Work Text:
'Girl, just let your hair down
Let's paint the whole town
Life is our playground, yeah'
Phoenix saw Jett with her hair down for the first time the day they were set to welcome the new agent, Neon. She stood by the airport windows, the early morning light catching in soft silver strands that framed her face. For a moment, he forgot they were at the airport.
It suited her, more than he expected. And maybe he liked that more than he meant to.
He walked up slowly, sliding his hands into his jacket pockets.
“Hey,” he said, standing beside her. “You, uh... you look good with your hair down. You should wear it like that more often.”
He wasn’t exactly great at this kind of thing. Compliments didn’t come naturally, especially not to Jett... He rubbed the back of his neck, wondering if he’d said too little or maybe way too much.
Jett didn’t say anything at first. She just stared ahead, arms loosely crossed. Then he heard it, soft, almost shy.
“...Thanks.”
The quiet stretched out between them, comfortable but suddenly charged. Phoenix turned to glance at her and blinked. Her face was flushed red, all the way up to her ears.
She turned and gave him a light punch in the chest, not hard enough to hurt, just enough to make a point.
Phoenix laughed, warmth blooming in his chest at the sight of her hiding behind a scowl.
“Was that too much for you?” he teased gently, still grinning.
Jett rolled her eyes, but her smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
“Shut up,” she muttered and didn’t walk away.
'But I'm not a kid no more
So, I must open doors and make you feel like the lady you are
My momma raised me to be classy, not flashy
I'm happy to please you
Though I can tell that's not what you're used to'
The familiar smell of tapioca pearls and sweet tea filled the air as the group approached their favorite boba spot, a tucked-away corner place with mismatched chairs and faded posters, the kind that felt like home. Phoenix, Jett, and Yoru had been here countless times, but today they were introducing Neon, Gekko, and Iso to their usual hideout.
The new trio walked in ahead, already debating drink flavors. Gekko was pointing out a mural on the wall, Neon practically bouncing with excitement, and Iso looked like he was pretending not to care but still followed along, he just wanted his boba.
Phoenix and Jett lagged behind, chatting about a shooting match that morning. As they reached the door, Phoenix stepped ahead and without thinking, pulled it open, holding it for her.
He didn’t even realize he did it until he saw Jett freeze.
She looked at him like he’d grown a second head. Not annoyed, not mad just... surprised. Like she didn’t expect it from him of all people.
Phoenix blinked. “Uh... ladies first? No? Okay.” His voice stumbled with uncertainty, and when she still hadn’t moved, he awkwardly slipped inside, brushing his hand through his jacket as if that would explain anything.
Why did I do that? he thought. It wasn’t like him. Not usually.
Jett raised an eyebrow and followed him in a second later, that signature smirk already forming.
“What was that?” she teased, nudging his arm. “You trying to impress someone or just being a weird gentleman?”
He scoffed, cheeks heating slightly despite himself. “Please. It was just manners. You wouldn’t know anything about that.”
“Ohhh, is that what we’re calling it now?” she grinned, grabbing a menu. “Phoenix trying to be cool and gentlemanly~”
“Did not,” he muttered, eyes narrowing playfully.
Jett just laughed and joined the others like nothing happened. But Phoenix caught the quick glance she shot him across the table later, the one she thought he wouldn’t notice.
And he didn’t say anything.
But he smiled.
'And they say (they say) chivalry is dead (dead, dead)
Girl, let a real man pick up the slack
And treat you with respect, yeah'
Phoenix respects Jett. He does. He really does.
She’s saved his ass more times than he can count, quick on her feet, faster with her knives, always throwing herself into danger before anyone else had a chance to react. She's reliable, sharp, a bit cocky... but Phoenix knew that even the strongest needed someone to catch them when they fell.
Not that Jett would ever ask. She would never.
That day on the mission corrode, it was chaos, a hot mess of corner rats and misread intel. And just as he rounded the corner to regroup, he saw her winded, blood at her temple, clutching her side and cornered behind a pony wall.
She was still fighting. Of course she was.
But Phoenix didn’t hesitate. He jumped in, fire cracking from his hands, he put up his wall and flashed the enemies, pulling the attention off her and drawing the enemy fire toward himself. Jett had shouted something, maybe a protest, maybe his name but he didn’t care. He wasn't doing it for heroics. He was doing it because someone needed to.
They got out. Barely.
Later that night, the team sat silent in the infirmary, bandages and bruises, quiet and tired. Jett sat on the edge of the cot, still picking gravel out of her arm. Phoenix walked over with a fresh cold pack and handed it to her without a word.
She looked up, surprised.
“You’re always saving me,” he said, voice low. “Figured it was my turn. Ya know, once in a while...”
She raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t think you noticed.”
“I notice,” he replied, gentler now. “And, you know... they say chivalry’s dead, but I don’t buy it.”
He sat beside her, elbows on his knees, voice calm and honest. “You’re always pulling weight for everyone. But girl, let the others pick up the slack once in a while. don't let anyone treat you like you're invincible, cause you're not, yeah?”
Jett didn’t say anything right away. Just stared at him, searching his face for whatever he really meant. But there was no smirk, no joke, just sincerity.
Eventually, she exhaled, small, soft and bumped her shoulder lightly into his.
“...What's with you being gentlemanly these days?” she said, almost teasingly.
Phoenix grinned, letting the moment settle between them.
“Nothing, just thinking about what was taught to me when I was young”
Jett just smiled and let him sit there next to her a little longer.
'And you don't have to love me, love me, love me
You don't have to love me, love me, love me
Just 'cause I'm a gentleman don't mean
I ain't taking you to bed'
The lights in the common room were dim, casting a soft glow from the large screen still playing the Aladdin live-action movie. The room was quiet except for the lull of music and occasional lines of dialogue drifting through the air.
Phoenix stepped in, expecting the place to be empty but there she was.
Jett had fallen asleep on the couch, curled up beneath a blanket someone had probably thrown over her. Her face was turned toward the screen, lips slightly parted, hair falling softly over her cheek. The blue tint from the movie flickered gently across her skin, making her look almost dreamlike.
He slowed his steps, crouching in front of her quietly.
Phoenix just... stared for a moment. She looked so peaceful. So, unlike the whirlwind she usually was, all sharp reflexes, fast talk, cocky grins. But now, there was a softness. A kind of softness he rarely got to see of her.
Gently, he reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers brushed her skin, and she stirred slightly, murmuring something under her breath, but didn’t wake. He smiled just a little, heart caught somewhere between fondness and something deeper he didn’t want to name out loud yet.
Standing slowly, he placed his hands on his hips, glancing at the screen, then back at her. He thought about waking her, maybe with a joke, maybe gently shaking her shoulder but the thought of pulling her out of that sleep didn’t sit right.
No. He’d do it differently.
Carefully, Phoenix leaned down, sliding one arm beneath her knees, the other behind her back. He lifted her easily, years of training making her light in his arms. Her body instinctively leaned into him, her cheek resting against his chest. She gave a quiet sigh, and Phoenix felt it, the trust in that small gesture.
He adjusted his hold, more secure now, and made his way toward the dorm hallway. Jett’s room was right next to his, but he still struggled to input her door code one-handed. It beeped wrong once, then again, he muttered a quiet, “Come on, bruv...” before it finally clicked open.
He stepped inside and crossed to her bed. It was neat, with her extra hoodie tossed carelessly over the corner. Gently, he laid her down, pulling the blanket over her frame, tucking it under her arms like she always did herself.
She looked so peaceful.
Phoenix hesitated.
Just for a second, then leaned down again. He brushed another soft lock from her forehead, thumb lingering for a heartbeat longer than needed.
Then, tenderly, he pressed a kiss on her forehead.
“Sleep well, Sunwoo,” he whispered, his voice barely audible in the quiet of her room.
He lingered only a moment longer before quietly backing out, closing the door behind him with care.
His heart was still racing by the time he reached his room. And the memory of her warmth, her sleepy breath against his chest. It stayed with him long after.
'Ah, baby, let me buy your meals
I see you're head over heels
I feel like you deserve it
There's no pressure
We can do whatever makes you comfortable, yeah'
The market street was quieter than usual, the sun casting a soft golden hue over the awnings and food stalls. It was just the two of them today. Neon and the others were off on a mission, leaving Phoenix and Jett behind for some well-earned downtime.
Phoenix didn’t mind. In fact, he liked it this way. Just them, no pressure, no Yoru arrogantly showing off to Jett and the others, no Gekko interrupting him, no Neon getting all of Jett's attention. Just... quiet.
He glanced over when he heard her mumble something under her breath. Jett had stopped in front of a food stall, eyes fixed on a plate of hotteok, golden brown, steaming, filled with syrup and nuts.
“Aww, I’m actually short on credits,” she said with a little sigh, hugging her arms around her stomach. “I was craving it too...”
She didn’t complain. Not really. Just that soft little longing in her voice, enough to make Phoenix act before thinking.
He stepped past her, pulling out his own credits and handing them to the vendor. “One, please.”
Jett blinked as he turned back, holding out the warm plate to her with a small smile.
“Let me buy you a meal,” he said, trying to keep it casual. “As a thank you for saving my ass. Again.”
Her cheeks tinted pink, even as she tried to play it cool. “You don’t have to, y’know...”
“I want to,” he said simply.
She took it, a little shy now, and gave him that rare, grateful smile, the one that didn’t have any teasing behind it.
They spent the rest of the day wandering. Nothing too exciting. They sat on benches watching pigeons fight over crumbs, wandered through street art alleys, shared a drink. But Phoenix, ever so subtly, planned everything around her. He didn’t suggest the loud arcade he knew she found overwhelming. He steered them toward the quieter side of the market. Picked a spot near the shade when they sat, made sure she had space, and kept things light and easy.
He paid attention to the way she scrunched her nose when something was too sweet, the way she slowed down by the store that sold earrings she never bought but always looked at, the way her shoulders relaxed when the wind brushed through her hair. And at one point, walking beside her in silence, he spoke, softer than usual.
“Y’know... you deserve way more than just food.”
Jett glanced at him, surprised.
“I mean it,” he continued, looking ahead. “You’ve been the best teammate I’ve ever had. Don’t get me wrong, the others are great, but you... you’re on a different level.”
She didn’t reply right away, but her silence wasn’t uncomfortable.
Just thoughtful. She smiled again, a little slower this time and bumped her shoulder lightly into his.
“Guess that means you like me a lot more, huh?” she teased gently.
Phoenix laughed, hand slipping into his pocket so she wouldn’t see how tightly he was gripping it.
God, I do jett... I bloody like you, he thought.
But he only said, “Yeah. Guess I do, Jett.”
'I could float your boat
If you're cold, take my coat
I'll sing a music note from a song that I just wrote
Girl, just take my hand
And let me be your man
Though that's not what you're used to'
Icebox lived up to its name that day. The frigid wind slicing through the metal corridors and shipping containers, breath visible with every exhale. The snow fell in soft flurries, clinging to their clothing and eyelashes alike. Sova and Omen didn’t flinch in the cold, unbothered as always. Killjoy had her tech-lined jacket zipped up tight, and Phoenix? His radiant kept him warm without even trying.
But Jett...
He glanced her way and saw her shoulders trembling. She tried to hide it, bouncing on her feet like she always did, making light of it, but Phoenix noticed. Of course he noticed. Her gloved hands tucked under her arms, the little huff of breath she let out when she thought no one was looking. She was cold.
Really cold.
She was used to snow, sure. But not like this. Not with wind that bit through every layer. Not with frost crawling over steel like it had claws. And she was lightly clothed...
They were holding Site A together, alone for now. It was quiet, the kind of quiet that eerie and tense. And yet, all Phoenix could think about was her.
Without a word, he shrugged off his jacket and stepped behind her, gently draping it over her shoulders.
Jett stiffened, surprised, but didn’t pull away.
“Take it,” he said softly, offering a small smile. “My Radiant’s got me covered anyway.”
She looked down at the jacket, now hanging a little too long on her frame. It was warm from his body heat, still carrying the faint smell of smoke and citrus. Her fingers tightened around the edges, pulling it closer.
Jett had always joked about stealing it. Always said she called dibs on it if he ever left it lying around or if he gets killed. Now, she had it for real.
And this time, she didn’t joke. She just looked at him, cheeks flushed from more than the cold, and gave a tiny nod.
"Thank you Jamie..."
The comms crackled to life. “Rotate to B. Repeat, rotate to B.”
Phoenix reached out without thinking, hand extended toward her.
“Come on,” he said gently. “Let’s rotate-”
He froze, realizing what he’d done. His fingers hung awkwardly in the air before he quickly lowered his hand, suddenly self-conscious.
Jett didn’t move at first. She stared at his hand, then at him. Something softened in her expression.
And then, quietly, she reached out and took it.
Her grip was sure, her palm warm inside his despite the cold outside. She didn’t let go. Instead, she gave it a tug and took off running, dragging him with her toward Site B, boots crunching against the snow.
Phoenix blinked, stunned for a moment, then smiled. One that warmed him more than any fire ever could.
He gave her hand a squeeze.
And she squeezed back.
'And they say (they say) chivalry is dead (dead, dead)
Girl, let a real man pick up the slack
And treat you with respect, yeah
And you don't have to love me, love me, love me
You don't have to love me, love me, love me
Just 'cause I'm a gentleman don't mean I ain't taking you to bed'
Phoenix sat on the edge of his bed, elbows resting on his knees, the soft glow of his bedside lamp casting golden shadows across the room. In his hand, he held a delicate necklace. A silver chain with a swirling wind pendant, tiny turquoise gems catching the light every time it moved.
He turned it slowly between his fingers, watching the way it shimmered.
He’d found it at a small market stall during some off-time in London. Just a simple fare set up near the square, handmade jewelry, glass trinkets, sweets wrapped in paper. He wasn’t even looking for anything. But the moment he saw it, he stopped in his tracks.
The pendant looked like wind in motion. Elegant, sharp, like something that danced but could still cut. The color of the stones almost matched the exact shade of Jett’s eyes when the sun hit them just right. It was her, in every way.
So, of course, he bought it.
He didn’t even think twice.
Now it sat in his hand, waiting and Phoenix was stuck.
He leaned back a little, exhaling quietly through his nose.
It’s not like he was trying to tell her something or anything. He just... wanted her to have it. Wanted her to know that someone thought of her when she wasn’t around. That someone saw something beautiful and thought, 'Yeah, that’s her.' he just wants to treat her well...
He rubbed his thumb over the pendant, brow furrowed, trying to picture how it would go.
Maybe he’d tease her with it first, say he found it and thought she'd like it. Maybe he’d drop it in her locker, or leave it at her door, pretend it was nothing.
But none of that felt right.
He didn’t want it to be a joke. Not this time.
Phoenix sat there a little longer, heart beating steady and warm. His fingers closed around the necklace, gentle and careful like it meant something more, because it did.
He didn’t have a plan yet.
But he’d find the right moment.
For her, he wanted it to be the right moment.
'That's just how you treat a lady, treat a lady
Treat a lady, treat a lady, treat a lady, treat a lady
That's just how you treat a lady, treat a lady
Treat a lady, treat a lady, treat a lady, treat a lady'
The sun was starting to dip toward the horizon, casting the beach in golden light. The fire crackled gently nearby, the scent of grilled food mingling with salt air. Skye and Brimstone were manning the grill like it was a battlefield, arguing over seasoning while flipping burgers and barbeques. Sage was trying (and failing) to keep Neon and Gekko from starting a sand fight, with Reyna watching the chaos unfold like an amused mother. Breach was chatting with Deadlock and Harbor about some coastal expedition they were planning, beer in hand, laughter rolling across the dunes.
Everyone had drifted into their own little corners of warmth and conversation.
Phoenix found himself standing near the fire, a paper plate in one hand, the other curled around the small velvet pouch he’d been carrying all day.
He spotted her.
Jett was standing near the shoreline with raze, bare feet in the sand, her hair, untied, whipped by the ocean breeze as she laughed at something their friend said. She tossed her head back when she laughed like she wasn’t holding anything back and the setting sun caught her silhouette just right.
God, he thought, I’m in trouble.
He didn’t even realize he was walking toward her until he was already close, heat rising in his chest that had nothing to do with his radiant.
“Yo,” he said casually, stepping up beside her.
Jett turned, still smiling, and he could’ve sworn time paused a second. “Hey. You good?”
“Yeah,” he nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. “Just, uh... wanted to give you something.”
She blinked, curious. “Oh?”
He held out the pouch, heart hammering in his chest. “It’s nothing huge. Just saw it a while back. Thought of you.”
Jett opened it slowly, fingers brushing the soft fabric. When she pulled the necklace out, the turquoise pendant caught the sun, scattering the light in dancing sparks.
She stared at it.
“... oh wow,” she said softly. Her voice didn’t have its usual edge, it was quiet, careful. “This is... just wow... it's really pretty phoe.”
Phoenix shrugged, trying to play it cool, but he couldn’t look away from her. “Kinda reminded me of you. Y’know, the wind and blues on it... It's beautiful. Just like you”
She looked up sharply at that last word. Their eyes locked. She didn’t say anything at first, just held the necklace against her chest for a second like she was memorizing the way it felt.
“Can I put it on you?” he asked gently.
She hesitated only a moment before turning around, lifting her hair without a word.
His fingers trembled just slightly as he clasped it around her neck. She turned back to face him, her eyes unreadable but there was a softness there he hadn’t seen before.
“Jamie...” she started.
He swallowed, heart in his throat.
“I, uh...” he tried. His voice caught, and he chuckled, looking away for half a second before forcing himself to meet her eyes again.
“I’ve been meaning to say something,” he said, the words right there on the edge. "Sunwoo I L-"
"Hey Sun!"
But then Neon shouted something from down the beach, breaking the moment, and Sage was already calling Jett back to help corral the others.
Jett lingered for a second. “You can tell me later, yeah?”
She gave his hand a light squeeze before turning and jogging or dashing back toward the group, the necklace catching the light as it swayed against her collarbone.
Phoenix watched her go, exhaling slowly, the words still sitting on the tip of his tongue.
“Yeah,” he murmured to himself. “Later.”
'And they say (they say) chivalry is dead (dead, dead)
Girl, let a real man pick up the slack
And treat you with respect, yeah
And you don't have to love me, love me, love me
You don't have to love me, love me, love me
Just 'cause I'm a gentleman don't mean I ain't taking you to bed
And you don't have to love me, love me, love me
You don't have to love me, love me, love me
Just 'cause I'm a gentleman don't mean I ain't taking you to bed
And they say (they say) chivalry is dead (dead, dead)'