High Above the World [AU] (Jean x Reader) RQ

Jean had taken some convincing to get him to take you to the carnival. He had remained adamant to your pleading words. He thought himself immune to your charms and your sweet smile, but the second he looked into those big [e/c] eyes of yours, he knew he had already lost. You looked like a sad puppy. How could he say no?

The two of you now walked amongst the various stalls an sideshows, Jean with his hands in the pockets of his coat, a frown of discontent marring his features, while you clung to your best friend’s arm, talking animatedly and excitedly gesturing at the numerous toys and stuffed animals on show. Jean’s frown deepened.

“If you want one, you’ll have to win it yourself,” he remarked, glancing up as you pointed out a particularly large and fluffy teddy bear.

Your face fell. “You’re such a downer, Jean! Carnival’s are supposed to be fun.” You pouted and he rolled his eyes, fighting the urge to smile at your childish behaviour. He thought it cute, though he would never admit to it.

“How anyone can have fun in this weather is beyond me,” he muttered, grimacing at the starless night sky, his breath coming out in a large puff of mist. He glared at the crowd of people milling round them. “Crazy, the lot of them.”

“Does that make me crazy too?” you laughed, tugging him forward by the hand.

Jean shook his head. “Crazier.”

You laughed, the sweet trilling echoing above the noise of the crowd. He smiled at the sound, watching you affectionately as you forged a path through the throng of people, completely oblivious to the light blush that was appearing on his cheeks, and the slight increase in heart rate at the feeling of your hand in his.

“They have a Ferris wheel! Jean, let’s go!”

Jean looked apprehensive. “Isn't that for, like, couples and stuff? Don’t you want to try the roller coaster or something?”

You grinned sheepishly. “I’m not really one for roller coasters… Or any rides for that matter… But the Ferris wheel is nice and safe, right?”

Jean sighed. “Fine.”

You squealed in delight, running ahead to inquire about the ride. Jean payed and approached you, grumbling about the ‘ridiculous prices’. You stood in the line, bouncing up and down on the balls of our feet slightly in excitement.

“I don’t know why you’re so excited,” he remarked, eyeing you uneasily. “Seems kind of boring to me.”

“But think of the view from up there! I bet it’s beautiful!”

Jean stared at you in wonder as you craned your neck, trying to see how far they were from the front of the line. “I bet,” he said under his breath, admiring the way the carnival lights illuminated your soft skin.

“Hm, did you say something?”

He shook his head quickly. “Nothing. Looks like we’re up.”

The two of you stepped forward and seated yourselves on the bench as an attendant secured a metal bar across the front. You gripped it tightly with both hands, eagerly anticipating what was coming next. Jean just rolled his eyes, sitting back with his arms crossed over his chest. Only for you.

As you began to slowly ascend into the air, you watched the ground fall further and further away from you, the people belong growing ever smaller. You glanced over at Jean, hoping to share in the wonder, but he was sitting back in his seat, a bored expression on his face. Crestfallen, an idea suddenly stuck you and you grinned mischievously.

Your voice took on a subtle tremor as you leaned over the bar slightly, looking past your feet to the ground below. “Wow,” you exclaimed, gulping loudly. “That sure is high.”

Jean glanced down and made a small sound of affirmation. “That’s sort of the point.”

“I know. I… I just didn’t realise we would be this high up…”

“Don’t tell me you’re scared of heights?” Jean cried. “Why did you want to go on if you were afraid? We could have just gone home.”

You shook your head. “No, I… I’m ok. Really.”

From the look on Jean’s face, you could tell he wasn’t buying it. You smiled inwardly, taking pride in your acting.

Jean sighed. “Well, it’s too late now. You’ll just have to deal with it.” He paused, seeing an opportunity in the situation that he simply could not pass up. His voice taking on a silky tone, subtly shifting closer to you on the bench, he carefully placed his hand on the metal bar, brushing yours lightly, hoping that it appeared to be unintentional.

“Maybe I could help with that.”

You looked at him, confused, though it was only for show. I can’t believe it worked…

“What do you mean?”

He leaned in close, close enough to feel the warmth of his breath on your cheeks.

“I can help take your mind off things,” he muttered before pressing hi lips against yours in a sweet but chaste kiss. It lasted only a few moments, but when you broke apart you were smiling warmly at him.

“Feeling better?”

You giggled, and realisation crossed his face at your reaction. He frowned.

“You were never scared were you?”

You simply shook your head and, still giggling, pulled him in for another kiss, wrapping your arms around his next to pull him in close. He chuckled against your mouth, pulling you in even closer, his hands at your waist.

“Maybe carnivals aren’t so bad after all,” he mused as you broke apart. His smile slipped from his face, however, when you both felt a sharp jolt as the wheel came to a sudden grinding halt. The bench swung slightly as he gripped the bar. “I guess I spoke too soon… Why did we stop?”

“I don’t know,” you admitted, leaning over the edge ever so slightly. “Looks like they’re having a problem with the mechanism.” You looked up, noticing the panicked look on Jean’s face. “I’m sure we’ll be okay.”

“Just my luck," he groaned. "We got stuck right at the top.” He peeked over the edge. “That’s a long way to fall…”

You stared at him, bemused. “Could it be…?”

He flashed you a glare. “What?”

“Jean Kirschtein afraid of heights? You were the one comforting me just a second ago.” You laughed softly.

“It’s not funny. We could die.”

You laughed louder. “Now you’re just being melodramatic. We’ll be fine.” You crept closer against his side. “In the meantime… How about I help you keep your mind off it this time?”

A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I… I like the sound of that. Couldn't think of a better way to spend my last moments than-”

You shushed him by bringing your lips up to meet his once again and melted against him, neither of you noticing as the wheel started up again. When you broke apart, you smiled at each other and, feeling a brush of something cold and wet against your cheek, looked up.

You gasped in amazement as the snow started to fall, swirling in the gentle breeze created by the wheel’s movement.

“Told you the view would be beautiful,” you gasped.

Unbeknownst to you, Jean’s eyes had dropped back to your face. “I never doubted it.”