Paulie x Reader Heartstrings

Bathhouse

You put your hands in the pockets of Paulie's coat. Now that you weren't working, it was actually pretty comfortable.

"Hey, uh... (Y/N)?"

"Hmm?"

Paulie took a moment to take a long drag from his cigar. "Well, um... Do you want to... Er..."

"Spit it out, blondike."

"Wanna go to the bathhouse? With me?"

"Sure."

"At least think about it!"

You booped his nose, snickering at his embarrassed expression. "Why? I trust you Paulie. You're my favorite~"

He blushed harder and you laughed, taking hold of his bandaged hand and leading the way down the street to the bathhouse.

~~~

"Mixed room?"

The man at the front desk pointed to your left. "Just down the hall, darling. First left."

"Thank you, Gerald."

You led Paulie, blushing deeper than you'd ever seen, down the hall and took the first left, stepping into the small room before the bath itself. You unzipped Paulie's coat and took it off, folding it carefully and placing it in the little cubby space for clothes. You pulled off your boots and stuffed your socks in them, then dropped your pants and folded them up too.

You peeked over your shoulder to see Paulie, back facing you. He was looking down, thumbs hooked into the waist of his boxers, obviously debating wether to leave them on or not. You crept up behind him, laying your hands over his and pushing down. He yipped and looked over at you, quickly glancing away.

You giggled and threw a towel at him. "There ya go, tough boi. Now unclip me."

"What?" He wrapped the towel around his waist, turning to see you with your back to him, hair held out of the way.

"My bra. Undo it."

"Nope. No. No way. No doing it."

"Paulie, it's a piece of clothing."

"Nuuuuuuuuu."

"Paulie. Paul'. Blondy. Blondike. Honey. Sweetie. Dumbdumb. Shiphead."

"Okay okay, I get it." You could feel his hands shaking as he quickly unclipped your bra and snatched his hands away like it'd burned him.

You rolled your eyes. "You are so silly." You put the bra with the rest of your clothing and wrapped a towel around you before wiggling out of your underwear.

"Hold up."

You put the underwear with the rest. "Yes, Paulie?"

"We're those my...?"

"Yep. Stole em. Now come on, I smell awful."

Paulie, confused and disturbed, followed you into the bath room, very relived to find it empty of other people. "Why, (Y/N)?"

"Have you ever worn a ladies underwear?"

"Of course not."

"Well, if you do, you'll understand."

He quickly covered his eyes when you shrugged off your towel and stepped into the water. You sunk down almost to the point that you couldn't breathe. 'Hot water feels nice~'

There was a ripple in the bath and you turned to look at Paulie, the poor man blushing so hard you were afraid he might pass out. You reached out for him under the water, and when your fingers brushed his skin he jerked away, startled.

"It's just me, Paul'." You reached for him again and rubbed your hand down his arm until you could grab hold of his hand and twine your fingers with his. You giggled. "You forgot to take the bandages off."

"What? Oh. Oops." He didn't seem too concerned.

You smiled and leaned against him, resting your head on his shoulder. He settled down deeper into the water, shyly wrapping an arm around your waist. He laid his head on yours and squeezed you hand lightly.

And that was it. He didn't try to touch you or kiss you or use you. And that was why you loved him so much. He didn't whine about being 'friend-zoned', didn't act like you owed him anything, never tried to get you naked, and always, always, treated you with the utmost gentleness and respect.

He was the kindest man in the world. So you didn't feel the slightest bit nervous or awkward as you settled against his body and fell asleep in the warm water, with his arm around you to keep you steady.

~~~

"(Y/N). Wake up, (N/N)." You raised your head, not bothering to open your eyes.

"Wut...?"

"It's time to get out, come on." With Paulie's gentle urging, you managed to wake up enough to push yourself from the water and wrap your towel around yourself. But that was about it.

"Come on, (Y/N), you've got to dry off."

"Nu."

"(Y/N)..."

"Nu."

He sighed and awkwardly patted you down, trying not to lay his hands on your breasts or between your legs. You swayed on your feet and leaned against him when he straightened up.

He picked you up and carried you to the side room where your clothes were, sitting you down on a small bench. He gently pushed your clothes into your hands and rubbed your wet hair. "Dress yourself, okay? That's one thing I refuse to do."

You grunted to show that you'd heard and clumsily pulled your clothes on, yawning several times. Your pants were unbuttoned, Paulie's jacket unzipped, but you were too tired to bother and instead laid down on the bench and sighed.

Paulie, now dressed, walked over to you and gave a sigh of his own. He gently zipped his coat over your body and reached for your shoes. Tying the laces together, he hung them around his neck so the boots bumped against his back as he walked. Lifting you into his arms, he kissed your forehead and smiled. "Now you can sleep. Don't worry, (Y/N), I'll get you home. You've done the same for me, after all."

You buried your face in his shirt and let the rhythm of his footsteps lull you back to sleep.

The next day you woke up in your own bed, with Paulie's jacket draped over a chair by your bedside.