𝐓𝐃𝐈 𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐒 ♡︎

𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑

𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑
✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

"𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫"

It had been two years since Duncan and Courtney had first crossed paths on Total Drama Island, the reality show that had thrown together a bunch of teenagers in the wildest of circumstances. They had been competitors, allies, enemies, and something in between. Now, far from the cameras and the artificial drama, they found themselves navigating something even more complicated—life after the show.

Courtney, ever the ambitious perfectionist, had landed a scholarship to a prestigious law school. She was focused, determined, and constantly striving for the next goal. Duncan, on the other hand, was still figuring out his own path. He had traded his bad-boy persona for a more laid-back lifestyle, playing in a punk band and working odd jobs to support himself. Despite their differences, they had never quite managed to untangle themselves from each other.

One Saturday afternoon, they found themselves on a surprise visit to the island where it all began—Wawanakwa. Chris McLean, the ever-scheming host, had sent them an invitation to a "Total Drama Reunion Special." Duncan had been ready to laugh it off, but Courtney saw it as an opportunity.

"I can't believe we're going back," Courtney said, scanning the familiar shoreline as their boat approached. She crossed her arms, a mixture of nostalgia and frustration flashing across her face. "Why did I let you convince me to do this?"

"Me? I thought you were all about facing challenges head-on," Duncan smirked, adjusting his leather jacket as he leaned against the boat's railing. "Plus, we both know you missed me."

Courtney shot him a glare, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "Please. This isn't about you."

"Sure it isn't," Duncan chuckled, but his voice softened as he added, "It'll be good to face it together, Court. No alliances, no competition—just us."

Courtney rolled her eyes but couldn't help the warmth that spread through her chest at his words. Duncan had always had a way of pushing her buttons and then, in the next breath, saying something that made her feel like they were partners in crime—against the world, even if they were constantly battling each other.

As they stepped off the boat, memories rushed back. The challenges, the campfires, and the countless arguments—many of which had ended with Duncan teasing Courtney into a fit of rage or, on rare occasions, a kiss.

The reunion didn't quite go as planned. Chris McLean, true to form, had concocted a surprise challenge: a scavenger hunt across the island, just like old times. The prize? The title of "Ultimate Total Drama Couple."

Duncan and Courtney exchanged glances. "Ultimate couple, huh?" Duncan said, raising an eyebrow.

"Please, we're not a couple," Courtney said, her voice defensive. "We just... tolerate each other."

"Whatever you need to tell yourself, Princess," Duncan said, but there was a hint of something more in his tone. Something vulnerable.

As the hunt began, Duncan and Courtney found themselves paired together—again. They trekked through the island, bickering over directions, strategy, and who was actually leading the team. But as they navigated through old challenges, the tension between them slowly shifted.

At one point, they found themselves back at the cliffs, the same spot where Duncan had once dared Courtney to jump. Courtney, always one to face her fears head-on, had taken the leap then. And now, standing on the edge once more, Duncan turned to her with a grin.

"Remember this?" he asked, nudging her playfully.

"How could I forget?" Courtney rolled her eyes, but her gaze softened as she looked out at the water below. "It's weird being back here."

"Yeah," Duncan agreed. "We've been through a lot since then, huh?"

Courtney nodded, her expression thoughtful. "You know, I always thought we were too different to actually... work. But maybe it's our differences that kept us going."

Duncan looked at her, surprised by the rare moment of honesty. "I never thought you'd admit that," he said with a grin, but his voice was gentler than usual.

Courtney shrugged. "I'm not saying you're right. I'm just saying we make a pretty good team... when we're not trying to kill each other."

Duncan laughed, the sound echoing across the cliffs. "That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me, Princess."

For a moment, they stood in silence, the island's breeze whipping through their hair. Then, without a word, Courtney grabbed Duncan's hand and jumped off the cliff, pulling him with her. The plunge into the water below was exhilarating, just like it had been the first time. And when they surfaced, laughing and gasping for air, Duncan realized something: he didn't want to keep fighting Courtney—not like they had before.

"Hey, Court," he said as they swam to shore. "Maybe this time, we give us a real shot."

Courtney hesitated for a moment, treading water as she looked at him. Then, with a small smile, she said, "Maybe. But don't think this means I'm going easy on you."

Duncan smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it."

As they climbed back onto the shore, soaking wet but somehow lighter than they'd been before, Duncan and Courtney knew that whatever happened next, they were in it together.

𝖠𝗇𝖽 𝗌𝗈， 𝖣𝗎𝗇𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖢𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗍𝗇𝖾𝗒'𝗌 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗎𝖾𝖽—𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖿𝗎𝗅𝗅 𝗈𝖿 𝖻𝗂𝖼𝗄𝖾𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀， 𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖿𝗎𝗅𝗅 𝗈𝖿 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗅𝗅𝖾𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗌， 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖺 𝗇𝖾𝗐 𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖻𝖾𝗍𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆． 𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗂𝗋 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝗈𝗇 𝖳𝗈𝗍𝖺𝗅 𝖣𝗋𝖺𝗆𝖺 𝖨𝗌𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗈𝗍𝗂𝖼， 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝗇𝖽， 𝗂𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝖻𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆 𝖼𝗅𝗈𝗌𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝖾𝗂𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗉𝗋𝖾𝖽𝗂𝖼𝗍𝖾𝖽．