zOMG a fic!!!
I finished one of those WIPs ... it's a miracle!
Who: M/N
Where: Unspecified AU
Self prompt: Click for a pic.
Upon entering the room he found her completely alone, lounging against the wall, and seemingly uncaring if she ruined the pristine white dress she wore.
Her long brown curls, so perfectly arraigned on top of her head by Minako, were now escaping and tumbling over her shoulders. Long legs were stretched out before her, and she rocked her feet back and forth, like a small girl, as she took a swig from the bottle of champagne clutched in one hand.
Shutting the door quietly he walked to her side and slid down the wall with a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled pathetically.
She didn’t answer, just took another sip of champagne and continued watching her feet.
He glanced down and saw her toes were a pale, rosy pink that matched the color on her fingertips, and the necklace hanging at her neck…. which he had bought her two days before for the rehearsal dinner.
Tentative brown eyes rose up to look at her face, hoping she might glance at him, but she resolutely ignored him and started straight ahead with a blank look on her face. He was aware she wore no make-up, leaving her red-rimmed eyes and blotchy face completely open to him.
“Mako…” he reached out one hand toward her shoulder, but she jerked away, still refusing to look at his face.
“You can’t be sorry now,” she whispered.
“I didn’t mean…. I was scared, alright? I was bloody terrified.”
“And I wasn’t? It’s called ‘cold feet‘, Nick.” She finally turned her green gaze toward him and he shrunk under the ferocity he found burning there.
“I didn’t want to hurt you!” His voice was unusually timid and weak.
She snorted, “and what was this then?”
Raking a hand through his hair he tried to explain. “I thought I would mess it up… I thought I wasn’t good enough for you and what if we had children? What kind of father would I be?”
“Well, we’ll never find out now, will we?”
“Don’t be like that..” He started again but the words fell away at her glare.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have left me standing at the altar!” She lurched to her feet and crossed to the other side of the room, sitting down at the vanity there. He followed behind her, and once he was close enough he tried to touch her again but lost his nerve; instead fisting his hand and dropping it to his side.
“Just go, I’ve already cried my tears for you… and I don’t want you to see me cry for myself.”
“No, not until you talk to me.”
“What is there to say, Nick?“ She whirled in her chair, both hands gripping the back of the chair so hard her knuckles were white. “You made your choice when you snuck out and left me alone!”
She was sobbing in earnest now and Nick knelt in front her, placing his hands over hers. “Makoto, I-”
“I don’t want excuses Nick! You didn’t care then and you don’t care now! Will you please just leave, like you did before?” Her voice was just above a whisper and tears were leaking out steadily from under her closed eyelids. Nick rose to his feet and cupped her face in his hands, gently thumbing away her tears.
He tilted her head back and leaned down until his face was inches from hers. “I do care,” he said softly. “I love you Makoto, don’t you ever doubt that. You mean more to me than anything else in this world, and I was an idiot! A God damn, scared idiot.”
He licked his dry lips and gave her a small half smile. “I will prove to you that I mean it, that I mean this,” he dropped one hand to tap the ring on her finger. “Forever,” he whispered before kissing her lightly on the forehead.
Straightening up, he gave her one last glance before leaving the room.
***
After Nick left, Makoto had herself another good cry and finished her champagne. She then changed out of her wedding dress, scrawled a quick note to the girls telling them to leave her alone for the next twenty-four hours, and had stupidly gone home.
Their home.
Luckily Nick wasn’t there, but everything reminded her of him and she was sorely tempted to get a hotel room for the night.
Instead she closed all the blinds, casting the apartment in shadow, and languished into the bedroom. It was dark, cool and ungodly quiet. There was no music playing from the stereo, no deep voice cursing at whatever sports game was on TV.
She slipped into one of his oversized t-shirts with an obnoxious saying printed on the front, and crawled into bed. His pillow smelled like him; spices, forests and fresh air, and she hugged it close, burying her face in the feathery softness. It was early still, but she found herself willing the dark oblivion of sleep to take her.
***
When Makoto woke the next morning it was to a quiet house and a giant, yellow post-it note stuck on the pillow next to her head. Completely indifferent as to what it might say, she rubbed her eyes and gave a jaw cracking yawn, before reaching out one hand to grab the note.
‘The way you mumble in your sleep’ was scrawled across it in a strong, bold hand.
Nick’s.
Makoto frowned to herself, not completely sure what it was or how to take it. She called his name several times, but no answer came; shrugging to herself, she sat the note on the nightstand and went to the bathroom for a shower.
Turning on the faucet, she stripped out of her clothes and stepped into the shower, closing her eyes while dunking her head under the warm stream. When she opened them again she found another post-it note struck to the opposite wall.
‘Joint showers; for water conservation, of course.’
Blushing slightly to herself, Makoto plucked the note off the wall and sat it outside the shower before finishing up.
When she was done, she cranked the knob and reached out for a towel on the rack; another note fell out.
‘How cute you look in my huge robe and a towel wrapped around your head, turban style.”
At this point Makoto was thoroughly confused and more than a little anxious at these odd little notes. She prepared herself for them and made a conscious effort to spy them out before they randomly popped out at her.
Still she was not prepared for the one stuck on the floor beneath her feet when she grabbed the hairdryer and flipped her head over.
‘The way you shake your ass when you dry your hair.’
Or the one in her underwear drawer, right next to her favorite pair of black panties.
‘The cinnamon and vanilla sachet you keep in here.’
Nor was she prepared for the one stuck on the radio in the bedroom (’The way you sing slightly off key while you get dressed.‘), or the one that tumbled out of the closet. (‘How you look in my shirts.’)
Slowly now, Makoto inched out of the bedroom and into the living room where she found three more.
‘How you always cry at the end of romantic comedies.’
‘When you get more into the game than me and yell at the players.’
‘The way you snuggle against my side during scary movies, even thought you aren’t scared.’
Steeling herself, she pushed open the door to the kitchen; her sanctuary. Surely that would be void of these random notes. Instead though the room was completely littered with them.
They were fixed on almost every surface, ranging from the random, ‘’The way you make coffee.’ to the intimate ‘Make up sex on the floor.’ To the sweet, ‘How you insist on looking after everyone by cooking for them.’
Makoto could feel tears stinging her eyes as she found a lone note on the kitchen table, along with a single gardenia bloom.
She picked up the flower, inhaling its sweet scent while reading the note, written on stationary instead of a post-it this time.
‘101 reasons why I love you. I have a million more, but it would take a lifetime to name them all.
I know none of this fixes or excuses what I did, but I promise I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you.
Will you let me?
If yes, pin this flower behind your ear and meet me at the courthouse. Half past eleven.’
Glancing toward the clock Makoto made her decision.
***
Nick paced outside the courtroom door, dressed in black slacks and a dark blue shirt. It was a warm, sunny day, but he felt like a little rain cloud was hovering over his head.
He had screwed up, on a royal scale, and he knew his little idea with the post-its wasn’t enough to erase his mistake, nothing would be, but he hoped it was enough for a second chance.
It was a quarter after twelve and still no Makoto. He signed heavily, it was time to give up. She made her choice, and he would respect her decision. Now to go drown his sorrows at some seedy bar…
“Nick!” Turning quickly he found the love of his life dashing down the halls of the courthouse, hair up in a bun, gardenia flower stuck behind her left ear, and dressed in her white wedding gown.
She came to a halt in front of him and smiled at his shocked expression, doing a little turn. “Seemed a shame to waste it.”
“I didn’t think you were coming,” he blurted.
“Minako had taken the dress yesterday and I had to lie to her about why I wanted it.“ She blushed a pretty pink. “She’s kind of mad at you right now.”
“I imagine. But you’re not?”
“No, I’m still furious.“ She half laughed. “But I love you and there’s not anything anyone, including you, can do to change that.” She placed a gentle hand on his cheek and smiled. “How long did it take you to do up all the notes?”
“It didn‘t take long to write them, in fact I made too many. But it took about half the night to place them. I nearly killed myself once or twice trying to keep quiet,” he smiled crookedly. “You liked them?”
“I loved them.”
“I meant every one, and I meant my other note as well. I swear to you here and now that I will do everything in my power to make you happy for the rest of your life.” Nick cupped her cheek, long fingers tickling the soft hairs at the nap of her neck.
“Being with you is enough. Even if you are an idiot,” she smiled and rocked forward to press her lips against his. Pulling back after a moment Nick laced his fingers with hers and cocked his head toward the door.
“Shall we?” She nodded enthusiastically and yanked him into the room.
Who: M/N
Where: Unspecified AU
Self prompt: Click for a pic.
Upon entering the room he found her completely alone, lounging against the wall, and seemingly uncaring if she ruined the pristine white dress she wore.
Her long brown curls, so perfectly arraigned on top of her head by Minako, were now escaping and tumbling over her shoulders. Long legs were stretched out before her, and she rocked her feet back and forth, like a small girl, as she took a swig from the bottle of champagne clutched in one hand.
Shutting the door quietly he walked to her side and slid down the wall with a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled pathetically.
She didn’t answer, just took another sip of champagne and continued watching her feet.
He glanced down and saw her toes were a pale, rosy pink that matched the color on her fingertips, and the necklace hanging at her neck…. which he had bought her two days before for the rehearsal dinner.
Tentative brown eyes rose up to look at her face, hoping she might glance at him, but she resolutely ignored him and started straight ahead with a blank look on her face. He was aware she wore no make-up, leaving her red-rimmed eyes and blotchy face completely open to him.
“Mako…” he reached out one hand toward her shoulder, but she jerked away, still refusing to look at his face.
“You can’t be sorry now,” she whispered.
“I didn’t mean…. I was scared, alright? I was bloody terrified.”
“And I wasn’t? It’s called ‘cold feet‘, Nick.” She finally turned her green gaze toward him and he shrunk under the ferocity he found burning there.
“I didn’t want to hurt you!” His voice was unusually timid and weak.
She snorted, “and what was this then?”
Raking a hand through his hair he tried to explain. “I thought I would mess it up… I thought I wasn’t good enough for you and what if we had children? What kind of father would I be?”
“Well, we’ll never find out now, will we?”
“Don’t be like that..” He started again but the words fell away at her glare.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have left me standing at the altar!” She lurched to her feet and crossed to the other side of the room, sitting down at the vanity there. He followed behind her, and once he was close enough he tried to touch her again but lost his nerve; instead fisting his hand and dropping it to his side.
“Just go, I’ve already cried my tears for you… and I don’t want you to see me cry for myself.”
“No, not until you talk to me.”
“What is there to say, Nick?“ She whirled in her chair, both hands gripping the back of the chair so hard her knuckles were white. “You made your choice when you snuck out and left me alone!”
She was sobbing in earnest now and Nick knelt in front her, placing his hands over hers. “Makoto, I-”
“I don’t want excuses Nick! You didn’t care then and you don’t care now! Will you please just leave, like you did before?” Her voice was just above a whisper and tears were leaking out steadily from under her closed eyelids. Nick rose to his feet and cupped her face in his hands, gently thumbing away her tears.
He tilted her head back and leaned down until his face was inches from hers. “I do care,” he said softly. “I love you Makoto, don’t you ever doubt that. You mean more to me than anything else in this world, and I was an idiot! A God damn, scared idiot.”
He licked his dry lips and gave her a small half smile. “I will prove to you that I mean it, that I mean this,” he dropped one hand to tap the ring on her finger. “Forever,” he whispered before kissing her lightly on the forehead.
Straightening up, he gave her one last glance before leaving the room.
***
After Nick left, Makoto had herself another good cry and finished her champagne. She then changed out of her wedding dress, scrawled a quick note to the girls telling them to leave her alone for the next twenty-four hours, and had stupidly gone home.
Their home.
Luckily Nick wasn’t there, but everything reminded her of him and she was sorely tempted to get a hotel room for the night.
Instead she closed all the blinds, casting the apartment in shadow, and languished into the bedroom. It was dark, cool and ungodly quiet. There was no music playing from the stereo, no deep voice cursing at whatever sports game was on TV.
She slipped into one of his oversized t-shirts with an obnoxious saying printed on the front, and crawled into bed. His pillow smelled like him; spices, forests and fresh air, and she hugged it close, burying her face in the feathery softness. It was early still, but she found herself willing the dark oblivion of sleep to take her.
***
When Makoto woke the next morning it was to a quiet house and a giant, yellow post-it note stuck on the pillow next to her head. Completely indifferent as to what it might say, she rubbed her eyes and gave a jaw cracking yawn, before reaching out one hand to grab the note.
‘The way you mumble in your sleep’ was scrawled across it in a strong, bold hand.
Nick’s.
Makoto frowned to herself, not completely sure what it was or how to take it. She called his name several times, but no answer came; shrugging to herself, she sat the note on the nightstand and went to the bathroom for a shower.
Turning on the faucet, she stripped out of her clothes and stepped into the shower, closing her eyes while dunking her head under the warm stream. When she opened them again she found another post-it note struck to the opposite wall.
‘Joint showers; for water conservation, of course.’
Blushing slightly to herself, Makoto plucked the note off the wall and sat it outside the shower before finishing up.
When she was done, she cranked the knob and reached out for a towel on the rack; another note fell out.
‘How cute you look in my huge robe and a towel wrapped around your head, turban style.”
At this point Makoto was thoroughly confused and more than a little anxious at these odd little notes. She prepared herself for them and made a conscious effort to spy them out before they randomly popped out at her.
Still she was not prepared for the one stuck on the floor beneath her feet when she grabbed the hairdryer and flipped her head over.
‘The way you shake your ass when you dry your hair.’
Or the one in her underwear drawer, right next to her favorite pair of black panties.
‘The cinnamon and vanilla sachet you keep in here.’
Nor was she prepared for the one stuck on the radio in the bedroom (’The way you sing slightly off key while you get dressed.‘), or the one that tumbled out of the closet. (‘How you look in my shirts.’)
Slowly now, Makoto inched out of the bedroom and into the living room where she found three more.
‘How you always cry at the end of romantic comedies.’
‘When you get more into the game than me and yell at the players.’
‘The way you snuggle against my side during scary movies, even thought you aren’t scared.’
Steeling herself, she pushed open the door to the kitchen; her sanctuary. Surely that would be void of these random notes. Instead though the room was completely littered with them.
They were fixed on almost every surface, ranging from the random, ‘’The way you make coffee.’ to the intimate ‘Make up sex on the floor.’ To the sweet, ‘How you insist on looking after everyone by cooking for them.’
Makoto could feel tears stinging her eyes as she found a lone note on the kitchen table, along with a single gardenia bloom.
She picked up the flower, inhaling its sweet scent while reading the note, written on stationary instead of a post-it this time.
‘101 reasons why I love you. I have a million more, but it would take a lifetime to name them all.
I know none of this fixes or excuses what I did, but I promise I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you.
Will you let me?
If yes, pin this flower behind your ear and meet me at the courthouse. Half past eleven.’
Glancing toward the clock Makoto made her decision.
***
Nick paced outside the courtroom door, dressed in black slacks and a dark blue shirt. It was a warm, sunny day, but he felt like a little rain cloud was hovering over his head.
He had screwed up, on a royal scale, and he knew his little idea with the post-its wasn’t enough to erase his mistake, nothing would be, but he hoped it was enough for a second chance.
It was a quarter after twelve and still no Makoto. He signed heavily, it was time to give up. She made her choice, and he would respect her decision. Now to go drown his sorrows at some seedy bar…
“Nick!” Turning quickly he found the love of his life dashing down the halls of the courthouse, hair up in a bun, gardenia flower stuck behind her left ear, and dressed in her white wedding gown.
She came to a halt in front of him and smiled at his shocked expression, doing a little turn. “Seemed a shame to waste it.”
“I didn’t think you were coming,” he blurted.
“Minako had taken the dress yesterday and I had to lie to her about why I wanted it.“ She blushed a pretty pink. “She’s kind of mad at you right now.”
“I imagine. But you’re not?”
“No, I’m still furious.“ She half laughed. “But I love you and there’s not anything anyone, including you, can do to change that.” She placed a gentle hand on his cheek and smiled. “How long did it take you to do up all the notes?”
“It didn‘t take long to write them, in fact I made too many. But it took about half the night to place them. I nearly killed myself once or twice trying to keep quiet,” he smiled crookedly. “You liked them?”
“I loved them.”
“I meant every one, and I meant my other note as well. I swear to you here and now that I will do everything in my power to make you happy for the rest of your life.” Nick cupped her cheek, long fingers tickling the soft hairs at the nap of her neck.
“Being with you is enough. Even if you are an idiot,” she smiled and rocked forward to press her lips against his. Pulling back after a moment Nick laced his fingers with hers and cocked his head toward the door.
“Shall we?” She nodded enthusiastically and yanked him into the room.