michael jackson (off the wall era) x reader
just a shy Off the Wall era MJ that starts secretly meeting the girl outside their houses after their first Christmas together, trying to feel like a normal boy while hiding from the world.
Soft fluff with winter walks, record store and cozy cafĂŠ moments <3
She stood frozen on the porch long after he disappeared down the street snow continued falling softly around her, the cold biting at her cheeks but she barely noticed it.
All she could think about was the feeling of Michaelâs lips against her skin, it had only lasted a second but somehow it made her heart beat so hard it almost hurt.
And the worst part was the way heâd looked afterward completely embarrassed like kissing her cheek had taken every ounce of courage he had.
The kiss stayed on her cheek long after Michael disappeared down the street.
Not physically of course, she wasnât insane.
âŚOkay maybe a little bit
She stood frozen on the porch for a good thirty seconds after he left, staring at his silhouette getting smaller beneath the glowing streetlights while snowflakes melted slowly into her hair.
And the more distance grew between them, the more her brain seemed to replay the moment against her will.
The way he had hesitated first, the way his face had turned bright red immediately afterward.
And the way he had practically fled down the sidewalk like kissing her cheek had been the boldest thing any human being had ever attempted.
A laugh escaped her softly into the cold air.
âWhy are you smiling like that?â
Lily stood in the doorway wrapped in a blanket like a tiny suspicious grandmother.
âIâm literally not.â
Lily narrowed her eyes dramatically.
âNevermindâŚDid Michael kiss you?â
Her entire body stopped functioning.
The little girl burst into evil laughter before sprinting back inside the house while she stood there in complete horror, face burning so badly she thought she might actually evaporate into the snow.
That night she barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes she saw him again, his curled hair dusted with snow, shy smiles hidden behind his sleeves, glossy eyes beneath Christmas lights.
And worst of all, the way he had looked at her like kindness was something rare.
She think that part hurt the most because underneath all the laughter and softness and awkwardness she had noticed it constantly.
Michael always seemed surprised whenever somebody cared about him, like he didnât fully trust happiness when it stayed too long.
And somehow after only one night she already missed him.
Which was ridiculous right ? like absolutely ridiculous.
She had known him for barely twenty-four hours?
and yet the neighborhood already felt emptier without him walking through it..
The day after passed painfully slowly, mostly because she kept accidentally looking for him outside the house.
At first she told herself it was subconscious, then Lily caught her staring out the front window for the fourth time in the afternoon and said âYouâre waiting for your boyfriend.â
âHeâs not my boyfriend.â
âHeâs literally not.â
âThen why do you keep looking outside like a sad Victorian woman?â
She hated how funny that was. âIâm gonna throw you into traffic.â
Lily gasped dramatically.
âYou wouldnât say that if Michael was here.â
âExactly. So where is he?â
Lily grinned smugly. âAHA.â
The truth was she hadnât seen Michael since Christmas night.
And she hated how disappointed she felt about it.
A part of her wondered if maybe he regretted opening up so much ?
Maybe he thought he had embarrassed himself.
Or maybe he was hiding somewhere replaying every conversation the same way she was.
And honestly⌠knowing Michael, he probably was.
Another day later, snow covered nearly every sidewalk in the neighborhood.
The house was quiet for once, Lily was at a friendâs house and her parents were out shopping, soft music drifted lazily through the living room from the vinyl spinning near the window.
She sat curled up on the couch with a blanket over her legs and a book resting open in her lap, only half paying attention to the words.
Outside, the sky was pale gray and slow snowflakes floated past the windows.
The whole afternoon felt sleepy and comfortable.
The kind of winter afternoon that made time feel softer.
She turned a page absentmindedly while music crackled gently through the speakers then she froze.
A familiar figure was walking down the street.
And her heart reacted before her brain did.
She practically launched herself toward the window so fast the blanket tangled around her legs and nearly killed her.
The couch attacked her ankle on the way down.
By the time she finally reached the window, Michael was already halfway past the house walking slowly beneath the snowy trees completely unaware.
She shoved the window open immediately.
He startled so violently she thought he might actually fall over, his head snapped upward in confusion and for half a second he looked genuinely alarmed before recognizing her.
Then his entire face changed, it softened instantly into the shyest and happiest smile she had ever seen.
And God that smile was dangerous.
âThere you are,â she called down breathlessly from the living room.
Michael laughed softly below her, visible relief crossing his face so openly it made her chest ache.
âI was just walking.â
âYeah, I can see that.â
He looked embarrassed immediately.
âI mean- not in a weird way. I- I was not-â
âMichael,â she laughed, leaning against the window frame, âyou literally live in the neighborhood.â
Snowflakes landed in his curls while he stared up at her, cheeks already pink from the cold.
For a second neither of them spoke and somehow it still felt easy, like they had known each other longer than one Christmas.
âYou disappeared,â she teased softly.
Michael lowered his eyes for a second at that.
âSorry.â The apology came too quickly.
Like he had spent his entire life apologizing.
Something inside her softened immediately. âYou donât have to apologize for disappearing for two days,â she said gently.
âI know I justâŚâ He hesitated awkwardly. âI didnât know if maybe you wanted space afterâŚâ
After I cried on your porch and kissed your cheek.
The unfinished sentence hung between them anyway.
She smiled despite herself. âMichael.â
âIf I wanted space from you, I wouldnât be halfway out a window right now.â
That made him laugh enough to make her stomach flip stupidly.
God this was getting embarrassing.
âYou busy?â she asked.
Michael blinked slightly like the question caught him off guard. ââŚNo.â
He waited. She waited. Neither of them seemed to know what happened next.
Finally Michael looked around awkwardly before gesturing vaguely down the street.
âI was actually going to the record store.â
Her eyes lit up immediately.
Michael looked alarmed. âWhat?â
She disappeared from the window before he could ask questions, and Michael stood there in the snow looking deeply concerned about whatever was happening upstairs.
Two minutes later the front door burst open.
She ran outside still pulling her coat on properly while trying not to slip on the icy steps.
Michael instinctively stepped forward like he was prepared to catch her if necessary which only made her grin harder.
âYou run like Lily,â he informed her.
âThatâs sooo rude.â
âYou literally almost fell over when I yelled your name five minutes ago.â
Michael looked personally attacked by this information.
âYou absolutely jumped.â
He hid part of his face behind his scarf immediately, laughing into it while snow continued falling around them.
And standing there watching him try unsuccessfully to defend himself,
She realized Michael looked happier now.
Like maybe Christmas had stayed with him too.
She noticed it the second they started walking together.
Not because Michael said anything, he almost never said things directly when they involved himself.
But she noticed the way his shoulders tensed every time a car slowed down near the sidewalk or the way he instinctively lowered his head slightly whenever people passed too close.
The way his eyes kept flickering toward strangers before relaxing again once they walked by without recognizing him.
At first she thought maybe he was just shy then a teenage girl exiting a bakery suddenly stopped mid-conversation and stared openly at him.
âOh my God⌠ThatâsâŚâ
Michaelâs entire body stiffened beside her.
The girl squinted harder.
And immediately Michael stepped closer to her side like it was instinct, like hiding beside her somehow made him less visible.
The girl kept staring for another painful second before her mother dragged her away down the sidewalk.
Only then did Michael breathe normally again.
âYou okay?â she asked quietly once they crossed the street.
Michael nodded too fast. âYeah.â
He shoved his hands deeper into his coat sleeves afterward, curls falling slightly into his eyes as he kept walking beside her.
âYou donât like being recognized, do you?â
The question made him glance at her briefly before looking away again.
âIt kinda seems like that.â
Michael hesitated for several seconds, snow crunched softly beneath their shoes while distant music drifted from somewhere down the street.
Finally he sighed quietly. âI justâŚâ His voice came out softer this time. âI wanted today to feel normal.â
Something about the honesty in his tone made her heart ache instantly. Normal, such a simple word.
But somehow it sounded impossible when he said it.
Michael kicked lightly at a pile of snow near the sidewalk clearly embarrassed he had admitted that out loud. âI know it sounds stupid.â
He glanced at her again, uncertain.
âYouâre allowed to want normal things, Michael.â
A small silence followed that.
Then, almost shyly he say âYeah?â
The way he said it nearly destroyed her emotionally, like nobody had ever told him that before.
She smiled softly. âYeah.â
He looked down immediately afterward, but she still caught the tiny smile pulling at his mouth.
And suddenly she understood something terrifying:
making Michael happy was becoming dangerously important to her.
The record store sat between a tiny bookstore and an old diner near the corner of the street.
Warm yellow light spilled through the fogged windows, and the second they stepped inside the smell of old vinyl and dust wrapped around them comfortably.
Michael visibly relaxed almost immediately, it was subtle but she noticed.
His shoulders loosened slightly, his expression softened and the nervousness in his eyes faded just enough to let curiosity replace it.
âYou come here a lot?â she asked quietly while pulling off her gloves.
The older man behind the counter looked up briefly from his newspaper. âAfternoon, Mike.â
Michael smiled instantly. âHey.â
âYouâve got secret places,â she teased softly as they wandered between shelves.
Michael looked adorably defensive immediately.âI donât have secret places.â
âThis is definitely a secret place.â
âItâs just a record store.â
âMhm. And youâre just Michael.â
The second the words left her mouth, Michael went quiet.
He looked down toward the records in his hands for a moment longer than necessary fingers lightly tracing the edge of the vinyl sleeve.
And when he finally smiled again, it looked smaller like she had touched something fragile without meaning to.
âThatâs my favorite part,â he admitted quietly.
Her heart genuinely forgot how to function for a second.
Good Lord this man was going to ruin her life.
To recover emotionally, she immediately grabbed the nearest record from the shelf.
Michael blinked at her. âWhat?â
She held up the album dramatically. âBee Gees?â
âYouâre unbelievable.â
Michael gasped softly like she had deeply wounded him. âThey are good!â
âYou have terrible taste.â
âThat is incredibly rude.â
She laughed while Michael followed her farther into the aisle still defending himself passionately under his breath and honestly? Watching him like this felt surreal.
Just a shy twenty-one-year-old boy arguing about music.
There was something strangely intimate about seeing him relaxed enough to be playful.
He teased softly, he laughed, he even forgot to hide his smile.
And every time he did she caught herself staring.
At one point Michael crouched down near a lower shelf looking through old vinyls while quietly humming to himself.
She watched him for a second too long, he looked peaceful.
And she realized that this might be one of the only places where nobody expected anything from him.
Michael glanced up unexpectedly and caught her staring.
Immediately she looked away pretending to inspect another shelf. ââŚWhy are you smiling?â
âOh my God you sound exactly like Lily.â
That made him laugh loudly enough that the man behind the counter glanced over with an amused smile.
Michael noticed instantly and lowered his voice again out of habit.
Eventually they made it to the front counter carrying a small pile of records after nearly twenty minutes of arguing over music like an old married couple.
Michael insisted she had âno appreciation for good songs.â
She insisted he was emotionally attached to terrible albums for no reason.
âYou called Stevie Wonder overrated.â
âI said one song was overrated.â
The older man behind the counter watched them with poorly hidden amusement while ringing up the records. âYou two are cute,â he said casually.
Her brain stopped functioning immediately.
Across from her Michael froze so hard he looked genuinely petrified.
The poor man continued counting change completely unaware of the emotional destruction he had just caused.
âYou remind me of me and my wife when we were younger,â he added warmly.
Michael nearly dropped one of the vinyls. âWeâre not-â
They spoke at the exact same time, then both stopped in horror before accidentally making eye contact which somehow made it worse.
The man blinked slowly. ââŚRight.â
Her face burned violently.
Beside her, Michael looked seconds away from evaporating into dust.
âAnyway!â she blurted out way too loudly.
Michael shoved money onto the counter with the speed of a man escaping a crime scene. âThank you so much mr Lewinson, okay bye-â
The bell above the door practically screamed as they escaped into the cold winter air.
The second the door shut behind them, both of them kept walking in complete silence for several steps then Michael suddenly hid his face behind his scarf.
âOh my God.â She burst out laughing instantly.
âYou looked like you were gonna faint.â
âHe thought we were together!â
âYou almost threw the money at him and ran.â
âYou absolutely panicked.â
Michael groaned dramatically while she laughed beside him hard enough to nearly lose balance in the snow.âThis isnât funny.â
âItâs a little funny.â
âItâs deeply traumatic!â
That only made her laugh harder, and despite his embarrassment she noticed the tiny smile he kept unsuccessfully trying to hide behind his scarf.
God she loved making him laugh.
The realization hit her so suddenly she almost tripped over her own boots.
Snow had started falling harder by the time they reached the cafĂŠ near the corner of the street. Warm golden light glowed through the windows, fog curling softly against the glass while people sat inside nursing coffee cups and talking quietly beneath strings of Christmas lights.
The second they stepped through the door, warmth wrapped around them completely and Michael visibly melted.
Honestly there was no other word for it, his curls were dusted with snow, his cheeks pink from the cold and the second warm air hit him he let out the softest sigh imaginable.
It was so cute she almost had to look away.
âYou look freezing,â she laughed while pulling off her gloves.
âI think my head stopped working fifteen minutes ago.â
âThat explains your terrible music opinions.â
Michael looked offended again.âYouâre actually evil.â
The cafĂŠ smelled like cinnamon and coffee and melted chocolate. Soft jazz played quietly somewhere near the counter while people murmured sleepily over steaming drinks.
It felt impossibly cozy like stepping into another world after the cold outside.
They found a small table near the window and Michael immediately chose the seat facing away from most of the room without even thinking about it.
A few minutes later they sat curled around oversized mugs of hot chocolate topped with absurd amounts of marshmallows. Lily would have definitely lost her mind over this place.
Michael stared down at the marshmallows floating in his drink with genuine fascination.
âYouâve never had hot chocolate with marshmallows before?â
He looked up sheepishly. ââŚMaybe?â
She gasped dramatically. âMichael.â
âThatâs actually sad.â
âIâve had hot chocolate!â
He laughed softly under his breath before carefully taking a sip then his eyes widened slightly. âItâs good,â he admitted quietly.
âItâs literally sugar.â she laughed
âYeah but itâs good sugar.â
Outside, snow continued falling heavily past the windows while people hurried down the sidewalks bundled in coats and scarves.
Inside, everything felt warm and comfortable.
Michael rested both hands around his mug, shoulders finally relaxed again after hours of subtle tension.
âYou seem calmer here,â she noticed softly.
He glanced at her briefly before looking back down at the chocolate. âI like places where nobody expects things from me.â
The honesty in his voice made her chest ache all over again and before she could stop herself, she asked quietly âWhat do people expect from you?â
Michael went still for a second then slowly he smiled a little sadly into his drink. âTo always be perfect i guess.â
The way he said it hurt because it sounded exhausting.
By the time they finally left the cafĂŠ, the sky had gone darker.
Snow covered almost everything now, soft white layered across rooftops, sidewalks and parked cars. The whole neighborhood looked quieter beneath it, like the world had been wrapped carefully in cotton.
Michael held the door open for her as they stepped back outside, immediately pulling his scarf higher over the lower half of his face when the cold hit again.
âYou know,â she said while walking beside him, âyouâre getting suspiciously good at this.â
âNormal people activities.â
Michael laughed softly through his scarf. âI had hot chocolate. I think thatâs a low bar.â
âYou also survived social interaction.â
âThat part was harder.â
The walk home felt slower than before but not awkward.
Snow crunched beneath their shoes while warm light glowed from nearby houses, and every now and then she caught Michael glancing around the neighborhood with that same soft expression he always got here.
Like he loved watching ordinary life happen around him.
At one point a family passed them carrying grocery bags and arguing loudly about wrapping paper.
Michael smiled watching them disappear down the street.
âYou do that a lot,â she noticed.
He looked embarrassed immediately, eyes lowering toward the sidewalk. âSorry.â
âThere you go apologizing again!â
A tiny laugh escaped him. âI just think itâs nice,â he admitted quietly. âSeeing people together.â
The simplicity of the answer nearly broke her heart.
God everything about him felt too tender for this world.
Her house came into view a few minutes later but before either of them could reach the front steps, headlights suddenly turned into the driveway.
âOh,â she blinked. âMy parents are back.â
Michael subtly straightened beside her almost instantly. He was nervous.
The car doors opened and her parents stepped out bundled in coats while carrying shopping bags.
âWell look whoâs here!â her father smiled immediately upon spotting Michael.
Michael gave a shy little wave. âHi sirâ
Her motherâs face softened instantly seeing him standing there beside her daughter beneath the snow.
âThereâs our favorite guest!â
Michael visibly melted and panicked at the same time somehow. âOh- umâŚâ
But before he could fully react her mother stepped forward and hug him warmly like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Michael froze like his brain had completely stopped processing then her father pulled him into a quick side hug immediately afterward and Michael looked even more startled.
She had to bite the inside of her cheek not to smile too hard.
Because despite how shy and flustered he looked, she could see it clearly that he liked it.
He liked being included so naturally, being greeted like someone familiar and someone wanted.
Michael laughed softly under his breath afterward, face visibly pink beneath the cold. âYou all hug a lot,â he mumbled shyly.
Her father looked confused. âYou donât like it?â
Michael immediately looked like he regretted saying it out loud. âNo I just- itâs nice.â
The quiet honesty in his voice made all three of them soften instantly.
Her mother touched his arm gently.
âYouâre always welcome here.â
There it was again. That look in Michaelâs eyes every time someone cared about him too openly.
She watched him lower his gaze with a tiny smile tugging at his mouth, curls falling into his face while snowflakes melted against his coat.
And suddenly she realized that Michael had probably spent most of his life starving for affection without even knowing how hungry he was.
Eventually he glanced down the street toward home.
âI should probably go before your family adopts me permanently.â
Her father grinned. âToo late.â
Michael laughed quietly, cheeks pink again.
God he was cute when he got embarrassed.
âGoodnight,â he murmured softly.
Her parents disappeared inside first after another round of warm goodbyes, leaving her alone with him near the porch steps beneath the glowing lights and immediately the air changed again.
Michael looked at her for a second like he wanted to say something but couldnât figure out how then finally: âToday was really nice.â
He nodded. âI like being around you.â
The words came out so sincere and unguarded that her heart practically collapsed on itself.
Michael seemed to realize what heâd just admitted immediately afterward because he looked down at the snow with visible embarrassment. âI mean- obviously- not that I donât like other people-â
She laughed softly. âMichael.â
He groaned quietly into his scarf. âIâm making this worse.â
Then slowly, shyly he stepped closer.
Close enough now that she could see tiny snowflakes caught in his eyelashes.
For one nervous second he hesitated again then he leaned down and pressed another soft kiss against her cheek. âGoodnight,â he whispered.
And before she could fully recover emotionally he turned and started walking down the snowy sidewalk toward his house.
Halfway down the street he even spun once briefly against the snow before immediately looking around to make sure nobody saw him.
Unfortunately for him she did and she laughed so hard she had to grab the porch railing.
The second she walked inside both of her parents looked up from the kitchen.
Her mother smiled way too knowingly. âSoâŚâ
âIâm going upstairs.â
âMm no,â her father said calmly. âCome back here.â
She groaned dramatically while dropping onto one of the kitchen chairs.
Neither of them said anything for a moment.
Which was worse then finally her mother smiled into her tea. âHeâs very sweet.â
She stared at the table. âMhm.â
âAnd shy,â her father added.
âAnd clearly likes you.â
Her head snapped upward instantly. âHe does not.â
Both of them looked unconvinced. âOh please,â her mother laughed softly. âThat boy looks at you like you hung the moon.â
She nearly choked. âThat is literally insane.â
Her father grinned.âWe saw him kissed you didnât we?â
Absolute silence then both of her parents started laughing while she hid her burning face in her hands.
âYouâre blushing,â her mother teased.
âI hate this family!â She laughed thinking about the afternoon she spent how eager she was to see Michael again.
okay I love this part and I still have plenty of ideas to develop, Iâm really trying to establish their relationship slowly! tell me what you think!! <33
look at him heâs so cuteeee
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