Something that’s a bit dark but a scenario where reader is a normal grunt in Nexus and has a crush one Hofnarr? Like each time they get a chance to see him, they would talk. But the reader notices something is off because Hofnarr is worried and they just tell them that something is gonna happen the next the day. Something BIG.
Could end with reader trusting him or just be confused and not understanding. Idk. 🤷
It always rained in the Nexus city. Cars bustling through the pothole filled streets while people struggled to get by and survive. Though you supposed it could be worse. If anything, living in the city is probably a better option than living in the wasteland fighting for your life to not become bandit food. You did try to find things in life that made it better. One of them being Hofnarr who you would run into from time to time whenever you two were on your way to work.
Hofnarr was actually one of the few things in your life that made it better, especially with living in this godforsaken city. Let alone this state. The two of you used to be neighbors before you two became good friends. Still are too till this day. You loved talking to him, seeing how passionate he would get with talking about his hobbies and things about his job. Though he wouldn’t get too specific at what he did at his job. You respected it, not many people were trustworthy to begin with around these parts. You were just happy you were able to just talk with him. Though from the coat you saw him wearing, you could tell he worked as a scientist.
There were times he would brighten your day by making you laugh. A genuine one too. Something that you haven’t felt before the fall of Nevada. It made your heart swell and your cheeks redden. Others would be him making sure you would get home safely before he went home himself.
The days go on and your chest tightens in excitement. The times you two would stop by a small café together to grab coffee or tea together. How you two would not realize that one of you had already made it to your home or work. It felt like your heart was on fire. Talking to Hofnarr was like a drug to you. No matter what, you wanted him to stay. To keep talking to you. But you knew better than to keep him from whatever his job was.
The next day you walked down the same sidewalk in hopes of seeing him again. Your heartbeating against your chest in anticipation as you waited to see him impatiently. When your eyes landed on him, your face had brightened into a fon smile before waving over to Hofnarr to catch his attention. He looks up from the ground, slightly jumping as his eyes widened only to soften once seeing you, body relaxing. That’s strange. What’s making him jump like that?
You studied his body language, he was tense. Almost to the point where every little thing would possibly make him jump. His hands clammy, clenching and unclenching. He even looked as if he hadn’t slept considering how noticable the dark circles were under his eyes. Let alone how disheveled his hair is.
“Hofnarr? Are you okay?” You tilt your head slightly before raising an eyebrow.
“H-huh? Oh yeah! Yeah! I’m fine. Just a little tired from staying up all night.” Hofnarr’s eyes would dart around as he tried to avoid the question. It was obvious he was hiding something. It hurt you a lot to know he was under a lot of stress. Especially when it came to someone as sweet as him. You tried to push a little more.
“Are you sure? Usually when you’re stressed out, you’re more sluggish than this…” You look at him up and down before continuing “Hey, Hofnarr… if there’s something wrong you can always tell me, y’know.”
Hofnarr just stares at you, lips pursed together while looking as if he was contemplating whethee to tell you what he had just found out during of his projects. You take it as him not wanting to tell you. You let out another soft sigh before. “Hey, don’t worry about telling me. You wanna go grab some coffee before work?”
“That would be nice, thank you…”
The way there to the usual café the two of you would go to was a but quiet compared to what usually would happen. The two of you did manage to strike up a conversation to help him get whatever was off his mind. Though it only did what it could before Hofnarr ended up downing his entire cup of coffee. You tried to stop him, but in the end he ended up doing it anyways.
It made your stomach twist in knots as the two of you stopped at your work place. You turn your head to glance at Hofnarr, a small yet soft smile making its way onto your lips as you bid him a small farewell.
“Be safe… okay?” You turn to go take a step into the building of your work place until a hand shot out and grabbed your wrist.
“Wait, (Y/n)… I’ll… I’ll tell explain to you tomorrow, okay?” Hofnarr’s eyes were desperate making your heart soften at the sight. You only give him a nod before telling him just to meet you at your house tomorrow night. You didn’t have work that day anyways. Hofnarr gives you a relieved smile before letting you go before apologizing to you briefly for the sudden grab at you. You only shake your head at him before dismissing him to go to work.
The next day you were cozied up in your apartment, waiting for Hofnarr to arrive. You sat down on your slightly tattered sofa as you watched whatever was playing on the tv. That being the Slaughter Time Arena that would be hosted by that one host. Was it Garret Goyle that was his name? Oh well. Not like you paid attention to the show anyways. As you almost nodded of into sleep, there was panicked banging against your door making you jolt out of your stupor.
You quickly get up and rush to the door, opening it to see a very disheveled Hofnarr who quickly rushed into your apartement without saying a word. You were about to say something about his behavior, he was acting too erratic and sporadic for you to understand what was going on. Until you saw his state.
Your eyes grew wide at his panicked state, clothing and hair even more disheveled than before. Splotches and specks of blood all over that one white lab coat. You rush over to him thinking he was hurt only for him to grab onto your arms before bringing you in into a tight embrace. Whatever he had just gone through was clearly a lot and traumatic.
“Hey hey! Hoff, are you okay?!” You light tap his shoulders, trying to get an answer from him.
“Oh god they were going to kill us, (Y/n)!” His voice was still shaky, his embrace he had on you tightening.
You were confused, who the hell was trying to kill him? Let alone, who was “us”?. You needed to pry for more, you couldn’t stand seeing him in such a state like he was. It scared you, it scared you a lot.
“Hofnarr, what are you talking about?”
“Jebediah and I! He came into the lab asked me to—“ He stops mid sentence, afraid to tell you for if you also knew too much, you also might be a potential target. He couldn’t risk that. Not you. Hofnarr releases you from his hold and looks at you straight in the eyes.
“(Y/n), I need you to listen to me.” He swallows the lump in his throat before continuing on “Something really bad is about to happen. I can’t tell you what, but I really need you to believe me!”
You just stare at him, eyebrows furrowing as you tried to process what was going on and why he couldn’t tell you. But you knew that if you tried to ask or probe him with more questions, he would just evade them. Instead, you purse your lips together as you look away from him for a brief moment.
“(Y/n), please. I really need you to believe you. You’re the only one I can think of going to.” Your heart skipped a bit as you heard his desperation. Your face softened once again before looking at him, his eyes looking straight into yours as he waited for an answer from you. A long wxhale was given before you but the bottom of your lip.
“Okay… I believe you.” Hofnarr’s eye lit up in relief as he embraced you once more.
“Oh thank god! We need to get out of here, it’s no longer safe for you here anymore.”
