Echoes of Midnight (Johnnie Gilbert x Reader)

Shattered Illusions

Summary: As the pressure from the outside world intensifies, the cracks in your relationship with Johnnie begin to widen. Despite your best efforts to stay strong, the constant scrutiny and growing insecurities start to take their toll. In the face of mounting challenges, you both must confront the harsh reality that love alone might not be enough to hold you together.

The days following your heart-to-heart with Johnnie were a mixture of highs and lows. There were moments when everything felt perfect—when you could laugh together, share secret smiles, and steal kisses in the quiet corners of his apartment. But those moments were increasingly overshadowed by the growing weight of the outside world pressing down on you.

The media frenzy around your relationship showed no signs of slowing down. Fans and reporters alike were relentless, dissecting every detail they could find, creating narratives that twisted the truth into something unrecognizable. It was exhausting, and no matter how hard you tried to ignore it, the constant barrage of scrutiny began to wear you down.

One evening, you found yourself sitting alone in your apartment, scrolling through social media. It had become a habit, one you knew was unhealthy but couldn't seem to break. You told yourself it was important to stay informed, to know what was being said about you and Johnnie, but the reality was that each new post only deepened the gnawing pit of anxiety in your stomach.

You paused on a particularly cruel tweet, one that accused you of being with Johnnie for the fame, for the attention. The words stung more than you wanted to admit, and for a moment, you found yourself questioning everything. What if people thought you were using him? What if Johnnie started to believe it too?

The thought was like a punch to the gut, and you quickly closed the app, tossing your phone aside as if it had burned you. You tried to shake off the doubt, but it clung to you, a persistent whisper in the back of your mind.

The sound of a knock on your door jolted you from your thoughts. You weren't expecting anyone, and for a moment, you hesitated, wondering if you should even answer. But then you heard Johnnie's voice, muffled but unmistakable, and you hurried to let him in.

When you opened the door, you found him standing there, looking weary and tense. His eyes met yours, and you could see the exhaustion etched into his features. Without a word, he stepped inside, pulling you into a tight embrace.

You held onto him, burying your face in his chest, taking comfort in the familiar scent of his cologne, the steady beat of his heart. But even in his arms, the unease lingered, a shadow that refused to be chased away.

After a few moments, Johnnie pulled back, looking down at you with concern. "You okay?" he asked softly, his hand brushing a stray hair from your face.

You forced a smile, not wanting to burden him with your worries. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired."

He studied you for a moment, as if he could see right through the lie, but he didn't press the issue. Instead, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, a gesture you had come to recognize as a sign of frustration.

"I had a rough day too," he admitted, his voice tinged with weariness. "The band's manager wants me to address the rumours, to make a public statement about us."

Your heart skipped a beat, anxiety flaring up again. "What do you think we should do?"

Johnnie shook his head, his expression conflicted. "I don't know. Part of me wants to tell everyone to mind their own business, but I know that's not how it works. If we stay quiet, the rumours will just get worse. But if we say something, it could make things even more complicated."