daisywinchester

22

[daisywinchester]

Unspoken Truths- rafe cameron x reader

Rafe Cameron x Reader

Summary: You're Sarah's best friend, always around the Cameron household. You and Rafe seem to hate each other, but that hate seems to mask something else. Hiding things from your best friend is easy, right?

Word Count: 2330

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You were nearly a Cameron at this point. Ever since you became Sarah’s best friend in middle school, you’d been a staple in the household. You practically lived at their place, even hanging out when Sarah’s not there. Ward teased you like one of his own kids, Rose always set an extra plate for you at dinner, and Wheezie idolized you. 

But then there was Rafe.  

Every time you were over, it felt like Rafe went out of his way to annoy you. Whether it was snarky comments, sarcastic digs, or rolling his eyes whenever you spoke, he was relentless. You gave it right back, of course, but it seemed like you couldn’t share the same space without bickering.  

“You know you don’t have to hang out here all the time,” Rafe said one afternoon, smirking as he walked past you. “It’s not like Sarah needs a shadow.”  

You crossed your arms. “And you don’t have to be such a jerk every time I’m here, but I guess we don’t always get what we want.”  

Sarah groaned from the couch. “Can you two just not for five minutes?”  

You glared at Rafe, and he shot you a smug look. Typical.  

It was almost as if you were always playing a game, trying to get under each other’s skin. There was something electric about the way you fought—too much intensity for simple disdain. 

---

It was one of those rare afternoons when the house was eerily quiet. Sarah had dragged John B off somewhere, and Wheezie was at a friend's. You were in the kitchen, scrolling on your phone, waiting for Sarah to text you when she was on her way back.  

“Don’t you have your own house?” Rafe’s voice made you jump.  

“Don’t you have any friends?” you shot back, glaring at him from across the room.  

He leaned against the counter, smirking. “You know, if you weren’t so annoying, you’d almost be tolerable.”  

“And if you weren’t such an arrogant jerk, you’d almost be decent.”  

It was meant to sting, but the way he looked at you, with that cocky tilt of his head and a hint of something deeper in his eyes, made your stomach flip.  

“You really don’t hate me, do you?” he asked, his voice dropping, the air between you thickening.  

“Excuse me?”  

Before you could process what was happening, Rafe stepped closer. His hand brushed yours on the counter, and the heat of his touch sent a shiver down your spine.  

“You’re always here, always around me. Maybe you’re just looking for an excuse to fight with me,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing.  

“Don’t flatter yourself,” you whispered, but the tremble in your voice betrayed you.  

“Then tell me to stop,” he challenged, leaning in closer.

You didn’t.  

And when his lips met yours, it was like everything you’d been suppressing poured out all at once—fireworks, chaos, and clarity.  

---

You both agreed it couldn’t happen again. Sarah would never forgive you if she found out, and you valued her friendship too much.  

But it did happen again. And again. And again.  

Late-night stolen kisses. Shared smirks across the dinner table. The rush of sneaking around under everyone’s noses.  It was a thrill you both became addicted to.

After the first kiss you shared, it started with a midnight snack.  

You had snuck into the kitchen, tiptoeing past Sarah’s room, when you found Rafe already there, rummaging through the fridge.  

“Rafe?” you whispered, startled.  

He turned, smirking at your wide-eyed expression. “What? This is my house. You’re the one sneaking around.”  

Rolling your eyes, you reached for a glass from the cabinet. “Go back to bed before someone catches us both down here.”  

Instead, Rafe moved closer, arms wrapping around your waist while he was standing directly behind you as you poured yourself some water. 

“Why don’t you make me?” he murmured, his lips brushing against your ear.  

Your breath hitched, but before you could respond, you heard footsteps.  

“Crap!” you hissed, shoving Rafe back into the pantry.  

Wheezie appeared in the doorway, rubbing her eyes. “What are you doing?” 

“Uh, just grabbing some water,” you stammered, holding up your glass as evidence.  

She squinted at you, clearly unconvinced, but shrugged and went back to bed. Once the coast was clear, Rafe emerged, grinning like an idiot.  

“That was close,” he teased, pulling you into a quick kiss. 

“You’re impossible,” you muttered, but you kissed him back anyway

---

After too many close calls in the Cameron household, the boat house became your unofficial meeting spot, a place where you and Rafe could steal some time alone. One evening, you were tucked away in the corner, wrapped in his arms, when the sound of an engine startled you.  

“Who’s that?” you whispered, pulling away.  

“Probably Topper or Kelce,” Rafe said, peeking out the window. His expression shifted to panic. “Shit. It’s Sarah.”  

“Are you serious?!”  

“Hide!”  

You ducked behind a stack of equipment just as Sarah walked in, looking around suspiciously.  

“Rafe, what are you doing here?” she asked.  

“Just checking the boat,” he said casually. “What are you doing here?”  

“Looking for you. Dad’s asking about the quarterly report.”  

“Yeah, yeah I’ll get that to him,” Rafe nodded, glancing quickly in your direction to make sure you were still hidden. Sarah lingered for a moment before leaving.  

When she was gone, you stepped out, heart pounding.  

“We’re going to get caught,” you said, though you couldn’t help but smile at the adrenaline rush.

“Worth it,” Rafe replied, pulling you in for another kiss. 

The thrill of secrecy added a new layer to your relationship, but it also made it harder to ignore how hard you were falling for each other. You both liked the intimacy of just you two knowing, but you both knew if you kept this up you would need to tell Sarah eventually. Key word: eventually. 

Until one night, you were in Rafe’s room laying with him in his bed, lost in a deep, steamy kiss, when the door flew open.  

“Rafe, did you take my– What the hell is going on here?!” Sarah’s voice was like a bucket of ice water.  

You scrambled apart, faces flushed. Rafe’s hand lingered on your arm protectively as Sarah stared between you, betrayal written all over her face.  

“How long has this been going on?” she demanded.  

“It’s not what it looks like,” you started, but Sarah cut you off. 

“Oh, so you weren’t making out with my brother in his room?” You were at a loss for words, mouth agape and eyes darting between Sarah and Rafe.

The commotion drew the rest of the family. Ward raised an eyebrow, and Rose looked pleasantly surprised. Even Wheezie seemed delighted.  

“I knew it!” she squealed, as Sarah turned around and glared at her. Ward put a hand on her shoulder and guided her and Rose away from your situation.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Out of all the people in the world, you pick him?” 

“Sarah, back off her. I’m just as involved as she is,” Rafe tried stepping in.

You both tried to explain, but Sarah wouldn’t hear it. She felt betrayed– and a bit jealous as well that she was sharing your attention with her brother. 

For her sake, you and Rafe decided to call it off.  

He walked you out of the house as you decided to go back to your own place for the night to give Sarah some space. The warm, sticky air felt heavy, mirroring the weight in your chest. Rafe stood a few feet away, hands stuffed in his pockets, staring at the ground.  

“This isn’t what I want,” he said, his voice low and strained.  

“Me neither,” you replied, biting the inside of your cheek to keep from crying. 

“Sarah—”  

“Sarah’s my best friend. I can’t lose her, Rafe,” you whispered.  

He nodded, jaw clenching as he tried to keep his composure. “I get it.”  

The silence between you was deafening, filled with the unspoken truth that you weren’t walking away because you wanted to. You were walking away because you felt like you had to.  

“I—” you started, but Rafe shook his head.  

“Don’t,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. “If you say it, I won’t let you go.”  

And just like that, it was over.  

---

The weeks that followed were miserable. You avoided the Camerons, knowing it would hurt too much to see Rafe. You hadn’t talked to Sarah since, just ran into her once when you ran out of your favorite snack and you saw each other at the store. You saw her eyes soften when she took in the state of you– eyes puffy from crying, tangled hair thrown up in a bun, overall little to care for your appearance. Her chest filled with guilt seeing you so heartbroken. She assumed it was from ending your friendship, she didn’t realize you experienced two heartbreaks that night.

And Rafe, for once, was uncharacteristically subdued.  

Sarah was the first to notice something was off with Rafe. At first, she thought it was just him being his usual moody self, but as the days turned into weeks, she couldn’t ignore the change. He stopped hanging out with his friends, skipping their usual golf outings and boat rides. Never one to miss a party, she was struck when partygoers asked her where her brother was. When he was around, he was short-tempered and distant, retreating to his room for hours on end. Even Ward, who was usually too busy to notice, pulled Sarah aside one evening.  

“Have you talked to your brother lately?” he asked. “He’s... not himself.”  

Sarah brushed it off at first, but the longer it went on, the harder it was to ignore.  

One afternoon, Sarah barged into Rafe’s room without knocking, finding him sprawled on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.  

“Okay, what’s going on with you?” she demanded.  

“Nothing,” Rafe mumbled, not even looking at her. 

“Bull. You’ve been acting like someone ran over your dog for weeks.”  

Rafe sat up, running a hand through his messy hair. “Just drop it, Sarah.”  

“No. You’re not fine, and it’s freaking everyone out. What’s your problem?”  

His eyes flickered with frustration, but underneath it, there was something else—pain.  

“You’re my problem,” he snapped.  

Sarah blinked, taken aback. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”  

Rafe stood up, pacing the room. “You made her break up with me. You made us break up. And now...” He trailed off, his voice breaking.  

Sarah’s eyes widened. “Wait. This is about her? You’re still hung up on—”  

“Yes, Sarah! God, yes!” Rafe exploded. “I love her, okay? And now she won’t even look at me because of you!”  His confession hit her like a punch to the gut.  

“I didn’t realize—” she started, but Rafe cut her off.  

“You don’t get it. She’s the only person who made me feel like I wasn’t just some screw-up. And I lost her because you couldn’t handle the idea of us being together.”  

For the first time, Sarah saw past Rafe’s bravado to the raw, broken pieces underneath. She realized she’d never seen him like this—not for anyone, not even the flings he pretended to care about.  

That night, Sarah couldn’t sleep. Rafe’s words echoed in her head, and she replayed every moment of your relationship with him—the stolen glances she hadn’t noticed before, the way his eyes lit up when you were around, the shift in his demeanor after you ended things.  

She thought back to how happy you’d both seemed, how natural it was to have you at the house, and how that happiness had vanished the second she made you break up.  

Sarah prided herself on being protective of the people she loved, but now she wondered if she’d gone too far.  

---

You finally got up from your couch to answer whoever was relentlessly knocking at your front door, opening it to see Sarah Cameron with a pleading look on her face.

“Can we talk?” She asked.

“Yeah,” you sighed. “What is it?

She hesitated, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “I screwed up.”  

“What are you talking about?”  

“I shouldn’t have made you and Rafe break up,” she admitted, her voice soft.  

Your heart clenched. “Sarah, I didn’t want to hurt you—”  

“I know,” she interrupted. “But I was selfish. I didn’t think about how much you two actually care about each other. I just thought... I don’t know what I thought.”  

She looked at you, guilt written all over her face. “I’ve never seen Rafe like this. He’s... broken. And honestly? So are you.”  

Tears welled in your eyes, but you blinked them away. “Sarah...”  

“If you still love him—and I think you do—you should be with him,” she said firmly. “I’ll get over it. I just want you both to be happy.”  

“Are you serious?” Sarah didn’t miss the way a light had come back to your eyes.

“Dead serious. Just… promise me you’ll keep the PDA to a minimum,” she added with a smirk.  

That evening, you found yourself back at the Cameron house, standing on the porch, heart pounding. Sarah opened the door and called for Rafe. You heard him huff at her and mutter something under his breath as Sarah stepped away and Rafe pulled back open the door. His eyes widened at the sight of you, his expression shifting from surprise to cautious hope.  

“Hey,” you said softly. 

“Hey,” he replied, his voice cracking slightly.  

“Didn’t think I’d see you here again,” he said softly. 

“Sarah gave us her blessing,” you replied, a small smile tugging at your lips. “But, I’m sorry,” you hung your head down. “I should’ve fought for us.”  

“Hey, you’re here now. That’s all that matters.” Without another word, Rafe closed the space between you, pulling you into his arms like he’d been waiting for this moment forever.  

And this time, you didn’t have to hide. 

[daisywinchester]

Torn Between Blood and Desire

Rafe Cameron x Maybank!Reader, JJ Maybank x sister!Reader

Summary: You thought your relationship with Rafe was a well-kept secret, until your brother puts the pieces together and confronts you.

Word Count: 1500

A/N: I'm obsessed with the secret relationship trope rn. This is really angsty

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The night was thick with tension, the kind that made your chest tighten and your stomach churn. The moon hung in the sky, casting pale light over the Outer Banks, but the usual warmth of the evening air felt distant. Everything had changed in a matter of weeks.

You had been sneaking around with Rafe Cameron for a while now, trying to keep your relationship a secret from your younger brother, JJ. You knew how much he hated Rafe, and you knew how destructive it could be if he found out. You’d never planned on it lasting this long. But the moments you shared with Rafe, the way he made you feel alive in a way no one else did, made it impossible to stay away. 

It wasn’t that you didn’t care about your brother—far from it. JJ was your family, your responsibility. It hurt you more than anything to keep a secret from him. Rafe wasn’t blind to the tension, of course. He hated sneaking around, hated the secrecy, but you promised him you were doing this to protect both of you. Still, every time his lips brushed against your cheek, or his hand grazed your back, you could feel the weight of the lie pressing down on you. But in moments like this, when it was just the two of you, it almost felt real. Almost.

“I hate doing this,” Rafe muttered, his voice low but full of conviction. He ran his fingers through his messy hair, glancing at you sideways. “It feels wrong. Like we’re hiding something we don’t need to.”

You hesitated for a moment, your heart thudding in your chest. “I know. God, I know, I want more than anything to tell him. But you don’t know how JJ would react, and all I can imagine is badly. I can’t lose him.”

Rafe was silent for a beat, his expression unreadable, before he exhaled sharply and nodded. “I get it. Just… it’s hard, you know?”

You reached for his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I promise. Just a little longer. I’ll tell him soon. I think he’s starting to think something’s up.” Rafe pulled you into a tight, yet comforting hug. And for a moment, the weight of the situation lifted. The only thing that mattered was the quiet intimacy between you two. The stolen moments in the shadows where the world didn’t matter. 

But what you didn’t know was that JJ had seen more than enough. He’d started noticing the little things: the ghost of a smile when Rafe was around, the way you’d dart your eyes away whenever he asked about your plans, and the mysterious reason Rafe has become a regular at the restaurant you work at. He had his suspicions and prayed he was making things up in his head. His sister with Rafe Cameron? Insane. But pieces kept coming together.

And tonight, JJ had had enough.

---

You were sitting on the back porch of the house, staring across the yard to the dark sea. The gentle crash of the waves was the only sound that filled the air, a sound you used to find soothing. But tonight, it only seemed to make everything worse.

You heard the crunch of gravel beneath boots before you saw him—JJ, standing there in the doorway, his silhouette framed by the light inside. His posture was tense, his jaw clenched, eyes narrowing as he looked at you. 

"Got a minute?" JJ's voice was low, dangerous in its calmness. 

You swallowed hard, knowing what was coming. He’d been distant for the past few days, and you’d felt it in your gut that he was on the edge. He’s been very interested in your plans lately, much more than he ever had before. You’d tried to avoid this confrontation, but you knew it was inevitable.

“Yeah, what’s up?” you replied, forcing a casual tone.

JJ stepped forward, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “We need to talk. And don’t try to run off.”

Your heart pounded in your chest. You thought there was no way for him to know the truth, but deep down you knew where this was going. He’d found out. He had to have. 

“About what?” You pretended not to know, hoping for a little more time to prepare.

He didn’t waste any more words. “About you and him,” he spat, his eyes flashing with that familiar anger. “I’m not stupid, you know.”

The weight of his words hit you like a ton of bricks. You had tried so hard to keep it from him, to hide your feelings for Rafe, but now it was out in the open.

"JJ, I—" you started, but he cut you off, his voice louder now, raw with emotion.

“Don’t lie to me,” JJ cut in, his voice full of accusation. “You’re seeing him, aren’t you? After everything he’s done?”  

Your stomach dropped. “I didn’t want you to find out like this, okay? But yes, I’ve been seeing him. I care about him, JJ.”  

“No, listen to me for once. You’re choosing him, aren’t you?”

“I’m not choosing anyone,” you said quickly. “I’m just—”

 “Yes, you are! You’re choosing Rafe fucking Cameron over your own brother.” JJ scoffed and ran a hand through his hair.

The words stung more than you expected. You opened your mouth to explain, but nothing came out. You didn’t know what to say. The guilt in your chest was suffocating.

"Look, I get it, okay?" JJ continued, his tone bitter. "You’ve got some messed-up thing for him. Fine. But don’t think I’m just going to sit back and let you throw everything away for some guy who doesn’t give a damn about you."

You winced at the venom in his words. “JJ, it’s not like that. I—”

“No!” He stepped closer, his eyes hardening. "You’re my sister. And I’ll be damned if I let you get hurt by that piece of shit. You think I’m just supposed to pretend like it doesn’t bother me? Like I can let you be with the guy who has no respect for me, for Pogues like us?” 

His words were like daggers, each one cutting deeper. You felt the weight of your choices pressing down on you, suffocating you.

"Why can’t you just leave it alone, JJ?" you whispered, your voice shaky. "Why can’t you just accept that I’m not a kid anymore? I can make my own decisions."

JJ’s face contorted with frustration, and he took a step back, shaking his head. “This is different. You’re talking about a guy who—” He stopped himself, pressing his lips into a thin line as his anger seemed to boil over. “You can’t be serious about him. Not him.”

You stood up, trying to keep your composure, but it was hard. “I am serious. And you’re not going to change that.”

JJ’s face hardened, his eyes flashing with something that almost looked like pain. “Then you have to choose,” he said, his voice low but unwavering. “It’s me or him. You can’t have both.”

Your breath caught in your throat. “JJ…”

“Choose.” His voice was raw, desperate. His eyes didn’t leave yours, waiting for an answer, as if your decision would break everything between you two forever. “You’re my sister. You’re family. And if you pick him over me, I… I don’t know if I can look at you the same way again.”

The words felt like a punch to the gut. You had never seen him like this—so vulnerable, so hurt. But in the back of your mind, you knew he was right. He couldn’t let you be with Rafe, not after everything that had happened between them.

Tears welled up in your eyes, and you took a step back, your chest tight with emotion. You wanted to say something, anything to make it better, but the truth was too hard to say. You couldn’t lose JJ, but you couldn’t lose Rafe either. 

“I… I don’t know what to do, JJ,” you whispered, your voice trembling. “I don’t want to hurt you. But I—”

“Then don’t do this,” he interrupted, his voice cracking with emotion. “Don’t make me watch you throw it all away for him. I’m your brother, damn it. I’m the one who’s always been there for you. You can’t just throw that away for a guy like him. He’s just gonna hurt you.”

The words stung, harder than anything he’d ever said to you before. You could see the hurt in his eyes, the raw pain of someone who had always been there for you—someone who had always been your protector.

“I can’t choose, JJ,” you whispered, tears finally slipping down your face. “I can’t pick between you and him.”

JJ’s face tightened, his fists clenching by his sides. He looked like he wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, he turned away, walking toward the house, his back to you.

“Then I guess that’s it,” he muttered under his breath, his voice thick with anger and hurt. “You made your choice.”

You stood there, alone in the moonlight, as the tears streamed down your face. Your heart ached—torn between the two people who meant the most to you. And no matter how hard you tried, you knew there was no easy way out. 

And so, the night ended, with the weight of an impossible decision hanging over you.

[daisywinchester]

Sights Unseen- Rafe Cameron x Reader

Rafe Cameron x Routledge!Reader, John B x Sister! Reader

Summary: John B catches sister!Reader with her secret boyfriend, Rafe, and doesn't know how to feel about it.

Words: 1600+

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You knew how John B would react if he ever found out about you and Rafe. Your brother had always been protective of you—perhaps too much at times—and the idea of you, his Pogue sister, dating a Kook, especially Rafe Cameron, would send him into a fury. 

But despite all the risks and complications, you and Rafe had kept your relationship a secret. Late-night walks on the beach, quiet talks in secluded places, stolen moments when no one was watching—those were the ways you saw each other, away from the prying eyes of your brother, Sarah, or anyone else who might find out.

Your love for Rafe was deeper than you could have ever imagined. There was something about him, beyond all the chaos and anger, that made you feel seen. And, even though you knew it was dangerous, you couldn’t help but want to be with him. You both enjoyed the peace the secrecy brought, not having to worry about what others had to think. It was just you and him. You knew it was time to tell your brother, but you wanted to revel in the peace for a little bit longer.

Little did you know how soon that secret would be up.

You had gone down to the beach with Rafe, away from the house. The day was warm, and the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. You were sitting together against a tree at the edge of the yard you thought was out of sight, laughing about something silly that had happened earlier in the day.  

Your head rested against his shoulder as you shared stories, enjoying each other’s company in the quiet serenity of the late afternoon. You didn’t notice the figure watching you both from a distance, a figure you thought wasn’t going to be around the house until much later.

John B had been looking for you since you weren’t in the house and your phone’s location was around. He figured you had gone to the pier to watch the sunset, but hadn’t expected to find you here, especially who you were here with. When he saw you and Rafe, his stomach twisted with disbelief. The sight of you, so comfortable and happy with Rafe Cameron of all people, sent a rush of anger through him. It was clear you hadn’t seen him, and he was unsure how to approach the situation.  

Part of him wanted to storm over, pull you away from Rafe, and yell at him—at both of you. But another part of him, deep down, knew he should wait back and talk to you about it first. He felt betrayed, but he also couldn’t help feeling a strange knot in his chest when he saw you laugh, your eyes lighting up in a way he hadn’t seen in months.  

“Sarah,” he whispered to get her attention, clenching his jaw as he spotted her walking down the dock looking for him. 

“John B, what are you doing?” Sarah asked in a hushed tone, noticing his tense posture and the fact that he was hiding behind tall grass.

“I can’t believe it. She’s with him, Sarah. She’s with Rafe,” he hissed, anger bubbling in his voice. 

“What?” Sarah’s eyes widened as she got closer to John B and looked at the pair he was pointing at. “He kept denying it but I knew he was seeing someone! I had no idea it was Y/N!”

“I need to go talk to her, to make her see reason.”  John B ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath ready to storm over there.

“No, you don’t,” Sarah said firmly, standing beside him and crossing her arms. “You’re not going to do anything rash. Let’s just take a minute and think this through.”  

“I don’t need time to think. I need to fix this,” John B shot back, but his voice softened when he looked back at you and Rafe.  

Sarah sighed. “John B, listen. I get it. I really do. Shit, he’s my brother. But this isn’t the way to handle it. Maybe you should talk to her first, before you go off on Rafe.”  

“But—”  

“No,” Sarah interrupted, her voice calm but firm. “Just… give it a day. Talk to her when she’s back and you calm down a bit. Just let it be for now.”  

John B hesitated. He wanted to protect you, but he also wanted to understand what was going on. For now, he decided to take Sarah’s advice, but he wasn’t giving up. This wasn’t over.  

---

That night, John B couldn’t sleep. He lay in his bed, tossing and turning, the image of you laughing with Rafe haunting him. The joy in your eyes had shaken him to his core. He hadn’t seen you so happy in a long time—since before Dad went missing. The weight of that memory was always there, a constant reminder of how much your family had lost. He had thought that, maybe, if he kept you close, protected you from people like Rafe, you’d find some sense of stability. But now, with Rafe in the picture, everything felt off balance.

He needed to talk to you. To figure this out.

Slipping out of bed, he made his way down the hallway toward your room, but when he opened the door, his heart sank. Your bed was empty. The room was dark, but the window was cracked open, letting in the cool night air. He knew where you were.

John B headed down to the treeline, where he had seen you earlier, moving quietly through the dark. He could hear the sound of your voice, but the closer he got, the more he realized what was happening.  

He stopped, ducking behind a nearby tree to stay hidden. You and Rafe were talking softly, the dim light from the house casting long shadows on the edge of the nearest end of  the dock where you were sitting now. He could hear snippets of your conversation, but he wasn’t prepared for what happened next.

You laughed. The sound was light, genuine, carefree, something John B hadn’t heard from you in so long. Of course you still laugh, but hearing the old, heartfelt laugh again brought over a wave of emotion. He froze, watching from the shadows, his heart aching.  

He watched as Rafe leaned in, his voice low, and for a moment, he was struck by how tender Rafe was with you. The Kook who’d once seemed so cold and distant was now holding you in a way that made John B question everything he thought he knew. The way his face softened when he looked in your eyes as he so gently tucked a piece of your hair behind your ear.

He couldn’t deny it—Rafe made you happy. And, for the first time in a long while, that happiness was something John B had no control over.

John B stayed hidden, watching you and Rafe interact, the jealousy and anger in his chest slowly turning into confusion. As he eavesdropped, he realized something he hadn’t before: you were different when you were with him. You were laughing, smiling, truly happy in a way that John B had been trying to make happen for months. It was as if the burden of everything that had happened—your dad’s disappearance, the constant unknowing—was finally lifted, even if just for a moment.  

John B exhaled slowly, his anger dissolving into something softer. He wanted to protect you, to make sure you were safe, but he also realized that he couldn’t control everything. He couldn’t force you to be someone you weren’t. He didn’t have the right to take your happiness away just because he didn’t understand it.

“I want you to be happy, Y/N,” John B whispered to himself, his hand gripping the side of the tree he was peering past. “Even if I don’t get it.”

After a long moment of hesitation, he finally stepped out from the shadows, deciding not to interrupt. He watched you and Rafe for a while longer, knowing now that the only thing that mattered was your happiness. 

---

The next day, when John B saw you, he didn’t immediately confront you about Rafe. Instead, he pulled you aside quietly, his expression serious but softer than it had been.  

“I’m not happy about it, but I saw you with Rafe last night” he started, his voice low as your eyes widened and you gasped. He put up his hand before you could try to say anything. “I don’t like that you’re with him. There’s a lot that I don’t understand, but I get it now. Last night when I saw you with him,” he paused, and took a deep breath as if he was about to admit something to you and himself. “You were happy; a happiness that I haven’t seen in a long time. I’ve noticed lately you’ve been different, and now I know it’s because of Rafe. I don’t like the guy- I mean, hell Y/N, you picked the biggest asshole on the island? Anyway, I guess what I’m trying to say is you seem really happy and that’s all that matters. Just… be careful, okay?”  

You smiled, relieved, but still hesitant. “You’re not angry?”

John B shrugged, his gaze meeting yours. “I’m angry at myself for not seeing it sooner. But I just want you to be safe, Y/N. If Rafe’s really the one who makes you happy, then I can’t stand in the way of that.”  

Tears welled up in your eyes, and you gave him a tight hug. “Thank you, John B. I love you.” 

“I love you too,” he said softly, patting your back. “Just don’t go full Kook on me, alright?” You laughed, and John B heard that laugh again from last night, that pure, unburdened laugh. And in that moment, he knew he’d made the right decision, no matter how difficult it was.  

Because as long as you were happy, that was enough.