in which: peter just got home from patrol and you've been knocking on his apartment door for the past thirty minutes
note: omg it's my first time publishing a peter parker fanfic here on tumblr! spidey has been my biggest superhero crush since i got into marvel, like, 6 years ago??? and because of the release of the brand new day trailer, i just knowww i have to write for my og man!
tags: set in brand new day, not canon to the movie tho, hurt/comfort, classmate!reader, neighbors, broke college students, poor peter 😢, treating peter's wounds, oneshot, implications of depression, tsundere reader (?) lol, academic rivals-ish, kinda platonic and romantic at the same time, no specific pronouns used, no use of y/n
IT'S BEEN a long day for peter. it's always been a long day for him since his aunt died, since everyone forgot his existence, since his best friend and significant other lost memories of him. so he drowned himself in college, in crime fighting, in working to fend for himself. because he's all alone now, he has no one to lean on but him.
peter could barely land by his apartment window properly with how beaten and bruised he is after a long night of patrolling the city. he couldn't remember when he'd let himself get beaten up so bad. maybe it was a way to punish himself for putting everyone he loves in danger, for killing them. he clumsily opened the window, careful not to make a noise as he enters his apartment. afraid he might wake his neighbors through the thin walls of this cheap apartment complex.
but luck wasn't on his side. despite being superhuman, he is still human, and so the fatigue from taking kicks and punches got to him and he fell on the wooden floor, hard. he hissed at the pain and the thought of bothering his neighbors. all of a sudden, a loud banging came from the outside of his door. "parker! i know you're in there!" a voice shouted.
peter stood up abruptly. it was you, a classmate at university and a neighbor. why were you looking for him in the middle of the night? peter doesn't know— or rather, he probably doesn't remember. "open the goddamn door! i've been here for the past thirty minutes!" your shouting and banging got louder, like you didn't care if it woke up the other tenants.
"coming!" he shouted, struggling to remove the suit and slip into a shirt he found lying on the floor. peter doesn't forget to kick the suit under his bed before opening the door ajar. "where have you been all night?" you ask, not beating around the bush. you might be frustrated from peter making you wait long, but you didn't fail to notice the slight bruise on his cheek.
"i- uh, i was asleep," peter answered, voice hoarse and tiredness evident. you raise a suspecting eyebrow at the guy. "asleep...?" you started, not entirely convinced with his reason. "but i've been knocking on your door since six p.m." peter pursed his lip and rubbed his temple. he looked like a caught puppy stealing socks that you felt half-bad for him.
"i'm a heavy sleeper," peter said sheepishly. he seemed like he wanted to end the conversation quickly, which isn't entirely far from the truth. he just wants to get some rest, is all. "right... how'd you get that bruise then?" you finally ask. you weren't one to intrude on someone's personal life, but peter's prominent bruise kept bothering you. asking a simple question doesn't hurt, right? after all, you two are classmates, acquaintances even.
"i, just—" peter shrugged his shoulders. "—fell." at this point, you don't think he's even trying to convince you anymore. "did you get those scratches too when you fell? you got thumbtacks sticking out of your floor or something?" you humored him, feeling a bit dissatisfied with his answers.
peter closed his eyes, fighting the drowsiness away. he gets that you're smart and there's no point reasoning with you when you're just going to question him like a research panelist, but he's not in the mood right now. "you know what? thank you for the book, i'll return it tomo—" before he could grab the book from your hand, you quickly evade him. you held up a finger at him and said, "wait here."
you left a bewildered peter before coming back with a first aid kit in hand. "listen, i don't know if you have a first aid kit so i had to get mine," you explained, inviting yourself in his apartment. peter watched as you sat yourself on his bed, not caring if you have his permission or not. it's not like he couldn't say no to you either, you always find a way to get things your way. and no one can stop you, not even spider-man himself.
"so? are you going to let me treat your wounds?" you ask rhetorically. embarrassed in only his unwashed shirt and boxer briefs, peter closed the door and dragged himself onto the bed. "don't blush. i have brothers, i've seen men in boxers since the day i was born," you stated nonchalantly as you prepared to clean his wounds.
the both of you stayed quiet as you aid peter, the muffled streets of new york serving as your background music. to which you two are very familiar with. through your peripheral vision, you could see peter's head bobbing. he's sleepy, you thought. now you're suddenly realizing the awkwardness of the situation: you, inside a college classmate's apartment, treating his wounds that you're not sure where he got from, in the middle of the night.
"parker," you started, startling the boy back awake. "i know we only met in college. i don't know your whole story, i don't know you my whole life. but whatever you're doing..." you paused, looking up at him for the first time in a while. it's the first time you've ever observed him up close, and now you can see how much he's been through.
the darkening eyebags, the wrinkles on his forehead, and the sparkless eyes... like he's ready to let go of everything anytime. you know a thing or two about these kinds of things because maybe... you've experienced it too. you blinked, snapping back to reality and looked down at his wounds once again.
"i know you're a top student, like... geez, you're always a rank ahead of me and you're always asking dr. brenner questions like a teacher's pet—" you stopped blabbering when you heard peter hiss in pain. it seems you were unconsciously pressing hard on his wounds, which you didn't mean to and muttered an apology under your breath.
"what i mean to say is... take a break dude. all of us are just trying to get by, i know that..." you looked up at peter once again. he was intently staring at you, listening attentively as if you didn't just insult him in front of his face earlier. curse the moon's timing because the natural light hitting his face right now was making you melt. the way it perfectly illuminated his dark brown eyes making it seem like his spark was back.
you looked away immediately as you said your next line, "... but you're just a human, peter." out of your vision, peter's eyes widen, not in shock but in amusement. from what he knows, to you, he was just a classmate, an acquaintance, heck— an academic rival even. so hearing that statement from you, and even calling him by his first name for the first time, somehow felt relieving. as if he's been waiting for someone to see him... even after he deliberately chose to be forgotten (which was due to circumstances he didn't choose).
"now, do you have any other—" before you could finish your question, peter engulfed you into a hug. your breath hitched in surprise and you could feel the heat radiate from his body. "thank you," he whispered, his breath sending shivers through your spine. you playfully push him off and harshly pressed a cotton ball with povidone-iodine on his wound, which made peter let out a high-pitched yelp.
"save the cheesy stuff for the girl you've been stalking, parker," you teased him, trying to mask the strange feeling bubbling inside your chest. a blush crept on peter's face and he stuttered, embarrassed that you somehow knew he's been looking out (stalking) for mj. you only laughed hysterically at the boy's reaction, though there was a sting in your chest that you believe is just a heartburn. but what you felt didn't matter, because you manage to lift a weight off of peter's shoulder. and from then on, he wasn't just a mere classmate, acquaintance, or academic rival. from then on, he became a friend.
end note: i hope yall liked this fanfic! can't wait for the new movie to come out! xoxo
in which: you get dragged to your high school reunion unwillingly and thought, "when did ryland grace get hot?"
note: idk what my obsession is with ex high school classmates trope
tags: MDNI 18+, more plot than p0rn tbh, lawyer!reader, reader is a flirt, awkward!ryland, shy!ryland, height difference, kinda dom!reader, kinda sub!ryland, pervy!ryland, choking, sucking fingers, ts a bit kinky, ryland grace whimpers, making out to the MAX, ONESHOT
PARTIES ARE not your thing— well, used to be your thing back in high school and college, but now? you can't even plan a meet-up with your friends because of the sheer amount of paperwork you have to do. and you couldn't even complain because you chose this job. you were so determined in becoming a lawyer, the best in the state, so now you have to shoulder that responsibility.
don't get it wrong though, you love your job. being an immigration lawyer gives you a sense of self-fulfillment, especially when you get to help people. and more often than not, you do it pro bono too for those who aren't financially secure. your co-workers get worried at how frequent you do your job for free, but at this stage in life, you could care less about money and more about helping people. in this economy though... you definitely should care more about money.
"i don't know, liv... you know i can't catch a break here at the firm," you sigh as you sway your swivel chair side to side, your phone held up against your ear. your long time best friend from high school, olivia— liv is what you call her— called you in the middle of the afternoon, pestering you to come with her to the high school reunion for the fifth time this week. and that'd be the last because the reunion is literally tonight. "just come! you've done nothing but drown yourself in paper ever since you passed the bar exams," she whined.
you let out an exasperated groan, hoping she'd take a hint. "yeah, that's not gonna work on me." you could only purse your lips. "maybe you'll find someone there," olivia added, to which you cringed. "ugh, i'd rather die than date an old schoolmate." you taste something bitter in your tongue just imagining it, curse olivia for making you picture something so cringe.
"you're already in your thirties. isn't it about time you settle down with someone?" your friend asks. you scribble mindlessly on a scratch paper as you thought of an answer. "first of all, i don't need anyone in my life. i'm fine with being the crazy cat lady next door," you joked, but olivia only scoffs. "okay crazy cat lady," she mocked. "i get that, but aren't you pent up at least? like... sexually." you immediately straighten up and covered your phone speaker, whipping your head from left to right, searching for hidden spectators.
"gosh, lower your voice!" you whisper-shouted. olivia only laughed hysterically from the other line. "you get embarrassed with sex talk, you grown woman?" she teased and you felt heat rising up your neck. "why do you care about my sex life?" you huffed. "i'm just saying... the reason you're so stressed is because you're not letting it out," she said in a sing-song voice.
you squeezed your eyes shut and inhaled deeply, just wanting this conversation to end. "alright, just pick me up after work," you gave in. olivia let out a mumbled, "yes!" you two talked a few more minutes before you finally hung up. sighing into your hands, you went back to reading the cases piled on your desk. it's just a stupid reunion, i can just leave earlier, you thought.
hours passed by without you noticing. you were only snapped out of your work mode when your alarm went off. it was already five in the afternoon, meaning it's time for you to clock out. walking out of the building, you saw olivia leaning back on her car. "hey, you ready?" she asked with a smirk as she opened the car door to let you in.
"i don't really have a choice, do i?" you deadpanned and olivia only shrugged her shoulders, starting the car engine. "what's so special about this reunion, anyway?" you ask, staring outside the window, mesmerized by the fog. "isn't this the fifth one this year?" you added. "first of all," olivia started, briefly glancing at you before turning back to the road.
"we didn't attend the first four reunions. second..." she trailed off. you could sense the hesitation in her voice. "the sun is already dying so, why not live your life while you're still here?" you can hear how olivia tried to make it sound as light as possible, but with the gravity of the situation— it was difficult to not make it a big deal. "right, i forgot you work at nasa," you spoke. "are you guys not doing anything about it?" you finally turned to look at her.
"they're probably doing something about it. i quit." you furrowed your brows as you stared at your friend in shock. "what? why?" you asked in confusion. "err, i just..." olivia pursed her lips. "just wanna live my life while i'm still here," she whispered, repeating her statement from earlier. "you're one of their top astrophysicist! surely they won't just let you quit?" she only chuckled, "look, i'm flattered, but i'm not the only astrophysicist they have. also, there's this thing called 'awol'."
you breathed out an amuse huff, before you knew it, you two have already arrived at the venue. it was just a small— likely cheap— banquet hall that your batch had rented out. "ugh, i feel like pooping my panties," you say, walking out the car. "relax, they're not going to eat you alive," olivia laughed.
when you two walked into the place, it was already packed. you didn't think anyone in your batch would actually attend the reunion, but surprise surprise. you scanned the crowd, almost everyone was dressed up, making you a bit insecure at your big age. you look down at yourself, you were wearing your usual law firm outfit: a long sleeved button down polo in your favorite color, a black pencil skirt that fit just right on your curves and ends just above your knee, a skin-colored stocking underneath, and very boring flats. then you looked at olivia, she was wearing something semi-formal but was still dolled up.
"you could've helped me get dressed before going here, you know?" you tell your friend with a tired expression. "oh please, you're beautiful just the way you are," olivia retorted. "that's from a song." you crossed your arms. "no it's not— let's just go get some food," she went ahead, walking towards the buffet. you followed suit, but before you could react, you bumped into someone.
"oh no, i'm sorry," you apologized. you looked up at the man and you swear you heard (i just) died in your arms by cutting crew play in the background. you concluded that the man was about six feet tall. he sported this thin rimmed glasses that was slightly skewed on his nose. he also has dirty blond hair that was disheveled in the most annoyingly, attractive way, accompanied by a stubble.
"are you okay?" you flinched, snapping back to reality. "oh, uh, yeah," you muttered as if you were out of breath. getting your consciousness back, you noticed what the man was wearing. he was wearing jeans that almost matched the color of his own button down polo, layered by a gray blazer. and on top of all that, a very bright yellow raincoat that made him stand out from everyone in the room.
the man spoke once again— but this time— he called your name. you look up at him, wide-eyed, one that says, "how do you know my name?!" the blond, thinking you were creeped out by this, immediately apologizes, "s— sorry, you were just... you seemed a little out of it. you weren't responding to my questions so, i got worried. and, and i just recognized you and figured that maybe, i should call you by your name and..." you tune out the man's rambling, trying to wrack your brain of any memory that may include him.
blond hair, glasses... then it clicked you. "you're ryland grace?" the blond visibly went stiff. most likely shocked that someone like you would remember someone like him. "you are! you're the valedictorian," you exclaimed enthusiastically. ryland rubbed his nape sheepishly. "yeah, that's— that's me," he stuttered.
normally, ryland wouldn't attend a high school reunion. heck— he doesn't even get invited most of the time. his old friend just happened to get ahold of him, saying this reunion is special and everyone should be present. because with all the petrova line news, everyone on earth is on edge. either they were panic buying, making bunkers in their basement, or... just living their lives to the fullest while they still had time.
now, he didn't expect anyone to recognize him. even that old friend who dragged him there eventually went to mingle with other people, abandoning him in a corner. unfortunately, he just happened to bump into you. of course he'd remember you, everyone in your batch would remember you. the head of the debate team, the vice president of the student government, the prom queen and... his crush from freshman to senior year. how lucky he is for you to be the one to recognize him.
"i almost didn't recognize you—" you get cut off when olivia yelled your name. she already has two full platters in both hands, impatiently waiting for you to finish conversing. "oh, sorry. i have to go. see you later, i guess." you waved goodbye to the blond before walking over to your friend. ryland swears it wasn't on purpose, but his eyes automatically drifts to your backside as it sways along your hips. he immediately looks away and bites his lips, cussing— the cuss word being censored— himself out for checking you out like that.
you finally caught up to olivia, a mischievous smile displayed on her lips. "already hooking up, huh?" you playfully slap her shoulder, a grin fighting its way to your lips. somehow, the irritation of being coerced into attending this event was slowly disappearing. "it's not like that. we just... bumped into each other." you unconsciously tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, which didn't go unnoticed to your friend.
before you could control your mouth, you spoke again, "who knew ryland grace would become... hot?" olivia audibly gasped at this as the both of you sat at a vacant table. "oh no," you cover your mouth in embarrassment. "i said that out loud, didn't i?" you queried, looking side to side in case the mentioned man was anywhere near you. "he's always been hot. it's criminal how you never saw that," your friend answered, acting offended.
you take a spoonful of mashed potato before replying, "i mean— i knew him before, but he was like..." you paused, trying to find a word to describe the blond. "nerdy?" olivia finished your statement with a question. you shook your head, "no, no. that sounds like an insult." the woman propped her elbows on the table and said, "it's not an insult, though. nerds are hot."
you squint your eyes at your friend. "i feel like you're saying that 'cuz you are one," you retorted. olivia tilted her head to the side with a cocky smirk. "am i lying?" you playfully rolled your eyes at her antics. for the next hour, you two continued to eat and converse at the same time. people who'd recognize you would come and go, only catching up with one another's life for a minute.
"i need to go pee," olivia said as she stood up. you didn't need to go, but you decided to come along with her anyway. "oh shit. pretty boy at nine o' clock," she whispered to you as you both approached the restrooms. you glanced to your left and saw ryland leaning back to the wall, staring mindlessly at the cup in his hand. "i'll wait for you outside," you said. "good luck," your friend winked before descending into the women's restroom.
you slowly approached the blond, testing if he'd sense your presence— which he didn't. so you decided to lean down to his line of sight. "hey," this startled ryland, almost spilling the drink onto your face. you giggled, "sorry, i didn't mean to scare you. you just seemed so lost in thought." the man's heart was beating through his chest, but he tried his best to calm down.
"no— don't worry, you didn't. i was just... thinking," ryland awkwardly chuckled, clearing his throat in the process. "what are you doing out here? the party's inside, you know?" you ask, a small genuine smile on your lips. "oh, it's... not my thing." usually, ryland would run his mouth during awkward situations, even with people he doesn't personally know. but with you? he seem to be at lost for words, his typical quips... vanished, poof, just like that.
you laugh quietly, "that i can agree, my friend." you leaned back on the wall beside him, cheeks almost brushing his shoulders. an indication of your height difference. ryland glanced at you through his peripheral vision as he thought out loud, "i thought parties are your thing?" you whipped your head to look at him, eyebrows raised in amusement.
"why do you think so?" you query, interest piqued by the blond. ryland stood straight up— as if he's ready to bolt away— when he realized what he had said. he peeked at you again, only to see you staring at him. there was no backing out now.
ryland turned to face you— to be respectful during conversing— his shoulder was now leaning to the wall, his hand tucked in his pocket while the other held his drink. he was trying to act cool, meanwhile, you were using all your strength in stabilizing yourself because of his position. am i really pent up? why do i think his stance is sexy?
"well," ryland started. you waited in anticipation, as he drank from his cup without looking at you. the shape of his nose, his jawline, the action... they were doing things to you. "you were one of the popular kids," the blond whispered you could barely hear it. "what?" you felt a laugh bubble in your chest. "i mean— everyone knew me, but that's because i'm part of the student government. but if you're talking about emily and her friends... they were the ones following me like a bunch of minions because they like the attention," you explained, taking the drink from his hand and taking a sip while maintaining eye contact.
ryland felt his breath hitch at the sight, hand still in midair. "olivia is my only true friend back then," you continued, giving back the cup— your fingers brushing against his, sparks rushing from your fingertips to your spine. "olivia? the salutatorian?" he asked, the idea seemingly impossible for him to believe. "yeah, i know, crazy right? we're like jennifer and needy, but without the killing," you clarified.
this comparison earned you a quiet chuckle from ryland, not an awkward one this time. the response gave you a bit of confidence. "believe it or not, she's actually the one who told me to stay away from her," you shared, starting a smooth conversation between the two of you, slowly easing into each other.
although, you did most of the talking, ryland was sharing thoughts of his own. you even remembered how you two would often get paired with each other in multiple projects. "... you were bad at humanities and art, while i struggle at science. i think that's why most of our teachers pair us," you reminisce, chuckling at the memory. the blond didn't respond though, prompting you to glance at him. only to see him looking at you, like, really looking.
you start to feel conscious of your appearance, afraid that there might be something on you. "is there something on my face?" you asked, breaking the silence. ryland blinked rapidly, shaking his head. "no— no, it's just... i'm surprised you remember that," he said, then your heart softened. did he think you wouldn't remember a thing about him? did he think he wasn't worth remembering?
"well, i'm good at remembering things but..." you stop, unsure if you should continue talking, but you do it anyway. "... there's no way i'd forget you." in that moment, your surroundings seem to slow down. lights seem to cast a glow on your figure that made ryland's heart clench.
without his permission, his eyes started to travel from your long eyelashes, to the curve of your nose, then to your luscious lips. you were no different, and since you were practically face to face with his chest, you could see a faint shadow that slightly curves on his pectorals. and then... you notice his id lace, which has initials printed on it. you reach out to it without his consent and examined his id. "you're a middle school teacher?" you ask, a mischievous glint in your eyes.
"oh, uh, yeah." ryland looked down as he scratched his head, thinking that turned you off. "that's cute." he blushed, the insecurity vanished. "i'm a lawyer," you say, still not letting go of the man's id. hot, is what ryland thought. thinking it might impress you— but immediately regretted it— the blond added, "i actually have a phd in molecular biology."
he expected a hysterical laugh to come out of you. he expected to be made fun of. but what you said next was what he least expected the most. "that's hot," you complimented, slightly tugging the lace. were you... flirting with him? ryland's poor brain was short circuiting at the fact that his old crush, and quite possibly the most beautiful woman he has ever seen, was flirting with him!
and yes, you were totally hitting on him. figuring out that the blond was a phd holder was just the trigger you were desperately searching for. he was already exhibiting the type of man you want: tall, handsome, and shy in a good way (because you're tired of arrogant men). but a phd? in molecular biology? oh, he is smart alright. dating in your thirties is already hard, but to find a rare gem like ryland grace? that'd be harder if you let him go, so no, you'll be keeping him on a leash.
"hey, ryland..." you took a step forward, almost closing the gap between you two. you tug his id lace, hard this time and whispered, "how about we go somewhere private?" ryland was now red as a tomato, his heart beating through the roof, and his hands clammy. it's very obvious to him that you're flirting but... he just has to make sure. "are you... are you flirting with me?" he asked nervously.
you pause for a second, looking up at him then down to where you're tugging him close. you laugh, not because his question was ridiculous— it wasn't— instead you thought it was cute. he clearly didn’t want to assume even though you’re practically rubbing it on his face. “well, what do you think?” you ask, voice so seductive that ryland almost fell to his knees. you almost didn’t hear it, but he let out a quiet groan that sounded like he was in pain. that was your last straw.
this time you pull him from his wrist, dragging him around the corner. you didn’t really know where you’re going, but let’s just hope you find a storage room to have some privacy. good thing luck is on your side, because you eventually find one. you didn’t hesitate to enter it and lock the door. there was only a single light bulb inside but it was enough for you to see his face clearly. “are you sure about this?” ryland asked, which you thought was sweet of him. though, his actions speak louder than his words as his hands were already settled on your waist.
you didn’t dare answer him but instead, crashed your lips onto his. ryland didn’t respond to your kiss at first, likely shocked by your action. however, when you tugged his hair— earning a moan from him— his lips started to move along with yours. it was messy at first, teeth bumping with each other and your rhythm was irregular. you weren’t bothered by it though.
it was kind of funny and sweet at the same time. just two single people, in their thirties, hooking up in a storage room in the middle of a high school reunion. you stop. he is single right? your lack of movement made ryland pull away, afraid he might’ve done something wrong. “what’s wrong—?” “are you single?” you both speak at the same time. it took ryland a few minutes to register your question before it hit him. you both didn’t double check each other’s relationship status.
“are you single?” he asked back. “i asked you first.” you pouted. “uh, yeah, i don’t— i’m not dating anyone right now, like, for a long time now,” ryland rambled, rubbing his nape sheepishly. you finally let out a breath of relief. “that’s good,” you say as you pull him back into the kiss. it wasn’t messy the second time around. one of your hand kept on tugging his hair while the other rested on his pec (confirming your speculation that he definitely has muscles underneath his teacher outfit). the blond still had his hands on your waist, unmoving. it was as if he was afraid to touch you anywhere else.
“touch me anywhere you’d like, dr. grace,” you mumbled into the kiss. the statement turned on something inside the blond that had been stagnant for years. without second thought, he pulled you against him, feeling his bulge against your stomach that made your breath hitch. suddenly, the nerdy ryland grace was gone and replaced by a hungry man. you didn’t mind it, you love someone who’s hungry and yearning for you.
the kiss quickly transitioned from passionate into something sexual. “‘m sorry,” ryland muttered but didn’t let go. you only giggled, assuming that he’s apologizing for the fact that he got hard just from kissing you. he wasn’t the only one turned on physically anyway, you were too. you could feel the wetness in your folds, wanting the man to just finger you already. but that’ll have to wait.
all of a sudden, ryland’s hand travelled up to your jaws. it hovered there for a while, the hesitation evident. the blond parted his lips from yours, staring at you with half-lidded eyes. he looks so pretty at how high he got kissing you, making you wonder if he’d look prettier in between your thighs. “is— is this okay? it’s not like i have a kink for choking, it’s just…” you placed a finger on his lips before he could continue his word vomit.
silence engulfed you two as you slowly parted his lips, sliding your finger in. ryland’s shoulder visibly shudder at the action, a whimper bubbling in his throat. when you retrieved your finger, the blond’s eyebrows furrowed as if upset that you stopped. you stared at him straight in the eye as you brought your finger— wet and hot and mixed with his saliva— into your mouth, sucking it dry. ryland cursed, which he rarely do, before he pulled you into a hungrier kiss.
the kiss became messier in the hottest way possible as tongues got involved. ryland’s hand was now gripping your neck, still gentle, turning you on even more. you bit his bottom lip in return, making him whimper louder this time. the sound of lips smacking and moans filled the room. you could care less if someone would hear it from outside.
while making out, you felt ryland's free hand snake up your body. your heart beat against your ribs, thinking he'd finally make a move and touch you the way you want to be touched. but then it didn't came. you let go, looking down to where the blond's hand was hovering, then up at him. "i, i wasn't sure if i should do it. i need your consent if i were to— to touch your..." he rattled on, face red.
you sigh, ignoring him, you unbuttoned your top. ryland malfunctioned at the sight of you hurriedly stripping your top off in front of him. he's lying if he says he doesn't love the view though. you in just your bra while still wearing your skirt and heels sounds like a fantasy any hormonal teenage boy would have. a fantasy his hormonal teenage self already had.
you pulled the blond by his lanyard pretty hard. the action should've elicited pain in the man, but it only made his cock twitch violently in his pants. "didn't i tell you to touch me anywhere you'd like, dr. grace?" you said with authority. "yes, ma'am." and ryland was quick to pull you back in his lips as he finally cups your boob.
you moan into the kiss at the sensation of him massaging your breast through your bra, but you long more for skin contact. you didn't complain though, the warmth of his hands was enough for euphoria to pool in your abdomen. soon enough, ryland's hands travelled to your back. he found his way to your bra's lock, much to your liking. but just like any man, he struggled to unlock it.
you giggled, lips still attached to his. "i can take it off for you," you mumbled, pulling away slightly. "no, i— i can do this. just... keep kissing me... please." and you obeyed the blond, that "please"— almost sounding like a whimper— was enough to shut you up. of course, ryland being the smart man he is, eventually unclipped your bra.
you two parted, a trail of saliva connecting both of you. you could see his adam's apple bob up and down as he stared straight at you. you felt the straps of your bra slip, the cold air hitting your now bare skin. despite your breasts practically hanging out, ryland still maintained eye contact— as if nothing else mattered but you. “you’re beautiful,” he whispered and your heart softened. “my teenage self would freak out if he saw this,” he added, chuckling awkwardly.
you raise a curious brow and asked, “what do you mean?” ryland immediately got flustered, not knowing he said his thought out loud. “i— i mean, um, i used to like you back then,” he stuttered, embarrassed of his sudden confession. you smirk, an idea popping up in your head. you grab his wrist and planted it on your bare breast. “show me how you fantasized about me.” you put your arms around his head, locking him in a kiss.
you hummed as ryland palmed your boob ever so gently. his other hand remained on your cheek, thumb caressing your cheekbone. it went on like that for a few minutes before he did something that made you yelp in pleasure. the blond started playing with your nipples, sending shivers down to your core. he was pinching, pulling, caressing, doing all the things that almost made you come.
all of a sudden, ryland pulled away— to your dismay. “what—?” “can i suck it?” he asked, cutting you off with pleading eyes. you gape at him for a while, utterly surprised at his request. "please?" he whispers and you give in. you nod as answer, the blond not wasting any time and lifted you effortlessly onto a box, which you wish is sturdy enough to hold you.
it was slow, painfully slow to your liking. ryland grace took his sweet time in pleasing you. his nose hovered over your nipple as he looked up at you behind his glasses. his warm breath was enough to tickle you, making you shiver. then his lips part... taking in your already perky tit in his warm mouth.
your head leans back as pleasure surge through you. the warm, wet, soft feeling of his tongue making you buck your hips up subconsciously. as if that wasn't enough to satisfy you, ryland starts playing with your other nipple, doing what he did earlier. the blond seems to take gratification in pleasing you as he moans while sucking your boobs, which was really hot.
it went on like that for minutes, switching from nipple to nipple as ryland searched for the right technique that would elicit that loud, sweet moan from you. "mmm, ryland, t— there," you hum as you grip the man's hair. the blond took mental notes of which movement you'd beg for the most. you'd slightly thrust your hips up when he bites your nip ever so gently. you'd grip his hair so tight when he flicks it fast with the tip of his tongue.
the fact that ryland was the reason you were so aroused had him pre-cumming in his pants. heck— he might as well cum right now. he then looks up at you, still lost in pleasure, contemplating whether to do it or not. but he remembers what you told him, how he can touch you anywhere he'd like. and that's exactly what he's going to do.
he carefully snakes his hand inside your skirt, fingers brushing sensually against the rough stockings. he took your shivers as an indicator to keep going. just as he was about to tear your stocking apart, a knock sounded from the door. ryland was quick to pull away, panic now replacing lust. he clumsily removed his blazer and draped it over to your naked torso.
olivia— the cockblocker— called out your name. "hey, uh, i know you two are in the middle of something in there but we have to go. the party has already ended and, well, they're locking it up... unless y'all wanna get stuck in there," she explained, voice muffled by the door. "yep, we'll be out in a minute," you respond, already putting your top back on.
you quietly watch ryland as he goes back to his old, dorky self, as if he wasn't just about to finger you a minute ago. your eyes then drift down to the tent in his pants. a small stain could be seen at the tip of it, making you lick your bottom lip. "that looks painful," you spoke. the blond looks at you confused before noticing where you were staring. he looks down to his crotch, red tinting his cheeks once again.
ryland stutters, rambling incoherent words that makes no sense, not noticing you already back on your feet. he refused to look at you as you walked towards him slowly. eventually, he stopped when you pressed yourself against him— hand on his pec and your boobs flat against him. his breath became heavy at the sight of you batting your eyelashes. he wanted to pounce at you right then and there when you said—
"wanna go to my house and continue where we left off?"
end note: this took me DAYS to write bro i'm never gonna write nsfw anymore 😭 like this is literally my first time writing one NEVER in my 8 years of reading and writing fanfic have i ever attempted writing smut until this time! i thought it'd be easy but no! anyway i will probably upload the next chap of 500 miles... when i upload it heh
haii i love ur work!! i need more bad bunny fics!! maybe something angsty with a happy ending?? if not don’t worrry!! 💗💗
note: hiii!! you're my first ever ff request here on tumblr, i really appreciate it! don't be shy to send requests if you guys have any ff ideas! but also note that i'm quite a slow writer lol 😆 i'm not sure if this is angsty enough but i tried! disclaimer: google translate spanish
bad bunny x best friend!fem!reader
in which: you’re secretly in love with your best friend, benito martinez
tags: bad bunny x best friend!female!reader, unrequited love (which gets reciprocated), angst (?), happy ending, oneshot, baile inolvidable, implied height difference, womanizer benito, yearning, usage of y/n, reader is suffering 😢, reader is the same age as benito
THE WORDS, 'best friend' and 'pining' usually don't go well together. they never do, and they never work. in your case though, being bad bunny's— benito's best friend since high school, it was inevitable. who wouldn't fall for him? especially when you've witnessed him grow from the ambitious boy from vega baja, to the man who's become the face of puerto rico firsthand.
you promised yourself you wouldn't fall in love with him— well, you didn't really promise anything. you just... didn't expect it. sure, you'd flirt with each other as a joke, even going as far as saying, "when we're both single at thirty, let's just marry each other," but none of you really mean it... right? wrong! one of you meant it and held on to it, unfortunately. and it's you.
benito has had many girlfriends, and you had your fair share of lovers too. you both never had any problems with it, no secret animosity. you befriended his girlfriends and he befriended yours. when your lovers would hurt you, you'll come back to him crying and he'll comfort you with no hesitation. then the next day, your ex would be at your door begging for forgiveness. it was the perfect opposite sex friendship dynamic.
but when did you realize you're in love with him, you ask? we're gonna have to go back a few years, to his very first grammy win. you just broke up from another failed relationship and as a way to get your mind off it, benito dragged you along with him to the grammys. after the awarding, even though his girlfriend at that time was there too, you were the one he approached first. "nosotros ganamos! we won!" was what he said before hugging you, in front of his girlfriend. call it selfish or whatever, but you didn't overthink that his girlfriend might get jealous, all you thought about is how he went to you first.
that's when you realize, no other man can ever make you feel special like benito does. and that hurts, because he treats all his girlfriends the same. but there's a distinct difference between you and benito's girlfriends. like... you're a number higher when it comes to his priorities. though, you never paid any deep thought about it. you just simply assumed that it's because you're his best friend. after all, that's what you've always been to him, right?
the best friend from high school. the best friend who he's had sleepovers with. the best friend who he's shared a drink with. the best friend who always hears the demos first. the best friend who heard his dreams first. and the best friend that supported him all the way. the realization hit you hard because after that, you couldn't get with anyone else. you couldn't sleep with anyone else knowing it's not him beside you.
benito's relationship that hurt you the most was when he dated kendall. the kendall jenner. you felt so devastated, discouraged. insecurities were eating you from the inside out. you started dinstancing yourself from him because you thought, it's the end for the both of us. you promised— really promised yourself this time that you're better off supporting and admiring him from afar. you were ready to let go years of friendship and memories for the sake of your peace of mind.
but something about benito and kendall's relationship felt... artificial. simulated even. you chose to shrug the theory off, you thought that your feelings were starting to interfere with how you perceive your best friend's relationship. so you dump it all at the very back of your mind. until one night, when benito came knocking on your apartment door. he wasn't drunk or high or anything. he just looked... drained.
without warning, benito came crashing onto you, hugging you tightly as if his life depended on it. and that's when you learned about the truth regarding his relationship with the model. you felt guilty with distancing yourself when benito needed you the most. not even once did you thought of asking him how he was doing in his new relationship. but when you looked down at his sleeping figure on your couch, you couldn't blame yourself. you needed to get away from him because it hurt you so bad you could feel your heart ache physically.
that night you did something. something you knew you'd regret the morning after but you just needed to get these feelings out, even for a tiny bit. you placed a peck on his lips and whispered, "what am i gonna do without you, benito?" knowing benito, he's a heavy sleeper and would not wake up to a clatter of pans. he wouldn't feel something as light as that kiss...
the next morning, you acted like nothing happened. you cooked him breakfast and the both of you went back to how things used to. even if it meant burying your feelings six-feet underground. the dining table was silent, only the muffled television and humming of the exhaust served as background noise. when benito broke the silence, it shocked you.
"de ahora en adelante me centraré únicamente en mi música. i'll only focus on my music from now on." you were glad. happy that he's going to focus more on himself now and... happy that you won't be seeing him with another woman anytime soon. that, you can get used to. but the next thing he said was like rubbing salt to the wound. "eres la única que necesito, (y/n). you're the only one i need, (y/n)." you could only grip your spoon as you pretended to be fine.
when debí tirar más fotos was released, you were by benito’s side the whole time. he held your hand nervously when he thought the fans wouldn’t like the album and you would be there to reassure him. you were present at his concerts, be it in the audience or in la casita. if you two were already attached to the hip before, you’re more inseparable now. it was as if that night only made your relationship stronger. but that wasn’t what you felt at all.
during a random day when you were just hanging out in his studio, benito casually confessed something. “escribí una canción para ti en el álbum. i wrote a song for you in the album.” you didn’t believe what you heard at first, certain that you must be going crazy. but when benito asked if you even heard him, your heart hammered through your chest without permission. you asked him what song, but he stayed silent. until you were pestering him relentlessly, persuading him to spill the secret. benito only laughed, teasing you like he usually does but what he didn’t know was it was deep. it was deep to you. and it only ate your mind as time went on.
you tried to figure it out on your own. but none resonated with you. reading into the lyrics only hurt you more. especially el clúb. you laughed at yourself, finding it ridiculous how you dug your own grave listening to his songs, trying so hard to find yourself in them only to be greeted by other women. it was when you realized that setting your feelings aside doesn’t help… it was time to completely put it to a halt. you became completely numb from benito’s actions and words. your heart doesn’t flutter anymore when he says your name, your eyes doesn’t gleam anymore when you look at him. it was like… you’re there physically, but emotionally? you’re gone.
on the night of benito’s big grammy win, you were there, like always. but instead of attending the after-party, he crashed your place. you didn’t think much of it… you tried not to. “¿qué ocurre, (y/n)? what’s wrong, (y/n)?” you almost dropped the bottle of wine you were holding. “what?” you asked, acting oblivious of the fact that he’s probably already noticed your change of behavior. he was always like that, he never failed to notice every single thing about you. heck— he might as well read your mind and say your feelings out loud. “eres diferente. estos últimos años... me he dado cuenta. you’re different. these past few years… i’ve noticed.” you stopped pouring the wine in the glass as you felt him draw closer to you.
he noticed? you felt your breathing become shallow, a lump forming in your throat. “if you noticed… ¿por qué mencionarlo recién ahora? why only bring it up now?” you asked, voice wavering. he towered over you as your back was facing him. the heat emitting off of him made you want to just lean on to him, but you stopped the urge. you didn’t want years of erasing your feelings to lose its meaning.
suddenly, benito took a step forward, his body lightly grazing your back. his hands hovered over your torso, slowly hugging you from the back before burying his face into your neck. you wanted— no, you needed to push him away or else the feelings will resurface. the feeling of butterflies, affection… pain. you needed to get away from him but at the same time you can’t… you didn’t want to. your feet felt like it was glued to the ground, you’re fighting the urge not to close your eyes and indulge in his presence. his arms wasn’t supposed to be this secure, this safe. but you felt the walls crumble to pieces.
“te amo, (y/n).” and the tears that have been welling in your eyes overflowed. you couldn’t hold back your sobs anymore. benito, ever so gently, spun you around to face him, his face full of concern. “why, benito? why? te he estado amando por años. i’ve been loving you for years.” you cried, gripping his suit. “lo sé… i know… since the night you kissed me.” you scoffed, “of course you know.” how can you be so stupid? you’ve basically outed yourself a long time ago and had the audacity to act like nothing happened.
benito caressed your right arm before lifting your hand. “amor—“ “you still love your ex.” he furrowed his brows in confusion. “¿qué?” you stare at him dead in the eye. “el clúb,” you simply stated and a look of understanding washed over benito’ face. he placed your hand onto his cheeks, slightly snuggling it. “no, (y/n). lo escribí cuando estaba en mi punto más bajo. i don’t, (y/n). i wrote it when i was at my lowest. i was dumb. i didn’t realize immediately that… eres la única mujer que necesito en mi vida. you’re the only woman that i need in my life.” you stare at him, mind racing through mixed emotions.
“todas las canciones de amor son para ti. 'baile inolvidable' es para ti, all the love songs are for you. 'baile inolvidable' is for you,” benito finally revealed the mystery that has been haunting you. suddenly, the pain you endured for years vanished. suddenly, you didn’t need the feel to hide anymore. had you made a move earlier, you wouldn’t have went through the heartache? no, you shouldn’t ponder the past now. you shouldn’t ask ‘what ifs’. what matters is the present, the now, and the man in front of you.
you lunged onto benito, kissing him on the lips. it was passionate, it was hungry, it was years of yearning for your best friend finally unfolding. he lifts you up and rests you on the kitchen island, careful not to knock the now untouched glasses of wine. you caress his curls while his hands roam your body, moans escaping from both your lips. you both let go, foreheads resting on one another, breaths shallow. “te amo mucho, benito.” you whisper, as if afraid the whole world is going to hear your confession. “te amo más que a nada, (y/n).”
“now, you promised to marry me at thirty. i’m waiting for that ring, benito.”
end note: ooh i loved writing this! i rarely reach flow state like this 👹
in which: benito accompanies you at the grammy after-party
note: here's part 2 yall!! thank you for the love on the first fic! i didn't think many people would read it! and i hope yall would love this one too 🫶 honestly think if im even portraying benito here perfectly but like, this is just how i see him 😭disclaimer: google translate spanish
tags: bad bunny x southeast asian!fem!reader, artist reader, age gap, implied height difference, wholesome, toothrotting fluff, some romance finally, mentions of alcohol, we got benito pov yall, like one cuss word, usage of y/n
IT'S THE grammys after-party and you're doing anything but partying. you aren't really used to attending high-end parties— heck, you don't even go to clubs that often— but here you are, sitting all alone at the bar while every artist and their mother danced and talk with one another. you tried to socialize, you really did, but every word that came out of your mouth was nothing but incoherent stutters that left you embarrassed in front of elites.
there were some celebrities who didn't look at you weirdly or forced a smile. sabrina carpenter is an example. when she saw you awkwardly standing alone by the entrance, she approached you with her very contagious smile. "hi! you're (y/n), right? your songs are all over my fyp," she said, linking arms with you. "you're beautiful in person!" she exclaimed as she dragged you to a table. "thank you. you're, like, way... more beautiful," you shyly complimented her back, heat rising in your cheeks. "i— i'm a big fan," you added, trying not to sound like a creep. "aw, thanks!" after that, she dragged you along with her to mingle for a good thirty minutes. some people were genuinely interested while others looked forced to listen. sabrina's extroverted nature drained your energy quickly, but thanks to her, you managed to enjoy the party a little bit.
fast forward to now, you’re sitting at the bar with nothing but a glass of alcohol in your hand and your phone in the other. “dear, you look so beautiful on television!” your mother exclaimed from the other side of the call. “your face is built for the screen,” your father said proudly. your chest bounced as you chuckle quietly at your parents antics. they acted entirely the same as when they called you before the awarding. you didn’t win, but it didn’t matter to them. they were proud enough that their daughter was reaching her dreams.
“but… are you okay?” your mother asked, worry evident in her voice. "of course! why wouldn't i be?" you mask the lingering disappointment you're still feeling. "well..." your father started. "we know how you pressure yourself—" "dad, please," you cut him off with pleading eyes. "i'm fine. i swear," you reassure them, but they look nothing but assured. they glanced at each other, communicating through their eyes. they were worried, but they knew not to push you. especially when you're not in the appropriate place for a talk.
your mother sighed, "alright, we won't keep you any longer. you should be enjoying the party, dear." "i am, mom." you playfully roll your eyes, then quickly urge them to take a rest. they took a day off from their jobs just to witness you at the grammys. knowing they support you regardless of the result keeps you going, and all you wanted was for them to take a well-deserving rest. after hanging up, you set your phone down.
"hola." a deep voice beside you startled you, making you visibly flinch, almost spilling the drink in your hand. you're sure the way you whipped your head to look at the direction of the voice gave you whiplash. of course, it was none other than benito antonio martínez ocasio. realization struck you, ever since you entered the party, you didn't see him once despite his tall stature. "have you— were you..." you stuttered, not because you're starstruck, but because you're trying to think of the right words to say.
it seems that everytime you're in front of benito, every english word you know magically vanishes. "how long have you been there?" you finally ask after taking your sweet time constructing that simple question. benito shrugged his shoulders, taking a quick sip of his own drink. "not long," he said. "oh..." you nodded, awkwardly stirring the alcohol in your glass. a comfortable silence engulfed the two of you, changing the vibes at the bar. through your peripheral vision, you could see how uncomfortable the bartender is as he worked— pretended to work.
"you know," you started in your native tongue, gaining benito's attention. "i couldn't thank you enough... for tonight," you thanked him for the hundredth time. you wondered if you were starting to sound annoying, being so repetitive. but you couldn't think of any other way to express your gratitude towards him. it's not like you can easily ask him to eat out as compensation. benito could easily buy you, your house, your family, and if possible, even your soul.
honestly, though? i don't mind if he buys my soul— who said that?! you shake your head at your thoughts. you can't believe what you're thinking of when he's literally sitting beside you. what if he can read minds?! you wouldn't be able to bear the embarrassment. "it's really fine," benito finally spoke, snapping you out of your thoughts.
"i know but... i couldn't think of any way to thank you more. you don't know how grateful i am," you retorted. benito stared at your side view for a good minute, examining your features. "then, tell me more about yourself." his statement surprised you, you almost thought you misheard it. "p— pardon?" you asked, eyebrows all scrunched up in confusion. "cuéntame sobre ti, tu país. i wanna hear more about you and where you came from," he explained.
you gape at him for a while, looking dumbfounded. everything felt too good to be true you'd think it's the end of the world. from the grammy nomination, to sitting beside bad bunny, and now this? you know you'll be crying buckets once you leave this country. you drop your head, laughing quietly.
"¿qué?" benito asked, raising a questioning brow. "no, no." you wave a dismissive hand, still laughing. "it's just... everything feels so surreal," you sigh, finally looking up at him and meeting his eyes which are intently staring at you. it almost caught you off guard. "but if you insist, sure." you smiled at him, genuinely. and that might've been the first, true, genuine smile you've had all night.
"see, i come from..." you started as benito propped an arm up on the bar table, leaning his cheek on his hand and listened to you with utmost attention. you told him all about your family. then your country, its history, its language, its issues. "it sounds like a beautiful country," benito complimented. you stare back at his eyes. you didn't want to assume but the way he was gazing at you looked as if he was lost in your eyes. i don't have dirt on my face, do i?
"well, i think puerto rico is more beautiful," you countered, pushing the thought aside. but you then realized how it sounded. "not that i'm degrading my own country! it's just that— i'd want to go there in the near future," you added, hoping to clear the misunderstanding. that's if he did misunderstood what you said.
benito let out a laugh so low, you swear you could feel it in your abdomen. he's not sure if you're usually this frantic or you're only like that when you're talking to him, but it just made him more interested in you. sure, many people act like that too when they meet him. he's bad bunny for goodness' sake. but usually, those people only see him for his fame or money. they see bad bunny, but never benito.
and you, it feels too early for him to say that you see him as himself. but you're just... such an open book. the way you flail your hands, how your eyebrows scrunch up as you explain things to him. it's rare to see someone that expressive, that open— especially to a stranger. yes, you're a fan of him. nevertheless, you didn't know him personally. therefore, he was still a stranger to you.
before he could stop his mouth, benito called out your name. you stopped, stunned. you're never going to get tired to hearing him pronounce your name with that accent. "yeah?" you tilt your head in confusion, eyes looking up at him. benito looked as surprised, he didn't mean to call you out loud. looking down at you now, he couldn't help but notice how your eyelashes perfectly complimented your eye color.
¿qué es esto? he felt weird. like, physically weird. his palms were clammy. his heart was pounding. heat was rushing from his neck to his ears. it's not usual for benito to... love at first sight. "benito?" you snapped a finger near his ear, and for the first time, you saw bad bunny's resolve crumble down. "i'm gonna melt, you know," you joked. it was more like you're humoring yourself to ignore the butterflies in your stomach.
you weren't oblivious to the fact that the bad bunny was checking you out. he was was quiet for a good two minutes for fuck's sake! and he bit his lip. who wouldn't be flustered at that? your soul must've flown away from your physical body at that very moment.
"lo siento," benito huffed out, breathless like he just ran a marathon. he started to fix his suit, clearly uncomfortable. it genuinely made you worry. "are you okay?" you asked, placing a gentle hand on his bicep. benito felt another wave of heat spread from where you just put your hand. "sí, sí," he replied, looking away from you. he needed to regain his confidence again.
¿es el alcohol? benito gulped his drink in one go, sucking in air at the slight sting it left in his throat. he's confused, not with you, but with his feelings. during the awarding earlier, he thought you were just a kid. a kid who couldn't stop crying before and after the grammys. when he lent you that handkerchief, when he caressed your back, when he offered you to touch his trophy... it was only to help a fellow foreign artist who clearly felt out of place. when he approached you earlier at the bar, he wanted to know more about you for a possible future collaboration.
he didn't mean to... feel what he's feeling right now. but with how you looked earlier as you told him stories about your country, about your people... his only thought was, que linda. realization struck him like an american truck. he wasn't supposed to be ready for a relationship, he wanted to take a break. you probably will fly back to your country in a few days. the both of you probably won't see each other until the next grammys. even if you exchange contacts, he'll get busy with tours and new projects, and you'll probably be the same.
then, an idea popped up. benito wanted to be sure, not only of himself, but with you too. he needed to see if you're different than those people who came and went from his life. to see if you won't treat him like a vacation on a tropical island, only willing to see the beautiful sights and not the struggles. he glanced at you. you were awkwardly swinging your legs that hang from the tall stool, awkwardly checking out the place as you play with your drink. he suddenly felt bad, leaving you hanging like that.
benito called you out, intentionally this time. "hm?" you looked immediately at him, eyebrows raised and a tighlipped smile displaying on your face. "when are you... leaving?" he asked. you ponder for a while before answering, "next monday, why?" a smirk threatened to form on benito's face. "you see, i'm performing on the super bowl this... domingo— er, sunday," he said. you lean back a bit, anticipation growing in your chest. "yes... i know," you stated slowly. you felt a bit of excitement with where your conversation is going.
benito hesitated for a second, contemplating whether what he's about to do is a good or bad thing. he looked at you up and down once again before settling on your features. "i have an extra ticket. i'd be glad if you could come watch the show," he finally dropped the bomb and you swear you could hear your ancestors cheer for you from heaven.
hell yeah.
end note: legit entered flow state here. also, hope you guys don't mind i tagged you for part 2! don't be shy to comment if you wanna get tagged for part 3 (if yall want a part 3 😼)
taglist: @percysley, @sturrnvamp, @mingyusaass, @myinfluencertheorist, @sunshine1475002, @naiaswims, @dear-mono, @haaaaaaaatdoooooog, @yoongishawtyyy
in which: ryland and his ex discover why the astrophages are moving to venus
note: heyyyy this is the next part NO ONE asked for cuz i'm down bad for this fine man! like, srsly it physically aches to know i can't have him and i wanna cry
tags: ryland carl and reader: the trio we didn't know we needed, reader is a bit tsundere lol, denial is a river in egypt, fluff, ryland is that one ex who never forgets your favorites, reader is lowkey yearning tho
IT WAS time to get serious. after getting an earful from carl, ryland finally filled you in on what he discovered about the astrophages. how it is made up of water (to his disappointment), how they give off infrared light when they move, and how they "toot to scoot" in his terms. now it's your job to help him figure out why the cells are moving to venus— which, by the way, annoys you so much with how many times it's been pointed out today. ryland was pacing back and forth while you remained seated, face practically burying into your laptop as you read research that may deem helpful to the situation.
"hey, carl?" you look up to see him walking to his walkie-talkie. "this is carl," the guard replied immediately. you mount your chin over your right palm, interested to see where this is going. "imagine... for a second that you're an interstellar microorganism." you shook your head with a quiet giggle as carl was quick to refuse the scientist's request. "why would you leave the sun and go to venus?" ryland insisted anyway.
you went back to reading, but still paid attention to the two men's conversation. "why not stop at mercury, it's closer?" ryland added. "maybe fresh air?" carl guessed. the blond looked down to you, and you didn't need him to talk to know he's asking for your attention. "what?" you ask, not taking your eyes off your laptop. "venus' atmosphere is mostly co2..." he trailed off, still talking to the walkie-talkie to let carl hear your conversation.
"maybe that's fresh air to them. you don't know what this little space dusts like." and somehow, carl's statement made sense to the both of you. you finally decided to look up at ryland. "he's right. astrophage... they might be composed of water but they're still alien. if they're able to survive on the surface of the sun, surely they'd survive harsh conditions such as venus' atmposhere. they're probably there for survival, doing something..." you expounded carl's explanation and added your own thought. ryland nodded at this, his acknowledgement giving you a sense of gratification that you try to ignore.
ryland finally sat beside you, looking over the monitor that showed fellow scientists all over the world who are also working on the project. "hey carl? do we have an expense account?" he asked. you raised a curious brow to whatever your ex might be planning. "we don't," carl said, making ryland click his tongue in disbelief. "but i do," he added and the two shared a knowing smile.
"wait... what are you doing?" you queried once ryland set his walkie-talkie down. "we're gonna go shopping," he stated with a smirk on his lips. "oh, but you don't have to come with us since we're going to the hardware store. you know... heavy duty stuff," he insisted. you crossed your arms and leaned back. "you think i can't handle heavy duty stuff?" you ask teasingly. ryland was quick to stop on his tracks and turned to you with a worried look. "no— no! i wasn't— that's not what i meant," he stuttered.
you continued to tease him, displaying an offended look. "i just— i don't want you to..." ryland paused, rubbing the back of his neck, hesitating if he should continue talking. "i don't want you to get tired," he muttered and you felt your chest tighten. you dropped the act and turned back to your portable computer, resting your cheek on your palm in attempt to hide the grin that was fighting its way to your face.
so sweet annoying, you thought. "gosh, just go," you ushered him out without sparing him a glance. ryland, completely unaware of how he just activated the butterflies in your stomach, enthusiastically shouted before he walked out the lab, "leave the lifting to us!" his smile radiated as he gave you a thumbs up. you rolled your eyes playfully, still trying to hide the grin, and jokingly gave him a thumbs down. the scientist hovered his hands over his chest, acting hurt— earning a quiet chuckle from you— before running up to carl.
just as you were sure they were gone, you put a hand on your chest, counting your heartbeat per minute. and it was beating too fast, much to your dismay. you slammed your laptop shut and ran a palm over your face. ryland's face can't seem to disappear from your mind and it's just distracting you from work. dangerous, you thought.
the sun is dying and there is no time for romance, you know that— but with the hours you've spent with ryland so far, everything was just coming back to you all at once. and with how his personality barely changed... it was torturing you, because that vey personality was the reason you fell for him. we're just high school sweethearts, you told yourself. it's just the nostalgia. yep, definitely just nostalgia. you thought of everything to convince yourself, but there was a part deep inside of you which knew that it's more than just high school sweethearts.
wanting to get your mind off ryland, you tried to work it off. reading research, handling lab equipment to familiarize yourself with them after such a long time, just anything you could do to distract your mind. the two finally came back along with a bunch of plywood, aluminum foil, duct tape, some biker glasses, and of course... skittles and twizzlers. ryland shared it with everyone, but yours... is different. he made sure to buy your favorite candy, about five packs of them.
"that's still your favorite, right?" he asked for assurance, worried you might not like what he bought for you. "y... yeah," you mumbled, not knowing what to feel about this. "thank god." you heard ryland whisper to himself as he geared up for the experiment. so much for trying to get him off my mind, you thought when you felt your heart beat faster again.
"so this box is venus?" carl asked, giving voice to your thought. the two had finally finished assembling the homemade "venus" and ryland is just attaching the last piece of it inside. "the box is venus, it's set to emit the same infrared light frequency as venus' co2 atmosphere," the blond explained and you swear you almost drooled at his science-y explanation, but of course you won't admit that.
"so if the dots move when you turn the lights on, that means they're looking for co2," carl continued as you handed the microscope slide to ryland, fingers almost brushing against each other even with the gloves. "thus, proving the carl hypothesis." the scientist finally placed the slide under the microscope before walking out the box. he took the twizzlers that was resting above his ears and bit it before closing the box— which, you definitely did not find attractive.
you sat on a stool, laptop on your lap, ready to document the experiment. "alright, you ready?" ryland asked once the box has been shut completely. you and carl monitored the astrophages while your ex plugged the power source in. as soon as he did it, the astrophages was quick to move away from the microscope. thus, proving the carl hypothesis, you thought. the discovery pumped adrenaline in your veins, but it was cut short when ryland devastatingly said, "we lost them."
"what do you mean we lost them? go get 'em," carl suggested like it was the easiest thing to do. "it's not that easy to catch them," you intervened. "if i open the door and the light, they're gonna escape and then we'll lose them forever. at least now they're in the box," ryland added, pacing again. "so then just turn the lights off," carl suggested once again.
ryland, of course, patiently explained that it had to be totally dark in order to get them. "okay, so just put this box in another box." you almost let out a snort, not because carl was giving both of you common sense solutions, but because he looks irritated already but at the same time, his suggestion made total sense. "but where can we find a bigger box?" ryland asked and you finally called out to him. you nodded your head over to the laboratory, signifying that that's the bigger box he needs.
you and carl glanced at each other with knowing looks before turning to ryland. as if by telepathic communication, you three clapped in unison. the two got to work in putting the box inside the lab while you helped in covering it aluminum foil. once everything is done and closed, ryland prepared himself to retrieve the astrophages.
"go ahead and close it, over," the blond said thru the walkie-talkie despite standing directly before carl. you couldn't help but giggle. "i can hear you," carl replied, also thru the walkie-talkie. ryland then turned to you before speaking, "see you on the other side." you playfully shook your head, shoulders bouncing lightly as your giggles continued.
you and carl retreated to the observation area as the two guards closed the lab shut. all the light sources where plugged out— except for the room you're in— as ryland began phase two. "i'm in," you heard him talk through the carl's walkie-talkie. you stood still, arms crossed and focused while your company was pacing side to side. "please report, over," carl spoke, worry evident in his voice.
you patted carl's back and said, "i'm sure he's fine." ryland may be clumsy at times but when it comes to experiments, you knew how careful he is. "there's one!" ryland exclaimed. "there's two!" he added. you and carl are now pumped up as he urged ryland to find the third astrophage. your foot tapped in anticipation.
after a few seconds, ryland finally stated, "got sample three. the three musketeers, the three stooges." both you and carl cheered, thankful that it was a success. "uh-oh." this made the two of you stop. carl immediately asked what it is then ryland asked if you guys were sitting down. carl quickly clarified that the both of you were standing up.
"'cause there's a fourth." you gasped, covering your mouth in surprise as carl got confused. "we're fathers, carl." that statement earned a laugh from you but you were more focused on the new discovery. you snatched the walkie-talkie away from the now-sitting-carl. "this means they're reproducing in venus?" you excitedly asked. "yes, baby!" ryland joyfully shouted. the pet name made your heart skip a beat, but you told yourself he probably said that unconsciously.
once ryland was able to confine the astrophages back to its container, it was time to contact eva. the scientist called her as you and the others outside the box helped to get him out. it was quick, eva demanded the both of you fly out to her ship and so that's where you're all headed. "you know carl, when stratt said she was sending jets. i thought you meant like a pj." ryland couldn't contain his mouth as soon as you arrived at the jet runway.
you were redirected away from ryland as you will be flying in separate jets. the soldiers handed you gears to wear and some pills to reduce the nausea you'll be dealing with after flying. you could only laugh at ryland's awkwardness towards the soldier handling him as you popped a pill in your mouth. you had some female soldiers help you put on the gear and guide you up the jet. "doc," the pilot greeted you with a respectful nod. you greeted back with a smile.
you watched as ryland's jet flew away with a boom. you could only imagine him panicking because he for sure did not take the pill. you felt heat creep up your ears and shook your head, as if it'd take away the giddy feeling. "you ready, doc?" the pilot asked.
tags: yearning, LOTS AND LOTS OF YEARNING, finally some heart to heart talk, alcoohol is involved, ryland carl and reader trio is back, ryland yearns, reader yearns, everyone yearns, stratt lowkey cares about you
YOU'VE LOST count for how long you've stayed in eva's ship. you served as their work doctor, assessing personnel with their mental and physical health problems. at first, you thought this might be what eva was pertaining to when she said they "needed" you. but it still didn't feel right with you. everything was just so normal, and eva stratt and this project was far from normal. workers, employees come and go from your makeshift clinic. you diagnose, you prescribe, and that was supposed to be it... until that day...
you just finished consulting a patient when someone knocked on your door. assuming it was just another patient, you told them to come in. you didn't tear your eyes away from the record you're examining as the doorknob clicked open. "this is dr. ryland grace's friend," eva's voice made you quickly look up, only to see her with a bunch of people, presumably from nasa.
"she helped him determine the astrophage's behavior on why it was going to venus," the dutch continued to introduce you while you stood up abruptly, your chair clattering back. "doctor, this is our three astronauts assigned for the mission and their backups: yao, ilyukhina, and dubois." you smiled at the three and shook their hands. "nice to meet you," you said. from the corner of your eyes, you could see ilyukhina giving you a weird look.
"a medical doctor?" yao questioned with a smirk. "well, she and dr. grace were lab partners back in high school. i believe she excels particularly in chemistry," eva explained, making you blush a bit with how highly she's describing you. "lab partners, huh?" dubois asked, a bit unconvinced with that phrase.
"oh, haha..." you glanced at eva, who was clearly avoiding your pleading gaze. "well... we're exes, but that information would be unnecessary for this conversation," you answered, trying to keep it professional as much as possible. eva's company, especially yao laughed in a teasing manner. yao then said something in his language that you clearly did not understand.
eva stayed silent for a second before responding back in the same language, yao only nodded at this. "we're looking forward in getting to know you more, doctor," he stated, holding his hand out again for a handshake. you hesitated for a second before taking his hand in yours, "me too." you don't know if you mean that reply.
eva continued to explain that they can come to you anytime for a consultation, "she'll also help with the programming of the medical robot that will help you in the hail mary." you whipped your head to eva's direction and whispered, "i will?" "you will," she affirmed. you could only nod in defeat. if eva says you will, you will— that's the rule.
"um, have you met dr. grace?" you asked, to which ilyukhina answered with a 'yes'. "he's real smart," she added. "and handsome too. i can see why the two of you were together at some point." you almost cringed at yao's utterance but hid it behind a smile that was for sure contorting into something more like disgust. after a few small talk with the crew, they finally went on with their way.
you slumped back down on your chair with an exasperated sigh. ryland... you two barely talked to each other ever since that meeting. although, you'd spot him at the cafeteria at times when you had the chance to take a break, you can't seem to get yourself to approach him. he was often surrounded by his fellow scientists, or the guards that he managed to befriend. most of the time you'd just grip your tray until your knuckles go white and chicken out.
you flip your phone up that was resting on your table. right, you never got his number nor his social media account. does he even have one? when you opened your contact list, you were sure flies came out of it with how empty it was. the numbers you have were only those from your late parents, grandmother, and that one friend you made back in med school who you barely talk to anymore.
gosh, when did your life get so miserable? if you continued to resist eva back then, would it change a thing? nope, nothing would change. you'd still be as miserable as you are now. in your thirties, single, no kids, no pets, no friends, no parents. no kids do sound nice though.
on the following days, they held a party in the ship. you knew about it because you overheard it in the cafeteria earlier. you contemplated whether to attend or not, but figured you won't really miss anything if you didn't go. your mind did drift off to ryland though, wondering if he was having fun in that party, if he was... flirting with somebody. you hated that thought and decided to just drown yourself in paperwork.
why should i care if he goes around and have fun with somebody? it's not my business. he's a grown man for fuck's sake! ugh, stupid ry— your inner monologue was cut short when a knock echoed. "come in," you shouted. the door opened and you were surprised to see who it was.
"carl?" "are you not going to the party?" he asked. well, you didn't expect to hear that from someone so stiff and always on guard. "oh, i'm not— parties aren't really my thing..." you replied with a sheepish smile. "stratt ordered to come get you," carl stated. you asked him why and he continued, "stratt's at the party."
your mouth opened agape, surprised that the eva stratt would bother to waste time on leisure when she's always about work, work, work. "she sang sign of the times by harry styles, you know." now that surprised you. you scoff at first, before it turned into a full on laugh, "wow, i guess i did miss out on something big." you sigh, silence enveloping the two of you.
"how about ryland?" you ask, not looking up at carl. you didn't know if you were embarrassed or... afraid to hear the answer. "just come down," was the last thing he said before walking out, leaving your door slightly ajar. just in case you change your mind.
you ran your palms over your face. you don't know if you could face ryland right now... but you still gather your things and walk out the clinic. as you locked the door, your back bumped into someone. "oh my, sorry—" you stop. it was ryland, two smirnoffs in hand.
"were you about to...?" the blond trailed off when he saw your face for the first time in a while. there were prominent bags under your eyes, your lips lack of color, and he was sure you lost some weight. have you been overworking yourself? was eva overworking you? "i was about to go to the party," you started. "i heard stratt sang. i felt... fomo, is that what kids say nowadays?" you tried to humor him.
ryland snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of your voice. "oh, i see. we can still go there if you want," he suggested. you stared at the alcohol in his hands, contemplating if you'd rather be in a crowded place— barely hearing each other— or be alone in an empty room with your ex. the latter it is.
you rotated back to the door and unlocked it. "you coming or not?" you look at ryland, opening the door to welcome him in your clinic. he didn't hesitate and went inside, to which you quickly followed. you sat in your chair like usual while the scientist sat opposite from you. he set the drinks on the table, pushing one bottle towards you.
"thanks." you held the drink up before taking a sip. "no problem. i just noticed... you weren't at the party," ryland explained as he drank his own. you shrugged, fiddling with the bottle in your hand. he noticed your hesitation, just like how he noticed every little thing about you. "why didn't you attend?" he asked. "you didn't get to hear stratt sing," he continued, adding humor to his question. he didn't want you to think he's been thinking about you since your last encounter. that's just how exes are.
"so i've heard," you chuckled. oh, how he missed that sound. like wind chimes clanging in a windy, spring day— no. you two are history, previous lovers, exes, just high school sweethearts. it's been decades since you've seen each other, surely you've moved on from him. especially since you're the one who broke up with him.
awkward silence filled the air as the two of you only chugged your drinks down. you counted the minutes that had passed without anyone speaking up. 3 minutes and 22 seconds. you couldn't take it anymore, the air was suffocating you and it was torture. "long time no see, huh." "i missed you."
you paused, not sure if you heard that right. from who did that come from? surely it wasn't you, right? right, your voice isn't that deep. it must've come from the man in front of you. "what did you say?" you ask, brows furrowed.
ryland didn't answer and started quaffing his smirnoff down, avoiding eye contact. "don't avoid me, ryland. i'm not deaf." you tried to act annoyed as much as possible despite the rising heat in your neck. the scientist could only sigh in defeat, the tips of his ear red as a tomato. you felt the corner of your lips twitch at the sight.
"yeah, i... it's been so long, you know? we were assigned at opposite ends of the ship and stratt was always monitoring me so it was hard to check on you," ryland clarified, eyes darting anywhere but you. that was supposed to be it, but before his brain could stop it, his mouth started moving again. "i rarely saw you at the cafeteria and when i do i just..." he trailed off, looking up to you before his glasses. "... you're already walking away and— i chicken out," the blond finished.
you snicker, "what are you saying?" you can't believe it. ryland had the same thought as you? you were pretty sure he's enjoying his days at the ship with how acquainted he is with everyone. "you seemed to get along with everyone though," you thought out loud. you pursed your lips, mentally cursing for not keeping it to yourself. you also hated how it sounded so... jealous. it was your turn to chug your drink down.
"oh well— it's only for formality, plus they're the ones who talk to me first. you know me, i try hard not to talk to other people or else i'll start rambling their ears off." ryland played with his drink, swirling it around, a fond look displayed on his face. you don't know if it was the alcohol kicking in or just you, but you felt a surge of boldness. "yeah, that's literally how we met," you said, chuckling.
ryland averted his attention to you in surprise. he almost felt happy that you were reminiscing your past with him, but when he saw your half-lidded eyes, he knew it was just the alcohol talking... or was it? he took a sip, the drink leaving a sting on his tongue, one that went straight to his heart. he might have to go to the doctor to get that check. unlucky him, you're the only medical doctor on the ship. oh well, he's just gonna have to wait until he gets back on land.
"you looked so lonely back then..." you didn't stop bringing up the memories. "i only pitied you, did you know that?" your head tilted to the side, staring back at ryland as he intently listened. "so i approached you, then you started talking about atoms and molecules. i thought my eardrums were going numb," you laughed at the memory.
"yeah, yeah. sorry 'bout that," ryland chuckled, the memory clear in his mind like it happened yesterday. then he thought of something, a question. a question that might get him in trouble, hurt, or... fall. he glanced at your figure, your cheek resting on your hand, head bobbing from time to time. you were sleepy.
ryland took a sharp inhale, as if he'd gather enough courage if he inhaled enough o2. fudge it, he thought. "did you ever... regret it? approaching me?" he dropped the bomb. the blond expected a 'yes', but instead received silence. he noticed your head hanging low and decided to take a peek.
your eyes are closed, mouth slightly open. you were sleeping. ryland can only let out a quiet laugh, feeling stupid. he doesn't know what to do with himself and this... feeling. he doesn't know if it's something new or old. he doesn't know what to do with you.
why'd you have to come back now that the world's ending? why not a few years ago? why didn't the stars align to let you two meet again? because you see, ryland is a greedy man. behind his dorky, nerdy nature, he's a very greedy man. a man that can't get enough love from anyone, because you gave it to him no one can ever replicate.
suddenly, a knock made him flinch. ryland didn't notice how close he was leaning over to you and immediately backed up. "need help with her?" it was carl. unbeknownst to the two, he'd been guarding them the whole time, as per eva's order. the blond thought it over, but he can't seem to let himself hand you over to another person.
"nah, i got this," ryland lifted you off the chair effortlessly— bridal style— while carl assisted in cleaning the bottles and locking the door. carl walked ahead of you two, leading ryland to your bedroom. the scientist tried so hard not to stare at your sleeping face, afraid he might get distracted and fall. he wouldn't want to hurt you.
as you three neared your room, ryland felt you stir in your sleep. for a second, he thought you'd wake up and freak out. but what came out of your mouth next got his heart beating a mile. "i don't... regret a thing... ryland," you mumbled, snuggling further into his neck.
dr. ryland grace is but a man. a very greedy man.
end note: can we all collectively agree that ryland definitely yearns hard?
note: hiyaaa!! so... i think posting two fanfics consecutively drained my brain 😭😭 all of a sudden i lost motivation to write (i tink it's cuz uni has been draining me) i decided to just make some headcanons as compensation if ever i disappear for days... sorry also for those who sent requests! i'll come back to yall once the writer's block is gone 😫🙏
tags: bad bunny x southeast asian!fem!reader, headcanons, actress reader, implied height difference, wholesome, fluff, like one suggestive line, mention of harassment (but not in a bad way), benito lovesss you
you first met benito in snl, when you two were paired to host for the show
you weren't that familiar with him, since his music was different from what you usually listen to (let's not get you wrong though, you listen to every kind of music regardless of the language. you just... haven't stumbled upon his yet)
facing him for the first time, you were intimidated. you're used to everyone in hollywood towering you, so tall people don't scare you so much now, but him? his aura was unmatched
you for real thought he was going to be such a serious person, but when you watched his skits... he was actually, effortlessly funny?
that lessened the intimidation you felt and got you into the bad bunny rabbit hole (get it? lol)
you admired him as an artist. his dedication to his art sparked something in you as a southeast asian actress in a foreign country
the two of you weren't that close though, despite doing snl together. the directors seem to not write interactions between you two as much. until your last skit...
they finally decided to make the two of you the main attraction, writing a telenovela-type skit where the two of you act as lovers
when you finally filmed it, especially with the scene where the two of you have to face each other so close, you swear you felt sparks just from staring at him... and lowkey wished he felt it too
after snl, you expected you wouldn't meet him again. you're an actress, he's a musician, the place you two would most likely meet again is an awarding of sort
but that expectation vanished when benito suddenly dm'ed you on instagram. he didn't even follow you so it was quite a shock
it was a simple dm, like a friend asking you out for a drink and you didn't hesitate to accept the offer
the first date was such a success, you guys went out a lot. the two of you had so much more in common than you thought, developing something more than just friends
benito occasionally sends you food when you're out filming and you would do the same when he's locked in his studio, it didn't matter if the two of you were miles away, it was the way you two showed affection with each other
of course, rumors accompanied you two everywhere. fans and celebrity news tabloids spread speculations and theories, but neither of you denied nor confirmed it
and it confused you. you won't deny that you've fallen for benito, but what about him? surely, this isn't just how he is with friends... right?
when the two of you met again, that's when you decided to ask, "what are we?" because you have self-respect, and you're not settling for an unlabeled relationship
benito wasn't as surprised as you expected, he didn't push you away either, rather... he answered you right away by holding your hand and saying it in your language, "i'm in love with you."
you believe in being demure but... to sum it up, that night was filled with passionate kissing and caressing. you're pretty sure your ancestors were rolling in their graves, but come on! it's bad bunny we're talking about here
the two of you finally confirmed it when benito attended the grammys with you as his plus one. fans went crazy and the tabloids ATE it up
you two aren't afraid of showing your love for each other publicly, whether on social media or in person.
if you didn't have any schedules, you would be present at benito's concerts. and when he's free, he'd surprise you on set with your favorite food
benito even did a cameo in a series you filmed. for free. just to kiss you on national television
you cannot tell me that man isn't whipped for you. mind you, his role there was a man harassing you before the main guy saves you from him.
that very scene confirmed the fans' speculations of benito being a possessive boyfriend. he does not LIKE it when you're paired with another man smh
don't worry though, benito knows his boundaries. he's a grown man and he respects you, a lot. he knows you can handle yourself and that what makes him love you more
when it comes to cultures, you both make an effort to learn from each other. understanding the beauty and struggles of both your countries made you guys closer than ever
benito never failed to remind you how you're the best woman he could ever ask for, how he's lucky to have you in his life, and how thankful he is to have someone who understands him
and you would say the same thing to him. telling him that someday, he's the man you want to see when you walk down that aisle
end note: i hope you guys liked this! 🩷 and umm... see you guys when i come back i guess? 👉👈
in which: high school exes meet again to save the world
note: i just watched phm and i AM OBSESSED!! i loved it so much that i need to consume every media of it and i also love LOVE ryland grace (also this is the first time i found ryan gosling attractive and holy hell why haven't i seen it before?!) ALSO GUYS DISCLAIMER: i haven't read the book so of course I'm basing this purely off the movie BUT i'm planning on reading it soon when i have the time!! also, not very accurate science pls bear with me
tags: awkward ryland, i love nerds, ex reunion, pre-tau ceti, stratt recruits reader, im afraid ryland might be a bit ooc, psychiatrist reader, fem reader, reader is smart (and i'm not so idk how i'm gonna make this scientifically sound), fluff, project hail mary is absolute peak, amaze amaze amaze, writing this instead of my research lol
"I'M SORRY but you haven't really answered my question since you dragged me here," you urgently followed eva stratt— from what you know, is the woman in charge of the whole petrova taskforce— as she lead you to god knows where. "what does a psychiatrist has to do with the petrova line?" you repeated the question you have been asking since eva barged into your clinic earlier that day. you were pretty sure she's so annoyed by your constant pestering for answers that she might drop you from the mission and leave you in a ditch.
eva stopped all of a sudden that you almost bumped into her. she turned around with such stiffness as if her every move is calculated mathematically. "we have already discovered that astrophage is a form of life, alien life," she stated but still left your question unanswered. you shrugged your shoulders, confused. "so? i'm a medical doctor, not a scientist," you said matter-of-factly, but the statement somehow left a sting in your taste buds.
eva stared at you for a good minute, the authority radiating off her made you feel small. it's as if she's showing you that she has power over you, with just her presence. “you study beyond just the human mind. you believe that everything that has life has an explanation for its behavior.” you nod with eva’s explanation. “i think every scientist believes that—“ she quickly cuts you off, dismissing your reply, “you made a bold move, a bold discovery on animal behavior that made ethologists jealous of you.” you felt your breath hitch, the statement triggering unpleasant memories you purposely buried into your unconscious mind. the shame, the scrutiny, the rumors were all coming back.
“we need you to figure out why the astrophages are moving to venus,” eva finished, turning around without another word and continued walking. you quickly followed her, almost tripping on your own foot. “i’m pretty sure the molecular biologist you have will figure that out themself,” you stated, voice slightly louder as she walked further ahead of you. your journey came to a halt as you reached the end of the tunnel, a surprise was waiting for you.
eva stepped aside, giving you full view of the person you least expected to see when the world is ending. “ryland?” you breathed. what are the odds that your high school ex would be the scientist that made the groundbreaking discovery that astrophages are a bunch of cells? and what are the odds that you’re the psychiatrist eva recruited to help the man?
ryland on the other hand, was as surprised as you are. the last time he saw you was when you dumped him during graduation, and boy did he bawl his eyes out that night. why did you dump him? he will never know... or he might ask about it later. not that he's still caught up on you it's just— it's one of those memories that stubbornly comes up when he's trying to sleep at night and haunts him.
"i believe the two of you are already acquainted with each other. so i am expecting this project to be done as soon as possible," eva spoke with such sternness as ever. you looked back at her, eyes subtly pleading to not be a part of this. eva raised a brow at you, like a mother trying to get her daughter to stay put with just a glare. you looked down to the floor in defeat. i guess there's no escaping this.
eva left, leaving the both of you with tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. "so..." ryland spoke first, rocking back and forth from his heels to toe like a kid. you finally decided to look up at him, getting a good view of his appearance after decades. blond hair disheveled like a true scientist, glasses crooked like it always did even back then, and his dorky choice of fashion. unbeknownst to you, your staring was starting to fluster him. he was starting to get conscious of himself. did he have something on his face? did an astrophage stick to him without his permission?
"woah, stop staring at me. i might melt," ryland said jokingly, chuckling. you blinked, hiding the embarrassment that he just caught you checking him out staring at him. you could only shake your head in disbelief and invited yourself in his laboratory. you heard him follow suit but you didn't dare look back. "okay, let's start with your findings first," you ordered, fixing your white coat that you didn't get to take off.
"wait, wait, wait." ryland stepped in front of you, his hands up in the air. he looked down at your coat, reading the embroidery located on your upper left chest. it read your name with a "dr." at the beginning, "md" at the end, and "psychiatrist" underneath it. "i didn't know you went to become a medical doctor," he added, brows furrowed in bewilderment. you crossed your arms, huffing, "what's that got to do with all this?"
ryland stared at you, memories of both your high school days flashing by his mind. how you both promised to be scientist, him a molecular biologist and you a chemist. "but... but you've always exceled more in chemistry. that was your whole life," he muttered. you gape at him, surprised he even remembered that part of you. you could only scoff and walk past him, not really sure where to go. "you got time to reminisce when the world is ending, grace?" you sarcastically asked, emphasizing his surname, knowing it annoyed him when you don't address him by his first name.
ryland pursed his lips. you were right, he should save the personal questions for later. "okay then..." the scientist started, leading you to where the astrophages are stored, his hand hovering over the small of your back like it's second nature to him. you winced, not sure what to feel about the gesture. "what's a psychiatrist doing here?" you snapped your head towards him, head tilting upwards since he's taller than you. ryland held his hands up in surrender before saying, "no offense."
you sigh in defeat and answered, "that was my question too at first." ryland backed up a bit after noticing how close he was to you and nodded, signifying that he's listening. "but stratt said you discovered that the astrophage is an alien life form and you needed to know why it's moving to venus," you continued, looking up at him. ryland was looking back at you but you could still see the confusion in his eyes. leaning back to a less clattered table carefully, you stated, "i'm here to help understand why the astrophages are doing what they're doing."
ryland's mouth formed an "o", finally understanding why you're needed there with him. but of course, a scientist is always curious and so he queried once again, "but... you study the human mind and behavior. i'm not following—" knowing this is just going to be followed by never ending follow-up questions, you cut him off. "you know what? it doesn't matter!" you dismissed him and turned towards the screen above the container of the astrophage, trying hard to comprehend the information it contained.
ryland, as if he read your mind, realized something. it may have been decades since you've seen each other and sure, you've changed a lot, but there is one thing that he's sure never disappeared deep within you... and it's your curiosity that goes beyond your field of expertise. while ryland had his sudden epiphany, you were still trying so hard to understand the words and numbers displayed on the screen. it's been so long since you stepped foot into a lab and read equations, and it's giving you cognitive overload.
yes, you admit that what ryland said was true. you're on par with him when it comes to science back in high school. your forte was earth science and chemistry, but the latter was what you really mastered the most. and with how the astrophage information is giving you a headache just shows how rusty you are. you could practically hear the gears in your brain creek and croak, like a machine in need of lubrication.
"you did something, didn't you?" you yelp at ryland's sudden appearance beside you. you quickly held a hand up to your mouth, afraid that the guards assigned to monitor the both of you would kill you at the slightest sound you'd make. "the hell did you do that for?" you hissed at the blond. suddenly, you're overly conscious at how he's leaning too close. "you did!" he shouted, shooting his arms up like he just made a new science discovery. as much as it's good to be working with a familiar face, ryland's antic is starting to piss you off just a little bit.
"ugh, you're so annoying." you pushed ryland away, your whole palm barely covering his face. all of a sudden, you felt something cold and slimy smear your palm that was directly resting on your ex's face. "ryland!" you pulled your hand back immediately, face contorted with disgust. "wipe this off!" you tried to wipe your hands on his shirt but ryland was quick to evade your attack.
the scientist stood there— wide-eyed— probably surprised by his own actions as well as the memories of when the both of you were still together coming back from the depths of his hippocampus. you attempted another attack but ryland backed up quick. you froze, feeling his saliva dry up on your palm... and that's when you saw red. "come here you li'l shit!"
you and ryland where having a marathon inside the laboratory, still careful not to break millions of dollars of equipment, when ryland's walkie-talkie spoke, "stop it, you two." it was carl, one of stratt's bodyguards. he was sitting in the observation room, well, observing you two. as instructed, you and ryland stopped simultaneously, realizing how childish you two probably look right now. you glanced at the other two guards standing by the door, they both shook their heads in disappointment.
you slowly moved your head to face ryland, who was already looking at you. the both of you are huffing and puffing in exhaustion. despite the blond's attempt to suppress his laugh, a snort escaped his mouth. without your will, you felt a laugh bubble up in your throat. after a few seconds of just pure silence and staring, ryland couldn't help it anymore and busted out laughing, to which you followed suit. both your laughs enveloped the seemingly dull box of glass they call a laboratory.
for a moment, it didn't feel like you two are missioned to save the earth. for a moment, it felt like you were back in high school, teasing and playing inside the chemistry lab you both sneaked into. for a moment, it felt like you were back to your old self. and it was so... so refreshing.
this is gonna be one hell of a ride.
end note: i believe ryland would be one of those ragebaiting boyfriends
