I thought I'd mention it here... this story has 10 chapters in total and is mostly written out. So only up until season 4 inspired me :)
Enjoy.
Victor is still basically on cloud nine when he arrives at work. Feeling like nothing can kill his mood today. He had a fantastic morning, and whatever the shift brings: he'll survive. He has something to look forward to.
After a sparring session with Deac, he lets the hot water of a shower loosen up his sore muscles again and thinks back to breakfast.
Maybe he should send Bonnie a quick message. Just to stay in contact. He smiles to himself while walking back into the locker room. But his smile falters when Street greets him in the locker room. His teammate is sitting on the bench in front of their lockers and asks, "Who's Bonnie?".
He knows that tone. Equal parts curious and innocent. Tan looks a little irritated but keeps his voice calm. "Why do you ask?"
"She's been texting you for the last couple of minutes," Street replies and shrugs his head to the phone next to him.
"Why do you have my phone?" Tan now sounds angry.
Street lifts his hands in defense and shakes his head. "I am innocent. It was already lying here when I walked in. So?" The last part comes paired with raised eyebrows and a look Tan knows all too well by now. Street and women.
How could he answer that and not say too much. He wanted to explore this connection in private without his nosy teammates knowing. But of course, it had to be Street stumbling onto his phone the one time he forgot to put it in his locker.
Finally, he settles on, "I met Bonnie a few days ago in a cafe on my way into work. We are planning to meet up later." hoping that's enough to settle his friend's curiosity. But when Tan notices Streets grin, he feels compelled to add, "No, you are not coming with us."
"Nevermind. I am busy anyway. I have a date too."
Victor rolls his eyes. There hasn't been a day since Street had joined the team; he hadn't had a date of some sort planned.
After Street had left the locker room, Tan checks his phone and smiles. Bonnie had decided to cook for them tonight and was wondering if there was something special he wanted. Victor smiles to himself and replies that there she is free to surprise him.
After work, Tan is silently cursing traffic while trying to navigate the gridlocked streets. He would be late for dinner. Not by much, but he won't make the time they agreed on. With a queasy feeling, he can't fight the urge to call Bonnie and preemptively apologize.
While he is waiting for her to pick up, Tan runs over what he wants to say, only to be greeted with a "You got caught in traffic?"
Bonnie seems to laugh lightly, and her voice has not even a hint of accusations or disappointment. It's simply a statement wrapped into a question.
For a moment, Tan is speechless, but he manages to get his mouth working. "Yes, and I don't know how long I'll take..."
"It's okay. I just started cooking, and when you are here, we will sit and have a drink and see what happens. And now, eyes on the road. Don't worry and drive safe." The next thing he hears is his radio coming back on because Bonnie has hung up already.
Tan softly shakes his head before really focusing on the stop and go of the cars on the road.
Bonnie had really surprised him with so much understanding.
When he finally arrives at her building, his luck turns around, and Tan immediately finds a parking spot. A perfect end to a crazy day.
He has to smile when he sees Bonnie leaning in her door. A few unruly hairs are stuck to her forehead, but that doesn't change how he sees her. She is simply the most beautiful woman in his mind, and Victor doesn't hesitate and presses his lips to her in a kiss. "Perfect timing," whispers Bonnie into his ear after they have untangled themselves again and walked inside.
He feels at home with her, and they have a wonderful evening even if not everything turns out perfect. The sauce gets burned, and the ice melted, but that didn't matter to Victor. What mattered was them just spending time together and enjoying each other's company, getting to know each other even better.
One of their first weekends together they spend hicking because Bonnie wanted to show him one of her unique places. So they got up very early and had set off to walk Bonnie's favorite trail. Bonnies promise that he would get to see something breathtaking almost lets Victor let out that he always sees something breathtaking when he is with her, but he wasn't sure that wouldn't be too over the top, and so he just smiled and bit his tongue.
Bonnie was so understanding about his job he wanted this day to be perfect for her, and that was playing on his mind while he walked with her along the well-hidden path. After around two hours, the forest opens up into a small clearing where Bonnie stops and pulls a blanket out of her backpack.
"I could stay here all day," Bonnie sighs after collapsing onto the blanket and motioning for him to sit too.
Victor smiles and opens his own backpack to get out some water and fruit for them to enjoy.
"It really is beautiful here," he observes and lies down on his back.
The quiet of the forest made this moment so beautiful, and the soft breeze coming over the clearing made it all the more comfortable. While Victor is fighting a losing battle with his eyelids, he still sees something white float across this face, and when he turns his head, he spots Bonnie with a dandelion in hand, softly blowing at the white blossoms.
"This is exactly why I love coming here," she explains with a smile. "Here, I can just feel like a kid and enjoy nature."
Victor laughs softly. He grew up in LA, but even he didn't know this small clearing existed. Turning onto his side, he observes Bonnie taking pictures of the flowers in all their different states all around them before she lies down next to him on the blanket. Her eyes study the clouds above them, and suddenly Bonnie points at one and says with kid-like excitement: "Doesn't that look like an elephant blowing out a heart shape?"
Victor can't see it but being diplomatic, he murmurs, "If you say so," before pressing a soft kiss onto her shoulder.
Over the next few days, hiking to this small clearing and spending time there or just a romantic walk on the beach becomes a regular occurrence for them. A contrast to some of their other dates, like the metal concert Bonnie has decided on or Victor's love for early morning surfing sessions.
On their next quiet Saturday, they can spend the morning in bed. Bonnie is not working weekends, and Victor has the late shift and so they can sleep in and relax.
Victor wakes up to Bonnie's fingers drawing circles on his arm, and he turns on his back so she can lay her ear over his heart.
He never dares to tell her much about the job and the calls they field, but what she hears on the news or what little he mentions had led to Bonnie starting this ritual.
"Victor?" he hears Bonnie ask with an unusual tinge of insecurity in her voice. But before he can ask about that, she changes tone. "Are you awake yet?" she actually laughs and boops his nose with hers.
"Now I am," he smiles softly and pulls her a little closer. "What do you want to do today?"
Bonnies face falters for a second, almost shattering the beautiful bubble they have for them in this room. She lets her eyes wander across the room before she lets out quietly. "I have to meet with my landlord and renew my lease," but Victor hears and understands, and before he can stop himself, he blurts out. "Why don't you move in with me?"
He surprises himself at first, in an instant hearing all the jokes his colleagues and friends will make when they hear about it. Heck, he was making fun of Luca all the time. But then he realizes how right this idea is. How great it feels to imagine really, officially living together, and it is right then that he also finds his voice and the perfect words.
"Listen to me, okay. We have been spending almost all our time together and here. I am sure most of the things in the bathroom are already yours and I, I'd really love to have you here. Share this place with you."
He holds her gaze and smiles. Bonnie blushes, but after what feels like an eternity, she leans forward and presses a firm kiss onto his lips. "I'd love to move in with you. Thank you."
They got started with planning the move immediately, and as luck would have it the following weekend, Tan had the time to help Bonnie pack up her place. While doing so, the question of where they will put all the boxes or the things therein is constantly running through his mind. Is apartment wasn't small but to be honest, there wasn't much room left either.
Bonnie seemed to be reading his thoughts. "Don't worry, I got a small storage unit, and most of the furniture apart from my white vanity will stay here anyway."
Victor smiles, a little embarrassed at her catching him dazed. "I was worried for a moment, sorry. So, where do you need me right now? Anything specific I can do..."
"You can grab the boxes out of my bedroom and maybe take down the vanity," Bonnie hands out the assignment smoothly and rushes out of the room again.
In no time at all, everything is sorted, and on Sunday evening, they are finished moving Bonnie in. They enjoy their evening cuddled up on the sofa, having a drink and takeout.
Bonnie leans her head against his shoulder and turns her head up to catch his eye. "Thank you," she whispers, and Victor bows his head down. "You don't have to thank me. This just feels right."
Bonnie beams right back at him. "Yes, this feels perfect."