#otis Cruz
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The Cruz Brothers: Javi & Otis
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Otis and Javi âĽď¸
I love them, the Cruz family
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Right in front of you | Leslie Shay
Pairing: Leslie Shay x Reader Reader pronouns used: she/her Prompt: "Is that a hickey?" Masterlist | Chicago Fire masterlist | Words: 1k
You loved to cook at the firehouse around the corner, on your days off from the family owned restaurant you worked at. Besides loving to cook, it was also a way for you to see your girlfriend when she was on shift. The environment at 51 was also not bad, you loved being around the people that Shay called her family, even though most of them didnât know you and Shay were a thing. The two of you didnât mind people knowing, you just didnât want to make telling people such a big deal. Severide and Dawson knew for sure as they were her best friends, and maybe some other people had guessed and just never mentioned it. There were however also a few people that were definitely still clueless, like Cruz and Otis, as they were about to prove to you once again, you realized when you saw them walk in with their eyes focussed on you.
âGood morning boys, how was the call?â You ask as you put some scrambled eggs and bacon on a plate for each of them. Cruz was quick to give you an answer, priding himself on saving the day. âI rescued an old lady from her house before it was engulfed in flames.â Otis quickly chimes in, âNot before I located her and told you where to find her.â It was adorable how hard they were trying. âSounds like a great start to the day, then.â You smile.Â
You had been coming to prepare food at the station for a few months now. When Shay had breakfast duty one day she asked if you could prepare breakfast for take out at the restaurant, after she relayed the many compliments the team gave to the food, you had suggested coming over to cook breakfast in the firehouse once a week, much to Shay and the team's liking.Â
Not a day at the firehouse went by without Cruz and Otis trying to flirt with you. Not responding to their flirts or not showing the same interests back didn't stop them from trying every time, though. You had mentioned it to Shay after the first time it happened, wanting to be open about it. She just laughed at their antics with you, before she pecked your lips and told you, âYou just tell them off or tell them about us if it gets annoying, okay?â So far, you had just found it funny, and decided to see how long they were going to keep this up, still not in any way giving them a signal that you were interested in them, of course.
You were still making scrambled eggs when Shay and Dawson got back from their call. They walked right up to you for their food, a cup of coffee, and of course they started a conversation with you. When they sat down with the rest of the team Shay overheard Cruz and Otis whispering amongst themselves. âWe should start a bet on who will be able to get y/n to go on a date with them first.â She exchanges a look with Dawson, both of them working hard on keeping their laughter in. Shay, like you, thought their antics were hilarious, so she didn't stop them, unless you would get uncomfortable by it.Â
Shay joins the conversation of their other teammates. She gets tired of her hair in her face so she puts her hair up in a quick messy bun. âWow, Shay, is that a hickey?â Mills gasps. Dawson turns Shay's head her way so she can see for herself. âSure looks like a hickey, Mills, never seen one before?â The brunette jokes. The rest of the team starts bombarding your girlfriend with questions, you look over to the group as it starts quite the commotion. âOkay, okay, calm down. You all get one question.â Shay says, knowing these people well enough to know they were going to drop it.
Capp starts off the questioning round. âIs she hot?â He immediately gets a shove to the shoulder by Tony, âWas that seriously the best you could do?â After he shrugs, Shay answers, âYes, she's very hot.â Mills goes next, âOne night stand?â She shakes her head, âNo.â The team shares a look before Casey asks the next question, âDoes Severide know who it is then?â Severide answers that one, letting the team know that he does. Otis decides to ask the next question, âDo we know her?â Shay noticed that you were walking towards the table with your own plate of food. âYes, you do.â She says. You can see their brains working overtime, and have to try to hold in your laugh, as you sit down besides Shay.Â
You share a look with Shay, letting her know that however she wants to handle this, it is okay with you. She smiles and puts her arm over the back of your chair. âIt's really not that hard to think of a person that you all know.â She says, pulling their eyes back to her. The arm on your chair makes its way to your side, as she pulls you closer to her. âShe's literally sitting right in front of you.â After finishing her sentence she places a kiss on your forehead and keeps holding you close. Most of the reactions to the news were comments along the lines of thatâs great, congratulations, or youâve got to keep this one around followed by Mouch pointing to the food and then giving a thumbs up. Of course, those reactions were all great, however, your favorite reactions were those of Cruz and Otis. Their eyes widened when they realized they had been flirting with Shayâs girlfriend for weeks.Â
The newly found information made the team quickly forget about the hickey that started the conversation, as the team was happy to see Shay so happy with you. They continued asking you both questions, how did you meet? and how long have you been together? until the alarm rang and all companies were being called to a scene. Shay kisses you before getting up, âThank you for breakfast, baby.âÂ
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#leslie shay#leslie shay x reader#chicago fire#chicago fire fanfic#chicago fire imagine#chicago fire x reader#one chicago x reader#one chicago#one chicago imagine#joe cruz#brian zvonecek#brian otis zvonecek#pockets celebration
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None Of This Is Your Fault.
Brian "Otis" Zvonecek x Fem!Firefighter!Reader
A/N: Sorry that I've been so inactive, I know this is no excuse but I school started and my job is starting to get into it's busy season and to my luck I managed to tear my meniscus and I've been in so much pain so writing has been the least of my concerns. I am getting surgery on Thursday so I will be writing more soon. For now, please enjoy my new fic.
This is a 20 chapter story and I've put 10 chapters in one fic. It's a lot but this is my apology for being inactive.
Chapter 1:
Five years. Thatâs how long Iâve been with Brian. It feels like a lifetime and just a blink at the same time. We met in the most unconventional of waysârunning into each other during a late-night call, both of us soaked in sweat, soot smeared across our faces, the smell of smoke thick in the air. It wasnât the most romantic setting, but maybe thatâs why it worked. There was no need for pretenses between us. We were both drawn to the fire, the adrenaline, the chaotic beauty of our work. And somehow, through the chaos, I found him.
Brian âOtisâ Zvonecekâmy partner in every sense of the word. Heâs not the guy who sweeps you off your feet with grand gestures or sweet talk. No, Brian is the guy who shows up every single day. Heâs steady. Kind. Funny in the way that only he can be, with those ridiculous puns and the way his face lights up when he thinks heâs landed a good one. Itâs impossible not to laugh when heâs around, and God, thatâs what I love most about himâhe makes everything lighter, even when the world feels heavy.
But these days, the world is feeling a little heavier than usual.
Weâve both been working nonstopâFirehouse 51 is like a second home, though lately, it feels more like a first. Thereâs something comforting about the firehouse, the constant hum of activity, the sound of the trucks rumbling to life, the distant chatter of my crewâno, my family. And Brian? Heâs always been at the center of it all. Our relationship bloomed in this place, surrounded by the people who understand what we go through every day.
I remember the early days with him so clearly. It started as a few casual glances across the engine bay, nothing serious at first. Just an awareness of him. His laugh was what caught me. The way he threw his head back, completely unguarded, while the rest of us were tense and wired after a tough call. He had this way of letting it all roll off his back, and I admired that.
It wasnât long before we were partnered on every shift, making excuses to grab dinner after. One night, after a particularly tough rescue, he suggested we go for wings. I was exhausted, drained, and covered in soot, but something in his voice made me agree. I needed thatâsomething normal, something grounding. We sat in that little corner booth, devouring spicy wings, laughing about the ridiculousness of our lives. It was simple, but it was the first time I felt like I had found something real. Something worth holding onto.
Thatâs how weâve always beenâjust us, grounded in the simplicity of being together. No grand romantic gestures, no pressure to be anything other than who we are.
And for five years, it worked. I always felt secure with Brian. Sure, weâve had our share of argumentsâwhat couple doesnât?âbut they were always small, petty things. Weâd bicker about who forgot to fill the gas tank or who left the towels on the floor, but those disagreements never lasted long. We were always able to laugh it off, make a joke, and move forward.
Lately, though, Iâve been different. Not usâme. I feel it deep inside, like thereâs something pulling me away, pulling us apart. I donât know why, but these past few months, things that shouldnât bother me do. Things that used to make me laugh now irritate me. And sometimes, when the irritation boils over, I lose control in a way I never have before.
Brian doesnât say it, but I can tell heâs worried. Heâs always watching me now, his brown eyes searching for some sign that Iâm still the same Y/N he fell in love with. But the truth is, I donât feel like the same person anymore, and that scares me more than I care to admit. The outbursts come out of nowhereâsudden, violent flashes of angerâand then, just as quickly, theyâre gone, like they never happened. And the worst part? I canât remember them.
Itâs terrifying.
It started small. A broken plate here, a slammed door there. I chalked it up to stress. Firefighting is a tough job, and weâre no strangers to pressure. But as the weeks turned into months, the episodes became harder to ignore. They were no longer just occasional moments of frustrationâthey were frequent, and sometimes, I wouldnât even realize something was wrong until I saw the look in Brianâs eyes. That look of concern, like he didnât know how to help me, like he was afraid to say the wrong thing. I hated that look. It made me feel like I was losing him, losing us.
But I kept telling myself it was fine. I was fine. If I just pushed through, if I worked harder, the episodes would stop. I thought if I ignored it, I could outrun it.
I was wrong.
Tonight, as I lie in bed next to Brian, listening to his soft breathing, I canât shake the feeling that something big is coming. Something we wonât be able to ignore. I stare at the ceiling, the weight of it pressing down on me, my chest tightening. The love I have for him is overwhelming, and I donât know how to protect it anymore.
Brian stirs beside me, his arm draping across my waist as he pulls me closer in his sleep. I close my eyes, taking in the warmth of his body, the familiar scent of him. He feels like home. But the fear of losing thatâof losing himâis more than I can bear.
Tomorrow is another shift. Another 48-hour stretch. I tell myself things will get better, that I just need to push through. But deep down, I know something has to give.
And Iâm terrified that when it does, itâll be too late to save what weâve built.
Chapter 2:
The first time it happened, I barely noticed it. Looking back, that should have been my first clue. It was such a small thingâa flash of frustration that I thought was just stress from work. We were off-duty, Brian and I, sitting at the kitchen table after a long day. Weâd been talking about the usualâour shifts, the next firehouse event, Cruzâs latest terrible joke. Brian had a way of making everything feel easy. Comfortable.
But that night, something was different.
I donât even remember what set me off. One minute, we were laughing, and the next, I felt this surge of anger bubbling up inside me. It wasnât anything Brian said or did, not really. It was more like a wave crashing over me, completely out of my control. I felt like I was drowning in it, and the next thing I knew, I was standing over the kitchen sink, my hands trembling as I stared at the shattered remains of a glass I didnât even remember throwing.
Brian was standing a few feet away, his face pale, his eyes wide with shock.
âY/N⌠what just happened?â His voice was quiet, careful.
I blinked, trying to piece together the moment, but it was like a fog had settled over my mind. âIâI donât know.â My voice sounded distant, unfamiliar. âI didnât mean toââ
âItâs okay,â he said quickly, stepping forward. He placed his hand gently on my arm, his touch grounding me. âItâs okay. It was just a glass.â
But it wasnât just the glass, and we both knew it. Something had shifted inside me, something dark and uncontrollable. And the worst part was, I couldnât explain it. I couldnât tell Brian what was wrong because I didnât know.
âIâm sorry,â I whispered, my throat tight. âI donât know what happened.â
Brian smiled, but it didnât reach his eyes. âItâs fine. Weâre both tired. It was just a glass.â
I nodded, but as I swept up the broken shards, I couldnât shake the feeling that something had broken inside me, too. And it wasnât going to be as easy to put back together.
Chapter 3:
Weeks passed, and the tension in the air between Brian and me seemed to grow with each passing day. It wasnât just at home anymoreâmy outbursts were starting to creep into our shifts at the firehouse. It wasnât anything major at first, just little moments where Iâd snap at someone or lose my temper more easily than usual. Everyone chalked it up to the stress of the job, and I let them. It was easier than admitting something was wrong.
But inside, I could feel it buildingâthis pressure, like a balloon swelling inside my chest, ready to burst. I thought I could handle it. I thought if I kept myself busy, if I focused on the work, I could push it down. But firefighting isnât a job where you can afford to lose control.
I remember one call in particular. It was a standard house fire, nothing we hadnât seen a thousand times before. The flames were manageable, but there was a lot of smoke. We went in as a team, each of us with a role, moving in sync like we always did. Brian was with me, like he usually was, our movements so familiar we didnât even need to talk to communicate.
But something was off that day. The smoke felt heavier than usual, the heat more oppressive. My helmet felt like it was pressing down on my skull, making my head throb. I tried to push through it, focusing on the task at hand, but my mind was racing. Every soundâthe crackle of flames, the muffled voices over the radio, even my own breathing in the maskâfelt like it was closing in on me.
âY/N, you good?â Brianâs voice crackled through my radio.
âIâm fine,â I muttered, though my vision was starting to blur at the edges. We were almost done, just a few more minutes. I could make it. I had to.
But then, out of nowhere, the frustration hit me. I donât know whyâit wasnât a particularly stressful callâbut something inside me snapped. I felt a surge of anger, irrational and uncontrollable. I swung my axe harder than I needed to, cutting through debris with more force than was necessary. I heard Brian call my name again, concern clear in his voice, but I didnât respond. I couldnât. I was too focused on the pounding in my head, the rage bubbling just beneath the surface.
When we finally exited the building, I ripped off my helmet and tossed it to the ground, breathing heavily. My heart was racing, my hands trembling.
âWhat the hell, Y/N?â Brian was at my side, his voice sharp. âYou couldâve hurt yourself in there.â
âIâm fine,â I snapped, my voice harsher than I intended. âItâs nothing.â
âItâs not nothing,â he said, his brow furrowing as he looked at me. âYouâve been off lately. This isnât like you.â
I turned away, not wanting to hear the concern in his voice. I didnât want to admit that he was rightâthat something was wrong with me. âI told you, Iâm fine.â
But I wasnât. I knew it, and Brian knew it, too.
Chapter 4:
The firehouse had always been a place of comfort for me. It was where I felt in control, where I knew I could make a difference. But lately, even that had started to feel like a burden. My outbursts were becoming more frequent, and I could see the strain it was putting on everyoneâespecially Brian.
At home, things were getting harder. Brian tried to be patient, but I could see the frustration in his eyes whenever I lost my temper. Heâd always been the calm one, the one who could smooth things over with a joke or a smile. But even he couldnât keep pretending that everything was fine.
We had one of our worst fights a few nights after that call. I donât even remember what started itâsomething small, something stupid. But it spiraled out of control so fast. One minute, we were sitting on the couch, watching a movie, and the next, I was yelling at him, accusing him of things that didnât even make sense.
âYou donât even care about me anymore!â I shouted, the words spilling out of my mouth before I could stop them. âYouâre always at work, or with Cruz, or doing anything but being here with me!â
Brian looked at me like Iâd just slapped him. âY/N, what are you talking about? Iâm always with you! We work together, we live togetherâhow much closer can we get?â
âThatâs not what I mean!â I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, but I didnât care. âYouâre here, but youâre not really here. You donât look at me the same way anymore. You donâtââ
âStop,â he cut me off, his voice calm but firm. âThatâs not true, and you know it. I love you. Iâve always loved you.â
His words should have soothed me. They should have made me feel safe. But instead, they only made the anger flare hotter. âThen why do I feel so alone?â I whispered, my voice breaking.
Brianâs face softened, and he took a step closer, reaching for my hand. âY/N, Iâm right here. Youâre not alone. But somethingâs going on with you, and you wonât talk to me about it.â
I yanked my hand away, refusing to meet his eyes. âIâm fine,â I muttered for what felt like the hundredth time.
But I wasnât. I wasnât fine, and I was pushing him away without even meaning to. I could see it in his eyesâthe worry, the frustration, the helplessness. He didnât know how to fix this, and neither did I.
That night, we went to bed without saying another word. Brian turned his back to me, and I lay there, staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of my own silence pressing down on me. I wanted to reach out to him, to tell him I was scared, that I didnât know what was happening to me. But the words wouldnât come.
All I could do was lie there and wonder how much longer we could keep pretending that everything was okay.
Chapter 5:
The firehouse was unusually quiet that night. It was the kind of quiet that crept into your bones, making you restless. We were on the second day of a 48-hour shift, and exhaustion hung in the air. Normally, a shift like this didnât faze meâadrenaline and routine kept me going. But tonight, my head felt like it was being squeezed in a vice. The migraine was pounding behind my eyes, a dull, throbbing pain that no amount of coffee could fix.
I rubbed my temples, trying to will the headache away. Brian had noticed it earlier in the shift and offered me some Tylenol, but I turned him down. There was something about this headache that felt different, heavier. And I was already on edgeâthere was no way I wanted to dull my senses while on duty.
I kept my distance from the crew tonight, choosing to sit quietly at the kitchen table, nursing my coffee and staring blankly at the TV. Normally, Iâd be laughing with the rest of them, especially Brian and Cruz, who were busy trading ridiculous jokes and stories. But I couldnât focus on any of it. The migraine had lodged itself deep in my skull, making every sound feel like nails on a chalkboard.
I was counting down the hours. Only eight more hours of this shift. And then, finally, Brian and I could go home, grab food from the new Wingstop, and just unwind. It had been a long week, and I was craving something normal, something that would remind me of the simplicity of us. I clung to the thought of getting those wings together. It was the one thing keeping me grounded, the one thing I was looking forward to after the chaos of the last two days.
As if on cue, Brian wandered over to me, his smile easy as always, though I could see the concern lingering in his eyes.
âHey,â he said softly, sitting down across from me. âHowâs your head?â
I forced a small smile, though I knew it didnât reach my eyes. âStill there, but itâll pass. Just need to get through these last few hours.â
âWeâre almost done,â Brian said, his hand reaching out to gently brush mine. âAnd then itâs Wingstop time, right? Iâm starving.â
I nodded, feeling a small flicker of relief. âYeah, canât wait. Been thinking about it all day.â
Brian paused, his brow furrowing slightly. âActually⌠about that. I just grabbed Wingstop with Cruz an hour ago. Didnât realize youâd still want it tonight. You cool with grabbing something else?â
The words barely registered at first. They came out so casually, so matter-of-fact. But as they sank in, I felt a sharp, searing heat rise in my chest. My fingers tightened around the coffee mug in my hand as the rage swelled, unbidden and uncontrollable. I blinked, my vision blurring for a moment as my heart pounded in my ears.
âWait, what?â I could hear the edge in my voice, sharp and venomous, even as I tried to keep it together. âYou just had Wingstop? You knew we were supposed to get it together after shift.â
Brianâs eyes widened, taken aback by the sudden shift in my tone. âI didnât think itâd be a big deal. We can still get it if you want. Iâll eat it with you, no problem.â
âNo,â I snapped, the word flying out before I could stop it. âI donât want it anymore.â
Brian frowned, confusion and concern mingling on his face. âY/N, whatâs going on? Itâs just food. If you want Wingstop, weâll get Wingstop. Itâs not a big deal.â
But to me, it was a big deal. It felt like everythingâthe headache, the exhaustion, the tension between usâwas boiling over, and this one tiny thing had pushed me over the edge. I could feel it happening, the anger building into something unstoppable, and I hated it. I hated that I couldnât control it, couldnât stop the words from tumbling out.
âYou always do this!â I shouted, my voice breaking as the room seemed to close in around me. âYou say one thing and then turn around and do whatever you want! Do you even care about what I want anymore? All I wanted was this shift to end so we could finally go home and have a normal night together. But noâof course you couldnât even wait for me to get the food we talked about!â
âY/N,â Brian said softly, reaching out to touch my arm, âI didnât meanââ
âDONâT TOUCH ME!â I jerked away from him, my heart racing as the room fell silent. Everyone was staring nowâCruz, Mouch, Sylvie, Herrmann. Even Chief Boden, who had been standing by the door, was watching with furrowed brows.
I could feel my hands shaking, my vision blurring as tears welled up in my eyes. âAll I wanted,â I choked out, my voice trembling, âwas a little quality time with my boyfriend. But instead, I get stuck on this miserable shift with a migraine and a boyfriend who only cares about himself.â
The words hung in the air like poison, and as soon as they left my mouth, I felt something inside me shatter. My heart was pounding, my breath coming in ragged gasps, and before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face. I didnât even recognize myself in that moment. This wasnât me.
Brian stood there, frozen, his face pale with shock and hurt. âY/N, IâŚâ
But before he could say anything else, it was like a switch had flipped. The anger drained out of me as quickly as it had come, leaving me feeling hollow and confused. I blinked, wiping my tear-streaked face as I straightened my posture, suddenly aware of the silence in the room.
âWhy⌠why am I crying?â I asked, my voice soft, bewildered. I looked around at everyoneâs facesâconfusion, concern, shockâall eyes on me. The pressure in my head eased slightly, the migraine fading as quickly as it had come.
Without another word, I turned and walked to the bathroom, the weight of everyoneâs stares pressing down on me like a heavy fog.
Chapter 6:
I spent a long time in the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face and staring at my reflection in the mirror. My face was flushed, my eyes red from crying, but it wasnât the physical exhaustion that scared me. It was the blank space in my mind, the way the anger had flared so hot and fast, only to disappear without a trace. I didnât remember half of what Iâd said, and what I did remember felt like it had come from someone elseâs mouth, not mine.
I leaned against the sink, gripping the edge of the counter so hard my knuckles turned white. I didnât know what was happening to me, but it was getting worse. And I was terrified.
When I finally stepped out of the bathroom, I saw Brian waiting for me by the door. His face was etched with worry, but his voice was calm and steady when he spoke. âChief wants to see us in his office.â
My stomach dropped. I nodded silently and followed him down the hall, my footsteps heavy, my heart pounding in my chest. Chief Boden rarely called anyone into his office unless it was serious. And this? This was definitely serious.
When we stepped into the office, Chief was sitting behind his desk, his expression unreadable. He gestured for us to sit, and the tension in the room was thick as we did. Brian sat next to me, close but not touching, his hands resting tensely in his lap.
âY/N,â Chief Boden began, his deep voice gentle but firm. âBrian explained whatâs been going on with you lately. I need you to listen carefully to what Iâm about to say.â
I nodded, my throat tight.
âIâve seen my share of stress in this job. Iâve seen how it can affect peopleâphysically, mentally, emotionally. But what happened out there today wasnât normal, and it wasnât safe. For you or for anyone else. Youâve been one of the best firefighters on this team, but I canât have you putting yourself or others at risk.â
I swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling over me like a cold blanket.
âIâm not asking,â Chief continued, his eyes locking onto mine. âIâm ordering you to go to Chicago Med. Youâre not coming back on shift until the doctors clear you.â
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. âChief, Iââ
âThis isnât up for discussion,â he said, his voice softening but still firm. âYou need to get checked out. Somethingâs going on, and you canât ignore it anymore.â
I felt Brianâs hand brush against mine, a silent show of support, but I couldnât look at him. I couldnât face the disappointment in his eyes. All I could do was nod again, feeling a wave of helplessness crash over me.
âTake the rest of the day,â Chief said. âGo to Med. Weâll be here for whatever you need, but youâre not coming back until you get answers.â
Brian stood up, helping me to my feet as we left the office in silence. I could barely process what had just happenedâhow quickly everything had spiraled out of control. As we walked out of the firehouse and towards the car
Chapter 7:
The ride to Chicago Med was eerily quiet. Brian drove, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little too tight, his gaze focused on the road. I sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window, my mind a blur of confusion, guilt, and fear. Every bump in the road sent a fresh wave of pain through my skull, but it wasnât just the migraine anymoreâit was the uncertainty gnawing at my insides. Something was wrong with me. Deep down, I knew that now. But the thought of facing it, of having a doctor tell me what was happening⌠I wasnât sure I was ready for that.
Brian didnât say much during the drive, and I was grateful for that. I wasnât sure what I would have said if heâd asked me how I was feeling. How was I supposed to explain the emptiness inside me, the way I felt like a stranger in my own body?
As we pulled into the parking lot of Chicago Med, Brian finally spoke, his voice soft but steady. âIâm coming in with you.â
I nodded, unable to find the words to argue. I didnât want to do this alone. I didnât want to walk into that hospital and face whatever it was that had been slowly unraveling me. And as much as I hated feeling vulnerable, I needed him with me.
The bright lights of the hospital stung my eyes as we walked through the automatic doors, the sterile smell of antiseptic hitting me like a wall. Brian led the way, his hand resting on the small of my back, guiding me through the bustling halls. We didnât have to wait long before we were ushered into an exam room by a nurse, who took my vitals and asked the standard questions.
Then, there was more waiting.
I sat on the exam table, swinging my legs back and forth, my hands folded tightly in my lap. Brian stood next to me, close enough that our arms brushed every now and then, but he didnât speak. He didnât need to. His presence was enoughâsteady, calming, even though I knew he was as scared as I was.
After what felt like an eternity, the door swung open, and Dr. Will Halstead walked in. I knew him wellâheâd treated me a few times before, and he was a friend of ours outside of work. But today, he didnât greet me with the usual smile or lighthearted joke. His expression was serious, concerned.
âHey, Y/N,â he said, glancing between me and Brian as he took a seat on the stool across from us. âI hear youâve been having some⌠unusual symptoms.â
I nodded, my throat tight. âYeah. I guess you could say that.â
Will frowned, his brow furrowing as he flipped through my chart. âBrian filled me in on whatâs been going on. The headaches, the mood swings, the memory loss⌠weâre going to run a few tests to get a clearer picture. I know itâs scary, but we need to figure out whatâs causing all of this.â
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. âDo you have any idea what it could be?â
Will hesitated, and that hesitation sent a chill down my spine. âThere are a few possibilities,â he said carefully, âbut I donât want to jump to conclusions until we have more information. Weâre going to start with a CT scan to get a look at whatâs going on inside your brain.â
Inside my brain.
The words echoed in my head, sending a fresh wave of panic through me. I glanced at Brian, who was watching me closely, his expression unreadable. He reached out, taking my hand in his, and I squeezed it tightly, my pulse racing beneath my skin.
âOkay,â I whispered, my voice barely audible. âLetâs do it.â
Chapter 8:
The waiting was the worst part.
After the CT scan, they sent me back to the exam room to wait while the results were processed. Every second that ticked by felt like an hour. I sat there, nervously tapping my foot on the floor, while Brian paced back and forth in front of me. His anxiety was palpable, and it mirrored the panic building in my chest. I didnât know what was worseâthe not knowing, or the fear of what we were about to find out.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Will came back into the room, holding a manila folder in his hand. His expression was seriousâtoo serious. My stomach twisted into knots as I watched him sit down again, the air between us heavy with tension.
âY/N,â he began, his voice low, âIâm not going to sugarcoat this. The CT scan showed something concerning.â
I felt Brianâs hand tighten around mine, his grip almost painfully strong. I couldnât breathe. My chest felt tight, my heart pounding in my ears. âWhat is it?â I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Will took a deep breath, his eyes soft with sympathy. âYou have a tumor in your brain. Itâs located in the frontal lobe, which explains the mood swings and memory lapses youâve been experiencing. Itâs putting pressure on the surrounding areas, which is likely causing the migraines as well.â
A tumor. The word hit me like a freight train, knocking the air from my lungs. I stared at Will, uncomprehending, as if heâd just spoken a foreign language.
A tumor. In my brain.
I felt the world tilt beneath me, everything spinning out of control. My heart pounded in my chest, and I was suddenly aware of every sound, every breath, every sensation. Brianâs hand in mine, Willâs steady gaze, the sterile scent of the hospitalâall of it felt too real, too overwhelming.
âIâI donât understand,â I stammered, shaking my head. âA tumor? HowâŚ?â
Will nodded gently, leaning forward, his tone careful but honest. âItâs a lot to process, I know. But the good news is that we caught it early. Itâs operable, which means we can remove it. Weâre going to need to schedule surgery as soon as possible.â
Surgery. Tumor. The words swirled in my head, but none of them made sense. This wasnât supposed to happen. I was healthy. I was a firefighterâI fought through flames, saved lives. I wasnât supposed to be the one lying in a hospital bed, waiting for a doctor to cut into my skull.
I felt my hands start to tremble, and suddenly, the weight of everything came crashing down on me. The months of mood swings, the fights with Brian, the outbursts I couldnât controlâit all made sense now. There was a tumor inside me, something foreign and dangerous, controlling me from the inside out.
âOh my God,â I whispered, my voice breaking as the tears started to fall. âBrian⌠Iâm so sorry.â
Brianâs arms were around me in an instant, pulling me close as I sobbed into his chest. âNo,â he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. âYou donât have anything to apologize for, Y/N. None of this is your fault.â
âBut Iââ I tried to speak, but the words were lost in the sobs that shook my body. All the anger, the fear, the guiltâI couldnât hold it back anymore. âIâve been awful to you. I didnât knowâŚâ
Brian held me tighter, his hand running through my hair as he pressed his cheek to the top of my head. âIt doesnât matter,â he whispered. âNone of it matters. Weâre going to get through this. Youâre going to be okay.â
I wanted to believe him, but all I could think about was the word that Will had said:Â tumor.
Chapter 9:
We left Chicago Med in a daze. The world outside felt too normal, too calm, compared to the storm raging inside me. The sky was still a brilliant blue, people walked down the street, completely oblivious to the fact that my life had just been turned upside down. Brian drove in silence, his hand resting on mine, squeezing gently every so often as if he was reminding himself I was still there. I couldnât get the word out of my headâtumor.
It felt like some terrible nightmare, one that I hadnât woken up from yet. Except this wasnât a nightmare. This was real, and no amount of blinking or pinching myself would make it go away.
We pulled into the firehouse parking lot. I didnât want to be here, didnât want to face the crew and see their reactions when they found out. But we had to. They were my familyâthey deserved to know.
As soon as we stepped inside, I could feel the weight of everyoneâs stares. They knew something was wrong. Cruz and Mouch were sitting on the couch, glancing at us with concern. Herrmann, sitting at the table, stood up as soon as he saw us, his brow furrowed.
âEverything okay?â he asked, his voice cautious.
I looked at Brian, but the words got stuck in my throat. How was I supposed to tell them? How was I supposed to explain that everything Iâd been through over the past few months wasnât just stress or exhaustion, but something far more terrifying?
Brian took a deep breath, his voice low and steady. âWe went to Chicago Med. Will Halstead ran some tests on Y/N.â He paused, his grip on my hand tightening. âThey found a tumor. In her brain.â
The room went silent.
It was like the air had been sucked out of the firehouse. I could see the shock ripple across their faces, the confusion, the fear. Cruzâs mouth opened as if to say something, but no words came out. Boden stepped forward, his eyes filled with quiet understanding.
âA tumor?â Herrmann repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. âWhat does that mean? Is it⌠is it serious?â
I took a shaky breath, trying to keep the tears at bay. âItâs operable,â I said, the words sounding distant, as if someone else were speaking them. âTheyâre scheduling the surgery soon. Iâll⌠Iâll be okay. Thatâs what Will said.â
But as I said it, I wasnât sure if I believed it. The fear gnawed at my insides, making it hard to breathe, hard to think. How could I be sure everything would be okay when nothing felt okay right now?
There was a long, heavy pause before Boden spoke. âWeâre going to be here for you, Y/N,â he said softly, his voice steady and full of quiet authority. âWhatever you needâwhether itâs before, during, or after the surgeryâyouâre not going through this alone.â
The words should have brought me comfort, but instead, they only made the knot in my chest tighten. I didnât want to be the one who needed help. I didnât want to be the one who was weak, who was sick. I was a firefighter. I was supposed to be strong, to take care of others. Not the other way around.
But now, everything had changed.
I couldnât hold it back any longer. The sobs broke through, my chest heaving as I tried to breathe, to speak. âIâm sorry,â I choked out, my voice breaking. âIâm so sorry.â
Boden stepped closer, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. âYou have nothing to be sorry for,â he said softly.
But I did. I was sorry for everythingâfor the outbursts, for the way Iâd lashed out at Brian, for the times Iâd scared the crew with my unpredictability. I felt like I was falling apart, unraveling at the seams, and I couldnât stop it.
Brian pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly as the tears streamed down my face. I felt everyoneâs eyes on us, but it didnât matter. I couldnât hold anything back anymore. I cried for everythingâthe fear, the uncertainty, the guilt.
âI donât know how to do this,â I whispered into Brianâs chest, my voice trembling. âI donât know how to be this person. I donât know how to⌠how to be weak.â
Brianâs voice cracked as he held me even closer. âYouâre not weak,â he whispered fiercely. âYouâve never been weak, Y/N. Youâre the strongest person I know. And you donât have to go through this alone. Weâre all here for youâfor whatever you need.â
I shook my head, pulling back just enough to look up at him, my eyes red and swollen. âBut Iâve been so awful to you. I pushed you away. I didnât know what was wrong with me, but Iââ
âStop,â he cut me off, his voice thick with emotion. âNone of that matters now. None of it. You were scared, and you didnât know why. But we know now. And weâre going to fix it. Together.â
I wanted to believe him. I wanted so badly to believe that everything would be okay. But the fear was still there, lurking in the background, whispering that things might never be the same again.
The crew stepped forward one by one, each offering words of support, hugs, and quiet reassurances. It was overwhelmingâfeeling so much love and care when all I felt inside was fear. I wanted to tell them how much it meant to me, how grateful I was, but the words got stuck in my throat.
Finally, Boden spoke again, his voice gentle but firm. âYou need to rest, Y/N. Go home, get some sleep, and prepare for the surgery. Weâll be with you every step of the way.â
I nodded, though I wasnât sure Iâd be able to sleep with everything swirling inside me. But I appreciated the sentiment. I appreciated all of them.
Brian took my hand, and we started to leave. As we walked out of the firehouse, I looked back at the crewâmy familyâstanding there, watching us with worried eyes. They believed in me. They believed I could get through this.
I just wished I could believe it too.
Chapter 10:
The night before the surgery was the longest night of my life.
Brian and I went back to our apartment, and for the first time in what felt like forever, the silence between us wasnât filled with tension or misunderstanding. It was just⌠heavy. There was nothing more to say, nothing more to do but wait. I could see the worry etched into Brianâs face every time I caught him glancing at me. He tried to hide it, but I knew him too well.
We made dinner, but I could barely eat. The thought of surgery, of having someone cut into my brain, was too much to bear. I pushed the food around on my plate, my stomach churning with anxiety.
Brian eventually took my hand, pulling me into the living room. We sat on the couch, and I rested my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes as he gently stroked my hair. His touch was soothing, grounding me when my mind started to spiral.
âIâm scared,â I admitted quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.
âI know,â Brian whispered back, his voice soft and full of love. âIâm scared too. But youâre going to get through this. Weâre going to get through this.â
I wanted to believe him. I wanted to hold onto his words like a lifeline. But the fear, the uncertaintyâit was all-consuming. I couldnât shake the thought that something could go wrong, that I might not wake up after the surgery, that everything could change in a matter of hours.
âWhat ifâŚâ I started, my voice trembling. âWhat if something happens? What if Iâm not the same after?â
Brianâs hand stilled in my hair, and he pulled back just enough to look at me. His eyes were filled with so much love, so much emotion, that it took my breath away.
âNo matter what happens,â he said softly, âIâm here. I love you, Y/N. Nothingâs going to change that.â
The tears welled up again, and I blinked them away, trying to stay strong. But Brianâs words broke something inside me, and before I knew it, I was sobbing, my whole body shaking as I clung to him.
âI donât want to lose myself,â I cried. âI donât want to lose you.â
âYou wonât,â Brian whispered, his voice thick with emotion. âYou wonât lose me. Youâre not going anywhere, Y/N. Youâre stronger than this. Weâll face whatever comes next together.â
I buried my face in his chest, feeling the warmth of his arms around me, and for the first time that night, I allowed myself to believe him.
#brian zvonecek#otis zvonecek#brian otis zvonecek#chicago#chicago fire#chicago pd#otis chicago fire#otis#Brian zvonecek x reader#Brian zvonecek imagines#Brian zvonecek fluff#Brian zvonecek angst#joe cruz#Stella kidd#matt casey#gabby dawson#christopher herrmann#mouch#kelly severide#capp#chicago fire imagine#chicago fire fanfiction#chicago fire x reader#taylor kinney#crotis#Brian zvonecek x fem reader#Brian zvonecek imagine#otis imagines#otis angst#otis fluff
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i will literally never be over how peter mills is the one who went to hold matt after he got the news that hallie died. not even gabby could do it, but peter did it without hesitation. even though he felt some type of way towards casey, he went to comfort him when someone he loved and almost married died. everyone else was so shocked and didnât know what to do, but peter? peter millsâs gut instinct was to put his personal feelings aside and comfort someone who he thought was making his life at work hell on purpose because he was with gabby. peter mills who instantly took in a puppy because it wouldâve been drowned otherwise. peter mills who always tried to get people to smile. peter mills who lovingly cooked for everyone. i will never ever ever not love peter mills so much. he was such a great addition to the show. he was empathetic, kind, hard-working, ambitious, caring, determined. i love chicago fire so fucking bad, this show has genuinely made me sob so many times, so many ways, for so many different reasons.
#chicago fire#andrew darden#benny severide#blake gallo#brian otis zvonecek#christopher herrmann#danny borrelli#darren ritter#gabriela dawson#harold capp#jimmy borrelli#joe cruz#jose vargas#kelly severide#matthew casey#peter mills#randall mouch mcholland#rebecca jones#sam carver#scott rice#stella kidd#tony ferraris#wallace boden#emily foster#evan hawkins#emma jacobs#jessica chilton#leslie shay#sylvie brett#violet mikami
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FEBRUARY FLUFF â CHICAGO FIRE.
A/N: do people still read for this show? Not what I originally planned for my final piece for my feb. fluffs but when you binge watch reality tv (Love is Blind) you canât help but to redirect some place else right? Rip to that Kelly piece!!! Also this allows me to be all descriptive with a synopsis intertwined! + Iâm only at the beginning of season 5 of Chicago Fire so I know I have a long way to go although I know some spoilers here and thereâŚ
In short: Chicago Fire meets Love is Blind.
S/N: this is lengthy!! So if you have the time to read this and interact, thank you! Also I apologize for joeâs being the shortest of the bunchâat least I think it is since thereâs not nearly enough content of him up here. I didnât want to hit the mark with writing this which Iâve surprisingly only done once on this site. I wanted to do hermann as a potential older contestant? Donât know if thatâs the right term but again didnât want to over do it so maybe another time! Enjoy đŹ
ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛.
[MATT CASEY.]
He originally had no interest signing up for this show despite some producers reaching out to him via emails + phone calls and kinda harassing him in person about it! but after careful thought and consideration, he went through with it. Heâs not really into people giving their opinions about how he operates so being viewed by the world was another weird feeling regardless of his politician era!
Matt decides to be open after meeting some of the guys who share their perspectives and seeing some familiar faces that he didnât expect to also be here.
Heâs not really nervous, deciding to just go with the flow and actually takes it serious despite talking through a wall.
Matt Casey is a man who is willing and ready to settle down and thatâs his goal. Heâs not sure if this place or set up will bring that but he knows he has nothing to lose.
Most of his dates go well, theyâre honest, drivenâfor the most part and somewhat humorous and heâs able to quickly narrow it down to picking you.
Heâs as sure about you as you are with him. Conversations feel comfortable for Matt, your voice quickly putting him at ease although you joke that youâll probably sound like shit once you look back on the footage. And he gives you butterflies whenever he says your name in greeting.
Youâre the only ones choosing to continue going on dates with each other immediately and nobody else. They say when you know you just know right?
Matt shares his dating history but it doesnât scare you away like he almost began to worry about. You share your history as well and nothing the both of you say in the pods is alarming for each other⌠besides the fact that heâs a firefighter.
Sure itâs an admirable profession and you assume heâs in good health but it also scares you a bit at the fact that you could be a widow one day because of his job.
Politics is unfortunately brought up too but you both donât dive too much into it thankfully. You both know where you stand and he tells you that his time as a politician was a mess and not really his lane which you donât doubt. NEVER would have guessed it tbh.
Conversations are always meaningful and you both donât hesitate to share your values and future goals with each other.
Youâre open and thereâs no secrets: including family.
Heâs the first to propose out of the men and youâre in tears since you wanted this for a long time. You say yes and are a bundle of nerves the rest of the night until youâre face to face.
The attraction is just as strong as it is in the pods and as for the appearance you only assumed he was a dark blondeâthatâs about it.
Matt canât stop staring at you and you have to remind him that he has to propose in person, which makes him blink harshly with a shake of his head, laughing to himself, patting his pockets until he finds the box.
Itâs a halo teal sapphire oval engagement ring and itâs perfect.
You canât help but to initiate the kiss and Matt wipes the faux sweat off his forehead after, happy that you took the initiative before gaining confidence to go forth with the next kiss. You note that he likes to hold the space of your back (a lot) while staring into your eyes along with you locking your arms around his shoulders.
The giddy feeling is mutual when you get back to the headquarters, sharing the deets to your temporary roommates/cast mates turned friends.
The pre honeymoon phase lets you physically be in tune with each other. You take note of each others routine. Matt is the early riser but you have to remind him that heâs on vacation and can stay in bed longer with you although itâs always instilled in him to be up early.
He likes sleeping with limbs tangled and being the big spoon, hand in the valley of your chest which you hold just underneath your chin while you sleep. Heâs always on coffee and breakfast duty since you may sleep later but not too late.
He wonât make the bed if youâre the last one out of it but if youâre in the shower (badly singing) thatâs not stopping him from plopping right back on it hands folded behind his head and ready to doze back off.
You catch him but he says, âwhat? I was just resting my eyes,â such a dad answer already! you both give each other a blank stare before he snorts first, making you laugh right with him before pecking his lips.
Heâll color coordinate with you but canât say itâll be a common thing unless youâre going to events together or it happens on accident.
He checks in on you whether in the hotel room when it gets quiet or when you go down to meet everyone else before falling into separate conversations.
I donât believe there would be any doubts between you two if you share similar goals and ofc not all things can be peachy!!!although everyone stamps their approval on your relationship. Not that either of you cared much tbh but you appreciate it regardless!
Itâs when you ask about whoâs the first person heâll call to tell about your engagement that takes a bit of a turn. He doesnât say itâs his mom but probably his niece who will obviously do the job of telling his sister which you kinda find cute but encourage him that talking to his mother and sister is important if youâre going to be in his life.
Youâre aware of the disconnect that Matt has with his family but if you have kids youâd want your kids to know their fatherâs side of the family as well.
âWhatâs there to know? I already told you everything.â
âMatt.â
ââŚIâll figure it out. Right now I just want to enjoy my person to be.â
âNice save.â
âRight?â He winks, pulling you on top of him.
You donât wait until your wedding night to have sexâunless youâre a traditional person then by all means heâll respect your wishes although you make it very difficult and you know it. That doesnât mean you canât do other things!
He does end up calling his sister first and she thinks itâs a joke before Mattâs showing your face on screen. The caseyâs are usually direct people but sheâs polite in greeting you and canât help to let out a few wtfâs and, âare you on something? Maybe politics rotted your brain with you deciding to go be involved in a cult?â when the screen is brought back to Matt.
Youâre laughing at the look on Mattâs face because youâre sure youâll get the same reaction from your family.
Diving back into what a regular lifestyle would be with Matt is an adjustment. Heâs gone a lot as a lieutenant and you manage to see each other in the early mornings and late evenings. Youâll have your own job so you try not to let it bother you too much but coming home to a empty house allows you to debrief from a stressful day (which you donât handle well, maybe youâre a crier when you get easily frustrated) but you still check in with a call or text to see how itâs going with your fiancĂŠ.
You agree to have date nights at least twice a month since having dinner together is tricky. Matt forgets sometimes :( but always makes up for it!
Mattâs great with his hands whether with construction (heâll always fix something in the house or anything you purchase that arrives broken!) , firefighting, golf (which you find to be a complete snooze fest but youâll tag along if Mattâs alone just to whip the golf cart around the course mainly but Mattâs fails to take your father/uncle/brotherâs advice about letting you driveâearning you to get banned from the course. The owners are quite fond of Matt and didnât have the heart to ban him but you? Had to stay out!) or letâs just say it, sex! Loves holding your hips to guide you just right, wrists above your head, or simply just holding your hands while heâs on top.
He learns youâre not the best driverâbeing heavy on the pedal (a few unpaid speeding tickets under your belt, just two or three tops!) but at least you excel at gymnastics and tennis?
I donât see there being any or much drama with any other cast mates since you know how to solely focus on each other and communicate even if itâs something simple/minor.
Eventually Mrs. Casey will come around to meet you and you see where Matt gets his intense eye contact from. It runs in the family since you also got it from his sister but you handle it well. She has no issue drilling you to the point Matt has to tell his mom to back off since she doesnât get the best mother of the year award.
SeeâŚthereâs that bluntness you have to take in and hope you donât get whiplash. You have to remind Matt to relax himself since he did say that he forgave his mother but sometimes the harshness still came out from all of them.
Picking your dress is what makes this more real for you, more than the ring and you know this is fast. The fastest youâve ever gone in a relationship but when you think of marriage you think of someone like Matt so any worries you may feel seem to wash awayânot completely but enough!
And they come right on back walking down the aisle, all eyes on you. Matt is so handsome, waiting at the end for you, carefully taking your hand in his and whispering how stunning you look.
When it comes to the vows is when Matt gets nervous that he refers back to his cheat sheet and you find that adorable along with him getting choked up at some parts telling you his promises. ââŚYou have no idea how long Iâve dreamed of this moment, getting the chance to be someoneâs forever. Being beside you for the rest of time is all that I could have hoped for. Youâre my walking dream and I canât believe I had to go on tv just to find someone like you! Guess this worked out in our favor and I promise to love you and those other crappy shows you force me to watch for as long as I can. Which will be a long looooong time, by the way.â
There he goes making those butterflies flutter in your belly while also making you smile so wide that he canât help but to match.
You go next and the words flow as you stare into his eyes, holding his stare while placing one hand on his chest. Your words are just as loving and Matt knows youâre genuine, you never not once shown him that you werenât.
You both agree to get married with a dip of a kiss, a promise of love to infinity and that love is blind.
BONUS: definitely love slow dancing together and hand holding a lot + hand kisses, a honeymoon doesnât happen right awayâmaybe a year later in Australia ;), you both purchase a house together after two yearsâa fixer upper đ that Matt has to convince you to get but it is the house style youâve always wanted plus you were great at bargaining so you got it cheaper than the asking price, youâll adopt a dog after six months of marriage since you babysat pouch one weekend and truly believed it was your destiny to be a dog parent firstâno you didnât discuss it with Matt deciding just to surprise him one day at homeâyou can only imagine how that went, and I get girl dad from Matt so I envision two girls + a boyâŚwhich was unexpected since you werenât really trying the last time but argue amongst yourselves!
[BRIAN âOTISâ ZVONECEK.]
My baby! I want nothing but the best for you!!! Shut up, Donât ruin it guys.
Heâs down for the show and is the one to reach out to the producers after joe brings it to otisâ attention. He signs them BOTH up and joe is confused on why?? But Otis claims he wonât do this on his own and would never ask his actual brothers to do this with him because theyâll give him shit for it and knows joe would truly have his back. Joe gets soft hearted at this tbh and would never argue against that and they both surprisingly get picked!
Otis is excited but nervous all in one. Could his forever significant other truly be here in this building? Otis just really wanted somebody to love s/o JB! and for them to actually love him back. Why was that so much to ask for?
He feels like he screws up majority of his dates and expresses this to joe and the other guys they make friends with. Theyâre encouraging, pushing Otis to keep going although heâs honestly ready to go home but the last date makes him glad he stuck it out.
He meets someone who is just a little bit nerdy like him but he still takes the cake. Heâs into sci fi while youâre into fantasy but you find a bond in that. You also inform him that you have terrible eyesight with grandmacore glasses and dryly blame it on your actual blind mother. She wasnât born blind but a tragic accident left her that way. It takes a minute for Otis to catch onto your dry humor but finds he likes it.
Which leads to him asking about your profession guessing a comedian but you snort and say youâre actually an assistant writer/artist for a well known graphic novel company. Otis doesnât need to hear anymore, half heartedly joking about marrying you right now!
You donât call him by his nickname at all which Brian appreciates. Quickly learning about his last name and culture you test it out with your own name giving your first and middle name and Brian agrees that he likes the sound of it already.
Big note taker out of the two of you! He doesnât want to forget anything while you tend to have a great memory with shitty eyes. You can actually blame it on too many nights growing up playing video games on the computer.
He makes it known that his Russian isnât the best but he gets by and even teaches you a few words and sentences that it becomes a thing in greeting.
The gift giving to each other is so sweet as you have a sip and paint date, Brian gifts you a Zhostovo tray that has lots of detail that you appreciate since you once had a hand painted serving tray that belonged to your late grandfather, which broke recently while you took care of your mostly bed ridden mother.
He also lets you borrow his famous helmet and fills it full of wild flowers + peonies and youâre laughing about it joking, âIâll have to wear this when we meet.â
âWould you, really?â âAs long as you promise to help fix my hair afterwards.â
He didnât expect you to do that but heâs in for a shock.
Part of him begins to worry the quicker he falls for you, wondering if youâre dating other people + even asks the other guys because one thing about Brian? Heâs gonna search for the tea and get answers no matter who likes it or not! and you do speak on it before he brings it up that thereâs one other person youâre talking to but it seems one sided, meaning theyâre more into you than you of them and that you recently just broke it off which allows Brian to let out a big sigh of relief.
From hobbies to having heart to hearts, Brian is ready to make his final decision and wants to pick you if youâll have him. You like to make him sweat just a little bit, taking your time answering and finally let up with a, âhell yeah zvonecek, thought youâd never ask!â
âYeah well I was starting to regret asking since you took forever and a day!â âI was building suspense.â âAnd here I thought you were into fantasy!â You laugh and speak your farewells soon after, ready to meet each other the next day.
The led up to the big reveal is nerve wrecking but when those doors open the both of you are wide eyed although you have your back to the doors with the helmet on. Brian runs to you and you have to remind yourself to move your feet, spinning around as you meet him past the middle.
He shakes his head at you smiling at the fact that you actually did this, and surprised that those printed large framed glasses were able to fit under it too, gently pulling the helmet from your head to place on the floor so that he can also get a good look at you. Hair a mess and all!
âLook at my husband!â You grin after he slams his body into yours in a tight embrace.
Heâs a shaky mess but you donât mind holding him upright, holding his face in place as you study every inch. âI thought your spirit was beautiful before but you even have the face to match.â Heâs rolling his eyes at you but he canât help but to let a smile slip out himself. Youâre making his heart thud like crazy and he says he needs to sit before he actually collapses.
âWow, is this real life?â Brian finds himself asking multiple times as he rests a hand on your thigh and you nod and kiss him to show him itâs the real deal.
âMe and you baby,â becomes your thing and he has to keep chasing your lips because he canât get enough of them.
You caress his face a lot and he remembers that physical touch is your love language. You didnât lie about that! But he enjoys your touch and you playing with his facial hair that he left out. He gave nothing about his appearance away and you were okay with that. You were pretty patient and liked the element of surprise! Youâve always been creative so you tried to picture it all and even drew some ideas in your sketchbook.
âOh right! The ring! This is crazy, Iâm sorry.â Brian has to pry his eyes away from you as he searched his pockets and realizes that he either forgot it or dropped it somewhere.
Which you help him look for just for it to be in his back pants pocket, you had to be the one to pull it out with him bending over searching a potted plant. âHey! We didnât even have a date face to face yet and youâre already grabbing my ass?â
âItâs our ass now, genius. And Iâve found it, youâre welcome.â You hold it up in between you and Brian rubs his face in embarrassment but youâre smirking at him.
Heâs down on his knee and imagines this is how it would probably always be with you. Heâs down bad for you already, hands shaking again as he reveals a goregous ring. Itâs a modern take on a three princess-cut grown diamonds. They are encircled by a halo of baguette and round accents and from its side it appears as floating diamonds which is breath taking.
âMy man has fabulous taste!â
He exhales relieved, âYou like it?â
â Shut up and kiss me.â You demand and Brian doesnât hesitate. Hereâs a little secret, you canât get enough of his lips either.
When itâs time for the pre-honeymoon, you donât keep your hands off each other. If you want to wait until marriage, he will. If you donât? Itâs fair game. He eats well ;) heâs passionate and attentive, you can be a little on a rough sideâdonât let the grandma glasses fool you but you always have a safe word and have Brian tell you what he wants and whatâs too much if you push the envelope too far. Words of affirmation in bed definitely sets him off and you love it just as much. You love to take care of each other.
He doesnât understand how active you can be before and still have the energy to be up at the crack of ass ready to prepare breakfast and eat. You are a bit of a routine person but if it has to be altered it doesnât bother you much. You donât take yourself too seriously which brian likes.
You will force him to do mediation with you on the mornings of your pre-honeymoon and affirmations to say in the mirrorâwhich is weird at first but once he gets the hang of it and believes it you leave him alone to do it on his own. You open him up to new things and just to be himself. And he opens you up to be more in tune to your own feelings and not just everyone elseâs.
Meeting Joe is just what Brian wanted and you reveal you and Joe went on one date together in the pods but he wasnât the one who had more interest in you it was another guy. And Brian is a scoffing mess once he sees him again, âthat walking protein shake? Really?!â Whaaat? I friendzoned him didnât I? I only want you, Kartoshka.â You peck his cheek and nip his ear, leaving him a blushing mess and joe is wide eyed in disgust. âWhat did they just call you? Get a grip man.â âShut up, joe.â
There could be a little drama with the meathead who is in disbelief that you would pick Brian over him and tries to show off despite being with the person he picked to marry. But itâs obvious heâs not attracted to them and is belittling to them. You set them straight in front of everybody and thankfully the girl calls it quits with him.
Brian finds it hot that youâll stand ten toes down for him just like he will for you. And that stamps more approval from joe that youâll make it as a couple, gaining a big hug from him which you return.
When you return home, his baba is already there and he comes clean since he actually wanted to wait until you were both settled that heâll start reaching out to some family although you already made calls to your besties as soon as you got off the flight. Brian felt pride at the thought of someone being excited to tell their loved ones about him.
He felt incredibly lucky to be loved by you and hoped you felt the same so he didnât B.S. to his baba about you. You didnât understand much of their conversation but the woman yanked you into her arms. Your eyes went wide at her strength but a thumbs up from Brian over her shoulder meant all was okay.
Brian talked highly of his baba so ofc you wanted to make a great impression more with her than anything. She was the one who always believed in brian while he experienced tough love from his mom and big brothers so you couldnât lie and say that her opinion mattered less when it mattered the most!
You were both nervous meeting each others family and friends, although you found comfort in joe and his fiancĂŠe already being friendly with them but the both of you were relived once it was all over.
It was mainly 50/50 on both sides who were in shock that this was happening and had more concerns than questionsâwhich was the same thing in both of your eyes when each side stated this but you both understood that your loved ones had the right to be skeptical.
You were positive that Brianâs mother didnât care for you or really approve, his brotherâs attitudes felt condescending but they said they would be there whether to support or to see this fail was their own business but at the end of dinner they seemed to ease up some leaving the hounding to be done by their mother instead.
Your mother on the other hand was a simple woman. She felt along Brianâs face and smiled saying to you, âhe gets points for being a cutie. If you love his heart and heâs good to you, then Iâll be more than happy to call him my son in law.â
Which definitely lifted your spirits!
A home routine for the both of you wasnât traditional considering that Brian had joe for a roommate and his fiancĂŠe decided to move in with them and baba was in town again. Brian had a bunk bed with one twin sized on top and then a full on the bottom so there was that! He planned to get rid of it, worried that you were judging him but you just threw your hands up in the air silently saying you were keeping your thoughts to yourself.
You alternated spending weekends with each other. You lived on the outskirts of town where the historical houses were, inheriting an old Victorian from your late artist of a grandfather where you resided with your sickly mother. You had a caretaker who became family so you didnât have to feel guilty when you would spend weekends at Brianâs.
He loved chatting with your mom when it was his turn to stay at yours. There was wittiness behind that shell of quietness and she loved having tea tasting with Brian in the garden.
Heâs a talker so any time he isnât talking would be when heâs pissed, when heâs sleeping, or when heâs deep into a book trying to process everything before heâs yelling at the pages.
The both of you like lounging on the couch, feet in his lap while heâs into a novel and youâre sketching.
Pillowtalk is absolutely a thing in this soon to be marriage! Early mornings are a common thing for Brian so he sets his alarm just ten minutes before he has to be up for work to talk to you about the most randomness things because he likes picking your brain.
You get familiar with firehouse 51, meeting Brianâs chosen family and even bringing your mother along just to say hi and always sensing when Brian just needs to see you or hear your voice + hanging with your mom is always a plus. Sheâs a pretty cool lady too!
And baba also likes her!
Brian would be the type to want to know what kind of dress youâre going for so he can create mental images himself but you wonât budge! He even peeks through one of your random sketches to see if you drew about it or have a vision board buried somewhere to give him an idea. Heâs not patient when it comes to the wedding and canât wait to marry you.
Heâs never been so secure in his life!
Heâs a sweating mess on the day of the wedding and goes into a dry heave but heâs thankful that his family is there to bring him through it. It means a lot to have everyone there, even his actual brothers!
You on the other hand? Like to dance your worries away tbfh. When youâre nervous you like to throw darts or break out into a mini dance routine that starts off with a moonwalk every damn timeâwhich Brian caught once or twice. âWhat the hell was that and why have I never known you could move like that?!â
Long story short your alcoholic deadbeat dad was a tap dancer and even started you out at the age of 3. You picked up things pretty damn fast but found you were more passionate with other forms of art although dance was obviously still there.
And your mother was an ice skater before her accident brought on other health issues, so yeah you could move on your feet which was another thing Brian could add to the list of things he loved about you.
So you may have broke out into a routine in your dressing headquarters once you were alone in spanx before getting into your wedding dress. Then? You were good to go.
Brian was glad that you didnât spare any details about your attire besides the fact that you were wearing a dress. Vintage was kind of your thing and you took your motherâs dress that she brought from goodwill years ago transforming it into just what you sketched. Thatâs right, sketched with the help of your designer best friend.
âIâm speechless babe,â Brian breathed as he scanned over the details of you in front of him, âI donât know how you expect me to give my vows when you look like that.â
You smile sweetly at him, head titling to the side, âjust wait until you get me out of it.â Winking at him.
He puts his head down, rubbing at his brow, face pink and warns you through clenched teeth, âremember weâre in church, in front of a priestâŚâ which earns laughter from everyone.
You give your vows first because you surprisingly canât wait to claim your love to Brian and you seem so at ease speaking about him while heâs melting from the lights and nerves! Itâs natural for you and maybe it has to do with you being a writer but he wants to hold onto every word that you say for a lifetime.
When itâs his turn heâs a stuttering mess and the comforting squeeze from joe and the caress of your fingers underneath his chin makes him stand up tall. ââŚI never thought that I would ever find a love like this before. A curveball that knocks you off your feet but you find that youâre okay because itâs the most loving yet dorky person behind it that sends it your way. I am so grateful that you chose me to spend forever with and I hope thatâwaitâand I know that I can be just the right guy for you. I am so ready to do everything and more with you, including getting old and saggy together. Iâll even give you first dibs on plucking my first strand of gray hair out but I know you probably wonât because youâre so ready for change and seeing what the world has to offer. And Iâm ready to offer you love, devotion, and a huge chunk of that world. Iâll always look foreword to saying I do with you right beside me.â
Youâre kissing him before the priest gives the final say, which you suddenly remember pulling away and laughing, âsorry, weâre supposed to wait for you to tell us to do that. But I couldnât resist, this is my forever person! So hurry up and get on with it so we can go round two.â
âForgive themâŚand they say Iâm the impatient one.â Brian jokes while the priest is shaking their head at you two before moving on with the ceremony and the both of you are a smiling mess, forehead to forehead, excited to put your lips to good use again with the answer of: love being blind.
BONUS: honeymooning in the states was okay with the both of you. You had time to see the rest of the world and Brian was a bit indecisive about where to go so you both closed one eye and threw a dart each at the map landing on Massachusetts of all places! Another round later and your destination was Salem. The both of you brought back weird but cool trinkets to decorate at a later date once you found a reasonably priced home. It takes time and Brian is more than willing to move elsewhere from joe and his vocal fiancĂŠe! If you get what Iâm saying! He was fine with them keeping the apartment 100% while he was ready to build more life with you. He wanted your mom to move in with you two but there was no chance in hell that she was leaving the Victorian behindâŚso visits were a common thing at your remodeled (Brian was sick of old houses that didnât feel updated so he was ecstatic finding this updated listing!) typical Chicago style four bedroom home that was built in 1883, Brian did his podcasts a lot in the cozy large basement and you even joined in sometimes since he always deemed you as his number one fav guest!
halloween? The both of you went off with the costumes with you on makeup duty (that Brian hated sitting hours for because his ass ached okay but always loved the end results and the decor), youâll go to conventions together since you had the hook up thanks to your job, youâll help out at Mollyâs when theyâre swarmed with customersâalthough you werenât a drinker but knew how to make a mean firestarter, youâre both cat people until Brian ends up allergic and the hairless cats creep him out so the idea of having pets kinda went out the window, and I also picture him with a kid or two but heâs heavily nervous based on hereditary facts + being a good dad but you both donât have to have it all figured out yet being worried is enough evidence that he will be đĽš
[KELLY SEVERIDE.]
ListenâŚKelly didnât want to be the guy that did this just to meet more women or anything like that but he thought it would be fun and had time off that he needed to take so why the hell not?
He didnât expect to be around these many guys and their egos, including his own but here he was!
Casual dating was right up his alley so thatâs how he kept it at the start. He knew at some part of his life he may want to settle down but he never had a grand example of what that would look like honestly.
Which is why he wouldnât be so screwed up if things didnât work out hereâŚso he hoped.
He wasnât heartless like some may believe!
Majority of the dates seem to go by fast but he knows how to keep conversations going so it only makes sense along with his imagination going wild trying to picture each person heâs talking to although it really shouldnât matter but it does to a certain point for himâŚ
One voice in particular sounds familiar and part of him feels like he canât shake it but he continues talking to her although she seems to skip around some of her background.
However Kelly isnât all that interested in family backgrounds but feels like talking about anything else like: what do the weekends look like for you? Tell me about your first crush. Most spontaneous place you had sex or made out at. Are you a beach or mountain person? Corny things like that.
Heâs made the mistake of mentioning his position as a firefighter and immediately picked up on the tone of those that found more interest in that than anything else he had to sayâŚwhich got old fast and made him start mentally crossing them off.
He kept talking to the familiar voice and then there was you, the complete opposite to everything he spoke of. When he asked you these questions and you brought up that you already knew that he was a firefighter since the others wouldnât shut up about it and that you werenât interested in sliding down his pole made him choke on his beverage in laughter.
âWhat if I told you that I grow cannabis for a living?â âIâd sayâŚhowâs that working out for you?â âThen Iâd say idk because my phony friend took over and although itâs supposed to be recreational I really canât get past the smell so whatever! Iâm actually a forensic analyst and we can move on past the basics.â âWellâŚif it makes you feel better, I smoke cigars.â âIt doesnât.â Kelly laughs with a shrug, âokay then.â
Youâre surprised that Kelly wants to go on another date after your first encounter and you very honest about it. âGive yourself some credit. I see something in you that can be worth it.â Kelly doesnât hold back. âOh please. Whatâre you really here for?â âWhat do you mean?â âWhyâd you come on the show for? solely entertainment? âi came here because I was told I donât get out enough.â âIs there some truth to that?â âWhen you work as hard as do, yes. You know how it is.â âSure I do but I also know how to have the right balance.â âI can smell the Vegas on you.â
You keep Kelly laughing and find it odd that you have him somewhat figured out and heâs still trying to get a read on you.
Sooner than later you open up to himâwhich isnât something that you do really but itâs something about talking with Kelly that feels different than with all the others. You didnât pay much attention to the other girls who felt a way about you and the other girl that still got to go on dates with Kelly. It really wasnât that big of a deal and you didnât see the point in having envy towards anything. Things that are meant to be will be donât they say?
The next time you meet the both of you talk about any and everything and it doesnât feel forced. Just a natural convo between two strangers trying to figure out if they could be each others one. âHey, are we friends now?â Kelly asks after he ends up telling you about his old friend Shay. You sigh and dramatically say, âif you say so but you canât tell anyone.â âYou are brutal,â he��s laughing again wiping the corners of his eyes, âthanks for letting me talk. I havenât spoken about her in awhile.â âAh donât mention it. Most people say my shoulder is comfy which I donât understand since theyâre broad thanks to many years of being on the swim team.â âOh shit okay! Were you any good?â âI had no choice but to be. Didnât know how to swim so my dad made me learn to become a swimmerâŚwhich is why I said Iâm more of a mountain person rather than a beach or whatever you enjoy doing more. A lake! Thatâs right, youâre a lake guy.â
Then thereâs the subject about fathers and thatâs a lengthy one! You didnât intend to get so personal but it seemed like this Kelly guy brought it out of youâconsidering youâre friends now or whatever. You only tell each other one thing physically about each other but itâs only because you both let it slip. Youâre aware heâs got blue eyes and heâs aware that you have a sleeve tattoo with one of them being a moose.
âWhy a moose?â âWhy blue eyes?â Kelly rolls his eyes, âstop being annoying.â âFine. Itâs my favorite animal and Iâve got two but the big one, that moose is in a tux smoking a pipe.â ââŚI canât even picture that but I love it if you like it.â âWell maybe one day youâll get to see it.â
Which makes Kelly raise his brows. He wasnât expecting that but he recovers fast before that date ends shortly after. And he has no problem sharing this info with the guys heâs closest to back at the headquarters.
He becomes conflicted when he has another date before he learns itâs Brittany whoâs been using her middle name instead of her first. Now heâs irritated because he felt like she should have just been honest from the jump and not play around.
Brittanyâs apologetic and Kelly canât help but to ask how sheâs been and how things were resolved with her family. She says theyâre in family therapy now but she moved out to Thomasville, GA. She canât lie and say that sheâs not curious about how things are going with you and Kelly but she makes it clear to Kelly that you donât share much of what goes on in your dates + felt like your attitude sucks.
âWhy? Because she told you to probably mind your business?â Kelly asks.
Kelly doesnât like how it seems like Brittany begins to speculate or almost bad mouth you since she doesnât know you like he does. She can sense this may go left so she tries to clean it up saying that youâre not as open as everyone else but atp Kelly doesnât care about the info given and she also says that youâre nowhere near ready to be married to him.
He ends the date early and lets the producers have it but the producers warn him and Brittany not to say anything else about the matter to anyone. Kelly doesnât owe them shit, telling you exactly that Brittany is his ex wife from an impulse marriage in Vegas and he hasnât seen her in years or knew she would even be here.
Youâre listening, not saying much and Kelly feels his heart rate spike thinking that youâve left but youâre laughing now. âIt all makes sense on why she was being so nosy. I think sheâs curious about a round two with you.â
âNah, not gonna happen.â âShe didnât know you would be here either.â âI told her my name first and she lied using her middle name instead. So she had to connect the dots at some point.â âYouâre right but you felt something before and recently to keep pursuing her so you canât just brush it off now since she and the producers lied.â ââŚwhy does it feel like youâre trying to push me out?â âIâm not.â âYes you are!â âKellyâŚIâm just saying Iâm not here to deprive you of anything. Her being brought back into your life again might mean something.â âLike what?â He snaps, âthat I go back to old habits?â Youâre not sure what that means but you shrug, âI donât know but youâre both here and you should figure it out.â âIs there someone else?â You pause because you werenât expecting that, âno, Kelly. Thereâs not. Itâs just you. Iâll talk to you later.â
Heâs upset about this but heâs got a few more days to get it together. He really slows down and talks to Brittany most of the time before his final date with you then he has to make his big decision. Itâs somewhat tense between you two and quiet but you donât ask any questions about Brittany because why would you want to spend your time talking about another woman?
Once you get past that tension and youâre both bringing laughter out of each other, Kelly knows youâre the person he wants to talk to the most at the end of the day and he knows the decision heâll be making tomorrow.
When he proposes the next day itâs along the lines of, âI know what this feeling is and i know Iâd be a complete dumbass if I let you slip away. Youâre exactly what I need to get through just a day so I can only imagine what life would be like with you in it all the time. Will you marry me?â
And when youâre face to face, the both of you have shit eating grins on your faces and canât help but to laugh. âWeâre doing this huh?â âOnly if you want to.â He bumps your shoulder as you sit beside each other, knees touching and him running his fingertips over the ink on your arm.
âI think I have to see what Iâm working with first.â âMeaning what?â âPlant one on me, duh.â âOh! Is that what you want?â Heâs teasing. âI meanâŚa big part of how you kiss me is on the list: if I should spend until the end of time with you.â âDid I ever tell you that youâre something else?â Heâs grabbing the sides of your neck and youâre running your fingers through his salt and pepper hair. âEh, Iâm used to it already.â
He likes the way your nose crinkles when youâre being your usual sarcastic self and heâs staring at you with a glimmer in his bright blues before heâs diving right to you.
You hate to admit it but the man knows what heâs doing with his lips + tongue and he knows that youâre enjoying it based on your body language. âDid I pass?â Youâre playfully glaring at him, trying to slow your breathing + taking note of the gap in his smile and say, âgive me the ring, damnit.â
Itâs a 1 carat emerald diamond with French diamonds (he explained to you) that extend half of the way around the band. They say everyone thinks about what their ring would look like but you also never thought youâd find love again after being cheated on multiple times. It was evident that Kelly put thought into this ring and into you.
So you grip his cheeks and kiss him again before wrapping him into your arms, feeling the tears in your throat. Kelly rubs your back whispering, âIâll do my best to make you happy.â âNo need to worry, youâre doing great so far.â And youâre laughing again and enjoying the feeling of being in his arms.
The Pre-Moon added to the energy of being a fiancĂŠ and fiancĂŠe. Youâre wearing Kellyâs cap backwards and this is marked as Kellyâs fav outfit on you yet. You in the warm weather is the perfect view in Kellyâs eyes as you settle into your hotel.
Heâll definitely pull you into the shower with him since he doesnât have to shower alone now. You caught on pretty quickly, enjoying the makeout session and wondering hands but you donât take it further than that, just sticking to teasing on the first night.
Heâs the partner that likes to sleep with the tv on although it doesnât make sense to you. Heâll be taking care of the electric bill if he keeps this up outside of the show! Lots of pillow fights, âcatch this!â and WWE moments that lead to more makeout sessions. Leave it up to Kelly and heâll never leave this room. He likes walking around shirtless a lot trying to get you riled up but if he hasnât noticed youâre a tough cookie.
Itâs when he goes out onto the balcony ass naked shouting good morning to the villa, youâre yanking him right back into the room while heâs laughing. âIs there a problem?â âYes! Why are you sharing our business to the rest of the villa?â âOur?â Kelly questions with a smirk while you keep your eyes only on him. Heâs stalking towards you now after you created space between you two. âThatâs what I said. Now put some clothes on!â âIs that really what you want?â âAre you planning on going skinny dipping at the pool?â He thinks about it letting a wide smile greet his face. Shaking your head you say, ânever mind!â
Neck kisses and nose kisses are a thing between you two. The attraction is magnetic and 1000000000% there but you donât officially do the deed until youâre back in Chicago on a houseboat he brought and is renovating to resell.
You wake up in complete bliss, his arm tucked underneath your jaw and fingers touching your shoulder which he kisses the back of. Youâre staring at your ring, crooked smile on your lips as heâs peppering the side of your face in good morning kisses.
âI didnât get to show off my lingerie.â You pout recollecting how the events of the night happened on impulseâbut a good impulse nonetheless.
âYou could model it for me now.â Kelly suggested, âorâŚwe can shower together and get ready for the day. Meet everyone at 51.â
âYou didnât even tell them yet.â
âI told Matt and DawsonâGabby.â He informs.
âThen I can meet them but want to wait on everybody else.â
âOkay,â heâs ready to get up but youâre pulling him back, âletâs stay in bed just a little bit longer. Itâs still early.â
He canât cook for shit and his stove isnât repaired yet so a trip for bagels, coffee, and tea for you was a pit stop before heading over to Matt and Gabbyâs where you meet little Louie as well. You and gabby understand each otherâs humor and like that youâre honest about knowing how crazy this marriage thing may seem but the focus was on the present that leads up to marriage. You would put in the work if kelly does and so far itâs been great but honeymoon phases can wear offâŚ
You have your own place and didnât like staying on a houseboat by yourself, so a weekly routine did include you staying back at your own place while Kelly would spend many nights at the station which you stayed away from until itâs brought to your attention that Brittany shows up to the station based on a text she âaccidentallyâ sent you. âLook who I picked up to have lunch withâ
Here comes the drama the producers were looking for! It was an off guard photo she took at a table they were sitting at for lunch and you didnât give her the satisfaction of replying. You would just wait until Kelly showed up for breakfastâŚhours later. He sent a good night text that same night and you left him on read which he tried not to think too much about.
Finding your front door unlocked was alarming and this was his first time being at your place, which was pretty nice. He calls out to you but he can smell the food so he quickly turns to his right to find you in your kitchen.
âHey,â he starts, making his way over to you to peck your cheek before rubbing his hands together at the food spread and taking a seat at the island counter, ââŚwhatâs up?â
âHow was your day yesterday?â You start, stirring the contents in your tea cup.
Kellyâs diving into his food and shrugs, âtâlright. Busy as usual. Missed your call on your lunch break and then reached back out to you once my shift was over. Figured you probably fell asleep right before.â
âHow was lunch with Britt?â You casually ask sipping at your tea mug.
Kelly stops chewing, bright eyes flicking back to yours.
âAnd donât hit me with the âwhatâre you talking about?â She sent me a photo on purpose although she tried to lie about it.â
ââŚit wasnât planned.â Kelly starts.
âNo?â
âNo, why would I willingly go out to lunch with her if I said all that I needed to back in the pods?â
âYou tell me, Kelly.â
Kelly tightens his stare, âStop. Donât do that.â
âIâm not doing anything but trying to carry a conversation with my fiancĂŠ. Questioning why heâs hanging out with his ex wifeâŚthatâs all.â
âWe werenât hanging out! I just told you that. It wasnât planned. I went to go pick up lunch for the squad and she so happened to be there having lunch by herself and she invited me over. I sat down and then we talked. I was only there for five maybe ten minutes sitting.â
âThatâs five to ten minutes too long for not having anything else to say.â
Kelly lifts his shoulders, âI donât know what you want me to say here.â
âYou should have told me instead of her trying to gain some sort of one up on me saying that she picked you up when she actually didnât. Which is weird as hell by the way.â
âI canât control what anybody does but I do agree, I should have mentioned it last night although nothing happened but you didnât answer any of my texts.â âDonât try and flip this on me.â âIâm not! This just feels like youâre trying to start with me over nothing.â âIs it really nothing though?â âIâm not your loser of an ex okay and Iâll never be that. I know how that feels and I wonât steer you wrong. I love you, okay? If you have any doubt, just put your trust in that ring.â
As he mentions this it feels like the engagement ring burns against your skin but youâre staring at Kelly, taking his words and knowing they have weight to them. Blinking you step back, âI have to get to work, enjoy breakfast. And donât forget to lock up on your way out.â Is all you say before sliding a key his way.
And he watches you leave while he rubs his face is frustration, pushing the plate away from him and no longer having an appetite.
The both of you are hard workers and push your personal business to the side as you enter your work places. However that doesnât mean in the free time that you donât think about each other. This was your first disagreementâŚif you want to call it that but your feelings for each other were strong and demanded to be felt.
You didnât see Brittany as a threat at all, finally deciding to send back a text letting her know that whatever sheâs trying to get at has clearly passed her by and that there is no need for her and kelly to continue any contact. If she didnât respect that then there would be hell to pay :)
Thankfully she gets the message, saying that sheâs already on the next flight back to Georgia and Kelly is at yours first since youâre the one with a late night. Heâs made himself comfortable on the couch, watching sports, and you donât head to the kitchen that has take out on the table, you head right to where your man is on the left side of the house. You plop beside him and he side eyed you, turning the tv down before turning his head to you.
You tell Kelly exactly what you told Brittany before apologizing about being somewhat accusatory but not about how this made you feel. Heâs aware of the hurt you faced prior and know itâs a big deal giving your heart to him. He promises that heâs not going to break your heart and you promise that youâre learning to be more trusting.
Every other weekend when Kellyâs not working on the boat you head out to his lake house, liking the views but not the idea of fishingâbut itâs baby steps with you.
Itâs the little things that the both of you are getting the hang of. Kellyâs hasnât been in a long lasting committed relationship since his first engagement but he knows he likes being with you doing the things you like to do and having new experiences on what he likes to do with you. Itâs all about sharing and Kelly jokes that youâre not the best sharer.
Meeting each others families at a little get together at your place also puts each other into perspective besides word of mouth to each other. Everyone that the both of you socialize with agrees to be at the wedding (even Mr. Severide who asks Kelly off to the side if heâs really serious about you but itâs not like heâs taking advice from him!) which you actually pushed to the back of your mind although itâs coming up pretty damn fast!
Very protective over each other even when speaking of one another, lots of squeezes youâll give each other in passing: heâll squeeze your shoulders when youâre hunched over your laptop looking over something for work when you should be off-reminding you to relax, squeeze your hips and move you aside so he can get by, you both like to rub each otherâs back when youâre hugging, if heâs sleeping with his back to you, youâll use his bare back at your pillow, heâll throw you over his shoulder the minute you start bickering with him over something, you can ask him something as simple as what type of food to eat based on two options and heâll say something annoying like, âboth,â with a shrug and youâre ready to playfully choke or slap him on the back of his shoulder.
He loves his mustangs and you love your broncos. The both of you will swap cars for a day or two just because or youâll grab the wrong keyâhe thinks you do it on purpose. He basically lives at your place now and itâs the norm for you two.
What may not be normal is that feeling in your stomach the sooner the date to your wedding approaches. Kelly always tells you that you can talk to him, that the both of you should be able to talk to each other if something is bothering you so you have a conversation three days before the wedding.
âDo you think weâre ready to be married?âyou ask one morning in the bath while Kelly is shaving his face.
âIs anyone?â He says staring at you in the mirror, âIf the relationship is real I think most just let the nerves get the best of them and may look for a way out. You donât think weâre ready?â
âI meanâŚweâre still trying to learn each other.â âTrue but youâre scared to take that jump arenât you?â âYes.â âOkay,â he goes silent for a moment, âis there anything I can do that will change your mind?â âAbout getting married in three days? I donât think so. Are you ready to get married?â âAt the start in the pods I wasnât sure but talking to you made me feel hopeful again I guess. I havenât really thought too much about it recently but I liked seeing you wear the ring and it was like we were just living without the label. Now that itâs coming upâŚI might be unsure again because Iâm getting in my head about itâŚbut Iâm positive youâd make a great wife.â ââŚMaybe.â You had your doubts about that title just like Kelly. âNo, you will. And it may not be in three days, weeks, or monthsâ âor years,â you interrupt.
Kelly exhales with a roll of his eyes, âbut you will and I personally want to keep getting to know you.â âGood, glad we agree on that.â Heâs stepping to you now and squats down beside the tub, reaching for your cheek to place a kiss on your lips, âjust making sure youâre prepared to piss a lot of people off. I assume this means no big show at the altar?â âYou would love to do that wouldnât you?â Kelly grins, âonly to the producers, not our family or friends because those producers kinda deserve it especially since I heard them making bets on us.â âWe donât owe them a damn thing.â âYeah, youâre right. Just thought Iâd pass it along and see what you think. SoâŚstill my fiancĂŠe for now?â He tests and you nod your head, âcool, what do you want to do today?â
And you smile in the fresh morning and Kelly admires just how pretty you are when you have your mind made up. There was still love written in your eyes the longer the both of you had eye contact as you say, âIâve always wanted to go to Belize.â âYeah?â Kelly quirks up his brows, âthink you can get a bag packed in thirty minutes before the camera crew get here?â âI love a challenge, Kels.â Youâre standing up now and Kelly wraps his arms around you, lifting you from the tub, âso do I.â He says into your neck before setting you down on your feet and slapping you on your bare backside to get going.
Youâd like to state that youâre not very impulsive but jumping on a flight with a man you agreed to marry after a few weeks of talking behind a wall but chose to ditch the wedding speaks volumes! The both of you are nowhere to be found (Kelly makes sure to call Boden about his minor absence after a day in Belize) but you both know at some point youâll have to return to reality, for now being with each other without the constant worry about what will happen next is the most freeing feeling you both received.
For the audience: Is love blind for this couple?
[JOE CRUZ.]
Otis was lucky Joe loved him like a bro, otherwise he wasnât sure he would really try out for this sort of thingâŚalthough he knew it would be nice to be in love.
Especially if it turns out to be genuine.
He gets excited being in the pods and actually liked going on dates and felt like he can be quite the romantic if he puts in the effort. However he knew he couldnât dive right in and had a balancing method that worked out in his favor since most of his dates seemed to hit off but still lacked something.
There was one that was questionable and a little weird that he had to dip out on but for the rest of the ladies he could say he had a solid time.
Thereâs three contenders that heâs socializing with and one of them steps out of the experience with joe because she felt like her connection was stronger elsewhere. Joe appreciated that honesty and wished her well before continuing with the two women.
Itâs still early so he doesnât have to have it figured out now but he does take into account how he feels chatting with them. Both match his energy yet one is moreâŚsexual than the other and ofc joe doesnât mind it but he wants to make sure thereâs more than just the physical if the plan is to get married at the end of this, so he makes note of that.
Then thereâs you who makes him feel like heâs right at home, someone who feels like a friend that he can love past the platonic.
You have inside jokes, drag all those dance movies especially, âsave the last dance,â (never magic Mike tho! Which makes joe scowl and roll his eyes) and joe is comfortable admitting that heâs into rom-comâs because who, âdoesnât love a good love story,â but is absolutely into action movies with a detailed storyline as well.
It just feels like you both come to terms with wanting to talk to each other every day and feel happier in doing so. SoâŚhe makes the decision on choosing only you to focus on and awkwardly tells the other woman who simply shrugs it off saying, âyouâre probably old, fat, and balding in the middle anyway and youâre not as funny as you think. Your lost, asshole.â
Leaving joe wide eyed and caught off guard at being dragged. When he tells you about it you scoff saying, âsheâs the one who lost with that nasty ass attitude. Donât listen to a thing she says because we all know she doesnât know her times tables anyway. And I think anyone would be glad to have someone like you in their corner so screw her.â âYou mean that?â âCross my heart and hope to fly.â âThatsâŚnot the saying.â âWell who the hell hopes to die? Not I! Iâm not even in my prime yet.â Joe chuckles, âthatâs fair. Thank you for that.â âOf course, now dinner with Kanye or are you taking the twenty grandâŚ?â
May let out a sigh of a, âI love you,â during your many talks and once he realizes he says it out loud heâs scrambling trying to save himself but youâre shushing him.
âI mean I am pretty fabulous so itâs about time you share those same views.â You start, âand Iâm sure I love you too and what this little life will be.â
Which was all the confirmation joe needed to continue working at what this could be and thatâs exactly what you both did.
Heâs only nervous when he has to face you. More worried about what youâll think about him physically after that previous dumping brought up his baldness unknowingly and heâd be lying if he said he wasnât curious about you as well but the heart always knows what it wants.
âYouâre gorgeous, honey.â He says as youâre caressing his head then his cheek and heâs holding on your waist. You wink and say, âas are you and we got the heart to match so sounds like a win donât you think?â
You both give each other a nice spin hyping each other up before joeâs down on his knee to propose with an engagement ring.
A 2 Carat Pear Diamond thatâs twisted along the band with more diamonds on its side.
âOhhh, impeccable taste Joey! This is chefâs kiss but youâre already the best gift a girl can ask for and I canât wait to be your one and only.â Joeâs all heart eyes as heâs getting to his feet to connect your lips.
And youâre both letting out a sigh like this is where youâre meant to be.
The pre-moon is even better. Superior weather and views + being with the man you can see the future with. Youâre quite aware of joe being big hearted and it doesnât disappear. Breakfast in bed, he pays attention and gives his input on fits when you ask for itâeven when being self conscious heâll still compliment you reminding you of your worth, making requests of saying âI love you,â morning, night, and even when/if youâre getting on each other nerves. He knows heâs a blanket hog since he gets cold easily but thanks to the hotel sheets being tucked in so tight he canât pull the covers too much but promises heâll do better when you get back home, you help him shave the back of his head, and heâll help you with your eye drops since you flinch too much doing them yourself.
Youâll spend a lot of time snacking and lounging on the balcony + night time swimming and sunbathing. âI donât need that,â he says to the sunscreen and you give him a look before heâs sighing taking the cream from you, âyouâll have to get my back,â âalways boo,â you state knowing that joe will learn to not argue with a esthetician.
Meeting Otis already feels like you know him since joe talks quite a bit about him. And itâs just as easy talking to Otis as it is talking to Joe and he deff gives baby brother energy so you know there will be no issue looking at him as such. The party goes by smoothly and you catch joe staring at you from across the tiki bar and shoot him a funny face before carrying on although you do feel giddy knowing that his eyes are only on you.
Youâre both tipsy and love drunk when you get back to the hotel so itâs no surprise that you both end up underneath the covers. Joe kisses like heâs got all the time in the world and takes his time even further exploring your body and even once heâs in between your legs. He has no problem telling you how you make him feel in your ear and you both learn just how vocal you equally can be.
The next morning is just as loving but Joeâs hangover is not although he claims he didnât have that many drinks. You on the other hand have a high tolerance and provide just the best hangover juice to cure it while massaging his head with peppermint oil, along with a cucumber facial he tries to eat, and beginning to take care of Joeâs marked up back. He hisses as you rub aloe on his back, âhey! A warning would have been nice you know?â âWell at least you know now,â you grin pecking one of the scratches while Joe scoffs at you over his shoulder before placing a kiss on your forehead.
Lots of forehead kisses and hugs from behind. Lots of rants from him that you nod along to and although it may seem like youâre not paying attention youâre actually a great listener although you space out sometimes. When you get back to Chicago this doesnât change once he gets back to work and heâs talking about his day. You do have great commentary and know which conversations require that same commentary thrown in while heâs going off or when to wait until heâs done.
âSoâŚhow was your day?â Heâll say after awhile, seeming to finally take a breath, knowing both of your fields of work were way different. He assumed you had more peace of mind but there were some clients that liked to show their ass and when you first started with your cousin not only did they try to get over but so did your clients so you had to bring out a different side to you and stood on that.
Which meant renting out a new space and separating from your paternal cousin who was holding you back. Once you did that it seemed like everything in your life started to work out, including joe.
You were saving up to get your own place, growing tired of living in the downstairs space which was like an apartment of your aunt and uncleâs who raised you. You never really had to live on your own although many judged you about it being in your adulthood but you were thankful that you donât have that experience of being forced out like many friends did. You paid your way once you knew how to manage your money. Joe was more than welcoming you into his space but you kept questioning if Otis was okay with thatâŚ
If youâre a black reader (or POC or wearer) and use wigs as a protective style/preference, you can almost guarantee that Joe will steal a black wig cap for his head at work since his caps might not be clean and heâs sure 51 wouldnât notice. But you did!
Sunday dinners are a thing at your aunt and uncleâs which is something Joe wants to incorporate in your own home life. Having dinner with family is so important (even eating with everyone at 51, joe holds dear to his heart) and likes that it isnât tense like it would be with his dad and Leon. He helps your aunt with the dishes while your uncle chats with him and youâre working on plating the dessert.
Theyâre asking the tough questions heâs prepared for. Where youâll see this relationship going in the next five years after marriage? Would marriage still be on the table if you choose to keep seeing each other and not go through with it? How youâll handle disagreements? How many kids if the lord is willing/ how youâll raise them and in what faith? How youâll plan to support each other in life?
You donât interact with Joeâs father since he doesnât either. One day you were sure he would tell him but his tĂo is aware of his choice, which is concerning at first but tells Joe that he hears the sincerity in his voice. You do have a hour long conversation with Leon who gives his stamp of approval, calling you, âsis,â already which makes you grin knowing that his spirit is just as infectious miles apart. Heâs direct in questioning your love for his big bro and you give just the right answers.
House 51 is welcoming, more brief, and humorous. The usual standard questions: what do you do for work? Hobbies? Why on earth would you pick Joe to marry? Lightheartedness which is more easy to deal with than the seriousness of your aunt + uncle and Leon.
The tour of the firehouse is eye-opening along with the few stories joe tells you about. You know when to give squad 3 shit back whenever you pop in and the older men become family too with lots of texting in a group chat without joeâwhich heâs confused on why but accepts it after some time knowing itâs no ill intent but definitely side eyes severide if he feels like heâs getting too close to you for his liking but ultimately knows you have no interest in anybody but him.
Leaves out that he had a minor dating history with sylvie and is awkward when you two meet. Otis finds this amusing and slyvie is confused on why Joe is being weird but says nothing more than that. You eventually find out that the two use to date + how it ended + theyâre still friends and you shrug, âokayâŚdo you want to see any of my exes to make yourself feel better?â Joeâs giving you wide eyes and spits out, âthatâs only going to give me high blood pressure, so no thanks.â You burst out laughing against his chest, âthen letâs finish our show.â
You donât mind having times where you donât do much but you also like a balance of doing more than just simple. Joe takes those hints and tries to come up with ideas here and there in his free time and if youâre not feeling it youâll come to some sort of compromise.
Things feel natural between you two like youâve been in each others lives for a decade already. Was that enough to carry you through marriage?
You feel pretty in your dress and not nervous which makes those in your corner eye each other. You usually always keep your composure but most expected you to be a little nervous but you werenât. You knew what you had waiting for you out there and it felt right. The conversation you had with Joe the night before last also made you content with your decision.
The compliments were flowing as you stood in front of each other with soft smiles. The ceremony felt as fast as this proposal and you had the honors of going first, ââŚI met a guy with a heart of gold and wants to see the best in everyone. The one who constantly makes me feel like itâs okay to accept love past a friendship and see a lifetime worth of memories in his eyes. I love how we are together, show up for each other, and that I am the only woman in your heart. Marriage is the biggest leap on top of this proposal and Iâd be honored to be your wife. To show you just how much love I can give in returnâŚ.â
Itâs Joeâs turn, ââŚI usually donât have the best judgement when it comes to love but youâve shown me that anything is possible. That I made the right choice and can push to do whatever my heart desires and Iâm positive thatâs you. Youâre so uplifting even with your sense of humor and I think thatâs the best thing I can ask for. Someone always having my back but also knowing when to tell me that I donât need to give everything away if people arenât ready to accept it. I knew I could love you not only in the pods and yeah I wear my heart on my sleeve a lot but I wonât be ashamed of that. You never make me feel ashamed of that. This is the most insane experience that I was forced into which I can thank my boy, Otis for! but it brought me to you and I canât be mad at that. I love us and Iâll love us even more with time. We have a bond that is meant to last so I know weâll still make in due timeâŚâ
Which is why you chose to hold onto your engagement longer because that felt right. You both moved to your own drum but Patience felt like key in this relationship. You didnât want to break up but just grow and it made the most sense although many were clueless at this being the route you both took including the producers.
You still had an engagement party at firehouse 51 since the producers didnât want to include the reception since you both didnât go forth with a marriage. âYouâre probably gonna regret that when the real marriage happens buddy. They pay for all that crap.â Otis whispers over champagne and joe groans before he remembers, âwell Iâm sure her uncle will help out since he was in the CIA or somethingâŚI hope.â
Before long youâre both on the dance floor, happy with where you both stand in the now and whatâs later to come.
ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛. ŕ˛.
FEB. FLUFF FIN.
#chicago fire#Chicago fire x reader#love is blind#love is blind netflix#matt casey#matt casey x reader#brian otis zvonecek#Brian Otis zvonecek x reader#brian zvonecek#kelly severide#kelly severide x reader#joe cruz#josef cruz#joe cruz x reader#February fluff#February prompts#queued
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Brother, I will be with you always.
- Otis, 8x01
PD 1x14... Voight truning to him for help. Otis as a translator was funny and good use to him. The team's looks to his side comments on what he's reading. And his hesitating voice while translating Voight threatening words.
FBI International 2x18... Yuri Sardarov guested on this episode as Russian. Different character.
#goodbye Otis#one chicago#chicago fire#chicago med#chicago pd#brian otis zvonecek#Yuri Sardarov#hank voight#al olinsky#joe cruz#matt casey#fbi international#jesse lee soffer#rewatching
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đ¨CROTIS REUNIONđ¨
screaming
#i miss them so much#itâs not even funny#brian otis zvonecek#otis#brian zvonecek#chicago fire#joe cruz
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TRUE COLORS - BRIAN "OTIS" ZVONECEK
'Cause my boy Otis deserves better
Summary:When you spend your time at 51, you draw Otis on the sly. Everyone notices it, except him. Until fate gets in the way
Word Count: 2.5 k
Maybe it's the way he moves his hands. Maybe it's how he moves the dark curls from his face. Maybe it's the way he wrinkles his nose when he's tired after the shift and starts working at Molly's, tirelessly.
Or it's the way he writes, with his head slightly tilted to the left.
It could be just the way the light fits between his features and makes him pure, bringing out his light skin stained by many small moles. Perhaps it's his dark eyes.
You really don't know. You just can't help but drawing him.
You'd like to draw his eyes after you've seen them even closer and realized how deep they really are, because you're sure they are, more than anything else in the world. Or, again, maybe it's the way he curls his lips as he smiles.
It's probably all together and he doesn't even realize it while a few meters away you're crouched on a chair, in a corner of the 51, almost invisible and your hand moves over a sheet and captures his image, without mistakes or smudges. You could be drawing Brian with your eyes closed by now.
"Are you still here?" Your half-sister, Leslie, asks, noticing you. You've been spending a lot of time at the 51 lately (and equally at the Molly's) officially because you're soon to be Boden's new secretary, secondly to spend time with Lesley. What you didn't expect was to find yourself spending most of your free time observing Brian, scribbling his face here and there, forcing yourself from time to time to portray other colleagues as well so as not to arouse suspicion. "Let me work Lesl" You reply, letting the pen run across the paper noisily. "Our Little Artist" Kelly teases you, ruffling your hair.
"When will you set up an exhibition with our portraits?" Herman asks, chuckling. "That wouldn't be a bad idea you know" Mills replies, winking. "Think about it y/n" You smile uneasily.
"I should find better models" You reply as Cruz and Otis - Brian - shake their heads. "Listen to the nonsense" Your eyes meet and you smile at him and he reciprocates before the siren of the imminent call forces him to leave. You sigh.
He fascinates you just like he torments you, you long for him and at the same time you are afraid to get to know him better. There's something sweet, genuine about him and you admire his courage and his work, but at the same time you're terrified because deep down what do you have to offer? What can make you interesting to him? You're just a failed student who needs to work here to make some money, a failed artist who has lost her inspiration, who can't help her sister in a difficult moment, who didn't get a degree, who can't control the emotions.
"You never color it" Boden has noticed one day, admiring your drawings. "I think it would ruin it" You have replied. The truth is that you are convinced that to do this, especially when it comes to Brian, you should need to see the color gradations of his skin, his face, his freckles or his eyes. It is incorrect to portray a subject and complete it inaccurately. You will use color on his drawings when and if you can see him at very close range. Closer than the Molly's counter or the 51. For now you settle for pencil or pen.
Sometimes you dwell too much on his well-defined lips. It's one of the parts you like to draw the most, after the eyes. Then you look at the finished drawing and wonder if you are experiencing something that will never happen, or not experiencing it at all. And with every call they come back with wounded expressions from a difficult intervention and some new scar on the body or the soul ans you wonder if it really makes sense to waste all this time.
It must be said : fate works in a curious way at times.
You're -again- drawing Brian, he's wearing his uniform and he's approaching the truck laughing with Mouch. The 51 is quieter than usual today and there are few calls, an unusual thing but you don't mind. You smile when Brian turns to face you and pretend to be focusing on someone else, momentarily terrified that he will think you're crazy. You place your pen on the table in front of you, tie your hair into a spooky ponytail, then start over with the care you reserve for important things. Brian sighs, turning back in your direction, Mouch's hand on his shoulder as he shakes his head repeatedly. You wonder what they're talking about, you get the distinct feeling that it's you, and you feel your heart pounding in your chest.
Stupid little girl.
" Someone has a crush" it's a voice behind you. The worst voice you could hear in this situation: Joe Cruz. Brian's best friend, roommate, his other half.
"Of all of us Otis? Why?" Cruz sits across from you, a hand under his chin and an inquisitive expression on his face that does not hide his happy grin. And you're terrified, now there's no way Brian won't know about it now. "I don't have a crush. I draw all of you Cruz" you reply, trying to hide the blush on your cheeks.
"Yeah sure. You draw me once in a while, once of Herman, maybe three times of Kelly because it's particularly handsome, but I'm sure most of them are about Otis." You shake your head.
"What makes you think that?"
"I've been watching you Little Shay. You know, it's pretty obvious. You're not as good as you think at hiding." You open your eyes suddenly and feel your face get hot with embarrassment. Brian's eyes are still fixed on you and this with Cruz's words short-circuit you.
"If I were you I'd make a move" You need some fresh air. You get up and head for the exit, forgetting the notebook with your drawings on the table in a hurry.
When you come back for it, an hour and two cigarettes later, it's gone.
Two days, seven hours and a new notebook later, your half-sister has abandoned you at Molly's, a beer in front of you to finish and the light chatter of the last remaining customers. Someone sits next to you and lets their chair clatter to the floor. You don't turn around and stay focused on the beer because you know all too well who's next to you. Your senses alert, your heart furious. Brian.
"It's amazing" the voice is warm, but slightly high in pitch and secretly insecure. You shrug. "Thank you" you reply. Your brain is so muddy that you don't even wonder what it's referring to
"This is yours" now you look up and you see it. Brian's hand just reaching out to give you back the notebook. You stare at him dumbfounded. You admire the way the light falls on his face, how he smiled lightly and the lips you've always drawn so carefully, even more beautiful at that non-distance. For several seconds you don't say anything, but you stay still to study him, to study his colors, his embarrassed, sweet expression. Everything seems to stop to you.
"Otis, can you close?" Question Herman before leaving the pub, making you awaken and ashamed at the same time, realizing what you're getting into. You take the notebook without saying a word and start to get up and leave, but the boy's hand stops you, gently grabbing you by the wrist. It is soft, despite the hard work his skin is not rough. His warm skin seems to burn yours, leaving invisible marks.
You look at his fingers wrapped around your wrist, then at him, his dark eyes still fixed on you. He lets you go slowly, almost reluctant to break the contactn and you realize that he has the power to make you sit back, without saying a word.
"Sorry," you say sheepishly, looking away and letting your hair fall in front of your face to cover the blush on your cheeks.
"You shouldn't apologize" He replies, continuing to observe you. You feel his hand approaching your face, his fingers lingering near your hair, and you know what he's about to do, and you wish he would. You would like to him slowly pull your hair back, put it behind your ear, to let his big fingers slide against your skin and you would like to tilt your head to one side, to let yourself go to that contact. But he doesn't.
After a few moments he pulls his hand away, thinking maybe he's going too far.
Sure, your notebook is filled with portraits of him, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.
"You're good" He whispers. "You're really good little Shay, you shouldn't waste such a talent." You just smile, let a sheepish chuckle leave your lips. Brian doesn't say it, but he feels like he's never heard a better sound in his life. He wonders how he didn't notice it before. Of course, as soon as you arrived at 51 he immediately set his sights on you, but he never really did it with an intention: partly because you are Shay's little sister, partly because he never thought he had any chance despite what Cruz said.
In short, Cruz doesn't always have brilliant intuitions when it comes to women.
Maybe Dawson's jokes could have enlightened him, sure, but anyway...Brian has never been a phenomenon with girls, in a barracks full of men like Kelly Severide why would you have to look at him? And instead you looked at him all the time, drew him so much that it filled entire pages, tracing his features with a pen and making him look much more handsome, bold, courageous, appreciable than he probably was. Because you see him this way.
"At first I didn't know whether to come to you or keep the notebook," he admits. "Then I thought it was a good excuse to talk to you."
"You don't need an excuse to talk to me Brian" you answers automatically, without thinking. He smiles, feels his heart melt in his chest. Hardly anyone calls him Brian, especially at the station.
"I needed to find the courage" he murmurs, clearing his throat. "It's easy in the barracks, between one joke and another but talking... I mean for real... It is different. Especially with someone like you"
"Someone like me?" you raise an eyebrow as he smiles. He is impossibly beautiful as his cheeks turn pink.
"An interesting girl, a curious one. An artist y/n"
"You're the only one who thinks of me like that. Artist."
He shakes his head. "That's not true, we all think so and if you start showing your drawings the whole world would do it" You shyly grab his hand which is still on the table.
"Thank you, you don't know how much this means to me." He hold yours back and intertwines his fingers with yours. He seems made to hold your hand, he seems born to grab you, to keep you close. And you wonder if hugging him gives the same effect, if even his lips are made to kiss yours.
"Listen, y / n ...." he takes on a serious tone of voice and you almost worry.
"Why have you never colored me? I mean, do you see me in black and white somehow? Does my aura tell you something? I'm not an artist, so I don't really know how these things work, but it scared me to death. Do you see me in any strange way?" he looks nervous
"Is that what worries you?"
"What else should?"
"I mean you find the notebook of someone who drew you too many times to count and you're worried about the fact that I don't color you?" you use a hint of sarcasm, realizing this confuses you.
Part of you feared there would be a different reaction, not anger knowing Otis, but at least a detachment, a rebuke. Anyone else would have been upset, but not him, he seems happy. He studies you carefully.
"You think I haven't seen you?" Your eyes widen and total silence envelops you. "What?" You're the one who doesn't understand now.
"Do you really think I haven't noticed that you spent your time looking at me and drawing me?" he shakes his head, amused by your shocked expression "You've been going on like this for months, aren't you going to pretend that you don't believe me?"
"I..." You can't say more. He laughs and you look at him, and then start laughing , because Brian has written "liar" on his forehead. "No, you didn't understand a damn thing my dear Brian" You retort.
"Oh I don't, but Cruz does. It was just hard to believe"
"And why?"
Brian doesn't answer, he caresses his goatee thoughtfully and you understand that you won't get the truth. Not yet. "Because you're beautiful y/n, people like you fly too many meters higher then me. In short..."
"I've looked at you from the start, Brian." You confess, this time without shame, your will to make him happy is stronger than any embarrassment. You know he needs to know it, to realize his value, for once to be the protagonist, the hero of your story, of your drawings, of your life. Him and no one else.
When silence returns, he turns to you again.
"So? Why didn't you color me?"
"I've never colored you because... I had to see you up close, really close, to be able to color you the way I want" you simply reply and he opens his mouth to say something, but he can't formulate anything, not when you continue. "Modigliani painted empty eyes, without pupils, because he couldn't paint what he didn't know: the souls of the people he was portraying. He only painted those of his partner Jeanne. I suppose it's the same for me. I can't color you without knowing the your true colors, without knowing what undertone your skin is or the paths that the veins form on your body."
Without realizing it, you've started to run your fingertip along his wrist, where the vein pulsates under the skin.
"Do you think." His voice is hoarse, scratched with emotion and excitement. "Do you think you'll give me the chance to let you find out?" He asks shyly. You nod with a slight smile.
"Are you asking me out Brian?"
"I'm asking you for dinner, then let's see what happens."
"Only one?"
"Maybe more than one"
#brian zvonecek#chicago fire x reader#otis x reader#brian zvonecek x reader#Brian otis zvonecek x reader#Chicago fire otis#Otis chicago fire#Otis chicago fire x reader#brian otis zvonecek#Brian zvonecek imagine#chicago fire imagine#Matthew Casey x reader#kelly severide#kelly severide x reader#chicago pd imagine#Joe Cruz#Joe Cruz x reader#gabriela dawson#Leslie Shay x reader#chicago fire fanfic
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Fire family teasing Mouch is one of my favorite moments of S6 - 6x01
Mouch returns, I love that one kiss on the cheek from Sylvie, and he stops protesting the nickname dead Mouch.
Also, I love Herrmann and Mouch's friendship. They're like the older version of Casey and Severide without the burden of leadership. â¤ď¸
#chicago fire#christopher herrmann#mouch#stella kidd#otis#joe cruz#sylvie brett#cf 6x01#dead mouch#true meaning of fire family#chicago fire rewatch days
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Itâs been 5 years since our sweet boy Brian âOtisâ Zvonecek passed away!!! Oh how I miss his cute face đđ
#brian zvonecek#chicago fire#kelly severide#wallace boden#brian otis zvonecek#joe cruz#i miss him so much#I him to come back#matthew casey#sylvie brett#stella kidd#gabby dawson
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I Have a Heartache that Wonât Go Away
Fic created for @augustwritingchallenge, day 1 | Canon Divergence
Fandom: Chicago Fire
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Pairing: Sylvie Brett/Joe Cruz/Brian "Otis" Zvonecek
Tags: Canon Divergence season 8, Best Friends, Idiots in Love, Polyamory
Summary: With Sylvie in Fowlerton, Brian doesnât know how to move forward with an empty room in their home. He talks to Joe about it, and they figure out their next move.
Wordcount: 1k
Also created for: @eclipsingbingo | Roommates / @fandombingo, Martian edition | Theyâre gone. + The Little Prince | âI was too young to know how to love her.â + Wonderland | âTell me the truth.â / @fandom-free-bingo, Pride edition | Best Friends Getting Married + Plural edition | Mourning a Lover / @multifandom-flash, April events: National Ex-Spouse Day | Forever Fling + March events: Compliment | Outhumbling Each Other / @julybreakbingo, July Break 2024 | Having feelings for their best friend but being happy that theyâve started dating someone else
Excerpt:
âCappâs not going to be our roommate,â Brian shook his head before Joe could finish the sentence. He grabbed his walker and started his way back to the living room, hoping Joe would follow him and the conversation.
âThen we have to keep looking for someone.â Joe arrived first and accommodated a few cushions on the couch for Brian to sit down.
Heâd been off of work since the fire in the mattress warehouse and started physical therapy only six months before, so while he learned to walk again after the fall he had in that basement, he had a lot of time to think. âOr âŚâ
âOr what?â Joe raised one eyebrow, and moved to put Brianâs walker beside the couch.
âYou saw Sylvie on the phone the other day. She seemed ⌠off, donât you think?â
Continue reading on Ao3 here!
#au gust 2024#chicago fire#otis chicago fire#joe cruz#MartianBingo#TheLittlePrinceBingo#WonderlandBingo#FandomFreeBingo: Pride Edition#FandomFreeBingo: Plurality Edition#calendar event: april#calendar event: march#JulyBreakBingo2024
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â ď¸APOYO PARA EL HURACĂN OTISâ ď¸/â ď¸SUPPORT FOR HURRICANE OTISâ ď¸
Para el 29 de octubre han habido 141 muertos estimados por el huracĂĄn en el estado de Guerrero (y 48 confirmados), con 7000 hectĂĄreas de daĂąo. Aunado a que NO se transmitiĂł una alerta del desastre en su tiempo debido, el aumento de saqueos y la negligencia del gobierno, urge apoyo desde cualquier parte del mundo.Las cruz roja mexicana estĂĄ recibiendo donativos. ÂĄFavor de compartir!
https://www.cruzrojamexicana.org.mx/donacion/65/mxn
As of October 29th there have been 141 estimated deaths from the hurricane in the state of Guerrero (and 48 confirmed), with 7000 hectares of damage. In addition to the fact that a disaster alert was NOT Issued in a timely manner, the increase in looting and government negligence, support is urgently needed from all over the world.The Mexican Red Cross is receiving donations, please share!
https://www.cruzrojamexicana.org.mx/donacion/65/mxn
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Lost & found | Sylvie Brett
Pairing: Sylvie Brett x Reader Reader pronouns used: she/her
Prompt: âThey found out weâre dating because my lockscreen is a picture of you.â
Masterlist | Chicago Fire masterlist | Words: 814
Truck 81 was the first to arrive back at the firehouse, after a call that involved all 51 companies. Otis stayed behind in the truck for a moment to check some things out, while the rest of the team made their way to the canteen. When he got out himself, he noticed a phone laying on the apparatus floor. He picked it up and turned it on, surely he could figure out whoâs phone it was from the lockscreen right? He felt proud of himself for thinking of that when he recognized you on the lockscreen. He pocketed the phone, since you werenât back from the call yet, and followed the rest of truck 81 to the canteen.
Otis thought he heard Engine 51 come back in, so he walked back to the apparatus floor, only to find it was Squad 3 that had arrived back. âHey, Otis, whatâs up?â Cruz greeted his best friend. âOh, nothing, I found Y/nâs phone on the apparatus floor and thought I heard Engine 51 come in.â They head back to the canteen together, Otis plopping down once again. The team was deep in conversation, so they didnât hear when Engine 51 actually did arrive, until the doors opened and your team started piling in. Otis was about to stand up to head your way but Cruz stops him, âLook, sheâs using her phone.â Otis frowns when he sees that you are indeed using your phone. âWhat made you think it was hers?â He grabs the phone out of his pocket and shows Cruz the background. âI figured that it was hers, because she is the lockscreen.â Cruz starts smirking, âDude, that means someone else on the team either has a crush on y/n or is dating her. We have to figure out who this phone belongs to.âÂ
The two went on full investigation mode, with a notepad in hand they crossed out everyoneâs name that they saw using their phone. Of course, not everyone was on their phones, but they were already able to cross a few names off of the list. They tried to get some other people to show them their phones, by asking to see a certain picture or asking to use their phone to call. Nearly everyone was now crossed off the list. Which made them spy around in the office as well, thinking that maybe it was someone that worked there. The office employees could also all be crossed out.Â
It wasnât until Ambulance 61 pulled in that they found out who the phone belonged to. Dawson left the ambo to go straight to the canteen, like all the others had done, but Sylvie stayed behind, looking all over the Ambulance like she was looking for something. The boys exchanged a look before they made their way over to Sylvie, âLooking for something?â Otis said, waving the phone in the air. âAh great! I thought I had lost it. Where did you find it?â Otis explains where he found the phone. âIt mustâve fallen out of my pocket on my way to the ambulance then.â You reach out to take the phone from Otis but Cruz is quick to grab it from his hand instead, âNot so fast, Brett.â She furrows her brow, âWhat do you mean? It's my phone?â Cruz smirks as he turns on the phone, facing the screen towards Sylvie, âI think you have some explaining to do.â Sylvieâs cheeks turn red.
Back in the canteen you watch as Otis and Cruz walk in full of excitement, talking amongst themselves, with a defeated Sylvie on their tail. Sylvie grabs a cup of coffee before she makes her way over to the sleeping quarters, without speaking a word to anyone in the canteen. You stand up and follow her, finding her sitting on her bed staring at her phone. âHey, is everything alright? Did something happen with Cruz and Otis?â You sit down next to her, placing your hand on her thigh, your eyes filled with worry. âI lost my phone, and they found it.â You nod, hoping she would continue, because that didnât sound too bad. âThey found out weâre dating because my lockscreen is a picture of you.â
âAw, Sylvie, I didnât know you did that. That is so cute. Can I see which one?â Sylvie hands you her phone. âYouâre not upset that they found out?â You shrug, âThey were going to find out eventually, right? Plus, like I said Iâve never minded people knowing, it was just nice having us for just us for a while before the team knew.â Sylvie leans into your side and lays her head down on your shoulder. âYeah, youâre right.â You kiss the top of her head, âYeah, donât worry about it, weâre good.â Before Sylvie can respond the alarm rings, and youâre both off to another call.
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#sylvie brett#sylvie brett x reader#chicago fire#one chicago imagine#one chicago x reader#chicago fire x reader#chicago fire imagine#chicago fire fanfic#one chicago#brian zvonecek#brian otis zvonecek#otis chicago fire#joe cruz
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#chris alonso#kim burgess#evan buckley#joe cruz#evan buckley imagine#eddie diaz x reader#evan buckley x reader#firehouse 51#chicago pd#reader x greg gerwitz#jay halstad#chicago pd imagine#chicago fire imagine#jay halstead x reader#kevin atwater#kelly severide x reader#kim burgess x reader#kevin atwater x reader#dominique luca x reader#leslie shay x reader#one chicago x reader#otis x reader#hailey upton x reader#victor tan x reader#will halstead x reader#brian zvonecek
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đ + Cruz or Otis from Chicago Fire!
It took me so long to decide which woods say which and honestly to this day I maintain I could switch it
#ask response#chicago fire#otis chicago fire#brian zvonecek#joe cruz#joe cruz chicago fire#pizzazz is who I am#autumn art asks
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