Bestie's Brother.

sagittarius + scaramouche + drabble + fluff (and happy 1k!! :3)

deal with the devil (drabble)

penpal: hope this is to your liking, anon!

prompt: sagittarius the archer, time-stop soulmate au (soulmate au whereas time stops when two soulmates look at each other)

pairing/s: scaramouche x gn!reader

sypnosis: when yae miko request you to follow the traveler and help him in the shadows, you certainly didn’t expect to meet your soulmate at a crucial time.

includes: spoilers to 2.1 archon quest, scaramouche calls you a loser, fluff/no-angst

// SPOILERS TO 2.1 ARCHON QUEST //

"you should follow the traveler when you have the chance. who knows if he'll come across to one of those harbingers." your friend says, causing you to look at her instead of instead of the traveler– who's currently running away from sangonomiya kokomi's residence after finding out the truth of the fallen soldiers. "i'm sure you've seen how powerful they are." she adds, crossing her arms with a small smile.

you continue to stay silent. sure, you could go to the traveler and watch until they need more help, but what can you do if a harbinger actually appears? you unfortunately aren't experience in combat.

yae miko seemed to read your mind. "you don't have to worry about having to fight them. you can simply tell them to back away from you and aether in exchange of this;" she suddenly pulls something out from her hidden pocket, causing your eyes to widen in shocked at the sight of the familiar shape of a gnosis.

how on earth did she get that?

she giggles at the sight of your shocked reaction. "you don't have to immediately give it to them since aether is strong enough to take them down. just give it when needed."

you furrowed your eyebrows. "why do you want me to follow the traveler anyway?"

"i have my reasons. i'll tell you soon when you come back with him and his companion." she answers, handing you the gnosis for you to take.

"so, are you going to do it or should i do the dirty work myself?"

–

as you enter the delusions factory, your eyes immediately lands on the piled up bodies of fatui members, causing you to furrow your eyebrows at the gruesome sight.

you continue to walk towards the place, trying to ignore the corpses around you. has the honorary knight been this merciless? you honestly couldn't blame him. not after witnessing the tragic fate of one of the soldiers that aether seemed to be close to.

it didn't take long before you finally saw the traveler slaughtering every single fatui members who were getting in his way, causing you to watch the gruesome show while hiding in plain sight.

"don't be intimidated. lord harbinger will be here soon." one of the fatui agents says to the remaining troops before getting knocked out.

lord harbinger, huh? you thought to yourself. i wonder which harbinger will arrive.

as soon as you think about the harbinger, you immediately spotted a man walking inside the room, causing your heart to drop.

"you actually managed to find this place.. congratulations." he comments, crossing his arms as aether immediately fixes his battle stance, his dull blade aiming at the balladeer's directoon. "hah, barely two words in and you already look like you want me dead."

"you're manufacturing delusions." aether speaks up, his voice echoes around the room.

scaramouche gave him an amused look. "oh, so that's what this is about."

as the harbinger continues to have a conversation with aether, you suddenly look down at where the gnosis is hidden, waiting for something to happen for you to finally escort the honorary knight to yae.

it took a few minutes until paimon's cries catches your attention from the gnosis, your breath hitches at the sight of aether– who was currently kneeling down on the ground as a purple haze starts to envelop him.

you look at where scaramouche is, watching him laughing manically at the sight of the fallen traveler. "that's it, just like that! embrace the anger... EMBRACE IT!"

the moment the traveler fell down to the ground, you find yourself standing up from the ground and head towards to the scene and glare daggers at the harbinger– who hasn't noticed your presence yet until–

"balladeer,"

scaramouche seems to be taken back by surprise from your sudden intrusion, now looking at you with furrowed eyebrows. you thought he felt intimidated by you, causing you to feel confident in yourself.

"i will not allow you to fight the traveler." you explained, standing between scaramouche and aether with an intimidating look plastered on your face. "i'm sure you know that he's valuable to inazuma's fate and is off-limits to harbingers like you, so try and not mess with me–"

"and why pray tell should i obey a nobody like you?" he asks, crossing his arms. "if anything, i think you should be scared of even trying to face against someone like me."

you couldn't help but smile, bringing out the one thing that he– alongside the other harbingers– have been looking for for the sake of pleasing the tsaritsa. "does this answer your question, dear balladeer?"

his eyes slightly widens at the sight of the gnosis on your hand. "how the hell did you–?!"

"i have my ways," you interrupted, taking a few steps backwards from him in fear of the harbinger suddenly trying to grab it form your grasp. "that's honestly none of your business, don't you think?"

he watched as you started playing with the piece, trying to prevent yourself from laughing at the sight of his shocked face. "now, does this give you enough approval in not laying another hand on the traveler?" you ask, still smiling at the man.

scaramouche continues to stare at the gnosis, tempted to just steal it and never come back to this hellhole until the tsaritsa assigns him go back here again.

with thoughts swirling through his mind, scaramouche glances back at aether, who seems to still be unconscious. which one would be beneficial more to the tsaritsa? a gnosis or the head of the traveler.

with a small sigh, the harbinger nods defeatedly and reaches his hand out for you to give him the gnosis. "i suppose i'll spare the so-called honorary knight's life." he says, watching as you willingly place the gnosis on his hand.

"may we not see each other again, balladeer." you spoke up, turning away from his direction and immediately went to the traveler–

wait

why... why is everything frozen?

you blink a few times, thinking you were hallucinating from the overwhelming aura around the room, only to realize that everything except you and scaramouche is indeed frozen in time.

don't tell me...

it was scaramouche's turn to smirk, satisfied with your changed reaction as he lets out a chuckle.

"took you long enough to realize that i'm your soulmate, loser."

Strangers (Chapter Two)

Strangers from Hell AU

Series Masterlist

pairing: ot7 x reader

genre: yandere, horror/thriller

warnings: murder, mature themes, obsessive/possessive behavior, emotional manipulation, stalking, violence (will update as needed)

word count: 5.5k words

quick note!! I had to make some edits in the last chapter bc I realized two plot points were missing so to summarize: yn has a boyfriend named Jihoon that also lives in the city and Nayeon is the friend that got her a job at the company! not major plot points (and they’re only briefly mentioned in the last chapter) but just wanted to put this out there in case you were confused reading this one :)

Today’s the big day. You thought you would be nervous but right now, all you feel is excitement. You finally get to wear the professional clothes you bought recently and you feel like a real adult in them. You opted to wear a gray pencil skirt today as it’s still pretty hot outside, paired with a blue button-up blouse. You slip on the heels and inwardly thank your mom for forcing you to wear them around the house the past few weeks in order to break them in. A quick once over in the mirror gives you all the confirmation you need to start your day.

You try to ignore your clicking heels echoing in the hallway as you fish through your bag for the granola bar you stuffed in there earlier. You don’t see Jimin standing there by his office door, which he takes advantage of as his eyes rake up and down your figure.

“Good morning, YN!” You jump as you look up and see him smiling at you, his abrupt greeting causing you to almost drop the breakfast you had finally dug out.

“Good morning, Jimin.” You bow politely, fully ready to move past him when he stops you again.

“Sorry if I scared you.” He laughs warmly, stepping closer to you. “I just wanted to say I heard that things got a little rowdy last night and I hope you weren’t too freaked out.”

“Oh, yes well-”

“It’s normally not like that at all. We’re usually very quiet and respectful here.”

“I understand. It can get like that sometimes with a lot of people living in the same place.” You try to inch towards where the stairs are when he subtly moves closer, blocking your path again.

“You’re so considerate!” Jimin coos, tapping your arm in a friendly manner. “Unlike that other girl, she’s a real trainwreck.”

Your eyes widen at his blatant gossipping, not expecting him to speak so negatively about one of his tenants. “You mean Soomi?”

“Yes, she runs with a pretty rough crowd so it explains how violent she is.” His words give you pause as you take in this new information, not sure whether to believe him or not. “But don’t worry, you won’t be seeing her around anymore. She packed up and left this morning.”

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hi ate congrats! pa-request ng 003 with taehyung? tapos phantom of the opera au kung kaya. thanks! <33

003. "Love me. I'm cold." + kim taehyung

— Kim Taeyung always hated the cold.

word count: 830 contents: ANGST, loosely based on Phantom of the Opera (both movie and novel), childhood friend!Jeon Jungkook to the rescue, (Y/N) developed a bit of a Stockholm Syndrome for a moment yikes, YOU ARE OF AGE (unlike Christine 😭) toxic, possessive behavior, major character death, Yandere AU  pairing: kim taehyung x reader

[masterlist] | check out more of [Four Years with Mira]!

A/N: Thank you so much!~ ✋😭💖💓💕 I’m so glad you joined! 🥳 I’m gonna be honest, I didn’t think of making “Love me. I’m cold.” into an ANGSTY yandere abomination and I also never fully watched Phantom of the Opera until this, but I gOTTA DELIVER!! Sana nagustuhan mo AAAAAAA

P.S. Repeat after me, lovelies. NO YANDERES IRL. THIS IS FICTION.

Time and fate are an unfathomable pair in how much they've changed life for you in the past months.

How, in spite of having gone your separate ways, you're once again entangled with a familiar face from your childhood. 

How, in spite of having been nothing but a background piece to the magnificent opera house for years, you're suddenly thrust into the limelight.  

How, in spite of having fallen for the angel of music, you're now faced with the fact that he had been a demon all along. 

"Taehyung, please!"

Catacombs ran deep beneath the city, labyrinthine halls that drove you mad as you ran through them in a desperate search for familiar faces. The white gown you had worn for the play was now tattered, sodden with the cistern's murky waters and smudged with dirt, and grime—and yet, that doesn't stop you from running towards the phantom and the vicomte as soon as you saw them. 

After having enough of the people that got in his way, Taehyung hunted the derelict halls beneath the opera house for Jeon Jungkook, your childhood friend, and now here they were. The two of them were locked in a battle, and though Jungkook was of a larger build than him, Taehyung seemed to have exhausted him enough for him to be winning over the young vicomte.  

"Taehyung!" your voice shakes as you call out his name immediately. 

Through the mask that covers his face, there's an immediate shift in his eyes, stone cold, murderous gaze becoming soft at the sight of you. "Enough of this. I beg of you," you beseech him, such words instantly taking away the fondness and revealing a look of betrayal and rage. 

"You're mine!" he childishly bellowed, shaking just as much as he pressed down on Jungkook yet again. "Haven't I made that clear enough?!"

The pain in his voice twists your heart, just as much as his heinous deeds twist your stomach. Murder, sabotage, manipulation—he had done all of it for your sake, he told you. If so, then perhaps you can coax him out of this. "Let go of him and I'll go with you," you strike a deal with the devil, effectively tempting him into loosening his grip on the vicomte. 

"(Y/N), n—"

Jungkook's protest is cut off by a groan of pain as Taehyung's fist meets with his jaw, the clatter of swords falling along with him. In an instant, the masked phantom seizes your face, his hold firm yet gentle. "You will marry me," Taehyung decidedly declares, "and you'll never b—"

A horrified gasp leaves you as you catch sight of a glinting steel poke through Taehyung's abdomen. He, too, reels with the pain coursing through his very being.  

Blood—blood is coming out of him fast.

Behind the phantom, Jungkook shakes as he withdraws the blade. He's never killed anyone before. "She's not yours or mine," the young vicomte gritted through his teeth, "but I'll never let her be damned to the likes of you."

The rage that roars through the phantom is immediate. So close, yet he had been foolish. He should've ended the basta—

A gentle hand squeezing his is the water that douses the fire burning within him. Your eyes meet and he sees the exhaustion in your eyes, the sparkle he had fallen for no longer there. There's a resounding defeat that flashes in Taehyung's eyes as he staggers forth and surrenders himself into your arms, his body falling from your weak hold and onto the floor.  

You and Jungkook share a glance, both unsure of what to do. Had Taehyung finally realized his faults and regrets so close to death's door?

Desperate for the last of your affection, Taehyung's hand clutches your gown. "Love me," his words were a benediction to you, his muse and goddess, as they always were. "I'm cold."

Kim Taehyung always hated the cold, but the darkness of the crypts were all he had, and he could never bring himself to the warmth of fire—the very thing that left half of his face and body scarred after an unfortunate incident years ago. 

You oblige, for the sake of what good he had done in your life, for the sake of that poor, unfortunate soul who craved for love he went mad. Fingers trembling from the cold and from the rush of it all, you unmask Taehyung for the last time, in spite of the weak protest he tries to stop you with. 

You gently caress his cheek, the one of marred flesh as you let him settle on your lap. A tear falls from your cheek, though you're not really sure why—you don't love him, not after what he's done. It's pity, perhaps.

And so, it is with pity you press a soft, parting kiss onto his forehead, one the dying man relishes. "Tell the world I've died of love," he whispers to you as you pull away, his dying breath only ever taken for his beloved songbird. 

Kim Taehyung always hated the cold. 

Still, he blissfully closed his eyes. At the very least, in the cold of the night, in the darkness beneath the city, your warmth surrounds him before death's embrace ever could.

did anyone ask for fatui found family hc’s?? no???? too bad anyway here’s my 300 page doc on why the harbingers + the tsaritsa are the ultimate villain found family trope and in this essay i will—

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all of us are dead — han gyeong-su “helpless” warning : cringe

Gyeong-su munch his chips, putting one after one, the loudness of each bite causes you to cringe at him. Hoping that he'll have some goddamn self awareness that will creep up on him to knock him in the head. Currently, the two of you sat alone in the classroom. Him, quote-being-a-good-friend-that-you-should-be-thankful-for-quote, offers you some company while you study for the upcoming test.

An exasperated sigh left your lips, dragging your hand along your face as you side eyed him, borrowing your phone to play some games and scroll through the media. “Could you tone it down with the crunches? It's getting annoying.”

“Hmmmmm.. no.”

The boy popped another chip and bite on it loudly like before, this time, on purpose. Getting on your nerves is one of his favorite hobby after all.

Hehe.

You groaned, pinching the bridge of your nose for the nth time of the moment. “Dumbass Gyeong-su.” You swore, rolling your eyes as he nonchalantly likes some videos, chuckling at them with an obnoxious laugh making you smile in amusement.

With a sigh, you returned back to writing down your notes, heart thumping in your chest in content. For now..

Let's just cherish this moment.

“Hey.” Gyeong-su craned his neck to look at you. wiping his fingers after licking all the powder off with a satisfied hum. What greets him was your head, plopping on his shoulder. Exhaustion took over your body.

The boy stayed still. Not knowing what to do.

He glanced at you, chest heaving up and down peacefully, asleep like a baby. His eyes travelling to your face where he caught sight of your eye bags—the excessive times you stay up late, studying so hard to pass your academic grades.

Gyeong-su admired you.

Not just looking up at you because of your dedication but also because you're just.. just so perfect..

So charming in his eyes that he can't help but unconsciously lift his hand to brush your hair that seemingly obscure his sight—your beauty.

Thump.

Thump.

He felt his heartbeat quicken. Mentally scolding himself that you might hear the loud drums inside his chest.

Gyeong-su knows; you're way out of his league. You were all that he never is. But that is why his eyes shine for you. He ‘choked’ his hand that was planning to cup your cheeks, screaming at it in his head.

What the fuck is wrong with me?!

Thump.

And there it is again.

Gyeong-su covered his face, feeling it flush in a deep red, his leg bouncing up and down. Flustered, is what he feel. Fuck. You're so damn oblivious of his advances that he doesn't know whether or not be grateful. He wants you to notice him at the same time not—this friendship that he had built with you, he doesn't want to end it if it somehow all goes south.

“What do I do ohhh God, what the fuck do I do..?” He murmured into his hands.

Grumbling, Gyeong-su reaches out to slightly poke you.

And it felt wrong, but it felt just right. Is what it feels like if we are together? His mind stilled into euphoria at the thought.

He tries so hard not to scream, his crush, laying on his shoulder—fuck, if he could, he would've ran away and bashed his head into the wall to remind himself that this is reality and not a damn dream.

Feeling you stir, Gyeong-su stiffen in his spot before slowly easing up, adjusting your head so that you won't fall.

Maybe..

It isn't that bad..

Just a few minutes.

A few more.

“Han y/n...”

With eyes wide at what fell out of his mouth, Gyeong-su punched himself, awakening you from your slumber.

“Wha?!”

You sat up straight, eyes snapping to Gyeong-su immediately who cradle his head. “Gyeong-su?! What happened? Are you okay?!”

“ughh Fuck.. do I look like I am?” He grumbles, hand holding his jaw from the impact. “ssibal.”

“What were you doing, honestly.”

“I had a mental crisis of what I should eat today.”

You scrunched you nose at his response before giggling, “Geez, really..”

Slinging your bag over to your shoulder, standing up to pat the boy, “Come on, let's go.” You usher, hand outstretched for him to grab on to.

“Hnnn, hold on, my jaw still hurts.”

“Leave it to hurt more, let's go eat, my treat.”

“OHHH y/n you're so generous today! Have you gone mad- I mean, kind because of too much studying?”

“Keep talking and I'll take it all back.”

“Sorry sorry, please no take backs! Oh wonderful y/n!” You drag him, poor boy nearly stumbling face plant to the ground. “Whoa!”

You walk in front of him, the hand that intertwine with his squeezes slightly. It was a good thing that you are leading the way, dragging him, or else Gyeong-su would've seen your face. Flustered and hot.

Han y/n... actually sounds nice.

The Ivory Fang (Il/finale)

— pairing: mermaid taehyung x (f) reader — word count: 8.2k — warnings: (soft?) yandere — summary: You have run out of options when it comes to treating your mother's illness. When a mysterious man offers you a solution that might save her, you decide that nothing is too strange if it means it'll lead to a cure – not even finding and striking a deal with a mermaid.

Part 01 - 02

The bones above you rattle as you dare to step closer to the pool. Your body trembles under Taehyung's intent gaze, the sharp points of his fangs peeking out as he smirks. There's no doubt in your mind that he would be able to rip you to pieces in seconds with teeth like that, yet, you can't run away now. There is nowhere for you to go but forward and Taehyung has all of the answers you have so desperately been searching for.

"Your request?" Taehyung prompts. His fin flicks lazily up and down, keeping his shimmering tail floating just above the water.

"You know what it is," You find yourself growing angry amid of your fear, annoyed that you were sent on a wild goose chase so far away from your mother. "Why could you not grant my wish on land? Why drag me all the way here?"

Taehyung's icy eyes light up at your vexed tone, openly finding pleasure in your displeasure. He taps a finger against his cheek, dragging out the silence to seemingly shake you further before he says, "My magic is stronger at the island. Your.. situation, requires a great deal of it, so it must be done here."

"Magic abides by certain rules, an order, which must be kept if you want your wish to be successful. So I will ask you again, human, what is your request?"

A brief thought strikes you about faeries and their ability to twist your words into something foul as you look down at Taehyung's mischievous smile. There was a folktale your mother used to tell you when you were young, to teach you to always speak the truth. You followed your mother's will, scared by the implication that a creature could twist your words, until you realized that sometimes - lying was kinder than telling the truth. But perhaps there had been something valuable in her teachings nonetheless. Maybe a mermaid's magic, much like a faerie's, can twist your request into something terrible if you allow space for it.

You take a moment to formulate the request in your mind, making it as perfect and concise as possible without leaving any room for trickery. "I want you to cure my mother of the sickness that is eating away at her body and make her healthy again."

The mermaid tilts his head, exposing the gills along his neck as he considers it. "Very well. And what may you be willing to sacrifice for me to grant your request?"

The answer slips out just as easily as it did the first time Taehyung asked you.

"Anything."

"If it is something of equal value then..." Taehyung pushes himself back from the edge of the pool, the distance making it easier for him to once again scrutinize you from head to toe. You're not entirely sure what he's looking for or what he finds, but he seems to deem it acceptable. "Hmm, fine. I shall grant it."

The mermaid suddenly submerges himself underwater, swimming into the depths of the pool. You shudder as you look over the edge and realize you can only faintly see Taehyung's tail shimmering down below, the water far deeper than you were expecting. You hastily retreat as you notice Taehyung's form becoming more visible, the mermaid clearing the distance in only a few seconds as he breaches the surface. He has something clutched in his hand, something mushy and soft that strongly resembles algae. The only difference is that this seaweed is glowing, a faint light emitting from it as soon as it comes into contact with air.

Taehyung spares you no explanation as he swims over to the other side of the pool, to the same spot he was lounging before you revealed yourself. You watch in fascination as he finds a large shell, placing the algae into it before he starts mushing it up even further with what looks to be a white crystal. You wince as he tears a lock of hair from his head, uncaring, as he adds it to the mixture. There are a few more things added into it that you can't make out from where you're standing, and for your self-preservation, you think it best to stay where you are.

The mermaid eventually makes his way back to you, his concoction held safely above the water's surface. "Come closer, human, I need you for the final part of the potion."

You hesitate for only a split second, wary of closing the distance. But the guilt of knowing that you're only prolonging your mother's suffering finally pushes to you take a few more steps forward, falling to your knees at the edge of the pool.

"Very good," Taehyung purrs. "First, I need back what I gave you." The fang.

You had completely forgotten about it in the midst of everything else. You feel a jolt of panic as you rummage around the loose pockets of your trousers, not finding anything. Did you lose it in the sea? Patting yourself down, you let out a tiny sound of realization as you remember the hidden pocket in the back, the one your mother added for safekeeping coins.

"Here," You place the fang by the edge of the pool, watching as Taehyung picks it up with a carefulness you never would have associated with a creature like him.

You shrink back as he suddenly raises a webbed hand towards your face, your heart hammering in your chest as you get a good close-up of his awfully sharp claws. You squeeze your eyes shut as he makes a swiping motion, sure that those talons are going to cut your throat wide open. Instead, only feel a light tug at your hair, much like a knife cutting through it.

You open your eyes just in time to see Taehyung adding a few strands of your hair to his brew, grinding it down to nothing with his crystal. He whispers low under his breath as he stirs, speaking a tongue you have never heard before. You wonder if it's magic or if it's simply the language of mermaids. It feels old though, like perhaps it is older than time itself.

Taehyung places the shell in front of you as he finishes his incantation. "You must drink this and think of your intention – your request – as you do so."

The brew looks murky green and slimy, definitely not at all appealing. It makes your stomach turn to know that you'll be ingesting his hair, but if this is all you need to do, then that is a small price to pay for your mother's health. You grimace as you pick the shell up, balancing it carefully between your hands as you bring it up to your lips. The smell that hits your nose is repugnant and you have no doubt that it will taste even worse. You take a deep breath in through your mouth, using the moment to steel yourself and think of your mother before you tip the shell forward.

Nothing could have prepared you for the absolutely horrid taste that hits your tongue, some of the slimy potion pooling in your mouth despite your best attempts to quickly swallow it. As the final gulp passes down your throat and you heave for air, desperate for something to scrape the nasty residue off your tongue, you feel a heaviness settle around your wrists and ankles. The sensation weighs you down for a moment, tight around your limbs, before it disappears just as quickly as it arrived.

"What was that?" You croak, touching your unblemished wrist.

You freeze as a webbed hand suddenly covers yours, your breath catching in your throat at how wet and off his touch feels. The sharp points of Taehyung's claws are digging into your skin, just short of slicing into your arteries.

"It was your end of our deal. The only thing of equal value to saving a life is to take another. Killing you would be a pity, so chaining your life to mine seemed a better option."

You swallow thickly, unease spreading through your body like wildfire. "What does that mean, exactly?"

"Well, if I call, you come. If I ask you to do something, you do it."

"So, I'm your servant," You conclude. "That's... fine. I'll aid you whenever you find yourself in our town."

Taehyung is silent for a long moment before he lets out a small chuckle, one that sounds like he just watched a kitten trip over its own feet. "Oh guppy, I do not think you understand. You are chained to me and my magic that rests on this island. You cannot leave."

"No!" You whip your head up, flinching as you find Taehyung's face much too close to yours. "But– But my mother? How will I know if our deal has worked?"

The mermaid shrugs, indifferent to your distress.

"Trust, I suppose. Desperation. If you ever attempt to leave, the spell will break and your mother will revert back to her sick self again. It is up to you whether you are willing to chance it."

You think you should have seen this coming – how cruel a deal with a magical creature can be. If you stay here you can't confirm that Taehyung is holding up his end of the deal but you also cannot risk going back to check on the odd chance that it actually breaks the spell and dooms your mother. You have no choice but to trust him – to hope that the magic that binds you, also binds him.

Taehyung senses your quiet acceptance, his claws drifting from your wrist to your cheek. You don't fight it as he lifts your head, forcing you to meet his gaze. The mermaid seems to revel in your misery, his eyes gleaming with something hungry and dangerous as he stares you down. His claws draw blood as he slinks closer, the small pinpricks leaving streaks of red trickling down your face.

Taehyung's breath ghosts over your lips as he leers and says, "Now human, what should we do with you?"

Servant was perhaps too kind of a word.

The mermaid puts you to work right away, sending you out to different parts of the island to collect items he needs. He often leaves you with vague descriptions, forcing you to make the trek multiple times when the plant or leaves you have plucked aren't the ones he's looking for. He never allows you to rest or eat until your task for the day is done.

You hobble into the cave, winching with every step as your bloodied and bruised skin makes contact with the hard rock underneath. Taehyung sent you out to find a red fruit today, one that grows at the very top of a tree. You haven't done much climbing since you were a child and certainly never that high up, so each branch you picked to take you further was chosen with caution. Your feet were already scraped and bloodied by the time you had made it halfway up the trunk and the rest of your climb wasn't made easier by the sap-like texture dripping out of the bark, causing every step to feel like it might be your last.

Your legs are shaking with pain by the time you step into the cavern, the crudely woven basket on your back so heavy it threatens to drag you down with each step. Collapsing near the pool's edge, you heave it off your shoulders to give to Taehyung. The mermaid hasn't spared you a single glance since you appeared, his attention locked onto the new concoction he's working on. It isn't until you loudly clear your throat that Taehyung turns around, propelling himself to the other side of the pool in a few seconds with a few strong strokes of his tail.

He hums contently as he takes stock of all the fruit you gathered, rummaging around to make sure that they're all in good condition. Taehyung pierces into the flesh with his claws, red juice dripping down his hand as he holds up the fruit to closer inspect it. His cold gaze moves over to you once he deems it satisfactory.

"Did you eat one, human?"

"No," You shake your head. To say you hadn't been tempted would be a lie, but you were afraid of disobeying the mermaid's orders. What if it affected your agreement?

"Good."

Taehyung lifts the basket on top of his head, balancing it there as if it weighs nothing as he returns to the other side of the pool. You massage your sore calves, trying to ignore the hunger gnawing at your stomach. You're not sure how long the mermaid takes before he makes his way back to you - you suspect he always drags it out longer than necessary because he likes to see you squirm – but you feel ravenous by the time he places your dinner in front of you. Your food is always the same; fresh fish cut into thin slices along with blue, plump berries. While it never looks like much, it always fills you up until you think you might burst.

You try not to grimace as Taehyung's webbed hands wrap around your legs, dragging your feet down into the water of the pool. The first time it happened you had kicked the mermaid so hard it left him stunned. In retaliation for your fear, you weren't allowed to eat for two days.

You quickly learned your lesson that it was best to just let Taehyung do what he wants unless you were willing to face the consequences.

You focus on eating your berries as Taehyung drags his hands over the soles of your feet, the mermaid murmuring words you don't understand. You suppress your whimpers as the wounds on your feet begin to knit themselves back together, the skin scarring and smoothing over in just under a minute. You often find yourself wondering if this is Taehyung's strategy for an obedient servant; while he's the one who's breaking you down, he's also the only one who can patch you back up, ensuring that you always come running back.

Fear has kept you from talking much, worried that one wrong question might cause the mermaid to anger and sink his claws into you. But the past weeks on this island have left you feeling restless and starved for more than just food. At this point, you're simply desperate for some interaction. So, against your better judgement, you say, "How does that work?"

Taehyung pauses his movements, "How does what work, human?"

"The thing you're doing to my feet, the, uh, magic?"

"That is none of your concern," The gills on Taehyung's neck flutter as he huffs.

"Right," You murmur, not stupid enough to push when it's clear that he's unwilling to elaborate.

"Are you the only mermaid living on this island?"

You pull your feet out of the water the moment Taehyung is done healing them, scooting back just in case you have annoyed him with your questions. The mermaid regards you silently for a moment, his normally stoic expression wavering just so.

"I am. We are lonely creatures, much too possessive to be able to share the same home," Taehyung says. His nose wrinkles as he adds, "There are some.. exceptions, of course."

"Such as?" You wonder.

"Two of my brothers are a bit more attached than what is considered normal for us. I pity the creature they will choose as their mate."

Mate? It seems odd that such solitary creatures would have partners but maybe this is a good thing for you. If Taehyung starts looking for his mate, he likely won't have time to torment you and send you out on such pointless quests anymore.

"Do you see your brothers often?"

"No," Taehyung answers simply. "The moment we leave the pod, we are on our own. I only hear about my brothers through whispers of others, never directly from them. Such is the life at sea."

The mermaid quirks his lips, showing off the sharp points of his fangs as he notices the surprised look on your face. "You seem shocked that I am willingly giving out information, human."

"I–I suppose," You stammer, flabbergasted. Frankly, you didn't think you would ever get that much out of a simple question, that you would actually learn something about how mermaid society works.

Taehyung gently pushes himself away from the edge of the pool, floating on his back as he drifts closer to the middle of the water. The soft echo of his voice between the cave walls leaves your mind spinning as he confesses, "You are the first creature I have spoken to in years, guppy. Us monsters get lonesome too."

You stand with your hands on your hips just a little ways off the path your feet have forged, staring down the bush full of ripe, blue berries as you consider all of your options. You are well aware that you will get into trouble if you eat some, that you will be defying Taehyung's orders, but you are just so hungry.

It is only midday and you know that you have hours left to go until you have completed the task Taehyung has given you for the day. You need some fuel if you are going to be able to keep going until then. You're sick of feeling like your stomach is either trying to eat itself or almost bursting at the seams, sick of every little aspect of your life being controlled. You know that this is the sacrifice you have made to cure your mother – and it is worth it – but surely it can't hurt if you eat a few berries, just enough to quell the worst of your hunger?

Determined, you reach out to the bush and pluck a handful of plump, blue berries. Their hue is a little more purple than the ones Taehyung normally serves you but that likely just means that they're a little overripe, if anything. You pop them into your mouth, shrugging as the same, familiar mellow taste hits your tongue. You're tempted to grab a handful more to snack on but you decide you better not push your luck too much. First, you need to see if Taehyung notices the few you did eat.

You steady the basket on your back, beginning your trek back to the clearing a little way up the mountain. You've already been there once today but the overflowing basket you brought back apparently wasn't enough. No – the mermaid needed twice that.

You use the billowy sleeve of your dirtied blouse to wipe your face and neck as you near the base of the mountain, surprised by the amount of sweat that's pouring out of your skin. As you follow your own trail upwards, you find it hard to catch your breath despite your leisurely pace, the world slowly beginning to tilt on its axis the more you move forward.

The temperature on the island is mild today, certainly not hot enough to give you a heat stroke, but the symptoms seem to plague you all the same. You stumble to the ground as you reach a cluster of trees, seeking refuge in the shade they're offering. You leave your basket next to you, using the trunk of the tree for support as you try to catch your breath. Your mouth feels awfully numb, a bitter aftertaste blossoming on your tongue the more you try to swallow it away.

"Shit," You groan as your vision begins to blur. The moment you touch your face, you become aware of the weird itching that has begun spreading under your skin, like a thousand little pinpricks stabbing into it over and over. You frantically rub your face, closing your eyes as the movement makes your stomach turn dangerously.

"Sweetie–"

You lurch forward on your hands and knees as you hear your mother's voice calling out to you, the sound so close yet so far away at the same time. Your eyelids feel like swollen boulders as you force them open, your gaze unseeing as you attempt to make out the indistinct shapes of trees and bushes in the darkness.

That can't be right, wasn't the sun shining just before you closed your eyes?

You crawl forward, feeling along the ground as you attempt to make out what direction your mother's voice is coming from.

"Please help me–"

You veer a strong left, using a large rock for support to get up on your trembling, unsteady legs. You stumble forward into the night, swaying with each step as you hurry after your mother's shadow, her cries for help ringing in your ears. You never gain on her no matter how hard you push your body, no matter how loud you try to call out to her. There is hellfire raging inside of your body, making every step much harder than the last.

You slump over a fallen log for support, attempting to soothe the thunderous pounding in your chest before you continue to follow after your mother. The sound of snapping twigs catches your attention, your head turning in the direction it's coming from just in time to see something walk out of the trees. The creature walks unnaturally and jerky, its limbs twitching oddly with each step forward. The darkness shrouds everything but the creature's outline, how big and imposing it is as it hobbles forward, its claws glinting in the faint moonlight.

A demon.

You slide off the log, biting back a cry of terror as you begin to drag yourself in the opposite direction. Your legs are too weak to hold you up, your knees buckling whenever you attempt to put any weight on them. Sweat is streaming down your face as you dig your fingers into the earth, heaving yourself forward with all the energy you can muster. The sounds of the beast behind you grow louder and louder, and dread settles heavily in the pit of your stomach as you realize that you can't escape it. You flip yourself over with shaking arms, vision swimming as you stare up at the canopy of leaves above you. Tears flow down your cheeks as you remember your mother, still lost in these woods, soon to be alone with the same demon that's hunting you.

"Please," You whisper, tongue barely forming the words as you see the blurry figure of the beast above you.

You try to plead more, to ask for mercy as the demon's claws descend towards your face; but just as you open your mouth to do so, everything goes black.

There's a steady stream of grumbling close by as you regain consciousness. You can't pick out much over the sounds of rocks grinding together, but you do hear the words stupid and human repeated more than once. Your attempts to open your eyes are futile, a thick paste holding them closed. You begin to panic as you realize you can't even move your limbs to remove it, your fingers merely twitching by your side.

"Human, you are finally awake," The familiar sound of Taehyung's voice halts your racing heart and calms it from driving you into a frenzied panic.

A wooden bowl is pressed against your mouth, a cool liquid trickling down your throat as Taehyung carefully pulls on your chin to part your lips. The taste is awful, so bitter and rotten at the same time that you have half a mind to stop swallowing it and just let it flow down your chin to avoid drinking it.

"You have to drink it all," Taehyung says, as if reading your mind. "Unless you want to remain paralyzed from the toxins for the rest of your life, of course."

He makes a sound in the back of his throat, a gurgle that weirdly reminds you of a cat's purr, as he sees you consume every drop. He removes the bowl from your lips as it empties, but his cold finger remains on your chin, the tip of his claw tapping against your cheek. "There was a reason I told you not to eat anything I did not give you, human. Most of the plants here are poisonous in their pure form."

"You are lucky I found you when I did, your foolish hallucinations and running around exacerbated the effects. You would be dead if I had reached you a few breaths later."

Hallucinations?

You can't remember anything past eating the berries before your trek up the mountain. The little feeling you do have in your feet seems to prove Taehyung's statement true, though. They feel scratched up and achy, like you've been running on uneven ground for hours. The mermaid lets you stew in the realization that he saved your life as he moves around, all too aware that you can't respond with your swollen tongue.

You eventually drift off to sleep to the sounds of Taehyung grinding herbs together, the mermaid murmuring words of the old language as he works.

The next time you wake up, you can finally open your eyes. The thick paste that was keeping them shut is gone and as you take stock of the rest of your body, you notice that your hands and feet move according to your commands. Even your mouth feels back to normal, your tongue no longer heavy and thick behind your teeth.

You roll your head to the side, finding that Taehyung is still kneeling next to you, right where you surmised he was earlier. His icy, piercing gaze is still as unsettling as always, but it also feels oddly comforting as he looks you over from head to toe, making sure that you're alright.

"Can you move all of your limbs?" "Yes," You croak, wriggling your fingers and toes to confirm that you can.

"Do you still feel like the fires of hell are inside of you?" Taehyung asks as he places his hand on your bare stomach, your muscles jerking at the feel of the cool and slightly sticky texture of his skin against yours.

"No," You murmur, "It's all gone."

Even if you do not remember anything of your hallucinations, you do recall the awful burning sensation that was all under your skin, scorching your flesh from the inside as the poison ate away at you.

"Good," Taehyung removes his hand to push himself to his feet, his movements just as unnatural as that time in his shop.

Without the cloak covering him up you're able to see just why he moves the way he does – the bones in his legs are twisted, jutting out in odd directions. You wonder if it's because Taehyung is half fish, that perhaps his anatomy does not line up correctly whenever he uses magic to transform his tail into legs. You know better than to ask though, no good will come out of antagonizing Taehyung with silly questions when he just nursed you back to health.

It's odd to think about, but it is true. Despite making your life a living nightmare for the past month, he still saved your life. Whether it's out of the good of his heart (you doubt it) or him not wanting to find a new servant, you'd rather not know. You're not sure which truth would be worse.

"What was the paste for?" You ask instead. "To make sure you did not start bleeding out of your eyes," Taehyung replies simply.

"Oh," You gulp.

Eager to steer the conversation over to something else, to make you forget just how bad this whole situation could have turned out, you pivot to another question that has been lingering in the back of your mind.

"Why–" You clear your throat, "Why did you pick me? I can't be the only human desperate enough to seek you out for a deal?"

"You would be surprised, human. Not many of your species are as, hm, selfless, as you."

The mermaid picks up a bowl you hadn't noticed before, the contents sloshing around as he hobbles back to where you're lying. You advert your eyes to the sky as Taehyung moves closer, finding it difficult to watch his stilted movements without it triggering something primal in your head, something that just wants to flee from the unnatural sight before your eyes.

"Drink this."

You glance back at Taehyung as he presents you with the bowl, once again kneeling by your side. Your arms shake as you lift it to your mouth, your head as heavy as the mountain you're in the shade of as you strain to lift your neck. The taste is still as awful as the first time Taehyung made you drink it but you diligently swallow down every drop, confident that something in it must be aiding your recovery since you already feel so much better.

"I did not always have magic," Taehyung explains as he takes the empty bowl back. "I made a deal with a sea witch. I was too young to know what I was asking for, what the witch was asking of me in return, and yet I accepted it without question."

"Mermaids have long lifespans, we live for twice as many moons as you humans do. I did not think it would matter much if I lost a few turns of the seasons, but the witch wanted so much more than that. It feeds of my life force, my very essence. I am a child of the sea, made to swim and hunt in it for centuries, and yet it tells me that half of it is already gone - eaten by the witch in an attempt to prolong its own existence."

You recoil as Taehyung lets out a small hiss, revealing his fangs as he thinks back on his mistake. He gives you a sour look as he notices your poorly concealed fear, as if you should already be over that by now.

"D-did you try to break it?" You ask, voice trembling.

"Of course," The mermaid rolls his eyes. "I did not just ask, I begged–" He heaves a deep breath, gaze blazing with anger at what you can only assume is his indignance of having to sink so low, to subject himself to something he considers to be beneath a creature like him.

"It did not yield to my pleas. The witch told me that it was only a creature with a will of steel, a heart of gold, and a selfless mind that could break my deal – my curse. Another mermaid would never possess such qualities and neither would other sea creatures. It only left humans."

Taehyung's deep baritone voice seems to go even lower as he stares you down and says, "I have visited countless human settlements before yours, seeking a human that would fit the witch's description. Not a single human ever entered my shop before you."

You shudder as the mermaid uses his claw to push a lock of hair away from your face. "What does that mean? You tricked me?"

"Perhaps," Taehyung hums, grinning in a way that shows off all of the horrible teeth in his mouth. "Or perhaps we simply took use of each other. You need me to keep your mother healthy, as I need you to break my curse. Your determination to save your mother even when you were at death's door showed me that you are precisely what I have been looking for – that you are the creature that the witch spoke of."

Taehyung cradles your face in his cold palm, his eyes shining with a different hunger than before, "Well done. You have passed my test, guppy."

You swear under your breath as you dump your basket into the soft sand, the grains still warm between your toes from the setting sun. With all the berries and herbs you have been picking lately, you forgot just how heavy firewood could be. You grumble as you pull the crudely chopped branches out on the sand, stacking them until they form a small bonfire.

The fire catches easily this time, roaring to life with the help of some big half-dried leaves. You still remember your first night on the island vividly, just how cold and scared of the unknown you were as you curled up to sleep near the flames. It never crossed your mind that you would still be here, months later, sitting in the same place and repeating the same motions. Not even in your worst nightmare would you ever dream that this would have become your life – your new normal.

You pat your growling stomach, staring out at the quiet sea as you wait for your dinner to show up. The setting sun has barely moved in the sky before Taehyung breaches the surface, throwing two fat and heavy fish up on the shore. You ignore the grisly sight of their missing heads, the identical teeth marks along their necks making it quite clear who the culprit is. Using two sticks, you skewer the fish, leaving it to roast over the flames.

Taehyung has pulled himself up beside the fire by the time you're done preparing your food. You made the bonfire near the water on purpose, just close enough that the waves lap at your toes whenever the current grows stronger. The proximity lets Taehyung leave most of his heavy tail in the sea, the dancing flames reflecting off his white scales.

"Is this another one of your human inventions?" The mermaid shoots the roasting fish a weary look, his lip curling with distaste as he notices how the scales burn and blacken.

"I suppose so," You shrug, turning the branches so that the fish cooks evenly. "We have always relied on fire for food and warmth. Surely you must have seen humans use it before?"

"You seem to forget, guppy, that no human has ever approached me before you did. I did not waste my time watching them, not when one would eventually find its way to me."

Taehyung experimentally reaches out a claw towards the bonfire, holding it close until the very tip begins to glow red. You let out a strangled sound as a thin line of smoke begins to rise from his claw and grab his wrist to pull him back, away from the flames. Taehyung's finger sizzles as you shove it into the damp sand near his torso, your eyes wide as you look at him in disbelief.

"Are you trying to hurt yourself?!"

"Peculiar," Taehyung murmurs as he lifts his finger, staring at the burned spot at the edge of his otherwise pure, white claw. "I could not feel it."

"Oh by the deities," You groan. "Perhaps your claws are too thick to allow you to feel pain but you can still burn. Be watchful of the fire."

Taehyung's bright cold eyes snap to your face immediately, "Are you showing concern for me, human?"

"No," You hastily reply. You can see the flash of Taehyung's teeth out of the corner of your eye as he grins, clearly not believing you as you busy yourself with the fish.

You can't pinpoint when the shift between you and Taehyung happened, exactly. Perhaps it was after he saved your life, or maybe it's simply a silent understanding that you both have something to lose if you don't cooperate. More likely though, you think it's just loneliness. The only creature you can talk to out here is Taehyung and the same goes for him. The days and nights get awfully long when you have nothing but your own voice to listen to.

Taehyung has seemingly realized that too, and in turn, he has grown... kinder. He still makes you gather things around the island every day and doesn't let you eat until your tasks are completed, but they have grown easier than before – and have become quicker to complete. There is still a bone-deep uneasiness that flares up whenever you're around him, a survival instinct that never dares to go dormant, but the visceral fear you used to feel as Taehyung showed his fangs or flexed his claws has dulled down enough to be manageable. At least, that's what you like to fool yourself into believing.

You move the now cooked fish away from the flames, giving it some time to cool down before you dig in. You rest your head on your knees, looking at how Taehyung's tail leisurely moves back and forth with the current. Glancing past it, you can't see anything but open water, Pearl Bay is too far away to be visible in the distance.

Hesitating, you trace out indistinct shapes in the sand as you carefully ask, "Do you think your magic would still work if you left the island and I followed you? Perhaps it's the proximity to you and not the island that counts? We could try–"

"No."

The silent anger in Taehyung's voice makes a chill rush down your spine. As you dare to turn your head to look at him, you find that his features are set in stone, hard, as he glowers at you.

"But–"

Your next words are replaced by a cry as Taehyung suddenly grabs your wrist and yanks you forward. You fall to your knees, your face oh so close to the mermaid's exposed fangs as he snarls, "You cannot leave this island. Ever. Do you understand?"

The fear racing through your body renders you speechless, your mind much too occupied by the flecks of dried blood on Taehyung's sharp teeth to formulate an answer.

"I said–" The claws around your wrist begin to hurt as they dig into your skin, drawing blood, as Taehyung leans in closer, "Do you understand, human?"

"Y-yes," You stammer, "I'm sorry, I understand."

"Very well," The mermaid releases you the moment you utter your compliance. He makes sure you watch as he lifts his hand to his mouth, licking your blood of his claws with a tongue that seems abnormally long. "Do not ask foolish questions again."

You can only nod in return, shocked by the display. His gaze flickers to the forgotten fish by the fire. "Eat your food."

You know a command when you hear one and you're not dumb enough to disobey Taehyung when he wants something. You fumble for the closest stick, heart pounding, as you grab one of the fish. You bring it to your mouth without much thought, biting into it before you can displease him further.

You yelp as the still fiery hot scales burn your lip, your eyes watering as you reach up to touch the wounded skin. You can tell it's going to blister and it's going to hurt for days, if not weeks, until it heals. Still, you chew and swallow the burning piece in your mouth, wincing as it moves down your throat.

Taehyung makes a clicking sound that resembles a tsk, turning your head back to face him once again. He stares at the burn on your lip, cocking his head as he assesses it.

"Be watchful of the fire," He echoes, half-mocking.

You hold your breath as he mirrors the same position as only moments before, his breaths almost mingling with yours. As Taehyung closes his eyes and whispers a few words of old under his breath, you're struck with a reminder of how handsome he is. You usually can't look past his fangs or piercing eyes, but like this, he simply looks like a beautiful, normal man. Someone you no doubt would have been drooling over if he had lived in your town.

Taehyung's cutting gaze demands your attention the moment he opens his eyes. You lose the ability to blink as you hold his gaze, heart stuttering with something other than fear as he says, "You are no use to me broken, guppy. I will continue to mend you and keep you whole. I can promise you that much."

You freeze up as Taehyung's cold lips press against yours, the kiss firm and unyielding as he pulls your bottom lip between his own. You make a noise in the back of your throat as Taehyung's tongue darts out to swipe across your burn, the sting instantly melting away. Before your body can make up its mind on whether it wants to push the mermaid away or pull him closer, Taehyung inches back, disconnecting his mouth from yours.

It takes you a moment too long to realize that Taehyung just used magic to heal your burn, the skin unblemished and smooth. You touch your lip, swallowing thickly as it tingles from Taehyung's kiss. You're not quite sure if the relief you feel is because your wound is gone or because you finally had the barest taste of intimacy after so long. You think it's for the best if you don't look too deep into yourself for that answer.

Taehyung seems pleased with himself as he watches your reaction. The mermaid's smirk spells trouble, the flames of the bonfire reflected in his eyes as he glances at your mouth.

"Interesting," He says, licking his lips, "Very peculiar, indeed."

You waddle out into the ocean, sinking slightly into the soft sand beneath with every step. As the water reaches your knees, you feel the weight of chains wrap around your wrists and ankles, slowing you down. The pressure around your limbs grows tighter the more you dare to move forward.

You stop when the water laps just below your belly button, glancing down at your wrists as if that would expose the invisible restraints that are hurting you. 137 steps. You have been pushing yourself one step forward every day, attempting to figure out just how far Taehyung's spell reaches, and you think you've finally found it.

The magic that is weighing you down is pulsating, squeezing and constricting your limbs in a way you know would bruise horribly if you could see them. It feels like a breaking point, like if you just push forward a little more, the distance will snap the chains right off. This must be the border you can't move past without risking breaking the spell and dooming your mother.

You retreat a few steps back, not willing to take any chances. The pressure from the chains lessens just a tad, as if urging you to go back to shore and rid yourself of the pain. You stay in place though, staring longingly at the faint, small outline of Pearl Bay shimmering in the distance. You've found that you can only see it on particularly nice days, when the sun is beating down and there's not a single cloud in the sky.

You have no idea how long it's been since you made your journey from Pearl Bay to here. The weather doesn't change much and the seasons certainly don't. Days bleed into nights and into days again, and you lost count many full moons ago of when you arrived at the island.

Sighing, you adjust the loose shirt hanging off your shoulders.

While you have never left the island since that day you stepped ashore, you know that Taehyung has. The moment the clothes on your back became too tattered, you found a rucksack filled with drenched clothing, all different styles and sizes. The mermaid never confessed to bringing them but you know there is no other explanation for how they just 'suddenly' turned up on the beach. It's all very strange. Taehyung has been meeting your every need lately, almost predicting them before they even arise. He has been acting a lot more than attentive than you're used to and that paired with his increased affection, you're not sure what to make of it.

As if your thoughts were a beacon, you hear a soft splash behind you. Strong arms wrap around your waist, pushing you further into the sand below as you bear the added weight of a mermaid hanging off your back.

"What are you doing, guppy?"

You shiver as Taehyung's cold cheek rests against your bare shoulder, water dripping steadily down your back from Taehyung's drenched hair.

"Not much," You say, turning your gaze to the spotless sky, "Just thinking." "Very well."

Considering how quickly Taehyung accepts your vague explanation, you can tell the mermaid has something else in mind – something he deems more important to do.

Barely a second passes before you feel the touch of his lips against your shoulder, your breath hitching as he leaves a trail of kisses up your throat. You lean your head to to side, allowing him easier access to your skin.

After that night Taehyung healed your burn, you don't think there has been a single day that has passed without the mermaid initiating some kind of physical intimacy with you.

The kiss seemed to awaken something in Taehyung; a feeling he only seems to crave more and more with each passing day.

To say that you mind it would be a lie.

Perhaps it's a sign that you're slowly losing your mind – but being held and kissed after so long feels nice. You know it's crazy to enjoy it with a creature like him, but what other option do you have? He's the only semi-human being around here and, well, his handsome face and toned muscles do make it quite enjoyable. There are still parts of you that find Taehyung's touch off, that makes alarm bells ring whenever you're held a little too tightly, but you've found that the more you ignore them, the less they bother you.

You let out a soft moan as one of Taehyung's longest fangs scrape across your skin, the sting immediately soothed by his tongue. He has taken it upon himself to experiment; to try out different methods in order to drag as many of those delicious sounds of you as possible.

You can feel your control slipping as one of his hands slips under your shirt, moving up, up, up.

Hastily grabbing it, you pause his movements just under the swell of your breasts. The intimacy is nice but you don't think you're ready for this yet. You're worried you might never want to leave if you let yourself sink that far into depravity.

"Taehyung," You murmur, catching the mermaid's attention. He nudges the back of your neck with his nose in response, breathing in the fresh scent of herbs and salt that always clings to your hair.

"What do I need to do to break your deal with the witch?"

Taehyung's grip tightens, the points of his claws digging into your skin possessively. "Why do you continue to ask me this, human? I have already told you that I do not know."

Because this is the only thing you know will distract him enough to forget about touching you more.

"Did the witch ever tell you when we would have to seek it out?"

There's a reluctant pause, a low series of perturbed clicks and grinding teeth before Taehyung tightly responds, "No. The sea will call for us when the time is right."

Your questions have their intended effect though, Taehyung's hands slipping away from your body as he detaches himself from your back. You hear him fumble with something behind your back, seemingly just as keen to distract you from your questions as you were to distract him from taking things further.

"I have something for you, guppy."

A string gets passed over your head, a necklace of sorts falling into place just below your collarbone. You pick up the heavy pendant attached to it, eyes widening as you recognize what it is - the ivory fang you had returned back to Taehyung. It glistens under the sunlight, its surface smooth and even.

"What is this?" You murmur as Taehyung peers over your shoulder, his chest flush to your back.

"It is mine," He reveals. "I lost it in my first battle. The shark had it coming for encroaching on my territory, but it did put up a decent fight, I shall give it that."

"That's, um– impressive?" You're not sure what the right thing to say is, you have never had to fight a shark before after all, but the mermaid seems pleased with it nonetheless, nuzzling his face against the crook of your neck.

"Why are you giving it to me, though? What... what does it mean?"

"It means that you are mine, my little guppy," Taehyung purrs. "I have decided to bestow you the honor of being my mate."

Mate? That can't be, that's.. that's not possible.

"Tae–"

The mermaid wraps you back up into his arms before you can protest, spinning you around so that you are face to face with the creature that has decided you are his to keep. His icy gaze is narrowed, his handsome features set with determination.

"Even if the sea witch lifts my curse, you will still be mine," Taehyung declares as he pulls you tight against his chest. "Your mother will perish if you leave me and so there is nothing back there for you now."

He leans down, his cold lips moving like gentle waves against your ear as he says, "You belong here, with me – forever."

a/n: i really hope you enjoyed the final chapter of TIF! it was nice to once again revisit the tcs-universe and it was fun to write a "softer" mermaid yandere story 🤧 i would love to hear what you think about the chapter – comments and reblogs make my day!! 🥺💖

if you enjoyed the story and would like to support me, you can do so here! 💖

Hah. Barely two words in and you already look like you want me dead.

Credits: @aspiringauthorintraining Original post

I am so proud of these drawings, look how cute they are. /;A;)/ <333

Eternal Companion~

TW: Spoilers for Inazuma arc (minor) and Yandere themes

Scaramouche tried hard to abandon his past even going so far as to throw his old name away to take up arms against the very archon who created him, yet despite his efforts, he always felt like an outsider. That was until he met you, another one of Baal's 'failed' attempts at creating a puppet to serve as Inazuma's guiding hand yet unlike him you seemingly felt nothing but gratitude to your creator even becoming a shrine maiden who constantly sung nothing but her praises. Everything about you disgusted him.

Despite this, he felt somewhat of an obligation to make you realise the error of your ways and so he began to investigate your further even going as far as to befriend you.

It initially began when he approached you at your shrine where you nearly electrocuted him, perceiving him to be another thief only interested in stealing the priceless relics you guarded. He merely laughed explaining he was only interested in learning more about the electro archon which you were more than happy to indulge.

Scaramouche found himself sicked in the way you idealised the archon who had abandoned you without a second thought. But the two of you began to grow closer spending the limited free time you had together under the beautiful thunder sakura trees near your temple and unbeknownst to him strange emotions began to bloom in his empty heart and soon he found himself unable to imagine a world without you in it. He just had to make you see things the way he did.

So he started implanting doubts into your mind often asking you questions that left you doubting your faith much to his excitement. He originally planned to take it slow until you came to see things his way.

But then one day as you two sat curled up under a blooming thunder sakura tree together a careless question fell from his lips. "Why do you remain loyal to her?" He asks feeling you pause, your fingers no longer running through his hair as you ponder a response to his rather abrupt question. "Well...isn't it normal to feel indebted to your creator in the same way children adore their parents," you reply your words chosen carefully in an attempt not to anger the man next to you. "Surely you realise that she threw you aside for her better creation." He argues turning to face you seeing your gaze harden at his words.

"She...had her reasons." You argue "Why do you continue to serve someone who never cared for anyone but herself?" He asks sensing your wavering faith as you shake your head with tears welling up in your eyes. "Shut up...stop talking Kuni, you don't understand anything!" You hiss angrily as Scaramouche laughs hearing your feeble arguments. "You're just as naive as the day you were created huh." He taunts only to jump out of the way seeing a powerful bolt of lightning striking where he once stood. "Leave this place Kuni." You whisper not meeting his eyes as electro energy continues to crackle in the air around you. "Alright, then I'll leave if that's what you want but don't come crying to me when you realise the truth." He laughs turning to leave as he feels your heated glare on his back. Seeing how you refused to listen to reason Scaramouche huffed departing from your beloved shrine while you watched him with indifference. He resolved to give up on you at the moment believing you to be nothing but a lost cause. Yet you continued to plague his mind as he continued preparations that would allow him to strike down his creator and steal her divine power in the same way she stole his all those centuries ago. He realised he couldn't allow you to escape him so easily. After all, you were going to be his for all eternity, whether you like it or not.

Then a few weeks later after everything in Inazuma came to a close, he sat in his cabin the door is thrown in open and you hurled at his feet bound and gagged with tears in your eyes. "Leave us!" He barked at his underlings who were more than happy to oblige, not wanting to face his notorious temper should they disobey and soon you two were left alone. "K-Kuni what's happening?" You whimper sitting up and Scaramouche smirks seeing the way the ropes bit into your delicate skin, it was sure to leave a nasty bruise but he'd deal with it later. "I must admit you're far more stubborn than I initially thought but no matter," He says gripping your jaw tightly forcing you to look into his grey eyes swirling with obsession. "I'm sure you'll start to see things my way soon enough~"

Reverse Genshin AU(?) Scaramouche -THE Y/N main-

Introductions!

Works as a waiter in a shady club in the outskirts of town; can and WILL get information out of people and sell it for a price. Barely touches the game while working, but makes up for it when on his way back home on the train. There was on time when someone tried to steal his phone despite his “fuck off” vibes; the poor to-be-thief didn’t get to even get his hands on the phone before Scaramouche basically killed him with a glare. Plays whomever he finds enjoyable, but is willing to spend money on his favorites (especially you). WHEN you appeared on the story he was absolutely floored, obliterated, GONE, WRECKED- ok, to be fair, he LOVED your design and after you said your first line, he was smitten. Will hunt down ANY crumbs about your story, past, present and future; in case you have a tragic tale, despite his claims about not giving a shit, he will be quite understanding and i’m not the one to tell you, and you’re not one to know but he may or may not have shed a tear or two.

Wishing!

Screams “FUCK YES!” When your trailer is revealed, has your OST on blast in his room; despite your banner coming up WHILE he’s working, he will wait until he gets back home to throw all his wishes to you.  Loudest out of everyone when it comes the time to pull on your banner. Everyone will know the moment he gets you. C6 you a week after getting you first, he wanted to ensure he likes your playstyle that people sing praises to. He fucking LOVES IT. Scaramouche also gets surprisingly lucky on his pulls to C6 you, wins his 50/50 almost every single time and gets your designated supports to c6 too. Had a respectable amount of wishes piled up JUST for you. He gets absolutely wrecked when it comes to your weapon tho- so much bloodshed on that banner, gets a couple of weapons to R5 before he gets yours.

Time to Play!

The bitch that refuses to make public his builds despite having really solid ones If you manage to see them however, you will NEVER see a (Y/N) better built in your life, those artifact rolls are the “see it to believe it” trope. He loves you so much is incredible.Will change his profile to ONLY show you and your build. Gets a reputation after some youtuber comes across his profile and fawns over that glorious build. He’s known as THE y/n main after that.High-key proud but won’t be caught dead saying that.