Imagine a pining Driver (The Driver x GN! Apprentice! Reader)
Watched Drive for the first time and…something about it. They injected crack into this melancholic movie. Driver is my parallel play king w/ a splash of acts of service and I don't care what anyone says. Also reader fell first but Driver fell harder WHO CHEERED
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Job hunting is Hell. You are very much aware of that as you sift through ads, check out store windows, and do literally anything you can to find a stable source of income. There's a good handful of months that drive you up the wall, yet, as luck would have it, Shannon's Garage appears on your radar. You apply for an apprenticeship, praying that the Associates of Science you got isn't completely useless. It works (!!); Shannon needs the money and with the extra set of hands he might be able to get it. Either that or he's just blown a new salary on you. Only time will tell.
Your first impression of Driver is that he's intimidating. You meet while he's under a car, wedged between the undercarriage and the creeper he's on. You're sure Shannon's told him at least a little bit about you, but first impressions are vital, and if you're going to be working together, you want it to be on your own terms.
You nudge his foot from where it peeks out from the car. He slides out and even though he squints momentarily at the light, you can tell that his eyes are…intense. He doesn't say much of anything, only taking you in with a slightly curious gaze and nodding when you tell him that you'll be joining the crew.
He doesn't talk a lot. At first you take it he doesn't like you, then you see his interactions with others—or lack thereof—and realize that's just how he is. You fill the silence for him, telling him about your day and what's happened through it. The first sign that something's changed is that he stops "ignoring" you.
Before he likes you, he's his usual self: avoidant, quiet, and always doing something. After, he's less entertaining you and more listening to your words. You don't notice in the beginning, but it becomes more obvious when he quietly murmurs a specific question about what you said, eyes not moving off what he's working on. You may linger silently, looking at him. He may look back, a little quirk to his lips as he waits for you to answer. It's anyone's guess.
A man of few words means that whatever he does say, he stands by it. Usually, he doesn't speak when a simple nod would suffice. Around you, however, more structured sentences start to appear. Verbal praise doesn't come too often, but when it does, it puts you on cloud nine. Whether it's a faint nod or a whispered affection, it's sincere.
On top of that, getting one of his rare smiles feels like a payday. The more he becomes comfortable with you, the more he lets go, with his blank face showing more and more emotion.
The most obvious change is…well, it's that he watches you. A lot. He usually stalks you from across the garage, glancing as you walk to your car. He wants you in his sight 24/7, 365. It would be creepy if he didn't feel so safe to be around. Along with that, he takes care of you a lot more frequently, whether it's taking over for you on the bench or settling customer disagreements with one look, he's got your back.
You start to spend time with him outside of work. That might not be saying much to some people given that cars are somehow involved 90% of the time, but it makes both of you happy, so who cares?
Your place becomes his second home. He won’t spend the night—not fully, anyways. He may spend time with you on the couch, arm wrapped around your shoulders as you watch some shitty TV show, but Driver will never stay long enough to sleep. He's always gone by nightfall, for some reason.
He loves driving you places. It makes sense, that's his whole thing. But being able to take you different spots, especially at night with slow music playing…it feels special. One time in particular, he brings you out to what was seemingly the middle of nowhere. You would be lying if you said it didn't make you nervous, often glancing at the little lock on the door in case you read him wrong. But then he parks the car and gets out, moving to your side and opening the door for you. You're met with the chill of the night and a sky full of stars. The light pollution doesn't reach here. It seems like nothing does. Driver wants to keep it that way, given the protective smile on his face when he sees your wide eyes.
He wants to give you worthwhile experiences, to impress you. If you're up for it, he might show you a few tricks. Nothing dangerous for you, of course—he wouldn't risk that. A few donuts here and there couldn't hurt, though.
After a while, Driver and yours' relationship is stuck in limbo. He doesn't want to ruin what you have, much less make you uncomfortable…so he simply stays in his lane. He does what he finds familiar as a substitution, no matter how much his skin buzzes with emotion. You play the waiting game with him until enough is enough. Either something is going to force him to make a move or you have to do it yourself.
It's a late night when it happens. Maybe you're high off the sleepiness, or maybe you're just fed up, but something tells you that you need to act. Your place at the work bench makes it so that your back is turned to Driver as he tinkers with the engine of a car. Casual words (mostly said by you) are exchanged. It's nice. Quiet. And then you make a joke and that gentle atmosphere breaks because Driver gives a laugh. A laugh.
You immediately swivel around to catch the ends of his open mouth in your sights. Driver glances up with that look—that gaze that holds so much emotion it should be illegal. It's not your fault that you get up and stride over to him, plucking that toothpick straight out his mouth. He's the one that did this, after all.
His brows furrow in mild confusion, but the quirk of his mouth tells you everything you need to know. You flick the offending piece of wood away, it landing with a sharp clink against the concrete floor. He has zero complaints when it's replaced with your mouth.
The kiss is so slow you're hanging off every touch. When you separate, his eyes seem darker. He gives that little thing of a grin, and you fall harder than you thought you could.
Even when you officially start your relationship, he doesn't let up. The honeymoon phase doesn't exist to him. You're his, and he's going to show you it as often as he can.
Feel free to use this idea for fics/art! Just credit me ;p
What I listened to while writing: did i tell u that i miss u
areudirty
snowghoul
tangentwithtanner
gracieabrams
dailybridgerton
prguitarman
