🧬

Howie x reader

Somehow, things aren’t so scary when Howie’s around.

“I can’t believe we’re actually going to carnival while there is a zombie apocalypse actively taking place.”

You looked around as you and Howie walked through the carnival grounds. Poe was trying his luck with the fortune telling machine and Tess was shooting waterguns at targets to win prizes. Seeing her play brought a smile to your face. She may gain more enjoyment from shooting the guns than winning the prizes.

“I know right. I don’t know why we would stop to be here because it seems like a horrible idea… but hey freshly graduated college kids!! am i right?” Howie chuckled, his charming dimples showing as he did.

Something about him was so special. Maybe because he is almost quite literally the only boy in the world to you… but- no one has ever made you feel like Howie does. Safe. Cared for. Desired. Loved. Understood. Somehow being in a world that’s crumbling wasn’t so scary if Howie was right there with you.

“Oh hey look! That hammer strength game! Wanna try?” you’re eyebrows raise as you point to the game. He nods and gives you a “Sure!” as you guys start to make your way over to the carnival worker.

“Step right up and show your strength!” The worker says as he hands you the mallet first.

“Go ahead y/n!” Howie cheers and you take the mallet and rear it back.

“C’mon y/n! Pretend it’s Douglas!” He laughs, trying to encourage you.

annnd BOOM.

You swing the mallet down and the meter reaches the third level. There are six levels until the bell. Howie hoots and hollers for you and shakes your shoulders playfully. “Dang! you got an arm don’t you! Don’t think I forgot how you’ve hit me when I scare you. I can still remember the pain…” He stares off into the distance in horror acting as if he is having war flashbacks.

…ohh….Actors.

You push him lightly and laugh. “Shut up and whack that thing.” You say with a smile and you swear you can see his eye twinkle while he looks at your happy face. This doesn’t fail to bring a flutter to your tummy. A feeling you’ve grown to know well since you met Howie.

He tears his arm back with the mallet and swings it down with a mighty strength, but the meter doesn’t hit the bell, he gets to the fifth level and he’s even surprised he got there. The worker’s eyes widen slightly as if he isn’t used to seeing strength like that normally.

“Woah y/n did you see how high that was? I mean it wasn’t the bell and I bet Tess could do way more damage than i did but to be honest these are just glamor muscles… But that was pretty good!” He laughs as you clap for him.

“Nice job strongman!” you patted his bicep and giggled.

You two walked and got to talking again which ignited your feelings for him even more.

He made you laugh. He was so kind and sweet. Soft hearted and cuddly. Howie was home and he was becoming homier and homier as time went on. It was getting harder to see a life without him as the road-trip went on, zombies or not you were happy you met him and his warm brown eyes. His heart was bigger than his buff 6’3 body and somehow even thought he was big, he was the most gentle human. He saved his heart for real love. He saved himself for his dreams and luckily you came around and his dreams and real love swirled into one future he could picture clearly.

For you he did the same and as you talked you found his eyes harder not to get lost in.

“Howie…”

“Hmm?”

You’ve never confessed so blatantly but in a zombie apocalypse it seems like time may be cut a little short so you just say what’s on your mind.

“I think I… really really like you…”

“I think I like you a lot too…”

You looked up at the tall boy, you were short compared to him and you noticed that he enjoyed the height difference. Something about loving someone that gives him the urge to protect made his heart swell and For you, the thought of being held by strong arms and having big boobs to rest your head on made your heart swell as well.

You reached up and kissed his cheek and immediately blush crept up to his ears and cheeks.

“Can I…kiss you?”

Ahh yes, please. You thought. Consent IS really hot sometimes. You wondered if Howie knew.

“Please…” you whispered, wrapping your arms around his neck.

Howie cradled your head in his big hand and put a hand on your waist as he softly pressed his lips to yours. Butterflies exploded in your stomach as your nerves tingled.

Nope. No fear is present when Howie is around… And you could definitely get used to the feeling.