## ALMOST YOURS
── synopsis: y/n’s ex sophia won’t stop lingering, so y/n claims they’re already dating manon bannerman — the last girl anyone expected. the two agree to fake date to get sophia off y/n’s back, but the act quickly gets tangled with jealousy, lingering touches, and feelings neither of them can explain. as the line between pretend and real blurs, y/n and manon have to face the possibility that the fake relationship was never fake at all.
— pairing: manon bannerman x fem!reader
— cw: slight obsessive ex, light jealousy themes, sophia mentions, confusing feelings/angst, mutual pining, fake dating tension
— genre: wlw romance, slowburn, fake dating, college/modern au, angsty–but–soft undertones, mild comedy
a.n: here you go grandpa @0zeroz
wc: 2.8k
the late october air bit at y/n’s cheeks, but it wasn't the cold that made her shiver. it was sophia. sophia, with her perfectly styled chestnut hair and a smile that used to melt y/n’s heart but now just felt like a premonition of doom. she was everywhere. at y/n’s favourite coffee shop, "accidentally" running into her at the bookstore, even showing up at mutual friends’ gatherings with a mournful look that screamed, we were meant to be. it had been six months since the breakup, and sophia’s haunting presence was quickly evolving from a nuisance into a full-blown psychological operation.
y/n sighed, stirring her lukewarm latte. her friend, megan, across the small cafe table, watched with a familiar look of pity. “she’s going to make a collage of your face and put it in a shrine, y/n. you need to do something drastic.”
“what? change my identity? move to antarctica?” y/n grumbled, burying her face in her hands. “i’ve tried everything. ignoring her, being polite, giving her the cold shoulder. she just… interprets it as deeply repressed love.”
megan tapped her chin thoughtfully. “you need a distraction. a very public, very undeniable distraction.” her eyes lit up as if a cartoon lightbulb had just appeared above her head. “you need a girlfriend.”
y/n snorted. “thanks, i’m aware. but finding a real one amidst sophia’s emotional wreckage is proving somewhat difficult.”
“no, no, not a real one. a fake one,” megan corrected, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “someone utterly unobtainable, completely out of sophia’s league. someone who would make sophia back off, purely out of sheer intimidation.”
y/n looked up, intrigued despite herself. “and who, pray tell, is this mythical creature?”
megan leaned in conspiratorially. “manon bannerman.”
y/n choked on her latte. manon bannerman. the manon bannerman who commanded attention in every room, whose sharp wit was legendary, whose reputation for being utterly unflappable preceded her. manon, with her striking features, her perfectly sculpted cheekbones, and eyes that could dissect your soul. manon, who y/n knew vaguely through university circles, always a few steps ahead, always radiating an aura of untouchable confidence.
“manon bannerman? are you insane? she barely knows i exist past a cursory nod in the hallway,” y/n whispered, aghast. “she’d laugh in my face.”
“she might,” megan conceded, “but she also loves a challenge. and she’s incredibly loyal to her friends, even if you’re just a friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend. and, let’s be real, she probably finds sophia just as annoying as everyone else. it’s perfect.”
the idea, crazy as it was, started to worm its way into y/n’s desperate brain. it was a long shot, a ridiculously dangerous one, but what did she have to lose? sophia was already driving her insane.
the next day, y/n found herself waiting nervously outside the library for manon. when manon arrived, a stack of books tucked easily under one arm, she looked utterly composed, as always. her dark hair, usually loose, was pulled back in a sleek ponytail, highlighting her sharp jawline. she raised an eyebrow at y/n’s visible anxiety.
“y/n. megan mentioned you wanted to talk. i assume it’s not about overdue library books, because you strike me as a rule-follower.”
y/n managed a weak smile. “no. no, it’s… bigger than that.” she took a deep breath, plunging in. “i need your help. with sophia. she won’t leave me alone, and i’m going a little crazy. megan, um, she suggested… well, she suggested that maybe you could… pretend to be my girlfriend.”
manon’s expression didn't change immediately. she simply blinked, her gaze steady, unreadable. y/n braced herself for the inevitable rejection, the amused smirk, the polite but firm refusal. instead, a slow, predatory grin spread across manon’s face. it wasn’t unkind, but it was certainly intimidating.
“sophia, you say?” manon asked, a hint of something unholy in her tone. “the sophia who cornered me in the student union last month to 'warn' me about your supposed commitment issues, despite us never having spoken more than three words to each other?”
y/n’s jaw dropped. “she did what?”
“oh, darling, she did,” manon confirmed, her grin widening. “she clearly overestimates her own charm and underestimates my tolerance for nonsense. very well, y/n. i’m in. consider sophia dealt with.”
y/n stared, relief washing over her in a dizzying wave. “you… you’re serious?”
“deadly,” manon said, pushing off the wall. “but on one condition: we make it utterly convincing. no halfway measures. we’re madly in love, got it? hand in hand, lingering glances, maybe even a public kiss or two. are you up for it?”
the thought of actually kissing manon, even for show, sent a jolt through y/n that had nothing to do with sophia and everything to do with the unexpected heat that flared in her stomach. “i’m… up for it,” she managed, slightly breathless.
“good,” manon said, a knowing glint in her eyes. “let’s draw up a battle plan.”
their first public "date" was strategically planned for the bustling campus quad, known to be a hotspot for sophia’s daily patrols. y/n felt like an actor in a play she hadn’t rehearsed enough for, her palms sweating as manon approached, looking effortlessly cool in a tailored trench coat.
“deep breaths, y/n,” manon murmured, taking y/n’s hand as if it was the most natural thing in the world. her fingers were long and surprisingly warm. “remember, we’re smitten. tell me about your day, anything, just keep talking.”
y/n babbled about a frustrating philosophy lecture, trying to meet manon’s gaze and hold it for the prescribed amount of time, feeling an unfamiliar flush creep up her neck. manon listened, head tilted, a soft, indulgent smile playing on her lips. it was a perfect performance. when sophia finally appeared, looking startled to see y/n so… engaged, manon squeezed y/n’s hand, then draped an arm possessively around her waist.
“hello, sophia,” manon said smoothly, her voice a low purr. her eyes, usually sharp, seemed almost… soft as she looked at y/n, who nearly swallowed her tongue. “fancy seeing you here.”
sophia floundered, her practiced mournful expression cracking. “y/n, who is this?”
manon chuckled, a rich, genuine sound that sent shivers down y/n’s spine. “oh, we skipped that part, didn’t we, darling? sophia, this is y/n, my girlfriend.” she punctuated the statement with a soft, lingering kiss to y/n’s temple.
the touch, light as it was, ignited a spark. y/n’s breath hitched. it felt… nice. too nice for a fake kiss. she stole a glance at sophia, whose face had gone from startled to utterly bewildered, then to a shade of sickly green.
“girlfriend?” sophia repeated weakly.
“yes, girlfriend,” manon affirmed, her lips brushing y/n’s ear as she spoke, sending another jolt through her. “we’ve been seeing each other for a little while now. quite intensely, actually.” she winked at y/n, a private joke that made y/n’s stomach flutter.
sophia mumbled something about being late for a class and scurried away, a defeated wilt in her usually confident posture.
y/n let out a shaky laugh. “it worked! she actually left!”
manon’s arm lingered around y/n’s waist for a moment longer than necessary. “i told you. a challenge. and sophia, bless her deluded heart, is easily intimidated by actual confidence.” she finally pulled away, though her fingers brushed y/n’s as she did. “but this is just the beginning, y/n. she won’t give up that easily.”
over the next few weeks, their fake dating escalated. they held hands constantly, manon’s thumb often stroking the back of y/n’s, a small detail that became surprisingly comforting. they had coffee dates where they would discuss their ‘relationship backstory’ in hushed, intimate tones, manon’s knee occasionally brushing y/n’s under the table. they exchanged coded glances and inside jokes that, at first, were part of the act but slowly started to feel genuinely shared.
y/n found herself looking forward to their “dates” with an eagerness that had nothing to do with sophia. she discovered that manon, beneath her intimidating exterior, was fiercely intelligent, possessed a dry, witty humor, and had an unexpected soft spot for stray cats. she noticed how manon’s eyes crinkled at the corners when she genuinely laughed, how her focus was absolute when y/n spoke, making y/n feel truly heard.
one evening, they were at a mutual friend’s party – a prime sophia hunting ground. manon was leaning against y/n, her head on y/n’s shoulder, lazily swirling a drink. sophia, after several failed attempts to corner y/n, had resorted to trying to subtly flirt with manon, clearly attempting to drive a wedge.
“manon,” sophia purred, leaning closer, her hand reaching out as if to touch manon’s arm. “you know, you seem like the type who enjoys adventure. maybe we could grab a drink sometime, just us?”
manon slowly lifted her head, her gaze flicking from sophia’s hopeful face to y/n’s. y/n felt a sharp, unexpected pang in her chest. her grip tightened on manon’s hand, almost unconsciously. it was just part of the act, she reminded herself. but the thought of manon actually saying yes, even just for a friendly drink without y/n, made her stomach clench.
manon, sensing y/n’s sudden tension, simply smiled, a cool, polite smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “that’s very kind of you, sophia. but i already have all the adventure i need right here,” she said, turning her head slightly to press a soft kiss to y/n’s temple. “besides, y/n gets jealous.”
the words were playful, but there was an underlying current of something else – possessiveness, perhaps? y/n’s heart hammered, both at the implication and at the quiet thrill of hearing it. she knew it was a performance, but the warmth spreading through her veins felt undeniably real. sophia, defeated once more, retreated.
after the party, walking home, the autumn air crisp around them, y/n couldn’t shake the feeling. “i’m not… i’m not actually terribly jealous, you know,” y/n said, her voice small. she felt a need to clarify, to remind them both this was fake.
manon stopped, turning to face her. the streetlights cast long shadows, making her features seem even sharper. “aren’t you?” she asked, her voice softer than y/n had ever heard it, almost a whisper. her eyes searched y/n’s, a flicker of something unreadable in their depths.
y/n looked away, suddenly shy. “it’s… it’s pretend, manon.”
“is it?” manon stepped closer, so close y/n could feel the heat radiating from her. manon’s hand reached out, lightly cupping y/n’s cheek. her thumb brushed gently beneath y/n’s eye. “because when she was talking to me, i watched your face. and you looked very much like you were about to start a territorial dispute.”
y/n’s breath hitched. the touch was feather-light, yet it set her entire body alight. she swallowed, trying to find her voice. “i… i just don’t want the whole charade to fall apart, that’s all.” it was a weak excuse, even to her own ears.
manon’s gaze was intense. “y/n,” she said, her voice a low murmur, “i think this charade stopped being just about sophia a while ago for both of us.”
the air thrummed with unspoken words, with the sudden, terrifying weight of acknowledgment. y/n’s gaze flickered to manon’s lips, so close, so tempting. the urge to lean in, to close the minuscule gap between them, was overwhelming. but fear, cold and sharp, held her back. what if she was wrong? what if manon was just a brilliant actress, playing her part perfectly, even now?
manon seemed to read her hesitation. her hand slowly dropped from y/n’s face, taking the warmth with it. she cleared her throat, stepping back. “right. well. it’s late. i should head home.” her voice was back to its usual composed tone, a wall slipping back into place.
“right,” y/n echoed, feeling a profound sense of loss, even though nothing had truly happened. “goodnight, manon.”
“goodnight, y/n.”
they parted ways, leaving y/n with a heart that felt both painfully full and achingly empty. the confusion was a tangible thing, swirling inside her. was it pride? was it just the thrill of the chase? or was it something real, something deeper than a convenient solution to a sophia problem?
the fake dating continued, but now, a new, fragile layer of awareness had settled between them. every touch, every lingering glance, every casual compliment was scrutinized, dissected by y/n’s overthinking mind. was that real? did her hand just hold mine a little tighter?
sophia, blessedly, was starting to fade. her appearances became less frequent, her attempts at sabotage less enthusiastic. she was finally conceding defeat. the primary purpose of their charade was nearing its end.
one afternoon, manon intercepted y/n outside a lecture hall. “sophia just posted an instagram story,” manon said, holding out her phone. it was a picture of sophia with a new person, captioned, finally moving on to someone who truly appreciates me.
y/n stared at the screen, a surprising mix of relief and… something else. an unexpected pang of nostalgia, perhaps, for the relationship that had been. but mostly, pure, unadulterated relief. “she’s… she’s actually moving on.”
manon nodded, her expression unreadable. “it seems so. our work here is done, agent y/n.”
the words, meant to be liberating, felt like a punch to the gut. our work here is done. the contract was fulfilled. the fake dating could stop. the touches, the glances, the shared laughter – they could all cease. y/n suddenly realized with a sickening lurch that she didn’t want them to.
she looked at manon, whose face was carefully neutral. was manon relieved? free? or was she feeling this same hollow ache?
“so,” y/n started, her voice sounding unnaturally high. “i guess… this is it then?”
manon met her gaze, and for the first time in weeks, her eyes were no longer guarded. they held a vulnerability y/n hadn’t seen before, a mirror of y/n’s own burgeoning fear. “i suppose it is,” manon said, her voice soft, almost regretful. she ran a hand through her hair, a rare sign of nerves. “we… we did a good job, y/n.”
“we did,” y/n agreed, suddenly desperate to keep the conversation going, to find an excuse to prolong this connection. “you were… you were really convincing. the best fake girlfriend a person could ask for.”
manon’s lips quirked into a small, sad smile. “you too. you sold the ‘madly in love’ part perfectly.” she paused, then took a step closer, her gaze intense. “too perfectly, perhaps.”
y/n’s breath hitched again. this was it. the moment of truth. “what do you mean?” she whispered, though she knew exactly what she meant.
manon reached out, her fingers lightly tracing the line of y/n’s jaw, a repeat of that night on the street, but this time, there was no hesitation, no pulling back. her thumb brushed y/n’s lower lip. “i mean… i think i fell in love with you.”
the admission hung in the air, a delicate, terrifying confession. y/n felt tears prick her eyes, not of sadness, but of overwhelming relief and a sudden, fierce joy. this wasn’t just her. this was real.
“i think,” y/n managed, tilting her head into manon’s touch, “i think i fell too. maybe even before the fake dating started.”
manon’s eyes widened slightly, a beautiful, vulnerable warmth flooding them. her hand slid from y/n’s jaw to cup the back of her neck, pulling her gently closer. “then maybe,” manon whispered, her voice husky, “we don’t have to stop just because sophia’s gone.”
and then, finally, their lips met. it wasn't a fake kiss to deter an ex. it wasn’t a casual peck on the temple. it was slow, tender, tentative at first, then deepened with a sudden, unleashed passion that had been building between them for weeks. it tasted of relief and unspoken desires, of confusion finally settling into clarity, of a slow burn igniting into a roaring flame.
when they finally broke apart, breathless, manon rested her forehead against y/n’s. a soft smile graced her lips, a genuine, unguarded smile that made y/n’s heart ache in the most wonderful way.
“so,” manon murmured, her eyes still closed, “does this mean you’re my real girlfriend now, y/n?”
y/n laughed, a joyous sound that felt like sunshine. she threaded her fingers through manon’s soft hair. “i think it does, manon bannerman. i think it absolutely does.” the october air still bit, but now y/n felt nothing but warmth. the fake had become irrevocably, wonderfully real. and for the first time in months, y/n wasn't looking over her shoulder. she was only looking at manon.
