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It was a relatively quiet day in the oldest house - at least as quiet as a day could be.
The humbuzz of fluorescent lights made for a soft background, almost entirely drowned out by the sound of scientists and researchers as they chittered amongst themselves about various projects and recent undertakings as they made their way from lab to lab.
You were busy buzzing from room to room of the sentient house, delivering mail and coffee, fighting with a fax machine (one that was NOT an oop) and trying your best to keep busy.
It was during one of your coffee runs on this day, that you bumped into him.
Dr. Casper Darling, head of research.
Charming smile and sweater made all the more attractive by his seeming confidence each time he donned his lab coat.
The man you may have had a teensy tiny little crush on.
Did I mention that by “bumping into him” I meant “spilled lukewarm coffee over the both of you?”
Because that’s what actually happened.
“Oh shit!” You exclaimed as it happened, neither of you had been looking as much where you were going as you’d like to have- leading to two ruined outfits between you.
“Fuck!” He exclaimed with surprise, having been hit square in the chest with the chocolate chip frappe meant for Pope.
Immediately you began profusely apologizing-
“OHMYGODDOCTORDARLING I am SO sorry!” His wide eyed expression turned to you after your shared exclamations.
“Woah- okay geez.. it’s alright, it was an accident. We’ll both definitely need new clothes though… I have some spare clothes in my lab, I’ve fairly certain I have some that should fit you too.”
Still embarrassed, but unable to deny that your clothes were soaking wet, you agreed, sheepishly following the Doctor on the short trek through the halls of the Oldest House.
. . . . . .
Once you arrived in his lab, he sat you down, before scurrying off and returning with a small trunk of clothes.
“Let’s see… This should fit you alright.” He muttered, handing you a patterned sweater.
Upon closer inspection, it appeared knit, possibly even handmade. With a heart motif circling around the collarbone.
In fact, all of the clothing within the trunk was knit. Vests and sweaters, mittens and beanies, hell even the odd pair of leggings or sock. All with different colors and patterns, some of which you’d never expect him to wear. (Though strikingly enough, were exactly the kind of thing that you would)
“Cas-… Dr Darling, did you make all of these?”
You asked with your mouth agape.
It seemed as though it was his turn to be embarrassed, as he chuckled out,
“Well, yeah… I tend to knit when I’m meetings or processing complex information- it’s no big deal really… why don’t you go see if it fits?”
He ushered you to a private room, where you quickly changed before returning. (You were sure to knock beforehand as to avoid any further embarrassment for the both of you today)
“This fits me perfectly Doctor Darling! Thank you again for letting me borrow it. I’m still really sorry about the coffee.”
“Don’t be! It looks great on you, honestly you can keep it!” He said with his signature grin, adjusting his glasses slightly.
“Oh I couldn’t do that, you spent so long on it!”
“It was just sitting in a dusty old trunk, really. At least now I know that it’s getting some use, much less from someone who actually appreciates it.”
It DID fit you perfectly… and it was really soft.
“Well… only if you insist”
. . . . . .
That sweater quickly became part of your new favorite outfit, one that you wore quite often.
You could swear that every time you did, you could see a tinge of pink on the tips of Casper’s ears.
Surely you were just hallucinating that though.
Right?
. . . . . .
It had been about a month since your coffee incident, when you were summoned to Doctor Darling’s lab.
“All he had said was that it wasn’t an emergency, but it was urgent.” Emily Pope explained when you ran into her on your way.
There was a grin on his face the second you entered the door.
“There you are!”
“Yes, I was told you called for me? You said it was important?”
“It is!” He stood up, running to the same place you saw him grab the trunk of clothes from a month prior before elaborating
“You see, I’ve noticed that you’ve actually been wearing the sweater I gave you, and I wanted to give you these as well.”
He grabs a stack of clothing from within the trunk and hands it to you in a small pile.
“Well.. that and I wanted to confess something. You probably noticed that these aren’t exactly things that I would wear for myself, and it’s not like a sell them or anything so… the truth is they were actually made for you. I really like you, and I have for a while. I just never knew how to say it. Seeing you in the sweater that I made has just…” He trails off a bit at the end, and you can feel the anxiety beginning to tug away at him
“Doctor Darling…”
“Casper.” He corrects
“Casper…” You repeat with a smile, before tugging him by the bow tie into a kiss.
He’s shocked at first, but quickly melts into it, kissing you back as the scruff of his facial hair gently scratches your chin.
Pulling away you place a hand on his chest.
“So I’ll take it HR won’t be hearing about me making you clothes?”
“As long as they don’t hear about me kissing you out of nowhere.”
He smiles at you, at pulls you in again