Once Upon a Dream - Joseph x Reader

[ Chapter 8 - Problems ]

[ Michiko's Pov ]
Emma and Emily were in my room sipping tea and chatting about our next plan. With my room next to Joseph's we were trying to eavesdrop on the lovebirds, my how wonderful romance can be... We were trying to figure out how to get them together for a surprise date on valentines day. Emma says "How about we make them meet in the library!", Emily giggles and says "Yes! Lets make them end up there at the same time! What do you think Geisha?". I smile and say "Please, call me Michiko, and yes that sounds lovely, we just need to decide what to-". Gagging noises and Joseph audibly saying "Don't swallow yet" and "Swallow". We all look at eachother exchanging "OHH I KNOW" type of looks and I say "Well I guess we dont have to worry about them getting together anymore". We giggle and discuss some other ideas for valentines day...

[ Your Pov ]
Joseph had gone downstairs to wash the dishes and told me to wait for him. The curiosity got the best of me and I couldn't help, but feel like I had to see for myself. I open the drawer and lift the note off the box and see that the box turned out to be... condoms. I quickly shut the drawer and begin to pace around the room. Is that what Wu Chang meant? I wonder who else knows about our little "rendez-vous". I open the drawer once more to make sure everything was in place the way it was before Joseph could notice anything was out of place, but thats when I saw my letter. I grab it and as I was about to close the drawer Joseph walks in the door.

I try to hide the fact that I was hurt, how could he keep something as important as this from me? I'm sure he had the idea that this belonged to me. I saw him look at the letter I was holding and he had a look of shock, fear and sadness. Those eyes of his reflected the sadness he felt at the very moment and his mouth expressed a worried gesture. He must have known what was coming, but I was a coward, I stood there for a moment as we looked at each other. I tried to hold my tears and I said "I thought we had something real, why did you keep this from me? I don't think I can trust you anymore. This was a cruel thing to do". He didn't move or shed a tear, I took this chance to leave right away, I could not stand to look at that face of his. As I walk out I feel his grab me by wrist and pulls me into a hug. His face was buried in my shoulder and had his arms wrapped around my chest. He said "Please don't go..". I step on his foot and quickly run to the door, I couldn't care who saw and dashed out. Nobody was in the hallway and I ran into my room. Once I was inside I began to cry.

I was foolish to think I could trust him, and to think I know I still love him despite that. This wouldn't have happened if he had told me about finding my letter, I would rather have opened up to him then than anytime now. I feel my heart throb, I feel like I could hate him forever, but deep down I love him. Since when did I feel this way? I recall all those memories of us spending time together and I begin to feel empty. What if we never solve this? I shouldn't let myself be persuaded by these emotions, I need to be strong and prioritize myself once more...

-Timeskip-

A few days have passed and we haven't talked at all nor ran into each other in a match. There had been rumors of a new hunter arriving today and another ball was prepared. The preparations were already ready and I went to the library to grab a new book. I entered and I saw Emma, Emily, and Geisha sitting with worried looks. We make eye contact and they pretend like nothing was going on, how odd. As I reach the bookshelves I quickly read each spine and as I'm walking I feel a tap on my shoulder, I turn around hoping to see Joseph I see Kevin instead.

"Good afternoon M'Lady! Can you please hand me that book next to you?"He points to the book and I extend my hand to grab it. I hand it to him and ask "Is your arm okay? You have it all bandaged up!". He looks nervous and says, "Well I just had a rough match a while ago, Joseph was being too reckless. He hit me a bit too hard and well my arm got scraped real bad. He's out of his mind! I'm gonna rest my arm since it's starting to hurt again, goodbye!". He sprints to the door and I feel worried for poor Kevin and Joseph. I grab the play Romeo and Juliet and as I see Joseph walk in the library, it seems he was approaching Geisha's table.

I sit down and try to hear what they would chat about and I hide. I can hear mumbling, but I hear Joseph's voice clearly he said "I'm scared to lose her, I know that keeping something that I wasn't meant to see or have was wrong, but what if she doesn't forgive me? I can't help but delay my apology each time I see her, I can't help it! I don't know what to do... The guilt is eating me alive!". He sets his head down and I see Emma and Michiko patting Joseph's shoulders. I couldn't help it, but my heart was throbbing. I felt so bad for ignoring him. If only we were able to communicate properly and listen well. I begin to think and I realize the mistake that we both made that day. I didn't give him the chance to say what he felt or why he did it, but not only that! I also tried to think the worst of him during that time. I clasp my chest and I hear Geisha say, "Don't worry things will get better soon! I mean... relationships aren't always peaches and cream!". Joseph looks up to her and says "But we're not in a relationship...yet". Geisha looks shocked and asks, "S-So what exactly is your relationship...Not to seem prude, but what exactly happened with the whole gagging and swallowing-" Emily giggles and says "I hope you used protection!". Geisha and Joseph looked shocked at what Emily said, and Emma was giggling and smiling.  I felt heat rise up my cheeks, but what I wondered was what Joseph was going to say next.

His face turned red and he quickly said "It's not like that!". He stormed off looking embarrassed and Geisha, Emily, and Emma followed. I discreetly walk out the library behind them and I receive an invitation to a match. I accepted and ran to the parlor. Once I arrive I quickly sit down and see Embalmer, Seer and Female dancer walk in. I sigh and hope for the best.

Once the match begins I open my eyes and see cameras and I run to hide in a locker. I don't think the others hid well because two of them got chaired and terror shocked once the photo world ended. I sigh and go over to heal Embalmer while Joseph goes to chair Seer. Once I finish healing Embalmer he mutters "Thank you" and runs away. I notice Joseph has gone after Female Dancer and I go rescue Seer. I was embalmed by Embalmer as I rescued Seer. I ran after Seer making sure to avoid Joseph at any cost, we found the basement and I began to heal him. The match was starting rocky, we still haven't finished decoding any ciphers because of our decoding getting interrupted and cut due to the cameras. Once he's healed we begin to decode together and Embalmer gets knocked down. Seer leaves and I guess he must've gone to rescue Embalmer.

I lose track of time and continue to decode, spacing out. I noticed that Embalmer was about to die and I rushed to rescue him, but it was too late. I couldn't find anyone nearby and I noticed that Seer was chaired and Joseph had found me now. I try to run away but I get hit hard on the shoulder. I hear a loud pop noise and I'm in severe pain, my arm must be dislocated. I somehow managed to trip and my face was about to hit the floor. I fold my hands to prevent my face from getting hurt and landing on my knees. I tried to get up and rescue Seer, but I couldn't move. I felt Joseph lift me up and carry me bridal style...He surrendered the match.