warnings: strangers to lovers, fluff, really awkward conversation, bonding over literature and mutual love of coffee, just jason being our fave boy <3
ㅤ୨ৎ — j. grace x sunshine! reader
word count ~ 2.4k
summary: you had only meant to grab a cup of coffee and nestle somewhere with your books- but leaving with a giddy smile and an almost-date turns out to be much better.
Not much could distract Jason when he focused on something- a book, a quest, his studies. But you proved to be the first.
When the bells above the coffee shop door chimed, he hadn't paid much heed, eyes glued to the pages of his notebook. What did catch his attention, however, was your beaming face as you walked in. You might as well have screamed to announce your presence; five different bags that looked like they'd pull you under from their weight, a book clutched close to you that probably would've been better off if it had been tucked into one of your many bags- though he guessed that you would rather have chucked everything out the window than let it out of your sight- and your bright, sunny expression.
He averted his gaze when he realized that he'd been tracking your path up to the counter with his eyes. Maybe it was the way your smile- warmer and more sweet than anything they could conjure up with sugar and cream- made his heart tick a little faster, but he felt oddly drawn to you. Not that Jason would act on it. He squashed any thought of trying to talk to you as he picked up his pen once more- it wasn't that he couldn't make an attempt, but with his luck he'd end up embarrassing himself.
Up near the front, a few feet away from where Jason was sitting- though you hadn't quite noticed him yet- you chatted with the barista, the cheerful smile on your face a contrast to her tired expression, though she seemed to be trying her best to keep up with your energy.
You picked your coffee cup, somehow miraculously balancing it among the rest of your things, letting your eyes rove over the seats of the café. Your buoyant demeanor dimmed slightly when you took note of the filled booths, a little bit of the sparkle in your grin dipping before you regained your disposition. Of course, some were free- most customers merely dashed in for a quick takeaway, after all, and even during the city's rush hour it was nearly certain that there'd be a place to sit. But today, your usual seat was quite unfortunately taken by a girl sipping an iced matcha while typing furiously on her laptop, a tense look on her face- most likely cramming for studies.
Your nose scrunched up as you sighed and turned to browsing other places to sit with your copious amounts of who-knows-what. Disappointing, sure, but you'd be damned if you couldn't cozy up somewhere else.
Then your eyes locked with Jason's.
You couldn't have known the way his breath stuttered in his chest when the two of you looked at each other, but you sure as hell felt your own heart skip a beat. His eyes were clear, the colour of the sky when a thunderstorm crackled and ripped it apart, revealing only the raw, cloudless blue underneath. A pair of glasses slipped down his nose, and he pushed them up quickly. His tousled blond hair looked like he'd ran his hands through it countless times, and little furrow had appeared between his brows from staring at his scribbled-covered notebook before he'd caught your eye.
That was the whole problem.
No one had a right to look that good while sitting stressed in the corner of a random coffee shop without even trying. Your frozen thoughts snapped and began screaming inside your brain and you ducked your head, breaking your gaze as you felt a flush of warmth flood through you. You had planned to nip in for a cup of coffee and curl up in some discreet corner with your books- that was what occupied most of your bags, due to the bookstore a couple streets down- not get caught up in the way someone looked at you through a sea of benches and coffee cups and the muffled conversations people spoke under their breath.
Tucking your things a little closer to you, you focused determinedly on the polished wooden floor as you spun and began to walk towards, well, somewhere. You'd bump into a seat along the way.
"...you could sit here if you want."
You froze, casting a slow glance over your shoulder, back to the boy that'd held your gaze. His eyes were downcast, like he was avoiding looking at you again, but you were pretty sure that he was the one who spoken. Biting your lip, you looked around for a moment- like you weren't sure whether he was talking to you. You tried not to think about how his voice sounded- low, amiable, the voice of someone who was used to confidence but still slightly unsure of the moment. Or how cute the rising flush in his cheeks looked when he ducked his head to hide it.
God, you should stop before your mind went any farther.
You coughed, scrambling for an answer as you realized that you hadn't answered. "Um, okay," you breathed, like you were afraid that if you spoke too loud the invitation would snap and blow away. What was wrong with you today?
Carefully, you turned back to slide into the leather loveseat across from him, an awkward smile playing at the corners of your lips. You hoped he didn't notice the way your eyes flicked between the table top and his own blue irises.
To be fair, you tried to concede to yourself, this was a good spot. Maybe the view of the bustling streets and cloud-strewn sky was a bit different from where you usually sat, but it was mostly the same. You hadn't sat here just because you saw a cute blond in glasses, right? Probably.
You sighed internally. There was no way you were fooling yourself.
You looked up at him again, subconsciously hugging your book a little closer to you. That was a habit of yours that usually came out when you were feeling a little nervous.
"Hey," he said softly. "I'm Jason." His breath quickened slightly as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, before he cleared his throat. "Sorry, I, uh- I just noticed you were looking for a seat. The ones by the windows are always the best spots." He shrugged, his tone matter-of-fact, but with an undercurrent of something else that you couldn't quite tell.
You brightened, bouncing back to your regular glowing demeanor for a second. "Aren't they? I always come by here whenever I have a new book- I love sitting by the windows and reading. The afternoon light is so pretty."
Pretty. If only you'd known how quickly Jason's heart leapt when you smiled, your eyes lighting up. Pretty, pretty eyes. He felt like a fool, his thoughts stalling on the way your smile made your eyes look brighter than the sun. Jason couldn't be sure of why he blurted out the invitation, only that he had an inkling that it had something to do with that beaming smile and he sure was glad you'd accepted.
He was broken from his reverie when you let out a small laugh, lacing your fingers together and letting your gaze drift up to the ceiling. "Oh, I forgot..."
You told him your name, your voice soft. Somehow it was gentle and sunny and sweet, like you. He liked it.
And you liked the way he said it when he repeated after you, a slow smile curving on his face in a way that made your stomach drop and heat warm your cheeks.
A silence rose between you, twisting the line of awkward and oddly comfortable, before Jason broke it. His blue eyes sparked when they landed on the book in your arms, his smile gaining the edge of restrained excitement of when you see something you like somewhere other than with you.
"Is that..."
You grinned, straightening and leaning forward. Nothing piqued your interest like when someone mentioned your favourite book. "Yes, it is! I stopped by the bookstore earlier-" You patted your bags, "-and I couldn't help but grab, well, another copy. I love-"
With each word your eyes grew wider, rambling eagerly on about the characters and the setting and the writing and suddenly Jason wasn't entirely interested in the book itself anymore, his lips ticking up on the ends as you continued on your rant. Your avid, enthusiastic commentary and the way your words grew breathless tangled his attention more than the commentary of the book ever could.
As your conversation continued, you started to relax, though half of your focus was directed to the back of your brain where your thoughts were drifting dreamily, "cute and smart..." - which, in your defense, was true.
You could've stayed there forever, with the clatter of espresso machines fading in the background while the sweet scent of cinnamon rolls floated past, wrapped in your warm words as you came dangerously close- closer and closer- to falling all the way for someone you'd just met.
Really, at this point, you weren't sure if you felt entirely uncomfortable with that.
But eventually, the gold-tinted sunlight dripping past the window demanded something from the time that didn't quite work in your favour. The sky had begun to colour quickly, lavender paving over the soggy blue, and soon you were forced to take note of the passing minutes.
Reluctantly, you folded your hands in your lap, twisting your fingers bashfully. "I probably shouldn't keep you," you mumbled quietly, biting the inside of your cheek. "I've been talking for a long time... I'm probably annoying you."
You said it with a half-smile, like it was meant to be a joke, but the undercurrent of tightness in your voice spoke otherwise.
Jason tilted his head, observing the way you fidgeted like the words came from a place a little too close to home. The faded curve of your lips, your smile more nervous than your usual bright.
"You could never annoy me, sunny." He teased, but his eyes were soft, sincere.
"Sunny?" You arched an eyebrow, parting your clasped hands to cross your arms instead.
His grin was nonchalant, but winsome enough to make you feel his gaze like an electric current down your spine. You fought heat threatening to bloom in your face.
"Yeah, sunny." Jason offered a small shrug. "You walked in looking like you'd harnessed the sun," he admitted. "Beaming like nothing made you happier than to march into a coffee shop with a million shopping bags and a smile on your face. It seemed pretty fitting.
You turned you face away to hide the shy smile unfurling on your face, much more genuine than the one you'd offered before.
"I mean, I'm not that... bright." You muttered, curling your fingers around your now-lukewarm cup of coffee, swishing it around and staring into the creamy brown dregs like they could hold whatever answer you'd been searching for.
Jason considered continuing for the briefest moment before the embarrassment of what he'd just acknowledged caught up to him. He coughed, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Uh, what I meant was- nevermind."
Why did his thoughts always manage to scramble at the worst moments?
"No, I..." You looked back at him again, your smile growing warmer, shy. "I like it. Sunny's cute." You let out a quiet laugh when you saw his face scrunch up in self-consciousness, like he was second-guessing himself. But honestly, it was adorable- though whether the nickname or the look on Jason's face, you'd leave ambiguous.
Tucking a lock of hair behind your ear, you mulled over a thought. You sighed slightly when the waves of colour flooding across the sky reminded you that evening had begun to approach faster than it did at the height of summer.
"Well, it's been lovely talking to you, but... I have to go." You confessed, a rueful expression on your face. The idea of stalling had admittedly crossed your mind, but you'd figured that it was best to be honest. "It's going to take me a while to get home."
"I have to leave too," Jason said, running a hand through his blond hair and smiling sheepishly.
You stood, picking up your things before the awkward silence that'd been lingering at your heels had a chance to settle again.
"...thanks for putting up with me," you joked playfully, offering a small grin as you turned to leave.
You had made it about ten steps before the sound of your name being spoken stopped you in your tracks.
"Wait," he murmured, sending your heart fluttering wildly in your chest. "I... Um, you come here on Thursdays, don't you?"
You could only nod, a bit too vigorously but you really couldn't care less about that in the moment.
His lopsided grin looked a bit hesitant as he said tentatively- "Well, it seems like we didn't quite end our conversation, so... we could finish it here next Thursday afternoon, if you want?"
"I'd like that," you breathed, your smile so brilliant it made Jason feel like his head was turning to mush.
Still smiling, you lifted your hand in a small wave before whirling around and stepping outside.
The sun had just started to dip, golden light cascading over your form as your feet stepped onto the sidewalk. Wind whipped at your cheeks, a hairsbreadth from truly cold, threading through your hair and pulling at your coat. Your giddy expression refused to fade as you walked, head bent low as you replayed the last conversation in your head over and over. Your matching idiotic smiles. The way Jason said your name. Sparks when your palm brushed his.
From the elated bounce in your step, you had a feeling that the next week would prove to be very eventful.
a/n: i hope this wasn't too bad lmao- anyways, masterlist and req. info should be up soon! ✨
.☘︎ ݁˖⋆ a very risky gamble! she/her. minor. infp-t. inej ghafa and lia zhang variant. july baby ! cancer sun, libra moon. kaz brekker's #1 defender. slytherin. cabin seven. xander hawthorne's bff. remus lupin's love. red hood's real wife. brooklyn baby. falling for the villain. bags- clairo. midnight walks in autumn. night owl. raspberry and cinnamon flavoured. cobalt blue, cerise and gold. vanilla scented. snoopy luvr 4ever. fizzy strawberry lemonade. downtown academia girl. 2013 summer personified. written by mitski. mythology and musical lover. secrets i wish i could keep. .☘︎ ݁˖⋆
pretty like your favorite book: the inheritance games, heroes of olympus, six of crows, the maze runner, miss peregrine's home for peculiar children, kotlc, harry potter (the marauders era)
always watching! coraline, star wars, gravity falls, adventure time, over the garden wall, the owl house, amphibia, gilmore girls, sfawtde... (yes i'm a minecraft nerd lmao)
like the end of the song: laufey, yaelokre, florence road, mitski, hozier, olivia dean, epic: the musical, gigi perez, lorde, adrianne lenker, cavetown, phoebe bridgers, faye webster, peggy, clairo, declan mckenna, the neighborhood... now playing: SAILOR SONG, forwards beckon rebound, ribs, hanging out to dry, sweater weather, first love/late spring, i know you, we fell in love in october...
Currently writing... l. castellan x reader, g. hawthorne x reader !
✧ . notes:
Please respect when requests are closed!
I always read your requests- I'll only respond once the fic is written, but I appreciate your ideas!
Reqs are not mandatory for me. I will definitely consider each, and write most, but anything I find uncomfortable or out of my depth I will have to turn down.
𑣲⋆｡˚ req. rules!
⋆｡˚ No smut or anything explicitly nsfw!
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⋆｡˚ NO yandere, though I'm willing to lean towards dark! character if specified.
⋆｡˚ I can't do polygamy or anything like that.
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⋆｡˚ Requests are meant to be sent in asks, if you request something in a comment I'm afraid I'll have to ignore you! Same goes for if you send a request while they're closed.
⋆｡˚ I may take a while to write, but I try to respond with the written fic as quickly as possible! Though, please keep in mind that I do have to study and such, so I may be occasionally cramped on time.
⋆｡˚ I keep my fics as poc friendly as possible as I'm a person of color myself! So yeah, I don't write with specifications for the reader like blushing (it's more like warmth than colour) height, or skin color. My hair is painfully straight though so I find it hard to write with a curly haired reader in mind, so I keep it vague. (Curly hair is soooooo beautiful though)
⋆｡˚ Oneshots, blurbs and headcanons are welcome! But please specify if you'd like something specific, because otherwise I'll write according to my whims.
⋆｡˚ I can't write a male reader, sorry! I usually write with a fem! reader in mind, but I try and keep it up to how you see it. Gn reader is okay, though! Just try and specify :>
⋆｡˚ Angst may take me slightly longer to write, so keep that in mind while requesting! But I am open to it- love me a bit of good angst heheh ;)
⋆｡˚ Age gap and weird reqs will be deleted!
⋆｡˚ blog rules and dni
- No hate is welcome here!!! Racism, trans/homophobia, mockery of any religion, misogyny, ect. I will not hesitate to block you.
- Creeps and old men DNI! Fuckass predators 😒 Same goes for if you support anti-feminism, extreme ai, if you're a p*rn blog, and if you're pro-ice/trump! I think that's the gist of it, but if not than your basic DNI I guess.
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Other than that, that's it! Love youuuuu ♡♡♡
⋆｡˚ — who i'll write for/about !
⊹ ˑ ִ I write for a lot of fandoms, really any that are mentioned in my intro post and more! I can't think of all, but to offer a few examples, if I may- pjo (current main), harry potter (specifically the marauders era but ofc i'm open to the og timeline!), six of crows (we NEED more kaz brekker fics fr fr), the maze runner, and the inheritance games. I mean, I'm definitely open to a lot more- but pjo, hp, soc, tmr, and tig are mainly what I currently write for.
⊹ ˑ ִ I want to write for DC but I have to brush up on my knowledge before I attempt it- I don't want to get crazy ooc with it
⊹ ˑ ִ I'm more used to writing male characters x reader!
⊹ ˑ ִ In case the character you want is from a fandom that is not currently one of my mains, please ask if I'm taking requests for it at the moment before attempting a req!
⊹ ˑ ִ If you request a character from a fandom I haven't specified in my intro or anywhere else, again, ask before requesting.
