Arthur Hastings x Reader

Hiding behind your mask

Like any other morning you groggily woke up to your radio alarm clock to another Uncle Jack special blathering on about some new way to prepare tea. "That's enough dearest Uncle" you lazily dropped a fist on the snooze button "7:30 another glorious morning in a cloaked nightmare" you said as you looked over to an 8x11 framed picture of you and your two best friends Arthur and Percy Hastings. The three of you sat on a low tree branch while their mother got a picture of you dressed up in your best attire for an easter egg hunt "i remember my mother wanted me to wear pastel colored clothing...no way was i about to wear those colors". Being an only child Percy was like a brother to you but Arthur...you loved him never once did you drop a hint or tell him but how you wanted to...he liked Sally Boyle and you knew he never told her how he felt there was still hope then. Shaking out of your thoughts you looked over at your bottle of joy on your night stand "best bring this if anyone asks if I've taken it" you push yourself off your bed and go downstairs to your kitchen. You never cared for tea all that much (sorry if you're a tea drinker friend) but you loved the way Arthur made it for you when you'd be hanging out with him and Percy...luckily he taught you his secret for the perfect cup of tea in his eyes.

Grabbing your tea infuser the shape of a little sloth hanging on the rim of your cup you smiled remembering it was a gift from your mother for your birthday you booped the sloth on the nose as if expecting it to make a noise. You were imagining Arthur waking up with you snaking his arms around your waist while you got your tea ready resting his head in the crook of your neck you blushed at the thought. "If only...if only you could tell him you love him" you see him everyday at work today you needed to tell him how you felt enough of bottling up your feelings you thought while sipping your tea there was a light knocking on the door. "Now whose that?" You go to your front door and peek through the peep hole and see your neighbor Mrs. Pennridge holding a basket of...muffins? She must've heard your birthday was yesterday. You lightly unlock your door and open it to your smiling elder neighbor "ah hello dearie sorry i would've gotten these to you yesterday but i was a bit busy" i smiled in thanks "oh its alright ma'am i-" she cut you off "freshly baked i know you love chocolate pumpkin muffins dearie". You hugged your neighbor "Mrs. Pennridge you have a heart of gold thank you for these but im afraid i need to get ready for work" she smiled "your very welcome dearie say hello to your little boyfriend for me" she winked and began to walk to her home.

You felt heat rush to your cheeks surely she didn't mean Arthur oh but she did she practically watched you two grow up together in the neighborhood always in her garden in front of her home shed hear you two running down the sidewalk laughing and being children. You missed those days with Arthur but dreading today you wandered back to your room for your morning routing how would you even tell Arthur?. You really wanted to leave a note with your initials but you wanted to see his handsome face when you told him but fear of being rejected sunk into your mind you shook it off while finishing getting dressed your attire fitted your body not tightly but it complimented your shape beautifully. (Heres some ideas for an outfit change the colors in your mind if you wish i actually have the dress i loves it)

After getting dressed you took small bites of one of the many muffins Mrs. Pennridge brought you on your way to work so lost in thought thinking about Arthur. You heard "oh apologies miss/sir" you look up to see a Bobby and blushed slightly "o-oh no it was my fault i was lost in thought i guess". He chuckled "salright miss/sir, say...have you taken your joy today?". He held out a chocolate one in between his finger and thumb you blushed a little seeing as he wanted to feed it to you "go on don't be shy" his smile grew wider as you hesitantly took it and faked swallowing it. "Ata girl/boy he took a small bite of your muffin "have a lovely day miss/sir" and winked as he walked away you blushed fiercely but you kept walking once you were out of sight of him you spit the joy in a trash bin. "Nasty shite..." You walk into the building to your office you walk a bit slower while passing Arthur's office you heard talking...probably to Victoria you thought you began to proceed. "Y/N! Darling come back here".

You turned to see Victoria "hello Vic" saying in your best enthusiastic voice "h-hello Y/N" you looked around Vic to see Arthur smiling shyly at you Vic giggled "oh hey Arthur i need to speak with you for a moment" you said looking hopeful he returned the look. "Oh of course Y/N i actually needed to speak with you as well" Victoria raised an eyebrow "hmh let me leave you two along shall i?" Blush crept onto your cheeks you glared at victoria as she smirked and walked away. Arthur stood aside letting you enter his office nodding you entered he walked in behind you and closed his door "can i trust you Y/N?" He put a hand to your shoulder "of course Arthur we've been friends since primary school" he nodded and let a small smile onto his face "i-is something wrong?" He stepped back from you and bit his lip "yes...". You tilted your head to the side with concern in your eyes "Artie whats wrong?!" He grabs your shoulders and yanks you forward into a passionate kiss crashing his lips onto yours your eyes widened at the move made you kissed back desperately you both parted for breath.

He smirked a bit shyly "don't think i didn't know about your crush on me... I've been waiting to tell you how i feel for a long bloody time love" you stood there blushing like a fool looking away from him "a-and i was hoping... you'd maybe join me for dinner tonight...?". He lightly turned your head to him smiling sweetly you couldn't speak you just nodded with a small smile on your lips "yes!" He cheered "s-sorry...i just was really hoping you'd say yes..." You giggled at him "its okay Artie...i was internally screaming when you asked..." He smiled and kissed your cheek. "Well i wish you could just stay in my office all day..." You blushed badly at the deviously cute look in his eyes "Arthur!!!" He laughed "kidding! Now...you should probably get to your office then meet me at my home after work and maybe..." He bit his lip "hmmm?" You stepped closer to him "n-nevermind Y/N..." He was suddenly guiding you out the door he kissed you lightly "ill see you later" you both said in sync and you wandered to your office happy without joy truly happy.