pairing: jaafar jackson x reader (Y/N)
summary: in which y/n gets a phd, a little drunk and spends the night attached to her loving boyfriend, jaafar.
warnings: established relationship, fluffy drunk clinginess, mild spice, lots of affection
word count: 1,900
based on this request !
The bass from the club speakers still hummed faintly in her bones as the Uber pulled up to the quiet suburban house she shared with Jaafar. Tonight had been everything. After years of late-night thesis writing, endless simulations, conference presentations that made her voice shake and one too many all-nighters fueled by black coffee, tears and pure stubbornness, she oficially defended her PhD in Astrophysics.
Her friends had gone all out, shots for every planet in the solar system, cocktails named after famous black holes, and way too many toasts to 'Dr. Y/N, the woman who talks to the stars.' She laughed, danced and accepted every congratulatory drink like the champion she was. But somewhere between the third and fifth round, the line between 'celebrate' and 'lightly buzzed' had blurred into full on tipsy, then delightfully, gigglingly drunk.
By the time she stumbled out of the Uber, the world felt soft and sparkly around the edges. The porch light glowed warm and welcoming, just like the man waiting inside.
She fumbled with her keys for a solid thirty seconds, giggling at her own clumsiness, before finally pushing the door open. The familiar scent of home, Jaafar’s favorite vanilla candle mixed with the faint trace of his cologne, wrapped around her like a hug.
There he was.
Jaafar was sprawled on the couch in the living room, long legs stretched out, wearing a black hoodie and gray shorts, looking unfairly cozy and handsome under the glow of the TV. Some cooking competition show played quietly in the background, but his attention shifted the second the door clicked shut.
His eyes lit up, that signature smile spreading across his face as he took her in: hair a little wild, dress slightly rumpled from dancing and a tipsy smile.
'Baby,' he said, voice warm with amusement. 'There’s my brilliant astrophysicist.'
She didn’t even hesitate. The second she saw him, her heart did a full flip and her feet carried her straight across the room. He barely had time to sit up properly before she was climbing into his lap, straddling his thighs with zero grace but maximum enthusiasm.
'Jaafar,' she breathed happily, arms looping around his neck as she settled her weight against him. Her knees sank into the couch on either side of his hips and the hem of her dress rode up high on her thighs from the movement. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply. 'Hi. Hi hi hi. I missed you so much. Did you know I missed you?'
He laughed softly, the sound rumbling through his chest and straight into hers. Strong arms came around her waist instantly, steadying her. One hand slid down to rest possessively on her bare thigh, his warm palm smoothing over the skin where her dress had hiked up. The touch sent a little spark through her even in her hazy state.
'I missed you too, star girl,' he murmured, thumb tracing slow circles on her thigh. 'Sounds like the party was a success.'
'Mhmm,' she hummed, nuzzling closer. Her fingers played with the soft curls at the nape of his neck before slipping under the collar of his hoodie, seeking more skin. 'They kept buying me drinks ‘cause I’m a doctor now. A real one. I can explain dark matter and gravitational waves and…and you’re so warm. Why are you always so warm? It’s unfair.'
Jaafar’s shoulders shook with quiet laughter. His hand stayed firmly on her thigh, squeezing gently as she shifted in his lap. 'You’re drunk, baby.'
'Uh-uh, celebratory drunk,' she corrected, pulling back just enough to look at him. Their faces were inches apart. Up close, his eyes were even prettier, warm brown with those long lashes. 'There’s a difference. I earned this. And I earned coming home to the most beautiful man on the planet.'
She leaned in and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to his cheek. Then another to his jaw. Then one right on the corner of his mouth, her tongue teasing lightly against his skin. His grip on her thigh tightened, fingers digging in just enough to make her sigh happily.
'You’re ridiculous,' he murmured, but his grin was huge. He tilted his head to catch her next kiss properly, lips meeting hers in a deeper, slower press. The kiss quickly turned heated, her hands wandering under his hoodie now, palms sliding over the smooth planes of his chest and down his sides.
She broke the kiss only to trail her lips along his jaw and down to his neck, murmuring, 'Look at you…these cheekbones, these eyes…your smile should be illegal.' Her fingers touching his abs through his skin, dipping lower toward the waistband of his shorts. 'I told everyone at the party how lucky I am. They were all jealous.'
Jaafar let out a low chuckle that sounded a little rougher now, his free hand sliding up her back while the one on her thigh moved higher, slipping just under the hem of her dress. 'Alright, drunk compliments incoming. Let’s get you some water and into bed before you really start something, yeah?'
'Nooo,' she whined, tightening her arms around his neck and grinding subtly against him as she pressed closer. Her dress was practically bunched at her hips now, and his warm hand felt electric on her bare skin. 'I’m comfy right here. Your lap is the best seat in the house. Better than any fancy PhD celebration chair.'
He raised an eyebrow, still smiling, but his breathing had picked up. 'Is that so?'
'Mhm. Throne for Dr. Y/N.' She kissed him again, deeper this time, messy and needy from the alcohol, but full of pure heat and adoration. Her hands roamed freely under his hoodie, pushing it up so she could feel more of him, nails lightly scratching down his chest. He groaned softly into her mouth, his hand squeezing her thigh harder.
'Baby…' he warned playfully between kisses, but he didn’t stop her. Instead, he kissed her back just as eagerly, tongue brushing hers while his fingers continued their slow exploration along her thigh.
When she finally pulled back for air, she stayed glued to him, cupping his face with both hands. 'I love you. Like…universe-expanding levels of love. Bigger than any nebula I’ve ever studied. You’re my favorite cosmic event. And so fucking pretty it hurts.'
Jaafar giggled, actually giggled, and tried to hide it by pressing his face into her shoulder, but his hand never left her thigh. 'You’re gonna be so embarrassed tomorrow when I remind you of all this.'
'Won’t be embarrassed,' she declared confidently. 'I tell you you’re beautiful every day. Tonight I’m just…extra honest. Because look at you.' She traced his jaw with her fingertip, then leaned down to kiss his neck again, sucking lightly. 'Perfect jawline. Perfect lips. Perfect everything. How did I get so lucky?'
He caught her wandering hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her knuckles even as his other hand stayed high on her thigh, holding her in place. The gentle gesture contrasted with the heat in his eyes. 'I’m the lucky one. Coming home to my brilliant girlfriend who just earned her doctorate and still chooses to climb me like a koala.'
She gasped dramatically. 'Koala? Accurate. I’m never letting go.' To prove her point, she hugged him tighter, pressing her entire body against his and tucking her face back into his neck while her hands continued their lazy exploration under his hoodie.
Jaafar let her have her way for a few long heated minutes, kisses turning sloppy and needy, his hand stroking higher up her thigh, occasionally slipping under the fabric of her dress to tease the soft skin there. Every shift of her hips drew quiet and amused groans from him.
Eventually, though, he shifted beneath her with a sigh. 'Baby…as much as I love you using me as furniture, you need water, comfy clothes and sleep. Come on.'
She made a pitiful noise of protest but let him help her up anyway, mostly because he stood with her still wrapped around him, carrying her like she weighed nothing. Her legs locked around his waist instinctively, dress still hiked up as she kept kissing his neck and jaw the whole way to the bedroom.
'My strong, handsome boyfriend,' she cooed against his ear. 'Carrying his very accomplished, very drunk, very horny doctor girlfriend. This is peak romance.'
He was full on laughing now, the sound bright and warm despite the flush on his cheeks. 'You’re something else tonight.'
In the bedroom, he set her gently on the edge of the bed. She immediately reached for him again, grabbing the front of his hoodie and pulling him down into another deep kiss. He indulged her fully, cupping her face with both hands as he kissed her back, slow, sweet and full of quiet hunger. His hands wandered down her sides, brushing over her thighs again as he helped peel the dress the rest of the way off.
With endless patience, and a fair bit of self-restraint, he slipped one of his oversized t-shirts over her head. She kept interrupting with grabby hands and more kisses: on his shoulder, his stomach when the hoodie rode up, on his lips every time he came within reach. Her fingers kept dipping toward his waistband until he gently caught them with a chuckle.
'Alright, star girl. Water first.'
He disappeared to the kitchen for a minute and returned with a glass of water and some painkillers. She drank obediently while leaning heavily against him, her free hand still tracing patterns on his chest.
Back in bed, she didn’t give him a chance to settle on his own. The second he climbed under the covers, she was crawling into his arms, leg thrown over his hips, body pressed flush against him. Her hand slipped back under his freshly changed t-shirt, resting possessively on his bare skin.
'Best night,' she mumbled, already drifting as the exhaustion and alcohol caught up. 'Graduated…celebrated…came home to you…Perfect.'
Jaafar pressed a long kiss to the top of her head, fingers threading gently through her hair while his other hand settled back on her thigh under the shirt. 'Wouldn’t trade it for anything. Sleep now. I’ve got you.'
She smiled against his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat and the warmth of his hand lulling her under. Even in her drunk, clingy, handsy haze, one thing was crystal clear: no achievement, no party, no cosmic wonder could ever compare to this, coming home to Jaafar and all the love that waited for you here.
Jaafar has it all…a thriving career and a stable 10 years relationship with his fiancée, Maddie. But what’s really happening behind closed doors?
Jaafar Jackson x reader ft Maddie.
The fight started over something stupid, at least that’s what Jaafar thought when Maddie’s name flashed across his phone for the third time in less than twenty minutes.
The device buzzed against the counter infront of him.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
His friend sitting across from him glanced at the screen and smirked. “Damn.”
Jaafar sighed. “Don’t.”
“You’ve been getting those every five minutes.”
“I know.”
The phone started vibrating again, his friend lifted both hands. “I’m not saying anything.”
“Good.”
“She’s gonna kill you though.”
Jaafar grabbed the phone before it could ring a fourth time and answered.
“Hey.”
“Where are you?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I’m with my friends.”
“You said you’d be home a while ago.”
“I know.”
“So why aren’t you?”
His jaw tightened slightly. “Maddie, I’m twenty minutes late.”
“Twenty-five.”
He stared at the ceiling. “Seriously?”
“I’m asking a question.”
“No, you’re not.”
Silence filled the call, the kind that made him instantly regret answering.
“I’ll be home soon.”
“Fine.”
The line went dead, Jaafar stared at the phone which made his friend raised an eyebrow.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah.”
It came out automatically, the same answer he’d been giving everyone for months.
Twenty-five minutes later he walked through the front door and immediately knew things weren’t fine.
Maddie was sitting on the couch staring at the television which wasn’t on, the second the door clicked shut behind him she looked up.
“There he is.”
Jaafar dropped his keys onto the table. “Maddie.”
“You know what?”
She laughed once with a bitter tone. “Fame really changed you.”
“There it is.”
“There what is?”
“That thing you do.”
“What thing?”
He shrugged off his jacket. “The thing where everything becomes a bigger deal than it needs to be.”
Her expression hardened immediately. “Jaafar?.”
“No seriously.”
“No. Seriously. what?”
“You’ve been acting like my manager since the biopic came out.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
Maddie stood. “Making sure my fiancé gets home safely is being a manager now?”
“Tracking where I am every hour isn’t normal.”
“I worry about you.”
“You don’t trust me.”
The words landed harder than he expected, because part of him knew they were true.
Maddie stared at him, hurt flashing across her face. “After ten years together you think I don’t trust you?”
Jaafar dragged a hand through his hair. “I think you’ve forgotten I’m still my own person.”
“Oh, that’s rich.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means ever since the movie happened you’ve been acting weird.”
His chest tightened, because she wasn’t entirely wrong either.
“YOU are the one acting as if am slipping away and trapping me.”
Maddie’s face fell, “You don’t really mean that.”
The room went quiet and Jaafar looked away first.
Because he did mean it, trapped by everything.
The wedding plans. The expectations. The future everyone else seemed excited about. The feeling that he was walking down a road he no longer wanted but didn’t know how to leave.
“I’m tired, Maddie.” Her expression softened slightly.
“What does that mean?” The question should’ve been easy.
Instead it felt impossible. How do you explain something you’ve spent years trying not to think about? How do you tell somebody that the love never disappeared…
But the eagerness, the spark and the excitement that made two people more than a habit, more than a routine….no longer exist.
“It means I’m tired.”
Her eyes watered. “THEN GO.”
The words came out sharper than she intended, he saw the regret immediately but something inside him snapped anyway.
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
He grabbed his keys and turned around walking out before either of them could say something worse.
The drive felt endless, every red light, every thought irritated him.
His hands tightened around the steering wheel, chest feeling heavy like something was sitting on it.
By the time he reached the beach the sky was still dark, the parking lot nearly empty.
Good. Exactly what he wanted. Nobody.
The ocean stretched endlessly in front of him.
Black water. White waves. Cold wind. Silence.
He sat down in the sand and stared at the horizon, for a while he didn’t think about anything.
Then unfortunately he started thinking about everything.
Maddie. The wedding. The fight. The fact that he couldn’t remember the last time he’d genuinely looked forward to going home.
Hours passed and he lost track deeply in his thoughts.
The sky slowly began turning shades of gold and pink, the world waking up around him and for the first time all night his chest didn’t feel quite as tight.
Then something golden sprinted past him at alarming speed which made Jaafar blink, the golden retriever nearly knocked over a beach chair before launching itself toward the water.
“Oh no.”
A voice echoed across the shore.
“MOON!”
Jaafar turned.
A woman was running after the dog and failing miserably. “MOON, GET BACK HERE!”
The golden retriever completely ignored her, Jaafar watched as she pointed dramatically at the dog.
“If you go into that water—”
The dog immediately jumped into the water which made her sigh with a small smile throwing both hands into the air.
“Oh, you little—”
The dog resurfaced looking incredibly pleased with himself.
Jaafar laughed, the sound escaped before he could stop it.
The woman whipped around, immediately pointing at him. “You.”
He blinked. “Me?”
“Did you encourage him?”
“I don’t even know him.”
“He’s very influenced by strangers laughing.”
“That sounds made up.”
“It’s not.”
The dog suddenly came charging back toward shore straight at her, she took one look at him and screamed.
“Moon don’t you dare—”
Too late.
Moon shook seawater absolutely everywhere making her yelp and jump backward.
The dog looked thrilled which made Jaafar laugh harder and to his surprise she started laughing too, like she physically couldn’t help it.
For some reason he couldn’t stop smiling, the whole thing was ridiculous.
A few minutes later the dog wandered over and dropped himself beside Jaafar like they’d been friends for years.
The woman stopped in front of them, looked at the dog then looked at Jaafar.
Then sighed dramatically. “Traitor.”
Jaafar scratched behind Moon’s ears and the dog’s tail immediately started thumping.
“What’s his name?”
“Moon.”
“Moon?”
“He was named by a five-year-old.”
“That explains a lot.”
She laughed and took a seat nearby. Moon immediately curled up beside Jaafar too completely at ease. If his mom was sitting down, then surely everything was safe.
The dog practically melted into the sand, completely relaxed, a clear sign that he felt safe around a man he had only just met, something that had never happened before.
“Unbelievable.” She sighed with a small smile.
Jaafar scratched behind the dog’s ears. “What?”
“He never likes anybody.”
Moon rolled onto his back, Jaafar looked down.
“That seems unlikely.”
“I’m serious.”
“He looks pretty committed.”
“Traitor.”
The dog thumped his tail.
She pointed at him.
“Don’t encourage him.”
“I haven’t done anything.”
“Existing apparently counts.”
For a moment they just watched the ocean and the sunrise , the wind blowing across the shore.
and……Moon trying to eat a stick?
“You should stop him.” Jaafar mumbled with a smile.
“Hm?”
“The stick.”
Jaafar frowned because…Moon was infact absolutely trying to swallow a stick.
“Moon.”
The dog ignored him.
“Moon.”
She smiled.
“See?”
“He’s stubborn.”
“Yes, an idiot.”
Moon continued chewing proudly which made them both laughed.
“So.”
She turned slightly toward him. “What do you do?”
Jaafar hesitated. “I act.”
She nodded immediately. “Ah.”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
“No, it definitely means something.”
She looked out at the water. “It means you’re one of those people.”
“What people?”
“ ‘I’m an actor.’ ” She made dramatic air quotes.
“ ‘Currently attached to a very exciting project.’ ” Another air quote. “ ‘Can’t talk about it yet.’ ”
Jaafar stared at her.
She continued. “ ‘Festival circuit.’ ”
He laughed, “You’ve met somebody like this?”
“Oh pfftt, too many.”
“That’s very specific.”
“It comes from experience.”
“What if I’m actually an actor tho?”
She squinted suspiciously.
“Then prove it.”
“How?”
“Act.”
Jaafar laughed again. “That’s not how acting works.”
“Sounds fake.”
“You’re impossible.” he said stopping his smile.
“Thank you.”
The conversation should’ve ended there, instead it kept going.
At some point she asked where he grew up, then somehow they ended up arguing about whether cereal comes first or milk…
For the first time all week, Jaafar forgot to check the time, forgot about his phone, Maddie, everything.
Eventually she looked at him, really looked at him and her smile faded slightly. “Okay.”
“What?”
“Serious question.”
His stomach sank..
“Why did you look like somebody just informed you the world is ending?”
The laugh escaped him before he could stop it. “That’s dramatic.”
“Is it wrong?”
He opened his mouth, then closed it. Because she wasn’t wrong not even a little.
The wind picked up around them, Moon dropped his head onto Jaafar’s leg and for some reason that made it easier to answer.
“I had a bad night...”
“Yeah.” She nodded for him to continue, “I figured.”
The thing was…She didn’t immediately ask for details, she didn’t pry or push either.
She just waited and somehow that made him want to tell her.
“I got into a fight.”
“With who?”
“My fiancée.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“That kind of bad night.”
Jaafar laughed quietly, “That kind.”
She nodded then waited again, no advice or judgment, just space.
And before he realized what he was doing…He started talking about the wedding, the pressure, about how everyone kept telling him how lucky he was and how guilty that made him feel.
Because he was lucky, Maddie was a good person, they been together for 10 whole years and somehow that made everything harder.
“She’s not a bad person.”
“I didn’t think she was.”
“I mean it.”
“I know.”
Jaafar looked down at the sand.
“She’s been with me through everything.” She listened quietly.
“The worst years.”
A nod.
“The lonely years.”
Another nod.
“The years nobody cared who I was.” And she was still listening.
“And now I feel…” He stopped, the words catching somewhere in his throat.
“Feel what?”
He stared at the ocean, “Exhausted.”
The answer sounded pathetic out loud but it was true.
“I wake up tired.”
“I go to sleep tired.”
“I’m planning a wedding I’m supposed to be excited about.”
“And every time somebody asks me if I’m happy…”
He laughed bitterly, “I don’t even know how to answer.”
For a long moment she didn’t say anything, the waves rolled in then back out was the only soundtrack around them.
Moon snored softly beside them asleep.
Finally she spoke. “That sounds lonely.”
Just that. Three words.
Not:
“You should leave.”
Or:
“You should stay.”
“Maybe you’re wrong.”
And somehow… It hit harder than anything anyone had said to him in months because for the first time in a very long time, he felt like somebody is actually hearing him.
When Jaafar finally got home, the house was quiet, the living room light was still on.
Maddie had fallen asleep on the couch.
A blanket half covering her while the television playing softly in the background.
For a moment he just stood there looking at her.
Ten years.
Ten years of memories sitting right there in front of him, the first apartment, the first vacations, the first “I love you.” , the proposal. the life they’d built together.
And yet…Looking at her now felt different.
Because he didn’t know if he loved her the same anymore and the thought made him sick.
So he pushed it away and went upstairs, telling himself things would feel better in the morning.
They didn’t.
The next day felt wrong, everything was wrong…At breakfast Maddie asked if he wanted coffee.
He said yes.
She handed him a mug.
He thanked her.
She nodded.
And suddenly it hit him, that this was the entire conversation.
At one point she sat beside him on the couch, her shoulder touched his.
A year ago he would’ve wrapped an arm around her automatically. Now he just…Sat there aware of the distance.
Even though there wasn’t any, the realization scared him because he wasn’t forcing himself not to touch her…He simply didn’t think about it.
Five days passed.
They tried talking alot and nothing hanged.
One night Maddie showed him wedding venues on her laptop, she looked excited..or maybe she was trying to be.
“What do you think about this one?”
Jaafar looked.
A beautiful venue. Flowers. Lights. Everything perfect.
“It’s nice.”
Maddie stared at him.
“That’s all?”
“What?”
“‘It’s nice’?”
He rubbed his face.
“I’m tired.”
“You keep saying that.”
The words hung in the room. “You’ve been saying that for months.”
Jaafar looked down because she wasn’t wrong.
Maddie’s voice softened, painfully soft. “Do you even want this anymore?”
His chest tightened and the question sat between them.
But he couldn’t answer, not because he didn’t know.
Because he did.
And saying it out loud would make it real.
Then he watched the understanding settle over her face, the heartbreak, and somehow that hurt more than any fight they’d ever had.
That night he barely slept, at 4:30 A.M. he gave up trying to sleep.
Got dressed, grabbed his keys and left.
By 5:00 A.M. he was sitting on the same stretch of beach. The exact same spot.
The sunrise painted the water gold as Jaafar stared at the waves, trying not to think about why he came.
Trying not to think about her.
Or Moon.
Or how light he’d felt sitting there talking to a complete stranger.
5:15 A.M.
Nothing.
5:30 A.M.
Nothing.
5:45 A.M.
Nothing.
The beach slowly became busier, Joggers, Dog walkers and Surfers, no Moon and ridiculous owner chasing after him.
Jaafar laughed quietly at himself, of course they weren’t coming.
He’d convinced himself this was normal, coming back to a beach because maybe there was a chance he’d see somebody he’d met once.
By 6:00 A.M. he finally gave up.
He leaned back on his hands and looked toward the ocean.
Then—
BARK.
His head snapped up, another bark..and suddenly the familiar golden retriever was racing across the sand at full speed straight toward him.
“No way.”
Moon launched himself into Jaafar’s chest, nearly knocking him over and Jaafar bursted out laughing.
Somewhere down the beach he heard a voice.
“MOON!”
His stomach immediately flipped.
“Moon, where are you going?!”
He looked up and there she was, running after the dog, and his stomach flipped again.
Just like the first day.
Then she spotted him, and her steps slowed as realization hit her on why Moon was running that way.
“Oh.”
A grin spread across her face. “It’s you.”
Moon barked proudly, like he’d personally arranged the reunion.
And for the first time all week…Jaafar felt that weight lift from his chest again
cw: fluff, established relationship, makeout, just v cutesy
this was meant to be something short while i finished my other fics but i got a bit carried away</3
you glanced at the clock hanging above the mirrors before letting your head fall back against the wall.
12:42 a.m.
the numbers felt ridiculous.
when jaafar had promised he was only staying for another hour, it had still been yesterday. now the city outside the studio windows was mostly dark, the buildings across the street reduced to scattered squares of light. somewhere below, a lone car passed through the intersection before disappearing from view.
the music started again.
you didn't bother looking up right away.
you already knew what you'd see.
jaafar moved through the same section he'd been working on for most of the night, his reflection following him across the mirrored wall. every now and then, he'd stop to watch the playback on his phone before trying again. you couldn't see what he was seeing. to you, it had looked good hours ago.
jaafar strongly disagreed.
a fond smile pulled at your mouth as you watched him pause halfway through the choreography and mutter something to himself.
his white shirt had long since lost the battle against rehearsal. the fabric clung damply to his skin, and a few curls had fallen loose across his forehead.
drawing your knees up to your chest, you rested your chin on your folded arms, content to watch him from across the room.
the track looped back to the beginning. jaafar moved easily with it, already counting under his breath before the choreography fully began. his feet seemed to know where to go before he even thought about it. every movement flowed naturally into the next, sharp one second and smooth the next.
you weren't a dancer. half the time you couldn't tell what he was trying to fix. but you liked watching him anyway.
maybe it was the way he got so focused that he forgot about everything else around him. maybe it was the little habits you'd learned by heart after sitting through enough rehearsals.
the way he'd bite the inside of his cheek when he was concentrating, or the way his hand would automatically push his curls back whenever they fell into his eyes.
or maybe you just liked looking at him.
across the room, jaafar spun before coming to a stop, shaking his head at himself almost instantly.
you smiled.
he was cute when he got like this.
instead of reaching for his phone again, jaafar lingered where he was, clearly debating whether he could get away with checking it one more time.
you tilted your head. "i think you've earned a break."
a breathless laugh escaped him. "have i?" he asked, tilting his head back at you with his hands resting on his hips.
“yes. my feet are hurting just watching you dance for this long.”
he laughed, the sound softer this time, but his gaze still flickered toward his phone before returning to you.
“don’t even think about it,” you warned playfully.
his mouth twitched into a grin. holding both hands up in surrender, he finally made his way over to your corner of the room.
“you know what?” he said. “i could go for a snack.”
he crouched down in front of you, reaching for your hand. you placed it in his without hesitation. his hands were warm against yours from dancing, his thumbs drifting lazily over the back of your hand as he looked at you.
you tried very hard to ignore the flutter in your chest.
“we could go down to the vending machines and pick something out,” you offered.
“there’s a convenience store just down the street, baby. these vending machines aren’t gonna cut it,” he said with a dramatic sigh.
you laughed.
“i like the way you think.”
“also, fresh air,” he added.
jaafar stood up, keeping his hands locked with yours as he effortlessly pulled you up after him.
“best decision you’ve made all day,” you teased.
he rolled his eyes, smiling as he reached for his sweater and pulled it on.
the last of spring lingered in the air, cool enough to feel against your skin but softened by the promise of summer. jaafar walked beside you with his hand locked in yours, your fingers laced together as he lightly swung your joined hands between you.
the streetlights cast soft pools of gold across the quiet sidewalk.
you couldn't help looking at him.
maybe it was the lighting, or maybe it was just him, but the glow from the lamps caught along the sharp edges of his features, softening some parts of him while making others stand out even more.
either way, he looked so handsome.
he caught you staring after a minute of walking in deep thought. you flashed him with a grin, which he returned.
“take a picture, it’ll last longer,” he teased, sounding entirely too pleased with himself.
you laughed despite the painfully lame joke.
“okay,” you said cheerfully.
the sudden agreement caught him off guard.
before he could question it, you slipped your hand from his and stepped behind him, reaching up. you grasped his shoulders and gave him a small tug to make him stop walking.
jaafar caught on quickly, crouching without a word.
the moment you hopped onto his back, his hands settled beneath your thighs to steady you. you wrapped one arm securely around his shoulders while using the other to dig your phone out of your pocket.
opening the camera app, you stretched your arm out in front of you. jaafar leaned in beside you, the two of you flashing the cheesiest, most ridiculous smiles you could manage at the screen
the automatic flash went off without warning.
jaafar squeezed his eyes shut as the camera snapped the picture.
you pulled the phone back to look at the result and immediately burst into giggles, turning the screen so he could see.
you looked fine– a wide grin stretched across your face, your eyes squinting slightly from smiling too hard.
jaafar, on the other hand, looked ridiculous.
his eyes were squeezed shut from the flash, his eyebrows halfway up his forehead, and a dopey grin stretched across his face that somehow matched your own.
“delete that,” he said through a laugh, letting go of one of your thighs to make a grab for your phone.
you saw it coming and pulled it out of reach before he could get anywhere near it, quickly tucking it back into your pocket.
“baby!” he laughed.
“nope. that’s officially my new favourite picture of us.”
“i’m deleting that when you fall asleep tonight.”
“you better not,” you said, lightly whacking his arm.
as the glowing neon sign of the convenience store finally came into view, you shifted on his back, preparing to hop down so you could walk inside normally.
instead, jaafar's grip only tightened around your legs. you turned your head to look at him with a confused expression, which he completely ignored.
“put me down,” you laughed.
“nope.”
a mischievous spark flashed through his eyes before he turned his head and pressed a quick kiss to your lips. he bounced you slightly on his back as he adjusted his grip.
“jaafar, seriously. we're going inside,” you whisper-shouted, already fighting a laugh as you buried your face against the side of his neck. his cologne had faded a little over the course of the night, softened now by hours of dancing.
“i know," he replied, his voice rumbling low against your chest.
he pushed open the glass door with his shoulder, the bell above it letting out a cheerful ding that seemed far too energetic for nearly one in the morning.
inside, the store was bathed in that familiar, unforgivingly bright fluorescent lighting.
the cashier behind the counter barely glanced up with a bored look before returning to whatever was on his phone.
“see? no one cares," jaafar murmured, though he was grinning so wide his cheeks were practically pressing into yours.
“you're ridiculous," you giggled, burying your face in jaafar’s shoulder as he carried you straight toward the candy aisle. your feet swung idly with each step.
he stopped in front of the shelves and immediately reached for a bright yellow bag.
reaching out with one hand while keeping a steady grip on your thigh with the other, he snagged a bag of sour patch kids and shook them right next to your ear so the sugar rattled inside.
“the best part of the night, right here," he said, a genuine, boyish grin pulling at his lips.
“you're going to burn a hole in your stomach eating those this late," you joked, leaning over his shoulder to scan the rows. your fingers wrapped around the packaging of your own absolute favorite snack, pulling it down.
“the sour wakes me up," he argued, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "what's your excuse?"
“i don't need an excuse. i'm just keeping you company,” you countered, nudging his cheek with your own.
jaafar let out another one of his breathless laughs. he turned around on his heel, keeping you securely on his back as he walked the few steps over to the drink cooler to grab a couple of bottles to wash down the sugar.
the cashier scanned everything with the same bored rhythm he’d had since you’d walked in, the register beeping softly in the quiet store.
“reach into my pocket,” jaafar said, tilting his head back slightly. “my wallet's in there.”
you nodded as you leaned down to slide your hand into his pocket, pulling out his wallet.
as the cashier muttered the total, you flipped it open, found his card, and tapped it against the reader for him. the machine chimed as you slipped the wallet back into your own pocket for safekeeping.
“teamwork,” you whispered in his ear.
his smile widened at that as he leaned forward just enough for you to grab the snacks from the counter before turning back toward the door.
as soon as the glass door swung open and the cool, crisp night air hit you again, jaafar finally let you slide down his back, your sneakers hitting the pavement.
you felt a sudden wave of peaceful contentment wash over you. the city was so quiet, like the dark streets belonged entirely to the two of you.
jaafar didn't even wait to get back to the studio.
before you had even walked ten steps from the storefront, you heard the sharp tear of plastic.
he reached into the bag, his long fingers pulling out a red sour patch kid.
instead of eating it himself, he held it up to your lips.
“first one’s yours,” he said softly, nudging it towards your mouth.
you smiled and leaned forward, taking the candy from his fingers. the familiar sweet-and-sour flavor burst across your tongue as you chewed.
jaafar watched you for a second, a quiet, satisfied chuckle escaping him when you gave him an approving nod.
only then did he grab a couple for himself.
“good, right?" he murmured.
you nodded.
he shoved the candy bag into his jacket pocket and slipped his fingers back into yours, lacing them together.
he slowed his pace to match yours perfectly, lifting your joined hands just enough to press a soft, lingering kiss to the back of your knuckles.
by the time you made it back to the studio, the midnight chill was easily forgotten.
jaafar pushed the heavy door open, and the quiet warmth of the building welcomed you both back inside.
the music from earlier was still paused on his phone, the empty floor and the wall of mirrors exactly as you had left them.
instead of heading back to your corner by the wall, jaafar tugged gently on your hand, pulling you right into the center of the room.
“c’mere,” he said, a mischievous grin playing on his lips as he reached over to hit play on his phone.
“jaafar, no, I told you I'm not a dancer," you laughed, trying to pull back, but he didn't let you get far.
“doesn't matter. just follow me," he murmured.
the music started up again, a smooth, slow rhythm filling the empty space.
jaafar wrapped one arm securely around your waist, pulling you flush against him, while his other hand kept yours held high. he started to move, guiding you through a relaxed, effortless sway that had absolutely nothing to do with the sharp, intense choreography he’d been stressing over all night.
much to your surprise, it actually went okay. jaafar steered you with a gentle pressure at your waist, guiding you in wherever you needed to go next.
“see? you're doing great," he teased, spinning you out under his arm before pulling you right back into his space.
"okay, this isn't that ba– shit!"
the words barely left your mouth before jaafar dipped you, arm locked around your waist to keep you from falling.
your grip on him locked around him until he pulled you upright again, nearly stepping on your own feet.
"jaafar!"
his laugh echoed through the empty studio as he pulled you securely against him.
“i hate you.”
“no, you don’t,” he countered, his voice full of amusement.
“i do. my life flashed before my eyes,” you complained, though the grin stretching across your face completely ruined any attempt at sounding serious.
you rested your hands on his shoulders, your heart thumping a little faster.
partly from the sudden dip.
partly from how incredibly close he was holding you.
“i had you the whole time. I'd never let you fall," he murmured. the playful edge in his voice softened just a bit, his thumbs tracing quiet, comforting circles through the fabric of your shirt.
the music around you began to fade out, the last notes drifting through the studio before disappearing altogether.
silence settled over the room, but neither of you moved.
the playful banter trailed off into a quiet, breathless smile as jaafar looked down at you. the studio lights caught the damp curls falling across his forehead, casting a warm glow over the sharp angles of his face. his gaze drifted down to your lips before rising back to your eyes, a sudden, heavy tenderness settling between you.
“i love you,” he whispered.
before you could even respond, he leaned down and closed the small distance between you.
the kiss was soft at first, a gentle, lingering pressure that tasted faintly of the sweet candy you’d just shared. a quiet sigh escaped you, your eyes fluttering shut as you melted into him. jaafar’s grip on your waist tightened, pulling you a fraction closer as the kiss deepened. his lips were incredibly soft, moving against yours with a slow, deliberate sweetness that made your head spin.
one of his hands slid up from your waist, his long fingers trailing up your spine before tangling gently in the hair at the nape of your neck, holding you close.
the kiss was soft, slow, entirely unhurried, and full of quiet affection that left you completely breathless.
every time he pulled back just an inch, his lips would brush yours again, as if he couldn't quite bring himself to fully break the contact.
when he finally did let you catch your breath, he rested his forehead against yours, his warm breath fanning across your cheek as his thumb gently traced your jawline.
“thanks for staying up with me," he said, his voice dropping into that quiet, intimate register that always made your heart do a dangerous little flip.
"even if you are keeping that blackmail photo."
a quiet laugh slipped out of you.
“oh, it's never leaving my phone," you smiled, your voice a little breathy as you leaned into his touch.
───୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ───
he'd sooooo put that pic as his wallpaper later
this is lowk unedited so if u see any mistakes pls pretend u don't
germansingergirl
kaledo-art
origamiaround
romaincrisis
yousharknotpass
