#I try so hard to be there for everyone else but the second I need help nobody cares or even notices

[yailtsv]

Chapter 1: Crossing the Line

ceo!paige pushes you past the unprofessional line

»»— warnings: smut, bad grammar, bad punctuation, i don’t know how to write smut, mention of y/n once, aftercare

»»— notes: tell me what to fix on the smut please 🙏 😭 i hope this meets everyone’s expectations and if not please tell me what i should change for the future. if you have ceo!paige ideas SEND THEM IN!!! (fluff or i’ll try smut again! just send in ANY ideas)

»»— word count: 2.1k

“miss. bueckers, you have a photo shoot today at 2 for GQ” you tell paige after she responds with a “come in” to your knocking

“alright, and i told you to just call me paige, didn’t i?” paige responded back - knowing she’s told you that a million times

“yes ma’am”

“so then why aren’t you doing that?”

“don’t want to be unprofessional ma’am” you reply back after a few seconds of silence “unprofessional huh?” paige responds back smirking a little

“you also have a sit down talk scheduled at 4 for an article connected with the photo shoot.” you replied back nervously after seeing her smirk - trying to change topics but only got more nervous when paige stood up and walked towards you

paige leans over you shutting the door and locking it, making your breath hitch

“anything else?” paige says standing really close to you - invading your personal bubble, and moving her hand to push back a piece of your hair that was in your face

“um you need to turn in the new shoe drop designs tonight by 10pm-“ paige then decided to move her hand again but this time put it on your waist, lightly rubbing her thumb in circles through your blouse “go on” paige says in a low raspy voice

“once you get those turned in, we need to post teasers on the PBKicks accounts” you reply breathlessly

“that it?” paige asks moving her hand that was on your waist down to your lower back and pushing you closer into her making you let out a small breathless gasp

you turned your head avoiding eye contact before nodding your head to her question, she clicks her tongue in disapproval before moving one of her hands to underneath your chin and lifting your head up to look her in the face “use your words”

“yes, that’s it” you whimpered out breathlessly, feeling like your stomachs doing cartwheels

“good girl” you have to lean closer to paige after she says that - your knees getting weak

she chuckles at that and leans in closer to your ear whispering - “seems like someone has a praise kink, huh?” you just make a small noise between a moan and a whimper, resting your forehead on paige’s chest, to hide your flushed face

paige just laughs and pulls you to her in office couch, sitting down and pulling you on to her lap “this is unprofessional mis- paige”

“says who?” paige responds teasingly rubbing her hands everywhere across your body “rules” you stammered out fighting the urge to grind down on her

“i’m the ceo baby, i make the rules.” paige said while gripping your hips hard and pushing you down on her thigh - moving you back and forth - making you moan out loudly

paige doesn’t say anything and just takes her tie off and shoved it in your mouth “but you do still need to be quiet my love, wouldn’t want to distract everybody from their work, now would we?”

you nod your head, now moving your hips on your own with paige just watching “there we go baby, doing such a good job for me huh?”

you just let out a muffled moan in response - trying to grind harder feeling your release building up “you gonna cum? hmm?” you just nod but quickly become disappointed when paige grips your hips - stopping you from moving and from your release

she doesn’t say anything and just pushes you down on to the couch and gets on top of you.

“you wanna do this?” paige asks, wanting your consent before doing anything else, you shake your head saying yes while also saying a muffled yes with her tie still in your mouth

she smiles a little bit taking the tie out of your mouth and setting it on the couches arm rest “words” paige says again

“yes i want to do this” you whine out in a needy tone, paige leans down and connects your guys lips together, making you moan into the unexpected kiss

while you both are fighting for dominance in the kiss, paige’s hand is exploring your body before stopping at your buttoned up blouse “can i take this off?” paige mumbles against you making you nod in response

she pulls away from the kiss and sits up, unbuttoning your shirt and pulling it off, throwing it across the office, her eye’s immediately raking over your upper body

“you’re so beautiful” paige says still checking you out before leaning down and pressing her lips to your neck. paige kisses all over your neck sucking gently in some places making you let out quiet breathless moans

paige slowly trails down your abdomen, when she reaches your stomach she moves her kisses back up to your breasts

she trails her kisses to the top of your boobs gently sucking there too before moving her hand behind your back - making you arch into her, so it can be easier for her to unhook your bra

she drags your bra off throwing it in the same direction as your blouse, immediately kissing all around your chest - giving both of your breasts attention, with you arching into her more

after a few minutes of paige just kissing and sucking your chest she moves down your stomach stopping at the waist band of your skirt “can i take this off?” she asks again

“only if you take some things off, you’re to clothed” you reply back breathlessly, she shakes her head amused before standing up from the couch and taking off her suit jacket, and unbuttoning her dress shirt and throwing both of them in the same direction as the other clothes leaving her in her bra

you don’t say anything and just unbutton your skirt as a way of saying that she can take off your skirt now - which she picks up on and immediately walks closer to you and puts her fingers in the waistband of your skirt - pulling it down and tossing it

she immediately gets back on top of you, bringing you back into a kiss

while you guys are fighting for dominance again, she runs her fingers over the wet spot on your panties making you moan into her mouth “this wet already?” paige moans against your lips

“mm fuck, i can’t wait anymore.” paige says moving down your legs with her fingers at your pantie line, looking up at you again - asking if she can take them off, which you nod at, once she got the green light she immediately pulled your underwear down and tossed them with the others

she moved her eyes up and down for a little, checking you out with no shame whatsoever, before she got impatient with herself and layed down between your legs

she slowly kissed around your thighs, with you groaning impatiently and trying to push her head to where you need her the most - that did not work, as her head didn’t budge and she just chuckled amused looking up at you

“impatient are we?” paige says with that low voice again “paige” you whine out “do something please”

“only cause you asked so nicely” she says before pushing her head down and immediately bringing your clit into her mouth, sucking on it

you moaned out loud, making paige reach up from her spot and grab the tie, shoving it back in your mouth - all while still circling her tongue around you

she moved her tongue down your slit, circling her tongue around your entrance before pushing in - you putting your hands in her hair, trying to push her closer

paige groans into you at the pressure on her head, the vibration making you moan louder through the tie.

paige then stop’s thrusting her tongue and moves up back to your clit and moves her fingers down to your entrance - taking over where her mouth just left

paige circles her middle finger around your entrance while sucking on your clit, before thrusting that finger in

you groan loudly over the tie making paige let out a little giggle against you, “how many can you take mama?” she mumbles against you, you don’t say anything but you hold up two fingers

she makes a small noise of acknowledgment and takes her middle finger out, before thrusting her pointer and middle finger in together

she takes her free hand and puts it over your mouth - the tie not muffling enough of your loud moans, so she took it out and threw it.

while she kept sucking on your clit and thrusting her fingers inside of you, you started moving your hips - trying to get closer to her mouth and fingers, making her chuckle into you

“paige” you whine out with her humming in response “fuck don’t stop, please” you can feel your release getting closer and so can paige, only making her speed up more

you swore you could see stars when your orgasm crashed through you, decreasing a little bit as paige worked you through your high

your whine was the thing that pulled paige away from you - seeing that your now overstimulated and don’t need worked through anymore.

paige leans up from between your legs and bringing you into a kiss - you tasting yourself on her tongue,

your still trying to catch your breath and paige still hasn’t said anything - but she grabbed you by the waist and turned you both over, so your now laying on top of her, with her holding your head to her chest

“what about you?” you say after you finally caught your breath back “do you want to do that right now?” paige asked in your ear,

but before you could answer there was a knock at the door, making paige stand up while saying “one second” she layed you back down on the couch, and covered you with a blanket, just in case, and walked to the pile of clothes hurrying on putting her dress shirt back on properly before opening the door enough for her to see the person, and the person be able to see her, just enough for it to not be considered suspicious

“you have to leave in 10 minutes for GQ magazine, we can’t find y/n, so i didn’t know if she told you or not.” one of your interns said

“oh alright, thank you.” paige said shutting the door as soon as the intern acknowledged that paige answered and walked away

paige walked to her small in office bathroom, getting a rag and wetting it before coming back over to you, and gently cleaning you down there, with you letting out small noises from sensitivity

“i didn’t realize we were that close to time for the magazine shoot, i’m sorry” you say out tiredly

“it’s fine, we’re not late” paige said while walking over and grabbing your panties, bra, and one of her spare dress shirts that she keeps in her office in case her shirt gets dirty, and walked to her mini fridge grabbing a water bottle

she helps you get dressed in those said clothes, handing you the water after she opened it for you

“you’re gonna stay here and take a nap while i’m at the shoot-“

“no i’m fine, i’m your assistant, i have to be there!” you say cutting her off making her raise her eyebrows at you

“i’ll bring one of your interns with me, i already know you have everything written down correct?” paige asked in a knowing voice, that you just nod your head to

“great! so we will take your notes and go to the shoot while you stay here a take a well deserved nap yeah? i’ll lock the door when i leave, so you don’t have to worry about anyone walking in and seeing you in my shirt and panties, there’s snacks and drinks in the mini fridge and cabinets, just make yourself at home until i get back alright?” paige said with her hand on your bare thigh - rubbing small circles with her thumb

you just nod your head, not wanting to agree with this but also not having a choice “good girl” paige says while leaning in again and giving you a kiss before pulling away to get changed to leave for the shoot

“i never got to please you” you say looking up at her with tired eyes, paige chuckles from buttoning up a new pair of suit pants - seeing as the ones she was wearing are now wet

“maybe next time”

🏷️ @melpthatsme @rebecca-woso @authentic-girl03 @ldapper

[florihaei]

• ౨ৎ ────────── 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐃𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐏 ₊ ˖ ་.

엔하이픈 ꒰ 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝖽𝗈𝗅𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝗎𝗉 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖾𝗇𝗁𝗒𝗉𝖾𝗇 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗍 𝗄𝖾𝖾𝗉 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗂𝗋 𝗁𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆𝗌𝖾𝗅𝖿𝗌

• ( 858 ) bf.enha 𓂃 est relationship + kissing, pet names, suggestive / ( FLORIHAEI VALUT )

reblogs and feedbacks are greatly appreciated!!, credits to boyfhee for the idea!!

HEESEUNG !

the second you stepped into the living room, heeseung’s eyes darkened, and his tongue swipes across his bottom lip. he leans back against the couch, arms stretched over the backrest, like he’s trying to keep himself in check.

“where do you think you’re going looking like that pretty girl?” his voice is lazy, but his gaze is anything but. it burns into your skin, traveling from the curve of your neck to the way your dress hugs your waist.

you tilt your head “out baby, why?”

heeseung chuckles, slow and deep before patting his thigh “c’mere for a second” when you hesitated, he grins “just wanna get a closer look at my baby before you make everyone else loose their mind.

when you do step closer, he doesn’t waste a second, catching your chin between his fingers before pulling you down for a kiss, slow and teasing like he’s trying to memorize the taste of you. he hums against your lips smirking “too bad i can’t keep you all to myself”

-

JONGSEONG !

jay’s fingers freeze on the cuff of his sleeve as you enter the room, his breath hitching slightly. his eyes trail down your figure, admiration and something else flickering behind them.

“you always look beautiful, but this?” he exhales shaking his head “it’s unfair..”

you smirk, steeping closer. “unfair?”

he hums, reaching for your hand and tracing slow circles on your wrists. “because now all i want to do is keep you here all to myself” his voice drops as he pulled you closer. “but you worked so hard getting dolled up, i guess i should let you go.. right princess?”

before you could answer, he leans in pressing a soft kiss against the corner of your lips, then another right at the edge of your mouth, teasingly slow. when you shift impatiently, he chuckles. “go on then, before i change my mind”

-

JAEHYUN !

jake was mid sip of his drink when you walked in, and now he’s just holding it frozen, mid air, staring

you quirk a brow, “are you going to say something?, or just keep staring at me baby..?”

he swallows, placing his glass down before standing up and closing the space between you. “oh im definitely going to say something” his fingers ghost over your waist before he leans in, lips barely brushing your ear “you look breathtaking sweetheart”

a warmth creeps up on your neck, but jake just chuckles, tilting your chin up. “your blushing already sweetheart?, i haven’t even started yet”

his lips find yours before you can even respond, the kiss deep and lingering, when he finally pulls away he lets out a low whistle “yeah.. i might need a minute to recover”

-

SUNGHOON !

sunghoon watches as you adjust your earring in the mirror, his arms crossed as he leans against the doorframe. his gaze is sharp, but there’s softness hidden in it too.

“you’ve been staring for a while” you tease, turning to face him “do i look okay?”

he exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. “that’s the problem, you look too good”

you laughed, stepping closer. “that’s a problem?”

sunghoon wraps an arm around your waist pulling you in. his breath tickles your lips as he murmurs “yeah because now i either have to let you go and suffer, or convince you to stay” his grip tightened just slightly. “what do you think princess?”

you barely have time to answer before he kisses you, like he’s trying to make you second guess yourself leaving. when he finally pulls away, he smirks “still sure about going out?”

-

SUNOO !

sunoo stops mid step when he sees you, eyes going wide. he blinks a few times as if making sure he’s not imagining things. “oh my goodness..”

you laugh at his reaction, twirling slightly. “is it that good?”

“that good? babe, you look unreal” he rushes over, holding your face between his hands. “like i always knew you were gorgeous, but this? this is next level”

you pout playfully. “so you’re saying i don’t always look this good?”

sunoo gasps, holding his hands up jokingly like he’s offended. “excuse me? you always look amazing, but this” he gestures dramatically. “this is lethal, i might actually faint.”

before you can protest further, he presses a soft peck against your lips, grinning “there, a little good luck charm for tonight.”

-

JUNGWON !

jungwon had been focused on his phone until you walked in. now he’s sitting up straighter, brows slightly raised as he takes in the sight of you.

“you…” he exhales. “ love… wow”

you chuckle, smoothing out your outfit. “that’s all you have to say?”

jungwon stands, closing the distance between you. his hands find your waist as he gazes down at you, voice softer now. “i just don’t know if i want anyone else seeing you like this love.”

you roll your eyes. “possessive much?”

he only hums, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. “can you blame me?” his lips graze your temple before he sighs “at least promise me you’ll come back soon”

and just to make sure you do, he presses a gentle kiss to your lips, it was brief but sweet enough to leave you wanting more.

-

RIKI !

niki’s reaction is more subtle than the others, but you don’t miss the way his eyes widen slightly when he first sees you. he tilts his head, studying you before nodding in approval.

“you look cool” he says simply.

you laugh. “cool?.. that’s it?”

he shrugs, but there’s a small knowing smirk on his lips. “would you rather i say you look really really pretty?”

you pause before nudging his arm. “i mean… yeah”

niki rolls his eyes but playfully ruffles your hair. “fine, you look really really pretty, happy now?”

you beam. “very”

he shakes his head but smiles. “good now don’t take too long, or i’ll get bored waiting for you to come back baby”

[nicholasluvbot]

FLYING KISSㅤ𓈒ㅤ𝖻𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝗐𝗈𝗈𝗇𝗁𝖺𝗄 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝗂𝗌 𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗈𝖻𝗏𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌𝗅𝗒 𝗂𝗇 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗒𝗈𝗎, 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝖾𝗉𝗍 𝗁𝖾'𝗌 𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 18-𝗒𝖾𝖺𝗋-𝗈𝗅𝖽 𝖻𝗈𝗒.

ㅤㅤ── 𝖻𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗉𝖾𝗍𝖺𝗅𝗌 𝖼𝗂𝗋𝖼𝗅𝖾 𝖺𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎, 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝗂𝗉𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝗌𝖾𝗆𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝖼𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗋𝗒 𝖻𝗅𝗈𝗌𝗌𝗈𝗆𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾.

𝒇 ! readerㅤ𖥔ㅤ500ㅤㅤ><ㅤ`ㅤ𝖿𝗅𝗎𝖿𝖿 𝗁𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗈𝗇𝗌ㅤ𓈒ㅤ──── cautions 𝗌𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗉 𝗃𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗈𝗎𝗌𝗒 ㅤㅤ🍀ㅤㅤ𝖠𝖱𝖢𝖧𝗂𝖵𝖤

woonhak always stretches an arm out on the back of your chair, absentmindedly playing with your hair or tracing circles on your shoulder while pretending not to care. if someone else tries to squeeze in between you, he automatically shifts his chair closer to yours—anything to be near you.

he swears he never gets jealous, but the moment another guy gets a little too close to you, his whole demeanor shifts. "oh, that guy?" he says, unimpressed. "he's like 5'7 on a good day." he tries to act indifferent, but he's noticeably more clingy for the rest of the day, standing closer than usual, his shoulder brushing against yours, making sure you laugh at all of his jokes instead.

if someone talks about asking you out in front of him, he lets out a short, sharp laugh before mumbling, "yeah, good luck with that." and when someone actually flirts with you in front of him, he plays it off with fake nonchalance—jaw tightening, but his voice light and teasing. "oh, so you're cheating on me now?" he tilts his head, wearing an exaggerated look of betrayal.

you shove at his arm playfully. "you are so unserious."

"dead serious," he quips, resting his chin on his hand as he watches you. "but hey, do what you want. just don't come crying to me when you realize no one treats you as well as i do."

he teases you relentlessly but goes completely still when you lean your head on his shoulder. he pretends not to care, staring ahead like it’s no big deal, but you can feel how stiff he gets at first. then, slowly, his body relaxes, and after a while, he even tilts his head to rest against yours.

in class, he flicks your forehead when he catches you zoning out or dozing off, playfully scolding you to pay attention—then immediately following it with a quiet, "you okay?" in a softer voice.

he "accidentally" wins a carnival game and tosses you the stuffed animal casually. "i don’t need it," he says, even though you both know he was trying hard to win. but later, when you’re not looking, he grins to himself, satisfied when he sees you still hugging it hours later.

he always finds an excuse to be at your house, lounging on your couch like it’s his second home. he acts like he's there for the snacks, but really, he just loves being around you, in your space.

he grumbles about how you always make him do things, like helping you carry your stuff or waiting for you after class, but the one time you don’t ask for his help, he frowns. "what, you didn’t need me?" and when you say you didn’t want to bother him, he scoffs, shoving his hands in his pockets. "idiot. it’s not a bother."

it’s so obvious—everyone sees it. he thinks he hides it well, but every so often, when you're laughing, focused, or just doing anything at all, he gets this soft look in his eyes. it only lasts a second before he snaps out of it, clearing his throat and teasing you about something random. but when jaehyun asks, "dude, do you like them or something?" woonhak just scoffs, looking anywhere but at you.

"who wouldn’t?"

‎ ‎     • 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝖽𝖻𝖺𝖼𝗄 🗯 𝗋𝖾𝖻𝗅𝗈𝗀𝗌 ───── 𝗁𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗅𝗒 𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗂𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽 ˆᗜˆ

tags ( boynextdoor ) @coquettejunnie , @hanninova , @chaeneu , @aloe-7 , @en-dream , @rizzkisworld , @cosmicwintr , @mydearyeseo , @ladyaida , @fae-renjun , @slytherinshua , @jjennuine , @kstrucknet , @k-films , @sgz-net

[rafesbuzzcutseason]

chasing city lights

chapter 23 - desperation

synopsis: you move to new york to start fresh, hoping to find comfort in the city’s atmosphere. that’s when you meet sarah cameron, where she takes you to a concert and you catch sight of the lead band member, rafe cameron. it only takes a moment for you to realize you’re captivated by him. as sarah helps you navigate your new life in the city, you start to get pulled deeper into rafe's world—the music, the fame, the chaos. the more you get to know him, the more you realise that rafe is not just the rock star he seems to be. he’s wrestling with his own demons, and the last thing he needs is someone like you getting close.

masterlist

cw: language, mentions of alcohol

✧˖ °. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁‧₊˚ ☾. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁˖°✧

"i thought it was you."

those words hung heavy in the air, like a slap to the face.

you blinked, trying to process what he had just said. “what?”

rafe exhaled shakily, his fingers twitching at his sides. “i- i was wasted, y/n. i could barely stand, top said i was mumbling your name all night and then when this girl came up to me, i thought-” his voice cracked, and he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “i didn't see her face, she just came up to me and pulled me in. i thought no one else would do that but you. i thought it was you."

you stared at him, your breath caught in your throat. “that's bullshit.”

rafe shook his head quickly. “it’s not. i swear to you, y/n, i wasn’t thinking. i wasn’t there.” his voice was desperate now, eyes glossy with unshed tears. “i closed my eyes, and in my head, it was you. it was always you.”

you sucked in a sharp breath, something inside you fracturing. “do you have any idea what it felt like?” your voice wavered, but you forced yourself to keep going. “to wake up, check my phone, and see you with someone else? to have everyone sending me that picture? you made me feel like i was so easy to let go of. like everything between us meant nothing."

he flinched, his whole body tensing.

“because that’s what it felt like, rafe.” your voice finally broke, and the tears spilled over before you could stop them. “you made me feel like i was worth nothing."

his face crumbled. “you're not nothing y/n. i hate myself for making you feel that way. i hate that you think that's how i see you."

you wiped your cheeks, shaking your head. "then how do you see me rafe?"

"i see you as my everything," he took a step closer, "i see you as the most beautiful girl that walks in any room. i see you as the girl who can cheer anyone up in seconds. i see you as the person who makes me a better version of myself. i see me only with you."

you avoided his gaze, not allowing him to see that he was getting to you, “i needed you. i needed you to fight for me, to show me that i wasn’t crazy for loving you.”

rafe took another step closer, eyes pleading. “you were never crazy for loving me.”

“i needed you." you choked out.

his face twisted in anguish. “i’m so fucking sorry.” his voice cracked, a tear slipped down his cheek. “tell me what to do. tell me how to fix this. i'll do anything.”

you squeezed your eyes shut, trying to will away the ache in your chest. but then you heard it—his voice, barely above a whisper.

“y/n… please don’t shut me out.”

you swallowed hard, nails digging into your palms.

he hurt you. he broke you. he let you walk away and didn’t come after you.

but he was here now.

and for the first time in weeks, you weren’t alone in this pain.

your resolve cracked, just a little.

“i don’t know how to do this without you.” his hands twitched at his sides like he was dying to reach for you.

you let him.

his fingers grazed yours, hesitant, like he was scared you’d pull away.

you should have.

but the moment his skin met yours, a shiver ran through you, and every wall you had spent weeks building started to crumble.

rafe’s breath hitched, his grip tightening just slightly, like he was afraid you’d disappear if he didn’t hold on. every touch more intimate than anything you'd experienced before.

“i’m sorry,” he whispered again, voice thick with emotion. “i’ll spend the rest of my life proving it to you if that’s what it takes.”

your throat burned, the weight of everything pressing down on you. “i don’t know if I can trust you again,” you admitted, voice barely above a whisper.

he nodded, swallowing hard. “then let me earn it.”

you searched his eyes, and for the first time in a long time, you saw the rafe that was yours. the one who used to make you feel safe. the one who used to play the guitar and sing to you to help you sleep. the one who looked at you like you were the only thing keeping him breathing. the one you fell in love with.

you should walk away. you should tell him it’s too late.

but instead, you did the one thing you told yourself you wouldn’t do.

you let him pull you into his arms.

✧˖ °. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁‧₊˚ ☾. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁˖°✧

a/n: sorry this one isn't much smau, but i worked really hard on the writing for this so i hope you guys don't mind

taglist: @hoefordrewstarkey @marleymarleymarleymarley @bee-43 @cherryhoneybabe @skye-44 @drewrry @drewrry  @yesterdaysproblemm @dylsdaily @rafeysworldim19 @valyrianflower @kaiparkerwifes@judesgfirl@4urvalidation@chillgal135 @drewstarkeyslover@yesshewrites1@amterasuu@babykhloutofthisworld@blushmimi  @moonywhisp3rs @rafeysworldim19 @marleymarleymarleymarley@sabrina-carpenter-stan-account@vcnillafairy@bambii1i @sammyrenae68 @kittenjujusblog @bambii1i @thesunflowersociety @wtfdudesblog @voidangxls @jjmaybankmylovee @munsoncultedits @emmiesummers @darlingstarkey @sassyvillaintrophy  @pogueprincesa @stylestarkey @sodapopwaldor

[bruthaewwwww]

Sharp Shooter (1)

A/n: Hi so i got to writing and i just finished editing this so please tell me if u like it or not. im really trying to make all my stuff longer and more interesting. Please send requests!!!!! (BTW azzi is injured in this)

Themes: Injury, drinking (not really tho) and fluff

words: 6.3k

The sound of applause echoed around the stadium as the final buzzer blared, signaling the end of the game. Azzi sat on the bench, her leg propped up on a cushion, the pain in her knee sharp despite the adrenaline from the win. Her teammates were already jumping to their feet, rushing onto the court, but Azzi remained still, her crutches leaning against the bench beside her, the weight of her injury pressing down on her in a way she couldn’t ignore. The doctors had told her she wouldn’t be able to play today. A torn ligament, a sprain—whatever it was, it didn’t matter. She was out.

But even with the pain, she couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips as she watched her team celebrate. They’d worked so hard for this moment, and as much as it stung not being on the court with them, she was proud. They were her family, the girls who had been by her side through everything—the highs and the lows.

Taking a deep breath, Azzi reached for her crutches, the unicorn-shaped handles familiar in her hands, a small bit of levity in the midst of everything. She slid them under her arms quickly, not wanting to miss out on the moment everyone else was sharing. She had to be there with them, even if she couldn’t run the court.

Carefully, she pushed herself up, feeling the familiar strain in her knee. She wavered for a moment, but she steadied herself, determined to join the celebration. But as she took a few tentative steps toward the group of girls, something unexpected happened.

Her crutches slipped slightly on the polished floor, and Azzi felt her balance falter. Her heart skipped in her chest as panic crept up, but before she could fall, she felt it—a warm, steady touch on her back.

Azzi didn’t need to look over to know who it was. She could feel it in the air between them, a subtle shift, a warmth that immediately grounded her. Paige. It was always Paige.

Paige’s hand was firm yet gentle against her back, steadying her, keeping her from losing her balance. The air around them seemed to shift, and Azzi could feel a spark of something in the touch, something unspoken, something more than just a teammate helping her out. It was a familiar feeling, but tonight, with the win still vibrating in the air and the quiet tension between them, it felt different.

Without saying a word, Paige shifted her hand, her fingers sliding lower, coming to rest at the small of Azzi’s waist, guiding her forward. The warmth from her hand lingered, spreading through Azzi’s body like a small, quiet fire.

Azzi took another step, leaning a little into Paige for support, and though her knee throbbed with every movement, the touch of Paige’s hand somehow made the pain seem more distant, like it didn’t matter as much in the moment.

“You good?” Paige’s voice was soft, just loud enough for Azzi to hear over the celebration around them. There was something about the way Paige said it, something more than just concern—it felt like an invitation, like there was more to the question than her injury.

Azzi nodded, her smile small but genuine. “Yeah. I’ll be fine.”

Paige’s hand didn’t leave her waist, and for a moment, neither of them moved. Azzi could feel the steady warmth of Paige’s touch like it was a lifeline, grounding her in a way nothing else could. Her heart pounded in her chest—not from the excitement of the game, but from something else. Something she wasn’t sure she was ready to name yet.

“Come on,” Paige said after a moment, her hand gently urging Azzi to keep moving. “We’ve got a victory to celebrate. You’re part of this, too.”

Azzi hesitated for a fraction of a second before she allowed herself to lean a little more into Paige’s side, their steps in sync as they made their way toward the rest of the team. The cheering and laughter around them swirled in a blur of voices, but for Azzi, all she could focus on was the feel of Paige beside her, the warmth of her touch, and the quiet connection between them that seemed to say more than words ever could.

They reached the center of the court, and the team gathered around, pulling Azzi into the huddle. Her knee still throbbed, the sharp reminder of her injury never far away, but in this moment, it didn’t matter. Paige’s presence at her side was enough to make the pain fade into the background. There was something in the air between them, something unspoken, and Azzi couldn’t help but feel like this was just the beginning of something more.

The celebration continued around them, but Azzi didn’t need to hear the cheers anymore. The spark between her and Paige was more than enough to keep her grounded.

***

Lying in her bed, Azzi scrolled through her phone absentmindedly, her thumb flicking across the screen in a half-hearted attempt to distract herself. The screen lit up with photos of her teammates celebrating the win, their smiles wide and infectious. Some were posting photos of the party they’d planned for after the game, a night filled with laughter and drinks to celebrate their hard-fought victory. Azzi could almost hear the music and feel the heat of the crowded bar through the pictures. It sounded tempting, almost too tempting to pass up.

But then she remembered. Her knee throbbed even now, despite the painkillers she’d taken after the game. The doctors had warned her not to overdo it—no heavy drinking, no late nights. And hobbling around the bar with her crutches? That didn’t sound like fun at all. She had to admit it, even though it felt like a weight in her chest: It wasn’t worth it.

Still, the thought of missing out on the celebration made her stomach churn. She had been part of every practice, every drill, every game, and this win meant just as much to her as it did to anyone else. She deserved to be there. But as the minutes ticked by and the night wore on, Azzi found herself alone in her room, lying in bed, scrolling through Instagram, watching everyone else go on without her.

Her thumb froze on the screen when she saw a post from Paige.

Paige. She was sitting at a booth at the bar, looking carefree, laughing with a few of the girls from the team. Azzi’s heart sank a little. Paige had left for the bar before the rest of the group, slipping out of the locker room with a smile, one that Azzi had secretly hoped was meant for her, but now… she wasn’t so sure. The voice in Azzi’s head started to whisper, that quiet voice that always seemed to find her when she least wanted to hear it: She’s not your girlfriend. She’s not required to be there.

Azzi closed her eyes, trying to shake off the feeling, but it only made the disappointment settle deeper in her chest. It was a selfish thought. She knew that. Paige had her own life, her own friends, her own reasons for doing what she wanted. She wasn’t obligated to stay behind just because Azzi had to sit this one out. She wasn’t hers, after all.

Still, the pang of loneliness that gripped her was hard to ignore. She clutched the blanket tighter around her, burying her face into the pillow, her mind racing. What if Paige had stayed with her? What if she had chosen to be here, in this quiet room, instead of going off to the bar with everyone else?

Azzi’s heart gave an involuntary twist at the thought, and the sadness that followed made her feel small, like something she didn’t want to face. She loved Paige. She had loved her for so long that it had become a part of her, a constant, even if she’d never said the words out loud. Paige was everything to her—supportive, kind, funny. She had always been there for Azzi, especially when things got tough. They had grown close in a way Azzi couldn’t fully explain, the bond between them stronger than just teammates, stronger than friends. It was something deeper. Something more.

But the fact remained: Paige wasn’t hers. The reality stung more than she wanted to admit. No matter how much Azzi wished she could go to the ends of the earth for her, it didn’t change the fact that Paige had the right to make her own choices. And tonight, those choices had led her to the bar, to the rest of the team. Not here, with Azzi.

She stared at the ceiling, fighting back the frustration that bubbled up in her chest. You can’t keep waiting for something that isn’t coming, the voice reminded her. She’s not yours to keep.

Azzi squeezed her eyes shut and tried to push the thoughts away, but they lingered, like a shadow she couldn’t shake. Her love for Paige felt like a quiet ache inside her, a place that no one could see but her. She wanted to believe it could be more, that maybe someday Paige might see her the way she saw her, but tonight, as Azzi lay alone in her bed, the distance between them felt impossibly wide.

With a sigh, she opened her eyes, staring at the notifications on her phone. Everyone was having a great time, laughing, celebrating, posting the best moments of the night. And there was Paige, glowing, surrounded by people. It made Azzi’s heart ache, but she couldn’t stop herself from looking, even though she knew it would only make her feel more distant.

In the end, Azzi couldn’t change what was happening. Paige was where she wanted to be, with her teammates, at the bar. And Azzi? She was stuck here, nursing her injury, nursing her unspoken feelings, and feeling more alone than she cared to admit.

She reached for her phone, locking the screen, and set it aside, closing her eyes again. She wasn’t sure if the sadness was from missing the party or missing Paige, or maybe both. All she knew was that the ache in her chest didn’t seem to go away.

Azzi lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing despite the exhaustion weighing on her. She had tried everything—closing her eyes, adjusting her pillows, adjusting her leg to get comfortable—but sleep felt like an impossible task. The images of her teammates celebrating, the loud music, the laughter echoing from the bar... none of it could drown out the thought of Paige. Every time her mind drifted, it inevitably went back to her—the way Paige had looked at her earlier, the warmth of her touch, the way they always seemed to understand each other without saying a word.

Azzi rolled onto her side, pulling the blanket up to her chin, but even the soft fabric couldn’t comfort her. It was the waiting that gnawed at her. The space between them that felt so much bigger now that she was lying here alone in her room while Paige was out with the rest of the team.

Unable to quiet her thoughts, Azzi reached for her phone on the nightstand. Her fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before she unlocked it. She opened up the messages app and stared at Paige's contact, her thumb itching to type something—anything.

After a brief hesitation, Azzi typed out a message:

A: Can u come back?

She paused after hitting send, her heart skipping a beat as she thought about how needy it might seem, how much she hated feeling like this. But then she immediately typed again, hoping to soften the tone, or at least make it sound more casual:

A: I’m sooo bored.

Azzi stared at the screen, biting her bottom lip as she waited for the response. Her mind raced through a hundred different scenarios. Would Paige be annoyed? Would she think Azzi was being ridiculous? But before she could second-guess herself, her phone buzzed, and the reply appeared almost instantly.

P: Ofc u need anything?

Azzi’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected her to respond so quickly, or so eagerly. A grin tugged at Azzi’s lips, and she felt a warmth spread through her chest. Paige was always there for her—maybe she didn’t know how deep Azzi’s feelings went, but in this moment, it didn’t matter. The simple fact that Paige had responded so quickly made Azzi feel a little less alone, a little less... empty.

She felt a rush of relief, followed by a playful idea. Azzi smiled to herself, typing her next message with a little more energy.

A: Can u pick up some more ice cream?

Her thumb hovered over the send button for a moment. Ice cream was a classic—something silly, something that would lighten the mood. But the request was also an excuse, a reason for Paige to come back, for the two of them to have a moment together. Just the thought of it made her stomach flutter.

A few moments later, the phone buzzed again.

P: yeah i gotchu

Azzi’s heart melted at the ease in Paige’s response. That was all she needed to hear. Paige wasn’t just coming back—she was coming back for her. Even though the words were casual, there was an undertone in them that made Azzi’s chest ache with hope.

She set her phone down and leaned back against the pillow, her leg throbbing slightly under the blanket. The room was silent, but there was a warmth building in her chest, something she couldn’t quite explain. It wasn’t just the ice cream she wanted—it was the time with Paige, the moments that seemed to slip away too easily when they were surrounded by other people.

Azzi closed her eyes, letting herself imagine the knock on her bedroom door. Paige standing there, holding out a carton of ice cream, the quiet smile that always made Azzi’s heart skip. She’d ask about her leg, probably—she always did. They’d chat for a little while, maybe watch a movie, just like they used to during their late-night talks. But this time, there would be something different in the air, something Azzi couldn’t quite name yet, but she could feel it in her bones.

As the minutes ticked by, Azzi's mind wandered again, not to the celebration at the bar, but to the quiet moments she'd shared with Paige before. She didn’t need grand gestures or loud parties. She just needed moments like this—simple, unspoken connections that ran deeper than anything she could say out loud.

The soft hum of the world outside her room seemed to fade, and the only thing Azzi could focus on was the quiet anticipation building inside her. Paige would be back soon, and in that moment, everything felt like it was exactly as it should be.

Azzi's heart raced when she heard the knock at her door. She had been lying in bed, her mind swirling with thoughts, the anticipation growing as she waited for Paige’s arrival. Even though she had been expecting it, the sound of the knock still startled her. She glanced over at her phone, checking to see if there was another message from Paige. Nothing had come through, but the moment she heard the soft thud on her door, Azzi knew it was time.

She quickly pushed herself up from the bed, her injured leg giving a slight twinge of discomfort, but it didn't matter. She'd been waiting for this moment. The excitement was tangible, buzzing through her chest like electricity. Azzi grabbed her crutches and hobbled to the door, taking a moment to steady herself before pulling it open.

There stood Paige, holding a container of ice cream in one hand and a carefree smile on her face. Her blonde hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, and her eyes sparkled with a mixture of concern and warmth as they met Azzi's.

“Thank you for coming, P,” Azzi said, her voice coming out a little drier than she expected. She hadn’t been talking much since she’d been alone, and her throat felt tight from not using it. She swallowed before continuing. “Really. I appreciate it.”

Paige’s smile softened, her gaze lingering on Azzi as she stepped into the room. “Of course I came, Az. You know I wouldn’t leave you hanging.” She held up the ice cream with a playful grin. “Got the goods—your favorite.”

Azzi’s face lit up at the sight of the ice cream, but it wasn’t just the sweet treat that made her smile. It was Paige, standing there in front of her, making this simple moment feel special. She felt the warmth of Paige’s words wash over her, but there was something more—something in the air between them that made Azzi’s pulse quicken.

Paige stepped inside, closing the door softly behind her. “How’s the leg?” she asked, her voice gentle, as she looked Azzi up and down, concern flashing across her features.

“It’s okay,” Azzi replied with a shrug, though she couldn’t quite hide the way her leg ached with every movement. “Just trying to take it easy. You know, the usual.”

Paige’s eyes softened. She walked over to Azzi’s bed, carefully placing the ice cream on the nightstand before turning back to face her. “I hate that you're stuck here. You should be out there celebrating with everyone.”

Azzi sat back down on the edge of her bed, her crutches resting beside her. “I’ll be fine,” she said, though it wasn’t entirely true. The team’s celebration felt distant, like something she couldn’t reach from where she was sitting. But then again, being here with Paige didn’t feel so bad.

Paige smiled, her eyes glinting with something that Azzi couldn’t quite name. She sat down next to Azzi on the bed, her knee brushing Azzi’s in a way that sent a flutter through her chest.

“You don’t have to go through this alone, you know?” Paige said softly, her voice low but full of meaning. “I would do anything for you. You know that, right?”

Azzi’s breath hitched in her throat, the words striking her in a way that made her heart stumble for a moment. It wasn’t just the sentiment, though it was more than enough to make her feel warm inside. It was the way Paige said it, like it was something she meant deep down, something that went beyond simple friendship. Azzi’s chest tightened, the space between her heart and her throat feeling like a physical weight.

“Anything?” Azzi whispered, her voice barely above a breath. She turned her head to meet Paige’s gaze, her heart racing as she searched for something in Paige’s eyes—something that might confirm what she was starting to feel.

Paige looked back at her, the soft curve of her lips fading as she studied Azzi closely. The playful energy that had been there moments before seemed to settle into something deeper, more sincere. She didn’t look away, her eyes holding Azzi’s with an intensity that made Azzi’s breath catch in her chest.

“Anything,” Paige repeated, her voice almost a vow. “You know you’re not alone in this, Azzi. I’m right here. Always.”

Azzi swallowed hard, the words striking something deep inside her that she wasn’t sure she was ready to confront. She wanted to say something, anything, to break the tension in the air, but her voice failed her. She felt like her whole body was on fire from the weight of Paige’s words, the quiet sincerity that hung in the room.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the soft hum of the world outside the room. Paige, ever the calm presence, finally broke the silence with a small, gentle smile.

“Want me to put that ice cream in the freezer before it melts?” she asked, her tone light again, though there was still that underlying warmth.

Azzi blinked, a little startled by the shift, but it was a welcome one. She nodded quickly, her voice thick with emotion as she replied, “Yeah, please. I—thanks for doing this, P. Really.”

Paige stood up, grabbing the ice cream and walking to the small fridge near Azzi’s desk. As she opened the door, Azzi couldn’t help but watch her, her heart still racing from everything that had been left unsaid between them.

Paige turned back around after putting the ice cream away, her eyes soft as she met Azzi’s gaze again. “Anytime, Az. You know that.”

Azzi smiled, feeling a quiet warmth spread through her chest. Anytime. It was everything she needed to hear, even if it wasn’t exactly what she wanted. She couldn’t ignore the way her feelings for Paige had been growing, but in this moment, the simplicity of their connection, of Paige being here with her, was enough.

As Paige sat back down beside her, Azzi leaned her head against her shoulder, letting out a contented sigh. “Guess we can’t let this ice cream go to waste now.”

Paige chuckled softly, her arm brushing against Azzi’s. “No way. You’re going to help me eat it all.”

And for the first time that night, Azzi allowed herself to relax, savoring the quiet moments with Paige, even if she wasn’t entirely sure what they meant. But for now, it was enough.

Azzi let out a small laugh as Paige reached for a spoon, her fingers brushing Azzi's in the process. “You sure you want to share with me? I’ve been known to finish a whole pint on my own,” Azzi teased, raising an eyebrow playfully.

Paige smirked, giving her a sideways glance as she twisted the spoon in the ice cream. “Oh, I’m well aware,” she shot back with a wink. “But don’t worry, I’m not one to back down from a challenge. I’ll match you bite for bite.”

Azzi grinned, her eyes lighting up. “Is that a challenge, Paige?”

“Oh, it’s definitely a challenge,” Paige said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I hope you’re ready for me to out-eat you.”

Azzi snorted, leaning back against the pillows. “Oh, I’m ready. You don’t stand a chance.” She grabbed her own spoon, holding it like a weapon, prepared for battle. “You better be quick, though. I’m not here to mess around.”

Paige raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by Azzi’s sudden competitive edge. “You do realize I’m probably the fastest ice cream eater in the history of mankind, right?”

Azzi scoffed. “Please, Paige. I’ve got years of experience. I’ll finish this before you even get through the first bite.”

They both dug into their ice cream with exaggerated speed, scooping up spoonfuls and shoveling them in like it was some high-stakes competition. The room filled with laughter as they both struggled to keep up, their spoons clinking together with each bite.

“Okay, okay, I admit defeat,” Azzi said dramatically after a few minutes, dramatically dropping her spoon onto the bed. “You’ve officially out-ice-creamed me.”

Paige laughed, her voice rich and light. “I knew I’d win. But I’ve gotta admit, you gave me a run for my money.”

Azzi grinned, leaning back with a satisfied sigh. “What can I say? I’m a professional.”

“Uh-huh. Sure you are,” Paige teased, tapping Azzi’s knee with the back of her spoon. “I think I’ll let you win next time. Just to keep your pride intact.”

“Aw, how considerate,” Azzi said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “I guess I’ll have to thank you for your generosity.”

Paige shot her a playful look, winking again. “Don’t mention it. But next time? No mercy. I’ll take you down.”

Azzi rolled her eyes but couldn’t hold back a smile. “We’ll see about that.”

There was a beat of silence, the playful atmosphere lingering between them. Paige took another bite of ice cream and leaned back, glancing over at Azzi with a soft smile.

“So, how are you really doing?” Paige asked, her voice quieter now. “I mean, with everything… how’s the knee? How’re you holding up?”

Azzi glanced over at her, the playful energy slipping into something more grounded. She paused for a moment, considering the question. “Honestly? It sucks. Not being able to play... it’s hard,” she admitted, her voice a little softer than before. “I miss being on the court with everyone. I miss feeling like I’m contributing.”

Paige’s expression softened, and she set her spoon down, giving Azzi her full attention. “I get it, Az. I really do. But you are contributing. Even when you're not on the court, you’re still a huge part of this team. We wouldn’t have made it this far without you, injury or not.”

Azzi looked down at her hands, a small, grateful smile tugging at her lips. “I appreciate that, P. I really do.” She met Paige’s gaze again, the weight of their shared history and understanding hanging between them. “It just feels like I’m missing out on all the fun, you know?”

Paige nudged her gently with her elbow. “You’re not missing out on anything as long as I’m here,” she said, her tone light and comforting. “You’re stuck with me, Azzi. Ice cream dates, bad jokes, and all.”

Azzi laughed, the heaviness in her chest lightening just a little. “Well, if I’m stuck with you, I guess I’m not complaining.”

Paige smiled warmly, reaching for the ice cream again. “Good. Because I’m sticking around. You’ve got me, for better or worse. Ice cream battles and all.”

Azzi’s heart fluttered at the simple sincerity in Paige’s words. For a moment, she allowed herself to just enjoy the quiet, the easy companionship they shared. It wasn’t just about the ice cream or the playful banter—it was about this, the comfort of having Paige by her side, no questions asked.

“Alright, alright,” Azzi said, breaking the silence after a few moments, her playful grin returning. “But next time, I’m totally winning this ice cream challenge.”

Paige raised her spoon, as if preparing for another round. “We’ll see about that, Azzi. But I wouldn’t get your hopes up.”

They both laughed, the sound filling the room as they went back to the ice cream, the playful energy returning between them. Neither of them knew what the future held, but in that moment, with the ice cream and the quiet banter, everything felt simple, everything felt right.

The ice cream was nearly gone, the carton now half-empty, and the two of them were sprawled on Azzi's bed, laughing and still poking fun at each other over the ridiculous movie quotes they kept tossing out. But after a while, the laughter faded, and the warmth of the room began to settle over them. Azzi found herself yawning, stretching her sore leg out beside her, the exhaustion of the day catching up with her. Her mind had slowed, no longer racing with thoughts of the game or the team, but instead focused on the quiet, comforting presence of Paige beside her.

"Okay," Azzi said with a sigh, dropping her spoon into the empty ice cream carton. "I think I’m done. No more food for me tonight."

Paige chuckled softly, glancing over at her. “I think we’ve both had enough sugar for the night. I don’t want to be the one to deal with the aftermath of that in the morning.”

Azzi snorted. “Fair point. But hey, at least we didn’t make a total mess of it. I’m impressed by how well we managed to destroy that pint.”

“Exactly,” Paige agreed, her voice light as she settled back into the pillows, her eyes flicking over to the TV. The screen was still showing the opening credits of Frozen. “But now... we’ve got Frozen to deal with.”

Azzi raised an eyebrow. “You’re seriously putting on Frozen right now? You’re killing me.”

Paige smiled slyly. “What? Don’t tell me you don’t want to hear Let It Go one more time. Or maybe you’re just scared of Elsa’s voice.”

Azzi rolled her eyes, but a playful grin tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Okay, okay. I’ll admit it. I secretly love this movie.” She lowered her voice into a dramatic tone. “But only because of the soundtrack. Who doesn’t want to belt out Let It Go in the shower?”

Paige laughed, her eyes sparkling. “Oh, I’m sure you’re really good at that.”

Azzi nudged her gently. “You have no idea.”

Paige smiled softly, reaching for the remote and hitting play. The screen flickered, and soon the soft music filled the room, the familiar opening tune of Frozen wafting through the air. Azzi snuggled back into her pillows, her eyes fluttering slightly as she allowed herself to sink deeper into the comfort of the moment. Paige was beside her, their shoulders brushing occasionally, the light glow from the TV casting soft shadows over their faces.

It wasn’t long before Azzi’s eyelids grew heavy, the gentle lull of the movie paired with the quiet comfort of Paige’s presence making her feel safe and at peace. She yawned again, stretching out her leg as she sank further into the pillows.

Paige, noticing the change in Azzi’s energy, turned toward her, her voice soft as she whispered, “Hey, you okay?”

Azzi nodded, her voice sleepy. “Yeah, just... tired, I guess.” She shifted slightly, her crutches still resting beside the bed, her injured leg propped up on a pillow. “I think I’m ready to sleep, actually.”

Paige smiled, brushing a strand of hair from Azzi’s face, her touch gentle. “You should rest. We can finish the movie another time.”

Azzi gave a small laugh, her eyes already closing. “No, it’s fine. I’m okay with just... this.” She shifted again, now leaning against Paige’s side, her head finding a comfortable spot on her shoulder.

Paige was quiet for a moment, her arm slowly wrapping around Azzi’s shoulders, pulling her in closer. “You’re sure? You can go to sleep now if you want. I’ll stay with you.”

Azzi’s breath hitched, a feeling of warmth spreading through her chest as she heard the sincerity in Paige’s voice. It wasn’t just a casual offer—it was a promise. Azzi let herself relax into the feeling, allowing the softness of Paige’s presence to soothe her.

“Yeah... I want to stay with you,” Azzi murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, as she shifted her head to rest on Paige’s chest. “This is... perfect.”

Paige smiled, her fingers softly brushing through Azzi’s hair as the movie played on in the background. “We’ll be right here, okay? No rush to go anywhere. Just... us.”

Azzi nodded sleepily, her body finally succumbing to the exhaustion. The rhythmic sound of Paige’s heartbeat was comforting, steady, and it made Azzi feel safe in a way she hadn’t known she needed. She breathed deeply, her eyes fluttering shut as she allowed herself to drift off to sleep, the warmth of Paige’s embrace the only thing she wanted to hold on to.

Paige, feeling Azzi relax into her, shifted carefully to get more comfortable. With one arm around Azzi, she turned her attention back to the movie, though she didn’t really watch. She found herself content just in the quiet, in the stillness of the moment.

As the movie continued to play softly in the background, the two of them found a quiet rhythm, the world outside fading away. Paige’s fingers traced small, absent patterns along Azzi’s arm, her mind quietly drifting, but her focus entirely on the girl in her arms. Azzi’s breathing was slow and even now, her chest rising and falling in time with Paige’s gentle touch.

The night slipped by unnoticed, the two of them nestled in each other’s arms, surrounded by the quiet hum of the movie and the soft warmth of companionship. Neither of them needed to say anything else—everything they needed to know was there, in the silence, in the shared moments. It was enough to simply be together, wrapped up in the security of each other’s presence. And in that moment, they both fell asleep, the world outside their little bubble forgotten for now, the simple act of being together more than enough.

The morning light streamed through the crack in the curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the room. Azzi stirred first, her body still warm and comfortable in the embrace of the night before. She blinked slowly, trying to push away the lingering fog of sleep, but the sun’s bright rays were already nudging her awake. The warmth of the blankets felt inviting, but there was something else too—the comforting weight of Paige’s arm around her, holding her close. For a moment, Azzi just breathed in the peace, savoring the quiet of the morning.

As her eyes fluttered open, the harsh sunlight caught her directly in the face, making her squint instinctively. She groaned softly, shifting her head away from the window, but the light seemed determined to keep her awake.

She glanced down at Paige, still fast asleep beside her, her blonde hair sprawled messily across the pillow. Paige’s face was soft and peaceful, her lips slightly parted as she slept soundly, unaware of the morning sun’s intrusion. Azzi smiled to herself at the sight, but the sunlight was becoming unbearable.

Without thinking, she carefully slid her arm out from underneath Paige’s, careful not to wake her, and grabbed the edge of the blanket. She then gently draped it over Paige’s face, blocking out the light, the fabric soft against the blonde’s skin. Azzi watched as the light receded from Paige’s face, and she sighed in relief.

"Much better," Azzi whispered to herself, trying to stifle a yawn.

She looked over at Paige again, and her heart skipped a beat at the sight of her sleeping so peacefully. The way Paige’s face softened when she was asleep made Azzi’s chest feel full in a way she couldn’t quite describe. She was glad they had spent the night together, even if it had been without saying much. There was something so calming about just being in each other’s presence.

After a few moments, Paige’s eyes fluttered open, and she groggily squinted at the blanket covering her face. She grumbled, lifting it off her head with a sleepy frown.

“Ugh… what time is it?” Paige mumbled, rubbing her eyes with one hand, still not fully awake. Her voice was rough from sleep, and Azzi couldn’t help but smile at the way she looked so cute, all disheveled and half asleep.

Azzi chuckled softly. “About time you woke up.” She grinned mischievously, her voice teasing. “I blocked out the sun for you. You’re welcome.”

Paige blinked a few times, still trying to adjust to the light. “Oh my god, I’m going to need coffee. And maybe a lot of it.”

Azzi laughed at Paige’s dramatic tone, shaking her head. “Yeah, you looked like you needed a little extra help this morning.” She nudged her with her shoulder playfully, still lying comfortably in bed. “I didn’t want you to be blinded by the sun, though. You were looking way too peaceful to wake up like that.”

Paige groaned again, her voice muffled as she tried to snuggle deeper into the blankets. “You’re such a sweetheart, Azzi. I’ll owe you one for this.”

“Yeah, you will,” Azzi teased back, giving Paige an exaggerated wink. “But we’ll work out the terms later.”

Paige finally sat up with a long stretch, the muscles in her arms and back visibly stiff from sleeping, and Azzi couldn’t help but admire the sight. There was something about the way Paige moved, so fluid and carefree, that always caught Azzi’s attention. When she finished stretching, Paige reached over and flicked the light switch on the bedside lamp, casting a soft light over the room.

“Okay, okay, I’m awake. But for real, where’s the coffee?” Paige said, her eyes still heavy with sleep, though her smile made it clear she was just as content as Azzi was to be in the same space.

Azzi snorted. “I think I need coffee more than you do. I’m pretty sure my head is still in a fog.”

“Don’t worry,” Paige said, playfully nudging her as she swung her legs off the bed. “I’ll get you coffee. You did save me from the evil sunlight, after all.”

Azzi leaned back into the pillows, letting herself relax. “I’m holding you to that. And... thank you for last night. It was... really nice. Just hanging out. I needed that.”

Paige turned back to her, her eyes softening. “Anytime, Azzi. You know I’ve got your back, right?”

Azzi smiled, feeling her heart warm at the sincerity in Paige’s voice. “Yeah, I know.”

Paige grinned before standing up and stretching again, her arms reaching toward the ceiling. “Well, I’m off to find that coffee. Stay here, try not to get too cozy while I’m gone.” She smirked, already heading toward the door.

Azzi gave her a playful look, calling out to her as she walked away. “Just don’t be too long. I’ll have you know, I have plans for us today. The day isn’t going to waste on just coffee!”

Paige turned around with a knowing smile. “Oh, don’t worry. We’ll make the most of it. But first—coffee. And then... who knows what kind of trouble we’ll get into?”

Azzi chuckled, her heart still fluttering from the soft moments they’d shared. “You’re on.”

As Paige disappeared down the hallway, Azzi let herself settle back into the pillows, her thoughts drifting back to the simple moments of the night before—how natural everything had felt. She couldn’t quite explain what was happening between them, but it felt like something real. Something worth exploring.

For now, though, the day stretched out before them, full of possibilities. And with Paige by her side, Azzi couldn’t wait to see where it would go.

[keiffeine]

this is very specific but like patrick with an eyebrow piercing.

one night he goes clubbing with his mates, everyone has their hands up, vibing with the music. suddenly a girl's bracelet flies up and catches on his piercing, almost ripping it clean out.

AND OFC SHE STARTS TO APOLOGISE, SHE EVEN FOLLOWS HIM TO THE BATHROOM TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S OKAY

author’s note: ty for for req, i love it!! and so sorry for getting to this so late :)

patrick wanted to let loose for the night so him and his friends decide to hit up a club in the city. there’s loud music blasting through the speakers, bass pumping so hard he could feel it thrumming in his chest, and bright strobe lights cascading over everyone. it’s the exact ambiance that he needed.

the dance floor is pretty crowded already but patrick doesn’t mind. at this point, he’s a little buzzed after downing a couple drinks and it’ll take more than just a cramped dance floor to really bother him when he’s this relaxed. he starts nodding along to the music, raising his arms up once the beat drops just like everyone else.

suddenly, someone’s arm comes into his view and he feels a sharp pain directly in his right eyebrow where his piercing is. there’s another pull and he winces, then he hears an: “oh, fuck! i’m so sorry, fuck, gimme a second. stay still.”

whoever it is���she carefully starts to maneuver her hand away. patrick looks down to see who the perpetrator is and his eyes land on a pretty girl, eyes blown wide as she’s clutching her braceleted wrist.

“i’m so sorry! my bracelet got caught on your piercing. shit, you’re bleeding!” you tell patrick. he doesn’t hear you at first; maybe it’s the alcohol but he’s mesmerized by the way you look under the lights as it shifts from color to color. he stares, trying to think of something witty and charming to say to the pretty girl standing in front of him, but he’s blanking until he snaps back into reality moments later.

he raises his hand and gently presses a finger to where his piercing is, and sure enough, patrick looks at it and it’s wet with blood.

“crap, i should clean this up,” he mumbles, not irritated with you in the slightest but more with the fact that he knows it’ll probably swell overnight. “‘scuse me,” patrick sheepishly says to you before he’s turning to head to the bathroom. he’d love to stay there and try and make a move on you, but not while he’s got a stupid bloody eyebrow piercing.

“wait!” you call, hurrying after him after him in your little heels. you follow patrick into the men’s bathroom (someone gives you a strange look just as you enter while he exits. you ignore him), and stand beside patrick as he leans over the sink. you wince as you catch the sight of his bloody piercing. patrick prods it with a gentle finger and turns to look at you.

“almost pulled it clean off,” he says jokingly with a smile, which doesn’t help the guilt you already feel inside.

“sorry. here, let me at least clean it,” you insist, ripping off a piece of paper towel and wetting it. patrick’s about to refuse but you’re already dabbing it against his eyebrow, tongue poking out slightly in concentration. “m’so sorry,” you apologize for the hundredth time tonight. “already acting stupid drunk when i haven’t had a single drink yet.”

patrick huffs a small chuckle. he finds all of this a little endearing and cute. he’s staring down at you again, a smirk grazing his lips with how close you’re leaning in, gingerly cleaning all the blood away. patrick can make out your features more clearly now without the distortion of the strobe lights; the color of your eyes, pretty (and kissable) lips, and down to your outfit.

“i’m patrick, by the way,” he says coolly, swagger returning after a moment of hindrance. his eyes flit back up to meet yours. “and it’s fine, by the way. don’t worry about it.”

you let out a quiet, unsure grumble but smile a little anyway at his reassurance. your cheeks heat up a little with the way he’s so shamelessly checking you out. “y/n,” you respond, tossing the paper towel into the trash. “it’s all good now, i hope,” you said under your breath, attention turning from the silver barbell to patrick’s eyes.

“you said you haven’t gotten a drink yet?” patrick recalls, biting the inside of his cheek before adding, “come on, i’ll treat you,” he suggests hopefully, nodding towards the door.

of course, you fall into step with him right away. he’s charming and so handsome, your type to a t. like you’d say no to that.

challengers masterlist

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[lowytavis]

But you're not Xaden - Bodhi Durran x Reader

Warning - love confessions

____

"But you’re not Xaden, and I don’t want you to be fucking Xaden, Bodhi! Why don’t you get that?" she screamed, her voice raw with frustration.

Then, before I could even open my mouth to respond, she slammed the door in my face.

The sharp bang echoed down the empty hallway, leaving me standing there, fists clenched, jaw tight.

My arms were trembling—with anger, frustration, and grief.

“Please, open the door, Y/N,” I pleaded, my voice raw with emotion. But nothing.

No response.

I waited another ten minutes in front of her door, clinging to the desperate hope that she would change her mind.

But nothing happened. No footsteps, no muffled sobs—just silence.

“What are you doing here?” Xaden’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

He was walking down the hallway, Violet tucked securely in his arms.

The sight of them made my anger flare up instantly.

“Why the fuck do you care Xaden? Not everyone can be as fucking perfect as you are.” I snapped, my voice harsher than I intended.

Without wasting another second, I turned on my heel and stormed into my own room, slamming the door shut behind me.

____

(YN POV)

I muffled my own silent cries. Bodhi didn’t need to hear them, and I was certain—100% sure—that he was still outside my room.

A few minutes ago, I heard his desperate pleas, begging me to open the door.

But now? Silence.

Until suddenly, his voice erupted again—but not directed at me.

He was yelling at someone else. Xaden. Great.

Exactly the person who started this whole mess. Well, not on purpose, but still.

Bodhi just didn’t get it. He didn’t need to be like Xaden. Hell, I didn’t want him to be like Xaden.

But that didn’t stop him from trying.

Not once, since we started dating a few weeks ago, had he just been himself.

Before all of this, before us, he was Bodhi.

But now? Now, he wasn’t Bodhi Durran anymore. He was acting like a fucking Riorson.

And it was driving me insane.

From the other side of the door, I heard Bodhi’s voice, sharp with frustration. “Why the fuck do you care, Xaden? Not everyone can be as fucking perfect as you are!”

Then—frantic footsteps. Fading. Leaving.

I let out a sob, loud and unrestrained, no longer caring if anyone heard.

A soft knock followed.

I hesitated, then pulled the door open—only to be met with a confused-looking Xaden and a frowning Violet.

"Hi," I choked out, stepping aside to let both of them in.

Violet gave me a concerned look as she walked in, her voice soft.

"What’s going on, Y/N? I thought you and Bodhi were almost... boyfriend-girlfriend official?"

She muttered the last part hesitantly, like she wasn’t sure if she should say it out loud.

Xaden, on the other hand, just frowned in confusion, dropping into my armchair without a word.

"I thought so too," I sobbed, wiping at my face. My gaze flickered to Xaden. "But your cousin—he’s trying too hard to be a Riorson. To be you. When all I want is Bodhi."

Xaden let out a short, amused chuckle. "He what?"

I exhaled shakily, frustrated beyond words. "He tries to act like you. It’s our fifth date, and things were getting pretty serious, Xaden. But he keeps ruining it by doing shit you would do. Not what he would do. You and Bodhi are polar opposites, but he just—" My voice cracked, and I shook my head. "He doesn’t seem to understand that he is enough."

Another sob escaped my lips before I could stop it.

Violet wrapped her arms around me, holding me in a gentle embrace.

Her voice was soft, almost hesitant. "Is there anything we can do? Anything I can do?"

I shook my head, swallowing the lump in my throat.

"No... but thank you for stopping by."

I hesitated, my fingers gripping the hem of my sleeve.

"Also—please don’t tell Bodhi anything. I... we’ll see how—if—this turns out."

Violet exchanged a glance with Xaden, but she just nodded, squeezing my hand reassuringly.

____

Breakfast was awkward.

Uncomfortably so.

Usually, we all sat together—Xaden and Violet, Dain and Sloane, Ridoc with one of his flings, Sawyer third-wheeling him, Rhiannon and Tara.

And then there was always Bodhi and me. Snuggled up together, even before we were dating. Because we were best friends.

But now? The dynamic had shifted. Bodhi sat at another table with Garrick and Imogen, his back turned to me.

It felt wrong.

Like something had cracked in a place I didn’t know could break.

I must’ve looked lost because Sawyer tapped my side, snapping me out of it.

"Hey, Y/N, scoot down here," he said, smiling knowingly.

I swallowed hard and slid down next to him, murmuring a quiet "Thanks."

Tears pricked at my eyes, threatening to spill.

"Try to hold them in, love," Sawyer muttered, nudging me gently.

His voice was warm, kind. One of the kindest souls I knew—along with Bodhi. And that thought alone nearly broke me.

I stabbed my fork into my food, but I hadn’t taken a single bite. Hadn’t even tried. My stomach was in knots, and I knew—if I did eat—I wouldn’t be able to keep it down.

Bodhis POV

I felt her before I even saw her. The air shifted, thick with the weight of her presence, and it took me a long while to muster the courage to actually look at her.

She slumped in her seat. Not in her usual spot. But then again, neither was I. She sat next to Sawyer, who nudged her lightly. J

ealousy pricked at me, but I quickly reminded myself that she wasn’t mine. Sadly.

She slammed her fork into her food with a sharp *clink*, but didn’t take a single bite.

*Cuir,* I called through our bond, my voice low. *Tell Clover to tell Y/N she must eat.*

*Very well,* Cuir responded. His tone made my skin crawl with a mix of annoyance and something deeper I couldn’t place.

But I didn’t have time to argue with him as the rest of my table began standing up, preparing to leave.

I glanced at Y/N one last time, unable to stop myself.

Our eyes locked for a brief moment.

She held the fork in her hand, but then slowly, painfully, placed it in her mouth. She forced a smile, but the tears welling in her eyes—those were impossible to hide.

And it broke me. 

"Can we talk?" Y/N mumbled from behind me, her voice barely audible.

I was already preparing for the sparring match with Xaden, mentally focusing, tightening my grip on the moment.

''No,'' I said sternly, pulling my shirt off and stepping onto the mat. I didn't look back. I couldn't.

Xaden and I squared off, the fight beginning with each of us pushing and pulling, testing each other's limits.

My movements were sharp, but my mind kept drifting. Every punch, every block, felt empty—like I was trying to fight off something that wasn’t even in the ring with me. 

I could feel the adrenaline coursing through me as I squared off with Xaden.

The mat beneath my feet was slick with sweat, and my muscles were already burning from the intensity of the fight, but I refused to back down.

This wasn’t about winning; it was about control—something I had to find, especially with everything else falling apart.

Xaden moved first, a blur of motion. He swung high, testing my defense. I blocked, stepping back, trying to predict his next move. He was faster than I expected, more fluid than anyone I’d ever sparred with. But I wasn’t going to let him get the better of me.

I jabbed toward his ribs, but he anticipated it, dodging to the side with a grin that was almost too knowing. Damn him, I thought. He was always so composed, like he knew exactly how to push me without breaking a sweat.

I lunged again, this time more aggressively, swinging for his head. He blocked easily, the force of his arm knocking me off balance. My heart hammered in my chest as I stumbled back, trying to regain my footing.

"You need to focus, Bodhi," Xaden's voice came low, taunting. I gritted my teeth, anger flaring inside me.

He was right. My mind wasn’t on the fight. It was on everything else—the mess with Y/N, the tension building between us, the way I couldn’t seem to do anything right lately.

Xaden’s next strike came without warning—a quick jab to my stomach, knocking the air out of me.

I wheezed, vision blurring for a second as I gasped for breath. He pressed the advantage, stepping closer, pushing me into a corner. I tried to push back, but it felt like my body was betraying me. He was everywhere, his fists like lightning, his movements a step ahead of mine every time.

I barely saw it coming. A punch straight to my jaw, hard enough to snap my head back.

Everything around me spun, and before I could even react, I felt the world tilt. The impact from the punch rattled my skull, and in that split second, I was completely out of control. My knees buckled, and I felt the floor rush up to meet me. There was nothing I could do to stop it.

The last thing I saw was Xaden's face, a flicker of concern mixed with something else—something I couldn’t place—before everything went black.

(YN POV)

I saw Xaden’s punch coming before Bodhi even had time to react, and I swear, I could feel it in my own chest when it landed. Bodhi stumbled, took a step back, then another. And then, he fell.

I didn’t think. I just moved.

I jumped up from where I had been sitting on the nearby mat and rushed over to him, my heart pounding in my throat.

Dropping to my knees beside him, I gently lifted his face, my hands trembling.

“Bodhi... Bodhi, Bodhi...” I muttered, my voice breaking with every word.

His eyes were unfocused, and his breathing was shallow. Panic surged through me, my fingers brushing against his skin, searching for any sign of life.

Xaden's hands were suddenly on me, pulling me away. His grip was firm, but careful, as he lifted me up by my arm.

“He’ll be alright, Y/N,” Xaden said, his voice oddly calm in the chaos of the moment. “A concussion, maybe. Let’s get him to his room.”

But even as he said the words, I could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me, the uncertainty clouding my mind.

____

I had been sitting beside Bodhi’s bed for what felt like hours. Two hours, to be exact.

The rain outside had started pouring, the sound of it slapping against the window oddly soothing, calming me down.

Sitting here, next to him, felt like the only thing that could ground me right now. No matter the circumstances, he always felt like home.

I gently swiped a damp cloth over his forehead, carefully wiping away the last traces of blood, my hand trembling slightly.

He stirred then, a soft groan escaping his lips.

“Bodhi, carefully,” I mumbled softly, pressing him back down into the pillow.

“Y/N…” His voice was low, raspy, like he was waking from a dream, eyes wide and unfocused.

“Careful, Bod. You’ve got a concussion. Xaden got you pretty good.” I chuckled lightly, wiping his cheeks gently with the cloth.

“Thank you for taking care of me,” he murmured, his voice still thick with exhaustion.

“Always will,” I whispered back, my fingers lingering on his skin.

“I’m sorry I’m not perfect—” I didn’t let him finish.

I leaned closer, cutting him off before the words could leave his mouth.

“Stop, Bodhi. Please.” I swallowed the lump in my throat, my voice shaking.

“You are perfect. You are all I want. And yes, you’re not like Xaden. You’ll never be Xaden, Bodhi. But you are Bodhi Durran. My best friend. The kind one. You’re one of the kindest souls I know, and—”

I took a shaky breath. “God, I love you so fucking much, Bodhi. It hurts me.” 

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

I had confessed my love.

We had never said those words before, never crossed that line, but in that moment, it felt right. It felt fitting.

Bodhi’s eyes widened in shock.

“Say that again.”

I hesitated, feeling the weight of my own confession settling in my chest. But there was no taking it back now.

“I love you, Bodhi Durran,” I choked out, my voice trembling.

Tears didn’t fall, but I could feel them swelling behind my eyes.

“I’ve loved you for years. I think I always will, Bodhi.”

His expression softened, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“I love you too, Y/N. So much. So, so fucking much.”

My heart swelled at his words, a mixture of relief and joy flooding me.

Then, without warning, he pulled me in, his lips capturing mine in a soft, lingering kiss. The world seemed to fade around us, everything that had been heavy and painful just disappearing.

But then he pulled away, a low growl of pain escaping him.

I chuckled softly, pulling back just enough to smile at him.

“We better wait until you’re better to make out.”

“No fucking way.” Bodhi muttered, his eyes filled with mischief.

Before I could react, he pulled me back in, deepening the kiss immediately, ignoring the pain in favor of this moment we’d both been holding back for too long.

[bueckersstuff]

PART IV

The room is thick with tension, the air so heavy it feels like it might crush you. Paige hasn’t moved, hasn’t blinked. She’s still staring down Azzi, jaw clenched, fists trembling at her sides. And then, finally, she exhales—slow, controlled, but you can feel the shift in her.

She’s done.

Paige straightens, rolling her shoulders back. Her voice is steady, but there’s a finality to it that sends a shiver down your spine.

“I pick her.”

Azzi’s smirk falters. She wasn’t expecting that. Her confidence cracks for a split second before she quickly masks it with a scoff. “You’re serious?”

Paige nods. “Yeah. I am.”

Azzi steps back, lips pressing together like she’s trying to hold something in—anger, disbelief, maybe even hurt. But you don’t feel sorry for her. Not after everything.

Paige turns to you, her expression softening in an instant. She reaches for your hand, threading her fingers through yours, holding on tight—like she’s making sure you don’t disappear. And in that moment, everything else fades.

Azzi clicks her tongue. “You’re making a mistake.”

Paige doesn’t even look at her when she responds. “Maybe. But at least it’s mine to make.”

Azzi doesn’t say another word. She just turns and walks out, slamming the door behind her.

For a long moment, neither of you speak. Paige just holds onto you, her thumb running absentmindedly over your knuckles. Then she sighs, pressing her forehead against yours. “I’m gonna fix this.”

You shake your head. “Paige, you don’t have to—”

“I do.” Her voice is firm. “I’m not letting them paint you as some homewrecker. I should’ve ended things with Azzi sooner. I should’ve been honest. This is on me, not you.”

You swallow hard, because you know what this means. “How?”

Paige takes a deep breath. “I’m gonna do a press conference.”

Your stomach drops. “What?”

“I won’t name you,” she promises. “But I’ll set the record straight. Let them know that me and Azzi are done. That this—whatever this is—was never some scandal. I’m not letting them tear you apart over something that isn’t even your fault.”

It’s reckless. Dangerous. And yet, the way she says it, the way she looks at you like you’re something worth protecting—it makes your chest ache.

But not everyone is on board.

Paige insisted you accompany her to the meeting with her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas. You felt out of place, a silent observer in a world where decisions were made in boardrooms rather than on basketball courts.

As you entered the sleek office, Lindsay greeted both of you with a professional smile that didn't reach her eyes. She gestured for you to sit, her demeanor calm yet authoritative.

"Paige," Lindsay began, folding her hands on the polished table, "I've reviewed your proposal for the press conference. While I understand your desire to address the rumors, I must advise against it."

Paige's jaw tightened, but she remained composed. "I can't let these lies spread without addressing them. It's affecting not just me but those I care about."

Lindsay sighed, her gaze flickering to you briefly before returning to Paige. "I understand your frustration, but going public could jeopardize your endorsements and future career prospects, especially with the WNBA draft approaching."

Paige's eyes flashed with determination. "So, I should just stay silent while my personal life is dissected and misrepresented?"

“You are not doing a press conference.”

Paige sits across from her in her office, hands gripping the arms of the chair, barely containing her frustration. “Yes, I am.”

“No, you’re not.” Lindsay pinches the bridge of her nose. “Paige, do you have any idea how bad this could get? You’re graduating this year. You’re going pro. The last thing you need is unnecessary drama. You cannot let this get bigger than it already is.”

Paige’s jaw tightens. “It’s already big. My name is everywhere. And people are dragging her through the mud for something she didn’t even do.”

Lindsay leans forward. “And what do you think happens when you confirm the breakup? When you stand up there and make a speech? You think that just stops the rumors? You think that clears her name? No, Paige. It makes it worse. It makes you the villain.”

Paige shakes her head. “I don’t care.”

“Well, I do.” Her voice is sharp, cutting. “And so does UConn. And so do your future sponsors. You cannot afford to do this.”

She’s about to argue, about to fight, but then Lindsay’s next words land like a gut punch.

“You think you’re protecting her?” she asks, voice quieter now. “You’re not. You’re making it harder for her, too. The more noise you make, the bigger target she becomes.”

Paige goes still.

Lindsay leaned forward, her expression softening. "I'm asking you to consider the bigger picture. Sometimes, silence is the best response."

The tension in the room was palpable. Paige's fists clenched on her lap, her knuckles white. You wanted to reach out, to offer some comfort, but you remained still, knowing this was her battle to fight.

After a long pause, Paige nodded curtly. "I'll think about it."

Lindsay offered a tight-lipped smile. "That's all I ask."

As you left the office, Paige's silence was deafening. You could see the conflict raging within her—the desire to protect you clashing with the reality of her career's demands.

The following day, you received an unexpected summon to Coach Auriemma's office. Your heart pounded as you made your way there, anxiety gnawing at your insides.

You’ve never been in his office before, but it feels suffocating. He sits behind his desk, hands folded, gaze unreadable. When you enter, he gestures for you to sit, and you do, heart hammering in your chest.

“I’m not gonna dance around it,” he starts, his tone firm but not unkind. “I know what’s going on.”

Your stomach knots. “Sir, I—”

He holds up a hand. “I don’t care about the rumors. I care about Paige. And I care about what’s best for her.”

You bite your lip. “And you think I’m… not?”

Coach Auriemma exhales. “I think Paige is a damn good player with a future ahead of her. A future that’s already under a microscope. And if she does this press conference, if she makes a spectacle out of it, it could cost her.”

Your throat tightens. “I never asked her to—”

“I know,” he says, cutting you off. “And that’s the problem. Paige doesn’t care about the consequences. She’s ready to burn the whole thing down for you.”

You blink. “She… she said that?”

He leans forward. “She doesn’t have to. I see it. And as much as I admire that kind of loyalty, it’s dangerous. For her. And for you.”

You look away, because he’s right. Paige is reckless with her heart. With the things she loves. And right now, that’s you.

Coach Auriemma sighs. “You want to protect her, right?”

You nod. “More than anything.”

“Then step back,” he says simply. “At least for now. Let her finish this season. Let her go pro without this weight on her shoulders.”

Your breath catches. The idea of stepping back, of putting distance between you and Paige again—it hurts. More than you can explain.

And yet.

“Think about it,” Coach Auriemma says, his voice softer now. “Because if you love her, you won’t let her throw everything away for something that can wait.”

Can it, though?

That’s the question that eats away at you as you leave his office, the weight of his words pressing down on you like a storm cloud that won’t go away.

You don’t tell Paige about your conversation with Coach Auriemma.

Not because you don’t want to—but because you don’t know how. Because saying it out loud would make it real, and you’re not ready for that. Not yet.

The weight of his words lingers in your chest, heavier with every passing hour.

Step back. Let her finish the season. Let her go pro without this weight on her shoulders.

It makes sense. It makes so much sense that it hurts.

And maybe that’s why you decide to do something drastic.

Thanksgiving break is coming up. A perfect excuse. A perfect escape.

You’re packed before you even realize what you’re doing. The duffel bag sits at the foot of your bed, unzipped, stuffed with just enough clothes to last you the trip back home to Minnesota. You tell yourself it’s just for the break. Just some time to breathe. To think.

To be selfish for once.

You don’t tell Paige. You don’t tell anyone.

Because if you do, they’ll stop you.

You slip out of the dorm just as the sky begins to darken, hoodie pulled over your head, footsteps light against the pavement. The air is crisp, biting at your exposed skin, but you barely feel it. Your heart is pounding too hard.

You make it to the parking lot without incident, fingers shaking as you tighten your grip on your bag. Just a little further. Just a few more steps and—

“Where the hell are you going?”

You freeze.

Nika.

She’s standing a few feet away, arms crossed over her chest, brows furrowed in suspicion. Her gaze flickers to your bag, and then back to your face. “You running away or something?”

You exhale sharply, shoulders slumping. There’s no use lying. Not to her.

“I’m going home for break,” you admit.

Her expression doesn’t change. “And you were just gonna disappear without telling anyone?”

You swallow hard. “It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it like?” she challenges, stepping closer. “Because last time I checked, Paige has been glued to your side. She’s fighting the entire damn world for you. And you’re just leaving?”

Your chest tightens. “She doesn’t need to fight for me,” you murmur. “She needs to focus on basketball. On her future. And I…” Your voice wavers. “I just need a second to breathe.”

Nika studies you, and for the first time, her tough exterior cracks just a little. She sees it—the exhaustion, the weight of it all pressing down on you.

“What happened?” she asks, softer this time.

You hesitate. But then the words spill out before you can stop them. “Coach Auriemma called me into his office. He told me it would be better for Paige’s career if I… if I stepped back. At least for now.”

Nika doesn’t say anything right away. Her jaw tightens, and her hands curl into fists at her sides. She looks ready to march into his office and cuss him out, but then she sighs, shaking her head. “And you just listened to him?”

“What else was I supposed to do?” you whisper. “She’s risking everything, Nika. Her future, her reputation… all for me. I can’t be the reason she loses it all.”

Nika’s quiet for a long time. And then she nods. “Okay.”

You blink. “Okay?”

“I won’t stop you,” she says. “If you need to go, go.”

A lump forms in your throat. “Thank you.”

“But,” she adds, fixing you with a sharp look. “You have to let Paige fix her own mess.”

Your stomach twists. “Nika—”

“She’s a big girl,” she interrupts. “And yeah, maybe she’s been reckless, maybe she’s been making dumbass decisions, but that’s on her. Not you. You don’t get to carry all of this by yourself.”

You don’t respond. You don’t know how to.

Nika exhales, running a hand through her hair. “I won’t tell Paige,” she promises. “But you owe it to her to talk when you come back.”

You nod slowly, chest aching. “I know.”

She studies you for another moment before sighing and stepping back. “Go, then. Before I change my mind.”

You don’t waste another second.

As you slip into the backseat of the Uber waiting to take you to the airport, you press your forehead against the window, watching as the campus fades from view.

You don’t know what awaits you back home. All you know is that, for the first time in a long time, you’re letting yourself take a break.

Even if it breaks you in the process.

The cold air bites at your skin as you sit outside your childhood home in Minnesota, staring at the phone screen that hasn’t stopped lighting up. Paige’s name dominates the notifications—calls, messages, voicemails. You haven’t responded to a single one.

You squeeze the phone in your hand, heart heavy with guilt. She’s done nothing wrong, and yet you’ve left her to suffer. Coach Auriemma’s words still echo in your mind.

If you love her, you won’t let her throw everything away for something that can wait.

But was disappearing really the right thing to do?

The vibration of your phone startles you, and this time, it’s Nika. You hesitate before finally picking up.

“Are you still at home?” she asks, sounding so tensed.

Your breath catches. “Nika—”

“She’s losing it,” Nika cuts you off, her voice sharp with urgency. “Like actually losing it. You need to hear this.”

Your stomach clenches, but you stay silent, gripping the phone tighter.

“She’s been a wreck ever since you left. Coach ripped into her and Azzi during practice. Called them out in front of everyone. Said their personal drama was a distraction to the team and that if they didn’t get their heads straight, they could both sit on the damn bench for all he cared.”

You close your eyes, already picturing the scene. Their coach doesn’t play around, especially when it comes to his team’s focus.

“But that’s not even the worst part,” Nika continues. “He mentioned you.”

Your eyes snap open. “What?”

“He was pissed and let it slip that you were part of the mess. Paige went stiff as a board. You should’ve seen her face. She asked what he meant, and he actually told her he spoke to you.”

Your breath falters. “What did she say?”

“She freaked out, obviously. Kept asking what he said to you, but Coach wouldn’t tell her. Just said he ‘advised’ you on what’s best.”

You rub a hand over your face. Shit.

“After that, I knew that she started calling you like crazy. She hasn’t stopped. She’s barely talking to anyone. Barely eating, dude. I tried to tell her you probably just needed space, but she’s convinced you left because of her.”

Guilt twists like a knife in your chest. You can hear Nika sigh on the other end. “Look, I get why you left. But this? This is killing her.”

You don’t say anything, because what can you say? That you knew this would happen? That you left to spare her, only to end up hurting her more?

Nika sighs again, softer this time. “She keeps updating you, doesn’t she?”

Your throat tightens. Yeah.

Paige has been sending messages non-stop. Long ones, short ones. Some begging, some demanding. Others just saying she misses you. That she doesn’t understand. That she needs to see you.

She’s unraveling.

Nika’s voice pulls you from your thoughts. “Just—just let me know if you’re coming back, okay? She needs to know you’re not gone forever.”

You don’t answer. Instead, you stare at the latest message from Paige, your vision blurring as you read her words.

Please just tell me if you’re okay. If you don’t want me to call anymore, I’ll stop. Just… I need to know if you’re okay.

Your hands shake as you lock your phone and press it against your forehead, the weight of everything pressing down on you. You thought leaving would be the best way to protect her.

But now, you’re not so sure.

You’re pulled from sleep by the constant buzzing of your phone. The screen glows in the darkness, illuminating the room in short, erratic bursts. Blinking against the haze of sleep, you reach for it, squinting at the overwhelming flood of notifications.

Your heart stops when you see Paige’s name.

She posted on Instagram.

A photo. No—several. A collage, old memories spilling into the present. Your childhood together. Your high school days. The candid shots of laughter, inside jokes captured in pixels. And then, the recent ones—the ones taken in the past few months, the ones you thought no one else had noticed. A soft look she gave you after practice, your hands nearly brushing at a coffee shop, a blurred shot of you both standing too close at some party. It’s all there. Laid out for the world to see.

You swallow hard, your chest tightening as you read the caption.

Some people are just part of your soul. No matter how much time passes, no matter how many things change, they’re always there. Even when you lose them. Even when you’re the reason they’re gone.

It’s the kind of post that sounds more like a confession than an appreciation. And people are noticing. The comments are blowing up, theories forming faster than you can process them.

— Why does this sound like a breakup post???

— Wait… is she talking about Azzi or…?

— Who is this mystery person??

— Oh my god, the way she looks at her in these pics.

Your stomach churns. Then you see it.

Someone from back home. Someone who knows you and Paige.

— Before Azzi, it was always them. They go way back, trust me.

And people are buying it.

Your notifications spike—friend requests, follows, people digging, trying to put pieces together. Your stomach twists as you scroll, anxiety flooding your veins. This is getting too big.

And then, the final nail in the coffin.

A comment, posted just three minutes ago.

— Good to know you're still friends with each other, Paige. I just bumped into her this morning, still so charming and sweet.

Your blood runs cold. That's your high school classmate who actually lives here in Minnesota!

And then, Paige’s reply. It's the only comment she actually replied to.

— Thank you.

Just one minute ago.

Your breath catches in your throat.

Thank you.

Thank you for what? The compliment? The nostalgia? Or—

Or the clue of where you are?

“Fuck.”

Your hands are shaking as you stare at the screen, heart pounding so hard it drowns out all rational thought. And then, your phone dings.

Paige: I know where you are, baby. I’m coming to get you.

Your eyes snap to the clock. 4:00 AM.

You don’t know when she’s going to show up.

But you know one thing for sure.

You’re so, so doomed.

A featherlight touch tickles your ear, a sensation so faint it almost feels like a dream. Then, another—a ghosting touch against your cheek. You stir, shifting under the warmth of the blankets, but then you feel it again.

Something��someone—is here.

Your eyes flutter open, bleary and unfocused, and the first thing you see is Paige, perched on the edge of your bed, smiling down at you. But it’s not her usual smile. It’s a sad one, fragile and worn, like she’s been crying. Like she’s barely holding herself together.

"Why did you leave me?" she whispers, voice small, almost broken. "I got so scared."

Your heart clenches at the raw vulnerability in her eyes. You open your mouth, but nothing comes out at first. There’s so much you want to say, but you don’t even know where to begin.

Paige exhales shakily, blinking rapidly. "I thought I lost you. For real. I called. I texted. I had no idea where you were, and it drove me insane. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep—I just kept thinking, what if you weren’t coming back? What if I really ruined everything?"

You sit up, swallowing the lump in your throat. "Paige, I—"

"I know why you did it," she cuts in, her voice stronger now, but still laced with pain. "Nika told me everything. That you thought it was for the best. That you were trying to protect me. But, baby, you leaving? That didn’t protect me. It destroyed me."

Your breath catches. Paige’s fingers find yours, squeezing tight, almost desperate. "I don’t need protecting from you," she continues. "I need you. I don’t care what Coach Geno says, or what Lindsay thinks, or what the world expects from me. I only care about you. So don’t ever—ever—do that to me again."

Tears well in your eyes as you cup her face, thumbs brushing over the damp trails on her cheeks. "I just… I thought I was doing the right thing. I didn’t want to hold you back, Paige. I didn’t want to be the reason you lost everything."

Paige shakes her head, shifting closer until her forehead presses against yours. "You are everything."

And that’s all it takes for the dam to break. The next thing you know, Paige is kissing you, and it’s different from before—it’s raw, emotional, relieving. Her hands are in your hair, yours are gripping the fabric of her hoodie like she might disappear again if you let go. The taste of salt lingers on your lips, but you don’t know if it’s from her tears or yours.

You don’t pull away until you're breathless, foreheads still pressed together. Paige lets out a shaky laugh. "God, I missed you."

You laugh too, watery and soft. "I missed you more."

She grins, bumping her nose against yours. "Impossible."

Breakfast with your parents is warm, filled with laughter and lingering touches under the table. Paige is her usual charming self, but there’s a tenderness in the way she looks at you, in the way she talks about you to your family—like she wants them to know just how much she cherishes you. And they do. They see it.

Your mom smirks when Paige clears both your plates before you even finish your first. "Still stealing food off her plate, huh?"

Paige grins sheepishly. "Can you blame me? She always get the best bites."

Your dad chuckles. "Some things never change."

And for the first time in a while, everything feels right.

Later in the afternoon, Paige takes you to her house. You hesitate when she pulls into the driveway, but she just laces her fingers with yours, squeezing reassuringly. "I wanted to see you first before coming home," she says softly. "That’s how important you are to me."

The words settle in your chest, warm and deep.

Inside, her family welcomes you with open arms. They tease Paige endlessly, making comments about how she’s been sidetracked before (Azzi, though no one outright says her name), but they knew—they always knew.

"She just got a little lost," her mom says with a wink. "But she found her way back."

Paige groans. "You guys are the worst."

Her younger siblings giggle, throwing in their own commentary about how she was always different when you were around—happier, lighter. It makes you wonder how long everyone had seen it before either of you did.

And then, in front of everyone, Paige clears her throat, looking straight at you. "I’m gonna court you properly this time. No games, no confusion. Just me, proving to you every day that you’re it for me."

Her dad whistles. "Bold move. I like it."

Your face burns, but you nod, heart thudding. "I’d like that."

She beams, and for a second, you forget everything else.

The evening is spent driving around old familiar places, reminiscing about childhood memories, seeing things in a different light now. Paige reaches for your hand at every stop, as if making sure you’re still real, still here. You are. And you’re not going anywhere.

But reality catches up fast.

Your phone buzzes—Nika. You answer, and before you can even say anything, she’s groaning. "Dude, where the hell is Paige? Coach Geno’s losing his damn mind."

Your stomach drops. "What?"

"He found out she flew to Minnesota. He’s pissed." Nika sighs. "You two need to get your asses back here ASAP. I booked a flight for Paige already. You coming back with her?"

You hesitate, but then you glance at Paige, who’s watching you with quiet expectation. Like she’s waiting to see if you’ll run again.

You take a breath. "Yeah. We’ll come back together."

Nika snorts. "Good. Because, uh, people already know who you are now, thanks to Paige’s stupid, drunken, emotional post. Might as well face the world together."

Paige cringes but grins at you, hopeful. "Together?"

You lace your fingers with hers. "Together."

And for the first time in a long time, that word doesn’t feel scary at all.

The flight back to UConn was quieter than expected. Paige held your hand the entire time, her thumb brushing over your knuckles absentmindedly, as if she was making sure you were still there. You could feel the weight of everything pressing down on her, but there was something steadier in her grip now—like she had made up her mind about something.

When you landed, reality hit. Paige pulled her hoodie up, trying to shield herself from the attention, but it was useless. Eyes followed you both through the airport, whispers rippling through the crowd like wildfire. People knew now. Maybe not the full story, but enough. The post she made, the comments, the theories—it had spiraled into something neither of you could control.

The second you stepped onto campus, you knew it was only a matter of time before you had to face everything you ran from. And it started with Geno.

Nika had given you both a warning text—He’s pissed, but not at you. Be ready.

You didn’t even get a chance to process that before you were being summoned to his office.

Geno Auriemma was pacing when you walked in, hands on his hips, muttering something under his breath. Paige straightened beside you, ready for whatever lecture was coming.

He stopped, looked between you two, then exhaled sharply. “Do you have any idea what kind of circus you’ve created?”

Paige lifted her chin. “I do.”

“Do you?” His eyes narrowed. “Because last I checked, you had a season to focus on. A future to protect. And instead, I’ve got reporters hounding me about your love life.”

Paige didn’t back down. “I know what I’m doing.”

“Do you?” Geno crossed his arms. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re ready to blow up everything for the sake of proving a point.”

Paige’s grip on your hand tightened. “It’s not about proving a point. It’s about doing what’s right.”

Geno studied her, then you. His gaze softened, just a little. “Kid,” he said, directing it at you this time. “You really planning on sticking around for this?”

You swallowed, but your voice was steady. “If Paige wants me here, I’m not going anywhere.”

Geno sighed, rubbing his temples. “Then I hope you’re both ready for the firestorm that’s coming.”

The confrontation with Azzi was next.

You didn’t seek it out, but it found you anyway. In the gym, of all places, where she stood by the lockers, arms crossed, waiting.

“I figured you’d come crawling back eventually,” she said, voice sharp. “Didn’t expect Paige to drag you back herself, though.”

You stiffened, but before you could speak, Paige stepped forward. “I didn’t drag anyone anywhere.”

Azzi’s eyes flicked to her. “Really? So this isn’t just you making another impulsive decision? Risking everything for someone who ran the second things got hard?”

You flinched, but Paige’s response was instant. “She didn’t run. I pushed her away.”

Azzi scoffed. “Yeah? And what happens when it gets too much again? When the pressure crushes you? You're gonna push her away again? Or maybe find someone new to hold your hand?”

Paige’s jaw clenched. “I didn’t come here to fight with you.”

“Then why are you here?” Azzi’s voice wavered just slightly. “To rub it in my face? To prove a point?”

Paige shook her head. “No. To end this.”

Azzi’s expression faltered. “It’s already over.”

Paige nodded. “Yeah. And I should’ve ended it sooner. But I need you to know—this isn’t about you. It never was.”

Azzi’s eyes burned into yours, then back to Paige. For a second, she looked like she wanted to say something more. But then she just scoffed, turned, and walked away.

The media reaction was a whole different beast.

Some people loved the story. Childhood best friends reconnecting, fighting for love, defying expectations. Others? Not so much. Some still clung to Azzi, to the image of her and Paige together, painting you as the villain in a story you never asked to be part of.

But the tides were shifting. The more people dug, the more they learned about you and Paige’s history—how you’d been there long before the spotlight, long before the fame. Slowly, the narrative began to change.

One clip from an old high school interview resurfaced—a young Paige, smiling when asked about her best friend, talking about how you were the first person to believe in her dreams. It went viral overnight.

And then there was the final push.

Paige’s first official statement.

She didn’t hold a press conference like she originally wanted. Instead, she posted a video—a simple, unedited clip of her sitting in her dorm, looking straight into the camera.

“I never planned on my personal life being public,” she started. “But if people are going to talk, I’d rather they hear it from me.”

She took a breath. “Azzi and I are done. We ended things because it wasn’t working, and that’s the truth. And as for the rumors about me and—” She hesitated, then smiled slightly. “Her. I’m not gonna confirm or deny anything. But I will say this—I don’t regret a single thing.”

Paige paused, like she was choosing her next words carefully. “The people who’ve been here since the beginning, the ones who really know me, they know where my heart has always been.”

That was all she said. But it was enough.

The world could interpret it however they wanted. But you? You knew exactly what she meant.

And as you sat there, watching the video play out, you realized something.

This wasn’t just Paige fighting for you.

It was both of you, fighting for each other.

The return to UConn was chaotic, but somehow, you and Paige faced it together. The confrontation with Coach Auriemma had been tough—he wasn’t happy about the distractions, but after seeing how firm Paige was in her choice, he let it go. Azzi was another story. She had scoffed, feigned indifference, but you could see the bitterness in her eyes. However, over time, even she started to come around. One evening after practice, she pulled Paige aside and, though reluctant, admitted, “I just want you to be happy. And if that’s with her, then… I’ll deal with it.”

Nika? She just smirked, shaking her head. “Took you two long enough.”

The media had been relentless at first, but eventually, things started to shift. Paige’s history with you, your childhood friendship, the way you had always been in her life—it changed the narrative. The fans saw it too. Some still clung to the idea of her and Azzi, but most of them started to accept you. Even like you. And Paige? She made sure the world knew exactly where she stood—with you.

One evening, after a long day of classes and training, you and Paige found yourselves curled up on the couch in your shared apartment. The weight of everything was still there, lingering, but for the first time in weeks, it felt manageable.

Paige let out a sigh, pressing a soft kiss to your temple. “Come with me after I go pro.”

Your heart stilled. “Paige…”

“I mean it,” she said, pulling back to look at you. Her eyes were filled with something so raw, so desperate, it made your breath catch. “I don’t want to do any of this without you.”

You exhaled slowly, fingers tracing patterns on her arm. “I have dreams too, Paige. My own path. My own future.”

She nodded immediately. “I know. And I’d never ask you to give them up. But I won’t give you up either.”

You hesitated, because as much as you loved her, as much as you wanted to be with her, you had spent so much of your life trying to find your own way. You couldn’t just abandon that.

Sensing your turmoil, Paige cupped your face, her thumbs brushing over your cheeks. “Tell me what you want.”

You swallowed hard. “I want to finish my degree. I want to build something for myself. And I want you too, Paige. But I can’t follow you like a shadow. I need to stand on my own too.”

She was quiet for a long moment, then she nodded, determination settling in her expression. “Then we’ll build our life together. I’ll go wherever you go.”

Your breath hitched. “Paige, you—”

“I can play anywhere. I don’t have to be across the country. I don’t have to make this harder than it needs to be. We’ll figure it out, but I’m not leaving you behind.”

Tears pricked at your eyes. “Are you sure?”

Paige leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss to your lips. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

Months passed, and the world around you both continued to shift. Paige declared for the WNBA draft, and you stood by her side as she took that step into her future. She kept her promise—supporting you, making time for you, making sure you were part of her world.

And when the draft night came, when her name was called and she walked across that stage, she searched for you in the crowd, her eyes shining with tears and triumph. Later, when the cameras were off and the celebrations died down, she pulled you close, whispering against your lips, “We made it.”

You smiled, pressing your forehead to hers. “We did.”

The journey wasn’t perfect. There were challenges, moments of doubt, moments where the weight of it all felt unbearable. But through it all, one thing remained certain—Paige had chosen you. And you had chosen her, too.

In the months that followed, you both moved into a cozy apartment together, balancing her WNBA career with your own pursuits. Some nights, she came home exhausted from games, collapsing onto the couch with you, murmuring how grateful she was to have you by her side. Other nights, you stayed up late, working on your own dreams, with Paige curled up next to you, offering sleepy encouragement.

One day, as you both cooked dinner together, Paige wrapped her arms around you from behind, pressing a kiss to your shoulder. “I don’t care where life takes us,” she murmured. “As long as we’re together.”

You turned, looking into her eyes, and smiled. “Always.”

And with that, the future no longer seemed uncertain.

It was yours—together.

[rei-ismyname]

I hear you, though I thought that was kinda the point tbh. How difficult people slip through the cracks and the degrees of privilege and exploitation within the outgroups. Shit, the real world doesn't have a lot in place for people with mental health issues and comics are notoriously worse. It's hard work actually supporting people and the people needing it rarely get a voice in that.

The impression I got was that everyone knows that Sinister is a bad actor and nobody wants him there, but they need him for the Resurrection Protocols. It's not like he's a single person you can just kill and take their stuff - he's a system, and letting this monster in the door was their first mistake. Putting him on the council was the second because he has power and they have to consider his interests.

His idea isn't even a bad one (if you're in a comic book) - but it's absolutely a function of creating a tiny ruling oligarchy to monopolise power. I can believe that Mags and Chuck would neglect many vital government functions while focused on their greater game, and they hung onto that moral authority for quite a while. The Dream itself is built on giving the benefit of the doubt to people who don't deserve it. They expected a post-human society to emerge but had ????? as step two.

There's that whole vibe of 'trying to be better' but I'm not sure anyone actually figured out what that looks like.

That is more or less what happened with Sinister and the Hellions IMO. He had way more influence than the council knew because of his leverage on Kwannon. Every mission they go on was either under false pretences or straight up secret.

As for Maddie - the way I see it is she's a Hellion too - she just doesn't know it. Like Alex, she only gets a 'happy' ending - being allowed to live - because of her proximity to power. Nobody else had to prove they could be trusted to be allowed to play, and I kinda like that she did her thing and expressed her anger.

As for the Lorna and Alex thing - I don't like it either. I'm not sure what FTA was trying to say by making Maddie a blatant abuser. They tried to play it sympathetically but it did not land for me at all, especially when the resolution is Lorna walking in and out both of them walking out as if nothing has changed. As if it's an easily fixed bad decision on Alex's part and then he's back to his old self, kinda. X-factor sucks so bad, though it's cool that Lorna is leading the mutant underground.

Havok and Cyclops dysfunction part 1

Hellions was a bit of a goldmine for Summers family drama. Alex had a bit of an episode and reverted to his AXIS inversion persona (not sure if that's the right word, but it seems to have triggered ongoing mental health issues, primarily violent disassociation.) He would have killed a bunch of humans if LOGAN didn't stop him.

Scott turns on big brother mode immediately, which is understandable, and the first time we see any hint of him standing against the Quiet Council. It's a little problematic - what makes Alex exempt from the same treatment as any other mutant? Scott implies he'd violently prevent the council from putting him in the pit if he killed people. He's right to object, as this is a complex issue, a health issue. That applies to everyone else in the dock too, though. For now, he's only willing to stand against injustice that affects those he loves nepotistically. Then fucking Sinister speaks up.

It's so very obvious that Sinister is arguing in bad faith. He already has too much power and any proposal giving him power over the vulnerable is indefensible. Everyone here should be aware of how much trauma this piece of shit has inflicted on Scott, Alex, and many more. Alex kinda thinks he deserves it, though he'll waver on that. Everyone on the council knows exactly what Sinister is, and I think not being more proactive with minimising the harm he could cause and making him redundant were massive failures. They need him for his genetic database and they'd prefer to not have him as an enemy, but he was given too much rope.

Sinister's proposal is The Hellions - the problem children of Krakoa sent on missions that reward their antisocial violence. After Greycrow executes Empath for messing with their heads, Havok argues he shouldn't be here. Kwannon disagrees and flags Alex's 'demons' - despite him coping okay with being at ground zero of Summers brother trauma. His 'demons' disagree too.

In a scenario practically designed to destabilise Alex, Maddie Pryor is there effectively utilising girl power. It's hard to tell how much of a factor magic is here but Alex slips into the role of Goblin Prince quickly. Maddie is pissed off - at Krakoa, at Scott, at Jean, at Sinister most of all. Angry at being used and discarded while her tormentor is rewarded, angry that they made a mutant nation for everyone except her. She plans to take Alex's head and throw it at their feet before overrunning Krakoa with an army of demons and cloned Marauders. Sadly, she gets shot, again.

Alex takes her words to heart and advocates for her resurrection. It's not the only reason, but the point is moot because the council votes no. Scott tried as well, though we only have his word to go off. I like to think he would, but he's not very supportive of Alex here. It's a far cry from his willingness to fight the council on his behalf. I guess a soldier will find violence easier than emotional labour. Honestly, it's difficult to tell where Scott is at here. He's incredibly family oriented in other books, but the good times are always easier than the bad times. This tracks with my experience of needing support from people and not getting it.

A good while later, Mastermind traps the Hellions in illusions of their deepest fantasies and desires. Alex's is ... interesting. Fantasy Maddie is nothing like RL Maddie, but she wants him and only him. That he's about to fuck a robot is grimly humorous and a little sad.

That illusion doesn't last, as it was only there to be yanked away and inverted. I'm skeptical that Alex would find this unpleasant, but it says something that fantasy Maddie is pliable and easygoing. 'Nightmare' Maddie has all the power and is an explicit callback to Inferno.

The illusion starts to break down which Alex interprets as Maddie punishing him by leaving. He practically shouts his insecurities and anxieties at Kwannon and Greycrow. They're not judging him, but he's not fooling anyone. Alex isn't scared of being alone and has no thoughts about being a budget Scott Summers. Totally.

Alex still thinks he doesn't belong in the Hellions, and he's right. Nobody does. However, he's ashamed to be associated with them in public. After all they've been through it's a dick move. Orphan Maker and Greycrow are definitely talking about themselves, but their comments fit Alex pretty well too.

This last one isn't really on theme - I just think it's hilarious. She did indeed eat his hands and him apologising for it is perfect.

I didn't really plan to explore Scott and Alex's relationship here, I just started off with Havok scans I found interesting. As I was thinking of a title, some theme that links these moments, it occurred to me that their relationship gets a lot of focus on Krakoa. It's spread out over half a dozen books or so, but that's for part two. They definitely have issues though - oh yes, and being around Sinister doesn't help.

[faaun]

idk how to live so im going to talk to myself out loud until i do

[mbat]

honestly on top of the several other reasons why mlp g5 failed, and i could definitely talk about those if i wanted cause i have a few ideas, i think a big one is them trying to put a story between several different places and mediums

like. they had 2 different shows. and you needed to watch both to get the whole story. but also you needed to read the comics too? like. one of the biggest questions about g5, which was how equestria even got that way, was answered in the comics and not the show. hello? wild.

like. most people either wont know or wont care about these things even being in this other stuff and no one wants to have to juggle between things just to get the whole story. not to mention how comics are, ime, less easy to get and not everyone wants to spend the money to even buy comics for things

and idk i find it irritating

extra material is just that, its extra material. its stuff people should watch if they want more of the characters and world, it shouldnt be required to understanding stuff that happens in the main material!

like, ive seen sonic fans complain about how they wanted the knuckles show to be way more lore relevant and full of the sonic characters, but it was about a character that isnt even really relevant to the films, and it only sorta had one of the sonic characters. and me? i fucking loved it. and im GLAD that it wasnt a required watch for the movies. i did not want to have to sit down and watch a show inbetween 2 movies just to understand what happens. that sounds like a pain in the ass.

[tardis--dreams]

I may have hit an all time low mental health wise but I'm being so chill about it

[danieyells]

Originally I considered that but Yuri would never give someone else somebody's medicine or give them medicine they didn't need(and I can't see him experimenting on someone in such a difficult to monitor way) and Leo said he got it from "some NPC in Mortkranken" which suggests it was a gen student--Leo is knowledgeable enough that he probably knows the ghouls by now, especially since he was investigating who transferred in and out of certain houses. Plus Leo's use of "a Frostheim nepo baby" suggests it isn't Jin--because he'd say 'King Kamurai' or something if he meant Jin right? It's not like he's the type to mince words. :|a

On the other hand the fact that medication for psychosomatic disorder--something Jin's mother allegedly had--came up makes me wonder if those pills really weren't for Tohma but for Jin. But surely he'd know if he were on medication--unless Tohma snuck it into his tea or something. (Alprazolam can be used like roofies and put in someone's drink, so this is kinda plausible.) (but also the pills Tohma took and Leo had look the same so it's hard to say. He could be taking the same meds he drugs Jin with to help him when he doesn't wanna take meds from Mortkranken.)

But like it does definitely add up to that being a possibility. If Yuri did something to Jin and Tohma covered it up it would make sense as to why the Frostheimers in the very beginning said Tohma is rumored to have helped him transfer to Mortkranken and why Leo says Tohma blackmailed someone for the meds.

However Yumiko also apparently had something to do with the Masterpiece Newscast about Jin's mother--so it's possible she heard as much from the spy who's trying to make everyone distrust each other anyway. It's possible Tohma had little to nothing to do with it(although it makes sense that Tohma would have to help Yuri transfer because you can't change houses before your second year and he transferred in his first given Tohma transferred around the Clash but after Yuri left.)

"An examination of the pathology of psychiatric and sleeping disorders caused by demonic pacts" is a paper Yuri wrote and did not submit to the journal committee.

Who claims he was sold out and betrayed by a close friend?

Who has a demonic pact and a sleeping disorder and a relative who allegedly had a psychosomatic disorder?

Jin.

While I'm not sure about the timeline it sounds to me like Jiro woke from Eternal Slumber Syndrome/his coma before Yuri transferred to Mortkranken. Yuri decided not to publish the paper sometime after this(perhaps because of something he learned while treating Jiro's ESS?)--but someone(most likely the spy, who "created rifts between the ghouls [...] so clean[ly], it was almost like it was planned") published Yuri's paper without his knowledge anyway, releasing information of Jin's that was private. Word got back to Jin. Jin lashed out at Yuri in some way, believing he betrayed him. Yuri left, thinking Jin betrayed him. Yuri never learned that his paper was published until recently and thus was unable to clear the air with Jin--or Jin didn't believe him when he claimed he leaked his medical information.

(alternatively something else happened and Yuri leaving Frostheim fueled his decision to not publish the paper. But Jin feeling that he was sold out by Yuri suggests to me the paper containing information about psychological and sleeping disorders in pactmakers when Yuri was so close to Jin--who has all three--may be at play here.)

This could also explain Tohma lurking around Mortkranken so late at night and reporting back to Jin--Jin doesn't trust Yuri so as they do more investigation of the spy situation Yuri also needs to be investigated.

[hallows-personal-hell]

it's always always "im here for you if you need help!" until you really fucking need it and suddenly you're a problem.

[rosiereveries]

Part two of the secret Santa with CEO!JohnPrice drabble that I wrote Part one CW: smut, rough sex, unprotected sex, doggy style, little power imbalance, reader is a female

You carefully knock on his office door hoping that he has already left. The whole secret Santa was a stupid idea that your colleagues came up with, and everyone got mediocre gifts except you. Your boss John Price bought you some expensive perfume, you didn’t even know the brand, but you could tell that it cost a fortune, and a pearl necklace that was beautiful. You know that keeping these gifts is not right, he must have bought them for someone else and he had to accidentally change the presents. You were sure he had some socks and coffee mug prepared for you.

Even though you could see how satisfied he was when you open your gift. And the fact that he called you his good girl in front the whole office made your stomach turn. It’s been so long since someone made you blush that much. That is why you went to his office in the first place, to make sure you return the gift.

When you hear quiet “come in” you know that you must face him. You slowly open the door and find him sitting behind his table with a surprised face. He didn’t expect you to come. “Something wrong with your present doll?” he asks, and you start to explain that you can’t keep the gift, that you are sure it was not meant for you. He simply asks if you had a chance to try on the necklace. You shake your head no and he walks behind you taking the necklace from your shaking hands.

It’s been a while since someone touched you so gently and there is something so intimate about the way he gathers your hair and pushes them away, so he has unlimited access to your neck. You can feel his breath next to your ear and you realize he stands too close to you. He turns both of you, so you stand next to the mirror he has in his office, and you see the hunger in his eyes.

One second, he is looking at you and the next he is lightly kissing your neck. “Tell me to stop now or I won’t” he says, and you just nod for approval. “Words honey, I need you to tell me that you want this as much as I.”

“Please Mr. Price” you whimper. That is all he needs to hear. John’s hands are everywhere. He pulls the top of your dress lower so he can touch you breasts while he starts to rub his hard dick in your ass. He sucks at your neck, and you know that you will have hickeys, and you will have to wear a turtleneck tomorrow.

When he is done with your neck, he turns your head, and he kisses you. It is wild, his tongue is immediately in your mouth, and he doesn’t let you have breaks for breaths. John pulls your skirt up pushing his hand in your stockings and he touches you through your panties.

“You’re so wet for me darling, and I barely even touch you” You can hear the ripping of your stockings and suddenly he pushes you onto his desk pushing your legs apart so he can have access to your pussy. He pulls your panties to your knees, and you blush when you remember what pair you put on in the morning. A pink cotton panties with a little bow, you didn’t expect anyone to see them tonight.

“So pretty and just for me,” he says, and you can feel his breath at your clit, “but unfortunately I don’t have time to eat you out, but don’t worry we will make time the next time you see me.” By this point you are needy mess who just want him to fuck you.

You can hear him unzipping his pants and then you finally feel his dick at your opening. He starts to push in slowly, groaning and moaning into your ear. He is thick and long, and you feel so full. You didn’t have a partner for some time now and he fills you up so nicely.

“You’re doing great love, just keep taking me in” he says and when he finally pushes his whole dick inside you, you feel so full. It is so overwhelming and he’s not even moving yet. He sets up a harsh and rough tempo fucking into you with his hips and the whole desk starts to shake.

John is practically laying on you, he has you pinned on the desk, and you can feel his full weight on yourself. “Fuck I am going to cum, be a good girl and let me come inside” You don’t even know if you could tell him no, you are so close chasing your own release.

When his fingers lightly rub your clit, you break. It is one of the most powerful orgasms you have had. You can feel him cumming inside of your pussy and you’re grateful that you are on the pill.

After some time when he just lays on you, he gently pulls out of you and helps you to clean. “Such a good girl for me isn’t you” John makes sure that you look decent before he walks out of the office with you. He helps you to his car and drives your home. He walks you to your door and says, “Just don’t tell HR and we can keep up with the fun.”

The next morning when you walk to your desk you find a small package there. When you open it there are earrings, matching pair to the necklace you got yesterday. There is also a note that says: Be a good girl and come up to my office during my lunch break.

Part three Masterlist

[hxney-lemcn]

Mine, Only Mine — Mr. Crawling, Gap, Silvair, Chopped, Hugeface, and Scarletella x gn! reader

summery: how jealous do some of the Homicipher boys get?

tw: unhealthy relationships (Mr. Hugeface & Scarletella)

wc: 1.2k

Master List

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Mr. Crawling

❥I know people have written about how he gets jealous…but I don’t really think he does? Or at least not terribly. The scene with Mr. Chopped and the cat ears show that Mr. Crawling won’t pout or get sad at you showing affection to others, just that he wants to gain the same attention (the ear scene…). So jealousy with Mr. Crawling isn’t too bad, just be prepared to shower him with more affection than the person you originally did. 

❥On the other hand, I do think his jealousy may increase if you ignore him. Say you give more attention to Mr. Scarletella, Mr. Crawling would get a bit sad and pouty, thinking you don’t like him anymore. If this happens, give him lots and lots of attention and reassurance, he’ll be super grateful. I mean he loves your affection anyways, so might as well give him some extra headpats and kisses. Even better if you only show certain signs of affection with him, it makes him feel special. 

❥Overall, not the most jealous, but not completely unaffected either. Make sure he gets his daily dose of attention/quality time and he’ll be as right as rain.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Mr. Gap

❥Uh, he gets more jealous than you’d think. Like…his whole thing is he wants to be special to you…in his own strange way. Doesn’t like the thought of someone taking his place as a jokester to you. Also why he brings you things he’d think you like from time to time, just to make sure you still have that special place in your heart for him <3

❥Hates hate hates when you call him bad or not good. He’s good! He swears! Remember how he’s helped you before! Gets all frowny when you call him not good and then call someone else good. He’s good too! Guess he has to prove it, AGAIN. It’s honestly kind of endearing how he has no clue how he actually kind of does like you? But not exactly in a romantic way? It’s honestly hard to label his feelings towards you, so why should I?

❥I’d say he’s the second most jealous in this list of characters, watching on angrily as you praise someone that isn’t him. Be prepared for magazines and books galore when he’s in this mood, trying to prove his worth to you. Kind of strange for someone to try so hard when they claim to not like you…

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Mr. Silvair

❥Definitely the chillest one here. Doesn’t really get jealous at all :/ If anything, he finds it entertaining when you’re affectionate with others. Gives him more insight to his lab rats. Yes, he sees everyone as a lab rat. Idk, I can’t really see him get jealous.

❥Maybe…MAYBE if someone else tries doing research on you, or if Ms. Nurse treats you instead he’ll feel a bit off. Like…you’re his test subject, he knows you from the inside out…literally and not in the fun sense. Why would you go to someone who doesn’t know as much about you and how this world affects you? It’s very hard to spot his jealousy, doesn’t even notice it/recognize it himself. He just doesn’t want anyone to mess up his data…that’s all…totally.

❥In conclusion, not really jealous. Doesn’t feel like he needs to be. You’re ‘friends’, doctor and patient, mad scientist and lab rat not many others threaten that balance between you. 

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Mr. Chopped

❥Honestly…Mr. Chopped I’m kinda mixed on how he’d be. Like on one hand, I could totally see him getting jealous if you call others cute or pay too much attention to them. On the other…he could probably care less. He loves himself, you love him, why does he need to get jealous? It’s clear how much you like him with the way you pamper him. I mean we get so many examples where you’re affectionate to Mr. Crawling in front of Mr. Chopped and he doesn’t really bat an eye. 

❥Now, I can see if he gets a bit insecure he might get more jealous. Whether it be because Mr. Crawling pats your head or tucks you into bed, Mr. Chopped feels a bit sad. He’d like to tuck you in, you look so comfy. Might be just a bit pouty, eyeing you like a dissatisfied cat. Easily rectified with head pats or even cuddles. Gets side tracked from his jealousy as soon as you give him a sliver of attention honestly.

❥Mr. Chopped is fifty fifty when it comes to jealousy, but it’s never too bad. He’s pretty comfortable with what you both have and doesn’t really feel threatened by others. After all, you did call him cute.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Mr. Hugeface

❥I wouldn’t say he gets jealous? More possessive than anything. Like that scene when Mr. Machete stumbles into his little makeshift dollhouse that he made for you and gets all angry that he’s there. It’s more of a ‘you’re not supposed to be here, this is our playtime’ more than actual jealousy. Throws a little fit whenever someone messes up your playtime. Very accusatory lmao.

❥Does not like when you try to escape. Was he not providing enough for you? Were you unhappy? You’re not allowed to leave! You’re his cute human! He can’t just find another one y’know. Mr. Hugeface may be lenient if he sees you happier, you need enrichment after all. Feels extra happy if you come back on your own violation. 

❥The most childish out of all the characters on this list. Isn’t afraid to throw tantrums, will also punish you by putting you in a solid concrete cube if he’s really upset. Yeah…not the most healthy of relationships to have…BUT! I do think you could convince him to be a bit better…? Maybe? Only if you put enough work in communicating with him though. Maybe punish him in your own way like leaving for longer if he threatens to trap you.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Mr. Scarletella

❥Uhhhhhhhhhhh. Top of the list when it comes to jealousy. Watches your every move with curiosity and spite. Why are you doing that to Mr. Crawling? Do it to him instead. Why do you look so happy braiding Mr. Chopped’s hair? Style his hair instead. Why are you looking so fondly amused at Mr. Gap? Don’t you find him amusing? You do like him, right? He likes you. He likes you a lot, and he thought he was enough…was he not?

❥Will stare through your skull. It is so intimidating. His smile? Strained, it makes your skin crawl. You have to make sure he doesn’t hurt your friends, he’s so close to snapping, but he knows that would upset you and that’s not his goal. So instead he stands ominously in the background, body staticing in and out while his hand clenches the handle of his umbrella. 

❥Not that easily mended. Likes to monopolize all your time and affection. Needs constant reassurance as well, he’s quite needy. If you like constant validation and no social life go for it, just don’t get too upset if he threatens your other monster friends…he can’t stand that you could like someone that wasn’t him.