#I mean Pat's a barista

[mariasont]

Sundress Season - S.R

a/n: spent all friday & saturday writing so sorry 4 dumping so many works 2night lololol

‧₊˚ ✩°｡⋆♡ ⋆˙⟡♡ ⋆˙⟡♡⋆｡°✩˚₊‧

pairings: spencer reid x fem!reader

summary: spencer decides to come help you out with some research and gets a little more than he bargained for

warnings: fluff, thigh kink if you SQUINT LIKE SQUINT

wc: 0.9k

You crossed one leg over the other, your nails drumming against the table, while your eyes bored holes into the book that lay open in your lap. You loved reading, more than most people, but when it was something you were interested in, not when the pages were smeared with the arcane symbols of mathematical algorithms that you could not seem to comprehend. It was giving you a migraine. 

At the call of your name, your head lifted abruptly, a welcome excuse the cast aside the loathsome book, expecting your coffee to be awaiting you at the counter. You weren't, however, expecting to see Spencer standing there. Your brows knitted together in a moment of confusion before you face relaxed into a warm, welcoming smile.

"Spence? Hey, what are you doing here?" 

"JJ said you were researching the neural network algorithms," Spencer said, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement as he pulled out the chair across from you. "I figured I could lend a hand."

“Oh, bless your heart, Dr. Reid,” you praised, hand dramatically pressed to your heart, “I could kiss you.”

The subtle rosiness that blossomed on Reid’s cheeks didn’t escape your notice, and you couldn’t deny the small thrill of saying things designed to elicit the delightful blush. It was cute.

“May I?” he asks, gesturing towards the book, ignoring your words.

You give a nod and pass it over, his fingers brushing over yours in the process. It was hard not to stare at his face, admittedly, your scientific knowledge (or any knowledge) didn’t rival his, yet surely there was some explanation for why you found him so attractive.

You watched, curiously, as he made quick work of the pages, absorbing the information with the ease of a child flipping through a picture book. Maybe that was it—his intelligence, now that wasn’t far off. I mean, who didn’t want a man who could effortlessly recite pi to the hundredth decimal?

You found yourself following the lines of his face— from the subtle shadows under his eyes to the rhythmic movement of his tongue against the inside of his cheek as he concentrated, down to the soft dip of his lips. God, he was so beautiful. And even that term barely did him justice.

Your blatant starring was broken only when you realized his lips were moving.

“Yeah, totally,” you said, bobbing your head in agreement, clueless to his actual words but hoping you said the right thing.

He regarded you with a puzzled glance, his brow raised while carefully marking his place in the book. “Is that so?”

“Absolutely.”

That famous, gorgeous smile of his spread across his face as his eyes darted around the coffee shop. His fingers patted his cheek thoughtfully in silent, teasing challenge.

“Wait, what?”

“The issue was with adjusting the weight initialization to prevent the vanishing gradient problem,” he remarked with an easy shrug. “Seems like the perfect time for that well-deserved kiss.”

His words sent a wave of warmth flooding your cheeks. Was he serious? You decided you didn’t care. Rising just enough to meet him, you cupped his face and planted a sloppy kiss against his cheek. As your drew back, you couldn’t help but delight in the sight of his ears, now tinted with a charming blush of red.

The intimate bubble burst as the barista’s voice rang out, announcing that your coffee was, in fact, prepared at last. You tapped his nose lightly before standing fully. “My hero.”

Spencer watched with a slack jaw as you walked away from the table, his eyes drawn to your thighs. The air seemed to escape him in a rush, his gaze locked on your outfit, now fully revealed as you stood up. He was so used to seeing you in dress pants, he’d never seen you in a dress, a sundress at that.

He was already burning from the feeling of your lips on his cheek but now it was spreading through every part of him as he traced your curves before landing once again on your supple thighs. God, you were beautiful, and that ass—

He was on the cusp of entertaining some rather less-than-holy ideas when the shrill ring of his phone intervened. He mentally berated the caller, wishing to preserve every detail of your image in his mind. Morgan. Naturally.

He swiped deftly at the phone, realizing it was FaceTime. Morgan’s head filled the screen, his eyebrows shooting up as he took in Spencer’s appearance.

“Morning, lover boy.”

Spencer was unsure what he meant. “Huh?”

Morgan simply flicked his cheek with a smirk. “Looks like ya missed a spot, hot stuff.”

Spencer’s face warmed with a fresh flush, hastily angling the phone away, his fingers working to erase the lipstick stain.

“Whoa, whoa, hold up, man! You on a hot date or something? C’mon, Reid, who’s the lucky lady?”

Once assured his skin was free of the pink evidence, Spencer lifted the phone again. He didn’t get a chance to ask Morgan’s reason for calling, as your face appeared behind him, curiously glancing at the phone.

“Oh, hey Morgan!”

Morgan’s mouth dropped open. “No way! You’re kidding me! Penelope is going to freak—,”

His words were cut short as Spencer swiftly hung up.

[gremlingottoosilly]

Short!Reader who by all means believes she's the protector/assertive one in the relationship and constantly tries to protect him especially from people who are being mean to her boyfriend, Konig

Heyyyy 4'10ft anon back, I could definitely imagine her standing in front of him trying to yell at someone and then thinking she was the one to actually intimate them while König practically looks like those horror movie slashers standing behind her with his 6'10ft ass

Konig who never had anyone to protect him. Like, never ever. He had his parents - who were traditional "child out of sight and out of mind" type, with his father only looking at him when Konig knew he fucked something up. His mom sometimes patted him on the head - and even that affection seethed to exist after he grew taller than her. He was always the one to protect himself - from enemies, from bullies, from mean waiters in the cafes and weird old ladies who thought he was a terrorist. Always assumed to be the most dangerous(and biggest) man in the room, he got used to fighting on his own. Then you came in. God knows, you're fucking adorable. Short and tiny, he can literally pick you up and put you in his pocket - yet, somehow, you are always the one to try and save him. Konig isn't the type of guy to be too shy to ask for something in the coffee shop, but he also wouldn't be fussy if the barista got his order wrong. You'd be the one to come to the counter and correct them, the one to order for both of you and act like you just protected him from a dragon or something. Konig always have to bite down a laugh when you do this - you're so full of yourself, so prideful about everything, he likes that about you. His precious girl, so eager to help in every way...he got used to having you by his side. You're a bit too eager sometimes though. Picking up fights with wrong people, forcing Konig to finally acknowledge the fact you're being so antagonistic - he wants for you to feel better and for you to feel nice so, obviously, he will just stand behind you and make sure that whatever thug is talking to you, won't get any ideas. You might look like a small fry, like nothing compared to your boyfriend - but Konig is more than eager to give you an ego boost and make you think like you were the one to shoo the bastard away, and not your boyfriend who just picked out his biggest knife out of a pocket.

[devildomwriter]

Mele Kalikimaka | Satan x Reader

.9k+ words | GN! Reader | CW: None

The sun shone down on you as you rested on the beach. You let out a relaxed, content sigh and rolled over to look at Satan who sat beneath the colorful umbrella as he read a book with the sound of the waves and laughing families in the background.

This was the first time you’d spent Christmas on a beach. When you imagined Christmas you thought of pine trees and snow and cold air, not a tropical location like Hawaii with pina colodas and a warm breeze. Despite the unfamiliarity, it was better than you had expected.

With his endless connections, Satan had been offered a trip to Hawaii by a friend who worked in the travel industry. Naturally, he bargained for a second ticket and immediately whisked you away, far from the Devildom, far from his brothers, far from any worldly troubles.

Now you were on a cushioned beach chair relaxing next to the greatest boyfriend in the three realms and watching him read, completely unbothered by the world around him.

You reached out and tugged on his Hawaiian shirt and he looked up a little startled having believed you’d fallen asleep.

“Oh, you’re awake. What do you need love?” He asked attentively, determined to give you the best Christmas vacation ever.

You shrugged and he smiled and patted your head lovingly as he set his book aside. “Why don’t we get some drinks?” He asked as you’d both emptied your glasses over an hour ago.

You nodded and he watched you stretch, his eyes wandering as he admired you in your beach attire, ie. Far less clothing than usual.

He helped you up as you yawned and you trudged through the warm sand to the beach bar. It wasn’t too hectic as it was located on a private resort but the people there were demanding of the bar owner’s time as they’d paid a good deal of money to be there. You didn’t mind the wait but Satan became agitated, not just with the wait but with how the people were being so incredibly impatient with the poor barista.

When it was your turn to order he made it quick and simple and left a tip so generous the barista’s eyes looked like they’d pop out of his head.

Excitedly he called after you both, “Mele Kalikimaka!”

Satan gave you an inquisitive look and you chuckled, “it means Merry Christmas,” he explained and he nodded and waved back to the barista in a much better mood.

“That was very sweet of you,” you commented and he shrugged.

“I’ve been told it’s the season for that sort of thing,” he said nudging you and you agreed with a gentle laugh as you sat back in your reserved seating.

Satan took a sip from his glass and paused a moment to admire the crashing blue waves in front of him, the caw of the seagulls above him, and the gentle breeze against his skin.

This place really did feel like paradise. The joy of nature was enough to ignore the other families running about, at least it almost was, what made him relax most was being in your presence. He didn’t need Hawaii to feel this way, he only needed to be with you, but of course, Hawaii was a giant bonus.

Today was for relaxing and tomorrow was Christmas Day where you’d exchange gifts, the days after he had many things planned like touring a volcano, hiking in the tropical forest, surfing the waves, and maybe getting closer than allowed to some of the wildlife.

You could already picture him hypnotizing the police to ignore him as he made friends with seals and you laughed to yourself, spilling some of your drink.

Satan quickly wiped it off your chest with a blush when he realized what he was doing and immediately changed the subject. “What is so amusing?”

“You are,” you said with no explanation and he raised one brow.

“I am? That’s good to know I guess, was it something I did?” He responded and you shook your head.

“No, it’s just something I suspect you will do.”

“Oh? What do you think I’m going to do?”

“I think you’re going to see some wild animals and get a little too close,” you laughed and he looked shocked.

“How did you know?”

You began laughing harder and he took your drink away to prevent it from spilling as he blushed. Was he really so obvious? Was it unusual to want to gently squish a fluffy seal?

“I love you,” you giggled without thinking and he turned red, so red it looked like a bad sunburn against his pale skin.

Regaining his composter he held your hand and smiled warmly, “I love you too.”

You blushed and hid your face, unable to believe just how cute he was. How did you get so lucky? Only his Father could have blessed you with such happiness, it superceeded anything natural.

He gently picked you up and sat you between his legs, hugging you from behind as he peppered kisses against your neck. You laughed and squirmed in his arms. Your playful affection caught the attention of other tourists who couldn’t help but be jealous of your close relationship.

You finally caught your breath from laughing and snuggled against his chest. You both lay there for a moment unconcerned with anything else, not desiring for drinks or books or even cute animals, just a moment with each other.

Satan petted your hair and before long his breathing became quiet and rhythmic and you realized he’d fallen asleep. You chuckled and kissed his chest.

“Mele Kalikimaka, Satan,” you whispered and drifted away on the white sand beach wrapped in your boyfriend’s arms.

[lyranova]

Hi can you write a college au + coffee shop au fic of delinquent Nacht x f!reader where the dynamic is NOT bad boy x good girl but bad boy x dense girl. Where both of them are college students and reader works part time as a barista. Please include Morgen and Yami as side characters.

Hiya anon, I apologize for the wait! Of course I can, and I did my best to work in Morgen and Yami as side characters. Also this isn’t really as fluffy as most other fics, this is more…neutral I guess? But I still hope you enjoy~!

Taglist: @loosesodamarble

Word Count: 1,315

Warnings: None

————

You watched as your newest co-worker, Nacht Faust, struggled with the coffee maker. He cursed and glared as it made a very unsettling hiss, and you couldn’t help but shake your head.

This guy…why on earth did he lie and say he had experience when he clearly did not?!

As you watched him continue to struggle, you couldn’t help but recall the day he had come up to you at school and asked if your parent’s coffee shop still needed another employee. You had told him that they did, and all he did was nod in response and walk away.

It had been really weird; but then again Nacht had always been weird ever since you two were kids, so it wasn’t really a surprise. But after he came up to you the next day and announced that you two were co-workers now as well as classmates you had been surprised!

You sighed and shook your head, you couldn’t believe that your parents had agreed to hire one of the most well known delinquents in town. But at the same time, you knew that your parents had a soft spot for him…

And so did you.

“ Good morning you two!” Morgen Faust greeted happily as he walked into the shop.

“ I wouldn’t say their morning is ‘good’ if that sound is any indication.” Yami Sukehiro, the other delinquent in town and Nacht’s friend, said as he winced at the awful hissing sound.

“ And I wouldn’t say your morning will be good if you don’t shut up.” Nacht muttered in irritation as he glanced at his chuckling friend.

You rolled your eyes before quickly greeting Morgen, ignoring Yami, and walking over to Nacht.

“ Here,” You began as you walked up behind him. “ You gotta do it like this.” You instructed as you reached around, grabbed his hands, and began to show him how the coffee machine worked.

“ I’ve got it,” He muttered, his voice quiet but as he turned away you swore you saw his cheeks were now bright pink.

You tilted your head, why was his face red? Did he maybe get too warm working with the coffee machine?

“ You sure?” You asked, and when he gave you a nod you released his hands and stepped away from him, walked out from behind the counter, and walked towards Morgen and Yami.

“ I take it that training isn’t going well?” Morgen asked you with a nervous laugh, and you shook your head.

“ Nope, not at all,” You sighed as more cursing and a loud crash could be heard from Nacht.

“ It could be worse,” Yami began as he leaned back in his seat. “ He could’ve burnt down the coffee shop already.”

“ Don’t say that, or he just might!” You exclaimed in panic, an image of the coffee shop burning down flashing in your mind. Yami laughed while Morgen just shook his head.

“ To be honest, I really don’t understand why he applied here,” You admitted after a moment. “ I mean, I know he needed a job…but why did he apply here of all places?”

“ Hm, I wonder,” Morgen hummed mysteriously, his eyes telling you he knew exactly why his twin had applied there.

But lucky you didn’t have to wait very long to hear the reason.

“ He applied here because he likes you, you idiot,” Yami explained as he crossed his arms.

You stared at the pair for a moment, your eyes blinking rapidly as you tried to process what he had just said, but then you laughed.

“ That’s a good one Yami, you should make jokes like that more often!” You laughed as you patted his shoulder.

Morgen and Yami exchanged a look.

“ He…isn’t joking,” Morgen admitted hesitantly, his eyes now holding a serious look in them. “ That was the sole reason he applied here.”

“ That punk wanted to find an excuse to spend more time with you outside of school,” Yami added.

“ You…really didn’t know?” Morgen asked softly, and you shook your head slowly.

That didn’t make sense; Nacht, your childhood friend, liked you?! There was no way that was true…

But as you began to put all the pieces together, everything made sense. He would act hot and cold with you, he would say and do things that felt a little out of character for him, and whenever you got too close or held his hands like you did a moment ago his face would turn red and he would look nervous.

He liked you…

“ Why?” You muttered in confusion, you brows furrowing.

“ Why what?” Morgen and Yami asked in equal confusion.

“ Why does he like me? Out of all people?” You asked them in disbelief, and Yami shrugged.

“ I dunno, why don’t you go ask him?” Yami suggested, with Morgen nodding in agreement.

But you just stood there; your mind going a mile a minute as you tried to decide what to do, when suddenly another loud crash rang out through the coffee shop as a couple of mugs broke.

“ I…I-I need to get back to work,” You muttered as you walked away from your friends and went back behind the counter.

And for the rest of the day your mind was completely filled with nothing but Nacht and this new revelation.

“ You okay? You’ve been acting weird since this morning.” Nacht asked as the two of you stood outside the now closed coffee shop. He always walked you home after work, claiming that it was dangerous for you to walk home by yourself late at night.

You had laughed, saying that you could handle yourself, and he agreed but said that it didn’t hurt to have someone watching your back just in case.

But now that entire memory looked completely different than it had before…

“ Yeah, I’m fine.” You told him softly as you finished locking the shop and turned around to face the street.

Nacht’s eyes narrowed, not believing you for a second, and just as he was about to tell you so you spoke up.

“ Do you like me?”

He felt his heart stop dead in his chest at your question, and as he slowly turned to face you he noticed you were still staring out at the street.

“ Where did you hear that from?”

“ Yami and Morgen.”

“ Tsk, those two...” He muttered in irritation as he also turned to face the street. When he got back to the dorms he was definitely going to give them an earful, especially Yami!

The air quickly became thick and awkward as you and Nacht stood there, but eventually he sighed.

“ Yeah, I like you,” He admitted softly, his gaze drifting towards the ground.

You hummed.

“ Do…you also like me?” He asked you hesitantly, his voice even softer than before. The tone sounded nervous, and slightly afraid.

“ I don’t know,” You admitted softly as your gaze also drifted towards the ground. “ Everything feels…different now between us.”

Nacht nodded slowly.

“ A good different, or a bad different?” He asked as he looked over at you, trying to gauge your emotions through your expressions, but you weren’t giving anything away.

“ I think…it’s a good different,” You admitted softly, your brows furrowing in thought. Nacht let out a soft breath he hadn’t realized that he was holding.

It wasn’t a direct confirmation, but it wasn’t an outright rejection either.

“ I think we’ll have to spend more time together for me to figure it out,” You told him as you finally looked up and turned to face him. “ Is that alright?”

Nacht’s eyes widened and his brows raised in surprise, but he quickly composed himself and he looked away shyly.

“ I think I can work you into my schedule,” He said with a small grin.

“ Great! So should we have dinner tomorrow after work?”

Nacht turned to face you again, his grin widening, and his head nodding in agreement.

“ I think I can make that work.”

————

Thank you all so much for reading and I hope you all have a good day~!

[engie-ivy]

@wolfstarmicrofic 11th: Sweater

470 words

But Why That Sweater?

James closes his eyes with a sigh as he lets the taste of fried eggs with melted cheddar wash over him.

Last night started in the pub and ended in the club, and in between were many, many beers. As per Marauder tradition, a night of heavy partying is always followed by Sunday Hangover Brunch at Scallywag’s. Well, for James, Sirius and Peter it is. Remus needs to keep a minimum of 5 meters distance between himself and food of any type until at least 4 p.m. after a night of drinking, so he had excused himself from this particular tradition.

“What do you make of that?” Peter nods over to where Sirius is making his way over to the barista to get another coffee after having drained his first cup.

“Make of what?” James asks, reaching for the hollandaise sauce.

“Well,” Peter says. “He's obviously wearing the same trousers he wore last night-” It's easy to notice, as they're Sirius’ infamous ‘Make my Arse look Devine’-Jeans, which he only wears when he really wants to impress, and which have, according to him, never failed to deliver. “But he's wearing them with that sweater. So what does that mean?”

James arches an eyebrow. “That even Sirius Black knows a skintight, see-through t-shirt is highly inappropriate for Sunday brunch?”

Peter shakes his head. “No, I mean, showing up at brunch wearing last night's trousers and doing a very poor job at hiding those hickeys in his neck, normally it'd be a no-brainer what that means.” He rolls his eyes. “Sirius pulled a bird last night and did not sleep in his own bed. But that sweater is clearly Moony’s, so what does that mean?”

James finishes chewing his toast, calmly puts down his cutlery, daps his mouth with his napkin and places it back next to his plate, before folding his hands under his head, leaning on the table looking at Peter. “What do you think that means?” He asks gently, and it reminds Peter of the way his teachers used to look at him when he asked a question about the material, but they were certain that if he thought about it just a bit harder, he'll figure it out on his own.

Peter frowns as he thinks it through, then his eyes widen and he gasps. “Oh my god.” He leans in closer and lowers his voice. “Do you think Sirius wore those trousers on purpose and faked the hickeys to make us think he hooked up with some girl, while he actually just crashed at Remus’?”

The look of disappointment on James’ face is one Peter also knows very well from his previous teachers. He gives Peter a pitying smile as he reaches out to pat his hand. “Keep trying, Pete. I'm sure you'll get there eventually.”

[jujutsubaby]

after hours (part 2)

☆ pairing: satoru gojo x afab!reader, toji fushiguru x afab!reader ☆ summary: you update your friends and they cannot believe what happened between you and toji. but one of you friends, satoru gojo, is acting weirder than usual...could it be? nooo, nooo, it can't...right? ☆ warnings: 18+! MINORS DNI! dirty talk, implied power dynamic, sexual tension ☆ tags: modernAU, academiaAU ☆ a/n: sorry for the lack of smut but i swear it'll be worth in the next part 😈 but hope you enjoy the love triangle between toji, gojo, and y/n that's forming! spoiler alert: there miiiight be a potential three way coming soooon ~ ahaha i don't wanna say anything 🤭 🖤🤍 series masterlist 🤍🖤

"NO. FUCKIN'. WAY...", shoko gasps, jaw open, as you tell her about what happened last night with toji over a matcha latte with oatmilk. you take a sip, savoring the earthy, bitter beverage, and give shoko a serious look.

you, shoko, and your friends always grab beverages from cafe amanai every morning, serving as a meeting point for everyone's busy lives. usually, it's used to air out mild inconveniences, from poor grades to missing keys, but today, it is being used to dissect what the hell happened between you and toji last night, to your obvious dismay.

"yeah, and now i'm getting dinner with him and megumi and going to his parent teacher conference." you say, looking slightly distraught, as you contemplate the ramifications of hooking up with your extremely attractive neighbor. "was this a bad idea?"

"was what a bad idea?"

you and shoko whip around to find satoru gojo strolling to your table, wearing his signature black round glasses and unruly white hair. he glides down in the seat next to you, literally butting his head into the conversation.

you sigh deeply and slowly sink your head onto the table surface, knowing full well that once satoru gets up to speed, he's never going to shut up about it. "ohhhh satoru, don't make me say it again..." you whine.

"let's wait until suguru comes back from flirting with the barista to tell them. i don't wanna update them twice." shoko kindly offers, patting your head and softly running her fingers through your scalp.

your head shoots up the minute your hear about suguru flirting. according to satoru, suguru never drank coffee until the day riko complimented his bangs, and ever since then, suguru would do everything in his power to stop by cafe amanai and order a latte. in the process, you, shoko, and gojo got unbearably perplexed at the idea of the suguru geto, the hoity-toity moral compass of the group, having a crush, on not just anyone, but the cafe owner, and everyone's favorite barista: the gorgeous, raven-haired riko amanai. you all really try to be subtle, everyone craning their necks in unnatural directions, trying to decipher what embarrassingly awful one-liner suguru was going to say to riko instead of just asking her out.

"can you guys not embarrass me for just one day at this place? just one. it's all i'm asking for." suguru says sorely, popping out from the opposite direction of where you all were staring, startling everyone into mumbled apologies ("i wasn't even looking", "had to stretch my neck after benching 300", "i don't even care about you and riko").

"anyway, now tell us...what's the bad idea?" gojo prods, grinning at the excitement of restarting the gossip session. oh my god, why is he so nosy?

"i mean, okay, it's complicated so don't judge me and i really don't know how it happened but-" you start, before shoko cuts you off.

"y/n fucked our hot neighbor, toji. remember him? the one i was telling you about that probably is a gigolo-"

"shoko, he is NOT a gigolo! stop saying that about him!" you say irately. "he probably has...some respectable job that...is classified or...something", you defend, trying your hardest to defend toji in front of your friends. why were you so keen on defending this guy after one random hookup?

"the one who's son you BABYSIT for?!" suguru yells incredulously a bit too loudly, that results in your shooting daggers at him. "y/n, you have to know this is some fucked up power dynamic thing, right? he's paying you to babysit his son. there's no way what you're doing will end well." suguru chastises, scrunching his eyebrows in genuine concern.

"so about that..." you start, realizing just now how idiotic you're about to sound admitting that he has not paid you for the past week and decide to pivot. "it's just babysitting, suguru, okay? chill, it's not that serious."

"also, he hasn't paid her at all last week." shoko states nonchalantly. you give her a crestfallen look, wishing she had said quite literally anything but that.

satoru, who had been suspiciously silent up until now, roars in laughter hearing this, while suguru groans. "wait hold on. you're telling me people pay him to be a gigolo but you're giving him that pussy for free?" satoru says in between breaths, clearly finding your predicament more than amusing.

"i'm going to kill you guys." you say, rubbing your temples, already trying to remedy the headache at bay.

"poor y/n," shoko teases, "she's not ready to be a step-mom." she chuckles as you narrow your eyes at her. "kidding!" she smiles, with her hands up, feigning any remorse. everyone, including youself, start laughing lightly at the situation you're in, and you notice shoko's eyes widen with excitement and warmth as she sees utahime walk into cafe amanai. "utahime!" she waves, catching utahime's attention. utahime darts over to your table and plops next to shoko, and do something that shocks satoru and suguru to their core. aww, look, they're kissing! oh wait no, they're fully making out. oh, they should get a room.

"excuse me?!" gojo, who is so baffled by the sight in front of him that his sungalsses are completely off, says.

shoko and utahime break out of their short kiss, and utahime narrows her eyes at satoru as if he was a pest (you have to admit, he sometimes is), seemingly annoyed by his intrusion. "oh umm, this is utahime, as you guys know. um, she and i are dating. that's all." shoko taciturnly says. "anyway, we have to go, now." she turns to you. "i'll see you at home and you better tell us everything." you laugh and nod, standing up to give utahime a quick hug before they left.

you turn around to two stunned faces, as you explain to them that shoko and utahime had been dating for over a month now, and that they did not tell either of them because, well, they were both a bit obnoxious, especially together.

"just because you're right doesn't mean i'm any less shocked!" suguru says, eyes still wide and processing the fact that one of his best friends was dating someone and he had no clue. "okay, i actually don't even have time to process this right now. i have to make copies for the class i'm TA-ing for." suguru says, as he quickly throws his untouched cup of coffee into the trash and speeds out. "see ya." he waves before he speeds out of the cafe.

you sigh tiredly, knowing that whenever you're alone with satoru, things get...a bit weird. you guys are friends, of course, but you would be lying if you said you didn't feel the tension in the air abruptly change slightly when it was just you two. there were plenty of times when you went over to satoru's and played video games or drank beers like the old school friends you were, but it would always end veeery touchy feely (like the time you fell asleep with your head on his lap or that one time he said it would be a good idea to cuddle "for warmth" because the heat was broken).

but this was just because you guys were like, super super good friends, though...right? in any case, you knew for a fact you and satoru were not into each other because you both fooled around with other people, so case closed.

"so...how was it?" satoru asks, with a stupid grin on his face. you can sense he's about egg you on about something you did not want to talk about, but you decide to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"how was what?" you say, shifting in your seat slightly and playing with your fingers. you take a sip of your lukewarm matcha as you turn to look at satoru.

"how was the sex with toji?" satoru clarifies. you almost choke on your matcha, but quickly regain your composure.

"wouldn't you like to know, lover boy." you say, slightly annoyed and yet bemused why satoru would even ask that question. ugh, why does he even care? can't he let this go? he was the one making fun of you the most about this anyway!

"woah, okay sorry for trying to make sure you at least had fun before you made a bad decision with some broke dude who doesn't have a real job." satoru says, raising his hands defeat and putting his sunglasses back, obscuring his bright blue eyes that always made you wish you could stare at them forever. wait, what?

"he allegedly doesn't have a job, okay. and also, being a gigolo, allegedly, is still a job." you say, once again baffling yourself as to why you're feeling so defensive of toji, especially more so in front of satoru. why is he being so weird about this? you've told him about guys you've slept with before and he barely even cared.

"what are we? in court?" he snorts, shaking his head slightly in amusement.

"why do you care?" you accuse, finishing up the last sips of your matcha before setting the cup down and anxiously playing with your fingers.

"i don't care...i just..." satoru trails off, as if thinking about what he wants to say next carefully. "i just wanna make sure he's treating you well, that's all."

"well, if you must know, we didn't have sex." you respond, your heart beating a bit faster as you're borderline talking about raunchy activities in public.

"whadcha guys do?," satoru asks shamelessly.

at this point, you're so over satoru's bullshit. "he ate me out okay! what other personal stuff do you want to know about me? how would you feel if i asked you how many times a day you jerk off, huh? not so amusing now is it?!"

"did you cum?" he asks. his smile is beaming and he's holding back a chuckle, as he enjoys seeing you getting all riled up because of him. he knows he's pushing your buttons, but he just can't stop. it's too fun. and you look too cute when you're angry at him.

"you're so fucking unbelievable!" you spit, as you abruptly get up and grab you empty cup of matcha and your bag, heading towards the exit. entering the bustling city, you see satoru catching up to you in your peripheral and walk even faster to the crosswalk, but not fast enough. satoru catches up from behind easily and places his hands on your shoulder, as you whip around and give him a death glare.

"what do you want?!" you ask irately.

"umm...i'm your ride to class, remember?" satoru says sheepishly, flashing you a grin.

could this get any worse? you roll your eyes. he is correct, and technically you could take the bus but it'll make you too late for your class, and walking is just out of the question. you sigh in annoyance. "where's your car?"

the walk to satoru's porche is short, but within that time, you both manage to make up as you always do. such is the waves your guys' relationship rides: daunting when it happens, but calm once the storm passes over. by the time you're at satoru's car, you both are laughing hysterically.

"fuck off! no way suguru said that to riko!" you exclaim, responding to satoru telling you that suguru responded to riko's "good morning" with the biography of his barber who cuts his bangs.

"his ass folds so easily when it comes to his bangs," satoru says as he turns on the ignition and starts driving. satoru thinks about the first time he met suguru and how they got into a minor argument because his bangs were the first thing satoru noticed. satoru's mind wanders, and he thinks about the first thing he noticed about you: your smile and laughter. the way you tuck your hair behind your ears whenever you get anxious, the way you play with the ends of your hair when you're flirting and you think you're being subtle, the way your nose scrunches when you're concentrating deeply, and especially the way you, without fail, always fall asleep leaning against him during movie nights.

"hey, y/n," satoru starts softly, "you busy tonight? thinkin' we study for our final next week and maybe watch a movie. have you watched saltburn yet?"

"ohmygod i haven't but i really want to!" you say excitedly, thinking about how shoko has been begging you to watch that movie since it came out. wait, parent teacher night. you frown. "oh wait actually, i'm not free tonight, but let's do tomorrow?" you offer sweetly, praying satoru for once is not nosy enough to ask what you're doing instead tonight.

"whatcha doing instead tonight?" he asks without skipping a beat.

"...i'm babysitting tonight." it's not use lying at this point, but you know it's embarrassing to say you're getting dinner with his son and going to a parent teacher conference.

"oh right, the thing you do for free now", satoru says, rolling his eyes. he could egg you on and press your buttons again. he hasn't decided if he will again just yet.

you decide to change the subject, not wanting to start yet another argument with him. "anyway, you wanna head to the barcade tomorrow before the theater to get drinks and hang? i think shoko and utahime are coming and they said something about inviting suguru, too" you ask, knowing full well what his answer will be.

"how could you fucking ask me that? how could you ask me if i want to go to the only barcade in this city after what fucking happened to me the last time i went there?!" he accuses you. you sense the irateness of his voice, knowing full well this is how he gets whenever you bring up the local barcade with him.

basically, earlier this summer, the four of you went to the flashing new barcade that opened downtown, thinking you would all have a couple drinks and play some arcade games. according to satoru -- you and shoko were, at the time, dry heaving in the bathroom from one too many AMFs (satoru's idea) -- some guy came in with his kid (you still didn't really believe this part because how was a kid allowed in a bar?) and not only "bullied satoru" (satoru's words), but also made off with his drink and tickets. you still aren't really sure what the big deal is, but you find it funny, nontheless, seeing satoru still get sour about that barcade.

"geez, sorry, i didn't know you were still upset about it." you say, raising your hands and eyebrows in defeat.

"i literally talk about it once a day in the group chat. i was finally gonna get you that jigglypuff plushie you always wanted with those tickets!" satoru confesses, and you almost feel a bit bad for him. almost.

"well, you can try again tomorrow night then", you wink, before satoru pulls up in front of the building where your class is. you hear satoru humph in defeat, and you know you'll see him tomorrow night at the barcade. you thank satoru for the ride, but right before you close the door, he calls out your name.

"hey y/n also, sorry 'bout earlier at the cafe.", he says (he doesn't sound sorry at all, you think. this is definitely a ruse to say something stupid), "but i needed to tell you something before you left. the answer is two but if i'm bored, probably three."

you stare at him blankly. what was he on about? "what?" you say, perplexed.

"it's how many times i jerk off in a day. just thought i should let you know since you asked," he says, with a cheeky smile on his face. cue something stupid! bingo!

"bye satoru." you say immediately, closing the door of his porch and crossing the street. god, satoru was one of the most annoying people you knew. why does your face feel so hot?

you try really hard not to think about what satoru just said, knowing he was just being his usual cheeky self. satoru touches himself twice a day? when does he do it? in the morning? who does he think of? does he think of you? what the fuck, y/n -- think about something else? remember you came all over toji's face?

woah, okay. that was a lot, even for you. you have no idea where that thought came from, and you're pretending like it never happened. you're pretending like your panties aren't getting damp thinking about satoru's flushed face and his large fingers reaching down and grasping his hard, veiny -

your thoughts are interrupted by a text on your phone:

toji: see ya soon, pumpkin. wear somethin' nice for me, yeah? ;)

[porcelainseashore]

Coffee & Secrets (6)

Series Masterlist

Pairing: Rookie Cop! Leon x Barista! Fem! Reader

Summary: As a cozy coffee shop owner in Raccoon City, you’re no stranger to visitors seeking comfort, quiet, and warmth. When a rookie officer named Leon finds a kindred spirit in you, it sets in motion a chain of events that forever changes the course of your lives. An alternate universe set in Resident Evil 2 Remake and inspired by the game Coffee Talk.

Content & Warnings: Canon divergence, coffee shops, romance, slow burn, strangers to lovers, idiots in love, fluff, slice of life, swearing

Author's Note: We’re nearing the end of this series! Thank you to everyone on here for your support, especially in the comments and reblogs. This will probably be my last Leon fic for a while. Sometimes it felt like I was writing into the void and it was a little disheartening, but I started to realise that I need a change of scenery and explore writing through other fandoms.

AO3 Link

Chapter 6: Full Circle

“Am I looking at the new Chief of Police?” 

You cracked a grin as Marvin graced your shop clad in his shiny new outfit and badge that made him look almost regal. Gold stripes and stars lined the cuffs and epaulets of his navy blue jacket. He removed his elegantly embroidered peaked cap, tucking it under his arm as he rubbed his buzz cut. And there he was again, the same old Marvin that you knew.

“You sure are.” He winked, reflecting your grin before a minor shadow loomed over his face. “Can’t say the circumstances I got promoted in were the most pleasant though.”

Laying your hand on his shoulder, you gave it a firm, supportive squeeze. “Everyone knows you deserve this, Marv. You’ll do great.”

“Aww, look what you’ve done! Making me cry all over my nice suit like that,” he emitted a low chuckle, his voice cracking up as he patted your hand. Wiping away a stray tear from his waterline, he cleared his throat and pulled up a chair at the counter.

“So, what can I get for the man of the hour?”

“You know me, I’m a creature of habit,” he affirmed.

You caught the drift, your hands already busying themselves as if they had a mind of their own. “Something gingery.”

The kettle whistled as steam rushed through its spout. Taking it off the stove, you poured it over a mixture of the fresh ginger and turmeric root you had diced up. You allowed it to steep for a while before adding in the jasmine tea leaves. Finally, you strained it into a tea cup garnished with the flower petals.

“Your celebratory drink—Golden Dawn.”

“I can already tell I’m gonna love it.” Marvin lifted the cup to his lips, blowing on it lightly before drinking it sip by sip. 

“Nice music too,” he added, bobbing his head along to one of the tunes on the stereo. “This what you kids listen to these days?”

Over the next hour, you engaged in lighthearted chatter until it came to the never ending squabble of who would pay—or not. As always, you won, telling the older man to accept the gift and enjoy some quality time with his wife and daughters.

As Marvin prepared to leave, Ben and Claire coincidentally came through the door. All three of them stopped dead in their tracks, tensing up as they eyed each other awkwardly. 

It was Ben who broke the silence, extending his hand as he said, “Congratulations, Branagh. I mean it.” 

And he truly did. There was not a note of insincerity in the man’s tone.

At this, Marvin smiled, giving Ben a cordial handshake. “Thanks, Bertolucci. Guess I’ll be seeing you around, though hopefully not on my case,” he joked. 

That elicited a roar of laughter from Ben. “I go where the story leads me, Chief.”

“You really are the devil in disguise,” Marvin noted wryly. “Well, I’mma head off, so have a good evening.”

“Bertolucci. Redfield,” he acknowledged, tipping his cap to the two before giving you a final wave as he exited the shop.

“Drinks on me,” Ben declared, smacking the counter table with his palm.

You raised an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t a bar have been a better choice?”

“Yeah, we’re headed there after,” he confirmed. “Just had to patronize the place that fueled all my sleepless nights first.”

“I read the article by the way,” you mentioned in passing as you got to work. “It was very well-written and fair.”

“Facts, you can’t go wrong with facts,” he clarified. “I don’t sensationalize.”

“You could’ve been scathing, but you didn’t. That’s an active choice,” you pointed out.

The article had identified several instances of corruption and gross misconduct that the previous chief had been involved in, but in a relatively neutral tone. It also ended on a more positive and optimistic note, creating hope for the future of the RPD.

“Heh, well,” he shrugged, pressing against the bridge of his spectacles as he gave you a coy smile. “Maybe I am getting soft.”

Turning to Claire, he noted, “You’re quiet today, Red. You should be celebrating, kid.”

“Mmm,” she responded with mild disinterest, though you could see her glancing at the shop’s entrance every now and then.

“I didn’t have shot glasses, so I used your favorite—espresso cups,” you teased, placing the two orders on the table. “These should make good pre-drinks.”

“What’s in it?” Ben asked skeptically, unused to anything other than his trusty coffee.

“Let’s just say a combination of lemon, olive oil and cinnamon. I added some other flavorings to make it more palatable,” you explained. “Prevents hangovers.”

Swirling the liquid, he pinched his lips together and remarked, “Guess it wouldn’t hurt. Bet it’s got one of those hippy names too?”

“Grandma’s Cure.”

“Hah! That’s a good one!” he exclaimed, taking a swig from his demitasse.

There was a short pause before he gave his verdict, “Hmm! Not bad… not bad at all.”

However, Claire still left hers untouched and her mind appeared to be elsewhere.

“Hey, you okay?” you asked out of concern.

Claire shook herself out of her thoughts, stumbling over her words, “Y-yeah, shit, I’m sorry.”

Consuming the drink as quickly as possible, she thumped the cup back onto the counter, cleaning her mouth with the back of her hand. Fortuitously, your next customer who came through the door appeared to be the one she was looking for.

“Leon?”

The young officer froze, swallowing nervously as he stared at her. “Claire.”

You and Ben exchanged looks as you tilted your head in the direction of the exit, indicating to him to give them some space. He nodded discreetly in response, understanding what you were getting at.

Immediately, he stood up with a grunt and clapped Claire on the back. “Alright, Red, I’ll make a headstart first and you can join me at Jack’s Bar when you’re ready.”

With that, he placed some cash on the table, casually saluting you before making his way out.

Claire wasted no time getting to the crux of the matter. “That anonymous tip—it was you, wasn’t it?”

Slumping down on the seat beside her, Leon conceded, “Yeah, you got me.”

“I shouldn’t have pressured you into it, I’m sorry,” she blurted out.

“No, you wanted to do the right thing,” he sympathized. “I was so caught up in an ideal that never existed, I forgot about that.”

“It was decent of you to get Bertolucci to hold off on publishing the article until Irons stepped down,” he continued. “At least it was less of a blow to the department as a whole.”

“Still, the way I treated you was uncalled for,” she argued. “You’re a good friend, Leon, I…” her voice cracked.

“Sometimes, people say things because they’re hurt,” he mentioned, giving you a knowing look. 

You smiled back, acknowledging the very same advice you had given him when you first met.

“Pals?” He stuck out his palm.

“What are you, twelve?” she scoffed. Breaking into a dazzling grin, she grasped his hand as though they were sealing a pact. “Pals.”

“Care for another?” you offered, presenting the drinks you had crafted up on the side.

Claire’s eyes twinkled. “Don’t mind if we do.”

Sherry arrived soon after, instantly taking to the redhead like an older sister. Eventually, Claire went off to join Ben, promising to return for a proper goodbye before leaving to finish her semester.

“How was school?” you asked, scooping yet another dollop of whipped cream into Sherry’s drink upon her instructions. She could be quite assertive when she wanted to be.

“Good…” she hummed. “Made a friend.”

“That’s awesome!” Leon commended.

“Oh, and no one dares to touch me, ’cause I told them you’ll kick their ass,” she added.

“Wait, what?” he guffawed, but she suddenly had the urge to use the bathroom and scurried off.

“Impossible,” he huffed as you snickered.

Leaning on your elbows over the counter, you addressed him, “Not that I don’t ask you this every day, but anything new with you?”

“Well, apart from the stuff with Claire and the RPD, it turned out that the background checks on the suspicious lady in red came up clean,” he reported.

“Wow, Kevin must be pissed.”

“You don’t say. Wesker kinda just lets her through too. The whole thing just screams trouble to me,” he admitted. “Guess you win some, you lose some.”

“Anyway, speaking of Kevin, he told me to pass you this.” Chucking a folded letter on the table, his icy blue eyes watched you like a hawk as an unreadable expression formed on his face.

“Huh, looks like everyone’s doing the rounds today,” you muttered, opening the paper to read its contents.

A telephone number was written down in bold black marker, followed by a “CALL ME ;)”

Your shoulders trembled as you burst out laughing, shaking your head in disbelief. That guy had some nerve for pulling off such a stunt, unless…

“You gonna?” Leon quizzed, and you swore you could sense a hint of jealousy in his voice.

“Whaddya think?” you smirked, closing the gap as your nose nudged against his.

His eyes fluttered, and he sucked in a sharp breath. You felt his lips barely graze yours until—

“So… are you, like, boyfriend and girlfriend?”

All at once, you were back at square one, Leon having hastily distanced himself away from you as Sherry stared at the two of you inquisitively.

“Yes—no. I mean, no?” Leon stuttered, his cheeks burning crimson as he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

You let out a frustrated sigh, deciding to leave them to their devices for the moment while you counted stock in the cabinets. At some point, Sherry wanted to go home and Leon took it upon himself to drive her back.

As you said your good nights, to your surprise, Leon wrapped his arms around your waist, dragging you in for a spontaneous embrace. “We’ll talk about this soon—about us,” he whispered into your hair.

Soon could not come soon enough.

Dividers by @cafekitsune

[maikochii]

Tattoo and Coffee.

Might be OOC.

It's fluff, so it's safe for you to read.

Enemies to lovers.

Words: 6700+

Tattoo Artist! Sylus x Female Barista! Reader

(They're husband and wife in the future in this AU, this story is how you and him first met and the progress of the relationship.)

I woke up and stretched my body on my bed. Well, as I do it, someone is just hugging my waist. It's my husband, Sylus. He's really clingy on the bed sometimes but I love it anyway. I kissed his forehead as I greeted him.

"Morning, sleepyhead."

"Your sleepyhead, sweetie." The way he said it with his morning voice, that made my heart feel so weak. I just shook my head with a smile, I said, "My sleepyhead. Alright, I'll make some coffee for both of us."

How we met, you asked? It started two years ago when I was the owner of my own cyber cafe. He is the owner of a tattoo shop besides mine. It's... Not even a lovey dovey at start.

It's not even sweet to begin with, I mean, we both are rivals? More like enemies. The way he teases me with his jokes sometimes makes me so pissed off. He sees me angry, he's just smiling or worse, smirking and teasing me again. Until the event that makes me fall in love with him.

I was cleaning the cafe during my shift. Sylus was there too that time, as he was clearing his mind with a cup of coffee. Surely, I assume that he's taking a break from his tattoo designs and many customers, especially females, requested tattoos from him. 'He's quite attractive, too- wait what the hell am I thinking? Him, attractive? No, no, no. He's not!' and I just continued cleaning a bit.

Several minutes later, one of the customers approached the cash register as I'm busy restoring some of the toppings and syrups. I just stopped right there and greeted them as usual. The guy looks decent, I thought it was good but I was wrong.

As I approached the cash register to take his order, he often touched my hand and I felt uncomfortable. I'm still in my shift, so I keep myself composed. As I left the cash register, that man made a possessive expression on his face, as he wanted to make me his, as I am unaware.

I came back to the counter and gathered the man's order as he already paid up. I thought he would leave but he gave me his phone number and address instead with evil giggles. I just accepted it with calm but deep inside, I'm scared a bit... This is truly the first time I was involved in something so... scary.

As I ended my shift and already cleaned the café, I looked at the window. My eyebrows frowned obviously as I saw the man earlier, in the car, waiting for me!? My legs are trembling a bit but I keep myself calm. Until Sylus opened up the door, I screamed out loud, unaware that Sylus came to the cafe, even though the café's closed by now.

"Just tell me next time that you want to come! I was scared to death!"

Sylus makes confused expressions on his face, asking. "What do you mean, sweetie? You're used to this by now-" He saw me closing my eyes with fear with my trembling body. He approached me and asked me seriously. "Sweetie, look at me and tell me what's going on. Can you do that for me?"

I slowly opened my eyes, looking at him. I answered. "There's... A man looking for me outside, in his car... I was too afraid to go out. He's actually one of the customers that I served during my shift... He even gave me his phone number and address as well." I was so scared that my tears that I've endured, flowed from my eyes.

Suddenly, he patted my head and wiped out my tears, saying, "Just let it out when in front of me. Cry all you want, don't endure it for too long, sweetie." My silent tears overflowed from my eyes as I approached and hugged him tightly. He just patted my back and hugged me back. "Let it out more. I have plenty of time for you, don't worry." I hugged him tightly, not aware of his anger carving on his face.

He asked, still composing himself, "Where is he?" I pointed out the man in the car, looking at me. He nodded and asked me again. "Be a good girl and make our favourite drink, as usual. I'll take care of that stalker for you, if it's okay with you?"

I just nodded with a blush as he suggested that. Little did I know, he's really going to use a bit of violence as the man ignores the warning. Meanwhile, I was making his favourite, coffee and mine was chocolate milk tea, with our desserts. I served it on the empty table and sat down on the chair, waiting for him to finish the job.

Several minutes later, Sylus came back with his bloody fist. I wasn't expecting that but I feel no surprises because from what I know about him is that sometimes, if negotiations aren't doing well, he's going to be violent as his last solution, except for work due to his professionalism

"If you're going to do that, just say so!"

"Better than nothing. Besides, you don't even text me or tell me right away after he left earlier. You think I didn't notice your movements after you served him? You're wrong, sweetie. I was there all the time. I know you're being honest but don't just keep it to yourself, alright?"

I sighed as I answered, "Fair enough. I should have told you next time." Sylus smirked as his thumb caressed my bottom lip, my eyes widened with flushed cheeks and reddened ears as my body frozen up. "You better be. Because I need to take care of what's mine. You're mine, sweetie."

I asked him, "You... really mean it, Sylus?" He nodded with a smirk, "Yes, my girl. To tell you the truth, I really like you. But I couldn't muster up the courage. So, I decided to tease you from time to time and then..."

He cleared his throat as his ears reddened a lot, looking away from my eyes. "And I just hope that you always remember me, good or bad."

My ears reddened a lot darker than him. His confession to me... I never expected he did all of that teasing just for me remembering him. I pouted so suddenly. "Be nice to me next time... Who knows... I would like to be yours..."

Now, his ears are reddened but his eyes are full of love and his lips carved a smirk as he hears my true admission. "My, my... Seems like I need to be a lot nicer for my kitten here."

"Hey, I'm not a kitten!" He grabs his phone, showing me the picture of a kitten and teasingly asks me, "This you?" I softly stomped my feet on the floor, and got myself teased by him.

"I'm not!"

"Yes, you are. Hahahaha!"

"I'm not!"

"Kitty~"

He just caressed my chin and I just purred out of nowhere. I realized it and was just shocked. "Ahhh! I'm not!"

"Deny it all you want, kitten. It doesn't change the fact that you like it." I just pouted for a while and then I suddenly chuckled, leaving Sylus and smiled in confusion. He asked, "What's so funny, sweetie?"

"It's just that I feel like I'm falling in love with you."

With a smirk, he replied, "You do? Maybe that's worth my effort, then." I asked in confusion, "Hmm? Effort?"

"Yes, effort. Making an effort to someone I have a crush on, especially on my kitten here. I'm head over heels for you."

My heart is beating, thumping, as I nervously asked him for something.

"I... I love you. Please, go out with me."

"No."

"Wha- why not!?"

"We're already dating."

"Since when!?"

He just poked my forehead gently and... I even remembered that we both have a drink for a celebration or something. Then, I got drunk and made a drunk confession after I saw a random girl being flirty to him.

I remember all of it and my face redden like a tomato with such embarrassment. He just chuckled and admits. "It might be embarrassing for you but for me, it's cute. Now, our drinks might get cold. Shall we take a sip, my beloved?"

As we sat down relaxing with our drinks, we even shared something like a story, an experience, maybe a flirty joke. Since then, we're already dating until 1 year later after dating, we are both already married to each other and have our own house with our own savings combined.

As I woke up, I made two cups of coffee, one for him and one for myself. Several minutes later, Sylus came to the kitchen and hugged me from the back.

"You looked spaced out, even with a smile. What's on your mind, sweetie?"

"It just reminds me of our confessions though." He chuckled with a smirk.

"But that confession is for me, right? And I already accepted you, just like you accepted me for who I am, even though I have a tattoo on my back."

"The tattoo is painted on your back but can I paint my love for you, in your heart?" Sylus just gave me a reassuring smile as he answered.

"You already did it, my wife."

[baronessblixen]

Fictober Day 3: Getting It Right

Mulder runs into the man Scully has gone out with a few times, but of course, he's not jealous or anything. Rating: T, wc: 1,017

Prompt: "I know you better"

Tagging @today-in-fic @xffictober24

Mulder isn’t sure when the best time is to meet one’s partner’s potential love interest, but he knows it isn’t a Friday morning, in line for coffee. He wouldn’t have recognized him – medium height, perfectly styled brown hair, and altogether average – if it weren’t for the phone call he received while they waited.

The guy in front of him is Sawyer Montgomery, tax lawyer and the man Scully has gone out with twice. At least that’s what she’s told him the other day over lunch. Mulder isn’t jealous. Of course, he isn’t. Why would he be? He merely almost choked on his tuna sandwich because he was surprised. That was all. Scully had to pat his back and was sweet enough not to mention his red face afterwards, or his teary eyes. He had a sore throat all day and lost his appetite for the next three days. But that's normal - isn't it?

Tax lawyer Sawyer – or Snoozer, as Mulder has started calling him in his mind – is still on his phone, talking to what must be his assistant. He’s ordering flowers for the ‘lady’, making Mulder roll his eyes. If Scully knew that Snoozer was referring to her as ‘lady’, she’d call the whole thing off right away. At least that’s what he thinks she’d do.

He can’t help but listen to the one-sided conversation. Partly because he’s curious – after all, this guy is dating Scully – and partly because he doesn’t have a choice. Maybe he should be glad that the guy isn’t using Scully’s real name. They’re regulars here and he doesn’t want anyone associating Scully with this guy. Unless they become serious, but that’s a whole different can of worms he’s not ready to open.

“I’ll be there soon,” Sawyer now says, glancing at his watch. “I’m getting my girlfriend her favorite coffee. Remind her that we have a date tonight.” Mulder plays with the button on his coat, trying not to think too much about what he’s just heard. Girlfriend. He didn’t think they were there yet. Hasn’t it just been two dates? Scully wouldn’t lie to him about that.

He can recall the moment she told him in great detail, right up to him choking, and her hand on his back. Two dates. Meaning that tonight is their third. The third date. Mulder hasn’t had one in a while, but he remembers what those typically mean. He reminds himself that Scully is free to date as many boring tax lawyers as she pleases. He and Scully are just partners. Aren’t they?

As he stands there, half listening to Snoozer, he thinks about it. About how it would be. After tonight, after Scully and Sawyer’s third date, they will go official. Scully calls her mother, with Sawyer throwing a hello in, making everyone laugh. He’s invited to Sunday dinner, and then to birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

When Bill Jr. meets this golf-playing, taxes-loving guy who couldn’t be more perfect for his little sister, he’ll sing Hallelujah. Mulder can see it all while he’s waiting to make his order. First up, however, is wonder boy Sawyer, who’ll soon be the one who picks up Scully from the airport when they return from out-of-state cases. He’ll take her home because soon, they will share one. Mulder swallows hard, knowing what will happen next. A picket fence and a dog. A child or two.

“Yes, I’d like a caramel macchiato with extra milk.” Mulder’s ears perk up. He waits to see if Sawyer orders anything else – but what would be the odds? What this guy just ordered isn’t Scully’s favorite coffee at all, it’s Mulder’s. Which means that when they met, it was Scully’s turn to bring coffee. And Sawyer got it all wrong. Maybe Mulder has too.

“Is that all?” The young barista asks, bored already at not even 9 a.m.

“That is all,” Sawyer says with a smile. When he turns with his precious coffee in hand, he nearly crashes into Mulder. “Oh, I apologize.”

“All good,” Mulder says, trying his best to sound and look friendly. He was right; Sawyer is altogether average, altogether boring. The two men nod at each other and then the other man is gone. Mulder will take his time, making sure he won’t run into him at the office.

“Are you going to order or just stare after this guy?” The barista asks him.

“I’m gonna order,” Mulder says, fishing out his wallet, smiling to himself. Right now, he feels like he has all the time in the world.

*

By the time he gets to the office, Scully is sitting at the desk, lifting her head and smiling when she sees him.

“Good morning.”

“Morning,” Mulder replies, eyeing the coffee beside Scully.

“Good thing I only bought one, huh?” He gestures toward the steaming coffee cup, and Scully responds with an apologetic glance.

“Um, Sawyer came by and just wanted to confirm our date tonight.” Mulder nods, pretends to be hearing this for the first time.

“Did he get you your favorite?” She doesn’t need to answer; avoiding his eyes is all the answer he needs.

“We’re still in that getting to know each other phase,” she says.

“Hmm, yeah, I remember that.” He puts his own coffee in front of her and lifts the lid. Scully takes a deep breath and almost moans.

“Is that-”

“A latte espresso with just a hint of cinnamon and cardamom? It is.”

“Thank you, Mulder.” She pushes the to-go cup Sawyer brought her away and takes the other one between her hands, relishing the smell. He tried her favorite once, claiming it was too bitter. Just like Scully claimed his preferred choice was too sweet. A perfect blend, he thinks now. He watches as she takes a sip from her coffee, her eyes fluttering close.

“Sawyer may know you,” Mulder says, rounding the desk and reaching over her shoulder to grab the other coffee, “but I know you better.” The blush creeping into her cheeks gives him hope—though he’s not quite ready to admit, even to himself, what for.

[x0x0josephinex0x0]

could you do a seventeen reaction to the “my bf told me to slow down on my spending” tiktok prank/trend

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSNkkMHsq/

ok that is absolutely hysterical yes i can!! hope u like it :) let me know if there's anything else you'd like to see! this is allllllll gonna be fluff so i think we're ok on the warnings...let me know tho!

scoups: "what are you doing, baby?" he calls across the room as you walk at a snail's pace toward your wallet on the counter.

"just following your advice to slow down on my spending," you say with a grin. a less-practiced eye would have failed to notice the corners of cheol's mouth twitch upward before he looks at you with a straight face.

"you know that's not what i meant," he says.

"yeah, well," you continue, finally reaching your wallet and picking it up, "I need to pay rent."

he can't help himself from cracking a smile at you as he watches your stupidly slow movements. rolling his eyes, he comes into the kitchen and grabs your wallet from you gently and puts it back on the counter. "move in with me," he says.

you're so shocked you freeze. "what did you just say to me?"

"don't pay rent. move in with me. you'll save money on rent, and gas money from driving here all the time, and most of your stuff is here anyway so it won't be that bad to move. move in with me."

"wait, wait. you want me to move in to save money? and for convenience?" this kind of hurts to hear.

he kisses your forehead. "i want you to move in because i love you and i want to be with you forever. but that'll free up a big part of your income, too, so you can save for other things."

he pulls you in by the waist. "and if you want to buy things, spend my money, not yours," he says, and his low, quiet voice makes you blush. "i get using your own money for gas and car payments and things like that, and i appreciate you wanting to be responsible for those things, but if you want a new outfit or you want to eat something, i'll get it for you. save your money for the essentials, and use mine for whatever else."

"you're ridiculous," you say, grinning, brushing his hair off his forehead. "all of that for little old me?"

he shrugs, smiling his lovestruck smile at you. "it'll all be yours one day anyway."

jeonghan: the first time you did it, he laughed. but now, at time number 4, he's starting to get confused.

"i didn't mean literally slow down, honey."

"i know," you say, still moving comically slow.

"can you stop for a minute and come over here?" he asks you quietly, a soft smile on his face. He pats his lap.

you give up on the theatrics and take a seat on his thigh.

"i want you to listen very closely, love. i don't want you to spend more money because there are things coming in the future that we should be saving for."

you smile at him. "i know," you say. "i'm sorry for being sassy about it. i just didn't like the way you said it."

"i'm sorry that i wasn't more clear about my reasons for asking you to be more careful." he holds you close and presses a kiss to your temple. "i know you wanted to pay for that wedding dress yourself, but you can always reconsider. i'm happy to pay for it."

"you already bought the ring," you remind him.

"and i also make a lot more money than you," he reminds you with a grin.

joshua: "why do you do that every time you go to pay for something?" he asks.

"because you told me to slow down on my spending," you reply with a grin, slowly tapping your card to pay for your coffee.

he laughs. "i appreciate how committed you are to following my advice," he says, "but that wasn't what i said."

you pause halfway between sliding your card into your wallet. "it wasn't?"

"no," joshua said, gratefully accepting the coffee from the barista and spinning on his heel to find you a seat.

you follow him, dumbstruck. "what did you say, then?"

he laughs. "i said you should stop spending money on me," he reminds you.

your mouth falls open. "i don't remember that part," you admit quickly.

he tucks a strand of hair behind your ear. "i know it's hard for you to receive any kind of criticism, constructive included," he says gently. "so next time i say anything like that, i'll try to frame it in a more positive way so the message is easier to digest. is that okay?"

you narrow your eyes at him. "are you trying to apologize for triggering my rejection-sensitive dysphoria?" you ask.

"yeah, that's exactly what i'm doing," he says with a smile.

you lean over and kiss him. "it's okay, josh. i can also work on managing my reactions better."

he catches your hand in his and brings it to his lips before the two of you pull out your laptops to begin working.

junhui: "what are you doing?" jun says, amused.

"i'm slowing down on my spending," you say, grabbing your keys with all the urgency of a sedated sloth and making your way to the door.

he giggles. "i can see that. what are you going to spend money on?"

"i need new shoes," you tell him.

"are you going to drive slow too?" he asks you with a laugh, watching you from the doorway.

"honestly, my plan was to start running the minute i make it out the door," you say.

"you're such a goober," he says, and when you turn over your shoulder to look at him reproachfully, you see the warm fondness in his eyes. it makes you pause for a minute, because he just looks so yummy leaning his shoulder against the doorframe, watching you with his half-smile and that feeling in his gaze that makes your knees weak.

"do you have time right now?" you ask him suddenly.

"why? did you want me to come?" he asks.

"well, yes, there's that," you say, "but i think there's something i need more than new shoes right now."

you grin as his eyes light up in realization about what you mean.

soonyoung: for awhile he was bemused when you would use your wallet like a car running out of gas, and his cute confused face would make you chuckle.

then, he was a little frustrated. "aw, come on," he'd say. "you know i didn't mean this." and when you'd just grin, he'd start laughing exasperatedly. "you're so stubborn!"

then he became a little worried. "how long are you going to do this?" he'd ask you, his eyes wide. he looked so precious like that that it almost convinced you to stop doing it so he stopped being worried.

almost.

and now, at the end of it all, he has given up. instead of fighting, now he's joined in your slow-motion option when paying for things. it has now become an inside joke. everyone around you is baffled when you approach registers at the grocery store like two tortoises, giggling like kids.

and you're reminded why you fell in love with him in the first place, which erases any indignation you may have felt about him asking you to "slow down" on your spending.

because everything is fun with him.

wonwoo: he is entirely unbothered by your ridiculous slowness when paying for anything these days. he just watches you with his steady gaze, sometimes grinning, always patiently waiting for you to finish.

finally, one day, he says, "you know, i only told you to slow down because you told me you were saving up to go on vacation. is that still the plan?"

you deflate a little bit. "my friends all bailed on the trip, so i don't think it's going to happen anymore."

wonwoo shrugs. "then i'll go with you."

"really?" you ask, surprised. "i didn't really take you for an amusement park guy."

"i'm not, really," he admits. "but i am your guy. plus anything with you is fun for me."

"i'd love that," you say, "but i was really looking forward to it being a girls' trip. we were gonna have a spa night and paint nails and do face masks, we were gonna go shopping..." you trail off as wonwoo's eyebrow raises.

"who says i cannot participate in a spa day?" he says. "or take you shopping?"

"i mean, i guess you can," you say. "but do you want to?"

"of course! i'm a huge proponent of self-care." he grins. "so when do we leave?"

jihoon: it had just slipped out one day when you were at the market. you had handed him a fifth gourd he didn't recognize, and he had said, "whoa, slow down on the spending!"

but now, because you are a menace, you had done exactly as he asked. every time you went to pay, you met his eyes with a mischievousness that for all his attempts to be serious never failed to make him crack a smile. it had become a kind of game between you -- how long could he last with your intense eye contact as you pulled out your money to pay at a speed that would make turtles look fast?

the answer often was "not very long" -- the longest he lasted was probably a generous four seconds. the shortest was the time a dog had actually collided with your legs and nearly knocked you over while you were doing it. you were fine, and his reflexive giggles after he steadied you made you giggle, too.

it was this incident that made him address it. "i didn't mean it," he said. "i'm sorry. that was a dumb thing to say."

because the two of you were in public, you knew better than to do what you felt like doing, which was kiss him all over his adorable face. instead, you settled for a quick kiss on his cheek, which still made his face pink. "it's okay," you reassured him.

seokmin: ever the sucker for a good bit, you were not at all surprised when seokmin joined in your "slowing down" prank. it didn't take him long, either -- by the second time, he was giggling along with you, blocking your card from the slot at the counter and inserting his own in slow motion.

"nooooooooo," you intone in horror, using a lower register than usual, mimicking a slow-motion movie voice, and seokmin can't handle it. he collapses in a fit of laughter, and you join in.

"i don't know why i told you to slow down on spending," he admits later through giggles. "i spend way more money than you."

"well, you also usually pay for my things, and you make more than i do," you reason. "it wasn't bad advice. i can always use a reminder."

he slings an arm over your shoulder. "maybe, but you also deserve reminders of how well you're doing, too."

you laugh. "seokmin, you give me those all the time."

"i can do more!" he insists.

"well, i'll never say no to that," you say as he kisses your forehead.

mingyu: he watches you with one eye twitching as, for the third time today, you reach your card slowly toward the slot.

"why are you doing this?" he says once you've left the store, sounding both frustrated and amused.

"you don't remember?" you realize. "oh, well, that makes this way less funny."

"please explain," he requests.

you sigh. "you told me to 'slow down' on my spending."

he giggles, and you give him a fond smile. "oh!" he says. "well, i don't even remember why i said that, but you can move at your normal pace. i don't actually mind if you spend money."

"thanks," you say, grabbing his offered hand. "you know, i was a little frustrated when you said that."

"why?" he asks, his eyes wide with surprise at this twist.

"because you were looking at the receipt from all the things i bought for a party we held at my place for your friends. it was your idea." you give him a sheepish smile. "sorry for trying to prank you as payback."

"damn. i wasn't even thinking when i said that," he says, looking thoughtful. "I'm sorry, babe."

you smile up at him. "it's okay. i know you had good intentions."

his eyes crinkle at the corners in that way that you love as he leans down to kiss the crown of your head.

minghao: he shouldn't find this cute. he should be encouraging you to stick to your goals. and he should be setting a good example, too. but here he is, grinning when he should be straight-faced, as you slowly approach the register.

"you don't have to do that, love," he says, his voice mild, trying to avoid laughing at your ridiculousness.

"you said to slow down," you remind him.

"i'm trying to help you meet your savings goal for this month," he groans. "and you are making it very difficult."

"well, it does actually help to do this," you say. "while i'm moving in slow motion, i have time to think to myself if the purchase is something i really need or is worth it. so your advice has actually been helping me make smarter money decisions!" you wiggle your eyebrows at him as you continue your painstaking trek to the register.

he watches you struggle for a brief second before giving up. quickly, he pays for the meal, and then drags you into a chair, giving you a kiss on the cheek that is much more aggressive than you're used to.

you look at him quizzically as he sits in the seat across from you. "are you that mad?" you ask him.

"no," he says softly. "you're just too cute. you're weakening my resolve."

you raise your eyebrow over your coffee cup. "i think you need to meditate more, minghao."

seungkwan: you started the prank months ago, as a sassy response to your boyfriend's observation that since you started dating, your bills have almost doubled. and even after you talked about it and set a budget that made you feel more comfortable, you continued it.

so why do you keep up the "slowing down on your spending" prank?

because seungkwan laughs. every single time.

you don't do it all the time. just in very particular moments -- usually if there's tension or low energy. you'll begin moving like the air is made of jelly, and he'll perk up immediately, laughing harder the slower you go. you milk it as hard as you can so he'll keep laughing, enjoying the sound like it's music.

inevitably, every time, he will look at you like you invented happiness. "i love you," he always says, sometimes in relief, sometimes in contentment, and sometimes in exasperation, but he always says it.

and by golly, if that's all it takes, you'll make a fool out of yourself a thousand more times just to hear it.

vernon: he literally doesn't notice. he just goes about like it's business as usual as you literally crawl toward your wallet. typical unbothered vernon. but this time, it's unacceptable. because you're doing your darndest to make him laugh, and he's not even picking up on anything being outside of the ordinary.

so you clear your throat, and vernon's eyes follow the noise to the literal floor. "yeah, babe?" he says casually.

"you're not going to ask?" you say, gesturing to yourself.

"about what?" he asks.

"why i'm doing this?"

he chuckles. "i just kind of figured you'd explain it to me."

you purse your lips. "you told me to slow down on spending."

"oooooooh," he says, amused.

"you need to spend less time around the guys," you huff, standing up. "it makes all my efforts a lot less exciting to you."

he brings you into a hug after brushing off your clothes, which are dusty from the floor. "well, firstly, i thought it would be good if we set a savings goal together, so that's a little different than just telling you to slow down," he points out. "and secondly, you're plenty exciting."

chan: the poor man is confused, but he rolls with it, matching your pace as you approach your wallet.

you absolutely know he has no idea why you're doing this, so you pause. "do you get it?" you say, your hand hovering over the leather case.

"not at all," he admits.

"i'm slowing down on spending."

he laughs. "oh!" he says. "i never would've gotten that." and then in a quick move, he grabs the wallet before you can.

"i only told you to do that because you were on the verge of buying something that i was planning on getting you for your birthday," he says. "but now that you mention it, i think i want to make it a rule that i get to pay for everything for you from now on."

"what? why?" you say, shocked.

"there are a few reasons. the best one is that i love you," he says, dodging as you snatch at the wallet in his grip. "but some other ones are: because i can, and because i want to give you the world."

as you swipe for the wallet again, chan wraps an arm around your waist. you freeze at the sight of his eyes smiling into yours, barely having a second to think about it before he presses a light kiss to your lips.

"you don't really need to slow down," he says, handing your wallet back to you as you try not to be too flustered. "it really was just the birthday thing. you can spend your money however you want."

"thank you, my love."

[kitashousewife]

FUZZY BRAIN

an: im distracting myself but i haven't stopped thinking about this idea. so thought i would give it a spin. super super loosely based on my interpretation of fuzzybrain by dayglow!

pairings: timeskip!kuroo x fem!reader

warnings: slight angst, stress mentions, eating and drinking mentions, kuroo needs a nap :/

-

"how's your day going?"

"no, i don't need a receipt."

a very confused barista stares back at kuroo, who blinks back at her.

"wait, sorry," he grimaces and shakes his head. "my day is alright, how is yours?"

she responds, but he isn't really paying attention. lately, he hasn't been able to focus on much of anything. he grabs his coffee and heads back to the office, forgetting the embarrassing conversation before sitting down.

spring had finally arrived in japan, bringing an onslaught of responsibilities along with it. like the blossoms floating in the wind, different tasks and deadlines seemed to float their way onto kuroo's plate. his planner is full, daily agendas scribbled into whatever room remains. nothing seems to slow down. each item he crosses off is replaced with a new one in a matter of minutes.

he's scatterbrained.

"remember, we have that marketing meeting at five kuroo-san," one of his colleagues pats him on the back while sneaking behind his desk.

"oh, that's right," kuroo mumbles, flipping through the pages of his planner, finally reaching today's date. staring back at him, among the six other important things due today, is the meeting. highlighted, circled, and underlined. "see ya then."

he leans back and groans.

at this point, the due dates and deadlines aren't bothering him. he's almost numb, but comfortably so. he's found comfort in the hustle of it all, avoiding having nothing to do. his mind craves being busy.

his body disagrees.

kuroo's aching fingers rub at his eyes, preparing himself to stare at his computer monitor for the next few hours. dark circles have formed underneath his eyes, unmoving. his head throbs, but when is it not lately?

"kuroo-san, ushijima wakatoshi's manager called just now and wants to speak with you," one of the department's secretaries taps her palm on his desk, causing the mound of papers to slide slightly. his typing continues, and kuroo doesn't even notice.

"kuroo-san?"

his head shoots up. "sorry, did you say something?"

she gives him a sad smile.

"no, it's nothing. i'll tell them to call back."

as she clicks back to her desk, kuroo's brows furrow, before he cringes. just like this morning.

he's not sure how he got to this point. kuroo's always prided himself on his quick wit and problem-solving skills, as well as his hard work. he wouldn't have been able to imagine himself like this. overworked, exhausted, brain full of fuzz, and eyes bloodshot.

he doesn't recognize himself sometimes.

the day trudges on, the phone ringing constantly along with a steady flow of messages in his inbox. he crosses things off on his list, finally reaching the end. he smiles, with relief or pride he isn't quite sure. soon enough, it's time for his meeting, which means it's almost time to go home.

-

kuroo stumbles out of the door of his building, quickly brought to reality by the honk of a taxi and the shuffle of other commuters. he sighs, beginning the walk home.

it's times like these when he's thankful to live so close to work. all he wants is to get home, shower, and sleep. he smiles again, so close to being in the comfort of his own space, when his stomach growls.

then he frowns.

kuroo groans for what must be the tenth time today when he realizes that despite all of his meticulous planning and record keeping, he's forgotten to get groceries this week. at this point, he's past all of his regular takeout places. closing his eyes with sigh, he crosses the street to enter the small neighborhood market.

his fingers rub against his tight neck, sliding around to loosen his tie before grabbing a basket. he wracks his brain, attempting to come up with any dinner ideas for the evening. nearly walking into the door, kuroo tries to remember what's in his fridge at the moment.

"welcome in!"

"you too," he half waves at the cashier, their own waving hand slowly falling in confusion. kuroo remembers the chicken in his fridge, and finally begins to form a menu. he grabs a few veggies, an extra bag of rice, and heads into the last isle. his hand grabs a bottle of oil, and he stops.

his brows pinch together, staring down the bottle in his hand. why did i grab this?

he shakes his head. his mind races, trying to remember any sort of thoughts he had before grabbing this. he blinks, running recipes through his mind before letting out an irritating huff.

"what is this even for?"

"frying things, usually,"

"what?"

you blink up at him, grabbing ingredients of your own for your basket. his eyes widen.

"oh my god, i'm so sorry. i don't-" he cuts himself off. "i'm so tired."

confused at his sudden raw honesty with a stranger, he scratches the back of his head.

"don't worry about it," you reach for a bottle of your own. "i've been there."

his fingers tap the side of his basket.

"how did you cope?"

you smile at him.

"it's okay to take a break. i mean i don't know what you do for work," you gesture towards his tie. he looks down at it and chuckles. "but everyone deserves to rest."

he nods. he could cry, honestly. this is the first real, non-work-related conversation he's had in weeks.

"making something good?"

he laughs. "i can't remember."

your wrist spins your basket at your side. you do feel for this stranger. the second you walked into the aisle, you noticed how tired he looked. the vacant stare and slow blinks said it all.

"you need to eat."

he snorts. "i don't think i have the energy to cook anything. i'm trying to talk myself out of swapping all of this for a frozen pizza,"

you smile, holding up your basket, displaying just that.

"nothing wrong with that!"

every second kuroo spends talking to you in this too-crowded aisle is melting the stress from his shoulders. he's tired, so tired but he doesn't want this to end.

"i want to see you," he slides the basket further up his arm, patting his pockets with his palms. "again i mean. i want to see you again. can i?"

you look up at the handsome stranger again, smiling when you notice a grin of his own.

"s-sure. need a pen?"

"if you've got one. i don't think i'd be able to remember a phone number tonight."

you dig in your purse for a pen, flipping an old receipt over to scribble your name and number down for him. after you hand it to him, he repeats your name.

"i'm kuroo, kuroo tetsuro. sorry for not introducing myself earlier," he mumbles, suddenly feeling a little shy. his vulnerability catching up to him at last.

"well kuroo, i hope you remember to call." you place the frozen pizza in his basket and walk towards the check stands. "cause i would love to see you."

kuroo smiles wide, the words he was going to say dying on the tip of his tongue.

while he enjoys his frozen pizza that night, still in his work clothes on the couch, he calls you.

he decides before the sun even sets that he's calling out tomorrow. he's going to sleep in, as long as his body allows. and he's going to see you. but this time he will give you his full attention.

kuroo's not a believer in fate, but you just might make him one.

[promise-you-doie]

Who knew? | L. Sohee

Who knew the love of your life would be the weirdo you met in a coffee shop?

Sohee x afab!reader

Word count: 8k

Warnings: curse words

Genre: fluff, angst

Playlist

“Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” Karina snickers, leaving the kitchen so she doesn’t have to be in the same area as you. 

Mad isn’t even a strong enough word to describe how you feel right now. You can feel your blood boiling, and every little sound causes you to get more and more frustrated. The reason? You missed all 7 of your alarms because you forgot to charge your phone the night before. 

If there was anything you hated more than the male species, it had to be waking up at 11 am. 

That means you have only 30 minutes until your first lecture of the day, which by the way isn’t nearly enough time to pick out an outfit, do your skin care, your makeup routine, and your hair, and still get to class on time. 

Waking up at 11 on any day, including the weekend, basically meant that your day was already ruined. You’ve already wasted half the day, so it’s best to protect your peace and just stay home. And that’s what you decide to do after attempting to do your hair but quitting after its lack of cooperation.

“I wanna die.” You slur into a pillow after successfully spending 30 minutes getting angry at any and everything. 

“Why die when the sky is clear and blue.” Winter chimes happily, a little too happy for your liking. 

“Maybe you just need some fresh air and a coffee.” Ningning suggests from the bathroom. “I heard there’s a new cafe down the street, you should go.” She adds 

“I don’t wanna go outside. I wanna lay here and die.” You say it as a joke, but some part of you is serious. 

Either way, You still end up at the cafe. Even though Siri kept giving you the wrong directions. What should have been a 7-minute walk turned into 2, 15-minute laps. It’s safe to say that by the time you arrived, you had completely lost your appetite for coffee.

But you’re persistent in making the best out of this unlucky Monday. Walking into the cafe with a facial expression that tells everyone around you that it was only 12:01 and you were already having a bad day. 

“Hi, could I get an Iced Americano?” You say blandly, forcing a small smile to cover the bad mood you are in 

“What size?” The barista asks

“Large.” You needed it. 

“Will that be all?” He asks. 

 You nod “Yes,” while patting your pockets for your wallet. Here's the catch, you left it at home. Before you resort to your last plan; screaming, crying, and sobbing on your knees, you decide to check your purse. Except, you don’t have that either.

“Your total is gonna be 5.05” The barista looks at you distantly as if he couldn’t see the internal war that you were battling right now before his very eyes. “I-” “I got it.” You watch someone stick their arm past you to put their card in the card reader. Thus paying for your much-needed drink. 

“You didn’t have to.” You say shyly, without even looking in the stranger's direction. 

“Don’t worry about it.” 

“I’ll pay you back.” You finally turn to look at him. “Just uh…” You rush to pull out your phone and unlock it. “Give me your number, and I’ll wire it to you as soon as I get home.” 

There were lots of things you hated, men being on the top of the list and being indebted to people is fourth down from it, with “Especially to men” written beside it in parenthesis. So anytime a man did anything nice to you, you wanted to make sure you paid them back immediately just so they don’t try to hold it over your head later. 

“It’s only five dollars.” the stranger says 

“Just let me pay you back, Please.” You beg, still holding your phone out for him to put his information in.

“Well if you really wanna pay me, you could just allow me to take you out on a date.” His response leaves you dumbfounded. A frown grows on your face when he smiles at you. 

If someone were to ask why you were adamant about burning all the men alive, this was the exact reason why. “You’re kidding… right?” You laugh, because surely this has to be a joke. When you walked out of your apartment this morning you were hoping to just have a cup of coffee and maybe some exercise. The last thing you were thinking was to have some guy hitting on you after he practically forced you to let him pay for your coffee. (you didn’t ask him to do that, so basically he did it by force.) 

“Y/n.” The barista calls out your name, luckily to pull you away from the weirdo that is subliminally asking to get in your pants. During broad daylight, in front of a crowd of people.

“Thank you.” You muster up a smile for the barista and head towards the door. Leaving the stranger behind. Owing him doesn’t even matter anymore. It’s not like you’re ever gonna see him again. 

You let out a deep sigh when you hear him yell “You’re welcome.” once you leave the cafe and the door closes behind you.     

“Today has to be the worst day ever.” You complain the second you step into your apartment. Catching the attention of your four other roommates. 

The apartment was small and probably shitty to most but it didn’t matter to any of you because you were all together and the rent was too high nowadays. So if it took all of you piling over each other just so you wouldn’t be homeless, so be it. 

However, being in a small 3-bedroom apartment with 4 other girls meant no secrets. Not because the five of you were nosy, it’s just that the walls were thin and there was absolutely nowhere to go to get any privacy. Best believe there were things about the girls that you wish you didn’t know. 

“Couldn’t have been that bad,” Karina says nonchalantly, walking past you towards the living room to plop down on the couch and catch up on the series she’s been binging for a week now. 

“Well, first I woke up late..” You’re tailing after Karina but get stopped when Ningning walks in your direction, only to take the coffee out of your hand and begin taking sips out of it. “This is good.” She nods without acknowledging the story you’re trying to tell everyone. Skipping to the couch with your drink still in her hand. 

“There’s probably someone in the world dying right now, while you’re crying about sleeping in for a few hours.” Giselle scolds but she doesn’t even take the time to look at you. She just takes a seat next to Ningning and helps the two girls finish what’s left of your coffee. 

“No, but listen, I went to go to the cafe as you guys suggested. But the directions were being stupid.” 

“Was it the directions or was it you?” Karina asks, shaking around the ice in the coffee. 

“It might have been me but that’s not the point.” You dismiss, “After like 30 minutes I finally find the cafe and I go to place my order.” 

“But let me guess- You forgot your card.” Giselle interrupts you.

“Well, yeah. And then-"Wait, if you forgot your card, how’d you get this coffee.” Ningning asks instead of letting you finish what you’re so desperately trying to get out. 

“The barista obviously thought she was cute and gave it to her for free,” Giselle answers for you. 

“No. I-” 

“For free? I don’t think so. Y/n’s pretty but she’s not ‘I think you’re so pretty that I’m gonna risk my job and be homeless’ pretty. Some guy probably just found interest in her and paid for her coffee, so she insisted on paying him back because she never knows how to accept when someone’s being nice but he refused cash and asked her to just let him take her on the date instead.” Karina somehow predicts everything perfectly, which is kinda scary. 

“Yeah, actually” You confirm, but you’re still at a loss for words. 

“So what did you say?” Ningning turns to you. 

“No, of course. This is y/n we’re talking about.” Karina sits up to give you the last bit of coffee but winter reaches it before you do. Swiping it right from under you and taking the last swallow. 

“Well, at least you got free coffee.” Giselle points out. 

“And I'll tell you what I got,” Winter demands everyone's attention. Throwing her arm around your shoulder and turning to you when she says “We’re gonna get you laid tonight.” 

“What are you talking about?” Giselle asks before you get the chance. 

“Jaemin just invited us to a party and guess who’s gonna be there,” Winter asks, pointing to Ningning who pipes up, slapping her hands together.

 “I’m guessing, Jaemin.” You say nonchalantly. 

“Sohee.” Ningning chimes. By now she’s jumping up and down. 

Sohee is the guy she’s been trying to set you up with for weeks. You never met him and you don’t really wanna meet him. She tells you that she has a feeling that you’ll like him but you don’t think that’s the case because well, he’s a man. 

“I’m not going.” You state pushing Winter's arm off of you so you can go to your bedroom. Pretending not to hear all of them yell “Boring.” before you close the door. 

Another con with living with four other girls is that everyone is always ganging up against you. There wasn’t much ground for you to hold when it was always 4:1. With that being said, it was no surprise that you still ended up at Jaemin’s party even after making 101 excuses as to why you couldn’t go. 

You were a few hours late of course. If the girls were gonna drag you out you had to make sure that you wasted as much time as possible. 

“Here, drink this.” Giselle pushes some drink in your face. 

“What is it?” 

“Doesn’t matter, drink it.” She continues pushing the cup towards you until you take it and down the whole thing. Not caring what it is because you’re sure that she wouldn’t give you anything too dangerous right?

wrong.

“That’s horrible.” You yell over the music, wiping the excess liquid from your lips with the back of your hand. 

“Isn’t it? I thought I was the only one.” Giselle laughs while taking the cup from your hand. You didn’t bother to argue with her, since it was something that she had a habit of doing. Instead, you just sit there around the couch watching everyone else have fun and decide that you’d rather be home. Or probably anywhere else. 

Some people might say that you’re a prick or a party pooper, that you were stuck up and unfun but you’d say, they were absolutely right. What are you even supposed to do at these kinds of things? All you saw were really bad dance moves, a mess, and a hangover in the morning. What could be so fun about that? 

“Woah.” You hear someone say from behind you. You don’t roll your eyes yet but you want to, because you’re almost sure you know who it is before you even see them. “I didn’t think this would be the place that I run into you again.” The boy says when you finally turn around to meet him. 

The universe must absolutely hate you, you think. Because there is just no way that you run into the same man again within the same day. “Why not?” You say arms crossed with a frown bigger than the one you had this morning when you ran into him the first time. 

“Well…” He looks you up and down.

“What are you trying to say?” 

“This just doesn’t look like something that you’d be into, that’s all.” He smiles and leans against the wall beside you. “But I’m glad you’re here.” 

This time you roll your eyes and walk away. You don’t have enough time nor do you care enough to try and change his mind about you. Thankfully he doesn’t try and chase after you but he does yell “I hope you enjoyed the coffee.” to which you hold your middle finger up behind you so he can see it. 

“Y/n where are you going?” Ningning runs to you, tugging at your arm when you reach Jaemin’s front door. 

“Home.” 

“Wait! You have to meet Sohee first.” 

“I’ll be fine.” You say trying to get out the door."

“Just 30 more minutes please.” She begs, getting down on her knees but not letting go of your hand. 

You could argue with her, but one thing about Ningning is that she’s never lost an argument. So you take the easy way out and distract her instead. 

“Oh my god, is that Sungchan?” You spur randomly 

“You can’t fool me Y/N.” She looks at you unamused, but pipes up from the floor the second she hears a stranger from behind yell “Is that Sungchan.” 

You blink once and she’s gone, mixed in with the other crowds of people. And you take your opportunity to run away, grabbing the first taxi you see and heading back to your apartment. 

The steam from your shower follows you from the bathroom into your bedroom when you sit on your bed. Drying your hair with a towel, you take a deep breath. This is great, it’s quiet and calm just the way you like it. 

That is until your four roommates come crashing into your room, screaming and squealing over each other and you can't even make out what any of them are saying. The only things you’re able to make out are something about fate and the Sohee guy that Ningning’s been telling you about. 

“Wait, one at a time.” You stand and hold your hands out. “Giselle first.” You add

“Who’s turn is it to cook tonight? I’m hungry.” She slurs and then walks out of the room before any of you can answer her question. 

“Okay… Winter.” You point to her when she holds her hand up. 

“HI.” She holds her hand over her mouth when she giggles. 

“Hi, Winter.” Her giggle gets louder when you smile back at her.   

“Sohee wants to meet you,” Ningning yells, not giving Karina a chance to speak. 

“I’m not interested.” You state, sitting on your bed. 

“Come on, please. Just once.” She pleads for the second time of the day. 

“No.” 

“He could be the one.” Ningning begs even more.

“I don’t think so.” 

“He’s cute and sweet and probably even romantic.” She adds

“Then you date him.” You mutter, laying down on the bed and closing your eyes. 

“He wants you.” She continues even though you’ve turned your lamp off and shifted comfortably under your bed. 

“I don’t want him.”

Other than your bedroom the best place on earth is the library. An endless world of books and possibilities. The best part about it? It’s completely quiet and the librarian always gives you one of her home-baked cookies. 

Today the library is completely empty which means it’s even quieter than usual. The only noise is the traffic noise and the thunderstorm happening from outside. Which is even better for you because you know your afternoon reading session is going to be better than ever. 

Walking down the romance aisle, dragging your index finger down each of the books until you find the very book you’re looking for. The spectator in the painting: volume 7/9. 

You had spent the last four months binging the book after your favorite book blog suggested it. A story about a prince who falls in love with a violinist and risks his life to save her when she gets sentenced to death after treading too deep into the king's chambers. 

The series was astonishing, just when you thought you knew what was gonna happen next, Boom! A plot twist. 

“There it goes.” You whisper to yourself when you find the book on the top shelf out of place from where it’s supposed to be. 

Your heart drops when you hear a somewhat familiar voice. The library is dead silent so when the boy walks in with his green sweatshirt and crossbody bag you immediately break out of your world. Leaning over the bookshelf to see if the voice belongs to who you think it belongs to.

“Good evening, Miss Lynn.” The boy greets happily leaning over the counter. You can tell he visits the library often because of how comfortable he is, smiling and making jokes with the librarian. That doesn’t bother you, but what does is Ms. Lynn passing him one of her home-baked cookies and joking with him about how he shouldn’t tell anyone. just like how she does with you. 

You take that as a sign to mind your business, not even wanting to know who the boy is anymore. Except when you think to walk away the librarian points in your direction, guiding the boy to the sci-fi genre of books behind you. What’s even worse is the exact second the boy turns around you see that he’s exactly who you thought it was.

“Fuck.” you mutter under your breath and hide behind the shelf. Holding your book to your chest. You clasp your hand over your mouth. You want to stand there and take in the shock that your body just went through but you know the better option is to get out of there as quickly and quietly as possible without him seeing you. Turning on your heels and walking quickly out of the aisle.

You’re almost there when you hear the boy call out for you. 

“Y/n?” You know you should just keep walking away but you can’t. You stop dead in your tracks and slowly turn back to him. He strolls closer to you when he’s sure that he called for the right person. 

“How do you know my name?” you question, suddenly every crime documentary comes to mind and your heart is racing. He could be a stalker or maybe a murderer. 

“It was on your coffee order.” He answers with his usual smile. except this time it’s a lot more reassuring, no one with such an adorable smile could ever harm you. Right?

After a few seconds of silence, he points to the book you’re holding. “you read this too?” 

“No, I was just curious about it. But now that I look at it, it seems uninteresting.” You flip the book around as if you’re examining it. 

“I thought people usually started with volume 1.”

“Is this not…” You feign ignorance, flipping the book around to see that it says volume 7 as if that wasn’t the one you intended to read. “Oh I don’t have my glasses, I tho…”

You trail off looking back at the boy. “I don’t have to explain myself to you.” you scold him.

“You don’t.” he agrees while reaching for the book in your hand. “I don't think you’ll like it anyway, the main character is so annoying. she’s always so defensive.” 

Your first instinct is to defend the woman, even if she is fictional. “She’s not-“ but then you realize you’ve blindly walked into his trap.

“Whatever, just give me the book.” You mutter, pulling the book from his hand and walking out of the library. Not caring that he fondly watches you stomp through the library doors with the book still in hand.

“Why won’t he leave me alone?” You dramatically yell upon entering your apartment. 

“Who?” Giselle pops up first

“he?” Karina comes out second

“No! no one can talk to you right now. You’re already taken.”Ningning runs out grabbing by your arm as if this was gonna protect you from the boy, who’s not even in the room. 

“taken?” everyone except Ningning calls out at the same time.

“By Sohee.” 

Instead of a verbal response, you just roll your eyes, Ningning was very persistent, you’ll give her that.

“Okay wait, who's the guy that won’t leave you alone?” Winter asks 

“The guy from the coffee shop. It’s like he’s following me around, first at the cafe, then at the party, and now at the library.”

“The party?” Giselle questions “Is that why you left early.”

“That and I didn’t really wanna see Karina making out with a bunch of different strangers.” You admit, subtly gesturing to her with your hand. 

“Fair” Karina nods 

“Is he cute?” Winter questions

“The contrary! ” You somewhat shout. You’re very driven and determined to prove that you’re not into this guy even though you know it’s a lie. “What's even worse is that he won’t leave me alone and he knows my name.”

“like a stalker?” Giselle suggests 

“Probably, this is why I hate men.” You throw your hands up

“But you’ll love Sohee,” Ningning adds.

Some days go by when you don’t run into him. five to be exact but it wasn’t like you were counting. You didn’t wanna see him, but it was torture for you to walk into places and constantly look over your shoulder because you thought he might be right behind you. 

You’re sitting at the kitchen counter, head propped up by the knuckle of your hand. You’ve been up for hours trying to finish this paper for your biochemistry class, but you’re not making any progress. There were only two coherent lines written on the paper and a bunch of random letters that appeared when you slammed your head on the keyboard of your computer. 

“I am so fucked.” You mutter, head still stuck into your laptop.

Your head stays there just a moment. You just needed a small break, nothing serious, just a small moment to reboot your brain and give you maximum creativity and intellect. 

Except it wasn’t just a moment, you had slept through your first two alarms. Head popping the second your alarm begins to ring, immediately your eyes go to the time. “No~.” you groan frustratedly. throwing your legs over the chair and running into your bedroom to get dressed.

luckily you had just enough time to get some coffee and this time you brought your card. You made sure of it. 

You walk into the cafe and stand behind the six people who are already in line getting ready to place their orders. Humming along to the tune that they have playing lowly from the speakers, you pull out your phone to kill time, going back and forth through your social media. Until it’s your turn to place the order. 

“Good morning, what can I get for you today?” You notice the barista is different from the last one and much more welcoming as well. 

“I’ll just take a small iced americano.” You say, pulling out your wallet to pay for the coffee. 

“And can I get your name for the order?”

“Y/n” 

“Okay, I’ll call out your name when the order is ready.” 

“Perfect thank you.” You nod and find a table to go wait, Although it doesn't take long for the man to call your name. You stand up almost as soon as you sit down, pick up your iced drink, and head to the door. 

Just moments before you reach the door another man walks into the small coffee shop. You can tell that he’s already preoccupied with his phone to notice that you’re on your way out. So you take the initiative to get out of his way. However, it still doesn’t stop him from bumping into your shoulder and knocking your (thankfully, iced) coffee all over your clothes. 

“Watch where you’re going.” He’s the first to yell, he doesn’t bother helping you clean up the mess he made, and he doesn’t even apologize. 

The asshole just walks right past you. 

“Do you want me to kill him?” “Ye-” You almost say “yes.” on instinct but ultimately refuse and turn around to face the boy behind you. Letting your shoulders relax when you meet his soft eyes and familiar smile. “No, it’s fine.” No matter how hard you try you can’t stop the smile that grows on your lips. Hurrying and looking down before he could see it too. 

“I’ll go see if I can get a mop.” he walks away too soon to hear you say “okay.” and you stand there waiting for him with a stupid smile on your face as if you weren’t just wishing he’d vanish less than a week ago.

You’re only able to pull yourself out of your trance when he finally comes back with the mop. You reach to pull the mop out of his hand so you can clean it up but he stops you. “I go this, you can just wait over there. I’ll buy you a new coffee.” As if you weren’t slowly falling for him already. 

“Okay.” You nod sheepishly, walking to where he guided you. 

You weren’t one to get flustered, and especially not by man. But here you were kicking your feet, blushing and giggling all because someone offered to buy you a new coffee. 

It takes only 9 minutes for him to walk back to you with a fresh cup of iced americano. “You didn’t have-” “I know.” he cuts you off, pushing the coffee towards you until you accept it. You finally do after a few moments of just staring at it. 

“Thanks,” you say last, receiving the cup from his hand and getting ready to walk away. He lets you make it all the way to the door before he calls to get your attention. 

“Wait.” When you stop and turn around he jogs towards you and wraps his jacket around you to cover up the coffee stain that you have smudged into your shirt. “Here.” 

You don't fight with him this time because you’d rather wear his jacket down the street than a huge coffee stain on the front of your shirt. “Thanks.” is all you say, as you smile at him one last time. Turning and walking out the door not forgetting to sneak a few last-minute glances at him through the window.

The walk towards your school was like straight out of a movie. You’re grinning from ear to ear, giggling to yourself, and dancing along the sidewalk. Not caring for the strangers that were oddly staring at you.

You could say the coffee gave you energy but really it was the owner of the green varsity jacket you were wearing. 

Then that’s when it hits you. You stop dead in your tracks realizing that you have no way to return the jacket after today since it isn’t promised that you’ll see him again. 

Without thinking much you turn around and run back to the cafe, fingers crossed that he’ll still be there when you get there

You end up back in front of the cafe, panting and puffing but you still shuffle into the small shop and begin frantically searching for the boy. 

He was already long gone, the cafe had picked up activity since you’d left but he was nowhere to be seen. 

You’d encountered him four different times and even managed to get his jacket, but you still had yet to learn his name. The only thing you knew about him was that he read romance and that he likes coffee, parties, and apparently the color green. 

“Whose jacket is that?” Winter asks from your bed, watching you cautiously hang up the varsity jacket in your closet. You hurry and close the door to restrict her view of the overgarment.

“I bought it the other day.” You spur 

“Oh please, that is not your style.” Winter teases when you continue folding all the rest of your laundry. 

“I just needed something really quick.” You miss when Gisselle goes into the closet behind you and pulls out the jacket. 

“This is a man’s jacket.” She calls out, “I can still smell his cologne.” 

“A man’s jacket?” Karina and Ningning suddenly appear out of thin air. 

Squeezing your eyes shut before shoving your face into the palms of your hands, you wish you could disappear right there and then. There’s no point in even trying to explain yourself. You doubt you’d even get through the story without smiling.

“Y/n honey, we need to talk.” Ningning reaches for your hand. 

“talk?” You ask but get ignored by all four of your roommates. Karina and Winter both guide you to sit on your bed for whatever it is that Ningning has to say. She holds your hand as she looks at you to say “You’re forbidden from ever seeing him again.”

You cry “Wha- forbidden. you can’t do this.” You look around to the rest of the girls to defend you but they do absolutely nothing. 

“We've already set you up on a date with your soulmate.” Ningning leans in front of you so you can turn your attention back to her.  

“soulmate?” You question first but then circle back to the bigger problem. “A date?”

“You’ve led us to do this.” 

“How is this my fault? I didn’t ask for this.”

“we’re worried for you, if you don’t start dating now then when?” Winter interjects. 

“This is absurd, I don’t need to date.” You argue but it’s of no use because you still end up at the diner where the girls told you the date was gonna take place. 

You’re not really dressed for a date, just a simple pair of jeans, some sneakers, and the oversized green varsity jacket that you acquired two days ago. 

Wearing another guy's jacket on a date wasn’t ideal but neither was going on a date against your will. 

It was by force obviously, you weren’t here because you wanted to be but because you had no other choice. Ningning threatened to burn all of your prized possessions if you spent less than 30 minutes with the man she’s been dying to set you up with. 

Quite frankly you were starting to grow curious about this Sohee guy.

“Table 4” You murmur under your breath, it’s not hard at all to find the table. You knew this diner like the back of your hand since it’s the place that you and your roommates used as a hangout spot since your first year of university. However, you begin to question yourself when you see a familiar face sitting at the table where your date’s supposed to be. 

“What are you doing here?” You stop and question. 

The bow stands up when he notices you approach him “I’m here to see you.” 

“You can’t be here, I have a date.” 

“With Sohee?” He asks, but it sounds more like a statement to you. 

You’ve seen this before. (not from personal experience of course.) You’re getting stood up by a man you’ve never even met. The funniest part is you never wanted to go on this date in the first place. “Did he bail at the last minute?”  

“I don’t think we’ve ever gotten a chance to properly introduce ourselves.” The boy speaks, 

“If he’s not coming we don’t need to waste our time, I completely understand.” You halfway turn to leave before he blurts “I’m Sohee.” He holds his hand out.

This was a twist you didn’t even see coming. Looking at him with his hand held out towards you, all you can think about is Ningning trying to convince you that you and him were “written in the stars.” 

“Oh, you’re Sohee.” You repeat followed by a laugh of embarrassment. “Sorry about that, I thought-” You’re getting ready to explain yourself but decided against it. 

“Do you wanna sit down?” Sohee asks, only after watching you stare nervously at the chair in front of you. 

“Oh yeah, that’d be smart.”

Awkward is when you take ten minutes staring at the menu because you thought that would be better than staring at the boy in front of you. Taking your time to read the food items, ingredients, and even calories (which you couldn’t care less about.) Especially when you already knew what you were gonna order anyway. The same thing you always order, A burger with a side of fries and a lemonade. 

“I’ve never seen you this shy before.” Sohee interrupts your thoughts as he pulls the menu from your hands. 

“I’m not shy, I’m just trying to figure out what I wanna eat.” You spit, pulling the menu back so you can finish wasting time. 10 minutes down, 20 more to go.  

“I’m guessing you don’t go on lots of dates.” He continues. You wanna yell at him for talking too much while you’re trying to read, but you don’t. You don’t get the chance to, as soon as you open your mouth the waitress comes out with food. 

“We haven’t ordered yet.” You look up to the kind waitress.

“I ordered for you, I wasn’t sure what you might’ve wanted so I just got you a burger.” As if on cue the server places a burger right in front of you, with a cup of lemonade to match.

You wanted to hate him, but boy was he making it so hard.

“If you already ordered, why did you let me spend so much time looking at the menu?” You ask when the waitress leaves. 

“In case I got something you didn’t like.” He says casually, reaching for his fork. 

Either you're just very simple or he’s made to be the love of your life. it could be both. 

“You didn’t have to walk me home.” You’re looking at the ground, watching how your footsteps are in sync with his. It’s pretty dark outside so naturally it’s colder, but for some reason, it doesn’t bother you. 

“I wanted to.” He says simply, and the look in his eyes tells you that he’s being sincere.

It falls silent again, still awkward but this time it’s a comfortable awkwardness. And now that you kinda got to know him you realize that he’s not nearly as bad as you thought he was. So much for first impressions. 

“We’re here.” You stop right in front of your apartment building, standing on your tippy toes and landing back on your heels.

He first takes a glance at the semi-tall building and then back down at you, who's trying to look anywhere else but him.

“Thank you for agreeing to see me tonight.”

“yeah of course.” You nod even though you were completely against the idea. 

“I had fun.” 

“Me too.” You nod again. 

“So I guess I'll just see you around?” You can tell he’s just stalling now.

“I’ll definitely see you around.” you giggle.

“I guess it’s time for you to go now.” 

“I guess so.” you agree 

“Well, goodnight.”

“goodnight Sohee.” you watch him walk away, but he’s taking his sweet time. dragging his feet along the ground the farther he walks away from you. You almost find it amusing how dramatic he’s being. 

As you get ready to walk in and you grab the ends of the jacket you're wearing you realize that this is the perfect opportunity to return it.

“oh, Sohee.” You only have to call out once for him to come running back to you as if he never left.

“yeah?”

“Your jacket.” He stops you when you’re halfway through pulling it off.

“Keep it, it looks good on you.” 

“Are you sure?”

“goodnight, Y/n,” He says last, walking away and leaving you with his jacket. 

“How’d it go? What happened? Isn’t he cute?” Ningning bombards you with questions when you first step foot through your door. 

“he’s tolerable” You kick off your shoes and throw them off to the side. Then you reach to pull your jacket off, sliding it down your shoulders and hanging it up once you reach your bedroom.

“That’s great, it’s an improvement.” 

“If you say so.” 

“Did he say anything about the jacket? I told you not to wear the jacket.” Ningning mumbles 

“I bet he smelled the other man’s cologne.” Giselle snickers as she walks by.

“He said it looks good on me.” The room goes quiet and everyone stares at you...” Ningning watches you, jaw slacked and dilated pupils. 

“Y/n has a boyfriend, Y/n has a boyfriend.” It takes them not even ten seconds to form a circle around you and begin dancing like school children on the playground. 

Your favorite time of day is when the sun begins to set. When the sky is painted in shades of orange and pink the birds fly over the sky. Your bedroom is flooded with the natural lighting of the sky, matching the mood of the jazz you have playing in your headphones.  

For a moment you sit and gaze out of your window, observing the people walking the streets below you, watching the cars drive past and the trees that sway in the direction of the wind. All of these things distract and entertain you, yet they still remind you of the boy you're trying so hard to forget. 

You stand up and close the blinds of your apartment. Blocking out all light, your room drifts into complete darkness, with only peaks of light shining through the cracks. 

That’s how it stays when you walk into the kitchen with the rest of your roommates. 

‘Oh, there she is.” Karina dramatically announces your appearance when you shuffle into the crowded space. Taking a seat on the stool next to her. 

“How come you don’t talk to us anymore?” Giselle asks 

“You are being dramatic, we talked this morning.” 

“You only asked me if I knew what you did with that hideous green jacket.” She scoffs 

“It’s not hideous, you just have no taste.” You playfully scold. 

“Whose jacket is that anyway?” Winter speaks up, digging in the fridge to pull out the orange juice. Wincing when Ningning slaps her arm for drinking out of the carton instead of grabbing a cup like everyone else. 

“Mine.” You answer. 

“No but actually?” Giselle asks, just as curious as the rest of the girls who are all watching and waiting for you to answer the question honestly. 

“Some guy let me borrow it because I spilled coffee on myself.” You leave out quite a few details but you’re sure what they don’t know won’t hurt them. 

“Okay so wait? Some random guy gave you his jacket-” Winter starts but Karina finishes “And you accepted it.” 

“I didn’t wanna walk around with coffee stains.” You shrug. 

“This is great, this is great. You’ll just go downstairs and explain that to Sohee so he won’t get the wrong idea.” Ningning claps as she gradually gets closer and tugs at your arm. Completely missing how blatantly confused you are. 

“Downstairs?” 

“Yeah, in his apartment” She never stops tugging at your arm. 

“Wait, he lives here?” 

“Yeah? Unit 411.” Ningning finally registers just how confused you are. “Didn’t he tell you?” 

Instead of answering her question you run out, leaving her and the rest of the girls as puzzled as you were a few moments ago. 

Without thinking much you knock on the door, just to see if what Ningning said was true. But after you knock you start growing anxious, suddenly you can hear your heartbeat and your hands are frantically moving at your side.

In the span of 10 seconds, you check the unit number 12 times just to make sure that you have the right one, and you’re not knocking on someone else's door. Soon you start to wonder what would happen if someone else answered the door. 

Just when you come to the conclusion to bail, you hear the doorknob turn and the door opens to reveal the boy you expected to see.  

Unfortunately, now that you see him, you realize you hadn’t planned after this point. So you just stare at him eyes wide, unsure of what to say or do. You’re just as shocked as he is when he stares back at you with a matching expression. 

You clear your throat before you take the initiative to speak first. “Why didn’t you tell me that you lived here too?” 

He answers, “I didn’t wanna scare you.” 

“Oh… that makes sense.” You nod, looking down at your pajama pants and bunny slippers. 

“Do you wanna come in?” He holds the door open for you to accept his invitation but you shake your head and back up. 

“No, I can't, I have to~” You struggle to come up with an excuse. “Finish my laundry.” You finish, nodding as if that’s gonna make him believe you. 

“Okay, well, I’ll see you around then?” 

“I guess it’ll be hard not to.” 

You were never too fond of men. 

While most people had a tragic backstory that led them to hate the things they hate, you didn’t. 

You weren’t crossed by a man in your past resulting in your blatant hatred of the entire species. Sure you’d had unfavorable interactions with quite a few men in your life, but that wasn’t what led you to dislike them. 

It took many years of observation for you to come to your conclusion on the male race. However it didn’t take long for you to learn a few things about them.

But the most important thing was, they were all the same. 

That’s what you thought for years, every man, boy, guy, or male is the same. Yet, you find that your conclusion might not be entirely accurate. 

Looking at Sohee you feel that he’s different from all the guys you’ve ever come across. He isn’t selfish, or obnoxious. He isn’t entirely full of himself. 

He’s actually sweet and easy to be around. 

Which was good for you because, since you found out that he lived within a few hundred feet from you he began to follow you around like a puppy. 

Whether it was walking you to and from class, or even showing up to your apartment with breakfast. 

It was off-putting at first, 

You mindlessly strolled down the hallway of your apartment building. You weren’t thinking of anything other than the leftovers you were gonna eat when you finally got home. 

Sohee however had different plans. The second you turned the corner you noticed him standing at your door with what looked like a bag of takeout. 

Your body goes into shock before you can even comprehend what you’re doing. You hide behind the corner. 

You think maybe that’ll buy you enough time to figure out what to do next. You take a deep breath before slapping your hand over your mouth. 

You take a look at all the options you have. You could either sneak out through the stairs or you could take your chances with the elevator and hope that the girls aren’t on their way home. 

“Who are we hiding from?” Sohee suddenly appears right beside you. Causing you to jump in horror, luckily you were able to come up with a lie on the spot. 

“I was just… looking for my earring, I think I might've dropped it.” You pretend to look around for a nonexistent piece of jewelry. 

“What does it look like? I'll help you find it.” Rather than making him help you look for something that you knew was never going to be found you concocted another lie.

“uh no it’s okay, they were getting old anyways.” You say, pressing your lips into a thin line. 

“Oh well, do you wanna have lunch together?” He grins, holding up the brown paper bag in front of your face.  

But over time you’d gotten used to it, and maybe even came to kind of like his dog-like personality.

“So you’re a man-hater” Sohee starts, despite knowing that you hated when people talked while you were reading. 

He’s not necessarily an exception but you don’t get as mad about it when he does it. You continue reading, but you spare a moment to respond to him. 

“I guess you can say that.” Your eyes are still glued to the words of the book. 

“But you like me.” He continues, you make the mistake of pulling your gaze away from your novel, meeting the annoying smirk he has on his face.

You open your mouth to speak but he beats you to it. “You do know I'm a man right?”

“Yes, I know you’re a man. I have eyes.” 

You watch his grin grow wider before you go back to reading your book. “And I don't like you, I just don’t hate you as much as the others.” 

You say, even though you're sitting in his bed, your hair pushed up into a bun and your glasses hanging loosely above your nose. It’s a Saturday night, you could be doing skin care with your girls or binging cartoons on Netflix. But you chose to be here, in his room spending time with him.

To him, that said a lot.

“Woah, so you're in love with me.” Sohee jokes partly.

“How did you come up with that?” You laugh, turning on your side to face him better. 

Sohee shrugs, “It’s a talent.” He wasn’t too far off. You often denied it whenever someone brought it up but if you were being honest. you were falling for him, faster and harder than you liked to admit. 

The more you resisted, the easier he made it. There wasn’t anything you could do, it was inevitable.

Almost as if it was fate. 

You laugh to yourself thinking about it, laying your book down and fully relaxing into the fluffy white pillows he has aligned on his bed. 

You’re fighting against sleep, trying your hardest to keep your heavy eyelids open. Taking long blinks until you finally give in and let yourself fall asleep. 

Sohee finally comes back with the water you asked him for but you’re already well into your slumber. He’s sure of it because when he gently calls your name all he gets in response is a soft snore. 

Rather than waking you up, he pulls your glasses off, closes them, and lays them on the bedside table. He leaves for a brief moment to get you another cover, laying it over top of you and turning the lights off so you can rest peacefully. While he took the couch for the night.

“Where were you?” Ningning scolds. Not even letting you walk all the way in the door before she starts bombarding you with questions 

“Do you know how long I stayed up waiting for you? I was worried sick.” She continues to yell at you when you finally squeeze past her and walk into the apartment. 

“You went to sleep at nine.” Winter exposes her

“I was worried sick.” Ningning repeats, swinging her index finger around. 

“I slept at Sohee’s.” You say almost in a whisper but Karina is somehow able to hear you all the way from her room. 

“What?” She runs out, “You slept at a man's house? With a man?” 

“Yes, and that’s all we did. So don’t get your expectations too high.” You scold, specifically pointing your finger at Ningning who’s bouncing with joy. You can already tell what she’s thinking before she even says it. 

“No, we didn’t sleep in the same bed,” 

The rain outside sounds more like a hail storm than anything else. You just wait by the entrance of the school and contemplate if you wanna walk home in this weather. 

The sound of the heavy wind isn’t so convincing but the boy waving at you with a bright smile might be enough to sway you. 

“What are you doing here?” You ask, mindlessly walking into the rainstorm to meet him face to face. 

“I came to walk you home.” He responds, his smile unwavering. 

“You shouldn’t have, you’re all wet now and it’s cold you’re gonna get sick.” You’re scolding him but he’s still grinning at you like an idiot. 

“I wanted to.” Is all he says locking eyes with you.

The rain could be snow, the sky might be purple but his eyes, you’re sure are brown. A brown that can only be seen with the help of the sun. Now that the sun was nowhere to be found they were so dark it could be categorized as black. 

You find them the most mesmerizing at this moment. You’re staring at him and he’s staring back at you. That’s when you take the opportunity to see how his lips feel, closing in the space in between you that not even a drop of rain can fit through. 

Isn’t it crazy how love can be found in the strangest of places, who would’ve thought you’d fall head over heels for the weirdo you met in a coffee shop? 

[draftsandrecs]

Pairing: Bucky x Reader

Summary: Reader finds herself crushing on her sister’s ex boyfriend after they run in to each other years after the break up.

Word Count: 4,670

Warnings: 18+, smut, no condoms, dirty talk

Taglist: @jbbarnes-dog-tags

‘And substitute regular milk for oat milk please.’ 

You type a quick ‘okay’ to your sister as you head to the coffee shop that you frequent almost every day. Today’s weather is sort of gloomy but nice. Lately it’s been rainy, mild showers and light thunderstorms. Your favorite kind of weather to have a latte while accompanied with a book. You scrub the bottom of your shoes against the coffee’s welcome mat to prevent tracking in mud or leaves. 

“Good morning, welcome to Aristocrats!” You thank the familiar barista as you head to the counter pulling out your phone to order both drinks.

“What can I get you?” The barista asks with a smile on their face.

“Can I get a hot vanilla latte with 2 shots of espresso and oatmilk?” The employee mumbles the order back as they input it into the system as you continue.

“I also would like an iced chai latte with 3 pumps of brown sugar syrup instead of vanilla. As well as one shot of espresso, thank you.” You put your phone away as you get your wallet out from your bag.

“$15.28, cash or card?” The barista asks as you hand them your card to swipe.

You find a few dollar bills stashed in your bag as you drop it into the tip jar.

“Thank you, just give us a few minutes.” Handing you the card back you put it back into its usual spot as you crumble the receipt into the bag.

One of the reasons why you love this coffee shop isn’t just for the drinks but the book collection they have along with the scenery. It’s located downtown with windows that face the street that pour in natural light. The owner kept most of its natural architecture. Which included the layout, windows that surround the building on two walls, as well as the little fireplace that runs on cold days. 

As you wait for the drinks you browse a few magazines near a table before you find one that peaks your interest. You situate yourself near a bar in front of the front facing windows to take advantage of the light that projects in. You flip through the first couple pages not caring for the luxurious ads of Gucci or Louis Vuitton. You never understood why anyone would spend thousands on a bag. You ignore the bell above the door that signals a customer as you continue reading about a woman’s divorce and her advice. While you have never been married it’s interesting to read about people’s lives.

“Here you go, hot vanilla latte and an iced chai.” The barista sets the drinks down as you reply with a thank you. 

You look towards the counter as you spot a man ordering. Something along the lines of an americano. Typical. Men never go for good drinks. Reaching for your drink you realize you forgot a straw. Getting up you head to the side of the counter to grab one. As you begin to reach for one another, one hand is trying to grab a cocktail straw for their drink.You quickly retreat your hand back apologizing. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.” You say, embarrassed as if you were in his space. 

“No troubles, you’re fine.” You turn to him finally getting a good look at him as he does the same.

“Oh shit, hey kid. How’ve you been?” It’s Bucky, your sister's ex-boyfriend. His eyes light up as he smiles at you. Like he’s excited to see you. 

“I’ve been good. I finished up my last semester early. In December I graduated well. I didn't walk but I received the diploma which is just as good.” He crosses his arms as he listens to you furrowing his eyebrows that he always used to when listening intently.

He smiles as he lightly pats your upper arm in congratulations, “Hey that's great, really, you find any jobs or anything yet?” 

“No, I mean I have but the pay is so shit that it’s not even worth it.” He nods understanding the job market has plummeted. 

“I get that, if I hadn’t secured the job I have now a few years ago I probably would be back in school not knowing what to do.” Bucky came from an affluent family. His family always had money due to businesses, properties, and of course trusts and estates. His comment comes off a little tone deaf but you know he means well just trying to relate.

“Thanks,” he says as he grabs the drink from the barista as he begins adding a little packet of heavy cream.

“You stay around here? Or often?” He questions out of curiosity but also a small part of him hopes you say yes.

“Oh yeah. I moved back in with my parents after college. I mean- I don’t have a job so I really had no choice.” You hope you don’t sound like a complete fool of yourself. No job, living with parents, and your daily activities consist of getting coffee and reading.

“You’re still figuring it out, there’s no time limit.” His words comfort you, making you feel less alone. Even if he can’t exactly relate, it’s still nice to have someone understand your struggles.

Bucky continues to ask, “If you got a few minutes, you mind if we sit and catch up?” You smile and nod, letting out a small yes as you lead him to your little nook.

You're laughing at some story he’s telling from a recent event he went to where a kid found drawing on the walls of an art exhibit. 

“Oh no, did the parents do anything?” You ask taking a sip of your mostly watered down chai.

“God no, remember these people think that their kids can do no wrong. Instead the dad threw him over his shoulder as they left quickly.” His answer made you shake your head wondering how parents never discipline their children.

“What have you been up to? Last thing I heard you were supposed to be taking over the family business.” The family business was just that- business. It was just managing properties, selling, and trading. But it brought in so much revenue. It’s the most popular realtor company in the state along with locations in neighboring states. It was started in the 40’s by Bucky’s great great grandfather and has now succeeded multiple generations.

“I have, well not entirely. I told my dad that I wanted to travel some first before settling with the job. Once you’re in that position all you can do is live for work, live to work. It just seems exhausting.” He sighs as he runs his hand through his short hair.

“You know I have a degree in Architecture, and I want to put that to use but my dad keeps pressuring me to take over the business. The money is good-

You cut him off,“But is it worth it? Money is great but if you aren’t happy with your job or what you do, no amount of money can compare to your happiness.” 

“Yes, exactly. I’ve been sort of going back and forth on it but maybe I just need to go with what I want rather than what someone else wants.” Saying the quiet part outloud made Bucky realize that he wants to do what makes him happy regardless of money or fortune.

“You know you’re pretty insightful for your age. I wish I was like that when I was in my early 20s. But you seem so grounded. That’s very admirable Y/N.” The compliment causes your heart to skip a beat. You usually don’t get too many compliments, especially not on your mental or emotional intelligence.

“Thank you, it’s probably the books and because I’m the youngest child.” Your sister and you have a 10 year age gap that didn’t really help form a sibling relationship until you entered high school.

You weren’t planned which resulted in a little bit (a lot) of negligence from your parents. They had albums of pictures of her, always went to her events, and constantly doted on her. You were the youngest and the last. You were often thought of last. If you wanted them to make it to your events, school lunches, or any activity they'd send your grandparents. Which you became very close with at a young age because they noticed the difference between you and your sister. They never made you feel like a burden or second thoughts. You’ll always be grateful for that. Your parents apologized to you when you were older but the childhood trauma still stuck. 

“I forgot you guys did have an age gap. I guess it’s more noticeable when you were younger.” His comment glides over, not caring to bring up your sister, his ex-girlfriend. Which you’re kind of happy about since he asked to catch up with you and he genuinely meant it. 

 Before he can get another word in your phone lights up, your sister is calling. 

“You need to get that?” Bucky asks, noticing the screen.

“Yeah probably.” You sigh internally knowing that the coffee catch up is ending soon.

You swipe on the screen as you hold up a finger to give you a second.

“Where are you? It’s been an hour, I thought you said you were just getting coffee, not running errands.” Her voice is a little upset and can be heard by Bucky which makes you cringe a little.

“I’m sorry, I ran into someone and wanted to catch up.” Yeah her ex who you seem to be getting along with a little too well.

“It’s fine. I just didn’t know where my coffee was. Or you.” The last part was thrown in quickly to save herself. You know she doesn’t mean to be rude but that’s just how she can be.

“I’ll be home soon, sorry for taking so long. I didn’t realize how long I was out.” You really didn’t mean to take so long but the conversation lasted longer than expected.

The phone beep indicates a hang up as her reply.

“I’m sorry, I guess I got to go. But it was really nice seeing you again.” You stand up to gather your belongings.

“I really enjoyed it. I had a nice time, I really needed it.” Bucky meant what he said. It had been a while since he had a genuine conversation that wasn’t about work or mundane questions.

“Maybe we can catch up again, I mean I obviously don’t work so I’m always free.” You're hopeful that he’ll agree instead of it just being a one time occurrence.

“You have my number still? Or can I get yours?” You shake your head not remembering if your phone transferred his contact from the last time you updated it.

 He grabs his phone to unlock it and lets you type in your number. Once you save your contact you head towards the door,“I got to run, but like I said just message me whenever you’re free. I can always make time.” I can always make time for you is what you wanted to say but bit your tongue instead. 

“For sure, I’ll text you soon.” He promises as he watches you walk out of the small coffee shop knowing he’s already forming a liking to you. 

It’s been a few months since you ran into Bucky at the coffee shop. Since that day you guys had been messaging non stop. Which quickly turned into late night phone calls that made your stomach hurt from laughing and cheeks sore from smiling. You only get together once a week since he’s still helping his dad and it took up most of his day. But he never fails to call or message you throughout the day to let you know what he’s up to. You’ve learned a lot from each other these past few months. He loves classic cars, museums, and fashion. He doesn’t care much for the bars but will go when his friends plan to. He designs a lot and is great at drawing too. He enjoys taking you out to museums, botanicals, and lately since the weather is better he’s taken you on hike trails. In return you’ve introduced him to books you enjoy and have started listening to audiobooks together. You’ve also found out how to make your own coffee. Bucky has an espresso machine in his condo that he never used. But together you guys figured out how to make your favorite drinks. Though you still go to the same coffee shop for convenience. It’s been a week since you’ve hung out and you expect a hangout session is due.

It’s morning when you get an unexpected call from Bucky. You answer without hesitation excited to hear his voice.

“Hey, what’s up?” You ask as you sit on your bed anticipating his message. 

“What are you doing?” He sounds like he has a smile on his face, which you picked up quickly through the phone calls how his voice and facial expressions match.

“Nothing, just at home.” You look over at the clock next to you flashing 9:52 a.m.

“Would you be opposed to packing a bag and going to the next state over?” At first you thought he was joking until he said “you there?”

“No, I mean yes that sounds fun.I’d love to tag along” You say quickly gathering yourself. 

“Perfect. I can be there in an hour. Just got to drop off a few things for my dad and I’ll be on the way. You won’t need much, just a few things to last a night or so. Oh and pack a nice dress, I want to take you on a date.” Your heart flutters at the word date, he hadn’t used that word yet, neither have you. It was sort of a weird territory but this solidified there is more. 

“Sounds good, I’ll see you then!” You hang up letting the phone fall on the bed as you rush to get ready and pack looking forward to the night. 

You arrived around a little after 3 in the next state. But since you couldn’t check in until 4 o’clock Bucky showed you a few places around the city. You ventured into antique shops, locally owned book shops, and of course you had to try a coffee shop. He offered to buy you whatever you wanted and insisted that you had to pick out at least one thing that he could buy you or else you couldn’t leave the store. You opted for a few books (it was five in total of hardcover books you could never find near you and were too expensive to order online). He seemed pleased to be funding your reading addiction. 

You check your phone’s time making sure you’re not late getting ready. Bucky said to be ready by 6:45 and you’re cutting it close at 6:30 trying to finish a few makeup touch ups.  And you haven’t even gotten dressed yet. Bucky left the room an hour ago so you could get ready in private. He didn’t want to intrude on your space saying that ‘I know how women are. My mom always enjoyed getting ready alone because she didn’t want to feel rushed.’ He was right, if he was in the same room you’d feel like you would have to get ready quickly. 

You curse trying to get your heels ons as you lace up the second heel trying to secure it as much as possible so you wouldn’t fall. As you’re finishing up and repacking your makeup to clean up the area the door clicks open as Bucky walks in. You turn to him hoping he likes it. It’s nothing extravagant to you compared to their style. It’s a black strapless elongated dress tailored to your height. A narrow slit starts from the upper thigh opening towards the bottom. 

“Wow, you look incredible. I mean not that you don’t always look good but today, tonight you just look exceptional.” You try not to smile at his words but fail. It’s the first time you’ve ever seen him flustered. 

“Thank you, is this too much? It’s my old winter formal dress but I didn’t have time to get a new one.” You hope your attire suits the restaurant dress code. The last thing you want to do is embarrass yourself in front of him.

“No, you look perfect. It’s perfect.” He’s matching with black slacks, sweater, and a long peabody coat. 

“I can say the same for you, I like the monochromatic look. It suits you.” Your comment makes him smile as it means a lot coming from you. 

“I wanted to look my best for you.” He checks his watch, noticing the time,”we should probably head down. The valet is waiting for us.” He holds out his hand as you accept it.

The waiter sat you at a booth per Bucky’s request. You’re glad to sit to relieve pressure off your feet. You only walked a little but the heels are skinny and feel like they’re stabbing your feet. Bucky orders drinks for you as you look at the menu. It’s limited but that’s how most fine dining restaurants operate.

“I want you to get whatever you want. My treat.” You don’t say thank you this time. “Don’t worry, I will.” Your reply comes out teasingly creates a smirk on his face knowing that you’re comfortable around him and letting him treat you accordingly.. 

The finished entrees have been pushed to the side leaving waiting to be picked up as you listen to him talk about this week's work load. Your phone interrupts him mid sentence as a message comes through from your sister. He doesn’t mean to pry, it was in the middle of the table after all.

“Do you need to get that?” He asks politely knowing that he’d give you all the time you needed.

You check it before answering him.

‘Hey, just checking on you, hope you’re doing okay. It feels like we haven’t talked in a little bit.’ For a second you feel bad. But you also know she only comes around when you don’t make plans or reach out first. You are always chasing and you hate forcing things, especially familial ties. It’s also not just that, that makes you feel bad. You’re sitting across from her ex-boyfriend who she dated for 4 years who she thought she was going to marry. Given it’s been two years since they’ve broken up. Now you’re sitting here wondering if you should leave for her sake or stay for what your heart wants. 

��No it’s fine, just something with my sister.” He must’ve noticed your demeanor change as he grabs your hand from the table. He rubs his thumb across your hand soothing you. 

“I get it, this situation isn’t ideal nor normal in a sense. It’s confusing, conflicting. Like you're questioning yourself what's right and wrong or too far. If you want me to take you home tonight and never speak again I understand. But I will say regardless of what happens after tonight. It’s up to you. It’s your feelings I respect ultimately. But I want you to know, I’d regret it if I don’t at least try. Because even though it’s only been a few months since we reconciled, I finally got to know someone that I have never met. Emotionally and mentally you captivate me in a way no one else has. Someone that actually listens to me, understands me, and wants me for me, not for what I have. I would be a fool not to chase someone like that regardless of who they're tied to.” He takes a small breath before finishing, “I don’t want to imagine a life without you. If it’s not you then I don’t want anyone. Above all I don’t want to walk away from tonight without telling you how I feel. What I feel is you, you make up my thoughts, I see you in my future.  I’d do anything to prove that love I have for you. Even if it means allowing you to walk away tonight. Because you’re the most important thing to happen to me in a long time. The last thing I’d want to do is hurt you or make you choose something you aren’t ready for. I’m here for you even if you walk away, I’ll always come to you if you need me.” 

His eyes are a little teary as he cups your hand with both of his hands and kisses it. 

“You don’t have to make up your mind right n-” He’s cut off by you.

You interrupt him as you lean closer to the table with a shaky breath.“I don’t want to live a life I regret. Especially regretting someone that I could have a life with but chose not to out of fear or for someone else's feelings. I don’t know where life is supposed to lead me but I know I want it with you. Most people follow through with decisions based on what’s most logical but I choose my heart. And my heart wants you.”  

He leans over the table as you meet him halfway to kiss him. Letting his lips envelope yours, soft and plump like you imagined. It’s sweet and gentle like him. You pull away from the short kiss wishing it lasted longer but you’re also in public. 

“So you for sure don’t want to go home?” He asks one more time knowing your answer.

“Not unless it’s with you.” 

No words are exchanged as you’re sitting on the edge of the bed, one of your legs is on his shoulder as he takes off your shoe. As he unties the last heel he kisses from your ankle to your thigh. Moving upwards to the wetness between your thighs. You lay back on the bed allowing for more access. He kneels on the floor, grabbing your ass and pulling it closer to him for better positioning. Your dress is pushed up, bunched around your waist as he pulls your panties off. He throws them to the side discarding them. You feel his breath on your pussy for a second before he kisses it. He gives the mound and lips little kisses teasing you as you wait for him to give you more. Shivers run down your spine as you feel his tongue on your slit. He flattens it to cover the whole area, licking a few times. Savoring the taste of you. He takes your swollen clit into his mouth to gently suck on. You can feel your clit pulsate as his tongue teases the little nub. Flicking it  and rubbing it in a circle with his tongue. Causing your hands to find his hair as you grip it and grind against his face. His hand reaches between your thighs as he rubs the soft skin gently before he runs two fingers over your wet pussy. A moan escapes your mouth as you feel his hand on your wet cunt. Once his fingers are wet, he uses one finger to open you up. Allowing you to get used to the feeling before he adds another. Another finger joins the first stretching you. It gives you some relief as you rock yourself on his fingers a little as he begins to lap at your clit. Tonguing the nerve as he finger fucks your small hole.

“Your fingers feel so good.” You moan gripping his hair.

He removes his face from your pussy, “you taste amazing. Just as I thought” He gets back to his feet to lean over you as he begins to furiously fuck you on his fingers. You’re cursing at him as he continues, loving the sounds you’re making and faces you make when you’re being pleasured. You place your fingers on your clit as you feel yourself getting close. Rubbing circles and other motions to aid in relief. You’re begging him at this point whimpering knowing how close you are. He adds one more finger stretching you beyond belief knowing that you can take it

“You’re taking my fingers so well I can’t imagine how good it’ll feel on my dick.” . He says as he guides you while you’re cumming. Letting you know how good you are and how pretty you are. 

He waits a few more seconds before he pulls out his fingers leaving you empty. He gets off the bed to take off the rest of his clothes, swiftly undoing his buckle and pants to reveal a very prominent hard-on. You move closer to the headboard to get more comfortable as you wait for his return.

“I don’t have a condom. I wasn’t planning on having sex.” He’s on the bed again rubbing his cock trying to relieve the pressure.

“I don’t care, I just want you inside me.” Your voice is needy as he grins before he’s quickly in between your legs again. 

He rubs his cock up and down your slit. Letting the juices coat the tip. He teases the clit for a second until you whine wanting him inside you. He lines his cock up at your entrance with one hand letting the tip slowly enter. He looks at you, watching your face to make sure he’s not hurting you. You gasp as he slides in, his length completely filling you up.

“You doing okay?” You nod as he waits for a second before moving.

His thrusts are gentle to not hurt your cervix. He knows his size is above average and easy to bruise if too rough. He leans down to kiss you, one hand on your hip, the other on your face. His kiss is hungry and rough compared to his thrusts. 

“I’ve been waiting for this. Dreaming about this.” He says moaning into your mouth.

“I know, I’ve cum to you so many times.” You confess.

“I can’t count the times you’ve made me hard by just being next to you.” His pace quickens up which makes you grip his biceps.

“Fuck.” You draw out the word as he continues pounding.

He grabs your legs, bending your knees to your chest. This position leaves you completely folded, breathless, with how deep he is. 

‘Fuck you’re so big Bucky.” You say throwing your head back.

“Maybe your cunt is just too tiny then. Maybe I just need to keep stretching you out then so you don’t forget who you belong to.” He leans his head down to watch his cock retreat in and out of your hole. Mesmerized by the wetness glistening on his cock. 

He bites his lip as he slowly pulls out almost all the way, just to thrust back in. He loves watching your face as he’s inside you. Your little sounds and whimpers almost send him over the edge entirely with how sweet you are. You move your hips against his cock, meeting his thrusts. You’re so wet you can’t even tell if you’ve already cum or not. Sweat is building up on his forehead as you watch him pound into you. You know he’s close by the erratic thrusts.

“Where can I cum?” He asks, needing an answer quickly or else he’s about to make you a milf.

“Inside me. I’m on birth control.” He moans leaning down to kiss you as his thrusts speed up and his body shakes. Your walls grip him tightly as he spills his seed inside of you. Filling your cunt until it’s dripping.

Once he’s finished he gets a warm rag to clean you up. Letting the warmness soothe your now aching core.

“I love you” Bucky says as he doesn’t care to look for a ‘right time’ anymore.

“I love you too.” You really do.

[mimisempai]

I wasn't expecting you 3/5

Chapter Summary - Welcome, Crowley

Crowley spends his first evening at the pub with the other shopkeepers on Whickber Street, and thanks to the meddling of some of them, gets to know the bookseller better.

Notes

I'm back from my holidays and ready to continue the story of the barista and the book seller. 

As you can see, I've added one chapter to the total, because the last chapter needed to be cut.

On Ao3

Rating G -  1872 words

Chap 1 - Chap 2 - Chap 3 - Chap 4 - Chap 5

Crowley took a deep breath and opened the door of the Dirty Donkey. He wasn't the shy type, but experience had taught him to be cautious, and it had been a long time since he had sought the company of others who had often disappointed him.

However, this was the first time in a long time that he'd been welcomed into a group without having to make an effort to be friendly, so he decided to give it a try.

Not to mention a bookseller who had more than piqued his interest.

When the barista entered the crowded pub, he immediately looked around for Nina or any other member of the group that was supposed to be there, and of course the first thing he noticed was the tuft of tousled pale hair.

Then his eyes were drawn to Nina waving at him, and he saw that everyone was already there. Noticing that they all had a drink in front of them, Crowley stopped at the bar to order a glass of Talisker and, glass in hand, made his way to the table.

As he approached the group, Maggie pushed herself aside to give him a seat between Aziraphale and herself. 

She pulled out a chair and patted it, saying, "Crowley, come and sit here!"

Crowley put his glass on the table and said gently, "Thanks, but you didn't have to bother."

Mrs. Sandwich, or rather Rosie as she had almost ordered him to call her, chuckled before replying, "Don't worry about it, darling. The two lovebirds are just happy to be closer."

As he sat down, he saw that Maggie and Nina did indeed look happy to be closer as they intertwined their hands. Then his eyes went around the table and he said to the group, "Hello everyone."

A concert of greetings and welcoming words answered him, making him feel more and more at ease, despite the fact that a week ago he didn't even know anyone.

When the general chatter died down, Nina raised her glass and said in a loud voice, "I'd like to propose a toast to Crowley. You know how much of a pain in the ass I can be..." she paused as there was some snickering around the table, then continued, "Yes, yes, I do, and yet Crowley rose to the challenge with flying colors, so that deserves a first round, it's on me!"

Everyone offered their own little comment, from light-hearted digs at Nina's temper to praise for his new employee's patience. Crowley listened and watched, smiling and sipping his drink, nodding from time to time.

Suddenly, Aziraphale's hand resting on his arm snapped him out of his thoughts as the bookseller leaned over and said kindly in a low voice, "They can be a little overwhelming sometimes, but they're all very nice. And I can see they appreciate you already."

Crowley nodded and replied in the same tone, "It's been a long time since I've been among such open and... welcoming people, it's a little strange..."

Aziraphale asked gently as he removed his hand from Crowley's arm, "We're all a bit special here in a way, but do you mean strange in a good way or a bad way?"

Crowley smiled sweetly and replied, "Good. I think I could get used to it."

Aziraphale clinked his glass against his and said softly, only for Crowley's ears, "I hope so. Welcome here."

Again, something passed between them, indefinable but very much there, as Crowley replied almost in a whisper, "Thank you."

Without breaking eye contact, each took a sip from his glass and smiled.

However, the moment of grace was short-lived when they were interrupted by Aziraphale's other table neighbor, Mr. Brown, who moved closer to Aziraphale and said in a loud voice for the entire table to hear, "I couldn't help but overhear part of your conversation and I couldn't agree with you more, Aziraphale, we're all a little bit special, here. But I have to say, Crowley, you are really special. I mean, that hair and especially those eyes. It's not natural, really, and-"

Aziraphale interrupted, exclaiming, "I think it's pretty!"

Crowley couldn't hold back a small gasp, which made Aziraphale realize what he'd just said. The bookseller coughed and stood up, saying, "I see everyone's glasses are empty, so the next round's on me, since my return seems to be one of the reasons for this little party. I'll order from the bar."

Before Crowley could respond, the carpet seller stood and added, "I'll help him."

Crowley watched them walk away, a little, a lot if he was honest, annoyed by Mr. Brown's kind of possessive behavior.

Then, as his gaze shifted to Aziraphale, he thought again of the bookseller's words.

"I think it's pretty!"

He'd heard a lot of things said about his distinctive amber eyes: strange, weird, freaky, fake. But to hear them described as pretty with such warmth in the voice, never.

"Awww, Crowley, your cheeks are as red as your hair!"

He couldn't help but touch his cheeks as he turned to Nina, who had just spoken when Rosie gave a thumbs up and said, "Go for it!"

Crowley muttered, "Go for it! Go for it! Looks like the other redhead here is already in the place."

Maggie, who was closest to him, heard him and said softly, "Oh, no, don't think so. You have no reason to be jealous. I'm the one who's known Aziraphale the longest, and he's never looked at anyone the way he looks at you."

Nina, Justine, Rosie, and even Mr. Arnold, the music store owner who didn't talk much, nodded in support of Maggie's words as Aziraphale and the carpet seller returned with the drinks. 

What he didn't see were the winks they all shared.

Just as Aziraphale and Mr. Brown were about to sit down, Rosie stood up and said to the rug seller, "Let's change seats, I need to talk to your neighbor and it's not easy with someone between us, sorry Justine."

Justine, who was sitting between Mr. Arnold and Rosie, shook her head and replied, "That's good, because I wanted to talk to Arthur about new carpets for the restaurant."

Crowley met Nina's gaze as she winked at him and couldn't suppress a small laugh that went unnoticed as everyone took their seats. In the space of a week, he'd come to realize that Whickber Street was full of gossip and that everyone liked to meddle in each other's lives. He didn't usually like that, but he was beginning to realize that it was more about caring than meddling, and that was new, too. People who cared about him.

The atmosphere at the table calmed down a bit as Justine engaged the grumpy Mr. Brown in a discussion about a possible sale that brought a smile back to the seller's face, Rosie struck up a conversation with the placid Mr. Arnold, and Nina and Maggie were carrying on a discussion reserved for them alone, judging by the enamored looks the two women exchanged.

Crowley took a sip of his drink and, alcohol helping, couldn't help but ask the bookseller, "Do you really think it's pretty?"

Aziraphale's gaze was incredibly gentle as he replied, "I rarely say things I don't mean. I mean, yellow is my favorite color, my car is yellow, a lot of things in my shop have that warm hue, so of course I think your eyes are pretty."

Other than a throaty thank you, Crowley found nothing to say in response to Aziraphale's disarming honesty.

After a few seconds of silence, the other man asked, "So tell me, what made you want to answer Nina's ad?"

Encouraged by the bookseller's openness, Crowley had no desire to go down the road of pretense and half-truths, and replied with equal honesty, "I have no family or ties, and I've never stayed in one place long enough to form a bond. With my looks, people don't trust me easily, and-"

Aziraphale, listening to Crowley with his chin resting on his hand, interrupted, "You could have changed your look."

Crowley, sensing no judgment in the other man's voice or expression, shook his head and said, "And not be me anymore? Impossible."

Aziraphale, obviously approving of Crowley's answer, nodded and the barista continued, "After another professional disappointment, the chance of my path brought me here, and Nina's ad came at just the right time, as I was looking to settle down for something more permanent, something that would last. And icing on the cake, I seem to be accepted for who I am here."

Aziraphale replied quietly, "I'm delighted you've decided to put your bags down here, and if I may add, there's nothing to accept, you're fine as you are. At least for me."

Crowley replied, "Thank you. If I may say so, you're very direct."

"In my family, it was better not to say what was on your mind, and now that I'm free of that, I don't want to waste any more time on hypocrisy and pretense."

Crowley replied with a broad smile, "I like that."

In their own world, the two men continued to chat, oblivious to the knowing, affectionate glances of the conspirators around the table. There was another round of drinks, this time courtesy of Crowley, and the evening was well underway when they decided to leave the Dirty Donkey.

A few more pleasantries were exchanged and then everyone headed home. Aziraphale and Crowley watched in amusement as Nina and Maggie carried a drunken Mr. Brown home, and Justine waved to them before walking away, following in Mr. Arnold's footsteps.

Crowley turned to the bookseller and they looked at each other for a few moments in silence.

"So this is love, lalala lalala... So this is what makes life divine..."

They turned to Rosie, who had just hummed past them, and she turned back, waving her hand.

"Good night, boys."

Crowley chuckled softly, "They're not very subtle."

Aziraphale replied with a chuckle, "No, but I can't blame them, can you?"

Crowley looked intently at Aziraphale in silence before replying in a clear voice, "No. Not at all."

Aziraphale held out his hand and said gently, "Well, good night, Crowley, and see you tomorrow."

Crowley took the bookseller's hand and asked, confused, "Tomorrow?"

Aziraphale's smile turned mischievous as he replied, "Well, yes, for my pastry."

"Oh, you come to Nina's every day?"

Aziraphale shook his head.

"No, but I have a reason to now. Good night, Crowley."

Crowley, once again surprised by the bookseller's straightforward attitude, replied, "Good night, Aziraphale. See you tomorrow."

Aziraphale nodded, then walked away toward the bookshop.

Crowley followed him with his eyes for a while before heading for the coffee shop. When he reached the door, he put the key in the lock and couldn't help but look back at the bookshop one last time, only to see to his surprise that the bookseller had done the same.

Crowley waved one last time before entering his building, this time without looking back. 

For the first time in a long time, he felt hope blossom within him, and he didn't stop himself from relishing it. 

Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.

_________

Still not beta'd

Still not my native language

Still hoping you'll enjoy this story  🥰

Still thanking you for bearing with me 😝

Ineffable Husbands masterlist : here

[svnoofy]

10. alas, we meet again.

warnings/disclaimers: profanity, slight puke talk | | wc: 947

YOU COULDN’T BELIEVE YOUR EYES.

you did not imagine having to face ANOTHER predicament on your already horrible day. you squint your eyes – rubbing them even – praying that the little speck moving along the sidewalk was just a fragment of your imagination.

oh hell naur, you thought to yourself, feeling the contents of your stomach bubbling up, ready to splatter out any moment. you weren’t sure if this was because you were anxious or utterly disgusted.

suddenly, your mind began replaying moments from your childhood which was triggered by the sight of the individual you had seen.

unfond memories of arguments over legos, barbies and colored pencils and even memories of consistently being in the school’s academic spotlight together as rivals washed over you like an unforgivable tidal wave.

yang jungwon, that was the very name you despised saying and hearing– and there he might be, about to board your bus, as you squirm and wince in full disgust and disbelief.

when the bus made its stop at the station, you froze. you were unable to register the situation that was about to happen to you. as a lazy attempt to avoid any contact with him, you occupied the vacant seat next to you with your bag, plugging in your earphones and putting on your sunglasses to come off as unidentifiable (and unapproachable)

as passengers poured into the bus, one by one, you thank yourself for your ingenious tactic of going unrecognised. you observed the passengers one by one, carefully spotting your target.

this was when you realized– your eyes may have played a little trick on you (and you may need glasses). turns out: the person you so dreaded to see was not the person you thought after all! you felt a massive weight being taken off your shoulder– knowing you can continue your bus ride in peace.

however, what baffles you is why his identity was the first you associated with the innocent passenger? could that have been some sort of omen?

-

when you reached your stop, you descended the bus and enthusiastically marched towards your cafe. despite the fact that you almost burned your hair off to a crisp, missed the bus twice and maybe almost encountered your worst nightmare– you were thankful because luck seemed to be on your side.

your enthusiastically trotted to your cafe, your arrival being greeted by the sound of the wind-chimes on the door handle, earning weird glances from customers.

you continued your enthusiastic trot behind the counter, where you found sunoo, slouched over a box of oat milk, check board in hand– it was restocking day.

“that bastard has the money to buy 18 cartons of japanese oat milk but not a single cent to raise our pay–dear god please make the world make sense”, sunoo remarked.

“good morning to you too, sun”, you giggle and roll your eyes playfully, hand landing on his back for a friendly pat.

“girl, fuck you mean MORNING, it’s 12:30 PM”, niki sassed, with an eyebrow cocked in apparent protest.

you gave him a quick “shut up” with a sarcastic smile in response, as you put your hair up into a practical ponytail.

“oh yeah– the new staff dude is here today, he’s on toilet duty today though”, sunoo points out, a mischievous smirk creeping onto his face.

“i don’t think he’ll be on toilet duty for long though! mr park seems to really like him and he really knows his way around coffee machines despite being new–”, niki commented, earning an interested “ooh” from sunoo while you just listened, your mind half focused on sorting out transaction receipts at the register.

“oh ya REAL, his latte art just now was so good– how the hell did he manage to make a swan in 30 seconds–”, sunoo added.

“right! like he even did it WHILE talking and chatting with mr jinyoung like what–”, niki gasped, almost as if he had just seen an out of touch celebrity.

ok, now you were intrigued. who is this seemingly OVER PERFECT barista?

“what’s his name?”, you butt in on niki and sunoo’s gossip.

as if on cue, a tall figure appears in your line of vision, rubber-gloved hands occupied with two buckets of cleaning supplies.

suddenly, you felt your world shatter right before you. it was an omen after all, a bad one at that.

“EYOO JUNGWON!”, niki greets the figure standing across you.

nah, you have GOT to be kidding me, you thought to yourself.

you avoided his eyes while the two guys who were previously around you made their way to surround the boy.

“jungwon, this is our FUTURE manager and ace: l/n y/n”, sunoo enthusiastically introduces you to him, dragging him by the arm.

“l/n y/n?”, he asks– suddenly that familiar sick feeling you had on the bus was returning.

you look at him, instinctively at the call of your name, and as if suddenly: a cloud of gloom settled over you two, and you were certain– the storm is just about to arrive.

“nice to meet you, jungwon”, you attempt a civil welcome, only to earn a scoff from the boy.

“alas, we meet again– l/n y/n”, he replies with a smug look on his face.

gasps erupt from your spectators: niki and sunoo, who watch intently at the interaction before them.

your stomach ties itself into knots, your eyebrows furrow and your smile flattens into a line. “great to see you too, yang jungwon”, you retaliate with nothing but pure sarcasm and utter disgust.

yep, the storm has DEFINITELY arrived and sights of sunshine are far, far, from near

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[peppymintdreams]

barista starts getting overly attached to elias, growing clingy and not wanting to ever leave his side

Close Enough

Elias x Barista

It started small.

Barista found themselves sitting closer to Elias during quiet moments in the safe house, their shoulder brushing his. They’d linger in the kitchen when he cooked, claiming they were helping but mostly just standing there, watching him chop vegetables with effortless precision. Elias didn’t seem to mind at first—he’d glance up and smirk, teasing them lightly for being a “kitchen ornament.”

But over the days, their proximity became harder to ignore. If Elias went to another room, Barista followed. If he sat down to read or game, they were right there, even if they weren’t doing anything themselves. The quiet hum of his presence became like air to them—necessary, grounding.

At first, Elias played it off. “What, you got a tracker on me now?” he joked one evening, glancing over his shoulder to find them hovering by the doorway as he rummaged through the pantry.

Barista shrugged, smiling nervously. “Just… checking if you need help.”

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t press.

It wasn’t until a week later that it became too obvious to ignore.

Elias woke up to find Barista sitting cross-legged on the floor by the couch, staring blankly at the television that wasn’t even on.

"Barista?" His voice was thick with sleep, but there was an edge of concern.

They jolted, glancing at him like a kid caught doing something they shouldn’t. “Oh, uh, morning.”

Elias sat up, rubbing his face. “What are you doing?”

“Couldn’t sleep,” they admitted quickly. “Didn’t want to bother you.”

His brow furrowed, but he didn’t push—until later that day, when they trailed him into the bathroom while he was brushing his teeth.

"Alright, that’s it." Elias turned to them, toothbrush still in his mouth. “What’s going on?”

“What do you mean?” Barista asked, feigning innocence.

“You’re glued to me,” he said, his words muffled by toothpaste. “It’s like I can’t breathe without you right there.”

Barista’s face flushed, and they shifted uncomfortably. “I just… I feel better when you’re around.”

Elias spat into the sink and turned to face them fully, his arms crossing. His sharp eyes softened at the edges, the irritation melting into something gentler. “You’re scared,” he said quietly. It wasn’t a question.

Barista’s defenses crumbled. They looked away, guilt pooling in their chest. “I don’t want to lose you,” they admitted, their voice barely above a whisper. “With everything going on… it feels like if I’m not near you, something bad will happen.”

Elias sighed, stepping closer. “Barista,” he said, his tone steady, “I get it. I do. But you can’t live like this. We can’t live like this.”

Tears welled in their eyes, and they quickly wiped them away. “I’m sorry. I just… I don’t know how to stop feeling like this.”

Elias hesitated, then placed his hands gently on their shoulders, forcing them to look at him. “Listen to me,” he said firmly. “I’m not going anywhere. Okay? You don’t have to keep me on a leash to make sure I stay. You’ve got me, alright?”

Barista nodded, sniffling.

He pulled them into a quick hug, patting their back awkwardly. “But seriously,” he added with a smirk, pulling back just enough to meet their gaze, “if you follow me into the bathroom one more time, I’m locking the door.”

A weak laugh bubbled out of them, and Elias grinned. “There we go,” he said. “Now, let’s go. You can stick to me today, but only if you help me clean this place up. Deal?”

Barista nodded, their chest feeling just a little lighter. Maybe they could learn to let go—slowly, with Elias there to guide them.