#im not trying to tone police

[cosmicheartz]

gonna take a teeny break from cotl fandom stuff bc its getting a lil too heavy for me

[cdroloisms]

I just came across your post about vagueposting and I think I agree with it, but the situation you most likely wrote it about is hardly a "vagueposting" because you could say who it was about after reading it literally one time and that person got jumped and insulted in the anon ask anyway so discussing it in person could be safer...

I'm reeeally sorry for bring up a past situation, but I don't think it's a good idea to write nasty things about another person and specific details about how they interact with the fandom and their post, say things that will help to easily identify a person and at the same time insult them or say how you think they feel about the characters or the story based on your feelings about their one take that you didn't like and then call it's "vague" because there is no name in the post. I mean, It can lead to bad consequences, it literally did in that situation.

And yes, I do think people have the right to discuss bad takes or takes they don't like, but there's a way to do it without giving away every detail about the post and the person who wrote it so everyone knows who you're talking about, and if you're not good at being vague, just discuss it in a private chat.

this ask is old but i was busy last week, so forgive me for the late response. i was debating answering it at all, but i dont want myself to be misunderstood, so just. to clarify under the cut.

i'll agree with you that the post/situation in question wasn't vagueing. now, i don't know exactly the difference between the number of followers i have and the number of followers that the blogger in question has, and when it comes to the number of active dsmp followers i think both of us have even less of a clue. that being said, both of us frequent much of the same circles, so i think it's fair to say that many of my posts will end up being exposed to a very similar audience to his, and so therefore this response about the situation you're talking about will be just about as clearly traceable to a specific person as the post he made that started the situation in question. just as a general observation.

if i'm understanding your ask correctly, while vagueing a take is fine, the vague shouldn't be clearly identifiable if you're going to speak badly about it or disagree heavily. to which i have to ask what, specifically, is defined as clearly identifiable? i think most takes in this fandom can be pretty easily traced to a person, even if that person is not the only person that believes in that take--just as an example, c!tommy as a butterfly pinned behind glass was a take in response to the c!sam and c!dream stream after techno escaped, and grew to be a pretty prominent theme to the point of a zine being modeled after it, but i can also trace it to a pretty specific tumblr post with a name attached. i also think that that same statement probably isn't true for many fans who maybe joined later on in the fandom. i mean, i'm aware that i'm being pedantic here, i'm aware that the situation in question created conflict specifically due to it being within dreblr and in a space where multiple people would've seen both posts and felt ensuing awkwardness bc they know both people either on a personal or acquaintance level, but i mean the same applied ages ago whenever strategist-interpretation and trauma-interpretation c!dream apologists felt like going at it again on the dash.

in this scenario specifically, what made the situation clearly identifiable was the nature of the take that was being discussed. the main identifying detail was the take that the asker was asked about, imo, and i mean ... yeah i mean. most takes that haven't blown up pretty heavily do end up being tied to one or two people? i mean, staged finale is a take that can be tied to three people who argued in favor of it the most before the rest of dreblr got on board only in late 2021. i simply don't think that a take that maybe only one person has argued for (which, i dont remember the statistics of the take in this situation, so i dont remember how many notes it had or how many people in total may have expressed public agreement towards it, honestly) is exempt from discussion when it is posted in a meta or analysis space as an analytical piece, which i do think applies to this take from what i remember about it and how it was tagged.

and back to the discussion of what's acceptable as far as directly responding versus vagueing, i mean, a lot of the discussion i've had on my blog (abt discourse etiquette in General in meta spaces on dreblr moreso than this specific situation, largely bc i did want to avoid commenting on a situation that 1) i really had no business in and 2) i have reason to be biased about. the main reason why i'm talking abt it now is bc hopefully enough time has passed for feelings to be less fraught and bc i want to make certain thoughts of mine clear, in case they weren't clear enough in my original posts abt dreblr and whatever) revolves around both direct responses and vagueing having their reasons as well as pros and cons, and both will likely continue to exist in analysis spaces and generally i don't think it's productive to really comment on what people can or can't do on their own blogs. in this scenario, i don't think "vagueing about one specific person in a way that may be clearly identifiable to parts of their audience" is uniquely unacceptable? a direct response very clearly would make the person in question identifiable -- outside of how it's kind of impossible to make a post vagueing someone in a way where No One has Any Idea who you might be talking about without making the post like, incoherent inherently, if vagueing (not identifiable) is okay and directly responding (identifiable) is okay, then why is vagueing (identifiable) not okay?

now, i understand that any situation where the person in question might be identifiable, some people may take the open disagreement as permission to harass them. and obviously, harassment sucks. part of the whole point of opening up this conversation on my blog was bc i worry, with the way that a single conflict between dsmp opinions has kind of rippled through dreblr recently and the responses to this "situation," that an environment is being created with too much of a forced global consensus that punishes people for stepping out of the status quo in both opinions and behavior, which is obviously bad for the whole community, and was looking to voice some of that and have a conversation on solutions. and i understand that in this situation, a lot of your problem with the blogger has to do with his general attitude in discussing the take and his statements on the person who made it. now, i think you have every right to find his statements offensive and disagreeable and to unfollow and/or block him. that being said, i am not exactly a PR agent, and i want to reiterate that what people do on their own blogs isn't my business and i don't think it should be my business. or uh, anyone's business, for that matter. i don't think that everyone "in dreblr" is beholden to keeping to a certain person's standard for "acceptable" disagreement and "acceptable" sharing of their own opinions on their own blog as long as they're not inciting harassment, which entails, like, actively encouraging harm to happen yk. i mean, you can think that the blogger was being rude or an asshole and prefer to never see him again, that's fine. that's your prerogative. but i mean, i'm not gonna tell the guy how to interact with the fandom on his own blog, haha.

to be clear, im not telling you what you can or can't do on your own blog either. if you wanna make a post about how his posts contain harmful rhetoric, how he's an idiot, or how he's rude bc you disagree with his public posts on this situation or on the dsmp as a whole, i mean, i'm not gonna handwring over it and tell you that you're not allowed to do that. it's none of my business, and i like to think i'm not that hypocritical. and honestly, i think that in a space where we're talking about analysis, commenting on harmful rhetoric happens often and should happen often when it happens -- literally anyone can make an analysis post that has harmful rhetoric, and sure it's fiction and no one has to answer to the analysis police for making a bad analysis post, but i've also been in this space and seen enough truly mind-boggling amounts of parroting takes about torture that make people sound like CIA psyops to go "well saying that someone's analysis post contains harmful rhetoric is really rude" pfft. again, i'm not saying i'm immune to hypocrisy, but i've certainly malded enough times in public about the shit people have said in this fandom to take issue with that. now, getting a little less into the strictly-analysis side of things, i understand that insults like calling someone an idiot may not sit right with everyone, to which i say. block to your heart's content. but c'mon man i've called people idiots before i'm no saint 😭😅

anyway. i hope this clarified some things, anon. take issue with whatever and whoever you like, honestly, whether that's me, the person that i just not-vagued for the last however many words, etc etc -- again, your prerogative. and i agree, it's a shame the situation devolved into stuff like insults in both bloggers' inboxes when it really didn't have to be like that like. at all.

[asbestos-11]

alhaitham much more accurate autism rep than half of canonically autistic characters

[96percentdone]

sometimes you see a post and the general points its making are generally correct but the whole thing is written in such a combative and aggro manner you just kinda like. end up disagreeing with it! like beyond just being like "hm. not reblogging that" its just. "actually. your take in this moment? kinda bad tbh."

[atigrado]

tumblr users will really word their argument in the most abrasive way known to man and then make fun of people for feeling attacked

[steampoweredskeleton]

.

Ignore

[linktube]

periods this pregnancy that damn this dude gotta lot to say about "the inherent" beauty of a reproductive system

[reidology13]

Hi i love ur writing , ur a really a good author!! If ur taking requests, and u feel inspired, would u mind writing more aaron x babysitter? I just read the two u wrote and they got me in a chokehold.

Maybe more pre-relationship shenanigans? I was eating up the lack of boundaries they had for people who are not dating. Maybe more of that? I'm trying to think of a prompt im sorry if this is too vague.

Maybe he starts calling her pet names (i would explode if aaron called me pet names ) or she calls to check on him at work or something that r clearly coupley things?

If not, that's fine. Love ur work!!

'til there was you

cw: age gap, hotch calls reader 'sweetheart', insecurities, pining? lots and lots of fluff wc: 1.6k a/n: tysm anon you're so kind, knowing that you enjoy my writing made my week <3 I kinda mixed your two prompts together, except hotch calls from work instead of reader so I hope it's still what you wanted!

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The sound of the phone ringing on the bench echoed throughout the kitchen, and you finished plating Jack’s dinner in record speed before you picked it up, squeezing it between your ear and shoulder. You couldn’t help the grin that spread across your face at the sound of Aaron’s voice greeting you on the other end of the line.

“Hey, Aaron.” You did your best to keep your tone in check, trying to keep the very visible smile from showing audibly, not wanting him to profile your voice.

“How are you doing?” His voice was low, and you could just make out the chatter in the background that you’d learnt to associate with police stations over the past three years. You noticed the rough sound of exhaustion in his cadence, and damn if it wasn’t attractive, even if it made you worry an unfair amount about his well being.

“Good, Jack’s good, we went out today and he ran himself ragged, so I’m making him an early dinner. He’ll be out the moment his head hits the pillow, trust me.” You glanced over at the boy, sitting at the coffee table with a small puzzle that he’d been working on for a half hour, you’d let him finish it after dinner.

“You know I always trust you. I just called to tell you I’ll be home early tonight, I should get there in an hour or two.” That got your attention, he almost never left work before the sun set below the DC skyline, or, well, you weren’t sure what the horizon looked like in Quantico.

“Oh, okay, I’ll see you then?” You carried the plates over to the dining table, pausing the conversation for a moment to tell Jack to wash his hands, then to undo that hygienic work by handing him the phone. He spoke to Aaron for a minute or two, his four-year-old attention span incapable of paying attention to a faceless conversation when there were chicken nuggets on the plate in front of him. You took the phone back, finishing the extended conversation with a few short words.

“See you soon, Sweetheart.” The sound of the call ending reverberated through your ears, a feedback loop of high-pitched ringing combined with the faint sound of his voice, and you couldn’t help but be glad he wasn’t there to witness how easily you fell apart from one simple word. Throughout dinner Jack managed to pull you out of your thoughts, mostly due to pure persistence on his part, asking question after question until you had no choice but to engage to his satisfaction. It worked, that is until you had helped him through his night time routine and put him safely to bed. He went to sleep just as easily as you had expected, and you’d checked your watch to discover it was almost seven, and Aaron would be arriving at any moment, if he had been right about when he would be there.

Sweetheart.

He’d said it so casually, like it was how he referred to you on a regular basis, like it wasn’t the first time you had ever heard that name from his lips. It made it far worse, in a way, knowing that in your presence he had never used it for someone else. Of course, he probably had, but to your ears that name was reserved specifically for you. That was the kind of thing he did, small, meaningless gestures that made you wonder, question, two things you absolutely should not have risked doing.

So you were lost in thought, again, Jack’s momentary distraction rendered useless in the face of a silent house, waiting for Aaron to arrive, too preoccupied to consider distracting yourself with menial chores. Luckily, or unluckily, he arrived shortly after you’d put Jack to bed, you’d likely had less than an hour before he walked through the door. He called out your name quietly, careful not to wake Jack, and seemed in a fairly good mood for after a case.

“Hi.” You mumbled, dodging his gaze as he sat down beside you on the couch, and you swore you could feel the exact moment his gaze sharpened, undoubtedly noticing your avoidant behaviour.

“What’s wrong?” He brushed his hand against your shoulder, silently asking for your attention, as if he didn’t have all of it before he even walked through the front door. You looked up, but you couldn’t bring yourself to look him in the eye, just knowing that he could see your face was nerve-wracking enough. The profiler in him was undoubtedly reading every one of your expressions, and he likely knew your emotions before you did.

“Nothing, I promise.” He scoffed at your words, and you felt your cheeks heat in embarrassment at your words, naive enough to convince yourself he wouldn’t know the moment the lie left your lips.

“You can’t lie to me, tell me what it is.” When denial failed, diversion was probably right below as the backup in whatever profiler’s dictionary the must have helped write, although that did nothing to stop you from jumping right to it.

“You never get home this early.” He tensed, and his hand stilled against your shoulder—-where, you realised, he had been casually rubbing your skin through your shirt for the past few moments—before relaxing back into his usual demeanour, raising a judging eyebrow, as if to tell you he knew exactly what you were trying.

“We wrapped it up, I didn’t need to stay in the office.” He almost never needed to, but he always did, and he hadn’t run to Jack when he came through the door, instead he seemed to be latching to you, “Now tell me what’s bothering you, Sweetheart.”

Oh, so he really wanted you dead, there was no other explanation for his behaviour, he must have known how you felt, and he was using it to kill you. It was unfair, what you said next was basically against your will, he had forced it out of you with his gentle touches and cruel words.

“You’ve never called me ‘Sweetheart,’ before.” Possibly the worst thing you had ever said to him, which was certainly saying something, since you always managed to lose half of your brain cells simply by breathing the same air as him.

“And that has you all worried because…” The amused lilt in his tone made your stomach curl in on itself, a mix of embarrassment and something you didn’t want to name settling heavily within you. That knowing spark in his eye that never failed to make you squirm, although you could never be entirely sure why.

In some unbidden stroke of genius, you managed to find a reasonable excuse that didn’t sound like the most carefully bullshitted sentence in history, “People say things like that when they’re about to let someone down. I was worried I was fired or something.”

His eyes softened, and you almost felt bad for bringing about the guilt in his eyes, although remembering that your lie was single-handedly carrying your dignity helped with the shame a fair bit. He ran his hand over yours where it rested on your thigh, while the other continued rubbing gently over the clothed skin of your shoulder. You assumed this was his attempt at soothing you, unfortunately all he was succeeding at was increasing your heart rate and making it hard to breathe.

“Oh, Sweetheart, of course not. You’re part of the family, I could never let you go.” He smiled at you, and despite the fact that you were seated, you swore you went weak at the knees, your breath hitching at how close he was, how easy it would be to lean forward.

“Then why?” Your voice was slightly too breathless, and the way he didn’t even seem to notice made it all just that much harder to hold yourself back. But at the same time it acted as a reminder of exactly why you couldn’t ever have him. He had no idea, and no matter how alluring that obliviousness was, if he ever did find out you would, in fact, lose the job he was promising you would have for as long as you wanted. You knew that realistically he wouldn’t be able to continue hiring you once Jack was fourteen or fifteen, and decidedly too old to have a babysitter. You also knew that once you had finished your education, you would find a job that would help you pay for an actual apartment, and maybe, one day, a house and family. But it was the thought that counted, and if you told him how you felt, you would lose it—lose him—forever.

“I don’t know. You’re one of the few people I’m close to, I want to separate you from everyone else.” There he was, making you wonder, once again, always switching up and finding ways to surprise you, just when you thought you’d figured him out.

You weren’t sure you had the words to respond to him, or if your voice would even comply if you tried to speak, so you simply nodded and turned away from him, just so that you were no longer looking in his eyes. What you didn’t do, however, was move away from his warm hands, so nice on your skin, even through the fabric of your shirt.

When it came to Aaron, you couldn’t seem to help but question, his hands so rough, with a soft touch that contrasted so beautifully. A name just for you, that told you he saw you as someone separate, different from everyone else, filling your heart with what could only be false hope. 

But if false hope was all you would get, you would take it every time, especially if it came with the added bonus of ‘Sweetheart,’ murmured so gently, the way you suspected it always would.

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tysm for reading!!

Tags: @reidmoony-toast @selmasdaydreams - Comment to be added <3

[pennyellee]

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢 - 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐁 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐍𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐈 | 𝐉𝐉𝐊 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐁 𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐔 title: champagne confetti - side B pairings: heartthrob!jk, yandere!jk x fashion employee f!reader genre: dark romance, smut, porn with plot, 90s word count: tba beta read by @chaoticpuff17 release date: january 2025

Prompt 1: “you give me brand new emotion, you got me drinking that potion” Prompt 2:  The lines did blur, in his mind for sure. Will you be tamed or will your passion for fashion falter for greater good - a life without Jeon Jungkook. When everything you’ve worked for hangs in the balance, his twisted love comes as both a gift and a curse.

summary: You, a determined fashion designer, find yourself entangled in a collaboration with the irresistibly charming and egotistic heartthrob, Jeon Jungkook. Will this partnership remain strictly professional, or will he make the lines blur?

warnings: minors dni 18+ | physical violence, hint of incapable police department, jk is the boy saviour here and everybody bends backwards for his famous ass, dubious consent, possessive/obsessive behavior, emotional manipulation, references to medication that affects mental and physical responses as "drugs" or "pills" or "medication", power imbalance, themes of isolation and confinement, gaslighting, mentions of mafia and criminal underworld, forced intimacy, oral sex (m!receiving), numbness, reader's difficulties getting wet, use of lube, fingering, penetrative sex, unprotected sex, riding/cow girl, orgasm difficulties, creampie, and so on (if i'll forgot smth, im so soorrryy!)

disclaimer: this story is purely fictional, it does not depict real-life events or involve any actual members of BTS. This story will contain strong language, explicit content, obsessive behaviour, alcohol drinking, illegal activities, oppressiveness, which we do not condone.

this is a sequel, read part one of 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢 main masterlist

author's note: so, where to start right? this was a long ass ride, mainly because i was fighting with myself to not burn out on this fic coz i loved it so much, and i still love it, but i won't lie that i got lil overwhelmed with how much love this fic received. I am so so so grateful for each and one of you! ♥ and thank you for your patience too. Life's not easy, please understand that, i always try my best. Thank you all. OH! I hope you will, have, or had very lovely and holy, merry christmas fairies ♥

You looked down at your mug, swirling the mulled wine as you gathered your thoughts. “I... I think I’m ready to go back to work,” you said finally, your voice barely above a whisper.

The change in Jungkook’s demeanor was immediate. The warmth in his eyes flickered out, replaced by something harder, colder. He set his mug down on the counter with a soft clink, his posture stiffening.

“What makes you think that?” he asked, his tone deceptively calm, but you could hear the edge beneath it. You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to meet his gaze.

“I’ve been good, haven’t I?”

Jungkook’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied you, the tension between you palpable. He took a step closer, his presence imposing.

“You have,” he admitted, his voice low and measured. “But that doesn’t mean you’re ready to go back out there.”

You felt a pang of frustration, but you tried to keep your voice steady. “I need to feel normal again, Jungkook. I need to get out of here, to do something meaningful.”

His jaw tightened, and he reached out, gently but firmly taking the mug from your hands and setting it aside. His fingers lingered on your wrist for a moment, his touch both comforting and possessive. “This is meaningful,” he said, his voice softening just a fraction as he looked into your eyes. “Us, here, together. This is your life now, Y/N.”

“But..but you promised.” Jungkook's expression flickered, a brief moment of conflict passing through his eyes before his gaze hardened again. He took a deep breath, his grip on your wrist tightening slightly as he processed your words.

“I promised to keep you safe,” he said, his voice firm but with an undercurrent of something you couldn’t quite identify—fear, perhaps, or desperation. "And letting you go back to work... it's not safe for you now, Y/N.”

You pulled your wrist free, taking a step back to create some distance. “I can’t stay cooped up in here forever, Jungkook,” you said, your voice trembling but determined. “I need to feel like myself again. I need to be around people, to do something other than just exist in this penthouse.”

He took a step closer, his hands reaching out to cup your face, his touch gentle but his eyes intense. “You are my life now,” he said softly, his voice breaking slightly. “And I can’t lose you. Not to anything or anyone.” You closed your eyes, leaning into his touch despite the turmoil inside you. Jungkook’s thumb brushed over your cheek, his touch sending shivers down your spine.

“Freedom comes with risks, Y/N,” he murmured, his voice filled with a mix of love and possessiveness. “And I’m not sure I can handle those risks.”

“I promise I am not plotting, Gguk—” you began, but Jungkook’s eyes narrowed, his grip on your face tightening ever so slightly.

“Are you not?” he cut in, his voice low and dangerous. The hint of desperation from before was now replaced with a cold, steely resolve.

“Just give me a chance to prove—” His eyes bore into yours, searching for any sign of deceit.

“I don’t know if I can trust that, Y/N,” he murmured, his voice filled with an unsettling mix of love and possessiveness. He was silent for a long moment, his jaw clenched, the muscles in his neck tight with tension. Finally, he let out a slow breath, his grip on your face softening.

“We have a family dinner coming up. It’s important, and everyone will be there. If you can behave, show that you can handle yourself around my family, then maybe... just maybe, we can talk about you going back to work.”

The implication of his words settled over you like a weight. This wasn’t just about proving yourself to him; it was about proving yourself to his entire family. The thought was daunting, but you knew this might be your only chance. To get away from his grasp.

“I'll do my best,” you said, your voice trembling with a mix of determination and anxiety. “I promise.”

A small, almost tender smile tugged at the corners of Jungkook’s lips. “Good,” he said softly.

You swallowed hard, the pressure of the upcoming dinner weighing heavily on you. “Who will be there?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

Jungkook’s eyes flickered with something unreadable. “Everyone,” he said simply. “My parents, all of my Hyungs... among whom someone can offer you a position if you make a good impression.”

This was your chance, and you had to take it.

“I’ll be on my best behaviour,” you promised, your voice steady despite the turmoil inside you.

You stood there in Jungkook’s arms, the Christmas lights twinkling softly around you, you resolved to do whatever it took to reclaim a part of your life.

“Now, show me how good you can warm my cock this Christmas.”

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read here

©pennyellee. please do not repost

tag list: @pamzn - @jaedayy (was unable to tag) - @mylyus-blog (was unable to tag) - @vanillacupcakefrosting - @jjeonjjk7 - @darkuni63 - @jeonaraathedreamer - @urlovelily - @kissyfacekoo - @looneybleus - @btspurplesky - @seokseokjinkim - @doulcha - @sexytholland - @minyngrl-blog - @mizuumii (was unable to tag) @ali99eel - @loomipee @jkslvsnella - @tearykth - @iveivory - @lachimolalajeon - @mother2monsters - @junecat18 - @mayvalentine33 - @ttanniett - @elle0604 - @mageprincess7 - @laylasbunbunny - @ashthetic7 - @00frenchfries00 - @weareatthebadlands (was unable to tag) - @annafarrr -

Don't be a silent reader, let's be friends chummers! ♥

see ya soon, love, p.

[beelmons]

Could you maybe write a blurb or fic where Spencer just goes completely feral over how loud reader is in bed 🥵

a/n: im almost certain this is not what you asked for but i got this plot idea and hjhhhhhhhdhf

They say good couples share bad habits. This had become true in the six months you and Spencer had been together. The bad habit in question was being reported to the police for excessive noise by his really bitter neighbors.

Now, what kind of noise could a quiet FBI agent and a simple person, such as yourself, make, you may ask? Well, that would be the obnoxiously loud moans and cries that you used to let out during sex.

"Fuck, fuck!" you would have said more, but the fact that your knees were touching your breasts as Spencer had you in a mating press had scrambled your brain beyond the skill to speak.

He himself could only smile at the fact that your moans had overpowered the sound of moist skin lapping together. He loved when you were so loud, nay, he loved when he fucked you so good you had no choice but to share it with the world.

You could feel his entire shaft bury itself within you, the sensation of his testicles against your ass just serving as confirmation of the fact.

His member was tinted a vague white, the thing with Spencer is that you never understood where he got such stamina from. The speed of his thrusts were proportional to the decibels of your whimpers, the louder you yelled, the more eager he used to get.

Smack! A loud banging noise distracted you a little, causing you to shut up for a second. Spencer, however, did not give in to the sound of the door being pounded, eyes still on your flushed face, cock still hitting the deepest ends of your pussy.

"Can you please shut the fuck up?!" a stranger yelled from outside his apartment door "Come on man, shut your whore up! it's been two hours!"

You brought your hands to your mouth, trying to fight back the noises that you were making out of embarrassment.

"No, no." Spencer lowered his speed to talk "What are you doing? I need to hear you."

"Your neighbors can hear everything!" you barely whispered.

"They should be thankful." he reached for your wrists to open the path for your mouth again, pressing a quick kiss to your lips "I bet he touches himself to your moans." he bucked his hips forward slowly, and a whimper escaped you "Yeah, those delicious little sounds you make. Takes a simple exhale to have me rock hard, couldn't blame him if the way you screamed made him cum in his pants."

His narrative had gotten so filthy, so unlike him, a facade that you only saw whenever he knew he had you at his mercy, the sort of information he could only get by the sounds of pleasure he loved so much. Without your permission, your walks ended up clenching around him, aching for his previous pace to take over again.

"Oh, you like that, don't you?" he smiled in your direction, his forehead touching yours "I would normally be jealous, but you feel so good I can barely think straight."

"Spencer..." you muttered in a begging tone, a much lower one compared to what he liked.

"What was that?" his hips began to pick up their pace once again "Speak up, baby, he can't hear you."

"Spencer!" your tone began to raise once more as the thrusts became faster.

"That's good." he praised "Let's show him what my little whore can do."

[hereforuconnwbb]

Unexpected Halt - CHAPTER NINE

paige x azzi (pazzi)

au fic!

~paige plays for uconn and azzi plays for stanford~

word count: 11.2k

warning: mentions of drugging and sa

heres chapter 9 for u guys !!! 🫶🏽 i wasnt too sure on how to continue at first, but i think ive finally got it. im hoping this chapter makes sense and ties everything together well 😭 im coming towards the end of this series—maybe just one or two more chapters left ?? im not entirely sure yet, it really depends on how i can wrap up the story and get it to flow. but um anywayssss i hope yall enjoy it !!

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Days had passed since Azzi unblocked Paige, but no messages had been sent. The silence lingered between them, heavy and unspoken. Paige had no way of knowing she was unblocked, and Azzi wasn’t sure if she wanted to be the one to break the silence first.

Paige, on the other hand, was still trying to process everything. She had spent the last few days running on autopilot—going to practice, going to class, pretending everything was fine when, in reality, she was anything but. The weight of everything with Lexi, the betrayal, the misunderstanding with Azzi—it all sat on her chest like a crushing force.

And now, Paige was faced with a decision.

Would she take the risk of reaching out, knowing she could be ignored? Or would she let Azzi come to her when she was ready?

—------------

Paige was sitting in her dorm, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone, when it rang. She didn’t recognize the number at first, but as soon as she picked up and heard the voice on the other end, her heart started racing.

“Paige Bueckers? This is Officer Reynolds from the Storrs Police Department. We’re calling to follow up on the investigation regarding Alexis Carter.”

Hearing Lexi’s full name sent a chill down Paige’s spine. She sat up straighter, gripping her phone tighter. “Yeah, I—um—yeah. What’s going on?”

“We wanted to inform you that we’ve taken Alexis Carter into custody.”

Paige’s breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t expected them to move this fast.

“We gathered enough evidence based on the videos you and Serena provided, along with the footage we obtained from Ted’s and testimonies from other witnesses. She was located earlier today, and after questioning, we proceeded with the arrest. She’s facing multiple charges, including administering a substance with intent, identity fraud for the messages she sent from your phone, and harassment.”

Paige exhaled, but the relief she thought she would feel wasn’t there. She still felt suffocated, still felt the weight of what had happened pressing down on her.

“So…what happens now?” she asked quietly.

“She’s being held in custody, and the case is moving forward. We’ll be in touch if we need you to provide further statements, but we have substantial evidence. We also wanted to check in with you—make sure you’re alright and see if you need any additional support.”

Paige wanted to say she was fine. That now that Lexi was out of the picture, everything would just go back to normal. But it wouldn’t. It couldn’t.

“I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

The officer was silent for a moment before speaking again, their tone softer. “That’s understandable. This was a traumatic event, and it’s going to take time to process. If you need resources or someone to talk to, we can arrange that for you. You’re not alone in this, Paige.”

She swallowed hard. She wasn’t sure what she needed. Right now, all she could think about was Azzi.

“Thank you,” she said after a pause.

“Of course. We’ll keep you updated as things progress. If you remember anything else or need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

With that, the call ended. Paige let her phone drop onto her bed as she stared at the wall, mind racing.

Lexi was finally gone. But the damage had already been done.

And now, she had to figure out how to pick up the pieces.

Her mind swirling with emotions after the call with the police. She didn’t know what she was expecting by sending the message, but something in her made her grab her phone and type it out anyway. She stared at the screen for a moment before hitting send, her finger hovering over the send button for a moment longer than necessary.

It was a long shot, a desperate move, but at this point, she had nothing left to lose.

“Azzi, I don’t know if this will even go through, but I just need you to know… I was the victim in all of this. I would never want to hurt you. Whatever happened wasn’t me. Lexi is the one who did this. There’s proof now, and the police are involved. I thought you’d never want to talk to me again, but I’m not giving up on us. I just want you to know the truth. I can’t keep living with this silence between us. Please, when you’re ready, I’ll be here. I just had to say this. I’m sorry. Please don’t hate me.”

She reread the message a few times, wondering if it would even reach Azzi. Maybe the damage was too deep. Maybe she didn’t want to hear from her anymore. But then again, Paige hadn’t known what Azzi had been thinking. She didn’t know if Azzi had even been given a chance to see the full picture.

Before she could second guess herself, she tapped the “send” button.

The seconds stretched, each one feeling like an eternity as Paige watched the little spinning icon. She held her breath, waiting. And then, the message went through.

It wasn’t a huge sign, not by any means, but it was a glimmer. She blinked, staring at her screen. Her heart skipped a beat. The message was sent.

She hadn’t expected that. She hadn’t thought for a second that Azzi would unblock her. But the fact that the message had gone through meant something. Azzi had at least read it—or would, eventually.

But that was all she could do for now. There was nothing more she could say. She had apologized. She had explained. The rest was up to Azzi.

Paige set her phone down beside her, a weight still heavy on her chest. She felt exposed, vulnerable, but a small part of her felt a glimmer of hope. Even if it was just a sliver, it was something.

She wiped away the tear that had escaped her eye and curled into herself, hoping for a message that might never come.

—------------

Azzi sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup, her mind racing with thoughts of everything that had happened. She hadn’t thought much about Paige in the past few days—not really. It was hard not to, of course, but Azzi had done her best to keep herself distracted. Her heart ached every time she thought of Paige, but she knew she needed time. Time to process everything, to let the anger fade, and to try to heal.

And then, her phone buzzed.

Azzi glanced down, seeing Paige’s name pop up on the screen. She hadn’t expected it. She hadn’t even thought about whether or not Paige would reach out again.

Her thumb hovered over the message. She hadn’t blocked Paige’s number, not completely, but she’d kept herself away for a reason. But now, as she stared at the message, something in her shifted. Her thumb tapped the notification, and the message opened.

Paige: Azzi, I don’t know if this will even go through, but I just need you to know… I was the victim in all of this. I would never want to hurt you. Whatever happened wasn’t me. Lexi is the one who did this. There’s proof now, and the police are involved. I thought you’d never want to talk to me again, but I’m not giving up on us. I just want you to know the truth. I can’t keep living with this silence between us. Please, when you’re ready, I’ll be here. I just had to say this. I’m sorry. Please don’t hate me.

Azzi closed her eyes, the weight of Paige’s words sinking into her chest. She exhaled a shaky breath, trying to process what she had just read. For the longest time, Azzi had been convinced that Paige had hurt her. She hadn’t understood the truth, and the anger and pain she’d carried had clouded her.

But now it made sense.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Caroline’s voice from a few days ago. She had shown Azzi the videos, the evidence Paige had sent. Azzi hadn’t wanted to look at it, hadn’t wanted to know, but Caroline had insisted. The proof had been undeniable. Lexi was the one who had drugged Paige, and she had kissed her while Paige had been unconscious, taking a picture to frame her. Azzi had watched the videos, and each one had broken her heart even more.

Azzi had been so angry with Paige, but Caroline had shown her the truth and it was a lot for her to take in. And now, reading Paige’s message, everything was clearer.

Azzi: Paige… I didn’t know. I should have listened to you from the start, and I’m so sorry for blocking you. Caroline showed me the videos, and I see what happened. I can’t imagine how you must have felt. I’m sorry for everything… for not giving you the chance to explain. I was hurt, but I know now you didn’t deserve that. I understand now, and I’m so sorry.

Azzi sat back, her chest tight. She had no idea how Paige would respond, but she knew this was a step toward healing. Toward understanding. She wasn’t sure what would happen next, but for the first time in days, Azzi felt like she could breathe again.

She had forgiven Paige, but now, they had a lot to work through.

Her heart still ached, but there was hope now. Hope for something they could rebuild, piece by piece.

—------------

Paige’s heart hammered in her chest as she stared at her phone, waiting for Azzi’s reply. Her fingers felt cold, and she was almost afraid to open the message. What if Azzi didn’t respond? What if this was it?

When her phone buzzed, Paige quickly unlocked it, holding her breath as she saw the message from Azzi.

Azzi: Paige… I didn’t know. I should have listened to you from the start, and I’m so sorry for blocking you. Caroline showed me the videos, and I see what happened. I can’t imagine how you must have felt. I’m sorry for everything… for not giving you the chance to explain. I was hurt, but I know now you didn’t deserve that. I understand now, and I’m so sorry.

Paige let out a shaky breath, the weight on her chest lifting just a little. Her thumb hovered over the screen, unsure of what to say next.

Paige: “Thank you for saying that. I’ve been wanting to talk to you, but I didn’t know if you’d ever want to hear from me again. But I’m glad we’re talking now.”

She paused, thinking about everything that had happened. It was still a mess, but at least they were starting to clear the air.

Azzi: “I was really mad at you, Paige. But I see now that it wasn’t you. I should’ve trusted you more. I just couldn’t understand.”

Paige: “I get it. I messed up too, but I promise, I never wanted to hurt you.”

Azzi: “I know. It’s just going to take me some time to process everything. I don’t know what happens next, but I think I’m ready to start figuring it out.”

Paige smiled at the message, her heart a little lighter now.

Paige: “Whenever you’re ready, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Paige sat on her bed, staring at her phone, rereading her conversation with Azzi. She didn’t know what this meant for them, but at least they were talking again. That was something.

Before she could get lost in her thoughts, her dorm door swung open.

“Knew it!” KK’s voice rang out as she and Ice stepped inside, grinning.

Paige blinked up at them, confused. “Knew what?”

Ice smirked. “That you and Azzi would talk again. You were looking miserable as hell the past few days, but something about you feels different now.”

KK nudged Ice. “Look at her, man. She’s literally glowing.”

Paige rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help the small smile creeping onto her lips.

Ice crossed her arms. “So? What happened?”

Paige exhaled, running a hand through her hair. “She unblocked me.”

KK let out a dramatic gasp. “Oh shit, for real?”

Paige nodded. “Yeah… we talked. She saw the videos, and she gets it now. She apologized for not listening to me.”

Ice grinned. “That’s big, P. She still cares.”

Paige shrugged, but she felt lighter than she had in days. “She needs time, which I get. I just—” She sighed, shaking her head. “I just hope we can move forward.”

KK flopped onto Paige’s bed. “You will. She knows the truth now. Just give it time.”

Ice sat beside her, nodding. “And we’ll be here making sure you don’t spiral while you wait.”

Paige huffed out a laugh, appreciating them more than she could put into words. For the first time in a while, things didn’t feel so hopeless.

The conversation shifted to the next game, and KK leaned forward, her tone teasing. “So, speaking of moving forward, there’s a little matter of that upcoming game against UCLA. It’s at their arena, in California. You should totally catch a flight to Azzi after our game. You’re technically already there, right? Just fly to see Azzi. Take a break before the next game. We’re all thinking it.”

Paige blinked, caught off guard. “You really think I should?”

Ice nodded seriously. “Yeah, why not? It’s the perfect time. Geno and CD probably won’t have a problem with it.”

Paige hesitated for a moment. “I mean, it would make sense… we’re already in California. I just need to get their approval.”

KK shot her a wink. “Exactly. And come on, you’ve guys got to fix things. Take this chance.”

—------------

Later that day, Paige walked into Geno’s office, where both he and CD were reviewing some game footage. They looked up when she entered.

“Paige, what’s up?” Geno asked, his expression neutral but welcoming.

Paige took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. “Hey, so, I was thinking… after our game against UCLA in California, I could catch a flight to Stanford instead of coming back with the team. There’s a bit of a break before our next game, so I thought I could use the time to sort out some stuff. Relationship stuff”

CD raised an eyebrow. “Relationship stuff, huh? Sounds serious.”

Paige nodded. “Yeah, it’s… with Azzi.”

The room went silent for a moment. Geno and CD exchanged a look, both clearly surprised. Geno leaned back in his chair. “Azzi? The Azzi Fudd? I didn’t realize that was happening.”

Paige bit her lip, feeling slightly awkward now. “Yeah, it’s been complicated. But we’re trying to work things out, and I think this is a good time to talk.”

CD gave her a thoughtful nod. “Well, if it’s important, we’re not going to stop you. But we do need to make sure the team stays focused. I trust you can handle it. Just don’t forget the bigger picture.”

Paige nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”

Then Geno added, “Oh and just so you know, we’ve been hearing some things about Azzi and Caroline. Apparently, they’re both entering the transfer portal.”

Paige froze, eyes widening in shock. “What? They’re… what? They didn’t tell me.”

CD sighed. “It’s a bit of a mess. Apparently, there’s some internal conflict at Stanford, and both of them are looking at other options.”

Paige felt a wave of disbelief hit her. “But… they didn’t even mention it to me.”

Geno looked at her, his expression thoughtful. “You might want to talk to them about it. It’s something a lot of teams are looking into, including us. If you’re going out there, maybe you can try to convince them to come to UConn. I’m sure they’d fit in well here. And, we would really love to have them here.”

Paige’s mind was racing. Azzi and Caroline leaving Stanford was something she hadn’t expected at all. She hadn’t known the extent of the situation between them, and now it seemed like everything was about to change.

“Thanks for the heads up,” she muttered, still processing. “I’ll see what I can do.”

With that, Paige left the office, her thoughts swirling. She had a lot more to think about than just her relationship with Azzi. Now, the future of her team—and possibly Azzi and Caroline’s futures—were hanging in the balance. She knew she needed to handle this carefully.

—------------

Later that night, Paige sat on her bed, staring at her phone for a while before typing out the message to Azzi. She wasn’t sure how Azzi would react to the news about the transfer portal, but she had to tell her. She took a deep breath and began typing:

Paige: Hey, I just found out about the transfer portal with you and Caroline… You didn’t mention it to me. What’s going on?

She hit send, her heart beating a little faster as she waited for Azzi’s response. Paige wasn’t sure what to expect. She was already dealing with a lot of uncertainty with their relationship, and now there was this unexpected development with the portal. The last thing she wanted was to make things more complicated.

After a few moments, Azzi’s reply came through.

Azzi: Yeah, I didn’t want to tell you yet… We’ve been trying to figure everything out. It’s not easy, but I guess it’s time to move on. The situation here just… isn’t working anymore.

Paige’s chest tightened as she read the message. She understood the decision, even if it hurt to see Azzi’s words so final. She thought about the implications—Azzi leaving Stanford, everything changing. But she wasn’t about to give up on them just yet.

Paige: Hey, I get it. I really do. Look, after the UCLA game, I’m gonna head over to Stanford to see you. I need to talk to you in person. I know it’s been rough, but I want to make things right.

Azzi’s reply came quickly, and Paige felt a bit of relief when she read it.

Azzi: Sounds good. I’ll be here. I’m glad you’re coming.

Paige smiled to herself as she read the message. She knew there was a long road ahead, but this was a step in the right direction. She had to fix things with Azzi, no matter what it took.

She put her phone down for a moment, taking a deep breath. She still had the game against UCLA to focus on, but for the first time in a while, things felt like they were moving forward.

—------------

A few days later, the UConn team touched down in LA, the warm California sun blindingly bright against the backdrop of the towering skyscrapers. The city was alive with energy, a stark contrast to the chilly weather they had left behind. The team moved through the airport, their chatter filling the air, but Paige’s mind was elsewhere. She followed the others, but her focus was on one thing: the game tomorrow. She had one more challenge to face before she could finally board a flight to Stanford.

Ice and KK walked alongside her as they made their way to the team buses, the three of them talking casually, but there was an underlying tension in the air. Ice, ever the curious one, raised an eyebrow as Paige remained quieter than usual.

“So, we know you’re heading to Stanford after the game, huh?” Ice asked, her voice teasing but with a knowing look in her eyes. “You sure about this?”

Paige’s lips pressed together into a thin line. She had told them her plan earlier, but there was a difference between talking about it and actually going through with it. She nodded, pushing aside the anxious feeling in her chest. “Yeah, I need to figure things out with Azzi.”

KK chimed in with a smirk. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re more excited to get there than play tomorrow.”

Paige rolled her eyes, but the flicker of nerves in her gaze betrayed her. “I’m focused on the game,” she said, but even she could hear the uncertainty in her voice. “We’ll see how things go.”

They reached the hotel, and the team began filing inside, luggage in tow. Paige’s teammates found their rooms, and she followed the group, but her mind kept wandering back to Stanford. She didn’t know exactly how Azzi would react when they see each other at the airport, or what their conversation would be like, but she knew it had to happen. No more running.

“Don’t worry, P,” Ice said softly, falling in step beside her as they walked down the hallway. “Whatever happens, we’re all here for you. Just remember to focus tomorrow. Then you can do whatever you want after.”

Paige gave a small smile, grateful for the support. Her friends had been there for her through everything, especially the mess with Lexi and all the emotional turmoil that had come with it. Ice always had a way of making her feel like everything would be okay, even when it didn’t feel that way.

“I know,” Paige replied quietly. “But tomorrow’s game… it’s important. I just want to get through it.”

KK nudged her. “You’ll do fine, P. You always do. But then, you have to come back and deal with whatever happens next.” She gave Paige a knowing look. “Don’t leave us hanging.”

Paige let out a small laugh. “You’re gonna be the first to know.”

They arrived at the room, and Ice and KK dropped their bags, taking their usual spots on the beds. Paige’s mind, though, was already a million miles away, picturing the flight she’d be catching after the game tomorrow—her chance to set things right with Azzi.

—------------

The next day, the game against UCLA was nothing short of intense. The atmosphere in the arena was electric, with fans packed into the stands, the tension palpable in the air. UConn and UCLA were evenly matched, trading points in a high-paced battle that seemed to keep everyone on the edge of their seats. Every possession felt crucial, and both teams played with relentless energy, their defenses pushing back against any attempt at a clean shot.

Paige moved quickly on the court, the familiar rhythm of the game grounding her, even though her mind kept straying. She felt the pressure of the upcoming trip—Stanford was calling, and there was no turning back now. But despite the whirlwind of thoughts, the game was all she knew in that moment. When the ball was in her hands, everything else faded away.

She sank shot after shot, her focus sharp despite the chaos surrounding her. Her teammates relied on her, and she didn’t let them down. Every assist was well-timed, and every play was made with precision. When the game reached its final moments, with the score neck-and-neck, Paige found herself leading a fast break, pushing the ball down the court with urgency. The defense closed in, but Paige faked left and made a slick pass to her teammate, who finished with a quick layup.

The buzzer sounded seconds later, signaling UConn’s hard-fought victory. The crowd erupted, and the team erupted with them. Paige, though, was already thinking ahead. The relief of winning the game was temporary, fleeting, like a breath she could finally release. But her mind quickly shifted back to the flight waiting for her after the final whistle. The night was still young, and she had one more step to take, one more conversation to have.

As the team celebrated their victory in the locker room, Paige kept her composure, letting the excitement of the win wash over her but not getting swept away. She exchanged high-fives with her teammates and smiled at their praise, but her eyes kept darting toward the door. The countdown was on, and soon, she would be on her way. She couldn’t help but feel a little nervous. The next chapter was about to unfold, and she didn’t know how it would go, but one thing was clear: she was ready.

—------------

After the game, the team gathered their things and headed back to the hotel. The atmosphere was a mix of excitement and relief. Paige, however, had her focus on the next chapter—getting to Stanford and facing whatever awaited her with Azzi.

At the hotel, Paige took her time packing. She didn’t want to rush the moment. Once she was done, she left the room and met up with Ice and KK in the lobby.

“I’ll see you guys soon,” Paige said, hugging both of them. “Thanks for everything, seriously.”

“You got this, P,” Ice said with a smile. “We’re proud of you.”

“Take care of yourself, alright?” KK added, giving Paige a tight squeeze. “Let us know how everything goes with Azzi.”

Paige nodded, grateful for their support. She didn’t know what the next few days would hold, but she knew that having her friends backing her up was all she needed.

She made her way over to Geno and CD, who were talking with a couple of the other coaches near the entrance. As she approached, Geno turned to her, giving her a quick nod.

“Headed to the airport now, huh?” he asked, his expression a little serious but supportive.

Paige smiled nervously. “Yeah.”

CD raised an eyebrow. “Let us know if you need anything. And… if you convince her and Caroline to come to UConn, we’ll be waiting.”

Paige chuckled, but the thought lingered in the back of her mind. She wasn’t sure what was going to happen with Azzi, but she knew that was something they’d have to work through together.

“Thanks, guys,” Paige said, giving them both a hug. “I’ll keep you posted.”

As she walked out of the hotel, the cool evening air hit her face, a welcome contrast to the warmth of the building she was leaving behind. Her heart raced with a mix of excitement and nerves. She was about to head to the airport—about to catch her flight to Stanford to see Azzi. The weight of what was ahead settled on her chest, but she pushed it down. She had to stay focused.

She grabbed her bag, dialing for an Uber as she stepped onto the sidewalk. The car arrived quickly, and she slid into the backseat, trying to keep her thoughts in check as the city of LA passed by outside the window.

—------------

Paige sat back in her seat, buckling her seatbelt as the plane began to taxi down the runway. She pulled out her phone, fingers hesitating for a moment before she sent a quick message to Azzi.

Paige: “Just boarded my flight. Should be there in 2 hours.”

She stared at the screen, her heart thudding a little faster than usual. She hadn’t been this nervous in a while, but this was different. This was about fixing something she had broken, something she wasn’t sure could be fixed.

It didn’t take long for Azzi’s reply to come through.

Azzi: “I’ll be waiting at the airport for you. See you soon 💗”

Paige smiled softly at the message, feeling a sense of calm settle over her. She was actually going to see Azzi. It felt surreal, knowing how much had happened between them. There was a lot to say, but right now, just knowing that Azzi would be there, waiting for her, gave Paige a little hope.

As the plane lifted into the sky, Paige leaned her head back, closing her eyes for a moment. She felt a mix of emotions—nervousness, relief, anticipation. She didn’t know what the next few hours would bring, but she was going to take it one step at a time. The first step was seeing Azzi. And that was all that mattered right now.

—------------

The flight was short, barely an hour and a half, but it felt longer to Paige. Her mind raced as she watched the passing clouds outside the window, thinking about everything that had led her here. The thought of Azzi waiting at the airport kept bringing a small smile to her face. She felt a sense of warmth and nervousness mix in her chest, like she was preparing for something significant, even though she wasn’t sure exactly what that would be.

When the plane finally began its descent, Paige’s heart quickened. She wasn’t sure what she expected when she landed—whether Azzi would be waiting with open arms, or if the tension between them would be too much to overcome—but she was about to find out.

The plane touched down with a soft jolt, and Paige quickly grabbed her things, eager to get off. She checked her phone one more time, seeing Azzi’s message again. Paige’s hands were shaking just slightly, the reality of the situation settling in. She was finally here, finally going to see Azzi.

As soon as she stepped off the plane, Paige scanned the crowded terminal, her eyes searching for the one person she knew would be waiting for her. It didn’t take long. Through the crowd, she saw Azzi standing by the baggage claim, looking around. Her hair was pulled back into a messy bun, and she had a small, hesitant smile on her face.

Paige’s heart skipped a beat. She walked toward Azzi, their eyes meeting in a quiet, unspoken understanding.

When they were close enough, Paige didn’t hesitate. She opened her arms, a simple gesture, but one that felt huge in the moment. Azzi’s face softened, and without a second thought, she stepped into Paige’s embrace. The moment their bodies met, a wave of relief seemed to wash over both of them.

Azzi’s arms wrapped around Paige tightly, and she pressed her face into the crook of Paige’s neck, inhaling deeply. All the anger, confusion, and hurt of the past few days seemed to fade away in that moment. There was nothing but the warmth of Paige’s arms and the quiet comfort of knowing that she wasn’t alone in this anymore.

Azzi closed her eyes, feeling her heart settle for the first time in what felt like forever. All she had needed was this—the simple reassurance that Paige still cared. That maybe they could still figure things out, even after everything that had happened.

For Paige, it felt like the world had paused, the noise of the airport fading into the background. Holding Azzi like this, feeling her warmth, it was everything she’d wanted but never knew how to ask for. She wanted to say so much, but for now, just this felt like enough.

They stood there for a moment, the embrace lingering longer than either of them expected. Azzi finally pulled back slightly, her hands resting on Paige’s shoulders as she looked up at her, her face soft but guarded.

“I’m sorry,” Paige whispered, her voice barely above a breath, though she hadn’t meant to say it aloud.

Azzi simply nodded, not saying a word, but Paige could see the quiet understanding in her eyes.

After a few moments, Azzi cracked a small smile. “Let’s just… take it one step at a time, okay?”

Paige nodded, her chest tight but hopeful. “Yeah. One step at a time.”

And that was all either of them needed right now.

—------------

The car ride back to Azzi’s dorm was filled with a strange tension that neither of them knew how to break. Paige sat in the passenger seat, nervously picking at her fingers, stealing occasional glances at Azzi, who kept her eyes focused on the road ahead. The weight of everything that had happened was still hanging in the air, making it hard for either of them to find a natural way to ease into conversation.

As they passed through the busy streets, Paige decided to push through the awkward silence. “So… the transfer portal situation,” she started, her voice slightly hesitating. She was nervous, but she knew they needed to address it. She’d been holding onto the question ever since hearing about it, unsure of how to bring it up without making things feel too heavy.

Azzi glanced at her quickly, her face unreadable, before focusing back on the road. She didn’t say anything, but Paige could feel the unspoken weight of it.

Paige swallowed, gathering her courage. “I know… I know it’s been tough. But, uh, which schools have been reaching out to you guys? I know UConn’s one of them.”

Azzi was quiet for a moment, then gave a small, almost resigned sigh. “Yeah, UConn’s reached out. A lot of schools have. Tennessee, UCLA, ND… and some other big ones, too. But, honestly, we’re still exploring all the options. Caroline and I, we have an idea of where we might want to go, but… it’s still up in the air.”

Paige nodded, trying to hide the rush of emotions that came over her. She wasn’t surprised that UConn was one of the schools reaching out—Geno had always made it clear he wanted the best players, and Azzi and Caroline were among the best.

A part of her couldn’t help but feel hopeful, though she pushed that feeling down, not wanting to get her hopes up too much.

“I talked to Geno about it,” Paige said, her voice a little softer. “He really wants you and Caroline there. He believes you two could make UConn unstoppable.”

Azzi didn’t say anything at first, but Paige could see the slight tension in her shoulders as she kept her eyes on the road. She didn’t know what Azzi was thinking, but it was clear that the transfer portal situation was just as complicated for her as it was for Paige.

“We’ve talked about it,” Azzi finally said, her voice quiet. “Caroline and I… we’ve got some ideas. But, yeah, we’re still figuring things out.”

The silence settled between them again, though it felt less heavy now. Paige’s mind was racing with thoughts of what this all meant. She wasn’t sure if they’d be able to work things out between them, but she was starting to think that maybe… just maybe, they could both find a way to make it work—both with their teams and with each other.

Azzi took a sharp turn, heading into the parking lot near her dorm. Paige shifted in her seat, the nerves creeping back up again. The anticipation of what was to come next—the conversation, the possible change in direction for their futures—was almost too much to bear.

Azzi parked the car and turned off the engine. She looked over at Paige, her expression soft, yet thoughtful. “We’ll figure it out.I just need some time.”

Paige nodded, her heart heavy but hopeful. “Yeah… I know.”

They sat there for a moment, neither of them speaking, just letting the quiet settle between them as the night deepened around them.

—------------

As Paige and Azzi walked through the parking lot, the cool night air brushed against them, and Paige carried her own bag despite Azzi’s insistence that she help. Azzi had offered multiple times to take the bag for her, but Paige had declined each time with a small smile, not wanting to seem like a burden. There was something comforting about the familiar weight of her own belongings in her hand, and it felt right for her to carry it herself.

They reached the dorm building, and the familiar hum of campus life surrounded them as they entered the building and made their way up to Azzi’s floor. The soft sound of their footsteps echoed through the hallway, and as they reached Azzi’s door, Paige was already mentally preparing for whatever the next few days would bring. She was hoping they could talk, finally process everything that had happened, and see where things stood between them.

Azzi opened the door to reveal Caroline lounging on the couch, her attention on her phone. She looked up when the door clicked open and, for a moment, froze. When her eyes landed on Paige, she blinked in surprise, her brow furrowing.

“Paige?” Caroline’s voice was laced with a hint of confusion, but there was something more there—a mix of curiosity and cautious hope. She quickly pushed herself up from the couch, standing to face them both.

Paige gave her a tight-lipped smile, nodding. “Yeah, I’m here.”

Azzi shot Caroline a knowing look as she stepped inside. “We’re working things out,” Azzi said, and even though her voice was calm, there was an undeniable weight to it, a promise of something better to come.

Caroline nodded, relief washing over her face, though she didn’t say anything right away. She just gave Paige a small, tentative smile before sitting back down on the couch, her phone forgotten in her lap. “I’m glad you two are figuring things out,” she said with a sincerity that softened the tension in the room.

Paige nodded, not sure what else to say, her own nerves still raw from the past few weeks. She followed Azzi to her room, feeling the slight unease in her stomach. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be here, in Azzi’s space, but everything still felt so new and fragile. She wasn’t sure if they were fully back to where they used to be, or if they were even capable of getting there.

Azzi’s room was cozy and familiar, just like Paige remembered. The bed was slightly unmade, clothes scattered on the floor in the usual places, and the soft glow of a desk lamp illuminated the room with a warm, intimate light. Azzi sat down on her bed, laying back and propping herself up with a pillow, her eyes following Paige as she started to sort through her things.

Paige set her bag down beside the dresser and began putting Azzi’s clothes away in the drawers, the mundane task helping her focus and calm her nerves. She had missed this—this small part of her life, the simple act of being in Azzi’s space and settling in like everything was normal. But it wasn’t normal, not yet, and the tension between them remained, though neither of them was sure how to break it.

“You don’t have to do that, you know,” Azzi said softly from her spot on the bed, her voice gentle but with an underlying tone of concern. “I could’ve helped you. You don’t need to do everything on your own.”

Paige paused for a moment, looking over her shoulder at Azzi, her expression softening. “It’s fine,” she said quietly, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I need to do something. Keeps my mind busy.”

Azzi nodded, watching her for a moment before sinking back into the pillows. She hadn’t fully processed everything either, but for now, this—just having Paige there—felt like the right step. They didn’t have all the answers yet, but for the first time in what felt like forever, there was no immediate urgency to fix everything. It could wait.

As Paige finished settling in, she turned to see Azzi looking at her with a mixture of exhaustion and something softer, like she was grateful for Paige’s presence, but also unsure of where they stood.

Paige sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at her hands before turning to face Azzi. She took a deep breath, the silence lingering between them.

“I’m glad we’re doing this,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t want to lose you, Azzi. Not again.”

Azzi’s gaze softened, and she reached out, brushing her hand lightly against Paige’s. “You won’t. We’re figuring this out. Together.”

—------------

Paige took her time tidying up Azzi’s room, folding the scattered clothes and stacking them neatly in a pile by the dresser. It was a simple task, but it grounded her, kept her hands busy while her mind raced. Azzi stayed on the bed, watching in silence, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the hem of her hoodie. The air between them was heavy—not tense, exactly, but weighted with everything they hadn’t said yet.

When Paige finally finished, she turned back toward the bed, wiping her hands on her sweatpants. Azzi was still looking at her, eyes flickering with hesitation and something else—regret. Paige could see it before she even spoke.

Azzi sat up, crossing her legs beneath her. “Paige,” she started, voice quiet, unsure. She glanced down, like she was trying to piece her words together before finally meeting Paige’s gaze again. “I need to say this. I—I was wrong.”

Paige’s brows furrowed slightly, but she didn’t say anything, letting Azzi continue.

“When I first saw the picture… when I got those messages,” Azzi swallowed hard, shaking her head as if frustrated with herself. “I didn’t even stop to think. I should have. I should’ve listened to you, I should’ve trusted you instead of letting my emotions get the best of me.” Her voice grew softer, guilt weighing down her words. “And when I saw the proof—the video of how she kissed you while you were unconscious, how she drugged you—I felt… sick. Sick that I ever doubted you.”

Paige exhaled, her expression unreadable.

Azzi clenched her hands together. “I’m so sorry. I was so caught up in how it looked, how it felt, that I didn’t even give you the chance to explain. I just—” She hesitated, eyes dropping again. “I just reacted. And that wasn’t fair to you.”

Paige stayed silent for a moment, processing Azzi’s words. She could see the sincerity in her eyes, the way her voice wavered just enough to reveal the emotions she was holding back. Azzi wasn’t just apologizing—she was hurting over how she had handled it.

Paige finally sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Azzi… it’s okay.”

Azzi’s head snapped up, her brows drawing together. “No, it’s not.”

Paige shook her head. “None of this should’ve happened in the first place. Lexi… she’s messed up. And yeah, it hurt when you didn’t believe me, but I get why it was hard to process.” Her voice softened. “I would’ve been hurt too if the situation was reversed.”

Azzi looked like she wanted to argue, but Paige gave her a small, reassuring smile. “The important thing is that we’re here now. We’re working through it.” She nudged Azzi’s knee lightly. “We’re not gonna let her win, okay?”

Azzi exhaled shakily, nodding. “Yeah. Okay.”

A comfortable silence settled over them, the weight of the conversation lifting, even if it wasn’t completely gone. Paige glanced at Azzi’s bed, then back at her. “Can we… can we cuddle?”

Azzi blinked in surprise before nodding almost immediately, shifting back to make space. “Yeah. Of course.”

Paige climbed onto the bed, pulling the blankets over them as she settled in. Azzi didn’t hesitate before burying her face into the crook of Paige’s neck, her arms wrapping around her like she had been waiting for this moment for far too long. Paige sucked in a quiet breath at the closeness, but after a moment, she relaxed, resting her chin on top of Azzi’s head. The warmth of Azzi’s body against hers, the steady rhythm of her breathing—it was calming. Familiar.

Paige hesitated, but then, gently, she pressed a soft kiss to the top of Azzi’s head. Azzi let out a quiet breath, holding Paige just a little tighter. Neither of them spoke, both content in the silence, in the feeling of being wrapped up in each other.

And slowly, with their bodies tangled together, they drifted off to sleep.

—------------

The morning light seeped through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Paige and Azzi were still tangled together beneath the blankets, their breathing slow and steady. Azzi’s head remained tucked beneath Paige’s chin, her arms loosely wrapped around Paige’s waist. Paige had one arm draped over Azzi’s back, holding her close even in sleep. It was the kind of peaceful scene that made it easy to forget all the complications surrounding them.

Caroline didn’t forget, though—not when she walked into the room with a plate of food in hand, fully expecting to wake Azzi up for breakfast, only to freeze in the doorway at the sight before her.

Her lips curled into a smirk as she took in the sight of Paige and Azzi curled up together, completely unaware of the world around them. It was almost unfair how cute they looked. Paige, who had always tried to play things cool, was practically cradling Azzi in her sleep. And Azzi? She looked like she had no intentions of ever letting go.

Caroline bit her lip to hold back a laugh before quietly pulling out her phone. She made sure the angle was just right before snapping a picture. She knew Azzi would kill her if she found out, but this was too good not to capture.

With the evidence secured, she finally cleared her throat. “Alright, lovebirds, time to wake up. I made breakfast, and I am not about to let it get cold while you two continue your little cuddle session.”

Azzi groaned first, nuzzling closer into Paige as if she could ignore Caroline’s voice and go back to sleep. Paige, still half-asleep, tightened her hold slightly before blinking her eyes open.

Caroline smirked. “Good morning, sunshine.”

Paige groaned, her voice thick with sleep. “Why are you in here?”

“Because I made breakfast,” Caroline said matter-of-factly. “And also because you two looked way too cozy, and I just had to document the moment.”

Paige’s brain was still catching up when Azzi finally stirred, blinking up at her before realization hit. Her eyes widened slightly, and she slowly pulled back, her cheeks flushing. Paige reluctantly let go, rubbing a hand over her face as she tried to shake off her sleepiness.

Azzi shot Caroline a suspicious look. “What do you mean document?”

Caroline grinned, holding up her phone. “You’ll see later. Now get up before I start eating without you.”

Azzi groaned, throwing a pillow in Caroline’s direction as she walked off laughing. Paige just sighed, already regretting whatever picture Caroline had taken.

But despite that, as she glanced over at Azzi—who was still red-faced but smiling softly—she couldn’t bring herself to care too much.

Azzi let out a tired sigh, running a hand through her messy hair before glancing at Paige, who was still rubbing the sleep from her eyes. The warmth from their cuddle lingered between them, and for a brief second, Azzi wanted to curl right back into Paige’s arms and pretend the morning didn’t exist.

But Caroline had made breakfast, and given how rare that was, Azzi figured she should take advantage of it before she regretted it.

Paige stretched, her hoodie riding up slightly before she tugged it back down. “I feel like I should be worried about that picture,” she mumbled, still groggy.

Azzi scoffed, sliding out of bed. “You should be. Caroline has no chill.”

Paige chuckled softly, finally sitting up. “Yeah, I figured that out a long time ago.”

Azzi rolled her eyes but smiled as she grabbed a hair tie from her nightstand and pulled her hair into a loose ponytail. She hesitated for a second before turning to Paige. “You coming?”

Paige met her gaze and nodded, swinging her legs over the bed. “Yeah. Can’t let Caroline eat all the food she claims she made.”

Azzi smirked. “You’re assuming she didn’t just order it and put it on plates.”

Paige gave her a knowing look. “That’s exactly what I’m assuming.”

They both laughed as they made their way out of the room and into the small common area where Caroline had set up breakfast. A stack of pancakes, scrambled eggs, and some fruit sat on the table, and sure enough, a few empty takeout containers were shoved into the trash.

Azzi gave Caroline a look. “Wow. You really went all out with this homemade meal.”

Caroline grinned, unbothered. “I slaved over this. You’re welcome.”

Paige snorted, grabbing a plate. “Uh-huh. Thanks for all your hard work.”

Caroline shrugged. “Hey, the effort to plate it counts for something.” She smirked at Paige as she took a bite of her food. “So… how was your sleepover?”

Azzi shot her a warning look. “Caroline.”

“What?” Caroline grinned innocently before winking at Paige. “Just asking. You both looked real comfortable this morning.”

Paige rolled her eyes but smirked slightly. “We slept. That’s what happened.”

Caroline hummed. “Sure, sure.” She glanced at Azzi before taking a bite of her food. “Well, if y’all wanna keep playing house, don’t let me stop you.”

Azzi sighed, ignoring her as she grabbed some food for herself. Paige just shook her head, but underneath the teasing, she could see the genuine relief on Caroline’s face. As annoying as she was, she had been rooting for them the whole time.

And for the first time in a long time, Paige felt like things were finally falling back into place.

They settled at the table, the clinking of forks against plates filling the comfortable silence between them. The food, despite being very obviously from a takeout container, wasn’t bad, and Paige had to admit she appreciated the effort—at least Caroline had plated it.

Azzi sat across from her, quietly eating while occasionally sneaking glances at Paige, like she was still processing the fact that she was here. Paige caught her once, smirking slightly as she raised a brow. Azzi just shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips as she focused back on her food.

Caroline, of course, was the first to break the silence. “So, Paige, how long are you sticking around?”

Paige wiped her mouth with a napkin before answering. “Geno wants me back in time for practice, so… another two days.”

Azzi’s chewing slowed, and Caroline tilted her head. “That’s kinda short.”

“Yeah, I know,” Paige admitted, glancing at Azzi before continuing. “But honestly? I’m just glad he and CD let me come here instead of heading straight back to Connecticut with the team.”

Azzi looked up at that, her expression softening. Paige could see the unspoken I’m glad too in her eyes, but Azzi didn’t say it out loud.

Caroline nodded, popping a piece of fruit into her mouth. “Damn. Geno really let you off the leash for a bit, huh?”

Paige chuckled. “More like he granted me permission. Probably helped that CD was kinda on my side about it.”

Azzi smirked. “So basically, CD allowed you.”

Paige grinned. “Pretty much.”

Caroline laughed. “Sounds about right.”

Azzi glanced at Paige again, a question lingering behind her eyes, but she didn’t voice it. Paige could tell she was thinking about the fact that they only had two days together before she had to leave. And honestly? Paige was thinking about it too.

Two days wasn’t much. But it was something.

And right now, she’d take whatever time she could get.

—------------

The conversation drifted into lighter topics as they ate, the tension from the past few days finally beginning to ease. Paige still felt the weight of everything that had happened, but at least now, sitting across from Azzi, talking, laughing—even if it was at Caroline’s expense—it didn’t feel so overwhelming.

Caroline leaned back in her chair, finishing the last of her food. “So, what’s the plan for today? Are you two gonna, like… go on a cute little date or just sit here and stare at each other?”

Azzi shot her a look. “You are so annoying.”

Caroline smirked. “It’s a talent.”

Paige chuckled, setting her fork down. “I don’t know. I wasn’t exactly planning a romantic getaway, considering, you know… everything.”

Azzi shifted in her seat, twirling her fork between her fingers. “We don’t have to do anything big,” she said, glancing at Paige. “We could just… hang out. Maybe go shoot around for a bit, get some fresh air.”

Paige met her gaze, a small smile forming. “Yeah, that sounds good.”

Caroline groaned. “God, you two are so predictable. Basketball is literally your love language.”

Azzi rolled her eyes. “And?”

Caroline held her hands up in surrender. “Hey, I’m just saying. You could, I don’t know, go to an actual place. Like a restaurant, or the mall, or—”

“We could,” Paige cut in, smirking. “But we won’t.”

Caroline sighed dramatically. “You’re both hopeless.”

Paige just grinned, standing and grabbing her plate. “Hopeless but happy.”

Azzi bit her lip, trying to hide the smile threatening to break through, but Paige caught it anyway. It made something warm settle in her chest.

—------------

After breakfast, the three of them decided to stay in for a bit, just letting the morning stretch out lazily. The air in the dorm felt peaceful—no rush, no pressure. Paige and Azzi spent the time lounging in the common room, chatting idly, with Caroline doing most of the talking while Paige and Azzi exchanged quiet glances when they could.

By the time afternoon rolled around, the sun had warmed the day, and the urge to get moving settled in. Caroline had already made herself scarce, and Azzi and Paige were left with the quiet buzz of anticipation for the afternoon.

“Ready to head to the courts?” Azzi asked, standing up from the couch and grabbing her jacket from the back of her chair.

Paige grinned, standing up too. “Yeah, let’s go. I’m itching for some competition.”

Azzi raised an eyebrow. “You sure you want that? I’m in prime form today.”

Paige chuckled. “Please. I’m not worried.”

They both made their way down to the campus courts, the sound of bouncing balls and sneakers on concrete greeting them as they approached. The courts were mostly empty, the perfect setting for a little one-on-one.

Azzi grabbed a ball from the rack by the court and dribbled it lightly, glancing at Paige with a competitive gleam in her eye. “How about a game to 11?”

Paige raised an eyebrow. “Loser has to buy dinner?”

Azzi smirked. “That’s the deal. You down?”

“Always,” Paige said, already bouncing on her feet, ready to go.

The game started off slow, both of them sizing each other up, shots made and missed in equal measure. Their laughter filled the air, their competitive edge only making the atmosphere more electric. Paige made a few quick layups, her moves sharp, but Azzi wasn’t far behind, getting into a rhythm and hitting some impressive shots of her own.

Every time Paige thought she had the advantage, Azzi would come back with a play that made her stop and take notice. They were both in their element, pushing each other to the edge, testing each other’s limits.

The score crept closer to 11, each point feeling harder to secure. Paige was breathing a little heavier now, but she kept pushing through, giving it everything she had. Azzi, on the other hand, looked like she was just getting started, her eyes locked in with a focused intensity.

Finally, Azzi hit a clean three-pointer that brought her to 11, the ball swishing through the net with a satisfying sound.

“Yes!” Azzi shouted, raising her arms in victory.

Paige let out a dramatic sigh, putting her hands on her hips. “Guess that means I’m buying the food.”

Azzi grinned, walking over to her and offering a high-five. “You can’t win them all.”

Paige smirked and slapped her hand against Azzi’s. “Yeah, but I was still gonna pay for dinner.”

Azzi blinked in surprise. “What?”

Paige shrugged nonchalantly, turning to grab the ball. “I said I’d do it anyway. No way I’m letting you pay for it after you just won. That’s just how I am.”

Azzi’s face softened, a small smile tugging at her lips. “You really are something, you know that?”

Paige grinned. “It’s a gift. But I’ll still probably get you something extra, to make up for this defeat.”

Azzi rolled her eyes playfully. “You don’t have to do that. You already owe me dinner.”

“True,” Paige said with a wink. “But I’m still getting you dessert.”

They both continued to shoot around after their little competition. 

After a while, they walked off the court together, the afternoon sun hanging low as they chatted and laughed, the game fading into the background as the idea of dinner—and the company they’d share—took center stage.

—------------

Back at Azzi’s dorm, they took turns showering, washing off the sweat from their game. Paige went first, letting the hot water soothe her muscles, the remnants of their competitive match still lingering in her body. By the time she stepped out, towel-drying her hair, Azzi was already grabbing her things, ready to take her turn.

“I’ll be quick,” Azzi said as she disappeared into the bathroom.

Paige smirked. “You better be. I’m getting hungry.”

Azzi just laughed before shutting the door, and Paige took the time to check her phone, scrolling through a few texts and social media notifications while she waited.

Once Azzi was done, she stepped out with damp hair, dressed casually in a hoodie and shorts. Paige had already made herself comfortable on Azzi’s bed, looking up as Azzi ran a towel through her curls.

“So, what’s the plan?” Azzi asked, tossing the towel aside.

Paige grinned. “I was thinking takeaway and a drive-in movie.”

Azzi raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “A drive-in?”

“Yeah,” Paige nodded. “I looked it up while you were in the shower—there’s one not too far from here. Thought it’d be nice. Chill vibes.”

Azzi smiled, clearly liking the idea. “That actually sounds perfect.”

“Alright then,” Paige said, sitting up. “Let’s pack the essentials.”

They grabbed a few blankets, some pillows, and anything else they might need before heading out to Azzi’s car. The night had settled in by the time they left, the air cool but not uncomfortably so. After picking up their food that Paige had ordered from a local takeout spot, they made their way to the drive-in, pulling into a good spot near the back.

Azzi backed the car up, opening the trunk so they could set up in the back. They arranged the blankets and pillows, making a cozy space before climbing in. Azzi settled between Paige’s legs, leaning back against her chest, and Paige instinctively wrapped her arms around her, holding her close. The warmth between them was immediate, and Azzi let out a content sigh as she got comfortable.

“This is nice,” Azzi murmured, tilting her head slightly so their cheeks brushed.

Paige hummed in agreement, tightening her hold slightly. “Yeah. Perfect way to end the night.”

As the movie started, the soft glow from the screen illuminated the cars around them, creating a peaceful, intimate atmosphere. The hum of distant conversations, the occasional honk, and the quiet murmur of the film set the perfect background noise.

Azzi pulled out her phone, unlocking it as she went to Instagram. Paige peeked over her shoulder, watching as Azzi opened the camera, recording a short video of the view around them—the giant screen ahead, the night sky above, and the cozy setup they had in the trunk. Then, with a quick double-tap on the screen, the camera flipped to them.

Azzi grinned, her head leaning into Paige’s as she smiled at the camera. Paige smirked slightly, her arms still wrapped around Azzi as they both sat close, their faces almost touching. The warmth of the moment was captured perfectly—the way they fit together, the ease between them, the quiet intimacy.

Azzi typed out a caption “Nights like this with my bestfriend💗” before glancing at Paige. “I’m posting this on my story.”

Paige chuckled, shaking her head slightly. “Oh, people are definitely gonna go crazy when they see that.”

Azzi smirked, hitting ‘post’ without hesitation. “Oh well, I said with my ‘bestfriend’.”

Paige squeezed her gently. “You want the internet to explode, don’t you?”

Azzi laughed. “Maybe a little.”

Paige just smiled, pressing her chin lightly against Azzi’s shoulder as they settled back into the moment, letting the night carry them away.

—------------

As the night settled in and the movie played in the background, Paige’s mind wandered. She didn’t want to bring it up, didn’t want to ruin the calmness of the moment, but something was nagging at her.

She leaned her head back against the trunk, staring up at the stars for a moment before glancing down at Azzi, who was still curled between her legs, the warmth of her body settling perfectly against Paige’s.

“Azzi,” Paige started softly, her fingers absentmindedly running through Azzi’s hair, “where do we stand?”

Azzi blinked up at her, sensing the shift in Paige’s tone. She tilted her head slightly, meeting Paige’s eyes. “What do you mean?”

Paige hesitated, then spoke quietly, “I mean… are we still dating? Are we going to try to make this work, or are we just kind of… here, you know?”

Azzi’s gaze softened, and she reached up, resting her hand over Paige’s. “We’re still dating, Paige. And we’re working on it. I mean… there’s a lot to work on, but I want to. I want to make this work.”

Paige’s heart fluttered at the simple but reassuring words. She smiled, leaning down to kiss the top of Azzi’s head. “I want that too. I love you, Azzi.”

Azzi smiled up at her, their faces close. “I love you too, Paige.”

Just as the air between them settled with the warmth of their words, Paige’s phone suddenly buzzed, vibrating in her pocket. She glanced down, seeing the group chat with KK and Ice lighting up with notifications.

Her heart sank a little. “Oh no,” she muttered, quickly unlocking her phone.

KK: So, are we calling this the hard launch or what? 👀

Ice: Is this a ‘bestfriend’ or ‘more than bestfriend’ situation? 😜

KK: Wait, Azzi’s caption says ‘nights like this with my bestfriend 💗’… bestfriend? REALLY? 😏

Paige’s face flushed a little, and she couldn’t help but laugh at how quickly the conversation had turned into full-blown teasing. She quickly typed a response.

Paige: You guys are ridiculous, I swear.

But the teasing didn’t stop there. The messages continued to pour in, and Paige’s phone buzzed again, this time with a flood of social media notifications. She saw her story was blowing up, people commenting, liking, and sharing it.

KK: Socials are GOING OFF 😂😂 people are saying they didn’t expect this… some people are like ‘aww cute friends’ and others are straight-up denying y’all are together.

Ice: People are wild. You gotta love the denial. Also, can we just talk about how cute you two are? 😍

Paige could only shake her head, chuckling as she scrolled through the flood of comments. She could see the mix of reactions—some people totally convinced they were dating, some pretending like they weren’t, and others totally oblivious to what was really going on.

Azzi watched Paige, her expression amused as she read through the messages on Paige’s phone. “Looks like you’re causing a stir.”

Paige laughed, raising an eyebrow at Azzi. “You did this. You made the caption.”

Azzi grinned, shrugging nonchalantly. “What can I say? The ‘bestfriend’ part is true cause I mean, you are my bestfriend Paige, and I’m allowed to tease a little. Besides, it’s fun to watch everyone lose their minds.”

Paige smirked, shaking her head. “Well, you’re not wrong. It is pretty funny. But the internet is definitely not ready for what they just saw.”

“Too bad,” Azzi said with a playful wink. “Let them freak out.”

“Yeah, because we’ve got the real thing figured out, don’t we?” Paige’s voice softened, her hand gently resting on Azzi’s.

Azzi’s smile deepened, and she shifted a little, leaning back into Paige’s embrace. “Definitely. They can say what they want. We’re good.”

Paige nodded, closing her phone and setting it aside. “You’re right. Let them talk. We’ll just keep doing us.”

—------------

As the night stretched on, the movie on the screen became nothing more than background noise. Paige and Azzi sat wrapped up in each other, cocooned in their own little world inside the trunk of Azzi’s car. The distant hum of other cars, the occasional laughter from other drive-in guests, and the cool breeze of the night made everything feel strangely serene.

Azzi let out a soft sigh, tilting her head slightly to glance up at Paige. “I’m really happy you came here.” Her voice was quiet but full of meaning, as if the words carried more weight than she was even letting on.

Paige’s grip around her tightened slightly, her chin resting on Azzi’s shoulder. “Yeah?”

Azzi nodded, shifting just enough to look at Paige fully. “Yeah. I mean… after everything, I just—I didn’t know if we were going to get back to this, you know? But now that we have… I don’t know, I feel like I can breathe again.”

Paige took a deep breath, letting the words settle between them. She knew what Azzi meant. The weight of the past few weeks—the uncertainty, the hurt, the mess of it all—had been suffocating. But now, sitting here, with Azzi leaning against her, Paige finally felt grounded again.

“I feel the same way,” Paige admitted, running her fingers gently along Azzi’s arm. “I hated being away from you, Az. Not talking, not knowing if we’d get through this… it sucked.”

Azzi turned slightly in Paige’s hold, facing her more directly, their faces just inches apart. “But we did.” She reached up, cupping Paige’s face gently, her thumb brushing over her cheek. “And I’m so happy we did.”

Paige let her eyes flutter shut for a second, just savoring the warmth of Azzi’s touch. Then she opened them, looking directly into Azzi’s. “Me too.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension shifting into something softer, deeper. The faint glow from the screen illuminated Azzi’s face, casting her features in a warm light. Paige felt her heart stutter at the sight—at how effortlessly beautiful Azzi looked, how much she had missed this, missed her.

Azzi’s gaze flickered to Paige’s lips for just a second before she leaned in, closing the distance between them. The kiss started slow, tentative at first, as if they were both still processing how much they had missed this. But then Paige’s hands moved—one sliding to the small of Azzi’s back, the other curling into her hoodie, pulling her in closer.

Azzi responded instantly, deepening the kiss, her fingers slipping into Paige’s hair as she tilted her head just enough to mold against her perfectly. There was no urgency, no rush—just the warmth of their lips moving together, the unspoken emotions between them pouring into the kiss.

Paige sighed softly against Azzi’s lips, letting herself sink into the feeling. It wasn’t just a kiss—it was reassurance, a promise, a welcome home.

Azzi pulled back slightly, her forehead resting against Paige’s, their breaths mingling in the small space between them. Her lips were slightly swollen, and Paige knew hers probably were too.

“I really, really love you,” Azzi murmured, her voice full of emotion.

Paige’s lips curled into a small smile, her hand tightening at Azzi’s waist. “I really, really love you too.”

Azzi let out a quiet, happy hum, her fingers still threading through Paige’s hair. “I don’t ever want to do that again—go through all of that. I know we’re still working on things, but… I don’t want to be without you, P.”

Paige kissed her again, just a soft peck this time. “You won’t be. We’re in this, Az. We’ll figure everything out.”

Azzi smiled against Paige’s lips before pulling back, snuggling into her embrace again. “Good. Because I’m not letting you go.”

Paige chuckled, resting her chin on top of Azzi’s head. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

And with that, they sat there, wrapped up in each other, feeling happier and more at peace than they had in a long time.

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

[st4ringlow]

SWEET PATROL — rintarou suna

pairing; police officer!rintarou suna x fem!reader wordcount; 440 [rewritten fics]

main masterlist

the gentle purr of the engine seemed to echo your anticipation as you approached the roadblock, the late-night air carrying a sense of mystery. it was past midnight, and the streetlights bathed in everything in a soft, golden hue. there, standing resolute in his uniform, a too-familiar figure whose mere presence was a beacon of warmth in the cool night.

you rolled down the window, the night breeze caressing your face as your eyes found the fox-like one infront of you. a hint of smile played on his lips, the sternness of his duty dissolving at the sight of you.

"evening, officer," you said, your voice laced with playful affection. it was a ritual between the two of you, a secret game that added a touch of whimsy to the seriousness of his role.

"evening, ma'am," he replied, his tone steady but tinged with warmth. "license and registration, please"

you handed over the documents, your fingers lingering just a moment longer as they brushed against his. that simple touch sent a wave of warmth through you, a reminder of the deep connection you shared. "just got off work, gorgeous?" he asked, a subtle slanted smile forming on his lips.

"you know it, sir," you replied, amused tone in your voice. "how's your night going?" you asked, trying to keep your voice casual despite the concern in your eyes.

"better now that you're here," he said, his eyes softening as he glanced at the documents. "been a long night, but seeing you makes it all worth it,"

your heart fluttered at his words, the blush on your cheeks unmistakable. despite the uniform and the authority it represented, he was still the man who knew how to make your heart skip a beat with just a few words.

"cheesy. does your boss know you're flirting with ladies while on your duty?"

"im the boss, and you mean singular lady, which i chose to put a ring on," he said, before leaning into you and pecking your lips. you let out a small giggle, eyes sparkling as you bat your eyelashes to him.

"promise you'll stay safe, rin," you whispered, the weight of your emotions hanging between you.

"i promise," rintarou said, his voice filled with sincerity. "just knowing you're out there waiting for me makes all the difference,"

he handed back the documents, his fingers brushing yours once more. you saw the concern in his eyes, mirrored by your own. "now go on mrs. suna, before i get in trouble for holding up traffic."

with a reluctant nod, you rolled up the window and continued your way, a smile tugging your lips.

[aliceinborderlandsquidgame]

Because you are my partner | Jun-ho x Fem!Detective!Reader

Warnings: Takes place after the end of S1 - Some events from S2 - Does not follow canon events in order - Angst - Guns - Unspoked feelings -

The first thing Jun-ho never expected to listen when he woke up at the hospital after being shot by his brother no less were cries and insults.

Insults that were for him.

"You stubborn idiot! Why did you not tell me, why did you go alone, look at you now. Fucker if you dont wake up im killing you myself, you little-"

"I thought you would be more worried" Jun-ho said, voice hoarse since he havent drank any water in a long time. His vision was still a bit blurry, but he could locate your voice anywhere.

"You! YOU ARE ALIVE!!" You revealed your red face from crying and went to hug him, trying not to hurt him. "Never do something like that again"

~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○

Time passed, Jun-ho got demoted from detective, even when you, the second best in the division besides him, you had threated to leave as well, but In-ho insisted you not to. He knew how much you had worked for this position, he would not let you fall behind cause of him.

"Its not fair" You said one night at his aparment being a bit drunk "Yeah, what you said its kind of crazy and you have no proof but..."

"(Y/N) stop it, its pointless"

"But you would never make a lie like that. You dont like crime, you hate it. Since your brother went missing...no you would never play with something like that" You said convinced taking a big gulp of your beer.

"I think you had enough beer for tonight" Jun-ho went to take the beer can from you but you held his hand.

"I believe you, I dont care how crazy it sounds I believe you Jun-ho"

Like that, he felt less lonely.

~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~

"I think I told you this was not something you should keep doing" Jun-ho told you as you passed iced coffee to his fellow companion and him. "We are not allowed to drink when working..."

"Then take a dam breath, its summer. The streets feels like they are on fire" You told him on a stern tone taking a sip from your own drink

"Should you not be at the sitation?" He asked

"You wont believe how much criminals like to do nothing when its as hot as today. We mostly get calls at night. Nothing like, well nothing like what you are looking for" You added in a quiet voice

"I told you, I left that behind"

"Yeah sure you did, you dont give up that easily, always has been like that. Since we were at the police school. And, you cant lie to me. Im your partner, remember ?"

"Actually-"

"Shut up and drink the dam ice coffee your cheecks are red as a fruit"

~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~

One year went on. You were assigned anothet partner but you were being a bit childish and did not like working with him.

It was not his fault, you were just so used to Jun-ho that any other person just felt....wrong.

"(Y/N) you need to stop it" Jun-ho said while you two ate some lunch

"I know, but can you blame me? I cant work well with him, he is too-"

He is not you. Thats what you wanted to say but you had to bite your tongue.

"Is he misstreating you?" Jun-ho asked getting protective, he knew you had pass for hard situations during your training just because you were a women.

He would be on your side during these moments, both when you faked feeling strong and when you needed to vent out and cry.

"No. He is...different. I just need to get used to him"

"It has been almost a year..."

"I know just- give me some more time. Also I want to meet that captain that saved you. Maybe we can go and fish together.

Jun-ho went silent after it. He was reclutant to do so, since he had been looking for the island he was in, but he had told you he had long stopped, he did not want to put you at risk.

"Maybe tomorrow..." He said in a low voice, knowing that you would kept insisting. And maybe he would be able to keep the lie.

~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○

Things have been good so far, In-ho managed to convince you to meet him and the captain at a near restaurant.

The three were drinking in just enjoying the time. Sharing stories, jokes, just having a good time.

"Thanks for saving his ass, he can be quiet a pain" You said to the older men who just smiled.

"Dont say it Lass, he still has me looking around for that dam island..."

And the good time shattered, your eyes turned cold as you looked at him.

"Is he? Please tell me more captain"

~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○

"You told me you had stopped" You said angry at him. "Told me to stop looking into details at the deparment, do you know how much I did risk!"

"Yes! I know, thats why I told you to stop. I did not want you to put your career in danger"

"When will you understand ? You dont have to do this alone. Im your friend! Fuck we have know each other for years, if I want to help you and put my career at risk, then let me do it. Im an adult I know what im doing.

"No, I could never ask you for something like that. You know the story, these peopel are dangerous and well prepared if something would happen to you..."

"Do you think it was easy? For me? When you dissapear? There was no way on finding you, some told me to move on. But I never stopped beliving in you, knowing that you would not leave like that"

Of course not, I would never leave you.

"Listen, I understand. Really, but you cant stop me. I want to help you, and I will do so. Let me lend you a hand. Maybe this time you will catch them"

Jun-ho was conflicted, he knew having some backup would help him. But he did not want you at risk, why if you ended like him? Trapped there ? Or worse ?

But he also knew you were a hard one. Someone who once they had set their mind on something were not easy to give up. Maybe it would be better that way, making sure on having you at his side while he worked and looked for information.

"Alright, no more secrets. We will work on this together, but if something seems to be just a little bit dangerous you are out"

~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~

And like that another year went by. Both looking to find that island and whatever information (Y/N) could get from the station.

"Most are peopel with big debts" Jun-ho said one afternoon, the cold of the winter hitting their noses leaving them red. "Maybe some have criminal record"

"Yeah but their families would have to denounce then as lost. If these peopel just vanish some would think they ran away because of their debts. I will still check on the records..."

Jun-ho nodded grateful to have her working with him.

"You dont remember any name? Or face?" (Y/N) asked him, making him stop. He did remember his brother shooting him but he could never say it out loud. "The players used numbers..." Still him mind was working like he was missing something...

And then it clicked

"Wait...I may know someone"

"Really? You can tell me their name and I will look into it"

"Seong Gi-hun, thats the name"

~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○

"Are you sure he is here?" Jun-ho asked a faint blush on his cheecks as both of you looked up from inside the car.

"Yes, I asked a friend from another work to look up, he owns this place and has no direction of a current home. Maybe he manages the place or lives here..."

"Well, last time I saw him he did not look like someone who would manage a love hotel" Jun-ho said, voice trying to hide his nerves.

His mind wondering to things, like you. You two on a date, that would end with something more. He would be a gentlemen during all it. And he would take you to his home and do it on his bed, not a meaningless place like a love hotel.

And he would do that and more because he...

"Hey look!! That one, is not him?" You asked seeing a man getting from a car and going inside the hotel.

"It is. Stay here" Jun-ho ordered but before he could get out from the car you held his arm back.

"What? No!" You said not beliving his words "Im going in with you, we are a team, get it in that tick skull of yours"

"Listen (Y/N) I saw these games, if he is here then its because he won. He murdered peopel. He cant be trusted"

"These are just more reasons for me to go in with you" You declared, "You have my back and I have yours, thats how this relationship works"

Jun-ho looked to the side to hide his blush and recluntantly nodded "Alright..."

Unkown to them Gi-hun had been checking the cameras and had spotted their car. He held his gun not knowing who they were.

~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~

Reunions are never easy. Even less when its with peopel you dont trust.

"Who are you? Why are you following me?"

And less when guns are involved.

Maybe Jun-ho had lost his touch, his day giving out speed tickets have passed him consequences. Otherwise he would never have let himself be jumped and have a gun pressed against his head.

"Im a police officer, I just want to talk" Jun-ho said trying to ease the situation but only got Gi-hun to press the gun harder.

"How do I know you are not with them?"

"Cause we have been looking for them too" You said gun raised at Gi-hun who looked suprised for a moment but did not move. "Drop the gun Seong Gi-hun we are aiming for the same goal"

"Yeah? How can I trust any of you? Or what you said?"

"We want to stop the games too" Jun-ho said from beneath him "Thats why we have been following you, you are our only lead"

Slowly Gi-hun removed his gun and let Jun-ho get on his feet.

"I never said a thing about games..."

"Yeah...thats why we have been looking for you. Jun-ho here was in but doing kind of a double agent work. Without help"

Gi-hun had to supress a smile at your stern tone.

"Wait, you are the police who asked me about it. During that time.."

"Im, and this is (Y/N) a fellow police officer and the person I trust the most to end this"

~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~

"Train stations? A Man in a suit? Ddakji and getting slapped?" You asked while counting with your fingers the major things Gi-hun and told you and Jun-ho.

He had a big map of the stations with lots of marks and points. He was indeed looking for someone.

"Yes, I know it sounds crazy, but its like that. You get a card with a number, you call it and then you are part of the games" He said serving three coffees "It has been two years and i havent been able to find him"

"Well, now you have two more peopel to count with" You said smiling a bit "We can ignore the criminals that are working for you..."

"(Y/N)...." Jun-ho said but you cut him off.

"What? More peopel means more eyes and less space to cover. Besides its not like we have proof that they do something bad, and you know with. Without proof theres nothing you can do"

Gi-hun had departed both of you. Giving one of his many phone numbers and warning that these peopel were dangerous.

But deep down he was grateful, grateful that there was someone else out here who had seen the same.

"Dont worry, we will catch them" You shaked his hand noticing how he seemed to be sad and stressed, you could only imagine how bad things have been for him.

~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~

"What do you think?" Jun-ho asked as he drove back to your aparment.

"I think he is being honest and will accept our help. Besides no one does so much without a reason" You said having take note of his deep search for that man, the multiple guns he had and the cameras around. "He is scared too"

"Well...he does have a reason to be" Jun-ho softly said stopping outside your complex "I never asked you, why help me so much? I know we are friends but this is a big league, worse than any case you had ever seen"

Because I love you. I have been in love with you for so long. I cant seem to live knowing you put your life at risk without any help. I dont want to repeat the time when you vanish and I see my life with you in it-

"Cause you are my partner, and...I care for you" You said and left the car before he could respond to hide your blushing face

"Wait!! (Y/N)" Jun-ho screamed pulling the window down. You stopped looking over your shoulder "I- I care for you too"

He started the car leaving the window down, too nervous, he could track down dangerous criminals and be undercover for the worse criminal gangs, but confessing his feelings to you...

He was not ready, at least not yet.

~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○

You went into your aparment, heart beating fast as you went in. The darkness welcomed you, just as you turned for the lights you hear a click.

A gun click.

"Well, you must be (Y/N)...I must admit you are more beautiful than what the photos show"

You turned around one hand ready to go for your own gun. Before you stood a man, tall dark hair, and black eyes, wearing a expensive suit.

"I recommend you to not try anything stupid. I just want to talk. And maybe we can play game"

~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○~○

Final note: *evil laught*

[lotties-ashwagandha]

I THINK IM BEING STALKED…

valeria garza x fem!reader

you’re being stalked, and valeria is the only one who believes you (bc she’s the stalker!!!). this fic is part of the red flags look pink event. 1.5k words. NSFW at the end but I lost the motivation to get too crazy bc im sick.

Not that there’s a way to bring it up, but this certainly isn’t it.

“I think I’m being stalked.”

She shifts beside you in bed, but you keep your eyes trained on the ceiling. Her voice is groggy with sleep when she speaks – it’s one of the few mornings you have woken up together, since the nature of your relationship is usually devoid of any emotional attachments. You come and go, off and on, and it is a harmless escape for the both of you. Casual. “Stalked?”

“I’m being stalked. Someone is stalking me,” you state again. You turn and meet her eyes — tired yet always alert even in the early hours.

Valeria lies on her side facing you, processing your statement with unabating intensity. “What makes you say that?”

You hesitate. It all sounds a bit silly when you say it aloud, but there’s no going back. “I saw someone outside my house the other night. It has happened a few times. I see cars I don’t recognize parked nearby, I always feel watched.”

She waits. “Is that it?”

“I keep finding things outside my front door. Expensive things, gifts, things I want that I haven’t told anyone about. There are pictures of me at the most random places, pictures of me at work. And there are these notes…”

“What do they say?”

“They say I should keep it between us,” you shake your head. “That I shouldn’t tell anyone.”

“And you’re telling me?” Valeria asks. Her gaze is sharp, reflective of her tone.

“They’re blackmailing me, Valeria. Digging up things from my past ages ago to try to keep me silent.”

She sits up, pulls the covers over her bare form and shrugs. “What do you want me to do about it?”

You hadn’t considered it. You know about her line of work, that her cartel has given her unimaginable power. Perhaps you thought she would offer you protection. That just being around a woman of such influence would give you a sense of safety – but if that has been what you’ve been searching for this whole time, you’re in for a disappointment.

Valeria is strong – she is sturdy, unwavering. Yet she is volatile.

Meekly you ask: “Do you believe me?”

Valeria considers it. She’s quiet, but after a moment she nods. “Of course I believe you, cariño.”

“No one else does,” you murmur. You’ve tried telling your friends, everyone close to you, everyone short of the police that you firmly believe you are being watched. But so far no one has believed you – no one but Valeria. They laugh it off, tell you that you are being paranoid.

Her voice rings with concern. “How many people have you told?”

“A few…”

“The notes say not to–”

You sit up. “Are you really agreeing with my fucking stalker?”

“No,” Valeria huffs. “I’m only saying that if the notes say to keep quiet about it, then maybe you should– or you should have come to me first.”

You sigh, swinging your legs over the bed and finding the energy to get up. You need some time alone, even if you are never truly alone anymore.

Valeria’s brows furrow. “¿Adónde vas?”

“I have to work,” you lie.

“Fuck your work. Stay with me.”

You hesitate. “And do what? Talk?”

“Are you so averse to talking to me?”

You shake your head and gesture around her bedroom, set on the highest floor of her mansion. “Unlike you, some of us can’t afford a day off.”

“I’ll pay you instead,” she offers. “How much is your wage today?”

While you know her intent isn’t to offend, it’s the last straw. You stand, get dressed, and grab your purse.

“That’s not what I meant,” Valeria attempts, cursing under her breath as she hurries to get dressed across the room. “Wait a second before you–”

You’re already out the door.

When you get home a few hours later from a day out, a small gift bag is at your door. You stand frozen in front of it, hardly able to breathe. It is disgusting in your view, disturbing even to be around, sickening like the bag itself is laced with poison.

You look back. You don’t see anything out of the ordinary, anyone who doesn’t belong on your street. You are still uneasy — your repulsion lingers as you take the gift bag and head inside.

An unsigned Valentine’s Day card, a circular gold locket with your initials engraved. A few thousand dollars in the bottom of the bag like an afterthought. Picture after picture of you – at stoplights, at work, having drinks with your friends.

This time, though, there is no letter. No blackmail, no threats. That – above all – is what has you unnerved. You have nowhere to hide, either. Your stalker knows where you live. They know where you work. They know every detail about your life from all angles and you have no escape.

You can’t call the police. Your ties to Valeria are too strong, it would be more dangerous than beneficial to draw attention to yourself. You call the next best option: Valeria herself.

“I thought you were sick of me,” she says when she answers the phone. “I wasn’t expecting to hear from you for a few weeks.”

“I need you to come over,” you tell her quickly. “They came back, they left something else. I don’t feel safe here alone.”

There’s a brief silence on the other end, and then you hear her grab her car keys. “Stay there. I’ll be right over.”

“Sit down,” Valeria urges. She has made herself at home on your sofa as she watches you pace the room. “I’m here now. No one is going to fuck with you.”

You do feel safer with her here, but the threat still lingers. You can’t distract yourself from the fact that someone is stalking you.

“Come here,” Valeria urges. She reaches for you and you let her tug you down onto the sofa next to her. “Calm down. No one is going to hurt you.”

“How do you know?” You snap. “They could be anywhere. It could be anyone.”

“And if anyone tries to harm you, I’ll shoot them in the fucking face,” Valeria gestures to the gun on your coffee table like it’s a box of candy. “Mírame. You have nothing to worry about.”

You meet her eyes. You take comfort in the sureness in them. Valeria is completely certain of your safety, and you feed on it. You need it.

“You have to take your mind off of all this,” she says softly, shifting to be closer to you, knee bumping against yours and one of her hands taking yours to idly trace patterns on the back. The softness is more domestic than you’re used to, more caring than you ever thought was in bounds. Less casual, yet you know her — you’re well aware of what she’s trying to achieve. “Let me help.”

You will indulge her, always you will, because you can never deny her when she looks at you with such admiration — such need, and she is only satisfied with your closeness. You test her, leaning in slightly and resting a hand on her thigh to gauge her reaction. Yet as soon as you start you give up on timidity — you pull her in to kiss you.

You witness it again, the way she hungers for you. She is insatiable, grabbing at you with a roughness that has you feeling wanted in the best of ways. The way she holds you is nearly in worship, the pride she takes in every gasp she elicits from you, the firmness after she repositions and holds you down onto one of her thighs once your clothes have been almost completely discarded.

Moaning against her lips, you start to grind on her thigh. You’re growing impatient. You crave her, desperate for the attention she is so apt to give, but somehow she is still holding back. To test you, to see how much you really want her.

Your movements falter when her hands find your chest, kneading at your breasts and running her thumbs over your hardened nipples.

Then she stops. She reaches for the bag you found on the porch that you have put on the table beside the sofa.

“What are you doing?” You breathe, letting out a dramatically impatient sigh.

“Put it on,” she holds up the locket, circular and golden, your initials carved in dainty cursive. “I want you to wear it.”

You’re wary, but your hesitation disappears when she grabs your jaw and forces your gaze to hers. “You’re mine.”

She releases you. At your confirmation she fastens the locket around your neck. Not because she gave it to you, you tell yourself. You twist it in any way you can. She’s using it to show that whoever is your stalker can’t have you, and any other excuse you can come up with — because red flags look pink, and all that matters is that you get your release and she gets you.

“¿adónde vas?” = “where are you going?”

“mírame” = “look at me.”

tags: @webism @szczurkanalowy . comment to be tagged in the other days of the event!

find my masterlist here and the red flags look pink event here. as always, comments and reblogs are appreciated! :)

[ysrjune]

Could u please do a dallas x childhood bsf/first gf where she moves to tulsa, totally clueless to the fact that thats where dallas ran off to. And at the end they get back toghether n some smut maybe?? :) Oh n btw they were each others first kiss n allat, until dallas turned hood.

[ “I WAS ONLY 17 WHEN WE FIRST TRIED THINGS #📍

#🕶 WHEN SHE FIRST MADE ME FEEL LIKE A MAN ” ]

[ I lowkey forgot like half of dallys lore, sorry that I got a few things wrong (I think) im deadass too lazy to get my book out and read it to get my stuff right rn </3. I didn’t add smut cause I haven’t been feeling it lately, sorry anon 😞 hope its still good enough though! + I dont really like this I rushed it cause I had it in my drafts 4 so long.. ]

ENJOY ! ♡

Dallas Winston, your first boyfriend.. sort of. You two had been really close ever since you met when you were 10. By age eleven, he was your first kiss. Dallas was such a flirt, and you couldn’t resist when he asked for a kiss after a long day of hanging out. For the next two years, the both of you were seen everywhere together when he wasn’t getting into trouble. Regular trouble. Before he became a hooligan. Talking back to his parents, Bad grades, Pulling pranks.. that kind of stuff.

One day, he just dissappeared. You were looking around for him in the places he'd usually be in, but nothing. You even worked up the courage to go and ask his buddies if they had seen him. The older boys were tough and mean looking, but they were decent in attitude with the ladies. "Naw. he didn't tell ya?" One of them with shaggy brown hair and green eyes with a scar next to one of them asks you. "Police are after him. He fleed last night, little lady." The boy brings a cigarette to his mouth.

"That's rough," a boy you were familiar with, named James chuckles. "Dally, just up and left without telling his girl. What a shame." He shakes his head. That was the last time you ever heard of Dallas.

You had forgotten about it quick. Well, not forget.. but never thought about it again unless someone would bring up stuff like "who was your first kiss?" or "have you ever had a boyfriend?" answering those questions didn't hurt, either. Dallas wasn't even a real boyfriend. He was just a friend. Not even a great one, either. He was just a funny guy who kept you company.

"Forgetting" about him was easy because now that he was gone, guys had the guts to ask you out. They never did before because they knew Dallas. They knew he liked you and if they tried anything, he'd probably try to fight them or something. One boy in particular named Brandon Lawrence caught your eye. He was a little bit taller, black hair and green eyes, pale with rosy cheeks. He was handsome and really nice.

Brandon was your boyfriend of 4 years before you had to move.

"Tulsa?" He cocked an eyebrow. "Ain't that in Oklahoma?" Brandon asks with a hint of worry in his tone. "Yeah, it is.." You say in a gentle tone, smoothing out the wrinkles in your long skirt. "Baby, that's like a thousand miles from here! How am I gonna see you? You can't go!" Brandon didn't mean it in a 'you can't leave me, I won't allow it.' kind of way. He wasn't like that. "Well, that's what I wanted to talk about.. we have to break up. It’s not gonna work out."

—

When you moved to Tulsa, everything seemed so.. boring. There wasn't much to do.. especially since you knew nobody there. The first couple of weeks, you stayed in the house, watching tv, reading, cleaning—literally anything but going outside to socialize. Your family would be classified as 'Socs'. Your parents weren't filthy rich, but they were nowhere near as poor as the Greasers.

Men that your father worked with warned him about the Greasers. How they were hoods and no good. "It's best for you to stay inside," your father told you one day at dinner. "A little lady like you has no buisness being out in the street with those low-lifes." Whatever, you thought. It's not like you had any desire to go out anyway.

But unfortunately one day your mother sent you to buy a few things from the nearby mini-mart. With no fuss, you obey. It had been a while since you've been in the sun, so why not? Plus, it wasnt that far of a walk.

On your walk, a few other Soc guys your age hit on you while you made your way. A few girls judged, others smiled, thinking you were so pretty. You felt self conscious even if there were a few girls who thought you were gorgeous. Maybe it really is better to stay inside instead of going out and making a fool of yourself.

You were only a crosswalk away from the mart when you heard a group of men laughing. But there was one guy who had an awful laugh. Annoying, loud.. was it? Theres no way. You look over at the men walking across the street. Yup. It was exactly who you thought it was: Dallas Winston.

He was so much taller and muscular than the last time you saw him. One of the guys he was with noticed you staring, and what did he do? He told Dal. The brunette looks over, not recognizing you. But he did think you were pretty. You cross the street, passing by them and into the mart without looking at them.

Oh, how you hoped he wouldn't follow you in.. but he did. And he was quick with what he wanted to say. "You from 'round these parts, sweetie? Never seen you before." He checks you out while you pick out a few oranges. "I just moved here," you respond gently. "Moved from New York. How come you never wrote me?" You look back at him, meeting his confused expression. "What?" He asks.

"Its me, Dallas." He stares at you like your crazy, but he was also trying to figure out who you were. Finally, he gets it after a minute. "Oh my God," He shakes his head. "What're you doing here?" He smiles and punches your arm in a friendly manner. "Never thought I'd see ya again."

"Yeah, neither did I." you respond.

You spent the rest of the day catching up.. privately, of course. He told you why you couldn't be seen together. "Im a dirty Greaser, and you're a squeaky clean Soc." he explained. You didnt exactly understand, but you guessed it was a class thing.

He told you that the reason he flew was because he was going to get arrested again. He had done something really bad, but he didn't want to say what it was. "Mm," you nod your head. "Well, atleast I didn't go my whole life without seeing you again."

"I thought about you a lot." He confessed. "I wanted to say something before leaving, but I couldn't. I didn't have the time.. and I didnt write cuz.. I dont know. I dont have a real reason." He shrugged. "Sorry." He had a soft touch to him. Definitely not normal. Dallas had already told you about how he's big trouble and gets IN to big trouble. How hes a big tough guy and doesnt need anybody.. and you believed him.

"Hey, she needs to go, man." Two-bit, his friend calls out. "Cant have her here too long, pal. Darry don't know she's here." He says and goes back inside the house. "Shit, he's right.. Darry gets off of work soon. Gotta get you outta here." He walks ahead, expecting you to follow.

"Look, I know you probably expected more, but I dunno what to say. Nice to see you again?" He tells you. Yes, it upset you, but how could you blame him? He's always been a little awkward, and he probably had stuff to do. He has a life here, and you don't. "Yeah, okay.." You nod. "I should be going." You clutch your bags full of stuff a little tighter. "I'll see you around."

"Maybe."

[camomileapplesyrup]

today i got into a heated argument with two TRAs over the twoXchromosomes subreddit. i made a post about the woman-centric subreddit now being overrun with men & MRAs who harass women that share their traumatic experiences with men. from SA, to spousal abuse, women found a space where they felt safe discussing their experiences in life.

posts expressing feminist thought, traumatic experiences & general fear of men were met with downvote bombings & harassment.

men pretend to be underage girls pretending not to understand masturbation and acting they don't know how to wash "down there", asking for advice for sexual gratification of course.

men CONSTANTLY adding their two cents to posts that absolutely do not need it.

the subreddit is now uncomfortable & stifling, mods do absolutely nothing about it. so i made a lengthy post and so many women responded. over 500 comments of women responding positively, and thanking me for calling out an ongoing issue.

well, apparently i am transphobic and i am acting "sussy" with saying; “every time i come here and a woman makes a post with the most MINUSCULE feminist intent, or sharing her trauma, or difficulties in her personal experiences, it doesn't just get downvoted to oblivion, but filled up with comments of dudes adding their two cents, tone policing, making sexual & or fetish comments or "not all men"ing her. this is a woman centric community. two X chromosomes. we aren't going to make our tones softer, be gentler and tip-toe around our individual experiences to make YOU, a dude, comfortable.”

all it took was this for two TRAs to gang up on me & call me transphobic. saying this is why they don't trust cis feminists, and patronising me with expressions like "you must be so brave for calling yourself a radfem". they claimed that i cannot call myself a radical feminist because it's just bigoted towards trans women, despite me living in a 3rd world country where we don't even have working woman's shelters and proper laws against spousal abuse. "im sorry your life is hard as a woman living in a misogynistic country, but that is here nor there with regard to the terminology we're discussing" i'm sorry, what?

most of us aren't privileged enough to be libfems. i wish pink fucking girlboss they/she queen xenogender discourse was what my country could be doing, but life is not fair for everyone. if a woman here gets abused, stalked, or raped, she has nowhere to go. no phone number to call. no police to call. no prosecutor to trust in. and i went through this, personally.

by the end i had to block them, because they were derailing the conversation. but fuck, even when i literally do my best and try to be inclusive to everyone, i get spat in the fucking face.