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millersdjarin · 2 years

Text

Some Invisible String

Chapter V: One Single Thread of Gold

Pairing: Joel Miller x F!Reader (afab)

Rating: E (18+ only!)

Summary: Ten years after Reader left Joel for reasons he still doesn’t know, they find themselves together again in a town called Jackson. Joel has questions he’s too afraid to ask; and Reader dreads having to give the answers.

Chapter length: 4.2k

Warnings/Tags: injury recovery, light angst, SMUT, crying during sex (but in a happy way), happy ending, unprotected p in v

Chapter Four (Previous) | Series Masterlist | Fic Masterlist

notes: final chapter! thank u for reading, i hope you enjoy ❤️

ps since tlou has new fans from the show (YAY!), just a heads up that this is post TLOU part 1 and following the details of game canon vs tv show canon, so spores for example. so, spoilers ahead for the story ❤️

“See? Told you she wouldn’t believe us.”

“I do,” I find myself saying, blinking at Ellie and Joel in their kitchen like each of them has just grown a second head. “I do believe you. I just…holy shit. You can breathe in spores, and everything?”

“Yup.”

I stare at Ellie with wide-eyes. Her sleeve is rolled up, revealing her bite. I never thought I’d see a healed bite from an infected. “Jesus,” I breathe out. I reach down for her arm, then ask, “Can I?”

Ellie nods and lifts it up to meet me, letting her forearm sit in my hand. I run my finger over the scar, feeling its raised bumps and wrinkles, completely dumfounded by the fact that this is an actual infected bite but it’s not red and angry, threatening to turn its victim at any minute; it’s been there for a year and a half. It’s healed, just as if it was from a dog, or something. Except it is absolutely, without question, the kind of bite that should’ve rendered her a clicker by now.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” I let her arm go. “I assume you don’t tell anyone about this?”

Rolling her sleeve back down, Ellie shakes her head. “No. We agreed it’s safer that way. Only a few people know.”

Something warm spreads in my chest. “I’m honoured to be one of them,” I give her a smile, hoping it comes across as genuine as I mean it to. “My lips are sealed. It’s pretty amazing, though, right? Did you get bitten when you were with Joel?”

“I…no. No, it was before that. We actually met because we…”

Gently, Joel continues for her, “We were going to the Fireflies. They thought she was the key to finding a cure, but…it didn’t work out.”

The vaguest hint of a frown works its way onto my face. I study Joel where he’s leaning against the kitchen counter, delicious arms folded over his chest, his jaw working away. I’ve never been able to describe what it is about him that I pick up on when he’s lying. All I know is that I know a lie from Joel when I hear one.

He looks at me like he knows that. Like he’s saying Not now.

“Damn,” I say to Ellie, then offer her a smile again, “you got a badass scar, though. Not that you can show anyone it, but still.”

She laughs a little. “I guess so.”

“So you came all the way from Boston to Wyoming together? How the hell did you manage that?”

“A whole lotta luck,” Joel says with a wry smile.

“And teamwork,” Ellie adds.

I laugh. “I’m impressed.”

“You survived on your own, too,” Ellie says. “That’s also pretty badass.”

“It’s very badass,” I agree, but resist a shudder at the bad memories from the last decade that instantly pour into my mind.

“We should get you sitting down,” Joel says, gesturing to my leg. It is starting to throb; we’ve been standing here talking about all this for a while.

I nod and start hobbling to the living room. Joel puts his arm around me to help, and to be honest I probably don’t need it, but I will take any opportunity I can get to be close to him. Our kiss from this morning is still fresh on my skin like it only just ended. I can feel his lips, his breath, his hands; a perfect ghost of him all over me.

“Ellie, why don’t you go get the horses ready, then we’ll head out for a ride? I just gotta talk to Tyler over here before we go.”

My heart leaps in my chest.

Ellie raises an eyebrow. “Who the fuck is Tyler?”

Joel gives me a smirk.

“That’s what he used to call me,” I explain with a nostalgic smile, remembering the first time he called me it. “I’m from Tyler in Texas. When we first met, all we knew about each other was we were both from Texas.”

“Aw, that’s cute,” Ellie laughs. She points her thumb towards the back door and says, “I’ll go get ready to ride. Do you wanna come with us?”

“I should probably get some rest,” I reply. “But thanks.”

Then, when Ellie is gone and out of earshot, I turn to Joel where he stands by the living room window. He’s got one thumb hooked over his belt, the light from the window shining around him, making him into a lovely silhouette. I’d ask him to come closer, to kiss me, to even just hold my hand, but I have a question first.

“So,” I say, leaning back against the sofa, “why’d you lie back there? About the cure?”

Heavily, he sighs. Steps over to me, sits down, rubs his hands over his face.

Then, he tells me.

“And…she doesn’t know,” I clarify after the whole story is out there in the open. Like a mist in the room, lingering, waiting for my reaction.

“She doesn’t know.”

I exhale. His hand is sitting on his knee now, his other running over his beard with his elbow propped on the arm of the couch.

I’m not surprised he did that for Ellie. Rushing through an entire army of Fireflies to save her life. I’m not surprised in the slightest, and I also know why he kept it a secret.

What I am, though, is so fucking in love with him that it hurts my chest; and this only makes it stronger. I reach out and take the hand on his leg, threading our fingers together.

“Do you feel that you did the right thing?” I ask, looking at his side profile.

“There ain’t a doubt in my mind,” he answers without hesitation, then turns to look at me. “I’d do it a thousand times for her.”

A smile tugs at my lips as my chest blooms with affection. I squeeze his hand, trying to come up with words that don’t just sound cheesy, that don’t sound like I’m making fun of him. “Who knew you were so soft?” I ask. Which, okay, is partially teasing. But not entirely.

He chuckles. The smile on his face is so precious to me, and I think I’ve seen it more in the past week I’ve been here than I ever did in our five years together back then. He just looks so light. Still weighed down by the weight of this world, of course, and not without his own grief or fears; but, God, he smiles like he means it. Like he’s not afraid to anymore. Like the fear of the smile ruining everything has lifted from him.

Naturally, I can’t get enough of it.

“I think you did,” he answers my question, sincere.

“Hm, I think the Joel I fell for was a little rougher around the edges,” I smirk, fully teasing now as he turns his body towards me and leans over me, brushing his hand over my cheek.

His eyes locked onto mine, he rasps, “I can still be rough around the edges. If you want me to be.”

With my hand on the back of his neck, I lean in and kiss him. Because he’s so fucking handsome, he’s here, he’s Joel.

There are still thoughts in my head that keep trying to push through; thoughts of doubt, of worry, of fear. I don’t know where this is going, where I’m going, or what I should assume about either of those things.

But with his lips moving against mine, I force the thoughts away, because I’ve waited so long for this feeling and I’m not about to ruin it as soon as it’s started.

“I gotta go,” he says against my lips, rueful. He lifts up his thumb and smoothes it over my bottom lip. “We’ll pick this up later?” He asks, hopefully flicking his eyes between both of mine.

I nod, biting my lip. “Please.”

When Joel gets back, he makes us dinner.

The three of us sit around the dining table in the living room, a candle in the middle of the table, flickering along with the fireplace across the room. It’s been two decades since I had a home-cooked meal like this; sitting at a table, inside a house, safe and warm. With people I know and trust.

Ellie and I talk about movies and music, teasing Joel for his taste in both. We talk until it’s late and Ellie is yawning while Joel tells her that maybe she should get some sleep. She protests, claiming she’s ‘not even tired’, to which Joel responds, “I’ve heard that before.”

But after a while, she gives in to the tiredness so obviously weighing at her, and stands up from the table. “Alright. I’ll see you guys in the morning. Thanks for dinner, Joel.”

“Night, Ellie,” Joel says, watching her as she walks towards the living room. “Sleep well.”

“Night,” I say with a smile. Ellie gives us both a wave, lifting her arm up high without turning back, and then she’s up the stairs and gone.

I look at Joel, and warmth settles in my chest. The light in here is warm, mostly coming from the dim lights in the living room now, along with the candlelight flickering over Joel’s face. It casts highlights and shadows and I want to reach out and touch them with my fingers, with my mouth.

Reaching across to him, I run my fingertips over his knuckles, and he smiles, twisting his hand so he can take hold of mine and squeeze.

“You want some wine?” He asks into the comfortable quiet.

“Love some,” I reply. “Can’t remember the last time I had any. Decent stuff, at least.”

He pours a deep, red wine into two glasses, and when he comes back to the table, he doesn’t sit back on his seat. Instead, he pulls away a chair and turns to me, perching on the edge of the table, his legs at the same level as my shoulders. Then he holds up his glass for me to tap mine against.

I do. “What are we toasting to?” I ask, looking up at him from under my eyelashes, drinking in more than just the wine; his heat, his hard thighs so close to my face, the way he’s looking down at me like he’s seeing me for the first time. Like we’re not living in the end of the world. Like we’re just on a regular date at his house, drinking wine after sunset.

“Think we got a lot to toast to,” he says after taking a sip. With his spare hand, he reaches out, and brushes some pieces of hair back from my face. “This, right here, for one.”

Smiling, I lean into his touch, closing my eyes. My lips press into his palm before he lays it on my cheek. “Agreed.”

His lips spread into a small, contented smile. I put my spare hand on his waist, then slide it around so it’s pressed against his back. We just drink our wine like that, sitting with a hand on each other, existing in one of the only quiet moments we’ve ever had together. It’s just us, right now. It could be that nothing else exists. Just us. Just him, leaning against the table, gazing down at me like I’m something precious he can’t take his eyes off of.

When I’ve finished the last of my wine, I put my glass down on the table, and make use of my newly freed hand to rub it up his thigh. He sighs, swallowing the last of his.

“You wanna go to bed?” I ask, letting my voice run soft and sultry.

“I’d love to,” he says, “just one thing first.”

“Hm?” I hum, pressing my forehead into his thigh, right against the denim of his jeans. His hand slides back into my hair, gently playing with it. I can feel heat rising in my belly, a need to be closer to him just thrumming through my veins.

“Don’t tell Ellie, but I’ve been working on a little somethin’ for her. The shed out back, Tommy and I have made it into her own space just for her. I thought she’d appreciate having a place to call her own.”

I look up at him and smile. “She’ll love that.”

Joel nods. He stares at me for a minute, pondering. “And…since we’re talkin’ about living arrangements…”

Dread shoots through my stomach, piercing through any of that rising arousal that his touch had ignited.

He doesn’t want me to stay.

That has to be it, right? He’s been thinking about it, too, ever since I got here. I don’t blame him; how can he ever trust me again? How can we ever—

“I was wonderin’ if you wanted to move in.”

Oh.

Well, that brought my racing thoughts to a shuddering halt.

He seems to take my silence as apprehension, because suddenly he’s nervous, trying to explain himself, “Only if you want. I know it’s…I know a lot has changed, especially today, and I really was going to offer for you to live here before we…you know.”

I swallow down the lump of emotion that has made itself at home in my throat. I’m just staring up at him, wide-eyed, probably looking like I’m on the edge of tears.

He wants me to stay.

Fucking fuck, he doesn’t just want me to stay in town; he wants me to stay with him.

“You…” I stammer. “You want me to…”

He holds up a hand like he’s trying to calm a situation, one that actually doesn’t need calming, but the look on my face probably suggests otherwise— “Now I know it’s sudden, and if you want to ask Maria for your own place, she’s already suggested some…or…unless you don’t want to stay here at all?” Doubt creeps into his features, a jolt of anxiety I so rarely see.

“No!” I manage to squeak out, tightening my grip on his jeans. It doesn’t seem to clear anything up for him; he just frowns. “I mean, no, I…I don’t want to leave,” I say, finding that I mean it. Why wouldn’t I mean it? Why the fuck would I ever want to leave this place? And now that I have Joel…

Fuck, I have Joel.

There are no words. None that are good enough, big enough, to express the overwhelming feelings that are bubbling up inside me.

Instead of talking, I stand up, lean into him, and kiss him.

He makes a pleasantly surprised noise, his hand staying on the back of my head as he lets my lips press to his, my hand going to mirror his. I open my mouth, feel him sigh when he opens his too, moving our lips together slowly but passionately. Desperately. Because it’s the only way I can think to tell him how I really feel.

Maybe in another life, I’d have said it’s too soon. That we’re rushing into things.

But we live in a world where one of us could die any day. And after everything, after all this time, I don’t want to waste any more time.

If he’ll have me—I’ll have him.

“So is that a yes?” He pulls away for a second and gives a nervous little chuckle. His thumb strokes at my cheekbone, his eyes looking down into mine, glowing in the candlelight.

I nod. “Yes, it’s a yes,” I say. The heat is back in my belly again, feeling his knee pressed up between my legs, his face so close to mine and breath blowing against my mouth. “Yes, it’s a fucking yes, Joel. God, I—” I kiss him again, because I can’t not. “I can’t believe this.”

He laughs into my mouth and kisses me quiet, bringing up his other hand to cradle the other side of my head, his fingers tangling in my hair again like they did this morning. I sigh, unable to resist, and melt at his touch. At his mouth. At him.

“Joel,” I say, breathless, “Joel, will you please take me to bed?”

He laughs again, a breathy chuckle that brushes into my mouth before trailing down my neck along with his lips, pressing closed-mouthed kisses all along my jaw. “Can you make it up the stairs?”

“For this, yes.”

When he pulls back, he’s grinning, showing his teeth and the wrinkles around his mouth and eyes. I dive in and kiss at each line, each mark of his life, everything he’s been through, all his laughs and tears and shouts and smiles—

“Joel,” I find myself whimpering against the corner of his mouth.

His hands, steady on my waist, squeeze me. “You alright?”

Tears are stinging in my eyes and nose. I try to swallow them back, press my nose into his neck. “Take me to bed,” I beg again, this time in just a breathy whisper, “Please.”

His hands are precious and gentle on the back of my head again, cradling me in his warm palms, his fingertips threaded into my hair. I’m sitting on the end of his bed and he’s bending down to kiss me, my head craning up to meet him as best I can. I’d strain to reach him forever if that’s what it took. If the only reprieve from the stretch was his hand on the back of my neck. It would be enough.

He pulls away from my lips for a second and breathes against me. “Goddamn,” he curses.

I stroke his forearms, running my fingers through the hairs there. “Yeah,” I breathe, “yeah.”

“You know how long I’ve wanted this?” He asks.

I didn’t used to. I thought he’d never want this. Want me.

But now…

I nod, and pull him down further, wanting to be closer, closer, closer. “I think I do.”

Carefully he backs me up along the bed, crawling on top of me as I shuffle up towards the pillows. I try to kiss him as we move but it ends up too clumsy and my leg kind of hurts as I’m crawling backwards, and he chuckles at my efforts, settling above me once I’m lying down.

The backs of his fingers trace down my face. He gazes down at me, his eyes glittering in the warm, dim light of his bedroom. I want to dive in, devour him, let him devour me, feel him as close as possible because I’ve wanted it for so fucking long—

But he’s so soft above me, so comforting and familiar and new all at once, and I could just as easily just stare at him like this forever, the look in his eyes, gazing like I’m something he wants. Something he needs.

“Do I have something on my face?” I tease, just a little shakily, not sure what else to say. “You’re staring.”

He shakes his head once. “Sorry. Can’t help it.”

I smile up at him, press my hand to his cheek. “Me, neither.” My other hand moves around to the back of his neck, and I dip it down below the collar of his shirt, feeling at the heat of his back, pushing it down as far as it’ll go. He stifles a moan, letting his eyes flutter closed. “Joel,” I whisper against him, pressing our foreheads together, “how many times do I have to ask you to fuck me?”

His breath hitches, catching in his throat. “You technically haven’t asked me that at all yet, darlin’,” he replies after a beat.

“Well, then, I’m asking you now,” I pull away to meet his eyes again. Lightly, I curl the hand that’s under his shirt, running my fingertips over the small of his back, digging them in just a little. “Please, Joel. Take me. I’m yours. I’m—”

He dives in before I can say anything else, opening his mouth against mine and kissing me with a new, fevered urgency. He holds himself up above me with his palms on either side of my head, and at the feeling of his tongue brushing against mine, my hips instinctively buck up to try and find some friction.

Without moving his mouth from mine, he shifts his legs, gently using his knee to push mine apart and then settling it there between them. Slowly, as he kisses me so quickly and passionately that I only just register what he’s doing, he slides his knee up and presses it against my centre.

It feels fucking incredible. I’m throbbing already, pulsing for him, desperate for more friction. Another instinct, to grind down against his thigh, pushing myself further against him as he kisses me like his life depends on it.

One of his hands moves a little so his fingertips are brushing over my temple, pushing bits of hair away from my face. I let the hand on his cheek slide back into his hair, taking a handful of it and pulling, revelling in the choked moan he lets out against my mouth. The vibration of his voice is intoxicating, and I wonder, not for the first time, how it’d feel against the place that his knee is currently pushed against.

My hand on his back scrapes again, digging my nails in probably a little too hard, but he doesn’t complain; his lips break away from mine with a loud smack, and I’m about to protest, about to pull him back in when they start to messily trail down my jaw in sloppy, open-mouthed kisses. I gasp, my mouth falling open. His mouth is so warm, so wet, I can hear him breathing through it with his nose right up at my ear, can feel the heat of his thigh where it’s pressed against me—

“Joel,” I gasp out as his mouth settles at the pulse point on my neck. He starts to suck, and I can feel just enough of his teeth that I know it’s going to make a mark, the suction pulling sparks of pleasure from my neck all down my body.

He hums in approval as I put my other hand on his waist, above his shirt this time, but starting to ruck it up, pulling it from the waistband of his jeans.

“Joel, please…”

“Mm?” He trails his lips, open and hot, back up to the underside of my jaw, and waits there. “What do you need, darlin’?”

“I need…”

Pulling himself away from me, he takes a careful hold of my hands, withdrawing them from both under and over his shirt. He takes them, entwines our fingers, then presses them down against the pillow on either side of my head. “I’ll give you whatever you want,” he promises in a low, husky voice that I have literally dreamed of hearing say that for God knows how long—“just tell me what you need, darlin’, and I’ll do it.”

My mouth suddenly dry, I swallow, gasping for air even without his lips on me. He licks his own, glancing down at my mouth, hungry. “I already told you,” I say, breathless and squeezing his hands, “I need you to fuck me.”

One side of his lovely lips quirk up into a smile. He leans down, kisses me, this time soft and close-mouthed. Then he presses our foreheads together again, and his breath is hot and fast against my face. I want to lean up into him, kiss him again, feel the burn of his beard against my skin, let it mark me up. But before I can, he whispers, “I’ve wanted to hear you say that for too damn long.”

Then his hands are leaving mine, and he leans back, pulling far enough away that I can feel the loss of his body heat. He sits against my thigh, one of his still pressed just not quite hard enough to my middle, and I’m just about to pull him back down again when he takes his hands and starts to unbutton my shirt.

Oh, fuck.

The way he does it so carefully, calloused fingers working expertly on each one, just slow enough that it drives me insane. He watches his fingers, hunger growing in his eyes, licking his lips with every inch of my skin that he exposes.

Then, when all of the buttons are undone, he first meets my eyes for a quick moment with a grin, then takes hold of each side of my open shirt and flings them aside, revealing my bare stomach and bra.

“Oh, darlin’,” he exhales, gazing at that part of me like it’s the most incredible thing he’s ever seen. All I can do is lie there, watching him watch me, feeling as his hands press against my navel, slowly sliding up my ribs, to the curve of my breasts, back down again. “You’re so beautiful.”

Sudden, unexpected emotion bubbles up in my throat.

I never thought any of this would happen. Hell, I thought I was going to die not two weeks ago.

When I left Joel, I thought I’d never see him again. And I thought that, even if I did, he’d not want anything to do with me.

And yet here we are, and he’s not just here, he’s mine, touching me with such care and desire and lust and I, God, I can’t put into words how it feels to have him like this—

“Hey,” his soft voice breaks me from my tumbling thoughts. His eyes leave my torso, and I swear to God I feel the lack of their heat. He meets my gaze instead, a soft frown of concern creasing his forehead. “You alright?”

Frantic, I nod. I need him to know that I’ve never been better. I have literally never, in my life, felt like this. I reach up for him, taking hold of his face and bringing it down to mine, not quite pressing our foreheads together. “Joel,” I whisper. He lifts one of his hands from my stomach, brushes the backs of his fingers down my face. “I’ve literally never been happier.”

He smiles. A beautiful little tilt of his lips that has me feeling just as much heat between my thighs as I do with his touch—

Speaking of, I grind down on him again, and my eyes flutter closed at the sensation. I need more. I need more, but he’s still hovering over me, concerned, and I realise that he’s not just brushing his fingers over my cheeks to touch me, he’s brushing away tears.

Tears.

I’m fucking crying. We’re supposed to be having sex, and I’m fucking crying.

Humiliated, I feel my cheeks flush bright red and immediately rush to wipe away the tears. “Sorry,” I croak out, finding more tears in my throat ready to fall, “God, I’m—I’m sorry, I’m fine, I promise…”

He keeps stroking my face. For a moment he watches me, and I can see in his eyes that he’s not judging me. He still looks a little bit worried, but as he looks between each of my eyes, he asks, soft, “Are you sure?”

And I nod in an instant. “I really am,” God, I can’t believe I’m crying. I’m still crying. “It’s just…” The weight of the last decade—fuck, the last two decades, who are we kidding—feels like it’s weighing me down and lifting all at once, suddenly washing over me in a wave that I can’t find my way up from and I don’t know if I want to.

Joel nods like he understands. Leaning down, he kisses away the newest tears on my cheeks. “It’s a lot,” he says, gentle. “I know. After everything.” The hand that isn’t on my cheek moves from my ribcage, instead taking a hold of my hand again, and putting it on the pillow by my head like before. “I’m here, darlin’. Alright? I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

Feeling just a little pathetic, I sniff. “I’m alright,” I promise him. My hand finds purchase on the back of his neck, fingers tangling in his hair.

He gazes down at me for another long moment, his free hand stroking at my hair. I close my eyes into the touch, focus on him, his breathing, his body over mine, protecting me. Keeping me there, because it’s the only place I want to be.

“I just love you,” I find myself whispering with my eyes still closed. At the confession, a small shot of dread shoots through my stomach in an instant, and at first, I can’t quite bring myself to look at him. But as the silence stretches on, I have to.

I open one eye first. A part of me expected him to get up and leave.

But I don’t know why. Because instead, he’s just staring down at me, a new softness on his features that I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. His lips quirk into a small smile. His eyes are glistening, disbelieving. “I love you,” he breathes out. I feel the words on my skin, sinking into my bones.

Relieved, I close my eyes again. Then I feel him kiss me, soft.

“I love you,” he says again. “I always have. I always will.”

Feeling a fresh wave of tears threaten to fall, I nod and press my nose into his cheek, grasping on to the back of his head like it’s a lifeline. It kind of is. “Can you please be inside me before I embarrass myself by crying again?” I whisper into his ear, not totally unaware of the fact that I sound even more like I’m crying now. Which, I’m not. I don’t want to cry anymore. I’ve cried enough.

His chuckle is breathy and warm against the shell of my ear. “‘Course I can,” he gently nips at my earlobe, then in one smooth movement, he pushes his knee right up against my still very clothed pussy and I let out a cry. Pleasure shoots through me, and the tears subside to make way for a gasp that pulls out of my lips.

It all happens very quickly, and yet very slowly, after that.

One minute, we’re both still clothed and kissing slowly and softly. The next, I’m tugging off his shirt, he’s unhooking my bra, putting his head between my breasts and kissing the centre of my ribcage with an open mouth. I undo his belt clumsily, push his jeans down to his ankles. He kicks them off and climbs back on top of me as soon as he can, helping me out of my own jeans. It takes a bit of working around my bandage, a distant pain still throbbing away over it.

He looks up at me and raises his eyebrows. “You tell me if this starts hurting,” he says, not a suggestion.

I nod. “I will.”

He wastes no time getting back to my lips, one of his hands travelling all-too slowly down my body towards my centre. I ruck my hips up into his touch, and soon his fingers are pressing against my bare skin, right above my clit where I need him.

“Joel,” I say, “touch me. Please.”

He obliges without a word, sliding the tips of his two fingers down through my folds and towards my entrance, gathering wetness. I hear the slick of it, feel it, and he takes it up to my clit before pressing there in earnest.

“You tell me if it don’t feel good,” he murmurs against my lips. “Need this to be good for you.”

Desperate, I nod, clutching his head with both of my hands as I press my hips up into his delicious touch, the circles he’s making around my clit.

His fingers are inside me, then, thumb pressing against the precious bundle of nerves that he seems intent on pushing on.

“God, Joel, that’s just—that’s just right,” I gasp.

He smiles against my mouth and keeps going, slowly pumping two fingers in and out of me, stretching them apart a few times to get me ready. The sheer anticipation of having his cock inside me is enough to have me pulsing, getting wetter and wetter by the minute.

He readies his cock, holding it against my entrance. Looking into my eyes, he smiles, and presses the tenderest of kisses to my lips. “I love you,” he whispers.

“I love you…” the words fade off into a breathless whisper as he slides inside me, past my folds and right to my core, so hot and warm and wide and, God, fuck, it was so worth the wait—

I cling to him, scratch my nails down his bare back. As he starts to thrust, slow but not hesitant, he attaches his mouth to my shoulder and sucks. With one hand stroking my hair, he brings the other back to my clit, working it in time with his thrusts.

“Jesus…God, you feel so good…” he grunts against my neck.

“Joel,” I plead, “please…harder, faster…I need you…”

My words pull the loveliest of moans from his throat and it’s like he melts beneath them, beneath my breath and my hands, pushing himself further inside me so the head of his cock is reaching as high as it can go, gently pushing against my cervix. Before he starts going any faster, he pauses, panting in my ear, “Are you sure?”

“Yes, Joel, I can take it…”

“Your leg…”

“I’ll tell you if it hurts. Joel, please…”

He lets out a shuddering breath.

Then, he does just what I ask him to do.

It’s not painful. But it is a lot.

His dick hits the highest point inside me he can get to, and it’s so sensitive, it feels like he’s fucking up into my belly button, thrusting so hard that it meets resistance at the top of each curve of him inside me—

His finger gets harder against my clit, too. And, fucking hell, if it wasn’t intense before, it’s fucking overwhelming now.

Not-quite-painful pleasure sparks through from deep inside me to every inch of my body.

“Darlin’,” he gasps, opening his mouth against my neck in pleasure, as his pants get more frantic and his thrusts more erratic. It feels so good, and I’m just pinned underneath him, my left knee pressed into his hip, the other leg still flat on the bed.

His thrusts are jolting me, and there’s definitely pain coming from my wound, but it’s absolutely nothing compared to the feeling of him inside me, fucking me into the mattress as I feel the sweat on his skin—“Darlin’, you feel so good, wrapped around me like this…wanted you for so long, so fuckin’ long, thought about this so many times with my hand on me—” he keeps spilling words, filthy words, into the place where my neck meets my shoulder, and I lap it all up. His voice is like sweet, husky syrup to my ears and I hold him there with his words buzzing into my skin, letting them carry me away to a place where it’s just the two of us, just his cock sliding in and out, fucking me just like I always dreamed of it, his finger still rubbing earnest circles over my clit—

It comes over me suddenly, builds up unexpectedly. “Joel! Joel, I’m gonna…”

He kisses the shell of my ear, all hot breath and wet spit, “Do it, baby, come on my cock…come for me, darlin’, I gotcha…”

And I do. Pleasure rises and rises and rises and then drops, a strangled cry finding its way out of my throat before Joel presses his hand over my mouth to swallow the sound. He moans along with me, and when he lifts his head from my neck, the look on his face keeps me riding my orgasm for just that little bit longer. Totally relaxed in pleasure, his eyes fluttering as they struggle to stay open, his mouth hanging open with spit glistening on his lips. He comes, then, inside of me, and it spills down my thighs with each push back in and out.

I stroke the back of his head as the aftershocks from my high milk his pleasure out for as long as they can. I can feel the release of his muscles, the last of his orgasm fading and leaving him flushed and hot and lovely inside me.

I pant against his cheek. He breathes against mine, fast, taking deep breaths. He’s still inside me. I don’t want him to ever not be.

So when he goes to pull out, I twist my leg at his hip so my foot presses into the base of his back, anchoring him there. “Stay,” I say, pleading, “please. Just for a minute.”

Wordless, he nods, and leaves precious little kisses all across my face and neck. Peppers them down my chest as far as he can go with the way I’ve got him pinned in place. I could keep him here forever. Inside me, on top of me, all around me. His hair is wet with sweat, beads of it dripping down from the back of his neck and onto my breasts.

Jesus.

“Joel,” I whisper. It feels like I’m only ever going to be able to say his name again. “That was…Jesus, Joel, that was good.”

Breathy, he chuckles. “Better than good,” he says. Then he pulls away, and I feel the cold nip of the air start to tickle against my skin, the wetness between my thighs getting cooler. Goosebumps raise on my skin, and Joel notices. “Sorry, darlin’, I’m gonna have to pull out now. Get us cleaned up a bit and warm.” He sounds genuinely sorry, stroking my face as if in consolation.

I sigh, but I know he’s right. Nodding, I give him one last, long kiss on his mouth. “Hurry back,” I say when he climbs off of me and heads into the bathroom.

Hearing the gentle slosh of water, I close my eyes, and feel the cool sheets beneath my skin. There’s a mess between my thighs, dripping down onto the sheet. We should probably have put a towel down. But.

I am about to tell Joel as much when he comes back in with a warm, wet washcloth, but then realise he’s brought a towel with him, too. Too little, too late.

“We made a bit of a mess,” I say, letting my head loll towards him on the pillow. He chuckles in the quiet dimness of the room, the low light flickering over his bare skin.

“Nothin’ we can’t clear up,” he replies, settling between my legs again. Carefully, he wipes at my skin with the washcloth, clearing away my own wetness and his release. I sigh, enjoying the warmth, the way he rubs absently at my knee with his spare hand. He cleans himself up next, then tosses the washcloth across the room.

“Scooch,” he says gently, pushing at my hip. “I’ll put a towel down.”

“Joel, I think you’re about a half hour too late with that,” I smirk, but do as he asks so he can lay the towel over the mattress, spreading it as far as he can.

“We can clean the sheets properly in the morning,” he announces, the grabs the comforter from the floor—I don’t even remember when it got there—and carefully brings it up over my body.

I sigh into the cool fabric and feel the mattress dip beneath Joel’s weight. He crawls into bed beside me, and soon his arms are pulling me against his chest.

I settle with my head over his ribcage, my leg hooked over his as he lies on his back. The covers are pulled right up to my neck, and I take a moment to pull the corner over the top of Joel’s chest, only just avoiding my face.

“Joel,” I say, quiet.

“Hm?” He murmurs as his hand absently rubs circles into my shoulder. His eyes are closed, his other hand propped under his head. When I look up at him, he looks more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him, blissed-out and content. It’s such a beautiful sight that I debate resisting the tiredness in my body and just staying up to watch him like this.

I lift my hand, take hold of his cheek. Turn him to face me, then lean in and kiss him. “I’ve always loved you,” I whisper against his mouth. “I need you to know that.”

His eyes crack open to look into mine. “I always loved you, too,” he strokes at my bottom lip with his thumb. “Now, come on. Let’s get some sleep, alright? Been wantin’ to hold you to sleep for a long time.”

Warmth blooms in my chest. I kiss him again, just once, and snuggle in closer before putting my head back where it was.

And, just like the invisible string that seemed to tie us together all this time, I sit comfortably in this space, letting all the tangles and the knots in my mind unravel. What’s past is past, and we’re here now.

After everything, after the good, the bad, letting this thing between us come back from the dead—

We’re here.

{❤️end❤️}

notes: ah i can't believe it's finished ❤️ thank you SO much for reading and enjoying this fic with me, all your responses have made me so happy and i'm just so glad it's brought some of you joy. i hope you enjoyed the final chapter! i'm considering maybe writing some one-shots set in this universe at some point, or some little drabbles, so keep an eye out for those :)

love u, take care of yourself! ❤️

ps: as always this is post-apocalyptic and a fanfiction but in real life don't forget to always practice safe sex babes!

taglist below

@rosymythologies @lover1307 @rh1nestonecowg1rl @pinkrose1422 @lavenderhhze @abbyhaslongshorts @trippoverrt @emilianamason

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olsenmyolsen · 1 year

Text

Olsen II

Part 16 of On The Inside With Elizabeth Olsen

Word Count: ~6.5K

masterlist

⚠️ SPOILERS FOR MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS ⚠️

Y/N POV

I grumble myself awake and shut off my 5am alarm.

I haven't woken up this early in years but today, Monday, is special. It's Liz's last week in London! So I wanted to send her a special text this morning.

Yes, it's now been three weeks since Liz and I made our relationship official! Yes, I know we immediately became girlfriends after saying we'd take things slow. Oh well.

The only people that know are Max, James, Sam, Robbie, Ash, and MK. I probably would've told my mom by now if our relationship had been in a better place.

Less than a week ago, I finally called her back after dodging her calls, and the call went exactly how I predicted.

It started with the usual catching up on life kind of bullshit, and that was great before it devolved into a series of "why aren't you going back to school?" "Do you honestly think you can be happy and successful without a degree?" "You're way too pretty and smart. I'd hate to see you waste the opportunities I gave you." Then, money this and money that.

So it's a safe bet I won't be making calls home soon. Don't get me wrong. I love my mom. I do! But it's just... I wish we had the relationship we used to have. Yes, she did a great job as a mom throughout my life but after what my dad did to the two of us... you know it's not the same as it was.

Anyways, the rest of the world has yet to know about Liz and I, of course, but that hasn't changed anything. The media has slowed down on the articles about MK and her secret lover. I keep getting photographed but less and less. Not that it was a lot, to begin with, but I'm thankful not to have random people take pictures of me.

I know this will change once Liz and I are out. But for now, I'm enjoying it.

Liz and I have been FaceTiming or attempting to FaceTime every night after 5pm my time. We tried 4pm for a while, but that left me virtually no time to get home after work. We still have some days where Liz can't call, but we still text!

Our calls tend to mostly be about my days, my friends, plans for what to do when Liz gets back, and more. I ask Liz about her day, but she doesn't spill much. Nothing cagey, just in a same old same old kind of way.

She gives me the vaguest details about the movie. A part of me wants to know what's going to happen in the film so bad, but Liz tells me it'll spoil the MCU, and she's right because, of course, she's right. Plus, she warns me that Kevin Feige has eyes and ears everywhere. You would think this guy is a mob boss or something.

We also talk about her sisters. Liz has started trying to talk to them on a weekly basis, although, accordingly to Liz, MK has been more MIA lately.

I know why.

A couple of days after MK left my place, I told Liz how MK got Naomi to sign the papers. To say Liz was displeased would be an understatement.

I don't know how I did it, but I got Liz not to hulk out at her sister and to let me handle the situation. But the truth behind that is... MK technically hasn't spoken to me since that day.

That's not to say I haven't tried. I texted MK the night she left.

I told her that I've grown fond of the person she is. She's caring, kind, and nothing but supportive. I apologized for getting mad at her. I told her that I support her and genuinely want what is best for her. I let her know that I will be here for her no matter what because I know she will be here for me.

Or at least, I hope.

I also texted her that I love her as well. I love the person she is.

That does not mean I love her as more than a friend.

She read all those texts but hasn't responded to me personally. She texts in the group chat with Ash and myself, but it's never directly to me.

Since returning to LA, Ash has seemed to notice that something is off. We've briefly talked a couple of times, but I can't bring myself to tell anyone the true reason. I feel like Ash knows but is letting it be.

In other news, James, Max's brother, finally left after another week of mooching off his sister. Just kidding but for real, he up and left for California. I know Max has some family out there, but I'm not sure if James went to them or not. But for the next two days after he landed, every single picture he posted included #JamesGoesWest.

I knew he was teasing because of Liz's and mines relationship. Speaking more on that! I went back and finished Wind River. I legit had to skip through that one scene. But overall, I loved the movie! Men are gross, and Liz played her role perfectly. The chemistry she had with Jeremy Renner was incredible. I'd like to see them do more together.

But if we're talking natural chemistry, all I can say is... I never wanted to be Aubrey Plaza more in my life than during the press tour of Ingrid Goes West. Yes, I've seen the YouTube videos, interviews, and photo shoots. I now know I was never Liz's "first." I mean, yes, I knew that already from the night Liz and I had at her place, but now I'm full-on convinced her and Aubrey were more than friends at some point.

Liz knows I watched those two movie and will be watching all of her MCU movies, but she's begged me not to watch a film she did called Oldboy. I looked up the synopsis, and it seems interesting, but Liz is adamant about me not seeing it.

Speaking of the MCU and their movies, this week is finally Avengers week! Out of everything I watched, Captain America and Iron Man 2 are my favorites. Captain America because I loved the story and Bucky so much. And Iron Man 2 for... Natasha. I'm sorry, but I never wanted to be a heavy-set white man more than when she took down Happy.

Lizard knows of my newfound obsession with Scarlett Johansson, and let's just say we starting banning a few words. The first time I mentioned how sexy I thought Natasha looked, I could instantly tell something had shifted. Liz didn't say anything at first. She just sat quietly on the other side of the phone, watching me like I was her prey. She had her jaw clenched so tight I thought teeth were going to break, and then out of the blue, Liz was tired and had to get to bed.

The call ended shortly after that leaving me confused until my dumb brain realized why. I called her back and made it up to her in a memorable way.

A few words that aren't banned are "Mommy." "Yes." & "Please." Liz and I have done a fantastic job trading those off.

Sam is good! Max and I have gone out with her and her friends a couple of times, nothing too crazy, thankfully. Max and I have also started exercising together again. Not daily, but we've been trying for three times a week. It's usually before work, but other times it's once Liz and I finish FaceTiming.

Work is still good. Alec is good. All in all, everything is going well. Liz wraps filming this Friday, so I can't wait to have her in my arms!

Speaking of which, I have to text her.

Liz POV

It's now been three weeks since Y/N and I made our relationship official! Yes, I know we immediately became girlfriends after saying we'd take things slow. Oh well.

I love Y/N so fucking much, but FaceTiming every night gets tiring. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing her cute freckled face, but there are times when I'm just so exhausted from shooting that I can't bring myself to answer a FaceTime call. But luckily for me, I have an understanding and supportive girlfriend.

Girlfriend. That's a word I don't think I will get tired of saying.

Speaking on that, I told my girlfriend that filming wraps on Friday. It doesn't. It wraps today. I plan on flying out first thing tomorrow morning to surprise her! Max already knows and plans on picking me up from the airport. I got her number from MK. I know, ooh, sneaky, but it's the things you do for love.

I'm incredibly excited to see how the world reacts to this movie. I acted my heart out, and I know when I walk on set today, I'm going to cry. I've always finished these movies not knowing what was next for Wanda, but when Sam yells "cut" for the final time, I know it will feel like the last time.

I've been talking to my sisters about the motions I've been going through, and Ash has been kind enough to try and speak to me about it. Meanwhile, MK can barely get a sentence together. I'm not mad at her for what she did with Naomi. I mean, yes, I was. But not anymore, so I don't know why she's being weird about us.

In addition to my sisters, I have also been texting someone else. Someone that knows about Y/N. But someone that Y/N doesn't know about herself.

Wanda's other half. Actor for the Vision. Mr. Paul Bettany.

I missed him. I missed being on set with him. I missed hearing him laugh at the stupid things I'd say. I missed hearing him talk about his wife non-stop. He's truly a lifelong friend that I'm so thankful to have met at such a crucial moment in my life.

That's a feeling that I have for Y/N. She came to me at just the right moment. I know that I won't let her go.

Over the course of filming, Paul and I would send check-in texts here and there, but our conversations didn't become something quite serious until the articles about me leaving the Doctor Strange set came out. That's when Paul said he knew something was wrong. Since I'm never one to "create drama" or "be a total bitch."

Paul texted me that Easter Sunday. A day before, I met Y/N. Paul was actually the first one to know the news about Robbie and I. He loves Robbie, so for him to hear everything broke him a little, but Paul helped me as much as he could. Or as much as I was willing to let him. He promised that everything we discussed would stay between us because we all know. Snitches end up in ditches!

Paul was also the one to tell me to get my shit together and to send coffee and treats to the NY Marvel team if I wanted to keep people happy.

I guess I have Paul to thank for Y/N. Oh God, I can't let that get to his head.

Speaking of Paul and Vision. My Coffee Girl has been continuing her journey of watching the MCU. I think tonight is Avengers night. I think she has some hope I'm going to show up in this one, but sadly I don't. I'm sure Y/N won't really mind since she has Scarlett and her Black Widow ass to look at all movie.

I know that's not nice and unfair to Scarlett, but I don't like Y/N having her eyes on someone else.

I made that very clear the other night.

Over the last couple of weeks, in addition to filming, FaceTiming, and keeping me and my girlfriend satisfied, I started emptying out the Richmond house. Like I did with my trailer, I started small but quickly moved on to bigger things.

I sent Robbie back a lot of the things he left behind. I donated some of my stuff but kept the tiniest of things that remind me of the good times I had while here. After today the house will no longer be ours. That is if I actually did remember to grab everything?

Uh, speaking of Robbie. He's doing so well, and I'm so proud of him. He's been doing AA meetings once a week. Every week I send him a text just letting him know that he's in my thoughts, and I wish him luck. He sends me a text back, basically saying the same thing.

Thankfully the media isn't dragging Robbie through the mud just because he's trying to better his life. I think back to how they treated my sisters, and it makes me sick. If I could have the opposite for Robbie, I'll do it.

Robbie doesn't ask about Y/N; instead, he asks me, "are you happy?" The answer has always been "yes." Robbie's response is always the same "then I'm happy."

I got lucky with an ex like him, huh?

It's almost 10am, and I finally have the finishing touches to my look for today's scene. 838 Wanda comforting Darkhold Scarlet Witch. How fitting that my last day is me letting myself know that it's going to be okay. That our boys will be okay.

Oh, I'm getting depressed just thinking about it.

"Lizzie, you ready?" A member of the makeup team looks me over and waits for my response. I nod and go to get up before my phone stops me. I take a quick glance. Is that really who I think it is?

"Just give me a minute." I turn to the crew they nod, heading out of my trailer.

Y/N POV

Annnnddd sent! I smile down at my phone. The text wasn't anything too crazy special. Let's not forget I just woke up.

The text was just myself reminding Liz that I'm lucky to have her. That I'm so thankful to have someone caring and loving chose me to be the person that they love. That someone with her wits and beauty makes me smile and feel the support that I feel. And I can't wait to be able to hold her and to kiss that gorgeous face. To be able to physically look into her eyes. The eyes that make me smile. The eyes that make me feel safe. The eyes that are the literal definition of: If looks could kill.

I could've gone on and on with my text, but I have to save something for when she's here at the end of the week. I close my phone out, knowing she'll probably read it when she gets back from filming, meaning I can go back to sleep before getting up for my shift later today.

I turn over and close my eyes. Letting tiredness take me over once ag-

BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ

I peek one of my eyes open as I grab my phone. It can't be Liz. She should be- Oh! It is Liz! She's calling me! I clear my throat and answer the phone.

"Hello?"

Liz POV

"Just who do you think you are, Ms. Y/N Y/L/N! Sending a cute ass text like that. You're supposed to be sleeping!"

Y/N: "You're supposed to be filming!"

She fires back in that voice that's just so sexy in the early morning.

"I was about to step out of my trailer when my girlfriend decided to send me the most simp-filled text ever."

I can practically hear her eyes rolling.

"Why aren't you asleep right now."

Y: "I set an alarm to text you. Since I know it's your last week of filming, I just wanted to try and make it extra special for you."

My heart.

I move around the trailer like a teenager on the phone with their first crush.

Y: "I mean, if you don't like it-"

"Stop! You know I love it!" There's a pause. "Are you going to do this for every film I do?" Y/N's laugh fills my ears.

Y: "Hell yeah. I'd give you the world if I could."

"You already did that."

I hear Y/N yawn before asking, "what do you mean?"

"Because you're my world!"

Y/N POV

This fucking cheese ball, I swear. I roll my eyes again.

"I think I hear Mr. Raimi calling you to set Olsen. I wouldn't want to get in trouble or anything."

Liz lets out a small laugh.

Liz: "Oh, weird, I don't hear him?"

Y: "Hmm, that's so weird. What's happening? Hearing loss at your age already, Liz?"

I know her jaw dropped.

L: "Okay, wow fuck you, Y/L/N."

"You wish, Liz!"

L: "You know wh- one sec."

I hear Liz pulls her phone away from her ear as a series of knocks are happening nearby her. They must need her on set.

I don't know who she's talking to, but she assures them she'll be right out.

L: "Hey babe, I gotta go."

"I figured. Have a great day today! Can I call you on my break? Oh, and I can't wait to see you at the end of this week!"

L: "Of course, and I can't either!" I can practically picture her biting her thumbnail as she says this: "I love you, Y/N."

"I love you too, Lizard! Now go be a movie star!"

Liz giggles as she ends the call. Leaving me awake, alone, and horny?

No? Yes? I don't know.

I flip over onto my stomach and groan into my pillow. I really don't want to be up already. After a minute of feeling my body wake up, I decide to fuck it.

I throw my comforter off my body and go into my bathroom. I flick on the light and look at myself in the mirror. I think about when I did this not so long ago. I stared at myself before my date with Liz. It was the first time I looked at my own face with love instead of disgust. I do the same thing now. I smile at the person looking back at me.

I reach down and pull my toothbrush from its holder. Put a small glob of toothpaste, rinse and get to the brushing. Morning breath is one of my least favorite things. Or at least it quickly has been. Okay, I don't want breath to ever smell in the presence of Liz, okay? I'd die.

After my morning routine, I slip off my underwear and oversized t-shirt in favor of a classic workout outfit. Nothing crazy this morning, just a morning jog. It's now approaching 5:30, so it should still be quiet outside.

I reach my front door and drop down to tie on my old sneakers. They're a pair that I've had for years. I don't even remember how I got them or who gave them to me, but they probably know more about me than I do about myself.

Okay, now I sound crazy—time to run. I put my AirPods in, queue up whatever playlist Spotify curated for me and leave my place.

Liz POV

I did it! "That's a wrap on Elizabeth Olsen!" Sam Raimi yells into a bullhorn earning applause from the cast and crew that surround us.

I clap along, stopping whenever I feel a tear start to escape my eyes. Cumberbatch wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me into a side hug before whispering into the top of my head, earning a smile and a laugh from me.

Sam walks up to me, and I instantly find myself wrapped up into a hug. I almost feel my eyes betray me, but I stop the dam from breaking. Sam leans into me and asks, "do you want to say a few words?"

This is something I haven't really ever done. Usually, I'm in such a considerable ensemble of a movie that who cares what the 9th billed person has to say, but this is my movie. So why not?

I nod at Sam and grab the bullhorn.

"First off, I'd just like to say thank you to everyone here. All of you truly have made this experience so beautiful and lovely." I bite my lower lip before continuing.

"When we were about to go back to finishing WandaVision, I was pitched the actual story of the Doctor Strange sequel, and I was shocked!" I throw my arms out in a charismatic manner. "No one told me that their plan for me was to be the villain!" This earns a few laughs from the crew and myself. "You know? But it's like yeah! Why does Wanda have to settle for being good when all that she wants is something that seems so small and simple, which is for her to be with her kids."

I look over at Sam, smiling. He's a real Wanda stan this man. He and I had so much fun bouncing ideas off one another and relishing in the character of Wanda.

"But you know I love Wanda Maximoff, and I feel honored to have played her for the last 7 to 8 years and to collaborate with such kind and caring people. I truly do." I feel a tear slip out and run down my cheek. "And if this is the end for her, then I'm glad that... that I gave it my all." I want to say more, but I can feel my throat choking back tears. Plus, when I look up, it's all of these people watching me. "So thank you. Thank you all!" I frown to hold back my emotions as Sam wraps me into another hug. He gently takes the bullhorn from me and announces, "give it up for our witch, everybody!" Earning another wave of claps.

Y/N POV

It's now just past 9am for me as I enter our coffee shop. Busy. It's finally starting to heat up around here, which means it's time for all the cool kids and soccer moms to start ordering frozen drinks. My least favorite. It's not hard to make. It's just annoying.

I smile once I see the two people I'm going to work with. Sam and Alec. Sam greets me as I put my stuff into the back. "I promise you it was not this busy until like 20 minutes ago." I shrug. "Happens." Sam noticed. "You good?" We make our way back to the front employee area so I can clock in. "Yeah, just tired. I woke up super early and decided to get a run in." "Ew." "Trust me, I know." I scoot past Alec and clock in. I say hi to him, but he awkwardly avoids me. Okay weird.

"Excuse me?" A customer knocks me from my own brain. Male. He has to be in his late thirties with tattoos down his arms. "Hello, sir. What can we get started for you?" The man looks at the boards stationed above and behind me. "What kind of frozen drinks do you have?" Yep, it's going to be a long day. I must've made a face because I can hear Sam laugh in my direction.

Liz POV

I sigh after getting my suitcase settled into my hotel room for the night. After leaving the sound stages today, I made my way to Richmond to do one last look-over of the house. Go figure; nothing was left for me to take or do. So mark another one for overthinking and having anxiety. But eh, oh well.

It's now just after 6pm for me. If she hasn't had her break, my Coffee Girl will have one soon - speak of the Devil! As if it's her superpower, she is now FaceTiming me.

I throw my back onto the bed and answer my phone.

She's walking to the back room of the shop. She sits in the same place every time we talk on her break. I think it's adorable. I think she's really cute. And by cute, I mean hot.

Okay, dial it back, Lizzie.

She has the camera below her right now, so I'm looking up to her neck. It looks like she has a coffee ground stained onto her neck. How she did that, I have no idea. I smile as I look at it. Imagine how long it's been there. My eyes move down her throat, and I stop at every tiny freckle and mole I see.

"Whatcha doing, love?" Oh shit, just because I can't see her doesn't mean she can't see me.

"Looking at my love!" "Oh yeah?" She moves the camera up, so I can see her beautiful face as she sits down. My girlfriend smiles back at me before her face becomes horrified. "Oh my God!" The alarms in my brain start going off. "What? What's wrong!" She begins wiping at her neck. "Why did you not tell me that was there!" Oh my gosh. Really Y/N? "I just saw that! Besides, I thought it was cute." I flare my eyebrows up, causing her to do it back.

"So, how was today?" She starts. The gears start moving. I really want to tell Y/N all about the end of the shoot, but that'll ruin my surprise. Okay, quick, Liz think.

"It was good! Really good! But I'm not giving you anything, and you know this!" She rolls her eyes. "I know. I just can't wait."

"Isn't Avengers tonight?" I ask, slightly changing the topic. "Tomorrow night. Max is busy tonight. I think it's with Flirty, but I'm not sure. She's been being a little cagey lately." Y/N shrugs and looks up to something. Maybe one of her co-workers. "What will you do tonight?" I ask with a slight frown. "Probably watch one of your movies." She states matter of factly and looks down, grinning before taking a sip of her tea. Wait tea? She never drinks tea.

"Tea?!" She looks at me wide-eyed and embarrassed. "Yeah..." "Since when are you a tea drinker?" "Since I watched a YouTube video about how Elizabeth Olsen loves tea and how she has a whole cabinet dedicated to tea packets." I blush. I love and hate that she watches videos of me because it's the cutest thing ever, but I'm afraid she'll find a video of me doing something dumb and judge me. I know she wouldn't, but a girl can stress, can't she?

"Liz." She pulls me out of my small spiral. "Hmm?" "You know I'm only doing it because I love you. And I want to love the things you love." I smile. "I know." I scrunch my nose up at her. Now she blushes and shakes her head. "What you thinking about?" "Just how lucky I am." She makes sure her eyes are on me. "I meant my text this morning. Every word." "I know, baby."

Now I'm the one watching her, getting lost in thought. We sit admiring each other. Eyes filled with admiration. "My turn, Lizard. Whatcha thinking about?" I use to hate the nickname Lizard, but when she says it, it makes me feel safe. "Tomorrow." "Tomorrow? What's tomorrow?" My body tenses up. Oh shit. I didn't mean to say that! What's tomorrow? Uhhh...

Before I can even come up with a horrible lie, Y/N unknowingly saves me. "Let me guess, secret marvel stuff?" I nod. "You got it, Y/L/N." "Ugh, boorrinnggg." She dramatically sings out. "You'll just have it wait and see." "Yeah yeah." She smiles at me before looking up at her phone. I know she's checking the time. Before she frowns, I do. I know what this means.

"Liz, come on." What?" "I see you pouting." Well, duh, I want you off the clock, Y/N. "Can't you just quit?" Y/N raises an eyebrow to me. "After the phone call, I just had with my mom?"

I'm not asking her to quit, but yes leaving her job would almost certainly make her mom explode. Yeah, Y/N told me everything that happened. That was a rough night for her.

"You're right." "Always am." I scoff. "Not true. You know it goes me, Max, and then you." She puts a hand over her heart and gasps. "Betrayed."

"Y/N, you almost don- oh, sorry." Y/N looks up to the person talking to her. Sounds like Sam? I've only ever overheard Sam, never met her. Y/N said she knows about us and has kept her lifelong mission to protect our secret. She must've noticed Y/N was on the phone still. "Just one second."

Y/N looks back down at me. "I know. I know." I exhale out, not wanting her to go. "Don't worry, love. I'll text you when I get home, okay?" "Okay" "Just a couple more days, and then I finally have you in my arms again," I smirk. "You have no idea."

"Later, Liz!"

"See you soon, Y/N!"

She blows me a kiss before hanging up. I hold my hand with the caught kiss still in it.

"I love you, Coffee Girl."

Y/N POV

"Was that who I think it was?" Sam asks me as I come back to the bare-bones shop. I look at her. "Always is." "Wow." I can see her getting lost in thought, and she looks at me before she's completely gone. "Sorry." "With you? I'm used to it."

We both start to clean behind the bar while Alec takes care of the dining area. "When do you think you'll go public?" Sam asks, just quiet enough for only us to hear it. "Not for a while," I answer in the same manner. "Why are tabloids looking for a scoop?" I raise my eyebrow at her just to watch the panic in her eyes.

"Oh my god Y/N! No, I was just genuinely asking! I'm sorry for making you thin-" "Sam. Sam! I'm just kidding. I'm sorry." I start laughing. I know I shouldn't, but she makes it fun and easy. Sam catches her breath. "I should leak it after that." She grumbles. I walk over to her and pull her into a side hug. "I'm sorry, blueberry." "I still hate that name." "No, you don't," I say, letting go of her. I don't think she meant for me to hear it, but she mumbles, "No, I don't."

I text Liz letting her know that I should be home within the hour. I'm literally right outside my building, but I'm giving myself enough time to take a shower and get dressed comfy cozy before I round up whatever I can for dinner. Liz promised me to take me grocery shopping and to cook for me, so I'm honestly holding out for that.

I enter my apartment and smile at the state of it. Over the course of the weeks, I've gotten in a couple of movie posters and art from Etsy of things that I forgot I loved. Plus, I got some journals to start writing in again. It's looking more like home. All that's missing is some finishing touches.

I skip through my place and peel off todays clothes, tossing them into my dirty hamper. I grab a set of sweats to wear after my shower and charge into the bathroom. As I let the hot water get the bathroom just right, I play on my phone, watching TikTok. After two minutes, I close the app out and load some music to blast while I get myself clean.

As soon as I wrap my large green towel around me, I check my phone after I heard it go off in the shower. I smile at the sight of Liz but frown as I read her text.

"Yay! Glad, you made it home, love. So I'm not going to beat around the bush, Y/N. I just got informed that I have to go extra early tomorrow. Since it's the last week, I want to do it and get this done, so is it okay if we don't call tonight? I'm probably going to be going to bed soon, but I won't sleep until I get a text from you. I'm sorry, my love. 💛"

It's just a couple of more days, Y/N. You got this. Be a supportive girlfriend.

I text Liz back, saying that it's okay and that I love her so much and for her to please call me in the morning so I can hear her angelic voice.

I huff at how skim my fridge is looking. I decide to snack on a bowl of grapes before finding myself in front of my tv. I open my notes app and look at a list I made recently. Called: 🎥 My little star 💫

It's a list of all of Liz's movies, excluding the MCU. Not knowing what to watch, I text Max knowing she'll know what's good to watch.

Mad ❤️‍🔥 Max Today 4:31 PM

Godzilla or Silent House?

I close out our texts and open an app called JustWatch. It's an app where you can search for any movie you want and see what platform it's on. It's great for someone like me who is catching up on a lot of movies. It looks like Godzilla is on Netflix, while the other movie I'd have to rent. This makes my choice a little easier.

I text Max back, letting her know I decided, and she sends me a thumbs up. Yeah, she's busy. She only uses emojis when her hands are occupied.

I open Netflix on my tv, and after a quick search, I see him, that giant Lizard. Hey Lizard! My lizard's in a lizard movie! I chuckle to myself and go to play the movie before my phone buzzes.

I look down expecting Liz again, but to my shock, it's Mary-Kate. The breath that I took sent a green grape flying to the back of my throat, causing me to stand up, gasping for air as I managed to swallow the whole ass grape. "Jesus fucking Christ!" I yell out, gripping my neck.

After collecting myself, I bring myself back to my phone to open and look at the text that nearly killed me.

"Hey. Can we talk?"

Vague. Of course.

I let the message sit there as I think about the last couple of weeks.

I text her.

"Yes. Of course. My place?"

She agrees and tells me she'll be around in the next half hour. Someone's eager! Okay, sorry, not the time.

I should text Liz, but she has an early start tomorrow, and I don't want to stress her out. Plus. I want to hear what MK has to say before I do anything. I put my phone down and continue the movie. I need a distraction.

Okay, what the fuck? Where's my girl? I saw her once so far, and that's it?

A knock comes to my door just in time. I let out a frustrated sigh and pause the movie. I hop up, suspecting who it is, and open the door. Yep, it's MK.

"Hey," I told myself, I'd treat her like a friend and like nothing happened. I usher for her to come in, and she follows me. I close the door behind us. I catch her eyes and take a look at my tv.

I see a smile creep onto her face. "What's that look for?" I ask in a teasing tone. "Just... you're a simp now." She points to the tv, causing us to both laugh, breaking the tension around us. "Yeah, I am." I agree.

"Do you need a drink or anything? Water? Tea?" "Tea? You don't drink tea." "It's new." I simply state as I walk into the kitchen to fill up a cup of water. "Maybe next time." Oh, so there is going to be a next time!? So friends, maybe?

I come back and place the water in front of her. She reaches over and takes a sip as I sit on the other end of the couch. I can see how nervous she is just in her hands. She keeps fidgeting and wiping them off. I don't know if I should do this, but...

I scoot myself closer to her and take her hands into my own. "It's okay." MK shakes her head at me. "No, it's not. I almost ruined everything." "MK, no, you didn't." "Y/N, I went behind your back and-" "And you did something great for Liz and me. I shouldn't have gotten mad at you. I just hate the thought of anyone I know ever contacting her. I just didn't want anything to happen to you." MK goes quiet as I continue running my thumbs over her knuckles.

"Thank you," I whisper out to her. "I missed you," I add on. I watch MK's eyes look up before she darts them away, looking around the room. She's trying. "You added some things." I look around with her. "Yeah. It was missing some things."

I feel her eyes back on me, so I turn my head to face her. "I missed you too." I smile to her, and she returns one back. "Can I hug you?" She asks me. "Come here." I open my arms up to her, and she rushes in. She squeezes me tight, and I know it's all her worries, and apologizes leaving her body. "Thank you." She says into my neck.

"You're always welcome."

We pull apart from one another and just sit hand in hand. "Do you have plans tonight?" I ask, not knowing what to do now. "I thought this conversation was going to go on a lot longer, so no, I don't." She laughs. "Take out?" I suggest.

MK bites her lip and nods. "I'd like that." I go to get up, but she stops me. "Friends?" She asks. I give her a look because I thought the answer was obvious. "Friends." I give her a quick hug. "How about you pick the food tonight since we're at my place," I suggest. "Whatever I want?" "As long as it's not poisoned." "Damn it," She giggles as I get up and make myself tea.

As I finish up my tea, a series of knocks interrupts the calm silence MK, and I had going.

"Am I crazy, or is that the food?" "Not me." MK looks at me with a worried look. That's a little concerning.

I walk up to the door. "Hello?"

I get a muffled "hello, Y/N!" back.

Fuck I know that voice.

MK must have noticed my dejected face and body language. "Who's that?" "You'll see." I watch her give me a confused look before holding my hand up, telling her it'll be okay. I hope.

I open the door, and in the most monotone voice I can manage, I speak up. "Hello, mother."

Part 17

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