SONG INSPIRATION:MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT by elley duhé
WORD COUNT:1.1k
NOTE: just cause i was thinking about that one scene in szn one
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the room was quiet, too quiet. except for the low hum of the air conditioner in the corner and the distant sound of the ocean waves crashing outside. the gym was tucked away in the farthest wing of the house, far enough from the others so that rafe could blow off steam without being disturbed. but it wasn't just the soundproofing that made it feel isolated, it was the weight of his presence. it always was. you knew rafe was there, of course.
your gaze flickered toward him, unable to resist for too long. his back was turned, broad and rippling with barely contained strength and even though you couldn't see his face, you could picture the sharp angles of his jaw clenched in frustration. he moved with purpose, every calculated lift and press of the dumbbells sending a wave of motion down his arms, across his shoulders, and into the deep ridges of his back. sweat glistened on his skin, making every muscle stand out as the dim light from the single overhead bulb illuminated his form.
you hadn't meant to stare, again. it was becoming an issue, a growing, nagging obsession that you couldn't shake. rafe had always been intimidating, the way he carried himself with that cold, unflinching confidence, but it was the physicality of him that really took your breath away. the way his muscles moved, each part working in perfect harmony with the others. his strength wasn't just for show; it was functional, capable of damage, of protection, of power in ways you couldn't stop imagining.
as you said it was becoming a problem.
the workouts he did every morning were something you'd started to linger for, staying just a little longer by the house's gym than you needed to. just enough to catch glimpses of him when he thought no one was watching. at first, you told yourself it was nothing, just curiosity, maybe admiration. but those excuses felt hollow now. the way he rolled his shoulders after a set, how his arms would tense and relax with the rhythm of his breathing, how his back would arch, stretching tight over muscle and bone. those moments had begun creeping into your thoughts. even at night, when you tried to sleep, you'd find yourself replaying those scenes, each frame more vivid than the last.
it didn't help that rafe seemed to notice everything. he always had. the glances, the way your breath caught in your throat when he got too close. you'd caught his smirk once or twice, that slow curl of his lips that made you want to melt into the floor or turn away, but you could never look away for too long.
you were supposed to be doing something, helping with something. but once again your mind went blank. clouded by the sight in front of you. his muscles flexed again, this time as he set the dumbbells down with a soft thud on the floor, the sound making your heart skip a beat. it was ridiculous, you scolded yourself. he was just a guy working out...a guy you happened to be completely and utterly consumed by.
he stood, his back still to you. reaching for the towel draped over a nearby bench. the movement was slow, deliberate and as the towel brushed across his face, down his neck, you swallowed hard. you were caught. again.
the worst part was, you weren't even trying to hide it anymore.
rafe's hands paused at the nape of his neck, gripping the towel like he was considering something. for a brief second, you thought you were safe. that he hadn't noticed this time, but then he spoke.
"you're doing it again," his voice broke the silence, low, rough, cutting through the tension.
your body stiffened. he hadn't turned around, hadn't even shifted to look at you. he knew. of course, he knew. all that time that you spent staring. you hadn't noticed him stop, hadn't realized he was aware of your gaze, but now the weight of it felt unbearable.
"i– what?" you stammered, already feeling the heat creeping up your neck, blooming across your cheeks.
rafe chuckled softly, the sound laced with something dark, amused and finally, he turned to face you. the towel hung loosely over one shoulder and his eyes met yours with that same intensity that always left you breathless. he was smirking. not a full grin, just a hint of that knowing look that made you feel seen, exposed.
"staring," he clarified, leaning back against the weight bench. his arms crossed over his chest, causing his biceps to flex, muscles rippling under the skin. "if you wanted a show, all you had to do was ask."
your mouth went dry. words failed you for a moment and the heat in your face intensified. you wished you could come up with something witty, something to deflect the attention, but the way he was looking at you, the smugness in his posture, it was all too much.
"i wasn't staring," you lied, the words weak even to your own ears. it sounded pathetic.
rafe's smirk widened, his eyes never leaving yours. he pushed off the bench, stepping toward you with deliberate slowness. each step was heavy, the closer he got, the harder it became to breathe.
"you sure about that?" he asked, his voice dropping lower, the space between you closing with every word. he stopped just inches away, towering over you, his presence overwhelming. his gaze flickered from your eyes to your lips, then back again. "because from where i'm standing, you've been staring for a long while now."
"i wasn't," you insisted, though your voice lacked conviction. it was a weak protest, and you both knew it.
rafe raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by your attempt to deny it. he leaned in slightly, his breath warm against your skin as he spoke again. "you're not very good at lying, you know that?"
the space between you two was full with something heavy, something unspoken. you could smell the faint hint of sweat and cologne on him, and it did nothing to calm your racing heart.
his arm brushed yours as he pulled back slightly, giving you just enough space to breathe, but not enough to escape the intensity of his gaze. "next time," he said, his voice a low murmur, "just tell me what you want."
you opened your mouth to respond, but nothing came out. you were caught in that moment, in the way his words lingered in the air. your heart was pounding in your chest and all you could think about was how close he was, how easy it would be to close the distance.
but rafe didn't wait for an answer. he stepped back, giving you room and turned towards the weights again, as if nothing had happened. as if he hadn't just knocked the air out of your lungs with a few simple words.
you stood there, frozen, watching him go back to his workout, your thoughts were racing, your mind spinning with everything that had just happened, and even then,
