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This list is non-exhaustive!! Just a list of fics I really liked.

@pbaz7

An all-time Pazzi fic GOAT!!! Read their entire masterlist

sick fic

silly post-senior night smut

P takes care of pregnant A (slight smut)

@luvergirl-535

One of my long-time favs!!

P takes Care of Drunk Azzi

P is nervous to be intimate with A (established relationship)

A Cries During Sex (P comforts her)

Domestic Pazzi fluff

@worldmeetswbb

Deactivated account with really cute, silly stories.

bikini fic (fluff mostly)

silly pregnant paige rumor (silly fluff)

azzi dreams of paiges betrayal (silly fluff)

pazzi gay awakening (cute fluff)

P obsessed with A's body (suggestive fluff - blurb)

jersey fic (dom P)

needy Azzi (A strap-warming P)

needy paige (mommy azzi / sub P)

P wears a chain (A can't control herself)

public bathroom sex (sub A)

national champs (mommy azzi / sub P)

A strapping P (not super sub P)

ASW in public (domish P)

Lazy morning (smut)

@hcneymooners

Make sure you're locked in when reading because the details are everything. This author is a true blessing to our community!!

Extreme Sub!P

Free Use Fic w/ Obsessive P (power bottom Azzi)

Knight!Paige x Princess!Azzi

Sick fic

@manycolouredglass

Azzi is a Ghost in Paige's Apartment (this is actually my favorite fic of all time...SO underrated. fluffy)

@lemonglowseason

Deactivated account with amazing storytelling. Fics have been reblogged.

list of reblogged fics

Girl Won't You Listen

@girliblue

I LOVE this author's writing...it's fluffy in a non-boring way. Read their masterlist!!

Paige Surprises Azzi for Xmas (fluff)

When You Know You Know (P realizing she's in love w A)

@teamfueckers

Insane Pazzi smut lol. Read their masterlist!!

Saying Grace (P prays before eating A out...seriously love this one)

Azzi Bday (Dom P, strapping)

Pazzi First Time (during never have I ever)

@basketball-lesbians

OG Pazzi writer that inspired lots of Pazzi writing.

Stiff (P strapping A)

Ease (Pazzi Phone Sex)

@hearts4pbaz

This author has really cute stuff and great writing skill!!

Azzi Straps Paige

Azzi's Tampon is Stuck - Paige Helps (LOL)

@lilirae00

Also read their 'Still Here' series!!

A has a wet dream and wakes up P (there's a part 2 as well)

Pazzi hard launch aftermath

@33lol

I loveeeeeeeee this author, really cute stuff and sweet smut!!

First time (Pazzi practicing sex -> A reading while P eats her out)

P Teaches A how to Masturbate

P takes care of A on her period

Pazzi first time (P taking care of A, P walks in on A touching herself)

@ineedpaigebuckets

Lot's of first time cutesy stuff in their old masterlist!!

Put that Pussy on Me (Pazzi smut)

Paige Walks Azzi Thru Her first time

First time - bad at it together

@azzinator

Famous for their slice of life fics. Go read the whole thing!!

Toxic Praise Kink Smut

Campus Legends (silly fic that highlights the meaning of Pazzi)

Hands On (marriage smut)

A Study in Want (I think it's the 4th or 5th slice I liked)

Camping Argument (smut)

Power Bottom Azzi

P cumming from touching A

@bu3ck3r

Another fire author!!!

Domestic Weed Sex

FWB who love each other smut

@azzibuckets

Lots of goodies! Read their masterlist

We're not strangers

@elleaitch22

Great fluffy smut

Paige Mommy Kink (Kinkmas Series)

Pregnant Azzi (Kinkmas Series)

Miscellaneous Smut Fics

A wears a remote control vibrator to dinner (fireeee)

Sub!P x Mommy!A

Pazzi Getting Caught

Paige has to cover hickeys for a game

Strangers AU - Model!A x WNBA!Paige (smut)

Pazzi Firsts

Pazzi First Time (AO3 link)

Another Pazzi first time (sub!P in a hotel room)

Miscellaneous Non-Smut Fics

FWB to dating fic

Azzi is Drunk and Horny (same trope as one below)

P Picks A Up Drunk From the Bar

P has hickeys and A's parents find out about them

Paige Takes Care of Drunk Azzi (AO3 link)

Spiderman AU

FWB to dating fic

@readreaderreadings - other fic lists

list of Pazzi as Parents fics

list of freaky Pazzi fics

Non-Pazzi Sub Paige

Halloween Party Smut

Paige Thigh Grinding

Toxic Smut

Semi-public Nasty Fic

Nerd Paige

P gets strapped for the first time

P rides her GF strap

wc: ~5k

a/n: i haven’t posted in so long so here’s this to hopefully make up for it. literally never even tried to write smut before so this is the best it’s gonna get for now i guess. feedback is always appreciated plsplspls

warnings: porn with plot, missing your other half so bad it hurts, lowkey public humiliation, explicit sexual content, overstimulation, lowkey pain kink tbh

based on this ask- thank you ily

okay enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

it had been more than a month since they had seen each other. over a month of morning facetimes, texted lunch reviews, short and unprompted “i love you” voice notes, late night phones on pillows and fingers elsewhere, and missing each other with every ounce of their beings. it had become utterly too much for both of them.

azzis move-in date inched closer every day they didn’t see each other, and although paige’s need to win flowed in every vein, she was tired and their playoff chances were over.

-

p💗: 11:32am

p💗: terminal b

p💗: *apple wallet link*

p💗: *screenshot*

p💗: see you tomorrow baby

-

when the sun was barely visible over the skyline and only the faintest rays were kissing brown skin, azzi blinked awake to her alarm. her bag was packed for three days and two nights and sitting ready on her coffee table, she had set out her morning outfit and keys, and she had showered before crawling into bed for the night three hours earlier than normal. she needed only to tuck her charger and phone into a pocket of her backpack and leave her apartment. this had been intentional. azzi wanted to be awake for the least amount of time possible before seeing her girlfriend, like how a child sleeps on christmas eve.

the airport was busy and loud and every sound was an uncomfortable pain behind azzis eyes. truthfully, she had barely slept, having only tossed and turned thinking about the next day. missing paige had been like waking up every day missing your lungs. her body didn’t feel complete without it next to paige’s, and there was a hole behind her ribs that could only be filled by the one thing in the world that could make her truly exhale. she had been holding her breath for a month and couldn’t wait to breathe again.

she came up for air several hours later. she hurried quickly through baggage claim, passing the belts with all she needed slung over her shoulders. she slipped unnoticed through the gate and emerged at the base of the airport. large doors spilled natural light across the floor ahead of her and she stuck her hand in her sweatpants pocket for her phone. before her fingers closed around the electronic, her eyes found the only thing in the world and her body was moving before her mind could catch up. paige was moving equally as fast, bodies closing in together in seconds. they clung to each other with the weight of so much time between their last embrace folding around and between them. paige’s body was warm and she smelled so much like herself it made azzis head spin. each inhale of paige’s shampoo flooded relief through her body and her muscles were more relaxed than they had been in weeks when they pulled apart. paige was whispering “i love you”s and “i missed you”s over and over into brown hair, eyes glassy and arms holding on for dear life. they shifted so their foreheads were touching and they could see each others faces clearly. paige was still whispering and azzi was whispering “i know baby”s and “i missed you too”s back at her.

a single tear escaped from a blue eye and slipped down the cheek below it. a brown thumb swiped it across the cheek and the hand attached slid its way down to find another.

they made their way to paige’s car hand in hand and in silence. there was too much buzzing in between their bodies and the intensity of seeing each other for the first time after so long took a lot from both of them.

paige opened the passenger door to her car with a smile and received a small one in return. she made her way to the other side while azzi slid into the seat. she pressed her head against the glass and let her eyes flutter shut as the car engine came to life. she felt paige’s hand slip into hers and squeeze, and she let herself fall into her first peaceful sleep in a month.

-

she woke up to sheets drenched in her favorite smell in the world. paige’s arm was around her back, hand holding her close against her side. azzis arm was draped gently across her stomach in return. she inhaled the blonde hair above her and where paige’s hairline met her neck.

it was only mid-afternoon in dallas and the warm southern sun streaked across their bodies, casting a golden glow and heat.

paige’s gaze turned from where her phone sat in her hand to where azzi was beginning to wake up against her. a smile tugged at her lips as she spoke.

“good morning, sleepyhead”

azzis lips turned upwards completely against paige’s neck and she grumbled sleepily in response.

“you hungry?”

azzi hadn’t eaten all day, and it would be close to dinner time in connecticut by now, but the more she breathed in paige’s scent, the more her body warmed and pushed further in towards it.

“no”.

a faint chuckle began to leave paige’s throat, but it weakened considerably when azzi suddenly placed a firm kiss to her neck where she had been breathing. she turned her head with the intention of protesting and trying to fill azzis stomach, but anything that could have come out dissapeared on her tounge as azzi licked an even firmer stripe up the length of paige’s throat. her breath hitched and she couldn’t catch it now because azzi was sucking hard at a place she knew paige was particularly sensitive.

azzi didn’t remove her lips from her throat as she swung her leg over paige’s hips to fully sit on top of her. she pushed her hips down against paige’s stomach and licked across her neck to suck at the nape of it. paige was reeling. azzis mind was only in one place. she needed simply to taste and smell as much of paige as she could. there was no other option.

she dragged her teeth down the length of paige’s neck and felt as her body arched fully into her own. she lifted her hand to the neck of her tank and yanked it to the side to expose her collarbone. paige gasped at the cold and her hands shot to the back of azzis thighs. she let her fingers spread across them and knead the skin beneath. azzi felt a warmth begin to bubble at the base of her stomach and seep through her entire body. she sucked at the newly exposed skin with the hunger the warmth released. she sucked until the vessels in the skin beneath allowed the blood inside to pool against the skin and press at the surface. paige’s breath in her ear becoming more and more ragged by the second was euphoric for azzi. god she missed this.

she dragged her tongue up again as paige kneaded harder into her thighs. she nipped and sucked again until she found a spot that made paige’s breath catch and back arch against azzis stomach. her lips pulled tighter on the same spot and coaxed another hickey to appear. when they finally released with a pop, paige nearly whimpered.

she let her teeth graze against the spot gently and felt paige tense and buck her hips the slightest amount against her. she tested the waters again as she let the edges of her top teeth drag down against the spot, this time with more intention. paige’s head pushed back against the pillow and her back arched impossibly further. the smallest whimper fought itself from her lips. it was the most beautiful thing azzi had heard in a long time.

she pushed her hips down into paige’s abs in response and spread her fingers across her chest to hold her down. the way paige felt like putty in her hands and under her mouth was intoxicating. she ground her hips forward against her abs and felt how paige’s breath caught again and her thighs came up to press against azzis and the hands still working there. it made her mind spin how responsive paige was being, and she wanted to drink it all from her.

she dragged her teeth against the spot another time to hear her breath catch again, but then, she suddenly pushed the hand against paige’s chest down hard and bit the spot on her neck. a gutteral moan punched out from the back of paige’s throat and her hands were sent flying to azzis hips. she squeezed them hard and frantically began to grind them down against her abs again to try to relieve some of the pressure in her core. a high pitched moan spilled from azzis lips at the sudden friction and the hand on paige’s chest fell against the bed. but she regained her mind when she inhaled again, mind reeling from the scent, and she shifted her hips down to press herself against paige, still covered by her sweatpants and paige’s shorts. even still, paige threw her head back at the contact and azzis name flew from her lips. azzis tounge lapped against the spot she bit and then moved to another spot, lower this time.

“azzi. azzi. azzi.” was all that could come from the lips below her, and it filled her with a new hunger, hearing her name being clutched to like it was the only thing that could possibly ground paige now. she bit down again to hear another moan force itself from paiges mouth. it was matched by the high pitched moan that came from azzis throat as she ground down again and paige’s hand gripped tighter to her waist than ever before. she felt the fingers press tight enough to bruise when she ground down again and sucked the new spot, before licking it clean.

paige was a mess now, hips bucking up and azzis name climbing higher in pitch in her desperation. when azzi ground down again, faster and harder, her clothed clit pressed against paige’s, and a new, high pitched moan released itself from paige’s lips. azzis eyes grew wide against her throat and she wanted nothing more in the entire world than to make it happen again. she pushed down again and again until paige’s back was arching off of the bed and her eyes were rolling into her head. she then forced herself up from paige’s grip and off her body and watched as paige’s entire body chased her. paige’s groan would have made azzi giggle had she not been so worked up too.

“azzi, baby, no. come back. need it so bad. miss you so bad” came tumbling out and paige looked like she could cry as azzi rolled completely off of her.

“don’t worry baby i’m coming back. just want to make you feel good” was all she said as she sat up next to her and started to slowly peel her sweatshirt and shirt up and over her head.

“azzi, baby, no no no no. i did feel good. fuck. oh my god, baby i did feel good” she was literally pushing herself back at azzi, desperate for anything more, and still coming down from almost coming from dry humping. but she immediately quieted down when azzi unhooked her bra and let it fall as she moved to push her sweatpants down, pulling her underwear down with them. when she glanced back at a still reeling paige, she lifted her eyebrows and looked at her fully.

“what are you doing baby? strip.”

like it was the most obvious thing in the world. paige’s eyes went wide and she stopped breathing.

“fuck. yes. sorry baby. fuck.” she breathed and she hurriedly ripped her shirt and bra off in one go and frantically hooked the waistband of her shorts and boxers.

“god, paige. you want me so bad it’s embarrassing” azzi mused, watching her, but there was no real bite to it.

“fuck. yes baby. azzi i need you so bad” she choked out as she finally ripped her shorts off. she literally started to crawl towards azzi, needing to feel her skin on her own. azzi stopped her from fully pulling herself up from where she was laying by pushing her hand against her chest again and swinging her leg over her body again.

“good. because i need you so bad too, paige” was all she said before she leaned back against paige’s upward thighs and sunk her now soaked core against paige’s. paige literally whined as her head pressed back again and her eyes squeezed shut. azzi could only look at how fucked out paige looked already and forced herself to speak.

“paige, look at me.”

paige’s eyes shot open and she visibly forced them to focus enough to meet azzis.

“you’re so good baby” she coo’d at the effort paige was putting into meeting her every request.

“fuck azzi, please” paige managed to get out before she cut herself off with another high pitched moan when azzi began to move herself against her again. she moaned again, louder, when azzi pushed further back and found where their clits brushed against each other every time she ground into her. it was all consuming for the both of them, paige’s hips moved by themself as they bucked up into azzis and her breath came heavier and shorter, and the name falling from her lips was growing in pitch and volume again. she couldn’t help it when her eyes rolled back into her head as her thighs began to shake and azzis name became unintelligible.

“come baby, come for me, paige” azzi pushed out, chasing her own high.

paige’s orgasm crashed over her in waves as her thighs tried to clamp shut and it rolled through her again and again. azzi did not let up, if anything, she doubled down.

“baby please, i can’t, fuck, oh my god” paige cried towards the ceiling, trying to will her eyes to meet azzis. her hands found azzis hips and tried to push her off, but the hand on her chest moved faster up to her throat, pushed upwards against her jaw, and squeezed.

“no, baby, i know you can give me another. please give me another baby i want it”

paige’s fingers gripped the hardest they had and her head nodded quickly against the fingers below it. she began to help azzi try to reach her release faster. paige’s vision went white and still her grip on her waist tightened and pushed azzi harder and faster against her. she wasn’t making sense now and her moans were high pitched and short. every time another spilled from her lips, azzi felt it push though her and light her on fire. she was chasing not only her own orgasm, but the need to make paige feel incredible.

“you’re so good baby, you feel so good” paige choked out as azzis head threw back in pleasure. she pushed her hands up to azzis tits and massages the fat there desperately. when she pinched at azzis nipples, her moan shot out of her and her thighs stuttered. paige needed to make her girl feel good, even though she was fighting an oncoming soul-shattering orgasm. she forced her hands back to her hips again and rolled them harder into her, pushing up her own to meet her halfway. azzi was reeling, chasing and chasing. her tits bounced up and down, and when she practically screamed paige’s name, paige couldn’t take it anymore. her orgasm ripped through her hard, hot and white and her mouth jutted open crooked to the side as she came with a silent scream. fluids rushed out of her over both of them and onto her sheets and she was reeling from the unstopping stimulation as azzi chased her orgasm. the sight of watching paige fight to hold on so hard and keep herself in place as her orgasm ripped her almost in half just to make sure azzi got her own pushed her devastatingly off the edge. she came with another scream and her head was back as far as possible as her back arched hard to push their clits as close together as possible. paige was crying now, tears streaming heavily down her face as she held herself there to help azzi ride her orgasm out. azzi crumped on top of her and pushed her chest against paige’s.

paige’s arms were immediately wrapped around azzis body and she absolutely reveled in having her skin against hers. the tears coming from her eyes turned into overwhelming love and she began to tremble more as they came quicker.

“thank you baby. you’re amazing. i love you so much” azzi babbled, running her fingers across paige’s face now, soothing her tears and feeling so grateful for her girl’s commitment to helping her finish. paige was still coming down, but the tears slowed almost as fast as they came, and only the intensity of all she was feeling was left. paige opened her eyes and met azzis, searching hard. she decided one wasn’t enough for azzi and that she had to feel as good as she did. she choked through heaves, not caring how it sounded or how blunt it was, “sit on my face. please, please, please baby. i need to taste you. i need you to come again. please baby.”

azzi looked at her, watching how desperate she was, and decided to mercy her. she kissed her softly on the lips and ran her fingers up and down her arms, soothing. “i love you, paige” she whispered softly against her lips, kissing her again and again, helping her come down fully.

when paige’s eyes could fully focus and she could bring her hands up to splay across azzis back, she met her gaze and said again, with finality, but still a silent plea underneath, “i wanna make you come again.”

it was blunt and ugly but it was real. sincere.

azzi smiled against her lips and kissed her again. she shifted her hips up and paige pulled herself further down the bed to meet her halfway.

“you sure?” azzi asked again, not just to verify this was not going to kill paige, but to hear it come from her mouth how good she wanted to make her feel.

“yes, yes, baby. fuck. yes. come here. please.” she babbled out and didn’t let azzi second guess. the hands on her hips tightened again and pulled her down onto her lips and azzi jolted in surprise. the tension didn’t last long though, and she immediately relaxed and allowed paige’s tounge to lap against her, sucking and flicking and swirling around her clit fluidly. azzi was absolutely soaked. she was fighting not to come again immediately. when paige stuck her tongue inside her, however, she pushed down and moaned, loudly. she gasped when paige pulled her down even harder, tongue fully inside her as far as it could go, searching and trying to taste everything. her thighs shook and she came again, smaller this time, priming her for what was to come. she breathed hard and fast, moaning and grinding down. paige’s tongue never let up, just thrusted into her, searching for the spot that drove azzi insane. she knew she found it when azzi whimpered and almost crushed paige’s head between her thighs. paige picked her up with the hands on her waist, only and inch, tongue not even leaving the inside of azzi, but she thrusted it upwards and slammed her back down onto her full tongue. azzi screamed. she put her hands on the headboard and used them to pick herself up and slam her hips back down herself. she was reeling. her orgasm creeped up her back, warm, as she did this, and it tiptoed up further when paige brought one of her hands down to circle her clit as azzi kept her hips moving.

it was the final push over the edge when paige flicked her tongue quickly and firmly several times inside her as azzis hips rolled, finding the gummy spot just inside her. her eyes rolled back and she rode paige’s tongue through her entire orgasm, back arching, eyes watering, toes curling, jaw slack, and letting out a final, guttural moan, shooting fire directly from her core to out of her mouth. she was completely and utterly finished.

she fell backwards against paige and her head landed almost directly onto the soaked area between paige’s legs. she thought she felt that paige was wet again. but paige yelled and pushed quickly out from under her, breathing heavy. azzi glanced up at where she was sitting against the headboard and raised her eyebrow in a mock question. she knew what had happened. she knew paige knew she knew. she just wanted to hear her say it.

“where are you going baby? want me to get you?” she almost teased, but laced her voice with enough sincerity to make paige’s cheeks burn.

“no, no baby i’m okay”

azzi lifted an eyebrow.

“i. um. well. i came again.” she muttered quietly, forcing her gaze anywhere but on azzis eyes.

azzi just laughed. it came from the base of her back and punched out of her and kept coming, more and more. paige was bewildered.

“what???”

that made azzi laugh even more. she rolled directly into the fluids paige had released earlier in her laughter, and when she felt the warm wetness against her cheek, she nearly cried laughing.

paige looked almost sad, she was so lost. azzi looked at her face and immediately crawled to her, cupping her cheeks and kissing her sweetly.

“i know, baby. i just love you so much. i love that you came just from eating me out”

paige’s cheeks flushed a brighter shade of pink and she looked away.

“you make it sound so-”

“paige, you literally squirted and then came again” azzi mused with a shit-eating grin.

“you love me baaaaaaaddd” she sang out, teasing, eyes bright. paige was so embarrassed. she groaned and covered her face with her hands. azzi wasn’t having it. she pried her fingers off of her face and cupped her cheeks again, kissing her one more time.

“you don’t need to be embarrassed”, she punctuated with a kiss and continued when paige’s eyes met hers, “that was the hottest thing i’ve ever seen.” she giggled out.

paige’s lips finally cracked into a smile and she giggled with her. their giggles turned to laughs, and soon they were both doubled over, cackling and brushing tears from their eyes.

azzi collapsed on paige, still laughing, and curled up against her, feeling paige’s body push into hers, stomach still tensing, relaxing, and tensing again in laughter. she closed her eyes and felt so grateful for the wonderful life she was blessed with, to have someone who would beg to make her come and then cry laughing with her within the same hour. when they finally settled down from laughter, they just breathed each other in, basking in having each other back after so long.

-

the sun was beginning to finally change into an orange and sink below the skyline, darkening the room and urging paige to fall into a comfortable sleep for the night, with azzi by her side. but azzi began to shift beside her, pushing upwards with one hand and moving to get out of bed. paige groaned in displeasure, not wanting to move and not wanting azzi to go even more.

“come on, baby. let’s go clean up” she whispered. paige groaned again in response, but she opened her eyes and pushed herself up, lifting her legs off the side of the bed and steadying herself when she swayed. she turned and extended her palm face up to azzi, giving her support when she lifted her body off of the bed too. they clung to each other as they made their way to the bathroom, and never left each others skin as they made a bath and sunk inside of it.

-

it wasn’t until the next morning, when they were brushing their teeth and bumping hips by the sink, when azzi saw it. them.

littered everywhere across paige’s neck and collar were dark blotches of purple, blue, and pink shades.

her eyes widened and her palm flew to her mouth. she moved it down enough to choke out a few words.

“oh my god. paige. your neck.”

their eyes connected in the mirror and azzi saw paige’s soul leave her body. her hands were on her neck in an instant, pressing and pushing, trying to will them away. she turned to azzi, horrified,

“what am i gonna do?? i have a game in like 6 hours”

panic shot through azzis body and her face matched paige’s horror tenfold. she brought her hands to her scalp and tugged at her hair as if she could pull and idea of what to do from it.

“would nai know what to do?” she asked, hopeful and equally mortified.

paige looked at her and almost laughed. “you want to show my teammates that you’re a vampire in disguise?? they would actually never let me live it down. or you. god we’re so fucked”

paige turned back to the mirror to look again, fingers still toying with the largest of the bunch, a deep purple patch just under her jaw. azzi pressed her head into paige’s shoulder and muttered, “i miss when this shit couldn’t be traced back to me.”

paige smirked and tilted her head to rest on azzis. “babe i think it always could be. all of uconn knew i was yours.”

at that, azzi snaked her hands around paige’s waist and hummed.

“good.”

she paused and then sighed, turning to meet paige’s gaze in the mirror again. she let one hand come up and trace a blotch lightly, admiring her work. appreciating having paige marked as hers while she could.

paige watched her and smiled. she turned in azzis arms to face her, planted a small kiss on her lips, and whispered, “the world knows i’m yours without them. always yours azzi.”

she leaned in and kissed her again, breathing her in. she felt azzi smile against her lips and sigh again. “i’m yours too. forever.”

she put her head onto paige’s shoulder and felt paige do the same. they just stood there and hugged for what felt like a taste of forever. until azzi stirred and let herself grumble, “okay actually, what the fuck are we gonna do about this.”

-

an hour later, dijonai, nalyssa, and zaza were doubled over laughing outside of paige’s apartment door, where they had been for several minutes. an unimpressed paige and mortified azzi stood inside, watching.

“are yall done? we’ve got work to do.”

the three of them burst into another round of laughter and nai lifted her head enough to wipe an eye and manage out, “p, you don’t have any work to do other than sit there and look pretty.”

zaza perked up. “not too pretty tho, azzis still here.” this sent them all into another round of laughter. azzis face was now buried in her hands and pressed into paige.

“okay, okay, please guys let’s just go.”

paige stepped aside to let the three in. when she passed her, nalyssa grinned ear to ear and teased,

“whatever you say p.”

they made their way to the couch and got to work. azzi sat next to paige, her body against her own the only thing keeping her from dying in mortification. she didn’t know how paige wasn’t.

conversation drifted from the obvious thing, to the game, to the food they would get post-game. thankfully, they made it almost entirely to being finished with minimal teasing. it wasn’t until nai put her brush down and sighed in content when they gave her reason to tease again. azzi had been mid yawn and stretch, hands in a knot above her head and shirt riding up. she was startled by a scream of laughter from the woman in front of her.

“good lord p, she’s not going anywhere.” nalyssa cackled, pointing at azzis stomach and grasping zaza’s knee for support. azzi looked at paige’s face in confusion and saw the same mortification she, herself, had worn before. she followed her gaze down to her exposed stomach and there. black, blue, and bruising, were two clear handprints wrapped low around her waist, exactly where paige had gripped for dear life the night before.

she couldn’t help but double over laughing too, absolutely mortified but so absolutely in love.

-

@/overtimewbb: azzi fudd shows out in full paige bueckers gear at the last home game of the dallas wings season 💗

@/azzifuddfanclub: my favorite part of the game tonight was paige wiping her neck at the timeout at the end of Q4 #iykyk

@/p4igebucketss: you guys saw that hickey too right?? *image attachment*

pairing: azzi fudd x paige bueckers

wc: 6.7k (oops yall it’s was supposed to 3.5k words)

requested: y/n

anon said: can you do pazzi

summary: two athletes discover love in fleeting moments on and off the court, falling for each other again and again until they finally surrender to it.

1. the first pass

the practice gym hummed with life, a constant, low pulse of energy. the squeak of sneakers against polished hardwood, the soft thud of basketballs hitting the floor, and the occasional sharp whistle of a coach blended into a rhythm that paige had always found comforting. it was chaotic, loud, alive—and yet somehow, in the middle of it all, she felt herself noticing things differently today. things like azzi.

paige dribbled at the top of the key, feeling the ball move almost like an extension of her arm. defenders shifted instinctively around her, and for a moment, she felt the old familiar thrill—the one that came when everything clicked perfectly, when timing and instinct aligned like clockwork. but this time, her attention wasn’t just on the play. it was on azzi, standing on the wing, ready and waiting. her posture was relaxed, almost casual, but there was an intensity in her eyes that made paige’s stomach twist.

trust in me (i’ll give you all of me)

paige bueckers x azzi fudd

warning: sexual content

wc: 9.7k

summary: technically fwb. but like not really. definitely not casual. azzi is paige’s whole world. they cant hide their feelings for shit. basically a couple but not. yet. we’re not dating but also kind of are energy. a little complicated. very playful. possessive. only slightly messy cause they’re wayyyy too into each other.

a/n: hi hi hi i’m wayy too excited for uconn hoops, like actually counting down the days. anyways. hope y’all have as much fun as i did writing it. any feedback would be appreciated of course. thank you for even taking the time to read <333 ilyy

𐃯— Paige Bueckers x Reader

𐃯— After a brutal week of exams, two friends go to the local bar to celebrate. The drinks flow and you can’t ignore the way strangers eyes fall onto Uconn’s golden girl, Paige Bueckers. Jealousy builds in you as the night goes on. All whilst Paige grows drunk and clingy. not being able to keep her hands off you in a way that would blur every line of friendship. When a girl hits on Paige and shattered glass leaves her a bleeding finger, you pull her into a dark corner of the bar protective and possessive instinct tipping into something heated. Her finger wasn’t the only thing you kissed better that night. One drunken kiss turns into another, and before the night is gone, you’re walking Paige back to her dorm where all that tension finally shatters. The glass wasn’t the only thing that shattered that night.

𐃯—Word count: 6.8k

𐃯— Content warnings: drinking. smut. sub!p slight spit kink. semi!public sex. fingering. slight!overstim (p!receiving) exhibitionism. oral (p!receiving). scissoring. slapping. degrading. praise. edging. crying. aftercare.

༝༚༝༚ ༝༚༝༚ ༝༚༝༚ ༝༚༝༚ ༝༚༝༚ ༝༚༝༚ ༝༚༝༚ ༝༚༝༚ ༝༚༝༚ ༝༚༝༚ ༝༚༝༚

The bass from the local bar moved through the sticky floor and up your body, the whole bar vibrating with all of UConn students drunk on finals weekend freedom. Shouts, laughter, and awful singing that was really just yelling mixed with the sharp smell of vodka and spilled beer. Swaying behind you, her arm wrapped around your waist loosely like it was the most natural thing in the world to her, was none other than UConn’s golden girl, Paige Bueckers.

She glowed like she always did tall, slim figure, golden locs, pale skin kissed by the glowy orange lights, her smile pretty and a little tipsy. Her eyes were drunk and sparkling, and you’d both admit you had maybe one too many shots. You hadn’t even wanted to come out tonight. Finals were over, yeah, but your plan was to sit at home in your sweats and perhaps binge the new season of whatever Netflix show Paige had already bullied you into watching. But Paige had other plans. You could still see her leaning against her dorm doorframe earlier, hooking one finger through your belt loop, giving it a sharp, small tug that made your stomach flip.

“C’mon,” she’d whined, leaning in close enough that her breath tickled your face, looking down at you. “You’re not bailing on me. I need my favorite girl out there right by my side tonight,” she muttered.

One look into her pleading eyes with that knowing grin and your resistance had crumbled. And now here you were, swept away into the crowded heat of the bar with her attached to you like a second skin.

Heat pooled in your stomach as her chest brushed your back, her cologne cutting sharp through the mist of sweat and beer. And you hated how easy she made it how a single teasing look could leave your cheeks pink with your pulse jumping.

You tilted your head back toward her over your shoulder, making eye contact, your faces so close. “I can’t believe I let you drag me here,” you mumbled, though your tone held no real bitterness. You toyed with the silver rings around her slim fingers that were grazing the skin on your stomach. Even tipsy, she clung to you like she belonged there.

Paige only grinned, dragging her hands along your exposed tummy, your white crop top doing nothing to shield you from the chill of her rings, which caused you to shiver. She gave your hips a little squeeze, like she was testing how much she could get away with.

“Oh, please. You know damn full and well you’d be bored in your room shoving ice cream down your throat watching that lame ass show.” Her lips brushed your ear as she leaned in over the bass.

“Maybe that’s my type of celebration, and you practically begged me to watch that show!” you huffed.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. You love it when I make you come out with me. Don’t lie.”

You could only hum at that, closing your eyes and turning your head back as the alcohol sank heavy and warm into your system. Your hand fell over hers after toying with her jewelry, and you gave her soft hand a light squeeze, and she immediately went still against your back, breath catching. Especially drunk, she was easy to guide, easy to hold, your golden girl who pretended to run the night, yet every single little touch from you made her instantly melt.

Over time at UConn, being around Paige like this had taught you who she truly was. Paige wasn’t always the confident, in control girl the world believed she was. That was the version she gave the public eye. The one who ran the show. But with you, that act slipped. Drunk Paige was the clearest example bratty, whiny, and completely different from the poised girl everyone else saw.

Tonight, she was slipping into that side completely soft, clingy, and almost obedient under your hands. Or so you hoped.

You snapped out of your haze when you felt Paige’s warm hands slowly slide off your skin, leaving goosebumps in their absence.

“Baby, I’m gonna go get me a Dirty Shirley,” she slurred, her voice playful as she slid in front of you. Her cheeks were flushed from heat and alcohol, blonde hair clinging to the side of her neck in soft waves.

“Paige,” you scolded, raising your brows as she turned on her heel away from you. Your voice was low and sharp. Your hand shot out, grabbing her wrist and yanking her body back toward you. “Haven’t you had enough, P? You can barely walk,” you said. Paige definitely was more of a lightweight.

She stumbled into your chest with a soft huff, catching herself with a grip on your waist, and looked down at you with that knowing little pout that always made your stomach churn.

“Pretty please?” she whined, dragging her hands down your arms in a featherlight touch, her fingers automatically intertwining with yours like it was instinct. “Last one. Promise.” She tilted her head, giving you those stupidly cute, big, glassy puppy eyes.

You rolled your eyes, pulse quickening, part irritation, part something warmer that had been simmering all night. She had no idea what she did to you when she got like this—needy and completely at your mercy.

“Fine,” you mumbled, your tone unamused.

Paige’s face lit up, her toothy smile blooming instantly. “Knew you’d say yes,” she teased.

“Yeah? Say that again and you’re not allowed.” You tightened your grip on her hands.

Paige gasped, immediately pleading. “No! I’m sor-”

“Go,” you cut her off.

She gleamed at that, slipping away before you could say another word. You shook your head, watching her every move as she drifted toward the bar. The crowd seemed to part for her like it always did, the orange lights catching on her hair and the curve of her bare shoulder. God, she was wearing your favorite outfit tonight that white top that showed off her toned arms, her pretty abs, her hips under those low rise black pants.

Your eyes stayed locked on her the sway of her hips, the way strangers glanced at her like she was a prize. Your stomach twisted with that familiar, possessive heat. Only you got to look at her like that.

She leaned against the bar for balance, hair spilling over her shoulder, cheeks flushed. You watched her wave the bartender over, flashing that perfect smile as she ordered.

And then, just like always, someone moved in.

A girl slid up beside her, looking just like you, which only infuriated you more. She leaned down, her mouth nearly brushing Paige’s ear, and your jaw clenched. You couldn’t hear a word over the music, but the way her fingers brushed Paige’s shoulder was enough to make heat curl low in your stomach. Paige didn’t move away. If anything, she giggled, tipping her head slightly to listen.

Of course she did.

You were already moving through the crowd before the next bass drop hit. Someone muttered when your shoulder bumped theirs, but all you could see was Paige.

Then, before you knew it, her elbow caught the base of a tall glass on the bar. Typical Paige.

The crash was instant shards skittering across the floor. Paige gasped and instinctively crouched, laughing it off as she reached for the pieces like a drunken idiot. “Oops…” Paige mumbled.

“Paige!” you snapped, shoving through the crowd. She froze halfway to the floor but still reached for a shard.

“Don’t touch that!”

Too late. She hissed, jerking her hand back with a whimper, a thin line of red blooming across her fingertip. Her big, glassy eyes shot up to yours, soft and startled.

The girl beside her reached out. “I can-”

“I’ve got it,” you interrupted, rolling your eyes. You’d never be so rude, but alcohol just brought out a different you.

“…Ow,” Paige whimpered, oblivious to the tension, holding her hand out to you like you could fix everything. Her lip trembled, her eyes glossy, and all the noise of the bar faded under the rush of possessive heat in your chest.

You crouched down, wrapping an arm around her middle and pulling her up. She leaned into you, mumbling incoherently as you guided her away from the glass and through the many bodies, ignoring the stares.

You let your hold fall down to gripping her wrist, dragging her toward the back. Her steps were uneven, a soft stumble every few seconds, and each time she tripped, she let out a little whine that went straight to your chest.

“Slow down…” she slurred.

“You can keep up,” you said sharply, glancing back. Her cheeks were flushed, lips parted, and the moment your eyes met, she ducked her head, bashful despite the alcohol.

You found a shadowed corner near the back, half hidden by a jukebox and some old posters. Pressing her back against the wall earned a little yelp to leave her lips. You released her wrist only to catch her chin, tilting her face to yours, seeing her eyes wide and confused.

“Look at me,” you said softly.

She obeyed instantly, big glassy eyes locking onto yours. Her lip caught between her teeth like she didn’t know what to do with herself.

“You’ve been driving me insane all night, you know that?” you murmured, the alcohol giving you every ounce of confidence. “Clinging on me, whining for drinks, letting everyone eye fuck you like you’re theirs. Leaning into that girl when you know who you belong to.”

Paige shook her head quickly, hair brushing your chin. “No,” she whispered, voice hoarse. “I’m yours.” If only you knew Paige had orchestrated this entire night for this exact moment.

A low hum of satisfaction curled in your chest. Your hands slid to her waist. She melted, almost begging, her hips subtly leaning into you.

“That’s right, baby. Look how smart you are.”

You pressed into her, pinning her lightly against the wall. Her fingers clutched your shoulders, a needy whimper spilling from her lips. Her mouth opened like she wanted to speak, then shut again, eyes hazy with want.

“Nuh uh,” you murmured, grip tightening. “Spit it out. What is it? Use your words,” you said slowly.

She squirmed under your gaze, chest rising and falling. When she finally spoke, it was a whisper, raw and desperate.

“Show me I’m yours.”

That snapped something deep inside you.

Your hand grabbed the side of her face, your other hand yanking her hips, pushing her flush against you. You crashed your lips to hers, heated and hungry. Paige gasped, kissing you back, fingers tangling in your hair and tugging.

The kiss turned messy, teeth and all, until a soft whimper from her throat made you suddenly slow, savoring her. Tasting her. Your hands stayed firm on her, keeping her where you wanted, and she followed your lead without hesitation.

Paige’s lips parted, a soft sigh slipping past her lips. You didn’t waste the invitation, tongue brushing hers slow and deliberate. Paige tasted of strawberry chapstick, Dirty Shirley, and something purely her enough to make you throb.

She melted, pinned to the wall, her hands digging into your waist, then your hair, tugging until you groaned. You deepened the kiss, claiming every shuddering, soft sound she made.

When you pulled back, a slick string of spit connected your lips. Paige’s eyes were glazed, chest heaving like you’d stolen her air.

“Y/n…” she whispered. “You-”

You couldn’t contain yourself and swallowed her words with another rough kiss, your tongue sliding against hers. A muffled whine left her throat, her hips pressing closer instinctively.

“Gonna let me claim you in a room full of people?” you murmured, pulling away just barely.

Paige nodded eagerly, breathless.

“Words, baby,” you said, patting her thigh, stern enough to make her shiver. “Beg.”

Her voice was ragged, whiny. “Please. Please, please, pretty fucking please claim me,” Paige said without hesitation.

A slow, dangerous smile curved your lips. “Oh, you sweet thing,” you murmured, brushing her bottom lip. “If only you knew what you just got yourself into.”

Your lips met hers again, slower this time, then trailed to the corner of her mouth, dragging softly along her jaw and down to her neck. She whimpered, tipping her head back.

Your teeth sank into her skin just enough to make her yelp, and the sound went straight to your core. You soothed the bite with your tongue, then sucked hard enough to make her eyes roll back.

Her hands fisted in your shirt, knees wobbling.

“Mine,” you rasped.

She nodded weakly with a tiny whimper.

You turned your head, locking eyes with the girl hitting on Paige earlier. You knew she was there. She froze, caught. Without looking away, you reached for Paige’s jeans, fingers fiddling with her buttons.

The zipper sounded deafening. Your gaze returned to Paige’s flushed face. “This okay, sweet girl?”

“Yes.. please,” she begged. A slow smile spread across your lips as your eyes trailed down her body. Your fingertips brushed her stomach, barely there, making her tremble. When you reached the band of her boxers, you tugged lightly, then let the elastic snap back against her skin. She jolted with a shuddering gasp.

Your hands slipped lower, sliding into her boxers, and you couldn’t hold back your own sharp breath. “Oh, fuck…” you murmured, already drunk on her pussy. “Is this all for me?”

Paige whimpered, her head tipping back. You let two fingers glide between her folds, savoring every slick curve until you found her clit and circled it just right. Her soft moan sent a pulse through your body as her brows knit together, desperate eyes meeting yours. Paige began to rock her hips against your fingers, desperate and needy, making a deep chuckle slip from your throat. Man, who would’ve thought Paige Bueckers, the girl who could command any room, make every head turn with a single smirk, would be here… whimpering, begging, riding your fingers like she couldn’t get enough?

You exhaled a soft sigh of pleasure just from watching her come undone. “Such a needy little thing, huh?” you murmured, your voice low and taunting.

When you pulled away from her clit, she let out a frustrated puff of air. You only tsked softly before letting your fingers slide lower, pushing inside her with a slow, deliberate thrust. The tight heat of her walls made you moan under your breath as her body instinctively clenched around you. Warm slickness coated your fingers, gushing against your knuckles with every movement.

You glanced up and took her in. Her eyes fluttered shut, her teeth catching her lip in a desperate attempt to keep quiet.

“None of that,” you said sharply, your free hand grabbing her jaw and tilting her head down until her eyes snapped open to meet yours. “I want to hear you… and so does she.”

Your head tilted toward the crowd. Sure enough, the girl was still watching, frozen and wide eyed. Paige followed your gaze, her head turning, and when her eyes locked with the girl’s, her breath caught, her pupils blown wide.

That was when you drove your fingers into her harder, faster an unrelenting rhythm that had her gasping. Her head fell back with a sharp, helpless moan.

“B-baby, please…” she managed to whimper, mouth falling open as she chased the feeling.

You quickened your pace, watching the way she started to crack, her hips rolling down to meet every thrust. Paige’s walls clenched greedily around your fingers, and the sound of your breath hitched, the wet drag of her pussy only spurring you on.

“That’s it,” you murmured, utterly transfixed by the sight of her losing control and herself.

Just as you felt her on the edge, you grabbed her jaw again and turned her face toward the girl. Paige’s eyes widened, gasping at the sudden force.

“W-what are you-”

She couldn’t finish. Her words replaced with a high, broken moan as your thumb found her clit, circling it with merciless precision.

“Cum for me, Paige,” you growled, your voice thick with nothing but command. “Let her watch you fall apart.”

Paige’s hips snapped, rolling against your fingers desperately. “Oh, fuck!” she cried, eyes locked on the girl as you worked her over. Her lip was caught so tight between her teeth you almost thought it would bleed.

And then she broke her body shuddering, riding her high, walls fluttering around your fingers. You felt her pussy gush, making you moan.

“There you go. Such a good girl for me.”

The girl in the crowd looked flushed, her cheeks blooming pink as her eyes darted away. You caught the subtle bob of her throat as she swallowed hard, and a satisfied smirk tugged at your lips.

“So good for me,” you purred.

When you turned back to Paige, the sight nearly made your chest ache with pride. She was completely wrecked hair messy, lips swollen, her chest rising and falling in uneven short breaths. Her pupils were blown wide, and that lazy, fucked out grin on her face was proof she was all yours.

Paige hummed weakly at your praise, and you couldn’t resist a low chuckle as your fingers began to circle her clit in a slow, deliberate tease. She jolted and let out a soft, broken whine, both hands flying to your wrist in a feeble attempt to stop you.

“No?” you asked, tilting your head, your tone dripping with mocking sweetness. “I thought this is what you wanted, baby.”

“S’… too much… please.” she whimpered, her grip tightening around your wrist, her thighs trembling from oversensitivity.

You let her suffer for just a moment longer before easing your fingers out of her, savoring the way her body sighed at the sudden emptiness. Your fingers trailed along her slick folds one last time, committing every curve and texture to memory before sliding free.

A low hum of satisfaction left you as you admired your hand your fingers glistening, coated in her sweet release. A grin spread across your face as you lifted them toward her lips, tapping lightly against her mouth.

“Open,” you commanded, your voice leaving no room for question.

Paige obeyed without hesitation, lips parting as a soft, needy sound escaped her. You dragged your coated fingers slowly across her tongue, and her eyes fluttered shut as she tasted herself, sucking gently, hollowing her cheeks.

The sight had your stomach tightening with a surge of heat. Without warning, you pushed your fingers deeper, pressing past her tongue until you felt the brief choke of her throat around them. Paige gagged softly, her eyes snapping open, glassy and submissive, as drool slicked her lip.

The sight alone could’ve undone you. Well, it almost did.

Your fingers slid out her mouth with a pop, it almost looking like she leaned forward wanting more. “Don’t worry, my girl. Wait til I get you home,” you mumbled, lightly patting her cheek. You leaned in and pressed a slow, tender kiss to the side of her neck, inhaling deeply. Her scent hit you instantly sweet cologne, and the faint tang of alcohol and sugar clinging to her skin. A sigh slipped from your lips as you let yourself savor her for just a heartbeat, your nose brushing along her jaw.

Paige’s fingers twitching like she wanted to grab you again. Instead, you reached for her hand, intertwining your fingers slowly, deliberately, letting your thumb trace circles against her knuckles. She followed without hesitation, her steps clumsy but eager as you tugged her gently toward the back exit.

“Let’s go,” you said softly, your tone leaving no room for argument.

The two of you stumbled out into the cool night, the noise of the bar fading away behind the slam of the heavy door. Paige pressed herself into your side, as you led her through the quiet empty streets. Her hands never left you, fingers brushing your hip, tracing the waistband of your jeans, occasionally sneaking up under your top for warmth or maybe just for you.

You couldn’t even remember every step of the walk; the world had narrowed down to her touches, her soft giggles, the heat of her body pressed against yours. Every time she moved into you, that same familiar fire sparking lower in your chest each time.

By the time you reached her dorm, Paige was practically draped across you, her lips brushing the skin on your shoulder as she fished for her keys. She handed them over with a little huff, her pout so adorable it made you want to ruin her all over again. Which you were, to be clear.

The moment the door clicked open, instinct took over. You pushed her inside, kicking the door shut with your heel, the sound echoing in the small dorm room. Paige barely had a second to gasp before her back hit the wood, your hand sliding up to cradle her jaw as your lips crashed onto hers.

She let out a soft, needy moan into your mouth, her fingers flying to your waist like she couldn’t hold on tight enough, tugging you to her. The kiss was messy, heated, all teeth and tongue and the faint taste of strawberry and sugar on her lips. Her body arched into yours desperately. You forced yourself to pull away as you both kicked your shoes off. You dragged her into her room, pushing her onto the bed, climbing on top of her, straddling her. Her lazy smile deepened as her hands slid to your hips, fingertips tracing little circles into your skin. You let your palms sprawl across her warm stomach, leaning down to press slow, teasing kisses along her jaw.

“Too damn pretty for your own good,” you murmured against her skin, the words buzzing against her neck.

Your fingers found the hem of her top, playing with it for a moment, and you glanced up, silently asking for permission. She gave a small nod, her eyes hazy and trusting. You peeled her top upward, letting your knuckles skim her soft skin, and she lifted her arms to help. The shirt was tossed somewhere behind you, forgotten.

You froze for just a second to admire her. Paige in a fitted black Nike sports bra, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. A grin tugged at your lips before you leaned down, kissing down her neck, her collarbone, and every inch of her chest, savoring the way she squirmed beneath the attention.

“Paige,” you whispered, looking up at her through your lashes.

She hummed in response, already breathless.

“Can I?” you asked, snapping the band of her sports bra lightly against her skin.

Her soft whimper was followed by a meek, “Yes.”

You grinned as you slowly peeled the bra up, shimmying her out of it. The moment the fabric left her body, your smile shifted into something darker, your eyes locked on her exposed chest. Her nipples hardened under the cool air, and your voice dropped to a low murmur.

“Oh, baby…”

Your hands rose instinctively, cupping her breasts and kneading them slowly, your thumbs brushing over the sensitive peaks. Paige’s breath hitched, and she let out a soft whine, her body writhing under your touch.

“Want… your mouth,” she mumbled, twirling a loose strand of your hair between her fingers.

You lifted a brow, pausing just long enough to make her squirm.

“Please,” she added, a desperate little whisper.

“There she is,” you teased, your voice like velvet.

You dipped down, wrapping your lips around one of her nipples, your tongue flicking against the sensitive bud while your free hand teased the other. Her fingers immediately buried in your hair, gripping tight as a shaky moan left her lips. She arched into your mouth, her back bowing slightly, seeking more.

You pulled back with a soft pop, letting your lips trace a wet, lazy path across her chest to the other breast. Your mouth closed over her other nipple, tongue swirling as you sucked gently. Paige’s fingers stayed tangled in your hair, holding you there like she never wanted you to leave.

Her soft sounds filled the room, and you could feel her thighs squeeze together beneath you as you worked her over, every flick of your tongue making her tremble. After a minute, you let your lips leave her breast, now kissing down her stomach, your tongue slowly dragging across her skin. Paige’s grip on your hair finally loosened, her arms falling above her head, fingers curling into the sheets as she let out a soft sigh. She was completely at your mercy now.

You pressed a lingering kiss just above the button of her jeans, looking up through your lashes. Her chest rose and fell quickly, and all she could do was nod, desperate and pliant under your gaze.

You didn’t waste another second. Your fingers popped the button, dragging the zipper down slowly, savoring the way her body squirmed in anticipation. You peeled the denim down her legs, letting your fingertips trail against her skin, and tossed the jeans somewhere behind you.

A satisfied hum slipped from your throat at the sight of her now, left only in a pair of snug black boxers that did nothing to hide the heat between her thighs.

“God…” you murmured, your voice low and warm, “look at you.”

You knelt between her legs, slowly parting them, and your own thighs pressed together instinctively at the sight of her. Paige shifted under your gaze, a blush blooming into her cheeks, with the neediness in her eyes.

“Look so pretty for me, angel,” you whispered, letting the reassurance sink in.

You bent down, letting your lips ghost along the smooth skin of her inner thigh, leaving a soft trail of kisses that grew slower, more deliberate, the closer you got to where she wanted you. A playful nibble made her twitch, and her soft, frustrated whine filled the air.

Before she could beg, your palm landed in a firm slap on the inside of her thigh, making her jolt.

“Patience,” you murmured, your voice firm but gentle, and she instantly went quiet.

Finally, you were level with her clothed cunt, her boxers damp with arousal. You pressed a feather light kiss against the wet fabric, and Paige let out a sharp little breath. Your nose brushed against her clit as you inhaled her scent, groaning softly into the fabric.

She couldn’t take it, her fingers tangled in your hair, pushing your head forward, trying to pull you closer.

You pulled back immediately, delivering a slap to her covered pussy.

Paige gasped, eyes wide, a blush creeping down to her neck.

“Uh-uh,” you warned softly, a smirk curling your lips.

Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, you hooked your fingers into her waistband and dragged her boxers down her thighs. She instinctively snapped her legs closed, heat radiating from her core.

“Hey…” you cooed, voice reassuring and soft as your hands slid along her thighs, “don’t be shy. It’s just me.”

After a moment’s hesitation, her legs fell open again.

The sight stole your breath. Her slick folds glistened in the low light, her arousal pooling onto her inner thighs. A groan slipped out before you could stop it, your head tipping forward for a second as if the sight alone could knock you out.

“Fuck… Paige,” you muttered, eyes roaming over her body before meeting her gaze. “So fucking beautiful. How could you hide this from me all this time?”

She squirmed, blushing even harder under your dark stare.

You couldn’t tease her anymore. Not when your own desire coiled tight within you. You leaned down, lips brushing her soaked pussy in the faintest kiss. Her legs immediately spread wider, a wordless invitation, and your hands slipped under her knees to keep her open for you.

Your first slow lick traced every curve of her pussy, tasting her fully, and your eyes fluttered shut as you moaned against her. Paige sighed, her hips jerking with a stutter, already falling apart under your first touch.

When your lips wrapped around her clit, sucking softly, the sound that tore from her chest was almost sinful. She gripped the sheets, knuckles white, her moans filling the room. You hollowed your cheeks, letting your tongue flick and swirl before lapping at her wetter, messier, each movement dragging a louder sound from her.

The wet sounds of her pussy and of your mouth on her and your own muffled groans filled the room, mixing with the soft creak of the bed as Paige’s hips trembled beneath you. You let your tongue trail lower, teasing the entrance of her slick heat, and she whined your name, thighs quivering.

Her voice broke into little incoherent sounds, her whole body shivering with pleasure. She was already gone.

You shook your head against her pussy, tongue working faster, greedier, desperate to taste every drop of her as she came undone. You let your tongue find her clit again, and you watched as Paige began to lose control of her body, her hips rocking, legs shaking, a moaning mess.

“Gonna- gonna cum! Please!” Paige begged, her voice breaking as her body trembled and arched under your mouth.

And really, who the hell were you to deny an angel like this the release she craved?

“Give it to me,” you mumbled against her soaked pussy, tongue working her relentlessly. “Be the good girl I know you can be…”

Paige’s fingers twisted tight in the sheets, knuckles white, and her hips snapped up with a loud, desperate cry of your name. Her release hit hard, hot and messy against your tongue as she gushed, and you swore you felt your eyes roll back, greedily lapping up every drop she had to give you.

She rode out the waves of her orgasm, hips jerking as her legs shook around your head. But the pleasure quickly became too much, her soft whines and shaky hands tried to push you away.

“I know, baby… I know,” you murmured, but your mouth lingered, savoring her, needing to taste her completely before you finally pulled back.

You kissed her throbbing, sensitive pussy softly, one last farewell, then dragged yourself up her body, chin and lips glistening with her cum.

The sight of her nearly undid you. Paige sprawled out beneath you, hair messy against the pillow, chest heaving, cheeks flushed, her eyes glazed with bliss. Her legs were still trembling, and her pussy glistened, dripping with the evidence of her release.

You were soaked yourself, just from watching her come apart for you.

Sliding up to straddle her waist, you fisted a hand gently in the back of her hair, tilting her face up toward you. “Need you to see how sweet you taste,” you whispered, your voice low and warm.

Your lips claimed hers in a slow, deep kiss. Paige moaned into your mouth, tasting herself on your tongue, her hands finding your thighs as if she needed to hold onto something solid.

“Think you got another one in you?” you murmured against her lips, teasing.

Paige shook her head weakly, a soft whine escaping her as she tried to clamp her legs together.

“I think you do,” you said with a knowing smirk, watching her body betray her even in its sensitivity.

Her head shook again on the pillow, her lips pouting in protest.

“Please, baby? I wanna cum too…” you whispered, leaning down close to her ear. Your breath was hot against her skin as you brushed a stray strand of hair back and pressed a kiss under her jaw. “Need to feel my pussy against yours…”

Paige’s breath hitched hard, and her fingers fisted into your shirt, tugging insistently.

“Go ahead,” you murmured, giving her permission.

She wasted no time your top was stripped off in an instant, and her shaky hands went straight for your bra clasp. Her eyes flicked up to yours, that little spark of asking still there, even wrecked and needy.

“May I?” she asked, voice soft and reverent.

“Since you asked so nicely…” you said, smoothing your palm over the top of her head.

Her tongue peeked out at the corner of her mouth as she focused, and you couldn’t help but smile down at her. The clasp popped open, and your bra slid off your body, leaving you completely bare above her.

Paige gasped, her eyes darting from your breasts up to your face, awe and hunger swirling together. Her hands instinctively gripped your hips tighter, holding you like she might never let go.

Then, in a sudden rush, she grabbed your face and smashed her lips against yours, kissing you with a desperate passion, like if she stopped for even a second, you might disappear. Her mouth moved against yours, teeth clashing softly as her hands slid down your body, fumbling with the button of your jeans.

You let her take some control, shivering at the feeling of her fingers brushing against your stomach. The two of you worked in sync, hurried and impatient, until your pants were gone and you were left in nothing but your panties.

Paige let out a soft, needy moan at the sight of you, her hand immediately cupping your clothed cunt. Her lip caught between her teeth as she felt just how soaked you were.

A smirk played at your lips before you slipped off of her, plopping down beside her on the bed. Paige turned her head toward you, confused, until you patted your stomach.

“C’mon, baby. You didn’t think I was gonna miss the chance to watch you ride my pussy, did you?”

Paige whimpered, that submissive haze washing over her again as she crawled on top of you. You peeled off your panties, baring yourself completely to her. Paige’s mouth dropped as she took in your naked figure, eyes drinking in every curve.

You gave your hips a teasing little thrust to snap her out of her daze. Slowly, you opened your legs for her, your glistening pussy catching the soft light. Paige’s eyes went wide, and she reached out with trembling fingers to touch you.

You smacked her hand gently.

“Nuh-uh,” you chided softly. “This is about you.”

She gulped, uncertainty flickering across her face, but you only smiled and reached for her hips.

“Sweet girl, it’s okay. Just open your legs for me.”

Paige obeyed, leaning down until her legs were spread wide over you. The first brush of your soaked pussies together made both of you whine, your hips jerking instinctively at the delicious friction.

It was too much for Paige; she was already lost. Her hips began to rock almost immediately, desperate and messy. You threw your head back, your back arching off the bed as the sensation rolled through you. Your hands clamped down on her hips, guiding her movements, helping her find the perfect rhythm.

Paige’s hands slid up to toy with her own nipples, her back arching, her eyes locked on your face the entire time. You moaned her name, chest heaving, watching her ride your pussy with a hunger you’d been holding back all night.

“My best girl,” you breathed, voice breaking.

You could tell Paige wasn’t going to last, and honestly, neither were you. The slow burn of edging yourself all night just from watching her unravel had left you trembling under her.

“M’ not gonna last,” she cried, her voice high and broken, falling forward to brace herself with her hands on either side of your head. Her hair spilled forward around your face, soft and warm.

“I know, Paige,” you whispered, gripping her hips tighter. “Need you to cum with me.”

She whimpered, her hips stuttering as her clit rubbed perfectly against yours.

“Please, please, can’t hold it,” she cried, and that was when you felt it a warm tear falling onto your chest. Your breath caught in your throat.

Oh, fuck. She was crying. Pleasurable tears.

The sight sent you over the edge.

“I’m gonna cum, come on, baby, cum with me,” you urged, rocking her hips faster, chasing the high together.

Paige’s whole body shook as she broke apart, a loud, shattering cry of your name tearing from her throat. Her orgasm hit so hard she sobbed through it, and her words tumbled out without thought.

“Fuck. I love you,” she gasped, voice breaking.

The raw confession stole your breath. You gasped, staring up at her as your own orgasm crashed into you, your body clenching and shaking beneath her, riding the waves of pleasure until neither of you could move.

The room was filled with the sound of your shuddering breaths, wet skin, and the fading echoes of your moans. Paige finally collapsed against you, her chest pressed to yours, her breath warm and uneven against your ear.

“Holy fuck,” you mumbled, still trembling, feeling your own slick drip against her.

Paige sniffled softly, and your instincts kicked in immediately. You wrapped your arms around her, holding her tight, your nails lightly scratching her back.

“Did so good for me,” you whispered against her temple, kissing the side of her head. “M’ so proud of you, my perfect girl.”

She stayed quiet for a long moment, just catching her breath, lazily kissing your neck between soft sniffles.

You finally pulled her up enough to see her face.

“Look at me,” you whispered, voice soft but firm.

Her bleary eyes met yours. “Hi…” she mumbled, shy now, cheeks pink.

Your lips curled into a small, warm smile. “Hi, pretty baby.”

“Legs hurt,” she whined softly, her voice rasping.

“I know,” you said, brushing your thumb along her cheek. “How’s a bubble bath sound?”

Her lips curved into a sleepy smile at that.

She pushed herself up, still straddling your waist, and glanced down between your bodies. Her thumb grazed your dripping cunt, and she popped it into her mouth with a soft moan at your taste.

You watched her with a fond smile, until you caught sight of her finger a thin red line across it.

The memory of the shattered glass from earlier came rushing back. You had been so worried about claiming Paige back, you had forgotten about her little cut. Your heart skipped.

“Oh, my poor baby… how could I forget?” you gasped, gently grabbing her hand and pulling her thumb from her mouth. Paige blinked in surprise, eyes wide.

You peppered soft kisses over her cut finger, murmuring against her skin.

Paige let out a soft hum at the attention.

“Let’s go fix my girl up,” you whispered, kissing her knuckle once more. “Need to kiss you all better.”

And this time, Paige only smiled shyly, letting you guide her off the bed, still trembling but safe in your arms. You led Paige carefully into the bathroom, her legs still slightly shaky. Sitting her down gently on the closed toilet lid, you turned to the tub, twisting the handles until warm water filled the bath. The soft hiss of the faucet and the rising steam filled the quiet room. You poured in the bubbles, watching them bloom and swell across the surface, the faint scent of vanilla and honey filling the air.

Once the bath was ready, you crouched down in front of her. She looked adorably drowsy, her hair messy around her flushed face. You took her injured hand, bringing her finger to your lips for a gentle kiss before leaning up to press another against her cheek. Paige gave you a sleepy smile, her eyes soft and full of trust.

You stood to grab the small first-aid kit from the cabinet above the mirror. Pulling out a single bandaid, you crouched down again, wrapping it carefully around her cut finger. Then you kissed the bandaged fingertip, letting your lips linger for a second.

“All better,” you said softly.

“Thank you…” Paige whispered, her voice heavy with exhaustion, almost like a child being tucked in after a long day.

You smiled, threading your fingers through hers as you stood. “C’mon, pretty girl.”

Guiding her carefully, you helped Paige step into the warm bath. She let out a soft sigh as the heat wrapped around her, bubbles clinging to her skin. Once she settled in, you slipped in behind her, the water lapping gently at your waist as you pulled her back against your chest.

A content hum left your throat as you felt her warm, soft skin against yours. Her head leaned back against your shoulder, and you let your hands wander lazily, cupping bubbles to wash over her body in slow, tender motions. Your lips brushed her shoulder in a gentle kiss, then trailed to the side of her neck.

Paige exhaled a soft, content sigh, melting against you completely, her muscles finally relaxing after the intensity of the night. The soft splashes of water and the faint smell of vanilla bubbles were the only sounds for a moment, peaceful and warm. Paige held onto your legs.

All the ways you call me "baby"

Words: 4k Tags: Slice of life, Fluff, Friends to lovers, Angst, Parenting

Summary: A soft, slice-of-life collection of moments between Paige and Azzi about all the meanings behind one word, and how “baby” has followed them through every stage of their story, until it finally belongs to someone else, too.

summary: the beginnings of paige and azzi

notes: literally my first post on tumblr lol, hopefully ts isn't complete ass

wc: 10.3k

It was instant for Paige, the spark, the connection. That’s the thing she remembers the most. Seeing her, radiant and glowing like the angels written about in her bible, and knowing she had to be at the very least friends with the guard across from her. It was hard to look away from her, especially when the younger girl had one of the prettiest jump shots Paige had ever seen. It was tantalising. She was tantalising. 

Which made it the sole reason Paige was thrown off. Paige knew she could be annoying at times, relentless in her endeavours, but she had honest to god tried to tone it down. Especially around all these new people she was trying to impress. Granted she hadn’t changed much, still running her mouth in practice and cracking jokes between drills, but she hadn’t been the usual pest she is back in Minnesota. 

So why the younger guard brushed her off any time Paige had tried to speak with her had been mind boggling. From the sheer amount of side eyes she'd received, one might assume Paige had done something to offend the girl. The hopeful side of Paige thought maybe it was because the coaches had moved the younger girl over to more of a shooting guard position than her intended point guard position, doing so to let Paige stay as the point. Maybe the other girl was just annoyed at the coaches and was simply taking it out on her. If her hopeful side was wrong though, it left her utterly confused.

She was usually able to squeeze easily into many social situations and therefore friendships, so the closed off reaction she got from the guard shooting 3’s like free throws made it both incredibly frustrating and increasingly intriguing. Though no matter how much avoiding the light skinned girl gave her off the court she couldn’t deny how easily they clicked on the court. 

While they hadn’t talked much off the court, you would never be able to tell from the way they constantly found each other on it. It was their first game against Columbia, with both of them coming off the bench into the game 5 minutes into the first quarter. Paige knew they were better than this other team the minute she started dribbling the ball. 6 minutes had gone and Paige just picked up her first board, striding across her half of the court. She had only needed to lift her head up a fraction to know the other girl was pacing her way to the net. Using both hands she sent a dime of a pass across half the court to the number 6 shirt and to the surprise of no one the brunette recorded her first layup of the tournament. Paige’s first assist. Funny how their first play of their first official game together would be a testament to the rest of their careers. 

The rest of the game had come easy to the team. Despite starting on the bench, both girls had logged some of the highest minutes of the game. Paige had had a pretty efficient shooting game if she could say so herself, making five of her seven shots. The game was a blowout, USA scoring 91 to Columbia’s 33. 

The rest of the tournament had followed a similar theme, blowout after blowout, their lowest point differential of the tournament being 45 in the final against Canada. Though no win had felt bigger than the slow win of Azzi’s guard lowering the more time they’d spent together. With the way the team’s formation ran, Paige and Azzi came on and off the court pretty much at the same time, so it meant most of their time spent on the bench was with each other. So, no matter how much Azzi had brushed Paige off at practice, the younger girl was forced to listen to the ramblings of Paige during games. To Paige’s credit though, it seemed as if it was working. The once tight lipped smile with a polite nod slowly turned into a genuine one, teeth and all, and if she was lucky a stupid joke was meant with an eyeroll and a playful shove with the other girl's elbow or knee. 

Paige really had tried not to smile too hard during the medal ceremony after the game. But in her defence, could you really blame her? In her first tournament representing her country, they had won gold, staying undefeated the whole time. Not only that but now she was standing in a line holding hands with the pretty girl she had been mesmerised with since day one. Sue her if all 32 teeth were showing, she had every reason to smile.

And she continued to smile, when they both headed to the same gate at the airport, one bound for Minnesota. “I thought you lived in Virginia?” The blonde had asked as they both made their way over to the airport seats.

“My grandparents live in Minnesota, my family and I usually stay with them over summer vacation. They have a cabin by the lake we stay at.” This was probably the longest sentence Azzi had spoken to Paige. The success fueled her,

“Damn lake side cabin, okay bougie.” Paige chuckled, nudging the shorter girl with her elbow earning her an eye roll she'd seen more and more of recently.

“It's barely bougie, they've had it since before I was born.” Azzi refuted as they both took a seat outside their terminal, waiting to board. “Besides, since when was a cabin bougie?” 

Paige smiled and shrugged “Having a place you stay for vacation that isn’t your own home is bougie, don't play.” Paige antagonised constantly pushing back. The best part of getting to know new people is that they haven't learnt to not argue back with Paige, because even if Paige is wrong, she’ll keep arguing till you give up. 

Azzi obviously hadn’t learnt that yet, though just as she opened her mouth to retort, her dad made his way over to the pair, “Hey girls, let me get a picture of y’all with your medals.” He said phone already in hand. Azzi groaned from beside her, muttering a brief ‘so embarrassing’ but both girls reached into their bags and pulled out their gold medals and putting it around their necks. 

Paige didn’t need to be told to smile by the man behind the camera, in fact she wasn't sure she had stopped smiling since the day they won the final. As the first picture was taken, Paige lightly elbowed Azzi, turning to face her, “Wait lets do the biting thing.” She suggested.

“That's so corny” Azzi had responded despite her smile, and the fact she was already pulling the medal up to her teeth. Paige smiled in response following suit, the duo taking what would be the first of many medal celebration photos. 

They were finally boarding the plane, shuffling down the aisle to their seats. As they were making their way down, Paige came to the realisation that this might be the last time she sees Azzi until they are undoubtedly selected for the next USA tournament, and that realisation makes her decide she doesn't want it to end so quickly. Turning around to face the girl behind her, walking backwards slowly she asks “Hey, would you want to sit next to each other for the flight? My dad likes to snore and I’d like to avoid that if I can.”

Azzi smiles once again, looking back to her parents quickly before replying “I’ll ask my parents, but if they say yes then sure. Your dad could take my seat and I'll take his?” She suggests.

“Sounds like a plan”. With that the pair went off to their respective parents to put the plan into motion. Paige had mentioned it to her dad, bar the snoring part, who ruffled her hair much to Paige's dismay and shuffled out his row to find the Fudd’s who were only a few rows in front. 

Not a few seconds later, Azzi made her way over to Paige’s row and slotted herself beside the blonde into the middle seat. Paige smiled welcomingly at the girl, and a comforting warmth ran through her body when their legs rested against each other. There was an awkward silence between the two during take off. Paige wasn’t sure if it was nerves from the plane or proximity. It didn’t take her long after though to start rambling.

The pair’s conversations thus far had mostly been basketball related, moments from the tournament they had just played in and various wnba and nba tidbits, but a 12 hour flight will have you talking about anything and everything. Paige took up most of the talking role for the first part of the journey, telling Azzi about her life back in Minnesota, her team in Hopkins, her siblings. She was proud of her life, what she was doing with it and the people around her, so it made it easy to share. Even easier when the recipient listened with that transfixing smile that made Paige never want to stop speaking so she could keep on seeing it. 

They were somewhere over the Atlantic when the conversation shifted slightly, “How do you play basketball, but you've never watched love and basketball?” Paige questioned, almost offended. They had been talking about their favourite movies, and when Azzi had mentioned she had never seen Paige’s favourite, it had shocked the older girl. 

“Just because I play basketball, doesn't mean I need to consume every piece of media about it.” Azzi responded laughing lightly at just how animated this had made Paige.

“First of all I do. Second of all, love and basketball isn’t just any basketball film, it's the best basketball film.” Paige replied, turning more in her seat to properly face Azzi, trying to not to focus too hard on the heat in her knee that was pressed up against the other girl.

“I don't know how that can be possible when there are basketball films like air bud and like mike.” Azzi had said, shaking her head, and if Paige didn’t know any better, she could have sworn Azzi was just saying this to wind her up.

“Ok, you are actually tripping now.” It was Paige's turn to roll her eyes, “I’ll have to show it to you some time.” She said, ignoring all the implications that came with that. 

“I’d like that.” Paige silently prayed hard that the heat in her cheeks wasn't visible to Azzi at the girl's response. Paige wasn’t someone that got flustered, not usually. She was known for her confidence and her ability to be unrattled. Yet, this one girl sitting beside her now, was able to rid Paige of all her confidence, of her swagger. It was foreign to the blonde, which only increased her nerves next to the girl. 

Clearing her throat, hoping her fluster wasn’t noticeable, Paige attempted to bring her charisma back. She pulled her phone out of her pocket accompanied with her signature smirk, and opened her contacts. “Guess that means you’ve got to give me your number so we can figure out when I can show it to you then.”

Azzi smirked back, raising one eyebrow “Oh really? Well I guess if I have to then.” 

“Only if you want to watch the greatest movie ever made.” Ok now Paige knew she was exaggerating but it was worth it to see Azzi roll her eyes and chuckle at her nonsense. Anytime she made Azzi laugh felt worth the air it took to do so. 

Azzi typed in her number wordlessly, adding her contact name and taking a quick selfie then and there, pouting her lips a little. Even the most repressed part of Paige could admit how cute it was. Though any response Paige had to the action died on her lips when she saw the contact name. ‘Azzi 💗’. It shouldn’t have felt like a big deal, but the addition of the heart brought Paige pause. Cue fluster.

It appeared as if Azzi caught the fluster this time as well, noticing how Paige’s eyes hadn’t left the part of the phone where her name and the heart lay, as she spoke up “Pink’s my favorite color. So you know it's me then.” She explained simply. Paige felt the need to say she was unlikely ever going to meet another person called Azzi, and even if she did it she was hardly going to mix up the girl next to her with anyone else but it felt so obvious to Paige that she didn’t even bother. 

Since that point, Azzi seemed to be more willing to join in, and the roles switched from Paige being the talker to now the listener. Azzi told her about her life in Virginia, her high school, her brothers, her dog.  Paige soaked it all up, the details, the rhythm of Azzi’s voice, the way her eyes lit up when she mentioned her family. Somewhere between stories about embarrassing AAU tournaments and favorite ice cream flavors, Paige realized she wasn’t just intrigued anymore, she was hooked.

The hours flew by, most of the cabin around them falling asleep, but both girls were too engrossed in their conversations and each other. As the hours passed by, their proximity to each other increased, their shoulders and arms both squeezed together on the same arm rest. 

The topic had shifted from telling each other personal facts from home to a game of would you rather. Though with how often they would differ in their answers it was more like a debate than a game. 

“No shot you are winning against a horse sized duck. Nuh uh.” Paige shook her head in disbelief at Azzi’s answer. 

“No, listen, it's just one opponent. It wouldn't be an easy fight, I never said that, but at least I wouldn't get overwhelmed. Plus I'm strong, I’d be able to win eventually. You absolutely aren’t winning against a hundred duck sized horses. I’d give you ten maybe, but Paige you aren't taking a hundred.” Azzi defends adamantly, an amusing seriousness to her answer.

“Bro, what are you gonna do when a big ass beak comes snapping at you? Nothing cuz there is nothing you can do except accept your fate. Now, a hundred tiny horses, I got options. I could kick them away, trap some under things like blankets and boxes. Or I could befriend them and form an army of tiny horses.” Paige argues with an identical passion, both girls dead set on thinking they are correct. 

Azzi chuckles, earning a few dirty looks from people trying to sleep around them, but the two teammates are too wrapped up in each other to even notice. “How are you going to befriend them when they are trying to kill you? You’d never even get the chance.”

“Easy, give me like 10 apples to give them and between that and my pure dominant aura would let them know what's what.” Paige shot back without missing a beat. “I’d have a whole stampede at my command when I’m done. Good luck guarding me when me and them pull up to the game.” 

Shaking her head incredulously, Azzi pushed Paige away lightly. “It’s them and I and you are actually ridiculous.”

“Ok grammar queen, you’re just jealous of me and my new gang. Have fun getting eaten alive by your big bird.” 

Safe to say neither agreed and likely never would. Once they both came to this conclusion, only after an excruciating 10 minutes to those still awake around them, a few more scenarios got passed between them. They picked the same option more often than not, but when they didn’t, they really didn’t. It was fascinating to Paige, to find they clicked so much in a way that was contrasted from how she is with most of her other friends. They shared similarities of course, but they were very different people. It felt refreshing, finally getting the chance to properly hang out with Azzi. And as hour nine of twelve approached, and the brunette’s head slumped onto Paige’s shoulder, her cheek pressed against the blonde’s collarbone despite adamantly saying it was impossible for her to fall asleep on planes, Paige hoped she'd continue to get the chance to be around the girl.

They were walking through MSP Airport together, their parents following close behind, talking about their summer plans. Azzi had already told Paige about the family cabin, but when Azzi asked the taller girl walking beside her and just received a shrug as a response, Tim Fudd stepped in. “Y’all are more than welcome to join us if you want. We’d love to have you.” He had said to Paige and her dad while picking up their luggage from the conveyer. 

Paige’s mood since they arrived at the airport had dimmed slightly, knowing that their time together would soon be up, but the invitation picked her spirits right back up. “Seriously? I wouldn’t want to crash your family vacation though?” Paige responded before her dad, not wanting to get too excited just yet.

“Nah, you wouldn’t be, it's a family and friends event. Besides, you just won a gold medal with my daughter, we should celebrate together.” The Fudd father insists. Turning swiftly to face her dad, Paige asks the question silently.

Smiling at his daughter’s excitement, Bob Bueckers replies, “If it's alright with you guys. We have family coming in July but if y’all are still there in August, it sounds great.” As the adults turned to exchange details and formalities, Paige found herself sliding up to the brunette shooter, slinging an arm around her shoulder.

“Guess you aren’t getting rid of me so easily Fudd.” Paige grinned.

“Lucky me.” Azzi replied sarcastically, but it held none of its weight, Paige smiling even more.

“Someone had to be there to whoop your butt at waterskiing.” Paige spoke, remembering Azzi telling her all the activities that the Fudd’s do at the cabin.

“Do you have to turn everything into a competition?” Azzi rolled her eyes.

“Always.” And she meant it.

“For three!” Paige cheered, hands in the air as she and the Fudd siblings watched Jon’s shot fly. She had drawn in Azzi and Jose with a skillful drive towards the basket, leaving the older of the Fudd brothers alone on the perimeter. The ball hit the back board, dancing around the rim, and it almost looked as if it may tip the wrong way, when it trickled into the net.

“Ayyy let’s go Jon” Paige hopped over to the boy batting her chest. “That’s game, that’s game!” Taking Jon into a mini huddle, arm round his shoulder.

“You guys cheated.” The Fudd girl pouts, “you absolutely fouled me on that last shot.” Azzi points a finger over at Paige.

Paige, still grinning and walking over to the two losers with Jon beside her, shakes her head “Nope, there was no contact, I don’t know what you're talking about.” Paige fully did, her hand had knocked against the younger girl's wrist but she kept playing regardless, brushing off the calls of a foul from the shooter. 

It was the middle of August, and Paige had been at the cabin for nearly two weeks now. Her dad and younger brother Drew had come with her, staying for a few days themselves, but they had since gone back home. Paige was supposed to go with them, however the four days she had been there hadn’t felt like enough. So when the idea got passed around that Paige could stay with the Fudd’s while her dad and Drew went back home, she jumped at the opportunity to say yes. Which resulted in Paige still being here, terrorising the cabin folks with her antics. 

The current mayhem being the 2v2 game of 21 herself and the Fudd children were playing. With Jon’s three point shot, it brought the game to an end, the score being 21-19. “That last shot was all luck, it barely went in.” Jose protested mirroring his sister’s disappointment.

“Doesn’t matter, still dropped.” Jon teased, giving Paige a high five.

“Damn straight.” The oldest of the four chuckled, sticking her tongue out at Azzi, who was still glaring at her. “Didn’t realise we were playing with such sore losers Jon.” 

“Whatever, I’m going to get some food.” Jose mumbled and began to walk inside.

“Aww tired of losing?” Paige relentlessly probed.

“Tired of playing against cheaters.” He responded, sulking inside. Maybe Paige should have felt a little bad, but with school being out and the basketball season still on break, she revelled in any chance she got in playing, and winning meant a lot to her. It was all she wanted to do, whether it be an international tournament final, or a practice shoot around between friends. 

Jon mentioned something about joining his brother, leaving the two girls on the outside court by themselves. Paige dribbled the ball from hand to hand to fill the silence, still smirking at the annoyed expression on Azzi’s face. “Don’t worry Fudd, maybe you’ll beat me one day.” She teased.

What met her was one of the most deadpan faces she’d ever seen. “Really? Want to play another game of horse?” After 12 (and a half that Paige abandoned) games of horse, Paige still hadn’t won one. 

The blonde face immediately dropped, a sore subject hit. If it were anyone else, literally anyone, Paige absolutely would have dominated a game of horse. That was her game. Trick shots, long range, under pressure, she could do it. In her sleep probably. But against Azzi? Fumbled doesn’t even begin to describe how she played. She missed easy shots because she was too distracted, tried to make ones that were just too tricky in an attempt to show off, or simply was just out-skilled by the younger girl. Not that she would ever admit that. 

“Nah I’m not playing that with you anymore, you’re clearly cheating.” Paige brushed her off, shooting lackadaisically at the rim.

Azzi shook her head laughing incredulously, “Oh you do not want to talk about cheating Paige. How do I cheat?” 

A small grin made its way to Paige’s lips “You obviously are using some voodoo magic or something to throw me off my game.”

“Or maybe I’m just better than you.” Azzi retorted.

Paige scoffed, no one was better than her. “Not possible Fudd. I got a better middy, better layup, better handles, more efficient. Plus I’m faster” Paige continued to be an annoyance, dribbling dramatically around the brunette.

With an eyebrow raised and disbelief in her voice Azzi responded, “I might let you have those other things, but you are definitely not faster than me Paige.”

“Am too.” Paige smirked knowing that would get under her skin. 

“I’m literally on the track team at school.” Azzi defended. 

Paige looked behind her, saw the open field, saw the glittering lake. It didn't take her long to form her plan. Jogging backwards at first, all she said to the other girl was “Prove it.” Before turning around and booking it, sprinting towards the lake.

“Paige I’m not going to- ugh” She heard Azzi groan from behind her, and the sound of fast footsteps following her. 

Now, Paige knew she wasn’t faster than Azzi. Maybe long distance, Paige could take the win, but Azzi had a very quick sprint. Luckily, the head start gave Paige the distance she needed, legging it as fast as she could to the dock. 

It wasn’t until they reached near the end when Azzi eventually passed Paige, a grin on the younger girl's face. Turning round to face Paige, Azzi celebrated, “See I told you I’m faster than you.” 

Paige put her hands up in defeat, “Ok, ok, fine I guess you’re faster than me. But you know what you’re not?” 

Azzi tilts her head, suspiciously “what?”

“Dryer than me.”

“Wha-“ Azzi doesn’t even have time to react before Paige shoves Azzi square in the shoulders. Azzi’s question is cut off with a shriek as she stumbles backwards, arm’s flailing, then splashes into the lake. 

Paige threw her head back, laughing so hard she had to brace her hands on her knees.

Azzi resurfaced with a sharp gasp, dark curls plastered to the side of her face, water dripping from the ends. She rubbed her eyes, fixing Paige with a powerful, unamused look.

“Oh man, Azzi you should have seen your face.” Paige wheezed, wiping a tear from her eye. 

Azzi slicked her dripping hair back, then reached up with one hand upwards to the dock, “Help me up.” she commanded. 

Paige literally laughed in her face, shaking her head, “No way I’m not stupid, you’re just going to drag me in.”

Azzi glared even more, “Paige please. I’m not going to drag you in. I just want to get out. It’s literally the least you could do.”

Paige’s smirk faltered seeing the expression on Azzi’s face. Even with all her previous annoying behaviour and teasing, she had never seen this face. One of seriousness, a touch of anger, a hint of sadness. The guilt was instant. Her stomach dipped, did she take it too far this time?

With an urgency she hadn’t had unless on the court, she stepped forward, closer to the edge of the dock. She intertwined her hand with the girl below her, an apology forming on her lips. Though she never got the opportunity to apologise, because gone was the pout on Azzi’s face, a victorious grin now adorned. With a shocking degree of force, Paige was pulled forward, colliding with the cool lake water, head over feet, water rushing up her nose. 

The first thing she heard when she emerged was the mischievous giggle from the girl across from her, one so pure it made it impossible for Paige to be mad at the deception. Didn’t stop her from trying to appear as such though. 

“Oh you’re so dead.” She chuckles, sending a wave of water Azzi’s way.

“You started it!” The brunette yelped, shooting an even bigger thrust of water back. 

Paige lunged forward, placing her hands on Azzi’s shoulders in an attempt to dunk the girl, though her effort was fruitless. The stronger girl pushed Paige’s hands away, leading to Paige falling back down into the water. 

When she appeared back above the surface though, she noticed the distance between them had been cut dramatically, faces inches apart. If the lake water hadn’t already given Paige chills, she certainly had them now. Even more so as Azzi seemed unphased, lips upturned. Paige felt transfixed for a moment, unable to move, losing herself in the brown eyes opposite her. It took her a moment to collect herself, but Paige eventually came to and pushed Azzi backwards in the water.

The brunette laughed as she steadied herself in the water, closing the distance again, her grin softening and voice coming out a little softer than before, 

“You’re so annoying,” she said but her words had no bite, just this light affectionate warmth that slipped right past Paige’s guard. 

Normally, Paige would have just grinned cockily and taken it as a badge of honor. But something about the way Azzi said it, soft and smiling, like she meant it in the best sense, made Paige’s chest ache in a whole new way. For a second, she just stared, dizzy with the thought that she could spend forever chasing that smile and those words.

A shout from the cabin broke her trance, “Girls, get your butts out the lake and inside before you catch a cold!” Katie Fudd called out to them. The girls stared at each other for a moment before breaking out into giggles, and wordlessly started to leave the lake, playfully shoving each other forward on the way.

The minute they stepped out the lake, the cool evening air met their wet skin, goosebumps surfacing and they quickened their pace towards the cabin. They were greeted by an unimpressed looking Katie, who was standing at the door with two towels in hand. “Now who’s smart idea was it to go swimming in their clothes?” She questioned the girls.

“Blame Paige she pushed me in.” Azzi immediately snitched as she wrapped the towel around her shivering body.

“I mean, I would say I lightly tapped you, but I'm just so strong that you went flying in. Not really my fault,” Paige said as seriously as she could, despite the wry smile on her face. “You tricked me and dragged me in.” Paige accused back.

“Or maybe you're not as strong as you think, and just failed to pull me up?” Azzi used Paige’s own logic against her.

Katie let out a loud, long sigh, “You’re both impossible, just go and get out of those wet rags.” She shooed the girls away, rubbing the bridge of her nose as she left the girls where they stood. The girls chuckled to each other, while annoying each other was something they both loved and took oh so seriously, there was something satisfying about coming together to annoy others. Wordlessly, they made their way to Azzi’s room, which after two weeks felt more like Azzi’s and Paige’s room. 

The room was dim when they walked in, the fading evening light spilling through the window in pale orange streaks. Paige made her way around to the air mattress they had blown up for her, flopping onto the bed.  “You can take the first shower.” She tells Azzi

Azzi peeled off her damp socks with a grimace, then tossed them toward the corner. “How generous of you, to offer me my own shower, after you pushed me in the lake.” She muttered with a pointed look, grabbing a change of clothes from her dresser.

Paige stretched out on the air mattress, hands behind her head like she had no cares in the world. “What can I say? I’m basically a saint,” she shot back with a smug little shrug.

Azzi scoffed, “A saint who nearly drowned me today.”

Paige waved her off, “Details details. And for the record, I never would have let you drown, because who else am I supposed to annoy for eternity?”

“That's the only reason you're keeping me around?” Azzi questioned with a mirthful smirk.

“One of several.” Paige grinned back. 

The girl above her just shook her head and collected a small pile of clothes in her arms, and disappeared into the bathroom.

Left in the quiet, Paige reached for her iPad, propping it up on her knees as she scrolled aimlessly through a game. The sound of running water carried faintly through the walls, a steady reminder of the girl who’d just left the room. She tried to ignore it, focusing on tapping at the screen, though her thoughts kept drifting. Thoughts Paige did not want to be happening, thoughts that confused Paige. It was entirely just too much and she welcomes the distraction of her games, choosing the bliss of ignorance, at least just for right now. In a different place, on her own, with the subject of her conflict miles away, it should be easier. If thinking about this anywhere could be easy at all.

Around ten minutes had passed, not that Paige was counting, by the time she heard the water switch off. A few minutes more went on before the bathroom door opened, and out stepped a fresh faced Azzi, adorned in loose PJ shorts and a soft tee. The casualness of it, how natural she looked, how effortlessly she filled the room, made Paige’s chest tighten before she could stop herself. Since she met Azzi, she kept finding herself unable to look away from the younger girl, and now even in the simpleness of the pjs, Paige felt stuck. Stuck until her vision went dark.

A towel was thrown at her head without warning, and she hadn't had the sense to clock it before it was already on her face. Paige pulled it off her swiftly, watched as Azzi slumped onto her own bed, picking up her phone,

“Your turn,” Azzi said, a small smirk tugging at her mouth. “Go shower before you stink up my room.”

“I never stink, I always be smelling nice.” Paige retorts as she stands, grabbing the towel and her pjs. “Try not to miss me too much.” She jokes as she begins to make her way out the room, hearing a scoff from behind her.

Paige took her shower, making it quick, not wanting to be alone inside her own head too long. When she entered the bedroom again, the curtain had been pulled properly, and the main light switched off, the only lighting being a warm glow of Azzi’s bedside lamp.

Paige slipped into her bed, and the pair started their bedtime routine which had been almost constant these two weeks. Both girls scrolled through their phones, swapping pictures and funny videos, laughing at whatever caught their eye. The conversation ran easily, as it always seemed to, a steady stream that only slowed as their eyes grew heavier with each passing minute. Tonight, Paige was the one to finally call it, deciding Azzi’s fourth yawn in a single sentence was proof enough that it was time to sleep.

“Goodnight Azzi.” Paige smiled into the darkness as she switched her phone off.

“Night Paige.” Azzi responded, and even though Paige couldn't see her, she knew Azzi was smiling back.

Here's the thing, Paige knew she was gay. It came natural, the sky was blue, grass was green, and Paige liked girls. Her first crush had been her 5th grade ‘buddy’ that 1st graders are assigned when they start school. The older girl was tall, and kind, and pretty in a way that shone and Paige had been attached to her hip that year. It wasn’t until she got slightly older when she realised love like that wasn’t normal, wasn't socially accepted. The first time she ever heard the word gay was when it was used as an insult.

“Don’t be so gay.” A boy had told his friend who he had just pushed to the ground in gym class and was now whining about it. 

The reaction was immediate, "Don't call me that.” The boy responded, getting up in his friend's face angrily, injured knee forgotten.

Paige hadn’t known in that moment what gay meant, but the pure disgust in being called such a thing let Paige know it wasn’t something she wanted to be. So, when she had searched the word up later that night and saw the definition, she was completely confused. A type of love could be an insult? It didn't make much sense, but the pure joy of the internet quickly clued her in. It was a specific type of sting when she learnt it was her own religion, something that was at the core of herself, something she took great pride in, was at the center of the hate. 

It was an emotional night, one filled with learning all types of new hateful words, tear inducing internet tests to see if she was what she thought she was and frantic bible searching to find a verse that justified her heart. She had cried herself to sleep that night, confused and annoyed and ashamed. She woke up the next morning early, before the sun had risen, too restless to get a full night sleep. Paige did the only thing knew what to do in times of trouble, she prayed. She prayed and prayed, for a different thing each time. She prayed to God to change her, make her how she's supposed to be, for the tests to be wrong, for guidance, a show of acceptance, a man to change her, a woman to love her. Nothing she prayed for felt right. Nothing at all felt right anymore. She didn’t feel like herself. 

Didn’t feel like herself for quite a few years, not until her freshman year of high school. Naturally even as a freshman, she was selected for her school's varsity basketball team. She’d been playing at varsity since middle school, and she already knew quite a few of the players. She’d always be grateful for this team, everything they'd done for her, everything they’d taught her. This team was the first place she’d learnt acceptance.

It was a usual Saturday and they had been hanging out as a team, going to the movies and then bowling. It was at the movie theatre Paige had noticed it first. Two of the girls, both juniors, stood close together in the line for the tickets, whispering and giggling together. Paige hadn’t thought they were that good of friends, with the way they acted together at school, but it was a different side of them here. Paige tried not to be nosy but a curious side of her couldn't help but to keep glancing over. She saw as the cover of darkness in the movie theater allowed the girls to slide their hands into each other halfway through the movie, and noticed the way they had looked at each other when the love interests on the screen kissed. 

Of course ever since that fateful night when she learnt about all this, she knew gay couples existed, but this was the first time potentially seeing one in real life. It made it more real, more scary. She looked around to see if anyone was noticing them as well, out of fear for them but also that they might clock Paige for simply just being associated, but no one cared. If her other teammates noticed, they didn’t say anything, and no one arrived with pitchforks and fire when the two girls were still holding hands walking out of the movie and back into the world.

At the bowling alley, Paige hadn’t been herself. She didn’t usually get in her own head about stuff, had learnt to just brush off the hard stuff and focus on the present, but she was having a much harder time right now. Everything she had shoved down for years, had denied, was being brought up to the surface and it was scary. 

“You this quiet cuz you’re losing freshie, or is something up?” Makayla, one of the juniors, one of the girls from the supposed couple, slides up to Paige, who as mentioned had been playing one of the worst games of bowling of her life. 

Paige bit her lip, unsure what to say. There was so much she wanted to ask, to get clarity on, but that would risk exposing herself. “I’m good.” She shrugged, sipping on the icy pepsi, staring holes into the bubbles of the drink.

Unfortunately for Paige, Makayla wasn't having that, “Paige normally we can’t get you to shut up. Come on, what’s going on?” The older girl persisted, a friendly concern on her face as she lowered her voice, trying not to draw attention to the rest of the team, which Paige appreciated.

Paige sighed heavily, opened and closed her mouth several times, trying to carefully pick the right words. After the silence grew too long, but the girl beside her hadn’t relented, hadn't moved, had instead waited patiently for her, Paige just decided to go for it. 

“Are- are you and Sienna dating?” She asked, lowering her voice to a very low whisper, hesitating on the word dating.

The question clearly shocked the upperclassman, eyebrows raised, looking at Paige curiously. Paige didn’t dare look anywhere but at her hands, picking at the skin around her nails.

“If we were, would that be a problem?” Makayla responded, her tone not being one of accusing more so just apprehension.

“No, not at all.” Paige had answered quickly, a little louder than she intended but was relieved when no one else took notice of them. Lowering her voice again she added, “I saw you and her holding hands at the movies.”

In her peripherals, Paige saw Makayla nod and smile. “Right okay. Yeah, Sienna and I have been dating about a year now.” Was all she said, not wanting to push anything.

The answer surprised Paige, this wasn’t their first team hang out, and she's known these girls a while, but today was the first time she clocked it. Perhaps looking back with the confirmation, some signs were there, like how those two always left practice together, how they would usually sit next to each other on the team bus, how they always lingered beside each other when they would hang outside of school. Actually looking back, it should have been obvious but the repression in Paige clearly just chose not to see it until now. 

“How did you know?” The question was asked so quietly, Paige was almost certain Makayla hadn’t heard her, especially after the silence after it. Paige didn’t have the confidence to expand on her question, didn’t have the strength to clarify, but luckily she didn’t have to as then Makayla’s reply came,

“It wasn’t one specific moment.” Makayla said after a long pause, voice low and careful. “I used to think it had to be, you know? Like one day I’d wake up and just..  know. But it didn’t work like that for me. It was a hundred little things. Getting nervous around certain people for reasons I didn’t want to admit. Catching myself staring too long. Feeling something click when I was around Sienna, and trying so hard to call it friendship, to convince myself that’s all it was.” She let out a small, self-conscious laugh, shaking her head.

Her tone turned softer, steadier. “And for a while, I hated it. I prayed it wasn’t true, tried to bury it deep down and pretend it wasn’t there. Because the idea of being different, especially in a town like this, it scared me. But the thing is, pretending didn’t make it go away. It just made me miserable. I felt like I was fighting myself every second of every day. And I don’t know, one day I just got tired of fighting.”

Makayla glanced over at Sienna across the lanes, laughing as she lined up her shot, and the look in her eyes was warm, sure of itself. “When I stopped denying it, when I let myself just… be, it didn’t feel so heavy anymore. Like I could finally breathe again.”

Paige nodded slowly, chewing on the inside of her cheek as if the motion could keep all the tangled feelings from spilling out. The words sat heavy in her chest, echoing louder than the clatter of pins down the lane. It was scary, terrifying, even, to hear her own fears spoken aloud by someone else. Scary because it made them feel real.

Makayla must have noticed the way Paige kept her eyes glued to her lap, because her voice softened impossibly so, though the weight of it pressed close. “You know, the part that almost broke me wasn’t figuring myself out,” she said carefully. “It was walking into school every day, wondering what people would say if they knew. Wondering if my friends would still want me around, or if my family would look at me different. I didn’t want one small, basically insignificant part of myself, to be a reason I lose the people I love.”

She tapped her fingers against her cup, gaze flicking briefly to Sienna across the lanes before settling back with a quiet certainty. “But the truth is, people are always gonna have opinions. That’s just what people do. The real freedom came when I stopped letting their voices drown out mine. When I stopped giving them all the power over how I saw myself.”

A small smile tugged at her mouth, not quite playful but not heavy either. “It’s not that the fear disappears. It’s that it stops running the show. And when you let that happen, sometimes you get lucky enough to find something pretty cool as a result.” She finishes by smiling lovingly across at her girl, who was goofily celebrating a strike someone had just hit.

Paige dared a glance up, and Makayla’s expression was calm, steady, not prying. Just safe.

Makayla leaned back against the seat, stretching her legs out like the conversation was over, like she hadn’t just handed Paige a lifeline. “Now quit stalling, freshie. It’s your turn, and I wanna see if you can break sixty before I lap you twice.” She said as she stood, gently hitting the younger girl’s knee, and made her way back over to the team. 

She nodded again, more to herself this time, and took a long sip of Pepsi just to have something to do with her hands. When she set it down, she forced herself to stand, ball in hand, and jog back to the lane. She lined up her shot, rolled, and managed to knock over seven pins. Not a strike, not even close, but better than the last gutterball. She heard a few cheers from her teammates anyway, laughter carrying over the music, and for the first time today, maybe even the past few weeks, she let herself smile without overthinking it.

She was always grateful for the mentorship that formed from that day on. Makayla continued to gift Paige with advice and support until she graduated, moving out of state to go to college with Sienna. Going into her junior year herself now, this would be her first year without Makayla, and not having that rock beside her was a little daunting. However, the older girl assured Paige that she was only ever a text away. 

Which Paige appreciated because she's never needed advice like she did right now. It was early December, but the chill of a Minnesota winter had been building for a few weeks now, leaving her nose and cheeks raw red after every practice, and the sun seemed to vanish before the day had even begun. It made the evenings stretch longer, emptier, and Paige found herself filling every spare second with Azzi.

Texts flying back and forth during classes, late-night calls that ended only when one of them drifted off mid-sentence. Paige would wake up with her phone in her hand, screen still lit with Azzi’s name. It hadn’t even been that many months since they’d met, but it didn’t matter, Azzi had slipped into her life like she’d always been there. Every time Paige’s phone buzzed with her name, her chest lit up. Every minute she wasn’t talking to her felt wasted.

Paige knew it was a crush at Team USA, Azzi was pretty and Paige liked pretty girls. That was a no brainer, Paige had eyes and saw the obvious. But it was an entirely new ball game once they started to get closer. It had started really on the plane journey home and only continued to build, from the time they spent at the cabin, to the endless hours on the phone.

Azzi wasn’t just some teammate she thought was cute. She was the first thing Paige thought about in the morning, the last thing she thought about before bed. It was overwhelming. Consuming, even.

And terrifying.

Because what if she was the only one feeling this way? What if she ruined one of the closest friendships she’d ever had? The thought alone made her chest ache, twisting her excitement into panic.

That’s what had her lying in bed that night, blanket pulled up to her chin, phone balanced on her chest as her thumb hovered over Azzi’s name. The little typing bubble in their text thread blinked on and off; Azzi was still awake. Normally Paige would dive right in, send some half-baked joke or random thought just to keep the conversation going. Tonight, though, her pulse was too loud in her ears, her heart too restless.

She locked her phone. Unlocked it again. Scrolled past Azzi’s name and stopped on another. Makayla.

For a second, Paige almost locked the phone again. But then she thought of Makayla’s voice at that bowling alley, the way her honesty had cracked something open in Paige when nothing else could. If there was one person she could ask, one person who’d understand, it was her.

Still, her fingers shook as she typed.

Paige: can I ask you something?

The text bubble appeared almost instantly

Makayla: you better not be texting me at 11:56 for homework help P

Paige honestly hadn’t even realised it was that late, minutes pass by quickly when you spend most of your evening overthinking. She felt a twinge of guilt, not meaning to text at such a late time, especially when the older girl would likely have to be up early for her college classes tomorrow.

Paige: nvm not important

A reply came back almost immediately.

Makayla: nope. not letting you get away with that.

Makayla: you don’t throw out a “can i ask you something” like a cliffhanger and then dip. 

Paige chewed on her lip, typing and deleting three different versions of the question before finally settling on the simplest one.

Paige: how did you tell sienna you liked her?

The three little dots popped up, then disappeared. Came back again. Vanished. Paige’s stomach twisted. She knew Makayla had seen it, but the silence stretched long enough that she wondered if she’d made a mistake sending it.

Finally, her phone buzzed.

Makayla: hey, you good?

Paige stared at the words, thumb hovering over the keyboard. 

Paige: yeah just curious i guess

A full minute passed this time before Makayla answered.

Makayla: okay. so that wasn’t easy for me. not even close.

Makayla: i went back and forth a million times, telling myself i’d be fine if i just kept quiet. she was my best friend, and i didn’t want to lose her.

Makayla: but keeping it in felt like i was carrying this huge secret around my neck. like i wasn’t showing her all of me.

Another message followed quickly.

Makayla: honesty was always a big for us, even when we were just friends, and keeping in my feelings felt dishonest to her. keeping it in also affected our friendship. when i realised i had a crush on her, i tried to distance myself in hopes the crush would go away, but it never did. i realised i might lose her either way, so i might as well just be honest.

Makayla: i was scared shitless i wont lie becuase sienna is the best thing that ever happened to me and the thought that me telling her might push her away forever was terrifying.

Paige stared at the messages, her fingers hovering over the keyboard, heart thumping in her chest. She hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath.

Makayla: but here’s the thing, i had to trust her. trust that she’d care about me for me, and not just some label or moment of awkwardness. i had to trust that our friendship was strong enough to survive the truth, no matter what.

Makayla: i’m not saying it was easy. it took guts, it took timing, and yeah, it could’ve gone wrong. but in the end, i couldn’t keep hiding. and i promise you, whatever happens, whatever you feel, being honest with yourself first is always the first step. everything else will fall into place, or it won’t, but at least you won’t be lying to yourself.

Paige exhaled slowly, trying to let the words sink in, pressing the palm of her hand into her left eye, trying to massage the growing headache. A self destructive part of herself wished Makayla was about to tell her that she wished she kept her feelings inside, told Paige the best thing would be to keep it all hidden, that it's easier that way. 

Paige: okay thanks. really.

Makayla: anytime, P. seriously. now go get some sleep, cant have you ruining that hopkins ball reputation i left with your gayass overthinking. you can text me tomorrow if your brain doesn’t shut up.

Paige smiled softly at the message, rolling her eyes and shut her phone off. She felt simultaneously lighter and heavier in a way that was inexplicably discomforting. Though, as Makayla said, she really should sleep if she wanted to stay awake during her classes tomorrow. 

Paige was just about to fall asleep when the ring of a text message echoed through her room. She huffed frustratedly, realising too late she hadn’t turned the ringer off and reached round for her phone, staring at the screen.

A single message lit up her face. Zero prizes on guessing from who. It read,

“Ik you're probably asleep by now, but I missed speaking to you tonight. Sleep well paige 💗”

Paige pulled her covers up more, covering the blush on her face, even though no one was here to witness it. Azzi always had this effect on her even through text. Looking a little longer at the heart Azzi loved to throw onto the end of her texts, she eventually turned her phone off, expelling a large volume of air out of her chest before drifting off.

The faint sounds of Christmas songs lingered in the Bueckers household. It wasn’t a holiday Paige massively cared about, especially since she got older, but she liked the family aspect of it, of seeing the joy on her younger brother's face at all the new presents. 

Her family didn’t do much for the holiday, went to church in the morning, then came home and enjoyed a meal together later in the evening. It was nice, simple enough for Paige and besides, being with her family was the most important thing. 

She hadn’t asked for much this year, letting her brothers take the limelight, her main gift being a pair of new Kobe’s. She laced them up early in the afternoon, breaking them in on her driveway, shooting some hoops, not stopping till she hit 20 free throws in a row. 

She had FaceTimed her mom and brother and sister in Montana, a growing ache of separation as they told her everything they’d been up to today. She was spending new years with them, but the worst part about divorced parents was always that she would be missing out on hanging with her siblings regardless of the house she was at. 

She mostly floated about during the day, not dissociation, but heart not fully in it. She knew why. It was because she had five text messages sent to a certain someone left on delivered. She knew Azzi was going to be busy today. They had talked about their plans for today for the past week or so and not only were all of Azzi’s family super close, they also loved Christmas. From six in the morning till the late evening, they had events planned, which of course meant Azzi was too occupied to text her back. 

Hence, when her phone started ringing showing Azzi was face timing her, she leapt off the sofa, where she was half watching a movie with her family saying she’d be back down later. Sprinting up to her room, she jumped on her bed, flattening her hair slightly, and answered the phone.

Her screen immediately lit up with Azzi’s smiling face, the brunette framed by twinkling Christmas lights in the background. She looked cozy in a red sweatshirt, hair pulled back in a messy bun, cheeks still flushed from what Paige assumed was hours of family chaos.

“Merry Christmas, Paige!” she beamed, her voice carrying that familiar mix of excitement and comfort. She angled the phone away for a moment, showing a packed living room where relatives bustled around, some laughing, others shouting over a game.

Paige laughed, curling up on her bed, tucking one leg beneath her. Just the sight of Azzi, even pixelated on a screen, unclenched something in her chest. “Looks insane over there.”

“Insane doesn't even do today’s chaos justice. We’ve had like five rounds of food, two and a half different gift exchanges, and my grandma keeps trying to sneak cookies into my hands like she’s running a black-market operation. I swear, I’m two bites away from a food coma.”

Paige giggled softly, chin resting on her knee. “Sounds a lot more hectic than my day. We just went to church this morning and then kind of hung out watching movies. I got some Kobes, though.”

Azzi’s eyes lit up instantly. “No way. Which ones?”

“The 10’s,” Paige said, holding back a little smile, trying not to seem too eager. “Broke them in already. Shot till I hit twenty in a row.”

“Of course you did.” Azzi smirked knowingly. “I should’ve guessed. Most people relax on Christmas, but nope, Paige Bueckers is out there grinding.”

Paige shrugged, though her grin betrayed her. “Greatness doesn’t take a day off Az.”. Azzi laughed, a warm, full sound that made Paige’s heart skip. “I missed this. Missed you today.” The words slipped out before Paige could stop them, quiet and a little unsteady.

Azzi’s smile softened, eyes flicking to the side for a second like she was caught off guard. “Paige, it’s literally been, what? Twenty hours since we last talked?”

“Too long,” Paige said simply, her voice so low it was almost a whisper.

Azzi went quiet for a beat, her expression tender, a smile tugging at her mouth. She didn’t tease, didn’t joke. Just held Paige’s gaze like the screen between them didn’t exist. “Yeah,” she said softly. “Too long.”

The background noise broke the moment, someone yelling Azzi’s name. She rolled her eyes and held up a hand to Paige, mouthing one sec. When she came back into frame, she was holding a small box wrapped in glittery gold paper with a bow that looked like it had been put on in a hurry.

“Okay, so I won this in white elephant,” Azzi said proudly, tugging the bow off with one hand. She pulled out the gift: a mug shaped like a snowman, complete with a carrot nose and scarf painted around the rim. “Behold, my prize. Everyone else fought over gift cards and headphones, but I walked away with this beauty.”

Paige laughed, hand over her mouth. “That’s… definitely a win.”

“Right? I’m gonna use it every day just to spite them,” Azzi said, eyes sparkling. “Hot chocolate tastes better when it comes out of a snowman mug. That’s science.”

“I’m actually shaking with jealousy over here, what’s a girl gotta do to get a mug like that.” Paige chuckled as Azzi spun the mug around in a 360, showing it off proudly.

“Maybe if you’re lucky, I'll feel generous enough to share it when you come to visit in February.” Azzi smirked. 

Placing a hand on her chest and nodding, Paige responded “What an honor.”

There was some shouting in the background, a celebration of some kind. Azzi rolled her eyes at her family's antics as she stood and walked a little further away from the noise. “I also need you here so we can dethrone my parents at monopoly again. They’ve forgotten who kicked everyone's butts when we teamed up.” Azzi shakes her head in the direction the noise came from.

“They don’t know what's coming. They don't call us the coldest duo in the nation for nothing.” Paige chuckled.

“P, literally no one calls us that apart from you.” Azzi smiled fondly.

“Not yet, but they will.” Paige responded, cockily but also with a firmness, with certainty. The pair just smiled at each other for a moment, only broken by Azzi’s name being called louder than before. 

 She groaned, tipping her head back. “Ugh. They’re rounding us up for one last family photo.” Her eyes found Paige’s again, softening. “I should go, but I’ll talk to you tomorrow, yeah?”

Paige’s fingers tightened around her phone, but she nodded, her voice gentle. “Yeah. Tomorrow. Merry Christmas, Azzi.”

“Merry Christmas, Paige.” Azzi lingered for just a beat longer, then the screen went dark.

Paige sat in the quiet, staring at her reflection in the blank phone screen before finally slipping off her bed. She padded back downstairs, where the glow of the TV painted her family in soft light. Sliding onto the couch, she tucked her feet beneath a blanket, trying to blend back into the warmth of the room.

Her phone buzzed once in her lap.

When she opened the message, she was met with a selfie of Azzi, Christmas tree lights giving her an ethereal glow as she posed with pouty lips and closed eyes, holding up a peace sign.

Paige’s grin spread before she could stop it, wide and goofy, the kind that made her cheeks ache. She stared far too long, thumb hovering but never swiping away, just drinking in the image like it was something precious.

A nudge broke her trance. She blinked up to see her dad looking at her, a knowing smile tugging at his mouth. “What’s on that phone that’s got you grinning like that?” he asked lightly, half-teasing.

Paige’s eyes widened. She fumbled, clicking her phone dark and setting it face down in her lap. “Nothing,” she said a little too fast, forcing a shrug. 

“Uh-huh.” Her dad chuckled but didn’t press, turning his attention back to the movie.

Paige let herself do the same, leaning into the cushions, exhaling heavily as she let herself be dragged into the movie, the fifth rewatch of home alone this holiday. Though no movie, no distraction could fully pull her away from Azzi, the girl always in the back of her mind. She wasn’t completely useless, she could have gone the day without speaking to her if she had to, but every time they did get the chance to talk, Paige always left feeling lighter, more complete.

Warnings: fluff, smut

a/n: OKAY YALL SHES HERE forgive me for edging yall clearly this is a lot longer than i intended it to be, hence why it was super late, but i hope yall enjoy it, i tbh really like it but maybe thats just me. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME WRITING SMUT so ntm on me. as always feedback is appreciated and requests are open. enjoy 💗

wc: 7.2k

———————————————————————————

Azzi got up to lock the door faster than Paige had ever seen her move.

“C’mere baby,” Paige said, watching Azzi as she moved her way across the room.

Azzi walked back over to Paige and settled herself right back on her lap, wrapping her arms around the back of Paige’s neck as the older girl’s hands came around to rest on her ass.

The second Paige’s hands landed on Azzi, she kissed her again, that same hungry kiss they’d shared earlier, all teeth, tongue and spit.

Azzi’s fingers sunk into Paige’s hair, pulling just hard enough to get a sound out of the blonde. Meanwhile Paige helped Azzi roll her hips again. And again.

Azzi moaned into the kiss, and Paige’s whole body buzzed, heart beating so fast she was sure Azzi could hear it. Her usual bright blue eyes were almost black as she flipped them over so the younger girl was beneath her.

“Mmm, Paige.. Please” Azzi whined as Paige started planting kisses down her neck and let her hands explore everywhere, stomach, hips, thighs, waist.

Azzi was squirming at this point, hands tangled in Paige’s hair, cheeks flushed and eyes already a little hazy as Paige sucked on a spot just behind her best friend’s ear. “I know Az, be patient f’me okay?”

Paige slid her hands into Azzi’s sleep shirt (the oversized one that was actually Paige’s) and moved them up, bringing the shirt with her as she kissed along Azzi’s collarbone. She knew Azzi didn’t wear bras to bed so she went slow, giving the younger girl the opportunity to back out at any second.

When Paige reached just under the swell of her breasts, she paused her movements and detached herself from Azzi’s neck to look at her, silently asking if this was okay.

When Azzi nodded and Paige saw nothing but want in her eyes, she pushed the shirt up all the way and looked down at Azzi’s hardened nipples and the swell of her breasts.

“Fuck Az, you’re so beautiful,” Paige said as she kissed the space right inbetween Azzi’s tits and moved her hands to cup Azzi’s breasts, rolling her nipples between her fingers.

“Paige… Mmm feels so good” Azzi gasped as she tilted her head back into the pillows from the feeling of pleasure and pain washing over her all at once.

“Yeah mama? You like that?” Paige questioned as she pinched one of Azzi’s nipples.

Azzi tried to say yes, to say “Yes Paige, it feels so good”. But she choked on a moan instead, loud and needy.

“Eyes on me, ma” Paige said as she leaned down slowly to take one of Azzi’s tits into her mouth and sucking gently, teasing one nipple while she sucked on the other. Azzi looked down, and she felt like just the sight alone could’ve undid her— Paige’s hair was splayed over Azzi’s chest as her hands and mouth worked on her perky tits.

Azzi was still watching Paige as she carefully started to kiss down her stomach, leaving her exposed stomach glistening with spit.

Paige could taste the salt of Azzi’s skin and she loved it, she sucked and licked like she hadn’t tasted anything better in her life. Her hands began to wander, down Azzi’s ribs then over her hips, and finally settling right above her waistband.

Azzi’s chest was rising and falling quickly with each breath. Paige stopped again, looking up at Azzi. The sight of her best friend alone made her dizzy; Her cheeks flushed a pink color and her eyes were darker than they usually were. Her lips parted slightly as her messy curls were laid across the pillows behind her. Paige swears she could’ve orgasmed just from seeing her best friend like that, knowing she was the reason she looked like that.

“Is it okay if I take your shorts off, Az?” Paige asked carefully as she hooked her fingers into her waistband.

Azzi nodded eagerly “Please..” she asked, “But be gentle,” she added, even though she knew Paige would treat her like she was precious treasure anyway.

“Of course, ma. Just tell me if you get uncomfortable alright?” The blonde said softly, dragging her shorts and underwear down her thighs. Azzi watched as the fabric pooled at her ankles, and then she watched as Paige’s eyes went wide, her chest heaving and breath coming out uneven at the sight of the younger girl beneath her.

Paige lifted her hand slowly before letting two of her fingers make contact with Azzi’s clit, and she immediately met with Azzi’s slick coating her fingers.

“Fuck Az, you’re so wet f’me. Is this all for me mama?” She asked while she made eye contact with the girl beneath her and slowly started moving her fingers in circles around Azzi’s clit.

Azzi whimpered at the sensation. Her breathing was becoming uneven and she could feel her cheeks burning. “Yes, P. Yes it’s all for you mmmm” she managed through ragged breaths, “Please P…”

Paige continued her ministrations, rubbing slow circles over Azzi’s bud, spreading slick all over her pussy. And then she added pressure, just a little bit but it was there, and her movements hurried.

Azzi moaned louder than she expected to, arm grabbing at Paige’s bicep that was resting next to her head as her head fell back again.

“Try not to be too loud f’me aight mama? Don’t want us to actually get caught,” Paige reasoned as she looked up to meet Azzi’s eyes.

Azzi nodded and looked down to where Paige’s fingers met her clit, she could see the shineness on them from where she was laying.

Paige leaned down again and closed her lips around Azzi’s other nipple, sucking, licking, carefully biting.

It was getting to be too much for Azzi, in the very best way.

She squeezed her eyes shut tight as Paige nibbled on her nipple before bringing her head back up to look down at her fingers. She moved them down, right above Azzi’s entrance and then she paused again, eyes looking up to meet Azzi’s who’s were completely blown and hazy.

Azzi nodded but Paige still waited, “Words, baby,” she said softly while she teased Azzi’s entrance

“Please, Paige. I- fuck I need you in me so badly baby, please.”

And that did it for Paige. She pushed her fingers into Azzi’s cunt, sharp but gentle as Azzi tensed under her, jaw falling slack as involuntary whimpers and moans fell from her mouth. The stretch shocked her for a second, but it was quickly covered up by the feeling of being so full with Paige’s fingers deep inside her.

“Paige! Mm fuck yes!” Azzi said, maybe a little too loudly but she was far too gone to care what was coming out of her mouth, let alone what volume it was coming out at.

“Mm I know it feels good baby, you're so tight around my fingers. Look here okay, mama? Ima make you feel so full okay. Can I taste you mami?”

Azzi looked down to see the point where Paige’s fingers were getting eaten up by her pussy with each thrust. “Y-yes Paige, ple- fuck mm please taste me,” She whined.

Paige quickened her fingers that were pumping in and out of Azzi. She didn’t slow down as she leaned down to lick a stripe up Azzi’s clit before planting a kiss there, closing her lips around her already swollen bud.

“Oh my God Paige! Fuck!” Azzi yelled. Paige was almost positive anyone who was in the same hall as them could hear Azzi through the walls, let alone KK and whoever else was in the dorm. But she didn’t care because the way Azzi tasted? The way her pussy clenched around Paige’s fingers? The way her moans were the prettiest sounds ever (besides her laugh)? It was too good for Paige to tell her to be quieter.

Paige intensified her movements, pumping in and out of Azzi at a somewhat crazy pace as she licked and sucked on Azzi’s clit, slick running down her chin and wrist.

Azzi’s grip on Paige’s bicep tightened as her back arched off the bed. She was getting close, and Paige felt it too. Azzi’s other hand gripped at Paige’s hair as Paige started rubbing her thumb on Azzi’s clit, only adding to the pleasure. Paige was about to do everything to make sure Azzi came hard.

“Paige! I-I’m gonna, fuck! Yes right there Paige!” Azzi was dazed, she barely even registered the words before they came out of her mouth in between moans and whines and whimpers. Her breathing was uneven, heart racing in her chest, eyes blurry. She was about to come.

Paige groaned against her as she sucked on Azzi’s bud. That’s when Azzi came, hard and fast all over Paige’s fingers and face while she screamed Paige’s name.

Paige didn’t stop her thrusts but she slowed until Azzi was pushing her hands away, things shaking.

“Was that good mama?” Paige asked with a smug smirk as she licked her lips and fingers. “Fuck you tatsed like heaven mami, could eat you all day,” She added.

Azzi was breathless and definitely not able to speak at the moment, so all she gave was a small nod.

Paige kissed her forehead before laying down and pulling her onto her chest, scratching her back until she came down from her high.

“You did so good, Az,” She whispered while planting a kiss on her hairline.

“That was amazing Paige, thank you, you always take such good care of me” Azzi finally answered with a small smile.

Paige softened as she heard Azzi’s quiet, wrecked whisper. “‘Course mama, anything for my nosy girl,” she teased.

“Paigeeeee” she whined, “Shut up.” she added as she weakly smacked Paige’s arm.

Paige chuckled softly, “I’m just playing, you know that, let’s get you cleaned up yeah?” she offered.

Azzi’s grip tightened around her waist “5 more minutes,” she insisted.

10 minutes later Paige was finally in the bathroom getting a warm washcloth despite Azzi’s whines of “you're too comfy” and “wow you’re gonna leave me after that”.

She returned quietly, sitting on the edge of the bed to help Azzi clean up.

“Can you spread for me, ma?” she questioned gently.

Azzi’s legs fell open as Paige carefully wiped the slick from the inside of her thighs, still mindful of her sensitiveness.

“There you go, my love” she whispered as she pressed a kiss to Azzi’s inner thigh before setting the cloth on the bedside table and getting up to get Azzi a new tee and boxers.

After they’d both changed and cleaned up they laid back in bed, Azzi laying softly on Paige’s chest as her hand weakly grabbed at Paige’s shirt.

After a couple beats of silence Azzi spoke up, “Did we really just fuck?” she asked, sounding half-surprised half-amused.

“Yeah. Yeah we really just fucked.” Paige responded.

“Goodnight nosy girl,” Paige teased one last time.

“Paige!” Azzi shrieked with fake annoyance.

“Okok! Just kiddin’, goodnight mami, don’t forget about team breakfast tomorrow.

— next morning —

Paige stirred first, the orange sunlit cutting through the blinds like a knife.

The first thing she registered was warmth, not summer warmth.

Azzi warmth.

She looked down to see the younger girl resting quietly on top of her.

Her lips tugged upward in awe while she just admired her for a while.

That didn’t last too long though because Azzi could somehow always tell when Paige was awake and she woke only a couple minutes after.

“Morning gorgeous” Paige said immediately as Azzi stirred.

Azzi grinned as she huffed, “Morning, my legs feel tingly..” she murmured into Paige’s chest.

Paige raised her eyebrows in mock-confusion “Oh really? Why’s that?” She jokingly questioned.

Azzi just shot her a glare before closing her eyes with a sigh, nuzzling closer into Paige’s side.

Paige was seriously thinking about going back to bed right there on the spot, but decided against it because she knew that if they did skip the team breakfast, speculations would rise and the teasing would be endless.

So she rubbed Azzi’s hips and said “You look so cute right now baby, but we do have a team breakfast to attend. And if we skip it, you’ll end up being my breakfast so let’s go superstar.

Azzi peeked an eye open at that and smirked wickedly. “Is that supposed to be a threat? ‘Cause that just sounds tempting,” she replied.

“Azzi Fudd do not tempt me right now. C’mon lets go” She said tapping her hip.

Reluctantly, Azzi got up with a groan “I’m convinced you hate me” She had said before she actually got up, which Paige just replied with a laugh and a shake of her head.

—

When they were dressed and ready they left Paige’s dorm, honestly thankful KK had already left for breakfast.

When they got to the dining hall they immediately spotted the team who just stared at them awkwardly for a second.

“Why the fuck are they all staring at us?” Azzi whispered to Paige.

Paige just chuckled again, “It’s alright, baby they're just being weird like usual.” She said while she guided Azzi to get some breakfast.

Paige made a face when she saw Azzi reach for some salad. “Ew.” she had said “Who decidedly chooses to have salad for breakfast?” She asked.

Azzi turned around and raised her eyebrows with a smirk, “You don’t like anything healthy so I don’t wanna hear it.” She said and turned around to grab eggs and walk over to the table.

Paige followed behind her and playfully smacked her ass before they reached the table.

“Paige!” Azzi whisper-yelled.

Paige just wiggled her eyebrows before sitting down at the table, patting the spot beside her for Azzi.

Everyone was eating and talking about stuff. School, practice, homework.

Paige and Azzi didn’t engage, they just looked at each other and smiled, a small blush creeping up Azzi’s neck.

She tried to take a bite of her food before anyone noticed but of course KK noticed, because she’s KK and what doesn’t she notice at this point?

And what was KK’s favourite thing to do? Tease Paige and Azzi. So naturally, she smirked and spoke up. “Yall look.. different,” She said, not loud enough for anyone else to hear but loud enough for Paige and Azzi to hear across from her, eyes flicking across Paige’s smug grin and Azzi’s very-obvious-not-very-hidden blush.

Paige raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Different how, KK?”

“I dunno…” She shrugged while a smirk tugged at her lips. “Y’all are just, like, smiley, and Paige has barely touched her eggs, which is sus.”

“Uhhhh, w-what is that supposed to mean?” Azzi asked awkwardly.

“Mmhm” She shrugged again, sipping her orange juice this time, “Just sayin”

Azzi glanced at Paige, who was just sitting at the table with a smug smile pulling at her lips.

Paige also picked up her orange juice and KK added “Funny how y’all also locked the door last night…” She said before raising her eyebrows and taking another bite of her eggs.

Azzi froze for a second, eyes wide and her cheeks tinged with a now very obvious blush.

Paige just snorted into her drink.

They only lasted max 1 minute before Nika decided she wanted to jump in too, “Y’know, now that you mention it KK, I didn’t see Azzi come back last night,” She added.

“No way, that’s weird ‘cause I thought I heard something from Paige’s room but I thought it was just her sleep talking or falling off the bed. Weird.” She said, smirking at them. “Oh yeah, not to mention what I saw last nig-“

“Okay KK! Thank you for your intel! You can be done now!” Azzi interrupted.

Azzi was completely red now, jaw slightly agape.

Paige was smirking, acting like she was completely unfazed by this. “Ion know what y’all talkin’ bout. We were just having a sleepover like normal best friends do.” She shrugged nonchalantly.

Azzi groaned and leaned her head on Paige’s shoulder.

Nika and KK glanced at each other and smirked, they didn’t tease them for the rest of breakfast but Azzi was flustered the whole time.

—

Once breakfast was over they both returned to Paige’s dorm to get ready for practice.

“That was literal hell.” Azzi groaned the second they entered Paige’s room.

“It wasn’t that bad, they were just teasing ma, they don’t actually know anything” Paige said, opening her arms for Azzi.

“Paige. They definitely know something, especially KK! She probably heard everything.” She said as she crossed the room and wrapped her arms around Paige’s shoulders.

“Well, you were kinda loud,” She teased, wrapping her arms around Azzi’s waist.

“Paige! Seriously?” She tried to push Paige away but her grip stayed tight around Azzi’s waist. “It wasn’t even my fault.” She muttered under her breath.

“Oh yeah? Whose fault was it then baby?” Paige questioned as she looked down at Azzi with a raised eyebrow.

“Yours obviously, bighead. You were the one who made me make those sounds.” She said with mock-annoyance.

“Mmm right. Okay I’ll take the blame this time but now we gotta go to practice before we get teased again.”

—

Geno and CD had told them it was going to be a hard practice, the season was approaching and they needed to lock in, he had said.

And he was not lying he made them do sprints and suicides for way longer than usual without a water break.

When they finally did get a water break Paige walked over to Azzi and tilted her chin up with her fingers.

“You okay?” She asked.

“Yeah just super tired already, not to mention how my legs were already sore to begin with,” Azzi teased.

Paige just winked and wiped some sweat off of Azzi’s face with her jersey.

Azzi blushed and looked up at Paige.

“You really gonna get me all flustered at practice?” Azzi smirked.

“Just helping out a teammate,” Paige replied before running back to the court. Behind her she heard Nika groan and KK make exaggerated gagging noises.

Azzi rolled her eyes with a laugh and jogged back on court. She tried dribbling the ball, but her legs felt more wobbly than usual and her mind kept drifting back to Paige— her eyes too.

She was running a play and was about to make a pass to Aaliyah on the wing, but her finger slipped and the ball bounced out of bounds.

“Fudge!” Azzi exclaimed as she sprinted after the ball. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

“Fudd! Tighten up what was that!?” Geno exclaimed, “You got butter on your fingers or something? Lock in!” he said.

Azzi was even more embarrassed now. “I know! Sorry coach, it won't happen again.”

Paige was already at the ball, picking it up and holding it just out of Azzi’s reach. “Careful there, superstar,” she teased, smirking as Azzi reached for the ball.

“Paige! Give it!” She groaned, half exhausted, half amused.

“Just sayin.. maybe keep your eyes on the ball next time, and not me. Same with your head,” She winked and tossed the ball back.

Azzi rolled her eyes and laughed at herself. Behind them KK was gagging again and almost everyone was looking at them at this point but neither Paige or Azzi seemed to care.

A little while later they were running scrimmages. Azzi caught the ball on a backdoor cut and was going for the reverse lay when Sarah came up from behind and swatted it a little too hard. Azzi fell to the floor. It wasn’t intentional by any means, and it definitely did no harm, just a little shock. But Paige didn’t care.

“Yo! Watch what your doin Sarah!” She yelled from the bench, running on court to help Azzi up.

“Bro it was an accident, chill.” Sarah had responded while she went to go get water with everyone else.

“You good, Az?” She asked while she held her hands out to Azzi.

“Yeah, P. She didn’t do it on purpose,” She said while grabbing Paige’s hands and standing up and wiping her hands on her shorts.

“I know that but still, Ion like seeing you on the floor. You know that.” Paige replied like it was nothing, like it wasn’t her own teammate at practice.

“I know, P, but I’m alright okay? Just calm down a lil,” Azzi reassured.

“Yo, P! She’s fine! Stop being so whipped bro!” Nika called from the bleachers.

Paige rolled her eyes and gave Nika the middle finger.

—

Paige and Azzi were chilling in Paige’s living room on the couch. Paige laid down with her head propped up on the head rest. Azzi was sprawled on top of her like a koala, arms wrapped around her neck and legs wrapped around her waist, completely caging her in.

Paige was scratching Azzi’s back absentmindedly with one hand as she scrolled on her phone with the other. Azzi’s breathing was even and Paige knew she needed a good nap right now so she decided not to move an inch until Azzi woke up.

Unfortunately that idea had been somewhat interrupted when her phone buzzed with a text

The ballers 🏀🐺🍾

KK: Hey girly pops, we needa like bond sooo.. Movie night in mine in Paige’s dorm in 20!

Jana: Bet see you there

Nika: Are P and A gon be decent while we’re there?

Aaliyah: 🤣🤣🤣

Caroline: Lmao me and sarah will be there

Paige: okay KK how about you ask before you plan stuff in our dorm?

Paige: and no one is coming over Azzi’s sleeping right now

Nika: Bro you are so whipped.

KK: well she gonna have to wake up cause we need to bond as a team

KK: ima come in that living room and take a photo of yall if you don’t get decent by the time everyone comes

Paige: bro no one cares?

Paige: whatever .

Aaliyah: Paige bro, just wake your girl up and we can all chill tg

Paige: shes not my girl and i’m tryna wake her up but yall keep texting

Nika: Okay bye simp see you in 20 mins

*hearted by KK, Aaliyah, And Jana*

Paige looked down at Azzi and felt so bad. How could the team be so heartless?

“Az,” she nudged her softly.

“mmm.” She groaned, tightening her legs around Paige’s waist and hiding her face in her neck. “No,” she said simply.

“I know, ma, but everyone’s coming over so you gotta get up.”

“Paigeeee.” She whined, “I don’t wanna. ‘M sleepy,” she pouted.

“I know we can go to my room early if you want but cmon,” she said tapping her butt gently.

“Uhgggg, fine. But only ‘cause I wanna spend time with you,” She said, lifting herself from Paige and stretching on her lap.

Paige saw her exposed stomach and decided to tickle Azzi.

“Paige! Get off!” she said, swatting her hands away and laughing.

Just then KK emerged from her room, one hand covering her eyes, the other out in front of her to guide herself.

“Are yall cool?” She asked dramatically.

Paige and Azzi both laughed at their teammates' antics. “KK you’re so dramatic” They said in unison through laughter.

She peeked through her fingers. “Oh my Gosh!” She quickly covered your eyes again. “That’s nasty! I’ve already been traumatized twice! Like seriously!” She exclaimed as she started excessively gagging again.

Paige and Azzi had tears in their eyes from laughing so hard. “KK,” Paige wheezed, “Nothing’s even happening” She managed as she was laughing.

“She’s sitting on you! That’s gross!” She said, “And that’s exactly what you said last time and then I heard..” She shivered, “I never wanna relive those sounds. So please Azzi, my dearest third roommate, please get off Paigey’s lap.” She begged.

They were both wiping tears as they sat up. “First off, you're so unintentionally funny KK,” Azzi wheezed, “Secondly it’s not weird to sit on your friends,” She took a breath as she stopped laughing, "Lastly, we have no idea what you’re talking about,” She ended, while glancing over at Paige who was clearly holding back another laugh.

“No, I heard Azz-“

Knock. Knock.

They both shot KK a glare before Paige got up and opened the door where she was met with all of her teammates’ wonderful faces.

“Hey y’all, come in,” she said, moving out of the way so they could all move past her. She saw someone with Tru Fru, someone with coolers and someone with popcorn, she was honestly too tired to look at their faces.

“HEY GIRLY POPS!!” KK shouted as everyone walked in, “So we’ll all get food then pick a movie.” She directed, and everyone listened as they moved their way to the kitchen.

Paige and Azzi were somehow, very uncoincidentally, at the back of the line so no one was watching them.

Paige wrapped her arms around Azzi’s hands from behind and rested her chin on her shoulder, pressing a kiss to her neck secretly and backing away. Azzi just stood there blushing as kept her gaze forward.

Finally it was Paige and Azzi’s turn to get food, Paige grabbed a bowl of popcorn and Azzi grabbed a bowl of Tru Fru as they both grabbed a cooler.

When they returned to the living room Paige scanned the room to find a seat for them, as she scanned she realized that there was only one spot left on the couch. A wicked grin spread across her face and she turned around to whisper to Azzi, “Follow me,” and then she turned and walked to the open spot on the couch.

Azzi raised an eyebrow at first, clearly unaware of what Paige was about to say. She watched as Paige settled on the couch between Caroline and Nika, setting her food and drink on the table.

Paige looked up at Azzi and grinned “C’mere, mama,” She said, patting her lap.

Azzi was stunned at first, eyes widening, but then she smirked and sat down on Paige’s lap. Paige wrapped one arm around Azzi’s waist and settled it on her thigh before she grabbed the popcorn bucket with the other.

Azzi turned around so she could feed Paige a Tru Fru. Paige bit it while she held eye contact with Azzi. It definitely might’ve been a little excessive considering the environment they were in, but when did they ever hold back?

Nika snorted beside them, but decided upon teasing them right now. KK on the other hand, lost it.

“WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT!” She yelled, standing up and pointing at Paige and Azzi, “AND WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?” She gestured her hands wildly toward them. She started gagging yet again and this time she clutched her stomach like she was actually about to be sick.

“Nah bro. Listen man yall are gonna give me permanent trauma. I can’t keep doing this.” She said excessively while wiping at her imaginary tears.

“KK chill, I mean it’s weird, but they're just sitting. Plus there’s nowhere else for Azzi to sit anyway.” Nika added. But then she turned to Paige and Azzi, “But please keep it PG-13” she added.

“Nah Nika, you don’t understand what I had to go through. What I had to see. What I had to hear.” KK replied.

Paige turned red before she spoke up “Okay KK! Thank you for sharing with the class once again.” She said, “We get it, we’ll be chill alright it’s honestly just ‘cause there were no more available seats but we’ll keep it PG-13! I think you’re okay to stop talking now.”

Azzi just sat there, she was the one looking amused this time.

KK slumped in her seat in defeat “Can’t believe this bro,” she muttered under her breath.

Paige and Azzi chuckled to themselves before relaxing and watching the movie.

Quite frankly, Paige and Azzi found the movie to be very boring, but everyone else seemed to be very locked into the movie. Perfect. That’s what thought was going through Paige’s mind. She knew Azzi wasn’t paying attention because she was squirming, moving around on Paige’s lap, picking at her nails.

So Paige decided to entertain her. She kept her eyes on the movie, but she moved her hand subtly towards Azzi’s inner thigh. She moved just barely, so no one would notice. But Azzi noticed immediately, her cheeks flushed and she pressed her lips into a thin line.

Paige could see her out of her peripheral vision, she could see she was struggling. She decided to test the waters and move her hand up higher, under Azzi’s sleep shorts. Azzi clamped her thighs together tight and fast and Paige returned her hand back to its original spot on her thigh. Nika noticed that.

“You okay, Az?” She asked curiously, eyebrows raised as she looked at the flustered Azzi and smug Paige.

“Uh what? Me? Oh yeah, no, I’m good, great actually. But y’know I think I have to go to the washroom actually!” She scrambled out of Paige’s hold and rushed to the washroom.

Paige laughed under her breath, but then someone paused the movie. Before Paige could speculate who it was, Nika spoke up.

“Alright, twin, you know I love you but seriously. What is going on with you and Azzi? Yall been acting weird than usual lately, like whenever KK says she heard something you both get reallll defensive” She

questioned.

Aaliyah leaned in next, “Yeah no I agree. And today at practice you guys kept looking at each other and smirking and like, eye fucking each other basically.” Aaliyah added.

KK spoke next, “Yeah, not to mention my rather traumatic experiences, seriously what’s going on?”

“Okay okay jeez calm down detectives. Nothing happened, she just came over for some team bonding last night, we may’ve kissed or something, but it was nothing but friendliness, seriously!” Paige defended.

“Yeah ‘team bonding’ alright. Let me just say it was more than just a kiss.” KK said quickly before Paige could interrupt.

“KK!” Paige yelled. “Okay everyone, chill. Yes, maybe something happened, maybe something didn’t, I dunno. But I do know that I feel very unsafe right now and I think my best friend needs help so, if you’ll excuse me, me and Azzi need to go have some more team bonding, alone.” She said with a smug smirk as she walked away. Behind her she heard her teammates all leave the dorm with things like “AYO WHAT THE FUCK!” and “EW GET ME OUT OF HERE IMMEDIATELY!” and she definitely heard KK’s voice yelling, “NIKA IM SLEEPING WITH YOU TONIGHT I DO NOT WANNA RELIVE THAT” Paige just laughed as she walked towards her bedroom where Azzi was.

SMUT ONESHOTS :

twenty nights- based on the song twenty nights by nobu woods. you and paige are sneaky links because for 1. she doesn’t do relationships(being the face of UCONN’s Wbb and all) and 2. you already had a girlfriend. twenty nights pt2- viola went through your phone while you were asleep and found that you had been cheating on her.

let loose- paige comes home from a tiring game and you make it your mission to help her relax.

vacation- you and some of the team go on a week long vacation together to start off the first week of summer, and finally the tension between you and paige couldn’t get any thicker. vacation pt2– the morning after you and paige confessed your feelings for each other.

something new- paige had mentioned wanting to try the strap and the day has finally come.

glasses stay on- making paige keep her glasses on while you eat her out. (inspired by that tt of her and kk at the soccer game

date nights- the start and ending of a date night with paige.

you belong to somebody else- when paige’s girlfriend can’t do it right, her best friend is always there to pick up the slack.

obsessed with it- paige is obsessed with your piercing… and eating you out.

can i?- paige is obsessed with riding your thigh and your obsessed with letting her.

i wouldn't fuck it up- turns out getting humiliated by your boyfriend can end better than you would think.

all you gotta do- when paige is having a bad day and being a brat, it’s your job to correct her.

date nights- the start and ending of a date night with paige.

one more- a quickie before bed turns into more.

missed you— while paige was away you decided to send her risky messages, making her needy for you when she got home.

worst behavior - you and paige are exes that can’t stay away from each other, always ending up in each others beds no matter how many times you said you were done. based on worst behavior by kwn.

take a ride- paige riding your strap— or, fucking paige on your strap.

she can switch- paige is the biggest tease, but so are you.

netflix and chill- inviting paige over to chill but it’s never really just chilling.

do it again- paige making you squirt for the first time after taking you back to her hotel room from her afterparty.

morning light- a glimpse of what it’s like being married to paige.

once in a lifetime- paige takes a liking to you after you join the team, slowly but surely.

kiss land- you were a stripper and paige had her eyes on you—just her luck, you had your eyes on her.

look at me- basically just fingering paige.

all night long- you and paige take the viral honey packets—as a joke, of course— and you doubted its authenticity until you both couldn’t keep your hands off of each other.

quiet- paige dragging you away from the rest of the team so you can fuck her, but she’s gotta stay quiet because they can’t find out you’re fucking the rookie.

fresh cut trance- coming home from getting your hair cut and the reaction from paige was not what you were expecting.

keep talking to me- after paige’s game you have your routine facetime call, only this time paige starts something you can’t go back from.

late night desires- when a hot dream wakes you up in the middle of the night, horny and a wreck, you wake paige up so she can take care of you.

keep it a secret- sneaking around with your brothers best friend and almost getting caught.

you get me so high- when the mood is set and the weed it hitting, one thing leds to another.

don't make me wait- you’re out with your friends and paige is home alone… you can imagine how that turns out.

keep you warm- paige is taking too long to come to bed so, you take thing into your own hands.

when things change- when things change between you and paige on a random friday evening.

can't wait anymore- when you got back from a school trip all you wanted to do was have alone time with your girlfriend but your friends had other plans, leaving paige to take things into her own hands.

take a ride- paige switches things up and paiges you ride her, you find it to be harder than you thought.

oopsies- you and paige were in the middle of sexting when she got a message from the team groupchat… she accidentally sent the wrong message to the wrong chat.

good luck charm- making sure you get your good luck charm before a game.

tie me down, don't leave my side- paige just wants to be tied down and who are you to deny her that.

don't suffocate- sub paige riding your face for the first time.

you take me so well- telling paige she takes it well?

a reason to stay- paige doesn’t want to leave home so she makes sure she won’t.

FLUFF ONESHOTS:

friends do this...right?- sleepovers with paige have always been interesting, this one in particular happened to open a new chapter in your lives.

distance means nothing- long distance turns out the be harder than you thought and paige hates to see her girl upset so she gets you on the next flight out.

mini star- a cute moment where you get to be a part of paige coaching your daughter into becoming a mini basketball star.

you make it better- paige was having a bad day until she came home to her favorite girls.

no. 1 pick- sharing a moment with paige after being drafted.

running into you- what happens when you run into paige bueckers? literally.

interruption- kk burst into a romantic moment between you and paige to tell you about her latest crush.

we'll never have sex- when going live with paige turns into your singing to her in front of thousands of people.

team effort- after losing a game, one of the reporters at the press conference tried to pin the loss on you. paige wasn’t having it.

such a softie- after you and paige make things official, your first thought is to call your best friend and spill the news. the only problem is that you can’t find your phone and when you reach for paige’s phone you see something you weren’t meant to see.

someday- exploring downtown dallas, you find yourself in a vintage thrift store where you find the cute set baby clothes and spark the topic of kids.

breath out...so i can breath you in- trying a new tiktok trend with paige

how the time flies- time flies when you're with the person you love.

still the prettiest- paige is in love and can’t help but take care of you wherever you’re sick.

HEADCANNONS:

baby lets get stoned- headcanons for paige x stoner!reader

whipped- head canons for paige being an obsessed girlfriend.

rapper!gf- head canons for paige x rapper!gf

ANGST ONESHOTS:

sidelines- in which paige works her way into your life and you have a hard time letting her in. based on sidelines by phoebe bridgers.

dear april- what happens when two people— two very different people— meet and fall in love?

over the summer- you and paige are best friends but she’s been away for basketball summer camp and your parents are arguing more, the day she comes back is the day you’re moving away.

TEXT IMAGINES:

surprise?

forgive me

Wrapped In Nothing

a/n: loved this request and i added a fun little plot idea that came from one of my favorite songs right now, Not Fair by Leon Thomas. Hope you enjoy it :)

wc: 3.4k+

warnings: smut, MINORS DNI

It wasn’t often Paige and Azzi fought for more than a few hours. They were annoyingly good at conflict resolution. One of them always caved. Usually Paige, because she couldn’t handle the sound of her own silence. But sometimes Azzi would too because Paige would wear her down with relentless, stupid, golden retriever-level optimism. But this time? This time it was serious.