how scarlet it was
declan o'hara x dbf!Reader
Maroon by Taylor Swift. after a whirlwind affair is cut short you must make peace with Declan. a dinner party going awry proves it may not be so easy- for either of you.
tags: declan o'hara, he loves reader, taggie's best friend (but not super explicit about it), affair, I don't like Maude so she is the villain here, some angst but happy ending, rain scene lol
word count: 2.2k
ϟ.·:¨༺ ♡ ༻¨:·.ϟw
You waved at Taggie, quickly whispering to your father that you were going to join the party before rushing over to the doe-eyed girl, wrapping her in a tight hug.
"Darling girl, how have you been?" You squealed, squeezing her shoulders warmly. She smiled wide, recounting the adventure of a summer in London, how she'd been shopping regularly thanks to the generosity of a certain Campbell-Black. You two giggled, talking about what she'd missed, the drama of her wonderfully beautiful family, until a strong arm appeared in a doorway just past her.
Declan stood with a tight white shirt that decorated his broad shoulders and chest handsomely. The top two buttons were undone, letting just the right amount of his dark curly chest hair peek out at you. What a dick.
"Good evening girls, you both look sporting " He smiled, walking over to you both, placing a gentle kiss against Taggie's forehead before his eyes glanced over to you.
"Not too bad yourself Declan." You smiled politely. It had been a few months now since you found yourself pressed against a wall, Declan's lips capturing yours, begging for more as your body pushed against his. It felt more like weeks since he told you that he and Maude would be trying again, another reconciliation in a string of dead ends.
And you accepted, the guilt of sleeping with your dearest friends father beginning to seep into the pit of your stomach. There had been no tears, no fight. Just acceptance on both ends that made you reconsider how much it really had all meant.
He gazed over your dress, a clean white number with small blue flowers sprinkled about. "Darlin', will ya give us a moment?" He smiled at Taggie, squeezing her hand gently. She smiled and nodded, saying something about helping Rupert with bags.
You held your breath, as Declan's gaze traveled over you, the way your dress hugged you just right, falling just above your knee. He scratched at his jaw and sighed, rubbing a hand over his face.
"Wanted ya' to know I told her." He looked down at the floor, hand running over his mustache, then resting on his jaw.
Your stomach dropped. "Declan-" You groaned, frustrated. Of course he would tell her. You weren't very mad at that, more so at the shame that you'd have to carry as you walked into the dining room, of their home, with their children.
You rubbed your face and took a deep breath. Declan walked over to you, taking your wrists, gently pulling them away from your face. His thumb caressed your hand, drawing small circles.
"It was the right thing to do. If her and I are going to...try, we needed everything out in the open." He met your eyes, lowering himself to your level. "Nothing to do with you darlin'- I promise." He placed a gentle kiss against your knuckles, and pull you close to him, his broad arms enveloping you. And damn you, as much as you tried, you couldn't help but lean into him, taking in his scent, a mix of firewood and bourbon.
A clearing throat made you both jump apart, and you both found Maude leaning against the doorway, a glass of wine already swaying in her hand.
Her pointed eyes made their way over your figure, before she scoffed and turned away. You could feel the heat rush to your cheeks, as Declan called after her, giving you an apologetic look.
About an hour and a half later you were sat next to Taggie and Rupert, making quiet conversation with them as the food was served out. You couldn't bring yourself to make eye contact with either Maude nor Declan, instead opting to push the food around your plate, toying with the hem of your dress.
You glanced around, spotting a bottle of Rosé calling your name. You quickly grabbed it, unscrewing the top and pouring some into your glass. You took a swig, letting it hang in your mouth, cringing at its bitter taste. You remembered a night a few months ago. Declan and you, laying on the wooden floor of your home. The fire had long been burned out, cold air creeping through the cracks in the wallpaper. He laid next to you in the pile of blankets, both of you naked. His chest rose and fell with each deep breath he took, his eyes screwed shut as he slept. You remember running your hand over his cheek, fingers carefully tracing over his jaw. In the moment you'd thought you had all of him. Every grumpy huff as he told you about the network, every smile when he talked about Taggie and Caitlin, and every pleading sigh when you pressed against him. The Rosé you'd drank that night had tasted so much sweeter.
And now you sat here, surrounded by his family and friends–that were also hers. There was no late night dancing in your kitchen, nor was there early morning coffee. But maybe that was the point. You would never be Maude, the daylight, trips to the shops, garden parties, waiting for him behind his office doors. You couldn't be. Not like this.
The thoughts rushed to your head, making you feel queasy, your cheeks warm as you placed the wine glass down a bit too quickly. You abruptly stood up, mumbling an excuse as you pushed away from the table, stumbling to the kitchen.
You brace yourself on the sink, breathing heavily, head spinning slightly.
"Oh poor girl, are you okay?" Maude appeared in the doorway. God this was quite possibly the last thing you needed right now. It was actually your worse nightmare.
You turned around, nodding, steadying yourself. "Yes, of course, I am so sorry Maude. I don't mean to ruin your party." You sigh and smile tightly at her.
She hums and walks over, pressing a hand to your face, feeling your temperature. "I'm sure, please don't worry yourself about it." She takes a sip of her drink, her eyes piercing into you over the edge of her glass. "You certainly weren't worried when you were fucking my husband."
You look away, the air sucked out from your chest in a minute. How does one even respond? Yes, I did fuck him, and it was the best time of my life, or perhaps, I'm in love with him and it kills me that he's choosing you?
You look away, in shame mostly, but also because you can't stand the way her eyes travel down your face, like they're carving into you, trying to make you bleed.
She steps towards you as you gather something to say. "M-Maude, I swear it was never su-" you don't finish before the feeling of lukewarm, heavy wine slips down your front. You gasp, looking down as the red wine splashes down the white dress, the blue flowers now a sad purple.
"What the fuck are ya doing?" Declan's voice rang out from the doorway.
You aren't sure what happens next, as you turn and grab a towel, trying to salvage what you can before the wine seeps any deeper into the threads. Maude and Declan yell at one another, an argument full of pent up anger, dismissal and blame. You stand at the sink, a bit frozen and in shock. Two glasses of wine and suddenly you're starring in your own telenovela. At some point the yelling stops, followed by slamming doors and a silence that's deafening.
You don't wait for them to find you like this, alone and tipsy in the kitchen with wine staining your new dress, nor do you respond when Taggie and Lizzie try to grab your hands as you leave out the front door, jacket hugged around you as you walk down the path from the O'Hara camp, to the lower hills where your small home resides. How stupid of you, to put yourself in a situation laced with so much memory and feelings.
You pushed open your front door, throwing down your bag, leaving the coat in a piled heap and through yourself onto the couch. You didn't want to move, didn't care to take off your heels or even change the dress, without a doubt very much unsavable now.
The minutes ticked by, the only sound your quiet breathing, a sniffle here and there, and the static of your old radio in the kitchen. Then a knock broke the peace, firm but soft. You glanced up, every scenario running through your head, an angry Maude out for more, a peeved Taggie wondering why you left and her parents were in disarray, and worse...Declan, coming to tell you that the distance wasn't large enough. That he needed to leave, or that you should for a new place down the isle. And the worst part is that you would. You move across the world if he wanted.
Another knock came through, and you rose to your feet, standing tall as you could. You opened the door only slightly, peeking out. A light rain had begun to fall, and it framed Declan's figure perfectly. His hair was damp, and his shirt was covered in a few scattered drops, along with some spots of wine.
He looked up, his eyes meeting yours.
"Love I am so fuckin' sorry." He sighed, stepping forward. You put your hand up, stopping him.
"Please Declan, not tonight. I can't handle anymore...shit." You sighed, pressing your hands to your face then wrapping yourself in your arms, desperate to be grounded.
He sighed, nodding. For a moment he turned, almost accepting that defeat. But then he turned back, pressing his hand to the door, pushing it open, standing inches from you.
"A month and a half ago I told you her and I were going to try. That I couldn't keep seeing ya' and that it was for the best." He looks serious as the words spill out. And all you can think about is how he has never looked at you like that. Declan has never focused his eyes on you the way they are right now. Rather, you're used to soft looks, glances that trace you like he is trying to pinpoint ever feature of yours.
Your chest twists, as if the embarrassment wasn't enough, now he's here, degrading you, reminding you of why you were so easy to leave. And worst of all he's being serious, stern, unforgiving. You nod, tears stinging your eyes.
"And darlin'...it was the worst fuckin' mistake of my life." You look up, eyes frantic to find the deception, but all they find is tragic sincerity.
"Because you left that night and do you know what I did? I stood in my kitchen for hours after. I couldn't move swear to you. Maude came home, and she wrapped her arms around me and when her perfume hit me, I felt disappointed, because it wasn't you. I couldn't even close my eyes to pretend it was you I was holding in my arms, because you fill all my senses, my smell, my touch, my taste."
You hardly realize, but he's pushed himself inside, the door shut behind him. You stare up at him, his soft once more, eyes that you've searched for in your waking moments during the last few weeks. Your heart thumps, beating so fast you worry it may decide to stop completely. Declan's hand come to rest on your face, cradling you like you'll break.
"I chose- no, shammed myself into thinking it was her, that all of the bullshit between us could be fixed. But all I could think about was you. That night I laid next to her and I hated myself, for hurting ya', for losing ya'." His other hands presses against your side, grip tight. Not in a possessive way, not like he doesn't want you to leave his sight. This is desperate, a quiet prayer that you hear him, like losing this grip on you is more than losing his physical touch. Like letting go would be your rejection of him.
"I love you. And if I ever lose you again, I'll no point in anything else. I swear it, love." He says it quietly, carefully restricting himself to give you time. His eyes, dark brown, wide, waiting.
You hardly realize it, but the tears have long disappeared. You're filled with something else now, hope or something similar. He loves you, and that's all you care about. Damn be Maude or wine or the weeks spent apart. All that matters now is the way Declan is looking at you and the words falling from his lips.
His lips. You glance at them once, then twice, then slam yourself against him. The kiss is desperate, needy, wanting of one another. It's a mess, his hand travels down to the small of your back, splayed across your center and warm as you find the tufts of hair at the base of his neck.
You both pull away, eyes closed, breath heavier than before. The rain has turned to a larger storm now, lighting shakes the house. Its fitting.
"I love you Declan, so fucking much. Please, don't ever leave me like that again."
"I wouldn't dream of it love."
ϟ.·:¨༺ ♡ ༻¨:·.ϟ
a/n: omggg I have been working on this one for almost a year and a half now! But I finally felt like I owed it a justice to post, and I feel really good about it. I hope you enjoy :)