Dreamcatcher 8th Member - Tumblr Posts

Fall Into You

Pairing: Jiu x GN!8thMember!Reader

Warnings / Misc. -- Injury, Little Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff

Word Count: ~ 6,087

Summary: When practicing for your upcoming unit stage with Jiu, things don't go entirely according to plan.

Requested By: @twicex0nce2001​

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hey everyone, I'm back again! Hope you enjoy this one :) Make sure to give it some love if you do <3

P.S. ~ Go check out my latest Yoohyeon work if you haven't yet!

💖 Happy Reading 🌹

◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚

Sua's arms were lazily wrapped around your shoulders as you sat between her legs on the floor, watching intently as Jiu ran through her individual section of your upcoming unit stage. 

You leaned back against her, finding comfort in her soft embrace. For the time being, it distracted you from the worry you were feeling. 

The second oldest was privy to your nervousness, and that's precisely why she was there. She could've taken the day off, but she wanted to come and support you. 

"You're gonna do great," she assured, as the music began to wind down. 

Jiu was approaching her ending pose when an uneasy sigh slipped past your lips. 

"I hope so." 

As always, your girlfriend did incredible. From start to finish, she commanded the room with such graceful power that everyone found themselves enraptured. She only made a couple of small errors, and she immediately corrected them so as to avoid repeating them again in the future. How she made it all look so easy, you would never understand. 

“Thank you, everyone. Good work!” She said with a smile, once everyone began to clap for her. 

They all humbly bowed to one another before beginning to disperse for a short break. After grabbing a towel that one of the staff had set out for her, she turned around and made her way over to the two of you.

“You did good out there, sexy,” Sua playfully flirted, wiggling her eyebrows. 

Jiu grimaced and stuck her tongue out in response, though she couldn’t help but laugh, too. She lightly flicked her on the forehead before reaching her hands out to you. 

You took them, smiling at how soft they were in your own, and allowed her to pull you to your feet. She wasted no time in wrapping her arms around you, offering her warm and safe embrace to sink into.

“How are you feeling, jagi?”

Her voice was soft in your ear, and her hands rubbed comforting patterns on your back. Heat radiated from her skin, and you could feel her chest still rising a little faster than normal; her shirt clung to her curves in a beautiful way.

“I’m alright,” you fibbed, hoping that if you said it enough you’d start to believe it yourself. 

She could tell something was definitely off. You’d been in your head all day, and a bit more distant than normal. When the eight of you went out for breakfast earlier that morning you weren’t as lively as usual and you didn’t talk very much. 

And anytime you were worried about something, you chose to deal with it on your own and retreat into yourself in an attempt to find a solution that way. Reaching out for help wasn’t usually your first instinct, and she knew that. So, of course, seeing it happen again right before her eyes brought out her concern not only as your leader, but also your girlfriend. 

“Talk to me,” she requested, as she pulled away just far enough to look at you. 

Her eyes met yours, shining and full of sincerity. It made your heart ache. She wasn’t asking for much, and you genuinely hated to worry her like this. Opening up a bit was the least you could do. 

You took a deep breath and shifted in her arms a little, not really knowing where to start. 

With your performances coming up and so much to do to prepare, you’d been feeling overwhelmed. But things had reached a peak when your unit stage was announced and you were introduced to the challenging routine that it would feature. 

The company’s choreographers were some of the best in the industry, and their creativity and prowess never ceased to amaze you. But, on the flip side, that also meant that they were constantly trying to incorporate new and exciting moves. Every comeback, a slew of interesting tricks was introduced to gain the audience’s attention and stay relevant in their minds. It only made sense, of course, and you appreciated their dedication to the craft. But learning the actual choreo itself was a whole nother issue to tackle. 

Especially, in your present case. And that’s precisely why you were so upset.

The company was aware of the hold that you and Jiu had over the fanbase, given that so many of them loved to see you together and always showed a particularly intense enthusiasm when it came to your shared stages. So, in light of that, you were paired with her for the concert. 

You were two of the most capable members when it came to experimental choreographies, considering your ability to adapt and pick things up quickly. So when you were assigned an especially difficult move that was to be executed swiftly and at a crucial point in the dance, it didn’t surprise you. But it did worry you.

If you messed it up, it would be hard to recover; and aside from the aspect of embarrassment, it was genuinely a bit dangerous. Two backup dancers were tasked with lifting you into the air before tossing you onto the couch that would be in the center of the stage and holding everyone’s focus. If you didn’t land well, your mistake would be painfully obvious.

Truthfully, it was a lot to have weighing on you. The last thing you wanted to do was mess up and ruin the stage for Jiu as well. 

She tilted her head, waiting patiently for your response. It was almost like she could hear all of the negative thoughts racing around in your mind.

The pad of her thumb ran across your cheek, letting you know everything was okay. 

After taking another deep breath, you started to explain. 

“I don’t know. I just feel like–”

“Alright, everyone!” One of the lead choreographers said with an elevated voice, aiming to gain everyone’s attention once again. You turned to look at him immediately, and Jiu followed suit – but not without subtly sighing in annoyance at his timing.

“We’ll begin in a minute. Please take your places and be ready.” 

Your shoulders fell a little at that, and Jiu didn’t fail to notice it. Her hand on your cheek softly applied pressure as she redirected your attention back to her. 

“We can talk after,” you said as you faked a smile, intending to ease her worry. “I promise.”

Although she clearly wasn’t satisfied, she nodded anyway. There wasn’t anything she could do at the moment, and she trusted that you would stay true to your word. 

She tugged you forward enough to press her lips to your cheek in a sweet kiss. The simple gesture did more for you than she even realized; you briefly closed your eyes to soak in the feeling. 

“Go crush it, Y/N/N.” She whispered, only to you. 

Your moment with her kept you distracted from Sua, who was planning to slap your ass as a way of wishing you good luck. When she realized that her sitting position didn’t allow her to quite reach it, though, she settled for the back of your thigh instead. 

“Ow!” you yelped, jostling in Jiu’s embrace. Sua simply beamed up at you with a wide smirk, and you shook your head at her. 

“Pabo,” you mumbled, as Jiu’s arms released you. 

Sua puckered her lips and blew exaggerated kisses, making you smile despite yourself. You stuck a pinky out to her and she interlocked her own with it, tugging slightly. It was your special way of offering silent support to one another – no matter how much you may have teased each other. Her gaze softened as she glanced from your joined hands to your face. 

The choreographer called again for everyone to fall into their places after that, and so you begrudgingly went.

Both of the girls shouted for you and sent thumbs up from across the room once you were all set up to begin. The dancers welcomed you with smiles as well, and you felt a little more comfortable as a result. 

Once the staff in charge of audio gave everyone their signal, you pushed your remaining doubts away and transitioned into your stage persona. Like a flipped switch, your poker face hid your fear.

The music started softly, floating out of the speakers and creating a sensual vibe as it filled the room. Your moves reflected that, all full of practiced flirtation and physicality. 

Jiu’s eyes were glued to you, and Sua made fun of her for how obvious her ogling was. But she simply pushed her over and took a long sip from her water bottle, unfazed. She used the towel around her neck to dab at the sweat on her forehead.

Every motion and gesture you made was overflowing with confidence, and you carried yourself perfectly through the song. Honestly, it was probably one of the best runs you’d had yet. Your dedication was clear, and the longer the song played, the more relaxed you became. Your guard began to slip away, little by little, until you were free of the dread that had plagued you earlier. 

The continued shouts and claps that both Jiu and Sua let out spurred you on even more, and you found yourself smiling without even meaning to. You weren’t even fazed when the stunt kicked off. 

But all of that bliss came to an end when you were halfway through it. 

The two male backup dancers hoisted you onto their shoulders as intended, but one of them failed to secure his footing properly. He swayed before managing to plant his foot and restabilize, and you stumbled over some of your lyrics because of it. 

Jiu sat up a little straighter as her leader instincts kicked in. She set her jaw, and the grip she had on her towel tightened. Sua paid closer attention as well. 

You shook off the mistake and continued on, picking back up with your lyrics as you completed your hand tutting routine, still in the air. It ended well, and you mentally praised yourself for such a good recovery. 

But, again, the same backup dancer from before missed his next cue. His mind seemed to be somewhere else entirely – perhaps his first mistake had psyched him out – and his resulting movements demonstrated that. 

The music sped up, signaling for the change in position. 

Both of them lifted you off of their shoulders and prepared to toss you onto the couch, but his failed timing and stance clashed with the other dancer’s proper movements. The swift throw happened on the wrong beat, thus leaving you unprepared. 

It all happened in the blink of an eye. Truthfully, you weren’t even fully aware of what awaited you until it was too late. 

“Y/N!” A staff member shouted, just as the world around you went sideways. 

Another nearby dancer spotted your form beginning to fall in their peripheral, and they reached out to grab you before you could hit the ground; but it was too little too late. Their fingertips merely brushed against the fabric of your shirt as you slipped out of their hold and fell to the floor. 

Your hands managed to hit first, absorbing most of the impact; but the subsequent shoot of fiery pain up your left arm made you cry out. 

Jiu’s attention – which had momentarily shifted elsewhere – snapped directly to you at the sound. It made her stomach drop in a nauseating way, and it didn’t take her long to piece together what had happened.

“No!”

“Oh shit…”

“I’m so sorry–”

A slew of apologies resounded around the room, as well as noises of concern. The backup dancers instantly crowded around you, and some of the staff rushed out of the room to retrieve the company’s medical personnel that remained on standby for situations just like this.  

Jiu scrambled to you, and Sua wasn’t far behind. They pushed their way past the crowding dancers and staff to be by your side. 

The one responsible for the accident was crouched next to you and helping you sit up. He looked miserably distraught, but Jiu didn’t particularly care. Panic and anger were swirling inside of her. He should’ve been more careful. She glared at him, having the urge to reprimand him severely for getting you hurt.

But when you let out another soft whine of pain, all of that dissipated. Her only concern was you.

“What happened, jagi?” Her gaze and tone both softened as she addressed you. “What hurts?”

Your mind was too jumbled from the adrenaline coursing through your body to form a coherent explanation, so you simply glanced down at your wrist, cradling it. She nodded, understanding. 

Sua sent the dancer away, knowing it was best to keep everyone separated when tensions were high. She was just as worried about you as Jiu, and she honestly didn’t trust herself to refrain from yelling at him, either. Professionalism was certainly harder to maintain at times like this. 

She took his place at your other side, and the two of them remained with you while you waited on the medical staff to arrive. They fussed over you and did their best to make sure you were comfortable in the meantime, and you thanked them for keeping you distracted. 

Jiu was especially protective, with the way she guarded you from everyone else, just in case one of them managed to be clumsy and hurt you, too. She stayed vigilant the entire time.

Thundering footsteps soon echoed down the corridor outside of the practice room – evidence of your incoming saviors. 

Sua stood up and allowed them to take her spot, but Jiu didn’t budge. They accepted that and let her be, much to your relief. 

Two women greeted you; the first one, crouching closest to you, introduced herself with a pitying smile. Her colleague, holding a basket full of medical supplies and tools for assessment, did the same from behind her. 

They were both incredibly gentle and patient with you as they completed their evaluation; their calm demeanor put you at ease, thus making their job even easier. Jiu’s reassuring presence also aided in that, as well as the hand that she rested against the small of your back to support you. Sua peered down as they worked, fighting the urge to pace anytime you let out a noise of discomfort. Her arms were crossed at her chest.

Before long, the two of them had reached a diagnosis. 

The woman in charge pushed her glasses higher onto the bridge of her nose as she regarded you. “It appears to be a sprained wrist. The damage is moderate, from what I can tell, but its condition is very delicate. You’ll need to take things easy to avoid making it worse.”

Jiu’s eyes fell shut briefly, full of disappointment. She was hoping the injury would be less severe.

“We’ll wrap it to ensure that it remains stabilized, and you can use painkillers to treat the soreness.” She explained. “The RICE method is effective in injuries like this. Rest, ice, compression, and elevation.” 

You nodded, swallowing carefully. That definitely wasn’t the best news to be hearing so close to performance day. 

“Thank you,” you said to them, bowing your head in a show of gratitude. “I appreciate your help.”

“You’re more than welcome, Y/N.”

The two of them traded places, and the second woman dug into her box of supplies to find the wrap. She placed a flat tray beneath your forearm, settling it on your lap, before lightly directing your wrist onto the center of it. You hissed when she straightened it out, and Jiu tensed a little against you at the sound, out of instinct. 

“I’m alright,” you said over your shoulder, just to her. 

She settled down after that with a quiet sigh; but stress was present in the noise, and it only made you wonder what was going through her head. You hated that your accident may have put any extra pressure on her. 

The woman continued winding the wrap around your skin until it was fully set in place. She instructed you again to be extra careful, especially within the next few days, as they were some of the most crucial for healing. 

Jiu retained the information that they provided just as readily as you – maybe even a bit more so, given her nurturing nature – and made sure to commit it all to memory. She crafted a sort of mental to-do list on the spot, filling the page of it with every task she could think of that would help you get better faster. 

Once the women were finished and you shared a word of parting, Jiu wasted no time in pulling her cell phone out of her pocket. 

She dialed up a number and held it to her ear, and you turned around, eyeing her curiously. Sua shared an equally inquisitive look at the eldest member.

“Eomma!” Jiu declared happily, once her call was answered upon the third ring. “I have a favor to ask…”

—-----------

Jiu’s Family Home

*knock knock*

“Coming!” Mrs. Kim called, her distant voice and footfalls growing nearer by the second. 

You shook your head as the two of you waited on the porch, feeling embarrassed. This was ridiculous. 

Before long, the mahogany door swung open, revealing her smiling mother. “Jiu, Y/N! Welc–” 

Her greeting paused abruptly when she noticed that Jiu had you hoisted up into her arms, cradling you close. She had refused to let you walk anywhere, ever since you complained that your hips were sore from the fall, too. She had insisted on carrying you. 

“...welcome!” She picked back up. To her credit, she didn’t remain fazed for very long at all. 

Jiu stepped past her when she ushered you in, and she shut the door behind the two of you shortly thereafter. An apron was stretched across her waist, and a few smudges of ingredients were visible on its surface. Its strings were tied in the back in a pretty bow.

Jiu had informed her of your accident and asked to bring you over, considering it was a longer drive from the company building to the dorm than it was to their house, and she wanted you to have the chance to rest as soon as possible. She knew that although the girls always meant well, they could also be a little… much at times; so she figured that bringing you here was the perfect solution in the meantime.

“Your father and I have some food cooking. It should be ready in a few minutes.”

“Thank you, eomma.”

The older woman simply smiled at her daughter in response. The gesture held a million words, like usual; all unsaid yet all understood. 

She stepped forward and placed a gentle hand atop your wrist; you could feel the warmth and sincerity radiating from her palm even through the material of the wrap. 

“We hope you make a speedy recovery, Y/N/N,” she affirmed endearingly. 

Perhaps it was the pain still coursing through your body in tiny shockwaves, or maybe just the sweetness of the moment, but part of you felt the urge to tear up at her hospitality. Jiu’s family never failed to make you feel welcomed and valued; at every opportunity they received, they made sure to remind you of how much they cared. 

It was obvious where Jiu got it from.

“The speediest,” another voice called, gaining your attention. It was Mr. Kim, standing in the doorway of the kitchen with a dishrag slung across his shoulder. His genuine smile warmed your heart. 

“I don’t know how to thank you enough,” you lamented, looking between them. But Mrs. Kim waved her free hand into the air, dismissing the thought altogether. 

“Don’t worry about that, honey. We already know,” she chuckled lightly. 

“We’re still sorting through all of the presents you gave us for Christmas.”

Jiu giggled at the memory of that, too, as she replayed it in her mind. The two of you had quite literally geared up to go shopping, with both of you donning camo and dark under eye paint just for the hell of it. It earned you some weird stares, then, but neither of you minded; it took the edge off of the stress you felt from shopping in the holiday’s calamitous conditions, and that in itself was enough to justify it ten times over.

At least you were odd together. That’s all that mattered, anyway.

“Still,” you playfully rolled your eyes, grinning. “Thank you guys. So much.”

They both returned your smile and assured you that they would do it a million times again – though they were clear that that wasn’t an invitation for you to get hurt that often. 

Following another word or two of parting, they both headed back to the kitchen to continue cooking and turned the two of you loose. 

Jiu carried you to her room and laid you down in the center of her bed, easing you onto it like you were fragile porcelain. A bag of ice sat on the nightstand, recently put there by Mr. Kim. A sticky note was stuck to the top of it, showing a hand drawn smiley-face beside the words, “Hope this helps!” 

When Jiu noticed you smiling to yourself, she tracked your line of sight over to it. 

“I’m starting to think they like you more than me,” she played, affectionately watching over you. 

“Can you blame them?” 

You pretended to flip your hair over your shoulder, and her mouth fell open. 

She scowled, acting mad. “Yah–” 

“Kidding, jagi,” you soothed, bringing your uninjured hand up to hers. When you squeezed it three times as a silent way of saying I love you, she dropped the act. 

She leaned over the side of the bed to kiss your forehead, then the tip of your nose, and then your lips before pulling away from you completely. The sudden loss of contact made you frown for a moment, but it quickly became clear that she was on a mission. 

The next thing on her to-do list was of utmost importance, she declared, as she opened the closet that resided next to her bed. 

Pillows – endless, endless rows of pillows – sat inside of it, stacked upon one another. The way that her mischievous smile grew upon finding them there, just like they always used to be, made a grimace pull on your features as realization dawned on you. 

She wasted no time in filling her arms with them, and you knew then that there was only one possible outcome…

-

When she was finished with her mission, you were surrounded by so many pillows that you couldn't even move. Every available inch of you was bordered by them in some way; you doubted you were even visible anymore, with how deep you were buried. 

“Jiu,” you started, barely intelligible from the way your cheeks were squished together, “...I sprained my wrist. Not my whole body.”

She pouted, too cute for her own good. “But that was a bad fall. I want you to be as comfortable as possible.”

You merely blinked at her in response. 

“Just hold me. I’ll be better in no time.”

Her eyes narrowed as she pondered your suggestion. 

“Fine,” she sighed, pretending to be upset over her wasted effort, “...but you’re keeping at least one under your arm.”

You looked up at her and grinned dopily as she approached the bed. “Deal.”

She uncovered you, piece by piece, but she made sure to leave the line of pillows closest to you where they were; she knew that you would benefit from having at least a little extra cushioning around the places you’d hit the hardest, no matter what you said. 

She had assessed your body back at the company, finding bruises on your hips and arms, so she had plenty of insight into where you needed them most. 

Once you were readjusted and comfortable, she took the ice bag from the table and splayed it across your wrist. 

She settled down beside you in a pocket of free space and laid on her side, using her arm to prop her head up. She wanted to look at you, like always. 

Her free hand came to rest against your stomach, which she rubbed lovingly. Her fingers brushed slow patterns across the soft material of your shirt there, putting you at ease. So much thought and care was present in the simplest of her touches; and that fact was never lost on you. 

“Thank you, my love,” you said after a moment, as you peered down at her. She raised her head enough to lock eyes with you; hers were warm mocha, swirling with all the love she held for you. The sweet smile on her face kickstarted your healing process that much faster. 

“Sweetheart,” she sighed, amused, “You don’t have to thank me. There’s no one I’d rather do this for.”

“Yeah?” You teased.

“Yeah.” She affirmed. “I just wish you weren’t hurting.”

That gave you an idea. 

“How about you come kiss me better, then?”

You didn’t miss the subtle way her eyes raked across your body, completely out of instinct. Such a simple request from you could still make her mind run wild.

She didn’t waste time in answering with words. Instead, she scooted up a little further on the bed and planted both of her hands at your side, keeping herself propped up. She leaned in and hovered her lips over yours, wanting to play a little. You tilted your head to the side, tempting her with perfect access to that mouth of yours that she loved so much. 

When you innocently smiled at her, she was done for. 

She closed what little distance remained between you and pressed her lips to yours, all in one fluid motion. Your uninjured hand cupped her cheek, coaxing her to lean into your touch. You hummed appreciatively when you tasted the chapstick that she had on – it was the flavor that you had told her was your favorite some time ago.

Such a sucker for the little things.

While you kissed away her worries and stress, pressing reassurance after reassurance to her soft lips, she kissed away the pain you were feeling. 

Every little laugh that escaped her when she got a bit carried away with her touches.

Every added flood of blush to her checks when you pulled her in closer. 

Each gentle sigh you let out into her mouth when she held you just right. 

Altogether, they were the most precious things to her in the world. You were the most precious thing. 

Her everything and more.

But guilt began to rise in you again, inching into your mind little by little. You felt like you didn’t deserve all of her kindness and understanding.

“I’m sorry,” you mumbled against her lips, disappointed. 

“For what, baby?” 

She pulled away just enough to study you. 

“Being so distant lately, and now this,” you explained, glancing at your injury. “We’ll have to totally readjust our performance, and it’s all my fault."

Her head shook gently. “None of this is your fault. It’s not like you intended for it to happen.”

“Still,” you sighed, attempting to find a way to blame yourself like usual. “I’ve just been so in my head about the stage… maybe it finally caught up to me. I don't wanna let anyone down.”

“Is that what you were going to tell me at practice earlier?” Her gaze softened.

You nodded rather sheepishly. 

“I’ve been stressed for a while,” you admitted. “I’m just good at keeping it to myself.”

“Why didn’t you come to me sooner?” Her tone was tender, but firm enough to show the concern she felt. “It’s my job to take care of you.”

“You have plenty on your plate already. You shouldn’t have to coddle me on top of that.”

“Did you ever think that, I don’t know,” she shrugged, smiling the tiniest bit, “maybe I want to?” Her head tilted to the side, curious as to what your answer would be. 

“Why would you want that?”

“Because nothing makes me feel better than knowing you’re happy and cared for. When you shut everyone out and stress alone, it worries me. It worries all of us, really,” she admitted, recalling how the girls had all found the time to come to her and express their concern for you. 

You hadn’t really taken much time to consider that before.

“You’re mine to look after,” she continued, gently rubbing your hip with her thumb. The simple action brought you more comfort than she could ever know. “...so let me. Next time you’re feeling like this, I want you to tell me, okay?”

Between the quirk of her brow and the expectant expression that graced her features, you were left with no choice but to agree. 

“Okay.”

She wasn’t completely satisfied yet.

“Promise me,” she affirmed, looking into your eyes.

“I promise.” 

When she began to smile again – that dorky, ridiculously adorable smile of victory that she does so well – you found yourself doing the same. Her happiness was contagious. 

“Good. Now, if you go back on that, I’m legally allowed to send Sua after you.”

A feeling of dread washed over you at the mental image that conjured up. 

“Anything but that…”

Jiu was capable of being scary when she needed to be, but she had nothing on angry Sua. The two were simply incomparable.

“Maybe now you’ll stay in line,” she quipped, still smiling as if she hadn’t just threatened you with a potential WWIII scenario. 

Her hand repositioned against your side as she rubbed it again, taking her time and having no real pattern in mind. Your skin was warm beneath her fingertips, and just as soft as always. Simply being close to you like this was enough to ease her mind. 

You were her escape from the world.

When your previous look of horror subsided and you allowed her calming touch to work its magic, you smiled at her again. It was pure, and full of so much adoration that you most likely would’ve hurled, had you been the one to witness it. But Jiu had an easy way of melting all of that away. It only felt right to be so in love with her. So head over heels. Especially when, relentlessly and without fail, she went above and beyond to prove how much you meant to her. 

“What are you thinking?” She asked, noticing the way you went quiet. Your eyes were shining in the way she loved so much, too, and it didn’t go unnoticed. 

“About how much I love you.” You looked at her thoughtfully. “And how happy I am to call you mine.” The grin on your face made her heart skip a beat, just like always. “And how cute you are when you blush like that–”

She suddenly put a finger to your lips to prevent you from continuing. “Okay, I get it,” she dismissed, flustered.

“Oh, now you don’t want me to talk, huh?” You teased, leaning towards her a little as you pulled her hand away. “I see how it is. Looks like someone just can't take it.”

“Hush,” she warned. 

Your lips pursed mischievously. “Mmm, should I? I don’t know…” you shrugged, weighing your options, “...teasing you is pretty fun. Give me a good reason to stop.”

She took that and ran with it, in both the best and worst ways possible.

The best, because she shut you up with a kiss that sent you reeling.

And the worst, because you felt your blood pressure spike like some giddy teenager when she did. 

She always reduced you to a bumbling fool when she kissed you like that, with such love and power. It commanded you, stealing your breath away and leaving you with no proper sense of orientation when she pulled away.

Your head spun, but she merely smirked at you. Annoyingly, she was entirely aware of the effect she had on you and she never missed the opportunity to use it to her advantage. 

That had to violate some kind of morality law…

“Aww, look who’s quiet now.” 

Her tone made you shake your head. You were screwed.

Her free hand raised to your cheek as she readjusted your hair, giving herself a better view of you. “See? You can listen so well sometimes.”

“Jiu,” you huffed, “...this is rude. Don’t get me riled up when I’m injured and we’re at your parents’ house, for Christ’s sake!” You eyed the door a little hesitantly, worried that one of them might overhear your conversation.

“I have no idea what you’re implying, my love,” she teased again, playing dumb. “Am I really doing that to you?” She was so smug it hurt. 

“I mean it.” You answered flatly, attempting to keep your eyes off of her lips. 

But she played into the very obvious fact that that was a difficult task for you. She leaned in closer, just a breath away. “I do, too.”

You swallowed and leaned in too, unable to help yourself. She was like a magnet. And, for what it was worth, her heart was racing just as quickly as yours. The push and pull that you shared enticed her more than she ever cared to let on.

Just before her lips could brush against yours, though, Mrs. Kim’s distinctive knocks rapped against the bedroom door. 

Jiu shut her eyes in defeat and hung her head, chuckling lightly. Her mother truly had terrible timing.

The moment brought her back to all of the times she had invited you over before her parents knew you were together. 

How she would kiss you whenever they weren’t looking, or how she would always manage to find a reason that she needed you alone in her room. All of the simple touches you shared, and the glances that sent a million unspoken things between the two of you; it all went completely over their heads at the time.

Those memories were beyond precious to her. But she was glad that they were aware of your love for one another now, and that you didn’t have to hide away. You were in it for the long run. 

“Come in, mom,” she called, pulling away from you so she could face the door. 

“The food is done,” she informed, glancing between the two of you. The blush on your cheeks made her smile to herself. “Come grab a plate when you’re ready. We want to catch up over dinner, if you’re feeling up to it.”

You nodded adamantly. “Of course, Mrs. Kim. I’d love to.”

“Good,” she nodded singularly. “We’ll be waiting.”

You didn’t miss the look she sent to Jiu; it was affectionate, but full of a motherly warning all the same. She knew her daughter well; given the opportunity, she would have likely never drug herself out of the bed (especially when you were in it).

The door closed behind her, leaving the two of you alone once more. 

“We’d best get going, then.”

“Yeah,” she agreed, though she made no move to do so. 

You rolled your eyes and leaned it, pressing one last, quick kiss to her lips. When you pulled away, she was smiling and clearly satisfied. 

“Alright, come on.” 

She stood up and reached out for you, helping ease you up and onto your sore legs. She was tempted to carry you again, but you shot her a glare that made her rethink that before she could even try it. You’d be damned to let her carry you the ten steps that it took to reach the kitchen.

You bit the inside of your cheek when pain wracked through your body again, but it was bearable for the most part. She kept her hands hovering near you, waiting on standby in case you needed to use her to steady yourself. She was at your beck and call; exactly where she wanted to be. 

Once you had made it to the door, she retrieved a pillow for you to sit on at the table. It was her favorite, and she knew it was probably the comfiest one she owned. 

“Ready, jagi?” She asked, as she opened the door. You looked out across the house, and the sounds of her parents’ pleasant conversation carried over to you. 

“More than ready.” 

You turned and kissed her cheek before taking another step forward.