pairing: armin arlert x reader, mentions of eren jaeger as ex lover
word count: 4k
warnings: +18. mature content. mdni.
the moth & the flame les deux love orchestra -highly recommend listening to this while reading.-
summary: reader is having a difficult night, and in such moments, they always find solace in the comforting presence of Armin, who has always been there to help. yet, there is a plan that has long been residing in Armin's mind, a plan that now beckons.
author's note: it’s been two years since I last wrote something meaningful. I’ve come back with a sudden burst of inspiration. as you read this, just keep in mind that it’s been a while since I’ve written, and this is the first time I’m being this open. enjoy.
7 missed calls from y/n.
03:28
Incoming call from y/n.
03:29
He fixed his gaze on the incoming call, silent, unmoving, as he took another deep drag from his cigarette.
His feet rested comfortably on the coffee table before him; from the outside, no one would have noticed the turmoil stirring within him. The only trace of his quiet excitement was the growing pile of cigarette butts in the ashtray beside him. But he was alone now—there was no need to conceal it.
Tearing his attention away from the phone, he let his eyes drift into the darkness of the night. A deep sense of peace settled over him. He smiled to himself, nodding slightly.
Everything was unfolding exactly as he had imagined. Everything.
He noticed you were calling again. "Sleep," he murmured, as if you were right there beside him, as if you could hear every word.
After that call, the phone fell silent for the night. The mere coincidence stole a quiet chuckle from the blond man. "My good girl," he whispered into the night.
For a fleeting moment, he almost felt bad for you.
Almost.
But he couldn’t afford to let such emotions ruin his plan. There was no need for you to worry.
He knew you were hurting. But you had to.
Until the pain found a new source.
By the time you called him one last time, the screen had become nothing more than a blur. Your eyes were drowning in tears. You were exhausted.
"Please don’t go, Eren! Please…"
Your voice trembled, your breath uneven. You took a few shaky steps toward him, reaching out—but your fingers grasped at nothing before they could even brush against his wrist.
Eren averted his eyes.
Be firm. Be sure, he reminded himself.
As he turned toward the door, you stepped in front of him.
"Don’t do this," you whispered, then your voice rose.
"It doesn’t have to be this way! We can fix it, please!"
This is for her own good, ’Ren. You said it yourself. Your way of life only fuels her anxieties. She's worse than ever... she needs to be away from you.
But Eren only shook his head. His gaze was dark, hard—yet at the same time… empty.
He cleared his throat, as if speaking was a struggle.
"It’s over."
Be sure. Be firm. Be emotionless.
Your head snapped up. "What?" He repeated it without meeting your eyes. "We… This is over."
No.
No, this… this couldn’t be happening.
"No, no, no," you began to whisper. Why? I don’t understand. Why? Why aren’t we trying to find a way? We’ve overcome everything before—we always did, we always found a way!
This is for her own good. You’re hurting her, he reminded himself.
Your legs finally gave out. Trembling, you collapsed to the floor, resting your arms on your knees, hiding your face. Your uneven breaths melted into quiet, broken sobs.
You heard Eren’s footsteps. He hesitated for a few seconds.
You waited, hoping—waiting for him to say something.
But nothing came.
If you love her, you have to let her go. You can’t leave the door open. You have to make her hate you.
And for the last time, he said, "It’s over." Then he stepped past you and opened the door.
The cold air slipped inside.
And the door closed.
The moment he heard your sobs echoing through the house, that cold, detached man vanished.
In his place stood an Eren with glassy eyes—one who did not turn back, but still, for a fleeting second, wavered.
He had done this… for you.
Because his life was riddled with dangers, and your heart was far too fragile. Your anxieties were so heavy, he feared that one day they would crush you entirely—that you would wake up unable to breathe beneath their weight. You couldn’t enjoy life, because your mind was always trapped in the worst possible scenarios.
You had never told him these things yourself—you hadn’t dared.
But Armin had.
Armin knew you well. Maybe even better than Eren did. And he knew Eren, too.
So he must have been right, mustn’t he?
Eren had noticed the way your anxieties had worsened. Some nights, they swallowed you whole, so completely that you would end up at Armin’s embrace.
In the apartment you two shared with your lover, there were nights when Eren had to call Armin in the middle of the night, his voice tight with urgency.
Because only Armin could quiet your cries. Only Armin could hush the whispers that crept into your mind. And so, those certain nights haunted Eren’s thoughts—nights when you buried yourself in Armin’s shoulder, trembling from your own tears. Nights when you curled up in his lap as he murmured soothing words into your ear, his fingers threading gently through your hair.
On those nights, jealousy lodged itself deep within Eren’s chest. He was certain—certain—that no one loved you more than he did.
And yet, in your most desperate moments, he was the one you could not reach. His touch couldn’t ease you. His words couldn’t find you. But Armin’s whispers always did.
And sometimes—just sometimes—Eren could have sworn he saw the faintest trace of amusement flicker across Armin’s face.
But that was only jealousy playing tricks on him.
It had to be.
But one thing was certain. When morning came after those nights, no one ever spoke a word. With an unspoken agreement, the past was quietly buried beneath the new day, and when the breaking points came again, Armin would return—like a saving angel.
Neither you nor Eren noticed it, but the need you had for Eren was slowly fading beneath the shadow of the trust you placed in Armin.
Your body could no longer fight off sleep. You knew Armin would have an answer for you in the morning. And so, you let yourself drift away.
As he pressed the cigarette butt into the ashtray, he hesitated for a brief moment before rising to his feet with slow, deliberate steps.
He glanced at his watch. The message or call you were expecting in the morning wouldn’t come.
Not yet.
For the plan to be perfect, you needed to be alone a little longer. You needed to hurt a little more. Because the more you suffered, the more you would reach for Armin—even in the darkest corners of your mind.
His soothing voice, his gentle touch, his soft whispers—without them, you would become incapable of comforting yourself.
All those nights spent in his presence had shaped you without you even realizing it. They had stolen away your ability to calm yourself, to stand on your own.
Now, without his voice echoing in your ears, without his hands brushing against your skin— You would never find peace.
And if your need for this feeling grew, in time, you would forget your own pain and become trapped in nothing but your longing for him. His absence had to leave a greater echo in you than his presence ever did.
Until now, whenever you needed him, Armin had always been there. In the middle of an important meeting, at a candlelit dinner with a beautiful woman, even at the end of a wretched day—it never mattered. When you called, he came.
Because all of it had been leading to this moment. But today, he wouldn’t be there. The phone would remain silent. The hours would pass, and you would grow restless. You had to wonder where he was.
You had to.
But that was the essence of it all, wasn’t it? Shifting the direction of your pain. Tearing its roots from your own heart and planting them in him. You had to worry about Armin. Those all-consuming fears that ruled your mind—they should no longer be for yourself but for him. And if he could make that happen— God, even the thought of it sent fireworks exploding through Armin’s chest. Could you forget yourself and think only of him?
This entire plan was meant to find out. He had to make you cling to him so tightly that you would forget even your own broken pieces—so that your only concern would be him.
He had to become your everything. Armin could have done it with his own hands—but no, that wouldn’t have been any fun.
He had already seen the potential in you. With the right environment and conditions, he knew you would devote yourself to him. And most importantly… you had to do it of your own free will.
As he stepped into the bathroom, the cold white light struck his face. He stopped in front of the mirror, studying his reflection. He truly had a beautiful face—saying so wasn’t just a compliment; it was a fact. Delicate, almost feminine features blended seamlessly with the strength of his masculine frame, a perfect harmony of contrasts.
Slowly, he curled his fingers into a fist, then, without hesitation, drove it hard into the wall beside the mirror. A sharp sting spread from his knuckles.
When he opened his hand, he watched the blood smear across his skin.
It hurt.
But there was no hesitation. His gaze traveled over his hands, tracing the fine veins and the cracked joints.
Just the way he wanted.
He couldn’t have faced you this morning with that beautiful face.
Now, there had to be an explanation for the silence he had been protecting. When you couldn’t reach him, when your messages and calls went unanswered... And here’s the reason he would give you.
You opened your eyes in the morning with a restless heaviness. To suppress the growing anxiety in your chest, you buried your head into the pillow and took a deep breath.
You wished everything was just a bad dream. But you woke up, and the reality, like a cold blanket clinging to your skin, collapsed upon you.
Your hand, trembling from habit, reached for your phone. In fact, the only thing on your mind was whether you had received a call from Eren. After everything that happened during the night, you thought he might have regretted it and tried calling you this morning.
Maybe a message, maybe a missed call...
But when the screen lit up, your eyes reflexively searched for Armin’s name. You were almost sure you would see his missed calls. Because it always happened this way. While you were falling apart throughout the night, he would try to put you back together with the first light of morning.
But this time, as your fingers scanned through the notifications, your breath caught in your chest.
Armin hadn’t written anything.
No calls, no messages. You quickly scanned your last messages. The emptiness you saw settled in your stomach.
Unread. Unseen. Unanswered.
This wasn’t like him. He was the only one who never made you feel lost. So, what now? Your mind immediately began to imagine the worst-case scenarios. Something had happened. He must have been hurt. There was no other explanation. You gripped the phone tightly in your hand, at first forgetting why you had even picked it up.
You had grabbed it to call Eren, but now Armin’s name appeared on the screen.
Your fingers trembled as you pressed the call button. With every ring, the unease inside you grew a little more.
Armin noticed the call on his phone screen. His eyes saw the name in the corner of the display. Then, without answering, he smiled slightly at the emptiness and, with a deep breath, said, “Good morning, beautiful.”
These words blended into the silence of the room, but in that moment, he knew something was beginning. He was ready to come to you.
One last time, he looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. Since the last time he had checked, there was now a bruise under his eye and a bleeding nose. He quickly grabbed his things, got in his car, and set off toward your house.
He knocked on your door three times. He did it with such a rhythm that you knew it was him whenever it rang. You weren’t sure if he was aware of it. But you had already shouted his name silently as you reached the door. You were certain he had arrived.
When you saw his bleeding nose, you paused for a moment.
"Damn it, what happened to you?" you said, your voice trembling. You instinctively reached out to him, but before you touched him, you noticed the open wounds on his knuckles. You cursed quietly.
As you looked at his face, your eyes focused on him as if waiting for an explanation. You were sad, but it wasn’t sadness for yourself; it was the deep sorrow you felt for his condition.
And at that moment, Armin couldn’t believe that everything had gone so perfectly and according to plan.
He wanted to laugh, but not even a smile appeared on his lips.
Like moving pawns on a chessboard, like writing a book he authored...
But he hadn’t done that.
He had only set the necessary conditions. You had become his favorite experiment; every move, every step was part of his plan, but you were the one playing the cards.
In the end, he realized that all his efforts had worked down to their most delicate points. But now, he was eager to see what you would do next.
'I couldn't be with you last night. I'm sorry. On the way, from him—he deliberately avoided saying Eren’s name— I listened to what happened a little.' He took a step toward you. Your hands were still in his.
"W-what ?" You only managed to say...
You had forgotten.
When you saw him, even if for a brief moment, you had forgotten your own pain. You just wanted to get lost in his suffering.
In that moment, Armin wanted to press you against the wall and kiss you roughly.
But he had to wait. It wasn’t part of the script. Everything had its place.
You were still in shock. You took him to the bathroom, sat him on the toilet, and nervously searched for the first aid kit.
He sat silently, watching you. His face wore an innocent expression.
Finally, you found the kit. As you gathered the items to clean his wounds, your hands trembled.
You had never seen Armin like this. You were used to seeing Eren like this in such a state. With a shy look on his face, he’d let you clean his wounds. But Armin always protected himself from such dangers. His cool, calculated demeanor had always made you trust him. But now, these wounds, this pain, this collapse... Why hadn’t he protected himself? Why had he left himself so vulnerable? Everything you knew contradicted this moment.
Slowly, you pulled your hands away and found yourself staring at him. He was already looking into your eyes.
"You've cried so much," he said. In that moment, reality shifted for you.
The sobs and pleas at the door flashed back into your mind. As you remembered, you noticed Armin observing how your body lightly trembled. With the hand you had just wrapped in bandages, he grabbed your arm and pulled you closer.
You were now standing between his legs. He placed his hand on the back of your head and gently guided you to rest on his shoulder. With his free hand, he started drawing small circles on your back.
You were crying. Again. He slowly rose from where he sat, lifted you into his arms, and carried you to your room.
Silently, you continued to cry in his arms. In that moment, Armin was doing everything he could to not leave you alone. He wanted to share your pain, to ease it even if just a little.
You stayed like that for a while, without noticing how much time had passed. When he looked at you, there was a deep sadness in your eyes.
Suddenly, softly, with a low voice, you whispered, "I... I couldn't reach you."
Armin’s eyes opened. In that moment, he was almost grateful that you were too lost in yourself to notice his heartbeat had quickened.
With everything that had happened, the first words that reached him amidst it all were about not being able to reach you.
At that moment, he wanted to give you everything in the world. But he couldn’t say anything; his heart was too full.
From the moment Eren introduced you to Armin, he had felt something for you.
Armin, by nature, wasn’t one to believe in love. He had always treated the women in his life with respect. But he didn’t remember falling in love.
After a long time, he felt a feeling close to love— thanks to you, but it wasn’t pure, innocent love.
Perhaps it was the hunger a hunter feels for its prey—this was the kind of love that fit Armin’s understanding.
He didn’t want a relationship with defined boundaries like the ones that existed with others.
What he wanted was a ritual that had begun today and that he hoped would continue. The men who entered your life would never understand you the way he did. And one day, either on their own or with Armin’s help, they would leave your life. And when that happened, Armin would be there, at your door, by your side, in your bed, and if you allowed it, inside you—whenever you needed him, he would make you forget all about them.
“I’m sorry, baby. I…” he began, but the words hung in the air. You immediately stopped him. “No, no, don’t apologize. I just… I was worried, and I was so scared. But you’re here, it’s okay. Please don’t leave me,” you said, your voice trembling but determined.
He gently pulled your head from where you had hidden it, slowly meeting your gaze. “I’ll be here as long as you want me to be. Always,” he said.
In that moment, you wanted to look away, but Armin gently cupped your cheeks with his hands, guiding your eyes back to his. “Okay?” he asked, his voice soft but steady. You gave a small nod of yes.
Armin, trying to comfort you one more time, gently laid you down on the bed, and you rested your head on his arm. It felt as if he had wrapped you in his wings. You were safe.
“Tell me about yesterday,” he said, his tone softer now. At first, you didn’t want to speak. The pain that had gathered in your eyes frightened you to show it. But Armin’s calming presence began to bring your emotions to the surface. You stayed silent for a while, then slowly began to speak. You told him everything about Eren’s departure, the deep pain inside you. In that moment, your tears started to fall, each drop feeling like a piece of the pain itself. You shared with him how much Eren’s disappearance had hurt you, the emptiness inside, your anxiety, and your fear.
Armin listened quietly, his gaze fixed on you.
“Without you, I couldn’t silence myself,” you said. “Even though it was Eren who left, I missed you.”
fuck—.
And at that moment, without realizing what you were saying, the words flowed out of you.
He didn’t look away. He was struggling to hold himself back. He knew that under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t accept this.
You were in love with Eren. That was a fact. But you were also in love with Armin. That was another truth you had hidden even from yourself.
It was clear that you didn’t understand the impact of the words that had escaped your lips. You were confused, and your mind was overwhelmed with thoughts. But the longing within you was pushing at Armin’s boundaries, making him desire you even more.
He should have waited for you to make the first move. He shouldn't have scared you. Then...
He felt a short, open kiss on his lips. Your eyes were tired of crying, closed. It was like a foreign kiss trying to get everything it can from him in this short time. You had always wondered about kissing him.
Armin knew that if he didn't act quickly, you would get embarrassed and pull yourself away.
Before you could pull yourself away, he wrapped his left arm around your body. You were stuck between his arms. He slowly pulled you towards him. You wrapped your arms around his neck.
Your chest was touching his chest. Before you knew it, your lips met again.
He copied the kiss you gave him without scaring you. He slowly pulled his lip back for a moment. As if waiting for your approval.
You had thrown one leg over his with the feeling of the kiss. You were so close. Even though you had cried in his arms countless times, this was completely different.
Maybe you should have felt guilty, but there was no trace of that feeling. Maybe it was because Eren had broken your heart so much. Maybe it was because this was one of your biggest fantasies.
You didn't leave Armin's question unanswered and brought your lips together again. This time, more intensely, more emotionally. It was as if you had both been waiting for this for a long time.
His hand on your back slowly moved down to your hip. He helped guide you towards him. Your most sensitive spots had touched each other in a closed way.
This sudden contact stole a moan from you. Armin took the opportunity and brought his tongue into your mouth and continued exploring you. You started to caress his hair with the hand on his head.
He brought you to a sitting position with his strong hands. Now you were sitting on his lap. His two hands were on your ass so he could sit you up more properly. You continued kissing.
When he squeezed your ass with his hands, you breathed out for a moment and your kissing stopped.
You leaned your forehead against his broad shoulder.
You were embarrassed. This made Armin smile. He leaned his head towards you and started kissing your exposed neck. Tiny open mouth kisses. Slowly moving up to your ear.
"Do you want me to stop?" He asked.
He already knew the answer. But he needed to hear it from you. You were driving him crazy. He had always dreamed of this moment but he hadn’t expected it to be this good.
You shook your head no. But that wasn’t enough of an answer. Armin wanted to push you to your limits. "I need to hear you, baby. Do you want me to continue?"
A thin ‘please’ escaped your mouth. Armin was practically blinded. But he shouldn’t have scared you.
He took a deep breath. 'said, “Come here,” and positioned you over him again with his hands on your ass.
You knew you were wet, but you realized it better when he made you sit fully on his length.
He released your lips so he could hear your moans properly. He was kissing your neck, while also helping you grind yourself against him with his hands.
This—this was too much.
You locked your hands around his arms. You tried to keep up with Armin’s rhythm as you found your balance.
You were a complete moaning mess.
You tried to hold back, but Armin encouraged you. Don’t hold back. Yeah? Please, he begged.
You liked how he begged—Armin knew that you would love it.
Even though he knew you so well, he was no longer stuck to the plan. Because the plan had ended there.
From here on out, it was all you and him. No one else, no plan, no game. No pain from the past, no anxiety about the future. There was only the present. You were together. You were dangerously close, and both of you just wanted more.
"Armin.. 'need more," you babbled.
Hm? Yeah baby? You need me, don't you? You need more of me. —Don't worry I'll give you what you need. I'll give you everything.
there might be a next chapter—or not. it’s my first time writing something like this, so I kind of chickened out lmao.
★ recreational drug use, angst, fluff, post break up, kissing, ex boyfriend, insecurity and anxiety, no smut
Ik the song is trending but when I tell you it's been a fave with me forever.. this WIP has sat with me for a while, and I changed my mind with a lot of it but hopefully u all still like it! (If I had a nickel for every Jean fic I wrote inspired by a charlixcx song, lol) Who said you can't make corny songfic in 2025??
┈➤here's the ao3 link or read under the cut :)
Jean thought you were the most beautiful he’d ever seen.
Silver confetti fluttered around you, the echoes of the crowd and thudding bass were overwhelming. You felt weightless and free as you danced in the darkness. The strobe lights made you see spots, highlighting the smoke that spun into the air, and for the briefest moment, everything was fine.
You couldn’t believe you almost didn’t come.
Hitch barely managed to persuade you to skip your 8 am tomorrow, just so you could all get fucked up tonight.
You took an Uber so none of the group would have to drive from the pregame near campus to Jean Kirschtein’s obnoxiously large house in the country.
You and Jean had a complicated history—Hitch and Annie didn’t know, because you hated the drama of it all.
All your freshman year at Paradis State, you were inseparable in puppy love, and so unprepared for the consequences of it. You weren’t the best at expressing your feelings and boundaries, and Jean was eager to please you. It should have worked better, and you tried not to linger on that fact. He was breathtakingly handsome and had lots of friends, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise that you eventually just stopped seeing each other.
Well, you stopped seeing him.
You practically ghosted Jean when you found out about his weird feelings about Mikasa. You couldn’t unsee his crush whenever he was around her, and it killed you. You weren’t even angry with her for it, since Mikasa was happily infatuated with Eren, though you wished you could tell her plainly that you harbored nothing against her for it.
You were young and emotional, and let your hurt get the better of you. It didn’t make any sense, and you didn’t even give Jean a chance to explain himself, ever.
The aftermath was awkward considering how many mutual friends you had, so you just avoided him entirely. You started going to clubs in the next town over instead of bars and parties around campus, and you were content with the new friends you made in Annie and Hitch, despite their connections looping back to the same place.
You supposed for as long as you lived in Trost, everyone you knew would lead you back to Jean. He was a good guy. You kind of freaked out, and got too embarrassed and proud to go back to him and apologize.
“C’mon man, are you gonna try to enjoy yourself?” Connie gave him a light punch on the shoulder.
“I am,” Jean said, irritated, and glanced outside again. “Are you sure she’s coming?”
He had spent the first hour of the evening hovering by the windows. They were tall and wide, so he would have seen you perfectly from the other end of the room, but as soon as he heard that you were coming, he was a wreck.
He insisted on picking out the decorations instead of letting Sasha take the lead, like she usually did. He couldn’t help himself from the excitement that blossomed in his chest at the idea of seeing you, really seeing you.
As the others around him began pregaming, Jean really drank.
He didn’t want to get his hopes up, but he couldn’t help it. His heart raced all evening, resounding all his longing, begging, willing you through that door. Come to my party. Come to my party.
Jean felt like he was always catching glimpses of you, and no matter how hard he tried to move on, the way you seemed to, there was always a remaining trace of bitterness. You were barely there, yet not close enough for him to properly ignore the way you made him feel.
It was years ago, and should mean nothing. It meant nothing.
“Look man,” Connie put his hand on Jean’s shoulder, his breath fanning the scent of beer over to his friend. “Just relax! Either y’talk to her, or you don’t. I don’t think you should waste your night being emo about it. Make a decision. Do something instead of moping around.”
Jean shoved his hand away, a little harsher than he intended to. He couldn’t gauge his own strength—or temper–when he got drunk like this.
“Yeah, I know.”
By the time you arrived at the sizable mansion, up a long winding driveway lined with trees, you were so high, you didn’t give Jean a second thought.
You walked in with the girls, immediately enamored with the superfluous decorations, the colorful, ambient lighting, and the blasting music. Balloons hung from the ceiling and littered the floor, and it seemed like over a hundred people were crammed into every crevice of the house.
“What the hell is this party for again?” You yelled to Hitch, despite her face only being a few inches from yours. Her eyes were hazy and distant, as she’d shared some molly with you earlier, the dose she took was far more.
“Uhh, I think Jean said he just needed a pick me up for the new semester,” she shouted back and slipped her sunglasses over her eyes. “I think it’s pretty.”
“I’m getting jungle juice,” Annie said boredly. She’d taken more shots than any of you, and remained composed like it was nothing. “Come with?”
Hitch nodded.
“Y/n? You rolling?”
“Not yet. I’ll catch up with you in a bit,” you shook your head and gave them an encouraging smile.
“Fine, but if I leave here alone, I’m killing you both,” she stuck her tongue out at you playfully, and gripped Annie’s arm as they went off.
You smiled and decided to occupy yourself by weaving through the crowd, people watching.
There were people taking shots, legs in tall boots and short skirts, groups smoking cigs and rolling up by the staircase. A throng of people surrounded the DJ on the raised platform by the living room.
Your senses were pleasantly heightened, you felt warm and light. The mixture of drugs kept you at ease, though a part of you ached, and seemed to search for a certain familiar face.
You pushed away the thought and made your way across the floor.
You saw Historia posing as her girlfriend took photos of her, the flash briefly blinding you as you stumbled past. You waved at Connie and Sasha, the former shotgunning a beer as his friend timed him. It was always nice seeing them.
“Hey Y/n!”
You turned to find a buzzed, cheerful Marco, with a solo cup in hand, and he leaned in for a hug.
“Hey!” You said, surprised, and squeezed him tight.
You liked Marco a lot, and despite being Jean’s best friend, he was one of the kindest people to you throughout the past few years.
“I’m great, did you just get here?” He asked.
“Yeah. Looks like you guys went all out,” you grinned and gestured at the crowded room. If it wasn’t silver or gold, it was sparkling or glowing.
“It was all Jean’s idea,” Marco rubbed the back of his neck, stumbling over his words. “I dunno. He’s uh– excited. Probably on a second bottle by now.”
“Oh,” your eyebrows betrayed your concern. “Um, is he alright?”
“It doesn’t seem fair to… sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything,” Marco was pink from the alcohol, and seemed to turn a little redder. “You should enjoy yourself!”
“Well, where is he?” Were you beyond being subtle about this?
The temptation was killing you. Was Marco trying to say that Jean wanted to talk to you? Why else would he suggest it?
“Um, outside, I think,” he gave you an apologetic smile. “Really, he’ll be okay. You should enjoy your night. He sent me away to enjoy mine.”
You swallowed and watched him disappear into the crowd.
You were fucking out of it. Maybe any mistakes you made tonight could be reasonably excused. Besides, you were friends with Jean long before you fucked things up.
You made your way through the sea of people and to the back door, an angelic synth swimming in your ears.
You stepped outside, and shivered from the biting February breeze.
The pool shone blue in the night, casting a glow that shimmered and shook with the water. It was quieter in the backyard, the thudding music and chatter was muffled and seemed worlds away.
You braced yourself to see Jean around the corner, or on a chair, but you were completely alone.
Your head was pounding from the powerful speakers. You took a deep, shuddering breath, allowing yourself to feel. Maybe you shouldn’t have gotten so fucked up, knowing that Jean would be here. You kind of walked into this. Yet, you think you might’ve felt the same sober. That was sadder. At least with this, you could blame it on the drugs.
Fuck. You couldn’t let yourself spiral and lose it. You felt like shit ruining girl’s nights like this, even if Hitch and Annie were preoccupied elsewhere.
You sank to your knees by the pool, and took off your heels. You dipped your feet in the water, grateful for the cold, tranquil distraction. You closed your eyes, and took deep breaths. With the muffled crowd and the occasional car passing in the street, the moment felt a little more real.
Jean was always good at helping you calm down. When you managed to convey the times you were overwhelmed, he was a saint, rubbing your back and keeping you hydrated when you got too high or anxious.
Tears leaked down your face before you could stop them. You didn’t want to ruin your makeup, after using so much glitter, but your cheeks were wet and your vision blurred. You hadn’t thought about this, or him, in years.
Did you overreact? You let your jealousy get to the better of you. God, you sucked. Maybe you should have stayed home. Maybe it’s just been too long, or you were high, and lonely, but the idea of Jean holding you close now made your heart ache.
You heard the back door slide open, spilling more heavenly electronic music into the air until it shut again.
“Hey.” A familiar voice called your name, nearly cracking.
“Hey,” you said, hastily wiping your face, staring straight ahead at the water. “Are you alright?”
“I think I should be asking you,” Jean slurred and sat down on the pavement. He had a bottle in his hand, and wore a button down with the sleeves rolled up, his hair tousled and sticking slightly to his forehead from sweat. His legs were crossed, and he leaned down while he spoke, his posture ruined in favor of staying at your eye level. “I di–um..” He cleared his throat. “I didn’t think you’d come.”
“Seemed like fun,” you laughed, despite the salty taste in your mouth. “It’s all beautiful, Jean. You always throw one hell of a party.”
His eyes were pained, and it sent a stabbing sensation to your chest.
“Thanks.” He seemed very tempted to say more, but instead took a swig and passed you the bottle.
“No I’m good, I’m rolling,” you pushed it back to him.
“Oh,” he said, surprised. “Any.. particular occasion?”
You shrugged.
“Hitch offered.” You tried not to read too much into his question. You rolled very rarely—partying was always magnified by a little molly every now and then. You likely flattered yourself too much as you wondered if he was thinking you came out tonight to fuck someone, with its reputation as a sex drug.
“Sounds fun,” he said, jaw tight. “So… why are you out here?”
“Marco kind of sent me,” you laughed. “Obviously, I was too late. Thought you’d be somewhere else by now, and the pool’s nice.”
“Well, here I am,” he said bitterly. He swept a hand through his hair, pushing it away from his eyes and ruining the near-perfect coif. You liked it better that way, messy and long, you didn’t think the perfectly combed look really fit him.
“How–how are you?” You said lightly. His lashes framed his sad eyes, brushing his cheek with every blink.
“Second semester always sucks,” he shrugged and took another swig. “Thought something extravagant would lighten everyone’s spirits.”
“Yeah,” you exhaled and laughed nervously. You were chewing your lip as you kicked your leg gently against the water, watching the small droplets flick away from you. “I think it was a great idea. And it’s stunning– inside, by the way. It’s gorgeous.”
There was a trace of a smile on his lips from your compliment. He couldn’t make himself say that it was really all for you.
Your features were glowing from the light refracting off of the pool, your short dress rode up your thighs, and Jean couldn’t help but stare. He wondered if you sensed it too, the tension—not from the awful history, or the unsaid professions, but the near tangible desire.
“I’m glad you made it,” he said softly. “It’s really nice to see you.”
“Of course,” you said quickly. You averted your eyes, your hands in your lap.
The drugs were heightening all your emotions, and all your senses—the tinge of chlorine in the air, mixing with Jean’s familiar scent, the faint thudding of music from inside the house, the cool water against your skin.
“Um,” your breath was shaky, your hands clenched into fists. “I’m sorry, by the way. A-about freshman year.” You nearly choked on the words as they bubbled out of you. “It’s—I was really dumb and jealous. You’re a great guy, Jean. You’re an amazing, sweet, romantic son of a bitch. You deserve the world.”
You tried not to stare, but it wasn’t like he was returning the favor. You were both shamelessly memorizing each other's features, a mingling of fear, apprehension, and desperation. You felt so wretched, to pretend like he was someone you never loved.
“Do you wanna dance?” Jean said pathetically. It was all he could manage, despite everything he wanted to say.
You blushed and tried not to smile too hard. That was more than enough for you.
“Yeah, I’d like that.”
You ignored the tossing in your stomach as Jean held the door open, leaking sound and smoke into the air before sliding it shut.
It was a small, guilty pleasure, feeling him guide you through the mass of people, dancing, thrashing bodies and balloons.
You found a small opening, nearly thrown together from the crowd.
You spent the night with your arms at Jean’s shoulders, and his hands at your waist. The strobe lights nearly blinded you, but you couldn’t look away from him. The adoration in his eyes, the curve of his lips. Maybe he was thinking the same thing, that you were both ridiculous, cowardly idiots. Maybe you were just delusional.
You couldn’t stop yourself when you leaned into him, taking in his scent, yearning to feel his heartbeat, as if you were the only people in the room. It was like time stopped and everyone else faded away when he closed the space between you, his lips warm and rough and they met yours, finally reuniting after all the heartache.
Jean tasted like home. His hands roamed your body, through your hair, and you clung to him, kissing him and forsaking your breath. It all felt so good, so right.
“Oh my god,” Jean groaned, thrilled by the taste of you, the way you felt against him and in his hands. He tried to be gentler, but he was too excited by your shallow breaths, your impossibly soft skin, your moans urging him to be more and more indecent.
You nearly stumbled, getting shoulder checked from a nearby dancer, and your tall heels failing you. Jean’s grip at your waist was firm, and he led you to the corner and pinned you against the wall. He kissed you until you gasped for air.
“Uh, should we do something?” Sasha nudged Connie with her elbow as she spotted you both from a distance, making out passionately, for all to see.
“Are you kidding?” Connie snorted. “They need that shit. I’ll find them an empty closet myself.”
sigma!connie who has been giving his brothers HELL ever since rush week
sigma!connie is always trying to bend the rules of the house; constantly seeing what he can get away with
sigma!connie who is surprisingly not a fan favorite amongst his college crowd, despite his extroverted personality
sigma!connie who only really rocks with his brothers, alpha!ony, eren (who refused to pledge to ANYONE), and you, of course!
sigma!connie first caught glimpses of you during rush week. you were pledging AKA, and you were beyond pretty enough to match their motif
however, after the first two days, he lost sight of you. you weren't at any of the events, and sigma!connie worried that you had gotten cut. that made his goal of meeting of you way harder now. you could be anywhere in the sea of thousands of college students, and he didn't even know your name!
after his probate, sigma!connie immediately began searching for you at every event and party; even stopping a couple of active AKA's in hopes of finding you
sigma!connie FINALLY saw you again in the campus bookstore of all places, and near damn tripped over his own feet trying to get to you
once he (very smoothly and nonchalantly, might i add) introduced himself, sigma!connie decided to ask what happened to you pledging. you explained to him that you realized it just wasn't your thing. too many restrictions for your liking
he could get that. sigma!connie was ALWAYS stressing his chapter advisors with his recklessness when it came to parties and performances
after the brief meeting in the bookstore, you and sigma!connie started to meet up every other day! he quickly learned that your poised, snobby demeanor was not just for show. you were spoiled and borderline rude. this, for some reason, did not deter him in the slightest
sigma!connie followed you around like a lost dog; helping carry your bags whenever you went shopping, adding his two cents in whenever you shared some campus gossip, and going out for drinks with you and your roommate (who was just as bad as you)
past your harsh and standoffish exterior, though, sigma!connie knew you were his. from the way you'd apologize to him whenever you said something particularly rude in his presence, to the way that you would buy him expensive accessories to go with his greek event outfits
you loved sigma!connie so much that you even started showing up to his performances! you weren't a fan of crowds, but you wouldn't dare miss seeing your connie up on that stage
sigma!connie was surprisingly good at stepping, and it didn't take long before he worked his way up to being in the front of the group during strolls and shows
sigma!connie who would drunkenly shout "LOOK AT MY HOT GIRLFRIEND!" at any given moment, and would be in genuine despair whenever he lost sight of you at a party (alpha!ony would wearily call you to "come get your damn puppy")
sigma!connie would only mellow out slightly (and i mean VERY slightly) when he was around you
sigma!connie's first gift to you was a royal blue and white michael kors purse. he was afraid you wouldn't like it since it was way below the price of your other purses, and you bursting out into tears didn't really ease his anxieties
so imagine his surpise when you enveloped him in a hug, sobbing about how sweet he was and how no one had never gifted you something so nice 🥹 yeah, sigma!connie was all yours by the end of the fall semester 💙
I got so many requests while I was away at rehab I feel so bad😭 incase ur wondering im gonna get back into writing I js need a bit of time to reset but trust next week I’ll catch up on some writing✊
summary : you and kelso gets caught by the gang with his shirt on you
WARNING : mention of smut
Donna and Eric went up stairs for the night so me and Michael were left sitting in silence on the couch “sooo” i said getting cut off from him pouncing on me leaving kisses on my lip to my neck “mikeyy” i giggled wrapping my legs around his hips as he sucked on my neck leaving dark purple hickeys trailing to my boobs “i’ve been waiting all day for this” he growled in my ear making me smirk “oh really?” i said pulling him away from leaving more marks “oh yeah” he said taking off his shirt and throwing it off to the side going back to kissing my neck “ooh michael” i moaned digging my nail into his bare back
after a hour we we’re finally done “grabbing me your shirt” i said to him as he slid his boxers on “and can we stay here tonight i can walk” i sighed grabbing the shirt out of his hands as he lays down behind me “jeez 5 rounds to much for ya pipsqueak” he said resting his head on his hands as i say back down after slipping his shirt on “no the 4th one was to much” i said laying down on his chest snugging up smelling his cologne that somehow didn’t sweat off if him
“kelso and y/n had fun time” fez whispered to the gang who were just as shock as him “whoever would have known” donna said pulling out her polaroid snapping a picture of the two obviously waking them both up “god what the fuck” y/n yelped clutching the blanket “oh hey guys” kelso smiled like a idiot with lipstick kisses smudged all over his face “damn kelso” hyde smirked his hands resting on his hips “on the couch guys really…and is that his shirt” jackie groaned letting go of hyde’s arm pointing to y/n
“can you guys just get out for a sec so we can get dressed” y/n groaned rolling her eyes “make it quick i need to watch charlie’s angels” jackie said turning to walk out as the rest of the gang followed behind “bet you’re wishing we went to my house don’t cha” michael smirked making me chuckle slapping him with my shirt “shut up kelso” i smiled pulling him in for a kiss
a/n : enjoyed this? request for more kelso one shots
kerry von erich x afab!reader | 10.9k | 18+ minors dni | tw: mentions of death, language, some smutty implications
It wasn't exactly something you had planned for, certainly not at this stage of your life. Then again, life never did seem to work out the way you had expected. After a very happy and loving childhood and slightly turbulent but overall great teenage years, your world got turned upside down when you turned eighteen.
so i finally finished this, i did not expect it to be over 10k 🫢 i am already thinking i want to write a little part two for this, but i got a whole lot more to write before that! i hope you enjoy this, and if you perservere the whole way through i love you! 🫶🏻💗
🌼
The drive took hours, the immense heat didn't help the feeling of exhaustion that settled over you. It was a rare occasion that you drove back home to Denton from Austin, particularly in the last few years. Now you wouldn't just be visiting, you would be staying.
Your mom had been driving home from work when she got into a car accident, one which ultimately claimed her life. It left an empty space in your heart, one you felt could never be filled. Her death felt impossible to process, you couldn't do anything but feel totally numb. You hadn't cried when you were told by the doctors that she had passed away from her injuries. You hadn't cried when you went to her funeral. You couldn't, the tears wouldn't come. There was just a hollow void in you, you couldn't focus on anything.
After the funeral, you received an acceptance letter from college, which you ignored. You weren't in the right headspace for it, and despite your dad trying to convince you to go, you refused. That was when the guilt sunk in. Why should you get to go on with your life, have new experiences when your mom would never have that opportunity again?
Your dad withdrew into himself too, the two of you didn't talk and when you did it was to fight and argue, both unable to handle your grief.
You needed to get away, and planned to go to Dallas for a new start. That didn't pan out, so you headed to Austin instead, with a renewed determination to start over. And you did, you got yourself a place to stay, a job in a bar, and started getting back on your feet. Over time you got your own apartment and started working in a hair salon, doing basic jobs at first before deciding to professionally train.
After about six months you had gotten in contact with your dad again. It started slow, occasional phone calls or letters, then you visited one Christmas. You weren't super close, but he was the only other person in the world who loved your mom as much as you did, your tether to her. Then, a year or so ago, just when you had thought you were starting to really build a solid bond with your dad, he went quiet. Barely any calls, wouldn't let you visit.
You feared the worst when two months went by with no contact. The neighbors would have contacted you, you knew, but you still worried. Then you got a call from a stranger, who turned out to be your dad's nurse. She explained that he hadn't wanted you to worry, sympathizing when you said you only worried more if he was silent. There was a knot in your stomach when you asked what was wrong, trying not to imagine your dad slowly wasting away in front of you or losing his memories of your mother and you.
When the nurse informed you that your father had rheumatoid arthritis, the knot in your stomach loosened, but only slightly. You learned that the nurse could only visit your father three times a week, and his insurance didn't cover more care. So, you took the decision to give up your life in Austin and head back home to look after your dad.
The sun was just beginning to set when you drove down the familiar road, passing the few neighbors' houses. You turned eventually, heading down the long driveway. Your heart thudded as you spotted the large garage, dozens of cars dotted about in the yard. None of them had been worked on for a long while, you suspected, the owners no doubt not pushing for a quick return.
You drove up to the house, taking a deep breath as you parked your truck. You only took one suitcase up to the door with you, deciding to get the rest of your stuff later. Pushing the doorbell, you took a step back and glanced at the light blue bird feeder hanging by the door. Your mom would sit on the porch for hours and watch birds come and go, she always looked so peaceful when she did.
A few moments later, the door opened and revealed your father on the other side. Neither of you said anything, neither of you moved for a moment before you both stepped forward and wrapped your arms around each other.
“You didn't have to come,” Your father murmured, holding you close. “I'm fine.”
“I know you are,” You nodded, gently rubbing his back. “I wanted to come. Now let me get my things inside, I want this unpacking out of the way.”
Once you had taken your things up to your old bedroom and unpacked, you sat on the end of the bed for a moment. It had been a while since you'd visited, but you got the same feeling you did every time. The memories came back full force, from playing with barbies with your best friend to sneaking a boy in through your window late at night. The teddy bears, posters of bands and trophies had been put into storage but the bedsheets were the same ones you'd had as a teenager. There was still a cork board above the desk with faded concert tickets, photos and birthday cards pinned to it.
You made your way downstairs, finding your dad in the living room and letting him know you'd make dinner. It was easy, moving through the kitchen again. Every time you'd visited the muscle memory came back. It always stung a little that your mom wasn't there, singing along to the radio as she chopped vegetables, the knife moving in rhythm. She always made up her own lyrics when she couldn't remember the real ones, her version always stuck in your head when you heard the songs again.
Once dinner was ready, you brought the plate to your dad on a tray in the living room. You watched him out of the corner of your eye, the way he struggled with his knife. He didn't ask for help and you waited until he set his cutlery down in frustration before you quietly got up and cut up his dinner for him.
It was only when you were laying in bed later that night that you realized that things like that would be your life from now on. Parents look after their children, then children look after their parents years and years later. It felt too soon to be looking after your dad. He wasn't even retired yet, you weren't even thirty yet. But, life doesn't always go to plan.
In the morning, you thought you were dreaming when you woke up. It took a minute to adjust, to remind yourself you weren't just visiting. There was nowhere else to call home anymore. You took a shower and got dressed before making breakfast, having more small talk with your father. You noticed his shirt wasn't quite buttoned right but elected to ignore it.
“I'm gonna take a walk,” Your father informed you after breakfast. “the air is fre-”
“Freshest this time of day,” You smiled, giving him a nod. “I remember. I'm gonna clean up, is Carla coming today?”
“Tomorrow,” Your father replied, clearing his throat. “She comes on different days each week. She covers a big area.”
“I see,” You nodded, watching your father for a moment before clearing the plates. “Well I got this under control. Enjoy your walk.”
Once you'd cleaned the kitchen, you decided to do the rest of the house too. It wasn't bad, just needed a little sprucing up. When you got to your dad's bedroom you took a breath before walking in. Your mom's things weren't there anymore, they had been put away into storage, but her presence was still there. As you made the bed you thought about all the times you'd climbed into your parents bed after a nightmare, the birthdays and mother's days you'd take your mom a tray, feeling so proud when she told you she loved it.
When you were vacuuming, you glanced out the window and spotted a figure heading into the garage, unable to make them out clearly. You made your way out of the house and over to the garage, the air already feeling hot.
“Hello?” You called, holding your hand over your forehead to shield your eyes as you turned into the garage. “Can I..”
You let out a sigh as you spotted your father leaning over the hood of a truck, lowering your arm.
“Dad, what are you doing?” You asked, walking over and folding your arms. “You told me you were taking a walk.”
“I was,” Your dad nodded, looking over to you as he gestured to the truck. “Then I remembered I had this sitting in here. I gotta get it back by tomorrow, Ed’s gonna need it.”
You took a deep breath, slowly lowering your arms and stepping closer to the truck.
“If it really needs to be fixed by tomorrow, then let me do it.”
“Let you do it?” Your father repeated, a concerned look on his face. “I couldn't ask you to do that.”
“Then good thing you're not asking,” You smiled. I'm a little rusty but you can just give some guidance if I'm going wrong. I didn't spend half my teen years here for nothing.”
“Well, if you're up for it,” Your father nodded, taking a step back. “Give it a whack.”
An hour or so later, you popped the key in the ignition and let out a cheer when the truck started. Your dad stood up from where he'd been sitting, walking over to the window.
“Well look at that,” He smiled, opening the car door for you. “You never lost it.”
“Apparently not,” You grinned, turning off the ignition. “I can drop this over to Ed, if you want?”
“If you want,” Your dad nodded, looking down at his shirt and frowning slightly before looking back to you. “You'd be doing me a favor really. He said he wasn't in a rush but..I don't want to delay him.”
“Okay, I'll drop it over,” You nodded. “I'll pick something up for dinner, too. Do you need anything else?”
Your dad thought for a moment before shaking his head and gently patting the door of the truck.
“I'm all good. I'll let you get off.”
“Alright, I'll see you later.” You smiled, closing the door and starting up the truck. You presumed Ed lived exactly where he always had, and honestly you were a little amazed he was still alive. When you were a child he was about a hundred years old, god only knew what miracle was keeping his heart ticking.
When you were out on the road, you lowered the windows and turned on the radio, enjoying the fresh air as you sang along to the music.
‘So smile for a while and let's be jolly, love shouldn't so melancholy, come along and share the good times while we can..’
When you arrived in town, you drove to Eds's first, parking up outside and looking up at his house. The place hadn't changed in probably 50 years, not so much as a paint job. You took the keys and headed to the front door, pushing the door bell before taking a step back.
After a few minutes, a woman you didn't recognise opened the door and you wondered if you'd somehow gotten the wrong house. She certainly didn't resemble Ed, with her kind eyes, warm smile and curly brown hair. Ed looked like Mr. Magoo on a bad day.
“Hi,” You smiled, gesturing over your shoulder to Eds's truck. “I'm looking for Ed Hicks, I'm dropping off his truck.”
“That thing,” The woman rolled her eyes with a smile. “He shouldn't even be driving it, yet he still gets it dropped for repairs. Come on in darling, he's here.”
You followed the woman inside, heading into a living room that looked like it should have been in a shack in the woods. In the corner, Ed was sitting on an armchair watching the TV, looking exactly as you'd remembered him.
“You got a visitor Ed,” The woman told Ed, raising her voice. “This young lady has come to drop your truck back. Don't tell me you've been driving again?”
“Nope, cross my heart,” Ed patted his chest before looking over to you. His eyes were so pale you were amazed he could see you but he recognised you right away.
“You back at your daddy's then?” Ed asked once you'd walked over and shaken his hand, giving him a nod.
“Yes, I am,” You told him. “He was busy so I thought I'd drop your truck back, needed to head into town anyway. How have you been, Mr. Hicks?”
“Oh you know me,” Ed shrugged, looking back to the TV. “I get by. Still waiting for this one to marry me though,” He gestured to the woman. “any day now.”
The woman laughed affectionately as she shook her head.
“Stop it you, you old charmer. Now I need to get going, you need anything else?”
“I'm all good, you get yourself gone,” Ed waved his hand. “I got my stories.”
You said your goodbyes and left the house with the woman, turning to her as she closed the door.
“I know this sounds a little strange, but your voice is really familiar,” You raised a brow. “Have we met?”
The woman looked at you for a moment before nodding and smiling, folding her arms.
“I was thinking the same thing, we most certainly talked recently. I'm Carla, I'm a nurse, I do a lot of home visits around here.”
“Carla..of course,” You smiled. “I think you look after my dad?” You gave her the details and noticed her face lit up a little as she nodded.
“I certainly do,” She smiled. “So you must be the daughter he's so proud of,” She grinned. “You know I gotta say, it is really admirable what you're doing. If I could, I'd be out at your dad's more but..I can just about manage to hold onto the days I do have.”
The two of you walked down the porch steps and towards the curb, stopping by a little red car.
“You need a ride somewhere?” Carla asked, opening her purse and taking our her keys. “I've got another visit but I can take you somewhere if you need.”
“I just need to go to the supermarket, if that's okay?” You asked, deciding to worry about getting home later.
“Of course,” Carla nodded, unlocking her car. “Hop on in.”
You got in the car and put on your seat belt, looking over to Carla as she started the engine.
“Can I ask you something, if you don't mind?”
“Of course you can honey,” Carla smiled, looking over to you before looking back and pulling away from the curb. “What's on your mind?”
You looked out the window, taking a deep breath.
“My dad..it's bad, isn't it? His condition? Like..I know a lot of people function just fine with arthritis but I've noticed little things he can't do anymore.”
Carla let out a soft sigh, her hand gently touching your arm.
“I won't lie to you darling, your dad's arthritis is severe, in fact..the hospital wants to run more tests just in case he might be developing Parkinson's. You came at a good time, he's going to need the extra help.”
“Yeah,” You nodded, keeping your eyes on the world outside the window. “I think I did. It just feels..strange. How do you do it every day? Look after people, see them become frail in front of you?”
“Well I love my work,” Carla replied, gently squeezing your arm before letting go. “It feels like I'm making a difference. You'll get that feeling, it just takes time. And your dad isn't so frail, he just needs more time to accept his limitations. It hasn't been easy on him.”
“I know,” You nodded, looking over to Carla. “I'm sorry I haven't been around much, but I'm glad you've been looking after him. He can be a little stubborn about accepting help but I hope he hasn't been too difficult.”
“He's been a dream,” Carla smiled. “I know that he's frustrated that he can't do all the things he used to, but he's getting a little better at accepting it every day. The hardest part seems to be work. He keeps telling me he's gonna get back out to the yard and fix up all the trucks but..it's just not possible.”
You nodded before looking back out the window, the familiar sights flashing by.
“I found him by Eds's truck this morning, I told him I'd do it and let him tell me what to do but..I could tell he wanted to be doing it himself.”
“Well that's not a bad thing,” Carla looked over to you. “He may not be able to work himself but if he feels like he's contributing then that might ease the disappointment. Are you a mechanic yourself?”
You smiled to yourself as you shook your head, glancing over to Carla.
“No, I'm a hairdresser. I used to help my dad out in the yard when I was a teenager, picked up some things. I never really thought of it as a job, more just a hobby.”
“Hobby or not,” Carla raised a brow, gently touching your arm. “Might be something to think about. Is here okay to drop you off hun?”
“Perfect,” You nodded, glancing at the window. “Thank you so much.”
“Anytime,” Carla smiled. “I'll be out at yours tomorrow, see you then.”
The afternoon passed by quick enough, you got a coffee in the diner, made small talk with people you knew in another life, went to the supermarket, bumped into one of the neighbors who offered you a ride home. It was like you'd never left, the familiarity sinking into your bones.
Your dad was watching TV when you got home, a sight you never thought you'd see on a warm afternoon. You made your way to the kitchen, trying to ignore the knot in your stomach as you unpacked the groceries and started preparing dinner. You turned the radio on, humming along to the music as you moved about the kitchen with ease. When you were plating up dinner, you felt the knot in your stomach tighten as you got a knife and fork to cut up your dad's food. It was spaghetti, which made it easier to disguise that it had been cut, but you knew you'd have to keep doing it.
You took the plates into the living room, placing a tray on your dad's lap before sitting down yourself.
“How was town?” Your dad asked, picking up his fork and glancing over to you. “Anybody about?”
“A couple,” You nodded, dipping your fork into your pasta and pushing it around a little. “Nobody too exciting.”
“Ah, never is,” Your dad shrugged, looking back to the TV. “Oh turn up the volume, the match is coming on.”
You reached for the remote, raising the volume and glancing over to your dad.
“What match?”
“Wrestling,” Your dad explained, pointing to the TV. “David's making his debut tonight. Should be a good one.”
“Oh,” You raised a brow, looking back to the TV. “I didn't know he was getting into wrestling..does Kevin still do it?”
“Sure does,” Your dad nodded. “He's good too. Reckon he'll be even better now with his brother on side.”
You sat back a little, your eyes watching the screen as the presenter explained the upcoming bout. When it cut to a reporter standing with Kevin and David Von Erich, you couldn't help but smile. They looked so different from when you had last seen them, but they still had that familiarity, a boyish charm.
When David looked down the camera lens and gave a warning to the opponent, you bit your lip slightly, smiling to yourself as your Dad praised him. The match was fun to watch, your dad's enthusiasm made you think of how he was when you were a child, his passion and support for the things he loved shining through. The last thing you wanted was for him to lose that joy, to have things in his life that brought him happiness.
The actual wrestling didn't interest you all that much, but it was entertaining and fun to see Kevin and David show off their skills, raise their arms triumphantly when they won.
“What did I tell you? They got something special there,” Your dad looked over to you. “You know, you should pop over and visit them one of these days. They'd love to see you.”
“Maybe,” You nodded, getting up and placing your tray on the coffee table. “I have things to do so..I'll have to see when I got some time.”
You gathered up your dad's tray, taking the dishes out to the kitchen and resting them on the counter. Taking a deep breath, you closed your eyes and tried to clear your mind, not wanting to give certain memories an outing.
You focused on cleaning the kitchen, taking your dad a beer when you went back to the living room.
“Just the one,” You smiled, sitting down on the couch. “So don't get too excited.”
“I won't,” Your dad laughed, shaking his head. Hell, even if I wanted another one I couldn't. Carla..the nurse,” He corrected himself, clearing his throat. “She can always tell. Scolds me something terrible.”
“Well she's just doing her job,” You shrugged, sitting back against the couch and smiling as you looked at your dad and noticed the slight smile on his face.
“She means well.”
“Mm, she does.” Your dad nodded, picking up his newspaper from the arm of his chair and slowly opening it, his face particularly obscured but not enough to hide his smile.
“Just gotta remember that sometimes.”
“I met her today, actually,” You glanced to your dad as you said it, watching as he didn't look away from the paper but didn't turn the page either. “She said she was coming by tomorrow.”
“Yeah, she will be,” Your dad nodded. “I saw it on the calendar.”
You rolled your eyes with a smile, sitting back and reaching for the remote to find something new.
The next morning, you woke up naturally and stretched slowly in your bed as you glanced to the window. You had left the curtains half open, the warm sunlight filtering into the room. After taking some time to get up, you made your way downstairs and paused in the doorway of the kitchen as you spotted your father sitting at the table reading the paper. It wasn't so much what he was doing but how he looked, with his carefully gelled hair and good brown suit. His shirt was buttoned properly and you felt guilty for wondering how long it would have taken him, if you should have knocked on his door and offered help.
“Morning dad,” You raised a brow, walking over to him and placing a kiss on his cheek. “You're looking snappy. Don't tell me I forgot your birthday?”
“Nah course not,” Your dad laughed softly, shaking his head. “It's just polite to dress for company.”
“Of course,” You nodded, smiling as you put on some coffee. “I'm sure company always appreciates it.”
You watched the machine brew for a moment before taking a deep breath and looking over to your dad.
“I was thinking..maybe today I could take a look at more of those trucks in the yard.”
“Hm? Why would you want to do that?” Your dad asked, and the knot in your stomach returned as you went to put on some toast.
“Because,” You began, popping two slices of bread in the toaster. “I enjoyed it. And-” You stopped yourself from speaking the words you knew your dad didn't want to hear.
‘Because you can't anymore.’
“I need something to keep me occupied,” You continued, looking over to your dad. I'll probably only get started on one truck but I want to dust off my old skills. You didn't teach me to waste them right?
“Right,” Your dad nodded after a moment, lowering his paper. “You're right..if you want to take a look I won't stop you.”
After breakfast you took a shower and got dressed in a simple blue sundress, glancing out the window as you heard a car approach. You smiled as you saw it was Carla's, heading out of your room and down the stairs. Your dad was in the living room, pacing back and forth a little until the doorbell rang and he rushed to answer it.
“Morning sweetheart,” Carla smiled at your dad after he greeted her, the smile on his face wider than you'd seen for a long while. “Don't tell me I forgot your birthday?”
As Carla was running through some medical checks with your dad, you went out to the yard and made your way to the garage. You took a set of keys and found the truck it belonged to before getting into the garage. The radio was turned on, there was some shelter from the already immense heat, and you soon found yourself getting back into the swing of mechanics. A little while later you were under the hood when you heard a truck coming up the drive. You figured it would be a drop off, possibly just a courtesy one. No doubt the whole town knew about your father's condition.
When the truck door opened and closed and you heard multiple voices, you ducked out from under the hood and grabbed a cloth to wipe your hands, immediately dropping it in shock when you saw who was walking towards the garage.
“Oh my god!” You shrieked excitedly, rushing forward and wrapping your arms around Kevin Von Erich when you got close enough. He laughed and gave you a tight hug back, each of you holding each other's arms as you pulled apart.
“I can't believe it,” You grinned. “It's been..well a long time.”
“Too long,” Kevin smiled, his eyes shining. “We were so sorry not to be here for your last visit.”
You waved your hand, smiling as you looked up at Kevin.
“Don't be silly. You big shot wrestlers have busy schedules, I get it. Caught you on the TV last night, almost couldn't believe my eyes.”
“You wouldn't be the only one!”
You laughed as Kevin turned around with a playful frown, your smile growing as you spotted Mike. You gently squeezed Kevin's arm before rushing over to Mike, his arms wrapping around you and swaying with you as you hugged him back.
“You are not Michael Von Erich,” You teased as you pulled back, raising a brow. “you're way too grown up. Look at you!”
“Aw come on I ain't changed that much,” Mike grinned, the tips of his ears growing pink. “It's just been a minute. It's so good to see you.”
“Don't I get a hug?”
You rolled your eyes playfully, giving Mike a wink as you stepped aside and folded your arms.
“I don't know,” You shrugged, raising a brow. “You're a real big mouth hot shot wrestler now, you really need the girl next door hugging you?”
“Yes, right this second.”
“Oh yeah?” You smiled widely as you rushed forward, David's arms immediately wrapping around you and lifting you up as you wrapped your arms around his neck.
When he set you down carefully, he gave you a wink and you gave him one back, stepping back and turning to Kevin and Mike.
“What brings you all over? I know it ain't that truck.”
The Von Erichs looked at each other for a moment before looking back at you, Kevin clearing his throat.
“Well we heard you were back in town, and..that it's more permanent this time. We were sorry to hear about your dad, hopefully he's doing okay.”
You looked at the three men in front of you for a moment, smiling as you folded your arms.
“Damn, word travels fast. Was it Ed?”
“Ed.” They chorused, making you laugh.
“Of course,” You nodded, dropping your arms. “Well I am back, and thank you, my dad's doing well. He's got his nurse with him today so..all good.”
“Hope it's not rude to ask if you want to come over for dinner some time?” Mike asked, resting his hands in his back pockets. “and your dad, of course. Mom keeps insisting.”
“So I really can't say no then,” You smiled. “That would be great, really.”
“Perfect,” David grinned, walking over to you and slinging his arm around your shoulder. “Knew you couldn't resist.”
“How could I,” You grinned, resting your hand on David's back. “I've had your mom's cooking before.”
“Amen to that,” David grinned. “Listen, what are you up to later?”
“You tell me,” You raised a brow, looking up at David with a grin. “Do I need to cancel my plans?”
“Absolutely,” David nodded, looking serious for a moment before grinning. “I'm taking you out for a burger, we're catching up properly.”
So, a few hours and one fixed up transmission later, you took another quick shower before changing into a clean t-shirt and jeans. Your dad was in an extremely chipper mood after Carla's visit, and you promised him you would be back in time to make dinner.
When David pulled up outside the house in his truck you felt like a teenager again, skipping down the porch steps and getting in beside him.
“Right on time,” You grinned, leaning over to kiss his cheek. “That a new habit?”
“Not the only one,” David grinned, turning the truck around and heading down the driveway. “You hungry?”
“Starving,” You nodded, sitting back and turning up the radio a little, singing along under your breath.
‘Go lightly from the ledge, babe, go lightly on the ground, I'm not the one you want, babe, I'll only let you down..’
You smiled as David turned up the radio, the two of you singing together as he drove towards town.
‘You say you're looking for someone, who'll promise never to part, someone to close his eyes to you, someone to close his heart, someone to die for you and more, but it ain't me, babe, no, no, no, it ain't me, babe, it ain't me you're looking for, babe..’
When David parked up in town, you were laughing at some silly joke he'd made, wondering if there would be any moment where you didn't feel seventeen again. You both headed into the diner, sliding into a red leather booth you'd sat in countless times in your life.
“I don't need to look at this, but it feels polite.” You plucked the menu from its metal stand and opened it, smiling as the wave of nostalgia hit you. Your mom taking you for a milkshake after school, hanging out with friends, one order of fries between six of you, and of course being there with the boys next door.
“I don't think you can beat a cheeseburger,” David grinned, sitting back and tilting his head slightly as he watched you read the menu. “I mean why would you not want a classic?”
“To be adventurous,” You teased, putting your menu back. “Try something other than a cheeseburger, chili fries and a coke. Unless you updated your order since we were last here?”
“Hey I know what I like,” David grinned, giving you a wink. “And like you ain't gonna order a chili dog and a strawberry shake.”
“Why would you not want a classic?” You grinned, laughing as David rolled his eyes playfully.
“Fair enough,” He nodded, glancing around the diner and sitting up a little. You were about to say something when two girls appeared at your table, probably just about twenty one. They blushed as they asked David for an autograph, giggling when he winked at them, handing back the flowery notebook.
“You're really famous now,” You grinned, gesturing to where the girls had stood. “you'll have a fan club next.”
“You could be the president of it,” David smiled, resting his arm along the back of his seat. “Give out all the buttons with my face on them.”
“Wow, you haven't thought about this at all, huh?” You teased, sitting up a little as the waitress came over. You both ordered your classics, choosing to let it slide.
“Oh you know who I met yesterday?” You raised a brow, looking over to David. “Nancy Moss, who apparently still hates my guts even though I ain't seen her since high school.”
“She hates you?” David raised a brow. “Nah, she never hated you.”
You shook your head, sitting back and holding your hands up. “She did, and still does.”
“I don't get it,” David frowned. “Why would she hate you?”
"Because of you," You grinned, pointing over to him. "I think she was jealous."
David looked surprised, glancing around for a moment before leaning on the table and meeting your eyes.
"Jealous? Of what? It's not like you and I ever dated. Not.." He cleared his throat, looking a little embarrassed in an endearing way. “not technically, anyway.."
"I think that annoyed her more," You shrugged, resting your arms on the table. "We weren't a couple but I got to ride around in your truck, I was always at your house, you were sneaking into my bedroom at night.."
"You were the one sneaking me in," David held up his hand with a grin. "how would she even know about that anyway?"
You shrugged with a smile, resting your hand on your cheek. "I may have said some things that she overheard, not my fault if she was eavesdropping."
“Oh I see,” David grinned, sitting back and gesturing to himself. “Bragging about me huh? Can't say I blame you.”
“In your dreams,” You rolled your eyes with a grin, sitting up as the waitress brought your drinks. You thanked her before sliding your glass closer, lightly swirling the straw in the thick pink liquid.
“How are your parents by the way?” You asked, taking a sip of your milkshake.
“They're good,” David nodded, clearing his throat and sliding his glass closer. “Thanks. We're all good. You should definitely come by, they'd love to see you.”
“Yeah,” You nodded, lifting your straw and slowly dropping it, taking a deep breath. “I'll definitely try and drop by.”
“Good,” David nodded, taking a sip of his drink before leaning a little closer and reaching out to touch your arm. “Oh you know what? You should come to the Sportatorium on Saturday night, bring your dad. We got a big match coming up.”
“That I can't object to,” You smiled, meeting David's eyes. “My dad will be beside himself with excitement.”
“That's great,” David. “So will you be when you see me do my thing.”
“Oh I've seen your thing many times,” You raised a brow with a smile. “Hope it's as good as I remember.”
When you arrived back home, you felt like you were riding on a high. The afternoon had been easy and fun, you couldn't remember when you had laughed so much. You said goodbye to David and went inside the house, finding your dad in the living room reading the evening paper.
“Hey,” You smiled, walking in and sitting down on the couch. “How was your day?”
“Hey darlin’,” Your dad smiled, setting the paper down in his lap. “It was alright, Carla left that for you,” He gestured to a white envelope on the coffee table. “tried to sweet talk her into letting me read it myself but my charms need some polishing I guess.”
“I'll get you a cloth,” You laughed softly, leaning forward to pick up the envelope. “I don't know why she'd leave me something.”
“I don't either,” Your dad sighed, looking down at his paper. “Anyway, how was your date?”
“Date? It wasn't a date,” You grinned, opening the envelope. “Just two old friends catching up.”
You peeled open the envelope and took out the letter inside, your heart sinking a little when you heard your dad mutter ‘that's right, it was the other one.’
“Oh this is nothing, just her contact details in case of an emergency,” You smiled, folding the paper back up. “I'm gonna freshen up then start dinner.”
“Alright sweetheart, take your time.” Your dad nodded, picking his paper back up as you left the room, holding the envelope to your chest.
You made your way upstairs, heading into your bedroom and sitting on the end of your bed. Taking a moment, you let out a breath before taking the letter back out from the envelope. Technically you hadn't lied, Carla's details were indeed on the letter, just written above the rest of it. As it turned out, your father would have to be taken into hospital the following week for some tests, and Carla felt (accurately) it would be better to tell him closer to the time, but didn't want you to be surprised.
Once you had carefully folded the letter back up and hidden it in your room, you went to the bathroom and splashed some water on your face, trying to push the thought of hospitals from your mind.
A couple of hours later, you placed a tray on your father's lap and sat down on the couch, looking over to the TV.
“Oh I forgot to say, I got some invites for you,” You smiled. “David invited us next door for dinner, and he's gonna get us tickets for the match next Saturday.”
“You're kidding?” Your dad held the remote in mid air as he looked over to you. “In the Sportatorium? Well, I'll be damned. You thank that boy for me won't you? I can't believe it. Oh just wait til I tell Earl.”
You laughed softly, picking up your own tray from the coffee table and setting it on your lap.
“I wasn't sure about dinner at theirs,” You began, taking a breath. “We don't have to go if you don't want.”
“Don't be silly,” Your dad looked over to you, setting the remote on the arm of his armchair. “Of course we can go. Fritz and Doris are old friends, and good neighbors. Why wouldn't we..” He stopped himself, looking back to the TV and letting out a sigh, his hand moving to his neck.
“I uh..I believe not all the boys still live at home. Some of ‘em went off, training..”
“I see,” You nodded, keeping your eyes on the TV and trying to keep your heartbeat steady. “In that case I'll tell David we'd be delighted.”
The week seemed to pass slowly, not that you objected. You spent most days out in the garage working on the various cars and trucks, finding yourself enjoying it more and more. Sometimes your dad would come out and give you instructions you didn't need, but followed anyway. You cooked, cleaned, made sure your dad had his good clothes for when Carla visited. You watched his eyes light up when she laughed at his corny jokes. She called you sweetheart and thanked you at least three times for a cup of coffee. You went into town, you noticed people stopped asking how long you were visiting for. Everyone sent their regards to your father.
One evening you and your dad visited the Von Erichs for dinner. It felt like old times instantly, your dad and Fritz putting the world to rights while Doris insisted you didn't need to help with the dishes but gave you all the gossip when you did. Kevin told you about a girl he was seeing, and you already couldn't wait to meet her. Mike invited you to a gig, and you promised you'd go. David constantly took the seat next you and made you laugh so much you ached.
The evening after, you had gone into town with Kevin and David to meet Pam, Kevin's girlfriend. You adored her instantly, the two of you clicking right away. You hadn't intended to get drunk, but you were having a good time and the drinks kept appearing and you didn't object. When one of the bars you visited was having a karaoke night, you and Pam were up on the stage before the alcohol-induced confidence could fade.
‘Look into his angel eyes, one look and you're hypnotized, he'll take your heart and you must pay the price, look into his angel eyes, you'll think you're in paradise, and one day you'll find out he wears a disguise, don't look too deep into those angel eyes’
By the time Mike came to pick you all up, you were wrapped around David to steady yourself, the world spinning on a loop. You struggled not to fall asleep on the ride home, resting your head on David's shoulder and focusing on the feeling of his hand on your shoulder.
When you got home, David took you inside to make sure you got to bed safely, your eyes closing the second your head hit the pillow.
“I had fun tonight,” You murmured softly, turning onto your side and letting out a sigh. “tell me ‘m fun.”
David laughed softly beside you, his hand gently touching your hair. “You're very fun. And a heck of a lot more.”
“Yeah?” You sighed softly, pulling the blanket up a little. “Then..then why wasn't I enough for him?”
“Hey,” David’s voice was soft and made you want to sleep. “don't be worrying about all that, you hear me? That's all over now. It was all just..a misunderstanding. You need to get some sleep, I'll see you tomorrow.”
By the time Saturday came around, you were feeling pretty good, greeting your dad when you went into the kitchen for breakfast. You could have sworn he hid some of his paper but couldn't be sure, there was no reason for him to. You moved about the kitchen getting breakfast ready, unable to shake the feeling your dad was hiding something.
You waited until he went to get dressed, looking under the table and finding a slightly scrunched up piece of newspaper on the floor. You picked it up and smoothed it out, trying to see what would be so offensive. Heatwave incoming, American athletes to withdraw from the Olympics, Cowboys win game, nothing to write home about. You left the paper back where you found it before cleaning up the kitchen, your suspicions melting away.
The evening came around quick, and you were looking forward to seeing the match. Your dad seemed a little quiet, to your surprise. He'd been so excited all week, now when it was time to go he didn't seem as enthusiastic. You didn't push it, especially when he didn't say anything about it.
The Sportatorium was already bustling with activity when you got there and parked up, feeling excited for the night ahead. You went in with your dad, finding your seats and smiling when he seemed to relax more.
It was halfway through the match when you saw him.
At first you thought you were just seeing things, imagining it. Imagining him.
But he was there, sitting in the front row with Mike, cheering on his brothers.
You felt your heart sink into your stomach, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath. You could hear your dad cheer beside you, the crowd going wild as a body slammed down on the mat.
You watched the rest of the match and refused to look anywhere else but the ring, wanting to run away more than anything.
When the match ended, you told your dad you weren't feeling well, needing to get out of the arena as quickly as possible. You felt like you couldn't breathe until you got into your truck, wanting to crawl into your bed and forget the world.
Your dad gave an enthusiastic debrief on the way back home, and you felt guilty for not sharing his excitement. When you got home you went up to your room and leaned against the door for a moment. You felt sick, your heart pounding in your chest. After getting ready for bed, you opened up the wooden chest at the end of your bed, rooting through it and eventually pulling out your last high school yearbook.
Taking it into bed, you opened the book and looked through the photos of your old classmates, smiling at some of the quotes, laughing at the others. You flipped to the back of the book, where your friends had written messages on the white pages. You traced your finger over them, smiling to yourself until you found it.
There it was, in black and white.
‘I love you now & always, can't wait to spend forever with you ❤️ KVE’
“Fucking liar.” You muttered, slamming the book shut and flinging it down to the end of your bed.
The following morning you didn't want to leave your bed, a restless night leaving you exhausted. You reluctantly got up and got ready, already dreading what was to come. You went downstairs and met your dad in the kitchen, the two of you heading out to your truck.
“I know you hid something from me,” You told your dad as you started your truck. “I wasn't sure why at first but now I know. And I'm grateful, but I can't avoid him forever. He's back, I saw him last night. He's going to be there today, and we will talk to him because we are good neighbors, and I don't want to embarrass you by causing a scene.”
Your dad was quiet for a moment, and you could feel your heart racing. Eventually, he silently reached out and took your hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“I'm proud of you sweetheart, always will be,” He murmured softly. “You can do this.”
When you got to church, you wanted to be anywhere else, especially when you spotted David's truck. You walked into the building with your dad, putting on a smile and making your way up the aisle. You spotted the Von Erichs right away, giving them a polite nod as you walked by, feeling your stomach drop as you realized the only free seats were in front of them. Your dad walked down the pew first, your heart racing as you felt eyes on you. You sat down, almost anticipating a hand on your shoulder, blue eyes burning into yours.
The service seemed to last forever, you wanted desperately to just turn and run, feeling trapped like a deer in headlights. When the reverend finally ended his sermon, you followed your dad outside and made polite conversation after polite conversation. Eventually you couldn't put it off anymore, and you found yourself with the Von Erichs. You felt like they were all looking at you like you were about to attack, electing to put on your brightest smile and stepping closer to Kerry.
“Well hey stranger,” You gave him a hug, feeling him hesitate for a moment before he hugged you back and the familiarity could have killed you. “It's so good to see you again.”
You pulled away, taking a step back as your dad greeted Kerry, your hand hammering in your chest. David gave you a reassuring smile and Kevin subtly squeezed your arm. After some small talk, you made your way to your truck with your dad. Neither of you said a word until you were back home and in the kitchen. You'd gone to put on some coffee and burst into tears.
Your dad immediately wrapped his arms around you, stroking your back and holding you close.
“It's okay darlin’,” He murmured, letting out a sigh. “Your mama wasn't shy with the truth, and you know how she knew things about us we didn't even know? She knew all about you. She told me, and I'm sorry I wasn't there for you.”
“It's okay,” You whispered, pulling back and wiping away your tears. “It was a long time ago. I just..I just want to forget about it.”
“Alright darlin’,” Your dad nodded, letting out a sigh. “Come on, you need some rest.”
He refused to listen to your protests, taking you to the living room and draping a blanket over you as you got on the couch. You wanted to insist you were fine but all you could do was wrap the blanket around yourself and close your eyes.
You were dimly aware of noises around you, your dad reading the paper, the radio playing in the background. A dog barking in the distance. At one point, just as you were drifting between sleep and wakefulness, you could have sworn you heard voices in the hallway.
‘Please sir, I just need to talk to her.”
‘It's not a good time right now.’
The next day, you went out to the garage after breakfast and focused on fixing things you could salvage. Your dad hadn't confirmed your suspicions there had been a visitor the day before, and you didn't ask. Part of you wanted it to be true, and you hated yourself for that desire.
The sun was high in the sky when you heard footsteps approaching, reaching for a clean rag to clean your hands.
“Almost done, I'll be in to make lunch in a second.”
“Hi.”
You took a deep breath as you heard the voice, clutching the rag in your hands before turning and seeing Kerry standing at the entrance to the garage.
“Why didn't you just drive over?” You asked, tossing the rag aside and walking back to the truck in the middle of the garage.
“I wanted some fresh air.”
“Well now that you've had it you can go home,” You sighed, feeling your hands tremble slightly. “Sorry to make you waste a trip.”
“I'm not going anywhere,” Kerry told you, walking closer. “I need to talk to you.”
“Who says I want to talk to you?” You sighed, keeping your eyes on the engine.
“Please just let me explain,” Kerry sighed. “You see, I-”
“Explain what?” You interrupted, stepping back and looking over to Kerry. “That you're sorry? You never meant to hurt me, you wish you could take it back, you've lived in regret, blah blah blah. Bullshit. Save your breath.”
Kerry was silent for a moment, keeping his eyes on you before he looked away and nodded.
“I understand that you're upset, but-”
“Oh, you understand,” You scoffed, placing your hands over your heart. “That makes me feel so much better, you understand. If you understood then you wouldn't have done what you did. You never even gave me an answer, you know that? One minute we're planning our future, you're telling me you love me, we're forever, we're going to start a new life. The next minute I'm standing right here waiting for you and you never show. Then I hear you're gone. You're with her and you're heading off to start a future with her. How the fuck could you possibly understand how I feel?”
“David,” Kerry replied. His tone was soft but there was a hardness in his eyes. “That is how I understand. I thought that was all over between you, then I heard you two got back together after our graduation. I took it as you choosing him over me, I had to protect myself.”
“Am I seriously hearing this?” You laughed, shaking your head. “Some idiot told you I was with David and you just believed it?”
“Can you blame me?” Kerry muttered. “Not like you didn't have previous. I wasn't gonna sit around waiting for you again.”
You felt something inside you snapped, and you stormed over to Kerry with a fire in your eyes.
“How dare you say that to me?!” You snapped. “As if you ever sat around waiting for me, don't make me laugh. I was the one sitting around waiting for you to open your eyes.”
“Oh yeah?” Kerry frowned, his voice raising slightly as he stepped forward, his tone growing harsh. “Was this before or after you fucked my brother?”
You took a deep breath, holding Kerry's gaze.
“Don't you dare, Kerry Von Erich, throw that in my face. You never fucked anyone? Not my best friend, not every girl that was throwing herself at you? And not that it's any of your fucking business,” You held your hand up. “But the only reason David and I started doing anything was because you had stood me up again and he was consoling me. I have been in love with you since I was thirteen years old, and I thought I was destined to be your friend forever. If I couldn't have you then David was the next best thing. But I couldn't officially date him because I knew you'd never want me then. Then I did get you, I finally fucking got you and you saw me, and I..”
You stopped yourself as you felt tears welling up, trying to push them away.
“I couldn't believe my luck, I wanted to believe that we could be together forever, you made me feel so loved and so safe and happy then you just ripped it all away. I..I can't deal with this,”
You stormed past Kerry, the tears fully flowing. He called after you, tried to grab your arm but you pulled it away. You could hear him following you, trying to talk to you. You blocked it out, heading up the porch and into the house. Heading into the kitchen, you got yourself a glass of water and tried to calm yourself down.
“Please just let me explain,” Kerry pleaded behind you, fresh tears welling up in your eyes. “I swear I never meant to hurt you.”
You set your glass down, turning around and taking a deep breath.
“I don't believe that. If you didn't want to hurt me you would have just left, but you left with someone else. You left with my best fucking friend, so don't tell me you didn't want to hurt me.”
You walked past him, heading to the living room and freezing on the spot when you got there.
“It's not what you think,” Kerry sighed as he approached. “I can explain if you-”
He looked at you before following your gaze.
You felt like time stood still as you ran across the living room and dropped to your knees, your dad lying unconscious on the floor.
“Dad,” You gently shook his shoulder. “Dad it's me, wake up. Come on, wake up now..”
You felt panic set in as he didn't respond, holding your hand to his hot forehead.
“Dad..please wake up, you're not leaving me. Come on..”
A few minutes later, Kerry appeared by your side, dropping to his knees beside you.
“I called an ambulance, they're on the way,” He explained, gently touching your back. “He's going to be okay, don't you worry.”
“How can you know that,” You murmured, closing your eyes as more tears filled your eyes. “What if I've lost him too?”
“Hey, don't say that,” Kerry wrapped his arms around you and you didn't object, sobbing into his chest. “He's going to be fine,” Kerry whispered, stroking your back. “It's not his time yet, you got him for a whole while longer.”
“I'm still mad at you, you know,” You muttered, taking a shaky breath. “But thank you.”
Everything seemed to happen in a blur. You only remembered clinging to Kerry as paramedics came into the house and got your dad into the ambulance. You held his hand on the ride to the hospital, your head buried in Kerry's shoulder.
Being back in the hospital waiting room felt like a nightmare. You wanted to be anywhere else, wanted to run away from it all. When Kerry went to get some coffee you wanted to beg him not to leave, but couldn't. When he came back you accepted the coffee with a grateful nod.
“I think we should talk,” You sighed softly, looking over to him. “I don't need another thing hanging over my head. So..just tell me why you left?”
Kerry looked down at his cup for a moment before looking back at you and giving you a nod.
“Alright let's get this out there. I know that I wasn't perfect, far from it. I swear to you that I had no idea how you felt about me, if I had even suspected you saw me as something other than a friend then..”
He shook his head, laughing softly.
“I wouldn't have been such an idiot. I was crazy about you but I thought you saw me as more like a brother. So I thought I should just date anyone else, try and get over you. Then you and David started hanging out more and I really thought you weren't interested in me. So I just wanted anyone else as a distraction, I was so angry at David for stealing you even though you weren't mine to steal. I would hear you laughing in his room and it would kill me, I just wanted to know why you chose him over me.”
You took a sip of coffee, your heart aching in your chest. After a moment of silence you took a deep breath and looked over to Kerry.
“Why didn't you just come to me when you heard that stupid rumor that me and David were together again?”
Kerry looked up for a moment, letting out a sigh before looking back at you.
“Honestly? I didn't want to hear you confirm it. It would have killed me. I shouldn't have believed it, but I did. I thought you had realized I wasn't good enough for you and I just wanted to get away. So when the opportunity came up I took it.”
You wrapped your hands around your cup, letting out a soft sigh.
“And my best friend?”
Kerry shook his head, clearing his throat.
“That wasn't anything. We fooled around a little at a party. I was just desperate to get the thought of you being with David out of my mind. She asked if she could come with me when I was leaving but we went our separate ways when we got there.”
You went to reply but stopped when a doctor walked towards you. You reached your hand out to touch Kerry's, hesitating for a moment before he took your hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
As it turned out, your dad was indeed going to be fine. He had suffered a minor heart attack, and while he was to be kept overnight for observation, he would make a full recovery.
“Don't say I told you so.” You looked over to Kerry when the doctor left.
“Never would,” Kerry held his hand over his heart. “I promise.”
You took a deep breath, looking up for a moment.
“I should go see him. I was so scared I wouldn't be able to.”
“Go on,” Kerry smiled softly. “I'll be here.”
You made your way to your dad's ward, finding his bed and letting out a shaky breath when you saw him. He was still with you, still breathing. You sat down beside the bed, touching his hand.
“Thought you were gonna leave me too,” You murmured softly, watching his chest rise and fall slowly. “I would have brought you back to life and killed you again for doing that to me. I should've known you'd pull through, you're too stubborn to go this soon, right? And you got a lot more to pack into this life. Asking Carla out, for one. You think she's going to be won over by the jokes? You need to woo her, she'd be good for you.”
You stood up, stepping closer to the bed.
“I'm gonna be right back here in the morning, okay? You're in safe hands. I love you so much.”
You leaned down and placed a kiss on his forehead before pulling back with a smile and heading back to the waiting room. Kerry was still waiting for you, and you tried not to feel too pleased about it.
“I think I'm gonna head home,” You sighed softly, sitting back down beside Kerry. “I'll come back in the morning, I don't really want to spend the night trying to sleep in one of these chairs.”
“Fair enough,” Kerry nodded. “I can call Kev, get him to give you a ride home.”
“Okay,” You nodded. “Thank you.”
“And by home I mean our home,” Kerry took your hand. “You think I'm gonna let you spend the night alone in your place then you got another thing coming.”
Any urge to protest faded away, you nodded and watched Kerry go to phone Kevin to pick you up. You let out a breath, looking up for a moment before smiling to yourself.
As it turned out, it was exactly what you needed. Kevin came to pick you up, and very kindly agreed not to tell anyone about your dad. He brought you back to the Von Erich household and any fear you had about things being awkward melted away when Kerry and David seemed to be on perfectly normal terms with each other.
The boys played football and you cheered them on, feeling a lightness settle over you. When Kerry and Mike won they grabbed you and lifted you up like a trophy, your laughter filling the air as the sun dipped lower in the sky.
You ate dinner and helped Doris with the dishes and sat half on Kerry's lap when you all watched TV, his arm around your waist. You felt as if the last few years hadn't happened, you were back where you'd always felt happiest.
When the time came to go to bed, you insisted Mike didn't need to give up his bed for you, feeling guilty when he insisted he would. You wouldn't sleep anyway, knowing Kerry was in the bed across the room. You stared up at the ceiling for a while for a while before throwing the blanket off and getting up.
You padded across the room before you found yourself standing by Kerry's bed. He was awake too, looking up at the ceiling before he turned and his eyes met yours, the light of the moon making them seem even more blue.
“Can I get in?” You asked, smiling a little as Kerry immediately moved over and pulled the blanket back for you.
“Couldn't sleep either?”
“No,” You sighed softly, getting into the bed and laying down with your back to Kerry. He moved the blanket over you and kept his hand by your shoulder for a moment before pulling it back.
“Today was..a lot. Just feel like I need to come back down to earth.”
“I get you,” Kerry murmured softly. “Sometimes you just need something familiar.”
“Well this certainly is,” You raised a brow, smiling as you felt Kerry's hand near your waist. You reached down and pulled his arm around you, relaxing into his touch.
“I can't remember how many nights I slept in this bed.”
“Enough to make us experts at keeping quiet,” Kerry laughed softly.
“I know,” You smiled with a groan. “Oh poor Mike..did he ever find out I was sneaking in here?”
“Nah,” Kerry murmured softly, wrapping his arm around you a little tighter. “Sometimes in the morning he'd ask if I got up in the night or he'd tell me I talk in my sleep. I never corrected him.”
“Well I'm glad we really could keep quiet then,” You murmured softly, turning over and meeting Kerry’s eyes.
“I never said but..thank you for being there with me today. I know I didn't say the nicest things to you, and I stand by them, but..I really appreciate what you did.”
Kerry smiled and gently stroked your waist, giving you a slight shrug.
“Don't mention it, honestly. You would have done the same for me, and..no matter what happened between us I still love you, I'll always love you.”
“I'll always love you too,” You smiled softly. “We both did stupid things, we both ended up right back here. I'm sure that means something but I don't want to think about it too much right now.”
“That's okay,” Kerry smiled, letting out a breath. “It's been a long day, why don't you get some sleep.”
“I will,” You murmured softly, glancing down for a moment and taking a deep breath. “But I need to do one thing first.”
You leaned in closer, closing your eyes as your lips pressed against Kerry's. For a moment you worried he wasn't going to kiss you back, but your heart soared when he did, his arm pulling you closer.
In the morning there would be a chat about the future, you would have to bring your dad home from the hospital, carry on with normal life.
But, the night was young enough to not worry about all that, and you planned to make the most of it.
david von erich x afab!reader | 6.2k | 18+ minors dni | tw: language, smoking, mild smut | a reflection on your journey to the altar
so this is a complete and utter work of fiction, based on the very brilliant movie the iron claw. i knew as soon as i watched it i would have stories but i was a little surprised david came to me first. obviously harris dickinson is beautiful but i am down so bad for jaw. i got some kerry ideas too, and i always have a hundred different bear ideas on the go too so more to come | also just to note that because this is totally fictitious, i am choosing to ignore real life events for the most part and live in fanfic delusion. enjoy 🌼
-
It all seemed to happen in a flash.
In theory, you should have been used to it. Ready for it.
One minute you were heading to a local sports center on a work assignment, then in what felt like the blink of an eye, you were walking up the aisle to marry the subject of one of those photos.
But, to get to how exactly you ended up walking down that aisle, you need to go back to how it all started.
Which, like with most things when it came to you,started with a picture.
📷
From an early age, you loved photography. Capturing a moment in time, being able to look at it any time and relive the moment was always a thrill. Your childhood home was full of framed photos and photo albums, a collection of memories surrounding you.
When you turned 13, your parents gave you your own camera. It wasn't anything too technical or fancy, but it was immediately your most treasured possession. You took photos of everything, family occasions, your friends hanging out, nature, snapshots of Dallas.
As you grew older you threw yourself into studying everything about photography, worked an extremely tedious part time job to save up for a real camera, dedicated yourself to honing your skills. It wasn't difficult, your friends and family kept you busy with birthday parties, weddings, christenings, anything worth celebrating and you were there to capture the moments.
When you were in your senior year of high school, you discovered a fondness for a particular subject of your photos. You had been sitting in the bleachers after school one day with your friends, all you of chatting and laughing about something when you'd looked onto the football field and spotted two of the players talking about something animatedly, one of them slapping the other on the back as they laughed.
You had grabbed your camera, snapping a photo and rolled your eyes playfully as your friends teased you. Sure, the players were cute, but that wasn't why you took their photo. When the shots had developed, you were thrilled that your instinct had been correct. The red of the players jerseys popped, the gold star on their helmets gleaming in the sun. They looked graceful, despite their large frames, natural and charming.
From that photo, you began to base more of your photos on sport. It wasn't an area you had expected to become interested in, but it inspired your photography. Cheerleaders in perfectly formed pyramids, track stars crossing the line, football players clutching the ball to their chest as they threw themselves across the post.
After graduation, you applied for a journalism course, figuring it didn't hurt to have a backup plan and maybe it would get you a gig as a photographer for a newspaper or magazine.
Leaving home was tough, especially when a big going away party was thrown for you, your friends and family coming together to celebrate your accomplishments. When the time came to leave you were sure you'd never cried so much, trying to hype yourself up for the adventure ahead.
It was a lot of fun, being at college, as it turned out. Making new friends, learning new things, having new experiences. By the time it was over it felt like you could back and do it all again in a heartbeat.
You decided to move back to Dallas after you graduated. A job opportunity at a big paper came up, and your friend Pam had found an apartment that came with a spare room so it seemed like the right move.
It was about two weeks later you were tasked with going down to the Sportatorium on a Saturday night to document the latest wrestling match. Every time you went to a sporting event for work, you were accompanied by the senior sports writer, Duke. He was older than your father, far too old for his cheap toupee to be even the slightest bit believable. He wore cheap polyester suits, too much cologne and had a fondness for calling you ‘missy’ and placing his hand a little too low on your back.
You had psyched yourself up to ask Pam to come along, preparing a whole speech in your head. If she was with you then you could avoid Duke like the plague, couldn't possibly leave your guest alone.
Turned out Pam didn't take much convincing at all, in fact she practically jumped at the chance to come along. You tucked her excitement away in your mind, curious to see if the source would reveal itself at the match.
When the day came, you were excited to get some shots of a new sport. From what you'd seen on TV, the Sportatorium was bright and colorful, the wrestlers just as much so. You packed up your camera before getting changed into some jeans and a t-shirt.
Pam had taken one look at you and marched you back into your room, your protests of “But I'm working!” falling on deaf ears.
A compromise was reached. Your t-shirt stayed but a denim mini skirt replaced your jeans and brown cowboy boots replaced your beat up sneakers. You felt a little ridiculous, your job had you in all kinds of angles and positions to get the best shots, the last thing you wanted was to be unable to get a good picture because you'd end up flashing tomorrow's laundry to thousands of strangers.
When you arrived at the Sportatorium, the sun was dipping below the horizon and what seemed like hundreds of cars and trucks were pulling up. People were grabbing beers out of coolers, blasting music from boomboxes, grilling up hotdogs on portable barbecues. You got a couple of shots before Pam was hustling you inside to get your seats. Well, her seat. You told her you'd meet her outside after the match, not that she seemed to be paying attention, her eyes focused on the empty ring.
You made your way down to the ring, keeping an eye out for Duke and ready to sprint back to Pam if needed. To your relief, Duke wasn't in attendance. The junior sports reporter, Brian, had been sent in his place. The two of you weren't exactly close friends but he was much more professional. You got some shots of the crowd, feeling excited to see a match live. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, like something incredible was about to happen.
When the announcement came for the first tag team, you got some shots of them walking through the tunnel and into the ring, holding their arms in the air and greeting the crowd. Brian walked around the ring slowly, scribbling into a notepad, cigarette perched behind his ear.
Then they announced the next tag team, and you moved to the opposite tunnel to get shots of them. You took a breath as you snapped a shot of the taller one, his wavy blonde hair peeking out from under his back cowboy hat. He was wearing a leather jacket that he promptly tore off before he got into the ring, his back muscles rippling.
You cleared your throat, taking more photos and trying to concentrate on what you were there for.
The bell rang, and once the match started you had no shortage of great photo opportunities. The men in the ring moved with perfect proficiency and style, playing up to the crowd and putting on a spectacular show. You found yourself more and more drawn to the tall blonde, David Von Erich, you discovered.
He was so graceful yet could have these huge men slammed onto their backs, his arms bulging and a cocky grin on his face. Once or twice you could have sworn he caught your eye and winked at you but you were sure it was your imagination.
The Von Erichs won the match, you snapped a photo of the referee holding up the brother's hands as the crowd roared. Brian checked back in with you, telling you he was going to grab some quotes before heading off. You bid him farewell before going to find Pam, heading outside with the rest of the crowd.
“Hey, over here!”
You quickly spotted Pam, smiling as you waved back at her, weaving your way through the crowd to join her.
“Hey,” You smiled, laughing softly as Pam grabbed your arm, a wide grin on her face. “Are you al-”
“Come on,” Pam immediately started tugging you in the opposite direction. “let me show you something,”
You just about managed to maintain your balance and hold onto your camera as you dodged through the dispersing crowd, wondering what exactly Pam was doing.
Before long you had an answer, as you and Pam joined a large group of women hanging around the back door of the Sportatorium. Her keenness to come to the match made much more sense when Kevin Von Erich walked out the door, towel around his shoulders and bag slung over his shoulder. You had never known Pam to look at any man the way she was looking at Kevin.
“What are you waiting for?” You asked, giving Pam a gentle nudge. “Get on over there, girl.”
“I can't, there's too many girls round him,” Pam sighed. “I am not desperate. I'll wait for my time.”
“Saving the best for last huh?” You grinned, watching Pam roll her eyes playfully. “I don't think he's gonna be able to take his eyes off you.”
“You think?” Pam asked, glancing over to you. She looked genuinely concerned and you gave her a reassuring smile.
“I know.”
A little while later, when the crowd had dispersed and Kevin was signing the last couple of autographs, you gave Pam a gentle nudge, smiling as she quickly fixed her hair.
“Good luck,” You grinned, gently squeezing her arm. “Not that you need it.”
You gave her some space, walking over to a trash can before fishing a pack of cigarettes from your purse. You lit one up, glancing over to Pam and smiling as you spotted Kevin heading in her direction. Closing your eyes as you looked away, you took a long drag on your cigarette and felt yourself relax.
“You know it's a bad habit to smoke those things.”
You opened your eyes, finding a familiar face standing close to you. He looked better in person than he did in the ring, if that was possible.
“Well I'm sure you know that it is very rude to keep your hat on in the presence of a lady,” You raised a brow, flicking your ash into the trash can. “I could be deeply insulted.”
“I apologize,” David grinned, taking off his hat and giving you a slight bow as he did. He introduced himself properly, as did you, his hand moving over his heart as he tilted his head. “You know I was just joking, there's worse habits to have than smoking.”
You nodded, smiling a little. “Like creeping up on strangers?”
He laughed and you felt a flutter in your stomach. You willed it away, not wanting to be another simpering fan.
“You want one?” You asked, holding out the box of cigarettes. David looked like he was considering saying yes before he shook his head.
“No, thank you. I shouldn't.”
“Fair enough,” You nodded, putting the box back in your purse. “It really is a bad habit. I'm trying to quit but I got some time to kill so..”
“Oh yeah?” David raised a brow, glancing around the quiet car park before looking back at you. “What you waiting for?”
“My friend,” You gestured in the direction of Pam, who was deep in conversation with Kevin. “she's a big fan.”
“So I see,” David grinned, looking over to his brother and Pam before focusing his attention back on you. “and uh..what about you? Are you a big fan?”
You thought about it/made him wait for a moment as you took a drag on your cigarette and raised a brow.
“I'm just here for work.”
“Really?” David looked a little surprised, lightly rubbing his jaw. “What kinda work do you do?”
You held up your camera with a smile before flicking your cigarette in the trash can. “I’m a photographer,” You explained. “for a newspaper.”
“Oh right,” David smiled, folding his arms. “I'll have to buy that, see if you got any good ones of me. Which paper is it?”
“It's the uh..huh,” You grinned as you glanced over to Pam, watching her laugh as Kevin said something to her. “Excuse me for one second.”
You turned slightly, holding your camera up and focusing it on Pam and Kevin. You felt very aware of David's presence behind you, trying to hold your hands steady as you snapped a picture.
“I have a feeling I may need that one day,” You smiled, settling your camera strap back over your shoulder and turning to David. “They're cute together, don't you think?”
“Yeah, I guess so,” David nodded, his gaze staying on you. “She ain't the cutest one here though.”
You rolled your eyes but couldn't fight the smile on your face and multiple flutters in your stomach.
“Oh shut up, that's such a line.”
“I'm deadly serious,” David grinned, holding his hat over his heart. “I promise.”
You were about to say something when Pam appeared, linking her arm with yours and giggling as she went to drag you away.
“Hang on one second,” David called, making you look over your shoulder with a smile.
“You never told me the name of your paper!”
“It's in Dallas,” You called back, walking forward with Pam, the two of you giggling. “If you find it, call me!”
📷
A couple of days later you were in the newspaper office, going over some photos for an upcoming article when one of the secretaries knocked on the door and asked for you.
“Call for you,” She explained, gesturing to the phone as you went to her desk. “They didn't give a name, just asked for you.”
“Okay, thanks Margaret,” You smiled, feeling a slight knot in your stomach. It was extremely rare someone called you at work, and you tried not to think the worst.
Going to the phone, you picked it up and took a deep breath before holding it to your ear.
“Hello?”
“Hello yourself.”
You let out a soft sigh of relief as you realized who was on the other end of the line, a small smile on your face.
“How many papers did you have to call before you found me?”
“That's not important.”
You rolled your eyes with a grin.
“More than two?”
“..five.”
“Oh wow,” You grinned, turning more towards the wall. “That's perseverance right there. I'm flattered.”
“Well so am I,” David replied. “I saw those pictures you took. They were great, I wanted to thank you for catching me at such a flattering angle.”
“You're welcome,” You smiled, glancing over your shoulder before looking back and lowering your voice slightly. “That the only reason you called six newspapers? Angles?”
“Not quite,” You could hear a cheeky tone in his voice, your fingers holding the phone cord. “I was hoping you'd come see me again. You don't have to take pictures this time, if you don't want.”
“As it happens I am coming,” You raised a brow with a smile. “Your brother beat you to the invite. He invited Pam, who invited me. So I'll be there.”
“Well damn,” David laughed softly. “I guess I'll just have to come right out with it then..ask you on a real date.”
“Oh?” You grinned, feeling like a teenager as your cheeks grew warm. “How about we make it interesting?”
“I'm all ears.”
You took a breath, trying to calm your heartbeat. You were aware of Margaret behind you, knowing she'd be listening to every word.
“Alright, if you win..I accept. If you don't, no deal.”
“Hm, sounds fair,” David replied. “I guess I'll have to try a little harder this week. I'll let you get back to work, alright?”
“Alright,” You nodded, trying not too smile too widely. “I'll see you Saturday. Bye.”
You hung up the phone, turning around to Margaret with a polite smile.
“Thank you, I'll be in the office.”
Once you closed the door and found yourself alone, you let out a laugh, shaking your head and wondering what you'd let yourself in for.
📷
Saturday came around quickly, and most of the day was given over to preparing. At first you were just helping Pam, heading into store after store to find the perfect outfit. Then you started looking for yourself, realizing that you wanted to put in just a little more effort since you were going to watch, not work.
As the evening drew closer, the radio was on full blast in the apartment as you and Pam cracked open a bottle of wine and started the beauty process. You couldn't shake the slight nerves that were settled in your stomach, but they were joined by an excitement.
“Oh,” Pam turned from the bathroom mirror to look at you. You were sitting on the edge of the bathtub, carefully painting your toenails. “Did he ever get in touch? David? I completely forgot to ask.”
“Yeah, he found me,” You grinned, laughing as Pam gasped. “Asked me to come along tonight. I told him I was already coming.”
“And?” Pam asked, waving her hand at you. “What else? Did he ask you out?”
“I told him he can take me out if he wins,” You smiled, holding the bottle of nail polish up in the air with a laugh as Pam rushed over to hug you.
“This is so exciting! We're gonna be like sisters!”
📷
When you arrived at the Sportatorium, it seemed to be even busier than it had been the previous week. You stepped out of your truck, smoothing out your outfit. It was only a black off the shoulder top and some denim jeans but you hoped it still looked good.
You linked your arm with Pam's as the two of you headed inside the bustling arena, your heart beating faster as you took your seats. As it turned out, watching the match was totally different to photographing it. You couldn't move about, couldn't pick one thing to focus on. It was all happening, bright and loud and thrilling. You found yourself cheering and whistling with the crowd, you and Pam both jumping up and screaming when the Von Erichs emerged victorious.
When it was all over and you were enjoying the fresh air, you couldn't help but find it adorable when Kevin couldn't keep his eyes off Pam while he signed autographs. Once he was free you gave him and Pam some space, almost immediately bumping into David.
“Hey winner,” You smiled, resting your hands in your back pockets. “Nice angles in there.”
“I hope someone was there to capture them,” David grinned, taking his hat off. “Did you have a good time?”
“Yeah,” You nodded, watching David for a moment, smiling as you realized he almost seemed a little nervous. “I really enjoyed it..though I'm a little curious about something.”
“What might that be?” David asked, moving his hat from one hand to the other.
“Well,” You smiled, stepping closer and looking up at him. “Are you going to honor our agreement?”
📷
It was only when you were putting on your coat to leave the apartment when it dawned on that you hadn't actually been on a first date for..a while. There were some relationships in high school, a couple in college along with some dates and flings but the last had been before you graduated.
You tried not to think about it too much, you were just going for dinner and seeing a movie. Worst case scenario, you and David didn't end up hitting it off and the world would go on as it always did. But part of you was hopeful that something would come from the date, that it would develop into something really great.
Grabbing your purse, you left the apartment and went downstairs to hail a cab, excitement starting to outweigh the nerves.
📷
“No way,” You laughed, your eyes going wide as you placed your hand over your chest. “You did not do that.”
“Yes I did,” David nodded, a serious look on his face before he laughed. “I was so sick afterwards. Never got found out though. Mom just went and got Kerry and Mike a new egg each. I couldn't eat chocolate for like three months.”
“I'm not surprised,” You laughed, picking up your drink. “You can't say you didn't deserve it.”
David laughed, nodding as he picked up his own drink.
“I certainly did deserve it. Moment of weakness I guess.”
You took a sip of your drink before setting the glass down and glancing around the restaurant. It was a steakhouse, but it felt like a nice one. Elegant lighting, candles on the tables, classy music playing. No sawdust or butcher paper to be found.
“So do you think your brothers ever found out?” You asked, sitting up a little and resting your hands in your lap. “Or did you tell them?”
“No to both I'm afraid,” David sighed softly, lightly tapping his glass as he set it down. “Though I think Kev knew it was me..” He smiled to himself as he looked down. “Never said anything if he did know, though.”
“Seems like you two are close,” You smiled, your heart picking up a beat as David looked back at you with a warm smile.
“We are,” He nodded. “We all are. I can't imagine life without them, they're amazing.”
You felt your heart swell, trying not to get too swept up in your emotions.
“That's so wonderful,” You smiled. “It's amazing that you're all so close.”
“Yeah,” David grinned, sitting up a little. “I just feel so lucky every day, like..” He stopped himself, lightly rubbing his neck.
“You know what, I feel like all I've done is talk about myself, my brothers, I don't want you to think I'm self absorbed or nothing, I promise I ain't like that.”
You shook your head, reaching your hand across the table and grinning when David held it with his own.
“I know you're not,” You insisted. “You're wonderful. Now tell me more about your family, I want the good stories.”
You ended up missing the movie, but neither of you cared. You talked until the restaurant was closing, David's jacket around your shoulders as you walked out into the night air. He gave you a ride home and kissed your cheek by your door like a gentleman.
“I had a great time,” You smiled, carefully taking off David's jacket and giving it back to him. You could tell he wanted to tell you to keep it, and you knew why he couldn't.
“Maybe you should win another match, take me out again.”
“It's a deal.”
📷
Going to matches became a weekly event. You and Pam would cheer and cling to each other, laughing at how silly you were being. You took pictures for yourself, wanting to remember every moment. Afterwards you would meet David and Kevin, go for burgers and debrief on the match.
It wasn't always easy for David to visit you, so you called each other when you could, spending an hour or two talking about anything and everything. You drove down to Denton a couple of times, meeting him for something to eat or just for a drive.
He was always a perfect gentleman, opening doors for you and holding your hand, never pressing for anything more even though you suspected he was just as keen as you were to take things further.
You decided to nudge things in the right direction one night when you had gone down to visit him. Pam had come with you, and David and Kevin had taken you to the lake with their brother Mike, who you instantly adored.
The afternoon was perfect, gorgeous hot weather and ice cold beers, floating along in the water and feeling like nothing else could possibly matter but being in that moment.
You were sitting on the edge of the dock while the others drifted along on the huge rubber float, snapping a couple of shots of them before setting the camera aside. David appeared next to you, sitting down and resting his hand on your back. You leaned into the touch, his arm moving around your shoulders.
“I love this,” You smiled softly, closing your eyes and letting out a breath. “If every day was like this..what a world.”
“It's perfect,” David murmured softly. “I can't think of anything better.”
“Hm, I reckon I can,” You smiled, opening your eyes and looking up at him. His eyes were already on you and you grinned as he took a breath and leaned in, his lips feeling like heaven against yours.
You could hear the cheers and whistles, smiling into the kiss and feeling satisfied beyond belief.
📷
“You ready for this?”
“Absolutely not. You?”
“Absolutely not.”
You flicked on the indicator and headed up the long drive to the Von Erich home, glancing over to Pam in the passenger seat.
“At least we're in this together.”
It was incredibly daunting, the thought of meeting David's parents and his brother Kerry, who had recently come home. He had told you countless times that they would love you, but it didn't ease your nerves.
You were relieved to have Pam with you, that she was in the same boat. Mike met you both at the door, giving you both a hug and chatting away as he led you outside.
It was a flurry of introductions, handshakes and hugs and the most perfect kiss from David that had you instantly relaxing.
By the time everyone sat down for dinner, it felt as though you had known the Von Erichs forever. The food was delicious, the weather was beautiful, the company was amazing. You felt David reach for your hand under the table when his parents talked about how they met, your heart swelling.
When Doris forbade Mike from going to a gig that night, you glanced across the table to Pam smiling as she gave you a slight nod.
📷
“Alright, drive, drive!”.
You put your foot down, laughing as you glanced in the mirror and watched your boyfriend and his brothers gradually haul themselves into your truck. You turned the radio up when you left the driveway, rolling down the windows and cheering as you hit the road.
It didn't matter whose house the party was in, it was big and roomy and most importantly, fun. You had a beer in your hand before you knew it, hitting the makeshift dance floor. The brothers spun you and Pam around, laughter filling the air as you moved to the music, not a care in the world.
When Mike took to the stage with his band, you stood with David behind you, his arms wrapped around you. You all cheered as the song started up, swaying along as you held your hands over David's.
Later in the evening you gently took David's hand and pulled him into a quiet corner, whispering in his ear and enjoying the slightly tipsy smile that crossed his face, a flash of worry passing his eyes.
You led him upstairs, finding an empty bedroom and closing the door.
“We..we don't have to,” David insisted as you slipped off your shoes. “I don't want you to feel pressured.”
“I don't,” You smiled, walking to the end of the bed and unzipping your dress before turning back to David. “But I will think you don't want to if you don't get over here in the next thirty seconds.”
He didn't need to be asked twice.
You laughed as you were picked up bridal style and carried to the top of the bed, letting out a soft moan as David laid you down and gave you a tender kiss.
Despite your suspicions that David was possibly a virgin, you didn't ask when he didn't bring it up. He was a little apprehensive, but once you took the lead he seemed to tap into his ring persona and the confidence in his movements had you struggling not to scream as your nails dug into his back, the sheets, your body crying out for more.
“Oh god,” You moaned, touching David's cheek and looking up to meet his eyes as your legs hooked around his waist. “Baby..’m so close, please..”
You closed your eyes as he pushed deeper into you, his forehead resting against yours.
“Me too,” He murmured, his hand reaching for yours. “Fuck..fuck..I love you.”
Your eyes went wide at the confession, a deep moan spilling from your lips as you felt a wave crash over you, feeling David fill you moments later. You moved your hands to his neck, meeting his eyes and taking a deep breath.
“I'm sorry,” He sighed, looking down. “I shouldn't have-this isn't the time..”
“No,” You insisted, a smile spreading on your face. “It's the perfect time. I love you, too.”
📷
“Mind if I get one of those?”
You turned around, letting out a sigh of relief as you spotted Kerry walking towards you.
“Of course,” You smiled, taking the box of cigarettes from your purse and handing it over. “Thought you were David for a second.”
Kerry laughed as he accepted the box, shaking his head.
“Nah, your secret is safe with me. Just needed one huh?”
“Yeah,” You nodded, flicking away the ash. “I'm so nervous. I don't know why, it's not like I have to walk down the aisle in front of hundreds of people wearing this,” You raised a brow, gesturing to your dress.
As much as you adored Pam, and as thrilled as you were that she was getting married and had asked you to be her maid of honor, you did not exactly love the dress she had chosen. For a start, it was a mix of dusky pink and peach, the skirt was so big you wondered if you fit down the aisle, and the sleeves were almost the size of your head.
“I feel you,” Kerry nodded, looking down at himself as he lit his cigarette. “I think we all feel a little ridiculous. But you know the worst part?”
“Go on,” You smiled, lifting up the puffball that had slipped down your shoulder. “shock me.”
“I gotta do this three more times,” Kerry sighed, lightly prodding the flower attached to his suit. “At least you get to choose your wedding dress. I'm stuck in velvet hell.”
You laughed, shaking your head and taking a drag on your cigarette.
“Oh come on, it ain't so bad. I think I heard Mike say he would never have velvet.”
“Really?” Kerry raised a brow, looking over to you.
“Promise,” You grinned, holding your hand over your heart. “He said he'd have velour.”
“Oh fuck off,” Kerry laughed, shaking his head and holding his hand out. “Gimme a mint and get out of here, I'll velour you.”
“I'd like to see you try,” You laughed, getting a mint from your purse and flicking your cigarette away before walking over to Kerry. “See you inside. Don't destroy that flower.”
📷
“Isn't she beautiful?” You smiled, watching Pam and Kevin sway on the dancefloor, smiles etched on their faces as they moved to the music.
You felt the urge to take a photo, but a professional had been hired for the day. Pam had insisted she wanted you to be in the pictures, not the one behind the camera. You had been a little disappointed, but you gave her the photo you'd taken from when she and Kevin had first met, and her reaction made it all worth it.
“She really is,” Doris nodded, looking over to you and taking your hand with a smile. “And you will be too.”
“Thank you,” You smiled, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Let me go get us another drink.”
You stood up, making your way over to the bar with a smile. While you and David weren't officially engaged, it was kind of an unspoken truth that when Pam and Kevin had gotten married, David would propose to you next. Kerry wasn’t seeing anyone, and while Mike was dating a girl, they had only been together a few weeks.
So, you knew you were next up.
As you waited for your drinks, you smiled as you felt a familiar presence by your side.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look today?”
“Yes,” You grin, turning to face David and giving him a kiss. “But I don't mind hearing it again.”
As the song ended and a new one started up, more guests took to the floor.
“Should we go for a twirl?” David asked, gently stroking your cheek. “or maybe not quite a twirl, that dress will take out anyone who comes close,” He teased.
“Oh shut up,” You laughed, lightly swatting him. “I'm getting your mom a drink, if I don't take you out first.”
“I'll take it to her,” David smiled, leaning down to give you a soft kiss. “Then you owe me a dance.”
📷
So, here it is.
The big day.
You thought at times it would never come, but it's here.
A lot has happened, of course. Weddings need buildup, after all. The guests can only talk about how beautiful you look and wonder who did the food for so long. You gotta give them something.
So what's new? It's been a minute, a luxuriously long engagement.
The Von Erichs have gone from strength to strength, reaching the top of the wrestling game. You still go see matches, when you can. They're global now, you always feel a rush of pride when you watch them on TV at some crazy hour.
Pam is a world class veterinarian, an incredible mother to the most gorgeous baby, and still the best friend in the world.
Kevin won the WHC belt, is the most devoted husband, father, brother, brother-in-law and son. He and Pam keep saying they're going to buy a ranch in Hawaii for everyone to live in, and you like to think maybe it could be true.
Kerry insists he's your favorite brother-in-law, and you insist that you couldn't possibly choose a favorite but deep down you think he's most likely right. He makes you laugh the most, teases you and makes stupid jokes to cheer you up when you need it. The two of you have sneaky cigarettes and know what the other is thinking when you look at each other.
Mike has just signed a recording contract with his band, and you tell him all the time he better come to you first with concert tickets. He's going to be the next one engaged, he's so loved up and it's adorable.
Then there's David.
The yellow rose who called up six different newspapers just to ask you out, who let you into his life, who loves you unconditionally and makes you so unbelievably happy that you wonder what you ever did without him. You would never have pursued your dreams without him and his family, that's something you know. And let's not forget his proposal, which was the most beautiful moment of your life.
David had taken you on a surprise trip one night, insisting that you were just going for a drive after you'd been out for dinner, but you knew it wasn't true. You found yourself at the lake, David's hand in yours as you walked down to the dock, which..was decorated with candles in jars, rose petals, a bottle of champagne sitting in ice.
Knowing that you were marrying your soulmate, joining a family you loved deeply, it made you feel so safe, so secure. You quit your job, deciding to pursue your real passion. You bought a gallery in Dallas, and displayed your own work along with other local artists, including your soon to be mother in law. It took time, but it's become a success, and you don't care what any of them say, you couldn't have done it without your family.
Plenty for the guests to talk about, right?
You take a deep breath as you step out of the car, Pam fixes your dress and you take a deep breath. Her dress is beautiful, and most importantly, simple.
Before you know it you're walking down the aisle, your heart beating faster as hundreds of faces smile at you, but there's only one you need to see, and when you do it makes everything okay.
You reach the top of the aisle, feeling overwhelmed with love, beaming as you turn to look at your soon to be husband.
“You know it's a bad habit to leave the bride with a veil over her face,” You grinned, watching David gently touch the hem of the silky veil and carefully move it back, a wide smile on his face.
“I do apologize,” He grinned. “Still gonna marry me?”
“Of course,” You smiled. “You look perfect from this angle.”
Fool For You (David Von Erich x Reader x Kerry Von Erich)
Words: 4,046
Summary: A tale old as time; an angsty love triangle. Requested by @richiejerimovichh ! Thanks for being patient hun!
“Oh, finally. Y/N’s here!” You could hear in the distance as you walked up the long Von Erich dirt driveway. You already wore a grin on your face as you heard a scuffle of shoes approaching like a pack of wild animals.
It was hard to really explain how you found yourself as an unofficial member of the Von Erich clan. Really, it had more to do with vicinity; your parents knew Fritz and Doris and you went to the same school as all the brothers. You were at the Sportatorium for every show, like most of your old classmates, and even got a job there taking tickets after your senior year. That turned into becoming a member of the office, which turned into befriending the Von Erichs, which turned into late night burger joints and shakes and family dinners. Pretty soon, you were letting yourself into their home and getting greeted just like any other family member.
Mike had been the voice you heard, and the relief was evident all over his face; he and his brothers had been playing football and you were–hopefully–his way out.
“I’m so happy to see you.” He told you breathlessly, nearly falling into your arms. You laughed as you hugged him back, steadying him on his feet.
“This ain’t over yet, Mike.” Kevin warned, giving his brother a playful push so he could hug you in greeting next. “Dave and I ain’t done with you and Kerry yet. Hey, Y/N. Did you pick up a movie for movie night?”
“Kevin, movie night isn’t until a few more days. I’ve got time! Can’t you take it one day at a time like the rest of us?” You teased, making Mike laugh. “So, I see I’m just in time. Who’s winning?”
“Who do you think?” David was approaching quickly, a bright light in his eyes, eyes that were locked solely on you. Just the sight of him set a swarm of butterflies loose in your chest. “I sure am glad to see your pretty face. It’s a sight for sore eyes around here.” He said just before he swept you up into a hug that brought you off your feet.
Where to start with David…and where did it end?
Kevin was like the older brother you always wanted, always keeping you dutifully on your toes and there for you with advice when you needed it. Mike was like the baby brother you always wanted, and he looked to you for the advice and comfort. It was the best of both worlds. But David…
David was just so funny and charismatic. He had a quiet assuredness to him that you always admired. So, the fact that he always seemed to have his eyes on you made your heart skip a beat. The passenger’s seat in his truck was your designated seat; he wouldn’t let anyone else have it. If ever you and his brothers went anywhere, it was unspoken that you were riding with him. He saved you a seat at the dinner table next to him, his coat was the one offered if you got chilly.
And yet, despite all of that, despite him constantly driving you home and spending any spare chance he got in your office while you worked, that seemed to be all it was. Sure, there were lingering looks. His hand touching yours a second too long. He had drunkenly kissed your cheek an inch from your mouth one night, but any solid admittance of romantic feelings? There was none.
So were you wrong in thinking maybe there was more to it? Maybe. Did it stop you from hoping? Not a chance. And if that made you foolish, then you were the biggest fool.
“You won’t be winning for long.” Another voice brought you out of your thoughts. You glanced over David’s shoulder and finally saw Kerry, who, curiously, also only eyed you.
“Shoot. Wanna bet, brother?” David said, almost reluctantly placing you back on the ground. Kerry approached you and gave you a tight hug, one that lingered longer than you were expecting.
“Hey, Y/N. Missed you.” He murmured softly, close to your ear. It sent a shiver up your spine.
“Hey, Kerry.” You replied, left mystified as he finally let go. The touch of his skin left yours tingling. You weren’t quite sure if you were imagining the glare on David’s features.
“Are you joining us, Y/N?” Mike asked hopefully. You managed to smile again, shaking off the last interaction.
“No, sorry, buddy. I’m gonna help your mom set up dinner. Kev, is Pam comin’?” Kevin nodded in the affirmative. You turned to Kerry. “What about Becky?”
Becky was Kerry’s most recent girlfriend. You had only met her once, the first time he had brought her around the family. She was beautiful, such a vibrant bubbly person that made you just want to be a better person. Kerry looked away at your question.
“Nah. We’re not together anymore.” His response was quiet. It felt like tripping into a hidden hole in the grass and you wished you hadn’t asked.
“Oh…I’m sorry to hear that.” You replied. Kerry now looked right at you, his eyes clear.
“Don’t be.” You blinked. Now, you were certain the glare on David’s face was real.
“C’mon! Less chit chat, let’s finish this game.” David interrupted gruffly. You left them to their game, chuckling a little at the exasperation on Mike’s face.
After dinner, once you finally convinced Doris to let you do the dishes and shooed off Pam to enjoy some of Kevin’s company, you were scrubbing plates in a comfortable silence.
“You know, it goes by faster if two people do it.” You gasped and dropped the plate you were holding into the suds and water.
“Kerry? Don’t scare me like that!” You scolded. He approached your side with a chuckle, leaning against the counter. “I’m all good, really. Don’t you and your brothers have a show to be preparing for?”
“Exactly. We’re leaving in an hour. You’re coming to watch, right?” You gave a nod. “Okay, so let’s get it done faster.” He pleaded with you with his eyes and you sighed.
“Fine. You dry. And you better be better than Mike at polishing these forks.” You warned. Kerry chuckled again.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Soon, the comfortable silence was back, this time with the addition of Kerry, his large arm touching yours as you both worked diligently. But soon, with each plate, you felt the urge to speak nearly consuming you.
“So,” you said finally after clearing your throat. “I know you said not to be, but I really am sorry about bringing up Becky. I had no idea.” You apologized. Kerry was shaking his head.
“I meant it, Y/N. No need to be sorry.”
“So, what happened? She was a really great girl.” Kerry shrugged.
“Yeah…I don’t know. As great as she was, she just wasn’t really the one.” You gave a small chuckle.
“Well, Kerry, you hardly gave her a chance. How would you know?” He paused, looking over at you.
“You just do sometimes. I didn’t feel that with her. She didn’t really like the wrestling part of everything, so it wouldn’t have worked in the long run…and…I guess I realized I was never going to be fair anyways.” You frowned.
“What do you mean?” He looked away, giving another shrug.
“I was always comparing her to someone else. And wishing I was with her instead.”
He looked at you again, putting the plate he was drying down and turning entirely to face you. You felt your words get caught in your throat and your heart speed up nervously.
“Oh, um…well.” You sputtered out. “A lot of guys make the mistake of not taking a leap and speaking up about how they feel.”
“I know.” Kerry replied. “I’ve seen it. I don’t wanna make the same mistake.” He continued to stare at you and you could’ve sworn he was moving closer.
“Hey, darling, should I wear the red and blue jacket tonight or the black and gold–” David had entered the kitchen and stopped short at the sight of Kerry next to you. You watched his eyes narrow. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, nothing. Just helping Y/N with the dishes. She shouldn’t do all the heavy lifting.” Kerry replied. You nearly elbowed him.
“No, and she doesn’t. That’s what I’m around for. I think Y/N’s capable enough of washing dishes without you slowing her down.” David replied.
“I really don’t mind!” You cut in, but the brothers continued to stare at each other. The tension in the air was growing thick. “It’s the least I can do for always free-loading around here.”
“It’s a little dumb of you to think a woman should wash the dishes, Dave.” Kerry challenged.
“I never said she should! I know she’s her own person and better than anyone, I know she doesn’t need anyone’s help for anything. She’s not some helpless doll, and the last thing she needs is your help.”
“Just because she doesn’t need it doesn’t mean she should always have to do it on her own.”
“I’d gladly wash the dishes for her if she asked me too, you’re putting words in my mouth! Who’s the one always making sure she gets a plate full of food first or opening the door for her? Who picks up lunch for her every day of the week while she’s working so she doesn’t have to?” David was beginning to yell, and if you weren't the subject, you would have found the entire thing ridiculously amusing. Half of you wanted to laugh at the sudden absurdity and the other half of you was mortified.
“What’s going on?” Kevin demanded as he came into the kitchen. Pam was looking knowingly between Kerry and David before shooting you a sympathetic look that made your face grow warm. “C’mon, Kerry, why don’t you have your bag? We’re gonna be late.”
“You know the red is my favorite.” You said to David after Kerry left up the stairs. He looked a little abashed now that it was just the two of you, fiddling with his fingers and avoiding your eyes.
“Look, Y/N, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean I think it’s your place to do the dishes or something. That was really stupid of me to say, I didn't mean–”
“I know.” You reassured him. He glanced up at you and his mouth opened to say more. You held your breath, waiting to see, but he closed it again.
“I should get my stuff.” He muttered, heading up the stairs. You sighed a little, looking around the little kitchen, aghast.
***
At the Sportatorium, you took your seat in the front in between Mike and Pam.
“Everything okay?” Pam asked you. You were jumpy and flinched when she touched your arm.
“Huh? Oh. Uh…I think so.” You sighed. “I hope so.” You tacked on under your breath. Soon, the main event was on and the brothers were making their way to the ring for a six-man tag match.
Kevin passed first, giving you a nod and a quick kiss to Pam. Then David, who gave you his yellow rose and a kiss to the top of the head, his red jacket matching your cheeks. But when Kerry came, you weren’t expecting him to stop and wrap his arms around you in a hug, nor were you expecting the kiss to your cheek. You didn't even feel the glares from all the women surrounding you; the only thing you could focus on what the way David had frozen and was now staring in outrage at Kerry.
“Uh oh,” you heard Mike mutter beside you, voicing your thoughts out loud. Suddenly, David took a step towards Kerry and shoved his chest.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? You think I don’t know what you’re doing?” You heard him yell, and noticed a few fans giving the brothers confused looks. Kerry swatted David’s hand away before giving him a shove back.
“Stop it!” You hissed at them, to no avail. It was as if you suddenly weren’t even there. Thankfully, Kevin had turned back and given both of them stern slaps to the shoulder before stepping between them.
“Cut it out right now, we have a match to do.” You heard him scolding parentally, not before sending an exasperated look in your direction. You felt yourself shrinking lower.
“Oh god…this is my fault.” You mumbled to yourself, burying your face in your hands and sinking down in your seat.
“Oh, honey, this is not your fault.” Pam told you quickly, rubbing your shoulders comfortingly. “This is just two grown men acting like silly little boys.”
“Yeah, it’s not your fault they’re acting like kids.” Mike added helpfully, looking desperate to cheer you up. “You can’t blame yourself just because Kerry likes you too.”
“Too?!” you exclaimed. “What are you talking about?” Mike looked genuinely bewildered and Pam once again looked sympathetic. “When did this even happen, how?”
“Oh, honey.” She merely repeated, shaking her head. Your head was spinning.
“Pretty sure Dave knows about Kerry too, but he’s been pretending he doesn’t notice because it’s not really a secret that he likes you." Mike started to try to explain, but you were barely keeping up. "So he’s expecting Kerry to back off because you know, brothers and everything but—"
“If he didn’t know before, which he did, he does now.” Pam said, her eyes watching as David and Kerry appeared to continue arguing from where they stood on the ring apron with Kevin in the ring.
“First of all, David’s never even asked me out.” You replied finally.
“That’s what I said!” Mike seemed to defend himself. “But he just says he’s waiting for the right time. We think he’s kinda nervous you do actually like Kerry. Do you?” You blinked several times again.
“Oh my god…these boys.” You sighed, burying your head again.
You continued to watch the match unfold through squinted eyes that were further blocked with your hands, nervous that at any point David and Kerry were going to start swinging on each other instead of their opponents. Pam had her arm looped through yours, a helpful anchor keeping you from floating away. Thankfully, they seemed to be fine, and only you, Pam, and Mike were aware of the coldness between Kerry and David. As soon as Kevin got the pin, Kerry left the ring, ignoring fans all the way to the dressing room. David wasn’t far behind him, leaving Kevin to slap fans hands and sign autographs.
“I’ve got to fix this.” You said, to yourself more than anyone else. Mike and Pam were on your heels, but you all stopped short at the sound of two voices thundering inside the dressing room. You winced.
“Mike, please go in there and grab Kerry for me.” You begged. Mike’s eyes widened.
“So it is Kerry?”
“Michael, please! Before they do something!” He snapped out of it and dutifully ducked into the room. You cringed as the yelling only picked up, ten times worse. There was a clattering sound of something metal hitting something.
“I can’t tell if you’re the best thing that happened to this family…or the worst.” You jumped at the sound of Kevin’s voice behind you and groaned at his words. Thankfully, he seemed to have a half humorous grin on his face. Pam hit his shoulder lightly, shaking her head in disapproval.
“This is not her fault!” She insisted. Kevin shook his head.
“No, I know. Took everything in me to keep them from going at each other in the ring.” He muttered, looking towards the dressing room with a grimace. You groaned.
“Kev…I’m not trying to do this! The last thing I want is to get between them. I don’t want to be the reason they hate each other; if that’s the case, I’ll remove myself from this situation.”
“Hey! No one wants you to leave.” Kevin said. “We love each other to death. That just means sometimes we fight too. But we always work it out. Dave and Kerry are just gonna have to accept whatever decision you make. And they’ll have to respect it.” You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding. Kerry came out of the dressing room at the moment. The second he left, the door slammed shut behind him, presumably David’s doing.
“After I talk with Kerry, can you make sure you stick around waiting in the parking lot?” You lowered your voice to Pam and Kevin. You knew instantly Pam understood. Kevin opened his mouth in question, but she pressed a finger to his lips.
“We got it.” She assured you, and gave your arm a squeeze. As they walked away, Kerry approached. It was just the two of you in the dingy backstage hallway.
“Hey,” Kerry said lightly, a small smile on his face. “Mike said you wanted to see me.”
“I did…” you said, before you sighed. “Listen, Kerry…I…” you looked from the smile on his face to your shoes and the scuffs on the ground next to them. You traced circles around the marks with the toe of your shoe.
“Let me stop you for one second, Y/N.” Kerry said. You frowned a little.
“But, Kerry—“
“Just listen, please. Y/N…I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t. All those girls out there on the way to the ring, it’s like they’re not there. All I see is your face. I dreamt about you the other night. We were together in a house of our own, just making breakfast. I mean, I know we’ve been friends for a while and everything but…I really care about you. It’s just what I meant, about Becky. I couldn’t see it working out no matter how much I tried, but with you…” You bit your lip, still unable to look up, knowing the scuffs on the floor were going to be committed to your memory forever. “Y/N?” You felt his fingers tilt your chin up gently and looked into his side eyes, like a beautiful sunny day. You allowed yourself for a second to jump into them, imagining what that path could bring. The breakfast he had mentioned, the house. Knowing every time you stepped out with him, he was the envy of every woman around you. The passion that he carried for everything and every goal would now also be geared towards you and loving you so completely and fully.
And it still didn’t feel right. Because you could see it all; the picturesque home, a loving embrace, maybe even a family of your own…but Kerry wasn’t the person in your dream.
“Kerry, I’m sorry. I don’t feel that way for you.” You whispered. “I’m sorry. I’ll always care for you as a person, but I can’t be your person.” He stared back unwaveringly, and to his credit, he nodded his head and stepped back.
“I understand that. I’m…sorry if I ruined any of the kindness you have in your heart towards me, or made you uncomfortable, I just thought that…” he sighed and straightened up again. “I should be honest. I’ll work real hard to make everything right again, alright?”
“It’s okay, Kerry. Consider this conversation forgotten.” He grinned a little.
“I do feel a little stupid now, though.” He admitted, making you laugh. “I should have known it was always David.” Just at his name alone, those familiar butterflies rushed back. You smiled.
“I really need to see him. Kevin and Pam should be waiting out back for you and Mike. I need to talk to David.” Kerry nodded, and you knocked on the dressing room door. Mike’s face appeared, looking eager for some kind of update.
“I need to talk to David.” You told him. He looked over your head to where Kerry was waiting. “Alone.”
“Oh…uh. Right.” Mike replied, still looking confused, but quickly leaving the room to join Kerry. You walked in and shut the door behind you before taking in the surroundings. There was a chair laying on the floor next to the wall, seemingly laying there after being thrown if the dent in the wall was any clue. David was sitting in another chair, one hand pressed to his mouth and the other wrapped around his midsection. He was staring at the floor, one leg shaking.
“Hey…” you murmured, not taking a step. There was a long pause.
“Y/N, you really don’t have to do this.” He said finally. “I don’t need a little pep talk, or for you to tell me how great I am but just not the right one or something. I’m a big boy, I’ll be just fine with your decision.” You frowned.
“David…”
“Really.” He said, looking up at you. “I mean, it’s Kerry for crying out loud. I get it, alright? I mean, I’ve seen every day how girls look at him. He’s great. I’m not mad, I promise. I’ll be happy for you both.”
“David, wait, seriously—“
“No, I don’t want you trying to make me feel better, Y/N.” He stood suddenly as if he couldn’t contain himself in the chair any longer. “It’s really my own fault anyways. You’re one helluva lady, you know that? Every day, I just look at you and I can’t believe you’re real. And in front of me, just sorta breathing the same air as me. I just can’t get enough of you, and I should have done something about it sooner, but I’ll admit I was scared, alright? Because you’re way out of my league, but I should have made it known. I should have told you time and time again every second how I felt, I should have treated you like it. But I just want you to be happy. I swear it. And at the end of the day, if it’s with my own brother, then that’s fine. I know he’ll take care of you.” Despite his words, you could see the unhappiness burning in his eyes. You couldn’t help but admire every word coming from his mouth, you couldn’t help but stare at his mouth, desperate to shut him up with a kiss.
“Are you finished?” You asked. His face frowned and you couldn’t help but chuckle. “Now, what on earth did Mike tell you?” David’s frown deepened.
“That you needed to talk to Kerry.”
“Okay. Is that all?” He frowned even further.
“He just started consoling me and telling me it ain’t your fault, which I never said it was—I would never blame you. Then some, you know, run of the mill peppy speech about fish in the sea…” At this point, you gave an outright laugh. “Oh, now you’re laughing at me?”
“You and Mike really should learn not to jump to conclusions so quickly. Didn’t your father ever tell you about making assumptions?” David’s face melted slowly from confusion to a hopeful wide eyed wonder.
“…What are you saying?”
“I love Kerry, but not like that. Not like…how I’ve always felt about you.”
David crossed the room within the blink of an eye and suddenly hoisted you into the air, his face buried against your neck, his arms encasing you against him.
“Oh, Y/N…oh man. You had me losing my mind.” He admitted, voice muffled against your skin. “You mean it?” He asked, leaning back to check your expression.
“Do you?” You demanded cheekily. “On second thought, maybe you should listen to Mike more. I’m still waiting for you to ask me out, David Von Erich.” David's head tilted back in laughter.
“You got it, darling, I’m not wastin’ a second more. How about this Friday?”
“That’s movie night; Kev’s not gonna be too happy with that.” You replied, giggling. David laughed again, and the both of you seemed dizzied in relief and euphoria, gripping each other tightly with the hands and yet, weak at the knees.
“Well, Kev’s just gonna have to deal with it. We’ll do movie night another night.” David said, placing you back on the ground and kissing the top of your head. Finally, finally, everything felt right.
