twelfthsong | — I'ᴍ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ʜᴇʀᴇ, ᴅᴀʀʟɪɴɢ Dᴏɴ'ᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏʀʀʏ 'ʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ᴛʜɪɴɢ, ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏʀʀʏ 'ʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ᴛʜɪɴɢ

[He does feel it and his other hand tightens its grip around her, pulling her close. John murmurs a quiet goodnight to her and eventually falls asleep to the sound of their heartbeats and breathing.

The next morning he wakes with Clara in his arms again almost forgetting the night prior. Sleepy surprise that crosses his face that dissolves into tenderness. He presses a soft kiss to her head again, untangling himself from her hold hoping not to wake her too much. After he cleans himself up and dresses himself in clothes from the night prior before moving into the kitchen.

He clicks his teeth upon finding almost nothing and no decent coffee in sight. Apparently Clara hadn't had time to restock apart from the party - so really without thinking he laces up his boots and heads onto into the morning in search of breakfast.]

[ The sleep that Clara has is truly the best she's had since she doesn't know when. It was almost as if her mind knew someone was there with her, holding her, and so she could finally fully relax.

When she wakes up and sees the bed empty, Clara blinks in confusion first, reaching out to find that the rest of the bed is cool. She'd almost question if anything happened at all if not for the sweet ache between her thighs. ]

John?

[ When there's no answer, she gets up, throwing on a random t-shirt and nothing else as she walks through her flat which doesn't take long. He isn't there and she stands in the middle of her living room, stunned. He's gone and she feels the panic rise in her chest. He wouldn't leave, would he? Not after everything they did and said. And she still has to see him at the shop, would he really set himself up for that?

Clara doesn't know, because everyone else in her life she thought would be there hasn't been. They've all gone away one way or another, and a part of her mind laughs at her, wondering what she expected. John will be fine, he's seen her rotating through people at the cafe. And no one's ever wanted her the way she wants them, Dani was proof of that.

Sinking down on her couch, she draws her knees up to her chest and bursts into tears, so angry at herself for more than her mind can keep up with. But she'd broken her own rule of never falling in love again, and now she was hurt. Like always. ]

[John takes longer at the shop than he expects. It isn't so much the walk; since Clara's flat isn't too far from the Coffee Box and therefore his own flat, he gets there relatively quickly. What stalls him is someone peering into the store front clearly checking to see if it's open.

He'd groaned immediately; he had suspected this might happen. That was the risk when you didn't run consistent hours. Before last night he had intended to open up shop today but plans had obviously changed. Unfortunately Ms. Murphy caught sight of him and he had no choice but to wave back and send her off with a cup of tea and a pastry from the day before before locking the door behind her again.

He works as quickly as he can and before anyone else can enter the shop he's back on the road towards Clara's. He unlocks the door, pastries and coffee in hand - only to see Clara in a curled mess on the couch. Immediately he's crouching down beside her, door slamming behind him in a rush.]

Clara? What happened? Are you okay?

[ When the door unlocks it startles her into looking up and she gapes at him in surprise, swallowing back salty tears and meeting his gaze. She's so stupified because no one's ever come back before, people don't do that, and so she doesn't know what to say for a few seconds. Clara's never been given this part. ]

You came back.

[ It sounds so small in her own ears and she wishes she could've found something more profound to say, but she's too stunned that he's in front of her. ]

Came back? Of course I came back. [The confusion on his face is clear.] I went out to get breakfast. Your fridge is an absolute shamble, Clara. We're going to have to go to the shop later.

[Despite the clear levity in his voice he reaches for her to wipe away the tears still staining her cheeks.]

Edited 2022-08-27 20:08 (UTC)

[ She's in shambles, and when he reaches for her she wraps her arms all the way around his neck as tightly as she can. When she speaks again her voice is muffled against his neck. ]

No one ever does.

[ As for her fridge, well. She's mostly depended on the shop to keep her alive. That, and take out. It's too lonely cooking for one, and she doesn't care for it. ]

[The hurt in her voice breaks him and he holds her against him as tightly. John knows she's gone through so much in such a short period of time. He can't even begin to fathom everything swirling through her mind. It dawns on him several beats later that he should have maybe woken her up and told her that he was only going to be gone for a little bit instead of up and leaving. But he wouldn't have known until now that she would have reacted like this.]

I'm sorry. I should have left a note or something I wasn't thinking. The stupid old man part of me is showing through.

[ Already shaking her head, Clara pulls back just enough to be able to actually talk to him. ]

John, I don't think this was a normal reaction so. I should be the one apologizing, for acting like a lunatic. Didn't even put on knickers, just started crying.

[ She's embarrassed, her cheeks turning pink. ] I shouldnt've thought that about you.

[He casts a glance down to her bare thighs, cheeks colouring slightly at the realization she isn't wearing any underwear before letting out a laugh.]

Why don't we both take the loss on this one then? [His hand smoothes her hair back, a now mildly amused look on his face.] Go get some knickers on and you can properly enjoy some coffee and day old pastry.

Fancy.

[ Clara takes a second to wrap her arms around him though, reminding herself not to say thank you like a cliched romance novel. But it's there anyway in her hug and the soft kiss she presses just below his ear before getting up and disappearing into the bedroom again. When she returns she's in cotton running shorts that are now in the pajama category for being too worn, and a t-shirt that's too big with her hair pulled back in the messiest of buns. ]

I didn't know I was such a heavy sleeper. Honestly, this is the latest I've slept in...[ She shrugs her shoulders because she has no idea. ]

[John watches her disappear back into the bedroom, gaze lingering on her form before unlacing his boots and setting out the pastries. When she emerges he hands her a coffee, sitting back on the couch.]

You needed the sleep. I'm glad you slept in. [But it's the same for him. He's used to starting his days early to bake or to prep for whatever project he had set out for the day.]

[ When she sits, it's close so that she can lean against his side while they eat and talk. ]

You too, apparently. [ For a minute there's content silence as she eats. Licking the side of her thumb, Clara looks over at him and finally asks the question that's been sitting in her chest since the word came up last night. ]

So. Any regrets? [ She tries to say that nonchalantly, like if he says yes they can laugh about it. ]

[He’s mid-sip of his coffee when Clara asks her question.]

I’m here, aren’t I?

[Granted, it had been a while since he’d had anything akin to a one night stand but they had never been his style to begin with. John had always felt too awkward to a degree to sleep with someone and leave the next day or never see them again. Even if he had been the type, he knew that he cared about Clara too much to do something like that to her.]

Do you have any regrets? [Teasingly he bumps into her slightly.] Am I going to be walked out of my own shop tomorrow?

[ She can't help but grin and when he bumps her shoulder she laughs softly. ] No regrets, I need a job.

[ But she does soften, looking up at him. ] No regrets, John. Except maybe I've slept with someone who thinks day-old pastries are good enough for someone who just rocked their world.

[ And there's her teasing again, grinning once more before taking a large bite of her pastry and talking with her mouth full. ] Quite rude of you.

[He can't help but out let out a mock gasp at that.] Rude of me? See if I make you any pastries at all in the future after that comment. [As if to prove his point he flicks a stray crumb towards her but there's laughter in his eyes as he does.]

Where are my baked parties? I'd say based on your reactions that you enjoyed yourself last night too.

[ Clara feels herself blush but she isn't about to deny it. ]

Oh, I did. I very much enjoyed myself. Always knew all that kneading could only work to my advantage.

[ It hasn't been this easy before, and she takes a swallow of coffee. ]I do like to bake though. Just too intimidated to bring you anything I make.

[The blush doesn't go unnoticed and he can't help but smirk slightly despite colour rising to his own cheeks.]

Why don't you show me then? I'm here. Good excuse to drag you to the shops too.

You want me to shag you in the shops in appreciation?

[ She absolutely knows what he meant but they're both already blushing anyway so she might as well go for it. ]

[John is quite literally mid-sip when Clara says that and he chokes.] No, you know that's not what I meant at all.

[ Clara can't help but laugh and covers her mouth with a hand. ] I'm sorry, I couldn't help it.

[ She finishes her pastry and wipes her fingers on a napkin. ] But for the record, I did enjoy myself and I wouldn't mind enjoying myself again with you. Maybe after we shop so you don't starve.

[It's hard not to feel a little flustered, even with a compliment that would make most men preen. He shakes it off with a bit of a grumble.]

I'm practically wasting away. Is that how you take care of guests?

I'll make it up to you. [ Leaning over, she kisses his cheek softly. ]

I may be nervous about my baking skills, but my cooking skills aren't bad and I make a really good chicken piccata. Not to brag. I just...I don't see the point in only cooking for myself so I never do.

Not to sound like an old fogey, but you do know you save more money by eating in, right?

[John didn't want to sound like a dad. It felt like a very dad thing to say and he could practically hear River laughing at him affectionately.]

The way you're talking it up is making it hard for me not to be curious. [He raised his eyebrows slightly, a slight grin on his face.] Do you have plans tonight?

I know, I know. But...how depressing. Besides, before I started working at the Coffee Box I was having my lunch every day there. Imagine if I'd started doing proper shops then. You'd've been deprived of all this.

[ Clara gestures to her entire body, laughing, then sets her coffee down to turn and face him fully. It takes a lot of effort not to lean in and kiss the grin right off his face, and he should admire her restraint. ]

Planned to seduce you with chicken and wine. Did you have a different idea?

I'd be deprived of a lot more than that. [It's meant to be a sweet compliment, but then a mischievous tone creeps into his voice.] Like the marriage proposal. Is that how they're doing those these days?

[He hums in mock thought.] Funnily enough that sounds a lot like what I had planned.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject