#which is dramatic because I will be fine and things will keep going | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

layaispunk · 10 days ago

Note

i don’t know if you can write something without smut but i want reader’s parents(or dad idc) organizing this barbecue party in their house and joel trying to hard to play it cool and to stay away from reader who wears skimpy jean shorts and top only to tease him, and they end up sneaking in the kitchen to make out and almost get caught by reader’s dad or smth, you can change it however you see right, i just want to feel a lot tension and risk, thnks<33

you better behave, darling

part two here

pairing: joel miller x female!reader

warnings: sexual tension, mentions of alcohol and cigarettes, age gap unspecified, dilf!joel

masterlist

you didn’t know exactly when your crush on joel miller had gone from “dad’s hot friend” to “i think about you when i’m bored, lonely, or drunk”

maybe it was last winter, when he came over to help your dad fix the leaking pipes and left the garage smelling like his cologne. or maybe it was that time he picked you up from a party because your parents were out of town.

it didn’t matter anymore.

because now it was summer, you just graduated, joel was very much still single, and the tension in your chest every time he was near had officially passed the point of manageable.

it didn’t help that he was practically family. joel had been friends with your parents for over a decade. came to holidays, fixed things when they broke, gave your dad advice about tires and taxes, even helped put up the christmas lights last year. he was dependable, and masculine, and protective, and you …. you had a massive crush on him. and he’d never looked at you like that. which was…. fine. safe. understandable. and completely infuriating.

you were stirring a spoon around in your coffee, half-listening to your parents chat at the table behind you.

“the weather’s holding up,” your dad said between bites of toast. “could be a good weekend for that barbecue.”

your mom nodded. “we haven’t done one in a while. invite the usual crew? tommy, joel…”

at that, your stomach flipped. you didn’t flinch, or turn around, you just kept stirring your coffee a little longer than necessary, like the silence might cool it down faster.

joel.

you hadn’t seen him in a couple weeks — not since he stopped by to drop off a toolbox your dad had left in his truck. he stayed for a beer, made polite conversation, asked how you’d been. you said fine. normal.

you tried not to think about him too much. emphasis on tried.

“i’ll call joel later, tell him to bring that smoked sausage he always does,” your dad said. “man knows his way around a grill.”

you turned your back so they couldn’t see the smile on your face.

ten minutes later, you were upstairs in your room. you shut the bedroom door with your hip and let out a slow breath you didn’t realize you were holding.

you opened your closet and started throwing every single summer dress you owned onto your bed.

you stared at a faded red sundress with thin straps and a hem that rested above your thighs.

maybe you were overthinking it. maybe it was all in your head. joel probably still saw you as just a family friend, someone he watched grow up. there were a thousand reasons not to try anything . the age gap, the connection to your parents, the risk of looking foolish.

but even with all of that, you couldn’t shake the feeling.

it was stupid. delusional, even. but there was something about this summer. post-grad, the loneliness, the ache to feel something different … that made you want to stop tiptoeing around what you wanted.

what was the worst that could happen?

he says no? he laughs it off? you survive. you move on. life keeps going.

but what if he didn’t?

you flopped back on the bed dramatically, letting the red dress fan out beside you. your heart fluttering. you were tired of wondering. of watching him from across the street like he was just some living daydream. you were going to do something about it.

that night, you couldn’t sleep.

you tried, tossing your arm over your eyes, shifting under the thin sheet, but your body was still humming with something you couldn’t quiet understand.

maybe you could watch a rom-com, fall asleep to it. you got out of bed and padded downstairs barefoot, planning to dig through the kitchen for a snack while watching the movie.

halfway down the stairs, you heard it. his voice.

oh god.

you froze on the last step, blinking like you’d imagined it.

“-nah, she’s got good taste, i’ll give her that,” joel was saying, voice smooth and warm from laughter.

you stepped into the living room, eyes flicking toward the kitchen where he stood with your dad, each with a bottle of beer in hand. joel turned when he saw you, his smile lazy, casual.

“evenin’,” he said.

“hey,” you replied, swallowing the sudden flutter in your throat.

“joel brought over that old drill i needed,” your dad said, wiping his hands on a rag. “we got to talkin’, hope we didn’t wake you.”

“no, i was just… getting a snack,” you said, causally.

your dad looked at his watch and sighed. “gotta take a shower before bed. long day tomorrow. mind lettin’ him out when you’re done? make sure the old man makes it to his porch without fallin’ on his ass.”

you snorted. “sure.”

your dad clapped joel on the shoulder and disappeared upstairs.

and just like that, it was just you and joel.

the kitchen felt smaller. he leaned against the counter, nursing the rest of his beer, his eyes meeting yours with a little lift of his chin.

“remind me, when’s your graduation ceremony?” he asked after a beat.

you opened the fridge and pretended to look for something, keeping your voice even. “10th october. why?”

he took another sip before answering. “so i can get sarah to book a flight. she’s been wantin’ an excuse to come home for a bit.”

your head turned slightly, surprise flashing across your face. “that’s sweet.”

he shrugged, eyes warm. “plus i need time to rent a real nice suit. y’know, show up proper. make you proud.”

you turned your head to look at him fully now, your hand still on the fridge door.

“seriously?” you laughed.

he nodded, “wouldn’t miss it.”

your lips twitched into a soft smile. you were really looking at him now, the way the light hit the grays in his hair. at the soft creases around his mouth. at the strong, careful way he watched you.

joel tilted his head, voice quiet. “why’re you lookin’ at me like that?”

you shrugged, mouth twitching. “no reason.” a pause. then, just barely above a whisper: “you smell good.”

something shifted in his face. his fingers tensed slightly around the neck of the bottle.

a beat passed. then he spoke again, casual but with something simmering underneath.

“you still seein’ that brandon boy?”

you blinked. “brandon?” you laughed softly. “god, no. he was… stupid. and immature.”

joel made a small noise of approval, almost a chuckle.

“i prefer older guys anyway,” you added, letting the words linger in the air.

his eyebrows lifted, but he didn’t say anything right away. just met your eyes with something unreadable and intense.

you cleared your throat, breaking the silence before it could swallow you whole. “you coming to the barbecue tomorrow night?”

“yeah, course,” he said slowly, like he’d just pieced something together. “you?”

“mhm.” you nodded. “i’ll just have to look extra pretty, for you, then.”

joel’s brow twitched, and you swore you saw the corner of his mouth lift. “that right?”

you shrugged, playing it cool. “well, if you’re gonna go through all the trouble of renting a suit, i figure i should match the effort.”

“that dress you wore to mrs. adler’s party would probably do it,” he said, voice quiet.

you blinked. “you remember what i wore?”

a blush crept up on his neck. “i mean … i dont know. i guess.”

you smiled, “hm.”

he ran a hand over the back of his neck, “kinda hard to forget. you looked real pretty.”

you grabbed some snacks from the cabinet, trying to fight your grin. “you think you can keep your cool tomorrow?”

joel exhaled through his nose, “you really tryin’ to start somethin’ right now?”

“maybe” you just tilted your head, all innoncent.

joel leaned just a little closer, voice low and thick. “you better behave tomorrow, darlin’.”

the evening heat was relentless, sun hanging low over the backyard, making the sky look pink and orange, shimmering with heat. you could feel it sticking to your skin beneath the thin fabric of your dress. restless, you kept stealing glances toward joel. he was the center of attention as usual, leaning against the grill, a beer in one hand, chatting with his blonde neighbors who definitely knew how to flirt. it was clear why: joel was the hottest guy in austin. no competition.

you twisted the hem of your dress nervously and slipped inside the kitchen, your steps light on the floor. your eyes landed on the bottle of tequila you’d been using to mix drinks for the guests. without thinking, you grabbed it and took a quick, rebellious gulp.

“hey, what the hell are you doing, kiddo?” your dad’s voice cut through the quiet.

caught off guard, you froze, then blurted out, “it’s summer, dad. leave me alone.”

he just shook his head with a smirk, joking about losing a brain cell, and walked away, leaving you to slip back out into the backyard.

as you rounded the corner, you bumped into joel. his beer nearly slipped from his hand, but he caught it without missing a beat.

“hey,” he said, raising an eyebrow as he looked you up and down.

you looked around, making sure nobody could hear you, “you didn’t say a word about the dress, joel. i thought it was for you.”

he chuckled softly, shaking his head. “you’re bein’ stupid. you know your old man would kill me. chop my head off and put it on a plate, probably.”

joel’s eyes softened, and his voice lowered just for you. “you’re real pretty tonight, darlin’, but we can’t.”

you bit your lip, stepping a little closer. “so what if we can’t? makes it more fun.”

he gave you a half-smile, and headed toward the fence, pulling out a cigarette. lighting it, he took a slow drag and exhaled the smoke into the summer air.

you followed him, leaning against the fence beside him. “mind if i have a puff?” you asked casually.

joel didn’t even hesitate, handing you the cigarette with a small grin. after you took a slow drag, you looked down at your dress and then back at him. “hey, can you help me with this?” you said, pointing to the strap sliding off your shoulder.

he glanced at you, smirking. “i know what you’re doing, dirty girl.”

you looked up at him, innocently. “just want you to help me with my dress, joel.” you stepped closer, right in front of him, your breath catching when his hands reached for the straps of your dress. his fingers brushed your shoulders, sending a jolt straight through you.

for a moment, the world shrank down to the two of you. the distant laughter, the grill, the heat of the summer evening, all fading into nothing. you could feel the heat pooling low, your panties already soaked from the tequila and nerves, and the touch of joel’s hands.

he tightened the strap with slow care, his fingers lingering just a second too long. you swallowed hard, the backyard spinning just a little.

then, you did something stupid. you glanced over your shoulder, making sure no one was close enough to see what you were about to do. with a quick, reckless motion, you slid your light pink thongs down your thighs and, without a word, handed them to joel.

his eyes widened just the slightest when he caught the delicate fabric.

you turned on your heel and walked away, heart hammering, cheeks burning.

you didn’t see him again for about an hour. he was avoiding you.

the backyard was buzzing with bodies, laughter, and music. you found yourself stuck in the kitchen, nodding politely while your mom’s friend kelly launched into a drawn-out conversation about your post-grad plans. you tried to focus, offering half-hearted mhms and smiles, but your brain was still caught on what you’d done. the tequila was wearing off just enough for embarrassment to creep in.

god. you’d really handed joel miller your panties like it was nothing. you shifted your weight, pretending to sip your beer, trying to inch toward the doorway when you caught something out of the corner of your eye.

joel. standing by the hallway.

he wasn’t looking at you directly, but his body was turned just enough that you knew he was waiting. his eyes flicked to the bathroom door beside him, then back to you. a silent message.

you didn’t hesitate.

“sorry-beer’s hitting me,” you said quickly to kelly, leaving the beer on the counter and flashing a small apologetic smile as you backed away. “need to pee before i explode.”

she laughed and waved you off.

you slipped down the hall, heart pounding so loud it felt like your whole body moved with each beat. joel stood there, still as anything, but the look in his eyes was different now.

when you reached the door, he grabbed your wrist, pulled you inside the bathroom, and shut the door behind you with a click, and locked it.

you were pressed against the door, chests touching, the very little space between you hot and electric. neither of you moved for a second. just breathing. you could hear the party still humming faintly outside the door, but it felt miles away.

joel leaned in, his mouth close to your ear, voice low and ragged. “you’re outta your goddamn mind.”

you shivered.

“the hell has gotten into you tonight, huh?”

your courage from earlier fizzled out, the reality of it all creeping in now that he was here, so close, and looking at you like that.

“i’m sorry,” you said, breath hitching. “i didn’t mean to pressure you. i just…”

his mouth was on yours before you could finish.

it was rough and desperate, his hand cradling the back of your head as his lips crushed into yours. you gasped, and he took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, tongues sliding, hands wandering. you felt him everywhere. his body, solid and warm, pressing you harder against the door. his grip firm and grounding.

you whimpered against his mouth, fingers tangling in his shirt, pulling him closer like you couldn’t get enough. he tasted like beer and smoke, and it made your knees weak.

joel finally pulled back just enough to breathe, his forehead resting against yours. “jesus,” he muttered. “you don’t know what you’re doin’ to me.” his lips found yours again, hungry and desperate. he kissed you like he needed to memorize the way you tasted.

you moaned into his mouth, your body practically vibrating with need. his hands moved slowly, trailing down your sides, fingers grazing your hips. you could feel the hesitation there, the weight of everything unsaid between you, but it didn’t stop him.

his touch slipped beneath the hem of your dress, calloused palms dragging up the bare skin of your thighs. your breath hitched, and you couldn’t help it, you let out a soft moan.

“joel …”

he groaned low in his throat. “fuck.”

then.. two knocks.

you both froze.

your heart jumped into your throat. joel’s hand clapped gently but firmly over your mouth before you could react. his palm covered half your face—god, his hands were huge.

yep. dad was right. you officially lost a brain cell.

“hey, someone in there?” your dad’s voice rang out from behind the door.

joel’s eyes widened like a deer caught in headlights. he took a deep breath and answered with forced nonchalance.

“yeah, buddy. gimme a second. beer’s hittin’ me hard. think i just lost my goddamn bowels.”

PART 2 !

thankyou for reading ⋆𐙚₊˚⊹

p.s the whole underwear situation was inspired by the fic we all read and love, fourth of july by jrrmint

#joel miller #joel miller smut #joel miller angst #joel miller x reader #pedro pascal #joel miller fanfic #dbf!joel #pedro pascal x reader #joel miller fluff #joel fic #joel fanfic #joel miller tlou #joel tlou #joel x female reader #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller one shot #joel miller x female reader #dads best friend #layaasks

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yuzujjn · 7 months ago

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` ꣑꣒‎ ONE WIN, ONE DATE : 심재윤 ─── 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇 𝗃𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗌 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺 𝖽𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝗂𝖿 𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗇𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗀𝖺𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗈𝗇𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍

ʬʬ. football player!jake x cheerleader!reader 𖥔 ݁ ARCHiVE 7OO wordcount fluff . . . skinship, kisses ꒰˵ˊᯅˋ˵꒱ happy bday to jakey, && for my juni bby

YOU'RE STANDING ON THE SIDELINES, pom-poms in hand, watching jake tear through the field like he owns it. he’s got this intensity in his eyes, the kind that makes your pulse pick up because you know he’s giving it his all—just to win this game. all for one reason: he bet you that if he wins, he gets to ask you out.

it’s been a fun, flirty thing between you two for weeks now, but this? this is new. he made sure the whole team knew about his little bet, which has them teasing him endlessly about finally "making a move on his dream girl." you catch a few of his teammates smirking and nudging him before the game starts, and jake just rolls his eyes with a lopsided grin, eyes glancing at you every now and then. you swear you can feel his gaze even from across the field.

the game is close, way too close for your liking. you’re on edge, practically jumping each time he gets the ball, and maybe you’re clapping a little louder than anyone else (not that you liked him, or maybe you did). in the final minutes, it’s tied, and jake’s team has the ball. you watch as he gets the ball, weaving through the opposing team with an ease.

the crowd holds its breath, and so do you.

with a swift, clean kick, jake scores, sealing the win. the stadium erupts, but jake’s eyes find you instantly, a smug, triumphant smile on his face as he’s mobbed by his teammates. when they finally let him go, he sprints over to you, his eyes lighting up with joy.

“so…” he starts, leaning over, hands on his knees, slightly out of breath but still managing to look cocky. “still gonna pretend you’re not into me?”

you roll your eyes, though your cheeks are definitely giving you away. “who said i was ever into you?”

“i could tell.” jake flashes that heart-melting smile, moving closer. you’re aware of the other cheerleaders watching, and you’re definitely aware of his hand grazing your waist, lingering just long enough to make your heart race.

“oh, yeah? you’re that confident?” you ask, trying to sound unaffected, but your voice betrays you.

“confident enough to win a game for you,” he says with a smirk. “and i did say i’d ask you out if i won.”

“so ask away, sim,” you challenge, folding your arms.

he lets out a chuckle, his fingers brushing yours as if testing the waters. “okay, let me ask properly, then.” jake clears his throat dramatically, taking your hand in his. “y/n, would you do me the honor of going out with me?”

you’re pretty sure the butterflies in your stomach are doing somersaults, but you manage to keep your cool—sort of. “hmm… maybe. depends. what kind of date are we talking about?”

jake grins, squeezing your hand gently. “whatever you want. something fun. something that’ll make you smile like that.” he nods at you, obviously noticing the way your lips are curving, despite your attempt to stay composed.

��fine,” you say, relenting with a playful eye roll. “but only because you tried so hard.”

he leans in, closer than before, his voice just above a whisper. “only the best for you.”

your heart skips, and you glance down, trying to hide the way his words affect you. but jake isn’t done; he tilts your chin up, meeting your gaze. "guess you’re stuck with me now.”

“guess so,” you whisper, feeling heat rise to your cheeks as you realize he’s not moving back. his hand is still at your waist, his thumb gently tracing circles on your hip. the stadium is still loud around you, but it feels like it’s just the two of you here, his face inches from yours.

“think i can get a ‘good game’ kiss?” he asks with a wink, his voice teasing but hopeful. you roll your eyes, but you can’t hide the way you’re smiling now.

“don’t push your luck, sim.” but before he can respond, you lean up, giving him the quickest, softest peck on the lips. it’s barely there, but it’s enough to make his eyes widen in surprise and a smile spread across his face.

“you’re making me want to win every game now,” he says, looking down at you like you’re the only person in the world.

“i guess you’ll just have to keep scoring, then,” you reply with a grin, stepping back slightly, though your hand stays in his, fingers tangled together.

“oh, trust me, y/n,” he murmurs, tightening his hold on you, “i’ll be scoring a lot.”

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blueberrybirdsworld · 20 days ago

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Out of frame 2/4

Summary : Y/N and Lando Norris have been together for three years. Their relationship is real, steady, and full of quiet love but always behind the scenes. While fans know they’re a couple, Lando has never posted about her, avoids public displays of affection, and never mentions her in interviews. At first, Y/N understood. She believed it was about privacy, about protecting what they had. But over time, being constantly left out of frame has started to hurt.

Genre : angst, SMAU

Pairing : Lando Norris x reader

Faceclaim : @suanbeiii

Main Masterlist

Series Masterlist

@landonorris 📍Tokyo, Japan

Incredible night. Thank you to everyone who came out to support us. Big things coming 🫡

@_user1 he really posted all his friends but not his gf again... yikes

@_user2 is Y/N not in Japan with him? 😭

@_user3 nah this is getting embarrassing at this point. she literally always supports him and he can’t even tag her once??

@_user4 QUADRANT IN JAPAN LET’S GOOOO🔥

@_user5 the helmet is SICK omg 🔥

@_user6 weird how he never has a problem posting the boys 👀

@_user8 so hyped for this drop!! love seeing quadrant going global 💥

@_user10 where’s the queen?? y’all okay??

@_user11 y/n deserves a man who posts her like she posts him. period.

@your_username 📍Monaco

Girls can buy themself flowers too 💐

@_user1 wait. no japan trip for y/n this time?

@_user2 something’s off. they never miss a race weekend together 😶

@_user3 how is she real 😭😭 Lando you better be sending her flowers too!!

@_user4 the softest prettiest queen 🩷 Lando won the lottery and acts like he forgot

@_user5 Lando… be fr. how do you not post HER???

@_user6 she looks like a dream. if my gf looked like this I’d post her every 5 minutes lol

@_user7 you’re literally the prettiest person I’ve ever seen I can’t even hate you I’m obsessed 🥲

@_user8 i don’t care what’s going on but if he lets her go… we need to talk, Lando 😭

@_user9 okay but where do I sign up to be your girlfriend if Lando’s slacking??

@_user10 I hope he knows what he has. because the rest of us DO.

Texts messages

Lando You didn’t like the flowers I sent you?

Lando Seriously, Y/N? That post? What is that supposed to mean?

Y/N It means exactly what it says.

Lando So you ignore my apology and post something that makes it look like I did something wrong ?

Y/N You sent flowers. That’s not an apology, Lando. It’s a gesture. A pretty one, but not what I needed.

Lando You always want more. It’s never enough with you.

Y/N Because you don’t listen. I told you how I felt and you acted like I was being dramatic. I didn’t ask for a parade. Just for you to acknowledge me

Lando So you skip the race, don’t say a word for days, and make me look like an idiot online?

Y/N I said I had work.

Lando No. You said “don’t worry about it.” That’s code for “figure it out or I’m gone,” right?

Y/N You want to talk about code? Because not posting me, not bringing me up, not defending me when people speculate, THAT’s a message too.

Lando I thought keeping us private protected you

Y/N It doesn’t feel like protection, it makes me feel like a secret

Lando This again…

Y/N Yes. Again. Because you keep brushing it off like I’m asking you to tattoo my name on your forehead

Lando You want public affection. Fine. But maybe you could’ve talked to me instead of putting it on Instagram?

Y/N I tried to talk. You shut down. You always do.

Lando Because every time I mess up, you make me feel like I’m never enough

Y/N And every time I open up, you make me feel like I'm too much

Lando Right. Okay. Here we go.

Y/N Yeah. Here we go. Again. You don’t want to make the effort? That’s fine. Your loss.

Lando You know that’s not fair

Y/N Neither is loving someone who makes you feel invisible

Lando I have a race to focus on.

Y/N Enjoy it, Lando.

Lando Sure.

@F1LiveMoments 🎥Live interview moment of Lando at the Japan GP

Interviewer: “We didn’t see your girlfriend this weekend, is she not in Japan with you?” Lando Norris: laughs “Which girlfriend?”

@_user1 nah “which girlfriend” is CRAZY??? like are you trying to be single or stupid 😭

@_user2 he really said that on live TV… with a mic… and a camera… okay.

@_user3 and this is the man she’s been flying around the world to support in silence 💀

@_user4 he better deactivate, apologize and send 400 roses

@_user6 this girl has been nothing but quiet and supportive and he humiliates her like that? I’d be GONE.

@_user7 you can’t be “private” and also crack jokes like that… pick a struggle ��

@_user8 and then men will say “why is she upset with me” like sir… you said WHICH GIRLFRIEND

@_user9 his media training just packed its bags and left the building

@_user10 @your_username deserves BETTER. we’re all saying it.

@_user12 this man’s idea of romance is “which girlfriend” I can’t breathe 😭😭😭

@your_username 📍Monaco

Sunday ritual 🧡

@_user1 she still supports him after that interview?? I’d be EMBARRASSED

@_user2 baby you didn’t see the clip, right?? pls say you didn’t

@_user3 I have to respect the loyalty but girl… the way he said “which girlfriend” like it was nothing 🤡

@_user4 wait… WHY is she still watching him like this?? I’m actually speechless

@_user5 this is such a sweet post but… after that live interview 😬

@_user6 girl did you see the interview from yesterday 💀

@your_username which interview?

@_user9 oh no oh no oh no 😭😭😭 she doesn’t KNOW

@_user10 this one comment just ended their relationship for real

@_user12 NAH IM SCARED. SOMEONE TAKE HER PHONE AWAY

@_user13 Lando better call her RIGHT NOW because this is about to go so bad

Texts messages :

Y/N “Which girlfriend?” Are you fucking serious right now?

Y/N Was that funny to you? Was humiliating me on live TV was what you needed?

Y/N You really went out there and said that like we’re nothing. Like I never existed.

Lando Y/N... Don’t do this.

Y/N Don’t do what, Lando? Get mad that my boyfriend made a joke like he doesn’t even know me?

Lando You didn’t want to come to Japan. You literally said you needed space What was I supposed to do?

Y/N NOT JOKE THAT YOU HAVE MULTIPLE GIRLFRIENDS ON LIVE TV MAYBE? Just a thought.

Lando It was sarcasm. The interviewer caught me off guard

Y/N No, what caught you off guard was the reality of being called out for once

Lando I didn’t mean it like that

Y/N You never do. That’s the problem.

Y/N Everything’s a joke or a deflection or a fucking PR-safe answer You don't even realize how much it hurt. You made me feel invisible

Lando You ghosted me for a week. You turned down my calls, ignored my flowers, and posted some cryptic caption like I never tried

Y/N Because sending flowers isn’t trying, Lando. It’s damage control

Y/N I was begging for real effort, for presence, for proof that I matter to you

Y/N And you know what you gave me? A joke about having multiple girlfriends ??

Lando It was a stupid moment. I panicked

Y/N God, do you even hear yourself?

Y/N You panicked and defaulted to disrespect. That says more than anything

Lando Okay well maybe if you were actually there we could have talked like normal people.

Y/N Don’t flip this on me.

Y/N I didn’t come because I was hurt, Lando. I needed space to breathe, not to be mocked globally

Y/N You know how hard it’s been? I kept telling myself you just needed time, that you were scared. Or shy. Or private

Y/N But maybe you were just comfortable keeping me secret, comfortable not choosing me when it’s inconvenient

Lando That’s not true.

Y/N Then prove it

Lando I’m trying to...

Y/N Trying would’ve been not letting those words leave your mouth.

Lando I messed up, okay? I didn’t think. I was tired and pissed...

Y/N No. You chose the words.

Y/N Enjoy the rest of Japan. Don’t worry about me.

Lando Y/N…

Y/N No. Fuck you, Norris.

Taglist (closed) : @angelluv16, @httpsxnox, @anunstablefangirl, @chocolatemagazinecupcake, @mayax2o07, @freyathehuntress, @verogonewild, @lilyofthevalley-09, @esw1012, @its-me-frankie, @linneaguriii, @ezzi-ln4, @rlbmutynnek, @actuallyazriel, @sofs16, @thulior, @sltwins, @henna006, @stylesmoonlight12, @lilaissa, @sideboobrry11, @l3thal-l0lita, @lorena-mv33, @ispywlittleeye-blog, @lesliiieeeee, @sageskiesf1, @adynorris, @curlylando, @rebelliousneferut, @justcharlotte, @secret-agents-stole-my-bunnies, @emneedshelp, @lando-505, @yukimaniac, @sashisuslover, @f1norris04, @hi26loveie, @bunnisplayground, @nina481, @reallifemermaidprincess, @cars-and-frogs, @delululeclerc, @txmhxllqnd, @lydia-demarek, @destinyg237, @rhaenyrasversion, @sarascabiosa, @readz4u, @tvdtw4ever, @mynameisangeloflife, @teti-menchon0604, @suns3treading, @op814kitty, @prettyboyroseberg, @willowsnook, @ariesandwolves, @clarksgf, @knivesdoingcartwheels, @pinklemonade34, @fat-meh, @tiaajosephin, @landosbabe4, @easy4, @jule239, @mercrussell, @skylandori, @ryuucollapse, @nickie-amore, @fairyjinn, @seonaw, @mattslovelygf, @strawberrylov-er, @linnygirl09, @dilflover44, @bell1a, @f1fantasys, @sillyfreakfanparty, @janonymus0, @taetae-armyyyyy, @charlesgirl16, @angstynasty, @jules-bea2308, @afternoonarchive, @itsbieberxholland, @rexit-mo, @chlmtfilms, @vampgege, @mochimommy2002, @budgetcupid, @lemon-stvrrr, @bell1a, @taebearyoongs, @hazzasmunchkin, @sainz0fthetimes, @didaaa4, @madelyn2000, @il0vereadingstuff, @march32nd, @chlmtfilms, @literallysza, @cheapdocmartens, @wolfstarsimpxx, @pretzelcat4-blog, @larya810, @6-noir, @urfavftoomie, @ficr3ccs, @strawberrylov-er, @wosof1, @behindmygreyeyes, @justheretoreadthxxs, @pinklemonade34, @ninass-world, @landosbabe4, @leclercdream, @raynetargaryan2,

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emmiesoverthemoon · 10 days ago

Text

my guilty pleasure

pairing: seo changbin x reader wc: 1.9k summary: you know those artists that you listen to in secret? you—the ultimate cute pop princess—are changbin’s sweet secret, and he attempts to not lose his mind when he finds out you two will be performing at the same event. tags: fluff. idol!reader

“yo, the final performance lineup just dropped,” chan read the email, scrolling through his phone as the others half-listened from the couch.

changbin barely glanced up from his protein bar, pretending to be occupied, pretending not to care. it was just another event, another show, another packed green room where jisung would forget his in-ears and hyunjin would somehow bring three outfit changes.

“any surprises?” seungmin asked, already yawning.

chan blinked at the screen. “wait… wait—no way.”

changbin’s heart dropped. and then picked up speed. and then dropped again.

please not her. please not—

when chan read the full lineup, he choked.

“this is the list”

literally choked. like full-on, should-not-have-audibly-reacted kind of choke.

you were going to be performing. in all your sugary saccharine glory.

“bro?” jisung spun around. “you good?”

changbin slapped his chest twice, coughed like it was casual, like he had not just short-circuited over the mention of your name. “yeah,” he croaked. “just dry.”

lame. you are so lame.

“seriously?” felix echoed, leaning over to see. “whoa, she never does these kind of lineups.”

“right? i thought she was on a break,” chan said, tilting the screen toward them.

changbin did not look. he would not. could not. because if he saw your photo on that screen—cute, polished, probably surrounded by soft pastels and sparkles—he was going to lose it.

“she’s cool,” felix complimented.

“real earworm type,” seungmin squinted.

“no, it’s so fun! catchy stuff,” hyunjin rebuked.

changbin folded his arms tighter. “she’s fine,” he said. “not really my thing.”

they all turned to look at him.

“didn’t you hum her song last week in the car?” jisung squinted.

“i did not—”

“you did,” seungmin said. “it was the one with the glitter in the chorus.”

“it was ironic! for the bit!”

felix grinned. “sure, man.”

changbin clenched his jaw, already spiraling.

you were going to be there. you. you. the literal embodiment of soft pop princess perfection. and he was going to have to stand there like a normal person while his internal organs screamed and his brain played your entire discography on shuffle.

he could not meet you. he could not breathe near you. you probably smelled like strawberries and sparkles and he would spontaneously combust.

he needed a plan.

step one: do not freak out. step two: keep it cool. step three: delete the fan edits from his phone. immediately.

this was going to be tough.

it was fine.

he was fine.

it was just an event. you would be there. he would also be there. that was it. no reason to act like he had not memorised every syllable of your last album, or dramatically lip-synced and performed your choreography while your music videos were on the big screen when he thought no one was home.

he sat in the studio, headphones on, trying to finish a verse, but all he could hear was pink venom in my veins, got sugar on my tongue.

which was your lyric.

from an unreleased b-side.

not even a new single. he was doomed.

“you’re being weird,” minho said suddenly from the corner, not even looking up from his laptop.

changbin flinched. “what?”

“you keep sighing. like—long, emotional sighs.”

“i’m writing.”

“you’re spiraling.”

he was, but he would die before admitting it.

he buried his face in his hoodie and scrolled through his playlist. private playlist. the one named “do not open i swear to god.” the one filled with your discography, remixes, and one very sweet live recording that still made his chest ache with admiration and endearment.

he hovered over the delete button. hovered. then immediately locked his phone instead. coward.

he showed up to dance practice the next day in a black hoodie and darker sunglasses, hoping the vibe would disguise the panic in his bloodstream. jisung took one look at him and said, “you look like you’re going to cry or fight someone. what happened?”

“nothing,” changbin muttered.

“is this about the event?”

his soul left his body.

“what event,” he said. flat. monotone. suspicious.

chan raised an eyebrow from the mirror. “the one with that girl you like on the lineup?”

changbin did not answer. just stared into the distance like a man at war with himself.

the teasing was getting worse. felix had walked past him humming fairy tale fade this morning just to watch him twitch. hyunjin kept dropping “casual” mentions of your outfits. someone had set his phone background to a photo of you from your last tour.

he was not going to make it.

and worst of all, the event was tomorrow.

how could he mentally prepare for this in less than twenty four hours?

he had promised himself he would be normal.

that was the plan. normal. casual. a nod if you made eye contact. maybe a polite smile. definitely no staring. definitely no—

“hi!”

you.

you were there, in the flesh, walking into the backstage lounge like you were not the very same voice that had soundtracked his insomnia for the past year and a half.

changbin froze like his operating system had crashed. spine straight. jaw locked. soul hovering somewhere near the ceiling.

you were radiant. not even in a fancy way—just… bright. warm. clad in a soft sweater, butterfly clips in your hair, glitter on your nails and that voice, that voice, chirping out a sunny “hi!” like you had not just ruined his whole entire life by existing within a three-metre radius.

he did not speak.

you looked around the room, smiling politely at the stylists, exchanging greetings with a staff member. and then you looked at him.

eye contact?

oh god.

he nodded.

too fast. too stiff.

to be frank, he looked like he was trying to hold in a sneeze.

you smiled. waved a little. “you’re changbin, right?”

he opened his mouth.

no sound came out.

he panicked. “yeah.”

you laughed, soft and musical, and his brain nearly shorted out. “i really liked that freestyle you posted last month. the one in the stairwell?”

“...thanks.”

say more. say literally anything else. tell her she is the entire reason he believes in bridge sections. tell her he watched that one acoustic performance seventeen times and had feelings. tell her he—

“i like your sparkles,” he blurted.

you blinked. “my… sparkles?”

changbin briefly considered setting himself on fire.

“your nails. i meant. they’re… cool.”

a beat of silence.

then—your grin widened, eyes warm. “thank you. that’s really sweet.”

he felt his ears go red.

you turned to greet someone else and changbin turned slowly, silently, like a man who had just seen god and needed to go scream into a soundproof booth.

jeongin sidled up next to him. “you good?”

“no.”

“wanna sit down?”

“i cannot feel my legs.”

he was doing fine.

really.

his arms were crossed, shoulders tense, expression locked in neutral. the camera panned past him once and he didn’t flinch. what a miracle. he was the image of calm. no one would know he had sweated through two layers of clothing.

but then you came out.

spotlight. sparkles. glossed lips and a grin that lit the whole stage. your intro track rolled in—a dreamy, synthy swell—and the crowd screamed, but changbin couldn’t hear them. he could only hear you.

you were wearing that outfit, the one that had gone viral. and singing that song, the one he had once dramatically whispered into his studio mic at 3 a.m. when no one was around.

he swallowed.

he could do this. just nod along. casual. unimpressed. totally unbothered.

and then—then you looked at him.

not vaguely. directly. mid-chorus. you scanned the crowd, smiling like it was nothing, and your gaze hit his and held.

and he cracked.

just a tad.

his eyes widened. mouth parted. he shifted forward in his seat without realising. his foot tapped. his hand lifted like he might wave. he caught himself a second too late.

“...oh my god,” jisung whispered.

felix turned. jeongin blinked.

changbin snapped back in his seat, face burning. “what.”

“you just made eye contact with her,” chan muttered under his breath. “and then you smiled like a disney prince.”

“i did not.”

“bro,” hyunjin hissed, pointing. “you were glowing.”

he looked up again. you were still singing. still dazzling. still laughing between lines like you were having the time of your life.

and changbin? he was a man undone. hands clenched in his lap. heart clattering like a snare drum. every lyric felt personal. every beat synced with his pulse.

and in the back of his mind, one thought stuck deep inside like a hook caught to a fish:

he was so screwed.

after the overall performance portion had wrapped up, changbin was in hiding.

technically, he was resting behind the vending machine in the hallway next to the staff kitchen. but he was also very much hiding. curled in the shadows. hoodie up. heart still pounding from watching you sing like you had been summoning him personally.

he had survived the performance, barely. now he just had to survive the aftermath. he would wait five minutes, then sneak back to the dressing room and pretend he had been in the bathroom the whole time.

and then—

“found you.”

he jerked.

you leaned around the corner, lips glossed, cheeks still flushed from the stage. “you really are bad at hiding,” you teased.

he stood up too fast and nearly knocked over a folding chair.

“i was not— i was just— i was… stretching!”

you smiled like you could see straight through him.

“so,” you said, stepping closer. “did you like my set?”

“it was fine,” he said. voice deep, arms crossed. lying through his teeth.

you tilted your head. “only fine?”

he blinked. “i mean. yeah. like… it was energetic. or whatever.”

your grin sharpened. “hmm. must’ve been someone else who was making heart eyes at me from the third row.”

his whole face flared red.

“i was not—!”

“you were literally swaying.”

“that was muscle tension.”

“you mouthed every word.”

he covered his face with both hands. “please stop.”

you laughed, light and unbothered. “okay, okay,” you teased. “i’ll go easy on you.”

you paused.

then handed him your phone.

“here.”

he blinked down at it.

“what?”

“type your number.”

his brain stopped working. “...why?”

you shrugged. “in case i need a gym partner. or a rapper. or someone to teach me how to hide my fangirling poorly.”

he stared.

you nudged the phone into his hands.

he typed so fast he accidentally double-saved it with a heart. he panicked and tried to delete the heart but hit send instead.

you laughed again. “changbin, with a pink heart. you’re cute.”

he made a noise that could only be described as distressed victory. you winked and walked off, waving over your shoulder. “see you later, my fanboy.”

as soon as you disappeared around the corner, he exploded.

“oh my god,” he gasped. “oh my GOD.”

he sprinted back to the dressing room, burst in like a man on fire.

“GUYS—”

“you got her number, didn’t you,” seungmin said flatly, without looking up.

changbin flung himself on the couch, clutching his phone to his chest. “she called me HER fanboy and she SMILED and i think she WINKED and i do not know how to live anymore.”

“you’re being calm about this,” chan said mildly.

changbin shook his head. “i’m gonna marry her.”

the room exploded with teasing remarks. teasing changbin relentlessly? this was too good an opportunity to lose.

“you really are a fanboy huh?”

“support.”

“have you picked rings yet?”

“what’s the wedding dress code?”

“wonder what you’ll say on your first date”

changbin rolled over and screamed into a pillow.

soft changbin you have my heart for the rest of my lif

fic masterlist

taglist (ask to be added here): @burlesquerade @petersasteria @gdinthehouseee @aizshallnotbefound @floofeh-purpi @ldydeath @wcnderlnds @ttturnitup @breakmeoff @sherrayyyyy @ricecake9999 @leni111 @scream-queen-25 @spiritualgirly444 @fairyprincesslvr21 @loonybunny1 @uuchii @sherxoo @m-325 @slut4junho @galgal-egg @queenofdumbfuckery

#emmiesoverthemoon #changbin x reader #seo changbin x reader #changbin #seo changbin #stray kids x reader #skz x reader #stray kids fanfiction #stray kids imagines #stray kids oneshot #skz imagines #skz fanfic #skz oneshots #changbin oneshot #changbin imagines

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cressidagrey · 10 days ago

Text

Off the Record

Pairing: Lewis Hamilton x Lara Rosberg (Original Character)

Summary:

Lara Rosberg is F1’s answer to Amal Clooney and (unfortunately) Nico Rosberg’s little sister. Lewis Hamilton is a seven-time- world champion and (unfortunately) the guy Lara’s brother has sworn to never forgive.

Lara and Lewis have also been secretly dating for nearly two years, which was going perfectly fine… until a single grainy photo sets off a media firestorm and sends Nico into a full public meltdown.

Warnings and Notes:

Welcome to the thing that stopped me from writing anything else until it was done.

As always big thanks to @llirawolf , who listens to me ramble

📸 Instagram Post — @/f1gossipzone

Comments:

@/f1teaaccount: can we talk about how good she looks tho?? mysterious blonde doing it right

@/gridwivesanonymous: 2025 drama already heating up and it’s only March 😭🔥

@/gridtea: that “mysterious blonde” is giving very Lara Rosberg energy 👀

↳@/f1girliesunite: wait. WAIT. is that NICO ROSBERG’S SISTER???

@/drs_daddies: 😭 not the Rosberg-Hamilton peace talks happening over risotto

↳@/f1memesdaily: someone please check on Nico

@/rosbergstan: That’s definitely Lara. She was wearing that jacket in her cousin’s birthday pics last week.

↳@/f1stanbby: wait WAIT—like Nico Rosberg’s sister???

↳@/carlando_supremacy: WAIT WAIT WAIT. NICO’S sister??? 😭

↳@/hamiltonnation44: you’re telling me lewis hamilton is dating his archrival’s little sister???

↳@/beigeinteriorsofthegrid: does this mean Lewis is gonna be part of the Rosberg family Christmas chaos because I need that

@/f1teaqueen: wait… is that… Lara Rosberg???

↳@/leclercslens: THE LARA ROSBERG???

↳@/gossipgasly: not nico’s little sister and lewis in one frame, i’m gonna SCREAM

@/mercedesmemes: they said enemies to lovers but made it real life

↳@/hamiltonheartclub: no bc they look good together why am i invested

↳@/softlaunchcentral: not a Rosberg-Hamilton alliance in 2025 I wasn't ready

@/f1dramasociety: Hamilton really said “let’s keep it in the family” 💀💀💀

↳@/nrosbergfan89: someone tell Nico before he combusts on main

@/f1drama_daily: NO WAY. LARA ROSBERG AND LEWIS HAMILTON???? THIS IS 2016 FANFIC REALNESS

↳@/paddockcryptid: imagine nico finding out like this 😭

@/nicorosberg: Are you joking.

@/nicorosberg: That’s not a “mysterious blonde,” that’s my sister.

@/nicorosberg: Tell me this is edited.

@/nicorosberg: You’ve got to be kidding me.

@/nicorosberg: This is some kind of weird angle. That’s not who I think it is.

@/nicorosberg: NOPE. No way. Absolutely not.

@/nicorosberg: Why would LARA be out with him?? WHY??

@/nrosberg: IS THIS FROM LAST NIGHT OR IS THIS OLD??

@/nrosberg: ANSWER ME.

@/gridgirlboss: the way Nico is unraveling in the comments 💀

@/tifosiwifey: Lara Rosberg dating LEWIS HAMILTON wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card

@/dramatictifosi: “mysterious blonde woman” PLEASE she has a surname. A FAMOUS one.

@/rosbergstan: this is worse than Abu Dhabi 2016 for Nico I fear

@/itsgivingiconic: Nico said “not on my watch” and proceeded to detonate in public

@/dts_demons: can Netflix film the Rosberg-Hamilton family summit please

@/mclarens_mistress: max is gonna hear about this and scream laughing

@/charlesleclurrrr: nico going through the five stages of grief in real time 💀

@/notdanielricciardo: someone check on him before he challenges lewis to a duel

@/f1gossipgirlxoxo: confirmed: mysterious blonde is Lara Rosberg ✅

@/beigeprada: this is so Shakespearean. forbidden dinner. dramatic brother. the collapse of peace

@/hamilover44: if they’re dating i need them on the cover of vogue immediately

@/mclolaren: the secondhand anxiety I’m getting from nico’s comment spree is unmatched

@/tiredeprgirl: and just like that, the Monaco group chats are in flames

***

Vivian Rosberg had just finished tucking their youngest into bed—nightlight on, water glass full, lullaby playlist playing something suspiciously emotional about moonlight—when she padded back downstairs, fully expecting a moment of peace and perhaps a glass of wine.

She’d been gone ten minutes. Twelve, tops.

And in that time, apparently, the apocalypse had unfolded in their living room.

“Nico?” she called, rounding the corner.

There he was—half-on, half-off the couch like a man possessed. His phone gripped in one hand, stress ball in the other, jaw clenched, foot tapping, eyes darting across the screen like he was preparing to launch a full-scale military op via Instagram.

“What are you doing?” she asked, voice already tinged with dread. “Nico?”

He looked up. Wild-eyed. Sweaty. Dramatic.

“It’s Lara,” he said, like it was code for imminent disaster.

Vivian’s stomach dropped. “What happened? Is she okay?”

He wordlessly flipped the phone toward her. She squinted.

A blurry pap shot. Lewis. Lara. Laughing. Her head tilted toward him, his hand on the car door. Caption: Mysterious Blonde. The comments? Screaming. And smack in the middle: Nico Rosberg. Multiple times. In ALL CAPS.

Her brow rose slowly. “You commented nine times?”

“She was on a date,” Nico burst out, leaping to his feet. “With Lewis Hamilton. Lewis. As in: my former teammate-slash-rival-slash-walking ego complex!”

Vivian took a very slow sip of her wine. “Maybe they just had dinner.”

“They don’t look like just dinner!” he gestured at the photo like it physically hurt him. “They look like… like a rom-com poster! She’s laughing. He’s opening the door. There’s eye contact, Viv!”

Vivian squinted again. “I don’t know. Could be a really good punchline.”

He started pacing. “I have to go over there. Right now. Before she does something she can’t undo. Like fall in love with him.”

Vivian nearly choked on her wine. “What?”

“I’m serious. She’s clearly emotionally compromised. I need to speak to her before it’s too late.”

“Nico,” she said sharply, “you are not going to storm her apartment like she’s fifteen and you caught her kissing a boy behind the go-kart trailer.”

“I’m just going to talk to her.”

“You’re going to yell at her.”

“I won’t!”

“You will,” she said, crossing her arms. “You’ll yell, she’ll cry, Lewis will emerge from somewhere shirtless and smug, and I’ll have to spend the entire night repairing your sibling relationship and your blood pressure.”

He faltered.

Vivian stepped closer, her voice softer now. “She’s an adult. A brilliant, terrifying, completely capable adult. And if this is real—if something’s going on—don’t you want her to tell you because she wants to, not because you showed up with steam coming out of your ears?”

Nico deflated like a balloon. “I just… I don’t want her to get hurt.”

“She’s not the one blowing up the internet right now,” Vivian said gently. “You are.”

He stared at the floor. Then the couch. Then the photo again. His fingers twitched like he still wanted to go—but didn’t quite need to anymore.

Vivian reached out, took his phone, and calmly locked it.

“Nico.”

He looked up.

“Sit down,” she said, already turning toward the kitchen. “And if you even think about driving to her place, I will call Toto and tell him you’re having a full emotional crisis over a blurry dinner photo.”

He sat.

But not without muttering, “It wasn’t that blurry.”

***

📚🌍 user: f1filesanonymous [DEEP DIVE] Who Is Lara Rosberg, and Why Is She Basically F1’s Amal Clooney? …and why has she just casually been on the arm of Lewis Hamilton this whole time like it’s NBD???

Okay so you may have seen THOSE photos of Lewis Hamilton leaving a Monaco restaurant with a stunning blonde woman who is clearly trying not to be recognized and failing spectacularly because—surprise!—that “mystery woman” is Lara Rosberg, and she is not new here.

She’s just been quietly running laps around us all for years.

🧾 BASIC PROFILE:

Name: Lara Marie Rosberg Age: 35 Profession: International environmental lawyer, policy advisor, human weapon in heels Known for: — Suing actual oil giants — Getting called “a necessary force of disruption” by the UN Climate Chair — Being the only person alive who can make Nico Rosberg shut up with just a look

👩🏻‍⚖️✨ SO WHO IS SHE?

Nico Rosberg’s younger sister

Studied at Oxford, then took a research fellowship in The Hague

Wrote an article on international water rights that got published in a UN journal before she was 25.

Interned with the UN Environmental Programme

co-founded Rosberg & Bauman, a high-profile legal firm specializing in climate litigation and international law

Has been quietly advising multiple EU climate initiatives. Probably helped write half the green policies we tweet about and never read.

She’s essentially Amal Clooney for motorsport and climate reform, but with slightly messier buns and a terrifyingly dry wit.

Media Moments You Probably Missed:

2020: led a case that blocked a billion-euro fossil fuel infrastructure project in North Africa.

Gave a TED Talk in 2021 titled “Legal Leverage: Holding Polluters Accountable” that made half the oil industry visibly sweat

2022: Appears at FIA’s sustainability roundtable looking elegant and terrifyingly competent in a black suit. Spoke once. Killed the room.

2023: Profiled in Die Zeit for her work helping establish carbon accountability standards in multi-national litigation. Interview included the quote: “Motorsport is a spectacle. My work is a responsibility.” Everyone on Lawyer Tumblr melted.

🎓 THAT OXFORD MOMENT THOUGH:

The last public sibling appearance was in 2024 when she joined Nico at a Rosberg Ventures panel at Oxford.

Here’s what happened:

Nico gave a 12-minute talk about green tech.

Lara stood politely next to him in a grey silk blouse and minimal makeup.

The Q&A began.

It spiraled.

By the third question, law students were exclusively addressing Lara. Topics included:

The legality of carbon offset schemes

Her thoughts on climate reparations

Whether she preferred the European or Canadian legal frameworks for prosecuting ecocide

If she would consider mentoring

And—direct quote—“How does one become you without selling their soul to McKinsey first?”

Nico, to his credit, took it well. Kind of.

📸 Now About the Photos…

This week, Lara and Lewis were spotted leaving a private dinner in Monte Carlo.

No visible PDA. No statements.

But the vibes were LOUD.

Her laughing, him opening the car door, same vehicle—this is not “just friends and quinoa.”

⚖️ Important to Note:

Lara has always been incredibly private. She avoids PR events unless it’s climate-related, and she has zero public relationship history—despite being, and I quote, “absurdly beautiful in a terrifying EU commissioner sort of way.”

This is likely why the fandom is spiraling and the gossip accounts are eating their microphones.

📝 Conclusion:

Lara Rosberg is what happens when you cross elite academia with Monaco lineage, give her a law degree, an international caseload, and one (1) deeply chaotic brother.

She’s elegant, brilliant, unbothered by fame, and apparently—if the latest photos are to be believed—Lewis Hamilton’s dinner date.

And honestly? As a couple? It’s giving world peace. It’s giving intellectual dominance. It’s giving “He calls her Counselor and means it.”

***

Text Messages — Vivian Rosberg → Lara Rosberg

Vivian Hey. You might want to turn your phone off for the night. Your brother is currently pacing the living room like he’s prepping for a title decider.

Vivian Did you have dinner with Lewis?

Vivian I told him you’re probably just friends. He’s choosing to believe that. Please don’t prove me a liar before sunrise.

Vivian Text me when you’re awake. And maybe warn Lewis if he’s in Monaco. Nico’s dangerously close to printing flyers.

***

Text Messages — Nico Rosberg → Lara Rosberg

Nico Lara. LARA. Are you kidding me??

Nico Tell me this is a joke. Tell me that’s not you in those pictures. Tell me you have a TWIN I don’t know about.

Nico I SWEAR TO GOD. LEWIS???

Nico Answer your phone. ANSWER. YOUR. PHONE.

Nico: I SAW THE POST. Don’t even TRY to act like that wasn’t you.

Nico: Are you DATING him??? Are you out of your ACTUAL MIND???

Nico: Call me. NOW.

Nico: I’m not kidding. This is not a “haha oops paparazzi” moment. This is LEWIS. LEWIS HAMILTON, LARA.

Nico: ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW????

Nico: I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS THROUGH A GOSSIP ACCOUNT. ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND????

Nico: Was that a DATE??? Are you DATING HIM?? Why is he TOUCHING YOU????

Nico: Why is he LAUGHING WITH YOU?? WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING WITH HIM???

Nico: I feel ill.

NICO: Are you INSANE? Have you lost your mind? Did he hypnotize you? Blink twice if you’re being held against your will.

NICO: Why didn’t you tell me? Wait—how long has this been going on? NO. I don’t want to know. YES I DO. TELL ME.

NICO: Are you DATING him or was this just dinner? Be honest. Because you’re smiling in that photo like you’re in love.

NICO: I cannot believe this. My archrival. My nemesis. The man who once parked half an inch too close to me in the garage in 2015.

Nico: You know what this is? This is betrayal. Family betrayal.

***

Voicemail Transcriptions:

[Voice Note 1] “Okay. Look. I’m going to be calm. I’m going to be respectful. I’m just asking. Are you—ARE YOU SERIOUSLY DATING LEWIS HAMILTON?! Because I—sorry, no. I’m not calm.”

[Voice Note 2] “What happened to standards? What happened to self-preservation?! I taught you how to ride a bike! I protected you from jellyfish! And this is how you repay me?!”

[Voice Note 3] “I saw the way he looked at you in that photo, okay? I’ve been looked at by Lewis Hamilton. That’s not just dinner. That’s strategic affection!”

[Voice Note 4] “I just—Lara. You had dinner with Lewis Hamilton. You had dinner with Lewis Hamilton and you didn’t tell me and now the internet knows and I’M COMMENTING UNDER A GOSSIP ACCOUNT LIKE A TEENAGER—”

[Voice Note 5] “This is fine. I’m fine. Maybe it wasn’t a date. Maybe he was just hungry. Maybe you were… helping him understand nutrition. I don’t know what you do anymore.”

[Voice Note 6] “You are grounded, by the way. I don’t care that you’re an adult. Grounded.”

[Voice Note 7]

“Vivian is telling me to calm down but she doesn’t understand what this means. This is like…this is like if I just casually showed up married to Sebastian Vettel and didn’t warn anyone. Which I wouldn’t do. Because I HAVE MANNERS.”

[Voice Note 8]

“Okay, I just think it’s funny—no, you know what? It’s not funny. It’s absolutely deranged. Of all the people in the entire paddock, you go out with Lewis bloody Hamilton. The man who once called me ‘calculating’ like it was an insult. LARA. I—I'm not even mad, I’m just—NO, I am mad. Call me back.”

[Voice Note 9]

“I’m coming over. No, Vivian says I can’t. But I will. I will climb your balcony if I have to. I know your security code. Actually, you changed it, didn’t you? Was that because of him?!”

LARA’S PHONE – 07:12 AM

Missed Calls (16) – Nico Rosberg New Voice Messages (9) Unread Texts (19)

***

Sunlight sliced in through the edge of the blackout curtains, soft and golden as it spilled lazily across the rumpled white sheets. The apartment was quiet. Peaceful. That rare kind of stillness that made it easy to pretend the rest of the world didn’t exist.

Lara stirred beneath the covers, warm and content, tangled in one of Lewis’s oversized T-shirts. For a few precious seconds, everything was calm. Safe.

Then her phone buzzed on the nightstand.

She groaned, blindly reaching for it, eyes barely open as she fumbled with the screen.

Her breath caught.

Missed Calls (16) – Nico Rosberg New Voice Messages (9) Unread Texts (19) 1 from Vivian Instagram: You’ve been tagged in 56 new photos

She blinked. Then blinked again.

“Oh no,” she whispered.

Beside her, Lewis hummed sleepily, still curled under the covers. “What?”

Lara didn’t answer right away. She just held her phone up, screen angled toward him.

“He knows.”

Lewis rubbed at his eyes and took the phone from her hand. His eyebrows rose as he started scrolling.

“My archrival. My nemesis. The man who once parked half an inch too close to me in the garage in 2015,” he muttered. “Wow. I forgot how theatrical he gets.”

“I didn’t.” Lara collapsed back onto the pillows with a groan. “I was really hoping we had one more week of peace.”

Lewis swiped through the notifications and found it—the photo. A grainy shot of them outside the restaurant. Her head tilted back in laughter. Lewis mid-smile, hand on the car door. The moment looked effortless. Intimate.

He turned the phone toward her. “We look good.”

She shot him a glare. “Lewis.”

He smirked, still half-asleep. “Sorry.”

“We were careful,” she muttered, dragging a hand down her face. “We used the back entrance. We didn’t even kiss. I didn’t even touch you.”

“You smiled at me like I invented light.”

She threw a pillow at him. “You smiled first.”

He caught it easily and shrugged. “You were the one who wanted to keep it a secret.”

Lara turned to look at him, eyes sharp. “Did you want to come to Rosberg family dinners?”

Lewis winced.

“Yeah,” she snapped, “I didn’t think so.”

She exhaled hard and dropped back onto the mattress. “God. He’s going to go full 2016. Vivian’s probably hiding his passport as we speak.”

Lewis hesitated before speaking again. “We are going to have to tell him eventually.”

“Define eventually,” she groaned into the pillow.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he reached for her, palm brushing gently along her side, resting just over the soft swell of her stomach. Barely showing. But not for long.

“You’re going to start showing any day now, Lara,” he said softly. “And I’m not letting you hide.”

She closed her eyes. Her voice came quieter. “I’m not trying to hide.”

“I know.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I just want to be allowed to love you out loud.”

Her throat tightened. She reached for his hand and wrapped her fingers around his, grounding herself in him.

“Okay,” she whispered. “Just… maybe give him a decaf tea and ten hours of sleep before we break the news?”

Lewis grinned. “So… no baby announcement via Ferrari Instagram post?”

“Don’t you dare.”

***

Lara startled, barefoot in the kitchen, a mug of tea halfway to her mouth. Her phone, resting on the counter, lit up again—more messages from Nico, one from Vivian, and at least six from various overinvested cousins.

She froze.

Then she heard it.

Banging.

“LARA! Open the door. I know you’re home!”

Her eyes went wide.

“Oh no.”

From behind her, Lewis appeared in the hallway, shirtless, towel slung around his neck. He looked unbothered. Warm. Glowing.

She hated him just a little for it.

“That sounds like Nico,” he said mildly.

“I know.”

“He’s here?”

“I know,” she hissed, voice rising with every syllable.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “So… are we telling him?”

Lara spun to face him, panicked. “No.”

The banging continued. Louder.

“LARA. I’M NOT KIDDING. I SWEAR, IF HE’S IN THERE—”

She spun on her heel, threw open the hallway closet.

Lewis stared at her. “You’ve got to be joking.”

“I’m not. Closet. Now.”

“Lara, come on.”

“Do you want to be murdered by a man who still hasn’t emotionally processed Abu Dhabi 2016?”

He blinked.

“Closet, Lewis!”

He looked at her like he might argue—just for a second. Then he saw the full extent of her panic and swore under his breath before stepping toward the closet.

“I am a seven-time world champion,” he muttered, ducking inside, “and I’m hiding in your linen closet.”

Lara grabbed the door handle.

“You’re lucky I love you,” he added darkly.

She shut the door in his face with a soft click. Then inhaled deeply, set her mug down with trembling hands, and marched toward the front door like a woman preparing for war.

Because Nico? Nico was banging on the door like he absolutely intended to blow her life apart.

She barely got the handle turned before the door flew open, Nico barreling inside like a man on fire.

“Do you have any idea what’s happening online?!” he demanded. “You’re trending. I’m trending! Vivian had to turn off comments on our wedding anniversary post because people think Lewis is now my brother-in-law! Is he here?!”

“Nico—” she tried, but he was already pacing.

“—and to make it worse, you lied to me! You said you were with friends! You said girls night!”

“It was just a friendly dinner,” she said, wildly flustered, stepping in front of him like she could physically block the chaos.

“With Lewis Hamilton?” Nico let out a laugh that sounded half-deranged. “Do you remember 2016? Do you remember what I went through? The psychological warfare?”

Lara pressed her palms together. “Yes! We’ve known each other for years. We talk sometimes. It’s not a big deal. We’re just friends.”

From down the hallway, behind the closed linen closet door— A faint, unmistakable sneeze.

She froze. Nico blinked.

“…Was that—?”

“The pipes,” she said too quickly. “It’s an old building.”

Nico frowned. “You live in a penthouse.”

She didn’t blink. “You are being insane, Nico. We’re not dating. Okay? We are not romantically involved.”

There was a long beat of silence. Then Nico sighed, shoulders deflating slightly.

“…Okay,” he said, though his tone was still edged with suspicion. “Okay. I just—Viv said maybe it was just dinner and I wanted to believe her but the comments were insane and I was spiraling and—”

“I know,” Lara said, voice softening. “It’s okay.”

He rubbed a hand over his face, visibly exhausted. “You’d tell me if something was going on, right?”

Her stomach twisted.

She nodded slowly, resting one hand—casually, carefully—over her still-flat abdomen. Then she smiled and lied, smooth as glass.

“Of course I would.”

Nico exhaled, raking his fingers through his hair. “Okay. Okay. I’m sorry for freaking out. I just—he’s Lewis. You know how I feel about Lewis.”

Lara managed a tense smile. “You’ve mentioned it. Once or twice.”

“I just needed to see for myself that you’re not, you know… caught in some post-midnight Hamilton mind control scheme.”

“I’m good, Nico,” she said gently. “Promise.”

He nodded again, slower this time, reluctant but settling. “Okay. I’ll go. Vivian says if I show up without flowers and an apology she’s changing all the Wi-Fi passwords.”

Lara huffed out a quiet laugh, just barely.

Nico pulled her into a quick hug, kissed her forehead like he’d done since they were kids, and walked out with one last suspicious glance toward the hallway.

She waited until the door clicked shut and the lock turned.

Silence.

Then she pressed her back against the wall and exhaled so hard it nearly rattled the windows.

From the hallway closet came a muffled voice.

“Can I come out now, or do I need to wait for the emotional fallout round two?”

Lara didn’t answer. She just collapsed onto the couch and let out a sound that was somewhere between a groan and a strangled sob, muffled by the sleeve of her sweatshirt.

A few seconds later, Lewis stepped cautiously into the room. Barefoot, rumpled, he looked like a man recently freed from captivity—and mildly offended by the experience.

He stared at her for a moment. “Are you okay?”

Lara lifted her head slowly, resting her cheek against the arm of the couch. Her voice was flat. “Nico showed up unannounced. You had to hide in a closet. I lied to my brother’s face. I’m pregnant. And the father of my unborn child just sneezed in a linen shelf like it was a hostage bunker.”

Lewis raised his hands. “Technically, it was a very well-organized linen shelf.”

She dropped her head back down and flopped dramatically onto her side, arm over her face. “I can’t do this.”

Lewis crossed the room and knelt beside her, hands braced on the edge of the couch. “You are doing this,” he said gently. “You’re just… doing it with flair.”

“I’m going to be showing in, like, two weeks,” she muttered into the pillow. “There is not a single baggy sweatshirt on earth that’s going to save me from Rosberg family chaos when I turn up glowing and hormonal.”

He laughed softly, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. His touch lingered.

“Then we stop hiding,” he said. “He’ll survive. Eventually.”

Lara groaned again, dragging the pillow over her face. “Will I survive?”

“Barely,” Lewis said, deadpan. “But I’ll keep you stocked in chocolate and foot rubs.”

“Even when I’m mood-swinging like a possessed Victorian ghost?”

He smiled. “Especially then.”

She rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched with something dangerously close to a smile.

They sat in silence for a few moments, the chaos of the morning finally settling into something quieter. Her breathing slowed. His hand rested gently on her calf.

Then she murmured, almost to herself, “We’re going to have to tell him soon.”

Lewis nodded. “You ready?”

She turned her head and looked at him with the kind of expression only a woman who had recently shoved the most decorated driver in F1 history into a closet could manage.

“I just shoved you in a closet,” she said. “Take a guess.”

***

The office was quiet. Sleek. Clinical.

Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the glittering blue of the Mediterranean, sunlight dappling across the glass table by the door. But Lara hadn’t looked at it once.

She sat rigid at her desk, spine straight despite the fatigue pulling at her limbs. Her hair was twisted into a tight bun, her dark blazer buttoned neatly over a flowing cream blouse that had started to feel uncomfortably snug across her midsection. A stack of contracts lay open in front of her—thick paper, heavy with redlining—but she’d read the same paragraph four times without taking in a single word.

Her hand trembled slightly as she reached for her water.

Still nothing in her stomach. No appetite. The nausea had been worse this morning, coiling low in her gut and rising bitter in her throat. And on top of that, she was still reeling from the full-body stress event known as The Nico Incident—Lewis in the closet, her brother losing his mind in the hallway, and the quiet guilt that had settled in after like a slow bleed.

She blinked hard. Rubbed at her temple.

The words on the contract blurred again.

“Paul,” she called, her voice thin and strained.

She hadn’t even finished saying his name before her office door opened.

Paul stepped inside with the precision of a man who had absolutely expected this. Sharp suit, smart glasses, and the kind of unflinching judgment only earned after five years of managing Lara Rosberg’s chaos with military efficiency.

“I knew you skipped breakfast,” he said, striding across the room. He set a protein bar and a bottle of green pressed juice on her desk with a decisive thud. “Again. This baby’s going to come out demanding better scheduling and proper prenatal vitamins.”

Lara managed a ghost of a smile. “You’re dramatic.”

Paul arched a brow at her. “I’m observant.”

She nodded faintly, reaching for the juice without drinking it. “Reschedule the ten a.m. with Duval. I’ll take the Thompson brief in here.”

“Already done,” he said, folding his arms. “And I brought ginger biscuits, a backup charger, and the good pen you like.”

Lara exhaled through her nose. Grateful. Exhausted.

Then the edges of her vision wavered.

She blinked, trying to clear it, but her head swam. Heat bloomed behind her eyes, and her stomach flipped dangerously. She swayed slightly in her chair.

Paul’s posture changed in an instant.

“Lara?”

“I’m fine,” she murmured, waving a hand she couldn’t quite steady.

She tried to stand.

The room tilted.

And the next thing she knew, her balance gave out and her knees buckled, sending her careening sideways into the edge of the desk.

“Lara!”

Paul was at her side before she could fall completely, catching her under the arms and lowering her gently to the carpet. Her skin felt clammy. Her pulse fluttered beneath his fingers—too fast, too light.

He pressed a hand to her cheek, already fumbling for his phone with the other.

“No, no, no—don’t you dare pass out on me,” he muttered, his voice somewhere between a plea and a scolding. “You brilliant, emotionally repressed nightmare. You’ve got a whole child cooking in there.”

***

Lewis had just stepped out of the shower when his phone rang.

He barely glanced at the screen—Paul—before snatching it off the counter, a flicker of unease already tightening in his chest.

Paul didn’t call unless something was wrong.

He pressed the phone to his ear, towel slung around his neck, water still dripping from his hair.

“Yeah?”

There was no greeting. No polite pause. Just Paul’s voice, clipped and urgent.

“It’s Lara.”

Lewis stilled.

Every nerve in his body lit up like a warning flare. “What about her?”

“She fainted,” Paul said. “Collapsed in her office.”

Lewis’s breath stopped mid-inhale. His free hand gripped the edge of the bathroom counter, knuckles whitening.

“Did she hit her head?” His voice came rough, rasping.

“No. I caught her. It was clean. But it was bad. She’s been pale all morning. I think she was hiding how awful she felt—skipped breakfast, looked like she was about to throw up before I even walked in.”

Lewis shut his eyes.

Of course she had.

Of course she’d been pushing through it like always—quietly, stubbornly, determined to pretend everything was fine because that’s what Lara did. Even now. Especially now.

Paul kept talking, his voice dropping slightly. “They took her to Monaco General. She’s stable, but still out cold. They’re moving her to room 208 once she’s upstairs.”

Lewis barely heard the rest.

All he could think about was her curled up beside him the night before, her hand resting absently over the soft curve of her stomach. Still hardly showing, but there. Real. Their baby.

It had been a surprise. For both of them.

A terrifying, beautiful surprise.

He remembered how stunned she’d looked when the test turned positive. How she’d said nothing for a long minute, then whispered, “This wasn’t supposed to happen yet.”

And how he’d taken her hand and told her, “Maybe not. But I think it’s the best thing that ever could.”

And now she was in a hospital bed, unconscious, and he hadn’t even been there.

“I’m on my way,” he said, already yanking open a drawer, throwing on jeans without bothering to dry off. “Tell them I’m coming.”

“Lewis—” Paul hesitated, then added, “She’s going to be okay. But I think she’d want you there when she wakes up.”

Lewis didn’t respond. He was already moving, already grabbing keys, wallet, hoodie—wet hair forgotten, socks mismatched.

“Thanks for calling,” he said, voice thick.

He ended the call and bolted out the door.

He didn’t care about traffic. About press. About what anyone saw.

The only thing that mattered was her.

***

The phone rang once.

Then twice.

Nico almost didn’t answer.

He was mid-rant—hands flying, pacing the kitchen like a man still trapped in a cooldown room—his voice bouncing off marble countertops and ignored entirely by his wife, who sat at the breakfast bar scrolling through her iPad and sipping tea like his stress was just white noise.

“You should’ve seen her,” he was saying, his voice rising with every word. “Sweating, stammering—wouldn’t even let me into the bedroom. If that’s not suspicious, I don’t know what is—”

The phone rang again.

He snatched it off the counter without checking the caller ID. “Rosberg.”

A beat. Then:

“Hey, it’s Paul. Lara’s assistant.”

Nico stopped moving.

He blinked. “Yeah?” he said, voice still sharp. “What’s going on? Did she send you? I’ve been trying to reach her all morning—she’s not picking up.”

There was a pause. Longer this time. Uneasy.

“She fainted at work.”

Everything inside Nico went still.

“What?” The word came out flat, disbelieving.

“She collapsed in her office about forty minutes ago. We called an ambulance. She’s at Monaco General. They’re monitoring her, but she hasn’t woken up yet.”

The blood drained from his face.

He sank into the nearest chair like the floor had been pulled out from under him.

Across the kitchen, Vivian looked up sharply.

“Is she—did she hit her head?” Nico asked, voice cracking at the end like it betrayed him.

“No. It was clean. I caught her. But it was bad enough they didn’t take chances. She’s been really pale all morning—kind of shaky. I think she’s been hiding how bad she’s feeling.”

Nico’s stomach twisted.

“She didn’t say anything.”

“Yeah,” Paul said softly. “She’s been doing that a lot lately.”

Nico dragged a hand through his hair, already rising from the chair. “What hospital?”

“Monaco General. Room 208 once they move her upstairs. And—” Paul hesitated, then added, “Look, I don’t know how she’s going to feel about you showing up right now. But I thought you should know.”

Nico nodded, even though Paul couldn’t see it. “Yeah,” he said, voice faint. “Yeah. Thanks.”

He hung up.

The kitchen was silent now.

Vivian was watching him from across the island, her expression unreadable.

“Nico?” she asked gently.

He didn’t look up. His grip tightened around the phone. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet. Fragile in a way she hadn’t heard in years.

“She fainted,” he said. “And I was too busy losing my mind over one dinner photo to notice she wasn’t okay.”

Vivian set her tea down and crossed the kitchen.

She didn’t say I told you so. She didn’t say anything at all.

She just handed him his car keys.

Nico stared at them for a long second before taking them from her hand.And then he left.

***

The room was too quiet.

Machines hummed in the background, soft and steady—heart monitor, blood pressure cuff, the occasional beep of a nurse’s console in the hallway. Lewis sat beside Lara’s bed, one hand curled gently around hers, his thumb brushing absent circles across her knuckles.

She hadn’t stirred.

Lara was still unconscious, her breathing slow and steady, her hand resting in his. Monitors beeped steadily. The room smelled like antiseptic and synthetic linen. His fingers never stopped tracing gentle circles across her knuckles, as if the contact alone could anchor her here—safe, real, still with him.

He’d spoken to the doctor. Twice. Everything pointed to a textbook fainting spell—dehydration, exhaustion, stress. But knowing that didn’t stop the gnawing panic sitting in his chest like a stone.

She looked small in the hospital bed. Fragile in a way she never was in the courtroom or at home. And he hated it.

Her skin was pale, her hair pulled back messily, oxygen clipped to her nose despite the doctor’s reassurance that everything was stable. That she’d fainted from stress, dehydration, exhaustion—but that the baby was fine.

The baby was fine.

Lewis had held onto that sentence like a lifeline the entire drive to the hospital.

She hadn’t even wanted him to come this morning. Said she had a brief to finish, a call to take. That she’d be home by lunch.

Now she was lying still and silent, and he didn’t know how to fix it.

The door creaked open.

He turned, expecting Paul.

Instead, it was Nico.

He froze in the doorway, eyes immediately landing on Lara in the bed. And then—

He saw Lewis.

The silence that followed was sharp, immediate, and dangerous.

Nico stepped inside, slowly. His face was pale, drawn tight with something between panic and disbelief.

“What,” he said, voice low and brittle, “are you doing here?”

Lewis stood, careful not to release Lara’s hand too abruptly.

“I’m with her,” he said simply.

Nico laughed—short, incredulous. “No. No, no. Don’t tell me—don’t tell me—you knew she was here. You’ve been here this whole time?”

Lewis met his gaze. “Since the moment I got the call.”

“You’ve got nerve,” Nico snapped, stepping forward. “You hide whatever this thing is with her—sneak around like it’s a game—and then show up here like you belong?”

“I didn’t sneak anywhere,” Lewis said, his voice low and controlled. “She wanted space. She didn’t want to deal with you spiraling. So we kept it quiet.”

“Oh, and that makes it okay?” Nico’s voice was rising now. “You don’t think I had a right to know my sister was—was—”

“She didn’t want to tell you,” he said quietly.

Nico crossed the room in three quick strides. “Tell me what, exactly? That my sister’s been sneaking around with you behind my back? That she lied about it for God knows how long?” He gestured wildly. “What is this? Some sort of sick joke? You hate me.”

“I don’t hate you,” Lewis said evenly.

“You think that makes this better?!”

Lara stirred slightly in the bed. Lewis instinctively glanced down, checking her vitals. Still steady. Still sleeping.

Nico noticed. His voice dropped, but it didn’t lose any venom. “How long?”

Lewis met his eyes. “Over a year.”

“She’s my sister.”

“And she’s not twelve anymore, Nico,” Lewis said sharply. “You don’t get to control her.”

Nico’s fists curled at his sides. “I have every right to be protective.”

“You weren’t protective,” Lewis shot back. “ You were too busy having a public meltdown on Instagram to ask if she was okay.”

Nico flinched. Just for a second.

Lewis didn’t stop. He’d held back for too long.

“She’s been working fourteen-hour days. Skipping meals. Stressed out of her mind trying to hide us—not for her sake, but yours. Because she didn’t want you to react exactly like this.”

Nico’s mouth opened. Closed.

Then—defensively, stupidly— “She didn’t have to hide anything.”

“Didn’t she?” Lewis snapped. “You showed up at her place unannounced, Nico. Do you even know how close she was to telling you that night? And then she saw the look on your face and backed down.”

Silence crackled between them.

Then Nico’s voice, low and disbelieving: “You think I’m the bad guy in this?”

“No,” Lewis said. “I think you’re the brother. But you forgot how to be one.”

Nico stepped forward again, eyes blazing. “You think you know everything, don’t you? You think just because she—what, let you in her bed—you’re suddenly part of this family?”

Lewis’ mouth twisted. His pulse thundered in his ears.

He looked at Lara. Pale. Still asleep. The slow, rhythmic rise and fall of her chest.

Then he turned back to Nico.

Voice calm. Measured.

Devastating.

“I’m not just in her bed,” Lewis said. “I’m the father of her child.”

Nico froze.

Time stopped.

The words settled in the air like dust after a demolition.

“What?” he whispered.

Lewis didn’t repeat it.

Nico blinked at him like he couldn’t comprehend the sentence. Then looked at Lara. Then at Lewis again. His face had gone white.

“You’re lying.”

Lewis didn’t say anything.

“You’re lying.”

He shook his head.

Nico stumbled back half a step like he’d been physically struck. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

The monitor beeped steadily beside them.

Lara didn’t wake.

And Lewis stood completely still, hand protectively on the edge of her bed, watching Nico come apart one slow breath at a time.

***

Nico didn’t remember leaving the room.

One second he was staring at Lewis Hamilton like the man had personally torn his world in half.

The next, he was out in the corridor, back against the cold wall, the sterile white spinning around him like a centrifuge. His breath was too fast. His hands wouldn’t stop shaking. He couldn’t get enough air in his lungs.

She was pregnant.

Lara.

His Lara. His little sister who used to sit cross-legged next to his karting helmet. Who cried when he left for testing in Bahrain. Who called him when she won her first case and who still sent him ridiculous memes when he was stressed out about podcast sponsorships.

She was pregnant. And he hadn’t known.

And the father— Lewis. Lewis Fucking Hamilton.

Nico pressed the heels of his palms to his eyes like that would make the truth disappear. Like he could rub the image out of existence.

He’d been screaming about dinner photos. About hugging. About lies. And all this time—she was growing a life. Their family was growing. And he’d been too busy spiraling into his own ego to notice.

His stomach twisted.

I didn’t know.

He’d said he was protective. That he was looking out for her. But she hadn’t come to him. She hadn’t told him. She hadn’t trusted him. Because on some level, she knew.

She didn’t think I’d be safe with the truth.

And maybe she was right.

Nico stumbled down the hall, past a nurse who looked at him with vague concern, but didn’t stop him. He pushed out through a set of glass doors and into the staff garden—small, shaded, and quiet.

Only then did he sit down hard on a bench, burying his face in his hands.

It was all too much. Too loud in his head. Too heavy in his chest.

His sister was going to be a mother. And he had no idea what to do with that.

Not because he didn’t love her. But because he’d spent so long trying to control her, to protect her from the world, that he hadn’t noticed she didn’t need protecting anymore.

She needed support. Softness. Belief.

And he’d failed. Spectacularly.

A choked sound escaped his throat. Something between a laugh and a sob.

God, she was going to kill him when she woke up.

And maybe she should.

***

The first thing Lara felt was the pillow under her head. Soft. Cool. Tucked just the way she liked it.

The second was the dull ache in her temple. And her mouth—dry, cottony. A strange taste lingered on her tongue, like antiseptic air and faint regret.

She blinked slowly. The room came into focus.

White ceiling. Faint beeping. Clean sheets.

Hospital.

Then—

A warm hand, curled gently around hers.

She turned her head and found Lewis sitting beside her bed. Still in the hoodie from that morning. His jaw was tight. His thumb was stroking her knuckles in slow, silent circles, but his eyes were fixed on the wall like he was holding back a flood.

“Hey,” she croaked, voice rough.

His head snapped around.

“Lara.” His voice cracked like he’d been holding his breath for hours. “You’re awake.”

“Unfortunately.” She tried for a smile. “Did I pass out in court or…?”

He huffed a breath—half a laugh, half relief—and shook his head. “Your office.”

“Ugh.” She sank further into the pillow. “Paul’s going to make this dramatic, isn’t he?”

Lewis didn’t answer right away.

Her brows knit.

“Wait,” she said slowly. “How long was I out?”

“Couple hours.” He hesitated. “Doctor said it was stress. Dehydration.”

She could feel it now. The heaviness. The hollow ache in her ribs. The tremble in her limbs like her body had burned through every reserve and then kept going anyway.

“I should’ve stayed home,” she whispered.

“I tried to make you,” Lewis said, voice quiet.

She turned her head toward him. His face hadn’t softened. If anything, the worry had carved itself deeper.

She swallowed. “Is the baby—?”

“They checked,” he said quickly, firmly. “Everything’s okay. Strong heartbeat. No signs of distress.”

Lara’s eyes filled with tears so fast it caught her off guard.

“Oh thank God,” she breathed. “I didn’t know. I couldn’t feel—”

“I know,” Lewis murmured, bringing her hand to his lips. “But they’re okay. You both are.”

She nodded, just once, eyes closing for a moment as the fear receded—still lingering at the edges, but no longer swallowing her whole.

A long pause passed between them.

“…What happened?”

He paused. Looked down at her hand in his. Squeezed it gently.

Then: “Nico came.”

Her stomach dropped.

She closed her eyes. “No.”

“He found out.”

“No.”

“He saw me here,” Lewis added softly. “And—he figured it out.”

Lara groaned and dragged a hand over her face. “How bad was it?”

“We fought.”

“Obviously.”

“And then I told him.”

She froze.

Her eyes opened. Slowly. Carefully.

“Told him what?”

Lewis met her gaze. Calm. Honest. Steady.

“That I’m not just in your life. I’m the father of your child.”

Silence.

Lara didn’t breathe. Didn’t blink. Just stared.

“…You told him.”

“Yes.”

“You told Nico Rosberg—in a hospital—while I was unconscious—that I’m pregnant with your baby?”

“Yes,” Lewis said, with the serene boldness of a man who had fully accepted death as a possibility. “He took it about as well as you’d expect.”

Lara closed her eyes again and muttered something in German that absolutely didn’t belong in a hospital.

***

The room had settled into something almost peaceful.

Lewis hadn’t let go of her hand once. The monitors beeped softly in the background, steady and unbothered, and Lara was beginning to believe she might finally breathe again.

Then the knock came.

Soft. Hesitant. Completely unlike Nico.

Lara’s stomach twisted.

Lewis glanced toward the door but didn’t move.

The knock came again. A little firmer this time.

She swallowed and sat up slightly in the bed, tugging the hospital blanket higher around her waist. “Come in.”

The door opened slowly, and Nico stepped inside.

He looked like someone had hit him with a very polite brick. Jaw tight, posture rigid, but his eyes flicked immediately to her. Then to the IV. Then, very briefly, to Lewis.

His lips pressed into a thin line.

“Hey,” she said, her voice softer than she intended.

“Hey,” Nico echoed, a beat too late.

Silence stretched. The weight of everything that hadn’t been said hovered like a second heartbeat in the room.

Nico cleared his throat. “Paul called me.”

“I know,” she said.

He looked at her again. Really looked this time. The color in her face. The way her fingers curled around Lewis’. The too-big hoodie stretched over her belly.

He blinked. “You’re…?”

Lara nodded once. Quiet. “Yes.”

A long pause.

Nico ran a hand through his hair and let out a shaky breath, pacing two steps into the room like he didn’t know what to do with himself now that he was here.

“I thought you were just friends,” he said finally, voice hoarse.

“I know.”

“You lied to me.”

She didn’t flinch. “I did.”

Nico looked away, jaw tightening. “You could’ve told me.”

“You were—” she stopped herself. Then tried again. “You’ve always made your opinion on Lewis very clear.”

He made a soft, bitter sound. “And you thought I’d what? Lose my mind? Storm into your apartment?”

Lara raised an eyebrow. “You did storm into my apartment.”

Fair.

He winced and rubbed the back of his neck. “Okay, but—this? This is you. And Lewis. And now—” His voice faltered again. “Now there’s a baby.”

“I know.”

“And I wasn’t even part of it.”

“You still can be,” she said gently.

Nico looked at her then. Really looked. And for a moment, beneath the shock and betrayal and bruised ego, she saw what was underneath:

Worry.

Fear.

Love.

“…Are you okay?” he asked, voice low.

She nodded, throat tightening. “Yeah. I will be.”

He turned to Lewis, reluctant but not hostile.

Lewis stood, quiet but firm. “She’s doing fine. The baby’s fine.”

Nico gave a sharp nod. “Good.”

Another beat.

“I’m still mad,” he added.

Lara gave a soft snort. “We figured.”

“But I’m not leaving,” he said. Then, to her, more quietly: “You’re my sister.”

Something cracked open in her chest.

“Thanks for not yelling,” she said.

“I’ve already done enough of that,” he muttered.

Lewis, wisely, stepped aside. “I’ll give you two a minute.”

He left without fanfare, the door clicking quietly behind him.

Nico sat down in the chair Lewis had just vacated.

He cleared his throat. “So. You and Lewis.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Still a problem?”

“No,” he muttered. “Yes. I mean—yes, but not because he’s him. It’s just. You didn’t tell me. And it’s you.”

“I know,” she said quietly. “But you—Nico, you comment-bombed an F1 gossip post like a lunatic.”

His ears went pink. “They called you a mysterious blonde. I panicked.”

“You think?”

They both exhaled, some of the weight lifting between them.

“I just…” He ran a hand over his jaw, voice quieter now. “I didn’t expect to find out like that. In a hospital. With him sitting there.”

Lara nodded. “I didn’t want it to happen this way either.”

“But you’re happy?” he asked, cutting to the core.

She hesitated for just a second—then nodded. “Yes.”

“With him?”

“Yes.”

“With the baby?”

Her breath caught. Then settled.

“Yes,” she said again. “Even though it scares the hell out of me.”

Nico’s expression softened.

He leaned back in the chair, staring at the ceiling. “You’re going to be an actual parent. I’m going to be the insane uncle.”

“You already are.”

He glared.

She smiled.

After a long silence, he asked, “Does Mom know?”

“No,” Lara said. “You’re the first.”

He blinked. “You told me before Mom?”

She smirked faintly. “She hasn’t stormed into my flat waving a copy of BILD, so I’m guessing not yet.”

“You’re doomed,” Nico said.

“Absolutely.”

He paused. Then added, voice a little more sheepish, “You know I’m not actually mad at the baby, right?”

She turned her head toward him.

“I know.”

“I’m just… an idiot.”

“That too.”

A beat.

Then Nico reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a banana he must’ve swiped from the hospital reception area.

He held it out. “Peace offering?”

Lara rolled her eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m a dad. We have snacks for every crisis.”

She took the banana.

He hesitated again, then leaned over and pulled her into a one-armed hug, careful of the IV line.

“I love you,” he murmured.

“I know,” she whispered back.

He pulled away. “Lewis still hiding in the hallway?”

“Probably.”

“I’ll go growl at him in the parking lot. Just to make him sweat.”

Lara snorted. “Be nice.”

“No promises.”

But when he stood, she could see it—the tension easing from his shoulders. The stubborn, protective big brother still simmering under the surface, but no longer ready to start World War III.

The door clicked shut behind him.

And for the first time all day, Lara let herself breathe.

***

The corridor outside Lara’s room was quiet now.

Lewis stood near the vending machine, one hand braced against the wall, the other cradling a black coffee that had long since gone cold. He hadn’t touched it. Hadn’t moved much since stepping out of the room. Just needed space to breathe. To think. To not say the wrong thing if Nico came out swinging again.

He didn’t have to wait long.

The door opened behind him.

Footsteps.

Then: “Hamilton.”

Lewis turned slowly.

Nico stood there, hands in the pockets of his jacket, posture deceptively casual—but the look in his eyes? That same Rosberg intensity Lewis remembered from wheel-to-wheel fights, from press conferences that felt like landmines.

“Nico.”

A pause stretched between them.

Then Nico sighed, stepped forward, and jabbed a finger toward Lewis’s chest—not quite touching, but close enough to make a point.

“If you ever hurt her,” he said flatly, “I will end you.”

Lewis didn’t flinch. “Noted.”

“Like, properly. With lawyers and pettiness and emotional warfare.”

Lewis huffed out a short breath. “Wouldn’t expect anything less.”

“You don’t get it,” Nico bit out. “She’s not like us. She doesn’t do games. She doesn’t do drama.”

“I know.”

“She actually feels things. Deeply. Stupidly. It’s the worst.”

Lewis’s voice softened. “I know.”

Nico’s jaw clenched. “Then act like it. Protect her. Not just with your name or your money or your press team—really protect her.”

Lewis’s gaze didn’t waver. “I do.”

A tense pause followed. Long. Weighty.

Finally, Nico exhaled and looked away. “Jesus Christ,” he muttered. “Of all the people in the world.”

Lewis almost smiled. “I know. You’re devastated.”

“I am! I’ve had to adjust my entire personality over this.”

“That sounds exhausting.”

Nico leveled him with a withering look. “I still don’t like you.”

Lewis nodded. “That makes two of us.”

“But,” Nico added grudgingly, “I don’t hate you anymore.”

Lewis raised a brow. “Is that your version of peace?”

Nico tilted his head. “Do you remember Spain 2016?”

Lewis blinked. “You brake-tested me into a sandpit.”

“You divebombed me on the inside.”

“You closed the door.”

“You didn’t lift.”

“You didn’t leave space!”

They stared at each other for a long beat. Then:

“Yeah,” Lewis said finally. “I remember.”

Nico sighed. “I think we were both assholes.”

Lewis shrugged. “We were thirty and impossible to manage.”

“Still are,” Nico muttered.

A reluctant silence.

Then Lewis added, quieter now, “She grounds me. Your sister. She makes everything quieter. Makes me better.”

Nico’s expression shifted—still tense, but something behind his eyes softened.

“You’re lucky she sees that,” he said.

“I know.”

Another pause.

Then Nico stuck his hand out. Awkward. Begrudging. Sincere.

“Truce?”

Lewis looked at it.

Then shook it, firm and steady.

“Truce.”

He turned to go, then paused at the end of the corridor.

“Oh—and if it’s a boy? I vote Nico Jr.”

Lewis made a face. “Absolutely not.”

Nico smirked. “Just putting it out there.”

And with that, he disappeared around the corner—still a menace, still dramatic, but no longer an enemy.

Lewis exhaled.

Truce achieved.

For now.

***

Lara had faced depositions more civilized than this dinner.

She hovered in the hallway for a moment, just out of sight, listening to the tension crackle like static in the dining room. It was palpable even from here—clinking glasses, too-long silences, the occasional muttered curse from Nico. She took a breath, smoothed a hand over the front of her dress, and stepped into the lion’s den.

Two generations of Rosbergs. One dinner table. Zero warning.

Her mother was placing the last set of cutlery on the table with a serenity Lara knew for a fact was weaponized. Vivian stood nearby, clutching a wine glass with the expression of a woman mentally mapping all emergency exits. Keke was by the fireplace, watching the room like a man who’d once stared down Senna and lived to talk about it. Nico was already halfway into a bottle of something expensive and clearly losing the will to live.

And Lewis—bless him—stood just inside the door, holding a bottle of red like it might grant him diplomatic immunity. His shoulders were squared, posture polite, and face neutral in that calmly unbothered way that only made Nico twitch harder.

“Lewis,” Keke said at last, voice flat as a straightaway. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Not a threat.

Worse—an ancient disappointment dressed as civility.

“Thanks for having me,” Lewis replied, smooth as ever.

“We didn’t,” Nico muttered.

“Nico,” Sina warned without even looking at him.

Lara crossed the room and slipped her hand through Lewis’s arm, letting her fingers rest against his bicep. She felt him relax a fraction under her touch.

She hadn’t planned to do this tonight. Not like this. But the air was thick with expectation, and Nico had been circling like a shark for days. Better to let the blade drop now.

“Right,” she said brightly. “Let’s just get it over with, shall we?”

All heads turned. She lifted her chin and faced the room, shoulders squared like she was delivering a closing argument.

“Lewis and I are together,” she said calmly. “We’ve been together for almost two years.”

There was a sharp inhale from Keke. A visible flinch from Nico. Vivian froze with her wine halfway to her mouth.

“And,” Lara continued, tone even, “we’re having a baby.”

Silence. Thick. Sudden. Almost cinematic.

Sina made a soft “oh!” sound and immediately moved in to hug her, eyes shining. Vivian looked like someone had just dropped an engagement ring, a baptismal candle, and a Molotov cocktail into her lap. Keke blinked once, as if recalibrating reality.

Nico just downed the rest of his glass like it was holy water and he’d seen a ghost.

“I’m sorry—what?” Keke said eventually, voice climbing in disbelief.

“You heard me,” Lara replied.

“We’ve been together for—” Lewis began, but Keke cut in.

“I heard you. I just thought you were joking.”

Lara glanced at Lewis, who gave her a small, reassuring nod.

“I don’t usually joke about lifelong commitments,” he said, deadpan.

Nico groaned and slumped forward into his hands. “I’ve been trying to wrap my head around this for days.”

Lara lifted an eyebrow. “You had seventeen years to wrap your head around the fact that I’m an adult.”

“You’re having his baby,” Nico said, like it physically pained him.

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be dramatic.”

“You brought Lewis Hamilton to family dinner and announced he knocked you up. What part of that isn’t dramatic?!”

Lara almost laughed. She would have, if her heart weren’t pounding in her throat.

The baby had been a surprise. A quiet, miraculous shock delivered in the bathroom one sleepy Sunday morning when she’d assumed the nausea was just bad eggs and too many long work weeks. She and Lewis had stared at that stick together for a long time, blinking. Neither of them had spoken at first.

She hadn’t planned it. Not now, not yet. She’d always wanted children—deep down, quietly, even if she never said it out loud. But she’d never had the right person, the right moment. Never felt safe enough to imagine it.

Until him.

Until now.

She turned her attention back to her father, who was still staring at Lewis like he might sprout horns.

“So,” he said finally. “Are you serious about this?”

Lewis met his gaze without hesitation. “Yes.”

“Because if you hurt her—”

“I won’t.”

“—I will personally fly to wherever you live and break both of your knees.”

“Understood,” Lewis replied, entirely unshaken.

Vivian choked on a laugh. Nico muttered something rude under his breath that Lara decided to ignore.

She felt Lewis’s fingers brush hers under the table, and she reached for his hand. He laced their fingers together and didn’t let go.

“I love her,” he said softly but clearly. “I love our child. I’m not going anywhere.”

Her mother clapped her hands together, smiling like that settled the entire matter. “Well. Dessert, then?”

Lara exhaled—quiet, relieved—and leaned ever so slightly into Lewis’s side.

They might be chaos incarnate. But for the first time, it felt like the kind she could build a life around.

***

📸 Instagram Post — @/lararosberg

Comments:

@/rosbergx14: EXCUSE ME

@/f1updatesdaily: BABY????? ROSBERG???? HAMILTON????

@/gridtea: THE WHAT NOW??????

@/f1wagsunofficial: WE WERE NOT EVEN IN THE SOFT LAUNCH ERA HOW DID WE GET TO PREGNANT

@/champagnetrauma: LEWIS HAMILTON. IS GOING TO BE A DAD. LARA ROSBERG. IS HAVING HIS BABY. I NEED TO LIE DOWN.

@/f1memegirl: I blinked and missed an entire relationship arc how is this already a sequel

@/dramat1que: you’re telling me nico rosberg’s little sister and lewis hamilton were not only SECRETLY TOGETHER but also MANAGED TO HIDE A WHOLE BABY???

@/gofasterbaby: this child is going to emerge with a law degree and a world championship

@/sirlewisfanclub: if this baby doesn’t win the Monaco karting championship by age 3 I will be shocked

@/teamvivi: Vivian Rosberg right now watching the entire internet implode like 👁️👄👁️

@/lando.jpg: wait WAIT am I allowed to be shocked or did I miss a group chat

@/tifositargaryen: they really said enemies to lovers to secret family reveal mid-season and expected us to survive

@/thef1files: somewhere out there, Nico Rosberg is screaming into a pillow and Lewis is already painting the nursery

@/the.mess.paddock: we need a DRIVE TO SURVIVE EPISODE IMMEDIATELY

@/wheresmygridtea I WAS NOT EMOTIONALLY PREPARED FOR THIS AT 8AM

@/carlossainzfan24 rosberg??? hamilton??? baby??? are we in a fanfiction AU???

@/nico_rosberg …I’m going to need a moment. ↳ @/vivian.rosberg: You’ve had a week of moments, Nico.

@/driveitlikelerclerc screaming. crying. shaking. throwing up. calling my therapist.

@/tumblruser194839 So you’re telling me… Lara Rosberg, actual Amal Clooney of F1, who once legally shredded a corrupt climate policy on a live panel, is having a BABY with Lewis “7x world champion, whisperer of dogs and emotions” Hamilton???? ↳ @/thiswasnotonthebingo: I KNOW RIGHT. I THOUGHT THIS WAS A FEVER DREAM.

@/girlsontrackhq: The way this baby is going to have the most elite genetics, style, and social conscience. Just take the Constructors’ Championship now.

@/tifosiburner: Lewis Hamilton becoming Nico Rosberg’s brother-in-law was NOT on my 2025 prediction card.

@/f1teaspill: THE WHAT. THE WHO. THE BABY???????

@/mercedesinsider: not to be dramatic but this has shattered the fabric of the grid.

@/hamilover44: what happened to soft launches?? soft launches with a HAND or a KEYCHAIN?? THIS IS A WARHEAD.

@/rosbergeditqueen: i cannot breathe. i thought they hated each other. what do you MEAN baby rosberg-hamilton.

@/mclarenmeerkat: if this child isn't born with a world championship and a law degree I will riot.

@/vivian.rosberg: Welcome to the family, little one. 💛✨ (Also yes I told Nico. Repeatedly. You're welcome.)

@/georgerussell63: This is more shocking than any on-track overtake in 2024. Congratulations, both of you! 🍼

@/charles_leclerc: Did anyone else know? Like… ANYONE??

@/formulaiconic: wait. WAIT. WAITTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

@/paddockcryptid: imagine beefing with a guy for ten years and then you find out he’s having a baby with your sister like what’s he gonna call the kid, “DRS zone”?

@/wagsupreme: this baby is going to be the most genetically blessed child in motorsport history.

@/engineeredchaos: Hamilton. Rosberg. Offspring. The F1 grid in 2045 is shaking.

@/gptrackerqueen: lewis really said “i’ll see your 2016 title and raise you a niece/nephew”

@/softlyhamilton: i have never in my LIFE been so blindsided by a pregnancy announcement and i follow the kardashians

@/gridteaofficial: [red siren emojis] 🚨WE HAVE A BABY ANNOUNCEMENT. I REPEAT. A BABY. ANNOUNCEMENT. 🚨 Somebody check on Nico.

***

Meanwhile on Twitter:

@/F1GossipGuru 🚨LEWIS HAMILTON IS GOING TO BE A DAD🚨 Repeat: SEVEN-TIME WORLD CHAMPION LEWIS HAMILTON IS HAVING A BABY WITH LARA ROSBERG??? THE DRAMATIC IRONY. THE FANFIC-LEVEL CHAOS. I NEED TO LIE DOWN. 📸 [screenshot of their joint IG post with the ultrasound]

@/lifebylando lewis hamilton getting nico rosberg’s sister pregnant is the most powerful revenge arc in sports history

@/F1Fanatic42 i am once again asking: what timeline are we living in

@/AlonsoWasRight this is giving enemies to lovers. forbidden romance. secretly married in vegas vibes. WHERE IS NETFLIX.

@/RosbergRetired lewis, at christmas dinner, passing the potatoes: “btw i’m the father of your niece” nico: [rage quitting real life]

@/tifosipanic can you IMAGINE the family dinners. Keke staring in Finnish. Nico drinking wine like it’s water. Lewis holding the baby in a Ferrari onesie. this writes itself.

@/formulawhyyy ok but lewis naming his baby after nico i actually can’t breathe (note: they haven’t confirmed the name yet don’t do this to yourself)

@/veganandvictorious the same man who dodged dating rumors for ten years just casually soft-launched fatherhood with an ultrasound pic??? i’m not okay

@/DriveToSurviveAnon when they said Brocedes was the most dramatic pairing of all time i didn’t realize they meant intergenerationally

***

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT – SKY SPORTS F1 COVERAGE | CANADIAN GP | SATURDAY PRE-RACE SHOW

Simon Lazenby: Welcome back to Montreal! We’re here on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, qualifying coming up shortly. I’m joined, as always, by Martin Brundle and 2016 World Champion, Nico Rosberg.

Martin Brundle: It’s already been a wild weekend, but Nico, I have to ask—because, well, the internet exploded— Congratulations… I suppose?

Nico Rosberg: (visibly bracing) …Thank you?

Simon: Your sister, Lara Rosberg, and—uh—Lewis Hamilton, expecting a baby. I think the entire paddock collectively dropped its coffee over that post. Did you know?

Nico: (tight smile) Eventually.

Martin: (grinning like a fox) You’ve always been protective of Lara. What’s it like knowing you’re going to be an uncle?

Nico: Well, it’s… it’s surreal. I mean, Lara’s my little sister. To me, she’s still the kid who used to hide in my karting trailer and demand snacks. And now she’s having a baby—with Lewis. (beat) I’ve had more relaxing weeks, let’s say that.

Simon: There’s some lovely poetry to it, though. Bridging the Brocedes rivalry into the next generation?

Nico: (dryly) Yes. Nothing says inner peace like finding out your former teammate is having a child with your sister.

Martin: You’re handling it quite well, considering.

Nico: I’ve gone through all six stages of grief. Denial, anger, bargaining, wine, and acceptance.

Simon: That’s five.

Nico: Yes. I went through wine twice.

[Laughter from the studio team]

Simon: So—bottom line—you’re happy for them?

Nico: [Laughs in “I have so many feelings”] I mean, look—I’m thrilled for her. I love Lara more than anything. She’s strong, she’s brilliant, she’s going to be an incredible mother. As for Lewis— [long pause] We’ve…reached an understanding.

Martin (teasing): That sounds ominous.

Nico: Let’s just say I threatened him in a hospital corridor.

Simon: …That might be the most Rosberg-Hamilton sentence I’ve ever heard.

Nico: I’m working on being chill. It’s a process.

Simon: Well, congrats again—Uncle Nico! Think you’ll give any advice to the new dad?

Nico (flat): He didn’t listen to me in 2016. I doubt he’s going to start now.

[Studio laughter]

Martin: Fair enough. But all jokes aside—it’s a beautiful thing. You’ll be great.

Nico (finally softening): Thanks. I really am happy for them. Just…no one tell the baby about Abu Dhabi 2016. Let them have peace.

Simon (laughing): We’ll keep that out of the bedtime stories.

***

Meanwhile on Twitter:

@/f1teaaccount: 🚨 NICO ROSBERG JUST SAID ON LIVE TV THAT HE THREATENED LEWIS HAMILTON IN A HOSPITAL CORRIDOR what do you mean this isn’t Drive to Survive already

@/brocedes_fan47: “Let’s just say I threatened him in a hospital corridor” he says that like it’s a normal sentence??? this is PEAK divorced energy

@/rosberggirlies: nico pretending he’s chill while drinking 3 glasses of wine and blinking at Lewis like he’s trying to vaporise him with eye contact 🫡 an inspiration to siblings everywhere

@/yelledaboutlewis: “No one tell the baby about Abu Dhabi 2016” nico said ✨emotional growth✨ and ✨repressed trauma✨ in one breath

@/mercedes_f1_wives: not Nico saying “As for Lewis—we’ve reached an understanding” like this is the Godfather and Lewis kissed his ring in a hospital

@/karinabergkamp: nobody: nico: I’ve gone through denial, anger, bargaining, wine, and acceptance also nico: I went through wine twice. ICON.

@/rosberg_defense_union: he’s trying so hard. he’s spiraling publicly. he’s being soft in-between threats. he’s our girl dad uncle now 🫶

@/lh44_prayercircle: this child is going to be so powerful. born of a Rosberg and a Hamilton. can already out-strategise the FIA and win a kart race with a juicebox in one hand

@/f1nocontext: 📸 [Screencap of Nico saying “We’ve… reached an understanding”] caption: When your arch-nemesis becomes your brother-in-law

@/lararosbergedits: me: I’m fine also me, after nico said “she’s strong, she’s brilliant, she’s going to be an incredible mother”: 😭😭😭

@/F1YukiNation: nico rosberg casually dropping “i threatened lewis in a hospital corridor” like it’s not the most cinematic line in this sport since seb said “tough luck” to mark in malaysia

@/LaraRosbergUpdates: Lara Rosberg got Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton to behave. She deserves the Nobel Peace Prize and a nap.

@/SilverstoneShambles: you can hear the 2016 trauma in Nico’s voice when he says “we’ve reached an understanding.” like. that man had to meditate in a forest for three days before saying that on live TV.

@/isthatglitteronlando: “You didn’t listen to me in 2016 and I doubt you’ll start now” — rosberg continues his reign as the Pettiest Man Alive™

@/hammy4life: laras pregnancy has now singlehandedly:

revived brocedes

healed family wounds

traumatized nico

given sky sports record-breaking engagement icon behavior

@/landohastaste: not nico basically saying “congrats, I guess” then softening like a soggy biscuit at the end. we love growth ❤️

@/thisisdefinitelynotvaltteri: “no one tell the baby about abu dhabi 2016” YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS UP. I’M CRYING.

@/lh44daily: The fact that Nico admitted he threatened Lewis and then moved on like it was weather small talk 😭😭😭

@/f1teaspill:THE WAY NICO SAID “I’VE HAD MORE RELAXING WEEKS” WITH THE DEAD EYES OF A MAN WHO JUST FOUND OUT LEWIS HAMILTON IS HIS PSEUDO BROTHER-IN-LAW 😭😭😭

***

📸 Instagram Post — @/lararosberg

Comments:

@/nico_rosberg: Okay… she’s really cute. You’re still grounded though.

@/vivian.rosberg: Welcome to the world, baby girl 💕

@/charles_leclerc: Congratulations ❤️

@/gridteaofficial: BREAKING: humanity restored. This child owns us now.

@/rosbergverses: Rose Hamilton is literally a poetic name. This child is going to be UNSTOPPABLE.

@/f1babytracker: Someone update the charts. She’s officially here. Stats: ✨Iconic✨

@/scuderiaferrari: We cannot wait to meet her. The tiniest team member 💙

@/rosberghamiltontruthers: WAIT WAIT WAIT—ROSE. ROSE-BERG. SHE DID IT. SHE NAMED HER DAUGHTER AFTER HER FAMILY NAME AND I’M SOBBING.

@/formuladrama: baby name: elegant. subtext: chaotic genius. we are witnessing storytelling.

@/gridteagossip: She said “this is a Rosberg baby” with her whole chest and Lewis LET HER. That's called love.

@/hamros_fanficclub: Rose Hamilton already sounds like a Nobel Prize winner / undefeated junior karting champion / poetic soul. I’m obsessed.✨

@/cryingatthewheel: Lewis and Lara naming their baby ROSE is the kind of emotionally layered chaos that rewires your DNA.

@/gridteaofficial: BREAKING: Rose Hamilton born. Grid immediately enters emotional meltdown.

@/rosbergxhamilton_is_real: SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT. He’s in a relationship with Nico’s little sister. They named the baby Rose. AND WE’RE ALL JUST BREATHING NORMALLY???

@/georgerussell63: Welcome to the world, Rose 🌹 You’ve already made history and you’re not even a week old.

@/f1fanfictioncentral: Don’t talk to me unless your baby name has an entire decade-long rivals-to-lovers emotional arc embedded in it.

@/mercedesamgf1: The newest member of the Silver Arrows family 💙 We’re already fighting over who gets to babysit.

625 notes · View notes

thesvnandthemooon · 1 month ago

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𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬

18+ MINORS DNI

or: how natasha proposed

part of the short n’ sweet universe

a/n: finally got this done! i’ve been working on this way too long lmao 😭 but here it is

also i hate writing/reading proposal speeches. can’t stand them because i never seem to get them right. tried my best anyway 🫡

summary: natasha wanting to propose + being an idiot about it

warnings: smut (brief, not too detailed)

word count: 11.8k

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Not too long ago, you used to study under the best conditions possible. You'd shut every window, every door. You'd light aroma candles and clean your desk to avoid distractions. Your phone? On silent and hidden. With earplugs in to block even the slightest noise, you'd sit down and get started. If possible, you'd go to the library. At night, even, when it's quiet and empty so nothing can disturb you.

That's changed. You'd love to laugh at your past self for ever thinking that those conditions were necessary to study, but you can't. Unfortunately, your past self was right.

Your apartment isn't small, but it's not big, either. It's the perfect size for a family of three — snug, comfy, but with enough space to store the baby bathtub and stroller. You love that you can see the entire living room and kitchen from your desk, but you don't love that you can hear every single noise.

Niko's crying. He's colicky and teething and cranky. Natasha's on a rubber ball, bouncing him, her voice slowly turning more and more panicked. You've tried everything; nursing, chilled teething rings, a warm bath. But the poor little guy's uncomfortable, and he's letting everyone know.

This has been going on for days now. To make matters worse, he doesn't even sleep through the night. Instead, he wakes up twice (if you're lucky) and screeches until you give him attention. You've been hanging on by a thread. All-nighters, coffee, trail mix. A baby clinging to you, drooling and unhappy, and a midterm exam in molecular biology.

You stare at the laptop in front of you. Way too many slides for a midterm, way too detailed and complicated as well. You pick up your pen to take another note, but a particularly loud wail from Niko startles you.

"Sorry", Natasha says when you turn around. She looks sheepish, even if this isn't her fault. You sigh. "Want me to leave the apartment?"

A sweet offer, but you're not sure you want your girlfriend and your infant son to go outside when it's dark. It's a somewhat safe area, but there's no need to take high risk, low reward chances.

"No", you mumble, turning towards your laptop again. Niko lets out another cry. "Is he alright?"

"He's fine", she says, rubbing his back. He squirms against her and starts gnawing on her shoulder. "Just dramatic."

Apparently, the usage of the word 'dramatic' offends Niko immensely. He pulls back, then launches himself at her shoulder and bites like a baby shark. The noise she makes is anything but dignified, and you snort into your coffee cup.

Natasha gets up, still holding Niko. He starts fussing and thrashing in her arms. She leaves the room, quietly, and you hear a door fall shut. The door to his nursery. She's attempting the impossible, which is to get him to calm down.

You try focusing on your studies again. Protein metabolism — ribozymes, membranes, amino acids. Part of you almost regrets letting Natasha leave with Niko. You'd rather comfort a whining baby than read another word that ends in -ases.

You don't want to fail, though, so you keep researching and reading and summarizing. Things seem to be going well, at that point. It's 9pm, the crying has quieted down, and your brain is soaking up knowledge like a sponge. Silence really does seem to work wonders for your ability to concentrate and retain information.

About an hour later, the door opens quietly. Natasha steps out of the nursery, baby monitor in hand, and rubs her face. She looks beat — she didn't even manage to change out of her jersey after coming home, as you immediately shoved a fussing Niko into her arms. Her hair is in a low bun, which is now clinging on for dear life, and her eyes are half-lidded.

Then, she spots you. You're sprawled out on the couch now, an open textbook next to you and some flashcards in your hands. The exhaustion is gone instantly.

You don't miss the way she perks up and silently, you groan. For some reason, she's able to be more distracting than the baby. Whether it's intentional or not is a question you haven't been able to answer yet, but there have been dozens of instances of her being anything but helpful.

It usually starts as something innocent. Sitting down next to you, touching your thigh. Pulling you into her lap after a moment. A mumbled 'missed you' against your neck. At some point, fingers begin to wander. They slip into waistbands and nudge bras aside.

You know why. Between basketball practice, exams, and the chaos that comes with being new parents, you rarely manage to find time for just the two of you. When it does happen, she tries to make the most of it. You do, too, but you're less keen on admitting that.

You end up naked each time. You're not sure if that's something to be proud of, but Natasha may as well be one of those birds that puff up with pride.

When she plops down next to you on the couch, you immediately know that she's about to try again. Biology exam be damned — the last time you had a few minutes without Niko was a week ago, back at Clint's place. Everyone else had been playing a video game. They were yelling, laughing, so they were distracted enough to not notice the little sighs coming from behind them.

Her arm wraps around your shoulders. Her lips press against your cheek, then your jaw. Her free hand moves under your shirt to cup your stomach. You shift, stubbornly staring at a flashcard.

"How's biology going?", she mumbles, rubbing your arm.

"Fine", you reply, still not looking at her. She leans in and starts kissing your neck. Soft lips move over delicate skin, her tongue pokes out to lick a hot stripe over your pulse point. "Natasha."

"Yes, baby?"

You exhale, the frustration evident. Your midterm exam is in two days. Fucking on the couch like dogs in heat certainly isn't a study method that'll help you pass.

"Unless you're about to quiz me on molecular biology, you better keep your hands to yourself."

Natasha isn't too impressed. She hums, pretending to be deep in thought about this, then cups your breast and brushes her thumb over your nipple. Drops of milk spill, but it doesn't faze her. It's been more than half a year, she's aware that you're breastfeeding.

"We haven't had a minute to ourselves in a week", she murmurs. She massages your boob, and a wet patch forms on your shirt. "The damn kid's always interrupting."

"He's a baby", you say, grabbing her arm. "And I'm about to fail my midterm."

Natasha frowns and looks at you. Head tilted, eyebrows messy, eyes clear and intense. Maybe studying really isn't worth the effort, or at least that's what your hormones are trying to convince you of. She's still in her jersey, too, and she has that post game-smell. Sweaty and full of pheromones.

"You think you'll fail?"

"I've barely studied", you say, deadpan. "This is molecular biology. Understanding it isn't enough, I need to know it by heart."

"Right", she mumbles. She presses a kiss to your shoulder. "So you'll fail. Big deal?"

You huff and almost shove her off you, but she just grins. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. You'll fail. So what?" She kisses your cheek, then pecks your lips. "You know what?"

You glare at her. She's treating this like a joke, and you're not having it. Natasha waits for you to say something, but you're getting more pissed off by the second, so she laughs quietly and tugs you into her lap.

"If you fail, I'm proposing. Who needs a degree? No wife of mine should have to work a single day in her life, anyway."

Your heart stutters in your chest, but it's hard to take her seriously. To you, it seems like this is one of her usual dumb jokes. But you never would've thought she'd joke about this. She may call you her wife in front of friends and teammates (despite you telling her to cut it out), but you didn't think marriage would be a laughing matter to her.

"Really romantic", you manage to say. "Truly outdoing yourself, Romanoff."

"Mark my words", she says. She tugs at the hem of your shirt, smirking. "If you fail, I'm proposing to you. Now go study unless you want to see me on one knee."

"I'd pay to see that", you mumble. You reach for your textbook and open it.

For exactly ten minutes, you're able to study. You recall information, quiz yourself, check your notes.

You're still in Natasha's lap, though. She still feels the rounded curve of your ass pressing against her, still feels your warmth and smells your scent. Perfume and something sweet and milky. She doesn't want to distract you — a lie — but she can't exactly control it.

You feel her get hard, pressing against you through the fabric of her shorts. You swore you'd study this time, that you'd keep your clothes on. But her hands grip your waist, her lips press against your nape, and you're actually alone for once. Before you know what you're doing, you're on your back and being pounded into the couch.

. . .

Monday morning, you make your way to campus looking like you're about to go to war.

Niko is strapped to Natasha's chest, feet kicking and smiles less gummy. His tooth came in exactly five hours before the exam, which Natasha deemed hilarious. He kept up the sobbing and crying and fevering long enough to keep you from studying, but managed to get the annoying little molar out as soon as it got too late for you to catch up.

He's the only one who's in a good mood, though. Teething aside, he's still suffering from being a little colicky, so he made sure you stay awake by screaming until his face turned red. It took a while, but he's better now.

"Lucky duck", Natasha mutters. She's surviving off energy drinks at this point. "You can nap all day long. I have a seminar later. Fucking Harrison Harris. I swear, whoever named that guy set him up for bullying."

You hum absently. You're staring at a flashcard, with dark circles under your eyes and a coffee cup in your hand. Your hair isn't even washed — you spent the few hours of silence Niko granted you trying to inhale every bit of knowledge you can. A bad idea, as you now feel like you're about to throw up biology facts.

Natasha glances at her phone. "Ten minutes", she informs you. "Want me to go with you? Help you find your seat?"

"I'm good", you mumble, still staring at a flashcard. Niko squeals, his chubby little hand suddenly grabbing and fisting it. "Oh, honey. I promise, that's less fun than it looks."

"He likes the drawing", Natasha says, leaning in. "Is that a peptide bond?"

"Yeah." You sigh and let go of the flashcard. Niko takes that as permission to put it in his mouth and chew on it. You get up and grab your tote bag. "Where are you two going?"

"Oh", she says, bouncing him and trying to seem casual, "we're meeting Wanda and Daisy for some coffee. They wanted to see Niko."

"Alright." You lean in and kiss the top of your son's head. "Bye, baby."

"I assume you're talking to me?", Natasha jokes.

"Both of you."

Smiling, she gets up to pull you closer. Her lips press against yours, her hands hold your waist. Unimpressed, Niko slaps the damp flashcard against your face, but Natasha quickly blocks him.

You pull away and cup her face. "He's rude."

"Got it from me", she agrees. She pecks your lips. "Go, go. Or you'll be late."

You peek into the study hall where the exam will take place. Sure enough, almost all seats are taken. The hallway has gotten empty has well. You nod and turn around, opting for a quick wave before stepping into the room.

Natasha watches for another second, then Niko tips his head back to look at her. He smiles, his single tooth making him look a little like baby Patrick Star, and she leans in to kiss his forehead.

"Come on, bud", she says, walking down the hallway. "Let's see what Wanda and Daisy know about proposals."

The four (three and a half?) of them end up in the little café right next to campus. Daisy secures a corner spot, Wanda grabs the highchair, and Natasha orders the drinks. Black coffee, iced latte, and a hot chocolate for the girl who claims caffeine makes her anxiety worse.

They're not aware of why they got invited here. Usually, they don't hang out with only Natasha; you're always there, as well. This time, she was the one to text them. She also asked them to not tell you, which — surprise — even Daisy succeeded at.

Niko spent the first five minutes in the highchair which Natasha cleaned with Lysol and baby wipes. It took one unhappy grunt for Wanda to coo and pick him up, though, so he's now in her lap and keeping her necklace in a firm grasp.

"So", Daisy says, stealing some of the whipped cream on Wanda's hot chocolate, "why are we here?"

Natasha side-eyes Wanda, who's offering Niko a cookie to suck on. "Oh, I...I'm sorry, can you take that away from him? Just 'cause he got his first tooth doesn't mean he needs a first cavity as well."

"He likes it", Wanda says, removing the cookie from his hand. He lets out a protesting screech, and she kisses his reddish baby curls.

"It's sugar", Daisy says. "Of course he likes it. Romanoff, answer my question. Did you screw up again?"

"What?" She frowns. "No. No, I didn't. What kind of question is that?"

Both of them give her a pointed look à la 'remember Spring Break?', and she shuts up. She's screwed up before. To be fair, it's been a while since Spring Break happened — almost three years, if she's not mistaken — but she really hurt you. She didn't mean to, but she did, anyway.

"Fine", she relents. "I'm an idiot. Not the point, though."

A waitress walks past them and smiles, straight at Natasha. She's pretty, with her blue eyes and honeyed hair, and both Daisy and Wanda realize what she's doing. Subtly flirting with Natasha. Testing the waters. The basketball team's captain is somewhat of a little celebrity around here, after all.

Everyone is aware that she's taken. You're basically famous around here, especially since you're always walking around with a baby in your arms. Some women don't care about that, apparently.

They have different strategies, but the same goal. Wanda clears her throat and Daisy kicks Natasha's shin. She immediately sits up straight.

"Are you fucking kidding-"

"Eyes on us, idiot", Daisy cuts her off. "Why are we here?"

"Right", she mumbles. "I'll just say it, so, uh...how do I propose?"

First, there's silence. Then, Daisy bursts out laughing, so much so that poor Niko actually flinches. Wanda cradles him to her chest, but she doesn't manage to tell Daisy to stop — she's hung up on the fact that Natasha Romanoff is talking about proposing.

She doesn't want to say it out loud. Even if it's the truth, it'd be rude. But everyone knows that Natasha once claimed she'd never commit. Not fully. Campus is filled with girls who got their hearts broken by her. She's blocked double the amount of numbers she has saved as contacts.

Natasha shoots Daisy an irritated look. "Alright", she mutters, sinking into her seat and picking at the cookie on her saucer, "no need to laugh."

"I'm sorry", she wheezes. "You. You? You want to propose?"

"You're not being nice", Wanda tells her. She gives Natasha an apologetic look. "But I get her point. You're proposing?"

"I told Y/N I would if she fails her midterm", she explains, still disgruntled. "I'm serious about this. I'll do it. No matter if she fails, really."

"That's sweet", Daisy mumbles. "Basing a lifelong commitment on an academic failure."

Niko babbles and reaches out to Natasha. She scoops him out of Wanda's lap and immediately rummages through her diaper bag to find the bottle of milk she packed. In the meantime, he manages to grab the cookie she didn't eat and starts gnawing on it like he's been starving for the past week.

"Please", Natasha says. She steals the cookie back and replaces it with the baby bottle. Having forgotten about the sweet treat, Niko latches on. "That's not what it is at all. Look, guys. I'm serious about this. And about her. So either help me or I'm leaving."

"You're not leaving", Wanda says. She's digging through her backpack already, laying out notebooks and pencils on the table. "What did you have in mind?"

Natasha shrugs. She's been thinking about this for days. Actually, she's been racking her brains. Every second of her days are spent trying to find a good way to go about this. Not once in her life did she consider downloading Pinterest, but now, the red circular icon stands out on her home screen.

"Not sure", she says vaguely. "Maybe go on a date, hide the ring in a-"

"No", both of them interject.

"But you didn't-"

"No."

"Trust us", Wanda adds. "What else?"

Natasha shrugs and glances at Niko. He's still suckling, his feet kicking happily under the table. "Maybe a onesie that says 'marry me'?"

"God", Daisy groans. "That's, like, a surefire way to get dumped."

"Oh come on!"

"It's true", Wanda says. She flinches when Daisy suddenly starts hitting her arm like there's a mosquito on it. "What??"

"Jumbotron, jumbotron!"

This time, it's Natasha's turn to intervene. If there's one thing you'd like less than the onesie-idea, it's to be proposed to at one of her basketball games. A proposal in a gym full of sweaty athletes, fellow students and professors sounds like a nightmare.

"Absolutely not", she says firmly. Niko hiccups and spits up, simultaneously unlatching from the bottle. She quickly wipes his mouth. "No jumbotron, no basketball games."

"Boring", Daisy mumbles.

"I have to agree with Natasha", Wanda says. She taps the table and nods. "Did you write anything down? Maybe locations?"

Natasha shakes her head and fishes her phone out of her shorts. She swipes past the lock screen, which is still a half-naked picture of you, and opens one of the apps. She taps on the board she created and hands the phone to Wanda and her finicky eyes.

Daisy leans over her shoulder to peek at it. They're both quiet for a while, scrolling and silently judging. By the time they look up, Natasha's attention has long wavered. She's focused on Niko, who's babbling and playing with her hand.

"You'll need help", Daisy says. Natasha looks up. "I mean, a picnic?"

She frowns. In her mind, it was cute. Private and quiet, no prying eyes. Maybe on a beach, or in some park. Though, there aren't many pretty beaches nearby. And traveling isn't in the cards for you, especially while you're in college and have a baby.

"What's wrong with a picnic?"

"Bugs", Daisy quickly says. "Sand. Birds. Where do you put the baby? I know you guys don't like to leave him with anybody else."

Natasha shrugs. Niko, still in her arms, is now dozing off. The milk managed to make him sleepy.

"I thought I propose with him there."

"No", Daisy says. She frowns and taps a pen against her lips. "Hey, where'd you guys have your first kiss?"

Natasha pauses, one hand gently holding Niko's pacifier. She remembers it, of course, but sometimes, she wishes she didn't. The circumstances weren't romantic. It wasn't like in the movies. It was in a sweaty basement, filled with the stench of alcohol and weed. Everyone was on the floor, spinning a bottle. You kissed her because it landed on her, not because the moment seemed right.

She'd go back and do it differently, if she could. But it's too late for that.

"How's a party at Pietro's sound?"

"My hopes were too high", Daisy says, subtly rolling her eyes. "Your first time, you know..."

Natasha shakes her head. "Nope. Also at the party."

"Saying 'I love you'?"

Her cheeks flush, and her face goes hot. Another moment she wishes she could change. The night of the stabbed basketball, and the rainy hoodie, and the desperate sex in your dorm room. The fighting, the crying. It was all the result of what happened in Miami.

"No", she just says. No need for details, as she feels like they still haven't forgiven her for what she did at Spring Break. "It was in her dorm. We moved out of there, so..."

"Right, right." Daisy sighs and sinks into the red pleather of the booth's seat. "God, you two are complicated."

"You try proposing", Natasha mutters. She gently shifts Niko until she's able to put him back into the carrier. He stirs, but somehow doesn't wake up. "It's harder than it seems."

"Speaking of proposing..."

"No", Daisy says, shooting a glare at Wanda. Natasha frowns at them, and Daisy flips her off. "Don't."

"Are you-"

"Proposal", Wanda quickly says. "Your proposal. What does Y/N like?"

She gives them another skeptical look. They've been acting odd around each other for months now, but neither of them has had the guts to address it yet. She's not sure what exactly is going on, but truthfully, she's too tired to care.

She doesn't press it. Instead, she tries remembering everything you ever expressed fondness for.

"She likes me", she then says, grinning and rubbing Niko's back. All she gets are blank stares, though. "And him, of course."

"You could try taking this seriously", Daisy says, raising her eyebrows. "Seriously, what does she like?"

Natasha sighs and leans back in her seat. Her eyes drift down to Niko, who's sleeping and drooling all over her hoodie. She brushes her fingers over his red curls and tries to think, which is proven difficult due to her running on two and a half hours of sleep.

"Okay", she says slowly. "She likes black coffee. She likes lipstick, I think she has over a dozen of them. Uhm, I have a playlist full of her favorite songs, maybe we can use that. She doesn't like the dark, but she loves it when there are tiny lights everywhere. You know, fairy lights."

Wanda nods and writes everything down. "Fairy lights, there we go. What else?"

"She likes to dance", Natasha admits.

She's been dragged into a slow dance multiple times by you, and she always grumbles and protests. Getting her to actually try is harder than getting Niko to sleep during his sleep regression phase, but she never says no. Even if she's being an idiot.

"Dancing?" Daisy shoots Wanda a doubtful look when she writes that down as well. "How? When?"

"I don't know, hush. Keep going."

"Food", Natasha adds. Niko grunts in his sleep, one foot twitching, and she takes it into her hand. "Like, chocolate-covered anything. And she likes when I dress up a little, so..."

"Suit", Daisy whispers. She earns a glare. "What? You said it first."

"Suit it is", Wanda hums.

"I don't want a suit", Natasha interjects. Shes worn a suit twice so far — to your cousin's wedding, and at your grandfather's 90th birthday. She felt like an idiot playing dress up both times. "It's better if I wear something that's...natural, you know."

Wanda gives her a deadpan look, then adds 'suit' to her list, anyway. If you'll appreciate it, then she's doing it. No doubt.

They spend a total of two hours in the café. By the time they're done, Niko is awake and screaming for another meal. The bottle of pumped milk Natasha brought is empty, so she gets up and silently calculates when your exam should be done.

"I'll send you a text", Wanda says, packing up her stuff. "With the list and everything. Thursday, at my place? We still need to go over the details."

"And the ring", Daisy adds. She touches Wanda's wrist before wrapping her fingers around it, then she leads her outside. Sunlight blinds both Natasha and Niko as she follows them out the door.

"Right", Natasha mumbles, stressing. Niko lets out an unhappy scream. "Okay, okay, I'm getting you food. By the way, can you guys keep your mouths shut around Y/N? I know I told her, but..."

"Yeah", Wanda says, stopping. She reaches into her backpack and fishes out some applesauce for Niko. "No worries."

Natasha hesitates, then grabs the applesauce pouch. You're not the biggest fan of giving Niko sugary food, even if it's just applesauce, but she'd rather he stops crying. She unscrews it and helps him eat some.

"Aunt Wanda to the rescue", she says, smiling kindly.

"Preach", Natasha mumbles. She wipes his chin with her thumb and looks up. "Anyways. Thursday, 10am. Y/N is at a lecture. She'll probably try to skip but I'll make her go."

"All you have to do now is not spoil the surprise", Daisy reminds her. "Don't be an idiot."

Not spoil the surprise — easy enough, Natasha thinks, absently trying to keep Niko from eating her thumb instead. He squeals and grasps at her hand like it's the most precious thing his seven month old little brain has seen.

Little does she know that a), she will be an idiot, and b), not spoiling a surprise is hard when you're this much of a goner for someone.

. . .

Despite your protests and complaints, Natasha manages to make you go to your lecture. It takes a lot of convincing, energy and sweat, but she succeeds. You're not happy about it — you'd rather stay home with Niko, who's somehow teething again (apparently, none of you are catching a break anytime soon), but she finds enough arguments to convince you to go.

You give her a glare. She's in the doorway, dressed in a hoodie and the baby perched on her hip, helping him chew on a frozen piece of cucumber. Unlike you, she doesn't have to get ready for anything. She's spending the day with Niko, at the park, while you have to sit through an entire lecture. That's what she told you, at least.

"What?", she asks, sheepish.

"It's not fair", you say, turning back around and grabbing your makeup bag with a little more force than necessary. "You get to stay here and I have to listen to Gibson talk about statistics for almost two hours."

"It's important", she says, shifting Niko a bit. He tends to suddenly throw himself backwards — an annoying little habit he's developed over the past couple weeks. "You know, it's the last one before the midterm."

"I don't care", you say. You open a lipstick and apply some. "He sends us a video of the lecture, anyway."

Natasha, being who she is, automatically steps closer. You grab her hand and blot your lips with the side of her thumb. It's a routine by now, one neither of you has to acknowledge anymore.

"It's better if you're there in person", she says. Niko tries grabbing your hair, but she stops him. "So you can ask questions."

You turn around and stare at her. "You know I never ask questions."

Of course, you're right. You don't ask questions, and she knows it. She's accompanied you to lectures a bunch of times, mostly when you were pregnant or right after you gave birth to Niko. But she forgot about that little detail.

"Oh", she says dumbly. "Well, I..."

"Told you", you say, turning around again. You adjust your necklace and get up. Natasha watches you leave the bathroom before quickly following you. "There's literally no point in going, but whatever."

"One lecture", she says. "Then you're done for the semester."

You give a dismissive wave of your hand and start looking through your shoe cabinet. High heels, which you started wearing almost immediately after giving birth. A pair of old sneakers Natasha stuffed into the back. Ballet flats and combat boots, and finally, your favorite pumps.

Natasha lingers by the door, Niko still in her arms. She's watching you, carefully, trying to find out what to say to make the look on your face go away. She's pretty sure you're being dramatic, but the dejected expression you're wearing stings.

"It's for your own good", she adds unhelpfully. Niko screeches and grabs her cheek. "You'll focus better."

"I don't need focus", you say. You slip on your pumps and straighten up, then scoop the baby out of her hands. "I don't want to abandon him again."

"You're not abandoning him, he's with his favorite mom."

What she said does make the look of dejection on your face go away — but it's replaced with one of offense and, for some reason, deep disappointment. You glance at Niko, who's perfectly content in your arms, and it's enough to make your bottom lip stick out in a little pout.

Natasha panics. Instead of reassuring you, she only made the guilt worse.

"No, hey, you know what I-"

You glance at her and grin. She lets out a huff when she realizes you were messing with her.

"Calm down, love", you say, putting Niko on your hip. "We both know he prefers me. Walking milk bar and whatever. Don't forget his bottle if you go out, yes?"

On any other day, she'd act offended by this. But there's a smile on your face, on that says 'gotcha', and she's too relieved that her plan will work out to say anything. Instead, she rolls her eyes and reaches for her diaper bag.

Ten minutes after you leave for your lecture, she sneaks out of the apartment as well. You see her car round the corner right after you step out of a café.

It's enough to make you pause for a moment. You shouldn't be worried. Niko's with her, so she's got her hands full. They're probably going out for groceries or something. But all you can think about is her insisting you leave, which resulted in her being alone.

And now, she's leaving without telling you. She didn't even mention it before you left, which makes it feel like a secret. Your stomach twists at the thought, and you feel the guilt hit almost immediately after.

Natasha's not that person anymore. She hasn't been in a long time. These are your insecurities speaking, possibly even stemming from the dozens of marks pregnancy left all over your body.

Confused and still not fully calm, you stand in front of the café for another long moment. Iced latte in hand, sunglasses perched on top of your head. Lipstick, blotted with her pinky. Someone nearly bumps into you, which finally lets you snap out.

"Hey", the guy starts, a studied little smirk on his face. But you direct a glare at him. You're not in the mood to be hit on. "Hey, no worries. I'll just-"

"I'm not interested", you say, voice biting and about to incinerate him with a single look. "Fuck off."

He raises his eyebrows and steps aside, hands lifted. "Yeah, I got that. Jesus Christ."

"Shave that mustache", you add. At this point, you're just being petty. "You look ridiculous."

No reply. He scoffs, hands in his pockets, and hurries down the street. You stand there for another second, shifting in your pumps, then turn around and walk toward campus. Your thoughts, however, remain occupied by Natasha.

. . .

Before she manages to go through with the proposal, she nearly screws up three times. The first time it happens, she's in a jewelry store.

Rings in endless variations, shimmering in polished glass displays. Necklaces, gracing the pulse-less necks of jewelry mannequin stands. A stroller with a drooling baby, and a woman who has no clue what she's looking for. The ring has to be perfect.

Natasha nearly drops her phone when it starts ringing. For a second, she fumbles with it like it's a hot potato — much to Niko's amusement, who starts giggling like this is the most entertaining thing he's ever seen —, then she manages to swipe her thumb across the screen and answer the call.

Her voice, when she speaks, is hurried. "Hello?"

"Hey", you immediately say. You're in your lecture hall, leaning back in your seat. "Prof is giving us a five minute break, thought I'd check in with you."

It's obvious that she didn't expect you to call, at least not yet. She hums noncommittally, silently racking her brain for something to say. Niko kicks his legs in his stroller and screeches, and next to her, a young woman talks.

You freeze at the sound. A woman's voice, close to Natasha, sounding young and soft. Something crawls up your spine, and you're not even sure why.

You can trust her, after all. She's loving and committed. Hell, she doesn't even breathe wrong near other women. However, she did tell you she'd spend the day at home with the baby. Part of you would've expected her to tell you about any possible change of plans.

The saleswoman steps closer to Natasha and hands her another box. There's a ring inside it. One you obviously can't see. If you could, it'd maybe help you tone down your anxiety.

All you see, though, is the narrow table your laptop is on. The pen next to it, the baby sock you carry like a lucky charm. And all you hear is the female voice, mumbling something again. If she's this loud even while speaking softly, she must be standing close to Natasha.

"Who was that?", you ask warily. You hear stuttering, and then that same voice again, and you swallow. "Natasha."

"Just helping me with something", she says after floundering. You nearly let go of your phone. "I'll pick you up later, right? After your lecture. I'll bring you some takeout too, just tell me what you want."

Around you, people start returning to their seats. A guy jumps over the rows to get to his chair, a girl gingerly follows him and giggles. Someone edges past you, apologizing when they almost spill your drink. You, however, barely notice. Not even the professor is importantly, even though he's switching to a new slide already.

All you can focus on is Natasha. Natasha, who said she didn't have any plans. Natasha, who's now definitely losing her shit on the phone while pretending not to. Worst of all? — Wherever she may be, she brought Niko with her.

"I don't want takeout", you snap, absently starting to pack up your stuff. You slam your laptop shut with a little more force than necessary. "When will you be home?"

"Uh..." Natasha gives the saleswoman, who's still holding two new rings, a quick glance. "Half an hour?"

'Romanoff, I'm killing you' — those are the first words that pop into your head. But even with your hand balling into a fist on the table, you manage to exhale and calm down enough not to threaten her over the phone.

"I'll be at Wanda's", you say slowly. You're pushing through the overcrowded rows to get to the exit. "Half an hour, right? Pick me up."

"Sure", she says, nodding dumbly. "No takeout?"

"No. Just be on time, alright? I have to nurse."

Natasha gives the saleswoman a slightly more irritated look when she shows her another ring. But this time, instead of shaking her head no, she pauses. You're still panicking silently, still trying to get the thought of her with another woman out of your head. Natasha, however, has found the piece of jewelry she'll be proposing with.

After this, you get a week long break. Natasha makes plans whenever she gets the chance to — she opens her notes the second you're asleep (which she can usually notice happen as your voice will drift off mid sentence); she calls Wanda to ask about flowers and fairy lights and all kinds of stuff you may like (it was a firm no on the condoms, though); she secretly glances at your own Pinterest boards to see what you have in mind.

She's getting somewhere, slowly but surely. She's got the ring, which she hid in the very corner of her locker. She's got an outfit picked out, stored at Wanda's place. She's rehearsed her speech dozens of times. There aren't many things left to do.

The day you get your exam results is inching closer like a dark cloud in the sky. You can feel the weight on your shoulders, so much so that you've almost forgotten about Natasha's promise — if you fail, I'm proposing. A joke, surely. Nothing to be taken seriously.

Still, the hope lingers. She manages to shatter it anyway, and the second time that happens, you think you're about to lose her for good.

It was supposed to be a long day. Your professor had made you get into groups for a project, so you met up at one of the girls' apartment to get started on it. It was tiring, and your head is still hurting from the unnecessary amount of candles and potpourri she has everywhere, but you finished early. The only logical thing to do is go home.

Standing in front of your apartment, you rummage through your purse. Your nails are red and chipped, a bandaid around your thumb — Niko's favorite chewing toy. You open the door, step in, and freeze.

Nothing. Silence. All the lights are turned off, the stroller is missing, the apartment feels empty. Natasha and Niko usually nap on the couch in the afternoon, but it's empty now.

You smell perfume, though. It's not yours, and it definitely isn't hers, either. You see the hoodie slung over the back of a chair, and you feel your skin start to crawl. It's pink and definitely not her size, and it doesn't belong to you, either.

Miami pops into your head, unbidden and intrusive. Stepping through that door and catching her with a stranger left its marks. You like to pretend it didn't, but you know it's true. Right now, you know it more than ever.

You turn around a few times, like you're expecting her to magically step out from behind a corner. But you're alone, and the apartment is empty, and Natasha is standing in the middle of a lecture hall.

She has no idea how they managed to sneak in here. It's noon on a Saturday, and it was locked — but she shouldn't underestimate Wanda with a hairpin, apparently. It took some wiggling and huffing, but eventually, the lock had clicked.

"You're sure about this?", Daisy asks, dragging her finger over one of the windowsills. A thick layer of dust is left on her finger. "This place is gross."

"It makes sense", Natasha defends herself. She's standing on the stairs that lead all the way down to where the professor stands. Niko's in his stroller, asleep and quiet for once. "I mean, I told you. She's not going to expect this, that's for sure."

"She is", Wanda mumbles under her breath. She's all the way in the back, trying to figure out of to make this happen. She doesn't understand Natasha's plan, either. But she seems intent on doing this her way, and they have no choice but to trust her. She's the one who's proposing, after all. She hopefully knows you better than they do.

Daisy nods at the ceiling. "Think we could hang up fairy lights?"

"Scatter the tables with roses", Wanda adds.

"Nothing too obvious", Natasha insists, her hands tucked into the pockets of her basketball shorts. "It's a surprise."

"I still can't believe you convinced her", Daisy says. She walks to the blackboard and nudges it a little further up. "Maybe draw something on this. Or write. I don't know."

Natasha has never been the most creative person. Her skills lie in the physical fields — in basketball and cardio, not poetry and art. Staring at the blackboard, which is still full of little specks of chalk, she can't come up with anything. The best she can offer would be a game strategy.

Daisy, on the other hand, is approaching this with a little more confidence. A few practiced hand movements later, Natasha and Wanda are staring at something that looks a lot like a certain genital.

"Can you take this seriously?", Natasha eventually snaps.

"It is serious."

"What's coming out of-...oh."

Behind her, Niko grunts in his sleep. He's still dozing, but she knows she's approaching the end of his nap. If she wants to get this done, she needs to be quick. But she's still clueless, and the baby makes another noise, and her phone buzzing is the final straw.

She fishes her phone out of her pocket and curses when she sees your name on the screen. Apparently, you're done early with whatever project you're working on. She'd know what it's about, but she's been a little preoccupied. Not even you could blame her for that.

"Who's that?", Wanda pipes up.

"Wifey", Daisy grins. She adds a condom wrapper and puts the chalk aside. "Look, no more accidental babies."

"Shut up", Natasha hisses. She picks up the call, hands sweating and mouth suddenly dry. Just weeks ago, she was joking about this. Joking about a proposal and marriage, joking about things that are now almost giving her more anxiety than the pregnancy did.

She clears her throat before speaking. You, on the other end of the line, frown.

"Yes?", Natasha says. She clears her throat again, and Niko finally wakes up enough to yawn and stretch. He blinks slowly, arms stretched above his head.

"Where are you? And where's my baby?"

Natasha tugs at the neckline of her shirt, silently trying not to panic. You sound pissed. If there's one thing she's learned, it's that you sounding angry when the apartment is empty is a bad sign. On any other occasion, you'd try and rest a bit. Instead, you're about to chew the hell out of her.

"Uhm", she says dumbly, but you're already on a rant.

"You can't keep doing this, you know! The apartment is empty, you idiot. You're both gone. It smells like perfume. Where the fuck are you? Do you know how worried I am?"

"No, I-"

"Who are you with?", you suddenly demand to know. Her cheeks are red and not by now, her eyes meeting Wanda's. All she gets from your best friend is a shrug.

"Listen", Natasha says. She's trying to explain without giving anything away, which seems impossible in that moment. A few years ago, she would've lied her way out of this without struggling at all. Unfortunately, she's somewhat honest now. "We're just, uh..."

"Okay, 'we'?"

"Wanda and Daisy!", she blurts.

There it is. You go silent on the other end of the line, and all she hears is a slow breath. Relief, probably. Or another wave of anger that's about to drown her.

You huff softly, but it doesn't sound angry anymore. Just tired. "Oh. Right."

"They wanted to see Niko", she continues, glancing at the baby. He's half-awake now, rubbing his eyes and his pacifier close to falling out of his mouth. "I thought, you know...we have the day off anyway."

"Got it", you say, nodding. You're feeling dumb now. Guilty, too. You should know better than to believe she'd do something like that. She's not a cheater. "Just come home soon."

"We're leaving in ten", she promises. You hang up again, and she slips her phone back into her pocket.

It does take them ten more minutes. Wanda gets a list of things to do, Daisy gets a list of things not to do. Natasha doesn't know what she's doing, but she's following her instincts. Hopefully, that'll be enough.

When she gets home, you can't even bring yourself to be mad at her. Red hair, in a low bun. A baby on her hip. A bouquet of roses in her hand, red and fresh. Her green eyes give you a look that's filled with half a dozen different apologies.

You want to cry. You're standing in the doorway, dressed in an oversized shirt and a pair of her boxers, all ready to fight. But she's sweaty and flushed, so all you manage to do is cup her face and kiss her stupid mouth. She doesn't taste different, thank god. Like plain chapstick and toothpaste, nothing else.

Not a hint of perfume on her clothes either, you silently register. Niko squeals and grabs your ear, and that's enough to make you pull away.

"You were worried?", she mumbles, snaking one arm around your waist. The roses press against your lower back. You reach up to brush strands of hair, curling slightly in the heat, from her face.

"Losing my mind, actually." You peck her lips again, your nose brushing against hers. "You brought flowers."

"You deserve them", she says, revealing the bouquet again. You accept it and try to breathe in the scent, but Niko is quicker. His chubby little hand darts forward and grasps one of the flowers. Red petals are squished between his fingers.

You raise your eyebrows at him and take his hand. A ticklish spot on his wrist makes his fingers loosen. Instead of trying to whine and complain, he stretches out his arms so you can pick him up. Natasha, his favorite mom — yeah right.

"He missed you", she adds, following you into the apartment. "I missed you. How was it?"

"The project? Not bad."

Natasha nods and leans against the wall. Her hands are back in the pockets of her shorts, and she's watching you as you change Niko on the couch. It's becoming more and more of a struggle every day. The more he wants to move, the closer he is to rolling off the couch.

"The exam results", she suddenly says. You glance at her, one hand resting on Niko's belly so he doesn't flop over. "Next week. You nervous?"

You grimace slightly. Exam results — two words you don't want to hear right now. You've been pushing those worries aside, as you can't do anything about it anymore either. Part of you is fairly certain you failed, though.

"Don't remind me", you say and reach for the wicker basket on the coffee table. You keep some of Niko's essentials, like diapers and wet wipes, there. "Do you know how much I'll have to work to make up for that? I'll have a nervous breakdown before summer starts, I'm telling you."

Natasha shifts and shrugs, a single red lock coming loose and blocking her left eye. "Not looking forward to it? Can't think of anything good that might happen?"

"Hold still", you mumble. Niko squeals and kicks at your hand, getting some diaper cream on his foot. You give her a quick, doubting look. "Are you on something? What's there to look forward to?"

Asking you this question was her way of gauging your mood. She's been worried about this for a while, because getting proposed to right after receiving a bad grade doesn't sound like the ideal way to get engaged. You might be too disappointed, after all. Or you might end up strangling her.

You're oblivious, though. You're too busy trying to keep your baby from somersaulting off the couch, so you close his diaper and use the heel of your hand to wipe the cream off his toes.

"I mean", Natasha begins. She falters. "I don't know. Like, maybe something nice happens. Come on, you can't be that negative."

The look you shoot at her makes her recoil a little. Eyebrows raised, you turn around to button Niko's onesie back up and scoop him into your arms.

"You're mocking me at this point", you say, irritated, and carry the baby into the bedroom. Natasha follows — she hesitates, but she follows. "You know I've been nervous for weeks, Nat."

"Yes, but-"

You stop in your tracks and whip around, jamming your finger into her chest. Her eyes widen and she comes to a sudden halt. You're in a shirt that's swallowing you whole, diaper cream on your knee and a sleepy baby on your hip. Yet, she's never been more terrified.

Except for once. She's not forgetting about the night in the dorm anytime soon.

"I don't need you to go on and on about this", you say firmly. Niko nuzzles your shoulder with his face and yawns. "I don't keep reminding you of basketball games either when you haven't been practicing enough. So quit it."

She lifts her hands. She's powerless here, and arguing would only make matters worse. If she wants you to say yes, she should probably make sure you don't leave her before she has the chance to ask.

"Alright", she says, furrowing her eyebrows. You sigh and put your hand on Niko's back again. "I'll let it go, babe."

"Good."

Natasha stays in the doorway, watching you sit down and lift your shirt. Six days — that's when you're getting your results back. Six days, and she has to make sure she doesn't screw up. The ring is in her locker already, waiting patiently behind old clothes and a stack of books.

There's not much time to make another mistake. But Natasha's a woman of many talents, and she manages to do it anyway.

. . .

Friday morning. Natasha's been up since 4am, and this time, it isn't Niko's fault. It's her anxiety, the tingling feeling in her stomach, the ring that's now hidden in the back of the closet.

You haven't noticed yet, somehow. You're at the kitchen table, attached to the breastmilk pump and yawning, one hand rocking Niko's bassinet. He's asleep with his hand resting on his tummy. You've been oblivious all morning, but that's about to change.

You watch Natasha as she darts around the kitchen like a restless bird. Pots clatter, the coffee machine grinds, and she curses when she drops a slice of whole grain bread. She bends over to pick it up, then goes back to opening one drawer after the other.

"Nat?", you ask, still rocking the bassinet. She doesn't even look at you. "Hey, babe. How many energy drinks did you have?"

"Huh?" She turns around, eyes sleep-deprived and hair disheveled. "None. Why?"

"You're running around like a headless chicken", you say. "It's making me nervous."

"That's not exactly my issue", she mutters, turning back around. She closes the drawer, but instead of doing it gently, she accidentally slams it back into place. Silverware rattles loudly, and Niko fusses in his bassinet. "Shit, fuck- sorry."

You frown, one hand rubbing the baby's belly. He goes right back to sleep. But what really worries you is Natasha, and her behavior these past couple weeks. She's somewhere else all the time. She's texting people at night, when she thinks you're asleep. You heard her take a call in the bathroom once, her voice a hushed whisper.

Something's going on, and she won't tell you what it is. Not knowing makes it all the more scary.

"Do you want to talk?", you ask and get up. You remove the breast pumps and carry them to the baby bottles by the sink. Natasha immediately leans in, pressing an apologetic kiss to your temple. "You're acting weird."

"Weird?", she mumbles, still nuzzling your temple. Her arms wrap around your shoulders. "Not weird. Hm, you smell nice."

You pull away to give her a confused look, but she doesn't budge. One hand sneaks to the waistband of your sweatpants, but you lightly slap it aside.

"I'm the one who's postpartum", you remind her. "Mood swings are my thing. What's wrong with you?"

Natasha frowns, clearly offended. Still, you see the anxious little flicker in her eyes. The one that hasn't disappeared in weeks. Not fully.

"Wrong?", she asks, putting her hand on your side once more. She hooks her thumb into the waistband. "Nothing's wrong with me. I'm just appreciating my beautiful girlfriend. You're so hot, you know."

"And you're acting off", you retort. You slip out of her embrace and grab the baby bottles. "We're leaving soon. Are you going to keep staring at my ass or make yourself useful?"

Your question doesn't even register. She's been thinking about the engagement ring in the closet all day, but now that she's able to ogle you, it's not the only thing on her mind. Unfortunately, you have different plans.

Before you leave the house, she manages to sneak into the bedroom one more time. The red velvet feels soft beneath her fingertips, and she slides it into her backpack.

You both have class, so you part for the first two hours of the morning. Much to Natasha's relief — she still needs to meet up with Wanda to make sure everything's ready.

Phone in her hand and hair in a low bun, she stands in front of her open locker. She's typing on her phone, her head almost fully inside the dark space. It smells like deodorant and something old, but at least she's not being bothered by anyone. It's quiet, it's allowing her to be deep in thought. All she can see is the lit up screen in her hands.

Then, someone taps her shoulder. Slamming her phone into the locker screen-down, she whips around. The eyes she meets are way too familiar. She sees them every day, every night. She's seen them in every situation imaginable.

There it is. The third time she almost screws it up.

"Y/N", she stutters, blindly reaching for the door of the locker. Her hand slips from it once before she finally shuts it. "What are you- I thought we're meeting in the library."

"We were", you say, a frown on your face. You didn't miss the way she tossed her phone into the locker. "Were you trying to climb in there?"

"No, just..." She shakes her head, sweating already. She thought she'd have at least another half an hour before she'd soak through her shirt, but maybe she was wrong. "Just looking for my hoodie."

You glance at the locker again, think about her phone that's buried somewhere in the mess inside it. Natasha tries to distract you by scooping Niko from your arms, but it doesn't work. She was texting someone. She was hiding inside her locker, and she panicked when you showed up.

You shift your weight from one leg to the other. Your fingers are twisting your earring nervously, but your voice is quiet and sharp.

"If you have something to tell me", you say, "you better tell me now. Seriously. I'm sick of your lies."

Natasha's eyes flicker up from Niko's face. She opens her mouth, but no sound comes out. She was nervous before already — she barely slept, battled nausea and jitters all morning, tried to keep herself from bolting. After all this time, she isn't perfect. Proposing has turned out to be a bigger challenge than she thought it'd be, no matter how committed she might be.

"No lies", she promises. Niko squawks and slaps her chest. "Promise. You just startled me."

"Natasha", you hiss, stepping closer. "Stop lying. What are you hiding?"

She looks at you, heart beating wildly and face dumbfounded. You're not backing down from this. You're inches away from her face, smelling like perfume and looking like you're about to murder her on the spot.

She's trapped. There's no way out. Either she explains, or you're storming out and causing the plans she has to go up in flames. Neither choice is good, but she knows which one sounds less painful. She has to ruin the surprise, even if it stings.

But then, she looks over your shoulder just in time. Daisy is hurrying down the hallway, waving the phone in her hand. The midterm results are in, which means you'll get distracted. Natasha perks up.

"Hey!", she says. You frown and turn around. "Midterms! Came in five minutes ago!"

You blink, then reach into your pocket and pull out your phone. Natasha was right: you are distracted. You're still not happy with her, but you're too focused on logging into the course portal. The grade pops up on your screen, but you don't really have to check it. There's a word next to it, all capital letters and red, which tells you what you need to know.

FAILED.

Natasha peeks at the screen right as you turn off your phone. You're not too surprised, but the result is disappointing anyway. Catching up will be hard.

"Oh", she mumbles. She glances at your face. "Sorry, babe."

"No, I..." You exhale and shake your head. "It's fine. It sucks, but it's fine. I'll catch up, right?"

She hums, eyebrows furrowed slightly. "You're sad. I can think of something to change that."

You give her an irritated look. No way is she trying to use this to initiate sex. You're on campus, in the middle of a hallway, and she's trying to take your clothes off again. But she doesn't flinch, doesn't back down.

"You think that's funny?"

"It's not", she says, her voice sincere. She grabs your hand to lift it to her lips and press a kiss against your knuckles. "I know what'll cheer you up. Don't trust me?"

"No", you quickly reply. Natasha huffs. "You're acting weird. Again."

She tugs at your hand, as insistent as ever. She's always been like this. Even back then when you rejected her time after time, she kept trying. She knew it'd be worth it, and she still does. The only difference is that, now, it isn't about sex.

"Please", she says. Her hand squeezes yours, her feet start to move. The soles of her shoes squeak on vinyl flooring, and you're following her without really realizing. Niko's still in her arms, now dozing off. "Just this once."

"You've said that before", you remind her and narrow your eyes.

Natasha cracks a smile and shrugs. You've rounded the corner and are now approaching one of the lecture halls. Not having expected this, you blink a few times when she leads you towards it. She lets go of your hand to open the door.

Inside, it's different than usual. Not all of it is — the tiered seating, the fold-down chairs, are all the same. The smell of old paper and chalk, too, as well as the empty podium and the large blackboard.

But fairy lights hang from the ceiling. There's a thin stack of papers on one of the tables, as well as a pen next to it. Her cologne is woven through the other, less comforting smells.

You look at her, still wary. "What the fuck."

She rolls her eyes and nudges you toward the seats. You sigh and step closer, glancing at the stack of papers. All that's written on the front is your name in big letters. Natasha's handwriting.

"Sit down", she says. Niko lets out a sleepy yawn, but his green eyes are glued to the lights stretching across the ceiling. "Come find me after."

You shake your head, still staring at the papers. By the time her words have registered, she's left. The door has fallen shut and you're alone in the lecture hall.

The epiphany is sudden and unbearable. This is what she's been so secretive about. You've been distrustful and snippy about it, but she spent weeks working on whatever this is anyway. She kept going until the very last second.

Your footsteps are loud in the empty space. You slowly sit down, eyes on the papers, and reach for the pen. You flip the first page over and skim it — multiple choice questions —, then actually read the first question.

1. Where did we meet?

Ⓡ Library

Ⓓ University's main entrance

Ⓨ Parking lot

Ⓛ Behind a bar

It makes you pause. Every muscle in your body seems to go rigid for a moment. It's a pop quiz, a custom one Natasha made. And you're supposed to sit here, and answer questions, and hopefully find out what the hell she's planned.

You have an idea, but you don't dare hold onto that hope. Maybe this is a setup.

You hesitate for a second, then pull the cap off the pen and put a cross over the Ⓓ. If there's one thing you're not forgetting, it's where you met. How you met, really. You could swear you still feel a slight dent in the back of your head.

You look at the second question and purse your lips.

2. Great choice! What did I throw at you? (Sorry about that)

Ⓩ Water bottle

Ⓖ Eraser

Ⓞ Basketball

It's answer Ⓞ, of course. Your hand instinctively feels for the dent at the back of your head, but you can't find it. You probably imagined having one in the first place.

The next questions continue in a similar manner. From the color of her jersey to your favorite lipstick, your first kiss and your anniversary. You hold your breath when you reach the last one.

8. Who should not have to work a day in their life?

Ⓦ Me

Ⓐ Niko

Ⓤ Random guy from the gym

Ⓜ︎ My wife (you?)

You stare at it for a long while. Another thing you remember. The night you tried and miserably failed to study for your midterm. Endless slides of molecular biology knowledge, a colicky baby, a less than helpful but well meaning Natasha. Suddenly, her intentions are clear.

Your hand shakes as you put a cross over the Ⓜ︎. You skim the answers, the letters of the answers to be exact, and write them down one by one.

D - O - R - M R - O - O - M

You shove the pen aside with so much force that it rolls off the table, but you ignore it. Instead, you get up and leave the fairy lights-adorned space that Natasha may have changed forever. If you ever have another lecture here, you won't be able to think about anything else.

You know what she's talking about. Your old dorm — it's where you spent a majority of your relationship. Before Niko, before you even thought about calling this love. Back then, getting to the point you're at now seemed impossible. But things are different.

Your heart is pounding in your ears. Whatever she's about to do — she means it. That alone makes the weeks of fear and uncertainty worth it. Suddenly, the way to the dormitory seems unnecessarily long.

The door creaks when you push it open. Inside the hallway of the dorm, it still smells the exact same as it did about a year ago. Mildew, citrus, beer. There's a cigarette butt and some shards on the floor, but you ignore those. You reach the elevator and repeatedly push the button to make the old device react.

The doors seem to be stuck for a moment, then they finally slide open. You press the button to the desired floor without having to think about it. They slide open again, revealing a hallway that's dark and familiar. You step out and stare at the door across from you.

There were stickers on it once. Tons of them, covering it and giving it a little life. Whoever moved into the dorm room now peeled them off. They're all gone, except for a little part of Strawberry Shortcake's hat.

You hesitate when you see the flicker of light coming from the narrow gap underneath the door. But then you step closer, and the doorknob still feels round and cold in your hand, and a single twist of it reveals your old dorm room. Your heart stumbles when you see it.

A twin bed and a desk. An old closet. More fairy lights, a bunch of candles, and Natasha going down on her knee so fast she almost topples over. For once, she's in a suit. It's even ironed. You didn't think that detail would be the one to make you tear up, but somehow, it is.

The best part is her face, though. You've never seen her this nervous, and the tears in your eyes only worsen the anxiety. Her hands shake when she pulls out a little velvet box and opens it, and the ring inside shimmers.

"Y/N-", she begins, voice just as unsteady. You don't really need to hear the rest, though. You're seeing enough, and you've known your answer to this for a while.

"Yes."

She looks up and blinks. Her eyebrows furrow a little and she tries to shift her weight. "Dude, I have a speech prepared."

You shake your head and rub your eyes. "Sorry, I..." You let out a choked little laugh and gesture at her. "You look ridiculous. Keep going."

Natasha stares for another moment, her heart thrumming. She clears her throat and tries to remember what she wrote down — a full page, which is impressive considering she doesn't like to write much. But the words fail her, and so she needs to improvise.

"I practiced this in front of the mirror", she explains, absently toying with the ring box. "I tried. I got interrupted. This will probably suck, you know, but I make up for it in other ways. Promise."

"Yeah", you mumble, nodding. "You do."

"I try", she adds. "Every day. For you and Niko. I don't want him to remember a day where there wasn't a ring on your finger. He should know how amazing his mom is. Because you are, and I want you to know that. I want to be the one telling you that forever. Every game I win is for you."

At this point, you're barely keeping yourself from dragging her off the floor and into a kiss. Your eyes are burning, your jaw is set stubbornly. But Natasha is still reciting quotes from the poetry book that her mind has turned into, and truthfully, it's too sweet to interrupt.

"I'm sweating through my shirt", she says, shifting again. You've seen her restless before, usually at important events. If she could, she'd wear sweatpants and a hoodie everywhere. "I ironed it myself. I think you can tell."

"I can't", you say. You opt for a faint smile, but your eyes are burning. "I don't know how to iron, either. Sorry about that."

Natasha smiles back, her grip on the ring box getting tighter. The fairy lights around her flicker softly and she looks down at the floor. She swore to herself she wouldn't cry, but she doesn't think she'll be able not to.

"That's fine", she says. "We'll survive wrinkly clothes. We survived everything else, too."

"Dramatic", you whisper. But she's right, anyway. You survived months of living off ramen, you survived the fights and the days where you didn't think it'd get better. Months of pining, which was worse because it was mutual.

There was no communication. All you knew was to get loud.

"No", Natasha says. "Not dramatic. I was the worst version of myself and you still wanted me. That's really fucking impressive, by the way. And...I had a quote prepared, but I think I forgot."

You shake your head. It feels like the room is spinning. "Don't worry about it."

"I'm sweating through my suit", she adds, tugging at one lapel. "This was supposed to be longer, but I kinda feel faint. And I can't really ask you if I pass out, so...”

Natasha holds the box a little higher. She tilts her head to the side and smiles, but her voice cracks. "Marry me?"

You've said yes already. A bunch of times, actually — when you walked into the lecture hall and took the fake pop quiz. When you walked to your old dorm. When you saw her on one knee, hair just slightly messy and cheeks as pink as if she'd been practicing basketball for hours. She never needed to finish the speech.

You say it again, anyway.

"Yes."

Natasha stares, heart pounding faster than when they won the championship game last March. She almost drops her ring on her way to you, but remembers its purpose in the last second.

Her hand grips yours, and the piece of jewelry is slid onto your ring finger. Before she can do much else, you've grabbed the front of her suit and pulled her into a kiss that makes her stumble.

She catches herself quickly, though, and her hands land on your waist. She doesn't resist when you walk her backwards. In fact, a very obvious part of her seems to approve of being pushed onto the twin bed.

Natasha paid the girl who lives here now $200 to move her stuff out for the day and let her use the room. She never said anything about using the bed, but that's a problem for later. You're straddling her already, which makes it hard to think anyway.

Your hands fumble with the buttons of her shirt. Your mouth presses against hers again and again, lips slick and noses bumping.

"Where's...the baby?...", you ask in between kisses. You finally slip off her shirt.

"Daisy", she mumbles. She pulls away to start peppering kisses along your neck, down to your collarbone. In the middle of sucking a hickey into your skin, she pauses. "Hey, I remember the quote."

"Not the time", you say, pushing her down. Your hands reach for her zipper, opening it and pulling at her slacks. She lifts her hips to help you. "No condom?"

She shakes her head and watches you undress. Her chest is heaving with each breath, and she's fighting hard for every single one. "We risked it once. Turned out fine."

You hum and sink down. You both moan at the same time, and you bury your hands in her hair once you've undone her braid. She leans in to bury her face in your chest.

"Love you", she mumbles. Hands on your hips, she guides every movement. "Thank you for saying yes."

You scoff, but it melts into a moan when she thrusts up into you. "Don't- don't thank me. Ruins it."

"You're right."

Natasha's fingers curl into your skin, her thumbs rubbing circles into it. Little stretch marks look like a map, and she's memorized them a while ago. Her lips press kisses to your chest, her face nuzzling it. You come with her body under yours and her ring on your finger.

Moments later, you're curled up on the bed together. You're playing with strands of her hair. The room smells like candles and the chocolate covered strawberries she forgot on the dresser.

Her hand runs up and down your back, tracing your spine. A kiss is placed on your forehead. You look up, immediately seeing her eyes, and tilt your head at the look in them. She smiles lazily.

"Want to hear the quote?"

#natasha romanoff #natasha romanoff x reader #black widow #black widow x reader #x reader #x yn #wlw #lesbian #marvel #marvel mcu #short n sweet au #short n sweet #fluff #wlw smut #smut #moon’s fics

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uncuredturkeybacon · 1 month ago

Text

𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚝 || 𝚙𝚊𝚒𝚐𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚎𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚡 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

in which you and paige made a promise to each other

There’s something about summer air in Minnesota that makes everything feel bigger than it is. The stars. The spaces between conversations. The ache in your chest when you look at someone a second too long and they don’t notice. Or maybe they do, and they don’t say anything.

You’re lying on your back on a trampoline in someone's backyard. Paige Bueckers is beside you, a little too close for comfort, a little too far to do anything about it.

The night smells like fresh cut grass and burnt marshmallows. The air’s sticky with warmth, the kind that doesn’t ask for a hoodie. There’s a party still going on inside the house, faint music filtering through the screen door—Drake, probably, or SZA. But out here, it’s just you and Paige, staring up at a sky that’s trying its best to impress you.

Paige sighs dramatically, the kind of breath that says “I’m about to say something stupid” before it even happens.

“So,” she says, breaking the silence, “what if we just... suck at dating forever?”

You turn your head toward her slowly, narrowing your eyes. “Are we starting the night with existential dread already?”

She laughs. “No, I’m serious. What if we just never find someone? What if this is it?”

You raise a brow. “You mean this as in... us lying on a trampoline hiding from people drinking warm White Claws?”

“Yeah.” She’s smirking now. “Like, this is peak romance and we didn’t even know it.”

You roll your eyes. “Speak for yourself. I’m still waiting for my movie moment.”

Paige grins, eyes catching the glint of the string lights that line the fence. “Okay, fine. But what if thirty rolls around, and you’re still single, and I’m still single—what then?”

“Then we cry about it on FaceTime and watch The Notebook in separate time zones?”

“No,” she says, voice dipping lower, almost hesitant now. “Then we marry each other.”

You blink.

She keeps her eyes on the stars like she didn’t just drop a loaded sentence between you. Like this is just a casual idea.

You shift, propping yourself up on your elbow so you can see her better. “Wait. Are you saying we make a pact?”

She nods without looking at you. “Yeah. A real one. If we’re both single at thirty, we just... do it. Tie the knot. Easy.”

You scoff. “Easy?”

“Easiest decision ever,” she says, finally turning to face you. “I already know your weird habits. You already know I leave two sips of everything because I have commitment issues.”

“You do.”

“You eat the same three things for lunch and have a playlist for literally every emotion.”

You smile despite yourself. “And?”

“And I like you better than I’ve ever liked anyone I’ve dated,” she says, softer now. “Not like, like like. Just... you’re my favorite person.”

Your heart beats louder than it should.

You mask it with sarcasm. “Aw, Bueckers. Is this your way of asking me to prom?”

“Prom’s next week,” she says with a smirk. “It’s too late. But thirty’s wide open.”

You laugh, pushing her shoulder gently. She exaggerates the motion like you tackled her. You’re both giggling now, bodies still bouncing slightly with the motion of the trampoline.

Then she quiets again. Voice small. Real.

“I’m serious, though. You and me. If it doesn’t happen with anyone else… why not?”

You stare at her.

She’s seventeen and golden and brilliant and so much more sure of herself than she should be. But there’s something in the way she says it. Not flippant. Not a joke.

Hopeful.

You take a breath. Hold out your pinky.

“Alright. If we’re both single at thirty…”

She links her pinky with yours instantly.

“We get married,” she finishes.

You nod. “Deal.”

And then, because you can’t help yourself, you whisper, “You’ll probably forget.”

She looks at you like you just insulted her entire bloodline. “I won’t.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“I won’t,” she insists.

“You’ll be off winning WNBA championships and crossing people over or whatever.”

She grins, cocky. “Okay, true. But I’ll still remember.”

You shrug, like you’re not secretly hoping she means it.

“Alright then. It’s a deal,” you repeat, letting your pinkies fall apart, but not the moment.

She stares at you a second longer than necessary.

Then she rolls onto her back again, hands behind her head, eyes on the stars like nothing just shifted between you.

But it did.

You feel it.

You don't realize until much later that this was the night Paige decided what forever looked like.

And it was you.

Years have a funny way of moving fast when you're not looking. One minute you're seventeen on a trampoline. The next, you're twenty-one at a graduation party with someone else's lipstick on your cheek and your phone buzzing in your back pocket.

It’s a picture from Paige — her in cap and gown, beaming, with “UConn Legend” written in white marker across her mortarboard.

Paige: Made it. No torn ACL could stop me. Just the terrifying future ahead. Also I miss your dumb face.

You grin. Your heart squeezes a little, like it always does when she says something unexpectedly sweet.

You: Your dumb face graduated? Unbelievable. When’s the parade? I’ll bring confetti and judgment.

Paige: Confetti welcome. Judgment expected. You still owe me a post-college road trip btw.

You: You still remember that?

Paige: I remember everything.

You let that one sit too long before you respond. You always do.

You’re in Chicago by now. Paige is in Dallas, bouncing between WNBA training camp and events she’s been invited to. You FaceTime late at night — her hair in a messy bun, hoodie drawn up to her chin, bags under her eyes from practice.

“Tell me something good,” she says.

You’re curled on your couch, legs tucked under a blanket, nursing your third glass of boxed wine. “I got ghosted by a woman who said I was ‘too emotionally literate.’ So, that’s something.”

Paige groans. “God, that’s actually a compliment.”

“You’d think. Apparently knowing my attachment style is a red flag.”

She smiles. “Well, for the record, I like that you’re emotionally literate.”

You glance at her through the screen. “What about you? Any secret girlfriends I should hate on sight?”

She hesitates for just a second too long. Then shrugs.

“Nothing that stuck,” she says. “People get weird about the schedule. The travel. The fame thing.”

You nod. “Yeah. That makes sense.” There’s a pause. “Sometimes I feel like everyone I date wants a version of me that doesn’t really exist.”

She hums. “I don’t want a version of you.”

You look up.

She’s watching you through the screen.

“I just want you.”

Your breath hitches.

She catches herself. Backpedals fast. “As a friend! Like—obviously. Duh. I mean. Yeah.”

You laugh, covering your heart with sarcasm. “Smooth.”

She blushes. “Shut up.”

But later, as the call ends and you set your phone down, the echo of her voice lingers like something you should’ve held tighter.

You visit her. Not for any special reason — you just needed to get out of the city, and she said “Come over.” That was enough.

It’s late. You’re two drinks in on her couch, legs tangled under a shared blanket, watching reruns of The Office for the thousandth time. She throws popcorn at you every time you quote a line wrong.

“I swear, your memory’s gotten worse,” she says, chucking another kernel.

You catch it in your mouth. “And yours is terrifyingly accurate.”

She shifts, pulling the blanket tighter around both of you. “I remember everything. Seriously.”

You turn to her. “Everything?”

She nods.

There’s a lull.

And then she says, without looking at you, “I still remember the trampoline.”

You freeze.

“…What?”

She keeps her eyes on the screen. “That night. The pact. I meant it.”

Your throat goes dry. “Paige…”

“You don’t have to say anything,” she rushes. “I just — I think about it sometimes. How easy it felt, you know? Being with you. Like maybe we already had something people spend years looking for.”

You don’t know what to say.

She finally glances at you. “You ever think about it?”

Your voice is barely a whisper. “Sometimes.”

It hangs in the space between you.

You don’t kiss her. You don’t move closer. You both just sit there, holding the maybe of it.

And then the episode ends. The next one starts. Neither of you speaks again.

But she remembers that night too.

Your birthday. You’re in a new apartment in a new city. A new job. A new almost-girlfriend who doesn’t quite understand why your smile falters when Paige’s name pops up on your phone.

12:01 a.m.

Time’s almost up.

That’s all it says.

You stare at it.

Your almost-girlfriend is asleep beside you, breathing softly.

You don’t reply right away.

You lock your phone and turn toward the wall.

But your heart? Your heart answers back immediately.

You forget. You really do. With everything else going on — deadlines, bills, the mess of a half-put-together life — the pact feels like a dream from a different version of yourself.

You assume she forgot too.

It’s late.

Most of your birthday texts have come and gone. A few phone calls. One coworker sent a meme of a gravestone with “RIP your twenties” etched into it. You laughed politely. You don’t feel old, exactly. Just… removed. Like the years built a soft blur around who you used to be, and you're not sure which version of you today is the most true.

You spent the day with a few friends. Drinks. Takeout. Laughter that didn’t always reach your chest. Now, the apartment is quiet. Everyone’s gone. You’re in sweatpants, hoodie half-zipped, makeup long wiped away. You don’t feel particularly 30. You just feel… still.

The knock on the door is unexpected.

You glance at the time. 9:07 p.m.

Cautious, curious, you open it.

There she is.

Paige Bueckers.

In a jean jacket over a hoodie, hair pulled into a loose braid, cheeks a little pink from the cold. One hand holds a bouquet of tulips—white, your favorite. The other hand holds something small. Square. Velvet.

Your stomach drops.

“Hi,” she says.

You blink. “Are you—did I forget we were—?”

“No,” she says. “But I didn’t.”

You stare.

She shifts her weight like she might flee if you blink too hard. “I know this is a little insane. I know. I just… I didn’t want to let today pass.”

You glance at the ring box.

“Paige.”

“It’s not pressure,” she blurts. “It’s not—I’m not trying to, like, ambush you. I just remembered what we said. That night. On the trampoline. And I guess I’ve just… remembered it ever since.”

You step aside, nodding slowly. “Come in.”

She does. The air around her carries something familiar, a little wind, a little warmth, a lot of nerves.

You close the door. “You remembered.”

“Every year,” she says softly. “Every birthday. Yours, mine. I never forgot.”

You lean against the back of your couch. Your legs feel like they might give.

“And now that we’re here?” you ask.

She breathes out. Sets the tulips down on your kitchen counter. Still holds the ring box. Doesn’t open it.

“I didn’t know if I’d actually come,” she admits. “I’ve had it in my drawer for three months.”

“The ring?”

She nods. “I got it engraved. Dumb maybe, but…”

She flicks it open and shows you.

Since 17.

It knocks something loose in your chest.

“Paige…”

“You don’t have to say yes,” she says, voice quick now, scared of the silence. “I don’t even know what this is. Maybe you don’t feel the same. Maybe it’s just me still stuck in a night we barely remember the same way. But I couldn’t not come. I couldn’t—if there was even a chance, I had to try.”

You walk over slowly.

Her eyes track you like you might disappear.

You reach for the ring box, closing it gently with your fingers still over hers.

“I didn’t forget the pact,” you say.

She looks up, startled.

You laugh under your breath. “I didn’t let myself think about it. That’s different. I buried it under jobs and people and cities and time. But I remembered.”

Her voice wavers. “Then why didn’t you ever bring it up?”

“Because I didn’t think you meant it.”

She steps back like you hit her.

“I always meant it,” she says, almost breathless. “God. You think I kept texting you on every birthday because I was joking? You think I came to your city every chance I could just to hang out casually? You think I called you during every off-season just because I was bored?”

Your eyes sting.

“I thought I was the backup plan,” you whisper.

“No,” she says firmly, taking a step closer. “You were the plan. You were always the plan.”

You let the silence bloom.

There’s no music. No outside noise. Just your apartment and the hum of everything that never got said until now.

Finally, you speak.

“I’m not ready to say yes.”

She flinches. “Okay.”

“But I’m not saying no either.”

Her eyes dart to yours.

You take the ring box from her hands. “I want to say… give me tonight.”

“Just tonight?”

You smile softly. “Let me remember how it feels. Being around you. You. Not the past, not the pact. Just... this.”

She nods.

And then—almost like muscle memory—she moves to the kitchen to grab two glasses.

“You still drink that dumb hibiscus tea?”

You laugh. “Only when I want to feel mysterious.”

She pours the water. Boils it. Sits beside you on the couch like she never left.

And for the first time in years, nothing feels far away.

It’s barely morning when you wake.

Sunlight filters in through your kitchen window in faint, forgiving strokes. You’re curled up on the couch with a blanket around your shoulders and the faintest ache in your neck — a leftover from staying still too long in a moment that didn’t feel real.

Paige is sitting at the kitchen table.

She’s in the same hoodie from last night, her legs pulled up into the chair like she always did in college when she was trying to disappear. A mug of tea cradled in both hands, steam rising slowly into the soft quiet.

You watch her for a minute.

She doesn’t know you’re awake yet.

Her eyes are on the small velvet ring box sitting on the table.

Still closed. Still waiting.

Like her.

You shift, and the couch creaks slightly. She turns.

“Oh,” she says, voice low, careful. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You didn’t,” you reply, stretching slowly. “Been up long?”

“Not really.” She hesitates. “Didn’t sleep much.”

You sit up, blanket still wrapped around your shoulders like armor. “Too many thoughts?”

She smiles gently. “Something like that.”

You nod, rubbing your hands over your face. “Want breakfast?”

She shakes her head. “I can get something on the way out.”

You look at her. “You’re leaving?”

“Well…” She looks down at the ring box again. “I wasn’t sure what you wanted.”

“I didn’t say no,” you remind her.

She nods. “I know. But you didn’t say yes either.”

You get up, feet padding softly on the wood floor, and walk to the table. You don’t sit yet. You just stand behind the empty chair across from her and look down at the ring box too.

It looks so small from up here. Insignificant almost. But you know better. There’s a lifetime tucked into that hinge.

“I wasn’t ready to say anything last night,” you say softly.

“I know,” she replies.

“I didn’t know how I felt. Still don’t, exactly. But…” You pause. “You stayed.”

She meets your eyes. “Of course I did.”

“And you didn’t ask for anything.”

“I didn’t come to ask,” she says. “I came to remind.”

You sit down slowly. Your fingers hover over the velvet box but don’t touch it. “Remind me of what?”

She swallows. “Of what we were. Of what we still might be. Of what I’ve been holding onto every time I said your name out loud like it meant more than just ‘friend.’”

You’re quiet for a long time.

She doesn’t fill the silence. That’s always been one of her best qualities—Paige knows how to wait without making it feel like pressure.

You glance at the box.

“You really bought this three months ago?”

She nods. “Didn’t know if I’d use it. But I couldn’t not have it.”

You press your palm flat on the table. Not touching her, not yet. Just there.

“It wasn’t a joke,” she says. “It never was. Even at seventeen. I meant it. Every birthday, every text. Every time I saw you with someone else and thought, ‘God, she deserves better.’ Every year we didn’t talk for a while and I still saved your number just in case.”

You lift your eyes slowly.

“Say it again,” you whisper.

She breathes in. Steady. Strong. “You were always the plan.”

Your throat tightens.

You nod once. Just once. Then you open the box.

The ring catches the light in the most unassuming way — not flashy, not grand. Just simple. Solid. Familiar.

You slide it out, turn it in your fingers, read the engraving again.

Since 17.

You set it gently down beside your tea. And finally, finally, you reach across the table and take her hand.

“I want to figure this out,” you say. “Not out of obligation. Not because of some promise made under the stars and trampoline nets. I want this because you showed up.”

Her eyes shine, lips parting in the tiniest smile.

“And because,” you add, “you’re the only one who ever waited without asking me to hurry.”

She exhales, thumb brushing over your knuckles. “So what now?”

You squeeze her hand. “Now we don’t rush.”

She smiles, wide and quiet and a little shaky. “So… I keep the ring?”

“For now,” you grin. “Don’t get cocky, Bueckers.”

She lets out a breathless laugh. “God, I missed that.”

You lean in. Just a little. “Then stay.”

“I will,” she whispers, squeezing your hand like it’s the only thing holding her together.

And maybe it is.

The house is loud.

Your daughter is singing the Bluey theme song at full volume from somewhere in the hallway. Your son is crying because the waffle you gave him broke in half. And the dog — all seventy pounds of golden retriever joy — is sprinting back and forth with a half-eaten stuffed duck in his mouth like it’s his job to personally raise the decibel level.

You’re barefoot in the kitchen, cradling a lukewarm mug of coffee in both hands like it might save your life.

There’s crayon on the fridge.

Your daughter added a rainbow to the corner of the calendar and signed her name in uneven block letters.

It’s a mess.

It’s perfect.

And in the middle of it all is Paige.

She’s wearing an oversized T-shirt that used to be yours and a pair of shorts that are barely hanging on. Her hair is pulled into a half-bun, and she’s got a pink hair tie looped around her wrist because Jayda insists they match every morning.

She’s kneeling on the floor with your son in her lap, holding him and whispering something that makes him hiccup through his tears. Slowly. Gently. The same way she used to talk you down from a spiral when the world felt too big.

“Hey,” you say from the doorway.

She looks up. Smiles.

It still hits you. Every single time.

“Crisis averted,” she says, rubbing your son’s back. “The Waffle Tragedy will not go down in history.”

“Are you sure? I think he’s already drafting a memoir.”

Your son sniffles.

Paige whispers, “Tell Mama you’re okay now.”

He nods into her shoulder.

You walk over and crouch beside them, brushing his curls back gently. “Good job, little man.”

He reaches for you with chubby arms and mumbles, “Wuv you.”

“I love you too.”

Paige stands up slowly and stretches, arms high, groaning like she’s eighty. “I need like... six more hours of sleep and a coffee the size of my head.”

You hand her your mug. “You can have mine. I only drank half.”

She takes it and sips. “Lukewarm. Just how I like it.”

You grin. “Liar.”

She leans in and kisses you. It’s quick. Familiar. Soft. The kind of kiss that comes with a hundred other ones before it.

From the hallway, your daughter yells, “MAMA! MOMMY! THE DOG STOLE MY HEADBAND AGAIN!”

You both groan.

Paige mumbles against your mouth, “Your child.”

You pull back with a raised brow. “She’s literally your clone.”

“Emotionally. But the drama? That’s all you.”

You chuckle, standing with her now, arms brushing as you head toward the hallway chaos together. But then you pause.

She notices and turns.

You’re watching her.

The kitchen. The kids. The crayon art. The ring still on her finger, older now, a little scratched, a little worn, but still there.

“I was just thinking,” you say.

“Uh-oh,” she teases. “That’s dangerous.”

You smile. “You really did mean it.”

She tilts her head. “The pact?”

You nod. “All of it.”

Paige steps closer and takes your hand. The same way she did on your 30th birthday. Like no time has passed at all.

“I still do,” she says.

Your son tugs on your pant leg.

Your daughter runs in with the dog trailing behind her, headband around his neck like a crown.

And you?

You laugh.

You press your forehead to Paige’s and say, “God, I’m so glad you showed up that night.”

She smiles.

And you both turn, hand in hand, back into the storm you built together.

Because this?

This is forever.

And she always meant it.

#paige bueckers x reader #paige bueckers #uconn women’s basketball #uconn wbb #paige buckets #paige x reader #lesbian #wlw #wuh luh wuh #wnba x reader #dallas wings

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oikarma · 3 months ago

Text

look me in the eye | pt.3

pairing: max verstappen x rbr!engineer!reader

summary: the rb21 is unfixable-the whole world knows that, now-but you've become so much more than just his engineer and they should know that too.

a/n: i just...max verstappen...and thank you guys sm for the love you've shown this series! here is the last part <3

part one / part two / part three

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝

The moment you step out of the storage room-you figured that out when Max shoved you against a nice metal rack and some probably important things crashed to the ground-reality crashes down on you like a tidal wave.

You just kissed Max Verstappen.

Max Verstappen just kissed you.

You don't know how it can get worse, but it will. He looks completely at ease, like he didn't just change the trajectory of your entire life in the span of a few heated seconds. Meanwhile, you feel like you're about to combust. Your lips are still tingling, your mind racing, and you’re suddenly hyperaware of the noise outside: the team is still celebrating, the media is still circling, and maybe you're being a little dramatic but people will want answers that you can't give.

Max notices your panic before you can even say anything. He leans in slightly, lowering his voice. "Breathe."

You shoot him a glare that lacks any real venom. "Don't tell me what to do."

His lips twitch. "Then don't look like you’re about to pass out." Which is ironic, because if he hadn't kissed you senseless, you probably wouldn't look like...whatever you look like right now. You need a mirror. Your hair is all messed up from the frenzy-his is too, though it suits his post-race look-and you straighten the collar of your shirt.

Damn you. You shove past him, desperate for space, for air, for something that isn't Max Verstappen and his infuriating ability to act like everything is fine. Your body betrays you, though, because even as you move, you feel his warmth lingering, his presence like a gravitational pull you can’t escape.

And then, as if the universe is determined to make your life a nightmare, Christian Horner appears. The devil himself.

You barely manage to school your expression into something neutral as he approaches, eyes sharp, mouth set in a line that promises nothing good.

"Max." He nods at Red Bull's star driver before turning to you. "We need to talk."

Max doesn't move. "She's busy," he quips.

You whip your head toward him, eyes wide. "Max."

Christian doesn't look amused. "Now."

You sigh, throwing Max one last look before following Christian into one of the back offices. The second the door closes, he lets out a heavy breath and pinches the bridge of his nose like he's trying to will away a migraine.

"You know why we're here."

You cross your arms, steeling yourself. "If this is about that stupid interview-"

"Stupid?" Christian cuts you off and his eyes narrow quickly. "Do you have any idea what you just walked into? The media is losing it. The fans are in a frenzy. And now I have PR breathing down my neck asking if Max Verstappen is in a relationship with one of his engineers."

This isn't good. No, not at all. Today is not a good day to have Christian Horner mad at you. "It's not-"

"It doesn't matter what it is," Christian interrupts. "Believe me. The only thing I care about is what it looks like."

You don't have an argument for that. Because he's right. Perception is everything in this sport, and right now, the perception is that you are tangled up in something that no team principal wants to deal with.

Christian sighs and it's like all his fury is evaporating. "Look. I really don't care what you do in your personal life. I don't even care what Max does, as long as he keeps winning. But I need to know if this is going to be a problem."

You hesitate. "Define 'a problem.'"

Christian levels you with a look. "Are you going to be a distraction? To him? To yourself?"

Your mind flashes back to the kiss, to the way Max looked at you like you were the only thing in the world that mattered in that moment. Your heart stutters.

"No," you say, more firmly than you feel. "This doesn't affect my work."

Christian watches you for a long moment, then nods. "Good. Then handle it."

You swallow. "Handle it?"

"Either shut it down or control the narrative," he says. "But I don't want any more surprises."

You nod, even though you don't know what exactly you're affirming with that nod. The problem is, you don't know if you can shut it down. You don't know if you even want to.

When you leave the office, Max is leaning against the wall, waiting. Of course he is.

He leaps up when he sees you. "What did he say?"

"That I need to handle it," you explain.

Max’s expression doesn’t change. "And are you going to?

"I don’t know."

There it is again. You can't read Max Verstappen. He asks, "Do you want me to?"

All your problems come from the same thing-you should say yes, no, whatever it takes to shut down all this that's happening. You should make him go on some press circuit and laugh it off as a misunderstanding, to make sure your name isn't attached to his ever again. You should be walking away from this mess because it's not part of your job description and getting involved with an athlete never seems to end well. Even if it's Max Verstappen.

But you don't.

You never do, it seems.

Instead, you look at him: the way his jaw is clenched, the way his fingers twitch like he wants to reach for you but won't unless you let him, and you keep making the same choice.

"I think," you say carefully, "we should talk."

Max’s lips curve slightly. "Dinner?"

You groan, shoving his shoulder. "Not helping."

His laugh is soft, but there's something else in his eyes now. Something serious. "Then let’s talk."

It's been a long time coming, but right there, you realize you're past the point of no return.

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝

The ride back to the hotel is suffocating. Not the air-no, the air-conditioning in Max's car is great, thankfully, because it sure cost a lot-but because Max is sitting next to you, silent, his fingers drumming against his thigh so close to you if he shifts just a little his hands will be on yours. You push that thought aside. Now's not a good time to get worked up over him. Not now.

You should say something. You should clear the air. But every time you open your mouth, nothing comes out. Instead, you replay everything in your head: the kiss, the way he looked at you after, Christian's warning, and the way Max had asked if you wanted him to handle it. Like it was his responsibility. Like he was willing to do whatever you asked, even if it meant pretending none of this ever happened.

The thought unsettles you more than it should.

"You're thinking too much."

You blink, snapping out of your spiral. Max is watching you instead of the road. Stupid, stupid.

You roll your eyes. "And you’re not thinking at all."

He smirks, eyes darting back forward for a moment before they rest on your face. "That’s not true. I'm thinking about dinner."

"Max, this isn't a joke." You let out a frustrated sigh, turning to face him.

"I know." He's suddenly serious, his voice quieter. "That's why we should talk. Properly. Without Christian breathing down your neck."

You hesitate. You know he's right. You can't keep avoiding this, can't pretend that what happened in the storage room didn't just flip your world upside down. But you also don't know how to have this conversation without risking everything.

Max waits patiently, letting you come to your own conclusion. He always does that. He gives you space, but never too much. Always just enough to make sure you don’t run.

"Fine," you mutter. "But not dinner. We saw how that went."

He raises a brow. "Drinks?"

"No."

"A walk, then."

You sigh, but you don't argue. You suppose a walk is neutral territory. You can talk without the pressure of sitting across from him at a table, without the weight of eye contact that lasts too long.

When you arrive at the hotel, you don't give yourself time to hesitate. You step out, waiting for him, and he follows without question after tossing his keys at the valet. There's a cool breeze, and you focus on that instead of the way your fingers still tingle from where they brushed against Max's earlier.

You walk side by side, the silence stretching, but it isn't uncomfortable. It never is. That’s part of the problem, isn't it? It's always been too easy with him.

"I meant what I said," Max finally says. "I don't want this to be a problem for you."

"It's not that simple, Max."

"It could be."

You huff out a short laugh. "For you, maybe."

He stops walking, and you do too, turning to face him. There's something in his expression that makes your breath catch.

"I like you," he says, and your heart stutters. "And I think you like me too."

You swallow hard. "Max-"

"I know it's complicated. I know Christian is watching us like a hawk. I know you're worried about your job, your reputation." His voice is steady, unwavering. "But I'm not going to pretend this isn't happening just because it's inconvenient."

Your mouth feels dry. It does sound simple when he's saying it.

"Tell me to stop. Tell me this is nothing, and I'll walk away."

You hate him for that. Hate him for putting the choice in your hands, for making you responsible for whatever happens next.

But you don't tell him to stop. You don't say anything at all. You look at him clearly: this man you've watched grow up from a boy. You've seen him destroy things in fits of rage after bad races, you've seen him beam like the sun, and you've seen the way his eyes turn stormy oceans when they look at you. He sees you too.

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝

bahrain 2025 post-race interview

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝

y/n 🌎 gee, max, you're going to get to my ego

y/n 🌎 first "my everything," then "the constant"

y/n 🌎 and what's that about always? i don't believe that.

my mashed potato Are you referring to us or you being the constant? Because I don't believe in that either, but you have me as long as you want

y/n 🌎 are you SERIOUSLY CHECKING YOUR PHONE DURING AN INTERVIEW

y/n 🌎 sorry for all caps i just like it a lot when you get all romantic

my mashed potato i know ❤️

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝

a/n: max verstappen and 3-post series are very special to me

#formula one #max verstappen x reader #formula one x reader #f1 #max verstappen #x reader #f1 x you #f1 smau #f1 fanfic #fanfiction #f1 fic #oikarma ᯓᡣ𐭩

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xndrexcruz · 11 months ago

Text

When They Find You Wearing Their Jersey | FC BARCELONA

✮- summary: they basically walk in and see you wearing one of their barcelona jerseys

✮- warnings: none

Requests are open

masterlist here

João Félix:

As you lazily stretched on the couch, draped in João’s jersey from his last match. It had been the only thing you could find last minute after you had taken a shower.

When João walked in, he had abruptly stopped and let out a breathy chuckle before letting out a low whistle. “Estás realmente muy bonita.” (“You really look very pretty.”) he said, eyes looking you up and down. “When did you decide to steal my jersey?”

“Why, do you want it back?” you teased softly, sitting up slightly to look at him.

“Not a chance. You look way too good in it for me to take,” he replied, grinning at you as he took a seat next to you on the couch. “You should think about wearing it more often.”

You let out a giggle, leaning your head onto his shoulder. “Did you have a good day?” your asked as you pressed a soft kiss on his neck.

“Seeing you like this makes it absolutely perfect,” he murmured, gently running his hand on your thigh. “I could get used to this.”

Pablo Gavi

You had been in the middle of brushing your hair when you heard the door open. With you having stayed over, and nothing else to wear, you slipped on Gavi’s oversized jersey and went to greet him.

Gavi’s eyes widened a bit at the sight of you in just his jersey. “Wow, what’s the special occasion?l” he asked, with a wide grin from ear to ear. "Te ves increíble con mi playera de jugador.” (“You look amazing in my shirt.”) he said while wrapping his hands around your waist.

You interlocked your hands behind his head “No special occasion,” you replied, laughing. “I just needed something comfortable, I forgot to bring extra clothes.”

“Well, it suits you,” he said, laying his head on top of yours. “You should wear my stuff more often.”

“If you insist,” you playfully said. “But only if you promise to keep behaving.”

“I’ll try,” he said with a wink, kissing your cheek. “But I make no promises.”

Pedri González

You had been halfway through preparing breakfast for you and Pedri, wearing one of Pedri’s many Barcelona jersey’s, when he had walked into the kitchen. He paused, taking in the sight of you in front of the stove.

“You know,” he began, wrapping his arms around your waist from behind, “I think this might have to be the best view I’ve ever had in the morning.”

“Pedri, I’m trying to cook here,” you let out a breathy giggle, shaking your head.

“The food can wait a bit,” he murmured into your ear, kissing it. "Prefiero disfrutar este momento contigo." ("I’d rather enjoy this moment with you.")

You turned in his arms, brightly smiling up at him. “How about you help me instead? Then we can relax sooner”

He sighed dramatically, acting annoyed. “Alright fine, but only because I can’t resist saying no to you while wearing my jersey.”

Fermín López

You had just woken up to find Fermín already up, lounging against the headboard besides you. You were wearing his jersey, which you’d put on before going to bed the night before.

“Good morning,” he said with a gentle smile, taking note to your outfit. “I didn’t notice you had borrowed my jersey last night.”

“I hope you don’t mind,” you said, snuggling closer into him. "It was the only thing within my reach."

“Para nada. Te queda perfecto,” (Not at all. It looks perfect on you,") he replied, gently tracing patterns on your exposed neck. "Maybe I should just let you keep it."

"Careful Fermín, I might just take your whole wardrobe," you teased.

He chuckled. "Deal, as long as you wear it and you look as perfect as you do right now.”

Héctor Fort

You were wrapped up in Héctor’s home jersey, sipping on some coffee at the kitchen isle when he had walked in. He did a double take, a small smile slowly spreading across his face.

"Hey you," he said, eyes gleaming. "Did you happen to raid my closet?"

"You could say that," you replied, grinning at him. "It just felt right putting it on this morning, not sure why."

“Bueno, te queda fantástico,” ("We’ll, It looks fantastic on you,") he said, sitting down beside you. "I wouldn’t be mad if you happen to wear it again."

"Careful what you wish for," you teased. "I might just take you up on that offer."

"I wouldn't mind one bit," he murmured, leaning in for a kiss as he ducked down to catch your lips with his.

Lamine Yamal

You were sitting on the arm of the couch, dressed in Lamine’s jersey, when he came home. His eyes immediately lit up at the sight of you.

"Te ves absolutamente asombrosa,” ("You look absolutely amazing,") he said, walking over to sit next to you. "Is that my jersey?"

"Yeah," you replied, giving him a smile. "Is that okay?."

"Yes," he said, wrapping an arm around you. "It suits you better than me."

You laughed softly. "Maybe I should borrow your clothes more often."

"Feel free," he said, nuzzling your neck. "I adore seeing you in them."

Marc Guiu

You were tidying up the living room, wearing one of Marc’s many jerseys, when he walked in. He stopped and stared, a soft smile spreading all across his face.

"Would that happen to be my jersey you’re wearing?" he asked, amused.

"Yeah, I hope it’s not a problem," you said, blushing slightly.

"Of course not," he replied, coming closer. "Te queda genial. Te puedes llevar lo que quieras". ("You look great in it. You can take whatever you want.")

"I might just do that," you teased. "If you don't mind sharing."

"Not if it means I get to see you like this," he said, pulling you into a big hug.

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rosemariiaa · 4 months ago

Text

~Off the Rails ( And into my head)~

𐙚- pairing: Paige x Azzi

𐙚- w/c: 5.6k

𐙚- rosie’s note: suprise + happy gameday! i was def supposed to be working on my stalker fic buttt this was too cute not to play around with, if u guys enjoy this one i’m happy to write another part <3, happy reading lovelies 💌

𐙚- themes: au, fluff, gay being gays

Azzi is pretty sure the city is trying to kill her.

Okay, maybe that’s a little dramatic, but between dodging aggressive taxi drivers, the sensory overload of Times Square, and her hotel room’s heating system making threatening noises at three in the morning, she’s convinced New York is testing her.

Which is fine. She likes a challenge (sometimes).

Her days are structured enough that she doesn’t have too much time to dwell on it. Wake up, drink expensive hotel coffee that tastes like disappointment, go to fittings, castings, brand meetings — smile, nod, pretend she isn’t internally cringing at people aggressively poking at the clothes on her body. It’s exhausting but manageable.

The castings are the worst part.

The first one seemed easy enough — a sleek downtown studio, all glass windows and marble floors. She felt okay at first, just another model in a sea of long legs and sharp cheekbones. But when it was her turn, the woman in charge — someone with wire-rimmed glasses and a voice like nails on glass — squinted at her like she wasn’t quite sure why Azzi was there at all.

“Smile,” the woman had said, and Azzi did.

“No,” she snapped, “not like that. Softer.”

Azzi tried again.

“No, softer. Relax your face.”

Azzi wasn’t sure how to relax her face when she suddenly felt like her whole body was being dissected under a microscope.

By the end, she walked out feeling like a mannequin someone had forgotten to put away properly.

“Don’t take it personally,” her agent had said over the phone. “They just want to see how you handle pressure.”

Right, Azzi thought bitterly, because nothing screams ‘grace under pressure’ like being told you’re smiling wrong.

She hated that it got to her — that her ex’s voice kept creeping into her head after things like that.

You’re too uptight, he’d say. You need to stop caring so much about what people think.

Like he wasn’t the one constantly picking at everything she did. Like he wasn’t the one who could ruin her whole day with a single passive-aggressive text.

She knew he was out of her life now — had been for months — but sometimes it still felt like she was waiting for the next thing to go wrong. Like if she let her guard down for too long, something bad was bound to happen.

Honestly, at this point, she wouldn’t mind if a woman chased her for a year or two.

Azzi immediately freezes at the thought.

Jesus Christ, you sound insane. Get it together.

(But also…she’s not wrong. It’s true.)

The only part of her routine that feels normal is the train.

For some reason, she’s taken to riding it instead of calling for a car like most models do. Maybe it’s because she doesn’t like feeling babied, or maybe it’s because she just enjoys the quiet anonymity of it. No cameras, no managers, no overly chatty PR people. Just her, her music, and a bunch of exhausted New Yorkers trying to get from point A to point B.

And then there’s her.

Tall. Athletic. Platinum blonde, but not in a fake way — it looks like it actually belongs to her, like she was born to be blindingly golden.

The first time Azzi sees her, she doesn’t think much of it. Just another stranger on the train, another person she’ll never see again.

The second time? Okay, weird coincidence.

The third?

Alright, what the hell is going on.

Azzi doesn’t mean to stare, but she’s a model — her job is literally to pay attention to details, to notice symmetry and proportion, and — oh god, is she actually justifying this to herself right now?

Still, she keeps catching herself analyzing the girl before she can stop it. The slight shift in her posture, the way she spreads her legs a little too wide like she’s claiming space (gay?), the loose sweatshirt hanging off her broad frame like she just threw it on without thinking.

And her face.

Azzi thought she was intimidating at first. The sharp jawline, the piercing blue eyes — classic I could beat you in a fight energy. But then she looked closer.

She wasn’t intimidating at all. If anything, she looked like an adorable golden retriever who was trying very hard to pretend she wasn’t.

The kind of girl who could probably bench press Azzi without breaking a sweat, but would also apologize profusely if she accidentally bumped into someone.

So, yeah. Weirdly interesting.

But Azzi isn’t a weirdo. She’s not about to obsess over some random subway stranger just because she happens to exist in her general vicinity every morning.

…Except the next day, she catches herself checking the train doors, waiting to see if she’ll walk in.

And she does.

Of course she does.

Azzi tells herself she’s just being observant. That’s all.

And then the blonde glances up, makes direct eye contact, and —

Smirks.

Not in a mean way. Not even in a particularly cocky way. Just this tiny, amused flicker of a smile. Like she knows something Azzi doesn’t.

Azzi immediately looks away. Get it together, Azzi, what is wrong with you.

The train stops. She doesn’t think — just moves, bolting out of her seat like she suddenly has somewhere incredibly important to be.

She does not look back.

Definitely not.

…Okay, maybe just a little.

—

Azzi tells herself she’s not thinking about her.

She’s not.

She’s thinking about work — about that weirdly aggressive casting director who kept telling her to “soften” her face, like Azzi’s somehow been walking around looking like an axe murderer this whole time.

She’s thinking about her schedule — her agent’s endless texts about last-minute fittings and branding meetings that always seem to run twenty minutes longer than anyone expects.

She’s thinking about dinner — the overpriced sushi place she keeps passing by but can’t quite convince herself to go into because eating alone at a fancy bar feels way too much like one of those sad girl in a movie moments.

She’s definitely not thinking about the blonde girl.

Except she kind of is.

Not on purpose! It’s just — her brain keeps circling back to her like a song stuck on repeat. Like a stray thread that Azzi can’t quite stop tugging at.

It’s just because she keeps showing up on the train, Azzi tells herself. That’s all.

New York’s massive, but the subway isn’t. People stick to patterns, routes, habits — it’s not that weird to see the same face a few times.

(But why is it always her face?)

It’s annoying, honestly — how the thought of her keeps creeping in when Azzi’s trying to focus.

Like this morning.

Azzi had been walking down 5th Avenue, mentally rehearsing her introduction for a big casting — something charming but casual — when she caught herself thinking, I bet the blonde girl’s never nervous before big things. I bet she just shows up and — boom — owns the whole room.

Or last night, when Azzi had tried watching a movie in her hotel room, only to completely zone out halfway through because she was too busy replaying that stupid smirk in her head.

What was that even about?

And God, it’s embarrassing — how her brain won’t let it go. She’s barely said two words to her! She doesn’t even know her name!

She’s just interesting, Azzi tells herself. That’s all.

And it’s true. She’s interesting the way a puzzle is — a bunch of pieces that shouldn’t really fit together, but somehow do.

Azzi hates that she notices things like that. Hates that she keeps wondering what her voice sounds like — if it’s sharp and dry like her smirk or if she’s secretly one of those people who laughs too loud without meaning to.

It’s just curiosity, Azzi thinks. Just passing time. It’s not a crush.

…Right?

—

Azzi’s morning is already off to a chaotic start.

She overslept (her phone alarm somehow managed to betray her), her hotel room’s shower took forever to heat up, and her only clean outfit is one of those weirdly fancy streetwear fits that somehow manages to look like she’s either trying way too hard or not trying at all.

So when she stumbles onto the train — hair still damp, blazer oversized enough to swallow her shoulders — she’s not exactly feeling her best.

And, of course, that’s the day the blonde girl’s already there.

Sitting in her usual spot, legs stretched out way too wide, one arm casually draped over the back of the seat like she’s been living on this train her whole life.

Azzi thinks about walking to the next car — just avoiding the whole situation altogether — but the doors are closing, and she’s already been spotted.

Too late now.

She sits across from her, tries to act normal. Looks down at her phone, pulls up Instagram like she’s definitely not thinking about the blonde girl sitting four feet away.

Except the blonde clears her throat, and Azzi glances up before she can stop herself.

“You again,” the blonde says, voice low and a little scratchy. Her mouth curls up in that familiar half-smirk. “‘M starting to think you’re following me.”

Azzi snorts — way louder than she means to — and immediately wants to disappear.

“Oh yeah,” she deadpans, “I moved to New York just to ride this train and stare at you like a creep.”

The blonde’s smile spreads wider. “Hey, you said it. Not me.”

Azzi rolls her eyes but can’t help the laugh that slips out. It’s too early for this. Too early for that smile and the way her blue eyes practically sparkle when she’s teasing.

The train jerks to a stop, and a new wave of people crowds in. One of them shuffles too close, nearly stepping on Azzi’s foot. She shifts, tucking her legs in a little.

“Here.”

Azzi looks up just in time to see the blonde motioning to the empty seat beside her — like it’s no big deal, like it’s just common sense.

“Oh,” Azzi says, too startled to play it cool. “Uh… thanks.”

She squeezes into the seat, awkwardly aware of how close their shoulders are now. The blonde smells like something fresh — clean laundry, maybe, with a hint of expensive cologne (Valentino?). It’s stupidly attractive.

Azzi stares straight ahead, willing her brain to stop overthinking.

“You always this quiet?” the blonde asks.

“Depends,” Azzi mutters. “You always this talkative to strangers?”

The blonde barks out a laugh — short and rough, like she wasn’t expecting it.

“Woww,” she drags out, still grinning. “Alright, cool. So we’re throwing insults now?”

Azzi shrugs. “Just calling it like I see it.”

The blonde hums, like she’s deciding whether or not to be offended. Then —

“Book club,” she says suddenly.

Azzi blinks. “…What?”

The blonde nods to the book tucked under Azzi’s arm — The Housemaid by Freida McFadden. “Didn’t take you for the book club type.”

“It’s actually just me, Azzi to be exact,” Azzi corrects, a little dry. “No club.”

The blonde’s head tilts like she’s intrigued. “Hmm. Pretty name.”

Azzi doesn’t register it right away — not until the blonde’s eyes flicker away like she hadn’t just casually called her pretty (well her name..but still!).

“Oh,” Azzi stammers. “Uh… thanks?”

The train starts to slow, and the blonde stands, tugging her bag over her shoulder. “See you tomorrow, pretty girl.”

Okay, now she called her pretty. Azzi freezes. Doesn’t move, doesn’t breathe, just sits there like an idiot while the blonde steps off the train and disappears behind the closing doors.

Pretty girl.

See you tomorrow, pretty girl.

Azzi’s face burns all the way back to her hotel.

Later that day, Azzi’s sprawled on her hotel bed, pillow half-smothering her face.

“This is stupid,” she mutters into the fabric. “I’m being stupid.”

Because — what is she even doing?

She’s barely spoken to this girl, first “conversation” and yet here she is — half-convinced she’s developing some kind of pathetic subway crush. It’s not like her — she’s never been one of those people who fixates on strangers like they’re characters in a rom-com.

But there’s something about her.

The way she carries herself — so casual, so comfortable in her own skin. The way she always looks so put-together, like her hair’s been freshly done and her sweatshirt just happens to fall perfectly over her frame.

And okay, fine — the way she called her pretty girl.

Azzi groans into the pillow.

You’re not in high school, you freak, she tells herself. Get it together.

But later, when she’s brushing her teeth, she catches herself mumbling, “How do you even ask someone out when you’ve barely had more than one conversation?”

And she doesn’t have an answer.

Azzi leans over the sink, toothbrush still hanging from her mouth, staring herself down in the mirror like her reflection might have answers.

“Okay,” she mutters around the foam, voice muffled. “Let’s think about this.”

She spits, rinses, and braces her hands on the counter.

Pros:

first: The blonde’s obviously into her. Right? You don’t just call someone pretty girl and not mean something by it.

second: She’s funny — annoyingly funny — in that teasing way that makes Azzi want to roll her eyes and smile at the same time.

third: She’s hot. Like, objectively hot. The kind of hot that makes you stupid, apparently, because Azzi can’t seem to stop thinking about her.

fourth: They take the same train. Built-in excuses to see her without seeming desperate.

fifth: She’s probably not a serial killer. (Azzi pauses — yeah, that one’s more hopeful thinking than fact. Moving on.)

Cons:

first: What if she’s not actually into her? What if pretty girl was just something she says to random strangers like it’s her thing? Some people are just effortlessly flirty like that. (God, imagine how embarrassing that would be.)

second: Even if she is interested, what if she’s straight? Straight girls are so naturally flirty. Or worse — what if she’s got a girlfriend? (Or a boyfriend? Or a situationship? Or some weird on-again-off-again ex who’s still lurking in her life?)

third: What if she’s just messing with her? Like… some kind of elaborate joke that Azzi doesn’t get because she’s new here and clearly out of her element.

fourth: What if they do go out, and it’s terrible? Awkward silences, forced small talk, maybe the blonde’s whole flirty-train-persona is just her best material and there’s nothing else underneath.

She groans and drags her hands down her face.

“This is so dumb,” she mutters to her reflection. “You’ve had, like… one conversation. Chill.”

But her brain doesn’t let it go. Because honestly?

The cons are all just hypothetical. Possible, but not certain.

The pros…

The pros feel real.

The blonde’s smile, the warmth in her voice, the way she’d leaned in just a little closer when she called Azzi pretty girl — none of that had felt fake.

And even if it’s just a harmless crush, even if this whole thing turns out to be nothing…

What if it’s not?

What if she’s funny and charming and sweet in that slightly annoying way? What if she’s someone Azzi could actually… like?

Azzi leans closer to the mirror, narrowing her eyes at herself like she’s trying to read her own mind.

“You’re being insane,” she says flatly.

And yet… she’s still thinking about it.

And tomorrow, she knows she’s going to be checking those train doors again.

—

Azzi wakes up to the faint glow of sunlight spilling through her window. For once, she doesn’t feel like her skull is being crushed by exhaustion. She reaches for her phone on the nightstand, squinting at the screen.

Two hours until the shoot.

Nice. Enough time to shower, get ready, and maybe even clean her disaster of a hotel room.

The shower’s warm and steady, and for a moment, Azzi stands there with her eyes closed, letting the heat loosen her muscles. Her thoughts wander — first to her shoot, then to her growing laundry pile, then… well, then to her.

The blonde.

Azzi doesn’t even know her name, yet here she is, fully thinking about her in the shower like some kind of weirdo. She groans and steps out, grabbing a towel and trying to push the image of that stupid smile out of her head.

She throws on a cropped long-sleeve top and matching Fenty sweats — perks of the brand deal — then tidies her room. By the time she’s packing her purse and slipping her phone inside, she’s feeling accomplished. Productive. Grounded.

And then she promptly ruins it all by walking straight into someone.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” Azzi blurts, instinctively reaching out like she can somehow fix it.

The other girl’s gripping her forehead, wincing. “It’s okay,” she mutters, voice strained. It takes Azzi half a second to recognize it — that voice. Her stomach flips before she even looks up.

No way. No way is this happening right now.

Sure enough, when the blonde pulls her glasses off with a grimace, there she is — same platinum hair, same sharp jawline, same frustratingly charming smile… except this time, her eyes are squinted in pain.

Azzi freezes. Why does she look even hotter with glasses? Focus, Azzi. You just hurt her. Stop being weird.

The blonde blinks a few times like she’s still adjusting to the light, then — somehow — smiles.

“Oh, book club,” she says brightly, still pressing her fingers to her forehead. “You staying here too? What a coincidence.” Her grin widens like she’s genuinely delighted by this.

Azzi’s eyebrows furrow. Coincidence? What was so exciting about that?

Then she feels her face warm — her whole body warm, actually — and quickly nods. “Uh, yeah. Sorry, again. Are you okay?”

“I’ll be fine,” the blonde assures her, still smiling. “But…” She pauses, tilting her head. “I think you kinda owe me now.”

Azzi snorts before she can stop herself. “Yeah, right.”

The blonde’s face falls into an exaggerated pout. “Wow. Really? You’re just gonna assault me in public and not even try to cheer me up?”

“Oh my god,” Azzi laughs, shaking her head. “Fine. What do you want?”

The blonde taps her chin, like she’s seriously thinking about it.

“I don’t have all day, blondie,” Azzi warns, but she’s smiling now too.

The blonde lights up like that’s exactly what she was hoping for. “Sushi,” she announces. “I skipped breakfast and i’ve also been wanting to try that new fancy sushi bar up the street.”

Azzi sighs. “Fine. But my driver’s off today, so we might have to take the train.”

“No problem,” the blonde says easily. “You can drive my car.”

Azzi stops mid-step, turning to stare at her. “Wait… you have a car?”

“Yeah.” The blonde shrugs like it’s no big deal.

“Then why have you been taking the train?”

The blonde’s smile falters for a second, like she hadn’t expected the question. But then she shrugs again, casual as ever. “I like it.”

Weird, Azzi thinks, but she decides not to press. Instead, she just gives a skeptical look. “You seriously want a stranger to drive your car?”

“You’re not a stranger,” the blonde insists. “We’ve had — what — two conversations now?” She pauses, grinning. “Well, one and a half, I guess.”

Azzi huffs a laugh. “Yeah, sure. Real deep connection we’ve got here.”

“You did just give me a concussion,” the blonde points out. “I think you’re legally responsible for me now.”

“Oh my god.” Azzi rolls her eyes, fighting a smile.

“You know,” the blonde adds, eyes glinting. “I think you have to hold my hand while we walk, though.”

Azzi turns to her, unimpressed. “You don’t have two legs?”

“Well…” The blonde drags a hand dramatically down her face. “You did ruin my eyesight, I don’t wanna be hitting poles left and right..sooo…” She trails off, shrugging innocently.

Azzi can’t help it — she laughs again, quietly, and she hates that it makes the blonde’s smile widen like she’s just won something.

“Fine,” Azzi sighs. “Let’s go.”

She grabs the blonde’s hand, warm fingers wrapping easily around hers.

It’s supposed to be casual, practical — just an excuse to get her moving — but then the blonde’s fingers slide between hers, lacing together like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

Azzi swears she feels her heartbeat stutter.

She tells herself she’s imagining things — that this girl is just the type to be annoyingly comfortable with casual touch. But then she feels the blonde shift a little closer, their arms brushing as they walk.

Azzi doesn’t say anything. She’s not even sure she wants to.

And maybe she’s imagining it, but she swears she can feel the blonde’s thumb trace over her knuckles — slow, deliberate — like she’s testing the waters.

Azzi bites the inside of her cheek, fighting a smile.

Yeah… she definitely has a crush.

—

Azzi never pictured herself like this — sitting in the driver’s seat of someone else’s car, navigating unfamiliar New York streets, her hands gripping the wheel a little tighter than necessary.

She glances at the blonde in the passenger seat —wait.., she reminds herself — but then realizes… no, she’s still not actually sure of her name.

They’d had two conversations — well, one and a half as the blonde stated — and Azzi still hadn’t asked. Not that it mattered. Except now it kinda did.

It’s quiet. Not uncomfortable exactly, but still… quiet.

Azzi turns her eyes back to the road, trying to focus. This whole situation feels surreal — like some bizarre fever dream. She didn’t move to New York thinking she’d end up driving a complete stranger to a sushi bar. She came here to focus on herself — her career — to hit reset after… everything.

“You’re a pretty good driver,” the blonde says suddenly, like she’s genuinely impressed.

Azzi laughs under her breath. “I think you’re just saying that ‘cause you’re scared for your life.”

The blonde grins. “Nah. If I was scared, I’d be giving you directions like my grandma — you know, all ‘slow down, watch the curb, both hands on the wheel.’”

Azzi smiles despite herself, relaxing just a little.

“So…” the blonde draws out the word. “Why’d you move to New York?”

Azzi shrugs. “I guess it just felt like the right place for me.”

“Yeah?” The blonde leans back in her seat, stretching her legs out comfortably. “And what do you do, exactly?”

“I model,” Azzi answers. “Not full-time yet, but… working on it.”

The blonde’s eyebrows lift. “Ohhh, so you’re like one of those people who always looks good without trying?”

Azzi scoffs. “Yeah, sure. I totally woke up gorgeous this morning.”

The blonde laughs softly, then her tone shifts — still casual, but more curious. “Okay so… why’d you really move here?”

Azzi hesitates, debating how honest she wants to be. “Honestly?” she says finally. “I needed a change. And… a getaway.”

“From what?” The blonde’s head tilts. “Or who?”

Azzi exhales through her nose. “Weird ex,” she mutters.

The blonde makes a face like that’s all she needs to hear. “Understandable,” she says easily. “So… what’d your boyfriend — I mean, ex-boyfriend — do?”

Azzi’s grip tightens briefly on the steering wheel. “How do you know it was a guy?”

The blonde shrugs. “I just assumed. I mean… you don’t look gay for real.”

Azzi’s mouth falls open in mock offense. “Excuse me?”

The blonde grins like she’s been waiting for that reaction. “Whattt?”

“I take offense to that,” Azzi says, flicking her shoulder without thinking.

The blonde gasps dramatically, clutching her arm. “Oh my god — did you just hit me? I’m already injured!”

“Oh, please.” Azzi rolls her eyes, but she’s grinning now too.

“So” The blonde pauses, eyes still sparkling. “You like women?”

Azzi nods. “Yeah.” Then, narrowing her eyes playfully, “You?”

The blonde snorts like the answer’s obvious. “I thought everyone could tell.”

“Oh, they could,” Azzi quips.

The blonde lets out a laugh — loud and unrestrained — and suddenly, the tension that had been lingering between them slips right out the window. The air feels easier now, warmer somehow.

As they pull up to the sushi bar, Paige hops out first, casually rounding the car just as Azzi locks the doors. Before Azzi can even think about it, the blonde’s fingers find hers again — no warning, no hesitation. Just warm skin sliding against her palm, fingers lacing like they belong there.

Azzi glances down at their hands — Paige’s hand in hers. The blonde doesn’t say anything about it, doesn’t even look her way — just keeps walking like this is the most natural thing in the world.

Azzi doesn’t say anything either. Maybe she doesn’t want to.

Inside, the sushi bar is small and cozy — warm lighting, soft music, and the faint scent of soy sauce lingering in the air. They slide into a booth by the window, Paige stretching her legs out comfortably while Azzi flips through the menu.

“I’m just getting the spicy tuna rolls,” the blonde announces, tossing her menu aside like she’s done this a hundred times before. “Easy choice.”

Azzi snorts. “That’s boring.”

“Okay, model, what’s your go-to?” the blonde challenges, grinning.

Azzi hums thoughtfully. “Salmon sashimi… and tempura shrimp rolls. Oh, and gyoza.”

“Damn,” the blonde laughs. “Ordering the whole menu?”

“You literally said your ‘easy choice’ like you’ve never eaten anything else in your life.”

“Maybe I haven’t,” the blonde shoots back, grinning wider.

They both end up ordering a mix of everything — the blonde insists on adding edamame, claiming “you can’t not order edamame,” and Azzi doesn’t argue.

“So…” the blonde leans her elbows on the table. “You’re a model, huh?”

Azzi nods, fiddling with her chopsticks. “Trying to be.”

“I feel like I’ve seen you before,” the blonde says thoughtfully. “Are you, like… famous?”

Azzi laughs, shaking her head. “Not even close.”

“Well…” The blonde shrugs. “I’ll keep an eye out.”

Azzi smiles despite herself. “Guess so.”

“What about you?” Azzi asks, leaning back in her seat. “You just hang out on trains and get concussions for fun?”

The blonde grins. “Nah… I’m kinda retired.”

Azzi frowns. “From what?”

“Basketball,” the blonde says like it’s nothing. “I design sometimes, though — clothes, mostly.”

“You’re a designer?”

“Sometimes,” the blonde repeats, like it’s more of a side project than an identity. “I moved here ‘cause I know some people working in fashion. Some models too.” She gestures vaguely, then pauses. “Guess I know one more now.”

Azzi smiles, but there’s something tugging at the back of her mind.

“You know,” she says slowly. “I still don’t know your name.”

The blonde freezes, blinking once like she’s surprised.

“Oh,” she says, like she just realized it too. “Paige.”

Paige. The name settles in Azzi’s mind like something she’s supposed to remember — something important.

“Nice to meet you… Paige.” Azzi smiles.

“Likewise.” Paige’s smile is lazy, soft — like she’s already known Azzi for years.

Their food arrives, and the conversation drifts between light teasing and easy conversation. Paige’s smile never seems to falter — it’s so constant that Azzi wonders if her face just naturally sits like that.

The sushi plates were nearly empty now, chopsticks scattered across the table like forgotten utensils in a game of pick-up sticks. Paige was still talking — something about her old basketball days — but Azzi wasn’t really listening. Not properly, anyway.

She was too distracted.

By the way Paige’s fingers danced along her water glass. By the way she smiled — wide and easy, like she didn’t have a single thing to hide. By the way those blue eyes — god, those blue eyes — kept flicking back to her between sentences.

Azzi barely noticed her own phone screen lighting up beside her. She figured it was just a reminder or some random email.

“Wait, hold up,” Paige said suddenly, interrupting herself. “You keep checking the time — you got somewhere to be?”

Azzi blinked back into focus. “Shit,” she muttered, checking her lock screen properly for the first time. “Yeah… I’ve got a shoot soon.”

“You’re working today?” Paige’s eyebrows lifted. “Damn. Busy woman.”

Azzi snorted. “Something like that.”

“Oh, wait,” Paige said suddenly, snapping her fingers like she’d just remembered something important. “I ordered dessert.”

Azzi blinked. “Dessert?”

“Yeah.” Paige grinned. “Figured I’d earn some extra points in case you tried to knock me out again.”

Azzi huffed a laugh, shaking her head.

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Yeah,” Paige said, leaning back with a smug smile. “But you laughed, so…”

Azzi tried to fight her smile but failed

By the time they left the restaurant, Azzi was running late.

“You sure you’ll make it in time?” Paige asked as they walked back to her car.

“Yeah,” Azzi sighed. “Just gotta take the train since my driver’s off today.”

“I can take you,” Paige offered like it was nothing.

Azzi frowned. “I thought you weren’t feeling good enough to drive?”

“I’m feeling better now,” Paige said with a grin that Azzi didn’t fully trust.

“Uh-huh,” Azzi muttered.

“Look,” Paige said, twirling her keys around her finger, “it’s for safety measures.”

Azzi shot her a look. “Safety measures?”

“Yeah,” Paige said like it was obvious. “Gotta make sure you actually make it inside.”

“You’re weird.”

“I get that a lot.”

When they reached the building, Paige stayed parked at the curb, one hand still on the wheel.

“I’ll wait ‘til you’re inside,” Paige said casually.

Azzi gave her a look. “For safety measures, right?”

Paige grinned. “Exactly.”

Azzi smiled, grabbing her bag before heading to the door.

She turned back once more before walking inside, just in time to see Paige driving off.

Azzi reached for the handle — and nothing.

She tried again — still locked.

“What the hell…”

Peering through the window, she saw dim lights and empty chairs. The place was closed.

Her phone? Dead.

“Of course,” Azzi muttered.

With a sigh, she fished out her portable charger from her bag — dead too.

“Perfect.”

Azzi paced for a second, chewing her lip before finally deciding to call her agent from the nearby payphone — something she hadn’t done since, like… middle school.

“Azzi?” her agent answered almost immediately. “Where are you?”

“I’m at the building,” Azzi said. “No one’s here.”

“Because the shoot’s postponed, remember?”

Azzi froze. “Wait… what?”

“I texted you earlier,” her agent explained. “You didn’t see it?”

Azzi closed her eyes, exhaling sharply. No, she hadn’t seen it — because she’d been too busy sitting in that sushi bar, watching some blonde idiot grin her way through stories about terrible basketball injuries and spicy tuna rolls.

“My phone died,” Azzi muttered. “I didn’t see it.”

“Well… you’re off the hook for today. Go do something fun, I guess.”

“Yeah… okay.”

They hung up, and Azzi stood there for a moment, still processing everything.

Now she was stuck outside this empty building. Paige was long gone. And the last thing Azzi felt like doing was walking all the way back to the train station.

She groaned under her breath, leaning against the cold brick wall.

This is what you get for thinking with your heart — or worse… your hormones.

With a sigh, Azzi turned toward the pay phone again, fumbling for some change in her bag. She figured calling a cab was her best bet now — walking to the train station in this heat felt like some cruel punishment she didn’t deserve.

She’d just fed a quarter into the slot when she heard the familiar rumble of an engine — low and steady, like the sound of a car that had seen some things but still ran perfectly.

Azzi turned her head — and there it was.

That same black Jeep pulling into the parking lot.

The same freakishly tall blonde stepped out, holding a small paper bag and looking around like she was lost. Paige’s eyes landed on Azzi, and she grinned, jogging over like this was just a casual meetup and not the second time she’d shown up unannounced.

“Hi there,” Paige said, all smug like she knew something Azzi didn’t.

Azzi let out a soft laugh. “What are you doing here?”

“I forgot to give you this.” Paige held up the bag. “I actually ordered the dessert for you and yeah.”

Azzi raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, and I locked my keycard in my room, sooo…” Paige winced. “Yeah.”

Azzi snorted. “Dumb blonde things?”

“Dumb blonde things,” Paige confirmed with a grin.

“What about you?” Paige asked. “Why’re you still out here, shoot over already?”

Azzi sighed. “My phone’s dead, so I didn’t see my agent’s text. The shoot was postponed, and I was too busy listening to you talk my ear off to even notice. Then you drove off, so I was stuck here debating whether to walk to the train or just call a cab — but my driver’s off today, and it’s so hot and I—”

“Whoa, whoa.”

Paige grabbed her hands — actually grabbed her hands — and Azzi froze mid-ramble.

“Calm down,” Paige said softly, her fingers giving a gentle squeeze. “Just… breathe, kay?”

Azzi exhaled shakily, her pulse still racing for a reason that had nothing to do with the weather.

“Better?” Paige asked, her eyes searching hers.

Azzi nodded. “Yeah… better.”

Paige smiled. “Good. Now c’mon — I’ll take you back to the hotel. No problem.”

Azzi blinked. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.” Paige grinned again, a little softer this time. “Besides… I owe you for the amazing sushi date.”

Date? Date. Oh..a date.

Azzi masked the nervousness with a laugh under her breath. “Yeah, fair.”

Without thinking, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Paige’s waist in a quick hug.

“Thank you.” She said.

Paige went rigid at first — like she hadn’t expected it — but then her arms lifted, curling loosely around Azzi’s shoulders.

“‘S no problem, Az,” Paige murmured, her voice lower now — softer.

Azzi froze, pulling back slightly. “Az?”

Paige’s face went pink. “Oh… uh…” She scratched the back of her neck. “I mean… I just figured… I dunno, is that okay?”

Azzi grinned. “Yeah… it’s okay.”

“Cool,” Paige said, scratching the back of her neck. “Cool, cool…”

Azzi shook her head, turning toward the car.

She wasn’t sure what was more surprising — the fact that Paige had called her Az, or the fact that Azzi kinda hoped she’d say it again.

Az.

#pazzi #paige bueckers #azzi fudd #pazzi fics #rosemariiaa

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awordsmith · 5 months ago

Text

tangled up 𝜗𝜚 s.r

۶ৎ in which you and Spencer join forces to babysit both Jack and Henry.

who? spencer x bau!reader when? s6 genre: novella content warnings: not proofed, contains nothing but pure fluff, reader and spencer get mistaken as Jack and Henry's parents... reid with warmth !! word count: 4.9k a/n: first novella fic whaaaa....i've been wanting to write this one for a while, but i knew it wouldn't be that long, so this is perfect for my first novella fic!!; enjoy!

The morning was cold and frosty, and the only thing able to mend it: a large, hot latte. Hotch approached your desk as you set your things down. He leaned over and whispered conspicuously, “Are you sure you can come tonight?”

You rolled your eyes and whispered back, just as secretive, and perhaps some more to show how dramatic he was being, “Yes, Hotch,” you saluted him, “Jack will be in good hands.”

A gruff sound came from his throat–as if signifying his disbelief, “If you say so, do you remember what time?”

“Hotch?”

He looked around, glancing back at you with pressed lips. “Yeah?”

“I got this,” you pushed his hand–gripping your desk–off.

“Right,” he nodded, “no I know.”

You raised a brow and crossed your arms, “so why are you stalling? Is this about your date? Because if you don’t want to go–”

“No,” he dusted his suit off, “I’m–I’m walking away.”

“Uh-huh,” you biot back a smile, feeling Spencer slide up next to you, “and what was that all about?” He kept his inquisitive gaze on your boss.

“Hotch had a date,” you stated, turning to look at him, “I’m babysitting Jack.”

He raised his eyebrows and nodded–but when Penelope called you to the roundtable room and you began to walk away with her, you could hear him mutter, “Why didn’t he ask me?”

JJ rushed in, she apologized for being late as she took her seat. The team watched her; she was flushed, but her face showed clear urgency. She rolled her eyes, “Please do not question me today, I already have enough explaining to do.”

It was silent, but then you just couldn’t help yourself, “...JJ?” She looked at you with a slight warning, but you still asked, “What happened?”

The air in the room evaporated as JJ sucked in a breath, then deflated against her chair, throwing her head back, “Henry’s babysitter quit this morning.” You kept quiet, waiting for her to elaborate. “Will and I were going to go out tonight, we’ve been planning this for weeks now.” she huffs, running a hand through her hair.

Spencer caught your eyes, and though you shook your head, knowing it’d be a bad idea, he still said, “Well, hey, you know I could watch him for you–if you still wanted to go.”

JJ raised a brow and began to shake her head slowly, “I don’t know, Spence–”

“I wouldn’t be alone,” you noted Hotch raising an eyebrow as Spencer motioned toward you, “— is watching Jack, we could babysit them together.”

JJ glanced at you, then at Hotch–hopeful, “Would you both be okay with that?”

Hotch eyed Spencer’s grin for a moment, “Fine, but — has to keep an eye on Reid too.”

“Uh–what?” Spencer threw his arms up, “I’m a great babysitter–are you laughing?” He glared slightly at Morgan.

“Sure you are,” you reached over and patted the top of his hand, you held his gaze for a split second–the both of you trying to hold in your laughter.

You could hear giggling inside. Jack clung to Hotch, he was eight, and yet he still adored his father. The night was young, but starting to grow darker. Today, you had only been called to air a case, so you worked from the office, which you didn’t have the pleasure of doing most days, making it pretty unique.

“Oh, hey guys,” Spencer called, walking up behind you. You frowned, noting his relaxed attire.

“And I didn’t think you owned anything but sweater vests.”

“Oh–you just had to comment.” He sighed.

“That I did,” you nodded, “that I did.”

The front door opened right as Hotch checked his wristwatch, “you guys made it!”

“Would you believe it? Hotch hasn’t canceled yet.”

Your boss glared at you, but your remark earned chuckles from the others, “Yep, and I’ll be late if I don’t leave now.”

JJ stepped out of the house and moved aside, “come on in.” Henry popped his little head out from behind Will and motioned for Jack to follow.

Hotch leaned to the side, eyes only leaving Jack once the boys disappeared behind a corner. “Okay,” JJ approached you, hands on your shoulders, “I am trusting you.”

“Hey–uhm Hi!” Spencer waved, sticking his head over your shoulder, “I’m here too.”

“Yes, that’s why I’m telling her to be careful.”

After a bit of teasing Spencer, Hotch, Will, and JJ left in their cars. “Come, on, it’s freezing out here,” you stuffed your hands into the pockets of your zip-up.

“Let the night begin…”

Spencer stayed, feet glued to the floor for a moment as he watched you wander into the house. He couldn’t help the small smile that grazed his face; he covered it with a hand, closing the door behind him.

Inside you were asking the boys what they wanted to do. Hotch had picked you up from your apartment and you, him, and Jack drove over together–so when Henry suggested the movie theatre, you could only glance at Spencer, wondering if he’d be willing to drive.

He huffed, rolled his eyes, and fell back on the couch in the living room. “We can see what movies are playing, I guess.”

You huffed a laugh and gripped the couch with both hands as you learned over it, watching Jack and Hnery jump on top of Spencer.

“Okay, okay.” He pushed Henry’s foot out of his face and shot you a look when he heard you cover up a snort with a cough.

Upon scrolling through the nearest movie theatre, you found the newest Spider-Man movie was playing, but you had already missed the 7 o’clock one and the next showing was at 8:30. You, Spencer, and the boys agreed to that time, which left you about an hour before you had to leave. Spencer offered to pay and though you had debated with him about going half–he insisted.

You agreed, but only if he let you pay for the snacks. Spencer wasn’t a boyfriend and he wasn’t one of the girls, so it felt weird letting him pay for everything. He was older than you yes, but only by a couple of years, and though you had to remind him of that several times, he never once failed to pull that card over on you.

“What’s that?” Spencer motioned toward the bag you had brought–that you were now unloading on the kitchen counter.

“Ingredients,” you shrugged, “it isn’t real babysitting if you don’t bake something.”

“You bake?” He sat up, throwing something on the television to distract the boys before he made his way toward you.

You brushed it off, “Somewhat.”

“Okay,” he nodded, rounding the counter and meeting your hip with his, “so what are we baking tonight?”

“We?” You raised a brow. He nodded, lips forming a thin line to suppress a grin. “Oh, no,” you huffed a laugh, “we are not–do you even know kitchen etiquette?”

His face scrunched up, “I’m a quick learner.”

“Sarcastic Spencer never fails to amuse me.”

“Mmm,” he nodded, “what’s first?”

You shook your head, a grin escaping you. You snatched the butter he had picked up and smacked him on the shoulder as you went to go find a bow for it, “Wash your hands.”

“Something smells good.” Jack rounded the counter.

“That would be the cookies.” You spun around and bent to your knees, pulling the oven open.

“When’s the movie?” Henry came waddling in, Spencer not too far behind.

You glanced at him, expecting him to answer for the both of you. You smiled to yourself, pulling off the oven mitts when he said, “uh…we have about five more minutes before we should leave.”

You nodded and began searching for a container to put the cookies in, “boys, do you wanna go outside and help Uncle Spencer start the car?”

“Awesome!” Henry shouted, running off to find his coat.

“Can we really start the car?” Jack looked between you and Spencer.

“Of course,” you smiled, nodding.

“Cool,” he too ran off.

“If either of them wrecks my car, I’m holding you responsible.” He jabbed a warning finger in your direction.

You scoffed, wiping your hands on a rag, “right. Spencer, you drive a van.”

“An SUV,” he corrected.

“Yeah, well, you don’t seem the type to care about messing things up.”

He held a hand to his chest, mock hurt flashing across his face, “–and what is that supposed to mean.”

You shrugged, but a cheeky smile pulled your lips upward.

“I’ll see you in the car,” he wandered off in search of the boys. You grabbed three cookies and set them aside on a napkin.

When you walked toward the door, you found Spencer and the boys already secure in the car. You locked the door and made your way down the drive.

“I have something delicious,” you handed each boy a cookie, promising to help Spencer clean out his car if it turned out they made a mess.

You took the third cookie and bit into it. Spencer watched you and he pulled off, turning onto the street. He hit a red light when you were halfway done with it, “were you not going to offer to share?”

Your eyebrows shot up momentarily, “you like sweets?”

“Half you met me?” he shot back.

You huffed, yanking his hand from the steering wheel and toward you, placing the cookie into his hand. The light turned green, so he steered with one arm and used his other to eat the cookie. It was a darling sight, truly. You giggled when a few crumbs fell onto the floor.

“I blame you,” he muttered, his mouth full of cookies as he made his proclamation.

Spencer had bought the tickets online, so as you parked, you made a game plan with the boys. Spencer and Henry would go to the bathroom because he forgot to say something back at the house and you and Jack would stand in line. There were a few games around–and of course, the boys asked to play when they saw them–but you only had ten minutes till the movie began, so you promised when the movie was over, you’d stay a bit longer to play.

There were only three lines open and from what you could tell, pretty long. Jack stuffed his hands into his tiny jacket pockets–he looked comfortable. “Do you know what you want to get?”

He pressed his lips together and notably looked around at the freezers and small box-like shelves separating the lines. They were only about two inches higher than him, maybe three or four higher than Henry.

“I’ve never been here.” You frowned. Jack had never been to a movie theatre or he had never been to this theatre?

“What do you mean?” You stepped forward as the line moved up. A father and his daughter–probably around fourteen–stepped behind you. You took notice, but only because you’ve programmed your brain, they weren’t really important.

Jack shrugged, “What kind of snacks do they have.” You understood Jack didn’t want to speak more on the subject and because you cherished him, you dropped it–but you made a mental note to speak with Hotch about it later.

“Well, I think they have…gummy bears and–oh look–they have cornetto–personally I prefer the cup version–but that’s just me.” Jack laughed and stood on his tippy toes, trying to get a better look at the ice cream flavors.

You caught Spencer walking toward you, Henry skipping a few feet in front of him. He caught your wave and nodded toward Jack, who now stepped to the side of the counter–looking through the glass. “How much time do we have?”

Spencer checked his watch once more, his casual attire contrasting. He wore his glasses–which you absolutely adored–a pair of blue jeans substituted his normal khakis, and he wore a black hoodie with red writing on the back. He wore tenashoes instead of his work shoes and his silly socks were hidden beneath the fabric of his jeans. It made you frown slightly: you couldn’t tease him about it.

“Do you want anything?” You asked as the boys began listing off candy to the cashier.

“No, I’m good.” He shook his head, stuffing his hands into the singular pocket of his hoodie.

“Wanna share a bowl of popcorn?” You pleaded and eventually, he gave in.

You asked for two smaller bowls so you could split the large bowl between you, Spencer, and the boys. Spencer physically winced when you swiped your card–you saw it happen. It sent a flutter through you and your face reddened as much as it could. You covered it up with a laugh, hoping Spencer didn’t find it weird, though the look he threw you said otherwise.

You found your seats, the boys settled in the middle of the two of you. You separated the popcorn between the boys, but then realized it’d be an issue sharing with Spencer if he was all the way on the other side, so instead, you gave him one of the smaller bowls, filled his and Hnery’s, and shared the big bowl with Jack.

You made it in time for the credits which you hated, but Spencer loved. It put a goofy smile on his face as he explained every ad,s aying how they were trying to tug at your heartstrings or logical side. “But we’re too smart, aren’t we?” He met your gaze.

The boys turned toward you, where you now adorned a serious nod, “oh, yeah, we’re way too smart to fall fo that, right boys?”

“Yep!” they nodded triumphantly.

“And why is that?” Spencer rounded the question back to him.

“Because we’re profilers,” Jack asked hesitantly.

“Exactly,” you jabbed a finger at him, messing with his hair a little. He laughed and leaned away, pushing your hand toward the popcorn bowl.

Spencer watched you–but not just your person. He wanted your actions, your facial expression, the way you interacted and spoke to Jack, the way you joked with Henry, the way you took every opportunity you could to tease him about absolutely anything.

He felt his heart tense and then fall to his stomach once he realized what was occurring. Was he falling in love? Was this what that feeling was? Was this how falling in love happened? You noticed minuscule, insignificant things about a person like the way they laughed? Or the way smiled? You analyzed them so thoroughly that you could tell what they would say before they said it. Or know the action they’re about to take before they make it?

He couldn’t tell. Spencer had never been in love before. He had never fallen in love. But was that what this was? He didn’t have a definitive answer, he just knew he wanted to be closer. To you. To you in every way. He wanted you to want to be close to him and he wondered if that was love.

Because if it was, wouldn’t that mean he’d already fallen? But it didn’t feel right. It felt…like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Like he had been searching for an answer he knew was somewhere in his brain, but hadn’t figured it out until just now.

The movie played and he tried his best to watch it–he grasped the general concept, but he was more focused on, well, you.

Did he love you? Could he say that with genuine confidence? He wouldn’t know until he tried it out, but he couldn’t. Because what if he didn’t? What if what he felt for you was simply pure friendship–he’d be making a crucial mistake, one) if you didn’t like him you’d be weirded out and if you did he chanced hurting you, two) you worked together, that was an issue in and of itself.

He jumped when you stood, watching as you stretched. “What?” You raised a brow, a tired smile forming you mouth.

He found himself smiling back, his stomach flipping, “nothing. Just…tired.”

“Ugh,” you rolled your eyes, yawning, “me too. We should head back now, it’s pretty late. We need to take them baths.”

“Yeah,” Spencer glanced at Jack, who was now standing, and Henry, who was fast asleep in his seat.

Spencer tried waking him slightly, but he wasn’t budging, “just carry him,” you suggested.

Deciding it was the only option, Spencer gripped Henry’s armpits and heaved him upward as gently as he could. You watched him as he laid Hnery’s head on his shoulder, the boy snuggling into the crook of his neck, hugging your coworker tightly.

“Awww,” you sounded like Penelope but you didn’t care, this was too cute a moment not to capture. Whipping out your phone, you ignored Spencer’s pleas and snapped multiple photos from every angle.

Heading to the lobby of the theatre, you nudged Jack, “I’m guessing you don’t want to play some of the games anymore?”

Jack shook his head and rubbed his eyes, “no. m’just tired.”

You nodded, pulling him into your side as you walked, “Me too, buddy, me too.”

You passed an elderly couple on the way out, Henry slightly waking up when the cold air hit his face. “Are we home?” He asked.

The elderly couple snickered and said, “You’re a cute family.”

You opened your mouth to correct the woman, but her husband added, “You look just like we did, don’t they?” before you could. He turned to his wife, made clear by the matching rings.

“Oh, they do,” then she bent over and asked Jack, “What movie did your mommy and daddy take you to see.”

Instead of correcting the couple, Jack glanced at you, then Spencer, and grinned–though it was sleepy– “Spider-Man 2.”

“Ah, I’m afraid I haven’t seen that one, is it good?”

“Really good,” Henry answered from Spencer’s arms.

They laughed again, then apologized for keeping you and made their way inside.

You and Spencer said nothing as you made your way to the car. Jack and Henry were silent as well. You wondered just what was going through Jack’s head. Maybe he was too tired to understand or care about the women’s words. Yeah, that must have been it.

You decided you would ignore it just as you would ignore the flutter that continuously courced through you the entirety of the night.

With much prodding, you were able to get Henry into the bath. Jack didn’t take much convincing, but he assured you he could do it himself, which you shouldn’t have believed because he ended up getting shampoo into his eyes.

Spencer finished helping him, though it was hard because Jack insisted on showering. Eventually, the two boys were tucked into Henry’s twin-sized bed, and you and Spencer had a little free time before the others arrived.

You grabbed the bowl of cookies that you’d tucked on the counter near the fridge before you’d left. You meant to eat them at the kitchen counter, but Spencer wanted you to watch some movie he had put on. You would blame and hold him responsible for any crumbs that didn’t land in the bowl.

His chuckle was low and light, just like every other time you found yourself making him laugh. It sent a flutter through your chest and you had to turn away to keep from letting him know just how flustered that one sound could make you.

You shivered, you typically brought a sweater with you everywhere just in case, but you were going to JJ’s house, and you knew she’d let you borrow a few blankets.

“Where are you going?” Spencer caught your wrist as you stood. Your heart jolted and you couldn’t help but stare at it. You blinked a few times before he let go. He sucked in a breath as if you’d stung him. You weren’t sure what he meant by that or if he meant anything at all by it. Spencer was normally an awkward person, but this didn’t feel like something he’d be awkward about, in fact, Spencer would never be put in this situation simply because Spencer hated physical contact.

Maybe that’s why he had such a reaction. You brushed it off, letting a shy smile replace the longing frown, “Just the hall closet to find a blanket…want one?”

Spencer shook his head and wanting to escape the atmosphere, you bottled toward the hall. You retrieved the first blanket on top. It was white with little blue bunnies. Cute. You thought, it must be Henry’s.

“I’m back,” you hopped on the couch, keeping a cushion between the two of you, for fear of making him uncomfortable.

He declined your offer of a cookie and opted to lean back. It might have just been your imagination, but you were sure Spencer kept sneaking glances at you. You thought he must be bored, he’d put on a '90s romcom. Though you loved the, you were surprised when Spencer put it on. But then maybe he put it on for you and that’s why he kept glancing at you.

You huffed under a cookie, that’s so like him.

Halfway through the movie, you’d discarded the bowl of cookies with four left and began to feel the lights dim. Or maybe it was just you. You took a moment and laid your head back but it was uncomfortable. As you shifted on the couch, a yawn escaped you.

Spencer caught it, attention now fully focused on you, he smiled at your dreary state. He moved one leg under him and without really thinking much about it–if it’d make you uneasy or not–he took you by the shoulders and lowered your head into his lap. You noticed, but barely. He pulled the blanket over you as your arms wrapped around his thigh. Your head snuggled into him and when a satisfactory hmm released itself from your throat, he snorted a little.

He loved you, or at least he thought he did. Spencer had never loved anyone. Well, he loved his mom, but he knew he was programmed that way. He loved quantum physics and math and chemistry and psychology, but those were very broad terms, and still not a being. He liked cats, but he couldn’t love a cat–well, he could–but that was a different discussion.

You, on the other hand, he always wanted to be around. You, on the other hand, he always wanted to talk to. You, he fell asleep thinking about; you, he dreamt about; you, he woke up to.

You were always on his mind, there was no way around it. In every conversation–though he rarely voiced it–he could always draw back to you. Penelope bought a new pink fluffy pen? You loved pens. Dereck couldn’t sleep at night because of his neighbor. You could sleep anywhere–it was a skill. Spencer couldn’t sleep at all, really, and when he did–well, he’d already know what he’d dream about.

He couldn’t escape you–but well, he didn’t want to.

The biggest evidence of his feelings for you? He hated–absolutely loathed–the thought of you talking to/dating/marrying anywhere else. He made a face, the thought disgusted him;; it made him sick.

The front door unlocking jolted him out of his thoughts… how long had he sat there watching you? Going back and forth in is mind? His mind began wondering and the lights began to fade. His shoulder drooped and he began pushing you backward, fixing you until you were both comfortable.

“Just for…a bit…” he yawned before the lights went out.

Spencer jerked when he heard the front door unlock. He was always keenly aware of his surroundings–it was a bad habit he picked up in his years at the BAU.

JJ and Will stepped through the door as quietly as they could, the credits were rolling. The movie must have just ended. 48 minutes?

“Hey–” JJ whispered walking toward him.

He rubbed his eyes and tried to sit up, but was weighed down, and upon looking–found you still sound asleep. He smiled, but when he realized JJ could see him, he fixed it to a plain expression.

Spencer held up a hand and pressed a finger to his lips, his eyes widened slightly in concern when he looked down at you. Which was ridiculous, he couldn’t stay in this position the entire night, much less on JJ’s couch. You both had work in the morning and you needed to get home. Right…but where was Hotch? How would you get home?

He was startled by your shifting movements. Upon glancing at you again, he found you stirring. JJ covered up a small laugh, and turned back to Will, shushing him as he stalked over.

“Hotch texted, he should be here soon,” JJ whispered.

Spencer nodded as you lifted your head, he raised his arms just enough for you to have free reign, if you pushed out of his hold, he’d have no choice but to let go.

But you didn’t, you pulled him closer and buried your face into where his thigh met his hip. “Five more minutes.”

JJ snatched her phone from her pocket and began snickering, “Penelope is going to love this.”

“Hey–come on, JJ–don’t–” Spencer’s protests went ignored as JJ clicked a few photos and slipped her phone back into the back pocket of her jeans.

A knock sounded on the door not a moment later, Will went to open it while JJ sat on the arm of the couch and smiled down at her two coworkers. “Do you think she can hear us?”

Spencer opened his mouth to say no, but raised a brow and glanced at you questioningly, he wasn’t sure you knew where you were, let alone could make sense of a complete sentence. “I’m gonna go with probably not.”

They chuckled to themselves. Hotch waved, before following Will down the hall toward Henry’s room. You yawned and rolled onto your back, stretching over Spencer. “Hi,” you blinked up, a slow smile turning up your lips.

He met your sleepy gaze with one of his own, “hi,” he answered.

Hotch came back out with a very asleep Jack, calling out your name, You sighed, forcing yourself upward. “Guess I better go.”

Once again, Spencer felt his subconscious take hold of his body as he held an arm across your stomach, “I could take you…I mean I wouldn’t mind, besides,” he nodded toward Hotch and Jack, “he should get Jack home.”

JJ watched in silent awe. It was one thing for Spencer to shake hands with someone let alone hug them, so when she stepped through her doors and found you snuggled up to him, her suspicion-radar was going off. Spencer definitely had a thing for you, or at the very least felt most comfortable with you. In her mind, you were his person, and that didn’t have to be romantic, it was just how it was.

Now, though, watching his eyes, there was no doubt in her mind. Spencer Reid was in love. She wondered what kind of catastrophic event occurred for this to happen.

“You sure?” You murmured, rubbing your eyes. You were halfway leaning against his chest, and halfway using his shoulder to stay steady.

“Yeah, of course.”

Hotch seemed to get the gist of the conversation, whispered a few goodbyes, and headed out the door.

“You made cookies,” JJa noted.

“Yep, there’s four left, but they’re probably all stale now.”

“Well, maybe you two can babysit again and make me fresh ones.”

“I helped, you know,” Spencer added.

“Yeah, ‘helped’ so much I almost had to buy you a new pan.” After a good laugh, you stood and stretched, catching Spencer’s yawn, “well, it’s getting pretty late, we should head out.”

“Alright then, drive safe.”

“I’m always a safe driver.”

“I know you are, Spence.” She pressed her lips together, glancing at you, wondering if you even felt a smidgen of what Spencer felt for you.

The car ride was smooth, Spencer had been over a few times, and with his memory, he knew the way by heart. “Thanks for doing this.” You grabbed his hand as he pulled into your complex.

Spencer jolted, his head jerked down: his focus on where your hands connected. “Oh–sorry, I forgot–”

You snatched your hand away, but Spencer was quick to grab it back. “No–no it’s…” he stared at you. He could lose his mind and still be able to put a name to your eyes. They were like none he’d ever seen–which is opinionated, of course, in his mind, you were all there ever was. “It’s fine.”

“Are you sure?” You frowned, “I…know how you hate people touching you.”

“Well, yeah,” he shrugged sheepishly, “but when it’s you it’s okay.”

Your heart leaped at that and maybe it was because you were half-awake and when you were half-wake you became even more delusional than you were daily. “So, you don’t mind if I touch you?”

“No, not at all.” He replied immediately as if he had been programmed to.

You couldn’t help the goofy grin that made its way onto your face, “good to know.”

You opened the car door and started exiting his vehicle. “Hey, —?”

“Yeah?” You yawned again, the sky a blue-black kind of color.

“What does that mean?”

“What does what mean?” You frowned.

“You know,” he tried motioning with his hands, which only made you snort.

“Nope,” you shook your head, “no idea.” You spun around, starting the path to your apartment, “see you tomorrow, Spencer.”

Spencer frowned, he knew he would think about this the rest of the night, if he could sleep he’d probably dream about it, and when he woke up, it would most definitely be the first thing on his mind.

a/n: lol i've been working on this forever (like a month) and i cried in my maths a few days ago because i couldn't understand it–#mathisnotforme

@darkmatilda @theylovemelody

#spencer reid #fanfic #spencer reid x reader #criminal minds #spencer reid criminal minds #spencer reid fanfic #criminal minds fanfic #spencer ried #doctor spencer reid #spencer #dr spencer reid #spencer reid fluff #bau team #mgg #criminal minds fanfiction #love it or hate it #tangled up

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prettyinsophie · 7 months ago

Text

Cum with me…to the gym

3k words

Your visit to the gym with Abby escalates quickly when you find out that a certain area can also be worked on by the adductor machine.

warnings: fingering (reader receiving), oh and the fingering is in public so yeah…

I lowkey hate this but it’s the only thing I’ve managed to finish writing throughout the whole year…sigh. I recently watched Arcane so…maybe I’ll start publishing about Vi or Sevika or both.

“Oh, c’mon! We still have two more exercises to go before finishing with some cardio!” Abby exclaims with a devilish smile across her lips, enjoying seeing you sweating and panting after doing three sets of Bulgarians.

After weeks of your best friend begging you to pay a visit to the gym, you obliged with the condition of getting to see Wicked afterward since Abby’s not a big fan of long movies, let alone musicals, so here you were; hair-sticking to your face, red cheeks, and skin glowing with sweat because Abby’s routine is no joke.

“Two more?! Can we just do one more? Pleaseee?” You beg in a whiny pout, giving her puppy eyes because you feel like you’ll pass out any moment now if you keep going. Of course, you’re being dramatic, but that’s just your zodiac sign being true to itself.

Abby playfully rolls her eyes, suppressing a smirk because she thinks you look adorable like that. She won’t tell you that, though, at least not in a non-mocking tone. “The machines are easier, and you can hit whatever weight you want. Sounds fair?”

You purse your lips, looking at her while she chugs some water down. It’s so unfair how godly she looks right now while you feel like a sticky mess. You nod, defeated more than anything because you might as well complete the routine properly. “Fine…”

The gym is fairly empty, but that doesn’t surprise you since it was one of your conditions to agree to come. And so you walk to the bench press, which was as hard as any other machine even with the lowest weight. You were more of a workout-at-home type of gal, after all, and Abby always mocked you because she’s a gym rat and this is her second home. To each their own, you don’t like being around strangers that much.

“What’s this one for?” You ask with your head tilting to the side, confused but willing to learn all about the stupid machine, eager because it’s the last one you’ll use today and for a while.

“This is the leg adductor, great for toning your legs and inner thighs. I’ll show you how to use it and then you can give it a go, yeah?”

“‘Kay…”

You can’t deny that it’s fun to see her in a trainer-like role, and you decide that it’s not that bad and that the reward will come later when you watch the 190-minute-long film. You watch Abby setting the machine and its weight intently, trying to make mental notes of everything so you won’t need her help for each little thing. And here goes…your eyes definitely find her hands gripping the handles more interesting than the exercise itself, or the way her thunder thighs push the weight inwards almost effortlessly. Phew. She finishes her set and stands from the machine so you can give it a go.

“See? Easy.” She smiles before adjusting the weight so it’s lighter for you.

You hesitate to get on it because it looks silly, and you definitely feel exposed with your legs spread open in your yoga pants.

“Oh wow, didn’t know you could open up this much,” She teases with a quizzical grin and her head cocking to the side, which makes you scoff and roll your eyes.

“Shut up, I do pilates after all, don’t I?” You excuse your almost obscene spreading, and to only make it worse, you’re wearing a thong and you plead that Abby won’t look down because you’re certain she’ll be able to catch a detailed glimpse of your pussy.

“Chill, I’m just fucking with ya. Let me help you…” Abby snorts, amused at how you respond to her mindless teasing. She bends down in your direction to adapt the position so you won’t be opened up like a christmas present, “…and there! Now hold onto these and try to push the weight inwards slowly, if you do it fast you’ll hurt yourself.”

Abby instructs and you do as you’re told. Slowly, you push your legs together, gripping the handles because the weight is definitely challenging, and after the bench press, Bulgarians, and squats, your legs are not the strongest, but you manage to do it.

“How’s the weight? Do you want me to lower it?” Abby asks, leaning on the machine’s weight rack, “Y-Yeah…it’s too heavy.” Your voice quakes tiredly, and the blonde wants to poke fun at you for it but decides to save it because she knows you’re doing your best. So she lowers the weight so it’s more comfortable.

It’s definitely difficult to do it with your wobbly legs, but it’s also fun in its own way. You close and open your legs at a slow pace, breathing deeply as you do each one, and with Abby watching is only making it harder to pretend you’re not struggling as much. Although it hurts, you’re not sure if you’re targeting the right area since you keep clenching your core unconsciously, and it only causes you to breathe heavier and heavier for some reason. Abby’s on her phone since you got the hang of it, and yes, you can do the exercise, but with each push from your legs, your body gets hotter and your breathing gets sharper. The last rep comes, and the pressure is overwhelming even after taking small breaks between each set. The muscles in your lower stomach tighten, and that’s when you feel your pussy clenching around nothing, and you realize…

This fucking exercise is fun because it’s stimulating you, and your friend in front of you probably has no idea of what’s happening since she’s watching instagram reels.

Your back arches ever so slightly from the seat, a familiar reaction from when you pleasure yourself, and the pooling between your thighs only worsens as you get closer to the end of the rep, clenching every muscle because it feels so good. A loud, raspy gasp escapes your lips, and your eyes immediately seek Abby, checking if she’s seeing what’s engaging between you and the machine, but she remains still so you keep going. Your thighs are shaking, begging you to end the exercise but you keep going despite already hitting the fifteenth one.

‘Almost…’ Even the voice in your head is ragged. Your cunt is throbbing, your abs are inhumanly clenching and the band in your stomach’s about to snap. The sweat is running down your face and your neck, but all you can focus on is that aching pooling in the pit of your stomach.

With your chest heaving and your lip caught between your teeth, you close your legs one more time and groan softly at your release, the chemicals in your brain plastering colorful dots in your vision, and you finally let go since your body’s all weak and shaky. You can barely ride out the bliss when it hits you.

You just had an orgasm. At the gym. With Abby two steps away from you.

“Fuck…” A throaty breath catches Abby’s attention, and thank god your yoga pants are black and not pink today.

“You finally done? I know you’re a newbie but it took you long enough.” Abby puts her phone in her pocket and looks down at you with that kind and charming grin of hers, and then there you are, a panting mess.

“I…need to go to the bathroom,” You announce breathily, quickly getting off the machine because you need to take care of the situation in your pants. The blonde frowns and you know she wants to ask if something’s wrong, but she sees you in a rush and simply points at the ladies' room. You almost run, cursing in your head again and again because what the fuck is wrong with you? The bathroom stalls are empty so you enter the last one, immediately banging your head against the door.

“You’re a fucking pervert. You’re pathetic!” You whisper, and your legs threaten to give up once again, which only upsets you further.

You rest your head against the door and look up, battling the tears brewing in your eyes. This is it; the lowest you’ve reached so far. Who knows if one of the few people out there saw you? Shit, shit, shit. You haven’t had time to play with yourself but this definitely wasn’t the solution to that!

Deep breath in and out, but no matter how calm you are now, the wet spot in your pants remains.

“Hey…you in here?” Abby’s voice makes you jump startled, and you curse again in your head.

“Y-Yeah, last stall.” Your voice is weak and raspy, but you manage to get the right tone to not let her know you’re about to cry.

“You okay? You looked…I dunno, weird.”

Abby’s worry makes your heart clench, and guilt showers you like a bucket of cold water. She’s your best friend though; you know every small quirk, have seen each other’s awkward phases, and most importantly, have kept secrets you know aren’t for anyone else to know. So you’ll be fine, you’re adults now so this isn’t a big deal, right?

You open the door and pull her arm so she’ll join you. Rapidly, you close the door again as if the entire bathroom isn’t empty. Abby chuckles, amused by the sudden move from you, but the smirk fades as soon as she sees the sulky look on your face with your lips almost pouting and your eyes glossy. “Hey…what happened?” Her brows meet in a concerned frown, and she reaches for your hand.

The embarrassment is strong enough to block your throat and tighten your chest. You bite your lip, looking up when Abby’s thumb gently rubs the back of your hand.

“I…” How could you even put it into words? No fancy vocabulary would make this any better, “...the pressure of the exercise was really strong, and I…don’t know how but I think I came.”

Abby’s heart dropped to her stomach, and for your sake, she contained as much shock as she could inside her, but the truth is…she found that adorably amusing and even kind of hot…? You look defeated, just like a puppy who knows did something wrong, and she wants to pet your head and cuddle you.

On your side though, you’re certain she’s thinking you’re a freak that should be locked away from society. You look away from her. Your heart thuds in nothing but shame, pumping the blood to your cheeks, painting them a bright red color.

“How bad is the situation?” Her voice is lower than usual, and you assume that is in case someone enters the bathroom.

“My pants are soaked…” You nearly sob, sniffing but holding it in.

Abby hums, taking a step close to your position against the door, and she hesitantly brings her hand to your clothed crotch as if to make sure you’re telling the truth. Your body reacts to that, naturally, and you jump a little, looking at her with your eyes widening because that’s unknown territory.

“Okay…listen, it’s completely normal, yeah? Tons of girls have gone through the same thing so it’s not like you’re the first one.” She soothes you, her voice low and smooth, almost like a lullaby, and her hand moves to your hip, squeezing it lightly to comfort you.

You huff in relief, still embarrassed but that statement definitely took some weight off your back. “Thank god, I feel like a pervert.”

“You probably are, but that’s okay too.” Of course, she pokes fun at you at the first chance, but she manages to make you laugh a little.

The scenario is a little weird. You’ve been in the most insane and random situations together, but this could top any of those other ones. Your back’s against the door, and Abby’s just centimeters away from you; her hand gripping your hipbone rather firmly, causing your hips to jerk unconsciously. Your eyes meet hers, and she has such an indistinct look on her face that you can’t say you’ve seen before.

“You’re still sensitive,” She states huskily, and you catch her licking her lips.

“Well, yeah. I just had an orgasm.” You also state, almost sarcastically because it’s more than obvious why your body is reacting to her grip.

“You know…having multiple orgasms will help you relax your tensed muscles.”

…okay?

She takes the one step that kept you away from each other, and now both hands are on your hips as she glances down at you with her usual crystal-clear blue eyes gone several tones down to navy. You gulp nervously, your arms on your sides as you stand awkwardly.

“What exactly are you suggesting?”

“Lemme help you.” She answers on the spot, with no hesitance or stuttering. And -shockingly- no hint of it being a joke.

You want to say no for the sake of your friendship more than anything, but your body’s been craving release for months, and if your best friend is willing to help you with such devotion then who are you to reject the thoughtful offer?

“Okay…”

Your answer takes Abby by surprise, but she doesn’t press on it because she doesn’t want you to change your mind, not when she’s getting worked up herself.

“Try to keep it down, though.” She winks a snarky smile at you, and before you can tell her to fuck off, she slips her hand down your pants, cupping your aching core.

“Fuck, you are soaked,” Abby whispers surprised, her voice coming out ragged at the realization, and she begins to move her fingers over your folds, spreading them and feeling the slickness of your previous orgasm.

You wanted to be cocky, but one of your hands goes straight to your mouth to muffle the whimper you almost let escape. You know your friend’s anatomy almost as perfectly as her personal traits and her thick fingers were always secretly acknowledged by you, and now they’re spreading your pussy, teasing you better than you’ve ever done it yourself.

“I didn’t know you were a thong girl,” Abby mutters sultrily, obviously noticing the lack of clothing for your cunt. Her fingers find your clit and she starts tracing slow circles, mostly to see your reaction.

Your eyes are fluttering, and your whimpers come out as hums with your hand blocking your lips. Her touch is gentle but firm, and god is it heavenly. It’s definitely better than your own, and you can’t believe you’re doing this in the bathroom of the gym Abby’s attended for the past years. Still, your hips roll in the direction of where she’s touching you, pathetically writhing under her to feel her calloused fingers even more against your throbbing clit.

“You like that?” Oh her voice…is as sweet as honey right now and it sends a shiver down your spine. You nod your head, too scared of being caught, but Abby -being the jerk she is- yanks your hand off your face, letting it rest on your side and very clearly hinting at you that she wants an answer vocalized.

“Y…Yeah,” You manage to gasp under your breath, your head hitting the door when her fingertips rub a little faster, right in that magnificent spot with the right amount of pressure to turn your legs into jelly.

Abby’s having the time of her life. You look angelically sexy, as if you were trying to seduce her with those red lips of yours; parted open and inviting hers to get a taste. She can’t, though, and she won’t…for now. She wants to see every twitch of your brows, every flutter of your lashes when you blink repeatedly, and every bead of sweat that rolls down your forehead and causes your flushed cheeks to glow under the dim light of the bathroom.

“Abs…” It kills her to hear that beloved nickname of hers coming out of your lips in a needy gasp. She purses her full lips, pitying the situation because she wishes you could just whimper her name out loud. Later…she thinks to herself.

Abby calls out your name as well, matching your discreet and low tone, “...yeah? Feels good?”

You nod again, not risking a moan coming out. Your chest heaves, feeling tight because you can barely breathe. It’s almost like a fever dream…or a wet one, in this case. The blood is pumping hot and fast, adrenaline rushing all over you as she sends you to the fucking moon in steady circles. A loud gulp jumps on the walls of the stall, your best attempt at trying to keep quiet.

You feel that familiar pressure in your belly, but Abby whispers your name again. Her eyes are darker, with a loose strand of her blonde hair falling over her face, and she leans down. “I really wanna finger you, ‘s that alright?” She almost begs you, her pretty brows arching in eagerness for what your answer will be.

Your heart’s about to leap out of your chest at this point, feeling like you’re close to suffocating, but you lick your puffy lips and whisper a very needy ‘yes’. And Abby does not waste a single second before guiding one of your legs around her hips and immediately lowering her two digits to your entrance, spreading your arousal so her fingers won’t come in dry. You close your eyes at the weird sensation, but your hips jerk in her direction more aggressively than before.

“So wet for me…I wish I could taste that sweet pussy,” Abby hoarsely mutters in your ear, and before you can react, her middle and ring finger slip inside you oh so smoothly, stretching you open with her thick and long digits.

“Fuck…!” You hiss agitatedly, unconsciously clenching around her from how overwhelming everything is at this point. Abby slips them out and thrusts them until her knuckles become an obstacle, groaning under her breath as well, which only makes it harder for you to keep quiet. Why were you doing this again? Whatever the fuck was the reason, you wish she would’ve brought it up long before today.

Heat’s consuming your body, colored in a passionate red from your cheeks to your chest, probably from holding your breath, or the force Abby’s fingering you with. Either way, it’s all stimulating you in a way you know you shouldn’t be enjoying. Your heavy sighs are getting progressively louder, but the loud beating of your heart in your ears silences them.

Abby’s fingers thrust forcefully, almost abusing your soaking cunt, and squelching sounds filter out, causing the blonde to groan once again in your ear. Seemingly, the pornographic sound of her fingers pumping in and out only encourages her to seek deeper, finding a spongy spot at the very top when she curls both fingers expertly.

“There!” A normal whimper escapes, and as if to punish you, the door of the ladies’ room opens with two voices following as they chat about gains and what to have for lunch in terms of protein goals. Eyes wide as plates, you look at Abby, silently asking her what to do, unsure if it scares you more to keep going or stop.

Abby has her priority clear; you. So the solution is to cover your mouth with her hand and angle her fingers higher and deeper inside you, hitting the spongy wall repeatedly with the two girls chatting in the background, making enough noise to quiet the squelching of her fingering. Abby cages you between her body and the door, and her groans soon become growls, like a hungry animal salivating over its prey.

Tears brimmed in your wide eyes, beginning to tear up as you breathed raggedly through your nose and winced against Abby’s hand. You should’ve stopped, but the adrenaline rush of possibly -hopefully not- getting caught only caused your muscles to clench tighter, and the pooling in the pit of your stomach to swoop like a crashing wave. You’re close, so fucking close that you’re seeing stars this time. Abby’s eyes even shine before your eyes roll back and your body spasms like you’re being electrocuted. Creaming and cumming all over Abby’s fingers and in your yoga pants for the second time today. A loud ringing in your ears almost concerns you and makes you think you passed out, but it only lasts a minute or two before opening your eyes again and seeing your blonde friend looking at you like she just saw a UFO or something.

She keeps her fingers inside until the two girls leave the bathroom, and you can’t say it isn’t awfully awkward to feel the emptiness when she pulls them out and retrieves her hand from your lips as well, letting you pant loudly while you ride out the thunderous orgasm.

Your eyes meet, and Abby’s cheeks seem to get pink, which would’ve been funny in any other situation. “You, uh, you good?”

It’s so awkward that it makes your stomach cringe uncomfortably. “Yeah, just…recovering.”

Abby nods, letting you know that she understands, but you can tell she’s also embarrassed, probably regretting talking to you the way she did…publicly.

“Are we still watching Wicked?” You ask out of the blue, trying to lighten up the mood, and when Abby snorts everything returns to normal.

“Not only are we watching it, you’re getting eaten out afterward,” She taunts you sweetly, licking her dripping fingers clean.

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