Seventeen One-Shots

Shield of the Heart: Mingyu x Reader

Odd snickers and raucous laughter buzzed through the hallways at Seongnam High. The ocean of rowdy kids moved in a flurry of color as Kim Mingyu shuffled along-keeping his head down to avoid drawing attention. Downcast eyes aside, his lanky frame did little for him against the occasional push or jeer.

Y/N was an observant person, and she knew Mingyu struggled in his quiet suffering which contrasted so diametrically with the brightness on the surface. The first time she saw him stumble under the weight of cruel words, it had hurt her heart. These days, she made a point to have him in her sights, stepping in when it was needed.

It wasn't any different today. As Mingyu approached his locker, there were boys lurking around it, sneering, the sound of fingernails against a chalkboard. Y/N, who came out from the library, saw them. So Y/N strode over, determination in her expression.

"Hey!" she said, firm and unwavering.

They turned around, their faces flashing between surprise and bravado. "What do you want, Y/N?" one of them said snidely, peeved that anyone would disrupt the scene.

"I'm here to end this foolishness," she said, her eyes narrowing. "Leave Mingyu alone."

The apparent leader of the group was a burly student by the name of Dongmin who rolled his eyes. "And what if we don't?"

Y/N stepped closer, her face unyielding. "Then you'll have to go through me."

Then Dongmin's eyes turned to Mingyu, who had stood frozen, his face beet red in a mix of embarrassment and relief. It was a look Y/N knew all too well-a silent pleading for someone to stand up for him.

After a moment's silence, working mainly off silent communication alone, Dongmin and his friends exchanged looks. They were bullies, but they weren't stupid. The group muttered some choice words under their breath before shoving their way past Mingyu and Y/N, their retreat accompanied by half-hearted jabs and unspoken threats.

Mingyu stood still, gaze fixed to the ground. Y/N turned to him, a small reassuring smile on her lips. "Are you okay?"

Mingyu looked up; his eyes met hers. The gratitude and vulnerability in his gaze were palpable. "Thank you. I—"

Before he could finish, Y/N cut him off softly, saying, "Don't mention it. Let's get out of here."

They walked together in comfortable silence as Y/N guided Mingyu away from the noisiest parts of the school. She guided him toward a secluded bench situated beneath a large, overarching oak tree-the perfect spot to talk without the risk of being overheard.

After they had sat down, Mingyu's shoulders visibly sagged. He looked to Y/N, his eyes wide with both admiration and question. "Why do you always help me?"

Y/N shrugged, her gaze fixed on the horizon in the distance. "Because everyone deserves to be treated with respect. And because... well, I think you're a good person who doesn't deserve what they're putting you through."

Mingyu blushed at the words, looking away to hide the torrent of emotions swirling within him. "I don't know what to say. No one's ever stood up for me like that before."

Y/N chuckled softly, the soft sound sending the dancing shadows in the air away. "Well, now you know. You're not alone."

Their conversation eventually turned light, and as they spoke, the nervousness that had defined Mingyu's mood began to dissipate. The more he spoke, the more drawn he found himself to the kindness and strength that seemed to pour from Y/N. It was a foreign feeling-a feeling he hadn't encountered in some time, it seemed.

As the day started to wind down, the sky turning shades of orange and pink, Y/N and Mingyu lingered by the bench. The strained first tension dissolved into a comfortable, yet somehow electric, silence.

Mingyu flicked at the hem of his sleeve, looking up to Y/N's face. "I- I really want to thank you for today. For everything.

Y/N held his gaze, her heart fluttering at the sincerity in them. She took a deep breath, the weight of the moment tangling her nerves. "You don't have to keep thanking me. Just be yourself, okay?"

Mingyu's lips arced into a chary smile. "I'll try."

It was one of those moments when their eyes met and the earth appeared to stop rotating; there was charge in the atmosphere around them, a palpable yet incomprehensible connection.Without a word, Mingyu leaned in, his movements slow and deliberate. Y/N's breath got caught in her throat at the intention staring back at her through his eyes, her heart racing with him closing the space between them. The kiss was soft, light upon the lips, speaking volumes for silent thanks and growing affection.

Finally, they pulled away, and both were breathing hard, the color rising to their cheeks in a confusing mix of surprise and joy. Mingyu stared into Y/N's eyes as if to say, really?

Y/N smiled back, warm and encouraging. "I guess that's one way to say thank you."

Mingyu let out a laugh, something so warm, like that was the final release to all tension and sadness he'd ever carried around. "I suppose it is."

Moments dragged silently on; hands touched as they told and shared funny moments. The day's troubles became a distance memory as a new feeling seemed to rise.

When the sky had turned dark and the first stars started to twinkle, Y/N and Mingyu stood up side by side. They walked together toward the school entrance, their footsteps light and in tandem, with the promise of tomorrow still lingering in the air."See you tomorrow?" Mingyu asked, his voice soft but hopeful.

Y/N nodded, her eyes sparkling with warmth to match the evening glow so gently. "Definitely."As they went their separate ways, Y/N felt a flutter of excitement. To Mingyu, though, it had been his D-Day, the step away from the shadows of his life into the light of a new beginning. And for both of them, it was the beginning of something beautiful: a shield forged from kindness and the promise of a shared future.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿

Word count: 981

Author's note: Please let me know if I have spelling or grammar mistakes. Requests are also open <3