pairing: joe keery x reader
warning: 18+ mndi. fluff. mutual pining. age gap (joe is 33 & reader is 25). making out. friends to lovers. tension. soft joe keery. emotional intimacy. light smut.
word count: 2.8k
author's notes: i love this oneee (and sorry for the delay). requested by @/unclejeezysblog ʚɞ
You walked inside the studio where your brother and his band members usually hang out to make music. You’ve always wanted to be in a band just like your brother, Javi. But you don’t have friends who love music as much as you do.
The members greeted you, not surprised that you’re here again. Joe’s the one you’re most closed with. “I brought your favorites,” you placed their usual coffees on a table. Joe came up to you, “Hey,” he said with a smile.
“Thank you,” he grabbed one iced latte. “You know, we’re working on a new album. I want some feedback from you, Critic.” He called you the nickname he gave you. Since you’re always there to give critics and suggestions in most of their songs.
He handed you some papers, song lyrics they wrote. You sat on the couch, “Hmmm… the song’s about what?” you asked, sipping on your iced white mocha.
Joe leaned against the table beside you, watching your reaction carefully. “It’s kinda about liking someone you can’t really admit you like yet, and you don’t know if you can like this person at all.”
You smiled to yourself before looking back down at the lyrics. The words were soft, but meaningful. You could practically hear the melody in your mind already. “Wait,” you laughed quietly, “Did you write this?” you didn’t know, but you always recognized his writing, “Maybe,” he shrugged.
“Joe,” you called out, raising your brow. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Okay, yeah. Most of it.” You chuckled at his admission.
You continued reading while the rest of the band and your brother started messing around with instruments in the background. Joe stayed beside the couch, weirdly tense for someone who usually acted relaxed around you. Your eyes stopped on one line.
I’ve lived a little longer, but you know me better.
You started humming the lyrics on it. Joe carefully listens, and admires the way you can catch up and help them. The other members started playing their instruments, matching your tone.
Two hours passed, you and the members had finished a song. All of you walked out of the studio together, Javi lives nowhere near you, you only took an uber to get here.
“Should I book you?” your brother asked, “I’m going somewhere near her apartment. I can drop her off at her place ,” Joe suggested, hands in his pocket. “That’s great,” you smiled at Joe and bid your goodbye to your brother and the other members.
The two of you sat quietly in his car, it’s not an awkward silence between you. Music playing in the background. “Where are you going this late at night?” You asked, curious. “Just gonna buy something.” You looked at him confused.
“At this hour? Where?” you shifted on the car seat and faced him fully, growing suspicious at him. “If you have a secret, you can tell me. I’m all ears.” You proudly said, he chuckled at you, “Yeah, I nicknamed you Critic because you always have a say on everything. But it wouldn’t be a secret if I tell you, right?”
“Oh.. you’re right. Sorry, I'm too nosy.” Joe shook his head while smiling. “It’s one thing I love about you.” Joe’s eyes widened at what he just said, “I mean, yeah you’re like my little sister. You’re the band’s little sister, so yeah.” He cleared his throat.
“Your birthday’s coming up, what’s your plan?” He changed the topic of your conversation. “Hmmm.. I was thinking of going to spend the day with myself. Going somewhere nice, like that.” Joe nodded at your statement. The two of you talked the whole ride to your apartment.
He pulled over to the drop off area, you unbuckled your seatbelt. “Thanks, Joe.” He smiled at you, “No problem.” When you were about to open the door, he asked something, “Are you gonna come by the studio tomorrow?”
“Uhh.. I don’t know. I have to work late tomorrow.” Joe nodded slowly, fingers tapping against the steering wheel. “Right. The record store thing.” You laughed softly. “Yeah. Some of us have real jobs, Keery.” Joe smiled at that, but it faded a little too quickly. “Well… if you get off early, you should stop by.”
You glanced at him. “You really need my opinion that badly?” he shook his head, “No,” he said immediately. Then, quieter, “I just like when you’re there.”
The words settled heavily inside the car. Joe looked like he regretted saying it right away, he cleared his throat as he looked out the windshield. “The studio feels less boring when you’re around, that’s all.”
You tried not to smile too hard. “Wow. Is that your version of flirting?” you knew there was something more between you, yet you both try to deny it all the time, or just you.
“It was supposed to be subtle.” He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling embarrassed, then he noticed he felt comfortable joking around with you. “It wasn’t.” You chuckled while he groaned softly, dropping his head against the steering wheel for a second. “Great.”
You laughed, reaching for the door handle again. Before getting out, you looked back at him. “I’ll try to stop by tomorrow.” Joe looked up immediately, trying way too hard to act casual. “Cool. Cool, yeah.” You stepped out of the car, shutting the door behind you. As you walked toward your apartment building, you could still feel his eyes on you. And when you glanced back, Joe was already smiling to himself.
Days have passed, it’s Sunday, tomorrow is your birthday.
You sat up on your bed when you heard your door bell ring. You looked at the clock, it’s 6:13am, too early. You groaned as you forced yourself to stand up from bed, hair still a mess from sleeping, still wearing the cute sleep dress your brother bought you.
You walked to the door, peeping through the peephole, when you saw who it was, you opened the door. “Good morning!” a loud and excited voice greeted you. Joe. He walked inside your apartment when you stepped aside.
“What’re you doing here?” you yawned, still sleepy. “Since you want to spend your birthday alone, I figured we should celebrate in advance.” Joe said, walking to your kitchen, opening the fridge to grab a bottle of water. “I reserved a dinner at Montauk. The boys will be there too.” He said, smiling with all ears.
“Then why are you so early?” you walked to the living room, flopping yourself on the couch, grabbing a pillow to hug, curling yourself. He followed, standing near the TV. “Because Montauk is like four hours away, and you took so long to get ready.”
“I do not.” You denied. “Yes, you do. Now come on,” he nudged your feet with his knee, you groaned. “It’s too early,” you covered your face with the pillow. “We’re gonna get breakfast along the way.”
“Breakfast?” your eyes lit up, pulling away the pillow on your face. “I knew that would work. Now go on, I'm gonna wait here.” You stood up, Joe noticed your dress, “Cute dress. You look like ten years old.” You smiled a little, “I hate you.” Joe just chuckled.
You walked out of your room, makeup on, wearing a black fitted tank top underneath a sage-green knit cardigan that hung loosely off your shoulders, a pair of cream wide-leg jeans sat low on your waist with a thin brown belt, matching the leather shoulder bag resting against your side, and lastly, your adidas samba.
Joe's eyes scanned you, “You’re wearing that?” he asked. “What’s wrong with it?” you frowned. “Nothing’s wrong with it,” he said quickly, standing up from the couch. “That’s actually the problem.” He murmured the last sentence to himself, making it unable for you to hear.
For Joe, even a simple outfit makes you stand out, everything makes you beautiful. Even if you’re just wearing your sleep dress earlier, no makeup on, you’re still beautiful.
He cleared his throat, “Shall we?” he gestured to your door. You nodded, grabbing your keys on the rack, then opening the door for the both of you.
When you opened the car door, you stopped. On the passenger seat was a bouquet of flowers. Dark blue peonies. You just stared at them for a second, not saying anything. They weren’t just any flowers; they were your favorite, the kind you had mentioned once without thinking it mattered. Wrapped neatly, tied with a soft yellow ribbon, they looked beautiful.
Behind you, you heard him pause. “Okay,” he said lightly, like he was trying not to sound too obvious. “Is it too much?.” You turned slightly toward him, bouquet in your hands now, fingers brushing the petals like you were confirming they were real.
“How did you—” you started, then stopped, because you already knew the answer didn’t really matter as much as the fact that he remembered. He leaned his one hand on the car roof, watching you with a small, almost careful smile. “You mentioned it. Once. I think. I don’t know… I just—yeah.”
There was a brief silence after that, not uncomfortable, just full. Then he nodded toward the seat. “Figured it was a better way to start your birthday celebration.” You looked down at the flowers again, something warm settling in your chest despite how early it was to celebrate, it feels like it’s your birthday now.
The car slowly pulled away from your street, the houses passing by in quiet rows. Morning light was just starting to show, soft and pale through the windows. You looked down at the flowers again, turning them slightly in your hands. “They’re really pretty,” you said quietly. He glanced at you for a second before looking back at the road. “Yeah, I was hoping you’d like them,” he said. “I really love them,” you smiled as you sniffed the flowers, Joe pretended to look at his side to hide his smile.
The whole ride was you yapping about how you really want to be in a band, like playing guitar and singing along, instead of working at a record store where you sell vinyls, and albums. You love your job, you love suggesting to people what good music they will like. But it’s not your dream job.
You want to perform in front of people like your brother. You want to make your own music. You want to go around the world to express your music. But it feels impossible. Then there’s Joe who’s giving you life advice like an old man he is.
When you arrived at Montauk, it’s already 1:30pm. You both went inside the hotel Joe booked. “Why did you book a hotel? We’re just here for a day, right?” you asked when the two of you walked in the lobby. Joe was wearing sunglasses so people won’t recognize him immediately.
“Yes, but we need a place to rest first. The boys will be here at 10pm, they said they need to finish something in the studio. The restaurant I booked is twenty four hours open, so it’s no problem. Meet me here in the lobby at 6:00pm. You’re gonna love the sunset.” He gave you your room keycard as soon as he got it from the reception. “Thanks,” you smiled at him. Both of you went to your own hotel rooms.
You walked towards him when you spotted him at the hotel lobby, just wearing the tank top, and left the cardigan in your room. “Ready?” he smiled at you. The both of you walked towards the beach side. When you reached the shoreline, the sound of the waves hit you first—soft, and calming. The sky was already starting to change color, warm oranges mixing with soft pinks.
You slowed down a little, taking it in. “This is… really pretty,” you said quietly. He walked beside you, hands in his pockets. “Told you the sunset here is good.” You nodded, eyes still on the water. The sand was cool under your feet, the wind light against your face.
A few steps later, he stopped. You noticed too late. “Wait here,” he said simply. You turned to him, confused. “Why—” But he was already walking a few steps ahead. Then he was gone.
You stayed where you were, watching.
When he went back after a few minutes, you saw him holding something. A guitar case. Your heart skipped a little, but you didn’t fully understand yet. He walked toward you slowly, like he wasn’t sure how you’d react.
When he reached you, he didn’t say anything right away. He just looked at you for a second, then gave a small breath out, like he was a little nervous. “Okay,” he said. “Don’t freak out.” That made you laugh a little. “What is that?” He opened the case.
Inside was a Fender Stratocaster, carefully placed, the body reflecting light of the sun. It looked brand new, like it had never really been played yet. For a second, you couldn’t speak. “I—” you started, then stopped. He scratched the back of his neck. “I heard you talking about wanting one. When you were talking to Javi. You didn’t even say it like it was a big deal, but yeah, I remembered.”
You just stared at the guitar, then at him. “This is too much,” you finally said, shaking your head slightly, but your voice wasn’t really mad. It was overwhelming. He gave a small smile. “Maybe. But I wanted to.” The waves kept rolling behind you. The sky turned more orange as the sun started to go down. He pushed the guitar case a little closer to you. “Try it,” he said softly.
You didn’t take the guitar from him yet, instead you threw yourself at him, hugging him. “Thank you, Joe.” You pulled back and stared at him. Both of your faces are close with each other. Without warning, Joe leaned in, capturing your lips with his. He felt something in his stomach when you kissed him back.
The two of you somehow ended up in your hotel room. The guitar was left on the floor, Joe pinned you against the wall, kissing you hungrily. You tugged on his shirt, like you were saying you wanted it off. He noticed it, and pulled back briefly as he took off his shirt with you helping him. Then crashed his lips on you again.
Your hand roams around his chest, feeling his chest hair and happy trail. “Joe, I need you..” you mumbled between the kiss. He pulled the strap of your tank top, “Can I?” he asked, you nodded. Then he slowly slid off your strap, the tank top was gone, so was your bra.
He stared at your bare chest. He leaned in and trailing kisses on your neck to the middle of your chest. You arched your back. Then he locked his mouth on your nipple, “Joe..” your fingers curled on his hair.
The two of you are now in bed, he slowly undresses you with your permission. You stared at his cock when he pulled down his pants. “You’re big..” you mumbled, Joe chuckled. “Should I apologize?” he asked teasingly, “No. I wanna feel you.”
“Shit,” you heard him muttered. “Why?” He looked at you like he forgot something, and yes, he did. “I got no condom,” he scratched the back of his head. “You don’t carry one?” you asked, he laughed a little, “I don’t go around carrying condoms, darling, because I don’t sleep with just anyone.”
“Damn, that’s even hotter of you. It’s okay, just pull out when you’re about to come.” He nodded and asked, “Let’s continue?” You bit your lower lip, and smirked.
The boys had come earlier than expected. You had dinner together, sitting around a table near the windows and you could hear the sound of the ocean from outside. The whole place felt warm and lively, filled with talking, and laughter across the table.
“You seriously bought her a Stratocaster?” Javi said, looking at Joe with disbelief. Joe leaned back in his chair, trying to act casual. “What? She liked it.” Jake laughed, “You’re insane.” You looked down, smiling into your drink while Joe pointed at them, “Okay, none of you are allowed to talk. I’ve seen you guys buy stuff for others, I don’t tease you..”
“Yeah, but not guitars,” Wesley answered. The table broke into laughter again. Dinner went by easily after that. Food kept arriving, conversations overlapping, everyone talking over each other like they always did. At some point, you caught Joe looking at you from across the table. Just soft. Quiet. In love. Like he was checking if you were having a good time. And honestly, you were, and you did (earlier).