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sl-newsie · 9 months

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Cool Your Jets- Ch. 12: Coming Home (Riff x newcomer)

Back on the streets, cops are still buzzing down every block. But I can tell the heat of the recent rumble is starting to cool off. Still, something seems… off. I don’t know what, but something inside is telling me something’s wrong.

And it’s proven right when I go back to the clinic and Josephina rushes up to me.

“Marilyn! Thank goodness! You just missed him- he kept going on about stopping the Jets! I don’t think the morphine’s worn off yet! Then he- he collapsed-!”

I hold my hands up. “Whoa, slow down Josie! What happened?”

She sighs. “It’s Riff! His blood pressure is dropping again!”

“What?! What do you mean? How did this happen-?” I feel my own blood start to drain from my face.

“The bullet must have hit a major artery near his heart. I’m sorry, mi querida. But we do not have the tools or skills to operate on that kind of wound.”

She gives me a look of apology as if to numb some of the pain away, but it only makes me feel an empty, dizzy feeling of falling into a dark abyss. I just got Riff back, and now he’s slipping away again? I guess life really doesn’t want me to be happy. But I can’t show fear now. Riff’s worried enough, and he needs all the courage he can get.

“I’ll go sit with him, Josie. You get back to your rounds, don’t worry about Riff.”

Josephina gives a nod and walks back down the hall. “Thank you, Marilyn. I really am sorry.”

With that, I dash to Riff’s patient room and find him looking more pale than ever.

“Riff?” I say with an unsteady voice.

He tilts his head up from the pillow, and I can see fear in his eyes. But when he sees it’s me the fear melts away.

“Lynnie! How’d it go?” God, he sounds so weak.

I groan and start tear’n up. “God, Riff. I don’t understand how ya could ever keep those- those.. those barbarians in check!”

I go to grab his hand but instead he pulls me in and wraps his arms around me. “Hey, calm down. Calm down. Now tell me, did they hurt you?” He gives me a worried look.

I shake my head. “No, they foist thought I was you. And I caught them… nearly raping Anita!”

Riff’s face hardens and his grip tightens. “They what?”

“They- they locked Grazi and Velma outside while they pretty much dog-piled on Anita! If I hadn’t gotten there when I did…” I choke down a sob as Riff rubs my back.

“Marilyn, I’m so sorry you had to see that. I-” He sighs and rubs his head. “I thought I’d taught them better. I promise, I’ll personally apologize to Anita and make sure each and every Jet gets punished.”

I nod shakily. “Th- Thanks, Riff. B- But Josephina said you’ve lost more blood. Are- Do ya feel ok?”

He frowns. “Um, yeah? Why wouldn’t I be?” Because you’re bleeding to death. Riff lifts my head up and thinks for a minute, then says: “Marilyn, are you happy here?”

Huh?

I tilt my head. “What do you mean?”

“Marilyn Jackson, would you be will’n to put up with me out west?”

I gasp. “Out west? But Riff…” I gesture to the buildings around us. “This is your home, all you have left. Why would you wanna leave that?” In the condition you’re in you wouldn’t even make it to the train station!

Riff sighs and looks me dead in the eyes. “I’ve always known that eventually my home would crumble away. Yeah the Jets’ve gotten me through tough times, but they ain’t gonna be around forever. Besides, with all the violence and-” He chuckles. “Near-death experiences, I think it’s time to settle for good and actually do someth’n with my life.”

If it weren’t for Riff’s life slipping away by the second I’d think of this heartwarming scene very differently. But I gotta stay strong.

I smile at this, and grasp Riff’s hand. “So, I actually did talk some sense into you, Jet Boy.”

“Sure did, beautiful. So whaddya say- mind if I tag along with ya?”

The thought-a spend’n life with Riff out west sounds… like an adventure. One that I might be able to handle, away from violence and old memories. I’ve only known him for a short time, but I can tell he’s… different. Maybe he could've put all this Jet business behind him, if only he wasn’t dying.

“Riff.”

“Yeah?”

“I think it’s clear that I care for ya, with the whole ‘save’n your life’ bit in the warehouse. I think I can trust you, and you’ve shown me that life don’t have to be about look’n forward all the time. If you’d told me last week that I’d fall for a gang leader, I’dve said you were crazy! But now… now I think I wanna spend my life with you, Riff Lorton.” At least what’s left of it. “If that’s what you want.”

Riff’s smiling. A bright, wide smile, while his eyes show no more fear or anger- only bewilderment and devotion.

“Lynnie, I’d take a hundred bullets to be with you!”

I push his chest. “No, no! We don’t need that- we just got you patched up, and now you’ve lost so much blood-!”

He ignores this and swings me down for a deep kiss, and all I think about is Riff. The stubborn, cocky Jet Boy that I’ve grown to luv so much. And he’s dying.

“Ya fell for me, didja beautiful?” He smirks after he pulls away.

I smile and nod back. “Yeah, I fell hard. But right now, Riff, I- I’m scared.”

Riff frowns. “Why, Lynnie?”

Biting my lip, I try to think of the best way to phrase my next words. “Riff, you’re- you’re-” My nerves get the best-a me and I lean into Riff’s shoulder with fresh tears glistening down my face. “You’re dying!” I sob softly.

The Jet leader considers this, then slowly looks down to his dressed wound. “Not all patched up, huh?” One might think he’d expected this.

“The- the bullet went deeper than we thought. And Josephina says we can’t do more to help it.” I shake my head. “How can you be so calm? You’re dying and you’re just- just- smiling?”

The Jet boy is, in fact, smiling. A carefree smile directed at me, as if I’m the morphine keeping him alive. At first he doesn’t answer. He just nuzzles his head against my chest and gives a deep sigh.

“Marilyn, I couldn’t think of a better way to go. My only regret is leaving you. I’m so sorry…”

“B- But you’re in pain, lying in a bed in a gray, dim-lit clinic room. How could this possibly be any good way to go?” I hiccup a sob.

Riff shakes his head and presses a kiss to my cheek. “It doesn’t hurt, Lynnie. And I don’t need any fancy room to die in. You being here is plenty enough. I luv you so much…”

He starts to fade out, and I start to panic.

“Riff? Riff? Oh, God. No no no! I can’t lose you again!”

Riff smiles, eyes still closed. “Don’t miss me too much, Lynnie. Go. Live your life out west. Just don’t forget me.”

I can feel his pulse slowing by the second, and more tears start spilling down my face as I clutch his hand. “I will never ever forget you, Gariff Lorton. You’s changed my life forever, and you're the only man I luv.” I pull him in for another kiss, this one slightly desperate and melancholy.

Riff lets out another heavy sigh. “I… I luv you too, Marilyn…” Then, the Jet leader lets out his last breath and his body releases all tension. His hand goes limp and lets go of mine, a sure sign he’s passed.

“Riff? Riff? RIFF!” I scream and sob into his chest as I pull his body closer. But he doesn’t wake up. He’ll never wake up again, even after I tried so hard to save him.

Lifting my head, I no longer see Riff. Only the shell of what’s left of him. I set the body down, giving him one last kiss on the forehead.

“Close you eyes, close your eyes

And forget all about us tonight…”

The door bursts open and Josephina rushes in. When she sees Riff’s body, she nearly lets out a scream.

“He’s dead,” I state with cold eyes.

“Please, mi querida! You need to have time to process this, maybe outside-?” Josephina tries to lead me away, but I hold my ground next to Riff's bed.

“Leave. Let me be,” I whisper as a single tear rolls down my face, my eyes glazed from shock.

“Marilyn, please-”

“Leave!” I shout in her face.

“I would, but the police are outside! I’m trying to warn you to go out the back!”

An hour ago I would’ve jumped up and dashed out the door, but now it’s as if my mind has wandered elsewhere. All I can think of is why did Riff have to die so young, in a city that promises new chances and bright futures but instead delivers cruel humanity and shattered dreams?

Josephina ignores my blank face and drags me away from Riff’s body, down the hall, and to the back exit. When she pushes me outside the cold air slaps me in the face and shakes me out of my daze. By now I can make out the sound of sirens in front of the building.

“Go, go! I’ll take care of the body, don’t worry!” The kind nurse assures me. “They’ll never know you were here.”

I give a stiff nod. “Thank you, for everything. Just please, please make sure he gets a proper burial?”

“I will.”

She gives me one last hug before heading back in, leaving me to fend in the streets. Streets that seem darker, colder, and far more lonely.

What now? I guess I’ll walk back and get ready to leave. Where? Out west, I suppose. There’s nothing left for me here but gang violence, broken dreams, and painful memories. This place seemed decent at first, with a nice neighborhood with kind friends. Until I met Riff, and a whole new world of taking chances and seeing poverty as freedom was opened up to me. Love was opened up to me.

I don’t know how far I’ve walked, only that any random bum who’d try to rape or mess with me would feel every measure of my contained wrath. I’m not mad, just frustrated. And sad. But I do see now that I’m near Doc’s, a part of the torn down part of the West Side.

“Chino! Chino! Come get me! I’m right here!” I look down the street and see- Tony? “Don’t leave me here. Chino, kill me! Kill me too!” He walks out of my sight. He’s just walking around openly, as if posing as a human target.

Tony, what are you doing-?

Oh. Maria. That’s why he’s willing to die. After seeing Riff pass, a part-a me can’t blame him.

But just because a luved one dies doesn’t mean we should kill ourselves, though I do feel a part-a me died along with Riff.

I see Tony pass in front of me just before I get out of the alley, and when I look out I can see a bewildered look spread across his face.

Wha-?

I gasp. Maria?

It is her! Alive and smiling! She’s got her suitcase and is walking towards Tony with a big grin on her face, just like the ending of a fairy tale! But then-

Her face falls, and in a split second I see Chino step out into the street, pointing a gun at Tony’s back.

It all flies so fast.

I don’t think, I just sprint into the street between Chino and Tony, just as Maria screams over the gunshot that rings out throughout the night. Tony looks down at himself, but sees no wound. He looks at me-

And sees the stain of red blooming across my shirt and the blood dripping down my legs.

It doesn’t hurt. No, dying doesn’t hurt. Just like Riff said. It’s… calm. Like drifting off to sleep.

By now Tony and Maria have rushed over to kneel next to where I’ve fallen, trying to address my wound.

Tears are already forming in Maria’s eyes. “Dear God, Marilyn! You saved him!”

I try to sit up more and cringe as the bullet pinches my skin. “You both deserve a happy ending. God knows I’ve tried to move on, but I think everything I’ve done has been leading me up to this.”

“Marilyn?”

By now more Jets have shown up, Mouthpiece being one of them and is now rushing towards me with a look of pure horror.

“What the Hell happened?” He looks between me and Tony. “What the Hell happened, Tony?”

Tony holds a hand to his face and says in a quiet voice: “Chino tried to shoot me. Marilyn took the bullet.”

“It’s ok, Mouthpiece.” I lift my shaking hand and take his, and he grips it tight. “Don’t be mad. No one should be mad anymore.” I look over at the crowd of Jets and Sharks forming down the street.

“I think you've made your point now.

You've even gone a bit too far to get the message home.

Before it gets too frightening,

We ought to call a halt.

So, could we start again, please??

The Jets and Sharks look back and forth at each other, both gangs having guilty faces.

“What made you do that?” Tony asks in a soft voice.

I try to shift to a comfortable position on the pavement without losing more blood, looking between the two luvers.

“You both have something special. Something Riff and I had. He’s dead now, but if I can prevent the same from happening to you then I’d take a hundred more bullets. At least now I can go see Riff, and my parents. At least now maybe I’ll be at peace…”

I start to feel more light headed, drifting from side to side. Mouthpiece sees this and helps Maria lay me down gently onto the pavement using Maria’s shawl as a pillow.

“God, Marilyn. I’m so sorry it had to be like this.”

“Mi querida, you will always have people here who will love and remember you.”

“It’s ok. You don’t have to worry anymore-”

Their voices fade away, and are replaced by silence. The dark streets and dim city lights melt into black nothingness. I go to lift my hand to test my vision, only to find I have no body anymore. But I know I shouldn’t be afraid. Instead, I feel… calm. A spot of light begins to bloom ahead of me and I can feel myself going forward towards it, the light growing brighter.

“Hiya, Lynnie!” I hear from the bright spot of light.

I’m coming home, Riff...

#west side story #riff (west side story) x reader #riff x reader #riff lorton #riff west side story x reader #riff west side story #riff lorton x fem!reader #riff wss #anita west side story #maria west side story #tony west side story #mouthpiece west side story #west side story x reader #west side story imagine #bernardo west side story

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sl-newsie · 9 months

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Cool Your Jets- Ch. 11: Shame And Disgrace (Riff x newcomer)

I don’t know how much time has passed when I wake up, but when I open my eyes it’s still dark. I go to check the clock, but it ends in failure when Riff tugs me back.

“Don’t go. Please, Lynnie.” His eyes are still closed.

“What time is it then, Mr. Clingy?” I give him a raised brow.

Riff wraps his arms around my torso and snuggles his face against my stomach. “Time for you to lay back down and go back to sleep.”

I let out a frustrated groan. “Riff, that’s really sweet. But I think I should at least go check up on the Jets to make sure they haven’t torn up half the city by now.”

Now Riff gets a grave look on his face. “You can’t go there now. I won’t let ya. Not unless I go with you-”

He tries to stand up but is still shaking, so I grab his shoulders and gently lay him back down.

“No no, Riff. You’re still too weak to walk. You gotta stay here.”

Riff’s face houses a pained expression. “There’s Sharks ‘nd thugs run’n around and I don’t want you get’n hurt. A goil as pretty as you can’t go unnoticed in these streets.”

I think for a minute, then smirk. “Maybe, but I might have an idea…”

In ten minutes I’ve tucked in the bloodstained shirt and tied a belt around Riff’s jeans. His shoes won’t fit, but my black flats look plain enough. To keep my hair up I’ve slapped a cap on my head. When I step back into the room, Riff starts chuckle’n so hard that he has to clutch his sides in pain.

“Wow- I never woulda thought you could look so good in my shirt.” He wiggles an eyebrow. “Maybe I’ll let ya keep it.”

I scoff. “As much as I like the mobility of wear’n pants, I still prefer dresses. But one look at me like this and any guy’ll think twice ‘bout mess’n with me. Don’t worry, Riff- I’ll be back within the hour.”

“Here, take this too. For luck.” Riff leans in for one last kiss, and I feel him clasp a chain around my neck- his pendant. “Be back soon. Luv you, Marilyn.”

“I luv you too, Riff.”

Outside I find Josephina waiting with a concerned look.

“How’s he recuperating?”

“Much better. Thank you so much, for everything!” I give her a tight hug. “I’d stay longer, but I’ve got to go check on something. Don’t worry- I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“You know he can’t stay here forever. Sooner or later the cops will come looking.”

Biting my lip, I begin to start towards the rear exit. “I know. I’ll be back soon, and then I’ll get him to a safer location. He just needs time to heal and regenerate blood before he’s strong enough to leave.”

“Hurry back, and good luck!” Josephina calls before I shut the door.

I try to think of where the Jets might be, and my foist guess is they’re hiding out at Doc’s. It feels like it takes no time at all to reach the drugstore, and when I see the sign lit up I know Valentina’s keeping the shop open late. But when I get closer there’s something wrong- Grazi and Velma are outside screaming and trying to pry open the closed door.

“Guys, guys! What’s wrong?”

“Marilyn? You’re still here? Thank God!”

“Wh- Why are you in Riff’s clothes?” Grazi seethes.

“So I wouldn’t be seen by crazies in the street, genius! And simmer down, Riff’s alive.”

Her face lights up with new-found hope. “Alive? Oh thank God! How?”

“I brought him to the emergency clinic. He’s alive, but barely.”

“Since Riff trusts you most, the Jets should respect you. Maybe you can talk to them!” Velma wheezes.

Grazi’s eyes are filled with horror and tears. “It’s Bernardo’s girl- Anita. She- she came to give Valentina a message, but now- Now the boys are…” She sobs and points to the window.

I peer inside and see the Jets all in a huddle around Anita, who’s try’n to get away. Immediately I know their intentions and start bang’n on the window, only to get no response.

“No!” I cry from behind the glass. I quickly dash to the back door and break the lock with a nearby metal scrap, then sprint to the front only to find Anita being shoved to the floor by the handsy Jets.

“ENOUGH!” I smash a glass against a metal chair, which gets the Jets’ attention. “Let. Her. Go! Before I poisonally tear you to shreds!”

Slowly but surely they do as I say, give’n me mixed looks of fear and anger.

“Marylin? Is that you?”

“Why’re ya wear’n Riff’s clothes?”

“So I could make it here in one piece without get’n soaked!” I walk over to Anita and glare at each and every Jet. “How could you? How could you possibly stoop this low? Raping a Puertro Rican girl? Riff always kept you in line, but this is so much worse.” I spit at their feet and go over to help Anita up, who’s shaking violently.

“Go, mi querida. Go stay with Maria and don’t come out until I come over. I won’t risk any more Jets hurting you. Don’t worry- I’ll handle them.”

She gives a stiff nod, tears streaming down her face. By now Valentina has run up from the basement.

“Traitor!” Anita seethes at the older woman. Then she turns to glare at the Jets. “You think I want to stay here? In a city full of rugged animals like you? No gracias. Tell Tony- you tell that murderer Maria ain’t coming. Chino, he found out about them. Tony and Maria. He shot her. Maria is dead. You tell him that.”

Maria’s dead?! My hand flies over my mouth and I instantly find Anita’s hand to give it a squeeze. Meanwhile, the Jets have remained silent.

“Anita- I am so, so sorry. She was one of the foist people to make me feel welcomed here, and now… You should know that this wasn’t Tony’s fault, Anita. He luvs her, and she luved him.” I give the Jets a look of boiling rage. “And everyone had to make a big deal out of it just because he used to be a Jet!” I turn back to Anita. “Go give my condolences to Bernardo.”

“What?!” The Jets cry out.

“Riff will be ashamed of what you’ve done,” I seethe.

“What?!”

“Yeah, Riff’s alive. And when I tell him about this he’s gonna be so disappointed. He might’ve been a prick at times, but he was still a great leader. And he deserves a much better gang than you! You all disgrace the Jet name, and if any of you have any dignity left, I suggest you disband this ridiculous gang and crawl deep into a dark, miserable hole so you can wallow in sorrow and guilt. As for Bernardo-” I look back at Anita. “All Tony ever wanted was to marry the goil he loves, and Bernardo was too stubborn to let his sister marry a white man. Tell him that Tony and Maria will be gone and married by tomorrow if I have anything to say about it!”

She frowns and gives me a pointed look. “Maria deserves a sturdy life- not one that’s in the hands of a Jet! Bernardo won’t like this.”

“It doesn’t matter. They’re in luv, that’s that. You can’t just stop luv because you don’t like it, Anita, so just ignore it and be happy for them.”

Without another word, Anita walks past the door while all the Jets hang their heads in shame.

Valentina gives them all scolding looks. “I know you. I know all your names since you’s was born. I watched you grow, and you have grown into rapists. You dishonor yourselves. You dishonor your dead.”

I go to follow Anita out the door, but Mouthpiece steps in front-a me.

“No, Mouthpiece. I will punch you square in the face if you don’t let me through! I thought you was better than this, but you’re just as vicious as the rest of them. Don’t ever speak to me again until you’ve come to terms with the shame you’ve bought on yourself, and the despicable things you’ve done.” With that I push past and march out the door, giving Grazi and Velma a look of victory. “Problem solved. Now I’ve gotta go.”

“Tell Riff I said hi,” Grazi requests. “And… I’m sorry for all the stuff I said earlier.”

I hold up a hand of truce. “No problem. After tonight, let’s all put this violence behind us and start over. I’m through with the Jets.”

I’m hoping Riff is too.

#riff (west side story) x reader #riff x reader #riff lorton #riff west side story x reader #riff west side story #riff lorton x fem!reader #riff wss x reader #west side story #tony west side story #maria west side story #anita west side story #bernardo west side story #west side story mouthpiece #mouthpiece west side story #west side story x reader #west side story imagine

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sl-newsie · 10 months

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Cool Your Jets- Ch. 9: All For Nothing? (Riff x newcomer)

“Are you sure you wanna leave?”

I give Mouthpiece one last hug. “I’m sorry, Mouth. But you saw what Riff thought. He’s putting this whole rumble thing on top of his own life! I’m not sticking around in this big, noisy city with a guy who would rather die in a fight than settle down for a normal life.”

The sad Jet sighs and picks up my suitcase. “Well, guess we better get you to the station.”

I give him an odd look. “Why? You don’t have to escort me. Besides, you’ve gotta go meet the Jets for the rumble.”

“But Lynnie, it ain’t safe for you to go alone.”

At the use of the nickname, all I can think of is Riff.

“It’s ok, Mouth. I’m used to being alone and I’m saying goodbye to Maria before I leave.”

He scrunches his face. “Who’s that?”

I roll my eyes. “My neighbor, Maria? The girl Tony danced with that set this whole gang business into a frenzy?”

“Oh! Tony’s girl! I getcha. Well… So long, Marilyn. Maybe come back and visit us sometime?”

I give him one last hug before he walks out. “Maybe.”

That is if you’s don’t kill yourselves foist.

After gathering my few possessions, I take one last moment to look around the small apartment I once thought would become my new home.

(Goodbye from Catch Me If You Can)

“It's my happy ending, now it's time to say goodnight.

We can stop pretending, tell the spotlight man, turn off my light.

Cause the show is done now, and it's time to leave the stage.

The good guy won now and the band has no more songs to play.

It's a happy ending so I’ll say.

Goodbye, Goodbye to all the make believe.

Goodbye there's no more magic up my sleeve.

There's nothing left to act up here,

I'll take my bow and disappear.

No questions left for answering.

There's only one word left to sing, Goodbye.

It's a happy ending to the greatest show on earth.

Now the curtains descending

And I hope you got your money's worth.

Gonna stop the show now cause I wanna leave on top.

So get up and go now.

Cause there's nothing left inside my head.

Everything that's left to says been said

Goodbye, Goodbye to all the songs and dance.

Goodbye off stage I stand a better chance.

The show is through, the parts been played.

No standing in the wings afraid. No violins or phony tears.

The word that's music to my ears is goodbye.

Well goodbye, goodbye, GOODBYE!!”

I block any second thoughts from my head and close the door.

“Marilyn? Where are you off to at this hour?” Anita asks from across the hall.

I cringe. Oh. of course she’d have to catch me leaving.

“I’m sorry Anita, but I’m leaving to move west.”

Her face falls. “Mi querida, why? Are you unhappy?”

“Um, sort of. I guess I’m always gonna be a country goil at heart. But I do hope the best for you and Maria.”

After a tight hug and one last ‘goodbye,’ I head down the apartment stairs before I go into another meltdown.

“I'm not afraid of stopping, this end could be my start.

I wanna live a life and not just play a part.

I'll walk into the sunset, I'll sail across the sea,

the final word the last you'll hear of me, Of me...

Is goodbye, Goodbye to every night alone.

Goodbye, goodbye to lives I don't own.

I'm tired of living on the stage.

A life that's only on the page.

Empty lies are in the past,

I've tried before but heres the last goodbye.

Now goodbye, Goodbye, GOODBYE!!!!” I scream to the sky as I make my way to the train station.

The station itself is bustling with people going to and from work, and in the midst of the crowd I see a familiar face.

Riff smirks. “The Jets are coming out on top tonight!

We're gonna watch Bernardo drop tonight!

That Puerto Rican punk'll go down,

And when he's hollered "Uncle"

We'll tear up the town!”

I stick close to the wall and cover my face. God, why did the Jets have to come through now?

“We'll be in back of you, boy!” Ice encourages him.

“Right!”

“We're gonna flatten him good!”

“Right!”

“Womb to tomb?”

“Sperm to worm!”

God why did I have to fall for a gang leader? I think as I start to tear up.

“Buenas noches, Marilyn!”

I hastily wipe my face. “Hi, Maria. Going to home?”

She smiles wide. “Si, yes. I can’t wait to see Tony tonight!”

Good, at least you’ve got a guy who cares.

“I’m happy for you, Maria. Maybe I’ll come back and visit.”

“You’re leaving? But why?”

I- I’m sick and tired of holding back!

“Because Riff’s gone crazy!” I slap a hand over my mouth, and Maria’s jaw drops.

“Ay, Marilyn! Have you been hanging around that Jet leader? He’s the one fighting Bernardo tonight! How could you ever like someone like him?” She looks down at me with a scornful glare.

I start to break down again. “I- I’m sorry, Maria! I don’t know how it happened, but I’m scared to death of Riff dying in the rumble! I know I shouldn’t be, but…” I look down. “I think I love him,” I say in a small voice.

Now Maria starts screaming. “You love him? That no-good brute of a gang leader?”

“I could say the same about Bernardo,” I argue. “Jets, Sharks, they’re all the same! And I ain’t sticking around to be killed with them. Goodbye, Maria. Tell Tony I send him best wishes and that I’m sorry I couldn’t talk Riff out of fighting.”

I pick up my suitcase and fight my way through the crowd before Maria can respond.

So, it was all for nothing. I’ve managed to upset every ‘friend’ I’ve made in my new home. Just goes to show that I shouldn’t be here.

But when I get to the ticket counter and see the map of the stops leading out west, all I can think about is Mouthpiece’s woids. Seems like you’s just always run’n away from your problems. But they’re not my problems, are they? I just moved here! It’s not my fault those two gangs wanna rip each odda apart- ugh, but then why do I feel so guilty about leaving?

Because you’re abandoning them.

What should it matter if I go or stay? The rumble’s gonna happen either way.

But Maria won’t have a friend to comfort her if Bernardo dies and Anita’s stricken with grief.

I’d only make things worse because Maria thinks I'd be on Riff’s side.

And the Jets will be disorganized and willing to kill all the Sharks if Riff is killed.

I really don’t wanna think about that!

Then you know what you gotta do.

I sigh in defeat against myself. “Yeah, I gotta stay and stand by everyone until this whole thing blows over. And maybe save some lives.”

No, it wasn’t all for nothing. I had the best neighbors I could ever ask for, and got to meet a man I love who drives me crazy. I won’t be able to live with myself if I leave knowing I can prevent Riff from killing himself.

“Excuse me? Can I help you, miss?” The ticket clerk asks from behind the counter.

I shake my head. “No thanks. For once in my life I know exactly where I need to be.”

With Riff.

#west side story #west side story x reader #maria west side story #west side story imagine #riff x reader #riff (west side story) x reader #riff lorton #riff west side story x reader #riff west side story #riff lorton x fem!reader #tony west side story #anita west side story #bernardo west side story

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sl-newsie · 1 year

Text

Cool Your Jets- Ch. 4: Out And About (Riff x newcomer)

As I make my way home, I keep kicking myself for ever think’n that Riff was anyth’n but a stubborn, insensitive jerk! How can he say that about the Puerto Ricans? Why does he wanna fight just because of some dumb turf? There’s more to life than-

I stop, and I remember what Riff had said about losing his family.

Maybe the Jets is all he has.

He’s in the same spot I’m in, except he has a family-a sorts to back him up. I’m just… me.

I keep walk’n, and then come to terms that I’ve got no clue where I am. Gee, brilliant move Marilyn. Foist night in the city and I’m already lost. I keep walk’n down alley after alley, and all-a them look the same-

“Maria…” I hear someone sing.

Huh?

I poke my head out and see Tony waltz’n through a basketball court.

“Say it loud and there's music playing!

Say it soft and it's almost like praying!

Maria...

I'll never stop saying Maria!”

His face shows a look of awestruck luv sickness. Aw, I hope he and Maria get together- they seem like a cute couple, if only Bernardo wasn’t so harsh on Maria. At least Tony has someone…

“Hola, señorita.” A dark voice calls from behind me.

I turn around and find a ragged-look’n guy hold’n a beer bottle. He’s obviously drunk, and I can tell from his gaze that he’s got more than friendship on his mind.

Ignoring his drunken rambling, I swiftly walk away towards a street sign in hopes of find’n my way home-

“Hey!” The drunk comes up behind me and tries to grab me. “I was talk’n to ya, bitch!”

“Get away, creep!” I punch his lights out and sprint off, look’n for anywhere to hide-

“Over here!” I turn and spot Riff in another alley. I’m still mad at him, but I’ll take my chances compared to the guy behind me! When I get closer I notice he’s alone.

“Hey chica. ‘S that bastard bother’n you?”

I lean against the brick wall to catch my breath. “Yeah… but- but I don’t think he’s gonna catch me.”

Riff chuckles. “Yeah, I saw that guy go down for the count. Nice punch! So, them PRs finally leave ya alone?” His smile fades and he seems to be sulking.

My jaw tightens. “They’re not bad people, Riff. They’re my friends. And if you all weren’t always fighting then maybe you’d like them too.”

Riff just grunts. “So where’d Tony head off to?”

I pause. Maria trusts me with her secret, and I’d be lying to myself if I said I wasn’t worried for my new friend. Tony seems like a nice guy, much nicer than Riff, but I still have my doubts.

“No clue. Last I saw he was headed to a place called Doc’s.”

“Hm. So… ya got any evening plans?”

I huff. “Uh, yeah. They ended up ruined after a jerk and his gang decided to fight my friends,” I say dryly.

“Aw, I’m sorry.” Riff walks up closer and puts a hand on my shoulder. “Could the jerk make it up to ya by taking you out?”

My eyes widen. “Like a… a…”

“Marilyn, I’d like to take you on a date,” Riff confirms, a smile spread’n across his face.

“Won’t Grazi be a little upset?” I give him a pointed look.

“I think you saw up close and personal that she don’t noth’n to do with me anymore.”

“Ah, I get it. Done with one dame and onto the next!” I put my hands on my hips. “You sure work fast, Jet Boy. But I ain’t gonna be just anodda goil for you to parade around with and then toss away.”

“Hey, it ain’t like that! Honest! I’ve been ‘round Grazi ‘cause Tony was gone, but now that he’s back he don’t want her back. But…” He sighs nervously and scratches his neck. “I donno… When I met you ya seemed like a nice gal, and I really wanna get to know you bedda. Please, just gimme a chance?” He begs.

I stare at the wall. Could he really be a nice guy? Could I get him to stop all this violence? Even if I don’t like him at foist, it’d be a smart move to be on good terms with both gang leaders, for Maria and Tony’s sake.

“Ok,” I face Riff and give him a nod. “I’ll let you take me out. But, no rumbles or any talk-a fighting during a date!”

Riff’s uneasy eyes widen and he smiles as he takes my hand. “You won’t regret this, Marilyn. I promise.”

“I bedda not,” I smirk.

“Can I call ya Lynnie?”

“Absolutely not.”

“I still will.”

“You’re insufferable!” I groan.

I take Riff’s arm and let him lead me down the dimly-lit streets, unsure about how to make city small-talk. Instead I busy myself by look’n at all the giant buildings.

I hear Riff snicker. “Impressed?”

“Say what you want, Jet Boy. I ain’t used to noth’n like this! In the country the tallest tree hold noth’n up to these skyscrapers!”

He smirks. “Just wait, beautiful. I’ll show you someth’n so big that you’ll never wanna leave.”

I stiffen up and look at Riff with wide eyes. “Um… and what does that mean?”

“You’ll see.”

Riff walks me to a part of town that’s in the middle between the newer and crumbling buildings. He points to a ladder leaned against a 4-story brick building. “Follow me up, but don’t open your eyes ‘till I say so.”

He starts up, leaving me flabbergasted.

“So I’m just supposed to blindly climb a ladder? Why don’t I just fall now and break my neck?” I outburst sarcastically.

“Just climb up, Lynnie!” Riff calls from the roof.

Against my better judgment, I begin my ascent up the ladder. When I get to the middle I look out and all I can see is dusty, crumbling buildings surrounded by smoke. Also- yikes it’s high up here!

“Um… Riff…”

“What’s the matter, sweetheart? Afraid-a heights?” Riff laughs above me.

“I’m used to climbing trees, Jet Boy! Not this!”

“What’s the difference?”

“Trees have limbs to grab. If I fall here I’m just a splat on the pavement!” I keep climb’n, and when I go to look down again I feel a hand grab mine.

“C’mon, Lynnie. Almost there!” Riff says encouragingly.

I reach the top and Riff takes my other hand to pull me up, and in do’n so I stumble into him. We both stagger back and go to lean against a wall, with me lean’n on Riff’s back. I look up at him, only to find him look’n down at me with a goofy smirk on his face.

“Bit eager, are we?”

I groan and push away. “You wish, Jet boy.”

“Now hold on a sec!” He grabs my hand again and puts another over my eyes. “I wanna show you the best part.”

“You mean there’s more than just rubble?” I jab at him.

“You’ll see.”

I do my best to navigate blindly without tripping again, but eventually my patience grows thin.

“Riff I swear to God if you’re take’n me on some wild goose chase-!”

“Here we are,” I feel Riff take his hand away from my eyes and put both hands on my hips, which causes heat to rush into my face. Thankfully it’s too dark for Riff to see my embarrassing blush.

But what I can see is the city, and it’s gorgeous! We’re at the back of the roof, and up so high that I can see the magnificent, gleaming skyscrapers dotted throughout the blooming city. The clear sky allows for bright stars to provide the astonishing structures with an incredible background.

My jaz drops and all I can do is stare. “Wow…”

“This place is the only spot left without any construction. I go here to think, ya know? Just… forget everyth’n.”

I nod. “Back home, I’d always go to the river near our house. It was so loud I’d just let my thoughts melt away into the noise. I guess by be’n in tha city ya don’t need to worry ‘bout noise.”

Riff chuckles. “Yeah it’s a mess out there.”

“One day it’ll all be behind me, and I can forget about everyth’n,” I whisper.

Riff’s tone immediately changes. “What? You’re leave’n? Ya just got here!”

I scoff. “I never wanted to come here in the foist place, Jet boy.”

“What about it? Ya got to meet me,” he smirks.

I roll my eyes and dramatically spread my arms. “Oh, yes. I’ve met Riff, the rough ‘nd tough Jet leader! My life is complete!”

“Hey!”

“Sorry Riff, but to me life’s worth more than territory. I just wanna go someplace where nobody can hurt me or tell me what to do.”

“New York could be that place,” Riff says with a hint of hope.

I chuckle.

“They say folks is dyin' to get here

Me, I'm dyin' to get away

To a little town out west

That's spankin' new.

And while I ain't never been there

I can see it clear as day

If you want, I bet'cha you could see it, too.”

Riff’s eyebrows shoot up and I can’t help but laugh.

“What? Ya never thought I could sing, didja?” I inch closer and hold up 2 fingers to close Riff’s eyes.

“What the Hell-?” He grunts in surprise.

“Close your eyes,

Come with me.

Where it's clean and green and pretty.

And they went and made a city outta clay.

Why, the minute that ya get there

Folks'll walk right up and say

"Welcome home, son

Welcome home to Santa Fe!"

Plantin' crops,

Splittin' rails,

Swappin' tales around the fire.

'Cept for Sunday when you lie around all day…

Soon your friends are more like family,

And they's beggin' you to stay!

Ain't that neat? Livin' sweet

In Santa Fe.” I sing sadly.

Riff looks confused. “Lynnie, the Jets are a family. And your family, if you’ll let us.” Riff takes my hand and looks deep at me. “We’s so used to be’n unwanted so we made our own family- just say the word and you can be in that family too.”

“Or… You could all move west,” I suggest.

“What?” Riff’s face scrunches.

“Think ‘bout it! Lots-a territory, nobody press’n up against you. If you ain’t got sturdy roots here than what’s the point-a stay’n?

“Santa Fe,

You can bet!

We won't let them bastards beat us.

We won't beg no one to treat us fair and square.

There's a life that's worth the livin',

And I'm gonna do my share!

Work the land, chase the sun,

Swim the whole Rio Grande just for fun!

Watch me stand!

Watch me run…” I trail off and stand up to look at the sunset, and wonder if it looks any bedda out west. Meanwhile Riff still has a somber look on his face.

“I… I do got roots here, Marilyn. Or at least remains of ‘em. My…” He trails off, then seems to rethink. “Never mind.”

I frown and go to sit next to him. “It’s ok, Riff. If you don’t wanna tell me I understand, ‘s just that I never thought you had a family since ya always boast ‘bout the Jets ‘nd all.”

Riff nods. “Yeah, the Jets are my family. This here-” He holds up the chain around his neck, and I can see now that there’s a pendant attached to it. “This was my dad’s. ‘S got the Lorton family crest on it. That’s me name, Gariff Lorton. I always thought that sounded crummy, so I’ve just went by Riff. Our family used to be someth’n to be proud of, back when we was in the bootlegging business. But after the feds shut up all the mobs we’s gone downhill, and then my old man drank himself to death.”

This sudden exposition leaves me feeling soft towards the Jet leader, and in the back-a my head I’m thankful to have grown up in a stable family.

“Wh- What about your mother?”

“Died when I was 5. Me dad’s drinking made her get depressed, ‘til one day she kissed me goodnight, walked right off the balcony and plummeted to her death.”

My hand flies to my mouth. “Oh Jesus, Riff… I’m so sorry.”

He keeps nodding his head. “Yeah, yeah, I’ve hoid all the sympathy talk. Folks hear this and they either pity me or just blame my upbringing on my ‘bad bahavior.’ Believe me, toots, it ain’t my foist rodeo.”

At this I wrap my arms around the stern gang leader, determined to show him that I ain’t just say’n stuff. He seems surprised at foist, but then snakes his arms around me so that we’re both snug up against a crate, staring out at the big city.

“I really do care, Riff. And if you don’t believe me, just know that family means everyth’n to me. It ain’t someth’n I’d kid around about.”

Riff don’t answer. Instead, he just keeps look’n at me as if I’m gonna say ‘just kidding!’ or ‘I'm just mess’n with ya!’ But when Riff sees I’m serious he smiles. Not a big, wide smile, but a small, grateful one.

“I knew when I saw you that you was special.”

I huff. “I ain’t special, I’s just look’n out for anyone odda than myself. Life hasn’t given me much, so I godda do what I can.” I look up at him with a sincere expression. “Thank you, Riff, for telling me. And thanks for show’n me this place.”

Riff rubs my hand. “I trust you. Besides, I wanted to make you feel welcome.”

“For the record, this has probably one-a the least terrible times I’ve had since I got here.” I chuckle.

“Aw, I’m flattered!” Riff replies. “This place is always open, if you ever wanna stop by.” He winks.

I grin and look up at the bright moon. “Well as tempting that is, right now I bedda be get’n home.” I stand up and start head’n back down the ladder.

When Riff follows me down he groans. “I knew this night couldn’t last forever. So sweetheart, up for an escort?” He doesn’t wait for an answer and slings his arm through mine.

“Tomorrow I’m gonna try to find a job. Noth’n too big, just someth’n temporary so I can pay rent and save up to go west.”

I see Riff’s face change to an expression of hidden somberness.

“You really wanna leave, don’t ya?”

“Riff, I ain’t a city goil. Sooner or later I wanna breathe fresh air again without someone try’n to kill me. I’m try’n to not get too attatched, so please-” I sigh and give him a imploring look. “Please don’t make this a big deal. I ain’t leave’n yet, so just calm down.”

By now we’ve reached my apartment, with Riff giving the Puerto Rican neighborhood an odd look.

“Are there any other exotic places here that I should see?” I joke.

Riff snorts. “Well, ya could always take a tour-a my place!”

I grin. “And where’s that?”

“A train car in the junkyard.” He shrugs. “It ain’t much, and it leaks all the time, but it’s the closest thing to a home I got. Noth’n like your penthouse of an apartment. But I’m sure you got a lot bedda things to do, so I’ll just bit you adieu.” Riff starts walk’n away and blows an air kiss. “G’night, Lynnie.”

After pondering an idea, despite a part-a me strictly disagreeing, I make up my mind.

“Hey, Riff?”

He immediately looks back. “Yeah?”

“Have you had dinner yet?”

Riff chuckles. “Um… does wadda and a dinner roll count?”

I laugh. “I’ll take that as a ‘no.’ Would you wanna come up to my place for dinner?”

Riff looks flabbergasted. “Wait- you’re inviting me to dinner, in your apartment?”

Suddenly I get embarrassed for ever suggesting it, and try to fluff it off. “I mean, if you don’t wanna, it’s only a few morsels, noth’n fancy-”

“Are ya kid’n?” A grateful smile spreads across Riff’s face. “‘Course I want to!” He extends his arm again and continues to lead me up the stairs, all the while earning some odd looks from the few Puerto Rican neighbors we pass. When we reach my door I go to pull out the key from my pocket-

“Marilyn! Ay ay! What are you doing?! Get away from her!” Anita comes up and pulls me apart from Riff, who looks just as shocked as I am. “You stay away from her! If I see you around here again I’ll call the police!”

“Anita, wait-!” I try to free myself from her grasp.

“Not now! Get away from him-!”

“I brought him here! He’s with me!”

Anita’s face changes. “You brought him? Mi querida, why? You know how dangerous he is-!”

“Yes, and I also know that he won’t hurt you or me. Will you , Riff?”

Riff, still shaken up in the corner, shakes his head. “I might know how to rumble, but I also know how to treat a lady. I make sure all my boys do,” he says sincerely.

“And what is that worth? A Jet boy’s promise?” Anita seethes.

“Anita! This is exactly why we’re not making any progress! It’s because you hate each odda so much, even when someone’s will’n to be nice, that you’ll just assume they’ll never change!” I yank my apartment door open and tug Riff inside. “But don’t worry, I’ll keep him here. Out of sight out of mind, right?” I shut the door in her face and turn around to lean against it. “Uggghhhh.”

“You read my mind, girly.”

Riff goes to sit at the small table while I take out some vegetables leftover from my dinner.

“Here. It ain’t much, but it’s all I got-”

“Lynnie, this is great!” Riff smiles as he looks at the tiny portions with hungry eyes. “I haven’t had this type-a meal in ages! Are ya sure I can have this?”

His modesty is adorable, and it’s eat’n away at my heart no matter how much I internally scream ‘don’t get attached!’

“Um… yeah. Go ahead. I gotta make anodda grocery run tomorrow anyway…” I drift off and just watch Riff all but devour his meal, all the while try’n to get past the thought of how leaving him’s gonna make me so sad-

Shut up! You’ve known the guy for one day! Get over it!

“Gotta say, I definitely feel more welcomed here this time.” Riff interrupts my thoughts as he finishes his dinner and cleans up the kitchen.

I huff. “Yeah, completely different circumstances than the last time you paid me a visit!” I give him a pointed look and nod at the window.

“So… you ain’t gonna kick me out again?” Riff asks as he sits on my bed.

I shake my head and smirk. “At this hour? It’s dangerous. I hear there’s a fearsome gang that hangs around here.”

“Meaning… I can sleep here?” Riff clarifies.

“Unless you’ve got a spot better than this rickety old bed.” I point at the creaking structure.

“Nope. This prime spot most definitely beats my bed-a grease rags in the junkyard. No rats.”

At foist I think he’s joking, but Riff doesn’t laugh the statement away. Instead he looks around my tiny apartment as if it’s the Taj Mahal, as if he’s happy just to simply have a roof over his head with someone who ain’t try’n to kill him.

He notices me staring, then shrugs. “Some city life, huh? At least you used to have a home, and kinda got one here too with the PRs. I got the Jets, but odda than that all I got is my wits, sense-a humor-” He gives a cheeky smile. “And my drop-dead good looks.”

I snicker. “You wish, Jet Boy. Now lay down and go to sleep before I knock ya out with my frying pan.”

He frowns. ‘What ‘bout you, Lynnie?”

“I’m gonna… crash on the floor.” I grab an extra blanket and pillow and go to lie down on the filthy rug. A somewhat terrible bed but it’ll do in a pinch.

Riff gets up, shaking his head, and sits next to me. “Oh no, no, no, Lynnie. Just ‘cause I’s a houseguest I ain’t gonna deprive my pretty hostess of her bed. I’m too much-a gentleman for that.” Outta nowhere, Riff picks me up as if I’m a delicate bride and starts carry’n me towards my bed.

“Jesus, Riff! A little warning next time-!”

“Ok. Incoming!”

Riff throws me up in the air and I come down flailing onto the discombobulated sheets. As soon as I land, all I can see is Riff’s wicked grin as he flops down on me. After wrapping a blanket around us and use’n my chest as a pillow he closes his eyes, smiles, and says: “G’night, Lynnie.”

I just gape down at him. “Um, no! Riff- get off me! How is this any way a ‘gentleman’ would behave?!”

“I let my pretty hostess have her bed, and now I’m use’n the hostess as my bed. I said I was a gentleman, sweetheart, not a saint.”

I try to argue more but he’s already half-asleep and snuggle’n up to me as if I’m a human pillow. Eventually I just sigh in defeat and half-turn over to rest my head on an actual pillow, let’n Riff’s warm, toned body send me to sleep with his steady breathing….

I can tell I’ve only been asleep for a few hours ‘cause it’s still dark out, but someth’n woke me up. But what-?

“Marilyn… Marilyn… Marilyn!” Riff’s sleep talk’n gets more and more frantic. “Don’t- don’t do it! Don’t- Marilyn!”

Now I’m fully awake and try’n to get Riff to stir, but every attempt is a failure. “Riff! Jet Boy! Hey, Riff! Wake up, you’re dream’n!” I shake him, but he continues to grip my torso as if I’m a life preserver.

“Don’t- Marilyn… Don’t die!” He sobs.

“Riff! Riff!” I shake him so hard that eventually his limp body springs to life, clutching me tight and his head look’n around frantically.

“Marilyn?! Marilyn…” Riff calms down again and closes his eyes, already fall’n back to sleep.

“Shhh… Shhh… It’s ok, Jet Boy. I ain’t go’n anywhere.”

He snuggles up to me again, and I notice that his shirt’s soaked with sweat. As carefully as I can, I slide the wet garment off without waking him up. It might look sketchy, but I’d rather have him think I’m a weirdo than let him sleep in this filthy thing.

I guess that’s a conversation for tomorrow. Right now, I rest my head against Riff’s chest as his breathing goes back to normal…

#riff west side story #west side story imagine #west side story x reader #riff lorton #riff x reader #riff (west side story) x reader #riff lorton x fem!reader #mouthpiece west side story #anita west side story #bernardo west side story #maria west side story #tony west side story

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pariahsparadise · 2 years

Text

walks led astray | r. l.

nav. | m.list

word count- 0.8k

a/n: finished wss last night and got my heart broken, here’s me trying to mend it

pairings: riff lorton x fem!reader

warnings: swearing, unedited (as usual), talk of sex/smut, kissing

Ever since you and Riff had started dating, and even before that, really, it became a custom that your Jet had to walk you home. He would argue and say it was to ensure your safety, not trusting you to walk the dark streets late at night alone, even though you pointed out the fact that you had been walking by yourself for years prior. Riff wouldn’t let it go, and on nights that he couldn’t make it to you in time, you knew without a doubt that one of the Jets- be it Little John or Ice- would be ready to play guard, always right on time.

This wasn’t the problem though, far from it.

The problem was that Riff never, ever, no matter how many times you dropped hints or invitations, would actually walk into your home. (And by extension, into your bed.)

At first, you thought you were paranoid, surely this wasn’t the case. But when you overheard Grazi, Riff’s ex, regaling her friends with tales of how Riff showed up at her doorstep all the time, you knew it wasn’t all in your head. Hell, the two of you had been going steady for four months now, and you hadn’t even had sex yet. Whenever the two of you got close, when his lips started straying from the well-mapped planes of your lips, when his hands were teetering on the edge of tearing your clothes off, he pulled away. He made excuses, and like a coward, he ran. Each and every time.

A sharp flick to your forehead pulls you out of your reverie, “Hey!”

“Sorry doll, just had to check if you were still here,” the brown-haired-boy said with a small smirk, hands going up in surrender as you scowled. “Whatcha thinking?”

“Nothing,” you said, quickening your pace a little as you turned the corner. True to tradition, Riff was walking you home, one of his hands unashamedly carrying your purse while the other made snatches for your hand. He caught up to you easily in two strides, interlacing your fingers just as swiftly before tugging at your hand, forcing you to a standstill.

“Liar,” he admonished gently, thumb running over your knuckles, “What’s wrong?”

You simply shook your head as you gave him a strained smile, “Nothing, really. I’m just tired.”

Riff seemed unconvinced, but you started walking the last stretch to your house, so he really had no choice but to follow.

“Right,” you broke the silence that had fallen between the two of you as you stood in front of the entrance to your building, “Well, this is my spot. And it’s also as far as you’ll dare to go, so-”

“What?” Riff cut in, visibly confused, “Doll, what are you trying to say?”

You let out an exasperated sigh, your hand leaving his to cover your face, this was slightly embarrassing for you to say, but you said it anyways- “It’s just- you never come upstairs, you’ve never even set foot into my house. I don’t even know why, maybe our relationship isn’t as serious to you as it is to me, but it’s honestly a little confusing. And we haven’t had sex!”

Riff’s eyebrows shot up to the sky, and you could’ve sworn his cheeks pinked as he opened his mouth to undoubtedly respond with something teasing, but you weren’t having it.

“No, let me finish first- I know for a fact that you’ve never gone this long in a relationship without like, actually sleeping with your partner, and I don’t know if it’s just because you’re not attracted to me- oh God, are you not attracted to me-”

Riff lets out a disbelieving scoff, hands gently cuffing your wrists as he pulls you close to him, ducking his head a little to meet your eyes, “Girly girl, I think we’ve made out enough times with you on my lap to know that that is not the case.”

You blush, but can’t refrain from asking, “Then why-?”

“Because,” Riff said quietly, stealing a soft kiss from your lips before continuing (He can’t help himself, how can he, when you’re right there-), “If I walk into your apartment, if I pin you to your bed and actually make love to you, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop.”

Your mouth dries, and you swallow to clear your throat, “S-so, why didn’t you earlier? Why don’t you?”

“Well, I didn’t wanna scare you off, and I guess I kinda assumed you wouldn’t wanna,” he shakes his head at himself, flashing you a helpless smile in apology. His hands find your waist and your back finds the door, you didn’t even notice that he had been slowly walking you backwards till this point, you arch up into him as he finishes what he had started to say.

“But now, doll?” His words are light but his eyes are dark, “Believe me, I’m going to.”

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