#i need to replay the epilogues

[lithopsy]

having another fictional character breakdown again but it (spoilers for a seven year old game) is so insane that saeran killed jihyun IN FRONT of jumin in the SE like THAT GUY DIED?? THERE IS A FUNERAL CG?? like why does the fandom collectively ignore that scene

[ra-vio]

I wanted to draw Fio with a smile u-u

This is a reupload. I was gaming and didn't realize how it uploaded.

[skiitter]

Took 90 hours but I finally beat BG3. I have no clue what to do with my time now.

[boyfrillish]

The other day, I was going through my Switch screenshots from Sword to try to find something else and remembered all of the Emotional Pain™ from up until the Final battle lmao

Anyway, yes, these two sillies still give me All The Feels in all the ways, for like 8 whole months and counting now. The OTP ever

[getmenaced]

Is Karlach's soul destroyed if she explodes?? I'm pretty sure that Gale's is if he blows up the orb (rip) but even if Karlach burns up it would be possible to bring her back with a Wish right? I guess there's no rule on the books (that I've been able to find) about recreating a destroyed soul with wish but it makes sense that a soul that was completely eradicated wouldn't be able to be brought back even with a wish.. I guess it would depend on your dm. Someone get larian on the phone

[imagineitdearies]

hi I'm absolutely enamored with your fic, i think i reread every chapter three times already

This makes my heart so happy 😭💙 can't believe y'all reread this, but all the more worth it to write knowing it'll be so appreciated, so thank you.

[antiqua-lugar]

on one hand, matching outfits. on the other hand WYLL WHERE IS THE HELLDUSK ARMOUR I GAVE THEE AND WHY AM I DRESSED LIKE THIS. I WENT TO HELL AND LOST ALL MY FASHION SENSE? on a third hand... the fact that wyll fashioned him and dorian matching outfits out of the enemies they slayered together is definite proof that durgewyll is the best because this is objectively insane.

[arcanegalaxy]

so i picked up i was a teenage exocolonist in the steam sale and started playing it this week, tonight i finished it for the first time and i can’t even explain what that game has done to me

i want to climb into a hole and cry forever

[beansthathavebeenbaked]

oh ahlina we're really in it now....

[goatsorcery]

i finished baldurs gate 3 and im in tears

[rackartyg]

NO EPILOGUE????

[trevisos]

idk man for xarrai like. the end of the game barely feels like a victory. great the absolute is gone but what now? they watched karlach die and astarion can never see the sun again and the city they love and hate and love again is saved but it’s also in tatters and the life they had before is burnt up with it like. where do they go from here? what do they do? they never wanted to be a savior or a hero.

[tenmyoujump]

i think my favorite junepei tbh is vlr junepei it’s like. we loved so deeply but because of that love we could never be together

[aquaticmercy]

Of Heroes and Heartstrings (Part Three)

Part 1 │ Part 2

Summary : Bucky Barnes develops a crush on the researcher who interviewed him. After inviting her to board game night, he takes her on a second date.

Pairing : Bucky Barnes x reader (she/her) (The reader works in academia and is writing about superheroes and how they perceive themselves in the 21st century)

Warnings/tags : Mentions of food. Slight cursing. Sex is implied. Yelena and Sam being annoying. 

Requested by :  myself again

Word count : 2.4k + 200ish-word bonus epilogue.

Note : This is the final part! I loved writing on this, and will definitely think of writing longer series in the future. Enjoy!

Requests are open!

The next morning, Bucky was barely awake when the pounding on his apartment door started.

“Open up, Barnes!” Yelena said from the hallway, loud and insistent. He groaned, rolling over and covering his head with a pillow, hoping they’d give up. No such luck.

“I know you’re in there!” Sam chimed, sounding just as persistent.

Bucky cursed under his breath, reluctantly pushing himself out of bed and stumbling out. 

As he opened the door, the cool morning air swept into his apartment, carrying the scent of coffee his friends had bought for him. Sam's grin widened, while Yelena immediately pushed her way in. 

The familiar, chaotic energy the two brought with them was like a damn alarm clock that couldn’t be snoozed. Despite his outward grumbling, a part of Bucky felt… happy. 

For someone who had spent so many years isolated, these intrusions had become a comforting reminder that he wasn’t alone.

“You guys need hobbies,” Bucky grumbled, he had barely gotten any sleep after last night. Between replaying the almost-kiss and mentally planning the second date, his mind hadn’t been able to shut off.

Yelena placed the coffee on the counter, while Sam leaned against the island kitchen with a smirk. 

“So…how’d it go?” Sam asked, curios.

Bucky shot him a glare, walking over to the coffee that had brought. He took a long sip before answering, knowing there was no getting out of this. “It went fine.”

“Fine?” Yelena hopped to sit on his counter. “I saw you all touchy-feely all night. Are you expecting us to believe that you dropped her off and came home?”

Bucky raised an eyebrow, unaffected. “That’s exactly what I did.”

Sam snorted. “I call bullshit. I saw how you looked at her during Monopoly—you had hearts for eyes. Come on, man, give us something. Did you even kiss her?”

Bucky’s silence was telling. 

Yelena’s eyes widened in disbelief. “No. way.” She said, her Russian accent dripping from her mouth.

“I didn’t,” Bucky admitted, his cheeks warming at the thought. “We just had tea.”

Yelena blinked. “Tea?”

“Is tea code for something?” Sam repeated incredulously. 

Bucky shook his head, taking another sip of his coffee. “We talked. It was nice.”

Sam looked at Yelena like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Yelena nodded. “Oh this is real. He’s not playing around. This is real.”

“Look,” Bucky said, “She said she doesn’t kiss on the first date. I respect that. But there’s going to be a second date.”

Sam’s eyes lit up. “When?”

Bucky grumbled under his breath, scratching the back of his neck. “Two days.”

Yelena smirked. “You better kiss her then, Barnes, or I’ll do it for you.”

Bucky shot her a look. “Not helping.”

Sam, ever the wingman, reassured him. “You got this.”

Yelena leaned back on the counter with a satisfied grin. “And if you screw it up, we’ll hear about it the morning after.”

Bucky rolled his eyes but couldn’t stop the smile tugging at his lips. 

As much as they teased him, it felt good knowing they cared.

—

Standing outside your door, Bucky’s heart raced in his chest.

The bouquet in his hand felt heavier than it should have. His leather jacket felt stiff, and he tugged at the sleeves out of habit, hoping to ease the tension in his muscles. 

When you opened the door, all the thoughts that had been clouding his thoughts vanished in an instant. 

You stood there in a simple but stunning dress, your hair falling perfectly into place. 

Your smile lit up the hallway, and for a moment, all he could do was stare. 

You looked beautiful, but he already knew that. 

“Hey you,” you said softly, stepping out into the hallway.

“Hey yourself,” he breathed out as he held out the flowers. I’ve got to stop overthinking this, he told himself, trying to fight the heat creeping up his cheeks.

You took them, your fingers brushing against his. “Bucky, they’re beautiful.”

He gave a small, relieved smile. “I wasn’t sure what kind of flowers you liked, so I just—"

“I love them,” you interrupted him from his anxious train of thoughts, smiling up at him. “You ready to go?”

—

The restaurant was even more lovely than Bucky had hoped. The warm lighting gave the small space an intimate glow, casting soft shadows on your surroundings. 

The quiet hum of conversations around you created a sense of privacy, as though the world outside didn’t exist. You sat across from him, leaning forward slightly as you asked for his most embarrassing stories. 

Bucky chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. The heat from the candle between you flickered, radiating your smile. 

"Okay, okay," he sighed dramatically, but the laughter in his eyes gave him away. "But you better share some of yours too."

"Deal," you agreed with a wink.

He leaned back in his chair, thinking for a moment. "Alright, here’s one. I was way too old when I found out the tooth fairy wasn’t real."

You blinked at him, then giggled. "Wait, how old are we talking here?"

Bucky’s grin widened, and he looked a little sheepish. "Like… fourteen."

Your eyes went wide, and you clapped a hand over your mouth to stifle your laughter. "Fourteen?! How did that even happen?"

Bucky shrugged, chuckling. "I don’t know, I just… didn’t question it. I’d lose a tooth, and a dollar would show up under my pillow. Magic or whatever."

“Oh my God, Bucky, fourteen?!” You were stifling a laugh so hard you could barely catch your breath. "Did anyone ever try to tell you?"

"My ma did, actually," he said, shaking his head at the memory. "She sat me down and said, ‘James, there’s something we need to talk about.’ I thought I was in trouble. Then she just blurted it out— I was crushed."

"You must’ve felt so betrayed,”  you laughed, wiping a tear from the corner of your eye. 

He smiled. "Yeah, a little."

“That’s adorable.” You shook your head, still grinning. "I’m never letting you live that down."

"Fair enough," he said with a chuckle, leaning forward slightly. "Now. Your turn.”

You took a deep breath, gathering yourself. You told him a story about how you used to get in so much trouble as a kid, how you injured yourself every now and then. 

As you told your stories, Bucky found himself completely mesmerized—not by the little anecdotes, but by the way the sound of your voice made everything sound so fascinating.

The conversation eventually drifted from light-hearted teasing to deeper topics, both of you sharing bits of yourselves you hadn’t before. 

Bucky found himself laughing more than he had in a long time, and you seemed just as captivated. You leaned in every time he spoke, eyes sparkling with curiosity.

As the night began to wind down, neither of you were in a rush to leave. Eventually, after paying the bill, Bucky stood and helped you into your coat, his hand lingering on your back for just a second longer than necessary.

The walk after was filled with soft conversation, with no particular destination in mind. 

The city lights reflected in the puddles on the sidewalk, your arm brushing against Bucky’s every now and again.

Bucky found himself watching you a little longer than he should, memorising the way your face looked when you were lost in thought. The gentle glow of moonlight wrapped like a blanket around you both.

He slowly reached out, taking your hand in his. You smiled up at him, squeezing your interlocked fingers. There was something perfect about everything —natural, unforced, as if the world was giving him permission to just enjoy this fleeting moment.

The streetlamp overhead flickered slightly as you stopped for a brief moment, turning to face him. The soft, golden light casted a gentle halo around you, illuminating the curve of your smile.

“I had a great time,” you said, your voice quiet, but your eyes full of warmth.

“Me too,” Bucky replied, his heart pounding a little faster than it should.

The world seemed to grow quieter, as though it knew something was about to happen. Bucky stood there, his heart pounding against his ribs like it had on the first date. He could feel the gravity of the moment pulling him closer to you, his breath hitching as you took a half-step toward him, your face tilted up. His gaze flicked down to your lips, and then back to your eyes.

This time, when Bucky leaned in, you didn’t stop him. His lips hovered over yours once again, soft and tentative at first, testing the waters. He pulled away before he could kiss you. “Do you want to head back to my apartment?”

Oh, that little tease. 

You nodded, feeling that familiar flutter in your chest. 

—

Once you and Bucky reached his place, the air around you was shrouded with anticipation. 

“You want something to drink?” Bucky asked, trying to ease the nervous chills creeping up on him.

“Whatever you’re having is fine,” you replied, offering him a soft smile.

He gave you a nod and disappeared into the kitchen, leaving you to take in your surroundings. His apartment was just like him—cosy but strong, dark with hidden depth. 

Bucky leaned against the kitchen doorframe, watching you from across the room as you absentmindedly touched the spines of his old books. There was something surreal about seeing you in his space, like you belonged there. 

His apartment had always felt a little too quiet, a little too bare. With you, it felt complete— alive. 

Then it struck him: just how much he wanted this— not the moment, not the date, but you, and how you represented the kind of connection that made him feel like he was truly home. 

He finally handed you a glass of sparkling water. “I don’t have any fancy tea,” he said with a small laugh, his eyes flicking to yours, checking to see if you were comfortable.

“This is perfect,” you reassured him, sipping from the glass. You both settled on the couch, not quite touching yet.

For a while, you just talked. The conversation was easy, the kind that made you feel like you were learning something new about each other every minute— you talked about your studies, talked about how the interview with Clint went yesterday. He told you about his latest mission, and how he was waiting for his next. 

There were moments where Bucky would say something that would make you laugh, your hand brushing his arm without thinking, and you’d catch the way his eyes softened with affection.

As the conversation slowed, the silence between you was anything but empty. It felt heavy with with the tension that had been building since the moment you walked through the door. 

Bucky’s heart was pounding so loudly in his ears that he almost missed the way you whispered, “You can kiss me now.” 

His eyes widened, and for a split second, he hesitated. But when he saw your breath hitch, and he saw the way your eyes fluttered closed, your lips slightly parted, and all his hesitation melted away. 

He leaned in slowly, savoring every second before his lips met yours. Finally, he felt the softness of your lips against his, the warmth of your body pressed close.

He pulled you closer, his metal hand resting on the small of your back. It felt like the world had disappeared, leaving the two of you tangled in a movie that neither of you wanted to end.

When he finally pulled back, he rested his forehead against yours, his breath a little shaky. The soft glow from the nearby lamp casted gentle shadows on your face.

He moved back slightly, just enough to see your eyes, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered, his voice low and sincere. He could barely believe what was happening.

A soft laugh escaped your mouth, and you pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of his mouth. “And you’re perfect,” you murmured, the words full of affection and admiration. 

“Far from perfect,” he replied, his fingers brushing lightly against your cheek, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.  

“Feels pretty perfect right now,” you teased.

He grinned, and before you could say another word, he pressed his lips against yours again. This time it was soft, but with more certainty, like he was tasting every drop of you.

You both smiled into the kiss, unable to help the giddiness within.

“I’ve been waiting for this for so long,” Bucky admitted in between kisses.

You whispered, “How long?”

His thumb traced the edge of your jaw. “The week after our interview? I went to the same cafè every day hoping I’d run into you. And I did.” he said with a sheepish smile.

You recalled that moment you were pleasantly surprised to find him there. He had played it off so casually, saying he just liked the coffee. That day, you ended up talking over coffee for two hours, both of you oblivious to each other’s intentions.

You felt your heart flutter, the weight of his words wrapping around you like a blanket. “Me too,” you confessed, your voice almost shy. “I’ve had a crush on you since the interview. I just… never thought you’d feel the same.”

Bucky’s eyes softened, the icy blue of his eyes filled with nothing but warmth. “You have no idea,” he murmured, his lips brushing yours again to prove just how wrong you were.

The kisses got more heated as your hands slid up to rest on his chest, feeling the strong beat of his heart beneath your palms. 

His hands found your waist, pulling you closer.

Bucky’s lips trailed from your mouth to your jawline, then to the sensitive spot just below your ear. 

You shivered, a quiet sigh escaping your lips.

Your fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, and he responded with a soft groan.

The kisses became more intense, his mouth claiming yours again. The space between you seemed to disappear entirely. 

When he finally fully pulled back, both of you were breathless. 

His voice was low when he asked, “Do you… want to stay the night?”

“Of course,” you whispered without hesitation, your voice steady and sure.

The smile that spread across Bucky’s face was a mix of relief and desire. He pressed one more soft kiss to your lips, his hand lingering on your waist.

For the first time in a long time, everything felt just right.

—

Epilogue : 

The next morning, the sun was barely peeking through the curtains when the pounding on Bucky’s door started again.

You stirred under the covers, blinking sleepily as you registered what was happening. Bucky groaned beside you, burying his face into the pillow.

You laughed softly, sliding out of bed. “I’ve got this,” you whispered, grabbing the first thing you could find—one of Bucky’s old shirts—and pulling it over your head. It was too big on you, the fabric hanging just past your thighs. 

The pounding on the door continued. Did Bucky order something? It must be mail, right?

You sleepily trudged out of the bedroom towards the front door and opened it. Yelena and Sam froze mid-knock, eyes as wide as dinner plates.

“Oh,” Sam said, his eyebrows shooting up. 

Yelena’s jaw loosened, “that was unexpected.”

You leaned casually against the doorframe, crossing your arms with a tired smile. “Good morning to you too.”

Yelena broke into a grin. “the second date went well?”

Before you could answer, Bucky’s groggy voice called from the bedroom. “Who’s at the door?”

“Your nosy friends,” you called back with a chuckle.

Bucky appeared behind you, rubbing a hand over his face. “Can you two not?” he grumbled, clearly still half-asleep.

Sam pointed at you again, now looking between you and Bucky. “You owe me 20!” He said to Yelena.

“Settle your bets somewhere else,” Bucky grumbled, though he could not stop the shy smile forming on his lips.

Yelena elbowed Sam. “Yeah, yeah. We’ll leave you alone... for now.”

As they walked away, Bucky quickly closed the door and wrapped you in his strong arms. 

You grinned, “I kinda really like your friends.”

-end

Taglist : @quiet-loser @hzdhrtss @intelligenceofapineapple @yujyujj @miriamnox @thecraziestcrayon

[dekariosclan]

Sneaky God Gale Still Loves You

I want to take a moment to offer some reassurance to any of my fellow Galemancers who got the worst Gale romance ending—the infamous ‘Sneaky God Gale.’ (credit to @airydandelion, who I believe first coined the term and who did a ton of valuable research as noted at the end of this post!)

This ending happens when you think you’ve convinced Gale not to ascend. You turned down his offer for godhood in the boat! You didn’t push him towards the crown at all (or so you thought)! And most importantly, he seemed convinced!!

Then you get to the ending on the docks and suddenly he’s all: “that crown tho…🥵” And he leaves.

Worst of all, he won’t even offer to ascend you at the epilogue party.

So what gives?!

Putting aside that this happens because 1. There are some extremely subtle and not-great dialogue options pushing him towards the crown which should’ve been better written/more obvious, and 2. Gale ‘I’m-many-things-but-not-coy’ Dekarios should have been clearly displaying his intentions towards the crown in order to give fair warning to the player, I do still think we can explain his behavior.

The most important thing to remember is that he is not gaslighting you! He’s not smooching you and giving you those big lovey cow eyes while smugly thinking about how he’s going to dump you.

When Gale offers you godhood in the boat, it’s literally called the ‘Be My God Proposal’ in the data files. It’s a proposal. And what a proposal! Because he’s not just offering you a marriage where it’s a short span of mortal years together until death. He’s offering you a literal eternity together.

…and you turned him down.

You did it for all the right reasons, your heart was in the right place, BUT…Gale is uncertain. He loves you, but do you really love him? Just him? He’s still not sure he’s enough for you. You weren’t vehemently against the crown, you seemed to waffle. And you turned down his proposal…an eternity with him was something you did not wish for…

So when he gets to the brain stem, and then the docks, and he still feels uncertainty in his heart, well—it makes him very easily swayed by the orb’s hunger for the crown.

But he still loves you.

When you get to the epilogue, he doesn’t offer you ascension for the simple reason that you already turned it down. He respects your choice, and he’s not going to try and coax you into it; your desires are different than his, and that makes a life together impossible.

But he still loves you.

Well, but, you argue, why can’t we be together as a mortal and a god? Like Gale was with Mystra?

He would never expose you to such risk, because he still loves you.

‘Ok fine,’ you say. ‘Sure, he’s still got his kind heart buried underneath the arrogance. But even so, he chose to leave. There’s no absolute, definitive proof that he still loves me!’

Sneaky God Gale absolutely, 100%, still loves you! So go do yourself (and him) a favor and fix that ending:

You can use this amazing, incredible, fantastic guide created by @airydandelion to ensure you pick the right dialogue choices to get the Gale ending you want!

If you are on a PC and do not want to go back many hours of gameplay to replay/redo the dialogue choices, you can use this mod to convince Gale to stay human with the dice roll at the brain stem.

If you’re on a PS5 (which does not currently have the above mod) my best suggestion is to use the cheaters ring. This is a PS5 mod that essentially lets you cheese all combat and speedrun the game, saving you a ton of time if you need to replay Act 3 in order to get your human Gale.

Whatever you decide to do, you can go forth secure in the knowledge that Gale was 100% truthful when he told you this:

(One final shoutout: credit to @galebrainrott for their post sharing Gale’s datamined files!)

[rosemariiaa]

~Lines we Drew~

part: 6 last part

pairing: Paige x Azzi

a/n: well..i really liked this series yall, but let me not get sappy 😞. I hope you enjoy this last part as much as I loved writing it, Im also thinking of doing an epilogue do y’all want that? other than that i love youuu 💌

themes: angst, language, fluff

Enjoy!!!

The air between them was still heavy from the argument. Paige’s body felt like it was burning from the inside out, anger boiling under her skin as she replayed the words exchanged with Azzi. She could feel the tears building, but she refused to let them fall in front of Azzi. Not again.

Paige clenched her fists and turned away, storming off down the hall. Her vision blurred as the tears finally slipped out, and before she even realized it, her feet had taken her back to her dorm.

She didn’t stop until she reached Nika’s room, barging in without knocking, plopping onto Nika’s bed in a crumpled mess of tears and frustration.

“What the hell happened?” Nika asked, clearly taken aback, but there was concern in her voice.

Paige buried her face into Nika’s pillow, her voice muffled, “Everything. It’s all just… fucked.”

Nika sat beside her, rubbing her back gently. “You wanna talk about it?”

For a few moments, Paige was silent, the weight of everything pressing down on her chest. “It’s Azzi… we argued again. I—I told her how I feel… how I’ve always felt… and I just… broke.” Nika’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait, you mean—”

“I mean everything,” Paige interrupted. “She left me, Nika. She fucking left me when I needed her the most. And she just acts like it wasn’t that big of a deal. Like… like I didn’t matter.”

Nika’s hand stilled on Paige’s back, her expression softening. “Paige…”

“It was my birthday, Nika,” Paige whispered. “The day she left. She didn’t even say goodbye. Just disappeared… left me with all this shit. My parents had just divorced, and I had no one to talk to… except her. And she just vanished.”

The floodgates opened, and Paige sobbed into the pillow, all the anger, pain, and heartbreak from years ago pouring out at once. Nika stayed quiet, letting Paige release everything she had held inside for so long.

———-

As Paige stormed off, Azzi stood frozen, watching her walk away with tears streaming down her face. Her heart ached seeing Paige like that, and for a moment, she wanted to chase after her, to stop her and fix everything… but she couldn’t. Suddenly, she was pulled back to that summer years ago, to the day before she left.

Flashback to USA Basketball Camp

She was just 15, playing on the USA Basketball team with Paige, and even back then, their connection was undeniable. But there was also something else. Something that confused her, scared her. Azzi was starting to realize her feelings for Paige weren’t just about basketball, weren’t just friendship. And that terrified her.

She remembered sitting at the kitchen table with her mom, Katie, the night before she left for good.

“Mom, I don’t know what to do,” Azzi admitted, her voice trembling. “I… I think I have feelings for Paige. But I don’t know if I’m ready to deal with that, I’ve never felt this way..towards anyone. I don’t know if I’m… ready for any of this.”

Katie looked at her with a soft, understanding smile, placing her hand on Azzi’s. “You don’t have to figure it all out right now, Az. It’s okay to be confused.”

“But what if I hurt her?” Azzi asked, tears brimming in her eyes. “What if I can’t… what if I’m not what she needs?”

Katie sighed gently. “Paige loves you, Azzi. That’s obvious. But you can’t make decisions out of fear. Whatever you choose, I’ll support you. Just be sure of one thing… Paige will understand, but you also can’t be surprised if there’s another reaction.”

Azzi had nodded, but deep down, she didn’t believe it. So the next morning, she left. She left Paige without a word, without an explanation. She couldn’t face her, couldn’t confront her own feelings. She didn’t even tell Paige goodbye. The guilt haunted her every day.

She thought she could run away from it, that distance would make it easier, but instead, it only made it worse.

———-

Present Day

Hours later, Paige, Azzi, and the team found themselves at a bar downtown. Nika had insisted that a night out would help everyone cool down and lighten the mood, but as soon as Azzi walked in and saw Paige across the room, all the tension came flooding back.

Paige was already at the bar, nursing a drink, her eyes flicking up to meet Azzi’s briefly before looking away. Azzi tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her chest, but after a few drinks, she couldn’t take it anymore. She walked over to Paige, standing beside her.

“We need to talk,” Azzi said, her voice low.

Paige snorted, downing the rest of her drink before turning to face her. “Talk? Now you wanna talk?”

Azzi hesitated, seeing the fire in Paige’s eyes, but pressed on. “I’m sorry. I should’ve—”

“Sorry? You think sorry is enough?” Paige interrupted, her voice rising. “You fucking left me, Azzi. You didn’t say goodbye. You didn’t give me a chance to… to understand. You just left.”

“I didn’t know what to do!” Azzi said, her voice desperate. “I was scared, Paige. I was confused. I thought leaving was the only way.”

The bar had gone quiet, people turning to watch their argument unfold, but neither of them cared.

Azzi’s eyes filled with tears. “I never wanted to hurt you, Paige. I didn’t know how to handle… us. I was scared.” “Scared of what?” Paige asked, her voice breaking. “Of me? You know what I can’t..I’m not doing this Az.”

Paige stormed out of the bar, her heart pounding in her chest, tears blurring her vision. She felt the heat of anger and betrayal boiling inside her, twisting her gut. She couldn’t believe how everything had spiraled out of control. The chaos of emotions threatened to drown her, and she just needed to get away.

She hurried down the street, not knowing where she was going but desperate to escape the suffocating weight of it all. All she knew was that she couldn’t face anyone right now.

“Paige! Wait!” Azzi’s voice cut through the night, pulling her back from her spiraling thoughts.

Paige paused but didn’t turn around. “What do you want, Azzi? Another half-assed apology?” Her voice dripped with sarcasm, masking the pain beneath.

Azzi caught up, grabbing her wrist gently but firmly. “No, I—I need to explain.”

Paige yanked her hand away, her heart racing. “Explain what? How you ghosted me when I was falling apart? Or how you dipped without a word and shattered my heart on my damn birthday?”

Azzi’s expression fell, guilt washing over her. “I know I hurt you, but—”

“But what, Azzi?” Paige interrupted, her voice shaking with frustration. “You left when I needed you the most! I was drowning, and you just ran away. You weren’t there for me when my parents divorced, when everything was crumbling. You were my rock, and you just disappeared!”

Azzi swallowed hard, feeling the weight of every accusation. “I’m sorry..I didn’t know that, I didn’t know how to handle it, Paige. I was lost, too.”

“Lost? You just left me!” Paige’s chest heaved with every word, anger mixing with hurt. “You were supposed to be my best friend. I thought I could count on you!”

Azzi’s heart ached, guilt crashing over her like waves. “I was scared,” she confessed, her voice breaking. “I was so confused about everything—about you, about me.., about us, and the pressure from the media, the coaches… I couldn’t deal with it. So I ran. I thought it would be easier.” Paige’s chest tightened, her emotions spilling over. “You didn’t give me the chance! You could have at least tried!”

Azzi took a shaky breath, the rawness of their argument hanging heavily in the air. “And I regret that every day. But I didn’t want to drag you down with my mess, Paige. I thought leaving would be better for both of us.”

Paige’s anger flickered, a new understanding dawning on her. “I get that you were scared, Azzi,” she said softly, her voice trembling. “But I was scared too. I felt so alone when you weren’t there. I thought we could face it together. I thought you understood what I was going through.”

“I should have been there,” Azzi said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I should have known you needed me, and instead, I just ran away.”

“Yeah, you did.” Paige paused, her tears glistening in the dim light. “And it hurt like hell. But I can see now that you were hurting too. I just… I needed you to be strong when I couldn’t be.”

Azzi looked down, guilt washing over her. “I wanted to be strong. But it was all too much for me, Paige. I was terrified of what my feelings meant, terrified of messing things up even more. I couldn’t handle the pressure and my feelings for you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Paige asked, her heart softening as she reached for Azzi’s hand, intertwining their fingers. “We could have figured it out together.”

“I was scared of losing you,” Azzi admitted, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I thought leaving was the only way to protect both of us.”

Paige’s heart ached at Azzi’s confession. “I didn’t realize you were dealing with so much too. It felt like I was the only one hurting, but now I see how we both were. I just… I wish you hadn’t left me, especially on my birthday.”

Azzi’s eyes shimmered with remorse as she reached into her pocket, pulling out a small, delicate infinity necklace. “I left this for you. Under your pillow before I left. I thought maybe one day you’d find it and understand… But when it got sent back, I thought you didn’t want anything to do with me.”

Paige stared at the necklace, confusion mixing with the flood of emotions. “I’ve never seen that before,” she murmured, wiping her eyes. “How did it get sent back to you?”

Before Azzi could respond, the bar door swung open, and Jose, stepped outside, overhearing their conversation. “Wait, are you talking about that necklace?” he called out, pointing.

Azzi nodded, her heart racing. “Yeah, why?”

Jose shrugged, looking sheepish. “One of the coaches found it in your room at camp and sent it back to the house. I thought you knew.” Azzi blinked, disbelief flashing across her face. “Well, obviously not!”

Jose gave them an awkward smile before retreating back inside. They stood there for a moment, stunned, then burst into soft, teary laughter—laughter that felt like a release.

Azzi stepped closer, taking a deep breath. “I’m so sorry, Paige. For everything. For leaving, for being a coward, for hurting you when you needed me the most.”

Paige felt her heart clench, tears still falling. She reached out, taking the necklace from Azzi’s trembling hands. “I didn’t think I’d ever see this,” she whispered, looking up into Azzi’s eyes. “You’ve always meant so much to me.” Azzi nodded, her eyes glistening. “I never stopped caring about you, Paige. I was just too scared to face it all.”

Without thinking, Paige stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and kissed Azzi softly. It was hesitant at first, but as Azzi kissed her back, the world around them faded. It was just them—two hearts finding their way back to each other, the weight of the past still there, but lighter somehow.

When they finally pulled away, both breathless, they lingered close, foreheads touching. “I want to be with you, Azzi,” Paige murmured, her voice thick with emotion. “I’ve always wanted that. I’m sorry I didn’t see your pain before.”

“I want that too. I want to try,” Azzi replied, her voice trembling with sincerity. “Whatever it takes, I promise to never leave you again.”

“Good, because I’ll be damned if I let you go again,” Paige whispered, a small smile breaking through the tears.

“Deal,” Azzi replied, grinning through her tears.

———-

Game day: UConn vs. Villanova

The next day, the gym buzzed with excitement as the team prepared for their game against Villanova. The atmosphere was electric, a mix of nerves and adrenaline. Paige and Azzi exchanged glances during warmup, a silent understanding passing between them.

As the game started, they fell into a rhythm, communicating effortlessly on the court. Azzi set a perfect screen for Paige, who cut to the basket, receiving a crisp pass that she finished with a layup. The crowd erupted, and for the first time in a long while, everything felt right.

The tension in the gym grew as Villanova pressed hard, trying to claw back into the game. Just when it seemed they might gain an edge, a player drove to the hoop, determined to score. But Azzi was ready.

“YEAH!” Paige yelled as she watched Azzi leap into the air, her timing impeccable. With a powerful swat, Azzi blocked the shot, sending the ball flying across the court. The crowd erupted into cheers, and Paige was right there, pumping her fists in the air. “That’s what I’m talking about!” she shouted, her voice filled with excitement.

Geno smiled from the sidelines, nodding in approval as the team rallied around Azzi. “That’s the energy we need!” he called out, clapping his hands together.

As the game progressed, the chemistry between Paige and Azzi shone through. With Nika assisting from the wing, they executed a flawless fast break, leading to another basket.

In the final moments of the game, with the score tied, Paige found herself with the ball. She dribbled, her heart racing as she spotted Azzi cutting toward the hoop. Without hesitation, she tossed the ball to Azzi, who caught it mid-air, spinning around her defender and sinking the shot just as the buzzer sounded.

The crowd erupted in cheers as their team celebrated the victory. Paige grabbed Azzi in a whirlwind of excitement, lifting her off the ground and spinning her around. “We did it!”

Azzi laughed, a sound of pure joy. “You’re crazy!” she yelled, her heart soaring.

As the team celebrated, they all gathered in a huddle, chanting and cheering.

———-

After the game, Instead of heading out with the team to celebrate, they quietly made their way to Azzi’s dorm, wanting to be alone together. Once inside, the door closed behind them, sealing off the noise of the world. The room felt cozy and intimate, filled with the lingering energy from the game. Azzi turned to Paige, her heart racing.

“Can you believe we won, I mean they were going really hard tonight?” Azzi said, her eyes sparkling.

“Of course I can, with the way we played I had no doubt, you were amazing Az,” Paige replied, her voice filled with enthusiasm. “But right now, I just want to be here with you. Just us.”

Azzi nodded, her heart warming at the thought. They settled onto the bed, surrounded by pillows and blankets. The weight of the past started to lift, and as they shared stories and laughter, everything felt right.

As the night deepened, Azzi began to drift off, her head resting comfortably on Paige’s chest. Paige gently stroked Azzi’s hair, feeling a wave of contentment wash over her. She thought Azzi was fast asleep when a sudden wave of love hit her like a tidal wave.

“I love you,” Paige whispered softly, her heart vulnerable and exposed. She thought the words would hang in the air, but in the stillness of the room, they felt like a promise.

“I love you too,” Azzi whispered back, her voice barely audible but filled with warmth.

Paige’s heart leaped at the sound, her eyes widening in disbelief. A smile broke out on her face, one so bright it could light up the room

Their smiles grew wider, the unbreakable bond between them solidifying in that moment. As they settled into each other, everything felt right, the past behind them and the future ahead filled with possibility.

———-

a/n: okay i’m sad now bye. oops forgot to tag my lovelies @thaatdigitaldiary @patscorner @imaginespazzi