Dex x Reader : Sugar Crush chapter 4
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Notes: Damn. I did say some chapters are longer then others lol. Also loooooook new picture only took me like 10 attempts to get this still damnit.
Summary: Reader moves into the same building as one Agent Poindexter. A bond starts to grow between them. Can the reader move on after a traumatic past ‘relationship’ ?
Chapter: 4/?
Trigger Warning: Mentions of physical and emotional abuse ! YES this one will come with trigger warnings. I tried not to post too much into detail stuff but this entire thing comes with a trigger warning !
Word count: 2930 words (alright I had no idea this was that long when did that happen?)
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As you opened the door of the coffee shop, the smell of warm delicious coffee hit your nose.
You held the door open as Dex followed you inside the shop.
It was small, there were some tables where you could sit. You had been here the first day you arrived in this part of the city, the delicious smell had worked like a magnet on you. The first time you were here alone, with your worries and fears. How would you manage on your own in such a big city ? You knew Hell's Kitchen had the reputation of being unsafe, but at the same time it was perfect. Your ex would never find you here, no one here knew you, who would he ask?
It was easy to disappear here.
“I came here the same day I moved in the building.” you tell Dex.
“I haven't been in here myself.” he stood next to you know, waiting in line.
“Well, I can assure you that the coffee they serve here is awesome. So just tell them what you want, I've got the cash part covered. All thanks to you saving my bag.” you nudged his arm with your elbow softly before you realised what you were doing.
Why ? Why did you do that?
He looked at you and for a moment you felt small.
Did you really just nudge your neighbour that works for the FBI ?
“Sorry... I'm not used to going out with people anymore, I didn't mean to overstep-” you started to stammer.
The grin that appeared on his face made you relax “Don't worry about it. It's fine.”
Your eyes fell to your feet, you were sure he must think you are some kind of weirdo now.
“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I know I can be annoying sometimes and it scares people away and-”
“Goodmorning, what kind of coffee would you like today ?” a voice suddenly interupted you.
Dex eyes stayed on you before he spoke up and ordered his coffee and waited until you told the barista what you wanted.
“(y/n).” Dex nodded towards an empty table “Wanna take a seat ?”
“Yeah.” you tried to smile, you really did.
The mental games your ex had played with you were now showing their results. He had told you so many times how annoying you were, how you would never find another because of it. You were reaching out to strangers now, reaching out for a connection you feared you would never have again. And you knew it would scare people away, that it might make you look 'needy'. Perhaps you were, perhaps you really needed someone, even if it was just a friend.
You quietly walked with Dex towards the small table and sat down on the chair opposite of him.
Your were fumbling with a napkin on the table when Dex cleared his throat and it made you look up at him.
“You know, I'm curious. What exactly were you going to do if you had caught that guy stealing your bag ?” placing his elbows on the table as he asked you the question.
“Ha, I actually didn't think about that. It all happened so fast. I was talking to this girl and when I wanted to start running again, I felt my bag being pulled off of me. Not smart, I know.” you shrugged your shoulders.
“Not at all. I see it a lot at work, people going after the bad guys themselves. It's pretty common.” he chuckled “But next time, don't risk your life for a bag. Alright ?”
The concerned tone in his voice suprised you “Uhm.. I won't. Sorry you got dragged into this, if I had paid attention to what was happening around me.. it probably still would have happened.” your voice got quieter as you thought about it.
A soft laugh escaped him “You didn't drag me into anything. And it would have looked pretty bad if an FBI agent would've let a criminal just run off.”
“Yup, that would've looked pretty bad.” you laughed a little “So you were just doing your job.”
Dex's eyes locked on yours for a moment before they darted around the room “Yeah.” he was tapping his fingers on the table and it made you believe that he was nervous for some reason “I uh.. I run on that route a lot. I noticed you were there when you stopped to help that woman.”
“Oh. Yeah, she had fallen. I hope she is doing fine now.” you looked around to see if the waiter was coming with your coffees.
“It was a kind thing you did.” you looked back at him and were suprised to see what looked like an expression of admiration on his face.
“I just helped her up, that's all.” you brushed it off. It was only normal for you to help someone, something you wished people would have done for you.
“No... you..” he brushed his hand over his chin “You did more than that. The fact that you don't realise it just shows how good you are.”
You were speechless “I.. uhm..”
He folded his hands together on the table “I saw you give your Ipod to that woman. You saw how distressed she was and you helped her. It was an act of selflessness.”
“It was just an old Ipod.” you lied.
He raised a brow at you and you knew he saw right through the lie “Was it ?”
“Hello, sorry for the wait. Here are the coffees you ordered.” the waiter was standing next to the table and Dex leaned back on the chair.
“It's fine.” you tell the waiter and smiled at him.
The eyes of the waiter locked on yours, too long to not notice “Hi, I hope you enjoy your coffee, Miss.” he winked at you and it suprised you how bold he was “We serve fresh pastries here everyday, so if you return here tomorrow we will have the kitchen's speciality.”
There was no way that this waiter was not dropping hints to you, hoping you would return here tomorrow. But you knew that he didn't just wanted you to return for the 'kitchen's speciality', no, he was hoping you would return without Dex. This was awkward to say the least, not that the waiter was bad looking, but it was kind of.. rude ?
You let out an awkward chuckle as the waiter tried to keep obvious eye contact with you. It only stopped when Dex cleared his throat. The waiter seemed to snap out of it “Apologies. Can I get you anything else ?”
You noticed how Dex was fidgeting with the plastic cup in his hand, his jaw tense.
“No, that will be all. Thank you.” you stayed friendly and the waiter walked away from your table.
Dex relaxed as the waiter left, was he jealous ? No. That can't be possible. You barely knew each other.
“So tell me, Dex.” he looked up from his coffee to you “Did you like the pancakes ?”
He let out a breath as he heard your question “They were great. Is that what you did before moving here ? Working in a bakery or something like that ?”
A laugh escaped your lips “Ha, no. I just like to bake, it calms me down. It's hard to be stressed when you have to focus on not messing up a recipe.”
“I get what you mean. I mean about the focusing on something else to deal with stress.” he made it sound casual but you felt there was a deeper meaning to it. “Your eye is starting to look better.” he pointed out.
You absentmindedly let your fingers touch the area around your eye, almost having forgotten all about the bruises. Now you figured out why Mr.Wilkinson had looked so puzzled this morning, he had not seen you without the sunglasses yet.
“Wanna know how to handle that?” Dex pointed at you and took a sip from his cup as he waited for your answer.
“Let me guess, by not getting hit in the face ?” you took a sip from your own coffee now.
He furrowed his brow and tapped his fingers on the cup he was holding “Well, yeah..that too.. but I was gonna say that you gotta cool the area around your eye down as soon as possible. But it has been more then two days,obviously, so I'd start applying warm compresses now and then. It'll help heal faster.”
“Thanks for the tip. I'll remember it. I just hope this will be the first and last time.” you placed the cup on the table.
“You think your ex is gonna try and find you here ?” Dex started to fumble with a coaster that was on the table.
The thought of your ex coming to find you made you nauseous and it was enough to make the color drain from your face.
“(y/n) ?” Dex's eyes were scanning your face now.
You quickly shook your head and let out a breath “I don't know.. I hope he doesn't try to find me.”
“You're afraid of him.” it was a statement, not a question.
You could only nod in confirmation.
Dex placed his arms on the table again “Listen, it's a big city. I wouldn't worry about him finding you. Even the FBI has trouble finding people who go missing.”
“That's comforting ?...” you let out a chuckle.
“Yeah.. I guess I didn't think that one through.” he rubbed his hand over his face.
You let your fingers wander over the coffee cup on the table, only looking at Dex when he touched your hand with his fingers very lightly and quickly. He did it to pull your attention, but when he did it felt like a spark.
His hand quickly returned to his coffee before he spoke “But... If you ever feel like you're scared or...” he trailed off “...let me know.”
“Wow.. uhm..” you tapped your finger on your cup “Thank you. That's really nice of you.” a smile formed on your lips when you looked at him.
He smiled back at you and you couldn't help but notice how adorable he looked. He might appear as a tough FBI agent but he had a boyish charm to him.
“Yeah, don't mention it. Besides, it's my job to keep people safe.” he brushed it off.
“It's your job to keep your annoying neighbour safe ?” a playful smile on your face.
He shook his head at your choice of words “I don't think you are annoying.”
“ You don't ?” you hesitantly asked.
“No. Is that what he made you believe ?” his eyes locked on yours.
You nodded “Yeah. It's why I am always afraid that I am bugging people. I don't usually do this” you motioned your hand in a circle “Usually I just try to make other people's day a bit nicer. After losing my friends, I'm scared to make new ones...” you fumbled with your fingers.
“You're afraid they will abandon you too.” he stated and your eyes met his.
“Yes. How did you guess that ?” you looked at him in suprise, how the hell did he just know that?
He put a hand on his leg “I uhm.. I know what that's like.” he choose his words carefully.
You looked at him in disbelieve “It's hard to imagine that someone like you doesn't have a lot of friends, Dex.”
He let out a chuckle “I mean.. I've got colleagues in the FBI, but it's not..”
“It's not the same.” you finished his sentence.
He nodded and kept his eyes on his hands “Yeah.”
As you looked at him, you felt that there was an understanding between the both of you.
Hell, it was almost like he was as alone in this big city as you were.
“I wish it was easier to make friends, when you're a kid you just go up to another kid and boom you're friends.” you laughed a little as you said it.
“I didn't really have friends when I was a kid either.” his insecurity was clear as he spoke.
Your eyes widened “Really ?”
He mouthed a 'yup' before he took another sip of his coffee.
You didn't want to pry into his personal life too much yet.
You sat up straight and thought before you spoke “Well then, Dex.”
His eyes fell on you again as he noticed your change of tone.
A smile playing on you lips “Wanna be friends ?” you said it in childlike tone.
His eyes widened for a moment before he chuckled and rubbed a hand over his face “You are so strange.” he shook his head.
“Is that a yes ?” you were not giving up.
He sat and straightened himself as well now, he looked at you before he gave a short nod “Yes.”
You took another sip of your coffee as you smiled at him.
Dex was still processing what just happened. The day he met you, he had been drawn to your bubbly personality. And now you had just declared him your friend, just like that. Perhaps you thought it didn't mean much to him, but it did.
It did more then you could possibly realise right now.
“Holy shit, I just realised I asked a federal agent to be my friend.” you nearly choked on your coffee.
A worried expression quickly appearing on Dex's face as he feared you were regretting it “It's not a crime.”
You snorted “I know. It's just strange.”
He relaxed at your choice of words and let out a breath.
You cleared your throat “Dex..” you nervously tapped your fingers on your knee “Are you sure your girlfriend will be okay with us being friends ?”
“I don't think she will mind.” he answers and you feel like being punched in the gut. You should have known he wasn't single, how could he be ? He was handsome, smart and a Special Agent.
You were too caught up in your strain of thought to notice the smirk growing on his face.
“Because I don't have a girlfriend.”
Your eyes widened as relief washed over you “Thank god.” you whispered to yourself but it was louder then you had intended it to be.
“What ?” he was looking at you with a questioning expression.
You opened your mouth to speak but were lost for words for a moment, until you finally stammered “Oh, no, no ! I don't mean 'Thank God, you're single' in a mean way. I meant 'Thank God' …. we can be ...friends.” you crinched at your own words as they flew out of your mouth in record time.
He nodded his head, seeming more confussed then he was before.
“Because who wouldn't want to date you ? You're great.” you felt like you were digging a hole you were not going to be able to climb out, so you fell silent.
This time Dex cleared his throat as he took another sip of his coffee to hide the smile that had grown on his face.
You on the other hand wanted to fall through the ground and be absorbed by it at this point.
A minute of silence past.
There was something you wanted to ask and even Dex noticed your expression.
“What ?” he asked as he drank the last of his coffee.
You played with the strap of your bag nervously “Can I see it ?” you whispered it.
His furrowed his brow before he shook his head in confussion “ See what exactly ?”
“Oh, I mean your badge.” you stuttered when you figured how that must have sounded.
He suppressed a laugh and took the badge out of his pocket and discreetly slided it over the table towards you.
You carefully took it and looked “Awesome” you quietly said “Benjamin, huh?” you looked up at him.
“I still prefer Dex.” Dex paid attention to your reactions, you seemed so innocent to him, so open and honest.
You discreetly passed it back to him and he put the badge back.
“You know, I was wondering. How the hell did you manage to throw that water bottle past me and against the thief. I mean... how ?” you knew that the bottle had passed over your shoulder but how could he possibly throw it that well ?
“It's something I've been able to do since I was a kid.” he admitted sheepishly.
“Damn. You've got good aim. No wonder you're with the FBI.” you blurted it out.
The sound of a phone ringing interupted what he was about to say.
Dex reached in his pocket giving you a quick “Excuse me.” before he looked at the screen “I uh.. I have to go to work.” he gives you an apologetic look.
“Oh..” you sat up straight now. Of course he had to go to work, you probably caused him to be late. “Of course. I understand.”
He gave you a quick nod and looked at you “I'll see you later ?” his voice was hopeful.
“It's kind of inevitable, Dex. We live in the same building.” you playfully said.
He nodded quickly and shook his head as he let out a chuckle “I.. yeah.”
“Good luck today.” you quickly said as he stood up to leave “And stay safe.”
“I will and ...thank you for the coffee.” he grinned at you before he left.
Tag list for this series (let me know if you want to be added or removed from the list :) ) :
@marvelmayo @givemeabite @aquietfortitudeandstrength @missminx1993 @fuchsiagrasshopper @legion-18 @love-mia-marisol @star-spangled-man @bilson-bethel