That F**cking Yankee

Bonding (Fluffy)

"Miss. 'Y/L'" He said in a shocked croaky voice. "My dear, I did not see you there"

"O..Oh..I'm sorry Mr. Van Der linde" You said back panicking getting up.

"No need to apologize, please, stay seated" He was now walking towards you. "Don't let me disturb you"

You sat silently still refusing to look at him, you could feel the butterflies in your stomach, your throat tightening.

"May I?" He asked as he was next to you.

Looking up at him you saw he was gesturing to sit next to you, with a nod you moved over. You two sat in silence for a while, Dutch was reading a book, he was always reading a book. You hadn't noticed your breathing became bumpy, you were shaking.

"Miss 'Y/L'" He asked as he shut his book loudly.

Your body flinched at the sudden noise.

"Y..Yes.. Mr. Van Der Linde?" You replied fast.

The mans eyes glazed the water.

"Do I scare you?" His eyes trailed from the lake towards you, his stare piercing into you.

You didn't know how to answer, you sat there silently for a while, eventually you gulped.

"I..uh..I..eh.. A little.." You replied with a cracks.

"Why?"

Your insides shuttered, you just wanted to run but you wanted to be near him. This is the closest interaction you had had with him. Sure you had been out on runs with him, walks, talked to him but it was in front of everyone in the camp. Never during the night where everyone else was asleep.

"I.. I don't know Mr. Van Der Linde" You said clearly.

You looked up at him, his eyes were intruding yours. The side of his face was lit up by the white moonlight, the way it sculpted and highlighted his facial frame made you unconsciously bite your lip. 

Turning away you blushed heavily trying to hide your face but you knew he saw but he saw it. Admiring the water once again you realized that your body was shivering, rubbing your arm you inhaled a sharp breath.

"Cold?" He asked softly.

"Yeah.. I..I've been out here a'while" You nodded.

"That nightmare again?" You felt his eyes fall from you to the water again.

"H..How do you know about that?" You replied as your head shot up towards him.

"Me and Arthur talk, Miss. 'Y/L'" He chuckled softly. "Your generally awake at the sames time and I can just tell" 

Your face went warm knowing that he talks with Arthur about you. Continuing to rub your arm you removed your feet from the water and sat cross legged hoping you'll warm up. Just as  you did so Mr. Van Der Linde became all fidgety and began to remove his jacket.

"Here" He said with a low grunt as he placed his heavy black jacket around your shoulders.

Your body tensed up at the feeling, the butterflies from your stomach hurled up your throat as you felt the softest of his hand graze the side of your cheek. 

"T..Thank you.. Mr. Van Der Linde" You coughed up past the butterflies. 

You two sat in silence for a while before you gave way to a yawn as you were getting tired, rubbing your eye you heard Dutch scoot closer to you with his book. Putting his book face down his lap he adjusted his jacket that was around you before you felt his legs and torso come into contact with yours. Watching him he put his hand to his shoulder that was closest to you and tapped it. You looked at him dumbfounded as you knew what he meant but really didn't know what he meant.

"C'mon" He said with a oddly sweet smile. "No need to fear, I won't bite" He chuckled softly.

As you hesitated he nodded gently giving you the okay again you rested your head on his broad shoulder. You couldn't help but smile widely as you lent on him, the smell of his sweet cologne was filling your nose but the mix of his tobacco soaked skin interrupted it every few breathes. He grabbed his book and began reading again silently, turning the pages every few minutes.