you knock once. twice and the last one as you fix the tupper in your hands.
there's the familiar pause on the other side of the door —long enough to make you wonder if he’s even home— and then the soft creak of hinges.
he peers out. his sharp eyes sweep over you first, then the container in your hands. he doesn't say anything right away, but you can tell he's calculating how to refuse it without being rude.
you smile anyway. "hey. i made too much again."
his brow creases. "you always make too much."
"that's not true," you lie easily. "you just eat too little."
he exhales through his nose, that almost-laugh that isn't quite a laugh. "you know, you don't have to keep doing this."
"i know." you hold the dish out a little further. "but i want to."
for a moment, you think he will tell you to go away, but after a few seconds, he mutters under his breath a low "...fine" and takes the dish from you. his fingers brush yours by accident; they're cold from being inside too long.
you glance past him— the hallway is dim, a picture on the small table with a phone and your number pinned in the wall. you always wonder about the woman in the picture, but you never ask.
"smells like… stew?" he says, setting the dish on a side table near the door.
"yeah. and actual vegetables this time," you tease. "don't act like you weren’t just surviving on coffee again."
he sighs, caught. "coffee's efficient."
"so is nutrition," you shoot back, grinning.
there's a beat of silence. the air between you isn't uncomfortable exactly. just quiet, full of things neither of you say. he looks at you like he's trying to understand why you keep showing up.
finally, he murmurs, "you don't have to worry about me."
"i'm not worrying," you say softly. "i'm just making sure you eat before you forget how to use a fork."
that earns the tiniest quirk of his lips. not quite a smile, but close.
"see you tomorrow?" you ask.
he hesitates —always does— then nods once. "...yeah. tomorrow."
you step off the porch into the cool evening. behind you, the door clicks shut again, but this time it doesn't sound as final.
inside, he stares at the dish for a long moment before opening it. the warmth of it fills the empty kitchen. he mutters, almost to himself, "they really do make too much…"
but he eats every bite.
a/n: i found cute that another neighbor worried about him. i have another request for him, so that will be part 2 of this!
wondering in addition to the nsfw alphabets you alao did sfw alphabets..👀👀 if so i yearn for a protagonist one
Homeowner's SFW Alphabet
Me? Doing SFW Alphabets for my favourite blorbo? It's more likely than you think!
Have a small, fluffy break!
Also, we've almost hit 100 followers, how should we celebrate?
Original template by @/vividly-vermillion!
cw: none
pairing: homeowner x gn!reader
wc: 1.75k
A | Affection: How do they show love? Are they touchy, verbal, or more subtle?
He really craves affection and connection, but given his self-imposed isolation and general attitude, you'll have to pick up the subtle hints he gives you (fingers lightly brushing your hand as he walks by, the way he always hovers next to you when he has the time, etc...) and put him out of his misery.
He's a real cuddler once he gets the memo that he can actually touch you, as words often fail him and lack the intensity he wants to convey.
B | Butterflies: How did they behave around their partner when they first fell in love? How did they confess their feelings?
He is a nervous wreck and definitely wants to bury himself 6ft under everytime he feels like he's done/said something embarassing, however his stern face doesn't really let his emotions shine through, so he'll just look extremely pissed off.
It's likely that he'll confess by accident by making a very mushy and out of character comment like "I wish we could always be this close" or "You're the only one that calms me down" and you'll have to be quick in saying you reciprocate otherwise he'll just shut down for a few hours.
C | Cuddles: Do they like to cuddle? How do they hold their partner / like to be held?
He really enjoys cuddle time with you after a tiresome day dealing with guests, pests (read: Pale Visitor) and FEMA.
He loves to flop down on you and lay his head on your chest. He's kinda like a cat so please ensure that you've done everything you had to do before letting him crash on you.
D | Domestic: What is Domestic life with them like? Do they take over chores?
You'll end up splitting chores fairly evenly but, regardless of who's stronger, he'll take it upon himself to do the most taxing ones.
E | Ending: How would they break up with their partner?
He'd sit them down and have a frank conversation. He doesn't want to waste anyone's time or leave someone wondering what they did/didn't do wrong.
F | Flaws: How do they handle their own / their partners flaws?
He does his best to get better at communicating, especially since his wife left him due to the emotional wall he put up between himself and the rest of the world.
He isn't always perfect and for some flaws of his you'll have to be patient and tell him twice or thrice for the change to actually stick, but please, always keep in mind that he's trying.
G | Gestures: How do they express their love? What are their Love languages?
He's a physical touch and acts of service man (when giving) and a physical touch, words of affirmation man (receiving).
H | Honesty: How honest are they with their partner - even when it's hard?
He'll always be honest with you, he's like that after all, and he'll try to mellow down his sometimes too-straightforward attitude when delivering hard truths.
I | I love you: Who said it first? How often do they say it? Do they show it without words?
It depends on whether you're someone quick to admit it, but if you don't say it first he'll likely say it during a situation where he's most vulnerable (cuddling after a particular bad day/having sex).
J | Jealousy: Do they get jealous? How do they handle insecurity or attention?
He tries not to show it because he desperately doesn't want you to walk on eggshells around him, but he's bound to get jealous if you're close to people you haven't introduced him to.
He already doesn't feel worthy enough to be with you so he'll subconsciously see other people as a threat, but again, he just shoves it deep down and does his best not to let it ruin your day.
It'd be best for you to let him know early on about friends, family and close friends so that he can feel secure instead of lost at the first run in with them.
K | Kindness: How do they show tenderness and care, especially on hard days?
He stays by your side the entire time.
Tender isn't his middle name, but you'll notice the way his thumb rubs your hand in a soothing way while he holds it, how he always brings you water and snacks of he sees you haven't gotten any and how he willingly shares his cigarettes and beers with you if you drink or smoke.
L | Loyalty: Are they loyal? What does loyalty for them look like?
He's very loyal and he shows it by silently doing whatever he can to ease your life and lift you up, never abandoning you in a moment of need. You might not notice at first but trust me, you'd feel the absence of his care.
M | Milestones: What are meaningful “firsts” to them? Or are there any meaningful moments they got to share with their partner?
It might sound very "school-boyish" of him but the first kiss on the cheek and the first time he got to hold your hand are burned in his memory.
N | Nicknames: Do they call their partner petnames? What Nicknames (petnames) do they give their partner?
He'll give you a Russian styled nickname, he's not that fond of petnames... however for spicier activities you're going to be called "sugar", because you are and taste sweet.
O | Open: How open are they with their partner? Do they share everything with them or are they more reserved?
It will take him a lot of time to fully open up, the only way you can manage to speed the process up is if you meet/enter a relationship during the cataclysm. The tension and uncertainty will help him loosen up on that front.
P | Protection: How protective are they? How do they protect their partner / would like to be protected?
He is very protective of you.
He would've been even without considering his trauma, but the emotional baggage he carries definitely heightens the aspect.
He'll shoot anyone who poses a threat to your safety, even if you were turned into a visitor.
Q | Quiet moments: How are they during quiet moments with their partner? Is it a peaceful silence or do they make it awkward somehow?
Very peaceful silence. You'll hear his deep breaths, the way he sighs as he shuffles closer to you, and how his body relaxes for once.
R | Romance: How do they keep the Romance alive in the relationship? Big gestures or small surprises?
He surprises you with small gestures.
He'll drop a brand new flip phone in your lap after he went grocery shopping because he noticed the scracthes on your old one who saw the cataclysm with you and pull out a matching one.
He'll try to cook that dish you like at the restaurant, all while you're at work so that you'll be unaware until he finally gets it right and cooks it for you. (You'll notice the hastily scrubbed dishes in the sink when you come home from work and the fact that the local strays are gathered in the garden eating something)
He'll make you feel seen in the smallest of ways.
S | Smooches: What are they kisses like? Where do they kiss their partner? Where do they like to be kissed?
He likes being kissed on the forehead and on the cheek, it makes him feel loved.
You'll get kissed everywhere even when it's just pecks but (☝️) he loves kissing your lips, they're just so soft and dreamy and-
T | Trust: How do they build trust in the relationship? How important is it to them?
He needs to trust you before he can let himself go. He doesn't need to wait years to trust you, but he needs to perceive you as someone that can be trusted.
You could also be a guest that he let in yesterday but if you prove yourself reliable (both by vibes and by actions) it will matter just as much as knowing you for months.
U | Unwinding: How do they like to relax with their partner? How can their partner help them relax after a hard day?
He just needs to bury his face in the crook of your neck as you're "trapped" underneath him and breathe in your scent. That's all it takes for him to unwind.
V | Vision: What is their vision of their shared future? Will they two buy a house and grow old together?
He just wants a tranquil life with you, hopefully a bit far from the city, but as long as you're together he'd squeeze himself into a tiny apartment surrounded by noisy neighbors if it means being happy together.
W | Wholesome habits: What habits did they pick up from you? What habits did you pick up from them?
His witty comebacks will definitely rub off on you a bit, creeping up when you least expect it, either with him or friends (he feels proud of it), what he'll pick up on you depends entirely on your personality.
X | eXes: Do they talk about their past relationships? How do they handle the knowledge of their partners' exes?
He won't talk about his ex wife unless you bring it up or he feels it's time for you to know the entire story.
He doesn't care about your past, unless your ex is still in your close circle (in that case he'll need to see for himself that there's absolutely no trace of leftover feelings on their part, otherwise he'll ask you to distance yourself from them).
Y | Yearning: Who misses the other the most? Can they be away from their partner for long?
Pretends it's fine if you have to go on a work trip but he'll spend his time yearning and suffering like you went to war. He'll deny it until his last breath but he'll sleep clutching your picture when you're not with him 😔.
Z | Zzz: What are their sleep habits like as a couple? Do they cuddle, sprawl, fall asleep mid-conversation?
Besides when he has his occasional night terrors (less frequent now that you're here) he'll turn around just to find the perfect position to score as much skin to skin contact as he possibly can.
He likes listening to you talking before sleeping, your voice lulls him to sleep.
I feel like I'm late to the ninah club </3
My most recent obsession, I made this silly comic instead of working on my full palegun illustration, and it took me allllll dayyyy.
The last panel makes me giggle everytime I look at it