Vanderwood x Reader

Reunion [F!Reader]

This is a follow up to the High school lovers hc's :)

CW: injuries, blood and death
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Life as a secret agent was a lot about staying a shadow. Leaving behind as little evidence of your existence as possible. Whenever Vanderwood needed to move or buy a new car, for example, he always used one of his many fake ID's. Hell, he didn't even go to the same grocery stores, always switching it up.
Being less predictable was what could save your life with a job like that.
So the new habit he'd developed wasn't only downright stupid, it was extremely dangerous. But he just couldn't help himself...

The reason for it? His past caught up to him. Though this time it wasn't unpleasant. Quite the opposite, actually.
Yes, it was accompanied by guilt and a heartache that he hadn't felt in years. But at the same time it brought him a sense of relief. Of happiness and even home.
It didn't take him long to recognize you. Even after all these years, he was sure that he could've easily recognized you in a crowd of people. You still had that joyful gleam in your eyes, radiating a warmth that always made everyone around you feel at ease.
And he knew he should've kept walking, the moment his eyes landed on you.

His body didn't cooperate. Before he knew it, he stepped inside and instead of ordering something to-go, like he usually did, he found himself sitting at one of the empty tables in the far back.
Just because he was being an idiot, it didn't mean he would change all his habits on a whim. He just felt safer when no one was able to be behind him.

It didn't take long until your gaze landed on him, eyes narrowing ever so slightly in what seemed like recognition, although your body language told him that you couldn't figure out where you might've seen him before.
To be fair, he had changed a lot over the years. Not only because of puberty. 

While a part of him was relieved that you didn't recognize him, having someone call him by his actual name would've been nothing but trouble, there was also a part that was hoping for you to remember. A silly, selfish part...
Vanderwood did his best to mask the slight disappointment, aimlessly flicking through the small menu, even though he knew exactly what he'd take.

As soon as you stopped next to his table, he nearly choked, mentally slapping himself for probably looking like an absolute fool. But he just couldn't help it. You were even more stunning up close. Not to mention that you've always easily managed to throw him off with that wide smile of yours.
"Hi! What can I get you?", you nearly chirped.
"Coffee. Black, please."
"One black coffee. Coming right up!"
He watched how you skipped back behind the counter, letting out a long sigh.
He was already in deep shit and he knew it...

That's how the dangerous habit started. One that went on for weeks, going into a couple months.
The brunette got so easily attached to someone from his past. Someone who probably didn't even remember him anymore. Yet there he still was, seeking out any form of contact and closeness he was able to get from the woman who had once been the light in his dark and grim youth. His sunshine...
He couldn't help but smile faintly when the pet name he used to give you came back to mind.

Though he was quickly brought back to reality when you, like many times before, set down his cup of coffee in front of him.
Only this time something was different. Not only did you wink at him, but there was a piece of paper under the cup. Your name and number written on it.
His head immediately whipped around, brown eyes landing on you. And you? You gave him that wide smile again, with your cheeks tinted pink.

He knew he should've thrown the paper away immediately... What did he do instead? He read and re-read the numbers over and over again, until he'd eventually memorized them.
As soon as he had finished his coffee and paid for it, always making sure to give you a generous tip, he slipped into his car.
During the drive to 707's bunker, memories of the day when he'd left came back up.