Summary: Coming home to you was always a great thing for Ava, but with time changing the words start to have a different meaning.
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Before you and Ava got together, life had been a mix of chaos and quiet moments, the two of you sharing a tiny, cramped apartment that felt more like a shoebox than a home. It wasn’t much, but it had been yours. You’d shared a mismatched couch, a single bathroom mirror that was too small for two people, and countless late-night conversations that you both pretended didn’t mean more than they should.
Back then, Ava made your heart race in a way that was both thrilling and torturous. She was your roommate, your best friend, the girl you trained with at the church every day. You never imagined she’d feel the same way about you—not when her laugh could light up a room, and her confidence made everyone gravitate toward her.
Even then, you couldn’t help being affectionate with her. It was just who you were. A squeeze of her hand here, a casual arm over her shoulder there. Ava loved it. And sometimes, when you had permission to leave training early while Ava stayed behind, you’d lean in and kiss her cheek before heading out.
“See you at home,” you’d say, leaving her stunned and blushing every single time.
She never said anything about it, but it became a ritual of sorts. And if Ava’s face turned a little red every time, or if her heart pounded a little harder, well, no one else had to know.
Now, life was different.
The two of you had your own cozy home, one that actually felt like it belonged to both of you. It was still small—nothing extravagant—but it was warm, filled with little touches of you and her. A well-worn blanket draped over the couch, the scent of coffee always lingering in the air, and a bar key hanging by the door from the business you’d built together.
The bar had been Ava’s dream—a place where she could create a community, where people could gather and feel safe. You’d been skeptical at first, but you couldn’t say no to Ava when she looked at you with that wide-eyed excitement, her hands waving as she explained her vision.
And now, after years of being side by side in everything, you weren’t just Ava’s roommate or friend. You were her girlfriend in every sense of the word.
It was closing time at the bar, the last customers already gone, and the two of you were cleaning up. Ava wiped down the counter while you leaned over your laptop at one of the tables, fingers flying across the keyboard as you muttered under your breath.
“You okay over there?” Ava asked, glancing at you with a small smile.
“Yeah, just need to resend this work. The email bounced back,” you said, frowning at the screen.
Ava walked over, drying her hands on a towel. “You can finish it at home, babe. We’re almost done here anyway.”
You hesitated, but Ava tilted her head toward the door. “Go. I’ll handle the rest.”
“You sure?”
“Positive,” she said, leaning down to kiss the top of your head. “I’m a professional at locking doors, remember?”
You laughed, closing your laptop and standing up. “Okay, fine. But don’t overdo it.”
“I’ll be fine,” Ava promised, and as you passed her on the way out, you leaned in to kiss her cheek, just like you used to.
“See you at home,” you said softly, the words slipping out like second nature.
Ava froze for half a second, her mind suddenly flooded with memories of the way you used to say those same words back when you were just roommates. The warmth of your cheek brushing hers, the casual affection that used to make her stomach flip.
But this time, there was no confusion, no wondering what it meant.
This time, it wasn’t just an echo of something unspoken—it was a promise.
She smiled, watching you disappear out the door before turning back to finish cleaning up.
“See you at home,” she whispered to herself, the words feeling just as sweet now as they did then.
Heyyyyyy, long time no see. Kinda want to get back into writing so let me know what you think of this.
You were Jillian Salvius's project. Well, you weren't, the halo that was shoved into your back was. Jillian was using you and the halo's power to power some secret machine that she was keeping from the world. She also used you to test the halo's limits. How quick could it heal injuries? What could you do with it's powers? Anything and everything that pushed you and the halo to the limit was done every day without breaks. The only time you found sanctuary in the cold lab was in your dreams. When you would see her.
How can you miss someone you've never met?
'Cause I need you now, but I don't know you yet
But can you find me soon because I'm in my head?
Yeah, I need you now, but I don't know you yet
At first, your dreams were nothing but blank walls or a dark abyss of nothing. A means of escape, relaxation, and nothingness to get over the day's hardship. Until one night, you catch a glimpse of short brown hair out of the corner of your eye. At first, you think you're just imagining it, but throughout the next few nights, you see it over and over again. Until finally you see a silhouette in the distance. It's not much, but it's something. "Hey! Who are you!?" You shout into the void, your words get swallowed by the dark. But you know they heard you, you could feel it. You tried everything you could to reach the person who was standing a few yards away from you, but every time you took a step forward, they got farther away.
'Cause lately it's been hard
They're sellin' me for parts
And I don't wanna be modern art
But I only got half a heart to give to you
The days have been getting harder and harder to deal with. Your body and the halo get pushed to the brink as scientists stand around and watch how you react to they're test, and you don't find sanctuary in your dreams anymore. "Please just turn around! Please..." You beg, another night spent in the void with someone in front of you just out of reach. "Please, I can't take it anymore! I hate being awake and being poked and prodded while people stand around and watch me like I'm some kind of project and not just me. I hate sleeping now because you just stand there and invade my dreams! Just either turn around or leave! I am begging you!" You fall to your knees, tears running down your face. You're tired, you just want to be left alone.
You feel fingers rest against your cheek, softly wiping your tears away, and you freeze. Is this real? You wonder as you look up. You're unable to make out the person's face as they kneel in front of you and start aggressively wiping at your eyes to get the tears out of the way. But once clear, the person is gone.
How can you miss someone you've never seen?
Oh, tell me, are your eyes brown, blue, or green?
And do you like it with sugar and cream?
Or do you take it straight, oh, just like me?
You spend what little time you have alone during the day drawing what the person in your dreams looks like. What color are their eyes? What would they look like smiling? You haven't smiled in months. Then you try to guess other things about their life. What's their favorite drink? Food? How do they like their coffee? You preferred black.
When you dream now, they're closer. Sitting next to you on the ground in mutual silence. It felt nice to be close to somebody who wasn't hurting you. You had tried talking to them, asking them questions, but you never received an answer. Could they hear you? Could they tell what you looked like? Were they talking, and you couldn't hear them?
Yeah, lately it's been hard
They're sellin' me for parts
And I don't wanna be modern art
But I only got half a heart to give to you
And I hope it's enough
Another night in silence. You could feel the exhaustion of your body even in your dream state. You were too tired to even attempt to ask the person questions or wonder who they were. "I'm tired. I don't know how much longer I can go on like this." You tell them, not expecting a response. "Ever since I got this halo stuck in me, it's like--" You're cut off as the person next to you immediately jumps up. "What? Was it something I said?" You asked worriedly, did you say something wrong? The person starts making tons of hand movements, clearly trying to convey some message to you, but you can't understand them. They grab your hands, and you freeze again. This is the first time you've touched since they wiped your tears away. They pulled you to your feet before touching your upper back where the halo resided before motioning to their back as well. You looked confused before realization dawned on you. "Wait, you're like me?" You ask before waking up back in the lab for another day of testing.
How can you miss someone you've never met?
'Cause I need you now, but I don't know you yet
But can you find me soon because I'm in my head?
Yeah, I need you now, but I don't know you yet
I need you now, but I don't know you yet
I need you now, but I don't know you yet
I need you now, but I don't know you yet
I need you now, but I don't know you yet
"What's happening!?" Jillian yells as a team of scientists are trying to stabilize you. "We don't know, we must have pushed the halo too far." A scientist says as they rush to grab equipment on a shelf. You felt heavy, the world blurring together as it felt like your body was shutting down. You didn't try to fight it; finally, you could be free. You could sleep in the void forever and maybe the person you see in your dreams every night would be there with you.
Alarms blare through the lab suddenly, bright red lights flash on the ceiling informing every that there was an intruder. "Shit. Keep working on them, I'll be back." You hear Jillian say before leaving the room you're in, leaving the door cracked. You see a bright light outside the door and think to yourself that it's finally over. All the pain and suffering you've endured has reached the end and you could be at peace. When you catch a glimpse of someone running past the door. Short brown hair.
Suddenly, you're trying your hardest to stay awake, to stay strong. Could it really be? You wonder, praying that your mind wasn't just playing tricks on you. You hear the footsteps that just passed slow down before coming back in your direction. Someone pulls the door open, and there she is. The person you've been seeing in your dreams for the past month, someone like you. You take in as much of her as you can at once. She's beautiful, you think as you finally look into her eyes. They're brown, you think with a smile, with a determined glint in them. Her name comes to you, like you've known her your whole life. "Ava." Your voice cracks out, reaching out a hand for her, hoping she'll grab it like when you were in your dreams. You watch her emotions flash across her face: shock, fear, anger, as she takes a step into the room. And suddenly it all goes black.
Summary: It’s easy to fall in love with a warrior nun, it’s loving the warrior nun that’s the hard part. They’re never yours, they never last.
Warnings: angst, blood, violence, things don't happen exactly like in the series
a/n: couldn't find any Ava fics, guess I have to do it myself 🥲
(English isn't my first language, I'm sorry if there are mistakes or if something doesn't make sense TvT)
When you first met her, you couldn't help but feel some kind of animosity towards Ava. It wasn't her fault, not directly, but knowing she had the Halo hurt you.
She had never been prepared for it, never trained, never aspired to become the warrior nun, never even knew it existed, yet the Halo chose her. You couldn't seem to find why.
What did she have that made her so special the Halo didn't reject her? What did she have that you didn't? You who trained hard all these years to have your chance with the halo, only to be rejected by it after a few months.
The scar still burnt somedays, reminding you of your failure.
But was it really that much of a bad thing? You were reconsidering it now.
If the halo hadn't rejected you, it would've never gone to Shannon, and therefore never reached Ava. Which would mean never meet her, and never falling for her. Because that's what was happening.
You were falling in love with Ava Silva. And the fat that you had to share an apartment -even if Beatrice was here too- did not help in any way. Nor did the all working-together-at-the-bar-all-day thing. There was never a moment when she wasn't near you.
You weren't complaining, of course, but sometimes you wished for a break. A little one. Tiny little one. Just to have some time to think and try to sort it out.
You were lost, to say the least. Not that you ever had the homophobia speech, you weren't aware of your sexuality until you realized you were falling for Ava. You still weren't exactly sure of it. All you knew was that you loved her, and the chances she liked you too were almost nonexistent.
If only Mary was here... She had disappeared since the fight with Adriel, and you were all worried.
Recently some blond guy started coming to the bar, and you had the feeling he liked her. You were in denial for Ava's side, not wanting to even think about it.
"I think we should talk about what Miguel told me"
You rolled your eyes internally, not so happy to talk about him during your free time with Ava.
"I thought you wanted to go to the party tonight?"
"I do! We can talk when we're there" the brunette replied, turning around to face you as you were both walking towards the bar you worked at during the day
"Can we talk about this later? And just enjoy the night? Please"
You gave her puppy eyes, and of course she gave in. She couldn't say no to you.
So you partied, danced, talked... It was the most fun you've had in a long time.
"Are you going to let me drink alone?" Ava teased you after some shots
"You need someone to bring you home safe"
"Hey, I'm the warrior nun, I can defend myself!"
You chuckled, shook your head, and took the shot from her hand before drinking it. Ava cheered with a big grin and asked for more shots.
"This is going to be so fun!"
You spent most of the night drinking and dancing together, and you had to admit, it was really fun.
The more you were drinking, the more you found her attractive. But maybe it was just the way she looked at you that made you want to kiss her so badly. She had something in her eyes, something that you didn't notice before.
She looked at you for longer than she usually did, and you could swear you saw her eyes shine the more she looked at you.
It was becoming really hard not to give in and kiss her. Especially since she had her hands on your waist while you were dancing. She was just so close to you, you could smell her perfume, feel her breath on your face.
Unconsciously you must have leaned in, because after a few minutes you were only inches appart. And she didn't seem to mind. Quite the contrary.
She was looking directly into your eyes, lips slightly parted, as if she was also holding back. She was waiting for any sign of approval, anything that could tell her you wanted it to happen.
You leaned in a bit more, just enough for her to back away if she wanted to, but instead of doing so, she pressed her soft lips against yours in a gentle kiss.
When you opened your eyes, you were in your bed, in Ava's arms. She was playing with your hair with a soft smile.
"Good morning"
You tried to sit up, but she held you down.
"Stay here just a bit more, okay? I want to keep this moment going"
It was your turn to smile this time, but quickly you frowned.
"When did we get back from the bar? I don't remember well..."
Ava chuckled and told you how you were pretty drunk, and she almost had to carry you home. Apparently, you insisted a lot for her to sleep with you, which she found really cute.
"You also asked me if I thought we'd find each other in our next life"
You were embarrassed by that last bit, but happy to be with her more than anything else. You stayed in each other's arms a bit more before she finally spoke again.
"Why didn't you tell me for the Halo?"
You were surprised by the sudden question, and not sure to understand what she meant.
"I saw the scar..." she continued
Oh... That's what she meant.
You sat up, playing with your fingers nervously, ashamed.
"I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you but... I was scared. I didn't want you to think of me as failure"
She cupped your face softly, forcing you to look at her.
"You're not a failure. Don't ever say that again"
Then, she kissed you tenderly and hugged you tightly.
"I wanted to do that for so long" she admitted with a little laugh
"You should've tried sooner then"
You both laughed at yourselves.
<><><><> ♡ <><><><>
Things went terribly wrong. The plan to put the thorn crown on Adriel's head failed, and now all hope seemed lost. Mother Superion almost died, Camila and Yasmine too... You were not sure there was a chance to win anymore.
But Ava came up with a plan with Jillian's help. What could you possibly lose trying?
"The Arc should be here! Why isn't it here?"
Yasmine clearly started to panic at the empty spot before you.
"Jillian lied to us." Beatrice sternly said
"But why?"
"Because I asked her to"
You didn't need her to say more to know. It was enough for you to understand everything she had planned.
"No... please..."
When Ava looked at you, the expression on her face broke your heart.
"I'm sorry Y/n, but it's the only way..."
"There has to be something else! It's not- it can't-" you stumbled on your words; eyes filled with tears
"I'm afraid there's not..." your girlfriend said as she got closer to you and cupped your face
"It's so unfair..."
"... I know. I'm sorry"
She looked directly into your eyes, as if she was trying to print your image in her mind. Her own eyes were filled with so many emotions, it was obvious it was hard for her to do that.
She smiled sadly and pulled you in for a last kiss, a goodbye kiss.
Tears were rolling down your cheeks at this point, and as soon as she pulled away from the kiss you wrapped your arms around her in a tight hug.
"Please don't go... We can find something else... Please..."
"... I promise to find you in my next life"
She only let you a second before phasing through the floor and disappearing, causing you to fall on your knees, broken.
Letting the love of your life sacrifice herself was not an option. With Yasmine and Bea's help you managed to find where the Arc was, and so where Ava was.
You felt terribly guilty not to have understood what she was about to do. You should have seen it, seen a sign, something, anything. But you didn't, and now because of you she was about to die.
She had been called selfish in the past, putting her safety first, and got in trouble for that, but you would give everything you had for her to do that again -save her life and flee.
When you arrived in the room Ava was in, the first thing you noticed was her fighting against both Adriel and Lilith. Adriel had managed to push her back to the entrance of the room, towards where Miguel's body was lying on the floor.
She gave a look at the blonde's body, before looking back at her opponent.
That's where everything clicked. It was now. She was about to sacrifice herself right now. You could easily guess what she was about to do thanks to a conversation you overheard between her and Miguel.
He had a bomb, and she was about to activate it to kill Adriel, even if it meant dying with him. And you couldn't let her do that.
Just as she was about to use the Halo, you ran towards her.
When the bomb exploded, you were between her and Miguel's body. Exactly where you wanted to be. Your body acted like a shield, protecting her from the shards of the bomb.
Adriel was also badly hurt.
"Take that motherf-fucker" you managed to say before falling face first
Luckily, Ava caught you before you touched the ground, but honestly it wouldn't have changed anything. You were... barely alive. Ava could feel it.
She held you in her arms, trying to see if she could do anything to save you.
"Why did you do that? I should've-"
"Because..." you cut her off "Because you deserve to live. Your life... had been stolen, taken away from you all these years... You deserve to have your life back" you struggled to speak properly because of the pain, but did your best to keep a smile, even if it was weak.
"But you deserve to live too!"
"I lived... a good life. I did what I was supposed to. Now it's your turn to enjoy life"
"How am I supposed to enjoy anything if you're not with me?"
You could clearly hear her voice breaking and see tears in her eyes. You didn't want her to be sad, but it was the only way to save her.
"I'm sorry" you said quietly "Do me a favor... When I'm gone, I want you to wipe those tears away and smile. You're so pretty when you smile... I wish I could see you smile again..."
You let out a sad chuckle.
"No... no you can't-"
"I'm so happy I met you..." you didn't let her finish her sentence "You're the best thing that happened to me, I hope you know that... I've never been so happy to be alive since I met you... You're my ray of sunshine, my light when everything is dark..."
You were well aware that this was very cheesy and cliché, but you had to let her know how you felt. You never really talked about it before, thinking you had time to do so later.
You put a hand on her cheek, softly wiping a tear away, leaving a bit of blood on her skin. You pulled her closer and looked into her eyes one last time. Your lips were only inches apart.
"I love you" you whispered before kissing her
She held you close while she kissed you back, until your hand fell from her face and your whole body went limp. The scream of distress she let out could break anyone's heart easily.
She kept you close for a while, holding you against her, crying in the crook of your neck.
The shine of the Halo made her look like an angel. The most beautiful angel the earth had ever known.
Ava having a crush on you, the adopted son of Mother Superion
Request: Yes or No
Don't worry, we'll have sum lesbian nuns soon enough
~
Ava looked over the paintings on the walls. She let out a half-impressed hum before her gaze went over to the nuns training. She watched them, eyes wondering until they landed on a young man.
"So.. If this is all women, why's there a dude here?" Ava asked, tilting her head as she looked him over. He was attractive, maybe more attractive than JC.
"That would be (Y/N). Mother Superion took him in after he had been left at the gates as a baby. She raised him as her own." Father Vincent explained. Ava hummed, nodding.
"So.. Do I call him Brother (Y/N)?" She asked, looking at Father Vincent. "Also, is he a monk?"
"He prefers being called just (Y/N)." Father Vincent chuckled, shaking his head. He looked at the young man, watching him nod along to something one of the Sisters said.
"I suppose he is a monk." Father Vincent said.
"Aren't they usually.. Bald? And wear orange?" Ava asked, cocking a brow. Father Vincent glanced at her, staying silent. Ava hummed.
"Good talk." She mumbled.
Ava grunted as she hit the floor, letting out a deep sigh. She looked at Sister Lilith, lifting herself up on her elbows.
"Starting to think you don't like me." Ava said. Sister Lilith shrugged. Ava got up, rolling her shoulders and picking up her stick. Her gaze went to (Y/N) when he entered. Ava grunted, shooting Sister Lilith a glare as she held her side.
"Stay focused." Sister Lilith huffed. (Y/N) chuckled, going to Mother Superion and standing beside her.
"How's it going?" (Y/N) asked. Ava looked back at him.
"Getting my ass beat. How about yo-"
"Language!" Sister Lilith happily hit her again. Ava rubbed her arm.
"Can I train with someone who isn't trying to kill me?" Ava asked, looking at Mother Superion. Mother Superion kept a stotic look on her face.
"You'll train with (Y/N)." She simply said. Sister Lilith went to stand beside her, handing the stick to (Y/N). Ava hummed.
"Isn't this.. A bit unfair?" Ava asked. (Y/N) chuckled, nodding.
"Yeah, probably. I'll go easy on you though." (Y/N) assured. Ava nodded, feeling her face hit up a bit.
"Show me what you've got." (Y/N) encouraged. Ava thought back on everything she had done with Lilith. She went forward, swinging the stick but (Y/N) blocked her hits with ease. Ava huffed, trying to go for the head but (Y/N) grabbed her arm and pulling her forward. He stepped to the side, letting her arm go and watching her faceplant. (Y/N) snorted, biting his lip.
"This is easy?" Ava got up, facing him. (Y/N) shrugged, nodding.
"Yeah." he chuckled. Ava huffed, trying to avoid looking at his exposed arms. She licked her lips. A simple crush wasn't gonna stop her. Or maybe it would.
Pairings: Ava x reader (one sided crush), Beatrice x reader (sisters)
Type of fic: Comedy
Warnings: None
Summary: Ava is completely unaware of what you are going through when she adjusts to the heat of the room (nothing sexual you freaks) and let’s just say she might have broken you
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It was one of those oppressive summer days where the heat seemed to seep into every corner of the world. You, Ava, Beatrice, and Mary were tasked with organizing an old library archive. Of course, the task wasn’t thrilling, but it was necessary, and the space offered at least a little reprieve from the relentless sun.
You’d warned Ava before leaving the house. “It’s going to be scorching today, Ava. Maybe skip the jacket?”
But Ava, being Ava, had waved you off. “I’ll be fine! Jackets are my thing. It’s like… my superhero look.”
Now, as the hours dragged on, even Ava couldn’t ignore the heat. She let out an exaggerated groan, unzipping her jacket and shrugging it off.
“Finally,” Mary muttered, rolling her eyes.
Ava tossed the jacket over the back of a chair, revealing that she’d decided to wear a sleeveless shirt underneath. It wasn’t particularly flashy, just a simple tank top, but it was the first time you’d ever seen her arms so… uncovered. And there they were: Ava Silva’s surprisingly toned, muscular arms.
You blinked. Then blinked again.
When did that happen?
The way her muscles flexed when she bent down to grab a box, or how the light glinted off her skin, made it hard for you to focus on anything else. You felt your face heat up, your brain going into immediate panic mode.
“You okay, Y/N?” Ava asked, glancing at you as she hefted a stack of books.
“Huh? Yeah! Totally!” you squeaked, quickly looking away before she could notice the way your cheeks were practically on fire. You cleared your throat. “I, uh… I need to step outside. Get some air. Yeah. Air. Be right back!”
You bolted out of the room, leaving Ava staring after you with a confused expression.
The door had barely shut behind you when Beatrice sighed, setting down the book she was cataloging. “You broke her, Ava.”
Ava blinked. “What?”
“You heard me,” Beatrice said, her tone somewhere between exasperation and amused. “You broke my sister.”
Mary, who had been leaning against the table watching the exchange, raised an eyebrow at Ava. “To be fair, I didn’t know you were hiding those either,” she said, motioning toward Ava’s arms.
Ava glanced down at herself, confused. “What? My arms?”
“Yes, your arms,” Mary deadpanned. “Who knew you were walking around with biceps like that? I thought you were all about dodging and flipping, not…” She mimed lifting weights.
“I mean, I do a lot of flipping and dodging,” Ava said, flexing experimentally. “And punching demons is a workout…” She trailed off, realizing both Beatrice and Mary were giving her knowing looks.
“What?”
Beatrice raised an eyebrow. “She stared at you like you’d just descended from the heavens. Blushing, stammering—she was flustered, Ava.”
Ava’s eyes widened. “No way.”
“Yes way,” Mary chimed in. “Pretty sure she saw those arms and her brain short-circuited.”
For a moment, Ava just stood there, processing. Then, a slow, mischievous grin spread across her face. “Wait. Are you telling me… I made her blush?”
Beatrice pinched the bridge of her nose. “Ava, please don’t make this worse.”
Ava ignored her, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet. “This is amazing. I mean, I do work out a lot, but I didn’t think she’d—”
“She’s going to come back in here, and if you say anything, you’ll regret it,” Beatrice warned, her tone icy enough to make Ava pause.
“Fine,” Ava said, raising her hands in surrender, though her grin didn’t falter.
When you finally returned, you avoided Ava’s gaze like your life depended on it. Your face was still a little pink, and your steps were hesitant as you crossed the room.
“Hey, you okay?” Ava asked, her tone casual but her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“Yep! All good!” you said quickly, sitting down and pretending to be very engrossed in sorting through a pile of old papers.
Beatrice shot Ava a warning look, and Ava barely managed to suppress a laugh. Still, she couldn’t resist leaning over as she passed you, flexing her arm just slightly as she reached for a book.
You caught the movement out of the corner of your eye, and the blush that spread across your face was instant.
Pairings: Ava x reader (mutual crush), Beatrice x reader (one sided crush), Ava x Beatrice (platonic)
Type of fic: Fluff
Warnings: Ava got a bit jealous
Summary: Having a crush on you was… new to Ava and so she’s not very good at hiding it from anyone, but when Beatrice (who’s unaware of it) tries her luck with you Ava knows she has to make a move before Bea gets you.
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Ava Silva was terrible at secrets—especially ones involving her feelings. She’d always wear her heart on her sleeve, a blazing neon sign of her emotions for anyone who bothered to look. But when it came to you, the girl she had been crushing on for months, Ava somehow managed to keep it together. Barely.
Her days were spent orbiting you like the sun, soaking in your laughter, memorizing the way you scrunched your nose when you were deep in thought. Yet, she never stepped over the invisible line of friendship. Because how could she? You were smart, kind, and so painfully out of her league.
But today was different. Today, Ava’s patience and willpower were tested in ways she hadn’t prepared for.
The group had gathered in the library for what Beatrice called a “team-building strategy session” (translation: boring meeting with books and charts). Ava tried to focus on Beatrice’s lecture, but her attention kept drifting to where you were sitting across from her.
Your eyes shone with interest as you listened to Beatrice explain something in her usual calm, methodical tone. You leaned slightly forward, chin resting on your palm, and Ava couldn’t help but think how unfair it was for someone to look that effortlessly good.
And then, Beatrice’s hand gently brushed your arm as she passed you a book.
Ava froze.
It wasn’t the touch itself that caught her attention, but the way Beatrice lingered for just a moment too long.
Ava’s jaw clenched.
“…and if we map out the artifacts here,” Beatrice was saying, seemingly unaware of the storm brewing in Ava’s chest.
You smiled at Beatrice, leaning closer to look at the map she had spread out. Ava’s hands curled into fists under the table as she watched Beatrice’s calm demeanor soften into something that felt… tender.
Beatrice arched an eyebrow. “I was saying that this section of the map is where we’ll start our search. You agree, don’t you?”
“Uh, yeah. Sure. Whatever,” Ava mumbled, trying to sound nonchalant.
Beatrice gave her a curious look but didn’t press.
The meeting dragged on, and Ava’s mood soured further as Beatrice continued to find excuses to touch you—a light hand on your shoulder, a brush of fingers as she handed you another book. Each little moment chipped away at Ava’s resolve, leaving behind a bubbling mix of jealousy and frustration.
By the time the meeting ended, Ava felt like she was seconds away from snapping. She followed you and Beatrice as the group dispersed, her heart pounding in her chest.
When Beatrice stopped in the hallway to talk to someone else, Ava seized her chance.
“Hey, can I talk to you for a second?” Ava asked, grabbing your hand.
You looked surprised but nodded. “Sure, what’s up?”
Ava led you to a quiet corner of the library, her mind racing. She hadn’t planned for this. She hadn’t planned for any of it.
“So… uh…” Ava scratched the back of her neck, avoiding your eyes. “I noticed you and Beatrice were… pretty close today.”
You tilted your head, confused. “What do you mean?”
“You know, all the… touching and stuff,” Ava said, her voice a little sharper than she intended.
Realization dawned on your face, and to Ava’s horror, you started to smile. “Ava, are you… jealous?”
“What? No!” Ava said quickly, her cheeks burning. “I mean, maybe? Okay, yes. But only because… because I like you. And it’s really hard to sit there and pretend I don’t when Beatrice is over here being all… perfect and touchy.”
You stared at her, your smile softening into something gentler.
“Ava…”
“No, wait,” Ava said, holding up a hand. “Before you say anything, I just need to get this out. I like you. A lot. And I know I’m not as put-together as Beatrice, and I probably say too much and mess things up half the time, but I just… I needed you to know.”
For a moment, there was silence.
Then you stepped closer, your hand finding hers. “Ava, I like you too.”
Ava blinked. “Wait, really?”
You laughed. “Yes, really. I’ve liked you for a while, but I didn’t think you felt the same way. As for Beatrice… she’s just a friend. There’s nothing to be jealous of, I promise.”
Relief washed over Ava, followed by a grin so wide it made her cheeks hurt. “Oh. Well, that’s… that’s good. That’s really good.”
You squeezed her hand. “So… now what?”
“Now,” Ava said, her confidence returning, “I take you on a date. A real one. No Beatrice, no maps, no interruptions.”
“I’d like that,” you said, your smile bright enough to rival the sun.
And for the first time in weeks, Ava felt like she could breathe again.
