insta post: here!

Your honour, they're in love ✨ Appearing once every few decades to post art I'm proud of (happy 2024 I guess, let's see what it has in store)

Insta post: here!

Hello, it is I!

I'm here to officially request the Mickey hospital AU, maybe with reader (or Mickey 👀) being the nurse and the other one being the doctor, if this isn't too much to ask for!

Lots of love 💕💕💕

Great minds think alike because this had already started being written in my mind when you mentioned this idea (does this sentence make any sense? Probably not) Had an absolute blast writing this, I think this is probably one of the prompts I have considered less, and read about the least, but that has won me over so easily, it's so very sweet, especially with nurse!Mickey (I might have to explore this universe more if inspiration strikes 👀) Also I clearly know very little about hospitals and nurses and doctors and all that jazz so hopefully this is as accurate as it could be (even with my keeping as vague as possible strategy) Anyway, love you so much, thanks for this request, I hope you like it!!💕💕💕

Words: 2.6k

Saying that he hadn’t caught your eye would’ve been a lie, because the truth was that he had, from the very first day. 

The hospital wasn’t big, but it had felt intimidating the first time you walked past the main doors, some nurses rushing past you to reach one of the rooms, a patient loudly talking to the secretary in the reception area, and you remembered looking around, noticing how the whole floor was buzzing with what felt like electricity, noise and chatter and emergencies and calls coming from all around. 

You had taken a step back, sighing softly before looking at the papers in your hand, the first letter on the pile, the one with the information about your job, stating the time at which you’d start and who to talk to for more information. You approached the main desk, waiting for the secretary to look up at you, her short brown hair bouncing when she turned her gaze upwards to meet yours, a tired smile on her carefully painted red lips.

“Hi there, how may I help you?” She asked, tilting her head as she spoke. You smiled, “Hi. I’m here for my first day?” you hummed, showing her your letter. “Ah, yes, perfect” She nodded, “well, dear, you’ll have to head up to the third floor, go to your right all the way to the end of the hallway. Dr. Wilson’s office is there, on the… left.” She said, turning her body slightly and chuckling, “he’s the head of your department, so he’ll explain everything else.” She explained. “Thank you so much” You nodded, “and nice to meet you” you added, reaching out to shake her hand, smiling one last time before heading to the lift, waiting patiently for the number on the top to descend.

And that’s when you met him for the first time, his eyes focused on the page in front of his eyes, a report on a patient, you assumed, his concentration only wavering when he looked up at you, moving out of the way so you could press the button for your floor. “Morning” he hummed, studying your face for a few seconds, a hint of a smile on his lips when you replied. He waited for the doors to close before focusing on the report again, pulling his pen out to jot something down.

There wasn’t much to say about him, if not that he was stunning, and pretty, and had a kind smile and kinder eyes, his hair curling so perfectly, especially around the nape of his neck. A quick glance at his name tag revealed his name, M. Garcia, one you made note of, wondering what his first name was many times before his introduction. Manuel? Matthew? Max? Martin? 

The answer came a few days later, when you bumped into him, once again in the same lift, his curious gaze no longer occupied by a report, this time able to fully focus on you. You hummed a good morning when you pressed the usual button, third floor, taking note of how he replied back, his eyebrows scrunching up before they raised when he realized where he had seen you before, no longer wearing the soft dark blue jumper like you had last time, this time wearing a doctor’s coat and scrubs that matched his own underneath it. “Oh. We met the other day” he said, tilting his head as he looked at you, his smile warm. “Yeah” You chuckled, “it was my first day. Or, well, I simply had come to get some information before my first day. But here I am now.” You smiled. “So we’re colleagues.” He hummed, holding his hand out, “nice to meet you. My name is Mickey Garcia, you’ll usually see me on the first floor running around, but occasionally I venture on the higher floors” he joked, glancing at the number on the small screen, wishing the ride had taken a little longer. “Aha, so you’re a nurse?” You asked, glancing at his name tag again, the small writing under his name confirming just that. “Yep. So whenever you need, you know who to call.” He said, winking just as the doors dinged and opened, “see you around” he added, stepping out and smiling at you as the doors closed again, taking you to your own floor. 

After a few weeks, you had settled into a routine. Mornings, sometimes afternoons, occasionally evenings, depending on your shifts, called for a coffee break, one you managed to time just right to match with Mickey’s on most days, happy to see him especially when he was busy with other patients, his company one you missed. “Second floor” Kathrine hummed one afternoon, smiling knowingly when you looked around. “What?” You asked, focusing back on her. “Garcia, he’s on the second floor. His patient, Mr. Hubert, he’s not doing too well, stopped responding to treatment, so they’re trying to figure out what the next course of action is” she explained, “so that’s where your boy is. He’ll probably be around later, though, so don’t worry.” She smirked. “Not my boy” You huffed, rolling your eyes, the blush on your cheeks not helping your statement. “With the way he looks at you? Yes, your boy” She teased, sipping her coffee. “Unrelated, When are you off next week? I need to buy a dress for a wedding and I need some help” She smiled. 

“Honestly, I can’t believe you liked it” you laughed, shaking your head, the steam from your cup rising into the darkness while it warmed your hands, the cold making you shiver nonetheless. He moved closer, his arm linking with yours, warming you up ever so slightly, yet making you blush easily. He always did this, greeted you with an arm wrapped around your shoulder as he asked you how you were, winked at you with a big smile when you crossed each other in the hallways, sometimes rested his head on your shoulder when you shared an elevator ride, usually only if it was just the two of you. “Never said it deserved an Oscar, but it was a fun movie” He smiled, his eyes studying your face as you looked into the distance, the parking lot mostly empty tonight.

He loved the moments he could get with you, an effortless break from the heavier days or from the slower ones, and the added bonus of getting to look at you was one he’d never admit to, but that he loved.

He loved the shape of your lips, or the way your hair curled, or how you laughed when he made a joke. And he loved listening to you, getting to know who was behind the incredible doctor he sometimes got to work side by side with.

“It was weird.” You commented, cocking an eyebrow as you looked at him, chuckling when he grinned. “Yeah, so am I, so you know, works out” he shrugged, laughing when you nudged into him, muttering a shut up and rolling your eyes, his free hand settling on your other shoulder to balance himself, absentmindedly rubbing it up and down over your coat when you shivered again. “Only telling the truth.” He laughed, “and you can’t lie.”

You shook your head, watching as your breath formed a small cloud that soon dispersed into thin air. “Well, maybe I like weird. Not the movie, though, that was just plain wrong” You laughed, missing the way he looked at you, your pager making you glance down, frowning as you read the room number and the surname of the patient on your screen. “Gotta go” You hummed, handing him your cup, “see you later” you said, rushing to the lift and making your way to the second floor as quickly as you could, blushing as you thought back to your words, the elevator ride seemingly endless. He spent the rest of his shift with a question at the back of his mind and a smile occasionally popping on his lips, the words of Mrs. Brown reminding him of you. “And that’s when I met him, so you see, we’ve been together for many years now. And I miss him so much, so make me feel better soon, okay? I’m sick of visiting hours.” She chuckled, looking at him. “I’ll try my very best, Miriam.” He smiled, taking note of her vitals, then reading her folder again, “Actually, I’d say you can probably leave tomorrow” He hummed, pulling the chair closer to her bed so he could sit for a moment, the shift slow enough to allow it. “Yeah?” She asked, eyes lighting with happiness. “Yeah.” He smiled again, holding a hand out for her, “I’ll talk to the doctor that’s following you and if she gives me the get go, I’ll make sure to contact Jorge so he can come pick you up.” He said, closing his eyes. “My doctor, the one you like?” She asked, squeezing his hand softly, a knowing smile on her lips when he opened his eyes, expression dropping at her mention, not really expecting anyone to have noticed, no one other than your colleagues, anyway. “Oh, c’mon boy, you’re not very subtle” She laughed, “You’re always so focused, but when she’s around, you’re focused on her. Which is fine, you’re one of the best nurses that’s ever taken care of me, trust me, but if I may take your role for a moment, you have a severe case of love, child” she grinned, letting go of his hand to pat his cheek.

He sighed, looking the the side, “I… she… Is… great.” He mumbled, nodding, “great doctor. And a good friend.” He said, his crush for you mostly evident, but not one he had openly admitted yet, if not to himself, the increase in the speed of the beating of his heart when he was around you not something he could ignore forever. “A great friend, I can imagine, yeah. And she is an incredible doctor as well, I agree, from what I’ve seen. But maybe she could also be a great girlfriend?” She asked, recognizing in him the same hesitation she had seen in her own son years earlier, too nervous to ask the girl of his dreams out on a date without a little motivation. “I’m not even sure if she’s single” He chuckled, shaking his head, the idea of asking you out making him more nervous than what he wanted to admit. “Did she ever mention anyone?” She asked again, trying to help out. “Nope. And there’s no ring on her finger.” He said, shuffling back in his chair and sighing again, “I have to ask her, don’t I?” He muttered, sighing again. “I’d say so, yeah. You’ll never know if not.” She replied, smiling when he chuckled, squeezing her hand and standing, pushing the chair back in place. “I will. I’ll let you know how it goes” He hummed, winking at her before stepping out of her room, his pager beeping again. 

“I’m sick of visiting hours.” He announced, pushing the chair back and sitting down on it, looking at you with a serious expression, one you only saw on his face when something was up with his patients, his usual smile substituted by focus and sometimes worry. “I… don’t think I can do much about that, Mickey” You chuckled, “I can tell Dr. Wilson, and he can talk to his superiors about it, but I think it might be a State issue. Actually, a Nation issue, and a World issue, too” You hummed, placing your pen down. He sighed softly, smiling and shaking his head, then looked back at you. “Do you have a moment?” He asked, glancing at the documents on your desk. “Yeah. It’s a report, but I can finish it later. Oh, actually, she’s your patient too, maybe you could help me, I have a question or two about what treatment ended up working better.” You said, holding the files towards him before dropping them, nodding when he kept his eyes on you, smile growing. “Sorry” You hummed. “No problem, doctor.” He smiled. “Actually, it’s kinda about her.” He said, the name at the top of the page the one of Mrs. Brown, the one that had, unknowingly, spurred him on. “Oh?” You asked, crossing your legs and sitting back, “tell me more.” “She missed her husband, and was telling me to get her to feel better so that she could see him again, since she hated visiting hours. She wanted him to be around all the time, not only when we allowed.” he explained, smiling at how kind she had been to him, sharing short stories every morning when he checked her vitals, and small morals when he’d pay her a visit. “Well, she must be happy then, since she got dismissed. She can now spend more time with her husband” You hummed, smiling at him. “Yeah. But she also made me realize that I also am kinda sick of visiting hours. With you” He said, clearing his throat as he tried to ignore how his heartbeat picked up. “With… me?” You asked, frowning, “Mickey, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think this was a Shutter Island type of situation.” You chuckled, biting your lip. He laughed, shaking his head, “It’s… not like that, no. It’s more of a I really like you and I’d like to spend time with you outside of work, too. Because I like you a lot.” He said, his words growing quieter as he spoke, his nerves taking the best of him. You blushed, realizing what he meant. He liked you. And in a perfect turn of events, you liked him too. Takes two to tango, right? “I don’t think I ever saw that film” You hummed, smiling, standing up from your seat and making your way in front of him, sitting on the edge of your desk, caging yourself in between him and the table. He shook his head, “neither have I, but I’d like to. Are you free tomorrow?” He asked, standing up, the distance between you significantly smaller than what would’ve been appropriate usually, his eyes focused on your lips as he waited for your reply. “I am free tomorrow” You confirmed, hand settling on his arm, pulling him ever so slightly closer.  “Lucky me” He smiled, “then would you like to go out with me?” He asked, all of the tension he had felt bringing him to this moment. “I’d love to” You answered, smiling and blushing at the relief you saw on his face, his cheeks growing red, his smile wide and eyes full of warmth, chuckling when he wrapped his arms around you, hugging you softly.

You pulled back after a few instants, gazing at his lips, then studying his faint freckles, then looking into his eyes. You couldn’t wait to kiss him, but more than everything you couldn’t wait to be with him in a different setting, listen to his stories without any rush, tease him and laugh at his jokes and tell your own without the constant worry that your pagers would go off, or that your break was about to end, or dad someone would interrupt you. You couldn’t wait to be with him. To simply be. “Tomorrow, then?” You asked, leaning into his touch when he cupped your cheek, nodding. “Tomorrow.” He hummed, “I’ll pick you up at six?” He asked. “Isn’t the usual pick up time at eight?” You teased. “I can’t wait until eight.” He hummed, leaning forward to press a light kiss to your cheek, unable to hide a smile. “Six it is, then” You chuckled, squeezing his arm and taking a step back, feeling the butterflies in your stomach when he waved at you, walking out of your office with a pep in his step, his smile not leaving his face. 

Your hand cradled your cheek, skin tingling from where he had kissed you, the promise of tomorrow making you excited about what was to come. 

The Italian Cartoon (originally a book) Today is

♡*｡ The little seagull and the cat (1998) ｡*♡

absolutely best thing you could say, I am very honoured by the comparison 🖤

I love the darker/less awkward side of Copia 👀

((also, our usernames feel fun together))

Got some likes on my last Copia art and this is a much improved character study so I thought I’d share 👀

Instagram link

Got some likes on my last Copia art and this is a much improved character study so I thought I’d share 👀

Instagram link

Back by [redacted] demand and because I'm living through The Horrors™ id like to request yet another Fanboy fic if that's okay!

It would be #41 "you need to get some sleep" (please double check).

Thank you and I love you 🩷

I always love getting your requests and you know it, so shhhh, but also, and this is on me for being the slowest sloth writer in the world, I hope The Horrors™ have somehow chilled a little, Halloween is still a good few months away and those are the only horrors we allow in this house. Anyway, here is what I came up with! Is it good? Who knows! (I might also have to read this again tomorrow to check for mistakes, oops) Is there sleep? Very little of it! But there's Mickey Garcia and a tired reader and maybe that's all I can offer 😌 I love you and I hope you like this!!

It was early in the morning when Mickey opened his eyes, his hand smoothing over the sheets while he searched for your body. 

He frowned softly when he was met with only the fresh cold sheets, sighing slightly as he turned to find his phone. Knowing you had probably left for the day already, he decided to send a good morning text, hoping it would put you in a good mood. But deep down, he couldn't help but miss waking up by your side. 

The past weeks had slowly taken a toll on both of you, and there was nothing he hated more than seeing you stressed and exhausted from all that life was throwing your way. Mickey: Hey! Morning beautiful! I hope your day goes well, I’ll see you later :) 

He sent the text with a smile, laying in bed a little longer before untangling himself from the mess of sheets, going through the small routine of airing out the window, making the bed, stretching, then preparing coffee, sleepiness still evident in his eyes. If being on leave did anything for him, it was leaving him relaxed, sleep always being a comfort he enjoyed the most when he was by your side, as well as the walks you’d go on, the simple moments spent chatting in front of a homemade meal and a good film.

You replied an hour later, letting him know that you’d call him when you were finished, and that you hoped he had a good day. He knew you were busy, but still, he missed you. 

-----

You: “i wanna go home :(“ 

Mickey: “want me to come over? Let me know when you finish and we can walk back together 🙈” 

You: “I still have a lot to do :( I’ll try to leave a little earlier but I’ll head home, no need for you to come pick me up. But thank you either way!” 

Mickey smiled when he read your message, hoping you’d get home a little sooner, but also happy to have heard from you, his worries about your tiredness soothing a little bit. 

You were clearly overworking yourself, even if you didn’t seem to notice that, and as much as he was worried, he’d wait a little longer, ready to catch you when you needed. 

-----

The rest of the day went by somewhat uneventfully on his side, preparing some small appetizers for the evening, chilling and going on a walk while he waited for you. Yet on your side? That was a whole other story. You wanted peace and quiet, yet none of colleagues seemed to realize that, plus today had already been challenging enough, with documents and files you weren’t exactly sure how to deal with. 

Not even the ride back home was peaceful, everyone rushing to get back to their loved ones, ignoring anyone that stood in the way, including you.  

And so, when you got home, you couldn’t help the loud sigh that escaped your lips, even if a smile soon took the place of the frown, instantly relaxing when you heard Mickey’s singing coming from the kitchen, pots and pans and spoons and drawers clattering while he cooked. You knew what you’d see if you chose to sneak closer to the kitchen, waiting by the door. You’d find him, probably half-dancing, most likely using your wooden spoon as a microphone, while he cooked whatever delicious meal he had settled on. It was simple, and silly, but you couldn’t help but be mesmerized by it, be mesmerized by him, by his habits, by his way to show love. You glanced around the living room, smiling at the table, already set up, more than one candle bathing the room in a warm glow as you walked over to the few appetizers already on the table, stealing one and taking a bite, humming at the taste. “Aha!” He called from the kitchen, making you jump, his smile big while he pointed his (microphone) wooden spoon your way, “I’ve caught a thief.” “Mickey,” You chuckled, walking over to him and wrapping your arms around his neck, pulling him into a soft kiss, yawning softly when your head rested on his shoulder. 

“Tired?” He asked, taking a breadstick from the table and biting it, the crunch of it breaking the silence.

“That’s an understatement” you chuckled, yawning again, “I’m glad tomorrow I can sleep.” You hummed, looking to your side as you wondered if that was the case. 

Was there something you were forgetting?

Ah. Yes. Plans. 8:30am. Tomorrow. 

Nothing that would take too long though-

“So?” He asked, grinning.

“Oh. You might have to repeat that.” You blushed, feeling sorry for your lack of listening.

Mickey chuckled, shaking his head and waving his hand, “you’re tired, it’s fine. I was telling you about the new exposition that’s opening in a week? Would be nice to go see it.” he said again, smiling softly. “Ah, absolutely, yeah! Sounds great” You nodded, resting your head on his shoulder and closing your eyes, smiling. “Thank you.” You whispered. “No need to thank me, love.” He whispered back, hand smoothing over your arm, “Now, go sit down, you need food, then sleep” he chuckled, walking back to the kitchen, the clattering of plates picking back up while he served his meal. 

-----

It was on the third day in a row of waking up alone that he decided that it was enough. He could forgive week days, considering that you couldn’t exactly miss work, but now it was Saturday, and he had seen how tired you had been the night before, barely making it through dinner without yawning, then falling asleep on the couch while he was talking. He knew his voice was soothing, but this was more. 

And so he waited, hands crossed over his chest and the most dramatically annoyed face he could put on when your key turned in the lock, tired steps carrying you into your home. 

It was 10am, early enough to still have the day to yourselves, but still, his morning cuddles had been sorely missed.

“Hi!” You called, not noticing he was right there until you glanced to the side, letting out a quiet yelp. “Okay, that’s very serial killer vibes of you, Mickey.” You teased, pushing past him and pressing a soft kiss to his cheek as you did, heading to the kitchen to pour yourself a glass of water. Mickey couldn’t help the smile on his face when you kissed him, nor the chuckle at your comment, so he just followed, arms wrapped around you while you drank, soft kisses pressed to your shoulder. “Miss you” he mumbled softly. You sighed, leaning into him and humming, “I miss you too.” 

He smiled at your words, placing another kiss to your shoulder. “So, Miss Busy Bee, any other plans for the weekend?” he asked, bracing himself for what he knew was to come. “Tomorrow at two I technically have to head out.” You mumbled, chuckling when his hold tightened. "Nope," he hummed playfully, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips.

"Mickey," you laughed, trying to wriggle in his arms to face him. His embrace tightened around you, caging you against the counter, and one of his hands found its place on your hip.

"You need sleep," he insisted, his eyes soft yet determined, as if he could see through every layer of exhaustion you were trying to hide. He cherished every detail of your face, savoring the memory of each moment spent together.

"I think at 2 pm I'll be done with sleep," you playfully retorted, your voice tinged with tiredness. "I'm tired, but—"

"But what, love?" he asked, his tone teasing, raising an eyebrow with a smile dancing on his lips. He leaned closer, placing a tender kiss on your forehead. "You need to get some sleep," he repeated, letting his words hang in the air for a moment. After a beat, he took a step back and reached for your hand, gently pulling you towards the inviting comfort of the couch.

"Now?" you teased, well aware that you were tired enough to fall asleep right there, but part of you also longed to spend time with him, to unwind and relax in his arms.

"Well, later," he chuckled, his smile making his eyes crinkle with affection. "We can have breakfast in bed, followed by cuddles, kisses, and maybe a movie." He raised his eyebrows with a pleased smirk, knowing well how tempting his offer was.

"Breakfast in bed, cuddles and kisses?” You asked, laughing, “I think I can cancel those plans for tomorrow," you muttered, leaning into his body, feeling his arms instantly wrap around you, soft touches trailing along your arms.

"Yeah?" he asked, grinning, gently swaying with you before he stopped, smirking again. "Change of plans," he declared playfully, pulling you away from the couch and back into his chest. 

He moved with a sense of purpose, guiding you to the bed and pushing you down onto it.

He leaned in to kiss your lips, starting with a gentle peck that soon deepened into a passionate embrace, leaving you completely enamored. Mickey's hand found its way to cradle your cheek, his touch gentle yet filled with a fiery passion that sent shivers down your spine. His fingers traced a path along your jawline, his touch eliciting soft sighs from your lips, surrendering to the blissful sensation that swept over you.

With every passing moment, the kiss deepened, becoming an unspoken promise of love and devotion. 

Your fingers entwined with his, holding onto him as if he were your anchor.

As the kiss finally broke, a trail of soft breaths lingered between you.

Mickey's gaze locked with yours, his eyes reflecting a love so profound it left you breathless.

"I love you," he whispered, his voice carrying a world of emotions.

“I love you too.” You said back easily, unable to hide your smile. 

"I'll make coffee," he whispered, his voice a sweet melody. "Get comfortable, and I'll be back." He hummed, standing up, holding your hand until it reluctantly fell from his grasp. 

He walked to the kitchen, his footsteps quietly pattering on the floor. As he walked, you couldn't help but watch him with adoration. The way he moved, the grace in his steps.  Once he was out of sight, you settled into a more comfortable position on the bed, letting out a contented sigh.  The room felt warmer now, and not just from the candles and the cozy setup. 

True to his word, he came back with a tray of steaming coffee cups, and the sweet aroma filled the room. He set the tray down on the bedside table before sitting beside you, his eyes locked on yours once more.

"Here you go," he said softly, handing you a cup, his fingers brushing gently against yours.

"Thank you," you replied, taking a sip and relishing the warmth that spread through you, both from the coffee and from his touch. "I think you make the best coffee," you said, smiling at him gratefully.

Mickey chuckled, his eyes shining with affection. "Well, coffee has magical powers, but it's nothing compared to the power of your smile."

Your heart fluttered at his words, chuckling, "Flattery will get you everywhere," you teased, playfully nudging his shoulder.

He raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh, I plan on going everywhere with you," he replied, his voice low and filled with a mixture of tenderness and playfulness.

"Smooth talker," you teased, trying to hide the blush that crept up your cheeks.

Mickey leaned closer, his lips brushing against your ear as he whispered, "Only for you."

His fingers traced gentle patterns on your hand, lips kissing your cheek as he settled back by your side. 

"We're so lucky, you know," he said softly, breaking the silence.

"Lucky?" you repeated, meeting his gaze curiously.

“Lucky, yeah. I mean, to spend a Saturday morning in bed, with someone incredibly hot, yet cool and charming by their side, sipping coffee and with the promise of cuddles, maybe more” he added playfully, “I think that’s lucky.” He laughed. You couldn't help but laugh, his playful words causing your heart to dance with joy. 

"Oh, I definitely agree," you replied, teasingly raising an eyebrow. "It's not every day you get to wake up to such a perfect combination of hotness, charm, and sweetness."

Mickey grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Ah, so you think I'm perfect, huh?"

"I was talking about me, actually," you said teasingly, leaning in to place a soft kiss on his cheek, “but you’re pretty great as well” 

He laughed, his arm wrapped around you, pulling you even closer. "Well, I agree with you. You’re perfect," he whispered, his lips brushing against your ear, sending delightful shivers down your spine.

*appears back on tumblr after a while*

*posts Cardinal Copia fanart only to vanish again*

No, yeah, haven’t been around on this app for a little while, but got back into digital art recently (got back from the Ghost concert in Milan and craved making art of this silly little man) and I thought I’d share 🥴

‘The hug is a petal that envelopes history’

2023

Zhang Yidan (Instagram)

[edit] old Versace ad. 

Bonus Dagger reaction:

sundays are for coffee and contemplation and figuring out the logistics of disappearing into the woods. never to be seen again

Coffee and Chapters - Robert "Bob" Floyd x reader

A/N: This is quite literally a product of the last twenty minutes. I did not read it over, the idea might not make full sense, but I won't be held accountable for that! I simply wanted to write some soft Bob Floyd x reader meet-cute and I hope someone can appreciate 💕

Words: 1.3k

⋆﹥━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━﹤⋆

As you unlock the door to Coffee and Chapters in the early morning, you feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. You take a deep breath and inhale the familiar scents of coffee and books. This is your place - your café bookshop.

You move around the space, straightening books on the shelves, wiping down tables, and making sure everything is just right for your customers. You take pride in the cozy atmosphere you have created, knowing that it's the perfect place for people to relax, read, and enjoy a cup of coffee.

As the day begins, customers start to trickle in - some regulars, some newcomers. You greet each one with a smile, and take pleasure in knowing their names and their favourite drinks. You offer recommendations and chat with them about their latest reads, forging connections with people who share your love of books.

You watch as customers trickle in and out, some coming in the morning for a quiet cup of coffee and a book, while others come in the late afternoon to study, surrounded by the quiet hum of the shop. The weekends are when families with young children come over, reading together, playing board games, and sipping on hot cocoa, and you watch from afar, sometimes interact, serve coffees and cocoas and cookies and pies. 

It's a peaceful afternoon at Coffee and Chapters when you notice a new customer walk in. You're surprised to see someone in their flight suit - you know the nearby base is home to a fighter pilot training program - but you smile and greet him as he makes his way to the counter. He responds with a shy "hi" and looks around the shop, taking in the books and the cozy atmosphere.

As he wanders through the store, you can't help but notice how handsome he is, with his sandy blonde hair and striking blue eyes. He seems lost in thought, running his fingers over the spines of the books as he searches for something to read, lips moving as he reads each title. You try not to stare, but you can't help but feel a flutter in your stomach.

You watch as he settles in with a book in the corner, and you can't resist taking a peek at what he's chosen. It's a classic novel, and you can't help but smile, feeling a connection to him through your shared love of literature. You go back to your work, but you can't help but steal glances in his direction, captivated by his presence.

-----

As the afternoon wears on, more customers come and go, but Bob remains in his corner, lost in his book. You can't help but wonder what he thinks of the story, and as if he’s heard you, he comes over, book in hand, smiling shyly when he sees you behind the counter.

"Hi," you say, smiling at him. "What can I get for you?"

"Just a coffee, please," he replies, his voice soft and gentle. You nod, and start to prepare his drink. As you work, you can feel his eyes on you, and you turn to him, curious. "So, what do you think of the book you're reading?" you ask, trying to strike up a conversation.

Bob looks up, surprised, but then he smiles. "It's one of my favorites," he says, his eyes lighting up. "I love the characters, and the way the author captures the feeling of being lost and searching for something more."

You nod, intrigued. "I know what you mean. The writing is beautiful, isn't it?"

He nods, and then takes a sip of his coffee, savoring the flavor. "You make a great cup of coffee," he says, smiling at you.

"Thanks," you reply, feeling a warm flush spread through your body. "It's always nice to hear that."

You continue to chat for a few more minutes, talking about the book and other favourite authors. It's a simple conversation, but you can't help but feel drawn to Bob's quiet charm and intelligence. As he finishes his coffee and says goodbye, you can't help but feel a twinge of disappointment. You hope he'll come back soon, and that you'll have another chance to talk to him.

-----

Days pass, and you can't stop thinking about Bob. You wonder if he'll come back, if he felt the same spark that you did. You try to focus on work, but your mind wanders, imagining what it would be like to spend more time with him.

Finally, he returns, and your heart skips a beat when you see him walk in. You're behind the counter, and he comes up to you, a shy smile on his face.

"Hi again," he says, his eyes shining. "I was hoping you'd be here."

You feel your cheeks grow warm, and you can't help but smile back. "I'm here most days," you say, trying to play it cool.

He nods, and then looks around the shop. "Do you mind if I sit and read for a bit?" he asks, gesturing to the corner where he sat before.

"Of course not," you say, feeling a surge of excitement. "Let me know if you need anything."

As Bob settles in with his book, you try to focus on your work, but your eyes keep drifting back to him. You catch him stealing glances at you too, and every time your eyes meet, you both blush and chuckle.

Finally, he puts down his book and walks up to the counter again. "I'm sorry to keep bothering you," he says, a playful twinkle in his eyes. "But can I order another coffee?"

"Not bothering, and of course," you say, smiling back. "What can I get for you?"

He orders his coffee, and as you make it, you start chatting again. This time, the conversation flows more easily, both of you feeling more comfortable with each other.

You learn that Bob is a WSO stationed nearby, and that he's been in the area for a few years now. He tells you about his love for books and coffee, and how he stumbled upon Coffee and Chapters while looking for a quiet place to read. As you chat, you can't help but feel a growing sense of attraction to him. He's kind, funny, and has a gentle way about him that draws you in. You start to realize that you're falling for him, and it scares you a little.

As the conversation continues, Bob starts to open up more, sharing stories about his experiences as a WSO and his dreams for the future. You find yourself hanging on his every word, captivated by his intelligence and passion.

Eventually, Bob finishes his coffee and pulls out his wallet to pay. As he hands you the money, you take the opportunity to write your number on the back of his receipt. "If you ever want to... well, coffee seems weird, considering my job, but maybe coffee outside of work? Just... feel free to give me a call," you say, blushing at how you babbled nervously, handing him back his receipt with a smile.

Bob's eyes widen slightly as he sees the number on the receipt, and he can't help but smile. "I would love that," he says, his voice soft. "Thank you."

He takes the receipt, tucking it carefully into his wallet, and then looks back up at you. "I should probably get going," he says regretfully. "But I'll definitely be in touch."

As he heads for the door, you watch him go, your heart pounding with anticipation. You can't help but wonder if he'll actually call, or if this will turn out to be just another fleeting crush.

Days pass, and you start to think that maybe Bob won't actually call. But just when you're starting to lose hope, your phone buzzes with a new text message. Your heart leaps as you see that it's from Bob.

"Hey, it's Bob, from Coffee and Chapters?" the text reads. "I was wondering if you might want to grab dinner sometime?"

Social Battery - Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x reader

A/N: This has been a wip for so long but it's finally here! I can only hope it's good, but yeah, I hope you enjoy 💕

Words: 4.4k

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Your steps echoed on the ground. 

The hangar was empty apart from the man you had been looking for everywhere, and even if you still felt tense, you felt a little bit victorious too. “Can I talk to you?” you spoke to his back, knowing that he had heard you walked in, because how could he not, but not in the mood to walk the extra steps to face him or wait for him to turn around for you. “With me?” he asked, finally turning. He didn’t have to look so cute when he was confused, which was often, for some reason, and yet he always did. Eyebrows scrunched and lips tight, but kind eyes and a hand pointing at his face, to add a visual aid to his extremely complicated question. “Oh, Rooster? Sorry, I was looking for Hangman, the similarity with your eye colour, facial hair and fashion sense is so fucking similar, I must’ve gotten confused.” You spun on your heel, the question you had wanted to ask him bubbling away and leaving its space to anger, or frustration, or whatever the hell you were feeling, but you didn’t get far before he caught up to you, stopping you when his hand gently tugged on your arm. “Hey, hey, hey, sorry. Talk to me, what is it?” He had been lost in thought, and didn’t want to scare you away with his silliness.

He knew you had been looking for him, clear by the urgency with which you’d walked in, but he didn’t think you’d react that way. You contemplated not telling him about how you felt exhausted from people, how you needed a break, how you had almost snapped at Maverick earlier today because he had asked you if you had slept well, but his worried expression was something you couldn’t bear. “I… it’s nothing too serious, actually.” You saw his shoulders relax at your words, but his hold on you didn’t falter, and his expression softened only a bit, still wanting to know what was on your mind. “Serious or not, you came all the way here to talk to me, so c’mon.” he urged gently, a smile tugging softly at his lips. “Okay. Yeah. Okay. So.” Words were sometimes incredibly annoying, and you started to wish that you had thought more about what to say. “I’ve been feeling stressed because I’m always around people and I need time for myself and I was wondering if maybe I could spend a day or two in your dorm room if that doesn’t bother you?” If words barely came before, now they wouldn’t stop, amusing Rooster to no end while you were talking, needing a moment however to understand the mixture of them once you were finished. “My dorm?” “Yep. I know technically it’s not allowed, but if it’s okay with you I’ll sneak in, and I’ll barely make a noise, I promise.” “Oh, that’s not what’s worrying me, don’t worry. I was just wondering… I might sometimes be there.”

The two of you had spent time in his room, it wasn’t uncommon, occasional movie nights or simple evenings spent with a beer and some music, simply talking about life. And you had crashed there before, although it had never really been planned, just an accidental sorry-I-fell-asleep-while-you-were-talking type of thing.  “I mean, yeah, it’s your room.”  “So, when I’m not training, I’ll be there. And it’s Friday tomorrow so I guess tomorrow night I’ll be in later, and you could join us if you’d like, clearly, but-“ You shook your head, both to decline his offer - tomorrow just wouldn’t be a Hard Deck type of night, you were afraid - and to stop his words. “It really doesn’t matter when you get back, Rooster. Again, it’s your room.” “But you said you don’t want to be with people for a bit.” “Yeah, but you don’t count.” He didn’t know how to take that. He didn’t count as people? That felt oddly insulting, but he also sensed that you didn’t say that with any sort of malice. So...? “I… don’t count.” He repeated slowly, trying to get something out of you. “No.” “As people.” “Well, you certainly are a people.” You joked, shoving him lightly with a smile, already feeling better after talking to him. “I don’t think I understand.” He confessed, finally letting go of your arm so that he could scratch behind his neck. “Well… I mean, I don’t feel the need to get away from you.” The simple revelation had your cheeks burning, the words feeling a little too real as you pronounced them, but it was the truth.

You and Rooster had been friends for a while now, and not once had you felt the need to go away, his personality always adapting perfectly to yours and vice versa, easily reading your mood and knowing just when to speak more or less, when to crack more jokes, or cook, or sing you a song and pull you up to dance. It was an effortless friendship, and even in your worst moods he always knew how to pick you up. His expression softened at your words, looking down before meeting your eyes again, happy that you felt comfortable with him just as much as he did with you. “You know me. You get me. And I just feel good when I’m around you.” You added when he didn’t speak, feeling slightly unsure now that all that he was doing was staring at you. 

He nodded, taking in your words and not allowing himself the time to dwell on them, the thoughts that would plague him acting as nothing but a distraction for the rest of the day if he did. He patted your back once before gently pushing you back out of the hangar, walking with you until you were both in the sun, one of your eyes closing as you turned to look at him, the sun shining down way too brightly to properly see him. “Go grab what you need. I’ll be waiting at my place, yeah?” There was a sort of intimacy in the way he asked, a simplicity and a promise to be there for you, any other things he had left to do for the day being swept away in favor of getting you settled in at his place and maybe spending time together, if so you desired. 

-- Your bag had been mostly packed the night before, having already settled on leaving for a little while either way. Plan B would’ve been that of staying at a motel for a few nights, one not too far from here, but staying with Rooster was far better, both because it meant saving on the motel’s fees, and because you’d get to spend time with him while also recharge. You added the last few items in, some skincare products, a notebook, a book, your chargers and devices you had planned on bringing along and zipped your bag up, leaving a note by the door to say goodbye, even if you had already mentioned you’d be away for a few days and closed the door behind you, slowly making your way to Rooster’s place. 

-- 

You were thankful when you got to his front door, the weight of your bag slowly starting to hurt your back.

He opened the door with a smile, welcoming you with a small hug.

“So, I’ve got snacks, there’s food in the fridge, so you can just help yourself to whatever. Now, I just was wondering, want me to leave, or…?” He asked, leaning against the couch as his eyes followed you. “No.” You replied with a chuckle, shaking your head as you walked to his bedroom, letting your bag fall to one side and picking out what you needed, leaving some of your products out so that you could place them in the bathroom later, as well as some comfy clothes you could wear around the house. “I might shower, if that’s okay, but then we could watch something together? Or play a board game, if you’d like.” You offered, knowing how much he enjoyed playing them, and even if they could take ages, you still enjoyed them with him, loving how his cheerful smile was contagious as he played and talked, his stories never getting old. “Of course. I left a t-shirt by the bed? Unless… you have your own.” He added with a chuckle, letting himself fall on the couch, not seeing how you put your own shirt to the side, picking his up instead, smiling at the gesture. “This will do! Thank you.” You hummed, grabbing all you needed and making your way to the bathroom, sending him a wink. “Give me ten minutes and I’ll be with you!”  He hummed out a sure, one you didn’t hear as you close the door, slipping out of your clothes and into his shower, letting out a breath of relief when the warm water came in contact with your skin, the day’s, or week’s, tensions slipping away. 

And there truly wasn’t anything easier. You put his shirt on, smiling at the comfort it brought you, the softness of it, the smell that was distinctly him, even if it lacked his cologne.  When you stepped out of the bathroom, you found him sitting on the couch, scrolling through his phone. He looked up when he heard you enter, his eyes lingering on you for a moment before he gave you a small smile, looking away quickly before you could see the faint blush on his cheeks.  "Ready to watch something? Or…" he asked, setting his phone down on the coffee table and gesturing towards the small bookshelf he had by the tv, your favourite board games all stashed there.  You nodded, taking a seat beside him on the couch, “movie sounds good,” you hummed. He handed you the remote, letting you choose what to watch. You scrolled through Netflix for a few moments before settling on a comedy, wanting something light to watch, but also not wanting to concentrate on something, just wanting to relax. 

As the movie played, you found yourself glancing over at him every so often, taking in his features. It was easy to be with him, his soft laughter contagious, his eyes looking at you at a particularly funny joke making you smile. You wondered when you’d admit, to yourself and to him, that maybe you wanted more than friendship. 

But you pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the movie and trying to enjoy the moment. You laughed at the jokes, and he laughed with you, his hand brushing against yours on the couch. It was a small gesture, but it sent shivers down your spine.

-- 

He opened his eyes, taking in his room as he sighed, picking his phone up to check the time and letting out a silent groan. He turned to look at you when he felt you shift, first to wake and then to stretch, keeping his lips tightly sealed as he took you in. You felt his eyes on you, ignoring them as you allowed your body to catch up with your brain, waking up as his alarm finally went off.  “What?” You finally mumbled when he didn’t say anything, his lips still shut but trying not to show his smile. “Was afraid you’d snap at me if I talked at this ungodly hour.” He whispered, this time not hiding his smile and grinning rather happily at you, a smile that you couldn’t help but mirror.

He looked a little too good for this early in the morning, his eyes looking at you so softly, hair ruffled and skin golden from all the time in the sun, and you couldn’t help but make a mental snapshot of this for future reference, whatever that would be. 

And yeah, Bradley was an attractive man, it was impossible to not notice, but that didn’t change that 7am hadn’t even rolled by yet, and this man already looked that good. “Shut up.” You said after a while, thanking the darkness of the room for covering the blush that had started colouring your cheeks when you noticed just how long you had been staring at him, his smirk just growing, even if he wouldn’t tease you about it. “Okay.” He mimicked a zip closing his mouth, standing from the bed with a little bow. “Okay, no, don’t take that literally. I like your voice.” You muttered, sitting up a little better and rubbing your eyes, letting the revelation fall from your lips with no thought, too busy trying to not crawl back under the covers again. 

You didn’t catch it, but he had given you a smile that held nothing but love at your comment, his cheeks now reddening too as he reached for his clothes, collecting all he needed for the day and placing it in one pile, then grabbing what he’d be wearing and holding on to it. “You know, you don’t have to stay up. Go back to sleep, okay?”  It was nice, not waking up alone, even if he wanted to keep his routine quicker than usual, wanting to leave you your space and not impose. Or get back in bed with you, sleep for a little longer, make that distance between you a little less and maybe even hold you, just for a bit.  It had happened only once or twice, that during movie night you’d end up falling asleep at one point, resting your head on his shoulder, his arm wrapping protectively around you, but it hadn’t happened many times, and he knew it couldn’t happen now.  “I’ll wait until you go.” You looked up at him and smiled, one eye closed as you leaned against the wall, eyes still on him.  Rooster nodded quickly, tightening the hold on his clothes. “I’ll go shower and then I’ll leave, yeah?” He said quickly, not even if you had said that he didn’t count with the whole getting exhausted of people, he still didn’t want to be overbearing. “Oh, sure, yeah.” You nodded, sending him a quick smile before he disappeared behind the bathroom door, leaving you to snuggle into his bed, careful not to fall asleep as you shifted lower, moving closer to the centre of the bed now that he had left it, settling your head between your pillow and his, the smell of his cologne clinging to the material and making you close your eyes as you breathed it in, letting your body relax in his bed. 

Out of the shower and already dressed for the day, Rooster couldn’t help but smile when he saw you cuddled up into his bed again, and he had to resist the urge to climb in with you. He knew you wanted space, knew this was about you getting some, but that sentence, I don’t feel the need to get away from you, it just made him want to hold you, even if that was a line he knew he shouldn’t cross, no matter how deeply he wanted to. But, compromising with himself, he walked over, smoothing your hair down and smiling at you once more when you opened your eyes, expression warm as you looked up at him. “I’ll probably come back later, yeah? Before heading out to the Hard Deck?” He hummed, voice low as he spoke. “I’d like that, yeah.” You already knew you wouldn’t be heading out with him, preferring the calmness of being here, maybe picking a good movie or relaxing with a face mask, but you still were happy about the idea of him coming back to hang out with you, even if only for a little while. Rooster had his ways of just fitting well with you, and most times you hated that about him, like  you were right now.  Fingers combing through your hair, voice low to not disturb you, face close as he considered placing a kiss on your forehead. He was careful, and attentive, and funny, and flirty, and teasing, and kind, and it made you wonder how much longer you could go before you’d have to tell him how you felt, your feelings from him having started to shift a while ago now. You could take it, you thought, a simple friendship, if that’s what he wanted, but not knowing what his feelings were while also fitting so comfortably in his arms was proving a harder task each day. “I’ll see you later.” He finally hummed, kissing your forehead gently and moving away before he could spot your reaction, sending you a wave as he picked his things and walked out the door, leaving you alone in his apartment, in his bedroom, in his t-shirt. 

-- 

You had ended up spending a few more hours in bed, basking in the sweet feeling of tranquility that washed over you every time you turned in bed, his smell, the softness of the sheets, the relief of not having to deal with other people for the day. By 10am you had gotten up and started making yourself breakfast.  The rest of the day went by easily, between watching series and movies, catching up on reading, resting, playing, and simply doing nothing. The afternoon was slowly winding to an end when you heard footsteps approaching from outside, turning towards the door to greet your new roommate.  “Good day?” You asked when he walked in, his frown softening when he saw you draped over his couch, facing him with a bright smile. It’s not that he had forgotten that you were there, quite the opposite actually, the thought never left his mind, but he hadn’t expected you to be so happy to see him, maybe. Or maybe it was just you. In his home, there for him, and it felt sweet, and domestic, almost. He could get used to this a little too easily, and it scared him. “Long day.” He finally answered, taking his boots off and stretching. “You?” “Oh, very good, yeah.” You replied, smiling at him. “Good. I'm glad to hear that.” He said, walking towards the kitchen to grab a drink. As he passed by you, you couldn't help but catch his scent, a mix of his cologne and the smell of the outdoors. It was intoxicating, and you found yourself wanting to get closer to him. As he rummaged through the fridge, you couldn't help but admire his broad shoulders and muscular arms. He was a handsome man, and you had always found him attractive, but he was your best friend, and that was all. 

As he turned around, drink in hand, he caught you staring at him and raised an eyebrow. You quickly looked away, feeling your cheeks flush with embarrassment. “Everything okay?” He asked, walking over to sit next to you on the couch. “Yeah, sorry. Just zoned out for a second.” You said, trying to play it cool. He chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. “You're cute when you're flustered.” “Oh, shut up.” You chuckled, walking over and playfully slapping his arm, reaching for a glass yourself. “I mean it.” He repeated, smirking. “Shush. So, Hard Deck tonight? Drinks with your sworn enemy Hangman?” you joked, knowing him and Hangman weren’t enemies in the slightest, had solved all their issues a few months ago. 

–--

You stood when you heard the steps approaching the door, a smile on your face, knowing Rooster was bound to come home soon, judging by the 12am rule he had, always wanting to be at home by that time, in bed just a little while later, not wanting to risk messing up his body clock.  “Roos?” You called, opening the door and standing by it, eyes widening when you spotted Hangman holding Rooster up, laughing as they walked, one of them clearly drunker than the other. “Sweetheart!” Hangman called happily when he noticed you, the beers consumed enveloping him in a comfortable buzz, his mind not even questioning why you were at Rooster’s place, or why you hadn’t been around all day, just accepting it with a smile, leading your new roommate back to you. “Good night?” You asked, arm sliding under Rooster’s, holding him up as you tried to support his weight, his arm protectively wrapping around you as his head rested on top of yours, dopey smile only visible by Hangman. “Very good! Rooster here drank a little more than planned, but good.” He said, reaching over to pat Rooster’s shoulder, laughing when he heard the man groan. “I’ll see you around? You’ll make sure he survives the night?” He asked with his signature smirk, hoping his job was done so he could crash on his own bed, having drank more than planned himself, too. “Yep, no worries. Go take care of yourself now, and yeah, see you soon!” You called as he walked down the path, walking slow and calculated steps to his own place, throwing you a thumbs up over his shoulder. You chuckled at the scene, closing the door behind you and Rooster and helping him towards the bed, doubting he’d stand back up if you walked him to the couch instead. He stood in his room, looking at you as you patted his shoulder, pointing to the bed. “Sit. I’ll get you some water.” You muttered, walking towards the kitchen and making quick work of pouring him some fresh water, trying to minimize the damage. “I’m so glad you asked to stay over.” He slurred slightly, letting his weight fall to the bed when you walked back, grabbing the glass of water from your hand and sipping on it, closing his eyes. “Because I take care of you when you’re drunk?” You asked playfully, grabbing the glass back, still half full, from the floor where he had placed it, knowing he’d knock it over if not. “No, ‘cause I love havin’ you around. And ‘cause you’re cute. And it’s nice to wake up next to you, better than I had imagined.” He said with a chuckle, looking up at you with big eyes before blushing, shaking his head at his own words. “Cute?” You asked, even if you were more curious about the waking up by your side part. “Yes. But no, I’ll shut up now.” He chuckled, grin dopey as he looked at you, laying down on the bed and pulling you down with him, his hand resting on your hip. You both were aware, even him, in his drunken state, that this was more than friendly touching, especially paired with his prior words, but neither of you minded it. You nodded, laughing softly and combing your fingers through his hair, pulling some stray strands back and watching amused as his eyes closed and he sighed contently. “I like that.” He whispered, opening his eyes again to look at you, too tired to properly keep them open. “I think it’s bedtime, big boy.” You whispered back, smiling as he closed his eyes, your touch not stopping, set on continuing until he was fast asleep, which didn’t seem would take long. “I can’t wait to wake up next to you again.” He hummed, eyes fluttering open for only one second, closing again when he saw you, as if he needed the certainty that you were still there, still real. “Goodnight.” You whispered, ignoring the blush on your cheeks and the quickening of your heart, fingers threading through his hair, his breathing soft and rhythmical, soon enough signalling his slumber. You peeled away from him, chuckling when he groaned at the loss, tiptoeing around his place until you found everything you could find against his hangover, sure that it would hit him in the morning. 

-- 

You opened your eyes when you felt him shift, his groan waking you up more as you turned to look at him, his hand meeting his head as he held it, another pained groan being huffed out. “There’s painkillers and water on the bedside cabinet.” You whispered, closing your eyes again and feeling him move away, finally realizing just how close you were,  just how he was holding you. Legs tangled, one of his hands still holding yours while the other slipped from your waist to stretch towards the side, finding the tablet and letting it fall into his mouth as he opened the bottle, the top of it already opened the night before, trying to make everything as smooth as possible. 

As he swallowed the pill with a gulp of water, he turned back to you, his eyes still bleary from sleep and the remnants of his hangover. But as he looked at you, his expression softened and a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Hey," he murmured, his voice raspy from disuse. "Good morning," you replied, returning his smile. You looked at him, the way the soft morning light colored his cheeks, almost unable to look away. He shifted closer to you, his hand still holding yours, and you couldn't help but feel a flutter in your chest at the intimate contact.  The tension between you both was palpable, and you knew that something had shifted between you since last night. "I had a good dream," he whispered, his gaze never leaving yours. "Oh?" you asked, curiosity piqued. "Yeah," he said, his thumb stroking over the back of your hand. "We were sitting on a beach, watching the sunset. It was just us, and it felt...perfect." You felt a warmth spread through your chest at his words, and you couldn't help but think that maybe your feelings for him weren't one-sided after all. "I had a dream too," you said softly, biting your lip nervously. "We were dancing, and you were twirling me around. It felt like we were the only two people in the room." It wasn’t a lie, with the way he had been holding you throughout the night it was an easy thing to imagine, to dream. Rooster's smile widened, and he leaned in closer, his breath ghosting over your lips. "Maybe it doesn’t have to be just a dream," he murmured, his hand moving from yours to cup your cheek. And then he kissed you, soft and sweet and tentative at first, but then growing more urgent as the heat between you intensified. You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him closer, knowing that all that fear you had held onto, ignoring your feelings for him for who knows what reason, was dissipating in that very moment, his hands holding onto you so carefully.  As you pulled away from the kiss, Rooster's eyes were filled with a newfound intensity, one you already couldn’t get enough of.  You smiled at him, feeling more alive than ever before, and whispered, "Good morning, indeed."