I'll Find A New Place To Be Found (Mike Schmidt/Reader)

Winter Forts

You spent the majority of the morning building a fort with Abby. Large and took up most of the living room. You, Mike, and Abby were crammed inside. Abby was beaming ear to ear over the fort. "Awesome." She said, admiring the fort. You chuckled a bit as Mike shifted a bit. "Maybe we should make more room." He said, trying to shift before hitting some blankets. Abby looked around before nodding slowly. "Yeah... We can make it bigger." She slowly crawled out of the fort before looking at you both. "Stay here! So I have a measurement." She said, before hurrying to the kitchen to grab the two other dining chairs. Leaving you two alone in the living room.

Mike rubbed his eye and sighed. "So much energy." He chuckled out. You couldn't help but laugh lightly with him. "Probably 'cause you're home." You said, poking his arm before laying back into the blankets. He glanced at you and rolled his eyes. He seemed to disagree with you, but what else would make her so cheerful? you did have time to ask when he rubbed his neck and spoke up. "I'll pay you soon." He laid back next to you, his eyes pointed to the blanket roof, "Money's been tight since this weather is messin' with my work..." You blinked at his sudden mention of money. Admittedly you didn't really notice if he was paying you or not. You shook your head before turning your body to face his.

"It's okay." You said, pinching his bicep gently, earning a quiet yelp, "You don't even really need to pay me. Gets me out of the office." It was Mike's turn to face you. He gave you a look, his brows furrowed and a knowing look to his eyes."I'll still be paying you." He said, his voice softening a bit, "Promise." You let out an over exaggerated sigh before rolling your eyes. He was stubborn, you knew this well. But, you weren't gonna remind him he needed to pay you. If he forgot then it would be no problem. Your at home work pays the bills just fine and you don't really need the money.

You both sat there in silence for a moment, staring at one another. You felt a small blush creep over your face. He was so close to you in the cramp fort they had all built. His face looked softer than when you first met him. He was so stand offish yet awkward all rolled into one. Now he looked tired and kind. You looked down at your hands as you fiddled with your fingers. He pulled away before sitting up, hearing Abby dragging the chairs to the living room. Mike decided to leave the fort to help her move the furniture. However, she seemed more intent on moving the chairs herself.

"I can do it." Abby huffed, pulling one of the chairs across the carpet to the living room. Mike seemed to just ignore her pleas to do it herself as he set two of the chairs in the living room. She was quick to run and grab the final chair. Mike simply started setting the chairs up in corners. Abby walked back with the chair in tow. You peeked your head out, almost ramming your head into Mike's leg. "Hey there." He said, tapping the chair as Abby started to drape the blankets up to the chairs.

"Hey." You hummed, crawling out from under the fort. Abby was grabbing books from the shelves and placing them on the chairs to hold the blankets from falling. You turned to look at Mike with a small smile. "This fort seems to be turning into a castle." You teased, elbowing Mike playfully. You were earned with a quiet chuckle as he looked out at Abby. "I'll just let her do her thing. She seems pretty dead set on this... Castle." He commented, crossing his arms a bit as Abby raced to retrieve more blankets and sheets from Mike's room. He was quiet for a moment before his attention fell on you.

"We built a fort together recently." Mike said, "With Abby's friends and Vanessa." He tilted his head to the kitchen, "Probably seen the picture on the fridge. Seems to spark her love for big forts." He looked back at you. You were glad to know the woman in the picture wasn't a girlfriend or something; not that it mattered! You smiled a bit, looking at him in return. "I feel honored to be included in this one." You said. "You'll probably be a part of many of them." Mike said, though he looked away from you. His face was a softer shade of pink.