Pairing: Bestfriend!Tom Holland x Reader

Warnings: Drinking, Angst, fluff

Prompts: 

"You deserve better. It doesn't have to be me, but you deserve better."

Summary: Tom's always there for you when you need him

There's burning behind your eyes and your nose is warm and running. Your cheeks are tear-stained and your hands are shakey. Your muscles are weak and the lump in your throat can't seem to go away. It's been hours and your knees are shaking, just wanting to give out and collapse. You swear if you even tried to talk, nothing would come out, not even a sob. Everything just aches, even lifting your arm to knock on the white door of the boy you've known forever.

Tom opens the door and the second his eyes fall on you, his entire face softens with sadness. "Come on." He jerks his head and allows you inside.

You sniffle and walk inside, your hands in your hoodie pockets as you walk into the kitchen. Tom follows behind you, remaining silent. He goes to the fridge and grabs you a bottle of water and himself a beer while you take a seat on a barstool chair. You fiddle with the label of the water bottle as Tom opens the beer, watching you and waiting for you to say something as he stands in front of the counter separating the two of you.

"You alright?" He asks, his voice is soft but rough around the edges like he's ready to blow if you give him the smallest reason.

"I don't know." You whisper, another sniffle as you feel tears build up again.

"What happened?" He asks, resting his hands on the counter.

You shrug your shoulders and avoid his eyes. "He's really not a bad guy." You start and Tom's jaw immediately clenches.

"Did he hurt you?" His words are fast and full of venom.

"No, no, no." You say quickly. "He...I came home early from work, ya know?" You wipe a stray tear away and Tom just shakes his head, letting out a breath.

"He didn't." Tom says, taking a sip from his beer.

"Yeah, someone he works with. I kind of just stood there, ya know? Because what do you do when you catch your boyfriend in bed with his co-worker?" You laugh, unsure what else to do. It's too unbelievable to for you to completely comprehend saying it out loud. "Because ya know, hindsight. Everything was all right there in front of my face but I just let it go and then I come home and I don't even know how long it's been going on because we just started screaming after I kicked her out."

Tom watches you ramble with sad eyes. He told you many, many times that this guy wasn't good for you. He's your best friend, he would know who's good for you and who's not but you brushed him off. You swore this guy wasn't that bad and he would grow on Tom. And Tom tried, he did. He could have made a better effort to get to know him, but he did try and see what you saw in him but he just couldn't. There was a vibe that rubbed Tom the wrong way and he secretly hoped you would realize it. Something would happen and you'd come to your senses but with you crying in front of him, he regrets ever wishing it. It was selfish and you don't deserve this.

"And I just," Your face falls as your brows furrow and your voice falters. "I just don't know what I did wrong. I -I -I was so, I wasn't..." Your mouth waters and tears stream down your face as you try to form words. "I wasn't good enough I guess I don't know because I just tried so hard to make it work and he still did this so there has to be something wrong with me. Because I, I.."

Tom walks over to you and his arms immediately pull you into a hug, cutting off your rambling. Your hands grip his shirt pulling him closer as a sob escapes your mouth, muffled by the fabric of Tom's shirt. His hands rub softly up and down your back, just letting you cry for as long as you need to.

"He's a prick, love." Tom whispers as you pull away just enough to look up at him. "He is. I know I've told you and this isn't an I told you so speech. I'm just tellin' ya, he's a bloody prick who can rot in hell."

You sniffle and shake your head. "I should have listened to you though. You're always right."

A soft chuckle escapes Tom's lips as he shakes his head and moves his hands to cup your face, wiping your tears from your cheeks. "I wish I was wrong this time."

"Why can't guys be like you?" Your words sputter as your eyes lock with Tom's, his drenched in confusion with a quirked brow. "You're always nice and you deal with me coming to cry whenever something happens. You're really great and I don't get why people aren't more like you. I...I don't know what I did to deserve this."

"For starters, I'm your best friend, it's what I do." He shrugs softly and flashes you a cheesy grin, the one that can get you to smile no matter what. "But," The smile falls as his mouth presses into a hard line. "You deserve better. It doesn't have to be me, but you deserve better." Tom takes in a breath and brushes a few loose strands of hair away from your face. "Not on you, you're perfect even when you're not. You deserve the world." The corner of his mouth is now in a smile, but just barely.

"Yeah?" You ask and your voice wavers as if you were gonna cry again.

"Yeah! This dude is fuckin' nuts. Any guy to be lucky enough to date you, should be grateful. You're kind, and if you can deal with my shit, Lord knows you can deal with anyone's," Tom chuckles softly. "Your patient and you'd do anything for the people you care about, and...you're really beautiful so you're...you're more than a triple threat."

"Why didn't you ever tell me that stuff?" Your eyes watch Tom, looking for an answer. Tom's always been honest with you but he's never actually told anything like this before, anything that might suggest his feelings were more than platonic.

Tom pulls away and scratches the back of his neck. "You're my best friend, didn't wanna fuck it up."

Your eyes widen as Tom gives you a sheepish smile. "Wait. So, you...you like me?" You point to yourself and Tom nods softly. "You should have told me."

"Why?" Tom reaches over for his beer, anything to keep his nerves down and his hands still.

"I wouldn't have dated this asshole." You shrug and go for your water, taking up Tom's nervous habit.

"Really?" Tom holds the bottle to his mouth, eyes wide and watching you.

"Yeah, I've liked you since we were like twelve. I thought I made it obvious but you never did anything so I just kind of...ignored it." You shrug and cap your water.

"No! I've liked you forever." Tom laughs, resting his beer down before his laugh quickly subsides. "No, stop, I'm sorry. This isn't the right time for this conversation." Your heart sinks with Tom's words. "You just got cheated on, think it'd be better tomorrow, after you sleep." Tom bites his lip before a soft smile graces his face. "And if you still want to have this conversation...we can." There's a softness in his eyes, drenched in hope that it's not just emotions and you really do want to continue this conversation.

"Okay, yeah, I'd like that." You nod and rub your eyes. "Sleep sounds good anyway, but, Tom?" His brows raise, signaling for you to continue. "Pillow fort like old times?"

Tom burst into laughter. "Anything for you."