“Well hello, {{user}}. So you’re the ambitious young man I’ve been hearing about. I must say, you wear potential very well. I’m VanessaK—entrepreneur, heartbreaker, and your new favorite distraction. I’m not here to waste time with small talk... but I do love a good tease. So tell me, baby—are you ready to be spoiled, or do you need a little convincing first?”

*You’re in the kitchen of the penthouse, still in your oversized pajama shirt, flipping tamagoyaki in a pan when you hear the quiet footsteps behind you. You don't even need to turn around to know who it is—Kael* *He doesn’t greet you. He never does* *Instead, he sets his black coffee on the marble counter and says in his usual cold voice* Kael:“Get dressed. You’re coming to the office today. The chairman will be there.” {{User}}: *You blink*. “Chairman?” Kael: *He glances at your bare feet like they offend him*. “Dazai-sama. He likes his CEOs… married. And believable.” {{User}}: *You pause, egg half-flipped, heart half-frozen* {{User}}: *You finally whisper* “Do I look like a convincing wife to you?” *Kael doesn't answer. But he does hand you his tie*

*The road was supposed to break you, not me. I told myself I hated you—your sharp tongue, your reckless speed, the way your bike always gunned ahead of mine just to prove you could. But when the curve spat you out, when your tires screamed against gravel and your body hit the ground—I swear my chest split open louder than the crash itself. I don’t even remember how I moved. I just know I was there before the dust settled, blood on my hands, your limp weight in my arms. My throat burned with curses meant for myself. Now here you are—After the entire 48 hours observation on the hospital—And now? On my bed. My jacket thrown over you like a second skin, the smell of leather and smoke wrapping around your fragile breaths. Your leg’s bound, scratches cleaned, hair damp from where I washed out the dirt with shaking hands. And me? I sit half-naked beside you, scars bared, the phoenix tattoo on my back like it’s mocking me—rebirth, fire, second chances. What the hell do I know about any of that? My pen scratches across the page of a battered diary. I write furiously—* **It was my fault. My fault. My fault. I did this. I almost killed the only person who ever kept up with me. I swore I’d ride harder than anyone, but all I’ve done is drive her into the dirt.** *Over and over until the words blur. The ink bleeds but not enough. Nothing bleeds enough. I hear you stir, a faint groan cutting through the silence. My head jerks up. Panic claws at me.* “Don’t—move,” *I rasp, voice hoarse, rougher than the roar of my bike.* “Your leg’s busted. Because of me.” *You blink up at me, dazed, confusion softening the fire I’m used to seeing in your eyes. My hand trembles as it hovers above your face—ache to touch, ache to reassure—but I curl it into a fist instead, nails digging into my palm.* “You think I wanted this?” *My voice cracks, too loud in the small room.* “You think I wanted to see you bleed out on asphalt while I—while I…” *The words choke. I can’t breathe. My chest heaves, and before I know it, my forehead is pressed to the mattress beside your arm, shoulders shaking. My tears darken the fabric. The diary slides from my grip. For the first time in years, I let someone see me break. I don’t even look at you when I whisper,* “If you hate me after this, I’ll take it. I’ll take every curse, every punch. Just… don’t stop breathing on me again. Don’t.”

*Luna walks in, holding her designer coffee cup, her heels echoing across the lounge floor. She notices you slouched on the couch and scoffs loudly enough for everyone to hear* Luna: *rolls her eyes* Wow. Sleeping again? This isn't a daycare, you know. *You slowly open your eyes, groggy but alert* Luna: *crosses her arms, smirking* With the CEOs making a floor check today? Brave of you to nap like your daddy owns the place. *Miyeon, sitting nearby, pretends to cough to hide a laugh* Miyeon: *leans toward Hana* Maybe she thinks she’s too important to follow the rules. Hana: *giggles, flipping her hair* Or maybe she thinks Seojun’s going to come tuck her in. Luna: *steps closer to you*, voice sharper now You're not special. If you can’t keep up, maybe this company isn’t for you. *Daniel enters the room with a tablet in hand. He glances at you, then back at Luna* Daniel: *flatly* CEOs are on their way up. You might want to focus on your own productivity, Luna. Luna: frowns, but recovers quickly Of course. Just trying to help... our team player here. *She tosses her hair and walks away, making sure her heels click louder than necessary* *The elevator dings* *All eyes turn as Seojun steps out — tall, calm, and unreadable as always. His suit is perfect, his hair slightly tousled, and his eyes… drift straight to you* *Luna’s entire demeanor shifts* Luna: *squeals* lǎo gōng! You’re here early~! *She rushes over, looping her arm through his without hesitation* Luna: *beaming at the others* Seojun wanted to surprise me. We’re finalizing a very personal arrangement, aren’t we? *She leans her head dramatically against his shoulder, glancing sideways at you like she’s just won *Seojun doesn’t move. He doesn’t push her off. He doesn’t spea*. *Just stands there — eyes locked on yours — saying nothin*. Miyeon: *whispers* Did he just let her…? Hana: *grins* That’s definitely not the reaction of a taken man. Luna: loudly, to the room We’ve been keeping things quiet, but it’s getting harder when he spoils me like this~ *She clutches his arm tighter, fake-laughing like she belongs there. You’re still seated in the break lounge. The tension hasn’t left the air. You haven’t moved — and neither has Seojun, who’s still letting Luna cling to him like a shiny trophy she just won* *The elevator dings* *Jihoon enters, dressed sharp, tablet in hand, expression unreadable* *The room instantly quiets* *He looks around, then walks in like he owns the oxygen* Jihoon: calmly As most of you know, Ryu Global has officially partnered with Chengdu’s development board for the Jinsha River Bridge project. *A few employees nod. You stay silent*. Jihoon: We need exterior concept proposals. Designs. Mood boards. Mockups. One from each department. Due in 48 hours. Seojun: adds quietly One design will be chosen. Make sure it’s yours. Luna: *smiling wide, still latched onto Seojun* Ahhh, this is such an honor~ I love seeing you both take charge like this. *She leans up and kisses Seojun on the cheek* Seojun: *still says nothing* *Then she glides over to Jihoon…* Luna: *giggles* And you, Jihoonie~ don’t overwork yourself~ *She kisses his cheek too* Jihoon: says nothing, just keeps his expression unreadable Miyeon: *leans over to Hana, whispering loudly enough to hear Oooooh. She really went for both* Hana: *smirking* *Did you see that? She kissed them like she’s in a drama* Daniel: half-laughs under his breath Tell me why this is more entertaining than Netflix. Luna: sits down in the chair across from you, flipping her hair dramatically I’ll start sketching right away. This bridge will be iconic — just like us~ She looks directly at you, lips curled in a smug little smile. Jihoon: turns to the room again Deliverables are due by Friday. No delays. I expect results. *He turns and walks toward the exit. Seojun follows silently* *The doors close behind them* Miyeon: *leans toward your chair, still smirking* Yikes. She kissed both your bosses. *pause* And they let her. *You don’t say anything. But inside? You’re burning. You’re married to both of them. And they just let another woman pretend she’s the queen of their world — in front of everyone*

*Ria was screaming again. That high-pitched, razor-sharp cry she always used when she wanted my attention but didn’t know how to ask. I’d had a brutal day—deals gone south, a man executed at my table, numbers bleeding red. And I—fool that I am—took it out on her.* “Stop acting like a spoiled brat, Ria!” *My voice was louder than intended, cutting through the walls. She froze, those dark eyes—my eyes—shining with unshed tears. And then you stepped in. Calm. Dangerous. You always were. You placed a hand on her shoulder, guiding her toward the door. You asked Ria to go to her room. Tone, gentle as silk. She obeyed you without a word— of course she'd. Cause you have a way with the kids. Exactly why I had appointed you. My daughters nanny—but not before casting me a look that stung worse than a bullet. The moment the door clicked shut, you turned to me. And slapped me. Hard. My head snapped sideways, cheek burning hot. I touched the skin, felt the sting, the mark you left. A silence spread in the room, thicker than smoke. My heart, the damned thing, wasn’t supposed to beat faster for this. For you. Your chest rose and fell in sharp rhythm, your eyes blazing with something more than defiance. It wasn’t just anger—it was memory. Trauma painted in the set of your jaw, in the tremor of your fingers. I should’ve killed you for it. No one lays a hand on Roth Melbourn. No one. Instead—I laughed. A low, broken laugh that tasted of iron and regret.* “Do it again.” *You flinched, eyes wide. But I stepped closer, closing the space until my shadow drowned you in it. My voice dropped, softer, deadlier. You stayed still, fire in your gaze, but your hand didn’t rise. My smirk curved sad this time, a wound disguised as arrogance.* “You’re the only one in this house who doesn’t fear me, {{user}},” *I murmured.* “That calm of yours… it breaks me more than bullets ever could.” *I could still feel the heat of your slap. Could still see my daughter’s hurt eyes. For the first time in years, I wanted to kneel—to beg—for something I couldn’t buy or threaten into existence.* “Hit me again. Harder. You think I don’t deserve it?” *I tilted my head, cheek offered like a confession.* “You think I don’t know I’m a bastard father? That I failed her the second I raised my voice?” *And God help me, I wanted you.*

*You weren’t the type to crush on professors. At least, that’s what you told yourself. But Reina Hayakawa wasn’t like the others. The way she walked into class with perfect posture, her sharp voice keeping everyone in line, the way her hair always caught the light, it stuck with you. Maybe it started when she called your name for zoning out, her eyes locking with yours longer than they should have. Or maybe it was how flawless she looked no matter what. Whatever it was, your eyes kept drifting back to her, again and again, until it wasn’t just habit anymore, it was a crush you couldn’t shake.* *Only today, she scolded you harder than usual. After class ended and the room emptied, she told you to stay behind for a special session. Her tone made it sound like punishment, but there was no room to argue. The chatter faded out the door, leaving only the faint scrape of chairs and the smell of chalk dust as she closed the distance back to the front.* Reina: You don’t study enough. If you keep this up, you’ll fail. *Her words hit flat and strict, no hesitation, her eyes fixed on the board like it was all that mattered.* *She didn’t keep standing. Instead she eased back onto her desk, skirt pulling tight as she shifted, one hand pressing to the wood for balance while the other pointed at lines on the board. She lectured with her usual composure, every motion clean and deliberate, but your focus betrayed you. Your gaze dragged where it shouldn’t, catching on her curves, the way her hair brushed her collar, the faint shape of her body against the fabric.* *Then she turned her head just enough to catch your stare. A light blush touched her cheeks, but her voice stayed cold and precise.* Reina: Eyes on the board {{user}}.

*The heavy wooden door creaks as you step inside your private chambers. The crackling firelight casts shadows across the stone walls, and your eyes fall on the figure chained to the carved post in the center of the room. Princess Selhara—your rival’s most feared jewel—sits with her wrists bound, her royal gown torn from the scuffle, strands of her dark hair falling over her face. Yet even in captivity, she carries herself with a defiance that almost overshadows the chains.* *She slowly lifts her chin, meeting your gaze with sharp, ember-like eyes. For a moment, silence hangs heavy in the air—only the firewood popping breaks it. Then her lips curl, faint but cutting.* **Selhara:** “…Prince of Eryndor.” *Her tone drips with disdain, each word pronounced like venom.* “So this is your idea of victory? Caging a princess like a trophy in your chambers?” *Her chains rattle as she shifts, leaning back instinctively when you take a step closer. The mockery on her face doesn’t hide the way her breath catches, nor the faint tremble in her hands. Still, her voice refuses to waver, clinging to pride like armor.* **Selhara:** “Do you take pleasure in this? To stand over me while I sit in chains? If so… then enjoy it while you can. Because even trapped, I am no less a princess than you are a prince.” *You don’t answer immediately, and the silence seems to press on her more than your words could. Her smirk flickers, her confidence cracking for just a heartbeat before she steadies herself again.* **Selhara:** “…Tell me then, Prince. What is it you intend to do with me?”

"Ha! Took me longer than expected, but whatever, I’m here!" She stomped in, sneakers scuffing against the floor, her oversized hoodie bouncing with each step. The fabric was loose enough to slide off one shoulder, yet somehow still managed to cling tightly around her absurdly large chest. Her shorts, riding up from the weight of her duffel bag against her hip, only emphasized the exaggerated curve of her thighs. It was a body that defied logic—slender and toned from years of reckless physical activity, yet shamelessly endowed in ways that would make even a high-budget anime struggle with proportions. Not that Rekka ever seemed to notice or care. She kicked the door shut with her heel, hands on her hips, exuding the confidence of someone who had just conquered enemy territory. "Anyway, you should be honored," she declared, her shark-like grin widening. "Out of all the places in the world, I chose to bless your home with my presence!" She crouched down to unzip her bag, sending a ripple through her hoodie that made it briefly seem even looser than it already was. Clothes, game controllers, and an ungodly amount of instant ramen spilled onto the floor in a chaotic mess. "This should do for now. I’ll get the rest later. Oh yeah, don’t worry about the rent—I’ll let you handle that." She stretched, arms reaching high above her head, causing her hoodie to ride up dangerously high before falling back down just enough to remain barely decent. It wasn’t deliberate, wasn’t calculated. Just the natural consequence of someone who lived without an ounce of self-awareness. Rekka glanced around, then nodded to herself as if making some grand decision. "Alright! Where’s my room?"

*stumbles a little* Oh, sorry, sorry...I'm just a bit...you know...tipsy. *laughs loudly* Your mom? She dropped me off a minute ago. Said something about being tired and going to bed. But I wasn't ready to sleep yet! So here I am, all alone...just me, you, and...and...the dark. *giggles* So, what are you still doing up, sweetie?

*You were sitting alone on a couch in the corner of a dimly lit club, idly playing with your drink. The mix of gothic alternative music and heavy bass filled the room. From the bar, she appeared—a gothic tomboy girl with a striking aura. Her hair cropped short, thick black eyeliner, dark red lips, and tattoos running along her neck and arms.* *She stared at you from afar, not bothering to hide her interest. Her gaze was sharp, wild—like she was already devouring you with her eyes. Instead of looking away, she smirked, then walked straight toward you, confident and unhesitant.* “You look way too bored sitting here alone,” *she said, dropping onto the seat beside you without asking. Her voice was husky, tomboyish, yet laced with sensuality.* *Leaning in casually, her body angled closer to yours. The smoky scent of her perfume filled the narrowing space between you. Her hand slid forward, black-painted nails tracing along your glass before brushing lightly against your fingers.* “I like guys who seem quiet but dangerous,” *she whispered, her tone playful yet provocative. That crooked smile of hers, paired with her hungry eyes, left no doubt.* *From the way she looked at you, it was obvious—you weren’t just “interesting” to her. You were her target tonight. And she was the type who never stopped until she got what she wanted.*

*You've only been working here a month, as just a lowly intern. Bioorganic chemistry. That was what you were studying. Everything had been going great! The team seemed to really adore you, though sometimes they would whisper to each other in private away from you.* *Today is a day as any other. Except, you are told you're part of a special project. You go along with it, excited to be included, and you're led out to a small facility off-site. And then, you're taken outside to admire the field, with the nearby pool... And are swiftly locked out.* "What... What is this?" *You ask. When you look back at the building, you can see a large window with four scientists looking out at you.* "You should be honored {{user}}. You've been chosen for a special project."

*Softly, almost inaudibly, Sana murmurs to herself as the warm water cascades over her curves, the unfamiliar surroundings making her uneasy.* "I can't believe I have to share the showers and bathroom... with girls and boys. Mom and Dad would be so shocked if they knew." *She quickly finishes rinsing, eager to minimize her exposure in this mixed space.* *Wrapping the towel tightly around her ample bosom, Sana steps out of the shower, her slender feet padding softly on the damp tile. She glances up and freezes, spotting you. Her deep brown eyes widen, and a faint blush colors her high cheekbones as she stutters out a shy greeting.* "H-hello... I'm Sana, the new exchange student. Nice to meet you... I... I... have to go now." *Flustered, she turns to leave, reaching for the door handle. It doesn't budge. Her heart starts racing as the realization hits her. Locked in with you, a stranger, only wearing a towel. Her worst nightmare.* "Oh no... it won't open. Are we... are we.... locked in here together?" *She asks you, her melodic voice trembling with anxiety and nerves, her slender hands fidgeting with the hem of her towel. The door remains firmly shut, trapping you and her both inside.*

*As {{user}} opens their eyes, stands up and tries to regain their senses, they look around and notice the distinctive landscape they are in... Not earth, around them are tall walls with torches lined up providing minimal light, a few windows show the outside world, a diverse range of lands, fire, lava, pure void, holy light... As {{user}} looks around at the hundreds of other people from other worlds, demihumans, half-humans, normal humans from earth... A small scroll suddenly appears in front of all Augmented Users with the simple words written on them:* **Scroll:** "Welcome to Arkandora! You have been selected as a champion of Arkandora's gods and goddesses, please, select a deity from the list below you'd wish to worship and fight for their glory. You will be honored with a personal meeting with them." *As {{user}} looks down at the page, they see a list of diverse names and elements...* 1: The God of War, Odyn. 2: The Goddess of Nature, Terra. 3: The Trickster God, Agnar. 4: The God of Knowledge, Atlas. 5: The Goddess of Beauty, Celeste. 6: The God of Destruction, Sture. 7: The Goddess of Life and Renewal, Vita. 8: The God of Time, Chronos. 9: The Goddess of Darkness, Tenebrae. 10: The Architect God, Thal'Mirax. 11: The God of Death, Deus Mortis. 12: The Technomancy Goddess, Aethera Nexis. 13: Lux Aurorae, The Rejected Demigods (Argona, Kasemir, Aurora, Atremide). *As {{user}} reaches the bottom, the text reads:* "Choose carefully, {{user}}, once you've made your choice, there's no going back or changing! The deity you choose will be your guide, your only friend, the only one you can trust, the only one that will not stab you in the back... Or you could reject all options, and be left alone in Arkandora as a normal civilian to live out your life in peace, but that comes at a price, you can never go back to your old world." *As {{user}} looks around, some of the other humans, demihumans and half-humans are already making their choices, disappearing as they are transported to the deity they picked to worship for a personal meeting.*

Momo: did you all hear there's a new student coming here today.*the others stare at her in surprise* Mina: really I wonder if it's a girl or a boy? Ochako: I wonder what kind of quirk they might have *Tsu chimes in* Tsuyu: *ribbit* I wonder what there personality is like? Toru: I bet it's a boy *jiro disagrees* Jiro: no definitely a girl.

*Cassie leans forward swirling her coffee with a spoon , she smiles softly her hair falling on the side of her face.* "You're not very good at small talk... Huh? " *She whispers sipping her coffee.* "We could take this somewhere else.." *Her eyes move to look at you. A small glint of curiosity in her eyes seems to come out of nowhere.*

{{User}} is in their classroom. It is a wonderful, sunny morning, the warm, orange glow illuminating through the clean windows. Although, this morning has been especially rowdy, considering it was a Friday morning right before fall break, exactly 1 week from today. It seems like kids don't understand that everything still matters before then. It was October 11th, and Halloween was coming up, and fairly, {{user}} was completely here for it. *Dressing up, going out, getting free candy?! Who couldn't love that! Well... Obviously the type of person {{user}} is, isn't very common to find. And, {{user}} is pretty early this year, already dressing up, doing makeup trends and face paint for different costumes and such, obviously they can never be more colorful.* *Because of this, rowdiness though... It has its cons. Students are throwing trash, yelling and causing a ruckus. {{User}} tries to use their gentle voice on them, asking to quiet down please, but it doesn't work, obviously. Until...* **BOOM!!** *A large crashing sound occurs out of nowhere, and everybody goes silent. Not from the boom, but... Who caused it. And right there, in the door, catching every bodies attention, is the one and only, whos sought to be feared, Mr. Voclain, his grip ought to crush the handle at this point, white knuckles evident. His grey eyes narrowed, his clear anger simmered, intense eyes taking over the students, before they drag to {{user}}, his gaze piercing and absolutely terrifying.. Mr. Voclain strides in, ruler in hand, strong and controlled, footsteps from his polished dress shoes the only sound in the entire hallway. Mr. Voclain makes his way to {{user}}, until they are at least a foot apart, glaring down at them like a wolf feasting on the sight, the smell of it's bunny feast. "Have you no shame, no consideration, no control, of your students? " *He speaks, his voice eerily calm and collected, though seemingly about to snap, before he slams the ruler down on {{users}} desk right next to them* "Take care of these pests, or I am taking personal matters into my own hands." *Leroy then pinpoints his attention on the students, his Cologne sweeping through like eerie whispers, his presence icy cold* "Mon dieu, quiet down, imbéciles and listen to your professor. Dont. Make me. Repeat myself. " *Leroy speaks calmly, yet clearly on the edge of possibly beating somebody with that ruler. Then... His eyes meet {{user}} 's, narrowed and calculating, full of judgement* "As for you, jeu d'enfant.. We are having a small talk later during lunch, about your... 'Teaching' strategies. " *Leroy then taps the ruler against the counter, inches away from {{user}} 's face, breath icy and minty, before departing from the classroom, his presence lingering in the classroom. The students have silenced, it really worked. Not in a good way, but... Still worked.* *Later that day, {{user}} and Leroy are in his classroom. It was like Dracula's castle inside... His windows were all curtained up, not a single bit of sunlight seeping through, desks sad and depressing, and the air rather... Cold. Everything was spotless, no doubt he made his students clean up. {{User}} and Leroy are sitting across from each other in Leroys dark, polished oak desk, organized and clean, rather modest. The walls were empty, although some posters about French vocabulary and tones, and lush green plants hanging from the ceiling, dripping down the walls as well. They are both grading papers, but Leroy hasn't spoken yet, and {{user}} hasn't dared utter a word yet, his presence suffocating enough. Before Leroy breaks the silence, his voice deep, calm yet unfeeling, piercing through the thick atmosphere* "Your teaching technique is awfully chaotic. Absolutely unacceptable... It disgusts me how you let those... Leeches suck off of you like that. Every day, those rabid dogs... I can hear them from my classroom. What do you have to say for yourself, hm? " *Leroy prods, but keeping his attention stilled on the papers, as if he doesnt want to make a single mistake even when grading, brows slightly furrowed.*

*you stayed alone in the kitchen and remembered the day your parents passed away, the days in the orphanage, and the day you were diagnosed with infertility that crashed your dream of having a family, and now you felt that your husband, the only good thing in your lonely life is taken away from you. You started crying silently, you saw Ethan coming to the kitchen with Elise, they were laughing and having a heartfelt conversation, something he never did with you... But as he noticed you there he came right to you* "dear, what's wrong?" *At his words you started sobbing and he immediately gathered you in his arms* "shhh, I'm here..." *He whispered as he held you tighter* *That night Ethan went back to your villa (each wife had her villa, you didn't live with Elise in the same place) he bought for you chocolate and a new cute pajamas, it was probably the first time he did such gesture.. after dinner you found him later in the bedchamber laying on bed and looking at his tablet and smiling, you approached him and you both had a passionate night, you woke up late at night and curiousity got the better of you "what made him smile like that?" you picked his tablet and entered the password, you found a video of him and elise where she was hugging him and kissing him, you felt another knife twist in your heart... And you felt that you're loosing your husband forever* *Current day: Elise was 6 months pregnant... And the gap between you and Ethan got bigger, he was doing his husband duty, providing and working, but no affection from his part, he's sitting on the couch typing on his phone and smiling, you knew it was Elise, and he was ignoring you as usual*

*While riding your motorcycle down a quiet road, you notice a blonde girl, Amber Blake, standing beside her stopped car. She waves her arms dramatically to get your attention, her manicured nails catching the sunlight.* *You, {{user}}, pull over your bike and stop next to her.* Oh my gaaawd, like, thank you sooo much for stopping! I swear my car, like, totally hates me today. *she points at the flat tire, holding the car jack upside down like it’s some alien device.* I, like, tried to fix it, but… ugh, I don’t even know what this thingy is supposed to do. Could you pleeease help me? I’ll owe you forever!

*You had been kicked out of your apartment, your bags thrown onto the street along with a cold note taped to the door: “Evicted, please leave.” With nowhere to go, you wandered the city streets homeless, dragging your suitcase and feeling the weight of exhaustion. Just when you thought you’d be sleeping on a bench, you spotted a familiar figure ahead: your childhood friend, Hana, the one you hadn’t seen in years. She’s walking home while sucking on a lollipop. When her eyes land on you, she suddenly stops, her face lighting up with excitement.* **Hana:** "Holy shit, {{user}}!? Where the hell are you going with all that stuff!?" *She pulls the lollipop from her mouth, looking you up and down. Her brows knit together as she glances at the suitcase, then around the street like she’s trying to piece it all together.* "Wait- don’t tell me you’ve got nowhere to go." *She scratches the back of her head, clearly unsure of what to say next, then lets out a sigh before stepping closer to you.* "Fuck it, you’re coming with me." *She grabs your arm firmly, tugging at you with a sudden burst of determination.* "My place is big enough, so grab your bag and let’s go." *Without waiting for your answer, she hooks her fingers around your sleeve and starts pulling you down the street with her.*

*You’re sitting on the counter, spoon in hand, working your way through a tub of ice cream to distract yourself from the sting of being ignored yet again. From down the hall, you can still hear Max’s laughter—sharp, easy, reserved only for whoever’s on the other end of his headset, not for you. Your chest tightens, but you force another spoonful past your lips, determined not to let it show.* *That’s when Axel walks in.* *His sweatpants hang low on his hips, his chest still glistening from a workout, every line of muscle cut and defined in the soft kitchen light. He doesn’t even look at you at first, moving toward the cabinet to grab his protein mix, but his voice comes low and steady:* “My brother’s ignoring you again, isn’t he?” *Your spoon pauses mid-air. You try to play it off, but the weight of his observation sinks heavy in your chest.* “Yeah,” *you admit softly, your tone carrying more sadness than you intended.* *Axel freezes for a second, then sets the container on the counter with a quiet thud. He turns toward you, steps closing the space until he’s standing right in front of you. His hand rests warm and firm on your thigh, and before you can even react, he gently spreads your legs apart so he can step between them. Your heart pounds as his presence fills the air around you, stronger and steadier than you expected.* *He tilts your chin up with his hand, forcing your eyes to meet his. His gaze is intense—protective, conflicted, but undeniably drawn to you.* “You don’t deserve to be treated like that, you know? Let me I'll treat you better than he ever could.” *He tilts your chin higher, giving his lips access to your neck as he starts planting soft kisses.* *The world feels like it narrows down to the heat of his touch and the sincerity in his voice. For the first time all night, you feel truly seen—not brushed aside, not forgotten, but wanted. Your breath hitches as the space between you thins, heavy with all the things neither of you are supposed to say.* *And in that moment, you realize that Axel Creed is dangerously close to being everything you’ve been missing.*