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pairing. jack traven x f!reader status. anon!request content. speed!au, howard payne returns for revenge words. 1,256 taglist. @nightmare-bean, @gea-chan96, @iovesia, @lucillerockwell, @cry1ngchiild, @creativestorylove, @mrsreevesblog note. cut this short due to length, unsure if we'll make a second part, but we might

You and Jack have been dating for a few years. You knew how dangerous his job could be, and it made you anxious every day while you were waiting for him to return home after a long day delivering justice to the world. However, you were still figuring out what to do with your own life, and you’ve been preparing for an upcoming interview that you’ve been psyching yourself up for over the last week, and Jack had been motivating you for. Finally, today would be the day you (hopefully) start a new chapter in your life with a new career.

“Sam! Sam, wait!” You call out to the bus driver, racing right beside the bus as it sped down the street. You have your arm stretched out, attempting desperately to get his attention.

“Bet you she’s single.” One passenger whispered to the other, causing him to snicker as he looked back out to the window, watching the blurry scenery speed past them. But, the grass and road would seem to become more clear as the bus slowed down, steadily coming to a stop at a nearby bus stop.

Without skipping a beat, you rush to the entrance doors and take a few steps up until you are in the bus. Placing a few coins in the tip box, you flash a warm smile at Sam before going to sit down in a seat that had a tourist already sat on the other side, making you let out a dreaded sigh as you secure your spot near them.

“This is my first time in L.A., it’s very busy.” The tourist began a conversation with you, unprompted.

“Yeah,” You reply, your tone dry as you attempt to look around the bus. A silent way for you to express to the tourist that you weren’t interested in talking right then, you were mentally busy trying to memorize every word and line for your interview today.

“I love public transportation. Makes it very easy.”

“Well, I love my car. I miss my car,” You say. Although the tourist was too oblivious to notice, there was a new hint of annoyance laced through your voice as you remember driving your own car, which was totaled in a speeding accident a mere few weeks ago.

Jack, meanwhile, was on his way to the Los Angeles police department, the very building he’s been going to work for the last few years of his life. He had a smile on his face, thinking of and planning what he’d do with his girlfriend after another long day working on the force. However, he would quickly be surprised by the explosion of a nearby bus, causing him to duck down and use the recently opened driver’s side car door he’d just stepped out of.

With his instincts immediately kicking in, Jack rushed over to the bus that was now being consumed by raging and brightly glowing flames. His heart was racing, every beat sounded like thunder roaring from inside his chest as his mind worked to get a hold on what was happening around him. Darting to the bus, Jack felt a mixture of relief and confusion surge through him at the sight of there being nobody inside. So, did someone rig a vacant bus for no reason? No, this was a set-up…

Ring…

Ring…

Ring…

“How was that as a light-show, Jack?” A deep, gravely voice could be heard on the other end.

“Payne! How did you—”

“Now, before you start going off like that bomb just did, I should tell you that there’s another little bus that I just so happened to get my hands on, and gave it a little…touch-up.”

“You’re a fucking psychopath.”

“Oh, I know.” Payne chuckled darkly, which was muffled by the telephone. “You fucked over my life one, two, and three times. One time too many.”

“What do you want?”

“That little girlfriend of yours, she just got on the 5050 bus a little ways away from here. You get on that bus, and make sure it doesn’t go under fifty miles an hour. What do you do?”

“I’d want to know where the bus went.”

“Ah, well then, I’ll tell you the bus is routed to Broadway Street—”

Before Payne couldn’t even finish his sentence before Jack began darting towards the direction of the street he’d just been given, his shoes hitting hard against the concrete road that was paved beneath him. He ran as fast as he could until he caught a glimpse of the bus turning down a street in a nearby intersection. With his eyes widening, Jack promptly raced towards a car that was stopped at a stop light, flashing his police badge at the driver.

“LAPD, I need to use your car.” Jack tried to say calmly despite the adrenaline that was coursing through his veins.

“Wait, wha—” The civilian started to speak up before he was promptly cut off by Jack, who began pushing him into the passenger seat to take over the driver’s side in a quick and swift motion.

“Hey, man, what are you doing?!” He shouted while holding onto the hood of his car with a tight grip as Jack sped to catch up to the bus his spouse was riding.

“LAPD, there’s a bomb on your bus!” Jack evaded the man’s question, his priority being the passengers whose lives were in danger on that very bus.

With increasing speeds, Jack drove the man’s car up close to the bus from the next lane adjacent to it, his head turning to direct his attention onto Sam, who was focused on driving the bus. However, he would soon take notice of the murmurs from the other passengers, causing him to flicker his gaze to the two doors that were beside him — and currently closed.

“Sam! That’s my boyfriend, let him on!” You speak up, the panic evident behind your tone of voice, causing Sam to reach for the lever to allow Jack inside.

“Everyone, I am Officer Jack Traven, LAPD. There is an issue with this bus. It cannot go over fifty miles an hour, no matter what.” He announced simultaneously while he got on the bus, showing the passengers and Sam his badge as a way to silently tell the people his identity as he spoke.

“Babe…what kind of an issue?” You hesitantly asked, knowing that his answer could possibly send the others into mayhem. Yet, the curiosity killed the cat, and you couldn’t stop the question from spilling loose from your lips.

“Payne’s back.” Jack answered in a low whisper, his lips brushing up against your ear as he covered his lips with the side of his hand from everyone else, not allowing the rest of them to be aware of the amount of danger they were currently in.

“Shit…” You thought to yourself with a heavy sigh before reaching one of your hands up to ruffle your fingers through the strands of your hair as the stress rapidly built up in your mind.

“It’s okay, we’ll get through this. I promise.” He reassured you quietly, followed by a quick and gentle, yet firm squeeze on your hand while your fingers intertwined with his own.

“We need to keep this bus going over 50 miles an hour, no matter what.” Jack announced to the people in the bus, his attention focusing on Sam while he drove the bus and maintained the speed to the best of his ability, even if he wasn’t exactly sure as to why.