Gotham Characters's Reaction to you being stressed because you have a lot to do
Plot: what the title says
Reader: gender-neutral (no pronouns)
Author's note: Since a lot of people have finals /long studying around this time, I made more headcanons for this topic 🙂❤️🩹
Characters: Theo Galavan (romantic), Nathaniel Barnes (romantic), Ivy Pepper (can be seen as romantic/friendship/family), Tabitha Galavan (can be seen as romantic/platonic)
Warnings: small mention of food in Theo's & Nathaniel's part
Word count: 1005
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<-chapter 2 (different characters)
/Archive of Our Own (no pictures)
Theo Galavan
plans around you: breakfast, dinner, lunch, cleaning service.
He may be a bit of a punctuality freak, but it's because he wants to be included. With you it's no different: on one hand, it's better for you to get rest if others are around (aka if you don't eat while working, darling), on the other hand he can spend more time with you.
As soon as you finished brushing your teeth, you started working again in the living room, Theo next to you is calmly reading the newspaper and only looking up when Tabitha comes in.
She eyes the living room table. "Uh, brother, why was breakfast moved?"
He lays the newspaper down and touches your back reassuringly, signalling he'll explain the change.
"It's better for (y/n)."
"And you're adjusting?"
He probably nods; you don't know, too busy.
Tabitha says something else, prompting him to stand up. His voice is lowered on purpose, "You can have breakfast whenever you want, kitten. And you," he says, suddenly closer to you, "just tell me what you need, sweetheart."
In the course of the day, Theo disappears to work, then comes back in the evening.
"I'm here again," he announces joyfully, and knowing how much he craves admiration, you look up to show your happy reaction for a second.
"Darling, is this lighting good for your eyes?"
"Uh..." You look around. Has it become this dark? "Probably not."
He swiftly moves towards the light switched and adjusts them, glancing towards you and over the room, back and forths, waiting for your signal.
"This is good," you state.
"Good?" Theo asks, as if the light should be better than that.
"Yeah."
"Can I get you anything?"
"Mhm, no." You see he's still in his work suit. "You could come here, later."
"Of course, my dear."
He comes back in his shirt and with a book and sits as close to you as possible without touching your things, eyes glancing sideways every now and then.
Nathaniel Barnes
is busy a lot, but not that stressed. He wouldn't have chosen the job if he couldn't keep his head cool, help his co-workers.
For him, your relationship is similar: he's gotta be able to stay calm for you.
Now the stress you're going through may seem small to him if it's non-threatening (e. g. studying) or understandably terrifying if someone could suffer (e. g. if you're working on what could greatly help someone's health), but either way: his loved one, his wish to support.
You're at your shared apartment, wearing ear protection because one of the neighbors is drilling into a wall again.
"Honey, I'm home!"
"Hey," you respond lazily.
When Nathaniel's closer, he looks over your shoulder, and you're glad he announced himself cause with how concentrated you are, he might've scared you.
After a quick look up, he asks, "They're still at it?"
"Yeah. With irregular breaks."
"Huh."
He sets a bag on the table. "I brought you some snacks for when you're at home."
"Thanks." You smile at him lovingly.
He looks at your work again, your hand still waiting to continue. "I'll let you work, then."
You manage to get ahead, but after the drilling intensifies, you're about to take a break.
Just then, after his shower, your boyfriend's back. "Maybe I should have a word."
"Let's wait another day. Those shelves or whatever gotta be important."
Nathaniel smirks. "In that case." He sits down next to you and gives you a kiss.
With his hand stroking your back, you ask, "How was your day?"
"One of our perps tried to run away." Still, his eyes gleam with excitement, the love for his profession. You smile knowingly.
"How's it goin' for you?"
You sigh.
"Stressful?"
"Mhm-hm. My work isn't trying to run away."
He huffs in amusment. "If only, huh?"
Ivy Pepper is used to just getting whatever her dad wanted and quickly, no questions asked.
As your (girl)friend/family, she's still does it but with a lot more talking...which can be distracting, but she means really well.
Ivy strolls into the room again and notices you're working. "Hey, do you wanna– You're working again?"
You nod absentmindedly.
"Hey." She tries to sound understanding, "Do you need anything?"
"No, thanks."
"I made this mixture that could totally help you focus."
"Did you do a safety experiment?"
"N-no." Her face lights up. "But I guess I could. I need to go. Bye. Good luck!"
The next day, she's wearing a serious expression, pacing around.
Finally, she notices your look. "Oh! Hey... So, uhm, the experiment didn't work. Guy fell asleep once it wore out."
You huff incredulously. "Did you kidnap someone?!"
"No," she says with her arms crossed. "Well, not exactly."
Tabitha Galavan
is an impatient person but admires your attempts of productivity.
If something's not her subject, she can't help but her education was pretty good, so if it's not too difficult, she may even help...out of sheer boredom...and wanting to help, alright, she'll admit it.
In this case, she can't help. You've gotta do this on your own.
You're in her bar, in an empty room, trying to relax your hands.
Tabitha's heels announce her presence. She's carrying a cocktail you couldn't drink now, but sets it down on a side table, probably to lend you some company.
"I brought you a mocktail."
"Wait, that's for me?"
"Yup, enjoy."
You beam at her. "Thank you!"
Tabitha furrows her brows a little, then opens the window. "There's barely any air in here." She nods to your work. "That thing's exerting you, huh?"
"Really."
"Well, good luck."
She stays for a few minutes, watching, staring outside, then gets up again.
"Alright. Call me if you need help."
"Thanks."
She lingers in the doorway. "No problem."
You're surprised when she comes back sooner than expected.
"Someone at the bar doesn't know how to use a sponge," she explains excuse-like.
"Ah." You smile. Maybe working this much doesn't make her lose interest after all.
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Author's note: friendly reminer that I will take comments on all of my posts, not just one-shots 🙂. Sometimes headcanons /scenarios like these take even more time.
For example, gathering and cutting screenshots for Tumblr took 14 minutes! 🫢
Just wanted to say this, since a lot of my works are this "short", so it might be good to know that 😂
Good luck with your projects from the Fairy Fic Writer 🫶🧚♀️
