#show time

malachi barton x fem!bsf!reader

warnings: none!

cj was live on tiktok, phone propped up on a dumbbell rack as you all messed around between sets.

mk and mari were arguing over form, liv was hyping them up, and malachi—of course—was showing off like he was in a nike ad.

you were halfway through laughing at cj’s bad push-ups when your phone started ringing from beside your water bottle.

“yo, superstar! someone’s calling you,” cj said, grinning.

you sighed, walking over and reaching for it. but when you saw the name, your brows furrowed.

you hesitated. it wasn’t a random number. you knew it. but it made zero sense.

you pressed accept.

“hello?”

“hey, stargirl,” came the voice, loud enough that everyone heard the first two words before you scrambled to lower the volume.

the room went silent for half a second.

you turned the volume way down, pressing the phone tighter to your ear. “uh—hi? what’s up?” you asked, walking toward the corner of the gym, back half-turned to everyone.

malachi watched you go, brows furrowed. cj looked at him and mouthed, stargirl??

you glanced over your shoulder once, just to make sure they weren’t listening—spoiler: they absolutely were.

“sorry,” you whispered into the phone, voice quiet now. “just—kinda surprised you’re calling. everything okay?”

“yeah, yeah, all good,” the guy said, voice light, familiar. “just figured I’d check in. saw you guys on tour. how’s it goin’?”

you smiled a little, still thrown off. “it’s good… just weird hearing from you.”

“weird good or weird bad?” he teased.

“depends why you’re calling.”

you could feel malachi’s gaze from across the room, like he was trying to decode your tone through pure willpower.

“nah, just wanted to see how you’re doing,” the guy said. “been hearing your name a lot lately.”

your stomach dropped. “…from who?”

he laughed. “take a wild guess.”

you exhaled sharply, glancing at malachi again — who instantly looked away, pretending to talk to mk.

your pulse was not chill.

“yeah,” you said quietly. “figured.”

“didn’t mean to bug you,” he added, tone softening. “just thought I’d say hi. maybe tell him I said what’s up.”

you blinked. “you could’ve just called him.”

“nah, I like my odds better with you,” he said, amused. “talk soon, stargirl.”

and with that, the call ended.

you stood there for a sec, phone still in hand, trying to make your brain work again.

“yo,” malachi called out, voice careful. “everything good?”

you turned around, forcing a small smile. “yeah. just… unexpected call.”

he tilted his head. “unexpected from who?”

you grabbed your water bottle, shrugging. “just an old friend.”

his lips quirked up slightly, but his eyes said otherwise. “right. an old friend.”

cj, ever the chaos agent, grinned at the camera. "anyway, ask us questions!"

about ten minutes passed since that weird call.

everyone had gone back to working out, joking around, the usual tour chaos. you tried to focus, but your mind kept replaying it — his voice, that nickname, the way he’d said it like he knew something.

you were just starting another set when your phone started buzzing again from the bench near cj’s live.

“yo superstar, your phone’s back at it,” cj said, grinning as he leaned closer.

you sighed, half-dreading what you’d see. “who is it this time?”

he squinted at the screen, then looked up with a smirk. “freya. she’s calling you.”

you blinked. “freya?”

“yeah. what’s she need mid-gym sesh?”

“guess i’ll find out,” you muttered, jogging over and picking up the phone.

you answered quickly, voice light. “hey, frey! what’s up?”

“oh my god, don’t freak out, but i’m freaking out!” she blurted, way too loud in your ear.

you winced, turning the volume down once again. “woah, okay, breathe first. what happened?”

“okay okay okay,” she said, clearly pacing. “you remember that guy from the afterparty yesterday? the one with the hair, the jacket, and that smirk?”

you frowned. “freya, that’s like—half the guys there.”

“NO. the one that was talking to malachi before we left!”

your eyebrows shot up. “oh. him.”

“YES, him! he just texted me!”

you froze, then laughed nervously. “wait—seriously?”

“seriously!! he said, and i quote, ‘you and your friend free tonight?’ LIKE WHAT DOES THAT MEAN???”

you turned slightly, lowering your voice as you walked toward the corner of the gym. cj was still watching you from the live setup, mouthing to mk, “drama again?”

“okay, okay, calm down,” you whispered. “maybe he’s just being friendly—”

“he added a winky face! that’s not friendly! that’s like—flirty with malicious intent!”

you snorted, trying to cover it with a cough. “frey, breathe. it’s literally just a text. you’re spiraling.”

“how are you so calm right now? if it were you, you’d be freaking out!”

“no i wouldn’t,” you said automatically.

freya gasped. “yes, you would!”

you smiled, shaking your head. “maybe a little.”

cj raised a brow at you from across the gym, whispering to the live, “she’s definitely coaching freya through a boy crisis right now.”

“what do i do?” freya asked, panic back in her tone. “do i text him? do i wait? what if he—oh my god what if he meant you?”

you froze. “…what?”

“he said ‘you and your friend’—that could mean you!”

you rubbed your forehead. “frey, please don’t manifest a love triangle out of one text message.”

“too late!” she said, voice pitching higher. “what if he likes you!?”

you sighed, closing your eyes. “freya. i promise, that’s not—”

“wait. wait. did you talk to malachi’s friend today?”

your heart skipped a beat. “uh—what?”

“yeah, him! i saw his story earlier and he said something about ‘catching up with a familiar face’—was that you??”

“frey,” you said, lowering your voice even more. “now’s really not the time—”

cj yelled from across the room, “yo, we can hear you whispering! who’s got the tea this time?”

you shot him a death glare while turning slightly away, whispering, “frey, i gotta go. we’ll talk later, okay?”

“fine, but text me the second you’re free because i need a full strategy plan,” she said before hanging up.

you lowered your phone, exhaling slowly.

cj looked at you, smirking. “lemme guess—boy drama?”

you took a sip of water, trying to sound unbothered. “girl stuff.”

malachi snorted. “that sounded like boy stuff.”

you rolled your eyes. “you’d know, huh?”

“depends who we’re talking about,” he said, grin tugging at his lips.

you didn’t answer. just tossed him a towel and walked towards mk.

half an hour later, cj was still live, chatting with comments while you leaned against the bench next to him. the background noise was filled with mk’s music, malachi joking around with mari, and liv doing her stretches nearby.

your phone sat right beside cj’s — screen lighting up every few minutes with random notifications you were too lazy to check.

but then another phone started buzzing right next to it — louder, sharper.

cj looked down, tilting his head. “uhh… mal, your phone’s going off,” he called out.

malachi walked over, wiping his hands on a towel, eyebrows furrowed. “who is it?”

cj leaned a little closer, squinting. “freya.”

malachi frowned even more. “freya? why’s she calling me?”

everyone kind of glanced over for a second — curious but pretending not to care.

“you gonna answer?” mk asked, smirking.

“yeah… guess so,” malachi muttered, picking it up. he swiped to answer, turning slightly away from the camera. “yo, freya, what’s up?”

you didn’t mean to eavesdrop — but you could still hear just enough.

his expression changed fast. first normal. then confused. then — full-on bewildered.

“wait, what?” he said slowly. “a double date? with who?”

cj froze mid-rep. mk’s music stopped. liv blinked. all eyes were now kind of on him — not too obvious, but everyone was definitely listening.

malachi turned toward you, eyebrows raised, still on the call. “uh… yeah… she’s here. right next to me.”

your head snapped up. “me?”

he nodded once, then held the phone out toward you. “she wants to talk to you.”

you hesitated before taking it. “uh… hey?”

“okay, i know something... just, don’t freak out this time,” freya started — instantly making you nervous. “but… remember that guy i was texting? the one that said ‘you and your friend,'? i thought it was just a hangout, but turns out he meant a double date. like, me and him… and you and malachi.”

you froze. blinked. “what?”

freya talked faster. “apparently he talked to malachi earlier, and now he thinks you two are together. i swear i didn’t do anything!”

you turned your head slowly to look at malachi. “what did you say to him?”

his eyes widened. “nothing! i swear!” he said, hands raised defensively, voice low but urgent. “i just said we hang out a lot!”

“well,” you hissed quietly, “now he thinks we’re a thing!”

“i didn’t mean to!” he whispered back.

cj, mk, and liv were all staring now — not hearing exactly what was happening, but definitely seeing the chaos unfold.

freya groaned through the phone. “and now he wants us to double date, and i don’t know what to do! i really like him, and this might be my only chance, so maybe just… pretend? please?”

you let out a tiny laugh of disbelief. “freya…”

she whined softly, “pleaseee! it’s just for one night!”

you sighed, rubbing your forehead. “fine,” you muttered. “but this is insane.”

malachi leaned closer, voice teasing. “so we’re fake dating now?”

you glared at him. “shut up.”

the moment freya hung up, you just sat there for a second — staring at malachi like your soul had left your body.

cj immediately broke the silence. “okay, what was that about?”

mk chimed in right after. “yeah, why’d freya call you?”

liv added, “and why’d you look like you just found out you’re in a telenovela?”

you sighed, dragging a hand over your face, pointing toward cj’s phone. “mute the live for a sec.”

cj blinked. “wait, what—”

“cj.”

he shrugged, muttering a quick, “brb guys,” before muting the mic and moving the phone away from the group.

malachi was still biting back a grin, clearly enjoying way too much how flustered you looked.

“so,” mk said, crossing his arms. “what’s the drama?”

you opened your mouth, then closed it again, groaning. “i— no, malachi, you explain. i can’t.”

malachi smirked. “gladly.”

he looked around, dramatic as ever. “so apparently, freya’s new crush thinks me and stargirl here are dating. because of something i said. and now… we have to go on a double date.”

“WHAT?!” liv and cj said in unison.

mk burst out laughing. “nahhh, this is too good.”

you just mumbled, “i’m genuinely considering walking into the ocean.”

cj shook his head, still half-laughing. “this live is gonna eat that up if they find out.”

malachi grinned at you. “guess we better act natural then.”

you rolled your eyes so hard it almost hurt.

cj unmuted the live again like nothing happened. “alright, guys, we’re back! malachi just found out he’s in a romantic comedy, but it’s fine.”

you shot him a death glare while the comments exploded with emojis and theories.

malachi smirked and leaned closer to whisper, “see? they already ship us.”

“don’t make me hit you,” you whispered back.

later that night, back at the hotel, you were sprawled on your bed, halfway through your mental breakdown when someone knocked on your door.

“it’s me,” freya’s voice came through.

you groaned. “come in!”

she pushed the door open, hair messy, face full of panic. “we are so screwed.”

“freya, breathe,” you said, sitting up.

“how are you so calm?” she shot back. “what if he realizes it’s fake? what if i mess up? what if you and malachi can’t even pretend to be together?”

you blinked. “wow, thanks for the confidence boost.”

she threw a pillow at you. “you know what i mean!”

you sighed and grabbed your phone. “fine. we’ll figure this out now.”

a few rings later, malachi answered. “yo?”

“get to my room,” you said. “freya is freaking out.”

there was a pause. “should i bring snacks?”

“malachi.”

“okay, okay, i’m coming.”

five minutes later, he knocked, walked in, and instantly smirked. “wow. this is cozy. girls’ night?”

freya glared. “no. strategy meeting.”

"strategy meetings can't happen if you're having a meltdown, goldie."

malachi raised an eyebrow. “meltdown? over a double date?”

“yes, she’s literally rewriting the entire timeline of human history in her head,” you muttered.

freya groaned dramatically, flopping onto the other bed. “you two don’t even understand! this has to go perfectly! i really like him!”

malachi leaned against the wall, watching both of you. “so… step one: don’t freak out. step two: play the part. got it?”

“yeah… but,” freya protested, “you two have to make this believable.”

you groaned. “this is literally so unfair.”

malachi smirked at you. “oh come on, you secretly love this part.”

“i do not,” you hissed, shoving him lightly. he caught your hand mid-shove, smirk widening.

freya groaned. “see? this is what i’m talking about! you guys already sound like a married couple!”

you both looked at each other for a second — too long, maybe — before you quickly looked away.

“whatever,” you muttered. “let’s just plan this stupid date.”

freya clapped her hands like a general commanding troops. “good. operation fake couple is officially a go.”

malachi leaned back, grinning. “this is gonna be fun.”

you rolled your eyes but couldn’t help the tiny smile tugging at your lips. “yeah, fun for you.”

freya rolled her eyes. “you two are literally impossible. i swear, i’m gonna explode.”

you shot her a look. “and yet, you somehow trust us with your love life?”

“yes! because you’re… parent-material, okay?” she snapped, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

malachi snorted, stepping closer to you. “oh, parent-material, huh? interesting.”

you shoved him again, but he barely flinched. “ugh… focus,” you muttered.

he flopped down on the bed next to you like he owned the place. “so what’s the plan? we fake date, hold hands, maybe a lil soft eye contact—”

you shoved him lightly. “shut up.”

freya started pacing. “no, seriously, you two need to look like a couple. be natural but not too natural.”

malachi raised an eyebrow. “so… like us, but with more touching?”

you stared at him. “do you want me to kill you?”

moving on, the three of you huddled on the bed, whispering a strategy: small touches, casual laughs, keeping it believable but subtle. malachi leaned close whenever he thought you weren’t looking, smirking every time you almost lost it.

freya kept fretting over the tiniest details — what hand to hold, when to laugh, how to look natural — while you and malachi bickered under your breaths, teasing each other like it was second nature.

“okay, so we just… survive the morning. hand-holding, smiles, a tiny flirt here and there,” malachi said.

you groaned, cheeks pink. “tiny flirt? tiny?!”

he leaned closer, grin teasing. “yeah… that’s what we’ll call it.”

freya groaned dramatically. “i swear, if you two ruin this…!”

you rolled your eyes at her. “we won’t. maybe. probably… i don’t know.”

malachi just smirked, brushing a strand of your hair behind your ear like it was nothing and you internally combusted.

freya noticed the tension between you two, eyes narrowing, but said nothing — clearly deciding it was best to leave this dynamic alone while still panicking about the “double date mission.”

and as the three of you plotted quietly, the air was thick with chaos, nerves, and… just a little bit of dangerous electricity.

and for a moment, even with freya stressing out beside you, you thought to yourself:

this is for sure in the top five wildest things you've done for a friend.

the restaurant freya picked looked way fancier than it had any right to. soft lighting, candles, and that weird piano music that made you feel like you should whisper even when you weren’t saying anything scandalous.

you and malachi walked in together, and he leaned close, voice low. “you sure this isn’t a setup for our funeral?”

you gave him a look. “don’t start.”

freya was already sitting at a booth, waving frantically when she saw you. next to her sat the boy — the one she’d been texting nonstop for weeks. he smiled politely, stood up, and said, “hey, you must be the famous couple.”

malachi froze. you felt your brain short-circuit.

“uh— yeah,” you said quickly, forcing a smile that definitely screamed panic.

malachi wrapped an arm casually around your shoulders, his hand heavy and warm, smirk tugging at his lips like he was enjoying this way too much.

“yep,” he said smoothly. “that’s us.”

freya shot you both a look that was basically don’t blow this for me and you gave her one right back — you owe me for life.

the guy grinned. “you two are cute together.”

you tried not to choke on your own oxygen. “thanks.”

malachi leaned in, whispering just loud enough for you to hear, “wow, we’re doing great already.”

you elbowed him under the table. “shut. up.”

the waiter came, everyone ordered, and freya immediately launched into conversation — nervously overexplaining every little thing, laughing too loud, gesturing like she was on live tv.

meanwhile, malachi was leaning back like he was born for this fake boyfriend act. every time you spoke, he’d rest his arm behind you, thumb brushing your shoulder in that fake-casual way that made your brain short-circuit again.

you hated how natural it looked.

halfway through dinner, freya excused herself to “freshen up,” and her date followed a second later to “grab a call.” leaving you and malachi alone.

you exhaled, finally letting your shoulders drop. “okay. this is insane.”

“yeah,” he said, grinning. “but admit it — we’re kinda killing it.”

you shot him a glare. “don’t get too comfortable.”

he chuckled. “what? you’re saying you don’t like pretending to be madly in love with me?”

“you’re lucky this restaurant has witnesses,” you muttered.

he leaned closer, voice softer now. “oh, i’m very aware.”

before you could respond, freya came rushing back, whispering frantically, “he wants to go for a walk after dinner! what do i do?”

you blinked. “you… go?”

she groaned. “yeah, but that means you two have to come too! couples walk. remember?!”

malachi snorted. “you’re dragging us into your love story now?”

“yes!” she whisper-yelled. “i can’t third-wheel my own date!”

you sighed, head falling into your hands. “this is gonna be a disaster.”

freya grinned nervously. “nah. this is gonna be perfect.”

later, outside, the four of you walked down the street — freya clinging to her date’s arm, you walking beside malachi as if you weren’t internally combusting.

he nudged you lightly. “you realize if we keep this up, people might actually believe it?”

you glanced up at him. “people already do.”

he grinned, and for a second, you swore it wasn’t part of the act anymore.

the walk started normal enough. city lights glowing, the air a little cool, freya practically floating next to her date, and you trying so hard not to overthink every little move. malachi and freya’s boy ended up walking a few steps ahead, talking like they’d been friends for years — laughing about music, acting gigs, random tour stuff.

you slowed your pace a little, letting freya fall back beside you. she looked both thrilled and terrified.

“okay,” she whispered quickly. “so far so good. i think he’s actually into me.”

you smiled. “yeah? i mean, he seems nice.”

“he is! but—” she groaned quietly, “he’s asking malachi about you.”

“what?” you blinked. “why?”

“i don’t know! apparently he said something like, ‘so how long have you guys been together?’ and mal just went, ‘depends who’s asking.’”

you stopped walking for a second, staring. “he what?”

freya raised her hands helplessly. “i don’t know if he’s joking or flirting with chaos at this point, but he’s committed.”

you sighed, rubbing your temples. “of course he is. he probably thinks this is hilarious.”

“oh, he totally does.” freya giggled nervously. “but, like… it’s working? the guy keeps saying how good you two look together. and now he’s all like, ‘wow, i can tell they’re close.’”

“because we’re faking it! oh my god.”

“shhh,” freya hissed, smacking your arm lightly. “don’t blow my cover! look, this is all temporary. you fake date him for, like, one night, i get the boy, everyone’s happy.”

you gave her a look. “yeah, except i have to survive fake-flirting with malachi barton without losing my mind.”

“please,” she begged, clasping her hands together dramatically. “for me. for my potential love life. for the romantic comedy we didn’t ask to star in.”

you groaned but couldn’t help smiling. “you owe me, big time.”

“i’ll buy you coffee for a week,” she whispered. “and i’ll even take your morning press call tomorrow.”

“done,” you muttered.

up ahead, malachi turned slightly, catching your eye with a teasing grin that screamed i know exactly what you’re talking about.

you rolled your eyes, mouthing, stop it.

he just smirked wider before turning back to the conversation like nothing happened.

freya nudged you. “you guys are, like, weirdly good at this.”

you scoffed, brushing her off. “don’t start.”

but as you walked a few more steps, your gaze lingered on malachi just a little too long — and yeah… maybe freya wasn’t wrong.

the walk ended at a quiet corner near a little fountain, the glow from streetlights bouncing off the water. freya’s date stopped and turned toward her.

“thanks for tonight,” he said, smiling. “you both… you’re really fun people. and, uh… you two,” he glanced at you and malachi, “you’re… adorable together.”

freya’s jaw dropped for a second, cheeks pink. “oh my gosh! thank you!” she squeaked, looking like she might combust from excitement.

you froze, eyes darting to malachi, who raised an eyebrow and smirked like he had been waiting for this moment all along.

“…adorable,” you muttered under your breath, tone a mix of disbelief and irritation.

malachi chuckled low, leaning slightly toward you. “yeah… apparently we are.”

you groaned, shaking your head. “you’re enjoying this way too much.”

he shrugged, grin wide. “maybe a little.”

freya was bouncing on her toes, grabbing her date’s hand. “okay! well… thanks again! you guys… you’re the best. seriously, you two made this so easy!”

you rolled your eyes, hiding your smile, while malachi smirked like a cat who’d just gotten away with something.

as freya and her date walked off, leaving you two alone, you let out a long breath. “okay… now what?”

malachi tilted his head, studying you like you were suddenly the most interesting puzzle in the world. “now… we survive the aftermath.”

“oh god.” you buried your face in your hands for a second, then peeked through your fingers. “you’re lucky this was all for freya, otherwise I’d—”

“you’d what?” he interrupted, stepping a little closer. “scold me for being perfect?”

you groaned again, but a small laugh slipped out. “shut up.”

he smirked, hands in his pockets, relaxed like nothing could touch him. “alright. deal. but admit it… this was kinda fun.”

you rolled your eyes, but your cheeks betrayed you — slightly pink, slightly warm. “yeah… maybe a little.”

he grinned knowingly, and for the first time all night, the fake dating felt… almost real.

malachibartonsangel speaks:

i actually think this one wasn't too bad! i have more coming up, just thought i'd post one of my drafts already to at least have something out for now. i don't know when i'll post as i don't exactly have a schedule planned, but i will continue to like post shorter ones and ever so often a longer one like this!

thank you for reading!

not proof read!!!