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robinofgothamcity · 2 years

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"if you are not too long, i will wait here for you all my life. “

♡ character: zack sabre jr

♡ pronouns used: she / her

♡ note: not checked for grammar or spelling mistakes / hiiii ik i haven't updated in a while i was just lazy but ig im back and employed now!! and i'm also wildly obsessed with zack sabre jr at the moment so heres a throwback to forbidden door. might be a bit short but its whatever.

"zack, ive done my time in japan, AEW seems like a great opportunity for me," you told him, seeing his face dropping and looking at the ground, "you knew i didn't have much time on my contract and i wasn't planning on staying."

zack sighed, not knowing what to respond with. he didn't want to sound selfish nor did he think you were in the wrong but he couldn't imagine a time where you weren't with him. the two of you came to japan together, spent each of your time working respectfully in Stardom and New Japan.

"i know but maybe i thought you'd stay if i asked," you smiled, sitting next to him and putting your head on his shoulder, "remember our pact? if neither of us were in relationships by the time we hit our mid thirties we'd just marry each other? i stand by that."

he laughed, shoving you playfully.

"you're no where near thirty but maybe i'll marry you the next time i see you."

this time it was your turn to laugh. you knew zack liked to joke around with you but sometimes it was hard to decipher if what he was saying was true or not, "please, like you haven't been eyeballing. i heard stories from maki," you replied, now getting up and stealing the jacket off of his chair, "but maybe i'll let you marry me the next time you come to the states. i guess we'll see."

giving him one final wink, you walked away and shut the door slowly. you could see zack's saddened face and a part of you wanted to go back and just hug him but you knew that if you lingered around any longer, the goodbye would get even harder.

“if you are not too long, i will wait here for you all my life."

you heard the mutter from zack and tried to contain your tears.

it had been three years since your departure from Stardom and you had been running around AEW since then. you had your fair share of feuds with britt, penelope, and nyla but currently, you were in a feud with rosa for the AEW women's belt.

you had secured a match for the forbidden door pay-per-view against rosa and while you were happy to fight against her on such a big stage, you had heard rumblings about who from New Japan was going to make their way to the states to wrestle your co-workers and one of the names going around was zack.

you talked to zack every now and again but it was nothing like how it was before. you hadn't heard from any of the girls in Stardom if zack was in a relationship but you couldn't say the same. you had been in a few relationships since departing from japan but none of them ever lasted.

the only one that lasted a bit longer than the rest was with maxwell jacob friedman but that was only because you joined the pinnacle when they formed which not only made you his girlfriend but his valet as well. during your time with max made many people wonder why you were even with him. one of those people was zack who was beyond shocked to see the way you acted with him. it wasn't anything like how you were in japan and frankly, it made his stomach stir each time you were visibly making out with max.

"guess what i heard," penelope said singing into your ear. you looked up from your latop in confusion, "zack is in building," your eyes widened in shock as you heard kip giggling behind her, "it's not funny to lie especially when i'm on next."

penelope shook her head, "i'm not lying! kip was speaking to him earlier. he's very interested in seeing you again." before you could respond, you felt rosa's arm go around your shoulder, "lets go! we're next."

you gave one final look to penelope who kept muttering that she wasn't lying. you knew penelope would never lie to you but you hadn't seen zack since you arrived got to the building which was a lot earlier than most did.

rosa went onto the ramp first getting heavy cheers from everyone as you cracked your neck in anticipation. the two of you weren't due to wrestle but more or less rough each other up. you were wearing you SPLX sweater, the exact same one you stole from zack, and blue jeans. it wasn't your most stylish outfit in comparison to rosa but you knew it would do the job.

"breath, maybe what penelope told you was just to mess around with you," you whispered as you heard your theme going off. you went out of the heel tunnel, a smirk plastered on your face, "oh fuck off you dickheads!" you yelled.

you walked slower than usual into the ring as you made sure to give rosa as much time as possible to get herself comfortable on her side of the ring. you blew one final kiss as rosa cut you off and immediately starting her promo.

you chewed your gum obnoxiously, something that would make matt menard proud. you knew this would be last time you'd face rosa before forbidden door and you had to perfect your promo more than ever.

"oh rosa, it's really embarrassing that you're standing her not being able to compete at the rate britt was when she had the title. you should consider handing the belt over to me now so you don't embarrass yourself on Sunday. you've never been against a submission master like myself before and it'd really suck to see you injured after our match so like i said i'm willing to take the belt off of you and we can call it even, alright?"

rosa laughed as she tossed the belt to the side.

"submission master? that's a funny name to call yourself considering the only person who's had that name is zack sabre jr himself and he's not here right now so how about you stop embarrassing him. we all know how happy he was when you left him and its even more embarrassing that you're walking around here in his clothes three years later!"

your eyes widened as you dove to attack her. you went for her legs immediately you put her in a submission hold making her cry out in agony. it wasn't until you heard a very familiar theme song go off through the speakers making you look up when you realized that the rumors were true.

the crowd went nuts as you stared at zack making his way through the heel tunnel. you stared at him not believing that this was the way he would make his AEW debut and not with bryan who you assumed would be the one he was going against.

you kicked rosa one final time as she rolled out of the ring. you stood in the middle of it and continued to stare down at him, disbelief written all over your face. zack made his way towards the ring, making sure to spew insults at the crowd before finally climbing in and standing in front of you.

everyone in the building went quiet as you felt your body jerk forward to hug zack. the entire crowd started to boo as you felt him laughing against you. you knew that zack wasn't exactly someone who would be hurt with this reaction but you could see that he was holding you tighter than usual.

zack finally pulled himself back and held your hand up as your theme went off. you wanted nothing more than to curse zack out for not telling you he'd be here but you knew you'd have more than enough time to do it backstage. he opened the ropes to help you out of the ring and as you gave one final middle finger to the crowd, zack stood behind you clapping proudly.

as the two of you reached the back, you immediately jumped on him and shoved your face in his shoulder, "you asshole, why didn't you tell me?" you screamed into it. zack patted your back, "had to make sure you still weren't with that dickhead maxwell before i reunited with you."

you could see penelope and kip watching you from afar as they muttered an, "i told you". you paid them no mind as you continued to hug zack, "i missed you so much," you whispered in his ear as you now let your tears fall freely. he could feel the wetness of the tears on his shirt as he hugged your closer.

once you finally pulled away, zack wiped the tears away before pulling you into a more secluded corner.

"i couldn't tell you because i was practically sworn to secrecy until i got into the building," he finally explained. you smiled at him weakly when you realized that he would only be here for about a week until he had to return to japan, "you're leaving after Sunday, aren't you?" you murmured sadly.

zack nodded as he grabbed your hand, "i don't want to but my contract isn't up with new japan yet. if i could stay here just to be with you, i'd do it in a heartbeat," he replied. you closed your eyes, not wanting to cry again but you knew that it was useless to grow closer to him again when he'd have to return just as quickly as he came.

"fuck, this forbidden door bullshit really screwed us up, didn't it?" you joked, wiping away your tears again. zack nodded as he realized that the gift he had in your pocket felt like it was burning him from the anticipation, "remember the last thing we told each other before you left?"

you remained confused for a few seconds until zack went down on one knee when you finally realized what he was speaking about. you saw him pull out a tiny silver ring from his pocket.

"i told you i'd marry you the next time i saw you so how about we go through with it? nothing is stopping us from running to some random officiant and getting married after this," your mouth fell from surprise but you nodded almost immediately, "lets do it," you whispered as he put the ring on your finger.

you went up for a steaming kiss with no intention of releasing him anytime soon. zack felt your fingers running through his hair and let you continue to kiss him until he was out of breath.

"maybe i'll have to ask for an excursion run here in amerca just to spend more time with you," zack whispered against your lips. you giggled, "or maybe i'll be the one to go to you. i know they're doing the princess of princess championship soon and i could see if i can contend for it."

zack's smile widened even more as he spun you around in excitement, "Well lets go mrs.sabre, we have a lot of things to do tonight," he said holding your hand and twirling the ring around your finger.

you nodded, giving him one final kiss on the lips before finding penelope. you knew you'd need a witness and possibly someone to vouch for you when the news inevitably got out that you married zack.

#zsj #zack sabre jr #njpw #new japan pro wrestling #njpw imagine #njpw x reader #njpw fic #zsj imagine #zsj x reader #zack sabre jr imagine #zack sabre jr x reader #aew #aew imagine #aew x reader #wrestling imagine #wrestling fic

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darkesttimelinejeffparker · 1 year

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anyway, during 12 days of Christmas, I wrote a fluffy ficlet/story for Billy for the snowman prompt so I could make a joke about when ELP called him the love child of one of the Paul brothers and the abominable snow man. And another with Jay for ice skating where I made him say Oopsie Whoopsie. And in my brain are no thoughts, only thots named Billy and Jay.

#amanda writes fic #and jeffelo ricky and the bucks but that’s always #also zsj #ok lots of thots

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debbiechanclub · 1 year

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I'll Be Honest (Looking at You Got Me Thinking Nonsense), Part 1

A “Take My Hand, Wreck My Plans” fic

Pairings: Kyle Fletcher x OFC with a little bit of ZSJ x OFC (also references to past!Jay White x OFC and past!El Phantasmo x OFC) ; Will Ospreay x OFC and past!Robbie Eagles x OFC (it's all here, folks!) Word Count: 4,829 Warnings: Alcohol use, language, angst

Nellie hasn't seen Kyle in two months. And despite previous experience to the contrary, she realizes that absence still can make the heart grow fonder.

TMHWMP Timeline | Masterlist

Read it on AO3

tag squad: @aussiearrow @cowboyslariat @knifepervert @sldghmmr @rusevday @missbrownstone @meteora-fc @bec0m @thatgirlforever5 @rocca09 @adriii-omega

Saturday, November 13, 2021 Tokyo, Japan

After being forced to immediately tap out for a second time, Nellie was reminded why she simultaneously loved and hated training with Zack: she learned a lot, but he brought out her competitive streak in the worst way.

“You suck,” she breathed as he released her from the hold.

“Oh, don’t be like that, darling,” Zack smirked. “Thankfully, you don’t have to beat me to make the final tomorrow.”

Nellie rolled her eyes.

“No, but I’ll beat you if we don’t make it because you maimed my partner’s arm,” Torrance piped up from the ring apron. It made Taichi laugh, but Zack waved her off.

“Nell can handle it,” he said. He offered her his hand, and she took it and he pulled her up from the mat. Tomorrow, Nellie and Torrance would have the most important match of their short tag team career when they would face off against Mayu Iwatani and Rin Kadokura in the Block A final of the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League, and hopefully go on to the tournament final to earn a shot at the Goddesses of Stardom Championship. And because it was the biggest match of their tag team career thus far, Nellie figured why not enlist the best tournament tag team she knew in Dangerous Tekkers to help prepare her and Torrance.

“We have been going at it a few hours, though; I don’t want to push you too hard,” Zack said. “Is there anything else you want to go over?”

He looked between Nellie and Torrance, who looked between each other. “I’m good if you are,” Nellie said. Torrance agreed.

“Yeah, I’ve done enough sparring with Zack to last me a while.”

Zack grinned. “A bit more intensive than sparring with Robbie, is it?”

“Oi! I know you’re not talking shit.”

Robbie Eagles appeared almost as if Zack had summoned him. Nellie looked at Torrance again in surprise. But apparently, she hadn’t known Robbie would show up, either.

“What’re you doing here?” she asked him. “Don’t you need to be at Korakuen soon?”

“Yeah, but I thought I’d stop by on the way over, see how it’s going,” Robbie answered. “And I walk in to hear Zack sullying my good name as a trainer.”

Zack shook his head. “No, mate, not as a trainer; just as a wrestler in general.”

Taichi laughed. Torrance did too and tried to hide it. Robbie gave Zack a flat look. “Fuck off,” he said, and then to Torrance and Nellie, “Are you packing up?”

“Oh, yeah,” Torrance answered. “I need a hot shower and a nap after what they just put us through.”

“As I said,” Zack commented, “more intensive than with Robbie.”

Robbie ignored him. “Are you not coming to the show?” he asked. But Torrance didn’t even need to think about her answer.

“Hell no. Taiji and Riley will both be there; you know I don’t like how they get around each other.”

The mood took an awkward turn then; so awkward, that Taichi took the opportunity to leave, waving to everyone as he went. But Torrance had a point: Robbie knew better than anyone, even Nellie, how Riley and Ishimori’s influence on each other’s behavior had played a part in Torrance and Ishimori’s break-up. He’d witnessed it firsthand during the brief period his and Riley’s time in Bullet Club had overlapped, and he’d been one of Torrance’s closest confidants after she’d left Ishimori. More than confidants, actually. But that had changed after Torrance and Nellie’s trip to London two months ago.

“We’re getting dinner and probably both having an early night,” Nellie said for Robbie’s sake more than Torrance’s. He looked like a wounded puppy, and she couldn’t take it. “Big day tomorrow, and all.”

Robbie nodded. “No yeah, I get it,” he returned. “I know you two will kill it.”

Another awkward silence started to creep in, and Torrance took it as her cue to exit. “Well, I’m gonna go; thanks again, Zack.” She looked at Nellie as she started to backpedal away. “I’ll text you later.”

“Yeah, see you,” Nellie said, and Torrance retreated into the locker room.

Zack tutted. “That was brutal, mate,” he said to Robbie. “I feel bad for calling you a shit wrestler now.”

Robbie gave a wry laugh. “Thanks. Well, good luck tomorrow, Nell. I’ll see you guys later.”

“Yeah, good luck tonight,” Nellie told him, and he waved and went back toward the exit.

“Are he and Torrance not a thing anymore?” Zack asked once Robbie was out of earshot.

Nellie sighed. “It’s complicated. I don’t know if they ever really were a thing, to be honest.” She grabbed her water bottle and phone from where she’d set them on a chair nearby. “But I’m gonna head out, too.”

“Hold on—Robbie reminded me,” Zack started, and Nellie paused to look at him. “Taichi was wondering if you’ll be accompanying us at all for World Tag League.”

Nellie’s mouth went dry. Admittedly, she’d been wondering the same herself, and with the annual tournament starting up tomorrow, she’d half-expected Zack to ask now that they were finally in a good place with each other again. And, unless she was imagining it, Nellie thought she saw a glimmer of hope in his eye that her answer would be yes.

But she couldn’t give him that. “I don’t know,” she uncertainly returned. “I mean, I’m not even in Suzuki-gun anymore, am I?”

It was more statement than question. As much as Nellie had liked to believe she’d been a full-fledged member of Suzuki-gun, she’d always felt like more of an affiliate, only there because she was with Zack; more included than Miho, but still less than everyone else. And so, when she and Zack had broken up, the tie had been severed—and it had taken him and Nellie a while to learn how to be just friends. She’d been a ghost in the weeks and months following their break-up, not attending a single NJPW event until she’d gotten together with Jay, and even then, she’d remained backstage. Wouldn’t it be out of line for her to just show up again after more than a year and a half away?

“It’s not Suzuki-gun, it’s Tekkers,” Zack reasoned. “And Taichi wouldn’t have mentioned it if he didn’t want you there.”

“What about you?”

The question came out before she could stop it, and she fidgeted, anxious. Zack’s eyes softened once more.

“I would like to have you out there with us again, yeah. We make a good team, Nell… platonically or otherwise.”

Nellie’s phone suddenly buzzed in her hand, and she looked down. It was a text, and the name on the screen made her stomach flip for a whole separate reason other than Zack hinting that maybe he was over just being friends.

“I don’t know, I’ll think about it,” she noncommittally returned; and then, like Taichi and Torrance minutes before, she hurried to leave. “Good luck tomorrow, though,” she offered. Zack sighed inaudibly.

“Yeah, thanks,” he said, and Nellie waved and headed off, unlocking her phone to respond to Kyle’s text as she went.

* * * *

Hours later, Nellie sat across from Torrance at their favorite greasy burger joint and downloaded her on her brief conversation with Zack—and Torrance’s assessment was decisive.

“Oh, he’s totally looking in the rear view hoping objects are closer than they appear.”

Nellie nearly choked on her drink.

“Seriously,” Torrance went on. “He sees you single again living your best life and now he wants you back.”

She shot Nellie a look that challenged tell me I’m wrong. Nellie sighed.

“I don’t know. You remember that night I talked to him after we had those tarot readings… he said it was inevitable we’d break up.”

“And now he knows he put his foot in his mouth,” Torrance returned. She smirked. “You and Zack are soulmates; your tarot reading said so.”

Nellie’s expression went flat. “And you thought Robbie was the Knight of Cups.”

Torrance visibly paused. “Okay, fair,” she admitted. “But all that aside, are you thinking of doing World Tag League?”

The corners of Nellie’s mouth turned down in thought. Part of her did miss accompanying Dangerous Tekkers to the ring; she’d had a lot of fun being an extra obstacle for their opponents throughout the 2018 and 2019 World Tag League tournaments. But a bigger part of her knew it wouldn’t be the best idea for her to participate this year.

“I don’t think so,” she decided. “Weirdness between Zack and me aside, I have enough on my plate with Stardom and RevPro already. Plus, Juice and Finlay aren’t in the tournament this year, and I always have the most fun fucking with them.”

Torrance smirked. “You’d do it in a heartbeat if Aussie Open were in it.”

Nellie didn’t want to smile, but she couldn’t help herself. “Probably.”

“Are you excited to see Kyle next weekend?”

Nellie paused. Again, she didn’t want to admit it. And yet, “I really am.”

Torrance grinned wide. “I knew you were, I just wanted to hear you say it.”

Nellie gave her the side-eye as she took another drink. But she couldn’t deny it—she was excited to see Kyle again. This was the longest she’d been away from England since she’d won the RevPro Undisputed British Women’s Championship, and she and Kyle had never talked more. Texts, video calls coordinated around the time difference between Tokyo and London… a cheeky photo here and there. It wasn’t often that they didn’t send each other good morning and goodnight. And, terrifyingly, Nellie was starting to wonder if she wanted to tell everyone else to lose her number.

“So, are you gonna do more than just make out and cuddle with him this time?” Torrance asked.

Nellie sighed. “Why did I know you were gonna ask that?”

“Because you know you need to get dicked down,” Torrance returned. “Exorcise the ghost of Jay.”

Nellie laughed out loud. “Thanks, now I’m just thinking of Kyle’s dick like it’s some sort of holy instrument.”

“Maybe it is, you don’t know,” Torrance returned. “He could give you a religious experience.”

For the second time, Nellie nearly choked on her drink. “Anyway,” she segued once she’d recovered, “speaking of next weekend… are you gonna make it official with Will?”

Torrance went quiet and, when she didn’t answer after a few seconds, Nellie started to worry. But then she said, “Yeah, I think so.”

Nellie breathed out. “Thank God. You need to put Robbie out of his misery. I felt like I needed to take him out back and shoot him when you told him you weren’t going to the show tonight.”

“Well, I don’t know why he even asked!” Torrance proclaimed. “And I don’t know why he thinks there’s still a chance of there being anything between us, either.”

“Probably because he knows exactly how quickly you can change your mind.”

Torrance frowned at her. “Jeez, Nell, just come for my jugular.”

“I’m just being honest,” Nellie returned. “You know I thought you and Robbie would’ve been good for each other, but I also know neither of you could get out of your own way, so I don’t really blame you for jumping ship as soon as Will came along with clear intentions for what he wanted. But the sooner you make it crystal clear to Robbie that you’re with Will, the better.”

“I know, I will,” Torrance returned. “Actually, Will and I FaceTimed after I got home from training, and I almost wanted to say fuck it and make it official then. But I know I’d rather do it in person.” She drained the last of her drink and set the empty glass down on the table. “I don’t feel like going home yet,” she suddenly decided.

“I don’t either, actually,” Nellie agreed.

“Well, let’s go get a drink or two somewhere,” Torrance said. “We’re on a tag team run no one expected; we deserve to celebrate a little.”

“A little being the operative phrase,” Nellie stressed. “We need to be able to function tomorrow.”

“I know,” Torrance assured. “Like I said—just a drink or two.”

* * * *

Nellie should have known a drink or two would turn into three or four, and before she knew it, it was after midnight. But she was beyond worrying about being able to function for tomorrow’s match. It was late afternoon in London, and halfway through her third drink, Nellie hadn’t been able to stop herself from texting Kyle anymore. And, as inebriated texts so often went, the more they texted, the more risqué the messages became.

This isn’t fair, Nell. I haven’t seen you in two months and you’re teasing me with a week still left until you’re here. It’s cruel and unusual punishment.

Nellie bit back a grin as she responded. Do I need to send you something to tide you over?

“How’s Kyle?” Torrance asked with a knowing smirk.

“Fine,” Nellie returned; no more, no less. But then her phone pinged again.

Are you implying there’s something to tide me over for?

Heat rose in Nellie’s core, and she considered just telling him yes. But there was no fun in that. Maybe if you’re good, she typed back.

Kyle’s reply was immediate and simple. Fuck, Nellie.

Nellie grinned across the table at Torrance. “Do you think I should tell him you said his dick might be a religious experience?”

“What?” Torrance coughed. Rather than explain, Nellie just showed her her phone. When she was done reading, she let out a loud burst of laughter. “That’s up to you. But maybe you should send him something to tide him over, because the poor boy clearly isn’t gonna make it another week.”

Nellie laughed; but she looked back down at her phone in thought .

“You’re going to, aren’t you?” Torrance guessed.

“Maybe?” Nellie admitted. She was surprised at herself. “Jesus, I’ve never sent anything like that to anyone I wasn’t in a relationship with, but Kyle has me acting strange.”

Torrance smirked. “Religious experience,” she reiterated. “But also—you’ve sent Zack nudes?”

“That’s your takeaway here?” Nellie laughed.

“Yes!” She gasped in realization. “Did he send them to you?”

“Seriously?”

“Well! It’s hard for me to imagine Zack sending dick pics.”

“Are you trying to?”

Torrance’s eyes widened. “Okay, I’ve been drinking. That’s my excuse.”

“Uh huh,” Nellie returned. “I’ll be sure to tell Will that you’ve brought up both Kyle and Zack’s dicks in conversation.”

“In relation to you!” Torrance defended.

Nellie grinned; but it morphed into a yawn. “Okay… I think I’m ready to head out. It’s almost one, and drinking any more would be a bad idea.”

“And you want to get home and send Kyle a little something.”

Nellie didn’t justify that with a response. “I’m gonna go pay my tab,” she said. She reopened her messages with Kyle as she walked to the bar.

We’re heading out now. FaceTime when I get home?

I’ll be impatiently waiting, Kyle replied.

“Nellie!”

She stopped in her tracks. The sound of that voice threw her; she hadn’t heard it in months. But she turned toward it and did her best to pull her face into a smile when her eyes met Riley’s at the other end of the bar.

“Fancy meeting you here!”

He pulled her into a hug that Nellie robotically returned. Under different circumstances, she wouldn’t have been at all nervous to see Riley. But this was the first time she’d seen him since she and Jay had broken up, and she knew it would only be a matter of time before they’d have to address the elephant in the room.

“Don’t you have a big tag match tomorrow?” he asked. “Well, later today, I guess.”

“Ishimori isn’t with you, is he?” Nellie blurted, and she didn’t fully realize she had until Riley looked at her funny. “Torrance is here, too,” she explained with a glance back at their table, but it was empty. Torrance must have gone to the bathroom.

“Ah,” Riley nodded in understanding. “No, he’s not. Robbie isn’t here, is he?”

Nellie blinked. The question was a stark reminder of just how estranged Torrance had become from most of Bullet Club. “No. He and Torr aren’t a thing anymore.” She just left it at that. Riley didn’t need to know anything else.

“Well, thank God for that,” he breathed. Nellie pursed her lips, but Riley had already moved on. “You want a drink? It’s been a while.”

“Oh,” she fidgeted and glanced at the bartender who’d walked over to them. “We’re actually heading out. Like you said—big tag match tomorrow.”

“Oh; yeah, of course,” Riley said. There was an audible note of disappointment in his voice, and it almost made Nellie decide to stay for just one more round. But then the bartender asked Riley what he wanted and took Nellie’s name to run her tab. It was an awkward few seconds before Riley spoke up again.

“Hey, I know this is late, but… as much as I love Jay, he’s a fucking idiot.”

There it was, like finally ripping off a Band-Aid. Nellie frowned at him. “It’s been three months, Riley. You don't need to try to make me feel better.”

“I know, but I haven’t seen you since you two broke up,” he pointed out. “Have you not talked to him at all?”

She shook her head. “Not really. He’ll like an Instagram photo every now and then and throw me completely off-guard, but that’s about it. Why? Has he said anything to you?”

She knew Riley had seen Jay—they’d taped multiple episodes of NJPW Strong together over the last month—and she couldn’t help but wonder. Had Jay asked about her? Had he seemed at all regretful, as confused and sad about how things had ended between them as she still sometimes felt during quiet nights alone in her bed? As much as she wanted to know, Nellie wasn’t sure what she wanted the answer to be.

But Riley bobbled his head. “A little. I don’t know; I got the sense he felt awkward saying too much to me because he knows we’re close.”

Nellie laughed a bit at that. “Okay, but not closer than you and him are.”

“You don’t think so?” He sucked his teeth in disagreement. “I don’t know. I mean, we used to fuck.”

She snorted through her nose; but even though it was tactlessly made, he had a point. Nellie’s connection with Riley had always been special, in its own way. He’d been the first person to make her feel welcome when she’d left home to work for RevPro, nervous and alone and abroad for the first time. And yeah, at first maybe it had only been because he’d wanted to get in her pants, but they’d forged a genuine friendship—a friendship that might have been more, once upon a time. But Riley hadn’t been able to pull his head out of his ass, and so Nellie had moved on. And even though he’d acted cool about it, even a bit uncaring, when she’d started dating Jay a couple years later, Nellie had always gotten the sense that Riley was a bit wounded by their relationship, deep down. She knew some part of him still carried a torch for her. Some part of her still carried one for him, too. And then her lips tingled with the memory of something they shouldn’t have done, and she realized how close they were standing to each other, and the next words blurted out of her mouth like nervous vomit.

“I’ve sort of been talking to someone.”

Riley cocked his head at her, clearly surprised to hear it. “Who?”

Nellie hesitated. “Kyle Fletcher,” she mumbled. Riley didn’t hear her.

“Who?”

“Kyle Fletcher!” she loudly repeated—and Riley’s reaction was about what she expected.

“Kyle Fletcher?” His eyes practically bugged out of his head. “That twink Australian kid I used to live with? Isn’t he like, twenty?”

“Twenty-two,” Nellie firmly corrected. “He’ll be twenty-three next month. And he’s not a twink anymore, either.”

The bartender returned with Riley’s drink and her bill, and Nellie was grateful for the interruption. She should’ve just kept her mouth shut. Riley knew Kyle, really well—they’d lived together in England when they’d both moved there from opposite corners of the globe with a shared hope of making it in the business of pro wrestling. In fact, Nellie had first met Kyle not at RevPro, but during one of the occasions she’d spent the night with Riley. It made the current situation more than just a bit ironic.

“Man, you really like keeping it in my social circle, huh,” Riley commented.

“Oh fuck off, it’s not intentional,” she returned. “And it’s my social circle, too!”

“I know; I’m just giving you a hard time,” he said. “But it’s just a rebound, right?”

The question caught Nellie off-guard. She honestly hadn’t thought about whether Kyle was just a rebound or not. But the way Riley had asked—so assumptive, almost dismissive —made her feel suddenly defensive of Kyle. She almost wanted to tell him no, he’s not just a rebound.

“Why do you say it like that?” she returned.

Riley didn’t hesitate. “Because he’s twenty-two.”

Nellie rolled her eyes.

“I’m not judging!” he quickly added. “Do what you want with who you want, it’s none of my business. I just want you to be happy, Nell. I still don’t like that Zack broke up with you after you moved across the fucking world with him, and then Jay basically abandoned you. You deserve better than that. So, if Kyle’s making you happy, then by all means, fuck that twink’s brains out.”

“He’s not,” Nellie started to repeat, but she let it go with a sigh. “Thanks for the blessing though, I guess? I don’t know; I kind of figured you’d take Jay’s side. Not that there’s sides to take, but…”

She trailed off, leaving it at that. But Riley shook his head.

“No, I’m not taking sides. But for what it’s worth, if I had been in Jay’s position, you wouldn’t be talking to Kyle Fletcher right now.”

“Sorry, there was a line for the bathroom.” Torrance appeared not a moment too soon. She gave Riley a tight smile. “Hey; welcome back.”

“Hey; thanks,” he said. “Don’t worry, Ishimori isn’t here.”

Torrance’s brow puckered. “I wasn’t worried about it,” she dismissed. “We’re leaving, anyway.”

With that, she moved up to the bar on Nellie’s other side to ask for her bill. Nellie looked awkwardly back at Riley. She had to say something to cut the tension.

“So, first night of BOSJ… did you win your match?”

Riley rolled his eyes. “No. I tried to do the One Winged Angel, but Wato countered it and stole the pin.”

“What?” Nellie couldn’t help the way she laughed. “The One Winged Angel? Come on, Riley.”

“What?” he returned. “I was just trying to pay homage to one of Bullet Club’s best.”

Nellie just shook her head and rolled her eyes. She’d never really understood Riley’s antics. It was another reason she knew they wouldn’t have worked out as anything more than what they’d been.

“Ready?” Torrance came to stand next to her again. Nellie nodded.

“Yeah.” She looked back at Riley. “Well, good luck in the rest of the tournament. But maybe try sticking to your own moveset from now on?”

Riley rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. See you later.”

Nellie waved to him, and she and Torrance turned and left the bar. “What was that about?” Torrance asked as they pushed out the doors into the chilly autumn night.

“He tried to pull off the One Winged Angel,” Nellie explained.

“Ha!” she burst. “As if he could.”

* * * *

I’ll be home in five minutes, Nellie texted Kyle from the backseat of the Uber taking her home.

Okay :) Call when you get settled.

She smiled at the screen. Something about him using that style emoji warmed her heart.

The Uber pulled up to her apartment complex just over five minutes later, and she walked a little bit more quickly than normal, eager to get inside and settled. She rushed through her nighttime routine, too, brushing her teeth, washing her face, and applying her night cream before she changed into a soft pajama set and climbed into bed, phone in hand. She grabbed her charging cable and plugged it in, got comfortable, and called Kyle.

He picked up halfway through the second ring. His smile lit up her whole room even from thousands of miles away. It always did. “There’s my future tag team champion.”

Nellie grinned. “Don’t jinx it! We still have to win our block final before we even get to the tournament final.”

“I’m not jinxing anything!” he confidently proclaimed. “Next time I see you, you and Torr will be the number one contenders to the Goddesses of Stardom Championship. And I’m not just saying that to flatter you, by the way; I really believe it.”

Fuzzies warmed Nellie’s stomach. “Well, I am flattered, so thank you. That means a lot coming from you.”

“Well, you’re a great wrestler, Nell, genuinely,” Kyle returned. “You wouldn’t be the Undisputed British Women’s Champion if you weren’t—a two-time Undisputed British Women’s Champion, might I add, and the only American to hold the belt. And I know you’ll successfully defend it at Uprising next week, and then when you and Torr win the Stardom tag titles, we’ll be double champions together and take over the world.”

She laughed. “Oh really? That’s not a prediction, it’s a spoiler, is it?”

“I’m manifesting it,” he confirmed. “And when it happens, you might as well just join United Empire.”

“There it is,” Nellie smirked.

“Well, there’d really be no reason for you not to join, would there?” he rhetorically asked. “I mean, you already look good in green.”

Her stomach fluttered again. “You make a compelling argument.”

A corner of Kyle’s mouth quirked up. “I’ll try to make it even more compelling next weekend.”

With that single statement the tone of their conversation shifted from being playful to something deeper. There was desire in the way Kyle had said it; Nellie could see it in his face, sense it through the screen. It emboldened her to be upfront with him about how she’d been feeling, even if it scared her.

“Can I be honest?” she asked.

“I hope you would be,” he returned.

“I wish you were here.”

It was silly how nervous she was to admit that to him. But it was true. Nellie hadn’t felt this sort of schoolgirl giddiness toward anyone since Zack. With Riley it had just been about sex; any deeper connection they could have fostered was stifled by his complete emotional ineptitude. Then with Jay, everything had been so fast, so hot and then suddenly so lukewarm. They’d been in thick of their honeymoon phase when Jay’s loss to Kota Ibushi at Wrestle Kingdom 15 had unexpectedly pushed him over the edge, and even though he and Nellie had come back even stronger from that brief interruption, Jay had left Japan again just three months later, and their relationship was just sort of snuffed out by uncertainty. But these two months getting to know Kyle in a new light had felt more balanced, steadier and more deliberate. And yeah, part of Nellie was ready to admit that she was curious to see where it could go. But another part of her still wanted to guard her heart.

Kyle’s smile put another chink in her armor, though. “I’ve wished I was there or you were here since I woke up next to you the morning after High Stakes.”

Nellie couldn’t help it—she laughed. “Do you just think up lines like that and put ‘em in your pocket to use on girls?”

“Excuse me,” he returned, mocking offense. “It wasn’t a line, thank you very much. But I can understand why you’d think that because of how incredibly smooth it was.”

Another laugh. “It was incredibly smooth; I’ll give you that.”

“But I mean it,” he earnestly added. “And in the interest of being honest, I was honestly a bit disappointed when you told me you and Torr would be competing in the Goddesses of Stardom tournament, because I knew it meant you wouldn’t be back in England for a while. But at the same time, I was happy because you two absolutely deserve this shot and all the recognition that comes with it. But that being said… next weekend cannot get here fast enough, because all I’ve been thinking about for the last week is seeing you again.”

A wide grin broke out over Nellie’s face; a giddy schoolgirl, a million butterflies. Kyle had her acting strange—but she was more than willing to go along for the ride.

“Same,” she told him. “Next weekend definitely can’t get here fast enough.”

#kyle fletcher fanfiction #zack sabre jr fanfiction #zsj fanfiction #el phantasmo fanfiction #elp fanfiction #aussie open fanfiction #united empire fanfiction #will ospreay fanfiction #robbie eagles fanfiction #bullet club fanfiction #njpw fanfiction

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kirstlander · 6 days

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I'm wearing noise-cancelling headphones and my bf snuck up behind me and was watching me write my zsj fic and asked who zack was and now I'm never going to live this down

#VERY glad he didn't see any mjf or ortiz stuff #not that he knows who they are but still #and he's not actually bothered or making fun of me or anything but still i can't help but feel embarassed #anyway maybe this is the year i publish this stuff who knows

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bullet-clubs-bitch · 1 month

Note

Hi i want to request, some Zack sabre jr fluff of your choosing

Tokyo Disney with Zack Sabre Jr

What would Tokyo Disney look like with the Zack Sabre Jr

Main Masterlist (feel free to leave ZSJ requests)

Zack is an early bird, he would make sure you are there right when the park opens to maximize the amount of rides you would go on

He loves rollercoaters, although disney doesn't have thrill rides he enjoys the rides at disney just as much

I don't see him being a majour disney fan but who doesn't like disney world

Everyone knows how long the lines are at disney so Zack would definitely buy a genie pass to avoid waiting in the lines.

He would get anoyed with all the people, he would get frustrated with there lack of common sence

He would spend way too much money at the gift shop and get sick eating too many mickey shaped treats

Alot of people would stare at the two of you, I mean he is Zack Saber Jr for god sakes

Zack is the type of guy to map out the entire park and have a game plan that MUST be followed

He would also bring a million diffrent things. It was like he was preparing for a zombie appocolipse

He would deffintly remind you to apply sunscrean and insist you wear a hat

The two of you would spend the entire day at the park, I mean from opening to closing

The two of you ending the night watching the fireworks

#bullet clubs bitch #njpw fanfiction #njpw wrestling #new japan pro wrestling #new japan pro wrestling fan fiction #zack sabre jr fic #zack sabre jr gif #zack sabre jr x reader #zack sabre jr fanfic #zack sabre jr imagine #zack sabre jr #zsj #zack sabre jr aew #zack sabre jr headcannons #zack sabre jr njpw #zack sabre jr oneshot #zack sabre jr smut #zack sabre jr x gender neutral reader

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elphantasmo · 5 months

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This is going to be a bit shorter of a fic recs list, but it's been a bit since I did one! As always, mind the tags on all of them and enjoy the reading! One Breath At A Time by pretzelduck Pairing: Jay White/Naito Rating: Teen Words: 2,137 Shadow Gimmick by sybilius Pairing: David Finlay/Jay White Rating: Explicit Words: 7,982 Dusk Until The Dawn, You're Where I Want To Go by turbobackpack Pairing: Ren Narita/Shota Umino Rating: Explicit Words: 2,136 what a curious life we have found here tonight by tekkers Pairing: ZSJ/Kenta, ZSJ/Taichi Rating: Explicit Words: 3,095 Happy reading!

#fic recs #fic rec list

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nextstopwonderland · 10 months

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Masterlist of BCC related (mostly) audiovisual content I’ve posted*

*bc we archive shit up in this joint

(Newly pinned post. If you came looking for my ofmd Taika/Rhys masterlist, it’s here)

Here be general BCC & BryanMox content.

Broken out additional individual pages (because I keep hitting the links limit) are here:

Bryan & Wheeler content

Bryan & Nigel content

Bryan and Claudio content

Just Bryan

Bryan/ZSJ timeline/primer

Fannish content (fic/mixes/graphics)

Masterlist of fanvids/fancams

Please do not repost any of my video or photo edits anywhere else.

_________________________________

Blackpool combat club - general

Graphics

(Alt version)

(Original post)

Video clips

Mox discusses Wheeler doing the Super Juniors

In which I discover the bcc full house vid

Wheeler discusses Mox & Bryan helping him with promos

Wheeler discusses texts with Mox & Bryan

Claudio discusses the bcc

Mox puts over the BCC

Wheeler discusses being good enough for the BCC with Renee

“The BCC is so close”

the BCC is all about escalation!

“Nigel’s awesome” - Yuta talks Nigel McGuinnesss + the BCC

Claudio swings Nana & Yuta dances

Claudio swings Nana again & this time he dances

“They beat me into the ground.” - Yuta’s promo ahead of facing Shibata

Wheeler’s second Shibata promo

There isn’t just a group chat, there’s a BOOK CLUB

“Blackpool combat club has plans in Japan.” - Mox talks Bryan & BCC

"Guess what? BCC? We don't take that shit." Bryan announces BCC is coming to Arena Mexico (and calls out Blue Panther)

Claudio & Yuta being protective after Bryan’s match

The differences in the Mexico City arrivals

Behind the scenes in Arena Mexico

“Im still breathing you’re still breathing” - Arena Mexico post match

Audio clips

Wheeler Yuta podcast compilation

Pre-BCC Yuta on wrestlesplainia

“He’s the oldest young person I know” - the coffee saga continues

Fanvids

Bryan in Charge: a sitcom fanvid set to Charles in Charles

You’re the Final Girl: a babyMox fanvid (includes graphic)

Text

Bryan really loves the BCC (includes photos and lots of Wheeler focus)

Trevor sums up the BCC

Claudio on the BCC (photo/quotes compilation)

Claudio + Coffee (photo/quotes compilation)

Claudio + BCC merch

They did the merch thing!

Claudio envisions Tswift + BCC

“One day he will look and me and Bryan won’t be there.” (Includes photos)

They leveled up on the merch thing

“The BCC book club helps us stay connected” (photo/quotes compilation)

Photos

After the parking lot match

After All Out

Bcc + Edge

Claudio: whatta man

Behind the scenes BCC pics

BCC collision pics

BCC after dynamite

Some 2009 roh photos (includes Bryan, Claudio and Nigel)

BCC pose in Arena Mexico

____________________

Bryanmox

Video Clips (includes DeanDaniel era)

Daniel and The Mountie

Daniel “Yes’s”, Dean giggles

Dean learns the Yes Kick from guest referee Daniel. (better version)

Daniel down with the unscripted violence even back then

Dorky murder club husbands look at toys together

Bryan discusses the thrill of bleeding, which he and Mox share

Bryan discusses BCC birth

Mox praises Bryan

Mox searches for words, uses Bryan’s

Mox discusses being happy with Bryan/BCC after rehab

Daniel Bryan picks Dean Ambrose; Dean reacts

Peace love & pro wrestling

Daniel & Dean tell you how to watch YouTube vids

Post-Grand Slam hugs and belt wrapping

Daniel all about referee Dean

Mox + Bryan + tag team in Seattle? Mox wants it

Bryan Danielson pisses baby Mox off

“I came here to do a favor for my friend Bryan Danielson” - Arena Mexico post match

“One of the best things about Jon is he’s really good at getting behind his opponents”

Video Compilations / Fanvids/Fancams

Daniel-n-Dean: the wwe friends to lovers buddy comedy years

Doin’ it Their Way - the Laverne & Shirley sitcom fanvid

You’re my best friend - Mox making Bryan laugh fancam (screencap inspiration)

Give him a great big kiss - bryanmox famcam

You and Me Song: fanvid

BCC Origins series:

“It’s a real thing/can’t think of a reason to say no” - Bryan and Mox discuss origins of Blackpool Combat club as a shoot (YouTube)

“Sometimes I have to pinch myself” - Bryan and Mox praise each other/discuss similarities (YouTube)

“It very naturally happened” - Bryan and Mox discuss Wheeler joining the BCC

“I’m convinced he’s an alien” - Bryan and Mox discuss Claudio joining the BCC

When Bryan met Jon:

“It just made me want it more” - a meet ugly for the ages (YouTube)

Bryan discusses their first meeting (text quote + video)

Bryan discussing their instant chemistry

Love (Story) at First Fight (fanvid)

_____________________________________

Part 2 of the Bryan & Mox masterlist

#blackpool combat club #aew #bryan danielson #jon moxley #wheeler yuta #claudio castagnoli #konosuke takeshita #bcc #all elite wrestling #bryanmox #sarahs graphics #my masterlists #my mixes #my stuff #Spotify

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schadentekkers · 9 months

Note

pls tell me you are dropping an okada/zsj fic

oh you know it mon frere

#💌

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fang-revives · 1 year

Text

Those who saw the Zack Sabre Jr. / Ren Narita interactions at the WK press conference and thought "wow that's gay even for Zack" I am gently putting this perfect fic in your hands

#fic recs #ren narita #zack sabre jr #zsj #ren narita / zsj #takeover #wrestling shipping #kayfabe fanfiction #katsuyori shibata #SON OF STRONG STYLE im sobbing

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inastrangerskiss · 1 year

Text

rush

Zack Sabre Jr. x Reader

content warning: a pub is referenced as is a drink but that is the only thing aside from that it's straight fluff

summary: they say that distance makes the heart grow fonder

a/n: this is the first fresh zsj fic i've posted in months and months (everything else was backlogged) and the first fic i've written in months and months. i hope you all enjoy!

“You don’t need to rush.” He laughed.

“I’m not rushing.”

“You’re going fifteen over the speed limit.” He said with a smirk.

You looked at the odometer and realized you were in fact going fifteen over the speed limit and Zack was gripping the handle over the door with white knuckles. Carefully, you tapped the brakes, bringing the car back to a reasonable speed.

“That’s more like it.” He said, lessening his grip just barely. “Slightly less deadly.”

Your face flushed as you watched his smile grow. You tried taking deep breaths and you tried focusing on the road but nothing could distract you from the way his body next to yours in the car made you feel. His hand gripped the middle console and you wished with all your being that maybe he’d trade the leather clad installation for your thigh. Perhaps that’d be more comforting to him anyways.

“I just want to get you to the airport on time.”

“I have over two hours. I don’t think security will be that heinous.”

“You never know.” You shrugged, trying to act casual.

It didn’t take much longer for your car to arrive at the intricate weaving that was the airport. You slowed down considerably more and tried your best to read the signs as they came. Arrivals or departures? Departures. Did you want AerLingus and JetBlue or Delta? You turned in the right direction, almost sideswiping the car on your right.

Zack gasped but tried to maintain a calm demeanor. It was your first time driving him and he knew how seriously you were taking the task.

If he missed his flight he missed his booking. And if he missed his booking he would certainly hold it against you, you thought. And you didn’t want that.

When you approached the drop off area you put the car in park and opened your door.

“You don’t need to help me.” He laughed.

“I just want to make sure you get everything out of my trunk.” You responded.

So you pulled his suitcase from your hatch and handed them to him as he loaded the luggage onto the sidewalk. His hand touched yours as you passed one handle to him and then the next. After his suitcase came his carry-on and his personal duffel. His fingers grazed yours with every single pass.

And you tried to contain the shiver in your spine.

But, god, it was difficult.

You finished unloading everything and he hugged you tightly.

“I’ll see you when you come bacK?” You asked, as he pulled away, his hand remaining on the small of your back.

“You’re my ride, yeah?” He responded.

“Of course.” You nodded.

You’d taken a day from work just to ensure you’d be around for him.

“Well, until then.” He smiled.

You wanted to be pulled in by his strong arms just one last time. Instead, he squeezed your shoulder and started towards the entry to the airport.

He had to tag his bags. He had to check them. He had to check in for his flight.

You were last of mind.

ii.

The conversation started simply.

Zack sent a picture of a statue and you smiled.

“Thought this might be something you liked.” The text read.

Then another picture came through. This time the image was a box of intricately decorated chocolate confections.

“Want me to bring you back some?” He asked in his next text.

“Absolutely.” You responded.

You shut your phone and moved about your business, assuming that was where the conversation would be left. But, before long, you heard vibrations and saw someone had begun to call you.

Zack’s beaming face sparkled on the screen, his contact image being a picture from the first time you had hung out one on one. He had put his arm around your waist and insisted you take a picture together to send to your other friends. You had hid your face in his chest and he laughed.

It was still your favorite picture.

“Hello?” You asked.

“Hey!” His chipper voice responded.

“What’s up? How’s the tour?”

You tried to busy your hands that shook in the wake of excitement. He had called you. He had wanted to speak to you.

It means nothing, you tried to tell yourself. He’s just bored.

“It’s good. A bit dull.” He said. “How’s home?”

“It’s good. A bit dull.” You repeated his words, earning a laugh.

You heard a quiet beep and the sound of a door handle turning and realized he must be returning to his hotel room. Gentle shuffling followed as Zack unloaded the bags from his time exploring the new city onto the wardrobe. It was silent but you didn’t need words - you were more than happy to listen to the ambient noises of your friend settling in for the night after a long day out and about.

“Any big matches coming up?” You asked.

He was silent for a moment and you couldn’t quite understand why but you didn’t think too hard about it.

“Nah.” He sighed. “Just multi-man warm up type matches now.”

You frowned. “Mm, I’m sorry.”

“No worries.” You could tell his phone was pressed between his shoulder and his ear as he moved about. “I’m having fun.”

“More fun than you’d have at home?” You asked.

You were teasing but a part of you hoped he’d say “no”.

“Hmm.” He deliberated. “Let’s see. I could spend time exploring new cities and seeing new things and eating new food or I could explore the same old city, see the same old things, eat the same old food.”

You nodded, having expected a response of that caliber. You couldn’t be mad.

“But,” He started again, catching you off guard. “Home does have you, after all.”

Your face flushed and you were thankful there was a phone screen and a few thousand miles separating the two of you. The last thing you needed Zack to know was that his words got you flustered.

“So, I guess maybe being home would be better.” He continued, suddenly making you starkly aware of the fact that you’d been silent for far too long. “As long as I’m not in a car with you.”

“Well you’ll be home in a few weeks.” You offered with a laugh, kicking yourself for not having anything better to put into the conversation.

“‘Spose I will be.” He said with a heavy exhale. After some more prolonged shuffling he spoke again. “And you’ll still be there.”

“Waiting for you.” You smiled, trying hard to mask the overwhelming fondness you were feeling. “And we can explore the same old city, see the same old things, and eat the same old food.”

“Speaking of food, are you taking your lunch now?” Zack asked, abruptly switching tones leaving you to feel slightly jarred.

“Haven’t yet.” You shook your head, regaining your composure. “It’s been busy.”

“Take your lunch.” He pressed. “The shop can survive without you for a little bit.”

“I have to -”

“You don’t have to do anything. You need to eat.” He said, more forcefully this time. “Don’t make me come all the way back from Japan just to make sure you take care of yourself.”

“Alright, alright.” You relented. “I’ll take my lunch when you hang up.”

“That’s not fair.”

His words confused you, causing your eyebrow to arch as you walked to turn the sign on the door to “Closed”.

“Why’s that not fair?” You asked.

“Because I intended to talk to you for a bit longer.”

“Guess you’ll have to save your words for another day.” You shrugged, fully aware Zack couldn’t see the physical action through the phone.

He smiled and you could hear it in his words. “Guess I will.”

“I’ll text you while I eat.” You promised.

“Don’t let me bother you.”

“I want to talk to you, Zack.” You responded.

A small laugh slipped through the receiver. “That’s good.”

“That’s good?” You asked, once again unsure of what his words meant.

“Yeah.”

“Why’s that good?”

“Because.” He started and you feared he’d stop there. You were thankful when he began speaking again. “I want to talk to you too.”

As you tried to find a sentence that was an appropriate mix of friendly and flirty in the mess that was your brain, his voice broke your concentration, trickling slow as honey through the receiver.

“I miss you.”

Had you started your lunch prior to this call you likely would’ve choked at the surprise of his words. Blush crept up your cheeks and you began to feel silly, the elation that came with what felt like a schoolyard crush filling your heart.

“Alright, go get yourself food.” He chirped as though his previous words had held no wait. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Talk to you tomorrow.” You nodded.

When you hung up the silence felt too silent. The absence of Zack’s voice against your ear made you feel as though you were missing something vital. An emptiness followed the dial tone.

You shook your head, trying to dislodge the dull ache of loneliness from your chest. It was meaningless.

However, five thousand miles away, as Zack picked at the leftovers from his lunch he felt that same exact dull ache.

And he couldn’t place why.

iii.

You sat in the cell phone lot waiting.

You felt your nerves multiplying. Zack had been texting you the entire plane ride but it had only just hit you that he was coming home. It had been a long month without him and you were worried that the Zack you had been speaking to on the phone might be different from the Zack that would be sitting next to you in your car.

“I’m excited to see you tomorrow!” He had said over the phone the night before.

“I’m excited to see you too.” You had responded.

“I’ve been wishing you were here.” He had murmured, almost as though he were self conscious of his words.

You still hadn’t recovered from that comment.

Your phone vibrated and a text from Zack saying he had gotten to baggage claim lit up your phone. That was your cue to put your car in drive and start making your way to the pick up lane.

It may have only taken ten minutes to get from point A to point B but it felt like hours. With every rotation of your car’s tires you wondered if Zack would be the Zack you had known prior to dropping him off at the airport or if he’d be the Zack you’d been introduced to in his absence. You wondered if he remembered all of the words he had said over the phone or if he’d forget them the moment his suitcase was in your trunk.

When you saw him you couldn’t help but accept the beaming smile that unfurled across your face. You were thankful when he mirrored you, his cheeks blooming fondly.

You put the car in park and hopped out of the driver’s side, pulling the latch to pop open the trunk. As you reached for his suitcase his hand caught yours.

“C’mere.” He murmured, pulling you tight to his chest.

You hardly knew how to react but you certainly had no complaints as you reciprocated the affection.

“Been a month since I last saw my best mate.” He said, his cheek pressed to the crown of your head. “Think a quick hug is in order.”

Best mate. The words rang out in your head as you forced a small laugh trying to not appear as heartbroken as you were beginning to feel.

He released you with a small exhale. Before you could reach for his suitcase once more he waved you back, signaling he could handle it himself.

“Don’t worry about this. Go get warm and I’ll be there in a second.” He said, gesturing to the interior of the car.

“You sure?” You asked.

“Yeah. No need for both of us to freeze to death.” He carefully maneuvered the suitcase into the trunk. “Don’t want you catching a cold or something.”

His words hit you as though they were an afterthought as you made your way back to the driver’s seat. You could’ve missed them if you weren’t listening close enough. A spark of hope lit up in your chest as you thought perhaps the comment was more than just a courteous gesture.

Within minutes the trunk slammed shut and Zack hopped into the passenger seat, shivering for dramatic effect.

“It’s abysmal out there.” He commented as he dropped his carry on at his feet and pulled his seatbelt on.

“You say that like you’re surprised.” You laughed.

As you pulled away from the curb you could feel Zack’s gaze zero in on you and you expected some sort of smart ass remark in response. But, once you were comfortably on the road and headed away from the arrivals, you could see from the corner of your eye that he was simply smiling. The moment was fleeting as he turned to face the windshield, rubbing a hand against the back of his neck. You had hoped it might last forever.

“I’m dropping you at yours. Right?” You asked.

“Mhm.”

“I’ll have to get some gas.” You noted.

“No worries.”

You looked over to Zack, hoping to catch his eye. He was transfixed, however, by his own hands as they kneaded and picked at each other. His eyes darted to his carry-on, sitting at his feet and seemed to zone out. At first you thought he was tired. He was fresh from a long flight and a big timezone shift. It made sense if he was not in the mood to make small talk. But then, as he looked back to his hands a realization dawned upon you.

He was anxious.

You took a hand off the wheel and squeezed his bicep, garnering his attention.

“You okay?” You asked. “I promise to drive more carefully than I did when I dropped you off.”

You thought he might laugh at the comment or perhaps make fun of you but instead he offered a tight-lipped smile that could very nearly be confused for a grimace.

“Yeah, no. I’m fine.” He shook his head.

“You sure?”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry about me.” He tacked a half hearted laugh at the end of his words, causing you more concern.

You shrugged and brought your hand from his arm back to the wheel. The drive was quiet as Zack opened the carry-on and fiddled with a bag while you kept your eye open for a service station. You turned the radio on but even that couldn’t assuage the tension.

“I’m gonna pull in here.” You pointed to a rest stop. “It’ll be quick.”

Zack remained silent as you pulled the car up to a gas pump. You parked and took the keys out of the ignition, offering one final glance towards the man sitting beside you. When he kept his eyes trained on his window you opened the door and re-entered the chilly outside world.

You could feel your head spinning as you unscrewed the gas cap and selected your grade of gasoline. He was never normally this quiet. He always had something to say and, while you didn’t always welcome every word that came out of his mouth, you were sorely beginning to miss the talkative person you had called every night while he was away.

You watched the price on the screen slowly go up. You wondered if he regretted everything he had said during his time away and was now trying to find a way to return to the platonic standard you were both used to. The thought alone caused your heart to ache. It was becoming more and more clear that you had potentially fallen head over heels for someone that was very clearly not on the same page as you.

You let your mind wander to the tune of gas pouring into your tank. You didn’t hear the passenger side door open and close. You didn’t hear Zack as he came around to your side of the car.

“Christ!” You gasped as he appeared next to you. “What’re you doing? Go back-”

“I got you something.” He blurted, not allowing you to finish your sentence.

His eyes were wide like a deer in the headlights. You couldn’t look away from him. You didn’t want to look away from him.

The gas pump clicked as the tank filled up, peeling your attention back, if only for a second. You placed the nozzle in its holster and declined a receipt.

Zack didn’t move. When you turned to face him you noticed his hand outstretched to you. In it sat an unassuming brown jewelry box, a small, dark green ribbon tied in a bow around it. This was not the box of chocolates he said he’d bring back. This was not something you had ever expected to receive - especially not from him.

Your heart began to pick up pace as you took the box from him, offering a brief, confused glance up to his still terrified face.

“I just - I thought of you when I saw it.” He started.

You pulled the ribbon slowly, no longer aware of the cars as they came and went, speeding back onto the highway. The lid of the box took a small amount of effort to remove but it came off. Zack stuck his hand out, offering to hold it for you while you peeled away a tiny rectangle of cottony gauze.

Your heart started slamming against your chest.

In the tiny, unassuming box sat a thin gold bracelet adorned with a matching golden sun charm. It was delicate and you worried if you dropped it you may never find it again. With the most care you could possibly offer a piece of jewelry you lifted it up and held it from your fingers.

“If you don’t like it that’s okay.” Zack continued. “I just saw it and I thought it was something you might want and I wanted to - after all of our conversations while I was gone I just wanted to-”

You held your hand out, palm facing the ground, silencing the stuttering man. You then held the bracelet up to him in your other hand. He stared at you with his head slightly tilted.

“Put it on me.” You smiled.

The fear in Zack’s eyes quickly melted to reveal a warm grin. You could feel the anxiety rolling off his back and disappearing into the earth as he took the bracelet from you and clasped it around your wrist. His hand lingered on your skin as he admired how it looked on you, his thumb rubbing small circles against your forearm.

“You really like it?” He asked. “Because I don’t want you taking the piss or making a joke about this. If you’re fucking with me just tell me now.”

Laughter escaped from deep within you, quickly causing Zack to glare at you.

“You’re fucking with me, aren’t you?” He muttered, a slight sneer on his face.

With a deep inhale you managed to pull yourself together.

“No. No.” You shook your head fervently. “I swear I love it. I really do.”

“I don’t believe you.” He said, beginning to walk away, back to his side of the car. “You’re a pain in the-”

Before he could finish his insult or walk too far, you reached out for his arm and pulled him back to you. You hadn’t planned your next move as he stood, his chest nearly aligned with yours, so you did the one thing your brain had been dying to do for the last month.

You reached up and pulled his head down and quickly pressed your lips to his. He hesitated for an agonizingly long second. He had only ever thought this was possible in his dreams and a fear ignited in him that perhaps he was, in fact, asleep. You worried you had overstepped and wondered when it was right to break away but you waited one last moment.

And then he reciprocated the kiss. And it was full of need and want and love. And you smiled against his face.

When you pulled back you looked up at him.

“I love it.” You murmured, clouds of your breath getting carried away with the wind. “Swear.”

His eyes studied you, a satisfied look twinkling in his eyes.

“Your hand smells like gasoline.” He responded, his eyes looking at your hand that was currently cupping his cheek.

“You’re the worst.” You said, trying to contain the grin that was threatening to break across your lips.

“I don’t think you mean that.” He chimed, his nose brushing yours.

“I don’t.”

He pressed a kiss to your forehead and you took a step backwards.

“Get back in the car. You’re gonna get sick if you stay out here.” He noted, gesturing indiscriminately to the weather.

You shook your head but followed his orders, getting back in the car with every intention of cranking the heat up. Zack sat beside you, still smiling from ear to ear.

“So, I’m dropping you off at your place now?” You asked.

Zack appeared to consider the question before pursing his lips. “Maybe we could get a bite to eat first.”

“I could eat.” You nodded.

“I think we might have some catching up to do.” He said, resolutely. “And anyways, my flat isn’t really the best place to have a first date.”

As though it were the pin in the grenade a hot blush rushed across your face and you didn’t bother hiding it. Instead, you shifted into drive and began rolling back towards the highway.

“I’ve seen that place. It’s definitely not first date material.” You joked.

“No. It’s not.” He agreed. “But the pub around the corner might be.”

So you drove and parked outside of the pub. You ate subpar, greasy food and laughed over a drink and watched the game playing on the television. And Zack ran a thumb over your brand new bracelet and then took your hand in his, winding his fingers between yours.

And he kissed you once more. Slowly, this time.

There was no need to rush.

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