Summary: In your final moments, you tell Jake you love him in the only way you can… through Maverick.
Author’s Note: Of course, the one time I can write a drabble, and it’s nothing but pain. 😂
Warnings: Angst. Major Character Death (not Jake). Reader Death. I guess you could say this ends in a cliffhanger? But not really, because I have no plans of continuing it. Author doesn’t know technical terminology… she guesses as she goes along. Unedited (normally I edit my writing mercilessly and I just… didn’t feel like doing that today—might regret this decision later).
Word Count: 103
———————————————————————————
“Eject, damnit!”
Maverick’s voice shouted in your headset. Smoke curled up from the right wing of the fighter jet as you spiralled, engines out and plummeting. The ejection handle bit into your gloves, your desperate pulls doing nothing to dislodge it.
Through the window, the ground rapidly approached, breakneck speeds spelling your demise.
You had five seconds. Four. Three.
“Mav, tell him I love him!”
Two.
Jake’s face appeared in your mind’s eye, cocky grin rising up out of the dirt. Warm eyes, crinkled and teasing. You closed your own, savouring the final image, and prayed he wouldn’t take it too hard.
Ticking time bomb - Jake Seresin Imagine x bestie reader
A/N: okay so you guys loved protective Jake in the first blurb, so here’s some more of him. This can be a stand alone or read as part 2 to Her protector
Warnings: cursing, verbal abuse, mentions of physical abuse, and Jake being protective again
The next week following the family day cookout were beyond tense in your household. You lived with your current boyfriend Nathan, and the fighting the two of you were doing just kept getting worse and worse. You were sleeping on the couch almost every night, you were crying yourself to sleep, and you were in a hole of despair. You had barely seen Jake since he stood up for you at the cookout, Nathan making sure he stayed far away from you. It absolutely broke your heart, but you felt trapped with absolutely no other choice.
It was a typical Saturday night, Nathan was out with his squad and you were at home watching a movie by yourself. You were curled up on the couch watching the notebook when he stumbled through the front door drunk as can be. “Hey, baby..” he started, trying to lean against the wall. “I saw your piece of shit ex best friend tonight. You’ll be happy to know he seems totally fine without you.” The words stung as you sat up, tears rolling down your cheeks. They couldn’t be true, could they? There’s no way Jake would just not care about you like that.
“You’re lying.” The words were a whisper that barely registered, your mind questioning if you even asked the words out loud. “I’m not. He is completely fine without you.” He had a shit eating grin on his face that absolutely broke you. You let out a shaky breath and unlocked your phone, a picture of you on Jake’s back instantly coming up. You two were in high school in this picture. Jake had just got done playing in a championship game and they had won and his mom had wanted a picture of the two of you to celebrate. You had missed school for two whole days to watch him play and the two of you had the biggest grins on your faces. He couldn’t be right. There’s no way.
You typed up a text to Jake asking how he could care so little about you and the response was clearly him being flabbergasted. What on earth are you talking about?
That sealed your fate with Nathan. Him, lying to your face about your friendship with Jake. “Fuck you.” That was all you said as you walked out to your car, tears rolling down your cheeks. It has been bad this week, but this was the lowest point. You felt so isolated and alone. Your phone rang repeatedly with calls from Jake, all of them going unanswered as you sat in your car numb and disconnected. What even was going on anymore?
You just sat in your car in the driveway , watching the rain pour down your windshield. It was like Mother Nature was in tune with your emotions and she was playing with the weather. You felt your phone vibrate again and you checked it, seeing Jake’s name pop up from a text message. Fuck it, I’m coming over.
And with that, you knew you had no choice in the matter. You sat for what felt like seconds, but you knew it was longer than that. You saw Jake’s headlights come into view and you numbly opened your door, seeing the boy immediately come into view. “Oh, Peach..” his voice was quiet, a tone only you got to see. He looked you over quietly, making sure there wasn’t a single scratch on you. His nostrils were flaring with anger as he took you by the hand and carefully helped you out of your car and into his truck.
No words were shared as you laid your head against the window, your eyes watching as the lights of the town blurred by. You closed your eyes and managed to try and keep your breath steady and normal.
Jake kept his eyes going from the road to you, his chest aching in a massive way. This was his fault. He introduced you to Nathan. It had ruined his entire plan for that night at the party. He had his friends in on it and he was going to have them pick you two for seven minutes in heaven and he was going to confess his feelings to you in the closet, but of course, Nathan took you over that night. He let out an audible sigh that got your attention, eyes shifting over to his as he stopped at a stop light. “He said you didn’t care about me anymore.” Your voice was quiet, barely a whisper that broke the quiet tension between the two of you. The blonde boy scoffed, looking at you incredulously, “Please. You are one of the only people in the world I care about besides my mom and sisters.” You felt a blush rise up in your cheeks as you looked down at your lap. You knew it was true.
“I know,” The words were a bit stronger than your last ones, a small smile gracing your lips as the two of you pulled into the driveway of the house that Jake shared with Bradley, the bronco parked in the other slot in the driveway. “Can we watch the losers?” It was your favorite movie and it would cheer you up instantly. He agreed and the two of you made your way into the house. You curled up on the couch under a blanket next to Jake.
You were watching the movie one second and then the next Jake felt a weight on his arm and you were knocked out. He chuckled quietly and attempted to keep watching the movie until he eventually passed out on the couch next to you.
The two of you slept like that for a few hours until you heard raised voices and you stirred from your sleep slowly. “She’s not here, just leave.” That was Bradley’s voice. “Seriously, man. Get the fuck out.” That was Jake’s voice. “I know she’s here, I saw your truck in my driveway Fiona hit.” And there was Nathan. You let out a shaky breath as you finally came too and stood up from the couch, it squeaking quietly under you.
“Baby, I know you’re in there.” You could hear Nathan and he sounded like the man you fell in love with, your heart shattered. “Please come home. I’ve been up worried sick about you all night.” You could feel your throat constricting and you could feel Bradley and Jake both looking at you. You looked down at the floor, thinking.
You could see Jake wanted to approach you. He wanted to tell you to stay, but he didn’t. It wasn’t his place. “Please baby girl, I’ll stop drinking for you, I promise.” And those were the words that did it, you took a few steps forward and moved between the two aviators and into Nathan’s waiting embrace. He kissed your forehead, apologizing profusely. You could visibly see Jake’s heart break as the two of you walked away, Nathan promising to never hurt you again.
However, little did you and Jake know, that you would show up at his house just days later black and blue and needing him more than ever.
Summary: Think I like you best when you're just with me and no one else.
Your friendship with Bradley was questionable after you both decided to become friends with benefits. What happens when you realize you've fallen in love with him?
Warnings: Angst, fluff, a teeny amount of smut.
Word count: 2409 words
K.
The dynamic between yours and Rooster’s friendship was confusing to most people, including yourself. You were his best friend, and he was yours.
Initially, that’s all it was, and you were happy with that. But, somewhere over the last two years you’ve both spent together back at TOPGUN, the line between friends and lovers became blurred after a particularly heavy night of drinking whilst celebrating a successful mission with the squad at the Hard Deck. At the time, you and Rooster had both agreed that it was a one-time thing that wouldn’t change your friendship, because it didn’t mean anything.
And how wrong you both were.
Because suddenly, its 3am and you’re pulling Rooster into your apartment in a heated kiss, the buzz from the alcohol you’ve both consumed burning through your veins as you’re undressing each other in a mixture of lust and urgency, inevitably falling into bed with one another.
And you love it. The praises he’s mumbling against your neck in between placing wet, hot kisses over your pulse point as you come undone on his fingers, gripping his hair as if your life depended on it. Or the way he cradles your face in his hands and whispers about ‘how fucking perfect you are, his girl taking his cock so well’. But soon after you’ve both collapsed, fucked out from the night’s activities, you find yourselves sharing meaningless pillow talk about a future that doesn’t exist, looking at each other through eyes so intimate and familiar. Eyes that felt like home.
But somewhere along the line you fell, hard and fast at the thought of what you could be and all the things you wanted to last with him. In the moments, you were fast for him, and in all of the nights you spent together, tangled in the sheets, covered in sweat, and panting heavily, you gave him everything. It felt like every inch of your body was his, every breath of your soul belonged to him, and every beat of your heart was made for him. Making love soon became falling in love.
The hardest part of suffering the consequences of this viscous cycle of fucking and immediately pretending nothing had ever happened was that whilst you wanted all of him, all he wanted was your body. Nothing more, nothing less. But no amount of warning in the world could have prepared you for that familiar nauseous feeling in your stomach that you’d get waking up in the morning alone.
You often find yourself thinking about the way you feel when his eyes look directly into yours as he calls you baby, especial to his somatic pleasure only, and you desperately try to hold him close, to savour the way his body feels against your own. But it makes you wonder if you’re enough for him, or if your sole purpose is to make him cum. He’s not yours to keep and that makes you feel the guilt of breaking your rule. No feelings. This doesn’t change anything, We’re still friends. Best friends. But somewhere along the way, boundaries washed down the drain and the memories you shared began to slip away and fade into nothing.
And that’s how you’ve ended up sat in your car, in the parking lot of the Hard Deck gripping the steering wheel so tightly you have borderline cramp in your hands, trying your hardest to catch your breath whilst hot tears carve a ruthless stinging sensation down your cheeks.
“You’re jealous.” Phoenix said, patting you on the back and handing you a beer. She followed your eyes to where you were burning holes through the back of Rooster’s head whilst he was chatting to one of the girls who worked behind the bar.
“What are you talking about? I am not.” You defended yourself, but not once did your eyes move, still trained into a scowl, forehead aching from the frown that’s been etched into your features for the last 20 minutes.
“Look, I’m not judging you, Aries, but I really think you should tell him how you feel because its obvious there’s something going on between you two.” She huffed, wishing one of you would just bite the bullet and admit your feelings for each other. She knew there was something going on with You and Rooster, everyone did, they could see the mutual pining, the tiptoeing around one another. Everyone felt like they were watching a continuous game of catch and release – maybe, one day, you could both find the courage to tell each other how you really feel about each other.
“I don’t think I’m in the mood to have my feelings hurt anymore tonight, Nix.” You mumbled, downing your beer, and turning to face her. “He’s my best friend, and if that’s all he’ll ever be then I’m happy with that. In don’t want to lose him over feelings I’ll eventually get over.” About to turn back to the bar, ready to order another drink and continue to drown your sorrows pathetically for the rest of the night, the bile that rose up in your throat and the tears prickling the corners of your eyes at the sight of Rooster with his arm around said girl was enough of a sign to tell you it was time to go home.
“Actually, I think I’m going to head home for the night. I’ll see you tomorrow.” You announced quickly before grabbing your things and rushing out the door, heading straight for your car.
“Wait! Don’t leave, this isn’t worth it. Trust me you just need to talk to him.” She called after you, but you never looked back.
It was in that moment that Phoenix immediately saw red, she’d had enough, and, in all honesty, the squad had placed a $50 bet on who was going to make the move first. And not only did she want her money, but she also wanted to spite Hangman who had been droning on for months about how “Roosters to pussy to admit how he feels.” So, before her brain could catch up to her actions, her legs carried her over to where Rooster was now stood on his own at the bar after his date for the night had head home.
“Hey Nix, where did Aries go? –“
“Shut up Bradshaw, whatever is going on between you and Aries, you need to talk about it. You need to tell her how you feel.”
“I really don’t feel like getting rejected tonight, Phoenix.”
“Funny, she said a similar thing to me, right before she left because you were too focused on blondie to notice she was even here.”
In that moment, Bradley new he’d fucked up, bad.
You couldn’t be mad; Rooster was never yours to begin with and he deserved to have fun – she was a pretty girl, and she wasn’t doing anything wrong. It was all innocent enough. But you couldn’t help but wish you were her with his arm around you laughing and having a good time. And you felt more shame than anything that you’d even put yourself in this position in the first place, that you’d ever let yourself get this hurt over something you could have controlled in the first place.
The thing is, Rooster often spent his nights wondering what it would be like to have a future with you in it as more than just his best friend. He wanted you and only you, but he’d never found the right time or the right words to say. So, after a night well spent with you, he’d often find that as much as he wanted it, sleep never came. And as you lie there, bathed in the dim glow of the moon, eyes closed peacefully, and chest rising and falling at a steady pace, he would take the time to admire just how beautiful you looked. And in doing so, couldn’t help the ache in his chest when he realised just how badly he wanted to call you his. You’re completely unaware of your surrounding and he laughs to himself as he watches your body curl into him, and your hand placed on his chest twitch every so often. Soon after, one-night blends into another day and he’s sure to smooth your hair over and place a kiss to your forehead, before gathering his things and leaving quietly, making sure to lock your door on the way out.
He didn’t think you’d ever feel the same way, but now that you’ve left the bar and he knows you’re upset with him, he feels all the more disappointed in himself for not telling you how he’s felt since he laid eyes on you on your first day back at TOPGUN. Instead, he thought that if sleeping with you was the only way he could be as close to you intimately enough to feel like you were his and he was yours, then maybe it would make him feel better.
You eventually wiped your eyes, and the drive home was a silent one filled with the frequent sounds of your sniffling. Parking your car and heading into your apartment, you slumped down on your bed and continued to cry until you physically couldn’t cry any longer. Then you looked in the mirror at your now ruined makeup. “Your pathetic, stop crying, this is your own fault.”
Meanwhile, Rooster was already in the Bronco, driving as fast as he could to your apartment in a desperate attempt to make sure you were okay and hopefully tell you how he felt. Because in that moment, where Phoenix handed his ass to him earlier on in the night, he knew that nothing, even potential rejection, could upset him more than knowing he was the one to hurt you tonight.
“Fuck Aries, pick up the phone, please.”
You were about to grab a glass of water before heading to bed when a loud bang on the door startled you and you nearly dropped the glass in your hand. Placing it down on the counter, you huffed and opened your door to reveal a very sympathetic looking pilot staring right back at you. Stuck in two minds about slamming the door in his face or moving to let him in, you chose the latter option and locked your door behind you.
“Can we talk?” Rooster mumbled, leaning against your kitchen counter, heart breaking at the sight of puffy eyes and a tear-stained face looking up at him.
“Sure.” You said, letting out a breath you didn’t realise you were holding.
You gestured to your sofa and sat down at other ends. An awkward silence filled the room, and you wished the ground would swallow you whole as you realised you were sat there in one of his old UVA shirts that you’d stolen from him a while back. Even though he’d seen every inch of your naked body, you felt too exposed and the chill coming in from your open window sent a sheen of goosebumps over the exposed skin of your legs.
“Phoenix told me you left, and I wanted to make sure you were okay.” Rooster mumbled.
“You could’ve called me for that, you didn’t have to come all the way here.” You bit back, shocked at your sudden outburst.
“I did Aries, you didn’t answer.” He said, taking a in a deep breath, rubbing his hands over his face.
You moved to grab your phone from you purse that you’d thrown onto your coffee table in a fit of frustration once you’d arrived home and saw that you did, in fact, have about 20 missed calls from him.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t looking at my phone. Is there anything else you wanted to say because I’m really tired and just want to go to bed.” You sighed; already done with the conversation you’d hoped would turn out differently.
You weren’t really sure what happened next, but all you could feel was Roosters lips on yours. He pulled you into his lap, stroking your sides as you relaxed into the kiss – your body was on fire, melting against his own as you wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him in further. But before anything could progress, he was gripping at your sides and pulling you off of him.
“Aries” he panted, “This isn’t what I’ve come here for. And that’s when the tears immediately sprang back to your eyes.
“What have you come here for then Bradley? Because every week you’re here and not just to talk. I don’t know what the hell you want from me anymore and I can’t do this!” And that’s when the floodgates well and truly opened. “One moment you want me and the next you’re with someone else. All of this has been a mistake. I feel like I’ve lost my best friend.” You whimpered.
“No, no Aries, I’ve come here because I love you! I fucking adore you and I hurt you. I hurt you by not telling you how I felt, and I let you leave tonight because I was too busy trying to find yet another distraction because there’s no way I was going to ruin our friendship if you don’t feel the same way. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for hurting you, and I’m sorry that it took Phoenix twisting my balls about it before I said anything. If you think I’d ever want anyone else when I have you then I’ve failed in showing you how much you mean to me.” He sighed frustratedly, reaching out to take your hands in his own.
“I love you too. I didn’t think you felt the same way, I didn’t want to tell you and ruin our friendship” You whispered as he pulled you back into his lap and placed a tender kiss on the top of your head. “Wait, Phoenix spoke to you?”
“Yeah.” He laughed “She didn’t really talk to me, more like yelled at me in the middle of the bar.”
“Oh my god” You burst into a fit of giggles, silently thanking Phoenix.
“So…How about I take you out tomorrow night hm?” Bradley said tilting your chin up to look at him, placing a sweet kiss on your lips.
“I’d like that.” You hummed, grinding your clothed core over the growing tent in his jeans.
“K sweetheart. I love you.” He moaned, picking you up and carrying you to your bedroom.
Hi Ash!! Congrats on the 1K!!! For the celebration, could I get a blurb with Jake with the angst prompt “Am I the reason you cry every night?” and the fluff prompt "i've loved you since the moment i first laid my eyes on you." (Jake says both of these), pretty please? Thanks!!!
Thank you thank you!!!! you've been one of my biggest supporters and I am truly so thankful for you!
Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x fem!reader
Warnings: 18+ mdni! nothing bad, just angst, tears and fluff
Ash's 1K Follower Celebration
This was the last thing he wanted. In fact he had never wanted this. Seeing tears well up in your eyes until they fell in fat drops down your cheeks had his heart in a vice grip.
He knew those tears were his fault. However he'd never thought that he'd hurt you this bad.
"I'm the reason you cry every night?"
Hearing the words repeated to you made you feel even worse. It was so stupid to be this upset over him. Jake had made you feel like you were on top of the world. Like you were the only girl that mattered and then he would shatter the façade. Just when you thought he'd finally give in to what you thought he'd been feeling. Or at least the feelings he'd been leading you on to believe he had it would all come crashing down.
Jake would have some pretty girl, the opposite of everything you were, on his arm. And your heart would break a little bit more.
That wasn't what Jake thought he was doing.
In his mind you were too good for him. That you would never slum it with a cocky asshole like him. Even if he was pretty he didn't feel he deserved you.
All those girls were his way of trying to get over you. It never worked - because they weren't you.
Never had he thought that he was hurting you.
You swallowed hard and squeezed your eyes shut, trying to will away the tears and will up the courage to finally speak.
"I shouldn't I know I just-" you took a deep breath to keep yourself calm. "Jake you make me so happy. Make me feel so good like we could be something and then you go and pull the rug out from under me when you walk in with those women. Women that I could never compete with." You felt like you sounded so pathetic. Pouring your heart out to this man who thought of you as nothing more than a friend.
Jake's came out to cup your cheek, pushing ever so slightly to get you to look at him. "Beautiful, I never wanted those women. They were my attempt at getting over you." It sounded like he meant it, but your brain couldn't wrap around the idea that Jake wanted you in that way.
Confusion warped your features.
"What?"
He chuckled softly. "I've loved you from the moment I first laid eyes on you."
Disbelief combined with the confusion. Jake Seresin loved you? Jake Seresin has always loved you. "Then why..."
He shrugged. "I didn't think I deserved you. You're too good for me."
You frowned. How could you be too good for him? It should be the other way around.
"But it's true and if you give me the chance I will spend the rest of my life making sure you never shed another tear." His other hand cupped your face, his eyes searching yours.
Softly your head nodded and Jake's mouth formed a saccharine smile before they melded with yours. He pulled away as soon as he felt something wet hit his cheek.
"No, no more tears." The pad of his callused thumb swept along your cheek, wiping away the liquid.
You gave him another peck and pulled away, wiping your own tears this time. "It's okay, they're happy tears."
Summary: What feelings surface when you get jealous?
Pairing: Phoenix x f!reader (no use of y/n)
Word Count: 1.5k
Warnings: Jealousy, suggestive comments/thoughts, minor physical descriptions, no use of y/n, military inaccuracies, and zero, absolutely zero, beta reading
It had been a hot day. Much hotter than it had been in anyone’s recent memory. But if they had thought the heat would abide when the sun went down, they were in for a rude awakening.
You leaned against the railing of the Hard Deck, staring off into the distance at the crashing waves further down the beach. You sighed, imagining how nice the cool water would feel against your near-feverish skin. There was no breeze to speak of and you half-heartedly fanned yourself with your hand. A quickly warming glass of Jack and Coke sat near your elbow.
Behind you, the usual sounds of the bar filled the air. Laughter, yells, and even cheering as some poor person unknowingly subjected themselves to buying a round for the entire crowd. You felt your lips twitch as you glanced over your shoulder to see who it was, but your gaze fell on someone else entirely.
You had only stepped out for a moment but in that time, the naval aviators you had become friends with over the past several weeks had shown up. A quick wave from the short brunette made you push away from the railing and step back into the stifling bar.
As you pushed past several nameless servicemen, your heart did a little flip-flop. Natasha Trace, more casually known as “Phoenix” among her fellow pilots, had caught your attention from the first moment you’d met her. Not only was she incredibly beautiful, but she possessed a lightning-quick wit and packed more comebacks than anyone you knew. How could you have avoided falling for her?
And it didn’t help that from the beginning, the two of you had fallen into a routine of effortless flirting that stayed surface level, never leading to anything more than covert glances and a few accidental brushes. But it was enough to quicken your heartbeat and send pleasant tingles all over your body.
“Hey,” Phoenix said, patting the empty seat next to her as you approached. “Saved you the best seat in the house.”
Quickly you sat down, your knees oddly shaky. You only hoped the blush you felt creeping up your neck wasn’t noticeable in the dimming light.
“You look pretty tonight.” Phoenix had to lean closer to be heard over the music and drunken cheering.
You could feel her breath kiss the column of your neck and it was all you could do to sit still. To give your hands something to do, you smoothed the fabric of your sundress. Small yellow flowers stared up at you.
“How come this is the first time I’m seeing you in a dress?” Phoenix asked, her eyes tracing over the thin fabric that fell around your thighs.
You shrugged, trying to act casual but your slightly breathless voice gave you away. “Never had any reason to, I guess. Or anyone to dress up for.”
That, and the Southern California heat was murder.
Phoenix tilted her head slightly, her perfectly styled hair shining in the overhead lights. Her eyes continued to trace over your body and you willed your heart to not beat out of your chest despite its valiant effort to do just that.
Eventually, she spoke and her voice was almost a whisper. “If I had it my way, you would wear dresses all the time. That is when you’re not busy wearing nothing at all.”
A light gasp escaped your lips. Phoenix’s eyes sparkled and she grinned, clearly pleased by your reaction. Her eyes raked down your body again and you could feel the blush returning. The pilot had never said anything so blunt. It caught you off guard.
Thankfully, a quick word from Hangman had Phoenix distracted long enough for your skin to cool and your mind to start working again. At first, you were grateful for the distraction but that quickly turned to annoyance when Hangman enlisted Phoenix’s help in a game of pool against two men you didn’t recognize. By their tan uniforms, you had to assume they were also Navy but you were sure you hadn’t seen them around before.
You let out an impatient sigh and contented yourself by glaring at the back of Hangman’s head. That man had the worst timing.
Your eyes slid to Phoenix who causally leaned against the pool table, her head thrown back, laughing at something one of the strangers had said. A tight knot bunched in your stomach. Tension tightened your limbs as you watched the other girl talk with the strangers.
The game started and jabs were thrown but you couldn’t hear them over the den. Phoenix stood off to the side to let Hangman shoot. One of the strangers sidled up to her and struck up a conversation. The knot tightened. The slow seep of resentment crept into your bones, making you irritated.
Just as Phoenix laughed at something the man said, something inside you snapped. Sure, nothing ever happened between the two of you, but that didn’t mean that you didn’t want something to happen. And if Hangman hadn’t interrupted earlier, it might have. Now this strange man was getting all of Phoenix’s attention.
It should have been you.
Annoyed at yourself for feeling this way and letting it get to you in the first place, you stood and quickly walked back outside.
The sun had fully set, the last hints of color fading from the sky. A slight breeze had picked up, relieving an otherwise unbearable evening. In the distance, the sound of waves crashing against the sand reached your ears.
You took a deep breath of the salty air and closed your eyes. You tried to calm your mind and sort out your feelings with no luck.
It was undeniable. You had fallen for Phoenix at some point but you just couldn’t pinpoint when. Sometime between the stolen glances, the back-and-forth chatter, and the laughter. The pilot had wormed her way into your heart and was now breaking it, all without her knowing.
You risked a glance over your shoulder to see if Phoenix was still with the stranger, but you couldn’t find either of them. They must have left. You probably should too, because you felt weirdly hollow inside.
You had just turned to walk back to your car when someone spoke.
“There you are.”
Phoenix materialized at your side and it was all you could do not to jump. As it was, you did take a couple of steps back.
The easy grin on her face faltered and she reached out to wipe a tear from your cheek. You hadn’t noticed it had fallen.
“Is everything ok?” She asked, worry knitting her eyebrows together.
You nodded, not quite trusting your voice.
“Did something happen?” Concern was evident in her voice.
“No,” you whispered, barely finding your voice. “I’m just tired. I think I should head home.”
“If this is about that guy,” Phoenix said, thrusting her thumb back at the pool tables. “He’s just a friend from basic I hadn’t seen in a while. There’s nothing going on between us.”
“It’s not that.”
Phoenix took a step forward. You barely registered that she was now in your space.
“You’re a terrible liar,” she said, trying to meet your eyes but you were gazing off into the gathering darkness beyond the railing.
You heard Phoenix blow out a long breath. Her fingers drummed faintly against the material of her pants.
“Truth is, I like you a lot. And I’ve wanted to tell you for some time now, but I didn’t know how to. Plus, I was scared you wouldn’t feel the same way about me.”
In disbelief, you met Phoenix’s eyes. A shy smile graced her lips.
It wasn’t one-sided after all?
“Was that too much?” She asked, her smile slipping slightly. “I just thought-”
“Kiss me.”
“What-”
“Kiss me,” you repeated, your eyes never leaving hers.
Slowly, Phoenix brought her hands up to cradle your face. You nearly sighed feeling the light touch of her fingers. With one final step, she brought herself into your orbit completely. Her lips brushed yours ever so slightly and you could taste a hint of beer on them.
You settled your shaking hands on her waist and deepened the kiss. Glossed lips met chapped in a cautious dance of discovery. Somehow it was everything you’d imagined and more. Phoenix kissed like she flew, confident with a hint of recklessness.
Her hands threaded into your hair, pulling you closer. The skin where her fingers brushed, burned and you couldn’t help imagining what it would feel like to have her hands on other parts of your body. You shivered at the thought.
Eventually, the two of you pulled away to catch a breath. It was all you could do not to whine at the loss of her lips. You rested your foreheads against one another, panting slightly.
“That was-”
“Yeah,” Phoenix laughed breathlessly.
“Do it again.”
She eagerly complied and it was a long time before either of you went back into the bar to join your friends.
You think Ice loves you, until you don't.
Tom "Iceman" Kazansky x Reader
Alexa, play Illicit Affairs by Taylor Swift...
Warnings: mentions of sex, affairs. She loves him more than he loves her.
“Make sure nobody sees you leave.”
You knew this routine already, he didn’t need to remind you. You scoffed as you pulled your hood up, hiding your hair under it. You knew this routine. Come over late at night after everyone is asleep, fuck, and then sneak back with your tail between your legs. You always wondered why he couldn’t do this, why you had to be the one to sneak back like an idiot. Never out loud, of course. You’d just pull up your hood, wink at him, and then slip out of the door.
If anyone asks, you tell them you just went for a run. It’s early in the morning, so early that it would make sense. A quick jog before you have to get to work, flying all day. You’ll be too tired, too hot and sweaty to try and jog after. They buy it every single time. They have to, because the alternative explanation would be so unbelievable no one would dare utter it.
There’s no way you’re fucking the instructor.
But, here you are, sneaking out of his house on base to scurry back to your own. You don’t live that far, the base is too small to spread out housing too much. You do indeed jog home, sneakers hitting the ground, trying to ignore the feeling of him leaking out of you. You jump into a cold shower the second you get home, often finding yourself turning it to warm halfway through. Nothing can get your racing heart to calm down, nothing can stop the playback of technicolor explosions that stain your eyelids. You can’t forget him no matter what you do.
There’s a perfume hidden on a shelf in your closet that you use on nights like this, when you’re going to meet him. Even if you’re wearing workout gear for your hidden run home, you wear it. Even if you’re going to sweat it off. Even if the smell of sex is going to overwhelm the scent of lavender. You’re not sure if it's this perfume or the promise of sex that makes you high, but you’re already buzzing when you sneak through his back door. He’s standing there, arms open, hugging you. You talk for a moment, just as the high is wearing off.
“I need to tell you something,” he whispers, his lips pressing against your forehead. “Baby, I really need to tell you something.”
The sentence alone nearly sends you to your knees. There’s something about his tone, something about the way he can’t even look at you, let alone look you in the eyes, that clues you into what this is about. He’s going to end it, right here in the middle of his kitchen. Right after he opened his back door for you, right after he hugged you and tucked hair behind your ear and kissed you. Oh, God. It’s all over.
You’re standing up before he can even breathe to continue, shaking your head. You aren’t sure if you’re going to throw up or pass out. There’s a heat spreading through your chest, up your neck, to your ears, but it’s not the usual rush of blood flow that comes with an orgasm. You’re scared, it’s complete and utter fear. There’s a pang in your chest, one that you think could stop your heart completely.
Oh. Oh.
“No,” you choke out, your voice breaking. “No, Tom, Jesus Christ…”
“We have to stop this, kid…”
“No!” you shout, pushing away from him. He reaches out for you again but you recoil, almost like he’s burning you. He stands, frozen, his arm extended. “No, Tom.”
“Kid…”
“Don’t call me that!” you scream, shaking your head. Later, you’ll think this was a dramatic move, but you’re on your knees before you can even blink. The tile digs into your bones, wearing away at the skin, leaving marks anyone will be able to see tomorrow. “Don’t call me kid!”
You’re folding up, head down, hair falling around you. Sobbing, you realize. You’re sobbing on his kitchen floor. Look at this godforsaken mess that you made me.
“I’m so sorry, k-baby. If I could… if I thought we could continue this I would, but…”
Everything seems dull now, the colors he’s shown you over the last several months fading as fast as his words come out. You feel cold now, the heat slipping from your body. Cold, you’re forever going to be cold. Ice made you cold. You’re scrambling off the kitchen floor before he can finish saying anything else, running all the way home. The hood is down, your hair is flying around you like crazy. You really were out for a run this time.
Now you know why he wouldn’t have left his house for yours; why he wouldn’t purchase a whole new cologne for you. It makes sense why you were the one to pull your hood up, and why you were the one to go for early morning runs after vigorous nights.
It makes even more sense when his promotion is announced a week later. You weren’t worth the risk. You weren’t anything more than sex. You were a distraction, a toy, a secret, to someone you had kept like an oath.
