Don't Worry • Credence Barebone X Reader

Twenty-Four

About half an hour later you were back in your apartment. You sat at the table, paying bills and such. The Christmas record played softly in the background. Credence was on the couch reading. He had read almost five books since he came. You were happy he found something to enjoy. You glanced up at the shelf. The mistletoe was gone. 'Where could it have gone?' You thought to yourself.
You continued to pay the bills, but it was hard to focus.

The sun was starting to set as it began to snow again. "How about some dinner?" You asked. Credence looked up from his book. He was cuddled under a blanket on the couch. "Okay." He said, standing up. "I'll help you."
"Thanks." You said, looking in the fridge for some chicken to make.

The apartment filled with the amazing smell of dinner. Credence cut up some potatoes and you made the chicken. He walked over to the boiling pot of water and put the potatoes in. He stayed, standing next to you. You laid your on his shoulder as the music continued to play softly. He took the fork you flipped the chicken with out of you hand and put down. He took your hand in his and you turned to face him. He moved his other hand to your waist. You put your hand on his shoulder and moved in closer, resting your head on his chest. You swayed back and forth to the music. He rested his chin on your head and you both closed your eyes, soaking in the moment. "Don't leave me." He said, quietly in your ear. You looked up at him, with sad eyes. "Never, Credence." You told him. "You don't have to worry." You said, hugging him. You felt him start to cry and you squeezed him tighter.
You grabbed his hand and pulled him to the couch.

You sat, facing each other. You held his hands and said, "Tell me." You knew he had so much he wanted to say. He sniffed and wiped away tears. "Every night I'm scared to go to sleep because I'm scared I'll wake up and you'll just be a dream." He said, with a croaky voice. Tears burned in your eyes. "I've never felt this way before. No one has ever treated me like this. I'm scared you'll get to know and you'll decide you don't want me anymore." He rambled out, not looking you in the eye. "Credence, I want to get to know you more. I'm not going to leave you." You told him, pulling his chin up. "I want to know more about you, so much." You said, scooting closer to him. You both sat there for a while, heads bowed. "What's your favorite color?" You said, slightly laughing. He looked up at you with a small smile, tears still wet on his face. "Green. A dark green, like a Christmas tree." He told you, starting to feel better. "What's yours?" He asked, with pure interest in his eyes. You smiled at this. "Blue. Like the sky on a clear summer day." He smiled at that. "Oh my gosh! The chicken!" You said, breaking the stare between you.

You ran to the kitchen and flipped the chicken. Thankfully it wasn't burnt. You also stirred the potatoes. After you finished, you walked back to Credence and sat on the couch. "What's your favorite dessert?" You asked, excited to know more about him. "Probably cookies." He told you. "We should make Christmas cookies!" You said, excitedly.

During dinner you continued your conversation. You asked him questions and he answered them. You learned that his favorite season is spring and that he hated it when it rained. You told him that you loved it when it rained. "Why?" He asked, wondering how anyone would like rain. "Because it's beautiful! I mean I understand why you don't like it. You were forced to be out in it all the time." You said "But I think it's beautiful." He looked lovingly at you while you spoke of the things you love.

While you washed the dishes together you learned that he had never been out of New York. "Well than I'm glad I get to be there when you do." You said, thinking about Maine. You were still nervous about him meeting your family. "You're going to love Maine. It's beautiful."

After you had cleaned up the kitchen and put the dishes away you stood around the apartment, wondering what to do next. The music still played and the Christmas tree shined bright in the dark apartment. Credence walked over to you and grabbed your hand nervously. He stood in front of you and stared at your hand as he rubbed the top of it with his thumb. "Credence?" You said, knowing something was up. "Come here." He said, leading you across the room. He stopped under the lower part of the ceiling where the loft was. He held both of your hands and stared at them nervously. "What's wrong?" You asked. He looked up at the ceiling. You looked up too, curiously. There was the mistletoe, hung up above you. He looked back down at you. His eyes were filled with nervousness. You could feel his hands shaking in yours. You stared at each other for a while.

Suddenly Credence moved forward, firmly pressing his lips against yours. His lips were warm on yours. The kiss was a little more aggressive than your other kisses. You held each other's hands in between you. He pulled away, his face inches away from yours. He looked at you as if to ask if this was okay. You smiled at him and went back in for a kiss. He moved his hands to your waist and you placed your hands on his neck. You pulled away again and rested your forehead on his. "You're beautiful, (Y/N)." He told you, shyly. You could tell it took everything out of him to tell you this. You smiled at him and jumped up into a hug. "I love you, Credence." You told him. "I love you too." He said, hugging your waist tighter.