NIGHT OFF — DALE COOPER
masterlist
pairing: dale cooper x reader
description: dale can’t deny that being served by you at the double r is the highlight of his day. you can’t deny that serving him is the highlight of yours. it seems a date is in order.
warnings: none really, just a bit fluffy. sorry it’s not super long, i didn’t want to add too much filler for the sake of it!
author’s note: i hope you enjoy! again, sorry it’s quite short but hope you enjoy the sweet fluff anyway. please please let me know what you think!!! 🫶
———
Dale Cooper had been in Twin Peaks for five days, and on exactly five of those days he had been into the Double R Diner for his morning coffee.
Four of those days he’d also been in for a slice of pie that very same evening.
The pie was damn fine, undoubtedly. As was the coffee. But he’d be lying if he said that the real reason he was so eager to return was anything but the fact it was you he had the pleasure of being served by.
It was no coincidence that the one day so far he’d not spent his evening in the diner was the day he’d overheard you thanking Norma for giving you the evening off.
And now, on day 6, he’d been sceptical about whether or not he should avoid the diner today… Because heaven forbid you found it odd that he was in there so often.
But no, he thought, it’s just a great place for a morning coffee — and with so many regulars there, he was just doing his bit to fit in while he’s in town.
Yes, that would satiate the worry in the pit of his stomach.
When he entered, he felt a small pang of disappointment as he noticed that you were nowhere to be seen.
Still, he smiled at Norma and ordered his usual coffee, taking a seat in a quiet booth as he pondered over the day’s investigative plans (and certainly not about where you might be).
Dale Cooper never wanted to let himself get distracted from a case.
He was there to get the job done — not to think about the pretty smile of a woman he hardly knew when he was supposed to be solving a murder.
But he already savoured his mornings in the Double R for his brief escape from the reality of his job, and you were every bit to thank for that.
His head hung low, idly watching the steam rise from his coffee as he remained contemplative.
As a result, he was surprised when he heard your voice, the click of your shoes nearing his table.
“Oh hi Agent Cooper, sorry I didn’t see you come in,” you hummed, coffee pot in hand as he looked up to meet your gaze, “Been out back sorting some things out — it’s good to see you! Norma says you weren’t in for a slice’a pie yesterday…”
Cooper was sure his cheeks warmed at that. Had he been caught out?
“Oh, I, uh,” he forced a chuckle, “Had a busy day. I just needed some rest, is all. Lovely—Lovely to see you too. I trust you had a good evening?”
You found it so endearing how tirelessly formal he seemed to be, almost as though he was scared to bring down his wall enough to relax around you.
“Oh absolutely, a friend of mine who went away for college came to visit for the night,” you smiled, topping up his coffee as he watched you intently, “We went for dinner. I hope you had a good night too and didn’t suffer too much without pie!”
He chuckled at that — his smile enlarging at your small joke.
He took a small sip of his coffee, “How wonderful. Where, might I ask, did you go? That sounds odd, please forgive me— I’d just like to try somewhere new whilst I’m here.”
You giggled, “Already fed up of my food, Agent Cooper?”
His eyes widened, and you couldn’t help but find it adorable how flustered you seemed to make him.
“Oh no, never,” he flushed crimson, “Just trying to acclimatise to Twin Peaks life. And please, call me Dale.”
You fought back the panic at those words and the implication that his investigation was far from over.
You were, however, slightly ashamed to admit that you were delighted to know this meant he’d be sticking around a little while longer.
“Well, Dale,” you hummed, tongue in cheek, “It’s a little restaurant about thirty minutes out of town, but it’s a favourite of mine.”
You paused for a moment, unsure whether the bold suggestion you were about to make was a stupid one.
Sure, it was pretty clear (from what Harry had told you, if not just from his behaviour) that Dale was very much romantically interested in you.
However, given the circumstances of his presence in Twin Peaks, you worried his professionalism would lead to an embarrassing rejection.
Oh, fuck it.
“I could— we could go one evening, maybe?” you smiled shyly, “Could show you the best things on the menu, or—something?”
His face lit up, then dropped for a moment, then lit up with a smile once more.
He seemed to be internally battling with himself about whether or not it was a good idea to say yes, but given the beaming smile on his face by the end of it, you could assume which side had won.
“I’d love that,” Dale’s eyes twinkled as he looked up at your from his seat, pausing to take a sip of coffee, “May I be so rude as to ask if I could call it a… date? Because I had been hoping to ask you for one myself.”
At these words, you were sure your smile couldn’t possibly get any wider.
“If you’d like it to be one, then I’d very much like that too,” you hummed, smoothing down your dress with your palms, “When would you like to go?”
He narrowed his eyes for a moment in thought, “What’re you doing tonight?”
“Free as a bird,” you sing-songed, perhaps too eagerly, “I—I’ve got the night off again, always do on a Thursday. So tonight would be great.”
Satisfied, he took another slurp of coffee — the shit-eating grin on his face sending your heart racing, “Perfect. If you’d just write down your address for me, I’ll come and pick you up.”
You nodded, pulling your pen from your pocket and scrawling down your address, pushing the paper towards him.
His hand lingered on yours for a moment as you leaned forward to place it in front of him, and you could’ve sworn you’d never felt goosebumps quite like you did right now.
For a moment after taking the paper, Dale just looked at you — admiring your features as you leaned in closer than usual.
He was grateful for the close proximity, and immensely hopeful for more.
“I must admit, I’ve been thinking of asking you for dinner since the very night I got here,” Dale cleared his throat, “Though I didn’t want to be unprofessional. I hope you understand.”
You chuckled, “Of course, Dale,” oh boy could he get used to the lilt of his name on your tongue, “I hope… Well, let’s just say I’ve been thinking about it too and I’m very glad it’s happening.”
You could practically feel Norma’s eyes on you as you spoke, acutely aware of both the visible intensity of your conversation and how long you’d been at Dale’s table.
“I’d best get back to work before Norma keeps me late and I miss out on my hot date,” you joked, blushing crimson at your own words, “I’ll see you later. I hope you have a lovely day, Agent Cooper.”
He shot you one last smile, “I’ll see you later, beautiful.”
Now you could get used to that.
———
thanks so so much for reading — i hope this was okay & you all enjoyed. if you want to read more of my work, here’s my main masterlist <3
