summary: he didn't mean to push you away so harshly, to build his walls so high, but he didn't expect you to go running to someone else... pairing: zoro x reader, slight law x reader cw: unrequited feelings (or are they?), angst, no comfort an: set in wano, with some minor tweaks! thought of this last night and had to share my pain...oops also, i plan to have some fluffy straw hat stuff out this weekend âĄ( âĄâżâĄ ) wc: 3.4k
you'd been harboring feelings for your vice captain, for a while. you never acted on it, his aloof nature making you too nervous to make that jump- to try. even then, you were sure that he had more pressing matters to attend to.
so, you kept it under wraps. you trained and laughed and did everything you were supposed to, did everything right, without letting your feelings get too much in the way. it was manageable, and it made you feel good that you could support your crew, even if it meant holding onto your feelings.
it was the little things that gave you away to him. how your eyes darted away a bit too quickly when he met your gaze, how you sometimes intentionally stood farther away from him in a bid to look inconspicuous, even though it made it so much more obvious. he was as dumb as a rock sometimes, yeah, but not when it came to his crew, not when it came to you. he knew. of course he knew, but he had no reason to call you out on it. clearly you didn't want to discuss it and, as long as it wasn't getting in the way of anything major, he could bear it. it was when your emotions served as a distraction, that things became complicated.
the land of wano brought with it many challenges. most where physical, be it sneaking around the shady capital or handling some rowdy criminals. having crew members split up also made you worried, only heightening your senses and making your brain run rampant with what ifs. it all comes to a sudden standstill when you and brook, on your way to the safe house, walk in on zoro. one of the most beautiful women you've ever seen is snuggled right into his side and you feel a twinge of envy.
your heart does a somersault in your chest, something twisting in your gut at the unusual sight. a part of you, the rational side, knows very well that zoro didn't let people into his personal space with such ease. yet, even with her explanation, your mood can't help but sour. it only worsens when you all sit down and discuss more pressing matters.
the stresses of wano, this whole hiyori situation and her ever present enthusiasm towards the swordsman has you itching to escape. your responses become curt and your hands twitch in your lap. it's not how you should be acting, not given the circumstances, but you can't help it. finally, when there's a break in the conversation, you politely dismiss yourself.
once outside, you take a deep breath and collect your thoughts. leaning against the wall of the safe house, you let out a sigh and stare off at some random point in the distance in a bid to quell your passive aggressive behavior. the sound of the door opening catches you off guard, your arms crossing over your chest as the swordsman approaches you with a hardened expression.
"the hell is up with that look on your face?" he'd grumble, his cold demeanor matching the chill in the air. his arms are crossed, his posture tense. while zoro was one to take things as they came, focusing on the present, he couldn't deny that wano and its secrets were gnawing at him as well. he was irritated, wondering why you'd even bother to think about something as miniscule as feelings while there were enemies and actual threats lurking about. when you don't answer, when he figures you wouldn't even have the guts to bring it up, he huffs. "you think I asked to be cuddled up to like a damn toy?" his eye narrows and he takes a step closer, challenging you. "I don't have feelings for her, or anyone, got it?" the lump in your throat is too large to swallow and you nod, incapable of much else. a torrent of sensations swirl in your chest: embarrassment that he'd been aware of your feelings this whole time, guilt for letting them get in the way, and a bitter resounding sting that came with rejection. with a click of his tongue, he turns back and heads into the safe house, mumbling something about pulling yourself together and focusing on what's important.
you're almost glad when zoro ends up splitting off with hiyori later on, your mind flooded with thoughts. in a bid to defend yourself from further pain, you get your act together and squash down those feelings. you do well to put on a brave and happy face, deciding that, yes, there are some more important matters to attend to.
despite that, it's still hard not to see the samurai a bit differently. you knew he was blunt, even harsh at moments, but his approach to such a sensitive topic was a little much for you to handle. even if his words held some truth, that there were more pressing matters to attend to, the delivery of it just made you feel uneasy and hurt. the rest of your encounters are just as quick, your words just as clipped. if you acted any differently towards him, it wasn't out of malice. subconsciously, you defend yourself from further embarrassment and give him the distance you think he needs. while the chaos ensues, your defense mechanism only serves as a temporary solution. once the dust settled, it would be a different story.
finally, when the horrors of wano are dealt with, you can breathe a minor sigh of relief. in the flower capital, alongside your crew mates, you patiently wait for luffy and zoro to awaken from their slumbers. when they finally do, the air feels lighter
in the wake of it all, your emotions catch up to you, which makes you feel worse since this was supposed to be a joyful moment. it's hard to fight that initial instinct, to head over to zoro and ask if he's alright or if he needs anything. yet, you force yourself to take a step back, even if it does look like his bandages need tending to. it's a lot easier to do so once hiyori reveals that she was the one to help bathe him while he was unconscious, your stomach churning as you look away and walk to a different corner of the room. clearly he had someone looking out for him already. with a polite and slightly forced smile on your face, you find yourself heading over to law, who sits in the corner and chooses to observe the moment rather than partake in any conversation. you'd gotten along well with the surgeon, your relationship only growing stronger as he spent more time with the straw hats. he respected your skills and your perceptiveness, your ability to adapt to the needs of those around you and make them feel at ease. when he hears you approaching, he's naturally wary, but relents and gives you a nod, saying your name as a way of greeting you. satisfied, you take a seat next to him and raise a hand to gesture at his arm. "I know you're a surgeon and all, but d'ya think I can help you with your bandages?" you ask him, sincere and with a soft smile. "y'know, before this whole alliance thing is over and all..." he wants to say no, but the genuine kindness in your eyes has him huffing and looking away. a reddish hue tinges his cheeks and he holds out his arm. "go ahead." his tone fights to maintain its usual indifference, though there's a hint of appreciation laced in. on the opposite side of the room, where hiyori 'fixed' his bandages much too tight, zoro glances over at you. he notes the way you visibly relax around the surgeon, an action that has him growing irritated. he was your crew mate, your nakama, someone who would keep you safe, not that second rate captain. when the bandages cut off his circulation, he growls in frustration and tears some of them off. why weren't you over here doing this for him, when you knew exactly how he liked his bandages? why were you tending to law so gently and giving him that smile, the one you hadn't given him in ages? the swordsman isn't blind. he's been aware of the distance you've put between the two of you, how your 'smile' drops as soon as you turn away from him. as the battles had come to an end, he's now forced to recall the events which occurred at the safe house. he curses as his own shortcomings, his inability to think twice about his actions and how they'll affect the future. turning his attention towards something else, he mentally chides himself. what did he care, after all? he didn't do the whole relationship thing, the whole soft and squishy feelings. he was a swordsman, he had a goal and a crew to protect, including you. his thoughts do little to fight off the twinge of possessiveness he feels when he instinctively looks in your direction and catches sight of you holding law's hand as you secured his bandage. something gnaws at his pride, but he pushes it aside for the sake of maintaining his stoic front.
once everyone is healed, a festival, a grand one, is thrown to celebrate the liberation of wano. lanterns illuminate almost every corner, the scent of food wafting through the air as citizens and samurai and pirates all gather around.
dressed in a lovely kimono of your choice, you're more than eager to join in the revelry. the two bottles of sake that you carry in your hands only highlights your enthusiasm. you'd been hanging around with the crew for a while, smiling and laughing, but your mind was elsewhere. zoro thinks, for a split second, that you'll hand him a bottle. despite his aloof nature, he'd always find himself sharing a drink with you at times like this. yet, when you walk in the opposite direction, your smile beaming, your words have him gritting his teeth. "m'gonna go have a drink with law!" you chirp, your excitement palpable.
zoro's jaw clenches as he watches you walk off, his eyes lingering on your figure before he looks away. something simmers beneath the surface, but he keeps it at bay. it's nami's offhand comment that his frustration threatening to boil over.
"don't have too much fun!" she teases, throwing a cheeky smile your way. the others have the nerve to laugh, to egg you on, all while the swordsman relishes in how the alcohol burns his throat.
his knuckles turn white as he grips the neck of his sake bottle, the glass straining against his hold. a plethora of unfamiliar emotions rattle in his chest, but his bullheadedness and pride have him unwilling to budge, even if he wants to grab your arm and pull you back. it wasn't his place.
even when you're out of sight, his eyes subconsciously work to peer through the crowd in an attempt to catch a glimpse of your kimono, your hair, anything. once again, he scolds himself. he had no place to be so... so what? envious? possessive? he was the one to turn you away, after all. regardless, he can't get your smile out of his head. memories of you flood his mind: the banter and the sparring matches at sunset. all of it. just as quickly, he catches himself, bringing his lips to the bottle in a bid to drown out the bitterness on his tongue.
it's nearly a full hour later when you return to the crew, more than buzzed and clinging to the arm of the raven-haired surgeon. he doesn't seem to mind, his furrowed brows and his apathetic expression doing little to hide the blush dusting his cheeks.
glad to be in the company of your crew mates once more, you turn to law and wrap your arms around his waist, your smile so genuine and radiant it makes zoro's chest ache. "thank you traffy!"
the laughter of the rest of the crew echoes in zoro's ears alongside his own thundering heartbeat and boiling blood. what the hell were you doing? a knot forms in his chest, the unfamiliar sensation bringing him a great sense of unease.
he has to force himself to look away, before he realizes that it's not enough. without excusing himself, he stands and walks off towards a more secluded part of the festival. he needs to get away from whatever all that is. he needs to clear his head and heart and steel himself because he shouldn't be focusing on such things.
if you were any more sober, you would've kept your distance. however, it's in your nature to care, to worry and ensure that your crew mates are okay. that's why, as soon as you register the fact that the swordsman is gone, you release your hold on the surgeon and follow after zoro.
it's almost silent, save for the sounds of the festival off in the distance. the streets in this part of the capital aren't as illuminated, but cast enough of a glow for you to see zoro up ahead.
"zoro?" you mumble, attentive despite the alcohol in your system. "what're you doin' all the way out here?" your words are so genuine and full of concern, which makes it all the harder for zoro to respond.
"huh? what does it look like?" he roughly replies, not even bothering to fully face you as he turns his head to the side. "needed a break from all the noise and drunken idiots."
something bubbles in his throat, a lump of guilt that he swallows for the sake of self-preservation. he knows he has no right to be so callous, but can't help the passive-aggressive comment that slips past his lips. "why don't you just go off with that surgeon of yours? seems like better company."
your stomach drops and you take a step back. something wedges itself into your chest, a sense of anxiety and confusion as your mind briefly flickers back to that moment at the safe house. you'd done everything right, hadn't you? you'd given him space and pushed your feelings aside for the sake of the mission, so why this?
your heart starts to race, unable to look him in the eye as you focus your gaze to the side.
"why're you bein' so mean to me...?" you murmur, your hands nervously fidgeting as you await his answer. you just wanted to make things right.
he has to turn away once he catches the hurt on your face. if you were any more sober, you would've caught how he was the one that was truly nervous. the way you threatened to break down the walls he had built for himself has him needing to take control, even if that meant pushing you away.
"m'just being honest." he says, sharper than he means to. "leave me alone. go and enjoy the rest of the damn festival."
regret and longing make his chest throb, but he keeps on his mask of indifference as he takes a step forward and away from you. he wouldn't budge, couldn't.
meanwhile, you stand there, your inhales slowly turning short and ragged. your lips tremble and you fight to hold back sobs, but shortly after, you start to sniffle.
you hated crying, really crying. the crew had seen you shed silly little tears before, maybe over something cute or emotional, but not this. it's something you usually hide away and display in private, but the nature of the situation and the influence of the alcohol have you shedding an uncontrollable amount of tears.
though you shouldn't be, the utter vulnerability of the moment has you feeling embarrassed. you find solace in your sleeves, the kimono becoming damp with tears that don't seem to end. your cheeks sting, rubbed raw as you hide away from him.
zoro's heart drops.
the sound of your sobs is devastating. guilt claws at his chest, threatening to crack him open. when he turns around, all he can feel is regret. the weight of his words, how he treated you, is almost unbearable and makes him feel disgusted with himself.
his mind is racing, wondering what he should do or say to fix this, but he can't come up with an answer. before he can do anything, his mind goes blank at your next words.
"I wish I never got feelings for you." you choke out, unsure if your words are genuine or if you simply wanted to hurt the swordsman. with your shoulders trembling, you continued to cry into your sleeves. "I should've figured that there was nothing in that heart of yours."
deciding that you couldn't stand being in the same vicinity as him anymore, you run off.
he watches you go, his heart screaming at him to go after you, but he can't. the walls crumble and he can't hide anymore, forcing himself to realize that he cares for you so much that it terrifies him. the air is thick with tension, your sobs echoing through the air until they fade away, replaced by the distant sounds of the festival.
regret, self-loathing and longing all swirl in his chest, a torrent of emotion that threatens to swallow him whole.
you don't make it back to the ship that night.
you're too embarrassed and ashamed, not feeling safe enough to be vulnerable. you mentally apologize to the crew, hoping that they aren't too worried.
it isn't until the next morning that you return, or rather, you're returned.
the sun barely peeks over the horizon when law walks aboard the thousand sunny go with you cradled in his arms. you're in a deep sleep, completely exhausted and hungover. you're dressed in some of his clothes, your expression peaceful despite what occurred the night before.
other members of the crew gather around, worried about your well-being, but law is quick to say that you were just hungover and must have gotten lost. however, zoro can tell by the sharp look that law gives him that there was more to the story.
the vice captain grits his teeth, shoulders tensing as he watches law gently carry you over to your quarters.
a part of zoro wants to force law to give him answers, to tear you out of his arms so he could cradle you in his. he should've been the one to care for you, to protect you when you were vulnerable, but he hurt you instead. something else nags at him, the fact that you sought solace in someone else's arms.
law comes out of your room, quietly closing the door before walking down the deck. as he walks by zoro, he doesn't stop, but he shoots him another hardened glare. "you're an idiot, roronoa-ya."
oh, zoro knows.
when you finally awaken, you put on a brave face and tell the rest of the crew that you were sorry about your little slip up. you do well to cover it up with a laugh and smile. you build walls of your own, adamant on not getting hurt again.
it's once the crew is happy and satisfied that you make your way back to your room, your head hanging low as you walk by zoro.
your legs come to a stop and you can only hold his gaze for a second before you look away, just wanting to put this chapter behind you. the ache in your chest grows as you wonder what could've been. your voice is small. "look..." you start, hands bunching up into the borrowed shirt you're wearing. "let's just forget this ever happened and stay friends... alright?"
'forget?' he thinks. 'how can I forget that look on your face? the sounds of your sobs? do you think i'd let you go so easily?'
yet, despite the war raging on inside of him, the words stay stuck in his throat.
"yeah." what am i saying? "just friends."
as he watches you walk back to your room, he feels defeated. pathetic. he wants to say more, to show you that he can be the man you deserve, but for now, he sinks back into his usual habits and wonders what could have been.
he knows that he let something precious slip away.
steeling himself, he holds his heavy heart high. a sliver of determination cuts through his clouded mind and he hopes that, one day, he can make things right.
currently have 6-7 requests atm, thank you so much! I'll definitely do them after I finish my in-ho and salesman fics. I might incorporate your requests in my upcoming fics too (if the shoe fits ofc)
tysm for the support :>
pairing: akira kurusu / ren amamiya / joker x gn!reader
summary: a look inside akira's diary reveals all the thoughts the boy has had about you, including his feelings for you..
akira and you had been waiting for the rest of the phantom thieves to join the two of you at leblanc and while you were upstairs, in his room, you were checking out the interior, when you came across a little notebook.Â
akira had been too busy looking at his phone, exchanging messages with ryuji in the group chat, to notice the little book in your hands. by the time he looked up and spotted it in your hands, it was already too late and you were flipping through the pages of it.Â
he shouldn't have said that, because now you knew you had to find out what he was keeping a secret in here!Â
you turned one page after another at a rapid speed, just glancing at the pages, before moving on to the next one, before you found a certain side that caught your attention.Â
you quietly read the words out loud, your cheeks turning red as you realized what you were just reading. was this a confession?Â
akira had gotten up by now, quickly snatching the notebook from your hands. his face almost had the same color as yours â a dark red! just by seeing your face, akira knew that you had read at least one of his confessions he had written down in his notebook.Â
akira sighed softly and stepped back, letting himself fall onto his bed.Â
his eyes widened as you told him no. why wouldn't you want to forget this? it was absolutely embarrassing, having his crush find out he liked them thanks to his unfiltered thoughts being written down like this.Â
akira could swear that your red cheeks darkened even more.Â
now akira was the one who could swear his cheeks somehow got even more red.
he got up from his bed again, slowly walking towards you.Â
the gap between you closed and akira now stood in front of you, smiling down on you.Â
if you had flipped down a few pages further, you would've seen more of his unfiltered thoughts about you, including a detailed paragraph about how kissable your lips looked.Â
akira chuckled and leaned in, his lips hovering close to yours.Â
he whispered, before gently pressing his lips onto yours.Â
pairing: draco malfoy x female!reader
summary: maybe being fancied by draco malfoy isnât so bad, after all.
requests are closed for now. please refrain from plagiarizing my work!
click here to read pt. 1!
âWhy is it so bloody cold?â
[Y/N] is decked out in full winter apparel; a knitted Gryffindor sweater, ear-muffs, and a scarf that she has half of her face buried in.
Sitting in the Quidditch stands with the rest of her friends, she grumbles, âItâs not even a Gryffindor match. We donât really have to be here freezing to death.â
âWell, itâs common courtesy,â says Hermione, but sheâs just as cold as [Y/N] is; thereâs bits of snow stuck in her hair and the tip of her nose is pink.
Ron snorts loudly. âWeâre here to watch Slytherin lose,â he says matter-of-factly, still in the process of smearing streaks of blue paint across his cheek.
[Y/N] watches him, nose scrunched. "Well, arenât you the Ravenclaw fanatic.â
He gives her a grin and holds out the small tub of paint. âWant some?â
She bunches up her lips in thought, then reaches out to take it. Annoyingly enough, Ron pulls back at the last moment, grinning wider than ever, and says, âOr d'you want to show support for your boyfriend Malfoy? Hermione, why donât you turn this greenââ
[Y/N] dives over Hermione and Harry to smack Ron round the head, only for the pair to hold her back and push her into her seat.
Exasperated, Hermione huffs, âHonestly, Ronald, will you stop bringing that up?â She glares at him. âYou know fully well [Y/N] doesnât like it.â
Ron (and Harry, although he isnât as boisterous about it as the redhead), thinks that the âblond ferretâ taking a fancying to her is one of, if not the most hilarious thing to have ever happened in history. Annoyingly enough, Ron has made it a habit to tease her about it every chance he getsâthis one being one of them.
âIf I didnât know better, Iâd have thought Ron fancied Malfoy with how much he talks about him,â grins Harry. This earns him a smatter of blue paint across his face; Ron had flicked it at him.
With one last eye-roll, [Y/N] tears her gaze away from Ron and digs her nose further into her scarf. It really is very cold; snow is falling from the sky, seeping into her clothes, some landing on her hair and on her face. Thankfully thereâs not so much of it that the players on the pitch wouldnât be able to see around them, but stillâ[Y/N] imagines that itâd be a lot colder for them, having to fly around the stadium with the cold wind whipping at their robes.
Thereâs a buzz of loud chatter hanging in the air as conversations from all around them overlap over one another. The entire stadium is slowly filling up; students trickle into the stands, a majority of which have adorned themselves with blue accessories as a show of support to Ravenclaw. One side of the stands, however, is entirely green. Through the snow, she can see a big serpent-shaped balloon hovering over the Slytherin side.
âTheyâre coming out!â someone exclaims.
Sure enough, when [Y/N] looks down at the pitch, players from both teams have appeared and congregated at opposite ends of the pitch. Slytherin and Ravenclaw; whichever house wins will play Gryffindor for the house cup. Most bets are on Slytherin, but [Y/N] would have to be dead before she is caught anywhere supporting them.
âLook, itâs [Y/N]âs boyfriend,â gushes Ron.
More out of habit than anything, [Y/N] shoots the redhead yet another brief, scathing look. Draco Malfoy is there, even though heâs nowhere near being her boyfriend, pale face set into a stoic expression of calm as he stands with the rest of his team, one hand on his broom and the other on his hipâand this specific image has her thinking back to what happened two weeks ago on this very same pitch, except the stadium was empty and it was only the two of them on the grounds; when heâd confessed to liking her.
As if Malfoy has somehow heard her thoughts over the noise of excited chatter coming from all over the stands, he looks up, eyes sweeping the seats in search for someone before finally, they land on her.
When he meets her gaze, [Y/N]âs breath isnât knocked out of her chest, nor does she start blushing madly. But she doesnât burn red with annoyance, either. All she does is stare at him, eyes narrowed, watching as his lips split into a wide grin and he raises his hand to wave at her.
She rolls her eyes, but thankfullyâthankfully, the scarf tucked around her neck, reaching up to her nose, conceals the smile that tugs at her lips.
âMay I ask everyone to please find themselves in their seats before the match begins,â McGonagallâs voice echoes around the stadium, giving [Y/N] a reason to break eye contact.
She tears her stare away from Malfoyâs, inhaling a deep breath through her nose, feeling oddly exhilarated.
But this isnât anything new. That slight feeling of breathlessness, that unfamiliar sensation tickling at her stomach whenever she spots a certain someone in the hallway; sheâs been feeling it a lot lately, and though the cause seems to be pretty obvious, that is another thing sheâd have to be caught dead before doing: admitting that she reciprocates some of Malfoyâs.. peculiar feelings.
âAnd theyâre off!â Dean Thomas announces. [Y/N] watches as the players soar high into the air until theyâre mostly level with the stands, a blur of blue and green robes rapidly zooming around the pitch. Slytherin is already in possession of the quaffle; not a surprise, considering Ravenclaw isnât exactly known for their exceptionally talented Quidditch team.
Malfoy, meanwhileâ[Y/N] tells herself that the way her eyes dart around the pitch in search of a certain platinum blond is because she wants to watch the game properly and not for other reasons.
She spots him hovering somewhere above the rest of the players, face screwed up in concentration as his gaze moves around the pitch in search for the golden snitch. He looks even paler in winter, set against a backdrop of a cloudy sky and snowâ
[Y/N] jars herself out of her thoughts and blinks, side-eyeing her friends (specifically Ron) to make sure they hadnât seen her.. observing the Slytherin seeker. (Not like it matters; itâs not as though she fancies him, but Ron would certainly take it the wrong way.)
âGo Ravenclaw!â Ron practically screeches, waving his Ravenclaw banner in the airâwhen did he get that? âKick Slytherinâs arse so Gryffindor can crush you in the finals!â
[Y/N] snorts. âHave it all thought out, donât you, Ron?â
âGo on and cheer for your Slytherin boyfriend, [Y/N], no oneâs stopping you,â says Harry, grinning. She turns to face him, mouth open in disbelief, and lets out a quick breath of incredulous laughter.
âSo, Harry,â [Y/N] says, suddenly deadpan. âI see youâve chosen Ronâs side.â
Harry snickers, then shrugs.
"Oh, Malfoyâs seen the snitch!â someone shouts from beside them. [Y/N] turns back to the game to see Malfoy zooming down the pitch, clutching the front of his broom as he swerves past Slytherin and Ravenclaw players alike in pursuit of the tiny golden ball all the way on the other side of the stadium, where [Y/N] and her friends are sat. He has the upper handâRavenclawâs seeker is only just now starting to fly after him, but sheâs a good distance behind and Malfoy is gaining speed.
âHeâs gonna catch it!â
âRavenclawâs even worse than I thought,â grumbles Ron, slumping down in his seat.
But just as Malfoy passes by them, somehow, despite the fact that he is in pursuit of the bloody golden snitch and on the brink of securing victory for his team, he slows down just the tiniest bit, and then, in true Malfoy fashionâtheatric as always in his displays of affectionâhe catches her eye and yells âThis oneâs for you, [Y/N]!â, a grin on his face before he hurtles down the pitch, stretching out his hand towards the fluttering snitchâ
âMalfoyâs got the snitch!â Dean Thomas screams into his microphone. âSlytherin wins!â
[Y/N] stares, feeling oddly warm despite the wintry weather, as Malfoy spins around in mid-air, triumphantly holding up the snitch for the rest of Hogwarts to see.
âBlimey,â gapes Ron, wide-eyed, staring not at the Slytherin seeker but at [Y/N]. âThat wasââ
[Y/N] looks away from Malfoy to meet Ronâs gaze, maintaining indifference. âHeâs quite the charmer, isnât he?â she mutters, and hopes that her friends will think that the blush on her cheeks is because of the cold and not because of somethingâsomeone else.
But thatâs ridiculous. It is because of the cold, isnât it?
âIt may be Malfoy,â says Ron slowly, shaking his head, âBut you canât deny that was bloody romantic. Felt like I was watching something out of one of those Muggle films.â
âYeah, weâll have to ask him for tips,â says Harry, and starts laughing when [Y/N] rolls her eyes in response.
â
Malfoy may have stopped sending her Howlers, but that hardly matters because he has found every other way to pester her.
This includes consistently yelling out her name and shouting random pick-up lines every time he spots her in the hallway, as well as sending people to do her biddingâno longer first-years, but Crabbe and Goyle, who show up at random intervals everyday presenting her with a batch of different pastries. She always sends the pair off, but only after Ron and Harry accept said pastries for themselves.
âBlimey, this is heavenly!â gushes Ron, taking a passionate bite off of his second red velvet cupcake. âYou sure you donât want a bite, [Y/N]? Hermione?â
[Y/N] offers him an exasperated smile. âNo, thank you, Ron.â
âDonât thank me, thank your boyfriend.â
The four of them walk into the dingy Potions classroom. Snape is nowhere to be seen, but itâs only a matter of time before he swoops in all bat-like, so [Y/N] and Hermione quickly take a seat at their regular desk, right next to Ron and Harry.
âHave you done your homework?â asks Hermione, pulling out an assortment of parchment from her bag.
[Y/N] hums in response. âI doubt mine is half as good as yours, but hopefully Iâll scrape an acceptable.â
âOh, youâre a good student, [Y/N]. Donât bring yourself down.â
âHard not to when Iâm sitting next to the brightest witch in our year,â she nudges Hermioneâs shoulder, smiling. Hermione huffs, rolling her eyes, but itâs clear by the pleased look on her face that she doesnât hate [Y/N]âs honest flattery as much as she lets on.
[Y/N] drums her fingers on the desk to pass time, not quite paying attention to the students filtering into the classroom. Or at least not until one of them calls her name and drawls, âIs someone sitting here?â
[Y/N]âs head snaps around to see none other than Malfoy, gesturing to the desk to the left of hers and Hermioneâs. âMind if I,â he pauses, grinning, âSlytherin?â
She purses her lips into a thin, tight line, inhaling deeply as she fights to keep her cool. Yes, there are times when Malfoyâs gestures have her questioning her own hatred for him, but thisâthis is not one of them.
"That,â she says, voice mostly level. âIs your seat, Malfoy. I donât see why you have to ask me.â
Which is a lie. [Y/N] knows why, of course. To get her attention. To woo her. But part of her wishes that Malfoy would realize that everything he is doing, from the overbearing pick up lines to the cupcakes to his constant public declarations of love, isnât something that [Y/N] thoroughly enjoys. Does she want him to stop yelling at her in the hallways? Yes. Does she want Crabbe and Goyle to stop bumbling up to her everywhere she goes (outside of the girlâs bathroom is one example) offering cupcakes and pie and tarts? Yes. But does she want Malfoy to stop trying entirely?
Maybe not. Maybe part of her wants to give him a chance. He does seem to truly hold feelings, judging from his confession back at the Quidditch stadium, unless heâs a terribly good actor.
And it wouldnât just be him sheâd be giving a chance, either. Perhaps sheâd also be doing so to herself. Because, over the past month, itâs baffled her how quickly her feelings for him have shifted. Or maybe itâs not a change of feelings, but rather realization that under all that sneering and pureblood prejudice, Draco Malfoy is a boy.
An annoyingly attractive one.
But there is so much more that [Y/N] dislikes about him. His snootiness. His arrogance. His lack of consideration for other peopleâs feelings. He may be tall and lithe and undeniably handsome, and he may have very soft-looking platinum blond hair and stormy grey eyes like dark clouds, but he is also a prick. And that wins over everything else, no matter how.. visually pleasing he is.
So when a paper bird flutters in front of her halfway through the lesson, when Snapeâs back is turned, [Y/N] hesitates. She knows fully well who itâs from, despite not having to look to the side and meet his gaze.
From beside her, Hermione whispers, âGet rid of it, before Snape sees.â
Exhaling, [Y/N] snatches the paper bird and quickly unfolds it.
She doesnât know what sheâs expecting to see, but itâs certainly not the words âmeet me at the Astronomy tower after dinnerâ scribbled across the parchment. And with a drawing of a face blowing kisses, no less.
[Y/N] sighs.
â
[Y/N] has no real feelings for Malfoy, so succumbing to his mysterious evening request at the Astronomy tower shouldnât mean anything.
Scratch that: it doesnât mean anything. Not to her. (Or so she tells herself.) This is a chance for her to tell Malfoy to sod off and to stop courting her. And for good, this time. No matter what that annoying little voice inside her head tells her, she canât possibly even consider the idea of actually giving in to him. (And to herself.)
So sheâs going to put a stop to it, once and for all.
âIâm going,â she decides over dinner, slamming her palms down on the table.
âGoing where?â asks Harry.
âThe Astronomy tower,â she replies resolutely.
âWhat, to go star-gazing?â Ron snickers. [Y/N] glances at him and realizes, quickly, that telling them had slipped her mindâsheâd been far too preoccupied with her own conflicting thoughts.
She shifts in her seat. She doesnât necessarily need to tell them, does she? Itâs not as though itâs important enough to share. And besides, Ron would only badger her about it. Mercilessly. [Y/N] can already picture him in her head, talking about Malfoy and snogging under the stars and Merlin-knows-what-else.
âNevermind,â says [Y/N], taking a bite out of a muffin and looking away. They donât need to know; itâs not as though itâs important.
â
After [Y/N] has walked up all of the stairs to get there, only taking one or two shortcuts, sheâs out of breath, but she creeps into the Astronomy tower anyway. Itâs mostly dark save for the faint moonshine filtering in from the open sides, and, wellâthere he is.
Malfoyâs arms are crossed over his chest, his back mostly turned as he stands dangerously close to the railing, looking out over the dark landscape. Dim light catches on the side of his face, illuminating the grey of his eyes.
The curve of his nose.
Pale skin.
White-blond hair.
[Y/N] finds herself staring, one hand on the doorframe as though for support, brows furrowed in the middle in a slight frown as she watches him.
He looks lost in thought. Even from a few feet away, [Y/N] can see the far-off, distant look in his eyes. Like storms brewing behind dark clouds, she thinks to herself. Itâs a quiet little whisper in the back of her mind that has her heart doing odd little flips inside of her chest that she never knew it was capable of.
But then she blinks.
This is the last thing [Y/N] needs. To see Malfoy stripped of his arroganceâto see him as he is, bathed in moonlight, glowing, almost. To look at him and to see a boy with eyes like molten silver and nothing moreâitâs the last thing she needs to convince herself that she doesnât feel something for him that isnât hatred.
No, she doesnât need this.
She turns around, breath caught in her throat, and starts walking down the steps. Accidentally, stupidly, her foot catches on a metal step and a loud clang echoes around the silent tower.
[Y/N] pauses, eyes wide.
â[Y/N]?â Malfoyâs voice says. He canât see her. Itâs too dark, and [Y/N] is too far down the steps.
She swallows. But instead of dreading what could come, she finds herself waiting, half-hoping that heâd check the staircase, that he would see her andâ
And then what?
[Y/N] rushes down the steps, ignoring the loud noise her footsteps make on the way. This is the last thing she needs.
â
[Y/N] doesnât like Malfoy.
[Y/N] doesnât like Malfoy, and she is determined to make that clear. (Both to herself and to her friends, although the former seems to be taking a lot more convincing.)
âWhat is there to like about him? Heâs nothing but an annoying pain in the arse who has an overwhelming amount of pride and arrogance simply because of his bloodâwhich is not only something that he never rightfully earned but is also something that shouldnât even bloody matter, except he thinks that it does solely because he is an absolute nutter who has nothing better to do with his life other than leech off of his parentsâ money and shove it in other peopleâs faces.â
Ron meets Harryâs gaze from across the table, who seems to be trying very hard not to laugh. Swallowing down a forkful of pancakes, Ron looks back at [Y/N]. âIâm sorry,â he begins slowly. âBut remind me again why weâre talking about Malfoy?â
âIâm not finished, Ronald,â [Y/N] snaps, shooting him a dirty look. Ron raises his eyebrows. âAs I was saying before someone so rudely cut me off, Malfoy is a nasty little git who finds joy in making other people suffer. he probably has tiny puppies locked up inside his basement just so he can laugh in their faces and revel in their misery because he is that horrible of a personââ
Harry lurches with poorly suppressed laughter.
âAn absolute terrible excuse for a human being! He basks in other peopleâs humiliationâmine, for example!âand I would much rather snog the Giant Squid than ever actually consider hisââ She pauses, gritting her teeth. âOdd.. requests.â
âItâs not like heâs asking you to murder house-elves,â Ron mutters.
âSomething that I would rather do than date him!â
â[Y/N]!â Hermione gasps, looking genuinely offended as she, for the first time since theyâd arrived at the Great Hall for breakfast, looks up from the homework sheâs rushing to finish. (As if her five pieces worth of parchment arenât enoughâFlitwick had only asked for three!)
âSorry, Hermione,â [Y/N] says, offering her an apologetic look that she only half-means. This quickly turns into a fierce look of challenge as she swivels back around in her seat to face the redhead sitting next to her. âHonestly, since when have you started defending Malfoy?â
Ron blanches. âIâm not defending him!â he says indignantly, setting his fork down on his plate. âItâs just.. yeah, itâs a bit odd that heâs declaring his undying love for you out of bloody nowhere, but heâs stopped badgering us, hasnât he? Nasty little ferret hasnât said a word to Harry for weeks! And that goes for me and Hermione, too!â
[Y/N] narrows her eyes at him. âSo you think itâs great that heâs stopped annoying you at the cost of my suffering?â
âWhat suffering!â Ron exclaims. âHeâs been treating you like a bloody princess!â
âOh, why donât you just snog him yourself, then, if you think so highly of him?â
Ronâs jaw drops in shocked offense.
âAlright, thatâs enough!â Harry announces, reaching over the table to shove the two apart from each other. âWhy doesnât one of you switch seats with me before you end up strangling each other?â
âI donât know, Harry,â [Y/N]âs lip curls. âI might have to hold Ron back before he goes running off to his ferret princeâor should we just let him? Merlin knows heâd love to, wonât you, Ronald?â
Ronâs teeth are gritted; his eyes dart around the food on the table as though looking for the most effective weapon. He seems to be choosing between a green apple and rhubarb pie.
Thankfully, Ron never gets to take his pick. The bell rings, saving everyone in the Great Hall from witnessing what could have possibly been a brawl between friends. âCome on, letâs go,â says Harry quickly, relief evident in his tone of voice as he ushers the pair to their feet. âWouldnât want to be late for class.â
â
[Y/N] doesnât like Malfoy.
[Y/N] doesnât like Malfoy, but why does she find herself staring at him whenever she comes across him in the hallway the next day? Why, when Malfoy meets her gaze, does she look away and pretend to be immersed in something else?
And why in the bloody hell, when Malfoy playfully winks at her during Potions class, does she find it very, very hard not to smile?
She walks out of the dungeon classroom in a hurry with Ron, Harry, and Hermione, not wanting to spend a minute more in Malfoyâs presence; she doesnât particularly enjoy being suddenly hyperaware of every move he makes, every little glance he sends her way when he thinks she isnât paying attention. Itâs as though something in her system has gone awry. Is that why her heart feels like itâs about to hop right out of her chest? Is that why she canât stop wondering what wouldâve happened if sheâd stayed at the Astronomy tower?
âHey, wait up!â Harry calls loudly as they walk up the stone steps leading away from the dungeons and into the main hallway, which is bustling with students.
[Y/N], who had been walking far too fast in front of the three, looks back over her shoulder and sees that theyâre a few feet away. She stops, seemingly flustered, and waits for them to catch up.
"You look like youâve wet your pants,â says Ron.
âIâm not you, Ron,â she retorts.
âOh, can you two please stop bickering for once?â says Hermione, exasperated.
From behind the three, Draco Malfoy emerges from the potions classroom and begins walking up the stone steps. [Y/N]âs hands clench into fists at her side as she discretely presses her back to the stone wall at her sides.
The blond doesnât even as much as glance at Ron, Harry, and Hermione as he passes by them on the steps. [Y/N], howeverâonce Malfoy has reached the step below the one sheâs standing on, he pauses, no less than two feet away from her, and quirks an eyebrow.
âWhat?â [Y/N] scowls, trying not to look at the strand of blond hair dangling in front of his eyes.
Malfoyâs gaze dances over her face. âWas it you?â
She meets her friendsâ eyes over Malfoyâs shoulder. Ron and Harry have their eyebrows raised; Hermione looks concerned. [Y/N] takes a moment to compose herselfâtries to force her heart back into her chestâbefore she folds her arms across her chest and looks at the Slytherin. âI donât know what youâre talking about.â
âAt the Astronomy tower,â Malfoy says, and moves up one step so that heâs standing on the same one sheâs on. A foot away. âI heard someone last night, while I was waiting for you.â
Oh, Merlin.
âYou came, didnât you?â he presses on.
âNo,â [Y/N] lies, and hates how defensive she sounds. She shifts a little on her feet, her eyes skirting away to look at a random spot behind Malfoy. âI was.. at the library. Doing things of actual importance.â
Thereâs a slight pause as Malfoyâs nose wrinkles. âMustâve been someone else spying on me, then,â he finally says through a scoff, but [Y/N] knows disappointment when she sees it. He rolls his shoulders back and puts on his signature smirk, inclining his head towards her as he takes another step up the stairs. âBetter hurry and give me an answer, [Y/N],â he tells her, grinning. âBefore one of my admirers get to me first.â
[Y/N] watches as he walks up the steps and disappears into the hallway.
âThe library?â a voice says incredulously. She turns back to Ron, whose face is scrunched in disbelief. âNo, you werenât! We were waiting for you there and you never came.â
[Y/N] folds her arms across her chest indignantly but doesnât respond, instead walking up the stone steps.
âMalfoy said he was waiting for you at the Astronomy tower,â says Hermione slowly as they trail after her; [Y/N] speeds up her pace. âIs that why you mentioned going there during dinner last night?â
[Y/N] emerges into the main corridor first. âNo, I didnât.â
âYes, you did!â bursts Ron, sounding downright triumphant.
âCongratulations, Ron, you donât have the memory range of a teaspoon, after all,â [Y/N] mutters, looking around. Malfoy is walking down the hallway a few feet ahead of them, Crabbe and Goyle at his side.
Ron ignores her. âI bet you did go. I bet you did spy on himââ And then he gasps, looking as though heâs unearthed the secret of life. âMerlinâs beard, you really do fancy him, donât you?â
[Y/N]âs footsteps falter. Ron, Harry, and Hermione stop right with her.
Hermione is the only one who doesnât look stunned out of her mind. Looking between the two boys, she rolls her eyes and scoffs. âHonestly, is that so hard to believe?â says Hermione, frowning. âI understand that itâs Malfoy and he is a prick, but [Y/N] is perfectly entitled to fancy whoever she likes.â She turns to [Y/N]. âItâs fine, [Y/N], you donât have to feel guilty about it. Anyone would catch feelings if someone started doing such sweet things for them, even if it were someone like Malfoy.â
âBlimey,â says Harry, breathless. âWhich part sealed the deal, [Y/N]? The pick-up lines? Or was it the cupcakes?â
[Y/N], who had been opening and closing her mouth like a fish blown out of water, finally stops trying to find words that just arenât there and instead drags her palm across her face in frustration. âI donât..â she says, sounding defeated, but reallyânow that sheâs faced with such confrontation, itâs easier to admit to herself that maybe.. maybe she does fancy Malfoy.
Ronâs lips have split into a jubilant grin. âI called it!â he says, smacking Harryâs shoulder. "Bloody knew it!â
Hermione reaches out to rub [Y/N]âs back. âDonât feel too bad about it, [Y/N]. I sort of knewâyou looked at him differently after he confessed to you on the pitch.â
[Y/N] sighs, realizing that no amount  of denying it will convince her friends. Or herself.
She does fancy Malfoy.
Properly acknowledging itâfinally admitting it to herselfâis oddly relieving. Sheâs been keeping her feelings cooped up inside of her chest despite the fact they are so much bigger than her, and now that sheâs letting them burst free.. now that sheâs coming to terms with them..
Well. Itâs not the worst feeling ever.
Ron is still beaming, looking as though heâs won the lottery. And apparently, in a way, he has: âFred and George said itâd take you a month longer to give in. I said itâd take you lessâguess Iâve won myself two galleons!â
[Y/N]âs mouth falls open. âYou bet on this?â
Ron raises his eyebrows, as though surprised to hear that she didnât know. âUh, I and the entire bloody castle.â
Struck by a sudden burst of both annoyance and confidence, [Y/N], scowling, detaches herself from her friends and strides down the hallway towards Malfoy, full of intent. He hasnât noticed her yet; his back is still turned, but she catches up to him easily. And when she does, she unceremoniously bumps her shoulder into his and grabs his hand, quickly interlacing her fingers through his.
âWhat the hellââ
Malfoy, obviously taken aback, tries to pull his hand away, sneering, until his gaze lands on [Y/N].
âKeep walking, Malfoy,â she says scathingly, not quite looking at him.
Baffled, Malfoy stares at her, then down at their hands, which are now tightly interlocked between them. [Y/N] scowls resolutely at the hallway ahead of her.
And then Malfoy laughs, more out of disbelief than amusement.
âKeep walking,â [Y/N] repeats, this time turning to look at him, fighting to keep her gaze indifferent. The last thing she wants Malfoy to know is that there is an onslaught of tiny little butterflies rampaging in her stomach and a tingly feeling spreading from their hands all the way up her spine and into her heart.
Malfoyâs lips tug up into a wide grinâa real one, [Y/N] thinks. Not an arrogant smirk or a deprecating sneer; one that she canât ever recall seeing. But now that she has, she finds herself wishing heâd do it more often.
[Y/N] tugs him along as she walks, feeling the stunned stares of her friends boring into her skull from behind. (Ron is going to have a field day about this.)
âSo,â Malfoy begins, and she doesnât have to look at him to know that heâs still grinning down at her. âChanged your mind, havenât you?â
[Y/N] rolls her eyes; she doesnât fail to notice the way that the students theyâre passing by are staring at them, eyes wide, whispering to themselves. âIsnât this what you wanted?â
Malfoy shrugs. âAmong other things.â
She side-eyes him, muttering, âDoes that include snogging?â
He makes an amused sound at the back of his throat. âYou said it, not me.â
[Y/N] has to grit her teeth to stop the corners of her lips from tugging up. They turn a corner down the hallway, disappearing from both their friendsâ views (assuming they havenât followed them). At this thought, [Y/N] takes a brief glance over her shoulderâand sure enough, thereâs a redhead peeking out of a group of very confused Ravenclaws.
Cursing Ron Weasley inside her head, she turns her gaze back ahead of her. âI have Charms class next.â
Malfoy raises his brows. "And what do you expect me to do with that information?â
âWalk me there,â says [Y/N] briskly.
She can practically feel the surprise radiating off of the blond next to her. A moment later, he throws his head back in a loud laugh. âAnd you want me to be late to Transfiguration? Itâs all the way on the other side of the castle.â
[Y/N] hums. âCanât even do that for the girl you fancy?â
Thereâs a beat of silence. His grip on her hand falters a little as he says, voice still nonchalant and yet at the same time holding an undeniable sense of sincerity, âI could if I knew she wasnât leading me on.â
âShe isnât,â [Y/N] says, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.
Malfoy is staring at her with his brows pulled in together just slightly at the middle, giving off the impression that heâs trying to decide whether or not sheâs being serious. He slows down his pace until he comes to a full stop, urging [Y/N] to halt alongside him until theyâre standing in the middle of the hallway, oblivious to the stares following them and the redhead a mere few feet away.
âHow do I know this isnât a prank?â says Malfoy, lip slowly curling as he narrows his eyes at her, the first few traces of suspicion etching itself onto his face now that the whole ridiculousness of the situation has finally sunken in. [Y/N] canât blame him; her anticsâsuddenly marching up to him in the hallway, grabbing his hand and walking with him as though theyâve been doing it for yearsâall of it is uncalled for after having ruthlessly turned him down so many times before. But [Y/N] canât delve into a discussion of her conflicting emotionsâat least not right nowâso she hopes, at least for now, that he will take her word for it.
She clears her throat. Â "Well,â she begins, looking down at their hands; Malfoyâs grip has gone slack. "If I wanted to hold your hand, Iâd do it because I wanted to. Not because I wanted to get a rise out of you.â She lets her gaze go back up to his, brows rising in familiar challenge. âI donât stoop that low, Malfoy. Youâve been in love with me for yearsâshouldnât you know that by now?â
There are a few seconds in which the blond standing before her still looks at her with a scrutinizing gaze, lips set into a thin, hard line and his eyes swimming with conflict that [Y/N] wouldnât have been able to see from afar, but sees in perfect clarity now that sheâs standing a mere foot away from him. But then, after what feels like ages, Malfoy nods, slowly, frown smoothing out into an expression ofâcould that be relief?
âI will be late for Transfiguration, you know,â he says, lips quirking up into a grin.
[Y/N] laughs. (A real one, Draco thinks to himself.) This time she doesnât try to stop herself from smiling; just lets her lips do so of their own accord. It feels nice. Freeing. âBetter just one of us than two, donât you think?â she says, mirroring his playful grin. âAnd besides, Goyle can stand in for you. You two do have quite the resemblance.â
âOh, sod off.â
And it really is very odd, because everything about this shouldnât feel right; theyâve been enemies for the longest time, and a year ago, [Y/N] would have been revolted at the mere idea of ever coming close to Draco Malfoyâbut it does. That is, it feels right. Like theyâve been this way for ages and this playful, harmless banter is the most natural thing.
Draco isnât perfectâMerlin, does he have a long way to goâbut if he means to stop being a prat as long as [Y/N] is at his side, then she is willing to venture into whatever has formed between them.
And if this little bond is going to involve any more of thisâthis being her and Draco exaggeratedly swinging their arms between them as he walks her to Charms class with their fingers still intertwined, snickering, waiting for one of them to start complaining about their arm sockets hurtingâthen maybe it isnât the worst thing ever, after all.
Could you write ryusui x reader where after they break him out of the stone, he refuses to do anything until his s/o is found and de petrified? Comfy cute reunion as well?? I love your blog, thank you!!
OMG, THIS REQUEST. I love Ryusui and this was waaaay too cute! I tried my best, but I feel like I didn't do it justice ( ; Ď ; ) I hope you'll still enjoy it nonetheless!
ryusui nanami âĄ
Minami was already against the idea of reviving Ryusui, as she knew his boldpersonality (it was a sweet way to put it) would most definitely cause problems. However, she quickly concluded that Senku didn't seem to care about these sort of things, as he poured the revival fluid on Ryusui's statue under her eyes.
His loud outburst as he was freed from his stone prison had everyone speechless. Minami could only look back at Senku as a way to say, âI told you so!â, but he avoided her gaze.
And as Ryusui realized that the world had changed, while Senku explained to him what was the reason behind his revival, he came to a stop.
âThere seems to be a misunderstanding. Will I thank you for reviving me, I can only help you under one condition.â He stated, arms crossed against his chest. Senku blinked, before sighing. âAnd what's this condition?â
âI refuse to do anything until (Y/n) is revived.â Ryusui affirmed, and Senku groaned. He was starting to run out of the fluid, and he wanted him to use it again?
â(Y/n)...â Minami whispered, tasting the name on her tongue. âIs that your partner?â She suddenly asked, as vague memories slowly resurfaced.
âThat's right!â He claimed proudly, fingers snapping. âAnd until they're not here, I'm not helping.â
Minami knew that there was no point in arguing. Ryusui wouldn't take no for an answer, because as soon as he desired something, he would obtain it no matter what it took. And you seemed to be his top priority.
â(Y/n) is indispensable. I'll have you know that they're the best assistant you could ask for, and their skills should be as needed as mine.â Ryusui declared, and Senku could only wonder if it was love speaking or not. He only had one revival fluid left, and without any way to produce it again, he couldn't allow to waste it only to grant Ryusui's wish.
âWell...while the media weren't too focused on them, I remember reading their name multiple times on significant articles.â Minami whispered, hand under her chin. At this, Ryusui smiled proudly.
âThat's right! They're the best!â He shouted, voice full of fondness. Minami couldn't help but think that his devotion towards you was quite adorable. She also wondered how you managed to handle him...
âWell, since it's the only way...â Senku whispered, more to himself than anything. If you were competent, there was no reason for him to protest.
It didn't take long to find you. Ryusui crouched down beside your statue, fingertips slowly stroking your cold cheek. Since he met you, you were always on his side and never failed to support his dreams and wishes, no matter how selfish they seemed. Eager to learn how to navigate, Ryusui taught you everything. So how could he let you behind, when you made everything brighter?
As Senku poured the revival fluid on you, Ryusui watched in fascination as the stone slowly started to break, revealing patches of soft skin.
You blinked, eyebrows furrowed as you tried to understand where you were. Your eyes landed on Ryusui's face, and despite your confusion, you could only melt at his dazzling smile.
âRyusui? In what mess did you get us into again?â You asked, and before you could even sit up, he picked you up, while laughing at your surprised squeal.
He spun with you in his arms, a hand under your tighs and the other behind your head. You giggled at his childish antics as he stared at you lovingly, glad to see your face again after all these years.
As Ryusui steadied himself, you started to realize that you weren't alone and that you were in fact, naked. In front of all these people.
You buried yourself against Ryusui, trying to hide your body and keep a once of decency.
âCould you...lend me your coat?â You whispered, face flushed. Ryusui blinked, before staring at you without shame. Oh, how much you wanted to strangle him.
âRyusui! Your coat!â âSorry, sorry! Here!â He replied, lips tugged into a smug smile. As he helped you to put it, you watched from the corner of your eyes all these new faces. Bashful, most of them looked away making you smile. They didn't seem so bad.
Now fully clothed, Senku approached you, hands on his hips. You listened to him as he explained why Ryusui and you were needed. He didn't forget to mention Ryusui's caprice about you, and you had to restrain a laugh. Of course, he would.
âSo, was I truly the only condition for you to help them?â You murmured to the blond-haired man, suspicious. While you didn't doubt about his insistence to revive you, you knew Ryusui better than everyone.
âWell, you were the most important condition, of course!â He started, ruffling your hair. âBut since we're going to be in charge of their lives, I fully intend for them to pay us.â He continued, only for you to hear. There was your Ryusui.
âWhat? You know me, I'm an avid man after all!â He stated as you gave him a pointed look.
âHow did you manage to make me fall in love with you, I'll never understand.â You sighed, but as he leaned towards you to kiss you tenderly, you smiled.
âAnd now?â He asked playfully. âMaybe your irresistible charm helped, yeah.â
Can I request frontman x reader(Any gender) Where the frontman meets the reader OUTSIDE of his games, and then realizes he likes them?
(Sorry if I expressed myself a little unclearly)
*.â§ synopsis: after rescuing a stranger late at night. hwang in-ho finds himself sharing soju with the girl he just saved. under the glow of the convenience store, an unexpected bond forms, offering a fleeting escape from his solitude. *.â§ word count: 3.7k *.â§ warnings: happens outside squidgame, attempted crime directed at reader, drinking, mentions of death. don't go drinking with people you don't know alone btw, this is just fiction. *.â§ note: hello to the requestor! hopefully this tickled your fancy :P thought about it earlier so I decided why not? I wrote this in 5 hours, hopefully it suffices. shorter than my past works! also a different writing approach. masterlist | request here
ŕźâ§âË. As the overseer of the Squid Games, Hwang In-ho has an insane amount of workload like no other. Setting up the venue, recruiting trusted employees, and scouring for rich sponsors are just a few of the countless tasks he manages every year. ŕźâ§âË. Heâs a busy man, constantly on his feet, ensuring everything runs seamlessly. But when his boss, Oh Il-nam, forced him to take a week off, he was left with an unfamiliar emptiness in his schedule, unsure how to fill his time. ŕźâ§âË. Currently, heâs sitting outside a small convenience store, a bottle of soju in hand. Itâs nearly midnightâ11:58 PM, to be exactâand the streets are eerily quiet. ŕźâ§âË. The air is cool, the weather perfect, and for a moment, it feels peaceful. With no one around, itâs just him and his thoughts. Itâs a strangely calming experience, though the loneliness creeps in at the edges. ŕźâ§âË. As the Frontman, he has no companions he can freely invite to moments like this. No friends, no family, and no one to share his burdens. ŕźâ§âË. Itâs not a bad thing, he tells himself. After all, solitude means safety. Yet, thereâs a part of him that yearns for someone to confide inâsomeone who wouldnât judge him for the ruthlessness his position demands.
As In-ho took another shot, the warm burn of soju did little to chase away the emptiness in his chest. The faint hum of neon signs and the soft rustle of leaves were the only sounds accompanying him, a quiet solitude he had come to both expect and resent.
Then a scream shattered the night, sharp and jarring. It pierced through the calm like a knife, slicing his thoughts in two.
He froze, the glass of soju hovering mid-air. For a brief moment, he did nothing, his body stiff with instinctual awareness. But before he could overthink it, his years as a police officer took over. He stood abruptly, scanning the dark street for the source of the commotion.
Down the road, just beyond the glow of the convenience store, two drunk men loomed over a figure, their rough voices slurred with mockery. The figure struggled in vain, her cries muffled by one manâs grip.
In-ho didnât think. He didnât hesitate. His strides were purposeful, his steps heavy with intent. âHey!â he barked, his voice sharp and commanding. âLet her go!â
The drunk men froze, startled by his sudden approach. One of them turned, squinting at him in drunken confusion, before muttering something incoherent. But whatever courage they might have had faltered under the weight of In-hoâs glare, his presence exuding a quiet but dangerous authority. Without another word, they staggered off, stumbling into the shadows.
The figure crumpled to the ground as soon as she was released, her body trembling with shock. In-ho approached cautiously, his gaze softening. âHey,â he said gently, kneeling down beside her. âAre you hurt?â
There was no response. Her breathing was ragged, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. In-ho hesitated, unsure if his presence was more comforting or alarming. Slowly, he shrugged off his coat, its fabric worn but warm, and draped it over her trembling frame.
âHere,â he murmured, his voice low and steady. âThisâll keep you warm.â
The weight of the coat seemed to ground her, and she finally looked up at him, her tear-streaked face illuminated by the faint glow of the convenience storeâs sign. Her eyes were wide and glossy, a mixture of fear and gratitude.
With a steady hand, In-ho helped her to her feet. She was light, almost fragile, as if a strong wind could knock her over. âCome on,â he said, guiding her gently back to where he had been sitting.
Once there, he gestured for her to sit, his movements deliberate and unhurried. For a while, neither of them spoke. The quiet stretched between them, but it wasnât uncomfortable. It was a moment of reprieve, a chance for her to catch her breath.
âThank youâŚâ she finally said, her voice soft and trembling.
In-ho turned to her, his expression unreadable. âItâs no problem,â he replied, his tone calm but distant. âJust doing my job as a policeman.â
The words felt foreign on his tongue, a ghost of a past he didnât like to dwell on. But he pushed those thoughts aside. âWhat are you doing out here at this time anyway?â he asked, his voice softer now.
She hesitated, pulling the coat tighter around her shoulders. âI just came out to grab something from the store,â she said quietly, glancing at the convenience store behind them. âDidnât expect to run into⌠that.â
In-ho nodded slowly, studying her. She avoided his gaze, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the edge of his coat. âWhat were you buying?â he asked, his tone casual, trying to put her at ease.
She blinked, then let out a small, embarrassed chuckle. âJust snacks. Ramyeon, chips⌠comfort food, I guess.â
A faint smile tugged at his lips. âComfort food at midnight? Sounds serious.â
âItâs nothing dramatic,â she replied, shaking her head. âJust one of those nights where you need something to make it feel a little less heavy, you know?â
In-hoâs smile faded, replaced by something more contemplative. He nodded again, his gaze dropping to the half-empty bottle of soju beside him. âI get it,â he said quietly.
The silence returned, but this time it was lighter, less oppressive. After a moment, In-ho reached for the spare cup he had brought earlier, rinsing it with a splash of soju. âYou drink?â he asked, breaking the quiet.
She glanced at him, surprised by the question. âUh⌠sometimes.â
He tilted his head toward the bottle, the faintest trace of a smile on his lips. âWell, since youâve already had a rough night, might as well join me. One drink wonât hurt.â
She hesitated, her gaze flickering between him and the bottle. Then, with a small nod, she said, âSure. Why not?â
In-ho poured her a drink, the clear liquid catching the dim light as it filled the cup. He handed it to her, their fingers brushing briefly as she accepted it.
âThanks,â she said, her voice a little steadier now.
He raised his own cup in a quiet toast, their eyes meeting for a brief moment before they drank. The burn of the soju was familiar, grounding.
For the first time that night, the gnawing loneliness in In-hoâs chest seemed to ease, replaced by the quiet comfort of shared company. There was no need for wordsâjust the soft clink of glasses and the understanding that, sometimes, even the smallest connection could make the night feel a little less heavy.
ŕźâ§âË. After three cups, In-ho quickly noticed that she wasnât handling the alcohol too well. The slight slur in her words and the way she began to lean more heavily on the table after each sip made it clear. ŕźâ§âË. He felt so stupid inviting a girl with low alcohol tolerance to drink, but there was no backing out now. ŕźâ§âË. At first, he was concerned. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel worse because of the soju. But as the conversation continued, he began to notice something else. ŕźâ§âË. The alcohol seemed to help her relax, peeling back the careful guard she had when they first sat down. Her genuine personality emerged, warm and unfiltered, and for the first time that night, she seemed completely at ease.
âYâknow,â she said, words stretching slightly as she rested her chin in her hand, âyouâre not as scary as you look.â
In-ho raised an eyebrow, amused. âScary? Is that how you saw me?â
âMmhm,â she hummed, nodding a little too enthusiastically. âWhen you came running over earlier, I thought you were gonna punch them in the face⌠which, by the way, wouldâve been really cool.â
He laughed, shaking his head. âIâll take that as a compliment, I guess.â
âGood, âcause it was meant to be one,â she replied, pointing at him with a slightly wobbly finger. âYouâre like one of those grumpy cats. All intimidating on the outside but probably super soft if you get to know them.â
âThatâs quite the comparison,â he said, smirking, unsure whether to be insulted or impressed.
She shrugged, leaning back in her chair, her eyes still bright. âIâm just saying what I see.â
In-ho found himself amused despite himself, the playful jab catching him off guard. âSo, what else do you see?â he asked, curiosity creeping in, but keeping his tone casual.
She raised an eyebrow, considering the question for a moment, then grinned. âI think youâre the type of person who pretends not to care but secretly does. And that makes you kind of a softie.â
âWow, thatâs deep,â he said with a chuckle. âDid you come up with that all on your own?â
She nodded, looking proud. âYep. Iâm a great judge of character.â
He shook his head, clearly entertained by her. âWell, I guess Iâll take your word for it.â
She tilted her head, studying him for a moment, her smile softening. âYouâre not as serious as you seem,â she said thoughtfully.
In-ho met her gaze, surprised by the shift. âIs that a compliment too?â
âMaybe,â she replied with a shrug. âBut itâs true. Youâve got this whole... tough guy thing going on, but I can tell youâre not really like that.â
He let out a small laugh, leaning back in his chair. âYou sure know how to read people, huh?â
She smiled, a bit smug now. âI told you, Iâm good at this.â
ŕźâ§âË. In-ho wasnât the type to open up to strangers easily, but there was something about this encounter that felt different. ŕźâ§âË. Maybe it was the ease with which she joked, her humor a refreshing change from the weight of his usual silence. Her teasing nature and quick wit chipped away at the walls he usually kept firmly in place. ŕźâ§âË. She wasnât scared of his tough exterior, and in some strange way, that made him feel⌠lighter. Her playful comments about him being too serious made him laughâsomething he hadnât done in a long time. ŕźâ§âË. One bottle of soju turned into two, then three, with neither of them really keeping track. The night, which had started off quiet and somber, slowly transformed. The stillness gave way to a lively energy, filled with soft laughter, comfortable silences, and warm conversation. ŕźâ§âË. As the alcohol worked its magic, the distance between them seemed to vanish. It wasnât just the sojuâthere was something about her presence that made In-ho forget about the heaviness that often weighed on his mind. ŕźâ§âË. Her words were easy, her tone warm, and she spoke with such ease that it made him feel as though he could let go of all the unspoken burdens. She didnât push him for anything, didnât try to draw out his thoughts. She just was, and somehow that made the night feel less lonely.
âI mean, think about it,â she said, her giggles spilling out as she waved her chopsticks for emphasis. âIf you werenât a cop, you could totally be one of those broody action movie guys. You know the typeâsharp jawline, mysterious auraâŚâ She trailed off for a second, tilting her head as though she were analyzing him. âLike Lee Byung-hun!"
"Youâd totally be the antihero. Do you practice glaring in the mirror, or is it just⌠natural?â She added, slurring a bit.
In-ho blinked, caught off guard by the question. His first instinct was to brush it off, but something about her teasing made it hard to not play along. âI do not practice glaring,â he said, his voice laced with mock indignation, though the corner of his lips twitched upward.
She leaned forward, narrowing her eyes like she was examining a specimen under a microscope. âHmmâŚâ she murmured, clearly unconvinced. âI donât know⌠feels a little too perfect to be unpracticed. You sure youâre not rehearsing in front of the mirror at night?â
He rolled his eyes, but a laugh escaped him despite himself. âYouâre impossible, you know that?â he said, shaking his head in disbelief.
She grinned, unbothered by his apparent defeat. âAnd yet, here you are, sharing soju with me,â she teased, tapping the rim of her cup with a smug expression as if she had just caught him in a trap. âMust be my charm.â
In-ho snorted at the playful arrogance in her voice. He looked at herâher easy smile, the glint in her eyesâand realized that, despite his usual guarded nature, he didnât mind this. In fact, he kind of enjoyed it. âWell, I guess I couldnât resist your charm,â he replied, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips.
âOh, come on,â she said, feigning offense, âYouâre telling me the brooding cop is actually soft under all that tough exterior? Thatâs a plot twist I wasnât expecting.â
He raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly. âWhat, you think Iâm just some soft guy who lets anyone in?â he asked, the hint of a challenge in his voice.
Her grin widened, a mischievous spark dancing in her eyes. âMaybe,â she said, taking a dramatic pause, âbut I think Iâve cracked the code.â
In-ho stared at her for a moment, half-amused, half-caught off guard. There was something about the way she didnât hold back, how effortlessly she made him feel at ease, that got to him more than heâd like to admit.
âYou think youâve cracked it, huh?â he asked, leaning a little closer, his voice lowered slightly as if testing the waters.
âMaybe,â she said, still grinning, âBut youâre not getting off that easy. Iâll need more time to figure you out.â
In-ho chuckled, a genuine sound, free of the usual tension he carried. He looked at her and, for once, didnât feel the weight of being the brooding guy with a past to hide. She was right about one thingâshe was definitely making him feel lighter.
âI think I could get used to this,â he said, raising his cup to hers in a silent toast.
She clinked it with a quick grin. âYou better,â she said with a wink. âYouâre stuck with me now.â
ŕźâ§âË. By the time they finished their third bottle, her cheeks were flushed, and she was laughing at every little thing. Her laughter was infectious, bubbling up at the smallest of jokes or even just the awkward silence between them. ŕźâ§âË. In-ho, who wasnât much of a drinker himself, found himself laughing along, not so much at the jokes, but at her genuine enjoyment. ŕźâ§âË. He had never been one to let loose, to be this open with anyone, but her easygoing nature was different. It was so refreshing that it caught him off guard in the best way. ŕźâ§âË. He wasnât used to thisâbeing around someone so unguarded, someone who could just be, without constantly second-guessing every word or action. And it made him realize how long it had been since heâd truly let go of his own reservations. ŕźâ§âË. At one point, as they were talking about something completely random, she started humming a little tune to herself. ŕźâ§âË. The notes were soft, almost silly as if the melody had just popped into her head. It wasnât a song, just a tune she made up on the spot, and before he knew it, she started singing it aloud, her voice a little off-key but full of life.
âDo you hear that?â she said, raising an eyebrow with a playful smirk. âItâs a hit in the making. You should totally record it.â
In-hoâs lips twitched, resisting the urge to chuckle, but he let it slip out anyway. Her randomness was infectious. He wasnât sure what was happening, but something about this moment made everything feel lighter, almost like he was seeing the world from a different angle.
He watched her for a moment, her laughter still echoing in the quiet night, and a small, genuine smile tugged at his lips.
It was rare for him to feel this easy, this unburdened. Normally, there was always something pulling at himâthe weight of his responsibilities, the shadows of his past. But with her, everything seemed to fade away.
Her laughter, her carefree spirit, her utter lack of restraintâit was a stark contrast to everything he was used to, and yet, for once, it felt right. It was exactly what he needed.
âSo, are we starting a band now?â he teased, leaning back in his chair, his voice light and relaxed.
She looked at him with a wink, clearly pleased with his response. âWell, youâre the tough guy with the brooding stare, so youâre definitely the lead singer,â she replied, pointing at him with a grin.
In-ho shook his head, chuckling to himself. âIâm not sure Iâm cut out for singing,â he said, his voice still warm with the aftereffects of their shared drink.
She tilted her head, staring at him for a moment before speaking with a playful glint in her eye. âOh, no. Youâre definitely the lead singer. The whole âI donât care, Iâm too coolâ thing. Itâs perfect.â
He couldnât help but chuckle. âIâm not broody,â he protested, though the amusement in his voice betrayed him.
âYouâre definitely broody,â she teased, winking at him.
In-ho gave her a smile, but when his eyes shifted to his watch, he saw it was already past 3 a.m. His face softened slightly, and he frowned as he set his cup down.
âItâs getting late,â he said, his voice quieter now as he stood up, the weight of the hour sinking in.
She groaned, leaning back in their chair dramatically, clearly not ready for the night to end. âAlready? Youâre no fun, Officer,â she complained, the playfulness still in her voice.
In-ho shook his head, half-amused, half-concerned. âAnd youâre someone who needs to get some sleep,â he replied firmly, holding out his hand. âCome on. Iâll walk you home.â
She pouted at the suggestion but took his hand anyway, stumbling slightly as they stood up. âFine, but only because youâre being all responsible and stuff,â she said with a mock pout, though her lips were curled in a smile.
In-ho chuckled, steadying them as she swayed a little. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and for the first time in a long while, he found himself enjoying the momentâtaking the time to care, to share something lighthearted, even if it was just for a brief while.
ŕźâ§âË. On the walk to their apartment, their playful teasing didnât stop. She nudged him with her shoulder every chance she got, laughing at her own exaggerated guesses about his âdark and mysterious backstory.â ŕźâ§âË. In-ho found himself relaxing more than he thought possible, their carefree energy infectious, filling the air between them with an ease he hadnât felt in ages. ŕźâ§âË. For once, he wasnât thinking about the weight of his past, or his responsibilities, or any of the worries that usually clouded his mind. He was just... enjoying the moment.
âSo,â he said after a while, his voice light as they neared her building, âyouâve got my name, but I donât think I ever got yours.â
She stopped in front of the door and turned to face him, giving him that mischievous grin he was beginning to recognize and love. âItâs [Lastname] [Name],â she said, her voice soft but steady, her eyes sparkling with that playful glint.
â[Name],â he repeated, the unfamiliar sound of it rolling off his tongue as if testing it for the first time. He nodded, as if committing it to memory. âI like it.â
She raised an eyebrow at him, teasing. âYup. And donât forget it.â
He chuckled, a low sound that felt foreign but good. âI wonât, donât worry.â
She stepped closer, her grin widening. âThanks for tonight, In-ho,â she said, her voice softening just a little. âYouâre a good guy. Like, a really good guy.â
The compliment hit him harder than he expected, and for a brief moment, it made him uneasy. Good guy? His mind flickered back to his role as the Frontmanâthe games, the deaths he orchestrated, and the weight of the people heâd let down. He wasnât sure he deserved to be called âgood.â
His lips twitched into a small smile, but it wasnât easy. He rubbed the back of his neck, fighting the warmth rising in his chest, the sense of contradiction gnawing at him. âIâm not so sure about that,â he muttered, a modest shrug masking the inner turmoil. His mind battled with the reality of who he was.
With a deep breath, he focused on her again, the playful spark in her eyes grounding him. âBut⌠youâre welcome,â he said softly, the words coming out more genuine than he expected, despite the turmoil that lingered beneath.
Before he could say anything else, she leaned up, quick and confident, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. It was brief, just a fleeting touch of her lips, but it was enough to make his heart skip a beat. The warmth of the kiss lingered on his skin, and for a moment, he was frozen, caught completely off guard by the simple, sweet gesture.
She pulled back, smiling at him with that same playful glint. âGoodnight, Officer In-ho,â she said with a wink, her voice light and teasing, before stepping into her apartment and disappearing behind the door.
ŕźâ§âË. In-ho stood there for a moment, his fingers brushing over the spot where her lips had just been as if trying to hold onto the feeling a little longer. ŕźâ§âË. A rare, genuine smile spread across his face, one that felt unfamiliar but welcome. He let out a quiet breath, feeling something shift within himâa sense of warmth, of connection, that he hadnât realized heâd been missing. ŕźâ§âË. Turning away, he started walking back towards the direction of his apartment, his steps lighter than theyâd been in a long time. ŕźâ§âË. For once, the weight in his chest felt a little less heavy, and there was a certain peace in the quiet night air. As he walked, he thought, maybe Oh Il-nam wasnât so bad for forcing me to take a week off after all. ŕźâ§âË. With the memory of her kiss still lingering, he couldnât help but smile again, the thought of her brightening his steps as he headed back into the night.
Begging for a part 2 for Resurface pls I need to be fed a happy ending đđźđđźđđź
will def do! after I finish my requests and other fics.
if you want, I can tag you !! do leave your username if u want :>
tysm for the support
iwaizumi hajime as your co-star boyfriend (ft. oikawa tooru)
bonus
tags haikyuu smau, iwaizumi hajime smau, iwaizumi x reader smau, celebrity au, actor au, actor!iwaizumi x actress!reader
based on a tiktok audio!
HE FUCKING THAT SHIT UPPPPPPP
omg I saved your story to read later but I just couldnât wait, you write so well, the details make it so easy to imagine how the scenes are unfolding and the feelings and the characters aaaaaa itâs too much, youâre a ⨠treasure ⨠soft!in-ho has me in a chokehold
Thank you so much for sharing your gift with us!!!
thank you so much !! more soft inho in the future đđŤś
Hi! I want to ask if there's any hwang in ho fic in the making at the moment? I still can't get over your 'crossroad' fic. I'm dying here, i need your work like i need air and water lol.
I am planning to send you a request, and i am wondering if you are comfortable at writing in ho x reader with the age gap? (20s reader)
lots of love đ
hii!! I actually have two in-ho pics planned! one is a blurb I'm gonna post later and one is another long fic lol (currently as 17k words)
as for your request, i'll definitely add that! I have another request that perfectly matches with yours :)
thank you for your support <33