My Obsession 😍 @bloodlinesbabe93 - Tumblr Blog

bloodlinesbabe93

lovelyjay45

Jul 16

onlyangel4

explore. solo sikoa. language of love series.

crushing!solo sikoa x sunshine!reader

quality time

The women's locker room buzzed with the familiar rhythm of another tour morning. Hair dryers hummed somewhere near the mirrors. Someone was hunting for a missing boot. Music drifted faintly from a speaker balanced precariously on top of an open suitcase, changing songs every few minutes as different people connected their phones. It felt less like a workplace and more like organised chaos. Which, after long enough on the road, had somehow become comforting.

You sat cross-legged on one of the sofas, phone balanced in your hands, your attention completely stolen by an article you'd stumbled across over breakfast. A grin slowly spread across your face. "Oh." You scrolled a little further. "Oh, that's adorable."

Across the room, Rhea looked up from lacing her boots. "What is?"

"You have to look at this."

She didn't move. "You've said that before."

"And?"

"It was a goat wearing pyjamas."

"It was cute. it was wearing little ducks."

"It was." She smiled despite herself before pushing herself off the bench. "I still don't know why you thought I needed to see it."

"Because you're my best friend."

"I walked right into that one."

You beamed as she dropped onto the sofa beside you. "Exactly."

You held your phone out towards her. "It's not another goat."

"It better not be."

"It's a little independent bookshop."

Rhea frowned. "...Okay?"

"It's only ten minutes from the arena."

She looked between the screen and your excited expression. "And?"

"And look."

You swiped through the photos. Shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, dotted with cosy armchairs, trailing plants and little handwritten recommendation cards. One corner housed an old café with mismatched furniture and homemade cakes displayed beneath glass domes. "Oh my God." You all but bounced where you sat. "They've got a resident cat."

Rhea couldn't help smiling. "I knew there was a catch."

"His name's Marmalade."

"Of course it is."

"Apparently he just walks around judging everyone."

"I respect that."

You laughed. "So..." You nudged her shoulder. "Wanna come?"

Rhea's expression immediately shifted into one that you recognised all too well. The apologetic one. "I can't."

Your shoulders fell just a fraction. "Oh."

"I've got media after lunch."

"Right."

"Then photos."

"Yeah."

"And Priest wants to go over something before the show."

You nodded, already smiling again. "That's okay."

"You sure?"

"Mhm."

"There'll be another city."

"There always is."

It wasn't unusual. Every week you found something, a museum, a café, a bakery, a little market tucked down a side street. Half the fun of touring, to you, was remembering that every city had people who called it home. You liked seeing the bits that weren't arenas and airports.

Most weeks nobody else had the time or the energy. You'd never really minded exploring on your own.

Rhea reached over, gently bumping your knee with hers. "I would've come."

"I know."

"If I wasn't working."

"I know."

"You know I like your weird little adventures."

"They're not weird."

"They're a little weird."

"They're charming."

"They're weird."

You laughed. "They can be both."

"They absolutely can." Rhea glanced back at your phone. "You gonna bring me back a picture of the cat?"

"I'll bring you several."

"Good."

"And maybe a bookmark."

"You don't read."

"I know."

"I'll still get you one."

"See?" Rhea shook her head affectionately. "That's why I can't say no to you."

You smiled. "I wasn't trying to convince you."

"I know."

"You're just nice."

"Unfortunately."

"Very unfortunate. You make it difficult to maintain my terrifying reputation."

"I think the tattoos do most of the work."

"And the resting bitch face."

"You don't have one."

"I absolutely do."

"You've smiled at me six times this morning."

"That's because you're annoying."

"You love me."

Rhea rolled her eyes. "I tolerate you."

"You bought me coffee."

"You forgot your wallet."

"You also bought me a muffin."

"You looked sad."

"I wasn't sad."

"You looked like you were about to be."

You laughed, leaning your head briefly against her shoulder. "I appreciate you."

"I know."

A voice echoed from the doorway. "Catering?"

You looked up to find a handful of people already heading out for lunch. Perfect timing. You slipped your phone into your pocket before standing. "Come on."

Rhea pushed herself to her feet. "I suppose I need feeding."

"You absolutely do."

"You buying?"

"You know I can't afford to keep buying your lunch."

"I was testing my luck."

"You fail every week."

"One day."

"You've got a better chance of convincing Jey to pay."

Rhea snorted. "Now that's funny."

The two of you wandered out into the corridor together, still talking over one another as you made your way towards catering. The arena seemed even busier now. Crew members hurried past carrying lighting equipment. Someone jogged in the opposite direction with a headset clutched in one hand. A producer called after one of the referees disappearing around the corner. You smiled to yourself, you loved this part, not just the wrestling, everything around it. The people. The routine. The feeling that every week, no matter what city you woke up in, you were surrounded by familiar faces. As you stepped into catering, the smell of fresh coffee and warm food immediately greeted you.

Rhea reached for a tray. "So..."

She glanced sideways at you. "Who are you going to ask?"

You looked at her innocently. "What do you mean?"

"You ask someone every week."

"I do not."

"You absolutely do."

"I just..." You shrugged. "...don't like exploring by myself if I don't have to."

Rhea smiled. "I know."

Your eyes drifted around the room, searching more out of hope than expectation. Most people were already sitting in little groups. Chelsea and Tiffany laughed loudly at one table, Damian and Truth occupied another, a few members of production sat in the corner discussing the night's show. You drew a small breath. Maybe everyone really was busy this week.

Then, from across the room your eyes met Solo's. He'd been sitting quietly near the end of one of the tables, halfway through his lunch. The second he noticed you looking over, he gave a small nod.

You smiled automatically, lifting your hand in a cheerful wave. "Hi, Solo!"

He nodded again. "Hey."

Rhea looked between the two of you. Then back at Solo. Then at you.

A tiny smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "You should ask him."

You blinked. "Solo?"

"Mhm."

"I don't know him that well."

"So?"

"What if he thinks it's weird?"

Rhea looked over your shoulder just in time to see Solo glance in your direction again before quickly looking back down at his plate. "No," she said quietly, a knowing smile growing on her face. "I don't think he'd think it was weird at all."

∘•···············•∘ʚ ♡ ɞ∘•················•∘

Catering slowly emptied as people disappeared in different directions. Some headed for production meetings. Others drifted towards the gym. A handful made a beeline for the coaches' office, folders tucked under their arms. You stood near the drink station, absent-mindedly stirring your iced coffee as you looked down at the map on your phone. The bookstore was only a twelve-minute walk away, you could easily go on your own, you always had before.

Still, Rhea's words lingered in the back of your mind. You should ask him.

You glanced up. Solo was still sitting at the same table, finishing his lunch in complete silence while the room buzzed around him. He didn't seem busy. But then again he never really seemed anything.

You smiled to yourself. What's the worst he can say?

Taking a quiet breath, you walked over. "Hi again."

Solo looked up almost immediately. "Hey."

"You, um..." You shifted your coffee from one hand to the other. "...you busy?"

He shook his head. "No."

"Oh." You smiled. "Good."

A tiny crease appeared between his eyebrows, waiting patiently for you to continue. "I found this little bookshop nearby."

You held your phone out so he could see the photos. "It has a café." He looked. Then looked at you. Then back at the phone. "They've got a cat." Another beat of silence. "Marmalade." You pointed excitedly at the orange cat sprawled across one of the armchairs. "He just walks around the shop apparently."

Solo studied the picture for a second longer than you'd expected. "...Orange."

"Very." You laughed. "I was going to walk over before call time." You suddenly felt a little awkward. "You don't have to or anything. I just thought..." You rubbed the back of your neck. "...if you weren't doing anything..."

Before you'd even managed to finish the sentence, "I'll come."

You blinked. "...Really?"

He nodded once. "Yeah."

Your face lit up so quickly it almost caught him off guard. "Oh!" You smiled so brightly it made something warm settle quietly in Solo's chest. "Okay."

He stood, grabbing his hoodie from the back of the chair. "When?"

You glanced at your watch. "Now?"

"Okay."

"...You don't need convincing?"

"No."

"You don't want to think about it?"

"I'm thinking." You waited. "...I wanna go."

A grin spread across your face. "Perfect."

You turned towards the exit. "This way."

Solo fell into step beside you without another word.

The walk into the city was comfortable almost immediately. Not because either of you filled every second with conversation. Because you didn't feel like you had to. You happily pointed out things as you noticed them. "Look."

Solo followed your gaze. A tiny dog wearing an oversized yellow raincoat trotted proudly past its owner. He looked at the dog. Then at you. You were already smiling. "...Cute."

"I know."

A few minutes later "Oh!"

"What?"

"There." You pointed towards a mural covering the side of a brick building. "I love finding stuff like that."

Solo stopped beside you while you admired it for a moment. "You take pictures?"

"Mhm. You don't?" He shook his head. "You should."

"...Maybe."

You snapped a quick photo before continuing down the street.

The conversation drifted naturally. Mostly led by you. "So where's your favourite place you've wrestled?"

Solo thought for a second. "...Japan."

"Oh?"

"Mhm."

"Why?"

"The crowds."

"They're loud?"

He smiled faintly. "...Sometimes."

You laughed. "I've heard they're amazing."

"They are."

"What about yours?"

You looked thoughtful. "I think..." A smile spread across your face. "...Honestly?" He nodded. "I don't think it's about the cities."

"No?"

"It's the random little memories."

He looked across at you. "What kind?"

"Oh..." You started counting on your fingers. "The bakery in Boston, the beach in San Diego, the old record shop in Nashville, the woman in Seattle who gave me an extra cookie because she liked my earrings."

Solo listened quietly. "...I barely remember the arenas."

You smiled. "But I remember all the little adventures."

He looked ahead for a moment. Then quietly said, "...That's nice."

You looked over at him. "You think?"

"Mhm."

"You should come on more." The words left your mouth so casually you barely thought about them. "You'd probably like it."

Solo didn't answer straight away. Instead a tiny smile appeared. "...Yeah."

"I think I would."

The bell above the bookshop door chimed softly as you stepped inside. Immediately, the noise of the city disappeared. Warm lighting spilled across rows and rows of wooden bookshelves. The café in the corner smelled faintly of cinnamon and fresh coffee. Someone sat curled up in an armchair reading by the window.

And, just as promised an enormous ginger cat lay sprawled across the middle of the front counter, completely unbothered by the customers wandering around him.

You gasped quietly. "Marmalade."

Solo looked towards the cat. "...Big."

"He is!"

You crouched down beside the counter, holding one finger out carefully. The cat lazily stretched before rubbing his head against your hand. Your smile somehow became even brighter. "Oh, hello."

Solo stood a couple of feet away, hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie. He wasn't looking at the cat anymore. He was looking at you. Watching the way you laughed softly every time Marmalade bumped his head against your hand. Watching how excited you became over something so small. You looked happy. Completely, effortlessly happy. "You were right."

You looked back at him.

"Hm?"

"He's friendly."

"I told you!" You stood again. "Come here." Solo hesitated. "You can pet him."

"I don't..."

"Marmalade likes everyone." You held your hand out towards him. "Come on."

For reasons he couldn't quite explain Solo stepped closer. You gently guided his hand towards the cat's head. "There." Marmalade immediately leaned into the scratch behind his ears.

Solo's eyebrows lifted ever so slightly. "...Huh."

You laughed. "I know."

"He's soft."

"I know."

For the next few seconds neither of you said anything. You simply stood shoulder to shoulder, absent-mindedly petting a sleepy bookstore cat while the world outside carried on without you.

Eventually, you looked over at him with an easy smile. "I'm really glad you came."

Solo looked back at you. There wasn't even a second's hesitation. "...Me too."

And somehow. he realised he wasn't talking about the bookshop. He wasn't even talking about the cat. He was talking about spending the afternoon with you.

He just didn't know it yet.

∘•···············•∘ʚ ♡ ɞ∘•················•∘

A week later, another city greeted you through the aeroplane window. From above, it looked like every other place you'd flown into over the past few months, grids of roads, clusters of buildings, tiny cars moving like ants beneath scattered clouds. You still smiled anyway. Every city had something worth finding. Even if it was just a good coffee shop.

The rental bus rumbled towards the arena while conversations drifted lazily around the seats. Some people slept with their heads against the windows. Others watched films on their phones. Chelsea and Tiffany were halfway through a debate about whether cereal counted as soup. You decided it was safer not to get involved.

Instead, you pulled out your phone and opened the little folder you'd created months ago.

Tour Ideas.

Each city had its own note.

Little recommendations you'd saved from TikToks, travel blogs, Instagram reels and comments

from fans. Bookshops, vintage markets, parks, museums, independent cafés. You scrolled until you found today's city. Your eyes lit up immediately. "Oh..."

Across the aisle, Rhea looked over the top of her sunglasses. "What've you found now?"

You turned your phone around. "A little bakery." Rhea studied the photos. It was tucked into a narrow brick building with flower boxes beneath every window. Glass cabinets displayed rows of pastries dusted with icing sugar, and handwritten menus hung behind the counter. "They make cinnamon rolls the size of your head."

Rhea nodded approvingly. "Now you've got my attention."

"They've also got homemade hot chocolate."

"Hm."

You watched her hopefully.

"You coming?"

She sighed dramatically. "I wish."

"So that's a no."

"I've got media."

"Again?"

"I'm very popular."

You snorted. "So I've heard."

"And after media I've got rehearsal." She reached over and squeezed your knee. "But you should still go."

"I probably will."

"You definitely will."

"I don't like wasting cities."

"I know." Rhea smiled to herself. "I know."

By the time everyone had settled into their locker rooms and grabbed something to eat, the familiar pre-show routine had already begun. The corridors filled with producers carrying clipboards. Music drifted from somewhere near Gorilla. Someone hurried past balancing four takeaway coffees.

You wandered into catering with your phone already unlocked. "Okay..."

Chelsea looked up immediately. "There it is."

You frowned. "What?"

"The face."

"What face?"

"The 'I've found somewhere' face."

Tiffany laughed. "Where's today's adventure?"

You grinned. "A bakery."

Chelsea clasped her hands together dramatically. "I love bakeries."

"I know."

"But I've got glam."

"I know."

"You'll bring me something back?"

"If there's anything left."

"There better be."

You laughed, looking around the room. "So..." Your voice lifted just enough for the nearby tables to hear. "...anyone fancy coming?"

There was a chorus of responses.

"I've got a meeting."

"Need a nap."

"Sorry."

"Maybe next week."

You nodded happily. "No worries." You'd expected as much. You turned to grab your water bottle

"I'm coming."

You smiled before you even looked up.

Somehow you'd expected that answer too. Solo stood from his chair, sliding his phone into his pocket.

Jimmy watched him. Then looked at Jey. Then back at Solo. "...Again?"

Solo glanced over. "What?"

"You goin' to another little café?"

"It's a bakery." You corrected automatically.

Jimmy grinned. "My bad."

"A bakery." Solo gave a single nod. "Mhm."

Jey rested his elbows on the table. "I thought you were gonna hit the gym."

Solo shrugged. "Later."

Jimmy frowned theatrically. "You hate crowds iIt's the middle of the afternoon, it'll be busy."

Another shrug. "S'alright."

Jey slowly leaned back in his chair. "Huh."

Solo ignored him completely, looking back at you instead. "You ready?"

You smiled brightly. "Yeah."

As the two of you headed for the door, Rhea appeared carrying two bottles of water. She watched you leave. Then looked at the twins. "You two seeing this?"

Jimmy didn't take his eyes off the doorway. "Oh, we're seeing it."

The bakery smelled like butter before you even opened the door. Warm air wrapped around you as little bells chimed overhead. Behind the glass counter sat rows of pastries in every shape imaginable. Croissants, fruit tarts, cookies, brownies. And right in the centre the enormous cinnamon rolls.

You gasped. "They weren't lying."

Solo looked at them. "wow."

"They're huge!"

You turned to him with the excitement of someone who'd just discovered buried treasure. "We're sharing one."

He blinked. "I don't really—"

"We're sharing one."

He almost smiled. "...Okay."

A few minutes later you managed to carry the oversized plate to a little table by the window. Two forks. One cinnamon roll. One hot chocolate. One coffee. You stared at the pastry. "I think this could feed a family."

Solo picked up his fork. "You first."

"No." You pushed the plate slightly towards him. "You came because I invited you."

"You first."

You narrowed your eyes playfully. "We're doing this?"

"Mhm."

"...Fine." You cut off a ridiculously oversized bite. It nearly fell off the fork. You laughed. "This is impossible."

Solo watched you carefully balance it all the way to your mouth. The second your eyes widened he already knew. "It's good?"

You swallowed quickly. "Oh my God."

"That good?"

You nodded enthusiastically. "You have to try it."

You cut another piece before holding your fork out without thinking. "Here." The moment froze for half a second. You realised what you'd done. "Oh!" Your cheeks warmed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to” Before you could pull the fork back Solo leaned forward slightly and took the bite anyway. Your brain stalled completely. "...Sorry."

He looked at you, chewing thoughtfully. Then gave one decisive nod. "...Good."

You laughed, relief washing over you. "I know!"

For the next twenty minutes, the two of you slowly demolished the cinnamon roll while you talked about everything and nothing. You told him about the tiny aquarium you'd visited on your last holiday. He admitted he'd never actually been inside one. "You've never been?" He shook his head. "You'd love it."

"Mhm?"

"They've got little jellyfish."

He smiled faintly. "You like jellyfish?"

"I like everything."

"I noticed."

You laughed. "I can't help it."

"No." He looked out of the window for a second before quietly adding, "...I don't think you should."

The words were so quiet you almost wondered if you'd imagined them. You looked at him. "What?"

He met your eyes. "You always get excited."

You smiled sheepishly. "I do."

"It's nice."

Warmth spread through your chest. "Thanks."

He just nodded, taking another sip of his coffee.

It wasn't until your phone buzzed with a reminder for call time that you realised nearly an hour had disappeared. You blinked. "We should probably head back."

Solo checked the time. "...Yeah."

Neither of you sounded particularly enthusiastic about it. As you stood, you carefully folded the leftover half of the cinnamon roll into a takeaway box. "You taking it?"

You nodded. "Chelsea threatened me if I came back empty-handed."

Solo's mouth twitched. "...Fair."

You laughed.

Together, you stepped back out into the sunshine and began the walk towards the arena. As you chatted away beside him about where next week's tour stop might be, Solo found himself doing something he almost never did. He hoped there would be another little adventure. Not because he cared about bakeries or bookshops or museums. But because somewhere between sharing one cinnamon roll and listening to you talk about jellyfish with complete sincerity he'd realised those afternoons had quietly become his favourite part of every tour stop.

∘•···············•∘ʚ ♡ ɞ∘•················•∘

The following week, you found yourself in another city, another hotel, another arena, another little pin waiting to be added to the map you kept saved on your phone. You smiled to yourself as you walked through the loading bay, suitcase rolling behind you. Every place felt new.

That was your favourite part. No matter how many times you'd toured, there was always another little coffee shop to discover or another street to wander down.

Rhea fell into step beside you, coffee already in hand. "So."

"So?"

She took a sip. "What's today's adventure?"

You laughed. "I haven't decided yet."

"You've definitely decided."

"I've narrowed it down."

"How many options?"

"...Five."

Rhea groaned. "Five?"

"I couldn't choose."

"You never can."

"I like them all."

"You always do."

You unlocked your phone as the two of you walked through the maze of corridors, pulling up the folder labelled Tour Ideas. "Okay." You turned the screen towards her. "So there's a botanical garden."

"Mhm."

"A tiny comic book shop."

"Mhm."

"A second-hand record store."

"Mhm."

"Oh!" You scrolled again. "And apparently there's a little family-run ice cream place that makes everything fresh every morning."

Rhea smiled despite herself. "You're impossible."

"I know."

"I swear you get more excited about exploring than wrestling."

You gasped dramatically. "I can love two things."

"You definitely can."

As you reached the women's locker room, Rhea nudged your shoulder. "So..."

She looked at you over the rim of her coffee cup. "Which one are you taking Solo to?"

You blinked. "What?"

She looked completely innocent. "I didn't say anything."

"You absolutely did."

"I asked a question."

"I haven't even asked anyone yet."

"Mhm."

"You think he's coming?"

"I do."

"What makes you think that?"

Rhea only smiled. "You'll see."

By lunchtime, the arena had settled into its familiar rhythm. People drifted in and out of catering between meetings, music played quietly from someone's speaker, a production assistant hurried through carrying enough paperwork to bury themselves under.

You wandered in with your tray balanced carefully in one hand. The moment Chelsea spotted you she pointed her fork in your direction. "There she is."

You frowned. "What?"

"Explorer."

You laughed. "I have a name."

"Barely."

Tiffany looked up. "So where are we going?"

You looked around the table in confusion. "What do you mean 'we'?"

"The imaginary group that asks before abandoning us."

"I don't abandon anyone."

Chelsea smiled. "You kind of do."

"I invite everyone."

"You do."

"You all say no."

"Correct."

"So that's hardly my fault."

Rhea sat down beside you, trying very hard not to smile. "So..." She rested her chin on her hand. "Where are you going today?"

You pulled your phone out. "I found this botanical garden."

Chelsea immediately sighed. "I'd actually love that but I've got glam."

"I know."

Tiffany shook her head. "I've got media."

"I know."

Rhea shrugged apologetically. "Production meeting."

"I know." You smiled anyway. "That's okay."

You'd barely finished speaking when a familiar voice came from behind you. "I'll come."

Without even thinking, you smiled. "Hi, Solo."

He gave a small nod as he stopped beside the table. "Hey."

You looked up at him. "I found a botanical garden."

"Mhm."

"They've got butterflies."

He nodded once. "...Okay."

"I thought we could walk there."

"Okay."

You smiled brightly. "Perfect."

Across the table Chelsea slowly lowered her fork.

Tiffany looked at Rhea.

Rhea took a very deliberate sip of her drink.

Chelsea leaned a little closer. "...Has he..."

Tiffany whispered back, "...been on every one?"

Rhea didn't answer. She simply raised one eyebrow.

The three of them watched as you happily continued telling Solo about the botanical garden while he listened with complete attention, occasionally asking the odd quiet question. "...They've got a koi pond too."

"Mhm."

"And apparently a greenhouse full of orchids."

He nodded. "...Sounds nice."

"I thought so."

You looked at your watch. "Oh."

"We should probably head off soon."

"Yeah." Solo hadn't even picked up his tray yet. He simply turned around. "I'll grab my stuff."

"Okay!"

You smiled after him before sitting back down. Only then did you notice the three women staring at you. "...What?"

Chelsea blinked. "Nothing."

Tiffany nodded far too quickly. "Absolutely nothing."

Rhea looked down at her lunch to hide the grin spreading across her face.

You frowned. "You're all being weird."

"Nope."

"Very normal."

"The normalest."

You narrowed your eyes. "I don't think that's a word."

"It is today."

You laughed, shaking your head. "You lot are strange."

As soon as you wandered off to refill your water bottle Chelsea immediately turned to Rhea. "...Okay."

Rhea smiled into her coffee. "What?"

"What is happening?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean."

Tiffany nodded. "I've literally never seen Solo volunteer for anything."

Rhea leaned back in her chair. "I know."

Chelsea frowned thoughtfully. "Has he ever said no to her?"

The three of them fell silent. Thinking. Rhea counted on her fingers. "Bookshop, bakery, botanical garden."

Chelsea added, "He was with her at the airport last week."

Tiffany looked up. "And I saw them walking back from the hotel together after SmackDown."

Another pause.

Rhea finally smiled to herself. "...Huh."

Chelsea looked at her. "'Huh?'"

"I think..."

Rhea glanced across the room just in time to see Solo return with his backpack slung over one shoulder, automatically walking over to where you were waiting by the door.

You smiled at him. He nodded back. Without discussing it, the two of you fell into step beside each other and disappeared down the corridor.

Rhea watched until you were out of sight. Then she looked back at Chelsea and Tiffany. "I don't think he's going because of the places."

Chelsea's eyebrows shot up. "You think he's going because of her?"

Rhea smiled knowingly. "I've had that feeling since the bookshop."

Tiffany laughed softly.

"Oh..." Chelsea grinned. "...He's got it bad."

Meanwhile, completely unaware of the conversation you'd just inspired, you looked over at Solo as the afternoon sunshine hit your face outside the arena. "You know..."

"What?"

"I've never actually been to a botanical garden before."

He looked at you. "No?"

You shook your head. "So..." A smile spread across your face. "...we get to experience our first one together."

For reasons he couldn't quite explain that made him smile too.

∘•···············•∘ʚ ♡ ɞ∘•················•∘

Another Friday, another city, another arena. By now, it had become something of a tradition. You'd arrive, you'd unpack just enough to make the hotel room feel lived in, you'd spend the morning bouncing between production meetings, rehearsals and catching up with everyone you'd only seen a few days earlier.

Then, somewhere around lunchtime you'd appear with your phone. "So..."

The word barely left your mouth before Jimmy called across catering. "Where we goin' today?"

Laughter rippled around the room. You smiled. "I haven't even said anything yet."

"You don't gotta." Chelsea pointed her fork towards you. "You found somewhere."

"I did."

Jimmy leaned back in his chair. "Course you did."

You laughed, unlocking your phone. "There's a little market by the river."

"Mhm."

"They've got handmade jewellery."

"Mhm."

"Oh! and apparently someone sells homemade fudge."

Chelsea looked tempted for a split second. "...No. I've got hair."

Tiffany shook her head. "I've got media."

Rhea smiled into her coffee. "I've got absolutely nothing..." Your face brightened. "...But I'm not coming."

You pouted dramatically. "Traitor."

She shrugged. "I'm busy."

"You just said—"

"I'm busy."

"You've become very suspicious recently."

"I've always been suspicious."

You narrowed your eyes. "I don't believe you."

Jimmy was already looking past you. "You gonna ask him?"

You turned. "Him who?"

As if summoned simply by the conversation Solo walked through the catering doors. Jimmy couldn't help himself. He looked at Jey. Then dramatically checked an imaginary watch. "Right on time." Jey snorted into his drink.

Solo frowned. "What?"

"Nothin'."

"You sure?"

"Mhm."

You looked between the three of them in complete confusion. "...Have I missed something?"

"Nope."

"Not at all."

Jimmy waved you off. "So..." He nodded towards Solo. "Ask him."

You blinked. "I was going to."

"I know."

"...How?"

"'Cause you always do."

You laughed. "I don't always."

"You absolutely do."

You walked over to Solo before anyone else could continue whatever strange joke they were all apparently in on. "Hi."

"Hey."

"I found a market." He waited. "There'll be food."

"Mhm."

"And jewellery."

"Mhm."

"And there's a man who makes tiny glass animals."

For the first time since you'd met him Solo's eyebrows lifted just a little. "...Glass animals?"

You nodded enthusiastically. "Tiny ones."

He thought for all of half a second. "...Let's go."

The market wound its way alongside the river in a patchwork of colourful stalls. Strings of fairy lights crisscrossed above your heads despite the afternoon sun still shining brightly. The smell of fresh bread mixed with coffee and cinnamon drifted through the warm air. Someone nearby played an acoustic guitar while children chased each other between the stalls.

You smiled almost immediately. "I love places like this."

Solo glanced at you. "I know."

"You do?"

"You always smile."

Your smile somehow grew even wider. "I do."

"You do."

You wandered slowly, stopping every few feet because something else caught your eye. "Oh!" You hurried towards a stall covered in tiny ceramic animals. "They're adorable." Solo followed without complaint. You picked up a tiny duck no bigger than your thumb. "Look."

He looked. "...Cute."

"It has a little hat."

"It does."

You laughed quietly before setting it back down. At the next stall, an elderly man sat behind dozens of tiny blown-glass animals that glittered in the sunlight.

You crouched down almost immediately. "They're beautiful."

The man smiled warmly. "Take your time."

You carefully admired each one. Foxes. Owls. Whales. Tiny turtles no bigger than your fingernail. Then You spotted it. "Oh..." You reached for a tiny orange cat. Its tail curled around its paws exactly like Marmalade's had in the bookshop.

The man noticed your smile. "You like that one?"

"It reminds me of a cat I met."

He chuckled. "That's a good enough reason."

You turned it carefully between your fingers before reluctantly placing it back down. "It's really pretty."

Solo looked from the cat to you then quietly wandered a few steps away while you became distracted by another display. A minute later, you thanked the stall owner and continued walking.

Completely unaware that Solo had lingered behind for just a moment.

"You know..." You looked over as the two of you walked along the river.

"What?"

"I've noticed something."

Solo glanced at you. "What?"

"You've started talking more."

He looked genuinely surprised. "I have?"

"Mhm. At first I think I spoke enough for both of us."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You still do."

You laughed. "I know but..." You nudged his shoulder lightly. "...I like hearing what you've got to say."

For a moment, he didn't answer. Then quietly, "I like listening."

"I know."

"It makes it easy."

"What does?"

A small shrug. "Being around you."

Your heart softened. "I hope that's a good thing."

"It is."

The words came so naturally that neither of you really stopped to think about them.

You eventually found a quiet bench overlooking the river. You sat down with two lemonades and a paper bag full of warm fudge you'd somehow been convinced to buy after sampling "just one piece." You tore off a tiny square and held the bag out. "Wanna try?"

Solo nodded. "Mhm."

He reached into the bag only for your fingers to brush. It was barely a second. Barely anything at all.

Yet somehow neither of you moved straight away. You looked up. His eyes were already on you. The sounds of the market seemed to fade into the background. For just a heartbeat it was only the two of you, then someone shouted happily across the river.

The moment broke. You smiled shyly, looking back down at the bag. "...Sorry."

"For what?"

"I don't know."

"You didn't do anything."

"I know."

He took the piece of fudge, turning it over thoughtfully before taking a bite.

You watched him expectantly. "Well?"

He chewed. Then nodded once. "...Good."

You laughed. "That's all I get?"

"It's really good."

"There we go."

He almost smiled. "You happy now?"

"Very."

The two of you sat there for a while longer, watching boats drift lazily past.

It wasn't silent. But it was quiet. Comfortable. The sort of quiet that only existed between two people who never felt any pressure to fill every pause.

Eventually, you sighed happily. "I think this might be my favourite one."

Solo looked at you. "The market?"

You shook your head. "The afternoon."

He followed your gaze to the river. "Mine too."

He wasn't talking about the market.

And this time he knew it.

∘•···············•∘ʚ ♡ ɞ∘•················•∘

The pattern became impossible to ignore, not for you, you were still blissfully unaware.

But for everyone else?

It had become the easiest game on tour.

Every new city, someone would ask exactly one question.

"Where's she taking Solo today?"

Another Monday, another airport, another early morning. The women's locker room hadn't quite woken up yet. Chelsea sat curled up on the sofa with a coffee almost as big as her head. Tiffany scrolled through her phone. Rhea was attempting to convince herself that six in the morning should be illegal.

You wandered in with your backpack still slung over one shoulder. "Morning!"

Rhea looked up. "You're smiling."

"I am."

"It's six."

"I know."

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You found somewhere."

Your grin widened. "...Maybe."

Chelsea groaned dramatically. "She's done it again."

You laughed as you dropped into the seat beside Rhea. "It isn't even that exciting."

"What is it?"

"A little aquarium."

Rhea blinked. "...An aquarium?"

"They've got rescued sea turtles."

Rhea chuckled. "So..." She leaned back. "You asking him?"

You frowned. "Him?"

"The very large Samoan who's apparently become your personal tour guide."

You looked genuinely confused. "You mean Solo?"

"Mhm."

"I mean..." You shrugged. "I'll ask everyone."

Chelsea and Rhea exchanged a look. Neither of them said a word.

By lunchtime, the game had already begun. Jimmy spotted you walking into catering with your phone in your hand. He didn't even look up from his lunch. "There she is."

Jey glanced over. "What's today's adventure?"

You smiled. "Aquarium."

Jimmy nodded thoughtfully. "Nice." Then he looked around the room. "Where Solo at?"

As if the universe enjoyed proving him right the catering doors opened. Solo walked in.

Jimmy immediately slapped Jey's arm. "There."

Jey burst into laughter. "I swear he got a tracker."

Solo frowned. "What?"

"Nothin'."

"You keep sayin' that."

"'Cause there ain't nothin'."

You walked over before the twins could confuse you any further. "Hi."

"Hey."

"So..." You unlocked your phone. "I found an aquarium."

"Mhm."

"They've got rescued sea turtles."

He nodded. "Okay."

"And little penguins."

"Mhm."

"And jellyfish."

Something softened in his expression. "You like jellyfish."

Your face lit up. "You remembered?"

He looked almost surprised that you'd sounded so pleased. "...Yeah."

You smiled. "I do."

He nodded once. "I'll come."

Before you'd even asked.

You blinked. "Oh. I..." A little laugh escaped you. "I was actually about to ask."

"I know."

"You knew?"

"Mhm."

"You would've said yes?"

He looked at you as though there wasn't another possible answer. "Yeah."

You smiled so warmly it made his chest tighten. "Okay, meet you after lunch?"

"Mhm."

"Perfect."

You wandered off towards the dessert table, happily humming to yourself.

The second you were out of earshotJimmy slowly turned towards Solo. "Bro."

"What?"

"You ain't even let her finish."

Solo frowned. "So?"

"So?" Jey laughed. "She didn't even ask yet."

"I knew what she was gonna say."

Jimmy leaned forward. "And you already knew your answer."

"...Yeah."

The twins stared at him. Completely speechless.

Finally, Jimmy spoke. "You know you could say no."

"I could."

"But you don't."

"No."

"Why?"

Solo looked genuinely confused by the question. "'Cause I wanna go."

Jey rubbed a hand down his face. "That ain't what I'm askin'."

Solo stayed quiet.

Jimmy tried again. "You don't even like aquariums."

"I never said that."

"You've never been."

"So?"

"So why you goin'?"

Solo opened his mouth. Then paused. His answer should have been easy. He could have said he wanted to get out of the arena. He could have said he was bored. He could have blamed the sea turtles. Instead the only honest answer sat quietly in his chest. Because she asked. Because she smiled when he said yes. Because somewhere between bookshops and bakeries and markets those afternoons had become the part of tour he looked forward to most.

He didn't say any of that. He simply shrugged. "...Sounds fun."

Jimmy stared. Then looked at Jey. "You hear that?"

Jey nodded solemnly. "I heard it."

"He lying."

"He lying real bad."

Solo rolled his eyes. "I ain't lying."

"You are."

"You hate museums."

"I went."

"You hate shopping."

"I went."

"You don't even drink coffee."

"I still went."

Jimmy stood dramatically, pointing across the room towards where you were laughing with Rhea over something one of the catering staff had said. "You know why."

Solo followed his finger automatically. You were still smiling, still laughing, still completely oblivious to the fact that three people were talking about you. His expression softened without him noticing.

Jimmy caught it immediately. "There."

Jey nodded. "There."

"What?"

"That."

Solo looked back at them. "What?"

"The face."

He frowned. "What face?"

Jimmy couldn't stop grinning. "The one you get every time you look at her."

Solo opened his mouth to argue. Nothing came out. Because for the first time he wasn't entirely sure they were wrong.

An hour later, the two of you wandered slowly through the cool, blue-lit aquarium. A rescued sea turtle glided lazily past the glass. You pressed your hands together excitedly. "Look."

Solo didn't answer, you turned. He wasn't looking at the turtle. He was looking at you. "What?"

He blinked, as though you'd caught him doing something. "...Nothin'."

You smiled. Then looked back at the turtle.

Neither of you noticed Rhea standing on the upper level with Damian Priest, looking down into the enormous central tank. She glanced from you, to Solo then smiled to herself. Damian followed her gaze. "...What's that look for?"

Rhea folded her arms. "I've been watching this happen for about a month."

"Happen?"

She nodded towards the two of you. "He hasn't looked at a single fish."

Damian frowned. "...Huh."

Rhea laughed quietly. "Exactly."

"He keeps saying yes because of the adventures." She shook her head. "No." Damian looked back down just in time to see you excitedly point at another exhibit, immediately setting off towards it. Without hesitation Solo followed. Not because he'd read the sign. Not because he cared what was in the next tank. Simply because you were going there. Rhea smiled. "He'd follow that girl anywhere."

∘•···············•∘ʚ ♡ ɞ∘•················•∘

A few weeks passed, a few more cities, a few more little adventures. A record shop where you spent twenty minutes trying to convince Solo to buy a vinyl player despite the fact he didn't own a single record. A tiny art gallery where you accidentally spent almost an hour sitting on a bench trying to decide whether one abstract painting was "deeply moving" or "just three blue circles." An animal sanctuary where Solo had quietly become attached to a goat that kept following him around.

You'd laughed so hard you'd nearly cried. "You've got a friend."

He looked down at the goat. "...Mhm."

"I think he likes you."

The goat nudged his leg. Solo reached down absent-mindedly to scratch behind its ears. "...He's alright."

You'd taken approximately twelve photos. Rhea had made one of them her lock screen.

By now, the adventures had become expected. Not just by everyone else.

By you.

You found yourself looking forward to them as much as the shows.

Because somewhere along the way you'd stopped thinking of them as exploring new cities. They'd simply become your afternoons with Solo.

You were halfway through getting ready when your phone buzzed. A single message.

Solo: You busy?

You smiled. He never texted much. Usually only if it was important or apparently if there was a free afternoon.

You quickly typed back.

You: No! Why?

Three little dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.

Solo: Found somewhere.

Your eyebrows lifted. Solo? You replied almost immediately.

You: You found somewhere??

This time, his response came a little quicker.

Solo: Thought you might like it.

For a second you simply stared at your screen a smile slowly spread across your face.

You found him waiting just outside the hotel lobby. Hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie. Just like always. Except, this time, you weren't the one holding directions on your phone. "You planned today?"

He nodded. "Mhm."

"I'm impressed."

A tiny smile appeared. "I remembered."

"You remembered what?"

"You always find places."

"I do."

"So..." He shrugged. "...Thought I'd find one."

Something warm fluttered in your chest. "Okay."

"So where are we going?"

He started walking. "You'll see."

It turned out to be a little hill overlooking the city. Nothing touristy. No cafés, no markets, no museums. Just a quiet walking path leading up to an old stone viewpoint where you could see almost the entire skyline. The afternoon sun painted everything gold. You slowly turned in a circle. "Solo..." He looked over. "This is beautiful."

"Mhm."

"How did you find it?"

"I asked."

"Who?"

"Hotel guy."

You laughed. "You asked the concierge?"

"He said tourists don't usually come here."

You looked out across the rooftops again. "I can see why."

"It’s quiet."

"It is."

"I thought..." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "...you'd like that."

You smiled at him. "I love it."

For a while, neither of you spoke. You simply leaned against the old stone wall, watching the city stretch endlessly beneath you. The breeze tugged gently at your hair. Somewhere below, a church bell rang. It was peaceful, wonderfully peaceful.

Eventually, you looked sideways at him. "So..."

"What?"

"You've never suggested somewhere before."

He nodded. "I know."

"What changed?"

He was quiet for a long moment. "You always plan everything."

"Mhm."

"You always find nice places."

"I try."

"So" Another shrug. "Thought it was my turn."

Your heart squeezed. "You didn't have to."

"I know."

"But I wanted to."

The simplicity of the answer stole every other thought from your head. You looked back out at the view, trying to ignore the strange warmth blooming in your chest. It lingered there, long after the conversation had ended.

As the sun began to dip lower, you sat on a nearby bench, sharing a packet of crisps you'd picked up from a vending machine in the hotel lobby. You nudged the packet towards him. "Last one."

He looked inside. One lonely chip remained. "You have it."

You shook your head. "No. You."

"We're doing this again?"

"Mhm." You laughed.

"You're impossible."

"So I've been told."

You reached into the packet at exactly the same moment he did. Your fingers brushed, again.

This time neither of you pulled away immediately.

You looked up. He was already looking at you. Not saying anything. Just looking.

Your stomach fluttered, it was different. You couldn't explain how. It just was.

You smiled first. "What?"

He blinked, almost as though you'd pulled him out of a thought. "...Nothin'."

"You keep saying that."

"Mhm."

"But it never feels like nothing."

For the first time since you'd met him Solo looked genuinely flustered. His eyes dropped to the packet in your hands. "Sorry."

Your smile softened. "You don't have to apologise."

A comfortable silence settled between you again. Only now it didn't feel quite the same.

Because for the first time you caught yourself wondering why Solo had remembered how much you loved finding hidden little places. Why he'd gone out of his way to ask someone at the hotel. Why he'd wanted to surprise you. Why every spare afternoon for the last two months had somehow ended with the two of you wandering through another city together. The answers should have been obvious, yet somehow, you'd never really stopped to ask the question.

Until now.

As you looked over at him again, watching the breeze lift the edge of his hoodie while he quietly admired the view, one thought settled gently into the front of your mind.

Maybe, these little adventures hadn't become your favourite part of tour by accident.

Maybe they had become his favourite part too.

∘•···············•∘ʚ ♡ ɞ∘•················•∘

The next city arrived with grey skies and light rain. The kind that never seemed to fall particularly hard, yet somehow managed to soak everything anyway.

By lunchtime, the arena had settled into its usual rhythm. Music echoed faintly from somewhere down the corridor. People wandered in and out of catering between rehearsals. Crew members rushed past with headsets pressed against one ear. Nothing about the day felt unusual.

Until you walked into catering. Phone already in hand.

Rhea noticed first. "Oh no."

You looked up innocently. "What?"

"You've found somewhere."

"Maybe."

Jimmy, who'd only just sat down with his lunch, let out a dramatic groan. "Every week."

"I don't force anyone to come."

"No." He looked across the room. "You don't have to."

You frowned. "What does that mean?"

"Nothing." Jey coughed into his drink to hide a laugh. Chelsea smiled into her coffee. Tiffany suddenly found the table incredibly interesting.

You looked between all of them. "Why are you all being weird?"

"We're not."

"You are."

"We're really not."

"You definitely are." You narrowed your eyes suspiciously before giving up. "Fine." You unlocked your phone. "So..." "I found this little planetarium."

Jimmy immediately looked towards the catering doors. "Three..."

Jey grinned. "Two..."

Chelsea bit her lip. "One..."

Almost on cue the doors opened. Solo walked in. He paused for barely a second before spotting you. Then naturally he started walking over.

Jimmy threw both hands into the air. "I TOLD YOU!"

Solo frowned. "What?"

"You ain't even got here yet!"

"Okay?"

"You don't know where she going."

Solo looked at you. You smiled. "Hi."

"Hey."

"I found a planetarium."

He nodded once. "Okay."

"It starts in forty minutes."

"Mhm."

You smiled. "Wanna come?"

"Yeah."

Jimmy physically dropped his fork onto the table. "There!"

Jey buried his face in his hands. Chelsea laughed so hard she nearly knocked over her drink.

You looked around the room, completely bewildered. "What?"

Jimmy pointed dramatically at Solo. "You!"

"What?"

"You ain't even askin' questions no more!"

Solo blinked. "I know where we're going."

"That's not the point!"

You looked between them. "I'm confused."

"We know." Rhea laughed softly. "You've both been confusing for weeks."

You frowned. "We have?"

Jimmy looked at Solo. "You tell her."

Solo stayed quiet Jey nudged him. "Go on."

Another silence. The room somehow became noticeably quieter. Even a few people at nearby tables had started pretending not to listen. You looked at Solo. "You don't have to if they're teasing."

He looked back at you. Then quietly said, "They're right."

You blinked. "About what?"

A long pause. Long enough that you wondered if he was going to change his mind. Instead he looked down at the floor for a second before meeting your eyes again. "I don't really care where we're going."

Your smile faltered slightly. "You don't?"

He shook his head. "No."

"Oh." For some reason That stung a little. You looked down at your phone. "I thought you liked the adventures."

"I do."

"You just said-"

"I like 'em" He searched for the words. Then found them. "...'Cause you're there." Silence. Complete silence. "I'd go anywhere with you." His voice stayed as calm and steady as it always was. As though he wasn't quietly turning your entire world upside down. "It could be a bookshop, a bakery, a museum, a walk, I don't really mind." Another tiny shrug. "My favourite part" His eyes never left yours. "isn't where we go." Your heart pounded. "It's spending time with you."

No grand declaration. No dramatic speech. Just the truth.

Simple. Honest. Entirely Solo.

You stared at him for what felt like forever. Then, very quietly "So" Your smile slowly returned. "if I told you I'd actually forgotten to plan something today..." He waited. "You'd still want to go?"

"Yeah."

"What if we just walked around for an hour?"

"Mhm."

"What if we sat in a coffee shop?"

"Okay."

"What if we bought absolutely nothing and just wandered?"

A tiny smile appeared. "Sounds nice."

You laughed softly, warmth blooming right through your chest. "So" You stepped a little closer. "It was never about the places."

He shook his head. "Never."

"It was me?"

Another nod. "Always."

You felt your cheeks warm. For the first time in what felt like forever, you were the one struggling to find the right words. Then you smiled. The same bright smile he'd quietly fallen for somewhere between a sleepy bookshop cat and an oversized cinnamon roll. "I've got an idea."

He tilted his head. "What?"

You slipped your phone into your pocket. "No plans, no maps, no recommendations. Just…” You held your hand out towards him. "let's go and get lost."

For a second, Solo simply looked at your outstretched hand. Then, without hesitation, he slipped his fingers into yours. His hand was warm. Steady. Like it had always belonged there.

A quiet chorus of exaggerated sighs echoed behind you.

Jimmy clutched dramatically at his chest. "'Bout damn time."

Jey laughed. "I've been watchin' this for two months."

Rhea just smiled, arms folded across her chest. "I told you all."

Chelsea leaned against Tiffany with a grin. “I knew the adventures were dates."

"They weren't dates," you protested, laughing.

Jimmy raised an eyebrow. "You spent every week exploring cute places with one man."

You opened your mouth. Closed it again. "...Oh."

The entire room burst into laughter.

Solo looked down at you, the corner of his mouth lifting into that rare, soft smile you had learned to treasure. "What?"

You nudged his shoulder. "You could've told me."

He shrugged. "I liked watching you figure it out."

You laughed, intertwining your fingers with his a little more securely. "Come on."

"Where we going?" You smiled up at him. "I haven't got the slightest idea."

For once, there was no carefully researched itinerary. No saved TikToks. No list of hidden gems waiting on your phone. Just a rainy city. A free afternoon. And the boy who had quietly turned every ordinary adventure into your favourite memory.

Solo gave your hand a gentle squeeze as you stepped out into the corridor together. He had been right all along.

It had never mattered where you went.

As long as you went there together.

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