Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It has been five weeks exactly eversince that new neighbor comes and live in that empty dead house. For the longest time, Jacob thought that it'll always be empty, will only be filled with that sad ol' memory he had of the sweet old lady who lived there alone with her son. Now that she's gone, her son had moved out quickly to run away from his own sadness.

Jacob pitied the man, he seems to be a great son. Hell, Jacob always looks forward to speak with the old lady. She's kind, unlike his own mother. Maybe that's why it kinds messed him up when he heard her passing. Well, atleast she pass peacefully on her bed. Jacob always wonder if he'll be able to pass peacefully like that as well.

The blonde shakes his head, geez Jacob, it has been a year. Stop thinking about her much. You'll ended up weeping about her again.

Now, let's talk about the new neighbor. For that 5 week straight, not even once he manage to catch a glimpse of this one mystery person. How can he be sure it's only one? Well, for once the house is too quiet to be filled a family, hell, even a couple or a anything really. Jacob wonders if the neighbor was an individualist, well, not like he had a problem of it of course. Look at Jacob, he's also individualist! If you catch the sarcasm.

Although, he do wonder if the neighbor would be friendly like the old lady. Or maybe a bit awkward like her son. He just hope that no crazy nut of a person would moved in besides him, it would drive him insane to have them for the long run.

But, he also do wonder, will this person... Well, dunno... He always has been lonely his whole life. His love life was a mess, not even once lady nor lad could fill that void inside of him... He just, wish. Wishing for that chance, for once, for a miracle. Maybe they can be the one? If they turns out to be just a normal person that is.

Jacob sighed as he shakes his head, what he was thinking about? Miracle? At the great year of 20**? How old is he? 5? Thinking that Santa was real and ready to pop in through the chimney to deliver him his presents? He chuckled a bit to the thought of his own jokes. Maybe he needs to lean back and enjoy his life a bit. Even if that means he's going to do it all by himself, alone.

Lost on his own job of stacking the photocopy paper back to the shelf, the door bell clinking as the sound of faint footsteps can be heard, filled the almost quiet store. But still, Jacob doesn't really care, thinking that his other coworker is going to help the customer. But he forgot that today, there's only the two of them. Him and Zach. Honey has dipped earlier in the afternoon due being called by their landlord due to some conflict of their roommate so Zach kindly take their shift for the night.

And right now, only Jacob's available on front store since Zach was currently sorting items in the storage room since the boss called in for a missing stock. As the footsteps can be heard getting closer, Jacob eventually stop his stocking and immediately look to the side.

a man. God he's tall. Jacob looks up to met the man's soft hazel eyes as he could hear him say something. But his mind was somewhere else.

"Uh, hello...! Do you mind if I-"

"Absolutely not!"

Jacob grinned as he immediately stand up, his canine teeth blares out proudly.

"Welcome to ◼◼◼◼◼◼! Anything you need from the good ol'-" he stops, just so he can point out the nametag on his chest "-Jacob. To help?" The man grin with those cheeky smile as the brunette man in front of him let out a chuckle of amusement. Success. Jacob thought. Finally someone who can take humor in this world.

"Ah yes, I do, uh, Jacob. Just wondering if you guys got printer machine in here? Need one for a work haha..." The brunette chimes softly as Jacob nods and makes a motion for the cute costumer to follow.

"Come with me then, let me show you where the good's at!"

As they both walked to where they store the printers, Jacob couldn't help but feels a bit... Intrigued. The guy's definitely not from anywhere near the area. He sounds, different. Hell he looks different! Jacket on top of what it seems to be a long sleeved shirt? This man is insane!

But, but he smells good. He smells too darn good. When he was being a bit too close to him when walking, he can assume the smell of vanilla... And honey. Yeah. It's definitely honey.

As Jacob walk, mindlessly now. He accidentally pass the printing aisle as the brunette already stop and was concerned on what to do.

"Hey um, Jacob? The... We're here already-"

"Huh?"

Jacob stop and look over as he was right, the printing machine is literally there.

"Ah sorry sorry, got uh, got distracted a bit... So, which model ya want? I'll get it right up just for y-"

"Do you have any recommendations...? I uh, I do used to have a printing machine before... But it was an old one, and to be honest, that was my father's haha...." The brunette awkwardly laugh as Jacob stop In his track.

Shiiit, this is bad. Him? HIM? The well known Jacob won't-shut-his-mouth-off Alden? The blonde freeze for awhile before sighing and nodding.

"Well, if you want to... This one was good at printing for speed... But-" he starts, hopping that the other man will be able to catch up with him talking because he knows damn well it will be boring.

But as he keeps on talking, he noticed how the man keeps on following his hand who keeps on pointing at different types and brand of printers. More and more and more types was shown, not even once the man interrupted him. Jacob thought he wasn't following what was he was talking about, that until he noticed the notepad on the man's hand... Geez, writing it down?! One thing that's even shocking to the blonde is the fact that the man was writing it down with a pretty... Cutesy notepad. Dork. Fuck he's even cuter now to him.

"So, that's all the available printers you could've gotten in this sweet ol' store. Any-"

"Can I get the ◼◼◼◼◼ one? Sounds pretty nice for the price of 300 bucks" he said as Jacob smiles, genuinely, for once. Well, when he was serving someone anyway.

"Sure do darlin', would you like to buy the paper for it as well? And perhaps the ink cartridges, considering it cost good amount of inks when printing something" Jacob offer, holding himself to not cut the price off for some of the items just because of the man's attentiveness.

When the brunette looked at him shocked, he felt like he overstep a bit for calling him that. Like geez Jacob, he's not from here! Of course he would be surprised at the darlin' and what not!

"Oh, hmmm, sure! Better get everything in one package so I don't have to worry later when I'm starting to work next week"

Jacob sighed, thanking god the man didn't find him odd for calling him a darling. The blonde couldn't lie though, he do looks like a darling. He wonder if he was someone's darling...

As Jacob brought the new boxed printer to the front, he brings the man back again to get the ink cartridges and the papers.

"So uh, you new here? You soundin' pretty different than the rest of us. Well, not in the bad way. Just... You sound special, not in a bad way! Again... God, apologize for my odd wording... I got nervous easily heh" Jacob winced at his own words as he wishes that he could take them all back.

"Me? Well, yes, I do... I just moved here for quite sometimes now... Everyone was, nice. Pretty nice. Um, it's nice here at least... New environment, new people to meet, new place to explore..." The man stop as he bit his bottom lips. Guess that the man was feeling anxious as well just like the blonde's.

"Hey uh, take it easy love, I don't bite. Less you want me to" he winked as the brunette chuckled again and sighed.

"Apologize... It's just, living alone for the first time makes me anxious. Far from family and all... I just wish I didn't mess anything up..." The brunette murmured as his hazel eyes looked down to the floor, staring at the fictional ants walking on them.

"...what's your name? If you don't mind me askin' "

"It's Jeremiah, um, nice to meet you, Jacob."

The blonde nods as he smile again

"Beautiful name for a beautiful soul, fits you well."

Jacob compliments him as the brunette shyly looked back at him.

"Thank you... So um, about the printer-"

"Oh yes, yes! Sorry about that! Heh... You got me distracted a lot love, could say it was a good thing thought. You're like a refreshing sight to see, attentive and wasn't rude like those people out there." Jacob murmured as he showed Jeremiah the items.

"Say, if you'd like, I can fixin' up the printer for ya once I'm done with my shift. How about that?" Jacob cheekily shoot his shot. Praying it didn't miss.

"Oh, no, no... Don't worry about it, I can work around printers. I'm just not good with brands that's all..." Straight rejection, ouch.

The blonde nods in defeat as he awkwardly brings the ink cartridges and papers to the front so he can ring it.

"So, cash or credit darlin'?" The blonde waits as Jeremiah immediately reached for his wallet to let out his card out.

As he awkwardly swiped it, he looked back up to the brunette again.

"Just saying, but if you need anything. I'll be available here from uh..." He checked his schedule again on the wall "Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I wouldn't force ya thought, just keep in mind that crazy people is out there, I'm just offering a hand if you need anything. Just take me as your first friend in this new town ay?" Jacob wink again as he handed Jeremiah his card back

"Take care Jeremiah, wouldn't like to see a cutie like you to be in any dangerous situation" the blonde smiles again as Jeremiah gave back a soft smile back and a nod

"Thanks for the offer Jacob, would definitely keep that in mind... I uh, will see you around... Goodbye and have a nice night Jacob"

"You too."

As the brunette left with his items, Jacob sighed. Silence filled the store again as his eyes keep on watching the glass door.

"He's nice. Wonder if he will be back again..."

Wonder if he will meet him ever again.

Chapter Text

After the exhausting shift on the job, Jacob finally manage to drive back home with his trusted and beloved red truck that sticks out at night like a sore thumb. It's almost stereotypical, but he didn't care. Pulling up to his drive through finally, he lazily turn off the machine before he sighed and slam his head to the driving wheel cartoonishly. The thought of that sweet scented brunette still fills up his memory and brain. So soft, so gentle. Everything that Jacob could've asked for.

As he hopped off his truck already, his eyes noticed something. The printer machine box of the same brand that he just sold to Jeremiah. Could it be? No, it couldn't. No way. NO way.

The blonde walked up to the box as he inspect it.

It's the same thing. There couldn't be coincidence.

Thrills filled Jacob's body. It's like he was energized all of the sudden. There's no way he's this lucky, there is NO WAY god finally heard him for once. Shit, he didn't even know which god anymore to thanks.

As he looked at his neighbor's dark and unlit house, he seems to be fast asleep already. Jacob knows, that he will do anything for him to get the brunette's heart.

He just need a plan, a proper plan to introduce himself properly.