Can I request headcanons where Lads men reacting to being alone with Non MC Reader, because MC tricked both of them to hanging with the three of them, to ditch them on the day itself so both of them can go on a date please? But Reader reassured him that he doesn't need to be considerate and stay!
Left on Read, Right into His Arms
pairings: LADs x Non-Mc reader (you)
Genre: Fluff, slight Humour
Writer's note: I literally just received this request earlier in the morning, and I kid you not, I had way too much fun making this. (sit in front of my laptop, crackling like a gremlin in front of my very weirded out, yet equally concerned brother) . Hope you all enjoy. (for bro's sake and sanity)
🍎Caleb
The moment you spot only one cup of tea at the table, your heart drops. No MC. No third seat filled. Just Caleb, serene as ever. Wait... she said she’d be here. She swore she’d drag Caleb along so we could hang out... together.
I check my comm. No response. Then a half-baked reply flashes across the screen: "Smth came up. You’ll be fine ;)"
“She ditched us,” Caleb murmurs, after glancing at his own message thread.
You knew it. She ditched you both. She left you alone with him.
What you don’t realise is that Caleb, though perfectly composed on the outside, is internally recalculating every breath, every sentence, every second. He’s never been good at surprise emotional proximity. 'She left us alone. Just us. And she knew. She knew I wouldn’t be able to keep my cool.'
“You don’t have to stay, Caleb.”
You flinched at how you blurted that, too quickly. “I mean, she tricked both of us. You probably have better things to do. I won’t be offended—”
He sets his tea down with deliberate calm, eyes locking on yours. “You think I’m here because she asked?”
Your breath catches. “Aren’t you?”
His tone softens, but it cuts straight through you: “She invited me, yes. But I stayed because you said you’d be here.”
Oh. Oh no. Oh gods, he knows.
“...You don’t mind?” you manage.
A hint of a smile tugs at his lips. “I don’t mind. Unless you do. But if you don’t... I’d like to finish this tea with you.”
🐦⬛ Sylus
The warehouse is empty. Silent. Only Sylus and you, standing awkwardly in the echo of MC’s absence. She said she needed backup. She said we’d all be together. She knew I wouldn’t say no if Sylus was coming...'
You flick open your comm. Still no reply. One message marked "Read." Nothing more. 'She did this on purpose. She set me up with him. Alone.'
What you don’t know is that Sylus had already figured it out hours ago, and he's been pacing mentally ever since. He won’t admit it, but his heart jumped the second he realised it’d just be the two of you. 'Don’t act too eager. Don’t say something soft. You’re Sylus, not some idiot with heart-eyes. But damn it, she’s looking at you like that again—and now I can't stop thinking about how cute she is when she panics. Careful, or you'll end up saying something stupidly sweet by accident.' “That damn brat,”
Sylus huffs, reading something on his end. “She planned this.”
Your chest tightens. “Y-Yeah. You don’t have to stay, y’know. If she ditched us, you don’t have to suffer through awkward silence with me.”
He turns sharply, lips twitching into a crooked smirk. “You think I’m suffering? That’s adorable. Maybe I’m just here to see how red your face gets when you realise it’s just us.”
You freeze. “I mean-...not suffering suffering. Just. You didn’t ask for this. You probably had something better to do, and she just—”
He steps closer, close enough that you catch the faint scent of metal and spice. “You really think I need her to manipulate me into being near you?”
Your brain bluescreens. “I thought... she was the only reason you...”
Your words trail off.
He chuckles low, almost fondly. “You’ve got no idea how long I’ve waited to be this close to you, without her between us, little Dove.”
You are not breathing. Someone call Dr. Zayne.
❄️ Zayne
It was supposed to be a calm lunch. MC said she needed both of you to “decompress.” She even picked the café.
Zayne and you wait. Five minutes. Ten. Fifteen. You try calling her. No answer. You send a quick text: "Hey? You coming?"
No reply. Then, finally, a notification buzzes. A too-cheerful, clearly pre-written message: "Sorry! Something came up. You two have fun ;)" Wait. Wait, no. She set this up. Oh god. Oh, stars above.
Your heart starts thudding like it’s trying to kick through your ribs. You force a smile and glance at Zayne, who’s just started sipping his tea with unnerving composure.
Realising what was going on, Zayne’s calm face remains as a mask, while on the inside, he’s panicking. Okay, this is not good. What if I say the wrong thing? What if I make a fool of myself? But mostly... what if she thinks I don’t like her? “Hey, um... You don’t have to stay anymore.”
You say a bit too fast, trying not to visibly panic. “She clearly bailed. And this probably wasn’t... what you signed up for.”
Zayne blinks, caught mid-sip, then carefully places the cup down like it’s suddenly fragile. “Do I seem uncomfortable to you?” “No! I mean-...not at all. I just... I didn’t want you to think you had to be here just because-” “Because of her?”
Zayne asks, and it’s so gentle, so awkwardly sincere, you nearly combust.
You nod weakly, fiddling with the edge of your napkin. “Yeah. I mean... I thought maybe you were being polite.”
Zayne opens his mouth. Closes it. Looks to the side. Then finally mutters, “I don’t do things out of politeness. Not when it comes to you.”
Your heart stumbles. He clears his throat like it physically hurt to say that much. “You really thought I needed her here to want to see you?”
Zaynee adds, quieter now as he gazed at you. “I wouldn’t have come if it weren’t for you. Honestly, I almost cancelled when I thought it was just a group thing.”
Your jaw drops. “Wait-...you did?”
He gives the tiniest nod, ears turn the softest shade of pink. “I’m... not great with crowds. Or surprises. But I’m glad it turned out like this.”
“You are?” you breathe. “Only if you are,”
He replies quickly, eyes wide like he just realised he might’ve said too much, and his ears are now tinged a bright red.
The tension shifts... still awkward, still tender, but it’s sweet. And it’s yours.
🎨 Rafayel
The gallery is loud with art but silent between you. Just you and Rafayel. No MC. She told me it’d be a trio visit. Said she wanted me to see what he’s working on. But she’s not here. She’s not even answering my calls.
You check again. Finally, a single text: "This was for you two anyway. Enjoy <3" MC… you didn’t.
What you miss is Rafayel’s subtle shift; he’s been mentally rehearsing lines he never thought he’d need to say. All while acting unfazed. She left me with her. Alone. Don’t panic. You’ve had weeks to practise for this. “Ahh, abandoned again,”
Rafayel sings boredly, spinning lazily on his heel. “She’s clever, I’ll give her that.”
Your throat started to dry out from nervousness. “You don’t have to hang around, y’know. You probably had your own plans-”
“Plans?” Rafayel echoes, mock-offended. “Cutie, I cleared my whole afternoon the moment I heard you’d be here.”
You blink once, then two more times at what you just heard. “But... she was the one who invited-” “To see what I was painting?”
He steps closer, a rare seriousness in his gaze. “I wanted you to see it. Her being here... was just noise.” Okay. Okay. Heart, slow down. “You’re not... upset?” “That she ditched us?”
Rafayel grins as he took you hand in his. “Only because it ruined her chance to watch me fall for you in real time.”
✨ Xavier
You were supposed to stargaze. MC said she had a new telescope attachment. Said it’d be relaxing. Said you could all use the quiet.
But only one blanket’s here. One figure is seated on the hill with you. Xavier.
You check your comm. One reply: "He needs this. You do too. Trust me."
Then radio silence. She did this on purpose.
Xavier sits calm and still, but beneath the surface, his mind is already spiralling. What if I say the wrong thing? What if she leaves? I can't lose this moment. Not when it's finally just us. “You don’t have to stay.”
You murmur, fumbling with the hem of your baggy, oversized sweater. “It’s fine. You didn’t sign up for this.”
Xavier doesn’t look away from the sky as he replies. “Why would I leave?” “Because it’s just me now. And you don’t owe me-”
He finally turns to look at you. “I don’t stay out of obligation. I stayed because you were going to be here.”
The silence between you stretches. Soft. Fragile. “I thought... You only ever wanted peace. Quiet.” “And I find that in you. She knew it. That’s why she didn't come along.”
You’re not sure what’s brighter, the stars or the feeling blooming in your chest.