Little Miss Popular | Matt Casey
PAIRING: Matt Casey x Fem!Severide!Reader
SUMMARY: It was just another day on the job for you, but for the man you saved it might as well have been a blessing from the heavens. The only problem? He doesn’t understand that you’re not interested. The solution? Matt stakes his claim.
WARNINGS: Protective Matt, light stalking/harrassment
W/C: 3.2k
“Excuse me?”
Kelly turned at the sound of a voice behind him, finding a man standing awkwardly in the doorway. He had his arm in a sling and was holding a bunch of flowers in the other. “I’m looking for a paramedic that works here."
“Which one?” Kelly asked.
“Severide?”
“Oh, right,” Kelly said, nodding. “I’ll get her. Wait there.”
He left the man by the engines and headed inside. You weren’t in the kitchen, but Herrmann pointed out that there was only one other place you could possibly be if you weren’t there. Kelly headed through the bunk room, finding you curled up in your usual spot, napping on Matt’s bed while he did paperwork at the desk.
Rapping his knuckles on the doorframe, Kelly watched you shift beneath the blanket. “You got a visitor.”
"Matty, you got a visitor," you grumbled, still not appearing from your spot.
"No, uh, actually, they're looking for you," Kelly said.
You groaned, stretching out like a cat before flopping back down. “Tell ‘em I’m busy. Tell 'em I moved to England. Tell 'em to go away.”
Matt rolled his eyes. “Go.”
You huffed, swinging your legs over the edge of his bed. “Who is it?”
“Some guy,” Kelly said. “Came in looking for you.”
“A guy?” Matt asked, raising his eyebrows. He twisted in his chair to look at you. “Stepping out on me?”
“You caught me,” you said dryly. “My secret boyfriend is here. I've been exposed!”
Matt pressed a hand to his chest, wounded. “I can’t believe you’d do this to me.”
You rose from the bed, moving toward Matt and wrapping your arms around his shoulders from behind. Pressing a kiss to his cheek, you said, “You know I love you too much to do that, honey.”
“Better go see what this guy wants,” Matt said. “Want me to come with you?”
“I’m a big girl, Matthew.” You were halfway out the door with a giggle. “I can look after myself.”
Kelly, for Matt’s sake, said, “I’ll go with her.”
“Thanks.”
You headed out to where the engines were, smiling at the man politely as he saw you coming. Kelly was right on your heels, standing somewhat protectively behind you like some sort of overattentive guard dog.
“Uh, hi,” the man said. “I don’t know if you remember me, but-“
“I remember you,” you assured him. “How’s that arm healing up?”
“Doc says I should be out of the sling in a few weeks,” he replied. He held out the flowers. “I brought you these to say thank you. I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t shown up.”
You and Sylvie had been helping victims of a multi-car pile-up a week or so ago and you’d been the one to help the man with his injuries. He’d been scraped and bruised, his shoulder dislocated after he had been forced to lunge out of the way of an oncoming car. Fortunately, his wounds were superficial, so you’d popped his shoulder back into place for him, patched him up and sent him on in an ambulance to get his shoulder checked out at Med. You’d thought that would be the end of it.
“I’m sure another paramedic would’ve helped you out,” you said, taking the flowers. “But thank you. These are beautiful.”
"How about you let me take you out for dinner tomorrow night?" he suggested. "As a thank you for saving my life."
You were about to tell him that a dislocated shoulder didn't exactly equate to you saving his life, but thought better of it. Instead, you forced another smile as Kelly bristled behind you.
"Thank you for the offer, but I was just doing my job," you said. "And it wouldn't be appropriate for us to have dinner together."
"Yeah," Kelly said. "These things happen, man. You fall in love with the person that saved you, but I promise it'll wear off after a while."
The man glanced at Kelly before his eyes flickered back to you. "I've been thinking about you all week. I don't think it's wearing off anytime soon."
Now you definitely felt uneasy. "I appreciate it, truly, but I'm going to have to say no."
"Oh, come on-"
"Look, man, she said-"
"Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambulance 61, structure fire-"
"Saved by the bell," you breathed. "I'm sorry, I have to go."
"Right, right," the man said, his expression melting back into that charming smile. Like the innocent flower, but the snake beneath unnerved you. "Duty calls."
You threw the flowers onto the Squad table before turning tail to run to the ambulance. Kelly grabbed you by the arm before you could disappear, wrenching you around to face him.
"Watch that guy," he warned. "I got a bad feeling."
"Me too," you replied. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
"Hey, Baby Severide, these just got dropped off for you."
Otis walked in with another flower arrangement in his hands. You'd been sitting with Matt in the kitchen, scrolling through real estate listings to try and find a new apartment. The one you shared now was fine, but the lease was almost up and you both agreed that maybe somewhere new would be fun. You both wanted something more permanent, so were looking to buy. A fixer-upper would keep Matt busy and give you something to do in your free time.
Lifting your head, you furrowed your eyebrows. "Any idea who they're from?"
"There's no note," Otis said, sliding the flowers onto the table. "Just got given 'em and told they're for you."
Matt eyed the flowers like they'd personally spited him. You said, "I take it these weren't from you?"
"You hate roses," he pointed out.
"True, I do," you said. "Give them to Herrmann. Tell him he can give them to Cindy."
Otis snorted. "Recycling, I see how it is."
"Cindy'll like them more than I do," you replied. "Or you can keep them. You a rose man, Otis?"
"Nah, I'm good," Otis said. "Anybody seen Herrmann?"
"Last I saw him, he was out by the trucks," Cruz replied. When Otis had gone, carting the stupidly large bouquet with him, Cruz turned to you and said, "Have you got a secret admirer we don't know about?"
"Probably that guy from the pile-up a few weeks ago," you said, slumping back in your seat. "He asked me to go to dinner and I said no. He's the only one I can think of."
You'd told Matt about the weird encounter with the man and he hadn't been best pleased about it. When Kelly backed you up and said that the man gave off a strange vibe, Matt's concern had only grown. You weren't entirely worried, but the flowers arriving had sent a flutter of unease through your stomach. This had happened before, to other people in your crew. Hell, Kelly even ended up dating one of the women who he saved, but this wasn't like that.
There was nobody in this world for you if they weren't Matt. You'd both been friends before drifting so casually into something more that it was hard to pinpoint exactly when it happened. One night you'd been eating dinner on his couch, then the next morning you'd woken up in his bed, wrapped in his arms and tangled in his sheets. Kelly hadn't even been mad about it, because there was nobody in the world he trusted more with his sister's life than Matt.
"If he comes around here again, I'll set him straight," Matt said, tugging you close enough to kiss your temple.
"Thanks, honey," you cooed. "My hero."
"Ambulance 61, person in distress-"
You sighed. "Duty calls."
"Be safe," Matt called after you, watching you rise from your seat and run for the ambulance.
"Always am!"
"So you think this guy sent the flowers?" Sylvie asked.
You shrugged, turning onto the street you needed to be on. "I don't know. Maybe? I got a bad feeling about him when he first showed up."
"But he hasn't shown up since?" Sylvie asked. "So maybe it's not as bad as you thought?"
"I don't know," you said again. "I hope I'm just being dramatic, but even Kelly said he didn't like the read he got on the guy."
Sylvie cringed. "Well, I'm sure if he shows up again then Matt will have plenty to say."
"I dread to think of it," you sighed, pulling the ambulance into an empty spot on the street. "Alright, let's go."
You and Sylvie grabbed your bags and ran up to the front door of the house you'd been sent to. Banging on the door, you shouted, "Paramedics! Anybody home?"
"In here!" came a distant reply.
You tried the handle and found the door locked. With a sigh, you handed your jump bag to Sylvie and said, "Stand back."
"What are you-?"
She broke off with a surprised gasp as you lined yourself up with the door, raised your foot and kicked it open. As the door banged against the wall, Sylvie gawked like she didn't recognise you.
"Where did you learn to do that?" she asked.
"I got Jay Halstead to teach me," you replied, taking your bag. "C'mon." You headed into the house. "Hello?"
"Through here!"
You walked through to the kitchen, finding a man sitting with his back to you. Even from behind, you recognised him, so when he turned to you there was no surprise in your expression. It was your secret admirer.
"Oh, thank God!" he exclaimed. "I was trying to prepare some vegetables for dinner and the knife slipped and, well, with the sling and all-"
You saw the blood coating the kitchen counter and the man's sleeve, soaking the towel he'd pressed over the wound.
"Okay, sir, I'm going to take a look," you said.
Sylvie was watching anxiously. She recognised the tells in your composure, the way your shoulders stiffened and your voice changed to a more professional tone. That only happened when you felt like you were in some sort of danger. She'd been your partner long enough to know how you reacted to certain situations and this made her feel uneasy.
"You say the knife slipped?" you asked. "Were you using your left hand?"
The one in the sling.
"No, it slipped out of my hand and when I went to grab it, it caught my arm."
"Right."
"Boy, am I glad they sent you," he said. "I was hoping they would." He grimaced as you removed the towel, revealing a bleeding wound on his arm that immediately sent up warning signs. "Did you get the flowers I sent you?"
"Oh, that was you?" you asked, voice hollow. "Yes, they were great. Thanks."
"Have you reconsidered my offer of dinner?" he asked.
"Sir, with all due respect, I'm trying to help you here," you said. "And no, I haven't reconsidered."
His expression turned stony, but he said nothing else and let you do your job.
By the time you and Sylvie were leaving his house, you were rattled and tossed your jump bag into the back of the ambulance carelessly.
"You okay?" Sylvie asked.
"He didn't slip with the knife," you said. "He did it to himself on purpose."
"Why would he do that?" Sylvie asked.
"I don't know," you replied. "And I don't want to know."
"Well, if it isn't my favourite bartender."
You rolled your eyes as Matt appeared at the bar, grinning at you from across the wooden countertop.
"You shameless flirt," you teased.
"Can I not appreciate the prettiest bartender in Molly's?" Matt asked.
"Don't let Herrmann hear you saying that," you replied.
Matt chuckled. "Of course, wouldn't want to damage his ego."
"The usual?" you asked.
"Yeah, please," Matt said. "And one for you. C'mon, take a break, come sit with me."
"I can't," you said, handing Matt his beer. "There's nobody else to watch the bar."
"Put Otis behind there," Matt suggested.
"Hm, no, last time I did that he dropped a glass in the ice tray," you said. "He's on time out."
Matt leaned his elbows on the bar. "C'mere then."
Giggling, you leaned over to kiss him. Matt reached a hand up, catching the back of your neck and keeping you close for longer than was acceptable for a public kiss before he let you go. Pulling away, you shook your head in mock disapproval.
"Matthew Casey, you are a terrible man," you said.
"Can you blame me?" he asked. "You look great tonight."
"I look great every night," you said.
"Well, yes, but I hardly think it's appropriate to say that you look great in nothing-"
"Matt!" you hissed, cheeks heating up as you looked around. "You're in public."
"Yeah, and I'm right here," Kelly grumbled from his spot at the bar, an empty stool all that separated him from you and Matt. "Let's keep it PG."
Matt grinned. "Sorry, man."
"Yeah, no you're not." Kelly looked at you. "What are you laughing at?"
"Sorry, sorry," you said, covering your mouth with your hand. "This is just super awkward. Oh, what's that? You're waiting? Be right there!"
You darted off towards the other end of the bar, leaving Matt and Kelly together. Matt slid onto the empty stool beside Kelly, rolling his beer bottle between his hands.
"You good?" Kelly asked.
"Yeah, just thinking about that guy," Matt said.
"Yeah, me too," Kelly replied.
The man had shown up at the firehouse again a few days ago, but fortunately you'd been out on a call with Sylvie. He'd left yet another bouquet of flowers, this time with a note that all but demanded you reconsider and let him take you out. Herrmann had sent him away with a reminder that you weren't interested in him and Matt had thrown out the flowers - roses again - before you got back. They'd all agreed not to tell you that the man had shown up, not wanting to worry you.
It worried Matt, though.
While there was nothing they could do because there was no evident threat to your safety, it didn't sit well with him that there was a man out there that was seemingly obsessed with you. Although he knew that you'd never look at another man, that wasn't the point and he felt like he couldn't do anything to protect you from this.
"Hey, if he shows up, we'll figure it out," Kelly assured him. "Although maybe he finally got the hint after Herrmann laid into him."
"I hope so," Matt muttered.
He looked over to you, laughing at the end of the bar with Herrmann and Otis. As though drawn to his gaze, you met Matt's eye and gave him that smile that was only reserved for him; the one that told him everything he needed to know without you having to say anything. I love you. That was enough for him and he returned the smile with one of his own.
I love you too.
"This guy will not get the hint." Herrmann eyed the man that walked into the firehouse. "I swear, I'm not one for violence but he needs to get knocked upside-"
"Hey, easy," you said, laying a hand on Herrmann's arm. "It'll be fine." Then you added as an afterthought, "Any idea where Matt is?"
"Nope," Herrmann replied, glancing around. "Hey, Otis! Go find Casey for me, will you?"
"Why?"
"Just do it!" Herrmann said. "Tell him the flower guy is here again."
The man approached you and Herrmann, eyes shifting between the two of you. Herrmann had moved to stand just in front of you, his shoulder acting as a barricade that kept you well out of reaching distance.
"Can we help you with something?" he asked.
"You can't, no," the man said, eyes moving to you. "But you can. Look, I'm not in a sling anymore and the cut on my arm has healed nicely."
You forced a smile. "I can see that. That's great. Can we help you?"
"I was hoping now that I'm fully healed that you'd consider rethinking my offer of dinner," the man said. "I'd really like to take you out and I think we'd have a really great time-"
"I'm still not interested," you said. "Please hear me when I say that I think you're a nice guy, but I'm just not interested in you."
"But you saved my life," he said. "I have to return the favour."
"I was doing my job," you replied. "I save people's lives all the time."
Herrmann was tense beside you, watching the man's every move like a hawk. "Look, man, I think you should go and not come back-"
"I'm not leaving until you agree to go out with me," the man said. "One dinner is all I ask. I sent you flowers-"
"She doesn't even like roses!" snapped a voice from behind you. There was a hand on your back then, a familiar presence as Matt slipped into the empty space beside you. "You keep sending roses. She doesn't like them."
"Well, if she'd agreed on dinner, she could've told me-"
"She said she didn't want to go out with you," Matt said sharply. "Can you not get the hint that she's not interested?"
"What, are you her bodyguard or something?" the man asked.
"I'm her husband."
If you weren't so skilled at keeping your expression neutral, you would have looked surprised. Herrmann, it seemed, wasn't quite as prepared as you and his eyes widened.
The man glowered at you. "You're married?"
You shrugged. "Yeah."
"You could've just told me that," he said.
"Why should she have to?" Matt asked. "You should have respected her enough to accept that she wasn't interested without her having to mention her relationship for you to get the memo. I wasn't going to say anything, but you've pissed me off. If you don't leave now, I will be getting the police involved."
The man looked at you in disbelief. "You could have just told me."
"Again, why should she have you?" Matt asked. "You don't respect a woman saying no simply because she doesn't like you? She has to have a partner for you to finally back off? You do this with a lot of women?"
The man clenched his fists at his sides but said nothing. Without another word, he stormed out of the firehouse and Herrmann called after him, "She'd have eaten you alive, son!"
Snorting with laughter at Herrmann's parting blow, you turned to Matt as he tightened his arm around your waist. "Thank you."
"Sorry if you wanted to handle that yourself," he said. "I couldn't just stand by and watch."
You rose onto your toes and kissed Matt, ignoring the way Herrmann groaned in disgust behind you. When you pulled away, you said, "I don't mind having you in my corner."
"Always," Matt replied. "Although you should probably go and tell your brother that we dealt with it. Otis and Cruz are distracting him right now."
"Jesus Christ," you grumbled, reluctantly leaving Matt's embrace. You got a few steps away before turning back and running at him. Colliding with his body, he was prepared for you and caught you in his arms as you kissed him once again.
This time, you laughed against his lips as Herrmann said, "My God! You guys are gross! Take it somewhere else!"
When Matt finally put you down, his cheeks were flushed and his lips were swollen. "What was that for?"
"I just love you," you replied.
His smile was bright as he said, "That's enough for me."
