kisses and freckles (eddie redmayne oneshots)

Twenty: A Slippery Slope

New Year's Eve was always my favourite time. I didn't care too much for Christmas, but I liked the clean slate and unknown that came with a new year. Not to mention my mom always threw huge elegant parties, and I always took the train into London to attend. I loved seeing all the dresses and sharing bringing in the new year with tons and tons of people. Her being a film director made for some interesting guests, too. My longtime friend Eddie would be there, his mom being friends with mine, and I hadn't seen him in a while. Too bad school doesn't stop for anybody.

I had an essay to write for my post modern literature class, that I had to write if I wanted to get good marks and get my English diploma to become the writer I always wanted to be. I was nearly finished, so after having gotten ready in my tight black dress, I sat back at my desk with my laptop to continue writing.

Some time later, a knock on the door pulled me out of my groove and back into reality. Loud music and voices vibrated through the house, meaning the party had started without me. "Y/N?" A voice came from the other side of my door.

"Eddie!" I exclaimed as I opened it, wrapping my arms around the neck of the familiar voice. Eddie chuckled in my ear as his hands found my lower back. When we pulled apart, we studied each other for a moment- noting what had changed and what had stayed the same. He looked good. Really good.

"You look... holy shit, Y/N- sorry, for cursing. You look incredible, love. Why are you all cooped up in your room?" He asked, coming in and closing the door behind him to do his best to shut out the music. I hid my blush in turning away to my computer, sitting back down and trying to finish the thought I was writing.

"You don't look too bad yourself." I replied, trying to keep my voice even, "And I got carrying away writing this essay for one of my lit classes. What time is it?"

Eddie paused and checked his watch. "30 minutes to midnight." He said.

"Already? Jesus, I've been working on this for two hours." I said, turning back to my computer to save the document.

"Can't you take a break for an old friend?" He asked, leaning against the door. I grinned over my shoulder at him.

"For you? Anything." I replied after shutting my computer and turning to face him fully, grinning like an idiot.

"There's champagne and wonderful people watching downstairs. Shall we?" Eddie extended his hand to me. I grinned, slipping my hand into his and following behind him as we made our way downstairs, the music growing increasingly louder. Eddie never let go of my hand as we wove through the party goers, dressed in satin and sparkles and tuxedos. Some were familiar faces from childhood, some familiar faces from the television, and some were flamboyant fashion designers I'd probably never heard of. We successfully avoided all three as he lead me to a window bench in the far corner, where Eddie sat me down and said, "20 minutes to midnight. This needs champagne."

When he returned, he handed me a glass and sat down close enough that our knees and shoulders touched. Eddie leaned closer still and whispered, "Behind me, 1 o'clock, Joel and Ethan Coen."

My eyes widened and searched behind him for the two brothers.  There they stood, a glass of champagne for each of them, talking to one of my moms co-workers. "Holy shit." I breathed, "Go talk to them, Eddie! Get yourself a role in one of their movies! How fucking cool would that be?!"

Eddie waved off the idea, "I don't want to bug them. I'm not a very Coen-like actor anyway, you know that. Besides, how unfair would that be for you, the biggest Coen brothers lover out there?" He grinned, nudging me. "Maybe you should go say hi."

I rolled my eyes at the suggestion. "I'd make a fool of myself. I'm fine watching from a distance. Breathing in the same air as them is cool enough for me." I replied, sneaking a glance behind Eddie at the two of them one last time before they disappeared into the crowd. Focusing back on Eddie, I caught him watching me. Instead of shifting his eyes away, he kept looking, a faint grin on his face. My insides churned with warmth. "Want a photo? I'm sure that'll last longer, you know." I joked. Eddie turned a delicate shade of pink and looked down at his hands. In the background, the crowd started counting down.

"Ten... nine... eight..."

"Sorry, sorry. I just- I don't know. You get this wonderful look in your eye when you think about something you're passionate for. It's hard not to fall in love with." Eddie said quietly. Good lord. I could feel my skin growing hot as I looked away from his smoulder, focusing instead on his hands. Bad idea. I focused on the crowd, instead, thinking for a moment. "Oh- god, I'm sorry. That was creepy and way too forward and- god, I'm such an idiot-"

"Seven... six... five..."

"You're not an idiot, Eddie -"

"Four... three... two..."

"I'm being an idiot right now, Y/N, trust me. It's just- I can feel myself falling in love with you, is all. I have for a while. I'm getting there. It's a very slippery slope, you see."  He whispered. 

"One! Happy New Year!"

Grabbing Eddie by the collar, I pulled him to me and pressed my lips to his, finding them as soft as I'd imagined they'd be. He made a sound of surprise as his hands tentatively found the sides of my face.

When I pulled back, Eddie stared at me with wide eyes, a grin ghosting his big lips. "Was that just because it's New Years or-"

"Just convenient timing." I replied with a grin. Eddie laughed and kissed me again, briefly. "Besides, there's no better way to ring in the new year. I love you, Eddie."

"God, a slippery slope indeed. I love you too."

Happy new year broskies. A little late on the whole New Year's Eve thing but it's cool. Also it's my birthday. One more year and I'm a legal adult. Extra cool. Love you all xoxo