pazzi

[pazzistories]

My Masterlist!

I just wanted to preface that I am not very good at writing but always have tons of ideas! Hope you guys like it!

Pazzi One shots

The long way home

The space between us

For the record, it’s Paige.

Blurbs

Always you

[twostepcherry]

better distractions ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

updated: 18/6/2026

summary:

there are three constants in azzi's life: her family, basketball, and strangely enough, paige bueckers.

or

azzi flies back to d.c. instead of minnesota after team usa.

tags: light-angst, injury, alternate-universe, fluff, falling-in-love, eventual-smut (minors dni), ucla-azzi, uconn-paige, dallaswings-azzi, dallaswings-paige, strangers-to-friends-to-lovers, friends-with-benefits, miscommunication,

chapters: 8/15

wc: 51k

ao3 link

chapter 1

chapter 2

chapter 3

chapter 4

chapter 5

chapter 6

chapter 7

chapter 8

chapter 9

chapter 10

chapter 11

chapter 12

chapter 13

chapter 14

chapter 15

[hcneymooners]

౨ৎ sometimes it’s nice to love an easy thing.

older!wnba!paige x older!wnba!azzi. men & minors dni.

synopsis: when basketball stars azzi fudd and paige bueckers, former best friends who drifted apart in the blur of fame and time, accidentally double-book the same coastal retreat, three years of missed connection dissolves into a week of devastating intimacy.

cw: implied burnout, no other warnings apply.

notes: just wrote something sweet and soft to release before i go home. this isn't edited, but i will come back later tonight to refine it. i hope you enjoy it anyway, and as always, feel free to let me know your thoughts in my inbox. i love you all so much. x

the idea was to be alone.

azzi had booked the airbnb on a whim, the way those who claimed to be only “comfortable” did when they became tired of being themselves. she was drained from the exhaustive labor of being one of america's most famous athletic names, a title she'd worked for and earned, but one that sat on her shoulders now like a sweater that didn't quite fit anymore.

the last straw was the drink deal she had to film a campaign for. she'd felt lifeless, listing between the bright plastic smile as she harped off the list of nutritional benefits for someone's rich cousin's kombucha that came in beautiful bottles and threatened to expand your “spiritual silo.” the studio was a wall of white and ring lights, a pervasive sterile brightness that made everything feel like the inside of a surrealist art sketch. 

as soon as the cameras had dropped, azzi's smile had dimmed, her wrists chirping like birds as her slew of cartier bracelets fell over one another and further down her arm. her personal assistant, a wonderful woman by the name of may, with a face that reminded her of someone else's memory of old hollywood glamour, had taken one look at her and booked a much-needed east coast holiday.

and now, azzi was driving her vintage land rover defender with the top down, tumbling along coastal roads at a speed that wasn't recommended but felt slower than the way she'd been living. the car was a deep forest green, the same as her long-sleeved shirt, as if it were constantly thinking of running off the road and becoming one of the trees. she had chosen to arrive in deceitful simplicity—everything she wore was at least a triple-figure price—and wrapped herself in solid colors and simple prints for her last-minute escape. still chic, still denoting her rank in life.

her curls were darker now, painstakingly maintained as she approached the end of her twenties, and streaked through with six-hundred-dollar highlights she felt did nothing for her face. just before she’d left the house, she’d pulled half of them up and away, then stuck her vintage, oversized chloé sunglasses into the mass and called it a day. she was sleek enough in other ways for it to be seen as an elle beauty section archetype, rather than being on the brink of losing her mind.

the leather weekender in her passenger seat was overstuffed, a week's worth of clothing thrown together in that careless way that only worked when everything you owned was beautiful. linen pants and silk camisoles, cotton sweaters soft as skin, all of it chosen by someone else, all of it perfectly her and not her at all. but this is who she was now; she had to come to terms at some point.

oceanic air whipped through the open car, carrying the promise of something she was unable to name. whatever it was, it was making her eyes sting. this was supposed to be healing, this week by the ocean. this was supposed to fix whatever had broken inside her during all those months of smiling for larger-than-life cameras and staging a rather convincing performance of enjoying her own life.

the house appeared through a break in the salt-heavy trees like something from a dream she'd had but never remembered fully. blue-gray shingles weathered to perfection, white trim catching the late afternoon light, an arched doorway that opened onto nothing but ocean beyond. it looked expensive in the way that most old money things did, effortless and delicately unpretentious.

azzi pulled into the crushed shell driveway and cut the engine. the silence that followed felt different from the city quiet she was used to. not empty, but full. swollen with bird calls that were charming now but would annoy her later, and the distant crash of waves. the last time she’d been on this side of things was her college years. the thought made her chest tighten in a way she refused to indulge in.

she was reaching for her phone to text may and her parents that she'd arrived safely when she saw them: a pair of simple, lilac sneakers by the front door. not hers. too big. too clean. definitely not a color she would choose, but still—they felt more familiar than anything she owned.

her mouth twitched at the corners, moving neither up nor down but still indicative of her surprise. again, the idea was to be alone. so the idea of sharing a home with a woman she hadn't spoken to in three years was not the ideal vacation.

there was no grief between them. that didn’t make it less hard. 

things had gotten busy, things had fallen off. time had been too quick, and now azzi was looking at the figure who had slipped through the cracks in the rearview mirror of her life.

the screen door opened before azzi could decide whether to get out of the car or reverse back down the driveway and pretend this was all some horrible cosmic design. the kind of relaxed mistake that only felt good to people who believed in fate, which azzi had stopped doing somewhere between twenty-five and now.

paige bueckers emerged like she belonged there, like she'd been expecting this moment for years. she was wearing cargo shorts that should have looked ridiculous but didn't, a faded cotton tee that had seen better days paired with an oversized dallas hoodie that hung loose on her willowy frame, her blonde hair pulled back in that messy bun that had always made azzi's fingers itch to fix it. 

her face was the same collection of angles and softness that had haunted azzi's peripheral vision for three years, such a sharp jaw and strong blue eyes that called back to a particular brand of american beauty that seemed as though it should be on a cereal box but had somehow transcended it.

she looked the same. she looked completely different. she looked like coming home and like a stranger all at once.

they stared at each other across the space between the car and the house, two women who had once known each other's breathing patterns, now separated by several feet and time and emotionally blank holiday messages.

paige's mouth opened, closed. her hands hung at her sides like she didn't know what to do with them.

paige bueckers was the greatest in many things: basketball, philanthropy, even a brief stint in fashion, to azzi's surprise, and whatever else she decided to pick up casually. but most importantly, she was the greatest (and arguably only) love of azzi's life.

there hadn't been a formal friendship breakup. just a quiet erosion, which had been more devastating than if they had mutually decided to call it quits. there was no fall, no fracture. only time, distance, the blur of planes and press cycles and everything but them.

azzi turned off the ignition and sat there for a moment, hands still on the steering wheel, watching paige watch her through the windshield. she hoped she looked beautiful and bothered. something to procure an appropriate level of emotion reserved for unexpected, grief-tinged collisions. 

the late afternoon light caught in paige's hair, turning it golden at the edges and drawing azzi’s dark eyes to the state of her roots, and for a second azzi was twenty-two again, watching paige laugh at something stupid on her phone in a hotel room in phoenix, thinking this was it, this was what happiness looked like.

but she was tired now, bone-deep tired in a way that made everything feel both urgent and inevitable. so she opened the car door and stood, smoothing her hands down her jeans, and gave paige the softest, most tired smile she could manage.

“hey, p.”

the nickname fell from her lips like muscle memory, like breathing. paige's face cracked open, warped by surprise, then an open relief, before settling on something that looked dangerously close to joy.

“azzi,” paige said, and her voice carried across the space between them because america’s favorite cool girl had never learned to be anything but herself. “fuck, i—”

but she was already moving, crossing the driveway in quick strides, and before azzi could think about it, paige's arms were around her, pulling her into a hug that felt like coming up for air after being underwater for an indeterminate amount of time.

azzi breathed her in without meaning to. in her defense, it was instinct formed from the other times she’d been held like this. paige permeated azzi’s body in every sense of the word, skin thick with vanilla and something warm and spicy, the same scent that used to linger on their pillowcases, the same perfume that had haunted department stores for months after they'd stopped talking. 

paige still smelled like home, like safety, like all the things azzi had convinced herself she could live without. her weekender bag slipped from her shoulder, landing with a soft thud on the shells. neither of them moved to pick it up.

god, azzi thought, her face pressed into the crook of paige's neck, the norman fucking rockwell of it all.

when she pulled back, she found her face was wet.

the house was smaller inside than it looked from the driveway, but it was still a structural force of soft, off-white walls and bleached wood floors that creaked in the particular way that older homes did. her mother would like this, azzi thought, and she made a note to recommend it to her father for their next anniversary.

paige led her through rooms that smelled faintly of lemon oil and sodium, past windows that framed the ocean like paintings in a self-erected museum. azzi looked away from the hazy, blue smear of ocean and horizon and tuned back into paige’s predictable nervous rambling. she watched as the other woman twisted her thick, silver rings around her fingers as she tried to justify why she was walking alongside her former best friend—newly burst in.

well, she hadn’t burst. she hadn’t even snuck in really. there had always been an open space. 

“the company says that their website glitched, and they accidentally overbooked. i can—”

azzi looked up, tilting her head to better catch paige’s eye, a perfectly plucked eyebrow raising with amusement.

“i promise you it’s fine, paige. i’m not going to contract some sort of disease from sharing a house with you for a week.”

“no, i know,” paige responded. “and it’s not like i have a problem being here with you either, i just—if you did feel uncomfortable, i would want you to feel like you could tell me. i know if i were shackled up with some random who wasn’t supposed to be here, especially given what i did, i would not stop until—”

“but paige,” azzi interrupted, “you aren’t random. and you haven’t done anything to me.”

paige stopped then, her face jerking oddly as if she was unsure of whether azzi meant it or was leading her on. azzi kept their eyes locked, brown on blue, earth on sky. 

everything really was fine. which meant there was nothing more to say. 

paige tugged nervously at a thin leather band around her wrist, and azzi felt her throat close for a brief moment. she’d bought her that during a shared family christmas in nashville. she wasn’t sure what touched her more: the idea that paige had never gotten rid of it, or the fact that she deemed it important enough to wear in her everyday life.

“so,” paige said, stopping in front of a closed door, her hand hovering over the handle. “there's kind of a situation.”

azzi’s brow furrowed, her hands still wrapped along the top of her weekender as if to arm herself against a hidden onslaught. 

“the other bedrooms are closed off for renovations or something. the listing said it was a one-bedroom setup.” paige's cheeks went pink in that way they always were when she was embarrassed. “i can sleep on the couch, obviously, it's not—”

“paige.” azzi's voice was softer than she'd intended. “it's fine.”

the bedroom was beautiful in an understated coastal way: white linens, pale blue walls, french doors that opened onto a small balcony overlooking the water. there was one king bed, rumpled on one side where paige had clearly been sleeping, and a dresser with drawers half-open, spilling paige's clothes from their loose lips.

“they have extra sheets,” paige said suddenly, moving toward a closet with a new rush of nervous energy. “they left a list of inventory for the house in a binder, along with the wi-fi and stuff. i know you like to change them when you stay. to feel clean. ‘s not a big deal f’me to change them.”

azzi smiled then, small but genuine. finally, paige had let go of that ridiculously polite tone of voice and was speaking as she always had.

“there you are,” azzi said. “i thought maybe you had been body snatched. didn’t hear a single ‘bro’ in the first five minutes of you talking.”

paige laughed, her face lighting up with what azzi knew to be relief. “sorry, you just look a little different. didn’t know if i needed to be too.”

azzi let her bag hit the floor gently. “i always liked you as you were.”

the words hung in the air between them, heavy with the weight of being known. azzi's chest seemed to shrink as she turned back to the bed. three years of barely-there connection, and paige still remembered something so small, so specific to her particular anxieties about unfamiliar spaces.

“thank you,” azzi said quietly. “for thinking of me.”

they made the bed together without talking about it. paige stripped the old sheets with efficient movements while azzi unpacked the crisp white ones from their packaging, and then they were on opposite sides of the mattress, tucking corners with the kind of synchronized precision that came from muscle memory.

when paige reached across to smooth a wrinkle near azzi's side, their hands brushed. neither of them pulled away immediately.

paige opened the top drawer of the dresser, pushed her own things to one side, and gestured for azzi to fill the empty space. it was such a small thing, making room, but azzi's throat went tight watching paige's fingers carefully arrange her t-shirts to give azzi half the drawer.

“we should probably get groceries,” paige said when azzi had finished unpacking, her voice too bright. “there's literally nothing here except, like, stale crackers and some whiteclaws i bought.”

“whiteclaws?” azzi repeated, her voice swollen with disbelief. “you are almost thirty.”

“almost being the key word,” paige said, already walking down the hall. “besides, if it tastes good, imma buy it.”

azzi covered her mouth, forcefully keeping the rising laugh behind her teeth.

the land rover felt different with paige in the passenger seat. smaller, charged with the particular tension of two people trying very hard to act normal. paige had changed into a bamboo-thread button-down and swapped her lilac sneakers for white converse. she slunk down in the passenger seat, her legs widening as she got comfortable, and the image of it made azzi grip the steering wheel a little tighter.

the road wound through pine trees and past houses that got progressively smaller as they drove inland, away from the mostly empty, marine estates and toward something more lived-in. paige had rolled her window down, and the wind whipped her blonde hair around her face as she talked, a curtain made white by the mouth of the sun.

“—and then the whole team got food poisoning from this sushi place in dallas, which was honestly hilarious in retrospect, but at the time i thought coach was going to literally murder us. oh, and did you know that jana is engaged to someone now? this guy from her job. he’s pretty chill but—"

“p.” azzi's voice cut through the stream of words, gentle but firm. “one thing at a time.”

paige blinked, her mouth still half-open on whatever she'd been about to say next. “sorry. i'm being—sorry.”

“you're nervous,” azzi said, glancing at her before turning her attention back to the road. “it's okay. i'm nervous too.”

the admission seemed to deflate some of the tension in the car. paige slumped back in her seat, no longer talking at breakneck speed.

“it's weird, right?” paige said finally. “being here. together.”

“yeah,” azzi agreed. “it's weird. and i wish it wasn’t.”

but it’s not bad that it was, she didn't say. it wasn’t unwelcome. but it was more uncomfortable than she would’ve liked, the kind that came from realizing that some people lived inside of you even when they weren't in your life, even when you'd convinced yourself you'd moved on.

the grocery store was one of those small green markets that catered to a certain selection of summering customers. the shelves were stocked with organic everything, and the wine selections consisted of bottles that cost more than most people spent on groceries in a week. the patrons all were versions of the same thing: bare-faced, blowouts, subtle tweaks via non-invasive procedures azzi had booked and unbooked, tight smiles so that they didn’t seem rude, but also used to ask you to move along.

azzi smiled back in the same way because she wanted the same thing.

she grabbed a cart, and paige fell into step beside her, close enough that their arms brushed when they turned corners.

“so,” paige said, reaching for a bag of expensive-looking pasta. “tell me more about the kombucha thing. that sounded…”

“horrible?” azzi supplied, and paige laughed.

“i was going to be nice and say 'unlike you', but horrible works too.”

“it was both.” azzi picked up a bottle of olive oil, checked the price, and put it in the cart anyway. she didn’t know why she still pretended as if her bank account was an empty chamber in which she only used to scream. “i kept thinking about how my college self would have made fun of me for doing an ad for something called a ‘spiritual silo.’”

“your college self would have done the same,” paige said, and something was running along the words. fond, knowing. “remember when you used to make fun of me when you brought those green smoothies to practice? you’d make a fucking airplane noise to get me to take a sip.”

“you got me there. i guess i’ve always been one of those girls,” azzi said, but she was smiling.

“yeah,” paige said. then lower, as if azzi wasn’t supposed to hear, “but you were my girl.”

azzi tensed, then bent down and pretended to care deeply about the amount of bacteria in one brand of yogurt, and then another.

they moved through the store like that, trading memories disguised as small talk, someone slipping up and revealing their desperation for the other, before slowly finding their rhythm again. paige grabbed ingredients for a philly steak bowl, and azzi selected a slab of salmon that cost more than it should have and was much too orange to be truly authentic. somewhere between the produce section and the checkout line, the space between them started to feel less like a chasm and more like a ditch they were at risk of dipping into but could eventually learn to cross.

the second morning arrived soft and golden, filtering through the french doors like honey through cheesecloth. azzi woke to the sound of waves and paige's breathing, deep and even beside her. 

they'd maintained their invisible line down the middle of the bed, but sometime in the night paige had turned toward her, one arm flung across the space between them like a question mark. azzi was unable to help herself, her desire loose and unmanageable when she first woke, and she reached out to carefully remove a few thin pieces of hair from paige’s face. she could feel the flush of paige’s blood, the warmth of her life pooling around her high cheekbones and dripping to her slack mouth. 

azzi let it run through her, and then she rescinded before she became too re-attached.

she slipped out quietly, bare feet silent on the cool hardwood. she'd packed a collection of loose dresses for this trip, linen and cotton things that skimmed her body without clinging, the kind of effortless pieces that photographed well for the lifestyle content her team was always pushing. 

you could be a different type of wnba star, her first pr manager had spouted. azzi hadn’t even asked what that meant. the vitriol the woman had slathered across the words told her everything she needed to know. 

so, she just fired her.

after a sleep-soaked huddle underneath the warm spray of the shower, azzi emerged from the ensuite bathroom in a cream-colored slip dress that fell just above her knees, soft as butter against her skin, with a black lace hem. she fortified herself with her regular stack of gold and diamonds, unsurprised to see paige unmoved by the chimes of the jewelry pieces as they ran into one another.

some things never change.

the kitchen was composed of marble countertops and cabinets painted in a shade of electric blue that was just shy of being overstimulating. the windows over the sink and behind the oak-slab table were wide and performed the same framing of the ocean as the others in the house.

azzi admired the view briefly before beginning her search for the coffee machine she had been promised. she made coffee in the kind of ritualistic way that had become her morning meditation: grinding beans, measuring water, waiting for the slow drip. the domesticity of it felt foreign and familiar all at once.

it was a blessing to suck at the teat of regular caffeine instead of the matcha powder she’d been choking down, lest she get caught supporting a brand that she wasn’t an ambassador of. partnership was everything.

she found herself on the small deck overlooking the water, coffee warm between her palms, watching the sun paint the horizon in shades of apricot and rose. the book she'd brought, a different selection than the literary thing her publicist had recommended, lay unopened in her lap. instead, she let herself exist in the space between sleep and waking, between memory and possibility. she closed her eyes, let everything become the same shade as paige’s preferred blonde.

when paige emerged an hour later, hair sleep-mussed and wearing a well-worn t-shirt, she found azzi exactly where she'd left her mental image: barefoot and golden in the morning light, dress riding up her thighs as she tucked her legs beneath her.

“morning, princess,” paige said, settling into the chair beside her with her own mug. “you're up early.”

“i like the quiet,” azzi replied, opening her eyes but not looking away from the water. the nickname settled at her neck like a stone. “before the world gets a hold of where i am.”

paige hummed in response, before reaching to the side and pulling out her ipad with the casual focus of someone who'd never learned to exist without a screen. game tape, probably. or those stupid tiktoks she's always been addicted to. 

some things never change.

azzi couldn’t help the way her mouth rose in a soft smile, eyes tracking the familiar hunch of paige’s back over the screen. it was only then that she realized the shirt paige had slept in was an old relic of azzi’s uconn days. a white tee with the faded print of her face, the number thirty-five faded in blue on the back. her chest hurt. it couldn’t seem to stop.

they sat like that for a while, azzi reading passages that ebbed right back out, paige absorbed in whatever digital rabbit hole she'd fallen into. their silence wasn't uncomfortable anymore. it was full, a bit tense the way good silences were, filled with the sound of pages turning and coffee being sipped and swallowed and the distant crash of waves against rock.

it was easy for azzi to believe that she had made it to that fantasy of domesticity she’d always kept close to her chest. but the truth was that she only had a week of it, because she’d never told the love of her life that she loved her more than allowed, for her entire life.

by midweek, they'd found their perfect cadence. 

azzi would wake first, make coffee, and leave some behind for paige to wake to. then she’d claim her spot on the deck with whatever book she was pretending to focus on. paige would emerge twenty minutes later, ipad in hand, settling into the space with her mug beside her like she belonged there. they'd share the morning without talking much, two people remembering how to exist in the same orbit.

the afternoons belonged to the kitchen.

it started accidentally. azzi had been standing at the marble island, halving peaches with a knife that was too sharp for the job, juice running down her wrists in sticky rivulets. the fruit was perfect, blushed and heavy, the kind of summer abundance that made you understand why people wrote poems about the season.

“hey, careful,” paige had said, voice low and sleep-rough. "you’re gonna lose a finger messin' around like that.”

and then somehow paige was there, appearing at her elbow, her body a warm presence at azzi's side, taking the knife with gentle fingers and finishing the job. her movements were efficient, practiced. she'd always been good with her hands.

“there,” paige said, sliding half a peach across the cutting board, that familiar rasp creeping into her voice. “perfect.”

azzi bit into it without thinking, let the sweetness flood her mouth, and when she looked up, paige was watching her with something that looked like hunger.

after that, they cooked together.

neither planned, nor discussed. it simply happened. azzi would start something—slicing tomatoes for a salad, seasoning the expensive salmon she'd bought—and paige would drift over, find something to do with her hands. busy herself with slipping into azzi’s space. setting the table, opening wine, chopping herbs with the kind of focus she usually reserved for the sport she'd made a life of.

the kitchen was small enough that they had to move around each other, a careful choreography that was becoming less careful by the day. paige would reach for salt just as azzi turned from the stove, and their hips would brush. when azzi needed something from the upper cabinet, paige would appear behind her, one hand settling on her lower back while the other reached over her head.

“‘scuse me, princess,” paige would murmur, the words low and familiar, and azzi would lean into the touch before she could stop herself.

“sorry,” one of them would murmur, but neither felt an urgency to move away.

on thursday, azzi decided to make something proper. not just pasta but a whole meal, the way she used to back in the dorms when she'd drag paige kicking and screaming away from takeout. 

she pulled out ingredients as if conducting an orchestra: wild-caught halibut that cost more than most people's grocery budget, meyer lemons bright as a child’s drawing of the sun, asparagus with stalks thin as pencils, a bottle of sancerre white that had been waiting for either the right moment or the moment where her nerves became too shot to raw the world. she was at the island, zesting a lemon with focused precision, when paige appeared behind her.

“move, baby,” paige said, voice low and warm, her hands settling on azzi's waist to guide her aside so she could reach the upper cabinet. the pet name slipped out like muscle memory, and neither of them acknowledged it, but azzi felt the heat of paige's palms through the thin fabric of her dress.

“what you need me to do?” paige asked, already washing her hands, settling into the familiar rhythm of being azzi's sous chef.

“asparagus, please,” azzi said, nodding toward the bundle of green spears. “trim the ends, then cut them on the bias. and don't make them too thick—”

“i know how you like them,” paige interrupted, that raspy laugh threading through her voice. “damn, some things really don't change.”

she worked with the same focus she brought to everything, tongue pink and peeking as she concentrated. the kitchen filled with the sound of her knife against the cutting board, steady and sure. when the fish was ready—skin crispy and golden, flesh flaking perfectly—azzi plated it like she was styling a magazine shoot. the plates themselves were white ceramic things that felt substantial in their hands, but the food was a dream.

halibut nestled against bright green asparagus, lemon butter pooled golden around the edges, microgreens scattered like confetti. azzi poured the wine into proper glasses, turning the bottle expertly so that nothing dripped and stained.

“jesus, az,” paige said, settling across from her at the small dining table. “this is some fancy shit. anthony bourdois and stuff.”

azzi knew paige knew that man’s name, but she laughed as she was supposed to. and because she found it funny.

“anthony bourdain,” azzi said automatically, but she was smiling.

“my bad,” paige grinned, taking a bite. her eyes went wide, then soft. “oh, this is… fuck. sorry. this is really good.”

azzi preened a little, brown eyes deepening with pleasure. 

“this is perfect,” paige said, her voice gone soft and wondering. “like, for real, az. i forgot how good you are at this.”

“it's not that hard,” azzi replied, but she was practically plump with the compliment. cooking for paige had always been her way of taking care of her, making sure she ate something green, something real. “besides, i remember someone who used to live off protein bars and those horrible energy drinks.”

“aye, don't come for my red bulls,” paige laughed, that low rasp making azzi's stomach flip. “those got me through college.”

“those were gonna give you a heart attack and get you through the icu,” azzi countered, cutting another piece of fish. “i had to do something.”

later, after the dishes were done and the wine was finished, they found themselves back on the deck. the sun was setting, painting everything in shades of coral and gold. the ocean seemed on fire, and though azzi had her book again, she'd given up pretending to read it. paige had put the ipad aside, was just sitting there, looking out at the water.

“i forgot how much i liked this,” paige said suddenly.

“what?”

“this. just… being. not having to be anywhere or do anything or perform for anyone.”

azzi looked at her then, really looked. paige's face was soft in the golden light, younger somehow. free of the particular tension she carried in public, the weight of being watched and measured and judged.

“that’s why you came, right?” azzi asked gently, and paige tilted her head so she could look at her.

“yeah, some of it. just got…tired.”

“yeah,” azzi said quietly. “me too.”

by the time they both came to bed, they knew things were irreparably different. things had been skewed back to the lives they’d led before their separation. the sound of azzi brushing her teeth had become paige's lullaby, the signal that the day was officially over, that she could finally begin to let herself sleep. 

they shared the bed without the careful distance of the first two nights. not touching, exactly, but not actively avoiding it either.  when azzi turned over in her sleep, her hand found paige's arm, and paige didn't pull away. there was a sudden silence, and then azzi felt the bed dip as paige curled around her like a flesh half-moon.

she smelled different. lighter. azzi caught a whiff of l’eau d’issey rising from the nape of paige’s neck: cool, sheer, mineralic. plastic lotus blossoms on a reflective silver pond. it was what paige wore when she wanted to go to bed feeling more like a girl and less like a woman, more like a girl and less like a god.

azzi didn’t even know she remembered what paige wore to bed.

(she did.)

some rhythms, it seemed, were too deep to break.

friday broke bright and new, and with it the bittersweet realization that they had two days left to spend wrapped around one another. that was all they had; two more mornings, two more nights. azzi felt it in her chest like the ghost of a bruise.

she was determined to make the most of it.

she woke early as usual, but forwent her typical routine. her shower came and went, steam curling around her like phantom ribbons. when she stepped out, she was already dressed, wrapped in a sleek, white long-sleeved one-piece that looked more architectural than athletic. the tailored seams tracked elegant, merciless lines down her body. waist cinched, sleeves sharp, legs carved out in clean sweeps of muscle. 

the zipper at the front was undone just enough to draw the eye, resting at the softest dip of her chest, letting the curves of her breasts peek out, intentional and knowing. the fabric caught the light, made her body look even more divine, like she’d stepped from a film still.

paige, sprawled across the bed in a tank top and boxer shorts, nearly choked. her mouth went a little slack; she forgot what she’d been about to say. the brown slope of azzi’s thighs was enough to make her mouth go dry, hunger pooling at the base of her tongue. her blue eyes caught hard on the swell of azzi’s ass when she turned to grab a small blue and white striped canvas tote. paige didn’t even pretend not to look.

azzi turned back around with a slow grin, catching the quick flush that had already started to rise up paige’s neck.

“come on, cool girl. get ready.” her voice was warm, edged with amusement. “we’re going to the beach.”

the walk wasn’t long. just a soft, simple turn around the house and a stroll down the manicured path to the shoreline. still, everything felt momentous. 

the day was already heavy with heat, as if it had been boiling last evening and was now bursting. the beach itself was empty enough that azzi took her sunglasses off, unafraid of being seen. she was barefoot, curls frizzed at the edges, eyes salt-slick and bright with that calm kind of joy that came with being near the sea. there was no one to see her but paige, and that was enough.

behind her, paige followed, bikini black and spare, skin bronzed in uneven patches from too many hours lying out alone before azzi arrived. her tan lines dipped low across her stomach, disappeared under the band of her suit bottoms. she looked ridiculously beautiful. the type of woman you’d see on a postcard and write about ten years later.

azzi glanced back. smiled to herself.

she liked the idea of what they must’ve looked like: her in white, paige in black. a mirrored negative. duality made literal. it was reflective of them. the world often felt singular and simple when they were together. 

things fell into the realm of paige-and-azzi, and what was not simply fell out of it.

“az,” paige called, voice caught between a whine and a wheeze, “can you just tell me what we’re doing?”

azzi turned, lips already tugged upward, curls bouncing as she walked. “i’m going to teach you how to surf.”

paige blinked. “huh?”

azzi didn’t answer, only laughed, light and delighted as she pointed toward the surf shack in the distance.

it took her a few minutes to find the surf shack, but a few minutes later (after minimal bribery and a borrowed id), azzi returned triumphant with two long turquoise boards, balanced easily beneath her arms like they weighed nothing. she guided paige to the water’s edge, where the tide frothed at their ankles, and then further still, until the boards bobbed between them.

paige, of course, was exactly how azzi imagined she’d be: stubborn, impatient, flailing.

“you've got to paddle sooner,” azzi called from the break, wiping salt from her brow. “you keep waiting too long.”

paige coughed, breathless, clinging to the surfboard as if it was going to save her from more than drowning. “you’re literally a professional athlete.”

azzi shrugged, grinning slyly. “so are you.”

the water was warmer than expected, flecked with sunlight and the faint tang of algae. everything felt lush. sticky with summer. a breeze teased through the salt-thick air, carrying the scent of sunscreen, driftwood, crushed shells, and something sweet paige couldn’t place.

eventually, miraculously, paige caught a wave. only for a second. two seconds, maybe. but she was upright, alive in the motion, and azzi screamed so loudly from the shoreline that a gull flapped off in terror.

they laughed all the way back up the dunes, limbs wet and trembling. sand stuck to their shins, towels slung carelessly across their shoulders. azzi’s skin glowed gold in the setting sun, the long light catching every curve and ridge like it was sculpting her from scratch. paige didn’t say a word. she didn’t need to. her silence was reverent. eyes soft, fixed. she couldn’t stop looking.

 she felt too full of azzi to speak.

the house loomed ahead, blue and wide and a little too quiet. another cruel body of water to swallow them. paige felt the day slipping away as they approached it. azzi slipped her hand into paige’s for one beat, warm and solid, before veering off toward the side of the house without a word.

paige didn’t ask where she was going. she already knew.

the outside shower was tucked away in the corner of the deck, half-hidden by slatted wood. the water had already started—a low hiss, steady and rhythmic, a sound that felt older than memory. pine trees rustled overhead, wind threading through the steam like fingers through hair.

azzi’s hum floated up from behind the slats. low, off-key, gentle. paige didn’t recognize the song, but it sat on the tip of her tongue, half-remembered. like something she’d once been told in the dark. something whose sweetness she could only recall if she sucked its juice from azzi’s mouth.

the decision came easily. unthinking. paige stepped off the deck, padded barefoot through the warm grass, and slipped behind the slats.

when paige stepped into the small, steamy alcove, the air shifted. azzi didn’t flinch. she didn’t turn. she just tilted her chin slightly, made room like she’d known paige would come.

the water slid down her back in gleaming sheets, catching the curve of her spine, tracing the indent of her waist, and pooling at the small of it. the soft weight of her curls clung damp to her shoulders, steam turning the ones at her temple’s edge soft and sweet. she was almost too beautiful to look at directly.

paige’s swimsuit slipped off easily. wet fabric gliding down her body, aimless and forgotten on the floorboards. she stepped in closer and pressed against azzi, bare chest to bare back. her arms looped around azzi’s waist, her fingers splaying just beneath the curve of her ribs. skin met skin, warm and wet and so achingly familiar. azzi let her. she didn’t say a word. paige tested her limit, pressed her lips to azzi’s shoulder, slow and reverent, lapped up the remaining salt. 

another kiss. 

then another. 

then another. 

salt caked her mouth. steam smothered her lungs.

“i missed you,” she whispered, deep into azzi’s skin. then again. and again. the words turned desperate, came faster, wet and unyielding like the ocean had turned her loose, and now she couldn’t stop spilling out. “i missed you. i missed you. i missed you.” 

the words were raw, like they had been locked behind her teeth for years and now refused to stay in.

azzi turned slowly, water coursing between them. her eyes swept over paige’s face: pink brow, trembling mouth, eyes glassy and brimming with emotion, cheeks ruddy. her hand came up and cradled the back of paige’s neck, firm and careful.

she didn’t say anything. and then she kissed her.

it wasn’t tender, nor was it gentle. but it was hungry. achingly so, familiar. a crash, more than a meeting. like she was trying to drink paige down, swallow every last second they’d been apart. water ran between them, hot and insistent. their bodies pressed together, slick and unyielding. paige was in her bloodstream, azzi in hers. paige's hands slipped down azzi’s back, found her hips. azzi kissed her like she wanted her ruined, like paige was a prayer and the answer both.

they moved together like muscle memory. like instinct. like nothing had ever come between them except time, and time had finally given up. there had never truly been two people. they had always been this. one thing in two bodies. a pulse shared across years since they were sixteen, and teeming with their first tastes of romantic affection.

the water kept running. the sun began to fall, streaking the sky a torturous red. for that moment, in the warm hush of steam and pine and skin, nothing was lost.

they knew.

they’d always known.

on the last morning, the house was quiet.

the silence felt intentional. the house was stagnant with the dread that always came with goodbyes. the walls had heard enough. the floors seemed to soften their creaks in respect.

azzi stirred first. slipped from the sheets, then stopped. turned back.

she lay herself down gently, stretching across paige’s body like she couldn’t help it. gravity had chosen a different path for her instead. her cheek found paige’s collarbone. the rest of her settled into place, limbs all long and warm and drowsy. for a moment, they didn’t move. but she knew the other woman was awake.

paige ran her fingers along azzi’s spine, slow and steady, tracing the line of a coastline she already knew by heart. the dips, the curves, the familiar tenderness. azzi exhaled. pressed closer. paige kissed the crown of her head. 

once. then again. made no effort to stop her hand from smoothing over the dip of azzi’s back, her waist.

there were no words, no need. just this aching tenderness, the hush of early light slipping across their bodies, and the sound of something unspoken being understood.

when azzi finally moved to leave, she did it slowly. her lips brushed paige’s temple first, then the corner of her mouth, then paused like she might say something, but didn’t. she only looked at her, doe eyes soft and teeth peeking from under her top lip, like i love you lived there and always had.

paige didn’t follow her downstairs. it was easier to listen to the gentle thud of her sandals and the screen door whispering shut. she stayed curled up in the bed, body rocking, still in the ocean from the days before, wearing her sleep tee like a loose shield.

through the blinds, she watched azzi load her things into the back of her cherry land rover. her curls were half-wet again, face bare, sunglasses pushed up in her hair. she looked like a dream you had where you felt the best you ever had, but could never get quite right when relaying it in conversation.

they didn’t need a speech. not this time. nothing had broken. they’d just fallen out of orbit for a while. but gravity was patient. and paige had always been a slow-burn kind of girl.

the car rolled down the drive and disappeared behind a bend of trees.

paige didn’t cry, not really. but her eyes stung in that way that felt inherited. a return of the sadness she'd borrowed from the younger version of herself, that she’d never outrun. she stared at the ceiling. let the ache crest and soften.

then her phone buzzed.

a text, first.

➳ come visit me, please. ➳ missed you so much.

and then the photos: a quiet icloud link drop, an album titled a&p east coast week, filled with images paige hadn’t known were being taken. azzi had been watching. always. 

a blurred photo of them on the dunes, paige snorting with laughter. a shot of their coffee mugs on the deck. a grainy zoom of the low dip of paige’s bikini bottom on their walk back from the surf. a screenshot of a playlist code, a half-assed grocery list. a pale photo of the ocean in the morning. a photo of paige asleep, limbs splayed and face young.

fifteen minutes passed. then paige responded.

no words, just a screenshot of a one-way ticket. lax.

azzi loved it. pink heart, blue bubble, and all.

paige rolled onto her back and closed her eyes, breathing through the salt-heat in her stomach, the stillness of the morning. nothing was solved. nothing had to be. no promises. no titles. just the quiet, sure thing they’d always been.

they’d always come back to each other.

they already had.

somewhere in the distance, the waves kept folding in.

© hcneymooners.

[sweetiepiegress]

Ok I am making a list of the fics that have fundamentally altered how I see myself or the world around me because of the BEAUTY with which these writers write humanity, slice of life, relationships, humor, interaction, and personhood.

Just a list of pieces of writing I really enjoy and appreciation for all of the creativity that makes them happen. Everyone who writes genuinely could be choosing to do something else and I’m so grateful for human creativity and expression, as well as this little corner of the internet we have here.

What are my qualifications? Well I count reading Pazzi fanfiction as doing research on humanity and I like making lists so here we are. GUYS HOW ARE YOU ALL SO GOOD AT WRITING AGGHHHHH. I could go on and on for hours about the amazing and passionate writing that happens on this but here is a list of my current faves, what I’m reading rn, and fics that have supported me.

@peach4pazzi Gardener? I hardly Know Er and Airport Crush. The banter. The settings. The humanity and messiness and awkwardness. I literally feel like I’m there with them in this critical short glimpses of scenes and I LOVE IT. Dear Miss Azzi is also fantastic, these all use very sweet every day settings to immerse the reader and really make you feel like you can romanticize and whimsify your every day life’s plus the way she describes Paige and her clothes is to die for. Effortless!

@hcneymooners Anaktoria (honorable mention for the one about PMDD for reframing how I think about my own mental illness and the romanticism of caring for/being with yourself and others) (I also love the double booked airbnb trope fic she wrote, it is so SO beautiful I just re read the other night night because the ending is so beyond perfectly written) AND as I’m writing this I would like to add that Pink Noise which is her influencer!Azzi x baller! P fic is so so cute (and also feels like it’s in the same ish world of some of my fave Peach fics of being cute and comforting and funny and agh!) AND just to recommend one more, dentition is so gorgeous and sexy and feely and UGH!!! Everything she writes is beautiful, touching, poignant—so so well chosen like seriously how are we coming up with these circumstances. I would love to know how her brain works but all I can say is that her writing has fed me. I genuinely had such a blast when I went on a trip home and just read her stuff all day (the slasher fic definitely stands out too!! A true visionary in this field.) BUT anyway. ANAKTORIA. OMG. I HAVE RE READ SO MANY TIMES. Do I relate??? The holy grail. The way she describes the different settings, making their surroundings and the sensory input feel like an integral part of each characters mind train of thought and feelings. I cannot even explain it or put it into words. She literally changed how I feel about how time self clothes body and expression and ohhhh my god I love it. I’m not even kidding you I have some of the lines memorized. This smut fic has genuinely changed the way I perceive things, myself, me, life. Its my favorite. How does she do that. Inject it.

@wecrytogether the author that brought you recognition and recognition Christmas bonus. I love her depictions of gender, courage, and desire, as well as confidence when it comes to Paige and Azzi. Definitely something I have played with in my own internal monologue and yes I love this rendition of Paige. Wow. (Am I blissfully enjoying my own ideas about what happens at the end of the fics…yes.) She also wrote Greedy which is in my opinions one of if not the most powerful and iconic quintessential work of Pazzi smut on the frickin app (seriously my re reads were…whew.) ALSO all fours was recently dropped (hello Juju Watkins) after a lot of anticipation and it totally lives up to the hype. Just a beautifully descriptive fic (that says so much without saying too much) and at the end of which I am maximally sweetly rooting for the two protags :)

@twostepcherry ASMR FOR SLEEP. Oh my god. Hahaha I love this fic so much. One of the ones I check on updates for the most because I just love the back and forth (can you tell I love back and forth) between each of their seperate lives. So excited for them to intersect but I think the way that their individual selves have been set up is very very sweet, enriching, and relatable so far. Reminds me of peach4pazzi in that I think FRIENDSHIP is written so well in this fic and really given a beautiful spotlight :) I haven’t read dots right now because I’m SAVINGGGG THEM yummmm for later but I’m sure all of their work is gold :) omg and stopgap is so sweet and fluffy and cute and beautiful and dynamics and forgiveness and familiarity m and yay

@girliblue Can I Have this Dance. ENUFF. SAID. I love CIHTD because it deals with these super short chapters that are just gorgeous slices of the same sequence of events, sometimes jumping around in a way that feels sooo realistic. The evolution of their relationship genuinely made me so giddy and again I feel like the character interactions feel so authentic and human and real in a way that just makes everything about the fic feel more romantic and relatable. and there’s a balcony scene for crying out loud. This fic makes the reader relate to Azzi while also rooting for Paige in such a beautifully touching way that just literally makes me feel like I understand my own emotions more.

@graybuckets coastline. Kid fic. Omg. I actually read the two parts of a closeness completely unrelated from eachother and out of order? and my goodness the resolution touched my heart in beautiful ways. I literally re read the ending multiple times because it was just that good. There is so much care given to sensory input, character choice making, and the beautiful complexity of angst that feels so immersive and special. I love it. THE KID FIC HAD ME IN A CHOKE HOLD WHEN IT WAS FIRST COMING OUT (and the entire time it was being updated. You’d best believe I read those chapters twice each if not more. And the smut?? Every author on this list can write smut but these smuts were CREATIVE AND ADVANCING THE PLOT IN SUPER SECRET UNEXPECTED WAYS always a surprise that was so delicious. Omg also this seasonal depression fic is very sweet gorgeous to me AND her standalone smut angsty ish fics are so good

@hiitsme535 father forgive me I am sick BOOK TWO. Holy frick yall book two. Idk something about the way the dynamic between P and A is being written is so rich and yummy and tense and sweet and aghhhh. This one is newer for me because I didn’t follow book one as closely but book two has me. If you like this one, you also might like Devotion by @allfictionallfun which has similar moments of tension and tenderness (with really really nice slice of life and found family energy in a college setting :))

@buffalo1221 Anything buffy writes is beautiful but can you fix a broken heart oh my goodness. First of all I love the Pacific Northwest SECOND OF ALL this fic feels so regular and realistic to me. It truly feels like it takes us through the lives and emotions of a story with these emotions and relationships which I love. And we just got an epilogue! Bonus points for the most mega fun climax chapters ever how do you come up with this stuff? Does it count as slow burn? I just love the scenery that I get from this fic :) NAWW is also such a beautiful masterpiece (I think also set in Seattle? Dubs.) that is unfolding so gradually for us which is really nice. I think it’s a beautiful to take on such a complex, detailed, emotionally nuanced story and I have loved following it so far.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: One that isn’t complete is Better Distractions (also by @twostepcherry) (very very sweet so far and I’m very very invested in the plot)—feels like it has a similar vibe to behind enemy lines (you just gotta read it man) (by Buffy). These fics both do really interesting things with hiding information from you throughout the fics. Similar to CIHTD, they also have have a cool dynamic of push and pull, (are they supposed to be doing this? Moments) COMBINED WITH CLUBBING BABY HELL YEAH. (Clubbing also heavily mentioned in ITTBWYNMTB (the kid fic) by graysen. heck yeah.)

LOOKING DOWN AT YOU LOOKING UP AT ME BY @wecrytogether ALSO is on this similar wave length of tension and compromising situations and self control by utilizing perceived and very real power dynamics in such a cool way. Plus Valks Paige and Azzi?? Say less. (I have also been mega enjoying the Valkzi and Cheffzi fics by @the1975-10 ugh these fics are all so linked for me 💗🫶 keep writing about the club yall I love it.

Last honorable mention goes for the love island au by @azzibueckers5 it is genuinely so good so juicy full of information and little jokes that are so real and so hilarious BUT IT IS ONLY ONE CHAPTER FOR NOW SO ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN PEOPLE…the knee thing. ENOUGH SAIDDDD. Such a fun fic.

LAST LAST HONORABLE MENTION GOES TO HONEWORK AND HEAVY EYE. @pboogersworld I have a playlist with the name of this fic in the details because of how it makes me feel. I wanted to make a playlist that made me feel like reading this fic makes me feel and overlay that on my visions for the summer. Hence, the playlist, which I’ve listened to in the car many a time. I think a fic with a vibe powerful enough to geniunely mesh with the vibes of an ENTIRE SUMMER should is just…chefs kiss.

FOR CONTEXT I have been reading Pazzi fics literally all summer since graduating. I feel like reading romance helps me a lot because it helps me get a better understanding of how interact with my sense of self and the world around me. These fics write describe and romanticize life in a way that is so so special to me and have genuinely rewired my brain! I think this fandom is so full of beautiful creative humans, so this is also only the tip of the iceberg and I’m sure all of these creative humans will continue to write and create and be in other beautiful ways. This is just a small shoutout and appreciation of their material so far.

Also! I hope it’s obvious but this list is not meant to be divisive or deprecating to anyone at all. This is just a list of some of my personal favorites, and we all like different things. It has been fun to highlight what I like enjoy and resonate with across different fics, especially as it relates to my own perception and my own practice of writing. I’m very grateful we have such a special engaged community of people who love these humans and either, truly so grateful to be Pazzi fc :)

[paigemywife]

just saw this on insta

[nicky35]

that 💗 is as consistent as azzi's shot

[azzifudd]

[pazziville]

azzi found her home at 15.

paige found her home at 16.

life truly is unfair for the rest of us. 😭😭😭😭

[pazzistories]

we need our three point princess 🥹🥹

[pazzistories]

jon said azzi and her fam are going to NY tomorrow???

maybe a new ad is coming out☺️☺️🥳🥳

edit: why is a troll using what i just said 😭

[izzy535]

When The Lines Blur

pairing- uconn volleyball azzi, uconn wbb paige

warnings- sexual content, men dni, minors dni, switch!azzi switch!paige, mommy kink, fingering (both receiving) oral (paige receiving), denied orgasm

description- azzi fudd has never been a fan of paige bueckers. as a volleyball player at uconn, she’s learned to stay in her own lane and avoid the basketball star whenever she can. but when azzi ends up at a party with paige, avoiding the hot blonde suddenly becomes a lot harder.

note- i hope you guys like this i’ve never wrote a fanfic before so this is terrible. please give feedback and tell me if yall like it! <3 have fun reading! also this wasn’t proofread and lowkey rushed so there’s probably a lot of errors so i apologize

—

Azzi Fudd wasn’t sure why she hated Paige Bueckers. Maybe it was her cocky personality, or maybe it was the way everyone on campus loathed over her. Azzi didn’t know. She didn’t even have a real reason to hate the blonde—considering the fact that they’ve hardly ever spoke to eachother. But despite that, Azzi can’t help but dislike her.

Now, It was absolutely no secret that Paige was disgustingly attractive. Even someone like Azzi could admit that. Her effortlessly perfect blonde hair and her blue eyes that were so easy to get lost in made her beautiful in every way. Azzi had always admired the blonde..though she would never admit that.

“Az, you have to come with me and Brynn to this party tonight,” Colleen says as her and Azzi help take down the nets after practice. “I can’t go with just Brynn, she’s gonna get drunk and leave me for some guy. You know how she is.” Azzi rolls her eyes. She really didn’t feel like partying tonight. She had plans of sitting in her pajamas, and eating takeout while watching Gilmore Girls after this. But Colleen wasn’t wrong.

While Azzi loved and adored her teammate Brynn, she is known for not being the best to party with. Azzi would simply be a bad friend to leave poor Colleen all alone with her. Azzi sighs, “Fine.” Colleen smiles widely, almost dropping the pole her and Azzi are carrying. “Thank you!, thank you!, thank you!” she beams. Azzi smiles despite herself.

The party was absolutely crowded. As soon as Azzi stepped into the crowd she instantly wanted to go home. It smelled faintly like sweat and vodka, and Azzi really wishes she would’ve made up a stupid excuse and told Colleen no. She takes a deep breath as Colleen and Brynn lead her to the drinks in the kitchen.

Azzi watches as Brynn and Colleen take shots. She didnt want to get drunk tonight. She had come strictly for Colleen’s sake. She had a private lesson with coach early in the morning tomorrow, and Azzi knew if she drank she would be too hungover to function—essentially leading to coach yelling at her and making her run.

“Azzi come on don’t be lameee! just take one shot.” Brynn mumbles, already stumbling over her words. She tries to push a shot glass towards Azzi, but Azzi simply pushes it back. “I’m not lame,” Azzi shoots back, glaring at Brynn. Brynn rolls her eyes and smiles “Sure you aren’t.” Azzi huffs out a breath, “I’m not! heaven forbid i don’t wanna get drunk for once.”

Brynn says something back but Azzi doesn’t hear it. Her focus is entirely on something else. Someone else. Paige Bueckers. Of fucking course she was here, Azzi thought. Paige had her hair slicked back into a tight bun, she was wearing a basic white shirt and jeans.

How can she make a simple outfit look so fucking hot? Azzi wonders. She hates the way her eyes linger onto Paige’s biceps. Get a grip, she tells herself. You don’t even like her. She closes her eyes and takes a breath. She must be ovulating or something because why on earth is she checking Paige fucking Bueckers out?

“Azzi? Hello? Are you even listening.” Colleen’s voice snaps Azzi out of her trance. She looks away from the blonde and puts her eyes onto her bestfriend. “Sorry..what were you guys saying?..” Azzi mumbles. Colleen smirks “What’s got you so distracted huh?” Azzi glares at her, “Nothing! i was just like zoned out.” Brynn and Colleen exchange a look. “Are you sure you weren’t looking at the 6’0 blonde with blue eyes who is currently staring at you?” Azzis breath hitches as she looks over— and sure enough, Paige was infact staring at her with an unreadable expression. Azzi quickly looks away—breaking the eye contact.

Her heart does a weird jump thing that’s so unfamiliar. Colleen and Brynn both begin to laugh, “I thought you hated her, no?” Colleen points out. “I do hate her!” Azzi groans. She knows what the two girls are implying, and she doesn’t like it. “Well it sure seems like…” Brynn stops talking and exchanges yet another look with Colleen before they both smile again. Azzi doesn’t know why they keep looking at eachother like that. But she does know that it’s starting to annoy her. “Nevermind that…me and Colleen will be right back!” Brynn finishes as her and Colleen run away stumbling. “Wha-” Azzi starts but she’s cut off when she suddenly feels someone tapping the back of her shoulder. She turns around, and to her surprise—Paige.

She sighs “What do you want.” Azzi grumbles. Paige smirks, “Don’t be so rude, princess. Just wanna talk to you.” Azzi wants to wipe that stupid smirk off of her pretty face. “Well i don’t wanna talk to you.” Paige doesn’t stop smirking. “Yeah? That right? Why not princess?” Azzi rolls her eyes as Paige takes a step closer. “Do you call every girl you flirt with princess? Or is it just me?” Azzi pressed instead of answering the question.

Paige sighs, taking note at how stubborn the girl is. “I don’t flirt with other girls mama, they flirt with me. And they definitely don’t get called princess.” Azzi stays silent for a beat. The way Paige is looking at her is too much for her. Why is Paige Bueckers looking at her like this? And why does she like it? The thoughts linger in Azzis mind. Paige brushes a curl out of Azzis face. “Your friends left you all alone ma, you should jus’ stay with me.” Paige mumbles. Azzi catches the way that Paige almost looks nervous. “I can find them. I’m sure they aren’t far.” Azzi replies as she looks away, the eye contact becoming too intense.

Paige puts her hand on Azzis chin, gently forcing her to look back at the blonde. Paige’s voice is barely above a whisper when she speaks, “Please jus’ stay with me tonight.” Azzis breath hitches slightly, “Why do you want to talk to me so bad?” she mumbles. Paige never let her hand drop from Azzis chin. “Just want you Azzi.” Azzi takes a breath, “Why? We’ve barely even spoke before. And I don’t even like you.” Paige drags her hand off of Azzis chin and brings both hands to her waist. “I can change that, princess.” Azzis breath hitches as the feeling of Paiges hands on her waist makes her heart flutter. Paige smirks at the sound of Azzis breath hitching and she pulls the brunette closer. “Let’s get out of here yeah? You wanna go back to mine?” And Azzi, despite herself. Despite her always claiming to hate Paige. She nods—hesitantly. “Thought so baby.”

The very second that the two get to Paige’s dorm, Paige shuts the door behind her and pulls Azzi in by the waist. Azzis hands go to Paige’s neck as Paige doesn’t hesitate to lean in and kiss the younger girl beneath her. Paige groans at the taste of Azzi as the kiss becomes frantic. Paige bites down on Azzis lip. Azzi lets out a broken whine and the noise hits Paige in her core. Desperate to hear those sounds again, Paige breaks the kiss and goes to Azzis neck. She sucks gently, leaving faint marks as Azzi whimpers.

Once they finally make it to the bedroom, Paige is guiding Azzi by her waist to the bed. “Sit f’me mama okay? Gonna make you feel so good princess.” Azzi obeys immediately, sitting down on the edge of the bed. Paige steps between her legs, she cups Azzis face as she looks down and stares at the girl in such an intimate way that it makes Azzis heart race.

Paige tugs at the hem of Azzis top, “Can i please take this off ma? Wanna see you so bad.” Azzi nods and Paige tugs her top off leaving Azzi in a black lacy bra. Paige’s breath hitches at the sight. “Fuck baby,” she breathes out. She doesn’t touch yet and It doesn’t take long before Paiges hands go to Azzis skirt, “These too? Please baby I need to see.” Azzi nods again noting at how eager Paige sounds, Paige quickly pulls the skirt down, revealing the matching lace underwear that Azzi has on that leaves little to the imagination.

“Shit” is all Paige can manage to get out. She admires the girl beneath her. Her eyes trailing all over her body. “You’re so fucking perfect it hurts.” Paige mumbles before she leans down hungrily and kisses Azzi. Azzi whimpers into the kiss as she grinds down against Paige—seeking any friction.

Paige holds her hips in place, stopping the girl from moving any more, “Uh uh baby. You’re gonna wait and take what I give you. Can you do that? Can you be a good girl f’me?” Azzi nods frantically, “Use your words Azzi.” Paige demands, “I’ll be good,” Azzi whines immediately. “Good girl. Already being so good for me, using your words like I told you too.”

Paiges hands go to the back of Azzis bra, she undoes the clasp quickly, and tosses the fabric somewhere on the floor. She wastes no time taking Azzis underwear off along with her bra, leaving Azzi completely bare. Paiges hands are everywhere, groping her boobs, touching her waist, feeling her abs, everywhere but where Azzi is throbbing.

Azzi lets out a high pitched whine that she even doesn’t recognize, “Please Paige I need it so bad. Please baby” she breathes out, “Aww I know princess. My poor baby is aching for me. You’re being such a good girl waiting for me mama.” Paige coos, she brings her hand down to Azzis cunt, dragging her fingers through her slick.

“Fuck baby you’re soaked. Who’s this for? You this wet for me baby?” Azzi chokes back a moan, her hips involuntarily rocking up, desperate for more friction. “Y-yes, fuck it’s all for you Paige.” She whimpers out, Paige smirks, “Oh but i thought you didn’t like me? Seems like you’ve been lying to yourself huh baby?” Paige starts to rub Azzis clit in maddening circles.

Azzi whines, the pressure giving her some sort of relief but not enough. “B-baby plea-” she’s cut off by Paige whispering into her ear, “I asked you a question didn’t I Azzi?” she takes her hand fully off of Azzis clit, Azzi cries out as the sensation is ripped away from her. “Answer my question, and i promise i’ll fuck you so fucking good princess. You been lying to yourself mama?”

Azzi whines, desperate and needy. “Yes! fuck please Paige I need you!” Azzi whimpers loudly as Paige finally pushes two fingers inside her. “There’s my good girl.” Paige groans out as she pumps her fingers into Azzi. The sounds coming out of the girl beneath her make Paige feral, encouraging her to go faster. She rubs Azzis clit with her thumb as she picks up the pace in her fingers.

Azzi cries out loudly, “Fuck Paige!”She moans, the sound of Azzi moaning out Paiges name makes Paige weak. “Yeah, just like that baby. Take me just like that, you’re doing so good princess. You can take it.” Paige goes impossibly faster, despite her fingers aching. “Paige! I’m gonna come fuck!” Azzi cries out, Paige can feel her clenching around her fingers, “Come for me baby, Make a mess all over my fingers ma,” And Azzi does. Her release comes quickly, gushing out fast all over Paiges fingers. Paige fucks her through it until she’s too sensitive.

She takes her hands out of Azzis cunt slowly, bringing her hands to Azzis mouth, “Open,” Paige demands softly, Azzi takes Paige’s fingers in her mouth, sucking and licking gently with eye contact as she tastes herself. Paige watches as Azzi sucks on her fingers untill they are clean. Paige takes her fingers out of Azzis mouth and kisses her. Paige can taste Azzis come on Azzis lips and groans at the taste. She pulls back, “You taste so good. You did so good for me baby.” she praises as she brings Azzis head to her chest, cradling her tightly.

She positions both of them so they are lying on the bed together. Paige kisses her forehead—ignoring the aching pain between her legs. She was throbbing but didn’t want to ask too much of Azzi, assuming she was rightfully tired. But after coming down from her high, Azzi sits up, she sits on Paiges lap so she’s straddling Paige’s thighs. She cups Paige’s face as she speaks, “Wanna make you feel good P,” Paige’s breath audibly hitches, Azzi smirks as she leans down to kiss the girl beneath her. Paige whimpers into the kiss, her hands roaming to Azzis ass to pull Azzi down to grind onto her.

Azzi smiles into the kiss as she grinds softly, the friction makes an involuntary whine pull out of Paige. It was high pitched and unfamiliar to the blonde. Azzi breaks the kiss and starts sucking on Paige’s neck, Paige whimpers and rocks her hips up. Azzi pulls back, “So needy for me huh?” she whispers with a smirk as she pulls Paiges shirt off, revealing a black nike sports bra, and abs that Azzi could spend all day looking at.

She traces her hands over the girls abs before bringing them lower to Paige’s jeans, she looks up at Paige for confirmation, Paige nods frantically and desperate. Not hesitating for a second. Azzi unbuttons her jeans and tugs them off of her, leaving Paige in her boxers. Azzis eyes latch onto the very visible wet spot on the girls boxers. She rubs her hands over the spot, watching as Paiges mouth opens at the feeling.

“So wet baby, look at you, all wet and worked up for me.” Paige whimpers loud as Azzi rubs a bit faster, “You like that Paige?” Azzi teases, the girl nods, her hips grinding up, looking for more. “Fuck baby feels so good! need more!” Paige cries out, “Aw my sweet girl, i’ll give you more just wait baby.” Azzi replies, watching as Paige’s breath gets heavier. Once Azzi feels like she’s teased her enough, she starts to take Paige’s boxers off, Paige’s breath hitches in excitement.

Once the boxers are off, Azzi starts rubbing Paige’s clit hard, not with enough force to hurt, but enough to jerk a sob out of the girl, “Fuck! Just like that Az!” Paige cries out, Azzi adds in two fingers, watching the way Paige sobs at the feeling. “A-Azzi! fuck! feels so good, can i..can i call you mommy please Az,” Azzi smirks at the blondes words, “Yeah baby. You can call me mommy.”

Azzi picks up her pace, watching as the blonde falls apart beneath her. Paige whimpers loud, probably loud enough that everyone in the dorm complex can hear. “Just like that Paige, you’re gonna let the whole campus know who you belong to if you keep being that loud baby.”

Paige responds with a broken high pitched whine, her back arching off the bed as she continues to whimper loudly. “Mommy! I’m so close! Please!” She babbles, so close to finishing, but Azzi takes her fingers out completely, and stops rubbing her clit. Paige sobs in frustration, her pleasure being ripped away from her, “W-Why! Mommy please i need it, I was so close!” She cries out

“Aww i know angel im sorry.” Azzi coos, “But I didn’t want you to come yet so i stopped. What are you gonna do about it?” She adds on, tears start to fall from Paiges eyes from frustration. “N-nothing, mommy.” Paige sobs out. “Exactly” Azzi breathes. She presses a tender kiss to Paige’s cheek, “I’m gonna eat you out now okay baby? and if your good you can come.” Paige nods excitedly, her hips rocking at the thought.

Azzi positions her head between the girls thighs, she licks a teasing stripe up Paiges cunt, making paige whine. She starts to suck on the girls clit, “M-Mommy Hmph,” Paige moans out, Azzi starts to fuck into Paige with her tounge, And it doesn’t take long before Paige is on the verge of release. “Mommy please! Please can i come i was so good Mommy!” Azzi doesn’t answer for a beat, “Hold it” she mumbles out, Paige sobs, “I-I can’t mommy please!” she whines, “Yes you can baby, Hold it.” Azzi replies, fucking into her faster.

The moan that comes out of Paige is loud and sinful. Paige starts shaking, focused on holding her release in. Her abs tighten as the coil in her stomach gets tighter. “Azzi I can’t! Please I can’t! I wanna be good mommy but I can’t hold it anymore!”

Azzi decides that it’s been long enough, “You can come baby, let go.” she mumbles against Paiges core, and before Azzi can even finish the sentence, Paige’s release comes fast. Gushing out of her violently, Paige lets out one final scream. She lays there boneless as Azzi licks her clean. Azzi gives one last kiss to her inner thigh before coming up to hold the girl. She brings Paige to her chest, whispering praise as she holds onto the girl comfortingly. “You did so good angel, my sweet girl.” She mumbles as she kisses Paiges forehead, Paige smiles sweetly as she nuzzles into Azzi. They lay there like that, and Azzi wonders how she could’ve ever hated Paige Bueckers.

[peach4pazzi]

gardener? i hardly know 'er!

paige bueckers x azzi fudd

tags: tiktok influencer au, enemies to lovers, meet cute kinda, stupidity, gardener!paige, baker!azzi

word count: 4k

paige and azzi have each amassed a decent following on tiktok by being utterly incompetent at their chosen niches. when they start an internet rivalry, their fanbases team up to… ship them??? azzi is concerned.

ao3 link

[peach4pazzi]

posted part 2 but im too lazy to make a second post

[azzidefender]

honey bee ꫂ❁

paige bueckers x azzi fudd — 10.9k words

4 times Azzi related to song ‘honey bee’ by olivia rodrigo and 1 time Paige did too.

i don’t know how to explain this, but when i first heard this song. i immediately thought of paige in azzi’s POV. please watch the visualizer’s before reading here : one and two

content warning! : emotional vulnerability, overwhelming feelings, relationship anxiety, fear of loss, hurt/comfort, the feeling of loving someone so deeply and intense it saddens you sometimes, but in the absolute best possible way. happy ending obviously.

anyways, happy reading loves & tell me your thoughts as always 💭💝

—。Presented and written by, azzidefender. (unedited.)

ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶

connenicut, 2022.

— pick me up, walk me home. would you sit and keep me company?

“azzi, what’s gotten into you? you never drink this much.” caroline frowned, quickly reaching over to stop her best friend from taking a sixth shot. she caught the glass in her palm and pulled it out of the curly brunette’s reach, who was already more than drunk, her glazed eyes and unsteady movements making that painfully obvious.

“carolll, give it to me. m’fine, promiseee.” azzi whined, clumsily reaching for the shot in caroline’s outstretched hand. her movements were sluggish and uncoordinated, nearly stumbling into her best friend in the process. unsurprisingly, the older woman didn’t budge, keeping the glass well out of her reach.

“no, you’re not, az. you’re gonna be sick tomorrow if you have another shot. and we have practice. you never drink the night before practice—especially not this much.” caroline frowned, her brows knitting together as she searched her best friend’s face for an explanation. this wasn’t like azzi at all. she was usually the responsible one, always knowing when to let loose and when to call it a night. seeing her this reckless only made her more concerned.

then it clicked.

“is this because of paige?” the older asked carefully.

the moment the name left her lips, azzi froze, the playful haze on her face faltering for just a second.

jackpot.

“what?” the younger scoffed, her brows furrowing as she looked away. “no. why would it be about paige…?” she replied, though the slight pitch in her voice gave her away, making the denial sound far less convincing than she’d hoped.

“azzi.”

“it’s not about paige, carol.”

“well, the only time you drink this much is when you’re either having a bad game, got a bad grade, or had a fight with paige. so which is it? ‘cause i know it’s not the first two.” caroline said, her eyes fixed on the younger, already knowing she was about to hit a nerve.

“we didn’t fight!”

“but it is about her, right?”

azzi fell silent. her breath hitched as she desperately tried to swallow the sob clawing its way up her throat. a tear slipped free before she could stop it, then another. her lips quivered, trembling under the weight of everything she’d been trying so hard to keep inside, but no matter how tightly she pressed them together, the tears kept falling.

caroline’s expression softened instantly. without another word, she opened her arms and pulled the younger into a tight embrace. “oh, baby…” she murmured, rubbing slow circles against azzi’s back as the younger finally let out a quiet, broken sob into her shoulder. “it’s okay, az. shh… it’s okay.”

“i want paige.” was all azzi could manage between broken sobs, the words barely more than a whisper as they dissolved against caroline’s shoulder.

caroline closed her eyes for a moment. she knew exactly what azzi meant. it wasn’t just that she wanted paige there to hold her together. it was the quiet confession hidden beneath those three words. the longing, the ache, the kind of love azzi had spent far too long pretending she didn’t feel for her best friend. and judging by the way she was falling apart now, it was a secret she couldn’t carry much longer.

“i know, sweetie… i know,” caroline soothed, gently carding her fingers through azzi’s hair. “i’ll call her and have her come pick you up right now, okay?”

but once again, azzi shook her head. “no…” she mumbled, her voice cracking. “she’s sleeping, don’t wanna bother her.” another shaky breath escaped her. “she needs her sleep, she was tired today.”

“babe, it’s paige.” caroline let out a small, knowing chuckle, brushing a few curls away from azzi’s damp face. “she probably hasn’t even gone to sleep yet, knowing you’re still at ted’s.” she smiled softly before adding, “did you know she texted every single one of us tonight? told us to keep an eye on you since she couldn’t be here herself. she’s probably gonna kill me, finding out you’re crying.”

that finally coaxed a small, breathy laugh out of azzi. it came through the remnants of her tears, the sound shaky but genuine, as her crying slowly began to subside. caroline smiled at the tiny victory, gently wiping a tear from the younger’s cheek.

“i’ll text her, yeah?” she asked softly.

azzi lifted her head from caroline’s shoulder, her eyes still glossy and swollen from crying, before giving a small, hesitant nod.

caroline : paige come pick ur girl up rn. ASAP.

paige : what happened? is azzi okay?

paige : and why is she not replying to my text.

caroline : azzi’s drunk and

paige : and?

caroline : she’s crying.

paige : otw.

paige : i told you guys to fucking look after her.

caroline : you’ll take that back once you know the reason she’s crying.

paige : how drunk we talkin’?

caroline : five shots, she tried for six. but i stopped her before she could.

paige : jesus, we have practice tomorrow carol.

caroline : just shut up and drive paige, she needs you.

paige : be there in less than 5

caroline : you’ve been driving this whole time??!

azzi was sitting alone on the curb outside when paige finally found her. her knees were pulled tightly to her chest, her chin resting against them as streaks of smeared mascara stained her cheeks. she looked so small, so unlike herself, that paige’s heart sank the moment she saw her.

“hey, baby…” paige called softly.

the younger slowly lifted her head at the sound of the familiar voice. her red, puffy eyes met paige’s, and whatever strength she’d been clinging to disappeared.

“p…” she whispered sadly, lifting her arms without hesitation, silently asking for the comfort she’d been waiting for.

paige didn’t waste a second. instinct took over as she hurried toward her, crouching down before wrapping both arms tightly around the younger, pulling her against her chest as if she could shield her from everything all at once.

“why are you all alone, princess?” paige murmured, one hand rubbing slow circles against azzi’s back while the other cradled the back of her head. “where’s everyone?”

her voice was impossibly gentle, but azzi knew her too well. beneath the tenderness was the unmistakable edge of anger—not directed at her, but at the mere thought that her teammates had left her sitting outside in this state, drunk and crying by herself.

“i told them to go inside when they saw your car pull up.” azzi let out a watery laugh, nestling herself deeper into the blonde’s shoulder. “they looked absolutely mortified to face you.”

paige couldn’t help but smile, letting out a quiet huff of amusement.

“good call.”

they stayed like that for a while, wrapped in the silence neither of them felt the need to fill. paige held her until azzi’s breathing finally evened out, until the sobs had faded into the occasional shaky sniffle.

after a few more minutes, azzi was the one who slowly pulled away, wiping beneath her eyes with the sleeve of paige’s hoodie which the older only reply with a chuckle.

paige didn’t let the distance feel like distance. she simply lowered herself onto the curb beside her, their shoulders brushing as they sat side by side beneath the quiet night.

“you didn’t sleep? you had a long day today…” azzi murmured, resting her forearms over her bent knees as she turned to look at her best friend from the corner of her eye.

paige met her gaze, the corners of her lips lifting into a small, tired smile. “i tried,” she admitted with a quiet shrug. “but i couldn’t, knowing you were still out here.” her smile softened as she gently nudged azzi’s shoulder with her own. “can’t sleep without my cuddle partner.”

azzi smiled sadly, “you’re ridiculous.” and that was exactly why her heart ached.

paige said things like that so casually, as if calling her my cuddle partner was the most normal thing in the world. she’d hold her close, fuss over her, make her feel like the center of her universe… and then neither of them would say the one thing that mattered.

they danced around it so often that somewhere along the way, it had become normal. two people hopelessly in love, pretending there wasn’t anything to confess because neither one was brave enough to risk what they already had.

and azzi was so fucking sick of it.

and paige knew it, because she was sick of it too.

“wanna talk about it, az?”

of course paige already knew what was weighing on her. of course she did.

azzi turned to look at her, her gaze quietly sinking into the crystal blue eyes she’d been hopelessly fond of since she was fifteen. for a long moment, neither of them spoke. the silence wasn’t awkward, it never was with them.

paige simply waited, patiently.

which was almost laughable, considering patience had never been one of paige’s virtues. she’d always been impulsive, restless, eager. yet somehow, when it came to azzi, she could wait forever if that was what the younger needed.

if that wasn’t enough to tell azzi what she already meant to her, she didn’t know what was.

“tomorrow, p?” azzi finally whispered, her voice barely audible. “when i’m sober.” she swallowed, nerves twisting in her stomach. “promise me… we’ll talk about it?”

there was fear in her eyes—not because she doubted paige would stay, but because she knew that conversation had the power to change everything.

paige didn’t hesitate. “okay.” she nodded gently, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “i promise, baby.”

and just like that, azzi’s heart was hopelessly gone all over again. not that she’d ever had much of it left to begin with.

“ready to go home, princess?” paige asked softly as she rose to her feet, holding out a hand for the younger.

azzi looked up at her.

you’re my home.

the words sat on the tip of her tongue, begging to be spoken, but she swallowed them down before they ever had the chance, maybe tomorrow.

no, she knows it’ll be tomorrow.

“can we take a walk?” she asked instead, slipping her hand into paige’s with a small, tired smile.

paige’s brows immediately pinched together. “you’re drunk, az. can you even walk?” the concern in her voice was impossible to miss. she looked her over like she was already calculating how many times she’d have to catch her before they made it ten feet.

she really should’ve said no.

but this was azzi.

and paige had never quite figured out how to deny her anything.

letting out a defeated sigh, she intertwined their fingers a little tighter. “okay,” she relented. “but the second you can’t hold yourself up for more than three seconds, i’m giving you a piggyback ride. no arguments.”

azzi’s nose scrunched as a soft giggle escaped her.

“deal.”

ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶

connenicut, 2025.

— shooting stars, racing cars, everything i own just feel like ours.

“babe, can you hand me the tape?” the older asked, holding out her hand without looking up from the box she was sealing. across from her, the younger leaned her weight against another cardboard box overflowing with shoes, keeping the flaps shut. this was already the third box dedicated solely to the blonde’s footwear.

“babe?”

“…”

“azzi.”

“huh?” the brunette finally snapped out of her thoughts, turning her head just enough to look at her girlfriend. a faint crease formed between her brows as she blinked. what?

“the tape, az.” paige tipped her chin toward the roll of duct tape lying on the floor beside her, her outstretched hand still hovering expectantly.

“oh, right. sorry.” azzi murmured, quickly reaching down to pick up the roll before placing it into the older woman’s waiting hand.

“what’s with you? you’ve been spacing out a lot today, baby.” paige asked as she pulled a strip of tape across the box, pressing it down even though the cardboard was already bulging at the seams. it was holding together by sheer determination.

when no answer came, she let out a quiet sigh and pushed herself to her feet. brushing the dust from her palms with a couple of light claps, she walked over until she was standing directly in front of her girlfriend, searching her face for whatever had her so lost in thought.

paige followed the brunette’s gaze until it landed on the polaroid board pinned to the wall, one they had put together the year before. after a moment, she realized exactly which photo azzi had been staring at.

“we were so young there...” azzi finally murmured.

she was talking about the picture from her freshman year, when paige was a sophomore. taken during azzi’s very first month at uconn, long before they were girlfriends. but they most definitely had already developed feelings for each other, they were just too dumb and scared to commit to it. and that’s okay, they took their time.

and here they were now.

about to face distance all over again, except this time they weren’t just best friends. that had already been hard enough when paige left for college first, learning to be there for each other through phone calls, late night facetimes, and countdowns until the next visit.

now they were lovers.

and paige was about to be ripped away from her, all the way to dallas, fucking texas.

it wasn’t just a few hours down the road anymore. it was a different life, a different schedule, a different league. the kind of distance that couldn’t be fixed with a spontaneous drive or an afternoon together.

azzi wasn’t scared of falling out of love.

no. not with paige, never.

she was scared of missing the other. she already missed paige and the blonde was still right there, standing only a few feet away from her. close enough to reach out and touch, close enough to kiss, yet somehow already beginning to feel like someone she’d have to ache for.

ridiculous, isn’t it? she felt ridiculous.

“yeah, you were such a baby here,” paige chuckled, stepping closer to the polaroid board. her fingertips brushed gently over the faded picture, a smile tugging at her lips. “you still had your baby fat.” she laughed softly. “look at those cheeks, they were so squishy and cute”

that earned a scrunch of azzi’s nose. “so, i’m not cute anymore?” she pouted.

paige looked down at her, immediately shaking her head with an amused smile. she stepped into the brunette’s space before crouching slightly so they were eye level.

“nah,” she said softly. “still cute.” a smug grin slowly spread across her face. “just add extremely hot, smart and sexy to the list.” she reached up to cup azzi’s cheek, her thumb brushing gently across her skin.

“you’re unbelievable.” azzi scoffed through a smile, unable to hide the warmth creeping onto her face. she shoved paige away with one hand, though not nearly hard enough to create any real distance between them.

“what?” paige asked, a crooked smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she lifted a shoulder in an innocent shrug. “am i wrong?”

god, azzi loved that lopsided smile of hers. it always felt like it was reserved just for her.

she rolled her eyes, though the fond smile threatening to break across her face gave her away.“no,” she admitted with all the sass she could muster, tapping the older’s cheek softly. “not wrong.”

before paige could get another word in, azzi leaned forward and stole a quick peck from her lips. using paige’s shoulders to steady herself, she pushed herself back to her feet. “c’mon, we still got a lot to pack.”

paige, meanwhile, simply stared up at her like an absolute idiot, all wide eyes and hopeless heart eyes, as if that tiny kiss had completely short-circuited her brain.

another few hours passed. a handful of their teammates had stopped by throughout the afternoon to help paige pack, but by the time the clock crept past nine, most of them had already left.

neither of them had the energy to cook. though, truthfully, they never really did—so they settled on ordering doordash instead. now they sat side by side at the kitchen counter, quietly picking away at their cava bowls, the silence between them easy and familiar.

it wasn’t until azzi’s eyes wandered toward the dorm’s living room that she finally spoke. “what are we gonna do with that?” she nodded toward the shelf lined with paige’s lego sets.

at one point, the blonde had been completely obsessed with building them, which explained why there were so many. some she’d built just for herself, others she’d made with azzi in mind.

azzi’s gaze settled on the bouquet of roses. the very first lego set paige had ever given her.

it had been for their first anniversary. paige had insisted it would make the perfect date night, they’d build it together, then put it on display.

instead, paige had ended up building nearly the entire thing herself while azzi sat comfortably in her lap, providing what she proudly called moral support.

every time paige reached for a new piece, azzi somehow became a little more distracting, resting her head on paige’s shoulder, stealing kisses against her jaw, asking a million questions, and ultimately contributing absolutely nothing to the construction process.

“there were way too many instructions,” azzi had defended herself afterward. paige had only laughed, kissed her forehead, and told her she was lucky she was cute.

then her eyes drifted to her favorite one,

the frozen castle.

the memory came rushing back almost instantly. she’d had an absolutely miserable day. everything had gone wrong, and all she’d wanted was to curl up in bed with paige and pretend the world didn’t exist. instead, paige had disappeared with the team, leaving azzi convinced her girlfriend would rather spend the evening with everyone else than comfort her.

she’d been so mad.

right up until paige walked back through the door.

her arms were overflowing with azzi’s favorite snacks, a ridiculously soft blanket she’d insisted “felt like hugging a cloud” and tucked carefully beneath everything else, the frozen lego set.

only then did azzi find out paige hadn’t gone out to ditch her at all. she’d dragged their teammates around target because she needed help finding everything that might make azzi smile again.

frozen had always been azzi’s ultimate comfort movie. that, and moana (which paige also bought and built for her, after this one) she’d watched it well over a hundred times, and paige had probably been there for at least half of those viewings.

every single time, paige would groan dramatically.“azzi, at this point i’m gonna remember the whole darn script.” and every single time, she’d end up singing every song anyway, grumbling about how much she hated han’s guts.

that night had been no different.

after laying out the snacks and wrapping the blanket around azzi’s shoulders, paige held up the lego box with the biggest grin on her face.

“i’m gonna build this for you.”

azzi remembered staring at her girlfriend, convinced she’d never heard anything so ridiculously and stupidly attractive.

she hadn’t dared say it out loud, though. paige’s ego was already insufferable enough. if she found out azzi was thinking things like that, her head would grow three times bigger than it already was.

instead, she’d smiled so hard her cheeks hurt, watched paige spend the next few hours carefully piecing the castle together, and when it was finally finished, azzi rewarded her with kisses all over her face while declaring it her favorite lego set in the world.

paige had tried to play it cool, but the blush creeping up her neck had given her away. she’d accepted every kiss with a sheepish smile, pretending they weren’t exactly what she’d been hoping for all along.

paige glanced over at the shelf lined with what had to be at least fifteen of her lego sets. there were even more scattered around her room.

she grimaced. “i think i’m gonna leave most of these with jana and kk,” she said. “i built a lot of ‘em with those two anyway. my apartment in dallas definitely isn’t gonna fit all of this.”

she took another bite of her cava bowl before pointing her fork toward azzi. “bht yso hsve to—”

“swallow before you speak, p.”

paige obediently chewed and swallowed, rolling her eyes for dramatic effect. “but you, missy,” she continued, pointing her fork at azzi again, “have to take the ones i built for you back to your dorm. you’ve been procrastinating for months az.”

azzi sulked. “yeah, because i’ve basically been living in your dorm. i’m barely ever at mine.”

paige’s eyes narrowed, her lips flattening into a knowing line. “i think you’re just too lazy to carry them over, babe.” azzi opened her mouth to protest, but paige beat her to it.

“‘sides,” she said, her voice turning absentmindedly casual as she scooped up another bite, “i won’t be here anymore. i want you to have something that reminds you of me.”

…

the words landed far heavier than paige intended.

the knot in azzi’s throat returned so suddenly it caught her off guard. she stared down at her half finished bowl, absentmindedly nudging the rice around with her fork as silence settled between them.

finally, barely above a whisper, she said,

“…but i always remember you.”

it was true. there was never more than a day—hell, not even an hour that went by without azzi thinking about paige.

paige was constant in her mind.

if azzi felt lonely, she looked for paige to keep her company. though more often than not, paige would find her first, barging into her room or wherever she was, just to annoy her before eventually making her laugh.

if she was angry, she looked for paige to calm her down. if she was sad, she looked for paige to hold her until the feeling passed.

if she was sleepy, she looked for paige because somehow sleep always came easier tangled up in the blonde’s arms.

paige.

paigepaigepaige.

her name occupied through every corner of azzi’s mind as naturally as breathing. other than basketball and her family, there was no one else who occupied her heart the way paige did.

not since she’d met paige at fourteen.

and certainly not after her feelings had rooted themselves so deeply inside her. so impossibly, painfully deep that the mere thought of learning to live without paige made her feel sick.

paige was going to be halfway across the country.

she wouldn’t be here anymore. not to hold her. not to annoy her. not to love—

“azzi.”

the brunette blinked, pulled from the spiral of her thoughts, again. when she looked up, paige had already turned on her stool to face her completely, her half eaten dinner forgotten.

one of paige’s hands was gently wrapped around her own. azzi didn’t even remember when the older had placed it there.

“hey, hey. i know that, baby.” paige’s voice softened, her thumb gently stroking the back of azzi’s hand. “i was just teasing you. ‘m sorry if that came out wrong.”

azzi’s gaze dropped to their intertwined hands. she let herself linger there for a few seconds… savoring the feeling.

soon, it’ll be gone.

finally, she looked back up at paige and forced the smallest smile, trying her best to make it seem like she was only mildly annoyed.

“well,” she muttered with a half-hearted glare, “it wasn’t funny p.”

thankfully, paige accepted it without a second thought. she laughed, squeezing azzi’s hand one last time before turning back to her cava bowl.

“i know you’ll never forget about me, princess.” she said between bites. “‘m never gonna let you anyway. i’ll haunt you down if i have to, so you better start answering your phone.”

she pointed her fork at azzi again, for emphasis.

“seriously, az.”

azzi rolled her eyes, with a small “i will.” earning a satisfied grin from paige, and the two quietly went back to eating.

i’ll never let myself do that to you anyway, azzi thought to herself.

or me.

and nine months later?

in the bitter, freezing january winter of connecticut, azzi had stayed true to her word.

the frozen lego set still sat on the shelf above her desk, exactly where she’d placed it months ago, when paige had left.

on the opposite wall hung the pink american flag with her paige’s face printed right across the middle of it. a fan had brought it to one of their games.

before they’d gone public with their relationship, azzi had jokingly asked the fan if she could keep it while she was busy signing it.

she hadn’t expected the fan to actually hand it over. now it hung where azzi could see it every day, her girlfriend’s face staring back at her from the wall.

wrapped in one of paige’s old hoodies that had long since lost her scent, azzi lay flat on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling with her phone resting against her chest.

three missed calls.

all from her pinned contact.

p 💗

paige was probably busy with unrivaled now.

it’s fine.

azzi repeated those two words to herself like a mantra, over and over again, hoping that if she said them enough times, she’d finally believe them.

she huffed, her thumb hovering over the screen before opening their message thread.

i miss you.

she typed the three words.

then, she just… stared at them.

delete.

with a defeated sigh, azzi tossed her phone onto the bed beside her and let her arm fall limp at her side.

her eyes drifted to the chipped, aging paint on the ceiling of her dorm room, again. tracing the cracks absentmindedly as silence settled over the space once again. it was once the two of them… laying here together.

after a while, her gaze wandered back to her shelf once again. to the frozen castle. and the tiny olaf standing faithfully in front of it.

do you miss me too?

ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶

dallas, texas 2026.

— in the dark, i’m not scared. i just reach and you’re right there

“azzi fudd the worst number one pick in wnba history.”

“how olivia miles should’ve went number one instead of azzi fudd.”

“azzi fudd going number one has to do with her relationship with her former teammate and romantic partner paige bueckers.”

“azzi fudd starts her wnba career off the bench.”

“a number one pick averaging less than 8 fg attempts, is azzi fudd really worthy the number one pick?”

“worst number one pick rookie debut in wnba history, only scoring 3pts.”

those were just some of the headlines that had managed to flood the internet in less than two weeks of her wnba career. she knew exactly what people were saying about her—not just criticizing her game, but acting as if they knew her as a person, too.

they called her undeserving of being selected first overall, as though she had somehow made the decision herself, when in reality, she had never been given a choice about where, or in what order, her name would be called on draft night.

people think she doesn’t know, simply because she isn’t online as much. but that doesn’t mean she’s unaware. if anything, she’s painfully aware.

she’d seen enough. heard enough.

it would be a lie to say it didn’t sting. not because she believed them, but because their words echoed a version of herself she’d worked so hard to leave behind.

the version of azzi that sat in rehab after tearing her acl, wondering if she’d ever make it back. the one who questioned whether she’d ever be the same player again. whether she’d still be good enough when it was all over.

those doubts had lived in her once, hearing strangers repeat them now was enough to remind her of what that felt like. usually, she was composed. and after her last season at uconn, she gained a good amount of her confidence back.

she’d learned how to keep her head above the noise. the darkest chapter of her life had come years ago, during her injuries. nothing anyone could say online could ever compare to the fear, the uncertainty, and the loneliness she’d carried during those months.

but today, for whatever reason, the words lingered a little longer than they usually did. they found the cracks she’d spent years patching up, whispering the same doubts she’d once buried deep within herself.

“you checked, didn’t you?” paige’s voice cut through the silence, making azzi flinch ever so slightly.

the older woman had just stepped out of the shower, strands of blonde hair still damp, falling into the effortless waves azzi had always adored. leaning against the bathroom doorframe with her arms crossed over her chest. dressed in nothing more than an oversized white t-shirt and a pair of boxers. her expression gentle but knowing.

she didn’t need an answer.

the look on azzi’s face had already told her everything.

“i told you not to, az.” paige said quietly, her voice carrying more concern than disappointment. the blonde made her way over to the bed, where azzi was resting against the headboard.

azzi looked, not because she meant to, but because she simply couldn’t help it.

it had been like this ever since she’d arrived. her eyes were always finding paige, stealing lingering glances whenever she wasn’t looking. though, if she was being honest, paige wasn’t much different. she’d caught her doing the exact same thing more times than she could count.

sometimes, it still left her a little lightheaded.

two months ago, she hadn’t known where she’d end up. she hadn’t known what the future held, or if life would somehow find a way to bring her back to the person she’d always called home.

yet here she was. back in paige’s arms, no longer separated by hundreds of miles. the odds of that still felt unbelievable, like the universe tied them back to each other.

paige had changed. not in a bad way, never in a bad way.

she’d grown in all the ways time was supposed to change a person, and a small part of azzi couldn’t help but mourn the eleven months she’d missed. she’d watched from behind a screen as her girlfriend navigated an entirely new chapter, seeing only glimpses through facetime calls and photos she’d send.

she’d grown stronger, too.

her arms were more toned now, her frame filled out with the strength that came from a year of professional basketball. gone was the impossibly skinny girl azzi used to tease, always afraid she’d accidentally crush her whenever they curled up together.

not that she’d loved her any less back then. if anything, she’d loved every version of paige with her whole heart.

the old, the new, the skinny, the stronger paige.

the one who acted like an overgrown kid, and the one who had become a little wiser after a year that had challenged her in every possible way.

every version of her was still paige. her paige.

and every version of paige, didn’t love her any less.

which sometimes made azzi felt undeserving. she wasn’t sure what she’d done to deserve a love this unwavering from someone who had known her for so long.

“i can handle it,” azzi said softly.

paige sat down beside her on the edge of the bed, one leg folded beneath her as their thighs brushed together. without a word, she reached for azzi’s hand, intertwining their fingers as if it were second nature.

“i know you can, baby,” paige murmured. her gaze dropped to their joined hands, her thumb absentmindedly tracing over azzi’s knuckles. she clenched her jaw, the frustration she was trying so hard to hide flickering across her face.

“‘just hate the way they talk about you.”

azzi gave the blonde’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “i know.”

another silence settled between them, filled only with the absentminded brushing of thumbs and the gentle fidgeting of intertwined fingers.

“…‘m sorry.”

azzi’s brows knitted together in confusion, “sorry for what, p?”

“for people actin’ like they know us.” paige’s eyes stayed fixed on their joined hands. “like they know what we have.” she let out a quiet breath, shaking her head. “and i’m not sayin’ i regret confirming our relationship—god, no. you know i don’t, az.”

she looked up then, meeting azzi’s eyes. “i’d tell the world a thousand times over if i had to.”

another pause. “i just…” she swallowed, her jaw tightening again. “i fuckin’ hate that they belittle everything you’ve worked your ass off for. every injury you came back from, every accolade you earned because you’re fucking amazing.”

her voice cracked with frustration.

“…and then they just write all of it off because you’re my girlfriend.”

paige scoffed bitterly. “like that’s the only reason people should know your name.”

the blonde’s jaw clenched so tightly the muscle twitched. without thinking, azzi reached up, her fingertips gently brushing against paige’s jaw before her thumb slowly stroked over the tense muscle, silently urging her to relax. “as if you didn’t earn every damn thing on your own.”

“they don’t see how much effort you put into taking care of your body to make sure you’re good to play. they don’t see the extra reps after practice. they don’t see how hard you are on yourself every time you think you could’ve played better.”

another bitter laugh escaped her. “they see one game and suddenly they think they’ve got you all figured out.”

paige squeezed azzi’s hand a little tighter, almost without realizing. “and what pisses me off the most is that they act like everything you’ve accomplished somehow stopped mattering the second they knew we were together.”

she paused, trying to collect herself, but the frustration only seemed to grow. “like being my girlfriend is somehow bigger than you being azzi fudd.”

“that’s bullshit.” paige continued. “you’re one of the hardest working people i’ve ever met, az. you’ve spent your whole life earning your place, and now people wanna reduce all of that to who you’re dating?”

she looked back at azzi, her expression softening despite the anger still lingering in her eyes. “i hate it, ma. i hate it so fucking much. because i know how hard you fought for this… and i hate it even more that people make you question it, even for a second.”

it made something inside azzi loosen, seeing paige like this.

it was funny, really. five minutes ago, she’d let complete strangers occupy so much space in her head. she’d let their words linger longer than they deserved.

but now? they didn’t seem nearly as loud.

not nearly as loud as the love the woman sitting across from her had always shown her.

her mind drifted back to april.

final four. the loss still stung whenever she thought about it. they’d fallen short, and as the team’s leader, azzi had carried more of that weight than she’d ever admitted out loud. she remembered walking through the hotel after the game, exhausted in every sense of the word, convinced she’d let everyone down.

their families had been waiting in the lobby, azzi hadn’t wanted to face them. she knew no one blamed her. logically, she knew that. but disappointment had a way of drowning out logic.

when she found paige, who she hadn’t seen in months, the older girl only needed one look to understand.

instead of bringing her toward everyone else, she’d quietly led her outside to the hotel pool, where it was just the two of them. paige hadn’t filled the silence with empty reassurance or tried to convince azzi everything was okay.

she simply opened her arms.

and, just like she had so many times before, azzi walked into them without a second thought.

she remembered standing there for what felt like forever, her face buried against paige’s shoulder while the older girl rubbed slow circles over her back, letting her say everything she needed to say. every frustration, every doubt and every feeling she’d been trying so hard to keep together since the final buzzer.

by the time they’d gone back inside, nothing about the loss had changed. but somehow, it didn’t feel nearly as heavy anymore.

that was what paige did. she never erased the hard parts, she just made sure azzi never had to carry them alone.

a small smile tugged at the corner of azzi’s lips. before paige could ask what had changed, azzi squeezed both of her hands and gently nudged her backward until her back met the headboard.

“az?” paige asked, her brows still furrowed. “what are you doing?” trying to understand why azzi was smiling in the middle of a conversation that had only moments ago left her feeling so angry on her behalf.

instead of answering, the younger swung one leg over paige’s lap before settling comfortably against her, wrapping both arms around the older woman’s shoulders.

paige stiffened for the briefest second, still caught off guard.

“…baby?” the concern in her voice lingered for another heartbeat before she let out a quiet breath, the tension slowly leaving her shoulders. a small, helpless huff of a laugh escaped her nose, once she realized what azzi was doing. “c’mere.”

her arms instinctively found their way around azzi’s waist, pulling her in until there wasn’t an inch of space left between them.

“hi.” paige murmured into her hair.

“hi.”

they stayed like that for a while. azzi rested her cheek against paige’s shoulder, listening to the familiar rhythm of her breathing.

the comments were still out there and the headlines hadn’t disappeared. people would probably keep talking tomorrow. but none of it mattered, not when she was being held like this.

because every time life had managed to shake her confidence— whether it was the acl tear, the final four loss, or now, the beginning of her rookie season. paige had always been there, reminding her who she was before the rest of the world had the chance to tell her otherwise.

and maybe that was enough.

maybe, as long as she had paige… the rest of the world didn’t feel nearly as intimidating.

ྀི︶˚ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶

dallas, texas 2027.

— it’s too hard to describe this, in a way that feels honest. but even when i’m quiet, i love you baby. i promise.

“tell me what’s wrong, az.” paige called after her as they stepped into the apartment.

“nothing.”

“you ignoring me the whole day isn’t nothing.”impatience began to creep into paige’s voice, a slight furrow settling between her brows as she leaned back against the kitchen island, arms folded across her chest.

the younger didn’t answer.

instead, she wandered around the living room, straightening throw pillows that were already perfectly aligned, folding a blanket that didn’t need folding, picking up random things only to put them right back where they’d been. she busied herself with anything she could find, avoiding paige’s eyes as if keeping her hands occupied would somehow keep the conversation from happening.

“bro, just tell me.”

“it’s nothing, paige.”

azzi’s voice came out sharper this time, louder than she’d intended. she kept her back turned, pretending to be engrossed in wiping down an already spotless countertop.

“stop saying it’s nothing.”

“because it is nothing.”

“no, it isn’t.” paige pushed herself off the kitchen island, taking a few slow steps closer. “you’ve barely looked at me all day, you’ve been acting weird since this afternoon, and now you’re practically scrubbing my apartment apart just so you don’t have to talk to me.”

azzi’s shoulders tensed. “drop it, paige.”

azzi heard the blonde let out a slow, measured breath behind her before the quiet sound of footsteps drew closer. without a word, paige gently took the picture frame from azzi’s hands and set it back on the tv stand. then she reached for both of azzi’s hands, carefully turning her until they were face to face.

“baby,” she murmured, her thumbs absentmindedly brushing over azzi’s knuckles. “please… tell me what’s wrong.” her voice was soft now, stripped of the frustration from moments ago.

“don’t wanna’ fight with you.”

azzi’s eyes dropped to where their hands. a quiet, humorless scoff slipped past her lips before she could stop it. the weight of the entire day finally came crashing down.

“oh, so now you want to touch me?”

“…what?” paige’s brows knitted together in puzzlement, her grip loosening ever so slightly. “what are you talking about?”

azzi let out a shaky laugh, one that held no amusement whatsoever.

“now you want to touch me, paige?”

the accusation hung in the air between them, leaving paige completely lost. she searched azzi’s face for some kind of explanation, but all she found was hurt.

“what d’you mean?” paige asked, her brows pinching together even tighter. “have i not touched you all day?” she searched the brunette’s face, completely at a loss.

“we literally had sex this morning, azzi.” nothing about this conversation was making sense to the blonde.

“i’ve been holding your hand, checking on you, trying to get you to talk to me all day.” frustration laced back to her voice, though it was overshadowed by confusion. “i genuinely don’t know where this is coming from.”

“you really don’t know?” azzi asked quietly, her voice almost devoid of emotion as she looked into the disoriented ocean-blue eyes staring back at her.

paige slowly shook her head, “no.”

a bitter smile tugged at the corner of azzi’s lips before disappearing just as quickly. “then i guess…” she swallowed hard. “i’m the only one who’s been bothered by it.” the slight crack in her voice betrayed how hard she’d been trying to keep herself together. paige opened her mouth to respond, but the younger was already pulling her hands free.

“just leave it, paige.” she avoided her gaze as she stepped back. “it doesn’t matter anymore.” the words were meant to sound final, but they landed somewhere closer to defeated. without waiting for a response, azzi turned and headed toward the bedroom.

azzi just wanted the conversation to end.

she already felt ridiculous for letting it get to her in the first place, and having to explain it out loud would only make her feel worse. but, as always, paige refused to let it go.

“how am i supposed to know what’s bothering you if you won’t tell me?” paige called after her. “i can’t always understand what you’re thinking when you shut me out like this!”

her voice echoed down the hallway.

when azzi didn’t answer, whatever patience paige had been clinging to finally snapped. she followed her to the bedroom, pushing the door open with more force than she’d intended. it banged against the wall with a sharp crack.

“i’m trying here,” paige said, exasperation bleeding through every word. “but you’re making it impossible when you won’t let me in.”

“that’s the problem, paige!” azzi shot back, her voice finally breaking. “you’re supposed to know. you’re supposed to be bothered—but you’re not.” she yelled bitterly, blinking hard against the tears threatening to spill. “so… i already have my answer.”

the words hung heavily between them.

azzi’s eyes had gone glassy, her breathing uneven as she tried to hold herself together. they hardly ever fought like this. she could count the number of arguments they’d had on one hand, and every single one had left her feeling like this. small, overwhelmed, and wishing they could just go back to being okay.

she hated fighting with paige.

more than anything, she hated hearing paige raise her voice. it wasn’t that she was afraid of her. it was that the moment paige’s voice rose, it felt like the distance between them did too. and somehow, that shattered her more than she knew how to put into words.

the moment tears welled in azzi’s eyes, paige’s expression cracked.

just seconds ago, frustration had been written all over her face. now, it melted away, replaced by something much harder for azzi to look at.

hurt.

like seeing her cry pained paige just as much. azzi hated that. she hated that no matter how frustrated they got with each other, no matter how loud the argument became, paige could never stand the sight of her crying. the anger was always the first thing to disappear, washed away by concern.

and somehow, that only made the brunette’s chest ache even worst. because if paige cared this much…then, why hadn’t she noticed the one thing that had been breaking azzi’s heart all day?

“…i touched you, baby.” the older said quietly, her voice mirroring azzi’s. soft, hurt, and completely wounded.

“i held your hand walking to the car, in the car, and when we got out. i kissed you before we left—

“i made love to you this morning.”

her bottom lip trembled as she searched azzi’s tear filled eyes for something—anything that would help her understand.

“so please, azzi…” paige whispered, helplessly lifting her hands into the air before letting them fall back to her sides. “tell me what i did wrong.” her voice cracked.

“i just… i wanna’ fix it for you, baby.”

paige hated crying, and azzi knew that more than anyone. she barely cried, because crying, to her, made her feel weak and vulnerable. it made her feel seen.

but now, in front of azzi, all she wanted was to be seen.

“you do it when it’s just us.” the younger finally said, barely above a whisper.

“…what?” confusion returned to the older’s face as her head tilted back slightly.

“you touch me. you hold me. you kiss me.” azzi’s voice remained quiet, but every word landed with devastating clarity. “when it’s just us, paige.”

she held paige’s gaze, watching as the blonde searched her face for answers.

then she saw it.

the moment every scattered piece finally fell into place.

“az…” paige breathed, the confusion disappearing from her face for the first time all night. “you know we can’t—”

“can’t what, paige?” azzi cut her off, her voice suddenly rising. “can’t show each other affection? can’t act like we’re a fucking normal couple?” azzi laughed bitterly, shaking her head as tears blurred her vision.

“you told me during my senior year at uconn, and i agreed because you were starting your rookie season while i still had one year left. then last year, you told me it was because of my rookie season—that we had to prove to everyone we could be professional on the same team.”

she swallowed around the lump in her throat. “and i agreed to that too.” her eyes never left paige’s. “but it’s not like we weren’t together at uconn. people already know we can be professional.” her voice cracked,

“so what now, paige?”

“what’s stopping us now?”

silence.

there it was, the question she had been dreading to ask all day.

and azzi knew this wasn’t entirely fair to paige. she knew every reason paige had ever given her. she knew how important keeping their relationship private was to the blonde.

and don’t get her wrong—azzi had never had a problem with being private. uconn was proof of that. all she was asking for was to stop being treated like they were complete strangers the second other people walked into the room.

“today?” azzi said, her voice trembling. “you dropped my hand the second we walked over to phee and everyone else. you shrugged me off when i tried talking to you during practice. you were scared to even hold me in a fucking club, paige.”

her eyes searched paige’s desperately.

“i’m not asking you to make out with me in public.” she let out a shaky laugh. “i’m just asking you to stop acting like you can’t even touch me.”

“you don’t think i want to…?” the older’s breath hitched as she stared at the younger in disbelief. azzi pressed her lips together, her silence saying enough.

“is that what this is?” paige asked, her voice cracking. “you think i don’t want to touch you? hold you? kiss you in front of everyone?”

she shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. “i do, azzi.” her voice rose despite herself. “trust me, i fucking do.” she chuckled bitterly, wiping at her face with the heel of her hand.

“do you have any idea how hard it is for me? to stop myself from reaching for your hand every time we’re out because i know someone’s going to record us? someone’s going to clip a five-second video of us doing the most normal couple shit, post it online, and suddenly everyone’s dissecting our relationship.”

her chest heaved. “then the psycho parasocial fans are going to watch our every fucking move and twist it into something it’s not.”

“they’re going to watch our every move either way,” azzi fired back, tears spilling over. “we’re private, and they still analyze every interaction we have. they slow down videos, they make edits, they create narratives. there’s no difference.”

“there is a difference, azzi.”

paige’s voice broke. “i don’t want you to be reduced to just my girlfriend. you’ve seen what happened during your rookie season, az.”

azzi’s face crumpled. “i don’t care, paige.” she shook her head through her tears. “i don’t care what they say about me because i know none of it’s true.” her voice dropped to a whisper. “i just… i don’t want to hide anymore.”

“but i care, azzi!” paige shot back, her own tears finally falling. “what kind of partner would i be if i stood there and watched the world discredit everything you’ve worked for? watched people act like your career only exists because you’re dating me?”

she swallowed hard, her voice barely holding together. “i can’t do that to you.” another tear slipped down her cheek.

“i would hate myself for it...”

for a long moment, neither of them spoke. the room was quiet except for their uneven breathing, the remnants of raised voices still lingering between them. azzi stared at the floor, blinking away the tears that refused to stop falling.

and somewhere beneath all the hurt, her heart broke all over again. because she understood.

she understood why paige had done it. she knew every decision had come from love, from wanting to protect her, from wanting the world to see azzi for everything she’d built with her own hands and determination.

azzi knew that.

god, she knew that.

maybe that was the hardest part. because understanding paige didn’t make the hurt go away.

it didn’t stop the ache she felt every single time paige instinctively pulled her hand away. every time she took a step back the second other people walked into the room. every time she became someone azzi couldn’t openly love.

both things could exist at once.

paige was trying to protect her and azzi still felt lonely because of it.

she let out a shaky breath, wiping at her face with the sleeve of her hoodie.

“…i’m sorry.”

paige’s head lifted immediately, “az…”

“i’m sorry i yelled.” her voice was quiet now, exhausted.

she walked over to paige’s bed, reaching for her pillow she’d place here after practically moving in with the blonde since arrived at dallas. she hugged it tightly against her chest before looking back at the older.

“i think…” she swallowed. “i think we both just need tonight.” paige’s expression fell. “what are you talking about?”

“i’ll sleep at my apartment.”

“az…”

the plea in paige’s voice almost broke her, almost.

azzi stepped closer until there was barely any space left between them. she leaned forward, pressing a lingering kiss beside the corner of paige’s lips.

“goodnight, p.”

before the blonde could find the words to stop her, azzi was already walking out the door.

her apartment had never felt so empty.

she curled up beneath the covers without bothering to change, clutching the same pillow she’d carried over. the silence was deafening. every replay of the argument echoed through her mind until she couldn’t tell whether the wetness on her cheeks was from fresh tears or the ones that had never stopped.

she buried her face deeper into the pillow. maybe she’d pushed too hard, maybe paige was right, maybe she was right too.

she didn’t know anymore.

the soft click of her front door opening barely registered. not long after, she felt the familiar weight of the mattress dip behind her. warm arms cautiously wrapped around her waist, as though afraid she’d pull away.

she didn’t.

instead, another sob escaped her. blonde hair disappeared beneath the crease of her shoulder as paige tucked herself against her back, holding her like she was terrified she’d disappear.

“m’sorry…”

her voice was wet. the words came over and over again, each one quieter than the last, broken apart by trembling breaths as she pressed tear-soaked kisses against the back of the younger’s neck.

“i’ll fix it,” paige whispered. “promise. ‘m not gonna hide anymore, if you don’t want to.”

azzi squeezed her eyes shut. her chest throbbed, because that wasn’t what she wanted either, she didn’t want to do anything that paige also didn’t want.

she slowly turned over in paige’s arms until they were finally face to face. “it’s not about anyone else p…”she reached up, cupping paige’s damp cheek.

“it’s about you and me. please… remember that.”

another tear slipped down her face. “i just…” her voice cracked.

“i just want you.”

“i will baby, i will.” paige closed her eyes, leaning into her touch before pressing one more gentle kiss beneath her jaw. “i want you too.”

there was still so much for them to figure out. a shift they would have to face together. but instead of running from it, or hiding behind excuses and fear…they’d face it together.

because azzi knew one thing for certain.

the love paige had for her had always been deeper than any outside noise that ever tried to come between them.

ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶

minnesota, 2028.

— i hope i never see what your face looks like goin’, a face i swear that i could spend my whole life knowing.

“you nervous?” tim laughed as he shoved the black video camera way too close to the blonde’s face.

paige, who had been anxiously staring out the window for what felt like the hundredth time, slowly turned to him with the flattest look she could manage.

“what do you think?” she deadpanned. “‘m about to propose to your daughter.” she raised the palm of her hand, signaling a chop directly at him.

that only made the older man burst into an even louder laugh. it really wasn’t that funny. still, paige couldn’t stop the smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

there was never a dull day with the fudd family. which she’d hope to be her family too, very soon.

“where is she?” she muttered, immediately checking the clock before looking out the window again, then down at her phone. “she should’ve been here by now.”

“jon said he’s got her covered, they’re on the way.” jose called from across the room, casually munching on a bag of chips with his camera hanging around his neck.

paige slowly turned toward him. “bro… are you seriously eating right now?” jose blinked. “don’t get the lenses dirty,” paige continued, pointing accusingly at him. “this has to be perfect.”

he immediately lifted both hands in surrender. “relax, dude. azzi’s gonna kill me anyway if i mess up the pictures.”

“nah,” paige shook her head with a small laugh. “she wouldn’t care about the pictures.” she paused before pointing at him again. “i do. so don’t mess this up.”

“yes, ma’am.” jose saluted dramatically.

truthfully, paige had debated hiring a professional photographer. but she knew azzi. she knew she’d rather have the people she loved surrounding her than a room full of strangers documenting one of the biggest moments of their lives.

besides, jose was actually really good behind a camera.

“don’t worry, paige.” katie walked over, gently placing both hands on the younger woman’s shoulders. “she’ll be here any minute now.”

paige let out a slow breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “…you really think she’ll say yes?”

and before katie could even open her mouth—

“oh, absolutely.” tim answered without a second of hesitation.

“bro,” jose snorted, “are you kidding? she’s literally been waiting for this forever. i was starting to get sick of hearing her talk about it.” he fake gagged.

“so thank god you’re finally doing it.” that earned another laugh from everyone in the room, including paige. the knot twisting in her stomach loosened just a little. “i guess that answers your question.” katie smiled, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

right on cue, a car horn echoed from the driveway.

“that’s them.”

everyone instinctively looked toward the front window. “finally.” paige breathed, quickly smoothing down the front of her shirt before immediately realizing she was fidgeting again.

tim let out a quiet laugh as he lifted the camera into position. “don’t pass out before she gets here.”

“i’m considering it…” paige muttered, earning another belly laugh from him. katie gave paige one last encouraging smile. “go get your girl.” paige swallowed hard, took one deep breath and walked toward the door.

go time.

the front door swung open just as paige reached for the handle. “oh,” she blinked. “you’re back.”

azzi stepped inside with a small paper bag in one hand, kicking the door shut behind her with her foot.“yeah, i am.” she laughed, slipping off her shoes. “it’s actually kinda cute that jon wanted to go get frozen yogurt with me.”

she looked over her shoulder toward where her younger brother was still locking the car. “he usually acts like i’m the most annoying person alive.”

“i do.” jon called back without missing a beat.

azzi gasped dramatically. “you totally missed me.”

“i only took you because i was hungry.”

“sure you did.”

“don’t flatter yourself.”

azzi stuck her tongue out at him before turning back toward paige, who was smiling despite the fact that her heart felt like it was about to burst straight out of her chest.

every second brought her closer. closer to the moment she’d imagined a thousand different ways.

“you okay?”

the question snapped paige back.

“huh?”

“you’ve been staring at me.” azzi stepped closer, brows knitting together as she searched her girlfriend’s face.

“you look… nervous.”

“me?” paige let out a laugh that sounded nowhere near convincing. “no.”

“baby.”

“nothing’s wrong.”

azzi narrowed her eyes, “you’re being weird.”

“you always say i’m weird.”

“hmm, fair enough.” that earned the blonde a laugh.

“c’mon,” paige said, quickly changing the subject before azzi could ask another question. “wanna go watch the sunset with me?”

azzi tilted her head. “…now?”

“yeah.”

“you’re acting suspicious.”

“or,” paige smiled innocently, “i just wanna watch the sunset with my girlfriend.” azzi stared at her for another second before finally shrugging, “okay.” she reached for paige’s hand without thinking.

the simple gesture almost made paige lose every ounce of composure she had left.

together, they walked through the cabin and out the back door. and the moment azzi stepped onto the porch… she stopped.

“paige…”

stretching from the wooden deck all the way down the dock were hundreds upon hundreds of soft pink roses, lining both sides like they were leading somewhere. tiny candles flickered between them, their warm glow dancing in the evening breeze as the lake reflected the golden colors of the setting sun.

for a long moment, azzi just stared in awe. “baby…” she whispered, a smile slowly spreading across her face. “you did all this?”

paige rubbed the back of her neck, “maybe.”

“what’s the occasion?” the younger smiled so widely, as the dimple in her cheek deepened. paige’s favorite smile.

“what?” paige bumped her shoulder playfully. “i can’t spoil my girl?”

azzi looked back at the flowers before looking at paige again, her eyes impossibly soft.

“you’re unbelievable.”

“i’ve been told.”

shaking her head with a quiet laugh, azzi intertwined their fingers again.

“thank you, i love it so much p. it’s so pretty”

paige smiled, the apple of her cheeks forming. “not as pretty as you.” which caused azzi to roll her eyes playfully, “sap.”

they slowly wandered down the rose-lined dock together until they reached the very end, stopping just before the water where the lake stretched endlessly beneath the sunset. the sky was painted in soft shades of pink, orange, and lavender, reflecting perfectly against the still water.

paige’s fingers tightened ever so slightly around azzi’s hand. from the corner of her eye, she caught movement behind the trees. tim had already lifted the camcorder, katie gently nudging him back down before he gave them away, while jose crouched nearby with his camera ready, giving paige a tiny thumbs-up from his hiding spot.

she had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing.

“it’s so beautiful,” azzi whispered, leaning lightly against her shoulder as they admired the view together. “i swear this place gets prettier every time we come here.”

eleven years ago, they stood in this exact spot. right here, on the dock outside azzi’s grandparent’s cabin.

paige remembered it like it was yesterday. the excitement bubbling inside her when her tiny crush from usa basketball camp invited her to spend the weekend here after they landed. they had sat on this very dock for hours, talking about everything and nothing, getting to know each other as the sun disappeared behind the lake.

what little paige didn’t know then was that she wasn’t just getting to know the girl she’d been crushing on.

she was getting to know her best friend.

her person.

the love of her life.

for the longest time, commitment had terrified her. she’d grown up watching her parents marriage fall apart, convincing herself that forever was something people only promised until they couldn’t anymore.

but standing here now, with azzi beside her, forever had never felt more certain. because when she pictured the rest of her life, there had never been anyone else.

she wanted every ordinary morning, every late night, every holiday, every win, every lost. she wanted all of it with azzi.

labels had never been what made them. they had always belonged to each other, long before either of them ever said the words out loud.

azzi was her past.

her present.

and now, hoping. she’d be her future, too.

the woman she hoped would still be holding her hand when they were old and gray.

before the blonde could answer, the faint hum of an airplane drifted across the lake. azzi looked up first, nudging her girlfriend with a smile. “baby, look.”

they both watched as the little plane flew overhead, a trail of white smoke beginning to curl through the sky. slowly, the letters started taking shape until the message became impossible to miss.

will you marry me?

“aww..” azzi smiled instantly, completely oblivious.“that’s actually so cute.” she let out a quiet laugh, still staring up at the sky. “someone’s getting proposed to.”

when no teasing comment came from beside her, azzi frowned slightly.

“p?” she turned toward paige with a confused smile still on her face.

the words caught in her throat,

paige was already down on one knee.

ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶˚̣ ྀི︶

[thepazziarchives]

𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓

Pairing: Paige Bueckers X Azzi Fudd

Started: 10/06/25

Updated: 3/07/26

About me

𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐒

𝟏.𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖

(CW: Swearing, Mild Sexual Content)

𝟐.𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐑

(CW: Swearing, Mentions of Anxiety)

𝟑. 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐓

(CW: Swearing, Self Deprecation)

𝟒.𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐎𝐓 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇

(CW: Explicit Sexual Content)

𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒

𝟑. 𝐏𝐔𝐑𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐄 ( 7/7 )

(CW: Swearing, Explicit Sexual Content, Mental Health Issues etc.)

PROLOGUE CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 7 EPILOGUE

𝟒. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐁𝐀𝐋’𝐒 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐎̂𝐍 (6/20)

BLURB EPIGRAPH PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 6

[girliblue]

if your heart's on the line (you could take mine)

pairing: paige x azzi 💕

------------------

summary: “‘course, baby.' she rushed out quickly. paige angled herself the way she knew azzi wanted, sitting upright so that azzi could tuck herself against paige’s chest comfortably in the small space. 'you scared?' paige asked, placing a soft, lingering kiss on a caramel forehead."

or - - a very domestic paige and azzi spend a team movie night together.

---------------

a/n: title from 'risk it all' by bruno mars.

just a super short one-shot i wrote to help me get out of my writers block. i think it helped, so it was def worth it!

2.2k words of fluff and happiness and mushy shit :) enjoy!!🤗

---------------

“Say you want the moon, Watch me learn to fly…”

Blessed was an understatement. It didn’t remotely cover the sheer amount of gratitude Paige felt on a daily basis. She felt blessed in every area of life, believe her, and she thanked God for all of it each morning and night. 

But it still hadn’t fully set in that she was not only pursuing her dream of playing professional basketball, but she was doing it with Azzi. Her Azzi. 

The odds were slim, the chances were slimmer, but they managed to defy it all. She loved getting to play with Azzi again, her best friend and the only person whose game she knew better than her own. She revelled in not living with that constant ache of being in a different time zone than her girlfriend. And she was thriving, in every sense of the word, with how much better the Dallas Wings were doing ever since Azzi arrived. 

But it was the little moments that were slowly becoming her favorite. 

Like how Azzi made her a yogurt bowl every morning. She even used vanilla yogurt, not the nasty unflavored greek yogurt that she usually preferred. Paige remembered being astonished when Azzi came back from grocery shopping with her mom when she first got to Dallas, watching as she pulled out a tub of vanilla Chobani. 

“Since when do you eat that stuff? Isn’t it a lot sweeter?” Paige asked. She was so preoccupied with putting away the new spices Azzi had purchased in the spice rack, that she almost missed the rosy accent her girlfriend’s cheeks started displaying. “What? Did I say some’ dumb again?”

“No,” Azzi giggled, opening the fridge door to put away said tub of yogurt. “No, I got the yogurt for you, silly.”

And ever since then, even though Paige never really liked yogurt all that much, she ate the entire bowl each time Azzi made it for her. Mainly because she also sweetened Paige’s with chocolate chips and granola, and didn’t force Paige to finish all the fruit the way she used to back in college. Probably because she also knew how much of a simp Paige was, meaning she was well aware that Paige only ate the yogurt bowls because she made them. 

The distance of the past year shifted a lot in their relationship. There were the shitty parts, like the miscommunications that ensued from trying to maintain a relationship over the phone, or when they would take out their feelings of missing one another onto each other. 

Paige never would have guessed that Azzi missed taking care of her, if anything she used to think Azzi dreaded the small things she used to do for her. But, after they settled into their new routine in Texas, Azzi openly admitted how much she missed tending to Paige. She missed filling Paige’s owala for her, previously claiming she only did so because Paige using a plastic one was ‘harmful for the environment.’ (Paige didn’t like these accusations, because she almost always refilled the plastic bottle whenever she used one).

Or how Azzi would fold Paige’s laundry, neatly, despite usually tossing her own into a drawer in complete disarray. How she learned to iron, because otherwise Paige would leave the apartment a wrinkled mess. The way she insisted on doing Paige’s skincare, including how she would moisturize Paige’s entire body for her. How she would flatten the crease in between Paige’s brows when she got too focused, reminding her to center herself. 

Azzi said she liked to do these little things because Paige did the big ones. Which was true, although the ‘big things’ came like second nature to Paige. Driving, planning dates, grocery shopping, doing the dishes, making the bed (whichever one they spelt in, that is), locking the door at night. The more mundane things, one might say. But Paige never minded, because she did it for them. 

Their teammates noticed the little things, too. Well, mainly Alysha, who was probably the most observant person Paige had ever met. 

Which brought them to a few nights ago, in which some of the team were hanging at Jess’s apartment, recovering from the insanity that was all-star weekend. Paige would humbly admit that she was being a tad clingy when it came to Azzi since they got back from Chicago. But she felt like she had barely seen her girlfriend that weekend, and she was so damn proud of her, that Paige just had to be in Azzi’s orbit. She just had to.

They were watching ‘obsession’, which had just come out on streaming. Paige had already seen it in theatres, so she wasn’t fazed by the psychological thriller. But Azzi, her adorable Azzi, was petrified. It was laughable actually, because Paige started the night a little grumpy, prompted by Azzi choosing to sit on the loveseat that was really meant to be used by one person.

Now, had the pair been alone, they would have easily ended up tangled together on the small piece of furniture. But, they were well-versed in keeping it classy in front of their teammates. But that usually meant sitting next to each other and subtly having a few points of contact, not sitting on entirely different pieces of furniture. 

They were maybe thirty into the movie when Paige’s agitated mood morphed into amusement. Azzi didn’t like watching movies in general, and when she did, they were usually a cheesy rom-com or of the animated genre. It didn’t help that this was far from a comfort film, and each eerie part was clearly having an effect on Azzi. 

Finally, the younger woman’s resolve snapped, and she stood abruptly. Paige’s heart rate picked up when she realized Azzi was moving toward her, like she hadn’t been the person Azzi turned to in moments like this for almost a decade now. She stopped when she reached Paige, shooting her a pointed glare, and Paige instantly knew what she wanted. She shrugged off her blanket and stood, watching as Azzi let out a satisfied huff and replaced Paige’s spot on the couch. When she was comfortable, her legs spread across the coffee table in front of them, and a respectable distance away from Awak, who was also on the small couch, she nodded toward Paige. “Can you come sit?”

“Course, baby.” She rushed out quickly. Paige angled herself the way she knew Azzi wanted, sitting upright so that Azzi could tuck herself against Paige’s chest comfortably in the small space. “You scared?” Paige asked, placing a soft, lingering kiss on a caramel forehead.

“No.” Azzi pouted, though her entire body was rigid against Paige’s figure, and she was nervously playing with the blanket that was pooled at Paige’s waist.

“You lyin’?” Paige teased. She squeezed Azzi tighter to her chest, kissing her forehead again. 

Azzi tucked her face square into Paige’s chest, voice muffled by the old Hopkins shirt she was wearing. “Maybe.” 

Paige laughed, then reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. “You can play smurfs if you want.” 

Azzi shook her head, not removing it from Paige’s chest as she muttered, “You don’t have ‘pro.’ I don’t like it with all the ads and without the shit I can build with.”

“Okay, lemme go get your ipad.” Paige moved to get up, but stilled when Azzi’s hand practically slapped her forearm. “Ouch! What was that for?”

“Baby, ‘m comfy.” Azzi whined. She watched as Azzi turned her head so it was still against Paige’s chest, but she was now shifted entirely away from the television. An almost devious smile was on her face, probably because that damn girl always knew how to get what she wanted from Paige. “Can I buy it on your phone? Pleaseeeee.”

“No.” Paige said, though she knew she would one hundred percent be changing her mind in a matter of seconds. She needed to try and stand her ground for her own sanity, though. She leaned down and kissed Azzi’s cheek when that notorious pout returned. “Azzi, no. I never use it, it’d be a waste of money.”

Azzi crossed her arms over her chest, shifting further into Paige. She was now essentially cuddled into her lap, the movie forgotten as she looked up at Paige from where her head rested on the blonde’s lap. “But I use it.”

“Right, which is why I can go get your phone or your ipad so you can play!”

“Paige, you have plenty of money. And you never usually complain about paying for shit for me!”

“Yeah, paying for things that make sense! Buying this is a waste when you already have the stupid pro-version yourself!”

“Fine. Guess you don’t love me anymore.” Azzi grumbled. She remained in Paige’s lap, but she turned completely so she was facing the screen of the television again.

“No, baby, don’t say that.” Paige was well aware that Azzi was playing her. She had been on the receiving end of blanket and untrue statements like that countless times before. But they had just spent the weekend apart, and Azzi had been so good to her lately, and they had been so good together since Azzi got to Dallas, and she was just really fucking easy. “Az, turn back around.” Azzi, naturally, ignored her. So Paige did the only logical thing. “Okay. You can buy it.”

Her girlfriend rotated back toward her in seconds, leaning upright to place a fierce kiss against Paige’s lips. “Thank you, Paigey. You’re so good t’me.” Azzi kissed her again, a little longer this time before pulling away. Azzi leaned close to whisper into her ear, “And I know you love me, by the way. I’m just a brat sometimes.”

“You’re not a brat, don’t say that.” Even though Azzi was undoubtedly acting bratty, she would never tolerate her girl talking badly about herself like that. She kissed Azzi’s cheek, then handed the phone back to Azzi. “Here, update the stupid app.”

“Damn, Azzi.” Arike’s voice cut through, startling both Paige and Azzi. Paige had almost forgotten that anyone else was there, and when she took a quick glance around the room, it appeared that all six members of their team that were also in attendance had just witnessed Paige cave on something so embarrassing. “You really got P wrapped around your finger, huh?”

“Maybe a little.” Azzi said coyly. She glanced up at Paige, and any embarrassment Paige had been feeling faded when she saw those doe eyes looking at her like she was everything. “She used to be worse, to be honest.”

“What? No I wasn’t!” Paige countered. 

Awak, who had quite literally just experienced a front row seat to all of that, let out a loud laugh. “I don’t believe that. How could it possibly be worse than this?”

If Paige could sink into the couch and die, she would do it in a heartbeat. Because now the movie had been paused, and every single person in the room were adding their two senses about how much of a simp she was. ‘Yeah, ain’t no way.’, ‘Never been nonchalant a day in her life.’, ‘She’s beet red, ‘cause she knows it’s true.’

Azzi giggled, patting Paige on the cheek like the sly little fucker she was. “A couple years ago she would’ve never told me ‘no’ in the first place.”

“You’re kidding!” Arike laughed, “I dunno if I can believe this Fudd, ‘m sorry.”

“Actually,” Paige started, accepting her fate. “One time, somethin’ similar happened. She wanted a diet coke, and I had ‘some in my apartment. But she didn’t wanna move, and she wanted me to doordash it.”

“So ‘m guessing you folded and doordashed?” Arike asked.

Paige rubbed her own temple with a sigh. “No, I forced one of the freshmen who was terrified of me to go to my apartment and get it, ‘cause I was cheap.” 

The team lost it at that, all shouting over one another to add in their ‘make fun of paige’ moment. “P, you’re somethin’ else man.” Arike shook her head. “Azzi’s one lucky girl.”

It took a solid few minutes, but eventually the team quieted, and the movie was turned back on. Paige watched as Azzi settled back into her original position, this time while she typed in Paige’s password. Paige returned her focus back on the movie, her fingers starting to card through loose curls. (She knew Azzi was planning on washing her hair that night, otherwise she would be ripped a new one for ‘disrupting curl patterns with her grease.’)

Azzi opened the smurfs app, and within a minute or so, was holding up the phone for Paige to take. “Can you do your face id?” 

Paige nodded, accepting the outstretched phone and preparing to put her face up to it. But she accidentally clicked on the screen, causing the price to catch her eye. 

“Forty dollars?! Nah, fuck that.” 

(Paige ended the night forty dollars poorer, and with a very pleased girlfriend. Azzi thanked her profusely that night, and again with a quickie in the morning. Paige had no regrets. Happy wife, happy life.) 

“There's nothing I won't do, I'd risk it all for you…”

-----------

a/n: thank you for reading, let me know what you think!!🤗

[pazzistories]

does anyone know the fic where paige is friends with azzis brother and azzi is younger and jose says paige can’t like azzi but they do anyway and go on vacation all together (p and a kiss and are sharing a room while jose sneaks out with girls and stuff) i can’t remember what it’s called or who wrote it but i haven’t seen it in a while

[silentclock00]

so basically👑🪣💗🪽

[fuddsprincess]

I read anything too! Who’re your favorite recs?

anything from @graybuckets, @buffalo1221, @pbaz7, @imaginespazzi, @hcneymooners, @bueckersburn, @azzibueckers5, @peach4pazzi, @azzinator, @elleaitch222, @dripanddrive, @soloey & @pazziwoke

my brother’s girlfriend

airport crush

dentition (and anything else she writes)

haunt me, love, like you promised (444)

attention

soft spot

cheffzzi x wnba!paige

repeat rewind

pressure

timeout

the kindergarten rulebook (and how we broke it)

cihtd

apartment tour

addiction

another night

who’s calling that shit?

i want the fairytale

recognition

meet cute, but worse

thats so true

this is not a cry for help

wwtsits

taste me (fic dedicated to me btw)

game night

unravel, then mend

it’s a match!

a willing vein

a study in want

they day that i met you i started dreaming

mine to know

+++ more

[studeteer]

why can't i kiss you on the dance floor?

pairing: paige x azzi au: catholic high school au synopsis: in which paige learns to accept her new fate, new life, new rules, and new team as she transfers to a new school. but will she learn to accept not to risk everything for the girl she likes? wc: 3k

Like every other story, it began the way things were unplanned and unexpected. 

Unexpected would be Paige's mom left them for another family which affected her dad that he had not been stable and was on anti-depressant pills.

Unplanned would be her saying goodbye to her friends and moving to her grandmother in Arlington, Virginia to finish high school.  

Everything blurred in her vision. One night, she was packing her things, then the next day she was in front of a big crucifix nailed in the middle of St. John’s Catholic School lobby.  

Her grandmother handled the logistics of the transfer, she was there to familiarize herself with her new hell hole.  

She stood outside the administration office waiting for her grandmother. Her eyes bore into the linoleum floor, trying not to look at the eyes watching her like hungry eagles.

Hopkins' former golden girl.  

The new senior. 

The transfer with a name all of basketball articles have written.  

The whole world knew Paige Bueckers was destined for something larger, but for the rest of St. John’s Catholic School? Paige Bueckers was a lost soul standing awkwardly in a plaid skirt too short for her tall lanky figure. 

She tried adjusting the offensive garment. She tugged at her white blouse. She did anything to distract herself from the eyes of every student and teacher passing by. 

It didn’t take long for her grandmother to walk out with the principal and the basketball coach. Introductions were made, handshakes were performed, smiles were forced.  

“It’s a pleasure to have you here in St. John’s, Paige.” The principal could blind Paige with his dazzling smile. He was that happy.

“And we’re very delighted you could join our basketball team this year. This is Coach Katie Fudd. Your new basketball coach.” 

Paige nodded after shaking her hand with the red-haired woman clad in polo shirts and trackers.  

“Welcome to St. John’s, Paige.” 

“Thank you.” It was all she could muster, really. 

────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── 

The first practice was both relaxing and brutal. Paige's new teammates had mixed feelings having her on their team. They were in awe of the high school superstar but also protective of their spots and playing time.  

Coach Katie had introduced Paige to her teammates and coaching staff. She made quick work with Paige on their plays and how the team could use her.  

And just like for the past two weeks, Paige could only nod.  

Ally and Lou were the only ones brave enough to talk to her, guard her, and foul her in practice. 

“You may be taking my spot as starting point guard but if that’s what takes us to state champs, then so be it.” Lou panted as she passed the ball to Paige a little aggressively. “But if we lose, I’ll haunt you in your sleep, Bueckers.” 

“Don’t mind her, she’s just all bark but no bite.” Ally said, walking past the two of them. 

Paige managed to smile in acknowledgement. She didn’t know what to think of the two. It had been so long since she had to learn to trust teammates. She had her girls when Hopkins decided to start her on the varsity team since middle school. Paige hadn’t thought she would have to go through knowing and understanding the playing styles again of a new team before college started.

Before she could spiral further, the gym doors opened and a girl clad in their school uniform walked in with the brightest smile Paige had seen. 

The other girls who were on their way to the locker room greeted her. Paige watched her stop and greet the team with each personalized high fives.

"Does she play too?" The words tumbled out, quicker than she meant. 

The question cut through the post-practice haze. Ally and Lou followed Paige’s gaze across the court.

"Of course!" Lou snorted. "The superstar finds her voice the second a pretty girl shows up." 

Paige could feel the heat creeping around her neck. “I wasn’t—I mean, she’s not even—I was just asking.” 

It sounded dumb and defensive and all she could do was let out a defeated sigh. 

Ally reached out and gave Paige's shoulder a teasing pat.  

“Relax, Bueckers.” Her smile was all-knowing but friendly.

“Azzi doesn't play basketball. She's St. John's royalty. Our number one fan. No pom-poms, though. C'mon! We'll introduce you to the People’s Princess." 

Paige took a step to follow Ally, but Lou slid in front of her. She planted a firm hand on Paige’s chest.  

“Just so we’re clear,” Lou’s eyes had a blazing defensive fire, showing Paige she was serious with her warning. “She’s off limits, Bueckers.”  

Paige blinked as she watched Lou draw a small smirk before turning away to follow Ally.  

“Yo Superstar! You just gonna stand there all day?” Ally’s voice echoed off the gym walls. She was waiting by the door with Lou and that girl Paige eyes seemed to be glued to. 

She pushed her sneakers across the hardwood toward the trio.  

When she finally reached them, Ally had a grin bigger than Antarctica. "Aight, look alive Bueckers!”  

Paige stood still, hiding her shaking hands behind her. 

“Paige, this is Azzi, St. John’s Princess. Az, this is our golden miracle this year. We actually have THE Paige Bueckers on our team!” 

Azzi hadn't stopped smiling since she walked into the gym, but her smile grew even wider when she turned it on Paige. 

Paige’s mind went blank. Azzi was a different breed of pretty. Her curls fell perfectly in soft coils around her face. It made Paige’s breath hitch in a way. Her rich brown skin seemed to glow. It was like something rare and slightly out of reach. Although Paige wanted to touch it. 

Azzi stood just a couple inches shorter than Paige, a perfect height for the blonde to look right into those beautiful brown eyes that held curious kindness but also full of life. 

Paige had to stop herself from leaning in right then. She’d never wanted to know someone so much, so fast. 

“Hi! It’s finally nice to meet you, Paige.” Azzi extended her hand. Her voice held a melody Paige wanted to memorize. 

When Paige slipped her hand into Azzi's, it felt like coming home. Azzi’s hand was warm and sure, like she’d been waiting to hold hers. 

“It’s nice to meet you too, Azzi.” 

Lou coughed loudly, making them drop each other’s hands. 

Paige had so many questions running through her head. Most importantly, what made Azzi out of limits.

“Azzi?”  

All heads turned toward the their coach.

“Hey Mom!”  

Azzi’s face lit up as she moved to hug Katie. A hug that was clearly routine, intimate, and deeply familial. A cold splash of understanding washed over Paige. 

Yeah, that made sense now. 

────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── 

Basketball practice was the only time Paige could wear her comfortable clothes. She had cursed this school for making girls wear skirts.     She lined up on the free throw line, feeling all of her anger toward her shots. Even in her three weeks in St. John’s, Paige was still struggling with everything. 

Studies. Apparently, this school was advanced and some of the items were not taught in Hopkins. 

Friends. It was hard to make friends when all they saw was the high school celebrity that was promised the whole basketball world. It didn’t help Paige wouldn’t speak, unless called by the teachers.

Basketball. The first few games were messy. Her teammates weren’t as quick as the girls back in Hopkins. Turnovers piled and they had to double their efforts in practice. 

Which was why Paige stayed after to take out her stress and disappointment from the free throw line. 

She tried emptying her mind. She needed to focus, needed to find her shots, needed to know how to make the right calls.  

She lifted her arms and took a deep breath before releasing the ball. It kissed the rim and bounced off. Her arms were giving out. She was tired mentally and physically. 

“Wow! Didn’t know basketball superstars miss.”  

Paige was so focused she didn’t hear Azzi walk in the gym.  

She spun toward her coach’s daughter, cheeks heating. “I was distracted.” 

Azzi’s smile curved wider. “Minnesota girls always have excuses.” 

“That’s not an excuse,” Paige protested, already tripping over her words. “Wait, do I really sound like that?” 

Azzi stopped a few feet from her and laughed. 

Her laugh curled tight behind Paige's sternum, a knot of heat and light that felt like a secret suddenly taking root inside her. She could almost feel it pulse in time with her own heartbeat. 

Paige picked up the ball for distraction. She should not be thinking about Azzi’s beautiful laugh. She should get her head back in the game. 

She tried shooting again. This time, it went in smoothly.  

Then, she heard slow clapping and turned to see Azzi smirk once she stopped. “Now, that’s the way to do it.” 

Paige smiled shyly and walked toward her. “Can I help you with something? Or did your mom ask you to come here and distract me?”

“I’m not sure what you can help me with, but thank you for confirming you’re I’m distracting you.”

Paige’s eyes widened. She walked into that.  

“I’m not distracted, I —” 

“Chill, Bueckers.” Azzi smiled. “You’re so easy to get work up. And no, I wasn’t sent here to start a revolution to your missed shots. In fact, I am looking for my mom.” 

Paige looked around just for good measure before returning her attention to Azzi. “I think I’m the only one here. They all left when practice was over.” 

“Great!” Azzi sighed. “My mom and dad need better communication on who’s driving me home.” 

“I can drive you home.” Paige mentally knocked herself out for not thinking twice on the offer. 

“You sure?” 

“If you want me to.” 

And it made Paige think how Azzi’s smile could grow wider.  

“I’d like that.” 

────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── 

Paige sometimes sat with her basketball teammates during lunch. If she got overstimulated with the loud voice of Jackie or Cindy’s latest boyfriend drama, she’d grab her tray and find an empty table where the only sound was her own breathing and the distant clang of the kitchen doors. 

She drove Azzi home four more times in the past two weeks. They have developed an easy friendship.     One where Paige walked past her team and stopped at Azzi’s table in the middle of the cafeteria. Azzi glanced up from her salad with a smile that sent Paige’s heart flipping. 

“Are you ready for Sister Jan’s ‘pop quiz’ this afternoon?” Azz asked as soon as Paige got settled in front of her, ignoring the poor excuse of lunch on Paige’s tray. 

The blonde shrugged. She had never made a big deal about pop quizzes, but after knowing Azzi was Einstein reincarnate, she somehow put more effort in studying.

“You helped me with my index cards yesterday. I should be good to go with whatever she’ll surprise us with.” 

“That’s my superstar!” Azzi smiled before continuing with her lunch. 

Every time Azzi said it, Paige questioned whether she knew the effect it had on her. 

She could only nod, mentally fanning out her ears which were burning hot. 

────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── 

Paige had enough of the blouses and skirts. She didn’t care if heads turned when she walked into the school gym in a crisp white suit and dress pants. All she could think was Azzi. 

The anticipation burned right alongside her nerves as she thought about seeing Azzi tonight. They had sent each other photos of their outfits, and Azzi’s pick was nothing short of bold. A black dress with a neckline that plunged and a slit that belonged on a red carpet, not at St. John’s school gym. 

A DJ shouted into a microphone over a remix that had already blown out the speakers. Paige had lasted three songs before tugging Azzi toward the side doors with a muttered excuse about fresh air. 

The school courtyard stretched wide and open, its brick walls washed in pale strands of fairy lights. It was cooler. The air was a relief, and it felt like a welcome reprieve from the humidity inside. 

Azzi sank onto a bench tucked away from the gym, the noise fading behind them as she let out a small sigh. It was dark outside. The only light came from the moon, pale and watchful above. It felt like they were the only two people left in the world. 

Paige stayed standing, hands shoved in her pockets. She shifted awkwardly like she had no idea what to do with herself. 

“You looked ready to fight that DJ for volume control.” Azzi teased. 

She had learned Paige didn’t do well with noises. She'd noticed how Paige folded inward when things got too loud. It drained the basketball player.  

Paige grinned, grateful for the understanding. “If I did, we’d at least get a good playlist out of it.” 

Azzi’s laugh filled the space, warmer than the strings of lights above them. Paige kept sneaking glances, watching how the curls framing Azzi’s face caught the glow.  

“Come and sit with me, Bueckers.” 

Paige took her time, not wanting to crease Azzi’s dress and disturb her elegance.  

Azzi tilted her head, studying Paige with a softness that made her stomach flip. “You look good tonight.”  

Paige felt her heart stopped pumping blood. She forced herself to lift her gaze, to meet those deep brown eyes that seemed filled with secrets and hope. 

“Azzi.” 

Neither knew who leaned in first, but their lips met slowly. Hesitant at first.  

Azzi’s mouth was uncertain but inviting. Paige’s chest surged with pride and bravery. It felt like stepping into a story they had been writing with every glance and every laugh.

The kiss stretched, long enough for them to forget where they were. Then the distant sound of students laughing snapped reality back.  

Both girls parted too quickly, hearts pounding, lips tingling. 

────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── 

There was a game against St. John’s rival school that had Paige buzzing through the hallways. She had just gotten word that UConn’s head coach would be watching. It wasn’t the first time Geno Auriemma paid a visit to Paige and watched her game. But for him to track down where she transferred was telling something. He really wanted her at UConn.

So when Paige opened her locker, she hadn’t expected a note in there. 

There was a small square of folded paper balanced on top of her History notebook. She grabbed it and looked around to see if she could identify where it came from.

After being unsuccessful, she decided to open the note.  

Her heart jumped before her mind even caught up.  

There it was, three words in Azzi’s perfect handwriting. 

Best night ever. 

From then on, the slips appeared like clockwork. Short sentences. Simple words. Little lightning bolts that lit up her entire day.  

You left your pen inside my bag. 

Good game today.  

Your new Nike sweatshirt looks good on me. 

Have you met Breanna Stewart?  

Can we get burgers after school? 

Still thinking about that night.  

Paige tucked every single one inside her backpack, wedged between textbooks like a secret collection. It was proof she wasn’t imagining this whole thing. Proof that something lived between them, even if the school around them demanded everything be hidden. 

Azzi’s latest note would be her favorite. 

Stop smiling at me like that when everyone’s watching. 

Paige’s laugh broke free before she could stop it. The students in the hallway looked at her in curiosity but she just folded the note and kept it safe. 

The next time Azzi looked her way, Paige did exactly what the note told her not to. She smiled, broad and undeniable, like she wanted to dare the whole world to figure it out. 

Azzi just rolled her eyes across the cafeteria, a grin evident on her face. 

────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── 

When the invite was offered to her after practice, Paige didn’t think anything serious of it. Ally told her Coach Katie was just trying to make Paige feel welcomed and probably wanted to check in with how she was doing. 

She had turned to her grandmother for advice on what to wear to a Sunday dinner after mass. Although her grandmother was thrilled that Paige had reached out, she could tell Paige still felt out of place in skirts and dresses. 

However, she could also tell this dinner meant a lot to Paige and that she should do her best to make her less anxious. 

“I’m sure the Fudds wouldn’t mind you wearing pants, my dear.” 

“It’s an after-mass dinner, grandma. I’m pretty sure they will not change into comfortable clothes.” 

Her grandmother could only reach out and fix the hem of Paige’s chosen Sunday dress. A faded cornflower blue, made of a cotton so thin from years of washing it felt like worn parchment against her skin.  

“Whatever you do, I just want you to know, I’m proud of you.” Her grandmother gave her a kiss on the cheek. 

Paige could feel the guilt and apology from the person who thought took everything from her. 

If only her grandmother knew she was the one who saved her. 

────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── 

The Fudds’ dining room stretched forever. The chairs packed shoulder to shoulder, and every inch of the table was covered with steaming bowls and platters. Voices overlapped as food made its rounds in a practiced routine. 

Azzi asked for her to sit beside her, wanting to be close to Paige should she gets overwhelmed with the noise. 

Paige took her seat, nerves chasing each other across her chest. She looked at Azzi who was in a pale purple dress.

The same girl who scribbled notes in Paige’s locker now looked like she had been plucked out of a church bulletin. She kept stealing glances, comparing the two versions of her, and feeling dizzy at how both were real. 

Conversation flowed in all directions.  

There was a debate on who was better. Lebron James or Michael Jordan.  

There was a cousin who rattled on about her grades and what she would be studying in college.  

There was an aunt who asked about parish fundraisers.  

Paige smiled the whole time. She tried to keep up, nodding at the right moments, taking bread when it was offered. She could play polite, even if she was borderline trying not to dash out the kitchen door. 

Then came the question.  

“So, Paige, do you have a boyfriend?” 

Her fork paused above her plate. The table seemed to lean in, every conversation shrinking to make space for the answer. Paige’s eyes widened and her first instinct was to look at Azzi beside her. 

Her eyes darted from her plate to Azzi’s. 

She saw how Azzi’s hand tightened around her knife, her jaw rigid, and she could feel Azzi holding her breath. 

The sight of it broke Paige’s heart but it gave her courage to give the right answer to Azzi’s family.  

“No." She smiled at Azzi’s uncle who was the one asking across from them. "But there is this boy I like."

He said something in response, but Paige couldn’t focus to understand what he was saying. Under the table, she felt Azzi’s hand. It was cold, shaking, and uncertain.  

Paige opened her palm and let Azzi’s fingers slip into hers. They laced together fast, the fabric of the tablecloth hiding everything. She felt the apology when Azzi squeezed her hand tight.  

She didn’t dare glance at Azzi’s way again, but she squeezed back before running her thumb on the back of Azzi’s hand.  

Paige swore the whole world could feel the heat radiating from their clasp. 

In a second of weakness and confusion, Paige missed Katie’s eyes on them.  

────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── 

After dinner, Paige gathered plates and stepped into the kitchen. Katie waited by the kitchen door. 

“Would you like to go on a walk, Paige?”  

Paige nodded and followed Katie outside. 

It was silent for a few minutes. They had passed the fifth house without a word. It was when they turned into the corner that Katie broke the calm of the night. 

“You’re gifted, Paige.” Katie said. “Azzi is too. I like you, I do. But you both have so much ahead of you. The world is very unforgiving and unkind to two girls at a Catholic school where loyalty to the church runs deeper than anything else.” 

The words settled over Paige like cold water. She wanted to argue, to tell Katie she underestimated them. But she swallowed the words, because Azzi was not hers to reveal to the world. 

She swallowed her pride and blinked away her tears. 

The car had been parked for almost ten minutes. Neither said a word on the drive to Paige’s grandmother’s house. Azzi had long turned off the engine, but Paige hadn’t gotten out from the passenger’s seat. 

Azzi kept her eyes forward. She knew what was coming. She had the feeling when she saw her mom and Paige took that walk. 

“Azzi.” Paige whispered, afraid of disturbing the evening’s peace. “I like you.” 

Azzi couldn’t stop a tear from falling, but she kept her head up and didn’t look at Paige.

“But I don’t want to be your secret if it’s only going to break you.”  

Azzi slowly turned her head, lips parting as if to respond, then closed them again. She reached across the console, her fingers brushing Paige’s before twining together. It was a silent plea in the darkness, one Paige both craved and feared. 

────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ──── 

Paige spun the lock on her locker with more force than needed. The metal door creaked open.

Nestled between her textbooks was a folded piece of paper, the handwriting unmistakable. 

Azzi’s last note stared back at her. 

Thank you for everything, and I’m sorry. 

[fuddsprincess]

this is so cuteee 🥹