#i dont know how we got her to do that it just happened

[hereforuconnwbb]

Unexpected Halt - CHAPTER 3

paige x azzi (pazzi)

au fic!

~paige plays for uconn and azzi plays for stanford~

word count: 6.5k

warning: suggestive

hey yall heres chap 3 ! lemme know what u guys think of this chapter and what else u guys would like to see !!

also a side note i forgot to mention when i first started writing is that i dont write smut 🥴 but would write build ups and all that but yes just wanted to put that out there.

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The past few weeks had been… different.

At first, it had just been the occasional text. A good luck before a game, a did you land okay? after a flight. Normal things. Casual things.

But then the texts got longer. More frequent.

Late-night calls became routine—what started as quick check-ins turned into hours of talking about everything and nothing, voices growing softer as exhaustion crept in, neither one wanting to hang up first.

Paige found herself waiting for Azzi’s name to pop up on her screen, heart jumping just a little every time it did.

Azzi, on the other hand, had completely abandoned the idea of pretending she wasn’t always hoping for Paige’s name to appear in her notifications.

It wasn’t just that they talked. It was how they talked. The way they let each other in, the way they never ran out of things to say. The way silence between them never felt awkward, only comfortable.

And even though they hadn’t seen each other in person since that day, neither of them could deny it—

Something was happening between them.

Something that neither of them had put a name to yet, but neither of them wanted to stop.

—------------

Paige didn’t even bother hiding her grin as she read the message on her phone.

Azzi: sooo technically you never answered my question last night

Paige: hmm? what question?

Azzi: don’t act like you don’t know.

Azzi: do u miss me or not?

Paige bit her lip, pretending to think before typing her response.

Paige: idk tbh… kinda hard to miss someone when u talk to them 24/7

Azzi: paige.

Paige: ok fine maybe just a little

Azzi: just a little? wow.

Paige: ok ok a lot whatever

“Dude. You’re literally the worst at hiding your feelings.”

Paige jumped, locking her phone as KK plopped down beside her on the couch.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Paige said, far too quickly.

KK snorted. “Oh, come on. You’ve been texting her all morning.”

Paige sighed, running a hand over her face. “I hate that you’re observant.”

KK smirked. “So. You gonna finally admit you’re down bad or…?”

Paige shot her a glare, but KK just wiggled her eyebrows.

“…Okay. Maybe I miss her.”

KK gasped dramatically. “Oh my gosh, growth.”

Paige rolled her eyes, but the small smile on her face never left

—------------

Azzi wasn’t trying to stare at her phone.

But when it lit up with another message, she barely heard a word of what Caroline was saying.

Caroline sighed. “You didn’t hear any of that, did you?”

Azzi blinked. “What?”

Caroline just looked at her.

Azzi groaned. “I was listening.”

Caroline tilted her head. “Okay. Then what did I just say?”

Azzi opened her mouth—then shut it when she realized she had no idea.

Caroline smirked. “Exactly.”

Azzi slumped back in her chair. “…Okay, fine. I might’ve been a little distracted.”

Caroline laughed. “Yeah, no kidding. I swear, you and Paige are, like, the sappiest long-distance situationship I’ve ever witnessed.”

Azzi groaned, burying her face in her hands. “Please never say that again.”

Caroline grinned. “Okay, okay. But for real—when are you seeing her again?”

Azzi paused, thumb hovering over her phone.

“…I don’t know,” she admitted.

Caroline raised an eyebrow. “You guys haven’t talked about it?”

Azzi hesitated. “Not really. We kind of just… talk. Every night. About anything and everything.”

Caroline gave her a look. “And yet somehow not about when you’ll see each other next?”

Azzi sighed. “It’s just—” She bit her lip. “I guess I don’t want to rush it.”

Caroline softened. “That makes sense.”

Azzi nodded, glancing at her phone again.

Paige: be honest, how much do u miss me?

Azzi smiled.

Azzi: ...maybe just a little.

Paige: wow crazy i was thinking the same thing

Azzi shook her head, biting back a grin.

Maybe they hadn’t figured out the when yet, but one thing was for sure—

She really couldn’t wait to see her again.

—------------

Azzi hated games like this.

The ones where every mistake clung to her skin, heavy and suffocating. The ones where no matter how hard she tried, it never felt like enough.

She had wanted this win—badly. Maybe that was the worst part. Knowing how much she wanted it and still walking away empty-handed.

The locker room had been quiet. Coach had spoken, but Azzi barely processed the words. Her teammates had tried to lift each other up, but all she could do was sit there, staring at the floor, jaw clenched so tightly it ached.

She showered quickly, letting the water scald her skin, as if that could wash away the frustration bubbling under the surface.

By the time she was back in her sweats, hood pulled over her head, she had one goal: make it to her hotel room without talking to anyone.

She kept her head down through the lobby, barely noticing the scattered groups of players from other teams lingering near the elevators. Her chest tightened at the laughter and easy conversations she caught in passing.

That could’ve been us.

Once she finally reached her room, she shut the door behind her, exhaling slowly. The silence settled around her, thick and unmoving.

She kicked off her slides, sat on the edge of the bed, and—for the first time all night—glanced at her phone.

Her stomach twisted.

17 notifications.

All from Paige.

She hesitated before unlocking the screen.

Paige: damn tough game out there.

Paige: hello?

Missed call from Paige

Paige: yo, you good?

Paige: Az?

Missed call from Paige

Paige: game was rough ik but answer me smh

2 Missed calls from Paige

Paige: lowkey stressing me out here

2 Missed calls from Paige

Paige: just let me know ur alive damn

Missed call from Paige

Paige: AZZI.

Missed call from Paige

Paige: istg if you don’t answer in the next 5 min i’m facetiming you

Azzi swallowed. She hadn’t meant to ignore her. She just… hadn’t wanted to talk to anyone.

But Paige wasn’t just anyone.

Before she could overthink it, she opened their chat.

Azzi: sorry.

Azzi: im alive.

Paige: about damn time

Paige: u okay?

Azzi hesitated. Her thumb hovered over the keyboard. She could brush it off, say she was fine, pretend like this game wasn’t eating her alive.

Instead—

Azzi: not really.

Paige’s reply was instant.

Paige: call me?

Azzi closed her eyes for a second, exhaled, and pressed the button.

Paige picked up after the first ring.

“Hey,” she said, voice softer than before. “There you are.”

Azzi swallowed. “…Yeah.”

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” Paige said. “But I’m here. Just so you know.”

Azzi let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

And finally, finally, she let herself lean into it.

The moment Azzi let herself relax, the exhaustion hit her all at once. She sank back against the headboard, gripping the phone a little tighter.

Paige stayed quiet, giving her time to breathe. The steady sound of her breathing on the other end of the line was grounding, a reminder that she wasn’t alone, no matter how much tonight made her feel like she was.

“I just—” Azzi finally started, then exhaled. “It sucked.”

Paige hummed in understanding. “Yeah.”

Azzi shut her eyes. “I felt off the whole game. Like I was a step behind, no matter what I did.”

“Azzi, you’re one of the hardest-working people I know,” Paige said. “One game isn’t gonna change that.”

Azzi swallowed. The words were comforting, but they didn’t shake the weight in her chest. “I know, but—”

“But it doesn’t feel that way right now,” Paige finished for her.

Azzi exhaled a small laugh, humorless but appreciative. “Yeah.”

There was a beat of silence before Paige spoke again, her voice softer now. “I watched.”

Azzi’s stomach flipped.

Paige had been watching her games for a while now, but something about hearing it out loud made her heart squeeze.

“You did?” she asked, voice quieter than before.

“Of course,” Paige said like it was obvious. “And I saw everything you’re mad at yourself for. The missed shots, the turnovers.” A slight pause. “But I also saw you fight through it. You didn’t quit. You still hit that pull-up late in the fourth, still got that steal when they were pressing. It wasn’t perfect, but you kept going. That’s what matters.”

Azzi’s throat tightened.

She tilted her head back against the pillow, staring at the ceiling, letting Paige’s words settle into the spaces self-doubt had tried to fill.

“I just—” Azzi hesitated, then admitted, “I hate feeling like I let everyone down.”

Paige was quiet for a second, then said, “Okay, I’m gonna say something, and I need you to really hear me.”

Azzi let out a small, tired laugh. “That serious, huh?”

“Yes,” Paige said. “Listen to me. You didn’t let anyone down. One game doesn’t define you. You know that.”

Azzi’s fingers curled into the blanket. She did know that. But sometimes, knowing wasn’t enough.

She heard Paige sigh on the other end. “I get it, though,” she admitted. “The whole feeling like you have to be perfect thing.”

Azzi blinked. “You do?”

Paige let out a soft, humorless laugh. “Uh, yeah. You ever met me?”

That pulled an actual laugh from Azzi, small but real. “Fair point.”

“Look,” Paige continued, “I could sit here all night and tell you how amazing you are, but I know that’s not gonna make this feeling go away. So, instead, I’m gonna ask: what do you need right now?”

Azzi hesitated.

What did she need?

She wasn’t sure. The loss still stung, but the tightness in her chest had loosened just a little.

She wasn’t okay yet, but she didn’t feel like she was drowning anymore.

“…Can we just stay on the phone?” Azzi finally asked.

Paige smiled through the line. “Yeah, Az. We can do that.”

Azzi exhaled, finally letting the tension drain from her shoulders.

She curled into her pillow, closing her eyes as Paige started talking about something random—probably trying to distract her.

And as the night stretched on, Azzi let herself get lost in the sound of her voice.

She shifted onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. The exhaustion was still there, but sleep wouldn’t come. Not yet.

Paige was still on the other end of the call, her breathing steady, unhurried. It was comforting, the way she stayed—even when Azzi didn’t know what to say, even when she felt like nothing could pull her out of the mess in her own head.

“You still with me?” Paige asked after a beat, voice softer now.

Azzi nodded before realizing Paige couldn’t see her. “Yeah.”

A pause. “Wanna FaceTime?” Paige’s voice was casual, but there was something underneath it—like she wasn’t sure if Azzi would say yes.

Azzi hesitated. The thought of Paige seeing her like this, all quiet and worn down, made her stomach twist. But at the same time, there was a part of her that wanted it.

Wanted to see her.

“…Yeah,” she said finally.

Paige didn’t hesitate. Seconds later, Azzi’s phone buzzed with an incoming FaceTime call. She inhaled once before accepting.

And then there she was.

Paige was lying on her side, her head resting against her arm, hair a little messy from running her hand through it too many times. Her expression softened the second their eyes met through the screen.

“Hey,” Paige murmured.

Azzi swallowed. “Hey.”

Neither of them spoke for a second. The silence wasn’t awkward, just… charged.

Paige’s gaze flickered over Azzi’s face, like she was searching for something. “You okay?”

Azzi let out a quiet breath. “I will be.”

Paige smiled, just a little. “That’s all I need to hear.”

Another beat of silence.

Then Paige shifted, propping herself up on her elbow. “So,” she said, a teasing edge creeping into her tone. “How many edits of me have you watched tonight?”

Azzi groaned, dragging a hand down her face. “I knew you were gonna bring that up.”

Paige grinned. “I had to. It’s my favorite thing about you.”

Azzi narrowed her eyes. “Your favorite thing?”

“Yup.” Paige’s expression was entirely too smug. “You, Azzi Fudd, secretly watching thirst edits of me.”

Azzi groaned again, rolling onto her side. “I regret ever telling you that.”

“No you don’t.” Paige’s voice was warm, teasing, but then it softened just slightly. “But seriously… I’m glad you told me. I like knowing the little things about you.”

Azzi felt her heart skip.

Paige’s gaze held hers, the teasing edge fading into something gentler. More sincere.

Azzi swallowed, suddenly feeling too warm. “You’re ridiculous.”

Paige grinned. “And yet, you love talking to me.”

Azzi sighed, rolling onto her back again. “Unfortunately.”

Paige let out a soft laugh. “Wanna know something?”

Azzi turned her head slightly. “What?”

“I was gonna text you tonight even if you hadn’t answered.” Paige exhaled through her nose. “Just… to check in.”

Azzi’s chest tightened.

She didn’t respond right away, just let the warmth of that truth settle in her ribs.

“Paige?” she murmured after a moment.

Paige hummed in question.

“…Thanks for staying up with me.”

Paige’s lips curled into something softer, smaller. “Always.”

Azzi pressed her lips together, glancing away for a second before meeting Paige’s gaze again.

It was quiet for a while after that. Neither of them spoke, but neither of them hung up, either.

And even though Azzi had felt lost just an hour ago, she wasn’t anymore.

Because Paige was still here.

Azzi shifted on her bed, adjusting the angle of her phone as she settled onto her side. Paige was still on the other end of the FaceTime call, lying on her stomach now, chin propped up on her forearm.

The glow from her screen made her eyes look softer, warmer. It was the kind of thing Azzi shouldn’t be noticing—but she did anyway.

Paige was watching her.

She always did.

“You’re staring,” Azzi murmured, voice quieter than she intended.

Paige didn’t even try to deny it. “Maybe.”

Azzi felt her pulse pick up.

The silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t empty. It lingered, like something unspoken was sitting between them, waiting to tip over.

Paige was still watching her, her gaze slow and unhurried as it traced over Azzi’s face.

Azzi swallowed. “What?”

Paige’s lips twitched, like she was debating saying something. “You look cute.”

Azzi blinked, caught completely off guard.

“I—” Her brain short-circuited for a second, her fingers tightening around her phone. “Paige.”

Paige grinned at her reaction. “What?”

Azzi narrowed her eyes. “You’re messing with me.”

“I’m not,” Paige defended, but her voice had that teasing lilt that made Azzi suspect otherwise.

Still.

There was something in her eyes, something that made Azzi’s stomach flip—like maybe she wasn’t just teasing. Like maybe she meant it.

Azzi exhaled through her nose, trying to ignore the warmth creeping up her neck. “You’re impossible.”

Paige smirked. “And yet, you keep answering my calls.”

Azzi rolled her eyes, but she didn’t deny it.

She couldn’t.

Not when Paige was looking at her like that.

Another pause.

Then Paige shifted again, adjusting the phone so she was lying on her back, looking up at the ceiling before turning back to Azzi.

“I wish I was there,” she murmured.

Azzi’s breath caught.

She didn’t know why that sentence hit different than all the other things Paige had said tonight. Maybe it was the way her voice had dropped slightly, or the way she meant it.

“…Yeah?” Azzi found herself asking.

Paige hummed. “Yeah.”

Azzi’s fingers curled into her sheets.

She wasn’t sure what to say to that.

Because part of her wished the same thing.

She had spent the whole night feeling frustrated, disappointed, like nothing could pull her out of it. And yet here she was, feeling okay just because Paige was on the other side of the screen.

Azzi pressed her lips together, her pulse a little too loud in her ears.

Paige watched her, waiting, like she was giving her the space to say something.

Azzi hesitated—then took a breath.

“…I wish you were, too.”

The shift was slow—so slow it was almost unnoticeable.

But then Paige stretched, arms reaching above her head, hoodie riding up just enough to expose the toned lines of her stomach.

Azzi froze.

Her fingers tightened around her phone as her gaze betrayed her, flickering down for just a second too long before she forced herself to look away.

Paige smirked. She saw that.

“You okay over there?” Paige teased, her voice laced with amusement.

Azzi swallowed hard, shifting against her pillows. “Yeah. Fine.”

Paige hummed, rolling onto her side now, head propped up on her hand. Her hoodie was still askew, still exposing just enough to be distracting.

“You sure?” Paige pressed, lips twitching.

Azzi exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down her face. “I hate you.”

Paige chuckled, fingers toying absently with the hem of her hoodie. “No, you don’t.”

Azzi refused to look at her, because if she did, she knew Paige’s gaze would already be locked onto hers, teasing, taunting—daring her to admit exactly what she was thinking.

She should end the call.

She should.

But Paige was still watching her, waiting, her smirk fading into something deeper, something more dangerous.

Azzi’s pulse skipped.

“Tell me what’s on your mind,” Paige murmured, her voice lower now.

Azzi wet her lips, hesitating.

She shouldn’t.

She couldn’t.

“…I don’t think you wanna know.”

Paige’s eyes flickered. The challenge was clear.

She shifted again, stretching just slightly, her hoodie inching up even more before she finally let it settle back down.

Azzi clenched her jaw, dragging her gaze away.

Paige definitely noticed. Her smirk deepened.

“Try me.”

Azzi exhaled, closing her eyes for a second. She could still see Paige behind her eyelids, still picture the way she was lying there, teasing, tempting, waiting.

“…You’re doing this on purpose,” Azzi muttered.

Paige raised an eyebrow. “Doing what?”

Azzi inhaled sharply. “You know what.”

Paige’s fingers trailed lazily along her exposed skin before she let her hoodie fall back into place.

Azzi felt hot.

Paige’s voice dropped an octave. “…Maybe.”

The word sent something sharp and electric straight down Azzi’s spine.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Paige exhaled, rolling onto her back again, her fingers tapping idly against her stomach. “You should go to bed.”

Azzi almost laughed. “You’re the one keeping me up.”

Paige grinned. “I tend to have that effect.”

Azzi shook her head, but her stomach was still tight, her pulse still racing.

Neither of them hung up.

Neither of them wanted to.

And maybe that was the real problem.

The silence between them wasn’t empty. It was thick—charged, almost dangerous.

Azzi shifted against her pillows, gripping her phone a little tighter. She was trying to focus on anything else, but Paige wasn’t making it easy.

Not when she was lying there like that, fingers still resting against the exposed skin on her stomach, like she knew exactly what she was doing.

Like she was waiting for Azzi to break.

Paige sighed dramatically, stretching again, her hoodie riding up even higher this time. The defined lines of her stomach flexed for just a moment before the fabric settled back down.

Azzi swallowed hard.

Paige definitely noticed.

The corner of her lips curled. “Something wrong?”

Azzi’s jaw tensed. “You’re so annoying.”

Paige smirked, rolling onto her side again, head propped up on her palm. “Am I?”

Azzi inhaled sharply, willing herself to look anywhere else. “Yes.”

Paige’s voice dropped just slightly. “Then why haven’t you hung up?”

Azzi’s pulse stuttered.

She couldn’t answer that.

Paige’s smirk deepened, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the hem of her hoodie. “That’s what I thought.”

Azzi exhaled, shaking her head. “You love hearing yourself talk, don’t you?”

Paige hummed, stretching again just for the hell of it. “Not as much as I love getting you flustered.”

Azzi knew she should end the call.

She should.

But her fingers stayed still.

And Paige kept pushing.

“Bet you’re all warm right now,” Paige mused, eyes flickering over Azzi’s face. “All worked up over nothing.”

Azzi’s stomach tightened. “Shut up.”

Paige grinned. “Make me.”

Azzi clenched her jaw.

Paige’s fingers traced absently over her stomach again. “Didn’t think so.”

Azzi inhaled through her nose. “You really need to go to sleep.”

Paige exhaled dramatically. “You really need to stop pretending you don’t like this.”

Azzi froze.

Paige saw it.

Her smirk softened, but her eyes? Darker now.

“…Tell me I’m wrong.”

Azzi couldn’t.

Her throat went dry, her entire body way too hot under the weight of Paige’s stare.

The silence stretched, thick with something neither of them wanted to name.

Then Paige exhaled, softer this time.

“…Once again, I wish I was there.”

Azzi’s fingers curled against her sheets.

She hesitated.

She shouldn’t say it.

She really shouldn’t.

But her voice betrayed her anyway.

“…Same P.”

Azzi wasn’t sure who was breathing harder, her or Paige, but she felt the shift, felt the weight of Paige’s words settling over her skin.

"Once again, I wish I was there."

Her fingers curled into her sheets, her heart thudding in her chest.

She shouldn’t have said it.

She shouldn’t have admitted she wanted Paige there too.

But she had.

And now there was no taking it back.

Paige’s eyes flickered through the screen, searching, waiting, her fingers still resting just under the hem of her hoodie, teasing—taunting.

Azzi swallowed hard.

“You’re quiet,” Paige murmured, her voice lower now, softer, but no less dangerous.

Azzi wet her lips. “So are you.”

Paige smirked, shifting onto her back again, the motion making her hoodie ride up just a little more, exposing another inch of skin.

Azzi felt the heat creep up her neck.

Paige noticed.

“Bet you’d be touching me if I was there,” Paige mused, her voice dripping with amusement.

Azzi’s stomach tightened.

Paige’s smirk deepened. “Wouldn’t you?”

Azzi exhaled, dragging a hand down her face. “You’re so full of yourself.”

Paige only grinned, fingers tracing along her own stomach in slow, lazy patterns. “You didn’t say no.”

Azzi squeezed her eyes shut for a second, her body too warm, her thoughts too loud.

This was dangerous.

Paige was dangerous.

And the worst part?

Azzi liked it.

“Why are you even like this?” Azzi muttered, voice barely above a whisper.

Paige chuckled, her smirk softening just slightly. “Only with you.”

Azzi swore she felt that deep in her chest.

Her breath hitched.

Paige saw. The teasing faded—just a little.

Because this wasn’t just a game.

This was something else.

Something more.

Paige inhaled, slow, deliberate. “…Wish I could see you right now.”

Azzi’s fingers twitched against her blanket. “You are seeing me.”

Paige shook her head, her smirk turning into something softer. “Not like that.”

Azzi’s pulse skipped.

Paige didn’t elaborate.

She didn’t have to.

Because Azzi knew.

And suddenly, the space between them—the distance—felt unbearable.

Paige’s fingers were still absently tracing over the hem of her hoodie, her voice dropping just enough to make Azzi’s stomach flip.

“If I was there…” she started, voice slow, deliberate, watching Azzi carefully. “I wouldn’t just be looking at you through a screen.”

Azzi’s breath hitched.

Paige noticed.

“I’d be right next to you,” Paige continued, stretching lazily before shifting onto her side again, head propped up on her hand. “Close enough to touch.”

Azzi’s fingers curled even tighter against her blanket.

Paige’s smirk deepened. “Close enough to hear every little breath you take.”

Azzi swore her whole body tensed.

Paige’s voice softened, but the weight of it still pressed down on her. “I’d be able to feel how warm you get when I’m near.”

Azzi’s stomach tightened.

Paige let the silence stretch, eyes flickering over Azzi’s face like she was committing everything to memory.

Then, barely above a whisper—

“I’d have you right where I want you.”

Azzi inhaled sharply, her heart hammering in her chest.

Paige saw the way her lips parted, saw the way her fingers gripped at her blanket, and God, she loved it.

“What’s wrong?” Paige murmured, feigning innocence. “Cat got your tongue?”

Azzi clenched her jaw. “You’re—”

Paige raised a brow. “I’m what?”

Azzi exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through her hair. “You know what.”

Paige grinned, shifting again, her hoodie riding up even more. “Say it.”

Azzi glared.

Paige’s voice dropped even lower. “Or do I have to come there and make you?”

Azzi’s breath hitched.

And Paige?

Paige was thriving.

“Bet you’d let me,” Paige mused, dragging a lazy finger along her exposed stomach. “Bet you’d want me to.”

Azzi squeezed her eyes shut for a second, way too aware of how warm her face felt, how warm her whole body felt.

Paige chuckled. “You’re not saying no.”

Azzi’s voice barely worked. “Paige.”

Paige smirked, loving the way her name sounded like that—desperate, pleading, like Azzi was barely holding it together.

“Yeah, baby?” she whispered.

Azzi’s breath caught.

And Paige knew she had her.

Azzi’s pulse was pounding, but if Paige thought she could keep all the control, she had another thing coming.

Azzi inhaled slowly, steadying herself before tilting her head, her eyes trailing down Paige’s sprawled-out frame. The hoodie bunched up, teasing a strip of toned stomach. The way she lounged there, completely unbothered, so damn confident.

Fine. Two could play this game.

Azzi let her voice drop, smooth and sultry. Intentional. “You talk a lot, Bueckers.” Her fingers skimmed along the thin strap of her tank top, dragging slowly. “But I don’t think you could actually handle me.”

Paige froze.

For the first time since this whole thing started, Azzi saw her fluster. It was subtle—the slight hitch in her breath, the way her fingers twitched against her stomach.

Azzi smirked. “What’s wrong?” She leaned in slightly, letting the strap slip just a little off her shoulder. “Cat got your tongue?”

Paige’s jaw clenched, her pupils blown.

Then she exhaled, slow and measured. “Azzi.”

It wasn’t a plea.

It was a warning.

Azzi only smiled, eyes dark. “Yes, baby?”

Paige swore. Low. Under her breath.

Then she moved, shifting up onto her elbow, hoodie slipping back down like she was finally regaining control.

Azzi wasn’t done.

She dragged a finger absently over her collarbone, tracing patterns along her skin, watching as Paige’s eyes followed the movement—hungry, locked in. “What’s the matter?” she mused, voice dripping with amusement. “Didn’t think I had it in me?”

Paige let out a quiet laugh, but it was strained, the sound tight.

Azzi loved it.

“You,” Paige exhaled, shaking her head. “Are so damn dangerous.”

Azzi licked her lips, leaning back. “You like it.”

Paige dragged a hand down her face, inhaling sharply. “I should not be watching you do that right now.”

Azzi arched a brow, her smirk widening. “Oh? And what should you be doing, then?”

Paige’s eyes flickered over her face, her lips, lower.

Then, barely above a whisper—

“Getting on a flight to come see you.”

Azzi’s breath hitched.

Paige saw it.

And just like that, the heat between them boiled over.

Azzi leaned back against her pillows, letting the strap of her tank top slide further down her shoulder, the fabric barely hanging on. She knew exactly what she was doing.

Her fingers played with the hem, teasing, dragging it up just slightly, revealing more of her toned stomach before letting it fall again. Paige’s eyes followed every movement, dark and hungry.

Azzi smirked. Easy.

“You’re quiet, Bueckers.” Her voice was smooth, slow—intentional. She let her fingers trail over her collarbone, brushing against the delicate skin like she wasn’t aware of the effect it had.Paige exhaled sharply, shifting where she lay, her hoodie now feeling way too hot for her own good.

“You think you’re funny,” Paige muttered, her voice slightly strained.

Azzi tilted her head, her smirk deepening. “I think you like watching.”

Paige’s jaw clenched, her fingers gripping the edge of her hoodie like she was physically stopping herself from doing something.

Azzi bit her lip. Oh, this was fun.

She exhaled, stretching her arms above her head, letting her tank top rise just enough to expose more of her stomach, the muscles there flexing slightly with the motion.

Paige swore under her breath.

Azzi hummed in satisfaction. “Something wrong?” she mused, her voice laced with amusement.

Paige dragged a hand down her face, inhaling deeply. “You’re a menace,” she muttered.

Azzi laughed softly, dragging her fingers down her own stomach, barely skimming the skin before settling just above the waistband of her shorts. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Paige’s eyes darkened.

“You’re lucky I’m not there right now,” she murmured, voice dropping low, controlled—dangerous.

Azzi’s stomach tightened.

She swallowed, but refused to let Paige win so easily. “Oh?” She dragged the strap of her tank top down further, her bare shoulder now fully exposed. “And what would you do if you were?”

Paige didn’t answer at first.

She stared.

Long, intense, like she was imagining it. Like she was holding herself back.

Then she exhaled, voice gravelly, thick with something heavier.

“I’d make you regret teasing me like this.”

Azzi’s breath hitched.

Paige saw it.

And that smirk—dangerous, cocky—spread across her lips.

Azzi was in trouble.

Her fingers stilled against her stomach, her breath catching at the heat in Paige’s voice. She swallowed, shifting slightly against the pillows, suddenly very aware of how much Paige was watching her.

But she wasn’t about to back down.

Her lips curled into something playful, challenging. “Oh yeah?” she murmured, voice just above a whisper, letting her fingers drift just a little lower, teasing the waistband of her shorts. “How, exactly?”

Paige exhaled sharply, jaw tightening.

Azzi smirked, tilting her head, running a slow hand up her exposed shoulder, tracing her own skin lightly—almost like she was imagining Paige’s hands instead.

“I mean,” she continued, dragging out her words, “I’m just lying here, all alone…” She let the sentence linger, her smirk growing as Paige shifted on her bed, visibly tense. “And you’re all the way over there.” She sighed dramatically. “Seems like a waste.”

Paige sat up a little, leaning toward the camera now, her gaze locked onto Azzi’s every move.

“You’re pushing it, Fudd,” Paige muttered, voice thick, dark.

Azzi loved this. She ran a hand through her hair, letting it fall slightly messier over her shoulder. “Oh, I know,” she whispered, fingers playing with the strap of her top again.

Paige groaned, rubbing a hand down her face like she was physically restraining herself. “You really wanna know what I’d do?” she muttered, voice edged with something dangerous.

Azzi swallowed, pulse pounding.

She nodded slowly.

Paige’s smirk returned—deadly.

“I’d start by pulling that little top right off of you,” Paige murmured, her voice low, controlled. “Since you clearly don’t know what to do with it.”

Azzi’s breath hitched.

Her fingers twitched at the hem of her shirt, a warmth spreading through her body she couldn’t ignore.

Paige saw it.

She grinned.

“Then,” Paige continued, “I’d pin you to that bed and make you pay for teasing me all night.”

Azzi’s stomach tightened, heat pooling low. She shifted against the pillows, her breathing suddenly uneven.

Paige laughed, slow and knowing.

“Oh, now you’re quiet?” Paige teased, voice dripping with amusement. “Where’d all that confidence go?”

Azzi glared, but it had no heat.

Paige chuckled again, watching her, taking in every little reaction, thriving off it. “I’d have you under me in seconds, Fudd,” she murmured, eyes hooded. “And you know it.”

Azzi let out a shaky breath, pulse hammering against her ribs.

She hated that Paige was winning.

So she took a breath, composed herself, and flipped the script.

She dragged a slow finger down her own stomach, teasing just beneath the waistband of her shorts. “That’s cute, Bueckers,” she purred, voice smooth, playful. “But I think you’re the one struggling here.”

Paige went silent.

Azzi smirked, victorious.

Then Paige leaned in, eyes dark, voice dropping into something that sent a shiver down Azzi’s spine.

“Don’t start something you can’t finish.”

Azzi’s breath caught, her teasing smirk faltering for just a second.

Paige’s lips curled.

Azzi’s breath was uneven, her fingers still lightly brushing over her stomach as Paige’s words settled in the air between them. The tension was thick, suffocating, stretching between them like an invisible pull that neither of them wanted to break.

Paige’s gaze was locked onto her, eyes dark and filled with something that made Azzi’s stomach twist. She wasn’t just playing around anymore—there was something real in the way she was looking at her, like she was imagining everything she wanted to do if she were there.

Azzi swallowed, forcing herself to keep control. She shifted slightly, letting her tank top slip further down her shoulder, just enough to tease, just enough to make Paige’s eyes flicker downward before dragging back up.

Paige exhaled slowly. Controlled. Barely.

“You’re dangerous,” Paige muttered, voice rough, thick.

Azzi smirked, her fingers ghosting over the strap of her top again. “You like it.”

Paige laughed, but it wasn’t light—it was dark, amused, edged with something that sent a spark straight through Azzi’s body.

“I do,” Paige admitted, leaning forward slightly. “A little too much.”

Azzi’s stomach tightened.

She shifted again, fingers lightly toying with the fabric of her shorts. “So, what are you gonna do about it?” she murmured, voice smooth, teasing.

Paige stilled.

Azzi swore she saw something flicker in her expression, something like restraint breaking, like she was right there, one second away from saying something that would completely wreck her.

And then—

BANG BANG BANG!

Azzi flinched, her entire body tensing as a loud knock slammed against her door.

“Azzi, are you awake?”

Caroline.

Azzi’s eyes widened.

She scrambled upright, yanking her tank top strap back onto her shoulder as if Caroline could somehow see her through the door.

Paige burst out laughing.

Azzi glared at the screen. “Shut up,” she hissed, her face burning.

Paige was grinning, smug, clearly thriving off the fact that Azzi had been just as affected. “Go on, Fudd,” she teased, voice still thick with amusement. “Your girl’s waiting.”

Azzi rolled her eyes, groaning under her breath before clearing her throat. “Yeah, I’m up,” she called toward the door, trying to sound normal.

“Oh alright,” Caroline replied. “We have an early lift in the morning, don’t stay up too late.”

Azzi clenched her jaw, nodding even though Caroline couldn’t see her. “Got it.”

Paige smirked through the screen. “Guess that’s my cue,” she murmured, voice still carrying a teasing lilt.

Azzi exhaled, shaking her head. “You’re so annoying.”

Paige just grinned. “You love it.”

Azzi didn’t respond.

Because she did.

Azzi sighed, running a hand down her face as she waited, listening for Caroline’s footsteps to fade away.

Paige, of course, was thriving off the whole situation, still smirking like she’d just won some unspoken battle. “Damn, Fudd,” she teased, tilting her head. “You looked real guilty just now.”

Azzi glared, though the heat in her cheeks refused to fade. “Because you were saying things you shouldn’t be saying,” she shot back, voice still a little breathless.

Paige leaned in slightly, her voice dropping again, teasing, but still carrying that edge that made Azzi shiver. “I wasn’t saying anything untrue, though.”

Azzi hated how fast her stomach flipped.

She rolled her eyes instead, trying to ignore the way her entire body still felt warm, charged from everything that had just happened.

“Anyway,” Azzi muttered, shifting under the covers and finally trying to relax, “I should sleep before someone else ruins my life.”

Paige chuckled, softer this time. “Fine, fine. I’ll let you off the hook.”

Azzi quirked a brow. “You’ll let me off the hook?”

Paige grinned. “Yeah, you were struggling there at the end.”

Azzi scoffed, opening her mouth to argue—

But then Paige yawned, stretching her arms above her head, her hoodie riding up just enough to expose her toned stomach.

Azzi froze.

It was so unfair.

Paige, completely unaware, sighed as she settled back against her pillows, rubbing her eyes sleepily. “Alright, Fudd,” she murmured, her voice softer now, heavier with exhaustion. “Get some sleep.”

Azzi swallowed, forcing herself to breathe and not stare at Paige’s abs like an idiot.

“Yeah,” she said, shifting under her covers, trying to focus on literally anything else. “You too.”

Paige smiled, soft, warm, the kind that made something ache in Azzi’s chest.

“Night, Az.”

Azzi hesitated, then smiled back. “Night, P.”

The call ended.

Azzi stared at the blank screen for a second, still feeling the lingering warmth of Paige’s voice, of everything they’d just said, almost said, wanted to say.

She exhaled, pressing her phone to her chest.

Yeah.

She was screwed.

Azzi lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, phone still pressed to her chest.

Her heart was still beating too fast, her skin still warm from—all of it. From the way Paige had looked at her, from the things she had said, from the way the air between them had shifted so suddenly.

One second, she was curled up, stressed, overwhelmed, the weight of the game pressing down on her. And then Paige had been there, steady, comforting, pulling her back up like she always did.

But then—

Azzi swallowed.

Then something changed.

It wasn’t just comfort anymore. It wasn’t just reassurance.

It was Paige looking at her like that.

It was her teasing back, pushing to see how far they’d go.

It was Paige’s voice, dipping lower, her words leaving heat in their wake.

Azzi curled into her pillow, exhaling sharply.

It wasn’t just a crush anymore. She didn’t know what it was, but it wasn’t just that.

And that terrified her.

—------------

Paige on the other hand tossed her phone onto the nightstand and flopped onto her back, staring at the ceiling. 

She ran a hand through her hair, exhaling slowly, trying to steady the way her stomach was still twisting.

She hadn’t planned for that to happen. She’d called Azzi to comfort her. To check in. To make sure she wasn’t spiraling after the game.

Not to—

Paige groaned, rubbing a hand down her face.

Azzi had been so cute at first, all quiet and unsure, curled up under the covers. And Paige had been ready to just be there for her, to be soft, to say whatever Azzi needed to hear.

But then Azzi had teased back.

And it had flipped something in Paige’s brain, something she hadn’t been able to shut off.

Azzi, pushing her buttons. Azzi, letting her tank top slip just a little lower. Azzi, toying with her, testing her, waiting to see how far Paige would go.

Paige let out a shaky breath.

She had been so close to saying something reckless. To taking it too far.

And the worst part?

She wanted to.

She wanted more.

She had no idea where they were headed, but whatever this thing between them was?

It wasn’t slowing down.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[public-relations-representative]

finally getting brave enough to use this blog. hopefully will keep using it i make 0 promises though

anyway. BEHOLD. my winston headcanon designs

more extensive thoughts/headcanons and doodles belowww

i know a lot of people dont agree but as far as im concerned, shes always been a skelecog. she was built specifically for COGS inc pretty much as is

besides the radio head. that happened later, but still before they made moves into toontown. yes hes been a part of the company that long

has actual radio functions built into them. the intent is for him to be able to tap into existing radio broadcasts as a literal live advertisement. insidious!

i dont have many thoughts on this design because this is borderline "canon" winston. besides the eyelashes. which they should give him canonically.

no i havent figured out what the dagger is logically. its just a part of her ok

i guess i could talk about personality headcanons but i wont. yet. i need some content for other posts if i want to keep this blog alive

winston is in the dungeon for a LOOOONG time. im talking over 5 years baby. id make her more visually fucked up but i dont want to make details mcgee more complex to draw

if i was powerful id make more of her visually broken and those joint problems external in some way. thats for someone else to do though

several of her other not visible functions are long broken; plenty of her internal systems have long gone non-functional, including her radar, propellor, and ability to access some of her internal databanks (ie: memory)

her balance, visual and audio processors (sight/hearing) and control of her limbs fail occasionally too. her voicebox is broken (we know this) but it hasnt entirely failed.

system errors are effectively like an abscence seizure. BSOD for robots, basically

if im being realistic the whole glitching through walls shouldnt exist with how seriously im taking him. but it does anyway because i like fun

WHEELCHAIR WINSTON

this idea has lived rent free in my head for years its about time i got round to this

anyway while shes in the dungeon they do just effectively get fired on paper after a while; so when they show their face back up for real, he does just get fired officially for reals

he ends up finding refuge with old friends; william and alton. im not getting into my awesome dynamics with them here but they were close before the dungeon happened

he gets semi-patched up by will, whos learned some level of self maintenance thanks to his horrible leaky suit. will isn't familiar with skelecog maintenance though, so he could only fix some of his simpler problems

besides the external patch-ups, shes managed to get some simpler system fixes from him, enough to at least help with the frequent system errors and the glitching problems. theyre both still present, but not as severe.

everything else is still a problem though. in fact, some of them have gotten worse, particularly with his arms and legs. theyre prone to fail on a moments notice, and she tends not to go far without some sort of mobility device after a while.

IN SUPER DENIAL ABOUT BEING FIRED. he takes up a bunch of hobbies to keep himself busy now they dont have a job and makes herself a scarf in bootleg sellbot colours so they can pretend. they have to go through an arc before getting over that sorry.

can you tell this is the thing ive put the most thought into

okayyyyy thanks everyone who actually read alla that biiiiieeeeee

[maxdibert]

its so weird how possibly the only thing we know about lily is that she was a textbook good person, and instead of acknowledging that while expanding on flaws that she possibly had, snape fans just deem her a terrible person? i dont like james either and really do like snape its just so grossly misogynistic EVEN when you take in the fact that she married a bully. because for all we know she really did do it for safety or was attracted to red flags or got manipulated by james. imo she was v v attached to sev and their friendship/situation breakup, that too in such a brutal way, possibly pushed her to be with james whether it be a rebound, her being vulnerable to his advances, wanting revenge on sev or something like that and then the war happened and everything just happened so quickly. she was a child herself when she died. but saying shes a social climber?? a mean girl?? the worst character ever or smth?? lmaooo what even!! and dont say "oh we dont have any proof of that" well youre telling people they lack media literacy and reading between the lines when it comes to the abuse severus possibly experienced at home so what is it??

I love how you all freak out because I don’t like Lily Evans, but you’re not nearly as dramatic when, I don’t know, abuse and sexual harassment are constantly justified in this fandom. Like, criticizing Lily is terrible, but victim blaming is totally fine?

Honestly, I couldn’t care less if it upsets you that I think Lily was an asshole because at no point is it implied that James manipulated her, forced her to date him, or that she was pressured into it. What we do know—and Rowling confirmed it—is that despite acting like she hated him, deep down, she had always liked James. So, she liked a guy who spent his days being a violent piece of shit, which tells me she had pretty questionable morals.

Like I said, I defend women’s rights, but I don’t defend pick-me girls' wrongs, sorry. I’m too old to like girls who date disgusting straight guys while being fully aware of how disgusting they are—whether they’re fictional or real.

[ultimateplaylistmaker]

lockpickingliar talking about kokichi in gbd has sparked my love of talking about Kokichi's interesting dynamics outside of his class in the dr s and talent development plan and now I gotta talk about some of them

alright since talent development plan is shorter lets talk about the dynamics in UTDP, at least with his own pov, not including other character special events i dont have room

First of all is Kokichi actually does somewhat play into Tsumugi's world building around his dynamic with Junko, in a way that's clearly him being a shit to her while also somehow roasting Mukuro at the same time, but still! The "darling Junko" and calling her his "bestie" is so interesting to me because that's absolutely Kokichi for "you are interesting but also i need to fuck with you or i'll explode" with poor Gonta stuck in the middle with not a single damn clue what these guys are talking about. SOMETHING is going on here between the two that's for sure.

-

He actually gets along with Monomi/Usami, while this is more prominent in DRS, they get an event in talent development as well! While extremely short, the use of the word "attention" is very telling to me, he's not annoying her, or bothering her, he's giving her attention. Which has an inherent positive tilt to it, he's not comforting her, but he's not being mean to her.

-

This whole interaction gets extra screenshots because we all know "kokichi made izuru run away" thing by now, but no one talks about the start of the conversation of Kokichi identifying Izuru to some degree. Of course this being Kokichi it's impossible tell how much he knows, but I find what he says telling, the somewhat awed reaction to seeing him, the mention of him being dead, and while he dismisses it under rumors and then also dismisses the rumors, which admittedly isn't a far fetched excuse.

I just find it really interesting that he specifically points at Izuru and goes "aren't you supposed to be dead?" While it's possible he knows nothing of the truth of the project, he in other events does show himself to be more privy to the secrets of the school then other people, so its not out of the realm of possibility he knows more about Kamukura's history then he's letting on. Especially with how targeted his questions to Izuru are about identity. Which fascinates me. What do you know you little clown.

-

His dynamic with Toko is about exactly what you'd expect, no notes, he just calls her stinky then lies about where Byakuya was while Toko gets upset, not even worth any screenshots

-

God bless this interaction honestly its gotta be one of the funniest, completely underrated dynamic, while nothing too much actually happens in form of character like, revelations, Kokichi threatening Fuyuhiko so he can have his cool dark anime battle plot line is goddamn hysterical.

-

While Hagakure isn't exactly a difficult mark, the way Kokichi got Hagakure from "stop lying" to "PLEASE GOD EMPEROR KOKICHI HELP ME" near immediately to Twogami's IMMENSE disappointment in both of them is very fucking funny, and again shows Kokichi's ability to both gather information and tug people along. It also glimpses into Kokichi and Twogami's dynamic, which seems to leave Kokichi a bit wary due to Twogami being y'know, a liar and Twogami just kinda staring at the camera like he's in the office. 10/10

-

Souda and Kokichi is also a very funny dynamic, while Souda's high strung nature does make it easier for him to go "no the fuck are you talking about???" the fact he genuinely had to be like "wait i checked to make sure it wouldn't do that" about fire destroying shit is very telling to the kind of stuff these two would get up too. Kokichi is absolutely the type to scare someone as a thanks for giving him a fun scare as well, and Souda is the exact kind of high-strung Kokichi can't resist poking. God speed Souda good luck with that

-

Jokes aside about them both being mean bullies, Hiyoko and Kokichi actually seem to get along pretty well at times. Kokichi can appreciate her darker interests and even compliment them, and Hiyoko definitely seems to appreciate the acknowledgement for the more horror metal rock aligned part of her personality. While they definitely have a potential to be very catty, if they're on the same page they seem to actually kinda click! Terrifying duo, but one with a lot of potential, especially knowing Kokichi's eye for hidden depths, something Hiyoko has in spades. Bonding!

-

On the other hand, Komaeda and Kokichi are both mentally blowing each other up while exchanging pleasantries. Kokichi does NOT like Komaeda digging into him and DICE and Komaeda is absolutely very suspicious of kokichi and his talent, but neither of the can overly overtly go after the other so they're stuck making these jabs, they hate each other and it's great.

-

Kokichi and Celeste are also definitely playing games here and don't like each other, but they're classier about it with at least seems to be a bit of mutual respect going on here, even if they both do not like the other. With of course the big fucking bombshell of him knowing Taeko's real name and hitting on the core of her identity of her disdain for reality over her fantasies.

-

Im out of pictures but Gundham does proceed to be incredibly aggressive and agitated around Kokichi, their identities run too counter and too similar, he does not trust Kokichi an inch and believes them incompatible to the very core. Which makes sense with Gundham's immense trust issues around people and those who may betray him, Kokichi is very much the exact kind of person to make Gundham jump and hiss like an angry frightened cat. Kokichi seems to be interested in Gundham though, and trying to coax his way past the rejection, though this might just be because he wants to pet Gundham's animals which like, fair. Either way, this is probably the most EXPLOSIVE dynamic of the entire development plan.

-

I am still out of pictures but I also enjoy his dynamic with Kyoko, while Kyoko is able to out maneuver Kokichi's lie, Kokichi also calls her out on a lie she makes to do so. While he can't prove Kyoko wrong, he also makes it clear he knows that Kyoko isn't saying what's right either, she's just making a point that Kokichi has to be lying through her own lie that runs contradicting. Which is the exact kind of chess death note mind games "i knew you did so i did this" "i knew you knew i would so i did this" I would expect from these two, Kokichi also finds her not boring so he definitely agrees.

[p1nk-pallas]

homophobic elijah volkov (yes that's actually the VA)

[bunkernine]

ok question before i drop these chapters this week, cuz i realize im not confident but, since the demigods can be conceived without actual copulation, do you think beryl/jupiter, ezperanza/hephaestus, or aphrodite/tristan fucked crazy or did the lost trio just appear

3 days, only true bunker9 stans will see this

im trying to think what the "else wise" would be. jason's a literal stork. leo appears in the fire. piper rises from the seafoam. lol. zeus is pretty fond of doing weird things to women, and i doubt tristan waited 9 months for piper. leo is questionable tbh. more in tags about my specific thoughts, but i wanna know what u guys are thinking

[thebigqueer]

literally having the worst day ever and i cant ever be happy (has only experienced minor inconveniences today but they keep adding up)

[lilac-melody]

Wondering if I should make a little oneshot about first kisses...

[rohirric-hunter]

I gotta call my dentist office and ask a question and I'm dreading it because the receptionist is just. So mean.

[senseiwu]

Just saw a video where someone mentioned reading the curious incident of the dog in the night time, and they thought afterwards they may have autism too. When they brought it up to their mum, she was like "you knew??" cause apparently she'd done that thing people seem to do where they keep an autism diagnosis secret from their kids

It made me remember when my grandma gave me that book to read when we were all at her place for Christmas. She said something like "I think you'll really like it", which confused me cause I was more into fantasy stuff than mystery novels. I mean. I did really like it. But it's one of the things that makes me wonder... did my parents do that thing too...?

[p2iimon]

drawing more furry fnaf art. yknow just to keep you posted. i love posting in the tags sorry these ones got away from me

[nexus-nebulae]

another childhood bucket list item obtained: i finally have a snuggie

[confused-spood]

Where else am I gonna rant if not to a group of random strangers that barely know me, right? So ofc I'm gonna rant here cuz these people have no idea who tf I am.

....turns out I have no words to explain how I'm feeling right now so I offer this emoji instead: 😔

[gregoftom]

oh my fucking god

[dbphantom]

you know if you guys voted for stretch armstrong i probably would have shut up a lot sooner tonight