OMG WHAT? WHAT? WHAT? SOMEONE WHO WRITES FOR TEDDY CUBA?? HELLO?? AM I IN HEAVEN??? DONT MIND IF I DO!!! Can I get a teddy Cuba x reader fic and a large cup of angst with a side of fluff? please and thank you😇😇 yours truly,,, someone!
𓂃˖ ࣪⊹ When the Lights Go Out
Teddy Cuba x girlfriend!reader
˙⋆✮ ˙ summary: Teddy goes through a lot, but you are there for him no matter the outcast
˙⋆✮ ˙ warning: Angst & fluff
˙⋆✮ ˙ a/n: hiiii. yes i do. i thought you were request for chachi arcola bc with "what what what" lmfao. but yesss i do. i really hope you like this. this is just the first thought of Teddy I thought of so i wrote it. enjoy!
You stood in the tiny kitchen, absentmindedly stirring a mug of tea that had long since gone cold. The old clock above the stove ticked louder with every passing second.
You tried not to think about why.
The lock finally clicked.
The front door creaked open, and Teddy stepped inside.
His shoulders were slumped beneath his leather jacket, his dark curls messy like he'd been running his hands through them all night. There was a fresh bruise beginning to bloom along his jaw.
"You said you'd be home by nine."
Instead, he quietly shut the door behind him and avoided your eyes as he tossed his keys onto the table.
"You've got blood on your sleeve."
He looked down as if he'd only just noticed.
You crossed the room until you were standing in front of him.
"You keep saying you're fine."
For a moment, something flickered across his face.
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face.
"I don't wanna drag you into all this."
"You didn't drag me anywhere." Your voice softened. "I chose to be here."
He let out a humorless laugh.
"You deserve somebody normal."
"Tough luck. I don't think I remember what normal even looks like."
Silence settled between you.
You reached up carefully, brushing your thumb near the bruise on his cheek.
You gently took his hand and led him toward the worn-out couch.
He obeyed without arguing, which worried you even more.
You disappeared into the bathroom and returned with a small first-aid kit.
You knelt in front of him, dampening a cloth before carefully cleaning the scrape near his temple.
Neither of you spoke for a while.
The only sound was the faint traffic outside the apartment window.
Finally, Teddy broke the silence.
"I hate when you look at me like that."
"Like you're worried I'm gonna disappear."
"I keep waiting for the phone to ring," you admitted. "Or for someone to knock on the door with bad news."
He reached for your hand before you could pull away.
"I don't want you living like that."
Your voice cracked despite your best effort.
For the first time that night, Teddy's walls came down.
"I'm tired," he whispered.
Tired of looking over his shoulder.
Tired of pretending everything was under control.
Tired of carrying the weight of expectations that were never really his to begin with.
Without thinking, you wrapped your arms around him.
At first, he stayed completely still.
His face disappeared into your shoulder as he exhaled a shaky breath.
"You don't have to be strong every second," you murmured.
He laughed quietly, though it sounded closer to a sob.
"You can remember with me."
This one didn't feel empty.
After a while, you leaned back just enough to look at him.
"I was hoping you'd make grilled cheese."
"I was already planning on it."
"I've had lots of practice."
He smiled a little wider this time—the kind that reached his eyes, if only for a moment.
As you stood to head toward the kitchen, Teddy caught your wrist.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
Not just for the bandages.
You leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead.
"You don't have to thank me for loving you."
His eyes closed for a second.
And for the first time all day, the apartment didn't feel so heavy.
Outside, the city kept moving.
Inside, the lights stayed on.
