❛ THE HOURS ARE WORSE. ❜
₊˚៹ . ❪ security gig ! ❫˖ ₊˚.⋆
࿐┊ CH. 1┊🩸🔦👾

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The first light of dawn seeped through the curtains of the Diaz siblings bedrooms in Willowbrook, casting a soft, golden glow across the familiar surroundings. The air was still and filled with the promise of a new day, as the birds chirping outside dirts through the early morning breeze.

(Y/N), nestled under her cozy quilt, was blissfully unaware of the world waking up around her. The room was a nostalgic haven, adorned with remnants of her childhood. Photographs captured moments frozen in time, with her brother and her dearest friend, Mike, smiling back at her from the frames on the walls.

The alarm clock on her bedside table blared its shrill tune, shattering the tranquility of the morning. (Y/N) groaned, burying her head deeper into her pillow, desperately clinging to the remnants of her dreams. She wished she could stay in the cocoon of her bedsheets, avoiding the responsibilities of the day ahead.

Her legs were entangled in the sheets covering her mostly bare figure on the comfortable bed, the spot next to her always free since a certain someone would normal be right beside her sleeping.

Trying to ignore the blaring alarm ringing, she reaches a blind arm out without looking and slams her palm onto the clock, silencing the noise that annoyed the heck out of her. She sighed into the pillows once it was quiet in the large bedroom again, the only sound being heard was the kettle in the kitchen being switched on.

Lifting her head to the side now to peek at her bedside table, (E/C) eyes land on the frame holding a photo very precious to her that held Mike, and her inside of it when they were kids. Their smiles were bright, arms tight around each other, unlike nowhere days were things weren't as happy as they used to be.

Memories were scattered like pieces of a cherished puzzle around her room. Childhood mementos adorned every corner – the worn-out teddy bear she used to cuddle, the art projects she had proudly displayed, and, of course, the photographs.

In one, she and her brother grinned mischievously, their bond evident even in frozen frames. In another, Mike and his younger sister, Abby, shared a laugh, their eyes sparkling with innocence and joy.

(Y/N) was knocked out her thoughts, and her peaceful resting was abruptly interrupted,by the sound of her bedroom door being pushed open suddenly without warning. Isaac, her ever-energetic twin brother, stood there with a deadpan on his face, his eyes holding boredom looking at her current state.

"Why on earth aren't you up yet?" His tone was a scolding one, knocking his fist into the wooden door gently taking a few steps into her room dressed in a jumper and sweatpants, "The alarm is there for a reason, you know?"

Instead of answering him she groaned tiredly, rolling over onto her other side to avoid the slightly older male, "Leave me alone, I'm trying to sleep." She grumbled stuffing her face into the pillows, and pulled her blankets back over her body more.

Issac felt his eye twitch at her normal behaviour he always had to deal with, and sighed heavily running his ringed fingers through his curly locks, "No, that can't happen today, (N/N)." He voiced in a reminder, walking up to the end of the bed where her sheets were, "Or did you forget what you promised?"

She frowned a bit confused from underneath the sheets, eyes closed now fluttering open halfheartedly to peek out from over the sheet, "I have no idea what you are talking about." She retorted than went back under the cover, wanting to peacefully sleep again.

He groaned annoyed giving her a irritated look within his eyes, before glancing over to the clock on the blue wall which read almost 7am making him panic realising that they would be late, and cause even more issues to deal with.

His sister was still tryin to snooze away, and he irked seeing that, "If you don't get your ass up from this bed, Miss," He began to threaten, grabbing her sheets in his finger to tauntingly pull them off, "I will eat all the pizza I'm cooking, and leave you to rot in the cold."

An offended gasp escaped (Y/N)'s lips when Issac tried to tug the only warmth around her, pushing herself up onto her elbows to glare at him through her messy locks, "You wouldn't dare do either of them to me."

He tilted his head to the side forming a smug smirk across his lips, "Wouldn't I?" He challenged pretending to make a thinking face, and raised his eyebrows up at her, "Remind me who lost a bet playing basketball, and I ended up taking all your coffee for two weeks."

Her features tensed hearing his words, gritting her teeth annoyed spotting how cocky her twin was being, and narrowed her eyes down on him, "That still didn't answer my question from before," She remarked bluntly, and added on quieter, "asshole."

Issac still heard that comment from her which gained her a forehead flick from him, "You monster," He jabbed back going up to beside her on the bed, pushing his black hair away from his eyes, "We're heading over to the Schmidts'. Mike has a job meeting, and he needs your moral support. Plus, I promised to keep an eye on Abby while you two are gone."

(Y/N)'s heart fluttered faster at the mention of Mike. Her childhood sweetheart had always held a special place in her heart, even though she tried her best to hide her feelings, "Fine, I'm up," she sighed, finally succumbing to the reality of the day ahead.

Isaac snickered amused at how easily she was persuaded, placing a hand over his heart dramatically walking backwards now, "Ah, young love. I knew you couldn't resist the chance to help Mike." He teased standing in the doorway smirking, "But please do get up, so we can actually go over."

Flushing embarrassed, (Y/N) threw a pillow at her brother, who ducked with a laugh before darting out of the room. As she begrudgingly got out of bed, she couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement mingled with nervousness.

The reason why she was even getting up this early in the first place was to be there for Mike, to be his support and rock whenever he needed her the most. And vise verse. It did suck that she had to ruin her sleep for it, but than again it was not like Mike had any good nights either unless it was with her in their shared bed in her room, or his one.

Recently he got fired from his securtiy job at the mall because of an accident, that Mike didn't mean to cause as he was just doing his job. Not like he knew that the person dragging away he kid was the kids father, and not some creepier kidnapping the boy.

If people knew about Mikes' past, they'd also have a better understanding why he acted so rash as to beating the father up in the water fountain. Though that wasn't an excuse for his actions, just an idea to why it actually happened that way.

Shaking away those thoughts from her head, she steps out of her comfortable bed, and almost tripped over from the sheets being tangled still around her. Grumbling insults at the materials, she kicks it away but apologises after as those were the things that brought comfort.

(Y/N) runs her fingers through her messy locks stifling a yawn, and walked into her decent sized bathroom, feeling the cold tiles under her socks on the floor. Doing her normal morning retuine to walk up, she ends up walking back out of her room wide awake now, and dressed in better clothes to start the day off.

Her hair was left down to dry from being cleaned in the shower, which she would let Abby braid later, wearing a satin jacket over a light grey sweater that reached just over her belly button, dark denim jeans with a black belt holding them up, and brown boots.

The more she walked down the fluffy carpet of their house hallways, the closer she got to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of morning dew. It had her picking up her walking pace, really wanting to get some food before Issac eats it all.

"Finally up I see," Her brothers accented voice travels through her ears once she appeared inside the kitchen, him ready to go standing beside the front door holding two cups of coffee, "about time really, you monster."

She shot him a look at that nickname again he always called her, using her fingers to pull open the fridge and searched until she found a bottle of water, "I was always up." She sneered back, taking a chug from the drink mumbling, "You're just too early."

He just shrugged his shoulders being careful not to drop the mug he carried, and passed her one across the kitchen counter. She thanked him grabbing it, and took sips from the delicious substance glancing around confused, "Izzy. Where the heck is the pizza?"

The curly haired male chocked a bit on the coffee he was drinking, gulping as he avoids eye contact nervously, "I-I never technically said there was one-" He sheepishly answers, eyes going wide seeing how pissed off she was, "It was the only way to get you up, (N/N)!"

Her face scrunched up placing the empty mug down into the kitchen sink, snapping her bead back to Issac freaking out, and made noises of frustration, "You asshole," She scowled stomping to her slightly taller twin, raising the bottle of water up to his chin threatening, "why would you mention pizza in the first place than if there was none to being with?!"

"I know I know, I'll buy one tonight I swear-" He sweat dropped turning away from his scary sibling, and raised his hands up that was now free from the mug, instead holding the keys to the house.

(Y/N) grumbled still glaring up at him, before sighing tiredly backing down from wanting to hit Issac, "It's fine, don't worry about it." She assured flashing a small smile, and glanced to the clock seeing it was now close to 8am, "We need to leave anyway, and go to Mikes."

Issac nodded in agreement swinging around the keys with his fingers, pushing open the wooden front door that was too big for their liking, "Wouldn't matter what time we left," He began knowingly, motioning for her to walk out first grinning amused, "your future husband is like a few steps from our house."

She flushed embarrassed hearing the comment about Mike, whacking the side of Issac's arm in a scolding way, "I don't find that amusing at all, Izzy." She huffed out stepping back onto their front porch, watching him lock their door shut with the key, "Like, I'm not smiling or laughing."

He just snickered through his teeth in response, pulling on the door handle to see if it was locked, and turned around to walk down the three little steps leading onto the pathway, "You may not be, but I sure as hell am."

Rolling her eyes at his loud laugher that gained some yells from the neighbors across the street, she trailed up after him along the path, and ended up where Mike's old, barely standing house was. Which indeed was only a few steps away from the Diaz's one.

It had her stomach churning remembering the amount of time where shes offered to help Mike with his finical issues, but every time she did he would always kindly decline with a kiss pressed to her cheek in thanks. It both bothered her, and made her flustered at the same time.

Issac squeezed his twins shoulder gently knowing how she was feeling, as he too felt the same way about wanting to help the two inside who were like family to him. Giving her a reassure look which she returned, the two walk forward up the stairs leading to the front porch, and Issac goes to rasp his knuckles onto the door.

The sound echoing through the hallway inside, followed by footsteps coming up to the door. It opened soon after with a creak, revealing Mike standing there, transformed in his suit that was still half done right, but still looked as ever holding a brown sleeve full of paper under his arm.

(Y/N)'s breath caught in her throat as she took in his appearance. He looked tired as always, his shoulders squared, and hair impeccably styled despite how fluffy it was. His sleepy eyes lit up a little when he saw the girl, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

"Hey, guys." Mike greeted them with a welcoming smile, stepping more into the doorway revealing the playing TV in the background, "Thanks for coming. Abby's in the living room, and she's already excited to spend time with Isaac."

Isaac grinned his usually dorky one, walking up past his frozen sister to stand on the steps, giving Mike a playful nudge, "You clean up well, buddy." He praised shooting the girl a knowing look, before looking back at him, "Ready to get a new job?"

Mike chuckled adjusting himself to lean against the doorways side, arms crossed over his chest, and his nerves visibly easing under Isaac's easygoing demeanor, "I hope so. Fingers crossed, right?"

While Isaac and Mike exchanged banter, (Y/N) couldn't tear her eyes away from Mike's tie, a knot of silky fabric that seemed to mock her. Gathering her courage, she stepped closer. "Let me help you with that," she offered, her voice surprisingly steady despite her racing heart.

Mike turned his attention to her, face straight away softening as a grateful smile plays on his lips, "I appreciate it, (N/N). I always manage to mess it up." He admitted embarrassed, pushing himself up from leaning on the hinges to lean down to the shorter girl.

Gulping nervously at their close contact, her hands trembled slightly as she delicately adjusted the tie, her fingers brushing against Mike's neck as she grabbed the fabric in her hold, senses invaded by his.

The touch sent a shiver down her spine, but she focused on the task at hand, determined not to let her nerves get the best of her. With practiced movements, she perfected the knot, and while she worked, his warm eyes never left her face for a second.

"Thanks," He whispered down to her once she was done, voice soft and a bit raspy, as his gaze threatened to drown her where she stood, "I feel more confident already."

Issac snickered watching the scene play out, and winked at (Y/N), giving her a thumbs-up behind Mike's back. She felt a surge of gratitude for her brother's unspoken encouragement. With the tie now expertly fixed, she took a step back, her cheeks tinted pink still feeling Mike staring her down in the doorway.

"You just going to continue gawking at her, or got meet your job counsellor?" The Diaz males voice broke their moment now, him smirking at Mike who in returned stuttered nodding his head, gaining an amused laugh from Issac.

She smiled fondly watching Mike fumbling to place his shoes onto his socks in front of her, eyes flickering past his head to wave excitedly at Abby inside standing with her brother, both of them returning her farewell smiling.

Once Mike was finished fixing himself up, his shut he door closed behind him to leave the two outside alone, and brushed his hair back with his free hand not holding his information, "You ready?" He breathed a question, tired eyes glancing down to her patiently.

She scoffed through her nose playfully, trailing up to stand in front of him where his car was parked, and held out her hand for him, "Of course. I should be asking you that, Micheal." She mused flashing a soft smile.

His face scrunched up at her using his full name which he defiently regrets telling her, lips perking up into a fond smile taking her smaller hand into his warm, larger one, "C'mon, you know I hate when we're late."

She gasped dramatically placing their intertwined hands up to her chest, and right on her heart, "You wound me, Mike." She drawled out, before leaning her side against his chuckling, "If anyone makes us late, it's you."

His mouth opened and closed in shock trying to protest at her blaming him, but instead sighed and shakes his head, "Yeah, yeah." He mumbles halfheartedly leading her to his car, and his heart squeezed hearing her happy giggles traveling through his ears in response.

🎈💭

After the drive to the center that had the career counselor, the two had gotten out of Mikes car to be taken into Steve's office, where they sit in chairs beside each other staring at the male who was reading Mikes track record on paper.

(Y/N) had her best friends hand in her own seeing how nervous he was to be inside the office, and placed their intertwined hands onto his bouncing thigh, that soon stopped at her comforting hold she was giving him.

Steve Raglan's back was facing the duo, humming quietly to himself reading over the stuff in his hand on his desk chair, as the room was complete silence apart from his mumbling, or the clock ticking away on the wall.

The chair squeaks when he turned back around to face them, still humming holding the folder in his hands, and finally looked up through his glasses, "What is your deal, Mike?" He asked curiously, voice being gruff, "What are you, some kind of... head case?"

Her (E/C) eyes sharp into a warning look on Steve now, not liking how he was talking about him, as she shuffled in her chair to sit up, and rubbed her thumb over Mike's knuckles feeing how tensed up he was.

"You beat up a man in broad daylight." Steve recalls placing down the folder onto the desk, and Mikes' mind traveled back to the scene in flashes, "In front of his child."

Mike pursed his lips already feeling guilty, and cleared his throat with his spare hand, "That was a mistake. Um.." He trailed off in a protest, leg bouncing again a bit making her hand squeeze his tighter, "It was a misunderstanding. I-I thought-"

"Just look at your employment record." Steve was quick to interrupted the ranting male, tapping the side of the white folder in his hand again, "Tire zone, sales associate, two months, terminated." He listed off glancing up at Mike, "Insubordination. Media World, custodial staff, one week. It's like you're not even trying here, yet you sit before me asking for help."

She scoffs under her breath getting annoyed at how Steve was treating Mike, and opened her mouth to say something, "Well obviously he is trying," She remarked, voice filled with venom, giving the older male an narrowed down look, "otherwise he wouldn't be here now, would he?"

Mike's doe eyes glanced to her grateful, heart feeling warm inside his chest at how protective she was being over him, and gripped her hand tighter. He'd be nowhere without her, or Issac and he knew that better than anyone else did.

Peter's flickered his gaze to her now which hardened a bit with a strange emotion in them, lips twitching up a little humming, "I am just trying to figure out who he is," He paused reading what the name said on the document, "Miss. (Y/N) Dia-"

Her stomach suddenly churns with a bad shiver down her spine, hearing and seeing him freeze mid way staring down at the paper intently. Mike also didn't like how Peter acted, his thumb now brushing over her skin and had a warning facade over his expression now.

The male wearing the glasses flickered through the papers for a second, before he looks between the on alert duo in slight surprise. She gulped nervously, as he leans forward in his chair slowly, and eyes them both even more closely.

"Hmm. Coffee?" Steve unexpectedly questioned now once he sat the folder down onto the table again, causing the two to blink shocked sharing a look between each other.

"Sorry?" Mike spoke incredulously with a weird expression thrown at Steve, who stood up from his chair and made his way over to the coffee machine, his attitude change up taking them by complete surprise.

"Uh, would you, would you two like some-" He spluttered out motioning to the said thing, gaining 'nos' from them in answer, watching as he poured some of the dark liquid into a coffee mug to drink.

He placed back the jar into the hatch, holding his mug in one hand facing away from the duo, "I'm-I'm gonna be brutally honest with you here, Mike." He talks as if was nervous for some reason, "Given your track record, your options are gonna be extremely limited."

"I'll take anything, okay?" Mike claimed in a slight plea, turning his head to look at Steve who was still turned away, which had the girl nodding in agreement, "Any job you got."

Steve clicked his tongue turning around to actually stare down at them, "No. No." He shakes his head trailing back over to his chair in front of the desk, "Look, I-I get that part. Um, it's just..." He sits down shrugging his shoulders, "You know, it's not that easy."

What great help you are, (Y/N) thought to herself giving the older man a bitter look knowing how much Mike has been struggling, and needs a job badly. She wanted to help him also in the money, and comfort area, but he didn't need anything but herself from her, which he hasn't even told her that yet.

"Yeah. Thank you." Mike dismisses in a defeated mumble, standing up from the chair to pull her gently up with him as their hands were still together, and he leads her towards the door of the office.

That was until Steve's voice stopped the childhood best friends in their tracks, "I have a job for you." They wearily glanced at him, seeing him excitedly smiling and motioning to the chairs, "Come on, sit down. Both of you."

Mike kept her figure standing on his opposite side away from Peter, as he felt a strange feeling of unease being around him. He made sure she was sat down comfortable, before he joined her in a chair looking to the older male, "Okay, uh, well, what is it?"

"It's a security gig." His now steady tone answered in reply, eyes under his glasses flickering between the duo as it lingered on the girl, "Full disclosure: it's not great, right? High turnover. That's what we call it in the business," He points two fingers at them explaining, "but you get to be your own boss. Sort of. And you only have to worry about one thing. Keeping people out. And-and, you know, and keep the place tidy."

She raised her eyebrows suspiciously, crossing her leg over the other one on the floor, "That's two things, though." She pointed out bluntly, giving Peter a narrowed eyes look not wanting Mike to get himself into something bad.

His intense eyes become even more so hearing her words, and moved his attention to her now, feline smirking ever so slightly, "If Mike wants the job, than..." He trails off mid way, and shrugged his shoulders.

Mike shifted in his chair to slip his hand out of hers gently, to place it onto her thigh instead in reassurance causing her insides to flip, "How's the pay?" He asked Steve, hoping to bring the conversation back to him instead of her.

"Not great." He answered shaking his head sadly, before adding in a chirpy tone, as he folded his hands together on the desk, "But the hours are worse."

(Y/N)'s expression drops knowing this wasn't going to work out for Mike, biting down on her bottom lip as she glance to him, seeing how he was clenching his other fist, "I can't do night." He confessed lowly.

Steve blinked a bit not catching what was muttered, and leant forward on his elbows a bit more, "Excuse me?" He spoke confused, causing Mike to suck a breath in through his teeth defeated once more.

"I can't do nights."

The older man lets out a breathless chuckle, running his tongue along his cheek inside his mouth, "That's such a shame." He stated in fake sympathy, gazing at a spot in between the duo in front.

"Hhm, it is. Thanks anyways." She speaks in a suspicious tone once more to Steve, lopping her fingers in between Mikes on her thigh to stand up from the chair, and now pulled him up with her leading him towards the open door.

Mike followed behind her like a lost puppy gripping onto her hand tightly, and held onto his blazer over his shoulder with his spare one. However, the duo was quickly stopped by Peter standing up, "Wait, uh..."

He outstretched his hand holding a white card that had his name, and number on it, "In case you have a change of heart." He states handing the card to Mike, who grabbed it with a thanks, and lead (Y/N) now out of the office still feeling the stare of Peter on her.

─►☆ AUTHOR'S NOTE :
HIII GUYSSS WELCOME TO THE FIRST CHAPTER OMGG ERHEHE😍😍 i feel like some of this isn't the best written and not explained well enough but anyways no going back now LMAO

sigh off graphics is my the beautiful and talented  faffiesvrou <33 literally ate it up i swear FRR

i hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and continue to do so with the upcoming ones 🫶 please don't be silent readers,  lmk what you think MWAHHH