Note; finale day of flufftober, apologies for being a day late I fell asleep insanely early after being with family for trick or treating !! after this Iβm def taking a lil break from writing guys, expect something in a week or so though
STEVE:
- The only possible way you could have dragged him along was with the promise that the kids would be there too, which they were.. until they got caught.
- It started after Dustin rang a doorbell, got scared, and booked it. Mike had found this hilarious, eventually convincing you to get Steve to tag along for trick-or-treating, turned into ding-dong-ditching.
- He gave you a half-assed lecture about how you were encouraging the kids to only get in more trouble, but nonetheless Steve found himself doing it once or twice.
- The final straw was after nearly an hour of this, you had dropped off the kids at their homes, before deciding to stop by one of the teacherβs places for fun.
- You insisted it wouldnβt go horribly, but the second Steve reached for the doorbell you heard a dog barking at the door, sending you two into a full sprint across the yard and towards the road.
KURT:
- He thought the idea was childish and stupid at first, but you somehow managed to convince him it would be good for a YouTube prank video, and he was sold.
- He of course started with his mom, getting caught immediately and going in some tangent about how he would delete the footage later.
- The second person was Bobby, of course, which resulted in him being scolded for nearly 10 minutes before you both awkwardly walked away.
- You decided to hit some random neighborhood after driving around for nearly half an hour, spitting a few trick-or-treaters, and decided to follow behind some group.
- Every house the group hit, you rang the bell, before quickly running off to hide behind a bush or a tree, Kurt filming every moment until some random old lady caught on and told you off for being immature.
Note: this is more headcanons than a fic ngl, also hella short cause I finished this literally at midnight
CLARK:
- Clark would LOVE to do matching costumes, of course with the acception that youβd be picking since he couldnβt decide to save his life.
- Your favorite movie? Heβs all for it. A really niche show couple he knows nothing about? Heβs going shopping with you to find the perfect outfit.
- Heβll take so many pictures to show off to Jimmy and Lois at the Planet the next day, bragging about how genius you are for coming up with the idea.
SCOTT:
- He would reluctantly agree to match costumes, but would most likely half-ass it on his part.
- Heβd try to convince you to do simple costumes that donβt require much from him. Fred and Daphne, Narrator and Martha, anything where he can kid throw on a tie or a different shirt and heβs more than content.
- Heβd be reluctant to take pictures with you, but ultimately give in and agree to only 2 or 3, them all being on your phone because he has no interest in showing anyone.
- Of course youβd have to show Javi, which ended up with Javi teasing Scott for it for the next week or so.
RIVER:
- Heβd be more than happy to match with you, no matter how much effort he needs to put into it.
- Face paint and sfx makeup? Heβs all for it. Having to hand make pieces as well? Heβs spending weeks on it and perfectly every detail to make sure youβre happy.
- Heβd be willing to do any and every costume, no matter how cliche or obscure it may be. Hell, heβd do multiple in one day just for you.
- Heβd show it off to anyone and everyone, posting countless pictures on his stories, making sure to let everyone know itβs your brilliant idea.
Note: quick little blurb, might make a full fic about it if Iβm not feeling lazy..
You were far too old to be trick-or-treating at this point, or at least thatβs what you told yourself. But when Steve had begged you to go with him and the kids, you couldnβt resist.
Sure, you were basically just babysitting a bunch of teenagers, but you got free candy out of it and an excuse to dig up old costumes from the closet.
Steve had dressed as Marty Mcfly, while you opted to recycle something from a few years back. Simple but still timeless.
βYou do realize youβre probably gonna get weird looks, right?β He asked, watching you debate between which pillow case you were going to bring.
βSteve, this is the one time of the year you can dress up as dumb as you want, and receive candy for it. Iβm making the most of this, whether or not weβre just babysitting.β You countered, picking up your darker grey pillow case and folded it up.
When the two of you met up with the kids, they were far more excited to see you would actually participate with them, even deeming you the one to ring the doorbells and knock for them.
βLooks like someone got promoted to favorite,β you teased Steve, earning an eye roll as he trailed behind your group. βIβm still the better babysitter.β
Note: this came out later than I wanted but I had a rough past few days, quit my job today, and just trying to pull myself together again. Hope you all like this tho !!
Clark had been staring at the sticky note in the corner of his monitor for nearly 10 minutes at this point, a goofy grin on his face before he finally looked up to see you waving at him.
This had been a small tradition between the two of you, youβd leave sticky notes on each otherβs monitors, greetings, life updates, random questions.
His to you were mostly compliments. Saying your hair looked nice, your new vest was the perfect color, your most recent article was one of the best he ever read.
As the days grew colder and fall was just around the corner, he started drawing little leaves and pumpkins on the notes, changing them out for orange ones, a contrast to the usual bright yellow ones he had been using.
He carefully plucked the sticky noteβone thanking him for the coffee he got youβyou left off the screen, tucking it away with the many others he had.
He quickly grabbed his own unused ones and scribbled down on it, waiting for you to leave your desk before rushing over, plastering it onto the corner and practically dashed back to his seat.
When you returned and saw the bright orange square, you struggled to bite back a smile, leaning closer to read it.
βDinner after work? :)β
Underneath was a jack-o-lantern drawing, one that made you only smile more before you quickly looked up to see him already looking at you, watching as his face grew flush and he snapped his gaze away.
You sighed and wrote on your own note, before walking over and stood in front of his desk, reaching in front of him and stuck the bright yellow square to his screen.
βIβd love toβ, it read, his eyes quickly flickering to where you stood. You waited for his response, watching as a grin took over his face again. βGreat! Thereβs that small diner down the block from here, we could probably walk after we both clock out.β
hi!! how are you? i really really love your fics of adrian β‘β‘ i was thinking about an adrian who doesn't like physical contact, and the reader, of course, respects that. But what if he without realizing it feels comfortable being in his best friend's personal space?
I hope you can write this, please, and if you don't want to do it, that's fine. I will read what you do beacause i love your work β₯οΈ
Physical Touch
Pairing: Adrian Chase x reader
A/N: Thank you so much for the request, I love the idea - I might have done I bit of a goofy version of this prompt but hope you enjoy. I've decided when doing requests I'm not going to add summaries, since the request is one.
I ran out of room on my credits sheet, so I'll have to make one soon. The beaded divder below is from @uzmacchiato
Credits for borders
No one really understood how you got into the business.
You were an amazing fighter, a great shot, and had killed many for the sake of humanity. You were overqualified for Project Butterfly and were praised by heroes and assassins alike.
No, what was surprising about you was your cuddly attitude.
The first time you met Harcourt, she almost punched you as she thought you were coming in for an attack. Once she released it was a hug, she awkwardly stood there, sending help signals to John as he chuckled.
Johnβs chuckles stopped when you wrapped him in a hug next, which he subtly leaned out of. Murn had kind of just stood there, which had confused everyone but you. Seems his violent history hadn't deterred you from greeting him with the same kindness you did for everyone.
Once Adebayo joined Project Butterfly, you finally had someone who enthusiastically returned your hugs. When you got the famous Peacemaker, he seemed to enjoy the hugs too, though his hands would drift to areas that would force you to end them prematurely.
You were known as the ray of sunshine in the group, able to murder in a second, then compliment and cuddle with the next. Most of the group speculated that it was all a front, a way to make you seem less suspicious, but as time went on, they realized it was just you.
You were the embodiment of physical touch as a love language.
The day you met Adrian Chase, you were filled with the same excitement you always were when you met a new person.
βSo this is the famous Vigilante.β You smiled as you saw him and Chris walk through the office.
βSeriously, man? You told everyone about my identity?β Adrian complained, stomping his foot down as he looked at Chris with disappointment.
βYou revealed your identity yourself,β Adebayo pointed out as she moved through behind him to get to her desk.
"Well, she wouldn't have known yet. You're really stealing my thunder," Adrian was about to complain more, when he suddenly caught sight of you rushing towards him, arms outstretched.
Immediately assuming it was an attack, Adrian rushed into action. Unlike Harcourt, who had only thought of an attack the first time, Adrian grabbed your wrist, using his might to throw you to the ground.
You felt the breath get knocked out of you as your back hit the ground with immense force.
βWhoaβ
βWhat the fuck, man?β
βHoly shit, are you ok?β
You heard an array of voices form above you as you slowly blinked, trying to process what had just happened.
βDude, why would you do that?β Chris yelled, nudging Adrian, who looked offended by the question. βShe was trying to attack me,β He spoke in defense of his action, looking around for someone to back him up.
βShe was trying to hug you,β Harcourt corrected angrily. βItβs annoying, but you don't attack her for it.β
You groaned from the floor, both from the pain of the attack and the pain of Harcourt's comment. Chris looked at Adrian, expecting him to help you up, but he made no move to. Rolling his eyes, Chris quickly offered you a hand, brushing you off slightly as you got up.
βSorry about him, he has no social awareness at all.β Chrsi glared at Adrian, who confusedly looked behind himself, expecting to see someone else who was being accused of a lack of social awareness.
βNo, itβs alright.β You spoke in a bit of an airy voice, stretching out your back. βThatβs on me, I came on too strong.β You looked to Adrian, who had turned back around, looking at you curiously.
βSo what do you prefer? Handshake? High five? Kiss on the cheek?β You smiled at him in a way that made Adrian feel weird. He wasn't used to that welcoming look, especially from someone he had just attacked. You were speaking with genuine excitement, and he felt odd being on the receiving end. βCome on, I need a way to greet the guy you managed to get such a good hit on me.β
You had assumed that Adrian had gone quiet in embarrassment and was trying to lighten the room to make sure he knew you weren't upset.
In reality, Adrian wasn't embarrassed at all by the attack; in fact, he was proud to show off his abilities. It was your question that had stumped him.
Every option you suggested involved skin-to-skin contact. He had already put up with a lot of that today, and though he was a strong warrior who could push through anything⦠he just didn't want to go through anymore.
But he also didn't want judgment, especially when Peacemaker was right there and-
Adrian's thoughts stopped as he noticed you waving your fingers around him, as if you were a wizard reciting a spell.
βOk, does she have a concussion? Cause we should get her some help,β Adebayo spoke as she and the others watched in confusion. Adrian looked almost in awe at the action, his eyes following every movement your hands made.
βNo, itβs just a greeting. It helps exchange energy.β Adrian nodded along with your words as your fingers moved around. You weren't touching him, but he swore he could feel the energy you were talking about.
βSo she does have a concussion,β Chris concluded, and you dropped your hands, sending him a frustrated look. βNo, I don't. Itβs a way to send energy. A lot of people do it.β
βNo, they donβt,β Harcourt yelled out, and you sighed frustratedly. You thought it was a great compromise. For you, physical touch was your way of bonding with people. Maybe you were secretly meta-human, or maybe you were just crazy, but you felt the more contact you made, the more you could understand the person's essence.
You had been used to compromises: like giving murn handshakes, or harcourt quick highfives, but this was your first time with someone you suspected didn't like any physical touch. This was your way of still trying to get a read on them.Β
βItβs like jellyfish,β Adrian blurted out, bringing the attention back to him. βThey can communicate telepathically. Thatβs how they know that they want to fuck each otherβ
βNo, they don't, man,β John spoke up, not even needing to look up to comment to know that it was fake.
βYes, they do,β Adrian insisted, but John shook his head. βNope, you're an idiot.β
βWell, how would you know, youβre not a jellyfish. You yelled at John, not liking it when people insulted other peopleβ¦ despite the fact that you had murdered people. You slowly turned back to Adrian, in a lowering voice. "But um yeah, he's right. They don't do that."
Unfortunately, John heard the comment, sending a smug look to Adrian. You watched as Adrian stared at you blankly, and for a moment, you thought you had ruined any progress you had made with the vigilante.
Suddney Adrian burst out laughing. βThat's so true, heβs not a jellyfish.β He held his stomach as he laughed intensely, and you smiled, happy to know he didn't hate you.
βAlright, enough chit chat. We have work to do,β Murn spoke, gaining the attention of everyone, though Adrian did not stop his chuckles.
As the others sent Adrian weird looks for laughing, you just grinned widely, happy to know you had made a new connection.
---
A lot had changed since that day you first met Adrian:
You had saved the world, grown closer as a group, and exposed Amadna Wallace for the hurt she had caused.
You had also lost murn after finding out he was an alien, dispaned project butterfly, and all struggled to find work.
It was a weird time, but one thing had for sure changed for the better.
βCome on, hurry up,β Adrian called behind his shoulder, as the two of you climbed the fire escape of Harcourt's building. It was clear he was desperate to get to the top, but he didn't want to leave you alone in case something happened.
It was sweet, but it didn't change the fact that he was impatient.
βI still don't get why we have to climb up this way,β You spoke, huffing as you dragged yourself up the building.
βBecause we need to have the coolest entrance.β
You and Adrian had bonded pretty quickly, and the bond only got stronger as time went on. You seemed ot understand each other in ways others didnβt. The two of you practically became roommates with how much time you spent with each other.
Adrian had even admitted to you that you were his best friend, but you had promised to keep it a secret in order not to upset Chris. You kept it a secret that Chris probably didn't give a shit about his best friend's ranking.
You still craved physical affection, and getting a read on Adrian, but the two of you had come up with alternatives. Air greetings, only hugging in full suit uniform, rubbing shagged carpeting instead; you two had a solid system going.
Still, there were moments where Adrian would scratch that physical affection you so craved, and he so despised. Such as Adrian offering you his hand as he pulled you up over the ledge of the building, getting you to the roof. You hid your smile as Adrian was more focused on excitedly showing off the beer he had brought.
Harcourt and John gave confused looks, though they quickly washed away when they realised it was you too. Suddenly, the action didn't seem as weird.
Before either of them could question your entrance, you were rushing over to John, wrapping your arms around him as you pulled him into a big hug, welcoming him back.Β
"It's crazy but I actually missed your hugs," John admitted as he returned your hug. You pouted, squeezing him tighter. "I missed you."
"You guys should stop now," Adrian suddenly blurted out, causing you all to look at him. His eyes were locked on John's arms around you, and his arms remained tense until the moment John let go of you.
Quickly, his happy persona returned as he placed his drinks down. "Let's get this party started."
You smiled, moving over to grab yourself a beer. You assumed Adrian's reaction had just been from a second-hand discomfort from your and John's affection.
From the look Economos and Harcourt shared, there was clearly a much different reason.
---
The night had been going great. Or at least to you it had, though you were too drunk to notice if it was good for everyone else.
You were more focused on the music and dancing your heart out. You danced to the music excitedly, your moves sloppy but somehow still in beat with the music.
βYouβre like a bee.β You tried to see Adrian, who was smiling at you somewhat doopily, which you assumed was because of the alcohol.
βCause they dance to communicate?β You asked, not stopping your movement, and Adrian nodded excitedly. It filled him with so much joy that instead of being offended by the comment, you accepted it and knew the meaning behind it.
βYouβre my best friend,β He yelled, as if the music was louder than it was. The others were too caught up in their own dancing to be bothered by the noise, but you giggled as you danced. "Yeah, I know.β
Adrian nodded, moving closer as he observed your expression. βLike my best friend,β He repeated, like it was a really important piece of information.
βYeah, I know.β You leaned in closer to Adrian to speak, as if it were sharing a secret.
Unfortunately for you, the alcohol had put off your centre of balance, and you stumbled forward. Adrian was quick to catch you by the arms, and you giggled at your almost mess up. The giggle turned into a full-blown laugh.
You ended it by resting your head on Adrianβs chest. βI amβ¦.so drunkβ
βYeah, you are. Do you need help?β Adrian asked, his face shifting to concern for a quick second. You lifted your head a bit so you could look up at him. βBut youβre drunk too.β
Adrianβs glazed eyes stared back at you for a second before he giggled. βOh yeahβ
You put your head back onto his chest, sighing in content. βLetβs just dance.β Staying in the awkward position, you swayed your body, much less energetic than it had been before.
You didn't even have the brain power to be surprised when Adrian placed your hands around his neck, as he moved his to rest on your hips.
If you were sober, maybe the two of you would have noticed the fact that your arms were brushing against his neck, or the shirt you wore was short enough so that his hand rested directly on your skin.
But right now, all you cared about was dancing with each other.Β
---
Adrian woke up as he felt Adebayo's robe flow against his face. The action was light, but with how much he had to drink the night before, it felt like a wave crashing over him.
His eyes squinted from both the harsh wake-up and his lack of glasses. Spotting where his glasses had been set, he moved to reach for them, but was stopped by a sudden weight.
Looking down, Adrian says you rested on his exposed chest, fast asleep. His memories came back of the evening before: having the group drown his body in beer, stealing Harcourt's robe, putting John to sleep and cleaning his pants, and settling down with you on the couch.
He smiled, snuggling in more to the cushions as he watched your breathing. For a moment, it was like this was your life. That he was not just waking up from a party hungover, but instead waking up to his life with you.
βStop being a creep.β
His dream was shattered as Harcourt glared at him. Her voice made it sound like she was ordering him on a mission.
βIβm not being a creep,β He hissed back, trying to keep his voice down so as not to wake you.
βYou're staring at her like a creep.β
βI donβt know.β Adebayo paused as she downed a glass of water. βItβs kind of cute.β
"Yeah, exactly, you're the creep for watching us," Adrian whispered smugly, and Harcourt rolled her eyes. βI thought you hatedβ¦ skin to skin contactβ
βEw," Adrian made a disgusted face. "I do. I don't get how anyone would like that. It makes no sense.β
As he spoke, you stirred awake, lifting yourself up a bit to try to work out where you are. Without taking his eyes off Harcourt and βEw", Adrian pushed your head back down, forcing you to continue cuddling with him.
βAnd donβt act like Iβm a freak for that, cause it's perfectly normal. Chris told me a lot of things are normal.β
Again, you tried to sit up, only for Adrian to pull you back down, stroking his hand through your hair as if he was trying to magically get you back to sleep. Adebayo and Harcourt shared a look, something that seemed to fill Adrian with more passion.
βSee, look at that. You two are judgmental. You would probably judge me for my crow facts, or mantaray facts, or that I like spiders and- Stop moving! You're hurting my ribs,β Adrian interrupted himself as he looked down at you, acting as if he wasn't the one trying to keep you in place.
βI think Iβm gonna be sick,β You grumbled, and Adrian instantly let go of you. You ran out of the room, instantly going to the bathroom toβ¦do what you had to.
Adrian stood up, throwing up his hands at Adebayo and Harcourt. βLook what you did,β He spoke as if your excessive drinking had been their fault.
Adrian rushed behind you to offer you comfort and hold your hairβ¦also to explain to John why he was being woken up by the sounds of your vomit.
Harcourt and Ads shared a look with each other. They knew nothing they could say would ever get you together; you worked on your own frequency.
All they knew was that you were made for each other, and the fact was sweet and sickening.
Steve was freezing, and for the life of him couldnβt find where his sweater had gone.
He had decided to stop by your place after work, joining you for dinner before announcing heβd be heading back home, but when he went to leave he couldnβt find his sweater anywhere.
He thought it would be fine, but the second he stepped outside, the harsh autumn hair nipped at his skin unforgivingly.
βBabe, where is my sweater? Iβm not going back outside until I find it.β He sighed as he rubbed his arms, trying to warm himself back up.
He turned the corner back into your living room to see you there, curled up on the couch cushions, wearing the very sweater he thought he misplaced.
You looked up as he called for you, a smile forming on your lips. βI got cold,β you said quietly, turning your body a bit to face him. βYou can take my back if you really need it, I have my own in my room.β
He stood there for a second before shaking his head, walking over to you and plopped onto the cushion. βIβll just stay here, this is clearly a sign for me not to leave.β
He wrapped an arm around you and tugged you closer, leaning into your warmth as he let out a content sigh. βSweater thief,β he mumbled out, burying his face in your neck. βYouβre lucky it looks cute on you.β
Note: need to take someone to a pumpkin patch desperately
Scott still wasnβt sure why he ever agreed to this, he had far more important things he should be doing right now. But you insisted on going to a pumpkin patch for a date, and he just couldnβt resist after seeing you pout at him.
Sure he was being somewhat of a grump the whole time, but he was willingly following you and even giving his own take on which pumpkins he thought would be best for carving.
He trailed behind you like a guard dog, his gaze constantly flickering between you and the people you passed, making sure to stop in time so he didnβt slam into you by accident again.
βIs this one too tall?β You asked while inspecting another pumpkin, glancing up at him and waited for his response. βWell, it depends on what kind of thing youβre gonna carve. Is it tall?β
You thought for a moment, before shaking your head. βMore wide if anything. Iβm putting Jack Skellington's face on it.β You said, shooting him a smile before pushing yourself to your feet again and making your way farther down the row.
He sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets, his eyes scanning over the pumpkins below him before stopping and gestured to one. βHey, howβs this one?β
You looked back before quickly jogging over, leaning down to check it out. It wasnβt too tall or too wide, perfectly round for your design, and probably one of the most orange ones in the patch.
βLook at you actually paying attention to what makes a good pumpkin,β you teased, picking it up and holding it close. βLetβs go find the guy so we can buy it.β
Before you started to walk he quickly grabbed the pumpkin from you, kissed your head and gestured for you to walk in front of him. βIβm paying, by the way. And if you need help later.. Iβm willing to carve.β
βSee, I knew youβd come around to the idea of it!β
Note: wrote this while watching Harry Potter and started brainstorming more ideas or after flufftober ..
Sunday was the one day most of you and your friends had off, mostly because half the families in your town were going to Church or heading out to visit family.
It was a total reset, giving you time to decompress and cool off from the previous week. You didnβt have to worry about school or work for once.
Steve had invited you over, mostly with the hope that the two of you would do something more productive than just sitting around the entire time, but of course thatβs what always happened on Sundays.
It was too cold to go into the pool, too last minute to ask anyone else to come over, and the only thing he had at home was a few VHS tapes and a half empty pantry.
βWe should do this more often,β he said, shoving another handful of chips into his mouth as he stared at the TV, before tearing his gaze away to look at you. βItβs great to just.. sit around.β
You could only nod in agreement, meeting his gaze for a second as you gave him a small smile. βRight? Nothing to worry about or take care of.β
You felt as he shifted closer to you on the couch, throwing an arm around your shoulders. You leant into his touch instinctively, head finding purchase on his own shoulder.
βWe should totally do this next week.β He said quietly, his head resting against yours before shutting his eyes.
You let out a hum in agreement, feeling as his body slowly slumped against yours, his snores quietly following after.
Note: I need to watch Hollywood again istg thatβs my husband
When Jack got the news that the rain was stopping his shooting for the day he was a bit disappointed, but after realizing it was your day off and he got to spend the day with you he couldnβt have been happier.
βIβm surprised youβre not more upset about this,β you said from the kitchen, turning over your shoulder to meet his gaze. βUsually you hate when shooting gets pushed back.β
He looked up from his newspaper with a smile, shrugging as he shifted in his chair. βWell, it happens to be your day off as well, which means I get to be with you instead of all alone.β
You gave him a matching smile, before your gaze trailed to the window next to you, watching the rain droplets run down the glass, the ambiance of it tapping filling the usually quiet room.
You heard his chair slide against the floor before he stepped over to you, arms wrapping around your waist and his chin resting on your shoulder.
βI always love seeing you like this,β he said, planting a kiss on your cheek. βReminds me just how good I have it.β
βI love you too, Jack.β You chuckled, turning back to him and kissed him back, feeling his smile grow against your lips.
synopsis: you knew this universe would be different. you just didnβt expect to hear your own voice calling adrian βbabe.β now thereβs two of you, two of him, and way too many feelings youβve been ignoring.
pairings: adrian chase x f!reader (reader is implied poc. see post for more details about it)
tags: friends to lovers, slow build, mutual pining, slowburn, fluff with a bit of angst
warnings: mentions of injury and blood, brief references to violence, canon typical violence
word count: 15, 980 ββ crossposted on ao3
a/n: hello everyone, i highly suggest reading the post regarding the reader. i hope you enjoy reading and also, i made a spotify playlist for the fic. i suggest listening to it while reading :D magnets | adrian c. playlist
Instead of staying with Economos and Leota, you had decided to tag along with Adrian on his quest to find his so-called βother me.β Youβd called him ridiculous, because, well, he was. But curiosity won out. What would another Adrian even be like? Smarter? Colder? Maybe less prone to talking about animal facts?
You didnβt know what you expected, but it definitely wasnβt this.
Because now you were standing in the middle of his secret room, the alternate-universe Adrianβs secret room. And the weirdest part? It was almost identical to the one you knew. Same cramped walls lined with gleaming weapons, same smell of metal and disinfectant hanging thick in the air. The only real difference was the absence of the stacks of cocaine and money shoved between shelves.
If it werenβt for that, you mightβve thought you were back home.
And then there were the two Adrians.Β
They faced each other like a live-action Spider-Man meme, each pointing, tilting their heads, speaking in the same cadence, so much so that you burst into laughter because of how ridiculous this was.Β
The βother Adrianβ froze mid-point and looked at you with wide eyes.
βWow,β he said, grinning, βyou laugh exactly like her!β
You blinked, heat creeping into your cheeks. βLikeβ¦ your me?β
βYeah!β Other Adrian said brightly, as if this was the most normal conversation in the world. βUncanny. Itβs like you cloned her laugh and just dropped it in your throat.β
βOkay, weird phrasing,β you muttered, still smiling despite yourself.
Beside you, your Adrian was practically vibrating. βSee? He gets it. Youβre basically the same here too, which makes sense, because weβre basically the same, and that means we can totally trust each other.β He gestured between himself and his double like it was a done deal.
βAdrian,β you sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose. βYou canβt just trustβ¦ yourself. That easily.β
βWhy not?β he asked, genuinely baffled.
βBecauseββ you gestured vaguely toward the other one, βyou donβt know him. Just because heβs you doesnβt mean heβs actually you.β
βThat makes no sense,β both Adrians said at the exact same time, which only made you laugh harder.
Your Adrian grinned and leaned closer, as if heβd just landed the winning argument. βIf you trust me, you trust him. Or, well, me. And him. Us.β
Other Adrian nodded enthusiastically, pointing at him. βExactly. Finally, someone who understands how logic works.β
You groaned. βGod help me, thereβs two of you.β
One Adrian, you could handle. Barely. But two? That was like standing in front of a broken fire hydrant, water blasting out in every direction, and you had no choice but to sit down and let it drench you. So you sat down on the couch and watched the chaos unfold in front of you.
Up close, the similarities were almost unnerving. The posture, the restless hands, the way their voices lifted with enthusiasm even when the topic was wildly inappropriate, nearly identical. Even their Vigilante suits were the same, down to the stitching pattern. If you squinted, the only obvious difference was the glasses. Your Adrianβs frames were silver and rectangular, sharp edges catching the light. The other Adrianβs were gold and round, softer, almost old-fashioned.
Which was the problem.
Because if this Adrian really was just like yours⦠then maybe, despite your better judgment, he was trustworthy. But then the other Adrian casually dropped the bomb.
βI fucking hate that guy.β
The words hit you sideways, sharp enough to cut through their endless stream of chatter. You turned, brows raised. βWait, what?β
Other Adrianβs mouth twisted, and for the first time, his expression carried something darker than gleeful energy.Β βIβve dedicated my entire life to tearing down everything he stands for.βΒ
You opened your mouth to press, what exactly did that mean?, but didnβt get the chance.
Your Adrian jumped in, instantly defensive, insisting Peacemaker was his best friend, his other half in the field, two peas in a pod. His voice rose with each word, equal parts pride and exasperation. Alt-Adrian, however, was unshaken. To him, Peacemaker wasnβt a friend. He was an archenemy, the entire reason heβd joined the Sons of Liberty in this world.
That gave you pause. Because if Adrian hated someone this much, there had to be a reason.
You were slowly connecting the dots. From what Chris had told you, his father and brother were alive here, and not just alive, but thriving. All three of them, working together, some kind of untouchable trio. And the name Sons of Libertyβ¦ it wasnβt exactly subtle. You just needed confirmation.
You leaned forward, pulse quickening. βOkay,β you started, voice steadier than you felt, βElaborate. Now. βCause clearly somethings wrongββ
Alt-Adrian drew in a breath, like heβd been waiting for the chance to finally explain. His mouth opened, the words forming already, something heavy enough to split the room in halfβ
βBabe?β
The sound sliced straight through the air, through your skin, down into your ribs. A single word, but your body recognized it instantly. The cadence was familiar, achingly so. Familiar in a way that made your stomach flip.
Your head snapped toward the doorway before you could stop yourself. For a moment, you thought maybe youβd imagined it, that the weirdness of this world was finally unraveling you but no. The voice carried again, closer this time, playful and casual, the way yours sometimes was when your guard slipped.
βBabe, you in here?β
It was your voice.
Your voice. Calling Adrian babe.
Youβd expected differences here. Of course you had. You werenβt stupid. But you hadnβt expected this. You hadnβt been braced for a version of you who spoke words you couldnβt even imagine saying out loud. Youβd let your guard drop because both Adrians were so alike, because their sameness made you feel almost safe. And now this felt like the floor giving way.
It wasnβt just your voice. It was your voice, laced with a kind of closeness youβd always denied yourself, something youβd only let surface in the quiet, private corners of your mind. To hear it now, out loud, was unbearable.
Your Adrian went still, so still you could almost hear the gears in his head grinding to a halt. For once, the constant hum of chatter that usually spilled from his mouth was gone. Nothing but silence, wide eyes darting from you to the doorway like he was stuck in some bizarre nightmare he couldnβt logic his way out of.
And then she stepped in.
Her.
You.
Or rather, another you.
The sight of her nearly knocked the air out of your chest. Same face, same frame, same sharp lines in the brow and curve of the mouth, but different, too. Her hair was cropped shorter, cut uneven, like sheβd taken scissors to it herself without much care beyond getting it out of her way. And though the outfit she wore was almost uncanny in its similarity to what you wouldβve thrown on back home, there was a weight to it here. A sharper edge. As if the clothes werenβt just clothes but armor, built for the kind of world she had to walk through.
Beside you, your Adrian hadnβt moved. His expression was open shock, every emotion flickering across his face in real time: disbelief, wonder, confusion, and something else you couldnβt quite name. His mouth worked, opened, closed again. He looked from you to her like his brain was stuck in an infinite loop of error messages, trying and failing to reconcile what he was seeing.
βWhat the fββ you started, but her voice cut across yours, a perfect echo.
βWhat the fuck?β
Her hand was already moving before the words even finished leaving her lips. A gun appeared, drawn smooth and fast, barrel locking on you like sheβd done it a hundred times before.
Your body reacted without thought. Muscle memory. Steel flashed in your grip, your own weapon raised and sight trained on her just as quick. Two of you, perfectly matched, mirrored down to the way your fingers curled tight around the trigger.
Your Adrian made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a squeak, then tried to cover it with a nervous laugh. His hands shot up, palms out, like that would do anything against two barrels aimed so steady it felt like the air itself froze.
Alt-Adrian? He looked delighted. Absolutely beaming, like this was the single greatest thing heβd ever witnessed. He pointed proudly between the two of you, grin stretching wide.
βSee!β he exclaimed. βExactly the same!β
The other you didnβt lower her gun. Her eyes flicked from him to you, sharp and skeptical, voice cutting hard through the room.
βWhat the hell is going on?β
Alt-Adrian lifted his hands, palms out, as if he could soothe the tension right out of the air. His grin didnβt falter.
βBabe, itβs okay. Calm down. I meanβlook at them! Itβs us! You trust me, right? You trust yourself. So why not trust the other-universe us?β
You frowned. βYou canβt just trust them because theyβre us, Adrian.β
Your Adrian let out a sharp gasp. βOh my God, she said the same thing! Youβre right, they are the exact same!β
And before you could even process, both Adrians were practically bouncing, talking over each other, grinning like idiots.
Your pulse was still hammering, your gun still raised, and you finally snapped, in unison with her, voices overlapping so perfectly it was eerie:
βAdrian!β
Both Adrians stopped at once, blinking, then broke into twin grins like that was somehow proof theyβd won the argument.
Your eyes cut to her at the same time hers cut to you. For a moment it was like staring into a warped mirrorβsame impatience, same irritation simmering under your skin, same quick calculation sparking behind the eyes.
Then, at once, you both spoke.
βWhat the hell is Sons of Liberty?β you demanded.
βWho the fuck are you and what are you doing here?β she snapped.
The words tangled in the air, clashing hard enough that you both fell silent, studying each other like you could peel back the answers from each otherβs faces.
You tightened your grip on the gun still angled low by your side, not quite willing to holster it yet. βI asked first,β you said, sharper than you meant to.
Her mouth pulled into a humorless smile, though it didnβt reach her eyes. βCute. Doesnβt work that way here.β
You exhaled sharply through your nose. βFine. Weβre from a different universe. Weβre here to get our Peacemaker.β
Her face scrunched, disbelief flickering across her features. βYouβre friends with Peacemaker?β
You rolled your eyes. βLook, whatever he is in this universe, heβs not that bad in ours, okay?β
Alt Adrian frowned, visibly confused. βSo heβs not a Nazi asshole?β
You blinked. βWhat the fuck? No! Heβs just a normal asshole.β
Then you turned back to her, lowering the gun just a fraction. βNow what the hell is βSons of Libertyβ?β
Alt Adrian stepped forward and explained how βSons of Libertyβ was the only real resistance left in a world where the Nazis had won. His words hit hard, each one making the pit in your stomach deepen. Youβd seen it on the way here, hadnβt you? Not a single person of color anywhere.
Your stomach sank as realization hit. Peacemakerβs father, who in your world was already a walking manifesto of bigotry, wasnβt just alive here. He was one of the ruling trio. The face of the regime.
It made a sick kind of sense. Your Adrian had explained how the Americanβs won WW2 to which Alt-Adrian replies with:
βYou must live in, like, a utopia?β
You and your Adrian exchanged a look. One that said absolutely not.
βUhm,β he started.
βNot exactly,β you finished.
And the truth hung heavy between you. Because as much as you wanted to laugh it off, say of course weβre nothing like this place, some part of you knew better. Things werenβt this bad in your world. Not yet. But it was close enough to sting. The cracks were already there: the headlines that blurred cruelty into policy, the quiet hate that no one called by name, the way it all felt just a little colder lately. Different, sure, but starting to hum the same tune.
Alt Adrian went on, voice quieter now. He told you that everything anyone had here. Their safety, their comfort, their power, it all came at the expense of everyone else. Outsiders, he called them. Theyβre all forced to toil away in camps their entire lives. And he just couldnβt stand by and watch it happen.
As he spoke, you caught movement out of the corner of your eye. The other you had finally lowered her gun. Her posture stayed sharp, but there was something fragile in her face now. An ache is buried beneath the hardened edges. Her gaze flickered toward the floor, then away, jaw tightening like she was fighting to keep herself composed.
Your Adrian nodded solemnly. βYeah. Thatβs kinda how I feel when somebody does graffiti. Thatβs not yours to draw on.β
You exhaled through your nose, finally lowering your gun. βAdrian,β you said tiredly. βThatβs not the same at all.β
Both Adrians were sitting down, side by side, as Alt-Adrian finished explaining what the hell was going on in this universe. A beat passed before it hit you and your Adrian at the same time.
Your heads turned in sync.
βAdebayo,β you said in unison.
βWhoβs that?β the other you asked.
βWe came here with someone whoβsβ¦ technically Black,β your Adrian said.
βTechnically?β she repeated, disbelief sharpening her tone. βLike, you canβt tell?β
βNo, you can fully tell. That was like one of the first things I noticed about her.β
βShit,β Alt Adrian cut in, suddenly serious. βThen we'd better move. If they find your friend, youβll never see her again.β
Your Adrian turned to you with that same ridiculous grin. βSee? Arenβt you glad you tagged along with me?β
You shake your head, jaw tight. βWeβre lucky no one saw me, Adrian.β
Before he could respond, probably with something catastrophically optimistic, the other you spoke up.Β
βWait.β
Everyone turned. Her voice had that kind of authority that shut down a room, even when it sounded exhausted. She glanced at you, then at your Adrian, then at the window where the light was already starting to dim.Β
βYou two go first,β she said. βWeβll wait until itβs darker. Iβll find something to cover her. Less chance someone notices.β
You nodded once, throat tight. There was something oddly grounding about hearing your own voice, harsher and more worn, say what youβd been too cautious to admit out loud.
Both Adrians were already nodding, preparing to move, when Alt Adrian suddenly stopped.Β
βWait,β Alt Adrian said, spinning on his heel. He crossed the space in two quick strides and leaned down toward her.
You froze.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead first. It was gentle, almost reverent and then to her lips. And for some reason, the sight of seeing yourself get kissed by Adrian (well, other Adrian) made your heart cave in a little.
βReally?β Alt you said, eyebrows lifting even as the corner of her mouth curved up. βIn front of them?β
βWhat? Itβs literally just us,β he replied, grinning like it was the most natural thing in the world. Then he jogged toward the door.Β
βBe careful!β she called after him.Β
Then it was quiet again.
You stood there, blinking, like your brain needed an extra second to process what you just saw.
Yourself. Kissing Adrian.
It felt like deja vu in the strangest way, like watching a memory that wasnβt yours but still somehow belonged to you. Because sure, it was her, not you, but the way she leaned into it, the way his hand brushed her arm like it was second natureβ¦you could feel the ghost of his touch in your own skin.
Youβd never even let yourself think about kissing him. Well, maybe you have, once. Maybe twice. Always in the quiet corners of your mind, where it didnβt have to mean anything. But seeing it now, seeing you do it. Seeing a version of yourself that didnβt hesitate, didnβt overthink, didnβt stop to count all the reasons why she shouldnβt. It made something uneasy twist in your stomach.
It was a reminder. That maybe the only thing stopping you from that version of yourself was⦠well, you.
You glanced over, half-expecting Adrian to say something dumb to cut through the awkward silence. But he didnβt. He was still staring toward the door where the other Adrian had gone, his face caught somewhere between confusion and something almost vulnerable. When his eyes met yours, the look only deepened, like he wanted to say something but couldnβt quite find the words. The other you was still in the room, watching quietly, and somehow that made it worse, the air thick with everything none of you were saying.
Alt you let out a quiet sigh, shaking her head like sheβd seen this play out a hundred times before. You caught her muttering something under her breath before she turned away to rummage through one of the shelves.
Adrian shifted beside you, hesitant for once. Then, without a word, he stepped closer and leaned in, pressing a quick, almost clumsy kiss to your forehead. He then immediately left the room and followed other Adrian. It was over before your brain could even register it, leaving a ghost of warmth in its wake.
The warmth lingered longer than it shouldβve, a soft pulse against your skin that you tried very, very hard not to think about. You straightened, tugging at your sleeve like that would somehow fix the weird, fluttery feeling twisting in your stomach.
βGuess you and your Adrian arenβt together yet?β came a voice from behind you.
You turned to find her watching you, arms crossed, one brow raised.
βYet?β you repeated, choking out a laugh. βYeah, thatβs never gonna happen.β
Alt you snorted, amused, and tossed you a bandana sheβd pulled from the shelf.
βYeah,β she said, smirking. βI said that too.β
You caught it on reflex, jaw tightening. βJust because you and your Adrian are in love or whatever doesnβt mean we are.β
She shrugged, unbothered. βSure.β
You narrowed your eyes. βWeβre not.β
βDidnβt say you were.β
βGood, because weβre not.β
Her lips twitched like she was holding back a laugh, and somehow that irritated you more than if sheβd said anything at all. You tore your gaze away, focusing on tying the bandana around your face just a little too tightly, pretending your heartbeat wasnβt still tripping over itself from something as stupid as a forehead kiss.
She handed you a gun and a knife, metal cold against your palms. βJust in case,β she said, tone even.
You nodded, tucking the knife into your jacket and checking the gunβs safety. Then, together, you slipped out of the house. The air outside was colder, heavier somehow, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Both of you kept your heads down, faces hidden beneath the fabric, blending into the shadows as you moved.
For a few minutes, everything went smoothly. Until a door creaked open across the street.
You froze.
A man stepped out, leash in hand, whistling softly for his dog. The animal padded into view, sniffing the ground, with its tail wagging, and both of you ducked behind a rusted car, backs pressed to the metal as the footsteps drew closer.
You could hear her breathing beside you, steady, practiced. Sheβd done this before.
You, on the other hand, were still trying not to choke on your own heartbeat.
And maybe it was the adrenaline, or the quiet, or the weird ache that had been building in your chest since you saw her kiss her Adrian, but the question slipped out before you could stop it.
βSoβ¦ how did you and Adrian even happen?β
Your voice was barely above a whisper, curious and cautious all at once. You werenβt sure if you wanted the answer or just needed to fill the silence.
She turned to you, eyes squinting above the bandana. Then, softly, she laughed. βYou really wanna know, right now?β
You nodded. βWell, yeah. Looks like theyβre gonna take a while.β You tilted your chin toward the dog, who was currently circling for the perfect place to poop.
Her smile curved under the fabric, faint but visible in her eyes. βHe saved me.β
Something in your chest tugged, a mix of warmth and bitterness. Ugh. Thatβs such a βyouβ way to fall for somebody. Youβre such a cliche.
You could almost picture it: him, grinning, trying to lighten the mood in some half-collapsed safehouse. It sounded too familiar.
βButβ¦β she exhaled, shoulders sinking slightly. βWith all the fucked-up shit happening out there, I realized I needed him. And he needed me.β Her voice softened. βWe were trying to save one of my family members from the camps. It was supposed to be quick. Get in, get out. But I got hit. Could barely move.β
She paused. For a moment, the world went quiet except for the soft jingle of a dog collar in the distance.
βWhen the guards found us, they were gonna shoot. Heββ she swallowed, ββhe took the bullet for me. Shouldβve died. But somehow, he didnβt. Crawled both of us out of there.β
You stared at her, throat tightening. βAnd after that?β
Her eyes flicked to you, a ghost of a smile there. βAfter that, I stopped pretending I didnβt love him.β
The dog barked suddenly, and both of you froze, pressed against the rusted car until the sound faded. The man tugged on the leash, muttering, and disappeared back inside, leaving only the echo of her words behind.
He saved me.
You tried to reason with yourself. Her world was brutal and survival-driven, especially to people like you. Of course people clung to each other in that kind of place. Here, love wasnβt flowers or quiet moments; it was about who stood between you and death. It made sense that sheβd fall for the one who did.
You told yourself it wasnβt the same for you. You and Adrian had met during Project Butterfly. Partners by circumstance, not choice. Youβd helped each other because you had to. Him saving you that one time wasnβt an act of love; it was an act of impulse. Maybe duty. Maybe just plain Adrian-being-Adrian, the kind of guy whoβd throw himself in front of a bullet without thinking, without realizing the mess heβd leave you to untangle afterward.
But now, seeing this version of yourself talk about him like that. Seeing the quiet conviction in her eyes, something inside you twisted. Not jealousy exactly. More like unease. Like watching someone else live out a truth youβd buried too deep to admit.
Meanwhile, a few streets over, the Adrians were crouched low behind a half-dead hedge, the flashing red-and-blue glow from the cop car painting their faces in uneven bursts.
βDude, we should just take them out,β your Adrian muttered, squinting through the leaves. βTwo quick shots, drag the bodies behind the dumpster. Easy.β
Alt Adrian shook his head immediately. βNo, dude. Letβs wait for them. I donβt need another lecture from her about how I donβt think before I act.β
Adrian blinked, then let out a quiet laugh. βNo way! She tells me that, too. Like, exactly that.β He tilted his head, a smile tugging under his mask. βGuess thatβsβ¦ kind of universal.β
Alt Adrian smirked, clearly amused by the symmetry. βSee? Isnβt it kinda awesome? You and me, and our girlfriends. Basically the same.β
Your Adrian blinked. βGirlfriends?β
Alt-Adrian raised an eyebrow. βUh, yeah? Is she not your girlfriend?β
Adrian eased back against the shrub, trying to make his voice casual.Β βWeβre partners. Sheβs just one of my best friends. Like, top tier bff. Above Peacemaker sometimes when sheβs really nice to me.β
Alt-Adrian chuckled softly. βWoahβ¦ I used to say that too not the Peacemaker part, obviously. tBut hey, donβt worry, youβll figure it out eventually.β
Adrianβs jaw tightened. βFuck, no, dude. Nothing to figure out. Sheβs my best friend. Thatβs it. Thatβs all weβll ever be.β His voice had that sharp edge, almost defensive, like he was trying to convince himself more than anyone else.
Alt-Adrian tilted his head. βOkayβ¦ but, like, do you feel the need to know everything about her? You knowβ¦ all the little stuff? Do you feel the need to impress her, all the time?β
Adrian blinked, caught off guard, then muttered, ββ¦Yeah. I meanβ¦ yeah.β
Alt-Adrian laughed, a low, teasing sound. βHah. Then that means you like her.β
Adrian scoffed, waving a hand. βNo! I do that with everyone I care about, okay? Doesnβt mean I love her.β
Alt-Adrian snorted. βDude, never said anything about love. You dropped the L bomb, not me.β
Adrian paced a little behind the bush. βLook, I notice her, okay? I pay attention. I make sure sheβs safe, Iβdamn it, I care. Doesnβt mean itβsβ¦ I donβt knowβ¦ romantic. Itβs justβ¦ literally part of being a best friend?β
Alt-Adrian tilted his head, smirking under his mask like heβd seen this a thousand times. βYeah, okay. I get that. But itβs different with her, isnβt it? You donβt do this for just anyone. The way you worry, the way youβ¦ I donβt knowβ¦ notice every little thing about herβitβs not just friendship stuff, man. You feel it differently.β
Adrian blinked, stiffening. ββ¦Feel it differently how? Like, protective? Iβm protective of everyone I care about.β
Alt-Adrian snorted. βSure, maybe. But thereβs a weight to it with her, isnβt there? A pull? Youβll figure it out eventually. Took me a while to figure it out with mine, trust me.β
Alt-Adrianβs smirk faltered for a moment as Alt-Reader tapped his shoulder.Β
βFigure what out?β she asked, eyes narrowing.
Both Adriansβ hands shot instinctively toward their guns, tense and ready.Β
βOh,β Alt-Adrian said, lowering his weapon with a grin that you could hear even through the helmet. βJust you andβ¦ you.β
Alt-You ignored him. βWhatβs going on?β
Before either could answer, a voice drifted over from the road. One of the cops.
βSaw a Black woman, maybe thirties. Ran off that way. Probably an escapee.β
Β The words hit you like a punch. You didnβt even have to think about who they meant. Adebayo.
Your pulse spiked. βWe have to find her. Now.β
Alt-Adrian tilted his head, casual as ever. βOr we kill them first, make it easier.β
βBabe, no,β Alt-You said immediately, steady hand on his arm. βNot now. We donβt need that kind of attention.β
You blinked. βBabe? How do you even know thatβs your Adrian?β
She shrugged. βYou just know.β
You stared at her, but she didnβt elaborate. The silence that followed felt heavy, the kind that hummed with everything none of you wanted to admit.
The copsβ voices faded as they turned the corner, their footsteps echoing until they disappeared completely. You waited a beat longer before stepping out from cover, brushing dirt off your jeans.
Alt-Adrian glanced around once, then started walking. βWell, that was fun,β he said. βSo, what else is different in your world? You know, besides Cheeri-Ohβs being spelled wrong.β
Adrian snorted, trailing beside him. βSpelled right, actually. Itβs Cheerioβs, with an O.β
Alt-Adrian shook his head. βNot in my world, itβs not. But seriously, whatβs different? Likeβstuff about you, your life, whatever.β
βExactly,β Adrian said, completely straight-faced.
βExactly,β Adrian said, completely serious. βAlso, my dadβs not gay here. And sheβs shorter in this universe.β
Alt-Adrian blinked. βWhat? Sheβs shorter? No way, really? I didnβt even notice thatβthatβs so funny and weird!β
You stopped mid-step, giving him a look. βThatβs the part that shocks you?β
Alt-You, curious, stepped closer. βHold on, now I gotta see. Letβs stand next to each other.β
You rolled your eyes but did it anyway, standing shoulder to shoulder. Alt-Adrian leaned forward, squinting between the two of you.
βDude, youβre right,β he said, grinning. βHow the hell did you even notice that?β
Adrian just shrugged, pretending to play it off. βI notice everything about her.β
The words hit you harder than you expected. It wasnβt even what he said, it was how he said it. No hesitation, no irony. Just plain, matter-of-fact truth. Something warm flickered low in your chest before you pushed it down, fast.
βLetβs go, guys,β you said quickly, turning away before anyone could see the look on your face. βWe do not have time for this.β
You started walking again, hearing the crunch of gravel as the others followed. Beside you, Alt-You kept sneaking glances your way until you finally sighed.Β
βWhat?β
She grinned, all knowing mischief. βNothing. Just... that was cute.β
You frowned. βThat was not cute.β
Alt-You hummed. βSure.β
Adrian looked between you two, suspicious. βWait, what are you guys talking about? You already have inside jokes? How?β
You scoffed. βNo, Adrian, we donβtββ You stopped mid-sentence, blinking as the realization hit. βWait. How did I even know that youβre my Adrian?β
Alt-Reader smirked, crossing her arms. βTold you. You just know.β
Alt-Adrian perked up immediately. βOoh, maybe itβs like a soulmate thing! Like, across every universe. Cosmic connection, neural link, fateβboom. Like, our frequencies are synced across universes, you know?β He gestured wildly, clearly getting into it. βThat would explain everything.β
Adrianβs head snapped toward him. βSheβs not my soulmate,β he said, a little too fast. βMatter of fact, I would say Peacemaker is my soulmate.β
Alt-Adrian laughed. βOkay, pop quiz then. I bet Peacemaker doesnβt even know what your thing is when youβre anxious.β He pointed at you, grinning. βBut I bet she does.β
Adrian straightened, instantly defensive. βThatβs so specific! But you know what? He totally would, because weβre best friends. Soulmates, even.β
You groaned. βCan the both of you shut up?β You looked at Alt-Reader for backup, but she just gave you a look that said, youβre on your own.
Alt-Adrian leaned forward, undeterred. βFine, but you still have to answer first.β
You sighed, finally relenting. βHe, uhβ¦ taps his ring finger against his leg. Every time.β
Adrian froze, blinking like heβd just been exposed. His hand twitched unconsciously toward his leg before he caught himself. For a second, he couldnβt even find the right words, just felt this strange, quiet jolt in his chest. You noticed that?Β
Something so small, so stupidly insignificant that even he hadnβt realized he did it that often.
He laughed under his breath, a little uncertain, trying to mask the flicker of warmth that came with the embarrassment.Β
βHow do you even know that?β he asked, pretending it was funny but sounding almost careful.
You just shrugged. βYouβre not really subtle, Adrian. Plus, youβre not the only one who notices things.β
Alt-Adrian grinned under his mask like heβd just uncovered a secret. βSee! Soulmates, man. You literally know everything about each other, even the tiniest, dumbest little things. Just like me and her.β He jabbed a thumb at Alt-You, still smirking.
But there was no way you were admitting you knew that.
Alt-Adrian pouted. βAw, cβmon, I know you know itββ
Thankfully, Alt-Reader cut in, smacking his arm. βLeave them alone, you menace.β
The Adrians finally went quiet, grumbling under their breath but no longer bickering. You let out a silent sigh and moved cautiously down the street, Alt-You matching your pace.
By the time you reached the edge of Peacemakerβs property, your stomach was tied in knots. Police cars were stationed along the perimeter, engines faintly humming, flashlights off but their presence obvious. You crouched behind the nearest row of bushes, pressing low.
A movement caught your eye, Adebayo and the Judo Master were pressed into the shadows a few feet away, crouched behind another patch of shrubbery. Relief washed over you.Β
βThere you are,β you whispered, slipping closer to them.
βWhat the fuck?β Adebayo blurts.
Adrian holds up a hand, trying to act casual. βHey. Donβt worry. Itβs me. Andβ¦ other me.β
Alt-Adrian just waves, helmet glinting. βHey. Nice to meet you.β
Adebayo blinks at you and Alt-You. βWait. Thereβs another you too? This is getting really crazy.β
Adrian spots Judo Master, and he stiffens, jaw tightening. Comments on how he hates him and how little he is. You feel that familiar irritation radiating off him.
βAdrian. Chill. We have bigger things to deal with right now,β you murmur, low.
Alt-Adrian squinted and pointed at the Judo Masterβs chest. βWhatβs that symbol mean anyway? Looks likeβ¦ someone splashed cum on you.β
The Judo Master raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. βWhy would you want to splash cum on me?β
Alt-Adrianβs head snapped toward Alt-You. βFuck! What? I donβt! Babe, tell him I donβt wanna splash cum on him!β
βAnd if he did, itβd probably just be as a joke.β Your Adrian adds.
Adebayoβs eyes went wide, pointing at you and Adrian. βWaitβ¦ babe? Are you guys dating in this universe?β
βI know. Unbelievable, right?β you mutter, ducking a little behind the bush.
βWellβ¦ β Adebayo looks at Alt-Adrian and Alt-You. βOut of all the things that are wrong with this universeβ¦ that actually makes sense.β
Adrian's hand twitched almost unconsciously, tapping his finger against his thigh. Once. Twice. He caught himself before the third, freezing mid-motion as if suddenly aware of how exposed he looked, even under the mask. He did the thing. The exact little thing youβd apparently noticed countless times before. He shifted slightly, uneasy under the scrutiny of the group, and pressed a mental reset button. Focus. Eyes on the mission. The bizarre, chaotic reality around him made room for no indulgence. He couldnβt afford to dwell on how Adebayoβs comment had brushed against the raw edges of something heβd been pretending didnβt exist.Β
You felt a rush of heat, almost embarrassment. All the comments from other you and other Adrian, and now Adebayo? Theyβre all slowly starting to make sense, but you couldnβt indulge in these thoughts, not now. There were bigger things on the line. Survival, strategy, and keeping everyone safe. You had to keep moving.
Alt-You noticed the shift immediately and gave you a sharp nudge, changing the subject and steering both of you away from the tense intimacy. Behind the bush, the distant sirens and the rustle of leaves reminded you that the real danger hadnβt gone anywhere.
The Adrians and Judo Master, true to form, began muttering again about βhandlingβ the cops. While you, Alt-You, and Adebayo exchanged exasperated glances. Sneaking inside, careful and precise, won out over any rash ideas.
The glass shattered before anyone could blink. Adrian didnβt hesitate. He smashed through the window with brutal efficiency and the world went sideways. Chrisβs father went down under the flash of Adrianβs knife, blood hitting the floor with a wet, metallic sound that made your stomach lurch. Chaos erupted.
Cops poured in immediately, shouting and firing, but the Adrians moved like extensions of the same mind. Each shot, each movement, mirrored, complementary and your own eyes couldnβt process it fast enough. Alt-Adrian jabbed, twisted, shot, ducked, all in one fluid motion, and your breath caught at how terrifyingly perfect their coordination was.
You and Alt-You had to match them, had to fight, had to keep moving. Every dodge, every sweep, every counter felt orchestrated, as if you four had danced this deadly ballet a thousand times in some other life. Horrifying. Beautiful. Absolutely horrifying.
You barely had time to think. Adrian went down suddenly, a shot ripped into him as he threw himself in front of you. Two times now, he had saved you, and even amid the chaos, you couldnβt help but wonder if this it was instinct or something more. Your heart slammed against your ribs as you yelled his name, and thankfully, Adebayo was there to drag him toward the trophy room.
Alt-Adrian didnβt miss a beat, spinning and firing at the guy whoβd taken the shot, cold, precise, eyes darting back and forth.
βGood one, babe,β Alt-Reader called, grabbing your arm and rushing you toward the trophy room while Alt-Adrian followed, screaming, βSons of Liberty forever!β
From there, the group moved as one. Every strike, block, and counter fell into place with terrifying efficiency. They overwhelmed Keith, and Chris stepped in just in time to stop the carnage, but the exact details of that were a blur, adrenaline and fear colliding into one endless, violent pulse.
Before leaving, the Adrians hugged. Alt-You gave you a nod, a small smile, and the moment ended as quickly as it started.
Adrian waited by the dimensional portal, muscles tense, looking at you. You didnβt step forward waiting for Harcourt. She had asked for Alt-Adrian for a gun to shoot Keith, but before she could do the cops swarmed the room. The second the cops rushed in, Alt-Adrian and Alt-You didnβt hesitate. Shots rang out like thunder. Adrian grabbed you forcefully, yanking you inside the door, then, without pause, pulled Emilia up and into cover.
Alt-Adrian glanced once, executed a perfect flip, and closed the portal door behind them.Β And just like that, you knew youβd never see them againβ¦for a while at least.
Chris had decided to turn himself in, and Adrian wasβ¦ well, he was bummed out, to say the least. Against your better judgment, youβd decided to stay with him, keep him company. You shoved whatever complicated feelings tangled up in your chest aside, deciding to be a friend first. Thatβs how you ended up in the kitchen, spooning cocoa into mugs, chatting quietly with his sweet mom.
βOh, he likes that extraββ Ms. Chase started, nodding toward Adrianβs mug.
You quickly cut her off, scooping four generous spoons of sugar into his cup. βExtra sweet, I know. Heβs got a real sweet tooth,β you said cheerfully, forcing the casual tone. Internally, though, your brain tripped over itself. βCause, greatβanother specific fact you unfortunately know about him.Β
Ms. Chase smiled knowingly, sipping her own cocoa. βYou know, I donβt even know why he dated that Hardcore girl in the first place. When someone like you is here for himβ¦β
You froze for a split second before laughing softly, shaking your head.Β βOh, Ms. Chase. Hartcourtβs actually nice, donβt listen to him. And alsoβ¦ weβre just really good friends.β You gave her a small smile, trying to keep the line casual, but you couldnβt ignore how much she knew about both of you.
She leaned in conspiratorially, eyes sparkling. βOh, I know. But he talks about you all the time. Says you always like quizzing him on random animal facts and he absolutely loves it. And he told me, you always laugh at his jokes.And that time you tried to play D&D with him? He couldnβt stop talking about it.β
At that moment, Adrian shuffled into the kitchen. He rubbed his temples like he could erase the conversation by sheer force of will.
βHere,β you said softly, handing him the steaming mug.
βWhatβfuck, Mom! Shut the fuck up!β he groaned, flopping into a chair, face hidden behind his hands.
βAh, and he told me,β Ms. Chase continued, leaning a little closer, βthat you bite the insides of your cheeks when youβre nervousβoh dearβ¦β she paused, eyes widening as she noticed, ββ¦youβre doing it right now. Am I making you nervous, sweetie? Iβm sorry, Iβm justββ
You froze mid-bite, quickly pulling your cheeks away from your teeth, cheeks heating up as you forced yourself to stop.
βMom, seriously! Shut the fuck up,β Adrian interrupted, voice sharp. He grabbed your arm before you could protest and tugged you toward his secret room. βWeβre gonna go play Princess Peach in my secret room. Donβt come in!β
You looked at him, caught somewhere between confusion, embarrassment, and the faintest spark of amusement, as he disappeared with you into the secret space.
Inside the secret room, the door clicked shut behind you, muffling the faint sounds of Ms. Chase humming in the kitchen.
βYou know,β you said, crossing your arms, βyou should be nicer to your mom, Adrian.β
He groaned, slumping into the chair. βNo. Fuck her.β
You shot him a look. βSheβs letting you live in her house. Youβve got a dead-end job, you almost got arrested, and sheβs still, somehow, super nice to you. Be kinder to her, dude.β
Adrian threw his hands up, rolling his eyes. βWell, I donβt want her to live alone, okay? Sheβs got no one else but me!β
You stared at him, unimpressed. βThatβs all you got from that? Be nicer to her, Adrian. Not everyone has the luxury of having a mom as kind as yours.β
He opened his mouth to retort, but something in your tone shut him up. After a beat, he sighed and mumbled, βFine,β before grabbing his Switch from the shelf and tossing it to you.
You caught it easily, thumbing the joystick as the console booted up. But before you could select a game, you hesitated.
βDo you think they survived that?β you asked quietly.
βWho?β
βUs. Alternate universe us.β
He tilted his head, like he hadnβt really thought about it until now, then nodded confidently. βTotally. Did you not see the flip my other me did? They totally survived that. Plus, other youβs as strong and smart as you are, soβ¦β He gave a small shrug, a rare, genuine smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. βI trust them. I trust us.β
You handed the switch back to Adrian. βGo on, you play. Iβllβ¦ watch,β you muttered, curling up on the edge of the couch.
He focused instantly on the screen, thumbs moving deftly, and you found yourself quietly observing him. The way he got absorbed, the little hum of concentration, the way his brow furrowed every time something didnβt go his way. It was almost comforting.
Part of you, the part that normally spun a thousand different scenarios in your head, just wanted to shut the voices off. The βwhat ifs,β the comparisons, the intrusive βwhat does he think?β, all of it. Right now, you didnβt want to think. You just wanted this quiet, this mundane moment with him, no alternate universe chaos, no βcosmic soulmatesβ, just Adrian being Adrian.
You considered asking him what he thought aboutβ¦ well, about the alternate versions of you two, specifically about then dating. But watching him completely absorbed, you realized that he wasnβt thinking about it. Not at all. And why should you? Maybe youβd just settle for this. Whatever this was.
Then, out of nowhere, his eyes flicked up at you.Β
βWhatβs wrong?β
You blinked, caught off guard. βWhat are you talking about?β
He leaned back slightly, studying you. βLookβ¦ Iβm not good at, likeβ¦ telling how someone feels. But youβre pretty obvious when youβre overthinking.β
You raised your eyebrows.
His gaze sharpened. βYour eyebrows get, likeβ¦ super scrunched up. And youβve got that frown. Come on, youβre practically radiating it.β
You blinked at him, voice small and uncertain. ββ¦Why did youβ¦ you know, kiss me on the forehead back there? In the other universe?β
Adrian scratched the back of his neck, fingers twitching like he wasnβt sure whether to explain or run. βUhβ¦ I donβt know, okay? I justβ¦ felt like I had to at that moment. I mean, other me did it, soβ¦ I dunno, I did it too. Doesnβt meanββ He paused, running a hand through his hair. βDoesnβt mean anything weird. I promise.β
You raised an eyebrow, βRightβ¦well, the other us are dating. Does that mean we should too?β
βNo! Absolutely not! I meanβ¦ come on, weβre not them, okay? Donβtβyouβre overthinking this. I meanβ¦ the fact that our other selves are even dating is crazy, right?βΒ
βRight.β You said, as your voice tight as you stood up. I get it. You donβt want to date me, Chase.β
Adrianβs head snapped toward you. βWait! Where are you going?β
βI have somewhere to go,β you said, slamming the door behind you.
Alone, you feel the sting of Adrianβs rejection like a sharp snap in your chest. Embarrassment and hurt twist together, prickling under your skin. You donβt even know what answer you were hoping for, only that it definitely wasnβt that. The words hang there, heavy and impossible to ignore, and youβre left wondering if maybe this is just a universe where you two will never be.
Before you can even reach the door, Adrianβs momβs eyes flick to you, noticing the tight set of your shoulders and the way your hands tremble slightly.
βHey, sweetieβ¦ you okay?β she asks softly, stepping closer.
You force a small smile, shaking your head just enough to seem casual. βIβm fine, really.β
She doesnβt push further, just gives a warm, knowing smile. βAlrightβ¦ just know, youβre always welcome here, okay? Donβt let anyone or anything make you feel otherwise.β
Her words linger, a quiet comfort as you steel yourself and head toward the door.
The next morning, your phone is blowing up. Calls, texts, notifications stacking one after another. Most of them are from Adrian, each one more insistent than the last. You ignore them all, leaving the screen to light up in silence on the nightstand.
Then a call comes through from Adebayo. You swipe to answer, trying to sound casual.
βHey,β you say.
βYou okay?β Adebayoβs voice is calm, but thereβs an edge of concern. βWeβre heading to visit Chris today, andβ¦ uh, Adrianβs been complaining to me. Says youβre not picking up his calls.β
You take a breath, trying to keep your voice steady. βIβm fine. Really. Justβ¦ busy.β
βOkayβ¦ well, I assume since youβre obviously avoiding Adrian, youβre gonna want to ride with me?β Adebayoβs voice is half-teasing, half-serious.
You sigh, exhaling slowly. βYeahβ¦ fine. Iβll ride with you.β
βAlright,β she says. βIβll pick you up in thirty.β
You hang up, staring at your phone for a moment, feeling the weight of Adrianβs missed calls and your own stubbornness settling in your chest.
Adebayo pulls up in front of your house, the engine idling quietly. You slide into the passenger seat, and for a moment, the car is swallowed in silence.
ββ¦So,β Adebayo starts cautiously, eyes on the road, ββ¦you wanna tell me whatβs going on?β
You shake your head, trying to keep your voice light. βNothingβs going on, Ads. Iβm fine.β
She hums, unconvinced. βUh-huhβ¦ so, totally nothing to do with your alternate universe selves dating in their universe, and you and Adrian not dating in ours?β
Thatβs it. Something snaps inside you, heat rushing up your neck. βI said Iβm fine!β you burst out, voice shaking, eyes stinging. βJustβjust drop it!β
You lean back against the seat, trying to catch your breath, but the frustration and hurt are still raw. Adebayo glances at you, silently giving you a moment, her hands steady on the wheel, letting you crash out without saying a word.
You sink lower into the seat, cheeks burning as the heat of your outburst fades. βIβ¦ Iβm sorry, Ads,β you mutter, voice quieter now, remorse creeping in. βI didnβt mean to snap. Itβs justβ¦ everythingβs been so messed up, and seeing themβ¦ seeing usβ¦ itβit threw me off.β
Adebayo glances at you, and you continue. βDo you even know how weird it is? To see yourself, literally yourself, kiss someone?β Her eyes flick toward you, sharp. βWorseβ¦ kiss someone youβve been denying your feelings for?β
Adebayo keeps her eyes on the road, one hand steady on the wheel, the other tapping lightly against the center console. βYeahβ¦ that would fuck me up too.β
βAnd I just donβt get it,β you confess, voice almost cracking. βI meanβ¦ me and Adrian in their universe? Weβre literally the same! But theyβ¦ they talk about each other soβso differently. With so much love, so much care. And in this universeβ¦ I get rejected by Adrian?β
She sighs. βI know youβre hurt and I get it. But you know Adrian! He can be a bitβ¦ stupid sometimes. He just needs time to figure out how he feels.β
You shake your head, biting the inside of your cheek. βLook, I get it. Alt me and Alt-Adrianβ¦ they have very different circumstances. But itβs not just that. Itβs likeβ¦ I see what they have, and I know what we have or what we could have and it feels like the universe is teasing me. Like, I get a glimpse of something real andβ¦ and it just quite literally slams the door in my face here.β
Adebayoβs grip on the wheel tightens just slightly, though her voice stays calm. βLook, I promise you. Heβll figure it out. And if he doesnβt? Thatβs his loss. You donβt need Adrian to be whole, okay? Youβve got yourself. Youβve got brains, guts, and more heart than half the people in this city combined.β
You glance at her briefly, the words hitting harder than you expect. She keeps her eyes on the road, steady and unwavering, but her voice softens just a touch. βDonβt let some messed-up version of him, or any version, make you feel like youβre missing something. Youβre more than enough on your own. And trust meβ¦ the right people, the ones who really see you? Theyβll get it. Theyβll see it.β
You swallow, nodding slowly, trying to absorb it. The car hums around you, the steady rhythm of the tires against the asphalt grounding you in the present. Somehow, Adebayoβs words manage to cut through the chaos in your head, offering a quiet reassurance that maybe, just maybe, you can survive this heartbreak and still come out the other side intact.
The car pulls up outside the prison, the building looming gray and unwelcoming against the morning sky. Chris, unsurprisingly, refuses to see anyone.Β
Adrianβs complaints echo across the parking lot, loud enough to make a few passersby glance over. You step up beside him, hand lightly on his arm. βAdrian, calm down. Letβs just go.β
He grumbles but lets you steer him toward the car. Outside, the cool morning air does little to soothe the tension. Adebayo leans back, eyes on you. βYou riding with him?β
Adrian exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair as he climbs into the driverβs seat.Β
βYes,β he says, his voice low but firm, βsheβs riding with me.β
You give Adrian a pointed look, but get in the car anyways. The car falls into an uneasy silence, the kind that presses against your ribs. Neither of you speak for a moment, the tension thick between the occasional click of the turn signal and the soft rumble of the tires on asphalt.
Adrian shifts in the driverβs seat, clearly trying to distract himself or maybe you with some random knowledge. βUhβ¦ so, did you know manta raysβ¦ like, they actually sleep upside down sometimes? And they can, get this: store water in their fins to breathe later when theyβre out of the ocean. So cool right?β
You keep your gaze fixed out the window, silent, not even a twitch of acknowledgment. Which you are aware is very petty but right now, you donβt care.
He glances at you, then back at the road, shifting in his seat. βOkayβ¦ cool. No fun facts today. Got it.β
A few more miles pass in tense quiet before he exhales, gripping the wheel a little tighter. βLook,β he starts, voice softer now, βIβm sorry, alright? Iβm gonna be honest, Iβm still not exactly sure why youβre upset, but I know you are. And I donβt like it when youβre mad at me.β
He glances at you again, hesitant, almost boyish in the way he waits for some sign youβll respond.
βOkay,β you say at last.
He glances at you, hopeful, a little grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. βDoes that meanβ¦ you forgive me?β
You shake your head lightly, letting a small smile slip through. βNo, thatβs why I just said βokay, Adrian.β I acknowledge what you said, though.β
His grin grows, a mix of relief and excitement. βOkayβ¦ but do you acknowledge it enough to convince you to come to my place and watch stupid β80s horror movies with me?β
You cross your arms, giving him a look. βWhat do I get out of it?β
βUhβ¦ the joy of my company?β he tries, wincing the second he says it. βNo, waitβokay, that sounded arrogant. You getβ¦ snacks! Iβll get all your favorites. Popcorn, Twizzlers, those weird chips you like that taste like feetββ
βThey do not taste like feet,β you protest, laughing.
βThey totally do, but thatβs okay, Iβll still buy them,β he says quickly, a grin tugging at his mouth. βBecause I care. Deeply. About your weird snack choices. And also about you not being mad at me anymore.β
You try to hold back your smile, but fail. βYouβre really laying it on thick.β
Adrian throws one hand off the wheel dramatically, eyes wide in mock desperation. βLook, Peacemakerβs gone, and I donβt want my other best friend to be mad at me, okay?β
You snort. βOther best friend?β
Adrian gasped like youβd just insulted his honor. βYeah, other best friend. Donβt get jealous, okay? Thereβs room in my emotional support system for both of you.β
You rolled your eyes, biting back a smile. βWow. Iβm so honored to be your othr best friend.β
βSoβ¦movie?βΒ
You sighed, pretending to think it over before finally giving in. βFine.β
Adrianβs grin split wide, triumphant. βHell yeah. Youβre not gonna regret it, unless you hate decapitations and bad practical effects.β
You step inside Adrianβs house, greeted by the warm, familiar scent of baked goods and something vaguely cinnamon-y.
βHi, Mrs. Chase,β you say, smiling politely.
βHi, sweetheart! So glad youβre back. I told Adrian off yesterday, you know? You canβt let a woman you care about just leave upsetββ
βMom!β
Adrian opens his mouth again, clearly about to say something rude. You glance at him, expecting the worst, but he exhales, shaking his head.Β
βWeβre gonna watch a movie in my room, Mom. Donβt come in, without knocking.βΒ
Mrs. Chase tilts her head, a knowing look crossing her face, while you shake your head at the insinuation. Adrian just shrugs, clearly unbothered, and leads you toward his room.
Adrianβs room is a weird, cozy blend of chaos and nostalgia. The walls are plastered with posters, classic rock bands from the β70s and β80s rubbing shoulders. A cluttered bookshelf, thatβs crammed with game cartridges, comic books and well-used nitebooks.
On his desk, an old handheld console rests next to a random doodle, and a small Polaroid of the two of you together is taped to the wall above, slightly crooked. You pause for a moment, caught off guard by it. Something about seeing the two of you captured like that makes your chest tighten.
Adrian catches your gaze lingering on the Polaroid and quickly snatches it down, tucking it awkwardly into his pocket.
Β βHey, donβt just stare at that,β he mutters, a little defensive.
You raise an eyebrow, trying not to smile. βRelax, man. I have my copy on the back of my phone case.β
He freezes for a beat at your words, a flicker of something soft passing through his eyes, but he quickly shakes it off, pretending it doesnβt affect him.
You both settle onto his unmade teal bed, the handheld console abandoned on the desk as the opening credits of a cheesy β80s horror movie roll. The music is overdramatic, the acting hilariously bad, and you canβt help laughing at some of the more ridiculous scenes. Adrian throws a popcorn kernel at you, smirking when you dodge, and for a moment the tension of the past few days melts away.
As you laugh, you catch yourself thinking that maybe itβs okay that this is all youβll ever be with himβhis friend, his confidant, someone he trusts enough to share silly, unguarded moments with. And yet, thereβs a quiet ache underneath that realization, a small part of you wishing it could be more. But for now, the warmth of his presence, the ridiculous movie, and the simple comfort of being here feels enough. You let yourself sink into the moment, allowing yourself to just be with him without expecting anything else.Β
The movie continues, laughably bad and over-the-top, and at some point, Adrian reaches over and nudges a stray popcorn kernel toward you. You catch it between your fingers, laughing quietly, and he cheers at your small victory.Β
Adrian shifts slightly on the bed, catching the subtle weight of your head leaning closer to him. Youβve fallen asleep. For a moment, just a heartbeatβhe feels it. The pull that Alt-Adrian had talked about. Itβs there, quiet but undeniable, in the warmth of your shoulder against his, in the sound of your laughter mingling with his when the movie hits another absurd moment. Itβs something deep, magnetic, and way too real.
He exhales slowly, forcing a small smile as he stares at the screen. Itβs not that, he tells himself. Itβs justβ¦ comfort. Familiarity. A friend thing. He shifts a little, careful not to wake you, and keeps the thought boxed up tight. Because, sure, maybe his chest feels a little lighter when youβre close, and maybe your head fits perfectly against his shoulder, but that doesnβt have to mean anything.
You let out a soft sigh in your sleep, your warmth seeping through the thin fabric of his sleeve, and Adrian swallows down the lump in his throat. He tells himself itβs fine, normal even to care about someone this much. Itβs what friends do. Best friends, even.
The movie flickers across the wall, all bad effects and cheesy lines, but he barely sees it. He just sits there, steady and still, pretending that the quiet thrum in his chest is nothing more than comfort. Platonic. Harmless.
And if, for a second, he lets his head rest lightly against yours, well no one has to know.
The living room at Hartcourtβs place felt quieter than usual once she left, her heels clicking down the hallway a moment ago and the door shutting softly behind her. You, Adebayo, and Economos remained, the tension of Chris going missing still hanging thickly in the air.
Adrian leaned back against the couch, fingers tapping his knee. βIf I were Chrisβ¦ where would I go?β
Adebayo crossed her arms, frowning. βHeβs probably holed up in some cheap motel, avoiding everyone.β
You let out a long sigh, rubbing the bridge of your nose. βLook, guysβ¦ weβll find him. Heβll turn up eventually. He always does.β
Economos cleared his throat, eyes darting between you and Adrian. βUhβ¦ I heard from Ads that apparently, in the other universe, you and Adrian areβ¦ uhβ¦ fucking. That true?β
You choked on your chips, sputtering, eyes wide as panic flared. Adrianβs head snapped toward you, eyes wide and flailing. βDoesβ¦ does anyone know how to do the Heimlich?!β
Adebayoβs eyebrows shot up, half shocked, half trying not to laugh, while Economos immediately jumped to his feet, hands hovering awkwardly. βUhβno? Are youβare you okay?!β
You waved your hands weakly, still coughing and sputtering. βIβIβm fine! Justβ¦ what the hell did you just say?!β
Economos scratched the back of his neck, awkwardly. βIβ¦ I donβt know, thatβs what Ads said. I was justβ¦ confirming.β
Adrianβs face flushed, his hands gesturing wildly. βFirst of all, Economos, the other me and the other her arenβt justβ¦ you know, fucking! Theyβre in love, okay? In love! And itβsβlook, itβs complicated, but also not, because itβsβ¦ love! And theyβre perfect for each other, and itβsβugh! You donβt get it!β
John held up his hands, trying to keep pace. βGeez, okay, fine. In love, whatever. Butβ¦ is it true you saw yourselves kiss? Likeβ¦ yourselves?β
You were a bit nervous to hear what Adrian thought about the kiss. Although, with his rejection of you a few days ago you expected him saying that it was weird or gross, however to your surprise, Adrianβs reaction wasnβt defensive about the thought of you and him dating. Instead, he leaned back, crossing his arms, and said firmly, βYes, we did, Economos. And it wasnβt weird at all. In fact, it wasβ¦ it was natural, and it made sense. Likeβ¦ like everything was just right in that moment. Like they belonged to each other. And honestly? I thinkβ¦ I think if anyone else saw it without understanding, theyβd justβ¦ misunderstand the whole thing. In factβ¦ it felt so right that I kissed her too!β
βWaitβ¦ he kissed the other you?β Adebayo asked, eyes wide, glancing at you.
βNo, fuckββ Adrian pointed directly at you, βI kissed her.β
βWhat?!β Economos and Adebayo shouted in unison, practically bouncing in shock.
You threw up your hands, trying to keep the situation under control. βEveryone calm down! He kissed my forehead because Alt-Adrian kissed Alt-Meβs forehead first. Thatβs it!β
βOhh,β came the chorus of realization from Adebayo and Economos, the tension finally easing as they processed the explanation.
You wanted to dig yourself a hole and bury yourself in it. This whole situation was embarrassing, but at least Adrian didnβt think that the mere thought of being with you was crazy anymore. You could already feel the teasing that Adebayo and Economos were about to launch, and thankfully, a phone call saved you from being the center of it.
Poor Adrian, though. He looked like he wanted to argue, protest, or maybe just curl into a ball of frustration.
You answered quickly, a client of yours calling you for some task that couldnβt wait.
Β βIβve gotta go,β you said, slipping your phone back into your pocket.
βOhβ¦ can I come?β Adrian asked, a hopeful tilt to his voice.
You shook your head, regretful but firm. βSorry, Adrian. Not on this one.β
With that, you left, the teasing, laughter, and Adrianβs slightly pained expression fading behind you as you stepped out.
Now it was just Adrian, Adebayo, and Economos.
Adebayo leaned forward, gaze steady. βSoβ¦ how do you really feel about this whole βmy other universe self is dating my other universe friend thing?β
Adrian shrugged, trying to play it nonchalant. βI told you, Iβm normal about it. I donβt think itβs weird at all. I meanβ¦ yeah, itβs different, but so what? Doesnβt make it bad.β
Economos tilted his head, smirking faintly. βItβs okay if it feels weird. Doesnβt have to be βweird bad,β you know? Thereβsβ¦ weird good too.β
Adrian blinked at him, incredulous. βWhat the fuck is βweird goodβ?β
Adebayo leaned back, letting the words hang in the air. βWell, you said it yourself, man. It felt right. Whatever that meant. Alt-you and Alt-her are obviously meant to be together.β
Adrian shifted, defensive, arms crossing over his chest. βOkay, but just because theyβre meant to be together doesnβt mean that me and her are.β
Adebayo sighed, shaking her head. βDude, the other you and you are literally the same. Same goes for her. And you literally kissed her on the forehead because it felt right. Does that not mean anything to you? Think about why it even felt right in the first place.β
Adrianβs mind went quiet for a moment, and for an instant, he could still feel the warmth of your skin beneath his lips. He replayed that moment over and over. The brush of his lips against your skin, the way it had felt completely unnecessary, yet completely inevitable. He hadnβt had to kiss you, didnβt owe himself or anyone else that gesture, and yet, for some reason, he had wanted to. And that thought, stubborn and undeniable, refused to leave him.
Then it clicked, slowly, like a puzzle piece sliding into place. He had always wanted to do that, always in little ways, in the way he tried to impress you with random animal facts, in the quiet moments where he lingered just a second too long when you laughed at his dumb jokes. His feelings had started to change somewhere in between the lines of friendship and banter, growing into something he could not ignore.
Now, thinking back, he understood the pull Alt-Adrian had mentioned, the invisible tug toward you, the one he had shrugged off as platonic instinct or familiarity. It was not just instinct anymore. It was him, truly wanting you close, wanting to protect you, wanting more than he had ever admitted, even to himself.
Adrian ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. βIβ¦ I think I mightβve ruined my chances with her.β
Economos raised an eyebrow. βWhat do you mean?β
Adebayo leaned back, arms crossed. βHe basically rejected her. Said the idea of you two even being together at all was ridiculous.β
Economos burst out laughing. βOh yeah, man, youβre screwed.β
Adrianβs eyes widened, panic creeping in. βNo, no, wait, I didnβt mean it like that! Iβokay, so I said some things, and maybe I was trying to beβ¦ I donβt know, casual? Normal? But I didnβtβ¦ I justβ¦ shit, I donβt even know what to do now! Do I text her? Do I apologize? I mean, I did but I apologized and I didnβt even know what I was even apologizing forβfuck!β
Economos was still chuckling. βWaitβ¦ you apologized and you donβt even know what you did? And she accepted it?β
Adrian shot him a glare, flustered. βFuck off, man! This isnβt fucking funny. What the fuck do I do?β
Adebayo held up a hand. βChill, man. Like Economos said, she literally accepted your half-assed apology. What does that tell you?β
Adrian blinked, utterly clueless. βWellβ¦ she didnβt really accept it. Sheβ¦ acknowledged it, or whatever that means.β
Adebayo let out a long sigh. βShe likes you too, Adrian.β
Adrian froze. βWhat?β
Adebayo shook her head, leaning back. βLook, even though your apology was, likeβ¦ half-assed, and you didnβt even know what the hell you were apologizing for at the time, she still accepted it or well acknowledged it. That tells you everything, Adrian. She likes you so much that even if your apology was sloppy and clueless, she doesnβt care. She just wants to be with you and make amends, because thatβs how much she values you.β
Adrianβs jaw dropped, and his mind went blank for a moment, trying to process that someone could care about him that much, even when he barely got his own act together.
Adrian didnβt even respond verbally. His fingers flew over his phone, spamming text messages and calls to you one after another.Β
Adebayo groaned, reaching over to grab his arm. βChill, man! Sheβs probably working. She wonβt answer till later, so take a breath before you blow up her phone completely.β
Adrianβs voice sped up, tense and chaotic, words tumbling over each other. βBut what if she already found someone new, right? And theyβre like, cuddled on herbcouch, or worse, her bed, and heβs got his hands everywhere, whispering stupid shit in her ear, and sheβs laughing, maybe slapping him, maybe biting her lip, and Iβm just sitting here like a total idiot because I didnβt say anything, and now theyβre probably kissing and ugh, I canβt even think straight!β
Adebayo threw her hands up. βWhat the fuck, Adrian? In the span of an hour? I seriously doubt that. Calm down.β
Economos chuckled, shaking his head. βYeah, man. I donβt think sheβs going to just throw herself at some random guy. Chill out.β
Adrian sat there, fingers hovering over his phone, staring at your name on the screen. The device stayed silent, no replies, and no calls. Just the glaring emptiness of your nonresponse. No matter how much they told him to chill, the gnawing panic lingered, leaving him tense and restless as the room settled into uneasy quiet.
You finally drag yourself up the walk to your apartment complex, every step heavy with exhaustion. Thatβs when your eyes catch the familiar shape of a Sebring parked just outside the gate, the faint glow of a dashboard light illuminating a dozing figure inside. You knock lightly on the window, and Adrian jolts awake, blinking like heβs been caught in the middle of a nap and a stakeout.
When he sees you, his face immediately lights up into a grin, unguarded and wide.Β
βHey,β he says, voice thick with sleep and some kind of relief, maybe happiness.
You raise an eyebrow, tired and incredulous. βAdrianβ¦ what are you doing here? Itβs likeβ¦ two in the morning.β
βWell,β Adrian said, sitting up straighter in the driverβs seat, βIβve been calling you all day and no response from you! Which is really rude, by the way. How hard is it to pick up a phone?β
You let out a long, tired sigh and held up your phone or what was left of it. The screen was completely spiderwebbed, the corner chipped. βYeah, about thatβ¦ I dropped it. On concrete. It died instantly.β
Adrian blinked at it, then at you. βOh. So you werenβt ghosting me, you were just technologically dead.β
βPretty much,β you said, too tired to even laugh.
He nodded, expression shifting from scolding to awkward guilt in two seconds flat. βOkay, wellβ¦ now I feel like a huge asshole. Iβve been sitting here for, like, hours thinking you hated me and were off living your best life without me. Meanwhile, your phoneβs out here in a coma.β
βI donβt know about βbest life,ββ you murmured, then lifted the hem of your shirt slightly, revealing a makeshift bandage around your side. It was tight, uneven, and stained through with a bit of red.Β
The fabric was clearly torn from a manβs shirt. It was gray and rough at the edges where it had been ripped. Youβd done it fast, right after the fight, with nothing else around to use. The guy who stabbed you didnβt make it out of it, and when he went down, youβd ripped the shirt straight off him to stop the bleeding. You could've used your shirt, but well you were wearing one of your fancy shirts and you weren't about to ruin it.
Adrianβs grin vanished instantly. His eyes widened, his whole body jerking forward in alarm. βWhat theβwhat the hell happened?! Youβre bleeding! Why didnβt you lead with that instead of the phone thing?!β
You waved him off weakly. βItβs fine, Adrian. Just a scratch.β
βA scratch?!β he nearly shouted, scrambling out of the car so fast he almost tripped over the door. βYouβve been stabbed! Thatβs not a scratch, thatβsβ thatβs like the opposite of a scratch! Thatβs a penetration wound!β
You gave him a look. βThank you for the medical terminology.β
Adrian didnβt even bother arguing anymore, he just grabbed your hand and started leading you toward the apartment building, muttering under his breath the whole way. βUnbelievable. Youβre out here getting stabbed. You couldβve been bleeding out in some alley while Iβm sitting in my car watching vidoes about spiders.β
You rolled your eyes but let him pull you along, his grip firm but careful. βAdrian, seriously, Iβm fine.β
βYeah, thatβs exactly what someone with internal bleeding would say,β he shot back, glancing down at your side like he expected you to suddenly collapse.
You sighed, fumbling with your keys when you reached your door. βYouβre being dramatic.β
Adrian scoffed. βDramatic? No. Iβm being proactive. Thereβs a difference between βoh no, sheβs fineβ and βholy shit, sheβs dead,β and Iβm trying to keep you in category one.β
You couldnβt help but laugh as you shoved the key into the lock and turned it. βYouβre unbelievable.β
The door opened, and before you could even kick off your shoes, Adrian gently but firmly guided you to the couch.
Β βSit,β he ordered, tone serious in a way that was almost comical coming from him.
You sank into the cushions with a tired huff. βYou know, youβre bossy for someone who doesnβt know the first thing about first aid.β
Adrian gave you a look, eyebrows furrowing. βWhat makes you think I donβt know how to do first aid?β
You shot him a tired but amused glance. βMaybe because youβre always making me patch you up.β
He hesitated for a beat, then grinned, tilting his head. βYeah, wellβ¦ maybe I just like being patched up by you.β
You froze for half a second, the words hanging in the air longer than they shouldβve. Something warm and dangerous stirred in your chest, but before you could even process it, Adrian quickly backtracked.
βI meanββ he rushed, waving his hands a little, βββcause, you know, itβs easier than patching yourself up. Way less chance of, uh, bleeding out or accidentally stapling your own skin or whatever.β
You just shaked your head and sighed. You pointed toward the cabinet near the kitchen. βFirst aid kitβs in there.β
Adrian moved fast toward the cabinet. He came back with the kit and knelt beside you, his usual grin replaced with a rare, quiet focus. His hands were surprisingly steady as he started cleaning the wound, brows furrowed in concentration.
The room fell into a comfortable silence, broken only by the sound of gauze being unwrapped and the occasional wince you tried to hide.
You exhaled shakily. βOkayβ¦ this hurts way more than I thought it would.β
He glanced up immediately, worry flashing across his face. βDo you want me to stop?β
You shook your head. βNo. Justβ¦ distract me, Adrian.β
He blinked, thinking for a moment, then his face lit up like a kid about to tell a bad joke. βYou wanna quiz me on manta rays?β
You gave him a tired but amused look. βSure, why not.β
He grinned and handed you his phone, and you did a quick google search of manta ray facts.
You started scrolling through manta ray facts, reading the first one aloud. βOkayβ¦ whatβs the largest species of manta ray?β
βUhβ¦ the Atlantic one?β
βWrong,β you said flatly.
He frowned. βOkay, but like, technically, that was a good guess.β
You smirked. βNext one. How many gill slits do manta rays have?β
He tilted his head and slowly said, βfive?β
You paused. βOkayβ¦ thatβs actually right.β
βYes! See? Iβm a manta expert.β
Adrian grinned proudly, puffing out his chest a little. βSee? I told you, Iβm basically an expert.β
You rolled your eyes, scrolling for another one. βOkay, expert. Next question. What do manta rays eat?β
He hesitated, his confidence faltering. βUhβ¦ fish? Big ones? Likeβ¦ tuna?β
You gave him a look. βPlankton, Adrian. They eat plankton.β
He groaned dramatically. βOkay, well, thatβs misleading! Theyβre huge! Youβd think something that big would at least eat something with teeth.β
You kept going, but he kept missing nearly every question. Heβs getting facts wrong, mixing up species, confidently giving the most ridiculous answers imaginable. Each time, you tried not to laugh too hard because it hurt to move, but it was impossible not to smile.
You were already grinning before you even finished reading the last question. βOkay, final one. Whatβs the wingspan of a giant oceanic manta ray?β
Adrian sat up straighter, confidence reignited. βEasy. FifteenΒ feet.β
You looked at the screen. He was very, very wrong.
But you glanced at his face, how proud and confident he looked, how hard he was trying just to make you forget the pain and you found yourself smiling softly.
βYeah,β you said, voice gentle. βThatβs right.β
He beamed, sitting back proudly. βKnew it.β
You chuckled under your breath, watching him tape down the last piece of gauze.
βThanks, Adrian,β you murmured, your voice softer now. βReally. You didnβt have to do all this.β
He glanced up at you, expression oddly serious for once. βWell, I donβtΒ want one of my bffβs dying on me.β
You smiled faintly, shaking your head. βYou should probably go, though. Itβs like two in the morning. Iβm fine now, really.β
Adrian froze mid-motion, tape still in his hand. βGo? Why would I go?β
βBecause itβs late,β you said gently. βAnd youβve already done enough. Iβll be okay.β
He frowned, like the idea of leaving hadnβt even crossed his mind until you mentioned it. βYeah, butβ¦ what if you pass out or something? Or, like, your wound gets infected and you need to call someone but your phoneβs still broken? What then?β
You sighed, a tired little laugh slipping out. βIβll survive. Iβve handled worse.β
Adrian didnβt look convinced. He just sat back on his heels, studying you with that strangely stubborn set to his jaw. βYou should at least let me stay until you fall asleep. You know, just in case. Medical supervision.β
You shook your head, hiding your smile. βFine. But only until I fall asleep.β
He gave you a mock salute, his grin softening as his eyes lingered on you a little longer than usual. βDeal.β
You rolled your eyes but couldnβt help the small smile tugging at your lips. βOh, wait. Can I borrow your phone again?β
βYeah, of course.β He handed it over after unlocking it. βWhy?β
βI should probably text Adebayo. Sheβs gonna freak if she finds out I got stabbed and didnβt check in.β
βGood call,β he said, busy gathering the first aid supplies back into the kit.
You took the phone, thumb brushing over the screen. The messages app was still open, the list of his recent conversations pulled up. Your name sat right at the top, just above Adebayoβs.
And under your name, faded gray preview text.
adrian: i know youβre probably ignoring me, but I need to tell you something importantβ
You froze for a heartbeat, eyes flicking toward him. He didnβt notice, too busy fumbling with a roll of gauze, mumbling something about how it never fit back in the box right.
Your thumb hovered over the screen, the unfinished words still visible in that tiny preview. You knew you shouldnβt look longer than a second, shouldnβt wonder what came after important, but the thought lodged in your chest all the same.
You swallowed, quickly tapping on Adebayoβs name instead.Β
βThanks,β you said, forcing your tone light.
You handed the phone back once you hit send, and Adrian took it with a small smile before setting it on the coffee table. He kicked off his shoes and dropped onto your couch like he owned the place, grabbing the throw pillow and hugging it to his chest.
βYou know this isnβt a guest room, right?β you said, one brow lifting.
He grinned up at you. βWhat are you talking about? Itβs perfect. Great lighting, excellent couch support, proximity to your fridge. Five stars.β
You let out a tired laugh, shaking your head as you turned toward your bedroom. But you didnβt make it more than a few steps before the question slipped out hesitantly.
βWhat are you even doing here, Adrian?β
He looked up, blinking like youβd caught him off guard. βI told you. I was just, you know, checking on you.β
You chewed the inside of your cheek, eyes flicking back toward him. βIs that really the only reason youβre here?β
Adrian froze, mid-adjustment of the blanket heβd been trying to wrap around himself. His mouth opened, then closed again like he was buffering.
βUhβ¦ yeah,β he said finally, too quickly. βI meanβyeah, of course. What else would I be here for? Just, you know, normal friend concern. Totally platonic, medical-grade concern.β
You stared at him, unimpressed. βMedical-grade concern?β
βYeah,β he said, nodding way too earnestly. βLike, youβre hurt, Iβm concerned, boom: science.β
That pulled a small, reluctant smile from you, but you didnβt look away. βYouβre deflecting.β
He blinked. βNo, Iβmβ¦ reflecting.β
βDeflecting,β you repeated, your voice soft but certain.
Adrianβs mouth opened, then closed again. His knee bounced a little, like the words were stuck somewhere between his chest and his throat. βThe truth isβ¦ Iβ¦β
You waited. And waited.
Finally, you sighed and finished for him. βYou have something to tell me?β
His head snapped up, eyes wide. βHowβd you? wait, howβd you know that?β
You hesitated, guilt flickering across your face. βUhβ¦ I mightβve read your text.β
His whole body tensed. βYou what?!β
βJust one text!β you blurted, holding up your hands defensively. βI swear, it was just the preview. Your message to me popped up right under Adebayoβs. I didnβt mean to, it was right there!β
Adrianβs face went red. βOh my god. Oh my god. You saw it. You read the whole thing, didnβt you? You know what I was gonna say. Shit, I wasnβt ready toβfuck.β
βAdrian. Adrian, breathe.β
He froze mid-panic, looking at you.
You softened. βI didnβt read the whole thing, okay? Just a glimpse. Relax. You can tell me anything, you know that.β
Adrian stared at you for a long second, still pink in the face, lips pressed in a tight line. Then, quieter, almost to himself, he muttered, βYeah. Thatβs kinda the problem.β
You shifted, leaning against the doorframe, studying him. βWhat do you mean by that?β
Adrian hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. βNothing. I justβforget it.β
You tilted your head slightly, voice soft but steady. βAdrian.β
He groaned, dragging a hand down his face. βYouβre doing that thing again.β
βWhat thing?β
βThat gentle interrogation voice,β he said, waving a hand at you.Β
βIβm not interrogatibg you. Just asking a question.β You said, shrugging.
He huffed, but his eyes flicked toward you, restless, searching. Finally, he sat forward, elbows on his knees. βOkay. Fine. You wanna know what I meant?β
You nodded.
He took a breath. βI was justβ¦ thinking about what you thought of, you knowβ¦ us.β
You blinked slowly, pretending not to understand. βUs?β
He made a face. βYeah, us.β
You lifted a brow, feigning confusion. βYouβre gonna have to be more specific.β
Adrian gave you a half-exasperated look. βYou know what I mean, alternate universe us. The version of us that wasβ¦ together and in love.β His voice dropped at the end, awkward and uncertain. βYou ever think about that? Aboutβ¦ them?β
You hesitated, eyes flicking down to your hands. βAbout them? Sometimes.β Your voice was soft, almost careful. βAbout them dating? β¦honestly, a lot.β
Adrian blinked, caught completely off guard. βWait, really? Likeβa lot a lot?β he asked.Β
βAs inβ¦ youβve imagined them doing couple stuff? Like holding hands, going on dates, making breakfast together, maybeββ He stopped himself, eyes widening a bit. ββokay, not gonna finish that sentence, but still! Youβve thought about it?β
You couldnβt help the small smile tugging at your lips. βYeah. I meanβ¦ they seemed happy together despite everything.β You paused, your gaze softening as you met his eyes. βLike you saidβ¦ seeing them together just felt right.β
Adrianβs expression shifted, that usual spark of humor dimming into something quieter, more sincere.Β
βYeah, It did. Like it was supposed to be that way or something.β He hesitated, eyes flicking to you and then away again. βKinda makes you wonder if maybeβ¦ that feeling doesnβt just belong to them, you know?β
Adrianβs words hung in the air between you, heavier than either of you expected.
Your breath caught. βWhat are you saying, Adrian?β
He rubbed the back of his neck, eyes darting away. βIβm sayingβ¦ look after everything, I kept telling myself it was stupid to think about. You know, about the alternate universe us. But then Iβd catch myself wondering if maybe they were onto something. Like maybeβ¦ that version of us figured something out that we havenβt.β
You felt something twist in your chest. Hope, fear and everything tangled together. You wanted to say something but your throat was tight, so all that came out was a whisper.Β
βAdrian, you donβt know what youβre saying.β
βI do,β he said, voice low but firm, and the way he looked at you made your pulse skip. βFuck, I do. Iβm saying what if? What if, in this universe, weβre meant to be together too?β
You froze, the words hitting harder than you wanted them to. Youβd spent the past few days burying this exact thought, trying to pretend it wasnβt there, and now he was dragging it out into the open with that same reckless honesty that always managed to undo you.
βAdrian,β you started, forcing your voice steady even though your chest ached, βthe only reason youβre even thinking about an us is because of them. The other us. Thatβs it.β
He shook his head hard, stepping closer. βWhat? No, thatβs not it.β His voice was desperate now, raw and sincere in a way that made it hard to breathe. βLook, other me said it was different with you. That you had this pull, and it made sense to him. And I didnβt get it then, but now I do.β
You frowned, trying to hold your ground even as your pulse stuttered. βWhat the fuck even is that supposed to mean? A pull?β
βItβsβokay, okay, itβs likeβ¦β He gestured wildly, searching the air for the right words. βYou know how magnets work? Of course you do. But like, you canβt see whatβs making them stick together, but they just do. Theyβre, uhβ¦ magnetically compelled or whatever.β
You raised an eyebrow. βAre you calling us magnets?β
βKind of?β he said, tone helplessly earnest. βExcept not in a creepy, science-experiment way. More likeβ¦β He trailed off, then snapped his fingers. βLike that thing where youβre trying really hard not to think about something, and it just keeps popping up in your head anyway. Thatβs what it feels like with you. Like thereβs thisβ¦ invisible gravity or force field or whatever, and it keeps pulling me back to you even when I try not to.β
You stared at him, thrown off by the mix of sincerity and total lack of filter. βAdrian, thatβs notββ
He cut you off, stepping closer again, his voice quick and unguarded now. βNo, listen, I mean it. Iβll be in the middle of work, or watching some dumb movie, or, like, cleaning my weapons and then Iβll just start thinking about you. And itβs not like, oh, random thought, whatever. Itβs likeβbam! Youβre just there. Every single time.β
You opened your mouth, but no words came out.
He took another step, close enough now that you could feel his breath when he spoke. βSo yeah, maybe itβs a pull. Maybe itβs dumb. But I canβt stop feeling it. I donβt want to stop feeling it.β
You stared at him, every word sinking in deeper than you wanted it to. The air between you felt too heavy, too close. Like if you moved even an inch, youβd accidentally cross a line you couldnβt uncross.
And God, he looked so earnest. Eyes wide and a little nervous, but full of something real, something youβd been trying to ignore for far too long.
You wanted to say something, anything but your throat felt tight. It wasnβt supposed to be this hard to breathe around him.
So instead, you whispered the first thing that came to mind.
βAdrianβ¦ why did you take that bullet for me?β
βUhβ¦ the first time or the second time?β
Despite the knot in your chest, a laugh slipped out. If you had a nickle for everytime Adrian took a bullet for you, youβd have two nickles which isnβt a lot but itβs weird that it happened twice right?Β
βBoth,β you said softly.
He nodded, rubbing the back of his neck as if searching for the right words. βOkay, wellβ¦ the first time was easy. You were nice to me. Youβ¦ kind of saved me that day too, remember? It was the least I could do.β
You did remember. The chaos of that mission at the Butterfly base. There was gunfire, shouting, smoke so thick it burned your lungs. Youβd been separated from the team, cornered behind a crumbling wall, and when you heard the shot ring out, you didnβt thinkβyou just ran. Youβd found him bleeding out, dazed but still trying to smile through it. Youβd dragged him to cover, pressing your hands against the wound while yelling at him to stay awake.
You were still caught in that memory when he spoke again.
βThe second timeβ¦β He trailed off, his gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before finding yours again. His tone was different now. It was unsteady, sincere. βThat one wasnβt about owing you anything.β
Your breath hitched. βThen what was it about?β
He swallowed, hands fidgeting slightly at his sides. βI donβt know. I meanβI do know, but it sounds stupid when I say it out loud.β
βAdrian,β you said quietly, βjust say it.β
He exhaled hard, like he was bracing himself. βBecause I couldnβt stand the idea of you getting hurt. Not you.β His voice was quiet but full of conviction, every word hitting like a heartbeat. βIt wasnβt logic or training or anything like that. I just, didnβt think. My body moved before my brain could catch up. It was likeβ¦ that pull thing again, you know? Except this time, it hurt a hell of a lot more.β
Your heart was pounding so hard it felt like it echoed in your ears. You could see the tension in Adrianβs shoulders, the nervous twitch in his jaw and still, he didnβt back away.
βSoβ¦ just so weβre clear,β you said quietly, βyou like me?β
Adrian blinked, like he couldnβt believe you had to ask. βUh, yeah. Obviously. I meanβI just told you I think about you all the time, and that I canβt stand the idea of you getting hurt, and that Iβve taken literal bullets for you. I feel like that kinda covers it.β
You raised an eyebrow. βYouβre sure?β
He frowned, earnest. βYeah, Iβm sure. Unless you think Iβm, like, in denial or something, but Iβm pretty sure this is what liking someone feels like. Heart pounding, brain short-circuiting, doing stupid heroic stuff for themβyeah, that checks out.β
You couldnβt help it. You laughed, shaking your head.
Then his expression shifted suddenly, the realization hitting him mid-sentence. βWait. Shit.β He pointed at you, looking almost panicked. βI just said all that out loud, and I donβt even know if you like me back.β
You snorted. βYouβre an idiot.β
βYeah, but likeββ He gestured vaguely. βA hopeful idiot?β
You smiled then, really smiled, the kind that ached a little. You couldβve denied it, played it off, made some joke but instead you just said softly, βMaybe.β
The air between you thickened, warm and nervous. You watched him swallow hard, his fingers twitching like he didnβt know what to do with them.
βAdrian,β you said, almost under your breath, βcan I kiss you?β
His breath caught. βWhat?β
βTo you knowβ¦test the theory. See if weβre actually meant to be together in this universe. See if the βpullβ youβre talking about is actually there.βΒ
βOh. Uhβyeah. Yeah, definitely.β
You leaned in first. The kiss started awkward. Your noses bumped, he tilted the wrong way, and for a second it was almost funny. He froze for a second, like he didnβt know what to do with his hands.
Then it clicked.
Adrian made a soft, startled sound against your mouth and kissed you back, clumsy at first, then really into itβtoo into it, almost, like all that nervous energy had finally found a place to go. His hand brushed your jaw, careful but eager, and you could feel the smile forming against your lips when you let out a small laugh mid-kiss.
It wasnβt perfect. It wasnβt smooth. But it was real.
When you finally pulled back, both of you were breathing hard. He blinked, a little dazed, hair sticking up from where youβd touched it.
βSoβ¦β he said, a small grin forming, voice still a little breathless. βI think thatβs a yes?β
You tilted your head, pretending to think, the corner of your mouth twitching. βHmm. I donβt know,β you said, drawing it out. βI think we might have to kiss again to be sure.β
The smile on his face faltered immediately. βWait, what? You didnβt feel anything?β His brow furrowed, eyes wide with the kind of genuine confusion only Adrian could pull off. βDid I mess it up? I can try againβmaybe I used too much tongue, or not enough, orββ
You couldnβt help laughing, cutting him off as you reached for him. βAdrian, Iβm kidding.β
His mouth opened, about to respond, but you didnβt give him the chance. You leaned in and kissed him again, firmer this time, surer. His breath hitched against your lips before he melted into it completely, hands hesitating for a split second before finding your waist.
This kiss wasnβt clumsy or uncertain. It was warm, a little desperate, and when you finally pulled away, he looked dazed, eyes soft and unfocused.
βOh,β he whispered, a slow grin spreading. βYeahβ¦ definitely a yes.β
You smiled against his cheek, heart still racing, and for the first time all night, neither of you said anything else.Β
Everything justβ¦ felt right. The quiet, the warmth of his hands still resting on your waist, the faint brush of his breath against your skin. Youβd spent so long convincing yourself this couldnβt happen, that it shouldnβt but standing there in Adrianβs arms, it didnβt feel complicated at all. It felt easy. Natural. Like every version of you, in every universe, would have found their way right here anyway.
And as his thumb traced an absentminded circle against your side, you realized maybe that pull he talked about wasnβt so impossible after all.
a/n: do you guys know how hard it was to not use "Y/N" in this fic? I try my best to not use "Y/N" and opt for 'you said your name" or smth like that, and it was so hard to do in this fic cause honestly even i was geting confused on who alt-reader and main reader was T-T
anyways, i hope you enjoyed reading the fic :D comment down below on what's your fave pokemon game, i js started playing pokemon emerald cause of this fic :p
Note: listened to the grease soundtrack today and had to include it. My fav musical ever
The downpour of rain outside left you frowning, staring out the window as you listened to Steve fumbled around in the kitchen. The smell of hot cocoa filled the entire house, one of the many bright sides to being stuck there.
βThe one day I chose to walk to your house it had to start raining,β you said, sighing as you turned around to look at him. βI could be at home watching that new movie I rented.β
He looked up from what he was doing, giving you a look as you approached him, his gaze following the entire way. βI know youβre bummed, but I think spending the day together is a lot better. Plus we can watch whatever movie you want, I have a whole collection.β
He smiled as he quickly leant down and kissed your cheek, wrapping an arm around your waist and pulled you into him. βI even have Grease, I know how much you love it.β
You couldnβt help but smile yourself, leaning into him as you watch him finally turn off the stove. βYou know me so well.β You teased, stepping back so he could grab you both mugs and pour you both a good bit of cocoa.
βPlease tell me you have marshmallows this time.β You gave him a pleading look, to which he responded by walking over to the pantry and pulled out a bag, tossing it to you. βGot them just for you.β
The two of you grabbed your mugs and made your way to the living room, cuddling up on the couch together after he put the movie on, an arm around you as he rubbed small circles into your shoulder with his thumb.
The two of you occasionally serenaded each other throughout the movie, him being Danny of course while you did Sandy, trying your best not to laugh at his God awful impression of him.
βI think Iβd make a great greaser, what do you think?β He asked, kissing your cheek as he grinned. βOh God, you with slicked back hair and in all leather? Gag me with a spoon.β You teased, laughing as you turned your head to meet his lips in a soft kiss.
You felt his smile grow somehow wider against your own, a hand coming up to cup the side of your face as he leant over you. βWell.. I think I could pull it off, thank you very much.β
Note: rushed again because Iβm lowkey confessing to a girl rn and panicking like hell </3
You never took River as the type of guy to enjoy a haunted house, but as spooky season rolled around he insisted the two of you go to one for fun.
You assumed his friends would tag along, but to your shock it was just the two of you, which of course you werenβt about to complain about.
The beginning of the house was fine, a few fake spiders here and there, nothing too bad.
That was until you got to the second floor.
The lights were nearly off, it was uncomfortably quiet except for the occasional shout from people way ahead of you.
βRiver, Iβm not sure I wanna go further. Can we just turn around?β Your grip slightly tightened on his sweater sleeve as he kept walking, peeking out from behind him.
The most you got out of him was a laugh before he stopped, turning to look back at you. βYouβll be fine, itβs just a few actors. Theyβre not gonna actually do anything.β
You wanted to protest but the sight of his smile and dimples was enough to convince you, letting out a sigh as you stepped impossibly closer to him.
βYou owe me for this.β You said, giving him a look. βI know, I know. Iβll take you out to dinner.β You sighed and agreed, shaking on it before following him once more further down the hall.
It wasnβt long until you were practically cowering in the corner, a few actors had jumped out and scared you, leaving you clutching onto River for dear life.
βYou said they wouldnβt do anything! The fucker had a chainsaw!β You swatted at his chest, feeling his hands wrap around your arms and slowly guide you towards the exit.
βThey did, but nothing happened with the chainsaws. Just for show.β You could hear him holding back laughter, giving him a glare as the two of you left the house, stepping into the chilly night breeze.
βYou owe me dinner now, and a milkshake.β You warned, following him towards the parking lot.
He nodded and grabbed your hand, lacing your fingers together before leaning down and quickly kissed your cheek. βIβm very aware, sweetheart. Iβll get you whatever you want, including a milkshake.β
Note: another rushed one since I was at work </3 itβs been a hot minute since I watched spree so bare with me if this isnβt giving Kurt 100%
Kurt didnβt get out much besides driving for Spree and attempting to have some sort of online presence, so when fall rolled around you decided to make the most of his unlimited free time and take him to a fall fair.
It wasnβt his usual scene, having to throw on a sweater and actually handle his greasy hair before you dragged him out of the house.
He had been attached to your side the entire time, holding your hand or arm whenever you went to another booth or activity. Every so often he whispered in your ear about how he wanted to go home already or how he needed to βfilm content for his loyal fansβ.
You decorated pumpkins, visited crochet booths, went apple picking and got a decent amount.
You were content, and seeing Kurt slowly growing more comfortable outside his element was also endearing. He even asked to visit the corn maze they had but quickly gave up when he realized he didnβt know how to get through it.
When the sun finally started to set, the hayride had begun, many people boarding as soon as possible.
βCan we go home yet?β He asked for the nth time, staring up as the moon started to appear. βAlmost, I wanna get a hayride first, weβll get on the next one. Sounds good?β
You could see him hold back a groan, giving a small nod as he wrapped an arm around you and rested his chin on your shoulder, humming under his breath while he waited for you to queue it was your turn.
It was about 10 minutes later when the next one came around, you quickly dragged him over so you could hop on, going to the far front and sat next to him in the scratchy hay.
βIt itches and itβs poking ass,β he complained, wrapping an arm around your shoulders as he leant back against the side of the trailer you were sitting in. βHow long is this gonna take?β
βIt goes around the entire place, so I wanna say a good ten or fifteen minutes.β You shrugged, leaning into his side as you grabbed his free hand. βAnd youβll get used to the hay poking you, just try not to pay much attention to it.β
Kurt had thought the hay ride was boring to say the least, keeping his eyes on you as your own gaze wandered to the trees and fields around you.
Every so often you would point out the apple orchard, corn maze or pumpkin patch, telling small memories from when you were younger and went on hayrides before, watching him hum and nod in response.
When the trailer came to a sudden halt and you jolted against the side of it, Kurt let out a huff, looking around before turning to you and whispered.
βIs it finally over? Itβs cold, Iβm getting bug bites, and I wanna go home.β He sighed, watching the other riders stand up and file out of it, before helping you up and following after you.
βYes, itβs over. And as much as you hated it, I enjoyed it, and plan to drag you back again.β You smiled at him, pulling him to the side so others could climb on.
He groaned and rolled his eyes, starting to walk away and back towards the car park, leaving you to quickly jog after him with a laugh.
βOh come on! I saw you smile during it, you canβt deny that forever.β
β summary: when the 11th street kids heard a new recruit was joining the team, they had no idea what to expect. by the stories harcourt told them about you, adrian would have never guessed you were a pig-loving softie. nor did he expect to fall stupidly for you.
β word count: 3.4k
β content warnings: a WHOLE lot of cheesy fluff, swearing, adrian being adrian, school-type crush, accidental kiss, happy ending
writer's note: this request was sO cute and i felt like i had to write it since people on here have been wanting MORE adrian fluff in particular, so here is some cheesy goodness! (like 80% proofread lmao)
When Harcourt told the rest of the 11th Street Kids that someone else was joining the team, no one knew what to expect.
Especially Adrian.
Based on what Harcourt had told them about the recruit, all they knew was that you were someone who did not fuck around when it came to missions.
Emilia talked about your past achievements and how she saw you working in the field. You were known to be one hell of a fighter. She was honestly pretty excited for you to join.
Now, here everyone was.
A week later, the 11th Street Kids found themselves at a bar awaiting your arrival. Harcourt decided it would be good to introduce you to the team over a few beers and maybe some rounds of darts.
The team, mostly Chris, teased the blonde about the planned meeting. They figured she must have liked you and titled you a friend if she went out of her way to plan this.
"I hope she's pretty like you, Emilia," Chris stated with a sly smirk. This instantly caused her to give him a look of disgust.
"Oh! I hope she likes animals. Harcourt, does she like animals? It'd be pretty cool to have someone who will quiz me on the team," Adrian said excitedly.
"I just hope she's nice," Adebayo said with a small shoulder shrug.
Economos let out a scoff as he glanced over at Chris, "Anyone is nicer than this asshole over here. Doubt he will be hard to beat."
Chris made a frown and a 'wtf' gesture with his arms.
A buzz rang on the table where the team was sitting. Harcourt glanced down and noticed your arrival text. She excused herself, going to meet you outside.
"Hi!"
You greeted Emilia happily, giving her an overly joyous hug even though you knew she wasn't a hugger.
She knew who you are as a person and how you act, so she didn't care. With a teasing eyeroll, she gave you a small hug back.
"Ready to meet everyone?" Harcourt asked as she took a sip from the beer she was holding. You gave her an excited smile as you followed her inside.
You watched as she walked over to a table with about four other people who were sitting and chatting. Nervousness grew within, but you masked it well. You were always good at that in social situations, sometimes.
"Guys, this is Y/N," Harcourt stated firmly to gain their attention.
You gave a small wave and a bright, warm smile. The team smiled back at you, each of them greeting you.
They had to admit, you were not what they were expecting.
You were very pretty, and your demeanor presented itself in a way that gave off you would never hurt a fly. Or person. Or pretty much any living thing. To put a name and face to all of Harcourt's stories was a bit shocking.
Once everyone had introduced themselves, you couldn't help but ramble about everything that Emilia had told you.
"Oh! You're Chris. I've heard you can be a dumbass, but not my words, of course!" You stated, which made Adebayo laugh behind her hand.
"Economos, you're the guy behind the screen! And occasionally the victim of Chris's bullying," you stated, which he couldn't help but nod in agreement. Especially to the last sentence.
"Adebayo, I've heard good things about you! I hope we can be friends," you said very sweetly. This made her smile at you, but then smirk at Harcourt a few seconds later. She knew she was her favorite.
Your eyes finally landed on the guy with cute curly hair and glasses. He was already grinning at you, which you couldn't help but chuckle at.
"Adrian, I heard you talk. Like, a shit ton. But so do I! So it's okay. We'll definitely get along," you nodded your head enthusiastically.
Adebayo and Harcourt locked eyes, the two mischievously looking at each other with a grin as they both simultaneously took a sip of their drink.
You noticed the only open seat at the table was beside Adrian. You happily took the seat as you watched him spring up from his.
"Can I get you anything? Beer? A shot? Water? All three? None?" He started firing off at you.
You let out a small chuckle and nodded your head, "I like my drinks extremely sweet, like 'the alcohol is nonexistent' sweet!"
Adrian nodded his head quickly as he sped-walked over to the bar.
You hung your purse on the chair and turned back to the rest of the team, who were already betting on who would win in a game of darts.
A minute later, Adrian returned with a frozen margarita that was a bright red shade.
"I asked the guy for something so painfully sweet that you'll already feel an oncoming cavity, and he made this," he stated with a grin as he set it down in front of you.
Once he took a seat beside you, you gave him a bright smile and placed your hand on his forearm to give a small squeeze.
"Thank you!"
Adrian blinked rapidly, his eyebrows raised at the touch on his arm. He gave you a goofy grin as he tried to play it cool.
Until he noticed a certain keychain on your purse.
"Is that a D&D keychain? Do you play?! No way you play. Do you?!"
You stopped mid-sip of your margarita as you heard his ramble. Glancing down at your purse, you knew what he was talking about. You had a plush charm of a Displacer Beast hanging from your bag.
"Oh, that! I've played for about four years now. My nephew begged to teach me, and after he did, I just became so obsessed. We should play sometime!" You told him excitedly.
His face grew dumbfounded as he stared at you.
He accidentally muttered under his breath, "Where have you been all my life?"
"What?"
"WHAT?!" Adrian immediately yelled back out. He wasn't aware he said that comment out loud.
You let out a laugh, which was painfully cute to him, as you turned and continued to sip your drink.
"By any chance, do you like animals?"
The first night of you meeting the team was how you switched numbers with Adrian.
As hours passed and everyone eventually said goodbye to each other, the rest of the 11th Street Kids watched a giddy Adrian stare at you while you entered your number in his phone.
"He's definitely feeling her," Adebayo chuckled.
Chris let out a scoff, "Nah. He's just excited to have another girl in his phone that isn't you, Harcourt, or his mom."
"I think both of your guys' statements are true," Harcourt said with a small shoulder shrug.
"Just wait until times when she isn't around. I can already hear Adrian talking all about her," Economos groaned. The group couldn't help but chuckle.
As time passed since the night of your meeting with the team, you couldn't have felt happier at where you were.
You were overly worried at first at the possibility of trying to weasel your way into a team that was filled with people who were already so close with each other.
Your fear diminished once you grew closer to each of them.
Especially Adrian.
You two became attached at the hip. Or like Chris would say, "Adrian is like a kitten you gave milk to once, and now it keeps coming back to you."
Harcourt and Economos hated his example. Adebayo found it stupidly funny.
After a couple of months had gone by, you knew right away that Adrian was the one you were closest to.
This is what led to him coming over to your apartment for the first time.
With October rolling around, you gushed constantly about loving this month. Especially the holiday of Halloween.
Your hyper fixation on the month caused you to constantly talk about all the things you love about October. Horror movies are one of them.
Adrian overheard you talking about how obsessed you were with them to Adebayo. Once he chimed in his interest in them, too, you invited him for a horror movie night.
Adebayo's eyes flickered over to Harcourt, who then looked over at Economos. They knew that internally, Adrian was probably screaming at the thought of hanging out with you.
This is how he ended up outside your door, knocking on it to signal he was here.
You quickly ran over, swinging it open and giving him a huge smile that he immediately reciprocated.
"Come in!" You said excitedly, stepping aside for him.
He took notice of your cozy apartment very quickly, noticing all the nerdy decor you had all over the place of your interests.
"I'm gonna get into pjs, I'll be right back!" You let him know as you walked off to your room.
His eyes scanned over your apartment as he started to notice a pattern in something. It didn't click in his head until he saw your bedroom door open a crack, a straight view to your bed, which had multiple plush pigs on it.
Adrian did a rescan of the apartment and took notice of the varying sizes of plush pigs you had scattered around. He couldn't help but smile as he picked one up that was sitting on the couch.
When you came back out, you noticed him with it.
"Did I leave that on the couch?! My bad, I definitely didn't mean to," you said as you walked over to Adrian.
You attempted to grab it, but he held it over his head quickly.
"You have a fuck ton all over your house! And by a fuck ton, I mean like, a fuck ton," he said with a laugh.
You let out a huff, trying to pull his arm down to grab it.
"I have a fuck ton cause I love them! You can't speak anyway, I heard what's in your closet," she teased.
His head snapped down, looking at her as she quickly jumped up and snatched the pig from his hand.
"Man! Who told you about my beanie babies? Was it Chris? He can't say shit, he hasn't even seen it yet! He could be lying," Adrian started to ramble.
You burst out in a fit of laughter. "I was totally kidding about your closet. I didn't even know you had those!"
He couldn't help but smile at your pretty laughter.
He shook his head, grabbing the pig back from you gently as he held it.
"What is with the pigs anyway?"
A huge smile took over your face as you turned and looked at all that surrounded your apartment.
"I just genuinely think pigs are the cutest things I've ever seen. Especially in plush form! I don't know much about them, but they are just the cutest animals. When people say puppies are the cutest thing ever, I think that's just wrong and stupidβ" you rambled on.
You didn't notice the way Adrian stared at you as you practically talked his ear off. He had felt so seen in this very moment.
Adrian was always aware of how annoyed the team got when he'd beg them to quiz him. He didn't care, though; he kept asking. But ever since he met you, he loved how different yet similar you two genuinely were.
In this very moment, he told himself in his head he would do anything to make you smile like that. Again. Again. And again.
This is when he started to become an expert on all things pigs.
Did he know some animal facts? Yes. But was he dead wrong most of the time when Adebayo or Economos quizzed him? Also yes. But he was determined to basically get a degree in knowing all things pigs.
He was thrilled when he could finally share some facts with you.
He walked into the run-down building the team called HQ, spotting you sitting at your desk in the corner.
Adrian couldn't help but smile at the sight of you. You had the end of a pencil in your mouth, looking deep in thought as you read a huge stack of papers in front of you. He wished he were that pencil, but he pushed that thought aside.
"Want to hear an animal fact?"
You jumped a little in your seat as you looked up at Adrian. You smiled immediately, setting your pencil down as you nodded your head and replied, "Yes! Hit me with one."
"Did you know that mother pigs tend to sing to their babies when nursing?"
Adrian watched as your eyes lit up. Your mouth let out a gasp as you weren't expecting a fact about a pig.
You awed, "Do they?! Wait, that's so cute! I'd kill to witness that."
He grinned at your response. This felt weird to him, but good weird. A good different. Adrian was used to people telling him to just shut the fuck up, but that did not come from you.
His alarmingly big feelings for you just grew more and more.
"Tell me more!"
He had to stop at two facts that day because that was all he knew, and he did not expect you to ask for more. Adrian spent that night researching even more about pigs. He had never gone through the trouble of learning something in order to talk to someone about it. But you were different. He truly wanted to continue to talk to you and grow closer.
A new day came, and Adrian was almost so certain that you, too, might like him back.
The team was currently held up at HQ past midnight. Everyone was exhausted, but Harcourt said we would, unfortunately, have to pull an all-nighter to go through the loads of evidence we have from a new mission.
"This is boring as shit! We should have prepared with like snacks and beer," Chris whined, which made Emilia roll her eyes.
"I hate to agree with him, but I agree with Chris," Economos sighed, which earned him a glare from the blonde.
Harcourt looked over at the snickering in the corner, noticing you and Adrian whispering away at your desk. She grinned, an idea popping into her head as she hummed.
"Hey Ads, can I borrow your car?"
Adebayo looked at her, "Uh, sure, for what?"
Once she tossed her the keys, Emilia immediately tossed them over to your desk. You and Adrian got startled, noticing the shiny metal sitting there.
"Sorry, they're gonna borrow your car. I'm sending them to the gas station," Harcourt said with a sly grin, which Adebayo instantly replicated when she understood.
You turned to Adrian, who was already looking at you with the goofiest grin. You chuckled, standing as you got up and tossed the keys to him.
"I call passenger," you hummed, which Adrian scoffed at.
"Yeah, well, I was gonna offer to drive anyway!" He whined, which caused you to laugh.
The team watched as both your bodies disappeared behind the doors.
Once you two arrived at a nearby gas station, you spent almost an hour in there. You two were tossing absolutely every snack and candy in the basket since no one bothered to specify what they wanted.
At one point, you noticed Adrian lock eyes with something.
He let out a small gasp, "Stay right here! Like, right here. Stand still, don't move."
You tried to speak up, but by then, he walked away from you. You decided to listen to him.
Adrian walked back about a minute later with a plastic bag in his hand. You looked up at him, confused. "Did you buy something even though we have a whole basket here we have to pay for?"
He let out a huff as he shrugged you off, "No, I just asked for a bag cause I wanted one. Duh! Okay, let's go pay."
As you two were heading towards the cashier, your eyes locked on something. You let out the quietest gasp, shoving the basket into Adrian's arms, which spooked him.
"I have to use the bathroom! I'll meet you outside, okay? Pay and then go," you quickly said as you sped walked away from a confused Adrian.
After you noticed him pay and walk outside, you made a beeline straight towards a display of plushies. You saw an owl beanie baby, which you instantly wanted to buy for Adrian.
After grabbing one by the head, you checked out at the register. The worker asked if you wanted a bag, and you declined. You figured it would look weird if you had one, so you decided to do what any normal person would do. Slip it behind your back, up your shirt.
Once you walked outside, you locked eyes with Adrian, who was already looking at the door, waiting for your arrival.
"Ready?" He softly spoke to you with a gentle smile as you nodded.
You took weird side steps to the car, your back never facing him once, which made him genuinely laugh at how odd you looked. He liked it, though.
The drive back to HQ was quick. Before getting out of the car, you stopped Adrian in his seat.
"Wait! I have something I wanted to give you."
Adrian turned to look at you, his eyebrows raised as he watched you oddly pull an owl from under your shirt.
He blushed for a quick second until he realized what you did.
"I saw it at the gas station. Economos said you never shut up about owls," you said enthusiastically as you handed it over to him.
He was quiet, grabbing the plush gently as he then slowly looked up at you with his mouth open. You were nervous for a second until a crazy smile popped onto his face.
"Are you fucking kidding me?! I bought you a pig from there!"
Your eyes widened as he quickly pulled a pig from the gas station bag. You let out a laugh, instantly grabbing it and looking at how cute it was. Adrian felt a funny feeling in his stomach as he watched your face light up.
Without thinking, you leaned over the center console and placed a quick kiss on the lower half of his face, which was scarily close to the edge of his lips.
His eyes bugged out of his head as you remained gushing over your new pig.
"Well, fuck. If I knew you'd lay one on me because I bought you a pig, I would have done it ages ago!"
You let out a laugh as you shook your head, "And I thought the girls were lying to me when they said you clearly like me."
Adrian stumbled over his words as he scoffed, "W-What girls?! Harcourt and Ads? Please, what do they know? Nothing! That's what."
You pursed your lips, looking away from him as you shrugged.
"Oh, that's a shame. I had an elementary school type crush on you. But it's okay!" You said awfully cheerful, which made Adrian protest.
You tried to exit the car by he pulled you back down by your arm.
"I was joking! They know a lot, probably because I told them I like you, which I DO! Ask them, or ask me. You could even ask Chris!"
You let out a laugh as you slapped a hand over his mouth. "Okay, Adrian! I get it."
Your hand slipped from his mouth, which now had a small smile.
"Does this mean I can take you on a date and then eventually ask you to be my girlfriend?"
You smiled at his question, looking over at the building where the rest of the team resided inside. You nodded your head, "Yes, I'll go on a date with you."
From the corner of your eye, you watched him celebrate your answer, which was a victory to him. As you turned to look at him, you felt his lips pressed against yours.
Your eyes widened, but not as huge as Adrian's when he quickly pulled back.
"Fuck! I was going for your cheek, and you turned your head! Why'd you turn your head?!"
You couldn't help but throw out a fit of laughter. He continued to whine over his mistake that he was pinning on you.
Opening the car door, you got out, poking your head in and looking at him with a mischievous look.
"I'm gonna tell the team what you did. What will Chris think?" You teased, letting out a fake gasp as you headed towards the building.
"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!"
The rest of the 11th Street Kids grew looks of confusion as they heard Adrian's scream from inside the building.
Note: this was insanely rushed and last minute since I was sick today, Iβm so sorry </3
To say Clark was nervous was an understatement.
It had taken him weeks to get courage to ask you out, practicing for practical hours on end what to even say the night before. He had asked when you went to get some coffee, following after you like a lost puppy and awkwardly asked if you wanted to get dinner with him on Friday.
He had spent an hour or two getting ready, making sure every strand of hair was sitting just right, his glasses werenβt too far down his nose, he even ironed his shirt and pants nearly 5 times.
Yeah, he was a nervous wreck.
The two of you agreed to meet at the restaurant, giving him time to debrief on the way their further, making a quick detour to get you a bouquet of flowers, before rushing to make it on time.
He found you already sitting at the table, clearing his throat and straightening his collar as he walked over. βHey! Sorry Iβm a little late, had to make a pit stop..β he said, handing the flowers to you with a shy smile.
βOh my God, thank you. I love them, Clark.β You smiled at himβgenuinely smiled, and he could have swore his heart leapt out of his chest right there.
He tried his best not to stumble over his words, but every time he saw you smile, heard you laugh, heard you say his name, he was gone and done for.
He quickly sat down, smoothing over his pants as he squirmed a bit in the seat. βYou look absolutely beautiful. That dress is so flattering on you.β
He watched as your face grew flush, thanking him before the waiter came over asking for your drinks of choice.
βΈβΈ
Everything was going absolutely perfect in his eyes.
The two of you spent most of your dinner talking, your hand occasionally brushing against his on the table when you reached for your drink, watching the pink forming on his cheek as he quickly pulled his hand away and looked down.
When the check came he immediately offered to pay, shutting down any ideas you may or may not have had about paying for your portion. But he didnβt stop you from leaving a tip for your kind waiter.
As you two left, his hand hovered behind your lower back, hesitating to fully make contact as he walked you back to your place.
βWell, here it is.β You said, stepping away a bit and up into a small step, turning back to him. βI had a great time tonight, Clark. And again, thank you for the flowers.β
He smiled and nodded, shoving his hands in his pockets as he kicked up a small stone. βI had a great time too.. and of course, I couldnβt not get you flowers.β
βWell, I should get going. Early day in the office tomorrow.β He said, rocking back on his heels for a second before reluctantly going to turn away.
You watched him for a moment, before sighing and took a few steps after him. βClark, wait.β
He turned around in an instant, brows raised as he stared back at you. βUh, yes?β He took a step closer to you, his gaze finding yours, a small smile tugging at his lips.
He expected you to say something, but instead was met by the feeling of your lips against his cheek, before you pulled away and smiled at him. βIβll see you at work.β
With that you finally turned away to head inside, leaving Clark there with a faint lipgloss mark on his cheek, and a growing grin on his face.
Yeah, today went way better than he thought it would.
Note: Steve ALWAYS seemed like he would be so dramatic when heβs sick to me, so voila, I wrote this
Steve didn't often get sick, but when he did he made it painfully obvious. Over the top dramatics, claims he was dying, begging you to stay by his side in case he didn't make itβmeanwhile he just had a cold. And he almost always got you sick in return.
You had been taking care of him almost all day, heading over to his house after he called you saying he could barely get out of bed, which you found out was just an excuse to have you come over during the day.
You made him soup, got his Ginger Ale, even a damp washcloth to rest on his forehead, yet nothing you did seemed to help him feel better.
βSteve, you don't even have a fever. Are you sure you need me to stay?β You asked softly, rubbing his arm slightly as you gave him a slightly worried look. It's not like you wanted to leave, you loved nothing more than spending time with your boyfriend, but you had a bunch of chores waiting for you back at the house.
βJust stay another hour, please? What if my temperature spikes, or I throw up, or I die?β He pleaded with you, grabbing your hands and pulling you closer, giving you a slight pout. You sighed and nodded, shifting your position on the couch so you could lay next to him, catching the way his smile grew.
His arms wrapped around you, kissing your forehead as he pulled you impossibly closer. βYou better not get me sick, or I swear to God, Steve.β You warned him, letting out a huff as you reluctantly leant into his touch.
He swore up and down youβd be fine, he wasn't contagious, he just needed your comfort to get through the day alive. Which, of course, he ended up eating his own words the next morning.Β
You didn't even remember falling asleep at his place, but you sure as hell felt it when you woke up the next morning. Your nose was stuffy, your stomach and head ached.
βSteve, I'm gonna kill you.β You groaned as you grabbed the closest throw pillow, pulling it over your head as you curled up into the cushions of the couch.
You could hear him shuffling around the living room before he approached you, setting down a bowl of soup on the coffee table as he gave you a sheepish smile. βIβll take care of you?β He asked, sitting down next to you and kissed your temple.
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