Work Text:
Atom was only trying to change the music. That was it. Faye had shoved her phone into Atom’s hand without even looking up, too busy digging through the black hole she called a tote bag.
“Just pick something chill,” she said absently. “Not sad chill, soft chill.”
“That is not a genre,” Atom had muttered.
“It is in my heart.” she replied before going back to rummaging.
Atom unlocked the phone, opened the music app, scrolled and froze.
At the very top of the playlist library sat something she absolutely was not prepared to see.
A.T.
Her initials. They were neat, intentional and the playlist was recently updated. Atom stared at it for a full five seconds.
Six.
Seven.
There was no way. Her brain tried to offer alternatives. Aesthetic Tunes? After Tuesday? Aggressively Theatrical? No. No. Absolutely not.
“Faye,” Atom called carefully.
Across the room, Faye looked up from inside her bag. She was leaning against the doorway now, tall frame folded slightly, sleeves pushed to her elbows.
“Yeah?”
“What’s A.T.?”
The pause was microscopic but Atom knew Faye. She caught it.
“Nothing,” Faye said a little too quickly. “Just don’t open random stuff, okay?”
Atom slowly lifted her eyes from the screen. That was, without question, the worst possible thing she could have said.
“Don’t open it?” Atom repeated.
“Correct.”
“Suspicious.”
“It’s private.”
“Suspiciouser”
“Atom.”
Too late. Atom tapped it. The playlist opened. Thirty six songs. Thirty six carefully selected emotional landmines. Her stomach flipped as her eyes skimmed the titles.
Slow Motion Love.
Falling Without Noticing.
Best Friend Syndrome.
You Were Always There.
Accidentally Yours.
Orbit.
Home Is a Person.
Atom swallowed. Her chest felt tight in a way she didn’t entirely understand yet. She pressed play. Soft guitar spilled into the room, warm and intimate. The first lyric drifted out quiet and devastating.
“I didn’t see it coming you were just my favorite person”
Silence. Heavy, charged silence. Atom felt the shift in the air before she saw it. The way the atmosphere thickened when someone very tall and very flustered stepped closer. She turned slowly. Faye was directly behind her now. Towering. Bright red. Not subtle pink. Not the cute kind of blush either. Full ear to collarbone crimson.
“Atom,” Faye said, voice low and strained, “why are you in that playlist?”
Atom raised one eyebrow.
“So it is about me?”
Faye covered her face with one large hand.
“Oh my god.”
Atom stood up to face her which required tilting her head back because Faye had a solid four inches on her and never let her.
“You made a playlist with my initials,” Atom said.
“I panicked!” Faye blurted. “I couldn’t put your actual name. That would’ve been insane.”
“And this isn’t?”
Faye made a helpless noise that sounded like a dying engine. The song shifted into its chorus.
It happened slowly then all at once
Atom’s heartbeat thudded hard against her ribs.
“How long?” she asked quietly.
Faye hesitated. Her hand slid down from her face. She looked stripped open. Soft in a way she didn’t allow people to see often. Embarrassed, yes but also vulnerable.
“A while.”
“That’s not a time frame.”
Faye exhaled slowly, shoulder dropping.
“Since you waited for me after we finished shooting the final episode of Broken Love,” she admitted.
Atom blinked. That day Faye had come out of the studio exhausted and overwhelmed, hair messy, eyes glassy from too many takes and too much pressure. Everyone else had left. Atom had stayed. She just handed Faye her usual coffee without making a big deal out of it.
“You didn’t have to stay,” Faye continued quietly. “You just said you ‘felt like it’”
“I did feel like it,” Atom said softly.
“I know.”
The music filled the space between them. Faye dragged a hand through her hair, flustered beyond repair.
“I didn’t mean to start falling,” she admitted. “It just kept happening. And every time I realized it was getting worse, I’d add another song instead of dealing with it.”
Atom stared at her.
“You cope with emotions by building a soundtrack?”
Faye winced.
“Don’t judge me.”
“I absolutely am.”
Faye groaned, but there was no real irritation in it. Just nerves, fear and hope. She finally looked down at Atom properly.
“And I didn’t think you felt the same,” She said more quietly. “You’re… you. You’re bright. Easy to love. Everyone gravitates toward you. I figured I was just standing too close to the sun.”
Atom’s teasing expression faded completely. She stepped closer. Now there were only inches between them. Atom had to lift her chin to meet Faye’s eyes.
“You idiot," Atom said, voice gentle.
Faye blinked.
“You think I didn’t notice?” Atom continued. “The way you walk on the outside of the sidewalk. The way you remember my coffee order but pretend you don’t. The way you check if I’ve eaten without asking directly.”
Faye’s breath hitched.
“The way you looked at me like I’m-”
Atom faltered.
“Like you’re what?” Faye whispered.
Atom reached up because she had to and grabbed the front of Faye’s hoodie.
“Like I’m yours,” she said
The world tilted. The next lyric drifted through the air like fate had timed it
I was already gone before I knew your name was home
Faye looked wrecked, soft, hopeful and terrified.
“Atom.”
“I’ve been falling too,” Atom admitted. “Just as slow. Just as stupid.”
Faye let out a shaky laugh that almost broke halfway through.
“You’re serious?”
Atom nodded. For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. Then Faye did something unfair. She bent slightly, just enough to close the height gap without overwhelming the moment.
“Can I-” Faye started but was cut off by Atom tugging her down the rest of the way. The kiss wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t desperate. It was careful, slow and intentional just like the playlist.
Faye’s hands hovered at first, like she wasn’t sure she was allowed before settling gently at Atom’s waist. Atom’s fingers curled into soft fabric, anchoring herself there. When they pulled back, Faye was still blushing but she was also smiling now.
“I cannot believe you found that,” she murmured.
“You labeled it with my initials.” Atom said, smirking.
“I was in love,” Faye said helplessly. “I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
Atom’s heart skipped.
“You were in love?” She teased.
Faye turned bright red again instantly. Atom laughed softly and leaned forward until her forehead rested against Faye’s chest because that was exactly where it landed naturally. Faye’s arms wrapped around her automatically, like they’d always belonged there.
“Well,” Atom said, listening to the music swell around them, “guess we’ll need a new playlist now.”
Faye’s chin rested gently against the top of her head.
“Titled what?”
“Finally.” Atom said smiling.
The chorus rose again, fuller this time and neither of them let go.