The Stuffed Rabbit🐇💌💕
Miguel O'Hara x AFAB Reader s/o
Happy Valentine's Day, Miguel Nation! 🌹💌
Synopsis: One of my Valentine's Day specials. The other one is posted now too. Woot woot! Bringing you and Miguel back from the same universe as In a Vial Around Your Pretty Little Neck. It's your second Valentine's Day together. And all you want is to go to Build A Bear. You plan an emotional surprise for him too that you hope he'll love. The quote: "Grief is love with nowhere to go," by Jamie Anderson helped inspire this. Word count: 2.7k
TW: Minors DNI since this one has suggestive content(but no smut), little angst, grief, other than that just Valentine's fluff.
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"Tienes demasiados peluches, mi vida." (You have too many stuffed animals, my life.) Miguel smirks at you as he stands in your kitchen, loading the Keurig with his cup of Joe for the morning.
"Well, I need more." You say firmly, crossing your arms.
Miguel shakes his head. "The fact that they take up nearly the entire new shelf I bought you is crazy on its own. You sure you don't want a fancy dinner, maybe a little vacation, just you and I? Movie? Some earrings?" He tickles your earlobe and you swat him away playfully.
"No way. Build-a-Bear or bust."
Miguel smiles, won over by your persistence. "Well, it seems I don't stand a chance against you this time." He sighs and pours the steaming coffee into a mug, blowing on the hot drink lightly. "I'll take you to Build-A-Bear, if I can choose the restaurant we go to afterwards?"
You press your fingertips together like a villain making a deal.
"Very well, O'Hara. You drive a hard bargain, but alas, I shall concede this time and let you have jurisdiction over our choice of dining."
Miguel shakes his head. "I'll do without the theatrics."
You walk up to him, craning your neck to look up at him and lean forward into his chest with both hands on either side of his waist. "Let me be dramatic in peace. You know I can't stand surprises when it comes to food."
Miguel sets his mug down and holds your face in his hands. "Are my restaurant picks really that terrible?"
You suck your cheeks in like a guppy and Miguel leans in to give you a little peck. "Nah. But preferably not Subway again."
Miguel's face curls into a smirk and he tickles your sides which you start giggling in response, trying to to push him off. "Thought you wanted to go to the place where they 'make the food in front of you'?" he says teasingly.
"Stahhhppp it!! I- *giggles* I-I meant teppanyaki, genius! Not freakin Subway."
Miguel starts kissing your cheeks, alternating between each one, causing your stomach to flutter.
"My apologies, baby...you're right, I'll make sure to pick somewhere extra special this time."
His hands slip under your shirt, making you get a little weak and your eyes droop.
"Mmm-promise...?"
He gives you a soft lingering kiss, and mumbles quietly against your lips, "Te lo prometo, cariño." (I promise you, dear)
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Your plan worked. Now you just had to get some help from Lyla. You wanted your own stuffed animal for Valentine's Day of course, but you wanted something extra special made for Miguel that you could give him at dinner, too.
You stood in front of Miguel's desk with Lyla, drumming your fingers anxiously as she was trying to download and email the file you were needing for his present before he returned from his lunch break.
"How much longer, Lyla?...." You asked, trying to keep the impatience in your tone in check.
"Almost there, almost there....." Lyla chided, jumping from one end of the holographic screen to the other. "Annnnnnd.....okay I sent it! He's gonna cry when he sees it dude, I hope you're ready."
You smile and then jump when you hear Miguel's voice. "Ready for what? And what are you doing here in the middle of the day?"
You whirl around and Lyla dissipates, trying play it off like both of you weren't up to anything.
"Nothing! Lyla was just saying uhm...she was just making sure I'm ready for tomorrow because apparently you chose a really fancy place for dinner this time." You grin, your heart racing in your chest.
Miguel gives you a suspicious look, but it turns into a smile as he scoops you up, planting you on his desk with your legs on either side of him. He gives your thighs a little squeeze and looks at the screens behind you as though he didn't buy your excuse entirely. "Hmmm...I did choose a fancy place for dinner tomorrow. I just hope Lyla didn't spoil it already..."
Lyla regenerates next to Miguel's ear. "Secret's still secure, boss!"
You nod, backing her up. "Honestly, she didn't tell me anything. Even though I was begging."
Miguel smiles and presses his forehead against yours. "Someone's impatient."
"I'm just excited! That's all..." You lean in , putting your hands on Miguel's shoulders and he helps hoist you back down.
He nods. "Trust me, you'll love it. But, dare I ask what you and Lyla were actually up to before I walked in?" He gives you a little smirk as he moves past you, setting up his workstation once again.
You quickly avert your gaze, doing your best to shield your true intentions. "Um...well, maybe there is gonna be a little surprise for you tomorrow too." You look up at him and he has a warm smile on his face.
"Really? Surprise f'me, hmm?" He pulls you back in by your hips.
You smile and rest your hands on his shoulders. "Yep. But key word: surprise. So you won't get to find out until tomorrow."
Miguel nods and ruffles your hair. "Very well, as you wish, ma'am." He calls out to you as you head for the exit. "I'm gonna try and guess what it is all day now!"
You turn your head and shoot one last teasing smile his way, "Love you baby!"
"Yo también te amo."(I love you too)
------
Next day, Valentine's Day
You and Miguel walk arm in arm into Build a Bear. You smile giddily and run up to the bins with all the different animals to choose from. Miguel smiles and stays a few paces behind you. He sees a cute couple with their little daughter and it pulls at his heart strings a bit. He looks around the little shop at the other families, and little kids running around and it creates a lump in his throat. He was afraid of this happening today. Valentine's Day and any other holidays would always end up reminding him of his sweet little girl every time going forward. It was bittersweet in its own way.
You were like a shower of rain upon the aching desolate plains of his heart, bringing with you a special happiness he never thought he'd be able to feel again. He fiddled with the ring on his pinky that held your blood in it as he watched you.
One of these days he wouldn't keep you waiting any longer.
He's ripped out of his thoughts when you call for him.
"Baby, I'm having a hard time choosing which one I want."
Miguel walks over to you where you have a yak in one hand and a red teddy bear in the other.
"Get em both." Miguel says, kissing your forehead.
"But..." You start to protest but Miguel shakes his head, already escorting you to the line in front of the stuffing station. "Thank you so much baby. You spoil me."
Miguel chuckles and says with a small wink. "Well, it's Valentine's Day...but don't expect this to be a regular occurrence."
You smile mischievously, "Oh, well in that case I'm going to milk this opportunity for as long as I can."
Miguel wraps his arm around you and sighs. His wallet may be on fire by the end of the night but anything for his valentine.
He watches you with a tender expression as you scrunch your nose slightly and close your eyes when you make a wish and kiss the small red plush hearts that go inside both stuffed animals. The employee takes them with a smile and hums as she stuffs both of them for you.
Miguel watched, fascinated by the machine as the stuffing churns and gently brings each animal to life.
"Alright, honey, give both of those a hug for me and make sure they're stuffed just right."
You hand Miguel the red teddy. "Can you make sure he has enough stuffing, babe?"
Miguel looks a little bewildered at first but gives the teddy an awkward little squeeze. "Umm,...he feels soft enough to me, I guess. Maybe he could use a rounder belly?" He points out the bear's small pouch.
The employee smiles, "Good call!" She stuffs the red teddy a little bit more and hands it back to Miguel. "How's that?"
Miguel gives the red teddy a fresh squeeze, his belly a little bit more full and firm now. "Perfect." He hands him back to you and you take it with a smile.
"Thanks, baby!"
Miguel's watch goes off with an incoming call from Lyla. "Perdóname..."(forgive me) You nod and give him a reassuring smile and watch him walk outside to take it, unaware that you and Lyla orchestrated the distraction.
Perfect. Everything was going to plan. You walked back to the bins and scanned them looking for the perfect one. You chose a tan, fuzzy rabbit with droopy pink ears and handed it to the employee. "Can I get this one too, please?"
-----
Later, you and Miguel are walking to his car with three cardboard stuffed animal carriers. "Can you carry this one baby?"
The corner of Miguel's mouth raises. "Got yourself an extra one?"
You smile. "Nah I got that one for you! But you can't look at it until we get to the restaurant. It's your big surprise."
Miguel smiles and looks at the box curiously. He wasn't used to receiving little presents and surprises like this until you came along. He felt a warm fuzzy feeling in his veins as he looked back at you. "You shouldn't have."
You smile and kiss the back of his hand you're holding. "Course I should have. You're my valentine."
Miguel gives you an affectionate smile in response and you two drive to the restaurant, a gentle flurry of snowflakes begins to dust the rooftops of Nueva York as the daylight wanes.
----
Your hands start to get clammy as Miguel leads you into the mystery restaurant, eyes closed. You hear the familiar restaurant clatter and rush of the indoor environment, then you feel the chilliness of the outside again, then quiet and warmth greets you in an unfamiliar, new setting.
"Abre los ojos, muñeca..." (Open your eyes, doll)
You look and your breath catches in your throat at the sight around you. Miguel reserved a clear, outdoor igloo on the rooftop of one of Nueva York's finest restaurants. The night was turning an imperial blue now, the light now scarce with grey clouds smearing the corners of the sky except where the snowflakes were falling through.
Source: Pinterest, from this online article.
Twinkle lights adorned the inside and outside of the igloo, creating a whimsical feel with tall outdoor heaters supplying warmth. There was an inviting couch with several decorative pillows and blankets adorning it. A sleek table sat in the front of it complete with soft glowing candles, antipasto on a wooden plank, and two wine glasses.
Your heart melted almost as quickly as the tears rushed to the corners of your eyes as you stood on tiptoe to give Miguel a kiss of gratitude.
You felt him smile against your lips. "You like it?..."
"Baby, I love it. Thank you so, so much..."
Miguel sits you down and you both get cozy underneath one of the blankets, lifting up your wine glasses to toast the evening.
"To you....let tonight become another sweet memory we can look back on together," he says.
You smile in agreement. "And here's to my ring finger not staying vacant for much longer."
Miguel chuckles as you click glasses. "It won't, baby, I promise you that..."
You feel your heart pound in your chest at the words he spoke combined with what you know is coming next. You turn and pick up the cardboard carrier, presenting it to him. "Time for your surprise, babe..."
Miguel grins and takes the cardboard box from you. He jokingly shakes it as though a feral animal were really inside, then cracks it open.
You giggle, then bring your hands to your lips in anticipation.
Miguel's eyes widen as he finds the tan, fuzzy stuffed rabbit with floppy ears, then his lips fall open as he takes it out.
The rabbit is dressed in a little blue soccer uniform and has a little red bow on one of its ears. Miguel's heart freezes in his chest at the familiar realization. He looks at you with surprise. "Baby...is this..?"
The tears have gotten to you already. You nod, trying to speak through the lump in your throat. "Press its paw..."
Miguel presses the rabbit's paw.
His favorite voice in the world...one that he hadn't heard in such a long time...the one that brought him so much happiness but also ached his soul. The sound that signified all his grief. His love with nowhere to go.
The voice of his little girl is heard... clear as day.
"Te amo y te extraño, papá. Eres el mejor padre del mundo. Besos de Gabi." (I love you and miss you, papa. You are the best father in the world. Kisses, from Gabi)
Miguel just sits there in awe, unable to speak. He presses the rabbit's paw again, as though to make sure he heard it correctly. Gabi's sweet voice speaks again, and he brings the rabbit to his chest, clutching it. Miguel is silent with his eyes closed, and then you notice his shoulders start to gently shake as his quiet sobs can't be contained anymore. He's just a loving father missing his baby girl.
"Happy Valentine's Day, my love..." You whisper, taking Miguel into your arms.
He lays his head against your chest, still clutching the rabbit, hot tears still running down his cheeks, unable to speak.
"Thank you..." He says at last in a hoarse whisper. "I miss her..."
You nod, his head still tucked in the crook of your neck. "I know, baby...I'm here...."
For the longest moment in time, it's just you two holding one another, the sweet rabbit sandwiched between your two hearts that surely can't contain the overwhelming adoration that has just blossomed and brought you two even closer together from this tender memory. No words are needed, but when he finally regains his strength, his brings his eyes to look at you, two sweet rubies glossy with a window of tears.
"I love you so much...you have no idea how precious this is to me..."
Your face melts, your own lovely eyes caked in emotional tears.
"I love you, sweetheart. You'll never know how much I do..."
Miguel shakes his head. "I have a pretty good idea...it's my love for you that you will never be able to comprehend, mi vida..."
You bring your lips closer and he greets them with his own. Warm and cozy, you two let the emotions of tonight speak for themselves in this soft gesture. Two souls in love in a little starlit igloo while the Valentine's Day snow carries on outside, the love between you two more than enough to keep you warm.
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Later, you two are chest to chest, your neck craned a little bit as you gaze up into those vermillion eyes, a love song accompanying your casual sways back and forth, fingers interlocked in a loving clasp.
The sweet stuffed rabbit, Gigi, sits among her two new friends, Yogurt, the Yak and Maraschino, the red teddy on your pillows which will be greeted by you and Miguel shortly.
Miguel drags his thumb along your bottom lip, pausing in the middle. His warm, sweet breath greets yours and you let him in, the caress of his tongue quickly making the kiss quite passionate as your lips move softly together.
You break apart, his eyes locked deliciously on you. Your chest rises in shaky, excited breaths as you feel his hands gently make their way to your clothed breasts.
Miguel notes your flustered reaction and smirks a bit. "Tired...?"
You flash him a little smile and press your forehead against his. "I can afford to lose another hour..."
A soft groan rumbles in his chest and he moves his hand to the back of your neck, skimming past the chain that holds the little vial with his blood over your delicate heart.
You feel the tiny vibration of your zipper buzz against your back as he drags it down.
Miguel whispers, "Let's make that two..."
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💌🥹💕
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