's still the next part left & the epilogue!

#TAGLIST— @ethanlvndry , @iloveneilperry , @starsfilm , @goosenoggin , @aminatic , @wenvierismycomfort , @l5byrinth , @wroetoslut , @briefwinnerpersonaturtle , @oliviapopewannabe , @wzrlds , @raggedyoldwitch , @hotweeb , @marsyay78 , @valenftcrush , @bonkyandsteeb3000 , @bubs-world , @danis-stuff-is-here , @nuhteyam , @ravenstrueluv , @taeversity , @heartipods , @gcidrvsh , @theapulidooo , @volturi-girl-imagines , @duolingofanaccount , @buorke , @grxcisxhy-wp , @strangerdangerwrites , @mrslandryy , @michaelangdonsslut

i’ve read so many spider-man! ethan x reader and i fell in love with it omg 🤭 i recently watched miraculous with my little sister and i was thinking about a catnoir!ethan or catnoir!jack x ladybug!reader. what do y’all think???

weak hero class headcanons — showing intimacy with the boys of whc

synopsis — how the boys of whc show intimacy

pairing/s — sieun x reader, suho x reader, baku x reader, gotak x reader, juntae x reader, baekjin x reader, seongje x reader, beomseok x reader

a/n — another headcanon post !! thank u for requesting, anon !! working on a more angst-y headcanon post on how they handle breakups next <3

masterlist | join the taglist | request a fic

⤷ yeon sieun

sieun’s intimacy comes in the small moments—like when he opens a door for you, but always steps aside to let you go first, a quiet sign of respect. he’ll adjust your coat collar without a word, smoothing it down before moving on, as if making sure you’re comfortable. when you’re bent over, looking for something under a table, he’ll instinctively cover your head with his hand—just a small, protective gesture. it’s never grand, but it’s always thoughtful.

he’s the kind of person who notices when you're cold and is already taking off his jacket “it’s cold,” and draping it over you without a second thought, though he won’t make a big deal of it. when you’re sitting together, his arm will hover just a little too close to yours, as if he's quietly reassuring himself that you're there. he’ll never make a show of it, but you’ll always know he’s watching over you, in his quiet, reserved way. everything with sieun feels intentional, even the simplest things.

⤷ ahn suho

suho’s intimacy is about making you feel seen in the simplest ways. when you’re cooking or working on something, he’ll lean against the doorframe or sit beside you, offering small compliments about how you’re doing, and always with that mischievous grin. “you’re doing great,” he’ll say with a smirk, watching you from the corner of his eye. his hand often brushes yours when passing something or reaching for the same thing, a lingering touch that makes your heart race. when you’re resting, he’ll plop down next to you, throwing an arm around your shoulder, sometimes pulling you in close just to kiss the top of your head. it’s spontaneous, but comforting, like he wants you to know he’s always close by.

⤷ park humin (baku)

baku’s intimacy is energetic, playful, and full of affection. if you’re sitting next to him, he might casually drape his arm across your shoulders, pulling you closer just because he wants to be near you. “you’re so slow,’’ he’ll tease as he kneels in front of you, tying your shoes, eyes dancing with amusement. “you can’t even tie your shoes without me, huh?’’ he’d joke, leaning in to kiss the tip of your nose, a light laugh escaping him when you protest.

he’ll sneak in little kisses when you’re least expecting it—like when you’re reading or just chilling, he'll kiss your cheek and then immediately crack a joke to make you laugh. when you’re both walking, he’ll occasionally grab your hand, squeezing it firmly as if to remind you he’s there, even in the midst of everything else going on.

⤷ go hyuntak (gotak)

gotak’s casual intimacy is grounded in reliability and comfort. he’s the type to pull a blanket over your lap when you're sitting together, even if you never asked for one. “i got you,” he’ll say with a simple smile, adjusting the blanket around you. when you're working on something at the table, he might sneak up behind you, brushing your hair aside to make sure it’s not in your face, his hands moving with care. when you’re carrying something heavy, he’ll insist on taking it from you, his hands gentle but firm as he lifts it effortlessly.

while you’re sitting together, he’ll keep his hand on your knee or gently rub the back of your hand, a quiet sign of affection that doesn’t need to be said. when you’re sharing a meal, he’ll subtly pick at your plate, offering you bites of what he thinks you’ll like. it’s the quiet intimacy that comes with being so comfortable around each other—no need for words, just the simple act of being there. (PLEEAAASEEE someone request a fic for gotak i need him SO BADDD)

⤷ seo juntae

juntae’s intimacy is shy but heartfelt. when you’re walking together, he’ll subtly brush your hand, his fingers just grazing yours, as if he’s unsure but can’t help himself. “s-sorry,” he’ll stutter, his face turning pink, but his hand stays just close enough. if you’re sitting at a table or working on something, he’ll offer you a piece of candy or a drink, his eyes always flicking away as if embarrassed, but the sweetness of his actions speaks volumes. when you’re talking, he’s always leaning in just a little closer, showing you that he’s really paying attention, even if his face is flushed. when you’re resting, he might cover your shoulders with a blanket without you asking, his gaze lingering on you in a quiet, soft moment.

⤷ na baekjin

baekjin’s intimacy is intense, but it’s also about subtle control. when you’re walking or standing together, he’ll always position himself just a little closer than you expect, his arm around your waist or his fingers brushing against yours in a possessive but quiet way. “stay close,” he’ll say lowly, his voice firm but not harsh. his hand will often find the small of your back as he guides you, leading you with a certain quiet confidence—like he’s claiming the space around you while keeping you close without needing to say anything.

when you’re studying or working, he won’t interrupt, but occasionally, you’ll feel his presence in the smallest gestures—his hand quietly finding its way to the top of your head, fingers brushing your hair as if to say he’s there. sometimes, he’ll have one of his goons order your favorite drink, all without saying much, just showing that he’s thinking about you. his love is in the details, in the way he silently supports you through the little things, making sure you always feel cared for, even when he's not directly in the spotlight.

⤷ geum seongje

seongje’s intimacy is impulsive and possessive, driven by his need to dominate, but there’s an underlying current of obsession when it comes to you. with him, affection is not something soft or gentle—it’s sharp and possessive, in a way that makes it clear you belong to him, and he enjoys reminding you of that. “you’re mine,” he’ll say sharply, his grip tightening when he pulls you in. he’s the kind of person to hold your wrist tightly when he wants to get your attention, or pull you by the arm just a little too firmly when he’s ready to take you somewhere.

when you’re alone, his hand finds his way to the back of your neck, keeping you close, or he’ll press his forehead to yours in a rare moment of calm. he likes keeping you near, close enough to feel the heat of his body and remind everyone around that you’re his. “everyone should know,” he’ll growl quietly, as if making sure you both understand.

⤷ oh beomseok

beomseok’s intimacy is thoughtful, like everything he does is carefully planned but done with so much heart. when you’re busy with something, he’ll quietly move to help you, adjusting things around you, almost like he’s aware of every little thing you might need. he might hand you a pen without asking, or pass you your cup of coffee with a small smile, his voice soft when he says, “here, thought you might need this.”

he moves with purpose, as if savoring the moment. his touches are always deliberate but tender, like he’s afraid of being too forward, but he wants to be close to you, seeking your warmth. when you’re caught up in something, he might gently rest his head on your shoulder, leaning in just close enough to say, “don’t stress too much. you’re doing great,” his tone calm and reassuring. everything he does feels like it’s meant to take care of you in a way that makes you feel seen.

notes: ugh im so sorry i feel like i kinda lacked with beomseok or didn’t quite catch his vibe(?) it’s just been a while since we’ve last seen him yk? ㅠㅠ hopefully this turned out alright ~

𐔌 . ⋮ taglist .ᐟ weak hero class ֹ ₊ ꒱ @kstrucknet | @loserlvrss @nanamiswifesatorusgf @hateateez @slytherinshua @winnie-bunnie @rexxiiia @mrgzzarella @ilyhachii @youmeshii @actuallynarii @midnight--raine @d4ily-s-nsh1ne @trasshy-artist @crowneve @juicyjam @xh01bri @onyourlisa345 @triciawritesstuff @prettywhenicry4 @dripoftheseus @rosieparkk @gacktsa @sopitadearvejas @satorustorm @d4ily-s-nsh1ne @mirwors @sqacewalkr (ask to be tagged or removed)

Changes

Pairing: Thanos (Choi Su-Bong) x Reader

Summary: Su-Bong's back on the stage, but when an familiar face reappears what will happen?

Warnings: Mentions of drug use

Word Count: 2,992

Comments: Straight up dedicating this part to the anon that guessed who was gonna show up 😂 Hope you all enjoy this part, I'm so excited to see what you think! 💕

<- Part 6

The streets were buzzing as you made your way across the city. The neon lights flickered above you as people spilled out of bars. You clutched your phone, glancing down at Su-Bong’s latest text.

‘I’ll be looking out for you 👀’

Heat rose in your cheeks at his words. It was silly how easily he got to you, how such a short text could leave you grinning like crazy.

You hadn’t been to this kind of gig before, rap music wasn’t exactly your thing, but this wasn’t about the music. It was about him. You hoped it went well, hoped that he’d feel good up there, and hoped that he knew you were rooting for him.

The venue wasn’t as small as he’d let on. From the outside it had a grungy feeling to it, with graffiti and old posters littering the walls, but when you got inside it was overflowing. There was a good few hundred people, the air was dense from how closely everyone was packed together. 

The bass from the act on stage shook the floor beneath you as you weaved your way over to the bar. You ordered a drink and took a slow sip, trying to take everything in. 

The warm haze of the stage lights cast a glow over the crowd. The air was electric, but you couldn't stop your mind from drifting to Su-Bong. Was he nervous? Excited? You glanced to the side of the stage, hoping you could catch a glimpse of him but it was too dark. 

As the set ended the crowd cheered. You exhaled, making your way into the crowd to get a good spot. Would Su-Bong be performing next?

A DJ filled the pause with a low, steady beat. You tapped your fingers against your cup whilst the people around you swayed, their voices mixing into a low murmur of anticipation.

A tech guy jogged across the stage, adjusting the mic. The lights dimmed for a moment, the anticipation was thick in the air. Then, the beat dropped, heavy and pulsing through the air, and Su-Bong stepped out onto the stage.

The crowd surged forward as the stage lights flooded over him. But something caught you off guard. His hair.

The familiar purple was gone, replaced by a striking bleached white. It was a bold change, one he hadn’t mentioned to you, a way to show he wasn’t the same person anymore. It suited him effortlessly.

Before you had much time to focus on it he took the mic. And then it was like he had the room in the palm of his hand. 

You’d never seen anything like it, the way he completely owned the stage. He was confident, like he belonged up there, like he was built for this. You were sure you were watching someone doing what they were born to do.

As the first song faded out, he took a breath, taking a moment to look out across the crowd. He was searching for something. No, for someone. You.

His eyes finally found yours and it was as though the rest of the world faded away, the noise of the crowd, the flashing lights, the bass, it all just melted away. In that moment there wasn’t anyone else, it was just the two of you. 

His entire face lit up, and as he began his next song he kept his eyes on you. Something unspoken passed between you with every word he rapped. Your heart thundered in your chest in time with the beat. 

You watched on, transfixed as he moved across the stage. The rhythm of his words was effortless, the music travelled through him shaping the way he carried himself.

The intensity in his voice deepened as his set went on, his presence growing bolder. Every time he glanced your way a shiver went down your spine. It was electric, he was electric.

As the final song reached its peak, he poured his all into it. His voice, his movement, his energy, it was awe inspiring. The final note echoed out and the crowd seemed to take a breath before erupting with applause. You clapped and cheered as loud as the rest of them. You were so happy for him, so proud. 

The crowd was still buzzing as the next act set up but you could barely focus. The rush of Su-Bong’s performance pulsed through you. You needed to see him.

Slipping through the crowd you made your way to the exit. The cool night air hit you as you made it outside, a contrast to the heat of the venue. 

You could still hear the bass from out here, muffled by the thick walls but out here everything felt quieter, calmer.

You rubbed your arms against the slight chill as you waited for him to emerge. Your stomach fluttered as you caught sight of him stepping out from a side door, where a couple of people were waiting to ask for pictures with him. He looked so at ease, flashing a cocky grin as he posed. 

Then, his eyes found you and he began to make his way over. Your excitement spilled out the second he was close enough, ‘Su-Bong, that was amazing! You were amazing! & look at your hair-’ your rambling was cut off as he reached you and engulfed you in a hug. He lifted you off the ground with ease, causing a surprised laugh to bubble out of you. 

‘You see that Señorita?’ he asked joyously. 

Your hands gripped his shoulders instinctively, clinging to the feeling of being so close to him. ‘I saw, they loved you!’ Up close you could see the sparkle of adrenaline still in his eyes.

He smiled at your reply and something softer took over his exhilaration. ‘What about you?’ 

Your breath hitched slightly at the way he looked at you. His hands still holding your waist, keeping you close. ‘I loved it too, I can’t wait to see you perform again, but there is just one thing…’

He furrowed his eyebrows slightly before he followed your gaze. ‘It’s the hair isn’t it?’

‘You could’ve warned me! I almost didn’t realise it was you!’ You teased.

He laughed with you and remained smiling down at you. The laughter faded and neither of you said anything for a moment. The noise of the city hummed around you but it felt distant, like you were back in your own little world. You were hyper aware of everything. His hands on your waist, the lack of space between you, the way his eyes flickered across your face. 

It should make you nervous. Maybe it did, but at the same time you didn’t want him to let go. You wanted to stay in this moment, to commit it moment to memory, to let it mean more than either of you were saying out loud.

Then- ‘Hey man, can I get an autograph?’

The moment shattered like glass. He let out a small sigh before pulling away from you, his hands lingered on your waist until the last possible moment. You took a small step back, trying to ignore the way his warmth lingered on your skin.

He signed quickly, exchanging a few words before finally turning back to you. The energy between you had shifted, the interruption cooling whatever it was you had going on. 

‘C’mon let’s get outta here,’ he said as he ran his hand through his freshly bleached hair. ‘We can grab some food on the way.’

You blinked at him, hesitating. ‘Shouldn’t you stay? Celebrate your comeback?’

He tilted his head, trying to hide the small smirk with a shrug. ‘Nah I don’t wanna stay out, would rather go back to yours.’

You opened your mouth to protest, to tell him he should stay out. He deserved to celebrate properly, but before you could get a word out he was already walking, his decision made. 

All you could do was catch up and fall into step beside him, trying to bite back a smile that might give away too much.

The weeks that followed both felt familiar and different. He still walked you home from work, still filled most of your evenings with his usual antics. But now, sometimes, those evenings ended in dimly lit venues with his voice filling the space.

You never missed any of his shows. You loved to watch him, he belonged on the stage. With every performance he settled further into it, getting used to working under his real name rather than a stage one. 

Not much had changed between you, not on the surface at least. You wrote the moment after his first show down to adrenaline, you were both so excited that you weren’t thinking straight. But sometimes, when you caught him looking at you from across the room, or when his arm lingered around you just a little longer than before, it was hard to pretend that nothing had changed.

You tried to act like things were the same, like the feeling creeping up your spine when he was close wasn’t new. Like your pulse didn’t pick up when his fingers brushed yours. If he noticed, he didn’t say anything, and neither did you.

It was another one of the nights where Su-Bong had a gig, you were stood outside after. The night's energy still lingered around you as he lit up a cigarette. His hand briefly grazed your arm as he turned to begin walking, but something stopped him in his tracks.

‘Hey Thanos! Heard you were back on stage, wanted to come see for myself!’ 

It was player 124 from the games. You froze next to Su-Bong. You hadn’t seen anyone else from those horrific days. The sight of him sent a cold shiver through you, your stomach twisting into knots. Did he even recognise you? Would he bring up the games? Or was he really just here to see Thanos?

‘Hey Nam-Su,’ Su-Bong replied, keeping it short. He was tense, the air around you feeling heavy.

‘It's Nam-Gyu,’ he muttered, correcting him though he didn’t seem too bothered by the mistake as he stepped closer into your personal space. 

‘Got some new shit I thought you might wanna try,’ Nam-Gyu said casually, as he pulled a small bag of pills from his pocket, shaking them briefly before tucking them away.

You stayed glued to the spot. Keeping an eye on Su-Bong, you noticed the way his jaw clenched.

‘I’m good,’ Su-Bong dismissed him easily, putting an arm around your shoulders and steering you away.

Nam-Gyu let out a short laugh. ‘Really? You can’t get this stuff anywhere else. You’ll love it.’ He was persistent, you'd give him that. 

‘I said no.’ Su-Bong didn’t even look back but his voice was firmer this time.

‘This bitch really changed you didn’t she.’

That halted him.

You felt nausea creep into your chest as Su-Bong’s frame went rigid.

Nam-Gyu smirked. ‘Look at her, probably thinks she’s better than all of us. Isn’t that right?’ You couldn’t help but look over your shoulder, finding Nam-Gyu closing in on you. ‘You keeping him on a leash so when he makes it big again you can cash in?’

The words stung even if there was no truth behind them. But before you had time to fully process them, Su-Bong moved. 

In a flash he’d spun around, shoulders squared and hands clenched into fists. For a moment you were sure he was gonna deck him. Nam-Gyu must’ve thought the same because he flinched. 

But then just as quickly, Su-Bong exhaled sharply. Instead of throwing a punch, he grabbed your wrist and dragged you away. 

His steps were fast, you almost tripped trying to keep up. He didn’t let go, didn’t slow down, didn’t even turn to look at you.

‘Su-Bong!’ you called, trying to steady your breath. ‘Su-Bong stop!’

He didn’t. Not until you were a few blocks away, where he finally released your wrist and began pacing.

‘That fucking asshole!’ He yelled, raking a hand through his hair. ‘Who the hell does he think he is chatting all that shit?!’

You didn’t know what to say, just watched him as anger seeped out of him.

‘I should’ve hit him, asshole deserves it even if he was -’ He cut himself off, his pacing stopped as he remained with his back to you, his shoulders rising and falling unevenly.

‘If he was what?’ You pressed, did he agree with that guy? Thinking you were just with him for money. The thought made your throat tighten

His shoulders deflated, the fight draining from his body. ‘He’s right.’ He sighed.

Your heart broke, after everything how could he think you were using him? A lump began to form in your throat but you forced yourself to talk. ‘Su-Bong,’ your voice shook. ‘I’d never use you like that, surely you know that?’

‘Huh?’ His head snapped up and for the first time since Nam-Gyu had appeared he looked at you. The anger was gone, replaced by something raw. His tense posture softened slightly. ‘Señorita, I know that.’ His voice was gentle as he stepped towards you, close enough to chase away the chill in the air.

‘Then what was he right about?’ Tears stung the corner of your eyes as you tried to brace yourself for the answer.

‘You’re better than me… you always have been.’

Your breath caught in your throat, eyes widening. He couldn’t mean that.

‘Don’t act like it’s such a surprise,’ he muttered, voice laced with something bitter. His hands flexed at his sides, clenching and releasing as if he was fighting the urge to reach out. ‘Fuck, look at me, I don’t know why you still let me hang out with you.’

You watched him closely, his words settled over you. Your chest felt tight as anticipation curled inside of you. ‘What are you saying?’

He swallowed hard, eyes flickering to the pavement below. ‘I can barely keep my shit together, you don’t deserve that,’ he admitted. ‘That night when I showed up at yours… You shouldn’t have to deal with that shit.’

Your mind flooded with images of the night he turned up high, the way he acted, how he’d spoken to you. And then realisation dawned on you, ‘that’s why you disappeared?’

He nodded slightly, ‘thought maybe if I stayed away you’d finally realise you shouldn’t have someone like me around.’ 

But he did come back, he came back when you needed him the most and you had to know why. ‘If you think that, then why did you answer the call?’ you asked, voice sounding a lot steadier than you felt.

He met your eyes again, he looked so vulnerable. ‘It was the middle of the night, I thought something bad might’ve happened.’ He dragged a hand down his face. ‘I told myself I’d stay away but the moment I thought you needed me, I …I just couldn’t’ 

The truth crashed over you like a wave, flooding you with an array of emotions. You felt overwhelmed as the weight of his words settled into your bones. He hadn’t stayed away because he didn’t care, he stayed away because he thought it would be better for you. The realisation almost sent you spiralling, a dizzying mix of warmth and sadness twisted inside of you.

‘I never wanted you to stay away,’ you said. ‘Su-Bong I don’t need you to protect me from you.’

His breath caught, body going still. You could see the conflict behind his eyes. ‘I don’t deserve you.’

‘You don’t get to decide that,’ you felt bold as you carried on. ‘I want you here. I want you.’

He looked as though he was fighting an internal battle as you stepped forward bravely, closing the last bit of distance between the two of you. He opened his mouth to speak but you didn’t let him.

‘You think I don’t deserve to be with a person that makes me feel better? A person that makes me feel safe?’ You let out a breathless laugh ‘Su-Bong you’re an idiot if you can’t see that you’re what I want.’

His eyes darted across your face, searching for any doubt but he didn’t find any.

And then, like a dam breaking, he moved. His hands, warm and urgent, cupped your face. His thumbs grazed over your cheeks, like he was trying to convince himself this was real.

For a split second neither of you moved. His breath fanned over your skin, his forehead almost resting against your own. His grip tightened slightly, like he was afraid to let go.

Then, finally, his resolve snapped. 

Su-Bong kissed you like he had nothing left to lose. His lips were rough, insistent, like it was something he’d been holding back on for so long that it physically hurt. His hands cradled your face like he was terrified you’d disappear if he let go. You kissed him back just as fiercely, because you weren’t going anywhere. 

As the kiss broke, he didn’t pull back completely, holding on to you and taking a moment to ground himself. His hands still cradled your face, thumbs brushing over your cheeks as his eyes flickered between yours.

‘I don’t know how to do this,’ he admitted quietly. 

Your heart clenched at the raw honesty in his voice. He was so convinced he wasn’t good enough, so convinced he wasn’t worthy before he even had the chance to try. 

‘You don’t have to,’ you raised your hands, gently curling your fingers around his own. ‘We can figure it out together.’

‘...Yeah?’ His voice was barely above a whisper, hesitant but hopeful.

You nodded, a small smile tugging at your lips. ‘Yeah.’

It was though something clicked into place for Su-Bong, like he was finally letting himself believe you. He didn’t say another word, but the way he pulled you in again told you everything you needed to know.

-> Part 8 Coming soon Series Masterlist

Taglist: @andersonslove @fallout-girl219 @olasz-2003 @l5byrinth @hotdxdragon @cherrypied0lly @nicklet94 @learninglinesintherainn @tebteb @lotsa-juicy-shit @onecojg @the-iridescent-phoenix @red22wolf @avsarchivez