Outerbanks Imagine

Love in the Flames - Rafe Cameron

You'd spent countless nights at Tannyhill, tucked under the arm of Rafe Cameron. Tonight felt like any other—at least at first. The moonlight filtered through the massive windows of Rafe's bedroom, casting a silvery glow on his face. He looked peaceful, for once, his usual sharp edges softened in sleep. You nestled closer, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek.

Rafe stirred, his blue eyes fluttering open as he pulled you tighter against his chest. "You okay, Y/N?" he murmured sleepily, his voice raspy and comforting.

"Yeah, I'm fine," you replied, running a hand through his tousled hair. "Just can't sleep."

"Me neither," he sighed, wrapping a strand of your hair around his finger. It was moments like these where Rafe felt almost...normal. No pressure from his dad, no expectations, just the two of you.

But peace never lasted long in the Cameron household.

---

You were jolted awake by the sharp, acrid smell of smoke. You sat up abruptly, your heart pounding in your chest. Rafe groaned beside you, rubbing his eyes. "What's going on?" he mumbled.

"Rafe, do you smell that?" you whispered, your voice trembling.

It hit you both at the same time. **Fire.**

"Stay here," Rafe ordered, already on his feet, but you weren't going to listen. You scrambled out of bed, grabbing his arm.

"Rafe, we need to get out now!"

The hallway outside was hazy with smoke, the air thick and suffocating. Rafe's jaw clenched as he realized what was happening. "This is my dad," he muttered darkly, his eyes flashing with a dangerous intensity. "I knew he was losing it, but this? He's gone too far."

You felt your stomach drop. Ward Cameron had always been manipulative and controlling, but to go this far? Setting his own house on fire?

"Rafe, we need to move! We don't have time to argue," you shouted over the roar of the flames that were now creeping up the walls. You could feel the heat pricking at your skin.

Rafe grabbed your hand, squeezing it tight. "I'm not losing you," he vowed, his eyes locking onto yours with a fierce determination. He pulled you along as he started running down the hallway. "Stay close to me, Y/N. Don't let go."

The smoke stung your eyes, making it hard to see. You coughed violently, struggling to breathe as you followed Rafe. He moved with purpose, like he knew exactly where he was going, even as the flames licked at the edges of the walls.

But the fire was spreading fast—too fast. It was clear this wasn't some accidental blaze. This was intentional.

You stumbled, nearly falling as a beam cracked and fell from the ceiling, barely missing you. Rafe yanked you back just in time, his grip on your hand tightening painfully. "Watch it!" he yelled, pulling you into his chest protectively.

"I-I can't breathe," you gasped, tears streaming down your face from the smoke.

"We're almost there," Rafe reassured you, but you could hear the panic creeping into his voice too. He was scared. You both were.

The fire seemed to close in around you, a wall of searing heat. The front entrance was blocked by flames now, the inferno raging out of control. You could hear the distant wail of sirens, but it felt like they were a lifetime away.

Rafe's eyes darted around wildly, searching for another way out. Then he spotted it—a window. "Y/N, we're gonna have to jump," he said, his voice grim. "It's the only way."

You stared at the window, barely visible through the smoke. It was a good drop to the ground. You swallowed hard, your heart racing with fear. "Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure of anything," Rafe replied, his voice steady now. He cupped your face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the soot smudged on your cheeks. "Listen to me. I love you, okay? I need you to trust me."

Tears welled up in your eyes. "I love you too," you whispered, your voice breaking.

Without another word, Rafe took off his shirt, using it to smash the window open. He turned to you, his eyes intense. "I'll go first. I'll catch you, I promise."

You nodded, too choked up to speak. Rafe climbed through the window, glancing back at you one last time before he jumped. You heard a thud and then his voice, yelling up at you. "Y/N, come on! Jump!"

Your legs felt like they were made of lead, your whole body trembling. You sucked in a breath, ignoring the searing pain in your lungs, and jumped.

The fall seemed to last forever, the world blurring around you. Then, suddenly, you were in Rafe's arms, the impact knocking the wind out of both of you. He held you tightly, not letting go even as you both stumbled to the ground.

The two of you lay there, gasping for breath. You could hear Ward's voice in the distance, shouting angrily as the fire trucks pulled up. But none of that mattered. All that mattered was that you were safe, together.

Rafe pulled you into his arms, burying his face in your hair. "I've got you," he whispered shakily. "You're okay. We're okay."

You nodded, clinging to him as the tears streamed down your face. The flames roared behind you, but you didn't look back. The life you'd known was burning to the ground, but as long as you had Rafe by your side, you knew you could face whatever came next.

---

The fire burned bright in the night sky, a blazing beacon of all the pain, anger, and secrets that had been buried in the Cameron family. But as you lay in Rafe's arms, watching the flames consume everything, you realized that maybe this was a new beginning—a chance to escape the chaos and start fresh. Together.

**"I love you, Rafe,"** you whispered, your voice hoarse but full of emotion.

**"I love you too, Y/N. Always."**

In that moment, despite everything, you felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, the two of you could make it out of this mess. Because even when everything was burning down around you, Rafe Cameron was your safe place.

And you were his.