a friend to call my own
“ in which michael finds someone (y/n) who accepts him for who he is. ”
pairing: strangers to friends, michael jackson x fem!reader, self-insert
warnings/disclaimers: tooth rotting fluff, michael calls reader pretty, wholesome content ahead :)
word count: 3.5k
authors note: i just realized i was using “she/her throughout the fic instead of “you”, so ill fix it because there’s more where that came from..
—
michael sat in the back of a discreet, dark sedan, staring out the window with his chin resting in his palm. he was searching. for the past few weeks, the melodies in his head had been fleeting, and he’d taken to riding around the less crowded parts of the city just looking for a spark, a rhythm, or an image that could anchor the new sounds vibrating in his chest. he was already at the top of the world, a multimillionaire whose name was on everyone's lips, but that kind of isolation was heavy. it was lonely up there.
then, he saw her.
michael’s breath caught slightly, his large, round eyes widening as he locked his gaze on a scene unfolding a few hundred yards away. a young woman, looking to be in her early twenties, was slowly backing away from a sleek town car. she was the definition of effortless beauty, completely fresh-faced with a voluminous, messy blowout of light brown hair that caught the afternoon light. she wore a butter yellow raglan top that contrasted gorgeously against her rich skin, paired with baggy, low-rise jean shorts and scuffed sneakers.
she was laughing—a clear, musical sound that michael could practically hear through the glass. she was backing away from an older, exhausted-looking man in a sharp suit who was gesturing desperately toward the car. it was clear he was her butler, someone who had likely put up with her antics for twenty years, trying his best to keep them on schedule for a dinner they were clearly running late for.
but she was in her own world, silly and completely unbothered by the time. with a sudden, feline grace that hinted at serious athletic training, she turned and agilely scrambled up the thick branches of a nearby oak tree. her long, slender brown legs moved with a delicate precision that immediately drew michael's eye. he couldn't help but stare at the lines of her legs; there was a striking elegance to her, even while doing something so goofy.
"look at her, bill," michael murmured, his voice soft and laced with genuine wonder. a gorgeous, dimpled smile broke across his face, his sculpted features softening completely. "she’s like a bird. just completely free."
bill bray looked through the rearview mirror, a fond but tired expression on his face. "we should probably keep moving, son."
"no, no, pull over," michael insisted, his heart beating a little faster. he wanted to just hop out, but the reality of his life meant he couldn't just walk into a field without causing a scene, even if it seemed abandoned. "go ask for her number for me. please?"
bill sighed, but there was no real heat in it. he put the car in park and stepped out, walking across the grass toward the tree where the young woman was currently perched on a sturdy branch, looking down at her frantic butler with a sweet, teasing grin.
as bill approached, the butler immediately snapped into a protective stance. bill explained the situation as delicately as possible, stating that his boss was in the car and would love to get the young lady's phone number.
the butler scoffed, crossing his arms. "sir, i am in no mood for games today. we are already late, and i highly doubt whoever is in that tint cares about a girl in a tree. please move along."
even y/n, looking down from her branch, let out a skeptical chuckle. being the daughter of a major show business mogul, she had grown up around the industry. she knew every line, every trick, and every type of character in hollywood. she figured it was just some wealthy guy looking for eye candy.
bill huffed, turning on his heel. "fine. stay right there."
he walked back to the sedan and tapped on the glass. michael, who had been watching the interaction with an amused, boyish grin, didn't hesitate. he decided he didn't care about the risks. he needed to speak to her.
michael stepped out of the vehicle, adjusting the collar of his casual but impeccably sharp navy blue jacket. he stood at a lean, muscular five-foot-nine, his deep brown skin radiant under the fading sun. as he walked across the field, a melodic, quiet chuckle escaped his lips, carrying softly over the evening breeze.
when y/n and her butler turned to see who was actually approaching, the skepticism vanished instantly. the butler's jaw dropped slightly, and y/n nearly lost her balance on the branch. there stood the man who had quite literally taken the entire world by storm, looking incredibly handsome and entirely normal in the middle of a random field in Los Angeles.
"hi," michael said softly, his voice gentle and polite as he reached the base of the tree. he looked up at y/n, his large eyes shimmering with warmth.
"i'm michael." he goes with a sheepish smile, playfully biting his lower lip.
y/n, suddenly realizing how ridiculous she must look perched in a tree in front of a global superstar, carefully swung her legs down and dropped to the grass with a feather-light landing. up close, michael noticed the twinkle her eyes, mixed with a deep-seated shyness that made her instantly endearing.
"i'm y/n," she said, offering a small, sweet smile, though her inner silly nature couldn't quite hide itself. "and this is albert. he's trying to kidnap me for a dinner party."
albert cleared his throat, suddenly very flustered. "mr. jackson. a pleasure. and i am simply trying to keep us on schedule."
michael laughed, a rich, genuine sound that made y/n's stomach do a slight flip. he looked her up and down, his eyes lingering just a moment too long on her slender legs before meeting her gaze again. he found her absolutely adorable. beneath the casual tomboy exterior, there was a deeply considerate, delicate energy about her that captivated him.
"i was just riding around looking for some inspiration for my music," michael explained, his tone laced with a quiet, magnetic confidence that contrasted beautifully with his soft-spoken demeanor.
"and then i saw you. you just looked so beautiful, and so happy. i really wanted to know who you were. could i maybe... have your number?"
y/n blinked, a little starstruck despite her pedigree. she had met kings, queens, and oscar winners through her father, but there was an undeniable magnetism to michael. he felt entirely different—complex, fiercely talented, yet carrying a gentle, pure-hearted spirit that felt entirely rare in their world. and yet, even with his obvious charm, y/n was a little detached from the gravity of the moment. she assumed he was just being an incredibly sweet, polite gentleman who wanted to be friends.
"sure," she said softly, a genuine smile breaking across her face as albert quickly produced a pen and a piece of paper from his pocket, his previous annoyance entirely forgotten.
y/n jotted down her number and handed it to michael. their fingers brushed for a brief second, a sudden spark of warmth passing between them.
"thank you, y/n," michael murmured, tucking the paper safely into his jacket pocket. his smile was bright enough to rival the sunset. "i'll call you tonight if you’re available. don't be late for your dinner."
"i'll try and i’ll look forward to talking to you," she replied, stepping back toward the town car with a playful wave.
as michael walked back to his car, a newfound rhythm finally started to form in his head. for the first time in a long time, the heavy loneliness at the top felt a little lighter, all because of a girl in a yellow shirt who liked to climb trees.
—
the next evening at hayvenhurst, the air was cool and still. inside the sprawling enclave, michael was pacing the floor of his room, his eyes darting toward the telephone every few seconds. he had been eagerly awaiting this all day. last night had been far too brief; they hadn’t been able to talk much because of her dinner plans, and his own hectic schedule had kept him occupied for most of the day. but now, the evening was his.
on the nightstand sat a tall glass of orange juice, condensation slowly pooling at the base. michael stopped pacing the exact moment the phone finally came to life, its loud ring echoing in the quiet space.
he answered immediately, picking up the receiver before the first ring could even finish.
"hello?" he said, his voice dropping into that familiar, sweet shyness, a soft smile already forming on his face.
"hi, michael," her voice came through the wire, clear and warm. "it's y/n."
"hi!" he chirped, a melody of relief in his tone. he settled onto the edge of his bed, cradling the receiver close. "i'm so glad you called. let me ask you—am i still pronouncing your name correctly? y/n?" his smile could be heard in his tone.
"yes, you got it perfectly," she giggled.
"good," michael murmured, his voice softening into something genuinely tender. "it's just a beautiful name. it sounds like a song when you say it."
there was a brief, endearing silence on her end, her natural shyness peeking through, but the comfort level between them established itself almost instantly. they began talking about any and everything. because they were still practically strangers, they kept things to a comfortable, surface-level rhythm, but the flow was entirely effortless.
they talked about their favorite classic films, sharing a mutual love for old hollywood magic. they drifted into art, and then into philosophy, where michael shared a few perspectives on human nature and creativity that y/n hadn't heard before, revealing the sharp, deeply intelligent mind behind his gentle persona. they spoke casually about the unique experience of navigating the industry while being black in hollywood, a reality they both understood from very different angles. michael eagerly told her all about his pets, his eyes lighting up as he described the wonders of his private zoo, while y/n shared her own hobbies and life working behind the scenes in the industry.
for michael, the relief was overwhelming. it didn't feel like he was being interviewed. y/n didn't ask a single bizarre question about his appearance, his rumors, or the things the press loved to obsess over. she didn't treat him like a trophy or a phenomenon, nor did she slide in the transactional inquiries that so-called friends usually did. she just treated him like a person.
at one point, while discussing a comedy film, y/n naturally slipped into a ridiculous, over-the-top australian accent to quote a line. michael let out a loud, joyous gasp. he immediately matched her energy, firing back with a funny voice impression of his own. they spent the next ten minutes trading random accents and silly voices, y/n's goofy, playful nature locking perfectly with michael's inner child.
"you have to tell me your absolute favorite place to go," michael said, shifting the phone to his other ear, completely enthralled.
"oh, that's easy," y/n said without hesitation. "theme parks. specifically, disneyland or universal. i could spend days there."
michael practically beamed, his dimples cutting deep into his cheeks.
"no way! me too! i love disneyland so much. we have to go together. i promise you, we are going to go and ride everything."
"it's a deal," she replied smoothly.
whenever a moment of silence threatened to creep in, michael quickly intercepted it. he wouldn't allow the conversation to lag for even a second, intentionally throwing out new questions and extending the topics just to keep her on the line. he didn't want her to hang up. the truth was, the loneliness was a heavy, suffocating thing. growing up, nobody had really understood him, and the isolation had followed him into adulthood. he used to walk around his neighborhood, just hoping and praying he would run into someone normal to talk to, someone who would see him.
now, he was clicking with someone so naturally. his glass of orange juice was long gone, the ice melted completely, but he hadn't even noticed. he was entirely consumed by the warmth of her voice. y/n didn't mind the length of the call at all, though her father would question why the bill is so high this month; she was completely content, captivated by how easy it was to talk to him.
eventually, the clock ticked way past midnight. y/n let out a soft yawn that she tried to muffle.
"michael, as much as i want to keep talking, i have work tomorrow morning. i should probably let you go."
michael felt a slight pang of disappointment, but he remained the ultimate gentleman. "oh, of course. you need your rest. thank you so much for calling me, y/n. this was really, really special."
"it was," she agreed softly, her tone sweet and a little sleepy. "goodnight, michael."
"goodnight," he whispered.
they both hung up reluctantly. long after the line went dead, the quiet of their respective rooms returned, but the loneliness was gone. as y/n tucked herself under her covers, she couldn't stop replaying his airy laugh, the curve of his beautiful smile, and the ease of his jokes in her head, thinking about how incredibly sweet he was. and across the city at hayvenhurst, michael lay back against his pillows with a wide, bright smile, staring at the ceiling and repeating her name to himself, finally feeling a genuine sense of companionship breaking through the dark.
—
a week later, the promise was kept. michael arranged for them to visit disneyland after hours, ensuring the entire park was emptied out just for the two of them so they could walk around without the weight of the world on their shoulders. and boy, did they stay for hours.
under the twinkling park lights, the space felt completely magical. they ran around like two kids set loose in a dream, riding almost every single attraction from fantasyland to tomorrowland. michael was in his absolute element, his usual guarded nature melting away entirely. at one of the boardwalk games, his competitive but playful side came out, and after a few tries, he successfully won her a giant, fluffy teddy bear that was nearly as big as she was. y/n laughed, wrapping her slender arms around the massive prize as michael beamed, his dimples flashing under the neon signs. they walked through the park eating hot popcorn and themed snacks, goofing off and trading silly impressions between rides, sharing a wholesome and completely genuine time together.
the highlight of the night came when they boarded the giant ferris wheel. as the ride lifted them high into the dark california sky, offering a breathtaking view of the illuminated park below, michael settled into the seat across from her. the quiet intimacy of the moment made him a little nervous, but the melody in his chest took over. softly, he began to serenade her, his voice pure, smooth, and breathtakingly beautiful in the enclosed space.
y/n’s eyes widened, completely captivated, but michael quickly gave her a shy, endearing smile.
"look out the window, y/n," he murmured softly, a bit flustered. "don't look in my eyes, pretty. i get too shy."
it was a beautiful paradox—on stage in front of millions, he transformed into a fearless, dominant force of nature, but sitting right here in front of her, he was just a sweet and gentle man. y/n happily complied, her cheeks a bright shade of red at his compliment, turning her head to look at the glittering lights of anaheim while his gorgeous voice wrapped around her like a warm blanket.
toward the very end of the night, as they strolled toward their final ride after talking about a million random things, michael suddenly caught her by surprise. with a burst of playful energy, he spun her around and easily hoisted her up onto his back. y/n gasped and then giggled, wrapping her arms around his broad and muscular shoulders as he gave her a piggyback ride through the empty plaza. his large, rough hands easily engulfed her thighs.
"thank you so much for coming out with me tonight. it was magic," michael began softly as he walked, his voice filled with a deep, raw gratitude.
"my brothers... they don't really do things like this with me anymore. it means a lot." y/n squeezed his shoulders gently, realizing just how much he cherished these simple, unbothered moments of joy.
after a tender, lingering hug goodbye at the end of the night, y/n finally arrived back at her shared mansion, her heart still floating somewhere above the clouds. but the fairytale atmosphere shattered the moment she stepped into the grand foyer.
her father, the formidable show business mogul, was standing by the study door, his expression deeply displeased. he knew exactly who she had been out with, and he knew the kind of ridiculous conversations that followed michael jackson everywhere he went.
"y/n, we need to talk," her father said, his voice heavy with authority.
"i am not pleased about you being out with someone of his profile. the media attention alone is a dangerous game, and our family doesn't need that kind of scrutiny."
y/n offered a calm, reassuring smile, trying to diffuse his tension.
"dad, please don't worry. we barely even know each other. we're just acquaintances, really. we're just building a nice friendship."
her father sighed, stepping closer and looking at her with a protective, worldly seriousness.
"acquaintances or not, y/n, you need to be careful. he is a king in this industry, but he is still a man at the end of the day—and a very powerful one. don't lose your footing."
all she could do was nod politely to appease him, but as she walked away, her father's heavy warnings completely faded into the background. she couldn't bring herself to worry about power dynamics or hollywood politics. all she could think about was how incredibly happy she had been today, the memory of michael's melodic laughter still echoing in her ears.
albert met her at the top of the stairs, a fond, knowing smile on his tired face as he gently took the giant teddy bear from her arms and draped her coat over his arm. as y/n headed toward her room to freshen up for dinner, she felt lighter than she had in a very long time.
—
michael lay stretched out across his large bed, his lean frame sinking into the soft mattress. cradled gently against his chest was bubbles, his young chimpanzee, who was already starting to doze off, letting out soft, contented huffs as michael idly stroked the back of his furry head.
for a long time, michael just stared up at the high ceiling, watching the faint shadows dance in the moonlight filtering through the window. his mind was still completely replaying the entire night—the wind rushing past them on the rollercoasters, the delicate sound of her laughter, and the way her teased hair bounced as she hopped down from the ride platforms.
"bubbles, you should have seen her today," michael whispered into the quiet room, his voice a soft, rhythmic murmur.
"she’s so special. she’s not like anyone else i’ve ever met in this town."
bubbles shifted slightly, blinking up at him with sleepy eyes, as if listening intently.
michael’s dimpled smile returned, a warm, genuine expression that rarely made an appearance when the cameras were rolling.
"she doesn't look at me like i'm a machine, or some kind of prize. she just looks right at me. we went on the ferris wheel, and i sang to her... and she actually listened. she didn't try to push or pry into things. she's just so sweet, bubbles. a little goofy, too. she does these crazy voices that make me laugh so hard."
he paused, his fingers gently combing through the chimpanzee's fur as his expression turned slightly pensive. the reality of his life always had a way of creeping back in. he had been burned so many times by people who claimed to care about him, only to find out they wanted a piece of his fame, his money, or his name. trust was the rarest commodity in his world.
"i really hope i can trust her," michael admitted softly to the empty room, a flicker of his guarded, protective side showing through the vulnerability.
"i want to. it's so hard to find real friends. people who just want to play, and eat popcorn, and let loose for a little while."
he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and letting the lingering happiness of the day wash over the caution. there was a pure, delicate intuition inside of him that rarely steered him wrong when it came to reading people’s hearts. y/n’s energy was clean. she was the daughter of a mogul, someone who already knew the glitter of hollywood and wasn't blinded by it. she was just a beautiful, intelligent woman who wasn't afraid to climb trees and sit in the grass with him.
"i have a feeling about her," michael whispered, opening his eyes again to look up at the ceiling, his heart feeling lighter and more hopeful than it had in years.
"i think she's going to be a really good friend. a real one to call my own."
with that comforting thought settling deep into his chest, michael adjusted bubbles against his shoulder, pulled the covers up, and finally drifted off to sleep, a peaceful smile resting on his face as he dreamed of the next time he would get to hear her voice.