#mazzmaddi

MODERN!ELIJAH X OC (FLUFF....ONESHOT?MAYBE.)

"And I can't stop giving you all my loveee-oh love, loveeee" .

I caught my reflection in the mirror and smiled. It was date night—finally— and I'd been waiting since the last one ended. Which was maybe only less than a week ago, but still, that feeling never dulls or softens.

"Never too much, never too much, never too much ..." I was really feeling it tonight, giving white girl shoulders and everything. The seated dancing couldn't stop, the feet were tapping, and the curlers were long forgotten.

But another song was already tugging at me.

"Ohhh...Alexa, play A House Is Not a Home," I said, practically bouncing.

"Playing 'A House Is Not A Home" by Luther Vandross".

The piano crept in slow and aching, but I didn't wait for it. "Alexa, skip to fifty-six seconds," I demanded.

"A chair is still a chair, yess boyyy" I sang jumping ahead like I owned the track , I mean I didn't need really it— the lyrics were etched into me already.

"A chair is still a chair, even when there's no one sitting there...." I tilted my head up, eyes half-lidded. "But what's not a house?"

"But ohhh, a chair is not a house— I know, I know." I brought my head down dramatically as he dragged the note out, pulling something tender loose in my heart.

"And a house is not a home when there's no one there," I belted, voice cracking and all. "Where is my house, where is my home? 'Cause I need someone to hold me tight." I wrapped my hands around my chest, asking who or whatever.

"Oh I got a taste for Whitney next", I reminded myself.

Just as I was about to blow the house down, my phone buzzed, but I ignored it because nothing deserved to ruin this moment I have right now.

"A room is still a room, even when there's nothing there but gloom..." I shook my head. "But what's not a house, Luther?".

"But oh, a room is not a house."

I couldn't hold it anymore, I had to get up. This little ass chair wasn't doing it for me. I unplugged my curlers as I backed up from the vanity and headed towards my full-body mirror. I need my stage.

"And a house is not a home when the two of us.... are far apart." I sang to myself as I wrapped the cord around my hand, a makeshift microphone tethering me in place. "I miss my baby."

"And one of us has a broken heart.' I smiled despite myself "Gosh, this is so beautiful. I miss my man."

My gaze drifted to the dresser, to the framed picture sitting there like it belonged. Elijah, in the frame, sat relaxed, confident, and devastatingly fine. He'd known exactly what he was doing when he posed like that. I had hundreds more—little moments captured and kept, all tucked away like treasures.

"Now and then I call your name," I sang, stepping closer, pointing the curlers at the picture like he could hear me.

"And suddenly your face appears.".

I grabbed the picture with my other hand as I tunred drmatically—and froze.

Now, tell me who I saw just standing at the door, just cheesing, I mean, all 32 just showing.

"AHHH!" I yelped, dropping straight to the floor and covering my head. Why? I'm not sure, but it was the safest position I could think of before I registered who it was.

"Elijah!" I looked up, clutching my chest. "Why didn't you say anything? I scrambled to my feet, getting up and ready to leave.

"I was enjoying my lil show." He said, blocking my path to the bathroom. HE took the curlers from my hand and set them down on the vanity "I love having my own little singer." He smiled.

"Well you scared your little personal singer," I said trying—and failing—to sound annoyed.

"You were beautiful though," He replied easily. His hands found my waist, slow and familiar. " Didn't want to mess up your tempo. "He continued, smiling as he spoke "I loved the way you hit those notes mama. Got my skin all jumpy and jittery." he swayed his body, trying to convey whatever jumpy and jittery meant.

"Well, no more singer," I laughed, shaking my head.

"But I was hoping for Whitney," He said mock-disappointment"

"omygosh how long were you there, stalker?" I punched his chest.

"You expect me to count seconds when I'm looking at you?" He said, leaning his head down to give me a kiss. "I didn't even mean to walk in, you just...be calling to me," he mumbles, under his breath giving me another kiss.

"Oh, wow. Little lover boy, you're just dropping lines on me like that." I laughed, leaning my head back.

"What? You don't like it like that?" He asked, grinning against my cheek as I blushed.

"Can I have a little bit of space? I feel a little vulnerable right now", I said, looking down at the fact that I only had my undergarments on. "That's how you're supposed to feel," He said, even softer placing a kiss on my forehead.

"Sooo..no date is what you're saying?" I wrapped my arms around his neck, closing our distance even more.

"Nah, mama get ready. You want me downstairs or up here with you?" He asked like he didn't know the answer or something.

"I thought I be calling you— now you want to be downstairs. "I looked, raising an eyebrow.

"You know I come when you call. His hand squeezed my waist. "Now, you want me downstairs or up here with you?" He repeated. My heart kicked loudly.

"Right there," I pointed to the edge of the bed, closest to the vanity, just so I could touch him if I wanted to.

He looked at the spot and chuckled before he let go. "Alright. We leave in an hour," He mumbled, leaning in again.

"Elijah— if you don't " I turned away just in time

Now I know better than to turn away from a kiss, but I've got good reason, and we don't have enough time. He paused, "What was that?" he said, pulling his neck back.

"You said an hour, right?!" I looked back at him to see a stilled face.

All the laughing, smiling, and chuckling went out the window just like that

"Chile.." I shook my head as I puckered my lips for him to reach mine. "That's better," he murmured, immediately meeting me there

"That's all I wanted, mama," He said finally pulling away, "Go ahead now." He gave me one more peck for good luck and a slap on the bottom.

I watched as he stepped back up and easily settled himself into the spot I'd chosen for him. stretching out like he belonged there—which he always does.

I sat returned to the vanity, only to realize my music had stopped for some reason. "You want to listen to some music, baby?" I asked him through the vanity as I plugged my curler back in.

"I want you to keep singing to me," He said, that wide, dangerous smile spreading slowly.

I grinned, rummaging through my makeup drawer for mascara and blush. "Alexa, resume," I announced, grabbing them from the back corner.

Pretty darling.... have a heart. Don't let one mistake keep us apart.

Luther's voice filled the room again, smooth and aching, and my body responded before I could even think, swaying back and forth in the chair.

"Baby, is it cold or a little warm?" I asked, swiping into my blush to apply it.

"Its a little chilly mama, I got something in the car if you don't want to bring a jacket.

"I'm not meant to live alone, turn this house into a home."

I smiled at my reflections as he leaned his head on his shoulder, watching me—not casually, noy starting into space. Just watching like I was the most interesting part of this room. Since he got here, I have heard his phone go off probably 10 times, and he hasn't looked at it once.

"Depends on what I'm wearing," I shrugged titling my head, putting another swipe on my left cheek and nose.

"Blue, red, or brown?" I asked as I looked at his outfit. It was mostly gray and black, so a lot could go with it, but what the night was calling for is the question.

He glaned down at this himself, tugging lightly at his bottom lip before he pouted a little. See, we love a man who actually thinks about it. Warms my heart.

"I'm pretty neutral, so either brown or black."

"That's what I was thinking" I nodded "The restaurant gives off that grown and dark vibe" I added.

"You gonna put em on for me?" Like I'll ever say no.

"Saying that you're still in love with me, yeah..... I'm not meant to live alone, turn this house into a home."

"You know I will" I agreed, picking up the curler since it's hot enough to finish.

"You need some help pinning them mama?' he asked before I could even think about that.

Oh— thank you" I turned back towards him," I forgot all about that".

He stood, sliding off his jacket as he stepped over to me. "Careful not to get anything on your shirt. Everything's at the cleaners".

"I wont".

"Oh, please be there still in love. I said still in love," .

I sang lightly as I casually wrapped the hair around the rod, slow and careful, my movements matching the softness in my chest.

"Still in love...with me".

" I continued lightly swaying as Elijah rolled the curl up gently, hands steady, close enough that I could feel his warmth without him directly touching me

"Are you gonna be in love with me"...

I unraveled the curl from the rod and pinned it

"Can you hand me some more mama?" He spoke, nodding towards the silver clips in the container.

"Thank you baby" I said again as I gave him the clips. He responded with a kiss to the crown of my head, lingering

"I want you and need you to be, yeah....

Still in love"

I grabbed the next sections of hair as the lyrics flowed from my lips"with mee..." I glanced up at the mirror to see him concentrating on a curl

"I am, baby," he whispered loud enough for me to hear. Heat rushed up mt neck. I covered my mouth because this is embarrassing. "Stop, you're making me feel shy."

He grinned lifting his eyes, smiling like he knew exactly what he was doing.

"Are you gonna be in love with me?" Elijah's voice joined mine on the next line —low, rough and unexpectedly tender—as he finished pinning the last curl.

"I want you and need you to be"

My breath caught.

He brought his face down to mine, first kissing my cheek, then finishing the lyrics in my ear softly.

I pulled the curler from my hair as I leaned to the side from his breath tickling my neck. "I am," I laughed as I did the same thing he did.

"Still in love with me," he finished, giving me one last kiss before standing up to pin the curl I just released.

So this was what he meant by jumpy and jittery.

"What's so funny?" he asked as I grabbed the last section, placing it around the curler.

I looked up, trying not to show him that he was getting to me, but that didn't help because he stayed with a grin on his face, which caused me to have a big grin plastered on my face, but #notashamed.

"You look beautiful baby" He said softly.

He stared at me again. Elijah has this thing—I'm still not sure what it is yet— where he can stare at me all, and he prefers it when I stare back. I'd told him once that it reminds me of cats—slow blinking and silent affection. Only Elijah wasn't a kitten. He was more like a lion.

"Elijah," I laughed, "You're doing it again,".

"Doing what?" he asked, slipping a loose piece of hair back.

"Staring."" I pinched my finger together. "Just a little bit".

"You love it though," he insisted not showing one care to stop.

"I do," I admitted, touching the hair to see if it's hot enough to release, "But its distracting."

"Why?" He asked and dared to actually look confused.

I opened the clamp, releasing the curl, and pinned it. "When I'm touching all over you, don't you say that it's distracting and to wait until you're done doing your tasks?" I asked, turning towards him.

He nodded his head and grabbed my chin gently, lifting it up as he came close for a kiss. "But that's touching, I'm just looking."

"And sometimes looking can be distracting too for me," I said, trying to stand up, but Elijah stood directly over me.

"Elijah, can I please get up?" I asked, stifling a laugh as he looked between us, noticing that there was zero space, and then he finally moved a few inches.

"You wanna be there in an hour, right?" I asked, getting up from the chair and pushing it back into the vanity space. He honestly looked troubled when I said that, but he finally backed off, sitting back in his position on the bed.

"Yeah" He sighed. "An hour"

I shook my head and turned towards my closest area. finger grazing hangers as thought out loud. "What are you thinking—dress, two-piece.... or throw something together?"

"I want a dress," he said easily.

I slid open another compartment that held most of my dresses. The really fancy ones I kept at Elijah's house for extra room.

"Mhmm...okay. I got something new, I got my twenty-seventh birthday, and I got last year's brunch," I listed off the outfits, glancing back for his reaction.

He looked up with the same thoughtful expression as earlier, "What's last year's brunch, and let me see the new one?"

I pulled the brunch and the new dress out like he told me, but my eyes landed on the other one.

"Wait... what about the twenty-seventh birthday?" I asked feeling a little sad. I mean—anyone would if you only wore that dress once.

"I know that dress, and only I'm going to know that dress," Elijah said, lifting his eyebrow, like he already knew what was in my head. Elijah bought it for me, but we were literally alone the whole day, so really none saw the dress but him.

I rolled my eyes and tossed the new dress aside to first put on the brunch one.

"It may look simple, but its really cute when it's put on, it gives me a princess Disney body line, the cha-cha sits just right, and the back? Stright up sexy,," I told Elijah like I was warning him.

"Can you help me? "I turned my back so he could zip me up.

"You like?" I smoothed out the faint fabric folds from it being in the closet for a while.

"Why haven't I seen this one before? "He murmured, wrapping both hands around my waist, looking fascinated by the corset.

"Exactly no waist, I bit my lip as his hands held me.

"You playing too much," He let out a small smile. "I like this. You look pretty and delicate," His hands slid down the fabric like he was tracing it into memory.

"I want this one, "He nodded, backing up. "But I haven't even tried on the new one?" I pointed, trying to grab it.

"I like this though," He said, gently turning me away from the dress on the bed like he was moving me away from temptation.

"Elijah..."

"Mhmm," He hummed as he continued to examine the dress, as if it were something so complex and regal. "You really like this?"

"What shoes? He asked, "I'm thinking black as well," he answered his own question, making me laugh at his taste. At least he knows what he wants.

"Toe or no toe?" I teased, getting up on my tiptoes to give him a kiss. It's been too long without one. "Not toe. Where's the one with the bow on it?" he insisted.

"The front or back one?'

"The back one," he spoke without a stutter. I love when my man dresses me—it makes me feel so... taken care of.

I went to the closet. I knew exactly where the shoes were: left side, third compartment. Perfect as ever.

I handed them to him and sat on the bed. He patted his thigh for me to place my foot there.

At first, doing this felt wrong, because if he ever asked me to put his shoes on? And then put his feet on me? Oh, it would not end well. But he's been insisting for years, and now—three years later—I’m used to it. And he’s secretly proud of that.

'Aren't they pretty? ' He spoke, finishing the first strap.

"I know, I couldn't believe you remembered I wanted them."

“Nah, I’m talking about this.” He lowered one of my legs gently to the bed frame, lifted the other, and dragged his fingers slowly from my calf to my toes, pressing softly on my sole.

“See, now I know you’re up to something. You don’t even like feet.” I tried to pull back, but he held firm.

“Wrong. I love your feet,” he said, putting on the second heel and letting my leg go.

He took both of my hands and pulled me to my fee, eyes traveling up the extra height my heels gave me.

"I like it. Make me want to kiss you." He grinned childish and sweet, "As if you haven't been doing it already. "

"I know, but now they're right here, I can just-" he emphasized the difference in my height by only leaning forward instead of bending down like he normally does.

"You just overly tall, I'm a cool 5'7, maybe a 5'8 on a good day." I moved sideways to check his choices...and I have to admit, he did good.

"You like too?," he moved closer, wrapping his arms around me. "Yeah, you want to help me take the pins out?' I asked, reaching for the first one.

"Mhmm...I'll be careful this time," he assured me.

About two weeks ago, I asked Elijah to take the pins out of my wig that I wanted to take pictures of, and when I got back upstairs, the whole back was just a mess. I knew better than to ask that again, though.

I chuckled at the memory while I scanned my outfit for more ideas.

"Silver or gold? And what jacket? Maybe the fur?..

"I like gold. You already got the earrings. And the trenchcoat—the longer one," He responded, like he was waiting for me to ask this. "You are just perfect," I huffed, shaking my head playfully as he did the same.

"This one stuck." He pushed the curl towards me to finish taking it out. "How long you wanna stay out mama?" he asked, grabbing another clip, unpinning the curl with ease.

I pushed my lips together, thinking about tomorrow. “Umm… I don’t think I have any content due tomorrow, so no rush to come back. Why?”

“We’re not just going to the jazz club? Is that why your picking out my outfit.?

"You remember that museum you wanted to see?" He halfway asked, grabbing one more curl as I did the same

“I remember,” I said, biting my lip to keep from smiling too hard.

“Well… it’s closed tonight—”

“You get on my nerves,” I cut him off, huffing.

He laughed as my response, "Nah, but I'm just asking because Stack and em said they wanted to catch some drinks too later..."

“Oh, that’s fine. I haven’t seen Stack in a while. Where he been?”

“Anywhere he can make money,” Elijah shrugged, removing the last curl. “There you go, mama,” he said, raking the curls gently like I taught him.

"OK, now jewelry.." I pointed to the open jewelry box Elijah bought me years ago. "Can you pick it for me?" I asked, sitting back down on the bed.

"I can choose or you already though of something you wanted to wear?"

"Not really, just pick something to match my earrings and I want bangles."

"Really! You don't want the tennis?" He asked, almost shocked at my choice.

"Oh a girl can be different and creative," I defended myself

Elijah walked back over with a necklace and bangles giving me them to put on myself, as he wrapped the necklace around my neck to clasp

"Alright, now almost ready....what's next?— Perfume" I walked over to the small space in between my sunglasses and wallets, picking, of course, my go-to 'Miss Dior'.

"Am I missing anything, baby?" I asked, setting the perfume back down. "You want to bring a purse or something?" He suggested

"I don't know...maybe a clutch or a little handbag.. I questioned myself going over the side that held most of my purses— all the big ones stayed at Elijah's house.

"I got this little baby—I presented a classic black YSL clutch and this baby—I grabbed my new tabby coach bag." I dangled them in front waiting for him to choose one

"I like the YSL," he picked as he put back on his jacket. "Ok, now that's done... what's next?"

"Baby, I think you got everything," He said, grabbing my coat next and sliding it on me, as I put my arms through.

"You think so?" I frowned, really not wanting to forget anything

"Phone—he dropped it in the clutch

Hand cream—into the clutch

"Lip stuff, he pointed.

"That's what it was," I realized. Adding my lip liner, blistex lip gloss mascara and blush.

"ID and driver's license?" He said, pointing to them sitting on the vanity slightly underneath the makeup bag

"Ok, everything checks out," I clap my hands, ready to go now.

"You sure? We got a lot to do tonight," He said, joining my hand that I put out for him to grab. "We're only going to see stack."