#it might not be enough if he could never give her peace but long story short they’ll survive

Sometimes, Luke watches Julie onstage or watches her mouth as she babbles about something funny at school or observes how she looks at him when he comes up with a lyric she likes, and he comes close to laying it all out on the table.

How he feels about her. How hopelessly he follows her and loves her despite knowing he'll never be enough.

He considers proclaiming, begging, with a list of everything that he could do for her even if it wasn't much.

He can't last in her world. He can't take her out to dinner and argue with her over the check or wrap his arm around her in the halls. All that he can provide is waiting arms when she gets home, and adoration so unwavering that he was willing to give up music for it.

She can have the shirt off of his back even if she doesn't need it. He'll support her in anything and everything she does. He'll sit in Carlos' room when the younger Molina needs to talk to a fresh face and he'll teach the kid guitar like he's Luke's own little brother.

He would willingly die for her again - he doesn't need to have another chance at fame, he doesn't need his name on anything. She could be the only one who knows, and as long as his name lingered in her mind, he could be proud of his sacrifice.

He can't give her much. He can't give her normal. He can't give her any peace.

But he can love her after the stars burn out, and he can love her when everyone and no one is around. He can hug her and keep her warm on the cold days that sink into her bones with sadness.

She's given him the chance to reimagine his career, his life, with her - her mind is so vast and yet Luke wonders if he's important enough to fit in it. He knows the details of their situation can flaw the whole idea of them being together.

And he wonders how much it holds her back.

And he wonders if there is anything that would be enough to get her to reconsider.

(Sometimes, Love isn't enough. And it scares the shit out of him - because it's all he has to offer her.)

inspired by a comment on this ficlet drabble i posted earlier from @endlessummerafternoons & the song peace by Taylor Swift, of course.

#no cos im LOSINGGGG MY MINDDDDDD #thinking of peace thinking of what he can never give her thinking of the way he keeps score #of all the ways he’ll never quite measure up #(all the ways the universe has handed him the things he wants #and held them just out of his reach #put these things- music recognition JULIE- in front of him but never quite let him have them fully #the way he wants them even if he doesnt /need/ them that way)#thinking of how he could never give her everything never give her peace #but hes a fire and he’ll keep her brittle heart warm #thinking of long story short and how one day he’ll finally drop his sword drop his walls #no more keeping score now they’ll just keep each other warm #it might not be enough if he could never give her peace but long story short they’ll survive #THINKINGGGGG #jatp