I Need You By Me (David v. Erich)
(a/n: i got this idea two weeks ago at work…finally it’s here…guys i crave interaction don’t hesitate to drop in my ask box PLEASE (okay enjoy))
David stood in front of the dining table, hands on his hips as he watched you process his request. On the table was a black-glittered jacket and a pair of yellow trunks. He watched you lean back against the chair you sat on, knuckle over your mouth. It looked as if you were trying not to laugh.
“So?” He asked, “can you do it?”
“I can,” you quickly nodded, sitting up to seem more professional. “But you’re gonna look goofy, Dave.”
David scoffed, “the fans will love it.”
“You want Texas, in rhinestones, on your butt.”
David reached for his gear, embarrassed by his artistic vision—if he could even call it that, since it was downright terrible. Not to mention he embarrassed himself in front of you, willingly. It was no secret he had a schoolboy crush on you, as Kevin would say, and it was slightly crushing that you wouldn’t think his ideas—
“Hey, hey,” you stopped David from taking his gear and walking out. Hands on his knuckles, you pried his things from him to put back on the table.
“I was teasing, okay? I think it’ll look…I think they’ll love it. I’ll do it.”
“Yeah?” David slightly grinned, still feeling the embarrassment burn through his soul. But damnit, you gave him hope.
“Yeah,” you nodded, before adding, “but this isn’t free labor.”
“No, ‘course not…” David was quick to pull out his wallet, trying to pull out a few twenties. But you stopped him again, hand reaching to grab his.
“I don’t want your money, Dave. I want a free ticket to this match. Can you do that?”
David’s heart pounded, and it almost hurt. He nodded as words got caught in his throat. Putting his wallet back into his pocket, he cleared his throat and looked down to you.
“You got it, sweetheart.”
He walked out, waving to you before he closed the door behind him. Kevin was waiting in his truck, looking directly at the house. As soon as David got in, Kevin smacked his shoulder.
“She’d do it,” David smiled, only thinking of how you agreed, “after callin’ me an idiot.”
“No, she didn’t…I felt like one, though.”
Kevin put a firm hand on David shoulder and shook him. He was proud of his brother, feeling like at least he was getting somewhere with you.
The next day, David returned around the same time. He held a bouquet of yellow roses as he knocked on your door. He was more nervous than before, afraid he’d stutter when he explained himself. Of course, he played the scenario over and over again.
When the door opened, his mind flipped over. He was good under pressure, real good. But he found it hard to keep himself together when around you.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he greeted, “could I come in?”
Eyeing the bouquet, you unlocked the screen door and held it open. David ducked as he stepped in, hat almost hitting the top of the frame. Immediately it was taken off and he set it at the coat rack. Heading to the table, he saw you were working on his black jacket. There were shapes already cut to be placed on the back, and he felt a twinge of excitement.
“It looks good.” He turned to you, reminding himself not to crush the stems of the yellow roses. “Real good.”
You smiled at him. “You think so?”
David pointed to the yellow and white fabric, “that right there? That’s the best…”
He had to squint. Shit, what is that?
“That’s Texas.” You said for him as you traced over the shape. Of course, it only clicked in his head then.
“Best damn Texas I’ve ever seen.” David complimented, eyes on you rather than the fabric. You caught his gaze, and you couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you, David.”
You sat down as David’s attention shifted onto the green stem and yellow rose which had yet to be sewn together. He had hope you hadn’t had worked on the rose yet, as he wanted an excuse to bring you flowers.
He had to quickly come up with something else.
“Who’re the flowers for?” You asked as you got back to work. David switched hands, double checking himself as to not crush them.
“You.” He answered, and was glad he sounded so causal. David dipped his head to stare down the roses. “I got them so you’d have somethin’ to look on if it got too complicated.”
“Oh,” was all you could say. David’s gaze found yours, and he realized how red your face was. “That’s really kind of you, David. Thank you.”
David handed them over, and you went off to find a vase. As he waited, he took a look at your progress so far. All the pieces were there, ready to be connected by thread. Before he could truly form a fully thought, he grabbed the yellow fabric and stuffed it in his pocket. It was a horrible thing to do, you most likely spent time trying to perfect the flower’s outline, but he could t help himself. He needed to buy time, needed a reason to visit.
To not seem too obvious, he crossed his arms.
A few moments later, you came back with the roses in a vase. Since there was no centerpiece on the table, that’s where it was placed.
“Well, I should go. I got…this thing with Kevin.” David took a step back, wanting to dash out the door. It felt wrong to take the piece you crafted. But he made up his mind, needing another excuse to come back. Even if that excuse hadn’t been thought up yet.
When he left, you soon realized the shape of the rose was missing. You looked everywhere, from the top of the table to the bottom.
At least you had a reference, now, rather than having to freestyle it.
David came back the following day, tired from training, but craving you. It was almost an itch that he needed to scratch; no matter what he did, his mind gravitated towards you.
This time, he held a small slip in his grasp. Knocking, he waited for you to answer.
“David?” You were surprised to see him again, and just before you could question why he was coming around so much, he held up the ticket. In an instant your face lit up. You came out of the house to take the slip.
“Front row, baby,” he said as you scanned over the details. When you peered up at him, he flashed you a smile. “What d’ya think?”
You hummed, trying not to completely beam at the thought of being right there, so close to the ring. Sure, there’d be plenty of cameras around, but you didn’t care at the moment. “I think you gotta let me tailor for you more.”
David chuckled as he leaned in, bracing himself against the door.
“I’d have to see how my gear looks.” He compromised, and you led him in. Taking him to your back room, the table was much more of mess than before. Little stones and stars were lined up, and he saw you had sewed the state onto his jacket. The stem was halfway on, and he saw his yellow trucks at the corner.
“Do you take breaks?” He questioned, sounding a little alarmed. Bulky rhinestones spelled TEXAS across the back of his trunks. It was better than he had imagined.
“No, yes…” You held in a laugh. A tired laugh, because it was hard to say if the time you spent away from the table could be considered breaks. “When it feels right, I do.”
David crossed his arms as he took a good look around.
“..Have you had lunch?” He asked, after deeply inhaling. “I could use a bite…I think you need one.”
At the mention of a proper meal, you couldn’t deny your hunger. A burger sounded wonderful, as did a slice of pizza. The thought was making you lose your grip on what you needed to be doing, the work you needed to finish.
Meanwhile, David was staring at you. Part of him wanted to wrap an arm around your shoulders, to pull you along and get you out of the house. The other was too nervous, too caught up in how you might react.
Damnit, he did it anyways. For the first time, he had the courage.
“C’mon,” he encouraged, leading you to the front door. “I’ll pay.”