Hudson Everett

[angclsharma]

as he walked them to the kitchen, angel felt like she wouldn’t mind staying like that forever, in hudson’s arms, his hands on her, feeling warm and cared for by him. "i think more pleasure than security though," she pointed out just before he admitted he loved her ass. "best ass ever, if i can say so," she winked at him, a playful smirk on her lips. as he set her on the counter, she wasn’t quite ready to let go of him yet, her legs still loosely wrapped around him. she noticed the shift in his breathing as she pressed her lips to his neck, and she couldn’t help but enjoy the reaction she caused. when he leaned against the counter, keeping her close, she smirked. "vandalizing? i think some people would call that art," she whispered. as he pulled back slightly, she tilted her head, still smiling. "just yet? are you already planning your next tattoo?" she teased, the playful glint still in her eyes, she liked knowing what crossed his mind, especially when it came to the body she practically worshipped at this point. as he moved toward the fridge, she let out a soft sigh, almost wishing the moment would stretch a little longer. at his words, she tapped her chin with her maroon-painted nails. "you convinced me with the whole licking the icing spoon thing," she smiled. "i want cupcakes," she nodded. "i can’t say no to something sweet… or spicy, i’m not picky," she added with a grin. "and i can’t help you? i just sit here… or do i get to be a little distracting?"

[hudson-everett]

Hudson moved like he owned every inch of the space, because he did, and it showed in the easy confidence of his stride, the way his hands lingered on her like he had all the time in the world. At her comment, he let out a low chuckle, eyes dragging over her with slow appreciation. “Oh, it’s definitely pleasure,” he said smoothly, voice dipped in amusement. “Security’s just a bonus when you get with me.” Her wink only earned a smirk in return, his grip tightening just slightly at her praise. When she stayed wrapped around him, he didn’t rush her off, in fact, he leaned into it, letting the moment stretch, letting her feel exactly how much he liked having her there. Her lips at his neck pulled a quieter, sharper breath from him, and his hands slid along her thighs in response, steady but deliberate. “Art, huh?” he murmured back, voice dropping. “Guess that makes me an artist, then. Might have to sign my work properly next time.” His eyes flicked to hers, playful, suggestive without saying too much. At her teasing about the next tattoo, he huffed a soft laugh, shaking his head as he pulled back just enough to look at her properly. “Oh, I’m always planning something,” he said, tone light but edged with intent. When he finally stepped toward the fridge, it wasn’t without one last brush of his hand against her leg, like he couldn’t quite resist. He glanced over his shoulder at her as she decided on cupcakes, lips curving. “Sweet and spicy, yeah?” he mused. “I can work with that.” Her last question made him pause, leaning casually against the counter, arms folding as he looked her over again, slow, deliberate, like he was deciding something. Then he smirked. “Oh, you can help,” he said, voice warm with teasing confidence. “But I’ve got a feeling you’re better at being distracting.” Hudson turned away with a quiet smirk still playing on his lips, like he hadn’t lost an ounce of control even as the energy between them lingered. He moved around the kitchen with ease, grabbing what he needed without hesitation, flour from the cupboard, sugar, eggs, butter, setting everything out. A slow, playful smirk spread across his face. “So,” he said, stepping closer, voice dropping just enough to feel intentional, “you gonna let me feed you the icing or are you gonna misbehave and do it solo?"

[zarasharma]

zara watched her sister grab the bigger slice and immediately groaned. “hey, i was going to take that one. i don’t even get little sister privileges anymore,” she sighed dramatically, dragging a hand under her eye like she was wiping away a fake tear. “shame on you, angel. i’m telling dad.” she pointed accusingly before glancing at hudson with narrowed eyes. “perfectly reasonable my ass, hudson,” she muttered. when he let angel sit next to him, zara’s eyebrows shot up. “oh, i will start the interrogation if i want to. i’m a great detective.” when he told her not to, she mocked him right back. “‘don’t,’” she repeated in a teasing voice before booing loudly. “boo, hudson, boo.” then she turned back to her sister with a mischievous smirk. “fine, i’ll interrogate you instead, angel. sorry—blame hudson.” leaning forward a little, she tilted her head. “so… how was last night? because i know zayn was very confused about why you keep partying with shauni so much.”

angel smirked at her sister. “all that guilt-tripping for a slice of pizza? please, zara,” she rolled her eyes. “and don’t get it twisted, hudson—I’m the only sharma with actual sense.” when hudson told her to sit beside him she scoffed, though she did it anyway. “oh great, now i’m being used as a human shield. amazing. what a gentleman.” as soon as zara announced the interrogation, angel’s eyes widened in mock horror. “this was a trap,” she laughed, pointing accusingly at hudson. “and i blame you. ‘sit here, angel, be my shield,’—for what exactly?” she chuckled. but when zara asked about the night before, angel felt her heart kick a little faster—mostly because she had actually spent the night at hudson’s place. still, she kept her expression perfectly casual. “it was great,” she said easily. “shauni is learning how to make pomegranate margaritas,” she added, lifting her fingers to her lips and blowing a dramatic chef’s kiss. “amazing, if you ask me. and she spent half the night telling me about her new boyfriend—spanish, accent, very hot, just saying.” angel smiled innocently. “honestly… i should get myself a man like that.”

[hudson-everett]

Hudson chuckled, the corner of his mouth lifting as he watched the siblings go back and forth. He didn’t intervene at first, he’d learned that trying to step between Sharma sisters was usually a losing battle. When Zara shot him that narrowed look and muttered under her breath, Hudson raised his hands in surrender, shaking his head with a small, amused smile. “Hey, don’t drag me into your pizza politics,” he said lightly. “I just said it was reasonable. I didn’t say it was fair.” When Angel dropped down beside him after his suggestion, he shifted a little to give her space, though his posture stayed relaxed, careful, casual. From the outside it looked like nothing more than friendly convenience. Inside, he was very aware of how close she was. At Zara’s immediate declaration of interrogation, Hudson let out a soft groan and rubbed a hand down his face. “Zara,” he warned, though there was a hint of laughter in his voice. “Boo all you want,” he replied, shaking his head. Angel accusing him of setting a trap made him snort quietly. “Save me from your sister. She asks way too many questions and won't let up without a bribe." But when the conversation turned to last night, Hudson went very still for a fraction of a second. He took a bite of pizza mostly to buy himself a moment, eyes dropping to the table as Angel spoke about margaritas and Shauni’s very hot Spanish boyfriend. When she finished with that innocent little line about getting herself a man like that, Hudson huffed a short laugh and shook his head. “Yeah?” he said, wiping his hands on a napkin, tone easy but just a little dry. “Good luck with that.” He glanced briefly at Angel before looking back at Zara. “Sounds like a very educational night,” he added casually. “Margaritas and relationship advice. Real productive stuff.” Hudson huffed a short laugh under his breath, shaking his head before finally looking over at Zara. “Hold on,” he said, gesturing slightly with his napkin. “Does your boo thang do that too?” He raised a brow at her. “Is your man bilingual and making cocktails or are you settling for the basic package?” Then he leaned back again, taking another bite like he hadn’t just stirred the pot on purpose.

[zaynsharma]

“she’d be smart enough to run away,” he pointed out with a playful smirk as he chewed on a chip, zayn learning more about saffron by the minute—not only that she was dangerous and someone you definitely shouldn’t mess with, but that she also had hidden tattoos, the kind that weren’t meant to be shown off. “sure, hopefully before i die i’ll get a tattoo tour,” he added with a nod before chuckling. “tattoos are superior, you just say that because you’ve got too many of those to back out now,” he teased, glancing at hudson’s inked arm. “tell me something though, can you even get blood tests done on that arm anymore? you’re probably a doctor’s worst nightmare—‘yeah doc, it hurts here, right above the flower,’” he joked, clearly enjoying himself. “i know you’d mess it up, but if someone’s tattooing me at least she’d be hot. you’re not my type, hudson,” he added with a wink before shrugging. “actually i’ll take a tattoo from both of you, i’m a brave-ass man.” the second the word dare came up his eyebrows lifted—zayn loved a dare. “sure,” he said, reaching his hand out to shake on it, but before hudson could grab it his phone buzzed in his pocket; he pulled it out, glancing at the family group chat with a sigh. “i swear i don’t know where this girl sleeps half the time,” he muttered, shaking his head. “and i thought angel was the calm sister—nope, she’s sleeping out tonight too. i think her friend’s name is vivian… or shauni… or both, i don’t know, but apparently they just party every night and she crashes there,” he said, tossing the phone back down before extending his hand again with a crooked grin. “so… dare?” little did zayn know his sister wasn’t staying with vivian or shauni at all—in fact, angel would text hudson to tell him she was staying over at his place instead.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson leaned back in his chair, watching Zayn ramble with that same cocky confidence he always carried around like a badge of honour. The corner of his mouth lifted slowly, amusement flickering in his eyes as he listened to the whole tattoo tour speech. "I'm sure you'll get a tour, dude. Just keep working your magic and she'll let you go exploring." Hudson dragged a hand over the ink on his arm when Zayn pointed it out, glancing down at it like he’d never noticed it before. “You wound me,” he said dryly, though the grin tugging at his mouth ruined any attempt at sounding offended. “And for the record, doctors manage just fine. Turns out they can still get to my veins even with tattoos." Hudson playfully kicked Zayn's foot under the table with his own foot. “Not your type?” Hudson shot back with a smirk, eyebrow lifting. “That’s devastating, man. I was really hoping tonight would be the night you realised what you’ve been missing.” His tone stayed light, teasing as always, but there was that familiar edge of smugness underneath it. When Zayn said he’d take a tattoo from both of them, Hudson chuckled and shook his head. “Brave-ass man or stupid-ass man, jury’s still out.” The moment Zayn mentioned the dare, Hudson straightened slightly, already reaching forward to shake on it, until the phone buzz interrupted. He paused, hand hovering mid-air, eyes drifting toward Zayn as he read the message. Then Zayn muttered about Angel. Hudson’s expression stayed carefully neutral, but he gave a small nod when Zayn said he didn’t know where she was staying. “She's young, wild and free. Let the girl live a little with her friends." Meanwhile, his phone buzzed quietly in his own pocket, a message he didn’t need to check to know who it was from. Angel. Hudson’s smirk returned faintly as he finally clasped Zayn’s hand when it was offered again, shaking on the deal. “Alright,” he said, squeezing once before letting go. “Dare.” His eyes glinted with amusement. “Just remember,” Hudson added, leaning back again, voice low and playful, “be brave." His thumb casually swiped away Angel's text notification away like it didn’t exist, clearing the screen before Zayn could get nosy enough to lean over. Instead, Hudson opened his messages and tapped another contact. Saffron. His fingers moved quickly over the screen. He hit send without hesitation, the corner of his mouth twitching like he already knew exactly how this would go. A second later Hudson’s phone buzzed again. He glanced down. Saffron had replied with a single thumbs-up. Hudson let out a quiet chuckle before turning the phone around and holding it up so Zayn could see the screen. “There you go,” he said smugly. “Booked.”

[angclsharma]

when he said she could never embarrass him, she laughed immediately. “i wasn’t talking about embarrassing you, idiot,” she shook her head, her cheeks turning pink. “that was embarrassing for me,” she added, squeezing her eyes shut for a second. still, she had opened her heart to him anyway, even knowing that. when he used the word girlfriend, she blinked softly. he had never said it before, just like she had never openly called him her boyfriend, even if the feeling had always been there between them. hearing it now made it feel suddenly real. “i don’t agree about the arguing part,” she chuckled, though her dark brown eyes stayed locked on his, warm and certain. her hand moved to rest over his chest when he said he loved her. “i love you the same way,” she promised quietly, and she meant every word. when he kissed her, everything felt right—like she belonged exactly there. she smiled against his lips before he pulled away, her thumb brushing over his mouth to wipe away the lipstick stain she’d left behind. “oh, that’s a shame,” she teased softly. “i bet my face would look really pretty on your skin.” she shook her head when he joked about an angel with devil horns tattoo. “you’re so much trouble,” she rolled her eyes fondly. when he said he’d get something small, something only they would understand, she nodded. “in that case… maybe i’d get something too.”

she was still looking at him when he lifted her onto his lap, her smile growing as their eyes met. she pressed closer without thinking, but before she could decide what to do next he stood up, holding her easily in his arms. “is that hand there for security or pleasure, everett?” she asked playfully, feeling his hand under her butt as he carried her. angel had never been someone who melted at the lightest touch—at least not before him. with hudson, though, it was different; every little gesture seemed to undo her completely. when his lips brushed her jaw, she bit her lip. “i can absolutely sit down and look pretty,” she mused, her eyes sparkling with amusement. when he set her on the counter she kept her legs around his waist, one hand holding the collar of his shirt. “you don’t get to make me melt and then act like nothing happened,” she murmured, her hands sliding behind his neck as she leaned in to press a few teasing kisses along his neck and beneath his jaw, leaving a faint lipstick mark behind. pulling back, she smiled with satisfaction. “there. now you should get that tattooed,” she said with a wink. “i can still see some skin under all those tattoos.” she tilted her head, studying him before adding lightly, “so… what are we eating?”

[hudson-everett]

Hudson barely had a second to react before Angel was already on his lap, her warmth settling there like she belonged. His hand instinctively steadied her waist, dark eyes flicking up to meet hers as that familiar smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. Of course she pressed closer. Hudson let out a quiet breath through his nose before standing, lifting her with an ease that came from doing physical work most days. His arm slid securely under her, hand settling beneath her as he carried her toward the counter. At her question, his brow lifted slightly. “Security and pleasure,” Hudson said smoothly, though the hint of amusement in his voice gave him away. His grip shifted just slightly as he walked. “Wouldn’t want you falling. That’d be tragic. I also just love your ass." His lips brushed her jaw in passing, casual, almost absentminded, but he felt the way she reacted anyway. Hudson set her down on the counter, expecting her legs to drop. They didn’t. Instead, they stayed wrapped around his waist, and he huffed out a quiet chuckle when her hand caught his collar. “You seem pretty steady to me,” he murmured. Then she leaned in. The teasing kisses along his neck made Hudson tilt his head slightly, letting out a low breath when she left the lipstick mark behind. His hand came up instinctively to rest against the counter beside her, trapping her there without really trying. When she pulled back to admire her work, Hudson glanced down briefly at the faint mark before looking back at her. “Tattoo it?” he echoed with a small laugh under his breath. His thumb brushed lightly along the edge of the counter near her hip. “Angel,” he said, voice warm with quiet amusement, “I already let you vandalise me once tonight. Let’s not make your lips on my skin permanent just yet.” He leaned forward just enough to bump his forehead lightly against hers before stepping back half a pace, giving her room but not really leaving her space either. At her question, Hudson pushed himself off the counter and turned toward the kitchen area. “Well,” he said casually over his shoulder, opening the fridge, “that depends.” He glanced back at her with a crooked grin. “Are you actually hungry,” Hudson added, pulling out a few things from the fridge, “or are you feeling something more sweet?" His eyes flicked back to the lipstick mark she’d left before he smirked. "You feeling like a fully cooked meal or some chocolate cupcakes? If you choose the cupcakes,” Hudson added, a teasing glint in his eyes, “maybe I’ll even let you lick the icing spoon clean.”

[angclsharma]

she felt bad for hudson, having to keep things from her brother; she knew how hard it was, the fear of losing someone important because of who you loved wasn’t something easy to carry. when he pulled her closer, she smiled warmly. “you’re not going to lose me. i can promise you that, hudson—not now, not ever,” she assured him, her voice calm, steady in a way that meant she intended to keep that promise. “i never said i was the voice of reason,” she added lightly, “i’m just saying we’re way too deep into this to start throwing around cliché lines,” she chuckled softly. when he kissed her nose, she melted a little; she loved how they could go from zero to a hundred in seconds—the intensity, the sleepless nights, the way they always found each other when they wanted to be close—but moments like this, sitting on his lap while he looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered, were her favorite. she frowned slightly when he said he knew she loved him. “yeah… because i just told you,” she pointed out. when he reminded her she’d said it once before—drunk—her cheeks flushed. “so i begged you to sleep with me and then told you i loved you?” she repeated, mortified. “wow. that’s… impressive. what an embarrassment,” she shook her head, though she was smiling. when he admitted he’d been waiting to hear her say it again, her expression softened. “it took me three years to really sit with what i felt for you. it was obvious i’ve always been attracted to you… that i’ve only ever wanted you. but now i understand it—it’s love,” she said gently, her gaze drifting from his eyes to his lips. “that’s how i know i want more. i want us to take the next step. i want to live with you when we don’t have to hide, when people know and we don’t have to keep this from my family,” she sighed softly. “but for now, knowing you love me back is enough.” she leaned in to kiss him, lingering for a second before pulling back with a teasing smile. “so… does this mean you’re going to get my face tattooed somewhere?”

[hudson-everett]

Hudson’s teasing expression faded the second she said she wasn’t going anywhere. He didn’t joke right away. He just looked at her. “You can’t promise ‘not ever’ like that,” he murmured softly, thumb brushing slow circles against her waist. “You say it like it’s easy. Like I won’t build my whole world around it.” But he was smiling when he said it. Because he already had. When she brushed off being the voice of reason, he huffed a quiet laugh. “Oh, I know you’re not the voice of reason. You’re the voice that says, ‘This is probably reckless but it’s hot, so let’s proceed and see how things work out." He kissed her nose again just to watch her melt. It was his favorite trick. When she pointed out that she’d just said she loved him, he gave her that look, half smug, half completely undone. “Yeah,” he said softly. “But I’ve been waiting to hear you say it like that.” At her mortified realisation about the drunken confession, he actually laughed, warm and unrestrained. “Yes,” he confirmed. “You begged me to sleep with you. Very persuasively, by the way. Then you told me you loved me. I had to let you down slowly because you wouldn't stop trying to get into my pants the whole ride home." He grinned. “It was one of my favorite nights.” When she called it embarrassing, he shook his head gently. “Angel, you could never embarrass me. You were honest. Drunk, but honest.” Then she shifted. Got serious. Three years. Understanding it. Choosing it. Hudson’s humor quieted again. He listened to every word like it mattered. Because it did. When she said she wanted more, wanted to live with him, wanted a life where they didn’t have to hide, his jaw tightened slightly, emotion flickering across his face before he covered it with a soft smile. “You have no idea,” he said quietly, leaning his forehead against hers, “how many times I’ve pictured waking up next to you without checking the door. Cooking with you. Arguing about stupid stuff. Existing with you as my girlfriend." His hand slid up her back slowly, holding her closer. “I love you,” he said again, not teasing now. Not waiting. Just certain. “Not in a secret way. Not in a temporary way. I love you in a build-a-life with you kind of way. Not just some phase." When she said knowing he loved her back was enough for now, he kissed her before she could finish the thought. Slow. Lingering. Like he was sealing something. Then she pulled back with that teasing smile and asked about the face tattoo. Hudson blinked once. “Your face?” he repeated, laughing. "I don't know if I'd get your face. I think that might be a bit too obvious. Maybe the word angel on the back of my neck with devil horns above it though." He smirked. “I’d get something small. Somewhere only we know about.” His voice dropped softer. “Because you’re not a trend. You’re permanent.”

Hudson didn’t even warn her. “C’mere,” he murmured, already lifting her like she weighed nothing. He shifted her easily onto his lap, adjusting her so she was straddling him properly, one arm secure around her back. He looked up at her like he’d just won something. Then, without breaking eye contact, he stood up from the couch with her still in his arms. He steadied her against him, one hand under her ass, the other at her waist, carrying her toward the kitchen like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Now,” he said smoothly, leaning in to kiss just beneath her jaw as he walked, “let’s go cook dinner or something. You can sit there and look all pretty on my kitchen counters,” he added, flashing that charming grin. “I’ll give you things to taste test."

[zarasharma]

teasing hudson was almost a sport at this point—right up there with teasing zayn. honestly, she’d sign up for either, or both if they were feeling brave enough to team up against her. “i’m fully committed to any fight,” she said with a playful wink, “as long as it involves other people and not me.” when angel joined them, the youngest sharma brightened instantly. “yeah, just killing time,” she said innocently—though the smirk she sent hudson’s way completely ruined the act. “of course he couldn’t say no,” zara added, tilting her head slightly. “have you seen this face? absolutely irresistible.” she pressed a hand dramatically to her chest, batting her lashes before breaking into a grin. then her eyes slid back to hudson, amusement dancing in them. “it was a really fun conversation, wasn’t it, hudson?” she asked sweetly—far too sweetly to be trusted.

angel’s attention immediately shifted from hudson the second her sister walked in, amusement flickering across her face because she knew that look—zara had absolutely been interrogating the poor guy she was secretly seeing. “i’m really glad you guys ordered food, i’m starving,” she said brightly, already reaching for the biggest slice in the box without a hint of shame. she took a bite before glancing between them. “i don’t know what you were talking about,” she added casually, “but i’m one hundred percent sure you were mortifying him over literally anything he said.” her eyes narrowed playfully at her sister. “you’re actually a menace, zara,” angel teased, shaking her head as she chewed, clearly entertained by the whole situation.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson had already resigned himself to the fact that sitting so close from Zara meant he was about to become the evening’s entertainment. He leaned back in his chair, doing his best to look unbothered, even though the faint pink creeping up his neck betrayed him. “Oh, it was riveting,” he replied dryly to Zara’s far-too-sweet question. His eyes flicked to her, narrowing slightly with mock suspicion. “Really felt like a safe space. Super supportive environment.” His tone was steady, but there was a playful edge to it, like he knew he was outnumbered and had accepted his fate.

When Angel appeared and immediately went for the biggest slice, Hudson let out a quiet huff of laughter. “Thank you,” he said, pointing at her with a small nod. “Finally, a Sharma with sense.” At her accusation, he straightened a little, gesturing toward her sister. “See? I didn’t even have to say anything. She just does that. You ask a normal question, and suddenly it’s a full character evaluation.” His gaze slid back to Zara, a slow grin forming despite himself. “And for the record, I said no such mortifying things. Everything I said was perfectly reasonable.”

Noticing Angel hovering, Hudson shifted without hesitation. He scooted over on the couch, nudging Zara lightly with his knee as he did. “C’mon,” he muttered, motioning with his chin toward the open space he’d created. “Before she starts another interrogation. Sit here.” Hudson then quickly glanced Zara's way instinctively. His expression faltered for half a second before he huffed a soft laugh, shaking his head and dragging a hand over his mouth as if to hide it. He broke eye contact first, looking down at the pizza box. “Don’t,” he warned, under his breath, still smiling despite himself.

[zaynsharma]

zayn was genuinely glad hudson fit so easily into his family; it made everything simpler, lighter. he didn’t have to brace himself before bringing him over anymore—hudson was basically part of the sharma household at this point. “i’ll keep laughing until i see you with a girl,” he teased, grinning. “then i’m absolutely warning her. i’ll be like, ‘yo, he’s an idiot covered in ink. are you sure about this?’” a chuckle slipped out of him. when the topic shifted to saffron, he narrowed his eyes slightly. “i’m reading too much into it? i just want to know if you tattooed something on her. like… somewhere hidden-hidden,” he emphasized, wiggling his brows. “it’s not like you can show off all your tattoos at once anyway. that’d be impossible for you.” he shook his head. “you’re basically trying to become a walking art piece, aren’t you?” at hudson’s comment about liking conversations, zayn scoffed. “you like conversations as long as they’re about tattoos,” he corrected. “and i don’t know if i want a secret tattoo from you. i don’t know if i trust you to put something private on me,” he added, though a smirk tugged at his lips. “but fine, a tattoo could work. you tell me when.” he finger-gunned at him before stretching back. when hudson grabbed his hand, zayn’s brows furrowed in confusion before he quickly pulled away. “asshole,” he muttered. “shut up, i have a high pain tolerance.” he rolled his eyes dramatically. “actually, knowing that, maybe i’d rather have her tattoo me instead of you,” he shot back, unable to resist the tease.

[hudson-everett]

“Oh yeah?” he shot back, arms crossing loosely. “You’d warn her? Please. You’d scare her off before I even got a word in.” His mouth twitched. “You’d miss me too much if I actually brought someone around." At the mention of Saffron, Hudson’s eyes narrowed right back at him. When Zayn wiggled his brows and repeated hidden-hidden, Hudson exhaled through his nose and dragged a hand down his face. “Alright,” he muttered. “Relax.” He shifted in his seat, jaw tightening slightly before he admitted it. “Yeah. I did.” His eyes flicked back up to Zayn’s. “Once.” He held the gaze, daring him to make it bigger than it was. “It wasn’t a big thing," he cut himself off, then reset. “It was private. That’s it. Some placements aren’t meant to be shown off freely. She's got tattoos with hidden meanings in hidden places." When Zayn went on about him being a walking art piece, Hudson glanced down at his arms like he was considering it. “I mean… yeah,” he admitted without shame. “If I’m gonna exist, I might as well be interesting to look at.” Then he pointed at him. “And for the record, I like conversations about a lot of things.” A beat. “Tattoos just happen to be superior.” At the comment about not trusting him with something private, Hudson’s brows lifted slowly. “Oh, you don’t trust me?” he echoed, tone deceptively calm. “That’s crazy. After I’ve given you all this emotional support? After I tolerate your personality?” There was a smirk tugging at his mouth now. “I’d never mess up something important on you,” he added, quieter but firm. “If I tattoo you, it’d be clean. Intentional. Something you won’t regret." When Zayn finger-gunned at him, Hudson rolled his eyes right back. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll tell you when. And don’t act scared when I do.” The second Zayn yanked away and called him an asshole, Hudson broke into a grin. “High pain tolerance?” he repeated skeptically. “You flinched at a hand grab.” He leaned back, smug. “Oh, you’d rather have her tattoo you?” he repeated, folding his arms. “That’s brave.” He tilted his head, studying him for a second, then shrugged casually. “I dare you,” he said. His tone wasn’t loud. It was steady. Challenging. “Book in with her. I wanna watch that session happen.” One brow lifted. “I’ll even bring popcorn. Sit in the corner. Super supportive.”

[angclsharma]

angel kept her eyes closed as he spoke, as if she were afraid he might disappear if she opened them. she let herself sink into the closeness, needing to calm her racing thoughts before anything else could happen. when he admitted he was scared, she sighed softly; she could understand why. her hand lifted to cup his cheek, her thumb brushing over his skin in a slow, gentle caress. “you’re not failing me, hudson,” she promised, opening her eyes to meet his. “i know you don’t want to lose zayn, i get how important he is to you, and i feel guilty for keeping this from him too, but i guess you’re the one who has more to lose here,” she said quietly, her voice steady as she tried to reassure him. she wished she could stay there forever, wrapped up in him, the rest of the world locked away while they looked at each other like nothing else mattered. “don’t start with the ‘i don’t deserve you’ thing now, everett, it’s way too late for that,” she tried to joke. when she kissed him, it was her way of letting him feel what she felt, because the words had never come easily. she had tried to say it, tried to confess with her voice, but hudson spoke first. as he admitted he’d felt the same way for a long time, her heart raced, and then he said it—he loved her. angel smiled, the strong girl finally melting, a wide grin pulling at her lips. “i love you,” she breathed, a relieved sigh escaping as the words finally left her. “i love you,” she repeated, pressing her lips to his once more.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson let out a soft, shaky breath as he listened, his gaze locked on hers. When she spoke, cupping his cheek, he tilted his head slightly, a small, grateful smile tugging at his lips. “You really know how to make a guy feel better, huh?” he said, voice low and warm, trying to keep the edge of worry out of it. He ran a hand through his hair, then let it drop to rest on her waist, holding her close. “I, yeah, Zayn’s important,” he admitted quietly, eyes flicking away for a moment before meeting hers again. “And losing him, losing any of you two, it scares the hell out of me. But hearing you say that, it, it helps.” When she teased about the “I don’t deserve you” line, he couldn’t help but laugh softly, shaking his head. Hudson’s chest rose and fell as he listened, eyes soft and focused on her. “Oh, so now you’re the voice of reason, huh?” he teased lightly, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “Careful, I might start expecting this level of wisdom from you all the time.” Then, unable to resist, he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her button nose, letting out a gentle laugh as he did. “I know you do ,” he murmured, grinning, eyes sparkling with amusement. “You already told me when you were drunk and you wanted me to fuck you. You kept trying to come onto me while I was driving you home." He pulled back just enough to smile at her properly, still holding her gaze, full of warmth and playful affection, letting her feel how utterly happy he was in that moment. Hudson chuckled, shaking his head as he cupped her face again, thumb brushing over her cheek. “I told you—no, obviously,” he teased, voice warm and playful. “And I even tucked you into bed, sick bucket at your side, and then you whispered it to me before you fell asleep.” He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her button nose, grinning as he pulled back just enough to look at her with that familiar mix of amusement and affection. “And I’ve been waiting to hear it again ever since.”

[zaynsharma]

it wasn’t really up to zayn to decide what was hot and what wasn’t, but saffron was hot—lava looked like ice in comparison—and that was something zayn was more than happy with. “walking danger sign, but a cute one,” he pointed out, chuckling as he leaned back and glanced at his best friend with a pleased smile. he noticed hudson mirroring his movement and raised his eyebrows at him. zayn shook his head at his words, satisfied with the answer until he caught the last part. “mostly? what the hell does mostly mean?” his brows furrowed, genuinely confused, because it was such a weird distinction. “husband material?” he scoffed. “i don’t think that’s even possible, hudson. you as a husband? don’t make me laugh,” he said, shaking his head with an amused smile. not that he knew if he himself was husband material—his aunties would swear he was, but he wasn’t so sure. when the conversation drifted back to saffron, his eyes narrowed as he looked at his best friend, noticing how he dodged the question about whether he’d tattooed any of her secret tattoos. “you say a few places, and that just makes me think it’s not anywhere visible,” he pointed out, not jealous, just curious… maybe a little jealous. “she trusts you, aw,” he chuckled. “you found a new bestie, huddy?” he teased, taking a sip of his drink. he grabbed a chip and tossed it in hudson’s direction. “stop with the secret tattoos,” he mused. “i don’t care if you did them or not,” zayn added, brushing it off like he was totally cool about it. “the real question is, when are you going to give me a secret tattoo for free?” he finished, wiggling his eyebrows at hudson.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson snorted softly when Zayn called him out, leaning back just a little deeper into his seat. He glanced over, lips quirking. “Mostly means,” he said evenly, like he’d already thought about this, “that I know how to behave when it matters. Your sister's like me and I like your sisters." At the husband comment, Hudson let out a low laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah, yeah. Keep laughing,” he said. He didn't know if anybody would call him husband material if they'd know him prior to meeting Angel, but then again, no one knew about Angel. When the attention swung back to Saffron and the tattoos, Hudson rolled his shoulders, unbothered but not exactly eager either. “You’re reading too much into it,” he said, calm, casual. “Artists do work. Some clients don’t want it on display. She has some that are covered." At the ‘she trusts you’ comment, he tilted his head, accepting the chip mid-air with an easy catch. “Trust’s kind of the job description,” he replied. “If people didn’t trust me, I’d be out of business. Or in jail.” A beat. “Possibly both.” He shot Zayn a look when he teased him about a new bestie. “Relax,” Hudson said, shaking his head with a faint grin. “I’ve got enough friends. You're my best friend though." Then the free tattoo question came, and Hudson laughed again, this time more genuine. “Oh, now we’re getting to it,” he said. “You want a secret tattoo from me? You’d never shut up about it. Whole personality shift.” He gestured vaguely at Zayn. “Whatever, fine, I'll book you in whenever you've got some time though. I think it's about time you started getting some ink on you." He took a sip of his drink, eyes back on his friend. He reached out and pressed his hand over the top of Zayn’s, firm and deliberately patronising, like he was steadying a kid about to make a bad decision. He gave it a slow squeeze, eyes flicking down to their hands and then back up, amused. “You sure you can deal with the pain though?” A corner of his mouth lifted. “Because Saffron works in the station next to me.”

[zarasharma]

zara knew she was a handful. she knew not everyone liked the way she was, and she didn’t care. she liked to get under other people’s skin, not in a bad way, just to tease them, and she was good at it. when hudson got nervous and told her to sit down, she did, but the smirk on her lips was enough to tell him she was more than satisfied with his reaction. “everyone thinks my sister’s pretty, but they want me to tell her what they think so they can get a reaction from her,” she pointed out. “i need to keep an eye on you because you don’t look like someone i can trust,” she joked, the smirk still on her lips. “oh, i’ve never done anything embarrassing, hudson,” she smirked. “i’m amazing at everything i do, and even when i fuck up, i do it with style,” she added, tossing her hair back. when she announced she was going to get him a coke, she rolled her eyes. “oh, relax, macho man, i’ll get you a coke,” she chuckled, walking toward the kitchen. she opened the fridge and grabbed two cans, and as she walked back she heard her sister’s phone ringing. “who’s that, your secret admirer, angel?” she called out, only to hear her sister laugh upstairs. “he is, he’s telling me he misses me,” the older sister announced. “such a simp, nothing new,” zara mused, heading back to the living room. “i’m coming,” angel called out. “here,” zara said as she handed hudson his coke. “do you mind if your crush eats with us? if not, she won’t try the pizza,” she added, wiggling her eyebrows at him.

as angel walked into the room, she smiled. “i hope it’s still warm,” she mused as she walked over to them, kneeling in front of the coffee table and leaning over it to grab a slice. her hair was damp, falling over her face and down her back, clearly fresh from the shower. “what were you talking about?”

[hudson-everett]

Hudson let out a quiet breath through his nose at Zara’s commentary, shaking his head like he’d resigned himself to the chaos. “Yeah, well,” he said dryly, “I don’t need help getting reactions. I’ve got enough problems on my own.” His eyes flicked up to her smirk. “And for the record, not trusting me is probably your smartest instinct so far.” When she handed him the coke, he accepted it with a small nod. “Appreciate it,” he said, tone easy, but then she dropped the crush line, and his mouth twitched despite himself. “You’re really committed to starting fights you don’t have to finish,” he replied calmly. “Impressive, honestly.”

Then Angel walked in. Hudson’s attention shifted without him meaning it to, just a fraction too long to be nothing, not long enough to be obvious. His gaze caught on her smile, the damp hair, the way she moved like a goddess. Something in his posture eased, shoulders relaxing before he could stop it. “Still warm,” he answered her first question, voice steady. “Zara was interrogating my moral character. Standard procedure.” He took a sip of his drink, then glanced back at Angel, softer now. “You, uh, good timing. Saved me from saying something that would’ve gotten me banned from the house.” A beat. Then, lightly, like it didn’t matter as much as it did, “You hungry?”

He glanced between the sisters, then back to Angel. “We were just killing time,” he added, easy. “Talking nonsense, waiting for the food to disappear.” His eyes lingered on her for half a beat. “Your sister asked me to order some take out in and I honestly couldn't say no."

[angclsharma]

she pulled away from him, and it wasn’t usual for angel to feel small, to feel nervous. she was confident in almost everything she did, moving through the world like nothing could touch her—but not when it came to hudson. with him, she allowed herself to care, and that was because she loved him. when his hand caught her wrist, she didn’t look at him; she knew one glance would make her chest ache. instead, she let him pull her back against his chest, her fingers curling into his shirt as she sighed, melting into the kiss he pressed to her head, then her temple. “i know i shouldn’t apologize,” she murmured, voice quiet, “but i’m asking you to do something that’s scary, and i know you don’t want to… because you could lose zayn, and it’s selfish of me to want you to tell people when that could happen.” she closed her eyes, breathing him in, steadying herself to the sound of his heartbeat. a soft chuckle escaped her. “it hasn’t gone away? god, we’ve been playing this game for over three years—you really thought it would disappear after the first?” she tilted her head slightly, then added more firmly, “you can’t lose me. that’s not something that’s ever going to change.” hearing the nerves in his voice made her soften further. “you know i always talk to you,” she sighed, pulling back just enough to look at him. “this just… feels more complicated,” she added with a nervous laugh. when he called her his angel, she smiled, visibly melting. “i’ve been yours since the day you sneaked into my room when zayn wasn’t home,” she said softly, her hand lifting to cup his cheek. she leaned in and kissed him—slow, deliberate, full of quiet devotion rather than heat, a kiss that spoke everything she couldn’t yet say. when she pulled back, her dark eyes searched his. “i…” she breathed, the words caught in her throat—those three words right there, heavy with meaning—unspoken not because they weren’t true, but because she’d never said them out loud before (not that she remember it).

[hudson-everett]

Hudson’s chest felt tight as he held her there, guilt and love tangled together in a way he didn’t know how to separate. He rested his forehead against hers, eyes closed for a beat, like he was steadying himself before speaking. When he did, his voice was quiet, careful—but honest. “Hey,” he murmured, thumb brushing lightly against her wrist. “You’re not selfish for wanting that. Not even a little.” He swallowed. “I just… I’m scared. And I hate that I am, because it feels like I’m failing you somehow.” He shook his head slightly. “Zayn’s my best friend. He’s my family. And the idea that telling the truth could change that—it messes with me more than I want to admit.” When she pulled back to look at him, he met her eyes, nerves plain on his face. “I talk to you because you make it safe,” he said. “This just feels like one of those moments where every choice has consequences, and I don’t want to hurt anyone—especially you.” Her words, the way she called herself his, hit him harder than he expected. His breath caught, and he leaned into her touch instinctively. “You’ve been my angel longer than you know,” he replied softly. “Even when I didn’t deserve you sneaking into my life like that.” His life wasn't easy but she somehow made it feel simpler. When she kissed him, he stayed still for a moment after, like he was afraid to break something fragile. As she pulled back and hesitated, he lifted his hand to hers, squeezing gently. “You don’t have to say it,” he said, voice barely above a whisper. “I feel it. I’ve felt it for a long time.” He offered a small, shaky smile. "I love you, too."

[zarasharma]

zara smirked, rolling her eyes at his protectiveness—it was cute, even if it was a bit much. "i’m not stupid, so i’m not gonna do anything stupid. don’t expect me to come home pregnant or some shit; i’m a smart woman," she promised with a grin. "i may be in uni, but i’ve still got a brain, and i'm not horny 24/7, so stop worrying about me, hudson." she stuck her tongue out at him playfully, feeling like she’d definitely won that round. she’d definitely caught hudson checking angel out. he could try to play it off all he wanted, but she knew that look—that wasn't how you look at someone you aren't interested in. the way he was getting all worked up gave her all the ammo she needed to see if the tattooed guy in front of her actually liked her sister. she dramatically stood up, pretending like she was about to go tell her sister exactly how much hudson fancied her, and his reaction was priceless. once she’d gotten the rise out of him she wanted, she sat back down. she had him exactly where she wanted him. "oh, so you think she’s pretty?" she smiled. "not surprising. sharmas have 'pretty' in our genes," she nodded. "and i don’t give up. i never give up. you're acting suspicious," she added, narrowing her eyes. "i’ll be keeping an eye on you, everett," she mused, torturing him with a grin. "i'll be ready to call it out the second you decide to make a move. and when you do, i’m gonna make sure to mortify you by telling her what a total simp you can be. i don’t even know if you’re that kind of guy yet, but rest assured, whoever you date is gonna know i’m only in this life to torture you," she said, her voice dead serious as if she were actually threatening him. then she just broke out into a laugh, grabbed a slice of pizza, and stood up. "relax, i’m not telling angel. i’m just going to get you a coke. take a breath, everett," she teased.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson groaned, dragging a hand down his face as she talked, already bracing himself. “Jesus, Zara, I didn’t say you were stupid,” he shot back, exasperated but amused. “You just have a talent for attracting chaos. You thrive on mischief and mayhem unlike anyone else I know." When she stuck her tongue out, he snorted. “Real mature. Uni’s clearly doing wonders for you,” he muttered, though the corner of his mouth twitched. The second she stood up, his head snapped toward her. “Sit. Down,” he warned, voice low and sharp, eyes narrowed. At her relentless teasing, he scoffed, folding his arms. “I didn’t say anything nobody else doesn't think” he argued, immediately losing ground by being too defensive. When she threatened to keep an eye on him, he rolled his eyes hard. “Oh, fantastic. I’ve always wanted a self-appointed menace following me around,” he said dryly. As she laughed and grabbed the pizza, Hudson let out a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding. “You’re insufferable,” he called after her, shaking his head. “And if you ever do mortify me on purpose, I will remind you of every embarrassing thing you’ve ever done—loudly.” He watched her go, then muttered under his breath, half-smiling despite himself. “Full fat Coke, please,” he called after her. “The original one. I don’t do diet or zero sugar.” He paused, smirking despite himself. “You go full or nothing—same rules apply to drinks and dealing with you.” Hudson waited until Zara’s back was turned before pulling his phone out, thumb moving fast like he’d done this a hundred times before. His expression softened immediately, annoyance melting into something quieter. He typed quickly: i miss you. please come save me. After a beat, he added another message, smirking to himself. your sister is being a menace and i’m outnumbered. He slipped the phone back into his pocket, prepared for Zara to come back into the room at any second.

[zaynsharma]

zayn had to laugh at that. "no, actually, i want whoever you end up seeing to record you begging so i can savor it," he chuckled. "that’s not a world you want to live in, but i would love to see you beg," he teased, taking a sip of his drink. "you know what? sometimes i just can’t say no to a little danger. it’s like when i compete with my uncle to see who can eat the most chilies; i know my overshared business is gonna be burning like hell later, but i do it anyway," he laughed. "don’t ask me why, man, but if she asked, i wouldn't mind letting her take control. in fact, i bet that’s fucking hot," he confessed. as far as he knew saffron, there was no way he’d ever be in charge—and he wasn't even going to pretend he’d mind her being on top. they were playing her game, not his. zayn was about to bark when hudson started the whole 'i'm deeply pure' thing, but as he kept going, he just lost it. "that’s true, bro," he nodded. "and hey, take that back—i’m the prettiest sharma. it’s a shame your straight ass can't comprehend masculine beauty when it's right in front of you," he pointed a finger at him with a grin. as the topic turned to his sister, his expression leveled out. "yeah, stay 'pure' far away from her," he nodded, locking eyes with hudson before grabbing another cold chip. he shook his head at his friend. "hey, raccoons are fucking scary, don't mess with them," he laughed. "a great boyfriend? oh, don't make me laugh. i don't think i’ve ever seen you in a long-term relationship, which says a lot about your 'boyfriend qualities,'" he pointed out. "what surprises me is how tame you look. i hope you’re not keeping some pretty girl hidden from me, because i’d be pissed if i didn't know about that kind of stuff—especially after i told you about saffi." at the question about saffron’s tattoos, zayn just shook his head. "i’ve seen a couple. but the real question is, you seem to know a lot about those hidden ones," he said, raising his eyebrows. "did you do any of them?" he asked back, dodging the question to see if he could play the mysterious game too.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson leaned back in his chair, drink in hand, eyes sparkling with amusement at Zayn’s teasing. He chuckled, shaking his head, the kind of grin that made it obvious he was enjoying every second of the banter. “Man, recording me begging?” he laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender. “That’s… borderline cruel." Also, it would be Zayn's sister which would be weird as fuck to show him so that was a no. When Zayn overshared about chili challenges and then talking about letting Saffron take control, Hudson snorted, a playful sparkle in his eyes. “Dude,” he said, nudging him lightly with an elbow, “if that’s hot, then you’re basically a walking danger sign. I'll pray for you sanity with her." Hudson grinned wider at the playful jibe about being the prettiest Sharma. He definitely disagreed but Zayn was handsome looking. But when Zayn’s expression went serious, Hudson leaned back, smooth and composed, masking the flicker of nerves that ran under the surface. He raised a brow, matching Zayn’s gaze. “Relax,” he said lightly. “I stay far away from your sisters … mostly.” He let the words hang for just a beat, giving a teasing lilt to the edge of his tone before taking another sip of his drink. Hudson scoffed, clearly amused with himself, and flashed Zayn an easy, confident grin. He lifted his drink slightly, like he was toasting his own point. “You would absolutely love me if you were into dudes,” he said smoothly, completely serious in the most unserious way. He shrugged, rolling his shoulders like it was no big deal, though the charm never dropped. “I haven’t done a serious relationship in years,” Hudson went on, voice light and teasing, “but I’m telling you—if I actually tried? I could be somebody’s husband material.” He smirked, eyebrows lifting as he looked at Zayn. “Lucky for the world, I’m humble about it. I just like testing the waters to know what I like before settling." His smirk betrayed the fact that he was hiding someone—Angel, of course—but Zayn didn’t need to know that. When Zayn raised the question about tattoos, Hudson’s eyes twinkled with mischief. He leaned forward, voice low and conspiratorial, dodging neatly. “Maybe I know a thing or two,” he said smoothly, shrugging like it was no big deal. “But do I do them? Who knows” He gave a wink, enjoying the tension, the mystery, and the way Zayn tried to read him, all while keeping his secret safe. Hudson leaned back, grin spreading across his face, voice smooth and teasing. “Nah, I’m joking,” he said, giving a little shake of his head. “I have tattooed her in a few places. We all have. She trusts me.” He shrugged casually, the charm oozing from every gesture. “She’s a bad girl with a good heart… and yeah, she loves her ink.” He leaned in just a fraction closer, voice dropping so it sounded almost conspiratorial. “Let me know when you find her secret tattoos,” he added with a sly smile, “and I’ll tell you I did them.”

[zarasharma]

"crazy is one of the many adjectives i can be described with, crazy, hot, smart, incredibly amazing, just one of a long list," she smiled proudly, tossing her hair back. "you can't expect me to know if someone is the one after this little time, we have fun, i like him, but i don't know that much yet, i guess we need to give me time to answer that question," she shrugged, they could take things at their own pace, she wasn't going to overthink it just because her brother's best friend had asked if he was the one. "no, zara, i didn’t mean—" she mocked him, "oh, please, i know you were checking her out, don't deny the obvious, everett," she looked at him, a smirk on her lips. "but that's true, we're pretty impulsive," she nodded, she could give him that, but she knew what she saw, and his words didn't match the vibes she was getting. "another adjective, you’re getting better," she rolled her eyes, she was going to get to the end of that conversation. "you're accused of having a crush on my sister because you keep bringing her up for some reason," she shrugged. at his words, zara furrowed her eyebrows together, "so you want me to tell her you have a crush on her so she gives you an opportunity?" she started laughing, taking her hands to her stomach, "that is the worst idea ever," she chuckled. "okay, so you like my sister?" she insisted, "i'm telling her right now, oh my god, i love gossip," she mused as she stood up, ready to see if he would follow or not.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson watched her launch into her list of self-assigned adjectives. He snorted under his breath; she always did have a flair for drama. When she told him he couldn’t expect her to know whether the guy she was seeing was the one, Hudson lifted his hands in surrender. He simply nodded, accepting her pace. "Just don't do anything stupid, alright?" But she cut him off with a mocking imitation of his tone, earning an exaggerated eye roll from Hudson. The smirk on her lips told him she was doing this on purpose, and he couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped him. Then she accused him—again—of checking her sister out. When she congratulated him sarcastically for managing another adjective, Hudson dragged a hand down his face. She was relentless. And she clearly wasn’t going to let the topic go until she’d wrung every bit of gossip-fuel out of it. “Zara—no. That’s not—Would you just—” he tried again, but she was already steamrolling forward. He froze. Any answer he gave was going to be used against him, and he knew it. When she gasped dramatically and stood up, Hudson shot to his feet instantly. “Zara! Sit down. Do not—Zara, I swear, don’t you dare—” he called after her, torn between exasperation and resignation. He knew she lived for this chaos. Hudson finally caved, throwing his hands up in defeat as she kept pushing. “Alright—fine,” he muttered, glaring at her with a mix of annoyance and reluctant amusement. “Maybe I think she’s pretty. Happy now?” He shook his head, disbelief tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Damn, girl,” he added, half-laughing, half-sighing, “you really don’t give up.”

[zaynsharma]

zayn rolled his eyes at his best friend. “much?” the little appreciation at the end of his words made him pause. “curious little word to add to that statement — now i wanna know when you do beg so i can absolutely mortify you with it,” he joked. when hudson mentioned saffron being a safety hazard, zayn let out a laugh. “she’s electric. i wouldn’t mind getting burned, or whatever the hell happens when you touch an electric fence.” there was something about saffron that kept him orbiting her — she was terrifying, too bold, but she had that spark that made him willingly walk closer just to feel the burn. “there’s nothing pure in you, hudson,” he snorted. “rude, though — you’re not even looking at me like that when i’m clearly the prettiest sharma.” he fluttered his eyelashes dramatically, then shivered. “okay, that was too much even for me.” thinking back on the list of ex-boyfriends angel had brought home, zayn had long since decided her taste was basically “certified losers.” they all looked cool but deep down, they were pathetic for letting his sister slip away. “for sure she is,” he said of saffron. “who in the world lets her go for someone else? and then plays it cool? that’s major loser energy.” he mirrored hudson, taking a sip, still leaning lazily against the table. “shouldn’t? man, what’s going on with you and those words lately? choose a lane,” he teased. “sisters are off-limits, you know.” he squinted at him. “i hope you’re not confessing something, or i’m gonna have to kick your ass right here, everett.” he tried to look intimidating — failed immediately — and cracked up. “i’m not good at being scary when you look at me like that, man.”

[hudson-everett]

Hudson barked a laugh at Zayn’s dramatics, lifting his drink like he was toasting to the ridiculousness. “Buddy, if you ever hear me beg, just pull the plug and take me out. That’s not a world I want to live in.” But the moment Zayn started waxing poetic about Saffron being an electric fence, Hudson snorted loud enough to draw a look from a stranger at the next table. “Yeah, she’s electric. She’s also the kind of hazard they put warning signs on. You’d lean in, lick the damn sign, and then complain when your eyebrows burn off.” When Zayn accused him of lacking purity, Hudson clutched his chest dramatically. “Wow. Straight to slander. I’ll have you know I am deeply pure. Pure chaotic energy, pure bad decisions, and pure disappointment. Triple threat.” The pretty‑boy line earned a slow blink from Hudson before he burst into laughter. “You’re not even the prettiest Sharma in your own house, bro." He took a sip to hide the way his pulse jumped at Angel’s name—just enough to mask it, not enough to be obvious. He shrugged casually, too casually. “Anyone with an actual brain wouldn’t let her slip. But what do I know? I’m just over here, being pure.” When Zayn called him out on his word choices, Hudson waved him off. “I contain multitudes. Vocabulary multitudes.” Then came the landmine: sisters are off-limits. Hudson froze for half a beat—just half—before grinning wide, masking the crack in his composure with bravado. “Confessing? Me?” He let out a dramatic scoff. “Man, I’d let you kick my ass. Hell, I’d probably even help.” Zayn tried to look intimidating, and Hudson lost it immediately. “Dude—please. You couldn’t scare a raccoon off a sandwich.” He gave his leg a soft kick, grin easy, voice light—covering just how close Zayn had stumbled to the truth. “I’m a lot of things,” he said, letting the words hang just long enough to make Zayn curious. “A great boyfriend is one of them… with the right person.” He took a slow sip of his drink, eyes glinting. Hudson grinned, shaking off the moment of honesty like it had never happened. “Anyway, back to Saffron,” he said, voice dripping with mock seriousness. “Has she given you a tattoo tour yet?" Hudson leaned back, spinning his drink lazily in one hand. “She’s got some visible, some hidden,” he said, eyes flicking up at Zayn with a grin. “Uncovered the layers yet?"

[angclsharma]

as she heard the heaviness in the way her name fell from his lips, she exhaled shakily. she’d gone too far. she’d been too straightforward. she just wanted what everyone else had — she’d been fine with the sneaking around, the secrets, the stolen stares and kisses, but part of her ached that she couldn’t simply be with the guy she loved out in the open like other people did. it was obvious they were both scared; if it had been only a few weeks or months, maybe it would feel different, but three years was a long time to live in the shadows. she just wanted more. when he asked her what she thought would change if they told people, her heart cracked a little. of course there were risks. her family might not react well. hudson was terrified of losing his best friend. maybe she’d been too careless, falling for her brother’s best friend. when he pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head, she felt the burn of tears behind her eyes. the girl who always felt fearless, loud, strong — suddenly felt small. because he was right. things could change. and she hated that. she held the tears back, refusing to let them spill. “i don’t want things to change,” she finally said, voice barely above a whisper. “you know my family loves you. you’re important to every single one of them. but… i know there’s a chance zayn won’t be okay with it.” she sighed, pulling back just enough to meet hudson’s dark, searching eyes. “but i also know i want this with you. maybe it’s selfish, but i want this. i’ve dated so many people, and nothing has ever felt this right — especially not for this long.” she let out a breath, shaky and small. “and maybe i sound like a little girl, but i really thought… maybe we could take a step further. maybe i was just being crazy.” she gently slipped out of his arms and sat on the couch, staring down at her hands like they suddenly belonged to someone else. “i fucked things up,” she whispered. “i’m sorry. i should’ve stayed quiet.”

[hudson-everett]

Hudson watches her slip out of his arms, the absence of her warmth hitting him like a punch. For a heartbeat, he just stands there — chest tight, jaw working, breath uneven. Then he moves. Slow, certain. He shifts toward her, reaches down, and gently takes her by the wrist — not forceful, just enough to tell her he’s not letting this fall apart. He pulls her back up and into him again, arms sliding around her waist as he draws her against his chest. And before she can apologise again, before she can shrink any smaller, he ducks his head and presses a lingering kiss to the top of her head - then another to her temple. When he speaks, his voice is low, rough, but steady — the way he always gets when the truth finally cracks through. "Baby, you didn’t fuck anything up,” Hudson murmurs, his lips brushing her hair. “You didn’t say anything wrong. You just told me what you want. That’s not something you should ever apologise for.” He pulls back just enough so she can see the sincerity in his face — no distance, no shadow, just him. “And you’re not crazy,” he adds softly. “You want more because this is real. Because it’s been a while and it hasn’t gone away. That’s not selfish. That’s us. That’s what we built.” His thumb strokes gently along her cheekbone as he leans in, kissing her temple again, slower this time — like he’s trying to settle the trembling he feels in her. “I’m scared. Yeah,” he admits. “Terrified of losing Zayn. Terrified of losing you. But when you say you want this…” He swallows, forehead resting lightly against hers. “I want it too. I do. I just… I don't know how to say it to everyone else without screwing everything up.” He holds her tighter, like he’s afraid she’ll disappear if he loosens his grip even a little. "You make me feel like I finally have something worth fighting for.” He kisses her head once more — slow, grounding. “So don’t ever say you should’ve stayed quiet,” he finishes, voice soft but sure. “I need you to talk to me. I need to know what you feel. Because I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.” Hudson doesn’t let her pull away this time — he just keeps her close, steadying her with the warmth and certainty she thought she’d lost. "You're my Angel."

[angclsharma]

angel could feel the weight of her own words pressing against her chest long before she said them out loud, like they’d been echoing inside her for months, maybe years. she wasn’t the type to hesitate — she always spoke her mind, always knew what she wanted and went for it. but this was different. this was hudson. the way his eyes found hers, steady and heavy with something that made her breath catch, made her want to run and stay all at once. then he said her name, and it almost broke her. she instantly regretted it — all of it — for a second. she should’ve stayed quiet, played it cool like always, not risked making things complicated. her heart was thudding so loud it almost drowned out her thoughts. when his arms tightened around her, though, she forced herself to meet his gaze again. “i know,” she started, her voice soft but shaking, a sigh falling from her lips, “and i’m scared too, but… i feel like we think about everyone else more than we think about us, about this.” her eyes flickered down, the honesty raw and unpolished. “i don’t want to hide anymore,” she admitted, her voice a whisper that felt too small for how big the words were, “it was fun at first, but it’s been three years, hudson. people start thinking about… bigger things after that — living together, kids, marriage,” she breathed out, her tone almost embarrassed, “and i don’t even want to think about all that right now. i just want you. i just don’t want to hide anymore.” her voice trembled near the end, but she didn’t look away this time. she didn’t say i love you, not yet, but her eyes were saying it over and over, louder than words ever could.

[hudson-everett]

Hudson felt her words before he truly heard them — like they seeped into him, slow and quiet, filling the cracks between unspoken words. He’d always admired that about Angel — her fearlessness, the way she said what everyone else was too scared to. But now, watching her tremble while trying to stay brave, it hit him differently. This wasn’t the fiery Angel everyone saw; this was the real one — scared, soft, and trying. His throat was tight, and for a long second, all he could do was look at her — really look at her — and see every late night, every shared secret, every quiet moment they’d pretended didn’t mean more than it did. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and rough, the kind that came from somewhere honest. “Angel…” he started, and even saying her name felt heavy. He tried to smile, but it didn’t hold. He rubbed the back of his neck, searching for the right words, the real ones. “I don’t want to hide either. I don’t want to keep acting like I’m not already halfway in, because I am. I’ve been scared too — scared of what it means, what people would think, what we’d have to face if we stopped pretending.” He shifted closer, his voice gentling. “But I’m tired of pretending. You deserve more than that." His chest ached with the truth of it, but there was something freeing about finally saying it out loud. “I just want to be real with you,” he said quietly. Hudson’s throat tightened, the words catching before he forced them out, quiet but edged with worry. “Do you think telling everyone will change things?” he asked, searching her face. “With your parents? With Zayn?” The last name lingered heavier than he meant it to, the weight of it pulling something uneasy through his chest. "He’s my best friend. I don’t even know how to look him in the eye after this, let alone tell him I’ve been with his sister for three years.” His tone softened, almost pleading. “What if he doesn’t understand?” Hudson let out a slow, unsteady breath, the worry still shadowing his eyes. Then, without another word, he slipped an arm around her and pulled her gently against his chest. Then he lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss to her temple, a wordless promise caught between fear and love.