Based on my research, and degree theory I am going to guide you on your "fated career".
Mars at 1°, 13°, 25° degree
Career related to leadership, companies, CEO, martial arts, military, human rights, surgery, a police officer, firefighter, anything that is dangerous, full of adrenaline, formula 1 driver, motorbike racer, athlethes, security personnel, real estate agent, engineering, sales maneger, entrepreneur, chemists, carpenters, doctors, research work
Career related to communication, travelling, software developer, interpreter, public relations, project manager, scientist, teacher, salesperson, languages, translator, writing, television, blogging, vlogging, influencer, journalism, magazine editing, tour guide, pilots, aircraft tehnicians, flight attendant, authors, event manager, comedist
Mars at 4°,16°,28° degree
Career related to cooking,patient care, oncologists, oncology nurses, support workers, biologists, biostatisticians, nutricitian, house keeping, child care, gallery owner, art director, corporate executive, also beautician, nail artist, exterior design, acting, stand-up comedy, knitting, sewing, food industry, home designer, also architecture
Mars at 5°, 17°, 29° degree
Career related to singing, acting, dancing, playing a instrument in a band, music composer, director, film manager, film making, hairstylist, motivational speaker, graphic designer, performing, diplomacy, law, administrative services, photography, game developing, event planning, wedding planning, executive producing
Mars at 6°,18°degree
Career related to pets, animals, farming, office worker, teaching, fitness, retailing, writing, yoga teaching, psychology, fields of astrology, astronomy, science, literature, space, museum curator, IT expert, librarian, critic analyst, system analyst, therapist, social worker, HR manager, project manager, personal assisant
Mars at 7°, 19° degree
Career related to law, politics, liberacy, fashion, digital marketing, publicist, party promoter, makeup artist, food critic, human rights advocate, creative director, artist, publicist, filmmaker, mediator, broker, counselor, sports coach, agent, relationship terapist, mediator, wedding planner, trading
Mars at 8°, 20° degree
Career related to economy, medical research, psychology, ecologists, navigators, market analysts, pathologists, soldiers, mining operations, oil drilling and archaeology, woodworking, pharmacy, data analyst, researching, entrepreneurial ventures, working in a lab, doctors, surgeons, any type of medicine
Mars at 9°, 21° degree
Career related to tourism, transport, travelling,teaching,photography, journalism, roles in advertising ,marketing ,philosophers,therapists,
motivational orators, flight attendant, pilot, travel writers or travel guides, international business, hospitality worker, preacher, publisher, life coach, antropologist
Mars at 10°, 22° degree
Career related to business, finance, management, banking, accounts, law, administration, scientist, electrician, international relations, CEO, leadership, technology, computer programming, web developing, application developing, legal secretary, nursing, jeweler, legal secretary, accountant,
Mars at 11°, 23° degree
Career related to humanism, fields of science, sociology, biology, radiology, engineering, social work, politics, activism, networking, enviromental engineering, TV producer, inventor, pop star, life coach, acting, project manager, electrician, virtual assisant, social media manager, tech support specialist, copywriter
Mars at 12°, 24° degree
Career related to arts, astrology, astronomy, esoterics, psychology, psyhilosophy, tarot reading, music, graphic designing, counseling, marketing, music teachers, childcare, caregiver, boat captain, pastor, charity work, painter, art dealer, DJ, holistic healer
hiya new person to your blog, I'm so interested with the stories of breaker and rock and cade and all that
Would you be okay maybe summarising their stories and stuff because I'm abit lost? I LOVE YOUR WOORK MWA MWA
AT THE MOMENT, there is not a good way to summarize anything because it's mostly just a lot of little windows into moments of characters' lives #Hard Times in Houston tag on my blog...
In short: Breaker, Rock, and Hal are three really shitty and toxic southern queer people that nobody else likes. Why are they like this? How did they become this way? Are they going to meaningfully change as people.
Breaker Hidalgo (he/him) is a tech guy from Louisiana and also does some software and web development. He got hired by Cornelius King to help him make a website and manage stuff for his business, and subsequently got in a relationship with him for money despite thinking he's annoying as fuck. Life is all about getting to the top, money, and fun.
Halcyon Fauzi (they/them) (of @metalpincer creation fame), a police officer in Houston, is his best friend. For whatever reason, Hal has developed the persona of a cartoon skull t-shirt bully/the Phantom of the Opera. They're literally Nicholas Angel from Hot Fuzz (2007) in real life if he was a Dracula... for some reason.
Together, Breaker and Hal like to fuck with people and also do coke in club bathrooms. Fundamentally, Breaker is incapable of taking anything seriously and doesn't really care if people get hurt because of him indirectly. He just cares about making himself laugh.
Hal, on the other hand, mostly cares about maintaining a position of power over other people as much as possible. They joined the military as soon as they were 18, and they're SO fucking annoying about it. Sure, the system is bad or whatever. Who gives a shit, they're a COP, they do shit just because they can get away with it! Besides, they do put some good into the world, right?
Rock Blanchett (she/her, he/him) is a construction worker, usually working in homes or businesses. He's not too interesting, just a regular person. Don't pay attention to the string of people that avoid her at all cost and have her blocked on everything, or the all slashed tires and broken windows. She normally doesn't have much of a social life, a tinder date here and there. A fan of westerns and 80s dark fantasy movies.
Halcyon meeting Rock for the first time (via harassing him on the street) kicks off a lot of events, and so does Breaker and Rock reuniting (they got married at 18 and subsequently divorced 4 years later, resulting in absolutely no contact between the two until then.)
NOW. HERE IS A BIG COMPILATION OF DRAWINGS THAT I TRIED TO ARRANGE CHRONOLOGICALLY!!!
As you can see there are a lot of gaps between events. There are plans to construct something... but I prefer making comics instead of like text posts, and Halcyon Fauzi isn't my character (and it is up to @metalpincer whether he posts the comic sketches he's made or if I have permission to like, redraw half of everything that's ever been made about Fauzi) so there's less of them despite how insane they make me.
ALWAYS FEEL FREE TO ASK MORE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS!
Comics that are pivotal character interactions to me but are somewhat more explicit in nature are below the read more so you don't get jumpscared. There's blood in there.
synopsis: Everyone needs their own way of rebelling; even chaebols who have everything find their escape in parties, forbidden social media accounts, fake names, and often their rivals' mouths. content: chaebol au, smau, cussing, suggestive, grammar mistakes // typos, enemies to lovers, friends with benefits, rivals (?), more to be added...
⭑루안: i am super proud of this
<-previous masterlist next->
a quick guide to who is funding all the drama, group chats, and parties
Jeong Development Group
Building Tomorrow.
is responsible for: real estates, hospitality and urban development
heir(s): Jeong Yunho
Jeong Y/n
note:
Built the country's most recognisable buildings and luxury developments. That's why almost every building has their name on it...
Song Dynamics
Engineering the Future
is responsible for: construction, engineering and infrastructure
heir(s): Song Mingi
note:
Designs and engineers many of the projects commissioned by Jeong Development. Resulting in a decades-long rivalry between the two companies (they should've learned how to look at each other's faces by now just saying...)
Nova
Innovation without borders
is responsible for: technology, manufacturing and global operations
heir(s): Ning Yizhuo
note:
The powerhouse behind most of the technology used by the other corporations, providing everything from manufacturing and software systems to global infrastructures.
Uchinaga Global
Creating Value Worldwide -
is responsible for: private equity, acquisitions and global investments
heir(s): Uchinaga Aeri
note:
Handles all of the companies' investments // investors. A little different from banking; don't ask in what aspects, though.
Choi Financial Holdings
Investing in Possibility
is responsible for: banking, investments and wealth management
heir(s): Choi San
Choi Yeonjun
note:
Manages assets for many of the country's largest corporations. Probably why San knows everyone's net worth to a penny...
Jung Lines
Connecting Global Horizons
is responsible for: shipping, logistics and international trade
heir(s): Jung Wooyoung
note:
Handles transportation and logistics for numerous domestic and international corporations.
KIMZ
Defining Luxury -
is responsible for: luxury fashion and beauty
heir(s): Kim Hongjoong
note:
KIMZ X PARK ALTERIER X MAISON JANG
the luxury industry's favourite collaboration.
With KIMZ designing collections, Maison Jang crafting the accessories, and Park Alterier bringing them to the public eye, the three companies have become staples of the luxury industry.
Park Alterier
Where Vision Meets Style
is responsible for: talent management and luxury retail
heir(s): Park Seonghwa
Maison Jang
Crafting Timeless Brilliance
is responsible for: fine jewellery, watches and luxury retail
heir(s): Jang Wonyoung
Noh Media
Shaping the Conversation
is responsible for: media, broadcasting and public relations
heir(s): Noh Yunah
note:
The company behind some of the country's largest media outlets. Whether a story trends, disappears or never gets published at all often depends on who is involved. Basically deciding what makes headlines and what doesn't...
VELOR
Driven Beyond Limits
is responsible for: luxury vehicles, automotive technology and mobility
heir(s): Hwang Hyunjin
note:
one of the country's leading luxury vehicle manufacturers. If you got a car, it's probably from the Hwangs...
I think we've explained enough; let's get to the story...
what do you think the creeps jobs / occupations would be if they weren't killers,,,,,
(love your hcs btw they're saving me while studying ♡♡)
Oh this is an easy one! I'll leave out Slender & LJ, since they weren't ever human!
Offender: Drug dealer, but if he managed to complete his training, he'd have been a professional violinist. He was a prodigy.
Jeff: Investigative Journalist (with a particular talent catching perfect photos)
Nina: Salon owner, maybe dabbling with design on the side!
Jane: Model, maybe even a small time actor
EJ: Doctor, of course
Ben: Video game developer.
Toby: Novelist, particularly a horror author
Doby: Professional baseball player
Tim: He did work in construction, but I can see he becoming an architect while progressing through his career!
Brian: hacker & software engineer/tester, he's the guy the company calls to test their program security (he'd probably do "vigilante hacking" on the side)
Noosciocircus agent backgrounds, former jobs at C&A, assigned roles, and current internal status.
Kinger
Former professor — Studied child psychology and computer science, moved into neobotanics via germination theory and seedlet development.
Seedlet trainer — Socialized and educated newly germinated seedlets to suit their future assignments. I.e. worked alongside a small team to serve as seedlets’ social parents, K-12 instructors, and upper-education mentors in rapid succession (about a year).
Intermediary — Inserted to assist cooperation and understanding of Caine.
Partially mentally mulekicked — Lives in state of forgetfulness after abstraction of spouse, is prone to reliving past from prior to event.
Ragatha
Former EMT — Worked in a rural community.
Semiohazard medic — Underwent training to treat and assess mulekick victims and to administer care in the presence of semiohazards.
Nootic health supervisor— Inserted to provide nootic endurance training, treat psychological mulekick, and maintain morale.
Obsessive-compulsive — Receives new agents and struggles to maintain morale among team and herself due to low trust in her honesty.
Jax
Former programmer — Gained experience when acquired out of university by a large software company.
Scioner — Developed virtual interfaces for seedlets to operate machinery with.
Circus surveyor — Inserted to assess and map nature of circus simulation, potentially finding avenues of escape.
Anomic — Detached from morals and social stake. Uncooperative and gleefully combative.
Gangle
Former navy sailor — Performed clerical work as a yeoman, served in one of the first semiotically-armed submarines.
Task coordinator — Inserted to organize team effort towards escape.
Reclused — Abandoned task and lives in quiet, depressive state.
Zooble
No formal background — Onboarded out of secondary school for certification by C&A as part of a youth outreach initiative.
Mule trainer — Physically handled mules, living semiohazard conveyors for tactical use.
Semiohazard specialist — Inserted to identify, evaluate, and attempt to disarm semiotic tripwires.
Debilitated and self-isolating — Suffers chronic vertigo from randomly pulled avatar. Struggles to participate in adventures at risk of episode.
Pomni
Former accountant — Worked for a chemical research firm before completing her accreditation to become a biochemist.
Collochemist — Performed mesh checkups and oversaw industrial hormone synthesis.
Field researcher — Inserted to collect data from fellows and organize reports for indeterminate recovery. Versed in scientific conduct.
In shock — Currently acclimating to new condition. Fresh and overwhelming preoccupation with escape.
Caine
Neglected — Due to project deadline tightening, Caine’s socialization was expedited in favor of lessons pertinent to his practical purpose. Emerged a well-meaning but awkward and insecure individual unprepared for noosciocircus entrapment.
Prototype — Germinated as an experimental mustard, or semiotic filter seedlet, capable of subconsciously assembling semiohazards and detonating them in controlled conditions.
Nooscioarchitect — Constructs spaces and nonsophont AI for the agents to occupy and interact with using his asset library and computation power. Organizes adventures to mentally stimulate the agents, unknowingly lacing them with hazards.
Helpless — After semiohazard overexposure, an agent’s attachment to their avatar dissolves and their blackroom exposes, a process called abstraction. These open holes in the noosciocircus simulation spill potentially hazardous memories and emotion from the abstracted agent’s mind. Caine stores them in the cellar, a stimulus-free and infoproofed zone that calms the abstracted and nullifies emitted hazards. He genuinely cares about the inserted, but after only being able to do damage control for a continually deteriorating situation, the weight of his failure is beginning to weigh on him in a way he did not get to learn how to express.
Hybrid sorter hub and its three branches - read more about its structure, how it works, and the development process below the cut!
General Structure
For this survival world, my friends and I decided to split up our resources in three different branches, all connected by one central hub. The fourth "branch" is an access hallway (not shown) that contains minecart rail stations. As of now, only one station is built, but the hallway also contains a room where any unsorted items flow out to - this room also contains its own sorter input!
You might notice redstone bulbs in the copper pillars along each hallway - activating these will reveal both a crafting table and stonecutter at the base of the pillar for easy crafting access. Also, the three branches have their own quirks since they were each organized and completed by a different builder - see if you can spot any differences (aside from the items being sorted)!
Redstone & Underbelly
During development, we decided that the sorter didn't need to be fully automatic like our last one - instead, we wanted a way to combine automatic and manual sorting, hence this hybrid design. Only the top rows (and about a dozen barrels in the middle and bottom rows) along each branch leverage automatic sorting - this was to simplify the sorter design and allow for better scalability. This is also why some of our most plentiful items are placed on the top row. We love Minecraft updates, but adding new blocks and items to a sorter can be tough!
Including manual sorting allows us to store unstackables as well as different kinds of items in the same barrel. Although there are some great designs out there for unstackable or multi-item sorters, we wanted this build to be our own and not have to worry about chunk alignment, minecarts, or having to construct it with build assist tools. If you're interested in the redstone for our automatic sorter modules, check out this post about our previous sorter! Our current one applies the concepts in similar ways.
Like our last sorter, @shewholistens has been doing an amazing job standardizing and decorating the Underbelly, which is still in progress. Having all of our sorter modules and hopper lines accessible (and good-looking) is such a boon, especially when doing work behind the scenes. Currently, the Underbelly is accessible via hidden doors at the end of each branch!
Development process
This was a big project. Since building our last sorter, we learned a lot about what works and what doesn't, and decided to carry that knowledge over to this one. In our new world, we put together a document detailing things we wanted in our sorter and how they would all fit together. These included item organization, a hybrid sorting system, input and output chests, crafting access points, a player-friendly underbelly, and - of course - decoration.
This prep work was by far the most important part of the sorter building process, and it allowed us to break the project into small, manageable pieces. It reminded me a lot of the work I do as a software engineer, and it was so exciting to see the sorter get built module by module, branch by branch.
Before I forget - huge thanks to @indigoforiver for convincing me that we needed a sorter! Our chest/shulker monster was... very bad...
I come with further questions! In a few of the fics of the gig(g)s phasmo series, you mention that everyone but Grian has a day job. I was wondering if you had any thoughts on what thise day jobs are, and how they manage them with semi-regular trips to the middle of nowhere for ghost hunts.
Another great question. Grian and Impulse are both technically full time ghost investigators now.
Cut to hide the rambles! And also some vague references about The construction site so very mild spoilers if you're seeing this and happen to not be caught up with that one...
Impulse used to work at the same place Skizz still does. It's the job that drew them up to [unnamed city vaguely in the north east US somewhere not far from the coast]. (Why'd I put them there? I have no idea, I've never even been to that region of the country, that's just where they fell in my brain.) Anyways, Impulse left that job pretty quickly after they got established as ghost investigators. I gave Impulse my autism in this and he's got a special interest in ghosts. I don't know how well that comes across in the writing, but I am (and therefore Impulse is) quite high masking so there's that. But yea he worked there a few years, long enough that their coworkers definitely know how close Imp and Skizz are, so they don't really question when Skizz has to duck out suddenly. They all just assume it's about Impulse somehow.
Skizz, meanwhile, works as a project manager at a vague software development company and Impulse used to be part of his team there working more in the coding type stuff. It was fine but he didn't love it cause he's more interested in the hardware/redstone side of things, and even more interested in ghosts obviously. So Skizz wasn't that surprised when he put in his two weeks there. Skizz kept the job cause he loves his team and his team loves him, and he didn't really have too much reason to quit.
Early on they would just take more local haunts and usually just investigate on the weekends. Then during the week Skizz world work and Impulse would do ghost related research or play around with improving the redstone in their equipment. The equipment used by people in the GIN has to be built differently to withstand the interference from the ghosts EMF and also be able to shut off as quickly and completely as possible when needed. Redstone here works a lot like in minecraft where it's a pretty self sustaining infinite power source so most devices have little residual currents and things in them in their design because it doesn't really matter. But when a residual current means the difference between hiding successfully and surviving and getting found and offed by a ghost it matters a hell of a lot more.
After The Construction Site, Skizz was kind of a wreck though. I alluded to him meeting with his boss at one point in one of my drafts but I don't think that scene made the cut. (Still thinking about maybe doing a post talking about just how much that arch changed over the course of writing it cause holy shit did it get away from me.) But basically his boss saw one of his star employees exhausted beyond all reason, still stained with quite a bit of blood (that does not come out of white feathers easily), and worried sick over his ward and rather than fire him/risk loosing him as an employee or something unreasonable (they love Skizz okay, who doesn't), he worked with Skizz. So Skizz got medical leave for while Impulse was in a coma/recovering and then they made arrangements for him to be able to work remotely some to most of the time as needed so he could be there for Impulse while he recovered. And then of course that extended to after that too which allowed them to take some haunts that were farther away since Skizz could take his work on the road with him more easily. The only times he really has to go in are for the more important meetings, but he goes more often than that cause he does actually enjoy that job. It's a nice source of normalcy and less life or death stress. Stresses he can actually easily act on and fix. It's a nice change of pace for him from the ghost investigation.
When Grian and Scar joined it didn't change that much either. Grian is legally dead, so getting any other job would be kind of a huge head ache probably, and a lot of paperwork. And he doesn't really need one so why bother.
And Scar already works mostly remotely as a theme park architect/designer. So he could already bring his work with him on the road trips if he needed. Sometimes it gets a bit much cause his team isn't that reliable and he'll need to stay home to better deal with all that and focus and stuff, which is part of why Gem joins as a sort of tag team option for him. The only time he has to go in person to work is usually as a consultant when the construction on one of his parks actually starts and then maybe again as its getting towards opening day to make sure everything is going to plan and smoothly and all that (and also to ensure they don't fuck up the accessibility of the park). But those are usually only one to three times a year for a week or two. It's not like theme parks get built everyday or anything. So overall he's pretty flexible too.
And Gem, when she joins, is working I want to say as an interior designer/maybe also an architect. She definitely went to school for architecture where she met Pearl, they were freshman year roommates and moved off campus (and in with the hermits) together in their junior year. Do I have any idea of exactly what her job entails? Not really. But since she's in a sort of tag team situation with Scar for the actual investigation she and Scar have just enough flexibility in both their jobs that they can make it work for themselves and the GIGGS team without much problem.
Thank goodness for this ask not requiring pictures though. I'm still saving this text elsewhere before I post cause dang Tumblr has been putting me through the ringer. But also here I was thinking this would be a short little response. I'm a rambler. I know this. Why do I ever think it will be short lol.
Series Summary: Y/N is a psychology major assigned to shadow CJ at The Stand, unaware he's the one who basically saved her life four years before. CJ is unaware that she's the one who left a notable impact on him over the phone four years ago. As they navigate the work at The Stand, they develop a spark that demands revelation and connection.
Word Count: 5,949
Tags/Warnings: Some fluff, angst (I guess?)
A/N: Comments, Likes, Reblogs, Kind feedback are always highly appreciated. Please let me know if you want to be added to the tag list! Evidently my muse won't shut up, so here we go! A new story in a new setting! I hope you all enjoy!
Dividers: credit to @saradika-graphics
Chapter Fifteen: Power
The Stand was still in shambles, but progress was finally being made.
The construction crew had managed to rewire the power correctly—without cutting another crucial cable—and most of the computers were back up and running. The volunteers were handling the transition as best they could, with some still working remotely while others adjusted to the lingering noise of drills and hammers echoing from the hallways.
And Miles, miraculously, had not actually combusted.
Mostly thanks to Gabby.
CJ watched from across the office as Gabby, ever the agent of chaos, continued to hover around Miles, insisting on keeping his stress levels in check—whether he liked it or not.
“You know,” Gabby mused, leaning against his desk, “you should really try deep breathing. Or yoga.”
Miles shot her a flat look, adjusting his glasses. “I will literally code you out of the system if you don’t leave me alone.”
Gabby gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. “How dare you! After everything I’ve done for you?”
“You mean ruin my life?”
“Miles!” Gabby swatted his arm, and CJ actually had to bite back a laugh at the sheer suffering on Miles’ face.
“This is my nightmare,” Miles muttered under his breath.
CJ shook his head before turning his attention back to his actual job.
He stood by the main workstation, overseeing the remaining equipment shifts, while Priya checked off tasks from the operations list.
“All right,” she said, tapping her pen against the clipboard. “We’re finally down to just a few more adjustments. The doors are fully rewired, the badge system is almost ready to go live, and IT is still working on making sure the software is functioning correctly.”
“Meaning?” CJ asked.
“Meaning,” Priya said with a smirk, “you can maybe stop looking like you want to strangle the entire construction team.”
CJ exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. “No promises.”
Y/N approached then, stepping beside him, her presence immediately grounding him. “How are we looking?” she asked.
“Better than this morning,” CJ admitted. “Which, to be fair, is a low bar.”
Y/N chuckled, giving him a teasing nudge. “You love this place, admit it.”
CJ shot her a look. “I love you. This place? Questionable.”
Y/N grinned. “I’ll take it.”
Priya, watching their exchange with mild amusement, shook her head. “You two are disgustingly adorable.”
“Jealous?” Y/N teased.
“Not even a little,” Priya said dryly. “But it’s good to know that when the world inevitably collapses, CJ will still be flirting with you in the rubble.”
CJ smirked. “Damn right, I will.”
Before Y/N could respond, a loud beeping sound filled the office.
“What now?” Miles groaned, turning toward the sudden alarm coming from one of the security panels.
One of the contractors rushed over, looking mildly concerned. “Uh, okay, so… the new system is a little more sensitive than we thought.”
“Define ‘a little,’” CJ said, already dreading the answer.
“Well…” the guy hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “It may have just triggered a lockdown sequence.”
CJ stared. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Nothing major!” the contractor quickly added. “Just a test protocol. Doors will remain locked until IT clears the alert.”
Miles muttered something that sounded suspiciously like “kill me now.”
“How long will that take?” Priya asked, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“Uh…” The contractor checked his tablet. “About three hours?”
CJ groaned. “Of course it will.”
Gabby, ever the optimist, clapped her hands together. “Ooo, so we’re trapped! How fun!”
Miles turned to her, exasperated. “How are you like this?”
Gabby grinned. “Natural talent.”
CJ sighed, rubbing his temples. “This day will never end, will it?”
Y/N patted his arm. “But look on the bright side, babe. At least the power’s working now.”
CJ exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “I hate how low our standards have gotten.”
Y/N laughed, leaning into him slightly. “But you love me anyway.”
CJ smirked, wrapping an arm around her waist. “Damn right, I do.”
Priya sighed, flipping the last page of the schedule. “All right. Until the power company gets us out of here, we might as well get some actual work done.”
“Or,” Gabby said brightly, “we could play a game!”
Miles looked horrified. “Please no.”
As the Stand remained locked down with no escape, CJ closed his eyes and accepted his fate.
This was his life.
And, honestly?
He wouldn’t change it for anything.
By the time evening rolled around, the worst of the chaos had finally settled.
The security system was fully installed, the power was officially stable, and IT had lifted the temporary lockdown. The last of the construction crew had packed up their tools and left, and for the first time in days, The Stand actually felt like itself again—no loud drilling, no power surges, no construction workers accidentally cutting crucial wires.
CJ stood near the front, hands on his hips, scanning the office like a man assessing battle damage.
"Well," Priya said, stepping beside him, "miraculously, no one died."
"Yet," Miles muttered, still typing furiously at his station. "I'm still debating if I need to commit a murder."
Gabby patted his arm cheerfully. "Aw, babe, you love it here."
Miles didn't even look up. "I actively hate it here."
Gabby beamed. "Right, but in a loving way."
CJ shook his head, amused. "Honestly? This could have been worse."
Priya shot him a dry look. "CJ, we had a power outage, an accidental lockdown, and Miles nearly went into cardiac arrest."
"And yet," CJ countered, smirking, "this still isn't the worst day we've had."
Priya sighed, rubbing her temple. "You make a concerningly good point."
Y/N appeared at CJ’s side then, slipping her arm through his and leaning into him. "So, do I get to officially say ‘I told you so’?"
CJ glanced down at her, raising an eyebrow. "About what?"
Y/N grinned. "That things would work out."
CJ exhaled, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer. "Fine. You get to say it."
Y/N beamed. "Told you so."
CJ smirked, pressing a quick kiss to her temple. "Yeah, yeah."
Across the room, Gabby clapped her hands together. "Okay, so now that this day is officially over, I vote that we celebrate."
"Celebrate?" Miles asked, finally looking up from his computer. "We barely survived."
"Exactly," Gabby said brightly. "Survival deserves celebration!"
Priya rolled her eyes but smirked. "What do you have in mind?"
"Food, obviously," Gabby said, already pulling out her phone. "And drinks. And a toast to not having to deal with construction ever again."
CJ hummed. "That last part feels optimistic."
Y/N grinned, nudging him. "Don’t jinx it."
As their shift wrapped up, the evening crew arrived, seamlessly taking over as the daytime team gathered their things. The Stand never really closed—there was always someone here, always calls coming in, always someone on the other end of the line who needed to hear that they weren’t alone.
CJ exhaled, relaxing for the first time in what felt like forever, before letting Y/N tug him toward the door.
Finally, things were looking up.
The night air was crisp as CJ and Y/N climbed the stairs to their apartment, the quiet hum of the city settling into a peaceful lull around them. The celebration had been exactly what they all needed—laughter, good food, and the kind of camaraderie that made even the worst days feel bearable.
CJ had spent most of the evening watching Y/N—how she lit up while teasing Gabby, how she made sure Miles didn’t actually combust, how she touched his knee under the table, grounding him without even realizing it.
And now, as they reached their door and stepped inside, something in him paused.
Before Y/N could move further into the room, CJ reached out and pulled her into him.
Y/N let out a soft sound of surprise as he wrapped his arms around her, burying his face into the curve of her neck, breathing her in. His grip was firm, steady—like he needed to feel her in his arms, like he needed the reassurance that she was here.
Y/N blinked, resting her hands against his back before tilting her head slightly. “CJ?” she murmured, her fingers sliding up into his hair.
He didn’t answer right away. He just held her, his heart beating steady and strong against hers.
Y/N smiled softly against his shoulder. “What’s gotten into you?”
CJ exhaled, pulling back just enough to look at her. His hands slid up to frame her face, his thumbs brushing along her cheekbones, his gaze intense and unwavering.
“Nothing,” he said, voice low, quiet. “Just… grateful.”
Y/N’s breath caught, her lips parting slightly. “For what?”
CJ’s eyes softened as he searched hers. “You.”
Y/N blinked, her chest tightening. "CJ…"
“I mean it,” he murmured, his hands trailing down to her waist. “I don’t say it enough. You make everything better. Even the worst days. Especially the worst days.”
Y/N swallowed, overwhelmed by the weight of his words. "You do that for me too."
CJ smiled faintly, dipping his head to press his lips so gently against hers—slow and unhurried, as if trying to memorize her.
When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers. “Just wanted to remind you.”
Y/N let out a soft laugh, her fingers curling around the front of his shirt. “I really like when you get sentimental.”
CJ smirked, brushing his nose against hers. “Don’t get used to it.”
Y/N grinned, looping her arms around his neck. “Too late.”
CJ chuckled, shaking his head before kissing her again, longer this time—deep and slow, the kind of kiss that anchored them, that reminded them both exactly how much they had found in each other.
And in that moment, nothing else mattered.
Just them.
Together.
The morning was calm, but CJ knew better than to trust the quiet.
He was at his desk, half-focused on emails and half-sipping the coffee Y/N had made before leaving for her shift, when a firm knock sounded on his office door.
“Come in,” he called, already sensing something was off.
Priya stepped inside, closing the door behind her with more care than usual. Her expression was composed, but there was a weight in her eyes that immediately set CJ on edge.
He set his coffee down. “What’s wrong?”
Priya exhaled, setting her tablet on his desk. “I’ve been tracking the storm system off the coast.”
CJ frowned, already feeling where this was headed. “The one they were saying might hit?”
She nodded, swiping on the screen to show the latest updates. The map displayed swirling bands of red and orange, the storm’s projected path shifting slightly inland.
“They just upgraded it to a hurricane,” she said soberly. “And if it doesn’t weaken before landfall, it’s going to hit hard.”
CJ dragged a hand down his face. Of course.
Priya crossed her arms. “I wanted to talk to you about what that means for us. The Stand can’t exactly shut down, but I need to make sure our volunteers and staff are safe. If conditions get bad, we need a plan.”
CJ nodded, already shifting into problem-solving mode. “How long do we have?”
“Maybe a couple of days before it makes landfall,” Priya said. “But we’ll probably start seeing the outer bands sooner. High winds, flooding in low areas—enough to be a problem.”
CJ exhaled, glancing at the map again. “Alright. First things first—we make sure people don’t travel in dangerous conditions. Anyone scheduled to work in person should have the option to go remote before the storm actually hits.”
Priya nodded. “Agreed. But there’s another issue—what about people already here when it starts?”
CJ leaned back in his chair, considering. “We’ll need supplies on hand. If travel gets too dangerous, we can’t have staff or volunteers stuck here with nothing. Food, water, flashlights—whatever we’d need in case of power loss.”
Priya’s gaze softened slightly. “Already ahead of you. I started making a list before I came in here.”
CJ smirked. “Of course you did.”
Priya arched a brow. “One of us has to be organized.”
CJ chuckled, shaking his head before turning serious again. “How bad are we talking? Worst case?”
Priya exhaled slowly. “Worst case? Sustained winds over 90 mph. Power outages for days. Major flooding in low-lying areas. If it strengthens anymore before landfall…” She trailed off, shaking her head.
CJ let out a sharp breath. Damn it.
“I’ll get in touch with Y/N,” he said. “We should coordinate a plan for helping people outside of The Stand, too. If this hits like you think it will, people are gonna need resources. Not just for us, but for the community.”
Priya gave him a look—one that was part respect, part exasperation. “You always have to take on extra, don’t you?”
CJ smirked, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “If we can do something to help, we should.”
Priya sighed, but there was warmth in it. “All right. I’ll start reaching out to our contacts for emergency support.”
CJ nodded, already mentally preparing for the long days ahead. “Good. And Priya?”
She looked back at him.
He held her gaze. “Thanks for staying on top of this.”
Priya’s lips twitched into a small, knowing smile. “Someone has to.”
With that, she turned and walked out, leaving CJ staring at the storm map, already planning for the worst.
The storm had arrived.
For most of the morning, it had been manageable—heavy rain, strong winds, but nothing that felt like a crisis. CJ, Y/N, Priya, Gabby, Miles, and a handful of other volunteers had made it into The Stand, prepared for a long shift of handling storm-related crisis calls. They had stocked up on supplies, rerouted calls for remote access where possible, and done everything right.
And yet—
CJ should’ve known something would go wrong.
The building shuddered as the power shut down completely. The overhead lights flickered, then died. The hum of computers ceased. And most importantly—the newly installed electronic security system?
Gone.
A beat of silence followed before—
“Oh, for the love of—”
CJ turned just in time to see Miles throw his hands in the air. "I knew this would happen! This is exactly why I said putting the entire security system on a single electrical grid was stupid!"
Gabby, who had been rifling through a supply box, abandoned it immediately and strode toward him, grinning like she was delighted by his meltdown. "Aw, come on, Miles, it’s kinda fun! We’re having a workplace adventure!"
Miles turned to her, scandalized. "Gabriella, we are trapped in a building during a hurricane with no backup power. Does that sound like fun to you?"
Gabby tapped her chin. "A little."
"Of course it does," Miles muttered, rubbing his temples. "This is my nightmare."
Priya exhaled, already reaching for her phone to check for updates. "The system should have had a backup," she said, frowning. "Which means—"
"—the backup also failed," CJ finished grimly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fantastic."
"What now?" one of the volunteers asked, looking a little too nervous for CJ’s liking.
"Now," Priya said smoothly, "we stay calm and wait for the power to reboot."
"And if they can’t?"
Priya exhaled, tucking her phone into her pocket. "Then we make the best of it."
CJ looked over at Y/N, who was watching the storm outside through the large windows. The wind had picked up, hard, the trees bending, rain streaking against the glass.
She turned, catching his gaze. "Guess we’re stuck here, huh?"
CJ smirked. "Looks like it."
Y/N hummed, stepping closer, nudging his shoulder. "Think you can handle being locked in with all of us?"
CJ glanced over at Miles, still aggressively muttering to himself, and Gabby, who was now attempting to calm him down by offering to braid his hair.
He exhaled. "Debatable."
Y/N laughed softly, looping her arm through his. "Well, we might as well make the best of it."
CJ shook his head, amused, before leaning down and pressing a quick kiss to her temple. "Yeah, yeah."
Gabby turned at that exact moment, eyes lighting up. "Oooooh, look at you two sneaking cute moments in the apocalypse!"
CJ groaned. "Gabby."
She beamed. "What? I love this for you!"
Miles groaned even louder. "I swear to God, if we’re stuck here overnight, I’m quitting."
CJ chuckled, shaking his head. "Relax, Miles. What’s the worst that could happen?"
Just then, a loud crash sounded from somewhere in the building.
A very familiar power tool-related crash.
CJ closed his eyes. "I take it back."
Priya sighed. "Of course you do."
And just like that, the night really began.
The Stand was officially on lockdown.
The rain lashed against the windows, the wind howled through the cracks in the building, and the backup generator that was supposed to keep the power on? Completely fried.
The worst part? IT couldn’t do anything about it.
The utility company had to restore power first, which meant they were at the mercy of the storm. Until then, the office was pitch dark, except for the dim glow of emergency exit lights and the occasional flash of lightning outside.
And because the brilliantly designed security system ran on electric locks, the doors were stuck.
Trapped.
CJ sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. "Of course this is how today ends."
Across the room, Miles was pacing, his grumbling increasing in volume with every step. "This is a perfect example of why everything should have a manual override. Who the hell—"
"Miles," Gabby interrupted sweetly, stepping in front of him, "breathe."
Miles scowled, adjusting his glasses. "I am breathing. I’m also raging."
"Multitasking, I love that for you," Gabby teased.
Miles muttered something unintelligible that definitely wasn’t appropriate for work.
Priya leaned against the desk, arms crossed, her expression cool and composed. "IT says we’re stuck until the utility company gets power back. No power, no system reset."
CJ exhaled, already bracing himself. "How long?"
Priya shrugged. "Could be a couple of hours. Could be all night."
Miles stopped pacing. "All night?"
"Relax," Y/N said, stepping beside CJ, slipping her hand into his. "It’s not the worst thing in the world."
CJ smirked, squeezing her hand. "Could be worse."
"Could it?" Miles snapped. "Because I’m struggling to see how."
"We could be stuck outside," Y/N pointed out. "Or on the road. Or in an elevator."
CJ snorted. "That last one might’ve broken you, Miles."
"I would not have survived," Miles admitted grimly.
Miles groaned, throwing himself into a chair. "I hate all of you."
Gabby beamed, plopping onto the desk next to him. "Aww, you love us, tech boy."
"I actively do not," Miles muttered.
Gabby patted his shoulder. "Denial is the first step, babe."
Priya sighed, pulling out her phone—not that it was of much use with the Wi-Fi down. "We might as well make the best of it."
"I swear to God," Miles muttered.
"Ooooh," Gabby interrupted, her eyes lighting up. "Let’s play a game!"
Miles’ head snapped up. "Absolutely not."
"Gabby," Priya said tiredly. "No."
"Come on! We need to pass the time!" Gabby grinned, eyes flicking to CJ and Y/N. "I know you two will back me up!"
Y/N laughed, glancing at CJ. "I mean… she’s not wrong."
CJ smirked. "Not committing until I know what the game is."
Gabby beamed. "Truth or dare."
Miles threw his head back. "I hate this place."
"You love it here," Gabby chirped.
CJ shook his head, leaning against the desk as Y/N pressed into his side.
They were trapped in the dark, the storm still raged outside, and the power company had no ETA.
But Y/N was right.
They’d survived worse.
And for now?
They’d make the best of it.
The office was dim, the only light coming from the emergency exit signs and the occasional flash of lightning illuminating the room through the windows. Rain hammered against the glass, the wind howling as the storm raged on.
And in the middle of the chaos, they were playing Truth or Dare.
CJ wasn't sure how this had happened.
Well. He did.
It was Gabby’s fault.
She had somehow convinced the group—through sheer force of will—to go along with it, and now they were fully committed.
Miles, however, was suffering.
"I want it on record," he muttered, arms crossed, "that I was forced into this."
"Duly noted," Priya said dryly, taking a seat on one of the desks.
"Oh, hush," Gabby said, leaning against Miles’ chair. "This is fun."
"This is not fun," Miles shot back.
"It is fun," Y/N chimed in, grinning as she curled up next to CJ on the couch. "You just don’t like admitting when you’re enjoying yourself."
CJ smirked, resting his arm along the back of the couch, his fingers idly playing with a strand of Y/N’s hair. "She’s not wrong."
Miles scowled. "You’re supposed to be on my side, Braxton."
"Nope," CJ said easily. "You’re on your own, buddy."
Miles groaned. "I hate all of you."
"Right, right," Gabby said, delighted at his misery. "Now shut up, because it’s your turn, tech boy. Truth or dare?"
Miles sighed deeply, clearly rethinking every life choice that had led him to this moment. "Truth."
Gabby’s grin widened. "Ooooh, excellent choice. Let’s see…" She tapped her chin dramatically before her face lit up. "What was your actual first impression of me?"
Miles stared at her. "Are you serious?"
"Dead serious."
Miles muttered something under his breath before sighing. "Fine. First impression? You were loud."
Gabby gasped, mock-offended. "Loud?!"
"And chaotic," Miles continued. "And a menace to my personal space."
Gabby grinned. "So basically, you fell in love at first sight?"
Miles groaned, scrubbing a hand down his face. "This is my nightmare."
CJ actually laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, next." His gaze flicked to Y/N, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Your turn, sweetheart. Truth or dare?"
Y/N smirked, tilting her head. "Dare."
Gabby let out an excited gasp. "Oooooh, okay, okay! I dare you to…" She paused dramatically, her grin turning mischievous. "Sit in CJ’s lap for the rest of the game."
Y/N arched a brow. "That’s not even a real dare."
"Oh, it is," Gabby assured her. "I just wanted an excuse to make him blush."
CJ rolled his eyes but did not protest when Y/N immediately climbed into his lap, getting comfortable like it was second nature.
Because, well. It was.
"Happy now?" CJ said dryly, resting his hands on Y/N’s waist.
Gabby beamed. "Extremely."
"Whose turn is it?" Priya asked, shaking her head.
"CJ’s," Y/N said, smirking at him. "Truth or dare?"
CJ smirked, leaning back slightly. "Truth."
Y/N tapped her fingers against his chest. "If you had to get a tattoo right now, what would it be?"
CJ hummed, pretending to think. "Easy. A snowflake."
Y/N’s breath hitched slightly, her fingers curling against his shirt.
Gabby gasped dramatically. "Oh, my God, are you two in a romance novel?"
"Apparently," Priya muttered.
Y/N swallowed, smiling softly. "Good answer."
CJ smirked, tugging her a little closer. "I know."
Gabby sighed happily. "Ugh, I love this for you two."
Miles muttered, "I do not."
CJ shook his head, watching the group with amusement as the game continued.
They were trapped, in the dark, in the middle of a hurricane with no ETA on when the power would return.
But somehow, with Y/N in his lap, Gabby annoying Miles, and Priya quietly observing, CJ thought—
This might actually be one of the best nights they’ve had in a while.
The storm raged on outside, but inside The Stand, the game was in full swing. The group had fully embraced the ridiculousness of their situation, and CJ was actually enjoying himself—mostly because Y/N was still curled up in his lap, laughing against his shoulder at the latest truth Gabby had managed to drag out of Priya.
But the real highlight of the night was about to happen.
Y/N sat up slightly, turning her attention to Miles, who had been painfully avoiding eye contact with Gabby for the last few rounds. She smirked, her fingers lightly tapping against CJ’s chest as she tilted her head.
"Miles," she said, eyes glinting mischievously, "truth or dare?"
Y/N’s grin widened before she leaned forward slightly. "I dare you… to kiss Gabby."
CJ choked on air.
Gabby froze, eyes going wide. "Ohhh, I love this game."
Miles, on the other hand, looked like he was about to die. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," Y/N said sweetly, biting back a grin. "You can’t back out, Miles. Rules are rules."
CJ grinned, highly entertained. "She’s right, man. You accepted the dare."
Miles looked murderous. "I hate all of you."
Gabby, however, was beaming. "Oh, come on, tech boy," she teased. "Just a little kiss? What’s the worst that could happen?"
"A lot," Miles muttered, but the redness creeping up his entire neck gave him away.
"Tick-tock," Priya said smoothly, crossing her arms. "We’re waiting."
Miles groaned loudly, looking everywhere except at Gabby. "Fine."
Gabby perked up, her grin turning absolutely smug. "Ooooh, is this happening?"
"Shut up," Miles muttered before turning toward her, adjusting his glasses like he was mentally preparing himself for battle.
Gabby bounced slightly in place, looking highly amused. "Come on, tech boy, lay it on me—"
Before she could finish the sentence, Miles grabbed her by the face and kissed her.
CJ wasn’t sure what he expected—but it definitely wasn’t that.
Gabby made a startled sound before melting into it, her hands gripping his shirt as if she had been waiting for this moment her entire life.
The group erupted.
"Oh my God," Y/N gasped. "He actually—"
"I did not see that coming," Priya admitted.
CJ grinned, shaking his head. "Well, damn."
After a few very long seconds, Miles finally pulled away, his face redder than ever. "There. Happy now?"
Gabby blinked, stunned, before she smirked. "Oh, babe. You are never living this down."
Miles groaned, covering his face. "Kill me now."
"Nope," CJ said, highly entertained. "You brought this on yourself."
Y/N, absolutely delighted, clapped her hands. "Best dare of the night."
Gabby, still grinning, leaned toward Miles. "Wanna do that again just to make sure it counts?"
Miles visibly short-circuited. "Absolutely not."
"Your loss," Gabby teased, winking.
CJ exhaled, leaning back against the couch. "This was an excellent idea."
Y/N grinned, snuggling back into his lap. "I know."
The game continued, but there was no topping that dare.
And as CJ watched Miles try desperately to recover while Gabby whispered things in his ear just to watch him blush, he decided—
Storm or not, this was officially the best night they’d had in a long time.
The Stand was still wrapped in darkness, the storm continuing to rage outside, but inside, the energy of the group was lighter than it had been in days.
Miles was still recovering from his very public kiss with Gabby, sitting stiffly in his chair like he wasn’t sure what to do with himself, while Gabby was thrilled with her victory. Y/N was nestled comfortably in CJ’s lap, looking way too pleased with herself after her successful dare, and Priya was watching the chaos unfold with her usual amused but composed expression.
And then—
"Alright, CJ," Gabby declared, turning her attention to him. "Truth or dare?"
CJ smirked, adjusting his arms around Y/N. "Truth."
Gabby’s grin widened, mischief lighting up her eyes. "Oooooh, excellent choice, Mr. Braxton."
CJ arched a brow. "Why do I suddenly regret this?"
"Because you should." Gabby tapped her chin dramatically before looking directly at Y/N, then back at CJ. "Okay. Real talk, CJ. Are you ever going to propose to Y/N?"
The room went silent.
CJ froze.
Y/N stiffened in his lap, tilting her head up to look at him, her eyes wide with shock.
CJ tried to answer smoothly, tried to play it off, but his brain stuttered, and instead of something cool and collected, what came out was—
"Uh—yes?"
Gabby gasped, delighted. "Oh my God!"
Y/N blinked. "Wait, what?"
CJ felt his face heat, suddenly very aware that all eyes were on him. "I—" He exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair before looking down at Y/N, whose expression was an even mix of shock and curiosity. "I mean… yeah."
Y/N stared at him. "You were— You were thinking about that?"
CJ swallowed, realizing there was zero way out of this, so he just sighed and went with the truth. "I wasn’t planning to do it right now, but… yeah. I’ve been thinking about it."
Y/N’s lips parted slightly, her breath hitching, like she was fully processing his words. "CJ…"
Gabby clapped her hands together, practically vibrating. "This is the best game I’ve ever played."
Miles, who had finally recovered from his own public emotional turmoil, smirked. "Damn. Didn’t think I’d see Braxton actually stammer over something."
Priya, watching CJ struggle, simply sipped her tea, eyes twinkling with amusement. "This is so much better than the construction disaster."
CJ sighed, looking back at Y/N, suddenly needing to explain himself. "I wasn’t gonna say anything yet," he murmured, his voice softer now, just for her. "Because I wasn’t ready yet. Not because I don’t want to. But because when I do it? I want it to be right."
Y/N exhaled, and something shifted in her eyes—something softer, something warmer. "You really mean that?"
CJ tilted her chin up, brushing his thumb against her jaw. "Yeah. I do."
Y/N’s lips curved slightly, her eyes shining in the dim light. "Well. That’s… unexpected."
"Yeah?" CJ murmured, his heart pounding.
Y/N grinned. "But not unwanted."
CJ felt his chest tighten—not with anxiety, not with pressure, but with something so much better.
Y/N wanted forever with him.
And damn if that didn’t make everything else disappear.
Gabby sighed dramatically, clasping her hands together. "God, I love love."
Miles groaned. "I don’t."
Priya chuckled, setting her mug down. "Alright, let’s give our future married couple a break and keep this game going."
Y/N laughed, shaking her head, but when she turned back to CJ, there was something different in her gaze.
Something knowing.
Something that said this conversation wasn’t over.
CJ smirked, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead before murmuring just for her—
"Come to my office. Let’s talk."
Y/N’s grin widened, something curious flickering in her expression. "Okay."
And just like that, the game kept going, but CJ knew—
Something had definitely changed.
The door to CJ’s office clicked shut behind them, muffling the sounds of laughter and conversation from the break room. The dim glow from the emergency lights cast long shadows across the space, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.
Y/N stood near the desk, her arms crossed loosely, her expression thoughtful—still trying to process what had just happened.
CJ leaned against the edge of his desk, watching her carefully. He wasn’t nervous, exactly, but there was a weight in his chest that hadn’t been there before Gabby had opened her mouth.
And now, there was no going back.
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn’t mean for you to find out like that."
Y/N let out a breathy laugh, shaking her head. "Yeah, I figured."
CJ exhaled, looking down for a moment before meeting her eyes again. "But I meant what I said."
Y/N’s lips parted slightly, her gaze searching his. "You’ve really been thinking about it? Marriage?”
CJ nodded, his voice steady. "Yeah. Not because of pressure, or because it’s ‘the next step,’ but because…" He exhaled. "Because I love you. Because you’re it for me, Y/N. And I don’t want anyone else. I don’t even want to think about a life that doesn’t have you in it."
Y/N swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around the fabric of her sweater. "CJ…"
"I know it’s soon," he added quickly, sensing the hesitation in her voice. "I know we just moved in together. I know you have school, your practicum, all of that. I’m not asking for an answer right now. I just… I needed you to know how I feel. Because it’s been in my head for a while now, and after everything that’s happened—the storms, the chaos, even just us—I can’t pretend I don’t think about it."
Y/N let out a slow breath, rubbing her arms like she was trying to gather her thoughts. "I—" She hesitated, biting her lip. "I love you, CJ. You know that. But I’m just…taken aback by all of this. I wasn’t expecting to talk about marriage this soon. I just moved in with you. I still have school, my practicum, my entire career to think about—"
"I know," CJ interrupted softly. "And I don’t want to take any of that from you. I want you to finish school. I want you to do your practicum, to build the future you’ve worked so hard for. I just…" He paused, searching her expression. "Where do you see that future, Y/N?"
Y/N blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
"Where do you see yourself, years from now?" CJ asked, his voice careful, not pushing, just curious. "Because if I’m being honest… I used to have a plan. My whole life was The Stand. I thought that was all it was ever going to be. And then…" He exhaled, his lips twitching into something soft. "And then you walked in and everything changed."
Y/N’s breath hitched slightly, her fingers twitching at her sides. "CJ…"
"So I’m asking you," he continued, voice steady. "Where do you see yourself in the future?"
Y/N opened her mouth, then closed it.
And for the first time, she didn’t have an answer.
Because everything had changed since she walked through the doors of The Stand.
She had thought she knew what her future looked like—finishing school, finishing her practicum, taking a job somewhere as a psychologist or crisis counselor.
But then there was CJ.
Then there was this place, these people, this life she hadn’t expected but couldn’t imagine giving up.
Y/N exhaled sharply, closing her eyes for a second before meeting his gaze again. "I don’t know," she admitted, voice quiet but sure. "I don’t know where I see myself in five years, or ten years, or what my career will look like exactly. But…" She swallowed, taking a step closer to him. "I know one thing."
CJ tilted his head slightly, waiting. "What’s that?"
Y/N inhaled deeply, holding his gaze. "I don’t see a future without you in it."
CJ’s chest tightened, warmth spreading through him at her words.
He reached for her then, his hands finding her waist, pulling her closer until they were just a breath apart. "Then that’s enough for me," he murmured.
Y/N exhaled, resting her hands on his chest. "It is?"
"Yeah," CJ whispered, pressing his forehead against hers. "We’ve got time. I’m not in a rush. As long as I have you, the rest can come when it’s meant to."
Y/N let out a shaky laugh, closing her eyes briefly before looking up at him again. "I really, really love you, CJ Braxton."
CJ smirked, brushing his lips against hers. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
And when she kissed him, slow and deep, CJ knew—
It didn’t matter when.
She was his future.
And that was all he needed to know.
Tag List: @kmc1989, @ozwriterchick
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