#and besides that's DEFINITELY something Fritz would clap back with
Note
I just had this idea, wouldn’t the smell of the giants be amplified for the smalls? Everything else is amplified. David’s cologne would be overpowering to anyone unfortunate enough to be near him (he would wear it you can not change my mind). Like the bacteria that creates smell would be more/bigger to tinies than to the giants so in my peanut brain it makes sense! I understand if this makes you uncomfortable though as smell is… weird. Just an idea I wanted to share. Have a great day!
Anon, I have made an entire saga on your idea alone.
It just didn't want to work with me! So I made three separate stories, all about 2,000 long, and then I combined them together. I'm not lying when I say I want to write another one to tag onto it.
So I hope you feel validated! We will have peanut-sized brains together because I absolutely agree and love it! AND, I hope you have a great day as well!
Ignorance At Its Finest
Content Warnings: Cursing. Mentions of murder. Mentions of death. Treating people as lesser than. Unintentionally making someone scared. Being uncaring toward others. Being unsympathetic toward others.
It's all fun and game until Fritz claps back with the 'you smell like'
___________________________
David never thought him wearing cologne would ever be an issue.
Look, he’s a business man. He understands certain things are luxuries, knows the difference between needs and desires.
He’s also a very wealthy man who doesn’t need anyone telling him how to live his life.
Besides, out of everything he has, from the house that’s considered too big for only one person to live in, to the insanely expensive car that sits in his garage and is used once a year, he never thought something that costed a fourth of what one suit in his wardrobe does would make such a ruckus.
Yet here he is.
"Excuse me?”
“The cologne needs to go,” Vincent repeats as he continues to walk toward the door. Because this was stated at the very end of their first meeting, the purple man making it seem as if this is final.
“Hold on!” David exclaims, standing up to follow the other. “You can’t just say-!”
“I did.”
“-there’s no reason-”
“There is.”
“-you have no right-”
That’s when Vincent turns with a look of murder in his eyes. “Oh Davey, I have every right. Besides, it’s just cologne! You’re not going to die without it. The same can’t be said if you keep it, though!”
And that’s how David was left, staring open mouthed after the thing that criticized him for wearing cologne.
He ignores it. Because as much as Vincent terrifies him, it was an inconsequential thing. Honestly he’s unsure how the purple man even knew he was wearing it. Unlike high school boys, he knows how to properly wear it, not to mention it was only spritzed across his neck and not his wrists.
“Go wash your hands and face.”
David knew the name ‘Scott Cawthon’ didn’t belong to a fellow giant. As much as he loathed the idea of one of the lowly creatures technically in a position higher than himself, there wasn’t much he could do.
The only saving grace was the fact the man hadn’t been to his restaurant yet. Only phone calls demanding certain information as well as reviewing the documents that had a singular letter missing. Though it wasn’t certainly fun to realize the resident mutated grape favored the little pest. Meaning when he first hung up on Scott bitching at him, he got a lovely visit, and therefore has to keep himself from so much as accidentally ending the call before his supervisor was truly done.
Today was a special day, however. Apparently, wanting a human to get transferred to his restaurant required a personal visit from the voice over the phone. ‘Ensure the poor boy won’t get stepped on by an egotistical asshole of a giant’ was the exact quote.
When he first spotted the miniscule thing standing in his doorway, he wasn’t impressed. Unlike David as he sits at his desk with gelled hair and a full piece suit, Scott apparently thought appropriate work attire consists of a graphic t-shirt and shirts, his hair left to do as it pleases.
With the words acting as greeting, David’s pissed. “Would you like to repeat that?”
Scott doesn’t hesitate. “Go. Wash. Your. Hands. And. Face.”
“You little-”
“You want a human to come work for you,” the man snaps. “I’m the one who gets to approve or deny your request.”
David glares as it becomes clear Scott does in fact have power over him. And unlike Vincent, someone who should have it considering he stands only an inch shorter than the giant, it’s a human who couldn’t stop being squeezed in a fist or kicked by a shoe.
Yet here they are. Scott having the upper hand with his position in the company, and an extremely dangerous giant who’s at his beck and call.
“May I ask why?” David snarls.
“Your cologne. I know Vince brought it up on your first day.”
Goddamn it!
“What is with you dumbasses and cologne? It’s not like it’s hurting you.”
Scott goes silent. Looks him up and down. “David, out of everyone you could’ve requested to get transferred, why did you want a human?”
He’s not admitting that might’ve only crossed his mind to check once he saw the impressive notes regarding Fritz Smith.
You could’ve backed out.
And let someone waste potential like that?
You own a giant only restaurant. What could a little pest like him do for you?
…that’s a valid question.
“Is this an interrogation?”
“This is an interview. If you have adequate answers for a job description that is nigh-impossible for someone who stands no taller than the fingers of the customers who come here, then we can move onto what you’ll be doing to ensure his safety.”
“I need a face for the restaurant,” David begins with a scowl. “His profile states the animatronics are extremely respectful and mindful of him, some even say they ‘favor’ him. And considering the long list of being fantastic with customer service, glowing reviews, and coworkers stating how reliable he can be as well as the person to go to in any situation, he would be a valuable asset to have him assisting in customer relations while I focus on the business.”
Scott gives a look. “Is it safe to assume you want a secretary?”
Yes.
“My animatronics should be overseen by someone with experience. Considering the dark past Fazbear Corporation hired me specifically to eradicate.”
“God I hate business men.”
“Did I pass your test?” David sneers.
Scott wipes a tired hand over his face. Sighs because he knows the giant is right.
“David, I know this is hard to believe, but the world doesn’t revolve around you. Meaning Fritz will need safety precautions put in place-”
“I’m not an idiot, Scott.”
“-and giants realizing how much they affect humans. This includes your footsteps causing earthquakes, yelling capable of bursting our ear drums, and cologne being almost suffocating.”
David finds himself stopping himself midsentence as the last part registers. Because, of course, he never thought about nor cared how any of his actions effected their smaller counterparts. Not to mention he tries to avoid them all together.
“Aren’t you technically a mile away?”
“I can smell it from here.”
The business man immediately scoffed. “Bull-”
“I’m sure you get plenty of compliments on it, I was getting a nice warm smell with spice undertones when I was first entering the hallway. But standing here, I feel like I’m going to get knocked out from the earthy musk, and the flower doesn’t help mixed in with citrus and chocolate.”
David’s mouth drops for a second before he snaps it shut.
“No more cologne.”
. . .
Fritz is well aware David wears cologne.
When he was first getting transferred, Scott had approached him to ensure he was okay with changing restaurants. And not just the typical checking how far the commute will be and confirming his pay will stay the same or increase. No, the meeting was more in the direction of-
“Your boss will be an egotistical giant who thinks humans are nothing more than pests.”
Honestly, Fritz appreciated the sandy haired man warning him. Despite the older being a human himself, certain things are obvious when someone owns or works for a business that’s categorized as ‘giant only’. He might be a naïve teenager, but it’s impossible to completely avoid belittling comments and actions that every human receives at least once in their life.
Those who live in human only cities might not, but it’s guaranteed working at a restaurant that caters to both counterparts.
“It sounds…interesting.”
Scott had stared at him. “You’re seriously considering it.”
“Think of it this way,” Fritz grinned, held his hands out to physically stop the judgement. “On one hand he was definitely too prideful to back out again once he realized I was human. But if you didn’t immediately tell him no once meeting him, then it sounds like he’s willing to make some changes!”
“And turn you into a stress ball.”
The redhead tensed up at that. Paled at the thought that, if he agreed to it, then he’ll be completely at the whim of not just one giant, but an entire restaurant.
He knows there’s multiple reasons for people wanting to go to only businesses. Taking into account the fact they’re talking about a children’s restaurant, putting giants and humans together isn’t always the best idea. Kids get rowdy, don’t understand the moving action figure is actually a person, and it’s almost impossible to constantly stare at the ground while waiting tables.
Not every giant who works or goes there will treat him like a nuisance who shouldn’t be there.
But for those who do, would he feel comfortable knowing not even his boss cares if he’s safe or not?
“…what’s the updated job description?”
“Greeter,” Scott grunted, watched the surprised expression before he continued. “As well as animatronic watcher, coordinator, and on-hand assistant.”
“Like, on-hand-?”
“I can guarantee you will be grabbed randomly multiple times without being asked first, and not just by David. Your potential coworkers weren’t too happy about me being there. Not as much as your boss, but they won’t respect your preference on how to be picked up. Or if you’d want to be in a hand at all for that matter.”
Fritz looked down in thought. Nearly flinched at someone stepping outside the human hallway they walked in to speak privately.
Snapped his head up with something akin to panic. “Did they touch you-”
“No,” Scott stated gently. Smirked. “They know not to so much as look at me. I’m worried about you.”
Fritz hadn’t known where exactly the human blatantly worried for his safety has in the chain of command. Knew he was the person to go to when it came to hiring, finalizing reports for those who ‘quit’ or got fired, but even a lowly waiter knew the name ‘Scott Cawthon’ held respect and power behind it.
He didn’t have to ask the redhead. Could’ve denied David’s request for any number of reasons without even bringing it up to said employee. Or approved without a second thought and let the teenager get thrown into a circumstance without so much as a warning.
But he had gone to the restaurant. Berated the giant none too fond of those who stand no more than 3 inches tall.
Fritz didn’t want that to be for nothing.
“When can I start?”
Scott sighed. Ruffled his hair. Whacked him upside the head with a look that said ‘you’re an idiot’.
“Tomorrow. And heads up, he wears cologne.”
Fritz was actually confused why that had been a necessary add-on. He works around giants all day long, and never had that been brought up before. He’s noticed when customers and his coworkers come in wearing it, so it’s nothing notable.
He realized why on his first day at his ‘new’ job.
He wasn’t really paying attention at first. David hadn’t been at the door to greet him, instead waiting inside his office just like he had with Scott. Meaning Fritz was more focused on simply surviving the restaurant.
No one would open the door for him. It was Fritz vs. making the perfect timing behind a family while avoiding catastrophic shoes and a slow but very unhuman friendly door.
No one would look at him for more than one second, and even then it was only to sneer down at him. So he had to locate the elusive office himself.
No one would offer a hand either, meaning he was thoroughly terrified trying to get to the wall to travel in safety, forced to sprint as fast as possible and hope some kid didn’t stomp or grab him.
Once he reached the hallway toward the back of the restaurant, had gotten far enough from joyful screams of kids he could actually hear his own thoughts, that’s when he realized two things.
One, he made a terrible mistake agreeing to be transferred.
Two, he could smell something warm with a hint of a spiced undertone.
Fritz didn’t think much of it other than it being a weird second thought. He only continued to travel further into the hallway after spotting a sliver of light escaping from a doorway.
On the plus side, there weren’t any giants walking in and out of the hallway. He was able to take his time and let his racing heart slowly calm down.
But the closer he got, and admittedly worried that if that had been the greeting he received from his coworkers than how is his boss going to react, he couldn’t shake the smell from his thoughts.
It kept getting stronger. Nearly dizzying. He could pick out specific notes from floral, to ‘earthy’, to chocolate.
It hit him as soon as he knocked on the door barely open enough for a human to slip inside. Remembered Scott warning about David wearing cologne.
“I do believe you’re 5 minutes late.”
Fritz tensed up, allowing terror to clench his heart, truly afraid he might be crushed without a second thought. And of course, no one would care. No one would report a lowly human employee ‘disappearing’.
Scott would.
He took a deep breath, nearly choking on the overwhelming smell. “I’m sorry, sir. It won’t happen again.”
Since the beginning of the meeting, he hadn’t been looked at once. The giant suited man remained turned toward his computer, speaking without even looking at the teenager he wanted to hire. But finally hazel eyes much colder than Scott’s glanced over at him.
“Make sure you’re here ten minutes early tomorrow.”
You know, I wonder what I’d prefer. Death by a glare, or death by suffocation via perfume.
“Yes sir.”
Surprisingly, that was the end of it. No specific task to complete. No instructions on what his first day should have. Not even a tour. He was dismissed.
So Fritz did as Fritz’s do. He found the animatronics and immediately struck a deal of having a safe way of getting around the restaurant as well as back up if need be. The best part? He had a long list of bribes thought of on how to convince them to help, but apparently them interacting with a human was enough to bargain with.
And that was that. He had coworkers he could trust as much as possible because Lefty gets grabby when Orville’s around and a boss who ‘trusted’ him on knowing what to do.
He learned the flow of Fazbear Entertainment Center as well as the rules. It really boiled down to getting work done in a timely manner and never bug David. And that meant, if there’s a problem, you make someone ‘David’.
It used to be the day guard named Greg. Until Greg was faced with the issue that Lefty apparently couldn’t keep his paws off the arcade machines. Their boss said ‘take care of it’ and his giant coworker had no idea what to do.
Fritz knew he wasn’t turned to because they realized he didn’t just teleport from place to place. Knew his giant coworkers didn’t pay attention to who exactly swept him off the counter. With the smug look given before a singsong ‘Red!’ it’s safe to say they thought this would be the thing to get him fired.
It’s a right of passage being ‘David’. Fail, and you’re fired without hesitation. Pass, and you get to keep your job.
“Hey Lefty? What if we challenged each other’s high score on the game you choose. I win, you promise to only play before we open and after we close.”
“I win, and I get to challenge you once a day whenever I want.”
Fritz won. Unlike the bear, his other coworkers thought he was delusional for one, trying to bargain with Lefty, and two, think he could play a machine meant only for giants. As if there’s no fancy electronics that can be plugged into any game and allow him to play normally. And if they cared about his safety, they would’ve realized long ago all of the animatronics not only helped him, but respected him with the things he did to make their day better.
Of course, that problem was an easy fix in his eyes.
The issue was that he became ‘David’.
Sometimes it was about the animatronics fighting. Others it was about his coworkers. But a large portion/ was calming angry customers.
He’ll admit, it was draining. But it earned him a lot of respect being able to navigate the best solution for an upset mother or Greg angry at Lefty for hiding his things.
He loves the bear, but the bear is the bane of his existence.
The thing is, with being ‘David’, the true David Harrison took notice.
“Fritz.”
The redhead had to force himself not to jump at the semi-familiar voice he only distantly heard. Because why would the business man waste his time on lowly employees, especially the one human he hired.
Which was fine with Fritz! He didn’t want to be constantly berated with comments of ‘pest’ or looks of hatred or be terrified he’ll get grabbed in a fist and squeezed as if he’s some kind of living stress ball-
“Yes sir?”
“Are you able to join me in my office?”
I don’t have a choice, do I?
“Of course!”
He should’ve expected it. He was standing on the counter for the register. Near the edge because, with how many times his coworkers both giant and animatronics alike grab him, it makes it easier for everyone to just pluck him from his work.
It scared him with the speed David grabbed him. And then he was overwhelmed by the suffocating smell of vanilla/earth/flower.
He couldn’t breathe. And being held in a tighter fist than most giants didn’t help either.
By the time they got to the office, Fritz simply freed onto the desk to catch himself from falling on his face, he felt light-headed.
It’s a miracle he hadn’t tripped and fell. Not with how he stumbled a few times before standing with his legs apart, hands held straight on either side, the world seeming to spin, and with each deep breath he took he was only slapped with yet another wave of the cologne.
David stared at him with an unamused look. “What are you doing?”
Fritz panted, trying to breathe without perfume tainting the air, coughing as it just seems to be everywhere. “C-Cologne.”
He received a blank stare. And knowing Scott being as thoughtful as he was, he’s sure the eldest guard had made a comment about it.
It looks like he’ll just have to get used to it.
. . .
David realizes he is the only one who doesn’t realize how much his actions effect humans.
He’ll admit, he’s egotistical. And despite the fact he’s a giant and therefore should be knowledge of how his actions effect those no taller than 3 inches less tall, he doesn’t take the time to be self-aware concerning the smaller counterparts until he’s addressed and told he needs to change a few habits.
It happened when he didn’t watch the ground as he walked, something Vincent had to physically yank him back from possibly stepping on Scott.
It happened when he didn’t realize he turns whatever he’s holding into a stress ball, James seemingly appearing to save Fritz with the redhead too panicked to speak.
It happened when he allowed himself to forget he had a human in his pocket, Mike promising to kick his ass if he ever forgot about a Jerber, and by extension, Irish Jig, Egged Jackass, Hell Spawn, or Phone Guy ever again.
David trusts the others to tell him when he needs to pay more attention, or change something in his routine. Not because he truly trusts them, but because he has much better things to do than realize what the humans he interacts with need.
The only problem is, while the other giants are more self-aware and therefore will watch and teach him how to ensure no one gets severely injured by his hands, they don’t know everything. And if one of his human ‘coworkers’ ever brought up something to him, he would’ve forgotten about it in seconds.
That’s what he believed happened with his cologne. Because Vincent doesn’t count when it came to his first week of meeting the mutated grape.
The only time David remembers anyone bringing up his cologne was during a birthday party at what’s considered Fazbear Entertainment’s ‘first location’. Considering Mike’s the night guard, he’s usually asked to assist the day guard to ensure everyone is safe. Especially due to the restaurant being a mixed one for humans and giants alike, a large party can become concerning.
The only problem was Mike getting sick and needing to stay home.
If this had been before multiple locations being shut down and needing to turn a new leaf less the entire franchise is shut down for good, any human would’ve been asked. Meaning Jeremy would’ve been contacted, though most likely Scott being forced to take his place.
But this was after. So to keep up the good name David bent over backwards to accomplish, a giant had to be found.
Vincent was an obvious no. James apparently had classes to attend.
That’s why David of all people got summoned.
“You do realize I’m a restaurant owner,” he growled down at Scott. Who, surprisingly, hadn’t looked smug in the slightest seeing him at Mike’s location instead of his own. More just looked tired.
He hated it more that Fritz, Eggs, and Scott had been told to come as well. But apparently three humans working together can’t replace an actual giant.
“David, I might be your supervisor, but Afton had to approve someone ‘unqualified’ to take role of a day guard.”
“No one’s qualified.”
“That’s why I put air quotes around it. Just watch for any humans getting grabbed. Mike can do it, so it can’t be that hard.”
David knew what the bastard was doing, comparing him to Mike of all people. But it worked, and he fell silent. Obediently watched the running kids. Upset with himself he had forgotten to bring earplugs considering he can’t duck into his office once a headache began to form.
Realized with a start Fritz had seemingly disappeared from the human area.
In the back of his mind, he knew the redhead at worked at that location previous to being transferred. He also was aware that, despite Mike being Mike, their lead guard knew how to protect both humans and giants alike. Was arguably the best for keeping track and stopping some brat from snatching someone up before it happened.
David doesn’t really watch his only human employee in the giant only restaurant he owns. He both loathes and appreciates the comparison, but he is a bit like Afton in the way Scott is protected purely by name and association across all locations. Everyone who comes into Fazbear Entertainment Center knows Fritz is his human that is never to be touched.
But unlike Afton, no one at Freddy Fazbear’s know the redhead is his. Not when he’s only stopped at the location previously to draft plans on better improving the reputation past the ‘rumors’ of murder and missing night guards.
David cursed before quickly leaving his post, eyes scanning across tables in the hopes of spotting a living action figure having been abandoned. He moved onto searching the floor, wanting to not think about any human attempting to dodge and hide from giants unknowing and uncaring if the smaller counterparts ended up underfoot.
While his search was methodical, he didn’t see a single glimpse of a human. No miniscule flame of-
“HARRISON!”
David froze. Turned toward where he could’ve sworn he heard “Eggs?”
“TABLE! PARTY HAT!”
The business man hadn’t known what he was expecting, but it certainly hadn’t been the human mechanic breathing in relief when a cheap purple and red hat was lifted up to free him. Yet there he was, and David had no choice but to offer a hand that was immediately leapt onto.
Despite the fact Fritz was still missing, he took a moment to look at the chosen item to keep Eggs trapped. “Were you yelling my name the entire time?”
“If you ever became a human 101,” the blond began, slumped into the curled fingers cupped protectively against the giant’s chest. “Don’t ever make a sound until you know a trusted giant is around.”
“How the hell did you know it was me?”
“Dude, I can smell you from a mile away. We need to get Fritz from Freddy, though.”
The idea of Eggs apparently smelling him left his mind the second the human he specifically went looking for was brought up. “Freddy as in…”
Eggs gave him a look like he was losing it. “Fazbear? How many Freddy’s do you know!”
David rolled his eyes. Dropped the blond into his suit pocket. Made his way over to the animatronics locked on stage. “How would I immediately assume Freddy Fazbear had him.”
“Because despite that fact he’s your employee,” said bear begun with a growl, David left frozen at the hostile tone. “You allowed someone to grab him right in front of you.”
“Have anything to say for yourself, David?” Chica added, looking smug as hell.
David. Demeaning and angry attitudes. He had forgotten not all locations were like his animatronics, programmed to address everyone formally by last name and be nothing more than passive aggressive.
“It’s busy,” the giant bristled. “And I realized he was missing and went looking for him. Now hand him over.”
Freddy’s ears flicked unhappily, but his paw offered the redhead as Bonnie snipped “Shit wouldn’t have let either of them get swiped.”
“Well I’m not Mike. Your fucked up night guard will be back by tonight.”
The animatronics didn’t say anything else as he walked away. Or maybe they had, and he was too focused on checking Fritz over for injuries.
“Mr. Harrison, I’m fine,” told him the human had been more shaken up than he let on, voice wavered and hands shook as his prodding fingers were shoved away. “Thank you for finding us.”
“Thanks for trapping me in a pocket, bitch!”
Scott agreed to forcing the two to have a time out once they were put where they belonged. It wasn’t able to be long, not with the party still scheduled for another hour, but David didn’t let any of the three out of his sight after that.
That’s what lands them to now, with him frozen at the door after walking in for their weekly get-together after Eggs called over to him.
“Harrison, is that a new perfume?”
David mentally stumbles over his words until he finally manages a few. “You can smell it from there?”
He can barely see where the blond stands on a table several feet away. He’d be impressed if he wasn’t unnerved and hoping it was guessed purely to try and get inside his head.
He can’t even confirm the miniscule head is tilting in confusion. “Uh, yeah?”
No fucking way.
“No you can’t.”
“Still an earthy smell like your other one,” Scott joins in, freezing David in his tracks once again. “There’s a really small hint of vanilla instead of chocolate. Vince would be the one who can name the flower if he was here tonight, but that’s different too.”
How in the hell-
“Please tell me it’s not on your wrists,” Fritz pipes up if a bit tiredly.
“What’s that supposed to mean!”
At the sound of him being almost distraught, everyone at the table looks over at him, the humans exchanging looks.
“David,” Scott probes. His gentle tone encourages the giant to finally walk the last stretch to the table. “Do you realize just how much your cologne affects us?”
“No.”
“Vince told me he addressed it with you on your first day,” the human deadpans.
David can believe that. He’s also aware of how much the purple man is a bitch.
“I had also made a comment…” Eggs prods.
Yes. Though it was small. And again, he can’t trust the blond for shit.
Scott face palms as frustration slowly appears. “I also told you when we first met.”
Now David does not remember that in the slightest.
The business man looks the information over in his head. Turns it this way and that. Comes to the conclusion the humans in their group including Fritz are being dramatic. Though it’s hard to explain knowing the key notes to his newest cologne, Eggs could’ve found out and did reckon before tonight just to mess with him.
Despite being silent before, James straightens up. “So, much like how our voices are loud even when we’re whispering, smells act in the same way.”
David doesn’t miss Fritz glancing between him and the horror guard. “Right. When giants wear cologne or perfume, it’s pretty potent. Sometimes gets a little overwhelming, especially around the wrists if we’re picked up.”
“Then it might be a good idea we’re conscious of not wearing too much. Never on the wrists.”
David knows what James was doing. This is how he explained humans shouldn’t be treated like a stress ball at least unknowingly, a calm and specific explanation so it’s easy to understand.
Of course, it works. He’ll change his habits concerning putting cologne on before leaving the house. “You’ll just have to deal with it tonight.”
“Because James said something,” Scott snaps.
“Be happy I'm listening at all.”
“Because you never do!” the eldest guard exclaims, standing up as he begins to gesture. “I guarantee Fritz brought up not being able to breathe at least three times before giving up. I did bring it up and proved it when we first met, but you didn’t bother to even remember. Eggs constantly patronizes you with comments regarding it. But you don’t listen until a God damned giant tells you!”
Well I can trust a giant’s judgement, I can’t trust a human’s.
David nearly says it. And then he sees Fritz’s expression like he’d been betrayed.
“I…hadn’t realized,” the giant says carefully.
Scott narrows his eyes. Eggs makes a motion that says ‘bullshit’.
“In the future,” David sighs. “I will try to listen better.”
“Bet $50 it’ll last a week at the most.”
“$100 it’s two,” the business man immediately fires back at the smug looking blond.
“I’ll give it a day,” Scott snarls.
#thank you anon!#i am so sorry for how long it took#just would not want to be finished#but we did it HAHA#thank you for being so considerate ^^#but there ain't really anything I won't enjoy writing#and besides that's DEFINITELY something Fritz would clap back with#“You taste like Starbursts”#“You smell like chocolate on fire”#it's cannon David wears cologne now#g/t#giant#tiny#FNAF bois#Ignorance At Its Finest#BTE writing#answer#cw#content warning
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The Thoughts We Carry
As promised, I had one entry near completion that I hoped be ready to post for @fairgameweek2021. I spent the last few days this week not getting enough sleep just to make the deadline (ssh I know it’s after midnight. Summaries are hard, okay?). I’m sorry I won’t have anything else ready in time, but I hope you all enjoy this one!
Day 4: Separation/Reunion
Dedicated to: @chiherah
Rating: K
Words: 6K
Summary: “I know everybody to some extent,” Qrow once told his nieces, and he hadn’t precisely been lying. At least, when it came to knowing other huntsmen in the four kingdoms, that is. Clover Ebi was just one of probably five-thousand examples. Yet, just as all shamrocks are clovers but not all clovers are shamrocks, all huntsmen are acquaintances but not all get to be friends.
That was why, upon arriving to Atlas, Qrow could tell there was more weighing on Clover’s mind than the Grimm addled streets of Mantle or Solitas’ fighter jet filled skies. More crushing, even, than the now-known threat of Salem on the horizon. A burden so great, it altered old routines and shadowed bright smiles.
And, as Qrow regarded the Aceops’ hasty roster change, he knew the solution to his friend’s plight was not one he’d need to seek, but one he’d need to bear.
Ao3 Link: The Thoughts We Carry
~
There were a few unanimous truths that came with being a huntsman:
The work was dangerous to the point most knew their future was beelining for a parking space in a graveyard.
Never falter in the heat of battle.
Keep bandages on hand because stemming an injury can extend a life from a few seconds to a few minutes.
Always know the best foods to forage in case civilization is too far or – worse yet – wiped out.
Pack light as work will require travel. It will require travel a lot.
Of all of them, the one Qrow was most familiar with was that last one. So much so, the towns he visited were just as much old friends to him as the people within them were. Vale and Patch were like playmates from primary school that were never forgotten no matter how much time had passed. Higanbaga was that party dude from university that always knew how to show him a good time. Atlas was that annoying classmate that he got stuck with one year on a group project and he was forced to put up with. And Mantle…
Mantle was that one struggling friend he knew could be doing better, if anyone would give it a break.
He felt that feeling in every swing of Harbinger, slicing through Grimm as he sidestepped potholes in the concrete and litter whirled up around his feet. Witnessed it when he peered through the city’s ever-present shadow to keep the kids in his line of sight, straining his ears to listen for the rest that shouts just blocks away nearly drowned out until they mysteriously stopped.
Despite knowing what it likely meant, he didn’t focus on it. He sheared through another Sabyr, and spun on his heels. Took in visual information in half a second: Weiss partially down an alleyway with Ren. Yang at his six. Blake a bit behind her. A Grimm leaping right for her.
His hand moved before his mind did, aiming Harbinger’s shotgun as Blake did the same with Gambol Shroud.
Another shot got it first.
A buzzing blast of green energy, not quite aura or dust, cleaved the beast in two. Similar shots rained from the sky, making quick work of the rest until the street was clear. The lampposts’ harsh red glows faded back to their calming yellow. From above, a drone expelling more green light rocketed up to the sky. As it hovered in the light of the moon and slowly floated down to ground level, its shape became more apparent and he could make out the features of a young girl with long, curling locks of ginger hair. Something about her was familiar.
It wasn’t until he heard Ruby’s choked gasp of “Penny?” that it clicked.
About a thousand questions rolled into his mind at once, but it was clear from the way his niece was suddenly bowled over by the enthusiastic android and the tears began to flow, that they’d have to wait.
After all, it wasn’t every day a cherished friend returned from the dead.
The other kids crowded around quickly, but Qrow couldn’t help but look to the one who lingered awkwardly on the sidelines, Oscar fidgeting with his cane the way Oz used to.
Something welled inside him that tasted a little like regret.
Not every day indeed.
~
It seemed ages before they started to make their way back to Pietro’s shop. Penny was deep in explanation on her miraculous revival, explaining how her memory chips had been recovered and her body repaired. In the back, Qrow let most of it float over his head. He wasn’t the only one.
“This is so… unexpected.”
He side-eyed Jaune, the blond’s face a mix of emotions that were hard to pin down. He couldn’t even begin to guess at what the other was trying to process. The joy of Penny’s return? The bitter unfairness it couldn’t happen for another that had been lost that day? The sorrow that Pyrrha now would never know that she hadn’t killed the android and could never make amends?
Whatever it was, it was definitely too much to handle on a regular day. Add two grueling battles, multiple aura breaks, and a long flight to Atlas on top of it all, it left little energy to deal with much else.
“But not unwelcome.” Qrow replied, catching his attention. “You don’t have to question the good things you get in life kid. You do that and you won’t stop to enjoy them.”
It was relieving it pulled out a small, but genuine, smile on the young man’s face. “That’s unusual advice coming from you.”
That’s because it wasn’t his.
Before he could think to respond, his sharp senses caught Ren tensing up. A sign he was detecting something.
His fingers were already halfway to his weapon when he heard it.
“Ah, and here I thought we had a problem. But it’s just Qrow again.”
His hand fell, a groan emitting from deep in his chest as he turned towards that painfully familiar voice. Sure enough, Clover and his poster squad of soldiers were heading their way. “Oh great, it’s you.”
“Salutations Captain Ebi!” Penny greeted with a salute.
"You know them Uncle Qrow?" Ruby asked. He could feel her curious stare burning through his cape.
"Yeah. They're Jimmy's attack dogs.” He scoffed at them. “Though considering we cleaned up this mess, they're more bark than bite."
Clover laughed, stopping just a few feet away. "You haven't changed a bit, have you?" He thumbed back the way they had come from. “Guessing you’re also the flyer of the unidentified Manta a mile west here, huh?”
“Uh, well,” He spluttered a bit, not sure how to explain that.
He didn’t have to, as the second-in-command spoke up for him, “I can’t believe you!” Harriet spat, quick in her temper as she was on her feet. “We almost deployed hostiles on that ship. You could have at least radioed in!”
“Well, see we woulda. ‘Cept our radio was on the fritz.” Yang stepped up beside him.
His other niece flanked his other side. “We didn’t mean to cause a stir, really.”
Qrow didn’t know whether to be proud of their synchronization, refined from years of getting out of groundings together, or concerned for their physical wellbeing as Elm’s eyes lit up with recognition.
“Oh Qrow, don’t tell me these are your cute little nieces!” She was in his youngest niece’s space almost instantly, shaking her hand with such enthusiasm Ruby looked a little dizzy. “I’m Elm. Qrow’s told us so much!”
“He has?”
“Oh yes, once he gets going, he can never shut up about you two. It’s endearing.”
He did his best to ignore the teasing nudges Yang gave him or the flush working its way up his neck.
“Wait, hold up a second.” Another of the soldiers interjected. “You’re the Qrow Branwen? You don’t look anything like what I thought you would.”
As his eyes met with the other’s, Qrow realized with a start he didn’t know him. “And you are?” He spat a bit harder than he meant to.
He felt a little bad when it made the Faunus shrink back a bit, his wagging tail slowing. “I, erm-”
“Oh right, you haven’t met. This is our newest recruit, Marrow Amin. He’s a bit fresh, but has been an outstanding addition.” Clover spoke up, clapping a hand on his shoulder like a proud father. It was the slight twitch at the side of his mouth that gave away he was trying very hard not to drop his smile.
The kid definitely didn’t notice, his tail wagging at full speed once again.
Qrow decided to shelve it for now.
Thankfully, the quietest member was quick to draw all the attention his way as Vine cleared his throat and spoke over them, “As pleasing as this reunion is, I believe taking this discussion away from the middle of the street would be more comfortable.”
“Right.” Clover nodded, straightening up. “The General is expecting our report and, though unanticipated, I’m certain he’d be happy to accommodate your arrival.” He tipped his head towards Weiss. “We’ll contact your sister on the way in as well. Lieutenant Schnee will be relieved to know you made it back safely.”
Despite the propaganda recordings still running on loop overhead, Weiss couldn’t hide her happiness. “That would be wonderful.”
“Sooo, when you say accommodate, you mean beds? And food?” Nora piped up hopefully.
Elm grinned. “Mess hall is always open. All you can eat!”
“Is that a challenge?”
“Oh, I like you.”
In the corner of his eye, Qrow could see Ruby shifting uncertainly. He rested a hand on her back reassuringly. This wasn’t what they’d hoped for. They had wanted to gather more information before they approached James. But it’d be suspicious not to take it and the last thing they needed was for things to go south when they were so close to the finish line.
They would just have to hope they hadn’t lost James’ loyalty like they had Leo’s.
“We could certainly use it.” He finally said. “Lead the way boy scout.”
~
Though sleep came fast that night, Qrow didn’t rest easy. Despite the exhaustion weighing him down, his mind refused to quiet, whirling over and over again on an anxious loop. James’ flawed plans for Amity if they didn’t tell him the truth. Oz’s deceits. The relic still resting out in the open. Salem’s unknown course of action.
Normally, when his brain was this busy, he’d drown it in alcohol. Let everyone else figure it out as long as he could get some rest from it all. But that wasn’t an option anymore. He wouldn’t allow it to be.
That was how he found himself dragging himself out of bed at the crack of dawn and wandering down the already bustling halls. Anywhere else, he’d say it would be weird to be walking past so many people so early; but Atlas had the majority of its’ facility and students on a strict military schedule. Something about how it taught basic discipline and the sleep regimen was good for promoting better health and performance.
It was a crime against sleeping in is what it was.
Despite the fact his last visit had been well over a year ago, Qrow had no trouble navigating the uniform halls, finding his way to the Ace-Ops’ quarters in record time. He knocked twice, only having to wait a few seconds before the door was flung open. The cartoon flamingos on Harriet’s pajamas seemed to mock the rest of the academy already starting the day.
It’s tactical, Clover had told him once when he’d questioned the special treatment.
Privileged, Qrow had corrected snidely, ignoring the multitude of night crews given the same benefits.
Sometimes it was just fun to see if he could get a rise out of Mr. Perfect.
Speaking of, a quick sweep over Harriet’s hairline told him he was nowhere in the room. He did spot the others though, seated around the dining table. Elm had her hair wrapped up in a towel and a piece of toast in hand. Vine was sipping on tea and scrolling through news. Marrow was giving him that same starstruck look from yesterday, a spoonful of cereal only halfway on its journey to his mouth.
“Boy scout ain’t here?” Qrow asked.
Harriet quirked an eyebrow. “He’s in the garden.”
On a Tuesday? That was new.
He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Guess I’ll be on my way then. See ya.” He gave her a nod of farewell, heading down the hall.
“Hey, Branwen!” He paused, seeing Harriet leaning out the doorframe, her stare almost challenging. “If you start antagonizing him, I’ll kick your ass.”
That was… also new.
He smirked. “Like to see you try speedy.”
She only scoffed. From within, he heard Marrow pipe up, “Hare! You can’t say that to-” The rest of it was cut off by the door closing, but he had a feeling it ended with ‘The Qrow Branwen.’
He started down the hall again, the foreboding that had been weighing on him since last night quickening his pace.
It didn’t take him long to get to the garden. Natural to Atas’ standards, the room was as grand as could be. Twice as large as the training facility, the greenery filled every inch of space, broken only by specifically designed pathways students or staff could traverse. Some ran to small manmade ponds with wooden bridges built over them where koi fish would swim underneath while others led to displays of delicately trimmed hedges shaped to look like animals. As there was no plant life in Solitas’ ecosystem, everything in the room had been imported. Desert roses from Vacuo, sage bushes from Vale, black pines from Anima. There were even some sunflowers he’d brought years ago from Tai’s little patch at home, still valiantly clinging to life among the rosemary bushes.
Practically on autopilot, Qrow went down the right-most path which wound along to the far side of the garden, where the trees grew taller and the branches hung down like arms reaching out for a hand, close enough for him to reach up and touch. There was one in particular, a lone willow, which had become a popular hiding spot due to its’ thick, curtain-like tresses. So much so, that it had become better known as the Kissing Tree. Though it was too early for anyone to be there now, more than once, he and Clover had stumbled upon a pair of students trying to sneak in a private moment between classes.
To say nothing of the numerous times when the tree was empty and Clover would always wink at him and say, “Looks like there’s room for two.”
The first time, Qrow had been too shocked to respond. Every time after, he’d wave him off and say, “As if you could handle me.”
Clover would laugh and they would continue on, sometimes to the exit.
But more often than not, it was on their way in to the pen.
Compared to the rest of the room, the five-foot, stock panel metal fencing was a bit of an eyesore. Doubly so with the glowing blue devices placed on every post that would activate if anyone without clearance attempted to enter. Hence why it was kept in the back.
But for Clover, it was the best place in the entire garden. Qrow could already see him to one side of the cage, sitting on a bale of hay, gently grooming a lop-eared rabbit resting in his lap while another dozen of various breeds hopped about his feet. The soldier was humming a peppy tune, so lost in his own world he didn’t notice Qrow at the gate.
“Annabelle’s eating your laces.” He announced as he tapped his scroll on the gate’s scanner.
Clover jerked a bit, but not enough to disturb Dumpling, who only thumped his back leg for his attention to continue. He rested one hand on the lop’s back, shooing Annabelle away with the other, “Lil’ menace.” Before acknowledging Qrow with a nod and a “Good morning.”
“Was looking for you.” He replied, shutting the door behind him.
The second he had, Jynx honed in on him like a missile, torpedoing across the pen in seconds to race excited circles around his feet. Clover watched the antics with a teasing smile. “Somehow, I only half believe that.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Qrow carefully stepped around the dwarf rabbit and as he made his way over, plucked a daffodil from the treat container kept on a high-mounted shelf. He sat beside Clover on another hay bale, Jynx wasting no time as she leapt onto his legs and flopped onto her side. So content she was, she didn’t even bother to lift her head when he offered the flower, just munched it down when it got close enough to her mouth. He rolled his eyes, running a hand through her soft, black fur. “Still lazy as ever.”
“She can’t help it if she takes after her handler.” Clover pointed out as he returned to his brushing.
“Making fun of yourself over there, boy scout? ‘Cause I ain’t the parent here. I’m the uncle who spoils her rotten.”
Normally, they’d go at it for a while like this, trading verbal blows that were about as harmful as throwing a handful of feathers at one another would be.
Today, it was clear his friend wasn’t in the mood when he only hummed and said, “I suppose.”
In the quiet that followed, it gave him a chance to really look the other man over. Though he was prim and proper as ever, with clothes neatly pressed and boots shined enough to reflect the light, his face told the true story. Between the deeper lines under his eyes and slight graying at the base of his crew cut, Clover appeared as if he’d aged a decade overnight. Burdened by the weight of worlds’ most damning secrets.
Ones that he knew only got worse the deeper the hole was dug. Qrow felt so far under at this point, he wasn’t sure he’d find the sky again. And the worst part was, the only action he had left was to choose if he wanted to toss the next person the shovel.
Regardless of his convictions to be as candid and brusque as possible to his friends and family, the idea of burying Clover along with him was terrifying.
A quiet chattering drew his eyes back to Jynx. Her eyes were half-closed in blissful contentment, unaware and detached from the woes of her people. He rubbed a finger between her ears, the way he’d learned she liked all the way back when she was small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. Back when she was so tiny, they’d almost missed her when clearing out the illegal dust testing facility deep in Mantle’s suburbs five years ago.
The mission had been a spur of the moment thing. He’d been tracing one of Salem’s subordinates when the Captain approached him. He still recalled how Clover had buttered him up as he explained that with one of their teammates sick, he was in need of a fifth and he ‘just couldn’t think of anyone more suited than Qrow’.
He wouldn’t say it worked or anything but, well, it just so happened the person he was looking for was also said to be someone of ‘scientific talent’. He’d taken the job completely on the merit of it being a potential lead, but if Clover wanted to shower him with compliments in the meantime, who was he to complain?
Next thing he knew, he was knocking a needle-wielding chemist unconscious and lifting guinea pigs out of overcrowded cages.
It took nearly the entire day to clear the facility. Most of the animals were either unaccustomed to being handled or traumatized from it, and it was difficult to recage them without risk of further injury. It was eventually left to the animal experts that had to be called in. Yet, despite the mission being technically fulfilled, Clover had been stubborn to leave, trying to find ways for them to contribute and becoming agitated if anyone tried to derail him.
Even at the time, when Qrow hadn’t yet known the younger huntsman well, he’d understood the behavior was unusual for the other man. It was hard to say if he simply became driven to assist, his soft spot for animals painfully clear, or if it was some mild form of Hunter’s Shock, the stress and horror of the situation putting him into a repetitive state.
Whatever it was, it was clear they were stuck there until the job was done.
So, mostly trying to look busy while staying out of the way, Qrow had found himself lazily strolling through the basement’s already emptied cage ring when his eyes, sharpened by years of looking down the barrel of a shotgun, caught the almost undetectable movement of hay breathing. Sure enough, brushing it aside revealed one of the smallest rabbits he’d ever seen – though she certainly had the loudest cry when he picked her up.
Like a mother responding to a distressed child, the Captain came running. Though his expression was quick to melt when he spotted them, easing into a smile for the first time that afternoon.
Lucky Number 13, Clover had cooed to her while Qrow cradled the shaking thing against his chest. He’d carried her the entire way back to Atlas, afraid she’d get lost or injured among the other hundred animals they’d rescued. At some point, she’d bonded with him.
“More like imprinted!” Tortuga had joked whenever the subject was brought up.
Keeping the rabbits after the mission hadn’t been planned, but Clover had managed to pull enough strings on Jimmy’s iron heart that the General had come out of it thinking he’d thought up the idea all along. The pen was made in record time and the recovering warren was introduced to their new home. Within days, each rabbit had a name, a toy, a bed and enough treats to hibernate a grizzly bear. Mostly provided by the Captain himself, though some of the other facility and students had donated to the cause.
They were officially presented as a wildlife addition to the garden – they were unofficially and more truthfully known as Captain Ebi’s pets.
Though the rabbits didn’t need constant care and the gardeners attended to their daily needs, Clover still swung by frequently, fitting them into a daily routine he kept to like clockwork. Monday and Friday mornings were given over to training. Tuesdays and Thursdays to team-building with the Ops through sharing or even making breakfast together. Weekends and Wednesdays were reserved for garden visits.
The reason for the change was obvious, but Qrow wasn’t quite ready to ask.
“So. Jimmy told you.” He stated instead.
Clover nodded. “Yeah. He did.”
“And… how are you doing?”
He’d been twenty years younger, when he’d been in Clover’s position. Barely graduated, when he took that first walk through the vault, Ozpin spinning grand stories and waving magic to life before his very eyes. He remembered how terrified he had been. He was just some feral kid from the forests of Anima who could barely figure out how his own Scroll worked. In what possible way was he up to the task of saving the world?
After being in the fold as long as he had, he quickly learned even people more capable than himself all tended to feel the gravity of the job.
Even someone as confidant and unshakable as Clover was not immune, his sigh long and drawn out. “Honestly? It’s a little overwhelming. I actually thought, that uh,” He laughed embarrassedly, “James had lost his mind.”
Qrow blinked.
Maybe the world really was ending.
“I woulda paid money to see that.” He teased.
Clover pinched him. “Oh shut up.” The lack of brushing made Dumpling start to fuss again, but rather than continue to pamper him, Clover set the lop back on the grass, before he lent back, letting out another of those long sighs. “I’ve been thinking a lot about how when I was a kid, I used to think the only way Atlas could possibly stay in the sky like it does was from magic. Then I grew up and the academy taught me different. It’s… terrifying, realizing how easy it’s been to lie to a whole nation’s worth of people.”
“Guess that means you agree with Jimmy’s plan then.” Qrow surmised.
“You don’t?” He challenged back, frowning. “We have thousands of people roaming these halls, none of them knowing that a few floors down lies one of the most powerful objects in the world. Don��t they deserve to know that one day they might be in charge of protecting it?”
Shifting uncomfortably, he averted his gaze, mumbling, “I never really thought about it. I trusted Oz to make those kinds of calls. And now he’s-” He felt his chest tighten, guilt a healed-over bruise pulsing on his knuckles. “Gone. Again.”
“I can imagine how lost that makes you feel.”
“I mean, I guess.” He grumbled, if only to save face.
But deep down, he knew Clover was right. Qrow wasn’t like him, or Oz, or James, or Summer or even Ruby. He needed someone to guide him on the right path. He screwed up things enough merely by existing – he couldn’t make it worse by trying to also make critical decisions.
Maybe it was that thought that made him add, “Starting to think I wasn’t cut out for this whole gig. All I’ve done is drag my nieces and their little friends into this whole mess and nearly got ‘em all killed. Isn’t really comparable to ‘restoring world communications’.”
“Yeah, I suppose being on the front lines at Haven and ensuring a relic didn’t fall into Salem’s hands is a bit more impressive.” Before he could even try to argue, Clover placed a hand on his shoulder and said, “We’ve all had to make some tough calls lately, but I know those kids were in good hands when one of the best huntsmen in all of Remnant was at their side.”
He could feel a blush creeping up his neck. “You’re just saying that because you’re completely starstruck with me.”
“I am.” The admittance was said with absolutely no hesitation, the man’s smile growing. “Qrow, some of my very best missions have been the ones I’ve gotten to go on with you. I admire you. Not because of your skill, but because you’ve never let the job change you. You scoff at your own fame and you don’t take missions looking at lien signs first. You do it for the right reasons, every time. I think that’s amazing.”
The blush was definitely on his face now.
Worse yet, the doubts and worries that had weighed on his mind for days now seemed to lighten, just a little bit.
Gods be damned, how did he always do that?
With no idea how to respond, he mumbled out a soft, “Thanks” hoping it came out more sincere than awkward.
“Anytime.” Thankfully, Clover backed off a bit, focusing back on the rabbits at his feet, picking up Bolt. Having gotten his name from how skittish he was, the cottontail took time to calm enough so he could be brushed.
Long enough for Qrow to compose himself before he spoke again. “So, how have things been otherwise?”
“They’ve been…” His shoulders fell, “Rough.”
Any doubts Qrow might have had before about the Ace Ops’ unannounced replacement crumbled right alongside Clover’s normally strong posture.
He shut his eyes, taking in a deep, bracing breath. As he focused on his friend once more, it was with all the unexpecting kindness he could muster that he asked, “Do you want to talk about him?” For a split second, Clover looked just like the rabbit in his lap – ready to sprint as far away as he could from danger. So Qrow quickly added, “You don’t have to, if you’re not ready.”
Silence blanketed over them like a snowstorm, cold and desolate. The kind of weather that blew in fast and came down slow, pressing everything into such an unnoticed hush most didn’t notice their homes being covered until they looked up and saw they were six feet under. That’s where Clover seemed to be now, stuck inside and standing at the front door, uncertain if he was prepared to create the unavoidable mess it would take to dig his way outside.
Only this time, Qrow had given him the shovel. He just had to use it.
Leaving the soldier to sort out his emotions, Qrow idly pet Jynx, fingers scoring through her sleek black fur.
And he waited.
His gaze drifted to the ring of Cypress trees that bordered outside of the pen.
And he waited some more.
When Clover finally did speak, it seemed a struggle, the words fighting their way out. “Can you imagine how it was for us that day, when we watched our own Knights turn on Vale’s citizens? It was like a nightmare. We didn’t know what had happened. No one did. Without James to explain – to speak for himself – the council started shutting down units left and right. The AKs, the paladins, even our Manta Flyers. We had to rip out billions of lien in automated equipment just so we could fly down to Mantle.”
As if he were a Flyer himself, Bolt suddenly leapt out of his lap, landing back on the grass below. He quickly crowded himself between Orion and Sirias, trusting the giant Altexs to protect him.
Clover just let him go, dropping the brush beside himself as he shook his head. “By the time we got there, the city was overrun. Normally, we’d have enough firepower to deal with it. But James had brought most of the troops with him. Even when they came back, none of them were allowed to deploy to the field until they got questioned. It was a mess. Students and soldiers were kept in lockdown. James was incarcerated. It was months before we learned anything. And every day the public was kept in the dark, every day people feared the other kingdoms would come for us, was another day Grimm surged to our borders.”
It was a familiar story. Beacon’s fall shook the world in a brutal way, leaving no Kingdom untouched. Borders closing. Grimm everywhere. The peace between nations suddenly balancing on a delicate string, just waiting for something to break it.
Yet of everything that had come after that one, awful night, it was the personal losses that struck the hardest.
“I kept telling my own team to just… hold on another day. That things would get better soon. But then-” Clover choked for a second, having to swallow hard. “We got a report of a nest of Centinels in the basement of an apartment complex downtown. We were still cleaning up some stragglers nearby, so I sent Harriet and Tortuga ahead. It couldn’t have been more than ten minutes before Harriet started radioing in. ‘The building came down!’ she kept screaming. I’d never heard her so panicked.”
Qrow sucked in a sharp breath and for a second, he was right there with the other huntsman. Except, for him, it was with a scroll in his ear and Oz’s grief-filled voice shattering his soul as the headmaster told him one of his closest friends wasn’t coming home.
The flash of memory faded as quick as it had come, but the heaviness in his heart stayed as Clover pressed on.
“She told us that some Centinel acid had melted through a supporting wall. Tortuga had been slowing the damage while Harriet tried to get all the occupants out in time. Any other day, they could have done it. If we weren’t all running on empty, I know they could have. Instead, they were only halfway through when suddenly, it all just came down. Harriet was outside when it happened.” Clover lent forward, hay crunching under his grasp as he clutched onto it. “The whole time I was running to their position, I kept telling her everything would be fine. I’d use my luck and we’d pull him out and he’d probably laugh at us for worrying so much. Never knowing it didn’t matter how much luck I had.” He chuckled. It was a hollow, broken noise. “He was already gone. The pathologists said he’d died instantly.”
Then that chuckle turned into a sob.
Knowing better than most that there were no words that made this part easier, Qrow did the only thing he could as he slid a hand along the other’s back and tugged him close.
~
It was a quarter to nine by the time they were getting ready to leave. Clover gave one last cursory check to the food and water while Qrow mentally counted the warren for a fourth time – they didn’t need another incident like when Snowblossom escaped and terrorized the lavender field. He’d finished his count by the time Clover was ushering him through the gate.
He’d finished it again when it locked behind them.
As they started around the first bend of the path, he almost couldn’t fight the urge to go back just to be safe.
Luckily, Clover was a great distraction. “So now that you’re in Atlas, what do you and your entourage plan to do?”
“Uh.” Was that a trick question? “Help with Jimmy’s pet project, obviously.”
“Besides that. It’s not like we’re going to work you all 24/7.”
Qrow wouldn’t mind if they did. At least, for him. Free time seemed… dangerous, when he’d used to fill it with taking shots at the nearest bar. Really, the more he thought about it, the more he realized he didn’t really do much else. When he was bored, he went to a bar. When he had a day off, he went to a bar. When he was looking to have fun, he went to a bar. When he didn’t want to see people, then he skipped the bar, got a six pack, and drank himself to oblivion.
Shit.
He was going to have to find a hobby, wasn’t he?
In the end, he shrugged, replying glumly, “Guess we’ll have to figure it out.”
“What about training?” Clover held up a hand in a gesture of peace as Qrow frowned at him. “Not you. The kids. There’s going to be a lot ahead for all of us and the sooner we get used to working together, the better. And, well, considering their age I’m sure some of them are still rough around the edges too.”
He snorted, but didn’t argue that fact. Really, all of them were incredibly skilled, but that didn’t mean perfection. Ren was still flaking in the stamina department. Weiss had to work on her spatial awareness. Jaune needed, well, everything. After years of being a combat teacher, it wasn’t hard to pick out the kids’ flaws. To say nothing of Oscar who, without Oz as a crutch, probably would be better off if they just shipped him into a witness protection program.
It was time that worked against them all. Ideally, it’d be best enrolling them back into school, were they could finish off their graduate programs and gain the wisdoms of various professors who could help them hone their talents. But, seeing as that wasn’t in the cards, he supposed getting some pointers from some of the best Atlas had to offer was a decent replacement.
“I’m sure they’d like that.” Qrow could already imagine how Ruby would bounce off the walls at the idea of getting trained by real huntsmen. As if he were chopped liver, or something.
(He could also already picture her waving his complaints away. “Uncles don’t count. You’re obligated to do nice things for me.”)
“Great! We can work out a schedule once you’re all a bit more settled.” Clover was practically glowing, as if he couldn’t wait to start penning things in on his calendar. Dork.
Yet, he’d take this much happier, lively Clover over the despairing, grieving one he’d just consoled any day of the year.
In fact, the air was so much lighter than it had been, as they rounded another bend and the willow tree came into sight, he was already preparing himself for the other man to drop his usual line, retort already on the tip of his tongue.
Yet, as they came level with it, Clover did something even more daring as he reached across the space between them and caught Qrow’s hand in his.
He stared down at this grand declaration, then up at Clover himself, meeting questing, hopeful eyes.
Heart racing, he curled his fingers over Clover’s, and despite the other’s rounded knuckles or his own lanky fingers, despite mismatched calluses and hairline scars, despite the rings or the gloves, they seemed a perfect fit.
Perhaps, Qrow wouldn’t be so bored in Atlas after all.
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dentist fetish 2doc drabble hnnnng
The smartly dressed woman tucked behind the tiny secretary’s desk at the front of the waiting room poked her head over the tall counter in front of her. Stuart didn’t look up from his phone, not until he heard her voice pierce through the still quiet of the dentist’s office.
“We’re ready for you, Mister Pot,”
Stuart pushed himself up to his feet and tucked his clamshell in his pocket, swiping his palms against the front of his hoodie. He stalked forwards, shoving his palms into the pockets of his jacket so that his slim shoulders hunched forwards while he walked. He really didn’t like the look of this place. From the flickering fluorescents overhead to the grimy tiles underfoot, to the secretary he’d caught smoking indoors, nothing about this tiny, private practice screamed “professional” by any definition of the word. It was, however, the cheapest place he could find, and with his shit-awful insurance and minimal allowance while away at university, Stu really couldn’t afford anything better.
He stopped in front of the front desk, lips parting to ask something, but the petite woman behind the desk answered gruffly before he’d even spat it out, like she’d read his mind. “First door on the left, it’ll say Doctor Niccals on the doorway,”
“..Right,” He nodded once, reaching up to brush a stray blue lock out of his eyes, then proceeded down the short hallway.
At the previously indicated doorway, Stuart found himself pausing. Behind it he could hear the hiss of gas, a guttural groan and then giddy laughter. What the hell? He reached up to rap one knuckle against the doorframe. Immediately, whoever was tucked behind it cursed, and the sound of something plastic being dropped against the hard ground sounded out, before the young adult heard a gleeful. “Come on in!”
He pushed the door open and stepped inside. He’d met with a strange looking man, sporting one of those silly doctor’s reflectors perched between his temples, the kind of thing you’d see in a cartoon, not real life. His white lab coat was unbuttoned, revealing a tight-fitting black sweater and beneath it, baggy brown pants and a thick leather belt. The strange fellow bore a huge, unnaturally wide grin across his features, wide wild eyes, and a hairstyle that looked familiar but Stuart just couldn’t place where he’d seen it before. He was crouched in a rolling stool next to a reclined examination table, and beside him, a large canister of what could only be laughing gas. The plastic mask for it was on the floor, as if it’d just been dropped.
“Evening!” It was two in the afternoon, if Stuart was remembering correctly. He fixed the other man with a puzzled look. Doctor Niccals gave the younger a beckoning palm, before slapping it against the grey faux leather of his examination table. “Come, come! Have a seat, yeah? Let’s get you fixed up, Stu-... Steward-” Stuart should’ve been alarmed that the guy couldn’t seen to recall his name. He was incredibly alarmed, in fact. Anxiety was already creeping up his spine but he didn’t want to make a fuss or be rude, only wanted this to be over with, so he corrected him cooly, sliding down against the chair gestured to.
“Stuart. Stuart Pot. I’m er... I’m here about the tooth ache?”
The doctor clapped his hands together and laughed at his own blunder, a little too loudly. “Ah! Right, right. Sorry chap, you go through as many patients as I do a day and they tend to blur together,” The waiting room was empty when Stuart had walked in, the check-in sheet he’d signed was also barren. He squinted at the other, but said nothing.
The doctor leaned across Stu once he’d gotten settled, his fingers jamming into a cardboard box located on the small table besides the younger and extracting two blue latex gloves from its confines. He shoves his fingers into one, pulling the plastic down to his wrist before letting it snap sharply against his skin. The sound made Stuart wince. “So, which one of the little buggers has been bothering you, mm?” The second glove was pulled on, latex snapping against the older man’s wrist.
Stuart shrugged his shoulders vaguely. He felt so uneasy about this whole situation, his eyes kept darting towards that canister sitting on the ground besides the doctor. What the hell was it doing out? Wasn’t that sort of thing reserved for surgeries? The bluenette opened his mouth and reached up, poking his index finger against his left canine, before looking back towards the gas.
Niccals hummed and nodded, he reached up, gloved fingers tucking under Stu’s jaw before he gripped him, turned his face towards the doctor’s and peered into his open mouth. “Let’s see here...” He released Stuart’s jaw after a moment, before two fingers slipped past those open lips. His index finger pressed between Stu’s molars to pry his jaws further part, his middle squished against his tongue, pinning it to the base of the younger man’s mouth. The doctor’s eyes, mismatched shades of brown, fixed on that problem tooth. Stu’s tongue wriggled beneath the grip.
This was... odd. He’d never tasted latex before, in fact he’d never had a dentist shove fingers in his mouth. It felt strangely intimate, the way those digits flexed against him while the doctor inspected his pointy canine. Above him, Niccals grunted, he was so close Stu could feel his breath puff out across his cheek. The sensation made him shudder, he flexed his jaw and swallowed around nothing.
“Uh huh. No visible cavity, lucky you! Would hate to have to drill today. Thing’s been on the fritz lately” The dentist adjusted his grip, retracting his fingers before the two digits pinched around that problem canine. “Tell me, does it hurt when I do this?” He squeezed, wiggling that painful tooth back and forth, it was just slightly lose in the poor college kid’s gums.
Stuart flinched hard, he gasped through his nose and his shoulders tensed up, a whine pouring from his open lips before he could stop it when pain shot right up to his brain. “Ow, ow- Yesh- yesh tha’ ‘urts!” Murdoc pulled back, the tsked, and then grinned. He grinned at the pained look on Stuart’s face, the cruel look made his stomach flop.
“That’s no good, Stuey. You been remembering to brush, yeah? Been flossing like a good boy should? Mm?”
Stuart fixed the man with an incredulous look. He closed his mouth as soon as he was able, reaching up to rub at his cheek and mutter meekly. “Not as often as I should,” Murdoc, who had turned to regard a rather menacing array of instruments to his left, froze up, his head turning too-quickly back towards the other man, a briefly furious expression overtaking his features, before they softened again. It gave Stu whiplash, really. He stared at the other, sinking as far back into the examination table as he could.
“Ohh, Stuey. You should know better,” He chuckled, leaning down at the waist to pluck the laughing gas’ mask up off of the floor by the plastic tubing connecting it to the valve. Murdoc cuppe the plastic in his palm, rolled imself up closer to the younger man, who was by now quite anxiously gripping the sides of his chair. “Not to worry, by the time we’re through here, you wont be forgetting to brush anytime soon.”
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I dunno if I’ll ever finish this and im getting DRUNKER so fucking.... fucking HEREE take it good god i am so sorry
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From This Life To The Next
#SL - From This Life To The Next
Written by @DamagedBrother and @OfFeatherNFang
*~*~*~*
Zsadist:
This was it. Today was the day that I was going to be officially mated to my angel. I still couldn’t believe it. Like somehow, this was all a dream that I was going to sadly wake up from. But it wasn’t. He was mine and would be mine until we went into the fade.
Quietly, I slipped out of bed and left him to rest while I moved to our closet. Finding the ceremonial robes in the back as well as something special I had Vishous make for me as a gift to my male. With my arms full, I give the angel one more glance before I head out to get ready in another room.
My head lifts to see Phury already waiting in the hallway, a huge grin on his face. “Figured I could lend a hand.” Chuckling as I made my way over to my twin, turning to watch as Rhage came up from the stairs with four donuts in his hands and one shoved in his mouth.
“You. Go help him get ready and make sure he doesn’t sleep through it.” Hollywood flashed a bright smile that would make hundreds of women swoon.
“You got it chief!” He replied with his mouth full, practically skipping off towards our bedroom where I just left my male.
“Crazy.” I mutter, gazing at my Brother. “Rhage might send Malachi running for the hills.”
“The angel isn’t going anywhere, he loves you too much.” My twin replied as we made our way to one of the guest rooms on the other side of the stairs.
“You say that, but somehow I feel like I’m gonna fuck up.” As I reached for the door, I felt his heavy hand on my shoulder.
“Hey...He loves you, and you love him. Matings...are wonderful...and yes you will fight, but the love doesn’t go away. And if his does...so help me I will-”
I cut him off with a laugh. “Okay. Easy now. Please don’t scare him away.” Phury smiled at me as we moved inside the guest room to prepare for the ceremony.
Mal:
I felt the soft rustle of sheets as Zsadist slipped from the bed. Half asleep, I didn’t bother trying to follow straight away, not until I heard the soft click of the door as it closed. There was a murmur of voices beyond it, and with a slow blink I opened my eyes.
A lull, brief enough that I barely got to feel the anxious thrill as I thought of what the day held, before the door burst in and I started up. Rhage stood on the threshold, grinning around a donut then sauntering in as he shut the door.
“Rise n’ shine princess! It’s the big day! Gotta get you up and ready!”
I actually rolled my eyes and groaned as I flopped back to the sheets. I was glad my wings weren’t out, but then again, keeping them retracted seemed the better idea when I was going to have a name carved into my back.
Zsadist’s name.
The thought earned a smile as I extracted myself from the sheets without any prompt from Rhage and rose, stretching with a yawn and a pleasant smile. Moving past the Hollywood-worthy male, I snagged a donut amidst protest, and entered the closet. Rhage followed, grinning at the robes I ran one hand down.
“Can’t believe this is actually happening for me.”
Somewhere in the manse, my mahmen was with the females, helping prepare for the day. The Brothers had no doubt set up whatever else happened in a mating ceremony, and Z had no doubt gone to get ready with Phury. My heart gave a nervous flutter as my stomach backflipped.
“Hey, you n’ Z? I’ve never seen him happier. N’ you look a lot different than the first time I saw you,” he added thoughtfully.
Surprised at his words, I glanced back to him.
“How did I look?”
Rhage shrugged, taking a bite of his last donut. “Lonely. Cold. Real quick on the defence, y’know? Like you were used to always fighting to survive. To live. But since you’ve been here?” His smile, unfairly, could’ve stopped traffic in Times Square. “You’re lighter. All bright n’ shiny. You laugh. Did you laugh a lot before?”
The question stunned me for its accuracy. For all the talk that Rhage was a pretty face, the dude was damn insightful. Maybe Mary was rubbing off on him.
“Not really…”
A nod, a grin, and the last of the donut vanished. “Well, now you get a new family. A new life. N’ a new reason to laugh and be happy or whatever. So c’mon. Let’s do this! You need me to step out while you drop drawers or you want help arranging the robes?”
Zsadist:
I moved into the closet to slide on the ceremonial robes, while Phury changed in the bathroom. “I can’t believe this is happening…” I call out. “Like whoever thought I’d be getting mated.” Snorts.
“Oh I knew you would.” Phury chimes in. “I didn’t know when it would be, but I knew it would happen sooner or later.”
I hear shuffling around then a deep breath. Pausing as I look in the full length mirror only to see my twin standing behind me. “Well…?” I murmur as my hands smooth down the robes.
“Perfect.” His golden eyes shine bright as he stares at me through the mirror, turning to meet his gaze.
“Let me show you what Vishous helped me out with.” Phury perks up as I move to grab the black velvet pouch off of the bed. Slowly I pull out two twin silver daggers. They were so light that they almost looked white, and at the hilt were black wings on each side that V carved himself into the metal
Phury’s jaw drops. “Whoa. Okay he’s going to love those, and can I get a set?” He chuckles, landing a hand on my shoulder. “They look amazing.”
Nodding as my fingers move over the blades. “Let’s go down and make sure everything is ready, true?” My twin nods as I secure the daggers back into the bag, heading out of the guest room, and making my way down the grand staircase to find my family already waiting.
Mal:
The robes almost remind me of the Chosen, and then of angels. Not sure why. It’s not like I ever met my father to know how he dressed, and Lassiter has clearly got to be the exception to the rule of the whole ‘angelic presence’ thing. Nothing ‘angelic’ about his presence. Staring at myself in the mirror though, I can’t help but think of the father I never met. The angel blood in my veins.
Would he have approved of this? Would he have come? Would he care?
“You clean up nice,” Rhage complimented, slapping my shoulder in that brotherly way as he examines me in the mirror too. “Y’ready to head down? Need anything else? If you need to puke now’s the time.”
I elbowed him with a faint smirk. His words had the desired effect though; thoughts of my father faded into the background. And while I didn’t need to upchuck, my stomach definitely had a bad case of the butterflies going on.
“Fuck off. Y’know I still don’t remember half of the ceremonial stuff. I can recite a latin incantation to exorcise a demon but I can’t fucking remember how my own mating ceremony is supposed to go,” I mutter, glancing down and fiddling with the lining of the robe.
Rhage waved off my concern like it was an insect he was swatting.
“S’just nerves my man. You’ll be fine n’ everything’ll be great. You n’ Z being happy are all that matters, so if the day ends with that it was a success, right?”
My smile’s lopsided in the mirror. “Right.”
“Then let’s go!” He declared, grinning as he backed his massive frame out of the walk in and moved to the door.
Before leaving, I moved to my weapons shelf - mine being the one that housed demonic tools in addition to Lesser fighting gear - and opened the small box I’d tucked in amongst the others. Something I knew Zsadist wouldn’t notice.
Nestled amongst the velvet cushions inside was a pendant, the silver chain that looped through it long and pooling in the bottom of the box. The pendant itself was perfectly smooth, clear resin, and within it, in an almost gentle curve, was one of my feathers. It was small, glossy dark, and came from that sensitive spot right by my back. The spot only Zsadist got to touch.
Swallowing a fresh hit of nerves, I closed the lid and spirited the box in amongst the robes. Then, squaring my shoulders, I followed Rhage out into the hall and downstairs, having zero idea what to expect, but ready for it anyway.
Zsadist:
I was gathered with my family in the foyer. Everyone was there, even most of the Doggen. They all had these big smiles on their faces, and I swear a few of them were crying. Like yeah, the big bad scarred one is getting mated. As if this day would never come.
Though honestly, I never thought it would. I thought that I was doomed to spend a life by myself, and I’d accepted that long ago. But things have changed; I have changed for the better. That’s the thing about finding your other half, they make you a better person.
“Z man, you gonna puke?” Butch chimes in and I swear I saw Fritz giving him a dirty look.
“He does look as green as the field in Fenway Park,” Vishous replies back with a smirk.
“Everyone shut up, and no mention of the Soxs at my mating ceremony,” I growled out, hearing both Brothers crack up. Then one throat clear from Wrath had them both silenced. At a quick glance, I saw them still smirking at me, but a heartbeat later, all amusement left their faces as their heads snapped up towards the stairs.
And there he was. My male.
I watched with light in my eyes as he descended the grand staircase with Rhage trailing close behind. He looked so handsome in the ceremonial robes that I couldn’t wait to peel off later. Biting back a growl as they reach us, nodding off Rhage as I take Mal’s hand.
Lassiter soon appeared beside us, asking if I would basically do anything for my mate. Which of course, I replied that I would, but I couldn’t help but get lost in Mal’s eyes. He was finally going to officially be mine.
After Mal is asked much of the same, I tug him into my arms to share a passionate kiss with him. Trying not to get too crazy as everyone erupts with joy. The clapping dies down as I pull back to begin the carving. Tugging free the shash, the robe falls to reveal my bare chest, scars and all. I give my male one final look before I move down onto my knees.
Wrath steps forward first with George close behind. His hand blindly reaches out until it makes contact with my back. “What is the name of your Hellren?” The King’s booming voice echoes in the foyer.
“Malachi.” I say proudly.
In a quick swift movement, I felt Wrath dig the tip of the dagger into my flesh to form an M in the old language. I didn’t doubt for one second that he couldn’t do it properly. Blind or not, the male still could slice up anything with a blade.
One by one each Brother stepped forward to mark a letter, when it was finally Phury’s turn, I couldn’t help but stare into his eyes that matched my own.
With unshed tears in his eyes he mouthed ‘I’m so proud of you’.
I nod in return, feeling him at my back to dig in the final letter. Once it was all said and done Fritz stepped forward with a pitcher of water and a bowl of salt. This was one wound that I didn’t mind scarring my flesh.
After the water is mixed with the salt, Phury dumps the thick, briny liquid down my back. But I don’t cry out. I just accept the pain as I stare into the eyes of the one I loved, my Brothers growling in approval.
Soon after Phury bent down and opened the lacquer box, taking out a pristine white cloth. He dried the wounds then rolled the material up and put it back inside.
“Rise my twin.” He spoke.
Slowly I got up. Across my shoulders, in an arch of Old English letters, was the angel’s name in my skin.
My twin handed over the box with a big smile on his face. “Take this to your Hellren as a symbol of your strength, so he will know that you are worthy of him and that your body, your heart, and your soul are now his to command.”
Slowly I turned around to face the angel and I quickly dropped to my knees, lifting the box to present it to him. “Will you take me as your own?” I asked as my eyes just stared deeply into his.
Mal:
Standing aside to watch Zsadist have my name carved first was a test of willpower. I’d never actively stood by and watched another make my mate bleed, and I swallowed every growl and every snarl that rose in my throat as the scent of his blood stained the air.
My mahmen stepped in beside me, the only female here that truly knew me, and I gratefully accepted the grip of her hand as she held on and squeezed. She was smiling though, the look on her face one that could only be described as proud and happy. Because I’d found someone that made me happy.
Bending down, I brushed my lips to her cheek, earning a gentle pat to my chest in response. Then I was focusing on Zsadist again, watching as the blades made every line of my stupidly long name. Should’ve just gone with ‘Mal’.
As Phury placed the clothe in the box, and Zsadist came to me, kneeling, I somehow kept my hands from trembling as I accepted it, instead of spinning him and examining the wound like I wanted. Later, I would pin him to the mattress and examine every line, every etching, to make sure he was alright.
“I take you as my own. From this life to the next,” I whisper back, my heart ‘aching’ with raw affection and love.
As soon as he was back on his feet I stepped in, pressing my lips to his in a further affirmation of that vow. Vampires believed in the Fade, but reincarnation wasn’t out of the picture. If I didn’t get forever in the afterlife with Zsadist I would find him again, in another life, another time. I would always find him.
Managing a smile and a wink, I carefully set aside the box and unfastened my own robes to reveal my back. Glancing amongst the Brothers, I then took a knee, sensing as Wrath approached again. His voice rang with approval.
“What is the name of your Hellren?”
I smiled. At the word. At this moment. At what my life had become after so long being alone.
“Zsadist.”
The sharpness of the blade made the first cut almost painless, though with each additional mark, the sting deepened. I didn’t flinch though, didn’t move as one after another the Brothers approached and sliced into my flesh. The muscles that supported my wings shuddered, and I fought the need to summon them, keeping my back smooth and feather-limb free. Though the idea of a Brother accidentally touching my wing and Zsadist ‘accidentally’ flipping a table during our mating earned a small smile.
When they finished, and the salt water etched my mate’s name forever into my skin, it was Rhage who approached with the box. I flashed him a grin, which he returned, and then I was facing Zsadist, kneeling as he had, and lifting the box to him.
“Will you take me as your own?”
Zsadist:
Watching Mal get carved up was harder than I thought it was going to be. I mean, I knew my Brother's weren’t hurting him. This was the ceremony, but I couldn’t help the bonded male in me that wanted to tear everyone off of him.
“Easy now…” Phury said in my ear.
I turned to meet my twin’s gaze with a raised brow.
“I can smell your bonding scent, it’s telling me to back the fuck off right now.” He chuckled quietly, eyes shining bright as they gaze into mine before focusing on my male. “It’s almost over, enjoy this moment.” He breathed.
Slowly my head moves to gaze back at my angel on the floor. He was really doing this, becoming mine. Fuck. What did I do to deserve him?
Suddenly I felt an unfamiliar hand at my back, causing me to stiffen. Jerking my head to the side to watch Mal’s Mahmen retreat her hand carefully.
“I’m sorry to startle you.” She whispers. I could feel Phury’s eyes burning at the back of my skull.
“No need. I uh...you just caught me off guard.” I grunt.
She smiles softly then murmurs. “It’s okay, big day for you two. I’m so proud and happy to have...another son.”
I stare, dumbfounded for a moment. Another son? Me? Suddenly I felt my chest tighten, wishing somehow I got to spend more time with my real Mahmen. Clearing my throat after I realized I was taking too long to answer.
“Of course, Elieanora,” I replied, watching as she smiled at me before we both turned our attention back to her son on the floor.
Moments later he was up, heading over towards me with a box, just like the one I presented to him moments ago.
“I will take you as my own, from this life to the next,” I replied calmly as I reached for the box, handing it off to my twin so I could pull my male up and into my arms. When my lips met his, a loud roar from the family filled the foyer. But I didn’t even bother to look up, I just continued to kiss the male that was officially mine.
Soon as we break the kiss, the chanting starts, followed by a song in the old language. My angelic voice breaks through all the others in the foyer as I join in. My eyes on the angel, like he was the only one in the room, and I was singing for him.
Mal:
My shoulders ached in a way I savoured, but nothing was better than Zsadist’s lips as he pulled me to him. The kiss seared through me, turning my blood to liquid fire as I clung to the male, /my/ male, and relished in this moment. The cacophony around us was a nice backdrop, but more than anything I wanted to taste him. Hold him. Drown in the bliss that he was mine, and I was his.
Easing back from the kiss, my heart ached as he lifted his voice with the others, the pure melody bringing tears to the eyes of the females and rendering me utterly speechless as I watched him. He was a gift.
As the song came to a beautiful end, I didn’t hesitate in claiming that perfect mouth again, as if I could taste the music, the melody on his tongue. There was wolf-whistling from the males and ‘awwwwwws’ from the females, and then the smell of food and delicious things that weren’t Zsadist.
When I finally stepped back my mahmen approached, placing one hand over my heart, and the other over Z’s. The message was clear, and as she smiled up at me I finally let go of my male to sweep her into my arms. My mahmen, who’d raised me all alone, who’d found us a life and a purpose and done everything in her power to make sure I was safe. And now she blessed me, my union with this male I loved. Took him as her own.
“Thank you,” I whispered to her, not trusting myself to let go yet, feeling the lump in my throat. “Thank you for being my mahmen.”
Her hands stroked at my back, reassuring as she laughed gently. “I don’t think either of us had a say in it,” she replied softly, “but I wouldn’t change anything. My beautiful boy. My angel.” She leaned back to cradle my face, then pressed a kiss to my brow.
Around us, the first family and every other occupant of the house had begun to chatter and drift toward the food, celebrating with Zsadist. Elieanora nudged me.
“Did you like it? Was it how you wanted it?”
I blinked then reached for the box amongst my robes, withdrawing it with a relieved smile and a nod.
“It was perfect. Thank you.” Between my mahmen and the doggen, they’d found the right jeweller to make what I’d asked for. Looking to Zsadist, another gentle nudge was all it took for me to cross the distance, holding out the box. When his golden gaze alighted on it, my heart skipped.
“I… I wanted to get you something else. You have my name… but I wanted you to have a piece of me too. With you always.”
Zsadist:
As Mal and his Mahmen had a private moment, I took it upon myself to receive some hugs and handshakes from my Brothers. Even from afar, I saw Hadrian had joined in on this celebration. He stood off to the side with Lassiter as they shared some drinks. Raising my head as I gave him a nod, implying that I was grateful he was here and celebrating with us today. When I received one back, I turned my attention back towards my male.
When he pulled away from Elieanora, I watched with a curious stare as he handed me a box. What in the world could he have gotten me? Slowly I open the lid. My golden eyes go wide as I see a single feather, his feather, attached to a silver chain that I could wear around my neck.
Holy shit.
I’m speechless as I stand there gazing at it, my fingers dragging over the coated feather that I almost didn’t notice Phury nudging me.
“Z...the daggers.” He whispers in my ear.
“Shit, right.” I grabbed the black velvet bag from my twin and handed it off to my mate. Watching with amusement as he opened the gift I had made for him.
“You are one of us now.” I say as he pulls the blades out and inspects them. “So you need something epic to carry when you are on rotation.” I grin.
“Yeah, and you better not lose them.” Vishous calls out from across the room.
Snorting at my Brother as I clasp the chain around my neck, dipping my head to watch the black feather rest upon my chest. I wore a part of him around my throat, his name on my back, and together we were one.
So I reached out to grab his hand and shared one more kiss before we moved to enjoy this night filled with food, laughter, family, and friends.
#EndSL #FromThisLifeToTheNext
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Confectionery Crush
Fandom: Star Trek AOS (Modern AU)
Pairing: Leonard McCoy / Carol Marcus (McCarol)
Prompt: No prompt - inspired by a sweet shop here in town.
Word Count: 15,020
Rating: PG
Notes: Leonard discovers a new sweet shop that just opened up and begins a sugary descent into falling for the owner. Includes plenty of Dad!Leonard and so much fluff your teeth will rot. Even if you don’t usually like McCarol, if you love fluff and meet-cutes, I think you’ll like this :D
Leonard stifled a yawn as he put his right foot down, slowing his truck as it came up to yet another traffic light. He glanced at his watch and noted he was running quite early, as usual; he was due at the clinic at noon and it was only a quarter after eleven. Figuring he’d get coffee before his shift, he drove the rest of the way to work in a bit of daze, thanks to a terrible sleep the night before. It had been unbearably hot and humid and his air conditioner was on the fritz, so he’d tossed and turned all night, his lone fan doing little besides pushing the muggy air around.
Five minutes later, as he pulled into the large parking lot that housed multiple businesses and his clinic, the “Now Open!” sign on a nearby store caught his attention.
“Carol’s Sweets,” he muttered out loud, reading the business name as he pulled into a parking spot halfway between the sweet shop and his clinic. He glanced at his watch and saw he still had plenty of time. His tired expression softened as he decided he’d go into the new shop and see if there was anything Joanna might like. She’d been having a rough few days at school; Leonard wanted to put a smile back on that beautiful face, and what better way to do it than with candy? Leonard knew she was sucker for any kind of gummies or jelly beans, so as he got out of his car and closed the door, he resolved to buy her the biggest bag of multi-coloured gummies possible (not to eat all at once, of course – he was still a doctor, after all.)
A musical chiming noise sounded as he pushed open the door and he sagged in relief as a wave of cold air washed over him. Aside from gratitude at the reprieve from the heat, Leonard’s first thought was “whoa.” In front of him was the most colourful store he’d ever seen. There were bright blue shelving units arranged in neat rows in the centre of the floor space, nearly overflowing with candies of all sorts. Along one wall were shelves upon shelves of chocolate bars and boxes of chocolates, both ones he easily recognized and ones he was sure were imported. There was a small section at the back of foreign confectionary, and a long counter and display case full of handmade chocolates and fudge. He walked towards the back in a different kind of daze, mesmerized by the abundance of products; he’d never honestly realized just how many types of candy, chocolate and other sweets existed, and it was kind of blowing his mind. In the back corner, spreading halfway along the last side wall, were dozens of small bins hanging from the wall, brimming with every gummy he could imagine and then some. A smile broke out over his face and he immediately reached for a bag on the wall, selected a nearby bin of bright gummy butterflies and began to scoop some into the bag.
“Hi there, finding everything you need?”
A pleasant female voice with a British accent posed the question from behind him. Leonard dropped the scoop back into its holder and turned, looking around. A woman who was clearly the shopkeeper was standing there, holding several bags of candy in her arms and smiling warmly at him. She had blonde hair that fell just past her shoulders in gentle waves and she had intelligent but kind eyes.
“Yes, thank you,” Leonard said, politely smiling back. “My daughter is in need of a pick-me-up and you have an amazing assortment here,” Leonard said, gesturing to all the bins of candy in front of them.
“Did this place just open? I’ve never noticed it before.”
“Oh, yes,” the woman said, walking a few feet away, putting the bags of candy in their place and then returning to him. “I just opened for the first time yesterday. I’m Carol.” She held out her hand, and he smiled and took it. He stared at her for a moment, caught by her eyes - they were heterochromic, one greyish brown and one blue, and they were absolutely striking.
“Leonard,” he replied, shaking her hand after shaking himself. “Carol. So you’re the Carol, then?” He asked, gesturing around. She laughed.
“Yes, the Carol.” Carol agreed, chuckling. “I went with a very direct name, I know.” Leonard nodded and smiled, and she clapped her hands together in a business-like way. “Well, if you need anything, let me know!”
“I will,” Leonard confirmed, watching her as she smiled, walked away and disappeared into a side room behind a second counter. Stepping back so he could see farther, Leonard noticed the display case under this counter held more intricate chocolates and some small but fancy cakes.
Smiling to himself without even noticing, Leonard scooped up quite a few different kinds of gummies until the bag he was holding bulged with the multicoloured treats. Carol had reappeared from the back room, and Leonard decided he had more than enough candy for one eight year old.
“Wow, your daughter is a lucky girl,” Carol commented warmly as he approached with the large bag. Leonard chuckled as he set the bag down on her scale and pulled his wallet out of his back pocket.
“I definitely spoil her,” Leonard admitted, watching as she weighed the candies and input the total into the till. “But she deserves it.” He swiped his card as Carol handed him the bag of gummies, sealed with a purple ribbon tied around it.
“Well, she has a great dad then.” Carol said, and he grinned.
“I sure hope she thinks that too,” Leonard chuckles. “I’m all she’s got, so she’s stuck with me.”
“Let me know if she likes the candies,” Carol said, still smiling, as Leonard tucked his wallet back into his pocket.
“I guarantee you she will, but… will do,” Leonard agreed, his eyes lingering on her face for a fraction of a second longer than was strictly necessary. “You have a good day now,” he told her as he turned to leave.
“You too. Thanks for coming in!” Carol waved at him as he stepped out of the door and he wandered across the parking lot, lost in thought. She had been so charming, and Leonard unexpectedly found himself thinking about her several times that day, in lulls between patients, on his lunch break and when he walked back to his vehicle after his shift was over. He could see easily into the well-lit store in the dim the light outside, and was actually considering going to say hi when he realized it wasn’t her behind the counter, but a teenager wearing a matching apron and name tag. Of course, she couldn’t be there all the time, obviously she’d have to hire someone for the evenings, but Leonard was surprised at the soft pang of disappointment he felt. Shaking it off, he headed home and gave the bag of gummies to a gloomy Joanna, who immediately perked up and dove into the bag enthusiastically.
-----
The next day, Leonard headed into work early again, parking in the same spot halfway between Carol’s shop and his clinic, and found himself walking towards the candy shop instead of the cafe, where he’d intended to get coffee. Carol was standing behind the counter nearest him, entering something into a tablet, but she looked up as soon as she heard the door.
“Leonard!” she exclaimed cheerfully. “I didn’t expect to see you again so soon. Did your daughter like the gummies?”
“She loved them,” he said with a fond smile, remembering her excitement when he’d presented her with them. “Though she went to bed two hours late because I was an idiot and gave them to her too close to bedtime,” he chuckled a little and shrugged. “Worth it, though. Haven’t seen her smile that much in a while.”
“That’s great!” Carol beamed, setting her tablet down on the counter. “I’m glad. So, what brings you in now? More treats for your daughter?”
“Her name’s Joanna,” Leonard told her, then continued, “and no, she’s got enough to last her a month, though I highly doubt it actually will.”
He paused; why had he come in then? Suddenly, saying ‘because I wanted to tell you she liked the candies’ seemed kind of lame. Carol seemed to be politely waiting for an answer, so he glanced around for motivation and his eyes fell on the display of fudge.
“I, uh- came in because I’ve been craving chocolate lately,” he invented wildly. “I try not to eat too many sweets, but, um… that fudge looks delicious,” he said, taking a step to the side and gesturing vaguely in the direction of the fudge.
“Oh, caught your eye yesterday, did it?” she asked him with a smile, and he nodded, glad of an excuse. “What flavour would you like?” she inquired, moving closer to the fudge and slipping on a pair of gloves.
“Um…” Leonard stared down at his options. There were over a dozen different flavours and he had no clue what would taste good. He hadn’t had fudge since he was a young boy and couldn’t remember what he had liked back then. Seeing his hesitation, she smiled.
“I’m pretty good at predicting what people like,” Carol told him. “Would you like me to choose for you?”
“Yes, please,” Leonard agreed, relieved. “There’s so many options, I just can’t decide.” He felt his heart skip a beat as she laughed softly in response and watched her bend towards the display, looking over the flavours.
“Hmm… I think we’ll start you out with a nice, basic chocolate fudge,” she said, pulling a slice of it out of the case and setting it into a small box. “Rich, but simple.” She looked up at him thoughtfully as she tied a green ribbon around the box to keep it closed. “You look like a man who enjoys the simple pleasures in life,” she said softly, pointedly making eye contact.
Leonard cleared his throat slightly and blinked, realizing he’d been staring directly into her gaze for several long moments.
“Ah, yes, I do,” he agreed. He hesitated, then continued. “Give me bourbon and some barbeque and I’m a happy guy,” he told her, cringing internally at the awkwardness in his tone and a slightly nervous laugh. She smiled as she pulled off her gloves, watching him. He could see something calculating in her gaze, and felt himself flush a bit pink.
“I, uh, need to start work soon, so…” he said, nervously scratching his cheek with a finger and trying to sound casual.
“Oh, of course,” Carol replied, immediately scooping up the box of fudge and bringing it over to the till. She rang him up and he reached out for the box, but she hesitated for a moment before she handed it over to him.
“It was nice to see you again, Leonard,” she told him, and he could hear the genuine sincerity in her voice. “I want to know what you think of that fudge, alright?”
Leonard nodded, tucked his wallet into his pocket, said goodbye and left the store with a slightly awkward wave, wondering what on earth was going on with him. He had become as awkward as a schoolboy, and when she’d looked at him, he’d suddenly been all too aware of his heart pounding in his chest.
Leonard walked over to his clinic, still clutching the ribboned box as he walked in the door.
“Mornin’ Dr. McCoy,” his receptionist greeted him, smiling warmly as she always did. He glanced over at her as her eyes found the box he was holding and she quirked an eyebrow in curiosity. “What’ve you got there?”
“Morning Alyssa,” he replied, shifting the box to his other hand and slipping it into his pocket. “Nothing, it’s just… a thing. It’s nothing. I’m gonna go get ready.”
He gave her a brief, awkward smile and hurried through the hallway back to his office before she could question him further. He sighed as he sat down at his desk and slipped the box out of his pocket again, staring at it for a moment before putting it into his top desk drawer. Why hadn’t he just said it was fudge? It wasn’t like she would’ve questioned him, considering there really was a new sweet shop right across the parking lot. His awkward deflection had likely made her far more suspicious of him if he’d just said ‘Oh I got some fudge from the new store.’
He shook himself mentally; there was nothing to be suspicious about anyway! Leonard didn’t understand why he was suddenly acting so weirdly. He searched his own feelings and mind for a moment, and realized he was worried that people would suspect he had a thing for the woman at the candy store. But why would he even be concerned about that? He’d only met her twice, and yes, he was thinking about her a lot, but it was only natural to think about a pleasant person you’d just met, wasn’t it? He was only thinking about her wavy blonde hair, her bright eyes, her warm smile… oh. Leonard closed his eyes and swore under his breath as it finally clicked. He was glad no one was in the office with him because his cheeks had gone faintly pink. Could he really have already developed a crush on Carol, someone he had known for all of 40-odd hours?
Leonard shook himself again. A crush? What was he, 13? Shaking his head and standing up, he did his best to put Carol out of his mind as he slipped into a lab coat and draped a stethoscope around his neck. He didn’t have time to deal with this – between running his clinic and taking care of Joanna, he had quite enough on his plate. He fought to keep this thought at the forefront of his brain as he went about his day, refusing to admit it when he lapsed and her hair or smile crept back into his thoughts.
----
A few days passed. He managed to not go into Carol’s Sweets, going directly into his clinic two days in a row, even parking closer than normal so the temptation wouldn’t be as great. The third day was a Saturday - Leonard had the weekend off, so he and Joanna spent Saturday at a nearby waterpark, splashing around and sunburning their faces. On Sunday they slept in late, Joanna stumbling sleepily out of her room after 10am, her hair a mess, her favourite stuffed elephant’s trunk clutched in her hand, his body dragging along the floor.
“Mornin’ Pumpkin,” Leonard greeted her, chuckling as she climbed clumsily into a chair and yawned so widely he could see her tonsils. “Did you have fun yesterday?”
“Yeah! The slides were the best!” Joanna grinned at him, and he smiled as he affectionately reached over to muss up her hair even more. “Are you makin’ pancakes?!”
“Yup, and they’re banana,” he replied, laughing as she cheered enthusiastically. “Your favourite, I know!”
“Yummy!!” Joanna jumped down from her chair, set the table at lightning speed and then plopped back into her seat, holding a fork, ready to chow down the instant a pancake hit her plate. Leonard brought over a stack and dropped two onto her plate. He watched, trying to hold back laughter, as she clumsily buttered them and poured syrup over them, with no signs of stopping even as the syrup began to pool on the plate and spread towards the edges.
“Okay, Jojo, that’s enough syrup,” he chided gently, reaching out and taking the bottle from her. Unabashed, Joanna immediately began to stuff her mouth as Leonard got his own food ready.
“So what do you want to do today?” Leonard asked her, watching in amazement as she finished her first pancake before he’d taken more than two bites of his. “Do you want to go to the park? Or the mall? The candy store?” -- Wait, why had he said the last thing?! He’d been studiously avoiding the thought of Carol for days, which had been quite a task considering how often she’d popped into his head.
“Yeah!! The candy store!!” Joanna practically yelled, excitement shining in her eyes. “I want more gummies!!”
“You still have half a bag, Jojo,” Leonard said, shaking his head slightly and reaching out with a napkin to wipe away the syrup dripping down her chin. “Why don’t we go to the park? I heard there’s a new jungle gym---”
“You said candy store! I wanna go to the candy store!” She stared at him resolutely as she stuffed another bite of pancake into her mouth. “Candy store!”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Leonard said automatically as bits of pancake flew out of her mouth while she chewed and spoke at the same time. He watched as she swallowed the large bite with difficulty and stared at him, knowing she wasn’t going to back down. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the pa—”
“No!”
Leonard sighed. He could straight up tell her no, but he knew she’d be sad and he didn’t want to see the happiness leave that face just now. She’d had such a rough time at school lately that all he wanted was to put that wonderful, bright smile on her face, and so he knew he had no choice.
“Alright, fine,” he relented, and Joanna pumped her fist twice before stuffing her face once more. “But we’re going to the park, too. If you’re good, then we can go to the candy store afterwards.”
“Ah be goo’!” she replied earnestly, pancake bits falling over her chin as she tried to speak with her mouth full again. Leonard touched his fingers to his forehead with an internal sigh, but Joanna seemed to think it was hilarious, and he couldn’t help but enjoy the giggles that followed.
A few minutes later they’d finished their breakfast and gone back upstairs to get ready. After she’d gotten dressed, Leonard carefully brushed her hair, proud of himself when she only yelled at him twice for the tangles hurting. He quickly braided her hair, the plait hanging halfway down her back by the time he was done. He wrapped the end with a bright purple hair tie and kissed the top of her head.
“Thanks Daddy! I’m gonna go play ‘till you’re done.”
“Okay baby,” Leonard agreed, patting her back as she hopped down from the stool she’d been standing on and tore away down the hall towards her room. Leonard sighed a little as he quickly got dressed, pulling on jeans and a tshirt, slipping a pair of sunglasses onto the V of the neckline. He pocketed his wallet and grabbed his keys as tried to convince himself that he wasn’t absolutely looking forward to seeing Carol again. He kept reminding himself that he didn’t have time for a ‘crush’ right now. Besides, it was Sunday – Carol owned the shop, what were the chances she’d be working on the weekend? Probably not great. She’d likely have hired someone for weekends as well as the teen he’d seen in there that one evening.
Trying not to notice that the thought he likely wouldn’t see her made him feel relieved but also disappointed, he collected Joanna, loaded her into the truck and they were off. Perhaps, he mused, as Joanna sang horribly along with the radio, she would misbehave and they wouldn’t have to go to the candy store at all.
A few hours later, she was finished playing, and Leonard hadn’t detected even an ounce of misbehavior. She’d been great with the other kids, had even shared her swing (something she normally wasn’t very generous about) and had had a great time. Hoping she’d forgotten about the candy store, he wrapped his arms around her as she wandered over and stopped in front of him.
“You all done, sugar?” he asked, smoothing back the hair that had come loose from her braid.
“Yeah, Manda an’ Bobby had to go home and I’m gettin’ tired,” she said, climbing up into his lap and leaning on him, her small body giving off a ton of heat after running around in the afternoon sun.
“Alright,” he said, kissing her sweaty forehead. “Let’s head home then, sweetpea.”
“Home?” she asked, sitting up straighter in his lap. “Nuh uh, you said if I was good, we’re gonna go to the candy store! And I was real good!” Leonard held in a sigh. He should’ve known she wouldn’t forget; she was way too intelligent to be distracted like that.
“I did say that, didn’t I?” he mused, and she nodded vigorously. “Alright, alright. Anything for you, Pumpkin,” he said, scooping her into his arms as he stood up.
“YAY!” she yelled, her cheer turning to giggles as he spun around with her a few times before setting her down. Full of renewed energy, she sprinted off towards the parking lot, skidding to a halt beside the truck and bouncing in place as she waited for him. Shaking his head and unable to banish a smile as the affection he felt for her swept over him for the millionth time already that day, he let her into the vehicle, hopped in, and then they were off.
Joanna was singing along to the radio again, making up words when she didn’t know the lyrics, but Leonard wasn’t really paying attention. His heart had started beating faster when he’d turned down the street that lead to his clinic and the sweet shop, and as the brightly coloured sign came into view, he swallowed a bit thickly, reminding himself that she likely wasn’t even there today.
“Yay! Candy store! Candy store!” Joanna chanted as he pulled into a parking space in front of the shop, unbuckling her belt and opening the door before he’d even shut down the engine.
“Hold on, Joanna-” he started, but she’d already flung open her door, leapt out, slammed the door and was running towards the shop. Sighing, Leonard quickly hopped out of the truck, locked the doors and followed her, the door to the shop already closed again by the time he’d gotten there.
His hand remained on the door handle for a moment longer than necessary as he took a bit of a deep breath before opening it and stepping inside. The cool air that smelled irresistibly of fresh chocolate hit him at once and he inhaled, his eyes closing for a moment. Even for him, someone who didn’t eat sweets much, the place smelled incredible. He immediately glanced towards the counter, not sure if he was expecting to see her or a teenager standing there, but was greeted with the sight of no one. Realizing whoever was working was probably in the back after a quick glance around the store showed him no one was around, Leonard shook himself slightly and returned his attention to his daughter, who was running up and down the short aisles, trying to take everything in at once.
“There’s so much cool stuff here!!” she exclaimed excitedly, bringing him a handful of bright coloured packages to look at. “Look!” She threw another package down on top of the handful of other things; he struggled to keep hold of them all as she bounced in front of him.
“Hanna at school gets these in her lunches once a week!” she said, pointing. “And Bradley always has these ring candy things,” she explained, putting yet another package onto the bulging pile on his hands.
Leonard shook his head as she choose a few more things at lightning speed and dumped them into his hands. He struggled to position his hands, spreading his fingers as wide as possible, but he was in severe danger of dropping everything.
“Baby, I think you need to slow down, I can’t hold all of these,” Leonard said, trying to shift his arms to get a better grip. Before Joanna could say anything, a pleasant, amused voice spoke up behind him.
“Would you like a basket, Leonard?”
Carol had appeared behind him without his knowledge, and he inhaled sharply in surprise, jumping enough that all but two of the packages fell from his hands and scattered all over the floor around him. Fighting the urge to run, he felt his cheeks and the tips of his ears colouring up again as he stared down at the brightly coloured packages at his feet. He could practically feel her smiling and trying not to laugh behind him, and he was torn between laughing himself and feeling like a complete moron.
“Yes, please, I think that would be a good idea,” he said, clearing his throat as his voice came out slightly choked. She let out a small laugh behind him and he could hear her moving away to retrieve a basket.
“I’ll help!” Joanna said, running back over to him and starting to scoop the packages off the floor as he crouched and did the same. Carol returned and put the basket on the floor next to them, and Joanna had fun treating it like a basketball hoop, tossing her candies in with surprising accuracy. He could sense that Carol was still standing there, watching him, and he took his time gathering the last of the things he’d dropped, running through all the things he could say in his head.
“Daddy, why is your face all pink?” Joanna asked suddenly, reaching out to touch his cheek. “And so warm!”
Leonard felt his heart plummet into his stomach as he thought he heard a soft exhale of laughter behind him and felt his cheeks growing even warmer. He swore internally, wishing there was a dignified way to get out of this, but he could see none.
“Um, Daddy’s just hot,” he said desperately. “I got a bit of a sunburn. We were outside for a long time today, right baby?”
“Yup!” Joanna took her hand away from Leonard’s cheek and beamed up at Carol. “We were at the park all day! The one with the really good monkey bars!”
“Wow, that sounds really fun!” Carol replied, and Leonard took her moment of distraction as an opportunity to stand and collect himself before slowly turning around.
“Yeah! And I even skipped a bar!” Joanna told her excitedly.
“That’s amazing!” Carol said, acting appropriately impressed. “High five!” She held out her palm and Joanna slapped it with great enthusiasm. Carol looked over at Leonard, who looked torn between amusement and horror, his cheeks still quite pink and an expression of embarrassment in his eyes.
“Would you introduce me, Leonard?”
“Carol, this is my daughter, Joanna. Joanna, this is Carol. She owns this place.” Leonard said, his voice a bit more formal than he intended, still keen to get her attention away from him until the flush left him.
“Hi Joanna,” Carol said with a smile, crouching down a bit to be closer to her level. “It’s nice to finally meet you!” Joanna took her hand as Carol offered it, shaking it, while gaping open-mouthed at Carol.
“You own this candy store? That’s so cool!!” Joanna exclaimed, practically jumping up and down. “That means you can eat as much candy as you want!”
“Jojo, that’s not how it works,” Leonard began, smiling at her exuberance. “It’s-”
“-Actually,” Carol cut in, shooting a sideways smile at Leonard. “That’s exactly how it works,” she told Joanna with a wink, who looked at her in amazement.
“Daddy, I wanna own a candy store when I grow up!” Joanna told him, tugging excitedly on his hand. “It’s gonna be great!!”
“Okay, Jojo,” Leonard agreed, knowing it was best to just humour her. He gestured to the basket. “Go easy on the candy today though, please… I’m not buying you all of this.” Predictably, Joanna ignored this and flounced off without a word, presumably to find more things to coerce him into buying.
“She’s adorable, Leonard,” Carol said, smiling as Joanna disappeared around a corner, exclaiming as she found something new and interesting every few feet. “You must be so proud.”
“I sure am,” Leonard replied genuinely, his pride and love for his daughter overriding his awkwardness for a moment. “She’s my whole world.” He glanced over to see Carol smiling at him, and felt his heart skip several beats at the warmth in her eyes.
“I bet she’s got you wrapped around her little finger,” Carol said teasingly, and Leonard laughed.
“Like a boa constrictor, yeah,” he agreed, watching as Joanna discovered the gummy wall and yelped with glee. “Jojo, no! You still have gummies at home!”
“Awww, but Daddy!”
“I said no!”
“Pleeeeeeeeease?”
Leonard glanced at Carol, who could clearly see his will crumbling and was highly amused by it. He sighed, admitting his loss, then looked back over at Joanna.
“Fine. But only a few!”
“YAY! Thanks Daddy!”
“Yep, like a boa constrictor is right,” Carol laughed as Leonard looked back at her, defeated.
“I give up. One of these days I’m going to say yes when she inevitably asks for a horse, or something.” Leonard shook his head, well aware he was a pushover when it came to Joanna, but he couldn’t help it.
“Well, I think it’s cute,” Carol said smoothly, giving him a rather coy smile. After checking to make sure Joanna was still occupied with the candies, she added: “Just like you.”
Leonard had been about to open his mouth to say something else, but his words died in his throat as he absorbed the compliment. She thought he was cute? How was he supposed to respond to that? He stared at her, his mouth still slightly open, for many long seconds as he attempted to think of a thing to say, the word “cute” echoing around his brain in her voice.
“I, uh, thanks?” he stammered, not even sure what was coming out of his mouth. “You’re, uh… I think you’re cute too.”
Carol smiled at him with a little wink as Joanna mercifully came running up at that moment, clutching a bag bulging with gummies.
“I tried to only get a few,” Joanna explained, handing the bag over to Carol so she could seal it. “But there were so many kinds, I hadta try everything!!”
“Okay baby,” Leonard said, still distracted, watching Carol as she patted Joanna on the shoulder and lead her over to the counter, where she could put a tie around the bag.
“That’s totally understandable,” Carol told her, chuckling. “You have to try a little of everything!”
“Yeah!” Joanna agreed, bouncing up and down. Leonard eventually made his way over to the counter, feeling pleased but considerably flustered at what had just happened.
“You can have the gummies and two things from the basket, Jojo,” Leonard said, coming to his senses for a moment and noting the mountain of packages in the basket plus the bulging bag of gummies. Joanna looked like she wanted to complain, but thought better of it and somewhat reluctantly chose the two biggest things from the basket to go with the bag.
“I can put these away,” Leonard said, gesturing to the leftovers in the basket.
“No, not at all,” Carol said, waving away his offer. “It’s my job, plus I actually know where everything goes… I feel like it’d take you a while to sort it all out,” she said, with a teasing tone. Leonard looked at the multitude of brightly coloured packages in the basket and had to admit she had a point.
“Yeah, you’re probably right. Okay, I’ll pay for these then.” Carol rang him up, and as he was paying, she spoke again.
“Oh, how did you like the fudge, by the way? Did you enjoy it?”
“Oh, ah…” Leonard firmly banished the mental image of him devouring the fudge in his office, practically moaning from how delicious it had tasted. “It was good.”
“Just good, hm?” Carol asked with a sly tone to her voice, clearly seeing through him. “Well, I think you should try a different kind, then. See if its more your flavour.”
She smiled and excused herself, moving to the fudge counter and coming back a minute later with a box identical to the one she’d given him the first time, though it was tied with a red ribbon this time.
“Okay, I’ll try it,” he said, accepting the box as she handed it over, feeling flustered again as she looked at him unwaveringly, a knowing smile in place. “How much do I owe you?”
“It’s on the house,” she told him, and his eyebrows arched in surprise. “On one condition.” He nodded a bit warily, and she smiled before she went on.
“You have to promise to come back and tell me how it was. Honestly this time.” Leonard had to clear his throat before he could speak again, and managed to smile back at her.
“Deal. Come on, Jojo.” Leonard handed the bag of candies to his daughter as he slipped his wallet back into his pocket, glancing back at Carol as they headed for the door. He paused, then spoke up again: “I have a week of holidays starting tomorrow… but I will come back next week.” He told her, and she nodded, pointing at him.
“I’ll hold you to that, Leonard. Have a great holiday.”
“Bye candy lady! Thank you!” Joanna yelled as she pushed open the door, and as Leonard waved goodbye, the last thing he saw was Carol’s amused smile as she waved back; an image that would be plastered into his brain for the next week.
---------
That night, after Joanna had gone to bed and he was flopped on the couch, Leonard took out the little box of fudge. He tugged gently on one end of the ribbon until it gave way and came loose, then flipped open the flap of the box. A little note fluttered out from beneath the lid and he unfolded it to read the message:
Chili dark chocolate fudge
For those who like a little spice in their lives
Intrigued, Leonard took a small bite of the fudge (which looked almost identical to the plain chocolate fudge he’d had earlier that week) and almost instantly moaned as the flavour hit his tongue. The chocolate was rich and sweet and the heat of the chili melded so well with the other flavours that he closed his eyes and let out a soft groan, collapsing back into the sofa cushions as he let the fudge melt on his tongue. She had certainly been right about one thing; she was excellent at predicting what people would like. Or, at least what he would like. Leonard tried to limit himself to only part of the fudge, but he couldn’t stop; it was just too damn delicious.
He went to bed a while later, still imagining the taste of it on his tongue even after he’d brushed his teeth, and he imagined how the meeting with Carol would go; he was reluctant to tell her it had been practically orgasmic, but he knew he needed to find the right words to praise her for her incredible skill. He fell asleep with the thoughts still mulling around his head, and eventually fell into a dream where Carol was teaching him how to make the fudge, a dream which ended with the two of them leaning against the counter with his hands around her waist, kissing her deeply…
-------------
On Wednesday Carol found herself in the backroom of her shop with about a million things to do. Her hired part-timer, Finn, was out front manning the store while she did all the baking and candy making for the next few days. It was hot work, so she was only wearing shorts, a tank top and an apron, and still she was sweating. Wonderful smells were filling the back room, however, and even though the work was difficult, Carol loved it.
She donned a pair of thick gloves as she worked with a large blob of hot, pliable candy, stretching and shaping it by hand. She occasionally sang along with the radio as she worked, or hummed along as she kneaded and pulled the confectionery.
Everything was going great until she dumped another large pot of steaming candy onto her working table. The candy spread over the surface of the table as she replaced the pot, and she didn’t notice that some was oozing off the edge until it was too late. Carol let out a soft cry of pain as some of the molten candy found the skin of her thigh, immediately starting to burn into her flesh.
Instinctively, she reached down with her bare hand and attempted to wipe away the hot goo, letting out a gasp of pain as she felt it burn into her hand as well. Cursing her own stupidity, Carol hurried over to the sink and turned on the cold water, thrusting her hand into the stream with a slight hiss of pain. After a few moments the pain in her hand numbed under the icy deluge, but her leg was excruciating. Carol retrieved a cloth, got it sopping wet and placed it over the large burn on her lower thigh, both sighing with relief and wincing from the pain.
Carol looked up as Finn stuck his head in the door, a concerned look on his face.
“You okay, Carol?” he asked, his eyes finding the cloth she had pressed to her thigh. “What happened?”
“Oh, some of the hot candy got me,” Carol said, trying to sound casual and like she wasn’t in a good deal of pain. Being the bright kid that he was, Finn didn’t miss the strained tone to her voice.
“Maybe you should go see a doctor,” he suggested, frowning. “Burns can be serious.”
“I know, Finn, but I don’t have a family doctor here yet,” Carol sighed, peeling back the cloth to peer at the burn and wincing. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“The clinic on the other side of the parking lot takes walk-ins,” he argued, shaking his head. “Seriously, I can watch the store. Go and get that looked at.” Carol raised her eyebrow at the command in his tone and he blushed slightly, then smiled.
“I just want that to heal as fast as it can. Sorry, my parents are both doctors,” he said, and she laughed lightly.
“Perhaps you’re right. Are you sure you’ll be okay on your own for a while?” she asked, standing up properly and carefully pulling the cloth away from the wound. Finn winced as the whole burn was revealed to him, an angry pink wound that was already blistering.
“Of course, it’s no busier now than in the evenings. I’m fine.”
“Alright. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Carol retrieved her wallet and was about to leave when she thought to grab a cloth, soaked in cold water, to bring with her. That way if she had to wait for a while, she’d have at least some relief from the burning sensation.
Carol left her shop and hurried across the parking lot, limping slightly and wincing at the continued burning of her leg and hand. She could tell the burns were deep and she was not thrilled to be getting them looked at; any poking or prodding was surely going to hurt a great deal.
She made it to the clinic quickly, considering the pain in her leg, and limped her way up to the front desk. She told the receptionist why she was there, taking a step back to show the young woman the burn on her leg.
“Ouch, that looks painful,” the woman said, sympathetically. “Well, have a seat, I’ll let Dr. McCoy know you’re here.”
Carol nodded and sat herself down in a chair, folded up the cloth and pressed it to her leg with her burned hand, trying to absorb the chill on both burns. It didn’t seem like there was anyone ahead of her except the doctor’s current patient, of whom she could hear the muffled voice through the walls.
A few minutes later a middle aged woman appeared from the hallway leading towards the exam rooms, briefly stopped at the desk and then left the clinic, leaving silence in her wake. Almost immediately, the receptionist ushered Carol into a room and gave her a hand up onto the bed. This left Carol feeling a bit embarrassed, but, as she discovered, it hurt her leg burn a lot to bend and stretch the skin tight.
“The doctor will be right in.”
Carol nodded and gave her a smile of thanks before replacing the cloth on her leg, once again holding it in place by the burned side of her hand. She hoped the doctor would hurry; burns or not, she still had a lot of work to do today; she hadn’t even started on her cakes yet and she had three orders to fill before the next afternoon.
She pulled her phone out of her pocket to check if there were any other orders she needed to finish, trying to prioritize in her mind, when the door opened. She was still looking down at her phone when a surprisingly familiar voice filled the room.
“Hi there, I’m Dr. McCoy, what-- Carol?”
Carol’s head snapped up; there, standing before her in jeans, a plaid long-sleeved shirt and a unbuttoned labcoat with the sleeves pushed up was none other than Leonard, a stethoscope hanging casually around his neck. Her mouth fell open slightly as her eyes widened in surprise, her brain coming to a screeching halt as he stepped all the way into the room and closed the door behind him. Questions were racing through her brain: What was he doing here? He was a doctor? Why did he look so good in those clothes? He was a doctor?! It suddenly occurred to her that she’d never actually asked him what he did for a profession, and her senses were having a bit of trouble catching up with her racing thoughts.
“I, uh, h-- Leonard,” she managed to get out, stumbled over her words. “I- I didn’t know you worked here,” she said, cringing inwardly. He hardly just “worked” there, this was clearly his clinic. He smiled, and she got the distinct feeling that he was relieved she was on the awkward, fumbling side of things this time. She could feel her cheeks flushing a bit and attempted a smile, though it felt awkward and alien on her face in that moment. Leonard grabbed the nearby wheely stool and sat down on it, holding a folder to his chest as his eyes swept her in a very practiced, measured way, clearly checking for outward symptoms.
“Yup, this is my work,” he said, gesturing around them with one hand. “I guess I never mentioned that, hm?”
“Nope, no you did not,” Carol agreed, her voice still a bit weak from the surprise of it all. Her heart was fluttering and she felt unsettled, not used to being caught so off guard. Honestly the fact that it was metaphorically knocking her off balance so much was a testament to how deeply she was into her crush on this man, something that both amused her and made her feel very vulnerable. Indeed, sitting here on this bed before him was making her feel exposed, and his smile faded as he seemed to sense this.
“Oh, I hope this isn’t going to make it weird,” Leonard said, sounding concerned. “Unfortunately I’m the only doctor at this clinic, so if you’d rather see someone else you’ll have to come back tomorrow…” He sounded a bit sad, and she wondered if he’d be hurt if she left. She knew he would understand if she declined, but at the same time…
“Ah, well, no, it’s okay,” she said, cursing inwardly as she still couldn’t quite get a handle on her words. “I’ll admit I don’t really like physician’s offices in the first place, so maybe having a friendly face will help,” she shrugged with a small smile, which he returned.
“Besides… I probably shouldn’t wait until tomorrow to get checked out,” she admitted, wincing as she shifted her leg and the pain flared up again.
“What happened?” he asked, setting down his clipboard and reaching for her. Carol grimaced and then slowly peeled back the wet cloth, revealing the ugly pink burn on the front of her thigh that was already starting to blister.
“Wow, are you okay?” he asked, a bit alarmed, crouching in front of her for a better look. His fingers hovered around the edges of the wound, not quite touching it, but she braced herself for the pain just in case. Even just his body heat was making the pain a little worse, though she attempted to hide the pain, not wanting him to think she was weak.
“Yeah, it’s just a little painful.” Carol swallowed a bit harder than she meant to and nearly choked as he looked up at her with an eyebrow raised.
“A little painful?” Leonard said skeptically, looking up at her. “These are clearly second degree burns, I’d imagine it’s excruciating.” Carol attempted to uphold the facade for another moment before she caved, slouching slightly as she nodded.
“Yeah alright, that was bollocks. It hurts like a bitch,” she admitted, letting out a small, self-deprecating laugh. He gave her a sympathetic smile and chuckle, then gathered some supplies as she sat there, trying not to think both about the pain and about how awkward she was feeling.
“So how did it happen?” Leonard asked, moving back to her side with a small bottle and a large stack of gauze. He pulled on a pair of blue gloves and picked up the bottle again.
“I was making hard candy and some of it dripped onto my leg almost immediately after I dumped it on the table,” she said, watching as he uncapped the bottle and looked down at her wound.
“Is that what that is, then? Candy?” he asked, pointing at a small blob of something clear and shiny on top of one of the blisters.
“Yeah,” she agreed, wincing. She hadn’t realized there was some candy still stuck to her skin. The thought was a bit nauseating and she wrinkled her nose. “Molten sugar.”
“This might sting a bit,” he warned her and she nodded, shuffling a little so he could get to it better. He let the liquid in the bottle gently flow over the burn and she sucked in a breath, gritting her teeth at the sharp stinging pain it brought. He made a sympathetic noise and finished up as quickly as he could, gently dabbing the bottom of the burn with the gauze to get the last drops of the saline.
“Hm, it’s not budging,” he said, frowning at the candy melded to her skin. “Alright, I’m going to gently drain this blister and cut away the skin where the candy is, okay?” She felt some of the colour leave her face and he smiled slightly, reaching out to squeeze her arm.
“It’s okay, it’s not nearly as scary as it sounds,” he reassured, retrieving a small sharp. “I’m just going to poke a small hole at the bottom and drain it, then cut away the skin. It’s already dead, so you won’t feel anything there.”
“There’s one good thing,” she answered, her voice croaking slightly as she swallowed hard. She was nervous as hell; she really hated any kind of medical procedure and while she had a high pain tolerance, this burn was already extremely painful and she was very hesitant for it to hurt even more.
“Alright,” she nodded, as he held up the little needle, clearly asking for her permission to proceed. “I trust you.”
Her heart fluttered again as he gave her a warm smile before gently poking the bottom of the blister. She felt a slight popping sensation as the sharp punctured the bubble and sighed a little, feeling some relief as the pressure that had been building by the moment subsided.
“How is that?” he asked, reaching out and very gently starting to push down on the blister to drain it.
“It’s fine,” she said, cringing as the pain returned almost immediately from the pressure of his finger. She managed not to make a sound while he was draining it, but the second he cut away the skin and the air hit her raw flesh, Carol couldn’t hold in a hiss of pain, clenching her jaw tightly.
“Sorry,” Leonard said softly, patting her knee as he disposed of the gauze and piece of skin. “That’s gotta be pretty tender.”
Carol nodded but didn’t say anything, dreading the next part. She knew he was going to clean it again (this was not her first experience with a burn) and she knew it was going to hurt, a lot.
“This is probably-” Leonard began, returning with the saline bottle, and she nodded briskly at him.
“I know, it’s going to hurt,” she said grimly, her body stiff as she anticipated the pain. “Just go as quickly as you can?” Leonard nodded, crouched down and held the bottle over the burn. She nodded as he looked up at her for permission, and he turned the bottle over and began to let the solution flow over her burn again.
Carol cried out in pain this time, unable to hold it in, clutching the table for dear life with her unburnt hand, her eyes tightly shut against the pain. She desperately wanted to pull away but she did her best to stay still, controlling her breathing, teeth gritted.
“Okay, that’s done,” he said soothingly, setting aside the saline and dabbing below the burn again to collect the droplets. “You’re almost done.”
Carol nodded mutely, reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ear as she took a few shaky breaths. Pain suddenly seared in the side of her hand; she inhaled sharply and looked at her hand, realizing she’d forgotten all about the burn there as well. Carol realized Leonard had heard her little gasp and was looking over, concerned.
“Your hand, too?” Leonard asked, setting down the gauze he had just picked up and reaching for Carol’s hand. She let him take it and watched as he turned it in his grasp and examine the burn. It had also blistered, but thankfully not as bad as her leg.
“I’m going to finish your leg first, then I’ll work on your hand.” She nodded as he picked up the gauze he’d set down and began to cover one side of it in a large amount of cream, spreading it over the square. When he was done, he glanced at her and she nodded once again before he turned it over and gently pressed the gauze, cream side down, onto her burn. She gasped as it stung pretty badly at first, but as he held it there for a moment, it began to calm down.
“You okay?” he asked, his tone apologetic. She nodded, and he retrieved a larger square of gauze and lined it up over the first. “Good, almost done.”
He got her to hold the gauze in place as he quickly taped it down, firmly but not so much so that it pulled at her skin. She could still feel it burning and stinging, but was doing her best to ignore the pain.
“May I?”
Carol looked up from the bandage on her leg to see his gloved hand outstretched, clearly seeking hers. She put her burnt hand in his and watched him turn it again, examining, and then he began to clean it as he had the others. This one hurt as well, but because he didn’t have to drain or cut away anything, it took a lot less time and was somewhat less painful. She alternated between watching his skilled hands or his face, with its focused expression as he worked on her.
Carol watched in dismay as Leonard carefully wrapped her hand, winding a roll of soft gauze several times around her palm, over the bottoms of her fingers and then down to her wrist, tying it off securely.
“How am I going to bake with this?” Carol asked with a groan, looking down at her hand. It was like she was wearing a mitt with the tips of the fingers cut off, how was she supposed to make and assemble the cakes with it?
“Bake?” Leonard asked, turning from the counter where he’d been organizing all his supplies and removing his gloves. “You’re not supposed to bake with that. You’re not working anymore today. You need to go home and take it easy, doctor’s orders.”
“Leonard, I have three cake orders that need to be filled tonight, they’re being picked up tomorrow.” Carol told him in a no-nonsense voice. She understood his concern, really, but she had work that had to be done.
“You need to rest and not work that hand,” Leonard insisted, shaking his head. “Plus both of those burns are going to hurt like hell in a hot kitchen.”
“Well, so be it,” Carol said with a sigh, shrugging. “They need to be done.”
“Can’t you cancel the orders?” Leonard asked, frowning. “Surely people would understand…” Carol stared at him, then shook her head.
“And where are they going to get a custom cake at this last minute?” she asked him, and he made a non-committal noise after a pause. “Exactly.”
“Still, I mean… you have some non-custom ones already made, right? Could you just ask if those are good enough?” Leonard asked her. His tone suggested he knew it wasn’t possible, but he just wanted her to go home and rest. Again, she appreciated the sentiment, but she was getting frustrated.
“Do you want to tell a 6 year old little girl why she’s not getting her pretty unicorn cake for her birthday?” Carol asked him, knowing full well how he’d react, given that he had a daughter of his own. His expression suddenly turned horrified, and he shook his head.
“Okay, then you understand,” Carol said wearily, wincing as her hand twinged with pain. “I guess I can get Finn to help me. He’s hopeless at baking but at least he can follow directions.” Leonard was staring at her, an unreadable expression on his face.
“What?” she asked, nonplussed by his stare. She was pretty sure he was thinking about something, but she hadn’t a clue what.
“I… what if I helped you?” he asked, and his expression suggesting both excitement and trepidation at the offer.
“What?” Carol replied blankly, staring at him. “You want to help me make cakes?”
“Yeah, I mean… sure,” he said, his cheeks flushing a little. “I may not be an actual baker but I do know how to make a cake… You’d have to do the decorating but I could do all the hot work and mixing.” He sounded a bit embarrassed that he’d offered now, clearly thinking she was judging him as she stared at him, but then she let her lips curl in a slow, thankful smile.
“You are far too sweet, Leonard,” she told him, feeling affection swell in her heart for him as he smiled. “Are you sure? It’s messy work.” Leonard shrugged.
“I have a kid. If I was worried about messes, I would have given up a long time ago,” he chuckled, and she laughed.
“Good point,” she conceded, smiling. “So, when does your clinic close?”
“Not until four, but I think we can just close early,” he said, glancing at his phone. “There are no appointments this afternoon and we’re usually pretty quiet for walk-ins on Wednesdays. I can come with you now, if you like.”
“Well, if you’re sure,” Carol said uncertainly, not wanting to inconvenience him. “It’d probably be better to get started as soon as possible, I don’t know how long it’ll take me to decorate with only one good hand.”
“Gotcha,” he nodded, gathering his stuff. “Have a seat in the waiting room and I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
“Okay,” she replied, smiling at him as he turned to leave. He shot her a wink as he left the room and she felt her heart flutter rapidly once more, a warm sensation crawling through her body. Trying to focus more on these giddy feelings than the pain, Carol limped back to the waiting room, then joined Leonard as he came back out a few minutes later after letting his receptionist know she could head home for the day.
Finn looked a little confused when she returned a while later with Leonard in tow, especially when she explained that he was going to help her.
“But… I can handle closing… You looked like you were in a lot of pain, shouldn’t you just go home?” Finn asked, concerned.
“That’s what I said,” Leonard muttered under his breath, and Carol nudged him with her elbow and frowned at him before turning back to Finn.
“I have three cake orders to finish tonight,” she explained. “If you need anything, we’ll be in the back.”
Carol lead Leonard into her back room and limped over to the candy table where all the trouble had begun, swearing when she realized the candy she’d spilled onto it and abandoned was now hard as a rock.
“What’s wrong?” Leonard asked, joining her. “What’s that?” he asked, pointing at the thick, uneven coating over the table.
“That,” Carol said, sighing and limping over to a cabinet in the wall. “Is the candy that burned me earlier. I forgot all about it when I left, and now it’s cold and hard.”
Leonard made a noise of understanding and rapped his knuckles on the candy; sure enough, it was rock hard.
“So, how do we get it off of there?” he asked, frowning at it. Seemed pretty damn solid to him. He looked up at Carol to see her brandishing two ordinary hammers and laughed. She brought them over and handed him one, and together they spent a good ten minutes breaking apart the candy and peeling it off the table in pieces.
When they were finally finished chipping away the hardened candy, Carol directed Leonard around the kitchen, collecting supplies for the batter. She tried to start adding ingredients herself, but unfortunately, when she added a large, heavy bowl of flour to the mixer, a large twinge of pain shot through her hand and she gasped involuntarily, something which Leonard immediately noticed.
“Okay, stop, I’m gonna do that,” he said, coming forward to take the bowl from her as she tried to rearrange her face back to normal after wincing in pain.
Carol opened her mouth to argue, saw the frown on his face and thought better of it. As long as she guided him, nothing could go wrong, right? Her hand really did hurt quite a lot, so she sighed and backed away, allowing him to tip the rest of the flour into the mixer. He glanced down at his shirt as he set the bowl down and noticed it was already sprinkled with flour. Letting out a small giggle at the resigned look on his face, she limped across the kitchen to a small closet and pulled out the longest apron she had; a baby blue and white striped apron made of canvas with white ties.
“Here, this’ll help,” she chuckled, watching him as he inspected the garment for a moment before pulling it over his head. She moved around behind him as he fumbled the ties, catching the lengths as he dropped them and tying them with skilled ease, even with her bandaged hand.
“Well, do I look like a baker now?” He asked, spreading his hands and giving her a bit of a lopsided smile.
“Close enough,” Carol said with a soft laugh, moving over to the side of the table and watching as he pulled a new bowl towards him, awaiting her instructions.
An hour passed at the speed of light as she instructed him, watching his motions like a hawk as he added, sifted and combined ingredients. He was excellent at following instructions, she noticed, but he wasn’t great with the baking terminology; not that she’d expected him to be.
“No, Leonard, I said fold the the flour into the meringue, don’t mix it!”
Leonard lifted his hands in defeat (including the one clutching the gooey spatula), looking exasperated.
“I don’t know what that means,” he said, frustration evident in his tone. “I’m just a beginner!”
For some reason, the way he’d said it made her laugh, and she felt the anxiety she’d been feeling melt away a bit. She reminded herself that he was helping her out of the goodness of his heart; it wasn’t his fault she’d burned her hand and now she was unable to prepare things herself.
“Sorry,” she conceded, nodding. “I’ll show you.”
She took the bowl from him and demonstrated the proper technique quickly, just long enough that he knew what to do, and then he tried it.
“Perfect. You’re a quick learner,” she said fondly, watching him fold the rest of the almond flour into the meringue. Leonard shot her a little grin and then went back to mixing- er, folding- the batter in front of him, a little crease between his eyebrows as he concentrated. Carol noticed this and was so distracted that she barely managed to stop him before he’d overturned the batter.
A couple of hours later, they sat at the large counter in the middle of the kitchen, surrounded by cooling cakes, fanning themselves from the heat of the oven. All of the cakes had been baked; now it was a matter of assembling and decorating, which admittedly often took longer than the cakes themselves.
“Carol? We’re closed now,” Finn said, poking his head into the back. “You need any help?” He asked, eyeing Leonard, who was wiping his sweaty brow with his sleeve.
“No, we’re alright, thanks Finn. Have a good night!”
Finn returned the sentiment and disappeared; a minute later she heard the front door chime and the beep of the secure lock being initiated as he left the store and locked up. Leonard excused himself for a moment and called the babysitter he’d gotten for Joanna that night, explaining that he’d be a couple more hours and he’d pay her double if she stayed. Thankfully she agreed, and he returned to Carol, rubbing his hands together.
“Okay, now,” Carol said, looking around and then moving her gaze back to Leonard. “Now, we made a truck-load of icing.”
Leonard’s eyebrow had raised at her phrasing, but he realized pretty quickly that she wasn’t exaggerating by all that much. By the time they were finished another half hour had passed, and there were bowls of buttercream all over the kitchen, some dyed purple, green or blue, some pure white. She coached him through stacking the cakes and filling the layers between the cakes with frosting, then showed him how to do a proper crumb coat and watched, pleasantly surprised, as he actually did a pretty damn good job.
“Wow, Leonard!” Carol said, grinning, as he finished the crumb coat on the last cake. “I have to say, if you ever get tired of being a doctor… I’d be happy to give you a job here.” Her tone was teasing but she was actually quite impressed, and felt a weird sense of pride, watching him work.
“Thanks,” he said, flushed with his success. “That was actually pretty fun. Hell of a lot of work for only three cakes though…” Carol chuckled as she filled a few icing bags with the various coloured icing.
“You should see what goes into preparing a wedding cake,” she said, laughing as he shook his head. “Yeah, its intense.”
She got him to coat the cakes with a thicker coating of buttercream in the correct colour for each, then smoothed the icing so the top and sides were one uniform surface. He watched, fascinated, as she began to pipe designs onto each cake. The two tiered cake with light pink icing was quickly transformed into a unicorn before his very eyes, Carol using a blended three coloured icing bag for the mane of hair, and an expertly coiled cone of fondant for the horn, the lot of which she dusted with a shimmery powder. A tall but narrow cake was wreathed with simple but elegant flowers, and the final cake was decorated with underwater scenes; it had been ordered for a fisherman’s birthday party.
“I think… we’re… done,” she said, speaking with the each of the last swirls of the piping bag. Carol swept a hand over her sweaty forehead and tossed the piping bag onto the table, slowly spinning the cake on its turner to examine every detail, making sure it was up to her standards. She looked over at Leonard, whose apron was covered with flour and streaks of icing, an enthralled look on his face as he stared at her work.
“They all look amazing,” Leonard said, shaking his head in disbelief. “You’re incredibly talented.”
“Leonard,” she chuckled, smiling. “You’re making me blush.”
“Seriously though,” he said, gesturing. “I’ve never seen such pretty cakes. I know where I’ll be getting Jo’s birthday cake from, now.”
“Well, thank you,” Carol accepted, her voice warm, though tired. “You did an excellent job yourself, are you sure you’ve never baked before?”
“Oh, just a bit here and there, nothing major,” Leonard shrugged, and Carol could tell he was trying to hide how proud he was of himself, which she found very endearing.
“You would never know it,” Carol told him, gently touching his arm. “And for the record, though I would be thrilled to make Joanna’s cake, I bet with a few lessons on decorating, you could make her a wonderful cake all by yourself.”
Leonard didn’t say anything, though his cheeks flushed slightly pink as he grinned in reply and then began to clean up the icing station. Carol watched him, noting a smudge of flour on his cheek and across the bridge of his nose, feeling affection for him welling in her chest. He helped her box the cakes and store them in the last fridge at the back of the room, and then they surveyed the mess at the tables.
“You can get out of here if you want, Leonard,” Carol said, looking at all the bowls, icing bags and various other messes on the table. “I can get these all cleaned up - or at least into the dishwasher.”
“Nah, that’s okay, I’ll help,” Leonard replied. “Besides, after all that, you need a dressing change,” he said, pointing to her bandaged hand. He was correct; there was teal and purple icing smudged over the gauze there and she laughed.
“Alright then. With two of us this won’t take long.” They hurried around collecting all the dishes and garbage, then Carol wiped down the tables while Leonard loaded the dishwasher and separated all the icing tips from their bags, getting his hands covered in frosting.
“I saw that,” Carol grinned as she came over to the sink to turn it on for Leonard, who had just stuck a frosting-coated finger into his mouth. He laughed, licking his lips as he removed his finger, shaking his head. It wasn’t long until the kitchen was clean, and they stood there surveying their work, both feeling pretty damn proud of the other.
“Do you need a ride home?” Leonard asked, as he pulled off his apron and handed it over. He still had dustings of flour on his shirt as well, but he didn’t even notice as he watched her take off her own.
“Well…” Carol hesitated. She had driven her own car and she wanted to drive it home, but the pain had been getting worse in her hand for the last hour or two and she wasn’t sure it would be entirely safe for her to drive. Still, it was her car, and her only mode of transportation.
“I mean, it would be wonderful of you to drive me,” she began, tossing the dirty aprons into a hamper near the door. “But I wouldn’t be able to get back to work tomorrow with my car here.”
“That’s okay, I can pick you up in the morning and bring you back here,” Leonard said, speaking over his shoulder as he washed his hands. “I’ve got nothing to do the rest of the week.”
“Oh, right!” Carol said, as the memory came back to her. “You said you were on holidays this week. How come you were working today, then?”
“My locum had a family emergency today, so I decided to come in rather than close the clinic,” Leonard explained, drying his hands on a towel. He looked at her and smiled, then winked. “I have to say, I’m glad I did.” Carol’s cheeks flushed slightly as she glanced down at her bandaged hand and leg.
“I’m glad too,” she said softly, reaching out to touch his arm with her uninjured hand. “But anyway it’s fine, I can take a cab home, you’ve already done so much for me!”
“Nah, it was fun,” Leonard said, gesturing around the kitchen. “And I learned stuff, so really I should be thanking you,” he smiled. “Alright, I’m going to redress that,” he said, pointing at her hand. “And then I am driving you home. No arguments. Doctor’s orders.”
“Alright, alright,” Carol laughed, rolling her eyes a little at the commanding tone, but thinking it was adorable. He lead her over to the first aid kit and gently removed the bandage. Carol sharply sucked in a breath as the air hit the raw wound and Leonard redressed it as quickly as he could while still doing a thorough job.
“There,” he said, holding her bandaged hand in both of her own. On a whim, he brought her hand upwards and planted a gentle kiss in the middle of the bandage, his eyes closed. Carol looked up at him and felt her heart skip several beats as he did this, thinking how incredibly sweet he was and how much she wanted to kiss him.
He brought her hand down and looked at her, seeming faintly embarrassed considering the way his cheeks warmed, but he smiled all the same.
“Let’s get going. You need rest.” He said, reaching out and squeezing her shoulder. “I’m guessing you’re too stubborn to just stay home and rest tomorrow, or even for a few days?” He asked, rolling his eyes as she shot him a look that clearly indicated the contrary.
“Of course not,” he sighed, though he chuckled. “At least promise me not to do anything too taxing tomorrow?”
“I promise,” Carol said, nodding. “I don’t have another cake order due until the weekend so I will take it easy for a few days,” she promised, and was rewarded with a smile from him.
Thankfully the night was warm enough to not need a coat so she simply grabbed her wallet and keys and followed him out of the store, locked up and then made sure her car was secure. By the time she was done that, he’d jogged across the parking lot, started his truck and was driving towards her to pick her up.
“You didn’t have to do that, I can walk,” she laughed as he pulled up beside her and she opened the door. He had already hopped out of the vehicle, however, and was coming around to her side. “Oh Leonard, I’m fine,” she protested as he held out a hand to help her.
“That leg’s gotta be hurting,” he replied, gesturing to her bandaged wound. “Just let me help you, okay?” His voice was so genuine that she let out a little sigh and accepted his help. He half-guided, half-lifted her into the vehicle, and she did her best to hide the pain as she moved her leg. He didn’t comment on it, just made sure she was settled before he closed her door and got back in on the driver’s side.
“Thank you,” she said, flushing a little. She’d clearly needed the help, but she was stubborn and she knew it. To his credit, Leonard merely smiled and shook his head before driving away from the store. She told him her address and they chatted a little as he drove, but she was feeling very tired now and starting to show it. She leaned back in her seat, resting her head against the rest, and though the town was so small that they were nearing her place within a few minutes, her eyes were already starting to close.
“Just here,” Carol said, pointing, after opening her eyes and realizing with a start that they were only a couple houses down from hers. Leonard pulled into the driveway, killed the engine, then hopped out and came around to her side again, holding out his hand after she’d unbuckled herself. She leaned on him as he helped her down, a little worried about finding her balance, but she managed it no problem with him there to steady her.
“Nice cat,” he commented, chuckling as a white cloud with eyes appeared in the window, clearly having heard the vehicle pull up.
“That’s Marlow,” Carol smiled, closing the door to the truck. “His name is actually Marshmallow, but I thought Marlow sounded better than Mallow as a nickname.”
“Is all of him that fluffy?” Leonard asked, slightly dumbfounded as the upper body of the cat appeared and did nothing to diminish the impression of a cloud.
“Pretty much, yeah,” Carol chuckled. “He’s the reason I rarely wear dark colours.”
Leonard lead her to the door and Carol did not protest, both because she knew he would insist and also because she was admittedly quite enjoying the warm weight of his hand at her back.
“Well, thank you again for everything, Leonard,” Carol said as they reached the porch, and Carol stuck her key in the lock. “Can I repay you somehow?”
“No,” Leonard said, shaking his head. “It was my pleasure. What time do you start tomorrow? Ten?” Carol nodded, and Leonard continued. “Then I will be here tomorrow at nine-thirty sharp.”
“Okay,” Carol agreed, smiling. “Thank you.”
“Anytime. See you tomorrow,” Leonard said, and then he hesitated. Carol hesitated too, and she had a feeling both of them were thinking the same thing. He could just lean down, or she could lean upwards, that’s all it would take… The moment seemed to plateau, before Leonard suddenly blinked and gave a small cough.
“Ah, well, goodnight,” he said, flustered, and she smiled at him, a little disappointed.
“Goodnight Leonard.” She squeezed his hand once and then let herself inside. She closed the door behind her and was immediately accosted by a yelling Marlow, who clearly wanted to know where she’d been for so long. Ignoring him for now, she looked back out and gave Leonard a final smile and wave before walking down the hallway and turning out the porch light, her mind abuzz. As she entered her room to get changed, she heard his truck start again and then the sound of him pulling out of the driveway, and she flopped down onto her bed, stroking Marlow with a stupid grin on her face. If she had to get injured, she mused, this evening had been the best possible outcome she could ever have imagined. She laughed out loud and gathered Marlow into her arms as she felt like a teenager again, the excitement that comes from a crush making her feel weightless and giddy.
--------
The three of them were having a picnic. Leonard was carrying the cooler, a bag with food and a blanket under his arm while Carol followed along behind them, Joanna gleefully riding on her back. They got their stuff set up and had a wonderfully enjoyable meal, then Joanna ran off to play, leaving Carol and Leonard alone on the blanket together. They immediately moved closer to each other, lying down side by side, Carol’s head resting on his shoulder. They exchanged a few words but mostly just lay comfortably together, basking in the sun.
“Maybe we should go in the shade,” Carol murmured after a while, shielding her eyes and looking over at him. “I think I’m going to burn.”
“Nah, you’ll be fine,” Leonard said lazily. “Vitamin D is good for you.” Carol smiled and snuggled up against him again.
“Well, doctor knows best.”
“Yes, yes he does—”
“DADDY! WAKE UP!”
Leonard’s eyes shot open as the dream shattered, and he was suddenly aware of Joanna bouncing on his bed, yelling at him. Groaning, he rubbed at his eyes for a moment before rolling over to see her staring into his face, looking wildly excited.
“It’s Sunday! Candy shop day!” Joanna announced as Leonard struggled to sit up, held down by the blankets she was bouncing on.
“Joey, just because we’re going on a Sunday again doesn’t make Sunday “Candy shop day”,” Leonard said, stifling a yawn as Joanna flopped herself across his lap.
“Yes it does! Sunday is Candy shop day!”
Too tired to argue the point, Leonard heaved himself out of bed and got them both ready for the day. As Joanna was finishing up her breakfast, she looked over at Leonard, who was sipping his coffee and glancing at the paper.
“So are you gonna ask the candy lady on a date?”
Leonard nearly spit out his mouthful of coffee in shock at the question, choking slightly as he tried to swallow without dying.
“Um, what are you talking about, baby?” he asked, hastily wiping his chin as a trickle of coffee escaped his lips. “Why would you ask me something like that?”
“Because you like her…” Joanna said, rolling her eyes, the duhh evident in her tone.
“I, what?” Leonard stammered. “You’re barely 8 years old, how would you even—”
“Daddy, just ‘cause I’m young doesn’t mean I’m stupid,” Joanna said with disgust, rolling her eyes again. “You helped her make cakes and you’ been driving her to work! Ask her out already!!” Joanna paused, as though considering something, then added: “Maybe she’ll give me free fudge this time!!”
Leonard mouthed wordlessly at Joanna as she beamed at him, got up from the table to clear her place and skipped off into the porch to put her shoes on. Still flabbergasted that his young daughter could perceive, and potentially even understand his feelings for Carol, Leonard followed her in a daze, wondering if it was really best to go to Carol’s shop after that, knowing the potential for Joanna embarrassing him was staggeringly high. But Joanna would be sad if he said no, and regardless of his potential embarrassment, he really did want to see Carol again, despite having just seen her on Friday when he drove her to and from work (She’d insisted on driving herself starting Saturday). So he drove to the store as intended, his heart pounding quicker the closer he got, picturing her smiling face, hearing her accented voice in his head.
Again, when he parked in front of the store, Joanna was already out of the vehicle and in the doorway by the time he’d shut the truck down. Shaking his head, he unbuckled and hopped out of the truck, glancing at his reflection in the wing mirror before he closed the door. He smoothed hair a little and adjusted his plaid button up tshirt so that it was sitting nicely over his black tank top underneath, hoping he looked presentable. Carol seemed to like his casual country look so he hadn’t dressed nicer, but he still wanted to be clean and put together.
Leonard took a deep breath and then walked slowly towards the store, trusting that Joanna already had Carol’s attention and she wouldn’t already be looking at him as he walked in the door. He was correct; the second he walked in, he could hear both of their voices. Unfortunately, it was apparent almost immediately that something had happened. Joanna’s tearful voice, always higher-pitched when she was upset, was nearly incoherent as she cried. He could hear Carol asking her if she was alright and trying to console her.
“I’m here baby, what’s wrong?” Leonard asked, darting forward and kneeling beside Carol, who was bent a little awkwardly over Joanna, not able to crouch or kneel easily with her healing leg wound. Joanna was sitting on the ground, her knee drawn up to her chest with her hands clenched firmly around it, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Daddy!!” she wailed, her next words incomprehensible as she continued to sob while she spoke. Leonard glanced at Carol, who looked a little upset herself at the wailing, clearly concerned.
“She came sprinting in here and tripped over the leg of one of the displays,” Carol explained fretfully, gesturing, and Leonard glanced over to where she was pointing and saw candy packages littering the ground by a toppled display nearby. “She won’t let me look at her knee.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Leonard said, scooting closer to Joanna and wrapping his arms around her. He was sure she was completely fine and more spooked than anything, and he knew hugs always made her feel better. She pressed her tear-stained face into him and finally let go of her knee to wrap her arms around his neck, and he rubbed her back for a few moments, holding the awkward position until her sobs turning into gulps and sniffles. He slowly let go and sat back on his heels, watching as she sniffed and hiccuped herself into a calmer frame of mind.
“Lemme look at your knee, Sweetpea,” Leonard said, stroking her hair a couple of times until she nodded reluctantly and showed him her knee.
“You’re okay, darling,” he said after a quick examination showed him that she merely had some friction burn. Her knee was pink and angry but not bleeding or even scratched.
“Are you s-sure?” Joanna asked in a tremulous voice, still sniffing. “It hurts.”
“I know, Jojo, friction burns sting. But you’ll be just fine, I promise. I’ll ask Carol to bring you a--”
“Cold, damp towel?” Carol asked, reappearing at his side and holding one out, along with a few tissues.
“Yes, exactly,” Leonard said, a half smile forming as he looked up at her. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” Carol said softly, smiling at Joanna, who hiccuped back at her. “I remember how those felt when I was a kid,” she said, pointing at Joanna’s knee.
Leonard folded the cloth and gently placed it on Joanna’s knee. She gasped and wrinkled up her face like she was going to cry again, but after a moment she relaxed as the chill helped ease some of the stinging sensation, wiping her face and blowing her nose with the tissues.
“Hang on, I’ve got something else that will help,” Carol said, disappearing before either of them could react.
After a couple of minutes, Joanna had completely stopped crying and her face was mostly dry. Leonard could tell she was feeling better because she was starting to look around again, slowly getting more distracted by the candy around her than her injury.
“You ready to stand up, Pumpkin?” he asked, and she nodded. He got to his feet and held out his hands to her. She took them and he lifted her into the air, earning himself a shriek and giggle as he settled her back onto her feet as Carol returned behind them.
“Here you go,” Carol said, and she held out a small paper dish. Joanna’s eyes grew wide as she looked at the dish; there was a large scoop of bright blue ice cream inside, and a generous helping of rainbow sprinkles on top.
“That’s for me?” Joanna asked incredulously, reaching out to take the dish from Carol. “How did you know I love sprinkles?!”
“Sprinkles always make everything better,” Carol told her warmly, grinning as Joanna beamed. Joanna took a big spoonful of the ice cream and crammed it into her mouth, let out a loud “MMMM!” and then turned to Leonard as she swallowed.
“Daddy, you have to ask her to marry you!! She’s the best!!” Joanna said emphatically, her eyes shining as she stuffed another spoonful of ice cream into her mouth, oblivious to Leonard’s sudden expression of horror and embarrassment. Carol tried and failed to bite back a giggle as Leonard’s cheeks reddened again and he refused to make eye contact.
“You should probably at least ask her on a date first,” Joanna mused reasonably between mouthfuls, blue ice cream lining her lips as she spoke.
“Alright, Jojo,” Leonard choked, turning his daughter bodily by the shoulders and gently pushing on the middle of her back. “Why don’t you go look at the gummies or something?”
“Okay!” Joanna agreed happily and took off towards the gummies at top speed.
“Glad to see she learned her lesson about running indoors,” Leonard commented flatly as she nearly careened into another display. Carol laughed, then reached out to take his hand, turning her towards him. She looked up at his face, taking in his pink cheeks and his rueful expression.
“She’s right, you know,” Carol teased, squeezing his hand. “You really should ask me for a date first…” Leonard’s eyes widened and his heart sped up as he realized this was it, this was the moment he’d been thinking about for a week. He was actually going to ask her out. So far it hadn’t exactly gone as he’d planned, but she still seemed interested so he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Leonard took a deep breath, then gently took her other (injured) hand, holding them both in front of him.
“Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?” He asked, and he was amazed to hear that his voice hadn’t faltered and he sounded somewhat confident. She smiled at him, and he felt his heart skip a beat as her beautiful, grey and blue eyes glittered up at him.
“I would love to, Leonard,” she answered softly, stepping closer to him and wrapping her arms around his waist. Though unexpected, the embrace was not at all unwelcome and he followed her lead, wrapping his arms around her back and holding her close for a moment. She was shorter than him and fit perfectly against his chest, and he ducked his head, enjoying her warmth and the scent of her shampoo as he leaned his cheek on her hair.
She pulled back after a moment, just far enough to look up at him. He was looking down at her, into her eyes, and his body knew before his brain did that he was going to kiss her. He was already leaning down before he realized what he was doing, and he saw her leaning up towards him as his eyes closed. Their lips met a second later and he felt a thrill go through him, his entire world narrowing to just her, and the way her lips felt against his, the way her body felt against his. He’d completely forgotten where they were, and who they were with; he knew nothing about anything but Carol for several long moments.
“YES! You did it!!”
Leonard pulled away from Carol in surprise at the sound, and looked around to see Joanna, who had just done a fist pump, beaming at them. Carol laughed but didn’t pull away, turning a little in his embrace so she could see Joanna.
“Does that mean you’re okay with your dad dating me?” Carol asked, smiling down at Joanna, who beamed at her.
“Of course!! We’re gonna have a candy store in the family now!” Joanna yelled gleefully, ran over to them, hugged them both, and then darted back to the gummy corner, where they could hear her humming merrily to herself as she filled up a bag.
“Glad to know she approves,” Carol chuckled, turning back to face Leonard, who looked both amused and embarrassed by his daughter’s behaviour. “What time should I be ready tonight? We close at five.”
“Seven?” Leonard said, shaking himself and looking back down at her. “I know a great smokehouse that does an incredible smoked brisket,” Leonard told her enthusiastically, making her smile. “Does that sound good?”
“That sounds amazing.”Carol replied as Joanna came trotting over with her bag of gummies. Carol pulled out of the embrace and moved towards the cash register as Joanna happily plodded after her, Leonard following in a bit of a daze.
“Here you go, sweetheart,” Carol said, wrapping a ribbon around the bag and handing it to Joanna after weighing it without typing it into the register. Leonard approached with his wallet and opened his mouth, but Carol shook her head.
“Helping me with those cakes was worth far more than a bag of gummies,” Carol told him, and he smiled, pocketing his wallet again. Leonard was acutely aware that Joanna was staring at them, looking from one to the other, so he decided to leave further talk for later.
“I’ll see you tonight,” Leonard said, putting a hand on Jo’s back and steering her towards the door.
“I can’t wait,” Carol called, waving as they got to the door. Leonard took one last look back after Joanna yelled her goodbye and dashed out the door, and Carol smiled and winked at him. His heart pumping fast, he drove them home and let Joanna amuse herself on a tablet while he went through his closet, determined to make this his best first date ever.
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Living Where?
#SL Living Where?
Written by @DamagedBrother and @OfFeatherNFang
Mentions @PanwerePredator
*~*~*~*
Mal:
“I told you man. I warned you. That’s what happens when you build a leisure racer,” I tease, savoring the aggrieved look on Rhage’s face as we beat feet down the tunnel. The med wing was behind us after a brief stop in, one of the staff all but gluing the blonde Brother’s forehead back into place after catching some debris from a Lesser in the alley. Sure, we all knew it’d be healed by tomorrow, but there was something seriously distracting about a wayward skin flap.
Seemed almost unfair that even blood stained and filthy, Rhage still looked like he could pose for the cover of GQ no prob. Guaranteed there’d be women in the world (and men, really) that’d be ready to lick Lesser grime off the male if it meant getting within ten feet of him. Fucker was ridiculously good looking. His car was also a bit of a looker, but as it turned out, not up to snuff. Natch.
“We’re scheduling a rematch.”
I grinned, nodding my head. Having found the med wing empty I was in a strangely more upbeat mood. No longer would Zsadist be babysitting the shifter - hopefully Hadrian was back in his own apartment downtown, having fully recovered from severing the bond with his Master. Which meant Z was, hopefully, in our rooms and, hopefully, very naked.
“Sure. N’ y’know, it’s not just the ride. It’s also the rider,” I continued, to which he rolled his eyes hardcore.
“I’ve watched Fast n’ Furious too fucker, don’t go quoting those lines at me.”
With a laugh I shrugged, stepping through the hidden doorway and taking the stairs up into the mosaic entrance, Rhage hot on my heels. At the smell coming from the dining room, I figured Last Meal had to be coming up soon. The Brother clapped me on the shoulder.
“M’ gonna get cleaned up so I don’t get blood on Fritz’s white tablecloths. See you later?”
Nodding, I grinned and took off toward the stairs without waiting for anything else. Rhage only laughed, as if he knew the feeling. There were other things one could try and fit in before last meal.
Reaching the rooms I now shared with Z, I burst in only to come up short. I’d half expected mine male to be here; re: I’d hoped my male would be in here with a shower running and dripping wet. But without even checking the bathroom or anywhere else I knew he wasn’t here.
Sighing forlornly, I began removing my weapons, setting them on a side table before stripping out of my leathers and wife beater to hit the shower myself. Without my wings the process took twenty minutes less, the filth and grime of the streets and that lingering stench of Lesser washed down the drain. Then it was a towel around the waist and a hand tousel to dry the hair as I headed back into the bedroom.
Zsadist:
I felt good. My friend was here to stay, and my male had agreed to make things official with me. Which I still couldn’t believe. Whoever thought that I would be getting mated. Not me, that’s for damn sure. But soon enough I would wear Mal’s name on my back, and I couldn’t be anymore grateful to have him in my life.
As I walked up the stairs, I couldn’t help but notice a certain scent. My angel, he had returned home from rotation. I started to move faster, taking the steps two at a time, practically busting the door down as I swung it open.
“Hi…” I purred out the word as I saw him standing there in only a towel. I thanked the heavens for this moment as I took form behind him. My arms slowly wind around his middle, inhaling his scent as I dragged my nose along his nape.
“You’re home.” Slowly I started to press open-mouthed kisses along his shoulder, leading all the way up his neck until I hit that soft spot behind his ear. Biting at his lobe, giving it a good tug as I tighten my hold. I wondered if we had enough time to fool around before last meal.
As I held my male in my arms, I couldn’t help but feel totally and completely at ease. He made me feel more relaxed than I’ve ever felt in my entire life. Which was something that I never thought I’d have. Feelings. I was capable of feeling something.
Mal:
Mine male was fond of that trick; disappearing and reappearing behind me. I was expecting it as his arms slid around me, pulling me flush to his chest as I chuckled and relaxed in his hold. The bite earned a shiver, and I tilted my head to grant him further access.
“You’re in good spirits,” I murmur, trying to breathe through the seemingly automatic reaction of my body, where Zsadist was concerned. I adjusted my towel. “I’d have thought you’d be a little more sombre with the shifter leaving.” I paused then half glanced over my shoulder. “Rhage n’ I had to go past the med wing. Saw he vacated the place.”
And as much as I’d helped Z get the shifter out of Amos’ clutches, as much as I was glad the guy had survived if only so Zsadist didn’t lose a friend, I was still wary of Hadrian. It was a prejudice I was trying to work on, no doubt born of years of hunting things like him and those of his kind that had no qualm infecting other humans or munching on them. But Hadrian was a dangerous creature, made more dangerous by the fact he was a panwere. That he was gone back to his own place… it settled some of my fear and doubt.
Zsadist:
Blinks as I look at my male. Fuck. He thought he was gone. Well, of course he did. The shifter had left the building, but only to take residence at the cabin in our backyard. Suddenly my stomach tightened, I had a feeling that this conversation was about to go sour. So much for fooling around before dinner.
“Oh...Well, about that. I need to talk to you.”
Slowly I dropped my arms and moved to stand in front of the angel, reaching out to take his hand. “So, I asked Hadrian to stay.” My free hand scrubbed at my nape. “The Brothers agreed to it after what happened. I mean, he still has an apartment, and will be living in a cabin that we have out back in the woods. Actually, it was meant for me when I moved in.” Plays with the angel’s fingers as I admit something from my past.
“I really didn’t like being around others, but turns out I was comfortable being inside the mansion, so it never got filled.” Nods as I meet his gaze. “He wants to still fight with us, after everything that happened, and he’s still fragile right now. I just...I know what that feels like, and if I can help I will. Besides, it’s good for security and good for him in case others like Amos come sniffing around.”
Blows out a breath. “So please don’t be mad. I know you can’t possibly hate him still...I mean, you helped save him.”
Mal:
The playful flirting vanished with my question. For the first time I saw something that looked a little like guilt pass through that golden gaze, and then the dreaded phrase ‘I need to talk to you’. Ball crushing anxiety right there. Cue the step back, the narrowed eyes and the consideration of just how many weapons I was wearing and how many of them I should get rid of ‘pronto’.
His fingers threaded through mine, as if he could sense the fact they were itching to go for a weapon, and I listened as he revealed he’d asked the shifter to live here. And apparently, that invitation hadn’t been something worth telling me about ‘before’ hand. Only after.
Anger licked through me, and with a forced calm I detached my fingers from mine male’s and turned to stride for the closet, slowly removing my weapons as I went. Setting them down within, I made sure everything was in its place as I took off my holsters and set them aside too. Then I stepped through the door to the closet and closed it behind me.
“I helped save him for you,” I said finally, some of that anger staining my words, my tone. “He’s your friend. Or whatever.” Was that jealousy? Fuck, maybe it was. I ignored it and clung to the anger instead. “So I helped you. I kept his soul on this fucking plane of existence so you didn’t have to lose a friend. But do I like him?” I let out a bark of laughter. “No, Z. M’ still not a fan. And the fact you didn’t even think to mention it to me, that this guy I don’t like, don’t trust, is now living here?” I shook my head and stormed toward the balcony. “Yeah, sorry, but definitely mad.”
I wanted things to slam. To break. My Divinity crackled under my skin at the frustration, and I flung open the doors to the last twinkle of stars as I contemplated summoning my wings and taking off. It felt like this anger needed more room than our bedroom.
Zsadist:
I just watched in silence as my male went off about the shifter. Shit. What do I do? No, I didn’t expect him to magically like Hadrian, but Mal did save him. And during that night I could have sworn I saw a connection between them.
Maybe I was wrong.
My brows draw in as I watched Mal move furiously out onto the balcony, almost expecting him to fly off and never return. Why would he want to stick around with me? Hell, why did he even want to mate me?
I pushed those dark thoughts away as I moved to join him out onto the balcony. My elbows resting on the railing as I stare out at the night sky, taking in a deep breath.
“I’m sorry. I’ve never really had a friend before. I have my Brothers, sure, but never someone different. Hell, I spent most of my years ignoring everyone, and before that locked away with hardly any contact. So, when I met Hadrian, it was something new to me.” My eyes lower as my head sinks forward.
“Hadrian has just been through something awful...and if I can help in any way then maybe he won’t be so fucked in the head. Maybe he won’t have thousands of nightmares worrying that Amos will come back and take him. Maybe he will trust people, and feel...something.”
Scrubs my hand over my skull trim. “I didn’t have that for a very long time, and I’m not saying that he won’t have nightmares, cause he will.” My mind drifted to the med suite when I found him breaking down in the bathroom. “But if I can help in any way, then I will. And if that means he has to stay here for a little and feel...something other than pain...then he will stay.”
Straightens as I avoid your gaze. “I should have told you. But it all happened so fast, and I’ve been enjoying the time we have spent together. Just, somewhere deep down I thought you’d be okay with this. That maybe you two had bonded that night and you wanted to make sure...that he would be okay too.”
Mal:
The male’s words leech some of my anger away, and don’t think part of me doesn’t shrink at the fact this is ‘my’ damage. My prejudice. A life time hunting things that make meals out of people and now Hadrian is just another monster out there. Just another thing I tell myself I’m not allowed to hunt.
And it shouldn’t shock me that Zsadist sees himself, or at least parts of him, in the shifter either. Bound to another against their will, the pair are now members of a club I wouldn’t wish membership on anyone.
Staring out across the grounds, I try to process my own feelings, like I’m unthreading a tangled strand of yarn. I know there’s jealousy - Hadrian means something to Zsadist. N’ maybe I should be worried about that. I dunno. I’ve never had this. Had anyone. Life was so much more straight forward when I was hunting things that go bump in the night. But now? I’m part of a family. A household. And someone waits for me to come home every night. That shit is a huge change.
Then there’s the hurt that Z didn’t bother asking me, either. Maybe that’s petty, but when your mate doesn’t like someone, asking that same person to live here without letting them know first is a definite slap to the nuts.
Taking a breath, I try to sort all that into something that doesn’t just sound like a male vampire snarling when his final words hit me.
Bonded.
I feel a crick in my neck as my head whips to look at him. Somewhere in my brain, a lightbulb goes off and then explodes from the surge. Fuck, I wanna be wrong. Holy fuck do I wanna be wrong. There’s no way…
Shoving the thoughts backward, not daring to voice them, I try to re-focus.
“I told you. I only did what I did for you. Not for him. I’ve hunted things like him, Z. Shifters and werewolves and creatures that made sport out of hunting humans. And if he so much as sniffs in the direction of an innocent?” I add, my eyes hardening. “Then I’ll put him down. That’s how I’m wired. That’s what I do.” A tense inhale as I look away, trying to think. “You have something with him… and a part of me feels… threatened by that. Like…” I grappled with the emotional baggage and then dumped it anyway. “…like he’ll take you from me. And that you didn’t tell me first? I have to find out after the fact? Might as well yank my nuts out through my naval,” I mutter, my back tingling as if it was waiting for my wings to appear. Somehow, I kept them retracted.
Zsadist:
Scrubbing a hand over my scarred face as I hear what Mal has to say. I could have sworn I saw a connection with them in the end, when we thought Hadrian was going to die. I guess I was wrong.
Fuck. I wish I had one of V’s Turkish tobacco blunts right about now.
Slowly I turned to look at my male. Cautiously I took a few steps forward until we were inches apart.
“Hey. No one...could ever take me away from you, and no one better even try to take you from me.” My bonding scent flares. “Cause if they do, I will rip their limbs off one by one.” I practically growled out the words as I spoke them.
“You are MINE.” I could feel my fangs elongating. “As I am yours...and soon we will be mated, and I will bear your name on my back.”
Taking a moment to let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “I fucked up...I should have spoken on this, but I just saw a friend in need and wanted to help. Though you are my mate, and we are a team.”
Slowly I sank to my knees in front of him, which was a sign of respect. Something my kind only did for our mates or King and Queen. My golden eyes shined bright for the angel, scarred lips parting as I spoke.
“So please don’t be mad...I’m new to all this...It has always been just me. For hundreds of years I’ve been alone. I was lost before I found you, but now I feel alive...Feel like I can breathe. My Hellren.” I breathed.
Mal:
Z approached, and even angry I couldn’t bring myself to move away again. He was still my port in a storm. Still my anchor at sea. So even as I reigned in my frustration I turned to face him. His words soothed whatever angry beast was roiling inside me; the one that dripped with jealousy and resentment.
Yes… it was ‘my’ name going on his back. Mine. And I would wear his. This male. Mine male.
As he sank to his knees my anger seemed to dwindle, the flame of it guttering at the obvious apology and devotion. Then at his declaration, it banked and died, only smoke rising from it as I reached down and drew him back to his feet and against my chest. I claimed his lips in a kiss, soft and sweet.
“…do you know how hard it is to stay mad at you when you’re on your knees sayin shit like that?” I ask gruffly, trying to hide my smile, our foreheads pressed together as I stare into your eyes. Another kiss, and then I lean back, just enough. “I don’t mean to be angry. N’… it’s not like this is my house,” I mutter, looking back in at our bedroom. “I can’t decide who stays and who goes. But next time… a heads up would be nice, yeah?”
I turn back to him and claim his lips again. I ignore the tiny voice whispering about the bond, shoving it to the back of my mind until a later date. A better time than this.
“I love you, Zsadist. …even with your pet…” I mutter.
Zsadist:
My arms wrapped around the angel as I felt his lips against my own, savoring the kiss as he pulled back. Fuck. Thank Scribe he wasn’t mad at me anymore. Grumpy, yes, but not furious. Malachi meant so much to me that I never wanted to mess things up. I couldn’t even imagine my life without him.
“And I love you…”
I repeated the words in the old language before snorting at the pet comment, allowing my fangs to slowly drag across the angel’s jawline.
“No pets...just a very handsome angel that I'd love to devour right about now.” Smirks as my hands slowly work their way down his body, feeling every inch of him.
“How about we skip dinner and we indulge in something else?” My eyes shined bright as I backed up towards the bed, our bed. “Then afterwards we can order some food to be brought up.” I pause as I pop the button on my pants.
“That is...if you are still hungry after you get a taste of me, Nallum.” I purred out the words as I slowly slid the fly of my jeans down.
Mal:
The murmur of Z’s voice as he recited the old language always sent shivers down my spine. It was one of my few regrets at not being brought up a vampire - I could speak nothing of the language of my people. Well, one side of my people. I was pretty decent with my Enochian translations.
“Devour huh? M’ an angel, not a snack,” I tease, my body reacting instinctively as his hands slide over all of me. My skin tingles in his wake.
Glancing down as he pops the fly of his jeans, I grin and take a step backward, off the balcony and into the privacy of our bedroom, beckoning him to follow.
“I’m all about indulging, mine. But I’m never full when it comes to you,” I counter, winking as I finish stripping off my leathers and wife beater.
As soon as he steps through the doors they close behind him, and then I’m not thinking about the shifter or the manse or even Last Meal. All there is is Zsadist, and that’s all that matters.
#SL #LivingWhere?
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