Here For You (Jeremiah x Reader)
Requested by @sodapopmachine : Hi! Could you do a pre spray!jeremiah x reader where he’s freaking out about Jerome getting him or something, so the reader comforts him and they cuddle? Just something really fluffy please and thank you.
A/N: Thanks so much for the request, love! I love pre spray!Jeremiah as much as after spray!Jeremiah! I hope you enjoy this little story. :)
Pairing: Pre Spray!Jeremiah x Reader
Word count: 1,051
The red candles on the dinner table, that you had lighted half an hour ago, were visibly shorter now and the few wax drops on the wooden surface shone dull in the candlelight. Sighing, you stood up from the couch to take the cooled dishes into the kitchen. You had cooked some mushroom risotto, one of Jeremiah’s favorite meals.
It was your first time preparing it and you were internally proud of the result, but you missed your boyfriend’s praise. It was 9:30 pm on a Friday night and Jeremiah was supposed to arrive at 9 pm.
You checked your cell phone - no new messages.
„I don’t get it“, you murmured to yourself and reread all the text messages you had sent him. It was odd for him to not replay, let alone to be unpunctual. This man was functioning like clockwork - always reliable and precise - so you started to worry.
Your eyes found the marble wall clock above the door and as you followed the second hand, time seemed to become your enemy.
„Shit!“ With shaky hands, you grabbed your handbag and car keys, throwing your coat over your shoulders and stormed out of your apartment. The tires squeaked due to the hasty start up, but your thoughts circled around your boyfriend the whole time. You drove way too fast, raced through a few red lights when traffic allowed it in order to get to the one place where Jeremiah was: his bunker.
Thanks to the routine, you found the small building in the depths of the bitch black forest. You parked directly in front of the door to enlighten it with the car spotlights on. Quickly, you entered the code and waited impatiently for the heavy metal door to open.
„Jeremiah!“, you yelled as soon as you stepped inside the underground labyrinth, hand clenching around the knife hiding in your handbag. As you walked the hallway of his working area, you called out for him again and jumped when Jeremiah’s head popped out of his office.
„Y/N!“, he called out, but before you had the chance to say anything, he pulled you inside the room and locked the door.
„Did someone follow you?!“, Jeremiah asked urgently, holding both your shoulders to stare into you eyes. He was scared - his face glistened in cold sweat and his breath smelled of hot whisky.
It was strange to see him like this and it overwhelmed you in all honesty.
Shaking your head hesitantly, you watched as Jeremiah sighed in relief. He let go of you and filled up the half empty glass of whisky. His hands were violently shaking, so much that the bottleneck clinked repeatedly against his glass.
„Jeremiah, what is the matter? What is wrong?“ He shot you a glance and took a greedy sip, slamming the drink on the table. Jeremiah nodded his head slightly as if he agreed to something.
„He’s going to get me. I knew this day would come, Y/N“, he spoke quietly and you frowned.
„Who?“, you asked, stepping closer.
„Jerome!“, he bursted out and it made you freeze. Jeremiah then started to pace back and forth. „He is not dead, Y/N! Jerome is coming and he will kill me!“
You began to understand. Jeremiah had told you everything about his brother after he had broken out of Arkham. It was a though time, for both Jeremiah and you. One day, you got a call from the GCPD, telling you that Jerome held your boyfriend hostage along with Bruce Wayne. You had run for you life, your heart was hammering against your chest and all you could hear was the swooshing blood in your veins. But when you arrived and saw Jeremiah tied up on the stage, his brother knocking him out, that’s when the whole world became completely silent.
It was the first time you had experienced fear in its purest form. The helplessness was unbearable and so you swore yourself - no matter what, you would never stand back again. Ever.
Your arms wrapped around Jeremiah’s torso and he jerked to a halt.
„What makes you believe that he’s not dead? James Gordon has shot him“, you murmured, but he shook his head furiously.
„Bruce was here. He got a call from his butler, telling him that Jerome had been dogged out… that his followers did it. But Y/N, I know that’s not true! Jerome is alive!“
Just as he was about to freak out again, you grabbed his face with you hands, forcing him to lock gazes.
„Hey!“, you said firmly and caressed his cheeks with your thumbs. „Jerome is dead! The forensics had checked his corpse and you know how crazy his followers are.“ You knew, the only way to calm him was stating the facts.
„He got shot, fell down and got buried. The police had watched his grave for 24 hours. Let’s assume the not likely case that he got buried alive, he would have died anyway of oxygen deficit.“
Jeremiah started to relax and you smiled. „See? There’s nothing to worry about.“
You guided him gently towards the small velour couch. The piece of furniture was your idea as you insisted for him taking breaks in between work.
Sitting down, you leaned against the soft cushion and watched Jeremiah. He readjusted his glasses and fixed his messy strands of hair. You put your hand on his chest and felt his racing heart.
„I’m sorry, I’m just… I can’t think clearly“, Jeremiah apologized.
„Don’t be sorry. I’m here for you.“ With that, you shifted closer to him until your head laid on his chest. He put his arm around you to keep you close and the tension left the room.
While Jeremiah’s fingers drew pattens on your shoulder, you heard his heartbeat slow down. His pulse had normalized and you enjoyed the warmth of his body.
No words were needed in that moment of trust and sympathy, because no words could do justice to the affection you had towards each other.
„Thank you“, Jeremiah whispered into your ear and you looked up with your chin pressed on his chest. Gratitude radiated from his dilated pupils and he grabbed your hand to press a kiss on it.
„I don’t know what I would do without you.“