Zoophobia (GermanyxReader)

Oh joy. A big English project. With partners. You could hardly contain your excitement.

You, being an A-student, always got partnered up with the "trouble students". And they always made you do all the work. Or, they tried and you ended up re-doing everything because what they did was complete crap.

But today there was a twist that could be in your favor. You were being partnered up by reading comprehension. You sighed, pleased that the odds of getting a decent partner were high. And you got more than a decent partner.

You got super smart, super hot, Ludwig Beilschmidt. Yeah. Lucky you. After the teacher called your names the two of you walked over to the empty table you were supposed to sit at together. Today you wouldn't get much time to work on the project, a short skit based on a book, so you were told to exchange contact information and get together over the days leading up to the due date.

Mentally squealing that you were sitting next to Ludwig, you searched around in your backpack for a piece of paper to write your number on.

"Here," he told you in his deep. German voice as he handed to a pen. You took it resuming your search, but when he didn't withdraw his hand, instead holding his palm out to you, you gathered that he expected you to write the number on his hand. Blushing, you scrawled your number on his open palm.

He chuckled and gently took your hand in his, writing his contact on your sweaty palm. He seemed to notice how nervous he was making you when he released you from his grip with a small smirk.

The final bell rang and you sat, stunned for a moment. You didn't even notice that Ludwig had yet to leave too. He leaned in from behind you, gazing at the number written neatly on your hand, "You know what?" he said from over your shoulder, causing you to jump, "Today's Friday. Why don't I give you a ride to your house, you can pack a bag, and you can spend the night at my place working on the project?"

Your blush deepened, "A-alright," you stuttered. You stood quickly from the table, tripping over one of the legs and falling backwards a bit before landing heavily on the German teen's strong chest. He held you still, chuckling at your clumsiness as you blushed so brightly your face could be seen from another planet.

He gathered your stuff up for you, keeping his face turned away so you couldn't see the small blush that spread over his cheeks.

He led you out of the school, guiding you over to his black truck. Opening the passenger-side door, he helped you into the tall vehicle before closing your door and reappearing on the driver's side. You gave him turn by turn directions until he pulled into the driveway of your house. Your parents we're out of town for work so you let yourself in and quickly threw together a bag of everything you'd need. Double-checking a mental list of necessities you ran back out the door.

Ludwig raised his eyebrows at the sight of your small bag. "You sure that's everything?" He asked you, hand on his gearshift, ready to back out of your drive.

You nodded and say quietly as Ludwig drive to the nicer (more expensive) side of town. Gawking at all the massive houses around you, you didn't even notice Ludwig had ever stopped the car until he rugged open your door. Falling a bit in your seat, you caught yourself and unclipped your seatbelt.

"You alright?" The German boy asked you as he led you through the front door of his massive house. You could only mid as you dragged your school bag and overnight bag into the house.

"Um," you said nervously, gesturing at your bags, "where should I put these?"

He looked down at your stuff before leading you up the stairs to what you assumed was a guest room. His blue eyes glanced down to your face before he turned away, blushing. "So you'll be staying in here, my room is just across the hall- if you need me, that is."

You giggled and looked away from the red-faced German. Just as he was about to say something, the door burst open from downstairs.

"West!" a gruff German voice called up the stairs, "The awesome me is home!"

Ludwig's palm made contact with his forehead. "Mein Gott. I was hoping he'd stay away today." He began walking down the stairs and you followed, only to be met at the bottom with the sight of a smaller German with white hair and red eyes, and three large dogs; off of their leashes.

You tensed, absolutely terrified of the giant animals as they ran straight towards you. Letting out a sharp yelp, you hid behind your English partner, shaking violently. Shouting something to the dogs in German, they sat obediently a few feet away from their intimidating master. He looked back at you, concern shining through his blue eyes.

"Are you alright, fraulein?" You shook your head, your (e/c) eyes staring fearfully at the confused dogs before you. Feeling tears well up in your eyes, you fought to contain them, but failed as they began to spill from your eyes. You bit your lip hard, nearly tearing the flesh, and you faintly heard Ludwig say something softly to his brother, who nodded and got the dogs' attention before running off, presumably outside.

Ludwig turned to face you, planting one hand on either of your shoulders, "(F/n) are you afraid of dogs?"

You looked up at the handsome boy in front of you before jerking your head down, ashamed. "N-no," you stuttered out with a bright blush creeping over your cheeks. You prepared yourself to face the usual laughter of someone who found out about your fear, but instead you felt warm. Really, really warm.

Coming back to your senses you found your vision was blocked by the blue jacket of Ludwig's uniform. He was hugging you. Shakily, you reached your arms up and returned the embrace.

He held you tighter, but gently, as though you were something precious that he didn't want stolen, "I sorry. You should have told me, we could've met up somewhere else."

"It's fine, I promise," you managed to pull away enough to look him in the eye, "Besides, I still wouldn't have admitted to it! That would've totally ruined my chances with you!" Your (e/c) eyes widened again. That last bit wasn't supposed to come out.

Ludwig's face broke into a wide grin. "Chances?" he asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "Chances for what? For us to be, like, a couple?"

Your eyes squeezed shut. You knew what came next; laughter, taunting, hateful and hurtful notes stuffed into your bag and locker. Just about any humiliating thing that could happened to you happened in the past two minutes.

Except, Ludwig didn't laugh. But he did do something to make you blush. Your eyes still shut, the tall German had leaned down and gently kissed your forehead before tucking your head in the crook of his neck. His lips pressed up against your (h/c) hair as he responded.

"I don't think they totally ruined you chances."