Waiting The World (Vincent X Reader) (Dead plate)

11: Stew?

 I blink awake, yawning quietly. That was certainly a nice change of pace; much less violent and scary than other dreams. I'd much rather have that dream again than the rest of them. Unfortunately, I still have to get up and get ready for work, no matter how much I want to lie in bed and dream about Vincent. About the dance, not Vincent... Tooooootally not Vincent. That would be weird. I swing myself out of bed, standing up and hobbling groggily to the bathroom. I strip down, hopping in the shower and scrubbing myself clean in record time.

Drying myself off, I grab my dirty clothes and toss them in the laundry. I'm gonna have to clean those, too. Some other day. Eyeing the laundry line, I try to get a feel for how dry it looks. After realizing I can't tell, I walk up and ball it in my hand, squeezing it. Dry fully through? My luck seems to be on the rise. I pull the suit off the line, smiling as I feel each and every piece is dried through. Today is going to be a good day, that's for sure.

I pull my clothes on, humming quietly to myself as I prepare for yet another day. I throw on my deodorant, sighing as the scent meets my nose. Is it a crime to want to look and smell good for your boss? No. After finally being somewhat satisfied with how I'm dressed, I head to the kitchens, still humming peacefully. What else should I do before work? I need to do my dishes, but I don't have time for that. The thought of dishes brings up the memories yesterday, him giving me another meal. Might as well find out what it is.

The cool light from the fridge illuminates my face as I reach in, grabbing the bowl he handed yesterday. This ought to be interesting; it's never been a bowl before. I promptly place it on the kitchen table, taking the napkin covering the top off and smiling. A beautiful array of beef bourguignon is spread around the bowl, and the hearty smell of meat and stewed vegetables wafts from the bowl. Despite the immediate urge to dig into it with I fork, I chastise myself; I should heat this up. It would've been better if I didn't leave it overnight, but it's too late to fix that now.

I pour the bowl into a clean pan, heating it over the stove as I daydream. I can't help it; watching stew warm up isn't exactly the most exciting thing to do in your spare time. It's only a couple minutes before it's done, and soon, I've got it set up in front of my chair. Poking my fork into it, I shove a bite in my mouth before basking in the flavor. The contrast between the sweetness mixed with the savory beef and the other delicious vegetables only makes my mouth water for more, and before I know it, I'm done with it. 

Gosh, I know he's a professional chef, but DAMN! Did he have to be that good!? Sighing happily, I stand and stretch, before carrying the bowl to the sink and rinsing it clean. Doing the same with the plate, I dry the pair off before wrapping it in a handkerchief. Why not make it pretty? It'll definitely- wait, I'm trying to get on his good side, aren't I? I shrug the feeling of, checking my room again. After making sure I didn't leave anything, I stepping out the door.

The floor instantly creaks under my feet, and the door hinges squeak closed so annoyingly loud I almost kick at them. Locking the door, I tip toe down the stairs; it'd be a crime to wake up my cranky neighbors at this hour in the morning. Slipping out the front, I glance over at my bike, before looking down at my watch.
I've got time. Why not walk? Make it enjoyable? I've been in an oddly good mood recently anyways. Making my way up the street, I take in the beautiful view, smiling softly to myself.

Magnificent streaks of scarlet stain the sky, a stark contrast to the pale violet clouds floating peacefully. The Sun peers just about the horizon, creeping higher and higher into the sky. Sunlight reflects off store windows, rays of color dotting the sidewalk. Unfortunately, I can't spend all day admiring the majestic scene; I have a job to get to. And a Vincent to see. Against my best wishes, I can't shake that man from my mind. Luckily, it doesn't matter too much whether I'm thinking about him or not. I'm here, and now I can see him in the flesh.

The little bell above the door dings as I step inside, immediately wiping my shoes on the floor mat. I can't even go looking for Vincent, though; he's right behind the front desk. I'd almost believe he was waiting for me. He nonchalantly glances up at me, before he startles into a more... Excited position? He smiles softly at me, waving as I walk towards him awkwardly. I can feel my face hot as I look at him, trying to hide the embarrassment in my voice before he can catch onto it.

"Ah, hello, Y/n. I've been waiting for you, you know."

I meet his eyes, confused and slightly put off by his behavior. Instead of questioning it, though, I just place the bundle of dishes in front of him. Standing there, I look at the floor, my hands clasped behind my back.

"I, um, brought your dishes back."

"Yes, I see that. You know you don't have to do that, right? You can just... Keep them."

"Well, yes, but I'd feel bad for taking your dishes, you know? Or any of your stuff, for that matter."

Vincey blinks, looking me up and down silently for a moment. Eventually, he lets out a scoff.

"You're a good person, aren't you? That's commendable. Not the type to steal..."

I look him in the eyes for a second, a bit put off by his words. I mean, it was a bit of the truth; I would feel bad if I stole from Vincent. But from anyone else? Ugh, this is confusing. Does he know my true feelings, or is he just as clueless as I am of what he's thinking? Before I can decipher what he really meant by it, he clears his throat.

"Anyways, I have something for you. For after work."

Despite his innocent look, I can't stop my mind from going to the dirtiest thing it could be. I turn away, making my way to the cleaning supplies and hiding my face as it grows redder and redder. When I turn to see his reaction, though, he just smiles knowingly, his own face a little red. He caught me. Making his way over to me, he rolls his eyes, scoffing again.

"Oh, please. calm down. It's nothing bad, for goodness sakes. Just a little gift, that's all."

I sigh a little, the tension in my body relived as he clears it up. Not that I'd be mad with option two- I shake my head, looking up at him. Meeting his eyes, I watch his gaze dart across my face, before he looks away. He waves me off, silently walking off to the kitchens, leaving me dumbfounded and in shock. I start sweeping, doing my best to get him out of my head. Nevertheless, I blush again, my cheeks flushed pink as I smile stupidly. Of course, I'm confused about what the whole conversation was supposed to be, but I can't help but wonder what he got for me.

That little nuisance. My goodness, he's...

He's magnificent.