Since we've been yapping away about our beloved knight, and everyone loved wrestler!au (rightfully so) what about the early days of wrestler!dunk and reader? It probably took Dunk many weeks to gather enough courage to ask reader out! He would be so nervous, and offer to do ANYTHINGGG to spend time with her; helping her with plumbing, fixing lights, even cooking...he just wanted to be with her in anyway, but surely grew frustrated with himself and then reader asks him out nervously and he almost throws up from excitement and nerves ><
I'll Be Waiting Right Here
synopsis; dunk cannot rid of his crippling anxiety to ask you out, and you cannot take it anymore.
genre; fluff
pairing; wrestler!ser duncan the tall/reader
warnings; reader is a bit deranged. no real mentions of wrestling haha..
a/n; the wait is over, hereās the first full-length wrestler dunk fic! ari, you know how hard this was for me. i was rolling up and down trying to complete this. other than that, the constant worry of this not meeting my standards loomed over me like a noose. BUT ITS HERE, PLEASE ENJOY!
āHeās out there again, poor guy.ā
Your head was down, fingers working to button up a cherry-red coat. The rack was in front of you, a rollout of furs and thick wool already on display to kick off the chill that would blow through your hair soon enough. Mornings were the busiest this time of year, yet no one had walked in just yet. It was only you and Rowan.
āLook," she tried again, no longer focused on organizing the clothing run in front of her. Rowan nodded towards the front of the store, encouraging you before the sight disappeared.
Finally, after hanging the simple coat, you turned enough to catch exactly what she saw. At the front windows, standing outside like a street dog, stood a familiar Irish regular.
"Does he know we're openā? Come on," Rowan waved. Her voice lowered, muttering idiot before calling out, "We're open!"
You watched as he blinked, registering that Rowan was beckoning him and not some bystander across the street. Of course not, why would...
He met your gaze, and he nearly ducked. His knees bent barely, but he couldn't commit to the action. It shouldn't be this difficult. You knew each other, somewhat. He knew where you lived, and he knew your telephone number by heart. A gentle friendship had blossomed some weeks ago when he picked up a belt he didn't need and gave you more loose change than dollar bills. You had commented then about how you used a belt to strap your ladder so it wouldn't fold while in use.
"I'm still too scared to get on it," he recalled you saying. "The light in my hallway burnt completely, I guess. I like to keep it on all nightā¦"
"You need it replaced?" Dunk wanted to kick himself. Why was it a question? Duncan, she told you!
"Yeah," you shrugged, closing your register. "I'll get to it eventually. Maybe I'll buy another ladder. It doesn'tā"
"I could replace it," he offered. "I, uh...I wouldn't need a ladder. Besides, it might not be the bulb. There's always faulty wiring or...or something loose that justājust makes it...not work."
"Oh,ā you said, because nothing of the sort crossed your mind. Or so he assumed; what if you were creeped out? āYeah, thatā¦that makes sense. If you want to, then, ahā¦ā
You took a look around your counter, before stepping back to grab the notepad from the cubby underneath. Dunk watched with wide eyes, his gut churning because you had agreed. Now you were writing with a pen that magically made it between your fingers, because he was too focused on the curve of your cheek to consider the rest of the world.
From then on, the world ceased to exist when he was near you.
Dunk opened the door, stepping into the warmth of the department store and forcing himself not to immediately stare at you. He came by every morning since that fateful day, always hoping you had something broken or in need of examining. There wasnāt a circuit he couldnāt replace, or a drain he couldnāt unclog. You just had to say the word.
āWelcome in!ā Rowan chimed, sounding more tired than cheery. āWonder what heās coming in forā¦ā
āRed.ā You nudged her, already feeling the warmth spread over your neck.
āWhat? Oh, he needs another cap, doesnāt he? You should ask what happens to all the others, he buys so manyāā
āMaybe he collects,ā you defended the man easily. After all, heād been nothing but kindāshy in most interactions, but that made him all the sweeter. āThatās not such a crazy thought.ā
āOr maybe heās waiting for the right time to break into your apartment. Donāt you read anything? All these men do is plan. Heās probably mapping out your apartment every time he goes over. If he doesnāt strangle you in your sleep, then heās going toā¦ā
Your attention snapped from Rowan to the front door. Another customerāa woman with a young boyāstepped inside. Rowan greeted them too and went back to fussing over her apparel rack.
āIām trying to look out for you, is all,ā she sighed. āItās odd enough he snoops around here. Letting him come to your place and help around? Itās strange, and sad. Heās strangeā¦and sad.ā
You, on the other hand, let your gaze wander around as he moved throughout the store. He gravitated everywhere, seemingly finding interest in every area.
He avoided the womenās clothing like the plague, though. There were certain parts he never came around as long as you were near, and it was as confusing as it was weird. Was he that nervous? Or was Rowan right?
No, she wasnāt. You wouldnāt allow yourself to think so. He didnāt deserve the speculation, not with how gentle he treated you.
āā¦Maybe you want to be kidnapped,ā Rowan spoke out, and you caught her eyeing you with pity and lingering judgment. āOr murdered.ā
āTheyād catch him immediately, too. How many times has he smacked his head on the restroom sign? Remind me.ā
You scoffed, āyou know, I think itād kill you toāā
This time, the sound rang from the counter. There, Dunk stood ready to check out, although his body blocked whatever he had to purchase. You could only guess it was another hat, or a beltāperhaps boots?
Part of you prayed it was anything but a hat. One more and youād never hear the end of it from Rowan.
āIāll be right there!ā You called to him, placing all your merchandise back on the small rack. Rowan gave you another look as you hurried over, and you offered Dunk a small smile when you rounded the counter.
āHey,ā you greeted, moving on autopilot to get his item ringed in. Another cap lay on the counter, and you had never seen him wear one. Not once. Collecting, was it? You ought to ask someday.
āMorning,ā Dunk nodded to you, already struggling to keep his eyes on yours. His hands fiddled with his wallet, worn and faded, and he looked almostā¦sick? Still, he forced himself to talk. āHowāre you?ā
āGood,ā you answered with more enthusiasm than before. āThe dryerās still going strong.ā
āAye, thatās good,ā he chuckled. Last week, youād called him about your dryer breaking down and asked if he could check it out before you decided to get another. The situation ended with him covered in lint, but he saved you from spending your savings.
It meant more to you than you could express, but knowing what little you did about him, heād melt from an ounce of appreciation.
āYeah. Yes,ā he nodded again and pulled out some cash to pay. Do it now. āWellā¦ā
He cleared his throat, eyes shifting between you and the display behind your head. He was already reddening from your gaze alone. āDo youā¦I was wondering, that is, ifāwell, if youāre not busy afterā¦ā Fuck, did he even ask?
Try as you may, you felt hope seep into your heart. Dunk was a long way from finishing, but you couldnāt help how your eyes lit up. After months of tiptoeing and daydreaming, this had to be it. This was it. He was bound to ask you out.
"Hm?" You prompted, forcing yourself to stand frozen. You refused to blink, refused to look away in case he withdrew completely.
"I, ah, have the night free," he struggled still, thumb picking at the old leather of his wallet. "You know, notānot scheduled for anything until next week. Just thoughtāyou work early, and..."
His stomach was beginning to cramp. Dunk stopped, knowing what was about to happen before his hands grew clammy. The thoughts rushed in, all taunting him for another failed attempt at asking you out on a date. All he wanted was a chance, yet his body refused to let him take that risk.
He swallowed, feeling the dizziness starting to creep in. Dunk knew the direction to the restrooms by heart, but even as he stood with you at the counter, he knew he wouldn't make it to the men's door.
āKeep the change.ā He was wrecked, entirely too ruined to continue. Dunk took the cap and left before you could utter a word.
A snort came from the countless rows of racks ahead. That did it for you, and you slammed your till shut. Had the store been empty of customers, you would've shouted at Rowan.
For the rest of the day, you couldnāt think of anything else other than his stammering words and his blue eyes. The pieces had fallen into place, or so you thought. He had come with a motive, a truth that could no longer be ignoredā¦
Or had you completely gone over your head?
After punching out for the evening, you headed home with a rush of bitter thoughts and a twisting ache deep in your chest. How could you let this man do this to you? A man who was perfect in every way, with his helping hands, his soft gaze, and his stumbling nature. He was too handsome for his own good, and you couldn't close your eyes at night without thinking of him one last time.
You couldn't cook dinner with peace of mind. Your hands itched as you stirred, imagining what he would think as you broke apart the sizzling meat in the pan. He was a wonderful cook, proving so when he made a poor man's casserole. You remembered his sheepish smile as he came in.
āArlanās old recipe,ā he told you, serving you without hesitation. āThatāsā¦thatās my father, of some sort. Wasāhe passed some years ago. Taught me everything I know. Told me to spare what I have even if itās all I have leftā¦ā
The memory consumed you, and you had to walk away to wash your hands. But, ohāthere were times he'd wash his hands in your sink, and he was thorough.
āAlways good to wash your hands before and after work,ā he commented, scrubbing the dirt from under his nails. Another crisis diverted, and he never asked for anything in return. āI prefer a bath, really. Might as wellā¦clean everythingā¦.ā
Your eye twitched. His scent lingered, phantom and musky. The heat he radiated drifted to you, kissing your skin until goosebumps rose. He taunted you without intent, without being in your presence, and you knew then he had torn every thread of restraint from your head.
You weren't in control of your body anymore. You wiped your hands, working the water off before going back to the stove. The pan was taken off the burner, and you twisted the knob until the heat dispersed. Every move you made was unrushed, almost careful.
Night free, he said to you this morning. I have the night free.
Walking into your bedroom, you thought of the time he stopped your door from creaking every time you pushed it open and closed it. He even checked the air vent in your room that same day and moved your vanity when asked. Never did he mention reimbursement. Never did he accept cash.
Every little flaw, every mishap that presented itself, was always taken care of by him. What couldnāt he do?
The question was cruel enough, but it was the answer that made you spiral.
The doors to your closet swung open. Clothes were pushed aside, hangers scraped against the metal rod that went from wall to wall. You grabbed the rack before the hangers could move back into place and wrenched it with all your might. The rod didn't dare budge; its structure was solid to the core and stupidly strong. You yanked once more, a grunt spilling past your lips as you fought to break your closet rack.
Every attempt was a blow to your sanity. Every pull brought in more strain, and you cursed everything below the sun until the rod collapsed.
āYou stupid fuck!ā You cried out, to yourself or the rodāthat was irrelevant. āCāmonā!ā
You yelped and stumbled back, falling on your ass as the rod was pulled completely off. All your clothes fell onto the floor, the rod barely hanging on from one side.
Shock shot through your body, dulling the pain from your fall. But it couldnāt compare to the odd satisfaction that poured over you soon after.
Fifteen minutes went by. The clock ticked, and you fidgeted as you thought back on revealing the mess to Dunk over the telephone. Youād called as soon as you got up from the ground, voice wavering and heart slamming from adrenaline as you gave a brief explanation. It was anything but the truth.
You stood together in your bedroom now, and your head was a scrambling mess.
You ripped your rack out of the wall. Your clothes were all over the floor, and he was here. He was here.
āI tried to clean it out before I called,ā liar.
Dunk stood beside you, staring at the rack and the wall. He blinked a few times as he took in the sight. Something wasn't registering with him, not yet.
He set his toolbox down and stepped in, avoiding the mess of clothes on the floor to get a better look at the damage. Despite his back being turned, he felt your eyes on him, waiting and assessing. His heart was going to burst out of his chest at this rate.
Finally, he found his voice. "Youāyou didnāt tell me the whole rack came down.ā
āI didnāt?ā You gasped. āNoāno, I did. I just..ā
āItās late; Iām sorry.ā You moved closer. āYou donāt have to fix it. I shouldnāt have called so lateāā
āNo, no, wait,ā Dunk turned around, his eyes falling on yours that begged to stay. āI donātā¦I donāt mind. Not at all.ā
And Dunk, ever the courageous man in your adoring eyes, immediately returned to evaluating. The rod would have to be replaced, its integrity broken for collapsing the way it had. The wall would have to be patched and painted as well.
āOkay,ā you said, not recognizing the sound of your own voice. āIāll go make lemonade.ā
Dunk wasnāt given time to protest or agree. You sped off, leaving him to work. He had no paint, nor a new rod, but there was still some he could do for the night.
He began with a proper cleaning. All your hanging clothes were taken out and placed onto your bed. He removed the few shoeboxes and didnāt, by the grace of all the above, snoop around. No matter what he saw in the small space, he forced himself to stay professional and clear out.
The rod was removed soon after. Every hardwood store in the city was closed by now, and he made a note to stop by early next morning. Fresh paint, tooā¦
Dunk spun around, startled by the sudden noise. You stood before him now, glass of lemonade in hand and a kind smile. Act normal, he nailed into his head. Act normal, Duncan. Please.
āLemonālemonade still an offer?ā He smiled dumbly. His stomach churned because there you were, holding a glass for him, and he had the nerve to ask like a blind idiot.
āHere,ā you encouraged him, and he accepted without breaking into a sweat. Dunk thanked you, nearly choking on his words before he took a drink.
āItās the least I could doā¦ā
Dunk lowered the glass to glance back at what he had done. He pointed to the rod leaning on one of the closet doors. āI got that out of the way. Suppose I could come back tomorrow? Whenā¦when youāre offā¦ā
He trailed, finding you a step closer than before.
āCould, uh, replace it,ā he cleared his throat. You were drowning him, and he didnāt want to fight for air. āTomorrow. Tomorrow, if that works for you.ā
āWhat will it cost me?ā You questioned.
Dunk blinked, taken back and still managing to keep upright with how close you stood. āWhat?ā
āI have to repay you somehow.ā
āNoāno. You never did then, and you wonāt start now. Weāā
āThereās nothing you want?ā You took another dangerous step forward, and he stepped back.
āNothing,ā he swore. āNothing, I swear.ā
āI donāt believe you.ā
Dunk felt his entire body heat up. He gulped, āIāI shouldā¦finishā¦up tonightā¦ā
You wouldn't relent. āTell me the truth.ā
His back hit the wall. Dunk said your name softly, his hands sweating and pulse hammering. There was no choice in it now, was there? He had to speak it, peel back his desires and pray you accept him.
Otherwise, he wouldnāt know what to do with himself.
He shuddered, āThereāsāthereās maybeā¦oneā¦thingā¦ā
āAnything.ā You reached for him, testing the waters with your hands, feeling his arms. He leaned down, gravitating towards you and not quite realizing it.
He needed to dive awayāfind your bathroom, or a trash can. The dizziness slammed into him full force, yet his body refused to move. āIā¦I always thoughtāGodāyouā¦ā
A wave of nausea hit, and he once again stopped himself. Dunk could only manage your name, a plea wrapped into a whisper. He was thrice your size and no matter the time and place, couldn't utter his only wish.
You, on the other hand, couldn't take it anymore.
You pulled him down, your hand sliding to cup the back of his neck. His lips met yours, warm, rough, and inexperienced. Dunk wasn't quick enough to process what was happening, yet his heart sang. Your scent flooded him, bringing him somewhere only his dreams could carry him.
And it ended all too quickly. Dunk felt the loss like a stab to the gut when you pulled back. He tried to speak, but you beat him to it.
āI want to have dinner,ā you blurted out, and you never realized how your body shook. āOr go see a movie.ā
Dunk hadn't comprehended the kiss. You kissed him, and he wanted to throw up. He wanted to do it again, then let his body empty itself because everything was threatening to come out. Then again, and again and again until his lips no longer belonged to him.
A date? He dared to wonder. Or was this a cruel joke? You wouldn't do that to him, would you?
āIād like that.ā he took the chance, somehow, in his poor state. āJustā¦just me and you.ā
āA date,ā you clarified, and his heart stuttered.
Bathroom. Where's the bathroom? He was nervous and excited, far too much that he'd let loose right in front of youāon you. God, a date. Weeks of dreaming, of longing and fearingā¦
Without thinking, Dunk pulled you back in. A squeak slipped past your lips as he turned to press you against the wall and devour you. It was needy and demanding, a pour of all his feelings for you before the worst of it came.
He was happy to the point of sickness, and he only had moments to spare.
His gut would be the death of him.