Lab Partners to Lovers {Dottore X !Shy!Fem!Reader}

~ VI - Forgotten ~

❇Dottore❇

  I walked out of the building and began my way to Y/n's house. I groaned softly as Tartaglia ran up beside me.

  "So Dottore, why are you so attached to being Y/n's friend? You dislike human interaction more than anything," Tartaglia said. I hummed and said, "I'm not telling you because you'll just tell her."

  "What the- Jackass, I don't plan on telling secrets. Especially ones in our group. I'm just concerned for the well-being of a friend," Tartaglia said. I furrowed my eyebrows and said, "I was friends with her before I joined the Fatui. Even before we went into high school. Something happened that caused me to lose contact with her and now that I've found her, I don't want to lose her again. No matter what you try, I'm not abandoning her again."

  "Whoa. Do you know why she is so cold?" Tartaglia asked. I sighed and said, "Because I left. To her, I dropped off the face of the planet without a trace and abandoned her. She doesn't recognize me because it has been three years since we've seen each other. I've changed entirely while she hasn't. She is still the same as I first met her."

  "I feel like when she finds out, she's going to either be pissed off at you or will be happy you came back to be by her side again," Tartaglia said. I sighed and said, "I know, but if she finds that out and that I know but didn't tell her, she'll be pissed and not talk to me for a long while until she comes to the understanding of I didn't tell her at first because I want her to realize that I didn't abandon her without a reason."

  "Uh, Dottore, behind you..." Tartaglia said as he pointed to something behind me. I turned around to be greeted by a harsh slap on my face. My eyes darted toward the person and I saw that it was Y/n. I frowned and she said as tears were forming in her eyes, "You're an asshole. Do you even know how much disappearing like that affected me?! You can't just come waltzing back after being gone for so long."

"Y/n, I-"

"Don't even bother!! Just leave me alone!!"

  Y/n quickly ran off as I tried to go after her. Tartaglia stopped me on the other hand. He frowned and said, "Take it slow. I'm sure she'll come back to you and listen to you eventually."

  "How would you know? You know nothing about her," I said as I furrowed my eyebrows. Tartaglia sighed and said, "Well, I became her friend in freshman year and I've seen her come back every time she gets upset at me."

  "Because you're the only person willing to talk to her. While to her, I fucking disappeared and she hasn't seen me until now," I said. He hummed and asked, "Why don't you try and show her that you do care about her?"

  "What do you I've been doing? Trying to get her to sleep with me?" I retorted. He hummed and said, "Well with the flirtatious jokes and random compliments along with practically following her home, I would have to say that it does seem like it. Pierro sent me to ask you if planned on sleeping with her eventually."

  "Depends on the circumstances that may unfold but at this current time, it is a no," I answered. I frowned and began to walk in the direction Y/n went. Tartaglia followed behind and said, "What the- Hey!! Wait a moment!!"

  "Shut up. I want to make sure she gets home safe," I said. I gave him an annoyed look and went down the sidewalk she ran off to. I heard soft sobs come from nearby and quickly ran over to their origin. I found her in an alleyway nearby, crying behind a dumpster. I turned my head to see Tartaglia behind me and I groaned, "Stay here and keep a lookout. I would prefer for no one to catch us off guard and hurt her."

  "Aw, I wanted to see how you comfort her," Tartaglia complained. I frowned and smacked his head, "Shut up and do as you're told."

  "Alright, fine," he whined as he held his head. He pouted and I went over to where Y/n was. I crouched down to her level and pulled her into my arms. She tried to pull away but couldn't as I wouldn't let her go. I sighed and said, "Y/n, please listen to me. My parents took me away to Sumeru with no warning beforehand and didn't want me to go to school that day either. I couldn't say no as there are no family members of mine that live here in Snezhnaya. I had no choice but to leave. I've been looking for a way to come back to you, so I ran away from home so you aren't alone."

  "B-But, why did they want to leave?" she sniffled. I held her gently as I rubbed her back. I frowned and said, "To be closer to my wretched family. They've been trying to hold me back from my potential and were trying to keep us apart. But I came back and this time, I'm not leaving you behind. My family is full of assholes anyway. Sometimes family isn't as important as one would think. I'll be here. No matter what the future brings, I'm here to help. Just please, stop shutting yourself out of my life. I want you in it."

  Her face began to heat up and she buried her face into my neck. I laughed and she said, "Shut up."

  "Alright, come on, we should get you home before your father begins to worry about you," I said. She shook her head and responded, "No... I want to go with you tonight. I wanna have a sleepover and catch up with you."

  "Alright, just text your mom that you won't be home tonight then," I said. She nodded and said, "Alright."

  "Good, come on. I don't live too far from here," I said. I helped her up and link our hands as I pulled her in the opposite way of Tartaglia's direction and chuckled softly. She raised an eyebrow and looked in the other direction to Tartaglia. Y/n stickered as we left the area unbeknownst to him and ran toward my place. I let out a laugh as she giggled happily.

  "It's going to be so funny when he realizes that we aren't there," she stated. I chuckled and said, "It'll be funny when we have to see him tomorrow. Come on, my apartment is this way."

*Timeskip*

  We walked up to my front door. I led her inside to the living room and said, "I don't mind taking the couch so you have a bed to sleep on."

  "Eh?! Can't we just sleep in it together? I want to be able to get cuddles," she whined. I chuckled and said, "Of course, you can borrow some of my clothes if you'd like."

  "Alright, I'm fine with it," she beamed. I felt my heart flutter at the sight of her smile and heat rose to my cheeks. I couldn't help but have to kiss her forehead.