Lady Hawk

But first—the Checkmate office. If he’s going to infiltrate a building full of enemies, all on his own without backup, he needs to be prepared.

He’s got a key to the building—they all do—so getting inside isn’t an issue. It’s not even that strange being here so late—there have been dozens of missions since the business started that left the whole team pulling all-nighters. He remembers, suddenly, a night where you fell asleep on his shoulder in the break room. Remembers how his heart had rabbited against the inside of his chest, his eyes gone wide, mouth agape as he stared at you. Marvelled at the fact that you liked him enough to be close to him, that you trusted him enough to sleep in his presence.

His heart flip-flops for the dozenth time that night when he thinks about you now, asleep at home, waiting for him to return. But he swallows down the guilt and makes a beeline for the infirmary through the dark hallway.

Usually you have a pre-packed med kit prepared just in case, sitting at the corner of the countertop, ready to grab and go for emergency situations. It’s not there. Someone else might have grabbed it on the way out the door for a mission recently. Adrian frowns. He’d wanted to be in and out of here quickly.

Everyone has been in and out in a rush over the last few weeks; he knows you’ve spent hours packing and repacking kits and monitoring supply levels. He’s watched you pack a kit enough times that he can do it himself, but he still checks the detailed log you have taped inside the cabinet to make sure he doesn’t forget anything. His heart twists at the sight of your handwriting, but he swallows down the lump in his throat and follows your instructions, hearing the echo of every word in your voice in his ears.

Once he’s done, Adrian heads for his own locker in the weapons room. When he opens it, he pauses again. There’s a picture of you both, tacked inside the door with a dumb Pokemon magnet you’d bought him. His eyes flick away from it quickly, like he’s trying to avoid your gaze, even though it’s just a photograph. But then his eyes drift back to you, like they always do.

Adrian stares at the picture for a long time, tracing the outline of your face with one finger. You’re smiling, laughing at whatever stupid shit he must have said, because he’s always saying stupid shit, but you love him anyway. He’s fucked up countless times since the day he met you, and you still trust him, still love him. 

That’s why he has to do this, right? But looking at your face in that picture, with your bright eyes and wide smile, he hesitates. Is he doing the right thing? Should he just go home now and pretend he never had this stupid thought? Should he crawl into bed and tuck his face into your neck and—no. His resolve hardens. He has never, ever felt this way before about anyone, and he will never, ever feel this way about anyone else ever again. And he is going to do whatever it fucking takes to protect you, protect this special thing in his life from the people trying to take it away from him.

He finally tears his eyes away and starts refilling ammo and tucking weapons into his utility belt. Anything that can fit, he’s bringing with him. His katana, of course, and his favorite guns holstered at his waist belt, but—this one’s going to require the big guns. He doesn’t know quite what he’s walking into, so that means more firepower. He starts emptying the large weapons cabinet, shoving as many machine guns and grenades he can fit into a duffle bag, ninja stars and knives he can throw from a distance—

One of those knives flies out of his hand when he hears the floor creaking behind him. Someone yelps, and in the time it takes for Adrian to turn around and face his attacker, he’s already got another knife out, poised to throw with his deadly aim.

But then, crouched down on the floor, a knife sticking out of the wall several feet above her head, Emilia says, “Jesus fucking Christ Adrian, what the fuck is wrong with you?”

“What the fuck is wrong with me? What the fuck is wrong with you?” Adrian exclaims. “Why the fuck would you sneak up on me when I’m armed to the teeth? What the fuck are you doing here, anyway? It’s like three in the morning!”

“I could ask you the same thing, Chase,” Emilia says, slowly rising to stand, and Adrian clears his throat.

“I was just on patrol,” he lies through his teeth. “I wanted to, um—”

“Looks to me like you’re packing,” Emilia says, and Adrian shuts up. “And I think I know why.” 

It’s then he notices that Emilia has her own packed bag slung over her shoulder, and—is that the emergency med kit he had gone to grab out of your office? He looks down at his own med kit, the one he packed from your instructions, and then back at hers.

She notices Adrian noticing, and her face goes all weird. Adrian is not good at reading people, like, at all, but—he can feel it in the air, something awkward and a little bit wrong. He squints a little, looking at Harcourt’s face, the little frown she’s wearing, the way her eyes are darting over him a little quicker than usual. Suddenly, he realizes that he is not the only one looking like he’s been caught doing something he shouldn’t have been.

“Where are you going?” he asks, not quite accusing, but close.

Emilia hesitates, and the silence stretches between them for a moment. 

“Chris told me,” Emilia says, “about the conversation you had earlier. How he told you to stick to the plan, and not do any rash or dangerous shit. He’s worried about you.”

Adrian tilts his head. “So you’re here to tell me to stick to the plan and not do any rash or dangerous shit?” he asks. “How did you even know I was here? Do you have like, secret cameras stashed around the office? Is there an alarm on the door that no one knows about? What’s—”

“No,” Emilia interrupts. “Just—shut up. I’m going to go with you. To Star City.”

Adrian’s heart leaps into his throat.

“Star City?” he says. “What—I wasn’t—”

“You’re a bad liar,” Emilia says. “How the fuck do you work black ops?”

“I’m not—”

“I assume that’s why you’re here, too,” she continues. “To go to Star City. To case the warehouse at the address that John gave us, if not kill all the people inside it. Am I right?”

“Wha—you—” Adrian stutters, trying to recover from the shock of Harcourt saying something so wildly out of character that he feels the urge to check if she’s been taken over by a butterfly.

“Adrian,” Emilia says, “shut the fuck up.”

That’s familiar, at least. Harcourt tells him to shut the fuck up all the time.

“Star City?” he repeats, still stunned.

“I’m done waiting around,” she says. “I can’t take this anymore. Three days is too long to wait for the others to get back. These fucking—” Emilia takes a deep breath, clearly trying to settle herself before she gets too worked up or angry. “These people used to be my coworkers at ARGUS. Fellow soldiers. I trusted them with my life, and now they are threatening my family. They have no fucking honor, or respect, and I am pissed. I am so unbelievably pissed, and I am going to do something about it.”

Adrian stares with wide eyes, almost amazed. He’s never seen Harcourt this…emotional? No, that’s usually a word when people are sad. She’s just fucking angry. Impatient, maybe? Either way, it throws him off. Normally, she’s one of the level-headed ones.

Or maybe she isn’t. Maybe she’s just as crazy and impulsive and furious as he is. Maybe she’s just better at hiding it.

“You’re going to do something about it,” he repeats.

“Stop repeating everything I say.”

“Sorry,” Adrian says, a reflex. He doesn’t mean it. He’s not sorry. His mind is still reeling. “What—what about Chris? Did you—”

“Tell him? No. And I’m assuming you didn’t tell your Omega either, or she would have handcuffed you and not let you out of her sight.”

“I wish she would handcuff me,” he mutters. That would be so fucking hot.

“You horny idiot. Did you tell her you were leaving?”

“I didn’t,” he admits, another wave of guilt washing over him. “I didn’t tell her.”

“Good,” Emilia says. “I don’t want anyone stopping us. Turn your phone off too. I know she’s got your location, because you’re a clingy bitch.”

“What the fuck is happening right now?”

“What’s happening is I’m agreeing with you, for once,” Emilia says. “Not sure what that says about my sanity. But we are going to go, and do the recon ourselves, and if we have the chance—” She nods at the knives in Adrian’s hands. “We’re going to kill as many of them as we can.”

The drive takes six hours. Adrian had wanted to drive, but Emilia snatched the keys right out of his hand without a word. She lets him mess with the radio, at least, not complaining about his fidgeting from the passenger seat like she normally would. She’s lost in her own thoughts, for once.

But Adrian can’t bear the silence.

“Why did you do it?” he asks.

“Do what?” Emilia asks, a little annoyed. Probably because he opened his mouth to talk. It’s odd, working with Harcourt like this. They’ve never gotten along great to begin with.

“You let her go on that mission with you,” Adrian says. “And you didn’t tell me. She didn’t tell me. Why did you do it?” Maybe he’s still harboring some bitterness about it. Seems like a good time to address it. She’d never talk it out like this if they weren’t trapped in the van together.

“Why am I doing this, Adrian?” she asks tiredly. “Why do I do anything? For the good of the pack.”

“But—”

“And she is more than capable of doing mission work,” Emilia continues pointedly. “In case you’ve forgotten, I am the one who has been training her, since the accident. We’ve been in the workout room, in the weapons room, multiple times a week. She has improved significantly. Yes, she got hurt once, but—I realized, after that, that keeping her behind in the office where she’s safe is doing a disservice to her. We will always want to protect her. We are Alphas, and she is an Omega. But she also deserves to protect herself, and if you would just pay attention, you would see how ready she is. You’re blinded by it, sometimes. This weird macho need to protect her. But if I overcame it, so can you.”

Adrian doesn’t have anything to say to that, but his mind is swirling. Maybe she’s right. Maybe he’s smothering you, the way he’s been acting. Maybe he’d feel better about it if he joined you in your training sessions, if he saw with his own eyes what you’re capable of.

It’s mostly silent, for the next few hours. They left at five in the morning. The first message comes in at eight.

Adrian disabled the tracking services on his phone—not that it will do much. You and the others aren’t stupid. You’ll be able to figure out exactly where he’s gone pretty quickly, especially when they realize that Emilia is gone, too. But he left the device on. He couldn’t bring himself to cut off his line of communication with you entirely.

His phone buzzes in his pants pocket, several times in a row. He pulls it out and winces. You’re calling him.

“I told you to turn it off,” Emilia says. The buzzing stops after a few moments when Adrian doesn’t pick up the phone.

“I disabled the tracking!” Adrian argues. “I didn’t—I can’t—what if she needs me? What if there’s an emergency, or—” He clenches his jaw as the phone starts buzzing again.

“It’s a distraction, Adrian,” Emilia says. “If we’re gonna do this, we gotta do it right. Turn it off.”

The buzzing stops again, but then the texts start rolling in.

Omega 💙: Did you come home last night?

Omega 💙: Adrian?

Omega 💙: I thought we were doing better after we fought why did you disappear on me?

Omega 💙: Did you disable your location????

Omega 💙: Here I am trying to check on you and make sure you didn’t fucking die in a dark alley on patrol last night

Omega 💙: Are you hurt??

Omega 💙: ANSWER THE PHONE

Omega 💙: Adrian I don’t care if you’re still upset about our fight let me know if you’re fucking ALIVE please

Omega 💙: Alpha please

Adrian’s chest grows tighter and tighter with every message that pops up on his screen. He should text you, at least. Let you know he’s okay.

“Leave it, Adrian,” Emilia tells him.

“I just need to let her know I’m okay,” he says to Emilia, and starts typing, but then—

Omega 💙: You son of a bitch

Omega 💙: I just talked to Chris and Emilia is gone too

Omega 💙: Where the FUCK are you I KNOW you’re together

Omega 💙: If you’re doing what I think you’re doing I am going to kick your fucking ass

Omega 💙: Please don’t do anything stupid

Omega 💙: Please come home

The phone starts ringing again, and it doesn’t stop. Nothing more than a split-second moment of silence before the vibrating starts anew.

“Don’t make me fucking take it from you and chuck it out the window,” Emilia says.

Adrian swallows roughly. “She’s freaking out.”

“Obviously,” Emilia says. “Did you think she wasn’t going to freak out?”

At that moment, another call pops up on his phone, not from you, but from Chris. He tilts the phone in Emilia’s direction, and her firm, stern expression falters for just a moment. If he’d blinked, he would have missed it. But then her jaw sets again, and she turns back to the road.

“Turn the phone off, Adrian,” she says, her voice a little shaky.

Your name pops up again, another incoming call. He stares at your profile photo for a long moment before he powers the phone down, trying to ignore the stab of guilt in his stomach.

“They aren’t stupid,” Emilia says. “They’ll figure out where we went. But let’s hope they aren’t dumb enough to follow us.”

Adrian glances down at his blank phone screen. He’d known this was going to happen. He’d imagined it as he packed his bags, as he got in the car, as Emilia started the van and took off out of the Checkmate parking lot. You waking up, realizing he’s gone, freaking the fuck out.

He would be doing the same, if it was you. If he woke up one morning and you were gone. He’d lose his fucking mind, call you over and over again, send the same exact barrage of texts. He’s doing the same thing to you right now that you did to him, when he got back from his mission with Chris and couldn’t find you, realized you were on your own mission with Emilia. Exactly what you promised to never do to him again, he’s doing to you now. The terror of not knowing, the anxious worry about your mate’s safety.

He wonders if you’ll ever forgive him for this.

“Stop moping,” Emilia says, drawing him out of his guilt-ridden stupor. “Get your head in the game, Adrian. We’re gonna be there in twenty minutes.”

“Are we doing the right thing?” His voice cracks a little when he asks.

“We’re doing what needs to be done.”

Adrian hums. “Are you sure?”

“Why the twenty questions?” Emilia turns away from the road to glance at him briefly. “It’s a little late for second thoughts. You were all hyped up about this when we got in the van.”

He had been. She’s right. It makes him feel a little better that he’s not doing this on his own. He’s not sure if it’s a selfish thankfulness that he won’t be alone on the receiving end of your anxious fury when he returns home, or a righteous pride that Emilia Harcourt agrees with him for once. But…

“Do you remember when you picked me up from jail?” Adrian asks after a moment. “The first time we met? Well. The first time we met when I was Adrian. Not Vigilante.”

“I do,” Emilia says carefully.

“I told you—I think I made everything worse, that day.” He swallows. “I did make everything worse. Am I doing it again? Am I making everything worse?”

Emilia sighs and looks back at the road. It’s not an annoyed sigh, or a pissed-off sigh, or any of the other familiar ways that Harcourt exhales air from her lungs when she’s frustrated with Adrian. It’s a new sound. A little tired, maybe thoughtful.

“You act without thinking, a lot,” she says. “A lot of times, that means you’re taking risks. Not considering all the ways things could go wrong. You act on instinct before logic.” She glances sideways at him again. “That’s a very Alpha trait. I don’t know if it’s impatience, or just the desire to protect the pack, and the people who we care about, but—I feel it too, right now.”

Adrian knows this about himself. That he’s impulsive, that even when he fucks up, he’s doing what he thinks is right. But his moral compass is all kinds of fucked up. It’s a little reassuring, if strange, to know that Harcourt is on the same page that he is.

“Besides,” she continues, slightly grim. “If there was ever a time for a risky play, this is it.”

Just a few minutes later, she pulls the van up and parks curbside outside a tiny diner. Adrian looks between her and the restaurant, confused.

“Come on,” she says. “We gotta fuel up before we go on a murdering spree. You’re buying.”

For the first time since he left you last night, the corner of his mouth quirks up into something resembling a smile.

“I’d be buying even if you were buying,” he comments. “Considering that my Vigilante blood money pays your salary—”

“Oh, would you shut the fuck up!”

Two and a half hours later, Adrian is fed, suited up, and arming himself in the back of the van, ready to drive over to the address John had found. It’s an abandoned warehouse, apparently. Not unlike the Glen Tai bottling company that the butterflies had taken over.

It’s weird doing it in the middle of the day. It was back then, too, attempting subterfuge in broad daylight, while there were clearly people at work inside the building. For so long, he was only Vigilante late at night, tackling the kind of criminals that only showed themselves under the cover of darkness.

“Should we wait?” he asks. “Until later tonight?”

“We could,” Emilia says. “But if we go in now, we’re less likely to trip an alarm. Their building is probably unlocked during the day, for agents to come and go.”

“True.” He hadn’t thought about that. “But, if we want to go through all their shit and find out what they’re up to, it will be easier to do that when nobody is there.”

“Well,” Emilia says, “what exactly was your plan? If you came without me?”

Adrian unzips the waist bag attached to his utility belt and shows her what’s inside.

“Is that a fanny pack full of grenades?” Emilia asks incredulously.

“Yeah,” Adrian says, like it’s obvious, laughing. “How else am I supposed to carry multiple grenades at once? I only have one grenade holster on my utility belt—”

“Okay, whatever, I—that’s not the point. You fucking psycho. Why the grenades?”

“To kill the bad guys,” Adrian says. “Duh. Are you feeling okay? I feel like that should be obvious.”

“We are covert black ops, we don’t blow shit up.”

“You don’t blow shit up,” Adrian counters. “I blow shit up all the time. Besides, the more bad guys I take out with a bomb, the less we have to fight off individually. It’s safer that way. Less aura points, but, ya know, what can you do.”

“What?” Emilia sputters. 

“Like, it’s less cool,” Adrian explains. “Normally I would totally go in there guns blazing, but I kinda don’t want to get killed? I have an Omega to get home to, now.”

Emilia gapes at him. “You—” She pauses, looks at Adrian’s earnest expression, and sighs. “You really have changed, haven’t you.”

“Yeah.”

“Less aura points,” Emilia mutters under her breath. She shakes it off and asks, “Okay, Mr. Safety First, then what’s the plan?”

“Well, if we’re going in right now, while everyone’s in the building—I can sneak up onto the roof, crawl into the ceiling vents, and drop the bombs on them from above.”

“That’s a good way to get yourself killed. Those grenades are tiny, but they still pack a punch, and once the place is on fire, the smoke will drift upwards directly toward you. So that plan would be a no, no matter how much you want to feel like someone in a heist movie.”

“First you don’t let me have my chainsaw kill, and now this,” Adrian says accusingly. “You just don’t want me to be cooler than you!”

“I want you to not die,” Emilia says mildly. “Anyway. We’re not going right in for the kill—”

“What do you mean? Isn’t that like, the whole fucking point of us coming here by ourselves? To just end this and get it over with?”

“Yes, but in order to ensure our own safety, we need to do some recon first. Observe. We decided not to wait for the others, but that doesn’t mean we can get sloppy and cut corners or skip steps.”

Adrian sighs. “Fine. What do we do, then?”

Emilia’s mouth quirks up. “I think we can still use one part of your plan, at least.”

“The grenades? We can blow the doors open?”

“No,” she sighs. “The vents, you moron.”

Sneaking up onto the roof is more difficult than Adrian thought it would be.

He and Emilia canvas the street quickly and quietly, a super-fast driveby to help them scope out the surroundings before they make a move. The warehouse is in the middle of a random block. 

They had been hoping to clamber their way up to the roof of a neighboring building and, as Adrian put it, “parkour our way over there,” but several of the other buildings around it have been demolished, probably for safety reasons. It’s way too far for them to jump.

The warehouse itself is in rough shape too, like it’s days away from a “CONDEMNED” notice being slapped on every door and window. The paint on the sides of the building is peeling, a lot of the glass windows look cracked, if not outright boarded up, and there’s graffiti all over it.

“Fucking graffiti artists,” he mutters.

“Why do you even care?” Emilia asks as she parks the van a few blocks over.

“Graffiti is illegal, Harcourt! A law is a law!”

“I think most of the world, including you, has more important things to worry about right now. Let’s stay focused, Chase.”

“These people have no pride in their work, is all I’m saying. If they did, they would kill the people who keep drawing on their building. It’s not theirs to draw on, no matter how shitty it is already!”

“It is pretty shitty,” Emilia allows. “Our building is so much nicer. No wonder they’re trying to kill us off. They’d probably steal our customers and our office.”

“Yeah, well, that’s not fucking happening on my watch,” Adrian says darkly. “What do we do now, since we can’t get to the roof?”

“We still gotta get up there,” she says. “The vents are our best bet to not get caught while there are people in the building.”

“How?”

“Don’t you have a grappling hook or some shit?”

“Of course,” Adrian says, like that’s a perfectly normal thing for a person to have.

“We can use it like a zipline from that taller building the next block over,” she says, pointing. “The one with the red roof, I think it’s an apartment building.” Adrian follows her line of sight and smiles wide beneath his mask.

“We really are going to be like spies!”

Emilia sighs.

It’s late afternoon by the time they sneak their way up the fire escape of that nearby building. They had to change back into their civilian clothes, since they were going to be in plain sight for so long—even though they’re tucked away in an alley, shadowed from view of the main street, it’s a hike, ten flights of stairs up from the ground, and they’re bogged down carrying duffle bags with Adrian’s Vigilante suit and all their weapons and supplies. Harcourt wears a baseball cap and sunglasses, in case one of Leon Sullivan’s people drives by and notices her bright blond hair.

Once they get to the rooftop, Adrian drops their duffle bags to the ground so they can sort through their things and gear up. He pulls his suit back on as quickly as he can. Something about not wearing it in such close proximity to the enemy makes his skin crawl, and he feels instantly better when he puts it on.

It helps that the suit smells a little bit like you.

From there, it’s quick work to send Adrian’s grappling hook flying across the distance between buildings. He yanks it tight until he’s certain it’s hooked onto the ledge of the warehouse rooftop, then knots it tightly onto a metal anchor he attaches to the brick ledge of the building they stand on top of. Emilia plucks at the taut rope, testing the tension and sturdiness, before nodding her approval.

“Alright,” she says. “This is it.”

“This is it,” Adrian nods.

“Before we go in there,” Emilia says, “if one of us gets captured, the other gets the hell out of there. We go home, we tell the others what happened, we share what we learned, and then come back for a rescue. I don’t want this whole thing to be for nothing. Understood?”

“Understood,” Adrian says soberly.

“Your earbud is on and working?” Emilia checks. Adrian taps his ear over her mask and nods. “Good. Ladies first.” She gestures at their makeshift zipline.

“You’re the lady,” Adrian says, confused.

“Just fucking get over there.”

“You just want me to go first in case it doesn’t work,” he accuses.

“You got me,” Emilia says, throwing her hands in the air. “You’re the one who’s all gung ho about being a spy, you fucking dork.”

Adrian frowns petulantly. “Being a spy is cool as fuck.” He wishes, for a half second, that you were there, because you would agree with him. Or, at the very least, you would humor him.

But then he remembers exactly why you’re not here, and the guilt flares up again. Instead of making him doubt himself, though, it only hardens his resolve. He’s doing this for you, for the whole pack, to keep everyone safe.

He’ll be able to tell you that when he goes home. After you finish yelling at him, of course.

With that, he hangs on to the rope and zooms down to the roof of the warehouse, crashing into the wall with absolutely no finesse before pulling himself over the ledge and stumbling to his feet. Being a spy is harder than the movies make it look, apparently. Emilia’s not far behind him, landing with much more grace than he did.

“There’s no way this fucking building is up to code,” Adrian mutters, looking around at the damp, moldy infrastructure around the roof.

“Focus,” Emilia says. She’s whispering, but he can hear her clear as day through the earpiece. “We are not here to inspect them for building code violations. We are here to gather intel. Come on—looks like the air vents open up to that panel over there.”

“Okay,” Adrian says. “Fine.”

He finds the panel that she’s talking about and swings open the metal doors as quietly as he can. It’s not big enough for both of them to fit side by side; they’ll have to climb in one at a time.

“Ladies first again?” he asks, one foot already in the metal tube. His boot clanks against the metal and he winces. Harcourt does too.

“Yeah. You’ll have to go slow to stay quiet,” she says. “I’m right behind you.”

The inside of the vent is cramped and uncomfortable, but Adrian powers through, dragging himself forward inch by inch. He tries not to think about what a pain in the ass it will be to do this backwards on the way out. 

Sound echoes through the building. Some are familiar, like the rattling of bullets, fresh ammunition in boxes being carried across a room. Others are not—voices he does not recognize that set him on edge, too far and faint to hear clearly. He follows the sound.

Emilia stays about a yard behind him. The vents are supposed to hold air, not human bodies, so they try to make sure not to put too much weight on the thin layer of metal beneath them at any one spot.

“They’re on to us,” someone is saying below. Adrian holds up a hand to signal to Emilia to stop crawling, then points downward. She presses her ear directly to the metal, and Adrian strains his own ears to hear better.

“Our agents are good,” says the voice. “Years of experience. There’s no way this many of them are getting caught or going missing by accident. We’re being targeted.”

Adrian grits his teeth. Yeah, asshole, because you targeted us first.

“It’s Harcourt and Smith,” says another man, his voice deeper and raspy. “I had been hoping that incident a few months back would take them out entirely, but it didn’t work.”

“Incident?”

“I fed them bad information,” says the man. “The Omega in their pack got hurt pretty bad, which set them back a bit, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve figured out we were behind it.” Adrian practically lights on fire with fury when he realizes it’s Leon Sullivan beneath him, speaking so casually about the way you’d almost died. The way he’d almost killed you. He clenches his hands into fists so they won’t start shaking.

“We can set another trap for them,” says the other man. “Find their weak spot. Target the Omega again, maybe? If we capture her, we can lure them here. Get a ransom out of them before we kill them all.”

Adrian can’t stop it, now, the way he’s shaking with rage. His breath comes in fast pants, fogging up his visor. No fucking way is he letting these dickbags touch you again. He’d die before he let that happen.

“Stay calm,” Harcourt whispers behind him. “She’s home. She’s okay.”

“We need to warn them,” Adrian says back, his voice trembling in a quiet murmur. “She’s—she’s home alone, she needs protection, what if they beat us there—”

“Shh,” Emilia says. “Listen. Maybe they’ll spill more details.”

The men have started speaking more quietly, now, though, and it’s harder to hear.

“Inch forward,” Emilia orders. “Get closer, see if you can hear them better.”

Adrian does as she asks, shuffling himself forward on his elbows.

His mind is spiralling. Every horror he’d imagined about the pack enemies targeting you, about needing to keep you safe—he was right about all of it. He wishes he wasn’t. He needs to go home, he needs to go home right now and never leave your side. He won’t even sleep until they take out these bastards, because someone needs to keep an eye on you. He’ll sit on the end of the bed like a guard dog with a gun. He’ll do whatever he fucking has to do, he’ll—

He’s too caught up in his panic, imagining every worst case scenario, that he doesn’t hear the way the metal groans as his palm presses into the metal beneath him.

Adrian’s heart leaps up his throat as the vent gives way and he tumbles through the air, hitting the ground with a noisy thud, a loud avalanche of his own spiralling limbs and shoddy old building material. Then he’s looking up at the ceiling, surrounded by twisted, bent metal and crumbling drywall pieces.

Then he hears the familiar click of a gun’s safety being flicked off. He slowly turns, and for the first time, after months and months of agonizing, anxious staring at the man’s dossier, he meets the eyes of Leon Sullivan.

His heart, still pounding, sinks into his chest a little as he stares down the barrel of the gun.

“Adrian,” Emilia says, a panicked whisper. “Are you—”

“Go, Harcourt,” he says. “We made a deal.”

If one of us gets captured, the other gets the hell out of there. And now, more than ever, he needs Harcourt to go.

It’s over for him. He knows it is. But Emilia is his pack Alpha, is your pack Alpha, and he trusts her to look after you when he's not there. He has no choice now.

They’re going to kill him, and you’ll be alone. He has so much he feels like he needs to say to you, still. That he loves you. That he’s sorry.

His earpiece has started to go staticky, and he knows Emilia is scrambling her way back to the rooftop. He trusts that his pack Alpha will protect you, even when he can’t. And that’s all he can think about in this moment. You.

“Harcourt, tell her—” he whispers, but then something sharp stings at the back of his neck, piercing through the kevlar of his suit, and everything fades to black.

Adrian tag list: @justalotoffanfiction @danversxwasabi @clowninavan @adoresami @a-young-g0d @bastardstevie @am-3-thyst @xoxocamis @morguegrl89 @somethin-sparklyy @secretjesterr @seeingdubs @lovenerdywhitemen2 @jeshomie @aerionshipthrust @deamlucem @tlfg-adrianchase @brianna-merlim @amart-e @countvonklit @pieolsen @gingerjane15 @dosyrosyposy @rentaldarling @vigilcourt @hot-bean-juice @sepaaaaa @residentsuperhero

Any interactions were within the confides of the group, hangouts as part of the 11th Street Kids gang, getting dinner at Big Belly Burger, or drinks at the dive bars that Chris and Harcourt loved because their tabs hadn't been called up yet.

“Wow I did not see Harcourt and Chris getting together, that was not on my bingo card for the year!” Adrian laughed, wiping the beer foam from his lips.

“What the fuck are you talking about dude? I literally only told you about it!” Chris rolled his eyes, clinking his beer against his dumbass best friends glass.

“Oh yeah…” Adrian acted like he had forgotten to take the trash out. Everyone laughed at him first before with him when you helpfully explained the humorous situation.

“Well luckily, I didn’t need Adrian to tell me. You were suuuper obvious Chris.” Harcourt snickered at how red his cheeks got at that and planted a drunk kiss on them.

Watching the two of them was like torture at times, because their honeymoon phase was so fresh and full of small, sweet moments. Whereas Adrian didn’t even hold your hand, brush up against your leg or really touch you at all anymore. He treated you like one of his buddies.

Putting a hand on his knee, Adrian spooked and dropped a swathe of beer on the floor. “Ugh shit sorry…” He apologetically dashed off to go get something to clean it up.

That stung but you weren’t going to be deterred any longer! When he was back sitting next to you on the barstool, you leant in again.

“Woopsie! Hey honey bear, want to come back to my place tonight?” You asked hopefully, whispering in Adrian’s ear.

His eyes widened but he cleared his throat, shaking his head. “Sorry…can’t tonight. I’ve got to go on patrol. Next time sugar bear.” Adrian said coldly brushing you off.

“Alright then.” It had been next time and not right now every single time you tried to put yourself out there to him.

You tried to not let the rejection get to you, to not recount scenarios over and over again in your mind. But it was difficult to not see the troubling pattern forming.

Adrian was getting tired of you.

Meanwhile the true reason for his avoidance was that Adrian was incredibly anxious about something. He had been trying to propose to you at every group hangout, with his friends for moral support but always fucked it up royally somehow.

Party? He got so blind drunk wasted to build up the courage that he threw up on your shoes. And in the taxi on the way back home. And in his pillow case. And his mother’s sewing bag.

Hot air balloon? Not a great time to realise he was terrified of both proposing and heights.

Picnic? The blanket tore up in the wind, and it rained. Adrian wound up screaming at an ominous stalker cloud until everyone wanted to leave.

Hike? Bees chased him. Fucking bees.

Zoo? He got distracted by all of the animals and a monkey nearly stole the ring. He had to barter it back with a banana.

At the bar last night? He spilt beer everywhere and when you asked him to go home together he got so horny that he couldn’t get the words out!

Maybe that dirty money had put a blood curse on him!

"Dude when and where should I ask her? I need a new plan!" Adrian said as the two were unpacking furniture to set up the Checkmate office.

"You've asked this a hundred times already man. Just pick the moment that feels right and fucking do it." Chris rolled his eyes, getting out a bundle of pens and putting them into his respective red ‘BFF because therapy is expensive’ coffee mug. Adrian of course had the matching teal one.

"Ughhh! Every moment feels wrong like I'm going to fuck it up though! The last time that she said it was the perfect moment, I wound up kidnapping her father instead and she had to murder him in the basement on our anniversary." 

"...what?" Chris dropped a box onto his foot. “Please tell me I just had a stroke and misheard all of that shit.”

“See, I am like the worst at this romantic stuff!” Adrian whined, idly playing with a rainbow slinky. “What if she gets tired of me?”

“Okay this calls for drastic measures.” Chris nodded, enlisting some help.

Sitting in the meeting room with the blinds down and door locked, Adebayo and John sat down to be faced with Chris and Adrian looking uncharacteristically serious.

“Why don’t we organise a vacation? You could propose on the getaway. Fuck knows I need one after all of this bullshit..” Adebayo suggested with a deep sigh.

“Oh that could work, where should we all go?” Adrian said.

“All of us?” John laughed. “I think Ads meant that only you and her would…”

“Hey don’t ruin this shit for us John, he still has a fuck ton of blood curse money left over.” Chris whispered into his ear and John, clued in now nodded.

“How about a five-star ski resort?” Chris pulled out the pamphlets and set it out onto the table. “This one looks pretty stellar, natural hot springs!”

“You’ve certainly planned this all out haven’t you?” Adebayo rolled her eyes at him.

Chris rubbed the back of his neck with a stupid grin, “well yeah I am his best friend and best man after all and only want the best…”

“This is perfect! Should I get everyone the Ski-In/Ski-Out Royal Suites?” Adrian grinned, folding out the flier and pointing at the most luxurious offer.

“Adrian…how much more of the money do you have after buying the Checkmate building?” Adebayo asked, her jaw dropping at the amount listed at the bottom of the rooms. “I thought we pretty much got it all out of the basement.”

“Oh that was just the basement money, I haven’t cleared out the storage units yet.” Adrian said with a shrug, getting his phone out to call up a travel agent.

“Storage unit.” Chris said, nearly falling out of his chair at the revelation.

“Storage units...” John corrected him, crushing his monster energy drink.

“Wow…” Was all Adebayo could think to add.

“Yes please we will take first class for flights, and your fanciest champagne for the plane…personal chef? Sure why not!” Adrian yapped away on the phone and the three of them basically had their eyes bug out as dollar signs at the extras he slapped onto their luxurious getaway.

While working an all-day shift at Paws a Moment you got missed call from Adrian, the first one in ages that you returned on your lunch break. The small gesture made your heart skip several beats, which made you feel slightly bitter-sweet.

“Guess what?” Adrian said loudly as soon as he picked up.

“Um…what?” You couldn’t begin to guess what crazy thing he was about to tell you.

“I’ve booked us all a celebratory vacation in the alps outside of Evergreen with that other blood curse money! At a fancy as fuck ski resort! All expenses paid!” Adrian shouted the news at you like he was the host of the Price is Right.

“Oh wow, for all of us? That’s awesome thank you!” You were initially excited but then thought on the boring practicalities. “I’ll need to make sure I can get time off work, and did you use all of the money? Weren’t we going to save some of it for a house deposit and the wedding?” One of the things you loved about Adrian was that he was impulsive, but this seemed pretty irresponsible.

“Don’t worry! I still have another storage unit of cash and my beanie baby collection! Plenty of money for all that other stuff…” He reassured you hastily and the way he said other stuff about the subject was another pinch of salt on the wound.

“Well sounds amazing, I can’t wait!” You didn’t want to keep being a wet blanket. Besides this was the perfect opportunity for you two to spend time together again!

Thankfully your boss Susan was totally fine with you suddenly taking time off work, if anything you had too much annual leave banked up anyway and so you were basically shoved out the door to go have fun by her.

“This isn’t a corporate holiday, why are these fuckers on the plane?” Adrian huffed when he saw Langston, Sasha and Rip all ready with their luggage at the airport.

“Now now, we don’t want them to feel left out.” Adebayo tried to keep the peace.

“Why are they babies?” Adrian scoffed, glaring at the three. He didn’t want these chuckle fucks here to ruin his proposal to you!

“No but you’re acting like one.” Rip scoffed back at him, somehow eating flamin hot Cheetos past the TSA line where your water bottle had been thrown out.

“Enough kids. I don’t want to hear it!” Harcourt snapped at them all to be silent.

The flight over was incredible, you had never been on an airplane before, let alone first class. Sitting by the window you loved getting to see the earth below, the geographical shapes were so interesting, the cloud scape beautiful. Unfortunately, Adrian did not have the same pleasant experience, white-knuckled holding on for dear life at the arms of his chair.

“Want to join the mile high club?” You half-jested to him. At this point you were fully ready to bang in a gross tiny airplane bathroom if it meant you got some action.

“We’re actually currently 5.9-7.9 miles up in the air…” He whimpered the fact to you, getting the sick bag up again to dry heave and hyperventilate.

“Oh you poor thing…” You tried patting his back, but he brushed you off embarrassed.

“I’m fine!” Adrian insisted, cheeks going bright red. He wanted to propose on the flight over, but now his stupid fear of dying in a fiery plane crash was ruining it!

“I knew we shouldn’t have watched The Rehearsal with Nathan Fielder last night…” You sighed and stared back out through the window.

Getting off the plane, Adrian kissed the ground of the tarmac and excitedly took all of your bags and his bags off the conveyer belt. He fully didn’t understand what a valet or concierge was and argued with the staff for trying to carry your bags, thinking it was a robbery. Everyone thankfully got him to see reason and the trip to the hotel was uneventful.

Proper real snow was also a first, Evergreen only ever got a foot of sludge in the winter, but the mountains were pitch white and majestic.

Setting up in your room for the day getting ski and snowboarding lessons, you tried again to get Adrian in the mood, but he was obsessed with making sure you both weren’t late. But adorably, Adrian had made custom suits for skiing for you and him to wear. The outfits were vintage 80s jumpsuits, his in bright teal and white with black accents, and yours in pink and white with purple accents.

The lessons weren’t as fun bonding together sessions as you’d hoped. It took you longer to pick up with the instructor at your level, along with John, Chris and Harcourt who similarly struggled. Adebayo was moderately better along with Rip who dashed down after a couple failed attempts to snowboard. Meanwhile Langston and Sasha were expert skiers already, loving the slopes and shredding snow down the mountain.

And finally Adrian, who was a complete natural like you’d guessed beat out all of them and could run the whole course blindfolded. You had hoped that he would wait for you at least on one of the runs to go together, but when you asked on the last run, Adrian frowned and told you to meet him at the bottom like it was a bother.

That was the final straw, he had been snippy with you all trip. You took the final cable car back to the lodge instead of going down the bottom.

“Hey uh, why don’t you come down with us?” Chris asked, looking a bit anxious at you leaving.

“No thanks.” You frowned, putting the cage down. 

“Damn it why is he being such a jerk off?” You heard John grumble to Chris as the cable car set off.

What you didn’t know was that Adrian had prepared a little surprise for you, a couple chairs with bucket of champagne and an ice sculpture of a big spider. All of it was set to a boombox ready to play Britney Spears’ Break the Ice, the best song off the Blackout album. With an icepick he was going to chip out the ring box for you!

“Where is she? Where's my precious snow bunny?” Adrian asked when he saw the rest of his friends make it down the mountain.

“She’s gone back to the suite, she’ll meet up with us at dinner.” Chris explained.

“What? Why?!” Adrian waved his hands frantically at his perfect set-up.

“Because you’re being a total dick.” John broke it down for him.

“Am not!” Adrian snapped.

“Am too!” Chris snapped back.

“Ugh! Fine okay I’ll propose at dinner and apologise!” Adrian decided with a nod to himself, muttering about how to make it all perfect.

“Sounds like a plan bestie.” Chris sighed, patting him on the shoulder.

Dinner was a five star and course meal with bottomless mimosas and champagne, which begged the question how much did Adrian spend on this whole trip? Nobody was game to ask, wanting to instead revel in the luxury.

Sitting down, you were feeling a lot better than before, Adrian had said there was a nice surprise coming and he was sorry for being rude earlier, giving you a nice heavy kiss by the fireplace in your suite as compensation.

When you were all into the last course and a special bottle of champagne was being poured around the table, almost in preparation for a big announcement or toast, Emilia took the opportunity to clear her throat loudly for the table’s attention.

"Babe maybe let's not announce it like right now..." Chris murmured to Emilia who laughed, four, possibly five, more likely six, mimosas in. 

"Why the fuck not now?" She chuckled, elbowing him. "You embarrassed or something?" 

"Not at all! It's just well there's-" Chris tried to pull her in to whisper something but Emilia wrestled out of his grip and shook her head.

"Let's tell them now!" She shouted, loudly banging her champagne glass with a spoon.

"Hey fuckers, guess what? We're getting married!" Harcourt flashed an engagement ring, and everyone gushed staring at Chris who anxiously showed his own engagement ring. 

They were matching simple silver bands that had small rubies in the shape of stars embedded into them. 

"Amazing Em! Congratulations you two!" You cheered, clapping for them. 

Everyone else looked slightly uneasy for some reason but politely clapped. 

"I asked him just before dinner while out watching the sunset over the snow." Emilia grinned back at you, slinging an arm around Chris' shoulder.

Wow she was such a badass! 

There was a massive crash at one of the seats and you turned around to Adrian who had dropped your own and his champagne glasses right onto the ground. His face was sheet white and thin like printer paper.

"Adrian?" You asked him gently touching his forearm. He withdrew from your grasp, expression livid.

"I'm fine...everyone quit looking at me. It's fine!" He yelled, picking up pieces of the glass in a frenzy on his hands and knees. 

"Ow fuck!" Adrian swore cutting a finger on the edge of a shard but kept sweeping it all with his hands. It was like he was searching for something in the sea of glass.

"Adrian! Don't do that you'll hurt yourself, I'll get a dustpan and I've got a band-aid somewhere in my purse..." You tried helping him and were swatted back towards the wall. 

The gesture wasn't violent and it didn't physically hurt you, but it did frighten you.

"Get away from it! I told you already it's fucking fine!" He snapped angrily at you causing you to flinch at the tone. 

In all the time you'd known him, Adrian had never spoken to you that way or shoved you away like that before.

Instantly you were reminded of how your husband used to treat you. This entire trip Adrian had been acting strange and distant, his attitude was colder than the alps outside.

Was this just what eventually happened to anyone that got close to you?

Would Adrian morph from a sweet caring guy due to being around whatever fucked up thing was inside you and turn into another abusive partner? The thought gripped at you irrational and terrifying.

"Alright I will. I'm not even hungry anymore..." You said quietly, backing away. 

"It's dangerous okay just keep away!" Adrian finally secured the ring under the table into his pocket, slippery from the spilt champagne everywhere on the floor.

"I'll go then...I'll get out of your way." 

When Adrian turned and saw the trembling in your hands and the fear in your eyes, he stumbled over his feet and words to try and keep you with him.

"I'm sorry for shouting, I just...it was..." He tried to apologize but you were already out the door closing it behind yourself with a defeating slam.

"FUCK! NO WAIT PLEASE! I DIDN'T MEAN TO!" They could hear him shouting outside as he ran out after you.

"Uh so congrats guys..." John said awkwardly with a cough to Chris and Harcourt.

Adrian tried to find you, but you didn't want to be found. When he got back to your room eventually late into the early hours of the morning he laid out on the bed and stared up at the ceiling.

"You're such a fuck up..." He cursed at himself. Biting his cuticles down to the nubs, something he hadn't done in years brought some shred of relief.

Succumbing to the nagging want of sleep when he woke up a couple hours later to find you in bed facing away from him. 

"Hey, want to get breakfast?" Adrian asked you gently. "I'm sorry about last night my precious sunset. I was stressed but it's no excuse for me to ever talk to you like that or push you away. It won't happen again, I promise." 

"No thanks." Your voice was hoarse and distant, the same way you got when you thought about those awful times. "It's fine you didn't even hurt me. I was in the way. Like I always am." The phrase had struck a major nerve. Your parents always acted as though you were in the way since the very day you were born.

"No you weren't! You're never in the way I promise...shit I'm really sorry I love you!" Adrian tried to kneel down beside you, but you wouldn't look at him. 

The way you were curled up, near catatonic but eyes still open wide staring through the walls was how you had been around the anniversary of your terrible marriage. Adrian had gone around to every flower shop in Evergreen to get you orange lilies, as a reminder that he was there for you. But now he had caused this and he didn't know what to do or how to cheer you up.

"Please I'm really sorry, I've got you thinking about that horrible fucker and I'd never do anything like what he did to you I promise! When we get married we'll be so happy! You'll see!" 

You gave a sharp laugh in return. "And when will that be? Leave me alone Adrian, I'm a lost cause. If you marry me you'll get tired of me eventually, I won't be that picture perfect wife you dreamed of and you'll just resent me. Let's wait out whatever this is between us until you're done obsessing over the idealized version of me you really want." 

"Don't say that! Please never say that again, seriously I love you. I've been scared to ask you, but I will I promise, I'm sorry for being such a coward." Adrian bit his lip, hen pecking at you trying to make it all feel okay again.

But you weren’t in any state to be reassured. "You're only scared because you know deep down I'm not worth it. Just like my mother always said. She warned me that you would let me down and I should marry that asshole instead. That's what I'm worth. Less than nothing." 

"Fuck that's not true! If only you could see what I do when I look at you right now! You're the most beautiful person in the whole fucking world and you're breaking my heart saying all that bullshit about yourself!" Adrian shouted, shaking you gently.

"Adrian...okay thank you. I'm sorry but I'm tired." You turned your back to him to stare at the other wall.

"Can you please go to breakfast?" You asked in a small voice. "I'll catch up later." 

"I don't want to leave you alone like this." Adrian refused.

That sent you off the deep end again. "Who cares you'll leave me eventually." 

"I care! And I won't ever fucking leave you!" Adrian hollered, his voice catching.

"If you want to help me out, go to breakfast and let me rest for a little while." You said eventually with a deep sigh.

"But-" 

"You're like a lighthouse Adrian, a big loud bright light up on the cliff that I love to look up at in the ocean. You usually lead me away from crashing myself on the rocks when I'm in the dark. But right now you're making me want to drift away again..." Your voice didn’t even feel like your own when the words came out. Too robotic and distant.

"Drift away like as in leaving Evergreen?" Adrian tried to understand how you were feeling but it was impossible. 

"Yeah. Something like that." You smiled sadly up at him not wanting to admit that wasn't what you meant. "I'll be okay come back after breakfast." Reassuring him with a squeeze on the hand in yours, you waved to see him off.

"Alright. I'm sorry." Adrian replied softly by the door.

"I know, I'm sorry too." You said even softer when the door had been shut.

"Harcourt you're officially on the end of my friendship list." Adrian announced at breakfast. "That's one spot under my mom by the way." He added, stabbing away at his pancakes like they owed him money

"As if I care Adrian. But may I ask why you're blaming me for you being a dick last night?" Harcourt scoffed over her coffee. She clearly had a hangover from cutting loose drinking the night before, sunglasses on indoors of the holiday brunch spot.

Chris winced in anticipation of his best friends answer while munching on a bagel full of cream cheese but stayed out of it.

Folding his arms Adrian huffed and puffed in the booth, stirring a large sugary drink loudly before pointing right at Harcourt with the straw. "Becauseee YOU proposed to my BFF without consulting ME!" He whipped the plastic straw across from the three of them, cream flicking at everyone at the table.

"How's that any of your business?" Harcourt demanded, angry at how loud Adrian was being more than usual with her hangover pounding away.

"Becauseeee YOU did it RIGHT before I was going to propose on the trip WE planned for the specific purpose for ME to finally propose to my GIRLFRIEND!" He bitterly stabbed it back down into his triple shot caramel frappe and took a hard sip, glaring daggers into Harcourt's soul. 

"That is to be fair kind of a major dick move on your part Em." John admitted with a shrug, wiping whipped cream out of his beard with a napkin.

Emilia's eyes widened as she nearly choked on the coffee. "What the fuck? How was I supposed to know that!" She snapped but the table all looked uneasy at her.

"It was kinda obvious girl..." Adebayo replied gingerly.

"Nobody told me!" Harcourt shouted, throwing her hands up in frustration. Looking to Chris for backup he grimaced. "Why didn't you fuckers tell me?" 

"Uhh yeah we kinda chose not to tell you babe because you're not the best at keeping up secrets or lying..." Chris admitted and saw his new fiancée’s mouth open wide in shock.

"How dare you guys! I am so good at those things..." Harcourt pouted watching as all of her so-called friends and love of her life all shake their heads in solidarity of total disagreement.

"No not really..." Adebayo trailed off.

"Yeah there was that whole snow globe thing..." John added, also unable to make eye contact.

"You're a terrible liar but even more of a terrible friend." Adrian pouted at her.

Taking off his glasses to clean them on his shirt, Emilia noticed just how puffy and red his green eyes were from how much he'd cried the night before.

Harcourt groaned and rested her head in her hands to hide from their stares. "I feel horrible..." 

"Worse than the hangover?" Chris tried and failed to lighten the mood.

Emilia mumbled into her palms, "Way worse...I feel sick in my stomach. I honestly didn't mean to ruin that moment for you."

Adrian glowered down at Harcourt, sipping loudly on his drink, grating all of their ears but then lost some of his frown upon seeing how upset she truly was. 

"I'm sorry Adrian I seriously had no idea..." Emilia added, looking absolutely mortified. 

"Well thanks for the apology, it must feel really bad to not read a room properly. I personally don't know what that feels like at all, but I forgive you Harcourt." Adrian said begrudgingly and didn't understand why everyone laughed like he was making a hilarious joke but joined in anyway.

"I'll go talk to her!" Harcourt offered. 

"Me too." Adebayo joined in. 

"No! You'll both ruin the surprise that I was going to propose." Adrian refused, shaking his head at the two women heading off to the suite. 

Trailing behind them in protest didn't stop the war path Harcourt and Adebayo were on to make you see reason. Knocking on the door initially, when you didn't respond, Harcourt looked at Ads who nodded and busted it open with a credit card. 

"I literally have a room key." Adrian grumbled, while admitting it did look cool as fuck and was told to wait outside. 

"Hey girl." Harcourt greeted you, pulling the blanket off you aburptly. The audacity of this bitch!

"Leave me alone." You offered as way of hello. 

"We know you're hurting, but Adrian has only been acting weird this whole time and on the trip because..." Adebayo began but you cut her off.

"Because he's going to propose or was trying to anyway. I know that already." You replied stiffly. Of course you knew, it was pretty obvious. But you didn't want the fanfare or the strange attitude from him. 

"So what's the problem? You enjoy laying around feeling sorry for yourself?" Harcourt asked sharply, crossing her arms.

"Em!" Adebayo snapped, but Emilia shook her head.

"No, enough of this bullshit. Playing victim whenever things get too real isn't healthy." She wasn't going to use kid gloves with you. It was equal parts refreshing and infuriating.

"I'm not playing at anything. I don't go into fucking bars and ask people to hit me to feel something. They just do it for free. When I don't want them to." You spat back at her, watching the twinge of a brow. Sore spot successfully hit. 

"Adrian would never." Adebayo interjected.

"I know that." You replied through ground teeth. "Don't put words into my mouth Ads!"

This wasn't even about Adrian. The idea of marriage equally excited and terrfied you, it was difficult to just put that past life of yours away. Those memories of abuse weren't playing cards you could just put back into the deck and forget about. It was an awful hand that played out at the worst times and sometimes the house won, leaving you emotionally crippled. 

"Then what's the issue? Spit it out!" Emilia shouted back. 

"I'm not fucking ready to be proposed to yet!" You admitted as loudly in her face as your torn to shreds throat would let you.

From the other side of the door you heard a knock of someone stumbling. 

"Adrian...come in please." 

The door creaked open ajar, and you saw his frightened green eyes before the rest of him came into view.

"We'll leave you two alone." Adebayo said, pulling a still rabid ready to argue Harcourt out of the room with her.

"It's okay. I'm sorry, I love you, love you so much, but I can't do this right now. But soon. I fucking promise..." Tears butterflied between your eyelashes when you saw how hurt he looked by what he'd overheard.

"Alright...did I uh do something wrong?" Adrian croaked out, shuffling to the bed he looked like a kicked puppy.

"No! You haven't done anything wrong Adrian! It's just been really good lately between us. A lot has happened, but we got through it together..." You couldn't explain it. 

There was no explanation outside of what Chris had said a month ago. It felt like you were cursed to never be happy.

"Oh okay then..." Adrian didn't sound like he was following at all.

"I know that you're waiting for the perfect moment. And I know I asked for that initially. But please stop doing that." You knew you weren’t explaining yourself properly.

"Huh?" Now he really wasn't following.

"I don't want the perfect moment. I'm not fucking perfect Adrian." You didn't want to, but you snapped at him.

"Yes you are!" Anger flashed across his green eyes at that. "You're perfect to me." He was so adamant, that it gave your wallowing pause.

"Thank you...you're perfect to me as well. Seriously you're so perfect. But..." The thought needled at your heart like it was a pin cushion. 

"But what?" Adrian pleaded with you to tell him, taking your hands into his, he pressed them against his cool cheek.

"What if you get bored of me?" You asked him quietly. "We haven't even been going out together for a full year yet..." 

Adrian laughed at that, richly like he was sitting back at a comedy club, and you'd just given the greatest set ever. 

"Don't laugh!" You frowned up at him but that just made him laugh even harder.

Clutching his chest, Adrian couldn't breathe, laughing out in wheezes now, teary eyed he sighed heavily and wiped it away with a great big goofy grin on his face.

"That's the dumbest thing I think anyone has ever said in the history of like forever." Adrian told you brightly, poking your furrowed brow gently with a finger.

"I could never get bored of you my sweet pumpkin. You're literally stuck with me forever and ever remember? Whether you like it or not!" The words came so easily from him that you didn't have a second to doubt them.

"I waited how long again to even kiss you? Every time we do it, it all feels new again." Adrian's face grew closer to yours, hands cupping your cheeks.

"Like some fresh part of your soul mixes with mine and I feel..." His lips brushed tenderly against your own, pressing flush in a chaste yet loving kiss. 

"...alive." He brought your hand down to his chest to feel. His heart was beating away like a jackhammer.

"I'm sorry I said I wasn't ready...I was being a coward again as well. You deserve someone better." You trailed off, trying to retreat once more into yourself but Adrian wasn't about to let that happen.

"There isn't anyone better." He said it so firmly you were taken aback. "I'm a patient guy, only when it comes to you though." His lopsided smile returned. 

"Have you even looked?" You giggled, tears dripping down your cheeks.

"Never needed to. You've always been there." Adrian gently wiped them away with the back of his hand. 

"Adrian..." You whispered softly into his comforting embrace. 

"Yeah?" He smiled down at you, stroking back a lock of hair behind your ear.

"It's cold, warm me up?" You asked with a cheeky grin.

"Mmm...sure thing. Want me to start up the fireplace? Electric blanket? Hot water bottle?" He teased you with an even cheekier grin.

"None of the above." You shook your head.

"Hm this test is hard..." Adrian grinned into the kiss he planted on you. "You'll have to teach me the answer!" 

"Alright but I'm a tough marker..." You warned him, lines bringing dimples up at your dazzling eyes he loved staring into as you smiled.

"Yeah you fucking are..." His toothy grin widened at that, gorgeous crinkles growing around his green eyes. 

Outside, your friends were anticipating an argument brewing. "Are they okay in there do you think?" Adebayo asked worried, turning to Harcourt who was in the adjacent chair of the suite living room.

"Hm maybe we better go check." Harcourt nodded standing up she walked over the bedroom door.

Turning the handle, none of her A.R.G.U.S training had prepped for that scene. Slamming it behind her as quickly as she'd opened it, Harcourt looked like she'd seen a ghost. 

"Abort mission! They're fine...more than fine. God, gross I need to get that image burnt out of my retina. How did you live with her with him coming over and doing that for so long?!" She held her hands over her eyes like she'd been blinded.

“I did not need to know that Adrian likes that done to his…” She couldn’t even say it.

“I know girl.” Adebayo chuckled.

“The mirror?” Harcourt threw her hands up in the air, still in total dismay.

“Yuuup.” Adebayo nodded in understanding. “Let’s get mimosas.”

“Yes please and some fucking absinthe.” Harcourt linked arms with Ads and dashed off in an attempt to run away from the visual.

“Did s-someone open the door?” You looked up at Adrian concerned, who was currently behind you pumping away like there was no tomorrow.

In the presidential suite he got you, there was of course a massive mirror you assumed he custom requested given how it didn’t match the furniture and was oddly placed by the fireplace.

“Huh? Who cares…” Adrian distracted you from that nonsense with a rough nip at your neck, sucking at the tender skin by your collarbone. Giving your ass a lecherous grope and cupping your tits for good measure, he pulled you in closer. Then Adrian held your head back up firmly to watch in the mirror.

“Don’t focus on anything else.” He ordered, pulling out to tease your folds with the tip of his cock. “Look at what you do to me.” Pushing forward, achingly so, Adrian slowly guided himself back inside.

“Adrian…” you huffed, his green eyes were so serious, locking with yours in the reflection.

“Ahh fuck…” You couldn’t help but sharply cry out at the amazing stretch of him.

“That’s it, I’ll never get fucking tired of that gorgeous face you make when I do this to you baby.” Adrian promised, “You gonna get tired of me and my cock baby? He asked teasingly, threatening to pull out again, hands at your waist.  

You quickly shook your head at that. “N-never! I'll never get tired of you Adrian! Need it…” You begged.

“Good. Because I’ll never get tired of you or this tight hot pussy of yours…” Launching into a merciless pace, Adrian slammed his hips back in and out, your legs collapsing only to be held up by his strong grip.

“Fuck I’ll never get tired of this, I fucking love you…you take me so damn good…” His rambling praise at how good you were taking it washed over you in white hot waves of pleasure alongside the pounding he was giving your cervix.

You tried to respond and let him know the same, but it came out as a hiccupping cry, lungs focused on trying to inhale air as the priority. Adrian gave up on holding you up, laying you down onto your stomach on the faux bear skin rug, re-entering to somehow reach even deeper inside you.

Trying to give as good as you were getting was a thought long since thrown to the wayside, Adrian was in full control here and both of you loved that right now.

“You feel so fucking good Adrian…” You manage to cry out for him, and he moaned desperate at the shred of praise in return.

“Yeah…oh fuck yes…” Adrian also could hardly speak, panting for you. Pounding into you like an animal, his hands flat against the small of your back, both of your eyes were glazed over with an unbridled lust.

Wrecked groans and desperate whimpers soon became both of your vocabularies.

His hands grip went to wind into your hair, pulling back up to stare into the mirror, he looked so close, curly hair wild, expression wilder, lips parted. His green eyes flickered from your own down to your own open lips.

Against the rough volatile thrusting was a gentle touch of his soft lips plush against yours, sensual and loving, sending stars bursting behind your closed eyes.

Like you both were fragile and made of glass on one hand, but capable and sexy on the other for the absolute ride of your life. The contrast was incredible, but the delicate sensation of Adrian's kisses made his intensions loud and clear.

Adrian loved you and he was never letting you go.

He kissed you sweetly all the way through your seizing orgasm, everything tightened around both of you, spasming with every last rough thrust before Adrian rocked into his own orgasm with a haggard moan into your mouth. Paradise was the closest word you had for it.

Picking you up and carrying you back to bed, Adrian laid you down and pressed himself against you into a tight, sweaty embrace.

“You’re never…never ever getting rid of me.” Adrian whined, dropping his head into the crook of your neck. “Even if you wake up one day and decide you don’t want me anymore…I’ll just love you from afar always. Like I did before.” He whispered hoarsely. You could feel the tears mixing with sweat from his brow against your shoulder.

“Adrian…I love you.” You didn’t have the sufficient words to express how much Adrian meant to you.

So instead you kissed him back gently just as he had done to comfort you, until you both fell asleep into each other’s arms, loved and secure.

A couple weeks later...

In the Checkmate office, Langston sat there patiently reading out spider facts to Adrian. The two surprisingly got along quite well, able to out strange each other in different ways and Langston had a patience and though he would never admit it, he held a real soft spot for Adrian. 

"Okay you ready Super Nerd?" Langston asked.

"Yes!" Adrian pumped the air, so keen he was ready to fly out of his chair.

"Can spiders fly?" Langston read out the first fact, watching Adrian’s face frown in concentration.

"No." Adrian decided, looking confident.

"Yes they can using electricity!” Langston took satisfaction in how the other man’s green eyes bulged in disbelief.

"What?!" Adrian exclaimed, wheeling his chair over to try and peek at the screen.

Langston shook his head at Adrian, who knowing the game rules, wheeled himself back to his own desk. "Can spiders make milk?"  

He deliberated over that one for a while before answering with, "No..." 

"Yes they can."

"What?!” Adrian again tried to cheat and look at the screen, this time wheeling his chair in a circle to appear like he was just swivelling.

"Well they can." Langston moved his chair round so Adrian couldn’t confirm.

"They don't have udders how can they do that?" Adrian scoffed.

"They have tiny little udders. That's how they do it yep." Langston shrugged, internally chuckling at how Adrian hung onto every word he said like he was spinning gold.

"You can buy spider milk. You know that right?" 

"What where?" Adrian needed to know. For reasons…

"At whole foods." Man this guy was such a mark, the easiest to fleece.

"Have you actually been studying spiders?" Langston said incredulously, knowing it would instantly rile him up.

"Yeah! I know everything there is to know about spiders..." Adrian announced wheeling back to his desk with a deep pout. Mission accomplished.

"Can spiders regrow lost legs?" Langston read out the final fact.

"Yes..." Adrian chose to change it up this time.

"You're right!” Langston smirked when Adrian beamed at that. “Many spiders have the ability to regrow a lost leg during their moulting process. What is the moulting process?" He couldn’t wait to hear this explanation.

Adrian focused in, readjusting his glasses like he was an authority on the subject before spouting out, "Uh that's when uh lava comes out of a volcano and moults!" 

"...yeah." Langston rolled his eyes and with the game being over now, sighed that he had to get back to actual work. The holes being drilled into the back of his head by both Emilia and Sasha was starting to make his teeth tingle. And he thought just having Bordeaux around was a pain, he had no idea about true micromanagement bitchiness before he went to work for Harcourt.

"What's your expertise?" Adrian asked him. 

"My bag? Man it's women for sure...damn I like me some facts about them if you know what I mean!" Langston laughed and Adrian joined in loudly not knowing in the slightest what he meant. 

"Speaking of, how the heck did a... and no offense on this next part man..." Langston put his hands in the air and Adrian nodded for him to continue appreciating being told it was something he shouldn't take offense for. 

"Super nerdy dork like you get such a fine piece of ass like that it's a damn miracle man! That was crazy to watch on screen, you got a magic dick or something?" Langston asked looking down at Adrian's fly.

Adrian shrugged with a bright smile, "I don't know honestly! It's unfortunately not magic, but she seems to really like my dick though which is awesome..." 

Langston cracked up at that, "I like you kid! Listen up, any woman that steps on your balls like that is a real keeper! You've got to lock her down okay?" When Adrian frowned a little bit confused, he added for his benefit, "Before any other dude tries to catch her away like a Pokemen!" 

"Oh shit, I don't want that to happen!" Adrian panicked. "What should I do?" He asked for Langston's sage advice. This was a Jedi master of love, and he was but a Padawan. 

"Propose to her and get a ring on that finger pronto, take that primo cut of meat off the market cause it's making us all hungry..." Langston said and chuckled that he'd riled Adrian up went back looking back at his computer screen.

But Adrian actually found his ribbing to be great advice and wanted more of it, nobody talked to him about this stuff properly.

"Well I actually got her a ring already, but I've been waiting for the perfect moment. Hey do you know when is a good time for me to propose? I'm horrible at this stuff..." Adrian got the ring box out and opened it, Langston swiveled and then gawked at the dazzling ring with a giant heart teal sapphire.  

"Holy shit, weren't you on a bus boy wage before this gig?" He asked marvelled by how expensive that ring must be. Langston could probably buy a house boat with that thing!

"Yeah but I live rent free with my mom and did alright with Crypto and bitcoin. Luckily I bought this ring before I lost all my money in GameStop shares! I really should've sold them when Reddit told me to, but I got burnt recently from my last post on r/relationship advice, but it's okay at least I still have my beanie baby collection. I have like ten 1997 Princess Diana special editions." Adrian explained.

"None of what you just said made any sense to me but damn that's a fine ass ring man. As for the perfect moment..." Langston saw you walking down the hall looking around the new office and trying to find where Adrian sat. "I think I can help you with that..." He gave a sly grin. 

"Now do you know how to properly propose to a lady?" Langston asked him, and Adrian shook his head.

"No, my dad is gay, which is fine, but he also ran out on me so I never got to talk about girls or anything...I could only ask my mom but she's batshit insane!" Adrian lamented. 

"The hot ones always are..." Langston nodded, grinning as he thought about Mrs. Loretta Chase. Damn she was fine...

"That's okay, I'll teach you. First you've got to get down on one knee..." He informed Adrian, pointing to the ground.

"Which one?" Adrian asked, looking down at his knees. "Left or right?" 

"The left one, helps you open the ring box with your right hand... " Langston told him and when Adrian was distracted getting on one knee and testing opening the box he waved you over to their desks. You cheerfully waved back and headed on over none the wiser. 

"There you go, then what you're going to want to do is swivel around and pop the question right about...now!" Langston timed it all perfectly with your arrival.

"Hi, honey bear! I made you guys some brownies to celebrate your new office I'm so proud of..." You began but then dropped the whole tray in shock.

Adrian was kneeling, holding out an engagement ring towards you, his face flushed bright red. It was a v-shaped ring in platinum gold with three gorgeous hearts, two black opals and one teal sapphire. The colours of your favourite jumping spider and your favourite hero Vigilante.

It was perfect.

Your eyes widened and met with his.

"Wow is this...?" You asked him speechless.

"Oh uh...this was I mean..." Adrian began choking on his words, frantic green eyes darting back at Langston who gave him a grave expression in return. "What do I say?" He whispered loudly.

"Don't pussy out now man, lock her down for good." Langston warned him, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder.  "Ask her to marry you." 

"Can I lock down your pussy for good, and will you marry me?" Adrian tried to repeat what Langston told him, but his brain short circuited when he looked up at your expectant gaze. 

"Oh my god..." You began and Adrian winced ready for you to reject him. Then you grabbed the ring and slipped it on yourself with a big squee.

"Yes Adrian, yes yes yes!  Of course a thousand times yes!" You squealed launching yourself at him and kissing every inch of his face and neck that you could reach. 

"I'm the luckiest guy in the whole world, no wait the universes..." Adrian said dreamily.

"You still got it Langston...love guru extraordinaire!" Langston chuckled to himself and grinned at the two of you, who were both currently making out on Adrian's desk. 

"D-do you like the ring I picked out?" Adrian asked you through a sloppy kiss.

"I love it! It's perfect, makes my brownies look pretty dull in comparison!" You giggled and then Adrian paused making out with you and went to scoop the container off the floor.

"Holy shit my sweet pumpkin, you made brownies? That is so rad! Dad...I mean Langston you need to try one!" Adrian slipped over his words and to your utter shock handed a brownie over to him. 

"Wow Adrian has never shared those with anyone before, I put backup brownies in the break room..." You said.  Langston must have made a serious impression on him.

"Did you fucking call me Dad just now Super nerd?" Langston snapped at Adrian.

"Oh yeah sorry, that's because I wish my dad was like you and that you were my actual dad." Adrian explained simply, going to town on the brownies.

Langston looked choked up as though he was about to cry but he quickly saved face and grabbed a brownie. "Well... that can be your code name for me then, you can call me Dad, and I'll call you Super nerd. How's that sound?" He offered.

"Sounds great Dad!" Adrian replied his mouthful of brownie mix. 

"Damn you're right Super Nerd, these brownies are fucking rad!" Langston agreed after taking a bite. "Is that fudge in there?" 

"Sure is!" You beamed back at them both, sitting on Adrian's, or rather your new fiancées lap and you took one for yourself.  

This was definitely the perfect moment. 

==========================

He hears dresser drawers opening and closing, hears the ensuite shower running, hears the rustling afterward as you pull your pajamas on and adjust the covers.

He doesn’t deserve to sleep in bed beside you tonight, but he’s a selfish bastard. Once you fall silent, once you’re lying in bed alone, he creaks open the door carefully and waits. If you yell at him—if you tell him to stay away—then he will. He’ll sleep on the floor right here outside the door.

You don’t shout. You don’t even look up. He knows you’re not asleep yet, but you stay quiet anyway, and don’t protest or kick him the hell out when he slides beneath the covers next to you. He lets out a shaky exhale of relief. You’re mad, yes, and maybe you haven’t forgiven him, but—you still love him enough, trust him enough, to let him into your nest. He hasn’t fucked this up beyond repair.

But then you roll onto your side, away from him. Putting distance between your bodies, instead of curling into him like you usually do. And he knows he has a lot of apologizing to do for what he did tonight. The things he said.

He swallows past the lump in his throat and lays down next to you, facing in your direction, watching the rise and fall of your back as you breathe. He chokes down a desperate plea for forgiveness he doesn’t deserve right now, and then he flops onto his back and stares at the ceiling, hating himself, until sheer exhaustion lulls him to sleep.

You aren’t in bed when Adrian wakes up in the morning.

He’s moved in his sleep, subconsciously scooted closer to your side of the bed. His arm is draped over the empty space where you slept, hand clutching at the sheets, hugging your pillow to his chest instead of you. His heart twists violently, and he’s struck with the same terrible fear and guilt that he felt last night as the memory of your argument rushes back.

But—you’re still here. Still home, at least. Adrian sits up and strains to listen through the tiny crack of the open bedroom door. He can hear you padding around the kitchen, something sizzling in a frying pan, the clatter of plates as you take them out of the cabinets.

He gets up and walks toward the sound. You immediately look up at him when he enters the kitchen, and he stops in his tracks like a spooked animal. If you want him to, he’ll turn right around and walk back to the bedroom. Give you some space.

But then he realizes—there are two plates in front of you. And you’re loading them up with chocolate chip pancakes, his favorite. Something hopeful lights up inside him as you push a plate across the counter in his direction hesitantly. Your guard is still up, and it kills him. That you feel like you have to be on guard around him.

“I’m sorry,” he blurts, eyes welling with tears as he stares at your chocolate-chip-pancake olive branch. You’re offering him a grace right now that he doesn’t feel like he deserves. “I’m—I’m—I didn’t mean to—command you, or control you, like that, baby, I didn’t—I’m so sorry—” His voice cracks.

Your face softens a bit when you see how torn up about it he is.

“I know you didn’t mean it,” you say. “I know that, Alpha. But—” You bite your lip. “But you still did.”

“I’m sorry,” he repeats, a broken whisper. “For—for doing that, for yelling, for all of it. I don’t want to fight. Not with you. I’ll fight the rest of the world with my bare hands every day for the rest of my life, I’ll kill anyone I have to, as long as I get to come home to you at the end of the day, I never want you to doubt that, I—”

“I don’t doubt that you love me, Adrian. I have never doubted that.” You pause and let that sink in, easing some of the tension in his shoulders.

Adrian watches you talk with wide, wet eyes and a trembling lower lip. Because he knows that whatever you’re feeling, it’s not that simple. And he’s not emotionally intelligent enough to read your mind, not when it comes to things like this. So he stays quiet and waits.

“I do doubt sometimes that…that you trust me,” you finally say hesitantly. 

“What?”

“You fight for us all the time,” you say. “I love that you fight for what you think is right all the time. It’s one of my favorite things about you. You go out on patrols because you want to make our city, our home, safer. You go out on missions because you want to make the whole world safer. You are fighting, all the time, for me and our pack and the whole fucking universe. But you don’t trust me to fight with you.”

“That’s not—” Adrian protests, but you hold a hand up and his mouth snaps shut.

“I was so…” You pause and try to puzzle the words out. “I went on that mission with Emilia, and I felt more important, more useful, than I have in months. I felt good. And I came back and all I wanted was for you to be proud of me, but instead you were mad at me.”

You go quiet and look at Adrian expectantly, and he realizes it’s his turn to talk. He takes a moment to process what you said, turning his own response over in his mind before speaking.

“I was terrified yesterday,” he says. “When I got back to the office and I couldn’t find you, and then—when Economos said you were—I just kept turning over every possibility in my mind. Everything that could go wrong. You being hurt, and me not being there.”

“I live like that all the time,” you point out. “I watch you walk out into the field and pull risky stunts and get yourself shot constantly.”

“It’s different,” he starts. “I can heal. And you know where I am. I always, always tell you. The not knowing—” He swallows roughly. “That kills me.”

“That’s fair,” you allow. “I should have told you. I’m sorry. I knew that you would freak out, and it would distract you on your mission, and I didn’t want you to get hurt. So I chose not to tell you, and that made everything worse. I won’t do that again. I promise.”

“You won’t go on another mission?”

“That is not what I said,” you say. “I am not going to sit back. Not on this.”

“The rest of us have it handled,” Adrian insists.

“You aren’t listening to me,” you say sharply. “Adrian, I am not just…a prize you get for doing a good job. I’m not going to stay here shrouded in bubble wrap while the rest of you fight. If I am needed out in the field—and I am needed out in the field, at least until Fleury gets back on his feet—I will go. I want to, and I deserve to, fight for our future and the future of our pack just like you do.”

Adrian is quiet for a moment as he soaks in your words.

“You do deserve to fight,” he says. “But I also need you to tell me when you do. The not knowing…I can’t live like that.”

“You’re right,” you admit. “When I’m out on a mission—I won’t keep it from you. You’ll know where I am. I’ll text you updates, the same way that you text me while you’re gone. I’m sorry, baby. I was trying to keep you from worrying, and I just made everything worse. I promise I won’t do that again, okay?”

“Okay.” Adrian swallows. He’s already apologized, but—he needs to say it again. “I’m sorry, too. For freaking out. For yelling at you. For commanding you last night. I never wanted—I never wanted to be like my brother, and here I am being—”

You sigh. “You’re not like Gut, Adrian. You’re not. I know you’re not. You did something hurtful to me last night, and I just—lashed out. I said something hurtful because I knew it would hurt you. You’re a good man, and a good Alpha. I just need you to…loosen up, a little bit.”

“Okay,” he whispers.

“Are we okay?” you check, and Adrian hates how hesitant you sound.

“We’re okay,” he says softly. “We’re more than okay. I love you.”

Your hand comes up to his face, fingers carding through the hair at the nape of his neck, and you tilt your chin up. He takes the invitation, leaning down to kiss you, deep and thorough, roughly hauling you up into his arms. Your legs wrapping around his waist. He’s hard, pressing insistently against your center as he speed-walks to the bedroom and shoves you down onto the bed.

Adrian strips off your clothes and touches every inch of skin he can reach, silently reassuring himself that you’re here with him, that you aren’t hurt. Then he rips his own clothes off and chucks them aside, wearing an expression you’ve never seen before. Some complex mix of desire and fury. But still, when he grabs at your hips and pulls you against him, he waits. You nod, but he shakes his head.

“Words, Omega,” he says, voice rough. “Because I’m not in the mood to play nice right now.”

The tip of his cock drags through your wetness, and you lift your hips until he notches at your entrance.

“Fuck me,” you say. “Do it. I can take it, I can—”

Adrian shoves inside you in a rough thrust, manhandling you in a way he never has before. You gasp at the sudden intrusion and clutch at the bedsheets, as he rails into you, deep, erratic thrusts that light your nerves on fire and have him grunting like an animal.

You touch him right back, but it’s not the soft touch he’s used to. It’s your nails dragging down his back, it’s you biting at his lips, it’s your fingers gripping him so hard that he thinks you might actually leave a bruise that lasts, for once. It feels like you’re still fighting him, here in your bed, even as your legs wrap around his waist and drag him in deeper.

“Never again,” he grunts, eyes watery and red. “You are never fucking doing that to me again, do you hear me?”

Every touch makes him feel desperate. He’s never loved anyone or anything the way he loves you, he thinks, as you find your release and your head tilts back. His eyes land on your neck, on your mating mark, and he can’t help himself. As he comes, his teeth sink in, break the skin all over again, because some Alpha part of him needs to remind you who you fucking belong to.

You’d made him a promise, today. That you wouldn’t go on a mission without telling him again. He’s just grateful you didn’t ask him to make any promises in return.

Because if you did, he’s not sure he’d be able to keep them. And he thinks you can tell.

Things between you and Adrian still feel raw when you return to work on Monday. Adrian is itching to reach for your hand to hold, but…you didn’t let him open the car door for you like he usually does. You just got out and started walking.

You might have apologized to each other, you might have tried to fuck it out of your systems, but the underlying tension that caused the whole blowup argument is still there, simmering, volatile, just beneath the surface of your every interaction.

It doesn’t help that everyone stares at the two of you as you walk in the door.

“Fleury,” you say, when you see him seated at his desk. “What the hell are you doing here? You got shot a couple days ago.”

“Last time you got shot, you and Adrian had a midnight rendezvous in the middle of his first rut,” Fleury retorts. “I think I’ll survive sitting at my desk for a bit.”

“Hmph,” you mutter. “Come on. My office. Let me look you over, at least.”

“Good thing he’s in a rolling chair, huh?” Ads says brightly, trying desperately to erase the tense atmosphere that followed you and Adrian like a stormy cloud. She starts pushing Fleury in the direction of the infirmary.

Adrian watches you walk away, pressing his lips together in a thin line.

Chris walks up to him, a little wary. “Hey man. All good?”

“All good,” Adrian lies, entirely unconvincing.

“I’m sorry,” Emilia says, right behind Chris. “I knew it was a bad idea before we even left, but—”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Adrian grits out. Emilia nods.

“Okay. I understand. But just so you know…she did a great job. Remembered all her training. I don’t know if she told you, but she’s the one who got the kill shot. Right to the head, from a dozen yards away.”

Adrian swallows. You hadn’t mentioned that. He’d known that you were practicing, putting in your time in the weapons room, sparring with Emilia and Rip. It settles him a little bit, hearing from Emilia, perhaps the most capable agent in the pack, that you’d done well. Maybe you would have told him yourself, if he hadn’t freaked out. He imagines it—you coming home, wide and smiling, excited to tell him about your killshot, wanting him to be proud of you. And he is proud. He’s proud, and he loves you, and he—he can’t live without you. That’s what it comes down to. 

He’s proud of you, but—how could he ever tell you that? If he did, you’d take it as an open invitation. To go on more missions. And that’s the last thing he wants.

He’ll go out and kill bad guys any day without blinking, but when it comes to you doing the same thing—it makes him afraid. He’s a fucking coward when it comes to you.

“Okay,” is all he says, when he realizes Chris and Emilia are waiting for him to respond. “Thank you. For looking after her.”

“Always,” Emilia nods. “That’s what Alphas do. We protect our pack members.”

“You know,” Chris starts, but he’s interrupted by the door to the conference room slamming open. John stumbles out, his laptop in one hand, an empty Redbull can in the other. There are dark circles under his eyes, and it looks like he hasn’t slept in a week.

“Jesus, Economos, you look like shit,” Emilia says.

“I’ve managed to hack my way into every file that was on Dev’s computer,” John says, eyes wide and wild. “And I did it. I found an address.”

“An address?” Chris repeats. “You don’t mean—the address? Sullivan’s headquarters?”

“Fuck yeah, that’s exactly the address I mean,” John says.

Adrian’s heart starts thundering. Finally, he thinks desperately. Finally, I can do something about these assholes once and for all, and you’ll be safe, everyone will be safe.

You, Ads, and Fleury filter back into the room.

“What’s going on?” Ads asks, looking between everyone.

“John found an address!” Chris says.

“What? Where?” Ads cries.

“It’s taken me a while to get through the cloud drive. Leon is the owner of this file. It’s just shared with Dev. His personal document security is fucking shit. I can’t believe none of them have called him on this. It’s sloppy, it’s lazy—”

“Get to the point, John,” Emilia demands. “Where are they?”

“Sorry, did you spend several weeks glued to a computer? Let me have my fucking dramatic reveal, Harcourt! I deserve that much!”

“We don’t have time for drama right now! Spill!”

“Star City,” John says. “You know that asshole Green Lantern?”

“I met him once. Dresses like he’s Robin Hood at a Renaissance Faire. Fucking nerd,” Chris says.

“You’ve been to a Renaissance Faire?” Fleury raises an eyebrow.

“Adrian made me go!”

“Everybody fucking focus!”

The entire room falls quiet and stares at Adrian. Because he has never been the one to ask everyone to focus. In fact, he’s usually the one fucking around so much he gets yelled at. But now, he takes a deep, shaky breath, looks directly at John, and says, “Explain. Star City. Where in Star City? How big is the building? Do they live there, or just work there? What—”

A hand settles on his arm, squeezing softly. Adrian stops and looks at you. His heart feels like it’s climbing up his throat just so he can puke it out onto the floor, but the churning inside him stops when your hand trails down his arm to entwine your fingers. It’s the first time you’ve touched him like this, soft and gentle, since you argued.

“It’s okay,” you say quietly. “We have time. We can make a plan. When Sasha and Rip get back from their mission, we can all go. Together.”

For the first time ever, the word grates on his nerves. Together.

The plan is simple. 

“We’ll do some quick recon,” Ads says. “We send out two people to observe for a day. Make note of their routines, the weak points in their security. And then we go back with the entire team and ambush them, the same way they fucking ambushed us.”

You’re listening carefully, eyes bright and glittering. Adrian knows exactly what has you so enraptured. The entire team, Chris says.

Adrian grinds his teeth. There’s no way he can talk you into sitting this one out.

“Who are we sending?” John asks. “For the recon?”

“Me and Chris,” Emilia says.

“Recon work is not my speciality,” Chris frowns. “Judomaster would be the best choice. We can just wait for him and Bordeaux to get back in three days, and he can go with you.”

Emilia tries not to show it, but she’s pissy. Adrian would snort if he was in the mood to be amused right now. She’s feeling just as impatient as he is, apparently.

But surprisingly, she doesn’t fight Chris on it.

“Fine,” she says. She glances around the room at everyone. Her eyes meet Adrian’s, and his brow furrows. “We’ll wait.”

“No,” Adrian says suddenly. He stares daggers at Chris. “Aren’t we supposed to protect the pack? You told me—that night when I wanted to kill my fucking douchebag brother. You told me to funnel my energy toward this instead. To protect us from the big threats. The big threat is here, and we finally know where we have to go to take care of it. We should not be waiting. Even if all we do is eliminate Leon Sullivan—we’ll leave the rest of his team scrambling, without a leader.”

“They’re not a pack, like we are,” Chris says. “This isn’t a cut-the-head-off-the-monster situation. They don’t need to run off and find another Alpha and reorganize. They’re all lone wolves. The only option is to take them out all at once, or keep picking them off like we have been.”

Adrian stews silently, but doesn’t argue further.

“For now, we can start prepping. Get together the weapons and ammo we’ll need,” Chris continues. “We’ll make sure we’re twice as armed as we usually are, just in case. We can check on our weapons and ammo stock? Put in a rush order on anything that’s damaged, or that we’re running low on?”

“Good idea,” you say.

“I’ll try to see if I can find a floor plan of the building,” John says. “It looks from the outside like a warehouse. If it was ever listed on a real estate site, we can get a good idea of what it looks like on the inside, too.”

“Then everyone can head home and get some rest,” Ads says. “It’s been a long couple of weeks. I want everyone on top of their game before we head out to Star City. We can’t afford to make any mistakes.”

Adrian looks at you. You’re already watching him.

“We can do this,” you assure him with a smile. 

“I know we can,” he says. He tries to smile back. It doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

Everyone heads their separate ways after the meeting. You head off to the infirmary to pack med kits for everyone. Emilia, Ads, and John work on sketching out a layout of the building. Chris starts heading to the weapons room, and Adrian, on autopilot, just follows his best friend, his mind reeling.

He keeps turning the address over in his mind. The names and faces of the enemy.

He keeps thinking of the way Emilia looked at him. We’ll wait, she’d said.

Adrian doesn’t want to wait. He wants to go now.

Who’s going to stop him?

He watches Chris start boxing up weapons to bring to the van, and he starts doing the same. As he works, he tucks a few extra guns and grenades into his own bag, right next to his Vigilante suit.

“You’re quiet,” Chris comments. Adrian just hums noncommittally. “Adrian. Look at me.”

Adrian glances up and meets his best friend’s eyes.

“I don’t know what fucked-up shit is going on inside your head right now,” Chris says. “I don’t know what’s going on between you and your Omega, or what. But whatever rash, dangerous shit you’re thinking about doing, drop it. Now. We have a plan. Stick to the plan.”

“I will,” Adrian says. The words taste bitter.

In the months since he’s become an Alpha, Adrian has always kept his initial promise to Chris and Emilia. Never disobeyed his pack leaders. He doesn’t want to be pack Alpha, he just wants to be your Alpha. 

But right now—he doesn’t want to fucking listen to Chris’s advice or orders from the others. He can’t. There’s something inside him that won’t let him stand by right now. He can’t explain it, but he needs to act.

When you both go home that night, you can feel the anxious tension radiating from him as he sits stiffly in the driver’s seat of the Vigilante-mobile, as he robotically eats his dinner without really tasting anything, as he stares mindlessly at the television and doesn’t absorb a single bit of information.

“Why don’t we just go to bed?” you suggest, when you see him zoning out for the tenth time in half an hour. Adrian just silently nods, still pensive, still thinking.

He watches you go through the motions of your nighttime routine with escalating anxiety. He lets you shave his face, as has become your routine, a soft little shared moment that he always treasures. He feels your soft hands on his face, and your lips on his cheek when you kiss him, and he closes his eyes and makes his decision.

As you shuffle into bed, he stands on his side and just watches you get comfortable. You look up at him, confused.

“Come on,” you say, patting the empty space beside you. It’s an inviting sight. One that is so fucking hard for him to resist, but—

“I don’t think I can sleep,” he says. “I think—maybe I’ll go on patrol. Burn off some energy. Is that okay?”

Your face softens into a smile. A concerned smile, with your brow furrowing just a little between your eyes, but a smile nonetheless, which makes his heart clench. “Of course that’s okay, Ade. If that will make you feel better, of course.”

“I think it will.”

“Do you want me to come?” you ask.

“No, that’s—no,” he says, shaking his head. “Go to sleep, I don’t want to be the reason you’re up late. You’ve been so tired. I saw you yawn like a billion times today.”

You’ve been exhausted, it’s true. Trying to take care of everyone, manage everyone’s emotions. You chew on the inside of your cheek worriedly. You usually like being awake for Adrian when he gets home, to nurse any wounds from his patrols, no matter how insignificant. But he sees the moment you give in.

“Okay,” you say, and Adrian feels a sick, guilty sense of relief wash over him. “You promise you’ll wake me when you get back? Let me look you over?”

You don’t suspect a thing, and that makes him feel a thousand times worse. You trust him so fucking much, and he doesn’t deserve it. Because he’s lying to your face right now. He wants to throw up. But he swallows it down, all those terrible feelings, all the guilt and the lies, and says—

“I will wake you when I get back.”

You watch him change into the Vigilante suit, and he gives you one last wobbly smile before he walks out the door. Then he bends down to kiss you, long and hard and deep. 

“I love you, Omega. So fucking much.”

“I love you too, Alpha,” you whisper. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”

Adrian can’t bring himself to say anything in return.

Then goes on a quick patrol. Kills a graffiti artist. It makes him feel better. A little less like he’s lying to you, at least, because he did go on patrol.

He’s just not coming home afterwards.

Adrian tag list: @justalotoffanfiction @danversxwasabi @clowninavan @adoresami @a-young-g0d @bastardstevie @am-3-thyst @xoxocamis @morguegrl89 @somethin-sparklyy @secretjesterr @seeingdubs @lovenerdywhitemen2 @jeshomie @aerionshipthrust @deamlucem @tlfg-adrianchase @brianna-merlim @amart-e @countvonklit @pieolsen @gingerjane15 @dosyrosyposy @rentaldarling @vigilcourt @hot-bean-juice @sepaaaaa @residentsuperhero

“Listen, buddy-” the man started, giving her one more squeeze before one of his hands slipped off of her. He held it in front of him, trying to placate Adrian, but it did no good. Adrian’s brow furrowed the moment the man squeezed her and before she could even blink, he reeled back and punched the man square in the jaw. 

He went down like a sack of potatoes.

She gasped and her hands flew to cover her mouth. 

“Adrian!” she said, reaching for the incensed man, trying to pull Adrian back as he moved towards the man who was cradling his bloody nose. He ignored her hands trying to tug him away as he glared down at the man.

“You don’t ever touch her again, ever. Do you understand me?” His voice was tight, as if he was fighting the urge to do something worse than punch the man, and even though she hadn’t been working with Adrian for more than eight months, she knew he could easily kill him for her, and the look on his face told her he wanted to.

“What the fuck man!” he cried. “You broke my nose!” 

“I should’ve broke your fucking hand,” Adrian spit out. “You don’t touch her, you don’t look at her, you don’t even fucking think about her. Do you understand me?”

“Jesus fucking Christ, yes!” he cried, the man's blue eyes frantic as he avoided looking at her. When Adrian finally looked at her, he was seething. 

“Come on,” he said firmly, grabbing her hand while she was still in shock to pull her out of the club. It was once he touched her that she snapped out of her daze, looking back at the man on the ground being helped up by someone else. 

Then she really comprehended what was happening. 

“Adrian!” she said, ripping her hand out of his grasp, and he looked at her eyes, his were wide and confused. 

“What?” he asked, eyes straining against the light. Clearly trying to understand why she was reacting the way she was.

“That was a fucking lead and you punched him!” she yelled, eyes flickering around to make sure no one was paying attention to them. “You weren’t doing your job! You were supposed to be at the bar watching my back and when I looked over you were gone! How was I supposed to signal you that I had found someone from the dossier?” 

“Him?” he asked, brows furrowed and even though they were no longer anywhere near that man he still tried looking behind her for him. “He’s not a target.”

“I swear to you, he was familiar! I think he was in the dossier!” 

“He’s not,” he said, firmly. She fought the urge to scream as she moved away from Adrian, making her way towards the elevator. “He looked nothing like any of the targets!” Adrian cried as she continued stomping away.

“Okay Adrian! I get it! I wasted my time, fucking move on!” she said as he kept pace with her. 

“I was just trying to protect you,” he said adamantly, keeping on her heels. 

“Okay!” she said, trying to get him to stop. She could feel her temper rising and she wanted nothing more than to just be away from him. 

“Your husband-” he started. 

“Adrian!” she cried, spinning on her heel to face him. “Jesus! I’m not your wife! We have nothing Adrian! Nothing! Do you realize that?” she yelled, she waited a beat before she couldn’t stand looking at him anymore and she continued walking away from him. She could hear him keeping pace with her. As annoying as it was, she was glad she could keep yelling at him. “Our first lead this entire week! You might think he wasn’t in the dossier, but I do, and you didn’t let me do my job! Plus, you punched him, so even if I found him later, he probably wouldn’t talk to me at all!”

“He was touching your ass, sorry for playing the part of your HUSBAND!” he yelled. She pulled at her hair, not understanding why he wasn’t listening to her. 

“Adrian! Are you listening to yourself? You’re not my husband! This isn’t a real honeymoon! We are undercover for our jobs, and I know that to you, your job is all fun and games, but I do care about my job and doing good work. The last thing I need is to lose my job because you don’t know how to act during an undercover mission!” He stepped back like she had physically hit him, there’s something in his expression that makes her feel ill. 

“Right, that’s all this is,” he muttered, and something twists in her. 

“Yes, Adrian. This is my job, I’m trying to do my job. You should fucking try it sometime,” she snapped making her way towards the elevator. He still followed her, a little less close this time, but at least he was silent as they got into the elevator. He remained silent as she hit their floor number and the elevator closed and started moving.

The elevator shook and Adrian gasped next to her, his hand grabbing hers tightly. 

“What was that?” 

“Adrian, don’t start,” she said, rubbing her eyes with her other hand, not finding it in herself to pull her hand out of his yet. All she wanted was to be back in the room and to lock herself in the bathroom. Anything to get away from him for just five minutes. The elevator shook again and out of the corner of her eye she saw him pull out a knife from god knows where. “Jesus Christ, put that away,” she said, hand on his arm as he held it steady and pointed out as he glanced all around the elevator. 

“It’s a trap,” he hissed. 

“It is not, Adrian! None of this is a trap because there’s no way this is even a fucking mission at this point. We’re going back with nothing, and you’ll be fine because you’re tight with everyone, and I’m going to lose my fucking job because I’m a bad agent who can’t even handle a simple under cover mission!” she said her voice shrill even to her own ears, quick to swipe away any tears. She knew she was weak but she didn’t need Adrian to see it even more. 

Before he could say anything, the elevator shuttered back to life, jerking the two as Adrian put his knife back wherever he had grabbed it from.

“See, not a trap,” she grumbled as she released his hand and headed towards the room, her brain still swimming.

The door slammed behind Adrian as she pulled out the dossier, ripping out pages and fighting the urge to scream. She laid everything out on the bed, attempting to take any of it in a new light. 

“This makes no fucking sense!” she cried as she took a step back from the dossier she had spread on the bed. 

“Maybe, we’re missing a page?” Adrian tried, eyebrows tight on his forehead as he looked at the pages with a frown. 

“We’re not missing a page, they’re numbered. Maybe Harcourt left something out? Did she make this instead of Chris?” 

“Chris didn’t say, but I’d assume Chris, based on some of the misspelling.” Adrian said with a hum. She frowned and took a step back.

“I’m calling Harcourt, I know Chris said to limit contact, but we need something,” she said as she clicked Emilia’s contact. She answered on the third ring. 

“Hey, lover girl. How’s your getaway with Vig going?” she said with a teasing tone, and she felt heat creep up her neck, immediately regretting the fact she had her on speaker phone. 

“Listen, Emilia, we’re really stuck here. We think we might be missing a page in the dossier or something. Do you know anything about our main target’s connection to this place?” she said, practically begging for an answer as Emilia stayed silent on the line. “Just anything we can use. We’re running out of time.” 

“What do you mean dossier?” Emilia asked after a beat.

“I know, Chris’s dossiers are terrible, hence this mess, and you can barely call it a dossier but we are really lost, right now and could use-”

“Why do you have a dossier? You two are on PTO,” Harcourt said and she froze, looking over at Adrian.

“No, we’re on a mission. Chris sent us here to bust a drug ring,” she said slowly, the gears in her head starting to turn as she realized what was happening. 

“I’m telling you now that you’re on PTO, there’s no mission,” Harcourt repeated back, just as slow as she did, in almost a mocking tone. “Now go enjoy a margarita for me and please keep track of how many times Adrian says something stupid. I have a bet with Ads that he’s going to ruin this before you even give him a real chance.” Harcourt hung up and left her staring at Adrian who looked at her clearly waiting for her reaction. 

“Call Chris,” she said tensely, and Adrian looked at her with wild eyes as he got his phone out and called Chris. “Speaker,” she said, and Adrian listened.

“Yo, Vig. What’s up?” Chris said she could hear video games in the background, she gritted her teeth as she nodded at Adrian to answer him. 

“Hey, Peacemaker! I was uhhh just wondering if you had any information about our target?” Adrian asked, eyes wide and on her. Her eyes were locked on his phone. 

“Target? What are you talking about?” Chris asked, and Adrian frowned. 

“The mission - the dossier you gave us?” Adrian asked, looking at her. 

“Oh, that…fuck Vig, you’ve been taking that seriously? That was just an excuse to get you guys to the resort - I figured you guys would’ve figured out that it was bullshit immediately. Like on the plane like instantly. I made it all up, just copy and pasted shit from old dossiers.” 

“Why the fuck are we on a fake mission, Chris!” she said, snatching the phone from Adrian. 

“What do you mean why the fuck are you on a fake mission where you guys have to be lovey-dovey? I thought it would finally get you guys fucking started! Do you know how exhausting it’s been watching you two for six months?” Chris said, as if they had truly been inconveniencing the man with their crushes and silent looks.

“That’s fucking insane!” she cried. 

“I’m so sorry for trying to help my friend hook up with the girl he’s clearly in love with and the girl who stares at him all day and acts like he hung the stars in the sky!” 

“I’m going to hang up now,” she said coolly, not giving Chris a chance to say anything as she kept her gaze locked on Adrian, who looked like he was about to be sick. “Adrian, have you actually liked me this entire time?” she asked gently, and she watched him bite his cheek. 

“I need you to define ‘liked’ and ‘this entire time’,” he settled on, and she groaned, throwing herself on the plush bed with all the papers covered in lies that had been haunting her this entire fake mission. She was no longer able to even look at Adrian, she was so frustrated. He had put her feelings through the ringer all week, only for her to find out that he had felt the same way. Apparently he had felt this way long enough for Christopher Smith of all people to try to help him out and set them up.  

“You’ve liked me this whole time? Adrian, I’ve been thinking this is all pretend, and it’s been fucking with my head!” she yelled at him, moving her eyes from the ceiling to not miss his reaction, and she watched him throw his hands up in the air and begin pacing. 

“I thought it was part of the mission! I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable like I’m some creep! I’m a feminist! Same thing when we’re at work! I’m not trying to harass you…ya know sexually!” he said back, eyes wide and wild. 

“You thought me sitting in your lap on an empty beach was part of the mission?” she said, sitting up, as annoyed as she felt she couldn’t help but be endeared by Adrian’s clear panic. “We both knew we weren’t going to spot a single target!”

“Yeah, a really fucking good part of the mission, I jerked off in the bathroom that night thinking about that!”

“Adrian!” 

“What! I fucking did! Or should we go back to lying?” he said, his tone wild as he leaned over towards her. She sighed as she watched his chest heave. His face was red, and his eyes were still having a hard time focusing on her. It was then she realized that Adrian was feeling angry or frustrated like she was - but where she was upset that they both had been so blind to the other’s feelings, he was borderlining a panic attack. 

“Adrian,” she said softly, standing up so she could wrap him up in her arms. He stayed stiff for a beat, just a second, before he melted against her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her tightly against him. 

“I don’t want to go back to lying,” he murmured into the top of her head, and she sighed. 

“This is insane,” she said, still not over what Chris had done. 

“When have our friends ever been sane,” he whispered, shaking his head. 

She sighed, letting herself close her eyes as she tried to digest any of this. It was absolutely insane that Chris would do this to his friend and his coworker, but there was a part of her that was thankful for Chris’s stupidity and dumbass plans. 

“Remember the first night?” he asked, suddenly out of the blue. When she tilted her head, confusion over her features Adrian kept going. “When you asked me what my number one fear is?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s losing you. Well it’s losing everyone, but the more time we spend together, it’s you. The idea that one day, everyone could just be gone? That I could fuck up and lose everyone, especially after how long it took for me to have friends? and you? Whatever you call this where I pine for you and I'm your annoying colleague at worst and work friend at best? I'll take it, as long as I get to have you in my life it's worth it. So losing you terrifies me more than anything,” he said, his face open and vulnerable as his eyes searched her face, almost desperately. 

“Oh, Ade.” she said softly. 

“I’m serious, you’re…you’re everything to me.” 

“You-”

“From the moment you interviewed, I liked you, and I liked you even more when you started putting sour candy on your desk and you were always nice to me and you laugh at my jokes like you mean it and I just…I love you.”

“Adrian,” she said, her breath caught in her throat as she searched for any inch of lying on his face, but she couldn’t find any. 

“Is that too insane? Too much?” he said immediately, looking panicked. “If I had known Chris’ plan, I would’ve planned a way better speech and ran it by Ads too to make sure it was good and I didn’t say anything stupid. But then again if I knew Chris’ plan I would’ve told you immediately because we’ve been working when we should’ve been relaxing. Even if you don’t like me back we could’ve just had a normal vacation. God, I’m so sorry he did this.”

“No…it’s not insane,” she whispered, moving closer to him. A smile broke out on his face as his hands went to her waist, squeezing her gently. 

“Yeah?”

“Love is…a lot for right now,” she said, his smile twitching for just a second. “But I do really like you Adrian. This whole mission has been torture because all I wanted was for all this to be real. For you to look at me and for it to be real and I just…”

“It’s always been real,” he said, voice almost sounding hoarse. “The way I look about you and think about you. I wasn’t acting, if anything I’ve been selfish this whole time.” 

“The way I’ve been with you, it’s been real too,” she said, voice shaking. 

“I am sorry,” he said, suddenly sounding rueful as she looked at him. Confusion all over her features. “For not being there when you needed me, I should’ve been watching and making sure you were safe. I want to do that, not only for missions but outside of all this,” he said, fidgeting with his hands, his face almost looking like he was in pain. 

“It’s okay,” she whispered, realizing how hard Adrian must’ve taken her words. 

“It’s not,” he said, voice firm. “But I’d like to make it up to you if you’ll let me,” he asked, his green eyes never wavering from her eyes. His intensity made her start to well up, this whole time it had been eating her up inside not knowing where she stood with Adrian and to find out that he cared the same for her, if not more, was almost too much. 

“I think I can find it in me to let you try,” she teased and Adrian let out a huff. “And I’m sorry too, I shouldn’t have blown up at you.” 

“Nah, it was hot and I deserved it,” he said, finally a smile crossing his features as he took a step closer to her. 

“Well, either way I’m still sorry,” she whispered as Adrian’s smile grew, his hand coming up to cup her cheek, wiping away a tear. 

“Can I kiss you? Please can I kiss you?” he begged, and she let out a watery laugh. 

“Yes, Adrian. You can kiss me,” she said and he took no time to cup both her cheeks as he was quick to smash their lips together. As far as first kisses went, it was clunky, awkward, a little too much teeth from Adrian, but she wouldn’t change it for the world. 

All because it was real.

Tag List (comment if you’d like to be added!)

@trelaney @kierselleboogie @v1gilanteloser @quietlybitchy @lil-rigatoni @snowyathena @tez0 @danversxwasabi @obsessedromancereader @pandanapping @burningluminarysheep @a-young-g0d @4duniadae @countvonklit @suzucain @p1xelplanets @freyafriggafrey @vigilickme @deepblizzarddreaming @ibelyss @lovenerdywhitemen2 @b311a-d0nna @interw3bg1rl

You push up behind him to rest back against the headboard, the sheets loosely covering you from the chest down, and the moment your hand falls away from him, you see him relax entirely again, shoulders slouching and untensing in an instant.

"Adrian, do you not like it when I touch you?"

The speed at which he flips over in bed and scrambles up to sit beside you, is immeasurable, making the headboard rattle against the wall again, much to your neighbours dismay, you're sure.

"What?! Why would you think that? Of course I like it when you touch me! Like when you touch my dick, or when you grab my ass, or when you pull my hair or when you put your finger in my—"

"Alright! I got it!" You cut him off, knowing that if you don't, he's just going to spend the next 10 minutes listing all the dirty stuff you do to him.

Adrian's lips purse together, trying to hold back the barrage of words that he hadn't gotten out yet. It's a feeble attempt.

"Butt! I was gonna say butt! I really like it when you do that!" He grins, stretching from ear to ear.

"I feel like that was implied, but okay?" You sigh, shifting your body to face him better. "I don't mean just sex stuff, baby, I mean like just now? While we were cuddling? You usually love it when I'm the big spoon?"

"I do love it when you're the big spoon!" Adrian protests, whining and throwing his hands up in the air dramatically. "I just don't like the whole, touchy-feely stuff? Like the stroking? I'm not a cat, and sometimes it feels like if you have a really prickly cactus touch graze you, that sensation, but over and over and over and over again!" It comes out like word vomit, without entirely meaning to and without any holds barred.

"Adrian" He hates that tone right there, that one that says you think he's being an idiot and you're about to chide him, it's the same one he heard when he suggested Chris load his gun with jellybeans and shoot it at his face to see if he can catch any in his mouth. "Why didn't you say anything, dummy?" Dummy is a step down from idiot, at least.

"Because I really like you and I don't want you to think I'm weird, because then you'll stop touching other parts of me and I won't get to kiss you every morning when I see you in the office and that's like, my favourite part of the day now! Apart from when Fluery quizzes me on spider facts when he's bored, so maybe it's like, joint first?"

His rambled explanation is a double-sided coin, on one hand you find yourself laughing at the inexplicable way that getting to kiss you is in competition with Fluery and spider facts, on the other, you find a twinge of sympathy for him when your chuckles begins to fade and you see the way he's looking at you like you hung the moon, silently pleading with those ridiculously effective puppy-dog eyes of his. There's that fear of rejection and abandonment, seeping out of every pore of his beautiful face.

"Adrian, honey, I don't know if you know this, but I'm well aware of the fact that you're a fucking weirdo." You state, matter-of-factly. "I love that about you! I just wish you'd told me sooner, I mean we've been dating for what? 2 months now—"

Before you can even finish your thought, Adrian is moving again, flinging himself over you with all the grace of a bulldozer traversing a minefield, all just to grab his phone on the bedside cabinet beside you.

"—64 days, 7 hours and 24 minutes, if we're being pedantic about it!"

This stupid, murderous golden retriever of a man has no idea what kind of hold he has over you.

"See! This is what I mean! No normal person would be keeping track of that!"

He clearly misunderstands your tone, given the way his expression drops again and how quickly he abandons his phone to hold your face in his hands instead, he really is trying to be gentle, even if those same hands have only become accustomed to inflicting pain and suffering.

"I swear, I'll change! I can change! I'll be good, I can totally do 'normal' if that's what you want me to be!" So needy and clingy, laying half on top of you, already prepared to roll off and get out of you give him the order to. He really hopes you don't, though.

"Adrian!" An exasperated sigh leaves deep from your chest. "Stop, I'm not saying I want you to be normal, I'm saying I like you just the way you are! And if you don't enjoy me touching you like that, then that's fine, I'm not going to dump you over that, you clearly have some sensory aversions to touch and that's okay!"

Green eyes rapidly blink at you as he tries to compute what you just said, as if you were speaking to him in Klingon.

"Soooo, you're not about to leave me and go find some boring insurance broker instead?"

"What?! No? How would you even come to that conclusion?" You argue, sputtering out an incredulous laugh over the sheer random absurdity he's just cooked up in his brain.

"Well I don't know! That's the most normal thing I can think of! And I'm sorry, but I'm never going to have a 401k and I think whiskey tastes like cough medicine! It burns! Beer doesn't burn on the way down!"

"Unless you chase it up with tequila." You interject, wriggling in the bed until you're laying directly under him, bringing your hand up to his head, burying your fingers in his sex-mussed curls to rake your nails across his scalp in that deep-pressure way he loves so much.

He's so deep into his ramble, he doesn't even realise he's just putty in your hands, tilting his head into your touch, craving the sensation and attention from you.

"Okay, point taken, but I bet Mr.Fancy-boring-broker-man doesn't have throwing knives! And I bet he doesn't even eat pussy! God, what a loser." A triumphant huff leaves him when he's finally done with competing with the imaginary man in his head, already busying himself with ducking his head down to plaster your jawline with needy little kisses, nudging your head back with the curve of his nose to gain better access.

"Total loser." You muse, relishing in the way he seems to have completely lost his train of thought in favour of turning all his attention on you instead, never really able to focus on the matter at hand for too long when his mind is constantly going on side-quests.

Adrian seems pleased that you agree with him about the broker, whom he's now mentally named Tom and has deemed him his mortal enemy all in one blink of an eye. The intensity of his lips on your throat ramps up, his hands getting grabby and greedy, feeling like they're all over your body all at once, his soft cock hanging between his thighs starting to twitch to life once more.

"Glad we're on the same page about that guy." He groans into the curve of your shoulder, working himself up already.

You know if you let him keep going he's just going to fuck you dumb all over again and you're going to forget to have this actual, important conversation with him, and even if you feel the heat between your legs rapidly becoming something you can't ignore, you need to have this talk.

When your legs wrap around his hips, Adrian lifts his head up to chase your lips with his own, not expecting you to turn the tide and roll both of you over until he's pinned beneath you, it takes him longer than it should to realise what just happened, and given that all his blood is currently rushing south, that's not entirely unreasonable.

"That's hot as fuck, babe!" Adrian's voice comes out in an excited chirp, willfully throwing his arms over his head into the pillows, waiting patiently for you to take the reins.

"As much as I appreciate the enthusiasm," You start, shifting to hover over his hips instead of sitting directly on top of him, biting back the smile you feel tugging at your lips when you hear him whine when you pull away. "I think we do still need to talk. I don't want you thinking you have to force yourself to like things just because you think it'll make me happy, that's not what people do in relationships, and I most definitely don't want you to be uncomfortable either."

"It's not that I don't like it! It's just… I'm not used to it, being soft or whatever. Having someone that wants to treat me like that. So yeah, it does kind of feel like sandpaper on my skin sometimes when you touch me like that, but I kind of love that you want to touch me like that anyway. Does that make any sense?"

"In the most Adrian Chase way," You cock your head to the side thoughtfully, tracking your eyes over his face. "It does make sense."

Adrian's dimples pop as he stares up at you. "See I knew you'd get it. C'mere?"

When he lifts his head off the pillow, expectantly puckering his lips, you're powerless to say no. Your mouth slants over his own, and you expect him to start up again with that feral eagerness that he usually embodies whenever the two of you are tangled up like this. Instead he's practicing patience, letting you set the pace and keep control, which you know is a big point of contention for Adrian.

You feel Adrian's hands land on your hips, and for once instead of pulling you down onto him, he guides you off, kneading at the supple curves beneath his fingertips as he helps you settle onto your side next to him.

You link your arms around his neck and bury your fingers in his hair once more, earning yourself a throaty hum that goes straight between your legs.

Adrian's cock nudges against your soft stomach, already half hard again. It's a welcomed perk of being with a man who's stamina can endure hours of fighting. Or fucking; depending on the mood.

As the intensity behind the kiss you lead starts to heat up, Adrian presses his body into your own, just enough to grind himself against you. He groans into your mouth as his twitching length rubs up and down slowly — from navel to your lower abs, leaving a damp trail behind on your skin that only grows slicker with every passing moment.

"Touch me." He whines, buckling at the hips. Too needy to let his lips stray from your own for even a single second.

Immediately you go to wrap a fist around his cock, but he stops you, catching your hand mid-air to plant it on the side of his face instead. It doesn't clock right away what Adrian's asking for, not until you feel the way he tenses beneath your palm. He wants to try to get used to the feeling, maybe some part of him that he's never explored craves it, but he's never been with someone he's wanted to expose himself to like tbat — until now.

You let your fingertips stroke along his jawline, it's something you've done plenty in the time you've been together, but now you're aware of his aversions, you're taking more care to show him how good it can feel.

Every quiet shuddering breath or tick in his jaw becomes your guide, mapping out his cues to tell you when you're being too gentle.

It quickly becomes apparent that there's a fine line between touch that makes him cringe and touch that makes him melt. You only wish Adrian had communicated this with you sooner, rather than try to force himself.

Caressing his chest, between his shoulder blades, downwards over the slope of his spine. You get to revel in the way Adrian bows into you as he gradually succumbs to the warmth your touch leaves behind in its wake.

You're both breathless when you wrench your lips away from his own, his cheeks flushed, pupils swallowing the green in his eyes.

"This okay?" You don't want to just rely on his physical cues now, not when he'd been so reluctant to express himself before.

Adrian's hips haven't stopped their subtle shift this entire time, the thick purple head glistening with pre-cum.

"Mm-hmm," He nods frantically, ridding you of any creeping doubts. "F-uck babe. Can I please touch you now too?"

The corners of your lips curve upwards, Adrian has kept his hands cemented to your hips until now, and you realise it was to keep himself from moving too hastily.

Draping your thigh over his own, you invitingly open yourself up to him. "Touch me." Your tone echoes that needy lilt Adrian had before.

His dominant hand slips between your bodies, making your head drop back into the plush pillow with a sigh when his middle and index fingers find your clit, grazing back and forth over the engorged nub slowly.

"Fucking soaked," Adrian curses, dropping his head to mouth at your sternum, sliding his free hand up to the small of your back to hold you tighter against him. "N-nails. Do that thing where you scratch down my back."

You're all too happy to fulfill the breathy request, embedding the manicured tips into his alabaster skin; drawing a slow path of red streaks down the length of his muscled back.

The mattress springs beneath you protest as Adrian arcs, loudly groaning his approval over the way you're blending a lighter touch with the agonizing bliss.

"Just like that." He pleads, rocking his hips more insistently against you, letting his fingers glide south, easing them into your warm cunt.

You squirm on your side, chasing the friction the heel of his palm provides as his digits find their home inside you, pumping in and out in a steady, tantalizing rhythm.

You can hear the slick squelch of yourself, between the airy whines and murmured begs, some of it slipping from your own lips, some of it from Adrian, panting between your tits. Neither of you truly know what you're asking for, all you know is that you don't want this to stop.

Adrian's teeth graze over your heaving breast, restraining himself from sinking them into your skin, instead sucking a stiffened peak into his mouth; coaxing a wanton moan out of you.

Your fingers instinctively find their way to his ass, letting your nails mark his toned cheeks too. You guide his hips to roll deeper, feeling every inch of him sliding between your slick bodies while you unhurriedly fuck yourself on the fingers buried inside you.

It's not long before you begin to crest, arching and shaking while Adrian laves his lips and tongue over your nipples back and forth. There's nothing urgent about the way he pulls this climax from you, not like the usual frantic and fast desperation he exudes.

This time Adrian savours every second of it — from the rasping breaths you shudder out as you reach the peak, to the way your thigh shakes when your pussy clenches down and drenches his fingers.

His hips stutter as if he's struggling to hold back from cumming, and truthfully, he is. It's especially difficult to hold back with the way your heat drips down his knuckles and that keening way you call out his name.

Still, he's not done trying to prove to himself that he has the ability to be soft and slow, you deserve that version of him when he's never been able to give himself like that to anyone else.

It wasn't up until Adrian started up the Vigilante stuff that he lost his virginity, and even then, most of the suit would stay on just so he didn't have to endure the touch of skin on skin that would make him wither. Always rough with his lovers. If you could even call them that.

It was usually an anonymous hook-up from that app Peacemaker recommended. Some lucky person would find themselves wedged between the closest thing Evergreen had to a 'hero' and an unforgiving brick wall, pounded into it just so Adrian could take the edge off.

All that started to crumble when Adrian took a shining to you though.

The app got deleted off his phone and Adrian had to learn to navigate something new.

Sure, it's been a very full two months of losing yourselves in each other, testing out just how much the desks at the office can take when no one was around. Fucking you so relentlessly in the back of the Sebring that the suspension broke and the two of you had to push the car to the nearest garage on your lunch hour while his cum was still leaking out of you.

That was a fun when the mechanics eyed the both of your dishelved appearances with a knowing suspicion, and when you'd let Adrian take the reins at trying to explain to Ads and Harcourt why you were coming back late from your break.

It went down like a lead balloon when 'chasing down some sketchy looking dude' was all Adrian could come up with under pressure. That and the telltale blooming lovebites that you thought you'd been strategic enough to hide beneath his collar.

Even so, somehow you've dismantled that fear of intimacy and touch that Adrian had developed somewhere along the way, and now it was giving way to a gentleness he didn't even know he possessed.

When you're fully sated and boneless, Adrian slips his fingers out of you and stuffs them into his mouth as he raises his head, letting you witness the way his eyes roll back at your taste.

"Fuck me." You hear yourself plea, raising your hands up to link around the back of his neck, drawing Adrian in for a kiss that forces him to drop his fingers from his mouth, making his head spin.

By now he'd have you flipped over, either on your belly or your back, ready to drill you into the mattress until you're a babbling mess.

It's impossible for him to say no to you though, hoisting your leg up higher over his hip while he wraps his other hand around the base of his cock, nudging the weeping tip into you in a way that's uncharacteristicly hampering compared to the lunging thrust he'd gone with earlier on this evening.

Adrian's fingertips skirt over the back of your thigh. Up and down, soothing a sigh out of you as you stretch to fit around his girth.

"Ho-oly fuck, babe." He rasps against your lips, letting his free hand wander up to your breasts again, fondling and squeezing lightly.

You suckle on his bottom lip as the two of you start to move, rolling your hips in tandem with his own, impeded from speeding yourself up by the steadying hand grasping the meat of your thigh.

Languid, dragged out strokes steal your breath away, sharing the heated air between your panting mouths. Noses nudge and softly bump while Adrian stares into your eyes, jaw slackened as he breathes out your name over and over again.

He'll push deep and pull out slow, leaving only the first inch inside you before he allows himself to sink in, overwhelmed by the sensation of your welcoming walls pulling him in.

It's not something Adrian usually gets to bask in, but right now he can feel every honeyed inch of your channel wrapped around his cock, letting himself gently kiss your cervix with the tip.

When a gasp spills from youAdrian panics and almost pulls out altogether, thinking he's doing it wrong. You only just manage to stop him by locking your ankle around his lower back.

"Are you okay?" Adrian sputters out, stilling himself inside you, eyes darting between your own, all tooth-achingly sweet concern.

"Baby, I'm fine?" You huff softly, delighting his ears with a quiet chuckle. "That was a good gasp, trust me."

"Are you sure? You're not just saying that? What if you decide to praying mantis me because I did something wrong?"

"Huh?"

Adrian rolls his eyes, idly thumbing over your nipple. "Like when a female mantis is done mating she'll bite off her partners head?"

You purse your lips together to stifle a laugh, choking it down before replying, "That's probably the first correct animal fact I've ever heard from you and it's during sex?! Also, I'm a little fond of your face and the body it's attached to, so I think I'll pass, thanks."

"Pfft, like your mind doesn't wander sometimes, and I'm always correct." He pouts petulantly, shifting himself all the way back into you with a subtle jut of his hips. "And only a little fond?" His lips arc into a stretching smile when you moan, it's the most intoxicating sound Adrian has ever heard.

"A-alot. I love your stupidly handsome face, okay?"

Love.

It's not like you were declaring anything to him then and there, but with the way the comforting warmth spreads through Adrian's chest, anyone would think you did just that.

He's been tip-toeing that word for years. The only people that have ever said it to him were his parents and that one old lady at Fennel Fields who used to come in for the early bird special that kept mistaking him for her high-school boyfriend. She was a good tipper, even if Adrian was constantly having to dodge a cheek smooch whenever he went to clear her table and he's haunted by the memory of the filthy note she'd left for him on a napkin that one time.

Adrian's concept of love just barely existed, and it was solely based off fictional media. He was never sure it was a feeling he was capable of, but now you're making him question that — almost every single day.

Sure he loves his best friends, he loves Eagly. He loves how it feels to watch the light drain from someone's eyes at his hands.

This though? This is different.

His hand wraps around your ankle, pulling it up a little higher behind his back, opening you up in a way that allows for your clit to grind into the thatch of curls at the base of his cock.

The headboard knocks, but it's quieter and infrequent now, side-on, drinking each other's morphing expressions of pleasure in,

Adrian's plants his palms flat on your ass, pushing you forward onto his cock over and over again as your vocalizations rise in volume and pitch, groaning with you as you tug on the curly ends of his hair.

"Adrian, I need to—" Your warning cry is smothered, eager lips tackling your own as he gives in and rolls you beneath him, plunging deep repeatedly just to coax that gentle pulsing around him into a frenzied clutch as your back bows. It was the nudge you'd needed, if the sticky slick that makes a mess of his pubic hair is anything to go by.

Adrian cums seconds after you, emptying himself inside you as he whimpers into your agape mouth, unable to withstand the unforgiving pulse and heat of your pussy.

The two of you stay like that for what feels like an eternity, winding your arms around his middle when he slumps into you, dropping his mouth to your throat to pepper lazy kisses all over.

Despite the way Adrian prefers to fuck, he's always like this after — clingy and dopey. It's a moment of blissful peace that neither of you get to bask in very often.

And it's broken by your jerk off neighbour throwing a hissy fit again.

Bang. Thud. Bang. Thud.

Slamming his fucking door open and shut in protest.

"Seriously?" You grumble, chancing a glance at the bedside clock to see that maybe his grievence is justified given the late hour blinking back at you.

Before you can even stop him, Adrian is scrambling off you, leaving you feeling empty all of a sudden. You prop yourself up on your elbows, watching him hunt for his jeans in the scattered mess of clothes on your bedroom floor as the wet patch beneath your ass spreads over the sheets.

"What are you doing?"

"Noise disturbance babe!" Adrian exclaims as he shoves his foot into one of the legs, struggling to keep balance on the other foot, his red streaked ass jiggling as he hops around. "Someone's gotta go talk to the guy, set him straight. There are laws about that kinda thing!"

The manic grin on his face tells you he has more plans for Jeff in 2B than a quiet talking to.

"Adrian." You warn, flopping back into the pillows, exasperated and sleepy.

"It'll just take a sec, I swear!" He lies blatently, tugging his shirt on over his head back to front before swiping up his glasses.

You're too tired and fucked out to stop him.

Hopefully Jeff has more common sense than to open his door at this time of night. If not, you can only pray that it won't look too suspicious when Jeff suddenly ups and leaves to go on an extended vacation to the middle of Alaska; or wherever his inevitable 'goodbye' note will claim he's gone.

You're on the cusp of drifting off when you remember the baseball bat you keep by your front door, groggily calling out to Adrian as he attempts to creep out.

"Leave the bat, dummy!"

"Awh, man."

═════════════════════════════════

"Dude, get a room." Economos laments, shielding his eyes with a hand when Adrian bounds over to your desk just to plant a sweet kiss to your lips while there's a little down time.

Adrian frowns, barely lifting his head to throw him a look of utter confusion over the low partition between your desks. "We're literally in a room right now? And I did technically pay for this place, so if you really think about it—"

Economos interjects before Adrian can go off on a tangent, "It's a turn of phrase, dumbass. I meant take that somewhere else before I barf up my cheerios onto my desk or something."

"Ohhhh! I knew that."

"Bullshit." John mutters, burying his head in his computer to avoid making direct eye contact with the overly-affectionate public display.

You grin up at Adrian from your chair as his hands find your shoulders, allowing yourself to relax when he starts to massage gently. "He's right though, if we had a HR department, I think we would have been written up at least 5 times this morning already." Your hand drifts away from the keyboard to pat his own. "C'mon, lover boy, get your ass back to your desk."

"Fine." He relents, pouting the entire way back to his own workstation.

Adrian's cheeks have barely touched the seat when a new email notification pops up in the bottom right hand corner of his screen from you.

Subject: Meet me in 5.

Supply closet. John said get a room, and I don't think we've tested out the acoustics in there yet. Let's hope it's sound proof.

═════════════════════════════════

Thank you for reading! I'd love it if you could leave a comment or reblog 💜 feedback welcome! :)

Follow @kindahecticfics and turn on notifs for fic updates only!

Adrian Chase Taglist || Adam Cromwell Taglist || Jake Martin Taglist || Fic Requests || Main Masterlist || Adrian Chase Masterlist || Freddie Stroma Characters Masterlist

Mrs. Chase was unaware of the reason why, but she could tell that you were tense around the basement and offered to knock on the door for Ads.  "Sweetie! Your friend Lee is here!" 

"Mom we call her Ads or Adebayo not Lee, why can't you get the simplest shit right?!" Adrian screamed at Mrs. Chase who hurriedly apologized and wandered off to go sit with you again in the living room. 

Pouring another glass of wine for her and you, she sighed. "He said I shouldn't call her Lee because now he can only think about us performing oral sex on one another..." 

"I'll go talk to him later..." You joined her in a deep sigh. "But first, I need to finish this." Raising your glass, the two of you clinked a toast to dealing with and loving that crazy boy. 

"Adrian you're being really mean to your mom again..." Adebayo sighed on her way down the creaking wooden steps.

"Pfft good." Adrian grumbled sitting against the piles of blood money. He didn’t even bother to look up at her, tired eyes struggling to focus on the lit-up screen of his switch.

"Are you okay?" She asked, he had a permanent scowl on his face these days instead of a plastered smile.

"Yeah...just getting really far in Princess Peach Showtime and it's not easy just because it's about a girl..." Adrian mumbled, cursing as he lost a round and reset.

"Well could you put it down for a second so that we can properly talk?" She asked pointedly.

Floundering his hands to almost try and distract her from the question, he realised that Adebayo was being serious and wouldn’t leave. "Ugh...okay fine!" He relented and put down his switch.

"We've got to help Chris. He's fucking broken!" Adebayo was worried, Adrian could tell because that line broke between her eyebrows.

He had gotten pretty good at noticing when his friends were upset. Because recently they all were. They all missed Chris.

"Peacemaker doesn't break Ads! This is all part of some larger plan, I'm sure. So don't say shit like that okay?" Adrian couldn’t admit that his best friend needed their help. He was the one who needed Chris’ help all the time, the one he relied on for life, love and lady advice.

If he didn’t have the answers here, then nobody would.

Adebayo sighed and sat down next to Adrian, trying to see if from his side. "Okay but we need to bail him out of prison. It's nearly been three months. The date is for next week and he needs a lawyer!" 

Adrian couldn’t believe how silly Adebayo was being right now. "He's already got a lawyer! His name is Jeff and he smells like peppermint schnapps and baby powder and burps." 

Sure Jeff had stumbled around the courtroom and called Chris ‘Christopher Robin’ the whole time and made Pooh Bear analogies, but that was just a lawyer tactic to help plead for insanity or something.

"Jeff is a public defender and he's got some private demons that I think he's been working through." Adebayo said, not wanting to relive that terrible scene in her mind.

Motioning to the piles of money behind them, she tried again as she had every Sunday to convince him. "Adrian. We need the money down here to hire a capable lawyer!" 

But she got the same answer in reply, "This is blood money Ads! It comes from drug dealers and gangsters and human traffickers!" Adrian folded his arms, fingers twitching between the zip of his jacket like they needed something to fiddle with, a switch or more likely a gun.

"It was blood money! But now it's just money and it's just sitting here." She countered him with a brilliant smile.

"Blood money will put a curse on all of us and our descendants." Adrian whispered like he was telling her an old ghost story. “And I want to have kids with her that aren’t cursed by blood, even if my balls have been electrocuted.”

Where the hell had this boy heard such a thing, Goosebumps? Knowing Adrian it was most likely Goosebumps.

"No it won't!" She said exasperated.

“How do you know that it won’t?” Adrian rolled his eyes at her and went back to playing Princess Peach Showtime.

You couldn’t help but listen into their conversation at the top of the stairs, empty wine glass in hand. This routine of Adebayo asking for the dirty money and Adrian sitting down there protecting it like a guard dog snapping at her had gone on for the last month.

What was really the issue here? You tried to think in Adrian terms. What else did the money do except sit here? Sure it was criminal’s money, but he had admitted that he can’t destroy it because that is also a crime. Then you thought of something so stupid, it had to be partly the reason.

Clearing your throat to get their attention, you walked down the steps.

"Adrian...is the only reason you don't want to give up the blood curse money because we have sex on it sometimes?" You suggested, watching his face go bright pink.

Adrian frowned, still playing his game and not looking up at either of you. "Maybe..." He eventually admitted under your glares.

Adebayo and you sighed in utter frustration at your silly boyfriend.

"Look if you want to help Peacemaker get out, you should do a prison break. I have like a hundred ideas!" He snapped.

"For the last time we are not doing a prison break!" You vetoed the idea, sick of hearing about how he could easily make a zipline to Chris’ prison window.

"Okay well then how about we get the gang together and threaten the judges family!" Adrian gave his next terrible idea, and you groaned.

"What part of you thinks you're one of the good guys if we do that Adrian?" Adebayo asked admonished.

Adrian frowned at that confused, "All parts of me." 

"No we're not doing that either!" You and Adebayo shouted at him.

"Okay so we're back to prison break that's the one I wanted to do anyways!" He shrugged. If Chris was here he’d totally want to do the zipline idea, Adrian thought with a deep pout.

"You know I guess I'm just really disappointed…” You began to enact the plan you and Adebayo had discussed together last night.

"What why is that my gorgeous sunflower?" Adrian whined, his green eyes widening.

"I guess we are just better friends with Chris is all..." Adebayo continued looking just as morose as you did.

"No fucking way either of you are! That's crazy!" Adrian laughed manically at the mere suggestion. “I am his best friend in like the entire universe!”

"Yeah that's what we would've thought but Ads and I are willing to get a blood curse to help Chris out..." You shrugged sadly, picking a wad of cash and flipping the notes in your hand.

“I could so get a blood curse, I just prefer to threaten a judge’s life and family. It’s easier.”

“That’s also a crime Adrian.” You said pointedly.

His mouth went agape, opening and closing a couple times. Almost like he was about to say who cares but couldn’t around you. That would shatter something inside him that made Adrian Vigilante and not another two-bit serial killer.

"Adrian take something bad and make something good out of it." Adebayo said, taking advantage of the silent stump he was in.

"Fine..." Adrian nodded.

 “Really?” You and Adebayo couldn’t believe it, eyes glimmering in excitement looking at one another.

“Yes, but sadly that does mean no more money shots…” Adrian sighed, hugging you around the waist.

“Oh ugh, eww. I’m going to let you guys put this stuff in the bags…” Adebayo dropped the black plastic bag on the ground with a grimace. She had lived with you too long to not know what that look in his eyes meant.

“There’s wine upstairs!” You offered and Adebayo nodded, heading up the stairs.  

“What if we had one last quickie on them? C’mon…” He whined on cue, clearly not over the fantasy of taking you on a big pile of money.  

“It has to be quick Adrian.” You said sharply, watching his head and throat bob in agreement.

“Oh it’ll be super quick, we haven’t had sex in ages…” Adrian said needily and you tried to give a huff of ‘and who’s fault is that?’ But Adrian cut you off with his tongue down your throat.

You nearly had your teeth knocked with the force of his kiss, Adrian picking you up off the ground. Pressing himself up against your hips, you could feel his erection.

“Adrian…” You moaned into his lips, returning a kiss against his jawline where he loved it.

He hadn’t touched you since your anniversary and Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years all funnelled past without so much as a hand job. You didn’t hold any of that against him of course, Adrian had been struggling and you were there for him.

But that didn’t mean that his current state didn’t get you wet between the thighs.

“You fucking feel that?” He grunted, gripping your wrist and brining your hand to palm his jeans. “You fucking did this…” You could see the impulse driving his brain right now, running on fumes, he hadn’t slept in days.

“Mmm yeah I feel that baby, how about you lie down on your back?” You offered, helping him with his belt and letting it clatter to the ground. Adrian whined, nodding when you unzipped his pants and cupped his dick in your hand over the teal boxer cloth, making him melt.

“I’ll look after you, make you feel better…” You promised, kissing him on the forehead. Helping him out of his jeans, once they were off, you removed your work clothes until you were only in your scrubs shirt.

“Hmm yeah make me feel better my sexy nurse!” Adrian groaned, unabashedly laying right back, eyes lidded over with a mixture of lust and sleep deprivation.

Pulling his teal boxers you’d bought him for Christmas that made his ass look great, his heavy cock thudding out for your rapt attention. Licking your lips at the sight of it, Adrian bit his lip, hand over his forehead as you kept staring.

“Fuck…it’s so hot when you look at my dick like that.” He whined, bucking his hips a little.

“Maybe I’ll just stare at it until you cum?” You suggested and Adrian fervently shook his head at that.

“No touch it…fuck need you to…” He begged. You didn’t tease him any longer, giving him a nice tender stroke up and down the shaft, watching as a tempting drop of precum leaked from the tip. Not wanting it to go to waste you licked it up with your tongue and revelled in the loud moan Adrian spouted.

Luckily the basement was expertly soundproofed.

“Let’s 69, sit on my face! Oh please…” Adrian’s voice dripped with lust as you bobbed your lips down on his dick. Moaning against his shaft in approval of that excellent idea, you gave his cock a nice swirling lick, making his toes curl.

Shifting your hips down, Adrian lovingly stroked your thighs and kissed the sensitive inner spots before gently nipping at them with his teeth. Then he dragged your royal pussy down onto the throne it belonged on, his face. Even though he was tired, Adrian could and had on one occasion eat pussy like a pro in his sleep.

Eagerly sliding his tongue across your folds in a tease before getting to your clit, when he sucked hard on that spot you moaned, resting your stomach fully against Adrian’s to get better access to his cock. Falling into an unforgiving rhythm, you bobbed your head with each thrust of your hips, grinding on his face, Adrian taking the new pace under advisement and pressing his mouth harder against your core.  

Sometimes you wondered if he was trying to really choke himself out, drown in you, but you already knew the answer to that, his hands persistently gripping your thighs in silent order for you to tighten them around his throat. Complying, you squeezed the meat of your thighs to contract into muscle and enjoyed the purring of his tongue inside you.

You could feel your orgasm coaxing out from you like a rising steam of an engine, core winding tight white hot. Adrian felt just as close in your mouth, his cock pulsing against the flat of your tongue, veins more prominent. Tightening your grip, you pushed further, taking him down your throat making Adrian whine deeply, sucking your clit with his bruised and plush lips.

“Fuck Adrian…I’m going to cum!” You couldn’t help but let his dick fall out of your mouth, needing to ride out the feeling. Whining his name again and again, Adrian slipped his tongue inside you until you were an overstimulated twitching mess on his slick face.

A muffled groan that you deciphered as ‘money shot’ but came out as ‘mmnnyy shhhttt’ made you laugh into your orgasm, and you felt the release of Adrian’s hit your chest hard,  warm and sticky.

“Okay now we have to clean this money and take it to the bonds office.” You sighed, blowing some messy hair out of your face.

“Gives a whole new meaning to money laundering huh?” Adrian grinned, looking happy as a clam underneath you. Rolling your eyes at that terrible pun, you chuckled and got to work.

Luckily there was a shower down in the basement and a change of clothes you kept for these kind of emergencies.

“Alright the money is ready.” You announced, heading up the stairs with a couple trash bags holding a small house deposit.

“Fantastic!” Adebayo grinned, leaping up from the plastic wrapped recliner chair. “Thanks for the wine and funny Adrian stories Mrs. C!”

“What the fuck did you tell her mom?!” Adrian snapped, his cheeks already reddening with embarrassment.

“Well I think I know why you are so scared by blood curses, read the Monster Blood series in Goosebumps and needed a nightlight until you were fifteen ring any bells?”

“I only needed that nightlight because I had to..." Adrian never got to explain, being dragged out by you and Adebayo.

Paying the bondsman for Chris’ bail you all went to have some lunch at Big Belly Burger, partly because maybe Chris would go there wanting a real meal, and partly because you were all hungry, before Adebayo got a call from John.

"Uh yeah Chris came and picked Eagly up. You guys should come over here..." John said flatly.

"Oh shit." You and Adrian both said, with a mouthful of fries.

Heading to John’s place, Harcourt was already sitting there looking as if she had just gotten through yelling at him.

"You just let him go?!" Adebayo snapped, ready for her turn.

"What was I going to do tackle him?" John scoffed.

"Yes dude, what the actual fuck?!" Adrian shouted, needing to scream at something too.

“Let’s all calm down.” You didn’t want a go on the make John feel bad merry-go-round and he appreciated that with a small smile.

"I went by his house it was cleared out. He wasn't there." Harcourt said coldly, like she was trying to lock up all of the feelings for him again that she’d admitted drunk to you and Adebayo so many times before.

"I went by the retro video arcade he wasn't there either." Adrian nodded.

"He hangs out there?" John laughed, knowing that wasn’t right at all.

"No, I wanted to play Frogger. Dude what is your damage today?" Adrian rolled his eyes.

"Can't you guys track him with that chip in his head?" You asked Harcourt and she shook her head.

"John and I have had anything Peacemaker related rescinded from our clearances. Ever since someone wanted to air their mother’s dirty laundry on national television…" Harcourt snapped like a caged snake who needed to let her fangs sink into anyone, even her friends.

"Where the fuck could he be?" Adebayo ignored the weak dig at her.

“I might have someone who can get the info…” John admitted to the surprise of everyone in the room. Then he wandered into the kitchen but you all eavesdropped on him against the wall, his deep voice not the best at whispering.

“Uh hey Sash, can you get us Peacemaker’s tracking detail? Yeah that was us who got him outta jail. Okay sure talk to you later tonight. Uh bye…”

"Peacemaker is in a motel on the south side. Texting you guys the location now." John cleared his throat like he hadn’t just dropped a major bombshell onto everyone.

"Sasha?" You asked, mouth hanging wide open.

"Long story, she's on our side now." Harcourt replied.

“That is so not what we are asking…” Adebayo giggled at John, who went bright red. "Why are you being so touchy?" 

 “Who gives a fuck if John is having sex with a cyborg lady? Let’s go fucking find Chris!” Adrian waved his arms around like an inflatable whacky tube man out the front of a second-hand car lot.

“Yes that. No more questions.” John agreed hurriedly. He seemed really uncomfortable at the suggestion. 

"Pfft as if there is anything really going on there. I would know..." Adebayo laughed, then noticed the whole room had their eyes on her now. 

"Uh-huh would you now?" Harcourt chuckled at Adebayo blushing even harder than John had been. 

"Shut up Em..." Adebayo nudged her to be silent. 

"Aw that's so sweet!" You gushed over the idea and wanted to ask follow ups but suddenly a persisent hand pulled at your wrist. 

“I need to get my suit on! We will circle back and meet you guys at the motel.” Adrian announced and dragged you out with him back to the Sebring.

"Okay guess we will see you soon." You waved them off.

 The drive over was stressful, time sensitive and Adrian had spent a lot of time getting changed in the car into his suit, often elbowing you or nearly injuring himself on the dashboard and centre console.

"Adrian! You need to give me directions." You reminded him, unsure of where the hell you were supposed to go.

"I can't look! You're driving way too fast." Adrian had gotten his Vigilante suit zipped up without the helmet or his glasses and had his hands over his eyes even though he couldn’t see a thing either way.

"You asked me to!" You shouted back at him, foot down on the accelerator. “You said to drive like I’m Vin Diesel in Fast and Furious but with a great rack!”

"I know but it's a crime and I don't want to see you committing speeding offences!" Adrian whined, gloved hands gripping the safety handle for dear life.

A line of cars honked ahead of you at an even worse driver in a sporty black car.

"Ugh...oh hey there's Harcourt's car!" You could recognise that finely manicured hand flipping off the other car and line of insults that would make a sailor blush anywhere.

The motel was in sight, and you tried to keep up with Harcourt changing lanes, but she was on a whole other level, but you’d be there in no time.

Chris left room 106, swinging the door with a heavy sigh behind him ready to start his new life wherever that would be. 

"Hey Chris!" Adebayo got there first and jumped out of her car to confront them.

"Sorry Ads I gotta go..." Chris brushed her off.

"Chris come on!" Harcourt yelled, getting there second, ready to fistfight this dumbass she loved for whatever reason.  

"Oh fuck!" Chris groaned, nearly dropping his bags.

"Come on dude at least tell us why you are leaving?" John yelled, third to get into the parking lot.

Chris raced to his truck, hand on the driver seat door.

"Right there sugar bear, drop me off!" Adrian said, slapping down his Vigilante visor.

"Okay honey bear!" You screeched to a halt in the Sebring and watched Adrian barrel out of the car full sprint.

"Everyone stop okay, I'm leaving town and..." Chris never got to finish his sentence as Vigilante crash tackled him into his pick-up truck with a massive crash.

"What the fuck?!" Chris yelled as the two tumbled onto the ground.

"Adrian?!" You screamed, getting out of the Sebring.

"What are you doing?!" Harcourt demanded.

 “Get off of him!” Adebayo yelled.

“Holy shit!” John cried out.

Then you saw Adrian reach into a familiar pocket of his utility belt.

"Oh crap he's going for the taser..." You winced, recalling the sensation of being tased by Earth-X Adrian.

Despite you making him promise a hundred times on the way over that he wouldn't use it but still here you all were. 

Watching Chris get tased on the asphalt, with Vigilante pinning him down, everyone screamed for him to stop.  

"Got him!" Adrian beamed up at all of you like he'd just caught a fish.

Chris held his throbbing head with a pack of ice while the rest of you sat awkwardly in his run-down motel room.

"What are you doing man?" Adebayo asked, breaking the silence.

"I'm not doing anything. You guys aren't supposed to be here." Chris muttered, not looking at any of them and staring at the peeling wallpaper.

"We have all tried every day to see you for months now Chris. And this is how we have to do it?" Harcourt said, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Just let it go..." He replied gruffly.

Let me go. That’s what he truly meant.

"We aren't letting it go Chris. You're one of us  the 11th Street Kids. You told us yourself on Em's roof that no one will ever break us apart!" Adebayo tried to shout some sense into him, but it was pointless.

"I was wrong. Should've never included myself in that." Chris was in a deep dark well of despair, one you knew all too well.

"What?" Adebayo hadn’t been in that place before, not like this.

"Dude we're just trying to figure out what's going on. Because you're being weird." John said, neither had he.

"Why didn't you want to get out of prison?" Adebayo asked, still confused.

"Can't you guys see the big picture?" Chris asked.

Everyone shook their heads, outside of you who kept firm, eyes trying to meet his.

"We're trying to all figure it out Chris." Harcourt replied, arms crossed. She had been in a similar place, the jigsaw puzzle was laid out on the table, but she didn’t have the same pieces.

"Seriously?" Chris laughed darkly.

"Yeah." Harcourt wasn't laughing.

"I'm fucking cursed." He explained.

"Um what..." Adebayo said, like he had grown a second head or something.

“The blood curse…I told you.” Adrian whimpered and you gave his shoulder a squeeze and shook your head.

"Look at me!" Chris shouted. "No you're not looking at the big fucking picture and no I'm not being stupid right now either okay?" His voice was hoarse, tired already from trying to expel all of the terrible thoughts from his clouded over mind to the group.

"Look we have all learned over the years that there is magic out there right and shit can't be explained right? So I'm cursed!" He sounded close to crying.

"You're not cursed dude!" John snapped, not wanting to hear any more of it.

"My brother was my best friend and I killed him! I befriended Rick Flag Jr. and I fucking killed him too! I killed my own fucking father. I get to go to an alternate dimension and what's the first thing I do? I fucking kill myself! And then I find my brother and father alive and I kill them too!" 

"That's just stupid..." Adebayo rolled her eyes.

"FUCK OFF ADS DON'T TELL ME IT'S STUPID!" Chris screamed so loudly, you felt Adrian jolt a little in shock at the reaction. His green eyes were glued to his best friend, hands picking at the cuticles as he tried to come to terms with how damaged Chris truly was.

There was a familiar look in his expression, it was the same one that Adrian gave you that night you first made love and left him after screaming in his face. Forlorn and unsure of what to say, he remained silent.

 "Everyone around me fucking dies!" Chris continued to yell, his eyes wild, looking around at you all like you weren’t really there. No one truly was in the room with him right now, only the ghosts of his past.

"Chris listen to me, when people die around you it's not because of you it's because you aren't listening to yourself! Your brother was an order from your father, Rick was an order from Waller. And you know you shouldn't have gone into that other universe! Now tell me what happens when you are true to yourself?" Adebayo tried, tears spilling down her cheeks to reason with him and make the pain go away.

"Nothing." Chris stonewalled her.

"You touch people man. I believe in miracles because of you. I saw you hug a damn eagle! I know who I am because of you. And when I'm around you I feel loved. You're big and you're stupid and I know you love me." Adebayo tried again, wiping the tears now dripping down her chin.

 “You’re a good person man.” John added, tears pricking the corner of his eyes.

Harcourt nodded along, her face resolute in the fierce gaze she was giving him. Not letting up the emotions hitting at her like water breaking a dam.

"You made me want to be a hero..." Adrian said softly, fists balled at his thighs as he sat on the bed. You placed a hand over his, squeezing tenderly.

"I haven't saved anyone. Some fucking hero I am." Chris laughed mockingly in Adrian’s face.

For a short while it was dead silent, but then you spoke up.

"That's not true Chris, you saved me. Without you I'd be dead." Your voice was firm with conviction like iron, the words made his manic eyes level with yours.

"What?" He spat out the question like it wasn’t meant to be on his tongue.

"In that alternate universe we went to. I was dead.” You explained, watching as his pain-stricken face nearly contorted into understanding.

“I was dead because my father was still around, he killed me. But not in our universe. Here, you chased him out of town and saved my life.”

“That’s nothing…” Chris repeated but the phrase was wavering.

“Now listen I know something about curses. I've grown up my whole life unwanted by those meant to be my family too. My father broke my arm for writing a fucking Valentine. My mother arranged a marriage for me to be with a deadbeat abusive asshole right out of high school. But you know who helped me break that curse both times?”

Chris shook his head, he didn’t want to hear it but couldn’t speak.

“You did Chris. You turned up to Fennel Fields that night and helped get Adrian and me together. You helped me get out of that marriage which was going to eventually kill me. You helped inspire Adrian to be Vigilante. I'm at my dream job now with the love of my life and I have you to thank for that. You've done plenty of good in the world as well. You've got this fucked up found family of ours whether you like it or not. And we all care about you." You finished your speech and felt Adrian exhale beside you.

"Dude you're my best friend in the whole world. I don't want to do cool shit without you. You're supposed to be my best man remember?" Adrian spoke up, green eyes glimmering with tears behind his glasses.

"John loves you so much he just put himself on the line like a hundred times and he's the biggest coward who ever existed." Ads added to lighten the mood.  

"Jesus...you gotta work that in?" John grumbled. Chris laughed at that.

"...and me Chris." Harcourt said eventually. "You hear me Chris? We're tied, you and I. All of us! And we have all been listening to someone else. To Waller, to Flag, to A.R.G.U.S, well fuck them all!" She snapped at him with her whole bitchy caged heart and Chris accept every single loving bite.

"We've got to do something Chris for us. For the world. We're going to stand the fuck up, but we need our boy with us we need you! You going to let us down?" Adebayo asked, taking Chris’ shaky hands into hers.

Chris shook his head with a small silly smile, that goofy one you all loved. “Can’t let the 11th Street Kids down!” He said congested from crying.

 Everyone left ready with a game plan to take down Rick Flag Sr and the system and everything wrong in the world. Ready to be heroes again that absolutely nobody asked for.

"Hey!" Chris called after Harcourt, his heart pounding when she turned.

"What?" She said it like a challenge.

"Did it mean something?" He liked a challenge.

"What?" Harcourt repeated, making him spell it out.

"The boat!" Chris insisted, he wasn’t going to back down now. If Adrian could somehow get his dream girl, so could he. Or at least die trying. Which from the glare Harcourt was giving him was a definite possibility.

"Oh my god...not the boat again.” She rolled her eyes, but her ghost-like smile was there.

"Did it mean something?" Chris repeated. He had to know. That night had meant everything to him, having her press up against him at the concert, singing off-key so horribly, lips brushing against his.

"Chris I told you I'm not right in the head." Harcourt gave him the same old lines that worked with everyone else, kept them at arm’s length.

"Neither am I! I'm just asking you if it meant anything at all!" Chris shouted, those lines didn’t work with him. They just drew him in closer.

"Of course it did, you fucking asshole. It meant everything." Harcourt laughed, it was a viciously harmonic sound like she thought he was a complete fucking idiot.

But he was her complete fucking idiot.  

And that made him so complete.

============================

“Rad, I like fire, fighting or electric types but honestly they're all awesome.” Adrian showed you his illustrious Pokedex and marveled at your own impressive collection. 

“Gotta catch them all right?” You said with a cackle, tipping your head back.

It made a few people turn around in the park and left you a little mortified after letting out your loud laugh. 

A lot of people had told you it was ugly over the years, annoying like Fran Drescher off the Nanny had snorted cocaine in the bathroom stall while operating a chainsaw.

But Adrian matched yours with one of his own insane laughs, loud and barking, green eyes glimmering. “I like your laugh, so cute and neat-o glasses!” 

Your cheeks grew red hot at the compliment, hand reflexively touching your oversized 70s butterfly frames. But there wasn't a hint of sarcasm.

With those words, you'd fallen in love with this nerdy stranger and didn't even know his name yet. It felt like you'd known him your whole life.

“Um thanks, I like yours too, the aviator style is very cool.” You replied shyly introducing yourself and offering a handshake. 

“I'm Adrian, can you show me where that candy is?” Adrian grinned, not letting go of your hand, he instead had you lead him to the spot. 

“Here it is!” You proclaimed and Adrian got down on his hands and knees again to thank you as his shiny finally evolved into an Infernape.

“My all time favorite!” Adrian explained, the two of you chatting through Evergreen park until it was time for you to head back. 

“Gavantula is mine. I love spiders.” You said, slightly shy to admit it.

“NO FREAKING WAYYYY?! I LOVE SPIDERS!” Adrian shouted, green eyes bugging out of his head.

“REALLY? YOU DON'T THINK IT'S GHOULISH?” You shouted back, eyes similarly widening and sparkling brightly.

From that day on, Adrian and you were fast friends, catching up most afternoons after work to go on Pokemon Go walks, attend the events in Evergreen and nearly every day he would visit you at your job. 

The Evergreen Card Bazaar was a wonderful place to work. Unlike other local card shops that were recently coming under attack from horrible scalpers or just plain robbed, ECB had a guardian angel that ensured its Pokemon cards were left unstolen or scalped. 

Vigilante. 

You knew it had to be your friend Adrian Chase, Vigilante had the same infernape keychain you’d gotten him from a gachapon hanging off his wallet. 

But there was just one issue.

He was utterly clueless that you had a major crush on him. And whenever you tried to flirt or ask Adrian out, he excused himself with a strange muppet-like voice and Naruto ran out of your store. 

However unbeknownst to you, Adrian did have a crush on you too, he was just terrible at expressing it.

Like cataclysmically bad.

“I love your new binder, it's so pretty!” Adrian ran his hand across the washi tape and sparkly stickers you'd added. 

“Thanks, I love yours too…” You reached out to touch his teal one, leaning right over making sure he could get a good look.

Today you made sure to wear that one push up bra that made the girls look even more fantastic, on full display with a low-cut top. Adrian was hook line and sinker, especially when you locked your elbows in.

“B-bo…Bombirdier! What a good bird type Pokemon huh?” Adrian began to laugh mechanically, tipping his head back and avoiding eye contact with your decolletage. 

That was a close one, he thought to himself it was getting past ogling to near drooling territory. No way to treat a treasured friend! 

Sure he liked to bond over sex with women with Chris, or at least did before Harcourt entered the scenario but that was bro stuff. 

In the same vein of Chris being his number one bro, you were his number one gal pal, bonding with you would be less…a friendship building exercise, more…something else. 

And that unknown something else terrified the shit out of Adrian. 

“Welp. It's getting late, I should really go!” He announced and with that he bolted as per usual. 

And ran right into your shopfront door.

Shattering the glass.

Fragments showered down on him like spiky drops of rain. 

“Damn you actually smashed the front door?” Chris winced when Adrian sadly told him what had unfolded. 

He still had little cuts but they were clearing up quickly from his healing factor. You offered him some sanrio themed band-aids and after helping sweep up Adrian jumped in the Sebring, crying to Bonnie Tyler's Eclipse of the Heart as he drove straight to Chris’ trailer.

“Why'd you run into it anyway?” Chris asked with a yawn. “See a criminal or your own shadow or something?” 

“Because I got super anxious that I was gonna pop a boner in front of her!” Adrian explained. 

“So she's hot?” Chris was now very interested in this story, leaning forward.

“Yes and she's rather pneumatic.” Adrian explained shyly, readjusting his glasses. 

He had to clean them off with a microfiber cloth as the lens fogged up recalling you pressing those pillowy majestic things brushing against him earlier. 

“Oh no I didn't know she was sick dude sorry to hear that.” Chris, the utter himbo that he was, sadly put a hand on his buddy's shoulder. 

“No P, I mean her boobs, they're big, bouncy and amazing, kinda like hot air balloons, but over all she's a gorgeous sculpture, wide hips, her butt is better than T Swift's…” The vodka was untying his tongue, letting slip how he really saw you. 

Adrian thought you were magnificent.

“Built for comfort, I get it.” Chris nodded knowingly. 

“Built for a throne more like!” Adrian snapped, ripping the bottle of vodka off Chris for another swig. 

“She's a queen! And I am a humble jester in her buxom court, wishing only to make her smile and laugh.” 

He wouldn't mind being your throne though if you'd allow it, maybe his face? Yeah you could crush his head with those thick thighs, or sit on his dick, massive tits bouncing away…fuck. 

Hold up, this was no way to think about a treasured friend! 

“Damn dude you're seriously down bad for her.” Chris giggled, firing up a toke. “Why not ask her out?” 

“Ugh did I just say all of that out loud?! And you know I hate marijuana, can't believe they legalized that shit.” Adrian frowned at the Devil's lettuce and Chris happily rescinded his offer, more for him.

“Don't worry bro, we're in the cone of BFF silence while I'm ripping cones. Just drink, kick back and relax my guy.” Chris reassured him.

“Okay, well I mean she's seriously beautiful inside and out though! I love her unique  laugh and she's really smart, owns her own business and is funny, we have a lot of the same hobbies…” Adrian rambled on for a while about all the qualities he loved about you that weren't superficial and Chris waited for him to finish.

“Like this big, or this big?” Chris stretched his hands out at his chest. “Tell me when to stop going.” 

“Around there.” Adrian eventually said, that seemed about right.

“Holy fuck.” Chris appraised down at his hands. “Nice.” 

“Yeah…” Adrian sighed. “She is really nice and kind with the brightest smile and dazzling eyes in the whole entire world.” 

“Also she has these majestic jugs that I want to put my face between and motorboat,” All inhibition was out of the way now that Chris gave the go ahead, “like I'm Roger Moore’s James Bond in 1977  

classic The Spy Who Loved Me, jet-skiing with the white Spirit Marine Wetbike to evade Karl Stromberg's henchmen!” Adrian was sort of losing his BFF at this stage, hyperfixating. 

“Showcasing the first-ever jet-ski to the public on film, years before personal watercraft was made available to the mainstream!” He finished brightly.

“I am way too high for whatever you just said.” Chris grimaced. “Should I buy a jet-ski though? Is that a good investment?” He was baked enough to take financial advice from Adrian at this stage. 

“I mean we're a bit landlocked in Evergreen, plus you'd need to get a license and you're flat broke but hell yeah I think that's a great investment P!” Adrian knew all about great returns, his beanie babies collection would definitely hit the market again. 

Thankfully Chris' bank thought it was a scammer trying to steal his card details. The terrible purchase was blocked and he lived to not be murdered by Harcourt for spending money on more frivolous bullshit another day.

Somehow after telling Chris his secret, coincidentally everyone at Checkmate knew that Adrian had a crush on you.

Super weird. 

Langston who sat next to him was the worst perpetrator, teasing him whenever Adrian’s alarm went off for your Pokemon Go walks. 

“Walking on Sunshine for your lil Sunshine huh Super Nerd?” He grinned at how embarrassed Adrian got.

“It's just a loud song that has the word walk in the lyrics! I didn't pick it for any other reason.” Adrian lied, glaring at his screen playing cool math games to try and calm down. “And I only named her that in my phone so I wouldn't get confused…” 

Rip Jagger swaggered on by with a rude snarky, “You should change it to Walking on Broken Glass by Annie Lennox, cause that's gonna be your heart when she figures out how lame you really are.” 

Judomaster as always loved finding out something new to poke him with, that fucking little guy…

“You guys go out on dates all the time though?” Adebayo brought it up at lunch. “Why not check in about the relationship?” 

“No, those are Pokemon Go walks and events, we only hold hands when it gets cold.” Adrian insisted. “Or if one of us could get lost.” 

Before anyone could get a word in edge wise, he quickly added, “Also she could get abducted, so if you think about it, it's actually a safety issue and makes sense for me to hold her hand the entire time.” 

He looked very satisfied with that insane logic puzzle of platonic hand holding, the rest of the table grimacing at one another not wanting to go first unpacking it.

But Rip Jagger really didn't give a fuck about Adrian Chase's feelings. “Don't you have that weird thing about touching human skin, you discount store Jeffrey Dahmer?” 

Adrian frowned daggers back, readjusting his 70s serial killer frames.“Human skin does feel gross! Generally, I squeeze her hand and it feels nice, plus her nails always have a pretty theme painted on them and she uses fragrant skin lotions.” 

At the moment it was the Lovisia Pokepeace hand cream collabs, he wondered if you had on the piplup and rowlet lemon puree again? 

“It rubs the lotion on the skin or else it gets the hose again…” John muttered and Rip snorted, sharing some of his spicy chips with him.

“You squeeze her hand?” Adebayo needed more clarification. 

“Tightly for SAFETY!” Adrian snapped, “please P you get it right?” He needed his best buddy who had been silent in the wings, while devouring a bowl of wings.

“Sounds like you have a big ol crush there dude.” Chris shrugged, BBQ sauce all over his face. 

“I don't want to ruin this P, she's so cool and I don't have many friends, let alone gal pals.” Adrian explained sadly, fiddling with his straw. 

The paper was getting all sludgy in his iced strawberry matcha but Adrian loved the sea turtles more so supposed it was the price to pay.

“Gal pals?” Harcourt scoffed at the term.

“YES HARCOURT, GAL PALS. IT'S WHEN YOU ANSWER MY FRIENDSHIP TEXTS FOR SHOPPING AND MATCHA!” Adrian exploded in a fiery rage, face cherry red.

“Yikes.” Adebayo sipped on her caramel frappe.

“I told you to stop texting me Chase. I hate matcha, it tastes like grass, shopping is boring and your taste in movies is subpar.” Harcourt replied calmly before having more of her black coffee.

Probably not as dark or bitter as her soul, who the hell doesn't like watching Legally Blonde or Clueless? Adrian thought to himself with a pout.

“Moving on…” John interjected, not wanting to find out who would win between Adrian or Emilia. 

“She enjoys my taste in movies! We have sleepovers all the time.” Adrian proclaimed. 

“You guys sleepover huh?” Chris made a rude gesture with his fingers but it was lost on Adrian.

The sleepovers were totally platonic, there was that one time you were silly and accidentally forgot pyjamas so Adrian helpfully loaned you some. You wore his old Firefly shirt, stretching it out so nicely, he wanted you to do that with all of his clothes…

As Adrian told everyone this outloud, they all were slackjawed by how oblivious this dude truly was. “So you’re telling me she turned up to your place for a sleepover and didn’t bring anything to wear…and you responded by giving her clothes?” Langston had to know the extent of Adrian’s lack of rizz. 

“Well duh, I’m a great host and friend!” Adrian rolled his eyes. 

“And this weekend, you’re going on a big trip together?” John asked. 

“Yes, we're also sharing a hotel room over the weekend at the Metropolis Pokemon convention.” Adrian replied. 

“Sharing a hotel room?!” Adebayo exclaimed, completely exasperated.

“It saves money. The hotel is pricey and Pokemon themed. They even had a couples discount.” He explained. 

“And you don't see how that's romantic?” Sasha asked with a sly grin.

“Uh couples just mean groups of two Bordeaux and I wouldn't do anything inappropriate! She's working a Pokemon card and merch vendor stall and I'm there to help and be her body guard.” Adrian was sick and tired of them not getting the big picture.

“Body guard at a Pokemen convention? What, in case she gets a paper cut?” Langston laughed.

“Actually, people are kinda crazy about Pokemon cards right now.” John agreed, “it's not a bad idea to have backup.” 

“Yeah see! I'm just a backup, a guy who carries heavy bags. Stop trying to make it out to be more please.” Adrian couldn't let himself get deluded about you. 

If he allowed that door to open, Adrian knew he couldn't be chill anymore around you, he'd text you above the daily limit of 100 messages, call you all the time and follow you around more than the Vigilante patrol checks to ensure you got home safe.

That would be total stalker behavior! And that was illegal!

“But Adrian, it sounds like this could be more between you…” Adebayo said sincerely. “Maybe talk to her about it?”

“Oh yeah because open honest communication is the answer here– get real!” Adrian laughed at her mockingly. “Look I don't know about you Ads but I don't live in a Hallmark movie and everyone calls me crazy and too quick to jump the gun with relationships.” 

“Hm he's not wrong.” John said.

“You guys always say I'm way too clingy, call and text all the time, think I'm friends straight away, so what if my feelings are all in my head and she doesn't consider it the same? I'm trying to be respectful.” He huffed, stuffing his mouth with the creme brulee tarts he got as a way of distraction.

But the way they jiggled on the plate, god it reminded him of your impressive rack…the last time he saw you they were in a low-cut Deff Leppard tank top. 

Fuck he wanted you to pour some of that sweet sugar on him.

Adrian wanted to play with your boobs like a sensory toy, gently grip and squeeze, they were just so lovely, plush and pillowy looking, his face would sit so nicely between them…

Oh he'd be such a good boy for you, his voluptuous, curvaceous, bountiful marshmallow queen. 

Wait. How could he think so lecherously about his sweet, bubbly, well-endowed friend like that?!

Adrian felt like crying and hitting his head against the table. “I'm a feminist!” He suddenly declared, doing the latter. 

“Who pissed in your drink?” Harcourt was over his outbursts. 

“Everything reminds me of her.” He sighed, staring forlorn over at John's pudding and Adebayo’s sundae of two vanilla scoops with cherries on them. 

“She's got massive jugs. Adrian's always going on about them whenever we hit the booze.” Chris clued them in, crudely motioning with his hands outward.

“Hey, that's private! Secrets told in the cone of BFF silence!” Adrian glared at Chris who had the audacity to merely shrug.

“I mean there's no hiding those things. He showed me pics.” Chris got his phone out and handed it around the table.

A photo of you standing with Adrian at a Pokemon event, you were dressed up in a Kaede the Sugarbug Gym Leader cosplay, arms linked with his, Adrian’s face a bright pink and deliriously happy. The source of his joy was obvious, your ample chest was pressed right at his forearm.

“You're a boob guy? Nice, Super nerd.” Langston approved. 

“I'm more of an ass man myself.” Chris nodded sagely.

“I'm not talking about this around our current company.” John held his hands up like a hostage.

“Coward. I like tits.” Sasha snarked.

“TNA both are great.” Harcourt shrugged.

“Agree, but if I'd have to pick, ass.” Adebayo said.

“Ass is great.” Rip nodded. 

“Okay fine, I'm actually more of a thigh guy.” John admitted sheepishly.

“I can really see that you know…” Harcourt mused, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.

They all started chatting around their reasoning leaving Adrian going back and forth like he was watching a tennis game. 

“You should invite your venus di milo over to the office before you head to Metropolis.” Harcourt said a suggestion, but her tone implied it was more of a direct order. 

So when it was your scheduled Pokemon Go walk that evening, Adrian felt his hand sweating bullets, kept firmly in his windbreaker pocket. The other had his phone on the look out for another Chimchar. The gang told him holding hands wasn’t a normal friendship thing. 

Adrian really didn’t want you to realise he was fucking weird and stop hanging out with him. 

“Adrian, are you feeling okay?” You asked, he looked awfully pale, brow furrowed. 

“Yes!” He insisted, trying not to look at your cute dimpled cheeks, sakura pink painted lips, or especially down at the fluffy collared cable knit sweater. 

Fuck, he glanced down again at your incredible rack. It was peak sweater weather and you somehow looked even sexier in winter clothes than summer. How was that fair?

“Want to see my new nails?” You offered him your hand, but Adrian stared from a distance. Usually he would take your hand and examine them closely up at his thick wired frames.

“Very nice!” He offered a half-smile at the sparkly pink set.

Along with the matching dusted pink leg warmers and a curve-hugging cream woollen skirt, you really were like a beautiful marshmallow queen sent from the fey realm. 

Great now he was checking out your lucious thick thighs like a total perv as well, stupid EconoGOAT. 

“Thanks! I got you something for winter. It's a super exclusive one.” You dug into your handbag and got out a long blue teal striped scarf. 

“Woah is that a choice scarf?” Adrian marveled at the soft wool. 

“Yeah, I thought you'd like the colors.” You said shyly, watching him wrap it around.

“I love it! Where did you get it? Imported?” Adrian asked, hoping it wasn't too expensive.

“Well it's actually one of a kind.” You admitted fiddling with the strap of your handbag, “I knitted it for you.” 

Adrian froze in place at that, eyes widening. “You made this?” 

“Yeah, I also made these leg warmers.” You got shy with how intensely he was staring. 

“For me?” Adrian still wasn't processing it properly. Surely there was some mistake here. 

“Of course, you're really important to me! Hope you like it.” You 

“I love it!” Adrian beamed, wow this was the nicest thing anyone had ever made for him. 

The only other handmade thing he got were the horrible scratchy Christmas sweaters his stupid mother made him wear every year.

He leant right in, trying to think of the right words, not wanting to come across too strong and ruin the friendship.

Woah, he was getting closer, maybe your feelings got across with the present, did Adrian sense the love that went into it? 

You smiled back at him hopefully until he continued with, “you're such a good gal pal.” Then a hand clapped impersonally on your shoulder like a consolation prize.

He meant it genuinely, but the term stung, tears threatening to swell.

You wanted to be so much more to him but Adrian seemed embarrassed to hold your hand today and was keeping his distance. 

Maybe he'd figured out your feelings at long last and didn't return them?

“Yeah that's me…your gal pal.” You laughed awkwardly, trying to not be upset but Adrian didn't pick up on your change in demeanor and laughed along. 

“My friends at work want to meet you, did you wanna swing by the office before going to Metropolis?” Adrian offered. 

“Oh sure! I’d love that.” You couldn't stay upset, just like Adrian your emotions were like a rollercoaster. Besides, you had been wanting to meet his friends for ages now. 

The next morning, Adrian picked you up and helped load your suitcases. Checkmate was a fancy office building, but nobody really wore a corporate suit. So you felt a little bit better for how you were dressed up. An entirely Sims 2 inspired outfit with a red knit dress and thigh high black leather boots and of course some pokemon badges and swing charms on your handbag, today was Primarina, Feebas and Milotics turn. 

“How are you guys getting to Metropolis?” Adebayo asked, showing you into the elevator. 

“We're taking the Sebring of course.” Adrian seemed affronted by the question, puffing out his chest, “it's super reliable. I service it myself.” 

“My stall and merchandise is all shipped over there ready for me to set up.” You explained.

“Wow an eagle! You’re so handsome.” Rather than introduce yourself to the gang, you immediately rushed over to the animal in the room. 

“That’s Eagly.” Chris replied bemused. 

“Does he like sour cream and onion chips?” You asked, getting a packet out of your bag. 

“He does they are his favorite, how did you know that?” Chris was floored when Eagly did a little excited dance and ate out of your palm. 

“I mean what else would be their favorite?” You asked back, and Adrian nodded wisely. 

With that introductions were made with the humans of the office and you got shown around the desks and different spaces of Checkmate. Adrian froze when you got to his desk, the screensaver. It was of Vigilante and Peacemaker…he forgot to change it! 

“That’s uh…” Adrian winced when you smiled at the monitor. 

“You and Chris in your fun costumes! So cool you fight crime.” You said non-plussed. 

“You know?” Adrian couldn’t believe it. 

With a sweet hum, you admired the cute trinkets at his desk, including a Slowpoke glasses stand you had gotten him. “Of course, you saved my store from robberies and those awful scalpers.” 

“Right, um and you’re fine with it?” Adrian fretted with his rubix cube. 

“Yep!” You replied cheerfully and then paused at a picture frame with two little Cinccinos holding hands, the photograph inside was of you and Adrian at a Pokemon Go event. 

Then you saw the Slowpoke glasses holder again and got an idea, taking off your glasses and putting on his spare glasses. 

“Hey check this out! Guess which one is me and which one is Adrian?” You slid them up your nose, giving them the Adrian special. 

“WE'RE LIKE TWINS!” You shouted, already in a wheezing laugh, hands slapping your knees. 

The office paused to stare at you two standing in the same pose. You started to cackle like a lunatic at the bewilderment on everyone's faces, pointing back and forth between you and Adrian, who joined you, laughing away like a maniac at the gag, he then swapped to wear your glasses. 

“Wow, that sure is something…” Harcourt mused under her breath. 

“Damn she’s perfect for him.” Adebayo agreed with a toothy grin. 

“Do you have a boyfriend or partner?” Rip asked you, loudly chomping away at some flaming hot cheetoes. Adrian snapped at him to shut up. 

“No I don’t, my bed is empty. Well not empty, I have all of the life-sized eeveelution plushies, Flareon is the best hugger.” You replied with an anxious giggle. 

“Oooh that makes sense!” Adrian nodded in total agreement, flashing you a princely smile that made your heart skip a few beats. “And don’t ask her such personal questions.” 

“We should probably get to Metropolis now to check in for our hotel.” You reminded him, unable to hide the blush that rose from Adrian sticking up for you. 

Saying goodbye to everyone by the Sebring, Adebayo and Harcourt had a conspiratorial air to them when they asked what you were going to wear for pyjamas. Showing your luggage, it was a modest flannel set, having learned your lesson from the last time you tried ‘forgetting’ your pjs. 

The drive to Metropolis was filled mostly with 90s and 00s pop music, animal facts and of course Pokemon quizzing between you both, making it go by like no time had passed. 

“Congratulations!” The concierge lady, Fran, greeted you both on check-in.

“Uh thanks, but what for?” Adrian asked. 

“For your honeymoon of course! Mr. Chase, you booked our couples deal in the honeymooners suite. And this must be Mrs. Chase, wow, aren't you two just the cutest! My grandkids also love Pokemon!” Fran gushed. 

“I just got that room for the discount…” Adrian frowned. “I didn't realize it meant romantic couples.” 

“Oh sorry for the mix-up! Anywho here's your keys and we can take your bags upstairs. Get settled in, there's a Jacuzzi in the bathroom.” Fran didn't have time for this, she was a busy woman, and shoved the key card into his hand.

The hotel was fancy, heading into the honeymoon suite Adrian inadvertently booked. You both marveled at the decor outside of general cutesie Pokemon plushies, the bed had silk red and white sheets, large heart pillows with I choose you! on them. 

A bottle of champagne and rose bouquet sat on the table with a box of luvdisc chocolates. Petals were on the bed suggestively, fluffy robes for two to wear.

“Wow…um…” You were more than a little lost for words. This really was a romantic room after all.

“There's seriously been some kind of mistake, I can call the front desk for another room!” Adrian panicked, dropping his bags and lunging for the hotel phone. 

But instead he tripped over the cord and smashed a hand on the remote by the nightstand. 

The unmistakable saxophone of George Michael’s Careless Whisper began to play from the sound system. 

I feel so unsure…

As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor

As the music dies, something in your eyes…

Both of your eyes suddenly locked, an intense gaze caught in the drifting music, before Adrian blushed profusely and chickened out.  

“Shit, I wondered why they asked me what 80s love ballad I liked best, I thought it was supposed to be like a security question or something…” Adrian fumbled around trying to switch it off. 

Instead he only succeeded in finding the volume turning it up. “How does this fucking stupid thing work?!” 

TONIGHT THE MUSIC SEEMS SO LOUD~

Slamming another button, the lights went lower, setting an even more romantic mood, as they glowed red with hearts across the ceiling.

“Yes hello, how do I turn the music off? Also the lights are going all funny. And I think I booked the wrong room…uh okay yes I'll hold.” 

“It's okay I like this room Adrian, let's keep it.” You laid down on the bed. 

“But there isn't a cot like I requested for me to sleep on.” Adrian tensed as you settled a hand on your hip, gazing at him. 

“This is a big bed, let's just share it.” You insisted, taking his hand and motioning for him to relax.

“O-okay.” Adrian sighed, “I guess we'll only be here for sleep anyway. 

“Maybe this is the button to switch it off?” You wondered, hitting a big red one on the remote. Then the bed began to shake.

Yelping as the vibration caught you off guard, you nearly tumbled from the bed but Adrian caught you. 

We could have been so good together…

We could have lived this dance forever…

Staring up at him, you were both so close, noses nearly touching. 

But now, who's gonna dance with me?

Please stay…

His arm had pinned yours down into the mattress, making you shudder but then Adrian quickly leapt back and grabbed the remote to turn it off. The music and rotating disco ball of hearts stopped as well. 

“So the bed vibrates…” You stated lightly with a giggle, trying to clear the air.

“Yeah such a dumb feature, and like why is there a big heart shaped mirror directly in front of the bed? So stupid…” Adrian frowned, then upon realising what the mirror was for his jaw hung open like a carp into a small o. 

“I'm gonna go take a shower before we head to the convention.” He dashed into the bathroom and you began to worry when Adrian was gone for over half an hour.

"Are you okay?" Knocking on the door all you got was a muffled yelp that he was fine. After he got out, you decided to take one too and were surprised that there was still warm water.

"Y-yeah, I take cold showers..t-totally like all the t-time..." Adrian didn't sound overly convincing, shivering even down the elevator.

The Metropolis Pokemon Convention was one of the largest in years and you had been gearing up to prepare your stall, ready to go. 

Steve Lombard was not a Pokemon regular. In fact, he was repulsed by the whole concept. It was for total nerds, just sitting around a table wasting money, not like watching sports or betting on sports. That was different. “Why the hell am I here reporting on whatever this nerd crap is? I'm a sports columnist!” 

Jimmy Olsen, was a fan of Pokemon and especially enjoyed the cute cosplayers. Many of the ladies' numbers were already in his pocket. “Come on Steve, it's just a bit of fun! Besides, Pokemon is competitive so if you really think about it…” 

“Next time I'm getting assigned to a poker tournament then.” Steve rolled his eyes, surveying the hall with a scowl. 

That was until he happened upon your stall. “Well hello there…” Steve straightened his collar up, on the prowl. You were a beautiful diamond in the rough here and he wasn't the kind of guy to not shoot his shot.

“Where are you going?” Jimmy tagged behind him, taking photographs of the stage. A few cosplayers sadly bid him farewell.

“I think I spy an exclusive one on one interview!” Steve grinned, slicking back his hair. 

“Hey there gorgeous, I'm Steve Lombard, reporter for the Daily Planet. Might've heard of it?” He saddled right up and showed off his media badge.

“Oh wow, yes that's a major paper!” Your eyes widened at how official it looked.

“Yeah, sure is. Wow you're stacked, uh, I mean your stacked stall is really impressive. I'd love to take you out to dinner and discuss your local business.” Steve nearly tripped himself up there, admiring your beauty.

“I can't believe you want to plug my business!” You replied brightly.

“Oh sweetheart, I'd love nothing more…” Steve grinned and Jimmy grimaced. 

Adrian frowned, noticing the eyeline going on from Steve. You weren't clued into when guys were clearly ogling you, seeing the best in everyone. It was one of the major reasons why Adrian loved you so much.

But also why he was here to protect you.

Turning to a seething Adrian you were none the wiser, “Did you hear that Adrian? I'd love to, thank you Steve. That'd be so amazing for my store!” You were so giddy, clapping your hands together. 

“Shall we say around 7, drinks at my hotel room?” Steve replied, eyeing you up and down lecherously.

“Okay, where's your hotel? Is it close to ours?” You asked innocently.

“Wait a second, why not a public space, say like a restaurant?” Adrian snapped, arms folded. He really didn't like this guy and his slimy vibe.

“Sure great idea, we can get dinner on the company credit card then go up for drinks. You like Thai food?” Steve shrugged, undeterred.

“I love Thai food!” You nodded.

“Fantastic.” Steve grinned.

“See you then, Adrian also loves Thai food so it's a great choice. Do you like it as well?” You turned to Jimmy who snickered as Steve paled. 

“Uh I meant a private dinner to get the scoop…” Steve floundered.

“Oh sorry but I'm visiting Metropolis with my friend and don't want to put him out.” You smiled up at Adrian who looked thoroughly relieved.

“Just your friend huh?” Steve surmised with a cocky grin. “So still a chance then. Take my card and give me a call when you're free. I'll be in Evergreen for the major league game.” 

“Alrighty, talk to you then Mr. Lombard!” You beamed, over the moon. 

“I'd say please call me Steve but that sounded very nice from your lips.” Steve chuckled, Jimmy dragging him away before a harassment suit could be filed.

“What a nice man.” You hummed away obliviously.

“Can I see that card?” Adrian asked, brows knitted in an uncharacteristic frown.

“Sure thing,” handing it over, you were appalled when he shredded it up. “hey what was that for?!” 

“He was obviously flirting with you.” Adrian snapped with a huff.

“He was? Well what does that matter to you, it's not like I'm dating anyone.” You snapped back, startling him.

“I'm just your stupid gal pal after all.” The words spilt out, and so did a few tears. 

When he tried to comfort you with a hand, you knocked it back. “I can look after myself, why don't you leave me alone for a while and go around the convention.” 

“...okay.” Adrian didn't know what else to say. You were that upset at being his gal pal? 

Was he really truly this awful to have as a friend? Clingy, annoying, now he'd ruined something important for your livelihood out of petty jealousy. 

Sounded like you really wanted to date that sleazy Steve dude too. Adrian was sad Charlie Browning it through the convention, not even rad Pokemon cards or awesome merch could cheer him up.

“Hey, it's Napoleon Dynamite from earlier!” Steve laughed. 

Begrudgingly, Adrian decided to swallow his pride and asked, “could I get another business card to pass on to her?” 

“Sure, let that hottie know I'm available whenever.” Steve eagerly fished another card out of his wallet. 

“Yeah, thanks…” Adrian mumbled, shuffling off to go circle back to you.

But someone stopped him just in time, the plucky red haired guy from earlier.

“You shouldn't give her that card. He's a total jerk and clearly you're interested so how about you give her this one instead and let her know how you feel?” Jimmy suggested, swapping the business card.

“Clark Kent?” Adrian read out, sounded like a nobody.

“He's a real Pokemon nerd. And in a committed relationship, all around a great guy. He'll get a story, I'll take pictures. She'll get her business promoted. Now try and go get your girl.” Jimmy really didn't want to spell it out anymore and Adrian finally understood.

Meanwhile you were dealing with the public, most of them amazing and just genuinely into the hobby like you were. Then you encountered the annoying kind of customer, a total know it all.

He had the look of a scalper or wannabe influencer, loudly recording anyone and everything on his phone obnoxiously.

“Hey chat, check out this booth!” The man declared, waving around wildly and touching every single one of the charms, plushies and not putting any of them back properly.

“Woah I totally need this card, can I give you a hundred for it?” He pointed at a rare gen card, acting as though you didn't know the stuff.

“This one is generally worth two hundred but I'm happy to trade or…” You replied, showing him some other cards.

“Come on! I'm offering a hundred right now in cash and you'll get the exposure of being on my VOD!” He whined. “It's so not worth two!” 

“It is worth more but I accept trades, if you have a similar rated card…” You attempted to reason with him but that didn't appear to be an option. 

Now he was making fun of you on his stupid stream, incentivizing followers to go harass your store.

“Hey motherfucker. You're a twitcher?” A sharp venomous voice called out and Adrian was back, arms crossly folded.

“It's called a streamer old man and yeah I have like 10k followers…” The guy scoffed.

“No you misunderstand me, see if you keep harassing her they're going to call you a twitcher. Because that's all you're gonna be able to do when I break every bone in your body. Twitch.” Adrian's eyes went serial killer wide, menacingly enough to send the asshole running.

“Thanks Adrian.” You said shyly, feeling a little bad for yelling at him before.

“I'm sorry for tearing up that card. Here's a new one. It's for this dude Clark Kent though, he's into Pokemon. But if you really wanted to go on that date with Steve…” He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

“Do you want me to go?” You asked.

“It's your choice, I respect whoever you wish to date or not date.” Adrian said immediately, “but do I want you to? No, not really.” He admitted, staring down at his squeaky clean new balances. 

“Why not?” You probed him further. 

“B-because, he was a jerk. I don't think he was actually admiring your store or smart business sense…I mean does he even know that one of your favorite animals is the owl monkey?”

“They're the only nocturnal monkeys and have monochromatic vision! Plus these tiny little ears which is why their genus name is Aotus…” You agreed excitedly.

“Earless! Aww so cute.” Adrian interjected with a toothy grin.

“Were you maybe jealous then?” You suggested.

“Wha– no! Pfft that'd be super toxic of me and make me a super lame friend.” His voice was going into strange muppet mode again, fiddling with an elastic band around his wrist. 

“Right, okay nevermind then.” You sighed. 

“Maybe I was a little jealous. A lot jealous.” Adrian said, scratching the back of his neck. 

“Really?” That made your heart soar as Adrian shyly nodded, putting down a back in five sign, he took your hand to go take a proper look at the convention.

“I'm getting a phone call, sorry.” Adrian determined from the loud Barbie Girl lyrics buzzing out of his back pocket.

“Oh yeah Ads she's here with me, why do you want to talk to her?” He frowned at the phone. “Screw me I guess, here.” Handing you the phone, Adrian waddled off to inspect some Piplup plushies.

“Hello?” 

“Hey girl, how's the convention going?” Adebayo asked.

“It's going really great.” You said a little confused. 

“Harcourt and I packed something special in your luggage. You should wear it if you like it!” 

“Huh?” But they didn't elaborate, hanging up.

When you both got back to the hotel, it was still a bit awkward between you two. Ordering room service was nice, the package deal was ramen and you'd both stocked up on your favorite snacks to share. 

“Let's watch another Cage flick!” Adrian suggested, turning on the TV. “Oooh they have Vampire's Kiss on here. He ate a real cockroach for that you know…” 

“Or we could do…something else?” You suggested, batting your eyes up at him.

“Like what?” Adrian asked with a befuddled frown.

“Listen to some music?” You stole the remote and pressed play on one you had in mind.  

“C-cool. Yeah we can do that.” Adrian squeaked as you sat back into the crook of his forearm. 

“This is my top 80s love ballad.” You announced as Joan Jett's Do You Wanna Touch Me started filling the bedroom. “What do you think?” 

“Killer song choice…” Adrian slunk back against the pillows as you tried to shuffle in closer. 

“I should go get my jammies on and put my retainer in!” He leapt from the bed. Man that was close, you probably didn't realize it but that song was pretty suggestive.

A minor setback in your plan but you had anticipated this. Besides Adebayo and Harcourt had given you a hail Mary.

How they knew your measurements was kinda spooky though.

“Hey Adrian, there's a bunch of new limited stickers that were given to me for the convention. Want first dibs on some?” You sang out to him.

“Oh that'd be awe–” He began, strolling in still brushing his teeth, then Adrian took in your pajamas, which constituted a lacy silk negligee and matching shorts, “...some.” Toothpaste dribbled down his chin onto his old Evergreen High mathlete shirt.

“Sorry, you're already getting changed in your jammies, I'm not looking I swear!” Adrian clapped hands over his eyes shut, slightly peeking at your cleavage through the cracks of his fingers. 

Fuck your amazing boobs were in teal with white polka dots, and just sheer enough to see the outline of your nipples, hard from the cold night air. Wrapped up in a bow that he could untie with his teeth…ugh he was the worst! 

It’s just clothes Adrian, he kept repeating to himself. 

“You can look!” You called out as Adrian ducked back into the bathroom. “I'm all done changing.” 

Awkwardly he waddled back out. “Maybe you should wear the robe, it's kinda chilly.” He suggested, holding it out for you, eyes still shut. 

“No thanks, I'm comfy. Now sit with me!” You told him sweetly, but death gripped his arm to pull Adrian down next to you.

“I put some of the body ones on, they're love balls and meant to smell like strawberry shortcake. Can you check for me?” 

You'd put them right on your decolletage. This was surely a horny dream that Adrian was going to wake up from again and have to clean the sheets. 

But instead of waking up, the dream continued with you firmly shoving his face into your cleavage. 

“They uh smell like strawberry shortcake wow that's…cool. Yep I'm feeling quite refreshed from that scent. Thank you my kind lady, however, I must now bid you adieu!” Adrian leapt to his feet and tried to flee, holding his Pokemon binder over his crotch suspiciously. 

“Adrian, I obviously put these on my tits because I want you to touch them.” 

“B-but I'm not certified in giving mammograms.” Adrian stuttered, hands up like he was being taken hostage.

“No, I mean listen to the song I literally put on! I want you to touch me, as in I like you more than a friend!” In the words of Avril Lavigne you really couldn't make this anymore obvious. 

Not leaving anything more to chance you flung yourself at him, crashing your lips onto his. Adrian returned it, hands desperate, pawing at your waist as if he had been wanting to do this ever since he’d met you. 

“Oh.” Adrian malfunctioned for a couple moments after the kiss, face scrunching up until rebooting with a bright toothy grin. “What a coincidence, I like you a lot more than a platonic friend too!” He exclaimed, a puzzle finally solved dazzling through his green eyes.

“Thank goodness, that was going to be incredibly awkward if you didn't. In fact I think I might've died from the cringe.” You instantly relaxed, falling into his arms for a well needed hug.

“Do you want to bond with me then?” Adrian wondered, kissing your hair.

“Bond…like with sex?” You assumed, recalling the term from when he told you about his former escapades once.

“Yeah.” Adrian nodded like a bobble head. “But not friendship bonding, boyfriend girlfriend bonding.” He added tentatively.

“I'd like that for sure.” You replied, “I'd love to be your girlfriend.” 

“Killer, because I'm getting serious blue great poke balls over here ever since you shoved my face into your tits!” Adrian laughed and you joined him in a breathless kiss, more giggling than passionate.

Adrian's hands went straight onto his hips in a flash, pushing his sweatpants down and at full mast.

“Better help you out then!” You grinned.

Adrian moaned as you undid the bow from the front.

“Oh foxy mama, fuck yes, wow you're so hot…” He bit down on his lip when your breasts came tumbling out, tugging down his teal boxer shorts.

“Foxy mama?” You giggled, eyes widening at the nice curve of him springing out.

“Did I stutter?” Adrian grinned, hands already greedily kneading your breasts like he was a cat making biscuits. 

“Your tits are so bouncy…” Adrian sighed contentedly. “Like two big water balloons but I would never throw them around.” He ensured you knew that, kissing them gently. 

“Or more like stress balls, ohh fuck they feel so soft and gooood…” He groaned, rubbing his face against them. “If I was on shag carpet right now, that'd be the ultimate sensory overload,” Adrian hummed, digging through his wallet and  rolling a condom on. 

You didn't need to hear anymore, shoving him off the bed and onto the carpet. 

“How's this, your dream coming true?” You asked from above with a playful smirk, straddling him.

“I might honestly cum.” Adrian warned you with a wince as you ground your hips against his. 

“Mmm…I like the sound of that.” You whispered into the shell of his ear before shoving his face into your tits and lowering yourself down.

The relentless pace you set near knocked the wind out of him. 

“How's that?” You asked in a sultry whisper, hands splayed on his chest, enjoying curls of his chest hair. 

Adrian didn't have the proper words to approach how amazing it felt.

You were a vision of beauty, bouncing away, shag carpet giving him a gentle rug burn on his ass, Adrian was in pure heaven right now, completely stimming. 

“Feels good?” You giggled teasingly, wow you'd never had Adrian at a loss for words before.

All he could do was nod, panting, “feels amazing, fuck you're so good at this…” Adrian grunted, writhing underneath you. 

The contrast of textures, your soft curves and harsh carpet was totally overwhelming. Then there were his hands, you'd taken them to keep ahold of your tits, Adrian felt drunk off your pussy, mouth agape and moaning, “yeah fuck me baby, fuck me hard just like that!” 

That spurred you on to go faster for him, sinking up and down with a breathtaking rhythm. 

“Fuck you're so beautiful, ohh I'm the luckiest guy in the whole entire world right now!” He couldn't even really buck his hips back, legs spread, you were riding him so damn well.

“Yeah, you like taking it sweet thing?” You smirked. 

“L-love it, ohh I fucking love you!” Adrian burst out and confessed, looking mortified until you grinned. 

“Oh my freaking goodness no way! I love you too!” You exclaimed in pure joy. The two of you grinned and giggled like dorks for a short while until you continued to move. 

“Can't uhh h-hold on, fuck wait I'll seriously bust like super fast…” Adrian desperately whined, head titled back in total ecstasy. His glasses were completely useless and fogged up, slipping off his nose. 

“That's okay, cum inside for me like a good boy!” You replied brightly, hands threading through his hair and then tugged roughly to bring him up for a kiss.

He didn't last long from that, letting out a guttural shout, throat catching as he released thick and hot into the latex. You stole his lips again, enjoying the whimpering pleading moans vibrating on your tongue.

“Holy fuck, I don't think I've ever nutted that hard before…” Glasses sliding clean from his nose, Adrian was delirious and awestruck when you rolled off him. 

“I uh sorry, what can I do to get you there?” Adrian asked once he was able to string a thought together. 

Laying back on the silk sheets you hummed appraisingly at him. “Don't know, got any great ideas in there?” You twirled a lock of hair around your finger suggestively.

Adrian frowned for a second in deep thought before an idea struck like a lightning bolt. “I'm really good at eating pussy!” He exclaimed excitedly, crawling hands and knees on the mattress to join you. 

“Ooh yay let's do that!” You replied just as excited, the two of you bouncing on the bed in glee together for a second. 

“Killer! Get comfy, I'm about to take you on the Chase express, all stations to cumsville!” Adrian laughed like a goofball, looking a little sheepish until you joined in.

“Choo-choo!” You laughed back just as goofily. “Lucky I bought my ticket!” 

“Yeah, time for me, the train conductor, to stamp it with my tongue!” Adrian played along, sloppily kissing your inner thighs.

“Oooh can't wait for you to drive me, locomotion…” You sighed, but that stirred Adrian back up.

“Well actually, see the train engineer is in charge of operating the train. Pulling the locomotive controls, monitoring speed, but while the engineer may be in physical control of the train, truly the conductor calls the shots.” Adrian was kinda losing the sexy fantasy and starting to describe to you the roles of railway employees, but his heart was in the right place.

“Okay mister conductor, conduct me then please?” You reminded him why he was between your legs right now.

“Oh right!” Adrian snapped out of it and delved right in, slotting his mouth over your core. 

Tight loving circles swathed with his tongue at your clit had you aching for more, gripping his curly hair taut.

It didn't take long to figure out his claims were correct, you were reeling from his five oclock shadow grazing your inner thighs, bridge of his nose and glasses bumping just right at your clit. 

Adrian was lapping every cry from your lips and moaning, vibrating while drinking in your core, relishing the release you gave him, his name bounding off the hotel walls. 

“Can you…turn around for me? Maybe uh get on all fours?” Adrian asked, whetting his lips to taste you gain when he came up for air.

“Sure I can do that,” you eagerly got in position, pillows under your stomach and elbows, buzzing with anticipation at him taking control.

Then you remembered. The mirror.  

Adrian clearly hadn’t forgotten, transfixed with it, as he entered you. “Oh fuck look how well we're bonded right now, that's so fucking good…” He grunted, eyes locked with the reflection of you two. “Love being connected like this,” his hand went down to lovingly caress where you were joined. 

“You're so tight for me, taking my cock so fucking well, like you were made for it, look at that, fuck,” his voice is practically purring against your ear, tongue tracing the shell and teeth nibbling the lobe. 

“Come on, don't be shy, look.” Adrian cupped your jaw, tilting it upward to face the mirror. “You're so fucking hot, look at what you're doing to me…” 

“It's a little embarrassing…” You whined, but took in the lust ridden focus written across Adrian's expression. 

“No it's not, you're beautiful,” he pressed a line of kisses up and down your neck, “I love you, you're perfect.” 

His hands are everywhere clutching at your hips, waist and breasts, anywhere he can find purchase to thrust deeper, hit that spot that makes you shout his name louder.

“We're like pairing mates for life now right? Sorry if it’s toxic, but I kinda want you all to myself forever…” Adrian rested his head on your shoulder and you felt a dampness.

But it wasn't droplets of sweat.

He was softly crying. 

“Y-yes we are Adrian, I'm yours! For life and forever.” You reassured him, giving his hand a tender squeeze.

“Oh that's fucking awesome sauce, I'm always gonna be yours babydoll! This cock is now officially reserved for you only!” Adrian grinned widely, wiping the tears from his face before snapping his hips forward again. 

“L-lucky me…fuck you're so good at this Adrian!” Encouraging him earned you a resounding chorus of choked moans from you both. 

Crossing your arms behind your back, Adrian set an unrelenting pace, jackhammering his hips, all the while watching himself in the mirror make you fall completely undone. “Yeah that's it, take me,” He repeated in a fervent whisper.

“Adrian, I can't, I'm going to cum…” You whined, bucking your hips back for even more of that sweet friction.

“That’s okay cum for me like a good girl!” Adrian smiled against your shoulder blade, cheekily using your line from earlier. “I wanna see your cutie patootie o-face!” He gripped your chin again and tilted it upward so your eyes joined to watch the reflection. 

"Ahh fuck, I-I'm coming for you Adrian!" You screamed for him, a release began, at first a light fluttering in your walls. Then a pleasured wave hit white hot, squeezing his cock so tightly that Adrian sobbed into his own orgasm, chasing yours. 

The rest of the night was spent basking in the warmth of your bodies finally intertwined together, giggling about how long it took to realise you both felt the same way.

With a determination to not lose any more time, outside of making a brief appearance to the convention the next morning, there was a spectacular marathon of lovemaking to be had.

Which eventuated in housekeeping needing to let Fran downstairs at concierge know that your suite was now officially the Honeymoon suite and do not disturb. 

────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────

“Hey there, I'm Chris. From earlier on the phone. Thanks for inviting me to tag along.” Chris gave his best swoon worthy grin to the group, clearly on the look out for a hook up. 

Given by how into his goofy-ass discount store adonis vibe that Blake and Taylor both appeared to be, that might actually be on the cards tonight.

“Oh hey you guys made it! That’s wonderful and it’s so great to meet one of Adrian's friends!” You beamed over the moon to see Adrian, shaking Chris’ hand. 

“Bold of you to assume there's plural.” Dave muttered under his breath before taking a long sip of his beer moodily. Glaring at Adrian, he was completely livid. 

“What was that?” Chris asked, challenging him with a cold direct stare, that Dave couldn’t meet. 

“Uh I said I’m Dave, Adrian’s other manager.” He lied to the massive unit of a man. Dave wasn’t an idiot, he was sneaky and found the perfect time to strike as a bully, kind of like a snake. 

“This calls for a round of drinks!” You exclaimed, “Shots are on me!” Everyone wooed at that, and you dashed off to get them, a tiny tidal wave. 

“Man she's kinda cute honestly,” Chris said idly watching you order another drink by the bar. “You think she'd be down for P town?” He asked Adrian, nudging him with an elbow.  

Usually Adrian would laugh and say yes, enjoying the double usage of P for Peacemaker town and pound town but he couldn't support this. You were different. 

“I don't think so.” Adrian chewed his cuticle nervously, eyeing you so cheerful and trying to get along with everyone. “Please don't.” The words left his lips before he even knew they had and Chris nodded.

“Sure thing pal, no go zone. Loud and clear.” Chris clapped him on the back and necked down his beer. He got up to boogie by the jukebox, putting on Cinderella’s Shake Me while gyrating his hips for any who would be ensnared. 

Adrian meanwhile got to chat with you the entire night, swapping fun animal facts. “I have a dinosaur fact for you.” You announced. 

“Holy shit, no way what is it?” Adrian leant in, an endearingly goofy smile sweeping his face. 

Adrian really was handsome, it was a shame about your rule not to date coworkers, he was totally your type…you tried to not think on that too much while getting more and more tipsy. 

“Did you know that less time separates the existence of us humans and the T-rex than the T-rex and the Stegosaurus does?” You asked him, watching his eyes glimmer in shock and awe. 

“Woah! That’s amazing, did you know that reindeer eyes turn blue in winter?” Adrian presented as his next fact, laughing along with your snorting giggle. This was so fun, he couldn’t believe it, being at work drinks and feeling like he belonged there.  

“Come on, pick a song you two and dance!” Chris called you both over with a big wave. 

“Do you have one you’d like, Adrian?” You offered, smiling brightly up at him. Adrian couldn’t resist punching in Natasha Bedingfield’s Pocketful of Sunshine. 

At first he was a little shy, which Chris clocked immediately, this guy never shied away from performing his world famous butt dance. At least not in front of the 11th street kids. 

I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine…

I got a love and I know that it's all mine, oh, oh-oh

But that anxiety was quickly forgotten when you started to shimmy away ridiculously on the dance floor, taking Adrian’s hands to join in. 

Do what you want, but you're never gonna break me…

Sticks and stones are never gonna shake me, oh, oh-oh

Not even the snide laughs of his more bitter colleagues could deter Adrian, not as you were giggling and so into his killer moves. With you at his side it was like all their teasing voices drifted away and he was on the sandy beaches of a faraway place, enveloped in a kind warmth radiating off you.

Take me away, a secret place, a sweet escape…

Take me away, to better days, a hiding place…

You felt the same way, able to dull the pain of the past, regrets and mistakes made while dancing them all away with Adrian. He was so sweet and kind, not a hint of judgement in his dimpled smile as you stomped horridly, uncoordinated as anything. 

Wish that you could, but you ain't gonna own me!

Do anything you can to control me, oh, oh no

You can't control me, you can't control me…

He couldn’t control you anymore, you had moved far away to Evergreen now. You had started an entirely new life here and got a stable job. Yet why did those chains of debt still have to pull you down so heavily?

There's a place that I go, that nobody knows…

Where the rivers flow, and I call it home

Adrian got a little bit bolder, moving closer and twirling you around. His green eyes locked yours with the whisper of something more, catching your breath unawares. 

And there's no more lies, in the darkness, there's light

And nobody cries, there's only butterflies

“I…t-that was a good song choice Adrian. I think I’m pretty dizzy though. Might need to go sit down.” You said quickly, an excuse to withdraw before the moment got too intimate. 

“Sure thing!” Adrian grinned, dancing with Chris for a little while before rejoining you. 

“Dude I think she totally has the hots for you.” Chris insisted. 

“You think so?” Adrian wasn’t as sure, readjusting his glasses, he took a small peek back at you. When you gave him a wave and bright smile, he couldn’t help but get his hopes up a little. 

Dave didn't dare approach Adrian the whole night, Chris was like his guardian Grecian urn head shaped angel. But as soon as he left with Blake and Taylor back to his trailer for some after partying, Dave saw his chance to swoop in.

“Want to go with Chris, I think he's having an after party.” Adrian offered, picking up his car keys and spinning them around a pointer finger.

“Uhh, no thanks Adrian…” You laughed, setting his hand back down. “Let's keep hanging here. I'd love to chat more about those new facts on otters!” 

“They uh, hold hands while they fall asleep to make sure they don't drift away…” Adrian rambled, your hand was so small and soft on his right now, he gulped, hoping you wouldn't remove it.

“I'll be right back, I need to powder my nose.” You announced, more than a little tipsy, you gripped Adrian's forearm to help you get off the stool.

“And I mean taking a tinkle, not doing cocaine so we're clear Adrian.” You giggled at his slight frown.

“Oh! Okie dokie then. See you soon.” Adrian flashed you a toothy grin, sipping down a frozen margarita.

Right as you left to use the restroom, Dave stormed over to where Adrian sat alone by the bar.

Adrian was smiling away like a fool to himself, twiddling with the straw in his drink. This has been so much fun, he felt for once included, you brought him into the sphere of conversation like it was nothing. Was this what acceptance felt like?

“What the fuck do you think you're doing showing up here?” Dave hissed scathingly, taking your seat.

“It's a work party and I was invited by the cool, nice manager. Besides it's a free country I can go to whatever fucking bar I want outside of work hours.” Adrian bit back, but then saw Chris waving him goodbye linking arms with his colleagues.

“Hey, you know the board is for sure coming back now right?” Dave sneered watching his face fall.

“Go ahead, I don't care anyway.” Adrian lied, the wince on his face clearly spelling out he did in face care. Quite a lot actually.

“What board?” You asked, materializing behind them both.

“It's nothing!” Dave and Adrian both replied.

“Hey, seriously what board?” You demanded, too drunk and annoyed to control your volume. 

“A board to take bets about me.” Adrian explained, eyes glued to the floor. 

“The fuck?” You tried to articulate how messed up that was, waving your hands at Dave. “That’s disgusting, we don’t bet on people at work. Or dogs or horses at the track, get the fuck out of here with that middle school bullshit right now. If I see you so much as holding a whiteboard marker and looking in Adrian’s direction, I will call corporate with all the HR violations I discussed in our manager's brief that I have witnessed since starting here.” 

“Come on, he’s a total…” Dave tried to turn it around on Adrian, but you were too drunk to let it stand, prodding him in the chest. 

“I have a metric tonne of shit on you for not being a stellar manager Dave. Do I make myself loud and clear?” You glared up at him, a rabid chihuahua not messing around. Both with as much bark as bite. 

“Okay, yeah, you’re loud and clear. Mostly loud, but yeah. I won’t go near him.” Dave frowned but relented. Adrian was lost of words, seeing the big bad Dave whimper out of the bar like a dog with a tail between his legs. 

Leaving just you two remaining to head home. “I’ll drive you home!” Adrian said, happy to be the designated driver. 

“Thanks Adrian, I’m sorry about Dave. I knew it must’ve been bad before I got to Fennel Fields, but not that bad.” You said, sliding into the passenger seat. 

“It’s okay, I’ve got you now! Best manager ever.” Adrian chirped, putting on some music to hopefully set the mood he wanted. 

Jessica Simpson’s 1999 I Think I’m in Love With You started to play, and you could feel the choice was intentional by how Adrian’s cheeks blazed red, redder than the traffic light. 

Every time you're near, baby

I get kinda crazy in my head for you

And I don't know what to do…

“And uh, best lady ever too.” He added, placing a shaky hand on your knee. 

I get kinda shaky when they mention you…

I just lose my cool…

It was wrong, but the moment intoxicated you, more than the booze going to your head right now, swept up in the emotions, you squeezed his hand back. Adrian really was sweet. He’d made a great boyfriend. 

My friends tell me

Something has come over me

And I think I know what it is

I think I'm in love

Adrian interlocked his fingers with yours, a quivering smile reaching the corners of his mouth. Maybe Chris was right? You did like him back! 

You took me by surprise

When you turned and looked me in my eyes

Boy, you really blew my mind

Pulling up to your place, Adrian leant forward, going right in for a kiss, his brow adorably knitted, eyes squeezed shut and parted lips tense.

For a fraction of a second you nearly leant back in, but your better judgement kicked in. This was too soon and you were his boss! 

I don't know what's gotten into me

But I kinda think I know what it is

I think I'm in love

“Adrian, I’m sorry but I can't.” You tried to explain, reeling back and pushing stop on his stereo. 

“I know you're drunk, but when you're sober it'd be rad if you did still feel the same way. No pressure though of course.” Adrian grinned hopefully, helping you out and up the steps to your apartment. 

Swaying down the hall to your bedroom, you were glad for his assistance but also tried to put it in terms that he'd understand.

“No, I'm sorry I can't be with you in that way because I'm your boss. I do really like you. However, it's not a position I want to put us in. Do you understand?” You hoped this could stomp the notion out once and for all. 

“Position…as in you prefer not to do doggy style or something like that?” Adrian wondered, clearly still with something on his mind, “no need to worry, I'm down to do whatever!” 

“No, it's a power imbalance! And completely against the rules, code of conduct for us to be together.” You explained firmly.

“Oh…” Adrian could understand wanting to follow the rules. 

“I don't want either of us to get fired. Plus I'm already worried that Dave is going to write us up and claim that we're dating to corporate now.” You sighed, he was really bitter when you rebuffed him tonight. 

“Screw Dave! Screw corporate! Screw stupid motherfucking Fennel Fields!” Adrian snapped, biting down firmly on his bottom lip there was no hiding the tears brimming. 

“Adrian look…in my experience business and relationships really don't mix.” You said softly. 

“But you make me feel normal, I love being with you. I'll lose my job or better yet I can just quit, I don't care.” 

Sighing, you couldn’t entertain the idea right now, “Don’t say that Adrian, we've only just met. It's not worth throwing away your career.” 

“What career, I'm a bus boy and you're just a manager at a stupid crummy restaurant.” Adrian retorted childishly. 

“Adrian, that's enough.” You snapped. 

“What? I know hospitality work is real work and should be more respected but come on, look I'm doing way more interesting things with my buddies anyway and…” He whined, seriously Fennel Fields didn’t matter to him. 

“Then go do those things in your free time. I'll see you on shift.” You said bitterly.

“Don't be mad,” Adrian whined, “what did I say?” He was always saying the wrong thing but you were so kind and never saw the menace that others enjoyed sticking into his off the cuff statements.

“Oh nothing, you only insulted my entire career and clearly have a more important life outside work than I do.” You muttered, rolling over to face the wall.

“Sorry, I didn't mean to insinuate that.” Adrian offered tentatively.

“Sure thing, don't worry Adrian it's already water under the bridge.” You said but didn't sound any brighter. “Thanks for driving me home, goodnight.” With that you retreated under the comforter and Adrian wished you a quiet goodnight.

When Adrian wandered back through the hallway he saw picture frames you'd recently put up. Newspaper clippings of achievements, all around hospitality and local business awards for you were proudly displayed.

He felt guilty realising truly how much pride you put into this, books on management styles, local business codes and advice columns printed out on a table.

Then he came across a small cluster of photographs of you with a man he didn't recognize. His arm around your shoulder, above was a newspaper clipping around the amazing looking restaurant you'd opened together in Gotham. 

Your brother maybe?

As he read the text, Adrian frowned. That guy had the same surname as you but in a photo kissed you rather passionately. 

Okay, hopefully not your brother. 

Deciphering the reviews, you were a married couple. At first your restaurant was doing well until some shady investments from your ex-husband to some not so great people in Gotham. 

Then the reviews got more and more unkind, one recounting that a man could be heard yelling in the kitchen while people were trying to dine. 

Gotham Gourmand 

★☆☆☆☆ Abysmal Anniversary Dinner 

Despite the chipper owner who ran the host side of the place, her husband the chef was unfortunately a brute who screamed and bickered with any that stood in his way. 

Including this lovely burst of sunshine, our hostess, who offered myself and my wife free dessert and wine to make up for our ruined anniversary dinner. 

This resulted in the police being called. Suffice it to say don't be surprised when you see the foreclosure sign on the door. 

And I sincerely hope we will have a new update to the divorce column as well.

More newspaper clippings were out on the table, scattered amongst the scrapbooks and scissors. One stuck out in the Gotham Gazette titled: Local business feud amidst messy divorce. A former lawyer turned chef has gone back to court to become his first new client. 

Adrian stopped reading the article and saw cluttered around was a pile of envelopes reading payments overdue. Some were opened, others left to piles that read ‘loans’ and ‘alimony.’ 

Wait, you were paying this guy? 

A print out made his blood boil over even more, it was the shady Graves, Willock, and Crain law offices in Gotham website with your ex’s photograph underneath as a senior consultant under our staff.

So this was why you were so hesitant to enter another relationship, especially with colleagues. Adrian tiptoed back into your room, but upon seeing you sitting there and balling up tissues, thought more of trying to attempt a comforting forehead kiss. “Adrian I know you're still sneaking around out there.” 

“Oh, sorry.” Adrian winced.

“It's okay, I heard you grumbling about those articles in the corridor.” You gave a short sad laugh. “Don't worry about it seriously, I'm fine.”

Adrian didn't think you sounded very fine but left as per your wishes, trying and failing not to cry when Jessica Simpson’s When you told me you loved me came on next. 

⋆｡˚☀️

Claire and Adrian were the spitting image of each other, so much so that when she had Claire she could’ve sworn she was about to spit out some incorrect animal facts instead of crying. Adrian adored her from the start, she wasn’t sure she would ever see Adrian love anything more than he loved and cared for her, but he took to being a dad like a fish to water. He was obsessed with her, knew what she needed before she could even blink and was always there for her. Despite all his worries and fears, Adrian was an amazing father. 

It was hard on all three of them when Adrian was away on missions, but she would never ask Adrian to sacrifice being Vigilante for them, not when he was always so well aware of how his absence was around that house. 

“No! I know the rules! Plus daddy said if I follow the rules that we could get a lizard!” Claire said, jumping up and down as she opened the mailbox, pulling out the mail and handing it to her mom as she did every day. Once she had the mail in her hands, Claire took off towards the front door and she smiled following behind her. 

“Yeah, we’ll see about the lizard, daddy might’ve said it’s okay but daddy didn’t talk to mommy about that,” she grumbled as she closed the door, Claire already running for the kitchen as she flipped through the mail. 

“Uncle Chris has an eagle though!” She complained.

“What does Uncle Chris having an eagle have anything to do with you getting a lizard?” She asked, sighing at the familiar beat of Adrian’s arguments, never really seeing the connections between two clear points. 

“Well, daddy says I’m cooler than Uncle Chris so I need a cooler pet!” She said it like it was the most obvious thing on the planet. She chuckled at her daughter's logic that very much matched her fathers.

“Alright, well we’ll see.” She said, handing Claire a pack of muffins before she started going through the mail. 

She wasn’t surprised to see the usual junk mail and bills, but one letter that was clearly handwritten caught her eye. 

It was addressed to Adrian with a return address, but no name and forwarded from his mom’s house. It had been years since they had gotten anything forwarded from there let alone something looking as intentional as a handwritten letter. She’s not even sure the last time they got a letter like that period. 

She spared Claire a look as she watched her hum as she ate her snack, doing a little dance as she enjoyed her sweet treat. Even though it was a little early she stepped out of the room and dialed Adrian’s number. 

“Hey, baby! You’re early, is everything okay? Did Claire get off the bus okay?” Adrian answered immediately and she smiled at his instant worry for them. She sat on the edge of the couch, perching where she could still see Claire, but be far away enough that the young girl wouldn’t notice. 

“Yeah, we’re both okay. Strange question for you though, are you expecting a letter?” She asked, looking at the letter in her hands. 

“I never know what’s coming in our mailbox, you know that,” he answered and she chuckled. 

“Okay good point, but there’s a letter here for you and it looks to be handwritten,” she said.

“A letter to me? Like handwritten?” He asked, sounding surprised on the phone. 

“Yeah, it’s forwarded from your mom’s. There’s a return address but no name,” she said, turning the envelope over again, but there was really no clue to who it could be from. 

“Who the fuck is sending me a letter?” He asked and she laughed. 

“No offense baby but that’s what I’m trying to figure out,” she said and Adrian huffed out a laugh. “Can I open it or do you want to wait till you get back?” 

“It’s funny you think I can wait that long and that I won’t be thinking of the envelope the entire time till I get back if you don’t open it right now,” he said dead serious and she laughed. 

“Alright, alright,” she said, holding the phone between her ear and shoulder as she teared open the letter and pulled out a single handwritten page. “huh,” she said as she looked at the name, her stomach instantly turning.

“What? What is it?” 

“It’s a letter from your dad,” she said, skimming the page, “he’s inviting us to his house for the fourth of July.” 

“Who?” He asked, voice was tight and she could tell that he was starting to pace, her heart cracked a little picturing the sight of him panicking alone in a shitty room, far away from her. 

“Your dad,” she repeated as gently as possible but even over the phone she could tell how even the concept of the letter was affecting him. 

“Can you read it all to me?” He asked, sounding suddenly small over the phone and she closed her eyes, wishing either of them had had the patience to wait to do this till Adrian was home where she could comfort him. 

“‘Dear Adrian, I hope you’re doing well. I heard from your mom that you got married and you’ve had your first child! I want to wish you congratulations, that’s such a huge milestone and you should be really proud. I know it’s been a while, but I wanted to invite you and your family to come down to visit me in San Francisco for the fourth of July. We clearly have so much to catch up on! I’ve attached my number so we can figure out timing and plans! I hope to hear from you soon. Your dad, Charles Chase.’” She read in a soft voice, her eyes on Claire once she was done reading, the small girl had finished her snack and had already moved onto pulling out her homework. She listened to Adrian breathing on the other end, waiting for him to say anything. “Baby, you there?” 

“Yeah, I’m here,” he said softly. 

“You don’t have to decide what we do right now, we can talk about it-”

“We don’t need to talk about we’re not going,” he said immediately and she could feel the tension over the phone. 

“Adrian-”

“No, why the fuck would we go? Why the fuck would we subject Claire to that? I haven’t heard from him in almost 15 years and you want us to do what? Go to his house and act like nothing has happened? No, we’re not going,” Adrian said and she frowned as he clicked the phone, hanging up on her. She sighed, fidgeting with the phone and the letter as she thought of Adrian, either alone in his room or immediately putting on his Vigilante suit to stop some low level criminals, anything to just feel like this wasn’t happening to him.

God, she should’ve waited the moment she realized what the letter was and who it was from. Getting Adrian to talk about his upbringing at all was like pulling teeth, most of what she had learned was from his mom and even then she wasn’t sure what was really true. It was clear to her that his mom seemed to remember everything with rose colored glasses, especially considering how Gut behaved the one time she had met him. 

Her phone started buzzing in her hand and she was met with her favorite picture of Adrian with Claire when she was a toddler. She immediately answered. 

“Adrian-”

“I love you,” he interrupted. “I’m sorry for hanging up on you, but I’m upset and I hate this,” he breathed out and she smiled. 

“I love you too, baby. I’m sorry for upsetting you.” She said as she stood up and walked back to the kitchen, Clarie immediately honed in on the fact that she was holding the phone. Claire dropped her color pencil and started jumping up and down reaching for her phone. 

“It’s not your fault he wrote a letter,” he said, “I just fuck, that’s a lot to unpack.”

“Do you want to feel better about it?” She asked, brushing Claire’s dark curls back, ones that matched her father’s, as she looked down at her. 

“I really don’t think there’s anything you can say-” he started and she smiled as she put the phone on speaker, crouching down to Claire’s level. 

“Daddy!” Claire yelled into the phone and Adrian’s voice stopped dead in its tracks. 

“Hi, Claire Polar Bear! Are you being good for your mom?” Adrian asked, his voice immediately changed, no hint of him being upset remained. 

“I am not a polar bear!” Claire immediately said, giving a hard almost fake sounding laugh just like Adrian’s. 

“I wouldn’t know, last time I saw you I could’ve sworn you were a polar bear!” 

“Daddy!” 

“I’m sorry, princess. How was school today?” He asked and she helped Claire back into her chair, placing her phone on the counter so Claire could keep talking while she started moving around. 

“It was good, mommy said I could get a lizard,” she whispered into the phone, leaning over the counter. 

“Claire Anne Chase, you do not lie especially to your father,” she immediately said and Claire shyly looked away from her mom. 

“I’m sorry,” she whispered and she gave her a small smile. 

“Yeah, baby you know better. Plus, I hate to break it to you, but daddy knows mommy like the back of his hand so he knew that was a lie,” he admitted and she immediately wanted to comment on the fact that she knew Adrian and she knew even though he was putting on a brave face in this moment he was still struggling internally. 

And she had no idea how to make it okay. 

“Daddy, when are you coming home?” Claire said, snapping her out of her own spiral as Adrian chuckled. 

“I’ll get home tomorrow while you’re at school, okay? I will be home and ready to play when you’re back from school,” he said and Claire frowned, bouncing slightly. 

“Will you pick me up from the bus stop?” Claire asked and she chuckled. 

“What, you don’t want mommy to pick you up anymore?” She joked and Claire smiled slightly. 

“No! I want both mommy AND daddy to pick me up!” Claire said like to was the most obvious thing on the planet. 

“Of course, baby. We’ll both be there tomorrow.” Adrian said softly on the phone and she smiled. Moving to get to work on dinner while Claire and Adrian both chattered away, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the letter. 

She knew Adrian was not going to address it, in fact the moment he found the letter in the house he was going to get rid of it in some way. He was going to refuse to talk to her about whether it was the right thing or not. It had taken years to truly get Adrian to unpack how rough his childhood was. Between his mom losing it, Gut tormenting him, and his dad just leaving; Adrian’s happy memories were few and far between. He always played it off like it didn’t bother him but she noticed the way little comments would get to him and how he was eager to distance his new family away from his old family, keeping them in a protective bubble.  

She was sure that had a lot to do with why Adrian cared so much about Claire’s childhood from day one. Taking lots of pictures, being there for every moment, and as the years went on being at her beck and call. Convincing Adrian to start taking in field missions again after essentially being on two years of training and desk duty just out of fear of being too far away from them took months of talking and begging him to see that both of you would be okay. That he didn’t have to kill himself worrying about them all the time - that he can have his life as Vigilante and them too. 

Even then, it took time to get him back into the routine. 

However the moment she heard Adrian’s key turn in their front door a few hours before Claire should be home she could feel the tension. She was slow to move towards the front of the house, meeting a very disheveled Adrian at the front door as he dropped his heavy duffle bag. 

“Oh baby,” she murmured as she walked towards him, taking him in her arms as he grabbed her tightly. He shoved his head in the crook of her neck, breathing her in with a shaky breath. “That bad?” She asked as he nodded against her. 

She stayed silent and steady as he held onto her for dear life and she couldn’t tell if his reaction was because of the mission or because his thoughts were still scrambled from the letter from his dad.

“Are you hurt?” She asked as gently as possible and he sighed, finally prying himself just far away enough from her that she could see his eyes.

“I’m not hurt,” he said, voice scratchy and she kissed his cheek, content in the knowledge that at this point Adrian knew to always tell her if he got hurt. No more bleeding out alone in his car while he napped, hoping his body would mend. 

“We’ve got about two hours before Claire gets home, you want to take a shower and I’ll make you something to eat?” She said, holding his face between her hands as he gave her a lazy smile. 

“Shower with me?” He asked and she gave him a light glare before nodding. 

“Go put your bag away and I’ll get the shower ready,” she said, giving his cheek a pat before heading towards the bathroom. She immediately turned the shower to probably way too hot and undressed. 

“My favorite view,” he teased in a sleepy voice as he dragged himself into the bathroom, she smiled looking over her shoulder at him as she moved over to help him take off his clothes. Her fingers traced over old scars and a few new bruises that would probably be gone by time they were out of the shower. 

“I thought you weren’t hurt?” She demanded, hand ghosting over the bruise as Adrian tensed, not from pain but from being caught. 

“It’s old?” He tried and she looked at him and he immediately crumbled. “It’ll be healed before Claire gets home, it’s not a big deal.” 

“It is to me, Ade. Anytime you’re hurt is a big deal, even if it’s a paper cut, okay? I want-” she doesn’t get to finish because Adrian’s hand came to her chin and lifted her gaze up to his eyes. He had the smallest smile on his face before he leaned in for a soft and gentle kiss. 

“I love you,” he murmured against her mouth as she clicked her tongue. 

“Don’t think that gets you off the hook, mister,” she said, pulling away to check the temperature of the shower, Adrian holding her other hand as she gave him a small tug as she stepped into the warm water. 

When they picked this house Adrian had made sure that almost every room had the space to allow them to do typically separate tasks together. They had dual sinks to brush their teeth together, their kitchen was big enough that they could easily cook together (her cooking, Adrian sitting on the counter claiming to help), and that their shower could easily fit them both under the large spray of water. Even in her office, Adrian had his own chair, one that recently got a smaller matching one for Claire. 

She moved slowly as she started washing his hair, careful to untangle any knots. Adrian hummed as she scrubbed, but other than that he wasn’t his normal chatterbox self. Normally by now she would’ve heard all about the mission, all the animals he’d saw, and-

“I missed you so much,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around her, tighter than normal and forcing her to stop her washing. A deep frown on her features as she wrapped her arms around him, careful to not get any conditioner on her as she kissed his neck. 

“I missed you too, baby,” she whispered. “Let me finish and then we can rest before Claire gets home.” 

“Can we order dinner tonight?” He asked, pulling back just enough so she could continue to work but his hands stayed put on his waist, rubbing circles with his thumbs. She finished washing his hair and pulled apart just enough to get to work on cleaning his body. She knew he could do this himself and normally he’d put up a fight on the fact she was taking care of him and he wasn’t doing anything, but he was so off he just went through the motions as she worked. 

“What are you in the mood for?” She asked, as she scrubbed him down. 

“Anything you and Claire want,” he said immediately and she smiled. 

“You know exactly what she’s going to ask for, so are you sure you want to do that?” She teased gently and Adrian let out a small chuckle. 

“Her obsession with Italian food should be studied.”

“Makes sense, when we first got together we were eating Fennel Fields like every other night,” she said as she moved to turn off the water. “Plus before I came around you pretty much only liked butter noodles,” she teased. 

“Okay, that’s not true. Just because that was my favorite doesn’t mean it was all I liked,” he said frowning and she smiled as she pulled on her robe and grabbed his to help him put on. “Plus now I much prefer chicken alfredo and mozzarella sticks.” 

“Yeah your palate has really matured,” she muttered with a smile. “Do you want me to put curl cream in your hair and diffuse it?” She asked and Adrian shook his head no. 

“Let’s go nap,” he said and she led them back to the bed, where Adrian immediately collapsed face down. She laughed and joined him, curling into his side with one hand and leg thrown over him and her face pressed against his shoulder. Almost like his own personal weighted blanket. She felt Adrian sigh underneath her as she played with his damp hair. 

“Was the mission that rough?” she asked gently and Adrian took a minute, the air around them wasn’t necessarily tense but she wouldn’t call it comfortable either. She continued playing with his hair, her concern rising the longer it took her normally blabbermouth husband to talk. 

“No, it was fine,” he finally answered. 

“Are you okay?” she tried, playfully tugging his hair so he would turn his head just enough to make him look at her. He’s got a look on his face that she has a hard time reading, like he wasn’t fully sure if he wanted to talk. “Adrian,” she pressed. 

“Did you get rid of the letter?” 

“No,” she said gently. “I put it up, but you don’t have to look at it if you don’t want to.” 

“Can you go grab it?” he asked and she nodded and slowly moved out of the room. Pulling the letter out of the junk drawer, knowing Adrian rarely actually looks in that drawer rather he just throws random stuff in it for her to find later. As she walked back in the room, the letter held in both her hands Adrian had sat up, still in his robe. 

“Here,” she said, handing it to him. To offer him some privacy she moved around their room as slowly as possible getting dressed in some comfy clothes, keeping her back towards him. When she finally turned around to look at him he’s still holding the unopened letter in his hands. 

“Did you tell Claire about the letter?” He asked softly, catching her eyes as she walked back over towards him. She climbed back on the bed, moving behind him as she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned against him. 

“No, baby, just you,” she said as he nodded. Those words seemed to snap him out of it as he pulled away getting out of bed, shoving the letter in his nightstand as he started getting ready to get Claire off the bus. “Ade, we’ve got a couple hours so you can relax, you don’t have to get ready just because I did.” 

“I think I’m going to go on a run,” he mumbled as he pulled on his underwear and moved for his work out clothes and she was quick to get up and stop him from getting any further. 

“Hey,” she said gently, her hands cupping his face. “I’ve missed you, please don’t come home and just shut down on me.” 

“I’m not trying to,” he murmured, leaning towards her, almost a subconscious movement. 

“We don’t have to talk about the letter now, let’s just get you rested and ready for the tornado that is our daughter, okay?” she asked and Adrian cracked a smile at the mention of Claire.

“Okay,” he relented. The next few hours went by slowly as she finished helping Adrian get ready to at least pretend to be normal. Together they unpack his bag, she moves to start his laundry as she he makes his way to their basement to put his gear away. 

Her mind kept drifting back to the letter, shoved in his nightstand. She would tell it was weighing on him and Adrian never did great with addressing things that bother him. He’d much prefer to cut whatever was bothering him out and ignore it. It had been a slow progress to get Adrian to address issues head on instead of hiding them and he had made great progress once he finally had a listening ear, but when it came to his family and childhood he would just shut down. 

She had dragged some information out of Chris early on, mainly about Gut and just how awful he was towards Adrian when they were both in high school and the first time she saw a picture of younger Adrian she had to fight back tears thinking about the hell his own brother put him through and the fact he had no one to defend him. 

She had her arms wrapped around his middle, chin resting on his shoulder as they both stood at the end of the driveway waiting for Claire’s school bus. Adrian's arms holding hers against him, she loosened her grip the moment she spotted the yellow bus heading towards their house. 

“Daddy!” Claire shouted from the moment the bus stopped. She covered her mouth to stifle a laugh as she listened to Claire practically scream as she ran off the bus. Adrian was already on one knee as Claire threw herself at him, he lifted her up and spun her around, his laugh loud and carefree. 

“I missed you baby girl!” He said as she waved to the bus driver as they pulled away. One of her hands came to rest on Adrian’s shoulder as she kissed Claire's cheek. 

“We have so much to do!” Claire immediately said squirming out of Adrian’s grip, Adrian put her down and the little girl grabbed his hand and started pulling him up the driveway. “I checked out a new reptile book for us and we still have to finish our clay animals! Mommy said they’ll be dry now that you’re back!” 

She smiled as she followed the two up the driveway while Claire blabbered about everything Adrian had missed while he was away. She gave them their space and let Adrian enjoy some decompressing time with Claire. She handled dinner, not even bothering to interrupt them as she knew their orders like the back of her hand. 

“You do dishes, I’m going to get her ready for bed,” she said softly, kissing Adrian’s cheek as he hummed in agreement. 

“Don’t start a book without me!” He called after her and she laughed, shaking her head but at least happy that Adrian was seeming to be coming around somewhat normally. 

“Wouldn’t dream of it, Chase!” She said back as she ushered Claire into her room and started going through her nighttime routine, pajamas, brushing her teeth, and resetting her room. One that Claire was moving slower than normal through, especially considering she knew Adrian would be coming to read to her and according to Claire ‘Daddy does the story voices way better than Mommy.’ 

“Daddy is being weird,” Claire whispered, her little hang tugging at her shirt to bring her closer. She gave her daughter a small smile as she cupped her little cheeks. 

“He’s had a weird day,” she said softly. Claire frowned, worry etched on her little features, an expression she had seen a thousand times from Adrian. Sometimes her heart ached with how much Claire was such a mini Adrian, imagining him when he was small and alone.  

“But he’ll be okay?” She asked and she felt her heart clench. She was glad Adrian wasn’t in earshot of this conversation because it would shatter his heart to hear how worried Claire was for him. 

“Yeah, baby, he’ll be okay,” she said, pulling her daughter in for a much needed hug. “He has us.” 

“I vote for the Grumpy Lady Bug tonight! What do you think, Claire Brown Bear?” Adrian said, clapping his hands as he walked into the room, a smile plastered on his face. 

She let Adrian handle putting Claire down as she wrapped up the household chores and shutting the house down for the night. Normally, Adrian would come out and at the very least sit on the counter and yap while she worked, but tonight all she heard was him wrap up with Claire and head to their bedroom. 

When she finally joined him, he was sitting up in bed in his pajamas but his nightstand light was still on and his eyes were on the ceiling. She moved around the room, getting herself ready for bed before climbing into his arms in the bed. He was quick to wrap her up and press a kiss to her forehead. 

“I’m so glad you’re home,” she said gently, sighing and pushing herself closer to him. Adrian squeezed her. 

“Me too,” he murmured. She let the silence take over the room as she listened closely to Adrian’s heart beat. 

“Did you read the letter?” she finally asked after Adrian made no movement to turn off his light. 

“Yeah,” he said with a sigh. 

“And what are you thinking?” she asked, looking up at him as he pulled off his glasses and sat them on his nightstand, his hand coming back to play with her hair. Her gaze returned to the wall in an attempt to give him some space. 

“Same thing I said on the phone,” he muttered and she frowned. 

“We could go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium," she whispered against his chest as he tensed underneath her. “We could go see Alcatraz, I’m pretty sure San Francisco has a killer science museum too.” 

Adrian hummed, but didn’t say anything. She moved her head so her chin was resting on his chest, her eyes locked on his face as he looked at the ceiling. She could feel his heart racing underneath her. 

“It’s one week, one chance, Ade.” She insisted. 

“He doesn’t deserve it.”

“Okay, maybe that’s true, but don’t you think Claire deserves it?” She pressed and she could see Adrian’s argument weaken on his face. 

“He’s just some guy! She has no idea that she even has a grandfather!” He complained and despite herself she laughed. 

“You think that she just thinks you came out of nowhere with no parents?” She said with a chuckle. “Baby, I know she’s five but she is starting to understand the world around her and she knows we both have parents. I know she’s not asking questions now, but trust me one day she will.” 

“She can ask questions, that’s different from meeting him,” he retorted, sitting up and the moment she sat up too he scooted away from her, a pained look on his expression. 

“Adrian, I’m not trying to upset you. I’m just making sure you fully understand what you’re saying.”

“I do understand! It’s him that doesn’t understand; he left! He doesn’t just get to come back into my life now because he wants to!” 

“Okay,” she said gently, watching as his chest was rising and falling fast, clearly on the verge of a breakdown. She moved closer to him, as if he was a spooked animal. Her hand came to rest on his cheek, moving his face to look at her. His green eyes were wild and filled with unshed tears. “Baby, it’s okay. I understand. I just want you to understand what you’re saying no to, okay?” 

“I do understand and I just can’t-” 

“Is Daddy okay?” Both their heads whipped around to see Claire standing in the doorway, her teal baby blanket clutched tightly in one hand as her eyes were on Adrian. Her eyes filled with tears to match Adrian’s. 

“Oh baby,” she said gently and the little girl quickly ran over to them, pulling herself onto the bed and wrapping her arms around him. Adrian closed his eyes and held her tight as the young girl started sobbing. 

“We don’t have to go to ‘Francisco! Don’t cry, daddy!” she said and Adrian tensed and looked at her. 

“You told her?” he accused, eyes wide on her. 

“No!” 

“I heard you guys talking, but we don’t have to go on a trip! I love Evergreen, we don’t ever have to leave!” 

“It’s a little more complicated than that, baby,” she said gently scooting closer to them both, hand resting on Claire’s back as she let out a cry.

“I don’t understand!” Claire cried, pulling at Adrian’s shirt. She gave Adrian an apologetic look. 

Before pulling back Adrian, wiped away his own tears so Claire wouldn’t see. Something she hadn’t seen Adrian do in a long time, always feeling comfortable with her and Claire. He had even remarked on multiple occasions on how important it was for Claire to see people cry and be vulnerable.

“Daddy’s dad wants to meet you and mommy, but me and my dad don’t get along like you and me do. I haven’t seen him in a very long time,” Adrian said gently, eyes locked on Claire. “Mommy thinks we should give him a chance, but I’m not sure because it's been a really long time. What do you think?” He asked Claire who genuinely seemed to ponder the question. 

“And he’s in ‘Francisco?" 

“San Francisco, baby. It’s a city in California,” she added gently and Claire looked at her. Her little eyes searched her face for an answer she didn’t have. 

“If we go, will you be sad? I don’t want to go if you’ll be sad,” Claire said and her heart clenched, for such a young girl to have such high empathy and worry for her father, it was both sweet and devastating. Adrian shrugged, his hands fidgeting slightly. 

“Maybe a little, but over anything I want to make sure you’re happy and if you want to meet him then we can do that,” Adrian said and she gave him a soft smile, knowing just how much he was sacrificing. 

“Are there cool animals in San Francisco?” Claire asked and Adrian let out an unexpected laugh. 

“Yeah, baby. Mommy was just telling me there’s an aquarium we could go to,” he said gently, his eyes went to hers and he nodded at her. 

“I think we can try San Francisco and if we hate it we never have to go back,” Claire said with a shrug and Adrian smiled at her. 

“Alright, then mommy and daddy will figure out the details, but let’s get you back to bed!” Adrian said, grabbing Claire and making her laugh as he spun her around. He was quick to move her so he was holding her upside down as her laugh filled their home. 

“Oh yes, get her riled up before putting her to bed, that’s smart,” she said dryly but couldn’t help the smile on her face as she caught Adrian’s green eyes. He gave her a small smile and a nod, a moment just for them to realize that even if he wasn’t sure he’d go through it if it was something his family wanted for him. 

The next few months passed slowly, she could tell it was always on the back of his mind as she handled all the communication with his dad and booking their flights. His dad was ecstatic to hear from her, even more excited when she sent over a family photo of them to help with airport pick up, immediately commenting on how much Claire looked like Adrian when he was her age. She tried to talk to Adrian about what his dad was saying and the plan but every time he would get a sick look on his face and get fidgety, so she decided not to push it. Even Claire seemed to be aware of how weird Adrian was being and kept her excitement about the trip to a minimum. 

But even that fact seemed to be weighing heavy on Adrian, the idea that his family felt like they had to walk around eggshells around him was causing a growing ache in his bones.

“Is this a good idea?” he murmured the night before they were supposed to leave, head resting on her chest while her hand played with his hair, as she used her other hand to check in for their flights. 

“The flights are non refundable, Ade.” she whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. “It’s one week and I’ve already got us tickets for stuff for just the three of us to do. I’m sure your dad will understand you need space.”

“What if he doesn’t?”

“Then I’ll tell him? Adrian, I know this is stressful and it might not feel like it but at the end of the day you’re still an adult and at any point the three of us could go take a walk or go to dinner. Hell, you could even go by yourself if you needed some time.” 

After that Adrian didn’t say anything more about it, opting instead to press sweet kisses to her neck before she put her phone down, laughing as he pulled himself on top of her smile plastered on his face. 

“I love you, you know that right?” He murmured against her ear as he pressed a kiss to the side of her face. 

“I don’t think you’d ever let me forget you,” she said, hands running through his curls. “My lover boy,” she purred. Adrian smiled before pressing a firm but open mouth kiss on her lips. 

“Is the door locked?” he asked, looking at her with a slight twinkle in his eyes and she laughed. 

“Bold of you to assume this is going the way you want it to go, but yes our room door is locked,” she teased, having zero intention of telling Adrian no. She let out a sharp laugh as he blew a raspberry on her neck. “You better get to work, because Claire is still going to wake up at six even without school.” 

“I’ll wake up with her,” he murmured, licking up her neck before going to pull off her sleep shirt. 

“Yeah and that’ll last five minutes before you both end up missing me so much that you feel like you have to wake me up,” she said, a small gasp escaping her as Adrian got to work. 

“Come on, you know last time it was at least twenty minutes,” he teased and she giggled. “Besides, it’ll be our last chance till we get back.” 

“Then you better make it last, Chase.” 

Adrian’s good mood lasted through the morning, but once it was time to head to the airport and Chris had come and got the three of them to drop them off he was back to being shut down. Chris couldn’t even get much out of him, outside of a small promise that Chris would score some more appliances for the two before he got back from California Adrian’s expression was unchanging. Despite her concern she let Adrian just…feel what he needed to feel and simply just held his hand, giving him a comforting squeeze as they navigated their way through their first out of state vacation as a family. 

The airport was surprisingly a breeze and Claire did a great job making sure she either had her hand or Adrian’s. Her plane backpack filled with a few of her favorite books and some art supplies, however she spent most of the time looking around the airport and all the different people. Only crinkling her nose when she had to take her shoes off for security, matching Adrian’s expression. 

Once they were on the plane Adrian had taken the aisle seat, Claire in the middle, and her in the window seat.  

“Ade, we gotta talk about something before we get there,” she said looking over Claire, who had her headphones in watching Bluey, to Adrian in the aisle seat. He looked over, looking exhausted, despite the fact that it was only eight in the evening.

“What?” 

“How are we going to introduce him to Claire?” She asked softly and Adrian tilted his head. 

“What do you mean?” 

“Like he’s your dad she knows that, but is she going to call him by his name, Poppop, gramps, something else?” She asked and Adrian furrowed his brow. 

“We’re mommy and daddy, why would he be anything other than grandpa? She calls my mom grandma,” he said, shuffling in his seat and she nodded. 

“Okay, that works, I just…wanted you to be prepared.” 

“I don’t think I could be prepared even if I wanted to,” Adrian muttered, clicking on the seat TV and groaning when he realized they only had 45 minutes left of the flight. “Is it too late to go home?” 

“Ade…”

“I know! I know!” He grumbled and she reached over Claire and awkwardly grabbed his hand. He immediately squeezed it back. “I’m glad you guys are at least with me for this.” 

“Adrian, of course. We both love you, I love you. I’m always happy to be there for you,” she said, emphasizing her words hoping that Adrian really heard her and understood what she was saying. He smiled before leaning back in his seat. 

The rest of the flight passed in silence, Claire falling asleep during the last twenty minutes and Adrian opted for carrying Claire off the plane instead of waking up, only pouting slightly when she grabbed their bags since his arms were full. It became clear his ulterior motives of carrying her once they finally bumped into his dad. 

If his arms were full, his dad couldn’t hug him. 

She wanted to roll her eyes at the action, but she knew him being here was enough of a struggle.

“Mr. Chase! It’s so nice to meet you in person!” she said, offering the man the hug that he was clearly expecting to get from Adrian. He was shorter than she was expecting considering how tall Adrian and Gut were, his eyes were also a sharp blue, nothing like the dark green of Adrians. In fact the only thing that looked remotely similar between the two men were the gray curls on top of his head. 

“Call me Charles! It’s so nice to meet you too and oh my goodness is this Claire!” he asked, pulling back and looking at Adrian who shifted uncomfortably, but at least moved so he could see her sleeping face, her carseat clenched tightly in his freehand. “Adrian, she looks just like you were at that age!” 

“It’s past her bedtime, so we probably should go back to the house and get her down,” Adrian said looking at her and she nodded. 

“It was her first time traveling and I think all the new people really wore her out,” she said, smiling at the older man who nodded, clearly fighting the defeat on his face from Adrian’s lack of a reaction towards him. 

“Of course, of course. Here let me take one of those bags! The car is just in the garage, probably a five minute walk!” he said and she nodded letting him take her bag as she readjusted Claire’s backpack on her back and pulled Adrian’s suitcase as they followed his dad. She was closer to him than Adrian who seemed perfectly content staying a few paces behind them. 

“We haven’t gotten to use these since our honeymoon,” she said, making conversation with Charles since Adrian wasn’t going to step up.

“Oh! Well, I’m excited you guys decided to come out then. Where did you guys honeymoon?” He asked and she couldn’t help the small laugh that bubbled out. 

“We went to Indianapolis actually,” she said, turning to look at Adrian briefly, remembering the two weeks they spent in the midwest. All their friends had teased them about their location choice, but she would go anywhere with Adrian and when he had brought up the random city with his research she couldn’t say no. “They have this really famous steakhouse that had been on our list for a while and they’ve got some really cool museums, a zoo, and a lot of bookstores.” 

“We actually stayed at a hotel that used to be a Coca Cola bottling plant!” Adrian said, piping in for the first time with a smile. “It was also right next to a Duckpin bowling place with like thirty different pinball machines!” 

“Wow, I mean that sounds like…fun,” he said, not sounding convinced and out of the corner of her eye she saw Adrian deflate slightly. 

“It really was,” she said confidently. “I wouldn’t have picked anywhere else. How many people get to say they pet a shark on their honeymoon?” 

The rest of the walk to the car was quiet, but at least not as awkward as she thought it would be. Adrian was quick to get Claire’s carseat situated and the girl in her seat, closing the door slowly but firmly so as to not wake her. 

“It’s about an hour car ride,” Charles said as she got into the front seat, already knowing Adrian would want to be in the back with Claire. “Do you guys have any music preference or we can just chat on the ride?”

“We probably shouldn’t talk so Claire can sleep,” Adrian said immediately, his hand snaking between the passenger door and her shoulder to rest on her arm. She patted his hand and gave Charles a look, trying to convey an apology for Adrian, but the man just sighed and didn’t even bother looking over at her before he started driving. 

Adrian kept his hand on her, even if it was an awkward angle. She could tell he needed to be grounded, but there was not much she could do in the car. The hour passed slow and steady, she kept her phone out just in case Adrian wanted to send her a text. He didn’t but at least once they got to the house Adrian let her carry Claire as he carried their luggage. 

“I’ve got you guys set up in the guest room and if you’d like the couch pulls out so Claire could sleep there that way you guys can have some privacy!” Charles offered as he opened the door to a beautiful decorated room, filled with an almost retro vibe and a huge window that overlooked not only the neighborhood but she could see the ocean in the distance since they were high up on a hill. She couldn’t help the smile on her face, she loved Evergreen, but San Francisco was starting to steal her heart. 

“No, she’ll stay in here with us,” Adrian said immediately, putting their luggage on the bed as Claire rubbed her face on her shoulder, still passed out from the long day. She watched Adrain as he kept his back towards his dad as he started unpacking, clearly done with the conversation. 

“We’ll talk about it, but for tonight we’ll keep her in here just so she doesn’t wake up and get scared,” she said gently and Chalres nodded. 

“Let me go get some extra blankets then so you can make a pallet for her,” he said before leaving the room and Adrian physically sagged. She walked over and leaned against him, exhausted from the travel, Adrian placed one hand on her back and the other starting running through Claire’s hair. 

“You okay?” she asked gently and Adrian pressed a kiss to her head. 

“Always better with you by my side,” he murmured right before his dad came back with a huge stack of blankets. Adrian was quick to grab them and start making a little bed for Claire. 

“She’s normally an early riser but we brought snacks for her and stuff to do so the whole house doesn’t have to wake up on her schedule,” she said, giving Charles a small smile. 

“No worries at all, I figured you guys would want to sleep in a little, but I can make breakfast around nine?” he asked and she nodded. “The bathroom is just across the hall and there’s nightlights to light the way.”

“That sounds great, thank you so much,” she said and he nodded and left the three alone. Adrian immediately got up and locked the door and took Claire from her to tuck her in. She sighed and stretched her arms, the five year old getting too big for her to carry around so much. The last time she made the comment to Adrian he had looked at her, horrified, and told her she would never get too big. 

She started unpacking, throwing Adrian his pajamas as she put hers on and left the room to get ready in the bathroom. She wasn’t sure if Adrian was going to calm down or if this was going to be the entire week, but she had no idea how his nervous system was going to handle an entire week in fight or flight. Especially considering he had no outlet to just go out as Vigilante. 

“Adrian, unlock the door,” she said, knocking gently and he immediately unlocked the door, as he quickly looked behind her and the side clearly looking for his dad. She fought the urge to roll her eyes. “Is this going to be all week?” she asked, pressing a kiss to his cheek before making her way to the bed. Claire’s soft snores filled the room. 

“Maybe,” he said, following her into the bed and immediately wrapping her up in his arms. 

“Well, maybe to help with that tomorrow after breakfast we go to the aquarium?” she said and Adrian kissed the back of her head. “It’s about a two hour drive, but I already told your dad it would probably be one of the first things we’ll want to go to do.”

“Please, Claire is going to go nuts!” He yell whispered directly in her ear. She cringed but let out a small giggle before leaning back against him even more. 

“Yeah, Claire is going to go nuts,” she teased, setting her alarm for the morning, knowing they won’t even need it because Claire will most definitely wake them up. “How are you feeling so far?” 

“Like we’re in a strangers home and I don’t even know all the exit points yet,” he murmured after a beat. 

“Adrian…” she said and he sighed. 

“I know,” he grumbled. “I’m trying.” 

“I know you are and I’m so proud of you,” she said, gripping his arms and he sighed. “Get some rest baby, because Claire is definitely going to be awake in five hours.” 

“Maybe six if we’re lucky,” Adrian said, leaning back to turn off the light in the room and she sighed, letting the exhaustion of the day finally catch up with her. Adrian’s arms stayed firm around her. Which she appreciated considering how cold the house felt. It didn’t take long for sleep to claim her, Adrian not far behind her. 

Unfortunately, they didn’t get lucky and she woke up at five in the morning to Claire peeling her eyelids back. She groaned and turned towards Adrian, he let out a low chuckle as she pressed herself hard in his chest. 

“Good morning, Claire Bear,” he murmured, hands rubbing her back. “Can you let me and your mom get a little more sleep?” 

“Lost cause,” she said into his chest. 

“But I’m not tired anymore!” Claire said at a volume way too loud for how early it was. She groaned and Adrian pulled himself out of bed. She whined at the loss of his warmth. 

“Can you play quietly for a few minutes while I get dressed and we’ll go take a walk?” he asked and Claire must’ve agreed because she felt the girl retreat to her pallet, snagging her backpack on the way. Adrian pressed a firm kiss to her forehead. “Before you doze off, can you text me the address?” 

“Just look outside,” she murmured. “Or use my location, I’m not going anywhere.” He let out a small chuckle as she threw the blanket over herself to try to block out Claire and Adrian’s version of being quiet. Not a single quiet bone in either of their bodies. 

She’s not sure how long she was asleep before she made her way down the creaky stairs, but after checking Adrian’s location and seeing that he and Claire still seemed to be on their walk she got ready and made her way downstairs towards the sounds and the smells of the kitchen.

She’s immediately greeted by what one would say is way too much food for four people. There were homemade waffles with all the fixings, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, some fresh fruit, chocolate milk, and what appeared to be fresh squeezed orange juice. 

Charles really had a spread going, one that she couldn’t wait to dig into. 

“Oh wow,” she said and Charles' eyes flew to hers as he gave an awkward chuckle.

“Sorry, I didn’t know what you guys would like and we can go to breakfast if-”

“No, no! This is perfect, Adrian’s favorite breakfast is waffles with peanut butter so he’ll be excited,” she said quickly smiling at the older man as the front door swung open. 

“Mommy!” screamed Claire as she came barely into the room and straight into her legs. She winced but smiled as she ran a hand through the young girl's hair. “We found three ant hills!” 

“Hey baby,” Adrian said softly, kissing her cheek before taking in the spread for himself. 

“Three! That’s so many, I bet you worked up an appetite! Look what Grandpa made us for this morning!” 

“Oh, is that who you are?” Claire asked, head tilting as she looked at Charles. Internally she cringed, in all her worry for Adrian she forgot to prep Claire on the trip past that they were visiting Adrian’s dad in San Francisco. 

“I…um yes,” he said, cringing slightly. “I’m your grandpa.” 

“Nice to meet you,” Claire said after a pause, moving so she was closer to Charles, holding out her little hand for him to shake. He laughed but took her hand and gave it a hardy shake which made Claire giggle. 

“It’s very nice to meet you too, Claire.” Adrian looked over at her, his lips pulling slightly up more. After a beat, he cleared his throat. “Well, let’s not let this food get cold!” 

“God, you don’t have to tell me twice, this smells amazing!” She said, sitting down as Adrian helped Claire into one the seat next to her, the small round table leaving Adrian with no choice but to sit next to his dad. She stood up with a plate and began adding food to Claire’s plate before Adrian waved her off, brows furrowed as he grabbed the plate from her.  

“I’ll serve her, you get your food,” he murmured immediately and she smiled at him, putting her hands on her hips as she watched him from behind dipping Claire’s plate. 

“I even got chocolate milk, Adrian! You used to drink so much growing up,” Charles said with a smile as he handed Adrian the glass jug of milk. 

“I don’t drink chocolate milk, I'm not a child,” Adrian grumbled as he accepted the jug to pour Claire a glass. “I’ll have orange juice like an adult.” 

“Adrian, you regularly drink Sunny D, so hush,” She teased as she planted a kiss on his cheek before finally deciding Adrian didn’t need her help for Claire’s plate and she grabbed hers and started loading up her own. If he was at all annoyed at her selling him out his expression doesn’t show it, instead he looks at her like he always does when she kisses him; like she’s hung the stars and the moon in the sky. 

“We can pick up some Sunny D at the store if you’d like,” Charles said immediately. 

“Orange juice is fine,” Adrian grumbled. 

“I like chocolate milk way more than Sunny D,” Claire chimed in and she laughed. 

“Yeah but that’s because you don’t have a refined palate like your dad!” Adrian teased, blowing a raspberry at her as he sat her plate in front of her, immediately digging in. 

“So, Adrian. What are you doing for work these days?” 

“I have a business with some friends,” Adrian said as he focused on dipping his own plate. 

“A business?” He said, blinking as he sat his own fork down, clearly not expecting that answer. She watched Adrian closely as she kept eating, his eyes were fixed on his plate as he slowly started to dig in. To be fair, the last update he must’ve gotten from Adrian’s mom was that he was a busboy. Both her and Adrian had tried to explain Checkmate to his mom a thousand times but she still thought it was just another restaurant. 

“Yeah,” Adrian said. 

“Doing what?” 

“Working.”

“It’s a covert operations agency,” she chimed in, knowing Adrian was going to keep dodging it. “They’ve been at it for about six years now, very successful.” 

“Daddy goes on missions once a month!” Claire chimed in happily. “But we still talk, don’t worry.” She couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of Claire making sure that Charles knew their routine. 

“Missions? So you’re like a spy?” 

“An agent,” he said tensely. “Where’s your husband? I thought you got remarried or did that go south too," Adrian said, turning the subject against his dad and she can tell immediately in his tone that he’s doing this on purpose. She kicked him under the table but he didn’t react at all to her. 

“Oh,” he said, clearing his throat. “We thought it was best if William wasn’t here while you guys visited. We didn’t want to overwhelm you guys so he’s actually visiting his family in North Carolina right now.” She watched the way Adrian flinched at the words and she knew immediately what he was thinking. He was being treated like a fragile child like he couldn’t handle anything, but by how he was reacting at simple questions it’s exactly how he was being. 

“That’s very considerate of you,” she said. “Maybe next time we can meet him.” Adrian’s eyes lock on hers, his brows furrowed and for a second he looks legitimately angry at her before he looked almost ashamed that he’d even start to look mad at her. 

“He’d love to meet you guys!” Charles said, clearly just happy that things seemed somewhat positive at least from her. “So, I know we talked on the phone about the plans for the trip, but were you guys still thinking about the aquarium for today?” Charles asked. 

“Yes!” Claire immediately said and both her and Adrian laughed. 

“Maybe let’s plan for tomorrow, spend today watching a movie and just hanging out. We could go tomorrow if the two hour drive isn’t too much to ask,” she said.

“Not at all, it’s been a while since I’ve been myself. I was more concerned that you guys might be too tired. Are you sure you guys will feel rested enough to go tomorrow? We can always push it off! The only thing with a real date is the fireworks in a few days.”

“These two? Too tired? I would love to see the day,” she teased and Adrian cracked a smile as he and Claire made eye contact with the same knowing grin on their faces. 

The rest of the breakfast mainly her and Charles chatting with Claire chiming in through mouthfuls of food occasionally. She offered to help wash the dishes when everyone was done but Charles waved them off telling them to go get ready for the day. Adrian was quick to leave the table, picking Claire up, and taking her with him. She followed quickly behind and the moment Claire had wiggled free to look around the room they had stayed in she cornered Adrian.

“Hey, listen to me,” she said putting a hand on his shoulder and he looked at her. “You can’t be a dick.” 

“Me? A dick?” He looked at her like he couldn’t believe what she was saying, green eyes wide in disbelief. 

“Adrian, he’s trying and you don’t have to be overtly nice, but we’re in the man’s home and you’re setting a bad example for Claire.” 

“A bad example? I’m the bad example? He-”

“Adrian, listen to me,” she said, taking his head between her hands forcing him to look at her. “I love you, I love you so much my bones ache and I want nothing more than to be by your side always and I understand that this is hard and it’s probably bringing up a lot of difficult memories from your childhood, but we are actively making memories for Claire. All I ask is if you want to have a more direct conversation with him we have it not in front of Claire, okay?” 

His expression fell at her words and he looked clearly ashamed at his action. 

“Do you think…do you think she’s upset with me?” he asked, in a small voice and she smiled gently at him before pulling him close enough to kiss the tip of his nose. 

“She has no idea what was happening at breakfast other than the fact that you seemed upset,” she said gently. “But that doesn’t mean if the behavior continues she won’t pick up on it.” 

Adrian sighed as she rubbed the apples of his cheeks. 

“It’s hard,” he murmured. 

“I know,” she said back. “Believe it or not, I think you’re doing good,” she said and a ghost of a smile crossed his face. 

“Really?” 

“Yes, this is hard. There’s no doubt in my mind that this is feeling impossible and daunting for you, but you’re doing so good.” 

“I love you,” he said, pulling her in for a tight hug, one that she was happy to return. Her cheek pressed firmly to his shoulder while her eyes went to Claire, who was watching them closely. She gave the small girl a wink and she giggled before running over and throwing herself into hugging her parents legs. 

“Can we watch a movie and color today?” Claire asked and she laughed, pulling back from Adrian to crouch down to Claire’s level. “Maybe go bug hunting?”

“That sounds good to me, baby. What do you think daddy?” She asked looking up at Adrian and he smiled with a small nod. 

The rest of the day was calm and quiet, Charles always in the background of activities and asking them questions. Adrian never seemed fully comfortable and relaxed but compared to the morning he had calmed down a lot. 

She was pleased with the fact that Adrian never seemed to get upset the rest of the day and had even given his dad a strained, but small smile. 

It seemed both her and Charles would take the win. 

The following morning, Claire was up early and ready to go to the aquarium, waking them up by squeezing herself into the bed between her and Adrian. Where she kept loudly sighing over and over again until they admitted defeat and got up. 

“Can we go now?” Claire asked, the moment their eyes opened, making both her and Adrian laugh. One track mind with that girl the moment animals were involved. Claire managed to keep them on schedule yelling “chop chop!” whenever they slowed down too much getting ready. 

When loading back up the car, Adrian had given her hand a squeeze as he sat in the back of the car with Claire. She took the front seat again with his dad, but at least this time the energy didn’t feel as tense in the car. 

“Do you think they have sea otters?” Claire asked Adrian and she smiled from the front seat as Charles kept driving. She knew this was about to be the next hour of the drive. 

“They sure do,” Adrian said and she could hear the smile in his voice. 

“Okay what about jellyfish?” she asked him. 

“Yes ma’am!” 

“Black rays?” 

“Pretty sure they do!" 

“Isopees?”

“Isopods, and yes!” 

“What about puffins?” 

“They have tufted puffins!” 

“The parrots of the sea!” Claire said proudly and Adrain laughed, clapping his hands making her smile from the front seat.

“Good job, baby!” 

“What are you the most excited to see, daddy?” she asked gently. 

“I’m the most excited for the life on the bay exhibit, you get to see the animals in their natural environment like-”

“Like harbor seals!” Claire said with a loud laugh. 

“Yes! What are you the most excited for?” He asked her. 

“Hmmm, probably the octopus!” she announced. 

“Do you remember how many suckers they have on each leg when they’re born?” Adrian asked, Claire took a moment to ponder. 

“14?” 

“Good job!” 

“Wow, you guys sure know your sea creatures!” Charles said with a chuckle. 

“It’s like this all day,” she teased. “Sometimes they quiz each other. I can’t even begin to describe the amount of animal books and those ‘who would win’ books we have.” 

“Hey! Those books are good,” Adrian complained and she laughed. 

“Yes, the first time you read them.” 

“Have you read them, grandpa?” Claire asked and she watched Charles tense slightly. 

“Oh, I umm I haven’t,” he said gently, glancing at the review mirror. 

“Hmm, that’s okay. Daddy did you pack any?” 

“I did, I brought hammerhead shark versus bull shark and whale versus giant squid,” he listed. 

“Okay, see we can read some together!” Claire suggested and she watched Charles grin. 

“I’d like that!” 

The rest of the ride to the aquarium was filled with soft music and Claire and Adrian babbling back and forth about all the different animals they were expecting to see. She smiled as she leaned her head back, eyes closed, just listening to them talk gently with each other. Being around Charles had started to make her wonder if young Adrian was like this too; just never ending facts and wanting to talk to people all day long. She wondered if anyone actually talked to him or at the very least listened to him. 

Based on Adrian’s very few stories, she figured the odds were low. 

Once they finally got to the aquarium, they were all quick to get out of the car to stretch. Both Claire and Adrian were quick to get out and take in the outside of the building. 

“Hey,” she said, pulling Adrian close into her as he kissed her cheek. “Remember the rule, gift shop at the end and be strong. One educational and one fun thing.” 

“We’re on vacation, maybe two fun things?” Adrian tried and she smiled as he winked at her. “Plus must fun toys have some educational bearing!” 

“This is one of many stops and gifts ships, trust that her backpack will be full by the end,” she said, giving him a light pat on the cheek as he leaned in to kiss her, accepting the small peck as an agreement to the rules. 

Claire and Adrian ended up leading the four through the aquarium, both of them chattering through every exhibit. Sharing fun facts back and forth and Adrian picking her up to get a better look at various things. 

It’s honestly the most relaxed she’s seen Adrian ever since the letter arrived from his dad and she knew it was mainly because he was able to focus on Claire, but she’d take it. She couldn’t help a laugh bubble up the moment Claire and Adrian found a tunnel to crawl through that puts you right underneath a waterfall. She couldn’t help but snap a picture of the two of them, identically large grins looking like they are in animal nerd heaven. 

“Do you guys have any pets at home?” Charles asked as the two watched Adrian and Claire count the amount of starfish in one tank. 

“God no. Even though Adrian’s schedule has gotten better I will not be the one who ends up taking care of a five year old and whatever pet those two wind up bringing home,” she said with a laugh and Charles nodded. 

“Growing up Adrian always brought home every stray animal he could find. Even animals that aren’t stray, one time he tried to bring home a chipmunk.” 

“Oh my god, yeah I could see that,” she said, covering her mouth as she laughed, watching the two of them. “Did…was he happy as a kid?” she asked softly, almost shyly like she didn’t want to know the true answer. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him flinch. 

“It’s not that answer you’re looking for, but I don’t know,” he murmured and she closed her eyes and sighed. 

“He’s a good man,” she said, her body feeling tense as she watched Adrian beam at Claire as she must’ve said a correct fact about some animal as he gave her a high five. “A really good dad and an amazing husband.” 

“I can see,” he said, voice sounding small. Her brain is still circling around the idea of young Adrian all on his own navigating everything, clearly needing help and just not wanting to be on his own but having no choice. No one to turn to. She always understood when she first met Adrian that something was going on in his life, there was a misconnection or some kind of fundamental lack in his life. The way he clung to Chris when they first met like he was the only person who could really know Adrian. It hadn’t taken her long to break through his shell once he realized she wasn’t kicking him around or had any plans to be mean to him. Adrian still looked at her like he did in those early days, just with pure love and joy wanting nothing more to make her happy even if it came at his own expense. 

It took time and work to get him to start doing stuff for himself. It took even more unpacking to realize that he was scared if he didn’t do what she wanted she would leave. 

And he was willing to sacrifice everything that made him happy for her to stay. 

“He did it on his own and he deserved better,” she said before wiping away a few tears before standing up to join Adrian and Claire. Adrian tilted his head as he looked at her, an unspoken question on his face as she shook her head but pulled him in for a quick kiss. “Lunch?” she asked gently. 

“Yeah, let’s get lunch,” Adrian said in a low voice, eyes still on her with worry. “You okay?” 

“I’m okay, baby. I think I'm just hungry,” she said. 

“Then let’s get you some food!” Adrian said happy to solve any problem she brought to him. She couldn’t help the extra twinge in her heart from his eagerness to make sure she was happy. 

The rest of the visit Charles kept his distance, respecting that she had gotten upset with him, and even though she knew she should talk to him and include him she had a hard time separating her attention from Claire and Adrian. In all her worry about Adrian and how he was handling things she neglected her own feelings. Adrian was her person, her guy, her soulmate. Of course it was going to hurt for her too. 

Adrian definitely picked up on her weird mood shift and the rest of the trip holding her hand and frequently checking on her. And each time she gave him a small smile and gentle reassurances that yes she was okay. However she was happy once they finally reached the last exhibit of the day and made their way slowly but surely to the gift shop. 

The gift shop came with an added challenge. 

As expected from an amazing aquarium the gift shop was loaded, leaving Claire running from aisle to aisle with all three grown ups trying to play catch up and help her decide. 

“Claire, how about a stuffed animal and a book?” she tried. 

“But did you see the pencil case?” Claire immediately said back, eyes wide at all the options. She spared a glance at Adrian. 

“Claire, honey we got five minutes and then we gotta pick and if you can’t pick daddy will pick for you, okay?” Adrian said, his tone barely stern but for Adrian to Claire, she’d take it. Claire pouted but picked up a sea otter plushie (one she felt she could’ve picked out the moment they walked in and saved them twenty minutes) and the pencil case that was covered in different marine animals. 

The moment they strapped Claire into her seat she passed out in the car, causing both Adrian and her to share sleepy smiles as they looked at each other. Sharing an almost knowing smile as she kissed his cheek. 

“Do you want the front seat this time?” She murmured and she watched him as thought about it before nodding. He opened her door and helped her into the backseat with Claire as Adrian took the front with his dad. 

The day had finally caught up with her and it didn’t take much for her to fall asleep, the gentle hum of the car and foggy view encouraging her to close her eyes. She was somewhat aware of the fact that Adrian was speaking to his dad in a low voice. 

She woke up at least three hours later in the bed at Adrian’s dad’s house. Claire passed out beside her tucked in on the side Adrian had been sleeping in. She stretched and checked the time. Claire would probably wake up hungry soon, but in the meantime she gently made her way downstairs, finding Adrian sitting on the floor alone on his switch. She smiled as she slid down the wall next to him, placing her head on his shoulder as she watched him play his game. He spared a single second of attention to place a kiss on her forehead. 

“Did you carry me upstairs?” she murmured. 

“Duh,” he said softly. “My dad’s ancient, you think he carried you?” 

“Alright, meanie,” she huffed out. “How was the drive back?” 

“Fine,” he said and she sighed. 

“Are you going to make me pry everything out of you?” Adrian sighed and paused his games. He leaned his head back and it thumped against the wall. 

“It was fine, we just did small talk and then listened to music.”

“What kind of small talk?” 

“Like how we met, me proposing, stuff about Claire, our relationship with my mom, if we want more kids,” he listed off and she slapped his arm playfully. 

“That’s not small talk!” 

“I don’t know. He just asked questions and I answered them!” he said and she pulled back, hand on his shoulder as she moved to look at him. A smile on her lips. 

“I’m proud of you,” she said and Adrian rolled his eyes but there was a small smile playing on his lips. 

“Well I can talk about you and Claire all day, that’s fine; it’s my favorite subject.” 

“Trust me I know, I’ve seen the photo albums on your phone. Albums plural,” she insisted and he let out a sharp laugh, one that was infectious. 

“I love you two, you’re my world.”

“You’re mine too,” she said, leaning to place a gentle kiss on his lips. One that Adrian eagerly accepted and pulled her closer to him. “What did you say to if we wanted more kids?” 

“That I’m working on getting you to say yes,” giving her a small peck as she laughed. 

“Absolutely ridiculous,” she teased, rolling her eyes. 

A gentle throat clear, took both of her and Adrian’s eyes off of each other and to his dad who was smiling down at them. He was leaning against the wall, looking at them like he had caught a couple of teenagers, but both of them were too old and too in love to even care about being caught.

“If you two wanted, I could watch Claire tomorrow night so you guys could have a date night or even tonight if you’d like,” Charles offered the two and she immediately smiled, accidentally ignoring Adrian’s tension. 

“No, that’s okay,” Adrian said immediately and she snapped to look at him, brow furrowed as he pretended to be more interested in the carpet. 

“Adrian, we haven’t gone on a real date in years. Your dad can handle Claire for an evening,” she said. 

“We can go on a date whenever we want, John could watch her!” 

“John Economos? You think John is equipped to watch Claire? John can barely watch Eagley!” 

“Okay, then Chris!” 

“Sorry, are you purposefully picking the worst people to watch our daughter?” She joked and Adrian tensed. 

“My friends are not the worst people to watch our daughter,” he said, sounding frustrated. She sighed.

“Adrian, I didn’t mean it like that, but come on. They feed an eagle lunch meat, I don’t necessarily expect them to be able to take care of Claire with no issues,” Adrian’s eyes snapped to her face. “We’ll talk about it, maybe tomorrow for an early dinner so that way we can put her to bed.” 

She said and Charles smiled, clearly happy with the possibility of them saying yes. 

“I hate when we do early dinner, then we have to get a sweet treat,” Adrian whined. 

“Yeah, but we can get dinner and then come back and take Claire to dessert. Win win!” She said and she watched Adrian roll his head in a circle, grimacing as he thought about it. 

“Okay,” he said and his eyes snapped to his dads. “We’ll only be gone for a little while, like three hours tops.” 

“Four,” she said, kicking him slightly. Eyes wide and bottom lip pouted out. “We can get dinner and take a nice walk.” 

“Four hours,” Adrian conceded and she smiled at him. “But let’s take Claire to the park first tomorrow, I don’t want her to get all bummed we’re hanging out without her.” 

“It’s not hanging out without her Ade, but alright we can do that.” She said and she looked up at Charles. “Want to come with us to the park tomorrow?” 

“That sounds great,” he said. “I guess I’ll leave you to it.” 

She giggled as Charles awkwardly left the room, only for Adrian to immediately tackle her, still careful that she didn’t hit the carpet too hard. He was quick to land his lips on hers, holding his body above hers. She chuckled slightly as they continued making out, Adrian smiling against her lips. 

“You’re not getting lucky on a living room floor,” she teased and Adrian laughed, the sound music to her ears and caused her own lips to twitch even further up. 

“I don’t need to get lucky, I already am,” he murmured as he kissed her underneath her chin and she laughed. He lifted himself further up so he could look at her, green eyes wide behind his glasses that were starting to slip off his nose. Adrian had used that line on her at least a hundred times, but every time there was a force to his tone that told her that he truly fully believed that. That he was the lucky one and not her. 

“Do you remember our first dinner at your moms house?” she murmured, pushing his curls behind his ear only for them to spring right back to where they were before. He chuckled as he rolled his eyes. 

“Yeah, when she spoiled that I was going to propose to you in the first ten minutes of meeting her,” he said and she laughed. 

“I already knew, you weren’t exactly subtle.” 

“That wasn’t the point,” Adrian whined and she laughed, leaning up to give him a peck on the lips. 

“You just hate that she technically beat you to it, but Ade I wouldn’t change a single aspect of our life together. None of it,” she said gently and he smiled. 

“I wouldn’t either, every moment led me to you and I still can’t believe I have you,” he said, pausing for a moment. “Come on, let’s get some food and take it upstairs for Claire.” 

She nodded as Adrian slowly got up, holding out both his hands to help her up. Once she was up she paused before wrapping her arms around her husband. He was quick to sweep her up. 

The rest of the evening passed in quiet, small noises throughout the house but everyone was so dead from the aquarium. Claire barely ate anything for dinner, but she was glad she ate something and was willing to take a bath, before passing out for the rest of the evening. 

“The park and then dinner tomorrow?” she said softly as she laid down in the bed. Adrian was still puttering around the room, picking different things up just to sit them back down. 

“Yeah, sounds good to me,” he murmured before finally making his way to the bed. “Do you think Claire’s having a good time?” 

“Yeah, baby. I do.” 

Adrian left it at that, not poking anymore as he sighed, pulling her closer into him. She couldn’t force herself to stay awake any longer, despite her nap earlier in the day she was still exhausted and wanted to take advantage of the quiet as much as she could, knowing that Claire was still going to wake up super early and ready to go. So she gave in, letting Adrian’s soft breath in her ear lull her to sleep. 

The following day Charles had made breakfast again and she had helped him pack a small picnic for them all for the park. It had been his idea, figuring keeping Claire outside and running around will make things easier for her and Adrian to sneak out for their date night. 

“You guys are really cute together,” he said while she was packing a few different types of chips for everyone and making sure Charles had the kind of mustard Adrian liked for his sandwich. 

“Me and Ade?” she asked, brows furrowing as she turned towards the man. He was smiling at her, hands pausing over the desserts he was packing, some sweets from a local bakery he had raved about the day before. 

“Yeah, I mean. You don’t see too many married couples still so in love like you guys are. Makes me happy that he found you,” he said and she felt her lips twitch as she leaned against the counter.

“Yeah, we're both lucky to have each other,” she murmured, looking down as she smiled. “What’s it like meeting us?” she asked, head tilting. 

“It’s…nice. Gut’s come to visit a few times, but it’s normally when he’s just down on his luck. I can’t even put into words how nice it is to see Adrian and not only knowing he’s doing well, but also to see it with my own eyes.” 

“I can’t imagine what it’s all been like,” she said gently and he shrugged.

“I made a lot of bad choices and a lot of good choices. It’s led me here and I wish I could change some things but I can’t. I have to live with my choices.” 

“Well, even if Adrian won’t say it I am glad you reached out. He never would’ve done that on his own,” she said and Charles nodded.

“I’m glad you answered,” he said and silence fell between the two of them as they returned to packing up for the picnic. After a few minutes Adrian and Claire came barrelling into the kitchen, Claire giggling as Adrian chased her. 

“Ready?” He asked, pecking her forehead. 

“I am,” she said, patting the cooler and Adrian smiled as he grabbed it. “Hey, I can get it.”

“Nah, I got it. Dad, are you ready?” he asked. 

“Of course! What about you Claire?”

“For the park?” she asked, looking up. 

“Yes, baby,” she said and Claire smiled. 

“I was born ready!” she declared and they all laughed. Adrian picked Claire up and set her on his shoulders while she giggled. Little hands pulling sharply at his hair, but as always Adrian didn’t complain.  

The four of them walked slowly towards the park, Claire not lasting long on Adrian’s shoulders before she wanted to walk on her own. Claire bouncing back and forth between whose hand she was holding. She yapped the whole way, asking questions about the park, and how it’ll compare to the one back in Evergreen that they frequent. She felt lucky it wasn’t a long walk, since she was unsure how to keep answering Claire’s questions that she didn’t have the answer to. 

Once they got to the park, Adrian reminded Claire of the rules of staying where the adults could see her and being kind to the other kids. The moment Adrian said the last rule Claire gave them all a salute before she bounded off laughing towards the playground. She stood between the two men as she watched Claire run around the park, smiling as she clearly had no trouble making new friends. She turned to Adrian who had his eyes on the parking lot, watching everyone who walked up. She smiled as she noticed Charles doing the same thing but with everyone sitting on the bench. 

She elbowed Adrian gently and his eyes snapped towards her as she tilted her head towards his dad who was doing the same thing he was doing. The expression on his face was hard to read, it wasn’t as guarded as he had been the whole week, but there was still something unsure in it. 

“What are you doing?” Adrian asked him, leaning forward as his dad's eyes snapped to him. The older man chuckled. 

“Oh, old habits die hard, I guess,” he said, gesturing to all the people at the park. “Your mom would give me a hard time whenever we took you boys to the park because I’d watch the people more than I’d watch you guys, but you can never be too careful.” 

She watched Adrian’s face carefully, there’s something there that she can’t help but smile at. 

“Sounds like someone I know,” she said, knocking into her husband since he didn’t seem like he was going to say anything to his dad. 

“I’m going to go play with Claire,” he muttered as he walked away from the two, she frowned but didn’t say anything as he walked off. 

“Here let’s go sit, he’s got this,” she said, gesturing towards an open bench that still gave them a decent enough line of sight to everything happening around the playground. 

“He’s…really good at this,” Charles said, gesturing towards Adrian and Claire as they played, the two focused intently on skipping from raised lilly pad to lilly pad as they made their way towards the top of the jungle gym. She couldn’t fight the smile that came across her features. 

“At balancing?” She asked, brows furrowed as she turned to the older man who let out a chuckle. 

“No, I mean, at being a dad,” he said softly and she hummed, her eyes locked on the back of Adrian’s head no more than twenty feet away from them. 

“Can I tell you a secret?” She said low enough Adrian wouldn’t overhear them as his dad nodded. “He took to it so well that I thought something was wrong with me. Like don’t get me wrong, I love my daughter with my entire heart. I would do anything to make sure she’s safe, but every moment still felt…suffocating. Especially right after we had her, I mean there’s so much you can just fuck up, but not to Adrian. He just looks at her and knows what she needs. He’s known since she was born. He’s known what she needs just from the smallest babble, a quiver of the lips, just anything. He’s freakishly in tune with her.” 

“It’s impressive…I mean I wasn’t…you have to understand there was a lot going on in general. Especially internally and me and Adrian just had nothing in common,” she nodded. 

“Adrian just doesn’t know how to half ass anything in his personal life,” she said with a shrug. “He still struggles some days. He gets frustrated when things don’t make sense in his mind, but he’s gotten better at trying and growing. It’s all you can ask for most days,” she said gently and his dad nodded. 

“I’m proud of him,” he said. “But I’m not sure if he wants to hear that from me.”

“Tell him anyway, I’ll talk to him about it.” 

“Daddy, do you need a hug or some deep breaths?” She heard Claire’s voice from across the playground and she immediately locked in on the two. Adrian was standing near the middle of the jungle gym, his eyes were locked on them, but the expression on his face made it so she wasn’t fully sure he was actually seeing them. Claire’s hand tugging at his shirt, begging for his attention, she starts to get up to check in on them, but her movement seemed to snap him out of zone out as he turned back to Claire. He moved to start chasing her as the young girl screamed and continued climbing up the jungle gym. 

“Is he okay?” Charles asked and she looked over at him. 

“Yeah, he’s okay.”

The rest of the time passed in a comfortable silence with her and Charles watching Adrian and Claire play. Occasionally letting out a chuckle as the two did something funny or a small comment when a thought popped up in either of their heads, but for the most part it was just a calm afternoon and once Claire was hungry the four of them found a shaded spot to sit and eat. Adrian sat close enough to her that she leaned on him and then once they were done eating she laid in his lap while Charles pushed Claire on the swings. His hands were playing with her hair. 

“What were you guys talking about earlier?” he asked, voice low. 

“You,” she answered honestly, adjusting so she was on her back and looking up at Adrian. She watched him purse his lips, his eyes staying locked on Claire. “I was talking about how great of a dad you are, how you took to Claire quicker than I did.” 

“Baby, postpartum depression is really serious. We’ve talked about it, you don’t have to feel bad, it’s okay. We got you the help you needed and everything was okay.” 

“No,” she said laughing slightly despite herself. “I just mean like when we first came home from the hospital you were immediately in tune with her. Waking up slightly before she needed anything and you were just…so happy to help, never seeming too tired. Even now, you’re quick to know what she wants or you know exactly what to say to get her to stop pouting before dinner.” 

“Oh,” he said gently. 

“Yeah, you’re a good dad, baby.” 

“I love you,” he said gently, finally looking down at her with nothing but love in his eyes and she smiled. 

“I love you more,” she said and he laughed, shaking his head. 

“Absolutely impossible, my heart-”

“My heart beats for you too, you know,” she whispered. Throwing the words Adrian frequently said to her back at him. 

The rest of the time at the park passed without any big incident, Adrian stayed calm and enjoyed just sitting with her watching Claire. After another hour the four of them packed up and headed back to the house where her and Adrian got ready for their date. 

She opted for a simple summer dress she had packed and Adrian was in khakis and one of his better fitting polos. Charles had offered them to borrow his car, but Adrian insisted on leaving it in case they needed it to go to the hospital. Adrian also ran through every emergency number for his dad to call if something happened. His phone, her phone, and their friends back home. When she pointed out she wasn’t sure what they could do being so far, Adrian just gave her a pained look that made her nod and let him keep going. 

Once she actually got Adrian to leave the house, the dinner was really nice. They had walked hand and hand for about 25 minutes before arriving at one of the few restaurants open early enough for them to have dinner. She smiled as they made easy conversation and finally got seated, Adrian pulled out her chair for her. 

“Ugh, I’m so excited,” she said as she looked over the menu, everything looking so good. 

“We’ve been to dinner since we’ve had Claire. Multiple times, you’re acting like I never take you out,” Adrian said, complaining, but there was still a smile playing on his lips. 

“Yeah, but we’re on vacation! We’re in a new city and it’s just us. It’s nice,” she said and he nodded, looking at her with a smile on his lips as he leaned forward just a tad. 

“It is nice,” he repeated. They both placed their orders and she watched Adrian fidget slightly with his glass of water. 

“Ade, can I guess a question you’re going to hate?” she asked and he nodded, eyes flickering away from hers. “What was it like when he left?” her voice was soft but it didn’t stop the look of being struck that crossed his face. 

“Why?” 

“I just…I know this week’s been hard for you and I know how reluctant you were for us to even come in the first place. I just…want the missing puzzle piece,” she finished, voice soft as she grabbed his hand from across the table, he immediately intertwined their fingers together and gripped her tightly. 

“When my dad left, things just…got worse overall. It’s not like he nor my mom really stopped Gut growing up. With my healing factor…I was just the boy who cried wolf so it didn’t really change too much when he left, but it clearly affected Gut because he just got…worse, meaner. He pushed limits and just seemed to make it his life mission to make my life hell,” Adrian said before taking a sip of water. “And I hated them all so much growing up. I always thought ‘why me,’ like what did I do that made me so…hateable so hurtable. It just became easier to shut myself off from all of them, pretending their relationship to me didn’t matter because no matter what it was going to hurt, but at least this way I got to pick how it hurt.” 

“Oh, Ade.” 

“And I don’t regret it. Without Gut torturing me, I might not have become Vigilante and if I hadn't become Vigilante I wouldn’t have met Chris or you and who knows what my life would be. Probably awful, still bussing tables and living in my moms basement with no plans or a life. I think for a long time I was angry at him for leaving me in that house like he just didn’t care. And I get it, I get he’s sorry and I get why he wanted to meet you and Claire, but I think there’s still this part of me that sees that’s what he wants and wants to deny it because it’s mine. It’s something I built and found and have loved and cherished. Not him, he shouldn’t get it just because I’m his son.” 

“That’s not what’s happening. It’s not just getting this because you’re his son. You built this and you are making a very mature decision to share this. You’re being the bigger person in allowing him to see this and to show him what you built despite everything that happened growing up.”

“Yeah, well I hate it,” he mumbled, leaning back in his chair, eyes on the ceiling and she laughed. 

“I couldn’t tell,” she teased.

“Hey!” 

“Ade, it’s fine! You’re allowed to not like this too! You can be angry or as upset as you want with him. They’re your feelings. I’m not trying to make you feel one way or the other.” 

“I know, I just…I’m ready to be home. I miss our bed, I miss work.” 

“Do you think you’ll want to come visit again?” She asked, head tilting as he seemed to ponder it. 

“Not fully for it, but not fully against it.” 

“Once your mom hears we came out she’s going to beg us to come over again you know that right?” 

“Jesus fuck, don’t remind me. It’s going to be impossible, the moment we land we’ll be lucky if she’s not outside our door already with cookies,” he complained and she laughed. 

“Well, it’s not like Gut is going to be bringing around any grandbabies anytime soon,” she said as the waiter sat down their appetizer. Adrian grabbed his fork and snickered. 

“At least not a legitimate one,” he joked and she snorted. 

“Hey, you can’t judgemental like that. We had a close call before we got married,” she warned and Adrian smiled. 

“Yeah, but that’s different, we always knew we’d get married. Gut’s going to be lucky if a girl gives him the time of day for longer than to just put his dick in her.”

“I’ll give you that one,” she said after a pause and Adrian smiled at her, digging in. “Our next trip as a family, maybe we see if Chris and the others want to go somewhere,” she suggested casually as Adrian smiled. 

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, I bet they’d be down for a resort somewhere and Claire would have a blast with all her aunts and uncles.” 

“Oh my god, we can take a cruise!” Adrian said, slapping the table and she grimaced and shook her head. 

“Tempting since Claire would be confined to a ship, but I fear if we took Chris onto international waters we might just be asking for trouble,” she said and Adrian pouted. “We’ll figure something out. Let’s survive these last few days and then we’ll start making plans." 

“Barely a few days, tomorrow night fireworks and then we leave in the afternoon the following day,” Adrian said looking excited.

“Still, let’s wait to plan our next trip till we get back,” she said and Adrian smiled and nodded. The rest of the evening passed with just the two of them talking back and forth, the conversation staying much lighter after Adrian’s confession. She knew, just from knowing her husband, that just because he’s admitting to some of what was bothering him about the trip didn’t mean it was all solved. Adrian had a habit of holding onto things, she was just glad that he had voiced something, clearly up a fraction of what he must be feeling every time they walked back into his dad’s house. 

Throughout dinner she debated circling back and telling Adrian about the conversation she had with him at the aquarium, how upset she got on his behalf, but by the time dessert comes out she decided it was best to just leave it, knowing Adrian would eventually ask her once they were home. 

When they got back to the house, they walked into complete silence and she felt the way Adrian squeezed her hand nervously. She continued to lead them into the house, only to find Claire passed out on the couch and his dad sitting in an armchair continuing to watch Bluey as if Claire was still paying attention. 

“She fell asleep maybe twenty minutes ago. I didn’t know if you wanted me to keep her awake to take her for dessert or what,” he said gently and she smiled. 

“We had dessert at the restaurant, we’ll just put her to bed and get her something special tomorrow so she’ll forgive us,” she said and Adrian smiled as he picked her up. The young girl’s head rolling on his shoulder as her eye lashes fluttered slightly. He walked past her and gave her a kiss on the cheek before carrying Claire to the room. 

“Did you guys have a nice date?” Charles asked, getting up and stretching from his chair. 

“It was really nice, thank you for watching her.” 

“Of course, it’ll be weird to go back to a quiet house. Don’t get me wrong, me and William love the quiet but it’s been really nice having you guys here,” he said softly and she smiled. 

“Your home is beautiful but I fear if Claire is here any longer she will destroy it. You should see her room back home, we’re going to have to repaint it and recarpet it whenever we decide to move,” she said as Adrian came back downstairs. His arms wrapped around her middle as he laid his head on her shoulder. 

“Well, that’s easy we’re not moving,”

“Okay, Ade. We’re not doing this conversation again,” she said, patting his arms and rolling her eyes. “This is a common fight-”

“Debate,” Adrian corrected gently. 

“That I think we should move and Adrian thinks we should just remodel the house, but we need a bigger space as Claire grows and-”

“Which we can get by remodeling, we have an acre in our backyard and we can expand,” Adrian complained. She looked over at Charles and shrugged. He sat back down and put a hand on his chin. 

“Why don’t you want to remodel?” he asked her, she pulled out of Adrian’s grip as she moved to sit on the couch. Adrian followed her. 

“Well, it’s a lot of work and money-”

“Which we have plenty of,” Adrian reminded her. “Checkmate is doing great, we can spend a little to make the house more comfortable without risking too much. It’s not like Claire’s going to college tomorrow, there's time to make these changes while still being comfortable.” 

“And time to be out of the house or in a house with a bunch of construction,” she finished and Charles turned to Adrian. 

“Why don’t you want to move?” 

“It’s our house, I want us to live there forever. We moved in six months before we had Claire. It’s the only home she’s had, I think we should keep it that way.” 

“Well, Adrian, forever isn’t realistic,” his dad said gently so as to not upset Adrian. She could feel him tense beside her but he didn’t say anything. “But also, moving just because a few things are wrong doesn’t mean you should,” he said to her and she sagged a little, looking over at Adrian. 

“I do like our house,” she said, this time focusing more on Adrian who smiled. “I just worry that construction is going to take too long and be too much.”

“Well, you two don’t have to decide today or hell even tomorrow,” Charles said and Adrian nodded. 

“That’s what I say, we’ve got the time,” Adrian said and she fought the urge to say something about how there were two of them now, knowing that might set Adrian off. “Thanks for talking to us about it, but we should get to bed,” he said standing up and the moment Adrian’s eyes were off his dad she saw tears well slightly in his eyes before he wiped them away so Adrian wouldn’t see. She couldn’t help the smile at the realization that without a fight Adrian at least heard his dad out on one of their arguments, which felt like a much bigger win than if she were to convince him to finally start looking at new houses. 

The three adults said goodnight and slowly made their ways to their respective rooms. She smiled, pulled Adrian in for a kiss the moment their door was closed. 

“We can remodel the house,” she said gently against her lips, feeling him smile. “But not right when we get back, give it a few months and then we’ll start figuring it out, okay?” 

“Okay,” he said gently, smile almost blinding. 

“And if we’re remodeling I want a clawfoot tub!” She said and he laughed, she threw a hand over his mouth so he wouldn’t wake Claire up. 

“Deal,” he murmured against her hand. She smiled and kissed him one more time before the two finally made their way to bed. Relaxing together before sleep claimed them both. 

Most of the morning and afternoon was spent getting ready for the evening. The firework show they had picked was at a different park, one they had to drive to, but they were having a farmers market and food trucks there so at least they didn’t have to worry about dinner. Plus Claire wasn’t too happy when she woke up and realized she was cheated out of a dessert. Consider it was their last full day she was completely surprised by Adrian’s unusual chipperness.

They had gotten their blanket spread out for the firework show, Claire sitting between her and Chalres with Adrian on her other side. 

“Oh wait! Claire, I brought you these!” Charles said happily pulling out of his tote bag some industrial noise blocking headphones, one that reminded her of what one might find at a construction site. She smiled as Claire happily accepted them, her expression being more of ease the moment the sound cushions were over her little ears. It was almost a comical sight with how big they were, but she knew Claire was thankful for them, her attention back on the night sky waiting for the fireworks to start. 

The next part seemed to go in slow motion for her. One second she’s smiling looking at her happy daughter, the next she’s turning her head to make a comment to Adrian about it, but when she turned fully he’s not next to her right anymore. Instead he’s running away. 

“Watch her, Claire stay with grandpa,” she didn't wait for either of them to answer her as she chased off in the direction Adrian went. She was lucky that for the most part he didn’t seem to move very fast, not as fast as she knew he could go. She followed him all the way to the parking lot and she was glad he didn’t have the key because she wouldn’t be surprised if Adrian drove off if he did. 

He had done that once before, back before they first started dating, while Task Force X was still getting their grounding after saving the world from butterflies. She had figured out pretty early on that Adrian liked her, but she was still unsure of him and what she wanted. Chris had gotten into Adrian’s head about her and her expectations and he had become a mess every time they were around each other, clearly unsure if he should be himself or who Chris said he should be to earn her love. He had said one dumb thing after another, spiraling until he finally squeaked out a goodbye and physically ran away from her. 

At least this time she was able to catch up to him. 

“Adrian, you can’t just run off. The last thing we need is Claire getting…” she stopped dead in her tracks when she took him in, hand over his mouth as tears raced down his face. He was crouched on the ground, leaning against his dad’s car. “Ade?” 

“Just give me a minute,” he gasped out, shoeing her away with his hand as she shook her head and fell to her knees in front of him. 

“What’s happening, are you hurt?” she asked, checking him over. Hands flying over him as she tried to make sense of what was happening to him. 

“I’m okay,” he said, pushing her hands gently off of him. 

“What’s going on?” she asked again and she watched Adrian force himself to look up, bottom lip wobbling as he seemed to debate telling her the truth or not. 

“Claire, she just looks just like me,” he said, eyes squeezed shut. “And it’s hard to see him being so…fatherly to her. I mean, fuck baby she looks just like me, she has my personality, your genes didn’t even try!” She couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out as a few tears escaped her eyes at Adrian’s clear pain. 

“Yeah, she’s your spitting image,” she said and he let out a shaky sob. 

“Why wasn’t I good enough for him?” At those words she practically threw herself at her husband, wrapping him in her arms as a harsh cry left his lips. 

“Baby, no no no,” she murmured, pressing a kiss to his temple as his arms circled around her tightly. “That’s not what’s happening. He’s not suddenly being nice because he likes Claire more than you, he’s being nice to Claire because he feels bad about how he treated you as a kid. He’s trying so hard to make you see that he's changed and he cares and he’s doing that by showing you the way he thinks you’ll be the most comfortable with. He knows you don’t want to have a direct conversation, but baby he’s trying to make you see he loves and cares about you and he is sorry.” 

“But why wasn’t I enough?” He begged her, begging for an answer she simply didn’t have and she felt her own tears starting to fall. 

“I don’t know, baby, but it wasn’t fair to you at all and I’m sorry. But you deserve good things and you deserved a good dad who was there for you,” she whispered, holding his face between her hands, wiping his tears as quickly as they were falling. 

“It’s hard,” he murmured, calming down. 

“I know,” she said gently. “And it’s not fair either, but you’re doing such a good job. This time tomorrow we’ll be home and if you don’t want to talk to him ever again we can do that.” 

“But what about Claire she’s having a blast with him!” 

“Ade, we’ll figure it out and yeah she’s five but she’ll understand if that’s what you pick,” she said and he sighed, his body sagging against the car. “Come on, let’s buy Claire some cotton candy, okay?” She said and Adrian laughed, it was watery but at least he was starting to sound back to normal. 

“So she’ll be up all night?” 

“Yeah, we’ll make your dad watch her so we can get some rest before the flight tomorrow,” she joked back as she stood up and held out a hand for Adrian. He was quick to accept it and pull himself up but before she could start leading him back he quickly brought her in for a kiss. She smiled as one of her hands went to cup his cheek. 

“I love you,” she said and he smiled. 

“I love you too.” 

The two made their way towards the cotton candy stalls, Adrian clutching her hand tightly. 

“Stupid California, $12 for a bag of cotton candy,” Adrian mumbled as he pulled out his wallet, wiping his nose on the back of his hand as the stall clerk took his cash and looked at him with concern. She felt lucky that at least the clerk didn’t say anything. 

Once they made it back, Charles gave her a questioning look and she simply shook her head as Adrian handed Claire the cotton candy, making her squeal in joy. 

The rest of the night passes with silence from the group, even Claire, who’s attention is on the sky and slapping her dad’s hand away from stealing her cotton candy. They didn’t get back to the house till almost 1 in the morning, Claire passed out as Adrian carried her around the park and back into bed. Before passing out, she and Adrian made quick work of setting out Claire’s outfit for the flight back and packing up the majority of their stuff. 

“Ready to leave tomorrow?” she asked gently, eyes almost blurry with sleep as she finally pulled herself into the bed. Adrian followed behind her. 

“More than ready,” he murmured as they both fell asleep. 

Both unfortunately and fortunately Claire slept in longer than they were anticipating. Normally the young girl was up early no matter what time she went to bed, but the joy of the fireworks and sugar crash kept her sleeping till almost eleven in the morning. Which meant they were rushing to get to the airport and say their goodbyes. If Charles was disappointed with the lack of a last morning he was careful to not show it on his face which she appreciated, knowing Adrian probably wouldn’t react well to any comment from his dad about them ruining their last day. 

“Thank you for inviting us,” she said, hugging Charles once they made it to the airport. Adrian standing behind her. 

“Of course, don’t be a stranger. You guys are welcome back any time,” he said and she pulled away, looking up at Adrian as he sighed, but awkwardly gave his dad a hug. 

“Yeah, we’ll see,” Adrian mumbled. 

“Seriously, Adrian. I’m really proud of you,” his dad said, giving him one more squeeze of the shoulder and Adrian nodded. 

“Bye Grandpa!” Claire announced, interrupting the moment between the two men, but she can tell on Adrian’s expression that he’s thankful for it. 

“Bye Claire, it was very nice to meet you!” he said and she giggled. 

“Of course it was, I’m cool!” she said hands on her hips making both her parents laugh. 

“Claire, what do you say?” she pressed her daughter.

“It was nice to meet you too,” she grumbled and Charles laughed, giving Claire one last hug before the three of them started making their way through the airport and on their way home to Evergreen. 

The whole flight and ride home Adrian was quiet, this time she gave Claire the window seat so she could watch and play with the window shade as she rested her head on Adrian’s shoulder. Occasionally she could feel him turning and pressing a kiss to the top of her head as she squeezed her leg. The moment they got back into their home, Claire was quick to run to her room to check in on all of her toys. 

“I’m sorry for pushing you into this,” she murmured as she pulled him into a hug, the moment they were alone in their bedroom. She felt him sigh against her as he swayed them slightly. The hug felt familiar and comforting, as she let herself melt in his arms. 

“No, I…I think this was good. I’m glad he got to meet Claire and you got to meet him,” he sighed. “I’m not going to forgive him at least not fully, but I think sometimes I worry that because he was my example of a dad that maybe I would be a shitty father and-”

“Adrian you’re the best dad!” She said immediately pulling back and looking at his face with a pained expression on her face, but Adrian let out a small laugh. 

“No, I mean,” he looked down suddenly looking bashful. “I know I am a good dad and I think it was good for me to see him because now I’m positive I’m way better at this than he ever was. It’s so easy to love Claire and it hurts that…that I wasn’t for him, but that’s his loss.” 

“It is his loss, Ade,” she repeated and he smiled. 

“Yeah, it is,” he murmured. 

“Daddy! Are we going to play with my new art kit from Grandpa! You promised when we got home we’d use them!” Claire said, busting into their room. 

“Besides, I have the best family in the world right in front of me,” he said, pulling her in for a kiss just long enough for Claire to start making fake gagging sounds. 

But god, she wouldn’t change any part of her family for the world. 

__

Like this story? Consider buying me a Ko-Fi!

Tag list:

So when they got together and her birthday was the first to come up, she told him about their families tradition. 

“Basically, the birthday person gets to pick every activity for the day. Each meal, if they go somewhere, and what people are doing,” she said leaning back on the couch, Adrian rubbing her calves with a puzzled look on his face. 

“What do you typically pick?” he asked. 

“It depends on the year, most years I pick just getting food with my friends and going to my favorite shops. One year I went to a concert and another year I went on a vacation. It just depends how I’m feeling,” she said, watching him nod. 

“What are you picking this year?” 

“Probably hanging out with my favorite guy,” she teased, moving her legs out of his lap so she can straddle him. He smiled up at her, his hands protectively over her waist.  

“Who’s that?” he asked, eyes flickering down her body. 

“I’m not sure if you know him, he’s-” she started to tease, only for Adrian’s eyes to grow wide and nervous. 

“Wait, it’s not me?” he said, panic crossing his features as she let out a soft chuckle, twisting one of his curls between her fingers with a soft smile. 

“Adrian,” she said gently. “Of course it’s you,” she finished and he broke out in a huge grin, leaning up so he could catch her lips in a kiss. She smiled as he pulled her impossibly closer. 

Now, it was Adrian’s turn and he had been tight lipped the whole week leading up to his birthday. On a rare occasion he would throw a random idea out, clearly testing the waters for what he wanted to do for his birthday, but he would commit to anything. 

“What if we go to Universal Studios for my birthday?” 

“How would you feel if we just road tripped to the closest Round One arcade?” 

“What if we did a firearm safety class for my birthday!” 

“It’s your birthday,” she would respond each time and Adrian would nod, but not commit to anything more than testing the waters. She tried to get him to sit down and make a plan so they could both figure out if they needed to take more time off from work than just his birthday, but he remained consistent in not picking anything. 

She wasn’t frustrated by any means, it was his birthday and he clearly was thinking about it, but as she woke up on his birthday to Adrian still snoring in her ear she felt nervous that maybe he didn’t pick anything. 

She was slow to untangle herself from him as she softly padded into their kitchen. If he wasn’t going to pick she could at the very least make him pancakes with chocolate sprinkles and homemade whipped cream, his favorite. She moved as quietly as possible, normally she would play music or at the very least not sneak since Adrian typically didn’t like sleeping in, but for his birthday she wanted him too and she wanted to at least get enough done that the surprise felt complete when he woke up. 

She didn’t get that far into making pancakes, she had just finished flipping the third one while her homemade whipped cream was staying cool in the fridge when his arms wrapped around her waist and a kiss was planted on the side of her neck. 

“Happy birthday, baby,” she said, smiling as she reached to grab a plate with the first two pancakes, holding it up for him and he unraveled himself from her and took the plate. 

“Thank you,” he said softly. “The bed was cold without you.” 

“Well, we can go back to bed after we eat or even eat in bed if you want, it’s your birthday,” she said and Adrian pursed his lips, looking at his plate. 

“Do we have-”

“Homemade whipped cream is in the fridge, help yourself,” she said sweetly as she kissed the tip of his nose. Adrian grinned at her before making his way to grab the bowl from the fridge. 

“Score,” he murmured as he poured what had to be an obscene amount of whipped cream onto his pancakes. 

“So, have you decided what you want to do with the rest of your birthday?” she asked as Adrian sat at their bar counter so he could stay close and watch her cook. She watched Adrian out of the corner of her eye as he focused on his pancakes. “I’m serious, Ade. Whatever you want, it’s the birthday rule,” she said softly, turning off the stove and joining him with her own pancakes. 

“So if I wanted us to go shoot stuff with Chris we’d go do that?” he asked, looking at her with narrowed eyes. 

“Yeah, it’s your birthday.”

“What if I wanted to go to the movies and watch like three movies in theatres?” 

“If that’s what you wanted to do for your birthday,” she said and Adrian nodded. 

“If I…if I wanted us to just stay inside and spend the day together? Maybe watch a movie and get take out?” he asked softly and she started to smile as he kept going. “Maybe we can go get a cake at the grocery store really quick and maybe a new board game to try?” 

“I think that sounds like a really great way to spend your birthday, Adrian.” she said and he got a gentle smile on his features. Not quite the big goofy grin she was used to with Adrian, but she could tell that this meant the world to him, to have something just between them and about him. Adrian was always such a giver that she wasn’t surprised that he was struggling with being a taker for once. 

Even if that was fully within the birthday rules. 

“Yeah, I think that sounds good,” he said, sounding more confident. “Next year we can plan a trip or something, but I think this year I just want to be with you.” 

“I would love nothing more,” she said, putting down her fork and pulling Adrian in for a syrupy sticky kiss. He was quick to meet her lips with a smile. 

“Maybe we can also hang out in our birthday suits and have birthday sex too!” he said, waggling his eyebrows up and down as she laughed hard as he chuckled and held her steady in his arms. 

“It’s your birthday, but I think that sounds pretty great for the both of us.” 

__