SYNOPSIS - Mordecai x GN reader, but the love is forbidden.

The rain would not stop. Despite the shelter the phone booth gave you, it still felt like you were getting soaked head to toe - every bit of your attire was drenched and the brim of your hat dribbled water steadily onto your face. The sky had been grotty and had burst into fits of downpour all day, but this was by far the worst of it. Raining bullets, you called it. It was awful.

Impatiently, you dialed up the number. Mordecai's. He'd been meaning to see you today, snuck away from unwanted eyes in some alleyway or sleazy hotel. You rapt your clenched fist against the window, spare coins slick in your palm.

The line spattered into life.

"Mordecai speaking."

You blinked rain out of your eyes. "Hey, love. Listen, it's pouring buckets out here, and I was wondering if we should cancel-"

"I will not be there tonight."

"...Sorry?"

"You mentioned something about the weather? My apologies, the line is full of static and I cannot make out a word. It is sunny up where I am..." He paused. "I cannot make it tonight. I have... business to attend to."

Oh.

You normally wouldn't have questioned it. You'd never questioned it - not since it had all begun, way back. It would bring up everything you desperately didn't want; all the reasons your 'relationship', or whatever twisted version of that this was, couldn't work.

Mordecai, the bootlegger and trigger-man. You, the high profile detective. That and disaster went hand in hand.

"It's your day off." You said, needing something more than the usual excuse, "I want to see your face, not the wall of the phone booth."

Mordecai sighed. The harsh, staticky noise made you frown.
"You know what my work requires of me, Y/N. Do not pretend you don't. But it was something else. My work, that's not really why... it's not... that was not the true reason for my absence."

He hesitated. Even over the phone you could almost hear him searching for the right words.

"You should meet me. In the square, tomorrow afternoon. I will be able to explain better when I see you."

"In the square?" Anxiety began to crawl across your chest, "People will see us. I can't - we can't risk that, our careers don't allow it."
This would be the misfortune that would finally break the fraying thread holding you and Mordecai together. It had been so good, despite having to sneak around and keep out of sight. Having to lie, having to hide, all for a kiss in the dark of an abandoned room.

You wanted to argue, to hold onto the safety that was not advancing this drawn out affair. But it was no use. This was Mordecai - arguing with him was about as useless as putting out a wildfire with a raindrop.

"One o'clock sharp." He decided. "See you then, Y/N."

.

The affair had started on a similar night. You'd gone down to some club after downing far too much wine (having a job connected to upholding the law wasn't enough hold you back from speakeasys), and the rest was a blur. There were things you remembered vividly, however. A cab, smelling of damp cigarettes; your pocket watch thrown out of said cab's window; black gloves; Mordecai. You had woken up next to his side, and had been meeting him secretly ever since. You had always been aware of the circumstances and the consequences. But it hadn't stopped you then.

So why did you feel such dread now?

Today it was sunny, and the weather had brought forth an abundance of people. The whole street was packed full. You sat on one of the few vacant benches, peering through the crowd, looking for his face. Where was he? It was barely past twelve thirty and you were already feeling paranoid.

"Y/N."

"Mordecai!" You startled, looking behind you. There he was, dressed in black. The Marigold symbol was brandished on the collar of his coat.

"Thank you for coming." He said, sitting down next to you. He swept his tail around his shoes. "I wasn't sure you would come."

You scoffed. "you'd be right to think so. I wasn't so sure myself..."

Mordecai shifted, turning away from you. It was strange, not being able to stroke his fur and hold his hand. Mordecai was obviously trying to make it easier for you - which really worked quite backwards, for the sweetness of the gesture made you want to kiss him even more.

"What did you want to see me for?" You asked eventually. Mordecai was quite for a moment, biting his lip. You'd never seen him this tentative before.

"I wanted to tell you that I- I think you need to stay away from me."

You heart dropped. "What?"

Mordecai took a deep breath. "Every time I am around you, my heart palpitates. I feel this urge to just give you my entirety. It's destructive. I want you all to myself, I want to be your shadow, I want... everything that is you. I have never felt this way before, and I think I may be loosing it. What if I ruin you, Y/N?" He sighed, "You've no need to worry, though - I'll check myself into the psychiatric hospital tomorrow morning-"

"Mordecai!" You cried, grabbing his arm. "Are you serious?"

He bristled. "Of course I'm serious! What, do you think I would just make all this up for no reason, when what I said could put you in serious and immediate danger?- Y/N, are you actually laughing at me?"

You were. Hand on chest, bent over the knee laughing.
"Oh, Mordecai," You said between your mirth, "that's love!"

"...What? I don't understand."

'This is why I love him,' you thought to yourself, reaching out to touch his cheek.
"What you're feeling is love, Mordecai. You're not crazy. I feel it too."

Mordecai turned to look at you. His eyes were wide. "You love me? And I love you too, it seems." He took your hand and kissed it, his teeth grazing your skin.

You sighed, blushing at the contact. "God, Mordecai. How can you be so brilliant and yet so clueless?"

"Wouldn't you like to know..." Mordecai smiled. Then he cupped your face and brought his mouth to yours.

"Mm!" You quickly pulled away, "don't you know what would happen if someone sees us?"

Mordecai thought about that for a moment. "Well... they haven't caught us yet."

"You bastard." You murmured, grinning, and you yanked Mordecai close and kissed him once more.

.

A/N first I hated this and then i loved it!
Hopefully this wasnt too angsty!!