[Fanfic] Lifesaver

[shuufleur93]

Title: Lifesaver
Fandom: Younger
Word Count: 622
Type: OS
Rating: General Audiences
Relationships: Kelsey Peters & Diana Trout
Additional Tags: Fluff, Slice of Life
Summary: Kelsey has a surprising new partner-in-crime for a gala.
Notes: Written for No True Pair 2026 Four-character mini-challenge.
Also fills the prompt Fix of my 100 Fandoms Challenge table.
AO3 Link: Lifesaver

Kelsey reads the text again and feels a smile tugging at her lips. She quickly sends a message back and sets her phone on the desk screen down. Her stress levels spiking, she takes a deep breath, then releases it. She loves Liza dearly, really, but sometimes she can be a real pain in the ass.

“OK, OK,” Kelsey mutters, “This is fine. I’m fine. Everything will be fine. I may need to stab Charles, but it’s OK. Everything is going to be fine.”

“Why do you want to stab Charles?” Dian demands with a superior tone, making Kelsey jump.

“Jesus,” she says, placing a hand over her chest, “don’t scare me like that!”

Diana leans over the door frame with her chin slightly up and one eyebrow full of judgment. Kelsey smiles tightly.

“I thought I was still the only here.”

“You’re not the only one burning the midnight oil, Peters. And don’t change the subject. Why do you want to shorten Charles’s life?”

Kelsey doesn’t really want to tell her the truth because she already knows what Diana is going to say. But, underneath her cold disdain and insults, Diana can offer great advice. When she feels like it, which isn’t that often, and while insulting you simultaneously. It’s quite a gift.

“Liza and I were supposed to go to a gala organized by Simon & Schuster but Charles surprised her with a weekend getaway in Wine Country,” Kelsey tails off, not brave enough to voice her mistake.

“And you told her to go.”

Obviously, Diana doesn’t feel the same compunction.

“I know what you’re going to say, that I shouldn’t have done that, but she seemed really excited to go on this trip. Charles, too,” she adds, knowing this argument would soften Diana’s harsh criticism. “Liza has been working so hard and I thought she deserved a little treat before it goes crazy again. Which it will. It always does.”

Warily, Kelsey sighs and leans her elbows on her desk. She places her head in her hands and rethinks her life choices, not for the first time. Diana’s heels click on the linoleum as she approaches Kelsey’s desk.

“Well, did you really need Liza? I’m sure you can go to the gala and do everything on your own.”

“We were supposed to divide and conquer. But now, I can’t really do that alone.”

Kelsey sighs, glancing up at Diana.

“So, you need someone else to accompany you.”

Diana follows that with a fancy-looking gesture that probably means “right?”.

“Yes.”

“When is the gala? Not tonight, I hope?”

“Oh, God, no. It’s in two days. At the Whitby Hotel.”

Diana nods.

“Interesting. I think I was supposed to meet someone there in two days.”

Kelsey furrows her brow and waits for an explanation. Diana stares at her and starts to tap her foot on the ground in a rapidly annoying manner. Scowling a little, Kelsey retorts, “What?”

“Aren’t you going to ask me something?”

Kelsey opens her mouth to say that she doesn’t understand, but Diana’s insistent gaze makes her change course. Is she suggesting…?

“Would… you be free to come to the gala with me?”

Diana fakes a gasp, as if surprised by Kelsey’s question.

“Why, Peters! I’m busy. But I can make time for you if you really need it.”

Kelsey is trying to hide her smile, but she’s not sure she’s doing it very well.

“Of course. Someone with your experience and network would be a tremendous help.”

“Send me the details. And since Liza isn’t here, you’ll have to go fetch my dress to the dry-cleaner.”

Kelsey chuckles good-naturedly.

“Sure, I’ll do that.”

Diana tilts her head as a thank you, then whooshes out of Kelsey’s office.