[ may I have ONE post notif please?

also don't even ask for a javi fic bc I won't do it. anthony knows what he did and when I catch him, it's on sight ]

☁︎

WAY TO MAKE ME FEEL INFERIOR.

"SHE pushed his hand off," Dani grumbled, shaking her head.

"Damn," Lily muttered while eating a Twizzler. They were up in the caravan as they waited for the next storm.

The girls were scrolling through TikTok, looking at all the posts about Baby and Tyler. The live ended not four hours ago, and already, they were coming across people being upset over the little moment.

"This one is dramatic," Dani said, nodding in approval at a video of Tyler and Baby set to Conan Gray's The Exit. "And this is great for our views."

"Sure it is," Lily snickered. "So, you think something happened or that was just Baby trying to be brave as a fuck you to the UCLA crowd?"

Dani shrugged, knowing she would probably never know for certain. "Bit of both? We'll probably get a better idea after we see how they keep reacting to each other."

"Well, regardless, if something happened good or bad, Boone's gonna flip when he finds out," Lily said, shaking her head.

"And I'll be there," Dani said, "filming it for the channel."

"For the views?"

"For the views."

☁︎

Baby was a staunch anti-smoker, but Jesus Christ, Tyler Owens made her want a cigarette. Because he was stressing her out, making her feel anxious with his eyes always in her. And he was just always there — at mealtimes and at the truck stop and in the motel room right next to hers because the manager must've hated her.

God, even now, she could hear his goddamn TV through the wall, reminding her that he was just there, doing nothing incriminating unless you counted enjoying Friends illegal. With an annoyed groan, she let herself out of her room, wrapped up in one of Boone's sweatshirts as she stood outside.

Only to come across Javi, who seemed to be wanting alone outside time as well despite the late hour.

"Oh, hey, Baby," he said, looking up at her. The frown on his face instantly faded away for the only Wrangler that had been nice to him in their four days of working in close contact.

"Hi, Javi," she said, smiling back at him. She came to his side, leaning against the railing of their second floor landing. "Can't sleep?"

"Nah," he said. "Thinking about work."

"Still can't find the front of a tornado?" she asked, knowing that him and Scott had been struggling.

"Well, we can't all have Owens and his knowledge," he said, rolling his eyes jokingly. "We'll get what we need eventually. I've got a few ideas rolling around."

"Well, I hope they work," she said, not really meaning it. She didn't want that Marshall Riggs to get more data to use against people. But she hoped it didn't get Javi in trouble at work.

"Yeah, but no more work talk. I'm off the clock — not even in a polo shirt," he said with a smirk.

It was her first time seeing any of the StormPAR workers in casual attire. He was just in a black t-shirt and sweatpants, clearly the clothes he planned on sleeping in.

"No casual Fridays in StormPAR world?" she asked jokingly.

"Ooh, I am the founder. I could enforce that."

Baby's eyes went wide, not knowing that about Javi. She thought it was rather impressive that he started up such interesting business on his own. He must've been very passionate about tornados and the information that could be gathered from them.

"Okay, I'm clearly with a business man. Way to make me feel inferior," she said, only partly joking, not that Javi could tell. "So, where are you from that's got you working in Oklahoma of all places?"

"Well, Florida — Miami — but I went to Muskogee State for a while before joining the army," he explained. Then he rubbed the back of his neck a bit sheepishly. "Actually, um, dropped out to join."

Baby's eyes softened, something in her stirring as she realized she was talking with another dropout — one who was clearly successful in spite of that.

"Ain't nothing wrong with dropping out," she told him softly. Then she looked down shyly. "I just did, actually. And joined my brother on the road. Still trying to find out what I wanna do with my life."

"Well, I wish you luck," he nodded to her. Then he grinned. "And I don't recommend the army."

"Please, they'd kick me out before I finished bootcamp," she joked. "Kind of a wimp."

The two continued to talk for a few minutes longer, just enjoying each other's company. And Baby greatly appreciated his advice about being so lost. He'd started over at an even older age than her, already in grad school. It was jarring, and the emotions he explained feeling were so similar to what she was feeling every day. And Baby soaked in every word of advice he gave her.

Then, once the heavy talk was over, Javi couldn't help but ask, "Why do you go by Baby?"

She just shrugged. "It's what Boone called me when I was born. And he was bossy enough to tell everyone else to call me that too. Never occurred to me to mind it."

"Well, I like it," he said with a smile. "Though I'd be thinking everyone was always flirting with me."

"You get good at telling over the years," she snickered. "And it helps weed out the ones that can come up with something more original. You know, a Darling or Honey or..."

"Sugar?" Javi offered, making her grimace before laughing.

"Yeah, I've heard that one," she said with a giggle.

Though admittedly, Baby just liked... baby. Especially when it was Tyler calling her that.

And as if her thought had summoned him, he appeared, opening up the door of his room and spotting Baby still giggling with Javi, who had a big grin on his face. And Tyler hated the sight of it.

"Baby?" he questioned, drawing the pair's attention.

"Hey, Tyler," she said, still smiling a bit.

"It's late. What're you doing up?" Tyler asked.

She raised an eyebrow, wondering why he thought her sleep schedule was his business. "I was just talking with Javi."

"Yeah, man, I've definitely got myself a favorite Tornado Wrangler now," Javi joked, nudging Baby's shoulder. "But he's right. You should get some rest. Storms are supposed to come in real early tomorrow."

"You got it," she nodded. Then she reached for his hand, squeezing it. "Thank you, also, for what you said. I've been... going through a hard time, and that really helped. More than you know."

Javi nodded in understanding, wishing he would've had someone to go to after everything happened five years ago. "It's no problem. And I'm always here if you wanna keep talking."

Then Javi bid them both goodnight, heading back inside his room. Baby had a content look on her face as she headed for her own, only for Tyler to put his hand on the door, keeping her from opening it.

"What the hell are you doing talking to a member of StormPAR?" he asked, his face scrunched up.

Tyler chose not to say Javi's name, terrified that Baby would hear the jealousy in his voice. Because that was what he felt — jealous of another man making Baby laugh and seemingly talking about her problems together as he comforted her. He couldn't stand the thought.

"Tyler," she frowned, "we were just talking. Stop actin' like Boone."

"I'll act how I want," he huffed. "StormPAR ain't good people. You know that. You ought to stay away."

Baby rolled her eyes. "It what'n't like I was seeking him out. He was just there, and we had a nice conversation. A real nice one."

"Just don't get too friendly with him."

He'd slipped, saying 'him' instead of 'them', letting her know he wasn't talking about all the StormPAR workers as a whole. He was just talking about Javi, clearly not wanting her to get close to him.

"I think I can get as friendly as I want with who I want," Baby muttered, thinking it wasn't all that fair for Tyler to get mad at her for talking to a boy.

Then again, if he really was back to seeing her as Boone's little sister, maybe he was just trying to act like Boone would in the situation. She hated the thought of going back to that kind of relationship, but also, it was probably better than the current non-talking-but-intense-staring phase they were going through. Only marginally.

"Goodnight, Tyler," Baby said finally, looking pointedly at his hand the was on the door.

Tyler rolled his jaw in frustration before removing his hand, letting her open the door and slip inside. "Goodnight, Baby."

☁︎

"Morning, Baby," Javi greeted as soon as they passed each other in the parking lot of the truck stop. Scott was at his side, his nose in a tablet.

"Mornin', Javi," she said with a smile.

"Hey, some of us guys are gonna hit the bar across the street after work if you wanna swing by," he offered before she could walk by.

Scott's head shot up as he peered at his partner and best friend curiously, wondering what he was playing at.

And Baby tilted her head, thinking it over. "I'll have to bring my bunch, you know? So maybe you won't want me there."

Javi smiled and shook his head. "We'll survive. I figure I won't even have to talk to the rest of you if I play my cards right."

"Lucky you," she teased.

"Come on. It's line dancing night," he said as if that would tempt her.

Baby scanned his pristine outfit and laughed. "You don't look like you line dance, but sure," she gave in. "I'll see y'all there."

☁︎

"You're hanging out with StormPAR people?" Boone asked with a frown as they drove toward a new storm site, the live not started yet. He was in the backseat as Baby begrudgingly took the front for the first time since the kiss.

"Not StormPAR. Just Javi. And probably Scott, though Scott looks like he's physically incapable of moving his body to music," she said with a chuckle.

Tyler's hands tightened around the steering wheel. "What'd I tell you about that last night, Baby?"

Boone's face scrunched up in confusion, watching how Baby rolled her eyes. "I don't have to listen to you. You ain't my brother, Tyler."

"Trust me, I know," he said lowly so that Boone wouldn't hear, eyes still on the road. Rain was beginning to fall hard, making it kind of hard to see as they got closer to the storm.

"What are you talkin' 'bout?" Boone asked, leaning forward.

"I'm talkin' about walking in on her and Javi flirtin'," Tyler muttered. "Was disgusting."

Baby scoffed and crossed her arms. "I was no flirtin'. I - I don't even know how to flirt!" she huffed. "But I was having a nice conversation before you ruined it. He was helping me."

"Oh, what could he possibly been helping you with?" Tyler asked, rolling his eyes.

"With you know what. A it worked a hell of a lot better than any of your talks," Baby said, glaring at Tyler.

And he nearly flinched at that, knowing she was talking about that night. When his heart was bleeding for her, just wanting her to see her worth so desperately.

And it hurt to know that one talk with Javi after only knowing him for four days did more for her mental health than Tyler had in the weeks she'd been on the road with them. He just didn't understand.

"Right," he said stiffly, his eyes on her instead of the road. "Well, if Javi's all you need to fix your problems despite your friends and family being there for you nonstop for weeks, then I guess that ain't my business."

"Stop making it sound like I ain't grateful," she said, her eyes softening as she finally saw the hurt in Tyler's eyes. To keep from saying something she couldn't take back — something dangerous — she faced her brother in the back seat. "This trip, joining you guys, it's been... perfect, scary storms aside. And we've gotten so close again, Boone. I wouldn't trade this for anything, but Javi said some things that none of you had. Things I needed to hear. I don't want you to think you failed at fixin' me or anything because of that."

"You don't need fixin', Baby," Boone told her softly.

"Yeah, I do," she said weakly. "That's why you brought me here."

"No, you ain't broken," Tyler spoke up. "You're just havin' a hard time. And I guess... I can't fault Javi for making that hard time a little easier to bear. Just tears us up inside when we feel like we can't help you."

"Y'all help in other ways," she told them. "You get me to relax and have fun — I couldn't remember the last time I had fun in UCLA. I mean, just getting me in the pool after always avoiding the beach like the plague was a miracle."

"To be fair, I did pick you up and threw you," Boone said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "But you stayed in the water the whole time."

"How about this," Tyler chimed in. "We have another pool day next time there's no bad weather. Just relaxing. No worrying about data or StormPAR or what happened in California. Just splash around and work on your tan."

"Fine," she agreed. "But only if y'all are civil with Javi and Scott at the bar tonight."

Both Boone and Tyler grumbled under their breath, making her say their names disapprovingly.

"Fine," Tyler agreed. Then they both looked at Boone expectantly.

"Fine, but I don't know about making no friends with them or nothin'. I'll kill 'em if they say somethin' wrong to you, Baby."

"Scott's like almost six and a half feet tall, Booney. I don't think you'd be the one doing the killing."