Latest Posts by writtenbyhollywood - Page 4

HEY, JUDE ㅤ₊ ㅤ˚ ㅤ✧ ㅤ ﾟ ㅤ. ㅤ☾

☽ㅤdetails, or, dean never expected to have a family of his own, and his expectations hold true when all that becomes of it is a baby who looks identical to you.

☽ㅤincludes, single dad!dean, girl dad!dean, reader exists in mentions, self deprecation, grief, blood mentions, death mentions, i am so sorry

word count: 7.1k

 baby girl.

“hey, jude,” he murmurs softly into his baby girl’s ear, cradling the fussing, teary eyed infant to his chest. she was still so little — so fucking little — but he wasn’t sure when being little shifted from something to coo over to something to fuss over. and he doesn’t have much comparison to go off of, over what is too small, not when everything shrinks in the expanse of his biceps.

it is not the first time he wishes you were still around, but instead another tack on the growing list. 

he is so fucking useless without you. he really is. and it only hits him now, in the dead of night when his little girl won’t stop crying like something aches or something’s wrong, and he’s completely at a loss on how to fix it. 

he couldn’t fix losing you; and now he can’t fix her. he’s all she’s got left, and he’s failing her. 

those thoughts are a plague. they fester. they gnaw on his skin and feast on his blood and whittle his bones. and he is so sick, and he is so lost, that he couldn’t find his way to a cure if he tried. 

jude is wailing now, and he’s seconds from joining her. he doesn’t know, still, the difference in a baby’s cries. he did not nurse her for nine months in his belly, like you did; the internal guidebook on fatherhood was not automatically installed into him when she was brought out to be cradled by you that very first time. his was a manual installation, and it was still, seven months in, fucking lagging. 

“m’sorry, jude,” he whispers into the soft hair gracing the top of her head. it’s the same color as yours. the only thing she inherited from him was his eyes, and he hates looking into them and seeing every failure he’d made so far reflected back at him. 

all he can do is rock her, until she stops her fussing or she doesn’t, and then he can switch tactics. he doesn’t think often about the military-sort of childhood that he was raised in, but it comes up every time in times like this, when his methods of defense present themselves in tactics. 

the cradling tactic: for when jude wailed like she was grieving, like she’d sobbed so hard in her dreams that it broke into real life. there was no way that little girl remembered your face, but sometimes he thought that she missed your voice, with the way his never seemed to soothe her in times like this. 

the food tactic: for when it was clear that the cradling tactic didn’t work. sometimes her lips opened and closed like a fish’s, and he could skip the first step entirely and go to this one. maybe he wasn’t entirely useless as a father, after all, if he subconsciously knew this little tell of hers. he’d never let himself think so kindly of himself for long, though.

the diaper tactic: no explanation needed. this one he could always tell when was necessary. sometimes, it’d linger like the plague in his blood, and then he’d had to dive into, 

the bath tactic: which jude hated. god, she fucking hated baths, almost like she could tell that warmth was the thing that took you from the both of them. that’s why sometimes, even when it felt awful, he let her cry while he sat idly in the rocking chair beside her crib. didn’t want to stress her out more with his lack of coherency when it came to what she needed — and that little fact, that he thought it upset her more sometimes when he tried to be the thing to fill the missing, bleeding wound that was you. 

in his arms as he rocked her, jude’s little mouth opened and closed. her cries were still ear piercing and raw, but at least he could do something about it now. he nearly sighs in relief the moment that she gives him that little hint, like she can tell, in her infancy, that he was incapable of this on his own. 

she’d moved away from bottles long before, and upgraded to the wonderful world of mashed vegetables and fruits. though, she hated new flavors. he thought it was a game, in a way; always making him have the first tiny spoonful of pureed asparagus. he felt like a bodyguard in moments like those, testing if the princess’s food was poisoned before she got a taste.

but it was late, and she didn’t need any of the cereals that they’d been working on, too — though, he really would never have argued with stealing a couple or a couple dozen of those little strawberry banana things. 

and she was spoiled, despite all of his worries that he was failing her. she’d get to stay in his arms while she ate, instead of the high chair he should have been adjusting her to. 

oh well. add it to the tallied list on how he was fucking up his — your — little girl. he could take it.

“feelin’ midnight snacky, is that it?” he asks, so softly, always so softly like any increase to his volume will shatter her. honestly, he thought that she was the strongest person he’d ever met, and she wasn’t even a year old yet. she could only grow up to impress him — and ruin him, with how she was already turning into a mini you. 

she still cried, because she always cried until her problem was fixed in its entirety, but the sobs had broken and given way to sniffles and unintelligible noises that sounded too close to mama for his comfort. 

mama, mama, mama. shit— how did he tell her that he missed her, too? how does someone baby-talk down the fact that she was dead, and there was nothing, nothing, nothing left anymore without her? 

well, except for jude, of course. and what a stark reminder that is, that she’s all he has left of you. 

tonight’s snack was mashed carrots. the last one of that flavor, because it was jude’s favorite. had to be because it was such a stark color, the color of the deepest sunsets, one of the things that you loved the most. 

he pops the top with one hand, the other still cradling this tiny thing that was his daughter to his chest. the metal lid clatters to the ground, and he winces, thinking that the noise is only going to startle and break his daughter’s heart more. but to his surprise, as he dips his hand into the drawer of silverware, now mostly full of those baby sized spoons with zoo animals on the handles, jude is silent.

not just silent, but curious. dean knows the curious look, even if he doesn’t know how to differentiate most of her expressions still. it’s because it’s the same as yours used to be. lips parted, eyes wide, darting around. it’s more devastating on jude, though, because she has the longest eyelashes, and the smallest little lips, so small he can hear every breath she draws in as she searches for what captured her attention. 

dean smiles to himself. it’s these moments where he doesn’t feel quite so much like a terrible father; when his little girl has stopped wailing, and looks at him for every answer he might have.

maybe by the time she’s grown, he’ll have some of those answers.

 toddler.

“hey, jude,” dean snaps his fingers to capture jude’s attention, his expression flat and exasperated at once, “get the remote out of your chompers, alright? don’t know where all it’s been.” 

really, he doesn’t know. at one point or another: between the couch cushions, underneath the rocking chair cushion — every damn cushion, really, the dusty floor, the clean floor. hell, it’d probably been in his mouth before, when his hands were too occupied with a beer and a plate. wouldn’t put it past him. 

jude is becoming a sassy little thing. she does specifically what he tells her not to, even at her ripe age of four, when she’s just barely beginning to figure out she’s a person. 

you didn’t even back talk him this much, when you were around, which leaves the answers for his many internal, baffled questions to be that jude had gotten it from him.

karma always does get its kiss, eventually. its kiss was in the form of a toddler with his attitude, his eyes, and your face.

she looked so much like you now. 

her little button nose was filling out in the shape of yours, her eyes were as big as yours, and she was so little compared to him, just like you’d been. she was in the in-between stage of her growing, small chubby limbs that made her whine every night, thumb still in her mouth because he can’t, can’t, bring himself to stop that little habit.

if dean could keep her this little and innocent forever, he would. fuck, he would. it was selfish, to want to preserve this tiny little girl in a box and keep her on his shelves, but the thought of watching her grow into a version of you…

it was easier, now, that a few years had passed. never easy, and never simple, but easier. his feelings were still complex, still bottled up deep within him and ignored, where the oddest things sometimes could send him into a spiral. sam would come, pick up his pieces and keep him from doing something stupid, and the cycle of denial would repeat.

but every day, dean swore he saw more of you in her. if it wasn’t the fact she was a mini you, it was the way she acted. hence the attitude — which, realistically, was all his own, but why would he ever vocalize that out loud?

jude stomps her bare foot on the hardwood, her little face scrunched up with so much volition you’d think he beheaded all of her teddy bears, and she was coming to enact revenge on him for it. “why?” 

oh, you used to do that too. that angry why at him instead of just trusting that whatever he said was with good intentions, or to the best of his knowledge, fact. 

dean stands in front of her at his towering height, staring down at this knee-height little girl with bows in her hair, and a little sundress that she’d fought and fought him about putting on. it’s a battle of centuries. 

jude breaks first. another foot stomp. her hand holding the remote is raising suspiciously slowly back to her mouth. 

“juliet.” dean tries to make his voice sound stern and commanding but he can never quite manage it with his little girl. that’s his princess, alright? “don’t make me go get mr. bear bear.” 

that used to get her. it used to get her so bad that she’d cry, thinking he was going to send mr. bear bear packing. that’s probably why he has such a hard time scolding jude — because any time he did, she’d start bawling. it had to be a manipulation tactic. 

at least he was aware of it, even if he fell for it everytime. 

“mr. bear bear isn’t talkin’ t’you.” 

dean bristles. “and what does mr. bear bear think i did this time, huh? is he mad i made you brush your teeth?”

it’s ridiculous, standing in the middle of his living room, having a cowboy showdown with his four year old daughter about a stuffed animal named mr. bear bear. but that’s parenthood, he guesses.

her arms cross firmly over her chest. in this moment, and this moment alone, he sees himself in her. he’s standing just like that too. “he says,” she starts, interrupted by a hiccup that discredits all of his arguments, because he’s a goner. already wants to swoop her into his arms and apologize to her. “he says you make things up.” 

vague. and true. but how does mr. bear bear know this? frankly, none of his business, if you asked dean.

 “what’s he sayin’ i’m lyin’ about?” dean shoots back, his head tilting up in that cocky little sneer that jude loves. good cop, bad cop is her favorite game to play with him, even though her version of a good cop includes smashing her toy cars into his leg to make him confess. it works, though. his bruises prove it.

as if on cue, jude’s giggling up a storm, interrupted only by bursts of her hiccups. “lyin’ about mommy.” 

the floor drops out from beneath him. he feels nauseous. he feared this day coming and here it was. the first time she brought you up, too much intelligence in that little brain of hers, to know that it just wasn’t common to not have a mommy alongside your bad cop daddy.

he keeps a brave face, though. bad cops don’t break persona the first time something detrimental gets dropped into their lap. “go bring ‘im out here. lemme give him a talkin’ to, too.” 

she sprints off, so steady on her little feet now that it adds to the ache in his chest. she was getting so much bigger, and you weren’t here to see it. maybe you were looking down, watching as her tiny form grew taller and stronger. he could hope, couldn’t he? 

jude returns moments later, soft brown teddy bear in her arms. his little bowtie is a mockery of him, if what jude says that he says is true.

in his heart, he knows that all of the things that the bear tells her are her own thoughts, manifesting in a gentler form so that it doesn’t hurt her as badly when they do. it breaks his heart. so little, and she’s already gotten a defense mechanism in place.

dean kneels down to be eye level with jude, gingerly plucking mr. bear bear out of her small fingers. “a certain pretty princess told me you were mad at me, sir,” he says, voice lowered like it was just him and this fucking bear, ear forever wet from jude’s gnawing, even though he’d thought she’d gotten over that fixation. he’ll feel like an idiot for having a serious, talk-it-out conversation later with his daughter’s teddy bear, but for now, her feelings are more important to him. always. “i’ll be honest, bear bear, i have been keeping things from the pretty princess. your feelings are very valid.” 

he’s quoting things from his therapist, now. to a teddy bear. they don’t tell you a thing about parenthood before you get into it, but they certainly don’t tell you this.

“i just didn’t want her to think that it was her fault, not at all, about what happened to her mommy. surely you understand. you and i, we keep our pretty princess safe, don’t we?” he even pauses for an answer that won’t come, his eyes flicking over to his little girl, her folded hands in front of her as she patiently waits. she’s so sweet that it kills him. “mama didn’t go away on a business trip, you’re right. mama died, very tragically, while protecting our pretty princess. and it’s not her fault, and not our girl’s, either.” 

there’s a little sniffle from behind the bear in his hands, and he looks up to see jude, eyes welled and lip wobbly in that way that makes his heart ache. just like when she was a baby, when her screams shattered his heart to pieces, but worse, because her tears were silent now, like she was trying to soothe it all away herself.

she didn’t have to. that’s why he was there. dean hands her back the bear, and in that same movement, scoops her into his arms in a tight embrace. instantly, she falls apart at the seams, her shoulders shaking as the stuffing pours from the buttons of her eyes. 

“she would have loved you,” he whispers into the top of her head, smoothing out the tangly strands with his fingers. you really would have loved her, too. she humbled him — you humbled him. she broke his heart, you broke his heart. 

maybe she’d forgive him one day, for letting something happen to you when he promised he wouldn’t, when he swore up and down that you were it for him, that you wouldn’t—

it’s too much. even when dean feels like he’s getting better with this grief thing, he can’t move past it. not when there’s a smaller you attached to his hip, waiting for him to hang the world for her and protect her, too. 

he can only hope that he gets it right this time.

 child.

“hey! jude!” dean stands out on the sidewalk before the elementary school, seeing jude off on her first day of third grade. in his hands is her little lunchbox, ever forgotten in her excitement.

every single first day, dean cries. he’s not ashamed of it, either. it’s tough seeing his little girl run off into the real world on her own, and being the one to see her off, all on his lonesome. 

it wasn’t like the single moms didn’t try to catch his attention, either. they constantly did. it was that he preferred the isolation over the company every time. how could anyone hold a candle to you? 

jude glances over her shoulder, her long hair flipping in the process, catching in the wind. he has to bite back a sigh. the braid’s already loose, the strands already spilling out of it, tangling in the wind. 

her little feet stomp back toward him, splashing in the remnants of last night’s rain in the concrete,and dean wants to tell her to slow down. wants to tell her to stop time, stay exactly like this. young, small, forever protected by him. just to prove to himself that he could protect something, and that he’d never have to see her hurt. 

“thanks, daddy!” she lisps through her wide, toothy grin. she’s got the cutest gap tooth right now from losing one of her front teeth in a burger a few days ago, the pink gums peeking from between her middle teeth making him smile every single time he saw it. she was never embarrassed, or shy, about that smile, either. 

her hand is outstretched for the lunchbox. pink and purple and glittery, and one of the most expensive at the store. anything for his jude, though. 

dean keeps it back from her, his chin tilting up in mock sternness. “what do we do if people are mean to us?” he asks in a reminder of their rules. he had a couple of them that he never let up on. 

“kick their ass,” jude says, her fingers clapping against her palm in a gesture to get her box. “ass. ass?” each attempt comes out more lispy, her face contorting in her irritation. “kick their ass.” 

dean cackles, inching the lunchbox slightly closer. “very good, baby girl,” he says with a nod, “now what do we do if someone puts their hand on us?” 

“break their fuckin’ fingers,” jude grins, her eyes glimmering. ever since she found out that her dad’s rules had bad words in them, she was as mischievous as ever about saying them. 

dean’s eyebrows raise. “how?” 

her little hand — so big now, though, it makes his heart clench in his chest — grasps his fingers and pulls back, and once his hand is as bent as her strength can manage, she twists. 

dean lets out a nervous chuckle, tugging his hand free from her light grip. “whoa, princess. no breakin’ daddy’s fingers, alright?” he flexes his fingers, reaching out to grab her hand and kiss her tiny knuckles. 

she was nowhere near close to hurting him. but who was he to ever crush his little girl’s spirits? he couldn’t. he couldn’t. 

jude’s evil grin only widens, though. “maybe someone will try me t’day and i’ll get t’break their fingers!” 

“you should not be wishing for that,” dean says, even though his heart swells in the process. jude may have been an identical version of you, but the longer she spent around him, the more parts of him shined through. god, he loved her so much. “last rule?” 

jude’s expression softens. her milky green eyes glisten with unshed tears, and this is the part that always ruins him, that brings him to his knees. “hug my daddy goodbye, always.” 

“almost forgot this time,” he mumbles, his voice more strained than it should be after having done this four years now. he kneels, holding open his arms, the lunchbox still dangling in his fingers. 

she was growing up too fast. getting so independent so fast. jude practically jumps into his arms, his grip tight around her little frame as hers is around his neck. 

he doesn’t want to let go. letting go always feels like giving her away to someone else, and he can’t. she’s all that’s left of you, and he’s selfish, and he doesn’t want anyone else to love his little girl as much as he does. 

“can i tell you a secret?” she whispers in his ear, and he nods into her hair, taking the liberty to reach up and tug the hairtie out of the ends. it would get lost somewhere in that school if he didn’t now, and the purple ones were her favorite. couldn’t lose them on his watch. 

“i tell mommy goodbye, too,” jude says, lifting her head to look dean in the eyes. her look was so earnest, so warm and raw, that dean’s eyes got glassier than they already were. 

“yeah?” dean asks, clearing his throat. the last thing he wanted to do was cry in front of his kid. he was a tough guy, took all of the hits that life tried to deliver to her, was covered in bruises and scars all over the skin she loved to cling to. “mommy ever say anything back?” 

she nods, picking at a thread on her shirt. “she says she’s always watching.” 

how weak did it make him to nearly buckle under that quiet admission? how pathetic was he that any mention of you, even in his daughter’s big imagination, had him clinging to those thoughts, using them as ways to self soothe the aching hole that you left in his soul? 

dean reaches up to pinch her cheek between his two fingers, handing her the lunchbox, finally. “go on, pretty princess. don’t want you to be late.” 

didn’t want her to see him cry, either. he was clinging to the last shreds of his stability, losing grip by the second.

“bye bye, daddy!” jude hugs him one last time as he stands, clinging to his knee for a second before turning on her heel and sprinting away. 

he watches. watches as her little self disappears into the big front doors of lawrence elementary. watches until she’s long gone, and straggling parents running late drop off their kids that sprint away without a goodbye hug, or a promise that their mommy’s always watching them when dean can’t. 

dean’s eyes flick up to the sky, like maybe he can see you there in between the clouds. the sun looks a little brighter today. maybe it’s you, seeing jude off, too.

“thanks,” he whispers, nodding once to you. he watches, then, too. for any sign in the sky that you heard him — a twitch in the clouds, a flicker in the sunbeams pouring down on the concrete. but everything is still.

☽ ₊ ㅤ˚ ㅤ✧ ㅤ ﾟ ㅤ. ㅤ☾

“i’m serious, sam,” dean says into the phone, keeping it held to his ear with the press of his shoulder, “it could just be kid stuff, but—” 

“...but when is it ever actually just the imagination explanation, yeah,” sam finishes, voice scratchy through the speaker. both of them are silent for a second, dean shoveling fries into his mouth while he sits in the long ass pick-up line outside of the school. “and, you know, jude doesn’t seem like she’d make things up.” 

dean almost snorts. he’s talking about the little girl that still puts mr. bear bear at the kitchen table when they eat dinner, still makes dean make him a plate and everything. 

but he’s right, about this. jude had stopped asking her prying questions about you the moment dean told her the truth, so it didn’t make sense for her to suddenly tell him this, insisting that her mother talked to her—

“she died like mom did,” sam continues, his voice softer, more sincere. “which could mean—” 

“that she’s one of those chosen special kids like you were, yeah, i know.” dean shakes his head. the thought makes his stomach feel like it’s bottoming out. he shoves the fast food bag further into the passenger seat, appetite vanished. “m’not thinkin’ about that right now.” 

sam scoffs into the speaker. “you’ll have to. and if you don’t tell her now—” 

“do not fucking tell me, sammy,” he says through gritted teeth, moving the phone from his shoulder to properly hold it at his ear, “how to raise my kid.” 

“dean.” sam’s sincerity makes dean want to kill him, in this moment. “you can get cute little kid questions now, or you can get resentment later.” 

dean’s eyes flick up to the front entrance of the school, to the hundreds of kids piling out of the doors. in the midst is his kid, her tiny feet carrying her quickly to his car. “gotta go, sammy. good talk.” 

he hangs up before sammy can get another word in. realistically, he knows sam is right, but that doesn’t make him happy about it. what little kid doesn’t want to have superpowers? and what teenager wants to be outcasted? the choice was clear. just… uncomfortable. 

jude throws up the front passenger seat door, tossing her backpack onto the ground with a hard thump. “fun first day?” dean asks, automatically scanning over her. no injuries, hair still in the loose waves from the fallen out braid, dress still in tact, shoes both still on—

“boring.” she sighs, climbing up into the seat with practiced ease. her eyes light up at the greasy bag in her seat. “for me?”

“who else, pretty girl? i don’t see anyone else around.” dean waits until she’s nice and buckled up before he takes the car out of park and starts to — slowly — leave the school zone.

jude already has her fist shoved deeply into the bag, digging around. there’s half a box of fries left, half a burger — he got hungry, alright? it isn’t until her little fingers are shoving two fries in her mouth at once than dean asks it. 

“any new updates from mommy?” hurts to say, hurts to think, but he can’t imagine being jude, potentially having a direct hotline to you on the other side, and not ever getting to see you. not knowing how great you were, besides the fact that you were her mommy. 

jude shrugs her shoulders. “just a little one.” 

dean’s fingers tap idly on the steering wheel. “and? what was it?” 

jude’s chewing with her mouth open, half bitten fries hanging out of her hand. “she said, ‘always.’ but i dunno what the heck mommy was talking about.” 

dean knew. and maybe the sun was a little brighter now, and maybe the clouds looked a little bit more like you.

 teenager.

“hey, jude,” dean sighs, a frown already tugged deeply on his lips at the sight of his daughter standing on the stairs, still dressed in her pajamas. 

she’d been sadder lately. wouldn’t talk. wouldn’t open up. he’d pushed a little too hard, and now he was suffering the tail end of the silent treatment. tail end because he was certain that she was going to talk to him, now. even if it wasn’t to let him inside that angsty head of hers. 

jude had her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes full of a deep disappointment that no girl her age should know about, let alone replicate. “dad.” 

see? he knew she would talk. it was… a very poor start, but a start nonetheless. 

“m’sorry that i asked about…” he made a broad, vague gesture with his hand. “you know.” 

“about my abilities, or about mom?” she snaps back, her eyebrows raising. one of her arms unwind from herself and the hand leans on the stairs’ railing. “because i have a feeling that you’re only sorry for one thing.” 

damn it. dean has to close his eyes and count to ten. he’s had to do this a lot, recently. teenagers were not for the faint of heart, and jude was as sassy as they came, just like you’d been. 

god, she looked so much like you. it was more evident now than anything, as she approached the age that you were when you…

“jude,” he starts, his hand moving to his face, scrubbing at it. his face is scruffier than usual, not in the mood to clean it up when his little girl was seething and hurting in the other room. who could do that? who could go about their routine while their daughter suffered? “you know i don’t use you to hear from her, right? you know that?” 

jude bristles. another wrong thing to say. he wants to be frustrated, but wasn’t he just like this as a teenager too? expecting everyone to know what he was thinking and what he wanted? “well, you never ask about the others.” 

“the others?” 

“the others,” she echoes again, like he’s the stupidest guy that’s ever walked this planet. “you never ask about grandma—” 

“don’t wanna know about grandma,” he says instantly.

her eyes roll. “don’t ask about grandpa, either.” 

“especially don’t wanna know about him.” dean’s figured out, in his own way, at his own pace, that his father’s treatment toward him wasn’t kind. all of the expectations placed on him were not normal, and were entirely neglectful as they were harsh. 

it took having his own kid to figure that out, sure, but he did. it should count for something. 

“why are you talking to grandma and grandpa, anyways?” 

“because they’re telling me things!” she shouts, her lip starting to wobble. dean didn’t mean to break through to her like this, but he did, and he’s thankful, in a way, for the progress. “they’re saying—” 

dean waits. he knows better than to approach without warning, has learned just how mean a teenage girl can get if you try and comfort her in the ways that she liked as a kid. he also knows that asking will only push her away. that’s how they’d gotten here, after all. 

“they keep saying something bad is going to happen.” 

dean blinks in alarm. “what?” he takes a step forward anyways, and he can’t help but reach out now. his hand closes around her wrist lightly, waiting for her to pull back. she doesn’t. that’s how dean knows that she’s serious, that she’s afraid. “what are they saying, princess?” 

her free hand lifts to wipe at her eyes, the irises that match his own locking and holding his stare. he can almost see the little girl in them, again; the one that was so curious, had so many questions, that looked at him like he held them in his palms. 

“grandma says she’ll be here for me,” she whimpers, shaking her head, “grandpa says to stay strong. mom says…” 

dean holds his breath. as much as he hates jude thinking that he uses her to hear from you, each update on what you say sticks in his mind until the next comes. he’s selfish, selfish, selfish. 

“mama says she’s so, so sorry.” 

dean is floored. it’s all so vague, all of the messages that come through the veil and into jude’s heart are always so vague, like the energy it takes to reach her is too much, and so they try to condense it down, but it’s an unintelligible mess. 

he can only think that that means something is going to happen to him. if the ghosts of his past are comforting her, that means that something godawful is in the plans for him. 

he tries to keep up a strong appearance, but the thought of abandoning jude, his little girl, makes him want to be sick.

“that’s just ghost speak,” he tries to say lightheartedly, his thumb gently tracing circles on her inner wrist, trying to soothe her worries about his impending death. god, this was the worst update of them yet. he’d thought hearing your promise to watch over her always was hard, but this… “you know how they are. vague, unhelpful, stirrin’ the pot from the other side because they're bored…” 

“mama’s never done that to me.” jude is starting to close off now. how come all of his worst traits made it into her, mixed in with all of your best traits? every time he’d come to terms with the fact that the only thing jude got of his was his eyes, something else peeked out, rearing its ugly head.

stubborn. hot-headed. reserved. 

he couldn’t bear to see it all reflected back at him in her identical eyes. 

dean doesn’t want her to keep pulling away, disappearing into her mind, a mind so much older than it needed to be. jude was only sixteen. there was no reason for her to bear all of this, to wear it so blatantly on her face. 

“it’s little glimpses into the future,” he says instead of reassurances that don’t land, “right? you hear them speak to you when they can manage it, and it coincides with the—” 

“visions,” jude fills in, nodding. every time sammy came over, they talked about this shared connection they had. it makes dean a little more angry than it should, that sam had this one-up on him, when it came to connecting with his impossibly-reserved daughter. “the visions.” 

dean nods along with her, letting go of her wrist finally. “so what was the vision this time?” 

dean’s phone starts to vibrate in his pocket. he doesn’t answer it. sam usually calls a few times after dean’s initial lack of response, and he either picks up if he’s freed before the routine comes to a close, or he just calls back when he can. right now, he wasn’t abandoning his daughter for anything. 

the phone stops ringing. jude must have been waiting for it to, before she spoke, because her words are firm and confident. “you were there.” 

dean closes his eyes. he expected this, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt still. 

“you were there, and you had blood all over you—” her lip is trembling again. his phone is ringing again. “and you were screaming, your voice was nearly gone…” 

his mind cuts back to his time in hell, when all he could do was scream as he was tortured relentlessly. every piece added up. 

his phone stops for a few seconds, starts up again. dean pulls it out of his pocket to turn it off. “that it?” 

jude’s eyes snap back into focus. “that’s it.” 

he’s devastated. all sixteen years of jude’s life, he wished that you were here alongside him. now, more than anything, he wished it too. he’d be abandoning your daughter. leaving her to face the real world alone, by herself. he could have handled it — at least better than now — if he knew he’d be leaving jude with you, but— 

“we’ll figure it out, okay?” he says softly, and when he pulls jude into his arms, she doesn’t pull away. she buries her face into his chest like she used to when she was smaller, less broken on the inside. 

he wished you were here, too, with your ability to stop time. keep him and you and jude in this moment forever, before he was taken away from her.

 young adult.

“hey, hey, jude,” dean’s voice trembles, shock and adrenaline at war in his veins. he’d never moved so fast in his life, catching her before she could tumble to the ground. 

her body folds on itself anyways, blood staining her chin, pooled in the corners of her lips. her mouth opens and closes, and no words come out, only the sound of gurgles as her throat fills with blood. 

her chest is so red that it’s black, shining under the moonlight. there, beneath her shirt, was a gunshot wound, fabric torn open where the collision happened. 

this wasn’t supposed to happen. this wasn’t supposed to happen. jude asked for anything, and he gave it to her, even when she was twenty-one now, and a lot of parents would take that as meaning it was time for her to find her own footing.

how could she without trying the things that she wanted? she knew about how he used to hunt. was desperate to see what it was like, just once, at least, before he was stolen away. five years later, he was still kicking strong, and he thought — he thought it would be okay. just a lone vampire on the outskirts of kansas. 

the drive had been fun. easy. he let jude drive baby a little, let her pick the music for once, and somehow fell asleep to the lullaby that was metallica. being raised by him had embedded itself into her nature, it seemed. 

he didn’t anticipate that he was, maybe, out of practice. maybe a bit too old for this. it was no wonder that his dad was gone for long periods of time on hunts because it took a while to get things right, when your body was slowing and your defenses were weakening. 

he hadn’t seen the gun. he hadn’t seen the gun. he— 

“jude?” he asks, his voice uncharacteristically small. “jude, baby, c’mon, open your eyes—” 

“dad?” her voice is barely even a breath, wet and thick and faint. “dad, what’s… what’s happening?” jude’s mouth is opening and closing again. she coughs, and blood splatters onto his shirt, onto the wetness seeping through hers. “i don’t feel good.” her grip on his hand is loosening. his tightens. 

dean’s phone rings in his pocket. sam. has to be sam. no one else ever calls him but sam, anymore, and jude. but jude was here bleeding out. sam, sam, sam, if he could spare a few seconds to answer it—

but his eyes dart away and in that moment, jude’s eyes start to roll back into her head, and he panics. he pulls her tighter to his chest with one arm, letting go of her hand to fumble for his phone. it stops ringing. 

“just keep talking, baby girl, c’mon,” he mumbles, and he wants to shake her, he wants to force her eyes open, to force every bit of his life force into her. it was on a time limit anyways, right? 

his heart stops. his phone starts ringing again, or maybe it’s just his ears. 

grandma says she’ll be here for me. 

grandpa says stay strong. 

mama says—

dean feels his stomach lurch, his throat full of bile and tight with the growing lump in it. it was never him that was going to die. it was never him. 

it took five years for her fate to reach her. fate was so fucking fickle like that; turning your brain into a worried muddle of mess all the while knowing and withholding the exact things that worried you. 

he looks down at himself, and he’s covered in blood. and he knows exactly when he’ll start screaming to the point of losing his voice. 

“dad, it’s so cold,” jude says through a small sob, tears prickled in the corners of her eyes. “it’s so—” 

dean isn’t going to tell her, that she saw her own death five years prior. that this was the moment they’d been dreading, but reversed. tears pool in his eyes and spill over like waterfalls, turning the blood on her face watery and pink. 

“it’s okay,” he promises, his voice shaking, tremoring. “it’s okay, baby girl.” 

it wasn’t okay. but he’d been keeping secrets and sparing her from the truth for years now, when he could. maybe she’d forgive him for it. but he was not strong enough to let her feel bad for his mistakes this time. 

“i’m sorry,” she chokes out, another coughing fit bursting from her blood-slickened mouth. “i’m s’sorry—” 

“nothing to apologize for, pretty princess,” he says, and his voice strains through his throat like it’s being cut by shards of glass. “you have always, always been the perfect little girl. even now, look at you. trying to apologize to me, when—” 

dean doesn’t finish. his lips pull into a forced, small smile. “do you remember when you were a little girl?” 

jude doesn’t react. doesn’t move. each moment between her chest rising and falling is growing longer. “you’d be scared of the shadows in your closet, or of the voices you heard that i didn’t,” he explains anyways, each breath of his own trembling, “and you’d make me sing to you. remember? like my mama — like grandma used to, with me.” 

her lips quirk ever so slightly, her eyes distant, foggy. “hey, jude.” 

he nods. his grip on her gets tighter, like he can hug the life back into her. but dean can’t. he’s not the son with the abilities, or the dad with the magic or the answers, or you, who could stop time in this moment and call someone while the clock stayed still. he’s just dean, and he’s losing the last piece of you he had left, and the pieces of his daughter that he loved so, so much. 

“i don’t want you scared right now,” he whispers, moving her carefully in his arms to cradle her. he used to wish that she’d stop growing, would always stay small enough to fit in his arms. it feels like a sick joke now. “so if you want me to sing, i’ll sing.” 

“okay,” jude says, and her eyes lock onto his for a brief second, before they start to fade again. 

the words fall from his mouth in shuddering, shaky gasps, his eyes locked on jude’s. jude’s, that are open and unmoving. jude’s, that have always matched his, the one thing that she got from him. 

his voice is raw, echoing in the abandoned den, screaming so loud that it would have woke the dead up, if it worked that way. but it didn’t, because jude didn’t move, and the world was silent and buzzing in his ears, or maybe it was his phone ringing again, again, again, and the only thing that played in his head was the song that used to comfort him.

hey jude, don't make it bad. take a sad song and make it better. remember to let her into your heart, then you can start to make it better.

tags, @depressionbarbie2023 @jasvtsc @deanswidow @titsout4nicholas @cosmicanakin

@beausling @whyyouegg @ostaramoon @ultravi0lence14 @bombarda-babe

i fr don't know who esle to tag the more ppl i tag the more i will have to say sorry to

bonnie!reader & clyde!dean - the name of the game, baby!

includes, crime :( but for the good of the people! the sexual tension is high but nothing ever gets done ab it sorry for the edging pt 2 soon tho

★ ˚⋆

times were tough these days. dean hadn't known a moment of peace from the very moment he decided that hunting wasn't doing shit for sustaining him, and, well... when he met you.

he'd made up his mind already that hunting was a deadend for him. as much as it killed him to think, it was. how could you keep up a job that didn't pay you, and expect to stay afloat? he wasn't.

it started with dining and dashing when he could, scrounging together the scraps of change and loose bills in his pockets for better things than something like a meal that he had to have or he'd die. putting money directly into corporate pockets when he'd then be out of a bed for the night was not something that he ever wanted to do.

until he met you. by chance, and by the threads of fate, you wound yourself around his heart and never let go.

he was finishing up the handful of fries on his plate, eyes drifting around the room as the waitresses moved to-and-fro. they hadn't stopped by him in a while, so he figured that he was either safe, or about to get approached and interrogated about another round of beer.

he'd take one, sure, but it'd be added to a tab he wasn't going to pay, so it was in their best interest to keep their noses out of his business.

one of the women catches his eye anyways, and she's making her way over with a noticeable sway of her hips and a swish to her long blonde hair, when-

the bell over the entrance door rings as the glass bursts open. in stumbles you, buttoning up the white blouse you wore without even looking up from it, loose and disheveled hair swaying in the burst of air your entrance caused.

you were beautiful, even in your mess, and even when your mouth opened to beg for forgiveness to a man behind the counter. "sorry! my car is shit, it wouldn't start, and-"

"louise has been covering your ass for thirty extra minutes," the man interrupts, his face stoic and unbreakable. "unpaid. don't apologize to me on your lack of punctuality, apologize to louise."

dean watches the whole exchange from his red-cushioned booth by the window, each second making his eyes narrow further. great. now he was getting a heart about stealing from this joint, just because of the way he now knew you girls were treated here. probably would have to cover his tab yourselves.

he sighs. they can't all be winners.

you're making your way over to him, and at first, with his fry smothered in a slurry of ketchup, he thinks you must be the prettiest girl he's ever seen, and here he is, shoveling down fries like a starved man.

fry drops back onto the plate. the waitress who'd been on her way over to dean is halted by your worried little mouth running all over again. "louise-"

"fuck him. i don't mind a second of it." louise pats your forearm with her hand. "it's not even been busy. he's just a dick. this one's my last."

her free hand lifts to gesture at dean, and he again feels a flush of awareness when louise turns to him, and then follows you. your eyes nearly freeze him on the spot. big and bright. christ.

"no, it's okay, i've got him," you say, and the smile you give to him and then to her does freeze him, ice cold and solid in this shoddy little booth. "you just head on home, alright?"

dean at least tries to look like he hadn't been eavesdropping. drops his head again, picks up that discarded fry from his plate.

"hi, sorry about that," you say around a frazzled sigh when you approach his table, and he can't help but bristle at how many apologies he's heard you utter in the last five minutes, all of them unnecessary. "anything i can getcha?"

he actually cannot stop looking at you. you missed a button three down from your collar, the shirt a bit crooked because of the slip. your nimble hands were in the process of tying your hair up and out of your face, flyaways dancing in the fluorescents of the diner like strands of glitter.

no, he wasn't planning on getting anything else. had cemented that idea the moment he decided he couldn't just steal from this place.

but the thought of asking for the check after only getting a few moments with you... wasn't going to fly for him.

dean lifts the empty glass bottle from the edge of his table. "just another one of these, sugar."

your lips curl something wicked, and he doesn't know why, but he knows that he feels like a teenage boy again, with the way his heart flutters at the sight. "that it?"

"yeah, that's it," and you really are a little minx, not as innocent as the act you give to your boss and your coworkers, because he can almost see the fire brewing behind your eyes, "why, you got somethin' else you wanna give me?"

that usually gets him a flush, bright pink warmth on the faces of the waitresses he says it too. you, though, only seem to brighten at the question. fire stoked. "a piece of my mind, maybe."

"alright, so sit that pretty ass down and give it to me."

you seem taken aback by it for a second, your entire face warming to such a pretty pink. your eyes flit back to the kitchen, and then to the open space in the booth across from him, and slowly, you sink down into it.

"hit me, sugar," dean says, leaning back against the ruby red cushions, "give me a little piece of that mind."

"you were gonna steal, weren't you?" you say, so fast and quick that he's taken aback this time. "when lou was leavin'. you were bankin' on her back being turned."

dean resists the urge to whistle under his breath. what an odd little talent that is, catching crimes before they happen. "nah."

"'nah'," you mimic, and his eyebrows shoot up on his forehead, "i know your type. thinkin' you're some kind of robin hood, skippin' the dollar on big brother."

"i'm not going to, sugar," he insists, more firmly this time, feeling a little on edge by your blasé attitude. he'd expect someone so accurate in their assessments to already have him by the ear, leading him into the hands of the guys with cuffs. "can't make you pay for food you didn't eat, can i?"

"i can afford a beer and a plate of fries, babe," you shoot right back at him, a sickly sweet smile on those pretty pink lips of yours. "i can't afford to sit here and waste my time cracking jokes with a joke."

dean does whistle this time, a scoff of laughter falling from his mouth. "y'think i'm a joke, huh?"

"i think anyone who claims they're doing things to damn the man is." your arms fold over your chest, the blouse bunching up beneath your breasts and pushing them up just enough-- "hey. eyes up here." fuck. "that's exactly what i'm sayin'. all damn the man but you're still a tool."

"that mean you wanna use me?"

this little back and forth was the most fun dean had had in weeks. months, even, if he discredited the cheap nights with easy girls in dirty motel rooms.

"no," you stumble the words out, spluttering them out like they burn your tongue. "i don't even know your name."

"dean."

your eyes linger on his for a few moments longer, like you're trying to assess if this is another one of his lies. you must like what you see reflected back, though, because you smile, slow and languid. "dean."

the silence that follows is short-lived and buzzing. then, your lips part again. "were you really going to dine and dash?" a test. you don't sound mad, or like you're interested in turning him in at all.

his shoulders lift in a slight shrug. "that's just the name of the game, baby." he leans forward with his elbows resting on the rickety table between the two of you. "damn the man, right?"

one second passes, then two, and then you're snatching a fry from the plate in between you, dipping it in the pool of ketchup on the edge of his plate. "there are much more fun ways to damn the man."

notes, WEEEEEE i was gonna do fallen angel!dean first but something ab these two were STUCK in my head hope u dont mind

tags, @jasvtsc @depressionbarbie2023 @figthoughts @titsout4nicholas

(if u wanna be added to this btw / u are supposed to be and i keep forgetting pls know it's not a vendetta i am just a silly lil lady who doesn't know what she's doing ok)

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ𝐒𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐏 !!

𐚁 bull rider ! beau arlen x high school sweetheart ! reader !! home has never been a place but a person, and he's finally ready to go back to you . . . six years too late. ℧ mdni !! sexual content. high school sweethearts to exes to lovers. couple's quarrels. festering tension. angry sex? word count : 14.1k (LMFAO) ☆ minor characters !! kelsey. daisy. delilah gaylestone. rhett gaylestone. moonlight. sunshine. brooks williamson. abigail williamson. ella gaylestone.

FIVE YEARS AGO —

“you really are livin’ proof of the american dream, ain’t you, beau arlen?” 

“why, yes ma’am, i’d say so.” 

you pause the tv on his face, taking in every single detail about beau that had changed in the last 6 years. his facial hair was fuller, hair a little longer and a lot less kempt. his eyes held deeper bags beneath them, but still shone with the glimmering gold-green that swayed you toward him in the first place.

you hit rewind, and then play again.

“mr. arlen! another victory under your belt buckle,” the interviewer says, sounding breathless even though she had not been the one atop a bucking bull, grasping at the horn of a saddle for purchase to keep from tipping off. “i’m sure this feels typical for you, by now.”

three championship belt buckles, four second-place trophies, and so many medals and roses that the mere announcement of beau arlen being next had the stadium littered in petals. 

not that you kept up with him, or anything. 

“the thrill never dies, no matter how many times it’s happened,” beau says, dimples dipping into his cheeks. he lifts the stetson off of his head, runs a sweaty hand through sweatier locks of hair. 

the interviewer’s name fades onto the screen below her too wide grin. kelsey jones wants in your man’s pants, and you aren’t entirely convinced that he didn’t take her home that night. how many fingers had undone that giant championship buckle, while you sat at home, waiting for a man too busy chasing thrills to remember what he left in the montana dust? 

“you really are livin’ proof of the american dream, ain’t you, beau arlen?” 

you turn the tv off.

behind you, daisy arlen clacks her toy blocks together, building a tower taller than she was. her gold-green eyes flick up to meet yours, little mouth parted in wonder, forming babbling sentences that were only ever semi-coherent.

this one sounded devastatingly close to the innocent ramblings of a little girl asking for her father.

you scoop her up, placing her in the crook of your hip that she lived in. "sorry, sweetheart," you say on a sigh, with a final glance toward the blank tv screen, "daddy ain't comin' home."

beau arlen was a friend of a friend of a friend. your best friend was a princess of a girl named delilah, most fondly known as del, who was dating a farmer's son named rhett, who was best friends with beau.

of course you knew all about beau. del couldn't seem to go a day without bringing up rhett, which most of the time had beau's name in her mouth too. you'd never properly met him except the occasional shared class in your small town's smaller high school, but you had a backlog of blackmail on him in the back of your mind.

he went to church every sunday after partying all night saturday with his friends. he snuck into rhett's barn to go for a late ride with his favorite of the gaylestone family's horses, moonlight. he so often stole from the arlen liquor cabinet that half of the vodka was water, and he misplaced which bottles were which all the time.

but meeting him? no, you'd never had the pleasure of it. del spent a lot of her time with rhett, but she never skimped on a girls' night every weekend, where you'd get to hear all of the shenanigans that the montana boys got up to.

it was routine. you got to know all of the little things about one of your town's most notorious rebellious cowboys, and pretended that you didn't know that, in turn, he probably got to hear all about you.

del sat on your bed, navy blue nail polish still wet on her fingers as she idly waved her hand around, humming along to whatever song drifted through the radio on your sidetable. "rhett wants to hang out tonight."

you startle from your spot next to her, a second coat of maroon drying on your own fingernails. "what? no. he knows every saturday is girls' night and," you wave your hand in a mock imitation of hers, "boys' night for him, or whatever."

"i know," she hums, like she wasn't trying to completely skew this routine you guys had built up since you were in junior high. "s'just that brooks is sick, and rhett doesn't like hangin' out one-on-one with beau. says they get all drunk n' sentimental."

you could think of so many worse things they could get up into besides cuddly and pouty, but teenage boys were prone to thinking a molehill was a mountain.

you don't look over at del, not wanting to look her in the eyes as she so casually tries to abandon you for a boy. you know, something that best friends always promise they won't do, before they do it. "so, you're gonna go hang with rhett and arlen?"

her eyes are on you; not glaring, but staring hard enough that it could singe your temple. "no. rhett and arlen wanna come over."

"what?" you sound like a broken record at this point, but seriously, what? "no way."

"you've got that ol' barn!" she argues, conveniently looking away when you fix her with your own stare. "your folks will never find out."

"delilah."

del stumbles on a little giggle, examining the handiwork of her freshly painted nails. dark blue like the sky and the headband she wore to keep the stray curly bangs out of her eyes. "it's just a one time thing," she assures, curling her fingers around your wrist, "don't you wanna meet beaauuu?"

"no." passing him in the halls was plenty, thank you. "no, i do not wanna meet beaauuu."

"beau wants to meet you." you close your eyes as if that alone could erase that sentence from your reality. "rhett said so. that's why i ever even brought this up, y'know? i wouldn't drop this on you if i wasn't desperately tryin' to get my girl coupled up for double dates with me."

the ulterior motives were sickening. you were in pajamas, for crying out loud, and now two of the three hellions of your grade were about to be at your house. not that you cared what rhett thought of you, or really what beau arlen did, but...

del had been your best friend since you two were in diapers. she could have read your expression without seeing it, looking straight through the back of your head. she nods toward your closet. "the white sundress. with those boots of yours." she smiles wide, like she wasn't turning the tides of time completely on their axis in one sentence. "beau likes cowgirls."

your family's barn was a rundown little thing on the edge of your property before it delved into fields. your father kept it up for sentimental value, having built a newer, sturdier one closer to your home. makes the walk shorter for me n' my old bones, he'd said once.

the ladder to the loft was unsteady and rickety, but you could still remember climbing up there when your hands were too small to properly grip the rungs, could remember running back to the house at sunset and your mom plucking pieces of hay out of your hair before supper.

it was oddly intimate, having this many people in a space that was once your favorite place. hell, even del had only been in here a couple of times, and now here she was, and her boyfriend, and... beau arlen.

he had that gleam in his eyes that mothers warned their daughters about, a head of hair that poked out through the brim of the hat he wore. he had a plaid jacket tied around his waist, leaving him in a dirt stained white tanktop and an equally stained pair of faded blue jeans.

rhett was already drunk and incredibly sentimental. he clung to del's arm like a bride walking down the aisle, nuzzling his face into her neck like a cat marking its scent. you didn't even get a chance to wish her good luck before he was attaching himself to her.

which left you and beau. beau, who stood in the corner of the barn, looking elusive and mysterious without even meaning to be. he had a sweaty glass bottle of beer in his fingertips, his other hand tracing idly over the splintering wood.

wanted to meet you, your ass. he'd isolated himself, looking just as awkward as you felt. it really was your fault for believing your best friend wouldn't make up some sort of tall tale to get to spend a full weekend with her boyfriend.

beau turned on a dime, his eyes finding yours, too fast for you to pretend you were not, in fact, staring at the back of his head. half of his mouth lifted in a smile. he doesn't say hi, or address it, just jerked his head in the direction of the wall he'd been looking at.

"there's writin' on it," he said, taking a quick swig from the bottle he held. "'m guessin' you're princess peach."

your face flushed against your will. you'd forgotten all about— "no, actually," you blurted out, as eager to throw del under the bus as she'd been with you, "that's del."

his smile widened for a second, before he turned back to the engravings on the wooden paneling. "so you were princess strawberry."

this was not a good idea. this space was not for anyone else but you and the littler versions of you that still lingered in memory. beau arlen did not do anything to earn seeing these glimpses of you.

"come over here n' stop wallowin'," he laughed, tapping a nail against the writing, "'m not judgin' you or anything, sweetheart. i happen to think it's endearing as all get out."

you really did not want to see his live reactions to the little scraps of your childhood in these walls, but what else were you supposed to do? let beau arlen walk your space on his own and third wheel with rhett and del?

so you walked up to him, the chipping wood barely doing anything to mask the words you and del had scratched into the walls many years ago. "if it makes you feel better," beau drawled, his voice softer now that you were shoulder to shoulder, "i used t'do the same thing when i was a kid."

"pretend to be a strawberry princess?" you asked incredulously, eyebrows shooting up on your forehead.

his laugh was as warm as a shot of whiskey. his teeth were straight and blinding in the moonlight. you'd been so adamant on never properly meeting him that you'd forgotten why you wanted to stay away so badly. boys like him, with smiles like that, were nothing but trouble.

"no, i used to..." he shook his head, glancing back toward his friend and yours on the other side of the barn. del was stuck in a sloppy slow dance with rhett now, and somehow, the stetson on his head was now on hers. you barely restrained the amused smile, and beau didn't even bother to try. "i used to pretend i was a cowboy," he finally said, head tipped down as he stares up shyly through his eyelashes. they were so long. his eyes were so green. good lord. "wrasslin' up all of the angry bulls. takin' care of business as the arlenville sheriff."

"arlenville?" you broke into a little surprised laugh. "no. no way."

beau nodded, his lips curling higher up at the sound of your laugh. this was a terrible idea, leaving you two alone like this, because now you were beginning to think that the double dates with rhett and del didn't sound so appalling. "yes way." beau sat the empty bottle in his hand down on a mottled barrel next to him, using both of his freed hands to throw a pretend lasso. "beau arlen, arlenville's hero, gatherin' up all the wild horses and settin' 'em back loose. cleanin' the streets."

it's so damn ridiculous that you couldn't help but laugh again. beau kept the invisible lasso between his two hands, tossing and tossing until he hooked you. his eyes told you that he was well aware of the fact that he'd already gotten you hooked, lined, and he was just waiting for the sinker.

"are you trying to say i'm wild, beau arlen?" you asked, and you couldn't even help it, really — he did have you lassoed! — when you inched closer by his pretend pulling.

beau's eyes raked up and down your figure, and something shifted in his gaze. another thing you'd heard down the grapevine of your interconnected friend groups was that beau arlen didn't date. he didn't ever really have interest in anyone, just on taking care of the farm he grew up on and causing mayhem every saturday before church with rhett and brooks.

but the look in his eyes said otherwise. those dangerous, golden green eyes. "i'm sayin' i'd sure as hell like to find out."

PRESENT DAY —

the radio filters through the speakers of beau's faded red pickup truck, the cab of it rattling as he presses the gas pedal down more firmly. the window is down, his elbow propped out of it, fingers tapping idly on the door's frame.

he hadn't been back in montana in six years.

he still remembers the day he left. you, standing on the arlen family farmhouse's front porch, waving bye as he backed down the dirt driveway. i'll be back after this competition, baby, he'd promised, the gps on his phone spouting monotone directions through the aux. you couldn't yet afford a plane ticket, so he opted to drive the twenty-two hour trip. a small price for following his dream, wasn't it?

you'd given him a kiss goodbye for good luck. it'd worked. he won the bull riding championship down in dallas's championship rodeo. he stayed an extra day to bask in the victory, following where the party went, enthralled by the way his name sounded in everyone's mouths. beau arlen, bull riding champion. had a hell of a sound to it.

and the following day, when the thrill of the rodeo died down, beau went chasing down another, and another. montana became a blurry memory in the back of his mind. he never forgot you, but you were definitely a reason that he kept away. how could he face you after he broke a promise like that?

but it wasn't easy to maintain a champion status when younger, more wily riders kept popping up left and right. there was a reason that most retired before their mid 30s. beau was getting up there, closing in on his thirtieth that year. it was hard to hang up the hat, harder to not think of it as giving up, but he had to be sensible somehow.

god knew he hadn't used his brain six years ago, when he threw something stable away for a job that gambled on his life, risking it for an adrenaline rush and a belt buckle to add to the collection.

still, beau was only a man. he rolls back into the town he grew up in wearing the most recent of his buckles, the final one he'd won. he may have been giving up the lifestyle and dream he'd chased for so long, but he wasn't going to undermine his accomplishments.

he remembers the path home, even years later, without needing to look it up. his parents had gifted him the family home as a wedding gift, making him promise to put it to good use. give us some grandbabies, his mom had told him, in front of you and the entire rest of his family and your family and all of your friends, with the sweetest smile on her face.

another promise he didn't keep. another one in the back of his mind that haunted him, day in and day out.

your car is parked up by the shed when he pulls in beside it. beau doesn't expect a warm, welcome greeting from you. hell, he's sure he's gonna walk up to the front doorstep and be met with your hand stinging his cheek. he'd deserve it, too.

there were so many memories in this house. you didn't want to go anywhere for your honeymoon, so you both spent it breaking in every piece of furniture, the air in the house so thick that the open windows condensated. rhett and delilah's wedding gift to you was moonlight's foal, sunshine. he'd take you down to the river on his property, tucked away between shady trees, paving trails with sunshine's hooves.

what could he possibly say to fix this?

beau bites the bullet, shoving the driver's door open and stepping out. he grabs his duffel from the bed of the truck and hooks it over his shoulder, his expression set in a grimace as he glances at the house again.

you were watching. he could see the bottoms of the curtains swishing with the sudden jostle. the front door stays closed.

he deserves this. he knows he does. but he'd kill to see you smile. to feel your arms around him as you welcome him home. but that sort of treatment was earned, and he hadn't earned any of it, not when he abandoned you for six years for a short-lived dream.

the porch steps creak under his boots, the wood soft and splintered with age. for a moment, beau just stands there. he can hear you moving around on the other side of the door; the soft sound of music drifts out from the gapped windows, your laughter echoes through the the heavy door he raps on.

three knocks. the doorbell doesn't work. he kept promising to fix it, and then he was gone.

your warm laughs gets closer, the music louder when you pull open the heavy door and meet his gaze through the screen door.

beau watches the realization settle on you. surprise, heartache, and horror, all in quick succession. your lips are parted in some semblance of mortification, and beau can't possibly understand why. anger and upset were what he expected — hell, his jaw was tight and steeled, still expecting the slap to come.

he does not expect the screen door to shove open into his shoulder, and a little toddler in a white sundress and cowgirl boots to barrel into him. "playtime!" she shouts, barely even processing the man attached to the leg she'd caught herself around.

his old cowboy hat falls off of her head and on his feet. he's on autopilot, his brain not catching up to the forefront of his mind yet, as he bends to grab it for her, anything to avoid the look in your eyes.

"t'ank you!" she says, flashing him a toothy grin, a prominent gap in the middle of her little baby teeth. she's off again before he can get another word out, but not before he sees her eyes. pale gold-green and glittery; the eyes of a dreamer.

a month passed, and beau and you ended up dating. rhett called it, getting a twenty dollar payout from brooks when he recovered from the bout of flu he'd gotten. they'd had a running joke that you'd end up being the girl to tie him down. it was just fact and fate; rhett was dating your best friend, delilah, and brooks was dating abigail, the third to your little friend group. who else would pair together with the single of his friend group, but the single of yours?

his parents brought you up every chance they could. it was an endless cycle of, when are you bringing that sweet girl of yours over? and do we ever get to meet your little girlfriend, beau? as if the town wasn't the size of his pinky, and they hadn't watched you grow up as much as they'd watched him.

beau wasn't keeping you from them, not really. he'd meant to bring you over for your first anniversary, but you'd both gotten a little tied up in each other in the high school parking lot. and then he'd meant to on prom, but your parents wanted pictures even though you were already running late, and, well, he loved your parents, so why would he deny that?

now, there was no escaping it. you'd both just graduated, and on a day full of celebrations, beau thought there was no better time than now to show you off to his family.

the entire family. he didn't intend for his parents and grandparents and every person in between to be back at his farmhouse when he'd drove up the driveway, but why else wouldn't they have been there?

"no." your feet are firmly planted on the car's floor, your arms petulantly crossed over your chest. "no, beau, i did not sign up for this."

"hell, neither did i," he grumbled, turning off the engine and spinning in his seat to face you better. the hand he had on your thigh squeezed reassuringly, a sympathetic smile on his lips. "c'mon, maybe it'll be fun."

your eye twitched. beau loved the hell out of that eye twitch. "is this revenge for our first date?" you asked, a look of disbelief in your eyes, mouth trembling with all of the panicked words that threatened to spill out at once. "when my dad bombarded you at the front door?"

beau blinked. "honestly forgot about that."

"bull."

"bull?" he laughed, putting his hands up in a mockery of surrender. "okay. you're right. i didn't magically forget about the time your daddy walked outside to meet me with a rifle—"

you poked him hard in the shoulder. "unloaded."

"—unloaded rifle." beau snatched that hand of yours and kissed each of your knuckles. "but i did not set this all up. my mama's been pesterin' me about bringin' you over, so i thought now was a better time than ever, and—"

"apparently the entire arlen bloodline caught wind."

beau snapped his fingers with his free hand. "bingo." already, he can see the curtain's ruffling with the breeze and movement inside, shadows dancing across the glow of gold through the thin fabric. he was pretty sure that was his uncle howling with laughter, too, so loud he could hear it through the inside of his pickup. "hey, maybe it'll be fun."

you gave him a look that said you did not believe him within an inch of your life.

"we can drink?" he offered next, running down his list of reassurances. they were dwindling.

"all of your alcohol is water." you lurched forward to poke him again, and he caught your finger once again. more reassuring kisses. they were all he had to offer.

beau hmphed. "forgot about that too."

you could sit in his passenger seat and argue until your face turned blue. so he takes the initiative and let go of your fingers, shoving his door open with his shoulder.

he circled around to your side of the pickup, pulling open your door for you, a hand extended for you to take. "c'mon, sweetheart," he murmured, nodding toward his hand for you to take, "y'look too damn pretty to hide away in my truck all night."

you really did, too. a part of beau felt bad for dropping all of this on you so suddenly, but the other part is damn glad that all of his family gets to find out at once about the pretty girl he'd managed to snag.

you stared at him, and beau really expected for you to put up more of a fight. you'd fought him harder over less, like how much butter and salt to put in your popcorn at the movies. but you took his hand with nothing more than a little sigh.

"let's go meet the arlens."

beau's face had never been so red in his life. his family flitted up to the both of you in waves, always with the same routine. congratulations! what a pretty couple you make! marriage? kids? did his mama tell you about the time he played in cow patties thinking it was mud?

he'd never been so glad to have an excuse to drag you away. your family's graduation party wasn't even until tomorrow, but you'd on the spot made up the lie to save you both.

his intentions were pure. they were! he'd planned to sneak you out of the house and take you down into the woods on his family property, to show you the little rushing river deep in the trails, to show you the trees that he'd carved his name into, like you had with your barn.

and then he'd remembered that barn you had.

far enough away from your house to keep the both of you out of sight from your parents, and unofficially deemed as your special place that they never entered without warning.

the story wrote itself. your last act as reckless teenagers before you delved facefirst into adulthood. he'd insisted on being a gentleman, testing the ladder to the loft and making sure it didn't fall. he even held the top steady when you started the climb up. making it back down would be a different story, but you'd get there when you got there.

the stars were so bright from up there, through the open window in the wall. the moon hung high in the sky, the crickets chirping outside, talking to each other through the wind.

you were on his lap before he could even get properly settled on the dilapidated pile of hay, little pieces tickling along his skin as he shifted into it further to let you get comfortable.

he worked your dress's zipper down carefully through the onslaught of kisses. his tongue swiped against your lips, tasting the faint traces of vodka clinging to your mouth. it was definitely watered down, and definitely his fault, but it only made you all that much sweeter to taste.

your fingers trailed down his flannel, working the buttons open with ease as you stumble across them, until the shirt was open and spilling off of him. beau slipped it off of himself, laying it in a beginning pile in the hay next to your jacket.

the kiss broke, and you lifted your head enough for the moonlight to pour in and light your skin aglow. he couldn't look away for a moment, captivated. your teeth held your bottom lip tight between them, looking up at him through the expanse of your eyelashes, and he's gone. he's gone, he's gone, he's gone.

there was no rush to it, no sense of urgency. it was you and the moon to keep him company, and he didn't want to rush through the good things, not when it came to you.

beau slipped one sleeve of your dress off of your shoulder, his fingertips dancing over your collarbone. he followed their kiss with a proper one of his own, mouthing softly at the sensitive skin until he made his way up to your ear.

the words that came out aren't what he expected. he meant to say i love you, to seal it into your skin with his lips, to embed it into your veins and bloodstream. maybe he even would have said it a few times, permanent ink below your ear, on your neck.

instead, beau said, "marry me."

you stumbled on a laugh, your hands flattening on his chest. "what?"

he should have taken it back. "marry me." he didn't. "don't have to be right now. don't have to be next year, or the year after that. but promise you will."

your eyes glimmered in the moonlight. you looked so damn beautiful. he thought proposing would have been all nerves and jitters, that he'd get cold feet at the simple idea of marriage and commitment, but his mind made the decision for him, and he already knew that you were different. nothing felt hard or scary with you.

"beau," you said his name like a breath, "you're kiddin' me."

he shook his head, and now he was laughing, giddy and bright. his arms encircled your waist, tugging you closer to him in his lap. "say yes."

"no." but you were grinning from ear to ear. "you're crazy, arlen."

"say yes," he whispered again, nuzzling his nose against yours as he steals a kiss. "don't you wanna be a crazy arlen along with me?"

you extended the kiss, prolonging it, your palms going up to his face to hold him that close a little while longer, until you're panting breathlessly on his lips. "yes."

beau eyes popped open. he grabbed your hips with his big hands and flips the both of you so that your back was pressed into the hay. "say it again."

"yes," you nearly squealed with laughter, and he wanted to bottle the sound, he wanted to swallow it whole and never forget how happy you were right here, now, beneath him, "i'll marry you, beau arlen."

your happiness was a virus he was destined to catch; tugging a grin onto his already gleeful expression. "welcome to the arlens," he breathed as he leaned forward and stole another kiss, and another. "now we got somethin' to celebrate on our own."

daisy sits at the kitchen table, legs swinging and kicking straight out in front of her. she has a plate full of peeled apple slices and colby jack cheese cubes in front of her, mindlessly babbling as she pops them into her mouth.

she is oblivious to the tension between you and beau at this table. beau, sat at one end of the table; you, propped up against the other, hipbone digging into the sanded wooden edge.

"when did this happen?" beau asks, and there's some sort of accusation in his tone, but you aren't sure if you really hear it or are just at a predisposition to think negatively about every word from his mouth.

you both stare at each other for a while. certainly he doesn't think that you'd broken your vows when he skipped town. certainly he didn't look at your daughter and not see the arlen green eyes in her.

you glance down at the table, disbelief still clouding in a haze in your eyes. "when do you think?"

when your eyes dance back up to his, his smile is tight-lipped and force. "she's six." it's not a question, or something requiring confirmation. he knew. knew, and just didn't believe what was in front of him, almost like you couldn't, either.

"i am!" daisy pipes in through a mouthful of mashed apples. she offers beau her brightest, toothiest smile. she even had the same dimples as him.

beau spares her a glance, then, like he couldn't any longer ignore the pull toward her. hair in low pigtails over her shoulders, already coming loose around the ponytail holders, shorter strands poking awry from underneath the too big cowboy hat she wore too.

it's tense. you're sure he's going to blow up. beau wasn't really the type to lose his cool, but the beau you thought you knew wasn't this man, either. this man was aged six years, and just as capable of leaving you as much as he promised not to.

daisy holds out an apple for him, kicking beneath the table so wildly that the dining chair's legs screech against the hardwood floor.

he takes it, the tightness of his smile never loosening.

there's something he wants to say. beau always got this twitch on the corner of his lip when he was keeping something back, locked tight away behind a carefully placed mask of coolness. you saw that expression a lot - in high school, when rhett started to get clingy, or brooks got mouthy, or at his family's graduation party, when he was reaching his limit with the endless interrogations. each time, you'd slide in and swoop him away before he popped off with something he didn't mean.

there was no saving him this time, because he'd already lost himself.

you glance out toward the open fields in your backyard. a little playground sits in the dead center of the grassy plains, like it popped out of the earth itself. the chains of the swing ding against the metal poles as the wind blows them wild, bringing inside the scent of daisies and sunflowers.

"coffee?" you ask, because when have you ever been able to help yourself when it came to beau arlen? he'd had you hooked and lined from the beginning. it was just a part of you, by now, that need to calm the storm that brewed behind his eyes.

beau glances over toward the machine by the fridge. "machine's broken."

your turn to smile tersely. "was broken. six years ago."

his parents bought you a new one, after daisy was born. the least they could do, they said, considering their son was across the country living a dream that he promised he wouldn't let get in between you two, while you were at home alone raising his little girl.

there is just as much that you want to say as he does. so much anger and cruelty you want to spew at him, just to hurt him like he'd hurt you.

instead, you turn to the coffee machine to start a pot. it can wait. all of the fighting can wait until daisy isn't here. she was already wrapped up too much in the both of your mess, and she didn't deserve to become a weaponized pawn.

the screen door slams into the wall behind it, just hard enough for you to know exactly who it was without turning around. great.

"where's my pretty li'l berry princess?" abigail calls from the doorway, and from the little whiny fusses, you know that del is right behind her. the guys were probably on diaper bag duty, using that as an excuse to linger in the driveway and smoke.

beau inhales sharply. at least he's aware of how much his leaving and returning would stir things. and now he could fester in his guilt a little more, knowing that his friends and yours rallied behind you.

daisy's out of the chair before you even turn around to greet any of them. her excited squeal and sprint have the cowboy hat falling to the ground again.

the porch steps creak under the weight of the guys' heavy steps, and rhett's cough is a telling sign enough of the cigarette he shared with brooks if the smell wasn't. "delly insisted we bring you some of this cherry pie she made last night—"

"it came out so pretty," del interjects, the closest one to the kitchen doorway now that abigail had gotten hung up with your daughter. "i had to!"

"it's real good, girlie," rhett sighs, a soft thud creaking the floorboards as he drops the diaper bag down, "so damn good, i left it in the car so we can just take it right on back home—"

"rhett gaylestone!"

del peeks her head into the kitchen with a sweet smile. there's a baby carrier across her chest, a tiny head peeking out of it beneath her chin. she doesn't even glance in beau's direction; why would she? no one ever expected beau arlen to show his face back in montana.

"sorry about him," she says, wiping her palms on the skirt of her dress, "you know how the montana boys are. unreliable as sin—"

you watch it unfold. the moment that beau straightens his back, and the movement draws del's attention. she visibly startles, her mouth hung open.

it's a trainwreck. neither of them speak, but the tense smile had yet to leave beau's mouth since the realization of daisy clicked in his head.

"what the hell was all that?" rhett asks with a laugh, coming up behind his wife to prop in the doorway behind her, one hand coming around her to rest his hand on her stomach, just beneath the baby carrier. "about us montana boys being unrelia..." of course rhett would know to look where beau was sitting. they used to sit at the kitchen table, on that exact end beau was at, gambling away pocket money in games of poker, straw hanging out of their mouths. "unreliable."

beau clears his throat. "hey, rhett."

rhett scoffs out a sort of laugh, sounding more discomforted than anything. "brooks owes me twenty bucks."

brooks laughs from the other room. still as oblivious as abigail and your daughter to the fact that her daddy was home now, and what that meant. "no fuckin' way," an audible slap from abigail, and a groan to follow, "sorry, kiddos. no flippin' way. don't flip with me this time, i ain't fallin' for it this time. you can't convince me for nothin' that beau arlen's at that table—"

beau sucks in a deep breath through his teeth. he looks ready to bolt, and you're sure, from previous times, that he will.

"you should stop bettin' against me, williamson." his voice is raspier than it typically is. maybe you'd feel more bad for beau if he didn't do this to himself.

you shake your head. you'd kept silent, and calm, and collected for the last two hours of him being in your space, sharing snacks with you guys' daughter. "no, beau," you say, meeting his gaze when he finally turns it toward you, "i don't think he should."

the river cut through the forest, the sound of rushing water echoing around you. little splashes of waves spilled over the edge of it, sloshing against the damp muddy grass lining it. a little farther up the hill leading down to it, you're perched on a red and white plaid picnic blanket.

there was a book in your hands, held open with your left hand, the wedding ring on your finger glittering under the sunlight. these early days of your marriage were the easiest by far. it felt so natural, being in beau's space, your lives woven together like crochet.

beau was in the river, trying to catch frogs. you didn't remember what even led him to want to, just that you were adamant that you weren't joining him. sunshine was tied to a tree a few feet from you, chewing on patches of grass and whinnying.

"baby, you ain't gonna believe this," beau called from the river, the water splashing as he trudges out of its shallow depths.

you glanced up, and then immediately back down. "i don't wanna see whatever frog you've got captive."

beau laughed, something held in his one hand, the other coming up to run through his wet locks of hair clinging to his forehead. "i gave up on the damn frogs," he grumbled, each footstep squelching beneath him, "ain't no fun when you're a grown adult and not an eight year old. damn things are too quick."

you set your book aside, tucking it back safely in the picnic basket. you snatched a strawberry from the wicker, biting off the sweet end off it. "so what on earth are you about to drop in my lap?"

he flung his arm out at you, throwing stray water droplets across you. you knew he would; that's why you protected your book, after all. you were well adapted to the antics of your husband, by now.

"guess."

"i already guessed a frog." you sat up a little straighter, cringing at the dirty water droplets in your dress. "i lost. now you gotta just tell me."

beau dropped down in front of you, legs crossed, water pouring down his bare torso and onto the corner of the blanket he sat on. he opened up his fingers to reveal what was in his hand.

you blinked a couple of times. "a... rock?"

he groaned. "baby. i love you so much." he leaned forward to snatch your hand, yanking you a little closer to him. "so much, you know that. my beautiful, beautiful girl. you gotta open up that mind a little."

you huffed as you ended up kneeling in front of him, your knees sinking into the wet cloth beneath you. you snatched the rock out of his palm, and just faintly on the rock's smooth surface, in faded white paint, was rodeo champion, beau arlen.

"bingo," he snapped his fingers, leaning up a little to duck his head and see your expression. "told you, remember? when we met? used t'carve my name into tree trunks. used to leave it everywhere."

you tilted your head curiously at it, a small smile curving your lips upward. "i thought you were pretendin' to be arlenville sheriff, not rodeo champion beau arlen."

"when the life of justice got borin', i switched it up." he took the rock back from you, something wistful in his expression as he reads the words over himself. "s'what i wanted the most, y'know."

you did know, somehow. beau wore his dreams and his heart so proudly on his sleeve. you'd lived with him long enough to know that, after work, he'd settle onto the couch, kick his legs up, and turn on reruns of the rodeo championships. he could predict who would win, which bulls were more troublesome than the others, and when a cowboy made a bad call on a dime.

beau glanced up to meet your eyes, that same wistful smile on his lips. "what were your dreams like?" he asked, setting the rock down next to him on the picnic blanket. "not the strawberry princess ones, or the silly ones. what did my little sweetheart see herself growin' up into?"

you hummed a little to yourself, shifting a little so that you could splay your legs over his lap. forget not wanting to get dirty or wet. "a nurse, once," you said, scrunching up your face at the memory, "i used to insist on havin' every baby doll in the market, because i wanted to take care of them. make sure they were alright, y'know?"

beau nods, his arm slipping around your back to cradle you properly against his side. "you would look good in the scrubs," he teased, but you knew, like you always did, that it was never with bad intent.

"mmm, maybe," you agreed idly, "but i didn't want to go through all that school. i wanted to just... just launch into somethin'. and so i shifted gears completely. no more baby dolls, but flowers. made up my own little garden patch just outside that old barn down at my folks' place."

beau's fingers traced lines and shapes down the curve of your spine. "that when the strawberry and the peach princesses come into play?"

you slapped him lightly on the arm, chuckling a little to yourself. "stop it. but yes. del and i planted everything we could to see if it would grow, and call it our princess magic if it did."

"a damn flower girl," beau murmured into your neck, planting little kisses on the skin. "it suits you. what changed?"

"nothing changed," you said, tipping your head to press your temple to his. "i still dream about flowers. havin' a big garden in the backyard, havin' a shop downtown."

beau scooped you up, settling you comfortably in his lap, straddling his waist and the wet denim clinging to his legs. "well, what the hell is stoppin' us now, from gettin' you that flower shop of yours downtown?"

there were those eyes again, the ones you always knew meant bad news, back when you were younger and still dancing on the cusp of being in love and running before he could fully swoop in and steal your heart.

your lips curled, teeth worrying at the bottom one. "maybe nothing. maybe everything."

"no. nothin' is." beau leaned in to capture your lips in his, pulling the bottom one loose from your teeth with his own. "we'll get my baby a flower shop. we'll get you a garden in this backyard. hell, we'll fill all the fields with sunflowers and daisies."

your head fell backward in a laugh. "stop it!" but it's half-hearted, because beau always knew how to lasso you into all of his crazy dreams, and he was already beginning to sell you on it without needing to do much convincing at all.

"we'll name all our kids after flowers," he mumbled against your jawline, kissing upwards until he met the corner of your mouth. "daisy. rose. violet. lily."

"what about the boys?"

beau paused, taking a breath before he stole a proper kiss from your lips. "we jus' won't have boys."

you're silent for a long while. beau always made the impossible and the unachievable seem so pretty and within reach. you lifted your hand to touch his cheekbone, swiping gently across the smooth, sunkissed skin, before you let it fall to the ground next to the both of you, grabbing the little rock he'd placed down.

rodeo champion, beau arlen.

"but then who will continue on with your bull ridin' legacy?"

beau's gaze is unbelievably soft when he meets your eyes. his fingers close around yours, bringing them to his lips to place a gentle kiss to each knuckle. "you're worth more than every dream, sweetheart." again, he kisses each knuckle, one by one, lingering on them this time. "i think a flower girl and a cowboy make a mighty fine pairin'."

you'd let beau tuck in daisy. daisy. his baby girl's name was daisy. she looked just like you, all except for the fire in those pretty green eyes she'd inherited from him. she was tiny, and a little spitfire, and it ached so desperately that he didn't get to watch what shaped this little girl. that, in a way, his absence did more for her than his reappearance had.

her room was a scattered mess of baby dolls and plushie horses. on her small dresser, beau had plucked that old hat of his off of her head and popped it there before he'd scooped her up and tucked her into the baby blue blankets on her bed.

"are you staying?" she asks him quietly, her voice a little slurry and sleep addled, tiny fingers curled into the hem of her blanket, holding it up to her chin.

beau brushes those stray, wild hairs off of your forehead, leaning down to press a lingering kiss to her temple. "of course i'm stayin'. and miss out on my future rodeo champion growin' up? no way."

daisy's giggles spread a warmth through his veins that he hadn't felt in this house in far too many years. for the first time since he came back, he felt welcomed, though he knew that it was only because she didn't know, not really, who he was. "mommy told me about you."

"what did mommy say?"

under her little elbow was a little white horse plush, near identical to sunshine. his smile is hesitant, but there, as he drops his hand down to pat its head, and then hers.

"mommy said you were a dreamer," daisy says wistfully, her eyes fluttering as she forced them open, "that you chased things and chased things, no matter what it meant. she said you rode off into the sunset."

beau frowns when her eyes fall shut and stay shut, the rise and fall of her little breaths deepening and slowing. there was a time when people said that about him and meant it in a good way. there was a time when his name was spoken with reverence and awe.

that was before he'd moved up from local rodeos to the big time, where he proceeded to take all of his dreams besides that single, blinding one and dump them away.

one more time, he leans down to kiss the top of daisy's forehead, before he pushes off of the edge of her bed and flicks the light off as he leaves. he pulls the door shut behind him, leaving it gapped so that the golden light in the hallway filtered through. he didn't know if she was scared of the dark. beau didn't know much of anything about his daughter.

he did know, though, that someway, he had to make this right with you. you, who was sitting on the couch in the living room, filtering through channels on the tv screen. you glance up at beau when his steps creak on the old floors, before you quickly glance away.

"i'll put on the rodeo for you."

beau grimaces. like hell he'd want to see what the newer, spunkier cowboys were doing after he'd hung up the hat. like hell he'd want to watch it anyways, not right now, not after those showings were part of the reason his head got too big and he stopped thinking rationally.

"put on the simpsons or somethin'," he waves a hand idly in the tv's direction, "not that shit."

"whatever you want, arlen." you press the remote into the arm of the couch, your smile forced and sickly sweet at once. "you'll be the one down here watchin' it."

beau sidesteps as you pass, his face screwing up in irritation he didn't deserve to feel and confusion. "we're not even gonna talk? you're just gonna go to bed?"

"yes, beau," you toss back at him, spinning on your heel to face him. there it is, he wants to think. the anger he'd expected and didn't get, not once, until the sun fell and the guests cleared and their daughter drifted off. "yes. i'm gonna go to bed. because in the morning, i have to drop daisy off at kindergarten. i have to go to the shop and work. not all of us have the luxury of hangin' up a hat and callin' it done."

beau's lips thin. he nods a couple of times, his arms crossing firmly over his chest. "go on, sweetheart. keep 'em comin'. what else have you been stewin' on while i was gone?"

"you're a coward," slips out of your mouth as easily as i love you once did. "you abandoned everything at the first sight of freedom from this town. you didn't even think twice."

beau shakes his head, now, and doesn't stop. "you think i was free out there?" he takes a step closer to you, towering over you. you don't shrink. not even a little. "you think i felt free any of the days i wasn't in the ring? that i didn't feel suffocated by the weight of your hurt, back here?"

"you don't know a thing about hurt, beau. not if it hit you in the face."

"so hit me in the face. show me how it felt."

your palm cracks across his cheek, his jaw slackening with the force of it, skin reddening beneath the pale brown of facial hair. "there it is," he says out loud this time, a hand coming up to rub at the stinging scruff, "my pretty girl's fire."

"i am not," you shove his chest back, pushing his spine into the back of the couch, "your pretty girl."

beau throws his arms up and glances around. "and why the hell not? you got another man around here i don't know about? hidin' under our bed?"

your eyes flare. he's lashing out. he knows that all he's doing is finding all of your wounds and prodding at them until they rebruise, but he can't seem to stop. "so it's true, then."

"what's true, honey?" his eyebrows bounce, shoulders lifting in a shrug. "you'll have to talk to me if you wanna get pissy with me."

the eye twitch. beau missed everything about you while he was gone, but goddamn, that eye twitch. there was a twisted sort of comfort in the fact that only he could ever bring it out of you.

"you fucked kelsey."

"hey, watch the language, alright?" he tsks. "baby girl's upstairs tryna sleep n' all that."

"you fucked kelsey jones from tv, and now you're projectin', tryin' to make up some random man that i cheated on you with—"

beau's expression sharpens. "never once did i cheat on you." something has gone awry, and his control in this battle of words and anger has slipped. somewhere in your anger and your hurt and his guilt and shame, something got validated that shouldn't have been. "you think i cheated on you?"

"don't even lie to me, beau arlen, i'll go grab a goddamn butcher's knife, and—"

"i. never. cheated. on. you." his voice comes out firmer, and more harsh, than he intends. you fall silent. the echoing buzz of it in his ears is louder than any of your fight, so far. "never once was tempted."

your mouth trembles with, he hopes, anger and not tears. if you started to cry, he'd crumble. every bit of his resolve would crash down. "she wanted to fuck you."

"hell, a lot of people wanted to fuck me," he laughs, tries desperately to dampen the fire, but it only seems to stoke it a little higher. "kelsey jones only saw the big belt buckle. if terry gold had won, she'd have been all over him, too."

you don't even move. beau would have thought time was frozen in place if the simpsons wasn't quietly playing behind him on the tv.

"and 'i didn't think twice' about leaving?" he continues when you still don't say a thing. "sweetheart, i thought about you every damn day. no win was a win without you there, seein' your grinnin' face on the sidelines. i kept chasin' and chasin' because i thought i'd feel good if i won enough, or if i won the right championship, but by the time i realized that it never felt like a win because you weren't there, six years had passed."

not an excuse. beau knows he has no excuse at all for not just immediately turning to go back home, so he wasn't even going to bother trying to make one.

"i was going to tell you when you came home," you say, and the familiarity of your quiet voice is like a knife. "i knew you'd win. i told you that day that all of our dreams were coming true."

beau winces. "i know."

"and then you never came home." the knife plants itself in his heart and twists. the anger rises like a flush over your heated face. "you just kept movin' around, and i was left in your house, with all these little reminders of you, and an even littler one inside of me, and you were gone."

what can he do besides take it? he did make that choice. he made it over, and over, because he was a coward, and didn't want to face this exact conversation.

he thinks you might slap him again. but all you do is walk closer, like you really want him to feel the force of the consequences, until you're close enough for him to breathe in that perfume of yours.

"i can't even say i hate you," you manage, even though the words are stifled and choked on, a physical lump in your throat, "even though i want to."

beau's hands raise to cup your face between them, tilting your head up to properly look in your eyes. his always shimmered with wildness, something uncontained and dangerous; yours shimmered now with tears and everything broken between the two of you.

he doesn't mean to kiss you. he leaned down to whisper his apologies into your breath so that hopefully you'd breathe them in and know he meant them. but beau was not very good at doing the right thing, or the thing he intended to do.

you're tense when your lips meet. you taste like cherry chapstick, or maybe it was the two bites of delilah's cherry pie you'd had. he almost pulls away, has the apology lined up on his lips along with all of the others, but then you grab his face and force him closer.

your grip is harsh. nails bite into beau's skin as he follows your lead, his hands sliding under your thighs and hoisting you up into his arms, helping you to wrap them tightly around his waist. there's a lot of blind stumbling, but he makes it down the hall to your room.

your room, his room, both — what did it matter anymore?

it's even more haphazard as he collapses down on the edge of it, more focused on keeping you planted in his lap than he is on where he's landing. the room is still decorated the same, in the little glimpses he catches between breaths. the pictures in the frames on the dresser, the calendar still months behind, though he wonders if it's now months and years behind.

beau's heart aches, tight and taut behind his ribs, so he kisses you harder. his fingers find the zipper of your dress and start to trail it down, going back up to unclasp your bra in that same swoop.

your hands are on his chest, ripping at the flaps of his flannel, popping the buttons open, some of them flying loose. you look so beautiful in your anger, all bright eyed and flushed. beau lets you peel his shirt off of him, tossing it aside in the room. he lets you run your soft fingertips down his chest until they reach his jeans.

"stupid ass belt buckle," you grumble under your breath, looking up at him through your eyelashes, almost as if you were teasing him rather than trying to hurt him.

but the words hit their mark. yeah, the buckles were stupid, in the long run. he threw away the first six years of his daughter's life and six years with you for this stupid ass belt buckle. he'd wore it home as if it was some sort of flex that this is what his life boiled down to, on his own choices.

"let me make this right," beau murmurs down the column of your throat, sucking little marks into the skin, tasting the bruising skin with his tongue. "i'll make it right."

the belt buckle unclasps, and you're yanking it off of him wordlessly, though he can hear the little pants of breath falling out of your mouth. "can't," you manage to say, tugging open his jeans and trying to pull them off under your own weight.

"can't i try?" beau tugs the sleeve down your shoulder, helps you slip your arm loose from it.

you nudge his face up with your nose and steal a punishing kiss, teeth colliding and pinching the skin of his inner lip between them. "i'd rather you just shut up."

you'd hate him for this in the morning. hell, you'll probably hate him for all of this the moment that your orgasm subsided. he'd take these little moments of tension-ridden peace while he could.

the dress pools down on his waist, hung up by the fact that you were still in his lap, just like his jeans were. beau raises your arms to work the straps of your bra off, tossing it away as aimlessly as you'd thrown his shirt.

he goes back to your throat, trailing kisses downwards now, between the valley of your breasts and everywhere in between.

beau hooks his fingers into your panties with his lips sucking little marks on the tops of your breasts, tugging on the hem. "gotta get up for a sec, baby," he mumbles, kissing the sensitive marks he'd left, "got us at a standstill."

you raise up on your knees, kicking the dress away from you. the look you give him is some variation of malice, but he can look past the lingering hurt and see it for what it was. passion laced in with your anger, turning into something beautiful and violent, lashing against your veins and threatening to get out.

beau kicks his jeans off, his boxers following suit moments afterwards. he grabs you by the waist to get you to step between his legs, tugging your panties down your legs once you were close enough.

the lack of clothes seems to revitalize that rage warring inside of you. you go from complacent and warm against him to looking completely furious that this is happening at all. beau again expects another slap, but it doesn't come this time, either. instead, your hand shoves him back down onto the mattress.

"i want to hate you so bad," you say to him, a wobble to your voice that is more than enough proof that you meant it.

he reaches down for your hand, tugging you on top of him. "show me how bad," he whispers against your mouth, before he teases at your lip with his teeth.

you interlock your fingers with his, and for a second, it feels like it used to, back when you were both twenty and everything was fun and easy. it feels like the cool wind of nostalgia and the warmth of love. you lift the conjoined hands to rest against his chest as you shift from straddling his waist to settling into his lap, sinking down onto him in one slow motion.

beau watches every second. watches as your lips part as he stretches you open, your eyelashes flutter against your cheekbones. you still fit so perfectly around him, even if it hurt to admit that. how could he have thought for even a second that there was a dream better than the one he had in his lap?

your eyes lock onto his, and somehow, it's more intimate than your first time together was. more intimate than the entirety of your honeymoon. every emotion flashes across your face at once, and he reaches up to thumb across your cheekbone to wipe away the stray eyelash, though all that was, was just an excuse to touch you.

his other hand finds your hip, reluctantly having let go of your fingers, helping to guide your movements on him, even if you didn't need it. you knew what you were doing, knew what you wanted.

"i'm sorry," beau finally breathes out, the words more of a grunt than anything else. he opens his mouth to say more but you slap your hand over his lips, and it's all he can do not to laugh.

you grind down into his pelvis a little harder this time, smearing slow circles where you're connected, your lips open in wordless pants. "i told you to shut up."

"can't." he groans this time, his hips bucking up into you, the tip of his cock brushing along your cervix. he starts, and can't seem to stop it, as he meets your movements and buries himself into your tight walls. "got too many — too many things to apologize for."

even with glassy, dazed eyes, you manage a glare at him. it's probably the sexiest thing beau's ever seen. "you didn't answer my calls."

"felt like a dumbfuck," his voice is muffled against your palm, and your grip tightens over his mouth like a silent urge to shut the hell up, but he's never been one for listening, "sorry. dumbflip. thought it'd make it worse — when i didn't have an explanation."

you're not usually as domineering as this. you weren't exactly submissive to him, but you'd never held the control you had over him in positions like this and used it against him. because one moment you had a quick, steady pace as you rode him, and now you were agonizingly slow, your jaw ticking.

"you should have answered." beau wasn't listening. he could feel each time you stretched around him and could tell by the way your thighs tightened around his when he'd hit that spot deep enough inside of you to make you squirm. your hand squishes his face between your fingers to draw beau's attention again. "should have answered. should have checked in."

"i'm sorry." what was he even apologizing for again? all beau could think about was how his head was tipped back to meet the stern look in your eyes, and how pretty your mouth looked when it was pursed in that little pout. god, he was going to fucking bust like a teenager. "won't do it again."

"that's a terrible apology."

"sorry." all he can say is sorry. he'd been reduced to a mess of a man beneath you, and when he seemed to be reaching the point of desperation that you wanted him at, you finally stopped fighting against his grip's guidance and quickened your pace again. "really sorry, baby."

you move your hand away from his mouth, replacing it with a kiss that was almost loving, slow and languid. "you've got six years to make up for in one night. good luck."

yeah. good luck, alright. he didn't think he'd make it to the morning alive.

the adrenaline and the thrill that came from being in the bullring was an intoxication of its own, but beau found that it was nothing at all compared to the look on your face when he found you in the stands.

he'd pull you half over the gate and kiss the daylights out of you, until your lips were swollen pink and his ached with the loss of it. he'd stand on the podium with the local montana championship buckle on his belt, and it wouldn't even settle in that he'd won at all until you were dragging him back to his truck in the parking lot.

the people around town started saying his name differently now. he was outgrowing the reputation that he, rhett, and brooks had left as a heathen montana boy and was becoming his own name. a renowned name. one that, he could tell, you were proud to have attached next to yours.

"did you see?" you asked him one day at breakfast, sliding the newspaper across the table to him. "the next rodeo's gonna have scouts for the big leagues."

you were always his biggest fan. you told him to pursue this dream of his, ensured him that it was just as important as yours were to him, and so it only made sense that he take this next step for you. that he outshine every other guy in the county and take it big, down to dallas, texas.

and so he did. beau sustained a minor ankle sprain and a dislocated arm, but by god, did he ride hard, setting a local record and capturing the eye of that scout.

dallas has been waiting for a guy like you to come out, the scout told him. and beau saw gold; bright, shining, blinding gold.

"come with me," beau said the night before he had to leave, throwing handfuls of clothes and necessities into a duffel bag. he dreamt big, but he didn't plan big, and when given a week before the championship, he'd waited until two days before it to start and finish his packing.

you're taking the hangers that he tosses onto the bed, hanging them back up in the closet. "can't. i've got a shop to run and a horse to keep happy."

"sunshine'll live without her favorite girl for a few days."

"okay. scratch that." you snatched his stetson off of the dresser and put it delicately on your head. "someone's gotta hold it down here in arlenville."

beau laughed heartily, shaking his head in pure, unbridled amusement. "and you've taken up the mantle?"

"a sheriff's gotta do what a sheriff's gotta do."

he wanted to keep pushing, but he knew that you were stubborn — and right. you had a shop here to run, had a garden to maintain, and someone did have to watch over sunshine. as much as he wanted you there alongside him, he understood where you were coming from.

"i'm gonna bring it home, baby," he said when he rises to his feet, zipped up duffel sitting on the end of the bed. he tugged you into his arms, dipping down to kiss you once, twice. "gonna get the gold."

"i know," you nuzzled up into him, noses brushing together, "my cowboy can do anything."

beau ran his tongue over his bottom lip. "i should teach you how to ride," he murmurs, leaving little kisses down your cheek, just below your ear. "give her a li'l lesson on cowgirlin' up before i head out."

you laughed as he scooped you up in one arm, his other hand adjusting the hat properly on your head.

beau had put the hat back on you, too, that next day, when he was about to head out on the road. "keep it nice n' warm for me."

"don't you want it for good luck?"

beau's eyes ran all over you, his expression melting at the sight of you. "no. don't need it. i'll be back after this competition, baby," he promises, brushing a knuckle over your cheekbone, "and i've got all the good luck i need right here."

he brings his ring finger up to his lips, kissing the wedding band he wore. your eyes were a little glossy, but you still looked beautiful. a little nervous, maybe, but so was he.

beau takes a hold of your face between his bigger palms and drags you down to press his lips to your forehead, lingering there for awhile.

"i've got to tell you something," you breathed onto his lips, glancing between the both of his eyes. "but i'm gonna wait until you're home again. gotta keep your head on straight, don't you?"

beau laughed, taking your hand to kiss your wedding ring, too. "my head's always a little screwy around you."

"i'm serious," you laughed, too, and there those tears were again. he wished he could take them away, if only so you didn't look so devastated about these few days apart. "all of our dreams are coming true, beau."

he nodded, leaning in to kiss the tip of your nose once more. "they are," he agreed, brushing your hair out of your eyes, "and we've got so many more to make."

letting go of you was the hardest decision he'd ever made. if beau didn't, then, he wouldn't have. he'd have stayed there in your arms and wiped away all of those tears as they fell. but some dreams were infinite and some had a time limit, and he wasn't capable of letting this one slip through his fingers.

"i love you!" you called from the porch, waving at him through the windshield of his truck as he turned the engine.

beau hopped up to sit in the open window of the driver's seat, head peeking out over the roof of the truck. "i love you more, baby."

you open your mouth like you were going to argue, but you must have known that again, it would have kept him there for hours, going back and forth until one of you caved and you wound back up in bed.

he gives you a little wave this time, as he shifts to settle back into the driver's seat. beau starts to back out of the dirt driveway, alternating between your shrinking form on the porch, waving at him, and looking out the rearview mirror.

leaving one dream for another. it made him feel a little sick, knowing that he was leaving you here and not having you next to him, but at least it wasn't forever. at least it was just a few days that he'd be gone, and then he'd get to see you again.

just a few days.

the sun crested over the hill that the arlen farmhouse was planted upon, spilling bright gold through the glass and onto the sheets that you'd gotten tangled up in. last night was a blur of sweat and sex and too many apologies to count. at some point, you'd deemed beau forgiven enough to get some sleep, even though you felt a little nauseous over the thought of beau in the bed next to you.

too familiar, and yet not enough so.

at least beau seemed to get it, in a way. it may have taken a fight and a few mean words to get through to his skull that this wasn't something that could be solved in one night. he'd missed the birth of his little girl. he'd missed her first steps, first words, and her first lost tooth. missed her first day of kindergarten.

you felt as angry at him for it as you felt guilty. you did try to tell him, but beau didn't pick up the phone, and there was never a solid address to send letters to. you'd tried, but it still wasn't his fault that you found out about the pregnancy the day that he left. it was just his fault that he chose to not come back.

beau shifts a little in his sleep, his arm tossed over your waist and tucking you closer into his chest. he still smells a little like sex, but underneath it all is that cologne of his that you'd missed so desperately.

"g'mornin', sweetheart," beau rasps into your hair, pressing a kiss into the mop of it, just behind your ear. his voice is like gravel and sin. you'd both changed a lot in these last missed years, but fundamentally, he was still beau, and you were still yourself.

you see those traces of him in his smile when you tilt your head up to meet his sleepy eyes. the alarm clock on his side of the bed read 5:43. you'd have to start rallying daisy for breakfast, soon, so she had enough time to play and watch cartoons before school, like she always did.

just because your life routine changed didn't mean that hers had to.

beau brushes the hair away from your forehead. "what's goin' on in that pretty head of yours?"

"nothing." too quick to reign true. what was the point of trying to lie, anyways? you'd already slept with him. the anger was already dealt with, leaving nothing but a dull sort of ache in its place. "just... thinking how i have to wake daisy up, soon."

and that you felt a little guilty for everything. guilty for the fight. guilty for kissing him. guilty for pulling him back into your bed like he hadn't walked out on you. guilty for hearing his apologies and still not knowing whether it was safe to forgive him.

his smile doesn't fade, not even for a second. there's still the underlying fear that he was going to leave again, but at least there was the reassurance that he was still beau arlen, sweet as a man could be when he wasn't so caught up on the what ifs.

"let me."

your eyebrows furrow. you open your mouth to insist otherwise, but he steals a kiss before you can. his lips dance with yours slowly, savoring the taste and the familiarity of the motion. "i'm serious, baby. let me."

beau shifts again behind you, this time to ease you onto your other side to face him better. words don't come to the surface now that you need them to.

"what was her first word?"

"baba." you smile a little, thinking back to little daisy in your arms, her tiny fingers grasping impatiently for the bottle in your fingers. "she was hungry."

he smiles, too, a shadow replica of yours. just as hesitant, sad; the same feeling of loss over what could have been a shared memory. "first steps?"

"she ran." you lean your forehead against his, closing your eyes for a second, remembering those days when she was littler but just as rambunctious, barreling into everything without a care of the scrapes and the bruises. "i was walkin' with her, holdin' her up on my feet, and she just... took off."

"sounds like you," beau teases, kissing the tip of your nose.

you snort, opening your eyes again. "no. it sounds like you."

beau's little smile fades. he brings a hand up to cup your cheek, brushing his thumb across it. "i'm sorry," he whispers, sincerity oozing out of the words so thick that you could almost taste their bittersweet honey, "i should have been here. hell, i should have long already been here."

"you should have answered the phone, too."

he nods. "should have done a lot of things differently."

it's not that you didn't forgive him, or that you were entirely angry with him. those feelings still existed, but at least he was here now, and at least he knew he messed up. you couldn't exactly make a proper judgement call on if he'd changed and learned from those mistakes, now; not until he proved that he meant these pretty promises he was making.

"daisy..." beau mumbles to himself, a little huff of a laugh falling from his lips, now. "i can't wait to get to know her."

"she's just like you," you say, desperately hoping that he ignores the voice crack in your words. "full of dreams and energy and wonder. she's great, beau. she's really great."

the pad of beau's thumb swipes underneath your eye, tracing the lift of your cheekbone. "we gotta get the hell up," he says around a yawn, a dimple poking through his muss of facial hair as he gives you a little grin, "we've got a little girl to drop off at school."

TWO YEARS LATER —

daisy is seven, almost eight. she calls beau dad with ease, even though she had from the moment that she met him. she brings home report cards with straight a's and b's and notes from the teacher about being a little bit mouthy, a little bit wild, but otherwise a wonder to have in class.

beau has her in front of him on the swingset, pushing her even though she insists she can do it herself. he knows she can, but he has a lot of parenting to make up for, and he was so damn glad to.

inside the house, he could hear the chattering of his friends and yours, cleaning up the remnants of a get-together dinner. ella gaylestone is just as crazy as rhett was, and so she was leashed to his belt loop to keep from running and tearing things up, even though beau knew that she just wanted to come out here and play, too.

he was picking up these things, these natural instincts that came with being a parent. rhett and delilah probably knew that their little girl wanted to play, but they also knew that sometimes, like now, daisy just wanted some time with beau.

he'd never deny his baby girl these moments, either.

abigail was pregnant with her and brooks's first. a boy; the first boy to get granted heir to the montana boys legacy, they'd said, though the girls were already proving themselves to be just as worthy too. daisy was so clever, and ella was crazy; they would pick up where beau, rhett, and brooks left off just fine.

"daddy, you never told me about the bull ridin'," daisy says suddenly, craning her head back over her shoulder to look at him. her green eyes were so pale and bright in the setting sun. "i thought you'd have so many stories."

she loved sunshine as much as beau had once loved moonlight. you and beau had signed her up for horse riding lessons that she didn't need, not when she was already a natural. she was his kid, through and through.

"what do you want to know?"

she hums, tapping her fingers along the chains she holds onto. "was it scary?"

"very scary."

"why did you do it then?"

beau wasn't very good with the why questions that came with parenting, though, but was any parent? he mimics her humming noise, just to make her laugh. "sometimes the scary things are the best things."

it was as good of an answer as he could give. that was something she'd learn with time, just like he'd learned how to slip into the role of father. something innate that clicked into place when the time was right.

it'd been terrifying to leave you, that day. it'd been terrifying to come back. it'd been terrifying falling in love with you, and even more so when he fell deeper in love. it'd been horrifying to meet his daughter at six years old. all of those things were things that he did not regret.

he glances out toward the open fields of land behind the arlen family home. daisies and sunflowers and, now lining the fence of their yard, roses. the wind blew and with it came the sweet smell of flower petals and pollen.

the back porch door swings open, and out toddles a wobbly stepped little girl, heading straight for the playground. rhett looks a bit sheepish in the doorway, tossing his hands up in exasperation. "she's got a mind of her own."

"that's alright," beau reassures, slowly pulling daisy's swing to a stop, even with her protests. "you gonna be okay hangin' out with uncle rhett and little ella?"

"do i get to stay up late tonight?" already bargaining with him. daisy arlen was definitely his little girl. you'd been right about her being just like him.

beau sighs dramatically. "i guess so. only tonight, though. you've got school again in a couple days."

daisy picks up ella and puts her on her hip, and it nearly makes beau's knees buckle. he doesn't want her to grow up just as much as he does want her to. it's so bittersweet, watching kids become adults, seeing how quickly it all happens. he used to carry daisy on his hip like that.

he turns to head back inside, waving away rhett's offer of a cigarette as he does. brooks seems to smell the cigarette through the florally scents in the wind and passes beau on his way in.

"they're havin' girl talk," brooks warns, snatching rhett's cigarette from between his lips, "good luck in there."

beau snorts. what did beau need luck for when he's already gotten lucky enough to have earned your forgiveness and your trust again?

still, he lingers a little longer in the kitchen, listening in for a good time to dip in and see you again. no amount of time anymore was enough time with you, in his mind.

"do you know what it is, yet?" abigail. beau smiles a little to himself, knowing exactly what they were talking about.

your voice chimes in next, a little hum to the words out of your mouth. "no. i don't think we want to know, either."

"that couldn't be me. i had to know the second i could." delilah. her voice is louder than the others, and before he knew it, she was about to run straight into him. "oh, sorry, beau. girlie, your beau's in here!"

beau shakes his head, stepping out of her way. delilah goes straight for the lemonade pitcher, and so beau goes ahead and grabs her a cup. "very original, delly."

"hey, i got a lot of cheesy beau jokes to catch up on!"

beau snorts, letting delilah pour her glass of lemonade before he steals it right from her hand, dipping out of the kitchen and into the living room as she protests behind him.

"beau," you say with a little sigh, looking up from your spot in the rocking chair to meet his eyes. he comes to stand next to you, bending down to kiss your temple.

abigail's nails tap mindlessly on her own lemonade glass. "maybe you will tell me," she says, sitting up straighter, "since your girl here won't."

you roll your eyes fondly, your hand coming up to steal beau's off of the armrest. he lets you take his hand, tracing shapes on his palm with your fingertips. "she's being nosy."

"i'm always nosy! so tell me!" abigail looks over at beau, now, one hand strewn over her swollen belly. "what are your name ideas?"

beau huffs out a laugh, taking the stetson off of his head and draping it on top of yours. "this is what that's about?"

"told you," you hum, your free hand lifting up from your own swollen belly to adjust the brim of the hat on your head, "nosy, nosy."

beau doesn't mind it, though. he's got years of talking about his kids and boasting about his family to make up for. "rose. we were thinkin' rose."

notes. u may be thinking omfg dahlia finally watched big sky !! beau arlen !! no i did not. i stole his name and the lil info i could find on the big sky wiki n i made an au <3 bc that is my specialty!!! not knowing canon shit so i make aus!!! terrified to post this literally bc what if the beau arlen lovers think i did bad. i will pretend i don't see. anyways this is long asf sorry i had a STORY TO TELL !!! LOL

tags. @titsout4jackles @deansbeer @honeyryewhiskey @ultravi0lence14 @figthoughts @theosaurous @stereotypicalbarbie @whyyouegg @eepwtf @rositaslabyrinth @rubyvhs @aileenunfiltered @abox-of-rocks @sunsbaby @bluemerakis @jollyhunter @misatxox @sunsettsam @angelblqde @bombarda-babe @unfortunate-brat @funkycoloured @chevroletdean @chiierful @cowboysandcigarettes @voidsuites @bitchykittenconnoisseur @beausling @soldiersgirl @dulcescorderitas @hyacinnths @couturewinx @blushpinkdoll @mccartneyqp @svbnra

𝔖𝔠𝔬𝔱𝔱 𝔅𝔞𝔯𝔯𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔢𝔯 ℌ𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔠𝔞𝔫𝔬𝔫𝔰

- how you meet, dating, your story together, how he is, etc.. | Fluff . TW: minor mentions of trauma. Some swearing, he called user a bitch. A bit of pervy humor.

🩹 Scott Barringer and you met at Mount Horizon. You were pretty much settled and well liked in the Cliffhangers group when he joined. Like the girls of said group, you were curious about the blonde with the bad attitude. It didn't take long to learn how hostile and nearly unapproachable he was, like most troubled teens when they first arrived. Since Juliet and Shelby seemed to have this little competition for his attention going on, you decided to not get involved, keeping your interactions to a minimum. It wasn't difficult, considering how douchy he was at the beginning of his stay.

🩹 You share a rather similar trauma to Katherine and large bodies of water make you terribly anxious after an accident, not that you speak about it. Scott is quite the trickster and is known to hold grudges, both of you argued over something the other day, which is why he had the moronic idea to push you into the lake. If the Cliffhangers disliked Scott before, they absolutely hated his guts after this, especially since he froze and Peter was the one who jumped after you. “W-what? It's not my fault the bitch can't swim or whatever...” He muttered, but the reality was that Scott had been absolutely terrified. Getting along with him after this was certainly a challenge, Scott didn't make it easy, his own trauma and shame prevented him from doing the right thing, but he eventually had the guts to tell you he was sorry. You almost ignored him, but then you noticed how close to tears he was. Alas, a small flicker of vulnerability that proved Scott was human after all.

He walked into the empty library, it was after curfew, but you were reading quietly on a sofa. Scott hesitated for a couple of seconds, the only reason he was there was because he knew he'd find you, but now that he can see you, he can't seem to talk. What could he say, anyways? It's not a secret that you want to be as far as possible from him, ever since the incident.

“... What do you want?” Your tone isn't exactly friendly, something he knew he deserved, it doesn't stop Scott from flinching though. “Seriously Scott, you don't even read, so why are you here?”

“To talk to you,” he says, trying to not sound too defensive. He sighs. “Can I do that, please? You don't have to say anything... You don't even have to talk to me, just... Hear me out?” Scott stared, pleading quietly, hoping you'll grant him that.

Crossing your arms you decide to humor him, just to hear what he has to say. “Make it fast.”

He gives you a bit of a nod, grateful, even if his heart was hammering against his chest hard enough to break it.

“Listen I...” Scott swallowed, hard, feeling a bump in his throat that prevents him from speaking properly. He takes a sharp breath, hands running through his tousled hair. “I didn't want to hurt you, okay? You need to know that. If I had been aware of your... I never would have- I mean, G-God, I could've... It was never m-my intention, you get that, right? I-I know I'm a dick but I really didn't think... And uhm... I- I'm s-so... I'm so sorry... I'm sorry.” He sniffles, scratching the back of his head in desperation, he hates how pathetic he feels when he cries, but this is something that has been tormenting him. The idea of you possibly having trouble sleeping after he pushed you made him want to crawl in a hole and never come back. “I s-swear I didn't want to h-hurt you. And if I set back your recovery... F-fuck, I'm so sorry, please...” He sobbed, thick tears sliding over his reddened cheeks. “You have to believe me.”

It was in this moment that you hated how compassionate and soft you are, a couple of tears and your heart was practically breaking. Unbelievable.

“I know you are...” you sighed. “But what you did was so fucking dumb, Scott.”

“I know! I know! And I hate myself for doing this to you, I had no idea.” He looks away, breathing through his mouth. He looked absolutely pathetic, struggling with himself. “A-and you're not a bitch... I'm sorry for calling you that.”

“You called me a bitch? What, when?”

He continued to cry, trying to make his case before you decide you've had enough of him. “I thought you knew how to swim, I've heard about you being in a team and everything!! What I didn't know was the reason for you to be here. I swear for everything that I hold dear, that I wouldn't have pushed you if I knew...”

You rolled your eyes, muttering “I do know how, I just kinda can't anymore... I freeze, I don't like to talk about it.”

Scott nods, wiping his eyes.

“...I could have jumped after you, I stood there like a moron because I didn't know if you were being for real... and I—” He kept talking, to a point where you could no longer understand him. It was a little frustrating because you wanted to be mad at him, to be petty, to hold a grudge. But you can't, not anymore.

“Jesus Christ, breathe, Scott. I don't know what the hell you're saying anymore.” You groaned, getting up and gently pulling him into a warm hug, one that he probably doesn't deserve, but needs. This was the day that you understood there was something else going on, that there was more to Scott Barringer than what meets the eye. Your suspicions were confirmed when he began bawling again, clinging to your shirt while sobbing. “It's... It's alright, we're alright.”

🩹 After that awkward evening of apologies, there was a short period of time where Scott didn't know how to act around you, so much that he sorta avoided you for three days. After that, you became friends. He randomly sat down in front of you for lunch, quietly handing you over one of those muffins they made at the cafeteria, it didn't have that much sugar or flavor to it, but it was the closest thing to a decent snack around. People usually don't give those up willingly. A peace offering.

🩹 It became rather common to find the two of you together after this. It's not like you're attached at the hip, but 8 times out of 10, you were next to each other. Your friendship with him isn't automatically perfect, he's still petty and learning how to navigate his own emotions, he's prone to jealousy and has this infuriating mindset of 'I don't like this person so you can't be friends with them either', but those are things that with time he begins to fix. You also learn rather quickly what they meant, and the fact that the blonde was crushing on you. Take that, Shelby and Juliet!

🩹 Your relationship with him happened gradually, and then boom! You got a little closer, hugs lasted a little longer, words were a little flirtier, until one time you kissed goodnight. It was fast, it was cute, it was surprisingly innocent, and suddenly both of you were stumbling with your own words, blushing and waving goodbye like a pair of idiots.

🩹 Scott Barringer doesn't really know how to be romantic, he could try saying something really sweet or do something cute like giving you a flower, but there's a good chance he'll end the sentence with a dismissive "whatever", "some shit like that", or "who fucking cares..." Luckily, you understand him, as frustrating he may be. Patience is definitely a skill you were exercising constantly with him by your side.

🩹 Scott Barringer is an overprotective boyfriend. Even if he's good to you, he still has a long road to go, empathy and teamwork are things he greatly struggles with if they're not related to you. It's not uncommon for him to get in fights, usually with Auggie. If Scott feels like someone looked at you the wrong way he's already stomping his way towards them and making a fist. You joked with your friends about buying a leash to hold him back, but it's not something you're proud of. Pulling him back during a fight? Forget it. His behavior usually causes most of your arguments, and they look a bit like this: "So you're on his side then!" "What? No Scott, but you can't behave like this and expect me to side with you!" "Why the hell not? You're my girlfriend, not his!"

🩹 You guys went through a breakup at some point, it happened when you were certain Scott needed a friend more than a girlfriend and his behavior was the worst it would be. It wasn't easy and he definitely resented you for it, but you insisted in him needing space to grow and to battle those demons that found him when his father came back into his life. It didn't last for long, and best believe he tried to make you jealous during that time "apart", but ultimately you got back together when he promised to work on being better.

“Oh Scott, now what?” You groaned when he pulled you to the side. Funny how you didn't even have to look to know it was him, but when you did, he had this miserable look on his face, like a starved puppy. “Tch. You have two minutes.”

“I know you think it's for the best, and maybe you're right, maybe I'm too dependent on you, but I don't think you understand how truly good you are for me. I've changed, ever since... Ever since we first crossed paths, I have been changing for the better... I know I get in fights, I know I'm an asshole, I know I claim to not care about anything else and maybe I don't to a degree. But when it comes to you...?” Scott sighs, his pretty eyes sparkling with devotion. “You are everything that I care about, yeah? And you've made me want to be better, I don't wanna do this without you, it's not fair! Not when you want to be with me, and I want to be with you. I'm not trying to guilt you into compliance, but I need you, alright? I need you in my life, desperately. You made me believe I'm worth loving, you have any idea how hard that was? You made me believe I matter... And you made me feel like myself again. When I'm with you I am not afraid of anything, not... Not even the storms. So please, give me another chance, because I don't know if I can do this without you.”

🩹 You were the first one to leave Mount Horizon. As soon as you found out you were fit to go back to your home, you told Scott. Safe to say he was absolutely devastated, but at the same time, he forced himself to smile and hug you tightly. You promised that you would write every single week, and even though Scott had his doubts, you did. Scott's turn to leave took place six months after you, at 17 he still had to live with his father, but as soon as he turned 18, he moved out.

🩹 Scott's first apartment is close to a gym and the university he'll go to. He wasted no time in asking you to live with him, and even when your friends thought it wasn't a good idea, you agreed. It was genuinely one of the best decisions you ever made.

🩹 Scott Barringer has a dirty dirty mind, like any guy his age. His thoughts of you are downright obscene, and even if he doesn't say so, you can tell by that look in his eyes. He'll stare at you almost in a trance, pupils will dilate so much you'll wonder if he took something. His chin points downward and you can swear the guy isn't even blinking. Sometimes it creeps you out.

“Alright that's enough you perv, stop it!” Your dramatic squeal brought him back to the present, Scott blushes as he gets ready to protest.

“But I'm not doing anything!”

“Yes you are!”

“No I'm not! The fuck?! Can't I look at my girlfriend? Damn. So dramatic... I wasn't even thinking about it...” He grumbled, even though he's 100% lying. “I said I wasn't!”

🩹 Scott Barringer is the type of guy that during a sleepover he'll make it sound like he can make cool shadow puppets, starting with the basics: bunny, bird. At this point you're invested. Spider. Butterfly. Aaaand he just made a circle for his middle finger to move in and out repeatedly.

“This one's my favorite.” He grins. “Wanna emulate?”

“You are such a child, Scott! Gosh!”

🩹 Scott Barringer developed the habit of leaving you notes, just because. He thinks you get rid of them after reading, so the day he found your little shoe box filled with his notes he teared up. Scott still has days of struggle, but knowing that someone loves him enough to literally save a stupid bubblegum wrap with the words 'I love you', is enough to make him want to bawl. He can't even bring himself to tease you for it, he'd be a hypocrite if he called you sentimental or a crybaby.

🩹 Scott Barringer loves you more than he loves himself. But that's not something you approved of, so you made sure to remind him of how damn valuable he was.

COOLSVILLE ─── dean winchester

warnings! mentions of drug use (420 blaze it!)

word count! 1.8k

you had no idea how it started—how you became the kind of person who burst into your best friend’s apartment rambling about ghosts like it was just another tuesday. if you had to pinpoint it, though, it probably had a lot to do with the fact that sam winchester, despite trying so hard to be normal, had never been able to shake the magnetism of the weird.

you met sam at stanford. you weren’t really the type for the whole serious academia thing, but somehow, the two of you had just clicked. maybe it was the way he always seemed to be carrying the weight of the world, and you had a knack for making people lighten up. maybe it was because you were both sort of weirdos in your own ways—you, with your love for old urban legends and half-baked conspiracy theories, and sam, with his way of knowing just a little too much about the things you brought up.

either way, he was your best friend. he never judged you when you showed up to his dorm room high as hell, rambling about cryptids or some unsolved murder case that had captivated you for the week. and when he moved in with jess, you adopted her into your circle just as fast.

which is why, when something seriously weird happened in or around stanford, sam was the first person you thought of.

the rumors had started a few weeks ago—hikers going missing near an old, abandoned motel off the highway. people talked about hearing whispers in the woods, seeing shadows move even when there was nothing to cast them. classic ghost shit. but what really got you was the fact that no one seemed to be doing anything about it. the cops brushed it off, called it accidents, but you weren’t buying it.

and sure, maybe you weren’t a hunter or whatever, but come on. it was just a ghost. how hard could it be?

the knock on sam’s apartment door was way too enthusiastic for someone who wasn’t trying to break it down. before he could even get up to answer it, the door swung open, and you burst in like a whirlwind, eyes wide, hair slightly messy, and smelling faintly of weed.

“okay, dude, i know you don’t do the whole hunting thing anymore, but hear me out—" you started, barely pausing to breathe as you plopped down onto sam’s couch. "there’s some seriously weird shit happening just outside town. like, i think it’s a ghost. it has to be. i mean, i don’t actually know jack shit about ghosts, but the vibes? immaculate. real haunted as hell energy. i’d go check it out myself, but i also don’t know how to check out ghosts, and also, i’m high, and this just sounds like a sick idea—”

“hey,” sam cut in, looking like he was already regretting whatever was about to happen next. “this is my brother, dean.”

you stopped mid-rant, finally realizing there was another person in the room.

dean winchester was sitting on the couch, beer in hand, watching you with a smirk that told you he had been very entertained by your little speech.

he had this whole rugged, effortlessly cool thing going on—leather jacket, cocky half-smile, green eyes that practically twinkled with amusement. the kind of guy who probably had stories that would make your ghost story sound like a kindergarten fairy tale.

“well, hey there,” he said, leaning forward slightly, clearly enjoying your reaction.

you exhaled, collecting yourself. “hey, cool. nice to meet you.” then, without missing a beat, you turned right back to sam. “so, about the ghost shit—are you in?”

dean let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “you know, sammy, i like this one.”

sam shot him a glare. “no. absolutely not.”

“oh, come on,” dean drawled, grinning as he nudged sam with his elbow. “indulge your friend, would ya? she’s clearly passionate about this ghost crap.”

“i am not indulging her,” sam huffed, arms crossed. “we’re not going on some ghost hunt just because she saw a couple of weird reddit posts.”

you scoffed. “okay, rude. first of all, i did my research. second of all, it wasn’t reddit, it was the newspaper and reddit —which, honestly, i feel like makes it more credible.”

sam shot you a deadpan look.

dean snorted. “see? now we have to go.”

“dean.”

“sam.”

dean clapped a hand on sam’s shoulder, his grin widening. “come on, man. what’s the worst that could happen?”

sam let out a long, suffering sigh, running a hand down his face. “i hate both of you.”

you beamed. “so that’s a yes?”

“fine,” he muttered, already regretting everything.

dean smirked. “atta boy, sammy.”

you didn’t know how, but somehow, you convinced them. or maybe dean had been looking for a little excitement. either way, an hour later, you were in the backseat of the nicest car you’d ever been in—dean’s impala—on the way to check out your “ghost.”

dean had been grilling you about what, exactly, you’d heard.

“so, people are just... disappearing?”

“yeah,” you said, leaning forward between the front seats. “like, they go hiking, and then they just don’t come back. no bodies, no signs of a struggle. just gone. and people have been talking about hearing whispers in the woods. creepy shit.”

dean hummed, tapping his fingers on the wheel. “and you figured this was a ghost?”

you shrugged. “what else would it be?”

dean smirked. “oh, sweetheart. you have no idea.”

that should have been your first clue that you were in way over your head.

you were about twenty minutes outside of town, where the paved roads had turned to dirt and the streetlights had long since disappeared. the deeper into the woods you drove, the quieter it got—too quiet. even with the car rumbling beneath you, there was a heaviness in the air, a weird sort of stillness that made your skin prickle.

dean noticed it too, because his hands tightened around the wheel. “yeah, this place has a vibe,” he muttered.

“yeah, a creepy one,” you agreed. “we sure this was a good idea?”

“no,” sam said bluntly.

dean just grinned. “that’s what makes it fun.”

when the impala finally rolled to a stop at the edge of the woods, you realized just how dark it was out here. the trees stretched high, their branches twisting together to block out most of the moonlight. the headlights cast long, jagged shadows that seemed to move when you weren’t looking.

you swallowed hard. okay. maybe this wasn’t one of your brightest ideas.

sam sighed, pushing open his door. “let’s just get this over with.”

you followed suit, stepping out and instantly regretting not bringing a jacket. the night air was sharp, colder than it had been in town. goosebumps prickled along your arms.

dean opened the trunk, revealing an arsenal of weapons and tools that had you raising an eyebrow. “okay, what the hell?”

“what?” dean said, grabbing a flashlight and a shotgun like it was the most normal thing in the world.

you gestured wildly. “this is not standard ghost-hunting equipment. you’ve got, like—holy water? is that a machete?”

sam pinched the bridge of his nose. “this is a terrible idea.”

dean ignored him. instead, he turned to you with that same cocky smirk. “what, you thought we were just gonna bust out a ouija board and call it a day?”

“honestly? yeah.”

dean chuckled. “well, welcome to the real world, sweetheart.”

you didn’t like the way he said that.

sam handed you a flashlight—nothing fancy, just a regular one—and muttered something under his breath about how this was so stupid as the three of you started towards the trailhead.

the dirt path was narrow, winding between thick trees that made it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead. the further you went, the more the shadows stretched, twisting like something alive.

and then you heard it.

a whisper.

faint, barely there, but close enough to make your stomach drop.

you froze. “uh. did you hear that?”

dean and sam exchanged a look. that was never a good sign.

and then, before you could say anything else, something moved in the trees.

something big.

the branches cracked. leaves rustled.

your breath caught in your throat.

oh.

oh, shit.

this was so not just a ghost.

you didn’t really remember how it all went down. one second, you were frozen in place, staring at the shifting shadows in the trees. the next, something exploded from the darkness—too fast, too inhuman.

a blur of motion. a guttural snarl.

and then pain.

something huge slammed into you, knocking the air from your lungs as you went flying. the impact was brutal, sending you crashing to the ground so hard that the world tilted. the taste of copper flooded your mouth.

you barely had time to register the weight pressing down on you before claws tore through your skin, sharp and merciless. a ragged scream ripped from your throat, but it was drowned out by the thing’s snarl.

you struggled, kicking, thrashing—fighting—but it was too strong. its breath was hot and rancid against your face, its growl vibrating through your bones. the sharp, burning pain of teeth sinking into flesh stole whatever fight you had left.

somewhere, distantly, you heard sam shout your name.

a gunshot rang out.

the weight lifted.

you gasped, but the air barely made it to your lungs. everything burned—your skin, your ribs, the deep, searing wound where the thing’s teeth had sunk in.

somewhere above you, voices clashed, distant but frantic.

“dean! she’s—it got—” sam’s voice was raw with panic, his footsteps pounding toward you.

“get her up! we gotta move!” dean’s voice, sharp and urgent, cut through the haze.

“this was stupid!” sam shouted, closer now. you barely felt it when his hands pressed against your arm, shaking slightly as he tried to assess the damage. “it was reckless—we shouldn’t have brought her out here!”

dean let out a ragged breath. “we’ll talk about it later, sammy—right now, we need to get her back before—just get her up!

your body felt impossibly heavy, like the ground had wrapped itself around you, pulling you deeper. sam’s voice blurred in and out, shifting from frantic words to muffled sounds.

“stay with me—hey, keep your eyes open—come on, you’re okay—”

but you weren’t.

the darkness was creeping in at the edges of your vision, and no matter how hard you tried to hold on, it was winning.

you thought you felt someone scoop you up—strong arms, the scent of leather and gunpowder grounding you for a brief moment. the motion made your stomach lurch, a dull ache radiating from every part of you.

the voices—sam’s frantic, dean’s sharp—blurred together, growing distant. you tried to focus, tried to hold onto something—anything—but the heaviness pulled at you, dragging you under before you could fight it.

breezy's notes: because i am nothing if not a die hard scooby-doo fan! also, had to make up for all the sad shit that i was posting lol. thank you dolly for making all the decisions for the visuals bc i could not make them for the life of me 🤍 it is also important to note that canon is a suggestion here and not a rule lmao. ALMOST FORGOT THIS WEREWOLF! READER IS THE SAME AS THE WEREWOLF! READER IN BURNT SUGAR, SO THIS SERIES (??) WILL BE AN ORIGIN STORY I GUESS

if you'd like to be added to/removed from the tag list pls lmk!

tags ⋆·˚ ༘ *🔭: @floralscented @deansbeer @aileenunfiltered @honeyryewhiskey @florchids @bluemerakis @tortureddarkstar @figthoughts @ultravi0lence14 @misatxox @foolinthera1n @deansenvy @hoffmansgirl @eepwtf @lawboysammyy @jjmbbg @tinas111 @soldiersgirl @whisperingdaze @abox-of-rocks @starzify @acklesgal @beausling

THIS IS SO GOOD

I’ll be watching you — Lee Byung-hun

Description: Over the years your fans has slowly watched you and Lee Byung-Hun fall in love. They finally get to see you guys working on a project together for the first time since G.I. JOE. What even better? The promotion for the Netflix hit Squid Games.

Parings: Lee Byung-Hun x Actor F!Reader

Warnings: Some use of Y/N.

2013 G.I. JOE Retaliation Promotion.

The bright lights of the cameras shined on you and your co-star, while the interviewer asked you basic questions.

“So how did the two of you feel with this new casting. Mr Lee who had already played in the original G.I. Joe movie and you who has just now made her debut.”

You look to Byung-hun silently pleading for him to take on the question first. Luckily one look your way and he knew your silent question. Something you had found yourself grateful for.

“The entire cast is full of amazing actors, who are so caring and gentle.” Slowly you felt your nails picking at your cuticles as you thought of your answer. “I had a lot of fun working with these guys — and everyone on the crew makes it so fun.”

You didn’t noticed at first, and honestly neither did the interviewer. He was so slick with the way he slid his hand into yours, stopping your bad habit. Giving your hand a gentle squeeze before you answering as encouragement.

Your voice didn’t waver as you let the warmth of his hand bring you back to earth.

“Working on a project this big, with these actors who I truly admire is something I’m so excited about. This my ‘debut’ and it’s crazy to me that this is all really real.”

Before the interviewer could ask his next question Byung-hun didn’t think before keeping your conversation going. Helping your nerves.

“Going Hollywood is definitely something that is nerve wracking. I remember how crazy the whole thing was for me.”

Your little smile at him made the fans go crazy when the video came out. The hand holding, and little gentle reassurances he would do throughout the entire thing was something fans couldn’t get enough of as they would re-watch it over and over.

—

Photos flashed everywhere, blinding you as you stepped onto the movie premiere. Your dress was gorgeous, just like you. Your hair and makeup styled perfectly, you had honestly felt like a princess.

And in true prince fashion, Byung-hun stepped in when he saw you picking as your nails again.

Smiling at the photographers, he grabbed your hand. Leaning down to whisper in your ear; “your hands are too pretty to mess up. Squeeze mine instead.”

When he straightened his posture, and smiled once again for the cameras, as if nothing happened, you couldn’t help but think maybe that’s when you first felt it.

Devotion, wrapped in admiration.

He had helped you so much with your anxiety, some would say it was inevitable to favor him. “Thank you.” All he did was simply squeeze your hand back.

The blinding lights going crazy over the hand holding. Surely it would cause rumors, but for once you didn’t let it get to your head. Simply holding his hand instead.

—

For Lee Byung-hun, he had only thought of you as a co-worker. While your admiration for the man was so obvious, he couldn’t help but thing it was a silly crush you had because he helped you in tough situations.

He kept it professional, denying at friend invites you sent him, or any drink you’d offer him. Though he changed perspectives after watching you most recent single interview.

“Many of your fans are interested with your relationship with your co-star Lee Byung-hun. Can you elaborate on it?”

Truth was you felt nervous at this question, you didn’t know the right way to answer. Though you knew you wanted to be honest and not let the rumors continue, even if it may disappoint some.

“Ah, well truth be told there is no relationship I can really explain. This movie is the first time I’ve had such a big role.

While filming, it’s true I had quite a few scenes with Storm Shadow, more often than not. While filming those scenes I’d watch the way Lee Byung-hun embodied his character.

It was something I was truly impressed about, and so since our characters were so intwined with each other — we were paired for most promotional videos.”

You took a deep breath before continuing, grateful that the interviewer didn’t interrupt.

“During our first promo video, I was extremely nervous. This is such a big film and I was so in my head — seeing this my co-working held my hand to help with my anxiety.

People who support me loved it. Was all for it, but all it was, was him helping a co-worker out. The same thing happened at the movie premiere.

While on that carpet my heart was pounding and he was there to offer support. That’s all, the rest is rumors. I simple just admire him and someone to learn from.”

You felt a little shaky but ultimately felt better after clearing air. In your eyes Mr Lee Byung-Hun was uncomfortable about the rumors. That’s why he wouldn’t ever socialize much with you, so you had felt proud of yourself for putting an end to it.

On the other hand, him hearing you say you only admire him from a person to learn from had hit him hard. A person he knew actually looked up to him. It was an honor, one he had became proud of.

So when he saw you next, he didn’t beat around the bush.

“I’m a person you admire?” You didn’t have a crush on him like he originally thought, and that’s the moment he wanted you be your friend.

That’s the moment he had devotion towards you. Devotion wrapped in friendship.

—

Your final cast interview. It was a long experience, but an unforgettable one. This whole movie had became something you truly loved, cast included.

“Each of you will read out a card, and say the answer within ten seconds. If you get it, you’ll gain points. Whoever has most wins.”

A simple game to finish it off. Easy peasy.

To the right of you, Dwayne went first. “In ten words, explain the film.” He read off before hurrying to put ten words out.

“Cobra.” One finger up. “Escapes.” Another. “While. Joes. That. Are. Left. Fight. Back.” One last word, but just before he could think of it — getting stuck the timer went off.

The whole crew laughed at his disappointment, and then next was your turn.

“I’m nervous.” You gave one deep breath before reading out your card. “Why should you watch the new movie.”

One. Two. “Have you seen this cast?” Five. Six. “Just look at Dwayne’s muscles.” Everyone laughed.

Dwayne got a little red, causing a little teasing. It was a good moment, a happy moment. So why was Byung-hun laughing?

In fact as it was a viral clip, not you teasing Dwayne, no it was Lee Byung-hun reaction that was viral.

“Have you seen this cast?” Byung-hun kept his entire focus on you, not even looking away once when you spoke. In fact throught most of the interview, he barely paid anyone else much attention. “Just look at Dwayne’s muscles.”

A bitter feeling bubbler under his skin, as he felt his blood hot. His jaw visibly clenched, as he glared at the man in question. Before looking you up as down, his fist the next to clench. Not a single laugh leaving his lips let alone a smile.

It went very viral, and Lee Byung-hun didn’t even try to deny what they were saying. Jealousy, yes. Though it wasn’t because he was romantically interested. He just felt a sense of belonging over you. Not in a toxic way, or at least not in his eyes.

Truth be told you only mentioned to him simply because you didn’t want him to be mad at you.

“What that video going around about?” A simple question. He was in your living room, laying down on your lap, eyes closed while you mindlessly scrolled through instagram.

Instantly he knew what you were talking about and once again he didn’t defend himself.

“I didn’t like how you mentioned him.”

“His muscles.”

A scoff slipped past his lips, “I have those too, you know?” He sat up, and didn’t hesitate to lift his shirt up to show you. His abs briefly capturing your full attention.

“Yea but there’s already enough rumors about us.” That was true, and he knew that but he just didn’t care.

“Let them talk.” He brushed a hair out your face, “we’re friends, and friends go over co-workers.”

Friends, neither of you doubted the word. But we’re friends so devoted to one another? So admirable to the other? So protective? Yet the word was never doubted.

—

Over the years

Over the years, neither of you worked on a project again. That didn’t matter, your friendship was still so ever strong.

Often at each other’s house, getting food, attending events. All your fans had was an occasional post about the other.

Once you posted putting a pretty pink bow in his hair, his face was in complete annoyance.

“Byung-hun. Look at me!” He knew you had your phone recording and he debated on weather or not to snatch before looking at you. Ultimately he settled for a glare.

“My pretty princess.” Oh he just might kill you. His head tilted as suddenly you felt a little hotter as he look up at you. Like he was going to devour you alive. “Princess? I’m the one that pampers you—“ before he could continue the video went black.

It was a fond memory of your and you had posted it. As expected whenever a post involving the other popped up it blew up.

Though his comment made even more chaos. As he so much loves to do. No joke, before he made the comment he laid on your bedroom floor breaking silence as he watched the video.

“How can I make this more chaotic.” You couldn’t help but sigh at him.

I dream so often of shutting your mouth. Any ideas?

It went crazy. Then again you’ve done that before, comment a wild thing on his post.

For instance, he posted a picture of himself sweating. Chain dangling (one you got him) and a devilish smile.

Have my kids, I’ll never talk back.

Yea?

You had purposely also sent him a private audio message, cat calling him.

The uproar your fans had, oh well let’s just say many articles broke out.

It was honestly fun, watching your fans want something so bad and just dangle it. Made the two of you feel euphoric on the power.

Yet that wasn’t the only thing you two had found euphoric.

Eventually at one point the two of decided to drink and drink. None of you think before you both crossed a line that was already so faded.

You kissed, and then kissed. Until you ending up the next morning both naked in bed.

The two of you decided for the best that none of it ever happen again, but even though you didn’t — it doesn’t mean you two forgot. In fact neither of you can look at wine the same.

Though, y’all’s restraint fell apart eventually as the two of you kept ending up in each other’s bed.

Most people wouldn’t be shocked if they knew, but oh the two of you were dumbfounded on why you guys could resist each other.

So began your friends with benefits era. A classic.

As that era ended, you both realized you had wanted more, so eventually causal dating was the next step for the two of you. In private of course.

—

Promotion of squid games

You and Byung-Hun both sat in front of cameras. Each looking at fan made videos. It was nice to see such creativity, or that what you thought going into this.

As the first video played, with weird dancing and animation, you couldn’t understand how Byung-Hun could keep a straight face.

“That was for sure… interesting.” The side eye you gave him, and then the camera was definitely clipped.

“I feel wrong.” Is all you had simply said. Which was true. “Definitely love the work put into this, and I think it’s cool how people made this. Just… not my cup of tea.”

A few more weird videos broke out, and some nice one with people singing the theme song, and etc.

The next fan video was an edit of the two of you. Simply just watching each other as the lyrics in the video played. Romantics clearly intended.

It didn’t surprise the two of you. Byung-hun turned his head to you, laughing a little.

“You know, a lot of our fans watched this show for us being in a film together. Yet our characters actually despise the other.” Your smile felt contagious to him as you laughed back.

“Are we the problem?”

The man simply nodded his head back before the two of you watched the next video.

—

Instagram

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yourusername Coming soon! ⏰

Username1 Ah! So exciting

Yourbestfrienduser MOMMY?!

byunghun0712 is this how I find out?

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byunghun0712 how come you never buy? @ yourusername

Yourusername cause I’m spoiled.

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Username1 see how me and him both eat McDonald’s? Meant to be trust

Yourusername honestly you’re so real for that.

Username2 AH, I love you in squid games

Username3 Frontman ❎ Hotman ✅

—

Lie detector interview.

“We are going to give you a set of questions, please answer yes or no.”

Nerves picked at your skin as your watch Byung-hun opposite from you.

They would start with true or false trivia, before going into more detail questions. He gave you a reassuring smile before reading out the first words.

“Is your name really Y/N?” Easy. “Yes.” The detector person gave a thumbs up and he went onto the next question.

“Is it true that you play in squid games season 2?” Another easy one. “Yes.” One more true or false. “Is it true you are very nervous?” The look you gave him was the most ‘duh’ bratty attitude ever.

“Yes.”

“Okay, now onto the actual questions.” He looked down at his card, almost laughing before reading it out to you.

“Have you ever injured yourself on the set of squid games?” You knew exactly what he was thinking about, and it took you a moment not to laugh as well.

“During one of my earlier scenes, I was drinking wine, that I thought was grape juice.” Byung-hun placed a card over his growing smile as you continued. “Well no one actually thought I was drinking actual wine. Nor did I. So I ended up getting a little flushed and tripped off my chair spraining my ankle.”

Amusement wouldn’t even began the joy your co-star had as he remembered the day he carried you back to your trailer.

“Did you have to learn Korean for this film.”

You tilted your head as you thought about it. “I didn’t learn it for this film, but I had learned it a while ago to surprise you because I felt bad you had to translate your thoughts before saying them.”

Lee Byung-hun remembers the first time you spoke to him in Korean. In fact he thinks that was the moment he fell in love with you.

You two had become the definition of she fell first but he fell harder.

You use to mess up so much, and he always loved it. Now you’re pretty fluent but he loves the moments where you ask him for help.

“Tell me more about your character.”

“I play a foreign player, that is intended to remind Gi-Hun about Ali. When I get into the games lots of drama, funny and stressful things begins to happen. I don’t wanna spoil it.”

“Well you passed!” As your began to unhook yourself from the machine, “not a single lie.”

“Not like I could.” You would rather be seen as the honest person you were anyways.

You had asked your co star similar questions but one was a heavily asked fan question.

“What’s your relationship with Co-Star Y/N L/N.” Even you began to feel nervous. Dating. You two were dating and had went a very long time keeping your confirmed relationship private.

But, as you both looked at each other you both knew there wasn’t a point in keeping things a secret.

“Dating.”

Let’s just say the PR for squid game was better than gold.

A/N: I have so many WIP, but no motivation to finish them 😭. So this is my very half attempt to get out of this writing slump! Otherwise I might go insane.

guys this is so crazy. omg thank you so much 🫶

JEALOUSY JEALOUSY | LEE BYUNG-HUN

PAIRING. lee byung-hun x actress!reader

REQUEST. I might have just found my fave blog... May i pretty please with a cherry on top have some lee byunghun with actress!girlfriend!y/n where they watch her show and he gets jealous because of a kiss scene but make it like its some vid for youtube like for GQ maybe and the fans analyzing like the jealousy Its fine if u dont want to tho

A/N. sorry I couldn’t answer directly to your request. btw I know the updates are slow. I’m back in college so I’m really trying to focus! Divider by @v6que !

gq

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gq y/n y/ln and lee byung-hun take a walk down memory lane on our latest GQ&A.

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user12 no way they got them on GQ

byunghunswifey MY HUSBAND LOOKS TOO FINE

reagenxox omw to watch it 🫡

charliee_3.3 the look on his face

sukiwaterhouse @/yourusername look at you go!

iloveyn my favourite actress 💞

yndailynews

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yndailynews clips from y/n y/ln and her boyfriend lee byung-hun’s GQ&A video

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user face card never declines

jaime.lan1 did anyone catch the look on his face when they showed her kissing scene?

user7 @/jaime.lan1 FINALLY SOMEONE NOTICED!

maryssblog I didn’t even know he was dating someone

user4 my two favourite actors together

girlblogger the last picture…he looks like he wants to murder someone

yourusername

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yourusername peace

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randomuser u got a possessive man

userr8 PRETTY

ynfanacc DID SHE NOTICE THE LOOK HE GAVE HER??

byunhunwifeyfr I wish I had your man

ynswifeyy WDYM PEACE? THAT LOOK MEANT THE OPPOSITE OF PEACE

yourfriendsuser I hate that u have a man🥲

byunghun0712

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byunhun0712 it doesn't matter...she's mine

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user2 IS HE TALKING ABOUT THE MOVIE!?

ynspookie @/user2 ofc he is

user3 making sure everybody knows that their together 😭

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ynsfandom she did that movie years agoooo move onnn

hater pretty sure you kissed other people too so….

user8 @/hater I thought it was cute

BETWEEN THE CITY & THE STARS - Part 1

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Summary: In the fall of 1945, Dean is having a difficult time assimilating back into civilian life after the War. He’s visiting his brother Sam in New York City, where he’s beginning to build up his law firm. At two minutes to closing time, you interrupt their evening to solicit a solicitor. Your request? You need help in order to divorce your husband.

AN: My day tomorrow is going to be a bit packed, so I decided to release this a bit early for you guys! So here we go! The first chapter of yet another new series, my first ever 1940s AU. 🥰 I hope you have fun on this one, because I sure did. Again, very much inspired by The Clock (1945), starring Judy Garland and Robert Walker. 💜

Prompt for @jacklesversebingo: Historical Epic

Song Inspo: For this chapter it’s “Cry Me a River” by Ella Fitzgerald

Word Count: 3.9K

Tags/Warnings: Angst, mentions of cheating, PTSD, historical tidbits

✨ Series Masterlist

🎵 YouTube Playlist || Spotify Playlist

Part 1: Legal Grounds

November 2, 1945

Dean idly read the pamphlet stacked with others on his brother’s desk, which advertised his new and successful enterprise.

Law Offices of Winchester, Bialystock & Bloom

What do you know? His brother had his own office, his own business, and his name on a pamphlet.

Dean couldn’t help but curl a finger around a steel ball on the abacus sitting at the head of the mahogany desk, right next to Sam’s nameplate.

He let it fly. The abacus began to clack as one ball hit the other.

Sam looked up from the deposition he was writing to give his brother a wry brow raise.

“So this is what you do, huh?” Dean remarked, crossing his arms.

Without his jacket, his suspenders were on display over his shoulders. His red pinstripe tie was still in place, but his white dress shirt was rolled up to the elbows. Meanwhile, his brother preferred to keep himself more presentable with his sleeves down to his wrists. Jacket on.    

Dean glanced around the office, nodding at the line of bookshelves behind Sam, framing him as the bookish academic he’d always been. There was limited seating in here though, just a spare chair in front of the desk, and another to the right of it. Dean stood on the opposite side.

“If you’re bored, all you have to do is say so,” Sam said. “Which is strange, considering we’re smack dab in the middle of a city that never sleeps.”

He was right, Dean could concede. His little brother had given him a veritable list of things to do in New York City: visit the park, go to the zoo, see a picture show, visit a nightclub, or sample a host of restaurants that Sam knew Dean would probably enjoy.

He’d seen a lot of this place in the week that he’d been here visiting Sam, but a good deal of it he’d either spent alone, or with any willing young lady Dean came across, thanks to the demands of this office. If he was honest, entertaining young ladies was eating into the wallet in his trouser pocket, and the hustle and bustle was starting to be a little much for him.

“You don’t get tired of it?” Dean asked, gesturing to the out there beyond them. “The, uh…the lights, the noise, all the people?”

Sam picked his head up from his paperwork to consider the question. “No, I like it. Keeps my mind busy, and…I guess it makes me feel alive, you know?”

Dean supposed he could understand that, so he nodded.

Sam wasn’t fooled though. He thought he could tell what was running through his brother’s head, watching him fidget, and turn his head a bit sharply when a bus honked loudly outside the office’s glass doors as it thundered past.

It had only been two months since the end of the war. Two months since he and Dean met back in their family home in Lawrence, Kansas after three years fighting on two different fronts, in two different countries.

Both of them had enlisted, but Sam had spent most of his time in London while he was deployed, helping British Intelligence. Dean had clawed his way out of Normandy, and later, out of the Ardennes—the last offensive before the end.

Their experiences might as well have been worlds apart, but one thing remained the same: it had been three years in which neither brother knew if they’d see each other again.

Now, Sam saw the signs. Dean seemed a bit jumpy, overstimulated, but willing to be here to spend a little more time with Sam before he went back home. Guilt prickled in Sam’s gut. 

“I’ve got some work here to finish up, but afterwards let’s go to dinner,” he suggested. “Maybe see a show?”

Dean’s lips flickered at a smile. “You’re burning both ends of the candle. You know that, right?”

Sam opened his mouth to reply, when there was a knock on one of the glass doors—at the entrance to the small building. Their heads turned, and through the open door of his office, they spotted you standing there in the evening light. You wore a wide-brimmed hat on your head and a scarf underneath, wrapped over your hair and under your chin to shield your face. You knocked again with a hand covered by a leather glove, more persistently.

Cocking his head in confusion, Sam stood from his desk and left the room to let you in. Dean hung back and sat on the corner of the desk to wait. He withdrew a cigarette from the pack and a lighter from his pocket as he did so, but he heard you talking with his brother by the door.

“I’m sorry. We’re closed, miss,” Sam informed you.

“It’s still two minutes until closing. At least, according to my watch.”

“…Well, I suppose you’ve got me there.”

“So can I come in? I need to speak to a lawyer.”

“You sure it can’t wait until tomorrow?”

“I’m afraid it can’t, sir.” Your tone was firm, and it more than implied that you wouldn’t be moved. Sam paused then, perhaps to take a steeling breath.

“All right. Come with me, please.”

You later followed behind him through the hallway and into the office. With a lit cigarette between his fingers, his arms crossed, Dean took note of you. He subtly glanced down at your crème-colored blouse, neatly tucked into the long, burgundy skirt (with lipstick to match), your modest, classy heels, and the way you wore your hair. His brows subtly raised. He’d met quite a few girls this week, but he hadn’t seen a lady like you in quite some time.

Should’ve shaved this morning. The thought was accompanied by the way he swiped a subtle hand over his prickly chin.

You gave him a cursory glance in turn, and offered a polite, “Hello.”

He stood from the desk and switched his cigarette to his other hand, so he could shake yours.

“Hey there. Dean Winchester,” he said. He offered a smile with no small amount of charm. “Pleased to meet you…”

You dutifully gave him your first name only. He found that a little strange, but you soon slipped your hand out of his and focused on the nameplate on the desk, followed by Sam himself.

“So you’re brothers,” you realized. “Do you work together?”

Dean scoffed. “Nope, I’m just here to distract him.”

Sam tossed him a sidelong glance. There was a subtle edge of bitter truth in there somewhere, and you didn’t seem to miss it. You looked between the two men, a hint wary.

“Well, as I said, I’m here to speak to the solicitor,” you said. 

“That would be me,” Sam nodded. He went to his desk and sat down behind it, gesturing for you to do the same in front of him. You obliged him, smoothing your hands down your skirt once you were seated. “How can I help you?”

You met his eyes with a directness that surprised him a little.

“I want to divorce my husband,” you said.

To say it shocked the room would be an understatement. Behind you, Dean gave his brother a pair of raised brows. Sam didn’t allow himself to react too much in order to remain professional, but he still tilted his head, blinking, before he focused on you again.

“What’s your husband’s name?” he asked.

“Michael. Michael Milligan.”

“Why do you want a divorce, Mrs. Milligan?” 

Here, your gaze fell to the folded hands in your lap. 

“I have reason to believe he’s been unfaithful,” you quietly replied.

Once again, there was a pregnant pause.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Sam said. His sympathy was genuine, because he could see the way you’d hesitated to say the words, like they embarrassed you, shamed you, and saddened you all at once. 

“But I have to ask,” he added, “do you have proof?”

Dean glanced his way, his brow raising once again. Sam knew what he was thinking, just as he saw how you frowned as well. But there was a reason why he asked, and it wasn’t to be unkind.

You sighed. “What kind of proof?” 

“Pictures. Letters. A witness. Something of legal standing that we can use as leverage and as grounds to grant you a divorce, whether he wants it or not,” Sam said. 

You let out another heavy breath through your nose. “No, I don’t have anything like that.”

“Then what makes you so sure he’s steppin’ out?” Dean chimed in. By now he was leaning against the wall, off to the side where he could smoke with the window cracked open. It let in the sounds of cars and distant honking, people traversing the sidewalks. 

You turned in your seat to give him a tight look. “If you must know, there’ve been…signs. I won’t trouble you with the details, but I’m sure.”

You met Dean’s gaze, and then Sam’s firmly. 

“So will you help me?” you asked him. Sam nodded.

“Yes, I’ll look into your husband and try to find some evidence of his…extracurricular affairs.”

Your lips pursed. “And how long will it take?”

Since you were being so direct, Sam levelled you with honesty.

“It may take time,” he said. “Realistically, we’re looking at months, even after I find what we need… It would be easier to legally separate.”

You had been slowly deflating the more he spoke, but now your expression became stony.

“Mr. Winchester,” you began. “I don’t want to just be separated. I don’t want to live in our apartment, let alone share his bed or wear his last name.”

Despite your best efforts, your voice began to shake. Tears welled up and stung in your eyes.

“I don’t want anything from him, other than his signature on the damn papers,” you said. “The case is that I can no longer tolerate that man in my sight, much less in my life. Will you help me? Or should I look for another lawyer who will actually do his job.”

Sam and Dean shared a glance. For his part, Dean couldn’t remember the last time he heard a woman curse. Despite your outburst, the tears clinging to your lashes stirred both men.

“I understand, Mrs. Milligan,” Sam said. “I’ll help you. Don’t worry.”

He began to look for his handkerchief, but you retrieved one of your own from your purse and quickly dabbed at your eyes, sniffling. You were embarrassed.

“What about your fee?” you said, withdrawing your checkbook. “I, um…I have a little money stashed away. I’ve always worked, you see.”

Sam nodded and went over what his rate would be going forward. Once the two of you came to an agreement, you signed the first check right then and there, even though he felt bad for even taking it from you.

You were still sniffling, and twice you dabbed under your eyes to make sure your face was dry. When you handed over the check, your hands shook, just a little. Sam wouldn’t tell you that he discounted his usual rate.  

Again, he mentioned that he would need some time first to investigate your husband and begin collecting evidence for your case. He asked you for any documents you could safely bring him of your finances, for example. You agreed to do an investigation of your own.

“Just be careful,” Dean cautioned. He was getting an idea of what kind of man your husband was, but Dean couldn’t be too sure of what the man was capable of. He’d hate to hear of a girl like you getting hurt over a few papers.

Dean put out the bud of his cigarette on the ashtray lying on the windowsill. He pushed off the wall to approach where you and Sam were getting to your feet. You gave Dean a nod of acknowledgement.

“I will,” you agreed. “Thank you both. I’m sorry I’ve taken up so much of your time, but I’ll be heading home now.”

“Did you take a bus or a taxi?” Sam asked.

“Oh, I walked,” you replied, and you checked your watch as you gathered up your purse. You headed for the coatrack, but Dean got there first, helping you into your beige wool coat. It went nicely with the burgundy you had on, namely on your painted lips.

“Thank you,” you said to him, but you still didn’t smile. You were a hint demurer now. It seemed with Sam’s promised help, the fire had dimmed behind your eyes and your tongue.

“How about I give you an escort, make sure you get home okay?” Dean found himself offering. “It’s getting pretty late on a Friday.”

Sam shot him a knowing look, but Dean ignored him, instead focusing on your face.

You hesitated. “It’s a bit far though. Out of your way, I’m sure.”

“All the more reason that you shouldn’t go it alone at this time of night,” he argued.

You considered his offer, and him, with a quick perusal. You seemed to be judging for yourself if he was trustworthy. Dean kept his posture straight, yet relaxed. Maybe he’d liked what he saw the moment he took you in, but after hearing your situation, he felt for you. It really was just an honest offer to walk you home.

“Where did you serve?” you asked. “The Army, the Navy, or the Air Forces?”

The question took him off guard for a beat, but he answered you.

“The Army,” he replied.

“Your rank?”

“I was a sergeant, ma’am.”

You looked at him a little more shrewdly, then you relaxed.

“I might’ve guessed,” you said. “All right, Sergeant. Let’s go then.”

You buttoned up your coat and turned to leave the office. Dean shot his little brother a raise of his brows and a what do ya know? kind of smile. He grabbed his dark brown jacket and hat and followed you out.

Sam’s smile was more reserved, with a shake of his head. He closed the door behind you and Dean and locked it. He still had some work he wanted to finish before tomorrow, and Dean’s little show of chivalry would give him time to do it.

Dean had his hands in his coat pockets as he walked with you down the long city sidewalk. Night had drawn into the November sky, but with all these lights, he couldn’t see many stars. It was also cold as all hell. The frigid wind slapped at him every time they turned the corner of a building, snapping right into his bones.

Still, he supposed there was a kind of attractiveness to the city at night. The stores and their signs were all lit up gold and other neon colors. Couples and families walked together, all done up nice for wherever dinner reservation or movie they were trying to get to. It begged the question of what your husband was doing right now if he didn’t notice his wife out at this time of night.

“Where’s your husband tonight, if I might ask?” said Dean.

You shot him a look, reading between his lines.

“He claims to be working late virtually every night of the weekdays,” you said, “but he usually comes home stinking of alcohol.” Your eyes dimmed, even with the pretty lights shining in them. “He was in the Army as well. A corporal. He’s had a hard time adjusting to being back home, and I know that… He doesn’t sleep very well. And do you know, he had a hard time finding work for a while too. Luckily, he has his father’s business to fall back on.”

Dean tried not to show how much your words resonated with him. He didn’t think it a good thing to have common ground with your husband, if he was the kind of man you said he was.

“Yeah? What’s his business?” he asked.

“He manages a meat production plant, of all things,” you said.

“Ah, located in the Meat Packing District, I presume?”

“You’d presume right.”

Dean nodded. “I get it. I inherited the family home back in Lawrence. I just need to figure out what’s next.”

“Lawrence?”

“Kansas.”

“Oh, the Midwest,” you inclined your head. “What’s it like there?”

Dean scoffed. “Dusty.”

You almost laughed at that. At least it earned him your first smile of the night.

“Do you have an idea of what you’ll do for work?” you asked.

Dean chuckled. “Not just yet. Didn’t plan that far, you know?”

“Why not?” you asked.

“Hmm. Guess I didn’t see the point,” he replied with a mild shrug. It hid a deeper, darker well inside him. The part of him that hadn’t thought he’d make it back home after the war.  

You turned to him then, and you saw it behind his eyes. The two of you walked in silence for a little while as the neighborhood blocks began to shift and change, becoming somewhat quieter, more residential. Dean put himself between you and the sidewalk when a taxi zoomed by too close to the curb, resting a hand on the small of your back for protection.

Part of you trilled inside at the small touch, but you immediately beat that reaction down. Dean Winchester was an attractive man, to be sure. His hair was a lighter brown than his brother’s, and shorter too. He had an air of roguishness about him, even though he’d been perfectly pleasant so far.

But by the way he eyed you when you came into the law office, you had a strong feeling he was a flirt. You had no room for that in your life, and not only because you were still a married woman.

Yet, there was something about him that…well, made you curious.

“I was a nurse,” you said eventually, earning his attention. “I was there when they liberated Paris.”

Dean turned to you with newfound interest lighting his green eyes. “You were at Normandy.”

You nodded. “For a while. Almost a year before D-Day.”

Dean let out a short, if humorless chuckle, running a hand through his hair.

“Well, that’s where I was. At that time, at least,” he said. You gave him a similar look; respect, and perhaps finding a kindred spirit.

“I did what I could do before, during, and afterwards,” you said. “I think that’s all we can do now, Mr. Winchester.”

“Call me Dean,” he said. “If you like.”

A second smile almost tugged at your lips. You nodded in agreement.

“Dean,” you said.

In another ten minutes, he was walking you up to your porch at your apartment building. You travelled up the four small steps, while Dean stopped at the second one. For the first time, you had the vantage point above him as you turned on your heel to face him. You were about to thank him when he shook his head, scoffing.

“This guy must be dumb, deaf, and blind, sweetheart,” he said.

Your face warmed in a blush, and you gave a rueful smile when you realized what he meant. He was looking up at you like someone who couldn’t understand your plight. You knew the feeling.

“That’s kind of you, but you don’t have to do that,” you said.  

His brows furrowed. “Do what?” 

“Try to make me feel better,” you said, scuffing the toe of your sensible heels against the brick platform. Dean crossed his arms. 

“Why not?” he asked.

“Because the fact of the matter is, Sergeant, words don’t move me anymore.” You picked up your gaze from the ground, and you met his. “Flattery is just a pretty way of lying, and I’ve grown to really, truly hate lying.” 

It took him a moment, but Dean nodded.

“I guess that’s fair,” he said. He had to stop himself before he proved your point with a smart word on your pretty smile. Although, it wouldn’t have been a lie. He tipped his hat up. “Goodnight then, Mrs. Milligan.” 

You stopped him from leaving with just your voice. 

“Please,” you said, your eyes briefly closing. “Just…call me by my name. My first name.” 

Dean slowly smiled. “Perfect. I like your name better anyway.” 

This time, your smile in return was genuine, if tinged with amusement. 

“Goodnight, Dean,” you replied.

He gave you a charming grin and a more casual soldier’s salute. Then he stuck his hands back in his pockets, turned on his heel, and began to walk back the way he came. You couldn’t help but watch him go for a second or two. His legs were slightly bowed under his slacks, you noticed.

With a blush, you shook your head to rid yourself of those silly thoughts. You closed the door.

That night, Michael came home late, as usual—this time at two in the morning. He reeked of alcohol, also per usual, but this time when he rolled over towards you in bed to say goodnight, you stiffened. He also smelled like a woman’s perfume. Expensive stuff. 

This was one of those signs you hadn’t wanted to tell Sam Winchester. Frankly, it was crude and embarrassing.

“Sorry it’s so late, darling. Got held up,” he said, kissing your shoulder through your nightgown. His fingers played with the ends of your hair while you laid facing away from him.

You squeezed your eyes shut. You were fighting every instinct you had inside you that wanted to recoil from his touch and bolt out of the bed. When just a few months ago, his touch was all you craved, almost desperately so. 

“Where were you?” you asked. Somehow, you kept your voice steady and calm. “You weren’t at the office all this time.”

“Had a couple of drinks with the guys after,” he said with a shrug. “Sorry. The night got away from us, but, uh…I’ll be home on time for dinner tomorrow.”

With your back turned to him, you were able to roll your eyes.

“What’d you make tonight, outta curiosity?” he asked.

“Egg salad sandwiches,” you replied flatly. 

“Hmm. No real loss there then.” 

Your teeth clenched. “If I thought you were actually going to be home when you said you would, maybe I would make a rump roast with all the fixings.” 

Michael paused, but then, he grasped your shoulder, slowly turned you around in the bed until you were facing him. His face was sterner. 

“Excuse me?” 

You remained quiet. Your gaze travelled downwards, avoiding his.

Michael huffed, shaking his head. “Sometimes you got a real mouth on you. One of these days, you just might regret it.” 

He turned his back on you, laying on his side. You did the same while trying to stem your tears.

When did this become your life?

AN: Oof, sorry for all that angst at the end there, but I hope you liked the first chapter! Did you enjoy soldier!Dean and soldier/lawyer!Sam? Do you want to find a dark alley for Michael yet? 😅

And are you ready for what's coming up next? 😘

Next Time:

Dean both could and couldn’t believe it. He might not have been a saint himself when it came to the fairer sex, but if he went through the whole ordeal of marrying one, let alone a straight-shooting woman like you, beautiful, clever…

“Geez,” he muttered. “He could’ve at least waited until the ink dried on the certificate.” 

Sam nodded in agreement. He picked up the receipt to the Cotton Club, and he shot his brother a grin.

“Wanna go to the club tonight?”

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જ⁀➴°⋆ BYUNG-HUN’S CONTROVERSIALLY YOUNG GIRLFRIEND

“i swear to god if you become a fashion icon im gonna kill myself”

ᯓ★ his young girlfriend who can’t help but post her sweet and loving boyfriend

part 1

part 2

part 3

I’m loving all the Lee Byung-Hun content!!!! Thank you so much and am defo looking forward to more 🫶🫶

these mean so much to me <3

thank you everyone for reading my social au’s!!

and don’t worry there’s many more to come 😉

lee byung hun but like him married with a young wife!? Pleaseeee!!

BIRTHDAY WISHES | lee byung-hun and his young wife

─────౨ৎ─────

byunghun0712

liked by yourusername and others

byunhun0712 happy 26th birthday to the love of my life

view comments

user46 HAPPY BIRTHDAY

yourbestfriendsuser HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAUTIFUL

byunghunfan HE’S MARRIED!?

user4 @/byunghunfan they’ve been married for 2 years

byunghunfan @/user4 STOP

yourusername ur making me feel old (not as old as you but still)

byunghun0712 @/yourusername haha 😂

yourusername

liked by zendaya and others

yourusername he always makes sure I look good especially for my birthday

view comments

yourfriendsuser why is he so focused 😭

user09 WHY CANT HE LOOK AT ME THAT WAY

ilovedilfs i aspire to be you

user64 @/ilovedilfs marry a dilf?

user12 I wish to be his controversially young wife just like you

y/nfan4 can’t believe this beautiful woman is married

yourusername

liked by yourbestfriendsuser and others

yourusername my fav pictures from my birthday

view comments

yourbestfriendsuser YOUR LOOKING WAY TOO GOOD

liked by author

user76 how old are you now??

y/nswifey @/user76 she’s 26!

userfan18 I can’t believe she just turned 26

claireeperrz @/user18 Frl I’m 26 and I’m not even married yet

y/nsworld they’re so cuteee

y/nsdiary can’t believe I wasn’t invited ☹️

marrymey/n

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marrymey/n our beautiful queen turned 26 <3 here’s pictures via her husband’s [lee byung-hun] story today

view comments

y/nssoulmate HUSBAND!? HELLO!??

user13 she’s prettyyy who is she?

mrslee don’t remind me they’re married

user5 SHE LIKED YOUR POST

liked by author

yourusername thank you everyone for the birthday wishes!!! love you all

marrymey/n @/yourusername omg no way you commented

─────౨ৎ─────

a/n: sorry I haven’t really updated. I’m back in college so I’ve been pretty busy

Answer this ― Hayden Christensen

summary: Being a smaller actress and being chronically online is all fun and games until you're very much famous and older boyfriend comes into the background of your Instagram live so you make him do a Q and A.

cw: fem!reader, age gap mentioned, nothing smutty just pure fluff

req: this was requested by @jameskellysgirl! I hope you enjoy mama

Word count: 2159 words

You watched as the chat moved quickly on the screen, trying to read out someones comment while you quickly blended in the foundation on your face.

It was five p.m. and your boyfriend of a year and five months was taking you to your favorite Italian restaurant for the evening for your usual date night even though you insisted on staying in for the night and ordering a few pizzas but your lovely boyfriend wanted to spoil you.

You called yourself lucky because you were dating the infamous Hayden Christensen who was a much bigger and well known actress then you.

The two of you met at an after-party for an event that you were invited to as a plus-one with one of your friends. The two of you instantly clicked and immediately started flirting which led to quite romantic dates and then eventually; he asked you out and you said yes.

You knew that this was a different kind of relationship since he never really dated someone much younger than him and you never dated someone older then you before either so it was new for the both of you but the two of you made it work and you both had a happy healthy relationship.

You are chronically online, as your friend would say, but you respect your boyfriends wishes and rarely posted him unless you had permission too.

Hayden was a private person and didn't have social media nor did he talk about his private life outside of acting. He just preferred to stay on his farm in Canada and build ponds to eventually watch the wildlife formed around it.

He loved to stay at home and cook you a home meal but sometimes he would just rather take you out and spoil you like you deserved because in his eyes; you and his daughter were his whole world.

So, as you sat in front of your phone doing a Instagram live stream while putting on your makeup, you were surprised when you noticed your boyfriend come into view.

Hayden was wearing his signature Carhartt hat, a black shirt, a black button-down shirt over it, black jeans, and his Adidas Oswego. He looked good, per-usual and you couldn't help but smile as you saw him appear behind you on your phone screen.

"Hey bab- Oh I didn't know you were streaming" He spoke sheepishly as he gave the phone a little wave which sent your comments going wild. You smiled at him, motioning him to come closer as he stood in the doorway. "Babe, come here" You said confidently and his cheeks turned a soft shade of red.

Hayden didn't understand much about Instagram lives but he understood that it was live and there was at least over hundred people watching him in the comfort of his own home. He didn't mind it of course because he loved to hear you read out the comments about him but that was only because he was off camera.

He walked over to you nervously, placing his hands on your shoulders and gently massaging them. You smiled, feeling the warmth of his touch. Tilting your head back to look up at him, you murmured, "Say hi to the camera."

"Hi everyone" He flashed the camera a nervous smile before turning his attention back on you. "You look beautiful by the way" He whispered in your ear which made you blush vigorously.

When you looked back at the screen, you saw the truckload of comments begging and pleading for a Q and A between you and Hayden but mostly for him. It wasn't a bad idea since he had been coming more and more out of his comfort zone recently and you knew wouldn't be opposed to a few questions.

"Do you wanna do a little Q&A for all your depraved fans?" you teased, watching as he gave you a thoughtful look. After a moment, he shrugged, a playful smile tugging at his lips. Grabbing a chair, he pulled it up beside you and settled in, resting his hand on your thigh.

"Sure, what's the harm in that?" he replied with a grin.

You giggled, looking at the screen to find a first question to ask him. One of them caught your attention so you turned your head to look at him. "Who's you're favorite character in Star Wars?" You asked him which made him let out a chuckle before smacking his lips together/

"Well, I always liked the characters in masks when I was younger, so it’s probably Boba Fett," he responded, his eyes softening as he looked at you with a loving smile, clearly appreciative that you were continuing the conversation.

"Who's yours?" he asked, and you couldn’t help but blush, the question catching you slightly off guard.

"I always liked Anakin," you replied, your voice a little more confident than you felt, though the warmth of your blush didn’t go unnoticed by your boyfriend. His laughter filled the air, light, and teasing, as he grinned at your response.

"Really?" He asked, slightly in disbelief that you, his girlfriend, favored the character he played. You sheepishly nodded your head, before burying your face into your hands as a way to hide the blush forming on your face.

Hayden quickly noticed this and grabbed your hands, pulling them away from your face and lacing his fingers with one of them as he moved the other one to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. "Why are you so embarrassed? It's cute" He reassured you and you just rolled your eyes, desperately wanting to move on to the next question.

You glanced at the screen, scanning through the fan questions until one caught your eye. Smiling to yourself, you finally settled on it. "How would you feel about owning a cat?" you asked, unable to stifle a soft laugh.

Hayden, of course, knew you were a cat person. He knew you’d been wanting one for ages, so it wasn’t a surprise when that particular question popped up. He chuckled softly, shaking his head at you with a knowing smile, then ran a hand over his face.

"Y'know, I’ve thought about it because you keep asking me," he admitted, glancing to the side for a moment before meeting your eyes again. "I’ve considered it. They’re great pets, and honestly, I think Briar would love having one around, too."

"Plus, we can always get a barn cat" You spoke with a confident smile and he nodded his head at you, agreeing with you in that moment. "We could but were are not getting those hairless cats," He said and you made an offended expression at him before crossing your arms over your chest.

"Why not?! They are so cute-" you playfully jabbed at him, knowing that this would start a playful banter between the two of you.

"They are ugly!" He argued back which made you laugh and double over in your chair, placing a hand on his shoulder before straightening yourself back up and shaking your head at him.

"They are an ugly cute." you remarked and he couldn't help but shake his head at you while you searched for another question for him to answer.

"Okay... Have you thought about getting social media?" You asked, bitting down on you're bottom lip as you watched him think of a response.

Hayden chuckled, leaning back a bit as he considered the question. "Ah, social media... you know, I get asked that a lot," he said with a smile. "Honestly, I’ve thought about it. I get that it’s a great way to connect with fans and share a bit more of, well... real life."

He paused, scratching the back of his neck, looking thoughtful. "But I kinda like being a bit of a mystery. Besides, you know how bad I am with technology—I’d probably end up posting the same thing five times or something," he laughed. "Maybe one day... but for now, I’ll just live vicariously through your account!"

You shook your head, looking down at the groan as you played with the necklace around your neck. "So no social media?" you responded, looking up at him with a raised eyebrow.

He shrugged with a playful grin, "Yeah, I think for now, no social media. I like keeping things a bit more low-key." He paused, giving you a knowing look. "But who knows? Maybe I'll surprise everyone one day and join. I'll just need you to give me a crash course on how to post the right thing without embarrassing myself."

He laughed softly, his usual laid-back charm shining through. "Until then, I'll stick to enjoying all the posts you share instead."

"I feel like when you do join, you'll break the internet" You joked before looking back at the screen to see the time. it was almost time for you to leave since you had a reservation but you had time for one more question so you looked at the comments again while Hayden caressed your thigh.

"When are you gonna propose?" you asked him and he just gave you a look. Sometimes you're boyfriend was difficult to read and maybe that was because he liked to keep things private but you also wanted to know how he would respond to your question.

Hayden gave you a small smirk, his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and something deeper. He leaned back slightly, as if considering how to respond. He was always a bit of a mystery, especially when it came to things that mattered most.

After a brief pause, he looked at you with a knowing smile, though his gaze was soft, almost tender. "You know me too well," he said, his voice low and teasing. "I like to keep a little suspense, don’t I?"

He reached out, brushing a lock of hair behind your ear, his hand lingering near your face. “But… when I do, you’ll know. It’ll be everything you deserve.”

His tone was serious, but there was still that playful edge. "Until then, I think you’ll just have to keep wondering."

You rolled your eyes, gently pushing his shoulder as you pouted at him slightly. "You're no fun" A laugh escaped past your boyfriend's lips when you said that, making him just shrug your shoulders before you turned your attention onto the camera.

"Alright, I'm ending the live since Mr. Supense over is taking me out. Night" You quickly spoke into the camera before finally ending your live. Once the live ended, you turned your attention to your boyfriend who was just staring at you with a loving expression on his face.

You really did wonder if he thought about it; being married to you. You knew you wanted that life with Hayden and you also knew that Hayden wanted to have another kid, to give Briar that opportunity to be a big sister so you really did want to know if that was in the cards of your relationship.

"Are you gonna propose one day?" You asked seriously, tilting your head to the side as you wanted for him to respond.

Hayden met your gaze, his expression softening as he sensed the seriousness in your question. He didn’t rush to answer, instead taking a moment to look at you with that familiar, thoughtful expression he often wore when he was being sincere.

“Of course I am,” he said quietly, his voice steady but full of warmth. He reached for your hand, gently squeezing it. “You’re everything to me. When the time is right, I’ll ask you. You’ll know it, I promise.”

His gaze lingered on you, his smile tender but knowing. "I want it to be something special—something that feels right for both of us."

You couldn't help but smile back at him. Hayden was always like that, you remembered your first date with him and how he wanted the moment to be special for both of you which ultimately led to you spraining your ankle because you decided to wear heels and him having to carry you up to your apartment.

It was definitely memorable despite the sprained ankle. It was special and something you often talked and joked about.

"You are always keeping me on my toes" You replied jokingly as the two of you were seemingly leaning closer to each other for a kiss.

Hayden chuckled softly, the playful spark in his eyes growing as he leaned in closer, his lips just a breath away from yours. “I can’t help it,” he teased, his voice low and warm. “It’s fun keeping you guessing.”

The space between you seemed to shrink as you both leaned in, the anticipation hanging in the air. His hand gently cupped your cheek, his thumb brushing over your skin as he smiled, just before closing the distance for a kiss. The moment felt like a quiet promise, an unspoken understanding that whatever was ahead, you’d face it together.

A/N: Hello my babies! I hope you all enjoy this and espically the person who requested this! I actually had a lot of fun writing this and I am really proud of my work! This is also my first ever Hayden Christensen content on this app so feel free to like or reblog! I love you all!

my fav Hayden Christensen acc is deactivated :((

Hii dear ❤️

I just love all your hayden christensen works so much.

I have a request where Reader plays padme's role and during all the shooting for the movie they fall in love with each other and eventually they get married and evan is also very protective of the reader and sees her as a younger sister. You can add scenes like the movie interviews or press tours.

I have searched for a fic with this idea for so long but haven't found one. 😔

Plz I would really be glad if you do a fic regarding this idea. It's also ok if you can't do it no pressure dear 😊

Love ❤️

Taker care

🎀YOU AS PADMÉ X HAYDEN CHRISTENSE: THE LOVE STORY🎀

synopsis: in the bustling backdrop of a New York casting call in 2000, you meet Hayden Christensen, an enigmatic young actor vying for the role of Anakin Skywalker. A shared screen test ignites an undeniable chemistry, blurring the line between performance and reality, and leaving you both with a lingering sense that this is only the beginning of something extraordinary.

words: 1.1k

warning: not based on real events, fluffy, hint of romance

a/n: hello there, I was SO hyped when I read your idea—it’s seriously brilliant and such a vibe! ✨ Honestly, I’m super honored you trusted me to write this with you 💖. IDK if you were thinking of a one-shot, but I was imagining turning this into a mini-fanfic (like 10 chapters or so?) to really explore all the phases of their relationship—the tension, the feelings, the growth, all of it 🫶.

I hope you love what I’ve written so far, and PLEASE feel free to share your comments or opinions—they’re totally welcome and super important to make this story the best it can be for everyone! 🥰

CHAPTER ONE: CASTING

The sun was beginning to dip behind the Manhattan skyline as you stretched in your chair for the hundredth time that day. You’d been at this since the early morning hours, reading the same lines over and over again with a rotating cast of hopeful actors vying for the role of Anakin Skywalker. George Lucas had been clear about what he was looking for—a young man who could embody Anakin’s volatile mix of rebellious passion and burgeoning darkness. But after dozens of auditions, no one had quite nailed it.

Some actors were technically good but lacked the raw, unpolished edge George wanted. Others had the right look but couldn’t summon the emotional depth required for the role. And as the hours wore on, your excitement for the project was slowly being drained away by the monotony of the casting process.

You exhaled heavily, flipping through the well-worn pages of the script in your hands, your mind wandering to thoughts of escaping the stifling audition room and stepping into the brisk New York air. That’s when you heard his name.

“Hayden Christensen.”

Your eyes snapped up as a young man walked into the room. Honey-blonde hair framed his face, and his quiet confidence filled the space effortlessly. He wasn’t overly polished like so many of the others. There was an air of authenticity about him, as though he didn’t need to try too hard to be noticed.

Your gaze lingered on him as the casting director pointed out where he should stand. He nodded, offering a small, polite smile to the room before taking his mark. There was no unnecessary bravado, no nervous fidgeting—just a focused calm that intrigued you instantly.

When he began his lines, it was as though the room shifted. His voice carried a raw vulnerability, his delivery perfectly balancing Anakin’s simmering anger with the aching, earnest desire for connection. It wasn’t just an audition; it was as if he was Anakin Skywalker.

For a moment, you forgot you were supposed to be evaluating him. His intensity drew you in, his words lingering in the air long after they were spoken. You found yourself leaning forward in your chair, captivated. It was the first time all day you’d felt the spark of something real, something electric.

“(Y/N), are you ready?”

Your name snapped you out of the trance. You blinked, momentarily disoriented, as one of the assistants handed you the pages for the scene. Your heart was racing, and you didn’t know why. All you knew was that you were about to step into that scene with him.

The moment you walked up to Hayden, he looked at you, and for a split second, the rest of the room seemed to disappear. His eyes, an arresting shade of blue, locked onto yours, and you felt a spark—like the ignition of a lightsaber. He smiled, a small, almost imperceptible twitch of his lips, and suddenly, the world felt different.

When the scene began, your eyes darted to the script once or twice, double-checking your lines to ensure everything was perfect. But as the words fell from your lips and his presence seemed to pull you in, something shifted. The boundary between reality and performance blurred, and suddenly, you were no longer reading lines—you were living them. The emotions, the conflict, and the forbidden pull between your characters surged through you like a tidal wave.

“I can't. We can't. It's just not possible,” you murmured, your voice trembling with the weight of the words. It wasn’t just Padmé speaking; it was you, every syllable laced with an ache that felt startlingly real. Your heart, unbidden, protested against the logic of the line, just as hers would.

Hayden’s blue eyes locked onto yours, their intensity almost startling. They were so bright, so alive, but within them swirled a mix of hurt, longing, and something deeper—something that made the air between you feel impossibly charged. His voice was low, thick with a quiet desperation as he stepped closer. “Anything’s possible. Padmé, please listen…” His hand extended toward yours, trembling slightly, as though he couldn’t help but reach for you.

For a moment, you forgot to breathe. The warmth of his hand brushed yours, and an unfamiliar spark danced up your arm. Your fingers almost curled instinctively toward his before you pulled back, forcing yourself to remain in character.

“You listen,” you countered, your voice soft yet firm, filled with a mix of resignation and sorrow. “We live in a real world. Come back to it. You’re studying to become a Jedi Knight. I’m a Senator. If you follow your thoughts through to conclusion, they will take us to a place we cannot go… regardless of the way we feel about each other.”

The words came effortlessly now, as though they belonged not just to Padmé but to you. And as you spoke them, you noticed the way Hayden’s expression shifted—how every ounce of his being seemed to pour into the scene. He didn’t just act. He felt. And in his eyes, you saw it too—a connection, an unspoken understanding that transcended the lines on the page.

With each passing moment, the distance between you closed, not just physically but emotionally, spiritually, as if this moment was fated—destined to unfold exactly this way. By the time you finished your last line, the silence in the room was almost deafening, the air charged with something unspoken but undeniable.

The sound of applause jolted you from the trance-like state, breaking the fragile spell that had wrapped itself around the two of you. You blinked, stepping back instinctively, though your chest still felt tight, your heart still racing. George Lucas and the rest of the team stood clapping, clearly thrilled by the chemistry that had just unfolded in front of them.

You forced a smile, stepping back farther to give Hayden the moment he deserved. He was speaking with George now, his body language a mix of excitement and relief. He was the chosen one. Everyone in the room knew it. He had just won the role of a lifetime.

Yet, even as you lingered in the background, trying to focus on the buzz of conversation around you, you felt it—him. His gaze. It burned softly, like sunlight warming your skin even when you weren’t looking. Over the shoulders of directors and producers, he stole glances your way, as if drawn to you in a way he couldn’t quite explain.

And then there was you. A strange, unfamiliar feeling settled in your chest, making it harder to think clearly. You couldn’t quite place it—was it admiration? Excitement? Curiosity? It felt like all those things and more, tangled into a knot that you didn’t want to unravel just yet.

You didn’t know where this would lead, or why you felt so certain that this was only the beginning of something bigger. All you knew was that, somehow, you were eager to find out.

🎀YOU AS PADMÉ X HAYDEN CHRISTENSE: THE LOVE STORY🎀

FIRST

synopsis: after filming begins, sparks fly between you and your co-star Hayden.

words:  2.6k

warning: not based on real events, fluffy, hint of romance, kiss

a/n: hello there, since I’m on vacation, I wasn’t at home, and typing on my phone was a struggle (lol). Anyway, I really hope you enjoy this chapter—it’s been SO fun and cute to write 🥹💕! I’m excited to keep exploring this idea and seeing where it goes! ✍️🌟

Feel free to like, reblog, and share your thoughts—I’d LOVE to hear them! 🫶✨ Kisses! 😘💌

🌸 Special shoutout to @notantou and @barnes70stark—I hope you both enjoy this chapter! (I hope this is how you tag someone lol) 💖 

CHAPTER 2: FILMING

Filming had started in earnest, and each day on set seemed better than the last. Since Padmé and Anakin were a couple, it meant you and Hayden shared countless scenes together, naturally growing closer with every take. It became an inside joke among the crew—wherever one of you was, the other wasn’t far behind. If someone needed to find Hayden, they’d look for you first, and vice versa.

One of your earliest scenes together was Anakin’s reunion with Padmé after ten years apart. Hayden had this way of channeling Anakin’s mix of boyish awe and simmering intensity, and every time he looked at you as Anakin, it felt like the air between you shifted. His gaze was so earnest, so full of wonder, that it made your own smiles feel impossibly real. It was as though the world around you blurred, leaving only the two of you in focus.

A few weeks later, the production moved to Italy to film the Naboo sequences. The trip itself felt like an adventure, from the chaotic energy of boarding the plane with the entire cast to long days filming in stunning locations. On the flight, you’d been seated between Hayden and Ewan. Somewhere over the Atlantic, your head had found its way onto Hayden’s shoulder, and you slept soundly until Ewan woke you, teasing gently that you needed to eat to stay healthy.

Now, you stood by the edge of a lake that looked almost too beautiful to be real. The breeze rustled through the trees, and the sunlight danced on the water, creating a golden glow over the landscape. You adjusted the gradient dress that hugged your frame, its soft colors perfectly complementing the serene backdrop. Hayden, standing beside you as Anakin, leaned closer with a playful smile.

“You know,” he murmured, his voice low enough that only you could hear, “the lake is beautiful… but not as beautiful as you.”

You glanced at him, trying to suppress the warmth rising in your cheeks as the director called for everyone to take their places.

The scene began, and as Anakin and Padmé, you slipped seamlessly into character.

“I don’t like sand,” Hayden began, his voice tinged with frustration and yearning. “It’s coarse and rough and irritating… and it gets everywhere.”

His knuckles brushed against the bare skin of your back, sending a shiver up your spine. You inhaled sharply, your lips parting as you tried to keep your focus. His hand lingered just a moment longer, and his eyes locked onto yours. “Not like here,” he continued, his tone softening, “here everything is soft… and smooth.”

The air between you grew heavy as his hand dropped, and he leaned in closer. Your heartbeat quickened, echoing in your ears as his ocean-blue eyes gazed into yours, filled with unspoken emotion. You could barely breathe, barely think, as your faces drew nearer.

Then his lips met yours.

The kiss was soft but electric, like the first spark of a fire. His lips were warm and insistent, moving against yours with a passion that felt as natural as breathing. You responded instinctively, your hand brushing against his jaw as you deepened the kiss. Time seemed to stretch, each moment suspended in something impossibly sweet and intimate.

When you finally pulled away, your heart was racing. It took every ounce of effort to steady yourself and remember Padmé’s next line.

“We can’t do this,” you murmured, your voice trembling slightly as you stepped back, mirroring Padmé’s internal struggle. “It’s just not possible.”

Hayden’s expression was unreadable, his blue eyes darkened with something that felt like both longing and heartbreak. Whether it was the mark of his incredible talent or something unspoken lingering between you, you couldn’t quite tell.

But as he spoke his next line, his voice heavy with emotion, you couldn’t ignore the way it mirrored the weight in your own chest:

“Anything’s possible, Padmé. Please, listen.”

Even after the cameras stopped rolling, the feeling of his lips on yours lingered, the line between acting and reality blurring more with each passing day.

Outside the set, you and Hayden always seemed to find reasons to spend time together. Nearly every evening after filming, the two of you would set off to explore Italy’s winding streets, discover cozy cafés, or try food recommended by the crew. Sometimes, Ewan would tag along, joking that he was there to keep an eye on you.

“It’s my job, after all,” he’d say with an exaggerated sigh. “Make sure you don’t end up with any broken bones—or worse, broken hearts.”

You’d always laugh, tossing your head back before linking your arm through his and dragging him down the cobblestone streets, his mock protests drowned out by your giggles. Hayden would walk beside you, hands tucked in his pockets, a gentle smile playing on his lips as he watched the playful dynamic between you and Ewan.

But tonight was different. Ewan had stayed behind, citing an early morning call for a particularly tricky scene. That left just you and Hayden, wandering through the warm Italian evening. The soft glow of lanterns lit your path, and the distant hum of a mandolin floated through the night air.

Your hand found its way to Hayden’s as you strolled, your fingers intertwining naturally. His thumb brushed lightly against your palm—a quiet, comforting gesture that felt more intimate than either of you was ready to admit.

“So, what’s on tonight’s menu?” you asked as you approached a small, tucked-away trattoria. Its rustic charm beckoned with candlelit tables and the scent of garlic and fresh herbs wafting through the air.

Hayden opened the door for you, letting you step inside first before pulling out a chair at one of the corner tables. “Let’s see…” he said as he scanned the menu, his brow furrowed in thought. “We had pizza yesterday, so maybe Risotto alla Milanese? That sounds good.”

You nodded, your gaze flicking up to meet his. “It does, but I’m thinking the tortellini. That way, we can share and try both.”

“Perfect,” he agreed, his lips curving into that easy smile you were starting to associate with comfort and warmth.

When the waiter arrived, you placed your orders and asked for his wine recommendation. The moment he mentioned the perfect pairing, you hesitated, glancing at Hayden.

His blue eyes sparkled with amusement as he raised a brow. “A glass of wine with dinner? I think we can handle that.”

You laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. “Right. Nothing wrong with drinking with a friend,” you replied, the words tasting both true and untrue at the same time.

The waiter brought over the wine, pouring two glasses before leaving you to your quiet corner of the restaurant. The candlelight flickered between you, casting soft shadows across Hayden’s face.

“So,” he began, swirling the wine in his glass thoughtfully, “what’s been your favorite part of Italy so far? Aside from the food, obviously.”

You smiled, leaning your chin on your hand as you considered his question. “Honestly? This. These little moments.”

His eyes softened, his expression almost unreadable as he leaned forward slightly. “What do you mean?”

You gestured vaguely to the restaurant, the warm atmosphere, and then to him. “Just… being here. With you. Wandering through the streets, talking about nothing and everything. It’s easy, you know? Like I can just… be myself.”

For a moment, the air between you grew heavier, but not in a way that felt uncomfortable. It was a warmth, an unspoken understanding passing between you, like you were both teetering on the edge of something neither of you could quite name.

“Well,” Hayden said after a pause, his voice quieter now, “I think that’s my favorite part too.”

Your eyes met, and for a moment, the conversation faded, replaced by the silent exchange of emotions that felt too big for words. The waiter interrupted with your food, breaking the spell, but the warmth lingered, settling in your chest as the night went on.

And as you shared bites of risotto and tortellini, trading easy smiles and inside jokes, you couldn’t help but think that there was nothing ordinary about this friendship—nothing ordinary about the way Hayden made you feel.

“I’m not ready to go back to the hotel yet,” you admitted softly, letting out a contented sigh as you stepped out of the restaurant. Hayden had insisted on paying tonight—it was his turn, after all. Last night, you had covered dinner despite his protests, and you’d made a habit of alternating ever since. When Ewan joined, of course, the unspoken rule was that he would pay, joking that his longer career meant he had “the Jedi Master’s wallet.”

Hayden turned to you with a warm smile, his hand gently reaching for yours to help you down the step at the entrance. His touch lingered, sending a flicker of warmth up your arm. “Good,” he said, amusement lacing his voice. “Because our night isn’t over yet.”

You raised a brow, intrigued. “What do you mean?”

“It’s a surprise,” he teased, guiding you across the quiet street. His hand stayed wrapped around yours, a protective yet casual gesture that felt almost too natural.

“I’m not a big fan of surprises,” you pouted playfully, watching his grin widen.

“You’ll like this one,” he promised, his voice confident but soft, his thumb brushing lightly over your knuckles as if to reassure you.

Before you could reply, a cyclist suddenly whizzed by on the sidewalk. Hayden reacted instantly, pulling you out of harm’s way. Your body collided with his chest, his hands steadying you with a firm grip on your waist.

For a moment, neither of you moved. The world seemed to narrow to just the two of you, the faint sounds of the city fading into the background. You tilted your head up to meet his gaze, his ocean-blue eyes filled with something unspoken. Desire, friendship, fear—it was all there, tangled in the quiet tension between you.

“Surprise,” Hayden said gently, his voice breaking the spell. He turned your chin with a light touch, drawing your attention to the small, charming gelato shop across the street.

“I love ice cream,” you exclaimed, your face lighting up with excitement. Before he could respond, you grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the shop.

The gelato parlor was quaint, its white-and-blue décor evoking a cozy, nostalgic charm. The furniture was simple but inviting, and the sweet scent of waffle cones and fresh cream filled the air. After ordering two cones—yours pistachio and his hazelnut—you found a table outside beneath a string of twinkling lights hanging from the lamppost.

The street was quiet, the soft glow of the lights casting a dreamy warmth over the scene. It felt like a moment pulled straight from a romance film, and for a second, you wondered if Hayden saw it too.

You ate in comfortable silence at first, the occasional hum of approval escaping your lips as you savored the gelato. Hayden watched you, his smile small but genuine, as if he found your enjoyment more entertaining than his own.

Then, as you took a bite, a small smear of ice cream ended up on the corner of your lips. Before you could reach for a napkin, Hayden leaned forward.

“Hold still,” he murmured, his thumb brushing gently over the spot, wiping it away.

Your breath caught at the intimate gesture, your heart thudding in your chest as his touch lingered for just a moment too long. When he brought his thumb to his mouth and sucked the melted gelato off, your cheeks flushed with heat.

The air between you shifted, charged with something unspoken yet impossible to ignore. Your gaze met his for a heartbeat, your pulse quickening at the intensity in his eyes. There was a softness there, a quiet longing that mirrored the ache you were trying so hard to suppress.

You quickly looked away, focusing on your ice cream, though your thoughts refused to settle. Hayden didn’t press you, but you could feel his gaze lingering, as if he was waiting for you to say something, to break the tension that seemed to stretch endlessly between you.

“This is… really good gelato,” you said finally, your voice a little higher than usual, though you refused to meet his eyes.

“Yeah,” Hayden replied, his voice soft and laced with amusement. “It is.”

And yet, neither of you was talking about the gelato anymore.

“I think we should go back,” you suggested timidly, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between you. “We start recording early tomorrow.”

Hayden didn’t reply right away. His eyes lingered on you, the soft glow of the streetlights catching the flecks of blue in them. For a moment, you felt completely exposed, as though he could see past every word you didn’t say. The moment stretched until he finally nodded, scratching the back of his neck with a boyish smile.

“Sure, sure,” he said lightly, though his voice carried a hint of something unspoken. “Let me walk you home, signora.” His playful tone made you laugh, even as your heart gave an unexpected flutter. He knew perfectly well that you were both staying at the same hotel.

“Thank you, sir,” you replied with a mock curtsey, slipping your arm through his as the two of you began strolling back.

The walk was quiet but easy, your steps falling in sync as you navigated the cobblestone streets. The cool night air brushed against your skin, and the distant sounds of the city faded into a comfortable hum.

Hayden glanced at you as you walked, his expression softening. “You know,” he began, his voice low, almost hesitant, “tonight was nice. Just us. No cameras, no scripts… just you and me.”

You turned to him, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. “It was,” you agreed, a small smile tugging at your lips. “I’m glad we did this.”

His hand brushed against yours, and for a moment, you thought he might take it. But he didn’t. Instead, his fingers lingered near yours, close enough to feel their warmth, but not quite touching.

As the hotel came into view, you slowed your steps, reluctant for the night to end. When you reached the entrance, Hayden held the door open for you, bowing slightly in exaggerated chivalry.

“Signora,” he teased, though the smile on his face didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Thank you, sir,” you replied, your voice softer now.

The elevator ride up was quiet, the kind of silence that wasn’t awkward but charged with something neither of you dared to name. When you reached your floor, you hesitated for a moment outside your room, turning back to him.

“Goodnight, Hayden,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper.

“Goodnight,” he replied, his gaze lingering on you for just a heartbeat longer than necessary. Then, with a small, almost reluctant smile, he added, “Sleep well.”

You nodded, stepping into your room and closing the door behind you. Leaning back against it, you let out a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding, your heart still racing from the quiet intimacy of the evening.

On the other side of the door, Hayden stood for a moment, his hand still resting on the wall where he’d leaned during your goodbye. He exhaled softly, shaking his head at himself before turning to head to his room.

Neither of you could quite put words to the connection growing between you. But as the night faded into memory, one thing was certain—this was far more than just friendship.

Heyy I don’t know if you’ve seen the picture/ video of Hayden going to Lana del Rey’s concert in 2015 i think? anyways maybe u could write Hayden x singer!reader inspired by the pic/ video ??

btw I love everything u write!!!

🎀HAYDEN X SINGER!READER🎀

a/n: hello there, I loved your idea, I went to search for the video on TikTok, and I couldn't wait to write it. I hope you like it, I made this short one, but who knows, we can think of some more derivatives of this one. Anyway, tell me if I managed to live up to your request, kisses ❤️💋

Dating someone in the public eye had its perks. You both understood the pressures of fame—the constant scrutiny, the relentless cameras, and the weight of having your personal life dissected by strangers. There was comfort in that shared understanding, a silent solidarity in knowing you were navigating the chaos together. But it also meant double the attention. Twice as many fans, twice as many rumors, and an endless stream of paparazzi vying to capture the most intimate moments of your lives.

Hayden had accepted this reality when he fell for you, the rising star whose voice had taken the music world by storm. Your songs, brimming with raw emotion and a touch of playful wit, had earned you legions of fans. Your charisma had done the rest, including stealing his heart.

For nearly a year, the two of you had managed to keep your relationship under wraps. It wasn’t easy, but you both valued privacy. Dates were spent in small-town bistros, far from prying eyes, or at home, where the two of you could cook together, though it often turned into playful distractions—flour smeared across cheeks, kisses stolen over simmering pots. Those moments were yours alone, untouched by the outside world.

But tonight was different. Tonight was monumental. Your latest album had shattered records, catapulting you to new heights, and now you were about to perform in a sold-out stadium. It was a dream you’d once thought impossible, and Hayden wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

He arrived dressed in his usual understated style: dark jeans, a flannel under a hoodie, and his signature black cap. Just before stepping out of the car, he sent you a selfie—a candid, slightly awkward shot with half his face and the street in the background.

"I’ve arrived. Can’t wait to see you kill it tonight. Love you."

Your reply came almost instantly: "Can’t wait to see you either. You’re my lucky charm. 💕"

Hayden smiled as he pocketed his phone, bracing himself for what was to come. The moment he stepped out of the car, the night exploded into chaos. Camera flashes lit up the darkness like fireworks, and the air buzzed with the excited hum of voices.

“Hayden! Over here!” “Are you here for the show?” “Is it true you’re dating her?”

He kept his head down, offering a polite smile as he navigated the frenzy. Fans screamed his name, some reaching out with phones in hand, desperate for a photo. The paparazzi surged forward, shouting questions, their cameras clicking incessantly.

He maintained his calm, his focus unwavering. This was for you. The headlines that would follow, the speculation, the invasion of privacy—it was all worth it if it meant being there for you on one of the biggest nights of your life.

Once inside, the chaos faded, replaced by the electrifying anticipation of the crowd. A staff member guided him to his seat—discreetly positioned but with a perfect view of the stage. As he settled in, he looked around, taking in the sheer magnitude of the venue. Thousands of people, all here for you. His chest swelled with pride.

The lights dimmed, and the crowd erupted into cheers. He leaned forward, his heart pounding as your silhouette appeared on stage. As the first notes of your song filled the stadium, Hayden’s gaze softened. You were mesmerizing, a force of nature. And as the spotlight illuminated your face, your eyes found his, even in the sea of faces.

For a moment, it felt like it was just the two of you in the room, and he smiled, mouthing the words you’d said so many times before: "I’m so proud of you."

The show seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, a whirlwind of lights, music, and energy. They say time flies when you’re doing what you love, and tonight was no exception. On stage, you were radiant—your angelic yet powerful voice soaring effortlessly, captivating the sea of fans before you. Hayden sat among them, his heart swelling with pride, humming along to your songs with a broad smile.

Though his attempts at photography were endearingly clumsy, he snapped away, zooming in too much or catching blurry moments as he tried to capture the magic of seeing you perform live. But no photo could truly do justice to how extraordinary you were, how you commanded the stage with such ease, weaving your melodies with playful banter that had the crowd hanging on your every word.

You sang with all your heart, pouring yourself into every lyric, especially the love songs you’d written for Hayden. Each note carried a piece of your soul, and as you scanned the audience, your eyes found him. He stood out to you instantly—his dark jeans and hoodie barely masking the warmth in his gaze. The moment your eyes met, your smile grew so wide that for a split second, you faltered, almost missing the note. But you recovered quickly, your heart racing as he grinned back at you, mouthing the words he knew by heart.

Hayden had memorized every line of those love songs. They were pieces of you, little treasures you’d shared with him, and hearing you sing them live, with a smile meant just for him, made his love for you overflow. He clapped, cheered, and joined the crowd in their roars of appreciation, though his excitement was entirely for you.

When the final notes of your encore faded and the lights dimmed, Hayden couldn’t wait to see you. His pulse quickened as he made his way backstage, navigating the bustling crew with a polite nod here and there until he reached your dressing room. He paused at the door, smoothing down his hoodie and trying to calm his racing heart before he knocked lightly.

“Come in,” your voice called, slightly hoarse from the performance but filled with the same warmth that always drew him in.

As Hayden stepped inside, his breath hitched at the sight of you. You were glowing, still wrapped in the adrenaline of the show, your makeup slightly smudged and hair a little tousled, but to him, you had never looked more beautiful.

You turned to him, and before he could say a word, you crossed the room and wrapped your arms around him, burying your face in his chest. The familiar scent of his cologne mixed with the faint traces of the stage lights and crowd. “You were incredible,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion as he held you tightly. “I’ve never been so proud of you.”

You looked up at him, your eyes glistening with happy tears. “You really think so?”

“Think so?” he repeated, brushing a strand of hair from your face. “I know so. You were amazing out there. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

His words sent a wave of warmth through you, and you leaned up to kiss him, soft and lingering. “I could feel you there the whole time,” you admitted. “Every time I sang those songs, I looked for you.”

“And I was right there,” he said, his voice low and full of love. “Every word, every note—it was perfect. You’re perfect.”

You laughed softly, resting your forehead against his. “I couldn’t have done this without you, you know. You’re my everything, Hayden.”

He tightened his hold on you, pressing a kiss to your hair. “And you’re mine. Always.”

For a moment, the noise and chaos of the world outside disappeared, leaving just the two of you in the quiet intimacy of the dressing room. In his arms, you felt safe, cherished, and deeply loved—and Hayden felt exactly the same way.

PLUS: MEDIA REACTION

@StarBuzzDaily: A rare sighting! Hayden Christensen was seen in the crowd at last night’s sold-out concert of pop sensation Y/N. The actor looked relaxed and happy, even taking photos and singing along. Could there be more to this appearance than meets the eye? Fans are speculating! 👀🎤 #HaydenChristensen #YourNameConcert

COMMENTS:

@anakinqueen33: Wait... WHY was he there? 👀 Do they know each other??

@melodyLover07: Omg, imagine if he’s just a fan like us. Plot twist: Hayden is in his Y/N stan era! 😂

@skywalker4Life: No way this is random... do we think they’re dating???

@galaxyVibes88: He was literally smiling during her love songs. Like, SMILING. Something is up!! 🧐💖

@haydenwifeyy: Okay but Hayden Christensen at a pop concert? Either he’s a secret fan or there’s tea brewing 🍵.

@lanafan: him going to her concert makes him 100x hotter🔥🔥

@harmonicHearts: If they’re not dating, I’m shipping it now. Look at him supporting her!! 🥺❤️.

@rexlovers: Guys, what if he’s in her next music video? Manifesting that collab!! 🎥🎶.

can’t find the original account but I’m glad someone reposted this😭

could you maybe write early 2000s Hayden being interviewed by reader pleaseee? And they immediately connect together.

Maybe a Time Skip of them being married but this time reader interviews him and ewan for the obi wan Kenobi series.

🎀HAYDEN CHRISTENSEN X INTERVIEWER! READER🎀

a/n: hello there, I love the ideia, sound so sweet and wonderful imagine meet the love of your life doing you job... lol. .. hope you enjoyed ❤️❤️

💌As always my inbox is OPEN!

With the premiere of Revenge of the Sith, the final installment of the prequel trilogy, anticipation was at an all-time high. Fans were eager to see the story unfold, with emotions ranging from excitement to nervous curiosity. As part of the press tour, you were invited to interview Hayden Christensen, the Canadian actor who had brought the complex character of Anakin Skywalker to life.

Walking into the interview room, you felt a mix of nerves and determination. After triple-checking your questions, you decided to embrace a bit of confidence. When you finally stepped in, Hayden's warm smile immediately eased some of your tension.

His eyes flicked to your shirt, a pink tee with a playful design: a heart encircling an image of Anakin kneeling before Palpatine. The corners of his lips twitched upward.

"Nice shirt," he commented with a gentle tease, his voice light but intrigued.

You matched his smile, settling into your seat. "I thought it was important to represent my status as an unapologetic Anakin defender," you quipped, a playful edge to your tone.

His brows lifted, and he leaned forward slightly, intrigued. "Oh, so you're an Anakin apologist?" he asked, his voice laced with mock curiosity.

"Absolutely," you replied, crossing one leg over the other and folding your hands in your lap. "As far as I'm concerned, he's never done anything wrong. He’s misunderstood."

Hayden's laugh was warm and genuine, a sound that filled the room and made you momentarily forget your nerves. "That’s quite the take," he said, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Though I think there are a few Jedi who might beg to differ."

You grinned, leaning into the banter. "Well, they’re entitled to their opinion, but I stand by mine. Anakin had his reasons, and I’d be happy to debate it."

Hayden chuckled again, his relaxed demeanor making the conversation flow effortlessly. "I might take you up on that sometime," he said, a glimmer of playfulness in his tone.

"Careful," you teased. "I’ve come prepared. My notes are in the bag."

His smile widened. "Now I’m nervous."

The back-and-forth felt natural, as if you were old friends rather than strangers meeting for the first time. By the time the interview officially began, the chemistry between you two was undeniable, leaving both of you with lingering smiles long after the cameras started rolling.

“What can you tell us about the movie?” you asked, leaning forward slightly, your voice filled with genuine curiosity. “Everyone is so eager to know more about how Anakin became the most iconic villain in the galaxy.”

Hayden took a moment, his eyes drifting as if recalling the weight of Anakin’s journey. After a brief pause, he began, his voice steady but thoughtful.

“Anakin’s downfall is… one of the most tragic stories in the galaxy,” he said, his words deliberate. “He was a hero, a Jedi—a man who loved deeply and passionately.” Hayden hesitated, as if lost in thought for a moment, before continuing, his voice dipping lower. “But that love, combined with the temptation of power and revenge, consumed him. He made choices—terrible choices—that led him down a path he couldn’t escape.”

"But do you really believe he had a choice?" You asked.

There was a heaviness in his tone, one that hung between you both for a beat. He exhaled softly before adding, “I’ve always believed the Jedi Council failed him in many ways. They never fully trusted him, never gave him the tools to handle his emotions or the support he needed.” Hayden shrugged lightly, his expression tinged with regret. “Anakin was born into a difficult life, forced to grow up too fast. Maybe, if the Council had been kinder—had truly helped him—things could’ve been different. But… we’ll never know.”

You smiled at his insight, admiring the depth he brought to his portrayal of Anakin. “It’s clear you’ve thought a lot about him,” you said warmly. “But now, I have to ask… what do you and Anakin have in common?”

Hayden chuckled softly, scratching the back of his neck. “Well, we both have a bit of a temper,” he admitted, a teasing glint in his eye. “Anakin was impulsive—always acted before thinking—and I guess I can relate to that at times.”

You raised an eyebrow, playful. “Hot-headed Hayden? I don’t buy it.”

“Hey, it happens,” he said with a grin, holding up his hands in mock defense. “But I think, more than that, we both crave freedom and adventure. Although, I’ll admit, Anakin’s version of freedom was… a little extreme.”

“And high speeds,” you chimed in, your tone light and teasing. “I saw those photos of you at the car event. Looks like someone enjoys life in the fast lane.”

Hayden laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Guilty as charged,” he said, nodding. “There’s nothing like the rush of being behind the wheel. It’s probably the closest I’ll get to feeling what Anakin did in his starfighter.”

“Do you think you’d win a podrace like him?” you asked, tilting your head curiously.

He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Not a chance. Anakin was the only human who could pull that off—he was a prodigy. Me? I’d probably crash before the first lap was over.”

You laughed, the sound light and genuine. “Well, let’s hope you stick to Earth racing then. Losing you in a podrace would be… a real shame.”

Hayden laughed along, his gaze lingering on you for a moment longer than necessary. “I’ll take that as a reason to play it safe.”

The interview was filled with lighthearted moments, each exchange flowing effortlessly. When the time was up, the producer gave you a subtle signal to wrap it up.

Hayden frowned slightly, his lips tugging into a boyish pout. “Oh, it’s over already? Just when we were getting to the good part,” he said, his voice soft but teasing. “You should interview me more often.”

“Maybe we can arrange that,” you replied with a mischievous smile, giving him a playful wink.

Who would’ve guessed that years later, you’d be interviewing him again—not as the star of Revenge of the Sith but as the love of your life. After all, life had a funny way of surprising you.

Now, almost two decades later, standing at the premiere of the Kenobi series, you smoothed the hem of your dress and glanced toward Hayden, your husband of fifteen years. As he and Ewan McGregor approached for your joint interview, Hayden caught your gaze, his eyes lighting up with the same warmth they’d held all those years ago.

Here’s an improved version of your oneshot, with more fluid dialogue and an emphasis on their chemistry and love:

Hayden couldn’t stop smiling, his blue eyes following your every move as you adjusted your microphone. When you glanced over, he mouthed a quiet, “I love you.”

You grinned softly, your heart skipping a beat as you turned to face him and Ewan. “Hello, Ewan, Hayden,” you began, your voice warm and professional. “I think this reunion of Obi-Wan and Anakin has been the most anticipated moment for fans of the saga.” You paused, glancing between them. “How did it feel to put on those costumes again and dive back into the story?”

Ewan tilted his head thoughtfully. “That’s a good question,” he said with a nostalgic smile. “It’s funny, really. Even though decades have passed, the moment we put on the Jedi robes and started training, it felt like no time had gone by—like we jumped straight from Revenge of the Sith to Kenobi.”

You leaned forward slightly, intrigued. “So, wielding a lightsaber is like riding a bike? You never forget?”

“For this guy, yeah,” Ewan replied with a teasing grin, nodding toward Hayden. “He grabbed a saber, and it was already spinning and twirling all over the place.”

You laughed, playfully joining in. “Show-off,” you teased, winking at Hayden.

Hayden threw his head back with a laugh, placing a hand over his chest in mock offense. “Honey, now you’re too much,” he joked, his tone light and affectionate. Then, with a smirk, he added, “But I won’t deny it—I might be the best at lightsaber fighting.” He paused for effect, his grin widening. “Except when I’m battling our daughters. Somehow, they always win.”

You couldn’t help but smile at the mention of your kids. “They beat the Chosen One? Impressive. I wonder how many midichlorians they’ve got.”

Ewan chuckled, shaking his head in amusement, while Hayden gave you a knowing smile.

Later in the interview, you absentmindedly rubbed your arms, trying to warm yourself against the chill in the studio. Hayden noticed instantly. Without hesitation, he stood, slipped off his jacket, and draped it over your shoulders before returning to his seat.

You shot him a grateful smile. “Thanks, love,” you murmured softly.

His response was a quick wink, his eyes lingering on yours before turning back to the conversation.

“But seriously,” you said, steering the interview back on track, “what everyone wants to know is—will we get a fight as epic as Mustafar?”

Ewan and Hayden exchanged a knowing look before breaking into amused smiles.

“Well,” Ewan began, “we can’t say much, but I will say this: there are some very intense moments.”

Hayden leaned in slightly, his voice dropping just enough to create intrigue. “You’ll be surprised when you see it.”

You guided the rest of the interview effortlessly, the atmosphere light and friendly. It was obvious to everyone that the three of you shared a genuine bond. Ewan, after all, was the godfather to your eldest daughter and a regular presence in your home.

As the interview wrapped up, you smiled warmly at the pair. “Finally, would you like to invite the fans to join you on this new adventure?”

Ewan was the first to respond, his grin wide. “Obi-Wan’s story isn’t over yet. We’re excited to have you join us on this next journey.”

Hayden nodded, his voice sincere. “Bringing these characters back to life was a dream come true. Every moment on set was unforgettable. We can’t wait for you to watch Kenobi on Disney+ starting May 27th.”

As soon as the cameras stopped rolling, Hayden was out of his chair and at your side in seconds. He pulled you into a warm embrace, pressing a kiss to your forehead.

“Oh, baby, you were incredible,” he said softly, his hand resting at your waist as his thumb gently stroked over the fabric of your dress. “Thank God you interviewed me all those years ago.”

You smiled, your heart full. “And I’m so glad I did.”

“Absolutely,” he murmured, tilting your chin up to press a lingering kiss to your lips.

When he pulled back, his gaze fell to the plush Anakin and Obi-Wan dolls peeking out of your bag. “Are those for the kids?”

You nodded, amused. “Of course. They’re going to love them.”

You raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his lips. “Are you sure I’m not the one who’s going to end up stealing them after they go to bed?”

Hayden laughed, nudging you lightly. “Guilty as charged” he admitted with a laugh, his eyes shining with love and mischief.

As you left the studio together, hand in hand, you couldn’t help but feel grateful for the life you’d built—a love story that started with a simple interview and had grown into something extraordinary.

LEE BYUNG-HUN

★ controversially young girlfriend

actress!reader

egot winner

jealousy jealousy

soft launching your relationship

being in a situationship

being in a secret relationship

announcing your pregnancy

birthday wishes

exes and o's

mine

HWANG IN-HO

‘till the end

SO CUTEEEE

🎀YOU AS PADMÉ X HAYDEN CHRISTENSE: THE LOVE STORY🎀

SECOND

synopsis: the last day of filming begins and your story with Hayden takes the first step towards your future together.

words:  2.6k

warning: not based on real events, fluffy, hint of romance

a/n: hello there, I’m so happy and grateful for all your comments 🥹💕. It seriously makes my day to see your reactions! I hope you enjoy this chapter—I had so much fun writing it, and I’m so excited to hear what you think! Sorry for the delay 🫠—I didn’t have my computer, but we’re back now! Thank you for your patience 😘. Feel free to like, reblog, and comment—I love hearing from you! 🫶💌

🌟 Tagging those lovely people: @notantou, @barnes70stark, @writtenbyhollywood and @majathepapaya🌸

CHAPTER 3: SPARKIN’ FEELINGS

Filming was in full swing, with deadlines looming and the epic ending of the film drawing near. Your character, Padmé, was embroiled in her role as a senator of the Galactic Republic, while Anakin faced his own trials as a Jedi. As a result, you and Hayden barely saw each other on set that week. His schedule was packed with lightsaber training, while yours was consumed by Senate scenes.

Still, you found small ways to connect. More than once, you stopped by his training sessions, ostensibly to watch, though you always brought lunch with you. Hayden would grin when he saw you, pausing mid-swing to jog over and take the food from your hands with an exaggerated sigh of relief, as if you’d saved him from starvation.

When it came time to record the scenes on Tatooine, you finally had more opportunities to be together, though the sequences were emotionally heavy. Between takes, you both made a conscious effort to lighten the mood, filling the quiet desert set with laughter. You’d brought a pack of sour candies, and soon it turned into a full-blown competition to see who could keep a straight face. So far, it was a tie, but each time one of you pulled a particularly exaggerated grimace, your shared laughter cut through the tension of the day.

Ewan, ever the observant bystander, watched the growing connection between you and Hayden with quiet amusement—and a touch of frustration. From the moment you both arrived on set, it was as if a magnetic pull kept drawing you together. Hayden’s hand would inevitably find its way to the small of your back, guiding you down steps or helping you navigate the uneven terrain. Your head would rest against his shoulder as you whispered conspiratorially, or you’d walk hand-in-hand, fingers intertwined as if it were second nature.

Ewan also noticed the more intimate moments, like the countless times you and Hayden shared a pair of headphones, listening to the playlist you’d created together for Anidala. It was impossible not to see the way you smiled when a certain song played, or the way Hayden would hum softly along, his gaze lingering on you.

One moment stood out in Ewan’s mind—a particularly cold day filming an outdoor scene. The icy wind bit at your exposed skin, thanks to Padmé’s sleeveless costume. You tried to hide your discomfort, but it was clear in the way you shivered between takes. Hayden, always attuned to your needs, noticed immediately.

Without hesitation, he opened his Jedi cloak and wrapped you inside, pulling you close. The heavy fabric was warm and carried his scent, a mix of leather and something uniquely him. You smiled softly, leaning into his touch as he rubbed your arms to chase away the chill. Then, with a playful grin, he took your cold hands in his and pressed soft kisses to your fingertips, murmuring something about keeping you warm.

Ewan shook his head at the memory, amused but exasperated. The two of you were clearly smitten, yet you danced around it like children, never quite acknowledging what everyone else could plainly see. You weren’t fooling anyone—except maybe yourselves.

Being friends with both of you, Ewan felt a mixture of affection and impatience. You were like a little sister to him, someone he felt protective over. Hayden, on the other hand, was like a brother—a younger one in desperate need of a nudge in the right direction. Ewan knew it wasn’t his place to interfere, but the situation was maddening. If neither of you was going to make the first move, maybe a little guidance wouldn’t hurt.

As he headed toward lightsaber training with Hayden, Ewan began formulating a plan. He’d find a way to bring it up casually, no pressure, no fanfare. Just a friendly conversation. After all, he thought with a smirk, someone had to knock some sense into those two before they drove everyone else on set crazy.

The training session for the Geonosis arena fight was in full swing. The clatter of training sabers echoed through the rehearsal space as Ewan and Hayden worked through the choreography under the supervision of the stunt coordinator. It wasn’t an especially complicated sequence, but the combination of precise movements and the physical demands of the fight kept them both focused. Or at least, that was the case until Ewan decided it was time to put his plan into action.

The conversation started harmlessly enough—Ewan’s usual mix of casual chatter and dry humor. They joked about how the weather in Tunisia felt like Tatooine itself and debated the best lunch options nearby.

“Could’ve sworn I signed up for acting, not boot camp,” Ewan quipped, spinning his saber and blocking Hayden’s strike with ease.

“Guess they don’t tell you that when you sign the contract,” Hayden replied with a grin, wiping sweat from his brow.

The two danced around each other in the choreography, their steps fluid and practiced. As they reset for another run-through, Ewan steered the conversation toward the topic he’d been waiting to broach.

“You and her have become good friends, huh?” Ewan said casually, delivering his line as he feigned a wide sweep toward Hayden’s side.

Hayden easily sidestepped the attack, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Uh-huh. It’s easy to feel comfortable around her,” he admitted, his tone softening as he parried Ewan’s next move. “We clicked pretty quickly.”

Ewan raised a brow, leaning into his next attack just enough to keep Hayden engaged. “Yeah, I’ve noticed. You two are practically inseparable.” He paused, a teasing edge creeping into his voice. “Almost like soulmates.”

Hayden’s step faltered slightly, though he quickly recovered. His blue eyes flicked to Ewan, searching his expression for any trace of mockery. Finding none, he hesitated, his movements slowing as he processed the comment.

“Something like that,” Hayden murmured eventually, his voice quiet but thoughtful.

Ewan saw his opening and pressed further, his tone more earnest now. “You ever think about what that means?”

Hayden blinked, lowering his saber as he stepped back to reset the sequence. “What do you mean?”

Ewan shrugged, leaning casually on his saber hilt. “I mean… it’s obvious you care about her. Everyone on set sees it. Hell, even the crew’s rooting for you two. But have you stopped to ask yourself why?”

Hayden’s brows furrowed as he looked away, his jaw tightening. Ewan’s words lingered, pressing into thoughts he hadn’t allowed himself to dwell on too long. Of course, he cared about you—that much was undeniable. But the idea of why...

“Well, she’s... she’s easy to talk to,” Hayden started, his voice halting as he fumbled for the right words. “She makes me laugh. And... it’s like she gets me, you know? Like she sees me for me—not just this guy playing Anakin Skywalker.”

Ewan nodded, letting him speak, knowing this wasn’t the kind of thing Hayden would open up about if pressed too hard.

Hayden ran a hand through his hair, letting out a soft chuckle. “And then there’s the way she looks at me sometimes, like she’s really listening, like I’m the only person in the room. It’s... it’s hard to describe.” He paused, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his saber. “It’s more than friendship, isn’t it?”

Ewan smiled knowingly, giving his friend a firm pat on the shoulder. “Sounds like you already know the answer to that.”

For a moment, Hayden stood still, the weight of Ewan’s words settling over him. The realization crept in slowly, like sunlight breaking through the clouds. Was it love? He didn’t know for sure, but the thought of you—the sound of your laugh, the way your hand fit so perfectly in his—was enough to make his chest tighten.

“Come on, mate,” Ewan said, breaking the silence with a grin. “Let’s run it again before the stunt coordinator starts yelling at us.”

Hayden nodded, snapping back to reality as he took his position. But even as they resumed the fight choreography, his thoughts remained elsewhere.

Did you like him as much as he liked you? The question gnawed at Hayden, its weight growing heavier with every passing day. He didn’t want to open his heart to you only to have it shattered. But then there were moments—those fleeting, electric moments—that made the idea of unrequited love seem almost impossible. The way your face lit up whenever he walked into a room, how your eyes softened when they met his, or the comfortable silence that settled between you, where words weren’t needed to understand each other. All of it made him believe there might be something more, something mutual.

When training wrapped, Hayden didn’t bother gathering his things. He bolted off the set, his heart pounding with urgency. He had nearly two kilometers to cover to reach the set where you were filming your last scenes of the day. He’d memorized your schedule—he couldn’t help it, really. If his timing was right—and he was almost certain it was—you’d just be finishing a scene with Padmé’s handmaidens.

He ran, his boots pounding against the ground. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, and the exhaustion from the grueling training session earlier started to creep into his legs, making each step feel heavier. But he didn’t care. He pushed himself harder, fueled by the need to see you.

When Hayden finally reached the set, he stopped short, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. The space was dim, most of the lights already turned off. A few members of the set crew were busy adjusting props, and the cleaning staff was tidying up, the hum of vacuums and the faint clatter of equipment filling the otherwise quiet room.

He scanned the area frantically, his blue eyes darting from corner to corner, searching for any sign of you. But you weren’t there.

“Looking for someone?”

Hayden turned, startled by the voice. One of the cleaning staff, an older woman with a kind smile, was standing nearby, a broom in her hands. She seemed to recognize him instantly.

“She just left,” the woman said, her tone warm. “Maybe if you run, you can catch her at the gate.”

Hope flared in his chest as he nodded his thanks, a quick but heartfelt, “Thank you!” escaping his lips before he took off running again.

When he reached the gate, the sight that greeted him made his steps falter. A car was pulling away, and through the window, he caught a glimpse of you. Your head rested against the glass, your eyes closed in peaceful slumber, exhaustion etched into your features from the long day of filming.

He opened his mouth to call your name, his hand lifting instinctively, but the sound caught in his throat. He knew it was useless—you wouldn’t hear him. For a moment, he stood there, watching as the car disappeared into the night, taking you further away with each passing second.

A sigh escaped his lips, and he ran a hand through his damp hair, a mix of frustration and resignation settling over him.

“Not tonight,” he muttered to himself, his voice low.

Even as disappointment clawed at him, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. It was okay. It didn’t happen this time, but there would be another chance—he was sure of it. And next time, he’d be ready. He’d find the right words to say, the courage to finally tell you what he felt.

As he turned back toward the set, his steps slower now, a quiet determination began to replace the lingering doubt. Hayden knew one thing for sure: he wasn’t going to let another moment slip away.

The weeks flew by, and before you knew it, the final day of filming had arrived. What once felt like a distant moment was now here, unfolding beneath the setting sun. The warm golden light bathed the hillside where the last scene was set: Anakin and Padmé’s secret wedding.

As the scene began, Hayden caught sight of you dressed as a bride, and for a moment, everything around him seemed to blur. You looked radiant in white, the delicate lace of your gown catching the sunlight, your shy smile playing on your pink lips. His heart thudded in his chest, each beat echoing louder than the last.

“You look beautiful,” Hayden said softly, his voice unsteady as he fumbled for the right words. “I mean, you are beautiful, but… you look more beautiful than ever.” His cheeks flushed a faint shade of pink as the words tumbled out.

You smiled back at him, warmth flooding your expression. “You look lovely too, Hayden,” you replied, your gaze sweeping over him. His dark Jedi robes suited him perfectly, and the way his hair caught the light made your stomach flutter.

The scene had no lines, leaving the two of you to simply exist in the moment together. It felt almost surreal, the weight of the story you’d spent months telling pressing gently against you. Between takes, you made small talk—lighthearted jokes, shared laughs, and quiet gratitude for the journey you’d taken together.

When the cameras rolled, the energy shifted. Hayden held your face, his fingers brushing against your skin as if you were something precious. His thumb traced a slow, tender arc across your cheek. The touch sent a shiver through you, your breath catching as his gaze locked onto yours. Then, ever so slowly, he leaned in.

His lips found yours, soft yet confident, and the kiss unfolded like it had always been meant to happen. There was an unspoken harmony in the way your mouths moved together, as if the universe itself had been waiting for this moment. It was more than a kiss—it was connection, destiny, a bridge between reality and fiction.

Anakin and Padmé’s love story seemed to blur with your own, the lines between characters and actors dissolving. While the love they shared on screen was fraught with tragedy, what bloomed between you and Hayden felt genuine, hopeful, and intense.

When the kiss ended, you opened your eyes, your breath mingling in the space between you. Your gazes met, and for a moment, the world stood still. Smiles formed on both your lips—real, unguarded smiles that carried the weight of feelings neither of you had yet put into words.

“Cut!” the director’s voice rang out, breaking the spell.

Hayden didn’t let go immediately. Instead, he pulled you into an embrace, his arms wrapping tightly around you. You sank into him, burying your face against his chest. A rush of emotions swirled between you: love, relief, fear, and a bittersweet ache knowing that this chapter was closing. Tears welled in your eyes and slipped down your cheeks, but you didn’t wipe them away.

The end of a movie was more than just a wrap—it was the end of a process, a journey. There was a sense of mourning that came with knowing it was over. But in the way Hayden held you, and the way you clung to him, it was clear: your story wasn’t ending here.

Hayden opened his mouth, wanting to say something, to tell you how he felt. The words hovered on the edge of his tongue, but he held them back. This wasn’t the right moment—at least, not yet.

You pulled away slowly, your fingers lingering on his arm before stepping back. There were so many people to thank, so many goodbyes to say. As you moved through the crowd, greeting cast and crew, Hayden watched you, his gaze never straying far. And even when you spoke to others, smiling warmly and sharing memories, your eyes would always drift back to him.

In those glances, unspoken promises lingered. The film might have ended, but whatever had grown between you and Hayden was far from over.

pls pls pls more lee byung hun 😩 but can you do it with actress!reader so their fans are also shipping them? love your content!

EGOT WINNER

lee byung-hun x actress!reader

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yourusername

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yourusername getting ready for the Oscars

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user09 is your boyfriend coming

ynfan @/user09 he for sure is

yourbestfriendsuser go get your Oscar!

liked by author

ynfanpage I LOVED YOUR MOVIE

ynswifey if you don’t win I’m going to cry

user012 UR STUNNING

ynandbyunghun she’s one award away from having an EGOT

byunghun0712

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byunghun0712 my Oscar winner 🏆 I love you

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user10 I KNEW SHE WOULD WIN

byunghunandyn did u guys see the look on his face when she won!!

ynfan78 @/byunghunandyn the look of love in his eyes

lexx.10 can we talk about how he takes amazing pictures of her??

user55 @/lexx.10 fr!!! I wish my bf knew how to do that too 😔

ynfanpage she got the O in EGOT

user32 @/ynfanpage omg yess I just noticed that too

user34 I might create a fan account for them

yourusername

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yourusername I wish to thank everyone for the love and support. It truly was an amazing experience and I am truly honored to be part of the EGOT winners! I’d like to thank my amazing boyfriend who keeps making me feel like the most important person in the world 🫶

yours truly,

your new EGOT winner

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user52 im gonna cry

ynfan17 U DESERVE SO MUCH MORE

user524 WE LOVE YOU

byunghun0712 couldn’t be prouder

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ynsworld SHES GOT TALENT AND BEAUTY

randomuser I literally screamed when your name got announced

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yourusername celebrating ;)

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user10 I love them

ynfan imagine having y/n as your girlfriend

user17 @/ynfan imagine having byung-hun as your boyfriend

leebyunghunswifey HE LOOKS SO GOOD

byunghunandyn4life created a fan page just for them check it out

yourfriendsuser YOU KILLED IT

user28 I hope they get married

byunghunandyn4life

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byunghunandyn4life a bts of our favorite couple!!! @/yourusername and @/byunghun0712

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user10 I LOVE THEM

randomuser they’re so cute together gawdddd

user953 may this love find me

yourfriendsuser sending them this rn!!

byunghunlover @/yourfriendsuser TELL THEM I LOVE THEM

ynfan10 POWER COUPLE

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a/n: thank you for the requests <3 i used a bunch of pictures of camilla morrone since im rewatching daisy jones and the six😭

‘TILL THE END

hwang in-ho x wife!reader

you played the games before your husband played in 2015. the money you won was enough to convince your husband to play and stay as the frontman. but not without you by his side.

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faking your death isn’t as hard as it seems to be. is just as easy as a disappearance

you had been missing for a while. everyone had been worried. your parents,your siblings, and especially your husband. the moment he saw you, he felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

then the questions started, "where have you been? do you even know how worried I was? ". which you could only answer by showing him the fruit of your success. the 45.6 billion won in your bank account made him go completely silent from his long rant.

although he didn’t seem to believe the place you were describing, which was quite understandable, you knew exactly what would.

"join the games", you had whispered to him in between kisses. "I’ll help you find the salesman. but please. just join the games." and so he did exactly what his wife told him to do.

that is when the opportunity of becoming the frontman was offered to him.

leaving your old life behind was part of the contract. his old life, meaning you and everyone he’s ever loved, they had told him. he had immediately refused. if you weren’t allowed to join him, he would never step foot on that island again.

to you, this had been the best decision you had ever made as a couple. you were ready to spend the rest of your life beside him. helping him control the games, the players,but especially having your own little family grow up on that island

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a/n: its almost midnight and i cant go to sleep . so this is what i do instead. btw this is not proof read so if there’s any mistakes let me know!!

Hello!!! Can I request Lee Byung-Hun x reader low-key announcing a pregnancy? Please 🙏 but their marriage is not public yet. Like the fans knew they're married but don't know who. Pretty please🙏🙏 thank youuuu

announcing your pregnancy with lee byung-hun

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yourusername one year already ❤️

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user76 it still shocks me to this day that shes married

ynfanpage @/user76 it shocks me that we still dont know who he is

user09 you’re so pretty !!!

user78 my dream wedding dress

ynfan as long as he treats u well im happy…☹️

user45 @/ynfan very happy…🥲

user09 I hope i look as pretty as u when I get married

yourusername

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yourusername surprise surprise

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user76 u keep surprising me everytime u make a post

ynfan rue when was this!?

ynfan98 WHAT

yourfriendsuser congratulations love you 🫶

yourbestfriendsuser excited to be an auntie😉

liked by author

randomuser SINCE WHEN

ynspookie are u cheating on me?

yourusername 10m

byunghun0712

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byunghun0712 on the way 🍼

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user12 why is everyone having a kid

byunghunswifey guys that’s me in picture sorry u had to find out this way

user34 first @/yourusername and now him!?!

user10 did anyone else spot @/yourfriendsuser in the likes

leebyunghunswife NO STOP

user87 ur breaking my heart

byunghunfan brb gonna go jump off a cliff

user27 @/byunghunfan that reminds me of something 🌝

yourusername

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yourusername europe

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user43 i love the aesthetic

ynfanaccount she's so active nowadays

user54 she's got everything i want

yourfriendsuser face card never declines

ynfan pregnancy suits u

byunhun0712

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byunhun0712 my beautiful wife

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user87 haha good joke.

user58 i wish i could call u my husband

laylaaa.07 life is so unfair

kelly.yxx if only I was 20 years older. our age gap wouldn't be that bad

o70.lana im not jealous :) and my eye is def not twitching rn

user44 IS THAT @/yourusername !?

user76 love a man who isn’t afraid to post his wife

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a/n: another request done !!

“the calm before the storm”

stormshadow (lee byung hun) x you

stormshadow had been hired by cobra commander to retrieve the warheads from the gi joes. but they failed to inform him that he had to work with a partner… someone he had grown very fond of

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“stormshadow, this is y/n. you will be working together to retrieve the warheads.” the commander said, leaving you and him both in shock as he walked off.

“i’m sorry, i wasn’t told i was working with anyone.” you said, breaking the silence.

“me neither.” he replied, “that’s alright, ms y/n? i presume?”

he extended his hand out as he the other slipped his sword back into its sleeve, not wanting to scare you away.

“yeah, stormshadow right? i’ve heard stories about you.”

he nodded, bringing your hand up to his lips as he placed a gentle kiss on it.

“i’m honored.” he smiled.

“c’mon, people! planes taking off!” the pilot announced, making stormshadow take your hand, bringing you to the private jet.

once you were on the jet, you took your seats, stormshadow sitting right beside you.

“so is it true?” you blurted out before you could stop yourself.

“what is?” he cocked an eyebrow.

“you have those little star throwing thingies.” you tried to hold back your laughter, making him roll his eyes playfully.

he pulled something out of his pocket, holding it up with two fingers as your mouth dropped.

“it’s beautiful!” you gasped, admiring the shuriken.

stormshadow watched with pride as you were in awe of his weapon, it was so easy to get your attention, he loved it.

for the rest of the flight, he showed you one by one each weapon he had in him, even giving you one of his shuriken as a gift.

──── 𖣘 ────

when you landed, the two of you headed straight to the location the g.i. joe’s were camping at.

sneaking into the facility was easy, but for stormshadow he was having a hard time, he couldn’t for the life of him focus. maybe it was the similar white suit you had on that perfectly hugged your body, showing off your curves. or the fact that he was supposed to be doing a mission with the best girl he had ever met.

in-and-out. easy.

naturally, the joe’s had caught on quickly, causing the entire mission to take a dangerous toll. stormshadow was a professional, he knew what he needed to do, and most of the time, he did it all for the money.

little did he expect himself to actually enjoy this particular mission. he stole glances from you whenever he could, making sure you were okay.

when you had gotten your hands on the breifcase of warheads, he guided you every step of the way as the two of you escaped.

however, there was a complication just as you could step out of the facility. the guard must have been hiding, because stormshadow had almost ran right into his arms.

you thought quickly, taking the shuriken he had given you and tossing it right into the guards abdomen, causing him to fold over, lesring your path.

stormshadow halted, making you crash into him.

“where did that come from?!” he asked frantically as he looked around.

“what? what?! that was me!”

“you?!”

“yea! how could you not have seen him! he was practically hiding in plain sight!”

“we’ll settle this later, we gotta get out of here.” he lightly scolded, grabbing your arm as you took off.

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when you got back to cobra base, you were greeted at the front gate by the head commander.

“ah, y/n! i knew i could count on you!” he said, pulling you into a hug as his hand got dangerously low behind your back.

stormshadow didn’t leave his action unnoticed.

“well, i had help.” you awkwardly chuckled as you pulled away.

after some small talk, you retreated back to your room, throwing yourself onto the bed as you let out a sigh of relief.

“if he touches you again, i will kill him.”

you jerked up from the bed, letting out a loud scream as you grabbed your gun, aiming it at the voice.

“whoa, whoa.” it was stormshadow. he stepped into the light, making you throw your gun aside.

“jesus… you scared me.” you chuckled, hand on your chest as you sat back down.

“i thought you were a professional?” he teased, stepping in front of you.

“and by the way, you don’t have to kill him, everything’s fine. he’s just touchy.” you shook your head.

“we’ll see if he dares to lay a hand on you again.” stormshadow replied. “you know, that was some impressive skills back there, you saved me… i feel like i should owe you something.”

you grinned. “it was an easy throw, you’re just getting soft on me.”

“maybe.” he whispered, staring deep into your eyes. “i can’t focus with you here…” he admitted.

“that’s too bad.” you told him. “maybe you should find another job.”

“i don’t think i want to.”

you were now inches away from each other, you could feel his breath panning on your skin, his eyes still never leaving yours.

before you could stand a chance to seal the deal, the door flew open.

“who’s ready for another mission?”

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i’m not kidding when i say i’ve watched 3 movies that lee byung hun had starred in in the past 24hours. i am losing my mind.

the movie this is based on is g.i. joe, go watch!

Hiiii!! Could you do a relationship with Lee byung hun but their keeping it private like she never post a picture of his face. But there’s rumours of them together until a paparazzi release a picture of them together and outed them?

being in a secret relationship with lee byung-hun

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yourusername airplane mode🫡

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ynfan girlie what is this?!?

ynsworld UR DATING!?

user01 this is so unexpected

yourfriendsuser I love how everyone is panicking

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user55 who is thattt

randomuser not surprised ur dating tbh…just jealous

yourusername

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yourusername skiing adventure ⛷️

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ynsfannn girl if you don’t tell us who that man is…

user34 @/ynsfannn I’m dying to know who it is

user24 guys that’s me in the picture don’t be jealous

ynfanaccount @/user24 um I think ur mistaken because that actually me

user04 when are u going to tell us who he iss

user78 show his faceeeee

userr96 I just know he’s hot

yourusername

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yourusername is it always so satisfying to post your boyfriend?

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user96 haha let me kms

user76 I can’t do this anymore

ynfan1 JUST TELL US

user85 how come no one has found him yet?

ynfan8 @/user85 they must hide their relationship really well

ynfanpage @/ynfan8 not so well. Look at @/ynupdates last post

ynupdates

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ynupdates just out! @/yourusername seen with actor, lee byung-hun on Friday night. They were seeing holding hands and kissing on numerous occasions.

photo taken by fan

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leebyunghunswife NOOOO

user75 @/leebyunghunswife the loss of the century

user23 STOP

user45 the most unexpected duo tbh

byunghunswifey what would they even talk about…

user07 why do I kinda like them together ?🌝

ynfan damn she bagged an actor

byunghun0712

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byunghun0712 the love of my life

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user24 fuck

emee.09 siri play the other woman by lana del rey

renata_10 forget him i want her

sophieee65 she's so prettyyy i want to to kms

user078 I HATE MY LIFE

user43 well what am i suppose to do now

randomuser53 just kill me already

yourusername

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yourusername since the secret is out now

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user070 lucky bitch

user45 you guys make such a perfect couple

byunghunsgirl well at least ur pretty ig

byunghunswifey @/byunghunsgirl i think that makes it worse

user55 wow im so happy for u😟

user975 I don’t know if I want you or ur boyfriend

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a/n: I love making these

Lee byung hun but situationship maybe? Pretty please 🙏

having a situationship with lee byung-hun

a/n: thank you for the request! I actually really loved this idea

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byunghun0712

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byunghun0712 #미스터션샤인 #mrsunshine

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leebyunghunfan this is the first time I don’t see @/yourusername like his post

user1 @/leebyunghunfan probably because of the way he’s looking at the girl in the first picture

user2 interesting post…

yourstruly @/user2 bffr they’re just coworkers

user2 @/yourstruly are we looking at the same pictures ?

yourusername

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yourusername book date with the bestie cuz men ain’t shit

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randomuser wait happened?? is she talking about byung-hun??

ilovedilfs @/randomuser I really hope not

girlblogger y’all are overreacting. they never said they were together

ohfish @/girlblogger they’re prob just hooking up

yourbestfriendsuser hoes before bros

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userr12 I just noticed she unfollowed him omg…

yourusername

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yourusername if you don’t want me DON’T ACT LIKE YOU FUCKING WANT ME

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yourbestfriendsuser he don’t know what he’s missing out on

byunghunandyn I’m seriously wondering if they’re together or not

user_ @/byunhunandyn was the caption not clear enough for u?

iconiccuser we’ve all been there girly

user55 @/iconiccuser the strongest of soldier fr

user91 I get this on so many levels

user32 no way. He liked the post as if this wasn’t about him😭

yourusername

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yourusername im someone who forgives and forgets

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user1 STAND UP GIRL

marrymebyunghun who can blame her

byunghunswife @/marrymebyunghun I mean look at him

ynfan we get it dw

user31_ you’ll get out of that phase

ynfan4ever @/user31_ if my bf gave gifts like that I would forgive him without hesitation

user31_ @/ynfan4ever THEYRE NOT EVEN TOGETHER

ynfan4ever @/user31 YOU DONT KNOW THAT

user76 and the crowd is...confused?

byunghun0712

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byunghun0712 cheers 🍻

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user12 guys… she’s following him again

byunghunfan @/user12 NOOOOO

stormshadowsabs leave my man alone

ynsfan @/stormshadowsabs tell him to leave our girl alone

hayyleee raw.

dilfenthusiast let's make love

azeala.aa all 10 fingers

yourusername

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yourusername saw lisa live!!!

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ynfan1 gorgeous

user09 are they together?

randomuser @/user09 yes and no

leahhhh.hhh till the bed breaks

user45 ahhh omg ur a lisa fan!!!

yourusername @/user45 well of course!

fckmeleebyunghun the jealousy im feeling...

yourusername

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yourusername maybe the single life suits me better

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user08 bad bitch

ynfan02 girl what happened now

user34 I’m getting used to this now

byunhunfan this is more entertaining than my life

user12 well what did he do this time

leebyunghunswifey @/user12 why do u assume he’s the problem? Maybe it’s her

ynfanpage @/leebyunghunswifey men are always the problem. you’ll understand that when you’re older

user10 u may have lost ur man but at least ur hot

byunghun0712

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byunghun0712 💪

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yourusername biting my lip

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user75 HIS ARMSSS

user12 now why is @/yourusername in the comments

byunghunswifey @/user12 Frl what are u doing

userr09 @/yourusername is so luckyyy

user98 can she not make up her mind ?

ynfan y’all are taking this too seriously. so what if they’re hooking up?

user23 @/ynfan exactly like they wouldn’t be the first to do so

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request: we need moreee being lee byung-hun’s controversially young girlfriend🥹🤍

a/n: I’m working through all the request rn!! So if I haven’t posted your request, don’t worry it’s on the way

being lee buying-hun’s controversially young girlfriend

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yourusername

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yourusername a cozy day with my love <3

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user2 I love their relationship

randomuser @/user2 he’s as old as her dad dude

user2 @/randomuser the older the better

leebyunghun4ever god I wish I had him

yourfriendsuser you guys are so cute

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usee14 that should be me

squidgamefandom I love them together and I hate it

yourusername

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yourusername little night out

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yourfriendsuser this is who ur replacing me for? ☹️

yourusername @/yourfriendsuser im sorryyy

ynfannnn when are we gonna date

leebyunghunsabs I came

user55 @/leebyunghunsabs WHAT

leebyunghunswifey I NEED MORE PICTURES OF MY MAN

ynswifey forget him. Date me

byunghun0712

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byunghun0712 Jackson hole, Wyoming

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yourusername where you trying to share the location?

byunghun0712 @/yourusername yes

yourusername @/byunghun0712 click add location next time

yourbestfriendsuser the view is so pretty!! (@/yourusername you’re the view)

byunghunandyn best. couple. ever

sadlife ONE CHANCE PLEASE

girlblogger couple goals. travelling with your hot ass man

byunghun0712 45m

yourusername

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yourusername working through my finals thanks to the best boyfriend ever 💕

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user59 shes smart and she has a hot bf? life isn’t fair

ynswifey my wife is smart

leebyunghunswife HES SUCH A DILF

ynfanpage where are my clothes

leebyunghunswifey @/ynfanpage I swear I just had them on

dilflover FLASH US

lickingleebyunghun and the crowd is…naked??

byunghunwifey4real I could treat him so much better

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𒀯𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚

Anaxiphilia: love for or attraction to unsuitable mates; an act of falling in love with the wrong person

Hwang In-Ho x Fem! Reader

wc! 7k

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: After you move away from your childhood best friend (and first love), the last place you expected to see him was stuck with you as a “player”.

TW: Violence (duh its squid game), cursing, smut 18+ pnv, unsafe sex, probably pregnant lol

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

Classical music filled your ears as your eyes adjusted to the bright lights. It played throughout the room as you woke slowly and attempted to make sense of your surroundings. But, as you looked at the number placed on your tracksuit you remembered where you were.

Or at least why you were there.

You were never uncomfortable growing up. You were actually quite wealthy. Your father owned a very successful company, your mother invested money intuitively, and life seemed to improve daily. That was until you were 17 and news broke that your father’s company was a front. A money laundering business that cleaned his filthy money from years and years of fraud. When they died, they left you a monumental amount of debt. And when a suspiciously attractive guy handed you a little brown card, you couldn’t help but call the number on the back.

You knew the games were too good to be true. And you realized you were right after the first one. It took you 30 minutes to wash the blood off your face and out of your hair.

Now you were standing next to a girl with the number “222” written on her tracksuit, watching as an older lady and her son begged the guards to let them go. You fiddled with your hands, flinching at the rawness after scrubbing them relentlessly. Your attention was grabbed when another person stepped through the crowd.

“Clause three of the consent form!” Your eyes trained on him as he spoke angrily, “The games may be terminated upon a majority vote.”

Your heart stopped. You could go home and be safe. But you would still be drowning in debt. You bit your lip, remembering about the share of money you would receive. Would you have enough to cover it?

As if the guards could read your mind, a large piggy bank lowered from the ceiling, “The number of players eliminated in the first game is 91. Therefore, a total of 9.1 billion won has been accumulated.” Every eye watched as the piggy bank began to fill, “If you quit the games now, the 365 of you can equally divide the 9.1 billion won and leave with your share.”

Another man shoves past the crowd, “And how much is that?”

“Each person’s share would be 24,931,500 won.”

Exasperated sighs and annoyed words broke out amongst the crowd. But your eyes stayed trained on the man who first spoke, “456” written on his chest.

The pink guard spoke loudly, “The rule is that a hundred million won will be accumulated for each eliminated player. If you choose to play the next game, the prize amount will increase accordingly.”

The crowd stayed silent, “The total amount of prize money for all 456 players is 45.6 billion won.”

The crowd erupted again, full of enthusiastic words and motivated cheers. The girl next to you placed her hands over her stomach, almost cradling it closer to her body.

If you went home now, you wouldn’t even have enough to cover a third of your debt. But if you stay and continue the games, you could die.

The doors opened and two guards wheeled out a metal podium with two buttons, a red X and a blue O. “Now, let’s begin the vote. If you wish to continue the games, press the O button. If you wish to end them, press the X button. The vote will be held in reverse order of your player numbers.”

“Player 456.”

The same man from before stepped forward without hesitation. As he walked to the podium his stride was filled with wrath and as he slammed his palm against the X, his eye contact didn’t break with the guard.

The voting continued, each person stepping forward to decide whether to live or die. Each time either button was pressed you silently celebrated, still not sure if you should stay or go.

“Player number two.”

Your face fell as your eyes centered on the podium. And with each slow step you took, you became more sure of your decision. And as you reached the podium, you had made up your mind entirely.

A high beep rang through the room as your face reflected the blue button. You decided to continue. Flinching at the sound of defeated sighs from behind, you took the patch embroidered with an O and joined the other voters.

“Player number one.”

You hadn’t cared to look at the man when he was standing next to you earlier. But now that he was about to break a tie, your eyes were locked on him. You didn’t catch his face but you studied his figure. He had a tall frame and dark brown hair that seemed to be styled perfectly. He walked with a thick sense of confidence and you hadn’t failed to notice how his tracksuit clung to his biceps.

You watched intensely as he lifted his hand and hovered between the two buttons. The room held suspension and your eyes were locked on his hand. He hesitated for a few more moments before pressing his hand down. Blue light illuminated his face and the surrounding crowd cheered as he walked from the podium.

He had selected to stay. To play another game where you, or him, could die. You voted for that too. So why aren’t you happy about winning?

Because he’s turned around now and you’ve seen his face. And you would recognize that face anywhere.

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

“I don't understand, you’re moving?” He grasped the sides of your face, afraid to let go.

You looked at the boy in front of you who’ve you known your whole life. You went to private schools together, fancy parties together, and you shared your first time together. And now you’re leaving.

You placed your hands over his, “I don’t understand either In-ho. I want to stay, I don’t want to leave you.” Tears fell down your rosy cheeks as In-ho placed his forehead gently against yours.

You ignored your mother’s frantic yells for you to come and pack your things. You didn’t want to leave him. You loved him, and you knew if you left now you wouldn’t just be leaving your house. You’d be leaving your life behind. Your father would be arrested and your mother would have to work while taking care of you herself. You would move from Gangnam to Daegu. And you would have to start a new life. You just didn’t understand why In-ho couldn’t be a part of it.

That was the last time you saw him.

Well, until now.

You kept your distance, watching him talk to player 456. You recognize him from before as the man who’s already played.

You observed intensely, not bothering with your food. You watched how he exchanged words with 456. How his hair moved slightly as he used his hands to talk. You didn’t understand why he was here. The last you heard about him, he was married and his wife was expecting.

Would could’ve gone so wrong for him to be here?

The girl next to you shuffled in her seat, setting her empty dosirak-tong on the ground. You knew she was pregnant just from how she walked uncomfortably with her hands supporting her back.

“Here, take mine. I don’t like dosirak.” It was a lie, dosirak is one of your favorite meals. But she was eating for two, and you didn’t have an appetite.

She looked up at you before gently taking the metal box from your hands, “Thank you.” Her voice was barely above a whisper and you smiled in return.

Your eyes searched for In-ho again to find him walking towards a fight you hadn't noticed had broken out. His frame was large and towered over the boys as he approached them, “Boys, what are you doing in the middle of mealtime There are elders present, mind your manners. Aren’t you embarrassed?”

“You’re lecturing me when you ended up in this shithole too?” In-ho’s jaw clenched as he tilted his head at the boy, “Dude, stop running your mouth and take care of your own damn kids.”

You knew where this was heading, In-ho always knew how to fight. You smirked as he grabbed the boy, turning him around and twisting his arm behind him.

Forcing him to the ground with a thud as he whined, “Wait! I’m sorry! Please, let me go!”

He let go of his arm and stood up straight, adjusting his tracksuit. As he looked around the room while walking back toward player 456, his eyes suddenly met with yours. And he froze as he scanned your face. He was so caught up in Gi-huns plan that he had failed to realize you had entered the game. The girl he fell in love with. Who he shared his first kiss with, who he has thought about every day for 20 years since you were 17.

Your heart ached as old feelings rushed over you, watching as his eyes softened slightly before player 390 dragged him over.

You couldn’t sleep that night. You were too busy trying to figure out why he was here. Plus, you caught word of the next game being Dalgona. Which worried you because you had always sucked at cutting out the tiny shape, always giving in and eating the cookie whole.

You spent the night staring tiredly at the piggy bank, the soft yellow light casting across your face. What you didn't know is that 50 feet away, In-ho watched you. His mind also trying to understand why you were here. He stared at you, his eyes tracing the curve of your jaw, remembering when he would trail kisses on your pretty little face.

When he met your eyes earlier, he froze. Not because he didn't expect to see you, which he didn't, he froze because his heart did. He marveled at your beauty, and you took his breath away. Just like the first time he saw you all those years ago.

And now as he lays in his bed, his pillow propped up on the opposite end so he can see you, he can't help but address the elephant in the room. You know his name. You know his identity. You could ruin everything, his plan that he had focused solely on for the past three years.

As the lights turned on and classical music rang out from the speakers, his eyes stayed on you and only you.

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

"Welcome to your second game. This game will be played in teams. Please divide into teams of six in the next ten minutes. Let me repeat."

Sand kicked behind you as you walked into the room. The speakers repeated the instructions as you whispered to the girl next to you, "Is Dalgona played in teams?" She shook her head and her hand caressed her belly. You've grown somewhat protective over the girl, whose name you learned is Kim Jun-hee.

You take her hand as you look to find a team and your eyes try to pick out In-ho from the crowd. You think you spot the back of his head and start to pull Jun-hee towards him when she makes a be-line to a group. Your protests go ignored as she reaches them. Your eyes still search for In-ho as she inquires about joining their group.

"Of course, you can join." The voice snaps you from your search as you meet familiar piercing brown eyes with your own. Your breath hitches in your throat as he doesn't break eye contact.

"Time for team selection is up." The PA system breaks your stare, but In-ho holds his. You look around the room, scanning over the tall blue walls and the rainbows painted on the floor, "The game you will be playing is Six-Legged Pentathlon. You will start with your legs tied together. Each member will take turns playing a minigame at every ten-meter mark, and if you win, the team can move on to the next one. Here are the minigames: Number one, the Ddakji. Number two, Flying Stone. Number three, Gonggi. Number four, Kendama. Number five, Spinning Top. Number six, Jegi. Your goal is to win all the minigames and cross the finish line in five minutes. Please decide on players for each minigame."

Your team divides the games between you. You get stuck with Kendama, a game that is played by tossing a ball into the air and attempting to catch it on a wooden stick point. You're fairly confident in yourself. You and In-ho grew up playing games like these.

You sit with your group as each team competes. You sat at the end next to Jun-Hee, checking on her every once and a while. You flinched every time a gunshot rang out, anxiety bubbling with every elimination.

In-ho could not stop looking at you. It was as if you had a magnetic pull, and he couldn't look away. You were a piece of art, crafted with the hands of God himself. And he was jealous of God's hands, wishing it had been his very own that created such beauty. Every time you looked his way, he looked elsewhere.

"Final two teams, please get ready." You help Jun-hee stand up, 390 stepping in place next to her. Standing on the other side of 388 as you all line up at the start. You lower your gaze as In-ho steps in line next to you. He's always been intimidating, especially with his large frame towering over yours.

390 chuckles, "It's weird to be the only ones who don't get an audience, isn't it?" His attempt to lighten the mood works a little, a small smile forming on your lips.

"I think it will help us focus more!" You rub 388's shoulder in comfort while he repeats the motions of throwing and catching the Gonggi.

The guard finishes locking In-ho's and 456's shackles before you feel an arm snake around yours. In-ho's bicep compresses your own as your face heats up. You glance up daringly meeting In-hos sharp gaze. You should say something. Anything. Ask him why he's here, or where his wife is. But before you can speak, 456 starts the chant and steps forward.

"Hana dul! Hana dul! Hana dul!" You chant as you approach the first game. Jun-hee slams the red ddakji down, successfully flipping the blue one on the first try.

As you chant and walk to the next game, 388 breaks the pace and steps forward quickly. Without hesitation In-ho's hand moves from your arm to your waist, effortlessly steadying you "Hey! Keep the pace!"

388 steps back into pace as we reach the next game, "Back when I used to pitch, I never threw very fast, but the ball always went where I wanted." 390 steps one foot back before aiming and throwing the stone precisely, hitting the target on the first try!

You all cheer before continuing forward, quickly approaching three minutes. As you sit on the ground you feel In-ho steadying you again, allowing you to lean slightly against him to give 388 more room to play his game.

"Okay, just take your time. You got this." I reassure 388 as he grabs the gonggi. With a quick hand, he tosses one in the air before collecting them one at a time. Then two at a time, Then three and one. Then all. He flips them on the back of his hand before catching them effortlessly.

Your cheers were quick as you stood up and rushed towards the fourth game. The guard hands you the Kendama and you can feel In-ho's gaze on you intensely. You held the Kendama out in front of you, tossing the ball up, quickly moving your hand to catch it. You close your eyes as you feel the ball land on the spike.

"Yes! You did it Y/N!" In-ho grabs your shoulders and shakes you, you shake his back as he beams a smile at you. And for a second, you forget about the timer and you're both 17 again, in love.

He wraps his arm around your waist again as you move to his game. He takes the spinning top in his hand and begins to wrap the rope around it, confidence radiating from him. We have this in the bag! -oh.

The rope fell off.

You feel his body tighten as stress began to build. He wraps the rope around once more before tossing it, praying that the top spins. It falls to its side and In-ho curses under his breath. You remember him using his left hand when growing up to play this game. You wondered why he was using his right, but you didn't ask him. You could tell he was getting annoyed at himself.

"It's okay! Just try again!" You let go of In-ho's arm to give him more room. He flings the spinning top with too much power and it flings backwards.

In-ho freezes, too embarrassed to move. The man next to him, 456, grabs his shoulder firmly, "It's okay, we'll get it. All right, backwards. Ready, set."

In-ho holds my waist tightly as we walk backwards in step, "It'd be boring to win everything fast." The group nods in agreement at 390's words, " 'Cause if you're ever gonna grow, you need to fail first, right?"

In-ho picks up the spinning top and we trek back to the line. He wraps the rope around successfully, "Okay now take it slow, wait- no don't rush it!"

In-ho interrupted 388's instructions by quickly, and messily, throwing the top. It falls to the side and you feel In-ho throw his head back and laugh. You quickly remove your hand from his waist, knowing what's about to happen.

"You piece of fucking shit! You ruin everything! You're worthless!" In-ho drops the piece of rope in his hand as he hits his head against his hands. "You're so pathetic!"

The group stands shocked as he hits himself angrily, stomping in the dried blood below him. You bend down and pick up the rope, glancing at the clock.

50 seconds.

"Hey!" You slam the rope against his chest and pull his face to look at you, "No one's blaming any of this on you! Now, take a deep breath, okay?"

In-ho nodded slowly, the feeling of your touch burning on his face as he placed his right hand over his chest, something he would do when you were younger. As the group shuffles to pick up the top, you place one of your hands over his and slow his breathing, "You can do this In-ho. Use your left hand like you did when we were kids. And if I die because of this I will kill you myself."

In-ho gave a small smile at your sarcasm as he wraps the rope around the axel, then the top. He places it in his left hand and looks at you quickly before throwing the top.

It spins.

You erupt in cheers as In-ho succeeds! He gives a quick hug to you, that you wished had lasted longer, and your group moves to 456's turn. In-ho's gaze darkened as he focused on 456, and you failed to notice it, still flustered from the quick hug.

"One! Two! Three! Four!" You all counted as 456 bounced the jegi on his foot, watching him and the clock as it counts down. For a split moment it seemed that he wouldn't be able to get the last hit in, but suddenly In-ho swoops in and reaches with his foot. "Five!"

You all cheer as you practically run to the end, crossing right as the timer hit zero. The heavy shackles get removed and you are immediately engulfed in a bear hug from In-ho. His arms wrap around the small of your back as he pulls you closer to his frame, if possible. He buries his head in the crook of your neck and you stay frozen. Not from the near- death- experience you just had, but because you realized you had forgotten what his hugs had felt like. You threw your arms around him in return, deepening the hug you have longed for every day for 20 years.

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

You sat closely next to In-ho as the group chatted and complemented each others moves from the game. You were looking forward to catching up with In-ho, but you were too engrossed in 388's retelling of 390's stone toss, "And, sir, you were incredible at Flying Stone!" He proudly stood up and pretended to throw a stone, "You just lined it up and... Boom! First try!"

You giggled as 390 proudly shaked his head, and In-ho turned to look at you. God, that laugh. He had forgotten what it sounded like, and he frowned when you stopped, "I was thinking, what if we go around and say what our real names are? I'll go first, my name is Kang Dae-ho. Dae as in 'huge' and ho as in 'tiger'!"

390 laughed as Dae-ho gave himself tiger fangs with his fingers, "Now that's a cool name. My name is Park Jung-bae. It means 'righteous' and 'double.' So, I should be living twice as righteously."

"My name is Kim Jun-hee. I don't think I know what it stands for." Jun-hee smiles as she pushes a stray hair from her face.

"Jun means 'talented' and hee means 'star'. You are a talented star Jun-hee!" You ruffle her hair as she beams at you, "My name is Y/N. L/N, Y/N."

You can feel In-ho's stare as he watches your lips move, "My name is Young-il. You know, like 'yeong il.' 'Zero one' in Korean." You whipped your head towards him. Was there a reason he was hiding his name? Did he not trust anyone? He gave you a reassuring look, you'd just ask him later.

"My full name is Seong Gi-Hun." You looked away from In-ho's gaze as you watched 456 introduce himself.

"Seong Gi-hun. Like our un-'Seong' hero?" Everyone laughed but you. You were still pondering about In-ho. There were so many unanswered questions running through your mind. In-ho must have noticed your distant look, because he gave your hand a squeeze. A promise that he'll explain everything.

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

After another failed vote to go home (you had voted to leave this time), Gi-hun warned about the possibility of an ambush. It plagued your mind with worry as you laid on your mattress. Another night of no sleep adding to the eyebags growing under your pretty E/C eyes.

Gi-hun stood from his watch as In-ho took over, and headed to bed. Now was your chance to fully reconnect with In-ho, "Can I sit here?"

In-ho turned to you, "Cant sleep?" He asked as he scooted over a tad, making room for you. He didn't make a whole lot of room though, which you didn't mind.

Your thighs touched as you sat next to him, "No, never could when my mind is running like this." You dusted off your pants as you placed your legs out in front of you, fingers avoiding the blood that plagued your bottoms.

"You shouldn't be anxious about the game tomorrow." He watched your face intently, trying to read you. You were always so easy to read.

You stifle a small laugh, "Oh i'm not anxious, 'Young-il'. " You tilted your head towards him as you dragged out his "name", smirking as he nodded defeatedly.

"Ohhh, okay." He leaned in close, making your heart flutter, "I just don't want anyone to know my name yet. In a game like this there's a lot of... betrayal."

Your spine shivered as his words tickled your ear, "Oh, I guess I didn't think about that..." You turned to look at him but failed to realize how close he was.

Your lips were now inches apart, barely. You could feel his breath fan across your lips and his eyes remained focused on yours, "It can be our little secret? Hmm?" You found yourself nodding before you could even process what he said.

You didn't move, instead, you tested the waters. You leaned in closer, tilting your head slightly, "Last I heard you were married?"

He shook his head no, not caring to explain as he quickly licked his lips, his eyes now focusing on your own. Your breath caught as your heart beat at an unearthly rate, he was so close. If either of you moved your head even a centimeter, his lips would be on yours.

But you weren't able to find out. The small metal door slammed as Jun-hee, Hyun-ju, and Ae-sim walked in, and you pulled back quickly. "I should try and sleep."

In-ho nodded as you walked away, his eyes trailed the curve of your ass and he adjusted his pants slightly before going back to his watch.

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

"Players, welcome to the third game. We will begin momentarily. The game you will be playing today is Mingle." The beady-eyed horses caught your attention first. The black, soulless, painted eyes boring into your own as you followed behind In-ho. "I will now explain the rules of the game. All players will step onto the platform in the center of the arena. Once the game begins, the platform will spin. Shortly after, a number will be called out. You must then form a group that matches this number, enter one of the surrounding rooms, and close the door within 30 seconds, or be eliminated."

You stopped in front of the red platform, In-ho stopped next to you, "The real crucial thing for us to do is to stay calm and don't panic. Trust each other. And we'll all get out of here in once piece." He looked down at you, a need to protect you suddenly clear, "Deal?"

You looked up at him, "Deal." And he took your hand as you both stepped on the platform.

"With that, let the game begin!" The woman over the PA system was replaced with a nursery song, "Round And Round". The platform jolted before starting its spin, and you grasp onto In-ho for support as he steadies you.

"Ten."

The lights were replaced with flashing red as In-ho pulled you close. Gi-hun grabbed a group of 3 people as you searched for an open door, "Room 44!" You pointed to the light green door before dragging In-ho and Dae-ho with you. Hyun- ju grabbed a stray woman while running through the green door, barely making it.

In-ho placed his hands on the sides of your arms firmly, "Are you okay?"

"Yes." You breathed out, trying to catch your breath.

He took one hand and cupped your face, "Just stick with me. You'll be okay." You nod as the door unlocks and he grabs your hand, leading you back to the platform.

You spin for another few agonizing seconds with your hand still firmly grasped in In-ho's. "Five."

Your face fell, there were six of you. Who was going to leave? In-ho quickly pushes you into Jung-bae's grasp, "Watch her, i'll go! Hurry!" In-ho takes one more glance towards you as he runs through the crowd.

Jung-bae drags you with the others as you call for In-ho, "Young- il! Young-il!" The door locks behind you and you break from Jung-bae's hold.

"Im sure hes okay. He's smart Y/N." You press your face to the door, peering out of the small window, searching for his tall frame. You know he's smart, but you were so scared of losing him again you couldn't even register the other players getting shot in front of your door.

It unlocks and you push it open, rushing out and onto the platform. You whip your head around as you scanned for In-ho. When you lock eyes with his brown ones you make a beeline towards him, pushing past other players as you jump into his arms, "What ever happened to, "Stick with me"?"

His hand wrapped protectively behind your neck, cradling you in his arms, "I know, im sorry. But i'm okay." He pulled your head away to look at him, a small smile resting on his face.

The platform began to spin as you and In-ho stood next to Jun-hee, "Attention, players. The final round will now begin." The God forsaken nursery rhyme plays again, and this time, your eyes were glued to In-ho.

"What do you think the number will be?" Jun-hee asked curiously while clinging onto Dae-ho.

"It will be two." In-ho looked towards her.

"Wait, why?"

He squeezes your hand, "We're at 126 people, and there are 50 rooms. Even if there's two in every room, then there's still only enough for 100 of us. If you don't find one fast, you're done for."

The platform comes to a halt. "Two." The lights flash again and In-ho pulls you on instinct, running to a yellow door.

In-ho was going to keep you safe, at any cost.

You look back towards the group for a split second when your body meets the ground, you look up in slow motion as the man who pushed you runs to the door. You took a staggered breath before grabbing onto his ankle, slamming him to the ground and buying you enough time to run in behind In-ho and close the door.

Relief washed over you only momentarily as your eyes met with a third person in the room. In-ho steps in front of you, "Out."

"But, we were here first. Why don't you put her out and I stay?" In-ho tilts his head at his last remark before wrapping his biceps around the man's head.

The door behind you shook as the other man tries to push it open, you are quick to press your body weight against it to hold it close, "In-ho, what do we do?" Your voice was frantic as the countdown continued.

In-ho's arms tighten around the mans neck as he pulls and pushes at his grasp, but In-hos eyes never faltered. Not once. They stayed piercing yours, full of determination.

"Nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two..." The cracking sound of the mans neck made you flinch, his lifeless body hitting the floor with a thud.

I did say in-ho would keep you safe. At any cost.

"One."

The door locked behind you as you pressed your back against it, In-ho's stare stuck on you as he stepped over the man's body and towards you. He pushed your body against the door, his hand finding the flesh of your waist as his other hand pulled your neck into a desperate kiss. You became putty under his touch as he dug his fingers into your skin, he craved your touch as much as you did. And it was taking every muscle in his body not to take you and fuck you right now.

Your hands traveled from his chest and up to his neck, pulling him closer. A small whine escaped your pretty lips as he slid his hand up and under your shirt, the same hands he just used to kill for you.

For you.

You felt the door unlock with a click behind you. And In-ho pulled away reluctantly as your head fell back against the door, "I need you Y/N." He brushed his thumb over your red and swollen lips before taking your hand, and leading you out of the door.

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

"Attention, all players. Lights-out will be in approximately 30 minutes. With the remaining half hour, please disperse, and prepare to return to your beds for the night."

You sat next to Jung-bae who was excitedly talking about the next vote with Dae-ho as you watched In-ho move your mattress next to his. You hadn't dared to tell a soul about what happened in the yellow room, the kiss or the dead guy.

And you weren't going to tell anyone.

You should be concerned, right? Concerned over how easy it was for him to snap a guys neck without breaking eye contact? He was emotionless, cold, really attractive. You had witnessed many fights between him and other men while growing up, especially when it came to fighting over you.

But he never once killed for you. Until now, at least. Were you wrong to think it was really hot?

"Once the lights go out, the ones who wanna stay are gonna come for us." Gi-huns voice broke you from your thoughts, "Killing us would mean they win the next vote. It would also increase the prize money."

In-ho sat down next to you, his hand immediately finding your back, "We have to attack first then, it's our only chance. Those guys assume we're just waiting it out till the next vote. When the lights go down, we should hit them first since they won't expect it." He looked at you out of the corner of his eye, watching is you nod in agreement.

Gi-hun shook his head and leaned in closer to the group, "No, we can't. We'd be playing right into their hands if we did."

"Who is 'they'?" You tilted your head as you asked, failing to notice In-ho's gaze darken.

"The ones who built this whole place. The ones who created the games and who watch us play." The group listens closely, "If we're gonna try and fight anyone, we should be going after them instead."

"Sure, but where are they?"

Gi-hun looks up, "They're up there. At the top of the staircases. They keep everything here running from up in their central control room." He looks back at the group, "There's a man in a black mask who's the head of the operation. If we can get to him, we finally can end this."

In-ho sighs in disagreement, "It's too risky. Even if we manage to get a few guns they'll outnumber us when we try to get out." You feel his hand slide from your back and wrap around your waist.

"What are you suggesting? That we fight the other group through the whole entire night, and hope that we all make it? Is that it, Young-il? Do you really think that's a good plan?" Gi-huns voice is a little raised and you feel In-ho's grip on you tighten.

"Do we... stand a chance?"

"If we can manage an ambush, yes. Those bastards up there, they'll never expect our side to attack. They'll be focused on other things. This is it." You nodded with Dae-ho, ready to fight, "This is our last chance to put an end to these games and make sure they never happen again."

"Lights out in ten seconds."

"Once the lights are off, we have to get under our beds as quietly as we can. We can't afford to get caught by the other side. And we know they'll be out for blood." Gi-hun whispers as he slides under his bed.

You and In-ho follow suit, laying on your stomachs as you peer out from under your bed. You feel the contrast between your shaky breaths and his own steady breathing, and you can't comprehend how he could be so calm.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

"I have a plan." In-ho's voice was barely above a whisper, and a shiver runs down your spine at the sound of a woman yelling.

You look at him, "But, what about Gi-hun's plan?"

You didn't miss the small smirk that played on his lips, "Just stay by my side." Without a word In-ho swiftly moves from out of his bed, pulling you with him.

"Wait! What are you-" His hand came to your mouth as you both hugged the wall while discreetly moving towards the small metal door.

In-ho removed his hand to place a short knock. The small window opened, a guard peering through the flap. Without a single question, the door opened, and In-ho was quick to push you through.

You watched as the guard swiftly opened the bathroom door allowing you and In-ho to enter. You turned to the door as it shut behind you before looking at In-ho, "How did that guard just let you through? I don't understand, we have to go back In-ho."

"Or we can stay. We're safe here- you're safe here." He stood on the opposite wall in front of you, watching as you rested your hand on the doorknob.

He knew you were thinking about going back. But he also knew you weren't going to. He had you wrapped around his finger, just like all those years ago. And you knew it too.

You dropped your hand from the doorknob, biting your lip as you feel him slowly stalk towards you. Need courses through your veins as his hand comes from behind and wraps around your neck, his other hand pulls your waist against him. His lips find your neck and you've melted instantly.

His bulge presses harshly against your ass as he sucks and bites your neck with unhuman desire. This wasn't like when you were younger, when you were flustered and shy. No. You were hungry with want and your eyes were filled with lust.

He whips you around, lips on your own now as he moves you backwards to the counter. Your knees go weak and he lifts you with ease, as if you weighed nothing, and places you on the counter. Your fingers dug into his back, desperate for more. Hungry for him.

In-ho bites your lip roughly, and you give him what he wants, opening your lips wider and letting his tongue fuck your mouth. You were intoxicated, In-ho was the man you thought of each night as you fucked yourself, screaming his name into oblivion. And now here he was, hiking your shirt over your head.

"Y/N." Your name slipped from In-ho's mouth swiftly as he lifts your shirt over your head before his lips find your exposed skin. A small whine escapes your lips as his hot mouth gives your cold skin goosebumps.

It was like that small little noise ignited something animalistic within him, a grunt fell off his tongue as he bit your skin. He loved the way you squirmed as he dipped his tongue into your collarbone, his eyes looking up at you.

Sweat slicked your forehead as your head throws back, your bra falling from your tits, landing on the floor. How did he take it off? His hand didnt even-

oh.

Oh.

You looked at the bra, the back was still clasped.But the straps, the straps were ripped. He had ripped your bra off of you with hunger. But, you couldn't focus on the bra anymore as a moan escaped your mouth, your hands gripping the edge of the counter as In-ho rolls your nipple under his tongue.

He trailed sloppy kisses up to your mouth before stepping back, observing you. He pulls his shirt of with ease, "Take off your pants." It was demanding, and you obeyed. Your fingers trembled as you slipped off your bottoms and panties.

In-ho presses his tongue against his cheek, cocking his head as he takes you in piece by piece. You were sprawled out on the counter, your back resting against the mirror and your chest heaved, "What. What are you looking at In-ho."

"I'm thinking about all the bruises your pretty body is going to have after I fuck you."

He sinks to his knees in front of you, throwing your legs over his shoulders as he delves his tongue into your folds. You gasp, your legs involuntarily locking around his head. His tongue laps as he looks up at you. His nose perfectly brushes your clit, and he knows it as you rock your hips, "Oh, f-fuck. In-ho please."

He smirks against you as you sputter his name. He feels himself growing harder each time you whimper under his mouth. He drinks you up, your taste slicking on his face as you his tongue finds your clit.

One of your hands remove from the edge of the counter and find its way to his hair, "In-ho please," You pull his hair up to make him look at you, "If you stop now, I-I will kill you."

A small chuckle vibrates through your core as his lips latch your clit, rolling it under his tongue. Your legs pull him closer, if possible, and you feel your climax building. You arch your hips, rolling against his mouth as the need to cum grows louder. In-ho roughly laps on your swollen clit, desperate for your release.

And suddenly the earth stops spinning as you dissolve into pleasure, letting yourself unravel under him. Your body jerks as shockwaves move throughout your body, and you let his name roll of your tongue.

"Scoot down." You do as you're told and wiggle your ass until its slightly off the counter. In-ho watches as you still attempt to steady your breathing, smirking as he dips the waist of his pants down.

Your eyes widen as he places one of his hands on the side of your body, letting him tower over you. Your eyes trailed to his other hand that was busy lining his dick up with your core, but his eyes are on you. Waiting to watch your reaction as you take his cock.

He sinks into you, your breath catching and your eyes closing as he doesn't ease you into it, stretching you out. A grunt escapes his mouth at your reaction, you were so beautiful like this.

In-ho leans back and takes a hold of both of your ankles, holding them above you as he sets the pace. Your knuckles turn white as you grip the counter with one hand and cover your mouth with the other.

In-ho quickens the pace with each thrust, pounding into you like a toy. Animalistic grunts escape his mouth, "Y/N, you're so good for me. I've missed this so -fuck- so much."

You whine at his words, desperate attempts to buck your hips failed. He had you pinned down under you, controlling everything. He can feel the way you grip him, lustful tension building in the air, "Atta girl."

Oh fuck, he feels so good. He fits perfectly in you, just like all those years ago. The passion was still there, and god, he made you know it. You're drunk with desire, clenching around him as the pace picks up. His thrusts are sharp, deep, and you can tell he's close.

Your hands find his face, forcing him to look at you. His eyes met yours as his cock hit every. right. spot. His eyes softened, a contrast to his pornoraphic thrusts. In the middle of everything, all the death around you, you rekindled a love you never thought you would experience again.

Your eyes stay locked as the grip on your ankles tightened, In-ho's head dropping slightly as he came, time slowing as waves of electricity engulfed him. Warmth flooded over your body as he pulsed inside of you, gently laying your legs back down before leaning forward.

He pulled you close to him, his hands cupping your face and his thumb gently lifting your chin, "I love you Y/N." A smile displayed on his lips as he kissed you softly.

You bit back a sob, "In-ho... I never stopped loving you. You've been my person, even when you weren't mine."

He kissed you again, this time with promise. A promise of making it out of the games, a promise of love, a promise of hope.

In-ho never thought much of a future. He always saw himself living for the games. He expected to die as the front man, he didn't have anything to lose. But now he does. He has a future now, and it's you. He is not living for the games anymore. He is living for you.

Would you still love him when you find out the truth?

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ ˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

A/N: Hey pookies!! Tysm for all the love recently it's definitely motivated for me to come out of retirement. Pls lmk who I should write for next! I'm in a squid game mood so maybe Gi-hun?

@tsarinaaaz @flowersbloom8787 @vixtyhu @dottoremybbg @fnl9zer @cdej6 @galadoesart @watasinekoru @icantcryicantstopcrying @seasaltrasp @pepsicolacoochie @lily-ann-b @gurjxxpp11

Can you do soft launching Lee byung-hun? 🙏 plz and thank you

soft launching your relationship with lee byung-hun

a/n: thank you for the request

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byunghun0712

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byunghun0712 ⚾️ #TheUltimatePlayground #캘리포니아관광청

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byunghun0712

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byunghun0712 NY

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yourusername

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yourusername is this enough proof? *picture credit to me ofc*

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byunghun0712 my love

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lee byung-hun x actress!reader

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byunghun0712

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byunghun0712 #오징어게임2 #SquidGame2

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yourusername watch squid game season 2 now on Netflix!

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byunghun0712 #오징어게임2 #SquidGame2 ❤️

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I think I might be obsessed with him

anyways thank you for the request

being lee byung-hun’s controversially young girlfriend

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yourusername look at the pictures I found guyss ( little gift at the end 🫣)

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