Comfort Friend
Pairing: Best Friend Dieter x Female Reader
Summary: You have broken up with your boyfriend, so you call Dieter. He is your best friend, so he's going to show up. He has a spare room but even up in one bed
Additional tags: no age-gap / friendship / dieter & reader share one bed / cute / soft fluff / light fluff / emotional / tears / close friendship. { let me know if I missed any tags }
Word Count: 1747
This was written for The Naughty or Nice Writing Challenge. My challenges were Dieter Bravo, One Bed, and Nice. Challenge by @tateypots . I hope you guys enjoy this
Divider by @saradika-graphics & I had chosen bubbles for the movie
The last text from boyfriend had been the final, short but brutal. "I can't do this anymore. I've been seeing someone else, I'm sorry, bye." The words swam before her eyes, blurring into an uncontrollable mess as fresh tears streamed down her face. Her chest ached with a pain that felt too vast to ever fill.
Her fingers, trembling, navigated to her contacts. There was only one person she wanted to call, the one person who always knew how to make things even a little bit better. Dieter.
The phone rang twice before his familiar, calm voice answered. "Hey, what's up, buttercup?"
His usual cheerful greeting felt like a dagger to her already shattered heart. A fresh wave of sobs wracked her body, making it noticeable through her words.
"Hey? What's wrong? What happened?" His voice instantly shifted, laced with concern and urgency.
"He… he… he broke up with me," she managed to choke out between gasps for air. The words, once spoken aloud, solidified the devastating reality.
A beat of silence followed, and then, "I'm on my way. Don't move. Just… just breathe, okay? I'll be there as fast as I can."
She didn't question how he knew where "there" was, or how quickly he’d drop everything. That was just Dieter. Her Dieter.
True to his word, Dieter showed up after minutes later when she heard the familiar knock on her apartment door. She fumbled with the locks, her vision still blurry, and practically fell into his arms the moment the door opened.
He held her tight, a comforting her through this storm of grief. His presence alone was a balm, a silent promise that she wasn't alone. He smelled of his usual blend of old books and something uniquely "Dieter" – a scent you found incredibly grounding.
"Hey, hey, it's okay," he murmured, gently stroking her hair. "Let it all out. I'm here."
He guided her to the couch, never once releasing his embrace. He simply sat there, holding her as she cried until her throat was raw and her eyes were swollen almost shut. He didn't offer anything or try to fix it. He just was there. And for now, that was everything.
Eventually, the tears subsided into sniffles. She pulled back slightly, wiping your face with the back of your hand. "I'm sorry," she whispered, feeling embarrassed by the snot and tear-stained mess she made on his shirt.
He shook his head, his brown eyes soft with understanding. "Don't you dare apologize. You're hurting, buttercup. And it's okay to feel that hurt." He offered her a tissue from the box he had magically appeared out of thin air.
"What am I going to do?" She asked, her voice small and lost.
"First, you're going to get some rest," he said, his tone firm but gentle. "Then, we'll figure it out. One step at a time." He stood up, pulling her gently along with him. "Come on. You look exhausted."
"But where…?" she started, looking around her messy apartment.
"You're coming to my place," he stated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I've got a spare room. You can stay as long as you need."
The thought of being alone in her apartment tonight was unbearable. The thought of being at Dieter's, in his familiar, comforting space, brought a sliver of peace. "Okay," she mumbled, a fragile "thank you" hanging unspoken in the air.
Dieter helped her gather a few essentials, a toothbrush, some clean clothes, while she moved in a daze. He even packed her favourite worn-out t-shirt she stole from him, knowing it would bring her comfort.
The drive to his apartment was quiet, punctuated only by her occasional sniffles. Dieter occasionally reached over to squeeze her hand, a silent reassurance.
When they arrived, his apartment, usually filled with the lively chaos of his various creative projects, was neat and tidy. He must have tidied up before coming to get you. The thought brought another pang to her chest – he always went the extra mile for her.
"The spare room is ready," he said, leading her down a short hallway. "Fresh sheets, and I even found that lavender spray you like."
She glanced into the room. It was indeed spotless, a small vase with a single daisy on the bedside table. He remembered even the smallest details.
"Thank you, Dieter," she said, her voice still hoarse. "You really didn't have to."
"Of course, I did," he said, giving her a gentle push towards the bed. "Now, get some rest. I'll be in the living room if you need anything."
She nodded, too tired to argue. She changed into her t-shirt, the familiar fabric, Dieter's old shirt to bring her more comfort. The bed was soft, the lavender scent soothing, but sleep felt elusive. Every time she closed her eyes, her now ex-boyfriend's words tattooed in her mind after reading the text over and over before Dieter appeared at her apartment door.
After what felt like an eternity, she crept out of the spare room and found Dieter on the couch, scrolling through his phone, coffee steaming beside him. He looked up immediately, a worried frown creasing his brow.
"Can't sleep?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
She shook her head, clutching her arms around herself. "My mind won't shut off."
He patted the spot beside him on the couch. "Come here."
She curled up next to him, leaning her head on his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her, providing a warmth she desperately craved. They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the only sound the soft hum of the TV and the refrigerator.
"I just don't understand," she finally whispered, her voice cracking. "Everything seemed fine. We were talking about moving in together next year."
Dieter sighed, his chin resting on her head. "Sometimes, people just… change their minds. It's not a reflection on you. You're incredible."
His words, simple as they were, spoke softly with a truth she hadn't been able to grasp. It wasn't her fault. It just was how life changed.
"I still feel like I'm going to burst," she confessed, a fresh wave of sadness washing over her.
"I know," he said softly. "It's going to hurt for a while. But you're not going through it alone." He gently tilted her head up, making her look at him. His eyes held a depth of compassion that made her heart ache in a different, softer way. "I'm always here. Always."
As the night wore on, the spare room, despite Dieter's best efforts, started to feel cold and lonely. She tossed and turned, the silence amplifying her thoughts.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she tiptoed to Dieter's bedroom. The door was slightly ajar, a soft light spilling from inside. She pushed it open to find him asleep, sprawled across his bed, a book fallen open on his chest.
She hesitated, feeling a pang of guilt. But the overwhelming need for comfort, for proximity.
"Dieter?" she whispered, nudging his shoulder gently.
He stirred, his eyes blinking open. "Hey? What's wrong?" he asked, instantly awake and concerned.
"I… I can't sleep," she admitted, feeling like a child. "It's just… too quiet."
He looked at her, his gaze understanding. He didn't say anything, just shifted over, making space on his bed. "Come here," he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
She slipped into the bed beside him, the warmth of his body a welcome contrast to the chill that had settled in her bones. She laid on her side, facing away from him, trying to give him space.
But after a moment, she felt his arm snake around her waist, pulling her gently against him. His chin rested on her shoulder, his breath warm on her neck.
"Better?" he whispered.
She nodded, a silent tear escaping and tracing a path down her face. She felt safe, protected, and for the first time since ex's text, not utterly alone.
They lay like that for a long time, the only sound of their comfortable soft breathing. The familiarity of his presence, the soft press of his body against hers, was a comfort beyond words. The world outside the bedroom felt far away, its sharp edges blunted by the warmth of their shared space.
She felt his lips brush against her hair. "You know I love you, right?" he murmured, his voice barely audible.
Her heart fluttered. "I love you too, Dieter," she whispered back, the words feeling profound in the stillness of the night.
He tightened his arm around her, pulling her even closer. She could feel the gentle rhythm of his heartbeat against her back. The closeness was intimate, yet entirely innocent, a testament to the depth of their friendship. It was a comfort, a lifeline, in her darkest hour.
As the first rays of dawn painted the sky, a soft light filtered into the room. She was still nestled against Dieter, his arm a secure weight around her. She stirred, slowly opening her eyes. He was awake, looking at her, his eyes warm and gentle.
"Morning, buttercup," he whispered, a small, sleepy smile playing on his lips.
"Morning," she replied, her voice still a little raspy.
He leaned in, his gaze tender. For a moment, she thought he might just kiss her forehead, a familiar gesture of affection. But his eyes dropped to her lips, and a breath caught in her throat.
Slowly, carefully, he closed the distance between them. His lips were soft against hers, a hesitant, tender touch. It wasn't passionate or demanding, but a gentle kiss filled with comfort, understanding, and a quiet promise. It tasted faintly of sleep and the coffee he’d been drinking the night before.
When he pulled back, his eyes searched hers. There was no awkwardness, no questioning. Just a shared understanding of meaningful words.
"Feeling a little better?" he asked, his thumb gently stroking her cheek.
She nodded, a genuine smile finally gracing her lips. "A lot better. Thank you, Dieter. For everything."
He smiled back, a genuine, heartwarming smile. "Always, buttercup. Always.
The world still felt a little broken, but with Dieter by her side, sharing his bed, his warmth, and his unspoken promises, she knew she would eventually find a way to put the pieces back together. And maybe, just maybe, this brokenness would lead to something new, something unexpected, something wonderful with the person who had always been her steady knight and shining armour.
