pairings → jschlatt x reader
summary → What was supposed to be a simple birthday outing turns into the night Schlatt finally tells his best friend how he really feels.
requested by @schlattkisser ty sm for the idea :p
You ended up at the bar scrolling through your phone while waiting for your drink.
A group of drunk guys stumbled past behind you a little too fast, nearly knocking into the back of your chair.
Before you could even react, Schlatt stepped in behind you automatically, planting both hands against the edge of the bar on either side of you to block them off before they hit you again.
“Watch where you’re going” he muttered toward them.
The guys apologized quickly before disappearing back into the crowd.
You slowly turned in your seat until you were leaning back against the bar looking up at him.
“Aw” you said with a grin. “My protector.”
“Yeah, yeah” he replied flatly, though the corner of his mouth twitched a little. “What’d you order?”
He nodded once. “course..why’d I even ask?”
Schlatt stayed where he was though, standing close enough to block half the crowd from bumping into you again while people pushed past behind him.
“You having fun?” you asked after a second.
He looked down at you. “More now.”
The answer came out casual, like he didn’t realize how it sounded until after he said it.
You smiled into your drink.
It was strange how easy this still felt after months apart. Like no time had passed at all.
You and Schlatt had known each other nearly your entire lives. Childhood best friends in the most literal sense. Same schools, same neighborhood, same routines for years before life pulled you in different directions.
Now it was mostly texts and late night calls that lasted until one of you fell asleep first.
Charlie had invited you out for Schlatt’s birthday as a surprise, and after a last minute flight you somehow ended up here with him again for the first time in months.
You glanced toward the crowded dance floor before looking back at him.
“You wanna dance with me, big guy?”
Schlatt snorted immediately. “Nah, you know I don’t dance.”
Before he could reply, a voice suddenly cut in from beside you.
You turned slightly to see some guy leaning against the bar next to yours, already smiling at you like he’d been listening in the whole time.
Schlatt’s expression flattened instantly.
The guy either didn’t notice or didn’t care.
“I mean” he continued casually, “someone should.”
You opened your mouth, mostly amused more than anything, but Schlatt spoke first.
The guy glanced at him. “I was asking her.”
“Yeah” Schlatt replied. “I heard you.”
You bit back a smile behind your drink.
The guy laughed awkwardly, still trying anyway. “C’mon, it’s one dance.”
“She flew across the country to see me” Schlatt said, voice calm but sharp enough underneath it to make your eyebrows lift slightly. “Pretty sure I get first dibs on her attention tonight.”
The guy looked between you both for a second before raising his hands. “Alright, Jesus-man..my bad.”
He disappeared back into the crowd a second later.
You looked back up at Schlatt slowly, trying to hide your smile behind your drink.
“What.” he said immediately.
You just shook your head, still smiling a little.
Schlatt rolled his eyes, but there was the faintest hint of amusement there as he took a sip of his drink.
And for a second, neither of you looked away.
It had been like this for a while now, too close, too familiar in a way that didn’t really feel normal anymore.
Friends didn’t look at each other like this.
Didn’t get jealous over random people at bars.
Neither of you had said it out loud yet though.
Then, after a second, he nodded toward the dance floor.
You blinked. “I thought you didn’t dance.”
He looked at you for a second before shrugging one shoulder.
Something in your chest flipped embarrassingly hard at how casual he made it sound.
“we don’t have to dance, I know you hate it so I won’t put you through that.”
Schlatt immediately let out a relieved breath.
You laughed quietly, shaking your head at him.
Another person bumped into him trying to get past and Schlatt looked ready to lose his mind.
“Actually” he muttered, glancing toward the exit, “I need air before I start fighting people in here, can we go outside?”
You laughed again. “Yeah, c’mon”
A few minutes later you were both sitting outside on the curb near the club, the cold air feeling way better after being packed inside for hours.
Cars passed by slowly while muffled music thumped through the walls behind you.
Schlatt leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, looking way more relaxed already.
You smiled a little, looking over at him.
It still felt weird seeing him in person again after months of calls and texts and hearing his voice through a phone speaker.
Schlatt leaned back slightly against the curb before reaching into his jacket pocket.
You already knew what he was pulling out before he even lit it.
The cigarette glowed briefly in the dark as he took a drag, and without really thinking about it, you looked away toward the street to avoid the smoke.
Then you heard him sigh quietly under his breath. “Oh fuck” he muttered to himself, like he’d suddenly remembered that you hated it when he smoked.
You glanced back over just in time to see him putting it out against the sidewalk, tossing it somewhere next to him.
“Sorry” he said, voice lower now.
Your expression softened immediately.
“I only didn’t say anything because it’s your birthday.”
That made him smile a little.
“You know I love it when you scold me” he said with a shrug. “Never hold back.”
You snorted quietly before leaning your head against his shoulder.
“I missed you so much, you know?” you admitted softly. “I mean, I know we call and text all the time, but it’s different when we’re together like this.”
Schlatt let out a slow breath.
“Yeah” he said quietly. “It’s so much better.”
The city noise faded into the background after that. A few moments later you tilted your head slightly to look up at him.
“I’m sorry I missed it when you blew out your candles.”
He shrugged easily. “It’s fine.”
“Am I allowed to know what you wished for?” you asked slyly.
Schlatt looked down at you for a second.
“I think you already know what I wished for.”
Slowly, you lifted your head from his shoulder and turned to look at him properly for the first time since he said it.
Schlatt’s expression softened a little at that.
“You can’t seriously look at me like that and tell me you don’t know” he said quietly. “I think you definitely know what I wished for.”
Your breath caught slightly.
“Well…” you said softly, voice lower now, “we can’t let the birthday boy not get what he wants now, can we?”
His eyes flicked between yours before dropping briefly to your lips.
And this time he met you halfway without hesitation.
The kiss was soft at first, almost careful, like both of you were still trying to process that this was actually happening after years of almosts and unsaid things.
Then his hand moved gently against your jaw, and suddenly it felt warmer.
When you finally pulled back, barely an inch apart, you could still feel his breath against your lips.
“Happy birthday, Schlatt” you whispered.
For a second Schlatt didn’t say anything.
He just looked at you, close enough now that you could see the slight flush across his cheeks from the cold, the alcohol, maybe both.
Then he laughed softly under his breath, almost disbelieving.
“That’s all I get?” he murmured. “Maybe I wished for you to kiss me until I can’t breathe.”
“Well we can’t have that now, can we?” you said softly. “I actually want this to happen and it won’t if you die.”
That got a real laugh out of him.
Warm and quiet and so familiar that it made something in your chest ache a little.
“Good point” he admitted.
“See? I’m thinking long term here.”
“Very responsible of you.”
Schlatt shook his head slightly, still smiling to himself before his eyes dropped back to your lips again.
“Still think I deserve at least one more” he muttered.
You leaned in just enough for your noses to brush lightly.
“Guess it’s a good thing it’s still your birthday then.” you said before leaning in and pressing your lips softly against his again.
author’s note: thank you so much for the request schlatt kisser :p I wrote it a tiny bit differently then what you’ve asked but it’s only because I wanted it to fit schlatt’s personality more! hope you liked it !!
taglist: @ameiis @unlust-fvck @petalsmoons @weepingwillow178 @melon-bawler @gyeolred