What about Rita x gn reader x Dexter poly? 👉👈
Three's Company || poly! Rita Bennett and Dexter Morgan x gn! reader
Summary: Rita and Dexter begin to feel things for you, her new neighbor, and you might even feel them in return
Warnings/contains: they/them pronouns are used to refer to the reader in a gender neutral manner, pre-established relationship between Dexter and Rita that the reader eventually joins, canon typical references to murder/Dexter's side gig as a killer, slightly awkward tension due to crushes that no one is quite aware of at first (all three of these guys are total dorks), very brief mention of Paul (yuck)
Prompts used: ꒰ 1 ꒱ a weathered, second-hand couch, ꒰ P ꒱ a knotted silver necklace, and ꒰ 𓆧 ꒱ “i need to tell you something, and i need you to listen and let me say it because i might never be brave enough to try again.” from this prompt list
Beginning notes: I can absolutely do that for you anon! I used some prompts to help give me an idea for a plot, hope you like it 🫶
Shortly after moving in to your new neighborhood, you were greeted by the blonde woman who lived across the street from you and her two kids. Her daughter was polite, but seemed shy. Meanwhile, her son went trampling through the makeshift garden in the front yard as soon as he got the chance to slip away.
"Cody! Oh-" Rita sighed in resignation as Astor ran off after her brother, presumably in an attempt to get him to behave. "I'm so, so sorry about that. He's a little hyperactive."
You simply shrugged it off, fairly unbothered by the situation. "Eh, don't worry about it. There's nothing he can tear up over there, anyway. It's just dead grass and stuff."
For some reason, your nonchalant response warmed her heart. Maybe it was because she knew most people wouldn't be too thrilled at the idea of some random person's child running wild through their yard. "Still, he should know better. But, anyway, I just wanted to come and welcome you to the neighborhood." She held up a tupperware container that seemed to be full with something. "I even baked cookies for you."
"Aw, how sweet," you earnestly replied while taking it from her, causing her stomach to flutter uncontrollably. She cleared her throat, trying to ignore it.
"Now, I can't promise that one of my kids didn't slip something into them while I wasn't looking," she lightly warned, deciding to be honest with you, "but other than that it should be fine. It shouldn't be anything worse than a handful of salt or a random gummy bear that got tossed in when I had my back turned."
"Oh, that's okay. I've eaten way worse things than that and survived, I'm sure I can handle a few salty, gummy bear laden cookies," you replied with a playful grin.
Her stomach did that same weird flutter again, something that she took as a sign that it was time for her to go. "Well, just let me know what you think. And you can return the container whenever you're not busy. C'mon, kids!" She called, letting out a slight groan when they returned only to see Cody's hands covered with dirt. "Really?"
"I was looking for worms!" He declared, appearing proud of himself for the mess he made. Astor, meanwhile, just rolled her eyes and gave a light scolding of "I told you to stay out of the dirt."
"I'd better get them home. It was nice meeting you," she said with one last smile as she began ushering her kids out of your yard, making sure to look both ways before they crossed the street.
"Bye, Rita. You have a good one," you called out after her with a little wave before turning and heading back into the house, tupperware of cookies tucked protectively under your arm as you went.
Rita shared the interaction you two had with Dexter during their date the second she got the chance, practically glowing with delight as she described what had happened.
"I mean, they were just so nice, they didn't even blink when Cody and Astor went traipsing through the loose dirt in their front yard," she detailed with a faint smile on her face, unable to stop herself.
"Well, they certainly seem approachable," Dexter mused in response, his eyes instinctively cutting over to the front window that looked out across the street, as if he could somehow see you into your own house over there. "I'd love to meet them someday, if you ever have the time to introduce me."
"Oh, wow, really? I'd sure love that." She didn't know what was going on with her, but for some reason the mere notion of getting to see you again made her heart begin to race.
Her boyfriend picked up on it, too, simply raising an eyebrow as he observed her with a curious gaze. He had to find out the type of person you were so he could make sure it'd be safe for Rita and the kids to be alone with you. He couldn't risk something happening because he didn't do his research.
That night when he had some free time he decided to do a little digging. He searched through everything online that seemed to be even remotely linked to you. Everything appeared to be pretty squeaky clean on paper given the worst thing you'd ever been charged with was a parking ticket, but he of all people knew that just because someone had a good record didn't mean they were a saint.
The first time he met you in person was when you came by the house later that week to drop off the tupperware container you'd borrowed. "Um, hi," you greeted when he opened the door, clearly not having expected him. "You're not Rita."
"You're right, I'm not," he stated bluntly in that usual dry manner of his. "I'm Dexter, her boyfriend. And you must be...?"
"New neighbor. I live across the street. Just returning something." You held up the empty tupperware container as if it were the answer to all his questions. It wasn't, but he appreciated the gesture.
"Oh. Well, she's in the bathroom right now, but she'll be out in a second," he said, to which you gave a little nod to let him know you understood.
You didn't try to barge into the house without permission, didn't even attempt to peek around him, just stood there on the front steps as you waited for her to appear. Even if he didn't entirely trust you yet, he could at the very least acknowledge the clear respect you had despite not knowing her that well.
He felt a strange connection to you, even though you'd shared less than a minute of conversation. It almost felt as though for the first time in a long time he'd met someone who he connected with, but that sounded crazy. I mean, he didn't even know you besides what he'd read about online, and you didn't know him at all. So why...?
The bathroom door unlocked and out came Rita, making her way over to the door when she saw Dexter standing there. "Oh, hello," she breathed out with a warm smile the moment she saw you. He didn't miss the way her eyes seemed to light up at your mere presence, and if he shared the kind of human emotion that most people had he's certain his would do the same.
"Hey. I, um, came to return this," you explained while holding out the tupperware container to her. "I even washed it for you, and everything. Didn't wanna return it to you dirty. The cookies were delicious, by the way. No stray gummy bears accounted for."
"Aw, how sweet," she just about cooed out in response as she took the container from you, Dexter hovering nearby in the background like some kind of watchful guard dog. "And I'm so glad you enjoyed them. Would- would you like to come inside? The kids aren't here right now, so you won't have to worry about them crowding around you."
You looked surprised at her offer but accepted it regardless, answering with muttered "sure" as you followed her into the house, giving Dexter an awkward smile as you passed him.
"Please, sit," Rita urged while passing through the living room, gesturing to the couch that was there. It appeared as though it had been through several hurricanes (or kids, rather) and survived judging from its weathered appearance and the way the fabric on it was frayed and tattered.
It had been bought second-hand and was actually in fairly decent condition until her children got ahold of it, but you didn't seem to mind. Even with the springs that jabbed you in the butt as soon as you sat down.
Dexter, meanwhile, was still watching you with a critical gaze, trying his best to get a read on your personality and true nature. Nothing about you seemed to whisper "I'm a secret murderer", let alone scream it, so it made no sense as to why he felt so... strange with you here.
He didn't like this. He didn't like feeling so nervous around someone for no reason. It put him on edge more than usual. Is this what normal people felt? God, it was awful.
While he was wrestling with experiencing human emotions, Rita was in the kitchen still, using a paper towel that was damp with water to cool her face off. She didn't know why she felt so flushed all of a sudden, but she didn't want you to know about it. Especially since she was pretty sure her boyfriend already did.
Throwing away the paper towel, she put another smile on her face (something that wasn't difficult at all for her to do around you for some reason) and headed back into the living room. You were still sitting perched on the couch where she left you, and Dexter was still awkwardly observing you from where he was standing nearby. Poor Dex, he never really knew what to do around new people.
"Um, can I get you anything? Water, or...?" She offered in that usual soft spoken lilt of hers, always the gracious hostess when having people over.
"No, that's okay. I'm good, thanks." After politely rejecting her offer, you gave her a grateful smile, one that sent both her heart racing and his stomach twisting.
An awkward sort of tension fell over the three of you for a moment before you abruptly stood and headed for the door. "Well, I, uh, I'd better get going. I wouldn't wanna get in the way of your date night, or anything like that. I really only came over to return the container, anyway."
Rita felt a pang of disappointment at your sudden departure, but Dexter only felt relief. It was much easier for him to act normal and human-like around his girlfriend when there wasn't some random stranger throwing emotional wrenches in the way and messing with his typical composure.
"Oh, well thanks for returning it. I know most people probably wouldn't," she thanked while walking you to the door, grasping at straws to find some kind of way to lengthen the conversation before you inevitably left. "Maybe I'll see you around sometime. We do live just across the street from each other, after all."
"Yeah, maybe." The corners of your lips twitched into a hopeful (if somewhat nervous) smile at the notion as you opened the door and stepped outside onto the front porch. "It really was nice seeing you again, Rita. And it was nice meeting you, Dexter," you added while glancing behind her to where he still stood in the same place, not having moved since you first came inside. "You two have a good night."
And with that, you were gone, the door shutting behind you with a kind of finalizing thud that finally allowed the two of them to let out a breath neither knew they were holding.
"Well, they seemed... nice," Dexter mused after a moment or so of silence, trying to fill the quiet with something, anything.
"Yes, they are," Rita agreed with a slight nod, her hand subconsciously reaching up to toy with the knotted silver necklace she always wore. He could easily recognize it as one of her nervous ticks from knowing her so well, and while he hated to admit it he felt just about the same way.
Over the next several weeks, the two of them tried finding ways to be around you more. It was an unspoken thing that they had between them, both scared that if they dared to voice it something like this could collapse what they already had together.
Still, that didn't stop Rita from bringing over freshly squeezed lemonade whenever she looked out the window and saw you busy pulling out weeds from the same patch of dirt Astor and Cody had been trampling in when you first met. It also didn't stop Dexter from "accidentally" tossing the frisbee he was using to play with the kids outside too far so that it landed in your yard, causing him to cross the street to get it.
You were oblivious to the whole thing, just appearing happy to have the company as it was clear to the both of them that you lived alone. She knew it from the singular car always parked in your driveway and how you never seemed to have any visitors, and he knew it from the night he snuck into your house when you were deep asleep and didn't find even one remotely familial picture displayed on a table or hung on the wall.
You seemed... lonely. It made Rita sad to think about someone so sweet spending so much time by themself, and even if Dexter didn't really know how to feel things properly even he felt a brief tugging at his heartstrings whenever he saw you in passing, your expression visibly melancholic when you weren't actively talking to other people.
"They have sad eyes," she commented one day when the two of them were outside with the kids, Astor and Cody playing tag in the yard while they spoke. "Did you notice that? They always seem as though they're constantly on the verge of tears."
"Yeah, I did notice," he solemnly agreed, feeling his own version of worry, even if he didn't show it as outwardly as she did.
Thinking for a moment, she quickly came to a conclusion. "I think we should invite them over for dinner one night," she decided without leaving any kind of room for protest as she turned and headed back into the house.
He quickly followed behind, a slight frown tugging on his lips. "Are you sure about that? I mean, they seem pretty closed off."
"Well, that's just because they're never around anyone else. I mean, they've been living here for just over a month now, and I haven't seen a single visitor over there, not once. It's a little depressing, to think about them in that big house, all alone."
He couldn't deny that, especially when she had a point. "If you say so, but we'll have to be careful. I think they might be a little more skittish when it's just us alone versus when the kids are here."
"Yeah, that's true." She bit her lip, deep in thought. "Well, maybe we can convince them to come over for a drink sometime. Nothing too fancy or anything like that, just something nice and simple."
Before he could give his input, she was already picking up the phone to call you, her voice cheery and polite as she invited you over. He simply listened, anxiously waiting to hear what you'd say about it.
After a moment or so of chatting, she hung up the phone and announced, "they said yes," looking lighter than air. He didn't want to admit that he felt a similar way, a weight seeming to lift off his shoulders at your agreement.
The two of them had to find some way to work it into their schedule, but once Rita was able to plan sleepovers for both of the kids at their friends' houses and Dexter didn't have any active cases he was working on, that's when they decided it would be the perfect night to have you over. When you arrived, you were holding a quaint bouquet of flowers in your hand, muttering something about seeing them at the store last time you went shopping and thinking they'd look nice in her home.
"Aw, how sweet. Thank you," she gladly took the bouquet and turned to head into the kitchen so she could find a vase to put them in, leaving you and him alone together.
"So, um... Rita tells me you do blood spatter analysis," you began in a desperate search for small talk.
He could tell you hated it but were trying your best to be polite by doing the "socially acceptable" thing here. He could relate to that greatly. "Uh, yeah."
"I- I think forensics is really cool," you admit in a softer voice, becoming visibly sheepish as you felt your face heating up ever-so-slightly.
It was just then that Rita came back, displaying the vase filled with water and the flowers on the countertop for everyone to see. "I hope I didn't keep you for too long. I just couldn't wait to display these beautiful flowers that you brought over."
"No, we're okay," Dexter spoke up for you. "We were just talking about my job at the Miami Police Department. They were mentioning how they liked forensics."
She couldn't deny the sudden burst of affection she was filled with at the thought of you actually attempting to make conversation for once without either of them having to initiate it first. "Well, I'm glad you were able to find something to talk about while I was gone."
She gestured the two of you to follow her as she headed back into the kitchen. "Now, I know I invited you over for drinks, but I don't like to keep alcohol in the house, so-" she pulled out a fresh pitcher of lemonade from the fridge "-I hope this'll do."
He knew why she did it, even if you didn't. Keeping alcohol around was a sore reminder of Paul, her abusive, alcoholic ex-husband. But you didn't push, didn't question it, simply replied with, "lemonade sounds great."
The three of you each got a glass and moved to settle onto the couch, you sitting on one end and Dexter on the other with Rita in the middle. The conversation was kept light and friendly, with her doing most of the talking, and you and him chiming in every now and then when you had something to say.
Three empty glasses later, almost an hour had passed and she felt pretty confident in how welcome they'd both made you. So much so that she decided to pop the question she'd been dying to ask you all night: "would you like to stay for dinner?"
He could see the slight shift in your demeanor right away, even if she couldn't. You suddenly appeared a bit tense, almost uncomfortable, as if all you could think about was the way you must've been ruining their night.
"Um, no, thank you. That's okay." You carefully placed your glass down on the coffee table, making sure that there was a coaster underneath it. "I should probably get going. I wouldn't want to be a bother."
It hurt her heart to hear you say that. "It's really no trouble at all," she insisted, standing when you did and following after you. He remained seated on the couch, his brow furrowed in thought as he observed the two of you.
"I really appreciate the offer, Rita, but I'm sure you and Dexter don't want me hanging around any longer than necessary. I wouldn't want to overstay my welcome." You didn't even look back as you spoke, like you were afraid to face them.
"Please, just- stop," she blurted out before she could stop herself, causing him to raise his eyebrows in surprise from his spot still on the couch. "I need to tell you something," she began in a voice that was shaky but sure, "and I need you to listen and let me say it because I might never be brave enough to try again."
That certainly caught your attention, especially when you rarely heard her speak that firmly, even with her own kids. It caused you to stop on your way to the door and turn to face her fully.
Once she saw that you were listening, she continued. "I- we-" she gestured to both herself and him "-we both care about you, so much."
"It's true," he quietly piped up in agreement but didn't try to take over the conversation, allowing her to keep going without butting in.
"And- and you're not being a bother, okay? In no world are you ever bothering us for wanting to be around people that actually care about you," she stated firmly, trying her best to get you to understand. "We like having you around. So do the kids. And- well, I can't exactly speak for him, but I know that I wouldn't be upset if you were to join us for dinner some nights, regardless of whether it's the whole family or just us three."
"She does speak for me, actually," he commented in an almost humorous manner. "She's just too polite to say it."
That caused her to let out a slight huff of annoyance as she shot him a pointed look. He merely shrugged in response, as if to say, "what?"
Sighing, she returned her gaze back to you. "So, yeah," she finished in a manner that was much softer than before. "I just- I just wanted to let you know that."
"Oh," was all you could say at first, completely dumbfounded by her little speech, so much so that you were officially rendered speechless. You couldn't even think of a convincing argument to counter with. "Well, alright, then. As long as- as long as I'm not a bother."
"Aw, you could never be," Rita gently insisted before tentatively moving closer and wrapping you up in a comforting hug, giving you the space to pull away if you wanted to.
But you didn't. You instead melted into her embrace, letting out a sigh of relief. And when you heard soft footsteps and felt Dexter's hand giving your shoulder a stiff yet reassuring pat, you felt even better.
After all, everyone knows that two's company and three's a crowd, which was one of the main reasons you stayed away. You didn't want to intrude on something they'd already made together that wasn't yours.
But maybe, just maybe, this time around, three's company instead. And maybe what they had was even better with you in it.
End notes: this is so much longer than I intended it to be but I think it's cute so 💞
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