Pairing: Javier Peña x F!Reader/OFC (no y/n, no physical description, established backstory, no clear age gap mentioned)

Content/warnings: alcohol consumption, smoking/nicotine habit, lil hurt/comfort, overall quite tame but very very fluffy! Movie nights! I REPEAT, MOVIE NIGHTS!

Ps- 70s disco has been the vibe for the last couple of weeks

Chapter 7: The VHS machine

The specks of rain danced down from the peaceful grey sky, one of them landing on Javier's neatly trimmed moustache. His deep brown eyes twinkled and his face angled upwards breathing it all in.

Even in this miserable weather, Javier was clad in his usual linen button-up and jeans, looking like a hot drink on a chilly day; wrapped up in a flecked cashmere scarf and a button-up jacket.

You had just crossed the street, skittering onto the sidewalk just as another cab zipped past. Waking up the orange-hued maple leaves and sending them into a spiralling frenzy of eddies in the air.

"Whoo, that was close." You raised your eyebrows, waiting for Javier to saunter over.

"Where was this place again?" He asked, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his jeans. You had come to notice, after spending an increasing amount with the man that not knowing, made Javier uneasy.

"Just around this corner." You gestured with your neck, slowing your pace as he caught up.

"Don't be so impatient." You scolded playfully after a beat, pushing your shoulder into his warm arm. "We're here." You stopped in front of a toasty-toned cafe, yellow light spilling out through the glass.

"Cafe Luxembourg." Javier read the white letters off of the red sign then ducked down slightly peeking at its interiors. "Looks ordinary to me." He turned to you and you rolled your eyes.

"They have a speakeasy below " You retorted. "It's very you." You grabbed his elbow and dragged him inside, knowingly leaving him stumped with your ambiguous statement.

Javier eyed you, a mischievous glint in your eye as you made your way downstairs. The faint melody of 'Night Fever' by the Bee Gees floated through the old-fashioned glass doors of the speakeasy.

"You're kidding-" Javier huffed, his brows scrunched up in the middle as he gave the place a once over.

Glistening miniature disco balls hung like elegant chandeliers from the ceiling. The wall behind the register was adorned with a vibrant mosaic of hot pink and electric blue tiles. A wall piece consisting of glossy vinyl CDs, the inside bands painted with a neon colour glinted in the background.

"What?" You turned to Javier with an innocent shrug. His hands immediately went to his hips, his brows raised expectantly as he stood akimbo.

"What?" You said again, barely keeping your grin under wraps as your eyes grazed his outfit, "I thought you'd like this place."

"Uh huh." he raised his eyebrows as 'Hot Stuff' by Donna Summer started playing.

"You fit right in."

A convulsive breath left his shapely lips, as he unwrapped his scarf from his neck. You could tell that he was trying to look annoyed, but his small smile gave him away, the way it tugged at the sides of his mouth.

He followed you to the counter and rested his forearm on it as you watched him.

"Their arabica roast margherita is heavenly," You said, cocking your head towards the employee waiting to take your order. "I have a feeling you'll love it." You smiled up at him.

As summer neared, you and Javier found yourselves meeting at any chance. An unknown force pulling you towards each other.

The two of you had found that the 'ordinary' Luxembourg cafe served really good non-alcoholic versions of your favourite drinks below stairs and they made a mean breakfast platter, which you and Javier had come to share as part of your easy routine get-togethers.

He would take the maple bacon and waffles because it was too greasy for your liking and you would take the pancakes because everything came on the side. You would end the meal by sharing the berry bowl and some coffee.

Movie nights at his place had become another commonplace as you had found out how much movie knowledge the man lacked as a result of his stay in Columbia for the past decade.

It happened one day as the two of you walked side by side along a strip mall, Javier was discussing his upcoming classes and what he had planned for each lesson. There was a hint of a sparkle in his eyes as he passionately tumbled on.

The conversation trailed off as you found yourself stopping in front of one of those movie rental stores. You were rifling through the VCDs enthusiastically looking for a copy of 'Independence Day', the one Marie would not stop raving about. You had guessed it was because of Jeff Goldblum, Marie had a huge thing for him.

"Is this one any good?" Your thoughts scattered like marbles and you looked up towards Javier holding up a copy of 'Silence of the Lambs'. He was reading the back of it intently, squinting his eyes ever so slightly.

"You haven't seen it?" You exclaimed, slotting the VCD in your hand back into the rack and walking towards him. He shook his head, bottom lip jutting out. Your hands found your hips, curiously and you narrowed your eyes.

"I didn't really have the luxury of dropping by the theatre on my every whim and fancy." Javier rolled his eyes at your reaction.

"We'll watch it together." You decided after a beat. "We have a lot of catching up to do."

Although impassive at the store, Javier had bought a VHS player for his new apartment the very same day and invited you over for the feature, much to your pleasant surprise.

You had come to realise that you were not quite as tight-lipped as Javier. Your movie nights together had flipped the switch and you were given glances at his past - a past which you had never talked about before.

While watching Silence of the Lambs Javier revealed to you that he had preferred his psychology undergrad course to sociology. The entire movie had him encapsulated and he would nod in agreement to your excited quips about Anthony Hopkins's incredible acting.

Schindler's List was the first tear-jerker for you. Javier had nudged you closer and rubbed your shoulder softly after the scene with the exhumed bodies, later telling you about some of the similar horrors he had witnessed in Medellin. Although his exterior was rough and hardened, you were touched to see that he had a few soft spots that he was willing to share.

Ordinary people had you tearing up yet again. Through your sniffles, you had glanced over at Javier, his eyes glassy in the blue light of the scene where Conrad breaks down in front of Dr. Berger over the guilt of his brother's death. It was your turn to rub his shoulder. He had paused the movie but never met your eyes as he revealed his own mother's battle with mental health and the tragic end she had met.

He had excused himself to the bathroom before shedding a tear and returned a few minutes later, with no further mention of the topic. He had let you hold his hand softly for the rest of the movie.

Tootsie was a change of pace that both of you had enjoyed thoroughly. The apartment scene had Javier stifling giggle after giggle until he could no longer. You had found that he had one of the most delightfully contagious laughs you heard.

The more you started spending time with Javier the more nosy your friends had become. So much so that they had convinced you to bring him over for dinner one Saturday night.

Javier's voice interrupted the quiet hum of the VHS machine in the dimly lit living room, where the anticipation of another movie night filled the air. His attention was divided between preparing the VHS player and stealing glances at you in the adjacent kitchen, which had practically become an extension of your recurring presence in his home. A warm chuckle escaped you as you answered his sudden inquiry.

"Saturday night, next week," you confirmed, carrying two bottles of beer to the small oak coffee table. "You already know Marie. There's just two others," you said, settling onto your familiar side of the couch.

"You don't have to, you know." You added softly after a minute.

He paused, his hands still hovering over the VHS machine's rewind button. "No, I want to," he replied. "I think it'll be nice, having more people that I know."

Your thoughts meandered as you watched him rewind the movie tape, your mind dipping into a rare pool of misgivings. In truth, a small part of you hesitated at the prospect of sharing Javier. He had seamlessly become an indispensable part of your life, and the idea of Marie's (although you loved her fiercely) exuberance or Dexter's blunt demeanour potentially disrupting your newfound simplicity and contentment was unsettling.

"Javi," you mused after a couple of beats, drawing your attention away from your lingering thoughts. drawing his attention.

"Hmm?" he responded, still focused on the task at hand.

"Did you ever go furniture shopping after you moved in?" You asked and he turned around, taking a seat on the couch. He shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips as he picked up a slice of pizza. "I haven't had the chance."

"You need to get yourself a new rug, some decor maybe." You looked around his living room, taking in the spartan surroundings. "Like maybe a painting, lamps…" You made a full circle, back to his face. "It's just a bit - bare?" You offered carefully.

A thoughtful look crossed his features "I could do with some new curtains." He bit into the pizza, huffing some air out at its heat.

"Yeah," You agreed, "Sheer blinds could work."

Javier looked over at you and by the look in your eyes, he was certain that you were already conjuring up carefully curated images of how his living room would look post-spruce.

"Shall I start it?" He asked, settling deeper into the cushions and you nodded.

The opening scene of Independence Day buzzed across the screen.

"Does he drink wine?"

You were more nervous about the dinner than you would've liked to admit. glueing your attention onto slicing the cherry tomatoes into halves had been working for the most part.

"I think so." You guessed. You had never seen him drink it.

"Actually, I think he prefers something harder." You turned around and looked at Marie, her grey, sleeveless mini dress, covered by a blue checked apron. She stood on the other side of the open kitchen, setting down the bottle of white wine next to the bowl of fruit.

"Whiskey?" She cocked an eyebrow. Too strong for tonight, You thought and shook your head.

"I think some beer should do." You responded after a beat, throwing in the tomatoes into a large bowl.

"I think there's some in the fridge." She tittered over to the refrigerator, mumbling. 'Or I can just ask Dexter to pick up some on his-"

*riiing*

"That would be Dexter." You eyed her with a chuckle as you walked around the kitchen island.

You had barely opened the door when Marie shouted out from the kitchen.

"Jess! Beer?" One side of your face scrunched up at the noise as you let Jess in.

"Work ran late, I'm sorry." He said, taking off his jacket, ignoring Marie. You nodded, glancing at the carton of beverage in his hand. "Is he here yet?"

"Bathroom." You followed him to the kitchen as he set down an 8-pack of Heineken on the counter. Feeding them one by one into the refrigerator.

"Dexter is watching the game." You passed him the last of the bottles.

"I got beer." Jess greeted Marie with a quick peck on the cheek as you entered the living room. Jess threw himself down beside Dexter.

"Jess, this is Javier," Marie said brightly as Javier entered the living room.

"Oh, hey." He half got up shaking the man's hand. "Delighted to meet you."

"Likewise." Javier smiled, giving Jess's hand a firm shake, glancing at you for a fleeting moment.

"Beer?" Marie asked with a clap.

"I'd love one," Javier said and Marie dragged you to the kitchen as the men made small talk over the game.

"You haven't slept with him, have you?" She halted by the counter. Your eyes swept up to hers, rolling ever so slightly.

"That is a cheap question and the answer is of course, no." You said, reaching for the bottle opener on the top shelf, shaking your head. "We're just friends."

"That means 'yes'." Marie shot excitedly.

"No, it doesn't." You shot back, handing her the bottle opener slicing through the enthusiasm in her voice.

"Do you ever masturbate?"

*pop*

The cap flew off and rolled around in little circles. Your mouth hung open. "Marie! No!" You scooped up the bottle cap off the counter with a quick swipe, aghast.

"I'm sorry," She shrugged. "But, have you seen him?"

You rolled your eyes letting out another heavy breath. "You're unbelievable, you know that?"

The alarm on the oven went off with a sharp *ding* and Javier watched you get up from your seat, declaring that the lasagna was done.

"I'll help you out." He set his beer down on a coaster and followed you to the kitchen. You smiled a small 'thank you'.

"Can you get the plates?" You asked, squatting in front of the oven, pointing to a shelf on your right.

Javier obliged, walking around your figure as you placed the large white dish onto the counter with a content 'ahh'.

"Smells good." He nodded, watching you leave your post beside the pasta dish, avoiding his feet, and into some corner, fishing out serving spoons.

"Yeah, I think it's going to be good this time." You said excitedly. "Can you bring it over?"

Without giving the steaming dish a second glance he grasped the side with his bare hand. A sharp bolt of searing pain made its way across his fingers and he jumped back holding his scorched hand.

"Fuck." The words sizzled out of his mouth like his rugged fingers.

"Shit! Are you okay?" He heard the spoons clatter against the counter. "Shit I should've warned you." You scuttered off to the freezer, rambling on about ice.

"No, it's alright." He bit back, shaking his hand back and forth. You grabbed the ice tray from the depths of the freezer and rattled it around till a few cubes came free before wrapping them into a thin napkin and rushing over to him.

Javier's gaze followed you from the freezer to the counter, where you handed him the bundle of ice delicately and instructed him to keep it on his injured fingers. It was so simple, yet for him, it felt like the most domiciliary act he had witnessed in years.

A strange, unfamiliar ache began to bloom in his chest, a sensation he couldn't quite place. He ran his free hand over his torso, attempting to recall the last time he had smoked, chalking up his peculiar emotions and brushing them off as a mere consequence of his nicotine addiction.

"I really hate it when this happens," you remarked, your eyes holding a gentle warmth, accompanied by a soft smile. It sent another unexpected pang through his chest. His gaze drifted down to his hands and he mumbled a small 'yeah.'

"All okay in there?" Marie's voice sounded through the walls.

"All good." You called back, stepping away from him and gathering up the lasagna dish with a mitten and holding it close to your person.

"Ready to go?" You asked. He nodded, picking up the plates.

Your cheerful voice resonated through the telephone line. "How's Laredo?" you inquired, "Oh, and your dad?" You added quickly.

"It's good," Javier replied, a warm smile gracing his lips. "He's good."

"I wish I could say the same about Miami," you lamented. "There's always someone there, ready to tell you they can do your job better. And if there isn't, you're probably not doing your job well enough in the first place, and someone else is already covering for you."

Javier settled into his bed, the phone cradled to his ear. "So, which one is it?" he inquired.

"Both," you sighed, a hint of frustration in your voice. "But that's not entirely what's bothering me," you confessed, and Javier patiently waited for you to continue. "I mean, it's silly."

"No it's not, tell me," he encouraged.

"Am I high maintenance?" you asked and your voice dropped slightly.

Javier took a moment to consider, the weight of your question sinking in. One glance at you might lead someone to think you were, but a few more revealed that you were observant, challenging, and even amusing at times.

"I'm sorry. That was a stupid question, wasn't it?" you chuckled before he could respond, dismissing your own concerns.

Javier tilted his head to the side, frowning. He hated when you did that when you belittled your own feelings. The thing was, he never spoke without careful thought, and this question had him momentarily stumped.

"I like it," he finally hummed after a thoughtful pause. "You keep people on their toes."

So, it's a good thing, then?" you sought confirmation. The best thing, he thought

Javier hummed firmly in response, and your voice softened in relief. Most of the time, he had found that simply listening and validating your feelings was the most effective approach when it came to you. You were pretty good at the rest.

"Thanks, Javi," you said his name with a breathy sigh, and a rush of warmth enveloped him, causing his heart to swell.

The familiar pang in his chest resurfaced, and he took a deep breath, sitting up and murmuring an "always".

"I think I'm going to start quitting." He grunted as he took you along and rummaged around his room for the freshly procured box of Nicorettes.

A/N:

DUN DUN DUN!

Okay, so what do we think? Honestly, I'm just proud of getting this one out T-T
I had so much trouble deciding what music would be playing in the speakeasy. It turned into a 3-hour Bee Gees/Elton John jam sesh at home. (my mom loves 'How Deep Is Your Love' I played it at least 4 times)

Also, I vote for Meg Ryan Fall all year round. I just want to live in a Nora Ephron movie and wear cute sweaters.

Thank you for all the love and the notes! I love each and every one of you who has stuck around. Reblog, leave a note and comment!

Ps- I'm new to beta reading/readers but I can totally get on board. I just need to understand how it all works :')
Love, hugs and kisses :**

-itsjustsemantics