ྀི ۪ ׂ. ૮ ๑• . •๑ ა ۪ ׂ. ꒰ 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋𝐘 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋 !! ꒱
꒱ pre! breakout joel x feminine reader
꒱ in which joel learns that opposites attract
at first joel couldn’t stand his new neighbour.
without even meeting you he knew you as the selfish woman who had taken over the residence of a home of neighbours he already liked. neighbours sarah could spend the afternoon with when he was at work, so he was annoyed.
and even more so when he saw you.
you didn’t exactly.. fit in.
your bows and dresses, smooth unblemished skin, fluttering eyelashes and pink decor. joel constantly complained to sarah and tommy it ‘hurt his eyes’ despite your additions mostly being contained within the confines of your home.
to which sarah told him to shut up and be nice.
you and sarah had a little routine. after school she would ‘help’ you plant you veggie garden out front your house. she called it helping but really you were on your knees huffing and puffing, getting grubby in the dirt while sarah sat untouched in your wheelbarrow gossiping about strict teachers and mean girls at her school.
unknown to joel, you and sarah went on with this little routine for weeks. he was always out and work and sarah enjoyed your company way more than the last residents who were wrinkly old and made her raisin cookies rather than the chocolate muffins from the bakery you and her enjoy on the occasional afternoon.
however, you were unaware that your afternoons with your sweet neighbour sarah were secret.
you knew that her dad worked late so you just thought that was why you hadn’t been properly introduced to meet him yet.
though you do see him often, just looking. though when he realises you are aware of him somewhat staring, he quickly averts his attention elsewhere. Joel would never admit it, but he often dwells on the contrast of him and you. your constant smile and pink against his cold monotone and dark palate. opposites attract after all…
one wednesday night sarah went back home, promising to bring you back a movie to watch after school tomorrow.
two hours later, around 8:30 the familiar girl was standing on your porch knocking wildly.
“just a minute!” you called out, turning off your TV and walking to your door, you silently hoped it wasn’t anyone important as you were currently dressed in a low cut white lacy tank top and some quite tiny pink shorts.
you walk through your kitchen, just noticing your feet, wearing pink fuzzy slides, exposing your pink toenails.
opening the door you see a familiar face, sarah, and surprisingly a scruffy tall man you recognise to be her dad stands behind her. mumbling.
“n- sarah we can le- ACHOO!” he cut himself off from his babbling with a loud sneeze, drawing your attention to his red nose and shivering frame.
“oh come inside, sarah you put on the kettle hon!” you set to work, sarah knew you worked as a nurse in your old town so she was sure you could fix her dad.
he was snivelling and clearly sick. but like the stubborn man he is, he tried to play it off before finally giving in as you were not taking no for an answer. somehow you were more stubborn and headstrong than him.
so there sat a joel, a large burly man seemingly out of place on your fluffy pale pink sofa, a bunny patterned mug of steaming chai vanilla latte in his hands, staring at the women beside him.
“okay, joel, c’mere” you say. when he leans over, he definitely wasn’t prepared for your sudden touch, and he can feel blood running to his cheeks. how could he not?
“g-goodness. you’re burning. you finish up that chai, mkay? m’gonna run the bath for you,”
sarah dipped out the door before you could ask her to take him home and get him in the bath. that stubborn girl, was she really leaving the job up to you?
truth was, joel wanted to be taken care of, and you were happy to do it.
and now joel appreciates every bit of you.
now joel poorly hides a smile as you bounce on his lap babbling excitedly over a new pink bow, your hair flying around you and tickling his face
now he (begrudgingly) allows you to put lipstick and blush on him, and while he hates the feeling of product on his face, it’s all worth it when he sees your eyes light up with joy.