Chapter Text
Looks just like the picture from the internet. That’s a good sign right? The small, modern house looks like something out of a magazine with a manicured lawn, shrubs and flowers. You can’t believe the rent on one of the rooms you saw on the internet. It’s got to be too good to be true to find such a beautiful, fully furnished room in a nice neighborhood for the price. Holding your pepper spray tightly in your coat pocket, you walk up the steps to knock on the door. You had been in contact with the owner to express your interest and after a short text exchange, you both agreed that visiting the house and meeting your new maybe-roommate would be a good idea.
However, now you’re wishing you brought one of your friends with you. You knew that the owner and person who would be your roommate was a guy, and you knew better than to meet random men alone, especially at their house, from an internet ad, but you’re desperate for a new place to live. You wanted to be the first person to jump on this great deal in a beautiful new house.
As the rapping from your knuckles recedes, you hear heavy footsteps walk towards the door and the deadbolt unlocks before the handle turns and the door opens. With a white-knuckle grip on your pepper spray in your pocket, you look to the height where you’d expect a man’s face to be but instead it’s a wall of chest muscle in a tight, black t-shirt. Your eyes scan up, and up and up taking in the homemade hood with bleach stains streaking down from the roughly sewn eye holes where ocean blue eyes peer down at you. Your neck is craned staring at the imposing giant in front of you.
Oh my God, I’m going to die. The thought races through your brain as adrenaline begins to pump in your veins.
“Hallo, you’re here to look at the room for rent?” A higher than you’d expect German-accented voice catches you off guard as you hear him speak.
You stare at the man, unable to hide your gaze as you take him in fully. More than a foot taller than you, he sports black combat boots, tactical looking khaki pants, a fitted black t-shirt and fabric hood and a black beanie. His arms seem to almost be the size of your thigh and you don’t consider yourself thin. His legs are sturdy and strong. His hands… Large hands showing scars of training or fights or craft.
Police? Swat? Military? Who dresses like this?
He clears his throat and shifts to stand next to the door noticing your hesitation, “Uh, please come in and see.”
A quiet hello and formal introduction escape your lips as you nod and against better judgement step over the threshold of the nice newer house. Your body is keenly aware of the large man as you walk past him into the well-lit, sparse short hallway as he closes the door behind you. You walk into the house passing stairs going up and take in the minimalistic style of furniture that is functional and pleasing to the eye. A kitchen with a small island and two wooden and leather stools seem to be the only dining space as your eyes glance over the living room with a flat screen television, brown leather modern couch and a matching chair. A modern wooden coffee table sits empty except for a few white coasters stacked in one corner and the remote controls for the television sit neatly in the middle. There are a few healthy-looking house plants in front of the windows that show off the manicured small backyard complete with a patio and patio furniture. This house looks like a Scandinavian showroom and if you didn’t know any better it doesn’t even look like someone lives here. It’s spotless. It’s beautiful.
You swallow before you speak, “This is a beautiful house…” you trail off as you realize you didn’t catch his name.
“Konig.” He picks up your queue, “You can call me Konig.” He stays near where the hallway meets the kitchen giving you plenty of space. He seems to almost hunch over in the house even though the ceilings are tall enough for the large man. You begin to feel that he’s doing that for your sake as his eyes flit to your hand in your jacket pocket.
“Konig. Alright, well this is a very lovely house.” You state quietly as your death grip on the pepper spray releases slightly.
“Ja, thank you. It is very new. Would you like to see the rest of the house? Your room…the room for rent is upstairs.” Konig’s words tumble out of his mouth as it seems he’s slightly nervous. He takes a step towards the stairs and waits for your approval before he takes the steps by twos.
You follow behind him walking up the plush light-colored carpeted steps inhaling the clean scent that’s a mixture of cleaning supplies and something luxurious. A nice candle? Or is it cologne? Konig fills the hallway as you round the top of the stairs seeing another short hallway with three doors.
Stopping after the first open door, Konig gestures his hand as if to usher you into it, “This is room open for rent. It’s not much, and the bathroom is across the hall.” He points to the other door directly across the hall from where you’re standing.
You step into the bright room that already has a queen-sized bed, nightstand, and dresser. There are also doors to a small closet. Just like the main floor of the house, everything is crisp and clean in white and neutral colors.
Walking around the space, it’s hard not to fall in love with the crispness of everything. Such a wonderful change from where you are currently living. You pull your empty hands from your pockets to open the closet doors to see ample space for your newly downsized wardrobe.
Konig watches your graceful movements as you finally pull your hand out of your pocket. No doubt releasing whatever weapon he knew you had in there from the moment he opened the door. Smart girl he thought.
Viewing the bathroom, with an incredible walk-in shower with a waterfall faucet, you can imagine yourself coming home after a day of work and just letting the hot water run over your body. You were always a sucker for a hot shower.
“I’ll take it.” You say quickly after stepping back into the hallway.
Konig chuckles lightly as he saw your stare linger on the shower. “Ah, yes. It is a nice shower. I have one too in my bathroom.” He points to the end of the hallway with the final door that is closed. You nod and smile nervously.
“Right, then.” He states, “I’ve got the paperwork downstairs if you’d like to sign things. When can you move in?”
Good question. Is today too soon? You joke in your head.
Currently living in the same house as your ex has not been ideal. The recent breakup, while not the worst, has you living in a state of limbo of being near him but desperately wanting to be away from him. To start fresh.
“This weekend?” Your voice waivers with nervousness, “If that’s alright with your, or whatever works for you…”
“Ja, that’s fine. I should be around to help if you need it.” Konig releases a breath as he speaks seemingly relieved that he’s about to have a new roommate.
“I shouldn’t need help. I don’t have much.”
Konig quirks his head in question like a dog hearing a strange sound but then quickly nods and agrees as he offers you to walk down the stairs ahead of him.
The two of you walk into the kitchen where Konig pulls out an envelope with a rental contract to which you read thoroughly. Seems fairly standard with your limited experience in renting. Upon signing the contract, you discuss payment of rent and a few other logistics before you get ready to leave your new home.
“Oh, I should let you know that I am not around much.” Konig scratches the back of his neck while looking down at the contract noticing the elegant loops and swirls of your signature on the paper.
“Oh? What do you mean?” Now you cock your head in question at his statement.
“I travel a lot for work and sometimes I’m gone for weeks or even months. It’s one of the reasons I wanted a roommate. I just bought this house and I would hate for it to sit empty. That, and someone has to water the plants.” Konig’s eyes crinkle again under his mask making you think that he’s smiling.
“Ah, well I’ll try not to kill your plants.” You smirk and huff a laugh releasing some of the tension that had been built up by your anxieties.
“Danke.” Konig thanks you in his native tongue as he walks you towards the front door. “I will see you on Saturday, ja? I’ll have a key ready for you by then. Let me know if you need help.”
You step out of your new house and onto the porch and turn to look at the hulking man – your roommate – and respond, “Thanks. I’ll see you Saturday.”
Konig watches as you walk down the steps and climb into your car and drive down the street. He breathes deep as your sweet, floral perfume lingers in the hallway as he closes the door.
This was going to be a problem he thought. No, it can’t be a problem. She’s your roommate, Konig, and scared of you. But she’s so cute, and beautiful. But she seemed relieved when she learned you’d be away most of the time. Stupid, stupid Konig.
Konig looks at your name and signature on the paper and couldn’t help but feel excitement bubble in his chest knowing he would be seeing you again soon.