Don't Worry • Credence Barebone X Reader

Twelve

Getting ready to go to the church was nerve wracking. You where so nervous because you had never been to Credence's house, the place where he was beaten and abused.

After you got all ready, you grabbed that book you had picked out for Credence a week ago. You were going to give it to him that night you were supposed to meet at the coffee shop. Grabbing your coat and scarf you took a deep breath, preparing for the night ahead.

The night was cold and there were a few flurries of snow falling around you as you walked to the church. You walked up the stairs of the church raising your fist to knock. You paused, closed your eyes and knocked. The door opened the second your knuckles hit the wood. You smiled when you realized who opened the door you. It was Credence, he had been waiting for you. He stood there looking at you with kind eyes for a few seconds till he realized how cold it was. He stepped aside and opened the door for you. You walked in smiling and give him a nod of thanks.

"Y/N! I'm so glad you could make it!" You heard Mary Lou say, as she was walking down the stairs.

"Me too." You said, smiling. She was walking over to you when she harshly said, "Take her coat, Credence."

Credence suddenly grabbed the collar of your coat and started to take it off. You turned, pulling your arms out of the sleeve and unwrapped the scarf from your neck. Credence hung up your things and stood there, stiff and nervous. The three of you stood in the middle of the room when Mary Lou started to speak, "You can come help set out flyers at the table." You followed her to the long table with benches on each side.

"Credence, show her what to do." She said sternly, walking to her oldest daughter who hadn't taken her eyes off of you since you had come. Credence quickly gathered two stacks of flyers and handed one to you. He began to place them around the table. And you started to do the same, glancing up at him every now and then. He never looked up at you. You could tell he was nervous. He was scared his mother would find out you knew each other and he couldn't bare the thought of losing the only person he ever felt safe with.

After all the places at the table were filled with small stacks of papers, you walked over to Credence. He was at the sink washing the dishes. You looked over at Mary Lou, who was with her daughters making more flyers. You moved beside Credence, picked up a towel and began drying a bowl. "It's Credence right?" You said with a smirk, winking at him. He looked at you with a small smile, nodding. You looked down at his hands. They looked more red then they normally did. It was the hot water and soap. You could tell it was stinging his hands, so you quietly insisted you switched places. As he dried the dishes he looked at you with thanks in his eyes.

Chastity (the oldest daughter) went out the front door and began to ring a bell, summoning the children in for dinner. The hungry children gathered in the small kitchen area, waiting to be served. But Mary Lou made them gather the flyers before they could get their food. This made you feel sick. Even something so selfless as feeding hungry orphans was turned into them being manipulated into doing her dirty work.

After the children got their papers, they all lined up with their bowls to get their soup. Mary Lou ladled out the soup as you and Credence watched in the background. You discreetly placed your hand on the inside of his arm, squeezing affectionately. You could feel him getting less tense with every gently touch.

When all the children had finished and left, you and Credence cleared the table and washed all the dishes. Neither of you said one word while you worked, but he was so glad you were there, with him.

Once you had finished the dishes, Mary Lou came over to the kitchen and said, "Thank you, Y/N for your help."

You smiled, "You're welcome. Well, I should be going. It's getting late."

"Credence, get her coat." She said harshly. "And I want you to walk her home. The city can be unsafe at night."

You smiled to yourself, grateful you have some time to yourselves. Credence went to the door, unhooked your coat and helped you put it on. "I can't believe you wouldn't offer to walk her home on your own. You're never going to be a proper gentleman." Mary Lou spat, her back facing you both. You could feel angry growing inside of you. You opened your mouth to defend him then you felt a shaking hand on your shoulder. You looked back at Credence, shaking his head with nervous eyes. "Well, I'll see you another time." You said, holding back your anger. Credence opened the door. The cold air rushed in blowing you both back. Credence looked back at Mary Lou, placing his hand on an old winter coat hung up beside the door. She annoyingly gave him a 'yes' gesture, turning and walking away. He slowly unhooked the coat, putting it on. You looked at him with sad eyes and he looked at you with embarrassment. He was ashamed he had to ask if he could wear a coat out in the cold, winter night.

You both walked the first bit in silence. He was the one to break the silence. "Sh-She's right you know... I'll never be good enough." His voice cracked.

You gently pulled him into an alley, leaning him against the wall. "Don't talk like that, Credence." You said, looking up at his eyes that were beginning to fill with tears. "You are good enough. You are strong, and brave, and kind." You moved your hands to his face, wiping away fallen tears. "No one should make you feel like you're not good enough." You said angrily, thinking of Mary Lou's face and how much you wanted to punch it. He leaned forward, resting his head on your shoulder. Like he did the night you found him in the alley.

He wrapped his hands around your waist, squeezing so hard you almost couldn't breathe. You hugged his neck, resting one hand on his head, and you nuzzled your head in his neck. His body began to shake and sobs followed. "Hey, shhhhhh." You said in a calming voice, rubbing his head. "Th-Thank you." He said inbetween sobs. You squeezed him tighter.

After you finished hugging, you wiped away the tears on his cold, red face. You softly smiled up at him. "Well, aren't you supposed to be walking me home?" You said while walking out of the alley, hooking your arm in his. You walked the rest of the way in silence, enjoying each other's company. You laid your head on his shoulder as you walked home.

When you got to the steps of your apartment you stopped, looking up at his kind, black eyes. "Thank you for walking me home." You said, smiling. He leaned in so your foreheads touched. He softly rubbed your cheek, leaning in till your lips touched. You loved the feeling of his soft lips on yours.

He suddenly pulled away. You opened your eyes to see him staring at something behind you. You turned around to see a man standing across the street. He was tall with dark hair and a long black coat. "Who is that, Credence?" You asked, with a hint of fear in your voice. "I-It's nothing. Go on inside." He said, looking deep into your eyes. "Credence? What's going on?"

"Nothing, it's nothing to worry about."

You started walking up the stairs slowly. You stopped and looked down at Credence. He gave you a nod of reassurance. You hesitantly walked up the stair to your warm apartment.

Credence watched you as you walked into the building. The second the door closed, he ran across the street to the man. The man pulled him into the alley and said, "Have you any news?"

A/N: Actually, how does this book make you feel? I'm not a creep, I just want to know 

Luff you all,

Angie (yes, that's my name)