Like Real People Do (Juice x Reader)
TW! mention of blood and d3ath
[requested by: @kchavez666 ]
[tag list: @timbradfordsboot ]
It had been almost a couple of months since you let Juice in your life. Meeting him at the shop almost daily became a habit. It wasn't easy, at all.
One day, you were at the cafe with him from early morning till late in the afternoon.
"I mean, that movie? I don't think it captures the spirit of the book!" he said.
"Well, I think that the movie was alright! I mean, it was really close to the book." You wrote on your notebook and passed it to him.
"I can't believe you! Moby Dick is a classic masterpiece, that movie completely ruined it!" He laughed and when he stopped he looked at you, his eyes shimmering in the light of the setting sun.
The lady behind the counter kept giving you small glances, making sure you're okay. You appreciated her a lot.
Juice tapped his fingers on the small table and looked at his mug, it had been filled for the fifth time that day. And so had yours.
His phone started ringing, and his expression darkened. He picked it up and said; "Hey man. Yeah, but I have the day off. I told you, it's just a simple migraine, I'm sure you can handle the paperwork for the day." He ended the call and when he turned to look at you, his eyes smiled again.
"I have to go now, it's really late." You wrote on the yellow paper. You had written so much that day, you felt as if the pen would run out of ink.
"Do you want me to walk you home? It's already ve-" but before he could finish talking, he paused. You hadn't realized but you were looking at him in shock. That old familiar trembling came back, your feet were threatening to throw you off the tall chair.
"Woah, are you okay?" His hands remained still, just before he could reach you.
"It's fine, I'm fine. You can walk me to a certain point, if you want." You wrote. You were not sure why, it felt as if you could trust him, despite that terrible trembling that you were sure it was noticable enough.
"Oh. Alright then!" He seemed happy. Your thoughts wouldn't stop racing in your head. Everything seemed suspicious, all the time, but Juice couldn't be like him, could he?
You nervously stood up and left a tip on the table for Lettie.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Juice asked. You looked at him for a second, thinking about how easily this question could cause a mental breakdown. You smiled despite feeling overwhelmed by everything. You nodded and started heading for the door, with him following right behind you.
As you exited the shop you saw the first full moon of the summer. You stopped to admire it for a bit.
"Beautiful, isn't she?" Juice asked, standing right next to you. You nodded and started walking, quietly observing all these people around you, walking, talking, laughing. You wondered if you would ever have the chance to be like this; happy, without any worry in the world, maybe fall in love at some point.
You turned to look at Juice, he was looking at something, smiling and then your eyes met.
"You know, I think you came into my life at a time I needed you the most." He said. And you couldn't fully understand what he meant. "I mean, I've never had someone to talk to about books, listen their opinion on the stories and the characters and all of that. It's kinda nice." He looked away, his hands in his pockets and a big smile on his face.
You stopped walking and he kept on walking until he realized.
"Oh!" He laughed. "You'll continue on your own from here on?" He asked.
You shook your head and smiled, as you reached for your small notebook.
You wrote something on a page and ripped it off, giving it to him. It simple read "Thank you."
"I should be the one to thank you. Will I see you again tomorrow, the usual time and place?"
You shook your head and kept on walking, while he was looking at you getting further and further away.
You entered your apartment and left your keys on that little furniture next to the door. Surprisingly, your legs were no longer shaking, your breathing was normal.
The apartment was oddly dark at that time and the rays of the moonlight were the only source of light.
You turned the lights on, and wished you had never returned in that apartment. He was there, like he was in your nightmares, standing in the hallway with a knife in his hands.
Like a deer in the headlights, you froze.
"Ah hello, I was looking for you." A big, creepy smile appeared on his face. You tried to open the door but his voice, like glass breaking in the deafening silence, pierced your ears.
"If you move, I will kill you and that boy you're hanging out with." He screamed.
Not only did he know where you lived, but he also knew about Juice. And now he would hurt him and that was way worse than the possibility of him hurting you. Without even realizing it, you had started running towards the monster; all the times he had hurt you were passing before your eyes like a movie trailer.
You closed your eyes and the next time you opened them the knife had already stabbed you. You couldn't feel any pain. You grabbed it and as he tried to defend himself, you stabbed his chest. Again. And again, and again, thinking of all the times you were powerless against him.
"Hey!" Someone screamed but you were already laying on the ground. Your vision started to get blurry, but you saw someone running to you.
When you woke up the next day, Juice was sleeping on a chair next to you. Images of everything that had happened last night started coming to you and it was the hardest thing to keep yourself from crying. Quietly.
A pair of strong, warm arms was wrapped around you shortly after.
"It's okay. I will not let anyone harm you. Never again." He said. He didn't even asked about anything; who was that man in your house, what was he to you, what had he done to you. All that mattered was that you were alive. "He can no longer harm you." His words brought a feeling of relief to you. Your legs started to get numb, your stomach hurt a bit. You would slowly realize that you were free.
"I followed you. I don't know why, but I did. I saw him through the window and I'm so sorry I couldn't come to you earlier, before- before he-" his voice cracked. "I love you." He said finally.
"I love you too!" You said, without thinking much of it. The sound of your voice was unfamiliar, to both you and him.
"This is the first time I hear your voice." He smiled.
After a few months, you got to sleep normally, no nightmares,no sudden trembling. Juice was always next to you as you began the journey to "fix" the broken parts of yourself.
You never asked what had happened with your father's body and you didn't really care. You could get out of the house without fearing for your life.
"You know, I'm glad I met you." Juice said. You were laying in bed on a Saturday, reading books like you did every Saturday for months.
"Me too. I feel safe when I'm in your arms, or anywhere near you." You smiled.
You never threw away that notebook. Anything that had been written there led to something wonderful. You still felt as if your past was chasing you, but that was now over, and you could finally breathe.
