Shiro, I love your angst. May I ask angsty with happy ending with Z? Maybe, smth caused by his fame or- OH! HOW ABT! Reader is also close friends with Robaire. Z and Reader likes each other but have yet to confess. (You see where I’m going?). Z is jealous of Rob but never said anything buy when Z catches Rob on top of Reader (Reader tripped and Rob tried to help. Maybe? Can be smth else), he kinda snapped as in “fuck this. I give up. Aight I’m out”.
Idk rlly, I just love angst with happy ending and you’re the angst provider so I trust you
praise be for the manga has inspired my return (these requests have been sitting here for like a good year i am so sorry 🙇♀️🙇♀️, but god this prompt is too good to let sit)
jealous! aaron z x reader headcanons~
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ you are so down bad for z ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙
i'd like to say you and z have been dancing around each other for awhile, like deadass doing the viennese waltz around your feelings if you will. (he's too shy to make a move and you're too unsure about his feelings for you despite the very clear affection).
i mean, you can't really blame anyone in this situation because why would you ruin a perfectly good friendship with romance?? you, z, and robaire were essentially THE highschool trio of friends. no matter how iffy the situation got between you three your foundation was rock solid.
with robaire being the overachiever and z being the shy and stoic guy he is, you naturally became the mediator between the two. often telling off robaire for not taking breaks and enjoying himself, and encouraging z to put himself out there more. essentially, getting them to live a little.
you had to admit though you were much closer to z, while robaire had his own things going on that didn't often involve your trio, z was always there in your corner. you are each others' biggest cheerleaders even as adults <33
this closeness slowly blossomed into feelings as you watched z grow from the sidelines...
It was a quiet night in the dance studio, you were helping Aaron film a fun freestyle choreography he had just come up with. Were your arms aching from the various takes you needed to do? Yeah, but for that smile it was well worth it. His expressions were perfect, his movements sharp and well-practiced, to say the least he was in perfect form.
The song ended and the CD stopped echoing from your speakers, you let Z hold his ending pose for a few seconds before stopping the recording. "That time was really good! Just like the last trillion takes~" You teased, already knowing Z was growing embarrassed from the way he pouted at you.
"Yeah, I'm satisfied... Wanna head out for dinner?" He suggested as he jogged over to where you were standing right beside his bag. Grabbing a towel and quickly wiping over his face as well as the back of his neck. "I know it's late so you could stay over tonight..." He added softly, that was the tone Z used whenever he was trying to play off something he really wanted. How could you say no?
"Sure! But you should go change, all the offense when I say you reek of sweat." You giggled to hide the excitement that was bubbling in your stomach. Spending the night at Z's as adults was much more fun than in highschool, the two of you would stay up and drink for a bit before cuddling (platonically!) on the couch to watch movies. "I'll wait out in the hall." You suggested as you began to step out but one muscular arm proceeded to block you—
"I reek huh? Well then, before you go how 'bout I give you a thank you hug~?" Z asked teasingly before quickly grabbing you by the waist.
"Noooo!!" You laughed, "Ugh you nasty!" Quickly writhing out of Z's hold, you jumped out of his arms and bolted for the door. "Just go and change before I drown you in perfume!" You threatened before shutting the door and taking a seat on one of the hallway benches.
You took a few deep breaths before finally letting the warmth spread on your cheeks, god that was embarrassing... You wondered if Z could tell your heart was racing, all of his usual actions have been taking a different effect on you lately and you hated it. Your relationship with him was supposed to be the one steadfast and assured thing in your life, these feelings would only rip that away.
Before you could lament on your feelings too much, another familiar voice called out to you.
"Hey (name)! I didn't know you were here too!" Robaire called out joyfully, carrying a seemingly forgotten shopping bag as he exited the office next to the dance studio. It was weird to admit that you and Robaire drifted after highschool, sure you were still friendly and familiar with each other, but your relationship didn't quite retain the same quality as yours with Z.
Robaire casually took a seat next to you, placing the bag next to him. "It's been awhile since I've seen you alone, usually you and Z are joined at the hip!" He exclaimed as he leaned his back against the wall, a nostalgic smile taking over his features. "Not that that's a bad thing of course. I'm happy you two are still close!" The last part felt... forced. Maybe Robaire lamented letting you drift away to Z's side so easily?
"It's honestly easy to be around him, although he's changed a lot since highschool." You reflected evenly, watching as Robaire exhaled and gently leaned his head on your shoulder. Now this was nostalgic, you remembered the days when Robaire would seek you out to take a break from all the stress and responsibilities he put onto himself. Letting his head rest on you just as it did now as he closed his eyes to let himself have a moment of silence.
Robaire regretted taking on so much at the expense of leaving your relationship in the dust.
"Does that mean... I'm still the same?" Robaire asked, his tone showing genuine curiosity.
You thought about that for a bit, although more mature and knowing how to pace himself a little better now, you couldn't truly pinpoint if Robaire had changed in your eyes or not. "You're still my Bear." You settled on that answer, he retained his dependability and sense of responsibility from when you were teenagers, but you could tell he still craved affection and acknowledgement every now and then. Same old Bear.
Even from a distance Z could see the grin forming on Robaire's face from where he stood and he hated it. He felt invisible to the one person who always saw and looked in his direction, and it hurt.
to say the least, z and robaire's relationship was complicated.
they care for each other! they really do it's just...
everyone saw robaire, everyone looked at robaire, from highschool until now he was the one who had everyone's attention and expectations. and yes yours included but you never left z out, you never left him behind.
even when everyone's eyes were on robaire you looked for him, when everyone noticed robaire you made sure to notice him. everyone else could take the backseat when it came to you because you were z's priority. z almost felt bad depending on you this much but you proved time and time again you would be there for him and make him feel worth it, that alone made him so unbelievably happy.
maybe this was some sort of punishment for him being selfish, for him monopolizing your feelings, for him falling in love with you, any other rhyme or reason for the building pit in his stomach his heart named it. he should have expected this, he should have known.
fuck this, he's done. if you wanted robaire and robaire wanted you, he'd let it happen. it's the least he could do after so selfishly keeping you by his side this whole time.
"Welp, that's enough reflecting. Do you need a ride home?" Robaire offered as he detached himself from your shoulder. Ignoring the bubbling feeling in his chest at the expectation of your answer.
"Oh, I'm having dinner with Aaron actually..." You rejected politely, you could see his green eyes falter slightly before quickly returning to normal as he nodded. Standing up from the bench, he grabbed the forgotten shopping bag then turned back to face you, "We should hang out again sometime, us three. I miss you guys y'know?"
At that you smiled, the thought of rekindling your friendship with Robaire was nice. "Definitely." You replied, waving him off before standing up, now how long does it take to change a damn shirt? Z loved complaining when you took a while to change but he sure was taking his sweet time.
You walked down the hallway back to the dance studio, your footsteps echoing as the lightbulbs blinked above you. Was their agency... always this creepy at night? Now you were a bit scared. "Z?" You called out as you saw a tall figure in the hallway, "There you are!"
Sighing in relief you ran towards Z, your friend's back was turned to you however even in the darkness of the dimly lit hallway you recognized the same old worn out t-shirt he liked to wear in his down time. You got it for him on his birthday after all. "I was worried you left me there for a minute!" You laughed as you went to grab his hand, but surprisingly he pulled away.
"What happened to Robaire?" He asked, with a tone of voice... You hadn't heard him use that in a long time, monotone yet polite, one he only ever pulled out when talking with strangers. "I thought you were gonna go home with him instead." His back was still turned to you, he was refusing to look at you? Why...
"Are you okay?" Was your first instinct to ask, grabbing his wrist and pulling him closer to you. Trying to grab ahold of the situation, "Where did all these Robaire questions come from? I thought we were going back to your place?"
When he finally turned around to face you it was with an apathetic expression. After all those years of friendship and learning his expressions you couldn't read him for once. Aaron wouldn't meet your eyes and it hurt.
"We were. Until it seemed like you wanted to go home with him instead." Z grumbled under his breath, his eyes hardening as he tried to pull his arm out of your grasp once more but you wouldn't let him this time.
"Aaron, talk to me. Why are you making these assumptions when I already made plans with you?" You groaned, frustrated, it was as if you had just met all over again and you hated it. "Did I do something wrong? What happened, why are you so upset all of a sudden?!"
"Because I love you even though I know I'm not enough."
First of all, Aaron loves you?! Second of all, he thinks he's not enough?! Third of all... Actually there is no third of all, you were just gonna get this boy home so you could have a proper heart-to-heart and talk it out.
fast forward to you shoving z into his own car and driving him home, with you literally grabbing onto his hand and dragging him to the vehicle, you had the spare key cause he had no one to give it to so there was no issue getting in.
z was supposed to be the quiet one here, so with you immediately going silent after his (admittedly horrible) confession, he was worried that he had completely ruined the relationship between you two. maybe he was too rough, too stoic to properly convey that he just wanted to see you happy even if it was with robaire... (i mean he definitely was but still!)
so to his surprise, the moment you got to his house you sat his ass down at his coffee table and began heating up leftovers for dinner. anytime he'd awkwardly move from his position in an attempt to help you'd give him the death stare which made him immediately sit back down.
you slammed down two bowls of chinese fried rice and some spring rolls onto the table before sitting across from him, clasping your hands together before seriously looking at him and saying; "Talk. To. Me."
You ate your food morosely across from Aaron as he hesitantly narrated the moment he saw you and Robaire sitting together on the bench. The moment he got to Robaire leaning on your shoulder and calling him ‘your Bear’ and his following thought process you absolutely wanted to face palm. This stupid boy... This stupidly, emotionally repressed boy—
You casually set your bowl aside as you walked over to Aaron, immediately engulfing him in the warmest hug you could muster. Feeling him stiffen before relaxing in your hold as he wrapped his arms around your waist and buried his head into your shoulder. "Oh Aaron, you foolish foolish boy." You chuckled as you nuzzled your face into his hair. "You're so lucky I love you."
The moment he heard that his face shot up, his eyes meeting yours for the first time that night. And slowly you could see him emerge, your Aaron, as tears built up in his eyes at hearing you loved him too. "R-really...?" He whispered, you could practically feel the longing in his voice hoping that what you just said was true.
"After all those years of being your friend have I ever lied to you? Even once?" You asked gently, cupping his cheek in the palm of your hand as he sniffled, feeling the warmth spread across his cheeks that inevitably mixed with the tears that started falling from his eyes.
"I'm s-sorry... For bein' mean to you..." He tried to sob as quietly as he could but at this point Z just couldn't hold back anymore. "I love you... so so so much it hurts." You brought your friend back into your embrace and sighed softly, pressing a kiss to his hair as he buried himself into your chest asking for forgiveness.
"I'm sorry too." You apologized, "God do you know how long I've been pining for you? I was just too cowardly, I didn't want to ruin what we already had."
"We're both cowards I guess..." Z sniffled one last time before chuckling. More of in relief that you seemed to forgive him and the fact that he didn't fuck everything up with his outburst.
"Pff, yeah." You agreed and gently took Aaron's face into your hands, cupping his cheeks in your palms before pressing kisses all over his face. "But really though, I love you. I love you Aaron." Repeating it twice, properly announcing your feelings in a way that left no doubts or insecurities.
"I love you too (name)..." Aaron grinned before pulling you down on top of him again, kissing you with all of the affection he had held back for so many years.
The two of you did more than cuddle on the couch at the end of the night~
with your relationship solidified you, aaron, and robaire could finally repair the issues that had sprouted between the three of you.
aaron's slight inferiority complex combined with robaire's desire to achieve was definitely a deadly duo to deal with, and you're still working on it to this day. but with you by his side aaron was definitely more self-assured, you gave him the confidence he needed to be more forward about his feelings.
for now, aaron loves you and you love him, that's all that matters.
