cw: marco x f!reader, selfship coded but anyone can read, reader being difficult, nami and robin talking some sense into her, marco being absolutely perfect, kissing in public, hurt/comfort
a/n : this is a continuation of a story from my old blog. also, this has been chilling in my drafts for months *sweat drops*
"So let me get this straight. . ."
Nami starts, crossing her legs before she leans forward in your direction.
"You meet the man of your dreams. He takes you to an intimate dinner at a place that he hasn't shared with anyone else. He treats you like nothing less than a queen. Then he takes you home, absolutely worships you and your body, and makes you see heaven on earth."
"Then, instead of waiting for him to wake up and make you breakfast, because he definitely sounds like the type of man who would've made you breakfast, you slip out like a thief in the night. And it's all because you got stuck in that pretty little head of yours and told yourself that he would leave you for "someone better than you" when it's painfully clear that he's wanted you from the moment he laid eyes on you. Am I understanding this right"?
She finished, her head tilting to the right.
"God, Nami. When you put things into perspective like that it makes me sound like an absolute idiot."
She shrugs her shoulders as she takes a sip from her wine glass.
"Well, you said it. Not me."
"You just don't get it. He's this accomplished pediatric doctor making waves in his field and I'm a kindergarten teacher by day who doubles as a barista by night just to make my rent."
"His social circle probably takes casual trips to the Hamptons and Martha's Vineyard just because they felt like they needed a "change in scenery" for the weekend and that's not something I would ever be able to do. I would just hold him back if I were with him and I'm afraid that if he's with me he'd realize that sooner or later and leave. So I just did him a favor and took myself out of the equation all together"
"I hate that you think about yourself that way" a new voice spouts out.
"No. Don't "Robin" me. You are deserving of every good thing and I hate that you let yourself think otherwise."
"It's not that I don't want to believe that. It's just that everytime something goes right for me I feel myself waiting for the other "shoe" to drop. I'm learned how to handle disappointments really, but this one would kill me"
They look at you with unreadable expressions
Nami is the first to speak up.
"You've gotta stop living life based on 'what if's'.
"I know you've been burned before, but Marco seems like all his feelings are genuine. He pined after you for months and he doesn't seems like that type of man that would stop pursuing you because of the reservations you have"
Nami nods in the background.
"So y'all are saying that I need to woman up and talk to him"
"Yes." they say in unison
"Fine, but it has to wait until tomorrow when I feel like my heart isn't going to fall into my ass . . . again"
They pull you into an embrace. Their laughter soothing your nerves. You just hope you had enough courage in you to confront the man you had run out on.
Marco's contact stares back at you — loud, glaring, accusing . . .
It would be so easy to press the call button, but the anxiety that surrounds you is constricting.
What if he hated you now?
After all, you had left him without a word. He saw you at your most vulnerable and every action he took only showed his genuine care for you and what had you done?
You ran — tail tucked between your legs and head down until you were in the comfort of your own home.
You took a deep breath, thumb shaking as you tapped on the call button
It rang — once, twice, and on the third ring it connected, a groggy "hello" on the opposite side of the receiver
You hold your breathe, hearing the sheets rustle. He clears his throat, but before he can even get a word out you cut him off.
"I was calling because I owe you an explanation for the other night. I was hoping that we could meet at the coffee shop? Maybe around twelve? I remembered that this is usually your off day, but if that doesn't work I understand. Totally understand even."
You fight down the way his voice makes you feel
"Okay, then I'll see you there " and before he can even respond you hang up the phone
You make it to the coffee shop 15 minutes before twelve. To your surprise, Marco is already there, seated in the furthest table in the back, an iced Americano set in front of him with a book in his hand.
He looks every bit of the educated man he is.
He looks likes he's staring right at you . . . because he is.
You force your feet to move forward, each step feeling heavier than the one before and when you finally make it to him, the dam breaks.
Your tears break loose and before you know what's happening, you're wrapped up in his embrace
"I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm crying. I'm not the one who got hurt in all this"
"It's just, I got scared. I got scared that you would realize that there's so much better out there than me and I ran. I ran because my heart couldn't handle the thought of the rejection, but I hurt you in the process."
Your arms come up and grip at the back of his shirt.
"It's okay if you don't want to see me again, but I just, I just needed to let you know that I'm sorry, truly sorry"
His hands find your face, thumbs wiping away your tears as he presses his forehead to your own
"There's nothing to forgive."
"It did hurt in the moment, when I woke up and found your side of the bed empty. I thought I had done something wrong, but I had never planned on letting you go. I knew you needed time"
Your eyes glisten with unshed tears
"You were going to wait for me?"
"I was going to wait for you"
And then your lips are on his in a kiss that tells him everything you can't begin to say — thank you for waiting for me, for not giving up, I want this for a lifetime, I'm falling so deeply for you.
But with the way he kisses you back you know he understands every thought and emotion.
You pull away from each other, breathes intermingling as you look into one another's eyes
"I'm falling for you and I'm scared"
"And I've already fallen for you so I'll be right here to catch you. No fear"
He presses a quick kiss to your lips
