My second book in my imagines collection. With characters from all fandoms, ranging from Satoru Gojo to Violet Baudelaire, and more! (With stories for both male and female readers!)
The afternoon sun filtered through the wide glass windows of the bustling mall as Ben Pincus walked side by side with Y/N. He held her hand with a gentle, familiar grip, his thumb tracing little circles against her skin as they strolled through the aisles. For Ben, the sheer size of the mall and the constant ebb and flow of people created an environment that was both exciting and overwhelming. He'd come a long way from his days of being a socially awkward, somewhat reclusive kid, but places like this still brought out his nerves.
But he was here, braving the crowded mall for Y/N, and for the sake of this rare chance to spend time together. She had been talking about a shopping trip for weeks, mentioning a new store opening and sharing her excitement about just being out and about, looking at clothes, trying out gadgets, and just enjoying their day without any interruptions.
Y/N looked over, her eyes bright with enthusiasm as they passed a storefront showcasing a series of vibrant, colourful sneakers. She tugged his hand, pulling him closer to the glass. "Oh, Ben, look at those! Aren't they fun?" she asked, her tone light and playful.
Ben glanced at the shoes, tilting his head. He tried to find something interesting to say, but his gaze kept wandering to the people around them—the ones bustling in and out of stores, the laughter and chatter that seemed to echo off the walls. "Yeah... they're, uh, super colourful," he managed with a nervous smile, looking back at her.
Y/N's brow furrowed slightly as she took his hand again, leading him into the store. She could tell Ben was a little tense, but she hoped that maybe browsing together would help him relax. After all, he was here because he wanted to be, right?
Inside the store, she started picking up different sneakers, holding them up for him to see. "Okay, what do you think about these?" she asked, holding a pair of bright yellow shoes with a pattern of little sunflowers.
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He chuckled, nodding along. "They're nice! Bright... probably hard to lose," he said with a grin. Despite his good-humoured answer, Y/N noticed that his fingers tapped a nervous rhythm on his thigh.
Her eyes softened. She knew Ben so well by now that even his smallest gestures were like a language only she could read. She took a step closer, holding his hand a bit tighter. "Ben, are you alright?" she asked softly, tilting her head to look at him more closely. "We don't have to do this if you're not comfortable."
Ben blinked, surprised. He gave her a small, shy smile. "No, I... I'm fine! I just—uh, I guess it's just a little... loud. And busy," he admitted, a faint blush colouring his cheeks. He didn't want to disappoint her, not when she seemed so happy to be out on this date.
Y/N squeezed his hand, giving him a reassuring look. "Hey, it's okay," she said gently. "I know this can be a lot. How about we take a little break from the crowd?"
Ben looked at her, surprised and grateful all at once. "You wouldn't mind? I mean, I know you were excited to shop..."
She shook her head, smiling. "Ben, I'm here to spend time with you. We could be anywhere, and I'd be happy. Why don't we go to that ice cream place? You love their milkshakes, right?"
