A/N:

Hey guys! It's been a hot minute since I last updated and I hope you're all doing great! I was thinking of opening a "Notebook" in which I'd post some additional stories and oneshots for my OCs (from both Broken Wings and Darling). I don't know when the first story will be up but I'll let you know!



Sometimes, the universe had a very perverse way of taunting (Y/n).

Lupita and (Y/n) hadn't succeeded in catching up to Grey, if it had even been her, that is. (Y/n) knew this had been Grey though. She would recognise her sister amongst a thousand others. Or maybe (Y/n) had just missed Grey so much that she had finally started seeing her in other people. Though this was weird, because (Y/n) had been confident that she had finally started making peace with the idea that maybe she wouldn't see Grey ever again.

Over the last few weeks (Y/n) had finally stopped making all of her life choices about Grey and started making them about herself, had started slowly forgetting about how she had come to the city in search of Grey in the first place.

Truly (Y/n) had felt more alive and happy than ever these last few days, apart from her last altercation with Tobias, everything had been looking up for her.

So surely this couldn't have been a trick of her mind, it might have been the case when she had first gotten to the city and was desperate about finding her sister. But not now that she had found her own happiness.

No, the woman she had seen yesterday had to be Grey. (Y/n) was sure of it.

Question was whether this was Grey's monthly mandatory outing with her captor -presumably the girl she had been holding hands with- or a day out in the city.

Back when she had first arrived in the city, (Y/n) had been confident that no Uninfected could ever willingly leave the safety of the Uninfected Community for the city walls. But she had changed her mind since then, and even if she loved her mother and the Uninfected Community, (Y/n) would never go back to her old life, even if she had to deal with all that came with being an undercover Uninfected in an Infected society.

Maybe Grey had come to this conclusion too, way sooner than (Y/n) herself had. After all, Grey often boasted about how much better life outside of the Uninfected Community sounded.

Maybe Grey hadn't been kidnapped after all, or wasn't being held against her will. Maybe, just like (Y/n), she had chosen the city. But if this was the case, why didn't she take (Y/n) with her? Why did she leave without even telling (Y/n) about her plans and saved (Y/n) the weeks of sick, mind-eating concern?

Grey wouldn't have-

"(Y/n)?" Lupita's gentle voice cut through (Y/n)'s thoughts, concern written all over her features as she placed a supportive hand on (Y/n)'s shoulder. "You alright? You've been staring off into space for the last five minutes. Without blinking even once."

Well, that was certainly a feat and something (Y/n) would make sure to boast about later on. Though now that she thought about it, her eyes did feel incredibly dry.

She blinked, dragging her thoughts back to her current position behind the counter at Miguel's Kitchen.

She offered Lupita a reassuring smile. "Yes, sorry I got lost in thought. Anything I need to do?"

"No, don't worry about it. Things are pretty chill this morning." Lupita said whilst drying off a plate with a towel. "The storm probably scared off some customers."

True, since coming to the city, (Y/n) hadn't endured many rainy days and had had the pleasure of enjoying a clear blue sky more often than not. But this morning both Lupita and her had been woken up by violent thunders and lightning slashing through the dark sky. It was also raining buckets and most streets had been cleared of any passersby because of the weather. And Miguel's Kitchen had been pretty much empty since its opening hours too, safe for very few regulars like Penelope who had stayed a good two hours before leaving for class.

Jasper still hadn't shown up, which was kind of surprising considering he was always the first customer to order in the morning. (Y/n) couldn't really find it in herself to think about this much though, his absence was a relief if anything. It was almost noon and there was still no sign of him.

Maybe he had finally caught the hint that she wasn't interested and had decided to give up?

This could have been a possibility in a normal, well functioning society in which relations based on mutual consent was the norm. Or if Jasper had happened to be like Tobias, morally aware.

Unfortunately for (Y/n), the Infected society wasn't a normal, well functioning society. And Jasper was miles apart from Tobias's sense of morality by any means.

In fact, some would go as far as to say that morality was a word in Jasper's book. Even more so when it came to her, as she'd grow to find out.

All to say that, (Y/n) really shouldn't have let her guard down so soon. Because the moment she opened her mouth to continue chatting with Lupita, the front door flew right open.

Revealing a disheveled and out of breath Jasper.

Just as Lupita heaved a frustrated sigh, (Y/n)'s heart sank to her stomach and any hope of a peaceful morning went out the window as Jasper's eyes locked with hers.

The universe really was set on toying with her emotions these days, wasn't it?

On the other hand, Jasper was finally getting his daily shot of bliss and exhilaration. The last twenty four hours had been excruciating, even more so considering his mission had kept him from seeing his darling (Y/n) in the early hours of the morning.

Alas it couldn't be helped, a job was a job and Jasper actually didn't mind killing people for his father. He simply wished this nobleman hadn't struggled so much and made it so hard for Jasper to kill him. The poor man must have known that the mayor was after him, and had been readying himself for the fight of his life.

Not that fighting against Jasper was much use though.

Anyways, it had been a bloody mission, and Jasper hadn't wished to go see his sweet darling reeking of blood and murder. A man painted in blood wasn't a very welcoming sight, even by Infected society's standards. So Jasper had had to endure yet another endless hour before reuniting with (Y/n), the time of a well needed shower.

No amount of water and body soap could ever make (Y/n) at ease in Jasper's presence though. She had heard way too much about him, and had seen way too much as well.

It was clear he was obsessed with her, and that was all (Y/n) needed to know for her to fear him.

"Hello there, what can we get for you?" She was still on the clock though, and money was something she desperately needed to finance her own independence. Miguel would lose it if he learnt that she had kicked the mayor's son out of the coffeeshop. So, in spite of her survival instinct screaming at her to run for the hills, (Y/n) did her best to plaster on a professional smile and do her job.

To Jasper's greatest pleasure.

He took a step forward, Lupita's sign to stand her ground at (Y/n)'s side in case he'd try anything funny. Lupita was many things admittedly, but a coward wasn't one of them.

If she needed to punch Jasper in the gut, she would. As reckless as it was.

"I'll have the usual, please." Jasper said with a happy smile, incredibly flattered when (Y/n) started preparing his usual order from memory. She was just way too adorable for her own good and Jasper could barely swallow back a fangirling squeal.

Talk to her! How do you think you'll get closer to her if you just stare at her like a fool?

True, as much as Jasper loved staring at (Y/n) and could do so for hours on end, he indeed needed to talk to her if he wanted things to go his way. Thing was, he had no idea where to start or what to say.

So he simply started with the lamest pick up line ever.

"Pretty bad weather today, right?" He attempted, scratching the back of his head as he shyly searched for (Y/n)'s gaze. She met his eyes but didn't answer, silently putting his muffin on a plate.

Jasper cleared his throat, embarrassment crawling up the back of his neck. He wasn't one to easily give up though.

"Do-Do you have an umbrella?" He continued, "It's raining pretty badly and-"

"Good thing we're working inside, then." Lupita stepped in with a polite smile dripping venom. Jasper's eyes momentarily met hers, blue and ice cold.

Jasper wasn't too keen on conflict, and was more the type to turn his back on it than jump head first in an argument. Usually, he would have let this slide, as it wasn't the first time someone showed their dislike towards him. He had a fool reputation, and receiving nasty looks and remarks was part of the package. People said that it was because of his suspected job as a hitman, but that was a blatant lie.

Jasper had always received disdainful looks, even as a kid. If not because of some rumors about his involvement in his father's affairs, then because of his defective Infection.

"He's so creepy." A child whispered in their friend's ear, pointing towards Jasper who sat alone on a bench just a few feet away. "My dad had a session with him and apparently his Obsessive strain is defective."

Jasper didn't bother speaking up to defend himself, it was useless, and he himself couldn't understand why he was the way he was. Obsessives were known for being intense, for having various passions and hobbies they are obsessed with, a way to channel their obsession until they find their darling and put all of their love into one person.

But Jasper was just... blank. Devoid of emotions and passions.

Elijah had tried many times to bring Jasper to care about something, anything. And Jasper had found some enjoyment in books, but nothing so extreme as to be called a passion.

Everything just looked bland, tasteless. And everything was just way too fucking heavy for Jasper to care more than he did.

There was nothing Jasper could do to change who he was, and nothing he could do to get himself out of his disinterested state without risking getting crushed by the weight of his own existence.

His father had brought him to see countless therapists, infection doctors and every one of them had branded him as a defective obsessive.

But none of them had diagnosed him with depression. Not that he could fault them though, Jasper himself hadn't thought about it.

Now though, Jasper had found one thing that he loved above all, that he adored and cherished. (Y/n) had changed him for the better, awoken something wild and burning inside of him, something he had waited his whole life to experience.

Maybe this is why Jasper found himself actually annoyed by Lupita's interruption, because this time, her offense didn't only concern him, but also his interaction with (Y/n), the only person he cared about.

"I guess you're right." Jasper answered with a polite smile that didn't reach his eyes. And one look at it was enough for (Y/n)'s blood to freeze in her veins.

She didn't think twice before lightly pushing Lupita back and stepping forward with a friendly smile that she hoped would convince Jasper. She needed to get Jasper's mind off of Lupita, whatever it took. Because if Jasper saw Lupita as a threat, (Y/n) shivered at the thought of what he'd do.

"That's very sweet of you, Sir Jasper." (Y/n) said in a sweet tone that made her want to gag. "I do have an umbrella, but thanks for caring about our wellbeing."

Maybe if she made this conversation about both Lupita and her, instead of just about her, it would sound less like she was accepting his romantic intentions and more like a polite conversation? If one could even call it that.

Jasper stared at her, features indecipherable, before finally breaking into a soft smile. "Right, perfect then." He said, gracefully taking his coffee and muffin before settling down at his usual table. Putting an end to his conversation with (Y/n) all too soon for his liking.

Still, it was a start, right? He just needed to work on his social interactions and be less awkward about it. His sweet (Y/n) had smiled for him, this had to count for something. Or at least in Jasper's mind, it did.

Because it would take at least that to make up for the meeting Jasper was going to have with his father once home. Their yearly meeting to plan for the Community Bonding ball, which really was an excuse for Elijah to throw a party in the hope that Jasper would finally find his Darling.

A meeting that Jasper both dreaded and looked forward to now that he had (Y/n).