Second Chances
"I'll always be angry that you left." "But I'll always love you more.”
Pairing: Scott Miller x fem! Reader
Genre: Angst and smut
Word count: 14k
Summary: After years of being with Scott things just weren’t working out. But when you left? You were more lost without him. Then by chance you wind up working with stormpar.
a/n: I’ve been wanting to make lengthier stories recently, so I cooked this one up! I didn’t proofread it though… so I hope it turns out good, as always, my requests are open!
The air inside Scott's beat-up Ford Ranger tasted like stale coffee and impending thunderstorms, thick enough to choke on. Outside, Logan Airport’s terminal lights bled neon streaks across the windshield as rain began to needle the glass. Scott drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, humming some half-remembered country tune—something about highways and heartache—like he hadn’t noticed the silence between them had teeth.
You watched his profile, the way his jaw tightened when he shifted gears, the faded scar above his eyebrow from that time he’d tried to jump his bike over Tanner’s Creek back in Oklahoma. The years of shared textbooks under oak trees, of his hand finding yours in crowded hallways, of following him here to Massachusetts because MIT was his holy grail. You’d memorized the constellations of freckles on his shoulders, the exact pitch of his laugh when he was tired.
The terminal doors slid open with a hiss, swallowing you into the chaotic hum of people wandering. Scott gripped your suitcase handle tighter, knuckles white against the worn leather. His other hand held yours like he was anchoring a kite in a storm. "You packed extra batteries for your camera, right?" he asked, voice straining over the announcement blaring overhead. "New York winters kill electronics." Your fingers loosen around his.
He knew. He always knew these practical things – the tensile strength of storm shelter doors, the optimal angle for hail photography, the exact wattage needed to keep your vintage Nikon alive.
“Scott,” You sigh, turning to him, hand dropping from his as you look up at him.
Scott glanced over at you, taking in the frustration etched into your features. His grip loosened on your suitcase, and he ran a hand through his hair, the tension seeping from him in waves. "I'm just making sure," he said gruffly, avoiding your gaze. "Can't have your camera shorting out right when you hit Times Square."
"We need to talk, not about cameras or new adventures..." You chew on your bottom lip, eyes wide and beginning to tear up.
Scott's shoulders slumped, his expression a mix of wariness and resignation. He knew this was coming – the conversation you'd both been avoiding for weeks. Taking a few steps away from the hustle of the airport, he leaned heavily against an empty airline counter.
"Yeah. I know," he said quietly, shoving his hands into his pockets. He finally met your gaze, his eyes darker in the fluorescent lighting. "So talk."
"I love you, you know I do..." You reach for his arms, craving his touch one last time.
Scott hesitated for a moment before he finally allowed you to touch him. The roughness of his flannel shirt against your fingers, the familiar warmth of his skin, it took everything in him not to wrap himself around you and never let go. He let out a small scoff. "But…?"
"But we can't keep doing this..." You sigh, breathing speeding up as your heart clenches in your chest. "We've been fighting and making up non stop for months again. Going to New York isn't just to be with my friends, Scott, it's because I need a new start."
Scott's grip tightened reflexively, his jaw clenched as he fought to keep his expression neutral. He'd seen this coming, felt it in the tension that had been building between you like a thunderhead. But hearing the words out loud still hit him like a punch to the gut. He swallowed hard, his voice low when he finally spoke.
"Is that what you really want, sweetheart? After everything we've been through?"
"I love you," You whisper, mind reeling as you try to process what to say, you've been thinking about this for months. It's been a long time coming.
"Then *why*?" Scott snapped, the word cracking like a live wire. He caught himself, forcing his grip to loosen—just a fraction. His voice dropped, rough at the edges. "We fight? Yeah. So what? That doesn’t mean we quit." He looked away, jaw ticking. "You don’t get to love me and leave me in the same breath."
"It's more complicated than that! I don’t have the fight left in me anymore." You squeeze your eyes shut, pulling away from him. "I just, I can't spend the rest of my life waiting to be the most important thing to you. I can't keep telling you the same things over and over with no change. I love you, I love you so much it hurts, but I'm young, *you're* young. I don't want to waste my youth with a man who is too focused on everything but building a future with me."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Scott shot back, anger flaring in his eyes. He took a step closer, towering over you like a storm about to break. "You think I don't want a future with you? I'm busting my ass in school, working night shifts at the diner, all to give us a chance." He shook his head, scoffing.
"Scott." You hold back your tears, fingers pinching the bridge of your nose. "All of that is for *you* and *your* dreams. I moved with you so you could go to MIT, I moved to a new state where I knew no one just to be with you and when we lay in bed at the end of every day? I've never felt more alone in my damn life."
"You think this is easy for me?" Scott's voice cracked, low and raw. He turned away, running a hand through his hair like he could tear the frustration out by the roots. "I'm not... I don't *know* how to do this! You want me to be soft? Poetic? Bring you flowers and say the right damn thing every time?"
He faced you again, eyes blazing—not with anger now, but something worse. Fear.
"I build things. I fix problems. But you... you're not a problem I can solve with equations or duct tape." His voice dropped to a whisper. "And yeah—maybe I’ve been chasing my own damn shadow this whole time and forgot to look back at you."
A beat passed, thick with everything unsaid.
"...Doesn’t mean I don’t love you too."
"I know," You reach up, hands cupping his cheeks, brushing over his skin. "I know that you love me but I think this is for the best... I don't think we can work this out anymore, we can’t keep fighting.."
Scott's expression shattered like glass, his defenses crumbling faster than he could build them up again. He swallowed past the lump in his throat, his hands coming up to cover yours. The fight had washed out of him, leaving nothing but weary acceptance etched across his features.
"Guess you've made up your mind, then." It wasn't a question. He leaned into your touch, eyes fluttering shut just for a moment as the reality of it all crashed over him like a tidal wave.
Standing on your tippy toes, you press a soft kiss to his forehead.
Scott's eyes closed at the brush of your lips against his forehead, a shudder running through him like an electrical current. He wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close, his grip tight and desperate. He buried his face into the crook of your neck, breathing in the scent he'd learned to recognize in the middle of a crowd.
"Promise me something," he murmured against your skin. "Just one thing."
"What is it?" Your hands cradle the back of his head, the love you share still so obvious and entirely consuming.
"I could never forget you," Taking a step back, your eyes lock one last time as you lean forward, lips meeting his gently.
You pulled back slowly, your fingers trailing down his skin until they slipped from his grasp. Scott stood frozen, eyes wide and wounded, watching you turn away. Your shoulders squared against the weight of his gaze, the airport's fluorescent lights casting harsh shadows on your face.
"Goodbye, Scott," you whispered, the words barely audible over the terminal's roar. You didn't look back. Not when your footsteps echoed on the polished floor, not when the sliding doors hissed shut behind you, severing the last thread. Ahead, the gate beckoned—a threshold to a world where storms didn’t bear his name.
———————————————————
The Greyhound bus shuddered to a stop on Main Street, kicking up Oklahoma dust that settled like old regrets on your skin. Outside the window, the familiar squat buildings of Elkwood seemed smaller, bleached by years away—or maybe just by the fluorescent glare of the laundromat sign where Mom used to drag you every Sunday.
The marketing degree you worked so hard for was a folded piece of paper in your bag, as useful here as a snow shovel in July. Waitressing gigs in Boston, then Cleveland, then St. Louis—each city blurring into the next until the savings ran dry and pride cracked. Back to the clapboard house on Sycamore Street, back to your old room smelling of mothballs and teenage desperation. Your parents’ hopeful smiles at the door felt like salt in a wound you thought had scarred over.
Failure tasted like cheap grease and bus station coffee. You’d packed dreams in that suitcase once—New York galleries, cityscapes framed through your Nikon lens. Now it held resignation, and a one-way ticket back to your childhood bedroom.
You’d spent the first two weeks back home, buried under your covers. The room felt like a museum of what-could-have-been.
Sunlight bled through the blinds, stripping faded concert tickets pinned to corkboard and the dried corsage from junior prom—brittle petals crumbling at the edges. Scott’s MIT hoodie still hung on the back of your desk chair, smelling faintly of engine grease and that cheap pine-scented soap he used.
You’d burrow under the quilt, listening to the muffled sounds of your parents moving through the house downstairs, their careful whispers a stark contrast to the silent scream of all these relics.
Every stuffed animal on the shelf, every candid Polaroid taped to the mirror—you caught in a diner booth, laughing with ketchup on your chin; Scott grinning under his graduation cap—felt like a shard of glass pressed against raw skin.
The past wasn’t just present; it was suffocating.
“My love,” Your mom knocks on the door, the sound ricocheting around the silent walls. “I’m coming in!” You just groan, cuddling deeper into your sheets.
“Your Pa and I found this cushy job, you know how you used to go chasin’ tornados?” Her hand rubs your shoulder from under the thick floral fabric.
“Yeah Ma, I remember.” Your mother's voice faded into the static hum of memory—Scott's laughter echoing through the Ranger's cab as hail pounded the roof, his hand warm over yours on the gearshift while lightning split the Kansas sky. Those summers felt infinite, the open road promising everything.
Now, five years later, the only storm was the quiet one inside your chest—a hollowed-out ache where adventure used to live. You traced a crack in the bedroom ceiling, wondering when the world shrank to these four walls and the ghost of him that lingered in every dusty corner.
“Well anyway, it’s a marketing position!” Her words finally register and shake you out of your trance. The covers fall around you as you shoot up, eyes bright and hopeful. The application was a blur of keystrokes fueled by desperation and your mother’s unwavering optimism. Days bled into anxious silence, broken only by the chirp of your phone. "You start Monday," the clipped voice on the other end declared. "Be at the National Weather Service office in Norman by eight. Ask for Javier Rivera."
Monday dawned brittle and bright. The sleek, modern NWS building felt alien after Elkwood’s dusty storefronts. Inside, fluorescent lights hummed over bustling meteorologists tracking swirling masses of green and red on massive screens. You clutched your worn portfolio, nerves tightening your throat.
Javi hummed a tune to himself as he sorted through a stack of documents in his office, his attention flickering to the door frame when he saw you approaching through his open doorway. His eyes, sharp and intelligent, swept your figure, taking in your nervous demeanor and the portfolio clutched in your hands.
"You must be the newbie," he remarked, setting the documents aside and gesturing for you to take a seat across from him.
'Uh, yeah! I'm Y/N," You grin awkwardly, shifting your weight slightly as you sit. "The marketing hire..."
"Y/N." Javi repeats, voice low like he's testing the shape of your name. His pen taps once against the desk—sharp, precise. Then he leans back, eyes narrowing just slightly. "So you're the one Maureen from Elkwood swore would 'breathe new life into storm outreach.'"
Javi’s gaze didn’t soften as he slid a laminated map across the desk. "Forget cubicles," he said, tapping Oklahoma with the tip of his pen. "You’re embedded with the chase team starting next Tuesday. Mainly riding with me and my partner." He paused, watching your reaction. "Pack light. And waterproof."
The week dissolved into a frantic blur of dust motes dancing in afternoon light and the scent of cardboard boxes pulled from the garage rafters. You attacked your childhood bedroom with a grim determination, peeling faded band posters from the walls, their corners brittle with age.
Each drawer in the dresser yielded ghosts: ticket stubs from concerts you had dragged Scott to, a dried corsage from prom, a stack of letters tied with fraying ribbon. Scott's hoodie, the faded concert tickets, the brittle corsage – each relic was handled with a trembling ache before being carefully folded or tucked away into a sturdy cardboard box labeled "College & Boston" in your mother's looping script.
You couldn't throw them out, not yet. They were chapters, painful but yours. Downstairs, the comforting rhythm of your parents' routines became an anchor – shared meals filled with Dad's farm reports and Mom's gentle prodding about the "act of God" lawsuits.
Midweek, Mom whisked you into Elkwood's singular department store. "You can't chase storms in Boston threads, honey!" she declared, steering you towards racks of sturdy cargo pants and moisture-wicking shirts. She insisted on practicality: "Dark colors, Y/N! Dust won't show as much." You emerged laden with bags holding khakis, thick-soled hiking boots that felt alien after city flats, thermal layers, and a surprisingly sleek, waterproof windbreaker.
Evenings were spent at the worn kitchen table, your father recounting tales of chasing supercells back in the 80s, his eyes alight with remembered adrenaline, while your mother piled your plate high with comforting casseroles, her quiet pride in your new venture a warm counterpoint to the ghosts you’d boxed away. The days bled together, filled with the mundane rituals of packing toiletries, charging camera batteries, and trying to quiet the nervous flutter in your stomach about the storm-lashed unknown awaiting you Tuesday morning.
Tuesday morning arrived with a brittle Oklahoma dawn. You pulled on faded jeans shorts and a thin striped shirt, tugging a worn NYU baseball cap low over tired eyes. The NWS parking lot was already buzzing when Javi’s battered chase van rumbled to a stop beside you. He slid the side door open with a grunt, effortlessly hoisting your gear bag inside beside stacks of radar equipment.
“Hop in, rookie,” he said, nodding toward the passenger seat. “My partner’s meeting us at the first gas stop—guy’s got a sixth sense for coffee and convergence zones.” The van smelled of stale rain and ozone as you buckled in, the engine’s growl vibrating deep in your bones.
The van shuddered along the highway, the desolate landscape of Oklahoma blurring past the windows like a sepia-toned dream. Javi remained mostly silent, his expression fixed on the road as he tapped two fingers against the faded steering wheel in time with whatever tune hummed through his head. You tried to steal glances at him, to gauge his thoughts, but his gaze stayed locked on the ribbon of tarmac unfurling before you.
At the first gas station, a sleek white Humvee was parked next to the pumps, its tinted windows mirroring the overcast sky. A familiar silhouette leaned against the hood.
You suddenly feel a chill in your bones as the van comes to a stop, Javi gives you a gentle smile. “Let’s get to introductions!” You nod even though the dread is already coursing through your veins. It was Scott, because, of course it was.
“Hey team, this is our marketing director: Y/N!” His words fade into the background at you just awkwardly smile at the people he introduces you to, eyes avoiding a certain figure while your heartbeat fills your eardrums.
Scott's sharp eyes caught your expression as he introduced you to the team, his easy smile faltering for just a moment. For a brief second, he looked lost, like he wanted to reach out, but he caught himself, clearing his throat. "Glad to have you aboard, Y/N. Should be an interesting season." His tone was carefully neutral, not betraying any of the emotions he must be feeling.
"Yeah, for sure!" You scratch the back of your neck, shirt riding up ever so slightly. "I think it'll be a ton of fun to work with you all."
Scott's eyes inadvertently dart to the exposed patch of skin on your midriff, fingers involuntarily twitching at his side. He was always a tactile person—always needing to physically touch things to ground him—and now his fingers itched to touch you, to trace the familiar expanse of your skin.
He clears his throat, forcing himself to look away, his usual casual mask firmly back in place. "Yeah, well, just don't get spooked the first time we chase a tornado." He smirks, the expression strained at the edges.
"I have enough experience chasing storms," You reply, gaze still avoiding him, the tension between you two slightly cold. He was the one who took you on chases to begin with. And god it fucking sucks that he’s pretending not to know you.
"Okay team! Let's run analytics and get our days started." Javi claps causing everyone to scatter. Leaving just you and Scott.
He leans against the Humvee, arms crossed, jaw tight like he was grinding glass. The others had scattered, voices fading into the hum of engines and distant thunder. Just you and him now. The air between you crackled with everything unsaid — every goodbye, every lie that love couldn’t fix.
He didn’t look at you right away. Just kicked at a loose stone with his boot, watching it skitter across the asphalt.
Then, voice low — sharp as shattered windshield glass:
“You really thought no one would see you running? That I wouldn’t *know*?” He scoffed, finally turning those storm-gray eyes on you. “All that ‘new start’ bullshit. Yeah. Cute.” His lip curled slightly. “You didn’t want a fresh start—you wanted to *erase* me.”
He stepped closer—just enough to make your breath hitch—and shoved his hands into his jacket pockets like he was holding back more than words.
"You have some nerve showing up here," he grits out, his gaze hardening. "Like you didn't rip my goddamn heart out."
Your jaw clenches, fists following suit. "Scott don't pretend like *I'm* the one who ruined things." Turning on your heel, you begin to walk back to Javi before pausing. "And for the record? I had no idea you'd be here or I wouldn't have taken this damn job."
His hand whips out with surprising speed, latching onto your wrist before you can get too far.
"Wait." His voice has that edge now. The one that meant he wasn't backing down. Not this time.
He was *furious* — not just at you, but at the whole screwed up situation. That familiar anger you knew all too well, like a simmering wildfire.
"Don't walk away," he growled, dragging you back toward him. "Don't act like you're the goddamn victim here."
"That's the fucking problem with you, Scott." You pull his hand off of you, as if his touch was a hot iron. "You're always focused on who was right, who's the winner. That's fucking bullshit."
He glares at you, his jaw clenching. You'd struck a nerve, hit the mark, and he hated it, hated you for saying what he didn't want to hear.
"Bullshit? No, the bullshit is that you *left*," he retorts. "I was fighting for us. I was *fighting* for *you*. But all you could see was some new, shiny thing instead of something that was working."
He takes a step closer, eyes blazing. "You were afraid. You were always afraid to commit."
"It was working for *you*, you never stopped to consider my fucking feelings. I didn't give up on us, I chose my sanity." Your eyes hold a surprising softness — a familiar sadness. "But what does it matter anyway? I'm only working here until I can find something better, so why not just keep pretending we don't know each other, hm?"
His gaze softens just a fraction, a crack in his defenses — a hint of the old Scott, the one who looked at you like you hung the stars. He hesitates, but then the steel masks his expression again and he shakes his head almost like he's clearing his thoughts.
"Pretend we don't know each other," he repeats, scoffing. "How very mature."
He takes another step, closing the distance between you with a stride, his face inches from yours. "I'll tell you one thing: I'm damn good at pretending."
"You're the one who pretended to not know me, to not know I've been on chases before, the ones *you* took me on." In the distance Javi calls out for you, you glance at him before glaring back at Scott. "So be good, pretend we had nothing."
He flinches—just once, barely noticeable—like you’d finally landed a punch he couldn’t dodge. His jaw works, eyes flicking down for a split second, betraying that yeah, he remembers every damn chase he ever pulled you into. The ones where you clung to his arm as the sky turned green. The ones where he laughed and said *"You're fearless."*
Then Javi calls again, louder.
Scott straightens like nothing happened. Cold. Smooth. Back in control.
"Right," he says flatly, voice stripped of everything but sarcasm now. "Wouldn’t want to *complicate* your fresh start by acknowledging I taught you how to read storm cells while we were half-dead from heat and adrenaline." He smirks—but it doesn't reach his eyes.*"Pretend all you want, sweetheart.* Just don’t expect me to be nice about it."
He turns away with a shove of his hands into his pockets and mutters under his breath just loud enough for you to hear: "Because I sure as hell didn’t spend five years missing you."
“Fuck,” You whisper, ripping the cap off to run a hand through your hair, biting back your tears. He had every right to be mad, you did leave, then you came back into his life, infiltrated his job…
But you just try to brush it off and focus on the job you just got.
The Oklahoma sky bruised purple-black by mid-afternoon, the air thick with the metallic tang of ozone and the promise of violence. Javi barked coordinates over the radio, his voice tight with focus as the van bounced violently along a dirt access road, kicking up plumes of red dust that coated the windshield.
You clung to the dashboard handle, knuckles white, your forgotten marketing binder sliding across the floorboards. Outside, the landscape flattened into a terrifying expanse, the horizon dominated by a monstrous supercell boiling upwards – a vast, churning anvil blotting out the sun.
Lightning spiderwebbed inside its dark belly, illuminating the eerie greenish glow beneath its base.
"Wall cloud rotating!" Scott’s voice crackled over the radio from the Humvee ahead, detached, professional. "Deploying probes at marker Delta." You watched through the dust-streaked window as the Humvee slewed to a stop, Scott and another tech scrambling out, hauling heavy instrument pods towards the edge of a newly forming mesocyclone.
Wind whipped their jackets, snapping like sails. A sudden downdraft hammered the van, rocking it violently. Hailstones, small at first, then marble-sized, began pelting the roof like frantic drumming. Javi cursed, wrestling the wheel as visibility dropped to near-zero in the swirling dirt and ice.
"Get that camera rolling, rookie!" Javi yelled, not taking his eyes off the roiling sky visible through a momentary break in the hail curtain. "This is textbook!" Fumbling, you grabbed your camera, heart hammering against your ribs. Peering through the viewfinder, you framed the terrifying beauty: the lowering wall cloud, the frantic techs, Scott’s silhouette momentarily illuminated by a blinding flash of lightning, his face etched with fierce concentration, utterly ignoring you.
The sheer power was humbling, terrifying, exhilarating – a brutal baptism by storm. Hours blurred into adrenaline-fueled tracking, data collection, near-misses with wind-sheared debris, and the constant, low thrum of tension radiating from Scott whenever your paths crossed during brief equipment checks.
By dusk, as the storm dissipated into ragged rain shafts, exhaustion settled like lead weights. You helped silently pack rain-slick gear back into the van, the unspoken words between you and Scott hanging heavier than the humid Oklahoma air.
The van’s headlights cut through the gloom as Javi pulled into the gravel lot of a roadside motel, its neon sign flickering *VACANCY*. Rain lashed the windshield, washing away the day’s dust and adrenaline.
Javi killed the engine, turning in his seat with a grin that crinkled the corners of his eyes. "Hell of a first day, rookie. Keep your cool when that hail curtain dropped—impressive."
He glanced toward Scott, who was already shoving open the passenger door of the Humvee parked beside them. "Scott? What’d you think? She handle it alright?"
Scott didn’t turn. His shoulders stiffened beneath his soaked jacket as he hauled a probe case from the backseat. "Didn’t freeze," he muttered, the words clipped and hollow, like stones dropped into a well.
He slammed the door shut, the sound sharp in the wet silence, and stalked toward the motel office without a backward glance.
Javi chuckled, shaking his head. "That's Scott for you. Takes time to defrost." He glanced back at you, noting the way you watched Scott's retreating form in the rain. It was hard to miss the tension buzzing between you both.
He cleared his throat, redirecting your attention. "Look, rookie, you did good today. But this ain't gonna be a walk in the park. Be prepared for long hours, little sleep, and a whole lot of Scott." He smirked.
"That sounds like a plan!" You grin back at him, "Other than dealing with Scott."
Javi raised an eyebrow at your candidness but couldn't suppress a smirk. "Yeah, Scott's...a force, alright. You'll either learn to love him or want to strangle him by the end of this stint." His expression softened a bit.
"He's a good guy, Y/N. Tough, sure, but he's one of the best in the field. Just...cut him some slack, alright? I know it's not easy, the way he is."
"Yeah of course," The two of you finally exit out of the van, dufflebags in hand, walking side by side. When you enter the office, Scott sends a tense look your way, his jaw clenching at your closeness.
"By the way, do you know anywhere close by to get a drink?"
Javi chuckled, sensing the undercurrents between you and Scott. He leaned against the motel's worn counter and looked at you with a knowing smile. "Yeah, there's a dive bar about a mile up the road. Nothing fancy, but the beer's cold and cheap."
Scott, standing behind you, bristled at the conversation. His knuckles were white as he gripped his bag too tightly.
"I might have to check it out!" Your eyes twinkle behind the sleepiness. "But I think it'd be nice to get settled in first." Javi hands you your room key, a soft grin on his face.
"No harm in relaxing after the day we had." Javi nodded, handing you the key. "Room 216. It's nothing fancy, but there's a bed and a hot shower. And it's dry, which is a luxury these days."
Scott hovered near the office door, watching the exchange with a guarded expression, his shoulders tense.
“Perfect!” Taking the key, you walk past Scott, heading to the elevator.
Scott's gaze followed you, his jaw clenching as you disappeared into the elevator. The doors slid shut, leaving him alone with Javi, whose expression was a bit too knowing for Scott's liking.
He cleared his throat, trying to sound casual. "Javi, can I speak to you for a minute?"
Javi turned, raising an eyebrow at Scott's tone. Sensing the weight of the conversation, he nodded. "Yeah, sure. What's up?"
Scott's jaw clenched and unclenched, his eyes flickering to the now-closed elevator door before settling back on Javi. "It's about Y/N," he ground out, his voice a few degrees colder than usual.
Javi nodded slowly, folding his arms across his chest. "I figured as much," he replied, his tone neutral. "What about her?"
Scott's hands curled into fists at his sides, the tension in the lobby thick enough to suffocate. "I don't think it's a good idea for her to be part of this team," he said bluntly, his gaze locked with Javi's. "She's not cut out for it."
Javi's eyes narrowed, his expression hardening. "Why? She did just fine today. Held her own better than some seasoned chasers I know."
Scott scoffed, the sound sharp in the quiet lobby. "She was shaky. Nervous. You saw her in that chase. She almost got hit by falling hail, for Christ's sake."
Javi's gaze darkened, his patience fraying at the edges. "Everyone gets jittery on their first day. Doesn't mean she's not cut out for this. She's got potential."
Scott let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Potential for what? Getting herself killed?" He took a step closer, his tone scathing. "She's a liability, Javi. We need focus, not deadweight."
Javi bristled, a muscle working in his jaw. "Deadweight? Is that what you think of her?"
Scott's eyes flashed, his voice rising with anger. "That's not what I—"
But Javi cut him off, his own anger finally snapping. "You've been treating her like she doesn't exist, Scott! What is your problem?"
“Nothing.” He throws his bag over his shoulder. “Forget it, see you in the morning.” Scott walks to the elevator, only to find you standing by the staircase, eyes wide and watery.
The sight of you, standing there with tears brimming in your eyes, made his gut twist. "Y/N, how long have you been standing there?" He cursed under his breath, cursing whatever deity decided to have you witness that whole conversation.
"It doesn't matter," Your arms cross as you turn away, pressing the button. When the doors open you slip inside, eyes trained on the floor. "Just cause I broke up with you, that doesn't mean you get to fuck around with my career."
Scott's jaw clenches as the words hit him like a punch in the gut. He followed you into the elevator, the doors closing behind him with a soft click, sealing you both in a charged silence. "That's not what I was doing," he retorted, his voice low. The tension in the cramped space was tangible — a storm waiting to explode.
"No? You’re not seeking revenge for me *wronging you*?" Your hand tightens around the strap of your duffle bag as the ride comes to a stop at your floor and you quickly push past him. Leaving him with his thoughts.
———————————————————
The motel lobby smelled faintly of stale coffee and industrial cleaner. Morning light streamed through smudged windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Javi leaned against the worn counter, holding out a steaming paper cup. "Figured you might need this after yesterday," he said, his grin wide and easy. "Double shot. Black."
You blinked at him, your eyes puffy and shadowed from a night spent tangled in damp sheets—half-sobbing into the thin pillow, half-dozing fitfully. The cheerful offer felt jarring against the raw ache behind your ribs. You took the coffee, the heat seeping into your chilled fingers. "Thanks," you mumbled, the word thick.
Javi’s smile softened. He didn’t ask. Just nudged your shoulder gently with his own, a solid, warm presence. "Rough first night on the road, huh? Happens. C'mon, let's grab some greasy eggs before Scott finishes sulking over the Humvee's tire pressure."
He gestured toward the diner door, leaving space for you to lean in or pull away. The simple kindness, the lack of probing questions, loosened something tight in your chest. You took a shaky breath, the bitter coffee suddenly tasting like a lifeline.
You smile at him, a real one, even though it comes with slightly flushed cheeks and swollen eyebags. “Thank you, Javi.”
Javi nodded, understanding in his eyes. "No need to thank me, rookie. Just doing my part to keep you functional." He gave your shoulder a reassuring squeeze before pushing open the diner door, holding it for you to step through.
Inside, the diner was bustling, the clatter of silverware and the hum of conversation creating a comforting lull. Scott was already there, perched on a worn booth at the back. His gaze flicked up as you and Javi approached, then back down at the newspaper spread out in front of him.
"So, where's the wind taking us today?" You try to fake a cheerful expression as you slide into the booth across from Scott and Javi, eyes only focusing on the latter.
Javi shrugged, eyeing the diner's laminated menu. "We've got a string of nasty storms moving through central Oklahoma. We'll be following the radar closely and moving southward, depending on the wind direction."
Scott grunted, still engrossed in his newspaper. His eyes flicked a glance your way before returning to the sports section.
Javi shot him a look, exasperated. "Scott, you gonna join us or just grunt all morning?"
"That sounds like a plan!" You fumble with the coffee mug in front of you.
You took a sip of scalding coffee, the burn grounding you. "Also, Javi," you added, leaning forward slightly. "I was thinking... it would be a really good idea if I snapped a photo of you outside during the storm, setting up the equipment." You gestured vaguely towards the window, where grey clouds were already gathering in the distance. "Showcasing the actual fieldwork? It’d give people a real perspective on what you guys *do* out there."
Javi’s eyes lit up. "Hell yeah! Show 'em we're not just staring at screens." He grinned, nudging Scott’s boot under the table. "What d’you think, Scott? Good promo material?"
Scott didn’t look up from his newspaper. His knuckles whitened around his coffee mug. "Do whatever you want," he muttered, the words clipped and cold. He flipped the page with a sharp snap, the sound cutting through the diner’s chatter.
The silence at the booth thickened, broken only by the scrape of forks on plates and Javi’s easy banter with the waitress refilling coffees. You pushed scrambled eggs around your plate, acutely aware of Scott’s presence across from you—the rigid set of his shoulders, the deliberate rustle of his newspaper.
Every glance you risked in his direction met the impenetrable wall of newsprint he held up like a shield. The air crackled with unspoken words, heavy and suffocating, making each bite of toast feel like dust in your throat.
The waitress refilled Javi’s mug, her cheerful chatter grating against the silence radiating from you and Scott. You stabbed a piece of sausage, the fork scraping loudly on the cheap ceramic plate. Across the booth, Scott flipped another page of his newspaper, the sharp crackle of paper echoing like gunfire in the cramped space.
You kept your gaze fixed on the condensation sliding down your water glass, tracing the path of a single droplet while Scott stared resolutely at an article about soybean futures, his jaw clenched tight enough to crack a walnut. The air between you hung thick and stagnant, charged with five years of hurt neither of you dared exhale.
“Uh, guys?” Javi clears his throat, hand dropping to the table, causing the both of you to glance up at him. “Care to tell me what' s goin’ on?”
You freeze, eyes darting from Javi's questioning frown to Scott's stony expression, his gaze still buried behind the newspaper.
The silence stretches awkwardly, punctuated only by the clink of utensils and the hum of voices from the other diners. Javi glances between you and Scott, a growing understanding dawning in his eyes.
Finally, Scott lowers the newspaper, folding it with crisp precision, still avoiding your gaze. "Nothing," he mutters, his voice tight. "Can we just eat?"
"I think I've had enough," You push the plate, standing up awkwardly. "I'll wait for you guys outside." You give Javi a sweet smile, refusing to even glance toward Scott.
Javi's eyes flicker with something like concern as you stand up, but his smile stays steady.
"Sure thing," he says, watching you leave. His attention then turns to Scott, who's still got his gaze locked on the table. "You gonna tell me what's going on with you two?"
Scott shrugs, pretending to be engrossed in the newspaper's sports section. "Don't know what you're talking about."
You leaned against the cold metal flank of the ‘Storm Par’ van, arms crossed tight against the Oklahoma dawn chill. The air was sharp, clean—damp pavement and wet grass filling your lungs. It smelled like dew and quiet roads, like mornings before Scott ever kissed you under an oak tree.
The sky was bruised blue and grey, the sun still hidden below the horizon. For a moment, the knot in your chest loosened. Just the hum of distant trucks, the scent of home, and the promise of a storm chasing day ahead.
The voice, smooth as Oklahoma whiskey and utterly unfamiliar, cut through the quiet dawn. You startled, arms dropping to your sides as you turned. Leaning against the hood of a nearby truck, bathed in the motel's weak porch light, was a man you hadn't seen before.
Blond hair tousled, green eyes crinkled with slight amusement, and a grin that seemed permanently etched onto his face. He nodded towards the diner window where Scott and Javi were still visible. "What's got you all worked up so early, doll?"
“Oh, nothin’...” You breathe out, watching as he steps closer to you, hands in his pockets.
The stranger's gaze traveled to the van and the "Storm Par" logo emblazoned on its side. He raised his eyebrows in approval, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Storm Par, huh?" he drawled, nodding towards the van. "You one of Javi's crew? Or just a fan of chasing tornadoes and getting into trouble?"
"Somewhat part of the crew," You laugh softly. "You look familiar, have we met before?"
The stranger tilted his head, studying your face intently. A brief flash of recognition flickered across his features before it vanished. He leaned back against the van, casually kicking a foot up against its bumper.
"Can't say we have," he shrugged, that crooked grin returning. "But if we had, I'm certain I wouldn't forget a pretty face like yours."
“Oh! I know!” Your posture straightens, eyes glistening from under your worn out cap. “You’re that one guy, Tyler somethin’. Isn’t your catch phrase: ‘if you feel it, chase it.’?”
But before the conversation can go further, Scott and Javi are at your side, Javi greeting him with a small smile whereas Scott gives him a dark glare.
"Tyler," Javi said, clapping the newcomer on the shoulder. "Didn't know you were in town."
Tyler grinned, pushing off the van and straightening to his full height—almost matching Scott's. "Just passing through. Heard there was a supercell brewing and thought I'd check in on my favorite storm chasers." His gaze flicked to you, playful. "And maybe make a new friend or two."
Scott stepped forward, his expression darkening as he positioned himself slightly between you and Tyler. "She's not part of your 'chase' quota," he said coldly.
Tyler raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by Scott's hostility. "Relax, Miller. Just making conversation." He turned back to you with that easy grin. "'If you feel it, chase it'—best advice I ever gave."
"Are you suggesting I chase you?" The words are a soft tease that earns a bright grin from him.
Tyler chuckled, the sound deep and rich, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Maybe if you're fast enough," he replies, a playful smirk on his lips. "See ya 'round, doll."
As he saunters away, a cool breeze rustles through the parking lot. Scott watches him go with a scowl, his fingers curled into tight fists. He turns to you, his gaze intense, like he wants to say something but holds back.
Javi chuckles as he unlocks the van door, sliding into the driver's seat and leaving you alone with Scott.
Scott's eyes are still locked on Tyler, a muscle in his jaw working furiously. It's a long moment before he finally turns to you, his expression guarded and distant.
"Get in the car," he says, his voice gruff. "We're losing daylight."
“Scott,” You begin, eyes finally glancing up and meeting his. “We were just—”
"I don't care what you were *just* doing," Scott cuts in, voice low and rough, eyes blazing with something dangerously close to jealousy. "He's a damn vulture. Smells drama and dives in."
He steps closer, just enough that the air between you crackles. "You think I didn't see how he looked at you? Like you're some new game?" His voice drops to a whisper. "After everything—after *us*—you really gonna play that?"
Your breath catches.
Then he turns away sharply, yanking the van door open. "*Get in.*"
You slide into the seat, arms crossing over your chest once you’re buckled in. Your jaw clenches, eyes hardening as you stare at the road ahead of you.
The van roared to life, vibrating beneath you like a caged beast. Outside, the Oklahoma sky turned a sickening purple and green—an angry swirl promising violence. Javi cranked up the radio, chatter about hook echoes and wall clouds filling the cab, but the real storm sat in front of you.
Scott gripped the steering wheel, knuckles bone-white, his jaw set in a rigid line that screamed *don’t talk to me*. Every bump in the road jolted through the seat, a physical echo of the tension crackling between you.
Five years. Five years of silence, of pretending the fracture didn’t exist, and now he acted like Tyler’s easy smile was a personal invasion. Like he still had any claim. The memory of his accusation—*play that?*—burned acid in your throat.
You stared straight ahead, fingers digging into your thighs. The horizon swallowed the road whole, a vast, churning maw.
The vehicle slammed into a pothole hard enough to rattle teeth, sending your shoulder crashing against the door frame. Outside, the world dissolved into chaos. Debris—shingles, branches, the mangled carcass of a stop sign—spun past the windshield like shrapnel.
Rain hammered the roof in relentless, deafening waves, blurring the view into a swirling grey-green nightmare. Javi shouted coordinates over the radio static, his voice tight with adrenaline, while Scott wrestled the steering wheel, muscles straining against the violent gusts trying to tear the van sideways.
Ahead, the storm’s core loomed—a monstrous, churning wall of black cloud, lit from within by vicious, strobing lightning. It pulsed like a living heart, swallowing the horizon whole. You braced against the dashboard, knuckles white, tasting ozone and dust and raw terror.
This wasn’t chasing anymore.
This was driving straight into the mouth of oblivion.
The van lurched to a stop, shuddering against the gale-force winds. Scott and Javi exploded from the doors like shrapnel, heads down against the horizontal rain. They moved in practiced tandem, a silent ballet against the roaring chaos—Javi wrestling a bulky radar unit from the back, Scott anchoring tripods into the mud-slicked earth, shouting swallowed by the storm’s roar.
You stumbled out behind them, camera raised, the Nikon a cold, familiar weight in your hands.
Wind tore at your jacket, plastering soaked hair across your face as you framed the shot: Scott’s silhouette, backlit by a jagged lightning strike, muscles corded as he heaved against the equipment, Javi crouched low beside him, hands flying over dials.
The shutter clicked—a tiny defiance against the world’s furious howl.
The storm raged around you, a churning, screaming monster. But through the camera's viewfinder, everything slowed, the world narrowing to a series of precise moments. Scott and Javi's forms framed against the churning grey-green sky, their movements practiced, controlled.
The camera shutter clicked with each shot, a soft, mechanical noise swallowed by the roar.
Scott's back was a study in lean, corded muscle as he fought the wind to set the equipment, every line and sinew taut with concentration.
Scott's head snaps up from the radar unit, eyes searching the chaos. He can barely see through the rain, but he spots you, still out there, camera glued to your eye.
He shouts something, but the words are lost in the thundering wind. Cursing, he waves furiously, trying to catch your attention.
"Get in the van!" He yells. "The rotation speed is reaching critical. It's getting too intense!"
"Let me work!" You yell back, eyes narrowed and focused at the task at hand. The wind rips your NYU cap off your head, sweeping you backward ever so slightly.
Scott's jaw sets in a hard line, frustration and worry warring in his gaze.
"Damn it, I'm not playing around!" He yells over the storm. "This isn't a minor twister anymore! Get in the goddamn van!"
He fights through the wind, closing the distance between you in a few powerful strides. His arm shoots out, catching your wrist in a viselike grip. "You're being stubborn as hell."
"Let go of me Scott!" You rip your arm out of his grasp, eyes narrowed and full of irritation.
Scott grits his teeth, anger flashing in his eyes.
"Stop being so goddamn difficult!" He bellows, grabbing you again, trying to pull you toward the van. "You're going to get yourself killed, you stubborn idiot!"
"And if I do it's not your fucking responsibility." You know that now is not the time to argue, but honestly? You just can't fucking help it. Not when he's acting like he's still accountable for you.
"I don't care what you think!" he roars, rain slashing down his face, eyes blazing. "You're not dying on my watch, not today—"
He lunges forward as a piece of debris whips through the air toward you. In one brutal motion, he shoves you back and takes the impact full across his shoulder.
A sharp grunt tears from his throat—he stumbles—but stays between you and the storm like a wall.
Blood blooms dark against his torn jacket sleeve.
And in that split second, with wind screaming and lightning splitting the sky above… he looks at you.
"*Get in the van,*" he says again—voice breaking—and it’s not an order anymore. It’s a plea.
"Fine." You finally give in, sliding into the backseat, shivering slightly in your rain soaked clothes. You stare at your hands, eyes teary. “Fuck,” You drop your head forward, burrying your face in your palms, eyes shutting as you try to forget the pain in his face.
Scott slides into the van next to you, slamming the door shut behind him. The wind dies to a low whisper, leaving an aching silence. He peels his jacket off, grimacing as he gingerly prods the fresh wound on his shoulder. His gaze roams to your shivering form, noticing your shoulders bowed.
He sighs, the sound weary and heavy. Without thinking, he leans back and grabs a wool blanket from one of the equipment boxes, draping it gingerly around your shoulders.
Javi gets into the driver's seat, putting the vehicle into gear, and quickly driving away from the storm. "Fuck. Scott, you're bleeding."
You take a deep breath before reaching out to him, hand finding his shoulder, pressing a torn piece of fabric against the wound to soak up the blood. Your touch is light, careful, and warm.
Scott's breath hitches as your fingers touch his shoulder. The unexpected gentleness almost makes him flinch. He fights against the shiver that wants to work down his spine, steeling himself against the unwelcome warmth spreading through his body from your touch.
"I'm fine..." he mutters, but it's a weak protest. His gaze flicks down, watching your hand press against the wound, your fingers stained with his blood.
"When we're parked I can take a closer look and get it cleaned up with the first aid kit." You murmur, more towards Javi rather than Scott. "It doesn't seem like he'll need stitches. Which is pretty lucky."
Scott grunts in agreement, wincing slightly as the van jolts over a pothole.
"I've had worse," he mutters, trying to sound indifferent. But there's a note of vulnerability beneath the words, a crack in the tough exterior he's trying so hard to maintain.
Javi glances in the rearview mirror at you both, eyebrow raised. He can sense the tension crackling between you like static electricity, but wisely stays silent.
The van rumbled down the rain-slicked highway, the storm's fury fading behind them into a bruised twilight. Silence stretched thick and suffocating between you and Scott, broken only by the rhythmic slap of windshield wipers and Javi’s occasional muttered updates over the radio.
You kept your hand pressed firmly against Scott’s shoulder, the wool blanket draped around you both now, trapping an unwanted intimacy in the cramped space. His skin felt fever-hot beneath your fingertips, the ragged hitch in his breath whenever the van jolted the only sign of his pain.
After five miles of taut silence, Javi abruptly signaled and pulled the van onto a wide gravel shoulder beneath a skeletal billboard advertising a long-gone truck stop. He killed the engine. "Radar's acting squirrelly," he announced, not turning around.
"Gonna check the connections on the roof unit. Don't move." He shoved his door open, vanishing into the drizzle without another word, leaving the cab steeped in sudden, heavy quiet. The only sound was the ticking of the cooling engine and Scott’s shallow breathing beside you.
“Take off your jacket,” You unbuckle the seatbelt, moving to grab the first aid kit before sliding between his legs. “I gotta get this cleaned up.”
Scott's eyes widen ever so slightly as you kneel between his legs, his breath catching in his throat. The proximity is overwhelming, stirring up memories he's spent years trying to bury. He's hyper-aware of the heat radiating from your body, the faint scent of rain and damp cotton.
He hesitates for a moment, muscles flexing as he tries to compose himself. Then, with a low curse, he shrugs off the denim jacket, exposing his shoulder. The torn shirt beneath is matted with blood, sticking to his skin.
You help him out of his shirt, your touch gentle and familiar. "Okay, I'm gonna put some alcohol on it."
The words send a shiver down Scott's spine, his muscles tensing involuntarily at the memory of the burn. "God, I hate that crap," he grumbles, but there's a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, as if he's secretly enjoying the familiar banter.
As you dab the wound with the wet cloth, he hisses under his breath, his fingers clenching around his thigh. The pain is sharp and hot, but so is the nearness of you—it's dizzying.
Before long you have him all patched up and your eyes begin to wander taking in every inch of exposed skin.
Scott swallows hard as your gaze roves over his exposed torso. He can feel your eyes on him, making his skin burn hotter than the alcohol ever did.
He shifts uncomfortably, his muscles rippling under your stare, the tension between you crackling with an electric intensity he's trying to ignore and failing miserably.
"Eyes up here," he mutters, voice gruff.
Scott's breath hitches instinctively as your fingertips graze his cheek. His eyes flutter shut, a wave of something he hasn't let himself feel in ages washing over him.
His hand snaps up to catch your wrist, fingers wrapping around it gently but firmly. He opens his eyes, gaze locking with yours. His expression is raw, vulnerable, torn between the ache in his shoulder and the ache in his chest.
"Don't... don't apologize," he murmurs, his grip on your wrist tightening almost imperceptibly.
"I miss you." The words slip out before you can even really think about it.
Scott's heart clenches, his breath caught in his chest. His grip on your wrist tightens instinctively as your words echo through him. There's a war of emotions warring behind his eyes: anger, hurt, and, perhaps the most dangerous of all, a deep, aching longing.
"Don't...say that," he rasps, his voice hoarse. "Don't say you miss me."
"I know," Your fingers brush across his cheekbones, eyes soft and intimate. Javi opens the door, sliding back in, his seatbelt buckle clicking.
"Get him all patched up?" His voice cuts through the tension.
Scott's gaze breaks from yours, his shoulders tensing as Javi climbs back in. The moment is shattered, the connection between you snapped like a brittle thread.
Scott nods tersely, pulling away from your touch with a jerky movement. "Yeah. Yeah, she took care of it."
Javi glances between the two of you, curiosity flitting across his face. He opens his mouth, but before he can speak, Scott cuts him off. "Can we just get moving again? We've wasted enough time."
You find your way back into your seat, gulping as you stare out the main window.
———————————————————
The motel room smelled of stale cigarettes and cheap lemon cleaner, thick enough to coat your tongue. You sprawled across the scratchy floral comforter, limbs heavy as lead weights. Outside, the neon vacancy sign buzzed like a trapped wasp, painting fractured red stripes across the peeling wallpaper.
Javi had insisted Scott stay behind today—"Shoulder needs rest, Scott."—and the guilt was a physical thing, coiled tight and acidic in your gut.
You replayed it again: Scott’s sharp intake of breath when Javi delivered the news, the way his knuckles whitened around his coffee mug, the flat, "Fine," that cut deeper than any argument.
He hadn’t looked at you. Not once.
The chase had been textbook—a photogenic supercell near Amarillo, lightning fracturing the bruised sky. You’d captured stunning shots: mammatus clouds boiling like dark pearls, hail shattering on barren earth.
But every click of the shutter felt hollow. Empty.
Your mind kept drifting back to Scott’s silent fury in the motel parking lot, the rigid set of his shoulders as he watched the van pull away without him.
Now, alone in the dim room, the silence pressed in. You kicked off the thin sheet, the air conditioning unit rattling like loose bones in the wall. The pillowcase felt damp beneath your cheek—whether from sweat or the slow, hot tears you hadn’t realized were falling, you weren’t sure.
You traced the frayed seam of the comforter, imagining Scott’s restless pacing in his room. Was he icing his shoulder? Was he replaying that moment in the van—your fingers on his cheek, the choked confession?
A sudden, sharp rap on the door made you flinch. Your breath froze.
Silence stretched, thick and expectant.
You stand, wiping your tears away, and heading to the door. You open it, shocked to find a flushed and drunk Scott standing with his arms crossed. “Baby? Are you okay?”
Scott's eyes roam over you, taking in the tear tracks on your cheeks, the tension in your shoulders, the way you're clutching the door like a lifeline. His jaw clenches at the sight of you so unraveled, his defenses crumbling with each beat of his heart.
He reeks of whiskey and bar smoke, his eyes glassy. A muscle in his jaw works as he fights the instinct to reach out, to pull you into his arms, to press you against the wall and—
He rubs a hand over his face, cursing under his breath.
"You've been crying."
"I'm just tired," You protest, eyes falling to the floor as you wipe your face again.
Scott's gaze softens ever so slightly, his heart clenching at the vulnerability in your voice. His fingers flex, itching to touch you—to soothe you—but he forces himself to keep his distance.
"Look at you. You look like a damn mess. And I know for a fact you're not 'tired.' So, tell me what's going on." he mutters, his voice hoarse.
"I'm wondering why you're drunk and standing outside my door, wanting to talk about my feelings." You sigh, hand reaching up to brush his shoulder.
Scott's body tenses under your touch, but he doesn't move away. In fact, for one small moment, he seems to lean into it—a silent plea for the comfort only your touch can give.
"Maybe I just wanted to check on you, smartass," he grumbles, the insult lacking its usual bite.
His gaze finally finds yours in the dim light, his expression pained. "Can I come in?"
"Yeah, okay." You widen the door, allowing for him to slip in before shutting and locking it—out of habit. "What's really the matter? How can I help you?"
Scott slinks into the room, the door closing behind him with a decisive click. His eyes rake over you again, lingering on your tear-streaked cheeks.
The whiskey in his veins makes his thoughts hazy, his defenses weak. He wants to tell you everything—how much it kills him to keep you at arm's distance, how he can't stand seeing you with anyone else, how he still loves you with a passion that borders on obsession.
But instead, he just leans against the wall and shrugs.
"I just needed to see you."
You sit on the edge of your bed and with a sigh, you open your arms. "Come here."
Scott's breath catches in his chest, his resolve crumbling at the sight of your open arms—an invitation he can't refuse.
He crosses the room in three long strides, collapsing into your embrace like a man starved. He buries his face in the crook of your neck, inhaling deeply, his arms wrapping tightly around your frame as if afraid you might disappear.
"God, I missed you," he breathes, the words half-muffled against your skin. "I missed you so goddamn much."
"I'm sorry," Your hands run along his back, fingers rubbing circles into his skin ever so slightly.
Scott shivers at the touch, his body responding to you like a finely tuned instrument under your hands. He tries to fight the need to cling to you, to keep himself from succumbing to the comfort only you can give him.
But it's a losing battle, and he knows it. He pulls you closer, his hands on your hips, his body pressed against you, desperate for contact.
"Don't apologize," he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. "Just let me hold you."
"For as long as you'd like." You tangle your fingers in his hair, nails scratching his scalp softly. "I'm here, not going anywhere baby."
Scott lets out a broken breath, your touch unraveling him completely. He nuzzles against your neck, lips brushing the sensitive skin there without thought—just instinct.
His hands slide up your back, pulling you impossibly closer as he sinks deeper into your warmth.
And then, barely a whisper against your skin: “Don’t make promises you won’t keep.”
You sigh, eyes squeezing tight as tears threaten to spill. "I know, I know."
Scott's heart clenches in his chest, his grip on you growing tighter. He knows he shouldn't push, knows he should just let you be, but the words spill from his lips before he can stop them.
"Promise me you're not going anywhere. That you're staying with me—that you're *mine*." His voice breaks slightly, a desperate edge creeping in. His eyes search yours, seeking reassurance in your gaze.
"Scott," You brush your thumbs over his cheeks. "You're drunk. Let's not do this right now, okay?"
Scott blinks, the words hitting him like a bucket of ice water. His grip loosens slightly, the raw vulnerability in his eyes quickly masked by a familiar wall of pride.
He pulls back just enough to look at you, jaw tightening as the weight of your words sinks in. He starts to stand, but stumbles just slightly, betrayed by both the whiskey and the ache in his chest.
"I'm not drunk *enough* for this," he says quietly, more to himself than to you.
"I'm sorry, Scott. I really am," You reach out for him again.
Scott stumbles back as you reach for him, his pride rearing up with a vengeance. He shrugs off your hand, eyes flashing a warning.
"Don't," he growls, his voice taut with the effort to remain in control. "Don't do that. Don't act like you care."
He turns away, running a hand through his hair, muscles rippling beneath his shirt. His shoulders rise and fall with quick, ragged breaths, the pain of your words cutting deep.
You wrap your arms around his waist, face burying against his back. "Scott, I don't want to talk about this when you're drunk. I don't want you to regret it in the morning, wake up resenting me..."
Scott goes rigid under your touch, his heart thudding wildly in his chest. His body craves your touch—longs for it—but his pride won't allow him to give in so easily.
"Stop it," he grits out, his voice thick with both hurt and desire. "You don't get to dictate when and how I talk about us."
His hands clench into fists, knuckles white from the effort to resist turning, wrapping his arms around you, and crushing you against him.
"Goddammit, stop making this *harder."*
"Scott, please. Lets just lay down, you get sleepy when you drink. I can hold you, I'll be right by your side I promise." You wrap your arms around his waist, palms flat against his chest.
Scott's resolve wavers, the ache in his chest growing unbearable. The whiskey in his veins loosens his tongue, his defenses crumbling.
"You'll stay?" He murmurs, his voice a hoarse whisper. "All night?"
He tries to hide the pleading in his tone, but the raw desperation slips out in the hitch of his breath and the subtle shift of his body leaning into yours.
"All night," You press your face into his back, arms tightening around him. "And in the morning, we can talk. If you still want this, if you still want to try again, we can talk when you're more like yourself."
Scott's body trembles, the last of his willpower crumbling at your words. He wants to resist, to fight for some measure of control, but the alcohol in his veins and the warm press of your body against his back are too much to handle.
He lets out a defeated breath, the tension slowly bleeding out of his muscles.
"Fine," he murmurs, reluctantly allowing himself to lean into your embrace. "We'll talk in the morning. But you'd better not leave—not for a goddamn second, you hear me?"
"I won't, now let's lay down. Okay?" You guide him back to the bed, letting go just long enough to pull back the covers. "Do you still sleep naked?" You tease while moving to help him out of his shirt.
Scott lets out a low, humorless chuckle, the ghost of a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Some things never change," he murmurs, voice rough. He lifts his arms just enough to let you slide the shirt over his head—your fingers brushing bare skin sending a shiver down his spine.
He kicks off his boots and peels off his jeans with a quiet groan, then sinks onto the bed with a tired sigh. The mattress dips as he shifts under the covers, making space—*for you.*
He doesn’t look at you as he settles in. Just pats the empty spot beside him once. "Get in before I change my mind."
You slide out of your jeans, slipping in next to him, arms wrapping around his body. You pull him on top of you, his face against your chest. "Relax baby. You need to get some rest."
Scott grumbles something incoherent against your chest, his body instinctively resisting the vulnerability of being held so close. But the whiskey, the exhaustion, and *you*—your scent, your warmth, the steady beat of your heart beneath his ear—pull him under like a riptide.
His arms slowly wrap around your waist again as he relaxes fully into you.
"You always did know how to ruin me," he mutters drowsily.
And just before sleep claims him completely—his voice barely a whisper: "I love you... still."
"I never stopped loving you either," you whisper into the dark, fingers threading gently through his hair.
Tears slip free, quiet, unchecked, and catching in the corners of your eyes as you stare at the cracked ceiling, heart aching with a kind of fragile hope.
The neon sign outside flickers, painting red streaks across his face—the hard lines softened now in sleep—and for the first time in years, it feels like coming home.
You press a kiss to his temple.
"Sleep well, baby."
Sunlight sliced through the cheap motel blinds, landing like a branding iron directly on Scott’s closed eyelids. He groaned, low and guttural, the throb behind his temples a brutal reminder of last night’s whiskey.
Every muscle protested as he shifted, the scratchy sheets rasping against his bare skin. *Christ.* He squeezed his eyes shut tighter against the assaulting light, the pounding in his skull syncing with the distant rumble of a semi-truck on the highway.
Then, movement. The warm weight against his side registered. He froze. Slowly, carefully, he cracked one eye open, wincing against the glare.
There you were. Curled towards him, one hand tucked under your cheek, the other resting lightly on his chest. Your breathing was deep and even, eyelashes casting faint shadows on your cheeks. Peaceful. Utterly serene.
The frantic energy, the guarded tension he’d grown accustomed to seeing etched around your eyes and mouth – it was gone. Softened. Replaced by a vulnerability that stole his breath.
The jackhammer in his skull didn’t vanish, but it… muted. Became background noise. The harsh sunlight felt less like an attack and more like a spotlight illuminating something precious he’d forgotten existed.
He watched the gentle rise and fall of your chest beneath the thin sheet, the way a stray strand of hair lay across your forehead. Five years of distance, of bitterness, of pretending he didn’t care, dissolved in that quiet moment.
Without conscious thought, his arms tightened around you. Not possessively, not desperately like last night, but protectively. Reverently. He pulled you closer, burying his nose in the crown of your head, inhaling the familiar scent beneath the motel’s lemon cleaner.
The ache in his head was still there, the sour taste of whiskey lingered, but holding you… it was an anchor. Solid. Real. A silent vow formed in the stillness: *This. This is what I fought for. This is what I almost lost.*
He pressed his lips softly against your hairline, the thrumming pain fading further into insignificance against the warmth flooding his chest.
“Mmm,” You nuzzle into him, eyelashes fluttering against his skin. “Goodmorning, how’s your head?”
"Could've been worse," he mutters, voice rough with sleep and emotion. His fingers trail lightly down your back, savoring the warmth between you.
He hesitates for a moment before meeting your eyes, vulnerability flickering across his face.
"Still want to talk?"
"That depends," You yawn, stretching as you sit up, moving for the waterbottle on the night stand. You reach over him into the drawer, grabbing some painkillers and handing them to them.
"Do you still... Feel like you did last night?" Your eyes barely raise up enough to look at him.
Scott stares at the pills in his hand for a moment, his throat bobbing as he swallows the pills dry. His gaze drifts from the pills to your face, his expression guarded.
"Which part? The part where I told you how much I miss you, or the part where I told you I still love you?"
He sits up as well, leaning back against the headboard. The light streams in through the half-open blinds, casting shadows over his bare shoulders.
"Both, I guess." You chuckle dryly, hands moving across his bare thighs, massaging the muscles.
"Both," he says, voice low, rough with sleep and something deeper. "Yeah. I meant every damn word."
His hand catches yours on his thigh, holding it there—warm, solid. His thumb traces slow circles over your knuckles.
"I'm not drunk anymore," he murmurs, eyes locked on yours now, stripped bare of defenses. "And I still don't wanna let you go."
"Can you forgive me?" You move closer, settling on his lap, straddling his hips. "For leaving you?"
Scott's hands settle on your thighs, fingers flexing lightly as he pulls you closer—a silent, greedy reflex. His arms snake around your waist, pulling you flush against him.
He looks up at you, eyes searching your face for a lingering moment before answering. "I'm still angry," he admits quietly. "I'll always be angry that you left."
His grip on you tightens, a muscle in his jaw working as he continues. "But I'll always love you more."
You lean in, eyes scanning his. "I'm sorry I left, I just thought that..." You sigh, hands cupping his face. "It doesn't matter, not now. But I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." You press your lips to his, gentle yet hungry and desperate.
All the tension—the pent up emotion, the pain, the years of missing you like a phantom limb—rushes to the surface as you kiss him.
He returns the kiss with fervor, every ounce of his need for you pouring into it. His hands slide up your back, fingers tangling in your hair as he pulls you impossibly closer.
"God, I missed you," he breathes between kisses. "Missed you so damn much."
"I missed you," You press your lips to his again, rougher more needy this time, your hips slowly beginning to grind against his.
Scott grunts, hips automatically bucking up against you, his body responding instantly to your touch—a familiar rhythm that hasn't faded in the slightest.
He presses his lips to your throat, nipping and sucking gently at the sensitive flesh, his hands roaming over your body with a desperate hunger.
"Can't get enough of you," he murmurs, voice rough with need. "Been needing you for—"
His words are cut off by a sharp knock on the door.
"Fuck, stay put." You slide off his lap, hair messy and eyes tired as you crack it open slightly. "Hello? Javi?"
Javi stands in the doorway looking every bit as tired as you feel. His eyes flick over you, taking in your disheveled appearance and Scott's shirtless form behind you, then he cracks a smirk.
"You two finally done ripping each other to pieces?" He drawls, a sly glint in his eyes.
"It's, uh, not like that!" You shyly scratch the back of your neck. "But do you think I can stay here? With Scott, just for today of course..."
Javi cocks an eyebrow, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips as he eyes Scott over your shoulder.
"Sure sure," he drawls, feigning innocence. "I'm sure Scott won't mind, will he?"
Scott grumbles something unintelligible, running a hand through his messy hair as he leans back against the headboard, the sheets pooling around his bare waist.
"Well, then I hope the chase goes well today. Uh, good luck and everything!" You laugh awkwardly, shooting a glance at Scott, who now has a pillow over his lap.
Javi chuckles low, a knowing smile plastered across his face. He glances over your shoulder again at Scott, eyes flickering with barely concealed amusement at the sight of the pillow over his lap.
"Yeah. I'm sure we'll be fine," he says, voice dripping with innuendo. "You two... uh, have fun."
Your cheeks flush as he walks away, you shut the door, turning to face Scott with a shy grin. "That was,"
Scott sits up, the pillow still strategically placed across his lap, and lets out a low chuckle.
"He knows damn well what we'll be doing," he mutters, eyes roaming over your flushed cheeks and disheveled hair. "You're a terrible liar, by the way."
"Ugh," You walk back over to him, pushing the pillow away and settling on his lap again. "Don't remind me." Your hands cup his face, thumbs brushing his cheeks.
Scott hums in appreciation as you settle back onto his lap, his hands instinctively coming to rest on your thighs. He leans into your touch, his gaze roaming over your face with a mix of desire and affection.
"You’re always easy to read," he murmurs, voice low and rough. "Your poker face is non-existent."
"Shut it," The words come out as more of a groan, your eyes twinkling before you kiss him again, a soft peck. "Now, where were we?" Your fingers slide up his neck, tangling in the roots of his hair, tugging slightly.
Scott lets out a low moan as you tug at his hair, sending a jolt of heat coursing through him. He growls lowly, his hands gripping your thighs with possessive desperation.
He captures your lips in a deep, hungry kiss, tongue delving into your mouth hungrily. He nips at your bottom lip, a subtle reminder—a claim.
"Right... here," he murmurs against your mouth, his hands roaming up to the hem of your shirt, his fingers teasing the bare skin beneath.
"Mm, baby..." Your hips move against his once again, lips rough and hungry over his.
Scott's breath hitches as you press against him, his hips bucking up against yours almost involuntarily. His hands slide up your thighs, fingers digging into the curves of your hips as he pulls you closer, the heat radiating between you growing more intense by the second.
He breaks the kiss, his lips trailing down your throat, nipping and sucking at the sensitive flesh.
"I need you," he murmurs, voice thick with desire. "Now."
"Then take me, however you need." Your fingers tug on his hair.
Those words is all the invitation Scott needs.
With a low growl, he pushes you backward on the bed, his body pressing you into the mattress. His lips trail down your neck, his fingers finding the edge of your shirt and slowly lifting it up, exposing more and more of your skin to his touch.
He hovers for a moment, eyes drinking in the sight of you beneath him—flushed and breathless and *wanting him*—and the hunger in his gaze is almost primal.
His gaze raked over you—the flush spreading down your chest, the rapid flutter of your pulse beneath his lips, the way your breath hitched when his thumb brushed the swell of your breast. Five years of aching emptiness evaporated in the heat of this moment. He didn’t tease. He didn’t savor. This was claiming.
With a ragged groan, Scott ripped your shirt over your head, the fabric catching briefly on your wrists before he tossed it aside. His mouth crashed back onto yours, all teeth and desperation, while his calloused hands shoved your sleep shorts down your hips.
You kicked them off, arching against him, skin meeting skin in a shock of heat.
He broke the kiss only to trail scorching, open-mouthed kisses down your sternum, over the curve of your breast, his tongue swirling around a hardened peak before sucking hard enough to make you cry out.
His hand slid between your thighs, fingers finding you slick and ready—no hesitation, just two thick fingers plunging deep, curling in a way that had your hips jerking off the mattress.
“Scott—!” His name tore from your throat, raw and pleading.
He looked up, eyes black with need. “Mine,” he rasped, the word a vow against your damp skin. His fingers withdrew, glistening, and he fumbled with his own shorts, shoving them down just enough.
Then he was surging forward, his weight pinning you, the blunt head of his cock pressing against your entrance. A ragged breath escaped him. “Look at me.”
You forced your eyes open, drowning in the intensity of his stare—the raw, unguarded hunger, the years of longing laid bare. He pushed in slowly, agonizingly, stretching you wide, filling you completely.
A choked sob escaped you—not pain, but overwhelming relief, the visceral rightness of him buried deep inside you again after so long. He stilled, trembling, forehead pressed to yours, breathing your air.
“Never leaving you again,” you gasped, nails digging into his shoulders.
A guttural sound ripped from his chest. He withdrew almost completely, then slammed back in, setting a brutal, driving rhythm that shook the cheap motel bedframe. Each thrust was a punctuation mark to every unsaid word, every lonely night, every furious argument left behind.
You met him stroke for stroke, heels digging into the small of his back, pulling him deeper, claiming him just as fiercely. The air filled with the slap of skin, your mingled cries, and the relentless, primal need to erase every second of those lost years.
The rhythm was relentless, a furious piston-drive fueled by years of pent-up ache. Scott braced himself on his forearms, muscles corded tight, sweat slicking his skin as he drove into you again and again.
Each deep, claiming thrust scraped a raw, perfect friction against that spot inside you that made stars burst behind your eyelids. Your cries weren't words anymore, just shattered gasps and his name ripped from your throat on a ragged sob.
He watched you unravel beneath him, eyes locked on yours, dark and possessive, drinking in every tremor, every desperate clutch of your fingers on his back. "Feel it," he growled, voice thick and wrecked, hips snapping harder, deeper. "Feel how much I fucking missed you."
His hand slid between your sweat-slicked bodies, thumb finding your clit, pressing hard circles against the swollen bud. The dual assault—the relentless fullness inside, the sharp, electric friction outside—coiled the tension in your belly impossibly tight.
You arched off the mattress, a silent scream tearing through you as the climax detonated, white-hot and shattering, flooding your veins with liquid fire.
Scott felt your inner muscles clamp down around him in fierce, pulsing waves, and with a guttural moan that echoed yours, he buried himself to the hilt, his own release erupting in hot, shuddering pulses deep inside you, sealing the desperate promise written in sweat and shared breath.
The aftershocks pulsed through you both, bodies locked in a trembling embrace slick with sweat and release. Scott collapsed onto his forearms, forehead pressed to yours, his ragged breaths mingling with yours in the charged silence.
He didn't pull out, staying buried deep within you, a possessive anchor against the tremors still coursing through your limbs. His eyes, dark and fathomless, held yours—no words needed. The years of separation, the arguments, the aching loneliness dissolved in the primal heat still radiating between your joined bodies.
His thumb traced your swollen lower lip, a reverence replacing the earlier frenzy. "Still mine," he rasped, the words a raw, guttural vow against your skin, echoing the desperate claiming that still throbbed inside you.
His hips shifted minutely, a subtle, possessive grind that drew a sharp gasp from you, the embers instantly flaring back to life. The sheer *rightness* of him filling you, the visceral proof of his need after so long, was more potent than any declaration.
He kissed you then, deep and slow and devastatingly thorough, tasting the salt on your lips, sealing the unspoken promise written in the frantic rhythm of your shared heartbeat and the lingering, possessive heat where your bodies fused.
“Scotty, I think we could use a damn shower.” You grin up at him, holding his face gently as you press soft kisses to his face.
Scott chuckled, low and rough, the sound vibrating through your chests where you were still pressed together. "Shower?" His thumb traced the curve of your hipbone, a possessive glide over damp skin.
"Later." His hips rolled again, deliberate and slow this time, dragging his still-hard length against your oversensitive walls, coaxing a sharp gasp from your throat.
The friction was exquisite torture, a reminder of the desperate claiming just moments before. He kissed the pulse hammering in your neck, his lips trailing fire. "Still got years to make up for," he murmured against your skin, his voice thick with renewed hunger.
“Fuck,” you whine as his hand slides down your belly, fingers slipping through the slick mess between your thighs, gathering your shared wetness before circling your clit with agonizing, deliberate pressure.
"Gonna feel you come again," he growled, the command rough and absolute, his gaze locked on yours, dark with a need that hadn't dimmed, only deepened.
"Right here. Like this." He pushed deeper, filling you completely, the stretch achingly familiar and utterly consuming, erasing every second of the lonely years with the relentless, possessive heat of his body claiming yours again.
His fingers tightened on your hip, pinning you beneath him as he dragged his cock out almost completely—an excruciating inch at a time—before slamming back to the hilt. A ragged cry tore from your throat, nails scoring his shoulders as he filled you, stretched you, *owned* you with every brutal thrust.
Sweat dripped from his jaw onto your collarbone, each drop scalding as his gaze burned into yours—raw, unflinching hunger stripped bare. "Look at me," he demanded, voice shredded. "See what you do to me?" His hips pistoned harder, deeper, the slap of skin echoing the frantic drum of your heart.
You arched, meeting him stroke for stroke, heels digging into the small of his back, pulling him impossibly deeper as the coil in your belly tightened to breaking. His thumb found your clit, pressing ruthless circles just as his cock hit that spot inside you that sparked white behind your eyelids.
"Cum for me," he growled against your mouth, the command a dark promise. "Now." The dual assault shattered you—body convulsing around him, inner walls clamping down in pulsing waves as you screamed his name, the sound swallowed by his crushing kiss.
He followed instantly, a guttural roar ripped from his chest as he buried himself to the root, flooding you with hot, claiming pulses that sealed every fractured piece back together.
“Now we can shower.” He murmurs, lips pressing to your forehead.
The motel bathroom was small, steam curling thick and humid around them as Scott guided you under the spray. His touch was reverent now—soap-slicked hands gliding over your shoulders, down your spine, lingering on the curve of your hip.
He washed you like something precious, fingertips tracing old scars, the swell of your breasts, the dip of your waist, as if memorizing every inch anew. Water sluiced between your bodies, washing away sweat and the scent of sex, but not the heat. Not the hunger.
His thumb brushed your nipple, drawing a soft gasp from you, and his eyes darkened. "Turn around," he murmured, voice rough against the drumming water. You obeyed, bracing your hands against the slick tile.
His hands slid down your belly, fingers spreading you open beneath the spray. He washed you there too, slow, intimate circles that made your knees tremble. Then his body pressed flush against your back, hard and demanding. One hand gripped your hip, the other guiding himself to your entrance.
"Need you again," he growled, teeth grazing your shoulder as he pushed in, deep and claiming, the hot water cascading over your joined bodies as he moved, relentless and possessive, sealing every promise with every thrust.
The steam thickened, wrapping around you both like a second skin as Scott pressed you against the cool tile, his body a furnace against your back. His cock slid deeper with agonizing slowness, stretching you wide, filling you completely—a possessive reclamation that drew a ragged moan from your throat.
Water sluiced over his shoulders, down the hard planes of his chest, mingling with the slick heat where your bodies joined. His hand slid up your belly, fingers splaying possessively over your ribs before cupping your breast, thumb circling your nipple with deliberate, maddening pressure.
"Feel how deep you take me," he growled against your ear, teeth grazing the lobe as his hips rolled in a slow, grinding rhythm that dragged his length against every sensitive ridge inside you. His other hand slid lower, fingers parting your folds to find your clit, already swollen and throbbing.
He pressed down hard, circling in tight, relentless spirals just as he angled his thrusts to hit that spot that made your vision blur. "That’s it, baby," he rasped, voice raw with need, "let go for me. Scream how much you missed this." The pleasure—the deep, claiming fullness and the sharp, electric friction—coiled your muscles taut.
You arched back against him, nails scraping tile as pleasure detonated, a white-hot wave that ripped through you, clenching around him in pulsing waves. Scott groaned, low and guttural, his fingers digging into your hip as he drove into you harder, faster, chasing his own release.
"Mine," he snarled, biting your shoulder as his climax tore through him, filling you with hot, possessive pulses that sealed the raw, primal truth of his words. He stayed buried deep, breath ragged against your neck, his body trembling as aftershocks racked you both—a trembling, sweat-slicked tangle beneath the relentless spray.










