Love to Keep Me Warm (Part 1)
Part 2
LMK if you wanna be on the tag list
Summary: You had to get out of Gotham, so when your friend Leota talks about her new job in Evergreen, Washington, you immediately find a way to get a job there too. You thought it would be a nice change of pace, but now there's this guy who's obsessed with you.
Pairing: Adrian Chase x fem! Reader
Word Count: 1.7k
Additional tags: Fluff, Holiday Fic Series, Christmas fic, Adrian being a dork
A/N: Guys, I'm actually so excited for this, I'm already in the Christmas spirit, so this will be spread across two months of updates whenever I have time. I have big plans (not HUGE, but plans that I think are cute). I'm hoping this isn't too Hallmark-y 🙏
You had been friends with Leota for a while when living in Gotham. Things hadn’t been going that well, and on one of your monthly calls, she mentioned her new job and how she’s kind of her own boss with her friends.
To be honest, you needed a change. You’re living situation wasn’t the best, and the rest of your friends either left Gotham or moved on to bigger things. And you were just there, working at a crappy grocery store that got robbed like every other month. You were miserable
After a bit of what you wouldn’t really call ‘manipulation’, but more coaxing (?), Lee invited you to visit and maybe see if you’d be a good fit for the team. You’ve had millions of odd jobs and kind of knew your way around everything, so you weren’t really a savant when it came to anything, but you’ve been working in analytics for a while, and they needed someone good with computers.
Maybe it was the gloomy November weather also messing with you, and you were exhausted from moving.
“Sorry, I can’t help you more. We’re in the middle of something at work, so next week you can come in, but I’m gonna be busy. It can be a bitch sometimes, but I promise the team’s awesome. You’ll fit right in.” Lee assures you, taking the last of the boxes out of the truck. You didn’t bring a ton, really only the essentials, so unpacking wasn’t really a hassle, but having Lee help you out was nice.
“That’s alright. I just hope nobody thinks I got this job because I’m friends with you.”
“No one’s going to think that.” Lee’s voice falters a bit.
“Mhm, yeah, I’m sure.” You know when you’re friend is lying. You’ve known her forever.
“Really, you’ll probably only have to deal with Chris’s remarks. He seems dumb and sometimes is an asshole, but he doesn’t really mean it, I swear by it. Maybe Emilia and Rip, but they’re chill if you don’t get on their bad side.”
“Thanks for the heads up.” You smile, setting down some boxes to open.
“Yeah, you have nothing to worry about. I got your desk all set up. You can make it yours if you want.” That makes you smile. You love small trinkets and crafts.
After getting some second-hand furniture that probably looked like a Pollock painting under a black-light before washing it, you said bye to Lee, knowing you wouldn’t really be seeing her for a while.
You slump against your apartment wall and start looking at maps for something to do. Damn, this place sucks; there was nothing to do. At least it's better than Gotham. You could probably take a walk and not have to worry. So you stand up and walk out the door, grabbing your jacket on the way out.
You walk down the sidewalks, your hands shoved in your pockets, getting closer to the bigger part of town near some parks and other businesses. You look around, desperately trying to find somewhere to stop by, already feeling the cold winds penetrating through your thin jacket.
You come across a small building that you thought was a bookstore, but you quickly realize it's basically a shrine to nerdom as you see comics lining one wall and figurines lining the adjacent.
‘Might as well look around.’ You shrug. You weren’t as into comics as your friends were, but you picked up the occasional issue. Maybe you’d get some early Christmas present shopping in.
You slink around looking for something interesting in the new releases section. You knew some friends only bought comics on special occasions, so it wouldn’t be likely that some would already have the ones you chose. Biting your lip, you flip through the glossy pages, looking for something interesting that your friends wouldn’t have.
“Having trouble?” A voice asks from behind. You turn around to see where the interruption came from. Right behind you stood a guy in a dingy-looking blue rugby shirt and some jeans that looked just a bit too big for his body. His eyes looked earnestly interested, more at the comics than the person he actually started talking to, though. His glasses shine under the fluorescent lights.
“Nope, not really. Just looking at stuff for some friends.” You turn halfway back, perusing the selections.
“Well, some of these are really terrible. I should know; I read all of them once they come in.” He explains.
“I bet.” You reply snarkily.
“Mhm, and I can tell you which ones are worth your time.” He moves next to you, sorting through the comics next to you.
“I’m really ok, I’m just looking.”
“What about these?” He pulls out some and shoves them into your hands.
“Who are you?” You shake your head, astounded at the sheer confidence and audacity of this man to just start pushing issues in your face.
“Oh, I’m Adrian.” He smiles and goes back to looking through the plethora of books.
“Ok, Adrian, I have to go.” You shift to turn and leave.
“I haven’t really seen you around. You new here?”
“Yeah, just moved in.” Damn, he was easy to just spill information to.
“From where?”
“Gotham.”
“Oh, shit, really? Is it really full of crime like everyone says?”
“Oh my god.” You turn back at him. You smile with annoyance, tired of everyone asking that question. “It’s not that bad. Everyone just makes it sound worse than it actually is because Batman keeps the fucking bat shit crazy ones alive. Plus, it’s only the one area that’s crime-ridden. Almost everywhere else has the same amount of crime as the rest of the country.”
“Jeez, sorry.” Adrian shoots his hands up.
“Yeah, well, maybe you should do your research before you assume everywhere is a shithole.”
“I didn’t mean it like that, I was just curious.” He puts down the comics he was holding
“Alright, whatever.” You walk out of the store only to be hit with a blistering wind and rain. You immediately push the door back inside.
“Yeah, it’s pretty bad out right now. You definitely didn’t dress for it.” Adrian remarks.
“Yeah, I can see that.” You shiver.
“Since you’re new here, you got any friends?” Adrian’s voice is a bit smaller now.
“I just got one, she’s preoccupied with work stuff this week, though. I’m just getting settled.” You really should stop spilling everything. This was bad practice for someone working in some sort of special ops place or something. What actually was it that they were doing? It was just something about the way he smiled, like he wanted to know more, that made you comfortable.
“You want me to show you around?”
“I have to go buy some stuff for my new job, just stuff to decorate my desk, like some picture frames.” You shrug.
“Oh, I can show you downtown! They have some cool places with that stuff. Plus, you’ll have some inside intel and possibly a new friend. You said the only person you know is busy, right?” He bounces on his heels.
“Isn’t it too rainy to walk around?”
“We can wait it out.” ‘We,’ he said, if you hadn’t met like two minutes ago.
“Sorry, Adrian, maybe next time.” You smile and pull your hood over your head, speeding down the sidewalk and back to your apartment.
“Wait, what’s your name?” He calls after you, shielding his face from the harsh droplets. You call back your name, smiling after you turn your head.
Adrian was cute, maybe a bit slow when it came to recognizing social cues, but the straightforwardness confused you into a happy smile. Maybe you’d see him around again.
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You awake with a knock at your door. You scramble out of your blow-up bed; you have yet to set up your mattress and sheets.
Lee was at the door waiting for you.
“I thought you had work stuff?” You yawn, opening the door.
“I still have some time in the mornings. I brought donuts!” She smiles, rushing to your kitchen counter to set them down. “You haven’t set up anything since I left?”
“I got some of my bedroom done, just not the bed. I’m just tired.” You say, rubbing your face and choosing a donut from the box. You take a mental note of the name so you can get them later. Lee sits on one of the fold-out chairs you set up. Your small dining set was being delivered today.
“So, how was your first day?”
“Rainy. I tried looking around, but nothing looked good enough to brave the weather.” You joke.
“Yeah, that makes sense. Hey, I talked to everyone today; they’re excited to have someone new on the team. I know it’s only been two months, but someone new always brings a fun dynamic. You’re gonna be the center of attention.”
“Awesome.” You reply flatly.
“Oh come on, they’re all fun. They just have their own unique… character.” She laughs and takes a bite of her donut. “So you’re settling in nice enough?”
“Mhm, I think today, if weather allows, I’ll get some stuff for my desk.” You smile.
“Why don’t you think about the giant boxes everywhere first?”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. What time do you have to be at work every day?” You ask for your sake too, so you can remember not to be late.
“Around nine. It’s pretty chill, so if you’re a few minutes late on your first day, don’t sweat it. Set your alarm for eight, I’d say; it’s about a twenty-minute drive from here.”
“Thanks, Lee. For everything, I mean. This was really great of you.”
“It’s really nothing. We needed someone who’s good with computers, anyways. Economos is good, but there’s a lot more maintenance issues and smaller things that he doesn’t have enough time to deal with.” She explains. You nod, assessing the weather through your window. You could probably get something done today; get that desk stuff, and maybe see the downtown area. You then remember that guy from yesterday. What was his name?
“Well, I should get going. You’ll be alright?” Lee grabs her bag off of the back of her chair.
“Yeah, I’m good.” You give her a thumbs-up.
“Awesome. See you sometime tonight or tomorrow.” She waves goodbye and leaves you with the rest of the donuts in the box. You assumed it was for the rest of her coworkers, but maybe it was for you. She opens the door, and almost as if she read your mind, she calls out, “The donuts are for you, by the way. Don’t eat ‘em all at once.” You both laugh, and she hurries once again out the door. You were probably going to be ok here.
