The Reason Of Thirteen Smiles (97z)

the reason of thirteen smiles (97z)

95z / 96z / 97z / 98z+99

PAIRING seokmin, mingyu, and minghao (separately) x fem! reader GENRE fluff, comfort | 1.5k words | all established relationships SYPNOSIS the reason behind thirteen smiles (is you). NOTE sorry this took so long to update! i got a bit carried away with this one, but hope you all love it.

LEE SEOKMIN

seokmin finally walks into the green room after finishing his soundcheck moments before.

it was the opening night of seokmin’s musical, one that he was somehow balancing with his idol schedule, and you were supposed to be at the theater by now to see him before the show started.

he fishes his phone out to see that you left him a voice message thirty minutes ago. he quickly unlocks it, eager to hear your voice.

“hey baby,” your voice comes through, calming seokmin down as he sits on the couch, placing his phone on speaker. he grabs a water bottle to ensure his throat isn’t dry.

“i’m sorry, but i don’t think i’m making it to your show tonight.”

seokmin freezes from opening the cap of his water bottle, listening intently to the end of your message.

“something from work came up, and i really can’t be there. i'm so sorry, love, but i'll see you at home, okay?”

seokmin frowns as the message ends, disappointment filling his face. he sighs deeply, picking up his phone to type out a message, but he’s interrupted by a voice.

“seokmin! time to go now,” calls the stage manager from the doorway.

seokmin shakes his head, sending you a quick message. he walks out of the room, fake smile on display as he greets his cast members.

seokmin it's okay, baby. see you at home! i love you :)

after the show, seungkwan and jisoo join seokmin’s side to congratulate him.

“that performance was amazing!” seungkwan says, patting seokmin on the back while seokmin simply waves him off with a blush.

“no, really, that was amazing, seokmin!” jisoo adds, his eyes wide with excitement as they all walk to seokmin’s dressing room.

“thanks for coming, guys. it means a lot,” seokmin responds with a grateful smile. he knew the members’ schedules were packed, especially on a friday night, so he was touched that his two friends showed up.

the three arrive outside seokmin's door, and he motions towards the room. “we can go grab dinner. i just need to grab my phone.”

surprisingly, seungkwan shakes his head with a knowing smile. “you're going to take a little long.”

jisoo nods enthusiastically. “yeah, we’ll wait in the parking lot. take your time!”

both of them run off, causing seokmin to tilt his head in confusion. “see you later?” he trails off before turning the knob and walking into the room.

“surprise!” you run up to seokmin with a bouquet of flowers, hugging him immediately. seokmin stills, trying to comprehend that you’re here.

“love, didn’t you say you couldn’t make it?” he asks, his voice full of disbelief and joy.

you pull slightly away to see seokmin’s face, “i lied, but it was because i wanted to surprise you. you were amazing, by the way.”

seokmin's eyes widen, “you were in the crowd?”

you laugh, “of course! i made it right before they closed the doors. i couldn’t miss my boyfriend’s opening night, could i?”

seokmin takes the bouquet, setting it down on the table nearby, before pulling you closer. “i thought you couldn’t make it,” he murmurs.

you rest your head on his shoulder, “were you disappointed when i said i couldn’t make it tonight?”

seokmin slowly nods, “i was, but i also know you’ve been busy with work recently. so thank you for coming.”

you press a gentle kiss on seokmin’s lips before taking his hand. “i will always be here to support you.”

“now, should we go eat? i know seungkwan's waiting for you to buy him dinner,” you say with a playful smile.

seokmin chuckles, his eyes sparkling with happiness. “you're right, he’s probably starving.”

you pick up the bouquet, dragging seokmin outside the room and toward the parking lot.

seokmin smiles because he knows that no matter how busy life gets, you will always find a way to be there for his accomplishments.

KIM MINGYU

you and mingyu are snuggled on the couch, enjoying a cozy date night.

“that looks so good,” mingyu exclaims, pointing at the screen where a chef elegantly assembles a tiramisu. his eyes are wide with longing as he watches the dessert. you hum in agreement, and while mingyu is engrossed in the show, you quietly pick up your phone.

“why can’t they sell tiramisu near us?” mingyu sighs, a rhetorical question hanging in the air as he finally turns his head to look at you.

mingyu feels slightly ignored when he notices you’re not paying attention to the show anymore, but he doesn’t say anything, figuring you might be busy with something important.

the next day, mingyu calls you from the recording studio.

“hey, love,” mingyu says, his voice a bit tired. “as of right now, i don’t think i can make it on time for dinner since today’s recording is taking longer.”

“it's okay,” you reassure him. mingyu sighs, glancing at the clock. it's the afternoon, but with the pace that everyone is working, they won’t finish anytime soon.

“did you eat?” you ask, concern evident in your voice. mingyu smiles softly, touched by your care. “i haven’t yet, but i'll probably cook something when i get home. don't stay up for me, okay?”

after bidding goodbye, mingyu heads back into jihoon's studio to finish writing his lyrics. eventually, mingyu stands to go inside the recording booth.

“that sounds good,” mingyu says into the microphone to jihoon after hearing the recording replay.

“okay, you can step out now,” jihoon replies.

hansol walks past mingyu for his turn to record, and mingyu notices a white square box set on the table. seungcheol and wonwoo's eyes brighten when they see mingyu.

“this is for you!” seungcheol announces.

mingyu observes the box, recognizing the label is from a familiar café that’s far away. “you guys got me this?”

as mingyu opens the box, wonwoo shakes his head. “it's from your girlfriend. she came earlier to drop it off, but you were recording.”

mingyu stares down at the slice of tiramisu cake in disbelief. “looks like she went far to buy it for you,” seungcheol adds, recognizing the café that this dessert was from.

mingyu smiles because you remembered the small details he mentioned when he thought you weren’t listening.

XU MINGHAO

“guys, you have to try this oolong tea I brought back from home,” minghao announces, carefully pouring hot water into the teapot.

all of his friends are over for a simple dinner, but minghao wanted to show off his favorite tea set to them.

minghao is in his element, explaining the nuances of the tea leaves and the perfect brewing time. everything is going perfectly until a sudden, accidental elbow from seungkwan knocks the teapot off the counter.

the room goes silent as the teapot shatters on the floor, glass shards scattering everywhere. seungkwan's face goes pale, and minghao's expression turns from joy to distress.

“oh my, i'm so sorry!” seungkwan exclaims, bending down to pick up the pieces. you step in, trying to help, while everyone else stands in shock.

minghao holds up his hand, his voice strained but calm. “um, it's okay, seungkwan. it was an accident.”

you can see the hurt in your boyfriend's eyes, even though he tries to hide it. the teapot isn’t just an object to him, as it is a source of his comfort.

as the night goes on, minghao remains withdrawn despite the attempts of his friends to cheer him up.

after everyone leaves, minghao sits on the couch, staring at the broken pieces of his beloved teapot that was placed on the table. you can feel his sadness, and it breaks your heart to see him like this.

without another word, minghao heads inside your shared bedroom and falls asleep quickly, trying to suppress his emotions.

when minghao opens his eyes in the morning, he notices your side of the bed is cold. confused, he steps out of the bedroom, rubbing his eyes while walking down the hallway.

minghao's eyes widen when he sees you sleeping in the living room.

“love?” he questions, and his eyes shift to the table.

“hey, sorry. i fell asleep in the living room.” you wake up and stretch as your body feels sore.

minghao slowly picks up his teapot, the one that was in pieces last night. “you fixed it?”

“i tried to glue it back together,” you say sheepishly, “but i also ordered you a new set. it's safer to use the new one, but i thought you might like to have the old one, too.”

minghao gently places the teapot down, his heart swelling at your actions. he pulls you into a tight embrace, holding you close. “you didn’t have to do all this,” he murmurs into your hair. “but thank you. it means so much to me.”

you smile, resting your head against his chest. “i know how much it meant to you. but i hope you can talk to seungkwan, he seemed so shaken up last night."

minghao pulls back slightly, looking into your eyes. “i'll talk to him when i see him later. but seriously, thank you, love.” he presses a kiss to your forehead.

when you go to place the teapot back on display with the glass set, minghao stares down at the used tube of superglue left on the table.

minghao smiles after you help fix his broken teapot, even though you sacrificed your sleep for it, because you knew how much it meant to him.

BOYFRIEND VERNON WHO...

pairing: idol!vernon x reader genre: fluff, established relationship, comfort warnings: skinship, kissing :) wc: 216 a/n: i'm back! 1st year of college finally over!

bf! vernon who is literally the best match for you, like soulmate level shit

bf! vernon who is not that into showing his affection publicly but he would whisper the quietest "i love you's" in your ears

bf! vernon who buys the weirdest stuff he could find whenever he's on tour

bf! vernon who lives to hear you talk about every tine detail of your day

bf! vernon who could never and i mean never could miss a single anniversary. Was he an hour late to your anniversary dinner last year? But that was traffic....yeah

bf! vernon whose ears go red the moment you try to make the first move

bf! vernon who loves to go for movie dates, and have deep conversations about the characters and the plot

bf! vernon who is definitely a takeout kind of guy

bf! vernon who likes kissing you everywhere, lips, cheeks, down your neck over your shoulders

bf! vernon who loves the way you smell whenever you hug him

bf! vernon who took the longest to introduce you to his parents

bf! vernon who would create a new shared playlist for the two of you so that you guys can add new good songs

bf! vernon whose favorite thing about this entire day is coming home back to you

@kflixnet @k-films@k-labels

taglist-˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅: @bangchansbae @haecien @aaniag @aaasia111 @weird-bookworm @gigification @bewoyewo if you want to be added just send me an ask ♡⸝⸝

pls reblog if you liked !!

oh gosh this was perfect

don't let him out tonight - lsm

Falling for a mafia captain could cost your career as a university instructor and future criminal lawyer. But you couldn't resist Lee Seokmin, especially when he's on his knees, ready to worship you. Yet, some truths keep you two apart, secrets to uncover amidst a tangled web. You have no choice but to plead with him, hoping he won't do something that could shatter both your worlds.

• mafia!lee seokmin x f reader

• angst & smut (mdni!)

• words: 10k

general tags: mafia!seokmin, law student & university instructor!reader, heavy angst, smut, harassment, unwanted advances by a stranger, mommy and daddy issues, kidnapping, blood, betrayal, situationship, bad reputation, reader is shorter than seokmin, short skirts and dresses, nightclubs, violence, guns, gangs, alcohol, intoxication, poison, face slapping, implied ptsd, framed convicts, scams, tending to bruises, pet names like babe and baby (smut warnings below the cut)

smut warnings: dom!seokmin, pussy drunk!seokmin, cock drunk!reader, reader is mentioned to have tits, big dick seokmin because that man is big everywhere, drunk sex, grinding, thigh riding, voyeurism, public oral sex, blowjob, cum swallowing, clit stimulation, fingering, p in v sex, car sex, dirty talk, unprotected sex (stay safe pls), orgasm denial, lots and lots of begging

[a/n] inspired by sabrina's please please please. read all the tags before proceeding! send an ask for hard thoughts!<33

Everyone warned you about him. Your mother, your friends, even the neighborhood pastor. Even if his face wasn't in the news, people could tell something wasn't right as soon as they saw him. If there was a list of people you should never be involved with, his name was on top, underlined, and written in blood. The caporegimes, the mafia captain in your district, Lee Seokmin.

Cold air brushed against your legs as you waited in the university parking lot. It was already getting dark so you had to squint, trying to spot your boyfriend's car. You almost regretted wearing a short skirt, but you wanted to see his reaction more than anything. Your conversation almost half an hour ago kept repeating in your head like a broken record.

"I don't care about what people say, y/n," Seokmin said through the phone.

"I do. I'm fine with waiting outside."

"But it's cold."

"I said I'm fine. You know I don't like repeating myself," you argued with him.

It had only been a month since you started dating and you were already subject to looks of concern and gossip amongst your coworkers and students. Having Seokmin pick you up at the entrance would only make things worse, so you insisted on meeting him in the parking lot.

He had arrived moments later in his car. The man stepped out, the chains around his neck catching the lights from the lamppost. His broad shoulders were clad in a black leather jacket. His hair was styled up. He looked ravishing.

"I told you to wait inside." Seokmin was clenching his jaw, disappointment lacing his tone. He walked towards you, removing his jacket to wrap around your shoulders. You kissed his cheek as he did so.

"I'm not that cold, I promise."

"I don't believe you, baby." He looked down on you and toyed with the hem of your short skirt. Before you could say anything, he placed a kiss on the corner of your mouth.

He was dangerous. His eyes were dark, layered with years of experience in the underground scene, filled with the knowledge of the inner workings of organized crimes. You knew he had blood in his hands, yet some sick monster inside you took pride in the idea that it was you he called baby. It was you he took out on dates.

The inside of Seokmin's car smelled like him. Rich cedarwood, giving a sensual woodsy scent. As soon as you settled in the passenger seat, he placed a long coat on your lap, keeping your legs and feet warm. Who knew the cold, brutal Lee Seokmin would be such a gentleman?

.     ♰   .   ❦   .   ♰     .

Several months ago, your friend Gyuri had dragged you out to celebrate surviving finals. It was your third year at law school and you both needed a little breather. Gyuri was an expert at it. She knew how to get wasted even under so much pressure. You couldn't afford her lifestyle though, because you had to balance studying law and teaching at a different university. But that night, you had let her choose a short dress for you before she dragged you into an infamous nightclub.

“Come on, it's not like your grandmother will see you shaking ass here.” Gyuri teased with a laugh, merging with the crowd.

Ten minutes under the bright lights and she was nowhere to be found. Gyuri was right; your grandma wasn't on the dance floor. It was a crowd of students. And—just because fate decided to fuck with you tonight—it was your students.

You accidentally made eye contact with one of them. She was a freshman. Her mouth formed a comical letter o, looking at you up and down. She nudged her friend, more familiar young faces turned to you in horror.

'What the hell were they doing here?'

They grimaced as if they were caught by their parents. The awkward encounter had you backing up into the deepest corner of the nightclub, hiding from sight. You sat alone by the bar, praying you wouldn't see another one of your students. 

You let your eyes roam around the dancing crowd in search of Gyuri. Your gaze landed on the table across from you. It was surrounded by heavy-muscled men deep in conversation. But it was the man in a black suit that got your attention. He was looking straight at you as the others talked animatedly. Everything about his features was sharp: his nose, his jawline, his cheekbones, and his gaze.

At that moment you become hyper-aware of the conversations of the other people around you. The staff and clubgoers were talking about the man. A bartender had referred to him as "the captain," and this captain sounded like a really big deal. He owned the nightclub, the gambling dens around the district, and several hotels.

‘Better not mess around with a guy like that,’ you thought, more amused than scared.

A few hours into the night and a mix of alcohol in your system, you still couldn't see your friend. When you tried to order another drink, an old man suddenly offered some amber liquid in a crystal glass. He was old enough to be someone's grandfather. His voice was already hoarse from drinking. The sirens in your head went off in an instant. You had kindly refused but he had insisted again and again.

"I said no." You shifted in your seat, ready to stand and run away if you needed to.

"Just take the gla—" He faltered, swayed, and collapsed on the floor with a thud.

The drink in his hand arced into the air before landing on your feet in a splash. It pooled on the floor. You stood up in shock, hissing at the chill of the drink on your skin. You looked down at the old man. Was he dead? The brutes who sat at the table across from you dragged him out and disappeared in the shadows.

Unbeknownst to you, the captain had raised his left eyebrow to the bartender, a sign to spike the creepy man's drink with poison. The bartender obeyed and played dumb as soon as the old guy hit the ground.

Heading for the back exit, you winced in each step. You could almost hear the squelch and squeak in your soles if it wasn't for the loud bass. The liquor that splashed onto your feet was a sensory nightmare. Clutching your phone, you tried to call Gyuri. You had reached the parking lot when you felt a presence behind you.

"I'm sorry for your shoes."

It was the captain in the black suit. He walked towards you, his chiseled face becoming more prominent as he moved closer.

He continued, "I should have considered his distance before giving the signal."

"Who are you and what are you talking about?"

He stopped in front of you, looking down at your face, examining your features. Your knees grew weaker at the proximity but you didn't miss the movement of his arm. He reached inside his suit jacket. You took three steps back, thinking he was going to pull out a gun.

He chuckled at your reaction and brought out a white handkerchief instead. "Relax, I'm not here to hurt you. Come here."

He went down on his knees and your heart lodged in your throat. Why the hell was this man kneeling in a nightclub's parking lot? He looked up at you, and God, he looked like heaven on Earth. His eyelashes were long, fluttering so sweetly.

"I'm Seokmin."

You gasped when he brought the handkerchief to your ankle, right where the alcohol had splashed. He wiped it gently, running the fabric across your shoes and moving to the other one. You stared at him, the captain—Seokmin—wiped every single drop of liquor from your feet like a devoted servant.

It was the hottest thing you'd ever seen. He looked at you now and then, waiting for a reaction. You gave him your name and urged him to continue. His hands dragged towards the back of your knees, wiping the last stray drops. He looked so perfect kneeling underneath you that you could already feel the wetness between your legs.

"May I offer you a ride home?"

"What happened to that old man? Is he dead?"

Seokmin stood up. "What happens to assholes who cause trouble in my club shouldn't concern you," he says, flattening the crease in his suit. He continued, "You didn't answer my question. May I offer you a ride?"

It was at that moment when the gears in your head stopped turning. The drive to your apartment was a blur of city lights and a cold night breeze. You've never been with a guy this shady, this hot, and this good at manhandling you.

The clash of teeth and tongue turned your brain into a puddle. As soon as the lock of your bedroom door clicked, he had you against the wall, veiny hands gripping your thighs as he explored your mouth with his tongue. The sensation was entirely new and yet his body felt so perfect against you.  

“Is this okay?” Seokmin asked as he raked his hand up and down your legs.

“God, yes,” you said, already out of breath.

He nudged your legs apart, putting his thigh in between. Moans escaped your mouth when the fabric of his trousers made contact with your soaked underwear. He grunted against your lips every time you let out a squeal. Your arousal pooled even more when he ran his lips on the side of your neck, drinking in your scent.

Seokmin held your hips as you grind on his thigh. His fingers were steady and demanding. He knew what he wanted. You wrapped your arms around his neck, words coiling at your throat. 

He sucked in a sharp breath. "That's it, go on, fuck yourself on my thigh."

And you did. You bucked your hips faster, the delicious drag of fabric against your clit pushed you to the edge and you came with a loud whine. Your breaths came in short gasps as he guided you through your orgasm. Before you tried to hide your face, he was already kissing you again, wet and sinful.

He chuckled. "I haven't even started having my way with you."

He dragged you to the bed and undressed you with ease. You laid on your back, completely at his mercy. There was something so beautiful being underneath, powerless, ready to take what he decided to give you. Seokmin was the epitome of control, you can see it in his eyes as he looked down on you. He trailed his lips on the inside of your legs, gently nipping at the skin. He moved up to your torso, sucking on your tits, the sounds were so wet and lewd it made your cheeks flush. Seokmin squeezed and pulled your nipple with his fingers, coaxing moans from you. His hands were warm. Everything about him was steady, a direct opposite to your sensitive, shaking body.

After making sure every single part of you was trembling with need, he pulled out his thick, veiny cock and rolled a condom on it. He teased your dripping pussy, rubbing his length along your folds but not fucking you where you needed him to.

"God just put it in already. Fuck me," you whined. You couldn't recognize your voice with how needy it sounded.

He tuts and grinned, his eyes were dark. Evil. "That's not how you beg." He dragged his dick on your clit and rubbed faster.

"Please! Please fuck me. Ah— I need you. I wanna feel your cock in me." Tears welled up and escaped from your eyes. Your throat was straining from agony. A loud moan escaped from you when he pushed into your hole with a grunt.

The stretch was not like anything you've ever felt before. Each vein and every delicious inch made you gasp like a dirty slut. Once he had bottomed out, you gave him the signal, liking the sting of pain. He wasted no time and fucked you so hard, drilling into you like a madman. He pulled your legs onto his shoulders, folding you in half as he rammed his dick inside you harder. It was harsh and brutal. He whispered dirty names into your ear and licked the side of your neck, making you come two more times that night.

The next morning, he was already gone. The reality of his absence hit you hard. His warmth was still present in the air around you. There was still an ache between your thighs. The bruises he had left still stung deliciously. The smell of cedarwood still lingered in your room and on your skin. His moans were still ringing in your ear. He was everywhere.

When you got out to head for work, you noticed a box on your doorstep. It was a new pair of shoes, similar to the ones you wore last night but fancier. There was a note with a number and the initials: L.S.M. You'd never saved a number that quickly.

Texting the number, you thanked him for the shoes, saying he didn't have to. It took him less than a minute to reply and insist that you keep it. He had also apologized for leaving too early. You sighed, thanking the universe that the hot man who fucked your brains out didn't ghost you.

You had learned that his full name was Lee Seokmin. One conversation on the phone led to another until you were talking day and night. You found yourself smiling often at his words. You were already longing for the warm trace of his lips on your skin.

It was probably the law student in you or just an instinct of a girl, but you couldn't help but search his name online. You tried searching for Lee Seokmin, Seokmin, and other forms of his names, but you found nothing. No social media accounts, no public government information, and not even relatives. He was an enigma. 

Your suspicions grew bigger until he admitted one night that he was part of the mafia. It clicked then, the way people called him captain, the shady businesses he owned, and the schedule of his work. Of course, it made so much sense. Not only was he a part of it, but he was related to the boss by blood. 

Everyone around you was concerned because you hid your situationship like it was some sort of crime. It probably was. People started gossiping and making assumptions. Words even reached your mother in the suburbs. She had called you, warning you not to get into trouble with gangsters and criminals. 

'Oh, mother dearest, too late.'

You were falling for him. Your heart and soul were falling for every part of him, hard. You didn't know when and how it started. How your simple longing for his touch became a need to see his smile and hear his laugh. How you wanted him to stay and embrace you after sex. How nothing but lust turned into love. Pure, irreversible, dangerous love.

For months, you were spread out on his sheets at night and woke up alone. You never got to eat with him in a crowded restaurant, never held hands, never hugged in public. It was hard being casual. Whenever your head rested on his bare chest, you could hear his heartbeat, rising and falling with every breath. It was the safest place on earth. You hated how the lines were so blurry between you and Seokmin. You hated not knowing what you meant to him.

One night, after a whole session of hard sex where he denied your orgasm again and again only to give it to you in an intense wave, he asked under his breath, "Can we be official? Can I call you my girlfriend? I know it's going to be difficult for both of us, but I promise I'll take care of you."

"Yes. I'd love to. I've always wanted to."

You lifted your head just to have a good look at his wide smile, the smile that reached his eyes and made his cheeks red. He was so pretty. However, you weren't stupid, so you made him agree to a simple rule.

“But you're not allowed to kill people in front of me.”

“Capos rarely have to hurt anyone. My soldiers do the dirty work for me.”

"Don't try to find a loophole around it. No exceptions," you said in your most authoritative voice.

"Yes, ma'am." He saluted, getting a laugh out of you.

Seokmin had never broken the rule since then. He was sweet, sending you gifts often. He would show up at your place without reason, saying, "I just wanna cuddle with my future lawyer."

You weren't completely oblivious to the dangers that came with dating him. You had recently done a case study and analysis on organized crimes after all. But none of your friends were prepared for the pair of you: a future criminal lawyer and an actual criminal. It was laughable, really, considering how you had always warned your students not to get involved with shady shit, what a hypocrite you had become.

But who could resist anyone as sexy and caring as Lee Seokmin?

And who else could handle the devil inside him during nights like this?

.     ♰   .   ❦   .   ♰     .

That was how you found yourself in the passenger seat of Seokmin's car, the fear of being caught was long gone as he kneeled on the floor. It was disgusting and arousing, all you could see was his eyes and how completely needy he looked. He was fucked out and thirsty for you.

His nose bumped on your clit as he licked your folds. But every time your high was close, he kept pulling out. He's been edging you for almost half an hour. It was torture.

"Seokmin, please let me cum."

"No." He kissed your inner thigh.

"Seokmin…please."

You could feel his smirk on your skin. "What did you tell me on the phone? You don't like repeating yourself? Now you're begging for me over and over again."

God, he really knew how to put you in your place.

"I'm sorry. Please let me cum."

He pushed two slender fingers inside you along with his tongue and started fucking you in earnest. You rolled your hips in time with his thrust, gripping the car seat with one hand and pulling his hair with the other.

"Fuck, I'm so close."

He rubbed your clit with his thumb and pushed you to the edge, making you cream on his face. He kept on going, milking you dry. He looked up at you with half-lidded eyes. Seokmin was drunk to your taste.

He was only getting started.

The capo went back to his seat and drove to his place. It was a different kind of pleasure, watching him concentrate while driving as you palmed his hard-on. He kept glancing at you, warning you not to tease him. It only took twenty minutes before he was stripping you off of your clothes in his living room.

In the university, you were a level-headed instructor, the kind that students respected without question. At the law school, you were the diligent debater, the person people couldn’t argue with. No bullshits, no lies. You never had to ask for anything. But with him, you were always begging.

"Please don't hurt people in front of me."

"Please don't scare the delivery guy away."

"Please don't leave without saying goodbye.”

And tonight, it was a good kind of begging. "Please fuck my mouth. Use me all you want."

Seokmin raised his eyebrow. "On your knees."

You complied, your knees hitting his carpet and you're face-to-face with the hard-on you'd been toying with all night. You looked up at him for permission.

"Go on, make me cum."

You unzip his trousers with so much eagerness, making him chuckle. Your fingers were shaking with anticipation as you pulled his pants down with his boxers. God, the sight of his cock was mouth-watering. His muscles tensed when you wrapped your fingers around him and dragged your tongue on the prominent vein. You quickly worked him up, stroking his shaft as you licked the pre-cum from his tip.

He hissed as you lapped at the underside of his dick before sucking him fully. His grunts and moans egged you on, hollowing your cheeks to give him more pleasure. The drag of his dick on your tongue was so good, you could feel your arousal between your legs. 

You sucked him off, hungry for his taste. It took a few moments before he grabbed your hair and pulled you off of his cock.

"Do you want me to fuck your pretty mouth?" He traced his thumb on your lip.

"Yes, please, I beg you."

"Just tap three times if we need to stop, hm?"

"Yes."

He slammed his dick into your mouth and hit the back of your throat with ease. He set an animalistic pace, fucking in and out of your mouth like you were nothing but a toy. His dick was so big and veiny, your nose bumped into his hip each time. You couldn't do anything but grab onto his huge thighs for dear life. Each part of your body shook with his thrusts.

"You're so good for me, so fucking perfect."

He took off his dress shirt, his torso now in full view for you to worship. His broad shoulders were tense, moving up and down each time he panted. Nights like this when he lets his need get the better of him was your favorite. His controlled, calm aura fell apart as he didn’t hold back. 

“Look at you, baby. So fucking hot,”

The nails against the back of your neck stung and his grip was harsher than normal. His pace became more erratic in each thrust. Praise spilled from his tongue as he fucked your throat in earnest.  

“Shit.” He was panting, voice laced with desperation.

He continued hitting the back of your throat until he spilled his seed inside, painting your mouth white. His thrusts were deep and slow. “Swallow it, baby. That’s it, you’re such a good girl for me.”

You stick your tongue out, proudly showing your devotion. He cursed and lifted you to your feet, guiding you to the sofa. He laid your head on the armrest and kissed you. Even under so much want, Seokmin knew how to take his time, every movement of his lips against yours was full of passion. His breath was warm against your face, and his hands roamed all over your body, igniting flames of need on your skin.

Seokmin rolled his hips into yours, his cock was rock-hard again, teasing your pussy. You let out a loud whimper, his gaze immediately shot down into you. Your cheeks flushed, heat spreading on your face. He kissed your cheek and dragged his lips to your ear.

“Wrap your legs around my waist, baby.” He whispered before nipping your earlobe.

You did as told and Seokmin slammed his dick inside you. Your back arched at the sudden penetration. 

“You good, baby? Want me to stop?”

“No, please, I need you.”

Your walls clenched around him as he fucked you. He pistoned his hips at a brutal pace, ramming as if it was his last day on Earth. His mouth was on yours again, kissing you roughly. His breaths were ragged and his grunts were gravelly, you’ve never heard of anything sexier. Your pussy was so wet around his cock, it squelched with each thrust, making him crazier.

He pounded into your cunt, his fingers rubbing your clit as you moaned and whined. He brought down a harsh slap against your bundle of nerves. You wailed in pleasure. He slapped your clit again, coaxing profanities out of your mouth.

It didn’t take long before your breath hitched, your walls clamping down around him as he fucked you. Seokmin rubbed your clit faster, keeping his brutal pace as you came with a scream. He spilled inside you, praising you again and again. Your legs were drenched in your cum, making a mess on the sofa. He kissed you gently.

“You did so well. You’re so perfect.”

Seokmin stood up to get a warm towel and wiped it gently on your skin. He cleaned you up while muttering soft praises about how lucky he was to have you and how beautiful you were when you came. It was all too much for your heart. He wrapped his big arms around your body and carried you to the bed in bridal style. There was a grin on his face as he looked down at you. By the time he put you under the covers, you both were giggling like foolish lovebirds. 

He cuddled with you under the warm blankets, his hand playing with your hair as you lay your head against his chest. Your muscles were sore and you could already feel your mind being dragged to sleep.

"Why'd you study law, anyway?" Seokmin asked suddenly.

You chose your default reason. "Because it is so easy to make money from the law.” Silence fell before you continued. “The system is so rigged. If you know how to bend it, things will go your way. The politicians do it, so why can't I?"

He hummed, impressed. But he also knew you weren't telling the whole truth. He didn't push it further, though, and you were grateful for it.

You couldn't tell Seokmin the real reason. At least not yet. Your father had been wrongfully convicted a long time ago, and it had ruined your family. Though he was released from prison, he wasn't the same man anymore. You had made a promise to yourself that no one else would have to endure what your family had gone through.

The fear of having your loved ones trapped behind bars gnawed on you. It was hell. So whenever Seokmin left for work, you couldn't help but worry for him. Your brain kept creating visions of him gambling, drinking, torturing, or probably killing people. You tried to tell yourself that it wasn’t his fault he was born into his family, but it was difficult.

You'd often beg Seokmin to avoid risky behaviors and public outings, worried that any misstep could lead to your exposure and end your career when it had barely started. It would be a slap in the face to all those restless nights you spent studying and teaching. 

Seokmin was scared to let his circle know too much about you as well. Another capo in their organization instigated a turf war. The infighting was brutal and he couldn't risk your safety. It hurt him, not being able to take you out and dine with you in fancy restaurants. He couldn’t introduce you to his family and tell the whole world you were his and he was yours.

That was when he introduced Wonwoo as a bodyguard. He was in charge of driving you from law school to the institution you were teaching at, then back to your apartment. He was quiet, but he knew how to listen to your every word. Wonwoo was a man of schedule, always on time, and always correct. One day, he argued with you about the morality of organized crimes and started citing specific articles and past cases. 

You stared at Wonwoo who had his eyes on the road. "You're a lawyer, aren't you?" you asked, still in shock.

Wonwoo admitted he was a consigliere working under the boss. Seokmin was the one who endorsed him to such a high position so he didn't hesitate to become your bodyguard. Your insides turned warm at the thought of your boyfriend who couldn't leave you with a typical bodyguard, making his closest friend look out for you. 

No one knew the whole truth about your relationship with Seokmin except for Wonwoo and your friend Gyuri. You’ve barely seen her nowadays, but you tried to make time to eat with her every other week. Your favorite place was a ramen shop near the law school. You ate together, laughing over the stupid times your boyfriends made you embarrassed.

"Outside, he's a cold guy, but inside, he's the biggest baby." You smiled, telling her about Seokmin.

"Oh, I feel that with my Jin-Goo as well." She said, talking about her new boyfriend.

You stopped hanging out with her though, because the infighting within Seokmin's organization escalated. His boss was calling him and making him do errands almost every day. You wished he just told you all the details because your imagination wouldn’t let you sleep at night. But when he visited your place with someone’s blood on the cuffs of his shirt, you knew the reality was much worse than you could imagine. 

It was getting frustrating. You couldn't risk going outside without Wonwoo to drive you. When you asked Seokmin if you could at least go out for some air, he said "The other capos could hurt you and use you to get to me."

"How do you know they're gonna do that?"

"Because it's what I did to the others. That's how I acquired the businesses in the district."

A shiver ran down your spine. You didn't push any further.

Seokmin had told you to lay low. But it was your last year in law school and you still had a lot of requirements to pass. After Wonwoo drove you to the entrance, you got a text from Gyuri, asking to meet her for lunch.

You went to the same ramen shop, but something was off the moment you stepped inside. Gyuri was the type to yell out your name and wave to you immediately, but all you heard was silence. 

The shop was nearly empty, its usual bustling energy replaced by stillness. A man in a mask stood by the entrance. He was staring at you. 

Listening to your instinct, you turned immediately. But it was too late. Before you could open the door, he was behind you, pressing a handkerchief against your mouth. Your nostrils were flooded with an overly sweet smell and your vision faded to black.

⋆₊ ♱

You awake with a jolt. Restraints kept you from standing up. Your hands were tied at the back of the seat and your feet were shackled. It was dark, with only a faint light bulb over your head to illuminate the space. You were trapped in a dingy cellar. Each breath echoed against the dark walls. 

Right beside the door crouched a familiar figure. Her entire body shook as she sobbed quietly.

“Gyuri!” You struggled against your bonds, the metal chair screeching against the concrete floor.

“Shh!” She looked up, panic and distress in her eyes. “Shut your mouth or he’ll gag you.”

Her eyes were bloodshot from crying. Your heart sank at the sight of her. You wanted to ask where you were, who she was referring to, or why she was on the floor, but you knew you had no time to lose. Your temple was about to explode with the painful throbbing.

“Help me out. Untie me. Come on!” The chair kept screeching with your movements, the chains around your ankles clinking against each other.

“I can’t, y/n.” 

The cellar door opened and a man of the same age entered. He was clad in black clothes and he wore a distant expression. He looked bored.

“Gyuri, babe, is our visitor awake yet?” He yawned as if this was a normal occurrence.

Babe?

The man turned to you. “Hi. I’m Jin-Goo, Gyuri’s boyfriend.”

You look at your friend. She couldn't meet your eyes. Gyuri, the sweet friend who liked to crack jokes, the friend who dragged you to the place where you first met Seokmin, the friend who laughed with you over bowls of ramen after a stressful day. Gyuri betrayed you. The realization shot straight through your heart, your ribs tightening with the pain. 

Fury almost got the best of you before the man continued. “It’s a shame we had to meet in such unfortunate…circumstances.”

“Where the fuck am I? Let me out.” You tried your best to sound demanding and controlled, but it came out as a broken plea.

“Hush now, we haven't even reached a bargain.”

“What the fuck? Is this what it's all about? Money?”

“Of course it is, prettyface. Money, power, soldiers, a few businesses in Gangnam, with a side of seeing Seokmin getting humiliated in front of the boss.”

You shivered at the mention of Seokmin. The thought of him getting hurt made you struggle against your bonds.

“Stop that, it's annoying.” He tsked at the sound of the chair screeching.

“Why me?”

“Shut your mouth. I am the one in charge and you must listen very carefully. You know, it started with a bet…” Jin-Goo moved closer, his face was now under the faint light. Your gaze fell on Gyuri who was still frozen by the door.

He continued. “I told Seokmin that us capos should focus on narcotics, but he invested in gambling dens and nightclubs instead. The boss said whoever gets the most profit by the end of the year will receive his new properties overseas. A simple challenge, nothing special.

“But Seokmin was never a clean player. Can you guess what he did? He tortured the families of the other captains and forced them to hand over an insane amount of shares. He snuffed them off, one by one, destroying our ranks.

“He thought that just because he's related to the boss by blood, he could get away with it. He didn't have much to lose because that fucker never loved anyone to begin with. Until you showed up.” Jin-Goo dragged a finger against your jaw and gripped hard, forcing you to look at him.

“That’s bullshit.” You spat, making him grin. There was something sinister in his demeanor.

“That’s funny coming from you, y/n, daughter of a felon.”

“That’s not—”

"Shh, I know. I know about your dad, pretty face. Everyone in the gang does. Especially Seokmin." He smirked as he saw your breath hitch. "Ten years ago, the boss set up a huge mortgage property scam with your dad's company. A bunch of buildings were bought and sold just to mess with loans and make quick cash. Your dad had no clue, but it was all in his name. That's why he ended up in prison. I heard he got out two years ago."

You said nothing, trying not to listen to him. He was messing with your mind. He was bluffing. Seokmin couldn't have known about your father.

It wasn’t true. It couldn’t be.

“Guess who did the paperwork for that. The boss’s favorite captain, Lee Seokmin. He’s been the boss’s favorite dog ever since, but recently he’s been messing it up; attacking other capos and now fucking the scapegoat’s daughter.” He laughed. He laughed at your face, at your pain.

“Your precious boyfriend is a monster, y/n. See that camera over there?” He moved your head towards the left corner, right into the lens of the CCTV.

“I've been collecting evidence of his shit to send to the boss. If he ends up getting to you, if he lays a hand on any of my soldiers, the boss will know he’s behind the bankruptcy of the other captains. He’s a traitor. The boss never liked traitors.

“Now, while we wait for our Seokminnie, let's have some fun, shall we? Gyuri, babe, would you like to play with her? Some cuts and bruises will do. Ruin her face before he gets here.”

She walked towards you, her eyes still trained on the floor. You struggled to move away. 

“What the fuck are you doing? Get me out of here!”

She raised her hand.

“Don't you fucking dare,” you warned.

“I'm sorry,” she sniffled before her hand came down on your face in one blow. The sound reverberated against the walls. It stung. Your eyes welled up.

“What the hell did I ever do to you?” You looked up at her through your hazy vision. 

“I'm sorry.” Another slap came.

The torture seemed endless. Your face was so numb it felt like it wasn't even there anymore. The couple would leave you alone in the cellar, only to return and taunt you with cruel words and gestures. Jin-Goo ordered Gyuri to slap you again, but the hit was weak. Either she was losing her strength, or you were beyond feeling any pain.

“Jesus, Gyuri, why are you so soft today? Did you forget everything I taught you?”

“Jin-Goo, this isn't right.” She was sobbing now. Your throat tightened and your insides burned in anger. You were the one bound with your face stinging, and she was the one crying.

The man sighed, clearly disappointed. “You’re no fun. Go and fetch one of the guards for me."

Gyuri scrambled towards the door. As soon as the metal opened, a rancid smell filled your nostrils. Blood. 

Gyuri took a few steps outside before you heard her voice. "Babe…"

"What?" Jin-Goo asked, irritated.

The girl came back in, the barrel of a gun on her temple. She slowly backed into the cellar, clearly being pushed. The owner of the gun came into view. Seokmin.

The rapid beating of your heart was deafening now.

"Don't you dare lay a hand on her." He growled.

Jin-Goo already had his gun drawn. "Too late. Kill Gyuri and I'll shoot your bitch."

"Try me. You won't get out of here alive." He was terrifying, his eyes were murderous, his grip on the gun steady and practiced. Seokmin was taking the reign of his demons tonight. Even the devil would bow to him.

“No member should lay hands on another member without the higher-up's permission,” Jin-Goo said as if citing some sacred book.

This could backfire on Seokmin horribly. You called him, your throat dry. "Seokmin, there’s a camera."

Jin-Goo chuckled. "She's smart."

Two loud bangs and a crash of glass rang in your ear, echoing in the cellar. Seokmin just shot the camera. In the half-second that Jin-Goo flinched at the sound, Seokmin shot his hand, disarming him.

You almost bit your tongue at the sound, your hands were bound and you had no way to cover your ears. You grit your teeth and shut your eyes tight. Seokmin was already kneeling in front of you. 

“Are you hurt? I’m so sorry it took so long. I'll get you out of here.” He checked for signs of injury, caressing your numb face. You could barely see him through your tears, could barely hear him from the ringing in your ears and your pounding heart. Your head was about to burst.

Jin-Goo advanced to Seokmin with a scream, his hand covered in blood. Seokmin had anticipated his move and he tackled the man to the ground. Restraining his torso with a knee, Seokmin brought down his fist onto Jin-Goo's face. A loud crack of bone made you wince. Seokmin held his collar and struck him again.

You couldn't watch the sight so your eyes trained at the door that hung open. Gyuri was nowhere to be found. Wonwoo came in with a gun in his hand. His eyes fell on Seokmin getting his knuckles bloody then in your bound, trembling state. 

The consigliere released the shackles from your feet and the restraints from your wrists. He pulled you up. “Can you walk?”

You couldn't answer him. You wanted to look at Seokmin, to see if he was coming, but the sound of his fists on the other man's flesh made you shiver.

“Y/n, do you want me to carry you out?” Wonwoo asked. 

You still couldn't answer, but you took a step towards the door, anyway. Before you and Wonwoo got out, you heard Jin-Goo's weak voice. 

“The boss will get you and your bitch killed once you kill me, you fool.”

“No. I met the boss, he gave me the green light. Said he wanted me to deal with you however I want. I make more money than you anyway. You're just a liability… like the others.”

Like the others. So it was true then, that Seokmin had attacked the other capos. You wondered what else was true about the things your abductor told you.

Wonwoo dragged you before you could hear the last note of Jin-Goo’s agonized scream.

There were bodies on the floor, unmoving and covered in blood. You knew they were Seokmin's doing. You closed your eyes as you put one foot in front of the other.

It was a long minute of walking up different sets of stairs and dark corridors before finally seeing an open door into the night. Just as you got closer, a girl yelled.

"Y/n, wait!”

Wonwoo was already blocking you from her, gun trained to her head.

Gyuri didn't falter. “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. He made me do it. I had no choice, he was going to kill my sister. I had no choice. Let me escape with you.”

She betrayed you. She ignored your pleas. She hurt you. You couldn’t meet her eyes. It was your turn to ignore her.

A loud crack from behind Gyuri echoed and she collapsed on the floor. Seokmin was there, face lined with murder. He dug the barrel of his gun into the underside of her chin, ready to kill her.

The deaths would cost him his status and his power, if not his life. Gyuri had betrayed you and hurt you, but you couldn't stomach the image of her helpless and face-to-face with death.

“Stop! Seokmin, please. I beg you.” Your throat strained, your voice broken and weak. “Just stop, let's go. It—It'll be difficult for you to plead innocent in court.”

“But I'm far from innocent, baby. Now close your eyes.”

“No! Please, don't be stupid. you don't have to do this.”

Wonwoo grabbed you away and into the cold night air, dragging you towards the car before you heard the gunshot. Your knees faltered and gave up when you heard it. It was a pain unlike any other. Wonwoo lifted you up and into the backseat. 

Before Seokmin left the building, the consigliere climbed behind the wheel. He waited for him even though a part of you was terrified and hoped he wouldn't get in the car. 

Seokmin settled into the front seat. As he checked on you in the mirror, you covered your face and pretended to be asleep. It was stifling. It hurt even more than the strikes you'd had.

There was nothing more painful than realizing Lee Seokmin really was a monster. And what hurt more was you realized just how scared you were. You were terrified of the person you loved the most.

It was a long drive, the night was pitch black and your ears were still ringing. You were sure that they could both hear your quiet sobs.

“I don't wanna go back to my apartment,” you whispered into the silence.

“It's okay, we can go to my place.” Seokmin looked back at you but you couldn't meet his eyes, afraid that you'd see the murderous glare in them.

“No.” You managed to utter. 

You gave Wonwoo your parents’ address.

⋆₊ ♱

The house was just as you left it. Quiet and devoid of lights. The sound of crickets filled the cold night. Seokmin walked you towards the front door, holding an ice pack against your numb cheek. You pulled an old key under a potted plant by the porch and unlocked the door. It creaked.

“Call me if you need anything. I'll be here tomorrow.” He handed you the ice pack. 

“Is it true? Your organization—your family…did you frame my father?”

He took a deep breath. “Yes.”

It was like you were seventeen again, crying to sleep as the victims of the mortgage scam banged on your door, cursing profanities at your father. They were so hurt, so angry that you almost believed your father actually did it.

Seokmin searched for your eyes, saying he was going to fix this. His voice was sweet. So pure, so believable.

It was like you were twenty again, pleading for them to file a retrial for your father. No matter how much you dug into the case, nothing came out. No names, no people to point fingers at.

Seokmin called your name, trying to snap you out of your trance. He called you again. And again.

You were twenty-four again, applying for law school with one goal in mind: make sure no other child will experience what you've experienced. Your father was released then but he was not the same man who told you everything was going to be fine.

Of course, it was just one of the many scams Seokmin's family did. It was just another job for him. He probably didn't even know the names of their scapegoats and other victims.

You stared at him, wanting to ask why he didn't say anything before, why he was pretending nothing happened. But you couldn't form the right words.

“I'll take you to dinner tomorrow and explain everything, okay? Get some rest. Put this on your face and apply an ointment after, hmm? I love you, baby.”

He leaned down to kiss your temple.

You flinched. You didn't mean to, but you flinched. Even under the dark sky, you could tell he was hurt. He swallowed as his eyes became glossy, tears bound to spill before you closed the door on his face. 

Your insides felt like ripping apart. You wanted to throw up, lash out, curse out loud, but you were too tired to do anything, so you moved towards the living room. You knew you looked like a mess. You also knew sneaking into your parent's house in the middle of the night was a bad idea. 

There she was, your mother, stumbling through the living room. She stared dumbfounded at the state of your appearance. 

“Y/n!”

You braced yourself for a slap, a shove, and being called a shameful daughter. You had a whole made-up story ready to tell her. But when she looked at you with genuine concern, you couldn't hold it in any longer. You burst into tears, collapsing onto the sofa, shaking with sobs.

“Shh… there, there, child.” She gently rested your head on her lap. You sobbed harder than ever before, the cries wrenching from your throat painfully, yet somehow, their release felt freeing.

⋆₊ ♱

Seokmin turned away, signaling Wonwoo to start the car. He said nothing as he walked out of your property. Out of your life. He said nothing as he heard you cry—cry because of him.

⋆₊ ♱

“I love him. I love him so much.” You whimpered. “I love him so much, but why does it hurt this bad?”

You were ready to be bombarded with questions. Your mother had no idea what you were talking about. But she felt your pain and that was enough. No context had to be said. Whatever you were feeling in your heart shot through her, as if the umbilical cord was never cut.

That night, you just let your tears flow. The ice pack has melted, dripping onto the carpet, but you didn’t move. You shook and cried your eyes out on her lap. She caressed your hair like you were a child again. She whispered sweet nothings as you sobbed through the night.

Breaking down and being cradled by your mother was an experience you never thought you'd feel again. You drifted to sleep, nightmares already haunting you, but you could feel her fingers on your scalp. 

“I love him. I love him so much.” You exhaled and let your shoulders sag. It was the worst yet the deepest sleep of your life. 

Tomorrow came and Seokmin did not appear as he promised. A part of you was relieved, but you also wanted to know his side of the story. Maybe he was forced to do the paperwork. Maybe he didn't have a choice.

Or maybe you were wrong about him all this time and he didn’t care about you and your father. 

When the sun finally rose, you walked upstairs into your old room. The warm rays filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across your childhood bed. You spent the entire day sleeping, wrapped in the familiar comfort of your old sheets. The scent of aged books filled your nostrils, their musty fragrance mingling with memories of late nights spent reading under the covers.

Dinner with your parents was hell. You loved your mother’s cooking and you were grateful for her, but the second your father walked down the stairs, your heart sank. His face was lined with age, gray hair sticking out of his roots, his mind was somewhere else. It took him a few seconds to stare at your face before he acknowledged your presence. It was like he forgot he had a child. 

“Who did that to you?” He ran his gaze around, looking for the perpetrator, as if someone was going to come out of the shadows. He was hypervigilant yet quite not there.

“No one. It’s just allergies.”

Your mother shot you with a look, clearly not impressed with your lying. You were a law student, for God’s sake, you could have thought of some good reason to cover it up. But your father bought it, anyway. He flinched at the slightest sounds. Even the clink of utensils made him jump. With every second you spent with them, more and more guilt crept up your spine to eat you from the inside.

After dinner, you stayed in your room, digging up the old cases you studied when your father was still in jail. It consisted of similar court documents, files of other victims, framed suspects, and newspaper clippings. They were all swept under the rug like your father. But all of them aligned with Jin-Goo’s information. Someone powerful and rich enough to pay for people’s silence was behind them. Someone like Seokmin’s boss. 

A chill ran down your spine. Your father was an innocent real estate businessman. The evidence against him made you doubt that back then. He'd been convicted for eight years and spent the last two years scared of everything. Seokmin’s family took away a decade of his life. Seokmin’s family had ruined your life.

You were crying in your bed, head slumped against the sheets as the pale moonlight shone through the windows. Your phone rang, you didn’t even remember Seokmin giving it to you. His name flashed on your screen. With a shaky breath, you reached for the phone, unsure if you were ready to answer.

“I’m sorry, I couldn't be there. I still had a lot to fix. Are you okay? Is your face still swollen? Did they hurt you anywhere else? I’m really sorry about all of this, y/n.” He kept rambling with that sweet, doting voice. The voice of a caring boyfriend, not a liar. Not a murderer.

You ignored his questions. “Why didn’t you tell me anything about your involvement with my father’s case? You could’ve told me at least something, Seokmin.”

“I’m sorry, y/n. I’ll make this right. I promise I’ll make this right.” 

It wasn’t what you wanted to hear. Gyuri’s face as she pleaded for her life crossed your mind again. The scream of Jin-Goo as you escaped rang in your ear. The broken bodies on the ground flashed in your sight.

“Y/n?” he called again. “I’ll fix this. I’ll fix this for you.”

You hung up and—before you could think twice—blocked his number.

You filed a week of leave and spent it helping your mother with the chores, trying to pick up the pieces of your life and of yourself back together— slowly. You didn’t check your phone; cutting off from the outside world. You only spoke with your mother and, occasionally, your father. You had tried gaining information on what they remembered about his case, but it was a difficult topic in the household. It was the topic that would make him shift in his seat and walk out.

One night, your mother turned on the television to watch the news. You were about to head upstairs when you saw Gyuri and Jin-Goo’s faces. Mugshots. The headline said they were in jail for drug trafficking. You ran towards the television in shock. 

A clip of them shackled and being dragged by the police was shown. They were alive. Badly beaten, completely unrecognizable, but alive. Seokmin listened to your pleas. Seokmin didn't kill them. 

He did not break your rule.

The faint voice of the reporter mentioned something about life-long sentences in prison. You stared at the television for a long time, even after the news program had ended. The couple was locked up for good. And it repeated in your head again: Seokmin didn’t kill them; he did not break your rule.

That night, Wonwoo called you. You had to ponder if you were going to pick it up, but eventually decided to go for it. You owed Wonwoo a lot for saving you, anyway. 

“Y/n, did you hear the news?”

“Yes. I thought he killed them.”

“Of course he didn’t, y/n. He’s part of the mafia, but he’s not a murderer. He’s not the devil everyone believed him to be.”

“But, the case of my father...”

“That’s not true. I know what happened because I was there during the court proceedings. It wasn’t Seokmin who did it, but the other capos. The moment he learned about your father, Seokmin quickly immobilized their businesses. He also found out that some of them murdered civilians and sided with rival gangs so he ratted their stupidity out to the boss. Jin-Goo knew he was up next so he tried to stop it.”

“Why did he say yes when I asked him?”

“Because he can’t deny that he’s still part of the family. I think that’s what bothers him the most these days.”

Pain shot through your chest. You couldn’t help but feel sorry for Seokmin. He tried everything to please you, to make sure you’re safe and you’re happy. You couldn’t understand why things just don’t go your way. 

Wonwoo’s voice became more quiet. “Tell me when are you coming back. I’ve never seen him like this. He's not just crying, he's grieving. He's been making me do very weird paperwork.”

“Weird how?”

“Whistleblower-kind-of-weird paperwork.”

Your jaw dropped at the mention of the word whistleblower. This wasn’t good. Ratting out his gang—his family—was far from a good idea. Blood would spill and you prayed to the heavens it wasn’t Seokmin’s. 

‘The boss never liked traitors,’ you heard Jin-goo’s voice in your head.

Before you could even think, you were packing your bag, kissing your mother goodbye. You took one last look at your father and drove to Seokmin’s apartment.

You stared at his door, unable to knock. The last time you were here felt like years ago. But you could already smell him. Cedarwood. The smell of home. The door opened and you jumped, hiding behind a huge plant nearby, just out of sight. Seokmin was talking to someone on the phone.

"This isn't a threat." His voice was cold and demanding, far from the sweet tone he had used when talking to you. "I'm going down. And you all go down with me."

Your heart sank at his words. He was putting himself in so much danger, so many people would be angry at him, and many people would attack him, and yet his voice did not waiver.

“I don't care if it's too late, hyung. I want to change. You’re our boss, but you’re also my brother, so either you turn your back on them or me. I’ll wait until midnight.”

This was dangerous. So very dangerous. If he was planning to expose himself as part of the mafia, the last thing you should be doing was being with him, risking other people to see you. So you drank in the sight of him two meters away from you, with his black hair and chiseled face. He was wearing a black suit that reminded you of your first meeting. His hands were lined with so much history, so much experience. You basked in the smell, the glow, the presence of him before turning away. You prayed for the best.

⋆₊ ♱

Lee Seokmin was trained to feel the presence of anyone spying on him. But he didn’t need that training because he could feel you anyway. He could smell your perfume, and could almost hear your breath. He almost smiled when he saw your shadow shuffle behind the plant. A huge part of him waited for you to come out of hiding. He waited because he couldn’t force you to fight this with him. But he also knew it was his battle to win and his mess to fix. He was content with your visit; he knew you were silently wishing him the best, so he swallowed his greed anyway.

As he waited for his boss’s decision, he couldn’t help but cry.

⋆₊ ♱

‘He's not just crying, he's grieving.’ Wonwoo had said.

You couldn’t lie.

You grieved for him too.

And the whistle blew.

Raids, buy-bust operations, one business after another had been shut down. The media was on a roll, broadcasting every time a member was arrested. The crime family was flashed on screen, a terrifying gallery of faces. Mugshots for the history books. 

It was complete except for Seokmin, Wonwoo, and the boss, whom you now knew as Seungcheol. They were the last strands of the wilting web—the reason why the empire was crumbling. The pressure was mounting and you’ve lost sleep worrying about them.

You kept in touch with Wonwoo until he and Seokmin went into a witness protection program. Before he cut you off for good, Wonwoo promised that he would do everything he could to keep Seokmin safe, and if Seokmin ever went to jail, it would be alright. They were all ready.

Seokmin wanted to change.

.     ♰   .   ❦   .   ♰     .

3 Years Later

The sound of clicking keyboards and the quiet hum of the faculty’s air conditioner was broken when the door suddenly opened. A middle-aged woman entered with a wide grin on her face. She ran towards you, making you pause your work.

“Professor y/n! Have you seen the new instructor? He’s so handsome.” She grabbed your arm, forcing you to stand. 

Grabbing your coffee from your desk, you let her take you towards the buzzing hall. It was midterms, and you could feel the stress emanating from the students, a palpable tension in the air. It reminded you of the old days when you spent days and nights studying. Only if you could see yourself now: a bar passer and a full-time professor at the university.

You never would’ve imagined seeing him there, at the same university as a new instructor. It struck you, stirring a mix of aching sorrow and unexpected relief. It felt as though the thorns that had long been embedded in your chest were finally being pulled out. You had buried those feelings so deeply that you hadn’t even realized the pain they caused until the moment they began to fade away.

He had changed his name to Dokyeom. For safety purposes, you assumed. It was a symbol of a new beginning, of another chance. He no longer had that tension in his jaw, his softer features and kind eyes were more prominent. Girls and boys in the hall giggled as they passed by him, yet he didn’t notice. 

He was wearing a more casual attire. He no longer had chains around his neck, no black leather jacket, just a brown suit, a more refreshing aura.

You admired him for a moment, maybe two. It wasn’t until you heard a student profusely apologizing for bumping into you that you noticed you spilled your coffee onto your shoes. Brown liquid seeping into the soles of your feet. You winced and stepped away from the small puddle of drink.

And there he was on his knees.

He had the same black hair, but instead of the sharp, perfect style it once had, he sported his natural curls instead. He still smelled like cedarwood, but now with a hint of lavender and sage. It was a breath of fresh air. He had his handkerchief drawn, wiping the spilled coffee from your shoes.

He looked up with the kindest smile. He had changed. But he was still the same man who kneeled and wiped liquor from your shoes all those years ago. The same man who saved you, made sacrifices for you, and turned his back on his family. He had let go of the only life he’d ever known for another chance with you.

He was the same man who never broke your rule. 

It was at that moment you knew there was no letting go of him this time. You’d do everything to have the privilege to fall in love with him again, no matter how many pleas it would take.

tags: @hipsdofangirl @alyssa19123456 @dokyeomkyeom @intaksfav

[a/n] check my pinned for tracking wips! pls lmk your thoughts, my comments and asks are open^^

— mr exterminator, joshua hong.

fluff | 926

joshua hears the sound of the bathroom door opening and closing then opening again.

“honey?” you call out softly and joshua immediately gets up from where he was sitting.

“yeah?” he asks as he walks over to you.

you point into the bathroom, “there’s a bug in there. can you get it?”

“a bug?” joshua stretches his neck to peek inside and he sees the insect you’re talking about. it doesn’t look that bad, it’s not that big, he thinks. “yeah, don’t worry. i’ll take care of it.”

he steps one foot into the bathroom and has one hand on the door frame, he takes in a deep breath to prepare himself and then he disappears into the bathroom and closes the door behind him to prevent the insect from escaping. you decide to go into the living room, nearer to the front door, just in case.

it was silent for a couple of minutes and you think that maybe joshua had successfully caught it.

“did you get it?” you call out then there was a scream.

the door flies open and joshua is sprinting towards you. “why didn’t you tell me it can fly?!”

your eyes widen and you’re trying not to laugh at his red face as he’s panting. “i didn’t know that. i saw it in the bathroom and came outside immediately to ask for your help.”

joshua turns to look in the direction of the bathroom, contemplating if he should try again.

“so i take it as you didn’t catch it?”

he turns back to you with a pout, “no. it started flying when i threw a piece of toilet paper at it and i ran out.”

you pat his arm with a soft chuckle. “don’t worry about it, i’ll go next door and see if cheol is around to help.”

joshua grabs your wrist as you’re turning to open the door, “cheol?”

“yeah, my next door neighbour.” you say matter-of-factly.

“you have a nickname for your next door neighbour that i’ve never heard about?” his brows furrowed.

“he moved in maybe two months ago? he’s around our age, really nice and friendly guy. he helped me kill a huge cockroach last week too because it was the middle of the night and i didn’t want to call you over just to kill a cockroach.”

the pout on joshua’s face grows bigger, “you can call me for help at any time. you know that right?”

“honey, i was trying to save you from the embarrassment.” you give him your best puppy dog eyes, “do you really think you can kill a cockroach?”

joshua exhales, “no. but i could have tried.”

“do you want to try getting the bug in the bathroom again then?”

he thinks for a while then shakes his head, “go get your neighbour.”

you return with seungcheol after a few minutes. “this is seungcheol,” you gesture to your neighbour and before you can introduce joshua to him, he already has his hand out.

“hi, i’m y/n’s boyfriend.” he shakes seungcheol’s hand with a tight grip.

seungcheol shoots him a smile, “ahhh. so you’re the boyfriend i always hear about.”

joshua scrunches his face slightly before nodding, “that’s me. i’m the boyfriend.”

you nudge joshua lightly with your elbow and he lets go of seungcheol’s hand.

“so where’s the bug?” seungcheol asks.

“in that bathroom,” joshua points to it. “do you need me to go with you?”

“no, it’s fine. i can handle it.”

“thanks cheol!” you call out as seungcheol goes into the bathroom and you turn to your boyfriend once you see the door shuts. “what was that about?”

joshua gives you a confused look, “what was what?”

“the whole ‘boyfriend’ thing.”

“i don’t know what you’re talking about,” he shrugs and turns away from you.

you move in front of him again to cup his cheeks with your hands and get his eyes to meet yours. “honey, are you feeling bad because you couldn’t catch the bug?”

his shoulders drop with a deep sigh, “i’m such a useless boyfriend. i can’t even catch a stupid bug for you.”

you smile at him as you squeeze his cheeks softly, “you’re not useless. it’s just a bug, it’s not a big deal.”

“yeah, but you had to turn to a neighbour for help instead of looking for me, your boyfriend.” the pout appears on his face again.

“shua,” you remove your hands from his face to lace your fingers with his. “it was 2am, i can’t be making you drive 30 minutes just to come kill a cockroach.”

joshua tugs you closer to him, your bodies almost touching. “then how about i move in instead so i’ll be around all the time?”

“that’s fine with me but are you capable of killing a cockroach though?” you tilt your head at him and raise your brows before quickly adding, “or any other insects for that matter.”

he wraps one arm around you to pull you into his chest, “i probably could if i tried really, really hard.”

“then do you want to go ask cheol to leave so you can take over?”

joshua purses his lips together, “nah. i’ll let mr exterminator have this one.”

“what do you have against cheol? he’s helping us here.”

“i don’t have anything against him but why is he taking over my boyfriend duties?” he groans.

“maybe because my boyfriend can’t fulfill said duties,” you tell him with a laugh.

joshua rolls his eyes at you, “that’s it. i’m insect proofing your apartment tomorrow.”

— holding hands, joshua hong.

fluff | 453

“stop,” you push joshua’s large hand that covers yours on the shopping cart handle away, “we might hit someone with the cart.”

joshua’s lower lip juts out in a pout, “i just want to hold your hand.”

you continue moving down the condiments aisle with the half filled cart, ignoring him as he runs after you.

“babe,” he whines when he finally catches up to you, a hand grabbing onto your elbow, “if people can hold hands while driving why can’t i hold your hand while you push a shopping cart?”

turning into the next aisle, you give his hand that’s resting on your arm a light pat before removing it from you. “you can hold my hand once we’re done shopping okay?”

you hear him let out a sigh as you scan the shelves of ramen before you.

“babe, which one did you want to get?”

silence.

confused, you turn to your side to look at him and you almost burst out laughing when you find him sulking and poking at the various ramen packets in front of him.

“babe,” you tap his shoulder lightly and fail to hold back your laughter this time when he shrugs you off with a noise of annoyance.

he crosses his arms across his chest and moves to the next shelf, away from you.

“don’t be upset at me,” you trail after him and wrap your arms around him from behind.

a little smile starts to form on joshua’s lips and he tries to hide it but you catch it when you rest your chin on his shoulder to look at his face.

“are you actually upset?” you tighten your arms and sway him slightly.

he doesn’t answer so you release one arm to hold out your hand in front of him. “here, you can hold my hand while we shop.”

you let go of your other arm to move away from him when he doesn’t take it.

“i guess you’re so upset with me that you don’t want to hold hands anymore.”

he suddenly spins around, “no wait! i want to.”

he quickly grabs your hand tightly then reaches for the cart with his free hand.

“i’ll show you that i can push the cart while holding hands without hitting anyone so you have no excuses not to do it when we shop for groceries next time.” he places your hand on the handle before putting his own over yours.

just as he says that, he bumps into the corner of a shelf as he attempts to move out of the aisle and you’re about to pull your hand out from under his but he stops you.

“that doesn’t count! i didn’t hit a person!”

— “can you stay here? please?”, kwon soonyoung.

hurt, comfort | 1k

in hindsight, soonyoung probably shouldn’t have ranted to you about the disagreement he had with his group mates. or at least, he should’ve known better than to expect you to take his side. you’ve never been a yes-man, you always told him when he’s at fault and he’d usually be receptive to it except for when he’s feeling extra sensitive and on edge — just like today. the last thing he wanted was to hear your lectures, telling him he’s in the wrong. he just wanted to be comforted and for you to tell him that everything would be okay.

he was sulking from the moment he walked through the front door, dragging his tired body across the living room to plop himself onto the couch. you can clearly tell he was in a bad mood.

“bad day at work?” you hand him a glass of water then sit down next to him.

he gulps down the water then he’s immediately venting about the argument he had with a few of his group mates. it started with a disagreement over something petty like their positions in a choreography that quickly escalated into a heated argument which resulted in soonyoung blurting out “maybe we should just disband instead, since we clearly can’t work together.”

seungcheol ended up telling everyone practice has been cut short and that everyone should go home to get some rest before the situation gets even worse and they can talk things out again when everyone is feeling better. after everyone had left, seungcheol told soonyoung that he was wrong for saying what he said and that he should apologise once he calmed down and cleared his head. but soonyoung has always been stubborn in arguments so he just left without saying anything else.

you sigh and rest a hand on soonyoung’s thigh. “you are in the wrong for saying that though,” you tell him gently, “i can’t even imagine how hurt the guys felt when they heard that.”

soonyoung brushes your hand away harshly then stands up and he’s practically shouting when he tells you, “why can’t you just take my side for once? try to see things from my perspective.”

you shake your head with a frown and he can hear from your tone that you’re getting frustrated, “i can’t take your side when you’re clearly at fault in this situation. what you said was hurtful. whatever the fight was about, it shouldn’t have gone this far.”

soonyoung rolls his eyes at you.

“do you want me to lie to you and say that you were right and all the other guys were just being assholes?”

he lets out a mumble of “i don’t need to hear this from someone who doesn’t know how stressful my job is” under his breath and he catches the hint of hurt that flashes across your face but he turns around to storm into the room and you hear the door slam loudly behind him.

he’s not a bad person, you’re fully aware of that. but soonyoung tends to get overly emotional when it comes to things like this and he just needs to be left alone for a while to settle down before he starts thinking straight again. it doesn’t change the fact that the things he say and do during this time can be purposefully hurtful though and you can’t bear to be in the same space as him whenever he’s in one of those moods.

picking up your phone and keys, you think it’s better for you to leave the house for a few hours than to stay here and possibly get into another argument with him and you’re about to open the door when you hear the sound of the bedroom door creaking open behind you. you turn around to see soonyoung standing there, wrapped in a blanket, face red and sniffling.

“where are you going?” he asks between hiccups.

“i’m just going out to the store and maybe the park or something.”

“can you stay here?” he takes a few hesitant steps towards you, “please? i don’t think i can handle being alone right now.”

“i don’t know if that’s the best idea, soonyoung. i don’t want us to get into another argument.”

he closes the distance between you a little more and you had to hold back your laugh from seeing him waddle towards you like a penguin because of the huge blanket around him.

“i’m sorry for how i acted earlier. i had some time to think and i’m feeling better now. i can see that i was definitely in the wrong.”

you stay quiet, not really knowing what else to say to that and soonyoung pokes one hand out from the blanket to hold yours and he lets out a small sigh of relief when you don’t pull away.

“i’m really sorry for what i said to you. i know you were just trying to talk some sense into me.” he continues.

“i know how important those guys are to you, i don’t want you to lose them over a fight and something stupid you said in the heat of the moment.”

he pulls you closer to him, “i know. i don’t want to lose them too. i’ll apologise to them later tonight, i’m sure most of them are still upset with me right now.”

you nod and he attempts to pull you into a hug while trying his best to keep the heavy blanket from sliding off him.

“i don’t want to lose you either because of the dumb things i say whenever i get emotional. i know you understand how hard my job is, i don’t even know why i said that when you’ve been nothing but supportive of me.”

he hears you sniffling and leans back to wipe a tear from your face.

“just promise me you’ll work on being less rash whenever you get into disagreements, whether it’s with them or with me.”

he tugs you closer to wrap the blanket around you then engulfs you in a tight embrace, “i promise.”