Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

This happens once every few lifetimes

These chemicals hit me like white wine

Oh goddess above, he’s gorgeous, she found herself thinking, looking at the man standing next to Rainah, Kamille’s girlfriend. She had agreed to a double date with Kamille, as long as she didn’t know who the man was going to be until she got there. She really wished she asked, because this man was gorgeous, “Kam.”

“Rainah!” Kamille ran to her girlfriend, jumping into her tall girlfriend’s arms, “Hello!”

Rainah laughed, looking at the girl with such softness that Julia didn’t regret coming. She was really, really excited to meet this handsome mystery guy.

“They’re pretty cute, aren’t they?” His voice was glorious. It was velvety, deep, and made her want to drop to her knees. She glanced over at him and nodded, “Do you not like to talk, pretty girl?”

Her cheeks flushed, and she rolled her eyes, “As if. I’m just here to support my friend.”

He grinned, “Me too, doesn’t mean I’m not gonna get to meet a pretty girl out of it. I’m Sahed.”

She scowled because she had to admit, he was pretty and charsmistic, “Julia.”

“A pretty name for a pretty girl,” he grins, offering an arm, “Seems they disappeared. Shall we go get the reservation checked in?”

She scoffs, but grabs onto his arm and practically drools when she gets a feel at his arms, because just under his rolled up button down shirt, she gets a peak at the intricate, pretty tattoos, and also, he was jacked.

What if I told you I’m back?

The hospital was a drag

Worst sleep that I ever had

I circled you on a map

I haven’t come around in so long

But I’m coming back so strong

Once they had found the two-lovebirds, they had checked in, and were led to their table. 

“Thank you guys for joining us today! We’re going to bring y’all some water, but make sure you guys check out the menu, we’ll be right back,” their server smiles as they sit down. Rainah sits down, and Kamille is immediately attached to her hip, so she slips in front of Kamille, and Sahed in front of Rainah, but the two of them are sitting closely on the booth.

They smile at the waiter, waiting for them to year, and then they turn to each other.

“Thank you guys for doing this,” Rainah smiled at Julia, and she suddenly understood what Kamille saw in her— she was gorgeous, and sweet, “It’s always easier when there’s more of us.”

Julia raised an eyebrow, but she didn’t ask anymore because she wasn’t sure what she quite meant by that, but she smiled because she was actually quite happy to be here. She glanced at Sahed, and realized he was smiling, glancing at her too, and she snapped her eyes back to Rainah, “It’s no worries.”

“Yeah, I’m very glad I came,” Sahed grinned, a teasing voice that made her gut dance, “Thanks for inviting us.”

It seemed like he was also avoiding the it’s always easier when there’s more of us. But, the way he said “us” made her want to turn and run away with him, bringing him back to her college dorm room and ravaging him. And because she was an RA, she had the room alone. 

Rainah grinned, “So! We wanted to talk to you guys about maybe doing some sort of thing with the four of us more.”

Sahed grinned, “I love games.”

”Like board games, or?” Julia glanced up at him, raising an eyebrow as she leaned on her head on her hand, blinking her icicle blue eyes up at him, and she realized that she’d never met this man before but she really couldn’t help flirting, he was just so pretty.

As if he realized this was her poor attempt at flirting, he grinned, but she could see the little blush on his cheeks.

”Wow, if I’d known how well you two would get along, I’d have introduced you sooner,” Rainah sighed, “I kinda feel like we’re third-wheeling, Kam.”

Julia flushed bright red, and looked away, huffing. 

So when I touch down

Call the amateurs and

Cut ‘em from the team

Ditch the clowns, get the crown

Baby I’m the one to beat

Cause the sign on your heart

Said it’s still reserved for me

Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?

Julia laughed softly, taking a bite of her salad, savoring the crunch of each leaf. Some people made fun of her for it, but salads were entirely too satisfying for her not to want to eat one from time to time (when she managed to resist the call of pasta). Kamille and Rainah were telling them once again how they had met. 

Kamille was a fashion design major, who had put up an ad for models to show off her designs in the upcoming contest. Rainah had been the first and only model to apply, most people thinking it a scam. Rainah had come in, as a modeling student, and Kamille had immediately fallen head over heels. 

Julia was more than aware of this story, considering how she had listened to her moan about how she didn’t know if she’d ever see her again, even though she’d gotten the woman’s number for the contest. When she whispered this fact to Sahed, he bit back a laugh, giving her a look to say he’d received similar treatment, to his surprise because he hadn’t seen her like this since her last long-term ex.

“You two do remember this is a double date, yes? We’re all supposed to be interacting,” Rainah teased, her beautiful green hair curled to be emphasized to a point, and there was a beautiful amount of make-up on her, clearly added by Sahed. 

Sahed sqwaked, and Julia loved that he could make that noise, before going off about how he didn’t know his date would be so pretty. 

Julia just giggled. 

“How about you two just exchange numbers and plan a seperate date?” Kamille groaned, “The tension is killing me.”

It was now Julia’s turn to squawk, glaring at her friend, “Kami!”

“Yes?” She blinked her eyes innocently, looking at her best friend with the love of a thousand suns, “Julia?”

“Sleep with one eye open, Kamille.”

Kamille laughed, throwing her head back, causing Rainah to look at her lovingly, “You’d never… Julia… you’d never, right?!”

Hey you, what if I told you we’re cool?

That child’s play back in school

Is forgiven under my rule

I haven’t come around in so long

But I’m making a comeback to where I belong…

Julia stood in front of the restaurant, Kamille and Rainah standing off to the side, letting their best friends do that confessing thing they thought they should.

“So?”

She huffed, “So what, weirdo?”

“That’s not a very nice thing to say about the man you’ve been staring at all evening.”

She gasped, “You’re not any better,” she pointed at his chest accusingly, realizing he was tall, and she had to look up, eyes wide, because she didn’t realize how tall he was when they were sitting down. Now, she finally had the chance to look at him, it made her want to climb him like a tree. 

“Yeah, yeah, can I get your number?” He asked, leaning down to look at her, emphasizing the height difference, and the difference made her squeeze her thighs together, “Please?”

The desperation in the last word made her stomach drop, in a good way, to which she huffed, “I… yes. It’s xxx-xxx-xxxx.”

He put it in quickly, “Cool,” he winked, “I’ll text you about that date, yeah?”

She scoffed, trying to ignore the blush growing on her cheeks, turning stubbornly to the side so he couldn’t see, “We’ll see.”

He grinned, like he knew she’d text back the moment he texted her. But, then his eyes softened, as if he realized how “fuck boy” that thought sounded, “I’ll be eagerly awaiting your reply, Julia.”

This softness made her cheeks flush even more, “Why don’t you just give me your phone number too?!”

“Well what if you never even text me?”

She scoffed, “As if.”

So when I touch down

Call the amateurs and

Cut ‘em from the team

Ditch the clowns, get the crown

Baby I’m the one to beat

Cause the sign on your heart

Said it’s still reserved for me

Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?

Julia was very happy. 

She and Kamille were walking back to their dorms, which were right next to each other, and even though she didn’t have to share because she was an RA, Kamille was often over enough to be considered a roommate. 

“Thanks again for coming,” Kamille grinned, looking over at her, before her eyes widening, “Jules, you’re humming.”

Julia blanched, “W-what?!”

“You like him!”

“I barely know him,” she scoffs, but doesn’t deny she could see something going with him. Not only is he gorgeous, but he’s clearly smart. They were talking about all sorts of stuff, and when he told her he was an art major, she had to resist the urge to pull him off to the bathroom and ravage him. 

“Sure, but he’s totally your type,” Kamille grinned, “Tall, able to throw you around.”

She squawked, because she didn’t think Kamille actually listened when she talked, “W-what are you talking about?”

Kamille deadpanned, looking at her best friend with raised eyebrows, “When Rainah said she wanted to do a double date, get Sahed out and about, I knew I should bring you because he is so your type. And also, I think it’ll be good for you.”

She raised an eyebrow, “What are you talking about, good for me?”

“Since your dad went back to war, you’ve been all mopey, and following the rules. You need someone who will encourage you to explore.”

“Explore? That’s an odd thing to say,” she snapped, walking faster. Kamille thought she spent too much time trying to follow the rules, and that it would be her downfall someday. But, her father taught her to follow the rules, and it had worked out for her so far.

But, her father also probably wouldn’t like the fact that she was talking to an Ah’kon— or even the fact that she liked one.

Goodness, what was she doing? Her father—

“Nope! Cut those thoughts out,” Kamille stopped in front of her, the shorter glaring up at Julia with the convention of a thousand suns, “You deserve to be happy. He’d want you to be happy. I think Sahed can give you that happiness.”

“My father…”

“Would want you to be happy, even if it’s with an Ah’kon. He probably would rather marry you off to some Kalgratt suitor, because of the stupid law for marrying and stuff, but… that’s why I had to run away, Jules. I couldn’t marry someone I didn’t love.”

Her eyes flashed. Her parents didn’t know she came with Julia to college. They just know she vanished. 

“I’m sure—“

“They wouldn’t. Does your father even know you’re at college?”

Julia froze. They were never supposed to talk about these subjects. They were supposed to stay locked in the box. Julia had ran away to college, because she couldn’t imagine being stuck in a box at home waiting for her father to come home. He doesn’t know she’s here. 

He doesn’t know about Sahed. 

These blokes warm the benches

We been on a winning streak

He jokes that it’s heroin but this time with an “E”

Cause the sign in your heart said it’s still reserved for me

Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?

She opened the message from her father, who always seemed to text like he was writing a letter. She didn’t understand how he was even allowed a phone on the front lines at all.

Julia,

Hoping all is well at home. I know you’ve been a good girl and are tending to all the things. I’ve been approached about suitors, but I can only hope you understand where I’m coming from when I tell them to give me more time. I know you don’t want to marry for anything other than love, but love comes with time.

We’re not always given a choice. 

Sending all the love, 

your father

She loved her father, but she had to lie. 

She could never get married for something other than love. There might have been a time where she could, but not anymore. Not after escaping that small town with Kamille and seeing the world. 

Not after…

She shook her head, and like summoning him, a text appeared. 

Xxx-xxx-xxxx

sorry if this is too soon, but 

wanted to see if you gave me

Your real number 

Julia

why would i give u the wrong

number?

Sahed (cute boy friends w rainah)

well i dont know do you give 

ur number out to just anyone?

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes as the two contined to text until she fell asleep, her phone open, and her mind at ease.

Chapter Text

Shirts off, and your friends lift you up over their heads

Beer sticking to the floor

Cheers chanted, cause they said

There was no chance, trying to be

The greatest in the league 

Where’s the trophy? 

He just comes running over to me

Knock!

Groaning, she pulled herself from bed, wondering who the hell would be bothering her at 8am. 

Opening the door, she was surprised to see one of her minions, here to complain about something.

“Julia, I am so sorry to bother you but—“

She tuned them out, but nodded, going to get dressed and following the distressed freshman outside, to where she was unpleasantly surprised with a very drunk freshman.  

She kicked the kid, who sputtered awake. The person who’d come and woke them up looked at her with wide eyes. 

“Yo,” she grumbled, hands on her hips, “What the hell do you think you're doing?”

The kid sputters even more, “J-Julia!”

She sighs, helping the hungover kid, bringing her back to their dorm. She helped the girl inside, making sure she had everything to combat the hangover.

“Please try and be safe,” Julia sighs, “And if you do this again, I’ll have to report you. You’re underage, but I get it/ please be safe.”

“Yes, Julia,” the freshman groans, laying facedown on the bed, “Thank you. I’m sorry.”

She rolled her eyes, “I really don’t care.”

Sighing, she checked her phone, and opened their eyes widened, “Oh goodness!”

”Huh?” The kid groaned again, looking over from the bed, throw up on their chin.

Julia scowled, rolling her eyes, “You’re disgusting, please take care of that vomit.”

The kid’s eyes widened, “Oh fuck, sorry. I’ll see you later?”

She scoffs, “No. If you do, you will not be happy.”

Touch down 

Call the amateurs and

Cut ‘em from the team

Ditch the clowns, get the crown

Baby I’m the one to beat

Cause the sign on your heart

Said it’s still reserved for me

Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?

“Hey!” Kamille broke into her room when she returned from helping the freshman, “I wanted to talk to you about last night.”

She raised an eyebrow, “What happened to hello? How are you?”

“Uh? I did say hello?” She asked, “What are you talking about?”

“You piss me off,” she sighed, “What’s wrong, Kam? Did Rainah want something?”

She scoffed, “Yeah right,” she giggled, looking over at the window, “Nah, I just wanted to talk to you about Sahed.”

“Now what the hell are you talking about?” She scoffed, biting her lip thinking about the pretty man, “What about him?”

”Rainah said that he was up late,” she grinned, leaning on her hands, blinking at her innocently, “Do you know why that might be?”

She scoffed again, her cheeks bright red, glancing to the side, to avoid the knowing eyes of Kamille.

“Oh come on,” Kamille sighed, leaning her face in between her palms, “I saw the way you were looking at him. And, before you tell me about that bullshit about your dad, you ran away here with me.”

Julia’s eyes widened, and before she realized it, her cheeks were aflame. Her lips quivering, before she snapped her head away, hurt. She hated when Kamille brought up the fact she’d left home.

Because she’d chosen Kamille over her father.

Oh. That’s why it hurt to love her father so much. She’d chosen Kamille over her Father. 

“I’m sorry, hun,” Kamille whispered, bringing her into a hug, holding her friend’s head to her chest, petting her a little bit, humming to her, “I know you don’t like talking about your father.”

“I should tell him. Like you told your parents… did it make anything better?”

Kamille scoffed, “You should tell him, but no. It doesn’t. In fact, it almost makes it worse for a while. But, then you’re free.”

The way Kamille said free made her want to cry. Because her father meant well. He really did. But, he wanted to give her away to some suitor that didn’t love her. He wanted her to be a stay at home mom, never to be smart enough or brave enough to do anything. 

“Hun, you need to write that letter.”

Maybe she would.

These blokes warm the benches

We been on a winning streak 

He jokes that it’s heroin but this time with an “e” 

Cause the sign on your heart said it’s still reserved for me

Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?

“Hey,” she smiled, tilting her head to the side, because she had run into the man— again.

His eyes were equally as surprised when she’d exited the library, running into him. He was an art student, so there was very little reason for him to be entering the library in the first place. But, when he didn’t move away from her, she realized that he was there for her. 

The thought made her want to curl up in his arms. It made her want to grab him and pull his lips to her. 

“Hi,” he grinned back, “What are you doing here?”

She snorted, “Uh, I had some studying to do. But, I’m pretty burnt out so I was going to run and grab some coffee.”

His eyes lit up, “Oh, so I caught you on a break?”

“Something like that, yes,” she huffed, “Why? You wanna treat me to coffee?”

He grinned even wider, if even possible, he grabbed her hand, turning to bring her far away from the library, “I’ll bring you somewhere even better.”

Her cheeks went bright red, and she began to sputter, “W-wait, where are w-we going?”

“Well, our first date was a double date, I was hoping to take you on one just the two of us.”

Her face, if even possible, got even redder, “S-Sahed!”

He turned around, his own cheeks bright and he stopped, grabbing her face like he’d been searching for her his entire life, “Julia?”

She took a deep breath. She should just go grab her coffee and go back to the library. She should finish writing a letter to her father, telling him where she ran off to. She should leave this beautiful, Ah’kon man here. She should remember herself. 

But, she was a weak woman.

“Nothing,” she grinned, grabbing his hand back, her cheeks aflame, but her heart content, “Let’s go.”

His eyes flared and grinned even brighter, “Let’s go!”

This happens once every few lifetimes

These chemicals hit me like white wine