What's After Like [M Reader X IVE (adult members)]

Chapter 1.1 - Liz (M)

(A/N: Chapters marked with (M) contain sexual content in the context of romantic and/or platonic relationships. This is my first ever book, so thanks for reading and feel free to leave plenty of comments!)

Cursing whatever cosmic force had decided it would start pouring at the exact moment you got off the bus, you sprint madly down the sidewalk, droplets of rain scattering off every surface of your body as you dash towards the door of your apartment building. On a normal day you'd consider the bus stop conveniently close by, but in these circumstances a full block was still way too far for your liking.  At least it's a warmer evening for March, meaning the cold rain chilling your skin is more nuisance than genuine concern.  Which is good, since you're fairly soaked by the time you reach the door.

Taking the elevator upstairs you arrive finally at your modest apartment, shivering from the traces of rain still sneaking through your wet clothes.  With just one bedroom and a small kitchen/living area your place is nothing fancy, but it's comfortable and having no roommates is a definite perk.  Gazing idly out the window as you strip out of your wet clothes, you see an expensive car stop on the street out front to drop off its passengers directly at the door.  At this angle you can't really distinguish the individual figures crossing quickly into the building, but given their chauffeured arrival you have no doubt they are none other than your next-door neighbors: IVE.  Even now, a few months after they moved in, you can scarcely believe that the much bigger corner suite next to yours belongs to one of Korea's most wildly popular girl groups, and one you'd been a fan of since debut.  While their uber-busy lifestyle and much higher social plans meant you were never likely to be truly close, you'd been lucky enough to chat with each of the members at least once or twice.  Liz had accepted your offer to stop in for a cup of tea once and returned again two more times since, while Rei even visited your apartment on a few occasions to play video games together.  Actually, even though they're currently very busy preparing for an emphatic comeback with their first full-length album, she'd asked to game together again tomorrow night, and you were looking forward to another bout of friendly competition.  Feeling the comforting fluff of some soft, warm, and most importantly dry pajamas now embracing your skin, you head back out towards your kitchen.

Briefly you hear the muffled sounds of IVE passing down the hall while as you start preparing a simple dinner, before silent peace descends again.  This should be a quiet night to yourself, which is good since you have a busy day coming up at work tomorrow.  Plopping down on the couch with some food and a show you've been meaning to catch up on, you wrap yourself in a thick fleece blanket for maximum warmth and settle in for a comfortable night.  However, your expectations of solitude are interrupted around an hour later by the sound of a hesitant knock.  Reluctantly getting off the couch, you cautiously crack open the door and are greeted by the unexpected but certainly not unwelcome sight of IVE's main vocalist and most expressive personality: Liz.

"Hi y/n," she says, sounding a bit uncertain.  "Do you mind if I come in?"  With a momentary glance back you conclude that the apartment is in no more embarrassing a state than usual, so you open the door wider and invite her inside.  As she enters the room you note that she's still fully styled from the day's work, wearing a pleated black leather skirt and a tight-fitting cropped white top with red highlights that might have seemed surprisingly revealing were it not for the plain black jacket covering her shoulders.  With her hair left loose and a modest amount of makeup, the overall effect is simple but still highly attractive, and you abruptly realize both that you've been looking her over a little too long and that you're just wearing pajamas.  She doesn't seem to notice either though.  In fact, she doesn't seem to notice much at all; it's clear that she has something on her mind and isn't quite fully decided on whatever brought her to your door.

"Have a seat if you want" you offer, gesturing in the directions of the couch or table, and Liz mutters a perfunctory thanks as she perches distractedly on the edge of chair.  Though you've only had a couple of real conversations, you feel like Liz could almost be considered a genuine friend of yours, and you know that while she can be quite bizarre at times it's unusual for her to seem hesitant like this.  You turn around to turn off the TV, and by the time you turn back she's standing up again, seemingly too internally agitated to remain seated, eyes fixed on you now as if considering you and trying to reach some conclusion.  For a brief moment you fear she may somehow have deduced your most closely-guarded secret...