marilyn thornhill x fem reader

marginal spike

You're early, you know, but you couldn't sleep last night out of excitement.

Opening the door to Marilyn's observatory, you're not surprised to find she isn't here yet. Agreeing on meeting before class seemed ideal, something about a specific plant the other woman needed for the remedy that was only obtainable when it blooms just before sunrise.

You round her table of carnivorous plants, flicking a pitcher plant lightly on passing and snorting on a chuckle when it opens its maw in distaste at you. You notice beakers and vials litter her table, most of them different colours. Strange liquids slosh in their confines. But there's one pale and opaque, sparkling and different from the rest.

You know you shouldn't, but your curiosity peaks. Walking over, you tilt your head and reach out to it, but just as your fingertips caress the vial, a venus fly trap hidden behind a pot, snaps at you. Clamping down briefly, it doesn't relent until you rip away in shock.

"Fuck!" You yelp, darting back and putting your finger in your mouth with a pout. You taste blood, hissing at the pain. You never understood how her fly traps are so deadly.

"Did you expect anything different?"

Marilyn's amused voice rings out into the room, startling you so much so you knock one of the other vials off its perch. You stumble to right it, fumbling with it as you finally plant it upright again and blush all the way down to your neck.

"Sorry." You apologetically smile, making Miss Thornhill huff on laughter. She looks so perfect today, she's wearing a blue jumpsuit with a collared shirt underneath; she's slightly dirty on her knees, like she was gardening, boots caked with mud from the early morning rain.

"It's quite alright, dear." She starts, draping her coat over her desk. Somehow you blush deeper, her warm voice never fails to have you at her mercy. You think of being wrapped up in that very coat and feeling safe.

Making it to you, she raises an amused eyebrow at your red and throbbing finger you nurse.

"Curiosity killed the cat?" The red head muses with a smirk, making you chuckle in embarrassment. She reaches out to your finger, assessing the damage with a concerned and tender frown as you bite your lip sheepishly.

Looking closely, she adjusts her glasses, and you swoon.

"Satisfaction bought it back?" You answer, making Marilyn look up with a snort. You feel your stomach flip, her smile is breath-taking.

"Silly girl." She shakes her head with a smile, reaching out to a nearby aloe vera plant and snapping off a piece. You blush at the term and love how it sounds on her lips. "This will help with the pain," She starts gently, "but you have a marginal spike stuck in the wound."

You blink dumbly. "Marginal what?"

Marilyn huffs on a laugh. "Marginal spike," She repeats, looking to you with faux disappointment. "The teeth like pointy things? I thought you were my top student?"

You smile on a shy laugh. "I am, just forgot."

Miss Thornhill hums in jest. "Uh huh, sure, darling." And your knees weaken, especially when the hand holding your injured finger rubs gently.

Then Marilyn is looking around the table with a frown, seemingly looking for something. "Shoot, I left the tweezers in my other bag."

"Oh," You frown, reassuring her. "It's okay! It doesn't hurt much," You shrug. "I'll be okay, ma'am."

Then the other woman is raising a disapproving eyebrow, sighing. "If you think I'm leaving this unattended, you're mistaken. If left untreated, it could cause an infection, sweetie."