Gif not mine! credit to original owner.
disclaimer: writings are only based off of the actor portrayals in the television series. this is not meant to disrespect the real hero’s of the war
synopsis: Joe comforts reader when she feels insecure
Request: Anon - Would you consider doing an imagine where the reader is plus sized and is feeling bad about herself and Lieb cheers her up? No problem if this isn’t your thing :)
warnings: self depreciation / rudeness and very very very slight smut at the end
taglist: @floydtab @hellitwasyoufirstsergeant @peggycarter46 @mavysnavy @ivy-miranda-2390
(Y/N) (Y/L/N) wasn’t the ideal body type of the late 1940’s and she knew it. When she waited in line at the grocery store and glanced at the women photographed, she knew she looked nothing like them. When she went to go see the new Rita Hayworth movie with Joe, she knew her body did not resemble the popular movie star of her decade. And with all of that in mind, she loved her body. She was beautiful in her own way and didn’t feel she had to change a thing about her appearance in order to be loved.
She lived a blissful life in California with her boyfriend and 2 cats and worked at the beauty salon that had been in her family for generations. Making others feel beautiful was a huge part of her job, and she loved watching her clients reactions when she turned the chair around. She wanted everyone to feel as beautiful as she did.
But with good days come bad days, and (Y/N) had her share of bad days. (Y/N) was never vocal about her insecurities with Joe, she didn’t want him to feel burdened with her own problems; he had enough on his own. But Joe was a smart man, and he always could tell something was wrong when (Y/N) didn’t greet him at the door after a long day of work.
And one normal fall day had happened to be a bad one. Grey clouds blocked sunlight from shining onto the street as (Y/N) walked the few streets over to work, leaving the buildings quite gloomy. She was running late today; her alarm hadn’t gone off and she had to feed the cats since Joe had forgotten to before work. An umbrella in one hand, a purse in the other as she pushed open the shop door with her back, alerting the other clients and workers of her arrival.
“I’m sorry” She apoligzed quickly and breathlessly to her boss as she shrugged off her coat and hung it on the coat rack. “It's been a hectic morning” She explained as she moved to her area, greeting the new client with a smile and an apology before turning her chair around to face the mirror.
After little discussion about what the client wanted and a quick introduction, this new woman's name was Audrey, small talk ensued.
“I couldn’t help but notice your pictures” Audrey motioned to the multiple framed pictures (Y/N) had of Joe and her cats. “Is that by any chance Joe Liebgott?”
(Y/N)’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she caught the young women's glance in the mirror. Joe was popular in their neighborhood because he would give free rides to drunk men he knew, but usually women wouldn’t ask about him. Taken aback by the sudden and odd question, (Y/N) nodded.. “Yeah, he's my boyfriend. We met a little while after he came back from the war. We’ve been together for a few years now.”
She watched Audrey’s reaction, surprise written all over her features. “Really?” She asked and in one quick movement, her eyes glanced at (Y/N)’s whole body in the mirror. “I dated him in highschool until a few weeks before he went overseas” (Y/N) looked down at the woman's hair and continued her work, trying to avoid her judgemental gaze. “What a small world”
(Y/N) let a small, chuckle escape her lips, trying to be polite. She nodded as she let the comb glide through the strands of Audrey’s long, wet red hair. “It really is.” (Y/N) stated conclusively, hoping the topic of her boyfriends past relationships would come to a close, but Audrey had other plans in mind.
“You know” She continued, her eyes looking up as she feigned a thoughtful, far-away look. “If you lined up all of his ex-girlfriends, we all look the same.” Her eyes fell back on (Y/N) in the mirror. “That's why I was so surprised when you said you were together, I mean, you don’t look like his type at all.” A puff of air left her lips before she spoke again. “When I saw those photos, I thought you were cousins or something.”
At this, (Y/N) said nothing. She resisted the urge to explain to this woman how much Joe loved her and how they had recently moved in together. (Y/N) was a grown woman and knew she didn’t have to justify her relationship to this stranger. But her words still stung, the shape of her slender frame sitting in her chair, and the way her green dress perfectly showcased her figure kept catching (Y/N)’s eye. She didn’t say anything the rest of the appointment.
Of course she knew Joe had had past girlfriends, she was aware he had a life before he met her. But she had never met one, never had to see what Joe found beautiful. And now that she had, she had wished she could have stayed blissfully unaware.
(Y/N) wasn’t one to let others make her feel insecure, other’s opinions didn’t dictate her beauty. But seeing Joe’s ex girlfriend made her question why Joe had chosen her, why he had stayed with her. She was down for the rest of the day, not saying much to her other clients and leaving as soon as her shift was over. When she got home, she fed the cats before going up to her and Joe’s shared room, sitting on the edge of the bed and letting all of her concerns repeat over in her head.
Too lost in her thoughts, she didn’t hear Joe come in or call for her. He always walked in and greeted the cats, waiting for (Y/N) to come out and tell him what she made for dinner and give him the kiss he had been thinking about all day. He sighed as he went upstairs, glancing into the empty bathroom before finding her in the bedroom.
“Hey honey” He said casually as he lifted his t-shirt over his head, turning his back to her as he dug through the drawers trying to find his cream sweater. “How was your day? Did you make it home before the rain? I was dropping this guy off at a bar when it started and I was worried you had to walk home in it. Stopped by the shop just in case you were still there but was empty.” He rambled, sitting next to her to put clean socks on.
“I met Audrey today.” Her voice was small as she watched his skin disappear under the white fabric.
“Audrey? Who the hell is that?” He asked as he rested his hands on his thighs, turning his head to her. He felt like he was being accused of something.
“Your ex-girlfriend Audrey” (Y/N) clarified as Joe hummed, still unsure of how to react.
“Oh! That Audrey. How’s she doing? I haven’t talked to her in years! Since ‘41 I think.”
(Y/N) clicked her tongue as Joe started rubbing her lower back, trying to be as patient as possible. “Apparently shocked that someone like you would have any interest in being with someone like me, thought we were cousins.”
“The fuck does that mean?” Joe’s harsh tone cut through the air, “I don’t even know what she could mean by that.”
“It means” (Y/N) started slowly, frustrated and upset by Joe’s obliviousness “She doesn’t think I’m pretty enough for you and that you could do much better. And judging by the way she looked, I think I have to agree with her.”
The room fell silent as Joe toyed her words around in his head. “Sweetheart.” He finally spoke softly, turning his body to face hers as he took her hands in his. “Look at me” His voice was strong yet still gentle. “Is that what you really think?”
Her eyes met his, her chest tightening at the hurt look on his face. “Yeah I- she’s not wrong Joe-”
He quickly cut her off, his hands lightly squeezing hers before he brought them up and started pressing light kisses to the soft skin. “But it's not,” He said, his words muffled against her skin as his lips moved up her arm. “You are beautiful” He mumbled in between kisses as he reached her elbow. “You are smart” He continued “Kind, funny, patient.” He paused as his lips lingered on the skin of her neck. “I’m so lucky to have you, every piece of you.” He pulled away to look at her again. “I love you and I’m happy you don’t look like Audrey, if I wanted you to look like her, I would just go back to her.” He chuckled even though he wasn’t joking. “I love your body and your hair and your smile and your eyes, hell, there isn’t one thing I don’t like about you.” His thumb softly brushed her cheek as he placed a kiss to her lips. “I want you to see yourself as I see you.”
She smiled and nodded before bringing him into another kiss, feeling like a heavy weight had been pulled off her chest.
“Let me show you how beautiful I think you are,” He said with a smirk, pushing her down on the bed.
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