Taeyung the Incubus (complete)

Female Reader. x Male Monster (boyh cis)

The posters for the carnival have been plastered everywhere. It seems wherever you go, whether the cafe, the music store, or even the bus stop, there’s a poster for that carnival coming into town. Now there’s one posted just outside the door of your workplace. It seems odd to you that the niche antique store you work at would be the advertising target of a carnival. Most of the customers are - well, they don’t seem like carnival people, although you’ve seen a lot of oddballs pass through.

Your boss, Robin, is a relative, though you don’t know exactly what family connection you have. He hired you on the spot, when you met, and said his new store was going to focus on rare and antique books. “I know you collect,” was all he told you.

As strange as the hiring process was, and meeting a family member you’d never met before, you’ve enjoyed this job so much so far. Once a week Robin or his wife Eira brings in a new supply of books, although there is the occasional antique statuette or painting. You catalogue them, do some research, price according to Robin’s list, and put them on display. If the books need cleaning, you call in another employee. It’s a good job, even wonderful, and you never thought you’d have that.

Just a few days before the carnival is to open, its assembly at the edge of town is complete. At night the rides and strings of lights glitter on the horizon, looking fantastical against the sunset. You’re still toying with the idea of going. It could be fun, but you feel a bit nervous, especially since you’ll probably have to go alone.

You toss the idea of the carnival around in your head as you stand on a ladder, hooking up a new chandelier to the top of a window display. You look down to see someone looking through the window, watching you. Your guts churn. You don’t like to be watched, but being watched while on top of a ladder is a whole new type of fear.

The young man outside smiles and waves up at you. He’s lovely, tall, and lanky, with fluffy white hair that looks like a cloud resting on his head. You wave back, then watch him anxiously as he comes into the shop. “Good morning!” His voice is charming. “I don’t mean to bother you, so just keep working, I’ll look around.”

You swallow your heart back down into your chest. “Is there something you need?” Despite your best efforts, your voice cracks from nerves.

The handsome man smiles, and in the light of the shop you see his complexion is mottled with patches of pale pink and peach. His eyes, too, are different colors, one deep amber and the other pale blue. “I’m looking for something for my mom,” he says. “It’s her birthday and I wanted to get her something really special. Since you work here, you must know all the secrets.”

Oh god, he’s handsome and loves his mom. Surely that’s where the goodness ends. You climb off the ladder and smooth down your clothes, grateful the uniform apron hides your paunch. “Well, is there anything in particular you want for her? Jewelry? Art?”

“She loves books,” he says, eyes darting around to the many shelves. “I was hoping you would have something that really… pops.” He looks keenly at you and smiles. “Oh, I’m Taeyung by the way.” He holds his hand out, and you see his nails are painted bright, glittery red.

You cautiously take his hand and stammer an introduction. “It’s nice to meet you. What kind of literature does she like? We’ve got all sorts of books, so it’d be hard to narrow it down.”

Taeyung looks around again, lost in thought. “Anything really,” he laughs. “I know that isn’t helpful.”

You shake your head, smiling softly. “No, it’s okay. Let’s start over here, with some of the new books we’ve just gotten in.” You lead him to a shelf where you display the new stuff, and that’s when you notice a book that’s been left out of place. In fact, it’s a book you’ve never seen before - large, with a black spine and gilded metal clasps. Of course, Taeyung reaches for it first and pulls it off the shelf.

You open your mouth to say something, but keep it closed instead. “Oh, wow,” Taeyung murmurs. He flips a few pages. “Wow!”

“We get a lot of strange things,” you try to cover. “Sometimes we get in books that may seem…”

You stop when Taeyung grins. “This is great! Almost perfect.” He holds the book open towards you, and inside is artwork and photos from old carnivals and circuses. “My family operates the carnival,” he says. “My mom would love this.”

You gasp softly. “So you work at the carnival.”

Taeyung smiles at you. “I do. I’m actually going to have my own show starting soon. I’m kind of nervous, but you probably don’t wanna hear about that,” he chuckles.

His shy expression, mixed with his uncertain smile, makes your heart patter. “No, that’s great. Congratulations! What is it that you do?”

“I sing,” he says, and his smile fades a bit more. “And I do magic.”

“So you’re a magician?” Your smile brightens. “What kind of tricks do you do?”

Taeyung sets the book aside and exposes his palms to you. He fans his fingers out and down and flicks his wrists, and he’s holding a bouquet in his hands. “Oh, wow!” you gasp.

“Wait.” Taeyung shows you the bouquet. “It’s flowers, right? Go ahead and touch them.”

The petals are soft and slightly damp. You nod in approval, and he whisks the bouquet back and holds it up over his head. He pushes the stems, and they pop open and become an umbrella. You cup your hands over your mouth. “Whoa!”

Taeyung swings down the umbrella, and it cascades down as a scarf painted with dozens of flowers. Taeyung places the scarf around your neck and smiles brightly. “Usually I make it rain petals, but I didn’t want to make a mess for you to clean.”

The scarf is soft and light as air, and it feels like silk. “That was amazing! I’ve never seen anything like that!”

“Then you should come to the show,” Taeyung says excitedly. “I’m able to do my really big tricks there, and I’ve worked really hard at making some unique ones.”

“I can’t imagine how you could top this! A bouquet to an umbrella to a scarf!”

You start to take off the scarf to give it back to him, but Taeyung stops you. “Keep it,” he beams. “Wear it if you come to the show, and then I’ll be able to find you.”

Nervous butterflies churn in your gut. “Oh, uh…” You’re not sure how to act or even speak. “Th-thank you. That’s very nice.”

Taeyung picks the book back up. “I’ll take this for my mom.”

“Here,” you hold out your hand. “If you want to look around some more I’ll get this wrapped for you.” Really, you want to look at it yourself. You can’t remember seeing it ever before.

“Thanks!”

Taeyung places the book in your hand. You look it over as you walk to the front, and see there is indeed a price tag on it. “How weird,” you murmur to yourself. “I thought I knew every book here.”

You take off the price tag and begin wrapping it as Taeyung comes back. “Thanks for wrapping it,” he says. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a wallet.

“Hopefully your mom will have a really good birthday,” you say.

Taeyung’s smile softens. “I hope so. I owe her and my dad so much.” When he pays with a card, you see his name is Taeyung Faire. “I really hope you come to the carnival. It’s lots of fun, even if you don’t see the shows. My family works really hard on it every year.”

You smile back at him. “I’ll try and make it. Thanks for the magic scarf.”

“Thanks for the perfect gift.” He takes his purchase. “Have a good day!”

You wave as he leaves. “You too.” You sigh as he leaves, he was so handsome and appealing. How could a guy like that be real?

A few days go by, and around town you hear people talking about the carnival - how it’s got everything, how it’s scary, how it’s funny. You hadn’t really planned on going, but hearing all this, after meeting Taeyung, your interest is piqued.

You wear the scarf when you walk up to the booth to pay for your ticket, but before you head through the gate, you stop. “Excuse me,” you say to the girl at the gate. “I, um… I was wondering, there’s a magic show I wanted to see…”

“Oh, here.” She hands you a pamphlet. “That’s the schedule of events. You’ll find all the shows and their times as well as a map of the property.”

“Thank you.” You walk on and find a corner to look over the map. The fairground is huge! Much bigger than you expected. The magic show is in the big top at seven, and right now it’s six. “Okay, I’ve got an hour to waste,” you murmur. “What can I do?”

“It’s you!”

You scream and spin around, clamping your hand over your mouth. “I’m sorry!” Taeyung looks mortified and apologetic. “I didn’t mean to scare you! Are you okay?”

“It’s fine,” you quaver. “Happens all the time.”

Taeyung smiles, clad in black from head to toe. “I’m glad you came, though! It’s so good to see you again.”

“I’ve heard really good things.” Your heart is still pounding. “I was just trying to figure out what to do before your show.”

Taeyung’s eyes light up, and his smile grows even more lovely. “I’ve got some time before my show starts. I can show you around!”

Oh gosh, this is too good to be true. “No, it’s okay. You really don’t have to!”

Taeyung takes your hand. “This is my home. I’d love to.”

Your pulse stops, and you follow him in mute enchantment as he shows you the different sights of the carnival. There’s a section just for kids, an alley of arcade games and snack stalls. There’s an attraction called Scarebrooke which is a year-round haunted village, a giant merry-go-round, a Ferris wheel. Taeyung wins you a stuffed lion at a shooting gallery, and buys you a sweet coffee caramel drink that tastes exactly like caramel corn.

“Oh shoot,” he huffs. “I need to get to the big top.”

“Well, that's important, right?”

Taeyung grumbles. “Yeah, but I was having fun with you.”

Your heart stops again. “Your show is really important, though.”

Taeyung sighs. “I suppose.” Then he beams again. “How about I take you on the Ferris wheel after my show?”

“Really?”

Taeyung nods. “It’ll be fun.” Then, in a shocking twist, he bends down and kisses your cheek. “I’ll see you at the show!”

Your body shuts down. This isn’t a test. This is high alert! An extremely good looking man just kissed your cheek! Abort! Abort! Luckily, an excited child runs into you and your senses return.

You make your way to the big top, hoping to get a decent seat for the magic show. The tent is dim, and all around you is whispering and murmuring. Once it gets close to the curtain call, the lights shut off completely. The big top goes dark, and everyone holds their breath.

“Good evening.” A man’s voice pours through the tent, making your skin prickle with anticipation and you gaze through the darkness hoping to see someone onstage. “We’re all glad to have you here at the Children of the Night Carnival. I am your host, Mr. Faire, and tonight I am very happy to present to you my son.”

“His dad,” you murmur excitedly.

“He’s a very talented young man.” A spotlight turns on, focusing on a tall man at stage left. “He’ll perform his many magic tricks, as well as sing a few familiar tunes for you all.” Music begins to play, and Mr. Faire bows at the waist. “So welcome to the stage my son, the talented, unique Taeyung.” As he rises back up a bright light flashes, smoke bursts forth, and he turns into glitter which blows out into the audience.

The music grows loud as a piano plays and the spotlight illuminates Taeyung at a piano suspended upside down and levitating above the stage. Your eyes widen at the sight as he hangs there like a bat on the piano keys. He plays beautiful music while lights around the stage begin to glow and dance. He sings, and it’s the most beautiful voice you’ve ever heard - smooth, gentle, with a soft rasp at the back of his throat. It’s sexy and charming, much like him. The piano slowly begins to revolve, and then Taeyung stops playing, climbs on top of the piano, opens it up and jumps inside. He vanishes, then reappears, falling from above. When he lands on the boards of the stage, everything goes dead silent.

You hold your breath, afraid to breathe. The piano begins to play by itself, spinning around and around in the air as Taeyung starts to sing again, reaching up and taking hold of the piano. He pulls it down, and it turns into a curtain that billows around him. He whips it out, making things appear behind it, disappear, change, reappear, change. He wrings the curtain through his hands and it turns into a giant umbrella, which, when opened, explodes into light and glitter and flowers. Dancers appear on stage, shifting between human and animal forms as Taeyung sings.

At last, the performance ends and Taeyung comes to the front of the stage, taking a breath and laughing. “Thank you all for being here this evening! Are you enjoying the show?” The crowd erupts in cheers. “I’m going to need some help with this next trick. Is there a princess in the audience?” There’s murmurs, but no reply. “A princess? Anyone?” He begins to look concerned.

Your scarf lights up, glowing with different colors as Taeyung turns in your direction. “I think we have one!” You nervously try to cover the scarf, but Taeyung is already making his way towards you. He grins, holding his hand out to you. “I promise, it’ll be fun.”

It’s instinct to want to say no, to continue to be hidden in the shadows of the audience. But for some reason, you take Taeyung’s hand. He leads you down the aisle to the stage. The lights and colors take your breath away. As does Taeyung, who begins to sing as he takes your scarf, pulling it so it grows and grows and surrounds you like a cocoon. He pulls it down over your head, and the crowd gasps loudly.

It takes you a moment to realize that your clothes have changed. You’re standing in a beautiful gown, with a crown on your head. “Princess,” Taeyung bows and extends his hand. “May I have this dance?”

You take his hand, unsure if this is real or a dream. Taeyung holds you close, spinning you around the stage as more flowers fall. The piano descends to the stage, and Taeyung steps onto it with you as it rises again, then leans in close to you. “I’ll find you again,” he says. “Just wait.”

He picks you up and throws you into the air, where you become enveloped in light. The next thing you know, you’ve landed on a mattress backstage. You’re no longer in the gown, which is a slight relief. You stand up and some of the dancers come to help you. “You did great!” one says.

“Come sit down. It’s so strange at first, right?” another giggles. They give you a seat and a big cup of water. You hear the roar of the audience and Taeyung saying his farewells to them. You’re still trying to sort through what happened. Was it magic? Actually magic?

“I found you!” Taeyung comes running up to you. He has your scarf in hand, which he places back around your neck. “What did you think?” He pushes back his hair, which has gotten sweaty from the performance, and even takes off his shirt, revealing a white one underneath that clings to his figure. You stare at him, awed and wondering if you’re in the presence of a fairy prince. “What was that?” you start to laugh. “How did you even do all of that? The gown! The piano! Me!” You pat your hands around yourself just to make sure you’re actually real.

Taeyung chuckles, smiling grandly. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. I was worried you’d get scared, but you did so well!”

“But how?” you gasp.

Taeyung grins and winks. “I can’t reveal my tricks. Not yet anyway.”